<2The players'names>2 The Merchant The Knight The Plowman The Philosopher |p <2OF GENTYLNES AND NOBYLYTE A DYALOGE BETWEN THE>2 <2MARCHA UNT, THE KNYGHT AND THE PLOWMAN, dysputyng who>2 <2is a verey gentylman and who is a noble man and how men shuld come to>2 <2auctoryte, compilid in maner of an enterlude with divers toys and gestis addyd therto>2 <2to make mery pastyme and disport.>2 <2The Marchaunt>2 0 what a gret welth and prosperyte It is to any reme where marchauntes be, Havyng fre lyberte and entercours also All marchaundyse to convey to and fro, Whych thyng I have usyd and the verey fet found And thereby gotton many a thousand pownd. Wherfore now because of my grete ryches, Thoroughowt this land in every place doutles I am magnyfyed and gretly regardyd, And for a wyse and noble man estemyd. <2[Enter the knight]>2 <2The Knyght>2 Maister marchaunt, I here you ryght well. But now in presumpsion me thynk ye excell To call your self noble in presence here Iwys men know what your auncestours were And of what grete stok descendid ye be Your fadyr was but a blake smyth, perde. <2Marchaunt>2 Why syr, what than? What be you, I pray you? <2Knyght>2 Mary, I am a gentylman, I wold ye knew, And may dyspend yerely five hundred mark land; And I am sure all that ye have in hand Of yerely rent is not worth five markys <2Marchaunt>2 But I wold thou knewist it, for all thy krakkys, I am able to bye now all the land That thou hast, and pay for it owt of hand; Whych I have got by myn own labour and wit, And that whych thou hast, thyn awncestors left it. <2Knyght>2 Yet art thou but a chorle, and I have skorn Thou shuldist compare with me, a gentylman born. <2Marchaunt>2 Why, what callyst thou a gentylman, tel me? |p <2Knyght>2 Mary, I call them gentylmen that be Born to grete landys by inhe As myn auncestours by contynuaunce Have had this five hundred yere, of whom now I Am desendid and commyn lynyally, Beryng the same name and armys also That they bare this five hundred yere agoo. Myn auncestours also have ever be Lordys, knyghtes, and in grete auctoryte, Capteyns in the warr and governers And also in tyme of pease gret rulers, And thyn were never but artyfycers, As smythys, masonys, carpenters or wevars. <2Marchaunt>2 All that is trewth I wyl not denye now, Yet I am more gentylman born than thou, For I call hym a gentylman that gentilly Doth gyf unto other men lovyngly Such thing as he hath of hys own proper. But he that takith ought away from another, And doth gyf hym no thyng agayn therfore, Owght to be callyd a chorll evermore. But myn auncestours have giffyn alwey To thyn auncestours such thyng as they By their labours did trewly get and For myn auncestours bildid howsis wher'ein Thyne auncestours have had their dwellyng place. Also myn auncestours have made tolis To all maner crafti men belongyng, Wherby clothis and every other thyng Whereof thyn auncestours nede have had With the same tolys have ever be made. So myn auncestours have gyffin their labours Ever to comfort and help thyn auncestours. <2Knyght>2 I denye that ever thauncestours of thyne Did ever gif to the auncestours of myne At any tyme any thyng except that they Gaf somewhat therfor, other ware or money. <2Marchaunt>2 Mary, God a mercy, John, for that now -- That is evyn a pyg of our own sow How can lordys and estatis have ought in store Except thartyfycers do get it before? For all metalls be dyggyd furst by myners And after wrought by the artyfycers Woll, fell, and every other thyng That is necessary to mannys coveryng And all other thyngis that men use and were Is alwey made by the artyfycer. |p <2Knyght>2 I graunt that the artyfycers do make it, But because comenly they have lytell wyt, Gentylmen that have landys and domynyon Of all such ryches have most possessyon. For reason wyll ever it shuld so be Wyse men to have folys in captyvyte. <2Marchaunt>2 Mary, as for wyt and subtell invencyon, Myne auncestours wyth thine may make comparison. For though my fader were a smyth, what than? Yet was he a mervelous quyk wyttyd man, And coud work as well for hys part As any in this land usyng that art, And devyse new fassyons in thynges that he made, That every man to bye hys ware was glad; And carve and grave in yron and stele Both image and letters mervelously wele, And ther on ley gold, and gylt it also Fyne and pure as any gold smyth coud do. My grauntfader also was a mason Of grete wyt as any in thys regyon And coud byld a castell and tour ryght well, In whych some of thy kynnysmen now do dwell, Wherein aperyth ryght good masonry Wyth immagys and armys wrought curyously. My grete graundfadyr, lo, was a wever Of wollyn yarn and of other gere, And made mervelous pleasaunt workis to behold: Lynyn, dyaper, sylk, and cloth of gold, All such subtell thyngis as I have rehersyd, lo, Myne auncestours by theyr wyttis coud work and do. And as for thyne auncestours, I know no thyng Thei coud do bi their wittis worth of praisyng But use, occupi, and wast evermore Such thyngis as myn auncestours made before And thou and thine auncestours, having thoccupacion Of such thingis wrought bi the operacion Of other men, oughtist not be praysed therfore; But the prayse ought to be gyven ever more To the artyfycer, whych by hys wyt It devysyd and so connyngly wrought it Wherefore, yf thou sey that wyt and polesy Be the thynges perteynyng to gentry, Thyn auncestours may never compare wyth mine, For theyr actys prove them wyser than thyne. For thyn dyd never no thyng in theyr days Concernyng quyk wyt that was worthy prays. |p <2Knyght>2 Yes, iwis, lewd Javell, I wold thou knewist it Myn auncestours have had more wysedome and wyt Than thyne have had and coud do also Many thynges that thyne coud never do. For in the contrey at sessyons and syse They have be electe to be justyce, And, for theyer wyt and grete dyscressyon, They have juggyd and donne correccyon Uppon thyne auncestous - artyfycers That have made false warys and ben dysseyvers -- And holpe for to maynteyn every thynge That ys to the comyn welth perteynyng. They have ben also in tyme of warr Both in thys land and other contreys farr Dukys and leders of the hole army And, by theire wyttis and warly polycy, Study, forecast, and dilygent travayle Have won many a grete fyld and batayle. And thyne auncestours that were there Were never able to bere shyld nor spere, And