EVERYMAN.
(John Skot, 1521-1537?)
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Everyman is late-15th-century
English morality play. Called by Death, Everyman can
persuade none of his friends - Beauty, Kindred, Worldly
Goods - to go with him, except Good Deeds.
Characters
Everyman-------------------------Strength
God: Adonai----------------------Discretion
Death-----------------------------Five-Wits
Messenger------------------------Beauty
Fellowship------------------------Knowledge
Cousin----------------------------Confession
Kindred---------------------------Angel
Goods-----------------------------Doctor
Good-Deeds
HERE BEGINETH A TREATISE HOW THE HIGH FATHER
OH HEAVEN SENDETH DEATH TO SUMMON EVERY CREATURE
TO COME AND GIVE ACCOUNT OF THEIR LIVES IN THIS
WORLD AND IS IN MANNER OF A MORAL PLAY.
Here begynneth a treatyse
how yt hye
fader of
heuen sendeth dethe to so-
mon euery
creature to come and
gyue counte
of theyr liues in
this worlde
and is in maner
of a morall
playe.
I Pray
you all gyue your audyence
And here
this mater with reuerence
By fygure
a morall playe
The
somonynge of euery man called it is
That of
our lyues and endynge shewes
How
transytory we be all daye
This mater
is wonders precyous
But the
entent of it is more gracyous
And swete
to bere awaye
The story
sayth man in the begynnynge
Loke well
and take good heed to the endynge
Be you
neuer so gay
Ye thynke
synne in the begynnynge full swete
Whiche in
the ende causeth the soule to wepe
Whan the
body lyeth in claye
Here shall
you se how felawshyp and Iolyte
Bothe
strengthe pleasure and beaute
Wyll fade
from the as floure in maye
For ye
shall here how our heuen kynge
Calleth
euery man to a generall rekenynge
Gyue
audyence and here what he doth saye.
God speketh.
I perceyue here in my maieste
How that
all creatures be to me vnkynde
Lyuynge
without drede in worldely prosperyte
Of ghostly
syght the people be so blynde
Drowned in
synne they know me not for theyr god
In
worldely ryches is all theyr mynde
They fere
not my ryghtwysnes the sharpe rood
My lawe
that I shewed whan I for them dyed
They
forgete clene and shedynge of my bloderede
I hanged
bytwene two it can not be denyed
To gete
them lyfe I suffred to be deed
I heled
theyr fete with thornes hurt was my heed
I coulde
do nomore than I dyde truely
And nowe I
se the people do clene for sake me
They vse
the seuen deedly synnes damphable
As pryde
coueteyse wrathe and lechery
Now in the
worlde be made commendable
And thus
they leue of aungelles ye heuenly
company
Euery man
lyueth so after his owne pleasure
And yet of
theyr lyfe they be nothinge sure
I se the
more that I then forbere
The worse
they be fro yere to yere
All that
lyueth appayreth faste
Therfore I
wyll in all the haste
Haue a
rekenynge of euery mannes persone
For and I
leue the people thus alone
In theyr
lyfe and wycked tempestes
Verly they
wyll become moche worse than beestes
For now
one wolde by enuy another vp ete
Charyte
they do all clene forgete
I hoped
well that euery man
In my
glory shulde make his mansyon
And therto
I had them all electe
But now I
se lyke traytours deiecte
They
thanke me not for ye pleasure yt
to them ment
Nor yet
for theyr beynge that I them haue lent
I profered
the people grete multytude of mercy
And fewe
there be that asketh it hertly
They be so
combred with worldly ryches
That nedes
on them I must do Iustyce
On euery
man lyuynge without fere
Where arte
thou deth thou myghty messengere
Dethe.
Almyghty
god I am here at your wyll
Your
commaundement to fulfyll.
God.
Go thou to
euery man
And shewe
hym in my name
A
pylgrymage he must on him take
Which he
in no wyse may escape
And that
he brynge with him a sure rekenynge
Without
delay or ony taryenge.
Dethe.
Lorde I
wyll in the worlde go renne ouer all
And
cruelly out searche bothe grete and small
Euery man
wyll I beset that lyueth beestly
Out of
goddes lawes and dredeth not foly
He that
loueth rychesse I wyll stryke wt
my darte
His sight
to blynde and for heuen to departe
Excepte
that almes be his good frende
In hell
for to dwell worlde without ende
Loo yonder
I se Euery man walkynge
Full
lytlell he thynketh on my comynge
His mynde
is on flesshely lustes and his treasure
And grete
payne it shall cause hym to endure
Before the
lorde heuen kinge
Euery man
stande styll whyder arte thou goynge
Thus gayly
hast thou thy maker forgete.
Euery man.
Why askest
thou
Woldest
thou wete.
Dethe.
Ye syr I
wyll shewe you
In grete
haste I am sende to the
From god
out of his mageste
Euery man.
What sente
to me.
Dethe.
Ye
certaynly.
Thoughe
thou haue forgete hym here
He
thynketh on the in the heauenly spere
As or we
departe thou shalte knowe.
Euery man.
What
desyreth god of me.
Dethe.
That shall
I shewe the.
A
rekenynge he wyll nedes haue
Without
ony lenger respite.
Euery man.
