The Watter Leaders and the Drawers of Dee Playe
God
I, God, that all this worlde hath wroughte,1
Heaven and eairth, and all of naughte,
I see my people in deede and thoughte
Are sette fowle in synne;
My ghoste shall not linge in mone,
That through fleshe likinge is my fonne,
But tell sixe skore yeaires be comen and gone,7
To loke yf the will blyne.
Man that I made I will destroye,
Beaste, worme, and fowle to flye,
For one eairth the doe me nye
The folke that are theirone;
It harmes me sore hurtfullye,13
The malice that doth nowe multiplye,
That sore yt greives me hartelye
That ever I made man.
Therfore, Noye, my servante free,
That rightious man arte, as I see,
A shippe sone thou shall make thee19
Of treeyes drye and lighte;
Littill chamberes therin thou make,
And byndinge slyche also thou take,
Within and without neye thou slake,
To anoynte yt through all thy mighte.
Three hundreth cubettes it shalbe longe,25
And fiftie brode, to make yt stronge;
Of heighte fiftie the nexte thou fonge,
Thus messuer thou this aboute.
One wyndowe worcke through thy wytte,
A cubitte of lengthe and breade make itt,
Upon the syde a dore shall sutte,31
For to come in and oute.
Eattinge places thou make alsoe,
Ronette chamberes one or too:
For with watter I thinke to flowe
Man that I can make;
Destroyed all the worlde shalbe,37
Save thou, thy wiffe, and children three,
And ther wiffes also with thee,
Shall fal before thy face.
I, God, that all this worlde hath wroughte,1
Heaven and eairth, and all of naughte,
I see my people in deede and thoughte
Are sette fowle in synne;
My ghoste shall not linge in mone,
That through fleshe likinge is my fonne,
But tell sixe skore yeaires be comen and gone,7
To loke yf the will blyne.
Man that I made I will destroye,
Beaste, worme, and fowle to flye,
For one eairth the doe me nye
The folke that are theirone;
It harmes me sore hurtfullye,13
The malice that doth nowe multiplye,
That sore yt greives me hartelye
That ever I made man.
Therfore, Noye, my servante free,
That rightious man arte, as I see,
A shippe sone thou shall make thee19
Of treeyes drye and lighte;
Littill chamberes therin thou make,
And byndinge slyche also thou take,
Within and without neye thou slake,
To anoynte yt through all thy mighte.
Three hundreth cubettes it shalbe longe,25
And fiftie brode, to make yt stronge;
Of heighte fiftie the nexte thou fonge,
Thus messuer thou this aboute.
One wyndowe worcke through thy wytte,
A cubitte of lengthe and breade make itt,
Upon the syde a dore shall sutte,31
For to come in and oute.
Eattinge places thou make alsoe,
Ronette chamberes one or too:
For with watter I thinke to flowe
Man that I can make;
Destroyed all the worlde shalbe,37
Save thou, thy wiffe, and children three,
And ther wiffes also with thee,
Shall fal before thy face.
Noye
O, Lorde, I thanke thee lowde and still,41
That to me arte in suche will,
And spares me and my howsehoulde to spill,
As I nowe southlye fynde.
Thy byddinge, Lorde, I shall fulfill,
And never more thee greve nor grill,
That such grace hath sente me till47
Amonght all mankinde.
Have done, you men and wemen all,
Hye you, leste this watter fall,
To worche this shippe, chamber and hall,
As God hath bedden us doe.
O, Lorde, I thanke thee lowde and still,41
That to me arte in suche will,
And spares me and my howsehoulde to spill,
As I nowe southlye fynde.
Thy byddinge, Lorde, I shall fulfill,
And never more thee greve nor grill,
That such grace hath sente me till47
Amonght all mankinde.
Have done, you men and wemen all,
Hye you, leste this watter fall,
To worche this shippe, chamber and hall,
As God hath bedden us doe.
Sem
Father, I am all readye bowne;53
An axe I have, by my crowne!
As sharpe as anye in all this towne,
For to goe therto.
