No More Learning

First came New Custome, and hee gave the onsay”. And sithens thinges have gone worse every day.
But Simplicitie, dost thou knowe what mine intent?
Ignoraunce. Tell mee, and shall knowe what you have ment.
Perverse Doctrine. Our matters with Creweltie our
discusse,
- friende
And here him, what counsell this case hee will
geve us.
And this the cause have taried for thee,
Because that him would have thee goe with mee,
But see where hee commeth with Avarice sadly walking,
Let listen, can, they talkinge. wee whereof
the onsay] the onset.
i. e.
I as in
S. be
of us
us
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to
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be
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292 NEW CUSTOME.
ACTUS II. SCENA III.
[Act 11.
CREw ELTIE, Av AR IcE entre. PERVERSE DocTRINE and IGN or AUNCE tarie.
Creweltie. Nay, by Godde's harte, if I might doe what I list, -
Not one of them that should scape my fist.
His nayles”, would plague them one way another. would not misse him, no, hee were mine owne
brother.
With small faultes might beare sawe occasion, And punishe, forgeve, mine owne discretion,
For wote that sometime the wisest may fall; But heresie, that, that the greatest all.
Every stockes should full, every prison and jayle. Some would beate with roddes, some scorge
carte's tayle.
Some hoyse their heeles upwarde, some -beate sacke,
Some manickle their fingers, some binde the racke. Some would sterve for hunger, some would hange
privilie,
Saying, that themselves Some would accuse Openly hange them
-
dyed desperately. matters great weight,
trespassours streight. thousand mo waies could tell, and not misse,
Whiche here England, may say you, have practised ere this,
And trust his woundes, Avarice, some agayne for trie,
How ever the world goe before that die.
Avarice. Now will thee, Creweltie, Godde's sacrament have swore,
were pittie but thou were hanged before.
Creweltie. Ha, ha, ha; had liese they were hanged
His nayles] i. e. God's nails.
—“His blood”—without repetition introduction. S.
afterwards “By his wounds” the sacred name way
by of
at to aa
*
It
A so
I I
of So
I
I
of
is
if
as I in I. I
onor
I all
as
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by
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to
by I I I fie I
tel
I
as of so
be
at
to
in I
in
Sc. III. ]
NEW CUSTOME. 293
By the masse, there is one thing makes me laugh hartely, ha, ha, ha.
Avarice. I pray thee what is that ?
Creweltie. What? ha, ha, ha: I cannot tell for
laughinge, I wold never better pastime desire,
Then to here adosen of them howling together in the fier; Whose noyse, as my thinketh, I could best compare
To a crie of houndes folowing after the hare,
Or a rablement of bandogges barking at a beare,
ha, ha, ha.
Avarice. I beshrew thy knaves fingers with my very hearte,
The devill will reward thee, whose darling thou arte. But, sirra, I pray thee, if it had chanced me in those
daies in thy handes to have fel,
I thinke, sure, thou wouldst have ordred mee well.
Creweltie. His bloud, I would I might have once seene that chaunce,
Iwould have vext thee with a vengeaunce, for olde acquaintance.
Avarice. Why so? I was alwaies thy furderer in those daies, I am sure. -
Creweltie. Yee, but what was the cause ? thine owne profit to procure. *
For so that thou mightest vauntage and lucre obtaine,
Thou wouldest not sticke to bring thine owne brother to payne.
Avarice, Ha, ha, ha; no, nor father and mother, if ^
there were ought to be got,
Thou mightest sweare, if I could, I would bring them
to the pot.
Whereof a like historie I shall tell thee, Creweltie,
In Englande, which my self plaied in the daies of queene Marie”.
* In Englande, which my self plaied in the daies of queene Marie. ] In Foxe's third Wolume of Ecclesiastical History, 1631, p. 799, is an account of one Richard Woodman, who was burnt at Lewes, with
nine others, on the 22d of June, 1557. The circumstances attend ing his apprehension resemble those abovementioned, and seem to be the same alluded to by the Author of this Morality.
-294 NEW CUSToxi E. -----------
[ACT 11.
