Wherfore
concernynge our mater here, Above these twayne I am best, clere;
And yf ye” lyste to take me so,
I am content: you and no mo Shal be our judge, as in thys case,
Whiche of us thre shall take the best place.
And yf ye” lyste to take me so,
I am content: you and no mo Shal be our judge, as in thys case,
Whiche of us thre shall take the best place.
Dodsley - Select Collection of Old Plays - v1
frontlet, forehead-band.
Cotgrave.
frontlet mentioned part woman's dress, Lyly's Midas, 1592 “Hoods, frontlets, wires, cauls, curling irons, peri “wigs, bodkins, fillets,hair laces, ribbons, rolls, knotstrings, glasses,
C.
glas's Translation Virgil.
poynettes] Little bodkins puncheons. Cotgrave, voce poin
çonnet.
yet] edit. 1569.
prickt] prycke, 1st edit.
Then they wode] Wode signifies mad, furious, violent. So,
Ascham's Torophilus, Bennet's Edition, 4to. 86. “How will “you thincke that such furiousnesse; with woode countenance, and “brenninge eyes, with staringe and bragginge, with hart redye “leape out the bellye for swellinge, can expressed the tenthe
-
See also Mr. Steevens's Note
partlettes] Ruffs bands for women. See Glossary Dou
part
the uttermost. ”
Churchyard's Worthiness Wales, 103. Evans's Edition, 1776.
“It flowes with winde, although rayne there bee,
“And swelles like sea, with waves and foming flood: “A wonder sure, see this river Dee,
“With winde alone, Make such sturre,
“And shewe such life, they] they be, edit. 1569.
King Lear,
S. 4.
-
- . **
waxe wyld and wood, water would be mad,
- swere] swereth, 1st édit.
though some spreete had. ”
-
4
as asto 10° so
in
99
“
so
it
.
a
99
to of p.
asA
on of it to
in
no
too an
is
94,
9°,
“
in*97* * *
A***
If it
to
of
be
it,
:is be 9”
be
to {
-t -
p. or
A. l.
or
of or
is is be toa in
in to
a or
up
is
THE FouR P's. 7I
Tyll it stande ryght they wyll not forsake
Thus though may not, yet wolde” they make
But sure they but defarre it;
For when they wolde make ofte times marre
But prycke them and pynne them nyche" wyll, And yet wyll they loke for pynnynge styll.
that durste holde with you joynt,
shall never have them full” point.
Pedler. Let women's maters passe, and marke myne:
What ever theyr poyntes be, these poyntes fyne.
wyllynge bye,
Lay downe money, come off” quyckely.
Palmer. Nay, my trouth, we lyke fryers; We are but beggars, we byers.
Pardoner. Syr, may showe your ware for your mynde.
Wherfore
But thynke shall profyle fynde. Pedler. Well, though this journey acquyte
Yet thynke nat my labour loste: For the fayth my body,
lyke ful well thys company.
Up shall this packe, for playne
came not hyther for gayne.
Who may nat play one day weke,
May thynke hys thryfte farre seyke. Devyse what pastyme that yethynke beste, And make sure fynde me prest”.
wolde] wyl, edit. 1569.
Neither edition reads wyl, nor wil, but wolde.
coste,
The oldest copy has “as nyche wyll,” and the edition
1569, “as nie you will. ” C.
full fall, 1st edit.
come off] vol. VIII. 512.
wilt,” perhaps the meaning “as much
pay down. See Note The Wits,
pret, Fr. So, Casar and Pompey, 1607:
prest] i. e. ready
“What must be, must Caesar's prest for all. ”
See Note The Merchant
Venice, Again, Churchyard's Challenge, 1593,
80.
“Then shall my mouth, my muse, my pen and all,
“Be prest Cynthia's Revels,
prest
serve each good subject's call. ” for the encounter. ”
“I
am
ofbe ;
in
is be at
no to a it,
“of* II YeSo 104 109103 10' I
a byIbe
p. ye on ye I yf
toi. as yeyeit
A. e. ye 5. ;
to alof yeby
be
S. at it 4.
is it no
do
p. in as toa 1.
a A. ye beas
S. 65 1.
is C. as
it,
S. to
no
be as
ye it.
it.
72 THE Fou R P's.
Poticary. Why? be ye so unyversall,
That ye can do what so ever ye shall? Pedler. Syr, yf ye lyste for to oppose me;
What I can do, then shall you se.
Poticary. Then tell me thys, are you perfyt in
drynkynge 2
Pedler. Perfyt in drynkynge, as may be wysht by
thynkynge.
Poticary. Then after your drynking, how fall ye to
wynking?
Pedler. Syr, after drynkynge, whyle the shot” is tynkynge;
Some hedes be swymmyng", but myne will be synkyng,
And upon drynkynge, my eyse will be pynkynge: For wynkynge to drynkynge is alway lynkynge.
Poticary. Then drynke and slepe you can well do; But yf ye were desyred therto,
I pray you tell me, can you synge 2
Pedler. Syr, I have some syght in syngynge. Poticary. "But is your brest any thynge swete 2
First Part Again,
26
shot)
the reckoning. See Mr. Steevens's Note The King Henry IV.
Churchyard's Worthyness
“Behold besides, further thing note,
“The best cheap cheare they have that may found; “The shot great when each mans pais his groate, “If alike the reckoning runneth round. ”
swymmyng) The second edition reads, swynking. See Note Gammer Gurton's Needle, vol. II.
