University of Virginia Library

Search this document 

Actus quartus.

Scena prima.

Eupelas et Philogonus.
Eu.
Now surelye Philogonus but that I knowe gods providence
in shewinge mercye to his servauntes is alwayes vsiall
this wonderfull thinge I coulde not credite by any humaine evidence
it is so straunge that otherwyse I woulde perceauer in deniall


242

Phi.
In deede Eupelas but that we must not marvaile at ye workes of the Lorde
It is so straunge that the like I thinke were never barde
yf we shoulde all histories of auncient writers recorde
nether I dare say the like shall be sene once afterwarde

Eu.
Praysed be ye lorde that ever is in mercies most rich
and wt hin his apoynted tyme his chosen folke doth ayde

Phi.
In tyme in deede Eupelas or otherwise Ide bene ith backhouse dich
Yea rather if he had not helpt in graue I had bene layde

Eu.
I greatly doe reioyce that yet at lenghte your sorrowes are dispatcht
& that doble & treble ioyes your calamities do requite

Phi.
I ioy likewise but vnder hope my chickings are not hatcht
I nil to counte of him as yet for so presume I mighte

Ali.
A comes a comes a comes sexies.

Phi.
Me thinkes one sais my sonne doth come my spirites are in a dampe
now truly Alison hath waighted at the townes end for his comminge

Co.
Ile go tell my Mr Ile go tell my Mr quater

Eu.
Without doubt Philogonus my harte is in a soden crampe
beholde is not this father Codrus wc h is hither runinge

Co.
Whale ye whale ye whale whale giue me Mr & Ile tell yow newes of your s[onne]
will yow not say fa Custers a good boy an he come at townes end

Phi.
I will say that thou all my ioyes and hartes ease hast begone
and Ile geue the inoughe to spend one yeare spend while thou wilt spe[nd]

Co.
I am sure Turgus is come for I saw his brindell dogge
and our Alison saw a brasse of striplings come wt h him


243

Eu.
It is vnpossible this silly thinge shoulde either lye or cogge
wthout doubte Philogonus in that he spoake yow may beleiue him

Is.
Now Margerye yow haue served me a trust yeames woud all thy teth were [o]**
ant had not bene for the saddlebackt grombole Ide gott well by this shifte

Ma.
Woud thy tounge were out witherd wich didst not thou kepe all the rout
ites all aboute towne faus ge ge gib what saidst to Sr John at last******

Is.
Wert not longe of the sufukes that I went not to my master
twod a bin in my way xxs thicke thou woreton morell

Ma.
Longe a me thou list that thou dost twer longe oth wate[r]******
Didst not go of thyne owne mind thou grombold [go]******

[Is.]
The Devill cast him and the to like vile wretches a[s]*****
Ile nether trust the nor such as he is fort while I [h]***

**
Thy tounges mad oth devils thinge or else thou wo[u]********
[That scurvy] scrub wont ne[ar leave thy fe]*****

[Co.]
Loe yow marke moster how yone coietous scoles here chide
it g[re]ives them that they did not tell, bycause now ites knowne

Phi.
That I may here what theile say Ile stand a litle aside
Eupelas I woud we had some chers here to sitt downe

Co.
Woud I had my settel & my boust stoule ye shoud both sitt
ye shall se howe wisly Ile saman them I coud a chopt logetes wones


244

Is.
An I were as yonke as er I were that scottish knaverye I woud quit
and yow too Grānome.

