The n-Town (GT and To) plays

My name is known, God and King.2
My work for to make, now will I wend.
In myself resteth my reigning:
It hath no beginning nor no end.
And all that ever shall have being,
It is closed in my mind.
When it is made at my liking,8
I may it save; I may it shend
After my pleasure.

So great of might is my power,11
All things shall be wrought be me.
I am one God, in persons three
Knit in one substance.
I am the true Trinity
Here walking in this place.
Three Persons myself I see17
Locked in me, God alone.

I am the Father of power;19
My Son with me goes along
My Ghost is grace in majesty,
Wields wealth up in Heaven’s throne
O God in throne I call:
I am Father of might
My Son keepeth right;25
My Ghost hath light
And grace withal.

Myself beginning never did take,28
And endless I am through mine own might
Now might I begin my work to make.
First, I make heaven with stars of light,
In mirth and joy evermore to wake.

In Heaven I build angels full bright,33
My servants to be, and for my sake
With mirth and melody to worship my might.
I build them in my bliss,
Angels in heaven evermore shall be.
In light full clear, and colours bright,
With mirth and song to worship me,39
Of joy they may not miss. God retires

Angels sing “Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth”

I am now set as ye may see!59
Now worship me for most mighty,
And for your lord honour now me,
Sitting in my seat.

Now to hell the way I take,80
In endless pain there to be put.
For fear of fire a fart I crack
In hell’s dungeon, my den is made!

Sun and moon and stars also,10
The fourth day I make together.
The fifth day: worm and fish that swim and go,
Birds and beasts, both wild and tame.
The sixth day, my work I do
And make the man, Adam by name. Adam appears
In earthly paradise without woe16
I grant thee to live in, unless thou do sin.

Flesh of thy Flesh, and bone of thy bone:18
Adam, here is thy wife and make. Eve appears

Both fish and fowls that swim and go20
To each of them a name thou take.
Both tree and fruit and beasts each one,
Red and white, both bright and black —
Thou give them names by thyself alone,
Herbs and grass, both beets and bracken.
Thy wife thou give name also.26
Look that ye not cease
Your fruit to increase —
That there may be a throng
Me worship for to do.

Now come forth, Adam, to paradise!31
There shalt thou have all manner things:
Both flesh and fish and fruit of price,
All shall be buxom at thy bidding.
Here is pepper, peony, and sweet liquorice —
Take them all at thy liking —
Both apple and pear and gentle rice.37
But touch not this tree that is of knowledge.
All-thing, save this, for thee is wrought.
Here is all-thing that thee should please.
All ready made unto thine ease.
Eat not this fruit nor me displease,
For then thou diest - thou ’scapest not.43

Now have I made all-thing of nought,44
Heaven and earth, fowl and beast.
To all-thing that my hand hath wrought,
I grant my blessing that ever shall last.
My way to heaven is ready south:
Of working I will the seventh day rest.

And all my creatures that be about,50
My blessing ye have both east and west,
Of working the seventh day, you cease.
And all they that cease of labouring hear:
The seventh day, withouten doubt,
All worship me in good manner —
They shall in heaven have endless Peace.56

Adam, go forth and be prince in place,57
For to heaven I speed my way.
Thy wits well look thou chase,
And goodly govern thee as I say. God retires

Fish and fowl, both shore and sea,103
At your bidding both day and night:
All-thing shall be in your power.
Ye shall be God’s peer!
Take this apple in thine hand,
And to bite thereof, try thou.
Take another to thine husband;109
Thereof have thou no dread.

My seemly spouse and good husband,124
Listen to me, sir, I you pray:
Take this fair apple all in your hand,
Thereof a morsel bite and assay.
To eat this apple, look that ye try:
God’s equal to be alway.
All his wisdom to understand,130
And God’s peer to be for aye,
All-thing for to make,
Both fish and fowl, sea and sand,
Bird and beast, water and land.
This apple thou take out of my hand —
A bite thereof thou take.136

Alas! Alas, for this false deed!163
My fleshly friend, my foe I find.
Shameful sin doth us undo:
I see us naked before and behind —
Our Lord’s word would we not dread.
Therefore, we be now caitiffs unkind!
Our poor privities for to hide —169
Some fig leaves fain would I find,
For to hide our shame.
Woman, lay this leaf on thy privity!
And with this leaf I shall hide me.
Great shame it is, us naked to see
Our Lord God thus to anger!175

Woman, thou sought this sinning249
And bade him break my bidding.
Therefore, thou shalt be the underling,
To man’s bidding bend.
What he bids thee, do thou that thing,
And bear thy children with great groaning,
In danger and in death dreading255
Into thy life’s end.

