University of Virginia Library

Here beginneth the worthy Enterlude of Kynge Daryus. Neuer before Imprynted.
The Prolocutor.
Good people harke & geue eare a whyle,
For of thys Enterlude I wyll declare the style,
As Auctours heretofore haue thought it commodyous
The whole some of theyr matter before to dyscusse
So hath our Auctour thought it nesessary
By a Preface to declare thys Commody
To tell the matter I will now begyn
A certayne kynge (to you) we shall brynge in
Whose name was Daryus (good and vertuous)
Of nature also both louyng and courtuous
Thys kynge commaunded a feast to be made
And at that banket many people had
These fyrst will I reherce, Percia and Medya,
And then Iuda, and also Ethyopia,
These came to the kynges banket
And tooke such parte as before them was set,
With a glad mynde to that they were consented
And after to theyr owne roofes returned.
And when the kynge in counsayle was set
Two Lordes cōmaunded he to be fet
As consernyng matters of three yonge men
Whych breyfely shewed theyr fantasie then,
In wrytyngs theyr menyngs they dyd declare
And to gyue them to the kynge they dyd not spare
One wryt one thynge, nexte the other,
But the thyrd the trueth aboue all other.
You shall here anone how he is rewarded
And also for hys trueth well contented
As for the other it goeth ill wyth them
Because they dyssembled lyke wycked men.
Now the preface to you I haue declared
And of it also the effecte ye haue harde
Now sylence I desyre you therfore
For the Uyce is entrynge at the dore.

The Prologue goeth out, & Iniquity cōmeth in.
Iniquytie.
How now my maisters, how goeth the world now
I came gladly to talke with you
But softe, is there no body here
Truly I do not lyke thys gere,
I thought I shuld haue found sum bodie
Let me looke better yet I pray ye,
I am mad now to the sole of my foote
And they were here I wold lay them on the coote
A horson knaues haue you thus mee mocked
Suerly I will breake theyr hed,
Come no neare it were for you best
If you do, it shall not be for your rest.

Here entreth Charytie.
Charytye.
Holde thy hand I pray thee hartelie,
Of Charytie be content I pray thee.

Iniquytie.
Thou wilt not fyght I dare saye
Gyt thee awaye or I wyll thee slay,
Ha thou knaue, who made thee so bolde?
Thou lokest lyke an auncyant father and a olde
Who made thee come into my domynion?
Tell mee one thynge, how doth thy mynion?
I thynke surely it is a trym wenche and a feayre
How sayest thou, how lykest thou thys geare?

Charytie.
Thy cōmunycatyon I lyke not trulye
Nor at all I set not by thy flatterye
It is very follie that thou doest saye
Men to trust in theyr mad fancies alwaye
As for me I trust god hath geuen me the grace
All my ennemies clerely to deface.

Iniquytie.
What art thou called? thy name tell to mee.

Charytie
My name (I tell thee) is Charitie
Without the which no flesh can Iustyfied bee.

Iniquytie.
Yea, truly thou art an holy man
As is betweene this and Buckingham,
I pray thee tel me what meneth this word charity?
Because thou doest make it so holy.

Charytie.
Peace man thou arte vnwyse,
Neuer a good thought canste thou deuyse,
For if thou couldest thus thou woldest not prate.

Iniquytie.
Gyt thee away for thou shalt not be my mate
I wyll haue a better fellow then thou arte
Or by you all I wyll not set a farte.

Charytie.
God hath cōmaunded one to loue another
Thy very ennemy as thy owne brother,
It is euen gods cōmaundement
To loue our fooes with a good intent.
And who so dooth loue God aboue
With vnfayned and pure loue
And hys neyghbour as hym selfe also
Hym wyll god prosper in wealth and wo
For the Prophets requyre of vs no more,
But that a faruent loue wee keepe in stoore.

Iniquytie.
That I shall, I wyll kepe it faste.

Charytie.
What wilt thou keepe tell mee in haste?
For I thynke thou art a deceytfull person.

Iniquytie.
You bad I shuld kepe my money leaste it were gone
And I made my pursse so close & so hard
That it will not be lost .iii. halfpence I will ieobard
No, no, it will not come out agayne.

Charytie.
O false Iniquytie I tell thee playne
That God will thee surely destroye,
Without other fauour or mercye
Easyer will it be I do tell thee
For a Gable rope to enter into a Nedles eye
Then for an vnrighteous & wycked mā I tel the
To enter into heauen at any tyme verelye,
Therfore thy folly do not vpholde
But it to leaue be thou bolde.

Iniquytie.
Be bolde it were not best for thee
To make any pratinge here at mee,
Therfore gyt thee quyckly awaye,
Or wyth my dagger I will thee sleaye.

Charytie.
Thy wordes ar nought and very foolyshe
I do not at all regarde them doubtlesse,
Ah wycked ennemy thou speakest lyke a foole.

Iniquytie.
Syrs who is there that hath a stoole?
I will buy it for thys Gentleman
If you will take money come as fast as you can.

Charytie.
I do not lyke verely thy companie
It were best for me to go from thee
Thys loue that wee haue ought to be so puer
On Iustyce grounded, and on fayth suer,
But the loue that in thee doth appere
Is not worthe the valour of a heare
Semeth it neuer so much worthy prayse
In mens syght, yet it is to our owne decayes
It is abhomynable before god trulye
And at all of hym not estemed I tell thee.

Iniquytie.
By my trouthe here is a good sporte
That thou hast made of me such a reporte
Thou horson knaue get thee awaye
Or I will deceyue thee with my subtyltie I saye,
If thou go not hence to thee it will be deathe
For in mee is neyther trust nor faythe.

Charytie.
I thinke thou doest thinke as thou doest say
For by thy workes it doth appere alway
That thou doest neuer god regarde
Thy nature appereth to be so harde
O wycked feend and full of ill
With myscheife and flatery thou doest mee fyll
Saynct Paule to the Romaynes doth declare
To tell the sentence I wyll not spare,
Quis quiete siue charitate viuere potest.
In fewe wordes it is exprest,
If out of theyr place hyls I cold moue
I were nothing if I had no loue.
If to fede the poore, also my goods I did bestow
Had I no Charytie I were not worth a strawe.
By loue are wee knowen to bee,
The chyldren of Chryst in hys dyetye,
Therfore thou Iniquitie gyt thee hence.

Iniquytie.
Nay fyrst will I thee recompence
It were best for the hence to be gone
Or suerly I will make thee grone.

Charytie.
Sainct Iames also in his Epystle hath thys
who is a freind of the world, the ēnemy of god is
Saincte Paule also to the Romayns dclareth
That he that is without loue and fayth
Can neuer come to the kyngdome of God.

Iniquytie.
Nay then I sweare by this Roode
It were not best for thee to tary
For if thou do I wyll slaye thee truly.

Charytie.
Thys thy pratynge shall not make mee cease
It were best for thee to holde thy peace,
And obaye that whych I haue sayde:
And from these preceptes do not slyde
By these vayne gaudes do not set
For no profyte of them at all shalt thou get

Iniquytie.
What hast thou to do with yt thou old knaue
Gyt thee awaye betimes or no grace thou shalte haue.

Charytie.
O dyssemblyng and flatteryng generation
God will you destroye, (o wycked nacyon)
In mouth you professe gods holy name
But in your thoughtes you sure abuse the same:
Well, because thou art an vngodly person
I wil from thee away be gone.

