The Coventry plays

Contents 2022 Jul 05 13:02:11

The Pageant of the Shearmen and Taylors
Prologue (S&T)
Annunciation and Nativity (S&T)
A Learned Dialogue (S&T)
Adoration of the Kings (S&T)
Slaughter of the Innocents (S&T)
The Pageant of the Weavers
The Prophet Play (Weav)
Purification - introduction (Weav)
Journey to the Temple and Quest for Doves (Weav)
Purification proper (Weav)
Disputation in the Temple (Weav)
Finis

The Pageant of the Shearmen and TaylorsContents

Dramatis Personae1

Isaiah as Prologue (Ll. 1-46)2

In the Annunciation and the Nativity (Ll. 47-331)

Gabriel4
Mary
Joseph
i. Angel
ii. Angel
i. Pastor
ii. Pastor10
iii. Pastor

Participants in a learned dialogue (Ll. 332-474)

i. Profeta13
ii. Profeta
iii. Profeta [non-speaking]

In the Adoration of the Kings and the Slaughter of the Innocents (Ll. 475-900)

Nuncius17
Herod
i. Rex
ii. Bex
iii. Rex
Mary
Joseph23
Angelus
i. Miles
ii. Miles
i. Woman
ii. Woman
iii. Woman29

Prologue (S&T)Contents

[Enter Isaiah as prologue]

Isaye
The Sofferent tliatt seithe evere seycrette,1
He saue you all and make you parfett and stronge,
And geve us grace yvith his marce forto mete!
For now in grett mesere mankynd ys bownd;
The sarpent hathe gevin vs soo mortall a wonde
That no creature ys abull vs forto reyles
Tyll thye right vncion of Jvda dothe seyse.7

Then schall moche myrthe and joie in-cresse;8
And the right rote in Isaraell sprynge,
Thatt schall bryng forthe the greyne off whollenes;
And owt of danger he schall vs bryng
In-to thatt reygeon where he ys kyng
Wyche abowe all othur far dothe arbownde,
And thatt cruell Sathan he schall confownde.
Where-foro I cum hero apon this grownde

To comfordo eyue;"o creature off birthe;16
For I, Isaye the profot, hathe fownde

Many swete msLtteiv whereof we ma make myrth18

On this same wyse;19

For, thogh that Adam be demid to deythe20
With all his childur, asse Abell and Seythe,
Yett Ecce virgo consepeety —

Loo, where a reymede schall ryse!23

Be-holde, a mayde schall conseyve a childe24

And gett vs more grace then eyner men had.25
And hir meydin-[h]od nothing defy lid.

Sche ys deputyd to beare the Sun, Almyghte God.27

Loo! sufferntis, now ma you be glad,28

For of this meydin all we ma be fayne;29

For Adam, that now lyis in sorrois full sade,30
Hir gloreose birth schall roydeme hym ageyn

From bondage and thrall.32

Now be myrre eyuere mon33

For this dede bryflfly in Isaraell schalbe done,34

And before the Fathur in trone,35

Thatt schall glade vs all36

Benediction.37

More of this matte?’ fayne wolde I meve.38

But lengur tyme I haue not here for to dwell.39
That Lorde that ys marcefuU his marce soo in vs ma
p7’eve
For to sawe owre sollis from the darknes of hell;40
And to his blys

He vs bryng,42
Asse he ys

Bothe lord and kyng,44

And schalbe eyuerlastyng,45

In secula seculoium, amen! 46

Exit Isaiah; enter Gabriel to Mary.

Annunciation and Nativity (S&T)Contents

Exit Isaiah; enter Gabriel to Mary.

Gaberell
Hayle, Mare, full of grace!47

Owre Lord God ys with the;i48
Aboue all wemen that ejner wasse,

Lade, hlesside mote thow be!50

Mare
All-myght Fathur and King of blys.51
From all dysscs th». sane me now!

For inwartlely my spretis trubbuld ys,53

Thatt I am amacid and kno nott how.54

Gaberell
Dred the nothyng, meydin, of this;55

From hey vin a-bowe hyddur am I sent56
Of ambassage from that Kyng of blys

Unto the, lade and virgin reyuerent!58

Salutyng the hero asse most exselent,59
Whose v/rtu aboue all othur dothe abownde.
Wherefore in the grace schalbe fownde;
For thow schalt conseyve apon this grownd62

The Second Pe-sone of God in trone;63

He wylbe borne of the alone;64

W/t-owt sin thow schalt hy7?i see.65

Thy grace and thi goodnes wyl neyuer bo gone.66

But eyuer to lyve in vtrgeneto.67

Mare
I marvell soore how thatt mabc.68

Manw cu??ipany knev I neyuer yett,69
Nor neyuer to do, kasfc I me,

Whyle thatt owre Lord sendith me my wytt.71

Gaberell
The Wholle Gost in the schall lyght.72

And schado thy soil aoo with \irtii73
From the Fathur thatt ys on hyght.

