920 Therto helpe the Trynyte!
921 Amen, saye ye, for saynt charyte.FINIS.
Thus endeth this morall playe of Eueryman.
Imprynted at London in Poules
chyrche yarde by me
Iohan Skot.
v01.01
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The preface, table of contents, introduction, bibliography, alternate readings, and notes found in the print edition are not included.
The text of Everyman has been divided into acts and scenes not
included in the print edition by Ian Lancashire.
Date: 1485
Page 1
Page 2
25 Of ghostly syght the people be so blynde,
26 Drowned in synne, they know me not for theyr God.
27 In worldely ryches is all theyr mynde;
28 They fere not my ryghtwysnes, the sharpe rod.
29 My lawe that I shewed, whan I for them dyed,
30 They forget clene / and shedynge of my blode rede.
31 I hanged bytwene two theues, it can not be denyed;
32 To gete them lyfe I suffred to be deed;
33 I heled theyr fete / with thornes hurt was my heed.
34 I coude do no more than I dyde, truely;
35 And nowe I se the people do clene for-sake me.
36 They vse the seuen deedly synnes dampnable,
37 As pryde, coueytyse, wrath, and lechery
38 Now in the worlde be made commendable;
39 And thus they leue of aungelles the heuenly company.
40 Euery man lyueth so after his owne pleasure,
41 And yet of theyr lyfe they be nothynge sure.
42 I se the more that I them forbere
43 The worse they be fro yere to yere.
44 All that lyueth appayreth faste;
45 Therefore I wyll, in all the haste,
46 Haue a rekenynge of euery mannes persone;
47 For, and I leue the people thus alone
48 In theyr lyfe and wycked tempestes,
49 Veryly they will become moche worse than beestes,
50 For now one wolde by enuy another vp ete;
51 Charyte they do all clene forgete.
52 I hoped well that euery man
53 In my glory sholde make his mansyon,
54 And therto I had them all electe;
55 But now I se, lyke traytours deiecte,
56 They thanke me not for the pleasure that I to them ment,
57 Nor yet for theyr beynge that I them haue lent.
58 I profered the people grete multytude of mercy,
59 And fewe there be that asketh it hertly.
60 They be so combred with worldly ryches
Page 3
61 That nedes on them I must do iustyce,
62 On euery man lyuynge without fere.
63 Where arte thou, Deth, thou myghty messengere?
Page 4
Dethe.
93 Ye, certaynly.
94 Thoughe thou haue forgete hym here,
95 He thynketh on the in the heuenly spere,
96 As, or we departe, thou shalte knowe.
Eueryman.
97 What desyreth God of me?
Dethe.
98 That shall I shewe the:
99 A rekenynge he wyll nedes haue
100 Without ony lenger respyte.
Eueryman.
101 To gyue a rekenynge longer layser I craue;
102 This blynde mater troubleth my wytte.
Dethe.
103 On the thou must take a long iourney;
104 Therfore thy boke of counte with the thou brynge,
105 For tourne agayne thou can not by no waye.
106 And loke thou be sure of thy rekenynge,
107 For before God thou shalte answere, and shewe
108 Thy many badde dedes, and good but a fewe;
109 How thou hast spente thy lyfe, and in what wyse,
110 Before the chefe Lorde of paradyse.
111 Haue ado that thou were in that waye,
112 For wete thou well thou shalte make none attournay.
Eueryman.
113 Full vnredy I am suche rekenynge to gyue.
114 I knowe the not. What messenger arte thou?
Dethe.
115 I am Dethe that no man dredeth--
116 For euery man I reste -- and no man spareth;
117 For it is Goddes commaundement
118 That all to me sholde be obedyent.
Eueryman.
119 O Deth, thou comest whan I had the leest in mynde!
120 In thy power it lyeth me to saue;
121 Yet of my good wyl I gyue the, yf thou wyl be kynde --
122 Ye, a thousande pounde shalte thou haue --
123 And dyfferre this mater tyll an other daye.
Dethe.
