The Wakefield (Towneley) plays

God
Ego sum alpha et o,1
I am the first, the last also,2
Oone god in mageste;3
Meruelus, of myght most,4
ffader, & son, & holy goost,5
On god in trinyte.6
I am without begynnyng,7
My godhede hath none endyng,8
I am god in trone;9
Oone god in persons thre,10
Which may neuer twynnyd be,11
ffor I am god alone.12
All maner thyng is in my thoght,13
Withoutten me ther may be noght,14
ffor all is in my sight;15
hit shall be done after my will,16
that I haue thoght I shall fulfill17
And manteyn with my myght.18
At the begynnyng of oure dede19
make we heuen & erth, on brede,20
and lyghtys fayre to se,21
ffor it is good, to be so;22
darknes from light we parte on two,23
In tyme to serue and be.24
Darknes we call the nyght,25
and lith also the bright,26
It shall be as I say;27
after my will this is furth broght,28
Euen and morne both ar thay wroght,29
and thus is maid a day.30
In medys the water, bi oure assent,31
be now maide the firmament,32
And parte ather from othere,33
Water aboue, I-wis;34
Euen and morne maide is this35
A day, [so was] the tothere.36
Waters, that so wyde ben spred,37
be gedered to geder in to one stede,38
that dry the erth may seym;39
that at is dry the erth shall be,40
the waters also I call the see;41
this warke to me is queme.42
Out of the erth herbys shal spryng,43
Trees to florish and frute furth bryng,44
thare kynde that it be kyd.45
This is done after my will;46
Even & morn maide is ther till47
A day, this is the thryd.48
Son & moyne set in the heuen,49
With starnes, & the planettys seuen,50
To stand in thare degre;51
The son to serue the day lyght,52
The moyne also to serue the nyght;53
The fourte day shall this be.54
The water to norish the fysh swymand,55
The erth to norish bestys crepeand,56
That fly or go may.57
Multiplye in erth, and be58
In my blyssyng, wax now ye;59
This is the fyft day.60

Cherubim
Oure lord god in trynyte,61
Myrth and lovyng be to the,62
Myrth and lovyng ouer al thyng;63
ffor thou has made, with thi bidyng,64
Heuen, & erth, and all that is,65
and giffen vs Ioy that neuer shall mys.66
Lord, thou art full mych of myght,67
that has maide lucifer so bright;68
we loue the, lord, bright ar we,69
bot none of vs so bright as he:70
He may well hight lucifere,71
ffor lufly light that he doth bere.72
He is so lufly and so bright73
It is grete ioy to se that sight;74
We lofe the, lord, with all oure thoght,75
that sich thyng can make of noght.76

Lucifer
Certys, it is a semely sight,77
Syn that we ar all angels bright,78
and euer in blis to be;79
If that ye will behold, me right,80
this mastre longys to me.81
I am so fare and bright,82
of me commys all this light,83
this gam and all this gle;84
Agans my grete myght85
may [no]thyng stand [ne] be.86
And ye well me behold87
I am a thowsand fold,88
brighter then is the son;89
my strengthe may not be told,90
my myght may no thyng kon;91
In heuen, therfor, wit I wold,92
Above me who shuld won.93
ffor I am lord of blis,94
ouer all this warld, I-wis,95
My myrth is most of all;96
the[r]for my will is this,97
master ye shall me call.98
And ye shall se, full sone onone,99
How that me semys to sit in trone100
as kyng of blis;101
I am so semely, blode & bone,102
my sete shall be ther as was his.103
Say, felows, how semys now me104
To sit in seyte of trynyte?105
I am so bright of ich a lym106
I trow me seme as well as hym.107

Angelus Malus 1
Thou art so fayre vnto my syght,108
thou semys well to sytt on hight;109
So thynke me that thou doyse.110

Angelus Bonus 1
I rede ye leyfe that vanys royse,111
ffor that seyte may non angell seme112
So well as hym that all shall deme.113

Angelus Bonus 2
I reyde ye sese of that ye sayn,114
ffor well I wote ye carpe in vayne;115
hit semyd hym neuer, ne neuer shall,116
So well as hym that has maide all.117

Angelus Malus 2
Now, and bi oght that I can witt,118
he semys full well theron to sytt;119
He is so fayre, withoutten les,120
he semys full well to sytt on des.121
therfor, felow, hold thi peasse,122
and vmbithynke the what thou saysse.123
he semys as well to sytt there124
as god hymself, if he were here.125

Lucifer
leyf felow, thynk the not so?126

Angelus Malus 1
Yee, god wote, so dos othere mo.127

Angelus Bonus 1
Nay, forsoth, so thynk not vs.128

Lucifer
Now, therof a leke what rekys vs?129
Syn I my self am so bright130
therfor will I take a flyght.131

Demon 1
Alas, alas, and wele-wo!132
lucifer, whi fell thou so?133
We, that were angels so fare,134
and sat so hie aboue the ayere,135
Now ar we waxen blak as any coyll,136
and vgly, tatyrd as a foyll.137
What alyd the, lucifer, to fall?138
was thou not farist of angels all?139
Brightist, and best, & most of luf140
With god hym self, that syttys aboyf?141
thou has maide [neyn,] there was [ten,]142
thou art foull comyn from thi kyn;143
thou art fallen, that was the teynd,144
ffrom an angell to a feynd.145
thou has vs doyn a vyle dispyte,146
and broght thi self to sorow and sitt.147
Alas, ther is noght els to say148
bot we ar tynt for now and ay.149

Demon 2
Alas, the ioy that we were In150
haue we lost, for oure syn.151
alas, that euer cam pride in thought,152
ffor it has broght vs all to noght.153
We were in myrth and Ioy enoghe154
When lucifer to pride drogh.155
Alas, we may warrie wikkyd pride,156
so may ye all that standys be side;157
We held, with hym ther he saide leasse,158
and therfor haue we all vnpeasse.159
Alas, alas, oure Ioye is tynt,160
We mon haue payne that neuer shall stynt.161

God
Erthly bestys, that may crepe and go,162
bryng ye furth and wax ye mo,163
I se that it is good;164
now make we man to oure liknes,165
that shall be keper of more & les,166
of fowles and fysh in flood.167
spreyte of life I in the blaw,168
good and ill both shall thou knaw;169
rise vp, and stand bi me.170
All that is in water or land,171
It shall bow vnto thi hand,172
and sufferan shall thou be;173
I gif the witt, I gif the strenght,174
of all thou sees, of brede & lengthe;175
thou shall be wonder wise.176
Myrth and Ioy to haue at will,177
All thi likyng to fulfill,178
and dwell in paradise.179
This I make thi wonnyng playce,180
ffull of myrth and of solace,181
and I seasse the therin.182
It is not good to be alone,183
to walk here in this worthely wone,184
In all this welthly wyn;185
therfor, a rib I from the take,186
therof shall be [maide] thi make,187
And be to thi helpyng.188
Ye both to gouerne that here is,189
and euer more to be in blis,190
ye wax in my blissyng.191
ye shall have Ioye & blis therin,192
whils ye will kepe you out of syn,193
I say without[ten] lese.194
Ryse vp, myn angell cherubyn,195
Take and leyd theym both in,196
And leyf them there in peasse.197
Heris thou adam, and eue thi wife,198
I forbede you the tre of life,199
And I commaund, that it be gat,200
Take which ye will, bot negh not that.201
Adam, if thou breke my rede,202
thou shall dye a dulfull dede.203

Cherubim
Oure lord, oure god, thi will be done;204
I shall go with theym full sone.205
ffor soth, my lord, I shall not sted206
till I haue theym theder led.207
we thank the, lord, with full good chere,208
that has maide man to be oure feere.209
Com furth, adam, I shall the leyd;210
take tent to me, I shall the reyd.211
I rede the thynk how thou art wroght,212
and luf my lord, in all thi thoght,213
That has maide the thrugh his will,214
angels ordir to fulfill.215
Many thyngys he has the giffen,216
and maide the master of all that liffen;217
He has forbed, the bot a tre;218
look that thou let it be,219
ffor if thou breke his commaundment,220
thou skapys not bot thou be shent.221
Weynd here in to paradise,222
and luke now that ye be wyse,223
And kepe you well, for I must go224
vnto my lord, ther I cam fro.225

Adam
Almyghty lord, I thank it the226
that is, and was, and shall be,227
Of thi luf and of thi grace,228
ffor now is here a mery place;229
Eue, my felow, how thynk the this?230

Eue
A stede me thynk of Ioye and blis,231
That god has giffen to the and me;232
Withoutten ende blissyd be he.233

Adam
Eue, felow, abide me thore,234
ffor I will go to viset more,235
To se what trees that here been;236
here ar well moo then we have seen,237
Gresys, and othere small floures,238
that smell full swete, of seyr coloures.239

Eue
Gladly, sir, I will full fayne;240
When ye haue sene theym, com agane.241

Adam
Bot luke well, eue, my wife,242
that thou negh not the tree of life;243
ffor if thou do he bese ill paide;244
then be we tynt, as he has saide.245

Eue
Go furth and play the all aboute,246
I shall not negh it while thou art oute;247
ffor be thou sekyr I were full loth248
ffor any thyng that he were wroth.249

Lucifer
Who wend euer this tyme haue seyn?250
We, that in sich myrth haue beyn,251
That we shuld suffre so mych wo?252
Who wold euer trow it shuld be so?253
[Ten] orders in heuen were254
of angels, that had offyce sere;255
Of ich order, in thare degre,256
the [teynd] parte fell downe with me;257
ffor thay held with me that tyde,258
and mantenyd me in my pride;259
Bot herkyns, felows, what I say-260
the Ioy that we haue lost for ay,261
God has maide man with his hend,262
to haue that blis withoutten end,263
The neyn ordre to fulfill,264
that after vs left, sich is his will.265
And now ar thay in paradise;266
bot thens thay shall, if we be wise.267

Garcio
All hayll, all hayll, both blithe and glad,1
ffor here com I, a mery lad;2
be peasse youre dyn, my master bad,3
Or els the dwill you spede.4
Wote ye not I com before?5
Bot who that Ianglis any more6
He must blaw my blak hoill bore’,7
both behynd, and before,8
Till his tethe blede.9
ffelows, here I you forbede10
To make nother nose ne cry;11
Who so is so hardy to do that dede12
The dwill hang hym vp to dry.13
Gedlyngis, I am a fulle grete wat,14
A good yoman my master hat,15
ffull well ye all hym ken;16
Begyn he with you for to stryfe,17
certis, then mon ye neuer thryfe;18
Bot I trow, bi god on life,19
Som of you ar his men.20
Bot let youre lippis couer youre ten,21
harlottis, euerichon!22
ffor if my master com, welcom hym then.23
ffarewell, for I am gone.24

Cain
Io furth, greyn-horne! and war oute, gryme!25
Drawes on! god gif you ill to tyme!26
Ye stand as ye were fallen in swyme;27
What! will ye no forther, mare?28
War! let me se how down will draw;29
Yit, shrew, yit, pull on a thraw!30
What! it semys for me ye stand none aw!31
I say, donnyng, go fare!32
A, ha! god gif the soro & care!33
lo! now hard she what I saide;34
now yit art thou the warst mare35
In plogh that euer I haide.36
How! pike-harnes, how! com heder belife!37

Garcio
I fend, godis forbot, that euer thou thrife!38

Cain
What, boy, shal I both hold and drife?39
heris thou not how I cry?40

Garcio
Say, mall and stott, will ye not go?41
Lemyng, morell, white-horne, Io!42
now will ye not se how thay hy?43

Cain
Gog gif the sorow, boy; want of mete it gars.44

Garcio
thare prouand, sir, for thi, I lay behynd thare ars,
And tyes them fast bi the nekis,46
With many stanys in thare hekis.47

Cain
That shall bi thi fals chekis.48

Garcio
And haue agane as right.49

Cain
I am thi master, wilt thou fight?50

Garcio
Yai, with the same mesure and weght51
That I boro will I qwite.52

Cain
We! now, no thyng, bot call on tyte,53
that we had ployde this land.54
harrer, morell, iofurth, hyte!55
and let the plogh stand.56

Abel
God, as he both may and can,57
Spede the, brother, & thi man.58

Cain
Com kis myne ars, me list not ban,59
As welcom standis ther oute.60
Thou shuld haue bide til thou were cald;61
Com nar, & other drife or hald,62
and kys the dwillis toute.63
Go grese thi shepe vnder the toute,64
ffor that is the moste lefe.65

Abel
broder, ther is none here aboute66
that wold the any grefe;67
bot, leif brother, here my sawe-68
It is the custom of oure law,69
All that wyrk as the wise70
shall worship god with sacrifice.71
Oure fader vs bad, oure fader vs kend,72
that oure tend shuld be brend.73
Com furth, brothere, and let vs gang74
To worship god; we dwell full lang;75
Gif we hym parte of oure fee,76
Corne or catall, wheder it be.77
And therfor, brother, let vs weynd,78
And first clens vs from the feynd79
or we make sacrifice;80
Then blis withoutten end81
get we for oure seruyce,82
Of hym that is oure saulis leche.83

Cain
How! let furth youre geyse, the fox will preche;84
How long wilt thou me appech85
With thi sermonyng?86
Hold thi tong, yit I say,87
Euen ther the good wife strokid the hay;88
Or sit downe in the dwill way,89
With thi vayn carpyng.90
Shuld I leife my plogh & all thyng91
And go with the to make offeryng?92
Nay! thou fyndys me not so mad!93
Go to the dwill, and say I bad!94
What gifys god the to rose hym so?95
me gifys he noght bot soro and wo.96

Abel
Caym, leife this vayn carpyng,97
ffor god giffys the all thi lifyng.98

Cain
Yit boroed I neuer a farthyng99
of hym, here my hend.100

Abel
Brother, as elders haue vs kend,101
ffirst shuld, we tend with oure hend,102
and to his lofyng sithen be brend.103

Cain
My farthyng is in the preest hand104
syn last tyme I offyrd.105

Abel
leif brother, let vs be walkand;106
I wold oure tend were profyrd.107

Cain
We! wherof shuld I tend, leif brothere?108
ffor I am ich yere wars then othere,109
here my trouth it is none othere;110
My wynnyngis ar bot meyn,111
No wonder if that I be leyn;112
ffull long till hym I may me meyn,113
ffor bi hym that me dere boght,114
I traw that he will leyn me noght.115

Abel
Yis, all the good thou has in wone116
Of godis grace is bot a lone.117

Cain
Lenys he me, as come thrift apon the so?118
ffor he has euer yit beyn my fo;119
ffor had he my freynd, beyn,120
Other gatis it had beyn seyn.121
When all mens corn was fayre in feld,122
Then was myne not worth a neld;123
When I shuld saw, & wantyd seyde,124
And of corn had full grete neyde,125
Then gaf he me none of his,126
No more will I gif hym of this.127
hardely hold me to blame128
bot if I serue hym of the same.129

Abel
Leif brother, say not so,130
bot let vs furth togeder go;131
Good brother, let vs weynd sone,132
no longer here I rede we hone.133