197 But your brest any thunge swetel Sir John Hawkins's History Musick, vol. III. 466. passage, Tusser's Five Hun dred Points Husbandry, 1580, cited which this line occurs:
“The better brest, the lesser rest;”
upon which makes this observation: “In singing the sound
originally produced
“essential organ
“formerly common
“Italians make use
the action the lungs; which are this respect, that have good breast was periphrasis denote good singer. The
the terms Voce Petto, and Voce Testa, voice, which the first the best.
“signify two kinds
“Shakespeare's Comedy Twelfth Night, after the Clown,
asked sing, Sir Andrew Aguerheek says,
“By my troth, the fool has an excellent breast. ”
“And the statutes Stoke College, Suffolk, founded
Wales:
of
ofof in
by
a
““
in to
a an
of of is
in
ofi. e.
by is In to
so is
of
p. a
of
to
is
A. 5. S.
he
all
of
in to inIn to
is
di
a in a
di
;
of3.
to 10°
10°
is
be
to
} s
THE Four P's. 73
Pedler. What ever my breste be, my voyce is mete. Poticary. That answere sheweth you a ryght syng
ynge, man.
Now what is your wyll, good father, than 2
Palmer. What helpeth wyll, where is no skyll 2 Pardoner. And what helpeth skyll, where is no willo? ” Poticary. For wyll or skyll what helpeth
Where frowarde knaves lackynge witho?
thys curyosytie,
And who that lyste, synge after me. [Here they synge.
Pedler. Thys lyketh me wel, mot the.
Pardoner. So helpe me god, lyketh nat me. Where company met and well agreed,
Good pastyme doth ryght well dede.
Leve
But who can syt Men syt suche
dalyaunce,
variaunce? came in,
o
we were set,
Whiche stryfe thys man dyd fyrst begynne;
Allegynge that suche men use For love god, and not" refuse On fot goo from place place
pylgrimage, callynge for grace,
“Parker, Archbishop Canterbury, provision
“Of which said queristers, after their breasts are changed (i.
their voices broke,) we will the most apt wit and capacity “helpen with exhibitions forty shillings,” &c.
See also the Notes Mr. Warton and Mr. Steevens Twelfth Night,
Again, Middleton's More Dissemblers besides Women,
Dondolo after song his Page, says, “Oh rich, ravishing, rare,
and inticing. Well, thy ways, for sweet brested page
“ever lay his master's feet truckle-bed. ”
-
Yet
distinction between the breast and the voice, which induces the Poticary observe,
“That answere sheweth you ryght syngynge man. ” will wyt, 1st edit. wit] wyll, 1st edit.
or] ere. See Note Gammer Gurton's Needle, vol. II.
and not] not and, 1st edit.
Women,
Duke. “Yea the voice too, sir? ”
Women beware
Fab. -
too,
and sweet brest my lord, hope,
“I
“Or have cast away my money wisely. ”
the very next line the text, the Pedlar seems take
these words:
! ! ! "010°
of
to
at
in 2. S. 3.
of
in
48
to of A.
go
of
ye
10°
3. in S. a 2.
to
as
be in itso
a
is a
C.
as 1.
bee.
to a
A. 1. S.
to
I
a of
a
of
orain is no
““A
As
in A. to
by
of
as
Iof I
a
in
it,
(74
Shall in that payne with penitence, Obtayne discharge of conscyence:
Comparynge that lyfe for the beste Enduccyon to your endles rest.
Upon these wordes” our mater grewe : For yf he coulde avow them true,
As good to be a gardener. As for to be a pardoner.
But when I harde hym so farre wyde, I then aproched and replyed:
THE Fou R P's.
Sayenge this, that this” indulgence, Havyng the foresaid penitence, Dyschargeth man of offence,
With muche more profyt then this pretence. aske but two pens the moste;
And from *all payne without dyspayre, My soule for his kepe ** even his chayre, And when dyeth, may sure
wys this nat very great coste,
pleasure.
And more then heven can "nat get,
To come heven even
lyste jet. Then hys payne more then hys wit,
came thys daw with hys invencyon; Revelynge us, hymselfe avauntynge,
That the soules heven assendynge, Are most bounde the poticary, Bycause helpeth moste men dye
Pedler. Why, poticaries kyll men Poticary. By God, men say now and then.
Pedler. And thought wolde nat have myt To make them lyve longe lyste.
How farre ever
To walke"
heven, syns may syt. Syr, we were this contencion,
Before whiche deth
No soule heven can have hys mede.
Hitherto misprinted,
“Upon these workes our mater grewe. ”
this] his, edit. 1569.
** kepe] for keep even
can] may, edit. 1569.
from] for, edit. 1569.
his chair, edit. 1569. ** walke] wake, 1st edit.
sayeth dede,
*
* In 112
II is
is
all as
is
to
do
in
he
in
ye
yeso to
he
at to
C.
2
I as
to
as
in
*|-o
in
he
so
to he
he
to to
at
he
he be
all
THE Fou R P's. \75
Policary. As longe as we lyste? nay, as longe as they can.
Pedler. So myght we lyve without you than. Poticary. Ye, but yet it is" necessary
For to have a poticary:
For when ye fele your conscyens redy,
I can sende you to heven" quyckly.
Wherfore concernynge our mater here, Above these twayne I am best, clere;
And yf ye” lyste to take me so,
I am content: you and no mo Shal be our judge, as in thys case,
Whiche of us thre shall take the best place.
Pedler. I neyther wyll judge the beste nor worste;
For be ye bleste or be ye curste, Ye know it is no whyt my sleyght,
To be a judge in maters of weyght.
It behoveth no pedlers nor proctours,
To take on them judgemente as doctours: But yf your myndes be onely set
To worke for soule helthe, ye be well met; For eche of you somwhat doth showe
That soules towarde heven by you doe growe. Then yf ye can so wel agree,
To contynue togyther thre; And you thre obay one wyll,
your myndes may fulfyll.
