❧ An Interlude called lusty juventus.  
lively describing the frailty of youth: of nature, prove to vice: by grace and good counsel, traynable to virtue.  
The parsonages that speak.  

Messenger.  
Lusty juventus.  
Good counsel.  
Knowledge.  
Satan the devil.  
Hypocrisy.  
Fellowship.  
Abominable living.  
God's merciful promises.   
Four may play it easily, taking such parts as they think best: so that any one take of those parts that be not in place at once.   

¶ The prologue of the messenger.  
FOr as much as man is naturally prone.  

gene. viii jere xiiii Eccle. thirty  To evil from his youth, as scripture doth recite,  
It is necessary that he be speedily withdrawn,  
from concupiscence of sin, his natural appetite,  
And order to bring up youth, Ecclesiasticus doth writ▪  
An untamed horse, will be hard saith he,  
And a wanton child wilful will be.  
¶ give him no liberty in youth, nor his folly excuse,  
Bow down his neck, and keep him in good awe,  
Lest he be stubborn: no labour refuse,  
To train him to wisdom, and teach him God's law▪  
For youth is frail and easy to draw  
(By grace (to goodness: (by nature tayll:  
That nature hath engrafted, is hard to kill  
¶ Nevertheless in youth men may be best  
Trained to virtue by godly mean  
Vice may be so mortified and so suppressed  
That it shall not break forth, yet the root will remain:  
As in this Interlude by youth, you shall see plain:  
From his lust by good counsel, brought to godly conversation  
And shortly after to frail nature's inclination  
¶ The enemy of mankind, Satan through Hypocrisy  
Feigned or chosen holiness of man's blind intent  
Forsakyn God's word, that leadeth right way  
Is brought to fellowship and ungracious company:  
To abominable living, till he be holy bent  
And so to desperation, if good counsel were not sent  
From God, that in trouble doth no man forsake  
That doth call, and trust in him for Christ's sake.  
¶ Finally, youth by gods special grace,  
Doth earnestly repent his abominable living  
By the doctrine of good counsel, and to his solace  
God's mercy entereth to him reciting:  
God's merciful promises, as they be in writing  
He believeth and followeth to his great consolation  
All these parts ye shall see briefly played in their fas●hion  ¶ Here entereth lusty juventus, or youth singing as followeth. 
IN a herber green, a slope where as I lay  
The birds sang sweet in the mids of the day  
I dreamt fast of mirth and play  
In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure.  
¶ Methought I walked still to and fro  
And from her company I could not go  
But when I waked it was not so,  
In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure.  
¶ Therefore my heart is surely pight.  
Of her alone to have a sight.  
Which is my joy and hearts delight,  
In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure. Finis. Lusty inventus or youth, he speaketh.  
¶ What how are they not here?  
I am disappointed by the blessed mass,  
I had thought to have found them making good cheer  
But now they are gone to some secrte place.  
Vel seeing they are gone, I do not greatly pass.  
Another time I will hold them as much,  
seeing they broke promise, and keep not the tweche.  
What shall I do now to pass a way the day  
Is there any man here that will go to game.  
At what so ever ye will play  
To make one, I am ready to the same:  
youth full of pleasure is my proper name  
To be alone is not my appetite.  
For of all things in th' world I love merry company  
Who knoweth where is ere a minstrel,  
By the mass I would fain go dance a fit  
My compations are at it I know right well  
They do not all this while in a corner sit:  
Against another time they have taught my wit  
I beshrew their hearts for serving me this.  
Here entereth god counsel. To whom youth yet speaketh. I will go seek them, whether I it or miss.  
Well I met father, well I met,  
Did you hear any minstrels play?  
As you came hitherward upon your way,  
And if you did I pray you wish me theither  
For I am going to seek them, & in faith I know not whether  Good counsel. 
Sir I will ask you a question by your favour  
what would you with the minstrel do?  juventus. 
Nothing but have a dance or two,  
To pass the time away in pleasure,  Good counsel. 
If that be the matter, I promise you sure  
I am the more sorrier that it should so be,  
For there is no such pasting, the time a pointed in the scripture  
Nor yet thereunto it doth not agree,  
I wish that ye would so use your liberty,  
To walk as you are bound to do,  
According to the vocation, which god hath called you to,  juventus. 
Why sir, are you angry because I have spoken so  
By the mass it is alone for my apety  Good counsel 
Show me your name I pray you heartily  
And then I will my mind express  juventus. 
My name is called juventus doubtless  
Say what you will I will give you the hearing.  Good counsel. 
For as much as god hath created you of nothing,  
Unto his own likeness, by spiritual illumination,  
It is unmeet that ye should lead your living  
Contrary to his godly determination,  
Saint Paul unto the Ephesians giveth good exhortation  
Saying, walk circumspectly, redeeming the time  
That is to spend it well, & not to wickedness incline  juventus. 
No, no, hardly none of mine,  
If I would live so strait, you might count me a fool  
Let them keep thousese rules, which are doctors divine  
And have be brought up all their days in school.  Good counsel 
Moses' in the law exhorteth his people,  
As in the book of deuteronomy he doth plainly write,  
That they should live obedient and thankful,  
For infect these words he doth recite:  
All ye this day stand before the lords sight,  
Both princes, rulers, elders and parents,  
Children wives, young & old, therefore obey his commandments  juventus. 
I am to young to understand his documents,  
Wherefore did all they stand before his presence?  Good counsel 
To enter with God peace and alliance,  
promising that they would him honour, fear & serve  
All kind of people were bound in those covenants,  
That from his law they should never serve,  
For God useth no partiality.  juventus. 
What? am I bound as well as the clergy,  
To learn and follow his precepts and law?  Good counsel 
Ye surely, or else God will withdraw  
His mercy from you, promised in his covenant,  
For except you live under his obedience and awe,  
How can you receive the benyfites of his testament?  
For he submetteth himself to be a servant,  
And his master's commandment will not fulfil nor regard  
According as he hath done, is worthy his reward.  juventus. 