And goeth out.
Iniquitie.
Ha, ha, ha, is it euen so,
By my trouth syr I am as glad as you
For at no rest at all could I bee
Whylst thou wast here wyth mee
Farewell Peter blowbowle I may wel call thee,
I maruell who they be I see commyng here
By the mouse foote I charge you to appere
Nay then I must neades make me readye
Or wyth me it wyll be wronge trulye,
Here Importunytie & Parcyalytie enter.
Whē one blow cōmeth on this side, another on yt
But I trow I cā fere the knaues wt my grānams Cat
Pusse pusse, where art thou? come away.

Importunytie.
Peace man, be of good cheare I say,
Thynkest thou wee with thee will fyght
No that we will not I sweare by this lyght.

Parcyalytie.
Why dyd he thynke we wolde do so?
No man we wyll not I warrand you
But who was it that was here of late.

Iniquytie
And wilt thou nedes know, it was such a mate
As I could not fynde betwene thys and hell
It is no lye that I thee tell,
Hee dyd here so on me rayle
But I thynke I gaue hym a blowe with a Foxe tayle
So he was gone quycly from mee
He durst tarye no longer in my companie.

Importunytie.
Thou didest serue him well I sweare by thys bread
Thou shuldst haue payd hym about the head
I wold I had hym here for hys sake
I wolde haue made hym chanels to rake.

Parcyalytie.
What was hys name? I pray thee tell mee.

Iniquytie.
Hys name was mayster Charytie.

Parcyalytie.
If I had bene here I tell thee iwysse
I wold surely haue made hym to pysse
I harde say he was such a clarke
which wold haue made my conscience very darke
But tell mee, how didst thou dryue hym awaye.

Iniquytie.
Yes yes, I dyd well ynoughe
I made the knaue git his lyuyng by the ploughe
Where he had one word, I had halfe a score
Yea, and there had byn a few more,
Wyth the knaue had I thys cōmunycatyon
That at last I made a proclamatyon
That if any were found within my cure
Whych to Iniquytie and falshod wold not aluer
The same shuld dye wythout any remedy
The knaue hard that and got him away quickly
Thus dyd I handle the knaue
That no mercy at all of mee could he haue.

Importunytie.
Mary and thou dydst serue hym well
Where is he now I pray thee canst thou tell.

Iniquytie.
I thynke he be gone now to hell
I care not where he be, so he come no more here
How saiest thou knaue, how likest thou this gere

Parcyalytie.
By my trouth thys gere doth me well please.
When thou hast hym let hym be at no ease.

Iniquytie.
I will rappe hym thus vpon the bones
And will make hym very soore grone
But I pray thee tell mee? what is thy name.

Importunytie.
Importunytie is the very same
Nues I do bryng hether for aduantage
And to tel lyes for lucre is my common vsage.

Parcyalytie.
Yea, I warrand thee hee is such a felow
As is not hence to Peterborow.

Iniquytie.
Tell thy name I pray thee vnto me

Parcyalytie.
Syr my name is Parcyalytie
To handle the knaue I wylbe bolde,
I wil make that his hart shalbe soone very cold.

Iniquytie.
Of trueth you two are such honest men
As is not betwyxt thys and hell then,
But I pray thee what newes canste thou tell me
Will he come againe or no I pray thee.

Importunytie.
Nay that he wyll not I dare saye
For if he do he were better naye.

Parcyalytie.
What nedest thou care so longe as I am here
I wyll hym handle do thou not fere,
Blowes to geue hym I wyll not spare
He is lyke if he come full ill to fare.

Iniquytie.
What nede I care as long as I haue such seruaūtes
To defend me from the crueltie of that Tyrante
I warrant you my men dylygent be
That pyseburnd knaue for to destroye.

Parcyalytie,
Yea I warrand thee do thou not feare
We will hym so handle he shall not steare
We will hym in our snares trappe
And hym wyth a Foxtayle wee wyll flappe.

Importunytie.
Yea and I also wyll do my parte
And wyll surely put hym to smarte,
I warrand thee I will vexe hym full sore
That he shall prate here no more.

Iniquytie.
Yea by god and well sayde, I con you thanke
And he be thus hādled with him it wilbe blanke
Ha, ha, ha, ha, surely I must nedes smyle
To see how these the knaue wyll defyle
You are two as dronken knaues
As are betwene this & your owne skyns, so God me saue.

Parcyalytie.
Why Iniquytie, what doest thou saye?

Iniquytie.
I sayd ye were two honest men by my faye,
But surely I dyd not so thynke
No that I dyd not I sweare by thys drynke

Importunytie.
Now thou art dysposed to ieste
Well Iniquytie I thynke it best,
To be gone out of thy companye
For here thou doest with vs but dalie.

Parcyalytie.
I warrand thee man it is not so
Is it Iniquytie how say you.

Iniquytie.
Thou pratyng foole holde thy peace
Or to laye thee on the coate I wyll not cease
I thynke thou knowest not to whom thou doest speke
I faith you knaue I wil make you a peke
A you horson I will rappe you on the scull.

Importunytie.
Nay be content I pray thee.

Iniquytie.
Nay that I will not verelye.

Parcyalytie.
I pray thee freind hold thy hande
Thou foole canest thou not styll stande.

Iniquytie.
But syrs I pray you who is hee
That entreth hereby.

Equytie entreth.
Parcyalytie.
Truly I do see the same
Enquyre (I pray thee) what is hys name.

Importunytie.
What is thy name freynd tell mee.

Equytie.
My name I tell you is Equytie
He whych doth it obtayne blessed shalbe.

Iniquytie.
Whoo, haue we more blesseds come to ye towne
Thou mayst go meddle of clouting thy gowne
With vs thou hast nothyng to do.

Importunytie.
No he hath nothyng to lay vs vnto
Therfore he were best to holde hys peace,

Equytie.
Thys shall not make mee to cease
But more and more it shall geue mee a corage
To speake agaynst your euell vsage
Your flaterynge, your hordome, & wycked actes,
Your malycyousnes and euell factes.

Importunytie.
Nay & we haue thys a do we shall neuer haue doone
Thou horson knaue git thee to clout thy shoone.

Iniquytie.
Nay he shall haue a better offyce then that
He shall go play wyth my mothers pussecat.

Parcyalytie.
Nay that is two good for such a knaue
It were pytie that hee that offyce shuld haue
If you wilbe ruled by my councell
Let hym go puddynges for to sell.

Iniquytie.
Nay then hee wyll begyle hys mother
Whylest he selleth one he will eat another.

Equytie.
Well though you do tryfle with vs thus
It wil be to your owne dampnacyon iwys
A brother of myne was here as I hard saye
But with your folly you did driue him away
So I thought it good hether for to come
To turne you from your errour, o ye people dūme
Without knowledge and vnderstandynge
And yet so deceytfull in wycked workynge
Saincte Paule to the Romaynes doth testyfye
That that thyng that spryngeth not of Equytie
Is cleane dampnacyon and syn it selfe
and no remedy at al can there be foūd you to help
If that with syn you be once intangeled
From it you will neuer be conuerted
For the eyes of god sayth the Prophyt Ierymy
Doth alwayes behold Iustyce and Equytie
Therfore repent & clayme fayth for your owne.

Iniquytie.
Gyt thee away or I will make thee to grone
Mary if we suffer thee to prate here
With vs wronge wyll go thys gere.

Importunytie.
Mary that it will I tell thee trulye
Some meanes must we find to dryue him away.

Parcyalytie.
With vs it wil be wrong if we suffer him thus
Therfore he shalbe handled more cruelly of vs
We wyll kepe hym so strayght in our bandes
That he shal not be able at vs to stretch his hāds

Importunytie.
I will set hym packyng if he will not hence.
I shall so handle hym he shall not be worth a cople of pence.

