No More Learning

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
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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. Wherefore with great comforte receive your counsell. With hartie thanks unto you, the light the Gospell.
Light the Gospell. Do so, and faith, then shall
you obtaine
Whatsoever you desire, the scripture saith plaine For quicquid petieritis nomine meo,
It must of trueth needes be understode soe:
That without faith, whatsoever wee fortune crave,
Wee may not looke for our desire have.
Faith moveth mountains, pure faith indeede,
By fayth wee obtaine whatsoever wee neede:
it so
in
all I
it be
to
by of
of
to
:
of
of
286 NEW CuSTOME.
[Act i.
Then faith shall restore to you more thinges then this, Beleve me, Primitive Constitution, whatsoever is amisse. But where be those reprobates, devoyde of grace,
Who lately misused you,
New Custome. They well whether,
you saide, this place? sodenly departed, wote not
-
For left them right now bothe heere together: They cannot farre hence, know very well,
Where they be, there none wee ask, but can tell. Light the Gospell. Do you knowe them agayne,
you meete them aright?
New Custome. Yea, sir, that do, even the first sight.
Light the Gospell. Then let not tarie, but seek them straite.
New Custome. hande am readie you for
wayte.
[Ereunt.
ACTUS II. SCENA II.
HYPocrisi PER ERSE DocTRINE, and No RAUNCE enter.
Hypocrisie. Perverse Doctrine, say, take heede
any sorte
That thou never beleve whatsoever they reporte, Though they the gospell never muche preache,
Every man will not credite whatsoever they teache. They will not say, beleeve, when they not, pro
mise thee:
For that time will never come, Tushe, tushe, thou busied
contrarie;
And that scripture for thy place thou have readie,
To discredite their preachinge
they teache them one thing, then teache thou the
- woordes that supplie, whiche wanteth reason,
thinges applied, somtime, good season,
For
As better eftsones do importe the wayte.
they well ordered good pollicie and slayght.
this world, trust mee.
any case every place.
So
of ill
In If if
I
be
of of
by
II in in in I if
be as
no
be of E,
be
all
At
v is
in soI us
in
do I
do onat Iall Ig
in togoif
in
sc. II. ]
NEW CUSTOME.
287
Howbeit their doctrine be sounde; yet their vices fynd out,
As this is a sloven, or this is a lowte:
Hee speaketh on envie, such a one for neede;
This saith it in woordes, but hee thinketh it not in deede Upon greatter occasion they sticke not to rave,
Saying, this is a whooremaster, villaine, hee an heretike knave,
An extorcioner, a theefe, a traytour, a murtherer,
A covetous person, a common userer.
This hee doth for my mistresse his wyve's sake, by the roode, , , -
The beiter to maintaine and supporte the frenchehoode. Remember also, that it weare a great shame,
For thee for to have forgotten thy owne name.
Perverse Doctrine, of right, must the trueth so perverte, That hee never sinke into any manne's harte,
As farre can, with diligence withstande,
For ever, behoveth thee readie hande,
To strenthen thine owne, partes, and disprove other doctrine,
Whatsoever shall taught that contrarie thine: Still pretende religion, whatsoever you say,
And that shall get thee good credite alway, Pleasing the multitude with suche kinde gear”,
As with them the whiche most enclined they are. Square cappes, longe gownes, with tippettes silke, Brave coopes the churche, surplices white
-- milke,. . . ,
Beades, and suche like, these beare the price;
To these thinges applie thy attendant devise: And other likewise, which well you knowe,
Whiche all great holinesse set forthe ashewe.
Though some them doubtlesse, indifferent, what matter,
They furnishe our businesse never the latter. For these antiquitie, since that they smell,
Our cause must commend right wonderful well:
"gear] The 4to reads, grace. The alteration Mr. Dodsley.
-
bydo- *
. of. . as
of
of
of
.
it as he
-
. is. . . . .
do
. . .
* be do *
-
at
. all
. . .
to be
*
-? .
*into . let . be. it
. of to as
288 - New custom E.
[Act II.
And these be the thinges wherof thou hast neede, The better of thy wyl and purpose to speede. Then geve thy attendance, and so be sure of this,
That I will be readie and never wyll misse
To assist thee still in workinge thy purpose,
To th’ advauncing of thee, and depressing thy foes.
Perverse Doctrine. Gramercie, good sister, even with my hearte,
For this your good councell; and for my parte, Whatsoever this case may bee possibly donne,
shall followe your preceptes natural sonne.
For the matter standes wee looke not well about, That we quite perishe out doubt,
Unlesse some such way wee take out hande, Whereby wee may able our foes withstande. And for this cause my brother Ignorance and Lest should chaunce fall into jeoperdie, Through envie our names any manne's eare: For this intent, say, wee did diligently care,
Our names counterfaite such maner sorte,
That where ever wee goe wee may win good reporte.
Hypocrisie. Of my faith that very well done deede,
God sende thee good wit still thy neede.
And that thy doinges such successe thou maist fynde,
That thinges may chaunce thee after thy minde. My brother, thou have ought else for say,
Speake on, that departe hence away.