Thou wicked worm, full of pride,257
Foul envy sit by thy side.
Upon thy gut thou shalt glide,
As worm wicked in nature.
Till a maiden in middle earth be born —
Thou fiend, I warn thee beforn —
Through her thy head shall be torn.263
On your belly away you wend.

God retires and an angel with a flaming sword puts Adam and Eve out of Paradise

Brief pleasure shall be long bought.314
No more tell thou that tale:
For if I should slay my wife,
I slay myself withouten knife
In hell’s lodging to lead my life
With woe in weeping dale.

But let us walk forth into the land:320
With right great labour our food to find,
With delving and digging with my hand;
Our suffering and pain to mend.
And wife, to spin now must thou try,
Our naked bodies in cloth to wind
Till some comfort of God’s messenger326
With grace relieve our sorrowful minds.
Now come, go we hence, wife.

God, wouldest thou break open thine heaven mighty9
And come down here into earth
And live years three and thirty,
Thy famished folk with thy food to feed.
To staunch thy thirst, let thy side bleed,
For else will not be made redemption.
Come visit us in this time of need!15
Of thy careful creatures have compassion!

Ah, woe to us wretches of wretches born17
For God hath added sorrow to sorrow.
I pray thee, Lord, thy souls come see!
How They lie and sob for sickness and sorrow!
With thy blessed blood from suffering redeem them,
Thy careful creatures crying in captivity!
Ah, tarry not, gracious Lord, till it be tomorrow!23
The devil hath deceived them by his iniquity!

“Ah,” said Jerome, “Who shall give wells to my eyes
That I may weep both day and night
To see Our brethren in such long pain?”
Here mischiefs amend may thy great might.
As great as the see, Lord, was Adam’s contrition right.
From our head is fallen the crown.
Man is sunken in sin — I cry to thy sight:31
Gracious Lord, gracious Lord, gracious Lord, come down!

The angel, Lord, thou made so glorious41
Whose sin hath made him a devil in hell,
He moved man to be so rebellious.
Man repented, but he in his obstinacy doth dwell.
These great ills, good Lord, repeal
And take man unto thy grace!
Let thy Mercy make him with angels dwell47
Of Lucifer to restore the place.

For the wretchedness of the needy52
And the poor’s lamentation
Now shall I rise that am almighty.
Time is come of reconciliation:
My Prophets with prayers have made supplication;
My contrite creatures cry all for comfort.
All my angels in heaven, without cessation,58
They cry that grace to man might extend.

Thy Truth, Lord, shall last withouten end.68
I may in no way from thee go.
That wretch that was to thee so unkind,
He may not have too much woe!
He despised thee and pleased thy foe!
Thou art his creator, and he is thy creature.
Thou hast loved Truth, it is said evermore.74
Therefore in pain let him evermore endure!

Truth saith she hath ever been, then.84
I grant it well, she hath been so.
And thou sayest endlessly that Mercy thou hast kept for man.
Then, merciful Lord, keep us both to.
Thou sayest:
Veritas mea et Misericordia mea cum ipso.
My Truth and my Mercy will be with him.90
Suffer not thy souls, then, in sorrow to sleep.
That hellhound that hateth thee, bid him ho!
Thy love, Man, no longer let him keep.

As wise as is God, he would aye be!102
This was the abominable presumption!
It is said ye know well this of me,
That the Righteousness of God hath no limits;
Therefore, let this be our conclusion:
He that sore sinned lie still in sorrow.
He may never make atonement for this reason:108
Who might then thereafter him redeem?

Therefore, me seemeth best ye thus accord;126
Then heaven and earth, ye shall unite:
Put both your judgements to our Lord.
And in his high wisdom, let him judge.
This is most fitting, it seems to me,
And let us see how we four may agree
That man’s soul, it should perish, it were pity,
Or that any of us from other should divide.

