An new interlude of Impatient poverty newly Imprinted. ¶ Four men may well and easily play it. Peace. Collhassarde and Conscience for one man. abundance and misrule for another man. Impatient poverty, prosperity, & poverty, for one. Envy and the Summoner for another man. depiction of three men ¶ Peace beginneth. THe puissant prince and innocent most pure which humbly descended from the seat sempiternal illumine his beams of grace to every creature To withstand the conflict of our enemies mortal The devil, the world, & the flesh, these three in special which setteth division between the soul & the body Inlike wise envy setteth debat between party & party I speak for this cause, daily ye may see How that by envy and malice, many be destroyed Which if they had lived in peace with patient humility riches and prosperity with them had been employed For there as is peace, no man is annoyed For by peace men grow to great richesse And by peace men live in great quietness I am named peace, which envy doth expel Envy with me shall never rest For envy is one of the pains of hell When that he sojourneth in a man's breast Like the burning Fenix in her own nest Though she can none other hurt ne grieve yet she doth not cease herself to mischief Envy. A sir here was a long predication Me thought ye said in your communication To every man peace was moste behoved. Peace. For sooth and so said I Envy. That shallbe proved contrary by and by For by peace much people are undone Peace. What people are tho. Envy. The armourer, the fletcher, and the bower Mariners, Gonners, and the poor sowdyer Yea and also many another artificer Which I do not rehearse by name Peace. I say the universal people doth best obtain where as peace is ever abiding Envy. Thou liest so god me help and halydome For then were surgeons clean undone Of them that will fight and break apate They get good living both early and late And what sayest thou by men of law Their living were not worth a straw And every man should live in peace. Peace. That is not for the commons increase For by peace they profit in many a thing Peace setteth amity between king & king In time of peace merchants have their course To pass and repass Envy. Thou liest knave by the mass For under colour of peace much suttelte hath been wrought And ships are taken the merchants deer have bought Was that for their promotion Nay in time of war Such a knave durst not steer By the mass were it not for shame that should bear me a blow Peace. Hold thy hands thou lewd fellow Thou art of evil disposition thus against peace to repugn The which from heaven descended down to bring man out of captivity Envy. A horton why dost thou lie When were thou in heaven tell me by and by How camest thou down with a ladder or a rope Peace. it were no sin to hang the by the throat Thy words be envious, not grounded on charity. Envy. Sir one thing I pray you tell me. Peace. What is that Envy. Have ye any wife or no Peace. Why ask ye so Envy. Because ye say peace is most expedient if your wife made you cockolde you being present What would ye do Peace. give her such punishment as longeth thereto Envy. A fal●e flattering horsouloo Now thou sayest against thine own declaration If thou fight where is then peace become Peace. I break not peace with doing due correction For correction should be done charitably Irascemini et nolite peccare Envy. I shall meet that at omnium quare Pace should forgive and not be revenged Hence whoreson by our lady of wolpit I sha●l rap thee one the pate Peace. Go hence wretch thou makebate it were alms to set the in newgate How master constable come near Here is a wretch without reason Take and put him in prison With as many irons as he may bear Envy. By our lady I will come no near A constable quod ha, nay that will I not abide For I am loath to go shorter tide yet long whoreson for all thy pride I shall meet with thee another day When one of us two shall go a knave a way Peace. O thou wretch thou ought to remorde That so tar art exiled from charity Lo he thinketh not, how meekly his maker & Lord Suffered reprefe and died upon a tree giving us example that with humility Every man should follow his trace That in heaven will claim a place ¶ Impatient poverty. Keep keep for coxs' face. Peace. Why art thou so out of patience impatient po. A knave would have rested me I own him but xl pence He shall abide by gods dear blessed. Peace. Take heed my friend thus sayeth the text In little meddling standeth great rest Therefore pay thy duty well and honestly With few words discreetly Another time ye shall be the better trust impacy. That will I never do while I live let him do his best I had liefer lay all my