Then
Who shulde goo pylgrymage” more then can
came one man,
palmer, debite,
May clerely dyscharde hym, parde;
-
that
And for other syns, ones had contryssyon, Your pardons geveth hym full remyssyon.
yet very, edit. 1569.
very] added edit. 1569. The first edition reads,
“And lyste take me so. ”
which C. altered the edit. 1569, right.
shulde goo pylgrymage] should
probably pilgrimage, edit. 1569.
ye, and
ois in
*117n°
In As
yf all
go on
of
to
it is
he 7
if he
all
to
in is
all as to
it is] it
ye
yeall
ye all
Y-
And then ye mayster poticary,
May sende hym to heven by and by. -
Poticary. Yf he taste this boxe nye aboute the pryme,
By the masse, he is in heven or even songe tyme. My craft is suche, that I can ryght well
Sende my fryndes to heven, and myselfe to hell.
But, syrs, marke this man, for he is wyse, *Who coulde devyse suche a devyse:
For yf we thre may be as one, Then be we to lordes everychone;
Betwene us coulde nat
myste,
THE Four P's.
To save the soules whome we lyste. But for good order, worde,
Twayne must wayte the thyrde. And unto that do agree,
For bothe you twayne shall wayt me.
Pardoner. What chaunce this, that suche elf
Commaund two knaves besyde himself? Nay, nay, my frende, that wyll nat be;
am good wayt the.
Palmer. By our lady, and wolde loth
To wayt the better you both.
Pedler. Yet sewer, for thys dout,
This waytynge must brought about. Men cannat prosper wylefully ledde: All thyng decay” where hedde.
Wherfore doutlesse, marke what say, To one you thre, twayne must obey. And synnes cannat agree voyce Who shall hed, there choyce
Who] Howe, 1st edit.
we] were we as, edit. 1569.
For bothe, &c. ] First edition reads,
For bothe you twayne shall wayt me. What chaunce this, that suche an elfe
Commaunded two knaves besyde himselfe.
Both editions have so, and the alteration was made
Dods. ley and followed Reed, although means necessary
the due understanding the passage.
things decay) thynge decayed, 1st, edit.
in
**119 be
I
*
of
at of a
it C. is
on
I all
be
s
no
byis it
beto I ye
all
by
by to
an
be
is is
noin no I is
on
be
of be ye
to on
of us
be
of
on
on
THE Four P's. 77
But to devyse some maner thynge, Wherin ye lyke connynge;
beste,
The other twayne make them preste,
And the same who can
every thynge Holy
hys entente, commaundement.
founde one mastry,” indyfferently;
And now have
That can
And nother sellynge nor byenge, But evyn onely very lyenge
. . . And all-ye thre can lye well, can the falsest devyll hell.
*And though afore harde grudge, greater maters yourjudge,
lyenge can some skyll,”
Yet
And
And
Where my consciens fyndeth the mastrye, Ther shall my judgement strayt founde, Though myght wynne thousande pounde.
Palmer. Syr, for lyeng though can
judge, wyll. you sure without flatery,
shall
Yet am loth for goo Pedler. Ye have mo” cause
For may here” uncontrolde.
fear, bolde,”
this have good avauntage, your comen usage.
lyenge well spedde,
For your craft doth stande falshed.
And
For lyeng
And you
Holy) Holly, 1st edit.
*one mastry] i. e. one magisterium:
sive the highest powers transmutation, for any masterly performance.
chymical term expres and sometimes used
mystery trade, which derived fr'om. the French mestier and that perhaps from
Mastery seems here used the sense
magisterium. See Warton Hist. Engl. Poetry. III. xxxvii. Both the old copies agree reading,
Yet in which has hitherto
can some skyll” n altered to
“I fectly intelligible.
phrase per the time and
bee
“Yet lyenge can boste some skyll. ”
word having been foisted aware that, skyll,”
the former editors were not
was
bebolde] beholde, edit. lt;69. may here] may here, 1st edit. may lie, edit. 1569.
*** mo) mot, 1st edit.
can some
*
**
*
of all yeye
In As
C. in
I
all
a if of
in
me
a
*
*In inII to
*II of ininin
be
lie to
to ye be
is
I
in be yf
is
ye
in
or C.
of
a
to I be
in is
doI be
at be
toa Iinas
as S. it. do
be
it:
do
be
ofto
\n
Ye nede nat care who shall begyn; For eche of you may hope to wyn.
Now speke threevyn fynde. Be agreed folowe my mynde
Palmer. Ye, by my trouth, am contente. Pardoner. Now, good fayth, and assente.
Poticary. denyed, were nody;
For
myne, goddes body,
[Here the poticary hoppeth,
THE FOUR P's,
Palmer. Here were hopper hop for the ryngef
But, syr”, this gere goth nat hoppynge. Poticary. Syr, thys hoppynge wyll hop
That my tonge shall hop better then my hele: Upon whiche hoppynge, hope and nat doute To hop” so, that shall hop” without it”.
well’
Palmer. Syr, wyll neyther boste
But take suche fortune may fall: And wynne this mastry,
wyll obaye you quietly:
And sure thynke that quietnesse
any man great rychesse,
any maner company,
To rule ruled indifferently.
Pardoner. By that bost thou semest dede,
brawll.
**
What can thy quyetnesse helpe nede? Yf shulde starve, thou hast nat, thynke, One peny bye one potte drynke. Nay richesse myghte rule the roste,
Beholde what cause have Lo, here pardons halfe For gostely ryches they have
boste: dosyn,
cosyn.
And more over me they brynge Sufficient succour for my lyvynge.
syr) sirs, edit. 1569. hop] hope, 1st edit.