were never but soldyars and pyoners, Nor never had wysdome to be rulers. But because myn auncestours have ever be Dyscrete and wyse, they have had auctoryte <2Marchaunt>2 Nay, nay, thyne auncestours cam never al To auctoryte for wysdome princypall, For though some were wise, yet some of them agayn Had small discression, lyttyll wyt or brayn. But because of the long contynuaunce Of theyr grete possessions by enherytaunce, By the folysh maner of the worlde, we see For that cause ever they have had auctorite- <2Knyght>2 And I say that good reason agreth to it For though the fader have no grete wyt, The sone that is wyse shuld never the more Lose hys land or auctoryte therfore. For he that by study, dylygens, and payn, Grete landys or possessyons doth attayn, Hys owne lyfe is to shorte and to lyte For to take the frute of his meryte. Reason wolde therfore that after hys lyfe Hys heyrs before straungers have prerogatyfe. |p And the contynuaunce of such possessyons Makyth noble men and gentyll condycyons, And they whos blode hath long contynued, As gentylmen so they shuld be honoured And so myn auncestours long tyme have be Grete possyssyoners and in auctoryte. Therefore consyderyng my grete lynage My blode, my noble byrth and parentage, Thou art not able to compare with me Nother in gentylnes nor in nobylyte. <2Here the Plouman commith in with a short whyp in>2 <2hys hand and spehyth as folowith.:>2 <2Plowman>2 Now here is bybbyll babbyll, clytter clatter. I hard never of so folysh a matter But by Goddys body, to speke the troth, I am better than other of you bothe. <2Knyght>2 Avaunt, kankerde chorle. fro whens commyst thou? <2Plowman>2 Mary, folysh pevysh daw, even fro my plow How sayst, woldyst any thyng therewithall? <2Marchaunt>2 Ye, mary, thou lewyd vyllayn and rud raskall. It is for the full yll besemyng To perturb any gentylmens talkyng <2Plowman>2 Gentylmen. ye gentyl men? Jak Heryng. Put your shone in your bosome for weryng. I accompt my self by Goddys body Better than you bothe and more worthy. <2Knyght>2 Avaunt, knave, get the out of the gate, Or I shall lay my sworde on thy pate <2Plowman>2 That shall I prove, I make God avow, Never in better tyme - have at the now. <2Et verberat eos.>2 <2Marchaunt>2 Now holde thy hand, felow, I the pray, And harkyn what I shall to the say. <2Plowman>2 Sey, knave, say what canst sey? <2Marchaunt>2 Holde thy hand, I pray the, and com no narr-- I am a marchaunt and no man of warr <2Knyght>2 Thou art not honest, I tell the playnly, To make any quarrel here so sodaynly To perturb our communycacyon. <2Plowman>2 Here ye may se, syrs, by Goddys passyon, Two proude folys make a crakkyng, And when it commyth to poynt, dare do no thyng. |p <2Marchaunt>2 Our commyng hyder and our entent Ys not to fyght but by way of argument Every man to shew hys oppinyon, To see who coude shew the best reason To prove hym self noble and most gentylman <2Plowman>2 By God, all the reasons syth ye began, That ye have made therof, be not worth a fly. <2Knyght>2 No, syr? I pray the than, tell me why? <2Plowman>2 Furst, as touchyng noblenes, I say Ther is nother of you both dyd prove or lay Ony of your actys, wherby that ye Shulde in reason prove you noble to be, Or therby deserve any maner praysyng. But all the effect of your arguyng To prove your noblenes was but only Of the deddys and actys of your auncestry. And of the actys that your auncestours did before. Ye ar the nobler never the more. <2Knyght>2 As touchyng my self, I dare make comparison Of as noble dedys as he hath any done, For I am and have ben one of the chevalry At the commaundement of my prynce ever redy, And every tyme of warr have be captayn And leder of a thousand men or twayne, And with hors and harnes, spere and sheld, Have jopardyd my body in every felde. And rentis of my landys have spende lyberally, And kepte a grete house contynually, And holp to ponyssh thevys and brybers alwey, To the grete tranquylyte of my contray And you, maister Marchaunt, wyl never take labour, Except it be for your proffet and lucoure. <2Plowman>2 Go to, go to, now master marchaunt, There is a reason that gyvyth you a taunt, I trow, more than you can answere well. <2Marchaunt>2 Nay, iwys, pyvysh and rude Jak Javell, I can make an answere so substancyally Wherto nother of you is able to reply. <2Knyght>2 If thou canst answere my reason, do. <2Merchaunt>2 That can I well doo <2Plowman>2 Then go to, fole, go to. <2Marchaunt>2 I say the comyn well of every land In fete of marchauntdyse doth pryncypally stand, For if our commoditees be utteryd for nought In to strange landis, and no ryches brought |p Hydyr therfore, we shuld come to beggary, And all men dryffyn to lyf in mysery. Then we noble marchauntis that in this reame be, What a grete welth to thys land do we: We utter our warys and by theyrs good chepe, And bryng them hyder, that grete proffet And pleasure dayly commyth to this regyon Too all maner people that here do won Forthermore, ye see well with youre eyes, That of straynge landis the commodytees -- We have such nede of them that be there-- That in no wyse we may them forbere As oyle, sylkis, frutis, and spyces also, Golde, sylver, yryn and other metallis moo, All drammys and druggys longyng to physyke, Whych men must nedes have when they be seke, Whych in thys reame can not well grow -- Our contrey is to colde and not hote inow-- Without whych thyngis we shulde lyfe in mysery, And oft tymes for lak of them we shulde dye. And I spende my studi and labour contynually And cause such thyngis to come hyder dayly For the comfort of thys land and commen welth, And to all the people grete proffet and helth. And for such noble dedys, reason wyll than That I ought to be callyd a noble man, And nother of you both that here now be In noblenes may accompare with me. <2Plowman>2 Now well hit! by Goddes body, well hit Of one that hath but lyttyll wyt! Answere me one worde furst, I pray the: What is the noblest thynge that can be? <2Knyght>2 What saist thou therto thi self, let see? <2Plowman>2 Is not that the noblyst thyng in dede That of all other thyngis hath lest nede, As God which reynith etern in blysse? Is not he the noblest thyng that is? <2Knyght>2 Yes, mary, no man in reason can that deny. <2Plowman>2 Well than, there is no reason therof why But because he is the thyng omnipotent, And