To gyue a
rekenynge longer layser I craue
This
blynde mater troubleth my witte.
Dethe.
On the
thou must take a longe Iourney
Therefore
thy boke of counte wt the thou
brynge
For turne
agayne thou can not by no waye
And loke
thou be sure of thy rekenynge
For before
god thou shalt answere and shewe
Thy many
badde dedes and good but a fewe
How thou
hast spente thy lyfe and in what wyse
Before the
chefe lorde of paradyse
Haue I do
we were in that waye
For wete
thou well yu shalt make none
attournay.
Euery man.
Full
vnredy I am suche rekenynge to gyue
I knowe
the not what messenger arte thou.
Dethe.
I am dethe
that no man dredeth
For euery
man I rest and no man spareth
For it is
gods commaundement
That all
to me shold be obedyent.
Euery man.
O deth
thou comest whan I had ye least in
mynde
In thy
power it lyeth me to saue
Yet of my
good wyl I gyue ye yf thou wyl be
kynde
Ye a
thousand pound shalte thou haue
And
dyffere this mater tyll an other daye
Dethe.
Euery man
it may not be by no waye
I set not
by golde syluer nor rychesse
Nor by
pope emperour kynge duke ne prynces
For and I
wolde receyue gyftes grete
All the
worlde I myght gete
But my
custome is clene contrary
I gyue the
no respyte come hens and not tary.
Euery man.
Alas shall
I haue no lenger respyte
I may saye
deth geueth no warnynge
To thynke
on the it maketh my herte seke
For all
vnredy is my boke of rekenynge
But .xii.
yere and I myght haue a bydynge
My
countynge boke I wolde make so clere
That my
rekenynge I sholde not nede to fere
Wherefore
deth I praye the for goddes mercy
Spare me
tyll I be prouyded of remedy.
Dethe.
The
auayleth not to crye wepe and praye
But hast
the lyghtly that yu were gone ye
Iournaye
And preue
thy frendes yf thou can
For wete
thou well the tyde abydeth no man
And in the
worlde eche lyuynge creature
For Adams
synne must dye of nature.
Euery man.
Dethe yf I
sholde this pylgrymage take
And my
rekenynge suerly make
Shewe me
for saynt charyte
Sholde I
not come agayne shortly.
Dethe.
No euery
man and thou be ones there
Thou mayst
neuer more come here
Trust me
veryly.
Euery man.
O gracyous
god in the hye seat celestyall
Haue mercy
on me in this moost nede
Shall I
haue no company fro this vale terestryall
Of myne
acqueynce that way me to lede.
Dethe.
Ye yf ony
be so hardy
That wolde
go with the and bere the company
Hye the
that yu were gone to goddes
magnyfycence
Thy
rekenynge to gyue before his presence.
What
weenest thou thy lyue is gyuen the
And thy
worldely goodes also.
Euery man.
I had
wende so verelye.
Dethe.
Nay nay it
was but lende the
For as
soone as thou arte go
Another a
whyle shall haue it and than go ther fro
Euen as
thou hast done
Euery man
yu arte made thou hast thy wyttes
fyue
And here
on erthe wyll not amende thy lyue
For
sodeynly I do come.
Euery man.
O wretched
caytyfe wheder shall I flee
That I
myght scape this endles sorowe.
Now
gentyll deth spare me tyll to morowe
That I may
amende me
With good
aduysement
Dethe.
Naye
thereto I wyll not consent
Nor no man
wyll I respyte
But to the
herte sodeynly I shall smyte
Without
ony aduyesment
And now
out of thy syght I wyll me hy
Se thou
make the redy shortely
For thou
mayst saye this is the daye
That no
man lyuynge may scape a waye
Euery man.
Alas I may
well wepe with syghes depe
Now haue I
no maner of company
To helpe
me in my Iourney and me to kepe
And also
my wrytynge is full vnredy
How shall
I do now for to excuse me
I wolde to
god I had neuer begete
To my
soule a full grete profyte it had be
For now I
fere paynes huge and grete
The tyme
passeth lorde helpe that all wrought
For though
I mourne it auayleth nought
The day
passeth and is almoost ago
I wote not
well what for to do
To whome
were I best my complaynt to make
What and I
to felawshyp therof spake
And shewed
hym of this sodeyne chaunce
For in hym
is all myne affyaunce
We haue in
the worlde so many a daye
Be good
frendes in sporte and playe
I se hym
yonder certaynely
I trust
that he wyll bere me company
Therfore
to hym wyll I speke to ese my sorowe
Well mette
good felawshyp and good morowe.
Felawship.
Euery man
good morowe by this daye
Syr why
lokest thou so pyteously
If ony
thynge be a mysse I praye the me saye
That I may
helpe to remedy.
Every man.
Ye good
felawshyp ye
I am in
greate ieoparde.
Felawship.
My true
frende shewe to me your mynde
I wyll not
forsake the to my lyues ende
In the
waye of good company.
Every man.
That was
well spoken and louyngly.
Felawship.
Syr I must
nedes knowe your heuynesse
I haue
pyte to se you in ony dystresse
If ony
haue you wronged ye shall reuenged be
Thoughe
that I knowe before that I sholde dye.
Every man.
Veryly
felawshyp gramercy.
Felawship.
