University of Virginia Library

Peace
begynneth,

Enuye[OMITTED]
A syr here was a longe predication
Me though ye sayd in your communicatyon
To euery man peace was most behoued.

Peace[OMITTED]
Forsoth and so sayde I.

Enuye[OMITTED]
That shalbe proued contrarye by and by
For by peace moche people are vndone

Peace.
What people are tho.

Enuye[OMITTED]
The armurer, the fletcher, and the bowyer
Maryners, gonners, and the poore sowdyer
yea and also many an other artyfycer
which I do not reherse by name

Peace.
I say the vnyuersall people doth best obtayne
Where as peace is euer abydynge

Enuye.
Thou lyest so god me helpe and haly dome
For then were surgyons cleane vndone
Of them that wyll fyght and breake apate
They gete good lyuynge both erly and late
And what sayest thou by men of lawe
Theyr lyuyng were not worth a strawe
And euery man shulde lyue in peace.

Peace.
That is not for the commons encrease
For by peace they profyte in many a thynge
Peace setteth amyte betwene kynge and kynge
In tyme of peace marchauntes haue theyr course
To passe and repasse

Enuye.
Thou lyest knaue by the masse
For vnder colour of peace moch suttelte hathe bene wroughte
And shyps are taken ye marchaūtes dere haue boughte
was that for theyr promocyon
Nay in tyme of war
Suche a knaue durst not stere
By ye masse were it not for shame thou shuls bere me a blow

Peace.
Holde thy handes thou lewde felow
Thou arte of euyl dysposicyon
Thus agaynst peace to repugne
The whyche from heauen descended downe
To bryngd man out of captiuite

Enuye.
A horson why doest thou lye
when were thou in heauen tell me by and by
How camest thou downe with a ladder or a rope

Peace.
It were no synne to hange the by throte
Thy wordes be enuyous, not grounded on charyte.

Enuye.
Syr one thynge I praye you tell me.

Peace.
What is that

Enuye.
Haue ye any wyfe or no

Peace.
Wherfore aske ye so

Enuye.
Bycause ye saye peace is moste expedyent
yf your wife made you cuckolde you beyng present
what wolde ye do

Peace.
Geue her soche punisshement as longeth thereto

Enuye.
A false flatterynge horson loo
Nowe thou sayest agaynst thyne owne declaracyon
yf thou fyght where is then peace become.

Peace.
I breake not peace with doynge due correctyon
For correctyon shuld be done charitably
Irascemini et nolite peccare

Enuye.
I shall mete that at omnium quare
Peace shuld forgeue, and not be reuenged
Hens horson by our lady of wolpit
I shall rappe the of the pate

Peace.
Go hence wretche, thou make bate
It were almes to set the in newgate
Howe mayster constable come nere
Here is a wretche wythout reason
Take and put hym in pryson
with as many yrons as he may beare

Enuye.
By our lady I wyll come no nere
A constable, quod ha, nay that wyll I not abyde
For I am lothe to go shorter tyde
yet longe horson for al thy pryde
I shall mete wyth the another daye
when one of vs two shall goo a knaue awaye

Peace.
O thou wretche thou ought to remorde
That so farre arte exiled from charyte
Lo he thynketh not, how mekely his maker & Lorde
Suffered reprefe and dyed vpon a tre
Geuynge vs example that wythe humyly
Eueri man shulde folowe his trace
That in heauen wyl clayme a place

Impacyient pouerte.
Kepe kepe for coxs face.

Peace.
why arte thou so out of pacyence

impacient po.
A knaue wolde haue rested me I owe him but .xl. pens
He shall abyde by goddes dere blest.

Peace.
Take hede my frende thus sayth the texte
In lyttle medlynge standeth great rest
Therfore paye thy duetye well and honestly
with fewe wordes dyscretelye
Another tyme ye shall be the better truste

impacient po.
That wil I neuer do while I liue let him do his best
I had leuer laye all my good to pledge
To gete a wryte of pryueledge
So may I go by his nose at large
Spyte of hys tethe who so euer saye naye

Peace.
This is but a wilful mynde, yf thou wilt not paye
They very duety, whych can not be denayde
Getynge of thy wryte and expence in the lawe
wyl cost more then thy duety, thys wyll I knawe
Thy dette therwith can not be payde
It is onely a deferringe of the paymente.

impaci.
yet the knawe shall not haue hys entent.

Peace.
Thou shalt paye by ryghtfull iudgement
For the lawe is indifferent to euery person

impacient po.
I se thou holdest on his opynion
Yet I set not by you both a rysshe
And I mete the knawe I shal hewe his fleshe
Helpe hym thou olde chorle and thou can

Peace.
I se thou arte an euyl dysposed man.
I vtterly forsake thy condycyon

impaci.
Mary auaunt longe precyous horson
I set not by the nor him, I make God auowe
I am as good a man, as thou for all thy good
Let it be tryet by māhode, and thertho I geue the my gloue

Peace.
Al soch warryours I do reproue
For peace loueth not to fyght

impacient po.
No olde foole, thou hast loste thy myghte
For in age is noughte els but cowardyse

Peace.
Youth wyth hys courage lyghte
Nor strenght wyth multitude I do the plyght
Are not onely the cause of victory

impaci.
No good syr, what then.

