The Interlude of John the Evangelist
[The Names of the Players:
St. John the Evangelist
Eugenio
Actio
Irisdision
Evil Counsel
Idleness]
Imprinted at London, in Foster Lane,
by John Waley
[Saint John the Evangelist.]
A2,r. St. John the Evangelist.
Domine, ante te omne desiderium meum,
Et a te gemitus meus non est absconditus.
The sweetest life, Sovereign, in this world with some
Is to have meditation of our Lord Jesus,
Very contemplative God worshipped thus,
Bethinking in the soul without any speech.
God tendeth right more the prayer with the heart of us
Than the prayer of the mouth. The text doth teach
In meditation whoso hath forfence,
The mouth cannot express the thoughts of the heart.
That holiest fruition is of so high intelligence
As it ravisheth the soul into a blessèd desert;
It feeleth no earthly thing unto the time it revert.
Thus fared Magdalen when Martha complained:
She heard her not, in God her heart was so expert;
Nor the angel at the sepulchre, love so her constrained—
The cause why I rehearse you, the holy meditation,
For it is mine exercise express.
Whoso will labour in this must see His habitation,
Be solitary in soul, of great quietness.
Therefore ever to the church I do me dress;
Rest, reverence, and worship therein should be,
With crying on Christ, and our sins confess.
Beati qui habitant in domo tua, Domine!
Eugenio. Qui cum Deo Patri—granted by the pope
A thousand four hundred, and never a day less—
That hath heard this noble sermon, and thereon doth hope,
A pœna et culpa here I them release.
Is it not pity such a pulpit man to lose?
I pray you, sir, let us hear more of your pope holiness,
For methink I have heard you preach on this at Paul’s Cross. A2,v.
Irisdision. Whom call you pope-holy?
Eug. Such a fool as thou art, that clappest ever in divinity.
Iris. All virtuous people to commend is my property.
Eug. Then is Caton false, and that he indites,
For he saith “Nec te collaudas nec te culpaberis ipse.”
Great laudations loveth these hypocrites!
Qui se collaudat, etc.
No more to you at this time.
But understand you this Latin?
Iris. Yea, sir, I trow.
Eug. Responde, tunc, domine, doctor clericorum.
But sir, know you any justice of quorum?
Iris. Why so?
Eug. A fellow of mine was take[n] with a cuculorum
For a couple horses he stole in an evening.
Iris. What would ye have me do in that case?
Eug. Sursum corda for him to sing,
Ye should have [? known] well why.
Iris. I cannot sing.
Eug. No, sir, ye should but make a spring A3,r.
Under a perch looking up toward the sky.
Iris. Without God be thy friend, that same death thou shalt die.
Eug. Marry, I beshrew his heart that so can prophesy!
Iris. What is thy name?
Eug. A, read!
Iris. Eugenio, I trow; the same!
Eug. A, sir; the devil strike off thy head!
Whoreson, who taught thee so right to read?
I trow some evil spirit be within thee.
[The continuation seems imperfect.]
Iris. In the city of Jerusalem, that is so called.
I fear thou wilt never come to that holy Sion
That with twelve precious stones is surely walled.
Full strait is the way thither to gone,
And into that castle entering is none
Without thou acquaint thee with two porters before:
Hope is the first, and Faith the other one.
Eug. Lo! so ghostly he prateth evermore;
Ye dare not cough, your conscience is so holy!
But I pray you show me before
Which is the way to yonder castle ye praise so greatly?
Iris. Over the Mead of Meekness mark thou the way;
Then to the Path of Patience shalt thou pass
Into the Land of Largeness; hold for the lay, A3,v.
And in the Lane of Business look thou not bash;
Then measure in a marsh a fair manor hasse;
Rest there hardely, and abide all night.
Eug. Nay, that I will not, by this light!
But what callest thou this way?
Iris. Via recta, leading to life;
So David named it in his day—
Spes mea stetit in via recta.
Eug. Passeth all men by this journey?
Iris. Nay, and the more pity, verily, I say.
Eug. What be they that go that way most?
Iris. They that be inspired with the Holy Ghost,
As innocents and virgins.
Eug. Marry, I know none such in all this coast!
Iris. They that go thither must be gratia electi.