Cain
Yei, yei, thou Iangyls waste;134
the dwill me spede if I haue hast,135
As long as I may lif,136
to dele my good or gif137
Ather to god or yit to man,138
of any good that euer I wan;139
ffor had I giffen away my goode,140
then myght I go with a ryffen hood,141
And it is better hold that I haue142
then go from doore to doore & craue.143

Abel
Brother, com furth, in godis name,144
I am full ferd, that we get blame;145
Hy we fast that we were thore.146

Cain
We! ryn on, in the dwills nayme Before!147
Wemay, man, I hold the mad!148
wenys thou now that I list gad149
To gif away my warldis aght?150
the dwill hym spede that me so taght!151
what nede had I my trauell to lose,152
to were my shoyn & ryfe my hose?153

Abel
Dere brother, hit were grete wonder154
that I & thou shuld go in sonder,155
Then wold oure fader haue grete ferly;156
Ar we not brether, thou & I?157

Cain
No, bot cry on, cry, whyls the thynk good;158
Here my trowth, I hold the woode;159
Wheder that he be blithe or wroth160
to dele my good is me full lothe.161
I haue gone oft on softer wise162
ther I trowed som prow wold rise.163
Bot well I se go must I nede;164
now weynd before, ill myght thou spede!165
syn that we shall algatis go.166

Abel
leif brother, whi sais thou so?167
Bot go we furth both togeder;168
blissid, be god we haue fare weder.169

Cain
lay downe thi trussell apon this hill.170

Abel
fforsoth broder, so I will:171
Gog of heuen, take it to good.172

Cain
Thou shall tend first if thou were wood.173

Abel
God that shope both erth and heuen,174
I pray to the thou here my steven,175
And take in thank, if thi will be,176
the tend that I offre here to the;177
ffor I gif it in good entent178
to the, my lord, that all has sent.179
I bren it now, with stedfast thoght,180
In worship of hym that all has wroght.181

Cain
Ryse! let me now, syn thou has done;182
lord of heuen, thou here my boyne!183
And ouer, godis forbot, be to the184
thank or thew to kun me;185
ffor, as browke I thise two shankys,186
It is full sore, myne vnthankys,187
The teynd that I here gif to the,188
of corn, or thyng, that newys me;189
Bot now begyn will I then,190
syn I must nede my tend to bren.191
Oone shefe, oone, and this makys two,192
bot nawder of thise may I forgo:193
Two, two, now this is thre,194
yei, this also shall leif with me:195
ffor I will chose and best haue,196
this hold I thrift of all this thrafe;197
Wemo, wemo, foure, lo, here!198
better groved, me no this yere.199
At yere tyme I sew fayre corn,200
yit was it sich when it was shorne,201
Thystyls & brerys, yei grete plente,202
And all kyn wedis that myght be.203
ffoure shefis, foure, lo, this makis fyfe-204
deyll I fast thus long or I thrife-205
ffyfe and sex, now this is sevyn,206
bot this gettis neuer god of heuen;207
Nor none of thise foure, at my myght,208
shall neuer com in godis sight.209
Sevyn, sevyn, now this is aght,210

Abel
Cain, brother, thou art not god betaght.211

Cain
We! therfor is it that I say,212
ffor I will not deyle my good away:213
Bot had I gyffen hym this to teynd214
Then wold thou say he were my Freynd;215
Bot I thynk not, bi my hode,216
To departe so lightly fro my goode.217
we! aght, aght, & neyn, & ten is this,218
we! this may we best mys.219
Gif hym that that ligis thore?220
It goyse agans myn hart full sore.221

Abel
Cam! teynd right of all bedeyn.222

Cain
we! lo twelve, fyfteyn, sexteyn223

Abel
Caym, thou tendis wrang, and of the warst.224

Cain
we! com nar, and hide myne een;225
In the wenyand wist ye now at last,226
Or els will thou that I wynk?227
then shall I doy no wrong, me thynk.228
let me se now how it is-229
lo, yit I hold me paide;230
I teyndyd wonder well bi ges,231
And so euen I laide.232

Abel
Came, of god me thynke thou has no drede.233

Cain
Now and he get more, the dwill me spede!234
As mych as oone reepe,235
ffor that cam hym full light chepe;236
Not as mekill, grete ne small,237
as he myght wipe his ars with all.238
ffor that, and this that lyys here,239
haue cost me full dere;240
Or it was shorne, and broght in stak,241
had I many a wery bak;242
Therfor aske me no more of this,243
ffor I haue giffen that my will is.244

Abel
Cam, I rede thou tend right245
ffor drede of hym that sittis on hight.246

Cain
How that I tend, rek the neuer a deill,247
bot tend thi skabbid shepe wele;248
ffor if thou to my teynd tent take,249
It bese the wars for thi sake.250
Thou wold I gaf hym this shefe, or this sheyfe;251
na, nawder of thise [two] wil I leife;252
Bot take this, now has he two,253
and for my saull now mot it go,254
Bot it gos sore agans my will,255
and shal he like full ill.256

Abel
Cam, I reyde thou so teynd257
that god of heuen be thi freynd.258

Cain
My freynd? na, not bot if he will!259
I did hym neuer yit bot skill.260
If he be neuer so my fo,261
I am avisid, gif hym no mo;262
Bot chaunge thi conscience, as I do myn,263
yit teynd thou not thi mesel swyne?264

Abel
If thou teynd right thou mon it fynde.265

Cain
Yei, kys the dwills ars behynde;266
The dwill hang the bi the nek!267
how that I teynd, neuer thou rek.268
Will thou not yit hold thi peasse?269
of this Ianglyng I reyde thou seasse.270
And teynd I well, or tend I ill,271
bere the euen & speke bot skill.272
Bot now syn thou has teyndid thyne,273
Now will I set fyr on myne.274
We! out! haro! help to blaw!275
It will not bren for me, I traw;276
Puf! this smoke dos me mych shame-277
now bren, in the dwillys name!278
A! what dwill of hell is it?279
Almost had myne breth beyn dit.280
had I blawen oone blast more281
I had beyn choked right thore;282
It stank like the dwill in hell,283
that longer ther myght I not dwell.284

Abel
Cam, this is not worth oone leke;285
thy tend shuld bren withoutten smeke.286

Cain
Com kys the dwill right in the ars,287
for the it brens bot the wars;288
I wold that it were in thi throte,289
ffyr, & shefe, and ich a sprote.290

God
Cam, whi art thou so rebell291
Agans thi brother abell?292
Thar thou nowther flyte ne chyde,293
if thou tend right thou gettis thi mede;294
And be thou sekir, if thou teynd fals,295
thou bese alowed ther after als.296

Cain
Whi, who is that hob-ouer-the-wall?297
we! who was that that piped so small?298
Com go we hens, for perels all;299
God is out of hys wit.300
Com furth, abell, & let vs weynd;301
Me thynk that god is not my freynd,302
on land then will I flyt.303

Abel
A, Caym, brother, that is ill done.304

Cain
No, bot go we hens sone;305
And if I may, I shall be306
ther as god shall not me see.307

Abel
Dere brother, I will fayre308
on feld ther oure bestis ar,309
To looke if thay be holgh or full.310

Cain
Na, na, abide, we haue a craw to pull;311
Hark, speke with me or thou go;312
what! wenys thou to skape so?313
we! na! I aght the a fowll dispyte,314
and now is tyme that I hit qwite.315

Abel
Brother, whi art thou so to me in Ire?316

Cain
we! theyf, whi brend thi tend so shyre?317
Ther myne did bot smoked318
right as it wold vs both haue choked.319

Abel
Godis will I trow it were320
that myn brened so clere;321
If thyne smoked am I to wite?322

Cain
we! yei! that shal thou sore abite;323
with cheke bon, or that I blyn,324
shal I the & thi life twyn;325
So lig down ther and take thi rest,326
thus shall shrewes be chastysed best.327

Abel
Veniance, veniance, lord, I cry!328
for I am slayn, & not gilty.329

Cain
Yei, ly ther old shrew, ly ther, ly!330
And if any of you thynk I did amys331
I shal it amend wars then it is,332
that all men may it se:333
well wars then it is334
right so shall it be.335
Bot now, syn he is Broght on Slepe,336
Into Som hole fayn wold I crepe;337
ffor ferd I qwake and can no rede,338
ffor be I taken, I be bot dede;339
here will I lig thise fourty dayes,340
And I shrew hym that me fyrst rayse.341

God
Caym, Caym!342

Cain
who is that that callis me?343
I am yonder, may thou not se?343

God
Caym, where is thi brother abell?344

Cain
what askis thou me? I trow at hell:345
At hell I trow he be-346
who so were ther then myght he se-347
Or somwhere fallen on slepyng;348
when was he in my kepyng?349

God
Caym, Caym, thou was wode;350
The voyce of thi brotheris blode351
That thou has slayn, on fals wise,352
from erth to heuen venyance cryse.353
And, for thou has broght thi brother downe,354
here I gif the my malison.355

Cain
Yei, dele aboute the, for I will none,356
or take it the when I am gone.357
Syn I haue done so mekill syn,358
that I may not thi mercy wyn,359
And thou thus dos me from thi grace,360
I shall hyde me fro thi face;361
And where so any man may fynd me,362
Let hym slo me hardely;363
And where so any man may me meyte,364
Ayther bi sty, or yit bi strete;365
And hardely, when I am dede,366
bery me in gudeboure at the quarell hede,367
ffor, may I pas this place in quarte,368
bi all men set I not a fart.369

God
Nay, caym, it bese not so;370
I will that no man other slo,371
ffor he that sloys yong or old372
It shall be punyshid sevenfold.373

Cain
No force, I wote wheder I shall;374
In hell I wote mon be my stall.375
It is no boyte mercy to craue,376
ffor if I do I mon none haue;377
Bot this cors I wold were hid,378
ffor som man myght com at vngayn,379
‘ffle fals shrew,’ wold he bid,380
And weyn I had my brother slayn.381
Bot were pike-harnes, my knafe, here,382
we shuld bery hym both in fere.383
How, pyke-harnes, scape-thryft! how, pike-harnes, how!

Garcio
Master, master!385

Cain
harstow, boy? ther is a podyng in the pot;386
take the that, boy, tak the that!387

Garcio
I shrew thi ball vnder thi hode,388
If thou were my syre of flesh & blode;389
All the day to ryn and trott,390
And euer amang thou strykeand,391
Thus am I comen bofettis to fott.392

Cain
Peas, man, I did it bot to vse my hand;393
Bot Harke, boy, I haue a counsell to the to Say-394
I slogh my brother this same day;395
I pray the, good boy, and thou may,396
to ryn away with the bayn.397

Garcio
We! out apon the, thefe!398
has thou thi brother slayn?399

Cain
Peasse, man, for godis payn!400
I saide it for a skaunce.401

Garcio
Yey, bot for ferde of grevance402
here I the forsake;403
we mon haue a mekill myschaunce404
and the bayles vs take.405

Cain
A, sir, I cry you mercy; seasse!406
and I shall make you a releasse.407

Garcio
what, wilt thou cry my peasse408
thrughout this land,?409

Cain
Yey, that I gif god a vow, belife.410

Garcio
how will thou do long or thou thrife?410

Cain
Stand vp, my good boy, belife,411
and thaym peasse both man & [w]ife;412
And who so will do after me413
ffull slape of thrift then shal he be.414
Bot thou must be my good boy,415
and cry oyes, oyes, oy!416

Garcio
Browes, browes, to thi boy.417

Cain
I commaund, you in the kyngis nayme,418

Garcio
And in my masteres, fals Cayme,419

Cain
That no man at thame fynd fawt ne blame.420

Garcio
Yey, cold rost is at my masteres hame.421

Cain
Nowther with hym nor with his knafe,422

Garcio
What, I hope my master rafe.423

Cain
ffor thay ar trew, full many fold.424

Garcio
My master suppys no coyle bot cold.425

Cain
The kyng wrytis you vntill.426

Garcio
Yit ete I neuer half my fill.427

Cain
The kyng will that thay be safe,428

Garcio
Yey, a draght of drynke fayne wold I hayfe.429

Cain
At thare awne will let tham wafe;430

Garcio
My stomak is redy to receyfe.431

Cain
Loke no man say to theym, on nor other;432

Garcio
This same is he that slo his brother.433

Cain
Byd euery man thaym luf and lowt,434

Garcio
Yey, ill spon weft ay comes foule out.435

Cain
long or thou get thi hoyse and thou go thus aboute.
Byd euery man theym pleasse to pay.437

Garcio
Yey, gif don, thyne hors, a wisp of hay.438

Cain
we! com downe in twenty dwill way,439
The dwill I the betake;440
ffor bot it were abell, my brothere,441
yit knew I neuer thi make.442

Garcio
Now old and yong, or that ye weynd,443
The same blissyng withoutten end,444
All sam then’ shall ye haue,445
That god of heuen my master has giffen;446
Browke it well, whils that ye liffen,447
he vowche it full well safe.448

Cain
Com downe yit in the dwillis way,449
And angre me no more;450
And take yond plogh, I say,451
And weynd the furth fast before;452
And I shall, if I may,453
Tech the another lore;454
I warn the lad, for ay,455
ffro now furth, euermore,456
That thou greue me noght;457
ffor, bi Godis sydis, if thou do,458
I shall hang the apon this plo,459
with this rope, lo, lad, lo!460
By hym that me dere boght.461
Now fayre well, felows all,462
ffor I must nedis weynd,463
And to the dwill be thrall,464
warld, withoutten end.465
Ordand ther is my stall,466
with sathanas the feynd,467
Euer ill myght hym befall468
that theder me commend,469
This tyde.470
ffare well les, & fare well more,471
ffor now and euer more,472
I will go me to hyde.473