But he that shall die, ye must know,150
That in him may be no iniquity,
That hell may hold him by no law,
But that he may pass at his liberty.
Where such one is, search and see
And his death, for man’s death, shall be redemption.
All heaven and earth seek now ye.156
Pleases it you, this conclusion?

Misericordia et Veritas obviauerunt sibi192
Justicia et Pax osculate sunt. [Vulgate Psalm 84:11]

Gabriel approaches Mary who has entered during the preceeding dialogue and is now seated on her stool reading.

Ave, gratia plena, Dominus tecum!224

Hail, full of grace, God is with thee!225
Among all women blessed art thou.
Here, this name Eva is turned Ave,
That is to say, without sorrow are we now!

Though sorrow in you hath no place,229
Yet of joy, Lady, ye need more.
Therefore, I add and say, “full of grace,”
For so full of grace was never none born.
Yet who hath grace, he needs great protection.
Therefore, I say, God is with thee,
Which shall keep you endlessly there!235
So among all women, blessed are ye!

Therefore, that Holy Ghost of thee shall be born.261
He shall be called the Son of God most wise.
And see Elizabeth, your cousin, there?
She hath conceived a son in her age.
This is the sixth month of her passage,
Of her that called was barren.
Nothing is impossible to God’s usage;267
They thinketh long to hear what ye will say.

Here the Gabriel makes a brief pause; Mary looks at him him and the Gabriel says:

Mary, come on and hasten thee,269
And take heed in thy intent
How the Holy Ghost — blessed he be —
Awaits thine answer and thine assent!
Through wise work of Divinity,
The Second Person, verily,
Is made man by fraternity275
Within thyself, in the present place.

Furthermore, take heed this space,277
How all the blessed spirits of virtue
That are in heaven before God’s face,
And all the good believers and true
That are here in this earthly place.
Thy own kindred, the sooth who knew
And the chosen souls, this time of grace283
That are in hell and bide rescue.

As Adam, Abraham, and David in fear285
And many others of good reputation,
That thine answer desire to hear,
And thine assent to the Incarnation
In which thou standest, as the presever,
Of all mankind’s salvation!
Give me my answer, now Lady dear,291
To all these creatures comfort!

Here the Holy Ghost descends with three beams to our Lady, the son of the Godhead next with three beams to the Holy Ghost, the Father Godly with three beams to the son. And so enter all three to her bosom, and Mary saith: (That is what the original medieval stage directions say. In fact what happens is that the Trinity jointly place an halo on Mary’s head)

Not taking first one member and then another305
But perfect childhood ye have anon.
Of your handmaiden, now ye have made your mother
Without pain in flesh and bone.
Thus conceived never woman none
That ever was being in this life.
O, my highest Father in your throne311
It is worthy, your Son — now my son — has chosen.

I cannot tell what joy, what bliss313
Now I feel in my body!
Angel Gabriel, I thank you for this.
Most meekly recommend me to my Father’s Mercy.
To have been the mother of God, full little thought I.
Now, my cousin Elizabeth, fain would I see,
How She hath conceived as ye did specify.319
Now, blessed be the high Trinity!

And especially of your comfortable message,329
For I understand by inspiration
That ye know by special privilege
Most of my son’s incarnation.
I pray you take it into practice
By a regular custom
To visit me often till my time be come.335
Your presence is my comfort.

Angels sing “Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum virgo serena”

During this Mary leaves the stage and puts on her “bump”

Now, my wife, Mary, what say ye to this?10
For surely, needs I must forth wend
Unto the city of Bethlehem far hence, iwys,
Thus to labour I must my body bend.

Now let us forth wend as fast as we may,22
And almighty God speed us in our journey.

They set out and see a tree on a hill

They arrive in Bethlehem, which is bustling and busy. Joseph speaks to a passing Citizen

Within no wall man comest thou not.70
Be thou once within the city gate,
Scarce in the street a place may be sought
Thereon to rest, without debate.

Ah, sweet wife, what shall we do?78
Where shall we lodge this night?
Unto the Father of Heaven pray we so,
Us to keep from every wicked wight.

But hark now, good husband, a new relation90
Which in myself I know right well:
Christ, in me, hath taken incarnation —
Soon will be born the Truth I feel.

In this poor lodging my chamber I take,94
Here for to abide the blessed birth
Of him that all this world did make.
Between my sides I feel he stirs!

