What creature is in health, eyther yong or olde Ralph Roister Doister Udall, Nicholas, 1505-1556. 1566 Approx. 149 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 34 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A14193 STC 24508 ESTC S102483 99838266 99838266 2639

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

 Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A14193) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 2639) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1086:18) What creature is in health, eyther yong or olde Ralph Roister Doister Udall, Nicholas, 1505-1556. [66] p. H. Denham for T. Hacket?, [London : 1566?] An edition of: Udall, Nicholas. Ralph Roister Doister. Title from first line of text. Imprint from STC. Running title reads: Roister Doister. Signatures: A⁴ (-A1) B-H⁴ I² . Imperfect; lacks all before leaf A2. Reproduction of the original in the Eton College. Library.

Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.

EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.

EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).

The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.

Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.

Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.

Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.

The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.

Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).

Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site.

 eng 2002-05 Assigned for keying and markup 2002-06 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2002-07 Sampled and proofread 2002-10 Rekeyed and resubmitted 2002-11 Sampled and proofread 2002-11 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-12 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
The Prologue. WHat Creat • re is in health, eyther yong or olde, But som mirth with modestie wil be glad to vse As we in thys Enterlude shall now vnfolde, Wherin all scuri • itie we vtterly refuse, Auoiding such mirth wherin is abuse: Knowing nothing more comēdable for a mās recreation Than Mirth which is vsed in an honest fashion: For Myrth prolongeth lyfe, and causeth health. Mirth recreates our spirites and voydeth pensiuenesse, Mirth increaseth amitie, not hindring our wealth, Mirth is to be vsed both of more and lesse, Being mixed with vertue in decent comly •• esse. As we trust no good nature can gainsay the • ame: Which mirth we intende to vse, auoidyng all blame. The wyse Poets long time heretofore, Under merrie Comedies secretes did declare, Wherein was contained very vertuous • ore, With mysteries and forewarnings very rare. Suche to write neither Plautus nor Terence dyd spare, Whiche among the learned at this day beares the bell: These with such other therein dyd excell. Our Comedie or Enterlude which we intende to play. Is named Royster Doyster in déede. Which against the vayne glorious doth inuey, Whose humour the roysting sort continually doth féede. Thus by your pacience we intende to procéede In this our Enterlude by Gods leaue and grace, And here I take my leaue for a certaine space. FINIS.
Actus. j. Scaena. j. Mathewe Merygreeke. He entreth singing. AS long lyueth the mery man (they say) As doth the sory man, and longer by a day. Yet the Grassehopper for all his Sōmer pipyng, Sterueth in Winter wyth hungrie gripyng, Therefore an other sayd sawe doth men aduise, That they be together both mery and wise. Thys Lesson must I practise, or else ere long, Wyth mée Mathew Merygréeke it will be wrong. In deede men so call me, for by him that vs bought, What euer chaunce betide, I can take no thought, Yet wisedome woulde that I did my selfe bethinke Where to be prouided this day of meate and drinke: For knowe ye, that for all this merie note of mine, He might appose me now that should aske where I dine. My lyuing lieth heere and there, of Gods grace, Sometime wyth this good man, sometyme in that place, Sometime Lewis Loytrer biddeth me come néere, Somewhyles Watkin Waster maketh vs good chéere, Sometime Dauy Diceplayer when he hath well cast Kéepeth reuell route as long as it will last. Sometime Tom Titiuile maketh vs a feast, Sometime with sir Hugh Pye I am a bidden gueast, Sometime at Nichol Neuerthriues I get a soppe, Sometime I am feasted with Bryan Blinkinsoppe, Sometime I hang on Hankyn Hoddydodies sléeue, But thys day on Ralph Royster Doysters by hys léeue. For truely of all men he is my chiefe banker Both for meate and money, and my chiefe shootanker. For, sooth Roister Doister in that he doth say, And require what ye will ye shall haue no nay, But now of Roister Doister somewhat to expresse, That ye may estéeme him after hys worthinesse, In these twentie townes and seke them throughout, Is not the like stocke, whereon to graffe a loute. All the day long is he facing and craking Of his great actes in fighting and fraymaking: But when Roister Doister is put to his proofe, To kéepe the Quéenes peace is more for his behoofe. If any woman smyle or cast on hym an eye, Up is he to the harde eares in loue by and by, And in all the hotte haste must she be hys wife, Else farewell hys good days, and farewell his life, Maister • aufe Royster Doister is but dead and gon Excepte she on hym take some compassion, Then chiefe of counsell, must be Mathew Merygréeke, What if I for mariage to suche an one séeke? Then must I sooth it, what euer it is: For what he sayth or doth can not be amisse, Holde vp his yea and nay, be his nowne white sonne, Prayse and rouse him well, and ye haue his heart wonne, For so well liketh he his owne fonde fashions That he taketh pride of false commendations. But such sporte haue I with him as I would not léese, Though I should be bounde to lyue with bread and chéese. For e • alt hym, and haue hym as ye lust in déede: Yea to hold his finger in a hole for a néede. I can with a worde make him fayne or loth, I can with as much make him pleased or wroth, I can when I will make him mery and glad, I can when me lust make him sory and sad, I can set him in hope and eke in dispaire, I can make him speake rough, and make him speake fair • . But I maruell I see hym not all thys same day, I wyll séeke him out: But loe he commeth thys way, I haue yond espied hym sadly comming, And in loue for twentie 〈◊〉 , by hys glommyng.
Actus. j. Scaena. ij. Ra • e R • ister Doister. Mathew Merygreeke. R. Royster. COme death when thou wilt, I am weary of my life. M. Mery. I tolde you I, we should wowe an other wife. R. Royster. Why did God make me suche a goodly person? M. Mery. He is in by the weke, we shall haue sport anon. R. Royster. And where is my trustie friende Mathew Merygréeke? M. Mery. I wyll make as I sawe him not, he doth me seeke. R. Roister. I haue hym espyed me thinketh, yond is hée, Hough Mathew Merygreeke my friend, a worde with thée. M. Mery. I wyll not heare him, but make as I had haste, Farewell all my good friendes, the tyme away dothe waste, And the tide they say, tarieth for no man. R. Roister. Thou must with thy good counsell helpe me if thou can. M. Mery. God kéepe thée worshypfull Maister Roister Doister, And fare well the lustie Maister Roister Doister. R. Royster. I muste needes speake with thée a worde or twaine. M. Mery. Within a month or two I will be here againe, Negligence in greate affaires ye knowe may marre all. R. Roister. Attende vpon me now, and well rewarde thée I shall. M. Mery. I haue take my leaue, and the tide is well spent. R. Roister. I die except thou helpe, I pray thée be content, Doe thy parte wel nowe, and aske what thou wilt, For without thy aide my matter is all spilt. M. Mery. Then to serue your turne I will some paines take, And let all myne owne affaires alone for your sake. R. Royster. My whole hope and trust resteth onely in thée, M. Mery. Then can ye not doe amisse what euer it bée. R. Royster. Gramercies Merygréeke, most bounde to thée I am. M. Mery. But vp with that heart, and speake out like a ramme, Ye speake like a Capon that had the cough now: Bee of good cheere, anon ye shall doe well ynow. R. Royster. Upon thy comforte, I will all things well handle. M. Mery. So loe, that is a breast to blowe out a candle. But what is this great matter I woulde faine knowe, We shall fynde remedie therefore I trowe. Doe ye lacke money? ye knowe myne olde offers, Ye haue always a key to my purse and coffers. R. Royster. I thanke thee: had euer man suche a frende? M. Mery. Ye gyue vnto me: I must néedes to you lende. R. Royster. Nay I haue money plentie all things to discharge. M. Mery. That knewe I ryght well when I made offer so large. But it is no suche matter. M. M. What is it than? Are ye in daunger of debte to any man? If ye be, take no thought nor be not afraide, Let them hardly take thought how they shall be paide. R. Royster. Tut I owe nought. M. M. What thē? fear ye imprisonment? R. R. No M. M. No I wist ye offende, not so to be shent. But if he had, the Toure coulde not you so holde, But to breake out at all times ye would be bolde. What is it? hath any man threatned you to beate? R. Royster. What is he that durst haue put me in that heate? He that beateth me by his armes shall well fynde, That I will not be farre from him nor runne behinde. M. Mery. That thing knowe all men euer since ye ouerthrewe, The fellow of the Lion which Hercules slewe. But what is it than? R. R. Of loue I make my mone. M. Mery. Ah this foolishe a loue, wilt neare let vs alone? But bicause ye were refused the last day, Ye sayd ye woulde nere more be intangled that way. I woulde medle no more, since I fynde all so vnkinde. R. Royster. Yea, but I can not so put loue out of my minde. Math. Mer. But is your loue tell me first, in any wise, In the way of Mariage, or of Merchandise? If it may otherwise than lawfull be founde, Ye get none of my helpe for an hundred pounde. R. Royster. No by my trouth I woulde haue hir to my Wife. M. Mery. Then are ye a good man, and God saue your life, And what or who is she, with whome ye are in loue? R. Royster. A woman whome I knowe not by what meanes to moue. M. Mery. Who is it? R. R. A woman yond. M. M. What is hir name? R. Royster. Hir yōder. M. M. Whō? R. R. Mistresse ah. M. M. Fy fy for shame Loue ye, and know not whome? but hir yonde, a Woman, We shall then get you a Wyfe, I can not tell whan. R. Royster. The faire Woman, that supped wyth vs yest ernyght, And I hearde hir name twice or thrice, and had it ryght. M. Mery. Yea, ye may sée ye nere take me to good chéere with you, If ye had, I coulde haue tolde you hir name now. R. Royster. I was to blame in déede, but the nexte tyme perchaunce: And she dwelleth in this house. M. M. What Christiā Custance. R. Royster. Except I haue hir to my Wife, I shall runne madde. M. Mery. Nay vnwise perhaps, but I warrant 〈◊〉 for madde. R. Royster. I am vtterly dead vnlesse I haue my desire. M. Mery. Where be the bellowes that blewe this sodeine fire? R. Royster. I heare she is worthe a thousande pounde and more. M. Mery. Yea, but learne this one lesson of me afore, An hundred pounde of Marriage money doubtlesse, Is euer thirtie pounde sterlyng, or somewhat lesse, So that hir Thousande pounde yf she be thriftie, Is muche neere aboute two hundred and fiftie, Howebeit wowers and Widowes are neuer poore. R. Royster. Is she a Widowe? I loue hir better therefore. M. Mery. But I heare she hath made promise to another. R. Royster. He shall goe without hir, and he were my brother. M. Mery. I haue hearde say, I am right well aduised, That she hath to Gawyn Goodlucke promised. R. Royster. What is that Gawyn Goodlucke? M. M. a Merchant man. R. Royster. Shall he speede afore me? nay sir by swéete Sainct Anne. Ah sir, Backare quod Mortimer to his sowe, I wyll haue hir myne owne selfe I make God a vow. M. Mery. For I tell thee, she is worthe a thousande pounde. Yet a fitter wife for your maship might be founde: Suche a goodly man as you, might get one wyth lande, Besides poundes of golde a thousande and a thousande, And a thousande, and a thousande, and a thousande, And so to the summe of twentie hundred thousande, Your most goodly personage is worthie of no lesse. R. Royster. I am sorie God made me so comely doubtlesse. For that maketh me eche where so highly fauoured, And all women on me so enamoured. M. Mery. Enamoured quod you? haue ye spied out that? Ah sir, mary nowe I sée you know wh • t is what. Enamoured ka? mary sir say that againe, But I thought not ye had marked it so plaine. R. Royster. Yes, eche where they gaze all vpon me and stare. M. Mery. Yea malky • ▪ I warrant you as muche as they dar • . And ye will not beleue what they say in the stréete, When your mashyp passeth by all such as I méete, That sometimes I can scarce finde what aunswere to make. Who is this (sayth one) sir Launcelot du lake? Who is this, greate Cuy of Warwike, sayth an other? No (say I) it is the thirtenth Hercules brother. Who is this? noble Hector of Troy, sayth the thirde? No, but of the same nest (say I) it is a birde. Who is this? greate Goliah, Sampson, or Colbrande? No (say I) but it is a brute of the Alie lande. Who is this? greate Alexander? or Charle le Maigne? No, it is the tenth Worthie, say I to them agayne: I knowe not if I sayd well. R. R. Yes for so I am. M. Mery. Yea, for there were but nine worthies before ye came. To some others, the thirde Cato I doe you call. And so as well as I can I aunswere them all. Sir I pray you, what lorde or great gentleman is this? Maister Ralph Roister Doister dame say I, ywis. O Lorde (sayth she than) what a goodly man it is, Woulde Christ I had such a husbande as he is. O Lorde (say some) that the sight of his face we lacke: It is inough for you (say I) to sée his backe. His face is for ladies of high and noble parages▪ With whome he hardly scapeth great mariages. With muche more than this, and much otherwise. R. Royster. I can thee thanke that thou canst suche answeres deuise: But I perceyue thou doste me throughly knowe. M Mery. I marke your maners for myne owne learnyng I trowe, But suche is your beautie, and suche are your actes, Suche is your personage, and suche are your factes, That all women faire and fowle, more and lesse, They eye you, they lubbe you, they talke of you doubtlesse. Your peasant looke maketh them all merie, Ye passe not by, but they laugh till they be werie, Yea and money coulde I haue the truthe to tell, Of many, to bryng you that way where they dwell. R. Royster. Merygréeke for this thy reporting well of mee • : M. Mery. What shoulde I else sir, it is my duetie pardee. R. Royster. I promise thou shalt not lacke, while I haue a grote. M. Mery. Faith sir, and I nere had more nede of a newe cote. R Royster. Thou shalte haue one to morowe, and golde for to spende. M. Mery. Then I trust to bring the day to a good ende. For as for mine owne parte hauing money inowe, I coulde lyue onely with the remembrance of you. But nowe to your Widowe whome you loue so hotte. R. Royster. By cocke thou sayest t • uthe, I had almost forgotte. M. Mery. What if Christian Custance will not haue you what? R. Roister. Haue me? yes I warrant you, neuer doubt of that, I knowe she loueth me, but she dare not speake. M. Mery. In deede meete it were some body should it breake. R. Roister. She looked on me twentie tymes yesternight, And laughed so. M. M. That she coulde not sitte vpright, R. Roister. No faith coulde she not. M. M. No euen such a thing I cast. R. Royster. But for wowyng thou knowest women are shamefast. But and she knewe my minde, I knowe she would be glad, And thinke it the best chaunce that euer she had. M. Mery. Too hir then like a man, and be bolde forth to starte, Wowers neuer spéede well, that haue a false harte. R. Roister. What may I best doe? M. M. Sir remaine ye a while, Ere long one or other of hir house will appere. Ye knowe my minde. R. R. Yea now hardly lette me alone. M. Mery. In the meane time sir, if you please, I wyll home, And call your Musitians, for in this your case It would sette you forth, and all your wowyng grace, Ye may not lacke your instrumentes to play and sing. R. Royster. Thou knowest I can doe that. M. M. As well as any thing. Shall I go call your folkes, that ye may shewe a cast? R. Royster. Yea runne I beséeche thée in all possible haste. M. Mery. I goe. Exeat. R. R. Yea for I loue singyng out of measure, It comforteth my spirites and doth me great pleasure. But who commeth forth yond from my swete hearte Custance? My matter •• ameth well, thys is a luckie chaunce.