Noah
Myghtfull god veray / Maker of all that is,1
Thre persons withoutten nay / oone god in endles blis,
Thou maide both nyght & day / beest, fowle, & fysh,
All creatures that lif may / wroght thou at thi wish,
As thou wel myght;5
The son, the moyne, verament,6
Thou maide; the firmament,7
The sternes also full feruent,8
To shyne thou maide ful bright.9
Angels thou maide ful euen / all orders that is,10
To haue the blis in heuen / this did thou more & les,
ffull mervelus to neuen / yit was ther vnkyndnes,12
More bi foldis seuen / then I can well expres;13
ffor whi?14
Of all angels in brightnes15
God gaf lucifer most lightnes,16
Yit prowdly he flyt his des,17
And set hym euen hym by.18
He thoght hymself as worthi / as hym that hym made,
In brightnes, in bewty / therfor he hym degrade;20
put hym in a low degre / soyn after, in a brade,21
hym and all his menye / wher he may be vnglad,22
ffor euer.23
shall thay neuer wyn away24
hence vnto domysday,25
Bot burne in bayle for ay,26
shall thay neuer dysseuer.27
Soyne after that gracyous lord / to his liknes maide man,
That place to be restord / euen as he began,29
Of the trinite bi accord, / Adam & eue that woman,
To multiplie without discord, / In paradise put he thaym,
And sithen to both32
Gaf in commaundement,33
On the tre of life to lay no hend;34
Bot yit the fals feynd,35
Made hym with man wroth,36
Entysyd man to glotony / styrd him to syn in pride;
Bot in paradise securly / myght no syn abide,38
And therfor man full hastely / was put out, in that tyde,
In wo & wandreth for to be / In paynes full vnrid,
To knawe,41
ffyrst in erth, in sythen in hell42
with feyndis for to dwell,43
Bot he his mercy mell44
To those that will hym trawe.45
Oyle of mercy he Hus hight / As I haue Hard red,46
To euery lifyng wight / that wold luf hym and dred,
Bot now before his sight / euery liffyng leyde,48
Most party day and nyght / syn in word and dede49
ffull bold;50
Som in pride, Ire and enuy,51
Som in Couet[yse] & glotyny,52
Som in sloth and lechery,53
And other wise many fold.54
Therfor I drede lest god / on vs will take veniance,
ffor syn is now alod / without any repentance;56
Sex hundreth yeris & od / haue I, without distance,
In erth, as any sod, / liffyd with grete grevance58
All way;59
And now I wax old,60
seke, sory, and cold,61
As muk apon mold62
I widder away;63
Bot yit will I cry / for mercy and call;64
Noe thi seruant, am I / lord ouer all!65
Therfor me and my fry / shal with me fall;66
saue from velany / and bryng to thi hall67
In heuen;68
And kepe me from syn,69
This warld, within;70
Comly kyng of mankyn,71
I pray the here my stevyn!72

God
Syn I haue maide all thyng / that is liffand,73
Duke, emperour, and kyng / with myne awne hand,74
ffor to haue thare likyng / bi see & bi sand,75
Euery man to my bydyng / shuld, be bowand76
ffull feruent;77
That maide man sich a creatoure,78
ffarest of favoure,79
Man must luf me paramoure,80
by reson, and repent.81
Me thoght I shewed man luf / when I made hym to be82
All angels abuf / like to the trynyte;83
And now in grete reprufe / full low ligis he,84
In erth hymself to stuf / with syn that displeasse me
Most of all;86
Veniance will I take,87
In erth for syn sake,88
My grame thus will I wake,89
both of grete and small.90
I repente full sore / that euer maide I man,91
Bi me he settis no store / and I am his soferan;92
I will distroy therfor / Both beest, man, and woman,
All shall perish les and more / that bargan may thay ban,
That ill has done.95
In erth I se right noght96
Bot syn that is vnsoght;97
Of those that well has wroght98
ffynd, I bot a fone.99
Therfor shall I fordo / All this medill-erd100
with floodis that shall flo / & ryn with hidous rerd;
I haue good cause therto / ffor me no man is ferd,102
As I say shal I do / of veniance draw my swerd,103
And make end,104
of all that beris life,105
Sayf noe and his wife,106
ffor that wold neuer stryfe107
With me [ne] me offend.108
hym to mekill wyn / hastly will I go,109
To noe my seruand, or I blyn / to warn hym of his wo.
In erth I se bot syn / reynand to and fro,111
Emang both more & myn / ichon other fo;112
With all thare entent;113
All shall I fordo114
with floodis that shall floo,115
wirk shall I thaym wo,116
That will not repent.117
Noe, my freend, I thee commaund / from cares the to keyle,
A ship that thou ordand / of nayle and bord, ful wele.
Thou was alway well wirkand / to me trew as stele,120
To my bydyng obediand / frendship shal thou fele121
To mede;122
of lennthe thi ship be123
Thre hundreth cubettis, warn I the,124
Of heght euen thrirte,125
of fyfty als in brede.126
Anoynt thi ship with pik and tar / without & als within,
The water out to spar / this is a noble gyn;128
look no man the mar / thre chese chambres begyn,129
Thou must spend many a spar / this wark or thou wyn
To end fully.131
Make in thi ship also,132
parloures oone or two,133
And houses of offyce mo,134
ffor beestis that ther must be.135
Oone cubite on hight / A wyndo shal thou make;136
on the syde a doore with slyght / be-neyth shal thou take;
With the shal no man fyght / nor do the no kyn wrake.
When all is doyne thus right / thi wife, that is thi make,
Take in to the;140
Thi sonnes of good fame,141
Sem, Iaphet, and Came,142
Take in also hame,143
Thare wifis also thre.144
ffor all shal be fordone / that lif in land bot ye,
with floodis that from abone / shal fall, & that plente;
It shall begyn full sone / to rayn vncessantle,147
After dayes seuen be done / and induyr dayes fourty,
withoutten fayll.149
Take to thi ship also150
of ich kynd beestis two,151
Mayll & femayll, bot no mo,152
Or thou pull vp thi sayll.153
ffor thay may the avayll / when al this thyng is wroght;
Stuf thi ship with vitayll, / ffor hungre that ye perish noght;
Of beestis, foull, and catayll / ffor thaym haue thou in thoght,
ffor thaym is my counsayll / that som socour be soght,
In hast;158
Thay must haue corn and hay,159
And oder mete alway;160
Do now as I the say,161
In the name of the holy gast.162

Noah
A! benedicite! / what art thou that thus163
Tellys afore that shall be? / thou art full mervelus!
Tell me, for charite / thi name so gracius.165

God
My name is of dignyte / and also full glorius166
To knawe.167
I am god most myghty,168
Oone god in trynyty,169
Made the and ich man to be;170
To luf me well thou awe.171

Noah
I thank the, lord, so dere / that wold, vowch sayf172
Thus low to appere / to a symple knafe;173
Blis vs, lord, here / for charite I hit crafe,174
The better may we stere / the ship that we shall hafe,
Certayn.176

God
Noe, to the and to thi fry177
My blyssyng graunt I;178
Ye shall wax and multiply,179
And fill the erth agane,180
When all thise floodis ar past / and fully gone away.

Noah
lord, homward will I hast / as fast as that I may;182
My [wife] will I frast / what she will say,183
And I am agast / that we get som fray184
Betwixt vs both;185
ffor she is full tethee,186
ffor litill oft angre,187
If any thyng wrang be,188
Soyne is she wroth.189
God spede, dere wife / how fayre ye?190

Uxor
Now, as euer myght I thryfe / the wars I thee see;191
Do tell me belife / where has thou thus long be?192
To dede may we dryfe / or lif for the,193
ffor want.194
When we swete or swynk,195
thou dos what thou thynk,196
Yit of mete and of drynk197
haue we veray skant.198

Noah
Wife, we ar hard, sted / with tythyngis new.199

Uxor
Bot thou were worthi be cled / In stafford blew;200
ffor thou art alway adred / be it fals or trew;201
Bot god knowes I am led / and that may I rew,202
ffull ill;203
ffor I dar be thi borow,204
ffrom euen vnto morow,205
Thou spekis euer of sorow;206
God send the onys thi fill!207
We women may wary / all ill husbandis;208
I haue oone, bi mary! / that lowsyd me of my bandis;
If he teyn I must tary / how so euer it standis,210
With seymland full sory, / wryngand both my handis211
ffor drede.212
Bot yit other while,213
What with gam & with gyle,214
I shall smyte and smyle,215
And qwite hym his mede.216

Noah
We! hold, thi tong, ram-skyt / or I shall the still.

Uxor
By my thryft, if thou smyte / I shal turne the vntill.

Noah
We shall assay as tyte / haue at the, gill!219
Apon the bone shal it byte. /220

Uxor
A, so, mary! thou smytis ill!221
Bot I suppose221
I shal not in thi det,222
fflyt of this flett!223
Take the ther a langett224
To tye vp thi hose!225

Noah
A! wilt thou so? / mary, that is myne.226

Uxor
Thou shal thre for two / I swere bi godis pyne.227

Noah
And I shall qwyte the tho / In fayth or syne.228

Uxor
Out apon the, ho! /229

Noah
Thou can both byte and whyne,230
with a rerd;230
ffor all if she stryke,231
yit fast will she skryke,232
In fayth I hold, none slyke233
In all medill-erd;234
Bot I will kepe charyte / ffor I haue at do.235

Uxor
Here shal no man tary the / I pray the go to!236
ffull well may we mys the / as euer haue I ro;237
To spyn will I dres me. /238

Noah
We! fare well, lo;239
Bot wife,239
Pray for me besele,240
To eft I com vnto the.241

Uxor
Euen as thou prays for me,242
As euer myght I thrife.243

Noah
I tary full Lang / Fro my warke, I traw;244
Now my gere will I fang / and thederward draw;245
I may full ill gang / the soth for to knaw,246
Bot if god help amang / I may sit downe daw247
To ken;248
Now assay will I249
how I can of wrightry,250
In nomine patris, & filii,251
Et spiritus sanncti, Amen.252
To begyn of this tree / my bonys will I bend,253
I traw from the trynyte / socoure will be send,254
It fayres full fayre, thynk me / this wark to my hend;
Now blissid be he / that this can amend.256
lo, here the lenght,257
Thre hundreth cubettis euenly,258
of breed lo is it fyfty,259
The heght is euen thyrty260
Cubettis full strenght.261
Now my gowne will I cast / and wyrk in my cote,262
Make will I the mast / or I flyt oone foote,263
A! my bak, I traw, will brast! / this is a sory note!
hit is wonder that I last / sich an old, dote265
All dold,266
To begyn sich a wark!267
My bonys ar so stark,268
No wonder if thay wark,269
ffor I am full old.270
The top and the sayll / both will I make,271
The helme and the castell / also will I take,272
To drife ich a nayll / will I not forsake,273
This gere may neuer fayll / that dar I vndertake274
Onone.275
This is a nobull gyn,276
Thise nayles so thay ryn,277
Thoro more and myn,278
Thise bordis ichon;279
wyndow and doore / euen as he saide,280
Thre ches chambre / thay ar well maide,281
Pyk & tar full sure / ther apon laide,282
This will euer endure / therof am I paide;283
ffor why?284
It is better wroght285
Then I coude haif thoght;286
hym that maide all of noght287
I thank oonly.288
Now will I hy me / and no thyng be leder,289
My wife and my meneye / to bryng euen heder.290
Tent hedir tydely / wife, and consider,291
hens must vs fle / All sam togeder292
In hast.293

Uxor
Whi, syr, what alis you?294
Who is that asalis you?295
To fle it avalis you,296
And ye be agast.297

Noah
Ther is garn on the reyll / other, my dame.298

Uxor
Tell me that ich a deyll / els get ye blame.299

Noah
He that cares may keill / blissid be his name!300
he has for oure seyll / to sheld vs fro shame,301
And sayd,302
All this warld aboute303
With floodis so stoute,304
That shall ryn on a route,305
Shall be ouerlaide.306
he saide all shall be slayn / bot oonely we,307
Oure barnes that ar bayn / and thare wifis thre;308
A ship he bad me ordayn / to safe vs & oure fee,
Therfor with all oure mayn / thank we that fre310
Beytter of bayll;311
hy vs fast, go we thedir.312

Uxor
I wote neuer whedir,313
I dase and I dedir314
ffor ferd of that tayll.315

Noah
Be not aferd, haue done / trus sam oure gere,316
That we be ther or none / without more dere.317

Primus Filius
It shall be done full sone / brether, help to bere.

Secundus Filius
ffull long shall I not hoyne / to do my devere,319
Brether sam.320

Tertius Filius
without any yelp,321
At my myght shall I help.322

Uxor
Yit for drede of a skelp323
help well thi dam.324

Noah
Now ar we there / as we shuld be;325
Do get in oure gere / oure catall and fe,326
In to this vessell here / my chylder fre.327

Uxor
I was neuer bard ere / As euer myght I the,328
In sich an oostre as this.329
In fath I can not fynd330
which is before, which is behynd;331
Bot shall we here be pynd,332
Noe, as haue thou blis?333

Noah
Dame, as it is skill / here must vs abide grace;334
Therfor, wife, with good will / com into this place.

Uxor
Sir, for Iak nor for gill / will I turne my face336
Till I haue on this hill / spon a space337
on my rok;338
Well were he, myght get me,339
Now will I downe set me,340
Yit reede I no man let me,341
ffor drede of a knok.342

Noah
Behold to the heuen / the cateractes all,343
That are open full euen / grete and small,344
And the planettis seuen / left has thare stall,345
Thise thoners and levyn / downe gar fall346
ffull stout,347
Both halles and bowers,348
Castels and towres;349
ffull sharp ar thise showers,350
that renys aboute;351
Therfor, wife, haue done / com into ship fast.352

Uxor
Yei, noe, go cloute thi shone / the better will thai last.

Prima Mulier
Good moder, com in sone / ffor all is ouer cast,354
Both the son and the mone. /355

Secunda Mulier
and many wynd blast356
ffull sharp;356
Thise floodis so thay ryn,357
Therfor moder come in.358

Uxor
In fayth yit will I spyn;359
All in vayn ye carp.360

Tercius Mulier
If ye like ye may spyn / Moder, in the ship.361

Noah
Now is this twyys com in / dame, on my frenship.362

Uxor
Wheder I lose or I wyn / In fayth, thi felowship,363
set I not a pyn / this spyndill will I slip364
Apon this hill,365
Or I styr oone fote.366

Noah
Peter! I traw we dote;367
without any more note368
Come in if ye will.369

Uxor
Yei, water nyghys so nere / that I sit not dry,370
Into ship with a byr / therfor will I hy371
ffor drede that I drone here. /372

Noah
dame, securly,373
It bees boght full dere / ye abode so long by373
out of ship.374

Uxor
I will not, for thi bydyng,375
go from doore to mydyng.376

Noah
In fayth, and for youre long taryyng377
Ye shal lik on the whyp.378

Uxor
Spare me not, I pray the / bot euen as thou thynk,379
Thise grete wordis shall not flay me. /380

Noah
Abide, dame, and drynk381
ffor betyn shall thou be / with this staf to thou stynk;
Ar strokis good? say me. /382

Uxor
what say ye, wat wynk?383

Noah
speke!383
Cry me mercy, I say!384

Uxor
Therto say I nay.385

Noah
Bot thou do, bi this day,386
Thi hede shall I breke.387

Uxor
Lord, I were at ese / and hertely full hoylle,388
Might I onys haue a measse / of wedows coyll;389
ffor thi saull, without lese / shuld I dele penny doyll,
so wold mo, no frese / that I se on this sole391
of wifis that ar here,392
ffor the life that thay leyd,393
Wold thare husbandis were dede,394
ffor, as euer ete I brede,395
So wold I oure syre were.396

Noah
Yee men that has wifis / whyls they ar yong,397
If ye luf youre lifis / chastice thare tong:398
Me thynk my hert ryfis / both levyr and long,399
To se sich stryfis / wedmen emong;400
Bot I,401
As haue I blys,402
shall chastyse this.403

Uxor
Yit may ye mys,404
Nicholl nedy!405

Noah
I shall make the still as stone / begynnar of blunder!
I shall bete the bak and bone / and breke all in sonder.

Uxor
Out, alas, I am gone! / oute apon the, mans wonder!