good to pledge To get a write of pryveldge So may I gy by his nose at large Spite of his tethe who so ever say nay Peace. This is but a wilful mind if thou wilt not pay Thy very duty, which can not be denade giving of thy write and expense in the law Will cost more than thy duty, this well I gnaw Thy debt therewith can not be paid it is only a deferring of the payment. impacy. yet the knave shall not have his intent. Peace. Thou shalt pay by rightful judgement For the law is indifferent to every person impacy. I see thou holdest on his opinion yet I set not by you both a rysshe And I meet the knave I shall hew his flesh Help him thou old churl and thou can Peace. I see thou art an evil disposed man I utterly forsake thy condition impacy. Marry avaunt long precious whoreson I set not by the nor him, I make God avow I am as good a man as thou for all thy good Let it be tried by manhood, and thereto I give the my glove Peace. Also to warriors I do reprove For peace loveth not to fight impatient po. No old fool, thou hast thy might For in age is nought else but cowardice Peace. youth with his courage light Nor strength with multitude I do the plight Are not only the cause of victory impacy. No good sir, what then. Peace. Grace and good governance of man For with good discretion they began That were the great winners of victory impacy. The victory is gotten by discretion I pray you sir show me this lesson How to come to richesse, for that is all my care For I am ever in great necessity Meat and drink with me is scarcity No man will trust me of a penny And also my clothes are but bare Good sir what say you therein. Peace. I hold it punishment for thy sin Show me what is thy name impacy. I am named Impatient poverty Peace. For sooth that may well be Thou art so full of wrath and envy In thee can grow no grace But if thou wilt forsake sensuality And be governed by reason, as I shall induce thee Thou shalt come to richesse, within short space impacy. Show me that now in this place And thereto I will agree Peace. Thou must love thy neighbour with charity Do unto him, no manner of disease Look how thou would he did to thee Do to him no worse in no degree And then thou shalt our lord please. impacy. Shall I love him that loveth not me? Those that trouble & rebuke me shamefully That will I never do while I live. Peace. Thou must charitably all faults forgive Wwat soever any man to thee say Let as thou hardest it not, turn thine care away Thou ●halt please god, if thou so do. impacy. Nay by god there hoo What is he in all this place That will do as this man said Show me or I go if a man do you a great offence Will ye keep your patience Nay be god not so I put case I break your head Will ye suffer that in very deed. Peace. to suffer for Christ's sake I shall have meed impacy That shall I know by god's bread. Peace. Hold thy hand and keep patience think what christ suffered for our offence He was beaten scourged, & spite on with violence And suffered death for our sake yet he took it patiently He forgave his death, & prayed for his enemies Pater dimite illis, his saying was truly An exam 〈◊〉 us to take to be meek in heart: beati pauperes spiritu Shall Christ say full even. Et venite benediciti: come my blessed children To the kingdom of heaven. impacy. Sir I thank you, for your ghostly instruction Unto your saying, I can make no delayaunce I put me under your governation And for my misdeeds, I take great repentance Peace. Then to my saying, take good remembrance Exercise yourself in virtue, from this time hence And unto peace evermore be obedient Sit before every sharp word, a shield of sufferance And when time is of your concupissaunce impacy. Then pacify it with benign resistance sir gramercy, that ye have brought me to this estate By your advertisement I am willing to live in christes law There as I have offended him both early & late I served him not for love nor for awe Therefore now right well I know That poverty and misery that I my life in lead it is but only punishment for my mysdeade Peace. Now or we any further proceed Hold this vesture and put it on thee From henceforth thou shalt be called prosperity Prospe. I thank god and you I am in felicity Peace. Now unto you I shall here show Of such things as ye shall eschew first your soul look that ye keep clean Beware of misrule in any wise Play not at caylles, cards nor dice Also from miswomen, for by them mischief may rise As it doth often, this daily is seen Haunt no taverns, nor sit not up late Let no hassardes nor riotours, with you be check mat For then will envy come, and make debate The which shall cause great trouble Be plentiful of such as god hath sent Unto the