Iniquytie.
And I my selfe wyll do my parte
I wyll surely put the knaue to smarte,
If hee wyll not go hence by fayre menes
He is lyke at all to haue no gaynes
Therfore freind departe anone
Say thou hast warnyng & gyt thee away soone

Equytye.
Yet for thys I wyll not departe.

Iniquytie.
Wylte thou not, then will I perce thee to the harte.

Equytie.
Leaue thy great follye ientle freinde
And the wayes of god in thy doenges pretende
Seke god and on hys name call
And to hys mercy and grace alway fall
And then god wyll surely preserue thee
If thou for mercye to hym wylt flee
God hath commaunded thee to loue in harte
All such as seke thy soule to peruerte.
What art thou called I pray thee hartely?

Iniquytie.
And wylt thou nedes know, I am Iniquytie
What hast thou to say vnto mee,
If manie wordes to me thou doest make
I wyll rap my dagger aboute thy pate.

Parcyalytie.
Yea spare hym not if he were a kynge
Let hym haue as good as he doth brynge.

Importunytie.
Make thy dagger bryght and sharpe
And then put the knaue to smarte.

Iniquytie.
How saiest thou freind wilt thou git thee hence
And thou wilt not I will thee well recompence
Therfore packe whylst thou maye.

Equytie
Tushe all thys shall not dryue me away,
A lytle more yet with you wyll I talke.
Or out of thys place I do walke
Good thoughtes by fayth we do obtayne
And by fayth we gyt our profyt and gayne
Through faith so many as do beleue
Prosperous thoughtes god will them geue,
As in the booke of wisdome we do rede
That the lord loketh vpon faithe & beholdeth it indede

Parcyalytie.
Well then thou wilt not gyt thee away.
Surely if thou wylt not I wyll thee slaye.

Equytie.
Yet away I will not go
I haue a lytle more to say vnto you
Pryde in you is so ryfe
Horedome, crueltie, and also stryfe
God doth alway them resyste
That be proude, & to smyte thē he doth not misse
This sentence in Ecclesiasticus is
That god bryngeth the proude to noughte
And the humble man he hath out soughte
In the same place also he hath declared
That god vnryghtous men doth not regarde
He shalbe fylled with curssynges manye
That to it will cleaue and stycke verelye,
In Genisys also it is founde
That our bodye is but very donge
Who then will make so much of a vaine thinge
Seing in thys worlde it hath no taryenge
In the prouerbes also found the same sentence is
That the bewtie of our carkasse but vaine & britle is
If any thynge we haue that is good
It cometh by god, and not by our noble blood
Why do you then (o you Tyrantes)
Boste of these your cruell aplyantes?
As though you had not receyued it of Chyste
Of whom ye did receiue, o ye shall nyuer be blest.

Iniquytie.
Here is such a knaue I thynke verelye
He wil not away till I canuis him welfauoredly
Ha, ha, ha, ha, I muste nedes laughe
Gyt thee away knaue and go drawe the ploughe
Well I perceyue there is no remedye
If I do not bestyre my selfe I shall decaye
Well freind now I wyll trye a fyt wyth thee
What fence hast thou (I praye thee tell mee)
I beleiue thou canst not defende thys blowe
Nor thys nother I trowe.

Equytie.
In such vayne gaudes I do not delyghte
Nother by day nor yet by nyghte
Gyt thee away thou false Iniquytie
Or I will surely shunne thy companie.

Parcyalytie.
Why? doth he here thus scolde
Gyt thee away thou pysburnde Cokolde.

Iniquytie.
He will not away till I set hym hence
Go git thee home & talke with thy wenche.

Importnnytie.
In your doenges you are not wyse
You must some straight way against hym deuyse
Or els all will not be worth a strawe.

Iniquytie.
Gyt thee away thou horson dawe.

Equytie.
O ye fonde and ignorant nacyon
O deceytfull and wicked generacyon
Here you scorne and mocke whom god hath sent
You care not at all for any punyshment,
Poore people here you do defraude
Poling gods flocke by your gaudes,
Into eternall fyre your way is prepared
And also theyrs that god doth not regarde,
You haue obtayned your owne dampnacion
And for you at all there is no saluacyon
Except from you actes you turne
For to much agaynst god you spurne
How will you aunswere in the day of iudgement
Without you take hede and your syns repent,
Except in time you do conuarte
For you there is ordayned cruell smarte.

Parcyalytie.
Why? loe, if you thus do hym suffer
He wyll prate agaynst vs more and more
If I begyn to take hym in hande
He shall feele a more cruell bande.

Importunytie.
I pray thee let vs set hym awaye
Let hym prate no longer here I you praye.

Equytye.
God hath (I truste) geuen mee the grace
All my ennemies clearly to deface,
If he be on my side I care not for you all
If you were .x. thousand more both great & small
For he will surely defend hys flocke
And saue them from your deryding mocks
O flowtynge fooles and ignorante
Though you here now do mocke & play the foole
It will be hereafter to the dampnacion of youre soule
You thinke your selues to be euen as god
When you neither knowe hym nor his ryghtfull rod
O say you, we are clear and free
Our faultes, who can them espye?
Yes, yes, god that sytteth aboue
Doth marke them all as it doth hym behoue
He but with one twinklynge of an eye
Can spye thē out if they were .x. times more then they be
Repent therfore your faultes betime
And mercy alway of god clayme
Then he will preserue you lyke his owne childrē
And saue you from the lake that burneth wt brimstone.

Iniquytie.
Ha, ha, thys fellow is to good for mee
One word agayne him I dare not speke trulye
He hath so many wordes in store
Farewell, farewell, I haue neuer a one more.

Parcyalytie.
Nay softe Iniquytie away thou shalt not skyp
Tyll wee haue dryuen away this olde heretyke
If I once byd thee agayne gyt thee away
It shalbe thy death if I maye.

Importunytie.
Indede we haue suffered hym to long to prate
He is now so bold that agaynst vs he doth crake
Gyt thee away or I will lay thee on the pate.

Equytie.
Here he kneleth downe & praieth.

Iniquytie.
Such another godsone I dare well say
I had not betwene this and Candlemasse day
Gods blessyng my son I do thee geue
Holde thee, kepe it so longe as thou doest lyue.

Parcyalytie.
Why wilt thou blesse such a knaue as he is
Neuer of mee he shuld haue hys blysse.

Importunytie.
Nor of mee nother I sware by this bread
I thought surely by this time he wold haue byn dead
And you had byn ruled by mee
He shuld neuer haue sene thys day
Thou olde knaue gyt thee away.

Equytie.
God I geue thee thankes
That haste geuen mee grace
To flee these Tyrantes
In good tyme and space,
Farewell I you bydde
Let youre wayes be hydde
And saye you haue warnynge,
Leaste it bee
For your payne trulye
And bytter mournynge:
Repent in tyme all that I haue sayde
And looke that it be dylygently obayde
For no longer can I tary in your companie
You ar so full of malice & enuie.

And goeth out.
Iniquytie.
Ha, ha, lo maysters, lo now is he gone
I thought surely he wold not haue gon til noone
But the knaue was glad to take hys flyght
Be durst tary no longer in my syght
Hy thys may you know I was a bolde man
But I wold not haue tared if he had ventred me vpon
But so griseld vpon him I did looke
As he had bene a very Cooke.

Parcyalytie.
What is he flowne, whan did he go tell mee.