Twoo brothers there were dwelling, young gentilmen,
but the heyre
Had substanciall revenewes, his stocke also was faire;
A man of good conscience, and studious of the gospell. Which the other brother perceiving very well,
Perswaded him by meanes, since was bent, To constant opinion, mnd not relent,
Which done, hee gave notice the officers about,
Howe they should come with searche find his brother out
Who, when hee was once this sorte apprehended, Shortly after his life the fier hee ended.
The other had the most part his lyvinge. ‘How saist, sir knave not this the nere way
thrivinge?
-
Creweltie. unreasonable Avarice, unsaciable with goavne.
Avai. What, this tushe, was but merie
trayne.
Creweltie. For luker's sake his owne brother
betraye?
Hence, Judas, with these doinges can not awaye
Avarice. was ever with him, still readie hande,
Continually suggesting
And yet tell you the trueth, deede the thinge Of my conscience thinke the best part was his.
Crewellie. By Godde's glorious wounds, hee was worthy none;
But thou whipped for thy greedie suggestion.
Avarice. Harte God, man, the meanes better or worse,
passe not, good for the purse, ha, ha, ha.
“with you there;
cannot away with him. ”
“Good i'faith, will eat heartily
Jew, could never away with that stiff
Bartholomew Fair,
“too, because will “necked generation. ”
the house and the lande.
can not awaye. ]. An expression dislike aversion used
*everywriter the times. Ben Jonson's Cynthia's Revels, A. S.
“Of nymphs i'the court, cannot away with her;” Poetaster, and not bring your eating player
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sc. III. ] NEW CuSTOM E. 295
Perverse Doctrine. If you love the purse so well, Avarice, as you say indeede,
Then helpe mee with your councell now at a neede. Avarice. What, Perverse Doctrine, and Ignoraunce
too, were you both so neere?
Wee had thought at our comming that no man had ben heere.
Ignoraunce. Wee have ben in this place ever since that you staide,
And wee have hearde also what so ever you have sayde. Creweltie. Welcome bothe, on my faith, and I am
glad it was our chaunce
To meete with you here, Perverse Doctrine, and Igno Taunce.
Whie, how gothe the worlde? my thinkes you be sad. Perverse Doctrine. Mary, God have mercie, but there
is small cause to be glad:
For excepteyou come speedely with your helping hande, No doubt wee shall shortly be banished the lande.
Avarice. Whie so, Perverse Doctrine 2
Creweltie. I pray thee, let mee understande.
Perverse Doctrine. Whie so? you knowe howe since
herisie came lately in place,
And New Custome, that vile scismatique, began to
deface
All our olde doings, our service, our rites, that of yore
Have bene of great price in the olde time before:
Our selves have been enforced almost for to flye The countrie, or else covertly in some corner to lye.
Creweltie. By the Masse that is trewe, for I dare not appeere,
Who so ever would geve mee twenty pounds landes by the yeere.
Avarice. Ha, ha, ha; by Godde's foote, and I was never in better case in my lif,
For covetousnes with the clergie was never so rife.
Wherefore I have nocause in suchesort to begreeved,
Yet I woulde I could tell, sirs, how you might be re leeved.
-
I wyll cut him of the slampambes, I holde him a crowne, Where so ever I meete him, in countrie, or towne.
Ignoraunce. What order you will take, it were best make relation,
For moe wittes, as you knowe, may do better than One,
[ACT II.
Perverse Doctrine. Nowe, sirha, to mende up this matter withall:
Preciouse God, it frettes mee to the very gall.
For now of late that slave, that varlet, that heretique,
Lighte of the Gospell,
Is come over the sea, as some credibly tell,
Whom New Custome doth use in all matters as a staie,
The most ennemie to us in the worlde alway; Whose rancour is suche, and so great is his spight,
That no doubt hee will straightway banishe us quight,
296 NEW CUSTOME.
Unlesse wee provide some remedie for the contrary,
An-d with speede; this is treuth that I tell thee, Creweltie.
Crewellie. His woundes, hart and bloud, is he come without any naye?