is in him self so suffycyent, And nedyth the helpe of no nothyr thyng To the helpe of hys gloryous beyng; But every other thyng hath nede of his ayde. |p <2Milrchaunt>2 Mary, that is very trough and well sayde <2Plowman>2 And lykwyse that thynge that hath most nede Is the thyng that is most wreched. So, suffycyency is ever noblenes, And necessyte is ever wrechydnes, And he, that hath more nede of that thyng For the preservacyon of hys lyvyng Then his felow hath, his felow must nedys be By thys same reason more noble than he <2Knyght>2 What than? <2Plowman>2 By the same reason, it provith, lo, Ye be but caytyffys and wrechis, both two. And by the same reason prove I shall That I am the noblyst man of us all. For I have nede of no maner thyng That ye can do to help of my lyffyng For every thyng whereby ye do I noryssh it and to you both do gyf, I plow, I tyll, and I ster the ground, Wherby 1 make the corn to habounde, Whereof ther is made both drynk and bred, Wyth the which dayly ye must nedis be fed. I noryssh the catell and fowlys also, Fyssh and herbis, and other thyngis mo. Fell, herr, and woll, whych the bestis do bere, I noryssh and preserve, which ye do were, Which yf ye had not, no dowt ye shuld Starve for lak of clothis, because of colde. So both you shulde die or lyve in necessite, If ye had not comfort and help of me. And as for your fyne cloth and costly aray. I cannot see whi ye ought or mai Call your self noble because ye were it, Which was made bi other menis labour and wit. And also your dilicate drinkis and viand Bi other menis labours be made so pleasand. Therefore, mayster marchaunt, now to you I sei, I can not see but I am able, and mai Lyf wythout you or your purveaunce, For of fode and cloth I have suffisaunce Of my self for lyffing necessary And now, sir Knyght, to you I sey playnly, I see not that ye can any thyng do For the commyn well, or ought longyng ther to. But ech man, beyng in auctoryte, Havyng wit, may do it as well as ye Therfore, to spek now of necessyte, Ther is nother of you both but ye be |p In more nede than I; therfore I sey playn, I am more noble than other of you twayn. <2[Marchaunt]>2 Now that is a folysh reason, so God me save, For by the same reason, thou woldyst have Everi best, fyssh, and other foule than To be more noble of birth than a man. For man hath more nede of bodely coveryng Than they have, for they nede no thinge The bestis have herr and also a thik skin, The fissh, skalis or shells to kepe theyr bodyes in, The foulis, fethirs, and so everi thing Bi nature hath his proper covering, Save man him self, which is born all nakyd, And therfore he shuld be than most wrechyd. <2Plowman>2 Mary, no man can make a better reason, For that is a sure and a trew conclusyon. For if a child, when he is furst born, Were not holp and coveryd, he were sone lorn. He hath no strenght to help hym never a dell, Yet bestis have power to help them self well. So, consideryng manns body; in dede A best is more noble, and man more wrechyd, Because he hath nede of many mo thyngis Than bestis have to help of theyer lyffyngis. Also, man must dayly labour and swete, To get hym sustynaunce, as drynk and mete; The grownd he must dyg, and the bestis kyll, For brede and mete his bodi to fyll, Grapis, frutis, and herbis norssh dyligently To make good drynkis to refressh his body. But all brut bestis have coveryng natural, Sufficyent to cover their bodyes with all, And fynd theyr fode ever on the grownd redy Without any payn, labour or study. So everi man, by reason of hys body, Is more wrechyd and in more mysery Than bestis be. Yet this not wythstandyng, Man is most noble of creaturys lyvyng, Not by hys body, for that i-s impotent, But by hys soule, beyng so excellent. For, by reason of hys soule intyllectyve, He subdewyth all other bestis alyve, And compellyth all other bestis that be, By hys wit, to releve his necessyte. But bestis have no wyt them self to defende, Nor can get no more than God hath them-send. For take any best that weryth heer, And do clyp it of bare agayns wynter; |p That best hath no maner of polecy To get other coveryng for hys body Of cloth nor skyns, nor hath no wyt To put it uppon hym thaugh one have made it, Nor can byld no house nor kyndyl no fyre To warme hys body yf nede shuld requyre. But yet a man hath wyt and understandyng, For to help hym self in every such thyng. So man for his soule intellectuall Is most noble creature of bestis all. <2Marchaunt>2 That is a verey good and pregnant reason, Yet me thynkith thou makist a degression From the argument that we furst began, Which was to prove who was most gentylman, Whych we disputyd. I wold thou haddist hard it. <2Plowman>2 Tussh, I hard what ye seyd everi whit. <2Knyght>2 Then shew thy reason therin or thou go <2Plowman>2 Nay, be God, I have some what ells to do. I must go by me a halporth of gresse, The spokes of my cart therwith to dresse. Trowe ye that I wyll leve my bysynes For your babelyng pomp and folysshnes? Nay, by Sent Mary, I wyll not do so, For I can now to the merket goo And for an halpeny as much gresse by As shall cost me in our town a peny. And I tell the playnly without any bost A halpeny is as well savid as lost. <2Marchaunt>2 Straw for an halpeny. therin is no wast. Tary with us a while, perhapps thou mast By our acquayntaunce now here get more Than thou gatist with thi cart this monyth before. <2Plowman>2 Straw for thi councell, torde, a fart Trowist I will gyf up my plow or cart And folow thy folish appityte and mynde? Nay, I am not yet so mad nor so blynd. For when I am at my cart o I am more meryer than other of you. I wold not chaunge my lyf nor my lyffyng For to be made a grete lorde or a kyng There is no joy nor pleasure in this world here But hyll bely, fill bely, and make good chere Be it prynce, lorde, gentilman, or knave, Hit is all the joy that here he can have. But these covetous and ambicious wretches, They set there myndys in honoure and ryches |p So much, that they be never content; So they lyf ever in payn and torment. But a man that can this meanys fynd, To have fode and cloth and a mery mynde, And to desyre no more than is nedefull-- That is in this worlde the lyf most joyfull; Which lyfe in this worlde no man shall acquire Tyll he subdew his insaciat desyre. <2Marchaunt>2 I see well thou hast a curst apysh wit Then