that come to authoritie after that rate Doo end their liues in some miserable and vnhappy state Tenant thou foole saith Christ this night wil I fetch thy soule froÌ„ thée And then who shall haue the things that thine be Wel let him alone I hope all wil prooue for the best Euen as he leadeth his life so shall he finde rest Seruant Peace peace for Gods sake look where the Steward comes Body of me Sirs which way shall I run run out Enter Couetouse God spéed you what mean you would you speak with me Tenant Yea Sir euen to desire your worship my vréend vor to to be Ich haue a zertain petition to your maship to mooue And ich desire you to be my vréend in it vor Gods looue Couetouse What is the matter let me knowe it at once I haue somwhat els to doo then hear to tread the stones Tenant By my trueth Sir I beséech you vor me to speak a good woord To your good maister and my Londlord Ich haue dwelt in his house this vorty yéeres almoste And thervpon ch aue bestowed much money and cost And now ich hear zay ich must double my rent Or els void out of it and that incontinent I beséech you vor Gods sake on me take some pitty and bone If I be put out for euer I cham vndoon Oh good Sir I knowe that you may doo much Couetouse By my trueth I can doo nothing héer in And so God help me I estéeme no such matters worth a pin Ber Lady Sir you haue had it a fair season And that a man should make what he can of his owne it is reasoÌ„ I warrant you therbe inow that that rent wil giue Tenant But they shall neuer thriue on it then I beléeue Ich knowe what he may doo with the house and ground He may chaunce to vinde rent inough of viue pound Couetouse Wel care not you for that if you he a wise man You were best to get one better chepe where you can For I knowe that so much for it haue he may Yea if it stood empty euen this present day Tenant Wel Sir yet me thinks there should be a conscience I think God hateth such couetouse sir by your patience Couetouse Thou art a foolish felowe héer of to me to complain For I medle with no such matters I tel you plain Hireling make much curtsey Good gentlemaÌ„ God saue your life I pray to our lord May I be so bolde to speak with you gentleman one word Couetouse Whether the Deuil wilt thou into mouth me think Fo Gods ames how he smelles all of drink Hireling Nay by my trueth Sir I drink none other drink to day But a little fléet milk mingled with whay For so God help me if for drink or meat I should dye I haue not one farthing any therwith to bye And by my trueth Sir this is my sute at this time I serued your maister in making Brick and lime Halfe a yeer togither not missing one day And by my trueth all my wages is yet for to pay And if it please you heerin to showe me some pleasure The same to my power with like I wil measure Couetouse Body of me what a beggerly knaue is heear Why canst thou not forbere thy money one yéer Hireling No by my trueth Sir for I haue no lands Nor nothing to liue vpon but onely my hands I beseech you be good to me Couetouse Why I meddle not with such things that doost knowe Hireling Yes Sir you are maister Steward I trowe Couetouse No faith I am but maister receiuer I take in all but by gisse I am no payer Hireling Your maister hath a great sort of receiuers in déed But not one to pay the Hireling his true meed All braue Vvorldly man. What worthy policy what make you héer to day Couetouse About your affaires I haue busines this way And beholde Sir as I traueled the Stréet With these two fellowes I chaunced for to méet Who tolde me that they had an ernest sute to you One for his house that he dwelleth in now Wherin he saith you go about to doo him much wrong For he saith that he hath dwelt in it very long The other said you owe him a peece of money he wrought with you half a yeer had neuer a peny And thus they took on with me before you did come And now haue I showed you the whole circumstance some Vvorldly man. Mary hang them Villains haue I nought to doo But to stand and reason matters with them two Hear you tenaÌ„t in few woordê you knowe my minde According as I haue tolde you so you shall me finde Other prouide money your lease to renue Or els you shall out incontinent this t s true Tenant Oh Londlord me thinks this is to much extremitie Alas vpon mine age take you some pittye C ham olde haue many Children and much charge I trust lendlord ich shall vinde you better at large Vvorldly man. I cannot tel what I should doo more beléeue me Many Landlords would not doo as I doo by thée For I am coÌ„tent for money that shouldst haue it before an other I can doo no more for thee if thou wert my brother Couetouse Thou must be answerd father there is no remedy By Saint Anne me think he speaketh very resonably Tenant This resonable speaking coÌ„meth froÌ„ an vnreasonable minde Wo be to him that to such inconueniences shall a man binde Hireling If it please you Sir help me to my money if you may Vvorldly man. No by my faith Sir you get it not to day You thall tary my leisure I wil pay you when I sée cause Hireling You are happy Sir in your hands you haue the lawes But by gisse if I had any thing that would doo you pleasure You should haue it when you would and not tary my leasure Wel I beléeue verely that the prayers of the poor his cry Shall ascend into the eares of the Lord God on hye And he wil plague all those that righteousnes withstand And as the Prophet saith root their posteritie out of the land Tenant Wel Hireling let vs departe this place It preuaileth not vs of him to craue any grace Hireling No more shall it preuail him the Scripture saith in déed To ask mercy of the Lord when he standeth in need Exeunt Vvorldly man. Ha ha ha I must laugh so God me saue To see what a sort of suters now a dayes we haue Couetouse I warrant you if you wil be ruled by Reason and policy You shall haue all the worlde to sue to you shortly Vorldly man. A common saying the Fox fareth the better and not the worse When that the good wife dooth him ban and cursse So what care I though to cursse me the people doo not ceasse As long as by them my riches dooth increace Oh policy how glorious my buildings doo shine No gentlemans in this contrey like vnto mine Sira what shall