Perverse Doctrine. Great thankes for your councel, and yee chaunce go thyther,
You may meete with Ignorance,
Hypocrisie. Farewel shall even anon.
hasten him hyther. here, you shall see [Exit
Perverse Doctrine. Alacke, alacke, now my good
gon, Whose presence enjoye
Than any thing whatsoever Good occasion have suche
sister
more pleasant unto mee,
the worlde coulde bee sister embrace,
For her means lyve and enjoye this place.
by
all
I
I be
to
to
of
is
to I in
-
I it
if
in
all
or if
to I a of so
is he us if
ainto intoof
beto
at is
to
of
I,
to
in
all as a
in
sc. II. ]
NEW CUSTOM E. 289
Which yet I possesse as longe as I may,
And have heretofore many a faire day.
For since these newe heretickes, the devill take them all, In corners began barke and ball
At the catholike faith, and the olde religion,
Making them bothe but matters derision; Hypocrisie hath helped every neede,
That but for her, hardly were wee lyke for speede. For our case never nye driven the worst,
Through her meanes some meane take place the first:
Yet some meanes doth shee finde, some meanes the length,
That her waies prevaile, and her matters get strength. Shee can finde out thousand guyles trice,
For every purpose newe strong devise.
No matter difficile for man find out,
make,
And th’ others greate peryll and moode for And fine, muche matter fewe woordes
She can finde out cloke for every rayne”. What person there that beareth more swaie
daungerous, person stowt,
No businesse
But th’ one she able solucion
maner matters this present daye Throughout the whole world, though symple degree,
And small power sight shee seeme for bee?
lyfe, Then shall you perceive that Hypocrisie rife
Consider trades and condicions
To kinde men, and every age,
So farre their yeeres them therein may geve know ledge:
Lo, here Who list
large fielde, where length hee may walke, this matter the full for talke.
To declare
But may not about suche small pointes now stande,
what power, and what efficacie, In every age, countrey and time Hypocrisie.
The affaires they
She can finde out
mantillo ogni acqua. vo L.
greater that have hande.
cloke for every rayne] Proverb. Tu-hai S. -
slake. containe,
I,di a
ofa of
as
all
so
U
- 19
I
In
all of all in of
be all of
I A
of of to
by to of
to
of
of is
so
do
be ais to
aa
byso
so
to
at
of
at
a in
at
noto
is of
in is soa
to
in
to
to to no
at at
to
at
290 NEW CuSTOME,
[ACT II.
Ignorance is the cause that I so longe tarie heere,
And beholde where the blinde bussard doth appeere. Come on, thou grosse headed knave, thou whoroson
asse, I say,
Where hast thou ben sence wee departed to-day? Enter IGNo RA UN CE.
Ignoraunce. Where have I ben, quod you? mary even there I was,
Whereas I would have geven an hundred pounde, by the Masse,
To have ben here; for never sence the day I was borne Was I so neere hande in peeces for to have ben torne. For as I was going up and downe in the streete,
To see if I coulde with Hypocrisie meete,
Beeholde afarre of I began to espie
That heretike New Custome, with another in his com anle.
As oo:: as they sawe mee, they hyde them apace Came towardes, and met mee full in the face.
I am glad wee have founde you then, quod this heretike
knave,
-
For you, and your fellowe, this day sought wee have
In every place, and now cannot you flie;
And with these woordes both they came very nie.
Whereat I so feared, I may tell you playne,
That I thought at that howre I should have ben slayne.
This is he, quod the varlet, of whom I tolde you of late,
An enemie of the trewth, and incensed with hate
Against God and his Churche, and an impe of Hypo
crisie,
A foe to the gospell, and to trewe divinitie.
Thou lyest, heritique, quod I, and naught elles coulde
I say,
But brake quickely from-them, and hither came away.
Perverse Doctrine. Who is hee that was with him,
Simplicitie, canst thou tell ?
Ignoraunce. Not I sure, but some call him the light
of the Gospell.
A good personable fellowe, and in countenaunce so
bright,
That I coulde not beholde him in the visage aright.
-
sc. II. ]
NEW CUSTOME, 291
Perverse Doctrine. Goddes preciouse woundes, that slave! marie fie on him, fie
Body of our Lorde, is he come into the countrye?
I thinke the heretiques the worlde have taken hande,
By some solemne othe pester this lande,
With their wicked scismes, and abhominable sectes,
Now vengeance them all, and the devyll breake their neckes.
Light the Gospell light straw; yet what ever hee bee,
wold hee were hanged hie can see.
Ignoraunce. What, have you hearde him before this
Perverse Doctrine. Heard often wis.
there any the worlde,
- him? yee, that have
this horeson theefe,
Beleeve me, Simplicitie, that will worke the mis chiefe.
Hath that same new Jack gotte him suche mate Now with all my heart pestilence his pate.
woulde they were both hanged fairely together,
Or elles were the devill, care not muche whether. For since these Genevian doctours came so fast into
this lande,
Since that time was never merie with Englande.
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
is
to
of
a
all
*iftoto itat
be
I
I
I
on
in
is
is on
as a I
I If I
I itofof
a
2
I
in
in
a to
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
I
as I
by
I
of
or
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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