Tusshe by
thy thankes I set not a strawe
Shewe me
your grefe and saye no more.
Every man.
If I my
herte sholde to you breke
And than
you to tourne your mynde fro me
And wolde
not me comforte whan ye here me speke
Than
sholde I tentymes soryer be.
Felawship.
Syr I saye
as I will do in dede.
Every man.
Than be
you a good frende at nede
I haue
found you true here before.
Felawship.
And so ye
shall euermore
For in
fayth and thou go to hell
I wyll not
forsake the by the waye.
Every man.
Ye speke
lyke a good frende I byleue you well
I shall
deserue it and I may.
Felawship.
I speke of
no deseruynge by this daye
For he
that wyll saye and nothynge do
Is not
worthy with good company to go
Therfore
shewe me the grefe of your mynde
As to your
frende most louynge and kynde.
Every man.
I shall
shewe you how it is
Commaunded
I am to go on a iournaye
A longe
waye harde and daungerous
And gyue a
strayte counte without delaye
Before the
hye Iuge adonay
Wherfore I
pray you bere me company
As ye haue
promysed in this iournaye.
Felawship.
That is
mater in dede promyse is duty
But and I
sholde take suche a vyage on me
I knowe it
well it shulde be to my payne
Also it
make me aferde certayne
But let vs
take counsell here as well as we can
For your
wordes wolde fere a stronge man.
Every man.
Why ye
sayd yf I had nede
Ye wolde
me neuer forsake quycke ne deed
Thoughe it
were to hell truely.
Felawship.
So I sayd
certaynely
But such
pleasures be set a syde the sothe to saye
And also
yf we toke suche a iournaye
Whan
sholde we come agayne.
Every man.
Naye neuer
agayne tyll the daye of dome.
Felawship.
In fayth
than wyll not I come there
who hath
you these tydynges brought.
Every man.
In dede
death was with me here.
Felawship.
Now by god
that all hathe bought
If deth
were the messenger
For no man
that is lyuynge to daye
I wyll not
go that loth iournaye
Not for
the fader that bygate me.
Every man.
Ye
promysed other wyse parde.
Felawship.
I wote
well I say so truely
And yet yf
yu wylte ete & drynke &
make good chere
Or haunt
to women the lusty company
I wolde
not forsake you whyle the daye is clere
Truste me
veryly
Every man.
Ye therto
ye wolde be redy
To go to
myrthe solas and playe
Your mynde
wyll soner apply
Than to
bere me company in my longe iournaye.
Felawship.
Now in
good fayth I wyll not that waye
But and
thou wyll murder or ony man kyll
In that I
wyll helpe the with a good wyll.
Every man.
O that is
a symple aduyse in dede
Gentyll
felawe helpe me in my necessyte
We haue
loued longe and now I nede
And
gentyll felawshyp remembre me.
Felawship.
Wheder ye
haue loued me or no
By saynt
John I wyll not with the go.
Every man.
Yet I pray
the take ye labour & do so
moche for me
To brynge
me forwarde for saynt charyte
And
comforte me tyll I come without the towne.
Felawship.
Nay and
thou wolde gyue me a newe gowne
I wyll not
a fote with the go
But and yu
had taryed I wolde not haue lefte the so
And as now
god spede the in thy Iournaye
For from
the I wyll departe as fast as I maye.
Every man.
Wheder a
waye felawshyp wyll yu forsake me.
Felawship.
Ye by my
faye to god I be take the.
Every man.
Farewell
good felawshyp for ye my herte is
sore
A dewe for
euer I shall se the no more
Felawship.
In fayth
euery man fare well now at the ende
For you I
wyll remembre ytptynge
is mournynge.
Every man.
A lacke
shall we this departe in dede
A lady
helpe without ony more comforte
Lo
felawshyp forsaketh me in my most nede
For helpe
in this worlde wheder shall I resorte
Felawshyp
here before with me wolde mery make
And now
lytell sorowe for me dooth he take
It is sayd
in prosperyte men frendes may fynde
Whiche in
aduersyte be full vnkynde
Now wheder
for socoure shall I flee
Syth that
felawshyp hath forsaken me
To my
kynnesman I wyll truely
Prayenge
them to helpe me in my necessyte
I byleue
that they wyll do so
For kynde
wyll crepe where it may not go
I wyll go
saye for yonder I se them go
Where be
ye now my frendes and kynnesmen.
Kynrede.
Here we be
now at your commaundement
Cosyn I
praye you shewe vs your entent
In ony
wise and not spare.
Cosyn.
Ye euery
man and to vs declare
Yf ye be
dysposed to go ony whyder
For wete
you well wyll lyue and dye to gyder.
Kynrede.
In welth
and wo we wyll with you bolde
For ouer
his kynne a man may be holde.
Euery man.
Gramercy
my frendes and kynnesmen kynde
Now shall
I shewe you the grefe of my mynde
I was
commaunded by a messenger
That is a
hye kynges chefe offycer
He bad me
go a pylgrymage to my payne
And I
knowe well I shall neuer come agayne
Also I
must gyue a rekenynge strayte
For I haue
a grete enemy that hath me in wayte
Whiche
entendeth me for to hynder.
Kynrede.
What a
counte is that which ye must render
That wolde
I knowe.