liue godlyly all our liues through For we must tread the paths of death so sharp and rough And then shall we be sure to cary as little away As we brought with vs thus Saint Paule dooth say Couetouse Body of me he is meruelouse forgone We shall haue somwhat to doo with him anon Precipitation It was il luck that he came not alone I would that beggerly knaue in Hel were Couetouse Wel let me alone I wil go néer To cause him of his company to be wery I haue doon as great acts thrise this yeer I am not to learne to rowe in Illirans Fery I wil go to him and thou shalt wait vpon me Thou shalt hear what a take to him I wil tel Precipitation If thou spéed wel now I dare promise the The Deuil wil giue thée the Crown of hel Couetouse God spéed you Sir I pray you might I be so bolde As to haue a woord or two with you in your eare Inough Yea hardely my fréend say what you would Your minde vnto me you may boldely declare Couetouse I pray you are you not acquainted with this gentleman I would fain speak with him a word or twain alone I beseech you help me to my request if you can For I haue haste on my way I must needs be gone Inough If you had required a greater thing of me I would haue doon it for you I tel you certain Sir one of yonder men which you doo see Would speak with you alone very fain Vvorldly man. I wil go to him and knowe his minde is it you that would speak with me my fréend Couetouse Yea forsooth sir Vvorldly man. What say you to me Couetouse Oh Sir oh good Sir oh oh oh my hart wil breke Oh oh for sorow God wot I cannot speak VVeep Vvorldly man. What is the matter wherfore wéep you thus Precipitation VVeep Pure looue causeth him Sir I wus I am sure that be looues you at the hart Vvorldly man. I thank him truely it is vndeserued on my parte Gentle freend I pray you ceasse your lamentation Sure it is a straunge thing to see a man wéep on this fasion Couetouse Let the Vice weep houle make great lameÌ„tatioÌ„ to the Vvorldly man. I cannot chuse oh oh I cannot chuse Whow I caÌ„not chuse if my life I shuld loose To hear that I hear oh wel it is no matter Oh oh oh I am not he that any man wil flatter Vvorldly man. To hear what you héer why what hear you of me Precipitation Mary sir he heareth the wunderfully chaunged you be VVorldly man. I am so in déed for that I giue God the glory And if you be my fréend for my chaunge you are not sory I trust I haue chosen all for the best For my former wickednes I hate and detest Couetouse Whow nay I would to God that were the worst But I shall haue il wil I think I am accurst Vvorldly man. I iudge him not to be of a discrete minde That for the trueth wil be angry with his fréend The talke of talkers tungs I doo not much way Yet I pray you hartely tel me what they say Couetouse Couetouse couetouse euery man saith you be A shame take them all pratling knaues for me I am of such a nature as no man is but I To hear my freend il spoken of I had rather dye Yea wisse man you are called euen so All the cuntrey of you speak bothe shame and wo. He was wunt saith one to kéep a good house but now saith an other thereis no liuiÌ„g for a mouse Vvorldly man. If this be the wurst for their talke I doo not care Let them say so stil hardely and doo not spare I trust I haue chosen with Mary the better parte Precipitation Oh yet good Sir this gréeueth him to the hart Couetouse Yea God wot it is none other it is none other I looue you as wel as mine owne borne brother Think you that it gréeueth me not to hear eche boy and Girle To say that the worldly man is become a Churle Vvorldly man. He had néed to liue very sircumspectly That would take vpon him to please all men directly Beholde Inough Go towards him Couetouse Nay hear you this gréeueth me worst so God me saue pluck him back They say you keep company with euery beggerly knaue Vvorldly man. Wher I kéep company they haue nought to doo As neer as I can into none but honest company I go See you I pray you Inough Couetouse Nay but hear you is Inough his name Vvorldly man. Yea in déed it is euen the very self same Couetouse Saint Dunstone a man would not iudge it by his cote Now truely I would not take him to be worth a grote Hark you hark you in faith knowe you not me Vvorldly man. No truely that I wot of I did you neuer sée Precipitation That is maruail in déed the trueth for to tel I dare say your father knew vs bothe very wel Couetouse Did you neuer hear him speak of one Policy Vvorldly man. Yes that I haue sure an hundred times verily Couetouse I am he verily and this your fréend Redy wit With whome to be acquainted for you it is fit Precipitation Trueth in déed as Seneca saith wittily The wise man and not the rich is void of misery Vvorldly man. Policy and redy wit now the trueth is so There is no man liuing that can spare you two I trust God worketh for me happily in deed To send me all such things