124 Eueryman, it may not be by no waye.
125 I set not by golde, syluer, nor rychesse,
126 Ne by pope / emperour / kynge / duke, ne prynces;
127 For, and I wolde receyue gyftes grete,
128 All the worlde I myght gete;
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129 But my custome is clene contrary.
130 I gyue the no respyte. Come hens, and not tary!
Eueryman.
131 Alas, shall I haue no lenger respyte?
132 I may saye Deth gyueth no warnynge!
133 To thynke on the, it maketh my herte seke,
134 For all vnredy is my boke of rekenynge.
135 But xii. yere and I myght haue a-bydynge,
136 My countynge-boke I wolde make so clere
137 That my rekenynge I sholde not nede to fere.
138 Wherfore, Deth, I praye the, for Goddes mercy,
139 Spare me tyll I be prouyded of remedy.
Dethe.
140 The auayleth not to crye, wepe, and praye;
141 But hast the lyghtly that thou were gone that iournaye,
142 And preue thy frendes yf thou can.
143 For wete thou well the tyde abydeth no man,
144 And in the worlde eche lyuynge creature
145 For Adams synne must dye of nature.
Eueryman.
146 Dethe, yf I sholde this pylgrymage take,
147 And my rekenynge suerly make,
148 Shewe me, for saynt charyte,
149 Sholde I not come agayne shortly?
Dethe.
150 No, Eueryman; and thou be ones there,
151 Thou mayst neuer more come here,
152 Trust me veryly.
Eueryman.
153 O gracyous God in the hye sete celestyall,
154 Haue mercy on me in this moost nede!
155 Shall I haue no company fro this vale terestryall
156 Of myne acqueyntaunce, that way me to lede?
Dethe.
157 Ye, yf ony be so hardy
158 That wolde go with the and bere the company.
159 Hye the that thou were gone to Goddes magnyfycence,
160 Thy rekenynge to gyue before his presence.
161 What, wenest thou thy lyue is gyuen the,
162 And thy worldely gooddes also?
Eueryman.
163 I had wende so, veryle.
Dethe.
164 Nay, nay, it was but lende the;
165 For as soone as thou arte go,
Page 6
166 Another a whyle shall haue it, and than go ther-fro,
167 Euen as thou hast done.
168 Eueryman, thou arte made! Thou hast thy wyttes fyue,
169 And here on erthe wyll not amende thy lyue;
170 For sodeynly I do come.
Eueryman.
171 O wretched caytyfe, wheder shall I flee,
172 That I myght scape this endles sorowe?
173 Now, gentyll Deth, spare me tyll to-morowe,
174 That I may amende me
175 With good aduysement.
Dethe.
176 Naye, therto I wyll not consent,
177 Nor no man wyll I respyte;
178 But to the herte sodeynly I shall smyte
179 Without ony aduysement.
180 And now out of thy syght I wyll me hy.
181 Se thou make the redy shortely,
182 For thou mayst saye this is the daye
183 That no man lyuynge may scape a-way.
Eueryman.
184 Alas, I may well wepe with syghes depe!
185 Now haue I no maner of company
186 To help me in my iourney, and me to kepe;
187 And also my wrytynge is full vnredy.
188 How shall I do now for to exscuse me?
189 I wolde to God I had neuer be gete!
190 To my soule a full grete profyte it had be,
191 For now I fere paynes huge and grete.
192 The tyme passeth. Lorde, helpe, that all wrought!
193 For though I mourne, it auayleth nought.
194 The day passeth and is almoost ago;
195 I wote not well what for to do.
196 To whome were I best my complaynt to make?
197 What and I to Felawshyp therof spake,
198 And shewed hym of this sodeyne chaunce?
199 For in hym is all muyne affyaunce;
200 We haue in the worlde so many a daye
201 Be good frendes in sporte and playe.
202 I se hym yonder, certaynely.
Page 7
203 I trust that he wyll bere me company;
204 Therfore to hym wyll I speke to ese my sorowe.
205 Well mette, Good Felawshyp, and good morowe! Felawshyp speketh.
Felawship.
