A preaty interlude called, Nice wanton ...

Barnabas commeth . Barn●bas . MY mayster in my lesson yesterday , Dyd recite this text of Ecclesiasticus , man is prone , to euil , from hys youth , did he say Whych sentence may wel be verified in vs My selfe , my brother , and sister Dalila , Whom our parentes to theyr cost to scoole do fynde I tary for them here , time passeth away , I loose my learnyng , they euer loyter behynde , If I go before , they do me threate , To complayne to my mother , she for theyr sake , Being her tender tidlynges , wyll me beate : Lorde , in thys perplexit ye , what way shall I take ? ismael● What wyl become of them ? grace god them sende , To apply their learnyng , and theyr maners amend . Dalila Here we comen , and here we louen , come in sy●gyng . And here we will abide abyde ay . Barnabas . Fye brother fye , & specyally you sister Dalila , Sobrenes becommeth maydes alway Dalila What ye dolt ye be euer in one songe , Ismae● yea sir it shall cost you blowes ere it be longe , Barnabas . Be ye not ashamed the treauandes to play ? Losing your time & learning , & that euery day Lernyng bringeth knowledge of god , & honest liuing to get Dalila Yea mary , I warrant you , master hodypeke , Barnabas . Learne a pace syster , and after to spyn and sowe , And other honest huswifely poyntes to knowe . Ismae● Spyn quod ha , yea by the masse , & with youre heles vp wynd For a good mouse hunt , is cat after kyng Barnabas . Lewd spekyng corrupteth good maners s. Paule doeth sai Come , let vs go , if ye wil to scole thys day I shal be shent for taryng so longe , Barna●●● " goeth oute ●smael Go get the hence , thy mouth full of horse donge . Now prety syster , what sport shall we deuyse ? Thus paltyng to scole , I thynke vs vnwyse In sommer dye for thryst , in wynter for colde , And styl to liue in feare of a churle , who would ? ●alila . Not I by the masse , I had rather he hanged were Then I would syt quakyng like a mome for feare I am sonne burned in sommer , in winter the colde , Maketh my limmes grosse , and my beauty decay , If I should vse it , as they would I should , I should neuer be fayre woman I dare say . ●smael No syster no , but I can tell , Where we shal haue good chiere , Lusty companyons two or three , At good wyne , ale and biere . ●alila . Oh good brother let vs go , I wyll neuer go more to to scoole , Shall I neuer knowe , What pastyme meaneth ? yes , I wyll not be suche a foole . Ismael Haue with the Dalila , Fare well our scoole , ●hey raste ●aye cheir 〈◊〉kes . Away with boke and all , I wyll set my heart , On a mery pynne , What euer shall be fall . ●●lalia . Lorde what folly is in youth ? Howe vnhappy be chyldren now a dayes ? And the more pitye , to say the truth . Theyr parentes mainteyn them in euyll wayes : Which is a great cause that the world decayes , For chyldren brought vp in ydlenes and play , Unthrifty and desobedient , continue alway , A neyghbour of myne hath chyldren here by , Ydle , desobedyent , proude , wanton and nyce . As they come by , they do shrewed turnes daily , Their parentes so to suffer them surely , be not wise They laugh me to scorne , when I tel them mine aduise , I wil speake with their elders & warne them neighborly Neuer in better tyme , their mother is here by , God saue you gossyp , I am very fayne , That you chaunce now to come thys way , I longe to talke with you a word or twayne , I pray you take it frendly that I shall say : Ismael your sonne , and your daughter Dalila . Do me shrewde turnes , dayly more and more , Chide and beat my chyldren , it greueth me sore . They sweare , curse & scold , as they go by the way , Giuyng other yll ensample to do the same , To gods displeasure , and theyr hurt an other day , Chastyce them for it , or els ye be to blame : Xantippe Tusshe tusshe , if ye haue no more then that to saye , Ye maye holde your tonge and get ye a waye , Alas poore soules , they sit a scoole all day , In feare of a churle , & yf a lytle they play , He beateth them lyke a deuyl : when they come home Your mestresship would haue me lay on , If I should beate them so