Father, I am all readye bowne;53
An axe I have, by my crowne!
As sharpe as anye in all this towne,
For to goe therto.
Cam
I have a hacchatt wounder keeyne,57
To bitte well, as maye be seene,
A better gronde one, as I wene,
Is not in all this towne.
I have a hacchatt wounder keeyne,57
To bitte well, as maye be seene,
A better gronde one, as I wene,
Is not in all this towne.
Jaffette
And I can make well a pynne,61
And with this hamer knocke it in;
Goe wee worcke boute dyne,
And I am readye bowne.
And I can make well a pynne,61
And with this hamer knocke it in;
Goe wee worcke boute dyne,
And I am readye bowne.
Noyes Wiffe
And we shall bringe tymber too,65
For we mone nothinge elles doe;
Wemen be weeke to underfoe
Anye greate travill.
And we shall bringe tymber too,65
For we mone nothinge elles doe;
Wemen be weeke to underfoe
Anye greate travill.
Semes Wiffe
Hear is a good hacckinge stoccke,69
One this you maye hewe and knocke,
Shall none be idle in this floccke;
Ney nowe maye noe man fayle.
Hear is a good hacckinge stoccke,69
One this you maye hewe and knocke,
Shall none be idle in this floccke;
Ney nowe maye noe man fayle.
Cammes Wiffe
And I will goe gaither slyche,73
The shippe for to caulke and pyche,
Amounte yt muste be with stiche,
Borde, tree, and pynne.
And I will goe gaither slyche,73
The shippe for to caulke and pyche,
Amounte yt muste be with stiche,
Borde, tree, and pynne.
Jeffette Wyffe
And I will gaither chippes heare77
To make a fier for you in feare,
And for to dighte youer dynner,
Againste your cominge in.
And I will gaither chippes heare77
To make a fier for you in feare,
And for to dighte youer dynner,
Againste your cominge in.
Then Noye begineth to builde the Arcke, and speaketh Noye
Noye
Nowe in the name of God, I begyne81
To make the shippe that we shall in,
That we maye be readye for to swyme
At the cominge of the fludde:
Thes hordes heare I pynne togeither,
To beare us saffe from the weither,
That we maye rowe neither and theider,87
And saffe be from the fludde.
Of this treey will I make the maste,
Tyed with cabbelles that will laste,
With a saile yarde for iche blaste,
And iche thinge in their kinde:
With toppe-castill, and boe-spritte,93
Bouth cordes and roppes I have all mette,
To sayle fourth at the nexte weete,
This shippe is att an ende.
Wyffe, we shall in this vessell be kepte,
My children and thou I woulde ye in lepte.
Nowe in the name of God, I begyne81
To make the shippe that we shall in,
That we maye be readye for to swyme
At the cominge of the fludde:
Thes hordes heare I pynne togeither,
To beare us saffe from the weither,
That we maye rowe neither and theider,87
And saffe be from the fludde.
Of this treey will I make the maste,
Tyed with cabbelles that will laste,
With a saile yarde for iche blaste,
And iche thinge in their kinde:
With toppe-castill, and boe-spritte,93
Bouth cordes and roppes I have all mette,
To sayle fourth at the nexte weete,
This shippe is att an ende.
Wyffe, we shall in this vessell be kepte,
My children and thou I woulde ye in lepte.
Noyes Wiffe
In fayth, Noye, I hade as leffe thou slepte!99
For all thy frynishe fare,
I will not doe after thy reade.
In fayth, Noye, I hade as leffe thou slepte!99
For all thy frynishe fare,
I will not doe after thy reade.
Noye
Good wyffe, doe nowe as I thee bydde.102
Good wyffe, doe nowe as I thee bydde.102
Noyes Wiffe
Be Christe! not or I see more neede,103
Though thou stande all daye and stare.
Be Christe! not or I see more neede,103
Though thou stande all daye and stare.
Noye
Lorde, that wemen be crabbed aye,105
And non are meke I dare well saye;
That is well seene by me to daye,
In wittnesse of you ichone.
