Everyman:
Anonymous
"signature" n="A.i"
Here begynneth a treatyse how the hye
Fader of heuen sendeth Dethe to
somon euery creature to come and
gyue a-counte of theyr lyues in
this worlde/and is in maner
of a morall playe.
French scene
Messenger.
1: I pray you all gyue your audyence,
2: And here this mater with reuerence,
3: By fygure a morall playe.
4: The Somonynge of Eueryman called it is,
5: That of our lyues and endynge shewes
6: How transytory we be all daye.
7: This mater is wonders precyous;
8: But the entent of it is more gracyous,
9: And swete to bere awaye.
10: The story sayth: Man, in the begynnynge
11: Loke well, and take good heed to the endynge,
12: Be you neuer so gay!
13: Ye thynke synne in the begynnynge full swete,
14: Whiche in the ende causeth the soule to wepe,
15: Whan the body lyeth in claye.
16: Here shall you se how Felawshyp/and Iolyte,
17: Bothe/Strengthe/Pleasure/and Beaute,
18: Wyll fade from the as floure in Maye;
19: For ye shall here how our Heuen Kynge
20: Calleth Eueryman to a generall rekenynge.
21: Gyue audyence, and here what he doth saye.
[God speketh.]
God.
22: I perceyue, here in my maieste,
23: How that all creatures be to me vnkynde,
24: Lyuynge without drede in worldly prosperyte.
25: Of ghostly syght the people be so blynde,
26: Drowned in synne, they know me not for theyr God.
27: In worldely ryches is all theyr mynde;
28: They fere not my ryghtwysnes, the sharpe rod.
29: My lawe that I shewed, whan I for them dyed,
30: They forget clene/and shedynge of my blode rede.
"signature" n="A.ii"
31: I hanged bytwene two theues, it can not be denyed;
32: To gete them lyfe I suffred to be deed;
33: I heled theyr fete/with thornes hurt was my heed.
34: I coude do no more than I dyde, truely;
35: And nowe I se the people do clene for-sake me.
36: They vse the seuen deedly synnes dampnable,
37: As pryde, coueytyse, wrath, and lechery
38: Now in the worlde be made commendable;
39: And thus they leue of aungelles the heuenly company.
40: Euery man lyueth so after his owne pleasure,
41: And yeyt of theyr lyfe they be nothynge sure.
42: I se the more that I them forbere
43: The worse they be fro yere to yere.
44: All that lyueth appayreth faste;
45: Therefore I wyll, in all the haste,
46: Haue a rekenynge of euery mannes persone;
47: For, and I leue the people thus alone
48: In theyr lyfe and wycked tempestes,
49: Veryly they will become moche worse than beestes,
50: For now one wolde by enuy another vp ete;
51: Charyte they do all clene forgete.
52: I hoped well that euery man
53: In my glory sholde make his mansyon,
54: And therto I had them all electe;
55: But now I se, lyke traytours deiecte,
56: They thanke me not for the pleasure that I to them ment,
57: Nor yet for theyr beynge that I them haue lent.
58: I profered the people grete multytude of mercy,
59: And fewe there be that asketh it hertly.
60: They be so combred with worldly ryches
61: That nedes on them I must do iustyce,
62: On euery man lyuynge without fere.
63: Where arte thou, Deth, thou myghty messengere?
[Dethe.]
Dethe.
64: Almyghty God, I am here at your wyll,
65: Your commaundement to fulfyll.
God.
66: Go thou to Eueryman
67: And shewe hym, in my name,
68: A pylgrymage he must on hym take,
69: Whiche he in no wyse may escape;
70: And that he brynge with hym a sure rekenynge
71: Without delay or ony taryenge.
Dethe.
72: Lorde, I wyll in the worlde go renne ouer-all
73: And cruelly out-serche both grete and small.
74: Euery man wyll I beset that lyueth beestly
75: Out of Goddes lawes, and dredeth not foly.
76: He that loueth rychess I wyll stryke with my darte,
77: His syght to blynde, and fro heuen to departe --
78: Excepte that almes be his good frende --
79: In hell for to dwell, worlde without ende.
80: Loo, yonder I se Eueryman walkynge.
81: Full lytell he thynketh on my comynge;
82: His mynde is on flesshely lustes and his treasure,
83: And grete payne it shall cause hym to endure
84: Before the Lorde, Heuen Kynge.
85: Eueryman, stande styll! Whyder arte thou goynge
86: Thus gayly? / Hast thou thy Maker forgete?
[Eueryman.]
Eueryman.
87: Why askest thou?
88: Woldest thou wete?
Dethe.
89: Ye, syr. I wyll shewe you:
90: In grete hast I am sende to the
91: Fro God out of his mageste.
Eueryman.
92: What, sente to me?
"signature" n="A.iii."
Dethe.
93: Ye, certaynly.
94: Thoughe thou haue forgete hym here,
95: He thynketh on the in the heuenly spere,
96: As, or we departe, thou shalte knowe.
Eueryman.
97: What desyreth God of me?
Dethe.
98: That shall I shewe the:
99: A rekenynge he wyll nedes haue
100: Without ony lenger respyte.
Eueryman.
101: To gyue a rekenynge longer layser I craue;
102: This blynde mater troubleth my wytte.
Dethe.
103: On the thou must take a long iourney;
104: Therfore thy boke of counte with the thou brynge,
105: For tourne agayne thou can not by no waye.
106: And loke thou be sure of thy rekenynge,
107: For before God thou shalte answere, and shewe
108: Thy many badde dedes, and good but a fewe;
109: How thou hast spente thy lyfe, and in what wyse,
110: Before the chefe Lorde of paradyse.
111: Haue ado that thou were in that waye,
112: For wete thou well thou shalte make none attournay.
Eueryman.
113: Full vnredy I am suche rekenynge to guye.
114: I knowe the not. What messenger arte thou?
Dethe.
