M. MERYGREEKE. RALPH ROISTER. GAWYN GOODLUCKE. TRISTRAM TRUSTIE. C.
CUSTANCE.
_M. Mery._ Yond I see Gawyn Goodlucke, to whome lyeth my message,
I will first salute him after his long voyage,
And then make all thing well concerning your behalfe.
_R. Royster._ Yea for the pashe of God.
_M. Mery._ Hence out of sight ye calfe,
Till I have spoke with them, and then I will you fet[--] 5
_R. Royster._ In Gods name.
_M. Mery._ What Master Gawin Goodluck wel met
And from your long voyage I bid you right welcome home.
_Ga. Good._ I thanke you.
_M. Mery._ I come to you from an honest mome.
_Ga. Good._ Who is that?
_M. Mery._ Roister Doister that doughtie kite.
_C. Custance._ Fye, I can scarce abide ye shoulde his name recite. 10
_M. Mery._ Ye must take him to favour, and pardon all past,
He heareth of your returne, and is full yll agast.
_Ga. Good._ I am ryght well content he have with us some chere.
_C. Custance._ Fye upon hym beast, then wyll not I be there.
_Ga. Good._ Why Custance do ye hate hym more than ye love me? 15
_C. Custance._ But for your mynde[604] sir, where he were would I not
be[.][605]
_T. Trusty._ He woulde make us al laugh.
_M. Mery._ Ye nere had better sport.
_Ga. Good._ I pray you sweete Custance, let him to us resort.
_C. Custance._ To your will I assent.
_M. Mery._ Why, suche a foole it is,[606]
As no man for good pastime would forgoe or misse. 20
_G. Goodl._ Fet him to go wyth us.
_M. Mery._ He will be a glad man. _Ex._
_T. Trusty._ We must to make us mirth,[607] maintaine[608] hym all we
can.
And loe yond he commeth and Merygreeke with him. H iv _b_
_C. Custance._ At his first entrance ye shall see I wyll him trim.
But first let us hearken the gentlemans wise talke. 25
_T. Trusty._ I pray you marke if ever ye sawe crane so stalke.
Actus. v. Scæna. vi.
R. ROISTER. M. MERYGREEKE. C. CUSTANCE. G. GOODLUCKE. T. TRUSTIE. D.
DOUGHTIE. HARPAX.
_R. Royster._ May I then be bolde?
_M. Mery._ I warrant you on my worde,
They say they shall be sicke, but ye be at theyr borde.
_R. Royster._ Thei wer not angry then[?]
_M. Mery._ Yes at first, and made strange
But when I sayd your anger to favour shoulde change,
And therewith had commended you accordingly, 5
They were all in love with your mashyp by and by.
And cried you mercy that they had done you wrong.
_R. Royster._ For why, no man, woman, nor childe can hate me long.[609]
_M. Mery._ We feare (quod they) he will be avenged one day,
Then for a peny give all our lives we may. 10
_R. Royster._ Sayd they so in deede[?]
_M. Mery._ Did they? yea, even with one voice
He will forgive all (quod I) Oh how they did rejoyce.
_R. Royster._ Ha, ha, ha. 13
_M. Mery._ Goe fette hym (say they) while he is in good moode,
For have his anger who lust, we will not by the Roode. 15
_R. Royster._ I pray God that it be all true, that thou hast me tolde,
And that she fight no more.
_M. Mery._ I warrant you, be bolde
Too them, and salute them. [_advance towards Goodl., etc._]
_R. Royster._ Sirs, I greete you all well.
_Omnes._ Your maistership is welcom.
_C. Custance._ Savyng my quarell.
For sure I will put you up into the Eschequer.[610] 20
_M. Mery._ Why so? better nay: Wherfore?
_C. Custance._ For an usurer.[611]
_R. Royster._ I am no usurer good mistresse by his armes.
_M. Mery._ When tooke he gaine of money to any mans harmes?
_C. Custance._ Yes, a fowle usurer he is, ye shall see els[--] I i
_R. Royster_ [_aside to M._] Didst not thou promise she would picke no
mo quarels? 25
_C. Custance._ He will lende no blowes, but he have in recompence
Fiftene for one,[611] whiche is to muche of conscience.
_R. Royster._ Ah dame, by the auncient lawe of armes, a man
Hath no honour to foile his handes on a woman.
_C. Custance._ And where other usurers[612] take their gaines
yerely, 30
This man is angry but he have his by and by.
_Ga. Goodl._ Sir, doe not for hir sake beare me your displeasure.
_M. Mery._ Well, he shall with you talke therof more at leasure.
Upon your good usage, he will now shake your hande.
_R. Royster._ And much heartily welcome from a straunge lande. 35
_M. Mery._ Be not afearde Gawyn to let him shake your fyst.
_Ga. Goodl._ Oh the moste honeste gentleman that ere I wist.
I beseeche your mashyp to take payne to suppe with us.
_M. Mery._ He shall not say you nay and I too, by Jesus.
Bicause ye shall be friends, and let all quarels passe. 40
_R. Royster._ I wyll be as good friends with them as ere I was.
_M. Mery._ Then let me fet your quier that we may have a song.
_R. Royster._ Goe.
_G. Goodluck._ I have hearde no melodie all this yeare long.
_M. Mery_ [_to the musicians whom he has called in_]. Come on sirs
quickly.
_R. Royster._ Sing on sirs, for my frends sake.
_D. Dough._ Cal ye these your frends? 45
_R. Royster._ Sing on, and no mo words make.
_Here they sing._[613]
_Ga. Good._ The Lord preserve our most noble Queene of renowne,
And hir virtues rewarde with the heavenly crowne.
_C. Custance._ The Lorde strengthen hir most excellent Majestie,
Long to reigne over us in all prosperitie.
_T. Trusty._ That hir godly proceedings the faith to defende,[614] 50
He may stablishe and maintaine through to the ende.
_M. Mery._ God graunt hir as she doth, the Gospell to protect,[615]
Learning and vertue to advaunce, and vice to correct.[616]
_R. Royster._ God graunt hir lovyng subjects both the minde and grace,
Hir most godly procedyngs worthily to imbrace. I i _b_ 55
_Harpax._ Hir highnesse most worthy counsellers[617] God prosper,
With honour and love of all men to minister.
_Omnes._ God graunt the nobilitie[618] sir to serve and love,
With all the whole commontie as doth them behove. 59