Eug. Why, is there no other way but this?
Iris. Yes, on the left side another there is,
That is called via obliqua et via circularis.
Eug. And whither draweth this?
Iris. Even right to death; A4,r.
Whoso walks that way, himself he slayeth.
Eug. Sir, who goeth that way so ill?
Iris. All they that worketh the devil’s will,
As omnes iniquo in circuitu impii ambulantes.
Eug. Thou art a lowler, by my troth, I warrants!
How many by-paths be in that way?
Iris. Six score and odd, I say.
Eug. Then one cannot fail where he go by night or day.
But may a man go to the stews that way
At his pleasure, if he list to play?
Iris. It brings men to the seat of rueful array;
The lady of confusion lieth therein,
That Babylon is called; she is the end of all sin.
Eug. Which way coasteth that country?
Iris. To an isle in the north, I say;
Ab aquilone pandetur omne malum.
Eug. That is the first place that men should assay,
Whether it be hedged or walled.
Iris. With boughs and trees it is marvellously paled.
There groweth the elders of envy,
Staked with pride full high,
And the briars of backbiting with wrath wreathed about, A4,v.
Full of slouthy bushes and lecherous thorns dry,
With gluttonous posts and covetise railed throughout,
And at Mischief’s Gate many doth in run.
Eug. And where do they all become?
Iris. Down to the dungeon where the devil dwelleth,
Lucifer, that loathly lord, that is in bale blisses.
There is woe upon woe, as Christ us telleth;
All that may disease and nothing please, ever restless.
There is frost, there is fire,
Hope is lost and her desire;
There care hath no recover;
Without pity there is pain;
To cry for mercy it is in vain,
For grace is gone for ever.
Fumus tormentorum suorum
Ascendit in secula seculorum.
Lo! thus hath lost wedded confusion,
Lucifer’s daughter damnation
In hell to have heritage.
Septum dominium peccati est mors.
Eug. In faith, that is a knavish way to walk.
Now awhile of some mirth let us talk,
For I forsake that passage.
Iris. Now farewell, sir, and have good day,
For I must go another way;
Forget not my reasons sage!
Eug. What! will ye go your way? B1,r.
Ye have done a fair journey to-day.
[Iris.] It is time for to be walking,
For I am weary of your talking. [Exit.
[Eug.] Lo! sirs, he spake full holily,
But yet I beshrew him for all his clergy;
He may well be called witless Sir Will,
For I trow his brain is steadfast as a windmill.
But now well remembered, by books Amromes
[Here again something appears to be missing.]
I would have a plaster for all harms,—
Some fair wench to lie in mine arms;
That would avoid all strifes.
It were to me administrate nos,
Et restaurate nos, also comfortate nos.
Yea, and sometime I will take men’s wives;
For cuckold-makers have merrier lives
Than they that do all the cost
As to wed at the church-door, and there to be sworn.
Perhap her husband should have an horn;
Then may he curse the time that ever he was born,
For all the love is lost.
Clerks say that of wedlock God that knot doth knit;
And yet women do venture to break it.
For though their souls should lie in hell pit,
They will use that sorry work;
And if they so die,
Atropos cometh full suddenly,
And or they beware, full slily
He leadeth them all down in the dark.
The courtesy of England is oft to kiss,
And of itself it is lechery where pleasure is.
All young folk remember this—
Intentio judicat quenquam. B1,v.
So great delight thou mayst have therein
That afore God it is deadly sin.
But farewell! yonder cometh Sir William of Trentram. [Exit.
St. John the Evangelist. That lord which is principal,
Conserve and keep this congregation,
And cover you with his mantle perpetual.
After that ye do pass with death’s visitation,
This prince bring you to that holy nation
Where love doth dwell with virginity.
And to give you plain information,
In that realm dwelleth the Holy Trinity.
I am that John that presently doth appear,
Called “the grace of God” by interpretation,
And of my doctrine if ye list to hear,
Much can I show you of Christ’s incarnation,
And of His passion; for verily I was there.
I saw Him hang on the Cross, on high, on high;
His mother and I stood there under,
And I heard when He cried “Eli, Eli,”
And saw Lungis smite His heart asunder.