115: I am Dethe that no man dredeth --
116: For euery man I reste-and no man spareth;
117: For it is Goddes commaundement
118: That all to me sholde be obedyent.
Eueryman.
119: O Deth, thou comest whan I had the leest in mynde!
120: in thy power it lyeth me to saue;
121: Yet of my good wyl I guye the, yf thou wyl be kynde --
122: Ye, a thousande pounde shalte thou haue --
123: And dyfferre this mater tyll an other daye.
Dethe.
124: Eueryman, it may not be by no waye.
125: I set not by golde, syluer, nor rychesse,
126: Ne by pope/emperour/kynge/duke, ne prynces;
127: For, and I wolde receyue gyftes grete,
128: All the worlde I myght gete;
129: But my custome is clene contrary.
130: I gyue the no respyte. Come hens, and not tary!
Eueryman.
131: Alas, shall I haue no lenger respyte?
132: I may saye Deth gyueth no warnynge!
133: To thynke on the, it maketh my herte seke,
134: For all vnredy is my boke of rekenynge.
135: But xii. yere and I myght haue a-bydynge,
136: My countynge-boke I wolde make so clere
137: That my rekenynge I sholde not nede to fere.
138: Wherfore, Deth, I praye the, for Goddes mercy,
139: Spare me tyll I be prouyded of remedy.
Dethe.
140: The auayleth not to crye, wepe, and praye;
141: But hast the lyghtly that thou were gone that iournaye,
142: And preue thy frendes yf thou can.
143: For wete thou well the tyde abydeth no man,
144: And in the worlde eche lyuynge creature
145: For Adams synne must dye of nature.
Eueryman.
146: Dethe, yf I sholde this pylgrymage take,
147: And my rekenynge suerly make,
148: Shewe me, for saynt charyte,
149: Sholde I not come agayne shortly?
Dethe.
150: No, Eueryman; and thou be ones there,
151: Thou mayst neuer more come here,
152: Trust me veryly.
Eueryman.
153: O gracyous God in the hye sete celestyall,
154: Haue mercy on me in this moost nede!
155: Shall I haue no company fro this vale terestryall
156: Of myne acqueyntaunce, that way me to lede?
Dethe.
157: Ye, yf ony be so hardy
158: That wolde go with the and bere the company.
159: Hye the that thou were gone to Goddes magnyfycence,
160: Thy rekenynge to gyue before his presence.
161: What, wenest thou thy lyue is gyuen the,
162: And thy worldely gooddes also?
Eueryman.
163: I had wende so, veryle.
Dethe.
164: Nay, nay, it was but lende the;
165: For as soone as thou arte go,
166: Another a whyle shall haue it, and than go ther-fro,
167: Euen as thou hast done.
168: Eueryman, thou arte made! Thou hast thy wyttes fyue,
169: And here on erthe wyll not amende thy lyue;
170: For sodeynly I do come.
Eueryman.
171: O wretched caytyfe, wheder shall I flee,
172: That I myght scape this endles sorowe?
173: Now, gentyll Deth, spare me tyll to-morowe,
174: That I may amende me
175: With good aduysement.
Dethe.
176: Naye, therto I wyll not consent,
177: Nor no man wyll I respyte;
178: But to the herte sodeynly I shall smyte
179: Without ony aduysement.
180: And now out of thy syght I wyll me hy.
181: Se thou make the redy shortely,
182: For thou mayst saye this is the daye
183: That no man lyuynge may scape a-way.
Eueryman.
184: Alas, I may well wepe with syghes depe!
185: Now haue I no maner of company
186: To help me in my iourney, and me to kepe;
187: And also my wrytynge is full vnredy.
188: How shall I do now for to exscuse me?
189: I wolde to God I had neuer be get!
190: To my soule a full grete profyte it had be,
191: For now I fere paynes huge and grete.
192: The tyme passeth. Lorde, helpe, that all wrought!
193: For though I mourne, it auayleth nought.
194: The day passeth and is almoost ago;
195: I wote not well what for to do.
196: To whome were I best my complaynt to make?
197: What and I to Felawshyp therof spake,
198: And shewed hym of this sodeyne chaunce?
199: For in hym is all muyne affyaunce;
200: We haue in the worlde so many a daye
201: Be good frendes in sporte and playe.
202: I se hym yonder, certaynely.
203: I trust that he wyll bere me company;
204: Therfore to hym wyll I speke to ese my sorowe.
205: Well mette, Good Felawshyp, and good morowe! [Felawshyp speketh.]
Felawship.
206: Eueryman, good morowe, by this daye!
207: Syr, why lokest thou so pyteously?
208: If ony thynge be a-mysse, I praye the me saye,
209: That I may helpe to remedy.
Eueryman.
210: Ye, good Felawshyp, ye,
211: I am in greate ieoparde.
Felawship.
212: My true frende, shewe to me your mynde.
213: I wyll not forsake the to my lyues ende,
214: In the waye of good company.
Eueryman.
215: That was well spoken and louyngly.
Felawshyp.
216: Syr, I must nedes knowe your heuynesse;
217: I haue pyte to se you in ony dystresse.
218: I ony haue you wronged, ye shall reuenged be,
219: Thoughe I on the grounde be slayne for the,
"signature" n="B.i"
220: Though that I knowe before that I sholde dye.
Eueryman.
221: Veryly, Felawshyp, gramercy.
Felawship.
222: Tusshe! by thy thankes I set not a strawe.
223: Shewe me your grefe, and saye no more.
Eueryman.
224: If I my herte sholde to you breke,
225: And than you to tourne your mynde fro me
226: And wolde not me comforte whan ye here me speke,
227: Than sholde I ten tymes soryer be.
Felawship.
228: Syr, I saye as I wyll do in dede.
Eueryman.
229: Than be you a good frende at nede.
230: I haue founde you true here-before.
Felawship.
231: And so ye shall euermore;
232: For, in fayth, and thou go to hell,
233: I wyll not forsake the by the waye.
Eueryman.