Good wiffe, lett be all this beare,
That thou maiste in this place heare;
For all the wene that thou arte maister,111
And soe thou arte, by Sante John!
Lorde, that wemen be crabbed aye,105
And non are meke I dare well saye;
That is well seene by me to daye,
In wittnesse of you ichone.
Good wiffe, lett be all this beare,
That thou maiste in this place heare;
For all the wene that thou arte maister,111
And soe thou arte, by Sante John!
Then Noye with all his familie shall make a signe as though the wroughte upon the shippe with diveres instrumentes, and after that God shall speake to Noye, sayinge:
God
Noye, take thou thy meanye,113
And in the shippe hie that you be,
For non soe righte, nor non to me,
Is nowe one earth livinge;
Of cleane beastes with thee to take,
Seven and seven, or then thou slake
He and shee, make to make,119
By live in that you bringe.
Of beastes uncleane towe and towe,
Male and femalle, boute moe,
Of cleane fowles seven alsoe,
The hie and shee togeither;
Off ffowles uncleane twene and noe moe,125
As I of beastes sayde before;
That man be saved through my lore,
Againste I sende this weither.
Of all meates that mone be eatten,
Into the shippe loke be getten;
For that maye be noe waye forgotten,131
And doe all this bydene,
To sustayne man and beaste therin,
Tell the watter cease and blyne.
This worlde ye filled full of synne,
And that is nowe well seene.
Seven dayes be yette cominge,137
You shall have space them in to bringe;
After that it is my likinge,
Mankinde for to anoye.
Fourtye dayes and fortye nightes
Raine shall fall for ther unrightes,
And that I have made through my mightes,143
Nowe thinke I to destroye.
Noye, take thou thy meanye,113
And in the shippe hie that you be,
For non soe righte, nor non to me,
Is nowe one earth livinge;
Of cleane beastes with thee to take,
Seven and seven, or then thou slake
He and shee, make to make,119
By live in that you bringe.
Of beastes uncleane towe and towe,
Male and femalle, boute moe,
Of cleane fowles seven alsoe,
The hie and shee togeither;
Off ffowles uncleane twene and noe moe,125
As I of beastes sayde before;
That man be saved through my lore,
Againste I sende this weither.
Of all meates that mone be eatten,
Into the shippe loke be getten;
For that maye be noe waye forgotten,131
And doe all this bydene,
To sustayne man and beaste therin,
Tell the watter cease and blyne.
This worlde ye filled full of synne,
And that is nowe well seene.
Seven dayes be yette cominge,137
You shall have space them in to bringe;
After that it is my likinge,
Mankinde for to anoye.
Fourtye dayes and fortye nightes
Raine shall fall for ther unrightes,
And that I have made through my mightes,143
Nowe thinke I to destroye.
Noye
Lorde, to thy byddinge I am beane,145
Seinge noe other grace will gayne,
Yt will I fulfill fayne,
For gracious I thee fynde;
A hundreth wyntter and twentye
This shippe makinge taryed have I:
Yf through amendment thy mercy e151
Woulde fall to mankinde.
Have donne you men and wemen alle,
Hye you leste this watter fall,
That iich beaste were in stalle,
And into the shippe broughte;
Of cleane beastes seven shalbe,157
Of uncleane [two], this God bade me:
The fludde is nye, you maye well see,
Therfore tarye you naughte.
Lorde, to thy byddinge I am beane,145
Seinge noe other grace will gayne,
Yt will I fulfill fayne,
For gracious I thee fynde;
A hundreth wyntter and twentye
This shippe makinge taryed have I:
Yf through amendment thy mercy e151
Woulde fall to mankinde.
Have donne you men and wemen alle,
Hye you leste this watter fall,
That iich beaste were in stalle,
And into the shippe broughte;
Of cleane beastes seven shalbe,157
Of uncleane [two], this God bade me:
The fludde is nye, you maye well see,
Therfore tarye you naughte.
