COURAGE

¶In faith my friends welcome, all three by Saint Steven. Jesus good Lord how do you fare? Cover your heads, why are you bore? And how sirs, now sirs, lead you your lives, Which of all you three, now the best thrives? ¶Therein hurtful Help, thou dost very well, The Tide tarrieth no man, thou must always tell. ¶What feigned Furtherance are you so coy, Will you never leave the tricks of a boy, Come again I say, least I do you fetched, And say what thou wilt, here shall no man let. ¶Yea fetched Thee. ¶That will I not spare. Out quickly with his dagger. ¶Nay I cannot nor will not suffer his Lewdness. ¶Alas sir who are you, but a Merchants man, Good sir what you are, we know right well, Who is your master, and where you do dwell, You profess that your master you do greatly further. And yet for his goods, you would him gladly murder. ¶Then give me thy hand if thou be content. Now are we friends, as at first we were, Therefore straight way thy mind let us here. ¶Else werte thou unwise, yea and a very fool, Thou learnedest none otherwise, I trow in my school. I am a schoolemayster for you three most fit, Who endued you with courage, instead of great wit. ¶Alas poor knaves, what could you three do, If you have not courage belonging thereto. ¶And by hurtful help, what am I the better, Being help to a hurt, I am no great getter. ¶Since that by words I can no mastery have, I would prove what my manhood will do sir knave. ¶And what can three do against one, I having courage, and they having none. Therefore courage will claw you or you go hence, Now defend your selves I will see your fence. ¶Will you then consent to that which I say. ¶And so will the residue I trow also. ¶Well sirs, then I will show you my mind, But fyrse I will describe you, each one in his kind. Thou help art a broker, between man and man. Whereby much deceit thou usest now and than, Profit is one, who by service in sighed, Does cause his master to think him most right. A profitable servant, he thinketh him to be, Because he is profitable, while he does him see. And feigned Furtherance, does fain him to further, His master and others, whom fain he would murder. Thus in seeking wealth you all do agree, And yet you profess others friends for to been. ¶Why man a little while breaks no square. ¶Sir here was a trinity in a witness, A man might have shapte three knaves by their likeness. A trinity much Like to the trinity of late, Where good wife Gull, brake her good men pate. In came her man to make up the number, Who had his nose shode, with the steal of a scumber. But in fine, these three began to agree, And knit them selves up in one trinity. And after they loved Like brother and brother, For very love, they did kill one another. And then they were buried, I do well remember, In Stawtons straw hat, vij. mile from December. Where they had not lyen the space of a day, But four of those three, were thence run away. The Constable came, with a back on his bill, And because they were gone, he did them kill. I Courage so cleft their Cushions a sunder, To see how they bled, it made me to wonder. I my self was smitten twice to the ground, I was very soar hurt, but I had not a wound. I buskeled my self as though fight I would, And took me to my legs as fast as I could. And so with much pain hither I did come, But hushed sirs I say, no more words but mum. ¶What Greediness I say, why what is the matter, Master welthinesse I would say, whereon do you clatter ¶Why do tish patch, art thou so unwise, To quail for the saying of such a knave, Thou knowest all the world will Thee despise, And a begging thou mayest go, if that nought thou have. And how shalt thou have ought, If thy gain be not great? Consider this well in thy mind, Remember thy house, and thy wife that peat, Must still be kept in their costly kind: Therefore take the time, while the time does serve, Tide tarrieth no man, this thou dost know, If thy goods decay, then mayest thou starve, So doing thou seekest thine own overthrow. ¶Ass re thy self thereof without doubt, Therefore show me the matter thou goest about. ¶And who is the Landlord, thereof can you tell? ¶Why then speak in time, least thou be to late, The Tide tarrieth no man the proverb hath said. Therefore see no time herein be delayde, Master Help here shall be to thee a stay, For with master greediness, he bears great sway. ¶Doubt not then, but thou shalt have thy mind. ¶Tush that is no harm, but rather it is good, For he does it only for pure neighbourhood. See yonder comes one, if thou canst make him thy friend, Then mayest thou shortly bring thy purpose to end. ¶Even glad to see that you so merry are: Furtherance you must pleasure a friend of mine. ¶Serra, of thy master a lease he would have, And therein thy friendship it is, he does crave. ¶Cocks passion man hie Thee away, Thou knowest the Tide for no man will stay. ¶Farewell Furtherance, my gentle friend, A man may seek Hell, and such two not find. I mean a friend, so worthy to trust, And a neighbour, that is so honest and joust. Of