ROISTER

COme death when thou wilt, I am weary of my life. Why did God make me such a goodly person? And where is my trusty friend Matthew Merygréeke? I must needs speak with Thee a word or twain. My whole hope and trust rests only in Thee, Gramercy Merygréeke, most bound to Thee I am. Upon thy comfort, I will all things well handle. I thank thee: had ever man such a friend? Nay I have money plenty all things to discharge. Tut I owe nought. What is he that durst have put me in that heat? He that beats me by his arms shall well find, That I will not be far from him nor run behind. Yea, but I can not so put love out of my mind. No by my troth I would have his to my Wife. A woman whom I know not by what means to move. His the ̄ der. The fair Woman, that supped with us yeast ernyght, And I heard his name twice or thrice, and had it right. I was to blame in deed, but the next time perchance: And she dwells in this house. Except I have his to my Wife, I shall run mad. I am utterly dead unless I have my desire. I hear she is worth a thousand pound and more. Is she a Widow? I love his better therefore. He shall go without his, and he were my brother. What is that Gawyn Goodlucke? Shall he speed afore me? nay sir by sweet Saint Anne. Ah sir, Backare quod Mortimer to his sow, I will have his mine own self I make God a vow. I am sorry God made me so comely doubtless. For that makes me eke where so highly favoured, And all women on me so enamoured. Yes, eke where they gaze all upon me and stare. I can thee thank that thou canst such answers devise: But I perceive thou dost me thoroughly know. Merygréeke for this thy reporting well of me : I promise thou shalt not lack, while I have a groat. By cock thou sayest to uthe, I had almost forgotten. But for wowyng thou knowest women are shamefast. But and she knew my mind, I know she would be glad, And think it the best chance that ever she had. Thou knowest I can do that. Yea run I beseech Thee in all possible haste. I will stand here a while, and talk with them anon, I hear them speak of Constance, which does my heart good, To hear his name spoken does even comfort my blood. The iolyest wench that ere I heard, little mouse, May I not rejoice that she shall dwell in my house? See what a sort she keepeth that must be my wife. Shall not I when I have his, lead a merry life? It would grieve my heart to see one of them beaten. And I will not away, but listen to their song, Yet Merygreeke and my folks tarry very long. Pipe merry Annot. &c. Trilla, Trilla, Trillarie. Work Tibet, work Annot, work Margery. Sew Tibet, knit Annot, spin Margeri . Let us see who shall win the victory. Now might I speak to them, if I wist what to say. One that hath heard all your talk and singing ywis. I did it for no harm, but for good l we I bear, To your dame mistress Constance, I did your talk hear. And Mistress nurse I will kiss you for acquaintance. I will kiss you too maiden for the good will I bear you. Yes be not afeard, I do not disdain you a whit. I would fa e kiss you too good maiden, if I might. You might be proud to kiss me, if you were wise. Yet I thank you mistress Nurse, you made no sticking. Whom me? But and she knew me here. Ah good sweet nurse. Now doth sweet Constance, my heart of gold, tell me how? To me? That was een to me and none other by the Mass. It was I and none other: this comes to good pass. I promise Thee nurse I favour his. Bid his sue to me for marriage. And surely for thy sake she shall speed. I shall be contented to take his. But at thy request and for thy sake. Tush fool, thou art deceived, this is not she. Kocks nouns what meanest thou man, tut a whis le. Ah sir, be good to his, she is but a gristle, Ah sweet lamb and coney. Gogs arms knave, art thou I tell thee thou art wide. I tell thee no. A girl? This same is the fair widows nurse of whom you wot. I will have it so: it is my pleasure and will. What, she will help forward this my for his partly. This is our best friend . Yet hark one word in thine ear. Back villains, will you be privy of my ? She shall have the first day a whole peck of argent. Yea and a cart load thereto, or else were it bore, Beside other movables, household stuff and . Nay she shall make sum e ere she know that ywis. Of tother Elephant. Yea. And how when Mumfision? Thou makest his to much afeard, Merygreeke no more. This tale would fear my sweet heart Constance right evil. No shall they not. I charge you all here to remain: The villain slaves a whole day ere they can be found. I pardon you this once, and come sing never the worse. Marry and thou shalt wench, come we two will dance. Go to it sirs lustily. Now nurse take this same letter here to thy mistress. And as my trust is in thee ply my business. I warrant it well. Now may I repose me: C nce is mine own. Let us sing and play towards it may be known. I wrote it myself. Juno send me this day good luck and good chance. I can not but come see how Merygréeke does speed. Thou knowest the proverb, because I can not be had. Hast thou spoken with this woman? And what will this gear be? Yea and hundred thousand pound should not save his life. What shall I do or say now that it will not been. Yea, for were not I and husband for his fit? Well what should I now do? I will go home and die. No. Heigh how, alas, the pangs of death my heart do break. None. Thou shalt be my sectour, and would e all more and less. Yea in good sadness? I will hear nothing, I am passed. How may I revive being now so far passed? It will not be possible. Arms what dost thou? Well, as thou wilt have me, even so will I do. As thou wilt I am content for a little space. Yes I can do