Everyman, ed. by A. C. Cawley
Author: Unknown
Date: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Everyman :Everyman : Anonymous Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library

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Everyman : Anonymous created machine-readable version: Ian Lancashire Conversion to TEI-conformant markup: University of Virginia Library Electronic Text Center ca. 50 kilobytes : http://etext.virginia.edu/mideng.browse.html, AnoEver Available from: Oxford Text Archive, U-1350-A

1993

About the print version

Everyman edited by: A. C. Cawley xxxviii, 47 p. : facsim. 20 cm. : Manchester University Press Manchester, Eng. 1961 Old and Middle English texts; 1 Published: 1485

Middle English

Revisions to the electronic version August 1995 Bryson Clevenger, University of Virginia Library Electronic Text Center Corrected errors at lines 522 and 905: errors reported by Fritz Kemmler, University of Tuebingen. :

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“signature” n=“A.i”

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. French scene Messenger.

1: I pray you all gyue your audyence, 2: And here this mater with reuerence, 3: By fygure a morall playe. 4: The Somonynge of Eueryman called it is, 5: That of our lyues and endynge shewes 6: How transytory we be all daye. 7: This mater is wonders precyous; 8: But the entent of it is more gracyous, 9: And swete to bere awaye. 10: The story sayth: Man, in the begynnynge 11: Loke well, and take good heed to the endynge, 12: Be you neuer so gay! 13: Ye thynke synne in the begynnynge full swete, 14: Whiche in the ende causeth the soule to wepe, 15: Whan the body lyeth in claye. 16: Here shall you se how Felawshyp/and Iolyte, 17: Bothe/Strengthe/Pleasure/and Beaute, 18: Wyll fade from the as floure in Maye; 19: For ye shall here how our Heuen Kynge 20: Calleth Eueryman to a generall rekenynge. 21: Gyue audyence, and here what he doth saye. [God speketh.] God.

22: I perceyue, here in my maieste, 23: How that all creatures be to me vnkynde, 24: Lyuynge without drede in worldly prosperyte.

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25: Of ghostly syght the people be so blynde, 26: Drowned in synne, they know me not for theyr God. 27: In worldely ryches is all theyr mynde; 28: They fere not my ryghtwysnes, the sharpe rod. 29: My lawe that I shewed, whan I for them dyed, 30: They forget clene/and shedynge of my blode rede. “signature” n=“A.ii”

31: I hanged bytwene two theues, it can not be denyed; 32: To gete them lyfe I suffred to be deed; 33: I heled theyr fete/with thornes hurt was my heed. 34: I coude do no more than I dyde, truely; 35: And nowe I se the people do clene forsake me. 36: They vse the seuen deedly synnes dampnable, 37: As pryde, coueytyse, wrath, and lechery 38: Now in the worlde be made commendable; 39: And thus they leue of aungelles the heuenly company. 40: Euery man lyueth so after his owne pleasure, 41: And yeyt of theyr lyfe they be nothynge sure. 42: I se the more that I them forbere 43: The worse they be fro yere to yere. 44: All that lyueth appayreth faste; 45: Therefore I wyll, in all the haste, 46: Haue a rekenynge of euery mannes persone; 47: For, and I leue the people thus alone 48: In theyr lyfe and wycked tempestes, 49: Veryly they will become moche worse than beestes, 50: For now one wolde by enuy another vp ete; 51: Charyte they do all clene forgete. 52: I hoped well that euery man 53: In my glory sholde make his mansyon, 54: And therto I had them all electe; 55: But now I se, lyke traytours deiecte, 56: They thanke me not for the pleasure that I to them ment, 57: Nor yet for theyr beynge that I them haue lent. 58: I profered the people grete multytude of mercy, 59: And fewe there be that asketh it hertly. 60: They be so combred with worldly ryches

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61: That nedes on them I must do iustyce, 62: On euery man lyuynge without fere. 63: Where arte thou, Deth, thou myghty messengere? [Dethe.] Dethe.

64: Almyghty God, I am here at your wyll, 65: Your commaundement to fulfyll. God.

66: Go thou to Eueryman 67: And shewe hym, in my name, 68: A pylgrymage he must on hym take, 69: Whiche he in no wyse may escape; 70: And that he brynge with hym a sure rekenynge 71: Without delay or ony taryenge. Dethe.

72: Lorde, I wyll in the worlde go renne ouer-all 73: And cruelly out-serche both grete and small. 74: Euery man wyll I beset that lyueth beestly 75: Out of Goddes lawes, and dredeth not foly. 76: He that loueth rychess I wyll stryke with my darte, 77: His syght to blynde, and fro heuen to departe — 78: Excepte that almes be his good frende — 79: In hell for to dwell, worlde without ende. 80: Loo, yonder I se Eueryman walkynge. 81: Full lytell he thynketh on my comynge; 82: His mynde is on flesshely lustes and his treasure, 83: And grete payne it shall cause hym to endure 84: Before the Lorde, Heuen Kynge. 85: Eueryman, stande styll! Whyder arte thou goynge 86: Thus gayly? / Hast thou thy Maker forgete? [Eueryman.] Eueryman.

87: Why askest thou? 88: Woldest thou wete? Dethe.

89: Ye, syr. I wyll shewe you: 90: In grete hast I am sende to the 91: Fro God out of his mageste. Eueryman.

92: What, sente to me?

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“signature” n=“A.iii.”

Dethe.

93: Ye, certaynly. 94: Thoughe thou haue forgete hym here, 95: He thynketh on the in the heuenly spere, 96: As, or we departe, thou shalte knowe. Eueryman.

97: What desyreth God of me? Dethe.

98: That shall I shewe the: 99: A rekenynge he wyll nedes haue 100: Without ony lenger respyte. Eueryman.

101: To gyue a rekenynge longer layser I craue; 102: This blynde mater troubleth my wytte. Dethe.