Euery man.
Of all my
workes I must shewe
How I haue
lyued and my dayes spent
Also of
yll dedes that I haue vsed
In my tyme
syth lyfe was me lent
And of all
vertues that I haue refused
Therfore I
praye you go thyder with me
To helpe
to make myn accounte for saynt charyte.
Cosyn.
What to go
thyder is that the mater
Nay euery
man I had leuer fast brede and water
All this
fyue yere and more.
Euery man.
Alas that
euer I was bore
For now
shall I neuer be mery
If that
you forsake me.
Kynrede.
A syr what
ye be a mery man
Take good
herte to you and make no mone
But one
thynge I warne you by saynt Anne
As for me
ye shall go alone.
Euery man.
My cosyn
wyll you not with me go.
Cosyn.
No by our
lady I haue the cramp in my to
Trust not
to me for so god me spede
I wyll
deceyue you in your moost nede.
Kynrede.
It
auayleth not vs to tyse
Ye shall
haue my mayde with all my herte
She loueth
to go to festes there to be nyse
And to
daunce and a brode to sterte
I wyll
gyue her leue to helpe you in that Iourney
If that
you and she may a gree.
Euery man.
Now shewe
me the very effecte of your mynde
Wyll you
go with me or abyde be hynde.
Kynrede.
Abide
behynde ye that wyll I and maye
Therfore
farewell tyll another daye.
Euery man.
Howe
sholde I be mery or gladde
For fayre
promyses men to me make
But whan I
haue moost nede they me forsake
I am
deceyued that maketh me sadde.
Cosyn.
Cosyn
euery man farewell now
For veryly
I wyl not go with you
Also of
myne owne an vnredy rekenynge
I haue to
accounte therfore I make taryenge
Now god
kepe the for now I go.
Euery man.
A Iesus is
all come here to
Lo fayre
wordes maketh fooles fayne
They
promyse and nothynge wyll do certayne
My
kynnesmen promysed me faythfully
For to a
byde with me stedfastly
And now
fast a waye do they flee
Euen so
felawshyp promysed me
What
frende were best me of to prouyde
I lose my
tyme here longer to abyde
Yet in my
lyfe I haue loued ryches
If that my
good now helpe me myght
He wolde
make my herte full lyght
I wyll
speke to hym in this dystresse
Where arte
thou my gooddes and ryches.
Goodes.
Who
calleth me euery man what hast thou haste
I lye here
in corners trussed and pyled so hye
And in
chestes I am locked so fast
Also
sacked in bagges thou mayst se with thyn eye
I can not
styre in packes lowe I lye
What wolde
ye haue lyghtly me saye.
Euery man.
Come hyder
good in al the hast thou may
For of
counseyll I must desyre the.
Goodes.
Syr &
ye in the worlde haue sorowe or aduersyte
That can I
helpe you to remedy shortly.
Euery man.
It is
another dysease that greueth me
In this
worlde it is not I tell the so
I am sent
for an other way to go
To gyue a
strayte counte generall
Before the
hyest Iupyter of all
And all my
lyfe I haue had Ioye & pleasure in the
Therefore
I pray the go with me
For
parauenture thou mayst before god almyghty
My
rekenynge helpe to clene and puryfye
For it is
sayd euer amonge
That money
maketh all ryght that is wronge.
Goodes.
Nay euery
man I synge an other songe
I folowe
no man in suche vyages
For and I
wente with the
Thou
sholdes fare moche the worse for me
For
bycause on me thou dyd set thy mynde
Thy
rekenynge I haue made blotted and blynde
That thyne
accounte thou can not make truly
And that
hast thou for the loue of me.
Euery man.
That wolde
greue me full sore
Whan I
sholde come to that ferefull answere
Vp let vs
go thyther to gyder.
Goodes.
Nay not so
I am to brytell I may not endure
I wyll
folowe man one fote be ye sure.
Euery man.
Alas I
haue the loued and had grete pleasure
All my
lyfe dayes on good and treasure.
Goodes.
That is to
thy dampnacyon without lesynge
For my
loue is contrary to the loue euerlastynge
But yf
thou had me loued moderately durynge
As to the
poore gyue parte of me
Than
sholdest thou not in this dolour be
Nor in
this grote sorowe and care.
Euery man.
Lo now was
I deceyued or I was ware
And all I
may wyte my spendynge of tyme.
Goodes.
What
wenest thou that I am thyne.
Euery man.
I had went
so.
Goodes.
Naye euery
man I saye no
As for a
whyle I was lente the
A season
thou hast had me in prosperyte
My
condycyon is mannes soule to kyll
Yf I saue
one a thousande I do spyll
Wenest
thou that I wyll folowe the
Nay fro
this worlde not veryle.
Euery man.
I had
wende otherwyse.
Goodes.
Therfore
to thy soule good is a thefe
For whan
thou arte deed this is my gyse
Another to
deceyue in this same wyse
As I haue
done the and all to his soules reprefe.
Euery man.
O false
good cursed thou hast deceyued me
And caught
me in thy snare.
Goodes.
Mary thou
brought thy selfe in care
Wherof I
am gladde
I must
nedes laugh I can not be sadde.
Euery man.