Iniquytie.
I suppose he is not a myle hence verelie,
For hys flight he dyd but take of late
He is scant out of the gate.

Importunytie.
O good Lord it is a sporte I trow
That thys knaue is gone from you
I thought he wolde not tary longe
By the pratinge of hys double tonge.

Iniquytie.
Nowe may I be bolde
Wyth Cokoldry to holde
And prety other gere,
I may playe the knaue
Poole, pyll and shaue
In mee there is no fere:
Seing I haue
Made thys shytten knaue
Whiche was with me so bolde,
I haue throwne downe
And pulde him by the crowne
And made hym very colde.
I wyll fere no more
Lyon, Bull nor Bore
If that they do come here
But will them set a packynge
Wyth my prety iestynge
And put them to great feare
I must my selfe bestyre
In my great wrath and ire
That they shall come no more
Whych haue me sore vexed
And cruelly tormented
By the masse it is full sore.

Parcyalytie.
my freind Iniquytie now we leaue you behind

Iniquitie.
Let vs haue a songe to refresh our mynd.

Importunytie.
The Songe.

Importunytie.
Now freind farewell no longer we maye abyde
But apace away we must slyde.

Parcyalytie.
Most louynge freind Iniquytie
God haue you in his custodie.

Importunitie & Parcyalitie go both out.
Iniquytie.
Well now these knaues be gone
Now am I poore soule lefte alone
I may syt here and make my mone
I must nedes wepe
But yet my teares I must nedes kepe
I can not for shame let them come oute
If I do I shall dye without doubte
No no I will kepe them in with a cloute
Now I care not and I go my waye
I will no longer tary here I saye
Hey lusty laddes, who can be more merier?
I thynke inowe can be more soryer
I lyue at myne owne pleasure
I haue euery thinge at my owne measure
To tary here I do not intende
But apace awaye I will wende
But shall I go, yea truly I will be gone,
I will tary no longer by sweete S. Iohn
Farewell my maysters I commyt you to god all,
To saue you from the byting of the Lyon Ball.

Iniquity goeth out, & the kyngs two seruaūtes enter.
Agreable.
Our labour in vayne haue we loste
For our Lord & kyng is not in this choste

Preparatus.
I pray thee hartely be not angry
Because he is not in thys entry,
He will be here anone as I suppose
Surely my eyes do dysglose
If yonder I do not see hym commynge.

Agreable.
It shulde be hee by the noyse makynge
Thou hast made mee now very glad
Where before I was very sad
It is I suppose verely
Loe yonder come such a companie
Yonder he is with the Lordes of hys Chiualry.

Preparatus
Let vs fayne some fable of olde
And to tell it the kynge be we bolde.
What was the cause we were here him before.

Agreable.
That will I do very gladlye
I consent to it with all the harte in my bodye,
The kynge wyth hys Councell enter.
Lorde saue thy grace gentle kynge.

Preparatus.
We salute thee with much gretynge.

King Darius.
what was the cause you came hether so quickly.

Ambo.
We had a lytle busines hetherward verely.

Kyng Daryus.
My Lordes seing hether we be come
We must consent to one thynge & see it be done.

Ambo consul:
What is it syr that you do intende
To vs declare (I pray you) your mynde,
And fulfylled without doubte it shalbe.

King Darius.
A feaste wolde I gladly make
If the paynes with me you will take
I intend to haue here of straungers a company.

Perplexitie.
Syr it shalbe as you will
We are content your mynde to fulfyll.

Curyosytie.
I will do (o kynge) as mee shall behoue
And from your preceptes I will not moue.

Kyng Darius.
Then my seruauntes come stand before mee
And herken to that whych I shall say to ye
Let all thynges be prepared quyckly
Let all this be done without remedy
See there lacke nothing when they be here
And let them not spare to eat of this our chere

Preparatus.
Syr it shalbe done as you haue cōmaūded me.
And from this your preceptes I will not flee.

Agreable.
In thys also will I consente
And will be redy to do youre commaundemente.

Kynge Daryus.
Well go forward and brynge them hether
And byd them all come together
My Lords how thynke you it best.

Perplexitie.
By that tyme syr your place will be increast.

Curyosytie.
Syr your preceptes are all iuste
You may do euen as you luste.

Kynge Daryus.
Well syrs go hence quycklie
And byd them come hether wyth ye.

Ambo.
Syr it shalbe done as you haue sayde
Your commaundyment it shalbe obayde.

Preparatus & Agreable go both oute.
Kynge Daryus.
Hy you and make much haste
And byd them come of our fare to taste
I suppose they wyll be here by and by.

Ambo consulto.
Yonder cometh a very greate companie.

Kynge Daryus.
Those be they as farre as I can deme
Are they not? how thynke you then
Well, if they do, welcome shall they bee,
I wolde be glad to see them in my companye
Come in syrs and do not spare.

Perplexitie.
Come in why do you feare.

Curyosytie.
I warrant you, approche you nere.

Aethiopia, Percia, Iuda and Media enter.
Aethiopia.
God saue thy grace ientle kynge
I do salute thee with much gretynge.

Percya.
Iesu preserue thee alwaye
And saue thee from thy ennemies for euer & aye.

Iuda.
O sweete kynge, god saue thy grace,
And send thee myght thy ennemies to deface.

Medya.
God geue thee of thy aduersaries the victorye,
And defend thee from all malyce and enuye.

Kyng Daryus.
Welcome syrs of trueth you are
To thys our poore and symple fare
But thanke god and prayse hys name
Whych to vs dyd send thys same.

Perplexitie.
Syt downe and make no more a do
And eate that whych is set before you.

Curiositie.
They syt downe all.
Come thanke the kyng for the meates here
And to eate of them do not you fere.

Media.
Syr we thanke you hartelye
To eate of thē we wil not spare I warrant you.

Aethiopia.
The Kyng and you also thanke wee do
Which to this banket hath called vs to.

Percya.
For thys moste harty thankes we do you geue.
And pray to god that longe you may lyue.

Iuda.
We reuerent thee with fauour great
For this thy foode and precyous meat.

Kyng Darius.
Well, eate and do not spare
But thanke the Lord for this his fare.

Omnes.
We thanke hym and you also.

Ambo consul:
Eate and make no more a do.

Omnes.
I warrant you, you nede not byd vs
Here will none be lefte if we eate thus.

Kyng Darius.
Care not for that I pray you hartely,
But to eate it I pray you do not spare you.

Iuda.
They rise from meate.
God rewarde thee three folde agayne
Whych thou hast here taken in payne.

Aethiopia.
God double thy goods more and more
And in thy nede sende thee great store.

Percya.
Of corne and Cattell hee will the increase
And to multyply thee hee will not cease.

Media.
Thryse double surely god will thee rewarde.
Seyng to feede the poore thou hast had regard.

Curyosytye.
Syrs much good do it you all
Uppon the kynge be you bolde to call
If any thing you lacke that he hath in store
You shall haue it all other before.

Kyng Darius.
Yea, be bolde to call vpon mee
In wealth or wo, or in your myserie
For nothynge of me you shall lacke trulie.

Omnes.
Syr we geue harty thankes to you.

Iuda.
Wyll you be gone out of thys place
Come (I pray you) let vs go a pace.

Percya.
We will be gone (bie and bye) very gladly.

Aethiopia.
Then let vs go, and make no more a do.

Media.
In that also will I consent to you.

Omnes.
God saue thy grace and send thee longe lyfe
And saue thee euer from all stryfe.

