The Killing of Abel
GOD
I am mightful God veray, maker of all that is,
three persons withouten nay, one God in endless bliss,
that made both night and day, beast, fowl and fish.
Then man and woman wrought I at my wish
as I well might.
I am mightful God veray, maker of all that is,
three persons withouten nay, one God in endless bliss,
that made both night and day, beast, fowl and fish.
Then man and woman wrought I at my wish
as I well might.
Since I have made all thing that is living,
duke, emperor and king, with mine own hand,
to have their liking by sea and by sand,
every man to my bidding should be bound
full fervent,
that made man such a creature,
fairest of favour.
Man must love me, paramour,
by reason, and repent.
duke, emperor and king, with mine own hand,
to have their liking by sea and by sand,
every man to my bidding should be bound
full fervent,
that made man such a creature,
fairest of favour.
Man must love me, paramour,
by reason, and repent.
Me thought I showed man love when I made him to be
all angels above, like to the Trinity;
and now in great reproof full low lies he,
in earth to stuff himself with sin, that displeases me
most of all.
all angels above, like to the Trinity;
and now in great reproof full low lies he,
in earth to stuff himself with sin, that displeases me
most of all.
PICKHARNESS
All hail, all hail, both blithe and glad,
for here come I, a merry lad!
Cease your din, my master bade,
or else the devil you speed,
varlets every one!
Full well ye all him ken,
for some of you are his men.
If my master come, welcome him then.
Farewell, for I am gone!
All hail, all hail, both blithe and glad,
for here come I, a merry lad!
Cease your din, my master bade,
or else the devil you speed,
varlets every one!
Full well ye all him ken,
for some of you are his men.
If my master come, welcome him then.
Farewell, for I am gone!
CAIN
Go forth, Greenhorn! Grim, draw on!
Ye stand as ye were fallen in swoon!
God give you ill time!
Ware! Let me see how ye will draw.
Lo, now heard she what I said;
I say then, go fare!
Ah! God give thee sorrow and care!
Now yet art thou the worst mare
in plough that ever I had.
Go forth, Greenhorn! Grim, draw on!
Ye stand as ye were fallen in swoon!
God give you ill time!
Ware! Let me see how ye will draw.
Lo, now heard she what I said;
I say then, go fare!
Ah! God give thee sorrow and care!
Now yet art thou the worst mare
in plough that ever I had.
Ho! Pickharness! ho! Come hither knave!
PICKHARNESS
God forbid that ever thou thrive!
God forbid that ever thou thrive!
CAIN
What, boy, shall I both hold and drive?
See how they go, want of food is the cause.
What, boy, shall I both hold and drive?
See how they go, want of food is the cause.
PICKHARNESS
Their fodder, sir, I lay behind their arse
and tie them fast by the necks,
with many stones in their racks.
Their fodder, sir, I lay behind their arse
and tie them fast by the necks,
with many stones in their racks.
CAIN
That shall buy thy false cheeks! Strikes him
That shall buy thy false cheeks! Strikes him
PICKHARNESS
And have again as right! Strikes back
And have again as right! Strikes back
CAIN
I am thy master. Wilt thou fight?
I am thy master. Wilt thou fight?
PICKHARNESS
Yea, with the same measure and weight
that I borrow will I quite.
Yea, with the same measure and weight
that I borrow will I quite.
Enter Abel
ABEL
God, as he both may and can,
speed thee, brother, and thy man.
God, as he both may and can,
speed thee, brother, and thy man.
CAIN
Ho now! Come kiss mine arse!
Thy welcome is the worse.
Go grease thy sheep under the tout,
for that is thee most lief.
Ho now! Come kiss mine arse!
Thy welcome is the worse.
Go grease thy sheep under the tout,
for that is thee most lief.
ABEL
Brother, there is none here about
that would thee any grief.
Brother, there is none here about
that would thee any grief.
But, dear brother, hear my saw:
It is the custom of our law
all that do as the wise
shall worship God with sacrifice.
