John Redford (2) (1500–1547)

[The Moral Play of Wit and Science] by John Redford
An allegorical play written sometime before 1550. John Redford was the organist and Choirmaster at St Paul's Cathedral from about 1525. He wrote organ music and some choral pieces, but I have not been able to locate much of his music, which is a shame because it features heavily in his play. As the title suggests it is a Morality Play, probably designed to educate as much as to entertain, although there are some passages of comedy.

Reason is concerned about his daughter science, who is inclined towards the favours of Wit. We see Wit under the influence of Diligence, Study and Instruction, but his enemy Tediousness emerges and fights with Wit. Wit is killed but is brought back to life by Honest Recreation however he soon falls under the spell of Idleness and her cohort Ignorance. After dancing a galliard there is an interlude of comedy when Idleness tries to teach Ignorance to remember his own name by breaking it down into syllables. This proves totally unsuccessful and the scene ends with Idleness wrapping up Wit in her own coat. Wit is saved by Confidence and Instruction and he kills Tediousness. With the aid of Study and Diligence he asks for the hand of Science.

Much of the play is in rhyming couplets and flows reasonably well. There are plenty of songs and dance interludes throughout and so I can envisage it as an all round entertainment. The interesting point for me was the absence of religion and references to the current political situation. (we are deep into the early Tudors and the Reformation) This was a play probably designed for travelling players that could be performed anywhere and would not cause offence.

The book I read is free online and was published by the Shakespeare Society Publications in the late 19th century. The introduction notes that there are a slew of songs and poems appearing after the play, some written by John Redford, which are of interest, but the writer of the introduction says he would rather be reading Shakespeare, Marlow and Jonson than carrying out research into these minor authors. Here is an excerpt from one written by John Redford: The Choristers Lament:

We have a cursyd master, I tell you all for trew
so cruell as he is was never Turke or Jue.
he is the most unhappiest man that ever ye knewe,
for to poor syllye boyes he wurkyth much woe.
Do we never so well, he can never be content,
but for our good wylles we ever more be shente [punished],
ofttimes our lytle butokes he dooth all to rent,
that we, poore sylye boyes, abyde much woe.
We have many lasshes to lerne this peelde [wretched] song,
that I wyll not lye to you now & then among;
out of our butokes we may plucke the stumpes thus long
that we, poore sylye boyes, abyde much woe. … (mehr)