234: Ye speke lyke a good frende; I byleue you well
235: I shall deserue it, and I maye.
Felawship.
236: I speke of no deseruynge, by this daye!
237: For he that wyll saye, and nothynge do,
238: Is not worthy with good company to go;
239: Therfore shewe me the grefe of your mynde,
240: As to your frende moost louynge and kynde.
Eueryman.
241: I shall shewe you how it is:
242: Commaunded I am to go a iournaye,
243: A longe waye harde and daungerous,
244: And gyue a strayte counte, without delaye,
245: Before the hye Iuge, Adonay.
246: Wherfore, I pray you, bere me company,
247: As ye haue promysed, in this iournaye.
Felawship.
248: That is mater in dede! Promyse is duty;
249: But, and I sholde take suche a vyage on me,
250: I knowe it well, it sholde be to my payne;
251: Also it maketh me aferde, certayne.
252: But let vs take counsell here as well as we can,
253: For your wordes wolde fere a stronge man.
Eueryman.
254: Why, ye sayd yf I had nede
255: Ye wolde me neuer forsake, quycke ne deed,
256: Thoughe it were to hell, truely.
Felawship.
257: So I sayd, certaynely,
258: But suche pleasures be set a-syde, the sothe to saye;
259: And also, yf we toke suche a iournaye,
260: Whan sholde we agayne come?
Eueryman.
261: Naye, neuer agayne tyll the daye of dome.
Felawship.
262: In fayth, than wyll not I come there!
263: Who hath you these tydynges brought?
Eueryman.
264: In dede, Deth was with me here.
265: Felawshyp. Now, by God that all hathe bought,
266: If Deth were the messenger,
267: For no man that is lyuynge to-daye
268: I wyll not go that lothe iournaye --
269: Not for the fader that bygate me!
Eueryman.
270: Ye promysed other wyse, parde.
Felawship.
271: I wote well I sayd so, truely;
272: And yet, yf thou wylte ete & drynke & make good chere,
273: Or haunt to women the lusty company,
274: I wolde not forsake you whyle the daye is clere,
275: Trust me veryly.
Eueryman.
276: Ye, therto ye wolde be redy!
277: To go to myrthe, solas, and playe
278: Your mynde wyll soner apply,
279: Than to bere me company in my longe iournaye.
Felawship.
280: Now, in good fayth, I wyll not that waye;
281: But and thou wyll murder, or ony man kyll,
282: In that I wyll helpe the with a good wyll.
Eueryman.
283: O, that is a symple aduyse in dede.
"signature" n="B.ii"
284: Gentyll felawe, helpe me in my necessyte!
285: We haue loued longe, and now I nede;
286: And now, gentyll Felawshyp, remembre me.
Felawship.
287: Wheder ye haue loued me or no,
288: By Saynt Iohan I wyll not with the go!
Eueryman.
289: Yet, I pray the, take the labour & do so moche for me
290: To brynge me forwarde, for saynt charyte,
291: And comforte me tyll I come without the towne.
Felawship.
292: Nay, and thou wolde gyue me a newe gowne,
293: I wyll not a fote with the go;
294: But, and thou had taryed, I wolde not haue lefte the so.
295: And as now God spede the in thy iournaye,
296: For from the I wyll departe as fast as I maye.
Eueryman.
297: Wheder a-waye, Felawshyp? Wyll thou forsake me?
Felawship.
298: Ye, by my faye! To God I be-take the.
Eueryman.
299: Farewell, good Felawshyp! For the my herte is sore.
300: A-dewe for euer! I shall se the no more.
Felawship.
301: In fayth, Eueryman, fare well now at the endynge!
302: For you I wyll remembre that partynge is mournynge.
Eueryman.
303: A-lacke, shall wee thus departe in ded --
304: A, Lady, helpe! -- without ony more comforte?
305: Lo, Felawshyp forsaketh me in my moost nede.
306: For helpe in this worlde wheder shall I resorte?
307: Felawshyp here-before with me wolde mery make,
308: And now lytell sorowe for me dooth he take.
309: It is sayd, `In prosperyte men frendes may fynde,
310: Whiche in aduersyte be full vnkynde.'
311: Now wheder for socoure shall I flee,
312: Syth that Felawshyp hath forsaken me?
313: To my kynnesmen I wyll, truely,
314: Prayenge them to helpe me in my necessyte.
315: I byleue that they wyll do so,
316: For kynde wyll crepe where it may not go.
317: I wyll go saye, for yonder I se them.
318: Where be ye now, my frendes and kynnesmen?
Kynrede.
319: Here be we now at your commaundement.
320: Cosyn, I praye you shewe vs your entent
321: In ony wyse, and not spare.
Cosyn.
322: Ye, Eueryman, and to vs declare
323: If ye be dysposed to go ony-whyder;
324: For, wete you well, we wyll lyue and dye to-gyder.
Kynrede.
325: In welth and wo we wyll with you holde,
326: For ouer his kynne a man may be bolde.
Eueryman.
327: Gramercy, my frendes and kynnesmen kynde.
328: Now shall I shewe you the grefe of my mynde:
329: I was commaunded by a messenger,
330: That is a hye kynges chefe offycer.
331: He bad me go a pylgrymage, to my payne,
332: And I knowe well I shall neuer come agayne.
333: Also I must gyue a rekenynge strayte,
334: For I haue a grete enemy that hath me in wayte,
335: Whiche entendeth me for to hynder.
Kynrede.
336: What a-counte is that whiche ye must render?
337: That wolde I knowe.
Eueryman.
338: Of all my workes I must shewe
339: How I haue lyued and my dayes spent;
340: Also of yll dedes that I haue vsed
341: In my tyme, syth lyfe was me lent;
342: And of all vertues that I haue refused.
343: Therfore, I praye you, go thyder with me
344: To helpe to make myn accounte, for saynt charyte.
345: Cosyn. What, to go thyder? Is that the mater?
