Actus. v. Scæna. vi.

R. Roister. M. Merygreeke. C. Custance. G. Goodlucke. T. Trustie. D. Doughtie. Harpax.

R. Royster. May I then be bolde?

M. Mery. I warrant you on my worde,

They say they shall be sicke, but ye be at theyr borde.

R. Royster. Thei wer not angry then[?]

M. Mery. Yes at first, and made strange

But when I sayd your anger to favour shoulde change,

And therewith had commended you accordingly, 5

They were all in love with your mashyp by and by.

And cried you mercy that they had done you wrong.

R. Royster. For why, no man, woman, nor childe can hate me long.[609]

M. Mery. We feare (quod they) he will be avenged one day,

Then for a peny give all our lives we may. 10

R. Royster. Sayd they so in deede[?]

M. Mery. Did they? yea, even with one voice

He will forgive all (quod I) Oh how they did rejoyce.

R. Royster. Ha, ha, ha. 13

M. Mery. Goe fette hym (say they) while he is in good moode,

For have his anger who lust, we will not by the Roode. 15

R. Royster. I pray God that it be all true, that thou hast me tolde,

And that she fight no more.

M. Mery. I warrant you, be bolde

Too them, and salute them. [advance towards Goodl., etc.]

R. Royster. Sirs, I greete you all well.

Omnes. Your maistership is welcom.

C. Custance. Savyng my quarell.

For sure I will put you up into the Eschequer.[610] 20

M. Mery. Why so? better nay: Wherfore?

C. Custance. For an usurer.[611]

R. Royster. I am no usurer good mistresse by his armes.

M. Mery. When tooke he gaine of money to any mans harmes?

C. Custance. Yes, a fowle usurer he is, ye shall see els[—] I i

R. Royster [aside to M.] Didst not thou promise she would picke no mo quarels? 25

C. Custance. He will lende no blowes, but he have in recompence

Fiftene for one,[611] whiche is to muche of conscience.

R. Royster. Ah dame, by the auncient lawe of armes, a man

Hath no honour to foile his handes on a woman.

C. Custance. And where other usurers [612] take their gaines yerely, 30

This man is angry but he have his by and by.

Ga. Goodl. Sir, doe not for hir sake beare me your displeasure.

M. Mery. Well, he shall with you talke therof more at leasure.

Upon your good usage, he will now shake your hande.

R. Royster. And much heartily welcome from a straunge lande. 35

M. Mery. Be not afearde Gawyn to let him shake your fyst.

Ga. Goodl. Oh the moste honeste gentleman that ere I wist.

I beseeche your mashyp to take payne to suppe with us.

M. Mery. He shall not say you nay and I too, by Jesus.

Bicause ye shall be friends, and let all quarels passe. 40

R. Royster. I wyll be as good friends with them as ere I was.

M. Mery. Then let me fet your quier that we may have a song.

R. Royster. Goe.

G. Goodluck. I have hearde no melodie all this yeare long.

M. Mery [to the musicians whom he has called in]. Come on sirs quickly.

R. Royster. Sing on sirs, for my frends sake.

D. Dough. Cal ye these your frends? 45

R. Royster. Sing on, and no mo words make.

Here they sing.[613]

Ga. Good. The Lord preserve our most noble Queene of renowne,

And hir virtues rewarde with the heavenly crowne.

C. Custance. The Lorde strengthen hir most excellent Majestie,

Long to reigne over us in all prosperitie.

T. Trusty. That hir godly proceedings the faith to defende,[614] 50

He may stablishe and maintaine through to the ende.

M. Mery. God graunt hir as she doth, the Gospell to protect,[615]

Learning and vertue to advaunce, and vice to correct.[616]

R. Royster. God graunt hir lovyng subjects both the minde and grace,

Hir most godly procedyngs worthily to imbrace. I i b 55

Harpax. Hir highnesse most worthy counsellers [617] God prosper,

With honour and love of all men to minister.

Omnes. God graunt the nobilitie [618] sir to serve and love,

With all the whole commontie as doth them behove. 59

AMEN.

Certaine Songs to be song by
those which shall use this Comedie or Enterlude

THE SECONDE SONG [619]

Who so to marry a minion Wyfe,

Hath hadde good chaunce and happe,

Must love hir and cherishe hir all his life,

And dandle hir in his lappe.4

If she will fare well, yf she wyll go gay,

A good husbande ever styll,

What ever she lust to doe, or to say,

Must lette hir have hir owne will.8

About what affaires so ever he goe,

He must shewe hir all his mynde,

None of hys counsell she may be kept fr[o]e,[620]

Else is he a man unkynde.12

THE FOURTH SONG.[621]

I mun be maried a Sunday

I mun be maried a Sunday,

Who soever shall come that way, [I ii]

I mun be maried a Sunday.4

Royster Doyster is my name,

A lustie brute [622] I am the same,

I mun be maried a Sunday.8

Christian Custance have I founde,

A Wydowe worthe a thousande pounde,

I mun be maried a sunday.12

Custance is as sweete as honey,

I hir lambe and she my coney,

I mun be maried a Sunday.16

When we shall make our weddyng feast,

There shall bee cheere for man and beast,

I mun be maried a Sunday.20

I mun be maried a Sunday, etc.

The Psalmodie.[623]

Placebo dilexi,

Maister Roister Doister wil streight go home and die,

Our Lorde Jesus Christ his soule have mercie upon.

Thus you see to day a man, to morow [624] John.[625]

Yet saving for a womans extreeme crueltie, 5

He might have lyved yet a moneth or two or three,

But in spite of Custance which hath him weried, I ii. b

His mashyp shall be worshipfully buried.

And while some piece of his soule is yet hym within,

Some parte of his funeralls let us here beginne. 10

Dirige. He will go darklyng to his grave.

Neque lux, neque crux, nisi solum clinke,[626]

Never gentman so went toward heaven I thinke.[627]

Yet sirs as ye wyll the blisse of heaven win,

When he commeth to the grave lay hym softly in, 15

And all men take heede by this one Gentleman,

How you sette your love upon an unkinde woman:

For these women be all suche madde pievish elves,

They wyll not be woonne except it please them selves.

But in faith Custance if ever ye come in hell, 20

Maister Roister Doister shall serve you as well.

Good night Roger old knave, Farewel Roger olde knave.

Good night Roger olde knave, knave, knap.

Nequando. Audiui vocem. Requiem æternam.

The Peale [628] of belles rong by the parish Clerk,
and Roister Doisters foure men

THE FIRST BELL A TRIPLE.[629]

When dyed he? When dyed he?

THE SECONDE

We have hym, We have hym.

THE THIRDE

Royster Doyster, Royster Doyster.

THE FOURTH BELL

He commeth, He commeth.

THE GREATE BELL

Our owne, Our owne.

Finis.