103: On the thou must take a long iourney; 104: Therfore thy boke of counte with the thou brynge, 105: For tourne agayne thou can not by no waye. 106: And loke thou be sure of thy rekenynge, 107: For before God thou shalte answere, and shewe 108: Thy many badde dedes, and good but a fewe; 109: How thou hast spente thy lyfe, and in what wyse, 110: Before the chefe Lorde of paradyse. 111: Haue ado that thou were in that waye, 112: For wete thou well thou shalte make none attournay. Eueryman.

113: Full vnredy I am suche rekenynge to guye. 114: I knowe the not. What messenger arte thou? Dethe.

115: I am Dethe that no man dredeth — 116: For euery man I reste-and no man spareth; 117: For it is Goddes commaundement 118: That all to me sholde be obedyent. Eueryman.

119: O Deth, thou comest whan I had the leest in mynde! 120: in thy power it lyeth me to saue; 121: Yet of my good wyl I guye the, yf thou wyl be kynde — 122: Ye, a thousande pounde shalte thou haue — 123: And dyfferre this mater tyll an other daye. Dethe.

124: Eueryman, it may not be by no waye. 125: I set not by golde, syluer, nor rychesse, 126: Ne by pope/emperour/kynge/duke, ne prynces; 127: For, and I wolde receyue gyftes grete, 128: All the worlde I myght gete;

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129: But my custome is clene contrary. 130: I gyue the no respyte. Come hens, and not tary! Eueryman.

131: Alas, shall I haue no lenger respyte? 132: I may saye Deth gyueth no warnynge! 133: To thynke on the, it maketh my herte seke, 134: For all vnredy is my boke of rekenynge. 135: But xii. yere and I myght haue a-bydynge, 136: My countynge-boke I wolde make so clere 137: That my rekenynge I sholde not nede to fere. 138: Wherfore, Deth, I praye the, for Goddes mercy, 139: Spare me tyll I be prouyded of remedy. Dethe.

140: The auayleth not to crye, wepe, and praye; 141: But hast the lyghtly that thou were gone that iournaye, 142: And preue thy frendes yf thou can. 143: For wete thou well the tyde abydeth no man, 144: And in the worlde eche lyuynge creature 145: For Adams synne must dye of nature. Eueryman.

146: Dethe, yf I sholde this pylgrymage take, 147: And my rekenynge suerly make, 148: Shewe me, for saynt charyte, 149: Sholde I not come agayne shortly? Dethe.

150: No, Eueryman; and thou be ones there, 151: Thou mayst neuer more come here, 152: Trust me veryly. Eueryman.

153: O gracyous God in the hye sete celestyall, 154: Haue mercy on me in this moost nede! 155: Shall I haue no company fro this vale terestryall 156: Of myne acqueyntaunce, that way me to lede? Dethe.

157: Ye, yf ony be so hardy 158: That wolde go with the and bere the company. 159: Hye the that thou were gone to Goddes magnyfycence, 160: Thy rekenynge to gyue before his presence. 161: What, wenest thou thy lyue is gyuen the, 162: And thy worldely gooddes also? Eueryman.

163: I had wende so, veryle. Dethe.

164: Nay, nay, it was but lende the; 165: For as soone as thou arte go,

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166: Another a whyle shall haue it, and than go ther-fro, 167: Euen as thou hast done. 168: Eueryman, thou arte made! Thou hast thy wyttes fyue, 169: And here on erthe wyll not amende thy lyue; 170: For sodeynly I do come. Eueryman.

171: O wretched caytyfe, wheder shall I flee, 172: That I myght scape this endles sorowe? 173: Now, gentyll Deth, spare me tyll to-morowe, 174: That I may amende me 175: With good aduysement. Dethe.

176: Naye, therto I wyll not consent, 177: Nor no man wyll I respyte; 178: But to the herte sodeynly I shall smyte 179: Without ony aduysement. 180: And now out of thy syght I wyll me hy. 181: Se thou make the redy shortely, 182: For thou mayst saye this is the daye 183: That no man lyuynge may scape a-way. Eueryman.

184: Alas, I may well wepe with syghes depe! 185: Now haue I no maner of company 186: To help me in my iourney, and me to kepe; 187: And also my wrytynge is full vnredy. 188: How shall I do now for to exscuse me? 189: I wolde to God I had neuer be get! 190: To my soule a full grete profyte it had be, 191: For now I fere paynes huge and grete. 192: The tyme passeth. Lorde, helpe, that all wrought! 193: For though I mourne, it auayleth nought. 194: The day passeth and is almoost ago; 195: I wote not well what for to do. 196: To whome were I best my complaynt to make? 197: What and I to Felawshyp therof spake, 198: And shewed hym of this sodeyne chaunce? 199: For in hym is all muyne affyaunce; 200: We haue in the worlde so many a daye 201: Be good frendes in sporte and playe. 202: I se hym yonder, certaynely.

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203: I trust that he wyll bere me company; 204: Therfore to hym wyll I speke to ese my sorowe. 205: Well mette, Good Felawshyp, and good morowe! [Felawshyp speketh.]

Felawship.

206: Eueryman, good morowe, by this daye! 207: Syr, why lokest thou so pyteously? 208: If ony thynge be a-mysse, I praye the me saye, 209: That I may helpe to remedy. Eueryman.

210: Ye, good Felawshyp, ye, 211: I am in greate ieoparde. Felawship.

212: My true frende, shewe to me your mynde. 213: I wyll not forsake the to my lyues ende, 214: In the waye of good company. Eueryman.

215: That was well spoken and louyngly. Felawshyp.

216: Syr, I must nedes knowe your heuynesse; 217: I haue pyte to se you in ony dystresse. 218: I ony haue you wronged, ye shall reuenged be, 219: Thoughe I on the grounde be slayne for the, “signature” n=“B.i”

220: Though that I knowe before that I sholde dye. Eueryman.

221: Veryly, Felawshyp, gramercy. Felawship.

222: Tusshe! by thy thankes I set not a strawe. 223: Shewe me your grefe, and saye no more. Eueryman.

