WORLDLY MAN

B Ecause I am a man endued with treasure, Therefore a worldly man men do me call: In deed I have riches and money at my pleasure, Yea, and I will have more in spite of them all. A common saying better is envy then rues, I had rather they should spite then pity me: For the old saying now a days proves truth, Nought have nought set by as daily we see. I wis I am not of the mind as some men are, Which look for no more then will serve necessity: No against a day to come I do prepare, That when age comes I may live merrily. O says one enough is as good as a feast, Yea, but who can tell what his end shall be? Therefore I count him worse then a Beast, That will not have that in respect and see. As by mine own Father and example I may take, He was beloved of all men and kept a good house: While riches lasted, but when that did slake, There was no man that did set by him a Louse. And so at such time as as he from the world went, I mean when he died he was not worth a groat: And they that all his substance had spent, For the valve of xij. pence would have cut his throat. But I trow I will take heed of such, They shall go ere they drink when they come to me: It doth me good to tell the chinks in my hutch, More then at the Tavern or ale house tobe. This same is one of our jolly talkers, That prattleth so much of Heaven and Hell: O, I tell you these are godly walker's, Of many strange things they can tell. They pass men yea Angels they excel, Sir, are you not called the Heavenly man? I have been in your continued ̄ pany ere now but I Can ̄ not tell when This same is the Grandsire of them all, This is he that will through water and fire: Good reasoning betwixt us now hear you shall, For to follow him he will me earnestly require, But he shall be hanged or he have his desire. You are welcome Sir, saving my quarrel in deed: You have reported of me much more then you need. I am so in deed, for that I give God the glory: And if you be my Friend for my change you are not sorry. I trust I have chosen all for the best: For my former wickedness I hate and detest. I herd a terrible noise, surely without doubt. Which pronounced the words of the Prophet Jeremy: Saying Earth, Earth, turn thee speedily. Yea in deed Sir, I am the very same. I pray you be you content for I am pleased, And meddle you no more with me then I do with you: Passion of me masters, what would you have me to do? You are found fellows indeed as ever I knew: If I should not take pains, ride, run and go For my living, what thereof would ensue? A beggar should I die, masters this is true, Then my wife and children that I leave behind: I fear me at your hands, small relief should find. By the beginning no man can judge the same Solon doth say, That any man is happy that bears breath: But yet by the end partly judge we may, For true happiness (says he) consisteth after death. Friends I take you both for honest men, I promise you I would be glad to do for the best: Marry then I take care which way and when, I may get treasure therewith to live in rest. O, me thinks it is a very pleasant thing, To see a great heap of old Angels and Crowns: When I have store of money I can be merry and sing, For money as men say wins both Cities and towns. And indeed enough is as good as a feast, Good Lord how your words have altered my mind: A new heart me thinks is entered in my breast, For no thought of mine old in me I can find. I would to God you would take me in your company, And learn me how I may be and heavenly man: For now I perceive this world is but vanity, Let a man therefore make of it as as he can. I do mean it truly and I will study them night and day, For I regard neither treasure, Children nor wife. And I will wait on you sir, with all my heart. Exeunt Ambo. I find it true as the wise king Saloman doth say, It is better to have a little with the fear of the Lord Then to have much treasure and yet go astray, I mean to decline from Gods holy word. The proverb says enough is as good as a feast, He that hath enough and cannot be content: In my judgement is worse then a Beast, For he wants a good conscience mind & intent. When this Chariot go e in the ground of men mind, He is not once able to think a good thought: For Covetous doth the heart so much to lucre bind, That he judgeth all things to be vain and nought, Except some gain or profit thereby be brought. I my self am able to say it, for I do it know: To have got money I studied to deceive high and low But thanks be to God the Father of all might, Which will not the death of Sinners as Scripture doth say It hath pleased him to open unto me the the true light, Whereby I perceive the right path from the