yf thow wylt depart, I pray the, yet Come agayn when thy bisines is doo <2Plowman>2 For what intent now shuld I do so? <2Marchaunt>2 For we will in oure olde argument prosede: Who shulde be callyd a gentylman in dede, And we wolde be glade to here thy reason. <2Plowman>2 I wyll come agayn uppon a condicion That ye wyll wayt uppon me both twayn, And be not out of the way when I come agayn <2Knyght>2 We wyll not be farr hens. <2Plowman>2 Then I wil not fayle. <2Marchaunt>2 Then I pray the let not thi promyse quaile. <2Plowman>2 Lo, here is my fynger, now trust me well. I will come agayn yf I have my hele, For, by God, I promyse you one thyng I am as trew of my worde as the kyng. But if I fynde you not here, then, by my trough, I shall call you oppenly false knavys both <2Marchaunt>2 Thou shalt fynde us trew in every thyng <2Plowman>2 I thynk so, except lyeng and stelyng. <2Knyght>2 Then farwell for a season, a dew. <2Plowman>2 Then fare ye well both - 1 dare say, as trew As some that be tyede at a post in Newgate. <2[Exit]>2 <2Marchaunt>2 Well, now he is gone, God sped well his gate. But what shall we do now the meane season? <2Knyght>2 Let us take now some recreacyon, And come agayne here and kepe our poyntment. <2Marchaunt>2 Now therto I am ryght well content, And in the meayn wyle, good Lord, of thy grace Preserve all the people here in this place. Amen. <2Finis prime partis [Exeunt]>2 |p <2Secunda Pars>2 <2[Enter] The Plouman>2 <2Plowman>2 Here I may walk and wander to and fro, But 1 se not them whych 1 wold speke to <2[Enter the Merchant and the Knight]>2 <2Marchaunt>2 Yes, by the rode, here we be both twayn, To whom thou dydyst promys to mete here agayn To dyspute the questyon that we began Whych of us coud prove hym most gentylman. <2Knyght>2 Thou seydyst thou hardyst our argumentes all. <2Plowman>2 So dyd I nother good nor substancyall, For thy folyssh and pyvyssh oppynyon Was, because of the grete domynyon Of the landis and rentis wher to thou wast bore, Whych thyn auncestours had long tyme before, Thou thynkyst thy self a gentylman to be, And that is a folyssh reason, semyth me. For when Adam dolf and Eve span, Who was then a gentylman? But then cam the churll and gederyd good, And ther began furst the gentyll blod. And I thynk verely ye do beleve That we cam all of Adam and Eve. Then, to speke by reason, grete possessions Make no gentylmen but gentyl condycyons. That is the cause and best reason why One shuld be callyd a gentylman truly. And forthermor mark well this reason then: If a mannis auncestours have be gentylmen And verteous and good to commyn well, That ought to be reputyd never a dell To the prayse of the chyld whych doth refuse Such good condycyons and the contrary use. But he ought to be dyspraysyd the more Because hys auncestours hath shewid hym before A precedent of gentylnes and vertew, Whych good example he doth For the gentylnes of hys blode cler[l]y In hym doth decay and utterly dye So he that usyth condycyons verteous, Though that hys auncestours were vycyous, Ought not to be dyspraysyd therfore, But ought to be honoryd and praysyd the more. <2Knyght>2 Yet me thynkyth more honor shulde be gyffyn To hym whych ys of noble blood and kyn. |p <2Plowman>2 Then yf thou wylt loke honoured to be Because of thy blod, then mark well and see The vylyst beggar that goth by the dore-- Had ye not both one God and creature? Ye cam of one furst stock and progenye, Both of Adam and Eve, ye wyll not denye The beggar and thou wer both, dowtles, Conseyvyd and born in fylth and unclennes. Thy blood and the beggars of one colour be; Thou art as apt to take seknes as he. Yf thou be in the body woundyd, Thy flessh is as yll as his to be helyd. Alas, I have knowen many or thys, So proud of theyr byrth that all theyr lyffys Wold gyf them to no labour nor lernyng, Whych brought them to myserable endyng, That in poverte wrechydly dyd dye Or fallyn to theft and hangyd therfore full hye. So I sey vertew and good condycyons than Is that whych makyth the very gentylman. And though the fadyr may bequeth to hys son Hys ryches, hys land and hys possessyon, Yet may he nother gyf nor bequeth Unto hym in no wyse after hys deth Hys vertew nor hys gentyl condycyons. They can not descend as other possessyons. And yf thou wylt be a gentylman, nedys Thou must than use vertew and gentyll dedys <2Knyght>2 Why desyre men, then, prayse evermore Of the actis of theyr auncestours done before? <2Plowman>2 One cause therof ys for lak of lernyng; They perceyve not the reason of the thyng. Another is because ther be many That call them self gentylmen unworthy, Whych lyfe voluptuously and bestyall And do no good in the world at all, But lyfe in pryde, slouth, and unthryftynes. And because they have no maner goodnes Nor properte nor vertew in them wherby Any man shulde thynk them any prayse worthy, Therfore they seke for commendacyon Of the actys that theyr auncestours have done <2Marchaunt>2 Then I mervell men desyre to be callyd Of the blode of them that excellyd In worldly honour, as kyngis and emperours, Where some were tyranttis, some were conquerours; And few desyre to be callyd of their blod, Whych have ben callyd just men, verteous and good, |p And usyd indyfferent justyce and equyte, Mekenes, abstynens or wylfull poverte. <2Plowman>2 Yf I shuld tell the the verey cause trew, It is because they love no such vertew, Whych vertew and gentyll condycyons shuld be Longyng to gentylmen of properte <2Knyght>2 If gentyl condycyons be the cause, lo, Then wyll I compare with both you two. For I have usyd ever gentyll maner, And so have myn auncestours that before were. For furst of all when thys worlde began, Long after ther were but few people, than Men had suffycyent of every thyng Wythoute gret labour for fode and clothyng All thyng was in commyn among them, doutles, But after warde, when people dyd omcrese. Ich man to increse hys pleasure and volupte Of goodis and landes desyryd properte, Wereof grete stryf and debate dyd aryse Then such as mine auncestours were that were wyse Did studi to make laws how the people myght be Lyffyng togedyr in pease and unyte, And agayns enmiys alwey defendyd The people that tyllyd the ground and laboryd. The people perseyvyng than theyr goodnes, Theyr gret wyt, dyscressyon and gentylnes, Were content to gyfe them part of the pruffet Comyng