It is as true a saying as ever I heard,  
Therefore your name I pray now tell,  
For by my truth your communication I like wonders well  Good counsel 
My name is called good counsel,  juventus 
Good counsel,  
Now in faith I cry you mercy,  
I am sorry that I have you thus offended,  
But I pray you bear with me patiently,  
And my miss behaviour shallbe amended,  
I know my time I have rudely spended,  
following my own lust, being led by ignorance.  
But now I hope of better knowledge through your acquaintance.  Good counsel 
I pray God guide you with his gracious assistants  
Unto the knowledge of his truth, your ignorance to undo  
That you may be one of those numbered christians  
Which followeth the lamb whether he doth go,  
The lamb jesus Christ, my meaning is so,  
By sure faith & confidence, in his bitter death & passion,  
The only price of our health and salvation.  juventus 
Sir, I thank you for your hearty oration  
And now I pray you show me your advisemet  
How I may live in this my vocation,  
According to Gods will and commandment.  Good counsel 
first of all it is most expedient.  
That you exercise yourself in continual prayer,  
That it might please the Lord omnipotent,  
To send unto you his holy spirit and comforter:  
Which will lead you every day and hour  
Unto the knowledge of his word and verity  
Where in you may learn to live most christianly.  juventus 
O Lord grant me of thy infinite mercy,  
he 〈◊〉 The true knowledge of the law and will,  
And illumine my heart with spirit continually  
That I way be apt thy holy precepts to fulfil:  
Strengthen me, that I may persever stil.  
Thy commandments to obey.  
And then shall I never slip nor fall away, he riseth.  Good counsel 
Full true be these words, which Christ himself did say  
He that seeketh shall surely find.  
Be hold youth now rejoice we may  
For I see knowledge of God, verity stand here behind knowledge entereth.  
He is come now to satisfey your mind  
In those things which you will desire,  
Therefore together let us approach him near.  juventus. 
A good counsyl, new it doth appear.  
That god never rejecteth the humbles petition,  Knowledge, 
Now the Lord bless you all with his heavenvly benediction,  
And with his fiery love your hearts inflame  
That of his merciful promises you may have the fruition  
The subtlety, of the devil, utterly to defame:  
now good christian audience, I will express mi name  
The true knowledge of god's verity▪ thus mi name doth 
hight   
Whom God hath appointed, to give the blind their sight.  Good council 
All praise be given to that Lord of might,  
which hath appointed you hither at this present hour  
For I trust you will so instruct youth a right,  
That he shall live according to God's pleasure  juventus 
And I thank jesus Christ my saviour,  
That he is come to my company.  Knowlddge. 
I thank you my friends most hartell  
For your gentle salutation.  juventus. 
Sir, I will be so bold by your deliberation  
To open my mind unto you now,  
trusting that by your good exhortation,  
I shall learn those things, which I never knew:  
This one thing chief I would learn of you  
How I may my life in thes my vocation lead.  
According as God hath ordained and decreed,  Knowledge 
The prophet David saith that the man is blessed,  
Which doth exercise himself in the law of the Lord,  
And doth not follow the way of the wicked,  
As the first psalm doth plainly accord:  
The four score & xiii psalms thereunto doth accord.  
Blessed is the man whom thou teachest, o Lord saith he  
To learn the law, precepts, word or verity  
And Christ in the Gospel saith manifestly.  
Blessed is he which heareth the word of god and keepeth it,  
That is to believe his word, & live accordingly  
Declaring the faith by the fruits of the spirit  
Whose fruits are these, as s. Paul to the Gal, doth wright  
love joy, peace, long suffering and faithfulness  
meekness, goodness, temperance and gentleness  Good counsel 
Be these words which unto you he doth express  
He teacheth that you ought to have a steadfast faith  
With out it is impossible doubtless,  
To please god, as saint Paul saith:  
Where faith is not, godly living decayeth  
For whatsoever is not of faith, saith. s. Paul, is sin,  
But where a perfit faith is, there is good working  juventus 
It seemeth to me that this your meaning,  
That when I observe gods commandments & the works of charity  
They shall prevail unto me nothing,  
Except I believe to be saved thereby.  Knowledge. 
No, no, you are deceived very blindly,  
for faith in Christ's merits doth only iustyfy,  
And make us righteous in god's sight  juventus. 
Why should I then in Good works delight?  
Seing I shall not be saved by them  Good counsel. 
Becausy they are required of all christian men,  
As the necessary fruits of true repentance.  Knowledge, 
But the reward of the heavenly inheritance  
Is given us through faith, for Christ's deservings,  
●s. s Paul declareth in the four chapter to the romans  
therefore we ought not to work as hirelings:  
Seing Christ hath purged us once from all our wicked living.  
Let us no more wallow therein,  
But persever like good branches, bearing fruit in him.  juventus 
Now I know where about you have been.  
My elders never taught me so before.  Good council 
Though your elders were blind, doubt not you therefore  
For saint Peter saith, vain is the conversations,  
Which ye receive by your elders traditions,  juventus. 
I will gladly receive your godly admonitions,  
But yet I pray you show me the cause,  
that they being men of great discretions  
Did not instruct me in gods laws,  
According to his will and ordinance  Knowledge. 
Because they themselves were wrapped in ignorance  
Being deceived by false preachers.  juventus. 
O Lord deliver me from wicked teachers,  
That I be not deceived with their false doctrine.  Good counsel 
to God's word you must only incline,  
All other doctrine clean set a part.  juventus. 
Surely that I will from the bottom of my heart,  
And I think the living God with hath given me the knowledge  
To know his doctring from the false & pervarce  
I being yet young and full tender of age:  
And that he hath made me partaker of the heavenly in heritage  
Of his one mercy and not of my deserving  
For hell I have deserved by my sinful working.  
I know right well my elders and parents.  
Have of a long time deceived be,  
With blind hypocrisy and superstitious intents,  
Trusting in their own works, which is nothing but vanity  
Their steps shall not be followed for me,  
Therefore I pray you show me a brief conclusion,  
How I ought to live in Christian religion,  Knowledge. 