Then Noye shall goe into the Arcke with all his familye, his wife excepte, and the Arcke muste be borded round about, and one the bordes all the beastes and foules painted.
Sem
Sir, heare are lions, leapardes, in,161
Horses, mares, oxen, and swyne;
Goote and caulfe, sheepe and kine;
Heare sitten thou maye see.
Sir, heare are lions, leapardes, in,161
Horses, mares, oxen, and swyne;
Goote and caulfe, sheepe and kine;
Heare sitten thou maye see.
Cam
Camelles, asses, man maye fynde,165
Bucke and doo, harte and hinde,
And beastes of all maner kinde,
Here be, as thinketh me.
Camelles, asses, man maye fynde,165
Bucke and doo, harte and hinde,
And beastes of all maner kinde,
Here be, as thinketh me.
Jaffett
Take heare cattes, dogges too,169
Atter and foxe, fillie, mare alsoe;
Hares hoppinge gile can goe,
Heare have coule for to eate.
Take heare cattes, dogges too,169
Atter and foxe, fillie, mare alsoe;
Hares hoppinge gile can goe,
Heare have coule for to eate.
Noyes Wiffe
And heare are beares, woulfes sette,173
Apes, oules, marmosette,
Weyscelles, squirelles, and firrette,
Heare the eaten ther meate.
And heare are beares, woulfes sette,173
Apes, oules, marmosette,
Weyscelles, squirelles, and firrette,
Heare the eaten ther meate.
Semes Wiffe
Heare are beastes in this howse,177
Heare cattes make yt crousse,
Heare a rotten, heare a mousse,
That standeth nighe togeither.
Heare are beastes in this howse,177
Heare cattes make yt crousse,
Heare a rotten, heare a mousse,
That standeth nighe togeither.
Cames Wiffe
And heare are fowles lesse and more,181
Hearnes, cranes, and bittor,
Swannes, peacokes, and them before
Meate for this weither.
And heare are fowles lesse and more,181
Hearnes, cranes, and bittor,
Swannes, peacokes, and them before
Meate for this weither.
Jeffattes Wiffe
Heare are coke, kitte, croes,185
Rookes, ravens, manye roes,
Duckes, curlues, whoe ever knowes,
Iche one in his kinde;
Heare are doves, digges, drackes,
Red-shonckes roninge through lackes,
And ech fowle that leden makes191
In this shippe nowe maye fynde.
Heare are coke, kitte, croes,185
Rookes, ravens, manye roes,
Duckes, curlues, whoe ever knowes,
Iche one in his kinde;
Heare are doves, digges, drackes,
Red-shonckes roninge through lackes,
And ech fowle that leden makes191
In this shippe nowe maye fynde.
Noye
Wiffe, come in: why standes thou their?193
Thou arte ever frowarde, I dare well sweare;
Come in, one Godes name! halfe tyme yt were,
For feare leste that we drowne.
Wiffe, come in: why standes thou their?193
Thou arte ever frowarde, I dare well sweare;
Come in, one Godes name! halfe tyme yt were,
For feare leste that we drowne.
Noyes Wiffe
Yea, sir, sette up youer saile,197
And rowe fourth with evill haile,
For withouten fayle
I will not oute of this towne;
But I have my gossippes every echone,
One foote further I will not gone:
The shall not drowne, by Sante John!203
And I maye save ther life.
The loven me full wel, by Christe!
But thou lett them into thy cheiste,
Elles rowe nowe wher thy leiste,
And gette thee a newe wiffe.
Yea, sir, sette up youer saile,197
And rowe fourth with evill haile,
For withouten fayle
I will not oute of this towne;
But I have my gossippes every echone,
One foote further I will not gone:
The shall not drowne, by Sante John!203
And I maye save ther life.
The loven me full wel, by Christe!
But thou lett them into thy cheiste,
Elles rowe nowe wher thy leiste,
And gette thee a newe wiffe.
Noye
Seme, sonne, loe! thy mother is wrawe;209
Be God, such another I doe not knowe!
Seme, sonne, loe! thy mother is wrawe;209
Be God, such another I doe not knowe!