224: If I my herte sholde to you breke, 225: And than you to tourne your mynde fro me 226: And wolde not me comforte whan ye here me speke, 227: Than sholde I ten tymes soryer be. Felawship.

228: Syr, I saye as I wyll do in dede. Eueryman.

229: Than be you a good frende at nede. 230: I haue founde you true here-before. Felawship.

231: And so ye shall euermore; 232: For, in fayth, and thou go to hell, 233: I wyll not forsake the by the waye. Eueryman.

234: Ye speke lyke a good frende; I byleue you well 235: I shall deserue it, and I maye. Felawship.

236: I speke of no deseruynge, by this daye!

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237: For he that wyll saye, and nothynge do, 238: Is not worthy with good company to go; 239: Therfore shewe me the grefe of your mynde, 240: As to your frende moost louynge and kynde. Eueryman.

241: I shall shewe you how it is: 242: Commaunded I am to go a iournaye, 243: A longe waye harde and daungerous, 244: And gyue a strayte counte, without delaye, 245: Before the hye Iuge, Adonay. 246: Wherfore, I pray you, bere me company, 247: As ye haue promysed, in this iournaye. Felawship.

248: That is mater in dede! Promyse is duty; 249: But, and I sholde take suche a vyage on me, 250: I knowe it well, it sholde be to my payne; 251: Also it maketh me aferde, certayne. 252: But let vs take counsell here as well as we can, 253: For your wordes wolde fere a stronge man. Eueryman.

254: Why, ye sayd yf I had nede 255: Ye wolde me neuer forsake, quycke ne deed, 256: Thoughe it were to hell, truely. Felawship.

257: So I sayd, certaynely, 258: But suche pleasures be set a-syde, the sothe to saye; 259: And also, yf we toke suche a iournaye, 260: Whan sholde we agayne come? Eueryman.

261: Naye, neuer agayne tyll the daye of dome. Felawship.

262: In fayth, than wyll not I come there! 263: Who hath you these tydynges brought? Eueryman.

264: In dede, Deth was with me here. 265: Felawshyp. Now, by God that all hathe bought, 266: If Deth were the messenger, 267: For no man that is lyuynge to-daye 268: I wyll not go that lothe iournaye — 269: Not for the fader that bygate me! Eueryman.

270: Ye promysed other wyse, parde. Felawship.

271: I wote well I sayd so, truely;

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272: And yet, yf thou wylte ete & drynke & make good chere, 273: Or haunt to women the lusty company, 274: I wolde not forsake you whyle the daye is clere, 275: Trust me veryly. Eueryman.

276: Ye, therto ye wolde be redy! 277: To go to myrthe, solas, and playe 278: Your mynde wyll soner apply, 279: Than to bere me company in my longe iournaye. Felawship.

280: Now, in good fayth, I wyll not that waye; 281: But and thou wyll murder, or ony man kyll, 282: In that I wyll helpe the with a good wyll. Eueryman.

283: O, that is a symple aduyse in dede. “signature” n=“B.ii”

284: Gentyll felawe, helpe me in my necessyte! 285: We haue loued longe, and now I nede; 286: And now, gentyll Felawshyp, remembre me. Felawship.

287: Wheder ye haue loued me or no, 288: By Saynt Iohan I wyll not with the go! Eueryman.

289: Yet, I pray the, take the labour & do so moche for me 290: To brynge me forwarde, for saynt charyte, 291: And comforte me tyll I come without the towne. Felawship.

292: Nay, and thou wolde gyue me a newe gowne, 293: I wyll not a fote with the go; 294: But, and thou had taryed, I wolde not haue lefte the so. 295: And as now God spede the in thy iournaye, 296: For from the I wyll departe as fast as I maye. Eueryman.

297: Wheder a-waye, Felawshyp? Wyll thou forsake me? Felawship.

298: Ye, by my faye! To God I be-take the. Eueryman.

299: Farewell, good Felawshyp! For the my herte is sore. 300: A-dewe for euer! I shall se the no more. Felawship.

301: In fayth, Eueryman, fare well now at the endynge! 302: For you I wyll remembre that partynge is mournynge. Eueryman.

303: A-lacke, shall wee thus departe in ded —

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304: A, Lady, helpe! — without ony more comforte? 305: Lo, Felawshyp forsaketh me in my moost nede. 306: For helpe in this worlde wheder shall I resorte? 307: Felawshyp here-before with me wolde mery make, 308: And now lytell sorowe for me dooth he take. 309: It is sayd, `In prosperyte men frendes may fynde, 310: Whiche in aduersyte be full vnkynde.’ 311: Now wheder for socoure shall I flee, 312: Syth that Felawshyp hath forsaken me? 313: To my kynnesmen I wyll, truely, 314: Prayenge them to helpe me in my necessyte. 315: I byleue that they wyll do so, 316: For kynde wyll crepe where it may not go. 317: I wyll go saye, for yonder I se them. 318: Where be ye now, my frendes and kynnesmen? Kynrede.

319: Here be we now at your commaundement. 320: Cosyn, I praye you shewe vs your entent 321: In ony wyse, and not spare. Cosyn.

322: Ye, Eueryman, and to vs declare 323: If ye be dysposed to go ony-whyder; 324: For, wete you well, we wyll lyue and dye togyder. Kynrede.

325: In welth and wo we wyll with you holde, 326: For ouer his kynne a man may be bolde. Eueryman.

327: Gramercy, my frendes and kynnesmen kynde. 328: Now shall I shewe you the grefe of my mynde: 329: I was commaunded by a messenger, 330: That is a hye kynges chefe offycer. 331: He bad me go a pylgrymage, to my payne, 332: And I knowe well I shall neuer come agayne. 333: Also I must gyue a rekenynge strayte, 334: For I haue a grete enemy that hath me in wayte, 335: Whiche entendeth me for to hynder. Kynrede.

336: What a-counte is that whiche ye must render? 337: That wolde I knowe. Eueryman.