oft as men complayne , By the masse with in this month , I shuld make them lame eulalia . Be not offended I pray you , I must say more , your sonne is suspect , lyght fyngered to be . your daughter hath nyce trickes three or foure , Se to it in tyme , leaste worse ye do see , He that spareth the rod , hateth the chyld truely , yet Salomon sobre correction doth meane , Not to beate and bounce them to make them lame : ●ātippe God thanke you mestres , I am well at ease Such a foole to teache me , preachyng as she please , Dame ye belye them deadly I know playne , Because they go handsomly ye disdayne , ●ulalia . Then on the other as well would I complayne , But your other sonne is good , and no thank to you These wyl ye make naught by swete Iesu. ●ātippe Eupliade , my chyldren naught ye lye , By your malyce they shal not set a slye , I haue but one mome , in comparison of hys brother Him the foole prayseth , and despiseth the other . ●ulalia . Well Xantippe , better in time , then to late , Seing ye take it so , here my leaue I take . Exit . ●ātippe Mary good leaue haue ye , the gret god be with you My chyldren or I be curst I thinke , They be complayned on where euer they go , That for theyr pleasure they might drynke . Nay by thys the poor foules be come from ferle wery , I will go get them meate to make them mercy , ●niqui . Lo , lo , here I brynger Iniquitie , Ismael , and Dalila , come in together . ●smael What is she nowe ye haue her ? Dalila . A lusty mynyon louer . Iniqui . ●ll together For no golde wyll I gyue her welcome my hony ay . Iniqui . Oh my heart . Here he speaketh , Thys wenche can synge , And play her parte , Dalila . I am yours ( and you mine ) with all my hart . Iniqui . By the masse it is well songe , were ye not sory ye were a mayd so longe ? Dalila Fye maister iniquitie fye , I am a mayd yet , Ismae● No sister no , your maiden head is sicke : Iniqui That knaue your brother wyl be a blabbe styl , I wisse Dalila ye can say as muche by him , if ye wil. Dalila By him quod ha , he hath whores two or three , But iche tell your minion doll , by gogs body : It skylleth not she doth holde you as muche Ismael ye lye falsly , she wyll play me no suche touche , Dalila Not she ? yes to do your heart good I could tell you who putteth a bone in your hood . Ismae● Peace whore , or ye beare me a boxe an theare , Dalila Here is mine eare knaue , stryke and thou dare . To suffer him thus ye be no man , If ye wyl not reuenge me , I wyl fynd one , To set so litle by me , ye were not wont , Well , it is no matter . Though ye do ceteri nolunt , Iniqui Peace Dalila , speake ye laten poore foole , Dalila No no , but a prouerbe I learned at scoole . Ismael yea syster , you went to scole til ye were past grace Dalila yea , so dydst thou by thy knaues face . Iniqui Well , no more a do , let all thys go , We kinsfolke must be frendes , it must be so . Come on come on come on , He casteth di●t on the bord . Here they be that wyll do vs al good , Ismael If ye vse it long , your hear wil grow throught your Iniqui . Come on knaue with christes curse . I must haue some of the mony , Thou hast pickt out of thy fathers purse , Dalila He , by the masse if he can get his purse , Now and then he maketh it by halfe the worse . Ismael I defie you both whore and knaue ●niqui . What ye pryncockes , begin ye to raue ? Come on . Dalila . Mayster Iniquitie , by your leaue , I wyll play a crowne or two here by your sleue ●smael . Then be ye seruaunt to a worshypfull mon. Mayster Iniquitie , a right name by saint Iohn . Dalila . What can ye say by mayster Inquitie ? I loue hym and his name most hertely , ●niqui . God a mercy Dalila , good lucke , I warrant the , ●e kisseth ●er . I wil shryue you both by and by , Ismael Come on , but fyrst let vs haue a songe , Dalila . I am content , so that it be not longe . Iniquitie and Dalila singe . Iniqui . Golde lockes , She must haue knockes , Or els I do her wronge , Dalila . When ye haue your wyl , Ye were best lye styll , The winter nightes be longe Iniqui . ¶ When I ne may , An other assay , I wyl take it for no wronge : Dalila . Then by the roode , A bone in your hoode . I shall put ere it be longe . Ismael She macheth you sira . Iniqui . By gogs bloud she is the best whore in England . Dalila . It is knauishly praysed , gyue me your hand , Iniqui . I woud thou haddes suche in other , Ismael By the masse rather then .xl. pound brother . Iniqui . Here sirs come on seuen . They se● him . A leauen at all . Isma●● Do ye nycke vs be knaue your noly , Iniqu● Ten myne Syre myne , Isma●● casteth ● Haue at it , and it were for all my fathers kyne , It is lost by his woundes , and ten to one , Iniqu● Take the dice Dalila , cast on . Dalil● Come on fy●e , she casteth , & they fet● Thryue at fayrest , Isma●● Gup whore , and I at rest , Bigogs bloud , I wene god & the deuyl be agenst me He loset● Iniqu● If th one forsake the , thother wyll take the , Ismae● Then is he a good felow , I would not passe , So that I myght beare a rule in hell by the masse , to tosse fierbrandes at these penyfathers pates , I would be porter and receiue them at the gates , In boyling lead & brimston , I wold sethe them ech one The knaues haue al the mony , good felows haue none Dalila Play brother , haue ye lost all your money now ? Ismae● yea , I thanke that knaue and suche a whore as thou , T is no marter , I wyll haue money or I wil swete , Bygogs bloud I wyll robbe the next I mete . yea , and it be my father . he goeth out . Iniqui● Thou boy , by the masse ye wyl clyme the ladder , Ah sira , I loue a wenche that can be wylye● She perceyued my mind , with a twinke of myne eie , If we two play boody on any man , We wyll make him as bare as Iob anone , Wel Dalila , let se what ye haue won , Dalila Sir , I had .x. shillinges when I begon , And here is all , euery farryng , They tell●● Iniqui . ye lye lyke a whoore , ye haue won a pound , Dalila , Then the deuyll stryke me to the grounde , ●niqui . I will fele your pocket , by your leaue mestres , ●alila . A way knaue , not mine by the masse , ●niqui . Yes bi god , & geue you this to boot , he geueth her a box ●alila . Out horeson knaue , I beshrew thy hert root Wilt thou rob me & breat me to ? Iniqui . In the way of correction but a blowe or twoo , Dalila . Correct thy dogges thou shalt not beate me , I wyl make your knaues flesshe cut I warrant the , Ye thynke I haue no frendes , yes I haue in store , A good felow or two percaunce more . She goeth ●●● " te , yea , by the masse they shall boxe you for this geare , Iniqui . A knaue I found the , a knaue I leaue the here . Gup whore , do ye heare this iade ? Louing when is pleased , When she is angry thus shrewd , Chief brother , sylter whore , Two gra●ses of an yll tree , I wyl tary no longer here , Fare well , god be with ye . he goeth out Dalila . Alas wretched wretche that I am , ●ommeth in ragged , her face h●d or ●isfigured●●a●tinge on ● sta●fe . Most miserable caitife that euer was borne , Full of payne and sorow , croked and lame . Stuft with diseases in this world forlorne . My senowes be shronken , my flesh eaten with poc●●s My bones fin of ache , & great payne , My head is bald , that bare yelowe lockes , Croked I crepe to the earth agayne , Mine eie sigth is dimme , my hands tremble & shake My stomake abhorreth all kynd of meate : For lacke of clothes , great colde I take● When appetide serueth , I can get no meate . Where I was fayre and amiable of face , Now am I foule and horrible to se , Al this I haue I deserued for lacke of grace , Iustly for my sinnes god doth plague me . My parentes did tidle me , they were to blame , In steade of correction , in yll did me maintain : I fell no naught , and shall dye with shame Yet all thys is not halfe of my greife and payne . The worme of my conscience that shall neuer dye , Accuseth me dayly more and more : So oft haue I sinned wilfully , That I feare to be damned for euermore . Barnabas . What wofull wight art thou ? tell me , That here most greuously doest lament , Confesse the truth , and I wil comfort the , By the word of god omnipotent : Although your tyme ye haue mispent , Repent and amend while ye haue space , And god wyll restore you to