Peace.
Grace and good gouernaunce of man
For wyth good discretion thei began.
That were the greate winners of victory

impacitnt po.
Then victory is gotten by dyscretion
I praye your syr shewe me thys lesson
Howe to come to rychesse, for that is all my care
For I am euer in greate necessyte
Meate and drinke with me is scarsite
No man will truste me of a peny
And also my clothes are but bare
Good syr what saye you therin

Peace.
I holde it punisshmente for thi sinne
Shewe me what is thy name

impaci.
I am named Impacyente pouerte

Peace.
Forsoth that maye full well be
Thou arte so full of wrath and enuye
In the can growe no grace
But yf thou wylte forsake sensualyte
And be gouerned by reason as I shall enduce the
Thou shalte come to rychesse, wythin shorte space

impaci.
Shewe me that nowe in thys place
And therto I wyll agree

Peace.
Thou muste loue thy neyghboure wyth charyte
Do vnto hym, no maner of dysease
Loke how thou wolde he dyd to the
Do to hym no worse in no degree
And then thou shalt oure lorde please.

impacient po.
Shall I loue hym that loueth not me?
Those that trouble and rebuke me shamefully
That wyll I neuer do whyle I lyue

Peace.
Thou must charitably al fautes forgeue
What soeuer any man to the saye
Let as thou harde it not, turne thyne eare awaye
Thou shalte please god, yf thou so do,

impacient po.
Naye by good there hoo
What is he in all thys place
That wyll do as thys man sayde
Shewe me or I go
yf a man do you a greate offence
Wyll ye kepe your pacyence
Naye by god not so
I put case I breake your heed
wyll ye suffre that in verye dede.

Peace.
To suffer for Christes sake I shall haue mede

impaci.
That shal I knowe by Goddes brede.

Peace.
Holde thy hande and kepe pacyence
Thynke what Chryste suffered for oure offence
He was beaten, scourged, & spytte on wyth vyolence
And suffered death for our sake
yet he toke it pacyentlye
He forgaue hys death and prayed for his enemyes
Pater dimitie illis, hys sayinge was truelye
An example for vs to take
To be meke in harte: beaty pauperes spiritu
Shal Chryste saye full euen
Et venite benediciti come my blessed chyldren
To the kyngdom of heauen.

impacient po.
Syr I thanke you, for your ghostly instruction
Unto your saying, I can make no delayaunce
I putte me vnder youre gouernacion
And for mysdedes, I take greate repentaunce

Peace.
Then to my sainge, take good remembraunce
Exercyse youre selfe in vertue, from this tyme hence
And vnto peace euermore be obediente
Set before euery sharpe worde, a shylde of suffraunce
And when tyme is of youre concupissaunce
Then pacifie it with benynge resystaunce

impacient po.
Syr gramercy, ye ye haue brought me to thys estate
By your aduertismēt I am wyllīg to lyue in chrystes law
Ther as I haue offended him both erly & late
I serued hym not for loue nor for awe
Therfore nowe ryghte well I knowe
That pouerte and miserye that I my lyfe in lede
It is but onely punishemente for my mysdede

Peace.
Nowe or we any further procede
Holde thys vesture and put it on the
From hence forth thou shalte be called prosperite

Prospe.
I thancke God and you, I am in felicite

Peace.
Nowe vnto you I shall here shewe
Of soche thynges as ye shall eschewe
Fyrste youre soule loke that ye kepe cleane
Beware of mysrule in any wyse
Playe not at caylles, cardes nor dyse
Also from miswomen, for by them mischefe may ryse
As it doeth often, this daylye is sene
Haunte no tauernes, nor sytte not vp late
Let not hassarde nor riotour, wt you be checke mate
For then wyll enuy come, and make debate
The whiche shall cause greate trouble
Be plentifull of soch as god hath sent
Unto the poore people, geue wyth good intente
For euerye peny that so is spente
God wyll sende the double.
Take hede and do as I haue sayde

Prospe.
Syr therwith I holde me well apayed
As ye haue commaunded me it shall be done

Peace.
Then let vs departe for a season
yf ye nede I wyll be your protection.

Exiūt ambo
Haboū.
Ioye and solace be in this hall
Is there no man here, that knoweth me at al
I am beloued both wyth greate and small
Haboundaunce is my name
I haue all thynges as me lyst
Meate dryncke, and clothe of the best
Golde and syluer full is euery chest
In fayth I wyll not layne
I thynke ye knowe not my wayes
Howe I gette goodes nowe a dayes
By a propre meane
Thynke you that I wolde
Lende eyther syluer or golde
That daye shall not bee sene
But I wyll lende them ware
That shall be bothe badde and deare
Not worthe the monye he shall paye
And yf he can no suerte gette
Of my ware he getteth ryghte nought
Wythout a good pledge he laye
Then wyll I for myne auayle
He shall make a byll of sayle
To me full bought and solde
Yf the daye be expyred and passe
Then wyll I holde it faste
He shall not haue it thought he woulde
Thus crafte I haue longe vsed
And some men do not yet refuse it
This is he openlye knowne
what is he in all thys towne
That wyll lende wythout synguler commodum
Shoulde I lende wythoute a profite
Naye then I holde noughte worthe my wytte.

Consci.
All this ye saye, is agaynste conscience

Haboū.
Conscience quod a, naye thē shall we neuer thryue
For I knowe hym not a lyue
By conscience that commeth to substaunce
I haue all maner of marchandy
I sell for longe dayes to theym that are nedy
And for the paymente I haue good suertye
Bounde in statute marchaunte
Bycause I maye forbeare
I sell my ware so deare
I make .xl. of .xx. in hafle a yeare
Other men do so as well as I.