Ma.
Woud yow I might chaunce rottle your bones

Co.
Why how now neighboures whates matter ha whers your womanhoode
leaue this brawlinge & waulinge for shame gupe kisarse will yow none

Is.
Yow mought haue tolds when yead gone yet & yed had any neighbourhood
wesl gett nothinge for yow nowe yes a litle wt h a spone

Co.
Why faith Isbell what taukes Ist not haue past a couple of shotes
& thou knowest what casualties I had in my beasts last hallowmas

Ma.
Bith meke Isbell I woud thinke I were happy and I coud gett a couple of groates
and I woud fare the better fort too ery day this Curstmas

Is.
Bow wow why shoud we haue lesse then he are not we the nediar
and did not we when he were borne both rocke him and cradell him

Co.
Weale and youle be content Isbell I may chaunce helpe yow to a breder
thoughe I did not our Alison a sennit together did swaddell him

Intrat Liturgu[s]
Li.
Now yow be welcome Eugonus as I may sait into Laurentū towne
behold at yone same turrit wc h yow see is your fathers place

Co.
Who how my yonge Mr is come in deed nowe by gods nowne
ken him well does he not saumple my maistris in plexion & his face

Eugonus.
O high Jehova wc h dost rule wt h thy almightye power
all thinges wt hin the sacred skies & eke in seas & lande
I giue to the redoubted kinge in this so lucke an howre
all thākes for that thou hast me plast vppon my country sande


245

Co.
Year welcome home Mr ge me your hande how ha ye done this many a day
I am as gladd for yow as twer ether for my Robin or Tome

Li.
This is one father Custar my Mr Tenant he loves yow well I dare sa[y]
he was the first man I tell yow that causd yow to be fetcht home

Co.
I am more then hauf your father Mr I causde yow to be fatcht
by cocke & pye I diswadid him to send Turgus for yow

Is.
Year welcome to our towne. did ye not remember sinc I satt by yow & watcht
when my maistrisse lay in & we sange lulley by baby & bore ye

Eu.
I can say nothinge but by information of nuncle & my naunte
& ye testificats wc h Liturgus from my father did bringe

**
His membres were but slipperye then foole thoughe he be now all a flaunte
wherfore & yow sait weile haue some probabilation of ery thinge.

Intrat C[r]***
**
Well said father lets haue out of hand some vndoubted triall
[Te]ll thy Mr Philogonus yt he may heare ye matter discust

**
****** be longe what Alison what Alison. so me thinkes wt h lye & all
******* wt h a wannion to my Mr here thou comst as thadst no lust.

***
******* Saint Swithun blesse him has even my maistrisse face vp & downe
*******e as bould as ere I was by my troth ye shoude be kist

**
******** now quite out of all your knowledge growne
******** what name I had given me when I was babtist

**
***********ome.


246

Co.
Yow moughte lett your betters speake before ye Margerye [be] *****
your goodman was but Thurdbarer as goodlye as yow makte

Ma.
Be go go go good in your office I speake by my masters leave
thou sekst to haue all tyth dost if thou canst haue all takte

Eug.
Giue hir leaue to speake to Codrus it may happe she knowes that thou dos[t] ****
to take thy neighboures varditt in such a case thou must not sticke

Ma.
It speakes in our mother tounge yt yow were a go go good sonne well I wott
but I ca ca ca ca cannot thinke onte for twere a vile harde word in ebric[ke]

Ali.
Ebricke nay it was but greke yet as god woude haute
as cūninge as yeare ye mist cushinge once yet Margerye

Co.
Towa Alison towa towa houre.

Crito.
As longe as she hites interpretation thoughe she misse ye name its no great fau[te]

Co.
No maye but tis to say Ebrickes for greke its playne doggerye

Ali.
First letter of your names Eue bith same token Custar of my bruckle faste eu[e]
tother parte as I takte is ene much like my younge Moster Sognus

Li.
By my fayth Alison thats well remembred all this is trewe
canst thou tell if I name him

Ali.
Ey

Li.
How saist wert not Eugonus.

Ali.
Twas in dede.