A good
thou hast had longe my hertely loue
I gaue the
that whiche sholde be the lordes aboue
But wylte
thou not go with me in dede
I praye
the trouth to saye.
Goodes.
No so god
me spede
Therfore
fare well and haue good daye.
Euery man.
O to whome
shall I make my mone
For to go
with me in that heuy Iournaye
Fyrst
felawshyp sayd he wolde with me gone
His wordes
were very plesaunte and gaye
But
afterwarde he lefte me alone
Than spake
I to my kynnesmen all in despayre
An also
they gaue me wordes fayre
They
lacked no fayre spekynge
But all
forsake me in the endynge
Then wente
I to my goodes that I loued best
In hope to
haue comforte but there had I leest
For my
goodes sharpely dyd me tell
That he
bryngeth many in to hell
Than of my
selfe I was ashamed
And so I
am worthy to be blamed
Thus may I
wel my selfe hate
Of whome
shall I now counsell take
I thynke
that I shall neuer spede
Tyll that
I go to my good dede
But alas
she is so weke
That she
can neuer go nor speke
Yet wyll I
venter on her now
My good
dedes where be you.
Good dedes.
Here I lye
colde in the grounde
Thy synnes
hath me sore bounde
That I can
not stere.
Euery man.
O good
dedes I stand in fere
I must you
pray of counseyll
For helpe
now sholde come ryght well.
Good dedes.
Euery man
I haue vnderstandynge
That ye be
somoned of a counte to make
Before
Myssyas of Iherusalem kynge
And you do
by me yt Iournay wt you
wyll I take.
Euery man.
Therfor I
come to you my moone to make
I praye
you that ye wyll go with me.
Good dedes.
I wolde
full fayne but I can not stande veryly.
Euery man.
Why is
there ony thynge on you fall.
Good dedes.
Ye syr I
may thanke you of all
Yf ye had
parfytely chered me
Your boke
of counte full redy had be
Loke how
the bokes of your workes and dedes eke
Ase how
they lye vnder the fete
To your
soules heuynes.
Euery man.
Our lorde
Iesus helpe me
For one
letter here I can not se.
Good dedes.
There is a
blynde rekenynge in tyme of dystres.
Euery man.
Good dedes
I praye you helpe me in this nede
Or elles I
am for euer dampned in dede
Therfore
helpe me to make rekenynge
Before the
redemer of all thynge
That kynge
is and was and euer shall.
Good dedes.
Euery man
I am sory of your fall
And fayne
wolde I helpe you and I were able.
Euery man.
Good dedes
your counseyll I pray you gyue me.
Good dedes.
That shall
I do veryly
Thoughe
that on my fete I may not go
I haue a
syster that shall with you also
Called
knowledge whiche shall with you abyde
To helpe
you to make that dredefull rekenynge
Knowlege.
Euery man
I wyll go with the and be thy gyde
In thy
moost nede to go by thy syde.
Euery man.
In good
condycyon I am now in euery thynge
And am
hole content with this good thynge
Thanked by
god my creature.
Good dedes.
And whan
he hath brought you there
Where thou
shalte hele the of thy smarte
Than go
you wt your rekenynge & your
good dedes togyder
For to
make you Ioyfull at herte
Before the
blessed trynyte.
Euery man.
My good
dedes gramercy
I am well
content certaynly
With your
wordes swete.
Knowlege.
Now go we
togyder louyngly
To
confessyon that clensyng ryuere.
Euery man.
For Ioy I
wepe I wolde we were there
But I pray
you gyue me cognycyon
Where
dwelleth that holy man confessyon.
Knowlege.
In the
hous of saluacyon
We shall
fynde hym in that place
That shall
vs comforte by goddes grace
Lo this is
confessyon knele downe & aske mercy
For he is
in good conceyte with god almyghty.
Euery man.
O gloryous
fountayne yt all vnclennes doth
claryfy
Wasshe
from me the spottes of vyce vnclene
That on me
no synne may be sene
I come
with knowledge for my redempcyon
Redempte
with herte and full contrycyon
For I am
commaunded a pylgrymage to take
And grete
accountes before god to make
Now I
praye you shryfte moder of saluacyon
Helpe my
good dedes for my pyteous exclamacyon.
Confessyon.
I knowe
your sorowe well euery man
Bycause
with knowlege ye came to me
I wyll you
comforte as well as I can
And a
precyous Iewell I will gyue the
Called
penaunce voyce voyder of aduersyte
therwith
shall your body chastysed be
With
abstynence & perseueraunce in goddes
seruyce
Here shall
you receyue that scourge of me
Whiche is
penaunce stronge that ye must endure
To
remembre thy sauyour was scourged for the
With
sharpe scourges and suffred it pacyently
So must yu
or thou scape that paynful pylgrymage
Knowlege
kepe hym in this vyage
And hy
tyme good dedes wyll be with the
But in ony
wyse be seker of mercy
For your
tyme draweth fast and ye wyll saued be
Aske god
mercy and he wyll graunte truely
Whan wt
the scourge of penaunce man doth hym bynde
The oyle
of forgyuenes than shall he fynde.
Euery man.
Thanked be
god for his gracyous werke
For now I
wyll my penaunce begyn
This hath
reioysed and lyghted my herte
Though the
knottes be paynfull and harde within
Knowlege.