Actus. j. Scaena. iij. Mage Mumble crust, spinning of the distaffe. Tibet Talk apace, sowyng. Annot Alyface knittyng. R Roister. M. Mumbl. IF thys distaffe were spoonne Margerie Mumblecrust. Tib Talk. Where good stale ale is will drinke no water I trust. M. Mumbl. Dame Custance hath promised vs g •• d ale and white bread. Tib Talk. If she kepe not promise, I will beshrewe hir head: But it will be starke nyght before I shall haue done. R. Royster. I will stande here a while, and talke with them anon, I heare them speake of Custance, which doth my heart good, To heare hir name spoken doth euen comfort my blood. M. Mumbl. Sit downe to your worke Tibet like a good girle. Tib Talk. Nourse medle you with your spyndle and your whirle, No haste but good, Madge Mumblecrust, for whip and whurre The olde prouerbe doth say, neuer made good furre. M. Mumbl. Well, ye wyll sitte downe to your worke anon, I trust. Tib Talk. Soft fire maketh swéete malte, good Madge Mumblecrust. M. Mumbl. And sweete malte maketh ioly good ale for the nones. Tib Talk. Whiche will slide downe the lane without any bones. Cantet. Olde browne bread crustes must haue much good mumblyng, But good ale downe your throte hath good easie tumbling. R. Royster. The iolyest wenche that ere I hearde, little mouse, May I not reioyce that she shall dwell in my house? Tib Talk. So • irrha, nowe this geare beginneth for to frame. M. Mumbl. Thanks to God, though your work stand stil, your tōg is not lame Tib. Talk. And though your téeth be gone, both so sharpe & so fine Yet your tongue can renne on patins as well as mine. M. Mumbl. Ye were not for n • ught named Tyb Talke apace. Tib Talk. Doth my talke grieue you? Alack, God saue your grace. M. Mumbl. I holde a grote ye will drinke anon for this geare. Tib Talk. And I wyll not pray you the stripes for me to beare. M. Mumbl. I holde a penny, ye will drinke without a cup. Tib Talk. Wherein so ere ye drinke, I wote ye drinke all vp. An. Alyface By Cock and well sowed, my good Tibet Talke apace. Tib Talk. And een as well knitte my nowne Annot Alyface. R. Royster. See what a sort she kepeth that must be my wife. Shall not I when I haue hir, leade a merrie life? Tib Talk. Welcome my good wenche, and sitte here by me iust. An. Alyface. And howe doth our olde beldame here, Mage Mumblecrust? T •• Talk. Chyde, and finde faultes, and threaten to complaine. An. Alyface. To make vs poore girles shent to hir is small gaine. M. Mumbl. I dyd neyther chyde, nor complaine, nor threaten. R. Royster. It woulde grieue my heart to sée one of them beaten. M. Mumbl. I dyd nothyng but dyd hir worke and holde hir peace. Tib Talk. So would I, if you coulde your clattering ceasse: But the deuill can not make olde trotte holde hir tong. An. Alyface. Let all these matters passe, and we thrée sing a song, So shall we pleasantly bothe the tyme beguile now, And eke dispatche all our workes ere we can tell how. Tib Talk. I shrew them that say nay, and that shall not be I. M. Mumbl. And I am well content. Tib. Talk. Sing on then by and by. R. Royster. And I will not away, but listen to their song, Yet Merygreeke and my folkes tary very long. Tib, An, and Margerie, doe singe here. Pipe mery Annot. &c. Trilla, Trilla, Trillarie. Worke Tibet, worke Annot, worke Margerie. Sewe Tibet, knitte Annot, spinne Margeri • . Let vs see who shall winne the victorie. Tib Talk. This sleue is not willyng to be sewed I trowe. A small thing might make me all in the grounde to throwe. Then they sing agayne. Pipe merrie Annot. &c. Trilla. Trilla. Trillarie. What Tibet, what Annot, what Margerie. Ye sléepe, but we doe not, that shall we trie. Your fingers be nombde, our worke will not lie. Tib Talk. If ye doe so againe, well I would aduise you nay. In good sooth one stoppe more, and I make holy day. They sing the thirde tyme. Pipe Mery Annot. &c. Trilla. Trilla. Trillarie. Nowe Tibbet, now Annot, nowe Margerie. Nowe whippet apace for the maystrie, But it will not be, our mouth is so drie. Tib Talk. Ah, eche • inger is a thombe to day me thinke, I care not to let all alone, choose it swimme or sinke. They sing the fourth tyme. Pipe Mery Annot. &c. Trilla. Trilla. Trillarie. When Tibet,Lette hir caste downe hir worke. when Annot, when Margerie. I will not, I can not, no more can I. Then giue we all ouer, and there let it lye. Tib Talk. There it lieth, the worste is but a curried cote, Tut I am vsed therto, I care not a gro • e. An. Alyface. Haue we done singyng since? then will I in againe, Here I founde you, and here I leaue both twaine. Exeat. M. Mumbl. And I will not be long after: Tib Talke apace. Tib Talk. What is y• matter? M. Mumb. Yond stode a man al this spac • And hath hearde all that euer we spake togyther. Tib Talk. Mary the more loute • e for his comming hither. And the lesse good he can to listen maidens talke. I care not and I go byd him hence for to walke: It were well done to knowe what he maketh here away. R. Royster. Nowe myght I speake to them, if I wist what to say. M. Mumbl. Nay we will go both off, and sée what he is. R. Royster. One that hath hearde all your talke and singyng ywis. Tib Talk. The more to blame you, a good thriftie husbande Woulde elsewhere haue had some better matters in hande. R. Royster. I dyd it for no harme, but for good l • ue I beare, To your dame mistresse Custance, I did your talke heare. And Mistresse nource I will kisse you for acquaintance. M. Mumbl. I c • me anon sir. Tib. T. Faith I would our dame Custanc • Sawe this geare. M. M. I must first wipe al cleane, yea I must. Tib Talk. Ill chieue it dotyng foole, but it must be cust. M. Mumbl. God yelde you sir, chad not so much ichotte not whan, • ere since chwas bore chwine, of such a gay gentleman. R. Royster. I will kisse you too mayden for the good will I beare you. Tib Talk. No forsoth, by your leaue ye shall not kisse me. R. Royster. Yes be not afearde, I doe not disdayne you a whit. Tib Talk. Why shoulde I feare you? I haue not so little wit, Ye are but a man I knowe very well. R. R. Why then? Tib Talk. Forsooth for I wyll not, I vse not to kisse men. R. Royster. I would fa •• e kisse you too good maiden, if I myght. Tib Talk. What shold that néede? R. R. But to honor you by this light. I vse to kisse all them that I loue to God I vowe. Tib. Talk. Yea sir? I pray you when dyd ye last kisse your cowe. R. Royster. Ye might be proude to kisse me, if ye were wise. Tib Talk. What promotion were therin? R. R. Nourse is not so nice. Tib Talk. Well I haue not bene taught to kissing and licking. R. Royster. Yet I thanke you mistresse Nourse, ye made no sticking. M. Mumbl. I will not sticke for a kosse with such a man as you. Tib Talk. They that lust: I will againe to my sewyng now. An. Alyfac. Tidings hough, tidings, dame Custance gréeteth you well. R. Royster. Whome me? An. Al. You sir? no sir? I do no suche tale tell. R. Royster. But and she knewe me here. An. Al. Tybet Talke apace, Your m • stresse Custance and mine, must speake with your grace Tib Talk. With me? An. Aly. Ye muste come in to hir out of all doutes. Tib Talk. And my work not half done? A mischief on all loutes. Ex. am. R. Royster. Ah good swéet nourse. M. Mumb. A good swéete gentlemā. R. R. what? M. Mumbl. Nay I can not tel sir, but what thing would you? R. Royster. Nowe dothe swéete Custance, my heart of gold, tell me how? M. Mumbl. She dothe very well sir, and commaunde me to you. R. Royster. To me? M. M. Yea to you sir. R. R. To me? nurse tel me plain To me? M. Mumb. Ye. R. R. That word maketh me aliue again. M. Mumbl. She commaunde me to one last day who ere it was. R. Royster. That was een to me and none other by the Masse. M. Mumbl. I can not tell you surely, but one it was. R. Royster. It was I and none other: this commeth to good passe. I promise thée nourse I fauour hir. M. Mumb. Een so sir. R. Royster. Bid hir sue to me for mariage. M. Mumbl. Een so sir. R. Royster. And surely for thy sake she shall spéede. M. Mumb. Een so sir. R. Royster. I shall be contented to take hir. M. Mumb. Een so sir. R. Royster. But at thy request and for thy sake. M. Mumb. Een so sir. And come hearke in thine eare what to say. M. Mumb. Een so sir.Here lette him tell hir a great long tale in hir care.
Actus. j. Scaena. iiij. Mathew Merygreeke. Dobinet Doughtie. Harpax. Ralph Royster. Margerie Mumblecrust. M. Mery. COme on sirs apace, and quite your selues like men, Your pains shalbe rewarded. D. Dou. But I wot not whē. M. Mery. Do your maister worship as ye haue done in time past. D. Dough. Speake to them: of mine office he shall haue a cast. M. Mery. Harpax, looke that thou doe well too, and thy fellow. Harpax. I warrant, if he will myne example folowe. M. Mery. Curtsie whooresons, douke you and crouche at euery worde, D. Dough. Yes whether our maister speake earnest or borde. M. Mery. For this lieth vpon his preferment in deede. D. Dough. Oft is hée a wower, but neuer doth he speede. M. Mery. But with whome is he nowe so sadly roundyng yond? D. Dough. With Nobs nicebecetur miserere fonde. • . Mery. God be at your wedding, be ye spedde alredie? I did not suppose that your loue was so greedie, I percei • e nowe ye haue chose of deuotion, And ioy haue ye ladie of your promotion. R. Royster. Tushe foole, thou art deceiued, this is not she. M. Mery. Well mocke muche of hir, and keepe hir well I vise ye. I will take no charge of such a faire piece kéeping. M. Mumbl. What ayleth thys fellowe? he driueth me to wéeping. M. Mery. What wéepe on the weddyng day? be merrie woman, Though I say it, ye haue chose a good gentleman. R. Royster. Kocks nownes what meanest thou man, tut a whis •• le. R. Royster. Ah sir, be good to hir, she is but a gristle, Ah sweete lambe and coney. R. R. Tut thou art deceiued. M. Mery. Weepe no more lady, ye shall be well receiued. Up wyth some mery noyse sirs, to bring home the bride. R. Royster. Gogs armes knaue, art thou 〈◊〉 I tel thee thou art wide. M. Mery. Then ye entende by nyght to haue hir 〈◊〉 brought. R. Royster. I tel thee no. M. M. How the? R. R. Tis neither met ne thought. M. Mery. What shall we then doe with hir? R. R. Ah foolish harebraine, This is not she. M. M. No is? why then vnsayde againe, And what yong girle is this with your mashyp so bolde? R. Royster. A girle? M. M. Yea. I dare say, scarse yet three score yere old. R. Royster. This same is the faire widowes nourse of whome ye wotte. M. Mery. Is she but a nourse of a house? hence home olde trotte, Hence at once. R. R. No no. M. M. What an please your 〈◊〉 A nourse talke so homely with one of your worship? R. Royster. I will haue it so: it is my pleasure and will. M. Mery. Then I am content. Nourse come againe, tarry still. R. Royster. What, she will helpe forward this my 〈◊〉 for hir part. M. Mery. Then ist mine owne pygs 〈◊〉 , and blessing on my hart. R. Royster. This is our best frend 〈◊〉 . M. M. Then 〈◊〉 hir what to say M. Mumbl. I am taught alreadie. M. M. Then go, make no delay. R. Royster. Yet hark one word in thine eare. M. M. Back sirs frō his taile R. Royster. Backe vilaynes, will ye be priuie of my 〈◊〉 ? M. Mery. Backe sirs, so: I tolde you afore ye 〈◊〉 be shent. R. Royster. She shall haue the first day a whole pecke of argent. M. Mumbl. A pecke? Nomine patris, haue ye so muc • spare? R. Royster. Yea and a carte lode therto, or else were it bare, Besides other mouables, housholde stuffe and 〈◊〉 . M. Mumbl. Haue ye lads too. R. R. An hundred marks. M. M. Yea a thousand M. Mumbl. And haue ye cattell too? and sheepe too? R. R. Yea a fewe. M. Mery. He is ashamed the numbre of them to shewe. Een rounde about him, as many thousande sheepe goes, As he and thou and I too, haue fingers and toes. M. Mumbl. And how many yeares olde be you? R. R. Fortie at lest. M. Mery. Yea and thrice fortie to them. R. R. Nay now thou dost iest. I am not so olde, thou misreckonest my yeares. M. Mery. I know that: but my minde was on bullockes and steeres. M. Mumbl. And what shall I shewe hir your masterships name is? R. Royster. Nay she shall make su • e ere she know that ywis. M. Mumbl. Yet let me somewhat knowe. M. M. This is hee vnderstand, That killed the blewe Spider in Blanchepouder lande. M. Mumbl. Yea Iesus, William zee law, dyd he zo law? M. Mery. Yea and the last Elephant that euer he sawe, As the beast passed by, he start out of a buske, And een with pure strength of armes pluckt out his great tuske. M. Mumbl. Iesus, nomine patris, what a thing was that? R. Roister. Yea but Merygreke one thing thou hast forgot. M. M. What? R. Royster. Of thother Elephant. M. M. Oh hym that fledde away. R. Royster. Yea. M. M. Yea he knew that his match was in place that day Tut, he bet the king of Crickets on Christmasse day, That he crept in a hole, and not a worde to say. M. Mumbl. A sore man by 〈◊〉 . M. M. Why, he wrong a club Once in a fray out of the hande of Belzebub. R. Royster. And how when Mumfision? M. M. Oh your coustrelyng Bore the lanterne a fielde so before the gozelyng. Nay that is to long a matter now to be tolde: Neuer aske his name Nurse, I warrant thee, be bolde, He conquered in one day from Rome, to Naples, And woonne Townes nourse as fast as thou canst make Apples. M. Mumbl. O Lorde, my heart quaketh for feare: he is to sore. R. Royster. Thou makest hir to much afearde, Merygreeke no more. This tale woulde feare my sweete heart Custance right euill. M. Mery. Nay let hir take him Nurse, and feare not the deuill. But thus is our song dasht. Sirs ye may home againe. R. Royster. No shall they not. I charge you all here to remaine: The villaine slaues a whole day ere they can be founde. M. Mery. Couche on your marybones whooresons, down to the ground. Was it meete he should tarie so long in one place Without harmonie of Musike, 〈◊〉 some 〈◊〉 ? Who so hath suche bees as your maister in hys head, Had neede to haue his spirites with Musike to be fed. By your maisterships licence. R. R. What is that? a moate? M. Mery. No it was a fooles feather had light on your coate. R. Roister. I was nigh no feathers since I came from my bed. M. Mery. No sir, it was a haire that was fall from your hed. R. Roister. My mē com whē it plese thē. M. M. By your leue.. R. R. What is that? M. Mery. Your gown was foule spotted wt the foot of a gnat. R. Roister. Their maister to offende they are nothing afearde. What now? M. M. A lousy haire from your masterships beard. And sir for Nurses sake pardon this one offence. Oes 〈◊〉 We shall not after this shew the like negligence. R. Royster. I pardon you this once, and come sing nere the wurse. M. Mery. How like you the goodnesse of this gentleman nurse? M. Mumbl. God saue his maistership that so can his men forgeue, And I wyll heare them sing ere I go, by his leaue. R. Royster. Mary and thou shalt wenche, come we two will daunce. M. Mumbl. Nay I will by myne owne selfe foote the song perchaunce. R. Royster. Go to it sirs lustily. M. Mumbl. Pipe vp a mery note, Let me heare it playde, I will foote it for a grote. Cantent. R. Royster. Now nurse take thys same letter here to thy mistresse. And as my trust is in thee plie my businesse. M. Mumbl. It shalbe done. M. M. Who made it? R. R. I wrote it ech whit M. Mery. Thē nedes it no mēding. R. R. No, no. M. M. No I know your wit. R. Royster. I warrant it wel. M. Mumb. It shal be deliuered. But if ye speede, shall I be considered? M. Mery. Whough, dost thou doubt of that? Madge. What shal I haue? M. Mery. An hundred times more than thou canst deuise to craue. M. Mumbl. Shall I haue some newe geare? for my olde is all spent. M. Mery. The worst kitchen wench shall goe in ladies rayment. M. Mumbl. Yea? M. M. And the worst drudge in the house shal go better Thā your mistresse doth now. Mar. The I trudge wt your letter. R. Royster. Now may I repose me: C ••• nce is mine owne. Let vs sing and play 〈◊〉 toward it may be knowne. M. Mery. But are you sure, that your 〈◊〉 is well enough? R. Royster. I wrote it myselfe. M. Mery. Then sing we to dinner. Here they sing and go out singing.