Consci.
Euen synne, very shame marye fye
these goodes are gotten vntrewelye
Many a man is vndone thereby
To take thys ware so deare

Haboū.
They seke to me bothe farre and neare
Me thincke it is a good dede
To helpe a man at hys nede
Yet haue I other meanes
whereby I gette great gaynes
I thyncke ye knowe not that.

Consci.
I, no God wote

Haboū.
No ye are but an ydyote
I solde a man as moche ware, as came to .xl. pound
And in an oblygacyon, I hadde hym bounde
To paye me at a certayne daye
And when the bargayne was made playne
Myne owne seruaunt, bought the same ware agayn
For the thyrde penny it coste, ye wote what I meane
But was not thys a wyse waye?

Consci.
Thou shalte repente it another daye
I charge the as farre as I maye
Soche false wayes neuer begynne

Haboū.
Wherfore this is no synne
It is playne byenge and sellynge
Lawfull it is for a man to wynne
Els ryche shall he neuer be.

Consci.
Wynnynge to be hadde, with due sufficyence
In true byenge and sellynge, is not to dyscomende
But for thi false vsury thou art cursed in the sentēce
I praye God geue the grace for to amende.

Haboū.
Is euery man accursed, that doeth bye and sell
Then shall no man wyth marchaundyse mell
Howe shall the worlde then be vpholde

Consci.
Naye syr, amysse ye do vnderstande me
All those that occupye false vsurye
And transgresseth the lawes of God by iniquitie
All soche are accursed I you tolde
As for byenge and sellynge, nedes must be
And God cōmaundeth to lende to them that are nedy
So it be not to theyr iniurye
For luker to theym solde.

Haboū.
Howe shoulde I sel, shewe me youre wayes

Consci.
ye maye not sell the dearer for dayes
yf ye doo, it is contrarye to Goddes lawes

Haboū.
It is vsed in oure Countrye

Consci.
It is the more pytye
One soche is able to destroye a Cytye
And God shewe not hys greate mercye
All soche are dampned by hys equite

Haboū.
God forfende that shoulde be
Howe shall men doo that be of greate reputacyon
Whyche kepte theyr goodes on this same fashyon
By vsury, dysceypte, and by extorcyon
I doo so my selfe, wherfore shoulde I lye

Consci.
Thou mayste be the more sorye

Haboū.
It is so nowe, what remedye

Consci.
Doo make restytucyon

Haboū.
What call ye restytucyon

Consci.
Restore soche goodes as ye haue gotten
wrongefully by oppressyon

Haboū.
Then shall I haue lyttle in my possessyon
I wyll make God amendes, another waye
I wyll faste, and I wyll praye
And I wyl geue almes euery daye
That I haue done amysse, I am sory therfore

Consci.
This is not suffycyente, thou muste restore
Quia non dimittitur peccatum
Nisi restituatur ablatum
ye muste restore to theym, ye haue offended vnto

Haboū.
Then I shall shewe you what I shall doo
I wyll putte it in my Testamente
That myne executours shall paye and contente
For whyle I lyue, I wyll not haue my good spente
For yf I do I am but spylte

Consci.
Mke amendes man for thy gylte
Rather spyll thy bodye, then spyll thy soule

Haboū.
Men of substaunce are ashamed to fall

Consci.
That causeth them to rest in theyr synne

Haboū.
Yet euer with thy strongest part renneth the ball

Consci.
Yesterdaye thou canst not agayne call
When yu art dead yt gate of mercy is shut yu can not come in

Haboū.
Then let hym stande wythout

Consci.
So of thy soule thou haste no doute

Haboū.
When thou seest my soule torne set on a cloute
yf falshode, vsury, and extorcyon shoulde not route
Thousandes in thys realme shoulde be put out
The thyrde parte shoulde not byde by saynt Paule

Consci.
Yet often falshode hath a greate fall
An example by kynge Achab whych is sothe
Desyred the vyneyarde of that poore man Nabothe
By counsell of Iezabell that Kynges wyfe
Bycause he wolde not sell hys possessyon
Of two false witnesses he was peached of hye trason
And through the mouth of a false quest it raue
which caused the poore man to lese both land & lyfe
After that of goddes owne byddinge
Came Helias the prophet to Achab the kynge
Sayinge he shoulde haue euyll endynge
And so he had, for by the waye as he rode
He fel & brake his neck, wher dogs lapped his blode
thys exāple to al vsurers & oppressours as thīketh me
Shuld cause thē of god sore a dred to be.

Haboū.
Syr ye preache very holily, but our dedes be often cōtrary
ye be so acquaynted wyth couetouse and symony
That maketh vs to take the same waye

Consci.
So euery euyll dysposed person doeth saye
The fraylte of man doeth often offende
Then call for grace, and shortely amende
Therfore I counsell the to pretende
To repente and be sorye for thy mysdede

Haboū.
Yet thus I wyll my lyfe lede
For of your sayinge I take no hede
ye wyll mucker vp bothe golde and treasure
ye haue ryches wythout measure
And of the flesshe ye haue youre pleasure
ye cā fynde no wayes to amend your self I you insure
Therfore rebuke not me for my synne ne good
God be wyth you, ye shall not rule me

Consci.
O dulle wyte plunged by ygnoraunce
Regardynge nothynge of ghostly instructyon
Settynge more hys minde on worldly substaunce
Then on the euerlastynge lyfe that is to come
God wyl stryke when he lyst, ye know not how sone
Therefore to euery man thys counsell I geue
To be sory for your sīne, & do penaūce while ye lyue

Here cometh enuye runnynge in Laughyng, & sayth to conscyence.
Enuye.
Nowe in fayte I wolde ye had be there

Consci.
Where shulde I haue be.