Is.
Twas so

Ma.
Faith twas

Co.
Gods drabes a hayte Eugonus in deed


247

Crito.
But can ye tell whether year mistrisse sonne had any privie marke
if ye can awnswere me to this poynte Ile say heis his sonne wthout fail[e]

Is.
All we can tell had a too more then a should ha. & so can the preist & the clarke

Co.
Shall she Alison shall she. take hir vp for haltinge, god I woud she were ith [J]***

Ali.
An ye be my maistrisse sonne gentleman yeave six toes oth righte foute
I haue toulde them many a tyme & often they stand even all by dene

Eug.
It can n[o]t otherwise be Ime even ye same ye talke one wthout doubte
& for a crtainty if ye will yeist haue my fout sene

Co.
Maye content Moster come a gods name dauf me of year hose
Alison remember thy selfe well & take thy marke righte

Eug.
Ide rather ye woud for this tyme ripp them & so vewe my toes
Ide be loth to haue them pluckt of till I gote bedd for all night

Co.
Here Alison take my penknif then ites as sharpe as a racer
Looke thou ripst it ith seeme & take hede thou hurtes not his foute.

Is.
Gods blwe hood lets see to I pray yow what were your father a glacier
letes haue some rome to or else I may chaunch giue the an arsebutt.

Crito.
How many yeare a go ist since he were borne can any of ye tell.
lay all year heades together & make trewe acownt.

Co.
It were after the risinge rection ith north I remember well
where was corne then Alison letes see how that will mounte


248

Ma.
I gatherd pe pe pe pescods at bau bau bau baules bush then Ime sure
& brought them to my maistrisse when she was wt h child

Co.
Thou wert nether oth court nor oth counsaile speake Alison *****
how saist were not pipers hill then the rye feilde

Ali.
Ey maye wante.

Co.
why vmbert then ites at least a score
Three & three, three & three, whats all that

Ali.
Threet no more I hate now heis twentye & fo***
our tom were borne but a yeare aftere I can te***

[Lit.]
This agreis beleue me to what should we say ****

[Co.]
Why she has augrū in hir she woud tell ye whates thirty & thirty [tymes] ***

Crito.
What tyme oth yeare wert, when year maistrisse him bore

Co.
Ime sure Alison when thou camst from hir laboure yu wert all [to be] ****

Ali.
Custar Custar dost remember we clementid when she were b***
& yu best rememberd a saint Clemens day I were sent her gossups to ****

Co.
Mas ites trwe & we had peny dole yth honer of S Nicolas whē sh*****
an a good token S Stevens day that year fell iust in Curstmas [w]***

Eug.
Say no more heres prouf inough depart yow a gods n[ame] home
I will se that my father shall yow liberally content

Crito.
Codrus go you tell yr Mr that his sonne now is come
ha heres a letter wc h his brother from Apolonia hath sent


249

Co.
Letter good god where be my wittes I coud once a letter my patnuster
I ha sounge yet cū spiritu tuo wt h preist ith kirke, when wer howlinge
and what said my father? what said a may thoust be a man one day Cust[er]
gods ludd I near left my booke till I cam to the houre a catar waulinge

Ali.
An thou woudst not another woud I coud a had woud shoudst knowe as good as tow
I coud a had as vp right a fellowe as ere trod on netes lether

Co.
why & all the wenches ith towne were yearnest & breame of me thou knowst well inough
when I were in my lustistes there a come to me twenty wo silliboukes togeather

Phi.
I can suffer no longer Eupelas.

Co.
Here he comes.

Li.
Accordinge to your worships cōmaundement.

Phi.
I hard all Liturgus
o welcome my sonne

Eug.
o my father

Phi.
O my sonne

Eugo.
Blesse me my father

Phi.
God blesse the my sonne.
Eternall god wc h onely guidst thimperiall pole aloft
& also this terrestriall globe wt h all humaine affaires
thoughe frouninge fortune wt h hir force doth tipe & tourne vs oft
thou canst miraculously helpe thy servaunts vnawares
If twenty tounges & twenty mouthes I had to sound thy praise
or if I had kinge davids vaine or Nesters eloquence
they would not serue me at this tyme due thankfulnes to raise
towards me for thy vnspeakable & wonderfull benificence