338: Of all my workes I must shewe

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339: How I haue lyued and my dayes spent; 340: Also of yll dedes that I haue vsed 341: In my tyme, syth lyfe was me lent; 342: And of all vertues that I haue refused. 343: Therfore, I praye you, go thyder with me 344: To helpe to make myn accounte, for saynt charyte. 345: Cosyn. What, to go thyder? Is that the mater? 346: Nay, Eueryman, I had leuer fast brede and water 347: All this fyue yere and more. “signature” n=“B.iii”

Eueryman.

348: Alas, that euer I was bore! 349: For now shall I neuer be mery, 350: If that you forsake me. Kynrede.

351: A, syr, what ye be a mery man! 352: Take good herte to you, and make no mone. 353: But one thynge I warne you, by Saynt Anne — 354: As for me, ye shall go alone. Eueryman.

355: My Cosyn, wyll you not with me go? Cosyn.

356: No, by our Lady! I haue the crampe in my to. 357: Trust not to me; for, so God me spede, 358: I wyll deceyue you in your moost nede. Kynrede.

359: It auayleth not vs to tyse. 360: Ye shall haue my mayde with all my herte; 361: She loueth to go to feestes, there to be nyse, 362: And to daunce, and a-brode to sterte. 363: I wyll gyue her leue to helpe you in that iourney, 364: If that you and she may a-gree. Eueryman.

365: Now shewe me the very effecte of your mynde: 366: Wyll you go with me, or abyde behynde? Kynrede.

367: Abyde behynde? / Ye, that wyll I, and I maye! 368: Therfore farewell tyll another daye. Eueryman.

369: Howe sholde I be mery or gladde? 370: For fayre promyses men to me make, 371: But whan I haue moost nede they me forsake. 372: I am deceyued; that maketh me sadde. Cosyn.

373: Cosyn Eueryman, farewell now, 374: For veryly I wyll not go with you. 375: Also of myne owne an vnredy rekenynge 376: I haue to accounte; therfore I make taryenge.

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377: Now God kepe the, for now I go. Eueryman.

378: A, Iesus, is all come here-to? 379: Lo, fayre wordes maketh fooles fayne; 380: They promyse, and nothynge wyll do, certayne. 381: My kynnesmen promysed me faythfully 382: For to a-byde with me stedfastly, 383: And now fast a-waye do they flee. 384: Euen so Felawshyp promysed me. 385: What frende were best me of to prouyde? 386: I lose my tyme here longer to abyde. 387: Yet in my mynde a thynge there is: 388: All my lyfe I haue loued ryches; 389: If that my Good now helpe my myght, 390: He wolde make my herte full lyght. 391: I wyll speke to hym in this dystresse. 392: Where arte thou, my Gooddes and ryches? Goodes.

393: Who calleth me? Eueryman? / What, hast thou haste? 394: I lye here in corners, trussed and pyled so hye, 395: And in chestes I am locked so fast, 396: Also sacked in bagges. Thou mayst se with thyn eye 397: I can not styre; in packes, lowe I lye. 398: What wolde ye haue? Lyghtly me saye. Eueryman.

399: Come hyder, Good, in al the hast thou may, 400: For of counseyll I must desyre the. 401: Goodes. Syre, & ye in the worlde haue sorowe or aduersyte, 402: That can I helpe you to remedy shortly. Eueryman.

403: It is another dysease that greueth me; 404: In this worlde it is not, I tell the so. 405: I am sent for, an other way to go, 406: To gyue a strayte counte generall 407: Before the hyest Iupyter of all. 408: And all my lyfe I haue had ioye & pleasure in the, 409: Therfore, I pray the, go with me; 410: For parauenture, thou mayst before God Almyghty 411: My rekenynge helpe to clene and puryfye, “signature” n=“B.iiii”

412: For it is sayd euer amonge

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413: That `money maketh all ryght that is wronge.’ Goodes.

414: Nay, Eueryman, I synge an other songe. 415: I folowe no man in suche vyages; 416: For, and I wente with the, 417: Thou sholdest fare moche the worse for me. 418: For bycause on me thou dyd set thy mynde, 419: Thy rekenynge I haue made blotted and blynde, 420: That thyne accounte thou can not make truly — 421: And that hast thou for the loue of me! Eueryman.

422: That wolde greue me full sore, 423: Whan I sholde come to that ferefull answere. 424: Vp, let vs go thyder togyder. Goodes.

425: Nay, not so! I am to brytell, I may not endure. 426: I wyll folowe no man one fote, be ye sure. Eueryman.

427: Alas, I haue the loued, and had grete pleasure 428: All my lyfe-dayes on good and treasure. Goodes.

429: That is to thy dampnacyon, without lesynge, 430: For my loue is contrary to the loue euerlastynge. 431: But yf thou had me loued moderately durynge, 432: As to the poore gyue parte of me, 433: Than sholdest thou not in this dolour be, 434: Nor in this grete sorowe and care. Eueryman.

435: Lo, now was I deceyued or I was ware; 436: And all I may wyte my spendynge of tyme. 437: Goodes, What, wenest thou that I am thyne? Eueryman.

438: I had went so. Goodes.

439: Naye, Eueryman, I saye no. 440: As for a whyle I was lente the; 441: A season thou hast had me in prosperyte. 442: My condycyon is mannes soule to kyll; 443: If I saue one, a thousande I do spyll. 444: Wenest thou that I wyll folowe the? 445: Nay, fro this worlde not, veryle. Eueryman.

446: I had wende otherwyse.

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Goodes.

447: Therfore to thy soule Good is a thefe; 448: For whan thou arte deed, this is my gyse — 449: Another to deceyue in this same wyse 450: As I haue done the, and all to his soules represe. Eueryman.

451: O false Good, cursed thou be, 452: Thou traytour to God, that hast deceyued me 453: And caught me in thy snare! Goodes.

454: Mary, thou brought they selfe in care, 455: Wherof I am gladde. 456: I must nedes laugh; I can not be sadde. Eueryman.