Enuye.
A better sporte ye neuer se.

Consci.
Whereat laughe ye so faste

Enuye.
He to go and she after.
And wythin a while he caughte her
He toke of her an incroke
And chopte her on the hele wyth hys fote
Anone he whypte her on the backe
A horsone quod she, playest thou me that
And with her hele she gaue hym a spat
That he was fayne to go backe agayne

Consci.
Good felowe thou arte to blame
Soche wordes to haue, no good thou can.

Enuye.
I sayde it to make you sporte and game
I crye you mercye, I was to blame
I se ye are some vertuous man

Consci.
Shortely hence that waye thou came
For here thou shalte not be

Enuye.
Good Lorde some succour thou sende me
That I be not oute caste

Consci.
What is thy name, shortely shewe me

Enuye.
I dare not syr, By Christe Iesu
Excepte ye kepe it preuelye

Consci.
Feare not saye on hardelye

Enuye.
Syr, my ryghte name is charitie
Sometyme beloued I was wyth the spyritualtye
But now coueteouse & symony doeth them so auaūce
That good institutyon is turned to other ordynaunce
And bonum exemplum is put to suche hynderaunce
That here I dare not apeare

Consci.
Symony is not nowe in the spyritualtie
Bonus pastor ouium, therto wyll see
Therfore me thyncke thys is a lye
In holy Church symony can not abyde

Enuye.
He goeth in a clocke, he can not be espyde
And coueteouse so craftely doeth prouyde
That bonus pastor ouium, is blynde and wyl not see

Consci.
Thys that ye speake is vppon enuy
Therfore I thincke ye be not charytye
For charytie alwaye wyll saye the beste

Enuye.
Amonges theym can I haue no reste

Consci.
Howe do ye wyth the themporaltye

Enuye.
There is pryde, slewth and lechery
whych putteth me from that place

Consci.
Then be ye wyth the communaltye

Enuye.
They despyse me vtterlye
One of theym loue not another
the syster can not loue the brother
Ne the chylde the father ne mother
There I dare not shewe my face.

Consci.
This is to me a straunge case
What heare ye by conscyence.

Enuye.
Spiritual & tēporal set agaynst him maruailously
Marchaūtes, men of law, & artificers of euery degre
They wyl hange hym and they hym espye
Soch exclamaciō goeth through this realme round

Consci.
Why what faute haue they founde
wyth hym so to do

Enuye.
Hys wytte is noughte, they saye also
Euerye man putteth hys wyll thereto
To banyshe hym for euer.

Consci.
I knowe well it is not as ye saye
For I am conscyence the hye iudge of the lawe

Enuye.
Be ye conscience, alas that euer I thys day sawe
yf ye be taken, ye shalbe hanged and drawe
For they haue vtterly put you downe
And set couetyse in youre rowme
Subtylte the scrybe hys owne cosyn
And falsshed the somner for the courtes promocyon.

Consci.
I maruayle wherfore thys was done

Enuye.
When ryches came before you that moch wyl paye
There he had lyued in synne many a daye
Ye shulde for money lette hym go quite awaye
And put hym to no shame
Let pouerte do penaunce for a lyttle offence
He is not able to promote you of .xx. pence
Then shulde ye haue kepte your resydence
And gotten your selfe a good name.

Consci.
Who so doeth they are to blame
In mysorderynge them in soche wyse
y wys cosyn I shewe you as nowe is the guyse
For by couetyse moche people doeth vp ryse
whych is agaynst both you and me

Consci.
Charyte I praye you shewe what remedye
In thys matter for me may be founde

Enuye.
Shortely get you to wyldernes, or some other regyō
For they wyll hange you vp at the Tyborne
yf they fynde you in thys place
And I muste departe also

Consci.
Thys is to me moche sorowe and woo
I wyll go into some farre countre
Farwell gentyll cosyn charyte

Enuye.
I shall praye for you, praye ye for me.
Thys is an heauy departynge
Et plora
I can in no wyse forbeare wepynge
Yet kysse me or ye go
For sorowe my harte wyll breke in two.
Is he gone, then haue at laughynge
A syr is not thys a ioly game
That conscience doeth not knowe my name
Enuy in fayth I am the same
what nedeth me for to lye
I hate conscience, peace loue and reste
Debate and stryfe that loue I beste
Accordyng to my properte
when a man louethe well hys wyfe
I brynge theym at debate and stryfe
This is sene daylye
Also betwene syster and brother
There shall no neyghboure loue an other
where I dwell bye
And nowe I tell you playne
Of one man I haue dysdayne
Prosperyte men do hym call
He is nye of my blood
And he to haue so moche worldly good
That greueth me worste of all

Prospe.
Iesus that is bothe stedfaste and stable
Euer perseueraunt and neuer mutable
He saue thys congregacyon

Enuye.
Welcome pouerte by coxs passyon
Howe haue ye done thys many a daye

Prospe.
I thanke god as well as any may
ye call me wrong my name is prosperyte

Enuye.
Prosperyte wyth an euyll happe
Howe the deyuil fortuneste that
I knewe the impacyent pouertye

Prosperyte.
what so euer I was let that matter pas
And take me as I am

Enuye[OMITTED]
I crye you mercye I was to blame
To call you by your olde name
yet all these people thynke ye are the same
impacyent pouertye as I sayd before

Prosperyte.
Auant I tell the. I am gentylman bore
Yf I heare the reporte suche wordes any more
Thou shalt be punysshed like a knaue.

Enuye.
A knaue quod a, by coxs passyon
I am youre owne cosyn
And nye of your consanguynite.