His laws to the people will I preach,
And all that ever do follow me in peace,
The kingdom of heaven their souls shall reach,
There having joy that never shall cease,
But now the true love, that we should to God owe,
Men giveth it to richesse that is mutable;
Full sore they will it repent, I trow,
That ever they were of mind so unstable.
If any man will have richesse ghostly, B2,r.
I will hastily again be here,
And thereof he shall have gladly;
At all times I will him cheer.
My coming hither was for your furtherance,
And now I leave you in God’s governance.
[Exit, Enter Actio.
Actio. Now merry might you be!
Who was that that calléd me
So early to-day?
One resided me with a bowl of water;
Here was a shrewd matter,
Suddenly one to affray!
It was some knave, my brother:
Beshrew him and none other
For that array!
I was fast asleep;
Till I felt the wet
Full still I lay.
He brake mine old custom,
For I would have lain till noon,
And then have risen to play.
But now to the purpose;
For by the faith that now goes
I love to go gay!
And with other men’s wives
That be wanton of lives
Oft do I run away.
And wheresoever I go
One good condition have I so—
I use never truth to say.
Also I have a great disease, if ye will me leave,
Even here, sirs, in the bottom of my sleeve. B2,v.
[Enter Eugenio.
Eug. By God, sir, and I do lay a plaster to your coat
I will heal it, I dare lay a groat!
Actio. Eugenio, from whence come you?
Eug. From thence that ye were spoke of right now;
Ye shall have an office.
Actio. What is that? I pray you tell me!
Eug. By my faith, ye shall be hangman of Calais;
Thereto ye be appointed, verily!
Actio. Then the first man that shall be hanged shalt thou be,
For I tell thee I will begin with thee.
Eug. Nay, sir, but hark what I shall thee say.
Here was one late this same day
That dispraised richesse worldly.
He said he that doth forsake prosperity,
And take him to wilful poverty,
He shall have joy eternally.
Actio. What was he?
Eug. A doctor, as seemed me;
He spake as holily
As though God had been his cousin.
Actio. Yea, but was he not mired with hypocrisy?
Eug. No, man; he spake so ghostly B3,r.
He had almost changed my mood.
I had thought to give away my good
And then ask myself for charity.
Actio. Why, wouldest thou have been so witty?
Nay, thou art a fool and thou wilt for any egging
Give away thine own good, and go thyself a-begging,
For so will not I do yet, trust me!
Eug. Sir, he promised most largely
That I should in joy live ever,
Where I shall die never.
Thus also he said verily,
That I should feel there no ill,
And have all that I desire will,
And see God in His majesty.
Also he promised me a greater hire
That I should have all that I would desire.
Actio. I rede thee lay that thought away;
For mayst thou not see all day
That they that useth sport and play
Liveth at ease merrily?
They have most heartiest rest
And fareth of the best
That thus spendeth their lives in jollity.
Eug. Well, then, my wit I will renew,
For I trow thou sayest full true.
If I do it, and afterward rue it
As to give away my good,
I trow I should it forethink. B3,v.
Without a cup then might I drink,
For that purse that sowneth not trink
His master weareth a thread-bare hood.
Actio. Yea, yea, man, that is true indeed.
But let us go walk a space,
For Evil Counsel hither will speed;
That person, I trow, he be void of all grace.
Eug. Go we hence then in time;
Hastily we will come again,
For John will be here by prime;
His sermon would I hear fain.
[They go out and Evil Counsel entereth.
Evil Counsel. By your leave, let me come near.
What doth all this company here?
Whereafter is your gaping?
By our lady and master! I have sought nigh and far;
For sith I came from Rochester
I have spent all my winning.
By our lady! I will no more go to Coventry,
For there knaves set me on the pillory,
And threw eggs at my head
So sore that my nose did bleed
Of white wine gallons thirty.
Some time in London did I dwell;
I was prentice with Evil Counsel,
And so men calleth me.
I hope again to go thither,
If summer were come and fair weather,
And live full merrily.
I have sought England through and through, B4,r.
Village, town, city, and borough;
With many a thousand bequainted I am,
As ill-tongued churls and many a proud gentleman,
That shrewdly roundeth many a pistle
When they in young wives’ ears doth whistle
Of matters pertaining to Venus’ acts;
With fair flattering words and pretty knacks
Both men and women they bring to lechery,
Through me, Evil Counsel, to live in advoutry.
