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Den Spyeghel der Salicheyt van Elckerlijc Hoe dat elckerlijc mensche wert ghedaecht Gode rekeninghe te doen. Hier beghint een schoon boecxken, ghemaect in den maniere van eenen speele ofte esbatemente op elcker­lijc mensche. . . .       Ende inden eersten spreekt God Almachtich aldus: GOD Ick sie boven uut mijnen throne Dat al dat is int smenschen persone Leeft uut vresen, onbekent. Oec sie ic tvolc also verblent In sonden, si en kennen mi niet voer God. Opten aertschen scat sijn si versot, Dien hebben si voer Gode vercoren, Ende mi vergheten, die hier te voren Die doot heb geleden doer tsmenschen profijt. Och Hovaerdie, die Ghiericheyt ende Nijt, Metten vij Dootsonden vermoghen, Hoe sidi ter werelt nu voert ghetoghen. Want mits der vij Dootsonden gemeen Es op ghedaen; des ick in ween Ben seker met alder hemelscher scaren. Dye vij Duechden, dye machtich waren, Sijn alle verdreven ende verjaecht, Want donnosel heeft mij seer gheclaecht. Elckerlijc leeft nu buyten sorghen; Nochtan en weten si ghenen morghen. Ick sie wel hoe ic tvolc meer spare, Hoet meer arghert van jare te jare. Al dat op wast arghert voert. Daer om wil ic nu, als behoert, Rekenninghe van Elckerlijc ontfaen. Want liet ic dye werelt dus langhe staen In desen leven, in deser tempeesten, Tvolc souden werden argher dan beesten Ende souden noch deen den anderen eten. Mijn puer ghelove is al vergheten, Dat ic hem selven gheboot te houden, Het cranct, het dwijnt, het staet te couden; Daer ic so minlijc om sterf die doot, Ontsculdich, sonder bedwanc oft noot, Om dat ick hoepte, dat si bi desen Mijnder eewigher glorien ghebrukich souden wesen, Daer icse seer toe hadde vercoren. Nu vinde ick dattet als is verloren Dat icse so costelic hadde ghemeent. Hoe menich goet ic hem vry heb verleent Uut mijnder ontfermherticheydens tresoor Dat hem recht toe hoort. Nochtans sijnse soe door, Ende verblent int aertsche goet, Als dat justicie wercken moet Aen Elckerlijc, die leeft so onvervaert. Waer sidi, mijn Doot, die niemant en spaert? Coemt hier! Hoort wat ic u sal vermonden. DIE DOOT Tuwen beveele in allen stonden, Almachtich God! Segt u beheet.         God Spreect GOD Gaet hene tot Elckerlijc ghereet, Ende segt hem van mijnen twegen saen Dat hi een pelgrimagie moet gaen Die niemant ter werelt en mach verbi, Ende dat hi rekeninghe come doen mi Sonder vertrec: dats mijn ghebot. DIE DOOT Het wert ghedaen, almachtich God. Ick wil ter werelt gaen regneren; Oeck sal ic rasschelijc, sonder cesseren, Tot Elckerlijc gaen. Hi leeft so beestelic Buten Gods vreese ende alte vleeslick. Voer God aenbidt hi deertsche goet, [Daer hy deeuwighe vreughde om derven moet] Daer wilic tot hem gaen met snellen keere. Hi coemt hier gaende. Help, God Heere. Hoe luttel vermoet hi op mijn comen! Ay, Elckerlijc, u wert saen benomen Dat ghi houden waent seer vast. Ghi sult staen tot swaren last Voor Gode almachtich ende buten seghe. Elckerlijc, waer sidi op weghe Dus moey? Hebdi al Gods vergheten? ELCKERLIJC Waerbi vraechdijs? DIE DOOT                     Dit suldi wel weten, Wilt na mi hooren te desen stonden. Naerstich bin ic aen u ghesonden Van Gode uut des Hemels pleyn. ELCKERLIJC Aen mij ghesonden? DIE DOOT                      Jae ick, certeyn! Al hebdi sijns vergheten, alst blijct, Hi peynst wel om u in sijn rijck, Alsoe ick u sal voer oghen legghen. ELCKERLIJC Wat begheert God van my? DIE DOOT                      Dat sal ick di segghen: Rekenninghe wilt hi van u ontfaen Sonder eenich verdrach. ELCKERLIJC                      Hoe sal ic dat verstaen? Rekeninghe? wat salt bedieden? DIE DOOT Al ghevet u vreemt, het moet ghescieden. Oec moetti aen nemen sonder verdrach Een pelgrimagie, die niemant en mach Weder keeren in gheender manieren. Brengt u ghescriften ende u pampieren Met u, ende oversietse bedachtich, Want ghi moet voer God Almachtich Rekeninghe doen, des seker sijt, Ende hoe ghi bestaet hebt uwen tijt, Van uwen wercken, goet ende quaet. Oeck en hoort hier gheen verlaet Van dien. Als nu het moet gheschien. ELCKERLIJC Daer op ben ic nu al qualic versien Rekeninghe te doen, voer Gode bloot. Wie bistu bode? DIE DOOT                      Ick ben die Doot die niemand en spaert, Maer Elckerlijck sal, bi Gods beveele, doen rekeninghe mi. ELCKERLIJC Och Doot, sidi mi soe bi, Als icker alder minst op moede. Doot, wildi van mi hebben goede? Duysent pont sal ic u gheven, Op dat ic behouden mach mijn leven Ende doet mi een verdrach van desen. DIE DOOT Elckerlijc, dat en mach niet wesen. Ick en aensie goet, schat, noch have. Paeus, hertoghe, coninc, noch grave En spare ic niet nae Gods ghebieden. Waer ic met schatte te verleeden, Ick creghe wel alder werelt goet. Nu houtet al met mi den voet, Oec en gheve ic uutstel noch verdrach. ELCKERLIJC Allendich, arm katijf, O wach! Nu en weet ick mijns selfs ghenen raet Van rekeninghe te doen: mijn pampier Es so verwerret ende so beslet Ic en sier gheen mouwen toe gheset. So is mijn herte om desen in vaer. Och mocht ic noch leven xij jaer, So soudic mijn ghescrifte exponeren Ende oversien. Wilt doch cesseren Als nu, lieve Doot, van wraken, Tot dat ic versien bin op die saken. Dat bid ic u doer Gods ontfermen. DIE DOOT U en mach baten smeken oft kermen. Dus siet wat u staet te beghinnen. ELCKERLIJC Lieve Doot, een sake doet mi bekennen: Al yst dat ic dese vaert moet aengaen, Soudic niet moghen wederkeeren saen, Als ic mijn rekeninghe hadde ghestelt? DIE DOOT Neen ghi, nemmermeer! ELCKERLIJC                      Almoghende Gods ghewelt, Wilt mijns ontfermen in deser noot! En soudic niemant, cleyn noch groot, Daer moghen leyden, had ict te doene? DIE DOOT Jae ghi, waer yemant so koene Dat hi die vaert met u bestonde. Spoet u, want God, die alle gronde Doersiet met sinen godliken oghen, Begheert dat ghi voer hem coemt toghen U rekenninghe van dat ghi hebt bedreven. Wat meendi, dat u hier is ghegheven Tleven op daerde ende tijtlijc goet? ELCKERLIJC Ay lazen, dat waendick! DIE DOOT                      Hoe sidi aldus onvroet, Elckerlijc, daer ghi hebt vijf sinnen, Dat ghi soe onsuver sijt van sinnen Ende ic so haestelijc come onversien. ELCKERLIJC Allendich katijf, waer sal ic vlien, Dat ic af quame deser groter sorghen? Lieve Doot, verdraghet mi tot morghen, Dat ic mi bespreken mach van desen. DIE DOOTDat en wil ic niet consenteren in desen, Noch en doe icx niet in gheender tijt. Ick slae den sulcken ter stont int crijt, Sonder voer raet, met eenen slach. Aldus bereyt u in desen dach. Ick wil uut uwen oghen vertrecken. Siet dat ghi u naerstelic gaet betrecken Te segghen: “Nu coemt den dach Die Elckerlijc niet voer bi en mach.” ELCKERLIJC Ay, Elckerlijc, wat dede ic ye gheboren? Ick sie mijn leven al verloren, Nu ic doen moet dese langhe vaert, Daer ic so qualic teghen ben bewaert Ic en hebbe noyt goet bedreven, Aldus heb ic seer luttel ghescreven. Hoe sal ic mi excuseren int claer? Ey lacen, ic woude dat ic nu niet en waer: Dat waer mijnder sielen groot toeverlaet. Waer mach ic nu soecken troost of raet? God die Heere, die alle dinc voersiet, Dat ic veel claghe, ten helpt niet. Den tijt gaet verre, tes nae noene. Ay lasen, wat staet mi nu te doene? Wien mocht ic claghen dese sake? Laet sien, oft ic mijn Gheselscap sprake Ende leyde hem te voren om mede te trecken, Soudt hijt mi ontseggen? Neen hi, ick wane: Wi hebben ter werelt in onsen daghen So groten vrientscap tsamen gedraghen; Want ic betrou hem alder duecht. Ick sien, des bin ic rechts verhuecht. Oec wil ic hem toe spreken sonder verdrach. Goeden dach, Gheselscap! GHESELSCAP                      Elckerlijc, goeden dach Moet u Gode gheven ende ghesonde! Hoe siedi dus deerlic doet mi orconde: Hebdi yet sonderlings dat u let? ELCKERLIJC Jae ick, Gheselscap. GHESELSCAP                      Achermen, hoe sidi dus ontset? Lieve Elckerlijc, ontdect mi uwen noot. Ic blive u bi tot in die doot, Op goet gheselscap ende trou ghesworen. ELCKERLIJC Ghi segt wel, Gheselscap, want tes verloren! GHESELSCAP Ick moet al weten u druc, u lijden: Een mensche mocht druc uut u snijden. Waer u mesdaen, ic helpt u wreken, Al soudicker bliven doot ghesteken Ende ict wiste te voren claer. ELCKERLIJC Danc hebt, Gheselscap. GHESELSCAP                      Ghenen danck een haer. Daer by segt mi u doghen. ELCKERLIJC Gheselle, oft ick u leyde voer oghen Ende u dien last viel te swaer, Dan soude ic mi meer bedroeven daer. Maer ghi segt wel; God moets u lonen. GHESELSCAP Way, ic meynet, al sonder honen. ELCKERLIJC Ghi segt wel, boven screve. Ic en vant noyt anders aen u dan trouwe. GHESELSCAP So en suldi oeck nemmermeer! ELCKERLIJC                      God loons u ende ons Vrouwe. Gheselle, ghi hebt mi wat verhaecht. GHESELSCAP Elckerlijc, en sijt niet versaecht. Ick gae met u, al waert in die Helle. ELCKERLIJC Ghi spreect als een gheselle. Ic sal u dancken, als ic best kan. GHESELSCAP Daer en is gheen dancken aen. Diet niet en dade in wercken aenschijn, Hi en waer niet waert gheselle te sijn. Daer om wilt mi uwen last ontdecken Als ghetrouwe vrient. ELCKERLIJC                      Ick salt u vertrecken Hier nu seker, al sonder veysen. Mi es bevolen dat ic moet reysen Een grote vaert, hardt ende stranghe. Oec moet ic rekeninge doen bi bedwange Voer den hoochsten Coninc almachtich. Nu bid ic u dat ghi zijt bedachtich Mede te gaen, so ghi hebt beloeft. GHESELSCAP Dats wel blikelijc: Die ghelofte houdic van waerden. Mer soudic sulcken reyse aenvaerden Om beden wille, mi souts verdrieten. Ic soude van deser gheruchte verscieten. Mer doch willen wi dbeste doen Ende ons beraden. ELCKERLIJC                      Och hoort doch dit sermoen! Seydi mi niet, had icx noot, Mede te gaen tot inder hellen doot, Oft in die Helle, had ict begaert? GHESELSCAP Dat soudic seker, maer sulc ghevaert Es uut ghesteken, plats metten ronsten. Om waer te seggen: oft wi die vaert begonsten, Wanneer souden wij weder comen na desen? ELCKERLIJC Daer en is gheen weder keeren. GHESELSCAP                      So en wil icker niet wesen. Wie heeft u die bootscap ghebracht? ELCKERLIJC Ay lazen, die Doot! GHESELSCAP                      Help, heylighe Gods crachte, Heeft die Doot gheweest die bode? Om al dat leven macht van Gode En ghinc icker niet, mocht icx voerbi. ELCKERLIJC Ghi seydet mi nochtans toe. GHESELSCAP                      Dat kenne ick vry. Waert te drincken een goet ghelaghe, Ick ghinc