<P_514>

<heading:edcomment:206_ROPER_TO_ALICE_ALINGTON>

When I came next vnto my father after , me thought it both conuenient
and necessary , to shewe hym your letter . (MROPER-E1-P1,514.3)

Conuenient , that he might therby see your louing labour taken for hym
. (MROPER-E1-P1,514.4)

Necessarie , that sith he might perceiue therby , that if he stande
still in this scruple of his conscience <paren> as it is at the lest
wise called by manie that are his frendes and wise </paren> all his
frendes that seme most able to do hym good either shall finally forsake
hym , or peraduenture not be hable in dede to doe hym any good att all
. (MROPER-E1-P1,514.5)

And for these causes , at my next being with hym after your letter
receyued , when I had a while talked with hym , first of his diseases ,
both-1 in his brest of olde , and his reynes now by reason of grauell
and stone , and of the crampe also that diuers nightes grypeth hym in
his legges , and that I founde by his wordes that they wer not much
increased , but continued after their maner that they dyd before ,
sometyme very sore and sometyme little grief , <P_515> and that at that
tyme I founde hym out of payne , and <paren> as one in his case might
</paren> , metely well minded , after our vii psalmes and the letany
said , to sit and talke and be mery , beginning first with other
thinges of the good comforte of my mother , and the good order of my
brother , and all my sisters , disposing them self euery day more and
more to set litle by the worlde , and drawe more and more to God , and
that his howsholde , his neighbours , and other good frendes abrode ,
diligently remembred hym in their prayers , I added vnto this : ' I
pray God , good Father , that their praiers and ours , and your owne
therwith , may purchase of God the grace , that you may in this great
matter <paren> for which you stande in this trouble and for your
trouble all we also that loue you </paren> take such a way by tyme , as
standing with the pleasure of God , may content and please the King ,
whome ye haue alway founden so singularly gracious vnto you , that if
ye shoulde stifly refuse to doe the thing that were his pleasure ,
which God not displeased you might doe <paren> as many great wise and
well learned men say that in this thing you may </paren> it wolde both
be a great blott in your worship in euery wise mans opinion and as my
self haue herd some say <paren> such as your self haue alway taken for
well learned and good </paren> a peryll vnto your soule also .
(MROPER-E1-P1,515.6)

But as for that point <paren> Father </paren> will I not be bolde to
dispute vpon , sith I trust in God and your good mynde , that ye will
loke surely therto . (MROPER-E1-P1,515.7)

And your learning I knowe for such , that I wot well you can .
(MROPER-E1-P1,515.8)

But one thinge is there which I and other your frendes finde and
perceiue abrode , which but if it be shewed you , you may peraduenture
to your great peryll , mistake and hope for lesse harme <paren> for as
for good I wot well in this worlde of this matter ye loke for none
</paren> than I sore feare me , shall be likely to fall to you .
(MROPER-E1-P1,515.9)

For I assure you Father , I haue receyued a letter of late from my
sister Alington , by which I see well that if ye chaunge not your mynde
, you are likely to lose all those frendes that are hable to do you any
good . (MROPER-E1-P1,515.10)

Or if ye leese not their good willes , ye shall at the lest wise lese
the effect therof , for any good that they shall be hable to doe you .
(MROPER-E1-P1,515.11)

' With this my father smiled vpon me (MROPER-E1-P1,515.12)

and saide : ' What , maistres Eue , <paren> as I called you when you
came first </paren> hath my doughter Alington played the serpent with
you , and with a letter set you a worke to come tempt your father again
, and for the fauour that you beare hym labour to make hym sweare
against his conscience , and so sende hym to the deuill ? '
(MROPER-E1-P1,515.13)

And after that , he loked sadly <P_516> againe , (MROPER-E1-P1,516.14)

and earnestli said vnto me , ' Doughter Margaret , we two haue talked
of this thinge ofter than twise or thrise , (MROPER-E1-P1,516.15)

and that same tale in effect , that you tel me now therin , and the
same feare to , haue you twise tolde me before , (MROPER-E1-P1,516.16)

and I haue twise answered you too , that in this matter if it were
possible for me to doe the thinge that might content the Kynges Grace ,
and God therwith not offended , there hath no man taken this oth all
redy more gladly than I wolde doe : as he that rekeneth hym self more
depely bounden vnto the Kinges Highnes for his most singular bountie ,
many waies shewed and declared , than any of them all beside .
(MROPER-E1-P1,516.17)