honesty I trow, he is meetly well sped, That will take his neighbours house over his head. I think there is no man, within this place, But he would gladly such Neighbours embrace. Where two such Neighbours die out of one town, The Devil shall be sure, to have one black Gown. As well he is worthy, if I might be judge, For in their affairs, he daily does trudge. Good council he gives them, both morning and evening, What means they shall work, to their neighbours grieving. He teaches them how, to pill and to poule, In hope after death, to have body and soul. Tush what mean I thus, of soul for to speak, In vain with such talk, my brains I do break. For soul there is none, when the body is dead, In such kind of doctrine, my scholars I lead. Therefore say I, take time, while time is, For after this life, there is nothing but bliss. There is no soul, any pain to abide, The Teachers contrary, from truth are far wide. ¶Sir are you so foolish, the Court for to leave? When the time is, that worship you should win: For in times of triumphing, we always perceive The Courtiers worship, does First begin. Therefore do you from such foolishness stay, And Fortune may chance, give you as you wish. ¶Then Perianders words you account least, Who unto honour, and incorager is: Honour (sayeth he) Immortalis est, Now sir I pray you, how Like you this? ¶He must borrow some money, his worship to save. ¶Yea but take the time, while it is to be had, And defer not thy profit, until to morrow. This Gentleman is a Courtier brave, And now in need of money does stand: Therefore thine own asking, of him thou mayest have, So that thou Wilt pleasure him out of hand. ¶Nay soft sir yet one word with you. You told me not yet how you did agree, With no good Neighbourhood, that good man growte. ¶Cocks passion this is the Gentleman's man, Which at home does tarr for Thee, Sir Welthinesse is not hence far away. ¶Ah syrra, I cannot choose but rejoice, When I remember my little pretty boys, My scholars I mean, who all with ne voice, Cry we love Courage, without other choice. The young ymphes I encourage and lead, In riotous footsteps, so trimly to tread. That guilty, and unguilty, often they plead, And being found guilty, hang all save the head. The virgins which are but tender of age, Rather then their trim attire should suage. Their fails for new they will lay to gage, To every slave, peasant, and page. The grand signyoures, which in years are ripe, With covetous claws, Like the greedy gripe. Their poor brothers, from their livings do wipe, And evermore dance, after Courages pipe. Courage never in quiet dothlye, But the Tide faryeth no man, still he doht cry. Therefore work thy will by and by, That rich thou mayest be, when ever thou die. ¶Then defer no time if that thou be wise, For now to preferment, thou art Like to arise. The Tide tarrieth no man, else the proverb lies, In delaying comes harms, thou séeest with thine eyes. But by marriage all thy grief shall be eased, And thy joys shall manifold ways be increased. ¶And wilt thou for displeasing of her, Thine own preferment and fortune defer? Now art thou youthful, thy self to prefere, And thy youthful beauty, men's hearts may steer. But youthful beauty will not always last, The Tide tarrieth no man, but soon it is passed. Therefore to wedding, see thou make haste, For now much time thou dost lose in waste. ¶It passes joy which they embrace, They take their pleasure in every place. Like Angels they do run their raze, In passing bliss, and great solace. ¶Alas wilful wanton, my pretty peat, My words have set her in such a heat. Now towards wedding her love is so great, That scarce she can neither drink nor eat. Now I Courage in her do begin, So that for her mother she cares not a pin. Now all her mind is a husband to win, To be unwedded she thinketh it sin. How say you my virgins every one. Is it not a sin to lie alone? When .xij. years of age is gone, I dare say you think so every one. ¶Nay soft Profit, you must not go so, You must help to sing a part or you go. ¶And all the residue thereto do consent. WE have great gain, with little pain, And lightly spend it to: We do not toil, nor yet we moil, As other poor folks do. We are winners all three, And so will we been, Where ever that we come a: For we know how, To bend and bow, And what is to be done a. ¶To kneel and crouch, to fill the pouch, We are full glad and fain: We ever still, even at our will, Are getters of great gain. We are winners. &c. ¶It is our will, to poule and pill, All such as do us trust: We bear in hand, good friends to stand, Though we be most unjust. We be winners. &c. ¶Full far abouts, we know the routs, Of them that riches had: Whom through deceit, as Fish to bait, We made their thrift forth gad. We are winners. &c. ¶And as soon as she had supped up the broth, The ladle she laid upon his face: Woman quoth he, why art thou so wrath? Knave quoth she, get Thee out of this place. ¶Jesus Gentleman, are you here yet, I thought long or this you had be at the Court. Therefore you must