Actus. j. Scaena. v. Christian Custance. Margerie Mumblecrust. C. Custāce. WHo tooke thée thys letter Margerie Mumblecrust? M. Mumbl. A lustie gay bacheler tooke it me of trust, And if ye séeke to him he will lowe your doing. C. Custāce. Yea, but where learned he that manner of 〈◊〉 ? M. Mumbl. If to sue to hym, you will any paines take, He will haue you to his wife (he sayth) for my sake. C. Custāce. Some wise gentleman belike. I am bespoken: And I thought verily thys had bene some token From my dere spouse Gawin Goodluck, whom when him please God luckily sende home to both our heartes ease. M. Mumbl. A ioyly man it is I wote well by report, And would haue you to him for marriage re ••• t: Best open the writing, and sée what it doth speake. C. Custāce. At thys time nourse I will neither reade ne breake. M. Mumbl. He promised to giue you a whole pecke of golde. C. Custāce. Perchaunce lacke of a pyrite when it shall be all tolde. M. Mumbl. I would take a gay riche husbande, and I were you. C. Custāce. In good sooth Madge, • en so would I, if I were thou. But no more of this fond talke now, let vs go in, And sée thou no more moue me folly to begin. Nor bring mée no 〈◊〉 letters for no mans pleasure, But thou know from whom. M. M. I warrant ye shall be sure.
Actus. ij. Scaena. j. Dobinet Doughtie. D. Dough. WHere is the house I goe to, before or behinde? I know not where nor when nor how I shal it finde. If I had ten mens bodies and legs and strength, This trotting that I haue must néedes lame 〈◊〉 at length. And nowe that my maister is new set on wowyng, I trust there shall none of vs finde lacke of doyng: Two paire of shoes a day will nowe be too litle To serue me, I must trotte to and fro so 〈◊〉 . Go beare me thys token, carrie me this letter, Nowe this is the best way, nowe that way is better. Up before day sirs, I charge you, an houre 〈…〉 , Trudge, do me thys message, and bring w •• de quicke againe, If one misse but a minute, then his armes and woundes, I woulde not haue slacked for ten thousa • d poundes. Nay sée I beséeche you, if my most trustie page, Goe not nowe aboute to •• nder my mariage, So • eruent hotte wowyng, and so farre from wining, I trowe neuer was any creature liuyng, With euery woman is he in some loues pang, Then vp to our lut • at midnight, twangled 〈◊〉 twang, Then twang with our sonets, and twang with our dumps, And beyho • gh from our heart, as heauie as lead lumpes: Then to our recorder with toodleloodle p •• pe As the howlet out of an yuie 〈◊〉 should h •• pe. Anon to our gitterne, thro •• ple 〈◊〉 thrumpledum thrum, Thrumpledum, thrumpledū, thrumpledum, thrūpledum thrum. Of Songs and Balades also he is a maker, And that can he as finely doe as Iacke Raker, Yea and extempore will he dities compose, Foolishe Marsias nere made the like I suppose, Yet must we sing them, as good stuffe I vndertake, As for such a pen man is well sittyng to make. Ah for these long nights, hey how, when will it be day? I feare ere I come she will be wowed away. Then when aunswere is made that it may not bée, O death why 〈◊〉 thou not? by and by (sayth he) But then, from his heart to put away sorowe, He is as farre in with some newe loue next morowe. But in the meane season▪ we trudge and we trot, From dayspring to midnyght, I sit not, nor rest not. And now am I sent to dame Christian Custance: But I feare it will ende with a mocke for pastance. I bring hir a ring, with a token in aclo •• te, And by all gesse, this san ••• is hir house out of d • ut • . I knowe it nowe perfect▪ I am in my right way. And loe yond the olde nourse that was wyth vs last day.
Actus. ij. Scaena. ij. Mage Mumblecrust. Dobinet Doughtie. M. Mumbl. I Was nere so shoke vp afore since I was borne, That our mistresse coulde not haue chid I wold haue sworne: And I pray God I die if I ment any harme, But for my life tune this shall be to mea charme. D. Dough. God you saue and see nurse, and howe is it with you? M. Mumbl. Mary a great deale the worse it is for suche as thou. D. Dough. For me? Why so? M. Mūb. Why wer not thou one of thē, say, That song and playde here with the gentleman last day? D. Dough. Yes, and he would know if you haue for him spoken. And prayes you to deliuer this ring and t • ken. M. Mumbl. Nowe by the token that God tokened brother, I will deliuer no token one nor other. I haue once ben so shent for your maisters pleasure, As I will not be agayne for all hys treasure. D. Dough. He will thank you womā. M. M. I will none of his thāke. Ex. D. Dough. I wéene I am a prophete, this geare will proue blanke: But what should I home againe without answere go? It were better go to Rome on my head than so. I will tary here this moneth, but some of the house Shall take it of me, and then I care not a louse. But yonder commeth forth a w • nche or a ladde, If he haue not one Lumbardes touche, my lucke is bad.
Actus. ij. Scaena. iij. Truepenie. D. Dough. Tibet T. Anot Al. Trupeny. I Am cleane lost for lacke of mery companie, We 〈◊〉 not halfe well within, our 〈◊〉 and I▪ They will commaunde like mistresses, they will 〈◊〉 . If they be not serued, Trupeny must be chyd. Let them be as mery nowe as ye can 〈◊〉 , With turnyng of a hande, our mirth lieth in the mire▪ I can not skill of such chaungeable mettle▪ There is nothing with them but in do • ke out ne ••• . D. Dough. Whether is it better that I speake to him turst, Or he first to me, it is good to cast the w ••• t. If I beginne first, he will smell all my purpose, Otherwise I shall not néede any •• ing to disclose▪ Trupeny. What boy haue we yonder? I will sée what he is. D. Dough. He commeth to me▪ It is hereabout • wis. Trupenie. Wouldest thou ought friende, that thou lookest so about? D. Dough. Yea, but whether ye can helpe me or no, I dont. I seeke to one mistresse Custance house here dwellyng. Trupenie. It is my mistresse ye seeke t •• by your telling. D. Dough. Is there any of that name héere but • hée? Trupenie. Not one in all the whole towne that I knowe par dée. D. Dough. A Widowe she is • trow. Trup. And what and she be? D. Dough. But ensured to an husbande. Trup. Yea, so thinke we. D. Dough. And I dwell with hir husbande that 〈◊〉 to be. Trupenie. In faith then must thou 〈◊〉 be welcome to me, Let vs for acquaintance shak • 〈◊〉 is tog • ther, And what ere thou be, hear ••• welcome hither. Tib Talk. Well Trupenie neuer but ••• nging. An. Al. and friking? Trupenie. Well Tibet and Annot, 〈◊〉 swingyng and whiskyng? Tib Talk. But yeroile abroade. An. • . In the stréete euere where. Trupenie. Where are ye twaine, in chambers when ye mete me there? But come h • ther f •• les, I haue one nowe by the hande, Seruant to hym that must be our mistresse husbande, Byd him welcome. An. Alyface. To me tr • ly is he welcome. Tib Talk. Forsooth and as I may say, heartily welcome. D. Dough. I thāk you mistresse maides. An. Al. I hope we shal better 〈◊〉 Tib Talk. And whē wil our new master come. D. Dou. Shortly 〈…〉 Tib Talk. I would 〈◊〉 were tomorow: for till he resorte Our mistresse being a Widow hath •• hall comforte, And I hearde our nourse speake of an husbande to day Ready for our mistresse, a riche man and a gay. And we shall go in our frenche 〈◊〉 euery day, In our silke • assocks (I warrant you) 〈◊〉 and gay, In our tricke 〈…〉 of golde, Braue in our sutes of chaunge seuen double folde, Then shall ye sée Tibet 〈◊〉 treade the mosse so trimme, Nay, why sayd I treade? ye shall sée hir glide and 〈◊〉 ▪ Not lumperdée • sumperdée like our spaniell Rig. Trupeny. Mary then 〈◊〉 come toste me a fig, Who shall then know our Tib Talke apare trow ye? An. Alyface. And why not Annot Alyface as 〈◊〉 as she▪ Trupeny. And what had Tom Trupeny, a 〈…〉 none? An. Alyface. Then our prety newe come man will looke to be one. Trupeny. We foure I trust shall be a ioily mery kno • . Shall we sing a fitte to welcome our friende, Annot? An. Alyface. Perchaunce he can not sing. D. Dough. I am at all assayes. Tib Talk. By cocke and the better welcome to vs alwayes. Here they sing. A thing very fitte For them that haue witte, And are felowes knitte Seruants in one house to bée, Is fast fast for to sitte, And not oft to •• itte, Nor varie a whitte, But louingly to agrée. No man complainyng, Nor other disdayning, For losse or for gainyng, But felowes or friends to bée. No gr • dge remainyng, No worke retrainyng, Nor helpe reffrainyng, But lo • ingly to agrée. No man for despite, By worde or by write His felowe to twite, But further in honestie, No good turnes entwite, Nor olde fores recite, But let all goe quite, And louingly to agrée. After drudgerie, When they be werie, Then to be merie, To laugh and sing they be free With chip and cherie Heigh derie derie, Trill on the berie, And louingly to agrée. Finis. Tib Talk. Wyll you now in with vs vnto our mistresse go? D. Dough. I haue first for my maister an errand or two. But I haue here from him a taken and a ring, They shall haue moste thanke of hir that first doth it bring Tib Talk. Mary that will I. Trupen. Sée and Tibet snatch not now. Tib Talk. And why may not I sir, get thanks as well as you? Exeat. An. Alyface. Yet get • e not all, we will go with you both. And haue part of your • hanks be ye neuer so loth. Exeant omnes D. Dough. So my handes are ridde of it: I care for no more. I may now returne home: so burst I not afore. Exeat.
Actus. ij. Scaena. iiij. C. Custance. Tibet. Annot Alyface. Trupeny. C. Custāce. NAy come forth all thrée: and come hither pretie mayde: Will not so many forewarnings make you afrayde? Tib Talk. Yes forsoth. C. Custance. But 〈◊〉 be a runnner vp & downe Still be a bringer of tidings and tokens to towne. Tib Talk. No forsooth mistresse. C. Custāce. Is all your delite and ioy In whiskyng and ramping abroade like a Tomboy. Tib. Talk. Forsoth these were there too, Annot and Trupenie. Trupenie. Yea but ye alone tooke it, ye can not denie. Annot Aly. Yea that ye did. Tibet. But if I had not, ye twaine would. C. Custāce. You great calfe ye should haue more witte, so ye should: But why shoulde any of you take such things in hande? Tibet. Bicause it came from him that must be your husbande. C. Custāce. How do ye know that? Tibet. Forsoth the boy did say so. C. Custāce. What was his name? An. Al. We asked not. C. Cust. No did? An. Aliface. He is not farre gone of likelyhod. Trupeny. I will sée. C. Custāce. If thou canst finde him in the streete bring him to me. Trupenie. Yes. Exeat. C. Cust. Well ye naughty girles, if euer I perceiue That henceforth you do letters or tokens receiue, To bring vnto me from any person or place, E • cept ye first shewe me the partie face to face, Eyther thou or thou, full truly abye thou shalt. Tibet. Pardon this, and the next tyme pouder me in salt. C. Custāce. I shall make all girles by you twaine to beware. Tibet. If I euer offende againe do not me spare. But if euer I sée that false boy any more By your mistreshyps licence I tell you afore I will rather haue my cote twentie times swinged, Than on the naughtie wag not to be auenged. C. Custāce. Good wenches would not so rampe abrode ydelly, But kéepe within doores, and plie their worke earnestly, If one would speake with me that is a man likely, Ye shall haue right good thanke to bring me worde quickly. B •• otherwyse with messages to come in post From henceforth I promise you, shall be to your cost. Get you in to your work. Tib. An. Yes forsoth. C. C. Hence both twaine. And let me sée you play me such a part againe. Trupeny. Maistresse, I haue runne past the farre ende of the stréete, Yet can I not yonder craftie boy sée nor méete. C. Custāce. No? Trupeny. Yet I looked as farre beyonde the people. As one may see out of the toppe of Paules stéeple. C. Custāce. Hence in at doores, and let me no more be vext. Trupeny. Forgeue me this one fault, and lay on for the next. C. Custāce. Now will I in too, for I thinke so God me mende, This will proue some foolishe matter in the ende. Exeat.
Actus. ij.
Scaena. j. Mathewe Merygreeke. M. Mery. NOwe say thys againe: he hath somewhat to dooing Which followeth the trace of one that is wowyng, Specially that hath no more wit in his hedde, Than my cou •• n Roister Doister with all is ledde. I am sent in all haste to espie and to marke How our letters and tokens are likely to warke. Maister Roister Doister must haue aunswere in haste For he loueth not to spende much labour in waste. Nowe as for Christian Custance by this light, Though she had not hir trouth to Gawin Goodluck plight, Yet rather than with such a loutishe dolte to marie, I dare say woulde lyue a poore lyfe solitarie, But fayne would I speake with Custance if I wist how To laugh at the matter, yond commeth one forth now.
Actus. iij. Scaena. ij. Tibet. M. Merygreeke. Christian Custance. Tib Talk. AH that I might but once in my life haue a sight Of him that made vs all so yll shent by this light, He should neuer escape if I had him by the • are, But euen from his head, I would it bite or teare. Yea and if one of them were not inowe, I would bite them both off, I make God auow. M. Mery. What is he, whome this little mouse doth so threaten? Tib Talk. I woulde teache him I trow, to make g •• les shent or beaten. M. Mery. I will call hir: Maide, with whome are ye so hastie? Tib Talk. Not with you sir, but with a little wagnastie, A deceiuer of folkes, by subtill craft and guile. M. Mery. I knowe where she is: Dobinet hath wrought some wile. Tib Talk. We brought a ring and token which he sayd was sent From our dames husbande, but I wot well I was shent: For it liked hir as well to tell you no lies, As water in hir shyppe, or salt cast in hir cies: And yet whence it came neyther we nor she can tell. M. Mery. We shall haue sporte anone: I like this very well. And dwell ye here with mistresse Custance faire maide? Tib. Talk. Yea mary doe I sir: what would ye haue sayd? M. Mery. A little message vnto hir by worde of mouth. Tib Talk. No messages by your leaue, nor tokens forsoth. M. Mery. Then help me to speke with hir. Tibet. With a good wil that. Here she commeth forth. Now speake ye know best what. C. Custāce. None other life with you maide, but abrode to skip? Tib Talk. Forsoth here is one would speake with your mistresship. C. Custāce. Ah, haue ye ben learning of mo messages now? Tib Talk. I would not heare his minde, but had him shewe it to you. C. Custāce. In at dores. T • . I am gon. Ex. M. M. Dame Custāce god ye saue C. Custāce. Welcome friend Merygréeke: and what thing wold ye haue? M. Mery. I am come to you a little matter to breake. C. Custāce. But see it be honest, else better not to speake. M. Mery. Howe féele ye your selfe affected here of late? C. Custāce. I féele no maner chaunge but after the olde rate. But wherby doye meane? M. M. Concerning mariage. Doth not loue lade you? C. Custance. I féele no such cariage. M. Mery. Doe ye f • ele no pangues of dotage? a • nswere me right. C. Custāce. I dote so, that I make but one sléepe all the night. But what néede all these wordes? M. M. Oh Iesus, will ye sée What dissemblyng creatures these same women be? The gentleman ye wote of, whome ye doe so loue, That ye woulde fayne marrie him, yf ye durst it mou • , Emong other riche widowes, which are of him glad, Lest ye for lesing of him perchaunce might runne mad, Is nowe contented that vpon your sute making, Ye be as one in election of taking. C. Custāce. What a tale is this? that I wote of? whome I loue? M. Mery. Yea and he is as louing a worme againe as a doue. Een of very pitie he is willyng you to take, Bicause ye shall not destroy your selfe for his sake. C. Custāce. Mary God yelde his mashyp what euer he b • , It is gentmanly spoken. M. M. Is it not trowe ye? If ye haue the grace now to offer your self, ye spéede. C. Custāce. As muche as though I did, this time it shall not néede, But what gentman is it, I pray you tell me plaine, That woweth so finely? M. M. Lo where ye be againe, As though ye knewe him not. C. Cust. Tush ye sp • ake in iest. M. Mery. Nay sure, the partie is in good knacking earnest▪ And haue you he will (he sayth) and haue you he must. C. Custāce. I am promised duryng my life, that is iust. M. Mery. Mary so thinketh he, vnto him alone. C. Custāce. No creature hath my faith and trouth but one, That is Gawin Goodlucke: and if it be not hée, He hath no title this way what euer he be, Nor I know none to whome I haue such worde spoken. M. Mery. Ye knowe him not 〈◊〉 by his letter and token. C. Custāce. In dede true it is, that a letter I haue, But I neuer reade it yet as God me saue. M. Mery. Ye a woman? and your letter so long vnredde. C. Custāce. Ye may ther by know what hast I • aue to wedde. But now who it is, for my hande I knowe by gesse. M. Mery. Ah well I say. C. Custāce. It is Ro • ster Doister doubtlesse. M. Mery. Will ye neuer leaue this dissimulation? Ye know hym not. C. Custance. But by imagination, For no man there is but a very dolt and l • ute That to wowe a W •• owe woulde so go about. He shall neuer haue me hys wife while he doe liue. M. Mery. Then will he haue you if he may, so mote I thriue, And he biddeth you sende him worde by me, That ye humbly beseech him, ye may his wife be, And that there shall be no let in you nor •• strust, But to be wedded on sunday next if he lust, And biddeth you to looke for him. C. Custance. Doth he byd s • ? M. Mery. When he commeth, aske hym whether he did or no? C. Custāce. Go • say, that I bid him kéepe him warme at home For if he come abroade, he shall cough me a mome. My mynde was vexed, I shrew his head sottish dolt. M. Mery. He hath in his head. C. Cust. As much braine as a burbolt. M. Mery. Well dame Custance, if he heare you thus play choploge. C. Custāce. What will he? M. M. Play the deuill in the horologe. C. Custāce. I defye him loute. M. M. Shall I tell hym what ye say? C. Custāce. Yea and adde what so euer thou canst, I thée pray, And I will auouche it what so euer it bée. M. Mery. Then let me alone we will l • ugh well ye shall sée, It will not be long ere he will hither resorte. C. Custāce. Let hym come when hym lust, I wishe no better sport. Fare ye well, I will in, and read my great letter. I shall to my wo ••• make answere the better. Exeat.