wherof I haue néed For without a redy wit who can answere make Without a policy all commodityes wil slake A redy wit wil soon gather and conceiue What he shall forsake and what he shall receiue Teuely now I remember a saying of Tully the deuine Where he dooth bothe wisdome and learning define Learning maketh yung men sober saith he And it causeth olde men of good comfort to be Policy is the riches and possession of the poore Yea it garnisheth the rich with goodly adore So that there is no frate calling or degree That may conueniently without you be Giue me your hands for you are welcome hartely I am excéeding ioyful of your good company Inough I beséech you bid my fréends welcome hether For from hensfoorth we must dwel all togither Inough Be not rash in taking of a fréend Aristotle dooth say Nor when thou haste taken him cast him not away Admit not thy fréend either high or lowe Except his behauiour to others thou doost knowe For look how before he hath serued his other fréend Euen so wil he serue thée also in the end Vorldly man. Your parables truely I doo not wel vnderstand Except you mene I shuld haue no freendê but you by me to staÌ„d Inough Inough is as good as a feast wel you wot More then inough a man needeth not Whether it be lands money freends or store if he haue inough what néedeth he any more Couetouse I perceiue that against
I doo I must make my barnes more great For I haue not rowme inough to lay in my Rye and whete Couetouse Set men a woork with it as soon as ye can If you lack rowme make more you may than Vvorldly man. By gisse I wil they shall in hand to morrow I thank you policy I need nothing to borowe Sirra the little tenament that by my house dooth stand I would I could get that to euen out of hand I want a little buttrye to lay in my drink And that would serue the turn handsomly I think And to say the trueth it is not meet that such a begger as he Should dwel so néer vnder the nose of me Couetouse Who the Deuil put that into your minde Vvorldly man. Mary euen that did reason my trusty fréend Couetouse I haue béen about it my self all this wéek Redy wit all the Lawes for to delay dooth séek We wil haue it I warrant you by hook or by crook Tush I warrant you for such od ends dayly we look Prophet without O thou Earth Earth earth hear the woord of the Lord Knowe thy self to be no better then Clay or dust Let the Vvorldly man looke sudenly about him Se that thy life to Gods trueth doo alwaies accorde For from earth thou cammest and to earth thou must What is the matter why what aile ye why look you so about VVorldly man. I heard a terible noise surely without dout Which pronounced the woords of the Prophet Ieremy Saying Earth Earth turn thee speedyly Couetouse Why and are you afraid and amased at that I see wel you haue a hart like a Gnat. Prophet That Seruant that diligently dooth fulfil And watcheth at all times for the coÌ„ming of his maister And dooth in the mean season apply his wil Of his masters goods there be no spoile nor waster That seruant shal be sure to be a Taster Of Gods blessings and ioyes euerlasting Where as is all consolation and nothing wanting But that seruant that liueth idlely without care And looketh not diligently vpon his Office His maister shall come sudenly or he be aware And sâ—all minister to him according to iustice The portion of Ipocrites shal be his Into vtter darknes cast him out wil he Where as weeping and gnashing of téeth shal be Exit Couetouse Oh Sira mary Gods blessing on his hart Ful honestly he teacheth you Sir their parte Vvorldly man. These be the woords of the holy Scripture Declaring the difference between the iust and vnpure Good Lord I wold know what those woordê doo mene Couetouse Your Chaplain can tel you for he is very wel seen Vvorldly man. I pray you policy call him to me heâ—â—er But look that you come again bothe togither Couetouse Yes that we wil I warrant you need not to feare We wil be heer again or a Horse can lick his eare Vvorldly man. By my trueth me thinks I begin to war sick In sending away my counceller I was somwhat to quick Wel I wil sit me down and say to sleep heer Til they into this place again doo appeer Oh my hed Enter Gods plague and stand behinde him a while before he speak It is euen I that vpon thee dooth blowe Filling thee with plagues and sundry disease What I am indéed I wil learne thée to knowe For I am not afraid thée to displease Thou shalt departe from thy house and land Thy wife and Children beggers thou shalt leaue Thy life thou shalt loose euen out of hand And after death thy iust rewarde receiue Thy il gotten goods shall not thée deliuer Thyne costly buildings shall nothing preuail Thy odours thy swéet smelles and thou shalt perish togither Thy rings thy bracelets and Golde chaines shall fall Straungers and those whome thou didst neuer knowe Shall possesse that whiche by frawd thou hast got Thy seed from of thy ground God wil ouerthrowe Because at his Prophets preaching thou amenddest not Thou sleepest in death as the Prophet Dauid dooth say Out of which sléep when thou shalt awake Thou shalt perceiue thou must needs away And that on thée God wil no mercy take I am the plague of God properly called Which commeth on the wicked sudainly I go through all townes and Cittyes strongly walled Striking to death and that without all mercy Heer thou wicked couetouse person I doo strike Which once on the plowe hadst taken holde But willingly again thou rannest in the Dike Therfore thy plague shal be doubled seuen folde Go out