The first beginning of wisdom, as saith the wise Solomon  
Is to fear God with all they heart and power  
And then thou must believe all his promise without any exception  
And that he will perform them both constant & sure  
And then be cause he is thy only saviour  
Thou must love him with all thy soul and mind  
And thy neighbour as thyself, because he hath so assigned,  juventus. 
To love my neighbour as myself, I can not be to kind  
I pray you tell me, what mean you  Knowledge. 
My meaning is as christ saith in the vi chap. Math.  
To do to him as you would be done to  juventus. 
I pray God give me grace so for to do  
That unto his will I may be obedient.  Good counsel 
Here you shall recceive Christ's testament  
To comfort your conscience when need shall require  
To learn the contents there of, see that you be diligent  
The which all Christian men ought to desire  
For it is the well, or fountain most clear  
Out of the which doth spring sweet consolation  
To all those that thirst after eternal salvation.  Knowledge. 
There in shall you find most wholesome preservation  
Both in troubles, percicutions, sickness and adversity  
And a sure defence in the time of temptation  
Against whom the devil can not prevail with all his army:  
And if you persever therein unfeignedly  
It will set your heart at such quietness and rest  
Which can not never be turned with storms nor tempest  Good counsel 
With this thing you must neither flatter nor jest  
But steadfastly believe it every day and hour  
And let your conversation opinly protest  
That of your heart it is the most precious treasure  
And then your godly example shall other men procure  
To learn and exercise the same also  
I pray God strengthen you so for to do  juventus 
Now for this godly knowledge, which you ha' ●●●rought me to  
I beseech the living God reward you again  
From your company I will never depart nor go  
So long as in this life I do remain:  
For in this book I see manifest and plain  
That he that followeth his own lusts & imagination  
Keepeth the ready path to everlast damnation.  
And he that leadete a godly conversation  
Shall be borught to such quietness, joy and peace  
Which in comparison passeth all worldly gloriation  
Which can not endure, but shortly cease  
Both the time and hour I may now bless  
That I met with you father good council  
to bring me to the knowledge of his heavenly Gospel  Knowledge. 
This your profession I like veri well  
So that you intend to live according  
I pray God your living do not rebel  
But ever agree unto your saying  
That when ye shall make accounts or reckoning  
Of this talon, which you have received  
you may be one of those, with whom the Lord shallbe pleased  Good council 
For this conversation of youth, the lords nam be prased  
Let us now depart for a reason. Exit  Knowledge, 
To give God the glori it is convenient and reason  
if thou will departed, I will not tarry. Exit  juventus. 
And I will never forsake your company  
While I live in this world Here entereth the devil,  
Oh oh all to late  
I trow this gear will come to nought  
For I perceive my power doth abate  
For all the policy that ever I have wrought,  
Many and sundry ways I have sought,  
To have the word of god deluded utterly,  
Oh for sorrow yet it will not be.  
I have done the best that I can,  
And my ministers also in every place,  
to rote it clean from the heart of man,  
And yet for all that it flourisheth a pace:  
I am sore in dread to show my face,  
My authority and works are so greatly despised  
My inventions, and all that ever I have devised  
Oh oh, full well I know the cause,  
that my estimation doth thus decay,  
the old people would believe still in my laws,  
But the younger sort lead them a contrary way  
they will not believe they plainly say,  
In old traditions and made by men,  
But they will live as the scripture teacheth them.  
Out I cry upon them, they do me open wrong,  
to bring up their children thus in knowledge,  
For if they will not follow my ways when they are young  
it is hard turning them when they come to age:  
I must needs find some means this matter to suage,  
I mean to turn their hearts from the scripture quite,  
that in carnal pleasures they may have more delight.  
Well I will go taste to infect this youth  
through the enticement of my son hypocrisy,  
And work some proper feat to stoup his mouth  
that he may lead his life carnally:  
I had never more need my matters to apply,  
Oh my child hypocrisy, where art thou?  
I charge that of my blessing, appear before me now  
Oh oh quoth he, keep again the sow,  
I come as fast as I can, I warrant you, Here entereth hypocrisy. Hipocrysye.  
Where is he that hath the sow to sell?  
I will give him money if I like her well,  
weather it be sow or hog, I do not greatly care  
For by my occupation I am a bochare,  Devil. 
Oh my child, how dost thou far?  Hipocrysye 
Sancti amen, who have we there?  
By the mass I will buy none of thy ware,  
thou art a chapman for the devil  
What my son, canst thou not tell?  Devil. 
Who is here, and what I am,  
I am thine own father Satan.  Hipocrycye. 
Be you so sir? I cry you mercy than,  
you may say I am homely, & lack learning,  
to liken my father's voice unto a sows groaning  
But I pray you show me the cause, and why  
that you called me hither so hastily,  
A Hypocrisy, I am undone utterly  Devil. 
Utterly undone, nay stop there hardly,  Hipocrysye. 
For I myself do know the contrary,  
By daily experience:  
Do not I yet reign a broad,  
And as long as I am in the world,  
you have some treasure and substance.  
I suppose I have been the flower  
In setting forth thy laws and power,  
Without any delay  
By the mass if I had not been,  
thou hadst not been worth a flanders pin,  
At this present day.  
the time were to long now to declare  
How many and great the number are,  
Which have deceived be:  
And brought clean from God's law,  
Unto thy yoke and awe,  
Through the enticement of me.  
I have been bused▪ since the world began,  
to graff thy laws in the heart of man,  
Where they ought to be refused:  
And I have so mingled gods commandments  
with vain zeals, & blind intents  
that they be greatly abused.  
I set up great idolatry  
With a kind of filthy Sodometry,  
to give mankind a fall:  
And I brought up such superstition  
Under the name of holiness and religion,  
that deceived all most all.  
As holy Cardinals▪ holy Popes,  
Holy vestiments, holy copes  
Holy armytes and Friars  
Holy priests. holy bishops  
Holy monks, holy abbots  
yea, and all abstinate liars.  
Holy pardons, holy beads,  
Holy saints, holy images,  
With holy, holy blood,  
Holy stocks, holy stones:  
Holy cloughtes, hole bones:  
yea, and holy holy wood.  
Holy skins, holy bulls:  
Holy rochetts, and cowls  
Holy crutches and staves  
Holy hoods, holy caps  
Holy mitres, holy hats  
a good holy, holy knaves.  