Ignoraunce. Yee verely, for wit-h these eyes I sawe him to daye.
Creweltie. Now I would hee were here, I woulde so dresse the slave,
That I warranthee should beare mee a marke to his grave. First I would buffet him thus, then geve him a fall; Afterwarde I would dashe out his braynes at the wall.
Avarice. Holde your handes, you rude knave, or by Godde's bodie I sweare,
I wyll quickely fetche my fist from your eare.
Perverse Doctrine. Tushe, tushe, it availes naught to chafen, or to chide,
It were more wise. dome with speede some redresse to provide.
Creweltie. Redresse? nowe by Godde's guttes, I will Tyll never staye,
I finde meanes to ridde the beast out of the
WaWe.
-
sc. III. ]
*
NEW CUSTOM. E. 297
Creweltie. I wyll do then what so ever shall come in my head,
I force, not I “, so the vyllaine were dead.
Ignoraunce. And of my furtherance, whatsoever I
may do, you be sure,
Your good state againe, if I can, to procure,
With my uttermost help to suppresse yonder rascall,
For by the masse, you papists I like best of all.
Perverse Doctrine. Then can wee not doo amisse, I
conjecture lightly,
For where as al these come, Perverse Doctrine, Ava
rice, Ignoraunce, and Creweltie:
**
There goeth the hare, except good lucke goe awrie.
But, sirs, good, lest your names you discrie,
To transpose them after some other kinde,
Els bee sure with the people much hatred finde.
As for Perverse Doctrine, Sounde Doctrine; for Igno raunce, Simplicitee;
With these coulours, late, our selves cloked have we. Creweltie. What then shall Creweltie, bee called
your judgement?
Perverse Doctrine. Mary, Justice with Severitie, vertue most excellent.
Avarice. What will you terme Avarice, pray you let mee heare?
Perverse Doctrine. Even Frugalitie, for that ver tue commeth most neare.
Avarice. Contente his woundes, but wee must look our feete,
Least wee stumble these names when ever wee meete.
Perverse Doctrine. Yea, see you take heede that any manner case,
So may you delude the people Creweltie. Come then,
wee departe.
every place.
time hence that away
follow with most
“I force, not care not. Camden his Remains says, force not such fooleries. ” Shakspeare has the same phrase.
Ignoraunce, wyllyng hart.
Wee are redie
of
it to
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298 NEW CUSTOME.
[ACT III.
Avarice. But, sirs,because wee have taried so longe, If you bee good fellowes, depart with songe.
Creweltie. am pleased, and therefore every man Follow after order as well hee can.
The first SoN Ge.
Well handled, the masse, every side.
Come, Avarice, for wee twoo will longer abide.
[Exit Creweltie and Avarice.
Perverse Doctrine. Farewell you bothe, and God sende you successe,
Suche may glad your present businesse. Now they bee departed, and wee may not tary,
For lieth upon bee sturryng, Mary. New Custome prevayleth much every where,
But, matter, they bee fooles that dogeeve him suche eare.
Let old custome prevayle rather, better than new, This all will confesse, that thinke scripture true.
Doo thy fathers have doone before thee (quoth hee) Then shalt thou bee certayne the right way bee. And sure that better then followe the trayne
That eche man inventeth his owne proper brayne. Whiche hath brought the worlde this case, we see,
That every day wee heere some notorious heresie. Yet the Gospell, whatsoever they say.
Well, chaunce that dogge hath daye,
Woe then New Custome, and all his mates, tushe,
tushe,
*Gospell
No man the will esteeme then
What will that other heretik do, Light raw
rushe.
the Gospel,
this day.
Dare
shewe his face-more than
But come, Ignoraunce, follow after apace,
For wee have abidden long this place.
Ignoraunce. Let then, but the masse, am vengeance drie,
pray
drinke the ale-house herebie.