346: Nay, Eueryman, I had leuer fast brede and water
347: All this fyue yere and more.
"signature" n="B.iii"
Eueryman.
348: Alas, that euer I was bore!
349: For now shall I neuer be mery,
350: If that you forsake me.
Kynrede.
351: A, syr, what ye be a mery man!
352: Take good herte to you, and make no mone.
353: But one thynge I warne you, by Saynt Anne --
354: As for me, ye shall go alone.
Eueryman.
355: My Cosyn, wyll you not with me go?
Cosyn.
356: No, by our Lady! I haue the crampe in my to.
357: Trust not to me; for, so God me spede,
358: I wyll deceyue you in your moost nede.
Kynrede.
359: It auayleth not vs to tyse.
360: Ye shall haue my mayde with all my herte;
361: She loueth to go to feestes, there to be nyse,
362: And to daunce, and a-brode to sterte.
363: I wyll gyue her leue to helpe you in that iourney,
364: If that you and she may a-gree.
Eueryman.
365: Now shewe me the very effecte of your mynde:
366: Wyll you go with me, or abyde be-hynde?
Kynrede.
367: Abyde behynde? / Ye, that wyll I, and I maye!
368: Therfore farewell tyll another daye.
Eueryman.
369: Howe sholde I be mery or gladde?
370: For fayre promyses men to me make,
371: But whan I haue moost nede they me forsake.
372: I am deceyued; that maketh me sadde.
Cosyn.
373: Cosyn Eueryman, farewell now,
374: For veryly I wyll not go with you.
375: Also of myne owne an vnredy rekenynge
376: I haue to accounte; therfore I make taryenge.
377: Now God kepe the, for now I go.
Eueryman.
378: A, Iesus, is all come here-to?
379: Lo, fayre wordes maketh fooles fayne;
380: They promyse, and nothynge wyll do, certayne.
381: My kynnesmen promysed me faythfully
382: For to a-byde with me stedfastly,
383: And now fast a-waye do they flee.
384: Euen so Felawshyp promysed me.
385: What frende were best me of to prouyde?
386: I lose my tyme here longer to abyde.
387: Yet in my mynde a thynge there is:
388: All my lyfe I haue loued ryches;
389: If that my Good now helpe my myght,
390: He wolde make my herte full lyght.
391: I wyll speke to hym in this dystresse.
392: Where arte thou, my Gooddes and ryches?
Goodes.
393: Who calleth me? Eueryman? / What, hast thou haste?
394: I lye here in corners, trussed and pyled so hye,
395: And in chestes I am locked so fast,
396: Also sacked in bagges. Thou mayst se with thyn eye
397: I can not styre; in packes, lowe I lye.
398: What wolde ye haue? Lyghtly me saye.
Eueryman.
399: Come hyder, Good, in al the hast thou may,
400: For of counseyll I must desyre the.
401: Goodes. Syre, & ye in the worlde haue sorowe or aduersyte,
402: That can I helpe you to remedy shortly.
Eueryman.
403: It is another dysease that greueth me;
404: In this worlde it is not, I tell the so.
405: I am sent for, an other way to go,
406: To gyue a strayte counte generall
407: Before the hyest Iupyter of all.
408: And all my lyfe I haue had ioye & pleasure in the,
409: Therfore, I pray the, go with me;
410: For parauenture, thou mayst before God Almyghty
411: My rekenynge helpe to clene and puryfye,
"signature" n="B.iiii"
412: For it is sayd euer amonge
413: That `money maketh all ryght that is wronge.' Goodes.
414: Nay, Eueryman, I synge an other songe.
415: I folowe no man in suche vyages;
416: For, and I wente with the,
417: Thou sholdest fare moche the worse for me.
418: For bycause on me thou dyd set thy mynde,
419: Thy rekenynge I haue made blotted and blynde,
420: That thyne accounte thou can not make truly --
421: And that hast thou for the loue of me!
Eueryman.
422: That wolde greue me full sore,
423: Whan I sholde come to that ferefull answere.
424: Vp, let vs go thyder to-gyder.
Goodes.
425: Nay, not so! I am to brytell, I may not endure.
426: I wyll folowe no man one fote, be ye sure.
Eueryman.
427: Alas, I haue the loued, and had grete pleasure
428: All my lyfe-dayes on good and treasure.
Goodes.
429: That is to thy dampnacyon, without lesynge,
430: For my loue is contrary to the loue euerlastynge.
431: But yf thou had me loued moderately durynge,
432: As to the poore gyue parte of me,
433: Than sholdest thou not in this dolour be,
434: Nor in this grete sorowe and care.
Eueryman.
435: Lo, now was I deceyued or I was ware;
436: And all I may wyte my spendynge of tyme.
437: Goodes, What, wenest thou that I am thyne?
Eueryman.
438: I had went so.
Goodes.
439: Naye, Eueryman, I saye no.
440: As for a whyle I was lente the;
441: A season thou hast had me in prosperyte.
442: My condycyon is mannes soule to kyll;
443: If I saue one, a thousande I do spyll.
444: Wenest thou that I wyll folowe the?
445: Nay, fro this worlde not, veryle.
Eueryman.
446: I had wende otherwyse.
Goodes.
447: Therfore to thy soule Good is a thefe;
448: For whan thou arte deed, this is my gyse --
449: Another to deceyue in this same wyse
450: As I haue done the, and all to his soules represe.
Eueryman.
451: O false Good, cursed thou be,
452: Thou traytour to God, that hast deceyued me
453: And caught me in thy snare!
Goodes.
454: Mary, thou brought they selfe in care,
455: Wherof I am gladde.
456: I must nedes laugh; I can not be sadde.
Eueryman.
457: A, Good, thou hast had longe my hertely loue;
458: I gaue the that whiche sholde be the Lordes aboue.
459: But wylte thou not go with me in dede?
460: I praye the trouth to saye.
Goodes.
461: No, so God me spede!
462: Therfore fare well, and haue good daye.
