Thenterlude of youth. IEsu that his arms did spread And on a tree was done to dead From all perils he you defend I desire audience till I have made an end For am come from God above To occupy his laws to your behove And am named charity There may no man saved be without the help of me For he that charity doth refuse Other virtues thought he do use beebout charity it will ●●t ●e For it is written in the faith Qui manet in charitate in deo monet I am the gate I tell the Of heaven that joyful city There may no make thider come But of charity he must have some Or ye may not come iwis Unto heaven the city of bliss Therefore charity who will him take A pure soul it will him make Before the face of God In the. A.B.C. of books the least it is written deus charitas est Lo charity is a great thing Of all virtues it is the king When God in earth was here living Of charyti he found none ending I was planted in his heart We two might not depart Out of his heart I did spring Through the might of the heaven king And all priests that be May sing no mass without charity And chary to them they do not take They may not receive him that did them make And all this world of nought youth. ¶ A back fellows and give me room Or I shall make you to avoid soon I am goodle of person I am peerless where ever I come My name is youth I tell the I flourish as the vine tree who may belikeneth unto me In my youth and jollity My heart is royal and bushed thick My body pliant as a hazel stick Mine arms be both fair and strong My fingers be both fair and long My chest big as a tun My legs be full light for to run To hop and dance and make merry By the mass I reck not a cherry What so ever I do I am the heir of my father's land And it is come into my hand I care for no more charity. ¶ Are you so disposed to do To follow vice and set virtue go youth. Ye sir even so For now a days he is not set by Without he be unthrifty charity. You had need to ask God mercy Why do you so praise your body youth. Why knave what is that to the wilt thou let me to praise my body why should I not praise it & it be goodli I will not let for the charity. What shall it be when thou shalt flit For the wealth into the pit Therefore of it be not to boolde Lest thou forthink it when thou art old ye may be likened to a tree In youth flourishing with royalty And in age it is cut down And to the fire is thrown So shalt thou but thou amend Be burned in hell without end 〈◊〉 Be aware least thou thither go Hence caitiff go thy way Or with my dagger I shall the slay Hens knave out of this place Or I shall lay the on the face Sayest thou that I shall go to hell For ever more there to dwell I had leverthou had evil fare charity ¶ A yet sir do by my read And ask mercy for thy misdeed And thou shalt be an herytoure of bliss Where all joy and mirth is Where thou shall see a glorious sight Of aungeles singing with saints bright Before the face of God youth. ¶ What sirs abowe the sky I hah need of a ladder to climb so high But what and the ladder slip Than I am deceived yet And if I fall I catch a quecke I may fortune to break my neck And that joint is ill to set Nay nay not so charity ¶ O yet remember call to thy mind The mercy of God passeth all thing For it is written by noble clerks The mercy of God passeth all works That witnesseth holy scripture saying thus Miseratio domini super omnia opera eius Therefore doubt not goods grace There of is plenty in every place youth. ¶ what me think ye be clerkyshe For ye speak good gibbryshe Sir I pray you and you have any store Soil me a question or ye cast out any more Lest when your cunning is all done My question have no solution Sir and it please you this Why do men eat mustered with salfishe Sir I pray you soil me this question That I have put to your discretion charity. ¶ This question is but vanity it longeth not to me Such questions to assoil youth ¶ Sir by god that me dear bought I see your cunning is little or nought And I should follow your school soon ye would make a fool Therefore crack no longer here Lest I take you on the ear And make your head to ache charity. ¶ Sir it falleth not for me to fight Nether by day ne be night Therefore do my counsel I say Than to heaven thou shalt have thy way youth. ¶ No sir I think ye will not fight But to take a man's purse in the night ye will not say nay For such holy caitiffs Were wont to be thieves And such would be hanged as high As a man may see with his eye In faith this same is true charity. ¶ God save every christian body From such evil destiny And send us of his grace In heaven to have a place youth. ¶ Nay nay I warrant the He hath no place for the We nest thou he will have such fools To sit on his gay stools Nay I warrant the nay Humility. ¶ Well sir I put me in god's will whether he will me save or spill And sir I pray you do so And trust in god what so ever ye do youth. ¶ Sir I pray the old thy peace And talk to me of no goodness And soon look thou go thy way lest with my dagger I the slay In faith if thou mean my heart Thou shalt be weary of thy part Or thou and I