The word omitted
rulde,
*here be] here are, edit. 1569.
rhyme.
the orieito
edit. 1569.
well as, 1st edit. hop] hope, 1st edit.
better]
the first edition, but
necessary
begger -
Cit beis
be orI
• InIn I
**1*
if all ye
in 1311%
a as I
I as
as is
for
in
to
be is I”ye in
noa
to byI of us 199I to a
ye
to to us
If all I Ito
we
yf ye is
Iat ne I a
2
it, so
in by
z
THE Four P's.
And here be * relykes of suche a kynde,
As in this world no man can to fynde,
Knele downe thre, and when leve kyssynge,
Who lyste offer shall have my blyssynge. Frendes, here shall evyn anone,
Hallowes the blessydjaw bone 13%, Kys hardely with good devocion.
79
Poticary. Thys kysse --~ mocyon.
shall - brynge muche pro
never kyst wars;
Hallowe's ars; thynketh,
|Fogh,
were
Tor That
Palmer. Ye judge any breth stynke,
Poticary. knowe Hallowes,
kysse the galows. Pardoner. Nay syrs, beholde, here may
The great toe the trinite,
Who thys toé any money voweth,
And ones may role his moueth, All hys lyfe after, undertake,
He shall never be vext with the tooth ake. Poticary. praye you torne that relyke aboute
Either the Trinite had the goute, elles, bycause toes one,
God made asmuche thre toes alone.
Pardoner. Well, lette that passe, and loke upon thvs.
Here relyke that doth nat mys
helpe the leste well the moste: This buttocke-bone of Pentecoste.
be] are, edit. 1569. can] may, edit. 1569.
All hallowes, the blessyd jaw-bonel All hallowes All Saints. Mr. Steevens, his note The First Part King Henry IV,
S. 2. remarks the absurdity appropriating word formed express community saints particular one the number.
He shall never vert with the tooth ake. . ] He shall ryd the toth ake, 1st edit.
Either] Other, 1st edit. asmuche] muche, 1st edit.
saynt savyour good kysse
Hallowes, yet Hallowe's breth stynketh.
Orels were tyme
Hallowe's breth unknowen your owne.
myne owne breth from
1*
***To Or**7
YfYe Of
199
in
* ye
be
onin it[I I to
I of all
be
ye se
a is is a a
to it
allby itall allas by
of as it it
of a
is
us
of
to l.
:
: all
on isintoitall ye 39 iii. is allI se
to of as me a as
of
A.
a
A.
80 THE FouR P's.
Poticary. By christe, and yet for your boste,
This relyke hath shyten the roste.
Pardoner. Mark well thys relyke here whipper,
My frends” unfayned, here” slypper
Of one the seven slepers sure”.
Doutlesse thys kys shall you great pleasure;
For these two dayes shall ease you, That none other savours shall displease you.
Poticary. All these two dayes nay, these two ere;
For also savours that may come here Can be no worse; for worde,
One the seven slepers trode torde.
Pedler. Syr, me thynketh your devocyon but
smal.
Pardoner. Small! mary me thynketh hath none at all.
Poticary. What the devyll care what thinke Shall prayse relykes when they stynke?
Pardoner. Heer eye toth the great Turke. Whose eyes ones sette thys pece worke, May happely lese parte his eye-syght,
But nat tyll blynde out ryght.
Poticary. What ever any other man seeth,
have devocyon unto” Turkes teeth For although never sawe greter,
Yet me thynketh have sene many better.
frendes] freend, edit. 1569. One the seven slepers
said have lived Being commanded
here] this, 1569.
sure. ] These seven slepers are the time the emperor Decian.
Ephesus
sacrifice according the Pagan manner,
mount Ceylon, where they fell asleep, and
they fled
continued
according
the emperor Theodosian, who, being informed this extraordinary event, came from Constantinople see them, and satisfy himself
the truth the relation. Having communicated him the several circumstances their case, they all, the Legenda Aurea
cave
that state 372 years, asserted some, though
others only 208 years. They awoke the reign
expresses “enclyned theyr hedes
“spyrites the commaundement “deyed. ” See Legenda Aurea, 196.
these thys, 1st edit.
th’erth, and rendred their our Lorde Jesu Cryst, and soo
- 114 to, 1st edit.
at it,
tointo of no
of
of
in to at I
so
is
be
as
of
to *
all
of
*
of a
142 140 to
I of all
to to
by : of he all is in ye a
of
.
I
I he be be
an at it inbe of a do
ofto aon be
to
as is
in 1 so is of ofIa a
is 2.
**
THE FouR P's. 81
Pardoner. Here is a box ful of humble bees,
That stonge Eve as she sat on her knees, Tastynge the frute to her forbydden.
Who kysseth the bees within this hydden,
Shall have as muche pardon of ryght, As for any relyke he kyst thys nyght.
Palmer. Syr, I will kysse them with
my herte. Poticary. Kysse them agayne, and take my parte,
For am nat woorthy: may, lette be,
Those bees that stonge Eve shall nat stynge me.
Pardoner. Good frendes, have yet here” thys glas,
Which the drynke the weddynge was Adam and Eve undoutedly.
honor this relyke devoutly, Although thurste whyt the lesse,
Yet shal) drynke the more, doubtlesse:
*
well, good Kysse relyke ;
[After whyche drynkynge
stande your hede Poticary. Ye mary, now presens thys the rest
shall mete
on your fete.
con" you thanke”;
blanke.
Wolde God thys relyke had come rather:
that father. Suche the payne that palmers take,
kysse the pardon bowle for the drynke sake. holy yeste, that loketh full sowr and stale,
goddes body, helpe me cuppe The more beholde” the, the more
The oftener kysse the, the more lyke But sins kysse the devoutely,
ale. thurste
burste.