Prospe.
Thou and I are not of one affynyte

Enuye.
Yf I were a ryche man, ye wold not saye so by me
ye wold then say I were your next kynsman on lyue

Prosperyte.
I saye go hence and make no more stryfe
I set not by suche a pore haskarde,

Enuye.
Syr do not ye knowe my name

Prospe.
I knowe the not by saynt Iame.

Enuye.
Charyte in fath I am the same
What nedeth me for to lye
I am youre cosin and so wyll I dye
ye maye be gladde soche a kynsman to haue

Prospe.
Shall we haue more a doo yet thou knaue
I charge the, neuer knowe me for thy kynne

Enuye.
I praye you one worde or I goo

Prospe.
Saye on shortelye then haue I doo

Enuye.
Syr, I haue of golde thre hundreth pounde
In a bagge faste ybounde
At home locked in my cheste
I purpose to goo to Ierusalem
ye shall kepe it tyll I come agayne
I putte you beste in truste.

Prospe.
Cosyn I woulde fayne doo the beste
Bycause ye are nere of my bloode

Enuye.
What, are ye nowe in that moode
Nowe I am youre kyngman because of my good
Before of me he hadde dysdayne

Prosperyte.
As for that I was to blame
I knewe you not, be not angrye
ye are welcome to me cosyn charytye

Enuye.
Then all these matters lette be
I come hyther wyth you to dwell
ye muste haue moo seruauntes I do you tell
Soche as were necessarye for youre person

Prosperyte.
I am contente after youre prouysyon
In euery thynge lette it be done
As ye thyncke moste expedyende

Enuye.
Syr I shall do myne entente
To gette you seruauntes moo

Prosperyte.
I praye you hertelye it maye be so
A lyttle season I wyll from you goo
To solace me wyth some recreacyon

Enuye.
He that sytteth aboue the mone
Euermore be in youre protection
A ha here is sporte for a Lorde
That prosperite and I be well at accorde
I shall brynge hys thryfte vnder the borde
I truste wythin shorte space
For it greueth my harte ryghte sore
He hath so moche treasure in store
And I haue neuer the more
I muste fynde some proper shyfte
That from hys good he maye be lyfte
To brynge hym to mysrule I holde it beste
For he can soone brynge it to passe
Here mysrule syngeth wtout comminge in.
How what rutterkyn haue we here
I wolde he were oure subchauntere
Bycause he can so well synge

Mysru.
Uenir auecque vous gentyl compaygnon
Faictes bone chere pour lamour de sainct Iohn
Mon coeur iocunde is sette on a mery pynne
By my trouth I am disposed to reuelynge

Enuye.
So me thinketh by youre commynge in
What mysrule where haste thou bene manye yeares

Mysru.
By my trouth euen amonges my peres
I came nowe strayghte from the stewes
From lyttle pretye Ione
Lorde that she is a pretye one

Enuye.
Holde thy peace, lette, that alone
Harke a worde or twayne to the
I dwell nowe wyth prosperitye
which hath moche worldly treasure
yf thou can contryue in thy thoughte
Howe that he maye be broughte to noughte
In all thys worlde I desyre no more

Mysru.
Tushe take no though therfore
I can prouyde for that in the best wyse.

Enuye.
Then let me heare thy deuyce

Mysru.
I wyll brynge hym to classhe, cardes and dyse
And to propre trulles that be wanton and nyce
whych wyll not be kepte wyth a small pryce
Howe thynkest thou, wyl not thys do well

Enuye.
yes but harken in counsell
Thou must chaunge thy name

misrule
I wyll saye I hyght myrth

Enuye.
And I wyl saye the same
Peace whyst I se hym come

Prospe.
God saue al thys honourable companye

Enuye.
Syr you be welcome by our blessed ladye
I haue thought for you full longe
Here is a gentyl man, I pray you for my sake
Say he is welcome, and into youre seruyce hym take
For greate courtesye he can

Prosperite.
Syr you be welcome, geue me youre hande
And shewe me what is youre name

misrule
Syr my name is myrth
Beloued wyth lordes & ladyes of byrthe
At euery tryumphe I am them with
They can me not ones forbere

Enuye.
And ye had sought thys thousande yere
Suche another ye shall not fynde
wherfore I councell you in my mynde
Let hym dwell wyth you for one yere.

Prospe.
At youre request I am content
Suche a prety man for me were expedyent
And of hys councell sayne wolde I here

misrule
Syr ye must synge and daunce & make good chere
I wolde ye had some propre wenche
That were yonge and lustye at apynche
Her hele were not so brode as an ynche
She wolde quycken your courage

Prospe[OMITTED]
Peace hath forbyde al that outrage

Enuye[OMITTED]
He wolde set you at dotage
By cause he is olde and nature is paste
He wolde nowe euery man shulde faste
yf ye do so, ye do but waste
And vnto you no mede

Mysru[OMITTED]
A strawe for him ye haue no nede
Of hym to stande in awe or drede
A meryer life nowe may ye lede
Therfore be at your owne lybertye.

Prosperyte.
By my trouth I may saye to the
Sith I to him dyd assent
Had I neuer merye daye
But liued in feare and drede alwaie
Nothynge to mine entente
Another while I wyll me sporte
Synge and daunce to my comforte.

Enuye[OMITTED]
And amonge merye company do resorte
For that shal lenghte your lyfe.

Mysru[OMITTED]
Spare neyther mayde ne wyfe
Take bothe and they come in youre waie

Enuye[OMITTED]
Of wyth this lewde araye
It becommeth you nought by this daye.

