HICKSCORNER.
Reading edition
PITY.
Now Jesu the gentle, that brought Adam fro hell, Save you all, sovereigns, and solace you send: And, of this matter that I begin to tell, I pray you of audience, till I have made an end; For I say to you, my name is Pity, That ever yet hath been man's friend. In the bosom of the second person in Trinity I sprang as a plant, man's miss to amend; You for to help I put to my hand: Record I take of Mary that wept tears of blood; I Pity within her heart did stand; When she saw her son on the rood, The sword of sorrow gave that lady wound; When a spear clave her son's heart asunder, She cried out, and fell to the ground; Though she was woe, it was little wonder, This delicate colour [had] that goodly lady, Full pale and wan, she saw her son all dead, Splayed on a cross with the five wells of pity, Of purple velvet powdered with roses red. Lo, I Pity thus made your errand to be sped, Or else man for ever should have been forlore. A maiden so laid his life to wed, Crowned as a king the thorns pricked him sore. Charity and I of true love leads the double rein; Whoso me loveth damned never shall be. Of some virtuous company I would be fain; For all that will to heaven needs must come by me, Chief porter I am in that heavenly city, And now here will I rest me a little space, Till it please Jesu of his grace Some virtuous fellowship for to send.
CONTEMPLATION.
Christ that was christened, crucified, and crowned, In his bosom true love was gaged with a spear, His veins brast and bruised, and to a pillar bound, With scourges he was lashed, the knots the skin tare, On his neck to Calvary the great cross he bare, His blood ran to the ground, as Scripture doth tell: His burden was so heavy, that down under it he fell, Lo, I am kin to the Lord, which is God's son; My name is written foremost in the book of life, For I am perfect Contemplation, And brother to holy church that is our Lord's wife. John Baptist, Anthony, and Jerome, with many mo, Followed me here in holt,[111] heath, and in wilderness; I ever with them went where they did go, Night and day toward the way of rightwiseness: I am the chief lantern of all holiness, Of prelates and priests I am their patron; No armour so strong in no distress, Habergeon, helm, ne yet no Jeltron, To fight with Satan am I the champion, That dare abide, and manfully stand: Fiends flee away, where they see me come; But I will show you why I came to this land For to preach and teach of God's sooth saws, Ayenst vice that doth rebel ayenst him and his laws.
PITY.
God speed, good brother; fro whence came you now?
CONTEMPLATION.
Sir, I came from Perseverance to seek you.
PITY.
Why, sir, know you me?
CONTEMPLATION.
Yea, sir, and have done long; your name is Pity.
PITY.
Your name fain would I know.
CONTEMPLATION.
Indeed I am called Contemplation, That useth to live solitarily; In woods and in wildness[112] I walk alone, Because I would say my prayers devoutly; I love not with me to have much company: But Perseverance oft with me doth meet, When I think on thoughts that is full heavenly; Thus he and I together full sweetly doth sleep.
PITY.
I thank God that we be met together.
CONTEMPLATION.
Sir, I trust that Perseverance shortly will come hither.
PITY.
Then I think to hear some good tiding.
CONTEMPLATION.
I warrant you, brother, that he is coming.
PERSEVERANCE.
The eternal God, that named was Messias, He give you grace to come to his glory, Wherever is joy in the celestial place, When you of Satan winneth the victory, Everyman ought to be glad to have in company, For I am named good Perseverance, That ever is guided by virtuous governance; I am never variable, but doth continue, Still going upward the ladder of grace, And lode in me planted is so true, And from the poor man I will never turn my face: When I go by myself oft I do remember The great kindness that God showed unto man, For to be born in the month of December, When the day waxeth short, and the night long, Of his goodness that champion strong Descended down fro the Father of rightwiseness, And rested in Mary the flower of meekness. Now to this place hither come I am To seek Contemplation my kinsman.
CONTEMPLATION.
What, brother Perseverance? ye be welcome.
PERSEVERANCE.
And so be you also, Contemplation.
CONTEMPLATION.
Lo, here is our master Pity.
PERSEVERANCE.
Now truly ye be welcome into this country.
PITY.
I thank ye heartily, sir Perseverance.
PERSEVERANCE.
Master Pity, one thing is come to my remembrance; What tithings hear you now?
PITY.
Sir, such as I can I shall show you: I have heard many men complain piteously; They say they be smitten with the swerd of poverty. In every place where I do go: Few friends poverty doth find, And these rich men been unkind; For their neighbours they will nought do, Widows doth curse lords and gentle men, For they constrain them to marry with their men, Yea, whether they will or no: Men marry for good,[113] and that is damnable, Yea, with old women that is fifty and beyond: The peril now no man dread will; All is not God's law that is used in land; Beware will they not, till death in his hand Taketh his sword, and smiteth asunder the life vein, And with his mortal stroke cleaveth the heart atwain: They trust so in mercy, the lantern of brightness, That no thing do they dread God's rightwiseness.
PERSEVERANCE.
O Jesu, sir, here is a heavy tiding.
PITY.
Sir, this is true, that I do bring.
CONTEMPLATION.
How am I beloved, master Pity, where ye come?
PITY.
In good faith, people have now small devotion; And as for with you, brother Contemplation, There meddleth few or none.
CONTEMPLATION.
Yet, I trust, that priests love me well?