have done charity. ¶ Think what God suffered for the His arms to be spread upon a tree A knight with a spear opened his side In his heart appeared a wound wide That bought both you and me youth. ¶ Gods fast what is that to me Thou daw wilt thou read me In my youth to lose my ioylytie Hence knave and go thy way Or with my dagger I shall the slay charity. ¶ O sir hear what I you tell, And be ruled after my counsel That ye might sit in heaven high with God and his company youth. ¶ A yet of God thou wilt not cease Till I fight in good earnest On my faith I tell the true if I fight I tell the true All the days of thy life charity ¶ Sir I ●e wen none other wise or I will go to my brother Humility And take good counsel of him How it is best to be do therein youth ye marry sire I pray you of that Me think it were a good sight of your back I would see your heel's hither And your brother and you together Fettered fine fast I wis and I had the key ye should sing well away charity. Or I let you lose ¶ Far well my masters everichone I will come again anon youth. And tell you how I have done ¶ And thou come hither again I shall send the hens in the devils name What now, I may have my space To ●et here in this place Before I might not steer when the churl charity was here But now among all this cheer I would I had some company here I wis my brother Riot would help me For to beat charity Riot. And his brother to ¶ Huffa, huffa who calleth after me I am Riot full jollity My heart as light as the wind And all on Riot is my mind Where so ever I go But wot ye what I do here To seek youth my compear 〈◊〉 of him I would have a sight yet thou shalt have a wench to kiss when so ever thou wilt youth. ¶ Marry Riot I thank the That thou wilt be stowe it on me And for thy pleasure so be it I would not charity should us meet And turn us again For right now he was with me And said he would go to Humility And come to me again Riot. ¶ Let him come if he will He were better to bide still And he give the crooked language I will lay him on the visage And that thou shalt see soon How lightly it shall be done And he will not be ruled with knocks we shall set him in the stocks To heal his sore shins youth. ¶ I shall help the if I can To drive away that hang man Hark Riot thou shalt understand I am heir of my father's land And now they be come to my hand Me think it were best therefore That I had one man more To wait me upon Riot. ¶ I can speed the of a servant of price That will do the good service I see him go here be side Some men call him master pride I swear by God in Trinity I will go fetch him unto the And that even anon youth high the apace and come a gain and bring with the that noble swain Riot. ¶ Lo master youth here he is A pretty man and wise He will be glad to do good you service In all that ever he may youth, ¶ Welcome to me good fellow I pray the whence comest thou And thou wilt my servant be I shall give the gold and fee Pride. ¶ Sir I am content i wis To do you any servis That ever I can do youth. ¶ By likelihood thou should do well enough Thou art a likely fellow Pride. ¶ yes sir I warrant you if ye will be ruled by me I shall you bring to high degree youth. ¶ What shall I do tell me And I will be ruled by the Pride. ¶ Marry I shall tell you consider ye have good enough And thing ye come of noble kind Above all men exalt thy mind Put down the poor and see nought by them Be in company with gentle man jest up and down in the way And your clothes look they be gay The pretty wenches will say than yorder goeth a gentlemen And every poor fellow that goeth you by Will do of his cap and make you curteisie In faith this is true youth. Sir I thank the by the rood For thy counsel that is so good And I commit me even now Under the teaching of Riot and you Riot. ¶ Lo youth I told you That he was a lusty fellow youth. ¶ Marry sir I thank the That you would bring him unto me Pride. ¶ Sir it were expedient that ye had a wife To live with her all your life Riot. ¶ A wife nay nay for God avow He shall have flesh enough For by God that me dear bought Over much of one thing is nought The devil said he had liefer burn all his life Than once for to take a wife Therefore I say so god me save He shall no wife have Thou haste a sister fair and free I know well his leman she will be Therefore I would she were here That we might go and make good cheer At the wine some where youth. ¶ I pray you hither thou do her bring For she is to my liking Pride. ¶ Sir I shall do my diligence To bring her to your presence youth. ¶ high the apace and come again To have a sight I would be feign Of that lady free Riot. ¶ Sir in faith I shall tell you true She is a fresh and fair of hue And very proper of body Men call her Lady Lechery youth. ¶ My heart burneth by God of might Till of that lady I have a sight Intret superbia cum luxuria et dica superbia Pride. ¶ Sir I have fulfilled your intent And have brought you in this present That you have sent me fore youth. ¶ Thou art a ready messengere Come hither to me my heart so dear ye be welcome to me as the