A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 6

HYPOCRISY.

The legates are ready to ride, I am sure; Wherefore we had need to make no small delay: They stay for my coming alone, I dare say.

Howbeit the laity would greatly mislike, If they should know all our purpose and intent; Yea, and perhaps some means they would seek Our foresaid business in time to prevent.

TYRANNY.

Will you then be ruled by my arbitrament?

Lest the people should suddenly dissolve tranquillity, For the legate's defence, let him use me Tyranny.

HYPOCRISY.

Herein your counsel is not much unwise, Save that in one thing we had need to beware: Lest you be known, we will you disguise, And some grave apparel for you will prepare; But your name, Tyranny, I fear all will mar: Let me alone, and I will invent A name to your nature, which shall be convenient.

Zeal shall your name be: how like you by that?

And therefore in office you must deal zealously.

TYRANNY.

Let me alone, I will pay them home pat: Though they call me Zeal, they shall feel me Tyranny. [_Aside_.

HYPOCRISY.

Lo, here is a garment: come, dress you handsomely.

Ay, marry (quoth he), I like this very well: Now to the devil's grace you me seem to give counsel.

Now must I apply all my invention, That I may devise Avarice to hide.

Thy name shall be called Careful Provision, And every man for his household may lawfully provide: Thus shalt thou go cloaked, and never be spied.

AVARICE.

Thy counsel, Hypocrisy, I very well allow, And will recompense thee, if ever I know how.

TYRANNY.

Now on a boon[34] voyage let us depart, For I [am] well loth any time to delay.

HYPOCRISY.

Nay, yet in sign of a merry heart, Let us sing before we go away.

AVARICE.

I am content; begin, I you pray; But to sing the treble, we must needs have one.

HYPOCRISY.

If you say so, let it even alone.

[_Exeunt_.

ACT III, SCENE 1.

PHILOLOGUS.

Too true, alas, too true, I say, was our divination, The which Mathetes did foresee, when last we were in place; For now indeed we feel the smart and horrible vexation, Which Romish power unto us did threaten and menace.

Wherefore great need we have to call to G.o.d alway for grace; For feeble flesh is far too weak those pains to undergo, The which all they that fear the Lord are now appointed to.

The legate from the Pope of Rome is come into our coasts, Who doth the saints of G.o.d each where with tyranny oppress, And in the same most gloriously himself he vaunt and boast: The more one mourneth unto him he pitieth the less.

Out of his cruel tyranny the Lord of heaven me bless; For hitherto in blessed state my whole life I have spent, With health of body, wealth in goods, and mind alway content.

Besides, of friends I have great store, who do me firmly love: A faithful wife and children fair, of woods and pasture store, And divers other things which I have got for my behoof, Which now to be deprived of would grieve my heart full sore.

And if I come once in their claws. I shall get out no more, Unless I will renounce my faith, and so their mind fulfil; Which if I do, without all doubt my soul for aye I spill.

For sith I have received once the first-fruits of my faith, And have begun to run the course that leadeth to salvation, If in the midst thereof I stay or cease, the Scripture saith It booteth not that I began with so good preparation; But rather maketh much the more unto my condemnation: For he alone shall have the palm which to the end doth run, And he which plucks his hand from plough, in heaven shall never come.

Those labourers which hired were in vineyard for to moil, And had their penny for their pain, they tarried all while night; For if they ceased had, when sun their flesh with heat did broil, And had departed from their work, they should have lost by right Their wages-penny: I likewise shall be deprived quite Of that same crown, the which I have in faith long looked for.

But for this time I will depart: I dare here stay no more.

[_Exit_.

ACT III., SCENE 2.

HYPOCRISY.

Ha, ha, ha! marry, now the game begins.

Hypocrisy throughout this realm is had in admiration, And by my means both Avarice and Tyranny crept in, Who in short s.p.a.ce will make men run the way to desolation.

What did I say? my tongue did trip--I should say, consolation-- For now, forsooth, the clergy must into my bosom creep, Or else they know not by what means themselves alive to keep.

On the other side the laity, be they either rich or poor-- If rich, then Avarice strangle them, because they will not lose Their worldly wealth: or else we have one subtle practice more; That is, that Sensual Suggestion their outward man shall pose, Who can full finely in each cause his mind to them disclose.

But if that neither of these twain can to my train them win,[35]

Then at his cue to play his part doth Tyranny begin.

As for the poor knaves, such a one as this is, We do not esteem him, but make short ado.

If he will not come on, we do him not miss, But to the pot he is sure to go: Tyranny deals with him and no mo.

But I marvel what doth him from hence so long stay, Sooner named, sooner come, as common proverbs say.

[_S[t]ep aside_.

ACT III., SCENE 3.

TYRANNY, AVARICE, HYPOCRISY.

[TYRANNY.]

By his wounds, I fear not, but it is c.o.c.k sure[36] now.

[HYP. He hath a goodly grace in swearing.]

Under the legate's seal, in office I am placed: Therefore whoso resist me, I will make him to bow.

Who can make Tyranny now be disgraced?

[HYP. He is graceless already.]

With a head of bra.s.s I will not be outfaced, But will execute mine office with extreme cruelty, So that all men shall know me to be plain Tyranny.

AVARICE.

Nay, Master Zeal, be ruled by me: To such as resist such rigour you may show.

TYRANNY.

Zeal? nay, no Zeal; my name is Tyranny: Neither am I ashamed who doth my name know, For in my dealings the same I will show,