Actus. iij. Scaena. iij. Mathew Merygreeke. Roister Doister. M. Mery. NOwe that the whole answere in my deuise doth rest, I shall paint out our wower in colours of the best. And all that I say shall be on Custances mouth, She is author of all that I shall speake forsoth. But yond commeth Roister Doister nowe in a traunce. R. Royster. Iuno sende me this day good lucke and good chaunce. I can not but come sée how Merygréeke doth spéede. M. Mery. I will not sée him, but giue him a i • tte in déede. I crie your mastershyp mercie. R. R. And whither now? M. Mery. As fast as I could runne sir in poste against you. But why speake ye so saintly, or why are ye so sad? R. Royster. Thou knowest the prouerbe, bycause I can not be had. Hast thou spoken with this woman? M. M. Yea that I haue. R. Royster. And what will this geare be? M. M. No so God me saue. M. Mery. Hast thou a flat answer? M. M. Nay a sharp answer. R R. What M. Mery▪ Ye shall not (she sayth) by hir will marry hir cat. Ye are such a calfe, such an asse, such a blocke, Such a lilburne, such a h • ball, such a lobcocke, And bicause ye shoulde come to hir at no season, She despised your maship out of all reason. Bawawe what ye say ( 〈◊〉 I) of such a i • ntman, Nay I feare him not ( 〈…〉 ) doe the best he can. He vaunteth him selfe for a man of prowesse greate, Where as a good gander I dare say may him beate. And where he is loute • and laughed to skorne, For the veriest dolte that euer was • orne, And veriest lubber, flouen and beast, Liuing in this worlde from the west to the east: Yet of himselfe hath he suche opinion, That in all the worlde is not the like minion. He thinketh eche woman to be brought in dosage With the onely sight of his goodly personage: Yet none that will haue hym: we do hym loute and flocke, And make him among vs, our common sporting stocke, And so would I now (ko she) saue onely bicause, Better nay (ko I) I lust not medle with dawes. Ye are happy (ko I) that ye are a woman, This would cost you your life in case ye were a man. R. Royster. Yea an hundred thousand pound should not saue hir life. M. Mery. No but that ye wowe hir to haue hir to your wife, But I coulde not stoppe hir mouth. R. R. Heigh how alas, M. Mery. Be of good chéere man, and let the worlde passe. R. Royster. What shall I doe or say nowe that it will not bée. M. Mery. Ye shall haue choise of a thousande as good as shée, And ye must pardon hir, it is for lacke of witte. R. Royster. Yea, for were not I an husbande for hir fitte? Well what should I now doe? M. M. In faith I can not tell. R. Royster. I will go home and die. M. M. Then shall I bidde toll the bell? R. Royster. No. M. M. God haue mercie on your soule, ah good gentleman, That er ye shuld ths dye for an vnkinde woman, Will ye drinke oure ••• ye goe. R. R. No, no, I will none. M. Mery. How féele your soule to God. R. R. I am nigh gone. M. Mery. And shall we hence streight? R. R. Yea. M. M. Placebo dilexi. vt infra. Maister Roister Doister will streight go home and die. R. Royster. Heigh how, alas, the pangs of death my hearte do breake. M. Mery. Holde your peace for shame sir, a dead man may not speake. Nequando: What mourners and what torches shall we haue? R. Royster. None. M. M. Dirige. He will go darklyng to his graue, Neque lux, neque crux, neque mourners, neque clinke, He will steale to heauen , vnknowing to God I thinke. A porta inferi, who shall your goodes possesse? R. Royster. Thou shalt be my sectour, and ha • e all more and lesse. M. Mery. Requiem aeternam. Now God reward your mastershyp. And I w • ll crie halfepenie doale for your worshyp. Come forth sirs, heare the dolefull newes I shall you tell. Euocat seruo • militis. Our good maister here will no longer with vs dwell, But in spite of Custance, which hath hym weried, Let vs sée his mashyp solemnely buried. And while some piece of his soule is yet hym within, Some part of his funeralls let vs here begin. Audiui vocem, All men take héede by this one gentleman, Howe you sette your loue vpon an vnkinde woman. For these women be all such madde pieuishe elues, They will not be wonne except it please them selues. But in fayth Custance if euer ye come in hell, Maister Roister Doister shall serue you as well. And will ye néedes go from vs thus in very déede? R. Royster. Yea in good sadnesse? M. M. Now Iesus Christ be your spéede. Good night Roger olde knaue, farewell Roger olde knaue, Good night Roger olde knaue, knaue knap. vt infra. Pray for the late maister Roister Doisters soule, And come forth parish Clarke, let the passing bell toll. Ad seruos militi • Pray for your mayster sirs, and for hym ring a peale. He was your right good maister while he was in heale. Qui Lazarum. R. R. Heigh how. M. M. Dead men go not so fast In Paradisum. R. R. Hethow. M. M. Soft, heare what I haue cast R. Royster. I will heare nothing, I am past. M. M. Whough, wellaway. Ye may tarie one houre, and heare what I shall say, Ye were best sir for a while to reuiue againe, And quite thē er ye go. R. R. Trowest thou so? M. M. Ye plain. R. Royster. How may I reuiue being nowe so farre past? M. Mery. I will rubbe your temples, and fette you againe at last. R. Royster. It will not be possible. M. M. Yes for twentie pounde. R. Royster. Armes what dost thou? M. M. Fet you again out of your soūd By this crosse ye were nigh gone in déede, I might féele Your soule departing within an inche of your héele. Now folow my counsell. R. R. What is it? M. M. If I wer you, Custance should eft séeke to me, ere I woulde bowe. R. Royster. Well, as thou wilt haue me, euen so will I doe. M. Mery. Then shall ye reuiue againe for an houre or two. R. Royster. As thou wilt I am content for a little space. M. Mery. Good happe is not hastie: yet in space comth grace, To speake with Custance your selfe shoulde be very well, What good therof may come, nor I, nor you can tell. But now the matter standeth vpon your mariage, Ye must now take vnto you a lustie courage. Ye may not speake with a faint heart to Custance, But with a lusty breast and countenance, That she may knowe she hath to answere to a man. R. Royster. Yes I can do that as well as any can. M. Mery. Then bicause ye must Custance face to face wowe, Let vs sée how to behaue your selfe ye can doe. Ye must haue a portely bragge after your estate. R. Roister. Tushe, I can handle that after the best rate. M. Mery. Well done, so loe, vp man with your head and chin, Up with that snoute man: so loe, nowe ye begin, So, that is somewhat like, but prankie cote, nay whan, That is a lustie brute, handes vnder your side man: So loe, now is it euen as it shoulde bée, That is somewhat like, for a man of your degrée. Then must ye stately goe, ietting vp and downe, Tut, can ye no better shake the taile of your gowne? There loe, suche a lustie bragge it is ye must make. R. Royster. To come behind, and make curtsie▪ thou m • st som pai • s take. M. Mery. Else were I much to blame, I th • nke your mast • rshyp The lorde one day all to begrime you with worshyp, Backe sir sauce, let gentlefolkes haue el • owe roome, Uoyde sirs, sée ye not maister Roister Doister come? Make place my maisters. R. R. Thou iustlest nowe to nigh. M. Mery. Back al rude loutes. R. R. Tush. M. M. I crie your maship mercy Hoighdagh. if faire fine mistresse Custance sawe you now, Ralph Royster Doister were hir owne I warrant you. R. Royster. Neare an M by your girdle? M. M. Your good mastershyps Maistershyp, were hir owne Mistreshyps mistreshyps, Ye were take vp for haukes, ye were gone, ye were gone, But now one other thing more yet I thinke vpon. R. Royster. Shewe what it is. M. M. A wower be he neuer so poore Must play and sing before his bestbeloues doore, How much more than you? R. R. Thou speakest wel out of dout. M. Mery. And perchaunce that woulde make hir the sooner come out. R. Royster. Goe call my 〈◊〉 , bydde them high apace. M. Mery. I wyll be here with them ere ye can say trey ace. Exeat. R. Royster. This was well sayde of Merygréeke, I lowe hys wit, Before my sweete hearts dore we will haue a •• t. That if my loue came forth, that I may with hir talke, I doubt not but this geare shall on my side walke. But lo, how well Mery gr • eke is returned sence. M. Mery. There hath grown no grasse on my héele since I went hence, Lo here haue I brought that shall make you pastance. R. Royster. Come sirs let vs sing to winne my deare loue Custance. Cantent. M. Mery. Lo where she commeth, some countenaunce to hir make And ye shall heare me be plaine with hir for your sake.
Actus. iij. Scaena. iiij. Custance. Merygreeke. Roister Doister. C. Custāce. WHat gaudyng and foolyng is this afore my doore? M. Mery. May not folks be honest, pray you, though they be pore? C. Custāce. As that thing may be true, so rich folks may be fooles, R. Royster. Hir talke is as ••• e as she had learned in schooles. M. Mery. Looke partly towarde hir, and drawe a little nere. C. Custāce. Get ye home idle folkes. M. M. Why may not we be here? Nay and ye will haze, haze: otherwise I tell you plaine, And ye will not haze, then giue vs our geare againe. C. Custāce. In déede I haue of yours much gay things God saue all. R. Royster. Speake gently vnto hir, and let hir take all. M. Mery. Ye are to tender hearted: shall she make vs dawes? Nay dame, I will be plaine with you in my friends cause. R. Royster. Let all this passe swéete heart and accept my seruice. C. Custāce. I will not be serued with a foole in no wise, When I choose an husbande I hope to take a man. M. Mery. And where will ye finde one which can doe that he can? Now thys man towarde you being so kinde, You not to make him an answere somewhat to his minde. C. Custāce. I sent him a full answere by you dyd I not? M. Mery. And I reported it. C. Custance. Nay I must speake it againe. R. Royster. No no, he tolde it all. M. M. Was I not metely plaine? R. Royster. Yes. M. M. But I would not tell all, for faith if I had With you dame Custance ere this houre it had ben bad, And not without cause▪ for this goodly personage, Ment no lesse than to ioyne with you in mariage. C. Custāce. Let him wast no mor • labour nor sute about me. M. Mery. Ye know not where • our pre • erment lieth I s •• , He sending you such a token, ring and letter. C. Custāce. Mary here it is, ye n •• er sawe a better. M. Mery. Let vs see your letter. C. Custance. Holde, reade it if ye can. And sée what letter it is • o winne a woman. M. Mery. To mine owne deare • oney birde, swete heart, and pigs •• Good Mistresse Custance present these by and by, Of this superscription de ye blame the stile? C. Custāce. With the rest as good stuffe as ye redde a great while. M. Mery. Swéete mistresse wher • as I loue you nothing at all, Regarding your substan • e and richesse chiefe of all, For your personage, be ••• tie, deme anour and wit, I commende me vnto you neuer a whit. Sorie to heare report of your good welfare. For (as I heare say) suche your conditions are, That ye be worthie fauour of no liuing man, To be abhorred of euery honest man. To be taken for a woman enclined to vice. Nothing at all to Uertue gyuing hir due price. Wherfore concerning mariage, ye are thought Suche a fine Paragon, as nere honest man bought. And nowe by these presentes I do you aduertise That I am minded to marrie you in no wise. For your goodes and substance, I coulde bée content To take you as ye are. If ye mynde to bée my wyfe, Ye shall be assured for the tyme of my lyfe, I will kéepe ye ryght well, from good rayment and fare, Ye shall not be kepte but in sorowe and care. Ye shall in no wyse lyue at your owne libertie, Doe and say what ye lust, ye shall neuer please me, But when ye are mery, I will be all sadde, When ye are sory, I will be very gladde. When ye séeke your heartes ease, I will be vnkinde, At no tyme, in me shall ye muche gentlenesse finde. But all things contrary to your will and minde, Shall be done: otherwise I wyll not be behinde To speake. And as for all them that woulde do you wrong I will so helpe and mainteyne, ye shall not lyue long. Nor any foolishe dolte, shall cumbre you but I. I, who ere say nay, wyll sticke by you tyll I die. Thus good mistresse Custance, the lorde you saue and kepe, From me Raister Doister, whether I wake or slepe. Who fauoureth you 〈◊〉 lesse, (ye may be bolde) Than this letter purporteth, which ye haue vnfo •• e. C. Custāce. Howe by this letter of loue? is it not fine? R. Royster. By the armes of Caleps it is none of myne. R. Royster. Fie you are fowle to blame this is your owne hand. C. Custāce. Might not a woman be proude of such an husbande? M. Mery. Ah that ye would in a letter shew such despite. R. Royster. Oh I would I had hym here, the which did it endite. M. Mery. Why ye made it your selfe ye tolde me by this light. R. Royster. Yea I ment I wrote it myne owne selfe yesternight. C. Custāce. Ywis sir, I would not haue • ent you such a mocke. R. Royster. Ye may so take it, but I ment it not so by cocke. M. Mery. Who can blame this woman to 〈◊〉 and frette and rage? Tut, tut, your selfe nowe haue marde your owne marriage. Well, yet mistresse Custance, if ye can this remitte, This gentleman other wise may your loue requitte. C. Custāce. No God be with you both, and ••• ke no more to me. Exeat. R. Royster. Wough, she is gone for euer, I shall hir no more sée. M. Mery. What wéepe? sye for shame, and blubber? for manhods sake, Neuer lette your foe so muche pleasure of you take. Rather play the mans parte, and doe loue refraine. It she despise you éen despise ye hir again • . R. Royster. By gosse and for thy sake I delye hir in déede. M. Mery. Yea and perchaunce that way ye shall much sooner spéede, For one madde propretie these women haue in • ey, When ye will, they will not: Will not ye, then will they. Ah foolishe woman, ah moste vnluckie Custance, Ah vnfortunate woman, ah pieuishe Custance, Art thou to thine harmes so obstinately bent, That thou canst not sée where lieth thine high preferment? Canst thou not lub dis man, which coulde lub dée so well? Art thou so much thine own foe. R. R. Thou dost the truth tell. M. Mery. Wel I lamēt. R. R. So do I. MM. Wherfor. RR. For this thing Bicause she is gone. M. M. I mourne for an other thing. R. Royster. What is it Merygréeke, wherfore thou dost griefe take? M. Mery. That I am not a woman my selfe for your sake, I would haue you my selfe, and a strawe for yond Gill, And mocke much of you though it were against my will. I would not I warrant you, fall in such a rage, As so to refuse suche a goodly personage. R. Royster. In faith I heartily thanke thée Merygréeke. M. Mery. And I were a woman. R. R. Thou wouldest to me séeke. M. Mery. For though I say it, a goodly person ye bée. R. Royster. No, no. M. M. Yes a goodly man as ere I dyd sée. R. Royster. No, I am a poore homely man as God made mée. M. Mery. By the faith that I owe to God sir, but ye bée. Woulde I might for your sake, spende a thousande pound land. R. Royster. I dare say thou wouldest haue me to thy husbande. M. Mery. Yea: And I were the fairest lady in the shiere, And knewe you as I know you, and sée you nowe here, Well I say no more. R. R. Gramercies with all my hart. M. Mery. But since that can not be, will ye play a wise parte? R. Royster. How should I? M. M. Refraine from Custance a while now. And I warrant hir soone right glad to séeke to you, Ye shall sée hir anon come on hir knées créeping, And pray you to be good to hir sal • e teares wéeping. R. Royster. But what and she come not? M. M. In faith then farewel • he. Or else if ye be wroth, ye may auenged be. R. Royster. By cocks precious p • tsticke, and éen so I shall. I wyll vtterly destroy hir, and house and all. But I woulde be auenged in the meane space, On that vi • e scribler, that did my wowyng disgrace. M. Mery. Scribler (ko you) in déede he is worthy no lesse. I will call hym to you, and ye bidde me doubtlesse. R. Royster. Yes, for although he had as many liues, As a thousande widowes, and a thousande wiues, As a thousande • yons, and a thou •• nd rattes, A thousande wolues, and a thousande cattes, A thousande bulles, and a thousande calues, And a thou •• nde •• gions diuided in halues, H • shall neuer sca • e death on my swordes point, Though I shoulde be torne therfore ioynt by ioynt. M. Mery. Nay, if ye will kyll him, I will not fette him, I will not in so muche extremitie sette him, He may yet amende sir, and be an honest man, Therfore pardon him good soule, as muche as ye can. R. Royster. Well, for thy sake, this once with his lyfe he shall passe, But I wyll hewe hym all to pieces by the Masse. M. Mery. Nay fayth ye shall promise that he shall no harme haue, Else I will not fet him. R. R. I shall so God me saue. But I may chide him a good. M. M. Yea that do hardely. R. Royster. Go then. M. M. I returne, and bring him to you by & by. Ex.
