No More Learning

godly sight
-
every boye's delight,
Yet therein nowe almost
No brooke nowe their handes, but all scripture,
scripture,
Eyther the whole Bible, the new Testament, you
may
The newe Testament for them and then to for cowle
my dogge”.
This the olde proverbe, cast perles an hogge.
my marchant] Merchant was antiently used we now use the word chap. See Note Romeo and Juliet, A.
*— and then for cowle my dogge] Cowle rather coll, sup
pose the name the dog.
sure.
-
Cowle my dog, am inclined believe means put cowle hood
dog, and will which the order had the explanation,
learned frier the contempt into this period fallen will least countenance
prove the case
should not thought sufficient once was opinion, that there might allusion
one Collins crazy man, who seeing priest hold
the host over his head, lifted dog the same manner, for which both
and the animal were burnt 1588. See Foxe, vol. II. 436.
My conjecture requires little explanation. The speaker means
say, “If the new testament wise adapted equally
will understand and make other. ” S.
for the use boys, like the conception coll my dog. The
proper use soon the
o:
to
on a
N *
is it
to be
is
be
up a
if heI to
a of
as it is
a in as on to in
!
in to
it
atbe of
ais to to is fitbeS. orhe
an
of of at :
in
it of up
or 2.
S. as to
as
toto a 4. S.
as
so
or I
it
aas 2 be a
it. heofI
is
a his
be
sc. I. ]
NEW CUSTOME. 271
Geve them that whiche is meete for them, a racket and a ball,
Or some other trifle to busie their heades with all:
Playinge at coytes or nine hooles", or shooting at buttes,
There let them be a goddes name, their hartes ake and their guttes.
Let alone with divinitie, which are ryper age.
Youth rashe, they say, but olde men hath the know ledge.
For while they reade they know not what, they omit the veritie,
And that nowe the cause many fall into heresie,
Every man hath his owne way, some that, and some this,
wolde almost for anger surreverence" make man pisse,
To heare what they talke open communication,
Surely feare me, Ignorance, this geare wyl make some desolation.
Ignoraunce. feare the same also, but towching
They that wherof you speake full well,
have revoked diverse olde heresies out hell.
As against transubstantiation, purgatory, and the masse, And say that scripture they can not brought
But th:asSe:
whiche ever hath ben
stant opinion,
And defended also hitherto
That Ignorance, am the mother
most trewe and con
our religion, true devotion,
And Knowledge the auctour the contrarie affection: They denie stoutely thoughe were not so;
But this hath ben beleft many hundred yeere ago. Wherefore greveth mee not lyttle that my case
stande,
Thus disproved every pratler's hande.
should
Playinge coytes nine hooles. ] By the Stat. Hen. VIII.
16. penalty
who should play coyting, logating, quoits.
surreverence]
imposed certain persons therein mentioned, the tables, tennis, dice, cards, bowls, clash,
other unlawful game. Coytes are the same Perhaps contraction save your reverence.
*
9. * s.
It
is
of
a an
S. as
c.
* to
or at is
so
by
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or a
a to be
I,
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at
it
it so
at on
as
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33
be
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by
all a
so
as
a
272 NEW CUSTOME. ACT I.
Perverse Doctrine. Yea, doth ? then the more un wiseman you, as I trowe,
For they say as muche by me, as you well do knowe.
And shall I then go vexe my selfe at theyr talke?
No, let them speake so longe as their tongues can
walke.
They shall not greve mee, for why? in very south
It were follie to endeavour to stop every manne's mouth.
They have brought in one, a younge upstart ladde as it appeares,
I am sure he hath not ben in the realme very many yeares,
With a gathered frocke, a powlde head and a broade hatte, -
An unshaved bearde, a pale face, and hee teacheth that
All our doings are naught, and hath ben many a day. Hee disaloweth our ceremonies and rites, and teacheth
an other way
To serve God, then that whiche wee do use,
And goeth about the people's myndes to seduce.