Aethyopya, Percya, Iuda and Medya goo all out.
Kyng Daryus.
God prosper your iourney & send you good lucke
And from your ennemyes all you plucke.

Curyosytie.
Lorde what do you now intende,
Wyll you home to your owne Choste wende.

Perplexytie.
Syr it is best to be done so
And we together wyll go wyth you.

Kynge Daryus.
I wyll go wyth you very gladly
With all the harte within my body.

They go out, & Iniquytie cōmeth in syngyng.
Iniquytie.
La , soule, soule, fa, my, re, re.
I misse a note I dare well say
I shuld haue byn low when I was so hie
I shall haue it ryght anone verely
How now mayster, how fare you now
How do you synce I was laste with you?
Where are these knaues they come not away
I beleiue I see them comyng theyr way
Importunytie & Parcyalytie enter.
Come away and be nought a whyle
Or surely I will you both defyle.

Parcyalytie.
Granercys my olde freinde Iniquytie.

Importunytie.
What Peter pynchfyste how goeth the world with thee.

Iniquytie.
what Iohn Coppersmith otherwise called the Butterflie
I perceiue by your cōmunication
You sprange both of lyke foundacion.

Importunytie.
No that we did not by the blessed Trynitie.

Parcyalytie.
What doth he say (I pray thee tell mee.)

Importunytie.
He saith we came both of one issue
No brother, that did we not I tell you
Of no base stocke were we borne
Our fathers did neuer plowe corne,
They had more better lyuynges then that
When other lacked, they were very fat.

Parcyalytie.
My father ywisse was of a noble blood
And had great landes, with all other good
Cattell he had also, he was of such a fame
To tell thee a lye, surely I were to blame.

Iniquytie.
Nay, if you begyn of your fathers to bost
I wil tel you wher my father dwelleth & in what chost,
I thinke he came of as noble a blood
As yours, and yet neither of them good,
In Rome he dwelleth, that is his cōmon place,
Where all other bowe before hys face,
All Nations to hym do obaye
And neuer agayne hym a proude word dare saye
I warrant you hys Landes are very greate
He doth poule poore men & lyueth by theyr sweat
He hath as much landes I warrant you
As lyeth betwene thys & southhāpton I tell you
Euery house that standeth betwene thys & that
Are his, by my trouth I say I care not what.

Importunytie.
Thy father is not to be compared to myne
Truly I wold I were of that kynne,
I wolde surely spend the clothes of my backe
Of that condicion I were of such another stocke.

Parcyalytie.
It is but a lye that he doth thee tell,
I warrant thee and that I can tell,
Thynkest thou he colde haue so much good
Withoute he hath powled Christian blood.

Importunytie.
Why man? he sayd he was the Pope.

Parcyalytie.
If he were here I wold hange him wt a roope.

Iniquytie.
Why doest thou my father dysprayse?
Gyt thee away, or I will thee dysplease.

Parcyalytie.
Why? thou sayest the Pope is thy father,

Iniquytie.
So good as hee is thou wylt be neuer
All at hys commaundement are
And agaynst not to moue they dare,
Tell me now, how do you lyke hym
You thynke I was but of a base kyn
Thou knaue he will brynge thee in awe
And yet by hym I do not set a strawe.

Importunytie.
A good chyld in the meane tyme thou arte.

Iniquytie.
Tush tush, I set not by hym a farte,
But (I pray thee) who is that I see here
He hath now put mee to great fere,
I will be gone, I wyll not tary here.

Importunytie.
Nay thou shalt not yet be gone
Let hym if he will in hether come.

Here entreth Equytie.
Parcyalytie.
Why? it is he that was here before
We bad thou shuldest come here no more.

Equytie.
Wyll not yet thys gere be amended
Nor your synfull actes corrected,
O false people and ignorant secte
Which to god at all hath no respecte,
Will you forsake syns all at once
In numbre they are more then the hayle stones,
Except you repent in tyme with spede
God wyll you destroy in very dede,
In Eclesyasticus thys sentence is
That god hath the proud of no reputacyon iwis
The lyke sentence is in the gospell of saynt Luke
That god putteth the proude to great rebuke,
He scattereth them that are proude of harte
And in theyr pryde he will them peruarte
The apostle Peter doth also report
That god doth resist the proud, & wil neuer take their part
he throweth downe also thē yt ar of a hauty mind
And doth exalt the poore that be pure and kynd
In Genisis it is breifly declared
Of what mettell our body was made
It was made of donge, the same place dooth expresse
Also of earth and asshes it was made doubtlesse
The bewty is but vayne of it.

Iniquytie.
Git thee away, or I wil thrust thee through wt my spyt,
But tell mee (I pray thee) what is thy name.

Equytie.
Equytie syr is the same.

Iniquytie.
Equytie, then nere kynsmen we bee.

Equytie.
I dysdayne to be aquaynted with thee.

Iniquytie.
A horson doest thou dysprayse mee
That Preposition In, is a pestilent fellow
For it is that maketh this variance betwene me & you
My name is called Iniquitie,
And thy name is called mayster Equytie

Importunytie.
If that thou suffre hym here to prate,
I will tary no longer within thys gate.

Parcyalytie.
I wyll tary no longer with thee,
Farewell my olde freind Iniquytie.

Iniquytie.
They go both out.
Ah you horson knaues will you nedes go away
Take two knaues with you by my faye,
But Tom Narrow nose thou wylt not go.

Equytie.
No, I will not yet go from you
I wolde some more of my brethren were here.

Iniquytie.
Thy brethren be in Newgate do not fere.

Equytie.
O wycked detestacyon,
O wicked Imagynation
O leaue your old fasshion
And flee from synne,
Call to Chryst
The Lord most hyest
To saue you from Antichryst
And hys papysticall lyne.
Here I was of late
But you dryue me out of the gate
Through youre wycked crake
And euill waye,
Except you call for grace
And repent in space
And all your syns deface
God will you destoye.
I thinke I see
A great companie
Cōmyng toward this place,
I thinke god hath them sent
Thee to tormēt
Here entreth Constancy & Charytie.
Before my face.
Welcome my brethren both
Welcome I say forsooth
As much as harte can thynke.

Iniquytie.
Nay then I perceyue
I must take my leue
Or you will make me wynke,
When so many come
I must away ronne
That I must by this drynke.

Constancy.
What is the matter
Tell mee good brother
Or thou farther god.

Charytie.
And eke to mee
Tell the verytie
What is the cause also.

Iniquytie.
Shall I tell the matter
Two dysshes maketh a platter,
But yet I wyll tary.

Constancie.
Now thou doest me mocke
And also doest floute
Therfore gyt thee awaye
Or I wil set thee out of my cōpanie
That I will (I say.)

Equytie.
Brother Constancye
And eke brother Charytie
with mo he plaieth vngraciously
And hath me almoste defyled
With his flatery
And his euyll company
Also with hys enuy
Hath me begyled.

Constancy.
We will fynde a remedy
For that cruell enymy
Or euer it be longe,
We will him so handle
Hee shall not be able
At vs to moue hys tonge.

Charytie.
To that I consent also
And will do my parte with you
To dryue hym away.