Holy days, holy fastings:  
Holy twitching, holy tastings,  
Holy visions and sights:  
Holy wax, holy lead:  
Holy water, holy bread:  
To drive a way spirits.  
Holy fire, holy palm:  
Holy oil, holy cream:  
And holy ashes also:  
Holy brooches, holy rings:  
Holy kneeling▪ holy sensings:  
And a hundred trim trams more.  
Holy crosses, holy bells:  
Holy relics, holy iovels:  
Of mine own invention:  
Holy candles, holy tapers:  
Holy parchementes, holy papers:  
Had not you a holy son?  Devil. 
All these things, which thou hast done  
My honour and laws hath maintained,  
But now, Oh alas, one thing is begun  
By the which mi kingdom is greatly decayed  
I shall lose all, I am sore afraid,  
Except thy help I know right plain,  
I shall never be able to recover it again.  
God's word is so greatly sprung up in youth  
That he little regardeth my laws or me,  
He telleth his parents that is very truth,  
That they of long time have deceived be,  
He saith, according to Christ's verity,  
All his doings he will order and frame,  
mortifying the flesh with the lusts of the same.  Hipocrysye. 
A sir a, there beginneth the game,  Hipocrysye. 
What, is juventus become so tame?  
To be a new gospeler.  Devil. 
As fast as I do make, he doth mar,  
He that followed so long the steps of good counsel.  
that knowledge and he together doth dwell,  
For who is so busy in every place, as youth  Hipocrysie. 
To read and declare the manifest truth?  Devil. 
But ho Hypocrisy if thou could stop his mouth  
Thou shouldest win mi heart for ever,  
What would you have me to do in the matter?  
Show me therein your advisement.  
I would have the go incontinent,  
And work some craft, feat or policy,  
To set knowledge and him at controversy,  
And his company thyself greatly use  
That God's word he may clean a buse.  Hipocrysye. 
At your request I will not refuse  
to do that thing which in me doth lie,  
Doubt ye not, but I will excuse,  
those things which ye doth plainly deny  
And I will handle my matters so craftily  
that ere he cometh to man's state:  
God's word and his living shallbe clean at the bate  Devil. 
thou shalt have my blessing both early and late,  
And be cause thou shalt all mi counsel keep  
thou shalt call my name friendship.  Hipocrysie 
By the mass it is a name full meet,  
For my proper and amiable person,  Devil. 
Oh, far well far well my son,  
Speed thy business, for I must be gone,  Hipocrysie 
I warrant you, let me alone,  
I will be with juventus anon,  
And that ere he be ware.  
And I wis if he walk not straight.  
I will use such a sleight,  
That shall trap him in a snare.  
How shall I bring this gear to pass?  
I can tell now by the mass,  
Without any more advisement:  
I will infect him with wicked company,  
Whose conversation shallbe so fleshly,  
yea, able to over come an innocent,  
This wicked fellowship,  
Shall him company keep,  
For a while:  
And then I will bring in,  
Abominable living,  
Him to beguile.  
With words fair I will him tice,  
Telling him of a gyrlenyse,  
Which shall him somewhat move:  
Abominable living, though she be,  
yet he shall no other wayesse.  
But she is for to love.  
She shall him procure▪  
To live in pleasure,  
After his own phantesy▪  
And my matter to frame,  
I will call her name,  
Unknowen honesty.  
This will I convey,  
My matter I say,  
Some what handsomely,  
That through wicked fellowship:  
And false pretend frendshep,  
youth shall live carnally.  
Trudge hypocrisy trudge,  
Thou art a good drudge,  
To serve the devil:  
If thou shouldest lie and lurk,  
And not intend thy work,  
Thy master should do full evil.  
¶ Here entereth youth, to whom hepocrysye yet speaketh What master youth.  
Well I met by my troth  
and whether a way?  
you are the last man,  
Which I called on,  
I swore by this day.  
Me thought by your face  
Ere you came in place,  
It should be you:  
Therefore I did a bide▪  
For your coming, this is true.  juventus. 
For your gentleness, syr. most heartily I thank you  
But yet you must hold me some what excused,  
For to my simple knowledge I never knew  
That you and I together were acquainted,  
But nevertheless, if you do it renew,  
Old acquaintance will some be remembered  Hypocrisy. 
Ah now I see well youth is feathered  
And his crumbs he hath well gathered,  
Since I spoke with him last  
A poor man's tale can not now be herd  
As in times past:  
I cry you mercy, I was some what bold  
Thinking that your mastership would,  
Not have been so strange:  
But now I perceive that promotion,  
Causeth both man, manners and fashion  
Greatly for to change▪  juventus 
you are to blame this me to calenge  Hipocrysye. 
For I think I am not he which you take me for  
yes, I have known you ever since you were boar  
your age is yet under a score,  
Which I can well remember:  
I wiss, I wiss you and I.  
Many a time have been full merry  
When you were young and tender.  juventus 
Then I pray let us reason no longer  Hipocrysye. 
But first show your nomination.  
Of my name to make declaration  
Without any dissimulation,  
I am called frendshyip:  
Although I be simple and rude of fashion  
yet by lineage and generation,  
I am neigh kin to your mastership.  
What friendship▪  juventus 
I am glad to see that you be merry,  
By mi troth I had almost you forgot,  
By long absence brought out of memory,  Hipocrysye. 
By the mass I love you so heartily,  
That there is none so welcome to my company  
I pray you tell me, whether are you going?  juventus 
My intention is to go hear apreaching  Hipocrysie. 
A preaching quoth he, ha good little one  
By christ she will make you cry out of the winning  
If you follow her instruction so early in the morning,  juventus 
Full great I do abhor this your wicked saying,  
For no doubt they increase much sin and vice,  
Therefore I pray you show not your meaning,  
For I delight not in such foolish fantesies  Hipocrysye. 
Surely, than you are the more unwise.  
you may have a spyrt amongst them now and then  juventus 
Why should not you as well as other men?  Hipocrysye. 