pardon mine offence, For I little thought it had be you. ¶And in faith will you needs begun, What man you might tarry a while. ¶Farewell frost, will you needs be gone, Adue since that you will needs away: In faith this sport is trimsy alone, That I can thus, a gentlemán fray. ¶What day is that, wh reof you do speak May not a body your council know. ¶Tush man doubt not, such days there will come, That matter thou needest not to fear. ¶Yea bir Lady sir, full wisely you say, Take them while you may them get: Or else perchance it will be many a day, Or on them again your eye you shall set. ¶Now that here is none but you and I, I pray Thee deliver to me my partly, Dispatch and give me it by and by: And that I say with a willing heart. ¶I will make Thee confess a part of mine, Or else I will make thy bones to smart. ¶Yea friend Help, are you at that point, I will make you otherwise to say: Or else I will heat you in every joint, Now master Help, how Like you this play. ¶To confess me a partly, I will make Thee glad. ¶Upon that condition mine anger is done. A syrra think you, to make me your knave, And yet all the profit your selves you would have. ¶Then do you wisely, I swear by S. Anne Take time while time is, for time will away: The niggard is never counted a man. Therefore remember to do as you say. ¶And I am con ent a partly for to bear. ¶Now friends adue for we must depart, ¶Come Master Welthinesse, let us away, What should we here any longer do? ¶Out alas this tidings are ill, My friend master Greediness, hath ended his days, Despair upon him hath wrought his will, And desperately now he is gone his ways. As one enraged and out of his wit, No remembraun e of God he would have: Alas poor man he had a great fit, Before that well he was laid in his graven. Why but is Greediness dead in good sadness, reasoning with himself. My thinks these news are not true which you tell: Yes truly he died in a great madness, And went with the Tide boat straight into hell. Why fool, Greediness will never die, So long as covetous people do live: Then you belike do think that I do lie, I am as honest a man as any in your sleeve. I am sure he is dead, or one in his likeness, For when he was buried I stood by: And some said he died of the new sickness, Therefore sir think not that I do lie. For I am as sorry for the death of the man, As any man that lives this day: Wherefore I must needs weep if I can. But hushed some body is coming this way. ¶God save your honour, and prosper your estate, I am glad to see you approach this place: Those which say ill of you, I utterly do hate, I answer for your honour in every case. ¶By Jesu sir, then I will cause him to smart, Therefore to touch me, be not so bold. ¶Nay soft a while your wisdom stay. Hold me when you have me, but you have me not yet, And perchance ere you have me, your nose I will slit. ¶You are best stand further, least I shave your beard. ¶O gods passion, wilt thou break my neck? Is there no man here that hath a cursed wife, If he will in my stead, he shall end his life. ¶Sith ̄ ns there is no remedy, best is a short pain. Exit. ¶Why then sirs have at it courageously. First Courage causeth minds of men, to wish for good or ill: And some by Courage now and then, at Tiborne make their will. Help, Profit, and Furtherance do fain, Where Courage does catch in any men brain. ¶Then help in hope to have his pray, full secretly does wait: And as the time does serve always, he throweth forth his bait. Help, Profit, &c. ¶Profit prolongeth not the time, to please his painted mind: He passes not though master pine, so he his pleasure find. Help, Profit. &c. ¶And Furtherance, thou last of all, he came into the rout: He wayeth not his masters thrall, nor seeks to help him out. Help, Profit, &c. ¶And art thou so foolish for any such talk, To cease or stay thy wealth for to win. ¶I perceive that fellow was hight of the spirit, He would not have you take time while time is, If you follow his council, he will beggar you quite, But what answer didst thou give him to this? ¶Thou dost wisely therein, I commend Thee therefore, For what ever thou think, yet say as they do, So shalt thou have their favours evermore, And that uva no blame thou shalt come unto. ¶Adieu Welthinesse till again we see, Adieu great greediness with all my heart, Hath not Courage contagious now showed his kind, By encouraging Greediness unto evil: Which late was drawing to a better mind, And now again does follow the Devil. ¶What no good Neighbourhood, give me thy hand. ¶Why is not no good Neighbourhood thy name? ¶Then is it neighbourhood, neither good nor bade, Nay though we leave the First, it is good the next we had. For leaving out no, put good to the rest, Then is it good neighbourhood, thus I think is best. ¶Then Neighbourhood be it, if so it shall be, And neighbourhood, what is thine errand to me? ¶Tush man for money be thou not sad, You Courtiers I know have Jewels good store, And in ey for Jewels will always be had, Therefore for that matter care thou no more. ¶Well, what