Iniquytie.
Nay that you shall not
Peter turneup
Yet git me away,
Who shuld here remayne
But Iniquity (I tel thee playne)
For thee I will not hence,
But for thy pratynge
And great bostynge
I will thee recompence.
He casteth at Constācye.
Haue here Tom
A pece of a brasse pan
Go cary it to thy mother,
Tell her that I saye
Thou shalt haue no more of me
And if thou wert my brother.
At Charytye.
And here Nyck Candlestycke,
Here is for thee a fygge
No better thynge I haue,
Thy mother go to tell
Thy fygge go to sell
Do so as god me saue.
At equitye.
And here Iohn Puddingmaker
Here is for thee a taper
With a payre of beades,
Thou shalt haue no better
Without thou wilt haue a fetter
To fetter on thy legges.
Of trueth now you may gyt you a packynge
Because that I gaue eyther of you such a thynge
But tell me thys one thyng (I pray you hartelie)
What is the thynge you will geue to mee.

Constancy.
Thou foole if thou thynke it good
Holde thy peace and boste not thus of thy blood
The Scriptures to thee they dyd showe
How thou shouldest fere god, and of him stand in awe
But thou doest here by thy riotous liuing
By thy iesting, thy sporting, & also thy mockyng
Floute and deryde Chrystyan folke.

Iniquytie.
Why man it is yelowe.

Constancie.
What is yelowe (I pray thee tell mee
For me thynke thou doest floute daylie.

Iniquytie.
Why? you wold haue the yolke of an egge.

Constancie.
O thou false feinde
Thy lyfe amende
And god will thee sende
Hys mercy and grace
That thou mayest with loue
As it shall thee behoue
Syt in heauen aboue
Before hys gloryous face.

Equytie.
He doth here but mocke
And spoyle Chrystes flocke
Full cruelly,
He doth deryde and scorne
These yt were Christians borne
Full greuously to see.

Charytie.
By his cōmunycation
He came of an ill foundacyon
I dare be bolde to saye.

Iniquytie.
Thou pouchmouth knaue
Thou shalt strypes haue
If thou gyt thee not away.

Equytie.
Thou foolysh fellow
Why doest thou dallye
And here vs blaspheame.

Iniquytie.
Holde thy peace
thou shalt haue a messe of pease
Or els a dysshe of creame.

Constancy.
Wylt thou not yet
Leaue thy cruell spyte
And soore blasphemousnes,
Leue thy pryde
And do exceade
In doenge of goodnes.
I wyll declare to thee
Places of scrypture manie
Before my brethren here
Lysten I pray thee
Intendyng to obay mee
Harke with thy eare.
God doth you abhore
All other before
Which worke so vngracyously
Except you repent
And your syns lament
He will you dystroy.

Charytye.
Syr it is true
You haue hym tolde,
To say thys before you
I will be bolde,
More easyer will it be consernyng punishment
To sodom & gomer in the day of iudgment
Then it will be for thee
To enter into heauen verelie
Therfore quyckly amende
And say that thou hast warnynge.

Iniquytie.
Thou knaue I thee defye
I set not by thee a flye
Therfore gyt thee away,
Or I wyll thee dysplease
Much agaynst thy ease
If thou longe do staye.

Equytie.
I pray thee good fellow be content
And harken to my brothers intent.

Iniquytie.
Why man? thou art my cosin I know thee of olde.

Equytie.
Thou wert not best to be to bolde
To be acquaynted with thee I dysdayne,
without to gods law thou wilt thy self go traine

Charytie.
Syr you speake well
Now somewhat wyll I tell
To conuert hym to god.

Iniquytie.
Nay by the roode.

Constancie.
O thou false Iniquytie
We must distroy thee
God hath put vs in mynde.

Iniquytie.
Nay but go you & leaue mee dehynde.

Charytie.
I pray you a lytle
Let vs tell hym the tytle
Of Gods eternall grace.

Constancye.
Come freind and go
I can tary no longer with you.

Iniquytie.
No by the masse that I will not
Fyrst I will lay thee on the cote
By gogs wounds haue at thy head
Defēd it now & I wil geue the an egge.

Constancy.
Leaue thy swearynge
Thy mockyng thy tauntynge
And all thy other game,
God hath preparde
For those a rewarde
That do blaspheame hys mame.
The Prophet Zachary
Dyd see (I tell thee)
A booke in the ayre,
Twenty Cubyts length
Ten cubyts bredth
Being for them prepared
That falsly do
Sweare his neighbour vnto
And doth not god regarde.
Mathew also doth say
Cursed be they alway
That swere by any thynge,
By hell or heauen ywysse
Because in the powre it is
Of that heauenly kynge.
At all thou shalt not sweare
By thy head nor yet thy eare
But of god stnad in feare.

Equytie.
You do hym well instructe
To god hym to conducte
But all is in vayne,
Hys bryttle nature
And his auncyent stature
Doth styll in hym remayne.

Charytie.
Such a froward fellow
I do assure you
I dyd neuer seee,
Therfore I pray thee
Without any remedy
To God for mercy flee.

Iniquytie.
Hence you horson knaues
I wold you were in your graues
Then shuld I be at reste,
To gyt mee away
Without any delay
I holde it best.
Farewell by my trouth
I must go to the south
To seeke my fortune,
Farewell agayne I say
I must go my way
My mother is within.

Constancy.
Nay softe I pray thee
Away thou shalt not flee
Tyll I haue tolde thee more,
Geue eare a whyle
And harken to the style
That I dyd show before.

Iniquytie.
I will not tarry
Farewell gentle Hary
I cōmyt thee to god.

Charytie.
Nay yet softe
Away thou shalt not haste
Tyll thou haue a sharper rod.

Equytie.
Wylt thou not regard
The Lord nor hys reward
Nor hym obay at all,
For thy wyckednes
And vngracyousnes
Thou shalt haue a fall.

Iniquytie.
Nay that I will not for fourty pence
I had rather then my new nothyng I were gon hence
We shall haue neuer a bone setter I suppose
If that I fall and breake my nose,
I will kepe that ioynt while I haue it
Or els (by my trouth) I may go turne the spyt.

Constancye.
Thou foolysh fellowe wilte thou not yet obaye
God the Lorde, and on hym staye
As my brethren before here haue declared
That there is a vengeaunce for thee prepared
For thy wyckednes
And deceytfulnes
Hell fyre is thyne.

Iniquytie.
Nay it is not myne
It is in the deuyls gouernment
Wythout my admonyshment
I do not cōmaūd him what he hath to do

Constancye.
Yet wilt thou not leaue
Poore men to deceyue
And spoyle Chrystes flocke,
Here thou doest them pull
And make them so dull
As euer was a blocke.
Leaue thy follye
Thou cruell ennemie
And flee from thy vyce,
Flee to god
And his iust rod
And leaue thy enterpryce.
God turne thy mynde
And saue thee from the feind,
Because thou wilt not amend
Thou shalt go hence
For thy offence
Thy follye to lamente.

Iniquytie.
Nay then I wil geue you no bread and butter
Here take some it will make thee to scutter
I will call my mother, let mee alone
Of trouth she wyll make thee to grone
Shee is such a pestilent woman
As is not hence to our Lady of Basan,
Shee will make thee repent that thou doest say
and make the for fere take thy heles & run away
Take heede how thou comest in her hande
If thou do thou shalt neuer come out of her bād.

Constancye.
Go gyt thee awaye and make no more a do
For if you wyll not, I will compell you.

Charytie.
You do well, Gods blessynge on youre harte,
We wyll surely put hym to smarte.

Equytie.
That is ryght and iuste for to do
In the whych dede I consent to you.

Here sombody must cast fyre to Iniquytie.
Constancye.
For thy wyckednes thou shalte haue thys,
As thou hast deserued for thy doinges ywysse
Gyt thee away and tary not here.

Iniquytie.
Nay I go to the deuil I fere.