It is a pestilent knave, hee wyll have priestes no corner
cappes to weare",
Surplices are superstition, beades, paxes, and suche
other geare,
* -hee wyll have priestes no corner cappes to weare] Foxe, in the third volume of his Acts and Monuments, p. 131, says, “Over “ and besides divers others things touching M. Rogers, this is not “to be forgotten, how, in the daies of King of Edward the Sixth,
“there was a controversie among the Bishops and Clergie for wear “ing of priests caps, and other attyre belonging to that order. Master
“Rogers being one of that number which never went otherwise
the time King Edward, affirmed that decreement uniformitie,
“ than in a round cap during
“that would not agree
“but upon this condition, that
“uniformitie wearing the cap, tippet, &c. then should de “creed withall, that the papists for difference betwixt them and “others should constrained weare upon their sleeves chalice “with host upon Whereunto they would consent, “would agree the other, otherwise would not said con
“sent the setting forth the same, nor ever weare the cap; nor indeed he never did. ”
they would needs have such
“
to
of
he
to
be
of
to
if to all a
he if
of
an
it.
he
a
he
an
it
of
be
sc. I. ]
N E W CUSTOM E: 273
Crosses, belles, candells, oyle, bran, salt, spettle, and Incense,
With sensing and singing, he accomptes not worth half pense,
And cries out them all, repete them wist, Suche holy thinges wherein our religion doth consist:
But hee commaundes the service readde,
English
And for the Holy Legende steadde,
Every man looke thereon
Every man studie divinitie
the Bible too put his
his list and pleasure, his convenient leasure;
-
With thousand newe guises more, you know well
as
And term him his right name, should not lie, new Custome, for they him call,
Both our sister Hipocrisie, Superstition, Idolatrie and all. And truely me thinketh, they justly and wisely
therein,
Since hee divers, and lately crept
Ignoraunce. So they call him indeede, you have saide ryght well,
Because came newely from the devyll hell,
New Custome, quoth you now vengeance his
newe nose,
For bringing any suche unaccustomed glose;
For hee hath seduced the people mightie greate
flockes,
Bodie God, were good set the knave the stockes.
elles whyp him for exaumple hee,
roges
How they the authors newe heresies bee.
Or henceforth attempt any such strange devise,
Let him keepe himselfe from my handes, wyse.
ever may take him within my rayne,
He sure have whipping theere" for his payne.
the Holy Legende] suppose the Legenda Aurea, the Golden Le gend Jacobus Voragine.
theere] the 4to. think we should read cheere. VOL. I. T
*7 IfOr
of is I of
It is
a So toheisI.
I
S.
of
so
at at 7,
de
it in
I by
on
to so
to to
do
an ? so to
do do
if to
ifto of he all
be
as
in
as
in to be
a by
if I
in
in. of
I
to
iii
274 NEW CUSTOME.
[Act. I
For hee doth muche harme in eache place throughout the lande :
Wherefore, Perverse Doctrine, heere nedeth your hande:
I meane, that ye be diligent in any case,
place, So use the villaine, you know what meane,
fortune come where New Custome
That poyntes you may discredite him cleane: And when hee beginnes any thynge for clatter,
Of any controversie learnyng, divinitie matter, So cling fast unto every manne's thought,
That his wordes may seeme heresie, and his doinges
but nought, Tushe, that, Perverse Doctrine. let me alone with
for have not
lyttle wit,
But have practised this alreadie, and minde also do
Yet further devise have, think, not amisse. Hearken mee, Ignorance, for the matter this: For the better accomplishing our subtiltie pretended,
were expedient that bothe our names were amended; Ignorance shall Simplicitie, for that comes very nie; And for Perverse Doctrine will be called Sounde
Doctrine,
And nowe that wee are both suche sorte named,
Wee may goe any place and never blamed. See then you remembre your name, sir, Simplicitie,
And mee every worde Sounde doctrine be; Beware tripping, but look minde that you beare
Your fayned name, and what before you weare. But who this that hitherwarde doth walke?