As for all those filth doings. I utterly detest them,  
I will hear no more of your wicked communication.  juventus 
if I may be so bold by your deliberation  Hipocrysye. 
What will you do at a preaching?  
Learn some wholesome and godly teaching,  
Of the true minister of Christ's gospel.  juventus 
Tush, what he will say I know right well,  
He will say that God is a good man,  
He can make him no better, and say the best he can  
I know that, but what then?  
The more that God's word is preached and taught  
The greater the occasion is to all christian men,  
To forsake their 〈◊〉 livings, both wicked, vile & nought  
And to repent their former evils, which they have wrought  
Trusting by Christ'S death to be redeemed.  
And he that this doth, shall never be deceived.  Hipocrysye 
well said master doctor, well said.  
By the mass we must have you, in to the pulpit,  
I pray you be remembered, and cover your head  
For in deed you have need to keep in your wit,  
A Sirrah, who would have thought it  
That youth had been such a well learned man:  
Let me see your portous gentle sir Ihon.  juventus 
No, it is not a boat for to look on,  Hipocrysye. 
you ought not to jest with God's testament.  
What man, I pray you be content,  
For I do nothing else but sai mi fantasy  
But yet if you could do after mi advisement  
In that matter you should not be so busy  
Was not your father as well learned as ye?  
And if he had said then as you have now done  
I wiss, he had been like to make a burn  Inunetus. 
It were much better for me, then to return  
From my faith in Christ, & the profession of his word.  Hipocrysye. 
whether is better, a halter or a cord  
I can not tell, I swear by God's mother  
But I thing you will have the one or the other  
Will you lose all your friends Good will  
To continue in that opinion still,  
Was there not as well learned men before as now?  
yea, and better to I may say to you  
And they thought the younger sort of the people  
By the elders to take an example  
And if I did not love you as nature doth me bind  
you should not know so much of my mind  juventus. 
Whether were I better to be ignorant and blind  
And to be dampened in hell for infidelity?  
Or to learn godly knowledge, wherein I shall find  
The right path way to eternal felicity?  Hipocrycye. 
Can you deny, but it is your duty  
Unto your elders to be obedient  juventus 
I grant I am bound to obey my parents  
In all things honest and lawful.  Hipocrysie. 
Lawful quod ha, a fool fool  
Will thou set men to school  
when they be old  
I may say to you secretly  
The world was never meri  
Since children where so bold.  
Now every boy will be a teacher  
The father a fool, and the child a preacher  
This is preaty gear  
The fool presumptuous of youth  
will turn shortly to great ruth  
I fear. I fear. I fear.  juunetus. 
The sermon will be done ere I can come there,  
I care not greatly whether I go or no,  
And yet for my promise, by God I swear,  
There is no remedy but I must needs go:  
Of my companions there will be more  
And I promised them by gods grace  Hipocrysye. 
To meet them there as the sermon was.  
For onse breaking promise do not you pass,  
Make some excuse the matter to cease  
what have they to do?  
And you and I were I wot wot where  
we would be as merry as there  
yea, and merrier to  juventus. 
I would gladly in your compane go  
But if my companions should chance to see  
They would report full evil by me:  
And peradventure if I would it use.  
My company they would clean refuse.  Hipocrycye. 
what, are those fellows so curious  
That yourself you can not excuse?  
I will teach you the matter to convey  
Do what your own lust, and say as they say  
And if you be reproved with your own affinity  
Bid them pluck the beam out of there own eye  
The old popish priests mock and despise  
And the ignorant people that believe their lies  
Call them papists, hypocrites, & joining of the plough.  
Far out the matter, and then good enough.  
Let your book at your girdle be tied,  
Or else in your bosom that he may be spied,  
And then it will be said both with youth and age  
yonder fellow hath an excellent knowledge.  
tush tush,  
I could so bear the bush,  
that all should be flusshe.  
that ever I did.  juventus 
Now by my troth you are merrily disposed  hypocrisy. 
Let us go thither as you think best.  
How say you, shall we go to breakfast  
will you go to the pie feast.  
Or by the mass if thou wilt be my gest  
It shall cost the nothing,  
I have a furny card in a place,  
that will bare aturne besides the ace,  
She puruyes now a pace,  
For mi coming  
And if thou wilt fybbere as well as I.  
we shall have merry company,  
And I warrant 〈◊〉 we have not a pie  
we shall have a pudding.  juventus 
By the mass that meat I love above all thing:  hypocrisy. 
you may draw me a bout the town with a puddynge:  
Then you shall see cunning.  
A poor shift for a living. Here entereth.  
Amongst poor men used is,  
The kind heart of hers,  
Hyth eased my purse,  
Many a time ere this  
I marvel greatly where friendship is,  fellowship 
He promised to meet me here ear this time  
I beshrew his heart that this promise doth miss,  
And then be ye sure it shall not be mine  
yes fellowship that it shallbe thine  hypocrisy. 
For I have tarried here this our or twain,  
And this honest gentleman in mi company hath been  fellowship. 
To abide your coming. this thing is plain  
By the mass if you chide. I will be gone again  
For in faith friendship, I may say to the  
I love not to be there, where chyders be  Hipocrysye. 
No God it knoweth, you are as full of honesty  
As a marry bone is full of honey  
But sirrah, I pray you bid this gentleman welcome  
For he is desirous in your company to come,  
I tell you he is a man of the right making  
And one that hath excellent learning  
At his girdle he hath such a book  
That the popish priests dare not in him look  
This is a fellow for the nonce.  fellowship. 
I love him the better by gods precious bones,  
you are heartily welcome as I may say  
I shall desire you of better acquaintance  
That of your company be bold I may  
you may be sure if in me it lie,  
To do you pleasure, you should it find  
For by the mass I love you, both with heart and mind.  juventus 
To say the same to you, your gentleness doth me bind  
And I thank you heartily for your kindness  hypocrisy. 
Will you see this gentleman fines  
your gentleness and your kindness,  
I thank him and I thank you,  
And I think, if the truth weary sought,  
The one bad, and the other nought,  
Never a good I make God a vow.  
But yet fellowship tell me one thing.  
Did you see little Bess this morning?  