But sith standinge my conscience , I can in no wise doe it , and that
for the instruction of my conscience in the matter , I haue not
sleightly loked , but by many yeres studied and aduisedly considered ,
and neuer could yet see nor heare that thing , nor I thinke I neuer
shall , that coulde induce mine owne minde to thinke otherwise than I
doe , (MROPER-E1-P1,516.18)

I haue no maner remedy , (MROPER-E1-P1,516.19)

but God hath geuen me to the straight , that either I must dedlie
displease hym , or abide any worldly harme that he shall for mine other
sinnes , vnder name of this thinge , suffer to fall vpon me . Wherof
<paren> as I before this haue told you to </paren> I haue ere I came
here , not left vnbethought nor vnconsidered , the very worst and the
vttermost that can by possibilite fall . (MROPER-E1-P1,516.20)

And al be it that I know mine owne frailtie full well and the naturall
faintnes of mine owne hart , yet if I had not trusted that God shoulde
geue me strength rather to endure all thinges , than offend hym by
sweringe vngodly against mine owne conscience , you may be very sure I
wold not haue come here . (MROPER-E1-P1,516.21)

And sith I looke in this matter but only vnto God , it maketh me litle
matter , though men cal it as it pleaseth them and say it is no
consciens but a foolishe scruple . ' (MROPER-E1-P1,516.22)

At this worde I toke a good occasion , (MROPER-E1-P1,516.23)

and said vnto hym thus : (MROPER-E1-P1,516.24)

' In good faith Father for my parte , I neither doe , nor it $can $not
{TEXT:cannot} become me , either-1 to mistrust your good minde or your
learninge . (MROPER-E1-P1,516.25)

But because you speake of that that some cal it but a scruple , I
assure you you shall see my sisters letter , that one of the greatest
estates in this realme and a man learned too , and <paren> as I dare
say your self shall thinke whan you know hym , and as you haue al ready
right effectuallie proued hym </paren> your tender frende and very
speciall good lord , accounteth your conscience in this matter , for a
right simple scruple , (MROPER-E1-P1,516.26)

and you may be sure he saith it of good <P_517> minde and layeth no
litle cause . (MROPER-E1-P1,517.27)

For he saith that where you say your conscience moueth you to this ,
all the nobles of this realme and almost all other men too , go boldly
$furth with the contrary , and sticke not therat , saue only your self
and one other man : whom though he be right good and very well learned
too , yet wolde I wene , fewe that loue you , geue you the counsaile
against all other men to lene to his minde alone . '
(MROPER-E1-P1,517.28)

And with this worde I toke hym your letter , that he might see my
wordes wer not fayned , but spoken of his mought , whom he much loueth
and estemeth highly . (MROPER-E1-P1,517.29)

Therupon he read ouer your letter . (MROPER-E1-P1,517.30)

And when he came to the ende , he began it afresh (MROPER-E1-P1,517.31)

and read it ouer again . (MROPER-E1-P1,517.32)

And in the reading he made no maner hast , (MROPER-E1-P1,517.33)

but aduised it laisorly (MROPER-E1-P1,517.34)

and poynted euery word . (MROPER-E1-P1,517.35)

And after that he paused , (MROPER-E1-P1,517.36)

and than thus he said : ' Forsoth , doughter Margaret , I find my
doughter Alington such as I haue euer founde her , and I trust euer
shall , as naturally mindinge me as you that are mine owne .
(MROPER-E1-P1,517.37)

How be it , her take I verely for mine owne too , sith I haue maried
her mother , and brought vp her of a child as I haue brought vp you ,
in other thinges and learninge both , wherin I thanke God she findeth
now some fruite , and bringeth her owne vp very vertuously and well .
Wherof God , I thanke hym , hath sent her good store ,
(MROPER-E1-P1,517.38)

our Lord preserue them (MROPER-E1-P1,517.39)

and send her much ioy of them and my good sonne her gentle husbande too
, (MROPER-E1-P1,517.40)

and haue mercy on the soule of mine other good sonne her first ;
(MROPER-E1-P1,517.41)

I am dayly bedeman <paren> and so write her </paren> for them all .
(MROPER-E1-P1,517.42)

In this matter she hath vsed her self lyke her self , wisely and lyke a
very doughter towarde me , (MROPER-E1-P1,517.43)

and in the ende of her letter , geueth as good counsell as any man that
witt hath wolde wish , (MROPER-E1-P1,517.44)

God giue me grace to folow it (MROPER-E1-P1,517.45)

and God rewarde her for it . (MROPER-E1-P1,517.46)