met u totten daghe, Oft waert ter kermissen buten der stede, Oft daer die schone vrouwen waren. ELCKERLIJC                      Daer ghingdi wel mede. Waert altoos met ghenuechten te gaen, soe waerdi bereet. GHESELSCAP Hier en wil ic niet mede, God weet. Maer woudi pelgrimagie gaen, Oft woudi yemant doot slaen, Ic hulpen ontslippen tot in die broock ende oec cloven ontween. ELCKERLIJC Och dat is een sober bescheen! Gheselle, ghi wilt anders dan ick alst noot is. Gheselle, peyst om trouwe die groot is Die wi deen den anderen over menich jaer Beloeft hebben. GHESELSCAP                      Trou hier, trou daer: Ic en wilder niet aen. Daer mede gesloten. ELCKERLIJC Noch bid ic, en hadt u niet verdroten, Doet mi uut gheleye, maect mi moet, Tot voer die poerte. GHESELSCAP                      Tjacob! Ic en sal niet eenen voet! Mer haddi ter werelt noch ghebleven, Ick en hadde u nemmermeer begheven. Nu moet u Ons Lieve Here gheleyden. Ick wil van u scheyden. ELCKERLIJC                      Es dat ghescheyden Sonder omsien? Ay lazen, jaet! Nu sien ic wel: tes cranc toeverlaet, Tgheselscap, alst coemt ter noot. Mer waer ic noch in weelden groot, So soudtmen met mi lachen alteenen. Mer lazen! Men wilt met mi niet weenen. Men seit: “In voerspoet vintmen vrient, Die ter noot niet zeer en dient.” Een ander hem castie bi desen. Waer wil ic nu troost soeckende wesen? Ic weet wel: aen mijn Vrient ende Maghe. Dien wil ic minen noot gaen claghen. Al is mi mijn Gheselscap af ghegaen, Si moeten mi doch ter noot bi staen. Want men doet int ghemeen ghewach, “Dattet bloet cruypet, daert niet wel gaen en mach.” Ic salt besoecken, op dat ic leve. Waer sidi, Vrienden ende Maghe? MAGHE                      Hier zijn wi, neve, Tuwen ghebode, stout ende koene. NEVE Elckerlijc, hebdi ons te doene? Dat segt ons vry. MAGHE                      Ja, sonder verlaet. Wi zijn tuwen besten, wat ghi bestaet. Al woudi yemant doot slaen, Wi helpen u daer toe. NEVE                      Want het moet alsoe staen, Salment maechscap te recht orboren. ELCKERLIJC God die danc u, mijn vrienden vercoren. Ick claghe u, met droevigher herten, mijn ghevaernis, Dat ic ontboden bin, alsoot claer is, Een verre pelgrimagie te gaen Daer nemmermeer en is wederkeeren aen. Daer moet ic rekeninge doen, die swaer is, Voerden Heere, diet al openbaer is. MAGHE Waer af moetti rekeninghe doen? ELCKERLIJC Van mijnen wercken, om cort sermoen: Hoe ic hier mijnen tijt heb versleten Op aertrijc ende met sonden verbeten Ende wat ic heb bedreven Den tijt, gheleent ende niet ghegheven. Hier wilt doch mede gaen, dat u die Almachtige God wil lonen, Ende helpt mijn rekeninghe verschoonen. So sal te minder werden mijn seer. MAGHE Wat! daer mede te gaen? NEVE                      Way, schillet niet meer? Voerwaer, ick heb een ander ghepeyst. MAGHE Ic valle op mijn achterhielen! NEVE                      Ten docht niet gheveyst: Ic seynder mijnre maerten bli ende vry. Si gaet gaerne ter feesten. MAGHE                      Ick segghe oeck alsoe Ick soude verschieten int laetste. ELCKERLIJC En wildi dan niet mede gaen? NEVE                      En laet niet haesten, beste. Ten is tot gheenre feesten te gaen, Noch tot gheenre sollen! ELCKERLIJC                      Nu, om een eynde te knopen, Segt, wildi mede, sonder verlaet? MAGHE Neve, ic neme uutstel, dach ende raet Ende mijn ghenachte tot open tijde. NEVE Wi willen ons verblasen. ELCKERLIJC                      Hoe soude ick verbliden? Wat schoonder woerden men mi biet, Alst coemt ter noot, so eest al niet. Ay lazen! Hoe ist hier ghevaren! NEVE Elckerlijc, neve, God moet u bewaren. Ic en wil niet mede, opt platte gheseyt. Oec heb ic uutstaende te rekenen wat, Daer bin ic noch qualic op versien. Dus blive ic hier. ELCKERLIJC                      Dat mach wel zijn. Tfy, Elckerlijc, hebdi u verlaten Op u Mage? Die hem so vroemlijc vermaten, Laten u bliven in desen dangier. Siet, oftmense jaechde van hier. Ick sie: men spreect wel metten monde, Buyten der daet, uut geveynsden gronde. Dan seghen si: “Neve, ghebreect u yet, Ic ben tuwen besten.” Tes seker nyet. Ende des ghelijc seyt tGheselscap; doch Tes al zoringhe ende bedroch. Die wil, macher hem toe verlaten. Waer mocht ic mi nu henen saten? Hier is verloren langhe ghebleven. Wat vrienden sullen mi nu troost geven? Daer coemt mi wat nieus inne: Ic heb aen mijn Goet geleyt grote minne. Wilde mij dat helpen tot mijnen orboren, So en had ict noch niet al verloren. Ic heb op hem noch alle mijn troost. O Heere, diet al sal doemen, Wilt u gracie op mi ontsluyten. Waer sidi, mijn Goet? TGOET                      Ick legghe hier in muten Versockelt, vermost, als ghi mi siet, Vertast, vervuylt. Ic en kan mi niet Verporren, also ic ben tsamen gesmoert. Wat wildi mi hebben? ELCKERLIJC                      Coemt rasch hier voert, Lichtelic, Goet, ende laet u sien. Ghi moet mi beraden. TGOET                      Wat rade sal u van mi gheschien? Hebdi ter werelt eenich letten, Dat sal ic u beteren. ELCKERLIJC                      Tes al een ander smette. Ten is niet ter werelt, wilt mi verstaen. Ick bin ontboden daer ic moet gaen Een grote pelgrimagie, sonder verdrach. Oec moet ic, dat is mij tswaerste gelach, Rekeninghe doen voerden oversten Heere, Om dwelc ic troost aen u begheere. Mits dien dat ic in kintschen tijden Hadde in u groot verblijden, Ende dat mijnen troest al aen u stoet. So bid ic u, mijn uutvercoren Goet, Dat ghi met mi gaet sonder cesseren. Want ghi mocht mi licht voer Gode pureren, Want Tgoet kan suveren smetten claer. TGOET Neen, Elckerlijc, ic mocht u letten daer. Ic en volghe niemant tot sulcker reisen. Ende al ghinghe ic mede, wilt peisen, So soudi mijns te wors hebben grotelic, Bi redenen ic salt u segghen blotelijc: Ic heb zeer u pampier verweert. Want al u sinnen hebdi verteert Aen mi, dat mach u leet zijn. Want u rekeninghe sal onghereet zijn Voer God Almachtich, mits minen scouwen. ELCKERLIJC Dat mach mi wel berouwen, Als ict verantwoerden sal moeten strangelic. Op, ga wi, mede! TGOET                      Neen, ick bin onbrangelijc. Aldus en volghe ic u niet een twint. ELCKERLIJC Ay lazen! Ick heb u oeck ghemint Mijn leefdaghe tot opten tijt van nu. TGOET Dat es een eewige verdomenis voer u: Mijn minne es contrarye des Hemels staten. Maer haddi mi gemint bi maten Ende van mi ghedeylt den armen, So en dorfstu nu niet karmen, Noch staen bedroeft, dat u nu swaer is. ELCKERLIJC Ay lazen, God! Ic ken dat waer is. TGOET Waendi dat ic u bin? ELCKERLIJC                      Ick hadt ghemeent. TGOET Swijcht! Ic en bin mer u gheleent Van Gode; hy proeft, claer alst is voer oghen, Hoe ghi sult in weelden poghen. Die menighe blijft bi mi verloren, Meer dan behouden, weet dat te voren. Waendi dat ic u sal volgen, Elckerlijc, Van deser werelt? Neen ic, sekerlijc! ELCKERLIJC Dat waende ic claerlijc, om dat ic u oyt hadde so lief. TGOET Daer om: tGoet kenne ic der sielen dief. Als ghi nu van hier zijt, dat en mach niet lieghen: Soe wil ic eenen anderen bedrieghen, Ghelijc ic dede voer uwen tijt. ELCKERLIJC Och valsche Goet, vermaledijt! Hoe hebdi mi in u net bevaen, Verrader Gods! TGOET                      Ghi hebt dat al u selven ghedaen, Dat mi lief es te deser tijt. Ic moet daer om lachen! ELCKERLIJC                      Sidi dies verblijt, Om dat ghi mi van Gode hebt beroeft? Hi is sot, die eenich goet gheloeft. Dat mach ic, Elckerlijc, wel beclaghen. En wildi dan niet mede? TGOET                      Ey seker, neen ick! ELCKERLIJC                                          Och, wien sal ict dan claghen Mede te gaen in desen groten last? Eerst had ic op mijn Gheselscap ghepast; Die seydt mi schoen toe menichfout, Mer achter na sloech hi mi niet hout. Daer vandic dattet al was bedroch. Doen ghinc ic tot minen Maghen noch; Die seydent mi toe, claer als ghelas. Ten eynde vandic als ghedwas. Doen wert ic dencken op mijn Goet, Daer ic aen leyde minen moet. Dat en gaf mi troest noch raet Dan dattet Goet in verdoemenis staet. Dies ic mi selven wel mach bespuwen. Tfy, Elckerlijc, u mach wel gruwen. Hoe deerlic mach ic u versmaden! Heere God, wie sal mi nu beraden, Daer ic noch bi werde verhuecht? Niemant bat dan mijn Duecht. Maer lazen! Si is so teer van leden, Ic meen, si niet connen en sou vander steden. Och, en sal ic haer nyet toe dorren spreken? Wil ic? Neen ick. Ick sal nochtan. Tvare alst mach, ic moeter henen. Waer sidi, mijn Duecht? DUECHT                      Ick ligghe hier al verdwenen Te bedde, vercrepelt ende al ontset. Ick en kan gheroeren niet een let. So hebdi mi ghevoecht met uwen misdaden. Wat is u ghelieven? ELCKERLIJC                      Ghi moet mi beraden, Want icx noot heb, tot mijnder vromen. DUECHT Elckerlijc, ic heb wel vernomen Dat ghi ter rekeninghen sijt ghedaecht Voer den oversten Heere. ELCKERLIJC                      Och, dat si u gheclaecht. Ic come u bidden uuttermaten Dat ghi daer met mi gaet. DUECHT                      Al mocht mi al die werelt baten, Ick en konst niet alleen ghestaen. ELCKERLIJC Ay lazen! Sidi so cranck? DUECHT                      Dit hebdi mi al ghedaen. Haddi mi volcomelijc ghevoecht, Ic sou u rekeninghe, die nu onreyn is, Gesuvert hebben, des u siel in weyn is. Siet u ghescrifte ende uwe wercken, Hoe dat si hier legghen. ELCKERLIJC                      Gods cracht wil mi stercken! Men siet hier een letter niet die reyn es. Is dit al mijn ghescrifte? DUECHT                      Seker ick meens. Dat moechdi sien aen mijn ghesonde. ELCKERLIJC Mijn waerde Duecht, uut goeden gronde, Ic bid u troost mi tot mijnen orboren, Oft ic bin eewelijc verloren. Want Geselscap, Vrient, Maghe, ende Goet Sijn mi af ghegaen, in rechter oetmoet: Helpt mi mijn rekeninghe sluyten hier voer den hoochsten Heere. DUECHT Elckerlijc, ghi deert mi seere. Ick sou u helpen, waer icx machtich. ELCKERLIJC Duecht, soudi mi wel beraden? DUECHT                      Dies bin ick bedachtich, Hoe wel ic niet en mach vander steden. Noch heb ic een suster, die sal gaen mede. Kennisse heetse, die u leyden sal Ende wijsen hoemen u bereyden sal Te trecken ter rekeninghe, die fel es. KENNISSE Elckerlijc, ick sal u bewaren. ELCKERLIJC                      Ick waen, mi nu wel es. Ick ben eens deels ghepayt van desen. Gods lof moeter in gheeert wesen. DUECHT Als si u gheleyt heeft sonder letten Daer ghi u suveren sult van smetten, Dan sal ic gesont werden ende comen u