Come forth, brother, and let us gang
to worship God; we dwell too long.
Give we him part of our fee,
corn or cattle whether it be.
It is the custom of our law
all that do as the wise
shall worship God with sacrifice.
Come forth, brother, and let us gang
to worship God; we dwell too long.
Give we him part of our fee,
corn or cattle whether it be.
CAIN
Should I leave my plough and all thing
and go with thee to make offering?
Nay, thou finds me not so mad!
Go to the devil, and say I said!
Should I leave my plough and all thing
and go with thee to make offering?
Nay, thou finds me not so mad!
Go to the devil, and say I said!
ABEL
Cain, leave this vain carping,
for God gives thee all thy living.
Cain, leave this vain carping,
for God gives thee all thy living.
CAIN
Yet borrowed I never a farthing
of him - here’s my hand!
Whereof should I tithe, dear brother,
for I am each year worse than other?
Here my troth, it is none other.
Whereof then should I lend?
Yet borrowed I never a farthing
of him - here’s my hand!
Whereof should I tithe, dear brother,
for I am each year worse than other?
Here my troth, it is none other.
Whereof then should I lend?
ABEL
Dear brother, say not so,
but let us forth together go.
Dear brother, say not so,
but let us forth together go.
CAIN
Yea, yea, thou jangles waste!
The devil me speed if I have haste,
as long as I live,
to deal my good or give,
either to God or yet to man,
of any good that ever I won.
For had I given away my good,
then might I go with riven hood;
and it is better to hold what I have
than go from door to door and crave.
Yea, yea, thou jangles waste!
The devil me speed if I have haste,
as long as I live,
to deal my good or give,
either to God or yet to man,
of any good that ever I won.
For had I given away my good,
then might I go with riven hood;
and it is better to hold what I have
than go from door to door and crave.
ABEL
Brother, come forth, in God’s name;
I am full feared that we get blame.
Brother, come forth, in God’s name;
I am full feared that we get blame.
CAIN
Yea, man, I hold thee mad!
Weens thou that I should gad
to offer of my goods ought?
The devil him speed that me so taught!
What need had I my travail to lose,
to wear my shoes and rive my hose?
But well I see go must I need.
Now wend before - ill might thou speed.
Yea, man, I hold thee mad!
Weens thou that I should gad
to offer of my goods ought?
The devil him speed that me so taught!
What need had I my travail to lose,
to wear my shoes and rive my hose?
But well I see go must I need.
Now wend before - ill might thou speed.
ABEL
Dear brother, it were great wonder
that thou and I should go asunder,
but go we forth both together.
Blessed be God, we have fair weather.
Dear brother, it were great wonder
that thou and I should go asunder,
but go we forth both together.
Blessed be God, we have fair weather.
They go to the site of sacrifice
CAIN
Lay down thy trussel upon this hill.
Lay down thy trussel upon this hill.
ABEL
Forsooth brother, so I will.
God of heaven take it to good.
Forsooth brother, so I will.
God of heaven take it to good.
CAIN
Thou shall tithe first, since that thou would.
Thou shall tithe first, since that thou would.
ABEL
God that shaped both earth and heaven,
I pray to thee thou hear my steven,
and take in thank, if thy will be,
the tithe that I offer here to thee,
for I give it in good intent
to thee, my Lord, that all has sent.
I burn it now with steadfast thought,
in worship of him that all has wrought.
God that shaped both earth and heaven,
I pray to thee thou hear my steven,
and take in thank, if thy will be,
the tithe that I offer here to thee,
for I give it in good intent
to thee, my Lord, that all has sent.
I burn it now with steadfast thought,
in worship of him that all has wrought.
CAIN
Rise! Let me now, since thou has done,
since I must need, my tithe to burn,.
One sheaf, one, and this makes two -
but neither of these may I forgo.
Two, two now this is three -
yea, this also shall stay with me.
Four sheaves, four, lo, this makes five.