457: A, Good, thou hast had longe my hertely loue; 458: I gaue the that whiche sholde be the Lordes aboue. 459: But wylte thou not go with me in dede? 460: I praye the trouth to saye. Goodes.

461: No, so God me spede! 462: Therfore fare well, and haue good daye. Eueryman.

463: O, to whome shall I make my mone 464: For to go with me in that heuy iournaye? 465: Fyrst Felawshyp sayd he wolde with me gone; 466: His wordes were very pleasaunt and gaye, 467: But afterwarde he lefte me alone. 468: Than spake I to my kynnesmen, all in dyspayre, 469: And also they gaue me wordes fayre; 470: They lacked no fayre spekynge, 471: But all forsake me in the endynge. 472: Than wente I to my Goodes that I loued best, 473: In hope to haue comforte; but there had I leest, 474: For my Goodes sharpely dyd me tell 475: That he bryngeth many in to hell. 476: Than of my selfe I was ashamed, 477: And so I am worthy to be blamed; 478: Thus may I well my selfe hate. 479: Of whome shall I now counseyll take? 480: I thynke that I shall neuer spede 481: Tyll that I go to my Good Dede. 482: But, alas, she is so weke

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483: That she can nother go nor speke; 484: Yet wyll I venter on her now. 485: My Good Dedes, where be you? Good Dedes.

486: Here I lye, colde in the grounde. 487: Thy synnes hath me sore bounde, 488: That I can not stere. Eueryman.

489: O Good Dedes, I stande in fere! 490: I must you pray of counseyll, 491: For help now sholde come ryght well. Good Dedes.

492: Eueryman, I haue vnderstandynge 493: That ye be somoned a-counte to make 494: Before Myssyas, of Iherusalem kynge; 495: And you do by me, that iournay with you wyll I take. Eueryman.

496: Therfore I come to you my moone to make. 497: I praye you that ye wyll go with me. 498: Good Dedes. I wolde full fayne, but I can not stande, veryly. 499: Ereryman. Why, is there ony thynge on you fall? 500: Goode Dedes. Ye, syr, I may thanke you of all. 501: If ye had parfytely chered me, 502: Your boke of counte full redy had be. 503: Loke, the bokes of your workes and dedes eke 504: Ase how they lye vnder the fete, 505: To your soules heuynes. Eueryman.

506: Our Lorde Iesus help me! 507: For one letter here I can not se. 508: Good Dedes. There is a blynde rekenynge in tyme of dystres. Eueryman.

509: Good Dedes, I praye you helpe me in this nede, 510: Or elles I am for euer dampned in dede; 511: Therfore helpe me to make rekenynge 512: Before the Redemer of all thynge, 513: That Kynge is, and was, and euer shall. 514: Good Dedes. Eueryman, I am sory of your fall, 515: And fayne wolde I help you, and I were able. Eueryman.

516: Good Dedes, your counseyll I pray you gyue me.

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517: Good Dedes. That shall I do veryly. 518: Thoughe that on my fete I may not go, 519: I haue a syster that shall with you also, 520: Called Knowlege, whiche shall with you abyde, 521: To helpe you to make that dredefull rekenynge. Knowlege.

522: Eueryman, I wyll go with the and be thy gyde, 523: In they moost nede to go by thy syde. Eueryman.

524: In good condycyon I am now in euery thynge, 525: And am holy content with this good thynge, 526: Thanked be God my creature. Good Dedes.

527: And whan she hath brought you there 528: Where thou shalte hele the of thy smarte, 529: Than go you with your rekenynge & your Good Dedes togyder, 530: For to make you ioyfull at herte 531: Before the Blessyd Trynyte. Eueryman.

532: My Good Dedes, gramercy! 533: I am well content, certaynly, 534: With your wordes swete. Knowlege.

535: Now go we togyder louyngly 536: To Confessyon, that clensynge ryuere. Eueryman.

537: For ioy I wepe; I wolde we were there! 538: But, I pray you, gyue me cognycyon 539: Where dwelleth that holy man, Confessyon. Knowlege.

540: In the house of saluacyon; 541: We shall fynde hym in that place, 542: That shall vs comforte, by Goddes grace. 543: Lo, this is Confessyon. Knele downe & aske mercy, 544: For he is in good conceyte with God Almyghty. Eueryman.

545: O gloryous fountayne, that all vnclennes doth claryfy, 546: Wasshe fro me the spottes of vyce vnclene, 547: That on me no synne may be sene. 548: I come with Knowlege for my redempcyon, 549: Redempte with herte and full contrycyon;

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550: For I am commaunded a pylgrymage to take, 551: And grete accountes before God to make. 552: Now I praye you, Shryfte, moder of saluacyon, 553: Helpe my Good Dedes for my pyteous exclamacyon. Confessyon.

554: I knowe your sorowe well, Eueryman. 555: Bycause with Knowlege ye come to me, 556: I wyll you comforte as well as I can. 557: And a precyous iewell I wyll gyue the, 558: Called penaunce, voyder of aduersyte; 559: Therwith shall your body chastysed be, 560: With abstynence & perseueraunce in Goddes seruyture. 561: Here shall you receyue that scourge of me, 562: Whiche is penaunce stronge that ye must endure, 563: To remembre thy Sauyour was scourged for the 564: With sharpe scourges, and suffred it pacyently; 565: So must thou or thou scape that paynful pylgrymage. 566: Knowlege, kepe hym in this vyate, 567: And by that tyme Good Dedes wyll be with the. 568: But in ony wyse be seker of mercy, 569: For your tyme draweth fast; and ye wyll saued be, 570: Aske God mercy, and he wyll graunte truely. 571: Whan with the scourge of penaunce man doth hym bynde, 572: The oyle of forgyuenes than shall he fynde. Eueryman.

573: Thanked be God for his gracyous werke! 574: For now I wyll my penaunce begyn. 575: This hath reioysed and lyghted my herte, 576: Though the knottes by paynful and harde, within. Knowlege.

