- Wealth
- Health
- Liberty
- Ill-will
- Shrewd Wit
- Hance
- Remedy
Four may easily play this Play
Extract from the Stat. Reg. 1557 [Arber I. 75]
To master John wally these bokes Called Welth and helthe / the treatise of the ffrere and the boye / stans puer ad mensam another of youghte charyte and humylyte an a b c for cheldren in englesshe with syllabes also a boke called an hundreth mery tayles.... ijs
A2,r. Here entereth Wealth and Health singing together a ballat of two parts, and after speaketh Wealth.
Wealth. Why is there no courtesy now I am come?
I trow that all the people be dumb;
Or else, so God help me and halidom!
They were almost asleep.
No words I heard, nor yet no talking;
No instrument went, nor ballats singing;
What ails you all, thus to sit dreaming?
Of whom take ye care?
Of my coming ye may be glad;
Therefore, I pray you be not sad,
For all your desire shall be had:
I can amend your cheer.
By God! I think ye have forgotten me.
I am Wealth of this realm; look upon me!
For I am to every man loving and friendly:
For Wealth hath no peer.
Health. Brother Wealth! have ye not yet done?
Ye praise yourself above the moon.
Every man may perceive thereby, soon,
That you lack discretion.