Hyre me” and helpe me with drynke tyll dye. What, muche prayeing and lytell spede
Ye, knoweth whan nede
Pardoner.
yet, edit. 1569.
147 con you thanke. ] See note vol. II.
146 can, 1st edit.
C.
glas's Translation Virgil.
poynettes] Little bodkins puncheons. Cotgrave, voce poin
çonnet.
yet] edit. 1569.
prickt] prycke, 1st edit.
Then they wode] Wode signifies mad, furious, violent. So,
Ascham's Torophilus, Bennet's Edition, 4to. 86. “How will “you thincke that such furiousnesse; with woode countenance, and “brenninge eyes, with staringe and bragginge, with hart redye “leape out the bellye for swellinge, can expressed the tenthe
-
See also Mr. Steevens's Note
partlettes] Ruffs bands for women. See Glossary Dou
part
the uttermost. ”
Churchyard's Worthiness Wales, 103. Evans's Edition, 1776.
“It flowes with winde, although rayne there bee,
“And swelles like sea, with waves and foming flood: “A wonder sure, see this river Dee,
“With winde alone, Make such sturre,
“And shewe such life, they] they be, edit. 1569.
King Lear,
S. 4.
-
- . **
waxe wyld and wood, water would be mad,
- swere] swereth, 1st édit.
though some spreete had. ”
-
4
as asto 10° so
in
99
“
so
it
.
a
99
to of p.
asA
on of it to
in
no
too an
is
94,
9°,
“
in*97* * *
A***
If it
to
of
be
it,
:is be 9”
be
to {
-t -
p. or
A. l.
or
of or
is is be toa in
in to
a or
up
is
THE FouR P's. 7I
Tyll it stande ryght they wyll not forsake
Thus though may not, yet wolde” they make
But sure they but defarre it;
For when they wolde make ofte times marre
But prycke them and pynne them nyche" wyll, And yet wyll they loke for pynnynge styll.
that durste holde with you joynt,
shall never have them full” point.
Pedler. Let women's maters passe, and marke myne:
What ever theyr poyntes be, these poyntes fyne.
wyllynge bye,
Lay downe money, come off” quyckely.
Palmer. Nay, my trouth, we lyke fryers; We are but beggars, we byers.
Pardoner. Syr, may showe your ware for your mynde.
Wherfore
But thynke shall profyle fynde. Pedler. Well, though this journey acquyte
Yet thynke nat my labour loste: For the fayth my body,
lyke ful well thys company.
Up shall this packe, for playne
came not hyther for gayne.
Who may nat play one day weke,
May thynke hys thryfte farre seyke. Devyse what pastyme that yethynke beste, And make sure fynde me prest”.
wolde] wyl, edit. 1569.
Neither edition reads wyl, nor wil, but wolde.
coste,
The oldest copy has “as nyche wyll,” and the edition
1569, “as nie you will. ” C.
full fall, 1st edit.
come off] vol. VIII. 512.
wilt,” perhaps the meaning “as much
pay down. See Note The Wits,
pret, Fr. So, Casar and Pompey, 1607:
prest] i. e. ready
“What must be, must Caesar's prest for all. ”
See Note The Merchant
Venice, Again, Churchyard's Challenge, 1593,
80.
“Then shall my mouth, my muse, my pen and all,
“Be prest Cynthia's Revels,
prest
serve each good subject's call. ” for the encounter. ”
“I
am
ofbe ;
in
is be at
no to a it,
“of* II YeSo 104 109103 10' I
a byIbe
p. ye on ye I yf
toi. as yeyeit
A. e. ye 5. ;
to alof yeby
be
S. at it 4.
is it no
do
p. in as toa 1.
a A. ye beas
S. 65 1.
is C. as
it,
S. to
no
be as
ye it.
it.
72 THE Fou R P's.
Poticary. Why? be ye so unyversall,
That ye can do what so ever ye shall? Pedler. Syr, yf ye lyste for to oppose me;
What I can do, then shall you se.
Poticary. Then tell me thys, are you perfyt in
drynkynge 2
Pedler. Perfyt in drynkynge, as may be wysht by
thynkynge.
Poticary. Then after your drynking, how fall ye to
wynking?
Pedler. Syr, after drynkynge, whyle the shot” is tynkynge;
Some hedes be swymmyng", but myne will be synkyng,
And upon drynkynge, my eyse will be pynkynge: For wynkynge to drynkynge is alway lynkynge.
Poticary. Then drynke and slepe you can well do; But yf ye were desyred therto,
I pray you tell me, can you synge 2
Pedler. Syr, I have some syght in syngynge. Poticary. "But is your brest any thynge swete 2
First Part Again,
26
shot)
the reckoning. See Mr. Steevens's Note The King Henry IV.
Churchyard's Worthyness
“Behold besides, further thing note,
“The best cheap cheare they have that may found; “The shot great when each mans pais his groate, “If alike the reckoning runneth round. ”
swymmyng) The second edition reads, swynking. See Note Gammer Gurton's Needle, vol. II.
197 But your brest any thunge swetel Sir John Hawkins's History Musick, vol. III. 466. passage, Tusser's Five Hun dred Points Husbandry, 1580, cited which this line occurs:
“The better brest, the lesser rest;”
upon which makes this observation: “In singing the sound
originally produced
“essential organ
“formerly common
“Italians make use
the action the lungs; which are this respect, that have good breast was periphrasis denote good singer. The
the terms Voce Petto, and Voce Testa, voice, which the first the best.
