❧ The Interlude of Youth. ✿ charity. ¶ 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 I 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 though he do use Without Charity it will not be For it is written in the faith Q●im 〈◊〉 in charitate in deo move I am the gate I tell the Of heaven that joyful city There may no man thither come But of charity he must have some Or he may not come iwis Unto heaven the city of bliss therefore charity who will him take Apure 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 charity he found none ending I was planted in his heart We two might not depart Out of his heart I did springe through the might of the heaven king And all priests that be May not live without charity And charitey 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 goodly of person I am peerless where ever I come My name is youth I tell the I flourish as the vine tree Who may be likened unto me In my youth and jolitye My hair 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 v●foll 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 let 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 for think it when the art old Ye may be likened to a tree In youth flourishing with royallte 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 Youth. Ye whoreson trowest thou so Be aware least thou thither go Hence caitiff go the 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 liefer thou had evil far 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 glorius sight Of angels singing with saints bright Before the face of God Youth. ¶ what sirs above the sky I had 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 domin● super omnia opera ●iu● Therefore doubt not gods 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 salt fish Sir I pray you soil me this quistion That I have put to your discretion charity ¶ Thus 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 Sun 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 the wai 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 destroy 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 Humily Well sir I put me in good is 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 hold thy peace And talk to me of no goodness And soon look thou go thy way Less with my dagger I the slay In faith if thou move my hat 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 wid That bought both you and me youth. God's fast what is that to me Thou daw wilt thou read me In my youth to lose my jollity 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 of 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 thou wilt it rue All the days of thy life. charity Sir I see it will none otherwise be 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 Or I let you lose charity Far well my masters everichone I will come again anon And tell you how I have done youth. And thou come hither again I will send the hers in the devils nam What now, I may have my space To jet 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 mi brother Riot would help me For to beat charity And his brother to Riot. Huffa, huffa who calleth after me I am Riot full iolite My heart as light as the wind And all on Riot is mi mind. where so ever I go But wot ye what I do here To seek youth my compear feign of him I would have a sight But my lips hang in my light God speed master youth by my fate youth Welcome Riot in the devils way Who brought the hither to day Riot That did my legs I tell the We thought thou did me call And I am come now here To make royal cheer And tell the how I have done Youth What I wend thou hadst been henged But I see thou art escaped For it was told me here You took a man on the ear That his purse in your bosom did fly And so in Newgate ye did lie Riot So it was I be shrew your pate I come lately from Newgate But I am as ready to make good cheer As he that never came there For and I have spending I will make as merry as a king And care not what I do For I will not lie long in prison But will get forth soon For I have learned a policy That will lose me lightly And soon let me go Youth. I love well thy discretion For thou art all of one condition Thou art stable and steadfast of mind And not changeable as the wind But sir I pray you at the least Tell me more of that jest That thou told me right now moreover I shall tell the The mayre of London sent for me Forth of Newgate for to come For to preach at Ty●one. youth. By our Lady he did promote the To make the preach at the gallow tree But sir how didst thou scape Riot Verily sir the rope broke And so I fell to the ground And ran away safe and sound Be the way I met with a courtier's lad And twenty nobles of gold in his purse he had I took the lad in the ear Beside his horse I called him there I took his purse in my hand And twenty nobles therein I found Lord how I was merry. youth. God's foot thou didst enough there For to be made knight of the colere. Riot Ye sir I trust to God all might At the next cessions to be dubbed a knight youth. Now sir by this light That would I fain se And I plight the so God me save That a surer tolere thou shalt have And because gold colers be so good cheap Unto the roper I shall speak To make the one of a good price And that shallbe of warrantise. Riot. Youth 〈◊〉 pray the have a do And to the ●a●●ene let us go And we will drink divers wine And the cost shall be mine Thou shalt not pay one penny iwis 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 the 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 laugage 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 a way 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 high the apace and come a gain youth And bring with the that noble swain Riot Lo master youth here he is A pretty man and a wise He will be glad to do you service In all that ever he may youth Welcome to me good fellow I say the whence comest thou And thou wilt my servant be I shall give the gold and fee Pride Sir I am content iwis 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 it 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 think ye come of noble kind Above all men exalt thy mind Put down the poor and set nought by them Be in company with gentle men jest up and down in the way And your clothes look they be gay The pretty wenches will say than Yonder 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 comm●● me ento now Under the techyage of Riot and you Riot ¶ Lo youth I told you That he was a lastye 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 ones 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 there 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 ●re riot ¶ Sir in faith I shall tell you true She is a fresh and fair of he 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 fight Intret superbis cum luxur in et ditaf superbia Pride ¶ Sir I have fulfilled your intent