We should have our breakfast, yester night she said,  
But she hath fore gotten it now, I am a afraid.  Fellowship. 
Her promise shallbe performed and paid,  
For I spoke with her since the time I rose  
And then she told me how the matter goeth:  
We must be with her between eight and nine,  juventus. 
And then her master & mistress will be at the preaching  
I purposed myself there to have been,  
But this man provoked me to the contrary  
And told me that we should have merry company.  Fellowship 
Merry quod ha, we can not choose but be merry,  
For there is such a girl, where as we go,  
Which will make us be merry, whether we will or no  Hipocrycye. 
The ground is the better on the which she doth go  
For she will make better cheer with a little which she can get  
Then many one cane with a great banquet of meat,  juventus 
To be in her company my heart is set,  fellowship 
Therefore I pray you let us be gone  
She will come herself anon  
For I told her before where we would stand.  
And then she said she would beck us with her hand  juventus. 
Now by the mass I perceive that she is a gallaunde  
What will she take pains to come for us hither?  Hipocrysye. 
yea I warrant you, therefore you must be familiar with her  
When she cometh in place,  
you must her embrace,  
Somewhat hamsomlie.  
lest she thinketh danger  
Be cause you are a stranger,  
To come in your company.  
yea, by God's foot that I will be busy  
And I may say to you I can play the knave secretly  abominable living. 
Him, come a way quickly  
The back door is opened I dare not tarry,  
Come fellowship come on a way.  Hipocrycye. 
What unknown honesty a word  
you shall not go yet by God I swear.  
Here is none but your friends, you need not to fray.  
Although this strange young gentle man be here,  juventus. 
I trust in me she will think no danger.  
For I love well the company of fair women.  abominable living. 
Who you, nay ye are such a holy man,  
That to touch one ye dare not be bold,  
I thing you would not kiss a young woman,  
if own would give you twenty pound in gold,  juventus. 
yes by the mass that I would,  
I could find in my heart to kiss you in your smock  abominable living. 
My back is broad enough to bare a way that mock as mine  
For one hath told me many a time,  
That you have said iou would use no such vantens company  juventus. 
By dogs precious wounds that was some whoreson villain  
I will never eat meat that shall doom good,  
Tell I have cut his flesh by gods precious blood,  
Tell me I pray you who it was.  
And I will trime the knave by the blessed mass  Hipocrysye. 
Tush, as for that do not you pass  
That which I told you was but for love  abominable. 
She did nothing else but prove,  
Whether a little thing would you move  
To be angry and fret  
What and if one had said so,  
Let such trifling matters go  
And be good to men's flesh for all that.  
juventus Kisseth. abho. living. To kiss her since she came I had clean forgot  
you are welcome to my company  
Sir I thank you most heartily,  
By your kinds it doth a peer.  Hipocri. 
What a is here,  
Smicke smack and all this gear  
you well to tycke take I fere.  
if thou had time,  
Well wanton well,  
I wis I can tell  
That such smock smell  
will set your nose out of tune.  abominable living. 
what man you need not to fume,  
seeing he is come in to my company now  
He is as well welcome as the best of you  
And if it lie in me to do him pleasure.  
He shall have it, you may be sure.  Fellowship. 
Then old acquaintance is clean out of favour.  
Lo friendship, this geargoth with aflleight  
He hath driven us twain out of conceit  hypocrisy. 
Out of conceit, quoth ha' no no,  
I dare welsay that she thinketh not so,  
How say you unknown honesty?  abominable living. 
Do not you love fellowship and me▪  
ye by the mass I love you all three,  
But yet in deed if I should say the troth  
Amongst all other welcome master youth  juventus 
Full greatly I do delight to kiss your pleasant mouth he kisseth abhominabl living  
I am not able your kinds to recompense,  
I long to talk with you secretly, therefore let us go hence.  
I agree to that, for I would not for twenty pence,  
That it were known where I have been  Hipocrysye. 
what and it were known it where no daily sin  
As for my part I do not greatly care,  
So that they find not your proper butteckes bore  
Now much fie upon you how badi you are,  abominable living. 
I worse friendship it mouth have been spoken at twice  
what think you for your saying the people will surmise  Iwentuss. 
Who dare be so bold us to despise?  
And if I may hear a knave speak one word,  
I will run thorough his cheeks with my sword▪  fellowship. 
This is an earnest fellow of god's word  
See I pray you, how he is disposed to fight  juventus. 
Why, should I not and if my cause be right  
What, and if a knave do me beguile?  
Shall I stand crouching like an owl,  
No, no, than you might count me a very cow,  
I know what belongeth to god's law as well as you▪  abominable living. 
your wit therein greatly I do allow,  
For and if I were a man as you are,  
I would not stick to give a blow,  
To teach other knaves to beware,  
I beshrew you twice and if you do spare,  
But lay load on the flesh whatsoever befall  
you have strength enough to do it with all,  Fellowship. 
Let us departed, and if that we shall,  
Come on masters, we twain will go before.  juventus 
Nay nay my friend stop there  
it is not you that shall have her away,  
She Shall go with me, and if she go to day.  hypocrisy. 
She shall go with none of you I dare welsaye,  
She will go with me before you both,  abominable. 
To forsake any of your company I would be very loath  
Therefore I will follow you all three,  Hipocrysye. 
Now I beshrew his heart, that to that will not agree,  
But yet because the time shall not seem very long,  
Or eat we depart, let us have a merry song  
The sing as followeth. Why should not youth fulfil his own mind,  
As the course of nature doth him bind,  
Is not every thing ordained to do his kind?  
Report me to you, report me to you.  
Do not the flowers spring fresh and gay,  
Pleasant and sweet in the month may?  
And when their time cometh they said away▪  
Report me to you, report me to you.  
Be not the trees in wyntter bare,  
Like unto their kind, such they are,  
And when they spring, their fruits declare  
Report me to you, report me to you.  
What should youth do, with the fruits of age  
But live in pleasure in this passage,  
For when age cometh hes lusts will suage  
Report me to you, report me to you.  
Why should not youth fulfil his own mind They go fourth. Here entereth god counsel▪  
As the course of nature doth him bind. etc.  