Five and six, now this is seven -
but this gets never the God of heaven,
nor none of these four, at my might,
shall never come in God’s sight.
Seven, seven, now this is eight -
Rise! Let me now, since thou has done,
since I must need, my tithe to burn,.
One sheaf, one, and this makes two -
but neither of these may I forgo.
Two, two now this is three -
yea, this also shall stay with me.
Four sheaves, four, lo, this makes five.
Five and six, now this is seven -
but this gets never the God of heaven,
nor none of these four, at my might,
shall never come in God’s sight.
Seven, seven, now this is eight -
ABEL
Cain, thou tithes not as thou ought.
Cain, thou tithes not as thou ought.
CAIN
Weh lo! wilt thou that I wink?
Then shall I do no wrong, me think.
Let me see now how it is:
Lo, yet I hold me payed!
I tithed wonder well by guess,
and so even I laid.
Weh lo! wilt thou that I wink?
Then shall I do no wrong, me think.
Finishes counting with his eyes closed
Let me see now how it is:
Opens his eyes
Lo, yet I hold me payed!
I tithed wonder well by guess,
and so even I laid.
ABEL
Cain, of God me think thou has no dread.
Cain, of God me think thou has no dread.
CAIN
Now, and he get more, the devil me speed.
The devil hang thee by the neck!
How that I tithe never thou reck.
Of this jangling I bid thee cease.
But now, since thou has tendered thine,
now will I set fire on mine.
Weh! out! harroo! Help to blow!
It will not burn for me, I trow.
Puff! this smoke does me much shame!
Now, burn, in the devil’s name!
Now, and he get more, the devil me speed.
The devil hang thee by the neck!
How that I tithe never thou reck.
Of this jangling I bid thee cease.
But now, since thou has tendered thine,
now will I set fire on mine.
Weh! out! harroo! Help to blow!
It will not burn for me, I trow.
Puff! this smoke does me much shame!
Now, burn, in the devil’s name!
ABEL
Cain, this is not worth one leek.
Thy tithe should burn without smoke.
Cain, this is not worth one leek.
Thy tithe should burn without smoke.
CAIN
Come kiss the devil right in the arse!
For thee it burns but the worse.
I would that it were in thy throat,
fire and sheaf and every sprout.
Come kiss the devil right in the arse!
For thee it burns but the worse.
I would that it were in thy throat,
fire and sheaf and every sprout.
GOD
Cain, why art thou so rebel
against thy brother Abel?
Needest thou never fight nor chide.
If thou tithe right, thou gets thy meed;
and be thou sure, if thou tithe false,
thou shall be quit then somewhat else.
Cain, why art thou so rebel
against thy brother Abel?
Needest thou never fight nor chide.
If thou tithe right, thou gets thy meed;
and be thou sure, if thou tithe false,
thou shall be quit then somewhat else.
CAIN
Why, who is that hob-over-the-wall?
Weh! who was that that piped so small?
Come, go we hence, for perils all;
God is out of his wit!
Come forth, Abel, and let us wend.
Me think that God is not my friend;
on land then will I flit.
Why, who is that hob-over-the-wall?
Weh! who was that that piped so small?
Come, go we hence, for perils all;
God is out of his wit!
Come forth, Abel, and let us wend.
Me think that God is not my friend;
on land then will I flit.
ABEL
Ah, Cain, brother, that is ill done.
Ah, Cain, brother, that is ill done.
CAIN
No, but go we hence soon,
and, if I may, I shall be
where God will not me see.
No, but go we hence soon,
and, if I may, I shall be
where God will not me see.
ABEL
Dear brother, I will fare
on field where our beasts are,
to look if they be empty or full.
Dear brother, I will fare
on field where our beasts are,
to look if they be empty or full.
CAIN
Nay, nay, abide! We have a crow to pull.
Hark, speak with me ere thou go!
What, weens thou to escape so?
Nay, nay, abide! We have a crow to pull.
Hark, speak with me ere thou go!
What, weens thou to escape so?