206 Eueryman, good morowe, by this daye!
207 Syr, why lokest thou so pyteously?
208 If ony thynge be a-mysse, I praye the me saye,
209 That I may helpe to remedy.
Eueryman.
210 Ye, good Felawshyp, ye,
211 I am in greate ieoparde.
Felawship.
212 My true frende, shewe to me your mynde.
213 I wyll not forsake the to my lyues ende,
214 In the waye of good company.
Eueryman.
215 That was well spoken and louyngly.
Felawshyp.
216 Syr, I must nedes knowe your heuynesse;
217 I haue pyte to se you in ony dystresse.
218 If ony haue you wronged, ye shall reuenged be,
219 Thoughe I on the grounde be slayne for the,
220 Though that I knowe before that I sholde dye.
Eueryman.
221 Veryly, Felawshyp, gramercy.
Felawship.
222 Tusshe! by thy thankes I set not a strawe.
223 Shewe me your grefe, and saye no more.
Eueryman.
224 If I my herte sholde to you breke,
225 And than you to tourne your mynde fro me
226 And wolde not me comforte whan ye here me speke,
227 Than sholde I ten tymes soryer be.
Felawship.
228 Syr, I saye as I wyll do in dede.
Eueryman.
229 Than be you a good frende at nede.
230 I haue founde you true here-before.
Felawship.
231 And so ye shall euermore;
232 For, in fayth, and thou go to hell,
233 I wyll not forsake the by the waye.
Eueryman.
234 Ye speke lyke a good frende; I byleue you well
235 I shall deserue it, and I maye.
Felawship.
236 I speke of no deseruynge, by this daye!
Page 8
237 For he that wyll saye, and nothynge do,
238 Is not worthy with good company to go;
239 Therfore shewe me the grefe of your mynde,
240 As to your frende moost louynge and kynde.
Eueryman.
241 I shall shewe you how it is:
242 Commaunded I am to go a iournaye,
243 A longe waye harde and daungerous,
244 And gyue a strayte counte, without delaye,
245 Before the hye Iuge, Adonay.
246 Wherfore, I pray you, bere me company,
247 As ye haue promysed, in this iournaye.
Felawship.
248 That is mater in dede! Promyse is duty;
249 But, and I sholde take suche a vyage on me,
250 I knowe it well, it sholde be to my payne;
251 Also it maketh me aferde, certayne.
252 But let vs take counsell here as well as we can,
253 For your wordes wolde fere a stronge man.
Eueryman.
254 Why, ye sayd yf I had nede
255 Ye wolde me neuer forsake, quycke ne deed,
256 Thoughe it were to hell, truely.
Felawship.
257 So I sayd, certaynely,
258 But suche pleasures be set a-syde, the sothe to saye;
259 And also, yf we toke suche a iournaye,
260 Whan sholde we agayne come?
Eueryman.
261 Naye, neuer agayne tyll the daye of dome.
Felawship.
262 In fayth, than wyll not I come there!
263 Who hath you these tydynges brought?
Eueryman.
264 In dede, Deth was with me here.
Felawshyp.
265 Now, by God that all hathe bought,
266 If Deth were the messenger,
267 For no man that is lyuynge to-daye
268 I wyll not go that lothe iournaye --
269 Not for the fader that bygate me!
Eueryman.
270 Ye promysed other wyse, parde.
Felawship.
271 I wote well I sayd so, truely;
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272 And yet, yf thou wylte ete & drynke & make good chere,
273 Or haunt to women the lusty company,
274 I wolde not forsake you whyle the daye is clere,
275 Trust me veryly.
Eueryman.
276 Ye, therto ye wolde be redy!
277 To go to myrthe, solas, and playe
278 Your mynde wyll soner apply,
279 Than to bere me company in my longe iournaye.
Felawship.
280 Now, in good fayth, I wyll not that waye;
281 But and thou wyll murder, or ony man kyll,
282 In that I wyll helpe the with a good wyll.
Eueryman.