Noah
Se how she can grone / and I lig vnder;409
Bot, wife,410
In this hast let vs ho,411
ffor my bak is nere in two.412

Uxor
And I am bet so blo413
That I may not thryfe.414

Primus Filius
A! whi fare ye thus? / ffader and moder both!415

Secundus Filius
Ye shuld not be so spitus / standyng in sich a woth.

Tertius Filius
Thise ar so hidus / with many a cold coth.417

Noah
we will do as ye bid vs / we will no more be wroth,
Dere barnes!419
Now to the helme will I hent,420
And to my ship tent.421

Uxor
I se on the firmament,422
Me thynk, the seven starnes.423

Noah
This is a grete flood / wife, take hede.424

Uxor
So me thoght, as I stode / we ar in grete drede;425
Thise wawghes ar so wode. /426

Noah
help, god, in this nede!427
As thou art stere-man good / and best, as I rede,427
Of all;428
Thou rewle vs in this rase,429
As thou me behete hase.430

Uxor
This is a perlous case:431
help, god, when we call!432

Noah
Wife, tent the stere-tre / and I shall asay433
The depnes of the see / that we bere, if I may.434

Uxor
That shall I do ful wysely / now go thi way,435
ffor apon this flood haue we / flett many day,436
with pyne.437

Noah
Now the water will I sownd:438
A! it is far to the grownd;439
This trauell I expownd440
had I to tyne.441
Aboue all hillys bedeyn / the water is rysen late442
Cubettis fyfteyn, / bot in a highter state443
It may not be, I weyn / for this well I wate,444
This forty dayes has rayn beyn / It will therfor abate
Full lele.446
This water in hast,447
eft will I tast;448
Now am I agast,449
It is wanyd a grete dele.450
Now are the weders cest / and cateractes knyt,451
Both the most and the leest. /452

Uxor
Me thynk, bi my wit,453
The son shynes in the eest / lo is not yond it?453
we shuld haue a good feest / were thise floodis flyt
So spytus.455

Noah
we haue been here, all we,456
thre hundreth dayes and fyfty.457

Uxor
Yei, now wanys the see;458
lord, well is vs!459

Noah
The thryd tyme will I prufe / what depnes we bere.460

Uxor
Now long shall thou hufe / lay in thy lyne there.461

Noah
I may towch with my lufe / the grownd evyn here.462

Uxor
Then begynnys to grufe / to vs mery chere;463
Bot, husband,464
What grownd may this be?465

Noah
The hyllys of armonye.466

Uxor
Now blissid be he467
That thus for vs can ordand!468

Noah
I see toppys of hyllys he / many at a syght,469
No thyng to let me / the wedir is so bright.470

Uxor
Thise ar of mercy / tokyns full right.471

Noah
Dame, thi counsell me / what fowll best myght,472
And Cowth,473
with flight of wyng474
bryng, without taryying,475
Of mercy som tokynyng476
Ayther bi north or southe?477
ffor this is the fyrst day / of the tent moyne.478

Uxor
The ravyn, durst I lay / will com agane sone;479
As fast as thou may / cast hym furth, haue done,480
He may happyn to day / com agane or none481
With grath.482

Noah
I will cast out also483
Dowfys oone or two:484
Go youre way, go,485
God send, you som wathe!486
Now ar thise fowles flone / Into seyr countre;487
Pray we fast ichon / kneland on our kne,488
To hym that is alone / worthiest of degre,489
That he wold send anone / oure fowles som fee490
To glad vs.491

Uxor
Thai may not fayll of land,492
The water is so wanand.493

Noah
Thank we god all weldand,494
That lord that made vs.495
It is a wonder thyng / me thynk sothle,496
Thai ar so long taryyng / the fowles that we497
Cast out in the mornyng. /498

Uxor
Syr, it may be499
Thai tary to thay bryng. /499

Noah
The ravyn is a hungrye500
All way;500
He is without any reson,501
And he fynd any caryon,502
As peraventure may befon,503
he will not away;504
The dowfe is more gentill / her trust I vntew,505
like vnto the turtill / for she is ay trew.506

Uxor
hence bot a litill / she commys, lew, lew!507
she bryngys in her bill / som novels new;508
Behald,!509
It is of an olif tre510
A branch, thynkys me.511

Noah
It is soth, perde,512
right so is it cald.513
Doufe, byrd, full blist / ffayre myght the befall !
Thou art trew for to trist / as ston in the wall;515
Full well I it wist / thou wold com to thi hall,516

Uxor
A trew tokyn ist / we shall be sauyd all:517
ffor whi?518
The water, syn she com,519
Of depnes plom,520
Is fallen a fathom,521
And more hardely.522

Primus Filius
Thise floodis ar gone / fader, behold.523

Secundus Filius
Ther is left right none / and that be ye bold.524

Tercius Filius
As still as a stone / oure ship is stold.525

Noah
Apon land here anone / that we were, fayn I wold;526
My childer dere,527
Sem, Japhet and Cam,528
with gle and with gam,529
Com go we all sam,530
we will no longer abide here.531

Uxor
here haue we beyn / noy long enogh,532
with tray and with teyn / and dreed mekill wogh.533

Noah
behald, on this greyn / nowder cart ne plogh534
Is left, as I weyn / nowder tre then bogh,535
Ne other thyng,536
Bot all is away;537
Many castels, I say,538
Grete townes of aray,539
fflitt has this flowyng.540

Uxor
Thise floodis not afright / all this warld, so wide
has mevid with myght / on se and bi side.542

Noah
To dede ar thai dyght / prowdist of pryde,543
Euer ich a wyght / that euer was spyde,544
With syn,545
All ar thai slayn,546
And put vnto payn.547

Uxor
ffrom thens agayn548
May thai neuer wyn?549

Noah
wyn? no, I-wis / bot he that myght hase550
Wold myn of thare mys / & admytte thaym to grace;
As he in bayll is blis / I pray hym in this space,552
In heven hye with his / to purvaye vs a place,553
That we,554
with his santis in sight,555
And his angels bright,556
May com to his light:557
Amen, for charite.558

Abraham
Adonay, thou god veray,1
Thou here vs when we to the call,2
As thou art he that best may,3
Thou art most socoure and help of all;4
Mightfull lord! to the I pray,5
Let onys the oyle of mercy fall,6
Shall I neuer abide that day,7
Truly yit I hope I shall.8
Mercy, lord omnipotent!9
long syn he this warld has wroght;10
Wheder ar all oure elders went?11
This musys mekill in my thoght.12
ffrom adam, vnto eue assent,13
Ete of that appyll sparid he noght,14
ffor all the wisdom that he ment15
ffull dere that bargan has he boght,16
ffrom paradise thai bad hym gang;17
He went mowrnyng with symple chere,18
And after liffyd he here full lang,19
More then thre hundreth yere,20
In sorow and in trauell strang,21
And euery day he was in were;22
his childre angred, hym amang;23
Caym slo abell, was hym full dere.24
Sithen Noe, that was trew and good,25
his and his chyldre thre,26
was saued when all was flood:27
That was a wonder thyng to se.28
And loth fro sodome when he yode,29
Thre cytees brent, yit eschapyd, he;30
Thus, for thai menged my lordis mode,31
he vengid syn thrugh his pauste‘.32
when I thynk of oure elders all,33
And of the mervels that has been,34
No gladnes in my hart may fall,35
M[y] comfort goys away full cleyn.36
lord, when shall dede make me his thrall?37
An hundreth yeris, certis, haue I seyn;38
Ma fa! sone I hope he shall,39
ffor it were right hie tyme I weyn.40
Yit adam is to hell gone,41
And ther has ligen many a day,42
And all oure elders, euerychon,43
Thay ar gone the same way,44
Vnto god will here thare mone;45
Now help, lord, adonay!46
ffor, certis, I can no better wone,47
And ther is none that better may.48

God
I will help adam and his kynde,49
Might I luf and lewte fynd;50
Wold thay to me be trew, and blyn51
Of thare pride and of thare syn:52
My seruand I will found & frast,53
Abraham, if he be trast;54
On certan wise I will hym proue,55
If he to me be trew of louf.56
Abraham! Abraham!57

Abraham
Who is that? war! let me se!58
I herd oone neven my name.59

God
It is I, take tent to me,60
That fourmed thi fader adam,61
And euery thyng in it degre.62

Abraham
To here thi will, redy I am,63
And to fulfill, what euer it be.64

God
Of mercy haue I herd thi cry,65
Thi devoute prayers haue me bun;66
If thou me luf, look that thou hy67
Vnto the land of Visyon;68
And the thryd day be ther, bid, I,69
And take with the, Isaac, thi son,70
As a beest to sacryfy,71
To slo hym look thou not shon,72
And bren hym ther to thyn offerand.73

Abraham
A, lovyd be thou, lord in throne!74
hold ouer me, lord, thy holy hand,75
ffor certis thi bidyng shall be done.76
Blissyd be that lord in euery land77
wold viset his seruand thus so soyn.78
ffayn wold I this thyng ordand,79
ffor it profettis noght to hoyne;80
This commaundement must I nedis fulfill,81
If that my hert wax hevy as leyde;82
Shuld I offend my lordis will?83
Nay, yit were I leyffer my child were dede.84
What so he biddis me, good or ill,85
That shall be done in euery steede;86
Both wife and child, if he bid spill;87
I wille not do agans his rede.88
wist Isaac, wher so he were,89
he wold be abast now,90
how that he is in dangere.91
Isaac, son, wher art thou?92

Isaac
All redy, fader, Lo me here;93
Now was I commyng vnto you;94
I luf you mekill, fader dere.95

Abraham
And dos thou so? I wold wit how96
lufis thou me, son, as thou has saide.97

Isaac
Yei, fader, with all myn hart,98
More then all that euer was maide;99
God hold, me long youre life in quart!100

Abraham
Now, who would not be glad that had101
A child so lufand as thou art?102
Thi lufly chere makis my hert glad,103
And many a tyme so has it gart.104
Go home, son; com sone agane,105
And tell thi moder I com ful fast;106
So now god the saif and sayne!107
Now well is me that he is past!108
Alone, right here in this playn,109
Might I speke to myn hart brast,110
I wold, that all were well ful fayn,111
Bot it must nedis be done at last;112
And it is good that I be war,113
To be avised full good it were.114
The land of vision is ful far,115
The thrid day end must I be there;116
Myn ase shall with vs, if it thar,117
To bere oure harnes les & more,118
ffor my son may be slayn no nar;119
A swerd must with vs yit therfore,120
And I shall found, to make me yare;121
This nyght will I begyn my way,122
THof Isaac be neuer so fayre,123
And myn awn son, the soth to say,124
And, thof he be myn right haire,125
And all shuld, weld, after my day,126
Godis bydyng shall I not spare;127
shuld I that ganstand,? we, nay, ma fay!128
Isaac!129

Isaac
-sir!130

Abraham
-luke thou be bowne;131
ffor certan, son, thi self and I,130
we two must now weynd, furth of towne,131
In far country to sacrifie,132
ffor certan skyllys and encheson.133
Take wod and fyere with the, in hy;134
Bi hillys and, dayllys, both vp & downe,135
son, thou shal ride and, I will go bi.136
looke thou mys noght that thou shuld, nede;137
Do make the redy, my darlyng!138

Isaac
I am redy to do this dede,139
And euer to fulfill youre bydyng.140

Abraham
My dere son, look thou haue no drede,141
We shal com home with grete lovyng;142
Both to & fro I shal vs lede;143
Com now, son, in my blyssyng.144
Ye two here with this asse abide,145
ffor Isaac & I will to yond hill;146
It is so hie we may not ride,147
therfor ye two shal abide here still.148

Primus Puer
sir, ye ow not to be denyed,:149
we ar redy youre bydyng to fulfill.150

Secundus Puer
What so euer to vs betide151
To do youre bidyng ay we will.152

Abraham
Godis blyssyng haue ye both in fere;153
I shall not tary long you fro.154

Primus Puer
Sir, we shal abide you here,155
Oute of this stede shall we not go.156

Abraham
Childre, ye ar ay to me full dere,157
I pray god kepe [you] euer fro wo.158

Secundus Puer
we will do, sir, as ye vs lere.159

Abraham
Isaac, now ar we bot we two,160
we must go a full good paase,161
ffor it is farther than I wend,162
we shall make myrth & grete solace,163
Bi this thyng be broght to end.164
lo, my son, here is the place.165

Isaac
wod and fyere ar in my hend;166
Tell me now, if ye haue space,167
where is the beest that shuld, be brend?168

Abraham
Now, son, I may no longer layn.169
sich will is into myne hart went;170
Thou was euer to me full bayn171
Euer to fulfill myn entent.172
Bot certanly thou must be slayn,173
And it may be as I haue ment.174

Isaac
I am hevy and nothyng fayn,175
Thus hastely that shall be shent.176

Abraham
Isaac!177

Isaac
sir?178

Abraham
Com heder, bid I;179
Thou shal be dede what so euer betide.178

Isaac
A, fader, mercy! mercy!179

Abraham
That I say may not be denyde;180
Take thi dede therfor mekely.181

Isaac
A, good sir, abide;182
ffader!183

Abraham
What son?184

Isaac
to do youre will I am redy,185
where so euer ye go or ride,184
If I may oght ouertake youre will,185
syn I haue trepa[s]t I wold be bet.186

Abraham
Isaac!187

Isaac
What, sir?188

Abraham
good son, be still.189

Isaac
ffader!188

Abraham
what, son!189

Isaac
think on thi get!190
what haue I done?189

Abraham
truly, none ill.190

Isaac
And shall be slayn?190

Abraham
so haue I het.191

Isaac
sir, what may help?191

Abraham
certis, no skill.192

Isaac
I ask mercy.192

Abraham
that may not let.193

Isaac
when I am dede, and closed, in clay,193
who shall then be youre son?194

Abraham
A, lord, that I shuld abide this day!195

Isaac
sir, who shall do that I was won?196

Abraham
speke no sich wordis, son, I the pray.197

Isaac
shall ye me slo?198

Abraham
I trow I mon;199
lyg still! I smyte!199

Isaac
sir, let me say.200

Abraham
Now, my dere child, thou may not shon.200

Isaac
The shynyng of youre bright blayde201
It gars me quake for ferde to dee.202

Abraham
Therfor groflyngis thou shall be layde,203
Then when I stryke thou shal not se.204

Isaac
What haue I done, fader, what haue I saide?205

Abraham
Truly, no kyns ill to me.206

Isaac
And thus gyltles shall be arayde.207

Abraham
Now, good son, let sich wordis be.208

Isaac
I luf you ay.209

Abraham
so do I the.210

Isaac
ffader!210

Abraham
what, son?211

Isaac
let now be seyn.212
ffor my moder luf.211

Abraham
let be, let be!212
It will not help that thou wold, meyn;212
Bot ly styll till I com to the,213
I mys a lytyll thyng, I weyn.214
he spekis so rufully to me215
That water shotis in both myn eeyn,216
I were leuer than all wardly wyn,217
That I had fon hym onys vnkynde,218
Bot no defawt I faund, hym in:219
I wold be dede for hym, or pynde;220
To slo hym thus, I thynk grete syn,221
So rufull wordis I with hym fynd;222
I am full wo that we shuld, twyn,223
ffor he will neuer oute of my mynd.224
What shal I to his moder say?225
ffor "where is he," tyte will she spyr;226
If I tell hir, "ron away,"227
hir answere bese belife-"nay, sir!"228
And I am ferd, hir for to slay;229
I ne wote what I shal say till hir.230
he lyys full still ther as he lay,231
ffor to I com, dar he not styr.232

God
Angell, hy with all thi mayn!233
To abraham thou shall be sent;234
say, Isaac shall not be slayn;235
he shall lif, and not be brent.236
My bydyng standis he not agane,237
Go, put hym out of his intent;238
Byd, hym go home agane,239
I know well how he ment.240

Angel
Gladly, Lord, I am redy:241
thi bidyng shall be magnyfyed;242
I shall me spede ful hastely,243
the to obeye at euery tyde;244
Thi will, Thi name, to glorifye,245
Ouer all this warld so wide;246
And to thi seruand now in hy,247
good, trew, abraham, will I glyde.248

Abraham
Bot myght I yit of wepyng sese,249
till I had done this sacrifice;250
It must nedis be, withoutten lesse,251
thof all I carpe on this kyn wise,252
The more my sorow it will incres;253
when I look to hym, I gryse;254
I will ryn on a res,255
And slo hym here, right as he lyse.256

Angel
Abraham! Abraham!257

Abraham
Who is ther now?258
War! let the go.258

Angel
stand vp, now, stand;259
Thi good will com I to alow,259
Therfor I byd the hold thi hand.260

Abraham
say, who bad, so? any bot thou?261

Angel
Yei, god; & sendis this beest to thyn offerand.