Actus. iij. Scaena. v. Roister Doister. Mathewe Merygreeke. Scriuener. R. Royster. WHat is a gentleman but his worde and his promise? I must nowe saue this vilaines lyfe in any wise, And yet at hym already my handes doe tickle, I shall vneth holde them, they wyll be so fickle. But • o and Merygréeke haue not brought him sens? M. Mery. Nay I woulde I had of my purse payde fortie pens. Scriuener. So woulde I too: but it néeded not that stounde, M. Mery. But the • entman had rather spent fiue thousande pounde, For it disgraced him at least fiue tymes so muche. Scriuener. He disgraced hym selfe, his loutishnesse is suche. R. Royster. Howe long they stande prating? Why comst thou not away? M. Mery. Come nowe to hymselfe, and hearke what he will say. Scriuener. I am not afrayde in his presence to appéere. R. Royster. Arte thou come felow? Scri. How thinke you? am I not here? R. Royster. What hindrance hast thou done me, and what villanie? Scriuener. It hath come of thy selfe, if thou hast had any. R. Royster. All the stocke thou comest of later or rather, From thy fyrst fathers grandfathers fathers father, Nor all that shall come of thée to the worldes ende, Though to thrée score generations they descende, Can be able to make me a iust recompense, For this trespasse of thine and this one offense. Scriuener. Wherin? R. R. Did not you make me a letter brother? Scriuener. Pay the like hire▪ I will make you suche an other. R. Royster. Nay see and these whooreson Phariseys and Scribes Doe not get their liuyng by polling and bribes. If it were not for shame. Scriuener. Nay holde thy hands still. M. Mery. Why did ye not promise that ye would not him spill? Scriuener. Let him not spare me. R. R. Why wilt thou strike me again? Scriuener. Ye shall haue as good as ye bring of me that is plaine. M. Mery. I can not blame him sir, though your blowes wold 〈◊〉 greue. For he knoweth present death to ensue of all ye geue. R. Royster. Well, this man for once hath purchased thy pardon. Scriuener. And what say ye to me? or else I will be gon. R. Royster. I say the letter thou madest me was not good. Scriuener. Then did ye wrong copy it of likelyhood. R. Royster. Yes, out of thy copy worde for worde I it wrote. Scriuener. Then was it as ye prayed to haue it I wote, But in reading and pointyng there was made some faulte. R. Royster. I wote not, but it made all my matter to haulte. Scriuener. Howe say you, is this mine originall or no? R. Royster. The selfe same that I wrote out of, so mo • e I go. Scriuener. Loke you on your owne fist, and I will looke on this, And let this man be iudge whether I reade amisse. To myne owne dere coney birde, swéete heart, and pigsny, Good mistresse Custance, present these by and by. How now? doth • ot this superscription agrée? R. Royster. Reade that is within, and there ye shall the fault sée. Scriuener. Swéete mistresse, where as I loue you, nothing at all Regarding your richesse and substance: chiefe of all For your personage, beautie, demeanour and 〈◊〉 I commende me vnto you: Neuer a whitte Sory to heare reporte of your good welfare. For (as I heare say) suche your conditions are, That ye be worthie fauour: Of no liuing man To be abhorred: of euery honest man To be taken for a woman enclined to vice Nothing at all: to vertue giuing hir due price. Wherfore concerning mariage, ye are thought Suche a sine Paragon, as nere honest man bought. And nowe by these presents I doe you aduertise, That I am minded to marrie you: In no wyse For your goodes and substance: I can be content To take you as you are: yf ye will be my wife, Ye shall be assured for the time of my life, I wyll kéepe you right well: from good raiment and fare, Ye shall not be kept: but in sorowe and care Ye shall in no wyse lyue: at your owne libertie, Doe and say what ye lust: ye shall neuer please me But when ye are merrie: I will bée all sadde When ye are sorie: I wyll be very gladde When ye seeke your heartes ease: I wyll be vnkinde At no time: in m • shall ye muche gentlenesse finde. But all things contrary to your will and minde Shall be done otherwise: I wyll not be behynde To speake: And as for all they that woulde do you wrong, (I wyll so helpe and maintayne ye) shall not lyue long. Nor any foolishe doite shall cumber you, but I, I, who ere say nay, wyll sticke by you tyll I die. Thus good mistresse Custance, the lorde you saue and kepe. From me Roister Doister, whether I wake or slepe, Who fauour •• h you no lesse, (ye may be bolde) Than this letter purporteth, which ye haue vnfolde. Now sir, what default can ye finde in this letter? R. Royster. Of truth in my mynde there can not be a better. Scriuener. Then was the fault in readyng, and not in writyng, No nor I dare say in the fourme of endityng, But who read this letter, that it sonnded so nought? M. Mery. I redde it in déede. Scri. Ye red it not as ye ought. R. Royster. Why thou wretched villaine was all this same fault in thée? M. Mery. I knocke your costarde if ye offer to strike me. R. Royster. Strikest thou in déede? and I offer but in iest? M. Mery. Yea and rappe you againe except ye can sit in rest. And I will no longer • arie here me beleue. R. Royster. What wilt thou be angry, and I do thée forgeue? Fare thou well scribler, I crie thée mercie in déede. Scriuener. Fare ye well bibbler, and worthily may ye spéede. R. Royster. If it were an other but thou, it were a knaue. M. Mery. Ye are an other your selfe sir, the lorde vs b • th saue, Albeit in this matter I must your pardon craue, Alas woulde ye wyshe in m • the witte that ye haue? But as for my fault I can quickely amende, I will shewe Custance it was I that did offende. R. Royster. By so doing hir anger may be reformed. M. Mery. But if by no entreatie she will be turned, Then sette lyght by hir and bée as testie as shée, And doe your force vpon hir with extremitie. R. Roister. Come on therefore lette vs go home in sadnesse. M. Mery. That if force shall néede all may be in a readinesse, And as for thys letter hardely let all go, We wyll know where she refuse you for that or no. Exeant am.
Actus. iiij. Scaena. j. Sym Suresby. Sim Sure. IS there any man but I Sym Suresby alone, That would haue taken such an enterprise him vpon, In suche an outragious tempest as this was. Suche a daungerous gulfe of the sea to passe. I thinke verily Neptunes mightie godshyp, Was angry with some that was in our shyp, And but for the honestie whiche in me he founde, I thinke for the others sake we had bene drownde. But • ye on that seruant which for his maisters wealth Will sticke for to hazarde both his lyfe and his health. My maister Gawyn Goodlucke after me a day Bicause of the weather, thought best hys shyppe to stay, And now that I haue the rough sourges so well past, God graunt I may finde all things safe here at last. Then will I thinke all my trauaile well spent, Nowe the first poynt wherfore my maister hath me sent Is to salute dame Christian Custance his wife, Espoused: whome he tendreth no lesse than his life, I must see how it is with hir well or wreng, And whether for him she doth not now thinke long: Then to other friendes I haue a message or • way, And then so to returne and mete him on the way. Now wyll I goe k •• cke that I may dispatche with spéede, But loe forth commeth hir selfe happily in déede.
Actus. iiij. Scaena. ij. Christian Custance. Sim Sure • by▪ C. Custāce. I Come to sée if any more stirryng be here, But what straunger is this, which deth to me appere▪ Sym Surs. I will speake to hir: Dame the lorde you saue and sée. C. Custāce. What friende Sym Suresby? Forsoth right welcome ye be, Howe doth mine owne Gawyn Goodlucke▪ I pray the tell? C. Custāce. When he knoweth of your health he will be perfect we • l. S. Suresby If he haue perfect helth, I am as I would be. Sim Sure. Such newes will please him well, this is as it should be. C. Custāce. I thinke now long for him. Sym S. And he as long for you. C. Custāce. When wil he be at home? Sym. S. His heart is here • en now His body commeth after. C. Custance. I woulde sée that faine. Sim Sure. As fast as wynde and sayle can cary it a maine. But what two men are yonde comming hitherwarde? C. Custāce. Now I shrew their best Christmasse chekes both togetherward.
Actus. iiij. Scaena. iij. Christian Custance. Sym Suresby. Ralph Roister. Mathew Merygreke. Trupeny. C. Custāce. WHat meane these lewde felowes thus to trouble me stil? Sym Suresby here perchance shal therof deme som yll, And shall supect in me some point of naughtinesse, And they come hitherward. Sym S. What is their businesse? C. Custāce. I haue nought to them, nor they to me in sadnesse. Sim Sure. Let vs hearken them, somewhat there is I feare it. R. Royster. I will speake out aloude best, that she may heare it. M. Mery. Nay alas; ye may so feare hir out of hir wit. R. Royster. By the crosse of my sworde, I will hurt hir no whit. M. Mery. Will ye doe no harme in deede, shall I trust your worde? R. Royster. By Roister Doisters fayth I will speake but in borde. Sim Sure. Let vs hearken them, somwhat there is I fears it. R. Royster. I will speake out aloude, I care not who heare it: Sirs, see that my harnesse, my tergat, and my shield, Be made as bright now, as when I was last in fielde, As white as I shoulde to warre againe to morrowe: For sicke shall I be, but I worke some folke sorow. Therfore sée that all shine as bright as sainct G • orge, Or as doth a key newly come from the Smi •• s forge. I woulde haue my sworde and harnesse to shine so bright, That I might therwith dimme mine enimies sight, I would haue it cast beames as • ast I tell you playne, As doth the glittryng grasse after a showre of raine. And sée that in case I shoulde néede to come to arming, All things may be ready at a minutes warning, For such chaunce may chaunce in an houre, do ye heare? M. Mery. As perchance shall not chaunce againe in seuen yeare. R. Royster. Now draw we neare to hir, and here what shall be sayde. M. Mery. But I woulde not haue you make hir too muche afrayde. R. Royster. Well founde swéete wife (I trust) for al this your soure looke. C. Custāce. Wife? why cal ye me wife? Sim S. wife? this gear goth acr •• k. M. Mery. Nay mistresse Custance, I warrant you, our letter Is not as we redde éen nowe, but much better, And where ye halfe stomaked this gentleman afore, For this same letter, ye wyll loue hym nowe therefore, Nor it is not this letter though ye were a quéene, That shoulde breake marriage betwéene you twaine I wéene. C. Custāce. I did not refuse hym for the letters sake. R. Royster. Then ye are content me for your husbande to take. C. Custāce. You for my husbande to take? nothing lesse truely. R. Royster. Yea say so, swéete spouse, afore straungers hardly. M. Mery. And though I haue here his letter of loue with me, Yet his ryng and tokens he sent, kéepe safe with ye. C. Custāce. A mischiefe take his tokens, and him and thée too. But what prate I with fooles? haue I nought else to doo? Come in with me Sym Suresby to take some repast. Sim Sure. I must ere I drinke by your leaue, goe in all hast, To a place or two, with earnest letters of his. C. Custāce. Then come drink here wt me. S. S. I thāk you. C. C. Do not misse You shall haue a token to your maister with you. Sym Surs. No tokens this time gramercies, God be with you. Exeat. C. Custāce. Surely this fellowe misdéemeth some yll in me, Which thing but God helpe, will go néere to spill me. R. Royster. Yea farewell fellow, and tell thy maister Goodlucke That he commeth to late of thys blossome to plucke. Let him kéepe him there still, or at least wise make no hast, As for his labour hither he shall spende in wast. His betters be in place nowe. M. M. As long as it will hold. C. Custāce. I will be euen with thée thou beast, thou mayst be bolde. R. Royster. Will ye haue vs then? C. Custance. I will neuer haue thée. R. Royster. Then will I haue you? C. Cust. No, the deuill shal haue thée. I haue gotten this houre more shame and harme by thée, Than all thy life days thou canst do me honestie. M. Mery. Why nowe may ye sée what it comth too in the ende, To make a deadly foe of your most louing frende: And ywis this letter if ye woulde heare it now. C. Custāce. I will heare none of it. M. M. In faith would rauishe you. C. Custāce. He hath stained my name for euer this is cleare. R. Royster. I can make all as well in an houre. M. M. As ten yeare. How say ye, wil ye haue him? C. C. No. M. M. Wil ye take him? C. Custāce. I defie him. M. M. At my word?. C. Cust. A shame take him. Waste no more wynde, for it will neuer bée. M. Mery. This one faulte with twaine shall be mended, ye shall sée. Gentie mistresse Custance now, good mistresse Custance, Honey mistresse Custance now, swéete mistresse Custance, Golden mistresse Custance now, white mistresse Custance, Silken mistresse Custance now, faire mistresse Custance. C. Custāce. Faith rather than to mary with suche a doltishe loute, I woulde matche my selfe with a begger out of doute. M. Mery. Then I can say no more, to spéede we are not like, Except ye rappe out a ragge of your Rhetorike. C. Custāce. Speake not of winnyng me: for it shall neuer be so. R. Royster. Yes dame, I will haue you whether ye will or no, I commaunde you to loue me, wherfore shoulde ye not? Is not my loue to you cha •• ng and burning hot? M. Mery. Too hir, that is well sayd. R. R. Shall I so breake my braine To dote vpon you, and ye not loue vs againe? M. Mery. Wel sayd yet. C. Cust. Go to y• goose. R. R. I say • it Custāce, In case ye will not haze, well, better yes perchaunce. C. Custāce. Auaunt lozell, picke thée hence. M. M. Wel sir, ye perceiue, For all your kinde offer, she will not you receiue. R. Royster. Then a strawe for hir, and a strawe for hir againe, She shall not be my wife, woulde she neuer so faine, No and though she would be at ten thousand pounde cost. M. Mery. Lo dame, ye may see what an husbande ye haue lost. C. Custāce. Yea, no force, a iewell muche better lost than founde. M. Mery. Ah, ye will not beleue how this doth my heart wounde. How shoulde a mariage betwene you be towarde, If both parties drawe backe, and become so frowarde. R. Royster. Nay dame, I will fire thee out of thy house, And destroy thée and all thine, and that by and by. M. Mery. Nay for the passion of God sir, do not so. R. Royster. Yes, except she wil • say yea to that she sayde no. C. Custāce. And what, be there no officers trow we, in towne To checke idle loytrers braggyng vp and downe? Where be they, by whome vacabunds shoulde be represt? That poore sillie Widowes might liue in peace and rest. Shall I neuer ridde thée out of my companie? I will call for helpe, what hough, come forth Trupenie. Trupenie. Anon. What is your will mistresse? dyd ye call me? C. Custāce. Yea, go runne apace, and as fast as may be, Pray Tristram Trusty, my moste assured frende, To be here by and by, that he may me defende. Trupenie. That message so quickly shall be done by Gods grace, That at my returne ye shall say, I went apace. Exeat. C. Custāce. Then shall we sée I trowe, whe •• er ye shall do me harme, R. Royster. Yes in faith Kitte, I shall thee and thine so charme, That all women incarnate by thee may beware. C. Custāce. Nay, as for charming me, come hither if thou dare, I shall cloute thee tyll thou stinke, both thée and thy traine, And coyle thée mine owne handes, and sende thée home againe. R. Royster. Yea sayst thou me that dame? dost thou me threaten? Goe we, I will sée whether I shall be beaten. M. Mery. Nay for the pa • sh • of God, let me now treate peace, For bloudshed will there be in case this strife increace. Ah good dame Custance, take better way with you. C. Custāce. Let him do his worst. M. M. Yeld in time. R. R. Come hēce thou. Exeat Roister & Mery.