PITY.
But a few, i-wis, and some never a deal.
CONTEMPLATION.
Why, sir, without me they may not live clean.
PITY.
Nay, that is the least thought that they have of fifteen; And that maketh me full heavy.
CONTEMPLATION.
How, trow you that there be no remedy?
PITY.
Full hard, for sin is now so grievous and ill, That I think that it be growen to an impossible, And yet one thing maketh me ever mourning: That priests lack utterance to show their cunning; And all the while that clerks do use so great sin, Among the lay people look never for no mending.
PERSEVERANCE.
Alas, that is a heavy case, That so great sin is used in every place; I pray God it amend.
CONTEMPLATION.
Now God, that ever hath been man's friend, Some better tidings soon us send! For now I must be gone. Farewell, good brethren here; A great errand I have elsewhere, That must needs be done: I trust I will not long tarry; Thither will I hie me shortly, And come again, when I have done.
PERSEVERANCE.
Hither again, I trust, you will come; Therefore God be with you.
CONTEMPLATION.
Sir, needs I must depart now; Jesu me speed this day.
PERSEVERANCE.
Now, brother Contemplation, let us go our way.
FREEWILL.
Aware, fellows, and stand a-room: How say you? am not I a goodly person? I trow, you know not such a guest: What, sirs, I tell you, my name is Freewill, I may choose whether I do good or ill; But for all that I will do, as me list: My conditions ye know not, perdè, I can fight, chide, and be merry; Full soon of my company ye would be weary, And ye knew all. What, fill the cup, and make good cheer! I trow I have a noble here: Who lent it me? By Christ, a frere; And I gave him a fall. Where be ye, sir? be ye at home? Cock's passion, my noble is turned to a stone. Where lay I last? Beshrew your heart, John; Now, by these bones, she hath beguiled me: Let see; a penny my supper, a piece of flesh ten-pence; My bed right nought: let all this expense— Now, by these bones, I have lost a halfpenny. Who lay there? my fellow Imagination; He and I had good communication Of Sir John and Sybil, How they were spied in bed together; And he prayed her oft to come hither, For to sing lo, le, lo, lowe. They twain together had good sport; But at the stews' side I lost a groat: I trow I shall never i-the.[114] My fellow promised me here to meet, But I trow the whoreson be asleep With a wench somewhere. How, Imagination, come hither, And you thrive, I lose a feather; Beshrew your heart, appear.
IMAGINATION.
What, how, how, who called after me?
FREEWILL.
Come near, ye shall never i-the, Where have ye be so long?
IMAGINATION.
By God, with me it is all wrong, I have a pair of sore buttocks, All in irons was my song, Even now I sat gyved in a pair of stocks.
FREEWILL.
Cock's passion, and how so?
IMAGINATION.
Sir, I will tell you what I have do: I met with a wench, and she was fair, And of love heartily I did pray her, And so promised her money: Sir, she winked on me, and said nought, But by her look I knew her thought; Then into love's dance we were brought, That we played the pyrdewy: I wot not what we did together, But a knave catchpole nighed us near, And so did us aspy; A stripe he gave me, I fled my touch, And from my girdle he plucked my pouch: By your leave he left me never a penny: Lo, nought have I but a buckle, And yet I can imagine things subtle For to get money plenty; In Westminster Hall every term I am, To me is kin many a great gentleman, I am knowen in every country; And I were dead, the lawyers' thrift were lost: For this will I do, if men would do cost, Prove right wrong, and all by reason, And make men lese both house and land, For all that they can do in a little season, Peach men of treason privily I can, And when me list, to hang a true man. If they will be money tell, Thieves I can help out of prison, And into lords' favours I can get me soon, And be of their privy council. But, Freewill, my dear brother, Saw you nought of Hickscorner? He promised me to come hither.
FREEWILL.
Why, sir, knowest thou him?
IMAGINATION.
Yea, yea, man; he is full nigh of my kin, And in Newgate we dwelled together; For he and I were both shackled in a fetter.
FREEWILL.
Sir, lay you beneath or on high on the seller?[115]
IMAGINATION.
Nay, i-wis, among the thickest of yeomen of the collar.[116]
FREEWILL.
By God, then you were in great fear.
IMAGINATION.
Sir, had I not been, two hundred had been thrust in an halter.
FREEWILL.
And what life have they there, all that great sort?
IMAGINATION.
By God, sir, once a year some taw halts of Burport:[117] Yea, at Tyburn there standeth the great frame. And some take a fall that maketh their neck lame.
FREEWILL.
Yea, but can they then go no more?
IMAGINATION.
Oh, no, man; the wrest is twist so sore, For as soon as they have said In manus tuas once, By God, their breath is stopped at once.
FREEWILL.
Why, do they pray in that place there?
IMAGINATION.
Yea, sir, they stand in great fear, And so fast tangled in that snare, It falleth to their lot to have the same share.
FREEWILL.
That is a knavish sight to see them totter on a beam.
IMAGINATION.
Sir, the whoresons could not convey[118] clean; For, and they could have carried by craft as I can, In process of years each of them should be a gentleman. Yet as for me I was never thief; If my hands were smitten off, I can steal with my teeth; For ye know well, there is craft in daubing:[119] I can look in a man's face and pick his purse, And tell new tidings that was never true, i-wis, For my hood is all lined with lesing.[120]
FREEWILL.