In an house that is desolate, withouten any wall102
Fire nor wood none here is.

While Joseph is away, Jesus is born

It is not convenient a man to be —134
When women are travailing!
Wherefore some midwife fain would I see,
My wife to help that is so young.>

My name is Salome — all men me know150
For a midwife of worthy fame.
When women travail, grace doth grow.
Therefore I come, I had never shame.

They arrive at the stable and are blinded by the light of the star.

Thee for to help that art in hard bonds —174
Zelomy and Salome be come with me.
For doubt of dread without they do stand
And dare not come in for the light that they see.

Mary laughs, saying:

Alas, midwives, what have I said?198
I pray you, come to us more near,
For here I find my wife a maid
And in her arms a child hath here!
Both maid and mother, withouten peer!
That God will have may nevermore fail:
Mother on earth was never none clear204
Without she had in birth travail.

And needeth no washing as others do,230
Full clean and pure forsooth is he,
Withouten spot or any pollution,
This mother, not hurt of virginity.

Come near, good sister Salome:234
Behold the breasts of this clean maid,
Full of fair milk, how that they be.
And her child clean, as I first said —
As other be, naught foul arrayed —
But clean and pure, Both mother and child!
Of this matter I am dismayed240
To see them both thus undefiled!

Salome touches Mary and her hand is withered. She cries out

Alas, the time that I was born258
Thus to offend against God’s might!
My hand’s power is now all lorn —
Stiff as a stick and may not plight,
For I did tempt this maid so bright
And held against her pure cleanness!
In great mischief now am I put.264
Alas, alas for my lewdness!

O Lord of might, thou knowest the Truth,266
That I have ever had dread of thee.
On every poor creature ever I had ruth
And gave them alms for love of thee,
Both wife and widow that asked by thee,
And friendless children that had great need,
I did them cure and all for thee,272
And took no reward of them, nor pay.

Now as a wretch for false belief274
That I shewed in tempting this maid,
My hand is dead and doth me grieve!
Alas, that ever I her assayed!

Salome touches Jesus’ robe and Salome is cured

In every place I shall tell this:298
Of a clean maid that God is born,
And in our likeness God now clad is,
Mankind to save that was forlorn —
His mother, a maid as she was before,
Not foul, polluted as other women be,
But fair and fresh as rose on thorn,304
Lily-white, clean with pure virginity.

Of this blessed babe my leave now do I take306
And also of you, high mother of bliss.
Of this great miracle more knowledge to make,
I shall go tell it in each place, iwys.

The angel says to the shepherds: "Glory to God in the highest"

The angels sing, “Gloria in excelsis Deo”

The Shepherds sing “Stella celi extirpavit" as they go to meet Jesus

I am the true Trinity15
Here walking here alone.
Three persons, myself I see
Locked in me, God alone.
Of power the father I be
My son with me has begun,20
My spirit is grace in majesty
Who wields wealth up in heaven’s throne
One God in three I am called,
I am father of might
My son keeps the right25
My spirit has the light
And grace withall.

Myself never did beginning take28
And endless I am through my own might
Now will I begin my work to make.30
First, I make heaven with stars of light
In mirth and joy evermore to wake.
In heaven I make Angels full bright
My servants to be, and for my sake
With mirth and melody worship my might35
I make them in my bliss
Angels in heaven ever more shall be
In light full clear coloured they be
With mirth and song to worship me
Of joy they may not miss.40

Here the angels sing, in heaven, part of the Te Deum: i omnes angeli tibi celi et universe potestates Tibi cherubim et seraphim incessabili voce proclamant Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus Dominus deus sabaoth.

Now to hell the way I take79
In endless pain that ever shall bite.80
For fear of fire a fart I crack!
Hell’s dungeon is all my sight

Sun and moon and stars also92
The fourth day, I make the same.
The fifth day, worm and fish that swim and go,
Birds and beasts, both wild and tame.95
The sixth day my work I do
And make the man Adam by name.
In earthly paradise without any woe
I grant thee dwelling lest thou do blame.

Flesh of thy flesh and bone of thy bone,100
Adam, here is thy wife and mate.
Both fish and fowls that swim around
To each of them, a name thou take.
Both tree and fruit and beasts, each one,
Red and white, both blue and green.105
Thou give them names, thou alone.
Herbs and grass, beets and bran.
Thy wife thou give a name also
Look that you not cease
Your fruit to increase110
That there be excess,
My worship for to do.