poor people give with good intent For every penny that is so spent God will send the double. Take heed and do as I have said Prospe. Sir therewith I hold me well apaid As ye have commanded me it shall be done Peace. Then let us depart for a season plyenede I will be your protection. Exiunt ambo Haboum. joy and solace be in this hall Is there no man here that knoweth me at all I am beloved both with great and small abundance is my name I have all things as me list Meat drink, and cloth of the best Gold and silver, full is every chest In faith I will not lain I think ye know not my ways How I get goods now a days By a proper mean Think you that I would Lend either silver or gold That day shall not be seen But I will lend them ware That shall be both bad and dear Not worth the money he shall pay And if he can no surety get Of my ware he getteth right nought Without a good pledge he lay Then will I for mine avail He shall make a bill of sail To me full bought, and sold if the day be exspyred and passed Then will I hold it fast He shall not have it though he would this craft I have long used And some men do not yet refuse it this is openly known What is he in all this town that will lend without singular commodst Should I tend without a profit Nay than I hold nought worth my wit. Conscy. All this ye say, is against conscience Haboum. Conscience quoth a, nay then shall we never thrive For I know him not alive By conscience that cometh to substance I have all manner of marchaundy I sell for long days to them that are needy And for the payment I have good surety Bound in statute marchaunce Because I may forbear I sell my ware so dear I make forty of twenty in half a year Other men do so as well as I. Conscy. Even sin, vary shame marry fie These goods are gotten untrewely Many a man is undone thereby To take this ware to dear Haboum. They seek to me both far and near Me think it is a good deed To help a man at his need Yet I have other means Whereby to get great gains I think ye know not that Conscy. I no God wot Habost. No ye are but an ydyote I sold a man as much ware, as came to xl pondue And in an obligation, I had him bound To pay me at a certain day And when the bargain was made plain Mine own servant, bought the same ware again For the third penny it cost, ye wot what I mean But was not this a wise way? Conscy. Thou shalt repent it another day I charge the as far as I may Such false ways never begin Haboum. Wherefore this is no sin it is plain buying and selling Lawful it is for a man to win Else rich shall he never be. Envy. winning to be had, with due sufficience In true buying and selling, is not to discommend But for thy false usuri, thou art cursed in the sentence I pray God give thee grace for to amend. Conscy. Is every man accursed, that doth buy and sell Then shall no man with merchandise mell How shall the world then be uphold Haboum. Nay sir, amiss ye do understand me All those that occupy false usury And transgresseth the laws of God by iniquity All such are accursed I you told As for buying and selling, needs must be And God commanded to lend to them that are needy So it be not to their injury For lucre to them sold. Haboum. How should I sell, show me your ways Conscy. ye may not sell the dearer for days if ye do, it is contrary to God's laws Haboum. It is used in our Country Conscy. it is the more pity One such is able to destroy a city And God show not his great mercy All such are dampened by his equity Haboum. God forfend that should be How shall men do that be of great reputation Which keep their goods on this same fashion By usury, deceit and by extortion I do so myself, wherefore should I lie Conscy. Thou mayst be the more sorry Haboum. It is so now, what remedy Conscy. Do make restitution Haboum. What call ye restitution? Conscy. Restore such goods as ye have gotten wrongfully by oppression. Then shall I have little in my possession I will make God amends, another way I will fast and I will pray And I will give alms every day That I have done amiss, I am sorry therefore Conscy. This is not sufficient, thou must restore Quia non dimittitur peccatum Nisi restituatur ablatum ye must restore to them, ye have offended unto haboun. Then I shall show you what I shall do I will put it in my Testament That mine executors shall pay and content For wile I live I will not have my good spent For if I do I am but spilt Conscy. Make amends man for thy guilt Rather spill thy body then thy soul Haboum. Men of substance are a shamed to fall Conscy. That causeth them to rest in their sin Haboum. yet ever with thy strongest part runneth the ball Conscy. yesterday thou canst not again call when thou art dead the