bij Ende gaen ter rekeningen als Duecht mit di, Om te helpen zommeren tot uwer vruecht Voerden oversten Heere. ELCKERLIJC                      Danck hebt, uutvercoren Duecht! Ick bin ghetroost boven maten Op u suete woerden. KENNISSE                      Nu gaen wi ons saten Tot Biechten. Si es een suver rivier, Sy sal u pureren. ELCKERLIJC                      Uut reyner bestier So gaen wi tot daer. Ic bids u beyden: Waer woent Biechte? KENNISSE                      Int Huys der Salicheden. Daer sullen wijse vinden, soudic meenen. ELCKERLIJC Ons Here God wil ons gracie verleenen Tot haer, die ons vertroosten moet. KENNISSE Elckerlijc, dit is Biechte; valt haer te voet. Sy es voer Gode lief ende waert. ELCKERLIJC O gloriose bloome, diet al verclaert Ende doncker smetten doet vergaen, Ick knyele voer u. Wilt mi dwaen Van mijnen sonden. In u aenscouwen Ick coem met Kennisse te mijnen behouwe, Bedroeft van herten ende seer versaecht, Want ic ben vander Doot ghedaecht Te gaen een pelgrimagie, die groot is. Oec moet ic rekening doen, die bloot is, Voor hem, die doersiet gronde. Nu bid ic, Biechte, moeder van ghesonde: Verclaert mijn brieven, want Duecht seer onghesont is. BIECHTE Elckerlijc, u lijden mi wel kont is. Om dat ghi mit Kennisse tot mi sijt comen, So sal ic u troesten tuwer vromen. Oec sal ic u gheven een juweelken rene, Dat Penitencie heet alleene. Daer suldi u lichaem mede termijnen Met abstinencie ende met pijnen. Hout daer, siet die gheesselen puere: Dats Penitencie, strang ende suere. Peyst dat Ons Here oeck was gheslaghen Met geesselen, dat hi woude verdraghen Recht voer sijn pelgrimagie stranghe. Kennisse, hout hem in desen ganghe; So sal sijn Duecht werden spoedich. Ende emmer hoept aen Gode oetmoedich, Want u tijt varinck eynden sal. Bidt hem ghenade; dit suldi vinden al, Ende orboert die harde knopen altijt. Kennisse, siet dat ghi bi hem sijt Als hi tot Penitencien keert. KENNISSE Gaerne, Biechte. ELCKERLIJC                      God si hier in Gheeert! Nu wil ic mijn penitencie beghinnen, Want dlicht heeft mi verlicht van binnen, Al sijn dese knopen strenghe ende hardt. KENNISSE Elckerlijc, hoe suer dat u wert, Siet dat ghi u penitencie volstaet. Ick, Kennisse, sal u gheven raet, Dat ghi u rekeninghe sult tonen bloot. ELCKERLIJC O levende Leven! O hemels Broot! O Wech der waerheyt! O Godlic Wesen, Die neder quam uut sijns Vaders schoot In een suver Maecht gheresen, Om dat ghi Elckerlijc wout ghenesen, Die Adam onterfde bi Yeven rade. O Heylighe Triniteyt uut ghelesen, Wilt mi vergheven mijn mesdade, Want ic begheer aen u ghenade. O godlijc Tresoer! O coninclijc Saet! O alder werelt Toeverlaet, Specie der engelen sonder versaden, Spiegel der vruecht daert al aen staet, Wiens licht Hemel ende aerde beslaet, Hoor mijn roepen, al yst te spade. Mijn bede wilt inden troen ontfaen. Al bin ic sondich, mesdadich ende quaet, Scrijft mi int boeck des Hemels blade, Want ic begheer aen u ghenade. O Maria, moeder des hemels Almachtich, Staet mi ter noot bi voordachtich Dat mi die Viant niet en verlade. Want nakende is mi die Doot crachtich. Bidt voer mi dijnen Sone voerdachtich, So dat ic mach gaen inden rechten pade Daer die wegen niet en sijn onrachtich. Maect mi uwes Kints rijc delachtich, So dat ic in sijn Passie bade, Want ic begheer aen u ghenade. Kennisse, gheeft mi die gheselen bi vramen, Die penitencie hieten bi namen. Ic salt beghinnen, God geefs mi gracie. KENNISSE Elckerlijc, God gheve u spacie! So ghevicx u inden naem ons Heeren, Daer ghi ter rekeninghe moet keeren. [ELCKERLIJC] Inden naem des Vaders ende des Soens, mede Des Heylige Gheest, inder Drievuldichede, Beghin ic mijn penitencie te doen. Neemt, lichaem, voer dat ghie waert so scoen Mij te bringhen inden wech der plaghen. Daer om moetti nu sijn gheslagen. Ghi hebbes wel verdient ghewarich. Ay broeders, waer soe mochti Door penitencie waen tseghen dat ghi u pelgrimaige moet gaen, Die Elckerlijc moet nemen aen. DUECHT God danc, ic beghin nu wel te gaen, Want Elckerlijc heeft mi ghenesen. Dies wil ic eewich bi hem wesen. Oeck sal ic sijn weldaet clareren; dies wil ic bi hem gaen te tijde. KENNISSE Elckerlijc, sijt vro ende blijde: U Weldaet coemt, nu sijt verhuecht! ELCKERLIJC Wie maecht sijn, Kennisse? KENNISSE                      Het is u Duecht, Gans ende ghesont op die beene. ELCKERLIJC Van blijscappen ic weene. Nu wil ic meer slaen dan te voren. DUECHT Elckerlijc, pelgrijm uutvercoren, Ghebenedijt sidi, sone der victorien, Want u is nakende dlicht der glorien. Ghi hebt mi ghemaect al ghesont; Des sal ic u bi bliven teewigher stont. God sal dijnre ontfermen, hebt goet betrouwen. ELCKERLIJC Welcoem, Duecht, mijn oghen douwen In rechter oetmoedigher blijscap soet. KENNISSE En slaet niet meer, hebt goeden moet: God siet u leven inden throone. Doet aen dit cleet tuwen loone. Het is met uwen tranen bevloeyt, Dus draechtet vrij, onghemoeyt; Oft anders soudijt voor Gode gemissen. ELCKERLIJC Hoe heet dit cleet? KENNISSE                      Tcleet van Berouwenissen. Het sal Gode alte wel behaghen. DUECHT Elckerlijc, wilt dat cleet aendraghen, Want Kennisse hevet u aenghedaen. ELCKERLIJC Soe wil ic Berouwenisse ontfaen, Om dat God dit cleet heeft so weert. Nu willen wi gaen onverveert. Duecht, hebdi ons rekeninghe claer? DUECHT Jae ic, Elckerlijc. ELCKERLIJC                      So en heb ic ghenen vaer. Op vrienden, en wilt van mi niet sceyden. KENNISSE Neen wi, Elckerlijc. DUECHT                      Ghi moet noch met u leyden Drie personen van groter macht. ELCKERLIJC Wie souden si wesen? DUECHT                      Wijsheyt ende u Cracht; U Scoonheit en mach niet achter bliven. KENNISSE Noch moetti hebben sonder becliven U Vijf Sinnen als u beraders. ELCKERLIJC Hoe soude icxse ghecrighen? KENNISSE                      Roepse alle gader. Si sullent hooren al sonder verdrach. ELCKERLIJC Mijn vrienden, coemt alle op mijnen dach: Wijsheyt, Cracht, Scoonheyt, ende Vijf Sinnen! CRACHT Hier sijn wi alle tot uwer minnen. Wat wildi van ons hebben ghedaen? DUECHT Dat ghi met Elckerlijc wilt gaen Sijn pelgrimagie helpen volbringhen. [Want hi gedaecht is ter rekeningen] Voor Gode te comen onghelet. Siet oft ghi mede wilt. SCHOONHEYT                      Wie willen alle met, Tsijnre hulpen ende tsijnen rade. VROETSCAP Dat willen wi certeyn. ELCKERLIJC                      O Almoghende God, ghenade! U love ic dat ic dus heb ghebracht Vroescap, Scoonheyt, Vijf Sinnen, ende Cracht, Ende mijn Duecht met Kennisse claer. Nu heb ic gheselscap te wille daer. Ic en geerder niet meer te minen verdoene. CRACHT Ick blive u bi, stout ende koene, Al waert te gaen in eenen strijt. VIJF SINNEN Ende ic, al waert die werelt wijt, Ic en scheyde van u in gheenre noot. SCHOONHEYT So en sal ic oeck tot in die doot, Comer af datter afcomen mach! VROETSCAP Elckerlijc, wes ic u doe ghewach: Gaet voersienich ende al met staden. Wi sullen u alle duecht raden Ende sullen u helpen wel bestieren. ELCKERLIJC Dit sijn vrienden die niet en faelgieren; Dat lone hem God, die hemelsche Vader. Nu hoort, mijn vrienden, alle gader: Ick wil gaen stellen mijn testament Voor u allen hier in present. In caritaten ende in rechter oetmoede Deel ic den armen van mijnen goede Deen helft, ende dander helft daer nae Ghevick daer si schuldich is te gaen. Dit te doen ic den Viant nu te schanden, Om los te gaen uut sinen handen, Nae mijn leven in desen daghe. KENNISSE Elckerlijc, hoort wat ick ghewaghe: Gaet totten priesterliken staet Ende siet dat ghi van hem ontfaet Tsacrament ende Olijs mede. Dan keert hier weder tot deser stede. Wi sullen alle nae u verbeyden. VIJF SINNEN Jae, Elckerlijc, gaet u bereyden. Ten is keyser, coninc, hertoghe, of grave Die van Gode hebben alsulcken gave, Als die minste priester doet alleene. Van alden sacramenten reene Draecht hi den slotel, al doer bereyt Tot des menschen salicheyt, Die ons God teender medecijne Gaf uuter herten sijne, Hier in desen aertschen leven. Die Heylighe Sacramenten seven: Doopsel, Vormsel, Priesterscap goet, Ende tSacrament, God vleesch ende bloet, Huwelic ende tHeylich Olyzel met, Dit zijn die seven onbesmet: Sacramenten van groter waerden. ELCKERLIJC Ic wil Gods lichaem minlic aenvaerden Ende oetmoedelijc totten priester gaen. VIJF SINNEN Elckerlijc, dat is wel ghedaen. God laet u met salicheden volbringhen! Die priester gaet boven alle dinghen: Si zijn die ons die Scriftueren leeren Ende den mensche van sonden keeren. God heeft hem meer machts ghegheven Dan den ynghelen int eewich leven. Want elc priester kan maken claer, Met vijf woerden opten outaer Inder Missen (des zijt vroet), Gods lichaem, warachtich vleesch ende bloet, Ende handelt den Scepper tusscen zijn handen. Die priester bint ende ontbint alle banden Inden Hemel ende opter aerde. Och edel priester van groter waerde, Al custen wi u voetstappen, gi waret waert! Wie van sonden troost begaert, Die en connen vinden gheen toeverlaet Dan aenden priesterliken staet. Dit heeft die Heere den priester ghegheven, Ende zijn in zijn stede hier ghebleven. Dus zijn si boven die enghelen gheset. KENNISSE Dats waer, diet wel hout onbesmet. Mer doen hi hinc met groter smerten Aent Cruce, daer gaf hij ons uut Zijnder herten Die Seven Sacramenten met seere. Hi en vercoft ons niet, die Heere! Hier om dat Sinte Peter lijdt, Dat si alle zijn vermaledijt Die God copen oft vercopen Ende daer af ghelt nemen met hoopen. Si gheven den sondaer quaet exempel. Haer kinder lopen inden tempel, Ende som sitten si bi wiven In onsuverheyt van liven. Dese zijn emmers haers sins onvroet. VIJF SINNEN Ic hope, of God wil, dat niemant en doet. Daer om laet ons die priesters eeren Ende volghen altijt haer leeren. Wi zijn haer scapen ende si ons herden, Daer wi alle in behoet werden. Laet dit wesen niet meer vermaen. DUECHT Elckerlijc coemt; hi heeft voldaen. Dus laet ons zijn op ons hoede. ELCKERLIJC Heer God, mi is so wel te moede Dat ic van vruechden wene als een kint. Ic hebbe ontfaen mijn Sacrament Ende dat Olizel mede. Danc heb diet riet. Nu, vrienden, sonder te letten yet, Ick danck Gode dat ic u allen vant. Slaet aen dit roeyken alle u hant Ende volghet mi haestelic na desen. Ick gae vore, daer ic wil wesen. Ons Heere God, wil mi gheleyden! CRACHT Elckerlijc, wi en willen van u niet sceyden, Voer ghi ghedaen hebt dese vaert. VROETSCAP Wi blivens u bi onghespaert, Also wi gheloeft hebben oec langhe. KENNISSE