and stand at the door Couetouse Come Sir Nicolas come sir Nicolas come Sir Nicolas come Ignorance C ham faint by gisse would ich had a little more buni Couetouse A pestilence take thée haste thou not inough yet Ignorance No I can drink a Galon and eat neuer a bit Couetouse Come in the knaues name you must expouÌ„d a matter Ignorance I can expound good ale from fair water Couetouse Tush felow thou must expound a péece of Scripture Ignorance I can doo it as wel as any Bishop I am sure I haue spouted with the Geneuians xx on a rowe Couetouse And thou wert to good for them all I trowe Ignorance Was I yea faith that I was you shall vnder stand With a peece of Lattin I set them all one dry land Couetouse And I pray thée hartely what was it let me hear Ignorance Thou shalt if thou wilt promise to giue me a pot of béer Magistrorum clericium inkepe miorum Totus perus altus yongus et oldus Multus knauoribus et quoque fasorum Pick pursus omnius argentus shauus polus Let me sée what they are all able to say to this Couetouse For out of deut a worthy peece of learning it is Ignorance A man may as much edyfying out of my lattin take As ye may out of exposicioÌ„s that many ministers make Couetouse Euen as thou saist in faith much of a kinde For they place the scriptures as fethers in the winde Peace body of me our maister is a sleep Ignorance Mary it was time indeed for vs silence to kéep Vvorldly man. Oh I would if I could but now it is to late Hold thy peace I pray thee and doo me no more rate Couetouse To whome speak you to Sir to him or to me Vvorldly man. There is no remedy now man that thou doost sée Ignorance Passion of me Sira he dreameth me think Vvorldly man. Is there no remedy but to hel I must néeds sink Couetouse For my life Deuosion he is haunted with the Mare Ignorance Nay it is some wurser thing truly I feare Couetouse I holde a Crown he is not very wel Ignorance So me thinks for he dreameth of going to Hel. Couetouse We wil wake him out of that troublesome sleep Ignorance Good Lord séest thou not beholde how he dooth wéep Couetouse How doo you good maister is he a sléep or a wake Vvorldly man. Oh good Lord how my hart dooth ake Oh sick sick neuer so sick in my life berfore
title I doo confesse God graunt that I may deserue the same And that my faults I may amend and redresse Therfore now the trueth doo you héer expresse Is not the Worldly man your name Vvorldly man. Yea in déed Sir I am the very same Contentation From the Heauenly man I cannot be long absent Which in Gods promises hath his consolation Considering that he alwaies is content Patiently to suffer Gods visitation For vnderstand you my name is Contentation Whome the worldly man dooth mock and deride And wil not suffer him once in his minde to abide VVorldly man. This same is the Grandsire of them all This is he that will through water and fire Good reasoning betwixt vs now hear you shall For to folowe him he wil me ernestly require But he shal be hanged or he haue his desire You are welcome Sir sauing my quarrel in déed You haue reported of me much more then you néed Contentation Nothing but trueth Sir certainly I haue said Oft times I haue coūcelled you your couetousnes to leue But my woords as fethers in the winde you haue waid And stuck to them as Glue to the water dooth cleaue But take héed the rewarde therof you shall receiue Once again I aduertise thée to be content And giue thanks to God for that he hath thée sent Vvorldly man. I pray you be you content for I am pleased And meddle you no more with me then I doo with you Heauenly man. To be angry without a cause without mends must be eased We wil be more ernest then euer we were now Wo saith our Sauiour to those that are rich Which therin onely haue their consolation He curseth them not be cause they haue much but because they receiue it not with contentation Building therwith to them selues a good foundation That is to lay héer on Earth treasure great store to purchace a kingdome that lasteth euer more Vvorldly man. Passion of me maisters what would you haue me to doo You are fond fellowes indéed as euer I knew If I should not take paines ride run and go For my liuing what therof would insue A begger should I dye maisters this is true Then my wife and children that I leaue behinde I fear me at your hands small reléef should finde Heauenly man. I haue béen yung saith Dauid and now am olde Yet the righteouse forsaken I neuer did sée Nor their seed begging Bread I did not beholde Therfore your minde to the Prophets dooth not agrée Cast all thy burden and care saith Christe on me And I wil prouide to kéep thée from daunger and strife Onely seek thou to liue a godly and good life Contentation When Solon was asked of Cressus the King What man was moste happy in this vale terestrial To the end he séemed to attribute that thing When men be assosiate with treasures selestiall Vvorldly man. By the beginning no man can iudge the same Solon dooth say That any man is happy that beareth breath But yet by the end partely iudge we may For true happines saith he consisteth after death Heauenly man. If this be true as vndoutedly it is What men are more wicked wretched and miserable Then those that in riches account their blisse Béeing infected with Ambition that sicknes vncurable Contentation The treasure of this world we may wel compare To Circes the Witch with her crafty cawtilitie Wherwith many mens mindes so poysoned are That quite they are caryed to all infidelitie They are coniured so in déed and bewitched so sore