Let stande still heare what wyll talke.
ACTUs scENA
New Custome entreth alone.
New Custome. When cons*
ider the auncient times That have ben these eyght hundred yeeres and more,
before,
-
in .
I
so
-
us
It
aI
to
in all
If to ye
to
I. be
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is
of at
to
it. I
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to
of
I. . I of
in in. I - .
. he . or
. . I
.
II.
be .
to ,
is
. . . to is.
.
to
sc. II. ]
NEW CUSTOME. 275
And those conferre with these our later dayes, My mind do these displease a thousand waies. For sure hee that hath bothe perceaved aright,
Wyll say they differ as darkenes dothe from light. For then playne-dealing beare away the price,
All thinges were ruled by men of good advise,
Conscience prevayled muche, even every where,
No man deceived his neybour, and eke a thing full rare ~.
It was to finde a man you might not trust:
But looke what once they promised, they did that well and just.
If neighbours were at variance they ran not streight to lawe,
Daiesmen 9 tooke up the matter, and cost them not a strawe,
Suche delight they had to kyll debate and strife;
And surely even in those dayes was there more godlier life:
Howbeit men of ages are wonted dispraise
The wickednesse time that florished their daies,
As well hee may discerne who for that but lightly lookes -
every leafe almost their bookes;
For for Christ our maister, what hee thought Jewes,
And after hym apostles, think newes. Perverse Doctrine. Harke, Simplicitie, hee some
preacher, wyll lay my gowne,
He mindeth make sermon within this towne:
Daiesman] i. e. umpires. —— For what art thou
So Spenser:
That makst thyself his daysman, prolong
- The vengeance past 1–Faerie Queen.
dayes-man, says Ray, his Collection North Country
Words, 25. “an arbitrator, umpire judge. For Dr. Hammond observes, his Annotation Heb. 25. 752, the
“word day, languages and idioms, signifies judgment.
“Man’s Day, Cor. iii. 13, the judgement men. So diem dicere
“in Latin
implead. ”
p. is
to1 in all
is
to
th
-
p.
is
of
in is
I a
ofall
of
or S.
of -at
*
9
In as
in an
I
of all
A
to on
it
x.
no
as So
is to
[Act. I.
Hee speaketh honestly yet, but surely if hee rayle at mee,
I may not abide him, by the masse, I promise thee.
New Custome. Paule to the Corinthians plainely doth tell -
That their behaviour pleased him not well.
All our forefathers likewise have ben offended
With diverse faultes at their time, that might have ben amended.
The doctours of the churche, great faulte they dyd
fynde,
In that men lived not after their mynde: First with the rulers as examples of sinne,
Then with the people as continuing therin:
So that of them both this one thing they thought,
That the people was not good, but the rulers were naught.
But in comparison of this time of miserie,
In those daies men lyved in perfecte felicitie.
Saincte Paule prophecied that worse tymes should ensue,
In novissimis venient quidam, saith hee, this is trewe, Folowinge mischiefe, ungodlinesse and evyll,
Leaning wickednesse and doctrine the devyll; And spake hee not these daies, thinke you, praye? The proofe playne that man can denaye:
For this sure, that never any age before, Naughtiness and sinne hath ben practised more,
276 NEW CUSTOME.
As nowe (God amende all) this present daye: Sinne nowe no sinne, faultes no faultes whit,
God, seest thou this, and yet wylt suffer hit?
Surely thy mercie
Are great, that beare.
great, but yet our sinnes feare justice with them thou canst not
thinge rife",
with another manne's wyse:
common, such plenty.
vice, stale jest nowe,
Adulterie
"so rife] i. e.
o
Or halfe
muche, all, respecte saye,
in
at in
in
no
S.
I
AO so
is
no
so is to
to it ofis so lieis
or of a at
so
a
so I
of I
is all all so
sc. II. ]
NEW CUSTOM E.