And have brought you in this present that you have sent me for't youth. ¶ thou art a ready messcogert Come hither to me my heart so dear ye dewelcome 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 there will I talk And give you the wine Lecheri ¶ Gentle man I thank you utrely 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 me name what if no man should have known I wis I shall you bear, well wanton well Riot. ¶ A little ꝓretye nyset Ye be well hi●e God wot ye be a little pretty pie, iwis ye go full gingerle Lechery well I see your falseity winketh on me full want only ye be full wanton iwis 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 ●d● tell me now How doth she like you youth. Verily well she pleased me For she is courteis gentle and see 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 fairy 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 cher I trust I have a noble here Hark sirs for God almighte Hearest thou not how they light In faith we shall them part If there be any wine to sell They shall no longer together dwell No then I be shre we my heart Riot. No sir so moat I the Let not thy servants fight within that 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 god's sake And see how merry we can make Riot. Now let us go apace And I belast 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 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 abid and here what I shall you tell And ruled by my counsel Pride Nay no fellow ne yet mate I trow thy fellow be in Newgate Shall we tell the wether we go Nay iwis 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 wire Riot What sir John what say ye Would you be fettered now think not to long I pray you It may fortune come soon enough▪ It shall think it a little soc●● charity Yet sirs let this cease And let us talk of goodness youth. He turned his tale he is afeard 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 fet 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 the a good chain To hold him here still. 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 wit 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 Beati qui ꝑsecucionem patifitur propter 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, & virtue set aside yonder ye may see youth is not 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 me wit and grace To choose of good and evil that man should voluntarily To such things himself apply that his soul should spill Humily Christ that was crucified & crowend with thorn And of a virgin for than was borne Some knowledge send to me Of my brother Charity charity Dear brother Humility ye be welcome unto me Where have ye be so long humili. I shall do you to understand That I have said mine evensong But sit I pray you tell me now How this case happened to you charity I shall tell you anon The fellows that I told you on Have me thus arrayed Humily Sir I shall undo the bands From your feet and your hands Sir I pray you tell me anon Whether they be gone And when they come again charity Sir to the tavern they begun And they will come again anon And that shall you see humili. Then will we them exhort Unto virtue to resort, & so forsake sin charity I will help you that I can To convert that wicked man youth. Aback galantes and look unto me And take me for your special For I am promoted to high degree By right I am king eternal Neither duke ne lord, Baron ne knight that may be likened unto me they be subdued to me by right As servants to their masters should be humyli. Ye be welcome to this place here we think ye labour all in vain wherefore your brains we will steer And keel you a little again youth. Sayest thou my brains thou wilt steer I shall late the on the ear were thou borne in trumpyngton And brought up at Hogs norton By my faith it seemeth so well go knave go charity Do by our counsel and our read And ask mercy for thy misdeed And endeavour the for god's sake For thy sins amends to make Or ever that thou die Riot Hark youth for god avow He would have the a saint now But youth I shall you tell A young saint an old devil Therefore I hold the a fool And thou follow his school youth. I warrant thee I will not do so I will be ruled by you two Pride Then shall ye do well if ye be ruled by our counsel we will bring you to high degree And promote you to dignity humili. Sir it is a pitiful case That ye would forsake grace And to vice apply youth. why knave doth it grieve thee Thou shall not answer for me when my soul hangeth on the hedge once Then take thou and cast stones As fast as thou wilt charity Sir if it please you to do thus 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 thou have on the ear And that a good knock Pride. lightly see thou avoid the place Or I shall give thee 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 to 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 you see even anon I will unto him gone And see what he will say Riot Hardly go on thy way I know well he will say nay youth. Ye sir by God that me dear bought Me think ye labour all for nought Weenest thou that I will for thee Or they brother charity Forsake this good company Pride. Nay I warrant the No 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 I 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 teach you to play At the triumph and on and thirty Post, pinion, and also aumsase And at an other they call dewsace Yet I can tell you mor & ye will con me thank Pink and drink and also at the blank And mane 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 myswrought That thou mayst save that God hath bought youth. what say ye master Charity what hath God bought for me By my troth I know not whether that he goeth in white or black He came never at the stews Nor in no place where I do use Iwis 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 bond he made the fire 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 Youth wilt thou do so Pride 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 you 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 lie 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 Far well masters everycheone Humili For your sin look ye morn And evil creatures look ye turn For your name who maketh inquisition Say't 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 humyli. ¶ Here be books for your devotion And keep you from all temptation Let no 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 amend charity Than shall ye be an heritour of bliss Where all joy and mirth is Youth. To the which eternal God 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 We thank all this present Of their meek audience Humili. jesus that sitteth in heaven so high Save all this fair company Men and women that here be Amen, Amen for charity. ✿ Finis. ¶ imprinted at London in Lothbury over against Saint Margarytes church by me William Copland.