Prospe[OMITTED]
By my trouth euen as ye saye
Ye marye nowe am I well apayde
Me thynketh I am properly araide:
yf I had a proper trull she shulde be assayde
In the worshyp of the newe yere

Enuye[OMITTED]
Russhe vp mutton, for beefe is deare
Haue and reuell and chaunce:

Mysru.
Nowe let vs bothe synge and daunce
wyll ye haue a frenshe rounde

Prospe.
And thou shalt se me bounce aboue the groude
Hey with reuell dashe

Peace entreth
Peace.
What prosperite is it come hereto

Prospe.
What deuyll of hel hast thou to do
Shall I not make mery when me lyst.

Peace.
Yet I saye beware of had I wyst

Enuye.
Hens ye knaue or els thou shalt lycke my fyst
I trowe thy heede wolde haue some knockes

Prosperite.
Go set hym in a payre of stockes
That I hym no more se.

Peace.
Yet man I saye remembre the
And thynke what I to the haue sayde.
Escheue euermore these ryatours company
And be ruled by reason as I the badde
Put frō the these two persons by whō thou art lade
Enuy & mysrule with theyr synful & great abusyon
whych yf thou wylt not forsake, wyl be thy confusion

Prospe.
Auaunt lorel, and take thys for a conclusyon
These men from me thou shalt not seperate
Go out of my syght or by coxs passyon
I shall laye the fast in newgate

Peace.
It is vetter to forsake them betyme then to late

Mysru.
This knaue wolde haue a broken pate
Let me alone by goddes breade
This same swerde shall stryke of hys head.

Prosperite.
I praye you hens that he were rydde
Shortly haue hym out of my syght

Peace.
A lytle whyle geue me respyte
And take hede what I do saye
Remembre in what condycyon thou was
when I fyrst mette the in this place
Full symple in poore araye
Nowe by the grace of god and counsell of me
Thou arte come to great prosperyte
And so mayst continue vntyll thou dye
yf thou wyselye take hede
Let not sensualyte lede the brydell
Be occupyed in vertue, and be not ydell
The better shalte thou procede
These wretches wyll thy goodes spende and wast
Then shalte thou be taken for an out caste
And mocked and scorned wyth most and leest
Then wyll no man the helpe at nede.

Enuye.
A syr euyll mote thou spede
That so can rede hys destanye.

Mysru.
Wyl ye suffre thys knaue in youre company
Then God be wyth you I wyll forsake you

Prospe.
Go hence or in fayth I shall make you.

Peace.
Then to almyghty god I betake you

Enuye.
Let me come to that braggar.
I shal thrust hym thorowe the ars with my dagger
(And here they face Peace out of the place)
Howe say ye, was not thys a good face
To dryue a knaue out of the place

Mysru.
In fayth thou made hym runne a pace
Thou loked as thou hadde bene madde

Prospe.
Nowe by my trouth my harte is glad
Some mynstrell nowe I wolde we hadde
To reuell and daunce, for by saynt Chadde
I am so lyght me thinke I flee.

Enuye.
ye mary so shulde it be
For nowe I holde you wyse.

misrule[OMITTED]
Syr and ye wyll do myne aduyse
Let vs go strayght to the floure delyce
There shall ye fynde a man wyll playe at dyce
with you for an hundreth pounde.

Prospe.
What man is he?

Mysru.
Colehassarde came late from be yonde the see
Ragged and torne in a garded cote
And in hys purse neuer a grote
And nowe he goeth lyke a lorde

Prospe.
I pray the tell me at our worde
Is he a gentylman bore.

Enuye.
Tusshe take no thought therfore
For be he gentylman, knaue, or boye
If he come hether with txyfle, or a toye
He can no money lacke.

Prosperyte.
Now by the breade that god brake
I thyncke longe tyll I hym se
Myrth go before and ordayne a good dysshe
One of flesshe, and an other of fysshe

Enuye.
Nay let all be fleshe
A yonge pullet tender and nesshe
That neuer came on broche, haue with ye or thou go

Mysru.
What shall I haue?

Enuye.
Foure quarters of a knaue.
Rosted vpon a spytte.

Exit mysrule.
Prospe.
Nowe by my trouth and colehassarde wyll syt
I wyll play as long as an hundreth pound wyll last.

Enuye.
And ye wyl play an hundreth pounde at a cast
He wyll kepe you playe.

Prosperyte.
Then let vs go our waye
I syt on thornes tyll I come ther

Enuye.
That shall make your thyrfte full bare

Prospe.
What wyll it do?

Enuye.
I say we shall haue good chere
When we come there.

Exūt ambo.
Peace.

Exit.
misrul[OMITTED]
Coll hassarde arte thou there
Horeson knaue wylt thou no appere
By my trouth I had wente to haue founde hym here
I holde hym gone some other waye
And where is enuye I can not hym espye
I trowe he is wyth prosperytye
Prosperyte, nay, I maye cal hym folysshe pouerte
As wyse as a drake
I haue brought hym to dyce, cardes, and classhe
And euer on hys syde ranne the losse
That he is not worthe a handfull of mosse
Neyther hath not a hole brat to hys backe

Enuye.
Passyon of god, is it come to that
These tydynges maketh my hart glade.