283 O, that is a symple aduyse in dede.
284 Gentyll felawe, helpe me in my necessyte!
285 We haue loued longe, and now I nede;
286 And now, gentyll Felawshyp, remembre me.
Felawship.
287 Wheder ye haue loued me or no,
288 By Saynt Iohan I wyll not with the go!
Eueryman.
289 Yet, I pray the, take the labour & do so moche for me
290 To brynge me forwarde, for saynt charyte,
291 And comforte me tyll I come without the towne.
Felawship.
292 Nay, and thou wolde gyue me a newe gowne,
293 I wyll not a fote with the go;
294 But, and thou had taryed, I wolde not haue lefte the so.
295 And as now God spede the in thy iournaye,
296 For from the I wyll departe as fast as I maye.
Eueryman.
297 Wheder a-waye, Felawshyp? Wyll thou forsake me?
Felawship.
298 Ye, by my faye! To God I be-take the.
Eueryman.
299 Farewell, good Felawshyp! For the my herte is sore.
300 A-dewe for euer! I shall se the no more.
Felawship.
301 In fayth, Eueryman, fare well now at the endynge!
302 For you I wyll remembre that partynge is mournynge.
Eueryman.
303 A-lacke, shall wee thus departe in ded --
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304 A, Lady, helpe! -- without ony more comforte?
305 Lo, Felawshyp forsaketh me in my moost nede.
306 For helpe in this worlde wheder shall I resorte?
307 Felawshyp here-before with me wolde mery make,
308 And now lytell sorowe for me dooth he take.
309 It is sayd, 'In prosperyte men frendes may fynde,
310 Whiche in aduersyte be full vnkynde.'
311 Now wheder for socoure shall I flee,
312 Syth that Felawshyp hath forsaken me?
313 To my kynnesmen I wyll, truely,
314 Prayenge them to helpe me in my necessyte.
315 I byleue that they wyll do so,
316 For kynde wyll crepe where it may not go.
317 I wyll go saye, for yonder I se them.
318 Where be ye now, my frendes and kynnesmen?
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339 How I haue lyued and my dayes spent;
340 Also of yll dedes that I haue vsed
341 In my tyme, syth lyfe was me lent;
342 And of all vertues that I haue refused.
343 Therfore, I praye you, go thyder with me
344 To helpe to make myn accounte, for saynt charyte.
Cosyn.
345 What, to go thyder? Is that the mater?
346 Nay, Eueryman, I had leuer fast brede and water
347 All this fyue yere and more.
Eueryman.
348 Alas, that euer I was bore!
349 For now shall I neuer be mery,
350 If that you forsake me.
Kynrede.
351 A, syr, what ye be a mery man!
352 Take good herte to you, and make no mone.
353 But one thynge I warne you, by Saynt Anne --
354 As for me, ye shall go alone.
Eueryman.
355 My Cosyn, wyll you not with me go?
Cosyn.
356 No, by our Lady! I haue the crampe in my to.
357 Trust not to me; for, so God me spede,
358 I wyll deceyue you in your moost nede.
Kynrede.
359 It auayleth not vs to tyse.
360 Ye shall haue my mayde with all my herte;
361 She loueth to go to feestes, there to be nyse,
362 And to daunce, and a-brode to sterte.
363 I wyll gyue her leue to helpe you in that iourney,
364 If that you and she may a-gree.
Eueryman.
365 Now shewe me the very effecte of your mynde:
366 Wyll you go with me, or abyde be-hynde?
Kynrede.
367 Abyde behynde? / Ye, that wyll I, and I maye!
368 Therfore farewell tyll another daye.
Eueryman.
369 Howe sholde I be mery or gladde?
370 For fayre promyses men to me make,
371 But whan I haue moost nede they me forsake.
372 I am deceyued; that maketh me sadde.
Cosyn.
373 Cosyn Eueryman, farewell now,
374 For veryly I wyll not go with you.
375 Also of myne owne an vnredy rekenynge
376 I haue to accounte; therfore I make taryenge.
Page 12
377 Now God kepe the, for now I go.
Page 13
413 That 'money maketh all ryght that is wronge.'
Goodes.