277
For what is that but daliaunce 2 call
Covetousnesse
they
Good husbandrie, when one man would faine have all.
And eke alike to that is unmerciful extorcion,
A sinne in sight of God, of great abhomination: For pride, that is now a grace; for rounde about .
The humble sprited is termed a foole or a lowte.
Who so will bee so drunken that he scarsly knoweth his waye,
Oh, hee is a good fellowe, so now a daies they saye
Gluttonie is hospitalitie, while they meate and drinke spill, -
Whiche As
relieve diverse whom famine doth kill.
charitable deedes, they gone, God knoweth
old
Some pretende lacke, but the chiefe cause slowth, vice most outragiouse others sure,
Right hatefull Scarse bloud So make they
God, and contrarie nature. punished, but even for very shame,
murther but trifling game.
how manie examples that horrible vice
Do dayly among nowe spring and arise?
But thankes God that such rulers doth sende, Whiche earnestly studie that fault amende;
As the sharpe punishement that wicked crime Wee may see that committed was but late time. God direct their heartes they may alwaies continue Suche just execution sinne ensue;
So shall saved the life
many man,
And God wyll withdrawe his sore plagues from than.
Theft but pollicie, perjurie but face,
Suche now the worlde, farre men from grace. But what shall say religion, and knowledge
Of God, whiche hath ben indifferent eache age Before this? howbeit his faltes then had,
And some poyntes then was culpable and bad. Surely this one thinge may say aright,
God hath rejected away from him quight,
in
I
is is
be
OA by
for all
usI
of
on of
so
of
of a all
to of
it a to
in be
of
to
a
us
be
ofis to
to us
;
be is
278
NEW CUSTOMEs
[ACT 1.
And geven us up whollie unto our owne thought, Utterly to destroy us, and bring us to nought:
For do they not followe the inventions of men 2 Looke on the primitive churche, and tell mee then Whether they served God in this same wise,
J Or whether they followed any other guyse?
For since Godde's feare decayed, and hypocrisie crept 1I],
In hope of some gaines and lucre to win, Crueltie bare a stroke, who with fagot and fier, Braught thinges passe that hee did desier;
Next avarice spilt all, whiche lest should spide,
Hypocrisie ensued the matter hide.
Then brought they their monsters, their masses, their
light,
Their torches noone, darken our sight:
Their Popes and their pardones, their purgatories for
sowles,
Their smoking the church, and flinging cooles.
Ignoraunce. Stay yet whyle, and heare more COmmunication.
cannot, godde's sowle, might have this nation.
Shall suffer knave thus rayle and prate? . Nay, then pray God, the devyll breake my pate.
will revenged, hee depart away,
Ah, surrah, you have made feire speake heere to-day, Do you looke for any rewarde for your deede
were good beate thee till thy head bleede,
Or scourge thee welfavouredlie carte's tayle, To teache suche horeson blaspheme and rayle
Perverse Doctrine.
At suche holie misteries, and matters As thou speakest nowe, and rayledst
New Custome. What meane ye, sir, you speake?
Art you minded mee your anger
hie
latelie.
whom
wreake, knowe
Whiche have not offended, Perverse Doctrine. speak
farre
thee, knave, thou a-rt
madde
trowe; or]
before.
l"
on of an
in
i. e.
a to
I
to
a
of at
-
Iorso
all I itI
as to
to
to
-
at asto a
to
it
?
*.
if I
to at
so 2
* let -
do
It
I
-
to
be
I I
or
to
a
by
*
us of
be
all
NEW CUSTO ME. 279
sc. I. ]
What meanest thou to raile right nowe so contemp tuously
At the chefest secretes of all divinities?
New Custome. Verilie I railed not, so farre as I can tell,
I spake, but advisedly, I knowe very well;
For I wyll stand to whatsoever sayde.
Perverse Doctrine. Wilt thou soe? but will make
the well apaide
To recant thy woordes, holde thee pounde,
Before thou departe hence out this grounde.
New Custome. No, that shall you not do, die therefore.