that as well as any can. To come behind, and make curtsy thou m st some pai S take. Near and M by your girdle? Show what it is. Go call my , bid them high apace. This was well said of Merygréeke, I low his wit, Before my sweet hearts door we will have a to. That if my love came forth, that I may with his talk, I doubt not but this gear shall on my side walk. But lo, how well Merry gr eke is returned sense. Come sirs let us sing to win my deer love Constance. His talk is as e as she had learned in schools. Speak gently unto his, and let his take all. Let all this pass sweet heart and accept my service. No no, he told it all. Yes. By the arms of Caleps it is none of mine. Fie you are fowl to blame this is your own hand. O I would I had him here, the which did it endite. Yea I meant I wrote it mine own self yesternight. You may so take it, but I meant it not so by cock. Wough, she is gone for ever, I shall his no more see. By gosse and for thy sake I delye his in deed. What is it Merygréeke, wherefore thou dost grief take? In faith I heartily thank Thee Merygréeke. No, no. No, I am a poor homely man as God made Me. I dare say thou wouldst have me to thy husband. How should I? But what and she come not? By cocks precious p tsticke, and éen so I shall. I will utterly destroy his, and house and all. But I would be avenged in the mean space, On that vi e scribbler, that did my wowyng disgrace. Yes, for although he had as many lives, As a thousand widows, and a thousand wives, As a thousand yons, and a thou and rats, A thousand wolves, and a thousand cats, A thousand bulls, and a thousand calves, And a thou nde gions divided in halves, H shall never scam e death on my swords point, Though I should be torn therefore joint by joint. Well, for thy sake, this once with his life he shall pass, But I will hew him all to pieces by the Mass. Go then. WHat is a gentleman but his word and his promise? I must now save this villains life in any wise, And yet at him already my hands do tickle, I shall uneth hold them, they will be so fickle. But oh and Merygréeke have not brought him since? How long they stand prating? Why comest thou not away? Art thou come fellow? What hindrance hast thou done me, and what villainy? All the stock thou comest of later or rather, From thy First father's grandfathers father's father, Nor all that shall come of Thee to the world's end, Though to three score generations they descend, Can be able to make me a joust recompense, For this trespass of thine and this one offence. Nay see and these whooreson Phariseys and Scribes Do not get their living by polling and bribes. If it were not for shame. Scrivener. Nay hold thy hands still. Well, this man for once hath purchased thy pardon. I say the letter thou madest me was not good. Yes, out of thy copy word for word I it wrote. I wot not, but it made all my matter to haulte. The self same that I wrote out of, so more e I go. Read that is within, and there you shall the fault see. Of truth in my mind there can not be a better. Why thou wretched villain was all this same fault in Thee? Strikest thou in deed? and I offer but in jest? What wilt thou be angry, and I do Thee forgive? Fare thou well scribbler, I cry Thee mercy in deed. If it were and other but thou, it were a knave. By so doing his anger may be reformed. I will speak out aloud best, that she may hear it. By the cross of my sword, I will hurt his no whit. By Roister Doisters faith I will speak but in board. I will speak out aloud, I care not who hear it: Sirs, see that my harness, my tergat, and my shield, Be made as bright now, as when I was last in field, As white as I should to war again to morrow: For sick shall I be, but I work some folk sorrow. Therefore see that all shine as bright as Saint G orge, Or as does a key newly come from the Smi S forge. I would have my sword and harness to shine so bright, That I might therewith dim mine enemies sighed, I would have it cast beams as ast I tell you plain, As does the glittering grass after a shower of rain. And see that in case I should need to come to arming, All things may be ready at a minutes warning, For such chance may chance in and hour, do you hear? Now draw we near to his, and here what shall be said. Well found sweet wife (I trust) for all this your sour look. Then you are content me for your husband to take. Yea say so, sweet spouse, afore strangers hardly. Yea farewell fellow, and tell thy master Goodlucke That he comes to late of this blossom to pluck. Let him keep him there still, or at least wise make no hast, As for his labour hither he shall spend in wast. His betters be in place now. Will you have us then? Then will I have you? I can make all as well in and hour. Yes dame, I will have you whither you will or no, I command you to love me, wherefore should you not? Is not my love to you cham ng and burning hight? Then a straw for his, and a straw for his again, She shall not be my wife, would she never so feign, No and though she would be at ten thousand pound cost. Nay dame, I will fire thee out of thy house, And destroy Thee and all thine, and that by and by. Yes, except she will say yea to that she said no. Yes in faith Kit, I shall thee and thine so charm, That all women incarnate by thee may beware. Yea sayest thou me that dame? dost thou me threaten? Go we, I will see whither I shall be beaten. Now sirs, keep your ray, and see your hearts be stout, But where be these Can tifes, me think they dare not rout, How sayest thou Merygreeke? What does Kit Custa ̄ ce say? Yes, they shall know, and thou knowest I have a stomach. A stomach (quod you) yea, as good as ere man had. I trow