But the Prioress has given her allegiance to the notorious Lady Sensuality, who, serving Queen Venus, has corrupted the court of King Humanity and especially his clergy. “Pass hynd, Madame,” she says,
Be Christ I ȝe cum nocht heir:
ȝe are contrair to my cumplexioun ...
Dame Sensuall hes geuin directioun
ȝow till exclude out of my cumpany.
Chastity then applies in vain to the Lords of Spirituality for shelter; an abbot jeers at her and a parson bids her
Pas hame amang the Nunnis and dwell,
Quhilks ar of Chastitie the well.
I traist thay will, with Buik and bell
Ressaue ȝow in thair Closter;
to which Chastity replies:
Sir, quhen I was the Nunnis amang,
Out of thair dortour thay mee dang,
And wold nocht let me bide se lang
To say my Pater noster[1637].
At the end of the play the evil counsellors of King Humanity and corruptors of his Estates are punished by Sir Commonweal, with the assistance of Good Counsel and Correction. Correction, with his Scribe, examines the spiritual lords as to how they keep their vows, and thus interrogates the Prioress:
Quhat say ȝe now, my Ladie Priores?
How have ȝe vsit ȝour office, can ȝe ges?
Quhat was the caus ȝe refusit harbrie
To this young lustie Ladie Chastitie?
and the Prioress replies:
I wald have harborit hir, with gude intent;
Bot my complexioun therto wald not assent.
I do my office efter auld vse and wount:
To ȝour Parliament I will mak na mair count[1638].