Abraham
I speke with god latter, I trow,263
And doyng he me commaund.264

Angel
He has persauyd thy mekenes265
And thi good will also, Iwis;266
he will thou do thi son no distres,267
ffor he has graunt to the his blys.268

Abraham
Bot wote thou well that it is269
As thou has sayd?270

Angel
I say the yis.271

Abraham
I thank the, lord, well of goodnes,271
That all thus has relest me this;272
To speke with the haue I no space,273
with my dere son till I haue spokyn.274
My good son, thou shal haue grace,275
On the now will I not be wrokyn;276
Ryse vp now, with thi frely face.277

Isaac
sir, shall I lif?278

Abraham
yei, this to tokyn.279
son thou has skapid a full hard, grace,279
Thou shuld, haue beyn both brent & brokyn.280

Isaac
Bot, fader, shall I not be slayn?281

Abraham
No, certis, son.282

Isaac
then am I glad.283
Good sir, put vp youre sword agayn.283

Abraham
Nay hardely, son, be thou not adrad.284

Isaac
Is all for geyn?285

Abraham
yei, son, certan.286

Isaac
ffor ferd, sir, was I nere-hand, mad.286

Isaac
Com nere son and kys me,1
that I may feyle the smell of the.2
The smell of my son is lyke3
to a feld with flouris, or hony bike.4
where art thou, Esaw, my son?5

Jacob
here, fader, and askis youre benyson.6

Isaac
The blyssyng my fader gaf to me,7
god of heuen & I gif the;8
God gif the plente grete,9
of wyne, of oyll, and of whete;10
And graunt thi childre all11
to worship the, both grete and small;12
who so the blyssys, blyssed be he;13
who so the waris, wared be he.14
Now has thou my grete blyssyng,15
loue the shall all thyne ofspryng;16
Go now wheder thou has to go.17

Jacob
Graunt mercy, sir, I will do so.18

Esau
haue, ete, fader, of myn huntyng,19
And gif me sythen your blyssyng.20

Isaac
Who is that?21

Esau
I, youre son22
Esaw, bryngis you venyson.22

Isaac
Who was that was right now here,23
And broght me bruet of a dere?24
I ete well, and blyssyd hym;25
And he is blyssyd, ich a lym.26

Esau
Alas! I may grete and sob.27

Isaac
Thou art begylyd thrugh iacob,28
That is thyne awne german brother.29

Esau
haue ye kepyd me none other30
Blyssyng then ye set hym one?31

Isaac
sich another haue I none;32
Bot god gif the to thyn handband,33
the dew of heuen & frute of land.34
Other then this can I not say.35

Esau
Now, alas, and walo-way!36
May I with that tratoure mete,37
my faders dayes shall com with grete,38
And my moders also;39
may I hym mete, I shall hym slo.40

Rebecca
Isaac it were my deth41
If Iacob weddeth in kynd of heth;42
I will send hym to aran,43
there my brothere dwellys, laban;44
And there may he serue in peasse45
till his brother’s wrath will seasse.46
why shuld, I apon a day47
loyse both my sonnes? better nay.48

Isaac
Thou says soth, wife; call hym heder,49
And let vs tell hym where & wheder50
That he may fle esaw,51
that vs both hetis bale to brew.52

Rebecca
Iacob, son! thi fader & I53
wold, speke with the; com, stand, vs by!54
Out of contry must thou fle,55
that Esaw slo not the.56

Jacob
Whederward, shuld, I go, dame?57

Rebecca
To mesopotameam;58
To my brothere, and thyn eme,59
that dwellys besyde Iordan streme;60
And ther may thou with hym won,61
to Esaw, myne other son,62
fforget, and all his wrath be dede.63

Jacob
I will go, fader, at youre rede.64

Isaac
Yei, son, do as thi moder says;65
Com kys vs both, & weynd thi ways.66

Jacob
Haue good day, sir and dame!67

Isaac
God sheld, the, son, from syn and shame!68

Rebecca
And gif the grace, good man to be,69
And send me glad tythygis to the.70

Jacob
Help me, lord, adonay,1
And hald, me in the right way2
To mesopotameam;3
ffor I cam neuer or now where I am;4
I cam neuer here in this contre;5
lord, of heuen, thou help me!6
ffor I haue maide me, in this strete,7
sore bonys & warkand feete.8
The son is downe, what is best?9
her purpose I all nyght to rest;10
Vnder my hede this ston shal ly;11
A nyghtis rest take will I.12

God
Iacob, iacob, thi god I am;13
Of thi forfader abraham,14
And of thi fader, Isaac;15
I shall the blys for thare sake.16
This land, that thou slepys in,17
I shall the gif, and thi kyn;18
I shall thi seede multyply,19
As thyk as powder on erth may ly.20
The kynd of the shall sprede wide,21
ffrom eest to west on euery syde,22
ffrom the south vnto the north;23
All that I say, I shall forth;24
And all the folkis of thyne ofspryng,25
shal be blyssyd of thy blyssyng.26
Iacob, haue thou no kyns drede!27
I shall the clethe, I shall the fede.28
Whartfull shall I make thi gate;29
I shal the help erly and, late;30
And all in qwart shall I bryng the31
home agane to thi countre.32
I shall not fayll, be thou bold,33
Bot I shall do as I haue told.34

Jacob
A! lord! what may this mene?35
what haue I herd, in slepe, and sene?36
That god leynyd hym to a stegh,37
And spake to me, it is no leghe;38
And now is here none othere gate,39
bot godis howse and heuens yate.40
lord, how dredfull is this stede!41
ther I layde downe my hede,42
In godis lovyng I rayse this stone,43
And, oyll will I putt theron.44
lord, of heuen, that all wote,45
here to the I make a hote:46
If thou gif me mete and foode,47
And close to body, as I behoued,48
And bryng me home to kyth and kyn,49
by the way that I walk in,50
without skathe and in quarte,51
I promyse to the, with stedfast hart,52
As thou art lord, and god myne,53
And I Iacob, thi trew hyne,54
This stone I rayse in sygne to day55
shall I hold, holy kyrk for ay;56
And of all that newes me57
rightwys tend, shall I gif the.58
A, my fader, god of heuen,59
that saide to me, thrugh thi steven,60
when I in aran was dwelland,61
that I shuld turne agane to land,62
Ther I was both fed and borne,63
warnyd thou me, lord, beforne,64
As I went toward aran65
with my staff, and passyd, Iordan:66
And now I come agane to kyth,67
with two ostes of men me with.68
Thou hete me, lord, to do well with me,69
to multyplye my seede as sand of see;70
Thou saue me, lord, thrugh vertew,71
ffrom veniance of Esaw,72
That he slo not, for old, greme,73
these moders with thare barne teme.74

Rachel
Oure anguysh, sir, is many fold,75
syn that oure messyngere vs told,76
That Esaw wold, you slo,77
with foure hundreth men and mo.78

Jacob
ffor soth, rachell, I haue hym sent79
of many beestis sere present.80
May tyde he will oure giftis take,81
And right so shall his wrath slake.82
where ar oure thyngis, ar thay past Iordan?83

Leah
Go and look, sir, as ye can.84

God
The day spryngis; now lett me go.85

Jacob
Nay, nay, I will not so,86
Bot thou blys me or thou gang:87
If I may, I shall hold, the lang.88

God
In tokynyng that thou spekis with me,89
I shall toche now thi thee,90
That halt shall thou euermore,91
bot thou shall fele no sore;92
What is thy name, thou me tell?93

Jacob
Iacob.94

God
nay, bot Israell;95
syn thou to me sich strengthe may kythe,95
to men of erth thou must be stythe.96

Jacob
what is thy name?97

God
whi askis thou it?98
‘wonderfull,’ if thou wil wyt.98

Jacob
A, blys me, lord,!99

God
I shall the blys,100
And be to the full propyce,100
And gyf the my blyssyng for ay,101
As lord and he that all may.102
I shall grayth thi gate,103
And full well ordeyn thi state;104
when thou has drede, thynk on me,105
And thou shal full well saynyd be,106
And look thou trow well my sayes;107
And farewell now, the day dayes.108

Jacob
Now haue I a new name, israell;109
this place shall [hight] fanuell,110
ffor I haue seyn in this place,111
god of heuen face to face.112

Rachel
Iacob, lo we haue tythand,113
that Esaw is here at hand.114

Jacob
Rachell, stand thou in the last eschele,115
ffor I wold, thou were sauyd wele;116
Call Ioseph and beniamin,117
And let theym not fro the twyn.118
If it be so that Esaw119
vs before all-to-hew,120
Ye that ar here the last121
Ye may be sauyd if ye fle fast.122

Jacob
I pray the, lord, as thou me het,123
thou saue me and, my gete.124

Esau
welcom brother, to kyn and kyth,125
thi wife and childre that comes the with.126
how has thou faren in far land,?127
tell me now som good tythand.128

Jacob
Well, my brother Esaw,129
If that thi men no bale me brew.130

Esau
wemo! felows, hold youre hend,131
ye se that I and he ar frend,132
And frenship here will we fulfill,133
syn that it is godis will.134

Jacob
God yeld, you, brothere, that it so is135
that thou thi hyne so wold, kys.136

Esau
Nay, Iacob, my dere brothere,137
I shall the tell all anothere;138
Thou art my lord, thrugh destyny;139
go we togeder both thou and I,140
To my fader and, his wife,141
that lofys the, brother, as thare lyfe.142

Moyses
Prophetam excitabit deus de fratribus vestris;1
Omnis anima, que non audierit prophetam illum,
exterminabitur de populo suo;
Nemo propheta sine honore nisi in patria sua.
All ye folk of israell,1
herkyn to me! I will you tell2
Tythyngis farly goode;3
All wote ys how it be fell4
wherfor Adam was dampnyd, to hell,5
he, and all his blode.6
Therfor will god, styr and rayse7
A prophete, in som man dayes,8
Of oure brethere kyn;9
And all trowes as he says,10
And will walk in his ways,11
ffrom hell he will theym twyn.12
when his tyme begynnys to day,13
I rede no man fro hym dray,14
In way, ne stand on strut;15
ffor he that will not here his sagh,16
he be shewed, as an out-lagh,17
And from his folkis be putt.18
I warne you well that same prophete19
shall com hereafterward, full swete,20
And many meruels shew;21
Man shall fall till his feete,22
ffor cause he can bales beete,23
Thrugh his awn thew.24
All that will in trowth ren25
shall he saue, I warne you then,26
Trust shall his name be.27
Bot all ouer will man prophete ken28
with worship, amangis men,29
Bot in his awne countre.30
herkyns all, both yong and old,!31
God that has all in wold,32
Gretys you bi me;33
his commaundementis ar ten;34
Behold, ye that ar his men,35
here ye may theym se.36
his commaundementis that I haue broght,37
looke that ye hold, thaym noght38
ffor tryfyls, ne for fables;39
ffor ye shall well vnderstand,40
That god wrote theym with his hand,41
In thyse same tables.42
Ye that thyse in hart will hald,43
vnto heuen shall ye be cald,44
That is fyrst to com;45
And ye that will not do so,46
Till hell pyne mon ye go,47
And byde a bytter dome.48
Do now as I shall you wys;49
The fyrst commaundement is this50
That I shall you say;51
Make no god of stok ne stone,52
And, trow in none god, bot oone,53
That mayde both nyght and day.54
Anothere bydis thou shall not swere,55
ffor no mede, ne for no dere,56
ffalsly, bi godis name;57
If thou swere wrongwosly,58
Wit thou well and wytterly,59
Thou art worthi grete blame.60
The thyrd, is, thou shall well yheme61
Thi holy day, and serue to wheme62
God with all thi hart.63
The fourt commaundement is bi tayll,64
ffader and moder worship thou shall,65
In pouert and in qwarte.66
The fyft commaundis thou shall forsake67
ffornycacyon, and take the a make,68
And lyf in rightwys state.69
The sext commaundis thou shal not be70
Man sloer, for gold, ne fee,71
Ne for luf, ne for hate.72
The seuenth commaundis that thou shall leue,73
And nather go to stele ne reue,74
ffor more then for les.75
The aght bydis both old, and yong,76
That thay be traw of thare tong,77
And bere no fals witnes.78
The nenth bydis the, bi thi lif,79
Thou desyre not thi neghbur’s wife,80
Ne mayden that is his.81
The tent bidis the, for no case,82
Desyre not wranwosly thyng thi neghbur has;83
Do thus, and do no mys.84
I am the same man that god chase,85
And toke the ten commaundementis of peasse86
In the monte synay;87
Thise wordis, I say, ar no les;88
My name is callyd moyses;89
And haue now all good day!90