Actus. iiij. Scaena. iiij. Christian Custance. Anot Alyface. Tibet T. M Mumblecrust. C. Custāce. SO sirra, if I should not with hym take this way, I should not be ridde of him I thinke till doomes day, I will call forth my folkes, that without any mockes If he come agayne we may giue him rappes and knockes. Mage Mumblecrust, come forth, and Tibet Talke apace. Yea and come forth too, mistresse Annot Alyface. Annot Aly. I come. Tibet. & I am here. M. Mumb. and I am here too at lēgth. C. Custāce. Like warriers if nede bée, ye must shew your strength The man that this day hath thus begiled you, Is Ralph Roister Doister, whome ye know well inowe, The moste loute and dastarde that euer on grounde trode. Tib Talk. I see all folke mocke hym when he goth abrode. C. Custāce. What pretie maide? will ye talke when I speake? Tib. Talk. No forsooth good mistresse. C. Cust. Will ye my tale breake? He threatneth to come hither with all his force to fight, I charge you if he come, on him with all your might. M. Mumbl. I with my distaffe will reache hym one rappe. Tib Talk. And I with my newe broome will swéepe hym one swappe, And then with our greate clubbe I will reache hym one rappe. An. Aliface. And I with our skimmer will fling him one flappe. Tib. Talk. Then Trupenies fireforke will him shrewdly fray, And you with the spitte may driue him quite away. C. Custāce. Go make all ready, that it may be éen so. Tib. Talk. For my parte I shrewe them that last about it go. Exeant.
Actus. iiij. Scaena. v. Christian Custance. Trupenie. Tristram Trusty. C. Custāce. TRupenie dyd promise me to runne a great pace, My friend Tristram Trusty to fet into this place. In deede he dwelleth hence a good stert I cenfesse: But yet a quicke messanger might twice since as I gesse, Haue gone and come againe. Ah yond I spie him now. Trupeny. Ye are a slow goer sir, I make God auow. My mistresse Custance will in me put all the blame, Your leggs be longer than myne: come apace for shame. C. Custāce. I can thée thanke Trupenie, thou hast done right wele. Trupeny. Maistresse since I went no grasse hath growne on my he • e, But maister Tristram Trustie here maketh no spéede. C. Custāce. That he came at all I thanke him in very déede, For now haue I néede of the helpe of some wise man. T. • Trusty. Then may I be gone againe, for none such I m. Trupenie. Ye may bée by your going: for no Alderman Can goe I dare say, a sadder pace than ye can. C. Custāce. Trupenie get thée in, thou shalt among them knowe, How to vse thy selfe, like a propre man I trowe. Trupeny. I go. Ex. C. C. Now Tristrā Trusty I thāk you right much. For at my first sending to come ye neuer grutch. T. Trusty. Dame Custance God ye saue, and while my life shall last, For my friende Goodlucks sake ye shall not sende in wast. C. Custāce. He shal giue you thāks. T. Trusty. I wil do much for his sake C. Custāce. But alack, I feare, great displeasure shall be take. T. Trusty. Wherfore? C. C. For a foolish matter. T. T. What is your caus • C. Custāce. I am yll accombred with a couple of dawes. T. Trusty. Nay wéepe not woman: but tell me what your cause is As concerning my friende is any thing amisse? C. Custāce. No not on my part: but here was Sym Suresby. T. Trustie. He was with me and tolde me so. C. C. And he stoode by While Ralph Roister Doister with helpe of Merygreeke, For promise of mariage dyd vnto me seeke. T. Trusty. And had ye made any promise before them twaine. C. Custāce▪ No I had rather be torne in pieces and flaine, No man hath my faith and trouth, but Gawyn Goodlucke, And that before Suresby dyd I say, and there stucke, But of certaine letters there were suche words spoken. T. Trustie. He tolde me that too. C. Cust. And of a ring and token. That Suresby I spied, dyd more than halfe suspect, That I my faith to Gawyn Goodlucke dyd reiect. T. Trusty. But there was no such matter dame Custance in déede? C. Custāce. If euer my head thought it, God sende me yll spéede. Wherfore I beséech you, with me to be a witnesse, That in all my lyfe I neuer intended thing lesse, And what a brainsicke foole Ralph Roister Doister is, Your selfe know well enough. T. Trust. Ye say full true ywis. C. Custāce. Bicause to bée his wife I ne graunt nor apply, Hither will he com he sweareth by and by, To kill both me and myne, and beate downe my house flat. Therfore I pray your aide. T. T. I warrant you that. C. Custāce. Haue I so many yeres liued a sobre life, And shewed my selfe honest, mayde, widowe, and wyfe, And nowe to be abused in such a vile sorte, Ye sée howe poore Widowes lyue all voyde of comfort. T. Trusty. I warrant hym do you no harme nor wrong at all. C. Custāce. No, but Mathew Merygréeke doth me most appall, That he woulde ioyne hym selfe with suche a wretched loute. T. Trusty. He doth it for a iest I knowe hym out of doubte, And here cometh Merygreke. C. C. Then shal we here his mind.
Actus. iiij. Scaena. vj. 〈◊〉 . Christian Custance. Trist Trusty. M. Mery. CUstance and Trustie both, I doe you here well f • nde. C. Custāce. Ah Mathew Merygréeke, ye haue vsed me well. M. Mery. Nowe for altogether ye must your answere tell. Will ye haue this man, woman? or else will ye not? Else will be come neuer bore so brymme nor tost so hot. Tris. & Cu. But why ioyn ye with him. T. Tr. For mirth? C. C. or else in sadnesse M. Mery. The more fond of you both hardly y• mater gesse. Tristram. Lo how say ye dame? M. M. Why do ye thinke dame Custāc • That in this wowyng I haue ment ought but pastance? M. Mery. Much things ye spake I wote, to maintaine his dotage. C. Custāce. But well might ye iudge I spake it all in mockage, For why? Is Roister Doister a fitte husbande for you? T. Trusty. I dare say ye neuer thought it. M. M. No to God I vow. And dyd not I knowe afore of the insurance Betwéene Gawyn Goodlucke, and Christian Custance? And dyd not I for the nonce, by my conueyance, Reade his letter in a wrong sense for da • iance? That if you coulde haue take it vp at the first bounde, We should therat such a sporte and pastime haue founde, That all the whole towne should haue ben the merier. C. Custāce. Ill ake your heades bothe, I was neuer werier, Nor neuer more verte since the first day I was borne. T. Trusty. But very well I wist he here did all in scorne. C. Custāce. But I feared therof to take dishonestie. M. Mery. This should both haue made sport, and shewed your honestie And Goodlucke I dare sweare, your witte therin would low. T. Trusty. Yea, being no worse than we know it to be now. M. Mery. And nothing yet to late, for when I come to him, Hither wi • l he repaire with a shéepes looke full grim, 〈…〉 force and violence to driue you to y • lde. C. Custāce. If ye two bidde me, we will with him pitche a fielde, I and my maides together. M. M. Let vs see, be bolde. C. Custāce. Ye shal see womēs warre. T. Trusty. That fight wil I behold M. Mery. If occasion serue, takyng his parte full brim, I will strike at you, but the rappe shall light on him. When we first appeare. C. Cust. Then will I runne away As though I were afeard. T. Trusty. Do y • u that part wel play And I will sue for peace. M. Mery. And I will set him on. Then will he looke as fierce as a Cotssold lyon. T. Trusty. But when gost thou for him? M. M. That do I very nowe. C. Custāce Ye shal find vs here. M. M. Wel god haue mercy on you. Ex. T. Trusty. There is no cause of feare, the least boy in the streete: C. Custāce. Nay, the least girle I haue, will make him take his féete. But hearke, me thinke they make preparation. T. Trustie. No force, it will be a good recreation. C. Custāce. I will stande within, and steppe forth spéedily, And so make as though I ranne away dreadfully.
Actus. iiij.Scaena. vij. R Royster. M. Merygreeke. C. Custance. D Doughtie. Harpax. Tristram Trusty. R. Royster. NOwe sirs, kéepe your ray, and sée your heartes be stoute, But where be these ca • tifes, me think they dare not route, How sayst thou Merygreeke? What doth Kit Custāce say? M. Mery. I am loth to tell you. R. R. Tushe speake man▪ yea or nay? M. Mery. Forsooth sir, I haue spoken for you all that I can. But if ye winne hir, ye must éen play the man, Een to fight it out, ye must a mans heart take. R. Royster. Yes, they shall know, and thou knowest I haue a stomacke. A stomacke (quod you) yea, as good as ere man had. R. Royster. I trowe they shall finde and féele that I am a lad. M. Mery. By this crosse I haue seene you eate your meate as well, As any that ere I haue s • ene of or heard tell, A stomacke quod you? he that will that denie I know was neuer at dynner in your companie. R. Royster. Nay, the stomacke of a man i • is that I meane. M. Mery. Nay the stomacke of an horse or a dogge I wéene. R. Royster. Nay a mans stomacke with a weapon meane I. M. Mery. Ten men can scarce match you with a spoone in a pie. R. Royster. Nay the stomake of a man to trie in st •• fe. M. Mery. I neuer sawe your stomake cloyed yet in my lyfe. R. Royster. Tushe I meane in strife or fighting to trie. M. Mery. We shall sée how ye will strike nowe being angry. R. Royster. Haue at thy pate then, and saue thy head if thou may. M. Mery. Nay then haue at your pate agayne by this day, R. Royster. Nay thou mayst not strike at me againe in no wise. M. Mery. I can not in fight make to you suche warrantise: But as for your foes here let them the bargaine bie. R. Royster. Nay as for they, shall euery mothers childe die. And in this my fume a little thing might make me, To beate downe house and all, and else the deuill take me. M. Mery. If I were as ye be, by gogs deare mother, I woulde not leaue one stone vpon an other. Though she woulde redéeme it with twentie thousand poundes. R. Royster. It shall be euen so, by his lily woundes. M. Mery. Bee not at one with hir vpon any amendes. R. Royster. No though she make to me neuer so many frendes. Not if all the worlde for hir woulde vndertake, No not God hymselfe neither, shal not hir peace make, On therfore, marche forwarde, soft, stay a whyle yet. M. Mery. On. R. R. Tary. M. M. Forth. R. R. Back. M. M. On. R. R. Soft. Now forwardset C. Custāce. What businesse haue we here? out alas, alas. R. Roister. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Dydst thou sée that Merygréeke? howe afrayde she was? Dydst thou sée how she fledde apace out of my sight? Ah good swéete Custance I pitie hir by this light. M. Mery. That tender heart of yours wyll marre altogether, Thus will ye be turned with waggyng of a fether. R. Royster. On sirs, keepe your ray. M. M On forth, while this geare is hot R. Royster. Soft, the Armes of Caleys, I haue one thing forgot. M. Mery. What lacke we now? R. R. Retire, or else we be all slain. M. Mery. Backe for the pashe of God, backe sirs, backe againe. What is the great mater? R. R. This hastie forth goyng Had almost brought vs all to vtter vndoing, It made me forget a thing most necessarie. M. Mery. Well remembred of a captaine by sainct Marie. R. Royster. It is a thing must be had. M. M. Let vs haue it then. R. Royster. But I wote not where nor how. M. M. Then wote not I when. M. Mery. But what is it? R. R. Of a chiefe thing I am to séeke. M. Mery. Tut so will ye be, when ye haue studied a weke. But tell me what it is? R. R. I lacke yet an hedpiece. M. Mery. The kitchen collocauit, the best hennes to grece, Runne, fet it Dobinet, and come at once withall, And bryng with thée my potgunne, hangyng by the wall, I haue séene your head with it full many a tyme, Couered as safe as it had bene with a skrine: And I warrant it saue your head from any stroke, Except perchaunce to be amased with the smoke: I warrant your head therwith, except for the mist, As safe as if it were fast locked vp in a chist: And loe here our Dobinet commeth with it nowe. D. Dough. It will couer me to the shoulders well • now. M. Mery. Let me see it on. R. R. In sa • th it doth metely well. M. Mery. There can be no fitter thing. Now ye must vs tell What to do. R. R. Now forth in ray sirs, and stoppe no more. M. Mery. Now sainct George to borow, Drum dubbe a dubbe afore. T. Trusty. What meane you to do sir, committe manslaughter. R. Royster. To kyll for • ie such, is a matter of laughter. T. Trusty. And who is it sir, whome ye intende thus to spill? R. Royster. Foolishe Custance here forceth me against my will. T. Trusty. And is there no meane your extreme wrath to slake. She shall some amendes vnto your good mashyp make. R. Royster. I will none amendes. T. Tr. Is hir offence so sore? M. Mery. And he were a loute she coulde haue done no more. She hath calde him foole, and dressed him like a foole. Mocked him lyke a foole, vsed him like a foole. T. Trusty. Well yet the Sheriffe, the Iustice, or Constable, Hir misdemeanour to punishe might be able. R. Royster. No sir, I mine owne selfe will in this present cause, Be Sheriffe, and Iustice, and whole Iudge of the lawes, This matter to amende, all officers be I shall, Constable, Bailiffe, Sergeant. M. M. And hangman and all. T. Trusty. Yet a noble courage, and the hearte of a man Should more honour winne by bearyng with a woman. Therfore take the lawe, and lette hir aunswere therto. R. Royster. Merygréeke, the best way were euen so to do. What honour should it be with a woman to fight? M. Mery. And what then, will ye thus forgo and lese your right? R. Royster. Nay, I will take the lawe on hir withouten grace. T. Trusty. Or yf your mashyp coulde pardon this one trespace. I pray you forgiue hir. R. R. Hoh? M. M. Tushe tushe sir do not. Be good maister to hir. R. R. Hoh? M. M. Tush I say do not. M. Mery. And what shall your people here returne streight home? R. Roister. Yea, leuie the campe sirs, and hence againe eche one, T. Trustie. But be still in readinesse if I happe to call, I can not tell what sodaine chaunce may befall. M. Mery. Do not off your harnesse sirs I you aduise, At the least for this fortnight in no maner wise, Perchaunce in an houre when all ye thinke least, Our maisters appetite to fight will be best. But soft, ere ye go, haue once at Custance house. R. Royster. Soft, what wilt thou do? M. M. Once discharge my harquebouse And for my heartes ease, haue once more with my p • tgoon. R. Royster. Holde thy handes else is all our purpose cleane fordoone. M. Mery. And it cost me my life. R. R. I say thou shalt not. M. Mery. By the matte but I will. Haue once more with haile shot I will haue some penyworth, I will not l • ese all.