Euery man
loke your penaunce that ye fulfyll
What payne
that euer it to you be
And
knowledge shall gyue you counseyll at wyll
How your
accounte ye shall make clerely.
Euery man.
O eternall
god O heuenly fygure
O way of
ryghtwysnes O goodly vysyon
Whiche
descended downe in a vyrgyn pure
Bycause he
wolde euery man redeme
Whiche
Adam forfayted by his dysobedyence
O blessyd
god heed electe and hye deuyne
Forgyve my
greuous offence
Here I
crye the mercy in this presence
O ghostly
treasure. O ransomer and redemer
Of all the
worlde hope and conduyter
Myrrour of
Ioye foundatour of mercy
Whiche
enlumyneth heuen and erth therby
Here my
clamorous complaynt though it late be
Receyue my
prayers vnworthy in this heuy lyfe
Though I
be a synner moost abhomnynable
Yet let my
name be wryten in moyses table
O mary
praye to the maker of all thynge
Me for to
helpe at my endynge
And saue
me fro the power of my enemy
For deth
assayleth me strongly
And lady
that I may by meane of thy prayer
Of your
sones glory to be partynere
By the
meanes of his passyon I it craue
I beseeche
you helpe my soule to saue
Knowlege
gyue me the scourge of penaunce
My flesshe
therwith shall gyue acqueyntaunce
I wyll now
begyn yf god gyue me grace.
Knowlege.
Euery man
god gyue you tyme and space
Thus I
bequeth you in ye handes of our
sauyour
Now may
you make your rekenynge sure
Euery man.
In the
name of the holy trynyte
My body
sore punysshyd shall be
Take this
body for the synne of the flesse
Also thou
delytest to go gay and fresshe
And in the
way of dampnacyon yu dyd me brynge
Therfore
suffre now strokes of punysshynge
Now of
penaunce I wyll wade the water clere
To saue me
from purgatory that sharp fyre.
Good dedes.
I thanke
god now I can walke and go
And am
delyuered of my sykenesse and wo
Therfore
with euery man I wyll go and not spare
His good
workes I wyll helpe hym to declare.
Knowlege.
Now euery
man be mery and glad
Your good
dedes cometh now ye may not be sad
Now is
your good dedes hole and sounde
Goynge
vpryght vpon the grounde.
Euery man.
My herte
is lyght and shalbe euermore
Now will I
smite faster than I dyde before.
Good dedes.
Euery man
pylgryme my specyall frende
Blessed be
thou without ende
For the is
preparate the eternall glory
Ye haue me
made hole and sounde
Therfore I
wyll byde by the in euery stounde.
Euery man.
Welcome my
good dedes now I here thy voyce
I wepe for
very swetenes of loue.
Knowlege.
Be no more
sad but euer reioyce
God seeth
thy lyuynge in his trone aboue
Put on
this garment to thy behoue
Whiche is
wette with your teres
Or elles
before god you may it mysse
Whan ye to
your iourneys ende come shall.
Euery man.
Gentyll
knowlege what do ye it call.
Knowlege.
It is a
garmente of sorowe
Fro payne
it wyll you borowe
Contrycyon
it is
That
getteth forgyuenes
He
pleasyth god passynge well.
Good dedes.
Euery man
wyll you were it for your hele.
Euery man.
Now
blessyd be Iesu maryes sone
For now
haue I on true contrycyon
And lette
vs go now without taryenge
Good dedes
haue we clere our rekenynge.
Good dedes.
Ye in dede
I haue here.
Euery man.
Than I
trust we nede not fere
Now
frendes let vs not parte in twayne.
Kynrede.
Nay euery
man that wyll we not certayne.
Good dedes.
Yet must
thou led with the
Three
persones of grete myght.
Euery man.
Who sholde
they be.
Good dedes.
Dyscrecyon
and strength they hyght
And thy
beaute may not abyde behynde.
Knowlege.
Also ye
must call to mynde
Your fyue
wyttes as for your counseylours.
Good dedes.
You must
haue them redy at all houres.
Euery man.
How shall
I get them hyder.
Kynrede.
You must
call them all togyder
And they
wyll here you in contynent.
Euery man.
My frendes
come hyder and be present
Dyscrecyon
strengthe my fyue wyttes and beaute.
Beaute.
Here at
your wyll we be all redy
What wyll
ye that we sholde do.
Good dedes.
That ye
wolde with euery man go
And helpe
hym in his pylgrymage
Aduyse you
wyll ye with him or not in that vyage.
Strength.
We wyll
brynge hym all thyder
To his
helpe and comforte ye may beleue me.
Discrecion.
So wyll we
go with him all togyder.
Euery man.
Almyghty
god loued myght thou be
I gyue the
laude that I haue hyder brought
Strength
dyscrecyon beaute & .v. wyttes lack I
nought
And my
good dedes with knowlege clere
All be in
my company at my wyll here
I desyre
no more to my besynes.
Strengthe.
And I
strength wyll by you stande in dystres
Though
thou wolde I batayle fyght in the grounde.
V. wyttes
And though
it were thrugh the worlde rounde
We wyll
not departe for swete ne soure.
Beaute.
No more
wyll I vnto dethes houre
What so
euer therof befall.
Discrecion.