David
a Omnes reges adorabunt eum, omnes gentes seruient ei.
herkyn, all, that here may,91
And perceyf well what I shall say,92
All with righ[t]wisnes.93
loke ye put it not away,94
Bot thynk theron both nyght and day,95
ffor it is sothfastnes.96
Iesse son, ye wote I am;97
Dauid is my right name,98
And I bere crowne;99
Bot ye me trow, ye ar to blame;100
Of Israel, both wyld, and tame,101
I haue in my bondon.102
As god of heuen has gyffyn me wit,103
shall I now syng you a fytt,104
With my mynstrelsy;105
loke ye do it well in wrytt,106
And theron a knot knytt,107
ffor it is prophecy.108
Myrth I make till all men,109
with my harp and fyngers ten,110
And warn theym that thay glad,111
ffor god will that his son down send,112
That wroght adam with his hend,113
And heuen and erth mayde.114
He will lyght fro heuen towre,115
ffor to be mans saueyoure,116
And saue that is forlorne;117
ffor that I harp, and myrth make,118
Is for he will manhede take,119
I tell you thus beforne;120
And thider shall he ren agane,121
As gyant of mych mayne,122
Vnto the hyest sete;123
Ther is nawther kyng, ne swayn,124
Then no thyng that may hym layn,125
Ne hyde from his hete.126
he shall be lord, and kyng of all,127
Tyll hys feete shall kyngis fall,128
To offre to hym wytterly.129
Blyssyd, be that swete blome,130
That shall saue vs at his com!131
Ioyfull may we be.132
Riche gyftis thay shall hym bryng,133
And till hym make offeryng,134
kneland on thare kne;135
well were hym that that lordyng,136
And that dere derlyng,137
Myght bide on lyfe and se.138
Men may know hym bi his marke,139
Myrth and lovyng is his warke,140
that shall he luf most.141
lyght shall be born that tyme in darke,142
Both to lawd, man and to clark,143
the luf of rightwys gost.144
Therfor, both emperoure and kyng,145
Ryche and poore, both old, and ying,146
temper well youre gle,147
Agans that kyng lyght downe,148
ffor to lowse vs of pryson,149
And make vs all free.150
Thou shew thi mercy, lord, tyll vs,151
ffor to thou com, to hell we trus,152
we may not go beside;153
lord, when thi will is for to dele154
Tyll us thi salue and thi hele,155
whom we all abyde.156
Now haue I songen you a fytt;157
loke in mynd that ye haue it,158
I rede with my myght;159
he that maide vs all with his wytt,160
sheld, vs all from hell pytt,161
And graunt vs heuen lyght!162

Sybilla Propheta
Iudicii signum tellus sudore madescit,163
E celo rex adueniet per secla futurus,
Scilicet in carne presens vt iudicet orbem.
Who so wyll here tythyngis glad,163
of hym that all this warld, made,164
here me wytterly!165
sibill sage is my name;166
Bot ye me here, ye ar to blame,167
My word, is prophecy.168
All men was slayn thrugh adam syn,169
And put to pyne that neuer shall blyn,170
thrugh falsnes of the feynd.171
A new kyng comes from heuen to fyght172
Agans the feynd, to wyn his right,173
so is his mercy heynd.174
All the warld, shall he deme,175
And that haue seruyd hym to wheme,176
Myrth thaym mon betyde;177
All shall se hym with thare ee,178
Ryche and poore, low and hye,179
No man may hym hyde;180
Bot thay shall in thare flesh ryse,181
That euery man shall whake and gryse,182
Agans that ilk dome.183
with his santis, many oone,184
he shall be sene in flesh and, bone,185
that kyng that is to com.186
All that shall stand hym before,187
All shal be les and more,188
Of oone eld, ichon.189
Angels shall qwake then for ferd,190
And fyre shall bren this mydyll-erd,191
yei, erth and, all ther apon.192
shall nothyng here in erth be kend,193
Bot it shall be strewyd, and brend,194
All waters and the see.195
sythen shall both hill and dale196
Ryn togeder, grete and smale,197
And all shall euen be.198
At hys commyng shall bemys blaw,199
That men may his commyng knaw;200
ffull sorowfull shall be that blast;201
Ther is no man that herys it,202
Bot he shall qwake for all his witt,203
Be he neuer so stedfast.204
Then shall hell gape and gryn,205
That men may know thare dome therin,206
Of that hye iustyce;207
That ill have done, to hell mon go;208
And to heuen the other also,209
that has been rightwys.210
Therfor, I rede ilk a man,211
kepe, as well as he can,212
ffro syn and fro mysdede.213
My prophecy now haue I told;214
God, you saue, both yong and old,215
And help you at youre nede!216

Daniel
Cum venerit sanctus sanctorum cessabit vncio vestra.
God that maide adam and eue,217
whils thay dyd well, he gaf thaym leue218
In paradise to dwell;219
Sone when thay that appyll ete,220
Thay were dampned, sone and skete,221
Vnto the pyne of hell,222
Thrugh sorow and paynes euer new;223
Therfor wyll god apon vs rew,224
And his son downe send,225
Into erth, flesh to take,226
That is all for oure sake,227
oure trespas to amend.228
fflesh with fleshe will be boght,229
That he lose not that he has wroght230
wyth hys awne hend.231
Of a madyn shal he be borne,232
To saue all that ar forlorne,233
Euermore withoutten end.234

Pharao
Peas, of payn that no man pas;1
bot kepe the course that I commaunde,2
And take good hede of hym that has3
youre helth all holy in hys hande;4
ffor kyng pharro my fader Was,5
And led thys lordshyp of thys land;6
I am hys hayre as age Wyll has,7
Euer in stede to styr or stand.8
All Egypt is myne awne9
To leede aftyr my law;10
I Wold my myght Were knawne11
And honoryd, as hyt awe.12
ffull low he shall be thrawne13
That harkyns not my sawe,14
hanged hy and drawne,15
Therfor no boste ye blaw;16
Bot as for kyng I commaund peasse,17
To all the people of thys empyre.18
looke no man put hym self in preaase,19
Bot that Wyll do as I desyre,20
And of youre Wordis look that ye seasse.21
Take tent to me, youre soferand syre,22
That may youre comfort most increasse,23
And to my lyst bowe lyfe and lyre.24

Primus Miles
My lord, if any here Were,25
That Wold not wyrk youre Wyll,26
If We myght com thaym nere,27
ffull soyn we shuld theym spyll.28

Pharao
Thrugh out my kyngdom Wold I ken,29
And kun hym thank that Wold me tell,30
If any Were so Waryd men31
That wold my fors downe fell.32

Secundus Miles
My lord, ye haue a maner of men33
that make great mastres vs emell;34
The Iues that Won in gersen,35
thay ar callyd chyldyr of Israel.36
Thay multyplye full fast,37
and sothly We suppose38
That shall euer last,39
oure lordshyp for to lose.40

Pharao
Why, how haue thay sych gawdis begun?41
ar thay of myght to make sych frayes?42

Primus Miles
Yei, lord, full fell folk ther Was fun43
In kyng pharao, youre fader dayes.44
Thay cam of Ioseph, Was iacob son-45
he Was a prince Worthy to prayse-46
In sythen in ryst haue thay ay ron;47
thus ar thay lyke to lose youre layse,48
Thay Wyll confound you cleyn,49
bot if thay soner sesse.50

Pharao
What deuyll is that thay meyn51
that thay so fast incresse?52

Secundus Miles
How thay incres full well we ken,53
as oure faders dyd vnderstand;54
Thay Were bot sexty and ten55
when thay fyrst cam in to thys land;56
Sythen haue soierned in gersen57
[Fower hundreth] Wynter, I dar warand;58
Now ar thay nowmbred of myghty men59
moo then [thre hundreth] thousand,60
Wyth outen Wyfe and chyld,61
or hyrdis that kepe thare fee.62

Pharao
How thus myght we be begyld?63
bot shall it not be;64
ffor wyth quantyse we shall thaym quell,65
so that thay shall not far sprede.66

Primus Miles
My lord, we haue hard oure faders tell,67
and clerkis that well couth rede,68
Ther shuld a man walk vs amell69
that shuld fordo vs and oure dede.70

Pharao
ffy on hym, to the deuyll of hell!71
sych destyny wyll we not drede;72
We shal make mydwyfis to spyll them73
where any ebrew is borne,74
And all menkynde to kyll them,75
so shall thay soyn be lorne.76
And as for elder haue I none awe,77
sych bondage shall I to thaym beyde,78
To dyke and delf, bere and draw,79
and to do all vnhonest deyde;80
So shall these laddis be halden law,81
In thraldom euer thare lyfe to leyde.82

Secundus Miles
Now, certis, thys was a sotell saw,83
thus shall these folk no farthere sprede.84

Pharao
Now help to hald theym downe,85
look I no fayntnes fynde.86

Primus Miles
All redy, lord, We shall be bowne,87
in bondage thaym to bynde.88

Moyses
Gret god, that all thys Warld began,89
and growndyd it in good degre,90
Thou mayde me, moyses, vnto man,91
and sythen thou sauyd me from the se;92
kyng Pharao had commawndyd, than,93
ther shuld no man chyld sauyd be;94
Agans hys Wyll away I wan;95
thus has god, shewed hys myght for me.96
Now am I sett to kepe,97
vnder thys montayn syde,98
Byshope Iettyr shepe,99
to better may be tyde;100
A, lord, grete is thy myght!101
What man may of yond meruell meyn?102
Yonder I se a selcowth syght,103
sych on in Warld Was neuer seyn;104
A bush I se burnand full bryght,105
and euer elyke the leyfes are greyn;106
If it be wark of Warldly Wyght,107
I Wyll go wyt wythoutyn Weyn.108

God
Moyses, Moyses!109
Moyses, com not to nere,110
bot styll in that stede thou dwell,111
And harkyn vnto me here;112
take tent What I the tell.113
do of thy shoyes in fere,114
wyth mowth as I the mell,115
the place thou standis in there116
forsothe, is halowd Well.117
I am thy lord, Wythouten lak,118
to lengthe thi lyfe euen as I lyst;119
I am god that som tyme spake120
to thyn elders, as thay Wyst;121
To abraam, and Isaac,122
and iacob, I sayde shuld be blyst,123
And multytude of them to make,124
so that thare seyde shuld not be myst.125
Bot now thys kyng, pharao,126
he hurtys my folk so fast,127
If that I suffre hym so,128
thare seyde shuld, soyne be past;129
Bot I Wyll not so do,130
in me if thay Wyll trast,131
Bondage to bryng thaym fro.132
therfor thou go in hast133
To do my message, haue in mynde,134
to hym that me sych harme mase;135
Thou speke to hym Wyth wordis heynde,136
so that he let my people pas,137
To Wyldernes that thay may Weynde,138
to Worshyp me as I wyll asse.139
Agans my wyll if that thay leynd,140
ful soyn hys song shall be ‘alas.’141

Moyses
A, lord! pardon me, Wyth thy leyf,142
that lynage luffis me noght;143
Gladly thay Wold me greyf,144
if I sych bodworde broght.145
Good lord, lett som othere frast,146
that has more fors the folke to fere.147

God
Moyses, be thou nott abast,148
my bydyng shall thou boldly bere;149
If thay with wrong away Wold Wrast,150
outt of the way I shall the Were.151

Moyses
Good lord, thay Wyll not me trast152
for all the othes that I can swere;153
To neuen sych noytis newe154
to folk of Wykyd Wyll,155
Wyth outen tokyn trew,156
thay wyll not tent ther tyll.157

God
If that he wyll not vnderstand158
thys tokyn trew that I shall sent,159
Afore the kyng cast downe thy Wand,160
and it shall turne to a serpent;161
Then take the tayll agane in hand-162
boldly vp look thou it hent-163
And in the state that thou it fand,164
then shal it turne by myne intent.165
Sythen hald thy hand soyn in thy barme,166
and as a lepre it shal be lyke,167
And hole agane with outen harme;168
lo, my tokyns shal be slyke.169
And if he wyll not suffre then170
my people for to pas in peasse,171
I shall send venyance [neyn] or ten,172
shall sowe full sore or I seasse.173
Bot the ebrewes, won in Iessen,174
shall not be merkyd with that measse;175
As long as thay my lawes Wyll ken176
thare comforth shall euer increasse177

Moyses
A, lord, to luf the aght vs well,178
that makis thy folk thus free;179
I shall vnto thaym tell180
as thou has told to me.181
Bot to the kyng, lord, when I com,182
if he aske what is thy name,183
And I stand styll, both deyf & dom,184
how shuld, I [skape] withoutten blame?185

God
I say the thus, ‘Ego sum qui sum,’186
I am he that is the same;187
If thou can nother muf nor mom,188
I shall sheld, the from shame.189

Moyses
I vnderstand full well thys thyng,190
I go, lord, with all the myght in me.191

God
Be bold in my blyssyng,192
thi socoure shall I be.193

Moyses
A, lord of luf, leyn me thy lare,194
that I may truly talys tell;195
To my freyndis now wyll I fare,196
the chosyn childre of Israell,197
To tell theym comforth of thare care,198
in dawngere ther as thay dwell.199
God manteyn you euermare,200
And mekyll myrth be you emell.201

Primus Puer
A, master moyses, dere!202
oure myrth is all mowrnyng;203
ffull hard halden ar we here204
as carls vnder the kyng.205

Secundus Puer
We may mowrn, both more and myn,206
ther is no man that oure myrth mase;207
Bot syn we ar all of a kyn,208
god send vs comforth in thys case.209

Moyses
Brethere, of youre mowrnyng blyn;210
god Wyll delyuer you thrugh his grace,211
Out of this wo he wyll you wyn,212
and put you to youre pleassyng place;213
ffor I shall carp vnto the kyng,214
and fownd full soyn to make you free.215

Primus Puer
God graunt you good Weyndyng,216
and euermore with you be.217

Moyses
kyng pharao, to me take tent.218

Pharao
Why, boy, what tythyngis can thou tell?219

Moyses
ffrom god hym self hydder am I sent220
to foche the chyldre of Israell;221
To Wyldernes he wold thay went.222

Pharao
yei, weynd the to the devyll of hell!223
I gyf no force What he has ment,224
In my dangere, herst thou, shall thay dwell;225
And, fature, for thy sake,226
thay shalbe put to pyne.227

Moyses
Then wyll god venyance take228
of the, and of all thyn.229

Pharao
On me? fy on the lad, out of my land!230
wenys thou thus to loyse oure lay?231
Say, whence is yond warlow with his wand232
that thus wold wyle oure folk away?233

Primus Miles
Yond is moyses, I dar warand,234
agans all egypt has beyn ay,235
Greatt defawte with hym youre fader fand;236
now wyll he mar you if he may.237

Pharao
ffy on hym! nay, nay, that dawnce is done;238
lurdan, thou leryd to late.239

Moyses
God bydis the graunt my bone,240
and let me go my gate.241

Pharao
Bydis god me? fals losell, thou lyse!242
What tokyn told he? take thou tent.243

Moyses
He sayd thou shuld dyspyse244
both me, and hys commaundement;245
fforthy, apon thys wyse,246
my Wand he bad, in thi present,247
I shuld lay downe, and the avyse248
how it shuld turne to oone serpent;249
And in hys holy name250
here I lay it downe;251
lo, syr, here may thou se the same.252

Pharao
A, ha, dog! the devyll the drowne!253

Moyses
He bad me take it by the tayll,254
for to prefe hys powere playn;255
Then he sayde, wythouten fayll,256
hyt shuld turne to a wand agayn.257
lo, sir, behold!258

Pharao
wyth ylahayll!259
Certis this is a sotell swayn!259
bot thyse boyes shall abyde in bayll,260
All thi gawdis shall thaym not gayn;261
Bot wars, both morn and none,262
shall thay fare, for thi sake.263