O merciful Lord, who can cease to lament,  
Or keep his heart from continual mourning,  
To see how youth is fallen from thy word  
And wholly inclined to abominable living,  
He liveth nothing according to his profession  
But alas his life is, to thy word abusion,  
Except thy great mercy to his utter confusion.  
O where is the godly conversation  
Which should be among the professor of thy word  
O where may a man find now one faithful  
That is not infected with dissension or descorde?  
Or amongst whom are all vices abhorred utterly  
O where is the brotherly love between man & man  
we may lament the time our vice be 'gan  
O where is the peace & meekness, long suffering & temperance  
which are the fruits of Gods holy spirit,  
with whom is the flesh brought under obedience,  
Or who readeth the scripture to the intent to follow it  
who useth not now covetousness and deceit,  
Who giveth unto the poor that which is dew?  
I think in this world, few that live now.  
O where is the godly example that parents should give.  
Unto their young family, by godly & virtuous living?  
Alas how wicked do they themselves live,  
Without any fear of God, or his righteous threatening,  
They have no respect unto the dreadful reckoning,  
Which shallbe required of us, when the Lord shall come,  
As a right full judge at the day of doom,  
O what a joyful sight was it for to see,  
When youth began God's word to embrace.  
Then he promised godly knowledge and me,  
That from our instruction he would never turn his face  
But now he walketh, alas: in the ungodlyes chase,  
Her entereth inventus Heaping sin up on sin, vice upon vice,  
He that liveth most ungodly, is counted most wise,  
Who is here playing at the dice?  
I herd one speak of sins and cyce,  
His words did me entice.  
Hither to come:  Good counsel 
A youth youth, whether dost thou run?  
Greatly I do be wail thy misrable estate,  
The tyrrible plagues, which in God's law are written,  
Hang over thy head both early and late:  
O fleshly capernite, stubborn and obstinate,  
Thou hadst liefer forsake Christ thy saviour and king  
Then thy fleshly swinish lusts, & abbomynable living.  juventus. 
what old whoreson, art thou a chiding?  
I will play a spyrt, why should I not?  
I set a mite by thy cheking  
what hast thou to do, and if I lose my cote:  
I will trill the bones while I have one groat,  
And when there is no more ink in the pen,  
I will make a shyfe as well as other men.  Good counsel. 
Then I perceive you have for gotten clean,  
The promise that you made unto knowledge and me  
you said such fleshly fruits should not be seen,  
But to God's word your life should agree  
Full true be the words of the prophet Osey  
No verity nor knowledge of God is now in the land.  
But abominable vices hath gotten the upper hand.  juventus. 
your mind therein I do well understand.  
you go about my living to despise,  
But you will not see the beams in your own eyes,  Good counsel 
The devil hath you dysceived which is the auctor of lies  
And trap you in his snar of wicked hypocrye,  
Therefore all that ever you do devise  
Is to maintain your fleshly liberty  juventus. 
I marvel why you do this report me,  
Wherein do I my life abuse?  Good council 
your whole conversation I may well accuse,  
As in my conscience just occasion I find.  
Therefore be not offended, although I exprese my mind  juventus. 
By the mass if thou tell not truth, I will not be behind  
To touch you as well again.  Good counsel 
For this thing most chiefly I do complaye:  
Have ye not professed the knowledge of Christ'S gospel  
And yet I think no more ungodliness doth reign,  
In any wicked Heathen, Turk or infidel:  
who can devise that sin or evil,  
That you practise not from day to day  
yea and count it nothing but a jest or a play,  
Alas, what wantonness remaineth in your flesh?  
How desirous are you, to accomplish your own will  
what pleasure & delight have you in wickedness?  
How diligent are you your lusts to fulfil?  
S. Paul saith that you ought your fleshly lusts to kill  
But unto his teaching, your life ye will not frame  
Therefore in vain you bear a christians name.  
Reed the .v. to the Galathians, & there you shall see  
That the flesh rebelleth against the spirit  
And that your own flesh is our most veter enemy,  
If in your soul's health you do delight:  
The time were to long now to recite,  
What whoredom, uncleanness and filth communication  
Is dispersed with youth, in every congregation  
To speak of pride, envy, and abominable oaths  
They are the common practices of youth,  
To advance your flesh, you cut & iagge your clothes,  
And yet ye are a great gospeler in the mouth:  
What shall I say, for this plaspheming the truth  
I will show you what saint, Paul doth declare  
In his epistle to the hebrews, and the ten Chapter.  
For him saith he, which doth willingly sin or consent  
After he hath received the knowledge of the verity  
Remaineth no more sacrifice, but a fearful looking for judgement  
And a trrible fire, which shall consume the adversary  
And Christ saith that this blasphemy,  
Shall never be pardoned nor forgiven,  
In this world, nor in the world to come  
Alas alas, what I have wrought and done?  juventus. 
Herein this place I will fall down desperate,  
He lieth down, To ask for mercy, now I know it is to late  
Alas alas, that ever, I was begat,  
I would to God I had never been borne.  
All faithful men that behold this wretched state  
May very justly laugh me to scorn:  
They may say my time I have evil spent and worn,  
Thus in my first age, to work my own destruction,  
In the eternal pains is my part and portion.  Good counsel 
Why youth, art thou fallen into desperation?  
What man pluck up thine heart, and rise,  
Although thou see nothing now, but thy condemnation  
yet it may please God again to open thy eyes:  
Ah wretched creature, what dost thou surmise?  
thinkest not that God's mercy doth exceed thy sin?  
Remember his merciful promises & comfort thy self in high  juventus. 
O sir, this state is so miserable the which I lie in,  
That my comfort and hope from me is separated,  
I would to god I had never been.  
woe worth the time that ever I was created.  Good counsel 
A fair vessel unfaithful and faint hearted,  
Dost thou think that god is so merciless,  
That when the sinner doth repent, and is converted,  
That he will not fulfil his merciful promises:  juventus. 