Now come forth, Adam, to paradise,113
There shalt thou have all manner of things,
Both flesh and fish and fruit of price115
All shall be obedient to thy bidding.
Here are peppers, peonies and sweet licorice.
Take them all at thy liking
Both apples and pears and choice rice.
But touch not this tree of Knowing.120
All things, save this, for thee are wrought.
Here are all things that should thee please,
All ready made unto thine ease.
Eat not this fruit, me not displease,
For then thou dyest, thou escapest not.125

Now have I made all things of nought,
Heaven and earth, fowl and beast.
To all things that my hand has wrought
I grant my blessing that ever shall last.
My way to heaven is ready sought.130
Of working I will the seventh day rest.
And all my creatures that be about
My blessing you have both east and west.
Of working the seventh day you cease.
And all those that cease of labouring here135
The seventh day, without fear,
And worship me in good manner
They shall in heaven have endless peace.

Adam, go forth. Be prince in this place.139
To heaven now I speed my way.140
Look thou well thy wits to chase
And govern thy spirit as I thee say.

Here Eve returns to Adam, her husband, and says to him …

My seemly spouse and good husband208
Listen to me, sir, I you pray.
Take this fair apple into you hand210
Thereof a morsel bite and assay
To eat this apple that I have found.
God’s fellow to be always –
All his wisdom to understand
And God’s peer to be for aye.215
All things for to make
Both fish and fowl, sea and sand,
Bird and beast, water and land.
This apple thou take out of my hand.
A bite thereof thou take.220

Here Adam shall eat the apple. Adam says …

Alas, alas for this false deed,247
My fleshly friend, my foe I find.
Shameful sin from us proceeds.
I see us naked before and behind!250
Our lord’s word we would not dread.
Therefore we be now caitiffs unkind.
Our poor privities to hide
Some fig leaves fain would I find
To cover our sin and grief.255
Woman lay this leaf on thy privity
And with this leaf, I shall hide me
Great shame it is us naked to see
Our lord God thus to grieve.

Woman, you began all this sinning333
And bade him break my bidding.
Therefore, thou shalt be underling335
And to man’s bidding bend.
What he biddeth thee, do thou that thing
And bear thy children with great groaning
In danger and thy death dreading
Unto thy life’s end.340
Thou wicked worm, full of pride,
Foul envy sit by thy side!
Upon thy gut thou shalt glide
And as a wicked worm also
Till a maiden in middle earth be born.345
Thou fiend, I warn thee here before.
Through her thy head shall be all torn.
On thy womb away thou go.

Here God withdraws and an angel seraphim with a flaming sword drives Adam and Eve out of paradise

But let us walk forth into the land409
With right great labour our food to find410
With delving and digging with my hand
Our bliss to care and pain confined.
Wife, to spinning now must thou turn thy hand
Our naked bodies in clothes to wind
Till some comfort God shall send415
With grace to relieve our carefull minds.
Now come, go we hence now my wife.

Would God thou wouldest break thy heaven mighty9
And come down here unto the earth,
And live years three and thirty,10
Thy famished folk with thy food to feed;
To staunch their thirst, let thy side bleed,
Without that, there will be no redemption.
Come visit us in this time of need;
On thy careful creatures, Lord, have compassion!15

Ah! woe to us wretches who wretched be,16
For God has added sorrow to sorrow!
I pray thee, Lord, thy souls come see,
How they lie and sob for sickness and sorrow.
With thy blessed blood from bale them borrow,20
Thy careful creatures crying in captivity.
Ah! tarry not, gracious Lord, till it be tommorow!
The devil hath deceived them in his iniquity,

Ah, said Jeremiah, "who shall give wells to mine eyes
That I may weep both day and night25
To see our brothers so long in pain?"
Here mischiefs may amend by thy great might.
As great as the sea, Lord, was Adam’s contrition right;
From our head is fallen the crown;
Man is cumbered in sin. I cry in thy sight:30
Gracious Lord, gracious Lord, gracious Lord come down!