& goeth out.
Constancie.
Praysed be god
That wyth hys rod
Whych is vpryght,
Hath thys man dystroyed
And clene abhorred
In his malyce and spyte.

Equytie.
My harte is as glad
As though riches I had
That Myda did possesse,
Both corne and fruyte
Nothing destytute
Of aboundant excesse.

Charytie.
Prayse we god aboue
With feare and loue
Which hath plucked him away
Let vs I praye you
Prayse hym and magnyfy
For euer and aye.

Constancie.
To that I consent
With my full intent
To laude the Lord,
Which from errour hath
Us all saued
By hys precyous word:
But God will preserue
Them alway fro harme
That in hym do truste,
So that they wyll
Truste in hym styll
Andnot in theyr froward lust.
Let vs therfore synge
Ioyfully it tunynge
Our Lord god to prayse,
Which doth his defende
And grace them sende
To walke in a godly way.

Charytie.
To it I will consent
With my harte wholly bent
To synge to hym laude.

Equytie.
The Songe.

Constancy.
Let vs be gone out of thys place.

Charytie.
Come I pray you let vs go a pace.

Equytie.
Let it be so as you do say
And let vs go together away
We will go come I pray you.

Constancye.
We will go gladly wyth you.

Charytie,
Come let vs go & make no more a do.

They go out & the kyng entreth & sayth.
[Kyng Daryus]
My Seruaūtes where be you?
Come hether quyckly to mee.

Preparatus & agreable enter.
Ambo.
At your cōmaundement we bee
What is your will to say vs vnto.

Kyng Daryus.
Go call my Lordes hether to mee.

Agreable.
It shalbe done as you haue sayd to mee.

Preparatus.
What so euer you do cōmaund mee
To do it euer wyll I dylygent bee.

Kyng Daryus.
Go then foorth quickly & make no more a do
But bid them come in hast me vnto.

Ambo.
Syr god haue you in his custody
Wee will go fetche them hether to you.

They go out, & Anagnostes & Optimates enter.
Optimates.
God saue thy grace gentle Kinge
I salute thee with much gretynge.

Kyng Daryus.
Thys is the cause wherfore and why,
That I sent for you hether to mee.

Optymates.
What is the cause? (I pray you vs tell)
And if we can we will it fulfyll.

Kyng Daryus.
They that in my chamber me do kepe
Cōmuned together whylste I was a slepe
At last I waking & herynge theyr murmoryng
How they talked theyr matter consernynge,
They stryue amonge them selues together
Euery man to say a weyghtier matter theē the other
And he that the best can speake
Without fraude or without dysceyte
Shalbe rewarded with much good
With cattayle also and with food
The wrytinges they did delyuer to mee
That I might reade them ouer all three
Reade it to your selfe I pray you.

Optymates.
Syr you say very well.

Anagnostes.
I wyll reade the writinges to you wythout fayle
Lysten I pray you vnto mee,
Then you shall know the efecte of them all three
Whose sayenges is found the best and true
With great good kynge Daryus shall him indue
He shall haue the ornamentes that here followe
And the other lese all through theyr great follye
He shalbe endued with purple and golde
And with golden cuppes also not olde
A Charyot hee shall haue with golden wheles
The body therof made with steele
And next to kyng Daryus shall syt
For hys Eloquence and goodly wyt,
He shalbe the kynges famylyer freinde
And shall syt by hym to hys lyfe ende,
The sentence of the fyrste man is thys
Wyne a very stronge thynge is,
The second also I will declare to you
That the kyng is stronger then any other thyng verely.
The thyrde also I will declare
Women (sayth hee) is the strongest of all
Though by women we had a fall.
Theyr myndes now I dyd you tell
But aboue all thynges trueth doth most excell.

Kyng Daryus.
Now let them be called hether
Let them come in together
Come syrs tary no longer there
But before vs do appere,
Tell by mouth the effecte of them
And to vs showe of them the meane.

Stipator primus, Stipator secūdus & Zorobabell enter.
Omnes.
Salue vir ornatissime
O kynge we salute thee.

Kyng Darius.
Declare your sentences here by mouth
As you haue shewed them by rote.

Stipater primus.
O men is not wyne very stronge
It doth deceyue the very tonge
Of it indede somewhat I dyd speake before
But now in my memorye I haue a lytle more.

Anagnostes.
Well say what thou art able
But see that it be no vayne fable.

Optymates.
Go foreward in your matter and do it tell.

Kyng Daryus.
Gods blessing on youre hart you say very well,
Tell vs now what thou hast to say.

Stipator primus.
The vnderstandyng it taketh away
And maketh him carelesse and mery (I saye)
No heauynes at all it maketh hym remember
That drynketh it, (I do not dyssemble,)
It maketh a man to thynke also
That the thing which he goeth aboute to do
Is good and honest, wheras it is not so
He neuer hath memory of any thinge
It maketh him forgett that he is a kynge
Nor that he doth gouerne or is in aucthorytye
And hath al thynges in hys custodye
And when they are together drynkynge
They do not remēber amity nor any other thing
But as soone as dronken they are
To sleay theyr freind they do not spare
Out they draw theyr sword they care not where to hit
Thus wine maketh men to haue a small wyt
And when from the wyne they are layd downe
They can not tell afore what they had done,
Iudge now? is not wyne the strongest
Which maketh men vnwyttie and vnhonest
Hath it not a very great strengthe
That causeth these to be done at lengthe.

Kyng Daryus.
Well now holde thy tonge (I pray thee,)
Let the nexte tell his tale to mee.

Anagnostes.
Do as the kynge hath thee cōmaunded.

Optimates.
Let it be so as they haue thee byd.

Sitpator Secūdus.
I did to you declare
And now I will not spare
To tell my matter to you,
The kynge is very stronge
And all are in hys hande,
That in hys realme continew
All do hym obaye
Without any delaye
That dwell in his Chostes
He hath Armyes greate
Corne, cattayle and meate
And eke haboundant Hostes.
How say you, is not he the strongest
which doth conquer, & gouerne both man & beast
The Land the Sea and euery other thyng?
Then strongest is verely the kynge,
For he hath domynion ouer them all
Both man and beaste are at hys call,
And what he cōmaundeth that is done
If he send them to war they are quyckly gone,
They breake downe hils and towers
And slay also hyer powers
They them selues are slayne also
Beyonde hys worde they dare not go,
If that they gyt the vyctorye
They brynge it to the kynge by and by.
And lykewyse they that tyll the grounde
when they it reap, they bryng it to the king roūd
Trybute to the kynge they restore,
All to hym they brynge both lesse and more,
If hee byd them go to kyll
They go aboute it with a gaod wyll,
If he cōmaunde them to forgeue
They do it, and theyr cares releiue,
If he byd them go and smyte
They go aboute it, and care not where they hyt,
If he cōmaund them to dryue away
They do it with out delay.
If hee commaund them for to buyld
They do it, and theyr labour to hym yelde.
If he do byd them for to breake
They do it, and that with much wreake.
If to plante he do commaunde them
They go aboute it lyke obedyent men.
The cōmon people and rulers also
Are obedyent to hym where so euer they go,
And the kyng sitteth downe in the meane while
Eatyng and drynkyng, and takyng hys wyll,
All to the kynge must obaye
And leaue hys owne busynes vndone alwaye
Iudge, is not the kyng the strongest nowe?

Kyng Daryus.
Now tell thy tale vs vnto
Stand together you two asyde
For of your pourpose you are both wyde.

Anagnostes.
Declare to vs I pray you now.

Optymates.
In your two sentenses there is no effecte
To them at all we haue no respecte.