Eueryman.
463: O, to whome shall I make my mone
464: For to go with me in that heuy iournaye?
465: Fyrst Felawshyp sayd he wolde with me gone;
466: His wordes were very pleasaunt and gaye,
467: But afterwarde he lefte me alone.
468: Than spake I to my kynnesmen, all in dyspayre,
469: And also they gaue me wordes fayre;
470: They lacked no fayre spekynge,
471: But all forsake me in the endynge.
472: Than wente I to my Goodes that I loued best,
473: In hope to haue comforte; but there had I leest,
474: For my Goodes sharpely dyd me tell
475: That he bryngeth many in to hell.
476: Than of my selfe I was ashamed,
477: And so I am worthy to be blamed;
478: Thus may I well my selfe hate.
479: Of whome shall I now counseyll take?
480: I thynke that I shall neuer spede
481: Tyll that I go to my Good Dede.
482: But, alas, she is so weke
483: That she can nother go nor speke;
484: Yet wyll I venter on her now.
485: My Good Dedes, where be you?
Good Dedes.
486: Here I lye, colde in the grounde.
487: Thy synnes hath me sore bounde,
488: That I can not stere.
Eueryman.
489: O Good Dedes, I stande in fere!
490: I must you pray of counseyll,
491: For help now sholde come ryght well.
Good Dedes.
492: Eueryman, I haue vnderstandynge
493: That ye be somoned a-counte to make
494: Before Myssyas, of Iherusalem kynge;
495: And you do by me, that iournay with you wyll I take.
Eueryman.
496: Therfore I come to you my moone to make.
497: I praye you that ye wyll go with me.
498: Good Dedes. I wolde full fayne, but I can not stande, veryly.
499: Ereryman. Why, is there ony thynge on you fall?
500: Goode Dedes. Ye, syr, I may thanke you of all.
501: If ye had parfytely chered me,
502: Your boke of counte full redy had be.
503: Loke, the bokes of your workes and dedes eke
504: Ase how they lye vnder the fete,
505: To your soules heuynes.
Eueryman.
506: Our Lorde Iesus help me!
507: For one letter here I can not se.
508: Good Dedes. There is a blynde rekenynge in tyme of dystres.
Eueryman.
509: Good Dedes, I praye you helpe me in this nede,
510: Or elles I am for euer dampned in dede;
511: Therfore helpe me to make rekenynge
512: Before the Redemer of all thynge,
513: That Kynge is, and was, and euer shall.
514: Good Dedes. Eueryman, I am sory of your fall,
515: And fayne wolde I help you, and I were able.
Eueryman.
516: Good Dedes, your counseyll I pray you gyue me.
517: Good Dedes. That shall I do veryly.
518: Thoughe that on my fete I may not go,
519: I haue a syster that shall with you also,
520: Called Knowlege, whiche shall with you abyde,
521: To helpe you to make that dredefull rekenynge.
Knowlege.
522: Eueryman, I wyll go with the and be thy gyde,
523: In they moost nede to go by thy syde.
Eueryman.
524: In good condycyon I am now in euery thynge,
525: And am holy content with this good thynge,
526: Thanked be God my creature.
Good Dedes.
527: And whan she hath brought you there
528: Where thou shalte hele the of thy smarte,
529: Than go you with your rekenynge & your Good Dedes togyder,
530: For to make you ioyfull at herte
531: Before the Blessyd Trynyte.
Eueryman.
532: My Good Dedes, gramercy!
533: I am well content, certaynly,
534: With your wordes swete.
Knowlege.
535: Now go we togyder louyngly
536: To Confessyon, that clensynge ryuere.
Eueryman.
537: For ioy I wepe; I wolde we were there!
538: But, I pray you, gyue me cognycyon
539: Where dwelleth that holy man, Confessyon.
Knowlege.
540: In the house of saluacyon;
541: We shall fynde hym in that place,
542: That shall vs comforte, by Goddes grace.
543: Lo, this is Confessyon. Knele downe & aske mercy,
544: For he is in good conceyte with God Almyghty.
Eueryman.
545: O gloryous fountayne, that all vnclennes doth claryfy,
546: Wasshe fro me the spottes of vyce vnclene,
547: That on me no synne may be sene.
548: I come with Knowlege for my redempcyon,
549: Redempte with herte and full contrycyon;
550: For I am commaunded a pylgrymage to take,
551: And grete accountes before God to make.
552: Now I praye you, Shryfte, moder of saluacyon,
553: Helpe my Good Dedes for my pyteous exclamacyon.
Confessyon.
554: I knowe your sorowe well, Eueryman.
555: Bycause with Knowlege ye come to me,
556: I wyll you comforte as well as I can.
557: And a precyous iewell I wyll gyue the,
558: Called penaunce, voyder of aduersyte;
559: Therwith shall your body chastysed be,
560: With abstynence & perseueraunce in Goddes seruyture.
561: Here shall you receyue that scourge of me,
562: Whiche is penaunce stronge that ye must endure,
563: To remembre thy Sauyour was scourged for the
564: With sharpe scourges, and suffred it pacyently;
565: So must thou or thou scape that paynful pylgrymage.
566: Knowlege, kepe hym in this vyate,
567: And by that tyme Good Dedes wyll be with the.
568: But in ony wyse be seker of mercy,
569: For your tyme draweth fast; and ye wyll saued be,
570: Aske God mercy, and he wyll graunte truely.
571: Whan with the scourge of penaunce man doth hym bynde,
572: The oyle of forgyuenes than shall he fynde.
Eueryman.
573: Thanked be God for his gracyous werke!
574: For now I wyll my penaunce begyn.
575: This hath reioysed and lyghted my herte,
576: Though the knottes by paynful and harde, within.
Knowlege.
577: Eueryman, loke your penaunce that ye fulfyll,
578: What payne that euer it to you be;
579: And Knowlege shall guyue you counseyll at wyll
580: How your accounte ye shall make clerely.
Eueryman.