The angel, Lord, thou made so glorious,40
Whose sin hath made him a devil in hell,
He moved man to be so contrarious;
Man repented, but he in his obstinance doth dwell.
These great evils, good Lord, repell,
And take man unto thy grace;45
Let thy mercy make him with angels dwell,
Of Lucifer to restore the place.

Exit Virtues and Contemplation

For the wretchedness of the needy51
And the poor’s lamentation,
Now shall I rise that am almighty.
Time is come of reconciliation.
My prophets with prayers have made supplication,55
My contrite creatures cry all for comfort,
All mine angels in heaven without cessation
They cry that grace to man might exhort.

Thy truth, Lord, shall last without end,67
I may in no wise from thee go.
That wretch that was to thee so unkind,
He may not have too much woe.70
He despised thee, and pleased thy foe;
Thou art his creator, and he is thy creature;
Thou hast loved Truth, it is said, evermore,
Therefore in pain let him evermore endure.

Truth saith she hath ever been thine –83
I grant it well she hath been so –
And thou sayest endlessly that mercy thou hast kept for man;
Then, merciful Lord, keep us both two.
Thou sayest: Veritas mea et misericordia mea cum ipso.
Suffer not thy souls, then, in sorrow to sleep;
That hell-hound that hateth thee, bid him let go!
Thy love, man, no longer let him keep.90

As wise as is God, he would have been;99
This was the abominable presumption!100
It is said, you know well this, of me
That the Justice of God hath no limitation –
Therefore let this be our conclusion:
He that sore sinned lie still in sorrow.
He may never make atonement by reason;105
Who might then thence him borrow?

Therefore, meseemeth best you thus accord,123
Then heaven and earth ye should please;
Put both your Judgements to our Lord125
And in his high wisdom let him judge –
This most fitting to me should seem –
And let see how we four may all abide.
That man’s soul should perish, it were a shame,
Or that any of us from other should divide.130

But he that shall die, you must know147
That in him may be no iniquity,
That hell may hold him by no law,
But that he may pass at his liberty.150

Where such a one is, provide and see,151
And his death, for man’s death, shall be redemption.
All heaven and earth search now ye;
Pleaseth it you this conclusion?

And here they shall kiss each other and exit

Enter Gabriel. Enter Mary and sit

Gabriel descends to Mary

Ave gracia plena dominus tecum!219
Hail, full of grace, God is with thee!220
Among all women blessed art thou.
Here this name, Eva, is turned Ave;
That is to say: without sorrow are ye now.

Though sorrow in you hath no place,224
Yet of joy, lady, ye need more,225
Therefore I add and say: full of grace,
For so full of grace was never none born;
Yet who hath grace, she needs keeping sore,
Therefore I say: God is with thee,
Which shall keep you endlessly there;230
So among all women blessed are ye.

They thinketh long to hear what you will say.253

Here the angel makes a little resting and Mary beholds him, and the angel sayeth …

Mary, come off and haste thee,254
And take heed in thine intent255
How the Holy Ghost, blessed he be,
Abideth thine answer and thine assent.
Through wise work of divinity,
The second person, verament,
Is made man by fraternity260
Within thyself in place present.

Furthermore take heed this space262
How all the blessed spirits of virtue
That are in heaven before God’s face,
And all the good livers and true265
That are here in this earthly place –
Thine own kindred the truth who know –
And the chosen souls this time of grace
That are in hell and await rescue,

As Adam, Abraham, and David in fear,270
And many others of good reputation,
That thine answer desire to hear
And thine assent to the incarnation,
In which thou standest as preserver
Of all mankind salvation.275

Give me my answer now, lady dear,276
To all these creatures comfortation.

Here the Holy Ghost descends with three beams to Our Lady, the Son of the Godhead next with three beams to the Holy Ghost, and the Father Godly with three beams to the son, and so enter all three into her bosom and Mary says …

Not taking first one member and then another290
But perfect childhood ye have anon.
Of your handmaiden, now ye have made your mother.
Without pain in flesh and bone,
Thus conceived never woman none
That ever had being in this life.295
Oh my highest father in your throne
It is worthy your son, now my son, have a prerogative.