414 Nay, Eueryman, I synge an other songe.
415 I folowe no man in suche vyages;
416 For, and I wente with the,
417 Thou sholdest fare moche the worse for me.
418 For bycause on me thou dyd set thy mynde,
419 Thy rekenynge I haue made blotted and blynde,
420 That thyne accounte thou can not make truly --
421 And that hast thou for the loue of me!
Eueryman.
422 That wolde greue me full sore,
423 Whan I sholde come to that ferefull answere.
424 Vp, let vs go thyder to-gyder.
Goodes.
425 Nay, not so! I am to brytell, I may not endure.
426 I wyll folowe no man one fote, be ye sure.
Eueryman.
427 Alas, I haue the loued, and had grete pleasure
428 All my lyfe-dayes on good and treasure.
Goodes.
429 That is to thy dampnacyon, without lesynge,
430 For my loue is contrary to the loue euerlastynge.
431 But yf thou had me loued moderately durynge,
432 As to the poore gyue parte of me,
433 Than sholdest thou not in this dolour be,
434 Nor in this grete sorowe and care.
Eueryman.
435 Lo, now was I deceyued or I was ware;
436 And all I may wyte my spendynge of tyme.
Goodes.
437 What, wenest thou that I am thyne?
Eueryman.
438 I had went so.
Goodes.
439 Naye, Eueryman, I saye no.
440 As for a whyle I was lente the;
441 A season thou hast had me in prosperyte.
442 My condycyon is mannes soule to kyll;
443 If I saue one, a thousande I do spyll.
444 Wenest thou that I wyll folowe the?
445 Nay, fro this worlde not, veryle.
Eueryman.
446 I had wende otherwyse.
Page 14
Goodes.
447 Therfore to thy soule Good is a thefe;
448 For whan thou arte deed, this is my gyse --
449 Another to deceyue in this same wyse
450 As I haue done the, and all to his soules reprefe.
Eueryman.
451 O false Good, cursed thou be,
452 Thou traytour to God, that hast deceyued me
453 And caught me in thy snare!
Goodes.
454 Mary, thou brought thy selfe in care,
455 Wherof I am gladde.
456 I must nedes laugh; I can not be sadde.
Eueryman.
457 A, Good, thou hast had longe my hertely loue;
458 I gaue the that whiche sholde be the Lordes aboue.
459 But wylte thou not go with me in dede?
460 I praye the trouth to saye.
Goodes.
461 No, so God me spede!
462 Therfore fare well, and haue good daye.
Page 15
483 That she can nother go nor speke;
484 Yet wyll I venter on her now.
485 My Good Dedes, where be you?
Page 16
Good Dedes.
517 That shall I do veryly.
518 Thoughe that on my fete I may not go,
519 I haue a syster that shall with you also,
520 Called Knowlege, whiche shall with you abyde,
521 To helpe you to make that dredefull rekenynge.
Page 17
550 For I am commaunded a pylgrymage to take,
551 And grete accountes before God to make.
552 Now I praye you, Shryfte, moder of saluacyon,
553 Helpe my Good Dedes for my pyteous exclamacyon.
Page 18
586 O blessyd God-heed, electe and hye deuyne,
587 Forgyue me my greuous offence!
588 Here I crye the mercy in this presence.
589 O ghostly treasure, O raunsomer and redemer,
590 Of all the worlde hope and conduyter,
591 Myrrour of ioye, foundatour of mercy,
592 Whiche enlumyneth heuen and erth therby,
593 Here my clamorous complaynt, though it late be,
594 Receyue my prayers vnworthy in this heuy lyfe!
595 Though I be a synner moost abhomynable,
596 Yet let my name be wryten in Moyses table.
597 O Mary, praye to the Maker of all thynge,
598 Me for to helpe at my endynge;
599 And saue me from the power of my enemy,
600 For Deth assayleth me strongly.
601 And, Lady, that I may by meane of thy prayer
602 Of your Sones glory to be partynere,
603 By the meanes of his passyon, I it craue;
604 I besech you helpe my soule to saue.
605 Knowlege, gyue me the scourge of penaunce;
606 My flesshe therwith shall gyue acqueyntaunce.
607 I wyll now begyn yf God gyue me grace.
Knowlege.