577: Eueryman, loke your penaunce that ye fulfyll, 578: What payne that euer it to you be; 579: And Knowlege shall guyue you counseyll at wyll 580: How your accounte ye shall make clerely. Eueryman.

581: O eternall God O heuenly fygure, 582: O way of ryghtwysnes O goodly vysyon, 583: Whiche dyscended downe in a vyrgyn pure 584: Bycause he wolde euery man redeme, 585: Which Adam forfayted by his dysobedyence:

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586: O blessyd God-heed, electe and hye deuyne, 587: Forgyue me my greuous offence! 588: Here I crye the mercy in this presence. 589: O ghostly treasure, O raunsomer and redemer, 590: Of all the worlde hope and conduyter, 591: Myrrour of ioye, foundatour of mercy, 592: Whiche enlumyneth heuen and erth therby, 593: Here my clamorous complaynt, though it late be, 594: Receyue my prayers vnworthy in this heuy lyfe! 595: Though I be a synner moost abhomynable, 596: Yet let my name be wryten in Moyses table. 597: O Mary, praye to the Maker of all thynge, 598: Me for to helpe at my endynge; 599: And saue me from the power of my enemy, 600: For Deth assayleth me strongly. 601: And, Lady, that I may by meane of thy prayer 602: Of your Sones glory to be partynere, 603: By the meanes of his passyon, I it craue; 604: I besech you helpe my soule to saue. 605: Knowlege, gyue me the scourge of penaunce; 606: My flesshe therwith shall guye acqueyntaunce. 607: I wyll now begyn yf God gyue me grace. Knowlege.

608: Eueryman, God gyue you tyme and space! 609: Thus I bequeth you in the handes of our Sauyour; 610: Now may you make your rekenynge sure. Eueryman.

611: In the name of the Holy Trynyte, 612: My body sore punysshed shall be: 613: Take this, body, for the synne of the flesshe! 614: Also thou delytest to go gay and fresshe, 615: And in the way of dampnacyon thou dyd me brynge; 616: Therfore suffre now strokes of punysshynge. 617: Now of penaunce I wyll wade the water clere, 618: To saue me from Purgatory, that sharpe fyre.

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619: Goode Dedes. I thanke God, now I can walke and go, 620: And am delyuered of my sykenesse and wo. 621: Therfore with Eueryman I wyll go, and not spare; 622: His good workes I wyll helpe hym to declare. Knowlege.

623: Now, Eueryman, be mery and glad! 624: Your Good Dedes cometh now; ye may not be sad. 625: Now is your Good Dedes hole and sounde, 626: Goynge vpryght vpon the grounde. Eueryman.

627: My herte is lyght, and shal be euermore; 628: Now wyll I smyte faster than I dyde before. Good Dedes.

629: Eueryman, pylgryme, my specyall frende, 630: Blessyd be thou without ende! 631: For the is preparate the eternall glory. 632: Ye haue me made hole and sounde, 633: Therfore I wyll byde by the in euery stounde. Eueryman.

634: Welcome, my Good Dedes! Now I here thy voyce 635: I wepe for very swetenes of loue. Knowlege.

636: Be no more sad, but euer reioyce; 637: God seeth thy lyuynge in his trone aboue. 638: Put on this garment to thy behoue, 639: Whiche is wette with your teres, 640: Or elles before God you may it mysse, 641: Whan ye to your iourneys ende come shall. Eueryman.

642: Gentyll Knowlege, what do ye it call? Knowlege.

643: It is a garment of sorowe; 644: Fro payne it wyll you borowe. 645: Contrycyon it is 646: That getteth forgyuenes; 647: He pleaseth God passynge well. Good Dedes.

648: Eueryman, wyll you were it for your hele? Eueryman.

649: Now blessyde be Iesu, Maryes sone, 650: For now haue I on true contrycyon; 651: And lette vs go now without taryenge. 652: Good Dedes, haue we clere our rekenynge? Good Dedes.

653: Ye, in dede, I haue it here.

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Eueryman.

654: Than I trust we nede not fere. 655: Now, frendes, let vs not parte in twayne. Knowlege.

656: Nay, Eueryman, that wyll we not, certayne. Good Dedes.

657: Yet must thou lede with the 658: Thre persones of grete myght. Eueryman.

659: Who sholde they be? Good Dedes.

660: Dyscrecyon and Strength they hyght, 661: And thy Beaute may not abyde behynde. Knowlege.

662: Also ye must call to mynde 663: Your Fyue Wyttes as for your counseylours. Good Dedes.

664: You must haue them redy at all houres. Eueryman.

665: Howe shall I gette them hyder? Knowlege.

666: You must call them all togyder, 667: And they wyll here you in-contyntent. Eueryman.

668: My frendes, come hyder and be present, 669: Dyscrecyon, Strengthe, my Fyue Wyttes, and Beaute. Beaute.

670: Here at your wyll we be all redy. 671: What wolde ye that we shold do? Good Dedes.

672: That ye wolde with Eueryman go, 673: And help hym in his pylgrymage. 674: Aduyse you wyll ye with him or not in that vyage? 675: Strength. We wyll brynge hym all thyder, 676: To his helpe and comforte ye may byleue me. 677: Dyscrecion. So wyll we go with hym all togyder. Eueryman.

678: Almyghty God, loued may thou be! 679: I gyue the laude that I haue hyder brought 680: Strength, Dyscrecyon, Beaute, & V. Wyttes. Lacke I nought. 681: And my Good Dedes, with Knowlege clere, 682: All be in company at my wyll here. 683: I desyre no more to my besynes. 684: Strengthe. And I, Strength, wyll gy you stande in dystres, 685: Though thou wolde in batayle fyght on the grounde.

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V. Wyttes.

686: And though it were thrugh the worlde rounde, 687: We wyll not departe for swete ne soure. Beaute.

688: No more wyll I vnto dethes houre, 689: What so euer therof befall. Dyscrecion.