of theyr landis whych they dyd get, As corn, catell, and such thyngis as they wan But after, when that coyn of money began, They chaungid those revenuse and were content To gyfe them in money an annyell rent So for theyr good and verteous condycyons They cam furst to landis and possessyons So possessyons began and were furst found Uppon a good and resonable ground. <2Plowman>2 By Gogges swete body, thou lyest falsely; All possessions began furst of tyrann For when people began furst to encrese, Some gafe them self all to idylnes And wold not labour, but take by vyolence That other men gat by labour and dylygence, Than they that labouryd were fayne to gyfe Them part of theyr gettingis in peas to lyfe, Or elles, for theyr landis, money a porcyon. So possessyons began by extorcyon. |p And when such extorsyoners had oppressyd The labouryng people, than they ordeynyd And made laws mervelous strayte and hard, That theyr heyrys myght injoy it afterward. So the law of inherytaunce was furst begon, Whych is a thyng agayns all good reason That any inherytaunce in the world shuld be. <2Knyght>2 That is a shamefull opynyon, semyth me, For when I have labouryd and by grete study Gat and purcheysyd landys truly, It is good reason that I have lyberte To gyfe those landis to whom it lyketh me, Or elles to let them descend lynyally To my chyld or cosyn of my blod most nye For inherytaunce must nedys be a good thyng Because so much good therof is procedyng, Every man to hys blod such love doth bere. Because the land shall descend to hys heyre, He wyll byld theron and the land improw And make corn and grasse to encrese and grow, Graft frute, set trees, and norysh tymber And to incresse fyssh make pondys wyth water, Stok busshis and wedes whych dystroy herbage, And all baren ground bryng to tyllage, And amend the hye wayes that be ther about, And do many other good dedis, no dowt, For the profet of hys heyrys that shalbe, And for the commyn welth of his countre Which thyngis surely he wold never intend, Yf the land shuld not to hys heyre descend. <2Plowman>2 By thy reason no nothyr thyng is ment But a good dede uppon an yvell intent. When men for love or pryd do such good dedis, The dyvell therfore shall quyt them theyr medys. <2Knyght>2 Whyder God or the devyll quyt them therfore, Is now to our purpose never the more, For theyr myndys and intentis no man can tell But touchyng inherytaunce, thys I wot well, Much good commyth therof and dayli doth grow <2Plowman>2 Nay, mych ill commyth therof, I shall prove how For these men that be of gret possessyons Unto theyr blod have such affeccyons, Yf any land lyke them that lyeth nye them Of theyr pore neghbors, they wyll distroy them Or by extort meanys they wyll them compell The land for half the worth to them to sell. |p And when they lake money they wyl alwey Ever borow and never wyllyng to pay. And when they shall dye ye see thexperience: Few of them have remors of consyens To make any maner restytucyon Of any land so wrongfully gotton <2Knyght>2 Thou hast spoke sore agayns gentylmen, But what seyst thou of marchaundis then? <2Plowman>2 Many be go And many charitable dedis they do- Byld churchys and amend the hye ways, Make almyshowsys and help many decays. But sorne be covetous, and full falsely Get theyr goodis by dysseyt and usury, And when they have a thousand pound in theyr cofers, They wyll rathyr suffer theyr neyghbers To sterve for hunger and cold and to dye Or they wyll gyfe to help them a peny. And yet, more over, when any of them be Promotyd to rule or auctoryte, They dysddyn all lernyng law and reason, And jugge all by wyll and affeccyon. <2Marchaunt>2 Thou art but a rayler, to speke so sore Agayne gentylmen and marchauntis evermore Be not plowmen and other that dryfe the cart And such rusticall felows as thou art Fals shrews, and lyfe as vycyously also As gentylmen of landis and marchauntis do? <2Knyght>2 Yes, this vylleyn carters almost echon Have nother conscyens nor devocyon, For brybe and stele every thyng they wyll, If they may secretly come theruntyll. And as for prayer and dyvyne servyce, They love them in no maner wyse, Nor nevyr wolde labour nor work do If nede of lyffyng drofe them not therto <2Plowman>2 Yet gentylmen and the rych marchauntis that be Use mych more vyce and iniquyte <2Marchaunt>2 Why, thynkyst all marchauntis and gentylmen nought? <2Plowman>2 Nay, I sey not so, that is not my thought I am not yet so folysh nor so mad, For I know many good thougfl some be bad Yet some wyll suffer hys dettis unpayd to be And dye and jeopard hys soule, rather than he |p Wyll any of hys landys mynysh and empayre, That shuld after hys deth come to hys heyre And some of them so proud be of theyre blod And use small vertew and doo lytyll good, But gyfe all theyre myndys and theyre study To opprese the pore people by tyrrany And some of them thynk thys for a surete, It is the most honour to them that can be To be able for to doo extorcyon And to mayntayn it wythout punycyon. <2Knyght>2 Bi Goggis swet bodi thou art a stark knave, Noble men and gentylmen so to deprave <2Plowman>2 What, thou proud horeson fole, whom dost thou knave? I trow thou woldist a good blowe or two have Wyth a good whypstoke to tech the curtesy <2Knyght>2 Avaunt beggerly knave, I the defye. <2Plowman>2 What, wylt thou wage battell by and by now? That shall I prove strayght, I make God avowe. <2Et hic verberat eos.