Yea, but went ye never to Tyburn a pilgrimage?
IMAGINATION.
No, i-wis; nor none of my lineage, For we be clerks all, and can our neck verse, And with an ointment the judge's hand I can grease, That will heal sores that be incurable.
FREEWILL.
Why, were ye never found reprovable?
IMAGINATION.
Yes, once I stall a horse in the field, And leapt on him for to have ridden my way: At the last a baily me met and beheld, And bad me stand; then was I in a fray: He asked, whither with that horse I would gone; And then I told him it was mine own: He said I had stolen him; and I said nay: This is, said he, my brother's hackney. For, and I had not excused me, without fail, By our lady, he would have lad me straight to jail; And then I told him the horse was like mine, A brown bay, a long mane, and did halt behine, Thus I told him, that such another horse I did lack; And yet I never saw him, nor came on his back: So I delivered him the horse again. And when he was gone, then was I fain: For and I had not excused me the better, I know well I should have danced in a fetter.
FREEWILL.
And said he no more to thee but so?
IMAGINATION.
Yea, he pretended me much harm to do; But I told him that morning was a great mist, That what horse it was I ne wist: Also I said, that in my head I had the megrin, That made me dazzle so in mine eyen, That I might not well see. And thus he departed shortly from me.
FREEWILL.
Yea, but where is Hickscorner now?
IMAGINATION.
Some of these young men hath hid him in Their bosoms, I warrant ye: Let us make a cry, that he may us hear.
FREEWILL.
How now, Hickscorner, appear; I trow thou be hid in some corner.
HICKSCORNER.
Ale[121] the helm, ale, veer, shoot off, veer sail, veer-a.
FREEWILL.
Cock's body, hark, he is a ship on the sea.
HICKSCORNER.
God speed, God speed; who called after me?
IMAGINATION.
What, brother, welcome by this precious body; I am glad that I you see, It was told me that you were hanged; But out of what country come ye?
HICKSCORNER.
Sirs, I have been in many a country; As in France, Ireland, and in Spain, Portingal, Sevile, also in Almaine; Friesland, Flanders, and in Burgoine, Calabria, Pugle,[122] and Erragon,[123] Britain, Biske, and also in Gascoine, Naples, Greece, and in middes of Scotland; At Cape,[124] Saint Vincent, and in the new found island,[125] I have been in Gene[126] and in Cowe, Also in the land of Rumbelow,[127] Three mile out of hell; At Rhodes, Constantine, and in Babylon[128] In Cornwall, and in Northumberland, Where men seethe rushes in gruel; Yea, sir, in Chaldsea, Tartary, and India, And in the Land of Women, that few men doth find: In all these countries have I be.
FREEWILL.
Sir, what tidings hear ye now on the sea?
HICKSCORNER.
We met of ships a great navy, Full of people that would into Ireland; And they came out of this country: They will never more come to England.
IMAGINATION.
Whence were the ships of them? knowest thou none?
HICKSCORNER.
Harken, and I will show you their names each one: First was the Regent, with the Michael of Brikilse; The George, with the Gabriel, and the Anne of Fowey; The Star of Saltash, with the Jesus of Plymouth; Also the Hermitage, with the Barbara of Dartmouth, The Nicolas and the Mary Bellouse of Bristow, With the Ellen of London and James also: Great was the people that was in them, All true religious and holy women: There was Truth and his kinsmen, With Patience, Meekness, and Humility, And all true maidens with their virginity, Royal preachers, sadness and charity, Right conscience and faith, with devotion, And all true monks that keep their religion, True buyers and sellers, and alms-deed doers, Piteous people, that he of sin destroyers, With just abstinence and good councillors, Mourners for sin, with lamentation, And good rich men that helpeth folk out of prison, True wedlock was there also, With young men that ever in prayer did go, The ships were laden with such unhappy company, But at the last God shope[129] a remedy, For they all in the sea were drowned, And on a quicksand they strake to ground; The sea swallowed them everychone, I wot well alive there scaped none.
IMAGINATION.
Lo, now my heart is glad and merry; For joy now let us sing "Derry, derry."
HICKSCORNER.
Fellows, they shall never more us withstand; For I see them all drowned in the Rase of Ireland.
FREEWILL.
Yea, but yet hark, Hickscorner, What company was in your ship, that came over?
HICKSCORNER.
Sir, I will aid[130] you to understand, There were good fellows above five thousand, And all they been kin to us three: There was falsehood, favell,[131] and jollity, Yea, thieves, and whores, with other good company, Liars, backbiters, and flatterers the while, Brawlers, liars, jetters, and chiders, Walkers by night, with great murderers, Overthwart guile[rs] and jolly carders, Oppressors of people, with many swearers, There was false law with horrible vengeance, Froward obstination with mischievous governance, Wanton wenches, and also michers, With many other of the devil's officers; And hatred, that is so mighty and strong, Hath made a vow for ever to dwell in England.
IMAGINATION.
But is that true, that thou dost show now?
HICKSCORNER.
Sir, every word as I do tell you.
FREEWILL.
Of whence is your ship? of London?
HICKSCORNER.
Yea, i-wis from thence did she come; And she is named The Envy, I tell you, a great vessel and a mighty: The owner of her is called Ill-Will, Brother to Jack Poller of Shooter's-Hill.