581: O eternall God / O heuenly fygure,
582: O way of ryghtwysnes / O goodly vysyon,
583: Whiche dyscended downe in a vyrgyn pure
584: Bycause he wolde euery man redeme,
585: Which Adam forfayted by his dysobedyence:
586: O blessyd God-heed, electe and hye deuyne,
587: Forgyue me my greuous offence!
588: Here I crye the mercy in this presence.
589: O ghostly treasure, O raunsomer and redemer,
590: Of all the worlde hope and conduyter,
591: Myrrour of ioye, foundatour of mercy,
592: Whiche enlumyneth heuen and erth therby,
593: Here my clamorous complaynt, though it late be,
594: Receyue my prayers vnworthy in this heuy lyfe!
595: Though I be a synner moost abhomynable,
596: Yet let my name be wryten in Moyses table.
597: O Mary, praye to the Maker of all thynge,
598: Me for to helpe at my endynge;
599: And saue me from the power of my enemy,
600: For Deth assayleth me strongly.
601: And, Lady, that I may by meane of thy prayer
602: Of your Sones glory to be partynere,
603: By the meanes of his passyon, I it craue;
604: I besech you helpe my soule to saue.
605: Knowlege, gyue me the scourge of penaunce;
606: My flesshe therwith shall guye acqueyntaunce.
607: I wyll now begyn yf God gyue me grace.
Knowlege.
608: Eueryman, God gyue you tyme and space!
609: Thus I bequeth you in the handes of our Sauyour;
610: Now may you make your rekenynge sure.
Eueryman.
611: In the name of the Holy Trynyte,
612: My body sore punysshed shall be:
613: Take this, body, for the synne of the flesshe!
614: Also thou delytest to go gay and fresshe,
615: And in the way of dampnacyon thou dyd me brynge;
616: Therfore suffre now strokes of punysshynge.
617: Now of penaunce I wyll wade the water clere,
618: To saue me from Purgatory, that sharpe fyre.
619: Goode Dedes. I thanke God, now I can walke and go,
620: And am delyuered of my sykenesse and wo.
621: Therfore with Eueryman I wyll go, and not spare;
622: His good workes I wyll helpe hym to declare.
Knowlege.
623: Now, Eueryman, be mery and glad!
624: Your Good Dedes cometh now; ye may not be sad.
625: Now is your Good Dedes hole and sounde,
626: Goynge vpryght vpon the grounde.
Eueryman.
627: My herte is lyght, and shal be euermore;
628: Now wyll I smyte faster than I dyde before.
Good Dedes.
629: Eueryman, pylgryme, my specyall frende,
630: Blessyd be thou without ende!
631: For the is preparate the eternall glory.
632: Ye haue me made hole and sounde,
633: Therfore I wyll byde by the in euery stounde.
Eueryman.
634: Welcome, my Good Dedes! Now I here thy voyce
635: I wepe for very swetenes of loue.
Knowlege.
636: Be no more sad, but euer reioyce;
637: God seeth thy lyuynge in his trone aboue.
638: Put on this garment to thy behoue,
639: Whiche is wette with your teres,
640: Or elles before God you may it mysse,
641: Whan ye to your iourneys ende come shall.
Eueryman.
642: Gentyll Knowlege, what do ye it call?
Knowlege.
643: It is a garment of sorowe;
644: Fro payne it wyll you borowe.
645: Contrycyon it is
646: That getteth forgyuenes;
647: He pleaseth God passynge well.
Good Dedes.
648: Eueryman, wyll you were it for your hele?
Eueryman.
649: Now blessyde be Iesu, Maryes sone,
650: For now haue I on true contrycyon;
651: And lette vs go now without taryenge.
652: Good Dedes, haue we clere our rekenynge?
Good Dedes.
653: Ye, in dede, I haue it here.
Eueryman.
654: Than I trust we nede not fere.
655: Now, frendes, let vs not parte in twayne.
Knowlege.
656: Nay, Eueryman, that wyll we not, certayne.
Good Dedes.
657: Yet must thou lede with the
658: Thre persones of grete myght.
Eueryman.
659: Who sholde they be?
Good Dedes.
660: Dyscrecyon and Strength they hyght,
661: And thy Beaute may not abyde behynde.
Knowlege.
662: Also ye must call to mynde
663: Your Fyue Wyttes as for your counseylours.
Good Dedes.
664: You must haue them redy at all houres.
Eueryman.
665: Howe shall I gette them hyder?
Knowlege.
666: You must call them all togyder,
667: And they wyll here you in-contyntent.
Eueryman.
668: My frendes, come hyder and be present,
669: Dyscrecyon, Strengthe, my Fyue Wyttes, and Beaute.
Beaute.
670: Here at your wyll we be all redy.
671: What wolde ye that we shold do?
Good Dedes.
672: That ye wolde with Eueryman go,
673: And help hym in his pylgrymage.
674: Aduyse you / wyll ye with him or not in that vyage?
675: Strength. We wyll brynge hym all thyder,
676: To his helpe and comforte / ye may byleue me.
677: Dyscrecion. So wyll we go with hym all togyder.
Eueryman.
678: Almyghty God, loued may thou be!
679: I gyue the laude that I haue hyder brought
680: Strength, Dyscrecyon, Beaute, & V. Wyttes. Lacke I nought.
681: And my Good Dedes, with Knowlege clere,
682: All be in company at my wyll here.
683: I desyre no more to my besynes.
684: Strengthe. And I, Strength, wyll gy you stande in dystres,
685: Though thou wolde in batayle fyght on the grounde.
V. Wyttes.
686: And though it were thrugh the worlde rounde,
687: We wyll not departe for swete ne soure.
Beaute.
688: No more wyll I vnto dethes houre,
689: What so euer therof befall.
Dyscrecion.
690: Eueryman, aduyse you fyrst of all;
691: Go with a good aduysement and delyberacyon.
692: We all gyue you vertuous monycyon
693: That all shall be well.