690: Eueryman, aduyse you fyrst of all; 691: Go with a good aduysement and delyberacyon. 692: We all gyue you vertuous monycyon 693: That all shall be well. Eueryman.

694: My frendes, harken what I wyll tell: 695: I praye God rewarde you in his heuenly spere. 696: Now herken, all that be here, 697: For I wyll make my testament 698: Here before you all present: 699: In almes / halfe my good I wyll gyue with my handes twayne 700: In the way of charyte with good entent, 701: And the other hald styll shall remayne 702: In queth, to be retourned there it ought to be. 703: This I do in despyte of the fende of hell, 704: To go quyte out of his perell 705: Euer after and this daye. Knowlege.

706: Eueryman, herken what I saye: 707: Go to Presthode, I you aduyse, 708: And receyue of hym in ony wyse 709: The holy sacrament and oyntement togyder. 710: Than shortly se ye tourne agayne hyder; 711: We wyll all abyde you here. 712: V. Wwyttes. Ye, Eueryman, hye you that ye redy were. 713: There is no Emperour, Kynge, Duke, ne Baron, 714: That of God hath commycyon 715: As hath the leest preest in the worlde beynge; 716: For of the blessyd sacraments pure and benygne 717: He bereth the keyes, and therof hath the cure 718: For mannes recempcyon — it is euer sure — 719: Whiche God for our soules medycyne

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720: Gaue vs out of his herte with grete pyne. 721: Here in this transytory lyfe, for the and me, 722: The blessyd sacraments vii. there be: 723: Baptym, confyrmacyon, with preesthode good, 724: And the sacrament of Goddes precyous flesshe & blod, 725: Maryage, the holy extreme vnccyon, and penaunce. 726: These seuen be good to haue in remembraunce, 727: Gracyous sacraments of hye deuynyte. Eueryman.

728: Fayne wolde I receyue that holy body, 729: And mekely to my ghostly fader I wyll go. V. Wyttes.

730: Eueryman, that is the best that ye can do. 731: God wyll you to saluacyon brynge, 732: For preesthode excedeth all other thynge: 733: To vs holy scrypture they do teche, 734: And conuerteth man fro synne, heuen to reche; 735: God hath to them more power gyuen 736: Than to ony aungell that is in heuen. 737: With v. wordes he may consecrate, 738: Goddes body in flesshe and blode to make, 739: And handeleth his Maker bytwene his handes. 740: The preest byndeth and vnbyndeth all bandes, 741: Bothe in erthe and in heuen. 742: Thou mynystres all the sacramentes seuen; 743: Though we kysse thy fete, thou were worthy. 744: Thou arte surgyon that cureth synne deedly; 745: No remedy we fynde vnder God 746: But all onely preesthode. 747: Eueryman, God gaue preest that dygnyte, 748: And setteth them in his stede amonge vs to be; 749: Thus be they aboue aungelles in degree. Knowlege.

750: If preestes be good, it is so, suerly. 751: But whan Iesu hanged on the crosse with grete smarte, 752: There he gaue out of his blessyd herte 753: The seuen sacraments in grete tourment;

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754: He solde them not to vs, that Lorde omnypotent. 755: Therfore Saynt Peter the apostell dothe saye 756: That Iesus curse hath all they 757: Whiche God theyr Sauyour do by or sell, 758: Or they for ony money do take or tell. 759: Synfull preestes gyueth the synners example bad: 760: Theyr chyldren sytteth by other mennes fyres, I haue harde; 761: And some haunteth womens company 762: With vnclene lyfe, as lustes of lechery. 763: These be with synne made blynde. V. Wyttes.

764: I trust to God no suche may we fynde; 765: Therfore let vs preesthode honour, 766: And folowe theyr doctryne for our soules socoure. 767: We be theyr shepe, and they shepeherdes be 768: By whome we all be kepte in suerte. 769: Peas! For yonder I se Eueryman come, 770: Which hath made true satysfaccyon. Good Dedes.

771: Me thyhnke it is he in ded. Eueryman.

772: Now Iesu be your alder spede! 773: I haue receyued the sacrament for my redempycon, 774: And than myne extreme vnccyon. 775: Blessyd be all they that counseyled me to take it! 776: And now, frendes, let vs go without longer respyte. 777: I thanke God that ye haue taryed so longe. 778: Now set eche of you on this rodde your honde, 779: And shortely folowe me. 780: I go before there I wolde be. God be our gyde! 781: Strength. Eueryman, we wyll not fro you go 782: Tyll ye haue done this vyage longe. Dyscrecion.

783: I, Dyscrecyon, wyll byde by you also. 784: Kniowlege. And though this pylgrymage be neuer so stronge, 785: I wyll neuer parte you fro. 786: Strength. Eueryman, I wyll be as sure by the 787: As euer I dyde by Iudas Machabee. Eueryman.

788: Alas, I am so faynt I may not stande;

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789: My lymmes vnder me do folde. 790: Frendes, let vs not tourne agayne to this lande, 791: Not for all the worldes golde; 792: For in to this caue must I crepe 793: And tourne to erth, and there to slepe. Beaute.

794: What, in to this graue? Alas! Eueryman.

795: Ye, there shall ye consume, more and lesse. “signature” n=“C.ii”

Beaute.

796: And what, sholde I smoder here? Eueryman.

797: Ye, by my fayth, and neuer more appere. 798: In this worlde lyue no more we shall, 799: But in heuen before the hyest Lorde of all. Beaute.

800: I crosse out all this. / Adewe, by Saynt Iohan! 801: I take my tappe in my lappe and am gone. Eueryman.

802: What, Beaute, whyder wyll ye? Beaute.

803: Peas! I am defe. I loke not behynde me, 804: Not & thou wolde gyue me all the golde in thy chest. Eueryman.

805: Alas, wherto may I truste? 806: Beaute gothe fast awaye fro me. 807: She promysed with me to lyue and dye. 808: Strength. Eueryman, I wyll the also forsake and denye; 809: Thy game lyketh me not at all. Eueryman.

