The Summoning of Everyman was written in the late 1400's.

The source for it

has not been established. A Flemish work entitled
Elckerlijc, with the same story and theme, was written
about 1495 by Peter van Diest.
Cast of Characters
Abridged by Messenger



God
Leslie Noelani Laurio Death




Everyman
from the modern English text in
The Fordham University Medieval Sourcebook Friendship



Kindred
Cousin



Worldly Goods
Good Deeds



Knowledge
Confession



Strength
Discretion



Five Senses
Beauty



Angel
Doctor
Setting: The heavenly realm and here upon the Earth.

Messenger: Listen to this moral play about the summoning

of Everyman. It shows how, at the end of our lives, we are
shown to be transitory. You think sin in the beginning full
sweet, which in the end causes the soul to weep when the
body lies in clay. You will see how Friendship, Kin,
Worldly Goods and Possessions, Strength and Beauty will
fade from you like a flower fades in May. You will see
how our heavenly King calls Everyman to a general
reckoning. Listen to what he says:

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God: Everyman lives only for their own pleasure, and yet Everyman: What does God want from me?
their own life is not assured. They forget completely the
shedding of my son’s red blood. The more patient I am, Death: He demands a reckoning from you right away.
the worse they are from year to year. Therefore I will have
a reckoning of Everyman's person. If I leave the people Everyman: Oh Death, you've come when I least expected
alone, they will become worse than beasts. They devour you. Save me - I'll give you whatever you want if you'll be
one another with jealousy, forget to be charitable to their kind to me - a thousand dollars if you'll leave me alone and
fellow man, and become preoccupied with material come back another day.
possessions. Therefore I must do justice on Everyman.
Death, my Mighty Messenger, where are you? Death: Everyman, that is not possible. I don't stop for
gold, riches, pope nor emperor. Many have offered me
Death: I am here, ready to do your bidding. gifts, but that is not my way. Come on, be quick.
God: Go to Everyman and tell him as my representative
that he must take a journey that he cannot escape from, Everyman: What? Not even a warning? To even think of
and he'd better bring a reckoning without delay. you makes my heart sick. I'm not ready to give a
reckoning! Come back in a few years and I might be more
Death: Ah, I see Everyman walking over there; meeting prepared. Please spare me until I'm better prepared.
me is the last thing on his mind, for he is preoccupied with
his own self and possessions. He will dread standing Death: It's no use to cry, weep or pray. But see if any of
before the Lord, heaven's King. Everyman, stand still, your friends might accompany you. For death waits for no
where are you going so cheerfully? Have you forgotten man. All living creatures must die for Adam's sin.
your Maker?
Everyman: Oh God in heaven, have mercy on me! Shall I
Everyman: Who wants to know? have no company to join me on this journey?

Death: I have been sent to you from heaven by God.

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Death: See if any are daring enough to accompany you on God, the high judge. Please come with me as you
this journey. promised.

Everyman: I have no one to help me on my journey! I Friendship: That's tough luck. But if I were to accompany
wish I'd never been born! I fear great pain, and I don't you, it would be painful for me, and the very thought
know what to do! Who might come with me? Maybe scares me.
Friendship; we've been close for years. Surely he'll help
me. I'll speak to him right away. Everyman: Indeed, Death was with me here just now.

Friendship: Hello, Everyman, why do you look so sad? If Friendship: If Death was the messenger, then I will not go
something is wrong, please tell me so that I can help you. with you. I would not go on that journey even for my own
father!
Everyman: Yes, dear Friendship, yes, I am in real trouble!
Everyman: But, my friend, you promised!.
Friendship: My true friend, tell me what's wrong; I will
never forsake you. Through thick and through thin, you Friendship: Not even our friendship can persuade me to
can count on me. go.

Everyman: Then you truly are a friend indeed; you have Everyman: You won't come, Friendship? You're forsaking
never disappointed me before. me?

Friendship: And I never will; I swear, even if you were to Friendship: Yes, I'm sorry, but I leave you in God's hands.
go to hell, I would stay with you.
Everyman: Where else can I turn for help if even
Everyman: I have been commanded to go on a journey - a Friendship fails me? I know - I'll go to my family. My
long, hard, dangerous journey to give a reckoning before

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kinsmen will help me, because blood is thicker than water. heart light before, I'll speak to them in this distress. Where
Kindred, are you there? are you, my goods and riches?