heatlh and grace . Dalila . To tell you who I am I dare not for shame , But my filthy liuing hath brought me in this case , Full oft for my wantonnes you dyd me blame , yet to take your councel I had not the grace , To be restored to health , alas it is past , Disea●e hath brought me into suche decay , Helpe me with your almose , while my lyfe doth laste That like a wretche as I am , I may go my way . Barnabas . Shewe me your name sister I you pray , And I wil helpe you now at your nede , Both body and soule wyl I fede . Dalila . your haue named me already , if I dust be so bold you sister Dalila , that wreche I am , My wanton nice toyes ye knew of olde , Alas brother they haue brought me to thys shame , When you went to scole , my brother & I wold play Sweare , chide , & scodle weth man and woman , To do shrewde turnes , our delyte was alwaye , Yet were we tidled , and you beaten now & than , Thus our parentes let vs do what we woulde , And you by correction they kepthe vnder awe : When we grewe bigge , we were sturdye and bolde By father and mother we set not a strawe , Small matter for me , I am past , But your brother and mine is in gread ieoperdy : In daunger to come to shame at the last , He frameth hys liuyng so wyckedly . ●arna●●s . Well siker , I euer feared ye would be nought , your lewde behauiours sore greue my hart : to trayn you to goodnes , al meanes haue I sought , But in vaine , yet wyl I play a brotherly part . For that the soul is more precyous , most derely bought with the bloud of Christe , dying therfore : To saue it first , a meane must be sought , At gods hand by Chryste , mannes onely sauior . Consider Dalila , goddes fatherly godnes , Which for your good , hath brought you in thys case . Scourged you with hys rod of pure loue doubtles . that ones knowing your self , ye might cal for grace , Ye seme to repent , but I doubt whater , For your sinnes , or for the misery ye be in : Earnestly repent for your synne rather , For these plagues be but the reward of sinne , But so repent that ye sinne no more , And then beleue with stedfast faith : That god wyll forgeue you for euermore , For Chrystes sake , as the scripture sayth . As for your bodye , if it be curable , I wyll cause to be healed , or duryng your life : I wyl clothe you , and fete you as I am able , Come sister , go with me , ye haue nede of relief . The● go●● Dan●●● " As a iudge of the countrey● here am I come , Sent by the kynges Maiestye , Iustyce to do : T●e iug●● Iniquitie● bayly ●rr● come in , 〈◊〉 iudge ●ir●eth dow● Chiefly to procede in iudgement of a Felon , I tary for the verdite of the quest ●re I go . Go baily , know whether they be all a greed or no If they be so , byd them come away And bring their prisoner , I wold hear what they say I go my Lord , I go , to soone for one , He is lyke to play a cast , wil breake his necke bone , I beseche your lorshyp be good to hym , The man is come of good kynne● If your Lordshyp would be so good to me , As for my sake to set hym free , He ●ellet● hym in h●● eare the 〈◊〉 may heare● I could haue .xx. pount in a purse , Yea , and your Lordshyp a right faire horse , Well worth ten pound . Get the a way thou hell hound , Daniel t●● iudge . If ye were well examined and tried , Iniquitye goeth ouer the iudge ●●●keth styll● Perchaunce a false knaue ye would be spyed , Brybes ( saith Salomon ) blind the wise mans sight That he can not se to geue iudgement right , Should I be a bribar● nay he shall haue the law As I owe to god and the kyng obedience and awe . Iniqu●● Ye be tyed fayre ynough for runnyng away If ye do not after me , ye wyll be hanged I dare say They bring Ismael in bound ●pite a pryso●er● If thou tell no tales , but holde thy toungue , I wyl ●e●the at lybertye ere it be longe . Though thou be iudged to dye anon , ●●dge . Come on firs , I pray you come on , Be you all agreed in one ? one of them speketh for the q●est . yea my Lord , euery chone , ●●dge . Where Ismael was intided by .xii. men , Of Felony , burglary , and murdre , As th inditement declareth , howe , where , and when ye heard it read to you lately