Perverse Doctrine. Content fayth, thither with
speede let hie.
us
us
goall let
us
by
I
let us
it is
is
us
inI
at
all to
to us
toin
let as us
o
Ż to
if all
as
no
it
as
a
of
of
all in
to inin toit noon
by a is
I
I
as to
we
let
ofa
by
at isS. a
sc. I. ]
NEW CUSTOM. E. 299
ACTUS III. SCENA I.
o
, LIGHT OF THE Gos PELL, New Custom E, PER v ERs E
DocTR IN E.
Light of the Gospell. They be not this way, as farre as I can see:
Unlesse they have hidden them selves up privilie.
For in presence of Light of the Gospel, and Primative Constitution,
Undoubtedly such reprobates can have no habitation.
New Custome. Verely I do finde it so even as you have saide,
For at your sight they flie away dismaide. Wherefore have great cause geeve you thankes,
Light
Of the Gospell, that put thus my enemies flight. Light the Gospell. Nay, they my enemies also
For what
am Light?
liers impure, the scripture.
you.
your dealinges both vertuouse and
that
muche true.
They enemies God too, and muche called veritie
And the lying lippes with speakers
The Lorde him selfe will revenge with extremitie. But see, what hee that aprocheth nie?
New Custome. Of whom tolde you, Doctrine verelie.
Light the Gospell. Then let the waye,
enemies
the gospell else, whereof But trewth, equitie, veritie, and right
haplie wee may heare what hee will say. Perverse Doctrine. sirrha, my trothe there
vary good vaine:
Ignoraunce hath well lyned his cappe for the rayne.
coulde have taried longer there with good wyll, But the proverbe saith, good keepe still,
One head for the reckning, bothe sober and wise, Wherefore this thinge have followed that guise.
*
vanitie,
Perverse little steppe out
in
of be
of isof
I
I
is
A,
all
I as
If In In so so
it
I
toa
by us inall be to
a so of 2I be as
;
is a
it is
to
is as
as be to
he to is
SOO NEW CUSTOME.
[Act 111.
Ignoraunce is but a dolte, it is I that must drudge,
For neede (they say) maketh the olde wife and man both to trudge.
Suche snares wee shall laye for these heretikes, I trust,
That New Custome, and his fellowes, shall soone lye in the dust.
If Creweltie may prevaile, hee will never slake,
Tyll hee have brought a thousand of them to a stake.
Avarice hath promised to do what in him laye,
Who hath ben in greate credite with the worlde alway. But if Ignoraunce may get place, there shall wee do well,
Then adewe all idle heretikes, and vaine talke of the
gospell,
-
For me Perverse Doctrine, this shall be my fetche,
To keepe constant the mindes of can cetche,
Lest these glosers sometimes they chaunce heare preaching,
And thereby converted, and credite their teachinge. For trust shortly bring passe,
That lesse knowledge the Gospell shall serve the
masse.
-
Light the Gospell. Let inclose him, that hee may not flie,
Else wyll hee gone when hee doth espie. impe Antechrist, and seede the devyll
Borne wickednesse, and nusled evyll”. Perverse Doctrine. Nay, thou stinking heretike, art
thou there deede?
Accordinge thy naughtines thou must looke for
speede,
New Custome. Godde's holie woorde no wise can
be heresie,
Though you terme never falsly.
Perverse Doctrine. Yee preciouse whoreson, art thou there too
thinke you have pretended some harme mee doo.
Helpe, helpe, say, mee gone once,
Else will smite thee the face with my fist, Godde's bones.
nusled evyll] i. e. nursed, fostered.
I *
I
,
O
I
I in
!
to in
be
all
to of
S.
in
let be at
it so
by
to
so
to of all
of
be
in to
in all
us
of
all I
us
it to
to by
sc. NEW CUSTOME. 301
New Custome. You must be contented little season stay,
Light the Gospell, for your profite, hath some thing to saw.
your preach
join.
Perverse
inges, promise you playne,
For what ever you speake, but vayne. Light the Gospell. vayne shall not
know very well.
For God hath alwaies geven suche power pell,
spoken, his gos
will heare none
That where ever, whom declared bee,
shall redounde unto his owne honour and glorie. "
God glorified those whom hee dooth electe,
God glorified those also whom hee dooth rejecte.
