Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 11 (tospot, rees, ralph, soch, tout, oundes…). Matches are highlighted.
For I pass not for him be he better or be he wurise, ¶ Then let us go to Hob filchers house, where we will be merry and quasse carous. And there shall we find Tom tospot with other more, Meet mates for us therefore let us go. ¶ What master Nichol, how do you to day? ¶ O cursed caitiff born in and ill hour, Woe unto me that ever
Full speech
¶ I suppose there is no great differonce truly. But wherefore ask you? I pray thee tell me why, ¶ I cannot believe that such luck is happened unto us. ¶ You know that Like will to Like always. And you see how holily he is now bent: To seek his company why do we assay? I promise you, do you what you will, I will not consent. For I pass not for him be he better or be he wurise, ¶ Then let us go to Hob filchers house, where we will be merry and quasse carous. And there shall we find Tom tospot with other more, Meet mates for us therefore let us go. ¶ What master Nichol, how do you to day? ¶ O cursed caitiff born in and ill hour, Woe unto me that ever I did thee know: For of all iniquity thou art the bower, the seed of Satan thou dost always sow. thou only hast given me the overthrown. Woe Worth the house wherein I was born, woe Worth the time that ever I knew thee, For now in misery I am forlorn. O all youth take example by me. Flee from evil company as from Serpent you would flee: For I to you all a mirror may be. I have been daintily and delicately bred, But nothing at all in virtues lore: And now I am but a man dead, Hanged I must be which grieveth me full soar. Note well the end of me therefore. And you that father's and Mother's be: Bring not up your Children in to much liberty, ‡ What Nicole Newfangle be you here? So God help me I am glad with all my heart: ¶ By gogs wounds if he help not now we are undone, By the mass for my partly I wot not where to run. We be so pursued on every side: that by gogs heart I wot not where to abide. Every Constable is charged to make privy search: So that if we may be God, we shall be thrown over the perch. ¶ By Gogs wounds it doth me good to the heart: to see how cleanly I played this part. While they stood thrusting together in the throng: I began to go them among. And with this knife which here you do see: I cut away his purse cleanly. Then brother Pierce we may think ourselves happy, that ever we were with him acquainted: ¶ Good hosts lay a Crab in the fire, end broil a mess of Sous a: That we may toss the hold so and from, and brinks them all carous a ‡ How sayest thou Pierce pickpurse art thou not agreed? these two booties equally to divide. ¶ What say you Nichol? I do agree,
Plot summary
Plot — Like Will to Like (Quoth the Devil to the Collier)
The devil commissions the vice Nichol Newfangle to tempt men into a preoccupation with new fashions, which will lead them to hell. The ensuing action turns on the recurrent introduction of similar characters to one another. The vice introduces a dishonest collier to the devil, then Tom Tosspot to Rafe Roister; ina ~ mock trial he judges which is the bigger wastrel ===== PAGE 35 ===== 1568 (the prize, unknown to them, is to be hanged), but considers them equal. A comic drinking scene follows with Tosspot’s followers. He also sets in motion a plot to cozen two cutpurses over an inheritance of land. The vicious characters are driven off stage by the arrival of Virtuous Life, who is enthroned and crowned. Tosspot and Roister lose all their possessions: Roister gambles his away, and Tosspot has to leave his as security for his alehouse bill. Newfangle gives them the equipment to start a mew career as beggars, and they assault him. He is found injured by a judge, Severity, and betrays the two cutpurses; they are led away to execution, and Nichol and the hangman share their clothes. Tosspot’s followers end up in hospital suffering from gout. Lucifer carries the vice away on his back. The virtuous characters pray for the Queen, the Lords, and commons.