Actus. iiij. Scaena. viij. M. Merygreeke. C. Custance. R. Roister. Tib. T. An. Alyface. M. Mumblecrust. Trupenie. Dobinet Doughtie. Harpax. Two drummes with their En • ignes. C. Custāce. WHat caitifes are those that so shake my house wall? M. Mery. Ah sirrha now Custance if ye had so muche wit I would see you aske pardon, and your selues submit. C. Custāce. Haue I still this adoe with a couple of fooles? M. Mery. Here ye what she saith? C. C. Maidēs come forth wt your tooles R. Royster. In a ray. M. M. Dubba dub sirrha. R. R. In a ray, They come sodainly on vs. M. M. Dubbadub. R. R. In a ray. That euer I was borne, we are taken tardie. M. Mery. Now sirs, quite our selues like tall men and hardie. C. Custāce. On afore Trupenie, holde thyne owne Annot, On towarde them Tibet, for scape vs they can not. Come forth Madge Mumblecrust, 〈◊〉 stande fast togither. M. Mery. God sende vs a faire day. R. R. Sée they marche on hither. Tib. Talk. But mistresse. C. C. What sayst y•? Tib. Shal I go fet our goose? C. Custāce. What to do? Tib. To yonder Captain I will turne hir loose And she gape and hisse at him, as she doth at me, I durst ieoparde my hande she wyll make him flee. C. Custāce. On forward. R R. They com. M. M. Stād. R. R. Hold. MM. Kepe. C. Custāce. (R. R. There. M. M. Strike. R. R. Take héede. C. Custāce. Wel sayd Trupeny. Trup. Ah whooresons. CC. weldon in déede M. Mery. Holde thine owne Harpax, downe with them Dobinet. C. Custāce. Now Madge, there Annot: now sticke them Tibet. Tib. Talk. All my chiefe quarell is to this same little knaue, That b • gyled me last day, nothyng shall him saue. D. Dough. Downe with this litle queane, that hath at me such spite, Saue you from hir maister, it is a very sprite. C. Custāce. I my selfe will mounsire graunde captaine vndertake, R. Royster. They win grounde. M. M. Saue your selfe sir, for gods sake. R. Royster. Out, alas, I am slaine, helpe. M. M. Saue your self. R. R. Alas. M. Mery. Nay then, haue at you m • st • esse. R. R. Thou hittest me, alas. M. Mery. I wil strike at Custāce here. R R. Thou hittest me. MM. so I wil M. Mery. Nay mistresse Custance. R. R. Alas, thou hittest me still. R. Royster. Hold. M. M. Saue your self sir. R. R. Help, out alas I am slain M. Mery. Truce, hold your hands, truce for a pissing while or twaine: Now how say you Custance, for sauing of your life, Will ye yelde and graunt to be this gentmans wife? C. Custāce. Ye tolde me he loued me, call ye this loue? M. Mery. He loued a while euen like a turtle doue. C. Custāce. Gay loue God saue it, so soone hotte, so soone colde. M. Mery. I am sory for you: he could loue you yet so he coulde. R. Royster. Nay by cocks precious she shall be none of mine. M. Mery. Why so? R. R. Come away, by the matte she is mankine. I durst aduenture the losse of my right hande, If she dyd not flee hir other husbande: And sée if she prepare not againe to fight. M. Mery. What then? sainct George to borow, our Ladies knight▪ R. Royster. Slée else whom she will, by gog she shall not slee mée. M. Mery. How then? R. R. Rather than to be slaine, I will flée. C. Custāce. Too it againe, my knightesses, downe with them all. R. Royster. Away, away, away, she will else kyll vs all. M. Mery. Nay sticke to it, like an hardie man and a tall. R. Royster. Oh bones, thou bittest me. Away, or else die we shall. M. Mery. Away for the pashe of our swéete Lord Iesus Christ. C. Custāce. Away loute and lubber, or I shall be thy priest. Exeant om. So this fielde is ours we haue driuen them all away. Tib. Talk. Thankes to God mistresse, ye haue had a faire day. C. Custāce. Well nowe goe ye in, and make your selfe some good chéere. Oēs pariter. We goe. T. Trust. Ah sir, what a field we haue had héere. C. Custāce. Friend Tristram, I pray you be a witnesse with me. T. Trusty. Dame Custance, I shall depose for your honestie, And nowe fare ye well, except some thing else ye wolde. C. Custāce. Not now, but when I nede to sende I will be bolde. Exeat. I thanke you for thess paines. And now I wyll get me in, Now Roister Doister will no more wowyng begin. Ex.
Actus. v. Scaena. j. Gawyn Goodlucke. Sym Suresby. SYm Suresby my trustie man, nowe aduise thée well, And sée that no false surmises thou me tell, Was there such ad • e about Custance of a truth? Sim Sure. To reporte that I hearde and sawe, to me is ruth, But both my duetie and name and propretie, Warneth me to you to shewe fidelitie. It may be well enough, and I wyshe it so to be, She may hir selfe discharge and trie hir honestie, Yet their clayme to hir me thought was very large, For with letters rings and tokens, they dyd hir charge. Which when I hearde and sawe I would none to you bring. G. Goodl. No by sainct Marie, I allowe thée in that thing. Ah si • ra, nowe I see truthe in the prouerbe olde, All things that shineth is not by and by pure golde, If any doe lyue a woman of honestie▪ I would haue sworne Christian Custance • ad bene shée. Sim Sure. Sir, though I to you be a seru • nt true and • ust. Yet doe not ye therfore your faithfull spouse mystrust. But examine the matter, and if ye shall it finde, To be all well, be not ye for my wordes vnkinde▪ G. Goodl. I shall do that is right, and as I s • e cause why. But here commeth Custance forth, we shal know by and by.
Actus. v. Scaena. ij. C Custance. Gawyn Goodlucke. Sym Suresby. C. Custāce. I Come forth to sée and hearken for newes good, For about this houre is the tyme of likelyhood, That Gawyn Goodlucke by the sayings of Suresby, Woulde be at home, and lo yond I sée hym I. What Gawyn Goodluck, the onely hope of my life, Welcome home, and kysse me your true espoused wife. Ga. Good. Nay soft dame Custance, I must first by your licence, Sée whether all things be cléere in your conscience, I heare of your doings to me very straunge. C. Custāce. What feare yee that my faith towardes you should chaunge • Ga. Good. I must néedes mistrust ye be elsewhere entangled, For I heare that certaine men with you haue wrangled About the promise of mariage by you to them made. C. Custāce. Coulde any mans reporte your minde therein persuade? Ga. Good. Well, ye must therin declare your selfe to stande cléere, Else I and you dame Custance may not ioyne this yer • ▪ C. Custāce. Then woulde I were dead, and faire layd in my graue, Ah Suresby, is this the honestie that ye haue? To hurt me with your report, not knowyng the thing. Sun Sure. If ye be honest my wordes can hurte you nothing. But what I hearde and sawe, I might not but report. C. Custāce Ah Lorde, helpe poore widowes, destitute of comfort. Truly most deare spouse, nought was done but for pastance. G. Good. But such kynde of sporting is homely daliance. C. Custāce. If ye knewe the truthe, ye would take all in good parte. Ga. Good. By your leaue I am not halfe well skilled in that arte. C. Custāce. It was none but Roister Doister that foolishe mome. Ga. Good. Yea Custance, better (they say) a badde scuse than none. C. Custāce. Why Tristram Trustie sir, your true and faithfull frende, Was priuie bothe to the beginning and the ende. Let him be the Iudge, and for me testifie. Ga. Good. I will the more cr • dite that he shall verifie, And bicause I will the truthe know éen as it is, I will to him my selfe, and know all without mi •• e. Come on Sym Suresby, that before my friend thou may Auouch the same wordes, which thou dydst to me say. Exeant.
Actus. v. Scaena. iij. Christian Custance. C. Custāce. O Lorde, howe necessarie it is nowe of dayes, That eche bodie liue vprightly all maner wayes, For lette neuer so little a gappe be open, And be sure of this, the worst shall be spoken Howe innocent stande I in this for déede or thought? And yet sée what mistrust towardes me it hath wrought But thou Lorde knowest all folkes thoughts & eke intents And thou arte the deliuerer of all innocentes. Thou didst helpe the aduoutresse that she might be amended, Much more then helpe Lorde, that neuer yll intended. Thou didst helpe Susanna, wrongfully accused, And no lesse dost thou sée Lorde, how I am now abused, Thou didst helpe Hester, when she should haue died, Helpe also good Lorde, that my truth may be tried. Yet if Gawin Goodlucke with Tristram Trusty speake. I trust of yll report the force shall be but weake, And lo • yond they come sadly talking togither, I wyll abyde, and not shrinke for their comming hither.
Actus. v. Scaena. iiij. Gawyn Goodlucke, Tristram Trustie. C. Custance. Sym Suresby. Ga. Good. ANd was it none other than ye to me reporte? Tristram. No, and here were ye wished to haue seene the sporte. Ga. Good. Woulde I had, rather than halfe of that in my purse. Sim Sure. And I doe muche reioyce the matter was no wurse, And like as to open it, I was to you faithfull, So of dame Custance honest truth I am ioyfull. For God for • ende that I shoulde hurt hir by false reporte. Ga. Good. Well, I will no longer holde hir in discomforte. C. Custāce. Nowe come they hitherwarde, I trust all shall be well. G. Good. Swéete Custance neither heart can thinke nor tongue tell, Howe much I ioy in your constant fidelitie, Come nowe kisse me the pearle of perfect honestie. C. Custāce. God lette me no longer to continue in lyfe, Than I shall towardes you continue a true wyfe. G. Goodl. Well now to make you for this some parte of amendes, I shall desire first you, and then suche of our frendes, As shall to you seeme best, to suppe at home with me, Where at your fought fielde we shall laugh and mery be. Sim Sure. And mistresse I beséech you, take with me no gréefe, I did a true mans part, not wishyng your r • pr •• fe. C. Custāce. Though hastie reportes through surmises growyng, May of poore innocentes be vtter ouerthrowyng, Yet bicause to thy maister thou hast a true hart, And I know mine owne truth, I forgiue thée for my part. G. Goodl. Go we a •• to my house, and of this geare no more. Goe prepare all things Sym Suresby, hence, runne afore. Sim Sure. I goe. Ex. G. Good. But who commeth yond, M. Merygréeke? C. Custāce. Roister Doisters champion, I shrewe his best chéeke. T. Trusty. Roister Doister selfe your wower is with hym too. Surely some thing there is with vs they haue to doe.
Actus. v. Scaena. v. M. Merygreeke. Ralph Roister. Gawyn Goodlucke. Tristram Trustie. C. Custance. M. Mery. YOnd I sée Gawyn Goodlucke, to whome lyeth my message, I wyll first salute him after his long voyage, And then make all thing well concerning your behalfe. R. Royster. Yea for the pas • e of God. M. M. Hence out of sight ye calfe, Till I haue spoke with them, and then I will you • et, R. Royster. In Gods name. M. M. What master Gawin Goodluck wel met And from your long voyage I bid you right welcome home. Ga. Good. I thanke you. M. M. I come to you from an honest mome. Ga. Good. Who is that? M. M. Roister Doister that doughtie kite. C. Custāce. Fye, I can scarce abid • ye shoulde his name recite. M. Mery. Ye must take him to fauour, and pardon all past, He heareth of your returne, and is full yll agas • . Ga. Good. I am ryght well content he haue with vs some chere. C. Custāce. Fye vpon him beast, then wyll not I be there. Ga. Good. Why Custance doe ye hate hym more than ye loue me? C. Custāce. But for your mynde sir, where he were would I not be? T. Trusty. He woulde make vs al laugh. M. M. Ye nere had better sport. Ga. Good. I pray you swéete Custance▪ let him to vs resort. C. Custāce. To your will I assent. M. M. Why, suche a foole it is, As no man for good pastime would forgoe or misse. G. Goodl. Fet him to go wyth vs. M. M. He will be a glad man. Ex. T. Trusty. We must to make vs mirth, maintai • e hym all we can. And loe yond he commeth and Merygréeke with him. C. Custāce. At his first entrance ye shall see I wyll him trim. But first let vs hearken the gentlemans wise talke. T. Trusty. I pray you marke if euer ye sawe crane so stalke.
Actus. v. Scaena. vj. R Roister. M. Merygreeke. C. Custance. G. Goodlucke, T. Trustie. D. Doughtie. Harpax. R. Royster. MAy I then be bolde? M. M. I warrant you on my worde, They say they shall be sicke, but ye be at theyr borde. R. Royster. Thei wer not angry then. M. M. Yes at first, & made strāge But when I sayd your anger to fauour shoulde change, And therewith had commended you accordingly, They were all in loue with your mashyp by and by. And cried you mercy that they had done you wrong. R. Royster. For why, no man, woman, nor childe can hate me long. M. Mery. We feare (quod they) he will be auenged one day, Then for a peny giue all our liues we may. R. Royster. Sayd they so in deede. M. M. Did they? yea, euen with one voice He will forgiue all (quod I) Oh how they did reioyce. R. Royster. Ha, ha, ha. M. Mery. Goe fette hym (say they) while he is in good moode, For haue his anger who lust, we will not by the Roode. R. Royster. I pray God that it be all true, that thou hast me tolde, And that she fight no more. M. M. I warrant you, be bolde. Too them, and salute them. R. R. Sirs, I gréete you all well. Omnes. Your maistership is welcom. C. Cust. Sauyng my quarell. For sure I will put you vp into the Eschequer. M. Mery. Why so? better nay: Wherfore? C. Cust. For an vsurer. R. Royster. I am no vsurer good mistresse by his armes. M. Mery. When tooke he gaine of money to any mans harmes? C. Custāce. Yes, a fowle vsurer he is, ye shall sée els. R. Royster. Diost not thou promise she would picke no mo quarels? C. Custāce. He will lende no • lowes, but he haue in recompence Fiftene for one, whiche is to muche of conscience. R. Royster. Ah dame, by the auncient lawe of armes, a man Hath no honour to foile his handes on a woman. C. Custāce. And where other vsurers take their gaines yerely, This man is angry but he haue his by and by. Ga. Goodl. Sir, doe not for hir sake beare me your displeasure. M. Mery. Well, he shall with you talke therof more at leasure. Upon your good vsage, he will now shake your hande. R. Royster. And much heartily welcome from a straunge lande. M. Mery. Be not afearde Gawyn to let him shake your fyst. Ga. Goodl. Oh the moste honest gentleman that ere I wist. I be seeche your mashyp to take payne to suppe with vs. M. Mery. He shall not say you nay and I too, by Iesus. Bicause ye shall be friends, and let all quarels passe. R. Royster. I wyll be as good friends with them as ere I was. M. Mery. Then let me fet your quier that we may haue a song. R. Royster. Goe. G. Goodluck. I haue hearde no melodie all this yeare long. M. Mery. Come on sirs quickly. R. R. Sing on sirs, for my frends sake. D. Dough. Cal ye these your frēds? R. R. Sing on, & no m • words make. Here they sing. Ga. Good. The Lord preserue our most noble Quéene of renowne, And hir vertues rewarde with the heauenly crowne. C. Custāce. The Lorde strengthen hir most excellent Maiestie, Long to reigne ouer vs in all prosperitie. T. Trusty. That hir godly proceedings the faith to defende, He may stablishe and maintaine through to the ende. M. Mery. God graunt hir as she doth, the Gospell to protect, Learning and vertue to aduaunce, and vice to correct. R. Royster. God graunt hir louyng subiects both the minde and grace, Hir most godly procedyngs worthily to imbrace. Harpax. Hir highnesse most worthy counsellers God prosper, With honour and loue of all men to minister. Omnes. God graunt the nobilitie hir to serue and loue, With all the whole commontie as doth them behoue. AMEN.
Certaine Songs to be song by those which shall vse this Comedie or Enterlude.
The Seconde Song. WHo so to marry a minion Wyfe, Hath hadde good chaunce and happe, Must loue hir and cherishe hir all his life, And dandle hir in his lappe. If she will fare well, yf she wyll go gay, A good husbande euer styll, What euer she lust to doe, or to say, Must lette hir haue hir owne will. About what affaires so euer he goe, He must shewe hir all his mynde, None of hys counsell she may be kept frée, Else is he a man vnkynde.
The fourth Song. I Mun be maried a Sunday I mun be marieb a Sunday, Who soeuer shall come that way, I mun be maried a Sunday. Royster Doyster is my name, Royster Doyster is my name, A lustie brute I am the same, I mun be maried a Sunday. Christian Custance haue I founde, Christian Custance haue I founde, A Wydowe worthe a thousande pounde, I mun be maried a sunday. Custance is as swéete as honey, Custance is as swéete as honey, I hir lambe and she my coney, I mun be marieb a Sunday. When we shall make our weddyng feast, When we shall make oure weddyng feast, There shall bée chéere for man and beast, I mun be married a Sunday. I mun be maried a Sunday. &c.
The Psalmodie