gate of mercy is shut thou cannot come in Haboum. Then let him stand without Conscy. So of thy soul thou hast no doubt Haboum. When thou seest my soul torn set on a clout if falsehood, usury, and extortion should not rout thousands in this realm should be put out The third part should not bide by saint Paul Conscy. yet often falsehood hath a great fall An example by king Achab with this sooth Desired the vineyard of that poor man Naboth By counsel of jezabel that kings wife Because he would not sell his possession Of two false witnesses he was peached of high treason And through the mouth of a false quest it rane which caused the poor man to lose both land & life After that of gods own bidding Came Helas the prophet to Achab the king Saying he should have evil ending And so he had, for by the way as he road He fell and broke his neck, where dogs lapped his blood this example to all usurers & oppnssours as thinketh me contrary Shul cause them of god sore a dread to be. haboun. Sir ye preach very holily, but your deeds be often contrary ye be so acquainted with covetous and simony That maketh us to take the same way Conscy. So every evil disposed parson doth say The frailty of man doth often offend then call for grace, and shortly amend Therefore I counsel thee to pretend to repent and be sorry for thy misdeed Haboum. yet thus I will my life lead For of your saying I take no heed ye will mucker up both gold and treasure ye have riches without measure And of the flesh ye have your pleasure ye can find no ways to amend yourself I you insure Therefore rebuke not me for my sin ne good God be with you, you shall not rule me Conscy. O dole wit plunged by ignorance Regarding nothing by ghostly instruction Setting more his mind on worldly substance Then to the everlasting life that is to come God will strike when he list, ye know not how soon therefore to every man this counsel I give To be sorry of your sin, & do penance while ye live ¶ Here cometh envy running in laughing, & saith to conscience. Envy. Now in faith I would ye had be there Conscy. Where should I have be. Envy. A better sport ye never see. Conscy. Where at laugh ye so fast Envy. He to go and she after. And within a while he caught her He took of here an incroke And chopped her on the heel with his foot Anon be whypte her on the back A horsone quod she, playest thou me that And with her hele she gave him a s●at That he was fain to go back again Conscy. Good fellow thou art to blame Such words to have no good thou can. Envy. I said it to make you sport and game I cry you mercy, I was to blame I see ye are some virtuous man Conscy. Shortly hence that way thou came For here thou shalt not be Envy. Good Lord some succour thou send me That I be no not out cast Conscy. What is thy name, shortly show me Envy I dare not sir, by Christ jesus Except ye keep it privily. Conscy. Fear not say on hardly Envy. Sir my right name is charity Sometime beloved I was with the spirituality But now covetous & simony doth them so advance That good institution is turned to other ordinance And bonum exemplum, is put to such hindrance That there I dare not appear Conscy. Simony is now in the spiritualty Bonus pastor ovium, thereto will see Therefore me think this is a lie In holy Church simony can not abide Envy. He goth in a cloak he can not be espied And covetous so craftily doth provide that bonus pastor ovium, is blind & will not see Conscy. That ye speak is upon envy Therefore I think ye be not charity For charity alway will say the best Envy. amongs them can I have no rest Conscy. How do ye with the temporalty Envy. There is pride, sloth and lechery Which putteth me from that place Conscy. Then be ye with the commonalty Envy. They despise me utterely One of them love no another The sister can not love the brother Ne the child the father ne mother There I dare not show my face. Conscy. This is to me a strange case What hear ye by conscience. Envy. Spiritual & temporal set against him marvelously Merchants, men of law & artificers of every degree They will hang him and they him espy Such exclemation goeth through this realm round Conscy. Why what fault have they found with him so to do envy. His wit is nought, they say also Every man putteth his will thereto To banish him for ever. Consci I know well it is not as ye say For I am conscience the high judge of the law Envy. Be ye conscience, alas that ever I this day saw if ye be taken, ye shallbe hanged and draw For they have utterly put you down And set covetise in your room subtlety the scribe his own cousin Consci And falsehood the sumner, for the courts promotion. Envy I marvel wherefore this was done When riches came before