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craftsmen, and is entertained by a tailor
and a shoemaker. The wives of these
worthies, jealous of their husbands,
attack both them and her in a manner,
and with language which unmistakably
manifests their contempt for Chastity.
She afterwards obtains an audience of
the King, which brings her under the
notice of her rival Sensuality, by whose
influence she too is put in the stocks.
Divine Correction now appears upon
the scene,
and procures the release of
Verity and Chastity, while Sensuality
is banished from court. By his advice
also a parliament is ordered to be con-
vened for the redress of grievances, the
proclamation of which brings the first
part of the play to a close.

The second part opens with an interlude to amuse the people while the more refined portion of the audience are away

several of the most prominent offenders, as Common Theft (representing the Border thieves), and Falsehood and Deceit are executed; and Flattery saves his own neck by undertaking the office of hangman to his fellows.

In the stage directions for the execution of Falsehood, it is ordered that "ane craw or ane kae sall be castin up as it war his saull."

The play concludes with a sort of tail-piece dialogue between Dilligence and Folly, in which the latter, after a coarse introduction, intimates that he has hats to dispose of suitable for the fools that he insinuates are a very plentiful crop in all ranks, from the highest to the lowest.

PART THE SECOND.

Pauper, the Poor man.

refreshing themselves. It sets forth, in Of your alms, good folk, for God's love of

a ludicrous but striking fashion, the
grievances of which the people com-
plain, and is a graphic and faithful,
though coarse picture of the manners of
the age.
It is perhaps the best evidence
that we possess of Lindsay's powers as
a dramatic writer and delineator of
character. The encounter of Pauper and
the Pardoner, which we give as a speci-
men, is its most presentable incident.

heaven;

For I have motherless bairns six or seven;
Gif ye'll give me nae good, for the love of
Jesus

Wish me the right way till St Andrews.

Dilligence.

What devil ails this crooked carl?
Pauper.

Marry, meikle sorrow:

I cannot get, though I gasp, to beg nor to borrow.

Dilligence. Where devil is this thou dwells, or what's thy intent?

Pauper.

On the parliament being convened, John the Commonweal represents to the King the disasters which the Three Estates, under the guidance of the Vices, have brought upon the realm, and Verity and Chastity make special charges against the Spirituality. The Vices are now in their turn put into the stocks, and a general reform of the administration is brought about, while Sir even to St Andrews for to seek law.

I dwell intill Lothian ane mile frae Tranent.
Dilligence.
Where would thou be, carl? the sooth

to me shaw.

Pauper.

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Show me the matter, man, with all the The third cow he cleikèd by the head. Their upmaist claes 3 that was of raploch gray,4

circumstances;

How that thou has happened on thir unhappy chances.

Pauper.

Goodman, will ye give me your charity, And I shall declare to you the black verity. My father was an old man and an hoar,3 And was of age fourscore of years and

more;

And Mald, my mother, was fourscore and fifteen,

And with my labour I did them both sustain.

The vicar gart his clerk bear them away. When all was gone I might make no de

bate,

But with my bairns past for till beg my

meat.

Now have I told you the black verity How I am brought into this misery.

Dilligence.

How did the parson? Was he not thy friend?

Pauper.

We had ane mare that carried salt and The devil stick him, he curst me for my coal,

And everilk year she brought us home a foal.

We had three kye, that was both fat and fair,

Nane tidier into the town of Ayr.

My father was so weak of blood and bone That he died, wherefore my mother made great moan;

Then she died within ane day or two,
And there began my poverty and woe.
Our good gray mare was baitand 4 on the
field,

And our lands laird took her for his heryeild.5

The vicar took the best cow by the head, Incontinent when my father was dead.

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And holds me yet under that same process That gart me want the sacrament at Pasche.

In good faith, sir, though he would cut my throat,

I have nae gear except ane English groat; Whilk I purpose to give ane man of law. Dilligence.

Thou art the daftest fool that ever I saw ; Trows thou, man, by the law, to get remeid

Of men of kirk? Nae, not till thou be dead.

Pauper.

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I am Sir Robert Rome-raker,
Ane perfite public pardoner

Admitted by the Pape:
Sirs, I shall show you for my wage,
My pardons and my pilgrimage,

Whilk ye shall see and grape:1
I give to the devil, with good intent,
This unsella wicked New Testament,
With them that it translated:
Sen layic men knew the verity,
Pardoners gets no charity

Without that they debate it. Among the wives with wrinks and wiles, As all my marrowis3 men beguiles

With our fair false flattery:
As I was teached by ane friar
Yea all the crafts I ken, perqueir,

Called Hypocrisy.

