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Here begynneth a treatyse how the hye
Fader of heuen sendeth Dethe to
somon euery creature to come and
gyue a-counte of theyr lyues in
this worlde and is in maner
of a morall playe.
I hanged bytwene two theues, 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 coude do no more than I dyde, truely;
And nowe I se the people do clene for-sake me.
They vse the seuen deedly synnes dampnable,
As pryde, coueytyse, wrath, and lechery
Now in the worlde be made commendable;
And thus they leue of aungelles the heuenly company.
Euery man lyueth so after his owne pleasure,
And yet of theyr lyfe they be nothynge sure.
I se the more that I them forbere
The worse they be fro yere to yere.
All that lyueth appayreth faste;
Therefore 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,
Veryly they will 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 sholde make his mansyon,
And therto I had them all electe;
But now I se, lyke traytours deiecte,
They thanke me not for the pleasure that I 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.
Ye, certaynly.
Thoughe thou haue forgete hym here,
He thynketh on the in the heuenly spere,
As, or we departe, thou shalte knowe.
Eueryman.
What desyreth God of me?
Dethe.
That shall I shewe the:
A rekenynge he wyll nedes haue
Without ony lenger respyte.
Eueryman.
To gyue a rekenynge longer layser I craue;
This blynde mater troubleth my wytte.
Dethe.
On the thou must take a long iourney;
Therfore thy boke of counte with the thou brynge,
For tourne agayne thou can not by no waye.
And loke thou be sure of thy rekenynge,
For before God thou shalte 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 ado that thou were in that waye,
For wete thou well thou shalte make none attournay.
Eueryman.
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 reste — and no man spareth;
For it is Goddes commaundement
That all to me sholde be obedyent.
Eueryman.
O Deth, thou comest whan I had the leest in mynde!
In thy power it lyeth me to saue;
Yet of my good wyl I gyue the, yf thou wyl be kynde —
Ye, a thousande pounde shalte thou haue —
And dyfferre this mater tyll an other daye.
Dethe.
Eueryman, it may not be by no waye.
I set not by golde, syluer, nor rychesse,
Ne 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!
Eueryman.
Alas, shall I haue no lenger respyte?
I may saye Deth gyueth 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.
Wherfore, 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 thou were gone that 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.
Eueryman.
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, Eueryman; and thou be ones there,
Thou mayst neuer more come here,
Trust me veryly.
Eueryman.
O gracyous God in the hye sete celestyall,
Haue mercy on me in this moost nede!
Shall I haue no company fro this vale terestryall
Of myne acqueyntaunce, that way me to lede?
Dethe.
Ye, yf ony be so hardy
That wolde go with the and bere the company.
Hye the that thou were gone to Goddes magnyfycence,
Thy rekenynge to gyue before his presence.
What, wenest thou thy lyue is gyuen the,
And thy worldely gooddes also?
Eueryman.
I had wende so, veryle.
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.
Eueryman, thou arte made! Thou hast thy wyttes fyue,
And here on erthe wyll not amende thy lyue;
For sodeynly I do come.
Eueryman.
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, therto I wyll not consent,
Nor no man wyll I respyte;
But to the herte sodeynly I shall smyte
Without ony aduysement.
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-way.
Eueryman.
Alas, I may well wepe with syghes depe!
Now haue I no maner of company
To help me in my iourney, and me to kepe;
And also my wrytynge is full vnredy.
How shall I do now for to exscuse me?
I wolde to God I had neuer be gete!
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 muyne 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! Felawshyp
speketh.
Felawship.
Eueryman, 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.
Eueryman.
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.
Eueryman.
That was well spoken and louyngly.
Felawshyp.
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 I on the grounde be slayne for the,
Though that I knowe before that I sholde dye.
Eueryman.
Veryly, Felawshyp, gramercy.
Felawship.
Tusshe! by thy thankes I set not a strawe.
Shewe me your grefe, and saye no more.
Eueryman.
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 ten tymes soryer be.
Felawship.
Syr, I saye as I wyll do in dede.
Eueryman.
Than be you a good frende at nede.
I haue founde 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.
Eueryman.
Ye speke lyke a good frende; I byleue you well
I shall deserue it, and I maye.
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 moost louynge and kynde.
Eueryman.
