Roister Doister | Page 6

owne
fonde fashions That he taketh pride of false commendations. But such
sporte haue I with him as I would not leese, Though I should be bounde
to lyue with bread and cheese. For exalt hym, and haue hym as ye lust
in deede: Yea to hold his finger in a hole for a neede. I can with a
worde make him fayne or loth, I can with as much make him pleased or
wroth, I can when I will make him mery and glad, I can when me lust
make him sory and sad, I can set him in hope and eke in dispaire, I can
make him speake rough, and make him speake faire. But I maruell I see
hym not all thys same day, I wyll seeke him out: But loe he commeth
thys way, I haue yond espied hym sadly comming, And in loue for
twentie pounde, by hys glommyng.
Actus. j. Scæna. ij.

+Rafe Roister Doister. Mathew Merygreeke.+
+R. Royster.+ Come death when thou wilt, I am weary of my life.
+M. Mery.+ I tolde you I, we should wowe another wife.
+R. Royster.+ Why did God make me suche a goodly person?
+M. Mery.+ He is in by the weke, we shall haue sport anon.
+R. Royster.+ And where is my trustie friende Mathew Merygreeke?
+M. Mery.+ I wyll make as I sawe him not, he doth me seeke.
+R. Royster.+ I haue hym espyed me thinketh, yond is hee, Hough
Mathew Merygreeke my friend, a worde with thee.
+M. Mery.+ I wyll not heare him, but make as I had haste, Farewell all
my good friendes, the tyme away dothe waste, And the tide they say,
tarieth for no man.
+R. Royster.+ Thou must with thy good counsell helpe me if thou can.
+M. Mery.+ God keepe thee worshypfull Maister Roister Doister, And
fare well the lustie Maister Roister Doister.
+R. Royster.+ I muste needes speake with thee a worde or twaine.
+M. Mery.+ Within a month or two I will be here againe, Negligence in
greate affaires ye knowe may marre all.
+R. Royster.+ Attende vpon me now, and well rewarde thee I shall.
+M. Mery.+ I haue take my leaue, and the tide is well spent.
+R. Royster.+ I die except thou helpe, I pray thee be content, Doe thy
parte wel nowe, and aske what thou wilt, For without thy aide my
matter is all spilt.

+M. Mery.+ Then to serue your turne I will some paines take, And let
all myne owne affaires alone for your sake.
+R. Royster.+ My whole hope and trust resteth onely in thee.
+M. Mery.+ Then can ye not doe amisse what euer it bee.
+R. Royster.+ Gramercies Merygreeke, most bounde to thee I am.
+M. Mery.+ But vp with that heart, and speake out like a ramme, Ye
speake like a Capon that had the cough now: Bee of good cheere, anon
ye shall doe well ynow.
+R. Royster.+ Vpon thy comforte, I will all things well handle.
+M. Mery.+ So loe, that is a breast to blowe out a candle. But what is
this great matter I woulde faine knowe, We shall fynde remedie
therefore I trowe. Doe ye lacke money? ye knowe myne olde offers, Ye
haue always a key to my purse and coffers.
+R. Royster.+ I thanke thee: had euer man suche a frende?
+M. Mery.+ Ye gyue vnto me: I must needes to you lende.
+R. Royster.+ Nay I haue money plentie all things to discharge.
+M. Mery.+ That knewe I ryght well when I made offer so large.
[Handwritten note in margin of following line: R. Royster]
But it is no suche matter.
+M. Mery.+ What is it than? Are ye in daunger of debte to any man? If
ye be, take no thought nor be not afraide, Let them hardly take thought
how they shall be paide.
+R. Royster.+ Tut I owe nought.
+M. Mery.+ What then? fear ye imprisonment?

+R. Royster.+ No.
+M. Mery.+ No I wist ye offende, not so to be shent. But if he had, the
Toure coulde not you so holde, But to breake out at all times ye would
be bolde. What is it? hath any man threatned you to beate?
+R. Royster.+ What is he that durst haue put me in that heate? He that
beateth me by his armes shall well fynde, That I will not be farre from
him nor runne behinde.
+M. Mery.+ That thing knowe all men euer since ye ouerthrewe, The
fellow of the Lion which Hercules slewe. But what is it than?
+R. Royster.+ Of loue I make my mone.
+M. Mery.+ Ah this foolishe a loue, wilt neare let vs alone? But
bicause ye were refused the last day, Ye sayd ye woulde nere more