Now doughter Margaret , as for my Lorde , I not only thinke , but haue
also founde it , that he is vndoutly my singuler good lorde .
(MROPER-E1-P1,517.47)

And in myne other busines concerninge the sely nunne , as my cause was
good and clere , so was he my good lorde therin , and Master Secretary
my good master too . For which I shall neuer cease to be faithfull
bedeman for them both (MROPER-E1-P1,517.48)

and dayly do I by my trueth , praye for them as I doe for my selfe .
(MROPER-E1-P1,517.49)

And when so euer it shulde happen <paren> which I trust in God shall
neuer happen </paren> that I be founde other <P_518> than a true man to
my prince , let them neuer fauour me neither of them both ,
(MROPER-E1-P1,518.50)

nor of trouth no more it coulde become them to do .
(MROPER-E1-P1,518.51)

But in this matter , Megge , to tell the trouth betwene the and me , my
lords Esops fables do not greatly moue me . (MROPER-E1-P1,518.52)

But as his wisdome for his pastime tolde them meryly to mine owne
doughter , so shall I for my pastime , answer them to the , Megge ,
that art mine other doughter . (MROPER-E1-P1,518.53)

The first fable of the raine that washte away all their wittes that
stode abrode when it fell , I haue herde oft or this :
(MROPER-E1-P1,518.54)

It was a tale so often tolde amonge the Kinges Counsaile by my Lorde
Cardinall whan his Grace was chauncellor , that I $can $not
{TEXT:cannot} lightlye forgett it . (MROPER-E1-P1,518.55)

For of trouth in tymes past when variance began to fall betwene the
Emperour and the French Kynge , in such wise that they were likely and
dyd in dede , fall to gither att warre , and that ther were in the
Counsaile here somtime sondry opinions , in which some were of the
minde , that they thought it wisdome , that we shoulde sitt still and
let them alone : (MROPER-E1-P1,518.56)

but euermore against that way , my Lorde vsed this fable of those wise
men , that because they wolde not be wasshed with the raine that
shoulde make all the people fooles , went them self in to caues , and
hyd them vndre the grounde . (MROPER-E1-P1,518.57)

But when the raine had once made all the remenaunt fooles and that they
come out of their caues and wolde vtter their wisdome , the fooles
agreed together against them , and ther all to bete them .
(MROPER-E1-P1,518.58)

And so said his Grace that if we wolde be so wise that we wolde sit in
pece while the fooles fought , they wolde not fayle after , to make
peace and agree and fall at lenght all vpon vs . (MROPER-E1-P1,518.59)

I wil not dispute vpon his Graces counsaile , (MROPER-E1-P1,518.60)

and I trust we neuer made warre but as reason wolde .
(MROPER-E1-P1,518.61)

But yet this fable for his parte , did in his daies helpe the Kynge and
the realme to spende many a faire peny . (MROPER-E1-P1,518.62)

But that geare is passed (MROPER-E1-P1,518.63)

and his Grace is gone , (MROPER-E1-P1,518.64)

our Lord assoyle his soule . (MROPER-E1-P1,518.65)

And therfor shal I now come to this Esops fable , as my Lorde full
merily laide it forth for me . (MROPER-E1-P1,518.66)

If those wismen , Megge , when the raine was gone at their cominge
abrode , where they founde all men fooles , wished them selues fooles
to , because they coulde not rule them , than semeth it , that the
folish raine was so sore a showre , that euen thorowe the grounde it
sanke into their caues , and powred downe vpon their heades , and wette
them to the skynne , and made them more nodies than them that stode
abrode . (MROPER-E1-P1,518.67)

<P_519>

For if they had had any witt , they might well see , that thoughe they
had ben fooles too , that thinge wolde not haue suffised to make them
the rulers ouer the other fooles , no more than {COM:to_make} the
tother fooles {COM:rulers} ouer them : (MROPER-E1-P1,519.69)

and of so manye fooles all might not be rulers . (MROPER-E1-P1,519.70)

Now when they longed so sore to bere a rule amonge fooles , that $so
$they {TEXT:so_they_they_so} might , they wolde be glad to lese their
witt and be fooles too , the foolish raine had washed them metely well
. (MROPER-E1-P1,519.71)

How be it , to say the trought , before the raine came , if they
thought that all the remenaunt shoulde turne in to fooles , and than
either-1 were so folish that they wolde , or so mad to thinke that they
shoulde , so fewe rule so many fooles , and had not so much witt as to
considre , that there are none so vnruly as they that lacke witte and
are foles , than were these wyse men starke foles before the rayne came
. (MROPER-E1-P1,519.72)