Sem
Father, I shall fetch her in, I trowe,211
Withoutten anye fayle. —
Mother, my father after thee sende,
And byddes thee into yeinder shippe wende.
Loke up and see the wynde,
For we bene readye to sayle.
Father, I shall fetch her in, I trowe,211
Withoutten anye fayle. —
Mother, my father after thee sende,
And byddes thee into yeinder shippe wende.
Loke up and see the wynde,
For we bene readye to sayle.
Noyes Wiffe
Seme, goe againe to hym, I saie;217
I will not come theirin to daye.
Seme, goe againe to hym, I saie;217
I will not come theirin to daye.
Noye
Come in, wiffe, in twentye devilles waye!219
Or elles stand their all daye.
Come in, wiffe, in twentye devilles waye!219
Or elles stand their all daye.
Cam
Shall we all feche her in?221
Shall we all feche her in?221
Noye
Yea, sonnes, in Christe blessinge and myne!222
I woulde you hied you be tyme,
For of this flude I am in doubte.
Yea, sonnes, in Christe blessinge and myne!222
I woulde you hied you be tyme,
For of this flude I am in doubte.
The Good Gossippes Songe
The flude comes flittinge in full faste,225
One everye syde that spreades full farre;
For feare of drowninge I am agaste;
Good gossippes, lett us drawe nere.
And lett us drinke or we departe,
For ofte tymes we have done soe;
For att a draughte thou drinkes a quarte,231
And soe will I doe or I goe.
Heare is a pottill full of Malmsine good and stronge;
Itt will rejoyce bouth harte and tonge;
Though Noye thinke us never so longe,
Heare we will drinke alike.
The flude comes flittinge in full faste,225
One everye syde that spreades full farre;
For feare of drowninge I am agaste;
Good gossippes, lett us drawe nere.
And lett us drinke or we departe,
For ofte tymes we have done soe;
For att a draughte thou drinkes a quarte,231
And soe will I doe or I goe.
Heare is a pottill full of Malmsine good and stronge;
Itt will rejoyce bouth harte and tonge;
Though Noye thinke us never so longe,
Heare we will drinke alike.
Jeffatte
Mother, we praye you all togeither,237
For we are heare, youer owne children,
Come into the shippe for feare of the weither,
For his love that you boughte I
Mother, we praye you all togeither,237
For we are heare, youer owne children,
Come into the shippe for feare of the weither,
For his love that you boughte I
Noyes Wiffe
That will I not, for all youer call,241
But I have my gossippes all.
That will I not, for all youer call,241
But I have my gossippes all.
Sem
In faith, mother, yett you shalle,243
Wheither thou wylte or note.
In faith, mother, yett you shalle,243
Wheither thou wylte or note.
Noye
Welckome, wiffe, into this botte.245
Welckome, wiffe, into this botte.245
Noyes Wiffe
Have thou that for thy note!246
Have thou that for thy note!246
Noye
Ha, ha! marye, this is hotte!247
[It] is good for to be still.
Ha! children, me thinkes my botte renewes,
Our tarryinge heare highlye me greves,
Then the Over the lande the watter spreades;
God doe as he will.
Ha, ha! marye, this is hotte!247
[It] is good for to be still.
Ha! children, me thinkes my botte renewes,
Our tarryinge heare highlye me greves,
Then the Over the lande the watter spreades;
God doe as he will.
Then the singe.
A! greate God, that arte so good,253
That worckes not thy will is wood.
Nowe all this worlde is one a flude,
As I see well in sighte.
This wyndowe I will shutte anon,
And into my chamber I will gone,
Tell this watter so greate wone259
Be slacked through thy mighte.
That worckes not thy will is wood.
Nowe all this worlde is one a flude,
As I see well in sighte.
This wyndowe I will shutte anon,
And into my chamber I will gone,
Tell this watter so greate wone259
Be slacked through thy mighte.