250

O welcome home my sonne my sone my comfort & my ioy
thou art the lenghtner of my life the curar of my care
here of my house possession take & all my lands ēioy
I thinke my selfe as happy now as if a duke I wear

***
******* use haue I Lorde to reioyce whom thus thou hast prservde
***** [a]nd landes even from my youth fare from my native soy[le]
**** [p]tunes rage & Eolus force I might haue well bin starvd
*********** not bin readye at nede to helpe at ery broyle.
[And no]w when I am home redust such a fathe[r *******]
[who] tendrethe me so lovingly that one me he doth be *****
his landes & countes it happynes he is to me so kinde
O father deare, O father deare what shall I say or do

Phi.
I am able to speake no more my harte for gladnes s[o] doth melte
Eupelas I praye yow & the rest to accompany vs [in]

Eu.
The like inward motion of all your well willers here Is felte
our gaudeamus I speake for vs all is not now to begin

scena 2

Intrāt Misogōus Orga[lus &] Oenophilus.
Mi.
Gods precious boddy this counterfett skippthirft is come all ready.
drawe your weapons like champions & kepe him from possession.

Eugo.
Liturgus is this my brother thou taukst one that come this way so heady
lorde what meaneth he will he barr my father from his habitation

Phi.
Away away thou branlesse foole wilt thou never be wise
stand out of my way wagghalter or I will britche the nakte

Mi.
Whatsomere he be that chalings anye thinge here Ile indite him at the sise
ist kepe yow from settinge a foute within this thresolde as stout as ye m[a]***


251

Eugo.
Alas brother I come for no landes I cume to see my father I
& to doe my deutye vnto him as it doth me become

Mi.
Brother thou landleper thou runagat roge ey brotherst me
by all the devils in hell I will surky the thome

Eupe.
Fye vppon the Misogonus wilt thou not yet be wiser
shame the devill rather & repent ye of thy wickednes.

Phi.
Hange & thou wilt knave I care not I be a karder & a dicer
Ile near knowe the for my sonne herafter bycause thou art so graceles

Co.
Gods trunnion Alison go thy wayes & fatch me hether my gose spitt
Sognus will near be well till he has some ons wild bloud lett out

Li.
Good Maisters both lett me request one thinge at your handes yet
youe to forgiue year sonne Sr & yow to doe your deuty as ye ought

Phi.
So heile aske me forgiuenes ile pardon this ones him Ime content
& he shall haue a childes part too for all this his stubbernenes

Mi.
A childes parte qd ye and aske forgiuenes nay soft I near yet that ****
ame I now come to my childs parte nay ther yeist haue more frow[e] *****

Phi.
Go shake thy heiles then wt h a devils name come followe me my ma***
weile be mery wt hin Ile near take so much thought as I ha done

Exeunt Philogonus. Eupe. Eugo. Li. Crito. Co. Al[y.] *****
Mi.
ha ye let them slipte by ye yow hedgecrepers come Ile teche ye to *****
did I trust yow to kepe this waye & yow lett them be gone


252

[Or.]
Holde your handes when year well Sr what man near be so ****
ites a shame for ye woud ye haue vs to do that your selfe d******

[Oy.]
Ye may fly vp toth roust wt h Jacksons hens. come ******
go singe benedicite giue me one blowe bith mas*****

[Mi.]
Ye hennardly knaves yow crye me a mercy or ile *******
what ye coystriles awnsweare ye me thus your ******

**
As fare as I see your selfe may now go a delvin[ge] *******
[W]e a begginge wear worthy to b[e en]tertained a[t] *****

**
**** [a]re yow in year pilats voyce still ile n[ot takt as I did]
*** [s]hall neds serve ile serve for some vauntadge [ey I will]

**
[Yo]w catchinge caterpillers either doe hereafter as I [shall ye bid]
[Or] else avoyde even presently & gett ye hence toth devill

**
Mary their woud I hate cume Oynophilus I knowe whether to [goe]
thers a gentleman wthin this mile & halfe hath sent for vs thrise

