Everyman, ed. by John Skot
Author: Unknown
Date: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

EverymanReturn to

Renascence Editions

EVERYMAN. (John Skot, 1521-1537?)

Note on the e-text: this Renascence Editions text is based on the edition by W.W. Greg, 1904. It was transcribed by Richard Bear.

Formatting of the speakers has been modified for ease of reading.

Content unique to this presentation is copyright Š 1999 The University of Oregon. For nonprofit and educational uses only. Send comments and corrections to the Publisher.

Dedicated to Tom Stave.

Here begynneth a treatyse how yt hye
fader of heuen sendeth dethe to somon euery creature to come and
gyue counte of theyr liues in
this worlde and is in maner
of a morall playe.

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.

+

Renascence Editions