A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ii Part 47

Of thine own will thou didst Abraham elect, Promising him seed as stars of the sky, And them as thy chosen people to protect, That they might thy mercies praise and magnify.

Perform thou, O Lord, thine eternal decree To me and my seed, the sons of Abraham; And whom thou hast chosen thine own people to be, Guide and defend to the glory of thy name_.

FINIS.

[_Then entereth the Poet, and the rest stand still till he have done_.

THE POET. When Adam, for breaking G.o.d's commandment, Had sentence of death, and all his posterity: Yet the Lord our G.o.d, who is omnipotent, Had in his own self by his eternal decree Appointed to restore man, and to make him free.

He purposed to save mankind by his mercy, Whom he once had created unto his glory.

Yet not all flesh did he then predestinate, But only the adopted children of promise: For he foreknew that many would degenerate, And wilfully give cause to be put from that bliss, So on G.o.d's behalf no manner default there is; But where he chooseth, he showeth his great mercy: And where he refuseth, he doth none injury, But thus far surmounteth man's intellection,[290]

To attain or conceive, and (much more) to discuss: All must be referred to G.o.d's election And to his sacred judgment. It is meet for us, With Paul the apostle, to confess, and say thus: O, the deepness of the riches of G.o.d's wisdom!

How unsearchable are his ways to man's reason?

Our part therefore is first to believe G.o.d's word, Not doubting but that he will his elected save: Then to put full trust in the goodness of the Lord, That we be of the number, which shall mercy have: Thirdly, so to live, as we may his promise crave.

Thus if we do, we shall Abraham's children be, And come with Jacob to endless felicity.

[_All the rest of the actors answer, Amen_.

_Then followeth the prayer_.

ISAAC. Now unto G.o.d let us pray for all the whole clergy, To give them grace to advance G.o.d's honour and glory.

REBECCA. Then for the Queen's majesty let us pray Unto G.o.d to keep her in health and wealth night and day, And that, of his mere mercy and great benignity, He will defend and maintain her estate and dignity; That she, being grieved with any outward hostility, May against her enemies always have victory.

JACOB. G.o.d save the Queen's councillors most n.o.ble and true, And with all G.o.dliness their n.o.ble hearts endue.

ESAU. Lord save the n.o.bility and preserve them all: And prosper the Queen's subjects universal.

AMEN.

_Thus endeth this Comedy or Enterlude of Jacob and Esau_.

THE DISOBEDIENT CHILD.

THE PLAYER'S NAMES.

THE PROLOGUE SPEAKER. THE YOUNG WOMAN.

THE RICH MAN. THE SERVINGMAN.

THE RICH MAN'S SON. THE PRIEST.

THE MAN COOK. THE DEVIL.

THE WOMAN COOK. THE PERORATOR.

MR HALLIWELL'S PREFACE TO THE FORMER EDITION.[291]

So little is known respecting the history of the following tract, that it is rather from an unwillingness to depart from the usual custom of affixing introductions to our reprints, than from any expectation of satisfying the slightest curiosity, that a few lines are here prefixed.

The interlude of "The Disobedient Child" was written about the middle of the sixteenth century, by Thomas Ingelend, who is described in the early printed copy as "late student in Cambridge," and his fame seems to rest entirely on that production, for he is not to be traced in any other early literary record.[292] It has been supposed by some writers, from a few indistinct allusions in the play to Catholic customs, that it was composed in the reign of Henry VIII.; but if this be the case, the notice of Queen Elizabeth, introduced towards the close of the drama, must be an interpolation, a supposition not unlikely to be correct, for the audience are elsewhere reminded to "serve the king."

The printed edition by Colwell is without date, but it was published about the year 1560. Two copies of this work which I have collated differ in some slight particulars from each other, but there is not sufficient reason for thinking that there were two editions, for it was formerly a very common practice to correct and alter the press whilst the impression was being taken.[293]

[It is observable that the present interlude marks a considerable advance, in point of literary merit, on those which precede it in this collection. The author was evidently a man of taste and judgment, and many pa.s.sages might be pointed out which possess no mean share of picturesqueness, elegance, and dramatic propriety. Contrary to the usual practice, in old as well as modern pieces, "The Disobedient Child" concludes unhappily, though without any attempt at a highly wrought tragical catastrophe; the Rich man persists in his unrelenting conduct, and we are left to imagine that his son returns to live and die in misery with his termagant wife.]

THE DISOBEDIENT CHILD.[294]

THE PROLOGUE.

THE PROLOGUE SPEAKER.

Now, forasmuch as in these latter days, Throughout the whole world in every land, Vice doth encrease, and virtue decays, Iniquity having the upper hand; We therefore intend, good gentle audience, A pretty short interlude to play at this present: Desiring your leave and quiet silence To show the same, as is meet and expedient.[295]

The sum whereof, matter and argument, In two or three verses briefly to declare, Since that it is for an honest intent, I will somewhat bestow my care.

In the city of London there was a rich man Who, loving his son most tenderly, Moved him earnestly now and then, That he would give his mind to study, Saying that by knowledge, science and learning, Is at the last gotten a pleasant life, But through the want and lack of this thing Is purchased poverty, sorrow and strife.

His son, notwithstanding this gentle monition, As one that was clean devoid of grace, Did turn to a mock and open derision Most wickedly with an unshamefast[296] face; Insomuch that, contrary to his father's will, Unto a young woman he did consent, Whereby of l.u.s.t he might have his fill, And married the same incontinent.[297]

Not long after that, the child began To feel his wife's great frowardness, And called himself unhappy man, Oppressed with pains and heaviness: Who, before that time, did live blessedly, Whilst he was under his father's wing; But now, being wedded, mourning and misery Did him torment without ending.

But now it is time for me to be going, And hence to depart for a certain s.p.a.ce, For I do hear the Rich Man coming With the wanton boy into this place.

[_Here the Prologue Speaker goeth out, and in cometh the Rich Man and his son_.

SON. Father, I beseech you, father, show me the way, What thing I were best to take in hand, Whereby this short life so spend I may, That all grief and trouble I might withstand.

FATHER. What is the meaning, my child, I thee pray, This question to demand of me?

For that thing to do I am glad alway, Which should not be grievous to thee.

SON. Marry, but therefore of you counsel I take, Seeing now my childhood I am clean past, That unto me ye plainly do make What to a young man is best for to taste.

FATHER. I see nothing truly, my son, so meet, And to prove so profitable for thee, As unto the school to move thy feet, With studious lads there for to be.

SON. What, the school! nay, father, nay!

Go to the school is not the best way.

FATHER. Say what thou list, for I cannot invent A way more commodious to my judgment.[298]

SON. It is well known how that ye have loved Me heretofore at all times most tenderly; But now (me-think) ye have plainly showed Certain tokens of hatred; For if I should go to my book after your advice, Which have spent my childhood so pleasantly, I may then seem driven out of paradise, To take pain and woe, grief and misery.

All things I had rather sustain and abide, The business of the school once cast aside; Therefore, though ye cry, till ye reve[299] asunder, I will not meddle with such a matter.

FATHER. Why, cannot I thee thus much persuade?

For that in my mind is the best trade.