end. Quoth the people, Let’s conclude with speed, That for the Coroner we may send. Mark what I say, the door’s fast shut, The People the Children did deplore, But straight they heard a Man to speak, And one stood knocking at the door. One in the house to the door made haste, Hearing a Man to Knock and Call, The door was opened presently, And in he came amongst them all. By your leave, good people, then he said, May a stranger with you have some talk? A dead woman I am come to see; Into the room, I pray, Sir, walk. His eyes like to the Stars did shine, He was clothed in a bright grass green, His cheeks were of a crimson red, For such a man was seldome seen. Unto the people then he spoke, Mark well these words which I shall say, For no Coroner shall you send, I’m Judge and Jury here this day. Bring hither the Man that did the deed, And firmly hath denied the same. They brought him into the room with speed, To answer to this deed with shame. Now come, O wretched Man, quoth he, With shame before thy neighbours all, Thy body thou hast brought to Misery, Thy soul into a deeper thrall. Thy Chiefest delight was drunkeness, And lewd women, O, cursed sin, Blasphemous Oaths and Curses Vile A long time thou hast wallowed in. The Neighbours thou wouldst set at strife, And alwaies griping of the poor, Besides, thou hast murdered thy wife, A fearful death thou dy’st therefore. Fear nothing, good people, then he said, A sight will presently appear, Let all your trust be in the Lord, No harm shall be while I am here. Then in the Room the Devil appear’d, Like a brave Gentleman did stand, Satan (quoth he that was the Judge) Do no more than thou hast command. The Devil then he straight laid hold On him that had murdered his wife, His neck in Sunder then he broke, And thus did end his wretched life. The Devil then he vanished Quite from the People in the Hall, Which made the people much afraid, Yet no one had no hurt at all. Then straight a pleasant Melody Of Musick straight was heard to sound, It ravisht the hearts of those stood by, So sweet the Musick did abound. Now, (quoth this gallant Man in green) With you I can no longer stay, My love I leave, my leave I take, The time is come, I must away. Be sure to love each other well, Keep in your breast what I do say. It is the way to go to Heaven, When you shall rise at Judgment day. The people to their homes did go, Which had this mighty wonder seen, And said, it was an Angel sure That thus was clothed all in green. And thus the News from Westmoreland I have related to you o’er, I think it is as strange a thing, As ever man did hear before.
In the old days the Devil was used as a butt at which people shot their little arrows of wit. In the miracle plays, when introduced, he filled the part of the pantaloon in our pantomimes, and was accompanied by a ‘Vice,’ who played practical jokes with him, slapping him with his wooden sword, jumping on his back, etc.; and in the carvings of our abbeys and cathedrals, especially in the Miserere seats in the choir, he was frequently depicted in comic situations, as also in the illuminations of manuscripts. He was often written about as being sadly deficient in brains, and many are the instances recorded of him being outwitted by a shrewd human being, as we may see by the following ballad.
THE POLITIC WIFE;
or, The Devil outwitted by a Woman.
Of all the plagues upon the earth,
That e’er poor man befal,
It’s hunger and a scolding wife,
These are the worst of all:
There was a poor man in our country
Of a poor and low degree,
And with both these plagues he was troubled,
And the worst of luck had he.
He had seven children by one wife,
And the times were poor and hard,
And his poor toil was grown so bad,
He scarce could get him bread:
Being discontented in his mind,
One day his house he left,
And wandered down by a forest side,
Of his senses quite bereft.
As he was wandering up and down,
Betwixt hope and despair,
The Devil started out of a bush,
And appeared unto him there:
O what is the matter, the Devil he said,
You look so discontent?
Sure you want some money to buy some bread,
Or to pay your landlord’s rent.
Indeed, kind sir, you read me right,
And the grounds of my disease,
Then what is your name, said the poor man,
Pray, tell me, if you please?
My name is Dumkin the Devil, quoth he,
And the truth to you I do tell,
Altho’ you see me wandering here,
Yet my dwelling it is in hell.
Then what will you give me, said the Devil,
To ease you of your want,
And you shall have corn and cattle enough,
And never partake of scant?
I have nothing to give you, said the poor man,
Nor nothing here in hand,
But all the service that I can do,
Shall be at your command.
Then, upon the condition of seven long years,
A bargain with you I will frame,
You shall bring me a beast unto this place,
That I cannot tell his name:
But, if I tell its name full right,
Then mark what to you I tell,
Then you must go along with me
Directly unto Hell.
This poor man went home joyfully,
And thrifty he grew therefore,
For he had corn and cattle enough,
And every thing good store.
His neighbours who did live around,
Did wonder at him much,
And thought he had robb’d or stole,
He was grown so wondrous rich.
Then for the space of seven long years
He lived in good cheer,
But when the time of his indenture grew near,
He began to fear:
O what is the matter, said his wife,
You look so discontent?
Sure you have got some maid with child,
And now you begin to repent.
Indeed, kind wife, you judge me wrong,
To censure so hard of me,
Was it for getting a maid with child,
That would be no felony:
But I have made a league with the Devil,
For seven long years, no more,
That I should have corn and cattle enough,
And everything good store.
Then for the space of seven long years
A bargain I did frame,
I should bring him a beast unto that place,
He could not tell its name:
But if he tell his name full right,
Then mark what to you I tell,
Then I must go along with him,
Directly unto Hell.
Go, get you gone, you silly old man,