I shall shewe you how it is:
Commaunded I am to go 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 sholde be to my payne;
Also it maketh me aferde, certayne.
But let vs take counsell here as well as we can,
For your wordes wolde fere a stronge man.
Eueryman.
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 suche pleasures be set a-syde, the sothe to saye;
And also, yf we toke suche a iournaye,
Whan sholde we agayne come?
Eueryman.
Naye, neuer agayne tyll the daye of dome.
Felawship.
In fayth, than wyll not I come there!
Who hath you these tydynges brought?
Eueryman.
In dede, Deth was with me here.
Felawshyp.
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 lothe iournaye —
Not for the fader that bygate me!
Eueryman.
Ye promysed other wyse, parde.
Felawship.
I wote well I sayd so, truely;
And yet, yf thou wylte ete & drynke & make good chere,
Or haunt to women the lusty company,
I wolde not forsake you whyle the daye is clere,
Trust me veryly.
Eueryman.
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.
Eueryman.
O, that is a symple aduyse in dede.
Gentyll felawe, helpe me in my necessyte!
We haue loued longe, and now I nede;
And now, gentyll Felawshyp, remembre me.
Felawship.
Wheder ye haue loued me or no,
By Saynt Iohan I wyll not with the go!
Eueryman.
Yet, I pray the, take the 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 thou 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.
Eueryman.
Wheder a-waye, Felawshyp? Wyll thou forsake me?
Felawship.
Ye, by my faye! To God I be-take the.
Eueryman.
Farewell, good Felawshyp! For the my herte is sore.
A-dewe for euer! I shall se the no more.
Felawship.
In fayth, Eueryman, fare well now at the endynge!
For you I wyll remembre that partynge is mournynge.
Eueryman.
A-lacke, shall wee thus departe in ded —
A, Lady, helpe! — without ony more comforte?
Lo, Felawshyp forsaketh me in my moost 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 kynnesmen 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.
Where be ye now, my frendes and kynnesmen?
Eueryman.
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.
Eueryman.
My Cosyn, wyll you not with me go?
Cosyn.
No, by our Lady! I haue the crampe 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 feestes, 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.
Eueryman.
Now shewe me the very effecte of your mynde:
Wyll you go with me, or abyde be-hynde?
Kynrede.
Abyde behynde? Ye, that wyll I, and I maye!
Therfore farewell tyll another daye.
Eueryman.
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 Eueryman, farewell now,
For veryly I wyll 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.
For it is sayd euer amonge
That 'money maketh all ryght that is wronge.'
Goodes.
Nay, Eueryman, I synge an other songe.
I folowe no man in suche vyages;
For, and I wente with the,
Thou sholdest 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!
Eueryman.
That wolde greue me full sore,
Whan I sholde come to that ferefull answere.
Vp, let vs go thyder to-gyder.
Goodes.
Nay, not so! I am to brytell, I may not endure.
I wyll folowe no man one fote, be ye sure.
Eueryman.
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 grete sorowe and care.
Eueryman.
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?
Eueryman.
I had went so.
Goodes.
Naye, Eueryman, 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;
If I saue one, a thousande I do spyll.
Wenest thou that I wyll folowe the?
Nay, fro this worlde not, veryle.
Eueryman.
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.
Eueryman.
O false Good, cursed thou be,
Thou traytour to God, that 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.
Eueryman.
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.
Beaute.
And what, sholde I smoder here?
Eueryman.
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.
Eueryman.
What, Beaute, whyder wyll ye?
Beaute.
Peas! I am defe. I loke not behynde me,
Not & thou wolde gyue me all the golde in thy chest.
But not yet, for no maner of daunger.
Everyman.
Gramercy, Knowlege, with all my herte.
Knowlege.
Nay, yet I wyll not from hens departe
Tyll I se where ye shall be-come.
Eueryman.
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 loued best do forsake me,
Except 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.
Eueryman.
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.
Eueryman.
Here I crye God mercy.
Good Dedes.
Shorte our ende and mynysshe our payne;
Let vs go and neuer come agayne.
Eueryman.
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 Euerymannes soule receyued shall be.
Thus endeth this morall playe of Eueryman.
Imprynted at London in Poules
chyrche yarde by me
Iohan Skot.