That treasure is their trust yea hope and delight Inough serueth them not til that they haue more So against Contentation they stil striue and fight Heauenly man. Though the Worldly man doo folowe their lust Crying on Earth is our felicitie and pleasure Yet God dooth so rule the harts of the Iust That their study is cheefly to get Heauenly treasure Vvorldly man. Fréends I take you bothe for honest men I promise you I would be glad to doo for the best Mary then I take care which way and when I may get treasure therewith to liue in rest Oh me thinks it is a very pleasant thing To sée a great heap of olde Angels and Crownes When I haue store of money I can be mery and sing For money as men say winneth bothe Citties and townes Heauenly man. Alas why should you not haue that in estimation Which God hath prepared for his déer elect Should not our mindes rest in ful contentation Hauing trust in that treasure moste high in respect Saint Paule whome the Lord so high dooth erect Saith it passeth the sence our memoryes and minde Much lesse can our outwarde eyes the same finde As for the treasure that you possesse héer Through ficklenes of Fortune soon fadeth away The greatest of renown and moste worthy Peer Somtime in the end falleth to misery and decay Recorde of Dionisius a King of much fame Of the valiant Alexander and Ceaser the strong Recorde of Tarquinus which Superbus had to name And of Heliogabalus that ministred with wrong To resite them all it would be very long But these be sufficient plainly to prooue How soon and vncertainly riches dooth remooue Contentation It is true and therfore a minde wel content Is great riches as wise king Salomon dooth say For we haue séen of late dayes this canker pestilent Corrupting our Realme to our vtter decay Ambition I mene which chéefly dooth reign Amongst those who should haue béen example to other Yea we sée how the Bréethern they did disdain And burned with fire the Childe with the mother It is often séen that such monstrous Ambition As spareth not to spil the blood of the innocent Wil not greatly stick to fall to sedition The determinations of God therby to preuent But God I trust shall disapoint their intent And ouerthrowe the power of fading treasure And cause vs al to wish for the heauenly pleasure Heauenly man. O you ancient men whome God hath furnished with fame Be ye alwaies mindeful to walke in the waies of the Iust And ad euer more vertue to your honest name And at no hand be ouer come with couetouse or lust But in Gods holy promise put confidence and trust And then double felicitie at the last we shall possesse And then in all Earthly dooings God shall giue good successe Ye poor men and commons walke in your vocation Banish fond fantasyes which are not conuenient Settle your mindes with inough to haue contentation Considering that that leadeth to treasures moste excellent For these are vncertain but they are moste parmanent Your necessitie apply with treasure faith and trust And you shall haue inough alwaies among the Iust Vvorldly man. And indéed inough is as good as a feast Good Lord how your woords haue altred my minde A new hart me thinks is entred in my brest For no thought of mine olde in me I can finde I would to God you would take me in your company And learne me how I
not a Cloke from a Gown Inconsideration Tush maisters he was stirring in the morning betime At foure of the Clock in a Sâ—ller he was saying of Prime Precipitation I blame him not though betimes he stéer For he is made Ale cunner in our Parish this yéer His paines is so great in tasting oâ— drink That many times his eyes into his hed doo sink And then he looketh prestly as narow as a Crowe I tel you he can scarce reed the letters of his Crosrowe Couetouse Body of me you are Knaues all thrée Take Gown Chain Cap and all for me I wil be eueÌ„ with you all I swere by Gods mother Chuse you shift how you can one for an other Be going out I warrant you I shal be able to shift for my self Or els you may say I were a foolish elf Temeritie Holde him Why brother you said you would all things wel take Couetouse Yea but I would not haue you your fool me to make Come in again For you knowe wel inough that of you all thrée I am worthy the gouernour and Ruler to be Couetouse saith the wise man is the root of all euil Therfore Couetouse is the cheefest that coÌ„meth from the deuil But this is that Knaue I mene Precipitation But I wil be euen with him I swere by the Passion Precipitation Cumin I am sory by my trueth that you are so sore offended What Sir if a fault be made it shal be amended Couetouse Nay faith I am an Ale cunner or some drunken fool I am no better but your courage I wil coole He fighteth with them bothe with his Daggar That witlesse knaue to Inconsideration He was beginner of this disputation But it is no matter once or Christmas day I wil be euen with you be as be may Inconsideration Lay holde on him What worshipful M. Couetouse are you angry with me I am sory for it man what can I more be â—ang me vp by the neck like a strong théef If euer I speak any woord that shall put you to gréef Couetouse I would doo for you Sirs for I looue you all thrée Mary then I look that as I am you should accept me Temeritie By my troth Brother I dare say none of vs all But that to doo as you bid vs redy finde you shall Couetouse Mary then on good feloship let vs like fréends agrée All. Why abooue all things that desire we Couetouse Wil you help then to make me gay Temeritie As you wil wish it so we wil you aray Couetouse