Euery man
aduyse you fyrst of all
Go with a
good aduysement and delyberacyon
We all
gyue you vertuous monycyon
That all
shall be well.
Euery man.
My frendes
harken what what I wyll tell
I praye
god rewarde you in his heuen spere
Now herken
all that be here
For I wyll
make my testament
Here
before you all present
In almes
halfe my good I wyll gyue wt my
handes twayne
In the way
of charyte wt good entent
And the
other halfe styll shall remayne
In queth
to be retourned there it ought to be
This I do
in despyte of the fende of hell
To go
quyte out of his perell
Euer after
and this daye.
Knowlege.
Euery man
herken what I saye
Go to
presthode I you aduyse
And
receyue of him in ony wyse
The holy
sacrment and oyntement togyder
Than
shortly se ye tourne agayne hyder
We wyll
all abyde you here.
V. wittes.
Ye euery
man hye you that ye redy were
There is
no Emperour Kinge Duke ne Baron
That of
god hath commycyon
As hath
the leest preest in the worlde beynge
For of the
blessyd sacramentes pure and benygne
He bereth
the keyes and therof hath the cure
For mannes
redempcyon it is euer sure
Whiche god
for our soules medycyne
Gaue vs
out of his herte with grete payne
Here in
this transytory lyfe for the and me
The
blessed sacramentes .vii. there be
Baptym
confyrmacyon with preesthode good
And ye
sacrament of goddes precyous flesshe &
blod
Maryage
the holy extreme vnccyon and penaunce
These
seuen be good to haue in remembraunce
Gracyous
sacramentes of hye deuy[n]yte.
Euery man.
Fayne
wolde I receyue that holy body
And mekely
to my ghostly fader I wyll go.
V. wittes.
Euery man
that is the best that ye can do
God wyll
you to saluacyon brynge
For
preesthode excedeth all other thynge
To vs holy
scrypture they do teche
And
conuerteth man fro synne heuen to reche
God hath
to them more power gyuen
Than to
ony aungell that is in heuen
With .v.
wordes he may consecrate
Goddes
body in flesse and blode to make
And
handleth his maker bytwene his hande
The preest
byndeth and vnbyndeth all bandes
Both in
erthe and in heuen
Thou
mynystres all the sacramentes seuen
Though we
kysse thy fete thou were worthy
Thou arte
surgyon that cureth synne deedly
No remedy
we fynde vnder god
Bute all
onely preesthode
Euery man
god gaue preest that dygnyte
And
setteth them in his stede amonge vs to be
Thus be
they aboue aungelles in degree.
Knowlege.
If
preestes be good it is so surely
But whan
Iesu hanged on ye crosse wt
grete smarte
There he
gaue out of his blessyd herte
The same
sacrament in grete tourment
He solde
them not to vs that lorde omnypotent
Therefore
saynt peter the apostell dothe saye
That Iesus
curse hath all they
Whiche god
theyr sauyour do by or sell
Or they
for ony money do take or tell
Synfull
preeste gyueth the synners example bad
Theyr
chyldren sytteth by other mennes fyres I haue
harde
And some
haunteth womens company
With
vnclene lyfe as lustes of lechery
These be
with synne made blynde.
V. wittes.
I trust to
god no suche may we fynde
Therfore
let vs preesthode honour
And
followe theyr doctryne for our soules socoure
We be
theyr shepe and they shepeherdes be
By whome
we all be kepte in suerte
Peas for
yonder I se euery man come
Whiche
hath made true satysfaccyon.
Good dedes.
Me thynke
it is he in dede.
Every man.
Now Iesu
be your alder spede
I haue
receyued the sacrament for my redemcyon
And than
myne extreme vnccyon
Blessyd be
all they that counseyled me to take it
And now
frendes let vs go with out longer respyte
I thanke
god that ye haue taryed so longe
Now set
eche of you on this rodde your honde
And
shortely folowe me
I go
before there I wolde be [
] God be your gyde.
Strength.
Euery man
we wyll not fro you go
Tyll ye
haue done this vyage longe.
Dyscrecion.
I
dyscrecyon wyll byde by you also.
Knowlege.
And though
this pylgrymage be neuer so stronge
I wyll
neuer parte you fro
Euery man
I wyll be as sure by the
As euer I
dyde by Iudas Machabee.
Euery man.
Alas I am
so faynt I may not stande
My lymmes
vnder me doth folde
Frendes
let vs not tourne agayne to this lande
Not for
all the worldes golde
For in
this caue must I crepe
And tourne
to erth and there to slepe.
Beaute.
What in
this graue alas.
Euery man.
Ye there
shall ye consume more and lesse.
Beaute.
And what
sholde I smoder here.
Euery man.
Ye by my
fayth and neuer more appere
In this
worlde lyue no more we shall
But in
heuen before the hyest lorde of all.
Beaute.
I crosse
out all this adewe by saynt Iohan
I take my
tappe in my lappe and am gone.
Euery man.
What
beaute whyder wyll ye.
Beaute.
Peas I am
defe I loke not behynde me
Not &
thou woldest gyue me all ye golde
in thy chest.
Euery man.
Alas
wherto may I truste
Beaute
gothe fast awaye from me
She
promysed with me to lyue and dye.