Moyses
I pray god send us venyange sone,264
and on thi Warkis take wrake.265

Primus Miles
Alas, alas! this land is lorn!266
on lyfe we may [no] longer leynd;267
Sych myschefe is fallen syn morn,268
ther may no medsyn it amend.269

Pharao
Why cry ye so, laddis? lyst ye skorn?270

Secundus Miles
Syr kyng, sych care was neuer kend,271
In no mans tyme that euer was borne.272

Pharao
Tell on, belyfe, and make an end.273

Primus Miles
Syr, the Waters that were ordand274
for men and bestis foyde,275
Thrugh outt all egypt land,276
ar turnyd into reede bloyde;277
ffull vgly and full yll is hytt,278
that both fresh and, fayre was before.279

Pharao
O, ho! this is a wonderfull thyng to wytt,280
of all the warkis that euer wore!281

Secundus Miles
Nay, lord, ther is anothere yit,282
that sodanly sowys vs full sore;283
ffor todis and froskis may no man flyt,284
thay venom vs so, both les and more.285

Primus Miles
Greatte mystis, sir, ther is both morn and noyn,286
byte vs full bytterly;287
we trow that it be doyn288
thrugh moyses, oure greatte enmy.289

Secundus Miles
My lord, bot if this menye may remefe,290
Mon neuer myrth be vs amang.291

Pharao
Go, say to hym we wyll not grefe,292
bot thay shall neuer the tytter gang.293

Primus Miles
Moyses, my lord gyffys leyfe294
to leyd thi folk to lykyng lang,295
So that we mend of oure myschefe.296

Moyses
ffull well I wote, thyse wordis ar wrang;297
But hardely all that I heytt298
ffull sodanly it shall be seyn;299
vncowth meruels shalbe meyt300
And he of malyce meyn.301

Secundus Miles
A, lord, alas, for doyll we dy!302
we dar look oute at no dowre.303

Pharao
What, ragyd the dwyll of hell, alys you so to cry?304

Primus Miles
ffor we fare wars then euer we fowre;305
grete loppys ouer all this land thay fly,306
And where thay byte thay make grete blowre,307
and in euery place oure bestis dede ly.308

Secundus Miles
hors, ox, and asse,309
thay fall downe dede, syr, sodanly.310

Pharao
we! lo, ther is no man that has311
half as mych harme as I.312

Primus Miles
yis, sir, poore folk haue mekyll wo,313
to se thare catall thus out cast.314
The Iues in gessen fayre not so,315
thay haue lykyng for to last.316

Pharao
Then shall we gyf theym leyf to go,317
to tyme this perell be on past;318
Bot, or thay flytt oght far vs fro,319
we shall them bond twyse as fast.320

Secundus Miles
Moyses, my lord gyffis leyf321
thi meneye to remeue.322

Moyses
ye mon hafe more myschefe323
bot if thyse talys be trew.324

Primus Miles
A, lord, we may not leyde thyse lyfys.325

Pharao
what, dwyll! is grevance grofen agayn?326

Secundus Miles
ye, sir, sich powder apon vs dryfys,327
where it abidys it makys a blayn;328
Mesell makys it man and wyfe,329
thus ar we hurt with hayll & rayn.330
Syr, v[y]nys in montanse may not thryfe,331
so has frost & thoner thaym slayn.332

Pharao
yei, bot how do thay in gessen,333
the Iues, can ye me say?334

Primus Miles
Of all thyse cares no thyng thay ken,335
thay feyll noght of our afray.336

Pharao
No? the ragyd! the dwyll! sytt thay in peasse?337
and we euery day in doute & drede?338

Secundus Miles
My lord, this care wyll euer encrese,339
to moyses haue his folk to leyd;340
Els be we lorn, it is no lesse,341
yit were it better that thai yede.342

Pharao
Thes folk shall flyt no far,343
If he go welland wode.344

Primus Miles
Then will it sone be war;345
It were better thay yode.346

Secundus Miles
My lord, new harme is comyn in hand.347

Pharao
Yei, d,will, will it no better be?348

Primus Miles
wyld wormes ar layd ouer all this land,349
Thai leyf no floure, nor leyf on tre.350

Secundus Miles
Agans that storme may no man stand;351
And mekyll more meruell thynk me,352
That thise thre dayes has bene durand353
Sich myst, that no man may other se.354

Primus Miles
A, my lord!355

Pharao
hagh!356

Secundus Miles
Grete pestilence is comyn;356
It is like ful long to last.357

Pharao
[pestilence] in the dwilys name!358
then is oure pride ouer past.359

Primus Miles
My lord, this care lastis lang,360
and will, to moyses haue his bone;361
let hym go, els wyrk we wrang,362
It may not help to houer ne hone.363

Pharao
Then will we gif theym leyf to gang;364
Syn it must nedis be doyn;365
Perchauns we sall thaym fang366
and mar them or to morn at none.367

Secundus Miles
Moyses, my lord he says368
thou shall haue passage playn.369

Moyses
Now haue we lefe to pas,370
my freyndis, now be ye fayn;371
Com furth, now sall ye weynd372
to land of lykyng you to pay.373

Primus Puer
Bot kyng Pharao, that fals feynd,374
he will vs eft betray;375
ffull soyn he will shape vs to sheynd,376
And after vs send his garray.377

Moyses
Be not abast, god is oure freynd,378
And all oure foes will slay;379
Therfor com on with me,380
haue done and drede you noght.381

Secundus Puer
That lord blyst might he be,382
that vs from bayll has broght.383

Primus Puer
Sich frenship neuer we fand;384
bot yit I drede for perels all,385
The reede see is here at hand,386
ther shal we byde to we be thrall.387

Moyses
I shall make way ther with my wand,388
as god has sayde, to sayf vs all;389
On ayther syde the see mon stand,390
to we be gone, right as a wall.391
Com on wyth me, leyf none behynde;392
lo fownd, ye now youre god to pleasse,393

Secundus Puer
O, lord,! this way is heynd;394
Now weynd we all at easse.395

Primus Miles
kyng pharao! thyse folk ar gone.396

Pharao
Say, ar ther any noyes new?397

Secundus Miles
Thise Ebrews ar gone, lord, euer-ichon.398

Pharao
how says thou that?399

Primus Miles
lord, that tayll is trew.400

Pharao
We, out tyte, that they were tayn;400
That ryett radly shall thay rew,401
we shall not seasse to thay be slayn,402
ffor to the see we shall thaym sew;403
So charge youre chariottis swythe,404
And fersly look ye folow me.405

Secundus Miles
All redy, lord, we ar full blyth406
At youre byddyng to be.407

Primus Miles
lord, at youre byddyng ar we bowne408
Oure bodys boldly for to beyd;409
we shall not seasse, bot dyng all downe,410
To all be dede withouten drede.411

Pharao
heyf vp youre hertis vnto mahowne,412
he will be nere vs in oure nede;413
help! the raggyd dwyll, we drowne!414
Now mon we dy for all oure dede.415

Moyses
Now ar we won from all oure wo,416
And sauyd out of the see;417
louyng gyf we god vnto,418
Go we to land now merely.419

Primus Puer
lofe we may that lord on hyght,420
And euer tell on this meruell;421
Drownyd he has Kyng pharao myght,422
louyd be that lord Emanuell.423

Moyses
heuen, thou attend, I say, in syght,424
And erth my wordys; here what I tell.425
As rayn or dew on erth doys lyght426
And waters herbys and trees full well,427
Gyf louyng to goddys mageste,428
hys dedys ar done, hys ways ar trew,429
honowred be he in trynyte,430
to hym be honowre and vertew.431
Amen.432

Imperator
Be styll, beshers, I commawnd yow,1
That no man speke a word here now2
Bot I my self alon;3
And if ye do, I make a vow,4
Thys brand abowte youre nekys shall bow,5
ffor thy be styll as ston:6
And looke ye grefe me noght,7
ffor if ye do it shall be boght,8
I swere you by mahowne;9
I wote well if ye knew me oght,10
To slo you all how lytyll I roght,11
Ston styll ye wold syt downe.12
ffor all is myn that vp standys,13
Castels, towers, townys, and landys,14
To me homage thay bryng;15
ffor I may bynd and lowse of band,16
Euery thyng bowys vnto my hand,17
I want none erthly thyng.18
I am lord and syr ouer all,19
All bowys to me, both grete and small,20
As lord of euery land;21
Is none so comly on to call,22
Whoso this agane says, fowll shall be fall,23
And therto here my hand.24
ffor I am he that myghty is,25
And hardely all hathennes26
Is redy at my wyll;27
Both ryche, and poore, more & les,28
At my lykyng for to redres,29
whether I wyll saue or spyll.30
Cesar august I am cald,31
A fayrer cors for to behald,32
Is not of bloode & bone;33
Ryche ne poore, yong ne old,34
Sych an othere, as I am told,35
In all thys warld, is none.36
Bot oone thyng doys me full mych care,37
I trow my land wyll sone mysfare38
ffor defawte of counsell lele;39
My counsellars so wyse of lare,40
help to comforth me of care,41
No wyt from me ye fele.42
As I am man moost of renowne,43
I shall you gyf youre waryson44
To help me if ye may.45

Primus Consultus
To counsell you, lord, we ar bowne,46
And for no man that lyfys in towne47
wyll we not let, perfay;48
youre messyngere I reede ye call,49
ffor any thyng that may befall,50
Byd hym go hastely,51
Thrugh out youre landys ouer all,52
Amang youre folk, both grete and small53
youre gyrth & peasse to cry;54
ffor to commaunde both yong & old,55
None be so hardy ne so bold,56
To hold of none bot you;57
And, who so doth, put them in hold,58
And loke ye payn theym many fold.59

Imperator
I shall, I make a vowe;60
Of thys counsell well payde am I,61
It shall be done full hastely,62
wyth outen any respytt.63

Secundus Consultus
My Lord abyde awyle, for why?64
A word to you I wold cleryfy.65

Imperator
Go on, then, tell me tytt.66

Secundus Consultus
All redy, lord, now permafay,67
Thys haue I herd syn many day,68
ffolk in the contre tell;69
That in this land shuld dwell a may,70
The which sall bere a chylde, thay say,71
That shall youre force downe fell.72

Imperator
Downe fell? dwyll! what may this be?73
Out, harow, full wo is me!74
I am full wyll of reede!75
A, fy, and dewyls! whens cam he76
That thus shuld reyfe me my pawste?77
Ere shuld I be his dede.78
ffor certys, then were my worshyp lorne,79
If sych a swayn, a snoke horne,80
Shuld thus be my suffrane;81
may I wyt when that boy is borne,82
In certan, had the dwyll hit sworne,83
that gadlyng shuld agane.84

Primus Consultus
Do way, lord, greyf you not so,85
youre messyngere ye cause furth go86
Aftyr youre cosyn dere,87
To speke with you a word, or two,88
The best counsell that lad to slo,89
ffull soyn he can you lere;90
ffor a wyse man that knyght men know.91

Imperator
Now I assent vnto thi saw,92
of witt art thou the well;93
ffor all the best men of hym blowys;94
he shall neuer dystroy my lawes,95
were he the dwyll of hell.96
Com lyghtfote, lad, loke thou be yare97
On my message furth to fare,98
go tytt to sir syryn;99
Say sorow takys me full sare,100
pray hym to comforth me of care,101
As myn awne dere cosyn;102
And bot if thou come agane to nyght,103
look I se the neuer in syght,104
neuer where in my land.105

Nuncius
yis, certys, lord, I am full lyght,106
or noyn of the day, I dar you hyght,107
to bryng hym by the hand.108

Imperator
yai, boy, and as thou luffys me dere,109
Luke that thou spy, both far and nere,110
Ouer all in ych place;111
If thou here any saghes sere,112
Of any carpyng, far and nere,113
Of that lad, where that thou gase.114

Nuncius
All redy, lord, I am full bowne,115
To spyr and spy in euery towne,116
After that wykkyd, queyd;117
If I here any runk or rowne,118
I shall fownd to crak thare crowne,119
Ouer all, in ylk a stede;120
And therfor, lord, haue now good day.121

Imperator
Mahowne he wyse the on thi way,122
That weldys water and wynde;123
And specyally, here I the pray,124
To spede the as fast as thou may.125

Nuncius
yis, lord, that shall ye fynde.126
Mahowne the saue and se, sir syryne!127
Cesar, my lord, and youre cosyn,128
he gretys you well by me.129

Sirinus
Thou art welcom to me and myn;130
Com nere and tell me tythandys thyn,131
Tyte, what thay may be.132

Nuncius
My lord prays you, as ye luf hym dere,133
To com to hym, if youre wyll were,134
To speke with hym awhyle.135

Sirinus
Go grete hym well, thou messyngere,136
say hym I com, and that right nere,137
Behynd, the not a myle.138

Nuncius
All redy, lord, at youre byddyng.139
Mahowne the menske, my lord kyng,140
And save the by see and sand.141

Imperator
Welcom, bewshere, say what tythyng,142
Do tell me tyte, for any thyng,143
What herd thou in my land?144

Nuncius
I herd, no thyng, lord, bot goode;145
Syr syryn, that I after yode,146
he wyll be here this nyght.147

Imperator
I thank the by mahownes bloode;148
Thise tythyngys mekyll amendys my mode;149
Go rest, thou worthy wyght.150

Sirinus
Mahowne so semely on to call,151
he saue the, lord of lordis all,152
Syttyng with thi meneye.153

Imperator
Welcom, sir syrynne, to this hall,154
Besyde my self here sytt thou shall,155
Com vp belyf to me.156

Sirinus
yis, lord, I am at youre talent.157

Imperator
Wherfor, sir, I after the sent,158
I shall the say full right;159
And therfor take to me intent,160
I am in poynt for to be shent.161

Sirinus
how so, for mahownes myght?162

Imperator
syr, I am done to vnderstand,163
That a qweyn here, in this land,164
shall bere a chyld, I wene,165
That shall be crowned kyng lyfand,166
And all shall bow vnto his hand;167
Thise tythyngys doth me teyne.168
he shall commaunde both ying and old,169
None be so hardy ne so bold170
To gyf seruyce to me;171
Then wold, my hart be cold172
If sich a beggere shold173
My kyngdom thus reyf me;174
And therfor, sir, I wold the pray,175
Thy best counsell thou wold me say,176
To do what I am best;177
ffor securly, if that I may,178
If he be fonden I shall hym slay,179
Aythere by eest or west.180

Sirinus
Now wote ye, lord, what that I reede;181
I counsell you, as ete I brede,182
what best therof may be;183
Gar serche youre land in euery stede,184
And byd that boy be done to dede,185
who the fyrst may hym see;186
And also I rede that ye gar cry,187
To fleme wyth all that belamy,188
That shuld be kyng with crowne;189
Byd ych man com to you holly,190
And bryng to you a heede penny,191
That dwellys in towere or towne;192
That this be done by the thyrde day,193
Then may none of his freyndys say,194
Bot he has mayde homage.195
If ye do thus, sir, permafay,196
youre worship shall ye wyn for ay,197
If thay make you trowage.198