**
Thers near a gentleman in this shire but will be glad of the worst of vs [too]
yf they woud not wear able to liue man with coginge at cardes & at dice

Exeunt Orgalus et Oenophil[us]
Mi.
How say ye to these vipers haue I brought them vp to this end
when they haue trayned me to this state then like white liver Jakes to flye
Yf god be god ile be revenged thoughe all that I haue I spend
happen whotwill tone of them or my brother shall surelye dye

253

What Hercules coude abid to be thus trodden vnder foute
the devils a sleape I thinke harte all all goes against here
to humble my selfe to my father now it woud nothinge me bout
& to gote lawe wt h this newe cōmer I shoud be near the nere.
O god, o devill, o heaven, o hell, my harte now rents in twaine
a comes, a comes, a comes I shall dye in desperation
to hange my selfe surely I thinke now I must be fayne
I haue sinned so much that Ime quite past hope of salvation.
exit miso.

scena 3

Intrat Cacurgus.
Ca.
Alta voce, Eay laud laud laud (decies) how shall I doe (toties)
Eay well a d[ay] (sexies) Ime vndone (toties) gravie voce (o o o)
tanquā castrator porcorū vociferarū emūge nasū et singulties clama
aliquando.
Ist be tournd out a srvice now ery bodye saies
& why? maye bycause I haue bin an old srvaunt ith house trusty & trewe
when I do all that I can foam they make me a foole i* my old days
theile ha the old foole no more now they say theile haue a newe
What were I best to do now Srs wc h on yow can tell
is there any good body amonge ye will take me in for god sake
& there be ere a gentleman here woud haue a foole wt h him dwell
lett him speake an a my worde a shall a verye foole take
And I might be but winterd this yeare I woud near care
A god helpe te William now thart put to thy nede
will no body take pity one a stray foole, here longe inoughe I ma[y] stare
& ther were yet a crier to helpe me at a proclimation to rede

254

Is ther near a cryer amonge yow good laud what luks tis.
an yow knewe my properties some body woud ha me Ime sure
Ile crye as well my selfe as I can & I pray yow pardon me a[n I]***
I dare swere it woud wīne your hart & ye hard me but l[u]**
O o o o yes.
***[h]eir be any gentleman
***[n]y gentlewoman
****[ow]ne or oth cuntrie
******** [f]or Saint charitie
******* [str]aye fool[e]
******** [here on this s]to[ole]
Tha[t c]*********
& yt can [pele]****
That can chair[e****
& yt can peke pies
That can rocke ye cradle
& yt can bare a bable
That can gether stickes
& that can chopp lekes
That can tourne spitt
& yt can bith fier sitt
That can ringe a bell
& that can tales tell
That can whope at noone
& daunce when dinners done
That can washe dishes
& yt can make ringes a rushes
That can houlde a candell
& that can babies dandell

255

That can thresse maulte
& that can chope saulte
That can hold his finger
in a hole and therby linger
That can lay downe maidens bedds
& that can hold ther sickly heds
That can play at put pin
blowe poynte & near lin
That can knowe my right hande
& tell twenty & near stande
That can find a titmuns nest
& keape a Robin redbreste
That can eat & drinke & play
singe songes both night & day
That can go toth winde mill
& that can doe what sere ye will
And now for all this my taske
small wages I will aske
A cape onelye once bith yeare
& some prety cullerd geare
And drinke when sere I will
& eat my belly full
For more I will not seke
he that will haue me lett him speake.
What say ye Maisters, speake will no body take me vp for poore p[itty]
no body care forth poore now. poores alwayes thrust toth wall
fooles now may go a begging ery boddyes become so witty
now a gods name ye woud laughe I thinke & ye shoud see me fall