Wil you concent to showe vnto me reuerence Precipitation Yea at all times we wil showe to you our obedience Couetouse Wil you take me for your maister and hed Inconsideration Yea mary Sir for so it standeth vs in sted Couetouse And doo you say as you think in very déed Temeritie Yea that shall you prooue in all time of néed Couetouse First to help on my gown some paines doo you take And then I wil see what curtsie you can make Inconsideration It is trim indéed by the masse in that Gown Me thinks you be worthy to be Mayor of a town Couetouse Say you so then how like you this countenaunce Precipitation Very comely and like a person of great gouernauÌ„ce Couetouse Then all is wel come come doo your dutye All three O worthy Prince Couetouse we humbly salute ye Couetouse Body of me that same wil marre all WheÌ„ in coÌ„pany I come if Couetouse you doo me call Temeritie Therfore it is best for vs all to chaunge our names Precipitation Or els paraduenture we shall come to shames Couetouse Wel holde your peace then let me alone And I wil deuise names for you euery one study Sira nay you gape at me Temeritie What shall my name be Couetouse You wil haue it or I haue it wil ye Sira thy name shal be study Precipitation What I pray you Couetouse A shame take thée vnmannerly Lout Thou camest so hastely thou hast put me out Nay that maid looks on me study Come hether InconsideratioÌ„ I haue a name for thee Inconsideration Haue you Sir I pray you what shall it be Couetouse Nay by the masse it is gone again Inconsideration And I would knowe it I tel you very fain Couetouse Yea but you must tary til I haue it Temeritie I tel you my Brother hath a braue wit. Couetouse A shame take theÌ„ I haue them now all thrée speak to IncoÌ„sideration CoÌ„e hether brother I wil tel you what your naÌ„e shal be You knowe the men now a dayes to reason doo trust Therfore Reason your self froÌ„ hence foorth name you must Temeritie I knowe wel thy qualitie Thou art heady thou shalt be called Agilitie I study a name for Precipitation if it may hit Let me see by my trueth that shalt be called Redy wit. Precipitation An excellent name in déed for I am redy quick with a pen For before I see one I can condemne ten I passe not for any mans matters or cause money and wit shall gouern the Lawes Couetouse Wel maisters I haue chosen names for eche one of you But mine owne name I knowe not I make God a vow How if I call my name Wit or Policy Temeritie Mary Sir that agréeth to your nature excéedingly Couetouse Trueth for what shall the worldly man doo with you thrée Except to maintain you he take in mée Little worth is Reason redy wit and Agillitie Except to maintain them there be a Policy Sirs you tel me the worldly man is conuerted Precipitation Yea faith that for euer from vs he is departed Couetouse For euer quoth he ha ha ha no no I warraÌ„t thée I What this geer meaneth ful wel I doo espye Tush he purposeth to go bothe to heauen and to hel And feth newes from thence to the people to tel He wil be a Prophet that was wunt to be a deuil Temeritie But his prophecy I think wil prooue but euil Inconsideration Wel no more woords inough is as good as a feast They say it is perelouse with edge tooles to iest Couetouse Now Sirs I wil tel you this is all my drift To get the worldly man hether by some shift Temeritie thou shalt with him thy self acquaint And what thou canst doo to him foorth thou shalt paint Vertue is made an errour by Temeritie For stoutly he standeth against the veritie For Temeritie learned men doo say Is a qualitie to doo all things without delay So that if thou maist get into his habitation He wil soon be wery of inough and contentation Then with him shall woork Precipitation Who is of this propertie and inclination To see and to doo all with out forecast Not thinking of things to come or of things past Therfore after that Temeritie dooth once enter Thou shalt put thy seruice in aduenter Then Inconsideration shall get into his minde Who is a qualitie much of the same kinde He waieth neither the time person nor place Neither as they say the taile
vs two you doo grutch Can a man of policy and redy wit haue to much The noble king Salomon was rich had wisdome great store Yet he seassed not dayly to pray to God for more Precipitation Get thée store of fréends saith Cicero for it is déemed A true freend more then Kinsfolke is to be estéemed Inough It is an olde prouerbe and of an ancient time Which saith it is not all Golde that like Golde dooth shine No more are all fréends that freendship pretend As it approoued with many in the end Vvorldly man. Yea inough but I am sure that this policy And this redy wit are my fréends verely Couetouse Are we ye faith there of you may be sure We are they which your welth shall procure Inough is not inough without vs two For hauing not vs what can inough doo Inough is maintained by wisdome and policy Which is contained of a redy wit naturally Precipitation Hauing a redy wit and of polycy the skil You need not to care for this inough except you wil. There is another inough which is inuisible Which inough to want is impossible As for this Inough is inough I cannot deny But this inough serueth but euen competently You haue no more now then dooth your self serue So that your poor Bréethern for all you may sterue But inough that commeth by vs twain Is able your self and many other to sustain Vvorldly man. Your words are euen as true as the Gospel As one named Reason of late to me did tel You may be more heauenly saith he hauing