Och, dits een pelgrimagie seer strange, Die Elckerlijc sal moeten gaen. CRACHT Elckerlijc, siet hoe wi u bi staen: Sterck, vroem, en hebt gheen vaer. ELCKERLIJC Ay mi, die leden zijn mi so swaer Dat si gaen beven voer den gru. Lieve vrienden, wi en willen niet keeren nu. Sal ic mijn pelgrimagie betalen, So moet ic hier binnen dalen In desen put ende werden aerde. SCHOONHEYT Wat, in desen putte? ELCKERLIJC                      Ja, van desen waerden Soe moeten wi werden, clein ende groot. SCHOONHEYT Wat, hier in versmoren? ELCKERLIJC                      Ja, hier in versmoren ende bliven doot Ter werelt, met levende wesen altijt Voerden oversten Heere. SCHOONHEYT                      Ick schelt u al quijt. Adieu! Vaert wel! Ic schoer mijn scout; ick gae als de domme. ELCKERLIJC Wat? Schoonheyt! SCHOONHEYT                      Ic bin al dove; ic en saghe niet omme, Al mocht mi baten alder werelt schat. ELCKERLIJC Waer op wil ic mi verlaten? Schoonheyt vliet, oftmense jaechde. Nochtan te voren, doen ic haer vraechde, Woude si met mi sterven ende leven. CRACHT Elckerlijc, ic wil u oec begheven. U spel en behaecht mi niet te deghe. ELCKERLIJC Cracht, suldi mi oec ontgaen? CRACHT                      Ja, ic wil seker weghe. Daer mede ghesloten, een voer al. ELCKERLIJC Lieve Cracht, ontbeyt noch. CRACHT                      Bi Sinte Loy, ick en sal! Waendi dat ic in dien put wil versmoren? ELCKERLIJC Ende suldi mi dan ontgaen? CRACHT                      Ja ick, tes al verloren, Al soudi uwen navel uut crijten. ELCKERLIJC Suldi aldus u ghelofte quijten? Ghi soudt mi bi bliven, so ghi seyt. CRACHT Ick heb u verre ghenoech gheleyt. Oec sidi oudt ghenoech, ic waen, U pelgrimagie alleen te gaen. Mi es leet dat icker heden quam. ELCKERLIJC Ay, lieve Cracht, ic make u gram? CRACHT Tes al verloren. Rust u hoeft, Ende gaet int doncker huys. ELCKERLIJC                      Dit en had ic u niet gheloeft. Wie wil hem verlaten op zijn cracht? Si vliet, als mist doet uuter gracht. Schoonheit is als wint die vlieghet! Ay, getrouwe vrienden, dat ghi dus lieget, Ghi seydet mi toe schoon ter kore. VROETSCAP Elckerlijc, ic wil oeck gaen dore Ende nemen uutstel van desen. Waendi dat wi hier in willen wesen? Hoet u van dien, ic wils mi wachten. ELCKERLIJC O Vroetscap, Vroetscap! VROETSCAP                      Ick en wil niet mede. Tes verloren ghevroetscapt, claer. ELCKERLIJC Lieve Vroescap, coemt doch soe nae, Dat ghi hier binnen den gront aensiet. Ick bidts u oetmoedelijc. VROETSCAP                      Bi Sinte Loy, ick en doe des niet! Mi rouwet dat icker ye quam so bi. ELCKERLIJC Och, al mist, dat God niet en si. Schoonheyt, Cracht, ende Vroescap groot, Het vliet van Elckerlijc, als coemt de Doot. Arm mensche, waer sal ic nu op lenen? VIJF SINNEN Elckerlijc, ic wil oec henen Ende volghen den anderen die u ontwerven. ELCKERLIJC                      Och, lieve Vijf Sinnen! VIJF SINNEN Ick en wil daer niet aen winnen. Dat ghi veel roept, ten mach nyet baten. ELCKERLIJC Och, suldi mi alle gader laten? DUECHT Neen wi, Elckerlijc. Zijt ghestelt. ELCKERLIJC Ay mi, mijn Vijf Sinnen! VIJF SINNEN                      Roept al dat ghi wilt. Ghi en sult ni niet meer van voor bekijken. ELCKERLIJC Lieve Duecht, blijft ghi bi mi? DUECHT                      Ick en sal u nemmermeer beswijken, Om leven, om sterven, of om gheen torment. ELCKERLIJC Hier zijn ghetrouwe vrienden bekent. Alle die mi ontgaen ghemeene, Die mindic meer dan mijn Duecht alleene. Kennisse, suldi mi oec begheven? KENNISSE Ja ic, Elckerlijc, als ghi eyndet u leven, Mer seker niet eer, om gheen dangier. ELCKERLIJC Danck hebt, Kennisse. KENNISSE                      Ick en scheyde niet van hier Voer dat ghi zijt daer ghi behoort. ELCKERLIJC Mi dunckt, wacharmen, wij moeten voert, Rekeninghe doen ende ghelden mijn scult. Want mijn tijt is schier vervult. Neemter exempel aen, diet hoort ende siet. Ende merct hoet nu al van mi vliet: Sonder mijn Duecht wil met mi varen. DUECHT Alle aertsche dinghen zijn al niet. ELCKERLIJC Duecht, merct hoet nu al van mi vliet. DUECHT Schoonheyt, Cracht, Vroescap, dat hem liet, Tgheselscap, die Vrienden ende Magen waren. ELCKERLIJC Nu merct hoet nu al van mi vliet, Sonder mijn Duecht, die wil mit mi varen. Ghenade, Coninck der enghelen scharen, Ghenade, Moeder Gods, staet mi bi. DUECHT Ic sal mi puer voer Gode verclaren. ELCKERLIJC Ghenade, Coninc der enghelen scharen! DUECHT Cort ons die pine, sonder verswaren, Maect ons deynde los ende vri. ELCKERLIJC Ghenade, Coninck der enghelen scharen, Ghenade, Moeder Gods, staet mi bi. In uwen handen, Vader, hoe dat si, Beveel ic u minen gheest in vreden. Ick vare metter Duecht. KENNISSE                      Hi heeft leden Dat wij alle moeten gelden. Die Duecht sal nu haer selven melden Voer hem diet al ordelen sal. Mi dunct ic hore der enghelen gheschal Hier boven; den Hemel is seker ontdaen, Daer Elckerlijc binnen sal zijn ontfaen.                      Die Ynghel seyt: Coemt uutvercoren bruyt, Hier boven, ende hoort dat suete gheluyt Der engelen mits uwe goede Virtuyt. Die siele neem ick den lichaem uut: Haer rekeninghe is puer ende reyne. Nu voer icse in des Hemels pleyne, Daer wi alle moeten ghemeene In comen, groot ende cleene.            Amen. DIE NAEPROLOGHE Neemt in dancke, cleyn ende groot, Ende siet hoe Elckerlijc coemt ter Doot. Gheselscap, Vrienden, ende Goet Gaet Elckerlijc af; zijt des vroet. Scoonheyt, Cracht, Vroescap, ende Vijf Sinnen, Tes al verganclijc, zijt des te binnen. Sonder die Duecht volcht voer al. Mer als die Duecht is so smal Dat si niet mede en mach oft en kan, Arm Elckerlijc, hoe vaerdi dan Ter rekeninghen voer onsen Heere? Dan gadi van wee, van seere, Want na die Doot eerst quaet te verhalen; Daer en baet voerspraec noch tale. Ay, Elckerlijc, hoe moechdi wesen Hovaerdich, nidich!                      Seer uut ghelesen, Merct desen spieghel, hebten voer oghen Ende wilt u van hovardien poghen Ende oec van allen sonden met. Nu laet ons bidden onghelet Dat dit elck mensche moet vesten Dat wi voer Gode suver comen ten lesten. Des gonne ons die hemelsche Vader. “Amen” segghet alle gader.            God heb lof!

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The Somonyng of Everyman Here begynneth a treatyse how the hye Fader of Heven sendeth Dethe to somon every crea­ture to come and gyve a counte of theyr lyves in this worlde, and is in maner of a morall playe. MESSENGER I pray you all gyve your audyence And here this matter with reverence, By fygure a morall playe. The Somonyng of Everyman called it is That of our lyves and endynge shewes How transytory we be all daye. This matter is wonderous precyous, But the intente of it is more gracyous And swete to bere awaye. This story sayeth: man in the begynnynge, Loke well and take good hede to the endynge, Be you never so gaye. Ye thynke synne in the begynnynge full swete Whiche in the ende causeth thy soule to wepe Whan the body lyeth in claye. Here shall you se how Felawshyp and Jolyté Bothe, Strengthe, Pleasure, and Beauté, Wyll vade from thee as floure in Maye, For ye shall here how our Heven Kenge Calleth Everyman to a generall rekenynge. Gyve audyens and here what he wyll saye.       God speketh [above] GOD I perceyve here in my majestye How that all creatures be to me unkynde, Lyvynge without drede in worldely prosperytye; Of ghostly syght the people be so blynde, Drowned in synne, they know me not for ther God. In worldely ryches is all theyr mynde; They fere not my ryghtwysenes, that sharpe rod. My lawe that I shewed whan I for them dyed They forgot clene, and sheddynge of my blod so redde. I hanged bytwene two theves, it cannot be denyed; To get them lyfe I suffrede to be deed; I heled theyr fete, with thornes hurt was my heed. I coulde do no more than I dyde truely, And now I se the people do clene forsake me. They use the Seven Deedly Synnes dampnable, As Pryde, Covetyse, Wrathe, and Lechery Now in the worlde be made commendable, And thus they leve of aungeles, the hevenly company. Everyman lyveth so after his owne pleasure, And yet of theyr lyfe they be not sure. I se the more that I them forbere The worse they are from yere to yere. All that lyveth apperyth faste; Therfore I wyll in all the haste Have a rekenynge of every mannes persone. For and I leve the people thus alone In theyr lyfe and wycked tempestes, Verely they wyll becume moche worse than bestes, For now one wolde by envy another up ete; Charytye they all do clene forgete. I hoped well that Everyman In my glorye shulde make his mansyon, And therto I had them all electe. But now I se that, lyke traytours dejecte, They thanke me not for the pleasure that I to them ment, Nor yet for theyr beynge that I them have lente. I profered the people great multytude of mercy, And fewe there be that asketh it hertely. They be so cumbred with worldly ryches That nedes on them I must do justyce On every man lyvynge without feare. Where art thou, Deth, thou myghty messengere?         [Enter Death] DEATH Almyghty God, I am here at your wyll Your commaundemente to fulfyll. GOD Go thou to Everyman And shew hym in my name A pylgrymage he must on hym take Which he in no wyse may escape, And that he brynge with hym a sure rekenynge Without delay or ony taryenge. DEATH Lorde, I wyll in the worlde go ren over all And cruelly out serche bothe great and small. Everyman I wyll beset that lyveth beestly Out of Goddes lawes and dredeth not foly. He that loveth ryches I wyll stryke with my darte His syght to blynde, and from Heven depart, Excepte that almes dedes be his good frende, In Hell for to dwell, worlde without ende.         [Enter Everyman] Loo, yonder I se Everyman walkynge. Full lytell he thynketh on my cummynge. His mynde is on flesshely lustes and his treasure, And great payne it shall cause hym to endure Before the Lorde, Heven Kynge. Everyman, stonde styll. Whether arte thou goynge Thus gayly? Hast thou thy Maker forget? EVERYMAN Why askest thou? Woldest thou wete? DEATH Ye, syr, I wyll shew you. In great hast I am sende to thee From God out of his majestyé. EVERYMAN What, sende to me? DEATH Ye, certaynly. Though thou have forgete hym here, He thynketh on thee in the hevenly spere As or we departe thou shall knowe. EVERYMAN What desyreth God of me? DEATH That shall I shewe thee: A rekenynge he wyll nedes have Without lenger respyte. EVERYMAN To gyve a rekenynge longer layser I crave. This blynde mater trubleth my wytte. DEATH On thee thou must take a longe journey. Therfore thy boke of counte with thee thou brynge, For turne agayne thou cannot by no waye; And loke thou be sure of thy rekenynge, For before God shalte thou answere and shewe Thy many badde dedes and good but a fewe, How thou hast spente thy lyfe and in what wyse, Before the chefe Lorde of Paradyse. Have ado that thou were in that waye, For wete thou well thou shalte make none attournay. EVERYMAN Full unredy I am suche rekenynge to gyve. I knowe thee not; what messanger arte thou? DEATH I am Dethe that no man dredeth, For every man I rest and none spareth, For it is Goddes commaundement That all to me sholde be obedyent. EVERYMAN O, Deth, thou cummest whan I had thee leest in mynde. In thy power it lyeth me to save. Yet of my good wyll I gyve thee yf ye wyll be kynde, Ye, a thousande pounde shalte thou have, And dyfferre this mater tyll another daye. DEATH Everyman, it may not be by no waye. I set not by golde, sylver, nor rychesse, Ne by pope, emperoure, kynge, duke, ne prynces. For and I wolde receyve geftes great All the worlde I myght gete; All my custome is clene contrary. I gyve thee no respyte; come hens and not tary. EVERYMAN Alas, shall I have no longer respyte? I may saye Deth geveth no warnynge; To thynke on thee it maketh my herte secke, For all unredy is my boke of rekenynge. But twelve yere and I myght have abydynge, My countynge boke I wolde make so clere That my rekenynge I sholde not nede to fere. Wherfore, Deth, I praye thee for Goddes mercy, Spare me tyll I be provyded of remedy. DEATH Thee avayleth not to crye, wepe, and praye, But hast thee lyghtly that thou were gone the journaye And prove thy frendes yf thou can, For wete you well the tyde abydeth no man, And in the worlde eche lyvynge creature For Adams synne must dye of nature. EVERYMAN Deth, yf I sholde this pylgrymage take And my rekenynge surely make, Shewe me, for saynt charyté, Sholde I not come agayne shortly? DEATH No, Everyman, and thou be ones there, Thou must nevermore come here, Trust me veryly. EVERYMAN Gracyous God in hye sete celestyall, Have mercy on me in this moost nede. Shall I have no company fro this vale terestyall Of myne aqueyntaunce that waye me to lede? DEATH Ye, yf ony be so hardy That wolde go with thee and bere thee cumpany. Hye thee that thou were gone to Goddes magnyfycens Thy rekenynge to gyve before his presence. What, wenest thou thy lyfe is gyven thee And thy wordely gooddes also? EVERYMAN I had wende so, verely. DEATH Ney, nay, it was but lend thee, For as sone as thou arte go Another a whyle shall have it, and than go therfro Even as thou hast done. Everyman, thou arte mad, that hast thy wyttes fyve And here on erth wyll not amende thy lyve, For sodenly I do cume. EVERYMAN Oo, wretched caytyfe, whether shall I flee That I myght scape this endles sorow? Now, gentyll Deth, spare me tyll tomorow That I may amende me With good advysemente. DEATH Nay, therto I wyll not consent, Nor no man wyll I respyte, But to the harte sodenly I shall smyte Without any advysement. And now out of syght I wyll me hye; Se thou make thee redy shortely, For thou mayst saye, “This is the day That no man lyvynge may scape awaye.”         [Exit Death] EVERYMAN Alas, I may well wepe with syghes depe. Now have I no maner of cumpany To helpe me in my journey, and me to kepe, And also my wrytynge is full unredy. How shall I do now, for to excuse me? I wolde to God I had never be gete: To my soule a great profyte it had be, For now I fere paynes huge and great. The tyme passeth. Lorde, helpe, that all wrought, For though I mourne it avaleth nought. The day passeth, and is almost ago: I wot not well what to do. To whome were I best my complante to make? What and I to Felawshyp therof spake And shewed hym of this sodayne chaunce, For in hym is all myne affyaunce. We have in the worlde so many a daye Be good frendes in sporte and playe.         [Enter Fellowship] I se hym yonder cartaynely. I truste that he wyll bere me cumpany; Therfore to hym wyll I speke to ease my sorow. Well met, good Felawshyp, and good morowe.         Felawshyp speketh FELLOWSHIP Everyman, good morowe, by this daye. Syr, why lokest thou so pyteously? If anythynge be amys, I pray thee me saye That I may helpe to remedy. EVERYMAN Ye, good Felawshyp, ye, I am in greate jeopardé. FELLOWSHIP My true frende, shew to me your mynde. I wyll not forsake thee unto my lyves ende In the way of good cumpany. EVERYMAN That is well spoken and lovyngly. FELLOWSHIP Syr, I must nedes know your hevynes. I have pytye to se you in any destresse. If any have you wronged, ye shall revenged be, Though I on the grounde be slayne for thee, Though that I knowe before that I shulde dye. EVERYMAN Veryly, Felawshyp, gramercy. FELLOWSHIP Tusshe, be thy thankes I set not a straw. Shewe me your grefe, and say no more. EVERYMAN Yf I my herte shulde to you breke, And than you to turne your mynde from me And wold not me comforte when you here me speke, Than shulde I ten tymes soryer be. FELLOWSHIP Syr, I say as I wyll do in dede. EVERYMAN Than be you a good frende at nede. I have founde you true here before. FELLOWSHIP And so ye shall evermore, For in fayth and thou go to Hell, I wyll not forsake thee by the waye. EVERYMAN Ye speke lyke a good frende; I beleve you well. I shall deserve it and I maye. FELLOWSHIP I speke of no deservynge, by this daye, For he that wyll saye and nothynge do Is not worthy with good company to go. Therfore shew me the grefe of your mynde As to your frende moste lovynge and kynde. EVERYMAN I shall shewe you how it is: Commaunded I am to go a journaye, A longe waye, herde and daungerous, And gyve a strayte counte without delaye Before the hye juge Adonay. Wherfore, I pray you, bere me company, As ye have promysed, in this journaye. FELLOWSHIP That is matter indede. Promyse is dutye, But and I shulde take suche a vyage on me, I know it well, it shulde be to my payne; Also it maketh me aferde certayne. But let us take councell here as we can, For your wordes wold feare a stronge man. EVERYMAN Why, ye sayd yf I had nede Ye wolde me never forsake, quycke ne deed, Though it were to Hell truely. FELLOWSHIP So I sayde, certeynly, But suche pleasures be set asyde, the sothe to say, And also yf we toke suche a journay, Whan shulde we agayne cume? EVERYMAN Nay, nyver agayne, tyll the Day of Dome. FELLOWSHIP In fayth, than wyll not I cume there. Who hath you these tydynges brought? EVERYMAN Indede, Deth was with me here. FELLOWSHIP Now, by God that all hath bought, If Dethe were the messengere, For no man that is lyvynge todaye I wyll not go that lothesom journay, Not for the father that begat me. EVERYMAN Ye promysed me otherwyse, pardé. FELLOWSHIP I wot well I sayd so, truely, And yet, yf thou wylte ete and drynke and make good chere Or haunte to women, that lusty cumpany, I wolde not forsake you whyle the daye is clere — Truste me veryly. EVERYMAN Ye, therto ye wolde be redy To go to myrthe, solace, and playe; Your mynde to folye wyll soner aply Than to bere me cumpany in my longe journey. FELLOWSHIP Nay, in good faythe, I wyll not that waye. But and thou wylte murdre or any man kyll, In that I wyll helpe thee with a good wyll. EVERYMAN O, that is a symple advyse indede. Gentyll felawe, helpe me in my necessytye. We have loved longe and now I nede, And now gentyll Felawshyp, remembre me. FELLOWSHIP Whether ye have loved me or no, By Saynt Johnn, I wyll not with thee go. EVERYMAN Yet, I pray thee, take the laboure and do so moche for me To brynge me forwarde, for saynt charyté, And comforte me tyll I come without the towne. FELLOWSHIP Nay, and thou wolde gyve me a new gowne, I wyll not one fote with thee goo. But and thou had taryed I wolde not a left thee so; And as now God spede thee in thy journey, For from thee I wyll departe as fast as I may. EVERYMAN Whether awaye, Felawshyp? Wylt thou forsake me? FELLOWSHIP Ye, by my faye. To God I betake thee. EVERYMAN Farwell, good Felawshyp, for thee my herte is sore. Adewe, for I shall never se thee no more. FELLOWSHIP In fayth, Everyman, farwell now at the endynge. For you I wyll remembre that partynge is mournynge.         [Exit Fellowship] EVERYMAN Alacke, shall we thus departe indede? O Lady, helpe! Without ony more comforte, Lo, Felawshyp forsaketh me in my moste nede. For helpe in this worlde whether shall I resorte? Felawshyp here before with me wolde mery make, And now lytell sorowe for me doeth he take. It is sayd, “In prosperyté men frendes may fynde Whiche in adversytye be full unkynde.” Now whether for socoure shall I flee Syth that Felawshyp hath forsaken me? To my kynnesmen I wyll truely, Prayenge them to helpe me in my necessytye. I beleve that they wyll do soo, “For kynde wyll crepe where it may not go.”         [Enter Kindred and Cousin] I wyll go saye, for yender I se them. Where be ye now, my frendes and kynnesmen? KINDRED Here be we now at your commaundemente. Cosyn, I praye you, shewe us your intente In ony wyse and do not spare. COUSIN Ye, Everyman, and us to declare, Yf ye be dysposed to go ony whether, For wot ye well, we wyll lyve and dye togyther. KINDRED In welthe and wo we wyll with you holde, For over his kynne a man may be bolde. EVERYMAN Gramercy, my frendes and kynnesmen kynde, Now shall I shew you the grefe of my mynde. I was commaunded by a messengere That is an hye Kynges chefe offycere; He bad me go a pylgrymage to my payne, But I know well I shall never cume agayne. Also, I must gyve rekenynge strayte, For I have a great enemy that hath me in wayte Whiche intendeth me for to hyndre. KINDRED What a counte is that whiche ye must rendre? That wolde I knowe. EVERYMAN Of all my workes I must shewe How I have lyved and my dayes spente, Also of yll dedes that I have used In my tyme syth lyfe was me lente, And of all vertues that I have refused. Therfore, I praye you, go thether with me To helpe to make myne accounte, for saynt charytie. COUSIN What, to go thether, is that the matter? Nay, Everyman, I had lever fast breed and water All this fyve yere and more. EVERYMAN Alas that ever I was borne, For now shall I never be mery Yf that you forsake me. KINDRED A, syr, what? Ye be a mery man, Take good herte to you and make no mone! But one thynge I warne you, by Saynt Anne: As for me, ye shall go alone. EVERYMAN My cosyn, wyll you not with me go? COUSIN No, by Our Lady, I have the crampe in my to. Trust not to me, for so God me spede, I wyll deceyve you in your moste nede. KINDRED It avayleth not us to tyse. Ye shall have my mayde, with all my herte; She loveth to go to festes, there to be nyce And to daunce and abrode to sterte. I wyll gyve her leve to helpe you in that jurnaye, If that you and she may agree. EVERYMAN Now shewe me the very effecte of your mynde; Wyll you go with me, or abyde behynde? KINDRED Abyde behynde? Ye, that wyll I and I may; Therfore farwell tyll another daye!         [Exit Kindred] EVERYMAN How shulde I be mery or gladde, For fayre promyses men to me do make, But whan I have moste nede, they me forsake. I am deceyved, that maketh me sad. COUSIN Cosyn Everyman, farwell now, For verely I wyll not go with you. Also of my owne, an unredy rekenynge I have to accounte; therfore I make taryenge. Now God kepe thee, for now I go.         [Exit Cousin] EVERYMAN A, Jesus, is all cume hereto? Loo, fayre wordes maketh fooles fayne; They promyse, and nothynge wyll do certayne. My kynnesmen promysed me faythfully For to abyde with me stedfastly, And now fast awaye do they flee, Evyn so Felawshyp promysed me. What frende were best me of to provyde? I lose my tyme here longer to abyde, Yet in my mynde a thynge there is. All my lyfe I have loved ryches. If that my Good now helpe me myght, It wolde make my herte full lyght. I wyll speke to hym in this dystresse. Where arte thou, my Goodes and Ryches?         [Goods speaks] GOODS Who calleth me? Everyman? What, hast thou haste? I lye here in corners trussed and pyled so hye, And in chestes I am locked full fast, Also sacked in bagges, thou mayste se with thyne eye. I cannot stere, in packes low I lye. What wolde ye have? Lyghtly me saye. EVERYMAN Cume hyther, Good, in all the hast thou may, For of councell I must desyre thee. GOODS Syr, and ye in the worlde have trouble or adversyté, Than can I helpe you to remedye shortely. EVERYMAN It is another dysease that grevyth me; In this worlde it is not, I tell soo. I am sende for another waye to go To gyve a strayte accounte generall Before the hyghest Jupyter of all. And all my lyfe I have had joye and pleasure in thee; Therfore, I praye thee, go with me, For peraventure thou mayest before God Almyghty My rekenynge helpe to clene and puryfye, For it is sayd ever amonge That “money maketh all ryght that is wronge.” GOODS Nay, Everyman, I synge another songe. I folow no man in suche vyages, For and I wente with thee Thou shuldest fare moche the worse for me; For bycause on me thou dyde set thy mynde, Thy rekenynge I have made blotted and blynde That thyne accounte thou cannot make truely, And that haste thou for the love of me. EVERYMAN That wolde greve me full sore Whan I shulde cum to that ferefull answere; Up, let us go thyther togyther. GOODS Nay, not so; I am to bryttell, I may not endure; I wyll folow no man one fote, be thou sure. EVERYMAN Alas, I have thee loved and had great pleasure All my lyfe dayes on good and treasure. GOODS That is to thy dampnacyon without lesynge, For my love is contrary to the love everlastynge. But yf thou had me loved moderately durynge As to the poore to gyve parte of me, Than shouldest thou not in this doloure be, Nor in this great sorow and care. EVERYMAN Lo now, I was deceyved or I was ware, And all I may wyte my spendynge of tyme. GOODS What, wenest thou that I am thyne? EVERYMAN I had wente so. GOODS Nay, Everyman, I say noo. As for a whyle I was lente thee, A season thou haste had me in prosperytye. My condycyon is mannes soule to kyll; Yf I save one, a thousande I do spyll. Wenest thou that I wyll folowe thee From this worlde, nay, verely? EVERYMAN I had wende otherwyse. GOODS Therfore to thy soule Good is a thefe, For whan thou arte deed this is my guyse: Another to deceyve in the same wyse As I have done thee, and al to his soules reprefe. EVERYMAN O false Good, cursed thou be, Thou traytour to God, thou hast deceyved me And caught me in thy snare! GOODS Mary, thou brought thyselfe in care, Whereof I am gladde; I must nedes laugh. I cannot be sad. EVERYMAN A, Good, thou hast had longe my hartely love. I gave thee that whiche shulde be the Lordes above, But wylt thou not go with me indede, I praye thee, truthe to saye? GOODS No, so God me spede. Therfore farwell and have good daye.         [Exit Goods] EVERYMAN O, to whome shall I make my mone For to go with me in that hevy journaye? Fyrst Felawshyp — he sayd he wolde with me go. His wordes were very plesaunte and gaye, But afterwarde he lefte me alone. Than spake I to my kynnysmen all in despayre, And also they gave me wordes fayre. They lacked no fayre spekynge, But all forsake me in the endynge. Than wente I to my Goodes that I loved best In hope to have cumforte, but there had I leest, For my Goodes sharpely dyd me tell That he bryngeth many into Hell. Than of myselfe I was ashamed, And so I am worthy to be blamed: Thus may I well myselfe hate. Of whome shall I now councell take? I thynke that I shall never spede Tyll that I go to my Good Dede, But, alas, she is so weke That she can nother go nor speke. Yet wyll I ventre on her now. My Good Dedes, where be you?         [Good Deeds is unable to rise] GOOD DEEDS Here I ly, colde in the grounde. Thy synnes have me so sore bounde That I cannot stere. EVERYMAN O, Good Dedes, I stonde in feare. I must you praye of councell, For helpe now shulde cum ryght well. GOOD DEEDS Everyman, I have understandynge That thou arte somoned, a counte to make Before Messyas of Jerusalem Kynge. And you do by me, that journaye with you will I take. EVERYMAN Therfore I cum to you, my mone to make. I pray thee to go with me. GOOD DEEDS I wolde full fayne, but I cannot stonde verely. EVERYMAN Why, is there anythinge on you fall? GOOD DEEDS Ye, syr, I may thanke you of all. Yf ye had perfytely chered me, Your boke of accounte full redy now had be. Loke the bokes of your workes and deeds eke, Beholde how they lye under the fete To your soules hevynes. EVERYMAN Our Lorde Jesus helpe me, For one letter herein can I not se. GOOD DEEDS There is a blynde rekenynge in tyme of dystresse. EVERYMAN Good Dedes, I praye you helpe me in this nede, Or els I am forever damned indede. Therfore helpe me to make my rekenynge Before the Redemer of all thynge That Kynge is and was and ever shall. GOOD DEEDS Everyman, I am sory of your fall, And fayne wolde I helpe you and I were able. EVERYMAN Good Dedes, your councell I pray you gyve me. GOOD DEEDS That shall I do verely, Though that on my fete I may not go. I have a syster that shall with you also Called Knowlege, which shall with you abyde To helpe you to make that dredfull rekenynge.         [Enter Knowledge] KNOWLEDGE Everyman, I wyll go with thee and be thy guyde In thy moste nede to go by thy syde. EVERYMAN In good condycyon I am now in everythynge, And am holy contente with this good thynge, Thankyd be God my Creature. GOOD DEEDS And whan she hath brought thee there Where thou shalte heale thee of thy smarte, Than go thou with thy rekenynge and thy Good Dedes togyther For to make thee joyfull at harte Before the blessyd Trynytye. EVERYMAN My Good Dedes, I thanke thee hartfully; I am well contente certaynly With your wordes swete. KNOWLEDGE Now go we thether lovyngly To Confessyon, that clensynge ryvere. EVERYMAN For joye I wepe; I wolde we were there. But I praye you to instructe me by intelleccyon, Where dwellyth that holy man Confessyon? KNOWLEDGE In the House of Salvacyon We shall fynde hym in that place That shall us cumforte, by Goddes grace.         [Everyman is led to Confession] Loo, this is Confessyon. Knele downe and aske mercy, For he is in good conceyte with God Almyghty. EVERYMAN [Spoken kneeling] O gloryous fountayne that all unclennes doth clarify, Wasshe from me the spottes of vyces unclene That on me no synne may be sene. I cum with Knowlege for my redempcyon, Repent with herte and full contrycyon, For I am commaunded a pylgrymage to take And great accountes before God to make. Now I praye you, Shryfte, mother of Salvacyon, Helpe my Good Dedes, for my petyous exclamacyon. CONFESSION I know your sorowe well, Everyman, Bycause with Knowlege ye cum to me. I wyll you comforte as well as I can, And a precyous jewell I wyll gyve thee Called Penaunce, voyder of adversytye. Therwith shall your body chastysed be With abstynence and perseveraunce in Goddes servyce. Here shall you receyve that scurge of me Whiche is Penaunce stronge that ye must endure To remembre thy Savyoure was scurged for thee With sharpe scurges and suffered it pacyently. So must thou or thou scape that paynful pylgrymage. Knowlege, kepe hym in this vyage, And by that tyme Good Dedes wyll be with thee, But in any wyse be sure of mercy, For your tyme draweth fast, and ye wyll saved be. Aske God mercy, and he wyll graunte truely. Whan with the scurge of Penaunce man doth hym bynde, The Oyle of Forgyvenes than shall he fynde. EVERYMAN Thanked be God for his gracyous werke, For now I wyll my penaunce begynne; This hath rejoysed and lyghted my herte, Though the knottes be paynfull and harde within. KNOWLEDGE Everyman, your penaunce loke that ye fulfyll What payne that ever it to you be, And Knowlege wyll gyve you councell at wyll How your accounte ye shall make clerely. EVERYMAN O eternall God! O hevenly Fygure! O Way of ryghtwysenes, O goodly Vysyon Whiche descended downe in a vyrgyn pure Bycause he wolde Everyman to redeme Whiche Adam forfeyted by his dysobedyens. O blessyd Godhede electe and hye devyne, Forgyve me my grevous offence. Here I crye thee mercy in this presence, O ghostly Treasure, O Raunsomer and Redemer, Of all the worlde hope and conductor, Myrrour of joye and Founder of mercy, Whiche enlumyneth Heven and erth therby, Here my clamorous complaynte, though it late be, Receyve my prayers unworthy of thy benygnyté, Though I be a synner moste abhomynable. Yet let my name be wryten in Moyses table. O Mary, pray to the Maker of all thynge Me for to helpe at my endynge, And save me from the power of my enemy, For Deth assayleth me strongly, And, Lady, that I may by meane of thy prayer Of thy Sonnes glory to be partetaker. By the meanes of his Passyon, I it crave, I beseche you helpe my soule to save.         [Everyman rises] Knowlege, gyve me the scorge of penaunce; My flesshe therwith shall gyve acqueyntaunce. I wyll now begynne, yf God gyve me grace. KNOWLEDGE Everyman, God gyve you tyme and space. Thus I bequethe you in the handes of our Savyoure, Now may you make your rekenynge sure. EVERYMAN In the name of the Holy Trynyté, My body sore punysshyd shal be.         [Everyman scourges himself] Take this, body, for the synne of the flesshe! Also thou delytest to go gaye and fresshe, And in the waye of dampnacyon thou dyd me brynge; Therfore suffre nowe strokes and punysshenge. Now of penaunce I wyll wade the water clere To save me from Hell and from the fyre.         [Good Deeds rises and stands] GOOD DEEDS I thanke God now I can walke and go. I am delyvered of my sekenesse and wo; Therfore with Everyman I wyll go and not spare. His good workes I wyll helpe hym to declare. KNOWLEDGE Now, Everyman, be mery and gladde. Your Good Dedes do come, ye may not be sadde. Now is your Good Dedes hole and sounde, Goynge upryght upon the grounde. EVERYMAN My herte is lyght and shall be evermore; Now wyll I smyte faster than I dyd before. GOOD DEEDS Everyman, pylgrym, my specyall frende, Blessyd be thou without ende, For thee is prepared the eternall glory. Ye have me made hole and sounde; Therfore I wyll abyde with thee in every stounde. EVERYMAN Welcume, my Good Dedes, now I here thy voyce. I wepe for very swetenes of love. KNOWLEDGE Be no more sad, but evermore rejoyce. God seeth thy lyvynge in his trone above. Put on this garment to thy behove, Whiche with your teres is now all wete, Lest before God it be unswete Whan you to your journeyes ende cume shall. EVERYMAN Gentyll Knowlege, what do ye it call? KNOWLEDGE It is the garmente of Sorowe. From payne it wyll you borow. Contrycyon it is That getteth forgyvenes; It pleasyth God passynge well. GOOD DEEDS Everyman, wyll you were it for your hele?         [Everyman puts on the Garment of Contrition] EVERYMAN Now blessyd be Jesu, Maryes sonne, For now have I on true Contrycyon, And let us go now without taryenge. Good Dedes, have we clere oure rekenynge? GOOD DEEDS Ye, indede, I have it here. EVERYMAN Than I trust we nede not fere; Now frendes, let us not parte in twayne. KNOWLEDGE Nay, Everyman, that wyll we not, certayne. GOOD DEEDS Yet must thou lede with thee Thre persones of great myght. EVERYMAN Who shulde they be? GOOD DEEDS Dyscressyon and Strengthe they hyght, And thy Beautye may not abyde behynde. KNOWLEDGE Also ye must call to mynde Your Fyve Wyttes as for your councellers. GOOD DEEDS You must have them redy at all houres. EVERYMAN How shall I get them hyther? KNOWLEDGE You must call them all togyther, And they wyll here you incontynent. EVERYMAN My frendes, cume hyder and be present, Dyscressyon, Strength, my Fyve Wyttes, and Beautye.         [Enter Discretion, Strength, Five Wits, and Beauty] BEAUTY Here at your wyll we be redy. What wolde ye that we shalde do? GOOD DEEDS That ye wold with Everyman go And helpe hym in his pylgrymage. Advyse you: wyll ye with hym or not in that vyage? STRENGTH We wyll brynge hym all thether To his helpe and cumforte, ye may beleve me. DISCRETION So wyll we go with hym all togyther. EVERYMAN Almyghty God, loved may thou be! I gyve thee laude that I have hether brought Strength, Dyscressyon, Beauté, and Fyve Wyttes, lac I nought, And my Good Dedes, with Knowlege clere; All be in cumpany at my wyll here. I desyre no more to my besynes. STRENGTH And I, Strength, wyll stonde by you in destresse, Thoughe thou woldest in batayll fyght on the grounde. FIVE WITS And though it were throughe the worlde rounde, We wyll not departe for swete nor soure. BEAUTY No more wyll I unto dethes houre, Whatsoever therof befall. DISCRETION Everyman, advyse you fyrst of all, Go with a good advysement and delyberycyon. We all gyve you vertuous monycyon That all shall be well. EVERYMAN My frendes, herken what I wyll tell: I pray God rewarde you in his hevenly spere. Now herken all that be here, For I wyll make my testament Here before you all presente. In almes half my good I wyll gyve with my handes twayne In the waye of charytye with good entent, And the other halfe styll shall remane In quyet to be returned there it ought to be. This I do in despyte of the fende of Hell To go quyte out of his parell Ever after and this daye. KNOWLEDGE Everyman, herken what I saye: Go to Pryesthode, I you advyse, And receyve of hym in ony wyse The Holy Sacramente and Oyntment togyther; Than shortely se ye turne agayne hyder. We wyll all abyde you here. FIVE WITS Ye, Everyman, hye you that ye redy were. Theyr is no emperour, kynge, duke, ne baron That of God hath commyssyon As hath the leest pryest in the worlde beynge, For of the blessyd Sacramentes pure and benygne He bereth the keyes and therof hathe he cure. For mannes redempcyon it is ever sure Whiche God for our soules medycyne Gave us out of his harte with great pyne Here in this transytory lyfe for thee and me. The blessyd Sacramentes seven there be: Baptym, Confyrmacyon, with Pryesthode good, And the Sacrament of Goddes precyous flesshe and blode; Maryage, the holy Extreme Unccyon, and Penaunce. These seven be good to have in remembraunce, Gracyous Sacramentes of hye dyvynyté. EVERYMAN Fayne wolde I receyve that holy body, And mekely to my ghostly father I wyll go. FIVE WITS Everyman, that is the best that ye can do. God wyll you to salvacyon brynge, For good Pryesthod excedeth all other thynge. To us holy scrypture they do teche And converteth man from synne Heven to reche. God hath to them more power gyven Than to ony angell that is in Heven. With five wordes he may consecrate Goddes body in flesshe and bloode to make, And handeleth his Maker bytwene his handes. The pryest byndeth and unbyndeth all bandes Bothe in erth and in Heven. Thou mynysters all the Sacrementes seven; Though we kysse thy fete, thou were worthy, Thou arte surgyon that cureth synne deedly. No remedy we fynde under God, But all onely Pryesthode. Everyman, God gave pryest that dygnyté, And setteth them in his stede amonge us to be; Thus be they above angelles in degré.         [Exit Everyman to receive last rites] KNOWLEDGE If pryestes be good it is so surely, But whan Jesu henge on the Crosse with great smarte, There he gave out of his blessyd herte The same Sacrament in great tourment. He solde them not to us, that Lorde omnipotent; Therefore Saynt Peter the apostle doth saye That Jesus curse hathe all they Which God theyr Savyour do bye or sell, Or they for ony money do take or tell. Synfull pryestes gyveth the synners example bad. Theyr chyldren sytteth by other mennes fires, I have herde, And some haunteth womens company With unclene lyfe, as lustes of lechery. These be with synne made blynde. FIVE WITS I trust to God no suche may we fynde; Therfore let us Pryesthode honoure And folow theyr doctryne for our soules socoure. We be ther shepe, and they shepeherdes be By whom we all be kepte in suertye. Peas, for yender I se Everyman cume Which hath made true satysfaccyon. GOOD DEEDS Me thynketh it is he indede.         [Re-enter Everyman] EVERYMAN Now Jhesu Cryst be your alder spede. I have receyved the Sacramente for my redempcyon And than myne Extreme Unccyon. Blessyd be all they that counceyled me to take it! And now, frendes, let us go without longer respyte. I thanke God that ye have taryed so longe. Now set eche of you on this Rodde your honde, And shortly folwe me. I go before there I wolde be, God be our guyde. STRENGTH Everyman, we wyll not from you go Tyll ye have gone this vyage longe. DISCRETION I, Dyscressyon, wyll byde by you also. KNOWLEDGE And though this pylgrimage be never so stronge, I wyll never parte you fro. STRENGTH Everyman, I wyll be as sure by thee As ever I dyd by Judas Machabé.         [Procession to the grave] EVERYMAN Alas, I am so faynt I may not stande. My lymmes under me do folde. Frendes, let us not turne agayne to this lande, Not for all the worldes golde, For into this cave must I crepe And turne to erth and there to slepe. BEAUTY What, into this grave, alas? EVERYMAN Ye, there shall you consume, more and lesse. BEAUTY And what, shulde I smoder here? EVERYMAN Ye, be my fayth, and never more appere; In this worlde lyve no more we shall But in Heven before the hyest Lorde of all. BEAUTY I crosse out all this. Adew, by Saynte Johnn. I take my tappe in my lap and am gone. EVERYMAN What, Beautye, whether wyll ye? BEAUTY Peas, I am defe. I loke not behynde me, Not and thou wolde gyve me all the golde in thy chest.         [Exit Beauty] EVERYMAN Alas, wherto may I truste? Beautye goeth fast awaye and from me. She promysed with me to lyve and dye. STRENGTH Everyman, I wyll thee also forsake and denye, Thy game lyketh me not at all. EVERYMAN Why, than ye wyll forsake me all. Swete Strength, tary a lytell space. STRENGTH Nay, syr, by the Rode of Grace, I wyll hye me from thee fast Though thou wepe tyll thy harte brast. EVERYMAN Ye wolde ever byde by me, ye sayd. STRENGTH Ye, I have you ferre ynought convayed. Ye be olde ynough, I understande, Your pylgrymage to take on hande. I repente me that I hether came. EVERYMAN Strength, you to dysplease I am to blame. Wyll you breke promyse that is dette? STRENGTH In faith, I care not. Thou arte but a foole to complayne. You spende your speche and waste your brayne. Go, thryst thee into the grounde.         [Exit Strength] EVERYMAN I had wende surer I shulde you have founde. He that trusteth in his Strength, She hym deceyveth at the length. Bothe Strength and Beautye forsaketh me, Yet they promysed me fayre and lovyngly. DISCRETION Everyman, I wyll after Strength be gone. As for me, I wyll leve you alone. EVERYMAN Why, Descressyon, wyll ye forsake me? DISCRETION Ye, in fayth, I wyll go from thee, For whan Strength goeth before, I folow after evermore. EVERYMAN Yet I pray thee for the love of the Trynytye, Loke in my grave ones pyteously. DISCRETION Nay, so nye I wyll not cume. Farewell, everychone.         [Exit Discretion] EVERYMAN O, all thynge fayleth save God alone, Beautye, Strength, and Descressyon, For whan Deth bloweth his blaste They all renne from me full fast. FIVE WITS Everyman, of thee now my leve I take; I wyll folow the other, for here I thee forsake. EVERYMAN Alas, than, may I wayle and wepe, For I toke you for my best frende. FIVE WITS I wyll no lenger thee kepe. Now farwell, and there an ende.         [Exit Five Wits] EVERYMAN O Jesu, helpe, all hath forsaken me. GOOD DEEDS Nay, Everyman, I wyll byde wyth thee. I wyll not forsake thee indede; Thou shalte fynde me a good frende at nede. EVERYMAN Gramercy, Good Dedes, now may I true frendes se. They have forsaken me everychone. I loved them better then my Good Dedes alone. Knowlege, wyll ye forsake me also? KNOWLEDGE Ye, Everyman, whan ye to deth do go, But not yet, for no maner of daungere. EVERYMAN Gramercy, Knowlege, with all my herte. KNOWLEDGE Naye, yet I wyll not from hens departe Tyll I se where ye shall become. EVERYMAN Me thynketh, alas, that I must be gone To make my rekenynge and my dettes paye, For I se my tyme is nye spente awaye. Take example all ye that this do here or se How they that I loved best do forsake me Excepte my Good Dedes that bydeth truly. GOOD DEEDS All erthly thynge is but vanyté; Beauté, Strength, and Discrecyon do man forsake, Folysshe frendes and kynnesmen that fayre spake, All fleeth save Good Dedes, and that am I. EVERYMAN Have mercy on me, God moost myghty, And stande by me thou moder and mayde, holy Mary. GOOD DEEDS Fere not, I wyll speke for thee. EVERYMAN Here I crye God mercy. GOOD DEEDS Shorte oure ende and mynysshe our payne, Let us go and never come agayne. EVERYMAN Into thy handes, Lord, my soule I commende, Receyve it, Lorde, that it be nat lost. As thou me boughtest so me defende, And save me from the fendes boost That I may appere with that blessed hoost That shall be saved at the Dome. In manus tuas, of myghtes moost Forever, commendo spiritum meum.         [Everyman and Good Deeds enter the grave] KNOWLEDGE Now hath he suffred that we all shall endure. The Good Dedes shall make all sure; Now hathe he made endynge. Me thynketh that I here angelles synge And make great joye and melodye Where Everymannes soule shall receyved be. ANGEL Cume, excellent electe spouse to Jesu. Here above thou shall go Bycause of thy synguler vertue. Now thy soule is taken thy body fro Thy rekenynge is crystall clere. Now shalt thou into the hevenly spere Unto the whiche all ye shall cume That lyveth well before the Day of Dome.         [The angel takes Everyman’s soul to Heaven]         [Enter Doctor] DOCTOR This memoryall men may have in mynde. Ye herers take it of worth olde and yonge And forsake Pryde, for he deceyveth you in the ende, And remembre Beautye, Fyve Wyttes, Strength, and Discression. They all at the last do Everyman forsake, Save his Good Dedes, there dothe he take. But beware, for and they be small Before God, he hath no helpe at all. None excuse may be there for Everyman. Alas, how shall he do than? For after deth amendes may no man make, For than Mercy and Petye doeth hym forsake If his rekenynge be not clere whan he do cume. God wyll saye, “Ite maledicti in ignem eternum.” And he that hath his accounte hole and sounde Hye in Heven he shall be crounde, Unto the whiche place God brynge us all thether That we may lyve, body and soule togyther. Therto helpe, the Trynytye, Say ye for saynte charytye,         Amen.

(see note) hear In form; morality Summoning shows always; (see note) (see note) (see note) (t-note) Joy; (see note) fade; flower; (see note) hear Heaven's King reckoning (judgment); (see note) Listen; hear unnatural; (see note) spiritual fear; righteousness (see note); (t-note) entirely; blood; (t-note) (t-note) allowed [myself]; dead feet; head; (see note) (see note) Covetousness depart from secure; (see note); (t-note) tolerate degenerates quickly if I leave Truly; beasts eat up; (see note) (see note) (see note) chosen; (see note) debased meant their existence; (see note) sincerely encumbered necessarily (see note) (see note) accurate account any tarrying run everywhere search out [all]; (t-note) who lives (see note) to part (separate); (t-note) Unless; (see note) (see note) Whither (Where) [What] would you know Yes sphere; (see note) before (ere) he must have [any] longer leisure (more time) difficult [to interpret] account book return (t-note) Have a care; (t-note) know; no one [your] (see note); (t-note) (see note) adequately fears arrest; (see note) (t-note) goods (property) If [you will] defer am indifferent to; wealth (see note) For if; gifts; (see note) (t-note) hence; [do] not delay (see note) sick If; delay; (t-note) fear It profits you nothing nimbly; (t-note) test; (see note) know; time waits for; (see note) in the course of nature; (see note) holy charity (God’s love); (see note) (see note) if; once high seat (throne); (see note) earthly valley; (see note) any Hurry think worldly thought lent [to]; (see note) gone (dead) go from it (lose it) (see note); (t-note) rascal, whither; (see note) escape noble Death consideration (see note) hurry; (t-note) (see note) escape away [from] look after account [book] been conceived (born) been fear help [me], who created all it does not help gone know What if [bad] fortune trust; (see note) Been certainly (t-note) amiss (wrong); pray that you tell me Yes life’s (see note) depressed mental state (see note) have wronged you; (see note) [battle]ground prior to that thank you by; do not care; (see note) reveal hear more sorry in deed (in my actions) (see note) if you repay it if I can hard exact account (see note) matter (allegation) requiring proof; (see note); (t-note) But if; journey afraid (t-note) make a strong man to be afraid living or dead truth (t-note) Judgment Day purchased (redeemed); (see note) (see note) by God know (see note) apply; (t-note) will not [go] that way if you will foolish advice am in need noble (see note) make the effort to the outside of [even] if you would; (see note) foot if; tarried; would not have God [may] far Whither (where) faith; commit you (t-note) (t-note) (see note) separate; (t-note) Virgin Mary; any where shall I turn feel (see note) Since kindred; walk; (see note) assay (test); over there I see them [passing by]; (t-note) (see note) any; hold anything back to us anywhere know happiness; hold [fast] For with; kinfolk (t-note) return precise who is observing me; (see note) an account since rather fast [on] bread; (see note) (see note) You are heart; moan (see note) toe to attempt to entice us feasts; be wanton to go gadding state; (t-note) if I may (t-note) remain behind preserve you glad; (see note) would be best (t-note) are you in a hurry stir (move) Quickly haste if you; (t-note) trouble; makes me grieve precise account of everything; (t-note) Since (see note) (see note) (see note) journeys; (t-note) if I Since illegible; (see note) have you grieve (see note) too weak (i.e., material things) lying during [your lifetime]; (see note) (t-note) before I was ready blame my wasting; (t-note) think; (see note) thought (t-note) destroy Think truly practice shame (t-note) sincere; (t-note) (see note) prosper complaint sorrowful (t-note) succeed (prosper) (see note) weak neither walk test her (see note) (see note) stir (move) (t-note) advice be right welcome an account [the] Messiah; (see note) If you follow my advice complaint gladly; stand has anything happened to you supported (nurtured); (see note) been Look [at]; also (t-note) sorrow obscured (illegible) shall [be] gladly; if I were (see note) terror-inspiring wholly Creator (see note); (t-note) pain (t-note) sincerely thither (t-note) (t-note) (see note) (see note) esteem make clear (cleanse); (see note) sincerity; (see note); (t-note) Confession remover (see note) before you escape; (t-note) journey; (t-note) (t-note) is coming quickly when ye; (see note) himself (see note) made me happy knots [of rope scourge] (t-note) Form righteousness exalted spiritual; (see note) guide illumines Hear graciousness; (t-note) (see note) (see note) (see note) by the instrumentality (t-note) Suffering; beg; (t-note) be acquainted; (t-note) opportunity hand you over into (t-note) (see note) (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (see note) (see note); (t-note) (see note) (t-note) (see note) (t-note) whole Walking whole remain with; moment [of trial] now [that] I hear way of life; throne benefit (t-note) Noble (see note) save (protect) very well wear; [soul’s] health have I put on tarrying fear from each other (t-note) bring with you are called; (see note) (t-note) hear; immediately (t-note) Think; journey praised praise; hither lack; nothing my command business (purpose) [battle] ground (see note) (see note) consider consideration virtuous admonition; (t-note) sphere will (legal document) (see note) (see note) bequest; where; (t-note) To be released from peril (of the fiend) (see note) any Extreme Unction see that you return here wait for you hurry; will be ready authority most lowly priest benign; (t-note) charge (care); (see note); (t-note) (see note) pain Ordination (i.e., Eucharist) (see note) (t-note) Gladly; (see note) spiritual (t-note) reach any (see note); (t-note) (t-note) bonds [of sin]; (see note) administer (see note) Except; (t-note) (see note) place (see note) (see note) hung; pain (see note) (see note) any; count out heard (see note) security Silence; yonder (see note); (t-note) helper of all (t-note) delay Rood (Cross); (see note) expeditiously follow go to where journey; (t-note) stand by harsh from you steadfast beside you; (t-note) (see note) return return; (see note); (t-note) decay smother Adieu flax [on distaff]; (see note); (t-note) whither Silence; (see note) Not if; (see note) (t-note) Rood (Cross) until; bursts abide far; accompanied (see note) in hand an obligation expend thrust yourself had thought more loyal (t-note) (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) once with pity; (t-note) near everyone [trumpet] blast; (see note) run others (see note) abide; (see note) (t-note) (t-note) everyone hence what will become of you; (see note) debts is nearly expired hear or see; (see note) (see note); (t-note) mother; (see note) (see note) shorten; lessen (see note) not fiend’s boast Last Judgment; (see note); (t-note) Into your hands I commend my soul that which hear; (see note) chosen bride; (see note) (see note) from the body; (see note) sphere; (see note) Doom; (see note) mnemonic aid; (see note); (t-note) hearers; value it greatly for [even] if what shall; then (see note) Pity (t-note) Go, wicked ones, into the eternal fire; (see note); (t-note) (see note) (see note) (t-note) (see note); (t-note)