Kindred: In riches or poverty, you can always depend on Worldly Goods: Here sir; if you have any trouble or
your family. adversity in the world, I can help.

Everyman: God has called me to give account for my life, Everyman: It is something else that grieves me; I am sent
how I've lived and spent my days, and my ill deeds. Please to give an account before the highest judge of all. All my
come and help me give account. life you've given me pleasure, therefore, come with me
and speak to God for me. They say that money can make
Kindred: What! But you're so young and merry! Take all wrongs right.
heart! But, no, I won't go with you. Worldly Goods: No, Everyman, I sing another song, I
follow no man in such voyages. If I did go with you, it
Everyman: My Cousin, will you go with me? would go worse for you because you set your hope on me.
I have made you forget that this day of reckoning would
Cousin: No, I have a cramp in my toe. come. Your love for me will be your undoing.

Everyman: Tell me the truth - will you go with me, or stay Everyman: Yes, I have loved you, and had great pleasure
behind? in the good things your treasures have provided for me.

Kindred: Stay behind? You'd better believe it! Farewell, Worldly Goods: That is to your damnation, because love of
I'll see you later. money goes against eternal love. If you had loved me
more moderately and shared some of me with the poor,
Everyman: All my life I have loved riches; maybe now you would not be in this trouble and sorrow.
they'll help me. My goods and possessions have made my

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Everyman: Curse you, false hope! You deceived me, you Knowledge: Everyman, I will go with you, and be your
traitor, and caught me in your trap! Oh, who shall go with guide. In your need, I'll stay by your side. We'll go
me on my journey? Friendship, although he promised to be together to the cleansing river of Confession.
true, left me alone. Kindred, although he spoke pleasantly,
also refused to go with me. Then I went to the possessions Everyman: Oh, glorious river that cleans all filth, wash me
that meant the most to me, and they said that my love for so that no sin is seen on me. I come with Knowledge for
them may send me to hell! It's my own fault, I alone am to my redemption, I repent with hearty and full contrition. I
blame. Who might help me now? I can ask Good Deeds, am commanded to make a journey and give account to
but she is so weak that she hasn't the strength to speak God. Oh, please, Mother of Salvation, I beg of you to help
much less accompany me. Nevertheless, I have nothing to my Good Deeds.
lose by asking. Good Deeds, where are you? Please say
you'll go with me or else I'm forever damned. Help me to Confession: I know your sorrow well, Everyman; since
make a reckoning before the redeemer and king. you have come to me with Knowledge, I will comfort you
as best I can. I will give you a precious jewel called
Good Deeds: Everyman, I am sorry for your fall, and I Penance; it shall punish your body and cancel out your
would help you if I were stronger and more able. adversity.

Everyman: Good Deeds, at least give me some advice. Everyman: Oh, God, heavenly Figure, good and right
Vision, Who descended in a pure virgin to redeem
Good Deeds: I'll be happy to, although I'm so weak I’m Everyman who was forfeited by Adam's disobedience -
not able to get on my feet; I have a sister named Oh, blessed God, forgive my great offense and have mercy
Knowledge who will go with you in your dreadful on me!
reckoning.
Knowledge: Everyman, I leave you in the hands of our
Savior to ensure your reckoning.

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Good Deeds: I thank God, now I can turn and go; I am Strength: We will all bring him there, to help and comfort,
delivered from my sickness and sorrow and now I am able believe me.
to go with Everyman and help him declare his good deeds.
Discretion: So we will go with him all together.
Everyman: Welcome, my Good Deeds; now I hear your
voice and I weep for the very sweetness of your love. Strength: And I, Strength, will by you stand in distress,
and help you in any fight.
Knowledge: Don't be sad anymore, but be glad. God has
seen your confession from his throne. Put on this garment Five Senses: Through thick and through thin, we will not
which is wet with your tears of repentance so that He depart from you in good times or bad.
might remember your tears when you come to your
journey's end. Now you must lead three more mighty Beauty: Even to death, I will stay with you, whatever may
persons on your journey. happen.
Knowledge: Everyman, listen to me; Go to Priesthood, I
Everyman: Who are they? advise you, he will give you the holy sacrament and
ointment. Then return here to us. We will wait for you
Good Deeds: Discretion, Strength and Beauty. here.