Eueryman.
694: My frendes, harken what I wyll tell:
695: I praye God rewarde you in his heuenly spere.
696: Now herken, all that be here,
697: For I wyll make my testament
698: Here before you all present:
699: In almes / halfe my good I wyll gyue with my handes twayne
700: In the way of charyte with good entent,
701: And the other hald styll shall remayne
702: In queth, to be retourned there it ought to be.
703: This I do in despyte of the fende of hell,
704: To go quyte out of his perell
705: Euer after and this daye.
Knowlege.
706: Eueryman, herken what I saye:
707: Go to Presthode, I you aduyse,
708: And receyue of hym in ony wyse
709: The holy sacrament and oyntement togyder.
710: Than shortly se ye tourne agayne hyder;
711: We wyll all abyde you here.
712: V. Wwyttes. Ye, Eueryman, hye you that ye redy were.
713: There is no Emperour, Kynge, Duke, ne Baron,
714: That of God hath commycyon
715: As hath the leest preest in the worlde beynge;
716: For of the blessyd sacraments pure and benygne
717: He bereth the keyes, and therof hath the cure
718: For mannes recempcyon -- it is euer sure --
719: Whiche God for our soules medycyne
720: Gaue vs out of his herte with grete pyne.
721: Here in this transytory lyfe, for the and me,
722: The blessyd sacraments vii. there be:
723: Baptym, confyrmacyon, with preesthode good,
724: And the sacrament of Goddes precyous flesshe & blod,
725: Maryage, the holy extreme vnccyon, and penaunce.
726: These seuen be good to haue in remembraunce,
727: Gracyous sacraments of hye deuynyte.
Eueryman.
728: Fayne wolde I receyue that holy body,
729: And mekely to my ghostly fader I wyll go.
V. Wyttes.
730: Eueryman, that is the best that ye can do.
731: God wyll you to saluacyon brynge,
732: For preesthode excedeth all other thynge:
733: To vs holy scrypture they do teche,
734: And conuerteth man fro synne, heuen to reche;
735: God hath to them more power gyuen
736: Than to ony aungell that is in heuen.
737: With v. wordes he may consecrate,
738: Goddes body in flesshe and blode to make,
739: And handeleth his Maker bytwene his handes.
740: The preest byndeth and vnbyndeth all bandes,
741: Bothe in erthe and in heuen.
742: Thou mynystres all the sacramentes seuen;
743: Though we kysse thy fete, thou were worthy.
744: Thou arte surgyon that cureth synne deedly;
745: No remedy we fynde vnder God
746: But all onely preesthode.
747: Eueryman, God gaue preest that dygnyte,
748: And setteth them in his stede amonge vs to be;
749: Thus be they aboue aungelles in degree.
Knowlege.
750: If preestes be good, it is so, suerly.
751: But whan Iesu hanged on the crosse with grete smarte,
752: There he gaue out of his blessyd herte
753: The seuen sacraments in grete tourment;
754: He solde them not to vs, that Lorde omnypotent.
755: Therfore Saynt Peter the apostell dothe saye
756: That Iesus curse hath all they
757: Whiche God theyr Sauyour do by or sell,
758: Or they for ony money do take or tell.
759: Synfull preestes gyueth the synners example bad:
760: Theyr chyldren sytteth by other mennes fyres, I haue harde;
761: And some haunteth womens company
762: With vnclene lyfe, as lustes of lechery.
763: These be with synne made blynde.
V. Wyttes.
764: I trust to God no suche may we fynde;
765: Therfore let vs preesthode honour,
766: And folowe theyr doctryne for our soules socoure.
767: We be theyr shepe, and they shepeherdes be
768: By whome we all be kepte in suerte.
769: Peas! For yonder I se Eueryman come,
770: Which hath made true satysfaccyon.
Good Dedes.
771: Me thyhnke it is he in ded.
Eueryman.
772: Now Iesu be your alder spede!
773: I haue receyued the sacrament for my redempycon,
774: And than myne extreme vnccyon.
775: Blessyd be all they that counseyled me to take it!
776: And now, frendes, let vs go with-out longer respyte.
777: I thanke God that ye haue taryed so longe.
778: Now set eche of you on this rodde your honde,
779: And shortely folowe me.
780: I go before there I wolde be. God be our gyde!
781: Strength. Eueryman, we wyll not fro you go
782: Tyll ye haue done this vyage longe.
Dyscrecion.
783: I, Dyscrecyon, wyll byde by you also.
784: Kniowlege. And though this pylgrymage be neuer so stronge,
785: I wyll neuer parte you fro.
786: Strength. Eueryman, I wyll be as sure by the
787: As euer I dyde by Iudas Machabee.
Eueryman.
788: Alas, I am so faynt I may not stande;
789: My lymmes vnder me do folde.
790: Frendes, let vs not tourne agayne to this lande,
791: Not for all the worldes golde;
792: For in to this caue must I crepe
793: And tourne to erth, and there to slepe.
Beaute.
794: What, in to this graue? Alas!
Eueryman.
795: Ye, there shall ye consume, more and lesse.
"signature" n="C.ii"
Beaute.
796: And what, sholde I smoder here?
Eueryman.
797: Ye, by my fayth, and neuer more appere.
798: In this worlde lyue no more we shall,
799: But in heuen before the hyest Lorde of all.
Beaute.
800: I crosse out all this. / Adewe, by Saynt Iohan!
801: I take my tappe in my lappe and am gone.
Eueryman.
802: What, Beaute, whyder wyll ye?
Beaute.
803: Peas! I am defe. I loke not behynde me,
804: Not & thou wolde gyue me all the golde in thy chest.
Eueryman.
805: Alas, wherto may I truste?
806: Beaute gothe fast awaye fro me.
807: She promysed with me to lyue and dye.
808: Strength. Eueryman, I wyll the also forsake and denye;
809: Thy game lyketh me not at all.
Eueryman.