you that much will pay There he had lived in sin many a day ye should for money let him go quite a way And put him to no shame Let poverty do penance for a little offence He is not able to promote you of twenty pence Then should ye have kept your residence And gotten yourself a good name. Conscience Who so doth they are to blame In mysordering them in such wise envy. iwis cousin I show you as now is the guise For by covetise much people doth up rise which is against both you and me Conscy. charity I pray you show what remedy In this matter for me may be found envy. Shortly get you to wilderness, or some other region For they will hang you up at the Tyburn If they find you in this place And I must depart also Consci This is to me much sorrow and woe I will go into some far country Far well gentle cousin charity envy. I shall pray for you, pray ye form This is an heavy departing E●plorat I can in no wise forbear weeping yet kesse me or ye go For sorrow my heart will break in two Is he gone, then have at laughing Asyr is not this a jolly game That conscience doth not know my name Envy in faith I am the same what needeth me for to lie I hate conscient, peace love and rest Debate and strife that love I best According to my property when a man loveth well his wife I bring them at debate and strife This is seen daily Also between sister and brother There shall no neighbour love another where I dwell buy And now I tell you plain Of one man I have disdain prosperity men do him call He is nigh of my blood And he to have so much worldly good That grieveth me worst of all prospe jesus that is both steadfast and stable Ever perseverant and never mutable He save this congreation. envy. welcome poverty by coxs' passion Ho we have ye done this many a day Prospe. I thank god as well as any man may ye call me wrong my name jam prosperity Envy. prosperity with an evil hap how the devil fortunest that I knew the impatient poverty prospe. Whatsoeur I was let that matter pas And take me as I am. envy. I cry you mercy I was to blame To call you by your old name yet all these people think ye are the same Impatient poverty as I said before prospe. Avaunt I tell thee, I am a gentleman bore If I here the report such words anymore Thou shalt be punished like a knave. envy. A knave quod, a cors' passion I am your own cousin And nigh of your consanguynyte. prospe. Thou and I are not of one affinity. envy. If I were a rich man, ye would not say so by me ye would then say I were your next kinsman on live Prospe. I say go hence and make no more strife I set not by such a poor haskarde envy. Sir do not you know my name Prospe. I know the not by saint jame. Envy. charity in faith I am the same what needeth me for to lie I am your cozen and so will I die ye may be glad such a kinsman to have prospe. Shall we have more a do yet thou knave I charge the never know me for thy kin envy. I pray you a word or I go prospe. say on shortly then have I do envy. Sir, I have of gold three hundredth pound In a bag fast y bounde At home looked in my chest I purpose to go to jerusalem ye shall keep it till I come again I put you best in trust. prospe Cousin I would fain do the best Because ye are near of my blood envy. what, are ye now in that mood Now I am your kinsman because of my good Before of me he had disdain prospe. As fore that I was to blame I knew you not, be not angry ye are welcome to me cousin charity envy. Then all these matters let be I come hither with you to dwell ye must have moseruntes I do you tell Such as were necessare for your person prospe. I am content after your provision In every thing let it be done As ye think most expedient envy. Sir I shall do mine intent To get you servants more Prospe. I prraye you heartily it may be so A little season I will from you go To solace me with some recreation Exit Envy. He that sitteth above the moan Evermore be in your protection Aha here is a sport for a Lord That prosperity and I be well at accord I shall bring his thrift under the board I trust within short space For it grieveth my heart right sore He hath so much treasure in store And I have never the more I must find some proper shift That from his good he may be lift To bring him to misrule I hold it best For he can soon bring it to pass Here misrule singeth without coming in How what rutterkin have we her I would he were our subchauntere Because he can so well sing Feytes' bone shear pour lamour de asynt john mysru. Mon ●uer jocund is set on a merry pin By my truth I am disposed to revelling Envy. So me thinketh by your coming in What misrule where hast thou been many years By my troth even amongs my peers mysru. By my troth even amongs my