Thys  devyll  and  I  walkt  arme  in  arme

So  farre  tyll  he  had  brought  me  thyther

Where  all  the  devylls  of  hell  together

Stode  in  array  in  such  apparell.
As  for  that  day  there  metely  fell ;

And  here  we  have  these  children's  ideas  of  hell.
Thcyre  homes  well  gylt,  theyr  clowes  full  clene,
Theyr  taylles  well  kempt,  and,  as  I  wene.
The  Idea  of  Hell  found  in  the  Mystery  Plays
From  tlic  "  Coventry  Mysteries''''


DOMESTIC  LIFE  OF  SHAKSPERE'S  TIME   109

With  sothery  butter  theyr  bodies  anointed.
I  never  sawe  devylls  so  well  appoynted.
The  mayster  sat  in  his  jacket

And  all  the  soules  were  playing  at  racket.
None  other  rackettes  they  hadde  in  hande

Save  every  soule  a  good  fyre  brand :

Wherwyth  they  played  so  pretely

That  Lucyfer  laughed  merely ;

And  all  the  residew  of  the  feends

Did  laugh  thereat  ful  wel  like  freends.
Anon  all  this  route  was  brought  in  silens,

And  I  by  an  usher  brought  in  presens

Of  Lucyfer :  then  lowe,  as  wel  as  I  could,

I  knelyd,  which  he  so  well  alowde,

That  thus  he  beckte,  and  by  saint  Antony

He  smyled  on  me  well  favourably

Bendynge  his  browes  as  brode  as  barn-durres,

Shakynge  hys  eares  as  ruged  as  burres,

Rolynge  hys  eyes  as  round  as  two  bushels,

Flashynge  the  fyre  out  of  his  nosethryls ;

Gnashinge  hys  teeth  so  vayngloriously.
That  we  thought  tyme  to  fall  to  flatery.
He  falls  to  flattery,  and  then  asks  for  the  soul  of  his  lady
friend.
So  good  to  graunt  the  thynge  I  crave ;
And  to  be  shorte,  thys  wolde  I  have ;
The  soule  of  one  which  hyther  is  flytted
Delivered  hens,  and  to  me  remitted,   .   ..