IMAGINATION.
Sir, what office in the ship bare ye?
HICKSCORNER.
Marry, I kept a fair shop of bawdry, I had three wenches that were full praty, Jane true and thriftless, and wanton Sybil, If you ride her a journey, she will make you weary, For she is trusty at need: If ye will hire her for your pleasure, I warrant, tire her shall ye never, She is so sure in deed; Ride, and you will, ten times a-day, I warrant you she will never say nay, My life I dare lay to wed.[132]
IMAGINATION.
Now pluck up your hearts, and make good cheer; These tidings liketh me wonder well, Now virtue shall draw arear arear: Hark, fellows, a good sport I can you tell, At the stews we will lie to-night, And by my troth, if all go right, I will beguile some praty wench, To get me money at a pinch. How say you? shall we go thither? Let us keep company altogether, And I would that we had God's curse, If we somewhere do not get a purse; Every man bear his dagger naked in his hand, And if we meet a true man, make him stand, Or else that he bear a stripe; If that he struggle, and make any work, Lightly strike him to the heart, And throw him into Thames quite.
FREEWILL.
Nay, three knaves in a leash is good at nale:[133] But thou lubber Imagination, That cuckold thy father, where is he become? At Newgate doth he lie still at jail?
IMAGINATION.
Avaunt, whoreson, thou shalt bear me a stripe; Say'st thou, that my mother was a whore?
FREEWILL.
Nay, sir, but the last night I saw Sir John and she tumbled on the floor.
IMAGINATION.
Now, by Cock's heart, thou shalt lose an arm.
HICKSCORNER.
Nay, sir, I charge you do him no harm.
IMAGINATION.
And thou make too much, I will break thy head too.
HICKSCORNER.
By Saint Mary, and I wist that, I would be ago.
IMAGINATION.
Aware, aware! the whoreson shall aby, His priest will I be, by Cock's body.
HICKSCORNER.
Keep peace, lest knaves' blood be shed.
FREEWILL.
By God, if his was nought, mine was as bad.
IMAGINATION.
By Cock's heart, he shall die on this dagger.
HICKSCORNER.
By our Lady, then will ye be strangled in a halter.
IMAGINATION.
The whoreson shall eat him,[134] as far as he shall wade.
HICKSCORNER.
Beshrew your heart, and put up your blade, Sheathe your whittle, or by Jis,[135] that was never born, I will rap you on the costard with my horn; What, will ye play all the knave?
IMAGINATION.
By Cock's heart, and thou a buffet shalt have.
FREEWILL.
Lo, sirs, here is a fair company, God us save; For if any of us three be mayor of London, I-wis, i-wis, I will ride to Rome on my thumb: Alas! ah, see; is not this a great feres? I would they were in a mill-pool above the ears; And then I durst warrant, they would depart anon.
HICKSCORNER.
Help, help, for the passion of my soul; He hath made a great hole in my poll, That all my wit is set to the ground: Alas! a leech for to help my wound.
IMAGINATION.
Nay, i-wis, whoreson, I will bite thee, ere I go.
FREEWILL.
Alas! good sir, what have I do?
IMAGINATION.
Ware, make room, he shall have a stripe, I trow.
PITY.
Peace, peace, sirs, I command you.
IMAGINATION.
Avaunt, old churl; whence comest thou? And thou make too much, I shall break thy brow, And send thee home again.
PITY.
Ah, good sir, the peace I would have kept fain; Mine office is to see no man slain; And where they do amiss, to give them good counsel, Sin to forsake, and God's law them tell.
IMAGINATION.
Ah, sir, I ween'd thou hadst been drowned and gone: But I have spied, that there scaped one.
HICKSCORNER.
Imagination, do by the counsel of me, Be agreed with Freewill, and let us good fellows be; And then, as for this churl Pity, Shall curse the time that ever he came to land.
IMAGINATION.
Brother Freewill, give me your hand, And all mine ill will I forgive thee.
FREEWILL.
Sir, I thank you heartily; But what shall we do with this churl Pity?
IMAGINATION.
I will go to him, and pick a quarrel, And make him a thief, and say he did steal Of mine forty pound in a bag.
FREEWILL.
By God, that tidings will make him sad; And I will go fetch a pair of gyves, For in good faith he shall be set fast by the heels.
HICKSCORNER.
Have ado lightly, and be gone, And let us twain with him alone.
FREEWILL.
Now, farewell, I beshrew you everychone.
HICKSCORNER.
Ho, ho, Freewill you threw, and no mo.
IMAGINATION.
Thou lewd fellow, say'st thou that thy name is Pity? Who sent thee hither to control me?
PITY.
Good sir, it is my property For to despise sinful living, And unto virtue men to bring, If that they will do after me.
IMAGINATION.
What, sir, art thou so pure holy? Ah, see, this caitiff would be praised, I trow; And you thrive this year, I will lose a penny. Lo, sirs, outward he beareth a fair face; But, and he meet with a wench in a privy place, I trow he would show her but little grace: By God, ye may trust me.
HICKSCORNER.
Lo, will ye not see this caitiff's meaning? He would destroy us all, and all our kin, Yet had I liever see him hanged by the chin, Rather than that should be brought about; And with this dagger thou shalt have a clout, Without thou wilt be lightly be gone.