in ordre : you with the rest , I trust all true men , 〈◊〉 for the ●●st Be charged vpon your othes to gyue verdyte directly , Whether Ismael therof be gilty or not gilty , ●niqui . Gilty ( my Lord ) and most gilty , ●udge . Wilt thou hange my Lord , horeson noddy ? ●niqui . The lorde haue mercy vpon the , ●udge . Tusshe , holde thy tonge and I warrant the Thou shalt go to the place thou camst fro , Tyl to morow .ix. of the clocke , there to remain , To the place of execution then shalt thou go● There be hanged to death , and after again , Being dead , for ensample , to be hanged in a chain● Take hym away , and se it be done , At your perill that may fall thereupon . ●smael Though I be iudged to dye , I require respite , For the kinges aduantage in thinges I can recite , ●niqui . A way with him he wyll speake but of spyte , ●udge . well● we will heare you say what you can . But se that ye wrongfully accuse no man , ●smael I wyll be lye no man , but thys I may say , Here standeth he that brought me to thys waye : ●niqui . My Lorde● he lyeth like a dampned knaue , The feare of death doth make hym raue , Ismael His naughtye company and playe at dice , Dyd me first to stealyng entice . He was with me at roberies , I say it to his face , yet can I say more in tyme & space , Iniqu●● Thou hast said to much , I beshrew thi horsons face Hange him my Lord , out of the way , The thief careth not what he doth say Let me be hangman , I wil teathe him a sleight , For feare of talkyng . I wil strangle him streight , Tary here that lyst , for I wyl go . he would go . Iudg● No no my frend , not so , I thought alwayes ye should not be good , And now it wil proue , I se by the rood , They 〈◊〉 him in al●ter he fig●teth with th●● Take him and lay him in yrons stronge , We wil talke with you more ere it be longe , Iniqu● He that layeth handes on me in this place , Iche lay my brawlyng yron on his face : By gogs bloud I defye thy worst , If thou shouldest hange me I were a curst . I haue bene at as low an ebbe as this , And quyckely a loft again by gisse : I haue mo frendes then ye thynke I haue , I am entertained of all men lyke no slaue : Yea , within this moneth I may say to you , I wyl be your seruaunt , and your maister to . ye , crepe into your brest , wyl ye haue it so ? Iudge A way with them both , leade them away , At his death tell me what he doth say , For then be lyke he wyll not lye , Iniqui I care not for you both , no not a sly : they lead them out . Iudge If no man haue here , more matter to say I must go hence some other way . he goeth out Worldly shame . Hah ha , though I come in rudely be not agast , I must worke a feate in al the hast . I haue caught two byrdes , I wyll set for the dame , If I catche her in my clutche , I wyl her tame . Of all thys while know ye not my name ? I am right worshipfull maister wordly shame , The matter that I come now about , Is euen thys , I put you out of dought . There is none Xantippe , a curst shrew , I thynke al the world doth her knowe , Suche a iade she is , and so curst a quene , She would out scold the devils dame I wene . Sirs thys fine woman , had babes three , Twayne the derest darlinges that might be , Ismael and faire Dalila , these two , With the loute Barnabas , I haue nothyng to do . Alwas good , that these tidlynges do might , Sweare , lye , steale , scolde or fight : Cardes , dyce , kysse , clippe and so furth , All this our Mammy would take in good worth . Now sir , Dalila my daughter is dead of the pockes And my son hanged in chaynes , & waueth his lockes These newes wil I tel her , and the matter so frame That she shal be thyne owne mayster worldly shame , Hah ha ha . Xantippe ●ommeth in Peace , peace , she comweth hereby , I spoke no word of her , no not I , Oh Mestres Xantippe , I can tell you nedes , The fayre wenche your dere daughter Dalila , Is dead of the pockes , taken at the stewes , And thy sonne Ismael , that preaty boy Whom I dare say you loued very well , Is hanged in chaynes , euer man can tell . Euery man saith thy daughter was a strong whore And thy sonne a strong thief , & a murderer