heart in my body Lecheri ¶ Sir I thank you and at your pleasure I am ye be the same unto me youth. ¶ masters will ye to tavern walk A word with you here will I talk And give you the wine Lecheri ¶ Gentle man I thank you verily And I am all ready To wait you upon Riot. ¶ What sister lechery ye be welcome to our company Lecheri ¶ Well wanton well, fie for shame So soon ye do express my name what if no man should have known I wis I shall you beat, well wanton well Riot. ¶ A little pretty nylet ye be well nice God wot ye be a little pretty pie, iwis ye go full gingerie Lecheri ¶ Well I see your false eye winketh on me full wanton ye be full wanton i wis youth. ¶ Pride I thank you of your labour That you had to fetch this fair flower Pride. ¶ Lo youth I told thee That I would bring her with me Sir I pray you tell me now How doth she like you youth. ¶ verily well she pleased me For she is courteis gentle and free how do you fair Lady How far you tell me Lecheri ¶ Sir if it please you, I do well enough And the better that you will wit youth. ¶ Riot I would be at the tavern fain Lest charity us meet and turn us again Than would I be sorry because of this farye ladi Riot. ¶ Let us go again be time That we may be at the wine Or ever that he come Pride. ¶ High the apace and go we hence we will let for none expense youth. ¶ Now we will fill the cup and make good cheer I trust I have a noble here Hark sirs for God almighte Hearest thou not how they fight In faith we shall them part If there be any wine to sell They shall no longer together dwell No then I be shrew my heart Riot, ¶ No sir so moat I the Let not thy servants fight within the For it is a careful life Evermore to live in strife Therefore if ye will be ruled by mi tale We will go to the ale And see how we can do I trust to God that sitteth on high To lose that little company With in an hour or two Pride. ¶ Now let us go for goods sake And see how merry we can make Riot. ¶ Now let us go a pace And I be last there I be shrew my face youth. ¶ Now let us go that we were there To make this Lady some cheer Lecheri ¶ verily sir I thank the That ye will bestow it on me And when it please you on me to call My heart is yours body and all youth. ¶ Fair Lady I thank the On the same wise ye shall have me when so ever ye please Pride. Riot we tarry very long Riot. we will go even now with a lusty song Pride. In faith I will be rector chorye youth. Go to it then hardly, and let us be agate charity. Abide fellow a word with the whether go ye tell me Abide and here what I shall you tell And be ruled by my counsel Pride. ¶ Nay no fellow ne yet mate I trow thy fellow be in Newgate Shall we tell the whether we go Nay i wis good john a Pepo Who learned the thou mistaught man To speak so to a gentleman Though his clothes be never so thine yet he is come of noble kin Though thou give him such a mock yet he is come of a noble stock I let the well to wit Riot. ¶ What sir john what say ye would you be fettered now Think not to long I pray you It my fortune come soon enough ye shall think it a little soon. youth. ¶ yet sirs let this cease And let us talk of goodness charity. He turned his tale he is a feared But faith he shallbe skerd He weeneth by flattering to please us again But he laboureth all in vain. charity. ¶ Sir I pray you me not spare For nothing I do care That ye can do to me Riot. ¶ No whoreson sayest thou so Hold him pride and let me go I shall set a prayer of rings That shall sit to his shins And that even a none Pride. ¶ high the apace and come again And bring with he ta good chain To hold him here stil. charity ¶ jesus that was borne of Mare mild From all evil he us shield And send you grace to amend Or our life be at an end For I tell you truly That ye live full wickedly I pray God it amend Riot, ¶ Lo sirs look what I bring Is not this a jolly ringing By my troth I trow it be I will go with of charity How sayest thou master charity Doth this gear please the. charity. ¶ They please me well in deed The more sorrow the more meed For God said while he was man Beatiqui persecutionem patiuntur ꝓpter justiciam Unto his apostles he said so To teach them how they should do Pride, ¶ we shall see how they can please Sat down sir and take your ease Me think these same were full meet To go about your fair feet youth. ¶ By my truth I you tell They would become him very well Therefore high that they were on Unto the tavern that we were gone Riot, ¶ That shall ye see anon How soon they shall be on And after we will not tarry long But go hence with a merry song Pride, ¶ Let us begin all at once youth. ¶ Now have at it by cocks bones And soon let us go charity. ¶ Lo masters here you may see before That the weed overgroweth the corn, Now may ye see all in this tide How vice is taken, and virtue set aside yonder ye may see youth is stable But evermore changeable And the nature of men is frail That he wotteth not what may avail Virtue for to make O good Lord it is a pitiful case Sith God hath lent man wit and grace To choose of good and evil That man should voluntarily To