Knowledge: Also, you must call your Five Senses as your Five Senses: Yes, Everyman, there is no emperor, king,
counsellors. duke, nor baron, that is greater in importance than the least
priest, for he bears the keys and therefore has the cure for
Good Deeds: You must have them always ready at all man's redemption. God gave that cure out of of his own
hours heart with great pain. In this earthly life there are seven
sacraments - baptism, confirmation, priesthood,
Everyman: My friends, come here and be with me - communion, marriage, the holy extreme unction, and
Discretion, Strength, my Five Senses and Beauty. penance; these are gracious sacraments of high divinity.

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Everyman: I will receive holy communion. Strength: Everyman, this is no longer any fun, I'm leaving
as well.
Five Senses: Everyman, that is the best that you can do;
God will bring you to salvation, for Priesthood exceeds all Everyman: He that trusts in his Strength will find that it
other things; he teaches us the Holy Scriptures. deceives him in the end. Both Strength and Beauty have
forsaken me, although they promised me so faithfully.
Knowledge: When priests are good then it is true; when
Jesus hung on the cross with great pain, he gave, out of his Discretion: Everyman, I will also be leaving you alone
blessed heart, that same sacrament in great torment. But now that Strength has gone.
that sacrament is not for sale and those priests who take
money for giving the sacraments have God's curse on them Everyman: Why, Discretion, why must you abandon me,
for being such a sinful example. too?
Everyman: Now may Jesus help me. I have received the
sacrament for my redemption, blessed be you who gave Discretion: When Strength goes, I follow him.
me the suggestion! And now, friends, let us go on without
further delay. I thank you for waiting for me so patiently. Everyman: Everything fails except God alone; Beauty,
Oh, dear, my legs are so tired I can barely stand! I'm sorry, Strength, and Discretion; for when Death blows his blast,
but I can't go a step further, I must creep into this cave and they all run from me as fast as they can.
rest.
Five Senses: Everyman, I must be going, too; I am
Beauty: But, alas! This is a grave! following the others. Here's where I leave you.

Everyman: Yes, there you shall consume more and less. Everyman: Oh Jesus, help, all have forsaken me!

Beauty: What, would you have me smother here? I'm out

of here, goodbye, I'm taking my things and leaving.

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Good Deeds: Not all, Everyman, I will stay with you. I Knowledge: Now he has suffered so that we all shall
will never abandon you. You will find me a good friend endure; Good Deeds shall make everything certain. Now
when you need one. he has ended, I think I hear angels singing and making
great joy and melody where Everyman's soul shall be
Everyman: Thank you, Good Deeds; now I see who my received.
real friends are; the rest have forsaken me, every one,
although I loved them better than my Good Deeds. Angel: Come, beloved of Jesus: Hereabove you shall go.
Knowledge, will you forsake me too?
Doctor: You who hear, this is the moral: let go of your
Knowledge: Yes, Everyman, I will leave when you go to pride! Beauty, Five Senses, Strength, and Discretion; they
death; but not until I see what happens to you. all abandoned Everyman in the end...everyone except his
Good Deeds. But beware, if your Good Deeds are small
Everyman: I think it's time for me to go, to make my before God, you will have no help at all. No excuse will be
reckoning and pay my debts, I see my time is up. Heed my found there for Everyman, and what shall he do then? For
example, everyone, note that those I loved best left me, after death, no man may make amends, for then even Pity
every one except my Good Deeds who stayed ‘til the end. will forsake him if his reckoning is not clear when he
comes. So ends the moral play of Everyman. Look well
Good Deeds: Don't be afraid, I will speak for you. and take good heed. This matter is wonderfully precious,
but the intent of it is more gracious.
Everyman: Here I plead, Oh, God, have mercy! Into your
hands I commend my soul. Receive it, Lord, that it may
not be lost. As you bought me, so defend me and save me
from the fiend so that I may appear with the angels and be
saved on the day of doom.

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