ABEL
Brother, why art thou so to me in ire?
Brother, why art thou so to me in ire?
CAIN
Weh! thief, why burned thy tithe so sheer,
where mine did but smoke,
right as it would us both have choked?
Weh! thief, why burned thy tithe so sheer,
where mine did but smoke,
right as it would us both have choked?
ABEL
God’s will I trow it were
that mine burned so clear.
If thine smoked, am I to blame?
God’s will I trow it were
that mine burned so clear.
If thine smoked, am I to blame?
CAIN
Weh! yea! thou shall repay the shame.
With cheek-bone, ere I go again,
thou and thy life shall part in twain.
So, lie down there and take thy rest:
thus shall shrews be chastised best.
Weh! yea! thou shall repay the shame.
With cheek-bone, ere I go again,
thou and thy life shall part in twain.
Strikes Abel down with an ass’s jaw-bone
So, lie down there and take thy rest:
thus shall shrews be chastised best.
ABELL
Vengeance, vengeance, Lord, I cry!
For I am slain and not guilty.
Vengeance, vengeance, Lord, I cry!
For I am slain and not guilty.
CAIN
Yea, lie there, old shrew, lie there, lie!
But now, since he is fallen asleep,
into some hole fain would I creep.
For fear I quake, here at my need,
for if I be taken, I be but dead.
Yea, lie there, old shrew, lie there, lie!
But now, since he is fallen asleep,
into some hole fain would I creep.
For fear I quake, here at my need,
for if I be taken, I be but dead.
GOD
Cain, Cain!
Cain, Cain!
CAIN
Who is that that calls me?
I am yonder, may thou not see?
Who is that that calls me?
I am yonder, may thou not see?
GOD
Cain, where is thy brother Abel?
Cain, where is thy brother Abel?
CAIN
Why asks thou me? I trow at hell,
at hell I trow he be -
whoso were there, then might he see -
or somewhere fallen on sleeping.
When was he in my keeping?
Why asks thou me? I trow at hell,
at hell I trow he be -
whoso were there, then might he see -
or somewhere fallen on sleeping.
When was he in my keeping?
GOD
Cain, Cain, thou was mad.
The voice of thy brother’s blood,
that thou has slain on false wise,
from earth to heaven vengeance cries.
And, for thou has brought thy brother down,
here I give thee my malison.
Cain, Cain, thou was mad.
The voice of thy brother’s blood,
that thou has slain on false wise,
from earth to heaven vengeance cries.
And, for thou has brought thy brother down,
here I give thee my malison.
CAIN
Since I have done so mickle sin
that I may not thy mercy win,
and thou does me from thy grace,
I shall hide me from thy face,
and whereso any man may find me
he shall slay me, certainly.
For, may I from this place depart,
by all men I set not a fart.
Since I have done so mickle sin
that I may not thy mercy win,
and thou does me from thy grace,
I shall hide me from thy face,
and whereso any man may find me
he shall slay me, certainly.
For, may I from this place depart,
by all men I set not a fart.
GOD
Nay, Cain, it is not so;
I will that no man other slay,
for he that slays thee, young or old,
shall be punished sevenfold.
Nay, Cain, it is not so;
I will that no man other slay,
for he that slays thee, young or old,
shall be punished sevenfold.
CAIN
Yea, so! I know whither I shall:
in hell, I trow, must be my stall.
But this corpse I would were hid.
Pickharness, my knave, will I bid.
Ho! Pickharness! Pickharness! ho!
Yea, so! I know whither I shall:
in hell, I trow, must be my stall.
But this corpse I would were hid.
Pickharness, my knave, will I bid.
Ho! Pickharness! Pickharness! ho!
PICKHARNESS
Master, master!
Master, master!
CAIN
Hearest thou, boy? There is a pudding in the pot.
Take thee that, boy, take thee that! Strikes him
Hark, boy, I have a counsell thee to say:
I slew my brother this same day.
I pray thee, good boy, if thou may,
to run away with the bones.