>2 <2Marchaunt>2 Kepe the peace, masters, hold your handys, for shame To make thys besynes ye be gretely to blame Ye wyll dysturb all thys hole company. <2Plowman>2 Nay, mary, it is a cause to make them mery, To walke such a proude foole is but sport and game <2Knyght>2 By cokkys body, were not for worldly shame, I shuld cut thy flesh or elles see thy herte blode. <2Marchaunt>2 Sir, hold your tong, your wordis be nothyng good We lose here with thys lewyd altercacyon Mych good pastyme and recreacyon <2Plowman>2 Why, what better pastyme her canst thou have, Then to here one to call an other knave And see such a proud foole walkyd with a whyp? <2Marchaunt>2 But I love it not; therfore, of felyshyp, Leve thys brablyng and with good argument Trye the matter that is most convenyent. <2Plowman>2 Nay, I wyll trye it how so ever he wyll, Be it with wordys or dedys 1 wyll answere hym styll. For, be God, yf he wyll not be content To be concludyd by good argument, I wyll conclud hym one way, or that I goo, Or I shall prove it on hys pate, that shall I doo. |p <2Knyght>2 Thow spekyst lyk a clerk that hath lyttyll wyt When a case is put, yf he can not soyle it By no maner reason that he can ley, Then wyll he answere hym thys wyse and sey, "Beware what ye sey, syr, now I advyse you' For it is treason or herysy that ye spek now, To thentent to rebuke hym opynly Before the unlernyd people that stand therby. And yf he can no colour of such thyng fynd, Then wyll he vex and chafe in hys mynd And cast owt some lewd wordis of quarelyng, To torn the hole matter to chydyng and fyghtyng, And so dost thou now lyke one that were tnad. <2Plowman>2 Nay, I wold thou knewist, thou folysh lad, I am nother mad nor dronken yet For myn oppynyon I have well provyd it By substancyall reason and argurnent, That enherytaunce is not convenyent, And shewyd better reasons than thou canst doo. <2Knyght>2 Nay, thy reasons may soone be answered unto For God defende that estates of enherytaunce Shuld be dystroyed, for by that good ordynaunce Gentylmen of landes undoutydly Brynge up theyr chyldren full honourably: Some put to the scole to lerne connynge To instruct the people in vertuous lyvynge, Some made to be actyfe in marcyall dedys, Able to defend the land when nede is, And the rustycall people that have no land Such thyngis be not able to take in hand. Wherfore yf we shuld dystroy enherytaunce, We shulde dystroy all good rule and ordynaunce. <2Plowman>2 But such men as have gret rentis and landys And no estate but terme of theyr lyvys, And every thyng theron wyll norysh and save, For the grete zele and love that they only have To the commyn welth of theyr contrey And for God sake - lo, these people be they That be worthy to have possessyons. And such people of vertuouse condycyons And no nother shuld be chosyn governours, And thei shuld have landys to maintain their honours Terme of theyr lyvys as long as they take payn For the commyn welth; thys is good reason playn. So that no man owght to have any land But such as be apt and have charge in hand |p For the commyn welth, as pryncys, and rulers, Bysshoppys, curates, prechers, and techers, Jugges, mynysters, and other offycers, That of the commyn welth be executers, And valyant men of the chyvalry, That be bounde to defende the people dayly. Such men as be apt to all such thyngis Shuld have landys to mayntayne theyr lyffyngis. So enherytaunce is not besemynge To let them have landys that can do no such thing. Nor I thynk it not resonable nother, One man to lyf by labour of an nother, For ych man is borne to labour truly, As a byrde is to fle naturally Nor a man ought not to have such lyberte To lefe landys to hys chyld, wherby that he Shall lust for to lyfe in slouth and gloteny, Compellyd to do nought but lyfe voluptuously. <2Marchaunt>2 There is alway good remedy for that: That is to compell them to do somwhat, So that ych man havyng enherytaunce Have some auctoryte and governaunce, Wherein he shulde take payne and besynes To constrayn hym to eschew idelnes <2Plowman>2 Then thys grete myschef shuld folow of hit Oft tymes they shuld rule that have lyttyll wyt Or disposyd to be proud and covetous Or to lyfe after theyr lustis voluptuous. Which, yf such men had auctoryte, Many thyngis no dowte mys orderyd shuld be: Where justyce shuld be, there wold be tyranny, Where peas shuld be, warr, debat and envy. So there is no good reason that I can se To prove that any enherytaunce shuld be. <2Knyght>2 Yes, that shall I prove by good auctoryte, For rede in the byble and thou shalt therin see, God sayd to Abraham, <2"tibi dabo>2 <2Terram hanc et semine tuo.,>2 Whych is as much to say, to expounde yt trew, 'I shall gyfe thys land to the and thyn yssew' Here is a good prove that it was Goddes wyll That Abraham and his blode shulde continew styl As possessyoners and have the governaunce Of that lande as theyr propre enherytaunce. |p <2Plowman>2 Thou answerest me now even lyke a fole, As some of these fonde clarkes that go to scole When one putteth to them a subtyll questyon Of phylozophy to be provyde by reason, Whan they have all theyr wyttes and reason spende And can not tell how theyr parte to defende, Than they wyll aledge some auctoryte Of the lawes or elles of devynite, Whiche in no wyse men may denye And yet ye knowe well that of phylozophy The pryncyples oft contraryant be Unto the very groundys of devynite For the phylozophers agre here unto. <2Quod mundus fuit semper ab eterno,>2 And devynys: <2quod in principio omnium>2 <2Creavit deus terram et celum>2 But thou dydest promyse openly, eyen now, Onely by naturall reason to prove how That enherytaunce ought for to be had <2Marchaunt>2 By Gogges body, syrs, I holde you bothe mad Ye be lyke some woman that I knowe well, When they wolde any matter unto a man tell, They wyll tell twenty talys by the way Nothynge to purpose to the matter that they Dyd furst intend to tell and declare. And in lyke maner now both ye do fare, For ye dyspute now whytheyr enherytaunce Be a resonable thyng or a good ordynaunce, Whych is a matter no thyng perteynyng To the questyon movyd at the begynnyng For the questyon was whych of us all thre Coud prove hym selfe most gentylman to be. <2Knyght>2 As touchyng that, we have all spoke and sayd Ich man for his part as much as can be layd <2Plowman>2 Nay, I have yet reasons laft wherby I can Prove my selfe of us all most gen That nother of you both can voyde by reason <2Marchaunt>2 If thou have ought elles to say, now speke on. <2Plowman>2 Then to you both, answer me thys short clause: ls not gentyll condycyons the most princypall cause To make one to be a gentylman? <2Knyght>2 Paradventure it may be so, what than? <2[Plowman]>2 'Paradventure,' quod'a Nay, I shall prove that by examples many on: For musyke makyth one a musycyon, |p Grammer to be good gramareon, And also geomytry a good geometrycyon, And chorlysh condycyons a chorle for to be, And so of every other estate and degre. And where gentyll condycyons be, doutles, In any person there is gentyllnes. Than as vertew makyth a good man, So gentyl condycyons, a gentylman <2Marchaunt>2 All those poyntys I thynk must nedys grauntyd be. What arguyst more therof, forth let us see. <2Plowman>2 How seyst than to pryde, wrath, and envy? <2Knyght>2 They