256

Alas good William how doe thy elbowes what more anger yett
faith what remedye, I knowe none I but ene patience
Ey but for all that yu wert wont after a fall to haue a good hi[tt]
this is ene that last tyme of askinge. speake & yeile ha me or h[e] ***
Well yeile not ha me ye say. bare witnes then Ime****
let me see now william wc h way standes the wi[n]*
Is ter near a wisard amonge yow can tell Ile****
Masse this geare will not cote n I must another wa[y] ****
Stande I praye the I woud but ene see wc h w******
[They] say it[s good] lucke to seke ons fortune *******
******* [I thinke I] must pl[ay y]e [foole] sti[ll] *****
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] we yong[e Maister
*** [will not] ************ away some [pelfe]
*** [when I ha done if a]ny body[e] *****nd their wenches to [me I t]each a sew[ing]
*** [this tyme &] ene haue any more for me yeist sait y[ea]r selfe
exit [Cacurgus]

sc[e]** *

Intrant Liturgus et Misogonus.
**
I w[ar]rant yow I fayth Mr I my selfe dare vndertake
that youre father shall forgiue yow even from his very harte
he loues yow full dearly Miso. both for your owne & my maist[risse sake]
Doubt yow not he will interpret ech thinge in ye best parte

**
What a vilane ame I Liturgus that haue him so lightly estemed
nay that haue reviled him & derided him to his teth
O Christ how often haue I ye blessed name of gods maiesty blasphem[ed]
that I am now deservedly in state of perdition every man seth


257

**
Nay good Mr Miso. let such fansies go out of your head
take harte of grace man that was but a cast of youthfullnes
thoughe yow were by the fralnes of your flesh in your sin̄s almost de[ad]
Yet yow may as S. Paule saith by ye spirit of god liue againe vnto right[eousnes]

**
Thou puttest me in good comfort Liturgus I will never dispare
my trust I thanke Christ in his merites is assuredly fixte
but my life hath ben so lewdly ledd, yt I shall neare be wthout care
I can haue no mirth but it will be wt h miseries continually mixte

**
Yow harpe all of one stringe I praye yow leaue that fonde speache
thoughe your brother he hath found he loues yow near a whitt lesse
I knowe what he hath saide to me since him home I did fetche
if he knewe yow repentid yow might haue at his handes even what ye woud w[yshe]

**
I am so ashamed that I dare near come more in his sighte
& Ime striken wt h such a terroure yt I dare not giue him one worde

**
Yeist be as well entertaind as ere ye were Ile warrant ye this nighte
humble but year selfe to him & yow shall sit downe prsently at his owne board

[Mi.]
I dare not, I dare not, I dare not. praye the speake one it no more
I will rather run̄ quite away before Ile go wt h the

[Lit.]
Why Ile intreate him for yow & then to yow bringe him out a dore
if I do not reconcile yow, lay all the blame in me

**
God giue grace yt my fathers anger by his perswation may be mitigated
if heile now take me to mercy Ile never hereafter displease him any more

258

Who would ere haue thoughte yt my couradge so sone should haue bin aba[ted]
a vilde wretch Misogonus coudst thou not haue taken heed of this [before]
O all ye youthfull race of gentle bloude take heed by this my fall
trust not to much to your heritadge & fortunes vayne alurements
take heed of ill company, flye cardes & dice, & pleasures bestiall
eshcewe a hore as ye woud a scorpian & beware of hir intisments
Children obay your parents wt h dwe reverence & feare
care not for your vaine pastymes for they be but momentarye
schollers your maisters good lessones often reed & heare
beside godliness & learninge all thinges in this worlde are but transitorye

Intrant Phi. et. lit.
**
Will he thinkes the Liturgus

**
*** wt h all his harte Mr

**
****e sinned in the sight o[f] god & against yow deare father most g*******
**** tymes in stubber *e misvsinge of you both in worde & deed
***** now I repente & ye wc h I lament most bitterly
******[e] thoughe v[n]worthy yow to fo[rgive] me & helpe m********

**
******** [spe]ake [from] thy h[ar]te Mi[sogonus my s****
[OMITTED]
«Here the MS. breaks off.»
[OMITTED]