such things himself apply That his soul should spill 〈◊〉 ¶ Christ that was crucified & crowned with thorn 〈◊〉 Forsake them and do after us The better shall you do Riot. ¶ Sire he shall do well enough Though he be ruled by neither of you Therefore crack no longer here Lest you have on the ear And that a good knock Pride. ¶ lightly see thou avoid the place Or I shall give the on the face youth I trow that he would Make you holy or ye be old And I swear by the road It is time enough to be good When that ye be old youth. ¶ Sir by my truth I the say I will make merry whiles I may I can not tell you how long Riot. ¶ ye sir so moat I thrive Thou art not certain of thy life Therefore thou were a stark fool Ro leave mirth and follow their school humili. ¶ Sir I shall him exhort Unto us to resort And you to forsake Pride. ¶ Ask him if he will do so To forsake us and follow you two Nay I warrant you nay humili. ¶ That shall your even anon I will unto him gone And see what he will ●aye Riot. ¶ Hardly go on thy way I know well he will say nay youth. ¶ Ye sir ●e God that me ●ere ●●●ght Me think ye labour all for nought Benest thou that I will for the Or thy brother charity Forsake this good company Nay I warrant the Pride. ¶ ●o master I pray you of that For any thing for sake us not and all our counsel rule you by ye may be Emperor or ye die youth. ¶ While I have life in my body Shall I be ruled by Riot and the Riot. ¶ Sir than shall ye do well For we be true as steel Sir can teach you to play at the dice At the queens game and at the Irish The Treygobet and the hazard also And many other games more Also at the cards I can theche you to play At the trump and one and thirty Post, pinion and also aumsase And at ad other they call dewsace yet I can tell you more & ye shil con me thank Pink and drink and also at the blank And many sports more youth. ¶ I thank the Riot so moat I the For the counsel thou haste given me I will follow thy mind in every thing And guide me after thy learning charity. ¶ Youth leave that counsel for it is nought And amend that thou hast miss wrought That thou mayst save that God hath bought youth. ¶ What say ye master charity whath hath God bought By my troth I know not He came never at the stews Nor in no place where I do use I wis he bought not my cap Nor yet my jolly hat I wots not what he hath bought for me And he bought any thing of mine I will give him a quart of wine The next time I him meet charity. ¶ Sir this he did for the When thou wast hand he made the free And bought the with his blood youth. ¶ Sir I pray you tell me How may this be That I know I was never bond Unto none in England charity. ¶ Sir I shall tell you When Adam had done great trespass And out of paradise exiled was Then all the soles as I can you tell were in the bondage of the devil of hell Till the father of heaven of his great mercy Sent the second person in Trinity Us for to redeem And so with his precious blood He bought us on the rood And our souls did save youth. ¶ How should I save it tell me now and I will be ruled after you my soul to save Riot. ¶ What youth will you forsake me I will not forsake thee humili. ¶ I shall tell you shortly kneel down and ask God mercy For that you have offended Pr●●●● Youth wilt thou do so Follow them and let us go mary I trow nay youth. ¶ Here all sin I forsake And to God I me betake Good Lord I pray the have no indignation That I a sinner should ask salvation charity. ¶ Now thou must forsake pride And all Riot set aside Pride. ¶ I will not him forsake Neither early ne late I wend he would not forsake me But if it will none otherwise be I will go my way youth. ¶ Sir I pray God be your speed and help your at your need Riot. ¶ I am sure thou wilt not forsake me Nor I will not forsake thee youth. ¶ I forsake you also and will not have with you to do Riot. ¶ And I forsake the utterly Fie on the caitiff fie Once a promise thou did me make That thou would me never forsake But now I see it is hard For to trust the wretched world humili. Far well masters everycheone For your sin look ye morn and evil creatures look ye turn For your name who maketh insition Say it is good contrition That for sin doth morn charity. ¶ Here is a new array For to walk by the way Your prayer for to say 〈◊〉 ¶ Here be beads for your devotion And keep you from all temptation Let not vice devour When ye see misdoing men Good counsel give them And teach them to amend youth. ¶ For my sin I will morn All creatures I will turn and when I see misdoing men Good counsel I shall give them and exhort them to to amend charity. ¶ Then shall ye be an heritour of bliss Where all joy and mirth is youth. ¶ To the which eternal Go bring the persons all Here being amen. humili. Thus have we brought our matter to an end Before the persons here present Would every man be content least another day we be shent charity. ¶ He thank all this present Of their meek audience humili. ¶ jesus that sitteth in heaven so high Men and women that here be amen amen, for charity. Imprinted at London, by john waley dwelling in Foster lane.