Mysru.
In fayth he hath neyther golde, syluer, ne plate
Col hassarde and I be both at one
He promysed me to haue halfe the game
That euery thynge shall be deuyded in twayne
He to haue the one halfe and I the other

Enuye.
Then lette vs be parteners as brother and brother

Mysru.
I can not saye, tyll Coll hassarde come
Then shall we knowe, bothe all and some

Colhassarde.
Here is a bagge of golde so rounde
Here in is two thousande pounde
Of prosperyte me it wonne
What man is able wyth me to make comparison
Nowe shall I take a marchauntes place
To occupye I truste wythyn shorte space
To be incredence wyth Englysh men
And when I am so well be truste
I maye borowe so moche as me luste
A subtyll crafte then fynde I muste
To conuaye vnder coloure lyke free men

Enuye.
Harke thys knaue so proude and stoute
That hadde not to hys arse a hole cloute
Whē he came to this land, & now hath brought about
To compare wyth a state

misrule
Nowe muste I haue halfe money and halfe plate

Colhas.
Naye by God there thou spake to late
None therof from me shall scape
Then hadde I lyued to longe

misrule
Thou promised me, when thou beganne
Halfe thy wynnynge I shoulde haue

Colhas.
Holde thy peace lewde knaue
Knowest thou to whom thou doest speake

misrule
A horeson thy head shal I breake

Enuye.
For the passyon of god sobre you mode
I feare shedynge of knaues bloude

Here they fyght and runne all out of the place And then entreth prosperite poorely and sayeth.
Pouer.
O Iesu what maye thys meane
My goodes are spent and wasted away
Also my men are from me clene
I se them not this seuen nyghtes daye
As longe as I myght spende and paye
They helde me vp with false dissymulacyon
And now they forsake me in my most trybulacyon

Enuye.
Come for coxs bones, why tary ye so longe

misrule
In fayth I come as faste as I can
I am so angrye I wote not what to do
That yonder knaue scaped from me so

Enuye.
What knaue is thys I holde hym some spye

Pouer.
I am youre mayster, knowe ye not me

Enuye.
Thou arte come a late oute of marshall see

misrule
Me thynke hys hayre groweth thorow his hode

Pouer.
Alas Coll hassarde hath wome all my good
And lefte me neuer a groate

Enuye.
Mary so me thinke, ye haue chaunged your coate
But nowe ye haue one vauntage.

Pouer.
What is that.

Enuye.
your executors shal not striue for your goodes another daye
Nor theues shall not robbe you goynge by the waye
Thus ye shall stande oute of doute

misrule
Hens ragged knaue or thou shal beare me a cloute
Hys clothes smell all of the smoke

Enuye.
Nowe by saynt Hewe that holy bysshoppe
Thys matter is well brought to passe
He is nowe a knawe as he was
Fyrst a knaue and then a man
And nowe he is a knaue agayne

Pouer.
Why saye ye so ye be to blame
I am youre mayster prosperyte

misrule
Auaunt lorell and euyll to the
Get the out of thys companye
begynnest thou now to make comparyson

Enuye.
Let hym be your vnder page
Geue hym meate and drynke, but no wage
Go brushe hys gowne & make clene hys shone

misrule
Wel knaue canst thou no courteysye

Enuye.
He hath soche a dysease in hys knee
He can not chaunce a man groate
It is not as ye wene

misrule
Come and se my shone made clene

Enuye.
By my fayth he shall wype mine

misrule
Thys knaue is not mete for me
It greueth my harte when I hym se
I wyl go hence and leue you twayne
For enuy thou mayst with pouertye rayne.

Exit.
Enuye.
Naye I had leuer he were slayne
I am gone as sone as ye.

Pouer.
Abyde styll wyth me gentyll charyte
O to whome shulde I sewe, to whom shuld I plette
O mortall worme wrapped all in wo
as a man all mortified, and mased in my wytte
I a captyfe in captyuite, lo fortune is my foo
I am in endlesse sorowe, alas what shall I do
these captiues thorow theyr coūsel & fals imaginacyō
haue brought me to nought ye was of great reputaciō
wo worth the tyme that I them knew
I maye well syghe and saye alas
For nowe I fynde these wordes full trewe
That peace shewed me here in this place
I regarded not hys councell. I lacked grace
wherfore nedy pouerte on me doth blowe hys horne
That euery man and womā doth laugh me to scorne
Example to all yonge men when they take in hand
To occupye in the worlde for your behofe
Loke wysely before and also vnderstande
Euyll compani destroyeth man on me ye se the profe
Make a sure foundacyon, or ye set vp the rofe
Of a good & vertuous begīning cometh a good endīg
And euermore beware of vnmeasurable spendynge

Here entreth the Somner.
Som.
I a syte you in our court to appeare

Pouer.
I praye you tell me wherefore

Sōner
Ye be greate sclaunderer and full of enuy

Pouer.
There wyll no man saye so but ye

Sōner
what wylt thou geue me and thou shalt go quyte.

Pouer.
By my trouth I haue not one myte

Som.
Then open penaunce & thou art like

Pouer.
By my trouth I sclaunder no man

Som.
Then come & secule thy self as well as thou can

Haboundance entreth.
Haboū.
What man is he that can me dismaye
For I optayne all thynge at my wyll
Or who dare any thynge agaynst me saye
what so euer I do be it good or yll
For yf he do he were better be styll
I shall hym punishe be it ryghte or wronge
For wyth my purse I can. both saue and hange
To repugne agaynst me: he were better be styll
I haue a propre trull for my pastaunce
In my chamber I her kepe, bothe nyght and daye
My neyghbours therwith, taketh great greuaunce
yet I kepe her still, who so euer say nay
How be it there is one a poore caytyfe I heare saye
Hath me accused in the courte spirituall
And it coste me a, C.li. punishe him I shall

Som.
Open synne must haue open penaunce
God spede my mayster haboundaunce

Haboū.
What knaue arte thou with a very myschaunce
That cometh in so homely.