be nought and evyll, I thynk verely <2Plowman>2 What is mekenes, pacyens, and charyte? <2Knyght>2 Everychone a gentyll and good properte. <2Plowman>2 What is covetous and lyberalyte? <2Knyght>2 The furst good, the other nought, for surete. <2Plowman>2 What is gloteny, sloth, and lechery? <2Knyght>2 They be nought all, who can that deny? <2Plowman>2 What abstynens, good besynes, and chastyte? <2Knyght>2 Verteous and gentyll propertees they be. <2Plowman>2 Syth ye have grauntyd thys, I shall prove playn I am a gentylman, so is none of you twayn. Furst, for pryde, your rayment shewyth what ye be, For ye wyll never be content except that ye Have the fynest cloth and sylke for to were Of oryent colours, and all your gere So costly; your housys gylt gloryously, As though ye wold therin your self deyfy. Ye covet evermore goodis, landis, and rent; What so ever ye get, yet never content. Wrathfull, ye be movyd to anger anon, And envyous, dysdaynyng every man And as for me, I am content alwey Wyth a pore cotage and symple aray. I dysdayn no man and yet pacyently Can suffer to be callyd knave and not angry; Somtyme I call hym knave agayn in hast, And when I have sayd, my anger is past. Ye have your beddys so pleasaunt and soft, Wherein ye ease your self to long and to oft, Whych makyth your bodyes so tender to be What ye can not endure labour lyke me. |p Wyth no maner course fode ye wyll be fede, But wyth pleasand wynys and most whytest brede, Wyth flesh and fysh most dylycate and fat, All frutis and spyces that can be gat. And when ye have had such pleasaunt refeccyons, To aswage your carnall insurreccyons, What so ever she be - wyfe, wedow or mayde---- If she come in the way, she shalbe assayd. <2Marchaunt>2 Thou liest, sklanderours chorle, for I think of troth Thou usyst sych vyse more then we both <2Plowman>2 Nay, by cokkys body, I use no sych lyfe, For 1 am content wyth blak Maud my wyfe. Trow ye that I care for these nise proude primmys, These paintyd popagays that hold up their chynnys And loke so smoterly, as who say they wold Have every man woo them that doth them behold? Tote, man, for all sych venerall werk As good is the foule as the fayre in the derk. <2Knyght>2 Thou sayst trew -- drafe is good inough for swyne. <2Plowman>2 Yet thou answerest to no reson of myne. <2Knyght>2 Thy reasons all, ryght well answere I can, For I sey it becommeth a noble man To have rych apparell and clothyng And goodly housys of costly byldyng, And that ych man accordyng to hys degre Be knowyn from other and what they be For yf such costly thyngis were not made, Work for pore peple coud never be hade And many folkys than shuld fall to idylnes, Whych is the moder of vyce and wrechydnes. <2Plowman>2 Ye, but I delyte noo sych vanytese worldly. I delyte nother in sloth nor gloteny. I dyg and delfe and labour for my lyvyng, Never ydyll but somwhat ever doyng. Dayly I ren and go bere, swete and swynk, I ete broun brede and drynk small drynk, Content with cours mete, what so ever it be, So it quench the hunger, it suffysyth me. These poyntes I use wych I have rehersyd now---- Be not these gentyl condycyons I pray you? <2Marchaunt>2 If thou use them, nede compellyth the therto, For if thou coudist, hardli thou woldist other wise do <2Plowman>2 What I wold doo then ye can not tell It is not to purpose, but thys I wot well: |p Syth that I use my lyfe in such good maner Whyth such gentyll condycyons expressyd here, More then ye both do, styll contynuyng, And syth that gentyll condycyons is the thyng To make a gentylman, the cause pryncypall, Wherin I use my lyfe most of us all, Who can by any reason denye than But that I am of us all most gentylman? <2Knyght>2 In feyth, yf thou be a gentylman therfore, Thou art a gentylman agaynst thy wyll full sore. <2Marchaunt>2 Syth I see he standyth in his own consait so well, That opynyon we shall never expell From hym by no argument nor reason. Therfore now for a lytyll season Jet us depart from hym, I hold it best, Then we shall have wyth hym some rest. <2Knyght>2 I agre therto, for Caton sayth this- <2Contra verbosos noli contendere verbis.>2 Contend nor argu never in no matter With hym that is full of wordys and clatter. <2Marchaunt>2 Wherfore for a season let us both depart. <2Knyght>2 I am agreid therto with all myn hart <2Plowman>2 Why, syrs, than wyll ye depart and be gon? <2Marchaunt>2 Ye, that we wyll; farewel for a season For to tary here lenger we see no grete cause. <2Et exeant.>2 <2[Plowman]>2 Then fare ye well - as wyse as two dawys! And I pray God sende you such grace both twayn To be stark cokecoldys or ye come agayn Now masters, they be both gone away Therfore one worde, now harke what I sey. We see well now by playne experience When a man is set in a wylfull credens All to fortefye hys owne oppynyon, If God hym selfe wold than wyth hym reason, In effect it shall nomore avayle Than wyth a whyp to dryfe forth a snayle. Therfore no remedy is that I can see, For yvell men that be in auctoryte. But let them alone tyll God wyll send A tyme tyll our governours may intend Of all enormytees the reformacyon, And bryng in theyr handis the rod of coreccyon, |p And the reformyng of injuryes them self see, And wyll sey precysely,'thus it shall be'. For exortacyons, techyng, and prechyng, Gestyng, and raylyng, they mend no thyng. For the amendement of the world is not in me. Nor all the grete argumentes that we thre Have made syth we resonyd here togedyr Do not prevayle the weyght of a fe For the helpyng of any thyng that is amy We can not help it, then syth it so is, I wyll let the world wagg and home wyll I goo And dryf the plowgh as I was wont to do, And praye God send us peas I wyll no farr mell, Therfore, masters all, now fare ye well. <2[Exit]>2 <2Hic miles et mercator iterum intrant.