peers I came now stragiht from the stews From little pretty I one Lord that she is a pretty one Envy. Hold thy peace let that alone Hark a word or twain to the I dwell now with prosperity which hath much worldly treasure If thou can contrive in thy thought How that he may be brought to nought In all this world I desire no more. misrule. Tush take no thought therefore I con provide for that in the best wise Envy. Then let me hear thy device misrule. I will bring him to classhe, cards and dice And to proper trulls that be wanton and nice which will not be kept at a small price How thinkest thou, will not this do well. Envy. yes but hearken in counsel Thou must change thy name mysru. I will say I it mirth Envy And I will say thesame Peace whist I see him come Prospe God save all this honourable company envy. Sir you be welcome by our blessed 〈◊〉 I have thought for you full long Here is gentleman, I pray you for my sake Say he is welcome & into your service him take For great courtesy he can Prospe. Sir you be welcome, give me your hand And show me what is your name mysru. Sir my name is mirth Beloved with lords and ladies of birth At every triumph I am them with They can me not once forbear Envy. And ye had sought this thousand year Such another ye shall not find wherefore I counsel you in my mind Let him dwell with you for one yer. prospe. At your request I am content Such a prete man for me were expedient And of his counsel fain would I here. misrule Sir ye must sing and dance & make good cheer I would ye had some proper wench That were young and lusty at a pinch Here hele were not so broad as an inch She would quicken your courage prospe. Peace hath forbidden me the outrage Envy. He would set you at dotage Because he is old and nature is passed He would now ever man should fast if ye do so ye do but waste And unto you no meed misrule A straw for him, ye have no need Of him to stand in awe or dread A merrier life now may ye lead Therefore be at your own liberty Prospe. By my truth I may say to thee site I to him did assent Had I never merry day But lived in fear and dread alway Nothing to mine intent Another while I will me sport Sing and dance to my comfort. envy. And among merry company do resort For that shall length your life misrule Spare neither maid ne wife Take both and they come in your way Envy. Of with this lewd array it becometh you nought by this day prosper By my troth even as you say ye marry now am I well apaid Me thinketh I am properly arrayed if I had a proper trul she should be asaid In the worship of the new year Envy. Rush up mutton for beef is dear Have and revel and chance: misrule. Now let us both sing and dance Will ye have a french round Prospe. And thou shalt see me bounce above the ground hay with revel dash Peace What prosperity is it come hereto Prospe. What devil of hell hast thou to do Shall I not make merry when me list. Peace. yet I say beware of had I wist Envy. Hens ye knave or else thou shalt lick my fist I trow thy head would have some knocks Prospe Go set him in a pair of stocks That I him no more see. Peace. yet man I say remember thee And think what I to the have said. eschew evermore these ryatours' company And be ruled by reason as I thee bad Put from the these two parsons by whom thou art led Envy & misrule with their sinful & great abusion Which if thou wilt not forsake, will be thy confuison Prospe. Avaunt lorden, and take this for a canclusion These men fro me thou shalt not separate Go out of my sight or by coxs passion I shall lay the fast in Newgate Peace. It is better to forsake them betime then to late This knave would have a broken pate misrule. Let me alone by god's bread This same sword shall strike of his head. I pray you hence that ye were rid Prospe. Shortly have him out of my sight A little while give me respite Peace. And take heed what I do say Remember in what condition thou was when I first met the in this place Full simple in poor array Now by the grace of god and counsel of me Thou art come to great prosperity And so mayst continue until thou die if thou wisely take heed Let not sensuality lead the bridle Be occupied in virtue, and be not idle The better shalt thou proceed These wretches will thy goods spend and waste then shalt thou be taken for an out cast And mocked and scorned with most and least Then will no man the help at need Envy. A sir evil might thou speed That so can read his destanye. misrule Will ye suffer this knave in your company Then god be with you I will forsake you prospe. Go hence or in faith I shall make you. Peace. Then to almighty god I betake you envy. Let me come to that bragg●r I shall thrust him thorough the arse with my