In Cornwall I have been and in Kent,
Westminster, St. Catherine’s, and in Unthrift’s Rent,
There I rested very lately.
Now fain would I have a master [Enter Idleness.
That would do by my counsel,
For though he spend and be a waster
To get money I can teach him the craft well.
Idleness. What art thou, tell me, that speaketh this?
Evil C. Marry, sir, a man that would have a service;
Great need have I thereto.
Idle. Why, what service canst thou do?
Evil C. Both steal and lie, and on your errand go
To fet another man’s wife to your bed.
Idle. If I of such things may be sped,
I am glad that we be met.
Evil C. In England shall nothing me let.
With you will I bide for ever. B4,v.
But master, have ye any wife?
Idle. Yea, more than twenty-five, by my life;
But some other men keepeth them for me.
Evil C. Marry, sir, no force; it costeth you the less money,
But you have good cheer when you come.
Idle. Yea, at meat I am merry, and at bed if I list to play.
Evil C. Then their husbands be out of the way,
Or else ye come not there.
Idle. Yes, yes, daily! and make good cheer,
And not spied at all, I have such policy.
Evil C. I am glad that ye be so witty;
And sir, if you will have a fresh lusty trull
I will get her you, or a house-wife that can spin a pound of wool.
Idle. Then will we drink wine at the full,
In one place if thou canst help me.
Evil C. I pray you tell me; what is she?
Idle. An artificer’s wife—a pretty woman.
Evil C. Sir, I will go to my brother Temptation
And then to Wanton Youth I will make a station;
For between us three
Of her your pleasure ye shall have hardely.
Idle. Shall I go with you also? C1,r.
Evil C. Yea, sir, and it please you so to do.
How say you? Have not they merry lives
That may kiss and bass other men’s wives.
Lo! youth is full of jollity.
But when saw you your brother Sensuality?
Idle. Sir, I left him on the plain of Salisbury.
He told me that he would lift
Some good fellow from his thrift;
And as I trow somewhat he will get
To make with the penny.
Many one for their good do labour and sweat;
But he doth not so; he getteth it lightly.
Evil C. Sir, he did me a shrewd turn, as I you tell.
Idle. I pray thee show me how it befel.
Evil C. The last day, sir, I wist
The puttock that he ware on his fist
Would have trod my hen,
And up I caught a rottock
And hit him on the buttock
That there lay in a thenne.
Idle. Whereby knowest thou that it was he?
Evil C. For he had a bell about his cue,
And thereby each him knew.
I bid him hold in the wind, C1,v.
Till at the last he had his mind;
God give him an ill pew.
Idle. And what meat did thou give him?
Say on hardely!
Evil C. Sir, a fair piece of bacon,
And a black bowl full of barley.
Idle. By Jesu, this is a gentle meat for a hawk;
To keep birds thou art very conning.
Thy thrift, I trow, is laid a sonninge;
But tell me now where is thy wonning?
Evil C. Sir, at the stews is my most abiding;
Otherwise going and sometime riding;
And if the ground be slipper and sliding,
In faith I fall down mosellinge.
Idle. What, some pleasure then there appears;
Beshrew your head between your ears!
Evil C. Nay, sir, it shall be yours and theirs;
For when a man hath enow
Let him part with his neighbours.
Idle. It is thy destiny, I trow,
For to be clad all in briars,
And ride the horse with four ears.
Evil C. Nay, sir, not afore you
For I love ill to waiter; C2,r.
A ride in a saddle, but ye shall ride in a halter.
Idle. In good faith, knave, thou shalt bear me a stripe.
Evil C. And thou shalt have another an I can hit thee aright.
Idle. Why smitest thou not? Come off!
Evil C. Nay, I trow ye do but scoff.
But I would not for an hundred pound fight with thee.
Idle. Why so? Tell me!
Evil C. For I never fought with man but he died;
And so should you and ye did my strokes abide.
Idle. Marry, I had liever thou were tied;
Thou art as manly as ill chieving;
Thou were a good bold fellow to go a thieving.