Hearest thou, boy? There is a pudding in the pot.
Take thee that, boy, take thee that! Strikes him
Hark, boy, I have a counsell thee to say:
I slew my brother this same day.
I pray thee, good boy, if thou may,
to run away with the bones.
PICKHARNESS
Has thou thy brother slain?
Has thou thy brother slain?
CAIN
Peace, man, for God’s pain!
Peace, man, for God’s pain!
PICKHARNESS
Yea, but for fear of grievance
here I thee forsake;
we must have a mickle mischance
if the bailiffs us take.
Yea, but for fear of grievance
here I thee forsake;
we must have a mickle mischance
if the bailiffs us take.
CAIN
Ah, sir, I cry you mercy! Cease,
and I shall make you a release.
Ah, sir, I cry you mercy! Cease,
and I shall make you a release.
PICKHARNESS
What, wilt thou cry my peace
throughout this land?
What, wilt thou cry my peace
throughout this land?
CAIN
Yea, that I give God a vow,
but thou must be my good boy,
and cry ‘Oyez, oyez, oy’.
Yea, that I give God a vow,
but thou must be my good boy,
and cry ‘Oyez, oyez, oy’.
PICKHARNESS
Peas, peas to thy boy!
Peas, peas to thy boy!
CAIN
I command you, in the king’s name,
I command you, in the king’s name,
PICKHARNESS
And in my master’s, false Cain,
And in my master’s, false Cain,
CAIN
that no man with them find fault nor blame.
that no man with them find fault nor blame.
PICKHARNESS
Yea, cold roast is at my master’s home.
Yea, cold roast is at my master’s home.
CAIN
The king writes you until:
The king writes you until:
PICKHARNESS
Yet eat I never half my fill.
Yet eat I never half my fill.
CAIN
The king will that they be safe.
The king will that they be safe.
PICKHARNESS
Yea, a draught of drink fain would I have.
Yea, a draught of drink fain would I have.
CAIN
At their own will let them live.
At their own will let them live.
PICKHARNESS
My stomach is ready to receive.
My stomach is ready to receive.
CAIN
Look no man say to them, one or other:
Look no man say to them, one or other:
PICKHARNESS
This same is he that slew his brother.
This same is he that slew his brother.
CAIN
Bid every man them love and lowt.
Bid every man them love and lowt.
PICKHARNESS
Yea, ill-spun weft aye comes foul out.
Yea, ill-spun weft aye comes foul out.
CAIN
Bid every man them please to pay.
Bid every man them please to pay.
PICKHARNESS
Yea, give Dun, thy horse, a wisp of hay!
Yea, give Dun, thy horse, a wisp of hay!
CAIN
Weh! Come down, in twenty devils’ way!
The devil I thee betake;
For, but it were Abel my brother,
yet knew I never thy like.
Weh! Come down, in twenty devils’ way!
The devil I thee betake;
For, but it were Abel my brother,
yet knew I never thy like.
PICKHARNESS
Now, old and young, ere that ye wend,
the same blessing, withouten end,
that God of heaven my master has given
shall ye have, while that ye live.
Now, old and young, ere that ye wend,
the same blessing, withouten end,
that God of heaven my master has given
shall ye have, while that ye live.
CAIN
Come down, yet, in the devil’s way,
and anger me no more!
And wend thee forth fast before.
Come down, yet, in the devil’s way,
and anger me no more!
And wend thee forth fast before.
Exit Pickharness
Now farewell, fellows all, for I must needs wend,
and to the devil be thrall, world without end;
ordained there is my stall, with Satanas the fiend.
Ever ill might him befall that thither me commend
this tide.
Farewell less, and farewell more!
For now and evermore
I will go me to hide.
and to the devil be thrall, world without end;
ordained there is my stall, with Satanas the fiend.
Ever ill might him befall that thither me commend
this tide.
Farewell less, and farewell more!
For now and evermore
I will go me to hide.
Exit Cain
2023 Sep 25 18:46:07