dagger (And here the face Peace out of the place) How say ye, was not this a good face To drive a knave out of the place misrule In faith thou made him run a pace Thou looked as thou had been mad Prospe. Now by my troth my heart is glad Some minstrel now I would we had To revel and dance, for by saint ● had I am so light me think I flee. envy. ye marry so should it be For now I hold you wise. Sir and ye will do by mine advise misrule Let us go straight to the fleur-de-lys There shall ye find a man will play at dice with you for an hundredth pound. prospe. What man is he misrule Colehassarde came late from beyond the see Ragged and torn in a guarded cote And in his purse never a groat And now he goeth like a lord Prospe. I pray thee tell at one word Is he a gentleman bore. Envy. tush take no thought therefore For be he gentleman knave or boy if he come here with a trifle, or a toy He can no money lack Prospe. Now by the bread that god broke I think long till I him see Mirth go before and ordain a good dish One of flesh another of fish envy. Nay let all be flesh A young pullet tender and nesshe That never came on brooch, have with the or thou go misrule What shall I have? envy. Four quarters of a knave Roasted upon a spit Exit misrule. Prospe Now by my troth and Colhassard will sit I will play as l●nge as an hundredth pound will last Envy. And ye will play an hundredth pound at a cast He will keep you play. prospe. Then let us go our way I sit on thorns till I come there envy. That shall make your thrift full bare prosperi What will it do Envy. I say we shall have good cheer When we come there. Exunt ambo. Se●ce. When phoebus draweth into the occydentall And observed with clouds misty and dark Then trees, herbs, and grass, by course natural want their chief comfort, thus saith many a clack And likewise that man in his work Is destitute of reason, following sensual operation The last time I was in this place prosperity unto misrule put his hole confidence He regarded not my counsel, he lacked grace which in time coming shall turn him to inconvenience with hassarders, and ryotters, he keepeth residence At clash and cards with all unthrifty game which in continuance shall bring him to shame To him yet I will resort if he be brought in poverty I shall do him all the comfort And all the help that lieth in me I will never rest till I him see But seek about from place, to place And bring him to some better grace. Exit mysru. Colhassarde art then there Whoreson knave wilt thou not appear By my troth I had went to have found him here I hold him gone some other way And where is envy I can not him espy I trow he is with prosperity prosperity, nay, I may call him foolish poverty As wise as a drake I have brought him to dice, cards, and clash And ever on his side ran the loss That he is not worth a hendfull of moss Neither hath not a hole brat to his back envy. Passion of god is it come to that This tidings maketh my heart glad mysru. In faith he hath neither gold, silver, ne plate Colhassarde and I be both at one He promised me to have half the game that every thing shall be divided in twain He to have the one half and I the other Envy. Then let us be partoners as brother and brother mysru. I can not say, till colhassarde come then shall we know, both all and some Colhassarde. Here is a bag of gold so round Here in is two thousand pound Of prosperity me it won what man with me is able to make comparison Now shall I take a merchants place to occupy I trust within short space To be in credence with englishmen And when I am so well betrust I may borrow so much as me lust A subtle craft then find I must to convey under colour like free men envy. Hark this knave so proud and stout that had not to his arse a hole clout when he came to this land, & now hath brought about To compare with a state misrule Now must I have half money and half plate Calhas. Nay by god there thou spoke to late None thereof from me shall scape then had I lived to long misrule Thou promised me, when thou began Half thy winning I shall have Colhas. Hold thy peace lewd knave knowest thou to whom thou dost speak misrule A whoreson thy head shall I break Envy. For the passion of god sober your mode I fear shedding of knaves blood ¶ Here they fight & run all out of the place And then entereth prosperiti poorly & saith poverty O jesus what may this mean My goods are spent and wasted away Also my men are from me clean I see them not this seven nights day As long as I might spend and pay They held me up with false dissimulation And now they forsake me in my most tribulation Envy. Come for cox● bones, why tarry ye so long mysrule In faith I come as as fast as I can