608 Eueryman, God gyue you tyme and space!
609 Thus I bequeth you in the handes of our Sauyour;
610 Now may you make your rekenynge sure.
Eueryman.
611 In the name of the Holy Trynyte,
612 My body sore punysshed shall be:
613 Take this, body, for the synne of the flesshe!
614 Also thou delytest to go gay and fresshe,
615 And in the way of dampnacyon thou dyd me brynge;
616 Therfore suffre now strokes of punysshynge.
617 Now of penaunce I wyll wade the water clere,
618 To saue me from Purgatory, that sharpe fyre.
Page 19
Goode Dedes.
619 I thanke God, now I can walke and go,
620 And am delyuered of my sykenesse and wo.
621 Therfore with Eueryman I wyll go, and not spare;
622 His good workes I wyll helpe hym to declare.
Knowlege.
623 Now, Eueryman, be mery and glad!
624 Your Good Dedes cometh now; ye may not be sad.
625 Now is your Good Dedes hole and sounde,
626 Goynge vpryght vpon the grounde.
Eueryman.
627 My herte is lyght, and shal be euermore;
628 Now wyll I smyte faster than I dyde before.
Good Dedes.
629 Eueryman, pylgryme, my specyall frende,
630 Blessyd be thou without ende!
631 For the is preparate the eternall glory.
632 Ye haue me made hole and sounde,
633 Therfore I wyll byde by the in euery stounde.
Eueryman.
634 Welcome, my Good Dedes! Now I here thy voyce
635 I wepe for very swetenes of loue.
Knowlege.
636 Be no more sad, but euer reioyce;
637 God seeth thy lyuynge in his trone aboue.
638 Put on this garment to thy behoue,
639 Whiche is wette with your teres,
640 Or elles before God you may it mysse,
641 Whan ye to your iourneys ende come shall.
Eueryman.
642 Gentyll Knowlege, what do ye it call?
Knowlege.
643 It is a garment of sorowe;
644 Fro payne it wyll you borowe.
645 Contrycyon it is
646 That getteth forgyuenes;
647 He pleaseth God passynge well.
Good Dedes.
648 Eueryman, wyll you were it for your hele?
Eueryman.
649 Now blessyde be Iesu, Maryes sone,
650 For now haue I on true contrycyon;
651 And lette vs go now without taryenge.
652 Good Dedes, haue we clere our rekenynge?
Good Dedes.
653 Ye, in dede, I haue it here.
Page 20
Eueryman.
654 Than I trust we nede not fere.
655 Now, frendes, let vs not parte in twayne.
Knowlege.
656 Nay, Eueryman, that wyll we not, certayne.
Good Dedes.
657 Yet must thou lede with the
658 Thre persones of grete myght.
Eueryman.
659 Who sholde they be?
Good Dedes.
660 Dyscrecyon and Strength they hyght,
661 And thy Beaute may not abyde behynde.
Knowlege.
662 Also ye must call to mynde
663 Your Fyue Wyttes as for your counseylours.
Good Dedes.
664 You must haue them redy at all houres.
Eueryman.
665 Howe shall I gette them hyder?
Knowlege.
666 You must call them all togyder,
667 And they wyll here you in-contynent.
Eueryman.
668 My frendes, come hyder and be present,
669 Dyscrecyon, Strengthe, my Fyue Wyttes, and Beaute.
Page 21
V. Wyttes.
686 And though it were thrugh the worlde rounde,
687 We wyll not departe for swete ne soure.
Beaute.
688 No more wyll I vnto dethes houre,
689 What so euer therof befall.
Dyscrecion.
690 Eueryman, aduyse you fyrst of all;
691 Go with a good aduysement and delyberacyon.
692 We all gyue you vertuous monycyon
693 That all shall be well.
Eueryman.