ever it cost, it must needs be had, Therefore withstand not thy fortunate chance, For I will count Thee fool, worse then mad, If thou wilt not spend money, thy self to advance, Now is the time of hap good or ill: Venture it therefore while it is hight, For the Tide will not tarry for any men will, Never shalt thou speed, if now thou speed not. ¶Why man for that matter you need not to doubt, Of such men there are enough every where, But see how luckily it does fallen out. See yonder two friends of mine do appear. There is a broker between man and man, When as any bargains they have in hand, The other a Merchants man now and than, In borrowing money, thy friends they may stand. ¶Now may you see how Courage can work, And how he can encourage, both to good and bade: The Merchant is encouraged, in greediness to lurk, And the Courtier to win worship, by Courage is glad. The one is good, no man will denay, I mean courage to win worship and fame: So that the other is ill, all men will say, That is courage to greediness, which gets ill name. Thus may you see Courage contagious, And eake contrarious, both in me do rest: For I of kind, am always various, And change, as to my mind seemeth best. Between man and wife, sometime I do show, Both my kindness, when my pleasure it is: The goodwife gives her husband a blow, And he for reward, does give her a kiss. The goodwyfe by Courage, is hardy and stout, The goodman contrary, is patient and meek: And suffers himself to be called lout, Yea, and worse misused, thrice in a week. How say you good wives, is it not so? I warrant you, not one that can say nay: Whereby all men here, may right well know, That all this is true which I do say. But yet Courage tells you not all that he knows, For then he must tell, of each wife the name: Which is no great matter, the best are but shrews, But I will not say so, for fear I have blame. ¶I warrant you I will not be long behind, I know no cause why here I should stay, A company of my scholars I know where to find, Therefore towards that m I will take the way. Exiunt. ¶Soft master Greediness whither do you walk, What sir I pray you, one word with you. ¶To Powles Cross, what there will you do, Do you the Preachers words so well Like. ¶Undoubtedly most true it is. The woman herein does truly say: Sir have not you herd before this, Tide tarrieth no man, but will away. ¶Let them say what they will, do thou as I told Thee, Trust thou not to any knave of them all: Not a Preacher of them all, in thy need will uphold Thee, Try them who will, their devotion is small. ¶But in my talk great profit thou dost find, They are all liars as their talk does try, By my doctrine thou haste great profit and gain, Great riches and substance, thereby thou dost win: To instruct Thee daily I take great pain, Which way thou shalt thy riches bring in. ¶Lo Sir, I thought you did me mistake, I know right well, the man whom you mean, To fetch him heather, good speed I will make, I warrant you, I will shortly be here again. Fain to go out ¶Yes I will fetch him, for he is a very knave, And alms it is, that a rope he should stretch. Still fain to go out. ¶They which are Rebels, it behooveth in deed, That they be corrected and punished so, For they do much harm in every steed, But I am none such, I would you should know. ¶Why what dost thou hear? hie Thee home in post, For I sent home a Gentleman, to seek for Thee there. ¶Alas pretty Parnell, you may soon end this strife, Young men fit for husbands, in this town are rife. And your mother's ill will, you may soon prevent, If you will follow my council, and intent. ¶But consent she or not, yet is it for thee, Unto thine own preforment to see. Dost thou with any young man so agré , That he would consent, thy husband to been. ¶Yea but sirs, my part is the least, Who am the Captain of all the rout. ¶In deed three we are, we are no less, And you are the fourth to make up the mess. ¶Now Coal profit, in faith gramarcy for thy song. ¶Then three knaves on a cluster, get you together, Needs knaves you must go, for so you came hither. ¶Now so is the purpose, and this is the case, Good cousin Cutpurse, if you be in place. I beseech you now, your business to ply, I warrant Thee I, no man shall Thee espy. If they do, it is but and hours hanging, But such a purse thou mayest catch, worth a years spending. I warrant Thee encouraging thou shalt not lack, Come hither, let me clap Thee on the back. And if thou wilt now follow my request, At Tyborn I may chance clap Thee on the breast. So that of clapping, thou shalt have store, Here clapping behind, and at Tyborn before. But cousin Cutpurse, if ought thou do get, I pray Thee let me have partly of thy cheat. I mean not of thy hanging fare, But of thy purse, and filched share. Well sirs it is time, that hence I do pack me, For I am afraid, that some men do lack me. For some are perhaps, about some good deed, And for lack of courage, they dare not proceed. Exiunt. ¶And how so Help? is he so pinched I say? By my troth that is a sport for to hear.