Perverse Doctrine. Thou shalt see anone, too, prattle more,
But tell mee effect the woordes whiche were sayde.
agayn, New Custome. To recite them -
afrayde:
not that,
every age.
Now, preciouse horeson, thou
New Custome. needeth small profe, the effect doth appere,
Neither this any place for argue here. And for my saying holde the negative, lyeth you upon prove the affirmative;
sayde that the Masse, and suche trumperie
Popery, purgatorie, pardons, were flatt
Against Godde's woorde and primitive constitution, Crept through covetousnesse and superstition,
Of late yeeres, through blindnes, and men know
ledge;
Even suche have ben Perverse Doctrine.
lie;
hast made
How canst thou prove that, tell me and by.
To shewe that such thinges were used
antiquitie,
And then can easely prove you the contrarie.
Perverse Doctrine. Stand'st thou with mee on schole
poyntes? dost thou indeede
Thou hadst best prove mee whether can reede;
well apaide] well content. Psalm lxxxiii. ver, we have And Assur eke well apaid,
With them league be.
am
to
In
so
to
**
It
I in
I2 8.
by
:
as I
in
I
is as
th'
to It no to a
it, io,
in I of
I
is
in
of no
I as
if I
go
of a
I
~In
your procedinges, and matters religion. Perverse Doctrine. By what speakest thou that, let
me here thy judgment?
New Custome. Not any gesse, but by that whiche evident.
280
. NEW CUSTOME.
-
[ACT i.
Thinkest thou I have no logique, in deede thinkest thou soe 7
Yes, prinkockes, that I have ; for fortie yeares agoe
I coulde smatter in a Duns” pretelie; I do not jeste,
Better I am sure then an hundred of you, whosoever is the best.
New Custome. Trulie I beleve you, for in suche fonde bookes
You spent idellie your time and weried your lookes: More better it had ben in bookes of holie scripture, Where as vertue is expressed, and religion pure,
To have passed your youth, as the Bible and suche, Then in these trifles to have dolted so muche;
Not more to have regarded a Duns or a Questionist,
Then you would the woordes of the holie evangelist. Perverse Doctrine. What! for a childe to meddle
with the Bible 7
New Custome. Yeasure, more better then so to be idle. Perverse Doctrine. Is studie then idlenes? that is a
new terme. -
New Custome. harme.
They say better to be idle then to do -
Perverse Doctrine. What harme dothe knowledge? I pray thee, tell mee.
New Custome. Knowledge puffeth up, in Saincte Paule you may see,
Perverse Doctrine. Yee, but what knowledge meaneth hee? tell me that.
New Custome. Even such knowledge as yee professe flat;
For the truthe and the gospell you have in contempt, And followe suche toyes as your selves do invent: Forsaking Godde's lawes, and th’ appostle's institution,
Duns] the theological writings Duns Scotus, who obtained the title Doctor Subtilis. S.
See also Note The Revenger's Tragedy, vol. IV.
i. 25 ofe.
**
in a
all
to
by
-
in
is
of of
sc. II. ]
NEW CUST. O. M. E. 281
As for the scriptures, you have abolished cleane;
New fashions you have constitute in religion; agayne, Abuse of the sacraments then hath ben tofore,
Have you brought, and in nombre have you made them more
Then Christ ever made: wherfore shew your auctoritie, Or els have you done to the churche great injurie.
Th' appostles never taught your transubstantiation
Of bread into fleshe, or any suche fashion;
Howe be it they were conversant every day and howre, And received that sacrament of Christ our saviour.
You feigne also that Peter was bishop of Rome,
And that hee first instituted the seate of your Popedome: But, perverse nation, howe dare you for shame,
Your fansies on Christ, and th appostles to frame? Perverse Doctrine. Marie avaunt, Jackesauce, and
I will conjure thy cote if thou leave not to rave. With my harte, and vengeance, come and
pratling knave,
nought,
see wee shall have heretike
thee, thought.
