The Barbers and the Waxe Chaundlers Playe

Messenger
All peace, lordings that been present,
and harken to me with good intent,
how Noah away from us he went
and all his company.
And Abraham, through God’s grace
he is come into this place,
if ye will give him room and space
to tell you this story.
This play, truly, begin shall he
in worship of the Trinity
that ye may all hear and see
that shall be done today.
My name is Gobbet-on-the-Green
With you I may no longer be.
Farewell, my lordings, quickly,
so as not to hinder your play.

Abraham having restored his brother [nephew] Lot into his own place, doth first of all begin the play, and saith:


Abraham
Ah, thou high God, granter of grace,
that ending nor beginning has,
I thank thee, Lord, that thou has
today given me the victory.
Lot, my brother that taken was,
I have rescued him in this case
and brought him home to this place
through thy might and mastery.
To worship thee I will not wond,
four kings of foreign land
today delivered into my hand
riches with great array.
Therefore, of all that I did win
to give the tenth part I will begin,
when soon to the city I come in,
and share with thee my prey.
Melchysedeck, that here king is
and God’s priest also, iwiss,
the tithe I will give him of this,
as wisdom says that I do.
God that has sent me the victory
over four kings graciously,
with him my spoils share will I,
when the city I come to

Here Lot, turning to his brother Abraham, doth say:


Lot
Abraham, brother, I thank thee
who this day hast delivered me
from enemies hands and their posty;
and saved me from woe.
Therefore I will give thee tithing
of my goods while I am living;
and now also of God’s sending
the tithe I will give also.

Here the Knight doth come to Melchysedeck, King of Salem, and rejoicing greatly doth say:


Knight
My lord the king, tidings on right
your heart to gladden and to light!
Abraham hath slain in fight
four kings since he went.
Here he will be this same night
and riches enough with him dight.
I heard him thank God Almight
for grace he hath him sent.

Here Mechysedeck, looking up to Heaven, doth thank God for Abraham’s victory, and doth prepare himself to go present Abraham.


Melchysedeck
Ah, blessed be God, that is but one!
Towards Abraham will I go
to honour him, and that at once
mine office to fulfill,
and present him with bread and wine,
for the grace of God is him within.
Make haste, for love mine,
for this is God’s will.

Here the Knight, offering to Melchysedeck a standing-cup (goblet) and bread also doth say:


Knight
Sir, here is wine, without were
and with it bread both white and clear
to give him with good cheer,
that us so helped has.

Here Melchysedeck answering saith:


Melchysedeck
To God I know he is most dear,
for of all things in his power
he has without danger,
and specially great grace.

Melchysedeck, coming unto Abraham, doth offer to him a cup full of wine and bread and saith unto him:


Abraham, welcome may thou be –
God’s grace is fully in thee.
Blessed ever must thou be
who victory so can wreak.
Here is bread and wine for thy degree
I have brought, as thou may see.
Receive this present now from me,
and that I thee beseech.

Here Abraham, receiving the offering of Melchysedeck, doth say:


Abraham
Sir king, welcome, truly;
thy present is welcome to my pay.
God hath helped me today,
unworthy though I were.
Ye shall have part of my prey
that I won since I went away.
Therefore to thee that I take it may
the tithe I offer here.

Here Abraham offereth to Melchysedeck a horse that is laden.


Melchysedeck
And your present sir, take I
and honour it devoutly,
for much good it may signify
in time that is coming.
Therefore horse, harness and perry,
as befits your dignity,
the tithe of it take from me
and receive here my offering.

Then shall Abraham receive the bread and wine, and Melchysedeck the laden horse by way of tithe. Here Lot doth offer to Makchysedeck a goodly cup and saith:


Lot
And I will offer with good intent
of such goods as God hath me lent
to Melshysedeck here present,
as God’s will is to be.
Abraham my brother offered has,
and so will I through God’s grace.
This royal cup before your face,
receive it now of me.

Here Melchysedeck receiveth the cup from Lot.


Melchysedeck
Sir, your offering welcome is;
and well I know, truly iwiss,
that fully God’s will it is
that is now done today.
Go we together to my city;
and God now heartily thank we
that helps us always through his posty power
for so we full well may.

Here they go together, and Abraham doth take the bread and wine, and Melchysedeck the laden horse


Expositor

Riding on horseback


Lordings, what this may signify
I will expound clearly,
that the unlearned standing hereby
may know what this may be.
This present, I say verament,
signifieth the New Testament
that now is used with good intent
throughout all Christianity.
In the Old Law, without lying,
when these two good men were living
of beasts were all their offering
and also their sacrament.
But since Christ died on rood-tree,
in bread and wine his death remember we;
and at his last supper, our Maundy
was his commandment.
But before this thing practised should be
afterwards, as now do we
in signification – believe you me –
Melchysedeck did so.
And tithe-making, as you have seen here,
by Abraham begun were.
Therefore to God he was full dear,
and so were both two.
By Abraham understand I may
the Father of Heaven, in good fay
Melchysedeck, a priest to his pay
to administer that sacrament
that Christ ordained the foresaid day –
in bread and wine to honour him ay.
This signifieth, the truth to say,
Melchysedeck’s his present.

Here God appeareth to Abraham and saith:


God
Abraham, my servant, I say to thee,
thy help and succour I will be
For thy good deed much pleaseth me
I tell thee truly

Here Abraham, turning to God, saith:


Abraham
Lord, one thing that thou wouldest see
that I pray for with heart full free!
Grant me, Lord, through thy power
some fruit of my body.
I have no child, foul nor fair,
save my foster child to be my heir
that makes me greatly to apair.
On me, Lord, have mercy.
God
Nay, Abraham, friend, believe thou me –
thy foster child thine heir shall not be;
but one son I shall send thee,
begotten of thy body.
Abraham, do as I thee say –
look and count, if thou may,
stars standing on the milky way;
that impossible were.
No more shalt thou, for any need,
number of thy body the seed
that thou shalt have, withouten dread;
thou art to me so dear.
Therefore, Abraham, servant free
look that thou be true to me;
and here an agreement I make with thee
thy seed to multiply.
To a great people father thou shalt be.
Kings of this seed men shall see;
and one child of great degree
all Mankind shall redeem.
I will henceforth forward alway
each man-child on the eighth day
be circumcised, as I thee say,
and thou thyself full soon.
Who circumcised not is
forsaken shall be with me, iwiss,
for disobedient that man is.
Look that this is done.
Abraham
Lord, all ready, in good fay,
Blessed be thou ever and ay,
for thereby know thou may
thy folk from other men.
Circumcised they shall be all
at once, for ought that may befall,
I thank thee, Lord, thine own thrall
kneeling on my knees.
Expositor
Lordings all, take this intent
the meaning of this commandment:
this was sometimes a sacrament
in the Old Law, truly known.
As followeth now verament,
so was this in the Old Testament
But when Christ died, away it went,
and then began baptism.
Also God a promise pledged us here
to Abraham, his servant dear:
so much seed, that in no manner
numbered it might be;
and one seed Mankind for to buy.
That was Christ Jesus, certainly,
For of his kind was Our Lady,
and so also was he.


2018 Dec 14  10:58:22