IMAGINATION.
Nay, brother, lay hand on him soon; For he japed my wife, and made me cuckold, And yet the traitor was so bold, That he stale forty pound of mine in money.
HICKSCORNER.
By Saint Mary, then he shall not scape; We will lead him straight to Newgate, For ever there shall he lie.
FREEWILL.
Ah, see, ah, see, sirs, what I have brought, A medicine for a pair of sore shins; At the King's Bench, sirs, I have you sought, But I pray you, who shall wear these?
HICKSCORNER.
By God, this fellow that may not go hence, I will go give him these hose rings; Now, i-faith, they be worth forty pence, But to his hands I lack two bonds.
IMAGINATION.
Hold, whoreson, here is an halter; Bind him fast, and make him sure.
PITY.
O men, let truth, that is the true man, Be your guider, or else ye be forlorn; Lay no false witness, as nigh as ye can, On none; for afterward ye will repent it full sore.
FREEWILL.
Nay, nay, I care not therefore.
HICKSCORNER.
Yea, when my soul hangeth on the hedge-cast stones, For I tell thee plainly by Cock's bones, Thou shalt be guided, and laid in irons, They fared even so.
PITY.
Well-a-way,[136] sir, what have I do?
IMAGINATION.
Well, well, that thou shalt know, ere thou go.
PITY.
O sirs, I see it cannot be amended, You do me wrong, for I have not offended: Remember God that is our heaven king, For he will reward you after your deserving; When death with his mace doth you arrest; We all to him owe fea'ty and service, From the ladder of life down he will thee thrust, Then mastership may not help, nor great office.
FREEWILL.
What, death, and he were here, he should sit by thee; Trowest thou, that he be able to strive with us three? Nay, nay, nay.
IMAGINATION.
Well, fellows, now let us go our way; For at Shooter's Hill we have a game to play.
HICKSCORNER.
In good faith, I will tarry no lenger space.
FREEWILL.
Beshrew him for me, that is last out of this place.
PITY.
Lo, Lords, they may curse the time they were born, For the weeds that overgroweth the corn, They troubled me guiltless, and wote not why, For God's love yet will I suffer patiently: We all may say well-a-way, for sin that is now-a-day. Lo, virtue is vanished for ever and aye; Worse was it never.[137] We have plenty of great oaths, And cloth enough in our clothes, But charity many men loathes, Worse was it never. Alas, now is lechery called love indeed, And murder named manhood in every need, Extortion is called law, so God me speed; Worse was it never. Youth walketh by night with swords and knives, And ever among true men leseth their lives, Like heretics we occupy other men's wives, Now-a-days in England: Bawds be the destroyers of many young women, And full lewd counsel they give unto them; How you do marry, beware, you young men, The wise never tarrieth too long; There be many great scorners, But for sin there be few mourners; We have but few true lovers In no place now-a-days; There be many goodly-gilt knaves, And I know, as many apparelled wives, Yet many of them be unthrifty of their lives, And all set in pride to go gay. Mayors on sin doeth no correction, While[138] gentle men beareth truth adown; Avoutry[139] is suffered in every town, Amendment is there none, And God's commandments we break them all ten. Devotion is gone many days sin.[140] Let us amend us we true Christian men, Ere death make you groan. Courtiers go gay, and take little wages, And many with harlots at the tavern haunts, They be yeomen of the wreath that be shackled in gyves; On themselves they have no pity: God punisheth full sore with great sickness, As pox, pestilence, purple, and axes, Some dieth suddenly that death full perilous, Yet was there never so great poverty. There be some sermons made by noble doctors; But truly the fiend doth stop men's ears, For God nor good man some people not fears; Worse was it never. All truth is not best said, And our preachers now-a-days be half afraid: When we do amend, God would be well apaid; Worse was it never.
CONTEMPLATION.
What, Master Pity, how is it with you?
PERSEVERANCE.
Sir, we be sorry to see you in this case now.
PITY.
Brethren, here were three perilous men, Freewill, Hickscorner, and Imagination; They said, I was a thief, and laid felony upon me, And bound me in irons, as ye may see.
CONTEMPLATION.
Where be the traitors become now?
PITY.
In good faith, I cannot show you.
PERSEVERANCE.
Brother, let us unbind him of his bonds.
CONTEMPLATION.
Unloose the feet and the hands.
PITY.
I thank you for your great kindness, That you two show in this distress; For they were men without any mercy, That delighteth all in mischief and tyranny.
PERSEVERANCE.
I think, they will come hither again, Freewill and Imagination, both twain: Them will I exhort to virtuous living, And unto virtue them to bring, By the help of you, Contemplation.
CONTEMPLATION.
Do my counsel, brother Pity; Go you, and seek them through the country, In village, town, borough, and city, Throughout all the realm of England: When you them meet, lightly them arrest, And in prison put them fast, Bind them sure in irons strong; For they be so fast and subtle; That they will you beguile, And do true men wrong.
PERSEVERANCE.
Brother Pity, do as he hath said, In every quarter look you espy, And let good watch for them be laid, In all the haste that thou can, and that privily; For, and they come hither, they shall not scape, For all the craft that they can make.
PITY.