But now, alas! our great abusion
Is clearly knowen till our confusion;
That we may sore repent:

Of all credence now I am quite,
For ilk man holds me at despite

That reads the New Testament.

Dool fall the brain that has it wrought,
Sae fall them that the book hame brought:
Als, I pray to the rood,

That Martin Luther, that false loun,4
Black Bullinger, and Melancthoun,

Had been smoorde 5 in their cud.
By Him that bore the crown of thorn,
I would Saint Paul had never been born,
And, als, I would his books

Were never read in kirk,

But, amongst friars into the mirk,
Or riven among rooks.

[Here shall he lay down his gear upon ane board, and say:]

My patent pardons, ye may see,
Come frae the Kan of Tartary,
Well sealed with oyster shells.

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Though ye have nae contrition,
Ye shall have full remission,

With help of books and bells.
Here is ane relict lang and braid,'
Of Fin Macoull the right chaft blade
With teeth and all together :
Of Collin's cow here is ane horn
For eating of MacConnal's corn

Was slain into Balquhidder. Here is ane cord, both great and long, Whilk hanged John the Armstrong,

Of good hemp soft and sound:
Good holy people, I stand for'd,
Whoever beis hanged with this cord,
Needs never to be drowned.

The culum 3 of Saint Bride's cow,
The gruntil of Saint Antony's sow,
Whilk bare his holy bell:
Whoever he be hears this bell clink,
Give me ane ducat for till drink,

He shall never gang to hell,
Without he be of Belial born;
Maisters, trow ye that this be scorn?
Come win this pardon, come.

Who loves their wives not with their heart, I have power them for till part:

Me think you deaf and dumb. Has none of you crust wicked wives, That holds you untill sturt and strives,

Come take my dispensation:

Of that cumber5 I shall make you quite, Howbeit yourselves be in the wyte,

And make ane false narration. Come, win the pardon; now let see, For meal, for malt or for money,

For cock, hen, goose, or gryce Of relicts, here I have ane hunder. Why come ye not? this is ane wonder I trow ye be not wise.

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separated, much to their mutual satisfaction, by the performance of a ceremony of the coarsest possible description. Then the Pardoner's boy, Wilkin, makes his appearance, and gives us a peep into the secret of relic manufacture.]

Wilkin.

Hoaw! maister, hoaw! Where are ye
now?
Pardoner.

I am here, Wilkin, widdie fow.*
Wilkin.

Sir, I have done your bidding, For I have found here ane great horse bone,

Ane fairer saw ye never none,

Upon dame Flesher's midding.
Sir, ye may gar the wives trow,
It is ane bone of Saint Bride's cow;
Good for the fever quartane:
Sir, will ye rule this relic weel,
All the wives will both kiss and kneel
Betwixt this and Dumbartane.

[Here shall PAUPER rise and rax him.] Pauper.

What thing was yon, that I heard crack 3 and cry?

I have been dreamand and drivland of my kye.

With my right hand my whole body I sain, 4

Saint Bride, Saint Bride, send me my kye again!

I see standand yonder ane holy man,
To make me help, let me see gif he can :
Hail maister, God speed you! and good

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Come, win the pardon, and syne I shall

thee sain.

Pauper.

Will that pardon get me my kye again?
Pardoner.

Carl, of thy kye I have nothing ado:
Come, win my pardon, and kiss my relics

too.

[Here shall he sain him with his relics.]

Pardoner.

Ane thousand year, I lay upon thy head, With totiens quotiens: now, make na mair plead: '

Thou hast received thy pardon now already.

Pauper.

But I can see nothing, sir, by our lady: Forsooth, maister, I trow I be not wise To pay ere I have seen my merchandise. That ye have gotten my groat full sair Irue: Sir, whether is your pardon black or blue? And thou shall have my pardon even frae Maister, sen ye have tane frae me my

Now lose thy purse, and lay down thy offrand,

hand.

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cunzie,2

My merchandise shew me, withouten sunzie ;3

Or to the bishop I shall pass and plenzie, In Saint Andrews, and summon you to the senzie.5

Pardoner.

What craves thou carl? methinks thou art not wise.

Pauper.

I crave my groat, or else my merchandise.
Pardoner.

I gave thee pardon for ane thousand year.
Pauper.

Has thou nae other silver but ane groat? How shall I get that pardon, let me hear?

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With all my heart, maister, lo take it, there:
Now let me see your pardon, with your Now, be content, ye are ane marvellous

leave.

Pardoner.

man.

Pauper.

Ane thousand years of pardon I thee give. Shall I get naething for my groat till than?

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