I cannot tell what joy, what bliss,298
Now I feel in my body!
Angel Gabriel, I thank you for this!300
Most meekly recommend me to my Father’s mercy.
To have been the mother of God, full little knew I!
Now my cousin, Elizabeth, fain would I see,
How she has conceived as you did specify.
Now blessed be the high Trinity!305

And namely of your comfortable message;314
For I understand by inspiration,315
That ye know by singular privilege,
Most of my son’s incarnation.
I pray you take it into usage,
By a custom occupation,
To visit me oft in my passage –320
Your presence is my comfortation.

I commend me unto you thou throne of the Trinity!326
Oh! meekest maid, now the mother of Jesus!
Queen of Heaven, Lady of Earth, and Empress of Hell be ye;
Succour to all sinful that will to you sue,
Through your body beareth that babe our bliss shall renew.
To you, mother of mercy, most meekly I recommend.
And as I began, I end, with an Ave new,
Joining heaven and earth – with that I ascend.

Angels singing Ave Maria gracia plena dominus tecum virgo serena

Of beauty and of boldness, I bear evermore the bell,
With main and with might, I master every man.
I ding with my doughtiness the devil down to hell,
For of both heaven and of earth, I king am, certain.

I am the comeliest king, clad in glittering gold,9
Yea and the seemliest sir that ever bestrode steed.
I tower over tall, if truth it be told.

Yea, and worthily I am wrapped in worthy weeds.12
Ye knights, so comely, both courteous and keen
To my palace I will pass, be prepared I you plight
You dukes so doughty, follow me behind15
On to my royal palace the way lies full right.

Quickly from my steed, I skip down in haste17
To my high halls, I haste me in my way
Ye minstrell of mirth, blow up a good blast
While I go to my chamber and change my array.20

My name is king Balthazar29
Of prophets’ teaching I am aware.30
Therefore, I have followed far
A maiden’s child to seek.

For he, made man in our mold,33
Is king of high heaven’s hold.
I will him offer red gold,35
As reason will me teach.

I seek him with incense sweet45
Of all priests he shall be the root.
His bright blood shall be our boot
To bring us to our end.
The child shall be chosen a priest,
In all virtue found the most50
Before his father’s fair breast
Incense up shall he send.

I bring myrrh as my present, lo,61
A bitter licour I tell you
For he shall suffer a bitter blow
Who in madonna’s flesh is clad.
On bitter tree he shall be bent,65
Man and God omnipotent.
With bitter beating his flesh be rent
Until his blood be bled.

In a girdle of cammaka as a king am I clad82
Cruel and curried in my crown now.
I sit under Caesar in my throne sad
Sorrow to sots, such seeds will I sow.85
Boys now blabbering, boasting of a baron bad
Born in a bed beside beasts! Such a boast is a blow!
I shall prune that suckling and prove him to be a toad
Shields and shafts shall I there throw
My knights shall ride on a row90
Knave children for to quell
By Mahound, great duke of hell
Sore death his life shall sell
Such threats would me o’erthrow.

Steward bold95
Walk thou on wold
And wisely behold
All about.
If anything
Should grieve the king100
Bring me tiding
If there be any doubt.

Then the steward goes forth and meets with the three kings in the way and says to them …

Kings three111
Under this tree
In this country
Why will ye abide?
Herod the king115
From this stopping
Unto his dwelling
Now you should glide.

Go you to find him whom you seek183
And if you know such a leech
And him find, I you beseech185
Come again to me.
I shall be both blithe and bound
That all worship to him be done
With reverence I shall seek him soon
And honour him on my knee.190

And therefore, kings, I you pray191
When you have done your journey
Come again this same way
The truth to me to tell.
Come and tell me how you speed195
And I shall fill right well your need
With gold and treasure and rich weeds
Furs rich and purses swelled.

They go away

This day the kings shall be cold223
If they come again to me.
My Gods I shall upraise.225
A dark devil with falseness I say
Shall cast a mist in the king’s eye
By banks and by dales dry
That by dark they shall come this way.

Then come the kings with their gifts to Jesus and the First King says …

Hail be thou king cold clad!235
Hail with a maiden’s milk fed!
Hail! I come to thee with gold glad
As wise writings bear it record.
Gold is the richest metal
And for wearing most royal240
Gold I give thee in this hall
And know thee for my lord.

Here the kings sleep and an angel comes to them and says …

Whether you be awake or asleep299
My lord God shall you keep300
In good time you did down droop
To take your rest.
Herod to the devil he’ll thrust
To mar him in a dark mist.
My Lord is full pleased305
To welcome you as his guests.