The electe are saved, that the woorde they bee leeve.
But the other, because credence they geeve To the truthe, cannot bee but blameable,
Commytting
For, ad eos non venissem, saieth Christ our Saviour,
fault faultes most damnable.
had not come unto them with the worde, this Sure,
In farre better case the unfaithfull had ben
For this one respect they had had sinne.
But where the trueth and yet there contemned, Of Christ his owne mouth suche are condempned. Thus the gospell Christ, received no,
Sheweth the glory God where ever Perverse Doctrine. were contente
knowe your pleasure:
go.
abide, and
But for businesse, this time have leysure. Light the Gospell. What leisure ought man
have,
Then endeavour bothe his body and sowle for save?
New Custome. For that care, all other cares wee must set aside.
Perverse Doctrine. Say then, for paciently minde to abide.
all times more
on
all
it in it
it is
I
a
to
of to of I
to
at
is
at of of
to I is,
in in
or by
I be
so
in
of
If I
It
in Si isis I of
I. ]
no no it toit or
a
a
of by all no
I In
to
be
302-
[ACT III.
NI,W CUSTOME.
Light of the Gospell. Not to heare what is spoken is
onely sufficient,
-
But to put it in practice with sincere inten
What so ever is taught us concerning good doing,
Expressing it plainely in our vertuouse lyving.
Perverse Doctrine. Whie what would you have mee in living expresse ?
Light of the Gospell. Even the gospell, which is no thing else, doubtlesse,
But amendment of life, and renouncing of sinne:
With displeasure toward your selfe for the faultes you Were ln.
Perverse Doctrine. How shall I displease my selfe in sinne I would knowe ?
Light of the Gospell. In considering that nothing bringeth man so lowe
Out of Godde's favour, as sinne: nothing setteth him so hie,
As lothing the same, and calling to him for his mer cle. -
Perverse Doctrine. Verely I am sorie for my fore
Light of the Gospell. Why think you so? boldely
tell me your minde.
Perverse Doctrine. Because Godde's mercie is farre
enough behinde.
Light of the Gospell. Godde's mercie is at hande, if
you repent faithfully.
Perverse Doctrine. I repent my sinnes, and for them am sorie hartely;
But how shall I be sure mercie for to obtaine 2
Light of the Gospell. Credite mee trewly, for my
woordes are not vaine,
To pronounce to the penitent forgivenesse of ini quitie,
So that in asking, you put your assurance to speede, Then no doubt you have obtained mercie in deede.
passed demeanour,
-
But that can not availe mee but little, I am sure.
I am Light of the Gospell, and have full authoritie
w-
sc. NEw QUsToME.
303
Perverse Doctrine. This assurance, how cometh it? declare, pray you.
Light the Gospell. thinking that Christ his woordes and promises are trewe;
And hee cannot deceive, cannot disceived, Which faith of all Christians must nedes be received.
Perverse Doctrine. What thing fayth? pray you recite.
Light the Gospell. substance thinges not appering sight,
Yet which wee looke for, for saincte Pau-le doth define,
To the Hebrews, the eleventh chapter and the first line. Perverse Doctrine. How purchase this faith,
would could tell.
Light the Gospell. Certeinly mee also, the Light
the Gospell; -
For fayth commeth the woorde, when we reade heare,
As the same sainct Paule doth plainely eppere. Perverse Doctrine. Geve mee leave then embrace
you, pray you hartely.
Light the Gospell. With my very heart, re
ceive you courtesely.
Perverse Doctrine. To thee geve most humble thankes, God immortall,
That hath pleased thee, mee from my wickednesse call;
And where deserved mercie, but judgement, Yet powre downe thy pardon mee most aboundant, Revoking mee from reprobates, and members hell,
To win mee societie with the Light the Gospell. Light the Gospell. Stande up, there some what
else yet behynde.
Perverse Doctrine. wholly yelde my selfe you,
use me after your minde.
Light the Gospell. Perverse Doctrine you shall
calde no more after this,
But Sincere Doctrine, now trust your trewe name is.