riches Then if you had nothing the trueth to expresse I finde his wordê true for wheÌ„ almes I wold giue I haue not wherwith the néedy to releeue Inough I haue for my self I cannot say nay But I would I had more to succour the néedy alway Inough These woords procéed from a couetouse minde And from a worldly lust which dooth you blinde was not the poor widdow for her offring praised more Then all they that offred of their superfluitie store The sacrifice of God as the prophet Dauid dooth say Is a broken hart and a good minde alway Couetouse He sayes wel by Lady yea and like an honest man But yet Sir riches to be good wel prooue I can For euery man is not called after one sorte But some are called to prophecy some to preach exhorte And he by that meanes Heauen ioyes to win But euery man knoweth not that way to walke in Therfore euery man as his vocation is must walke I am sure that against this you wil not talke Inough The greatest bosters are not the best giuers Nor the ernest preachers are the best liuers As sucre increaseth riches and honor So couetouse inlargeth dayly more and more I knowe soÌ„e in this realme which once were coÌ„tent With poorely inough which God to them had sent Wishing of a good conscience as they said verily That God would once again restore the veritie If it please thee good Lord said they thy woord to vs again send And then truely our Couetouse liues we wil amend But since it hath pleased God them to welth to restore They are ten times more Couetouse then they were before Yea hedling without all consideration They for Couetouse make some lawes in that nation Such bying and selling of Leaces and benifices Such doubling of wares to extreme prices So shamefully Gods ministers they poule shaue That not half inough to liue vpon they haue But it is an olde saying and a true certainly it wil not out of the flesh that is bred in the bone verily The worldly man wil needs be a worldly man stil Wel chuse you I wil let you aloÌ„e doo what you wil. I cannot think but those that of me holde scorne Wil be glad of me or euer the yéer be half worne Exit Vvorldly man. Mary fare wel adieu to the deuil Body of me he would make me his driuil Couetouse You may sée what a trusty freend he is Vvorldly man. A beggerly knaue I warrant you by the blisse And euen so he and they went about me to make Within a while I should haue gone to the hedge for a stake Precipitation I warrant you that you should haue proued shortly They would not haue lost you one grote nor peny I maruail you would tary with them any time or season You are olde inough I trowe to be ruled by reason Vvorldly man. A shame take them all I haue spent on them xx pouÌ„d That I had of money and of mine owne good ground I am a shamed of my self so God me saue Because I haue solde almoste all that euer I haue My freends and companions when I go in the street So God help me I am a shamed with them to meet Couetouse Passion of me it was time to look about They would quite haue vndoon you or els without dout But I trowe I trowe if you wil be ruled by me What I wil doo for you or ere it be long you shall sée A thousand thousand thousand waies I can inuent To fetch in double asmuch as you haue spent Vvorldly man. Be ruled by you yes héer I doo you bothe imbrace As mine owne minde to folowe all my liues space For I tel you plain I am wery of their Schole Precipitation It is time for you els they would haue made you a fool Vvorldly man. I perceiued no lesse in deed hy the talke of Reason But so it should haue come to passe in season Couetouse And doo you my brother Reason perfitly knowe Vvorldly man. Yea and with him one called Agililitie I trowe Reason came to me and mihi flectere mentem he said Sola solet ratio dux sida sophorn est it cannot be denaid To nature and Reason he dooth open iniury Which of other men councel dooth seek God hath giuen men Reason and their wits Policy To forsake that is il and to take that he dooth like Precipitation And beléeue you not these words to be very true Vvorldly man. Yes and I haue thought on them xx times since I tel you Oh Sirs me thinks if I had money and treasure again In faith I would be a liuely lad I tel you plain Heauenly man quoth he let them be heauenly for me The best heauen is me thinks is rich for to be Couetouse In faith it shall cost me and my fréends a fall But you shal be twise as rich as you were before We wil doo it to spite them euen with all Though we doo hundreds wrong therfore I haue set some aloft in a high place Which had rather dye I dare wel say Then one inch of their state should fall or abace But rather to clime vp higher if they may Whow of this world I rule the whole state Yea faith I gouern all lawes rites and orders I at my pleasure raise war strife and debate And again I make peace in all Costes and borders Nay yet a much more