How be it doughter Roper , whome my Lorde taketh here for the wyse men
and whome he meaneth to be fooles , I $can $not {TEXT:cannot} very well
geaste , (MROPER-E1-P1,519.73)

I can not well reade such riddles . (MROPER-E1-P1,519.74)

For as Dauus saith in Terence <paren> Non sum Oedipus </paren> I may
say you wot well <paren> Non sum Oedipus , sed Morus </paren> which
name of mine what it signifieth in Greke , I nede not tel you .
(MROPER-E1-P1,519.75)

But I trust my Lorde rekeneth me amonge the foles ,
(MROPER-E1-P1,519.76)

and so reken I my selfe , as my name is in Greke .
(MROPER-E1-P1,519.77)

And I finde , I thanke God , causes not a fewe , wherfore I so shoulde
in very dede . (MROPER-E1-P1,519.78)

But surely amonge those that longe to be rulers , God and mine owne
conscience clerely knoweth , that no man may truely noumber and recken
me . (MROPER-E1-P1,519.79)

And I wene ech other mans conscience can tell hym selfe the same , sins
it is so well knowen , that of the Kynges great goodnes , I was one of
the greatest rulers in this noble realme and that at mine owne great
labour by his great goodnes discharged . (MROPER-E1-P1,519.80)

But whome soeuer my Lorde meaneth for the wyse men , and whomsoeuer his
Lordeship take for the fooles , and whosoeuer {TEXT:who[m]soeuer} longe
for the rule , and who so euer longe for none , I besech our Lorde make
vs all so wyse as that we may euery man here so wiselie rule our selfe
in this time of teares , this vale of mysery , this simple wretched
worlde <paren> in which as Boece saith , one man to be prowde that he
beareth rule ouer other men , is much lyke as one mouce wolde be prowde
to beare a rule ouer other myce <P_520> in a barne </paren> God , I say
, geue vs the grace so wisely to rule our self here , that when we
shall hence in hast to mete the great Spouse , we be not taken sleapers
and for lacke of light in our lampes , shit {COM:sic} out of heauen
amonge the v. folish vyrgins . (MROPER-E1-P1,520.81)

The second fable , Marget , semeth not to be Esopes .
(MROPER-E1-P1,520.82)

For by that the matter goeth all vpon confession , it semeth to be
fayned since Christendome began . (MROPER-E1-P1,520.83)

For in Grece before Christes daies they vsed not confession , no more
the men than , than the beastes nowe . (MROPER-E1-P1,520.84)

And Esope was a Greke , (MROPER-E1-P1,520.85)

and died longe ere Christ was borne . (MROPER-E1-P1,520.86)

But what ? (MROPER-E1-P1,520.87)

who made it , maketh litle matter . (MROPER-E1-P1,520.88)

Nor I enuy not that Esope hath the name . (MROPER-E1-P1,520.89)

But surely it is somwhat to subtil for me . (MROPER-E1-P1,520.90)

For wham hys Lordship vnderstandeth by the lyon and the wolfe , which
both twaine confessed them selfe , of rauin and deuowringe of all that
came to their handes , and the tone enlarged his conscience at his
pleasure in the construction of his penaunce , nor whom by the good
discrete confessor that enioyned the tone a litle penaunce , and the
tother none at all , and sent the pore asse to the bishoppe , of all
these thinges can I nothinge tell . (MROPER-E1-P1,520.91)

But by the folish scrupelous asse , that had so sore a conscience , for
the taking of a strawe for hungar out of his maisters shoo , my Lordes
other wordes of my scruple declare , that his Lordship meryly meant
that by me : signifieng <paren> as it semeth by that similitude
</paren> that of ouersight and folye , my scrupulous conscience taketh
for a great perilous thing towarde my soule , if I shoulde swere this
othe , which thinge as his Lordship thinketh , wer in dede but a trifle
. (MROPER-E1-P1,520.92)

And I suppose well , Margarett , as you tolde me right now , that so
thinketh many moo beside , as well spirituall as temporall ,
(MROPER-E1-P1,520.93)

and that euen of those , that for their learning and their vertue my
self not a lytle esteme . (MROPER-E1-P1,520.94)

And yet all be it that I suppose this to be true , yet beleue I not
euen very surely , that euery man so thinketh that so saieth .
(MROPER-E1-P1,520.95)