694 My frendes, harken what I wyll tell:
695 I praye God rewarde you in his heuenly spere.
696 Now herken, all that be here,
697 For I wyll make my testament
698 Here before you all present:
699 In almes / halfe my good I wyll gyue with my handes twayne
700 In the way of charyte with good entent,
701 And the other halfe styll shall remayne
702 In queth, to be retourned there it ought to be.
703 This I do in despyte of the fende of hell,
704 To go quyte out of his perell
705 Euer after and this daye.
Knowlege.
706 Eueryman, herken what I saye:
707 Go to Presthode, I you aduyse,
708 And receyue of hym in ony wyse
709 The holy sacrament and oyntement togyder.
710 Than shortly se ye tourne agayne hyder;
711 We wyll all abyde you here.
V. Wwyttes.
712 Ye, Eueryman, hye you that ye redy were.
713 There is no Emperour, Kynge, Duke, ne Baron,
714 That of God hath commycyon
715 As hath the leest preest in the worlde beynge;
716 For of the blessyd sacraments pure and benygne
717 He bereth the keyes, and therof hath the cure
718 For mannes recempcyon -- it is euer sure --
719 Whiche God for our soules medycyne
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720 Gaue vs out of his herte with grete pyne.
721 Here in this transytory lyfe, for the and me,
722 The blessyd sacraments vii. there be:
723 Baptym, confyrmacyon, with preesthode good,
724 And the sacrament of Goddes precyous flesshe & blod,
725 Maryage, the holy extreme vnccyon, and penaunce.
726 These seuen be good to haue in remembraunce,
727 Gracyous sacraments of hye deuynyte.
Eueryman.
728 Fayne wolde I receyue that holy body,
729 And mekely to my ghostly fader I wyll go.
V. Wyttes.
730 Eueryman, that is the best that ye can do.
731 God wyll you to saluacyon brynge,
732 For preesthode excedeth all other thynge:
733 To vs holy scrypture they do teche,
734 And conuerteth man fro synne, heuen to reche;
735 God hath to them more power gyuen
736 Than to ony aungell that is in heuen.
737 With v. wordes he may consecrate,
738 Goddes body in flesshe and blode to make,
739 And handeleth his Maker bytwene his handes.
740 The preest byndeth and vnbyndeth all bandes,
741 Bothe in erthe and in heuen.
742 Thou mynystres all the sacramentes seuen;
743 Though we kysse thy fete, thou were worthy.
744 Thou arte surgyon that cureth synne deedly;
745 No remedy we fynde vnder God
746 But all onely preesthode.
747 Eueryman, God gaue preest that dygnyte,
748 And setteth them in his stede amonge vs to be;
749 Thus be they aboue aungelles in degree.
Knowlege.
750 If preestes be good, it is so, suerly.
751 But whan Iesu hanged on the crosse with grete smarte,
752 There he gaue out of his blessyd herte
753 The seuen sacraments in grete tourment;
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754 He solde them not to vs, that Lorde omnypotent.
755 Therfore Saynt Peter the apostell dothe saye
756 That Iesus curse hath all they
757 Whiche God theyr Sauyour do by or sell,
758 Or they for ony money do take or tell.
759 Synfull preestes gyueth the synners example bad:
760 Theyr chyldren sytteth by other mennes fyres, I haue harde;
761 And some haunteth womens company
762 With vnclene lyfe, as lustes of lechery.
763 These be with synne made blynde.
V. Wyttes.
764 I trust to God no suche may we fynde;
765 Therfore let vs preesthode honour,
766 And folowe theyr doctryne for our soules socoure.
767 We be theyr shepe, and they shepeherdes be
768 By whome we all be kepte in suerte.
769 Peas! For yonder I se Eueryman come,
770 Which hath made true satysfaccyon.
Good Dedes.
771 Me thyhnke it is he in ded.
Eueryman.