Then shall Noye shutte the wyndowe of they Arcke, and for a littill space be silent, and after warde lokinge rounde aboute shall saye:
Now forty dayes are fullie gone261
Send a raven I will anone
If ought-were earth, tree or stone,
Be drye in any place.
And if this foule come not againe
It is a signe, soth to sayne,
That drye it is on hill or playne,267
And God hath done some grace.
Send a raven I will anone
If ought-were earth, tree or stone,
Be drye in any place.
And if this foule come not againe
It is a signe, soth to sayne,
That drye it is on hill or playne,267
And God hath done some grace.
Tune dimittet corvum et capiens columbam in manibus dicat.
Ah Lord wherever this raven be269
Somewhere is drye, well I see;
But yet a dove by my lewtye
After I will sende.
Thou wilt turne againe to me,
For of all fowles that may flye
Thou art most meke and hend.275
Somewhere is drye, well I see;
But yet a dove by my lewtye
After I will sende.
Thou wilt turne againe to me,
For of all fowles that may flye
Thou art most meke and hend.275
Tune emittet columbam el erit in nave alia columba ferens olivam in ore quam dimittet aliquis ex malo per funem in manus Noe ; et postea dicat Noe.
Ah lord, blessed be thou aye,276
That me hast confort thus to day;
By this sight, I may well saye,
This flood begins to cease.
My sweete dove to me brought hase
A branch of olyve from some place,
This betokeneth God has done us some grace282
And is a signe of peace.
That me hast confort thus to day;
By this sight, I may well saye,
This flood begins to cease.
My sweete dove to me brought hase
A branch of olyve from some place,
This betokeneth God has done us some grace282
And is a signe of peace.
Ah lord honoured most thou be,284
All earthe dryes now I see,
But yet tyll thou comannde me
Hence will I not hye.
All this water is awaye
Therfore as sone as I maye
Sacryfice I shall doo in faye290
To thee devoutlye.
All earthe dryes now I see,
But yet tyll thou comannde me
Hence will I not hye.
All this water is awaye
Therfore as sone as I maye
Sacryfice I shall doo in faye290
To thee devoutlye.
Deus
Noe take thy wife anone,292
And thy children every one,
Out of the shippe thou shall gone,
And they all with thee.
Beastes and all that can flie
Out anone they shall hye,
On earth to grow and multeplye ;298
I wyll that yt be soe.
Noe take thy wife anone,292
And thy children every one,
Out of the shippe thou shall gone,
And they all with thee.
Beastes and all that can flie
Out anone they shall hye,
On earth to grow and multeplye ;298
I wyll that yt be soe.
Noe
Lord I thanke the through thy mighte,300
Thy bydding shall be done in height,
And as fast as I may dighte,
I will doe the honoure.
And to thee offer sacrifice,
Therfore comes in all wise,
For of these beastes that bene hise306
Offer I will this stower.
Lord I thanke the through thy mighte,300
Thy bydding shall be done in height,
And as fast as I may dighte,
I will doe the honoure.
And to thee offer sacrifice,
Therfore comes in all wise,
For of these beastes that bene hise306
Offer I will this stower.
Tunc egrediens archam cum tota familia sua acdpiet animalia sua et volucres et offeret ea et mactabit
Noye
Lorde God, in magestie,308
That suche grace hath graunted me,
Wher all was borne false to be,
Theirfore nowe I am boune,
My wife, my children, and my meanye,
With sacrifice to honour thee,
Of beastes, fowles, as thou maiste see,314
And full devocion.
Lorde God, in magestie,308
That suche grace hath graunted me,
Wher all was borne false to be,
Theirfore nowe I am boune,
My wife, my children, and my meanye,
With sacrifice to honour thee,
Of beastes, fowles, as thou maiste see,314
And full devocion.
God
Noye, to me thou arte full able,316
And to my sacrifice acceptable,
For I have founde thee true and stable;
One thee nowe muste I myne;
Warrye eairth I will noe more,
For mans synnes that greves me sore,
For of youth mon full yore322
Halfe bene inclynde to synne.