But though they did , Daughter , that wolde not make much to me , not
though I shoulde see my Lorde of Rochester say the same , and swere the
oth hymselfe before me too . (MROPER-E1-P1,520.96)

For where as you tolde me right now , that such as loue me , wolde not
aduise me , that against all other men , I shoulde lene vnto his mind
alone , veryly , Daughter , no more I doe . (MROPER-E1-P1,520.97)

For albeit , that of very trouth , I haue hym in that reuerent
estimacion , that I reken in this realme no one man , in wisdome ,
learning and long approued vertue together , mete to be matched and
compared with hym , yet that in this matter I was not led by hym , very
well and <P_521> plainly appereth , both in that I refused the othe
before it was offered him , and in that also that his Lordship was
content to haue sworne of that othe <paren> as I perceyued since by you
when you moued me to the same </paren> either somwhat more , or in some
other maner than euer I minded to doe . (MROPER-E1-P1,521.98)

Verely , Daughter , I neuer entend <paren> God being my good lorde
</paren> to pynne my soule at a nother mans backe , not euen the best
man that I know this day liuing ; (MROPER-E1-P1,521.99)

for I knowe not whither he may happe to cary it .
(MROPER-E1-P1,521.100)

Ther is no man liuing , of whom while he liueth , I may make myself
sure . (MROPER-E1-P1,521.101)

Some may do for fauour , (MROPER-E1-P1,521.102)

and some may doe for feare , (MROPER-E1-P1,521.103)

and so might they carye my soule a wronge way . (MROPER-E1-P1,521.104)

And some might hap to frame him self a conscience and thinke that while
he did it for feare God wolde forgeue it . (MROPER-E1-P1,521.105)

And some may peraduenture thinke that they will repent , and be shryuen
therof , and that so God shall remitt it them . (MROPER-E1-P1,521.106)

And some may be peraduenture of that minde , that if they say one thing
and thinke the while the contrary , God more regardeth their harte than
their tonge , and that therfore their othe goeth vpon that they thinke
, and not vpon that they say , as a woman resoned once , I trow ,
Daughter , you wer by . (MROPER-E1-P1,521.107)

But in good faith , Marget , I can vse no such waies in so great a
matter : (MROPER-E1-P1,521.108)

but like as if mine owne conscience serued me , I wolde not lett to doe
it , though other men refused , (MROPER-E1-P1,521.109)

so though other refuse it not , I dare not do it , mine owne conscience
standing against it . (MROPER-E1-P1,521.110)

If I had <paren> as I tolde you </paren> looked but lightly for the
matter , I shoulde haue cause to feare . (MROPER-E1-P1,521.111)

But nowe haue I so loked for it and so longe , that I purpose at the
lestwyse to haue no lesse regarde vnto my soule , than had once a poore
honest man of the countrey that was called Company . '
(MROPER-E1-P1,521.112)

And with this , he tolde me a tale , (MROPER-E1-P1,521.113)

I wene I can skant tell it you againe , because it hangeth vpon some
tearmes and ceremonies of the law . (MROPER-E1-P1,521.114)

But as farre as I can call to mynde my fathers tale was this , that
ther is a court belonginge of course vnto euery faire , to doe iustice
in such thinges as happen within the same . (MROPER-E1-P1,521.115)

This court hath a pretie fond name , (MROPER-E1-P1,521.116)

but I $can $not {TEXT:cannot} happen vpon it , (MROPER-E1-P1,521.117)

but it beginneth with a pye , (MROPER-E1-P1,521.118)

and the remenaunt goeth much lyke the name of a knight that I haue
knowen , I wis , <paren> and I trowe you to , for he hath ben at my
fathers ofte or this , at such tyme as you wer there , </paren> a
metely tall blacke man , (MROPER-E1-P1,521.119)

his name was Sir William Pounder . (MROPER-E1-P1,521.120)

But , tut , let the name of the courte go for this once ,
(MROPER-E1-P1,521.121)

or call it if ye will a court of pye Sir William Pounder .
(MROPER-E1-P1,521.122)

But this was the matter <P_522> loe , that vpon a tyme at such a court
holden at Bartilmewe fayre , there was an eschetour of London that had
arested a man that was owtelawed , and had seased his goodes that he
had browte in to the fayre , tollinge hym out of the fayre by a traine
. (MROPER-E1-P1,522.123)

