Recently Recovered "Lost" Tudor Plays with some others

by Unknown

Eug. In faith, that is a knavish way to walk.
Now awhile of some mirth let us talk,
For I forsake that passage.

Iris. Now farewell, sir, and have good day,
For I must go another way;
Forget not my reasons sage!

Eug. What! will ye go your way? B1,r.
Ye have done a fair journey to-day.

[Iris.] It is time for to be walking,
For I am weary of your talking. [Exit.

[Eug.] Lo! sirs, he spake full holily,
But yet I beshrew him for all his clergy;
He may well be called witless Sir Will,
For I trow his brain is steadfast as a windmill.
But now well remembered, by books Amromes

[Here again something appears to be missing.]

I would have a plaster for all harms,—
Some fair wench to lie in mine arms;
That would avoid all strifes.
It were to me administrate nos,
Et restaurate nos, also comfortate nos.
Yea, and sometime I will take men's wives;
For cuckold-makers have merrier lives
Than they that do all the cost
As to wed at the church-door, and there to be sworn.
Perhap her husband should have an horn;
Then may he curse the time that ever he was born,
For all the love is lost.
Clerks say that of wedlock God that knot doth knit;
And yet women do venture to break it.
For though their souls should lie in hell pit,
They will use that sorry work;
And if they so die,
Atropos cometh full suddenly,
And or they beware, full slily
He leadeth them all down in the dark.
The courtesy of England is oft to kiss,
And of itself it is lechery where pleasure is.
All young folk remember this—
Intentio judicat quenquam. B1,v.
So great delight thou mayst have therein
That afore God it is deadly sin.
But farewell! yonder cometh Sir William of Trentram. [Exit.

St. John the Evangelist. That lord which is principal,
Conserve and keep this congregation,
And cover you with his mantle perpetual.
After that ye do pass with death's visitation,
This prince bring you to that holy nation
Where love doth dwell with virginity.
And to give you plain information,
In that realm dwelleth the Holy Trinity.
I am that John that presently doth appear,
Called "the grace of God" by interpretation,
And of my doctrine if ye list to hear,
Much can I show you of Christ's incarnation,
And of His passion; for verily I was there.
I saw Him hang on the Cross, on high, on high;
His mother and I stood there under,
And I heard when He cried "Eli, Eli,"
And saw Lungis smite His heart asunder.
His laws to the people will I preach,
And all that ever do follow me in peace,
The kingdom of heaven their souls shall reach,
There having joy that never shall cease,
But now the true love, that we should to God owe,
Men giveth it to richesse that is mutable;
Full sore they will it repent, I trow,
That ever they were of mind so unstable.
If any man will have richesse ghostly, B2,r.
I will hastily again be here,
And thereof he shall have gladly;
At all times I will him cheer.
My coming hither was for your furtherance,
And now I leave you in God's governance.

[Exit, Enter Actio.

Actio. Now merry might you be!
Who was that that calléd me
So early to-day?
One resided me with a bowl of water;
Here was a shrewd matter,
Suddenly one to affray!
It was some knave, my brother:
Beshrew him and none other
For that array!
I was fast asleep;
Till I felt the wet
Full still I lay.
He brake mine old custom,
For I would have lain till noon,
And then have risen to play.
But now to the purpose;
For by the faith that now goes
I love to go gay!
And with other men's wives
That be wanton of lives
Oft do I run away.
And wheresoever I go
One good condition have I so—
I use never truth to say.
Also I have a great disease, if ye will me leave,
Even here, sirs, in the bottom of my sleeve. B2,v.