“signify two kinds
“Shakespeare's Comedy Twelfth Night, after the Clown,
asked sing, Sir Andrew Aguerheek says,
“By my troth, the fool has an excellent breast. ”
“And the statutes Stoke College, Suffolk, founded
Wales:
of
ofof in
by
a
““
in to
a an
of of is
in
ofi. e.
by is In to
so is
of
p. a
of
to
is
A. 5. S.
he
all
of
in to inIn to
is
di
a in a
di
;
of3.
to 10°
10°
is
be
to
} s
THE Four P's. 73
Pedler. What ever my breste be, my voyce is mete. Poticary. That answere sheweth you a ryght syng
ynge, man.
Now what is your wyll, good father, than 2
Palmer. What helpeth wyll, where is no skyll 2 Pardoner. And what helpeth skyll, where is no willo? ” Poticary. For wyll or skyll what helpeth
Where frowarde knaves lackynge witho?
thys curyosytie,
And who that lyste, synge after me. [Here they synge.
Pedler. Thys lyketh me wel, mot the.
Pardoner. So helpe me god, lyketh nat me. Where company met and well agreed,
Good pastyme doth ryght well dede.
Leve
But who can syt Men syt suche
dalyaunce,
variaunce? came in,
o
we were set,
Whiche stryfe thys man dyd fyrst begynne;
Allegynge that suche men use For love god, and not" refuse On fot goo from place place
pylgrimage, callynge for grace,
“Parker, Archbishop Canterbury, provision
“Of which said queristers, after their breasts are changed (i.
their voices broke,) we will the most apt wit and capacity “helpen with exhibitions forty shillings,” &c.
See also the Notes Mr. Warton and Mr. Steevens Twelfth Night,
Again, Middleton's More Dissemblers besides Women,
Dondolo after song his Page, says, “Oh rich, ravishing, rare,
and inticing. Well, thy ways, for sweet brested page
“ever lay his master's feet truckle-bed. ”
-
Yet
distinction between the breast and the voice, which induces the Poticary observe,
“That answere sheweth you ryght syngynge man. ” will wyt, 1st edit. wit] wyll, 1st edit.
or] ere. See Note Gammer Gurton's Needle, vol. II.
and not] not and, 1st edit.
Women,
Duke. “Yea the voice too, sir? ”
Women beware
Fab. -
too,
and sweet brest my lord, hope,
“I
“Or have cast away my money wisely. ”
the very next line the text, the Pedlar seems take
these words:
! ! ! "010°
of
to
at
in 2. S. 3.
of
in
48
to of A.
go
of
ye
10°
3. in S. a 2.
to
as
be in itso
a
is a
C.
as 1.
bee.
to a
A. 1. S.
to
I
a of
a
of
orain is no
““A
As
in A. to
by
of
as
Iof I
a
in
it,
(74
Shall in that payne with penitence, Obtayne discharge of conscyence:
Comparynge that lyfe for the beste Enduccyon to your endles rest.
Upon these wordes” our mater grewe : For yf he coulde avow them true,
As good to be a gardener. As for to be a pardoner.
But when I harde hym so farre wyde, I then aproched and replyed:
THE Fou R P's.
Sayenge this, that this” indulgence, Havyng the foresaid penitence, Dyschargeth man of offence,
With muche more profyt then this pretence. aske but two pens the moste;
And from *all payne without dyspayre, My soule for his kepe ** even his chayre, And when dyeth, may sure
wys this nat very great coste,
pleasure.
And more then heven can "nat get,
To come heven even
lyste jet. Then hys payne more then hys wit,
came thys daw with hys invencyon; Revelynge us, hymselfe avauntynge,
That the soules heven assendynge, Are most bounde the poticary, Bycause helpeth moste men dye
Pedler. Why, poticaries kyll men Poticary. By God, men say now and then.
Pedler. And thought wolde nat have myt To make them lyve longe lyste.
How farre ever
To walke"
heven, syns may syt. Syr, we were this contencion,
Before whiche deth
No soule heven can have hys mede.
Hitherto misprinted,
“Upon these workes our mater grewe. ”
this] his, edit. 1569.
** kepe] for keep even
can] may, edit. 1569.
from] for, edit. 1569.
his chair, edit. 1569. ** walke] wake, 1st edit.
sayeth dede,
*
* In 112
II is
is
all as
is
to
do
in
he
in
ye
yeso to
he
at to
C.
2
I as
to
as
in
*|-o
in
he
so
to he
he
to to
at
he
he be
all
THE Fou R P's. \75
Policary. As longe as we lyste? nay, as longe as they can.
Pedler. So myght we lyve without you than. Poticary. Ye, but yet it is" necessary
For to have a poticary:
For when ye fele your conscyens redy,
I can sende you to heven" quyckly.
Wherfore concernynge our mater here, Above these twayne I am best, clere;
And yf ye” lyste to take me so,
I am content: you and no mo Shal be our judge, as in thys case,
Whiche of us thre shall take the best place.
Pedler. I neyther wyll judge the beste nor worste;
For be ye bleste or be ye curste, Ye know it is no whyt my sleyght,
To be a judge in maters of weyght.
It behoveth no pedlers nor proctours,
To take on them judgemente as doctours: But yf your myndes be onely set
To worke for soule helthe, ye be well met; For eche of you somwhat doth showe
That soules towarde heven by you doe growe. Then yf ye can so wel agree,
To contynue togyther thre; And you thre obay one wyll,
your myndes may fulfyll.