Strength.
Euery man
I wyll the also forsake and denye
Thy game
lyketh me not at all.
Euery man.
Why than
ye wyll forsake me all
Swete
strength tary a lytell space.
Strengthe.
Nay syr by
the rode of grace
I will hye
me from the fast
Though
thou wepe to thy herte to brast.
Euery man.
Ye wolde
euer byde by me ye sayd.
Strength.
Ye I haue
you ferre ynoughe conueyde
Ye be olde
ynoughe I vnderstande
Your
pylgrymage to take on hande
I repent
me that I hyder came.
Euery man.
Strength
you to dysplease I am to blame
Wyll ye
breke promyse that is dette.
Strength.
In fayth I
care not
Thou arte
but a foole to complayne
You spende
your speche and wast your brayne
Go thryst
the in to the grounde.
Euery man.
I had
wende surer I shulde you haue founde
He that
trusteth in his strength
She hym
deceyueth at the length
Bothe
strength and beaute forsaketh me
Yet they
promysed me fayre and louyngly.
Dyscrecion.
Euery man
I will after strength be gone
As for me
I will leue you alone.
Euery man.
Why
dyscrecyon wyll ye forsake me.
Dyscrecion.
Ye in
fayth I wyll go fro the
For whan
strength goth before
I folowe
after euer more.
Euery man.
Yet I pray
the for the loue of the trynyte
Loke in my
graue ones pyteously.
Dyscrecyon.
Nay so nye
wyll I not come
Fare well
euerychone.
Euery man.
O all
thynge fayleth saue god alone
Beaute
strength and discrecyon
For whan
deth bloweth his blast
They all
renne fro me full fast.
V. wittes.
Euery man
my leue now of the I take
I wyll
folowe the other for here I the forsake.
Euery man.
Alas than
may I wayle and wepe
For I took
you for my best frende.
V. wittes.
I wyll no
lenger the kepe
Now fare
well and there an ende.
Euery man.
O Iesu
helpe all hath forsaken me.
Good dedes.
Nay euey
man I will byde with the
I wyll not
forsake the in dede
Thou
shalte fynde me a good frende at nede.
Euery man.
Gramercy
good dedes now may I true frendes se
They haue
forsaken me euerychone
I loued
them better than my good dedes alone
Knowlege
wyll ye forsake me also.
Knowlege.
Ye euery
man whan ye to deth shall go
But not
yet for no maner of daunger.
Euery man.
Gramercy
knowlege with all my herte.
Knowlege.
Nay yet I
wyll not from hens departe
Tyll I se
where ye shall be come.
Euery man.
Me thynke
alas that I must be gone
To make my
rekenynge and my dettes paye
For I se
my tyme is nye spent awaye
Take
example all ye that this do here or se
How they
that I loue best do forsake me
Excepte my
good dedes that bydeth truely.
Good dedes.
All erthly
thynges is but vanyte
Beaute
strength and dyscrecyon do man forsake
Folysshe
frendes and kynnesmen that fayre spake
All fleeth
saue good dedes and that am I.
Euery man.
Haue mercy
on me god moost myghty
And stande
by me thou moder & mayde holy Mary
Good dedes.
Fere not I
wyll speke for the.
Euery man.
Here I
crye god mercy.
Good dedes.
Shorte
oure ende and mynysshe our payne
Let vs go
and neuer come agayne.
Euery man.
In to thy
handes lorde my soule I commende
Receyue it
lorde that it be not lost
As thou me
boughtest so me defende
And saue
me from the fendes boost
That I may
appere with that blessyd hoost
That shall
be saued at the day of dome
(in manus
tuas) of myghtes moost
For euer (Commendo
spiritum meum.)
Knowlege.
Now hath
he suffred that we all shall endure
The good
dedes shall make all sure
Now hath
he made endynge
Me
thynketh that I here aungelles synge
And make
grete Ioy and melody
Where
euery mannes soule recyued shall be.
The aungell.
Come
excellent electe spouse to Iesu
Here aboue
thou shalte go
Bycause of
thy syngular vertue
Now the
soule is taken the body fro
Thy
rekenynge is crystall clere
Now shalte
thou in to the heuenly spere
Vnto the
whiche all ye shall come
That
lyueth well before the daye of dome.
Doctour.
This
morall men may haue in mynde
Ye hearers
take it of worth olde and yonge
And
forsake pryde for he deceyueth you in the
ende
And
remembre beaute .v. wyttes strength & dy[s]crecion
They all
at the last do euery man forsake
Saue his
good dedes there dothe he take
But be
ware and they be small
Before god
he hath no helpe at all
None
excuse may be there for euery man
Alas how
shall he do than
For after
dethe amendes may no man make
For than
mercy and pyte doth hym forsake
If his
rekenynge be not clere whan he doth come
God wyll
saye (ite maledicti in ignem eternum)
And he
that hath his accounte hole and sounde
Hye in
heuen he shall be crounde
Vnto
whiche place god brynge vs all thyder
That we
may lyue body and soule togyder
Therto
helpe the trynyte
Amen saye
ye for saynt charyte.
F
I N
I S.
Thus endeth
this morall playe of euery man.
Imprynted at
London in Poules
Chyrche
yarde by me
Johnn Skot.
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