they shall find and feel that I am a lad. Nay, the stomach of a man I is that I mean. Nay a men stomach with a weapon mean I. Nay the stomach of a man to try in st fe. Tush I mean in strife or fighting to try. Have at thy pate then, and save thy head if thou may. Nay thou mayest not strike at me again in no wise. Nay as for they, shall every mother's child die. And in this my fume a little thing might make me, To beat down house and all, and else the devil take me. It shall be even so, by his lily wounds. No though she make to me never so many friends. Not if all the world for his would undertake, No not God himself neither, shall not his peace make, On therefore, march forward, soft, stay a while yet. On sirs, keep your ray. Soft, the Arms of Caleys, I have one thing forgotten. It is a thing must be had. But I wot not where nor how. To kill for j such, is a matter of laughter. Foolish Constance here forceth me against my will. I will none amends. No sir, I mine own self will in this present cause, Be Sheriff, and Justice, and whole Judge of the laws, This matter to amend, all officers be I shall, Constable, Bailiff, Sergeant. Merygréeke, the best way were even so to do. What honour should it be with a woman to fight? Nay, I will take the law on his withouten grace. Soft, what wilt thou do? Hold thy hands else is all our purpose clean fordoone. In a ray. They win ground. Out, alas, I am slain, help. Hold. Nay by cocks precious she shall be none of mine. Slée else whom she will, by gog she shall not slee Me. Away, away, away, she will else kill us all. O bones, thou bitest me. Away, or else die we shall. Yea for the pass e of God. In Gods name. MAy I then be bold? They were not angry then. For why, no man, woman, nor child can hate me long. Said they so in deed. Would, would, would. I pray God that it be all true, that thou hast me told, And that she fight no more. I am no usurer good mistress by his arms. Diost not thou promise she would pick no more quarrels? Ah dame, by the ancient law of arms, a man Hath no honour to foil his hands on a woman. And much heartily welcome from a strange land. I will be as good friends with them as ere I was. Go. God grant his loving subjects both the mind and grace, His most godly proceedings worthily to embrace. I have him espied me thinketh, yond is he, Hough Matthew Merygreeke my friend, a word with Thee. Thou must with thy good counsel help me if thou can. Attend upon me now, and well reward Thee I shall. I die except thou help, I pray Thee be content, Do thy part well now, and ask what thou wilt, For without thy aid my matter is all spilled. Have me? yes I warrant you, never doubt of that, I know she loves me, but she dare not speak. She looked on me twenty times yesternight, And laughed so. No faith could she not. What may I best do? Yea but Merygreke one thing thou hast forgotten. I was nigh no feathers since I came from my bed. My me ̄ come when ̄ it please the ̄ . Their master to offend they are nothing afeard. What now? Tush, I can handle that after the best rate. Come on therefore let us go home in sadness. Would, would, would, would, would. Didst thou see that Merygréeke? how afraid she was? Didst thou see how she fled apace out of my sighed? Ah good sweet Constance I pity his by this light. Yea, levy the camp sirs, and hence again eke one, No Of love I make my moan. A woman yond. Mistress ah. Yes for so I am. Yea now hardly let me alone. Yea for I love singing out of measure, It comforts my spirits and does me great pleasure. But who comes forth yond from my sweet heart Constance? My matter ameth well, this is a lucky chance. Why then? But to honour you by this light. I use to kiss all them that I love to God I vow. Nurse is not so nice. what? To me? nurse tell me plain To me? That word makes me alive again. Tut thou art deceived. 'Tis neither met ne thought. Ah foolish harebrain, This is not she. No no. And hundred marks. Yea a few. Forty at lest. Nay now thou dost jest. I am not so old, thou misreckonest my years. What is that? a moat? What is that? I wrote it each whit No, no. And whither now? Heigh how alas, No, no, I will none. I am nigh gone. Yea. Heigh how. Hethow. Trowest thou so? What is it? Thou justlest now to nigh. Tush. Thou speakest well out of doubt. Thou dost the truth tell. So do I. Thou wouldst to me seek. Gramercy with all my heart. I shall so God me save. But I may chide him a good. Did not you make me a letter brother? Why wilt thou strike me again? Shall I so break my brain To dote upon you, and you not love us again? I say it Custa ̄ ce, In case you will not haze, well, better yes perchance. Come he ̄ ce thou. Tush speak man yea or nay? Tarry. Back. Soft. Now forwardset Retire, or else we be all slave. This hasty forth going Had almost brought us all to utter undoing, It made me forget a thing most necessary. Of a chief thing I am to seek. I lack yet and hedpiece. In sa that it does metely well. Now forth in ray sirs, and stop no more. Hoh? Hoh? I say thou shalt not. In a ray, They come suddenly on us. In a ray. That ever I was born, we are taken tardy. See they march on hither. Hold. Take heed. Alas. Thou hittest me, alas. Alas, thou hittest me still. Help, out alas I am slave Come away, by the mat she is mankine. I durst adventure the lose of my right hand, If she did not flee his other husband: And see if she prepare not again to fight. Rather than to be slain, I will flee. Sirs, I greet you all well. Sing on sirs, for my friends sake. Sing on, & no m words make. Thou shalt have one to morrow, and gold for to spend. For this thing Because she is gone. What They come. Thou hittest me.