to It must nedes greue you wonderous s●ro , That they died so shamefully both two : Men wyl taunt you and mock you , for they say now The cause of their death , was euen verye you● Xantippe I the cause of their death ? She wold sowne Worldly shame Will ye sowne , the deuyl stop thy breath ? Thou shalt die ( I trow ) with more shame I wyl get me hence out of the way , If the whore should dye , men would me blame● That I killed her , knaues should say . Exit . Xantippe Alas alas , and weale away● I may curse the time that I was borne , Neuer woman had suche fortune , I dare say , Alas two of my chyldren be forlorne . My faire daughter Dalila is dead of the pockes , My dere sonne Ismael hanged vp in chaynes , Alas the wynd waueth his yelow lockes , It fleaeth my heart , and breaketh my braynes . Why should god punish & plague me so sore ? To se my children dye so shamefully , I wil neuer eate bread in this world more with this knife wyl A sley my self by & by● She wold stick her self a with a knife . Beware what ye do , fye mother fye● Barnabas . Wyl ye spyl your selfe for your own offence And seme for euer to exclude gods mercy , God doth punysh you for your negligence : Wherfore take his correction with pacience , And thanke him hertely , that of his godnes He bringeth you in knowledge of your trespas . For when my brother & sister were of yonge age , You saw they were geuen to ydlenes and play , Would apply no learnyng , but liue in outrage , And mencomplagned on them euery day . Ye winked at theyr faultes , and tidled them alway . By maintenaun●e they grew to mischief and yll , So at last gods Iustice did them both spill . In that god preseruerued me , small thanke to you If god had not geuen me speciall grace , To auoyd euil , and do good , this is true , I had liued and dyed in as wretched case : As they did , for I had both suffraunce and space , But it is an olde prouerke , you haue herd it I think That god wyl haue se , shall not wynke . Yet in this we may al take comfort , They toke great repentaunce I heard say , And as for my sister , I am able to report , She lamented for her sinnes , to her dyng day : To repent and beleue I exorthed her alway , Before her death she beleued that god of his mercy For Christes sake , would saue her eternally . If you do euen so , ye nede not despaire , For god will frely remitte your sinnes all , Christe hath payed the raunsom , why shuld ye fear . To beleue this and do well , to god for grace call . All worldly cares let passe and fall , And thus comfort my father , I pray you hertely , Xantippe ●oeth o●te , I haue a lytle to say , I wyl come by and by . Right gentle audience , by thys Interlude ye may se How daungerous it is , for the frailtye of youth , Without good gouernaunce , to lyue at libertye , Suche chaunces as these , oft happen of truth Many miscary , it is the more ruth , By negligence of their elders , & not taking payne . In tyme good learnyng & qualities to attayne . Therfore exhortyng al parentes to be diligent , In bringing vp their children , yea to be circumspect Least they fall to euill , be not negligent , But chastice them before they be sore infect : Accept their well doing in yll them reiect , A yonge plant ye may platte & bowe as y● wyll , Where it groweth strong , there wyll it abyde styll Euen so by chyldren , in theyr tender age , Ye may worke them like waxe● to your own entent But if ye suffer them longe to liue in outrage● They wil be sturdy and stiffe , and will not relent : O ye chyldren , let your tyme he well spent , Applye your learnyng and your elders obey , It wil be your profit an other day . Now , for the Quenes Royal maiestie let vs pray , He knele● downe That god ( in whose handes is the hert of al Quenes , ) Maye endue her highnes with godly puissance alwaye that her grace may long raign & prosper in al things In gods word & iustice may giue light to al Quenes Let vs pray for the honorable councel & nobilitie , that they may alwayes counsel in wisdom with tranquility , He make● cur●esy a● goeth out ¶ God saue the Quene , the Realme and cominaltie . ¶ Finis .