810: Why, than, ye wyll forsake me all?
811: Swete Strength, tary a lyttel space.
812: Strengthe. Nay, syr, by the rode of grace!
813: I wyll hye me from the fast,
814: Though thou wepe to thy herte to-brast.
Eueryman.
815: Ye wolde euer byde by me, ye sayd.
816: Strength. Ye, I haue you ferre ynoughe conueyde.
817: Ye be olde ynoughe, I vnderstande,
818: Your pylgrymage to take on hande.
819: I repent me that I hyder came.
Eueryman.
820: Strength, you to dysplease I am to blame.
821: Wyll ye breke promyse that is dette?
822: Strength. In fayth, I care not.
823: Thou arte but a foole to complayne;
824: You spend your speche and wast your brayne.
825: Go thryst the in to the grounde.
Eyeryman.
826: I had wende surer I sholde you haue founde.
827: He that trusteth in his Strength,
828: She hym deceyueth at the length.
829: Bothe Strength and Beaute forsaketh me;
830: Yet they promysed me fayre and louyngly.
Dyscrecion.
831: Eueryman, I wyll after Strength be gone.
832: As for me, I wyll leue you alone.
Eueryman.
833: Why, Dyscrecyon, wyll ye forsake me?
834: Dyscrecionn. Ye, in faytyh, I wyll go fro the,
835: For whan Strength goth before
836: I folowe after euer more.
Eueryman.
837: Yet, I pray the, for the loue of the Trynyte,
838: Loke in my graue ones pyteously.
Dyscrecion.
839: Nay, so nye wyll I not come.
840: Fare well, euerychone!
Eueryman.
841: O, all thynge fayleth, saue God alone --
842: Beaute, Strength, and Dyscrecyon;
843: For whan Deth bloweth his blast,
844: They all renne fro me full fast.
V. Wyttes.
845: Eueryman, my leue now of the I take.
846: I wyll folowe the other, for here I the forsake.
Eueryman.
847: Alas, than may I wayle and wepe,
848: For I toke you for my best frende.
V. Wyttes.
849: I wyll no lenger the kepe.
850: Now fare well, and there an ende.
Eueryman.
851: O Iesu, helpe! All hath forsaken me.
Good Dedes.
852: Nay, Eueryman, I wyll byde with the.
853: I wyll not forsake the in dede;
854: Thou shalte fynde me a good frende at nede.
Eueryman.
855: Gramercy, Good Dedes! Now may I true frendes se.
856: They haue forsaken me, euerychone;
857: I loued them better than my Good Dedes alone.
858: Knowlege, wyll ye forsake me also?
Knowlege.
859: Ye, Eueryman, whan ye to Deth shall go;
"signature" n="C.iii"
860: But not yet, for no maner of daunger.
Everyman.
861: Gramercy, Knowlege, with all my herte.
Knowlege.
862: Nay, yet I wyll not from hens departe
863: Tyll I se where ye shall be-come.
Eueryman.
864: Me thynke, alas, that I must be gone
865: To make my rekenynge and my dettes paye,
866: For I se my tyme is nye spent awaye.
867: Take example, all ye that this do here or se,
868: How they that I loued best do forsake me,
869: Except my Good Dedes that bydeth truely.
Good Dedes.
870: All erthly thynges is but vanyte:
871: Beaute, Strength / and Dyscrecyon do man forsake,
872: Folysshe frendes and kynnesmen that fayre spake --
873: All fleeth saue Good Dedes, and that am I.
Eueryman.
874: Haue mercy on me, God moost myghty,
875: And stande by me, thou moder & mayde, Holy Mary!
Good Dedes.
876: Fere not; I wyll speke for the.
Eueryman.
877: Here I crye God mercy.
Good Dedes.
878: Shorte our ende and mynysshe our payne;
879: Let vs go and neuer come agayne.
Eueryman.
880: In to they handes, Lorde, my soule I commende;
881: Receyue it, Lorde, that it be not lost.
882: As thou me boughtest, so me defende,
883: And saue me from the fendes boost,
884: That I may appere with that blessyd hoost
885: That shall be saued at the day of dome.
886: In manus tuas, of myghtes moost
887: For euer, Commendo spiritum meum.
Knowlege.
888: Now hath he suffred that we all shall endure;
889: The Good Dedes shall make all sure.
890: Now hath he made endynge;
891: Me thynketh that I here aungelles synge
892: And make grete ioy and melody
893: Where Euerymannes soule receyued shall be.
The Aungell.
894: Come, excellente electe spouse, to Iesu!
895: Here aboue thou shalte go
896: Bycause of thy synguler vertue.
897: Now thy soule is taken thy body fro,
898: Thy rekenynge is crystall-clere.
899: Now shalte thou in to the heuenly spere,
900: Vnto the whiche all ye shall come
901: That lyueth well before the daye of dome.
Doctour.
902: This morall men may haue in mynde.
903: Ye herers, take it of worth, olde and yonge,
904: And forsake Pryde, for he deceyueth you in the ende;
905: And remembre Beaute, V. Wyttes, Strength, & Dyscrecyon,
906: They all at the last do Eueryman forsake,
907: Saue his Good Dedes there dothe he take.
908: But be-ware, for and they be small,
909: Before God he hath no helpe at all:
910: None excuse may be there for Eueryman.
911: Alas, how shall he do than?
912: For after dethe amendes may no man make,
913: For than mercy and pyte doth hym forsake.
914: If his rekenynge be not clere whan he doth come,
915: God wyll saye, `Ite, maledicti, in ignem eternum.'
916: And he that hath his accounte hole and sounde,
917: Hye in heuen he shall be crounde.
918: Vnto which place God brynge vs all thyder,
919: That we may lyue body and soule togyder.
920: Therto helpe the Trynyte!
921: Amen, saye ye, for saynt charyte.
FINIS.
Thus endeth this morall playe of Eueryman.
Imprynted at London in Poules
chyrche yarde by me
Iohan Skot.