Well, then will I hie me as fast as I may, And travel through every country; Good watch shall be laid in every way, That they steal not into sanctuary. Now farewell, brethren, and pray for me; For I must go hence in deed.
PERSEVERANCE.
Now God be your good speed.
CONTEMPLATION.
And ever you defend, when you have need.
PITY.
Now, brethren both, I thank you.
FREEWILL.
Make you room for a gentleman, sirs, and peace; "Dieu garde, seigneurs, tout le preasse,"[141] And of your jangling if ye will cease, I will tell you where I have been: Sirs, I was at the tavern, and drank wine, Methought I saw a piece that was like mine, And, sir, all my fingers were arrayed[142] with lime, So I conveyed a cup mannerly: And yet, i-wis, I played all the fool, For there was a scholar of mine own school; And, sir, the whoreson espied me. Then was I 'rested, and brought in prison; For woe then I wist not what to have done, And all because I lacked money, But a friend in court is worth a penny in purse:[143] For Imagination, mine own fellow, i-wis, He did help me out full craftily. Sirs, he walked through Holborn, Three hours after the sun was down, And walked up towards Saint Giles-in-the-Field: He hoved still, and there beheld, But there he could not speed of his prey, And straight to Ludgate he took the way; Ye wot well, that pothecaries walk very late, He came to a door and privily spake To a prentice for a penny-worth of euphorbium,[144] And also for a halfpenny-worth of alum plumb; This good servant served him shortly, And said, is there ought else that you would buy? Then he asked for a mouthful of quick brimstone;[145] And down into the cellar, when the servant was gone, Aside as he kest[146] his eye, A great bag of money did he spy, Therein was an hundred pound: He trussed him to his feet, and yede his way round, He was lodged at Newgate at the Swan, And every man took him for a gentleman; So on the morrow he delivered me Out of Newgate by this policy: And now will I dance and make royal cheer. But I would Imagination were here, For he is peerless at need; Labour to him, sirs, if ye will your matters speed. Now will I sing, and lustily spring; But when my fetters on my legs did ring, I was not glad, perde; but now Hey, troly, loly, Let us see who can descant on this same; To laugh and get money, it were a good game, What, whom have we here? A priest, a doctor, or else a frere. What, Master Doctor Dotypoll? Cannot you preach well in a black boll, Or dispute any divinity? If ye be cunning, I will put it in a prefe:[147] Good sir, why do men eat mustard with beef? By question can you assoil me?
PERSEVERANCE.
Peace, man, thou talkest lewdly, And of thy living, I reed,[148] amend thee.
FREEWILL.
Avaunt, caitiff, dost thou thou me! I am come of good kin, I tell thee! My mother was a lady of the stews' blood born, And (knight of the halter) my father ware an horn; Therefore I take it in full great scorn, That thou shouldest thus check me.
CONTEMPLATION.
Abide, fellow, thou hast little courtesy, Thou shalt be charmed, ere thou hence pass, For thou troubled Pity, and laid on him felony: Where is Imagination, thy fellow that was?
FREEWILL.
I defy you both; will you arrest me?
PERSEVERANCE.
Nay, nay; thy great words may not help thee, Fro us thou shalt not escape.
FREEWILL.
Make room, sirs, that I may break his pate; I will not be taken for them both.
CONTEMPLATION.
Thou shalt abide, whether thou be lief or loth; Therefore, good son, listen unto me, And mark these words that I do tell thee: Thou hast followed thine own will many a day, And lived in sin without amendment; Therefore in thy conceit essay To axe God mercy, and keep His commandment, Then on thee He wilt have pity, And bring thee to heaven that joyful city.
FREEWILL.
What, whoreson? Will ye have me now a fool? Nay, yet had I liever be captain of Calais; For, and I should do after your school, To learn to patter to make me peevish, Yet had I liever look with a face full thievish: And therefore, prate no lenger here, Lest my knave's fist hit you under the ear. What, ye daws, would ye reed me For to lese my pleasure in youth and jollity, To bass and kiss my sweet trully mully, As Jane, Kate, Bess, and Sybil? I would that hell were full of such prims, Then would I renne thither on my pins, As fast as I might go.
PERSEVERANCE.
Why, sir, wilt thou not love virtue, And forsake thy sin for the love of God Almighty?
FREEWILL.
What God Almighty, by God's fast at Salisbury, And I trow Easter-day fell on Whitsunday that year, There were five score save an hundred in my company, And at petty Judas we made royal cheer, There had we good ale of Michaelmas brewing; There heaven-high leaping and springing, And thus did I Leap out of Bordeaux unto Canterbury, Almost ten mile between.
CONTEMPLATION.
Freewill, forsake all this world wilfully here, And change by time; thou oughtest to stand in fear; For fortune will turn her wheel so swift, That clean fro thy wealth she will thee lift.
FREEWILL.
What, lift me, who? and Imagination were here now, I-wis with his fist he would all-to clout you: Hence, whoreson, tarry no lenger here; For by Saint Pintle the apostle I swear, That I will drive you both home, And yet I was never wont to fight alone: Alas, that I had not one to bold[149] me, Then you should see me play the man shamefully; Alas, it would do me good to fight; How say you, lords, shall I smite? Have among you, by this light: Hence, whoresons, and home at once, Or with my weapon I shall break your bones. Avaunt, you knave: walk, by my counsel.