And therefore, kings, when you rise307
Wend forth by ways wise
Where in your halls you be set in assise
In diverse lands.310
The father of good in all thing
Hath you granted his sweet blessing
He shall save you from all harming
With his right hand.

Then the kings shall arise and say …

It is told by a few22
His name should be Jesu.
I have found
To have him gone25
I must hew flesh to the bone
And give him a wound.
Now keen knights, good at your craft
That kill knave children and cast them in clay,
Throw on your shoulders shields and shafts30
Shaped among soldiers shrilling all day
Make horses run with rippling neighs
Till their ribs be all rent with red spray.
Let no bairn remain unbeaten behind
Till the beggars bleed in the beasts’ way –35
Mahound that best may.
I warn you my knights
A bairn is born I will fight
He will claim to be king by right
And usurp my lordly lay.40
My knights wise
Chosen with price,

Arise, arise43
And take your toll.
And every page45
Of two year age
Where’re you engage,
Slay like a fool.

One of them49
Was born in a stall.50
Fools him call
A king with crown.
With bitter gall
He shall down fall.
My might in this hall55
Shall never go down!

Then the soldiers come to the children to be slain and the first woman says …

In seat now am I set as king of mights most.129
All this world for their love to me shall bow130
Both in heaven and on earth and in hell’s coast
For the worth of my dignity their reverence to show.
There is no lord now living to ask me to toast
Neither king nor kaiser in all this world about.
If any braggert do brag or blow against my boast,135

I shall rap those ribalds and beat them on the snout
With my bright brand.
There shall be neither kaiser nor king
But that I shall them down ding
Unless he, at my bidding,140
Obey at my hand.

Now my gentle and courteous knights, hark to me anon.
In good time, soon, methinketh at dinner that we were.
Smartly therefore set a table anon here full soon
Covered with a curious cloth and with rich worthy fare,
Service for the loveliest lord that is living on ground!

Rare meats and worthiest wines, look that you not spare.
Though a little pint should cost a thousand pound
Bring always the best and for the cost take no care
Quickly get it done.150

I am sent from God. Death is my name181
All things now alive I bend to my will.
Both man and beast and birds wild and tame.
When I come to them, with death I do them kill.
Herbs, grass and trees strong, take them all the same.
Yea, the great and mighty oaks with my dart I spill.
What man that I wrestle with, he shall right soon have shame.
I trip him up so featly he shall ever more lie still.

For Death knows no sport.189
Where I smite, there is no grace.190
For after my stroke, man hath no space
To make amends for his trespass,
But God him grant comfort.

Oh see how proudly yon caitiff sits at meat.194
Of death hath he no thought; he thinks to live evermore.
To him will I go and give him such a heat
That all the leeches of the land his life shall never restore.
Against my dreadful dents, it availeth never to fight.
Before I part from him, I shall him make full poor.
All the blood from his body I shall him out sweat.200
For now I go to slay him with strokes sad and sore.
Both him and his knights all
This tide.
I shall them make to me but thrall
With my spear slay them I shall,205
And so cast down his pride.

For now is my foe dead and taken as a toad.211
Above me is no king alive here on earth.
Mirth, therefore, make ye and be ye not sad,
Spare neither meat nor drink and be there no dearth
Of wine nor of bread!215
For now I am king alone!
As worthy as I, may there be none.
Therefore, knights, be merry each one.
For now is my foe dead!

Here while they are drinking, Death slays Herod and the two soldiers as well and the Devil receives them

All men living upon the ground,259
Beware of me, by my counsel,260
For faint fellowship in me is found,
I know no courtesy as I you tell.
For be a man never so sound
Of health, in heart never so well,
I come suddenly and that anon.265
Me withstand may no castle.
My journey will I speed.
Of my coming no man is aware,
For when men make most merry fare
Then suddenly I cast them in care,270
And slay them even in deed.

Though I be naked and in poor array272
And worms gnaw me all about
Yet look you dread me night and day.
For when death comes, you stand in doubt.275
Even like to me as I you say
Shall all you be, here in this rout.
When I you challenge at my day,
I shall make you right low to bow
And naked for to be.280
Amongst worms, as I you tell
Under the earth shall you dwell
And they shall you eat both flesh and fell
As they have done to me.