broad way, Therefore I am content my self for to stay. With Enough which brings me to quiet in body & mind: Yea. and all other commodities there with I do find, I will go to him and know his mind: is it you that would speak with me my Friend? What say you to me? What is the matter? wherefore weep you thus? I thank him truly it is undeserved on my part. Gentle friend I pray you cease your lamentation: Sure it is a strange thing to see a man weep on this fasion. To hear what you here, why what hear you of me? I judge him not to be of a discrete mind: That for the truth will be angry with his Friend. The talk of talkers tungs I do not much way: Yet I pray you heartily tell me what they say. If this be the wurst, for their talk I do not care: Let them say so still hardly and do not spare. I trust I have chosen with Marry the better part: He had need to live very sircumspectly: That would take upon him to please all men directly Behold Enough. Go towards him. Where I keep company they have nought to do: As near as I can into none but honest company I go. See you, I pray you Enough. Yea in deed, it is even the very self same. No truly that I wot of, I did you never see. Yes that I have sure and hundred times verily. Policy and ready wit: now the truth is so, There is no man living that can spare you two. I trust God works for me happily in deed: To send me all such things whereof I have need. For without a ready wit, who can answer make? Without a policy all commodities will slake. A ready wit will soon gather and conceive: What he shall forsake and what he shall receive. Teuely now I remember a saying of Tully the divine: Where he doth both wisdom and learning define. Learning makes yung men sober (says he) And it causeth old men of good comfort to be. Policy is the riches and possession of the poor: Yea, it garnisheth the rich with goodly adore. So that there is no frate calling or degree: That may conveniently without you be. Give me your hands for you are welcome heartily. I am exceeding joyful of your good company. Enough, I beseech you bid my Friends welcome hither: For from hensfoorth we must dwell all together. Yea enough, but I am sure that this policy: And this ready wit are my Friends verily. Your words are even as true as the Gospel: As one nam Reason of late to me did tell. You may be more heavenly says he having riches: Then if you had nothing the truth to express. & I find his wordꝭ true for when ̄ alms I would give I have not wherewith the needy to relieve. Enough I have for my self I cannot say nay: But I would I had more to succour the needy always Marry fare well? adieu to the devil: Body of me, he would make me his driuil. A beggarly knave I warrant you by the bliss. And even so he and they went about me to make: Within a while I should have gone to the hedge for a stake. A shame take them all, I have spent on them xx. pou ̄ worser: That I had of money and of mine own good ground. I am a shamed of my self so God me save: Because I have sold almost all that ever I have. My Friends and companions when I go in the street: So God help me, I am a shamed with them to meet. Be ruled by you? yes here I do you both embrace: As mine own mind to follow all my lives space. For I tell you plain I am weary of their School: I perceived no less in deed high the talk of Reason: But so it should have come to pass in season. Yea, and with him one called Agililitie I trow. Reason came to me, and mihi flectere mentem he said: Sola solet ratio dux sida sophorn est it cannot be denayed. To nature and Reason he doth open injury, Which of other men council doth seek: God hath given men Reason and their wits Policy, To forsake that is ill, and to take that he doth Like. Yes, and I have thought on them xx. times since I tell you. O Sirs me thinks if I had money and treasure again: In faith I would be a lively lad I tell you plain. Heavenly man (quoth he) let them be heavenly for me: The best heaven is me thinks is rich for to be. Disdained? no faith let him teach me what he will: And I will do it, if it were mine own father to kill. Marry hang them Villains have I nought to do: But to stand and reason matters with them two? Hear you tena ̄ to, in few woordꝭ you know my mind According as I have told you, so you shall me find. Other provide money your lease to renew: Or else you shall out incontinent this ts true. I cannot tell what I should do more believe me: Many Landlords would not do as I do by Thee. For I am continued ̄ tent for money y to shouldst have it before and other: I can do no more for thee if thou Wertenberg my brother. No by my faith Sir, you get it not to day. You thall tarry my leisure, I will