Alas sir, I am in such heaviness,  
That his promises I can not remember  Good council 
In thy wickedness continue no longer,  
But trust in the Lord without any fear,  
And his mersifull promises shall shortly appear  
I would believe if I might them hear,  juventus 
With all my heart, power and mind,  
The living God hath him hither assigned:  Good counsel 
Lo, where he cometh even here by,  
Therefore mark his sayings diligently.  
The Lord by his prophet Ezechiel sayeth in this wise plainly Here entereth gods merciful promises.  
As in the xxxiii chapter it doth appear.  
Be converted O ye children, and turn unto me,  
And I shall remedy the cause of your departure,  
And also he saith in the xviii chapter,  
I do not delight in a sinners death,  
But that he should convert & live, thus the Lord saith,  juventus. 
Then must I give neither credit nor faith,  
Unto saint Paul's saying, which this man did allege  ●●r riseth God's merciful promises. 
yes, you must credit them, according unto knowledge,  
For saint Paul speaketh of those which resist the truth by violence  
And so end their lives without repentance,  
thus saint Austin doth them define,  
if unto the lords word you do your ears incline,  
And observe those things, which he hath commanded  
this sinful state, in the which you have lain.  
shallbe forgotten, and never more remembered,  
And Christ himself in the gospel hath promised,  
that he which in him unfeignedly doth believe,  
Although he were dead, yet shall he live.  juventus. 
these comfortable sayings doth me greatly move  
to arise from this wretched place.  God's merciful promises. 
For me his mercy sake thou shalt obtain his grace  
And not for thine own deserts▪ this must thou know  
For my sake alone he shall receive solace,  
For my sake alone, he will thee mercy show,  
therefore to him as it is most due,  
give most hearty thanks, with heart unfeigned  
Whose name for ever more be praised.  Good counsel 
The prodigal son as in Luke we read  
which in vicious living his good doth waste,  
As soon as his living he had remembered,  
To confess his wretchedness he was not aghast,  
wherefore his father, lovingly him embraced,  
And as right joyful, the text saith plain  
Because his son was returnen again.  juventus 
O sinful flesh, thy pleasures are but vain,  
Now I find it true, as the scripture doth say,  
Brode & pleasant is the path, which leadeth unto pain,  
But unto eternal life, full narrow is the way,  
He that is not led by God's spirit, surely goeth astrayer  
And all that ever he doth, shall be clean abhorred  
Although he brag & boast never so much of God's word,  
O subtle Satan, full deceitful is thy snare,  
Who is able thy falsehood to disclose?  
What is the man that thou dost favour or spare  
And dost not tempt him eternal joys to lose?  
Not on the world, surele I suppose,  
Therfoore happy is the man, which doth truli wait,  
Always to refuse thy decetful and crafty bait  
When I had thought to live most christanly  
And followed the steps of knowledge & good council,  
Ere I was ware thou hadst deceived me  
And brought me into the path▪ which leadeth unto hell:  
And of an earnest professor of Christ's gospel  
Thou madest me an hypocrite, blind and pervert,  
And from virtue unto vice, thou hadst clean turned mi heart  
first by hypocrisy thou diddest me move,  
The mortification of the flesh, clean to forsake,  
And wanton desire to embrace and love,  
Alas to think of it, my heart doth quake,  
Under the title of friendship to me he spoke,  
And so to wicked fellowship did me bring,  
Which broughe me clean to abominable living  
Thus I say. Satan did me deceive,  
And wrapped me in sin many afould,  
The steps of good counsel, I did forsake and laeve,  
And forgot the words, which before to me he told:  
The fruits of a true Christian, in me waxed cold  
I followed mine one lusts, the flesh I did not tame,  
And had them in derision, which would not do the same.  
yet it hath pleased God of his endless mercy  
To give me respite my life to a mend.  
From the bottom of my heart, I repent my iniquity.  
I will walk in his laws unto my lives end:  
From his holy ordinance I will never dicende.  
But my whole delight shallbe to live therein,  
Utterly abhorring all filthiness and sin.  
All Christian people, which be here present,  
May learn by me hypocrisy to know  
With the which the devil, as with a poison most pestilent  
Daily seeketh all men to over throw:  
Credit not all things unto the out ward show,  
But try them with God's word, that squire a rule most just  
Which never deceived them that in him put their trust  
Let not flattering friendship, nor yet wicked company  
Parswade you in no wise, God's word to a buse  
But see that you stand steadfastly unto the verity  
And according to the rule thereof, your doings frame & use  
Neither kindred nor fellowship shall you excuse  
When you shall appear before the judgement seat  
But your own secret conscience shall then give an audite  
All you that be young, whom I do now represent,  
Set your delight both day & night on Christ's testament  
if pleasure you tickele, be not fikle, & suddenly slide,  
But in Gods fear everywhere, see that you abide  
In your tender age, seek for knowledge, & after wisdom run  
& in iour old age, teach your famili, to do, as you have dumb  
your bodies subdue, unto virtue, delight not in vaniti  
Say not I am young, I shall live long lest iour days shortened be  
Do not incline, to spend the time▪ in wanton joys & nice  
For idleness doth increase much wickedness and vice,  
Do not delay the time, and say my end is not near  
For with short warning, the lords coming shall suddenly apere  
God give us grace, his word to embrace, & to live thereafter  
That be the same, his holy name, may be prased ever.  Good counsel. 
Now let us make our supplications together  
For the prosperous estate of our noble & virtuous queen,  
That in her godly procedings she may still persever,  
Which seeketh the glory of God a 'bove all other thing.  
O Lord endue her heart with true understanding.  
And give her a prosperous life, long over us to rain,  
To govern & rule her people as a worthy servant.  juunetus. 
Also, let us for all the nobility of this realm,  
And namely for those, whom her grace authorized,  
To maintain the public wealth over us & them,  
That they may see his gracious acts published,  
And they, being truly admonished,  
By the complaint of them, which are wrongfulli oppressed  
May less a reformation, and see it redressed.  Good counsel. 
Then shall this land enjoy great quietness & rest  
And give unto God most hearty thanks therefore,  
To whom be honour, praise and glory for evermore  
Finis  Quod R. Wever.  

¶ Imprinted at London, in Lothbury, over against Saint Margarits Church, by William Copland.