The man that was arested and his goodes seased was a northern man ,
which by his frendes made theschetour within the fayre to be arested
vpon an action , I woot nere what , (MROPER-E1-P1,522.124)

and so was he brought before the iudge of the court of pye Sir William
Pounder , (MROPER-E1-P1,522.125)

and at the last the matter came to a certaine ceremonye to be tryed by
a quest of xii men , a iury as I remembre they call it , or elles a
periury . (MROPER-E1-P1,522.126)

Now had the clothman by frendshipp of the offycers , founden the means
to haue all the quest almost , made of the northern men , such as had
their boothes there standing in the fayre . (MROPER-E1-P1,522.127)

Now was it come to the last daye in the after none ,
(MROPER-E1-P1,522.128)

and the xii men had hard both the parties , and their counsell tell
their tales at the barre , (MROPER-E1-P1,522.129)

and were fro the barre had in to a place , to talke and common , and
agre vpon their sentence . (MROPER-E1-P1,522.130)

Nay let me speke better in my termes yet , (MROPER-E1-P1,522.131)

I trow the iudge geueth the sentence and the quests tale is called a
verdit . (MROPER-E1-P1,522.132)

They wer skant come in together , but the northern men wer agreed , and
in effect all the other too , to cast our London eschetour .
(MROPER-E1-P1,522.133)

They thought they neded no more to proue that he did wronge , than euen
the name of his bare office alone . (MROPER-E1-P1,522.134)

But than was ther then as the deuyll wolde , this honest man of a
nother quarter , that was called Cumpany . (MROPER-E1-P1,522.135)

And because the felowe semed but a foule and sate still and said
nothinge , they made no rekeninge of hym , (MROPER-E1-P1,522.136)

but said , we be agreed now , (MROPER-E1-P1,522.137)

come let vs goo geue our verdit . (MROPER-E1-P1,522.138)

Than whan the pore felowe saw that they made such hast , and his minde
nothing gaue hym that way that theirs did , <paren> if their mindes
gaue them that way that they sayde </paren> he prayde them to tary and
talke vpon the matter and tell hym such reason therin , that he might
thinke as they did : (MROPER-E1-P1,522.139)

and when he so shoulde do , he wolde be glad to say with them ,
(MROPER-E1-P1,522.140)

or els he said they must pardone hym . (MROPER-E1-P1,522.141)

For sith he had a soule of his owne to kepe as they had , he must say
as he thought for his , as they must for theirs .
(MROPER-E1-P1,522.142)

Whan they herd this , they wer half angry with hym .
(MROPER-E1-P1,522.143)

' What good felowe ' <P_523> <paren> quod one of the northern men
</paren> ' where wonnes thou ? (MROPER-E1-P1,523.144)

Be not we aleuen here and you but ene la alene , and all we agreed ?
(MROPER-E1-P1,523.145)

Wherto shouldest you sticke ? (MROPER-E1-P1,523.146)

What is thy name gude felow ? ' (MROPER-E1-P1,523.147)

' Maisters ' <paren> quod he </paren> ' my name is called Cumpany . '
(MROPER-E1-P1,523.148)

' Cumpany , ' quod they , (MROPER-E1-P1,523.149)

' now by thy trouth good felow , playe than the gude companion ,
(MROPER-E1-P1,523.150)

come theron furth with vs (MROPER-E1-P1,523.151)

and passe euen for gude cumpany . ' (MROPER-E1-P1,523.152)

' Wold God , good maisters , ' quod the man againe , ' that ther lay no
more weight therby . (MROPER-E1-P1,523.153)

But now when we shall hence and come before God , and that he shall
sende you to heauen for doing according to your conscience , and me to
the deuill for doing against mine , in passing at your request here for
good cumpany nowe , by God , Maister Dykonson , <paren> that was one of
the northern mens name </paren> if I shall then say to all you again ,
maisters , I went once for good cumpany with you , which is the cause
that I go now to hell , (MROPER-E1-P1,523.154)

playe you the good felowes now again with me , (MROPER-E1-P1,523.155)

as I went than for good cumpany with you , so some of you go now for
good cumpany with me . (MROPER-E1-P1,523.156)

Wolde ye go , Maister Dikonson ? (MROPER-E1-P1,523.157)

Nay naye by our Lady , nor neuer one of you all .
(MROPER-E1-P1,523.158)

And therfore must ye pardon me from passinge as you passe ,
(MROPER-E1-P1,523.159)

but if I thought in the matter as you doe , I dare not in such a matter
passe for good cumpany . (MROPER-E1-P1,523.160)

For the passage of my pore soule passeth all good cumpany .
(MROPER-E1-P1,523.161)