You shall nowe growe and multiplye,
On eairth againe to edifye;
Ich beaste, and fowle that maye flye,
Shalbe feared of you;
And fishe in sea that maye flitte328
Shall sustaine you, I thee behitte,
To eate of them ye ne lette
That cleane bene, you mon knowe;
Theras you have eaten before
Treeyes and rootes, since you were bore,
Of cleane beastes nowe lesse and more334
I geve you leve to eate;
Save bloode and fleshe bouth in feare,
Of rouge dead carrine that is heare,
Eate you not of that in noe manere,
For that you shall leave.
Man-slaughter [ever] you shall fieye,340
For that [is] not pleasante unto me;
The that sheedeth blood, he or shee,
Oughte wher amonge mankinde,
That bloode fowle shedde shalbe
And vengance have, men shall see;
Therfore beware all ye,346
You falle not into that synne.
A forwarde, Noye, with thee I make,
And all thy seede, for thy sake,
Suche vengance for to slake,
For nowe I have my will:
Heare I behette thee a heiste,352
That man, woman, fowle, ney beaste,
With watter, while this worlde shall laste,
I will noe more spill.
My bowe betweyne you and me
In the firmamente shalbe,
By everye tocken that you shall see,358
That suche vengance shall cease.
Man shall never more
Be wasted with watter, as he hath bene before;
But for synne that greveth me sore,
Therfore this vengance was.
Wher cloudes in the welckine bene,364
That same bowe shalbe seene,
In tocken that my wrath and teene
Shall never this wrocken be.
The stringe is torned towardes you,
And towarde me is bente the bowe,
That suche weither shall never shewe,370
This behighte I thee.
My blessinge, Noye, I geve thee heare,
To thee, Noye, my servante deare;
For vengance shall noe more appeare,
And nowe fare well, my darlinge deare.
Noye, to me thou arte full able,316
And to my sacrifice acceptable,
For I have founde thee true and stable;
One thee nowe muste I myne;
Warrye eairth I will noe more,
For mans synnes that greves me sore,
For of youth mon full yore322
Halfe bene inclynde to synne.
You shall nowe growe and multiplye,
On eairth againe to edifye;
Ich beaste, and fowle that maye flye,
Shalbe feared of you;
And fishe in sea that maye flitte328
Shall sustaine you, I thee behitte,
To eate of them ye ne lette
That cleane bene, you mon knowe;
Theras you have eaten before
Treeyes and rootes, since you were bore,
Of cleane beastes nowe lesse and more334
I geve you leve to eate;
Save bloode and fleshe bouth in feare,
Of rouge dead carrine that is heare,
Eate you not of that in noe manere,
For that you shall leave.
Man-slaughter [ever] you shall fieye,340
For that [is] not pleasante unto me;
The that sheedeth blood, he or shee,
Oughte wher amonge mankinde,
That bloode fowle shedde shalbe
And vengance have, men shall see;
Therfore beware all ye,346
You falle not into that synne.
A forwarde, Noye, with thee I make,
And all thy seede, for thy sake,
Suche vengance for to slake,
For nowe I have my will:
Heare I behette thee a heiste,352
That man, woman, fowle, ney beaste,
With watter, while this worlde shall laste,
I will noe more spill.
My bowe betweyne you and me
In the firmamente shalbe,
By everye tocken that you shall see,358
That suche vengance shall cease.
Man shall never more
Be wasted with watter, as he hath bene before;
But for synne that greveth me sore,
Therfore this vengance was.
Wher cloudes in the welckine bene,364
That same bowe shalbe seene,
In tocken that my wrath and teene
Shall never this wrocken be.
The stringe is torned towardes you,
And towarde me is bente the bowe,
That suche weither shall never shewe,370
This behighte I thee.
My blessinge, Noye, I geve thee heare,
To thee, Noye, my servante deare;
For vengance shall noe more appeare,
And nowe fare well, my darlinge deare.
Finis. Deo gracias! per me, George Bellin. 1592.
Come, Lorde Jesu, come quicklye.
2023 Sep 26 11:45:55