Imperator
I thank you, sir, as myght I the,199
ffor thyse tythyngys that thou tellys me,200
Thy counsell shall avayll;201
lord and syre of this cowntre,202
wythouten ende here make I the,203
ffor thy good counsell;204
My messyngere, loke thou be bowne,205
And weynd belyf from towne to towne,206
And be my nobyll swane;207
I pray the, as thou luffys mahowne,208
And also for thy waryson,209
That thou com tytt agane.210
Commaunde the folk holly ichon,211
Ryche ne poore forgett thou none,212
To hold, holly on me,213
And lowtt me as thare lord alone;214
And who wyll not thay shall be slone,215
This brand thare bayll shal be.216
Therfor thou byd both old and ying,217
That ich man know me for his kyng,218
ffor drede that I thaym spyll,219
That I am lord, and in tokynyng,220
Byd ich man a penny bryng,221
And make homage me tyll.222
To my statutys who wyll not stand,223
ffast for to fle outt of my land,224
Byd thaym, withouten lyte;225
Now by mahowne, god all weldand,226
Thou shall be mayde knyght with my hand,227
And therfor hye the tyte.228

Nuncius
All redy, lord, it shall be done;229
Bot I wote well I com not sone,230
And therfor be not wroth;231
I swere you, sir, by son and moyne,232
I com not here by fore eft none,233
wheder ye be leyfe or loth;234
Bot hafe good day, now wyll I weynd,235
ffor longer here may I not leynd,236
Bot grathe me furth my gate.237

Imperator
Mahowne that is curtes and heynd,238
he bryng thi Iornay well to eynd,239
And wysh the that all wate.240

God
Sythen I haue mayde all thyng of noght,1
And Adam with my handis hath wroght,2
Lyke to myn ymage, att my devyse,3
And gyffen hym Ioy in paradyse,4
To won therin, as that I wend,5
To that he dyd that I defend;6
Then I hym put out of that place,7
Bot yit, I myn, I hight hym grace8
Oyll of mercy I can hym heyt,9
And tyme also his bayll to beytt.10
ffor he has boght his syn full sore,11
Thise fyfe thowsand yeris and more,12
ffyrst in erthe and sythen in hell;13
Bot long therin shall he not dwell.14
Outt of payn he shall be boght,15
I wyll not tyne that I haue wroght.16
I wyll make redempcyon,17
As I hyght for my person,18
All wyth reson and with right,19
Both thrugh mercy and thrugh myght.20
he shall not, therfor, ay be spylt,21
ffor he was wrangwysly begylt;22
he shall out of preson pas,23
ffor that he begyled was24
Thrugh the edder, and his wyfe;25
Thay gart hym towch the tree of lyfe,26
And ete the frute that I forbed,27
And he was dampned for that dede.28
Ryghtwysnes wyll we make;29
I wyll that my son manhede take,30
ffor reson wyll that ther be thre,31
A man, a madyn, and a tre:32
Man for man, tre for tre,33
Madyn for madyn; thus shal it be.34
My son shall in a madyn light,35
Agans the feynd of hell to fight;36
wythouten wem, os son thrugh glas,37
And she madyn as she was.38
Both god and man shall he be,39
And she moder and madyn fre.40
To abraham I am in dett41
To safe hym and his gett;42
And I wyll that all prophecye43
Be fulfyllyd here by me;44
ffor I am lord and lech of heyle,45
My prophetys shall be funden leyle;46
As moyses sayd, and Isay,47
Kyng dauid, and Ieromy,48
Abacuk, and daniell,49
Sybyll sage, that sayde ay well,50
And myne othere prophetis all,51
As thay haue [said] it shall befall.52
Ryse vp, gabriell, and weynd53
vnto a madyn that is heynd,54
To nazareth in galilee,55
Ther she dwellys in that cytee.56
To that vyrgyn and to that spouse,57
To a man of dauid house,58
Ioseph also he is namyd by,59
And the madyn name mary.60
Angell must to mary go,61
ffor the feynd was eue fo;62
he was foule and layth to syght,63
And thou art angell fayr and bright;64
And hayls that madyn, my lemman,65
As heyndly as thou can.66
Of my behalf thou shall hyr grete,67
I haue hyr chosen, that madyn swete,68
She shall conceyf my derlyng,69
Thrugh thy word and hyr heryng.70
In hyr body wyll I lyght,71
That is to me clenly dyght;72
She shall of hyr body bere73
God and man wythouten dere.74
She shall be blyssyd wythouten ende;75
Grayth the gabriell, and weynd.76

Gabriel
hayll, mary, gracyouse!77
hayll, madyn and godis spouse!78
Vnto the I lowte;79
Of all vyrgyns thou art qwene,80
That euer was, or shall be seyn,81
wythouten dowte.82
hayll, mary, and well thou be!83
My lord of heuen is wyth the,84
wythouten end;85
hayll, woman most of mede!86
Goodly lady, haue thou no drede,87
That I commend;88
ffor thou has fonden all thyn oone,89
The grace of god, that was out gone,90
ffor adam plyght.91
This is the grace that the betydys,92
Thou shall conceyue within thi sydys93
A chyld of myght.94
When he is comen, that thi son,95
he shall take cyrcumsycyon,96
Call hym ihesum.97
Mightfull man shall be he that,98
And godys son shall he hat,99
By his day com.100
My lord also shall gyf hym tyll101
hys fader sete, dauid, at wyll,102
Therin to sytt:103
he shall be kyng in Iacob kyn,104
hys kyngdom shall neuer blyn,105
lady, well thou wytt.106

Mary
What is thi name?107

Gabriel
gabriell; godys strengthe and his angell,108
That comys to the.109

Mary
fferly gretyng thou me gretys;110
A child to bere thou me hetys,111
how shuld, it be?112
I cam neuer by man’s syde,113
Bot has avowed my madynhede,114
ffrom fleshly gett.115
Therfor I wote not how116
That this be brokyn, as a vow117
That I haue hett;118
Neuer the les, well I wote,119
To wyrk thi word and hold, thi hote120
Mightfull god is;121
Bot I ne wote of what manere,122
Therfor I pray the, messyngere,123
That thou me wysh.124

Gabriel
lady, this is the preuate;125
The holy gost shall light in the,126
And his vertue,127
he shall vmshade and fulfyll128
That thi madynhede shall neuer spyll,129
Bot ay be new.130
The child that thou shall bere, madame,131
Shall godys son be callid by name;132
And se, mary,133
Elesabeth, thi Cosyn, that is cald, geld,134
She has conceyffed a son in elde,135
Of zacary;136
And this is, who wyll late,137
The sext moneth of hyr conceytate,138
That geld, is cald.139
No word, lady, that I the bryng,140
Is vnmyghtfull to heuen kyng,141
Bot all shall hald.142

Mary
I lofe my lord all weldand,143
I am his madyn at his hand,144
And in his wold.145
I trow bodword that thou me bryng,146
Be done to me in all thyng,147
As thou has told.148

Gabriel
Mary, madyn heynd,149
me behovys to weynd,150
my leyf at the I take.151

Mary
ffar to my freynd,152
Who the can send,153
ffor mankynde sake.154

Joseph
All-myghty god, what may this be!155
Of mary my wyfe meruels me,156
Alas, what has she wroght?157
A, hyr body is grete and she with childe!158
ffor me was she neuer fylyd,159
Therfor myin is it noght.160
I irke full sore with my lyfe,161
That euer I wed so yong a wyfe,162
That bargan may I ban;163
To me it was a carefull dede,164
I myght well wyt that yowthede165
wold, haue lykyng of man166
I am old, sothly to say,167
passed, I am all preuay play,168
The gams fro me ar gane.169
It is ill cowpled, of youth and elde;170
I wote well, for I am vnwelde,171
som othere has she tane.172
she is with chyld, I wote neuer how,173
Now, who wold, any woman trow?174
Certys, no man that can any goode;175
I wote not in the warld, what I shuld, do,176
Bot now then wyll I weynd hyr to,177
And wytt who owe that foode.178
hayll, mary, and well ye be!179
why, bot woman, what chere with the?180

Mary
The better, sir, for you.181

Joseph
So wold, I, woman, that ye wore;182
Bot certys, mary, I rew full sore183
It standys so with the now.184
Bot of a thyng frayn the I shall,185
who owe this child, thou gose with all?186

Mary
Syr, ye, and god of heuen.187

Joseph
Myne, mary? do way thi dyn;188
That I shuld, oght haue parte therin189
Thou nedys it not to neuen;190
wherto neuyns thou me therto?191
I had neuer with the to do,192
how shuld it then be myne?193
whos is that chyld, so god the spede?194

Mary
Syr, godys and yowrs, with outen drede.195

Joseph
That word, had, thou to tyne,196
ffor it is right full far me fro,197
And I forthynkys thou has done so198
Thise ill dedys bedene;199
And if thou speke thi self to spyll,200
It is full sore agans my wyll,201
If better myght haue bene.202

Mary
At godys wyll, Ioseph, must it be,203
ffor certanly bot god and ye204
I know none othere man;205
ffor fleshly was I neuer fylyd.206

Joseph
how shuld thou thus then be with chyld?207
Excuse the well thou can;208
I blame the not, so god me saue,209
woman maners if that thou haue,210
Bot certys I say the this,211
well wote thou, and so do I,212
Thi body fames the openly,213
That thou has done amys.214

Mary
yee, god he knowys all my doyng.215

Joseph
we! now, this is a wonder thyng,216
I can noght say therto;217
Bot in my hart I haue greatt care,218
And ay the longer mare and mare;219
ffor doyll what shall I do?220
Godys and myn she says it is;221
I wyll not fader it, she says amys;222
ffor shame yit shuld, she let,223
To excuse hir velany by me;224
with hir I thynk no longer be,225
I rew that euer we met.226
And how we met ye shall wyt sone;227
Men vse yong chyldren for to done228
In temple for to lere;229
Soo dyd thay hir, to she wex more230
Then othere madyns wyse of lore;231
then byshopes sayd to hir,232
"Mary, the behowfys to take233
Som yong man to be thi make,234
As thou seys other haue,235
In the temple which thou wyll neuen;"236
And she sayd, none, bot god of heuen,237
To hym she had hir tane;238
She wold none othere for any sagh;239
Thay sayd she must, it was the lagh,240
She was of age thertill.241
To the temple thay somond old and ying,242
All of Iuda ofspryng,243
The law for to fulfill.244
Thay gaf ich man a white wand,245
And bad vs bere them in oure hande,246
To offre with good intent;247
Thay offerd thare yerdys vp in that tyde,248
ffor I was old, I stode be syde,249
I wyst not what thay ment;250
Thay lakyd, oone, thay sayde in hy,251
All had offerd, thay sayd, bot I,252
ffor I ay withdrogh me.253
ffurth with my wande thay mayd, me com,254
In my hand, it floryshed with blome;255
Then sayde thay all to me,256
"If thou be old, meruell not the,257
ffor god of heuen thus ordans he,258
Thi wand shewys openly;259
It florishes so, withouten nay,260
That the behovys wed mary the may;"261
A sory man then was I;262
I was full sory in my thoght,263
I sayde for old I myght noght264
hir haue neuer the wheder;265
I was vnlykely to hir so yong,266
Thay sayde ther helpyd, none excusyng,267
And wed vs thus togeder.268
when I all thus had wed hir thare,269
we and my madyns home can fare,270
That kyngys doghters were;271
All wroght thay sylk to fynd them on,272
Marie wroght purpyll, the oder none273
bot othere colers sere.274
I left thaym in good peasse wenyd I,275
Into the contre I went on hy,276
My craft to vse with mayn;277
To gett oure lyfyng I must nede,278
On marie I prayd them take good hede,279
To that I cam agane.280
Neyn monethes was I fro that myld,;281
when I cam home she was with chyld.282
Alas, I sayd, for shame!283
I askyd ther women who that had done,284
And thay me sayde an angell sone,285
syn that I went from hame;286
An angell spake with that wyght,287
And no man els, bi day nor nyght,288
"sir, therof be ye bold".289
Thay excusyd hir thus sothly,290
To make hir clene of hir foly,291
And babyshed, me that was old.292
Shuld, an angell this dede haue wroght?293
Sich excusyng helpys noght,294
ffor no craft that thay can;295
A heuenly thyng, for sothe, is he,296
And she is erthly; this may not be,297
It is som othere man.298
Certys, I forthynk sore of hir dede,299
Bot it is long of yowth-hede,300
All sich wanton playes;301
ffor yong women wyll nedys play them302
with yong men, if old, forsake them,303
Thus it is sene always.304
Bot marie and I playd neuer so sam,305
Neuer togeder we vsid, that gam,306
I cam hir neuer so nere;307
she is as clene as cristall clyfe308
ffor me, and shalbe whyls I lyf,309
The law wyll it be so.310
And then am I cause of hir dede,311
ffor thi then can I now no rede,312
Alas, what I am wo!313
And sothly, if it so befall,314
Godys son that she be with all,315
If sich grace myght betyde,316
I wote well that I am not he,317
which that is worthi to be318
That blyssed, body besyde,319
Nor yit to be in company;320
To wyldernes I will for thi321
Enfors me for to fare;322
And neuer longer with hir dele,323
Bot stylly shall I from hir stele,324
That mete shall we no mare.325

Angel
Do wa, Ioseph, and mend thy thoght,326
I warne the well, and weynd thou noght,327
To wyldernes so wylde;328
Turne home to thi spouse agane,329
look thou deme in hir no trane,330
ffor she was neuer ffylde.331
wyte thou no wyrkyng of Werkys wast,332
She hase consauyd the holy gast,333
And she shall bere godys son;334
ffor thy with hir, in thi degre,335
Meke and buxom looke thou be,336
And with hir dwell and won.337

Joseph
A, lord, I lofe the all alon,338
That vowches safe that I be oone339
To tent that chyld so ying;340
I that thus haue vngrathly gone,341
And vntruly taken apon342
Mary, that dere darlyng.343
I rewe full sore that I haue sayde,344
And of hir byrdyng hir vpbrade,345
And she not gylty is;346
ffor thy to hir now Wyll I weynde,347
And pray hir for to be my freynde,348
And aske hir forgyfnes.349
A, mary, wyfe, what chere?350

Mary
The better, sir, that ye ar here;351
Thus long where haue ye lent?352

Joseph
Certys, walkyd aboute, lyke a fon,353
That wrangwysly hase taken apon;354
I wyst neuer What I ment;355
Bot I wote well, my lemman fre,356
I haue trespast to god and the;357
fforgyf me, I the pray.358

Mary
Now all that euer ye sayde me to,359
God forgyf you, and I do,360
With all the myght I may.361

Joseph
Gramercy, mary, thi good wyll362
So kyndly forgyfys that I sayde yll,363
When I can the vpbrade;364
Bot well is hym hase sich a fode,365
A, meke wyf, withouten goode,366
he may well hold, hym payde.367
A, what I am light as lynde!368
he that may both lowse and bynde,369
And euery mys amend,370
leyn me grace, powere, and myght,371
My wyfe and hir swete yong wight372
To kepe, to my lyfys ende.373

Mary
My lord of heuen, that syttys he,1
And all thyng seys with ee,2
The safe, Elezabeth.3