Sōner.
Syr I praye you be not angrye
I am an offycer of the spiritualtye
Ther is vpon you a great sclaunde
ye kepe another mannes wyfe in your chambre
And lyue in great aduantrye.

Haboū.
What wretches doeth so say by me.

Som.
It is openly knowen euery where
Before my mayster I charge you to appere
Upon a boke there shall ye swere
Whether it be so or no

Haboū.
What is the beste for me to do
Rather then I to the courte wyll goo
I had leuer spende twentie pounde

Sōner.
Syr of soche a way may be founde
To excuse yon. what wyll ye thed saye

Haboū.
Now therof hartely I the praye

Som.
ye shall come home to my maysters place
And saye that ye be put vp of malyce
Thrust mony in his hande apace
And so shal ye go quyte away

Haboū.
For thy coūsel gamercy, hold here is .xl. pence.

Som.
Come on sir I wyll do my dylygence.

exiūt ambo.
Here entreth ye somner agayne, & pouerte foloweth him with a candell in his hāde doyng penaūce aboute the place. And them fayth the somner.
Som.
Rowme syrs auoydaunce
That thys man maye do hys pennaunce

Pouer.
Now haue I my penaunce done

Sōner.
Nay thou shalt aboute ones agayne

Pouer.
The pouerte and trouble that I endure
I cannot to you in fewe wordes expresse
Yf it shulde be into god no dyspleasure
I wolde desyre death my payne to relesse
Soche is my penurye and troublesome heuynesse
That I coude in no wyse, suffre it paciently
But that I truste to wynne heauen thereby

Peace.
What mā art thou that maketh soch lamentacyon

Pouer.
Mayster peace, I desyre you of pardon
I am youre seruaunt, some tyme called prosperyte

Peace.
Howe came thou to thys perplexyte

Pouer.
Coll hassarde, mysrule, and false enuy
Brought me to hys destresse

Peace.
I shewed the before playne expresse
Then of my wordes thou haddest dysdayne

Pouer.
Therfore nowe it is to me greate payne

Peace.
What persons are those that dyd him accuse

Som.
Syr he is put vp by sute of offyce.

Peace.
Sute of offyce, then it is so
Ther hath ben credable persons thre or two
Soche artycles to the iudge dyd shewe
He oughte therto to haue good respecte
And do swere these persons vpon a boke
For loue ne dred they say but trewe
For it is not lefull for a called, a caytyfe, or a knaue
Agaynst honest persons soch matters for to haue
To put a man to open penaunce without deue profe.

Sōner.
Syr whē I entred mine office this was mine othe
To herken about and heare
For backebyters, sclaunderers, and false iurers
Sysmatykes, homysedes, and great vsures
Bandes, aduouterers, fornycatours, and echeters
All soch must penaunce do

Pouer.
I knowe one soche came neuer thereto.

Peace.
Who is that?

Pouer.
His name is called haboundaunce
Whych hath done manye a great offence
For he kepeth another mannes wyfe
No maner of penaunce ye make hym do
But redemeth wyth money and let hym go
So in aduoutrye styl he ledeth hys lyfe

Som.
He made is purgacyon vpon a boke
Or els redemed wyth the syluer hoke

Peace.
Syluer hoke, that I denye
For it is a playne decree
That open synne muste do open punishemēte
There can be no soche iudgemente
That money shall stop the lawe.

Pouer.
Naye there stoppe and laye a strawe
Where se ye anye man a substaunce
Put to open penaunce
But punysshed by the purse
A poore man that hath nought to paye
He shalbe punysshed thys ye se euery daye
But yf he be obstynaunt and wyll not obeye
Anone they well hym curse.

Som.
Wel for thy saying another day yu shal fare ye worse.
Exyt somner.

Pouer.
Syr I beseche you comfort me with some solace.

Peace.
Thou art well punyshed for thy trespasse
By thyne owne sensuall and vndyscrete operacyon
Hath brought the to all thys trybulacyon
Stande vp, wyth thys vesture I shal the renewe,

Pouer.
Syr I thanke you, & wyll do at your reformacyon
And for my tyme mysspent I am sore ashamed

Peace.
Yf ye do as I you bydde ye shall not be blamed
Forsake enuy and, mysrule with al their olde perers
Be cōuersaunt wt good mē goodnes therof wyl grow
Folow the sayenge of Dauid: cū sancto sanctus erys
For wycked men euermore wycked seed do sowe
what cōmeth of euil cōpany now thy self doth know
Prynt it well in thy memory and do it not forgette
Many a man doth decay for lacke of good forewitte

Prosperyte.
Syr your sayenges is ful true I haue perceyued it
And for the vertuous coūsell that ye to me haue geue
I shall be your oratour whyle I haue a day to lyue

Peace.
Soueraynes here may ye se proued before you al
Of thys wanton worlde the great fragilyte
Euer mutable of the turnyng as a bal
Nowe flode of ryches nowe ebbe of pouerte
What shulde men set by this worldes vanyte
Thynke on this lesson and do it not forget
The gayest of vs al is but wormes meate

Prosperyte.
Withe the supportacyon of thys noble audyence
we haue here shewed thys symple enterlude
Besechyng you of your benyuolence to take pacyence
It is but a myrrour vice to exclude
The maker hereof his entent was good
No man to dysplease olde nor yonge
Yf any faute be therin we desyre you of pardon

Peace.