ALL FOR MONEY

¶ What ever I do for you I take it for no pain, At midnight I would ride for you in hail, snow or rain. ¶ Now my friend Sin a proclamation make, None but shall be herd that comes for moneys sake. ¶ I have them written here I will resite them by name: Say after me and then you can not miss, You must speak a loud that they may know what it is. ¶ So that it be herd I do not greatly care. All manner of men that have either matter or suit, Let the ̄ come hither between nine & ten, & none against them shall dispute So they come from money then they shall be herd quickly, Be their matter never so wrong, they shall be sped and not tarry And that they make speed, he heartily them prays, For he can not tarry passed two or three days. ¶ Do you think I shall have any suitors at all, I think my market will be very small. ¶ Marry Sir the more the better for me, If they be ten thousand they shall speed for money. ¶ Let him in I pray thee, let me see what he is, If he come from money he shall not speed amiss. God save you my lord, I am come from money, Who wills you to help me out of my troubles quickly. ¶ What is the matter rehearse it in brief: ¶ Deliver the money to this my friend Sin, And take this token to show that with me thou hast been. ¶ This is good luck at the first beginning, To have so much money it is and honest living: Me thinks sewters in coming are very slack, Such as this first was I think I shall lack: I could fit in the cold a good while I swear, Or I would be weary such suitors to hear. My Lord, All for money, here is another cheat, It is better then the first, yea or else as great. ¶ Let them come in who ever they be, If your grandfather sent them, mine old friend money. ¶ Nay, let them do to her the worst that they can, Tell me her matter and I will release her than. ¶ What, this matter is not so great, well, for moneys sake, That she have no harm, my self will undertake: They that should give evidence shall be all tongue tied, And the twelve men shall find her guiltless, let her not be afraid. ¶ Let him come in, let me hear his matter, If he come from money he shall not loose his labour. ¶ Be merry good fellow and be not afraid, It were pity thou were hanged for such a tryfell: Who will do thee hurt if I be on thy side? They were as good nay as once thy goods to ryfell. ¶ I can do thee no good I did mistake thy matter, Thou art come hither in vain, thou hast lost thy labour. ¶ By my troth for all that thou art Like to be hanged. If the law should not be executed of thieves and robbers, Men should not live in quiet for loitering lubbers. ¶ Get thee hence prating knave, I can do thee no good. ¶ Ahe Serra, here was a suitor that was not for my profit, None such were appointed to come by the proclamation: We should make a wise market if for such we should fit, They shall starve and hang before of such I have compassion ¶ Me thinks I do hear one knock at the door, He shall find me his good master if he be not to poor. My Lord from Money I have brought you such a token That I trust from my trouble I shall soon be helped: Forty old angels I trust will you please, Beseeching you therefore my matter to ease. ¶ I have felt thee already, now let me hear thee What ever thy matter be I will soon speed thee. ¶ Thou shalt be sped herein even as thou dost require: I will find means with witness to be proved That she before her marriage to and other was betrothed. Whereby with thy young wife thou shalt live at ease: Thou mayest thank Money my old friend I wiss, Or else thou mayest trust me I would not have done this. ¶ I will keep them safe enough, I must needs love them, It is a crooked matter that I will not make straight for them. ¶ Let him in quickly whatsoever he be. If Money have sent him he is welcome to me. ¶ Now I am ready to hear thee tell it out a long, I will help thee without doubt, be it right or wrong. ¶ By what right and title do you the same claim? But in the mean space see that you have writings forged, And also false witnesses two or three at the lest, Who may swear if need be thou hast bought his interest. And this way thou art sure to have thy desire, Go about thy business dry wood soon catches fire. ¶ I wis Sin my purse begins to fill, ¶ To come to me quickly see that he do not spare, If he comes from Money, well falls out his share. ¶ Do not fear my priest for wanting of any living, I have devised already which way it shall come in: My Chaplen thou shalt be, for here I do thee make A benefice thou shalt have none shall from thee it take. ¶ Before every visitation be sure to come for my letter, Which when the Chancellor sees, straight ways thou shalt have favour. ¶ Well my friend Sin, carry Sir Laurence home, He shall be also my steward which is and honest men room. ¶ I have filled my purse metely well this day, I do not intend much longer for suitors to stay: One other good cheat would make me pack up and be gone. It is marueill without suitors I am so long alone, Me think it is no trouble for all my long sitting As long as money thereby I may be fingering. It is marvel that no suitors have be here all this while, There is coming to seek you that dwells many a mile. ¶ There is one other doth knock what ever he be, If he come from Money he shall be welcome to me. To me they do come, therefore let him in, Open the door quickly I pray thee good Sin. God save all, God save all, and our blessed Lady, Who is this gentleman that will do all things for Money? ¶ What is your matter mother tell me and do not spare, If Money sent you hither the better shall you fare. ¶ Yea marry mother Croote they be four good Ryalles of gold, If you knew them not this twenty year it is marvel they did not mould. ¶ Go too then mother Croote, and I will give you the hearing. ¶ A couple of false witnesses must therefore be hired Which must say they herd when you were betrothed, And then will he, nyll he, he must be compelled To forsake the other and to you to be married. ¶ Enough for money I warrant you mother Croote. ¶ Now farewell mother Croote, even with all my heart. ¶ I have had this day a trim sort of sewters: How many sent I away with money in their purses? My purse is now full even unto the brink: Now it is high time for me to eat and drink. Have not I be friendly to your grandfather money? All such as he sent, they were dispatched quickly. ¶ I intend again shortly to fit in commission, I pray God I speed no worse then, then now I have done. ¶Thou canst not come for any thing to me But I will do it gladly for the love of money. ¶ He shall have two more if it be his pleasure.