PERSEVERANCE.
Son, remember the great pains of hell, They are so horrible that no tongue can tell; Beware, lest thou thither do go.
FREEWILL.
Nay, by Saint Mary, I hope not so; I will not go to the devil, while I have my liberty, He shall take the labour to fet me, and he will have me; For he that will go to hell by his will voluntarily, The devil and the whirlwind go with him: I will you never fro thence tidings bring; Go you before, and show me the way, And as to follow you I will not say nay: For, by God's body, and you be in once, By the mass, I will shit[150] the door at once, And then ye be take in a pitfall.
CONTEMPLATION.
Now, Jesus, soon defend us from that hole, For, "Qui est in inferno nulla est redemptio:" Holy Job spake these words full long ago.
FREEWILL.
Nay, I have done; and you laid out Latin with scope, But therewith can you clout me a pair of boots?[151] By our lady, ye should have some work of me, I would have them well underlaid and easily, For I use alway to go on the one side; And trow ye how? by God, in the stocks I sat till, I trow a three weeks, and more a little stound, And there I laboured sore day by day, And so I tread my shone inward in good fay; Lo, therefore methink you must sole them round. If you have any new boots, a pair I would buy, But I think your price be too high. Sir, once at Newgate I bought a pair of stirrups,[152] A mighty pair and a strong, A whole year I ware them so long, But they came not fully to my knee, And to clout them it cost not me a penny: Even now, and ye go thither, ye shall find a great heap, And you speak in my name, ye shall have good cheap.
PERSEVERANCE.
Sir, we came never there, ne never shall do.
FREEWILL.
Marry, I was taken in a trap there, and tied by the toe, That I halted a great while, and might not go. I would ye both sat as fast there; Then should ye dance as a bear, And all by gangling of your chains.
CONTEMPLATION.
Why, sir, were ye there?
FREEWILL.
Yea, and that is seen by my brains; For, ere I came there, I was as wise as a woodcock, And, I thank God, as witty as a haddock. Yet I trust to recover, as other does, For, and I had once as much wit as a goose, I should be merchant of the bank; Of gold then I should have many a frank, For if I might make three good voyages to Shooter's Hill,[153] And have wind and weather at my will, Then would I never travel the sea more: But it is hard to keep the ship fro the shore, And if it hap to rise a storm, Then thrown in a raft, and so about borne On rocks or brachs[154] for to run, Else to strike aground at Tyburn, That were a mischievous case, For that rock of Tyburn is so perilous a place, Young gallants dare not venture into Kent; But when their money is gone and spent, With their long boots they row on the bay,[155] And any man of war[156] lie by the way, They must take a boat and throw the helm ale;[157] And full hard it is to scape that great jeopardy, For, at Saint Thomas of Watering and they strike a sail, Then must they ride in the haven of hemp without fail; And were not these two jeopardous places indeed, There is many a merchant that thither would speed: But yet we have a sure channel at Westminster, A thousand ships of thieves therein may ride sure; For if they may have anchor-hold and great spending, They may live as merry as any king.
PERSEVERANCE.
God wot, sir, there is a piteous living, Then ye dread not the great Master above: Son, forsake thy miss[158] for His love, And then mayst thou come to the bliss also.
FREEWILL.
Why, what would you that I should do?
CONTEMPLATION.
For to go toward heaven.
FREEWILL.
Marry, and you will me thither bring, I would do after you.[159]
PERSEVERANCE.
I pray you, remember my words now: Freewill, bethink thee that thou shalt die, And of the hour thou are uncertain, Yet by thy life thou mayest find a remedy; For, and thou die in sin, all labour is in vain, Then shall thy soul be still in pain. Lost and damned for evermore; Help is past, though thou would fain, Then thou wilt curse the time that thou were bore.
FREEWILL.
Sir, if ye will undertake that I saved shall be, I will do all the penance that you will set me.
CONTEMPLATION.
If that thou for thy sins he sorry, Our Lord will forgive thee them.
FREEWILL.
Now of all my sins I axe God mercy; Here I forsake sin, and trust to amend: I beseech Jesu that is most mighty To forgive all that I have offend.
PERSEVERANCE.
Our Lord now will show thee His mercy, A new name thou need none have; For all that will to heaven high, By his own freewill he must forsake folly, Then is he sure and safe.
CONTEMPLATION.
Hold here a new garment, And hereafter live devoutly, And for thy sins do ever repent: Sorrow for thy sins is very remedy: And, Freewill, ever to virtue apply, Also to sadness[160] give ye attendance, Let him never out of remembrance.
FREEWILL.
I will never from you, sir Perseverance; With you will I abide both day and night, Of mind never to be variable, And God's commandments to keep them right, In deed and word, and ever full stable.
PERSEVERANCE.
Then heaven thou shalt have without fable, But look that thou be steadfast, And let thy mind with good will last.
IMAGINATION.
Huff, huff, huff! who sent after me? I am Imagination, full of jollity, Lord, that my heart is light,[161] When shall I perish? I trow, never; By Christ, I reck not a feather: Even now I was dubbed a knight, Where at Tyburn of the collar, And of the stews I am made controller— Of all the houses of lechery; There shall no man play doccy[162] there, At the Bell, Hartshorn, ne elsewhere, Without they have leave of me. But, sirs, wot ye why I am come hither? By our lady, to gather good company together: Saw ye not of my fellow Freewill? I am afraid lest he be searching on a hill; By God, then one of us is beguiled. What fellow is this that in this coat is filed? Cock's death, whom have we here? What, Freewill, mine own fere?[163] Art thou out of thy mind?