Then
Who shulde goo pylgrymage” more then can
came one man,
palmer, debite,
May clerely dyscharde hym, parde;
-
that
And for other syns, ones had contryssyon, Your pardons geveth hym full remyssyon.
yet very, edit. 1569.
very] added edit. 1569. The first edition reads,
“And lyste take me so. ”
which C. altered the edit. 1569, right.
shulde goo pylgrymage] should
probably pilgrimage, edit. 1569.
ye, and
ois in
*117n°
In As
yf all
go on
of
to
it is
he 7
if he
all
to
in is
all as to
it is] it
ye
yeall
ye all
Y-
And then ye mayster poticary,
May sende hym to heven by and by. -
Poticary. Yf he taste this boxe nye aboute the pryme,
By the masse, he is in heven or even songe tyme. My craft is suche, that I can ryght well
Sende my fryndes to heven, and myselfe to hell.
But, syrs, marke this man, for he is wyse, *Who coulde devyse suche a devyse:
For yf we thre may be as one, Then be we to lordes everychone;
Betwene us coulde nat
myste,
THE Four P's.
To save the soules whome we lyste. But for good order, worde,
Twayne must wayte the thyrde. And unto that do agree,
For bothe you twayne shall wayt me.
Pardoner. What chaunce this, that suche elf
Commaund two knaves besyde himself? Nay, nay, my frende, that wyll nat be;
am good wayt the.
Palmer. By our lady, and wolde loth
To wayt the better you both.
Pedler. Yet sewer, for thys dout,
This waytynge must brought about. Men cannat prosper wylefully ledde: All thyng decay” where hedde.
Wherfore doutlesse, marke what say, To one you thre, twayne must obey. And synnes cannat agree voyce Who shall hed, there choyce
Who] Howe, 1st edit.
we] were we as, edit. 1569.
For bothe, &c. ] First edition reads,
For bothe you twayne shall wayt me. What chaunce this, that suche an elfe
Commaunded two knaves besyde himselfe.
Both editions have so, and the alteration was made
Dods. ley and followed Reed, although means necessary
the due understanding the passage.
things decay) thynge decayed, 1st, edit.
in
**119 be
I
*
of
at of a
it C. is
on
I all
be
s
no
byis it
beto I ye
all
by
by to
an
be
is is
noin no I is
on
be
of be ye
to on
of us
be
of
on
on
THE Four P's. 77
But to devyse some maner thynge, Wherin ye lyke connynge;
beste,
The other twayne make them preste,
And the same who can
every thynge Holy
hys entente, commaundement.
founde one mastry,” indyfferently;
And now have
That can
And nother sellynge nor byenge, But evyn onely very lyenge
. . . And all-ye thre can lye well, can the falsest devyll hell.
*And though afore harde grudge, greater maters yourjudge,
lyenge can some skyll,”
Yet
And
And
Where my consciens fyndeth the mastrye, Ther shall my judgement strayt founde, Though myght wynne thousande pounde.
Palmer. Syr, for lyeng though can
judge, wyll. you sure without flatery,
shall
Yet am loth for goo Pedler. Ye have mo” cause
For may here” uncontrolde.
fear, bolde,”
this have good avauntage, your comen usage.
lyenge well spedde,
For your craft doth stande falshed.
And
For lyeng
And you
Holy) Holly, 1st edit.
*one mastry] i. e. one magisterium:
sive the highest powers transmutation, for any masterly performance.
chymical term expres and sometimes used
mystery trade, which derived fr'om. the French mestier and that perhaps from
Mastery seems here used the sense
magisterium. See Warton Hist. Engl. Poetry. III. xxxvii. Both the old copies agree reading,
Yet in which has hitherto
can some skyll” n altered to
“I fectly intelligible.
phrase per the time and
bee
“Yet lyenge can boste some skyll. ”
word having been foisted aware that, skyll,”
the former editors were not
was
bebolde] beholde, edit. lt;69. may here] may here, 1st edit. may lie, edit. 1569.
*** mo) mot, 1st edit.
can some
*
**
*
of all yeye
In As
C. in
I
all
a if of
in
me
a
*
*In inII to
*II of ininin
be
lie to
to ye be
is
I
in be yf
is
ye
in
or C.
of
a
to I be
in is
doI be
at be
toa Iinas
as S. it. do
be
it:
do
be
ofto
\n
Ye nede nat care who shall begyn; For eche of you may hope to wyn.
Now speke threevyn fynde. Be agreed folowe my mynde
Palmer. Ye, by my trouth, am contente. Pardoner. Now, good fayth, and assente.
Poticary. denyed, were nody;
For
myne, goddes body,
[Here the poticary hoppeth,
THE FOUR P's,
Palmer. Here were hopper hop for the ryngef
But, syr”, this gere goth nat hoppynge. Poticary. Syr, thys hoppynge wyll hop
That my tonge shall hop better then my hele: Upon whiche hoppynge, hope and nat doute To hop” so, that shall hop” without it”.
well’
Palmer. Syr, wyll neyther boste
But take suche fortune may fall: And wynne this mastry,
wyll obaye you quietly:
And sure thynke that quietnesse
any man great rychesse,
any maner company,
To rule ruled indifferently.
Pardoner. By that bost thou semest dede,
brawll.
**
What can thy quyetnesse helpe nede? Yf shulde starve, thou hast nat, thynke, One peny bye one potte drynke. Nay richesse myghte rule the roste,
Beholde what cause have Lo, here pardons halfe For gostely ryches they have
boste: dosyn,
cosyn.
And more over me they brynge Sufficient succour for my lyvynge.
syr) sirs, edit. 1569. hop] hope, 1st edit.
The word omitted
rulde,
*here be] here are, edit. 1569.
rhyme.
the orieito
edit. 1569.
well as, 1st edit. hop] hope, 1st edit.
better]
the first edition, but
necessary
begger -
Cit beis
be orI
• InIn I
**1*
if all ye
in 1311%
a as I
I as
as is
for
in
to
be is I”ye in
noa
to byI of us 199I to a
ye
to to us
If all I Ito
we
yf ye is
Iat ne I a
2
it, so
in by
z
THE Four P's.