772 Now Iesu be your alder spede!
773 I haue receyued the sacrament for my redempycon,
774 And than myne extreme vnccyon.
775 Blessyd be all they that counseyled me to take it!
776 And now, frendes, let vs go with-out longer respyte.
777 I thanke God that ye haue taryed so longe.
778 Now set eche of you on this rodde your honde,
779 And shortely folowe me.
780 I go before there I wolde be. God be our gyde!
Strength.
781 Eueryman, we wyll not fro you go
782 Tyll ye haue done this vyage longe.
Dyscrecion.
783 I, Dyscrecyon, wyll byde by you also.
Knowlege.
784 And though this pylgrymage be neuer so stronge,
785 I wyll neuer parte you fro.
Strength.
786 Eueryman, I wyll be as sure by the
787 As euer I dyde by Iudas Machabee.
Eueryman.
788 Alas, I am so faynt I may not stande;
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789 My lymmes vnder me do folde.
790 Frendes, let vs not tourne agayne to this lande,
791 Not for all the worldes golde;
792 For in to this caue must I crepe
793 And tourne to erth, and there to slepe.
Beaute.
794 What, in to this graue? Alas!
Eueryman.
795 Ye, there shall ye consume, more and lesse.
Beaute.
796 And what, sholde I smoder here?
Eueryman.
797 Ye, by my fayth, and neuer more appere.
798 In this worlde lyue no more we shall,
799 But in heuen before the hyest Lorde of all.
Beaute.
800 I crosse out all this. / Adewe, by Saynt Iohan!
801 I take my tappe in my lappe and am gone.
Eueryman.
802 What, Beaute, whyder wyll ye?
Beaute.
803 Peas! I am defe. I loke not behynde me,
804 Not & thou wolde gyue me all the golde in thy chest.
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821 Wyll ye breke promyse that is dette?
Strength.
822 In fayth, I care not.
823 Thou arte but a foole to complayne;
824 You spend your speche and wast your brayne.
825 Go thryst the in to the grounde.
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856 They haue forsaken me, euerychone;
857 I loued them better than my Good Dedes alone.
858 Knowlege, wyll ye forsake me also?
Knowlege.
859 Ye, Eueryman, whan ye to Deth shall go;
860 But not yet, for no maner of daunger.
Everyman.
861 Gramercy, Knowlege, with all my herte.
Knowlege.
862 Nay, yet I wyll not from hens departe
863 Tyll I se where ye shall be-come.
Eueryman.
864 Me thynke, alas, that I must be gone
865 To make my rekenynge and my dettes paye,
866 For I se my tyme is nye spent awaye.
867 Take example, all ye that this do here or se,
868 How they that I loued best do forsake me,
869 Except my Good Dedes that bydeth truely.
Good Dedes.
870 All erthly thynges is but vanyte:
871 Beaute, Strength / and Dyscrecyon do man forsake,
872 Folysshe frendes and kynnesmen that fayre spake --
873 All fleeth saue Good Dedes, and that am I.
Eueryman.
874 Haue mercy on me, God moost myghty,
875 And stande by me, thou moder & mayde, Holy Mary!
Good Dedes.
876 Fere not; I wyll speke for the.
Eueryman.
877 Here I crye God mercy.
Good Dedes.
878 Shorte our ende and mynysshe our payne;
879 Let vs go and neuer come agayne.
Eueryman.
880 In to thy handes, Lorde, my soule I commende;
881 Receyue it, Lorde, that it be not lost.
882 As thou me boughtest, so me defende,
883 And saue me from the fendes boost,
884 That I may appere with that blessyd hoost
885 That shall be saued at the day of dome.
886 In manus tuas, of myghtes moost
887 For euer, Commendo spiritum meum.
Knowlege.
888 Now hath he suffred that we all shall endure;
889 The Good Dedes shall make all sure.
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890 Now hath he made endynge;
891 Me thynketh that I here aungelles synge
892 And make grete ioy and melody
893 Where Euerymannes soule receyued shall be.
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920 Therto helpe the Trynyte!
921 Amen, saye ye, for saynt charyte.FINIS.
Thus endeth this morall playe of Eueryman.
Imprynted at London in Poules
chyrche yarde by me
Iohan Skot.
v01.01