Digital Renaissance Editions

About this text

  • Title: Jack Juggler (Quarto 1)
  • Editor: David Swain
  • Textual editor: Dr. Sarah Neville
  • Coordinating editor: Brett Greatley-Hirsch
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-490-5

    Copyright David Swain. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: Anonymous
    Editor: David Swain
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Jack Juggler (Quarto 1)

    He mu st saye he dyd a my s s e though he neuer dyd offende
    He mu st aske forgiuenes where he did no trespace
    Or ells be in troble,care and meserye with out ende
    1175And he ca st in sum arrierage without any grace
    And that thing he sawe done before his owne face
    He mu st by compulsion stifelie denye
    And for feare whether he woll or not saye tonge you lye

    And in euerye faculte this thing is put in vre
    1180and is so vnyuersall that I nede no one to name
    and as I fere is like euermore to endure
    For it is in all faculties a commyn sporte and game
    The weker to saie as ye stronger biddeth,or to haue blam
    as a cunning sophi st woll by argument bring to pa s s e
    1185That the rude shall confe s s e and graunt him selfe an ase

    And this is ye daylye excersise and practise of their scoles
    and not emongs them onlie but also emong all others
    The stronger to compell and make poore symple soles
    To say as they commaund them in all maner matiers
    1190I woll name none particular but set them all togithers
    with out any exception,for I praye you shewe me one
    Emonges all in the worlde that vsethe not suche fasion

    He that is stronger,and more of power and might
    If he be disposed to reuenge his cause
    1195woll sone pike a quarell be it wrong or ryght
    To the inferior and weker for a cople of straues
    and woll agayn st him so extremelie lay the lawes
    That he woll put hym to the worse other by false iniurie
    Or by some crafte and subtelete,or ells by playne terani

    as
    E.iii.