PLacebo dilexi,

Maister Roister Doister wil streight go home and die, Our Lorde Iesus Christ his soule haue mercie vpon: Thus you sée to day a man, to morow Iohn. Yet sauing for a womans extréeme crueltie, He might haue lyued yet a moneth or two or thrée, But in spite of Custance which hath him weried, His m • shyp shall be worshipfully buried. And while some piece of his soule is yet hym within, Some parte of his funeralls let vs here beginne.

Dirige.

He will go darklyng to his graue. Neque lux, neque crux, nisi solum clinke, Neuer gentman so went toward heauen I thinke. Yet sirs as ye wyll the blisse of heauen win, When he commeth to the graue • ay hym softly in, And all men take heede by this one Gentleman, How you sette your loue vpon an vnkinde woman: For these women be all suche madde pi • uish elues, They wyll not be woonne except it please them selues. But in faith Custance if euer ye come in hell, Maister Roister Doister shall serue you as well. Good night Roger olde knaue, Farewel Roger olde knaue. Good night Roger olde knaue, knaue, knap. Nequando, Audi •• vocem. Requiem aeternam.
The Peale of belles rong by the parish Clerk, and Roister Doisters foure men. When dyed he? When dyed he? We haue hym, We haue hym. Royster Doyster, Royster Doyster. He commeth, He commeth. Our owne, Our owne. FINIS.