FREEWILL.
God grant the way to heaven that I may find; For I forsake thy company.
IMAGINATION.
God's arms, my company? and why?
FREEWILL.
For thou livest too sinfully.
IMAGINATION.
Alas, tell me how it is with thee.
FREEWILL.
Forsake thy sin for the love of me.
IMAGINATION.
Cock's heart, art thou waxed mad?
FREEWILL.
When I think on my sin, it makes me full sad.
IMAGINATION.
God's wounds, who gave thee that counsel?
FREEWILL.
Perseverance and Contemplation, I thee tell.
IMAGINATION.
A vengeance on them, I would they were in hell.
FREEWILL.
Amend, Imagination, and mercy cry.
IMAGINATION.
By God's sides, I had liever be hanged on high; Nay, that would I not do: I had liever die. By God's passion, and I had a long knife, I would bereave these two whoresons of their life: How, how? twenty pounds for a dagger!
CONTEMPLATION.
Peace, peace, good son, and speak softer, And amend, ere death draw his draught; For on thee he will steal full soft, He giveth never no man warning, And ever to thee he is coming: Therefore remember thee well.
IMAGINATION.
Ah, whoreson, if I were jailer of hell, I-wis, some sorrow should thou feel; For to the devil I would thee sell, Then should ye have many a sorry meal, I would never give you meat ne drink, Ye should fast, whoresons, till ye did stink, Even as a rotten dog; yea, by Saint Tyburn of Kent.
PERSEVERANCE.
Imagination, think what God did for thee; On Good Friday He hanged on a tree, And spent all His precious blood, A spear did rive His heart asunder, The gates He brake up with a clap of thunder, And Adam and Eve there delivered He.
IMAGINATION.
What devil! what is that to me? By God's fast, I was ten year in Newgate, And many more fellows with me sat, Yet he never came there to help me ne my company.
CONTEMPLATION.
Yes, he holp thee, or thou haddest not been here now.
IMAGINATION.
By the mass, I cannot show you, For he and I never drank together, Yet I know many an ale stake;[164] Neither at the stews, i-wis, he never came thither: Goeth he arrayed in white or in black? For, and he out of prison had holp me, I know well once I should him see, What gown weareth he, I pray you?
PERSEVERANCE.
Sir, he halp you out by his might.
IMAGINATION.
I cannot tell you, by this light; But methought that I lay there too long, And the whoreson fetters were so strong, That had almost brought my neck out of joint.
PERSEVERANCE.
Amend, son, and thou shall know him, That delivered thee out of prison; And if thou wilt forsake thy miss, Surely thou shalt come to the bliss, And be inheritor of heaven.
IMAGINATION.
What, sir, above the moon? Nay, by the mass, then should I fall soon; Yet I keep not to climb so high; But to climb for a bird's nest, There is none between east and west, That dare thereto venter better than I: But to venter to heaven—what, and my feet slip? I know well then I should break my neck, And, by God, then had I the worse side; Yet had I liever be by the nose tied In a wench's arse somewhere, Rather than I would stand in that great fear, For to go up to heaven—nay, I pray you, let be.
FREEWILL.
Imagination, wilt thou do by the counsel of me?
IMAGINATION.
Yea, sir, by my troth, whatsomever it be.
FREEWILL.
Amend yet for my sake, It is better betime than too late; How say you? will you God's hests fulfil?
IMAGINATION.
I will do, sir, even as you will; But, I pray you, let me have a new coat, When I have need, and in my purse a groat, Then will I dwell with you still.
FREEWILL.
Beware, for when thou art buried in the ground, Few friends for thee will be found, Remember this still.
IMAGINATION.
No thing dread I so sore as death, Therefore to amend I think it be time; Sin have I used all the days of my breath, With pleasure, lechery, and misusing,[165] And spent amiss my five wits; therefore I am sorry: Here of all my sins I axe God mercy.
PERSEVERANCE.
Hold, here is a better clothing for thee, And look that thou forsake thy folly; Be steadfast, look that thou fall never.
IMAGINATION.
Now here I forsake my sin for ever.
FREEWILL.
Sir, wait thou now on Perseverance, For thy name shall be called Good Remembrance; And I will dwell with Contemplation, And follow him wherever he become.
CONTEMPLATION.
Well, are ye so both agreed?
IMAGINATION.
Yea, sir, so God me speed.
PERSEVERANCE.
Sir, ye shall wait on me soon, And be God's servant day and night, And in every place where ye become, Give good counsel to every wight: And men axe your name, tell you Remembrance, That God's law keepeth truly every day; And look that ye forget not repentance, Then to heaven ye shall go the next[166] way, Where ye shall see in the heavenly quere The blessed company of saints so holy, That lived devoutly while they were here: Unto the which bliss I beseech God Almighty To bring there your souls that here be present, And unto virtuous living that ye may apply, Truly for to keep His commandments; Of all our mirths here we make an end, Unto the bliss of heaven Jesus your souls bring.[167]