810: Why, than, ye wyll forsake me all? 811: Swete Strength, tary a lyttel space. 812: Strengthe. Nay, syr, by the rode of grace! 813: I wyll hye me from the fast, 814: Though thou wepe to thy herte to-brast. Eueryman.

815: Ye wolde euer byde by me, ye sayd. 816: Strength. Ye, I haue you ferre ynoughe conueyde. 817: Ye be olde ynoughe, I vnderstande, 818: Your pylgrymage to take on hande. 819: I repent me that I hyder came. Eueryman.

820: Strength, you to dysplease I am to blame.

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821: Wyll ye breke promyse that is dette? 822: Strength. In fayth, I care not. 823: Thou arte but a foole to complayne; 824: You spend your speche and wast your brayne. 825: Go thryst the in to the grounde. Eyeryman.

826: I had wende surer I sholde you haue founde. 827: He that trusteth in his Strength, 828: She hym deceyueth at the length. 829: Bothe Strength and Beaute forsaketh me; 830: Yet they promysed me fayre and louyngly. Dyscrecion.

831: Eueryman, I wyll after Strength be gone. 832: As for me, I wyll leue you alone. Eueryman.

833: Why, Dyscrecyon, wyll ye forsake me? 834: Dyscrecionn. Ye, in faytyh, I wyll go fro the, 835: For whan Strength goth before 836: I folowe after euer more. Eueryman.

837: Yet, I pray the, for the loue of the Trynyte, 838: Loke in my graue ones pyteously. Dyscrecion.

839: Nay, so nye wyll I not come. 840: Fare well, euerychone! Eueryman.

841: O, all thynge fayleth, saue God alone — 842: Beaute, Strength, and Dyscrecyon; 843: For whan Deth bloweth his blast, 844: They all renne fro me full fast. V. Wyttes.

845: Eueryman, my leue now of the I take. 846: I wyll folowe the other, for here I the forsake. Eueryman.

847: Alas, than may I wayle and wepe, 848: For I toke you for my best frende. V. Wyttes.

849: I wyll no lenger the kepe. 850: Now fare well, and there an ende. Eueryman.

851: O Iesu, helpe! All hath forsaken me. Good Dedes.

852: Nay, Eueryman, I wyll byde with the. 853: I wyll not forsake the in dede; 854: Thou shalte fynde me a good frende at nede. Eueryman.

855: Gramercy, Good Dedes! Now may I true frendes se.

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856: They haue forsaken me, euerychone; 857: I loued them better than my Good Dedes alone. 858: Knowlege, wyll ye forsake me also? Knowlege.

859: Ye, Eueryman, whan ye to Deth shall go; “signature” n=“C.iii”

860: But not yet, for no maner of daunger. Everyman.

861: Gramercy, Knowlege, with all my herte. Knowlege.

862: Nay, yet I wyll not from hens departe 863: Tyll I se where ye shall be-come. Eueryman.

864: Me thynke, alas, that I must be gone 865: To make my rekenynge and my dettes paye, 866: For I se my tyme is nye spent awaye. 867: Take example, all ye that this do here or se, 868: How they that I loued best do forsake me, 869: Except my Good Dedes that bydeth truely. Good Dedes.

870: All erthly thynges is but vanyte: 871: Beaute, Strength / and Dyscrecyon do man forsake, 872: Folysshe frendes and kynnesmen that fayre spake — 873: All fleeth saue Good Dedes, and that am I. Eueryman.

874: Haue mercy on me, God moost myghty, 875: And stande by me, thou moder & mayde, Holy Mary! Good Dedes.

876: Fere not; I wyll speke for the. Eueryman.

877: Here I crye God mercy. Good Dedes.

878: Shorte our ende and mynysshe our payne; 879: Let vs go and neuer come agayne. Eueryman.

880: In to they handes, Lorde, my soule I commende; 881: Receyue it, Lorde, that it be not lost. 882: As thou me boughtest, so me defende, 883: And saue me from the fendes boost, 884: That I may appere with that blessyd hoost 885: That shall be saued at the day of dome. 886: In manus tuas, of myghtes moost 887: For euer, Commendo spiritum meum. Knowlege.

888: Now hath he suffred that we all shall endure; 889: The Good Dedes shall make all sure.

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890: Now hath he made endynge; 891: Me thynketh that I here aungelles synge 892: And make grete ioy and melody 893: Where Euerymannes soule receyued shall be. The Aungell.

894: Come, excellente electe spouse, to Iesu! 895: Here aboue thou shalte go 896: Bycause of thy synguler vertue. 897: Now thy soule is taken thy body fro, 898: Thy rekenynge is crystall-clere. 899: Now shalte thou in to the heuenly spere, 900: Vnto the whiche all ye shall come 901: That lyueth well before the daye of dome. Doctour.

902: This morall men may haue in mynde. 903: Ye herers, take it of worth, olde and yonge, 904: And forsake Pryde, for he deceyueth you in the ende; 905: And remembre Beaute, V. Wyttes, Strength, & Dyscrecyon, 906: They all at the last do Eueryman forsake, 907: Saue his Good Dedes there dothe he take. 908: But be-ware, for and they be small, 909: Before God he hath no helpe at all: 910: None excuse may be there for Eueryman. 911: Alas, how shall he do than? 912: For after dethe amendes may no man make, 913: For than mercy and pyte doth hym forsake. 914: If his rekenynge be not clere whan he doth come, 915: God wyll saye, `Ite, maledicti, in ignem eternum.’ 916: And he that hath his accounte hole and sounde, 917: Hye in heuen he shall be crounde. 918: Vnto which place God brynge vs all thyder, 919: That we may lyue body and soule togyder.

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920: Therto helpe the Trynyte! 921: Amen, saye ye, for saynt charyte.

FINIS. Thus endeth this morall playe of Eueryman. Imprynted at London in Poules chyrche yarde by me Iohan Skot.