-
as
no
on I
A
so
In
of
of of ofof of of
I
is
of
of be I
be
to
or
I
I
O in by
of to
to I
to it by as I. ]
inas I I II
it all
to
by so is
304 NEW CUSTOME.
[ACT III.
Perverse Doctrine. By Godde's grace, while I live, I will so endevour, -
That my life and my name may accorde thus for ever. Light of the Gospell. Then wicked companie you
must cleane forsake,
And flie their societie, tode, snake.
Perverse Doctrine, abandon them quite, what ever they bee.
New Custome. Well, Sincere Doctrine, hearken also unto mee,
Whom needes you must followe you wyll well,
Since you have imbraced the Light the Gospell. am not New Custome, you have ben misled,
But am Primitive Constitution, from the verie head
Of the church, which Christ and his disciples all, And from the fathers, that time, taking originall. By mee then you must learne, for your owne beheast,
And for all vocations what judged the best.
Perverse Doctrine. receave you gladly, with thankes, for your jentlenes,
At your handes craving earnestly for my trespas for gyvenes.
-
New Custome.
Perverse Doctrine. Now
easly forgeven.
what councell
For see well that the constitution primitive,
They used suche garment have
heare,
confesse -
But fashioned
New Custome. deede;
after some other maner. did they trewly,
touching my apparell, you give?
man ought not take greate
For the wearing
Surely matter,
Howbeit, wyse Princes, for difference had, Hath commaunded the clargie suchesorte clad; But hee who puttes his religion wearing the thing, Or thinkes him selfe more holly for the contrarie doing,
Shall prove but foole, what ever condition Hee bee, for sure that but meere superstition.
But suche things heede,
gowne, cap, any other garment, mee seemeth, indifferent,
is of
do
is a
no a it
as in I
in
if
a
all
to be be
so
do
so
to
on
in
I
of So It asaa inis I
at is
as
I
as
a asis
a
or
to I
or
it in
I
of
sc. I. ]
NEW CUSTOM. E. 305
Other thinges there be which have ben abused, Tollerable enough, if well they were used:
Wherefore use your apparell, as is comely and decent,
And not against scripture any where in my judgement, Light of the Gospell. No sure: for God waieth not,
-
who is a sprite,
Of any vesture, or outward appearance a mite, So the conscience be pure, and to no sin a slave, That is which hee most gladly would have.
New Custome. Well, these having declared, and suf ficiently taught,
your parte perceaved they ought: By your pacience, mind departe for season. Light the Gospell. your businesse bee so,
but reason.
New Custome. With great thankes unto you, Light the Gospell, for the jentlenes have found
At your handes, due desert am bound.
Light the Gospell. The Lorde your guide whi
ther ever you departe.
Perverse Doctrine. Humble thankes, sir, yelde you from the bottome my hearte.
Albeit this parte small my skyll,
That may not performe them according my wyll.
And trust
New Custome. The peace God with you both
for ever more.
EDIFICATIon entreth.
[Exit.
Where ever Light the Gospell goeth before, There Edification do followe incontinent,
Yet surely the congregation Godde's elect,
Where the light and force taketh place, there Edifica tion
Of right must make my habitation.
As unto the same
necessary consequent:
For though the letter alwaies woorke not that effect,
retaine,
shall your doctrine not gyven vayne.
Endevour then alwaies mee
Perverse Doctrine. receive you most gladly; and
truste the Lorde,
That for ever hereafter wee shall well accorde.
VOL. I. X
in
I
in
Ia as
I
,
I
.
it is
So
all
I
so
I
in
I of
be to in
of
of
of be
If
to
of
I
be to
be
I
as a
so
of
I
of so
of
all on
[Act III. Light of the Gospell. Fare you well, now you are not
306 NEW CUSTOME.
Edification. I trust so.
alone,
-
For this small while I must needes begone.
Here, take at my handes this testament booke,
And in mine absence therein I pray you ernestly looke. Perrerse Doctrine. Your commandement shal be
done, with thankes for your councel.
Light of the Gospell. Then shall yee sure finde great delight in the gospell. [Exit.
Ass URA UN CE entreth.