>2 <2Knyght>2 Now, by my troth, I am glad that he is gon. <2Marchaunt>2 And so am I, by swete Seynt John I hard not a chorll thys sevyn yere Shew so curst reasons as he hath don here For the mayntenaunce of hys oppynyon. Yet he hys dyssevyd for all hys reason, For it is necessary that rulers be To have possessyons to mayntayn theyr degre; And those few to dryfe the multytude all Of the other people to labour to fall. For yf the rulers drof them not therto The peple wold be ydyll and nothyng doo. <2[Knyght]>2 And most reason is that governaunce Shuld come to such rulers by inherytaunce, Rather than to have them chose by eleccyon, Oft tymys by drede, mede and affeccyon, Men of evyll conscyens that grete tyrauntys be. Rede old cronyclys, the prove ye shall see. And though they hafe grete wyt and lernyng, Yet so proud they be therof, they fere nothyng, Nother God nor man, but evermore styll Without councell or advyse folow theyr own wyll. But th[e]y that by enherytaunce rulers be, Though they have no grete lernyng, yet we see Yt makyth them more ferefull and better content To folow wyse mens councell and advysement. And syth that yt hath ben so long contynuyd Enherytours to have rule, and so long usyd, And that they have rulyd by as good dyscressyon As the other that have be chose by eleccyon, If that order of rule by successyon of blode Shuld be dystroyd, it shuld doo hurte and no good. |p <2Marchaunt>2 That reason is so grete no man can debarr. Neverthelas that churllysh knave, that cartar, After hys fond oppynyon thynkyth thus Hym selfe more gentylman than any of us. <2Knyght>2 And therin he lyeth, for by experiens we see That gentyll condycyons most commenly be In them that be of noble blode borne For take twenty carters wych never were beforne Aquayntyd, let them be togyder; Take twenty straynge gentylmen in lyke maner; These churllysh carters, I dare well say, Wyll not agre togeder skant one day Without chydyng, quarellyng or fyghtyng. Ychone wyll stele from other and be pykyng And stryfe whych of them at the skot shall pay lest And indever them who can play the knave best. But these gentylmen, I warant you, wyll study Who can shew to other most curtesey And of theyr gentylnes wyll profer to pay For the other and shew what pleasurs they may. So, touchyng gentylnes, I say surely Men of grete byrth use it most commynly. <2Marchaunt>2 There can be no truer sayng nor sentence And the cause therof we see by experience, For these pore wreches that have nothyng Must be nygardys, churlysh and spayryng. But gentylmen be taught to be lyberall, And so they may be, for they have wherewithall. <2Knyght>2 And as touchyng noblenes, that argument Whych the plowman rnade late provyth evydent That gentylmen borne to land must nedys be For suffycyency of most nobylyte. For besyde Goddys gyftys of grace and of nature, As wyt and bodely stryngth, yet they be sure Of other ryches, as of land and rent, To avoyd nede, so they be more suffycyent Of them self than other pore people doutles. Then yf nede of straunge helpe cause wrechydnes, And suffysauns be cause of nobylyte, Men born to gret landys must nedys most noble be, For it is impossyble that noblenes Be in them whych lyve in nede and wrechydnes. <2Marchaunt>2 A better reasone no man can devyse. And yet, forthermore, I thynk lykewyse He that hath grete haboundaunce of ryches May use lyberalyte and gentylnes. |p And also it is ever necessary That some lyfe in welth and some in mysery. And let churllys bable and say what they wyll, Hit hath ben so ever and wyll be so styll, For it is almyghty Goddys purveaunce Wyse men of folys to have the governaunce. And they that rule well, I besech Jhesu Send them good lyfe and long to contynew. Amen <2[Enter] the Phylosopher>2 <2Phylosopher>2 Ye soferayns all, dyscrete and excellent, Before whom thys dyalog shewyd hath be, Touchyng thre poyntys by wey of argument-- Furst what is gentylnes and what nobylyte, And who shuld be chose to hye auctoryte-- Thys questyouns they be so hye and sottell Few dare presume to dyffyne them well Yet I thynk now, under your coreccyons, The thyng that makyth a gentylman to be Ys but vertew and gentyll condycyons, Whych as well in pore men oft tymes we se As in men of grete byrth or hye degre And also vycious and churlyssh condycyons May be in men born to grete possessyons. And forther, as touchyng nobylyte, Yet standyth much part I thynk doutles In suffycyencye, reason doth agre; But that suffysaunce makyng noblenes Must nedys be annexid unto goodnes, For suffysauns is not the cause pryncypall That God is noble, but hys goodnes wythall. So vertue is ever the thyng pryncypall That gentylnes and noblenes doth insue. Then these hedys, rulers, and governours all Shuld come therto be cause of theyr vertue, And in auctoryte they ought not contynue Except they be good men, dyscrete and wyse, And have a love and zele unto justyce. Wherfore, sovereyns, all that here present be, Now marke well these reasons here brought in Both agayns men of hye and of low degre for thys intent only - to rebuke syn. For the best wey that is for one to begyn To convert the people by exortacyon Ys to perswade them by naturall reason. |p For when that a man by hys owne reason Juggyth hym selfe for to offend, That grudgyth his conscyens and gyffyth compuncyon In to hys herte to cause hym amend But such blynd bestis that wyl not intend To here no good councell nor reason Ought by the law to have sharp coreccyon. But then yf the laws be not suffycyent Whych have be made and ordeynyd before To gyfe therfore condygne ponyshment, The pryncys and governours be bound evermore To cause new laws to be made therfore, And to put such men in auctoryte That good men, just and indyfferent, be. But because that men of nature evermore Be frayle and folowyng sensualyte, Yt is impossyble in a maner therfore For any governours that be in auctoryte At all tymys just and indyfferent to be, Except they be brydelyd and therto compellyd By some strayt laws for them devysyd, As thus, that no man such rome ocupye But certayn yerys and than to be removyd; Yet that whyle bound to attend dylygently, And yf he offend and surely provyd, Wythout any favour that he be ponysshyd. For the ponysshment of a juge or offycer Doth more good than of thousand other. And untyll that such orders be devysyd Substauncyally, and put in execucyon, Loke never to see the world amended Nor of the gret myschefes the reformacion. But they that be bounde to see the thynges done, I pray God of his grace put in theyr myndys To reforme shortly such thynges amys. And though that I my selfe now percase Thus myn oppynyon have publysshed, Or any of my felowes here in this place, In any poynt here have us abused, We beseche you to holde us excused And so the auctour hereof requyreth you all, And thus I commyt you to God eternall. Amen. JOHANES RASTELL ME FIERI FECIT CUM PRIVILEGIO REGALI