Good Lord policy I think I shall neuer go hoÌ„e more Ignorance Mary God forbid why where is your gréef Vvorldly man. All the partes of my body wanteth reléef Oh Deuotion I haue such paines in my head That truely truely I wish my self euen dead Couetouse Me thought you dremed for to your self you did talk Vvorldly man. In deed Sir I dreamed I had a great iourney to walke Oh what great paines and torments I thought my self in Lying in fire which to burn did neuer lin And me thought before me the plague of God did stand Redy to strike me with a Sworde in his hand And euer I asked him what was the cause He answerd that I was a transgressor of Gods Lawes But Lord how sick I am and how terible is my pain No place in my body but sicknes therin dooth reign I like not these foolish dreames policy my freend Couetouse Tush a straw vpon them neuer set your minde He that to dreames giueth any confidence or trust Without dout very vnquietly liue he must Vvorldly man. Oh sick sick sick oh my hed oh my back Couetouse What would you haue Sir tel vs what you lack Ignorance Is it not best that I call hether a Phisicion That he may of your sicknes declare the disposition Vvorldly man. Oh yea yea doo soo good deuotion I pray thée deuotioÌ„ Gods blessing on thy hart for thy witty motion Departe I pray thee with asmuch haste as may be Ignorance It shall not be long or he be héer you shall sée Exit Vvorldly man. Oh policy sick neuer so sick oh holde my head Oh sira what shal be come of all my goods when I am dead Couetouse Dead body of me doo you rocken to dye this yéer Holde your peace I warrant you ye need not to feare Lo see you not how the worldly man showeth his kinde As sick as he is on his goods is all his minde Vvorldly man. Oh policy if I might not dye what a felow wold I be In all this contrey should be none like vnto me Sâ—ca what a goodly Warret haue I made in my hall But yet my banquiting house pleaseth me best of all Oh oh alas what a pang is this at my hart Couetouse Body of me Aqua vitae Vinagre needs help he wil departe Saint Vncumber be with vs and the blessing of S. Anthony Help help our Lady of Walsingham and all her holy coÌ„pany Enter Ignorance Why how now what is the matter how dooth he Policy Couetouse Body of me help he is gone els and that verily Ignorance Stand away foolish knaue and let maister Phisicion come Couetouse Maister Flebishiten should I say M. Phisicion I pray you look in his bum Phisicion By your leaue my maisters me thinks it is no time to iest Stand back I pray you and doo not me molest Passion of me maisters count you this a play One of you quickly bring me hether a Key Some drink Aqua vitae if it may be got With speed let vs haue some drink that is hot Couetouse Nay I tolde you before he was past remedy Phisicion No there is life in him yet I see verily Run I pray you and fetch such things as we lack Some drink and a pillow to lay at his back Ignorance Héer is drink and all things redy at hand Phisicion Giue me rowme I pray you out of my light stand Couetouse Iesu mercy lo how busy maister Phesicion is Be besy and dawe him as though he were at dying Heer you Sir is it not best you look on his pis Phisicion Good felow be content I pray thée hartely Thou art disposed to iest me think verily Couetouse Good felow goodman whoball I wil make you chaunge your note Before that for your labour you get the value of a grote Phisicion What howe worldly man in Gods name I say Look vp for the looue of God doo not like a beast decay Vvorldly man. Who is there what art thou that callest me Couetouse Mary Sir maister Flebishiten Phisicion is come it was he Vvorldly man. Oh sirs sirs I fear me all this labour is in vain You might haue let me go I was wel out of my pain Oh maister Phisicion how think you what say you to me Phisicion By my trueth there is no remedy but one that I can sée You must put your wil to Gods wil I can say no more Couetouse Why foolish Phisicion he knew that wel inough before Vvorldly man. What saist thou is there no remedy but I must dye Phisicion No Sir by my trueth as far as I can sée or espye God may doo much for he is omnipotent But you are past help in this world in mans iudgement Couetouse What the deuil doost thou héer then get thée away Vvorldly man. Departe Phisicion and thou haste no more to say Phisition I trust then Sir you wil content me for my paines taking Couetouse You shall haue a new lofe at the maids next baking Vorldly man. Go thy waies I pray thée and trouble not my minde For these newes to giue thée any thing in my hart I cannot finde Phisicion Good Lord haue mercy on thée belike it is to late to amend In wickednes thou hast liued euen so thou wilt end Gentleman I trust you wil not see me loose my labour Couetouse Gentleman go as you came you are not so much in my fauour Phisicion A common saying in déed that is like vnto like A wicked M. for wicked seruants God must néeds strike Exit Vvorldlyman Oh Sirs is there no remedy what shall I say Is it not best I set all things at a stay Couetouse Yes make sure woork of that while as you be héer Ignorance It is time in déed for death in you dooth appéer Vvorldly man. Once you knowe that I am greatly in def And now euery one wil striue their owne for to get Bid my wife therfore get a letter of administration as soon as she may And then as she listeth my Criditors she may pay In déed I haue inough to pay euery man his But by Lady I cannot tel what mine owne shall mis. Commend me to her and bid her take no thought But in any wise let her as neer as she can for go nought Couetouse By my trueth this is wunderfully wel inuented As you haue said I warraÌ„t you it shal be frequented Ignorance Your minde in this thing vndouted is not il Now as for other things it is best you make a wil. Vvorldly man. It shal be Deuotion euen as thou haste said Write quickly for of my life I am afraid Oh must I needs dye oh must I needs away Ignorance Héer is Ink and Paper what shall I write Vvorldlyman In the name first of all doo thou in dite Ignorance In the name in in in in the name what more Vorldly man. Of of of of what more fall down Couetouse Body of me down with the paper away with the Ink Ignorance Pâ—ssion of me Couetouse