Zorobabell.
The Kynge is myghty and vehement
And wine also well spent,
Yet of a woman I take in hande
And in thys sentence my fayth shall stande
It is not the kynge with hys myghty hoste
That ruleth and gouerneth in euery Choste
Nor it is not wyne that doth excell
But to you the trueth I will tell,
A woman I suppose it is
That ouer these hath domynyon ywysse
Hath not the woman borne the kynge
And eke euery naturall thynge
Hath not women brought them vp all
The Uyneyardes wheron wyne dooth fall
They make garmentes for all creatures
So that they be of humayne statures
These can not come without women
Therfore the honour we must geue to them
If they possesse syluer or precyous golde
Theyr hartes are soone very colde
If they see a woman welfauoured
They forsake theyr golde yt they haue gathered
And theyr eyes are bent vpon
Theyr harte and mynde on that woman
And haue more loue her vnto
Then to theyr golde it is true
He leaueth his father that brought hym vp
Hys mother also that gaue him sucke
He forsaketh also his country natyue
With that woman all his lyfe to lyue,
With the woman also he ieoberdith his lyfe
He regardeth neither father nor mother, & alfor his wife,
By this then nedes must you know
That women haue domynion ouer you.
Dooth it greue you that I do tell ye
Well, well, it shall not greue mee
A man his sworde out dooth take
To go and steale he is not slacke
To robbe and to sayle vppon the Sea
To murther and kyll he is prompte alway
And when he hath stollen and also robbed
He bryngeth to hys Lemon wtih a good corage
Agayne a man loueth hys wyfe
Better then he dyd his parentes in hys lyfe
Many one in earth there is
That loueth his wyfe wonderous well ywisse,
Out of theyr wyts also they do run
And bond slaues for their wiues sake are become
Peryshed also many haue
And are become Sathans bond slaue
Many also are fallen into syn
And all through the cause of women,
Beleue me now if you wyll
Your myndes I will by and by fulfyll
I know a kyng whych is great in powre
And al lands stād in dread of him at this howre,
No man vpon hym dare lay hand
Nor at any tyme may hym withstand
Yet did I see with mine owne eyes
Upon the douhter of kynge Bartacus
The kynges Concubyne she was trulye
Of the kynges ryght hand she sat I tell ye
And the crowne from his head tooke
And on her head dyd it pute,
And with her left hand hym strucke
Moreouer the kyng looked vpon her
And durst say nothing (he was in such fere,
If shee laughed vpon him, he also dyd laughe
But if she at him waxed wrothe
The kyng was fayne her for to flatter
And speke her fayre til he had gotten againe her fauour,
O ye men, is not women the greatest of myghte?
O thou earth thou art very great
The heauen hye with all,
Thou canst worke these preaty feates
That doth contracte them all.
Swyfte is the course of the Sunne
The moone the starres also,
Whych in the day theyr course do runne
Wyth Planets other mo.
He fetcheth his course rounde aboute
The compas of one day,
The starres, the moone, and eke the night
Theyr compasse do not staye.
He then is very excelente
That causeth thys to be done,
Whych sytteth aboue the Fyrmament
Wythin hys holy throne.
But great is the trueth and of good effect
And to yt we must haue a diligent respect
The earth doth tremble & quake at it ywis
And no vngodly thynge in it founde is,
Wyne is an vnryghteous thynge,
Unryghteous also is the kynge,
Women are become vnryghteous also
And no goodnes at all can they do,
The chyldren of god are vnrygteous all
As well the great as is the small,
The workes also that they go aboute
Is vnryghteous without any doubte,
In that vnryghteousnes they shall decaye
And perysh also, (it is true that I saye,)
In the effecte of that is no vnryghteous thynge
No crafte, no polycy, nor no lesynge,
Therfore let vs clayme it for our owne
And let it depely in vs be sowne,
Blessed be thou the god of trueth
Let thy trueth be in euery mans mouth.

Optimates.
O it is a great trueth that thou hast vs tolde
To aske of the kynge what thou wilt be yu bolde
Thy sentence is great and very curyous
And to vs at all it is not greuous.

Anagnostes.
Aske thy rewarde now I pray thee
And thou shalt haue it geuen to thee.

Kyng Daryus.
Thou hast won of these the vyctorye
Thou shalt haue it rewarded to thee
Aske what thou wylt I will thee it geue
& thou shalt be my freind as long as thou doest lyue,
Thou shalt be my famylyer freind
And lyue with me to thy lyues ende,
Besydes these that are wrytten here,
Thou shalt be contentyd for thys gere.

Zorobabell.
Remember now thy promyse
Made to mee of late,
Let it now fulfylled bee
In reasonable rate.
Whych thou promysed vnto mee
When thou camest into thy kingdome
Lord let that now graunted bee
With reasonable fredome.
Ierusalem thou dydst promyse
To buylde vp euery whyt,
And all that therin were amysse
Restore agayne to it.
Send agayne the Uessels all
The Iuels that were taken,
As well the greate as eke the small
Which were cruelly shaken.
Of Cyrus also seperated
When in Babylon he offered
Thy mind was to build the Temple a gaine
which the Edomits brent wtout faine
When Ierusalem was peruerted
And greuously tormented
And of the Cauldies deiected
That o kynge I do desyre
And with my whole harte do it requyre
Performe thy vowe therfore
Whych thou hast promysed heretofore.

Kyng Daryus.
I prayse thee wonderous well
thou shalt haue that which before I did thee tell.

Zorobabell.
Now syr we must departe awaye
God haue you all in his custodye I saye.

Stipator primus, Stipator secūdus & Zorababell go out.
Kyng Daryus.
God prosper your iourney & send you good succes
And saue you frō your ennemies harmles
Do you intend to tary here.

Optimates.
What is your will to do
I pray you tell it vs vnto.

Anagnostes.
Gladly syr wolde wee go awaye,
To tary here wee will not delaye.

Kyng Daryus.
Come then let vs go hence (I pray you.)

Ambo.
We are content so to do.

Here they go out, and then entreth Constancy sayeng as it were a Sublocutio.
[Constancie.]
You haue harde here good people of late
Of three yonge men, their saiengs by rote
by mouth they did resite I thinke you haue hard
How the flaterers were cruelly abhord
Two there were Stipators they may be called ywis
They wēt about by flatery, but yet they did mis
But Constancy is a thynge moste suer
In it nothinge vncleane, but all very puer,
The thyrde Zorobabell by name,
Dyd remayne in constancye and kepe the same,
The sayinge I suppose you do vnderstand
Yet to showe you agayne I will take in hand
The one declareth the strength of wyne,
How it doth deceyue the frealty of the brayne.
The second also dooth expresse
That the kyng had the most strength doubtlesse
But wicked men they be, and also flaterers
They may wel ynough be called Stipators.
Then the thyrde the trueth to tell dyd begyn
The vyctory of them all he dyd wyn,
He remayned in Constancye and was still wyse
As for flatery styll he dyd dyspyse,
Thus haue you harde the effecte of all
How that for theyr lyes they haue got a fall.
Here entreth Equity & Charity.
Pray we to god the Lord of myght
That he wold send downe his cleare syght
To Queene Elyzabeth & send her his worde
That from her ennemyes she may be restorde,
Let vs also pray that shee longe may lyue,
And that to her subiectes true precepts she may gyue.

Equyty & Charyty.
For the Councellours also let vs pray
That in the true fayth derecte them he may,
And that also grace he wolde them geue
To geue councell wysely wile in earth they liue.


The Songe.