pay you when I see cause: Would, would, would, I must laugh, so God me save: To see what a sort of suitors now a days we have. By gisse I will, they shall in hand to morrow: I thank you policy I needs nothing to borrow. Sirrah, the little tenament that by my house doth stand: I would I could get that to, even out of hand. I want a little buttery to lay in my drink: And that would serve the turn handsomely I think. And to say the truth it is not meet that such a beggar as he: Should dwell so near under the nose of me. Marry even that did reason my trusty Friend. These be the words of the holy Scripture: Declaring the difference between y e joust and unpure Good Lord I would know what those woordꝭ do mean I pray you policy, call him to me he er: But look that you come again both together. By my truth me thinks I begin to war sick: In sending away my counseller, I was somewhat to quick. Well, I will fit me down and say to sleep her: Till they into this place again do appear. O my head. O I would if I could, but now it is to late: Hold thy peace I pray thee and do me no more rate. There is no remedy now man, & that thou dost see. Is there no remedy, but to hell I must needs sink? O good Lord, how my heart doth ache. O sick, sick, never so sick in my life berfore: Good Lord, policy I think I shall never go ho ̄ e more. All the parts of my body wants relief. O Devotion, I have such pains in my head: That truly, truly, I wish my self even dead. In deed Sir, I dreamed I had a great journey to walk. O what great pains and torments I thought my self in: Lying in fire which to burn did never lin. And me thought before me the plague of God did stand: Ready to strike me with a Sword in his hand. And ever I asked him what was the cause: He answered that I was a transgressor of Gods Laws. But Lord how sick I am, and how terrible is my pain: No place in my body, but sickness therein doth reign. I Like not these foolish dreams, policy my friend: O sick, sick, sick, o my head, o my back: O yea, yea, do So good devotion, I pray Thee devotio ̄ Gods blessing on thy heart, for thy witty motion. Depart I pray thee with as haste as may be: O policy sick, never so sick, o hold my head: O sira, what shall be come of all my goods when I am dead? O policy if I might not die, what a fellow would I be In all this country should be none Like unto me. S Can, what a goodly Warret have I made in my hall? But yet my banquiting house pleases me best of all. O, o, alas what a pang is this at my heart? Who is there? what art thou that callest me? O sirs, sirs, I fear me all this labour is in vain: You might have let me go, I was well out of my pain. O master Physician, how think you? what say you to me? What sayest thou? is there no remedy but I must die? Depart Physician, and thou haste no more to say. Once you know that I am greatly in def: And now every one will strive, their own for to get. Bid my wife therefore get a letter of administration, as soon as she may And then as she lists, my Criditors she may pay. In deed I have enough to pay every man his: But by Lady I cannot tell what mine own shall miss. Commend me to her, and bid her take no thought: But in any wise let her (as near as she can) for go nought. It shall be (Devotion) even as thou haste said: Write quickly for of my life I am afraid. O must I needs die? o must I needs away? Your parables truly I do not well understand: Except you mean I should have no freendꝭ but you by me to sta ̄ worser A common saying the Fox fareth the better and not y e worse: When that the good wife doth him ban and curse. So what care I though to curse me the people do not cease? As long as by them my riches doth increase. O policy, how glorious my buildings do shine? No gentleman's in this country Like unto mine. Sira what shall I do? I must make my barns more great: For I have not room enough to lay in my Rye and wheat. Go thy ways I pray Thee and trouble not my mind: For these news, to give Thee any thing, in my heart I cannot find Of, of, of, of, what more? fallen down, Prudentiam noset omniam, says the noble man Tully Policy knoweth all things both good and ill truly. O Policy, what meant I from reason & thee to stray? Never will I forsake you nor yours after this day. O help me Policy, help me to some money: Whose taste I Love better then the taste of honey. O Sirs, is there no remedy? what shall I say? Is it not best I set all things at a stay? In the name, first of all do thou in dite. What worthy policy? what make you here to day? See that thy life to Gods truth do always accord: For from earth thou cammest and to earth thou must. What is the matter? why what ail you? why look you so about