These things were approved thou wast born, dost thou not see
And shall when thou art hanged, warrant thee.
New Custome. Ere was borne nay sure that not trewe,
For comparison mee they but newe. Perverse Doctrine. Of thee! ha, ha, ha! what
thee? thou art mad.
New Custome. Surely my sorte am both sober and sad.
Perverse Doctrine. Whie, how olde art thou? tell mee, pray thee hartely.
New Custome. Elder than you, perceive.
Perverse Doctrine. What, older than
The younge knave, the masse, not fully thirtie, Would elder than that am above sixties
New Custome. thousande and halfe, that surely my age
Ask and enquire men knowlage.
is
be
I in all be
of: A all
I by
of
I
?
an
2 of
in
a
a
Il
I
I
I
be
or of
is of
be
I
as I
up
282 NEW Custo M. E.
[Act I.
Perverse Doctrine. A thousand yeares? godde's pre ciouse sowle, I am out of my wittes;
He is possessed of some devyll, or of some evill sprites.
Why thou art a young knave of that sorte, I saye, That brought into this realme but the other daye
learning, heresies,
This new and these - and such other
things moe,
-
With strange guises invented not long agoe “
And I pray thee tell me, is not thy name New Cus tome? - -
New Custome, Trewly so I am called of some,
As of suche as wante both witte and understanding, As you do nowe, I knowe by your talking : " .
But woe be to those that make no distinction
Betweene many thinges of diverse condition; As naught to be good, and hotte to be colde,
And old to be newe, and new to be olde. Wherefore these disceytes you dayly invent,
The people to seduce unto your advertisement,
While with tales you assay, and with lies you begyn The truth to deface, and your credite to wyn.
Perverse Doctrine. What is thy name, then? I pray thee make declaration.
New Custome. In faith, my name is Primitive Con
-
Perverse Doctrine. Who? who 2 Prava Constitutio?
Steevens,
336. Again,
that passage, Edition Shakspeare, 1778, vol. 10,
This play the words was very common. The Humourous Lieutenant, A.
“Shall then that thing that honours thee
stitution.
even so I thought,
- I wist that it was some suche thinge of nought
The original copy reads
“With strange guises invented now long agoe. ”
but the sense seems require the negative, which former editors substituted for now. C.
suche thinge nought. ] Hamlet, “The king thing “nothing. ” See the Notes Dr. Johnson, Dr. Farmer, and Mr.
'"
.
thing soever, yet thing still, “And, tho' thing nothing, thy thing ever. ”
“How miserable
of
a
of
a
.
in
* on
. S. 6.
p.
14
of
a to
on
of
So
is a
of
14.
sc. II. ]
NEW CUSTOME, 283
Like lettuse like lippes; scab'd horse for scald squire.
New Custome. Primitive Constitution heare,
saide,
you
Suche orders the primitive churche heretofore Were used, but not nowe, the more pittie therefore.
Perverse Doctrine. Ah, good time, sir, well might you fare, Primitive Constitution,
That your trewe name, you say, without delution.
Primitive Constitution (quodes stowe) muche my sleeve, -
The devill on him which will such liers beleeve;
For my parte, credite such hearie mowle,
The fowle fende hell fetche mee, bodie and sowle.
New Custome. Trueth can not prevaile where Igno
place.
Ignoraunce. Peace, will lay my beades thie
rance
face.
Hast thou nothing raile but Ignorance,
New Custome. You may use me even pleasure, know;
trowe your
For Perverse Doctrine, that rooted soe fast, That may not changed heavenlie blast,
May not heare the contrarie, but beginneth kicke,
Like jade when hee feleth the spurre for pricke. Perverse Doctrine. Yee saist thou soe, thou mis
creant villaine
little thing would make mee knocke out thy
brayne.
thistle sallet for “signify that things happen
-
my sight, away, packing, trudge, Thou detestable heretike, thou caytife, thou drudge;
Hence out
Like lettuse, like lippes. ] “Similes habent labra lactucas.
ass's mouth. We use when we would
“Dignum patella operculum. Like priest, like people, and the
contrary. These Proverbs are always taken the worst sense. “Tal carne, tal cultello, Ital. Like flesh, like knife. ” Ray's
Proverbs, 1742,
people, which are suitable them, when dull scholar happens stupid ignorant master, froward wife peevish husband, &c.
which they deserve
180.
