A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume I Part 25

HICKSCORNER.

_EDITIONS_.

_Hyckescorner. [At the end:] Enprynted by me Wynkyn de Worde. 4, Black letter.

Hycke scorner. [At the end:] Thus endeth the enterlude of Hycke scorner.

Imprinted at London in foster laene by John Waley. 4, Black letter_.

HICKSCORNER.

This piece is printed from a black letter copy in Mr Garrick's collection,[109] of which the following is a very accurate a.n.a.lysis, extracted from Dr Percy's "Relics of Ancient English Poetry," vol. i. p.

130:--

"Hickscorner bears no distant resemblance to comedy: its chief aim seems to be to exhibit characters and manners, its plot being much less regular than the foregoing. The prologue is spoken by Pity, represented under the character of an aged pilgrim; he is joined by Contemplation and Perseverance, two holy men who, after lamenting the degeneracy of the age, declare their resolution of stemming the torrent. Pity then is left upon the stage, and presently found by Freewill, representing a lewd debauchee who, with his dissolute companion, Imagination, relate their manner of life, and not without humour describe the stews and other places of base resort. They are presently joined by Hickscorner, who is drawn as a libertine returned from travel, and agreeably to his name scoffs at religion. These three are described as extremely vicious, who glory in every act of wickedness. At length two of them quarrel, and Pity endeavours to part the fray; on this they fall upon him, and put him into the stocks, and then leave him. Pity then descants in a kind of lyric measure on the profligacy of the age, and in this situation is found by Perseverance and Contemplation, who set him at liberty, and advise him to go in search of the delinquents. As soon as he is gone, Freewill appears again, and after relating in a very comic manner some of his rogueries and escapes from justice, is rebuked by the two holy men who, after a long altercation, at length convert him and his libertine companion, Imagination, from their vicious course of life, and then the play ends with a few verses from Perseverance, by way of epilogue.

"It would be needless to point out the absurdities in the plan and conduct of the foregoing play: they are evidently great. It is sufficient to observe that, bating the moral and religious reflections of Pity, &c., the piece is of a comic caste, and contains a humorous display of some of the vices of the age. Indeed, the author has generally been so little attentive to the allegory, that we need only subst.i.tute other names to his personages, and we have real characters and living manners."

The woodcuts prefixed to this and the foregoing play were very minutely traced and executed by a masterly hand; and there being something singular in giving the portraits of the _dramatis personae_, it is presumed the following will be particularly pleasing to the reader.[110]

[It appears to have been from this drama or interlude, that the saying arose of "Hickscorner's jests." (See Mr J.P. Collier's Diary, part iii.

p. 13.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

HICKSCORNER.

PITY.

Now Jesu the gentle, that brought Adam fro h.e.l.l, Save you all, sovereigns, and solace you send: And, of this matter that I begin to tell, I pray you of audience, till I have made an end; For I say to you, my name is Pity, That ever yet hath been man's friend.

In the bosom of the second person in Trinity I sprang as a plant, man's miss to amend; You for to help I put to my hand: Record I take of Mary that wept tears of blood; I Pity within her heart did stand; When she saw her son on the rood, The sword of sorrow gave that lady wound; When a spear clave her son's heart asunder, She cried out, and fell to the ground; Though she was woe, it was little wonder, This delicate colour [had] that goodly lady, Full pale and wan, she saw her son all dead, Splayed on a cross with the five wells of pity, Of purple velvet powdered with roses red.

Lo, I Pity thus made your errand to be sped, Or else man for ever should have been forlore.

A maiden so laid his life to wed, Crowned as a king the thorns p.r.i.c.ked him sore.

Charity and I of true love leads the double rein; Whoso me loveth d.a.m.ned never shall be.

Of some virtuous company I would be fain; For all that will to heaven needs must come by me, Chief porter I am in that heavenly city, And now here will I rest me a little s.p.a.ce, Till it please Jesu of his grace Some virtuous fellowship for to send.

CONTEMPLATION.

Christ that was christened, crucified, and crowned, In his bosom true love was gaged with a spear, His veins brast and bruised, and to a pillar bound, With scourges he was lashed, the knots the skin tare, On his neck to Calvary the great cross he bare, His blood ran to the ground, as Scripture doth tell: His burden was so heavy, that down under it he fell, Lo, I am kin to the Lord, which is G.o.d's son; My name is written foremost in the book of life, For I am perfect Contemplation, And brother to holy church that is our Lord's wife.

John Baptist, Anthony, and Jerome, with many mo, Followed me here in holt,[111] heath, and in wilderness; I ever with them went where they did go, Night and day toward the way of rightwiseness: I am the chief lantern of all holiness, Of prelates and priests I am their patron; No armour so strong in no distress, Habergeon, helm, ne yet no Jeltron, To fight with Satan am I the champion, That dare abide, and manfully stand: Fiends flee away, where they see me come; But I will show you why I came to this land For to preach and teach of G.o.d's sooth saws, Ayenst vice that doth rebel ayenst him and his laws.

PITY.

G.o.d speed, good brother; fro whence came you now?

CONTEMPLATION.

Sir, I came from Perseverance to seek you.

PITY.

Why, sir, know you me?

CONTEMPLATION.

Yea, sir, and have done long; your name is Pity.

PITY.

Your name fain would I know.

CONTEMPLATION.

Indeed I am called Contemplation, That useth to live solitarily; In woods and in wildness[112] I walk alone, Because I would say my prayers devoutly; I love not with me to have much company: But Perseverance oft with me doth meet, When I think on thoughts that is full heavenly; Thus he and I together full sweetly doth sleep.

PITY.

I thank G.o.d that we be met together.

CONTEMPLATION.

Sir, I trust that Perseverance shortly will come hither.

PITY.

Then I think to hear some good tiding.