Evil C. Well, let us go to Unthrift’s a while hence,
And let some other keep residence;
For I dare lay thereon forty pence
We shall have a sermon or night.
Idle. I trow then he will come hither
That laid first In principio together.
Ambo. Go we, for we two will go thither,
Thereas we will make merry, by this light!
[They go out. Enter Actio and Eugenio.
Actio. A, sir, I have been long away;
I said I would see you by the light day. C2,v.
Eug. There hath be a fair array.
Where we two have be,
There was laying of the law,
And all was not worth a new straw,
So God help me!
Actio. Sir, I saw the wench that did your neck claw,
That bare in her hand a gay gewgaw;
Methought it was like a paw
Of a whiting;
She held me with a tale of titmary tally,
Till my thrift was gone as quit as a dally.
God wot, it is a nice thing.
Eug. Peace, man! ye shall hear a sermon i-fashion
Of the eagle that riseth full high;
If he do hear thy exclamation
He will make thee to fly.
Actio. Not in a string, I trow.
Peace! for he is come now. [Enter St. John.
St. John. O men unkind, wretched and mortal,
Hearken to this parable that I shall tell.
Eug. The hearing thereof give you I shall.
Actio. And I to do by your counsel, if ye say well.
St. John. Now I begin; give good audience!
Two men ascended once to a temple to pray, C3,r.
Their conversation having great difference.
It was the Pharisien and the Publican, I say.
Two ensamples by them perceive we may.
The great pride of the Pharisee:
Other men’s faults he dispraised aye,
And his own counsel hid under false hue.
In the Publican’s prayers there was than
A great excellence of meekness;
He despised himself, a wretched man,
Thinking each creature exceeded him in goodness.
His faults he did confess
With great sorrow for his transgression.
And in the Pharisee’s prayer did express
Of full pride and adulation.
He prayed not, but praised himself there,
Standing upright with a pert face.
The mass beginneth with Confiteor,
And endeth with Deo gratias.
Even the reverse he did in this case.
There the mass endeth, he began proudly,
Making no confession of his trespass,
But said Deo gratias ago tibi,
In that he thanked God he was not to blame,
But in that he thanked Him not with very meekness.
Three species of sin he rehearsed by name
In which all sins be comprehended express.
By raveners is understand covetise;
In unrightful to say pride of him than;
In advoutry all lechery that men can rehearse.
And thus he excused himself, and slandered the publican.
I pay my tithes, he said also; C3,v.
And so he did, but not of the best.
In that cayme he was like to,
For he tithed alway of the worst.
Twice in the week, he said, he did fast;
From meat and drink he did, but not from deadly sin;
And that is the fast that pleaseth God best.
But thereat hypocrites will not begin.
Against God he sinned grievously,
In that he justified himself so,
And his even Christian slandering maliciously.
Tu testimonium perhiberis de teipso,
Et testimonium tuum non est verum—I say so.
Wherefore God did him divide
From the nine parts of angels the tenth, so
There Lucifer is falle[n] for his pride.
The Gospel said, who doth hie him shall be ho.
All they that praiseth themself do sin, be you sure.
And so, you curséd men, do your cure;
For by God’s judgment,
If ye forsake not your sin, be you sure
You go to hell. Wherefore, repent!
Ambo. I cry God mercy for mine offence;
My wicked life I do defy.
Eug. Also I am sorry of my negligence;
Your doctrine I will follow full meekly.
St. John. This sample God sayeth us to,
That we should consider it wisely.
Who deemeth himself good is far therefro,
And he that thinketh himself sinfullest is blessed hardely.
Think now that your purpose was set cursedly, C4,r.
In sin thus to lead lives vain
Under colour of virtue, deeming yourself good.
You and all they that it doth sustain
Be worlde than the Pharisee; men’s laws are wood;
Remember this for the reverence of Him that died on rood;
And to the laws of the Church abide every man,
And ye shall be partners of Christ’s precious blood,
And blessed of God, as was the Publican.
Thus if ye will be stedfast and true
Jesus will then with His grace you renew.
To that Lord’s bliss ye shall come all a
Qui vivit per infinita seculorum secula. Amen.
Finis
Thus endeth the Interlude of St John the Evangelist.
Imprinted at London in Foster Lane by John Waley.