**-
p.
is
a of
is
beIinofI in
io,
““““* A or or
in
as I all
a: to
to a
as
an
7
or
to a
I
to
a to
at
on as if
a
on
A
a it
is
to to
I ?
at is no
at aha !
if
as
an
in
284 NEW CUSTOME,
If I may take thee, it were as good thou weare deade,
"I
Thoughe I hang therefore, I care not, I,
thy
For even with this portuse
will battre
heade. [Erit.
So I be revenged on a slave ere I die.
Sacrament of God who hath hearde suche a knave 2 Who after hee had done at Ignorance to rave,
Perverse Doctrine (quod hee) is also rooted so fast, That hee may be changed by no heavenly blast.
No, Godde's sowle, I warrant him, I will see him
rotten,
-
Of New Custome and his mates ", meaning to deface Our auncient rightes, and religion, and to place
Before that my doctrine I shall have forgotten: Wherefore it behoveth us some councell to take,
Howe wee the stronger our matters may make, Against the surprise of this newe invasion,
Begunne of late by this strange generation,
[ACT 11.
Their develishe doctrine the Gospell, and soe - Our gaines to debate, and ourselves to undoe.
I thinke it best therefore that our sister Hypocrisie Do understand fully of this matter by and by.
Let us go and seeke her, the case for to shewe, That wee her good councell may spedely knowe.
Ignoraunce. I am readie; in following I will not be
mates. ] Makes
The 4to reads makes. The alteration Mr. Dodsley.
the true reading. Make used for mate throughout the
slowe.
[Exeunt.
* portuse. . ] Sometimes written portas, or portos, i. e. breviary. l)u Cange, in Portiforium. “Portuasses, Mr. Tyrwhitt observes “ (Notes on Chaucer, ver, 13061), are mentioned among other “prohibited books in the Stat. 3 and 4 Edw. VI. c. 10. And, in “the Parliament Roll of 7 Edw. IV. n. 40. there is a petition, that “the robbing of-Porteous—Grayell, Manuell, &c. should be made
“felonie without clergy; to which the King answered, La Roy “s'avisera. ”
The portuse is mentioned in Green's History of Fryer Bacon and Fryer Bungay, vol. VIII. p. 200.
“—— I’le hamper up the match,
“I’le take my portace forth, and wed you here. ”
works Gower. Shakspeare
likewise, am not mistaken,
employs
one his sonnets.
it ofis in
17
. . .
of
S.
is
if I
by
sc. I. ]
NEW CUSTOME. 285
ACTUS II. SCENA I.
LIGHT OF THE GosPELL and New CUsToME enter.
Light of the Gospell. Doubt you nothing at all, for God will so provide,
Who leaveth not his elect to defende and to guide;
That where ever I come suche grace you may finde,
As shall in each poynte content well your minde,
And admit that they call you New Custome, what then 2
Attribute that follie to the ignorance of men,
That followe their fansies, and know not the right.
Well, you knowe where I come once, the light
Of the Gospell, whose beames do glister so cleare,
Then Primitive Constitution in each place you appeare; And as else where you have ben, so do not mistrust But in this place hereafter be receved you must.
New Custome. According to your nature, so do you
very well
To put mee in good hope, bright light of the gospell. And seing you be trewe, I may in no wise
Misdeeme you the father or aucthour of lies:
For if trust to the gospell do purchase perpetuance
Of life unto him who therein hath confidence,
What shall the light doe? whose beames be sobright, That in eache respect thinges else light
Are but very darkenes, and eke terrestriall,
So the light the Gospell overshineth them all.