I am so angry I wots not what to do That yonder knave scaped from me so envy. What knave is this I hold him some spy poverty I am your master, know ye not me Envy. Thou art come late out of marshal see misrule Me think his hair groweth thorough his hood poverty Alas Collhassarde hath won all my good And left me never a groat Envy. Marry so me think, ye have changed your coat But now ye have one vantage. what is that. Envy. your executors shall not strive for your good another day poverty Nor thieves shall not rob you going by the way Thus ye shall stand out of doubt misrule Hen's ragged knave or thou shalt bear me a clout His clothes smell all of the smoke Envy Now by saint Hew that holy bishop This matter is well brought to pass He is now a knave as he was first a knave, and then a man And now he is a knave again poverty. Why say ye so ye be to blame I am your master prosperity misrule Avaunt lorell and evil to the Get the out of this company beginnest thou now to make comparison envy. Let him be your under page give him meat and drink and no wage Go brush his gown & make clean his shone misrule Well knave canst thou no courteysye envy. He hath such a disease in his knee He can not change a man a groat It is not as ye ween misrule Come and see my shone made clean Envy. By my faith he shall wipe mine misrule This knave is not meet for me it grieveth my heart when I him see I will go hence and leave you twain For envy thou mayst with poverty rain. Exit Envy. Nay I had rather he were slain. I am gone as soon as ye Exit poverty Abide still with me gentle charity O to whom should I sew, to whom should I plead O mortal worm wrapped all in woe As a man all mortified, and mazed in my wit I a captyfe in captivity, lo fortune is my foo I am in endless sorrow, alas what shall I do these captives thorough their council & false imagination Have brought me to nought that was of great reputation Woe worth the time that I them knew I may well sigh, and say alas For now I find these woods full true That peace showed me here in this place I regarded not his council, I lacked grace wherefore needy poverty on me doth blow his horn That every man and woman doth laugh me to scorn Example to all young men when they take in hand To occupy in the world for your behoof Look wisely before, and also understand Evil company destroyeth man, on me ye see the proof Make a sure foundation, or ye set up the roof Of a good & virtuous beginning cometh a good ending And evermore beware of unmeasurable spending. Here entereth the Summoner. Some. I assyte you in our court to appear poverty I pray you tell me wherefore Som. ye be a great slanderer and full of envy poverty There will no man say so but you Some. what wilt thou give me and thou shalt go quite poverty By my troth I have not one mite Some Then open penance and thou art like poverty By my troth I slander no man Some. Then come & 'scuse thyself as well as thou can Heboundaunce entereth. Haboum. What man is he that can me dysmay For I obtain all thing at my will Or dare any thing against me say what soever I do be it good or ill For if he do he were better be still I shall him punish be it right or wrong For with in my purse, I can both save and hang To repunge against me he were better be still I have a proper trull for my pastance In my chamber I her keep, both night and day My neighbours therewith, taketh great grievance yet I keep her still whosoever say nay How be it there is one a poor caitiff I hear say Hath me accused in the court spiritual And it cost me a. C.li punish him I shall Some. Open sin must have open penance God speed my master abundance Haboum. what knave art thou with a very mischance That cometh in so homely. Som. Sir I pray you be not angry I am an office of the spiritualty There is upon you a great scleaunder ye keep another man's wife in your chambre And live in great adultery Haboum. what wretches doth so say by me Some. it is openly known every where Before my master I charge you to appear Upon a book there shall ye swear whether it be so or no Haboum. what is the best for me to do Rather than I to the court will go I had ●euer spend twenty pound Some Sir if such a way may be found To excuse you, what will ye then say Haboum. Now thereof heartily I the pray Some. ye shall come home to my masters place And say that ye be put up of malice Thrust money in his hand a pace And so shall ye go quite away Haboun For thy counsel gramercy: hold here is xl pence. Some Come on sir I will do my diligence. exiunt ambo Here entereth the sumner again, and poverty followeth him with a candle in his hand doing penance about the place. And then sayeth the sumner. Room sirs avoidance