And here be * relykes of suche a kynde,
As in this world no man can to fynde,
Knele downe thre, and when leve kyssynge,
Who lyste offer shall have my blyssynge. Frendes, here shall evyn anone,
Hallowes the blessydjaw bone 13%, Kys hardely with good devocion.
79
Poticary. Thys kysse --~ mocyon.
shall - brynge muche pro
never kyst wars;
Hallowe's ars; thynketh,
|Fogh,
were
Tor That
Palmer. Ye judge any breth stynke,
Poticary. knowe Hallowes,
kysse the galows. Pardoner. Nay syrs, beholde, here may
The great toe the trinite,
Who thys toé any money voweth,
And ones may role his moueth, All hys lyfe after, undertake,
He shall never be vext with the tooth ake. Poticary. praye you torne that relyke aboute
Either the Trinite had the goute, elles, bycause toes one,
God made asmuche thre toes alone.
Pardoner. Well, lette that passe, and loke upon thvs.
Here relyke that doth nat mys
helpe the leste well the moste: This buttocke-bone of Pentecoste.
be] are, edit. 1569. can] may, edit. 1569.
All hallowes, the blessyd jaw-bonel All hallowes All Saints. Mr. Steevens, his note The First Part King Henry IV,
S. 2. remarks the absurdity appropriating word formed express community saints particular one the number.
He shall never vert with the tooth ake. . ] He shall ryd the toth ake, 1st edit.
Either] Other, 1st edit. asmuche] muche, 1st edit.
saynt savyour good kysse
Hallowes, yet Hallowe's breth stynketh.
Orels were tyme
Hallowe's breth unknowen your owne.
myne owne breth from
1*
***To Or**7
YfYe Of
199
in
* ye
be
onin it[I I to
I of all
be
ye se
a is is a a
to it
allby itall allas by
of as it it
of a
is
us
of
to l.
:
: all
on isintoitall ye 39 iii. is allI se
to of as me a as
of
A.
a
A.
80 THE FouR P's.
Poticary. By christe, and yet for your boste,
This relyke hath shyten the roste.
Pardoner. Mark well thys relyke here whipper,
My frends” unfayned, here” slypper
Of one the seven slepers sure”.
Doutlesse thys kys shall you great pleasure;
For these two dayes shall ease you, That none other savours shall displease you.
Poticary. All these two dayes nay, these two ere;
For also savours that may come here Can be no worse; for worde,
One the seven slepers trode torde.
Pedler. Syr, me thynketh your devocyon but
smal.
Pardoner. Small! mary me thynketh hath none at all.
Poticary. What the devyll care what thinke Shall prayse relykes when they stynke?
Pardoner. Heer eye toth the great Turke. Whose eyes ones sette thys pece worke, May happely lese parte his eye-syght,
But nat tyll blynde out ryght.
Poticary. What ever any other man seeth,
have devocyon unto” Turkes teeth For although never sawe greter,
Yet me thynketh have sene many better.
frendes] freend, edit. 1569. One the seven slepers
said have lived Being commanded
here] this, 1569.
sure. ] These seven slepers are the time the emperor Decian.
Ephesus
sacrifice according the Pagan manner,
mount Ceylon, where they fell asleep, and
they fled
continued
according
the emperor Theodosian, who, being informed this extraordinary event, came from Constantinople see them, and satisfy himself
the truth the relation. Having communicated him the several circumstances their case, they all, the Legenda Aurea
cave
that state 372 years, asserted some, though
others only 208 years. They awoke the reign
expresses “enclyned theyr hedes
“spyrites the commaundement “deyed. ” See Legenda Aurea, 196.
these thys, 1st edit.
th’erth, and rendred their our Lorde Jesu Cryst, and soo
- 114 to, 1st edit.
at it,
tointo of no
of
of
in to at I
so
is
be
as
of
to *
all
of
*
of a
142 140 to
I of all
to to
by : of he all is in ye a
of
.
I
I he be be
an at it inbe of a do
ofto aon be
to
as is
in 1 so is of ofIa a
is 2.
**
THE FouR P's. 81
Pardoner. Here is a box ful of humble bees,
That stonge Eve as she sat on her knees, Tastynge the frute to her forbydden.
Who kysseth the bees within this hydden,
Shall have as muche pardon of ryght, As for any relyke he kyst thys nyght.
Palmer. Syr, I will kysse them with
my herte. Poticary. Kysse them agayne, and take my parte,
For am nat woorthy: may, lette be,
Those bees that stonge Eve shall nat stynge me.
Pardoner. Good frendes, have yet here” thys glas,
Which the drynke the weddynge was Adam and Eve undoutedly.
honor this relyke devoutly, Although thurste whyt the lesse,
Yet shal) drynke the more, doubtlesse:
*
well, good Kysse relyke ;
[After whyche drynkynge
stande your hede Poticary. Ye mary, now presens thys the rest
shall mete
on your fete.
con" you thanke”;
blanke.
Wolde God thys relyke had come rather:
that father. Suche the payne that palmers take,
kysse the pardon bowle for the drynke sake. holy yeste, that loketh full sowr and stale,
goddes body, helpe me cuppe The more beholde” the, the more
The oftener kysse the, the more lyke But sins kysse the devoutely,
ale. thurste
burste.
Hyre me” and helpe me with drynke tyll dye. What, muche prayeing and lytell spede
Ye, knoweth whan nede
Pardoner.
yet, edit. 1569.
147 con you thanke. ] See note vol. II.
146 can, 1st edit.