These wordis, turtill, the be full tru.75

This chylde that of the schalbe borne76

Ys the Second Persone in Trenete;77
He schall saue that wase forlorne

And the fyndis powar dystroie schall he.
Those wordis, lade, full tru the bene,

And furthur, lade, here in thy noone lonoge81

Be-holde Eylesaboth, thy cosyn clene,82

The wyche wosse barren and past all age,83

And now wtt/ chyld sche hath bene84

Syx monethis and more, asse schalbe sene;85

Where-for, discomforde tliQ not. Mare!86

For to God onpossibull nothyng mabe.87

Mare
Kow, and yt be thatt liOrdis wyll88

Of my bodde to be borne and forto be,89

Hys hy pleysuris forto fuU-fyll90

Asse his one hande-mayde I submyt me..91

Gaberell
Now blessid be the tyme sett92

That thou wast borne in thy degre!93
For now ys the knott surely knytt.
And God conseyvide in Trenete.95

Now fare-well, lade off rayghtis most!96
Vnto the God-hed I the be-teyche.

Mare
Thatt Lorde the gyde in eyuere cost,98
And looly he leyde me and be my leyche!99

[Here the angell departyth and Joseff cumyth in and seyth:]

Josoff
Mare, my wyff soo dere,100
How doo ye, dame, and whatt chere
Ys with you this tyde?

Mare
Truly, husebonde, I am here103
Owre Lordis wyll forto abyde.104

Josoff
Whatt! I troo thatt we be all schent!105
Sey, womon; who hath byn here sith I went.
To rage wyth thee?

Mare
Syr, here was nothur man nor mans eyvin,108
But onlv the sond of owre Lorde God in hey vin.109

Josoff
Sey not soo, womon; for schame, ley be!110

Ye be with chyld soo wondurs grett,111
Ye nede no more therof to tret
Agense all right.
For-sothe, this chylde, dame, ys not myne.
Alas, that ejaer with my nynee
I snld see this syght!116

Tell me, womon; whose ys this chyld117

Mare
Non but youris, husebond soo myld,118
And thatt schalbe seyne, ywis.

Josoff
But myne 1 alias! alas! why sey ye soo!120
Wele-awey! womon, now may I goo,
Be-gyld as many a-nothur ys.122

Mare
Na, truly, sir, ye be not be-gylde,123
Hot yet with spott of syn I am not defylde;
Trust yt well, huse-bonde.

Josoff
Huse-bond, in feytlic! and that acold I126
A! weylle-awey, Josoff, as thow ar olde!
Lyke a fole now ma I stand128
And truse.
But, in feyth. Mare, thou art in syn;
Soo moche ase I haue cheyrischyd the, dame, and all thi kyn,
Be-hynd my bake to serve me thus!132

All olde men, insampull take be me, —133
How I am be-gylid here may you see! —
To wed soo yong a chyld.
Now fare-well, Mare, I leyve the here alone, —
Wo worthe the, dam, and thy warkis ycheone! —
For I woll noo-more be be-gylid138
For frynd nor fooe.
Now of this ded I am soo dull.
And off my lyff I am soo full,
No farthur ma I goo.142

[Lies down to sleep; to him enters an angel.]

I. Angell
Aryse up, Josoff, and goo whom ageyne143
Vnto Mare, thy wyff, that ys soo fre.
To comford hir loke that thow bo fayne,
For, Josoff a cleyne meydin ys schee: 146
Sche hath conscyvid with-owt any trayne
The Seycond Person in Trenete;
Jesus schalbe hys name, sarten,
And all thys world sawe schall lie;150
Be not agast.

Josoff
Now, Lorde, I thanke the with hart full sad,152
For of these tythyngis I am soo glad
Thatt all my care awey ys cast;
Wherefore to Mare I woll in hast.155

[Returns to Mare.]

A! Mare, Mare, I knelo full loo;156
Forgeve me, swete wyff, here in this loud!
Marce, Mare! for now I kno

Of youre good gouernance and how yt doth stond.159

Thogh* thatt I dyd the mys-nam6,160
Marco, Mare \ Whyle I leve
"Wyll I neyucr, swet wyff, the greve

In emyst nor in game.163

Mare
Now, thatt Lord in heyvin, sir, he you f or-164
gy ve!
And I do for-geve yow in hys name
For euermore.

Josoff
Now truly, swete wyff, to you I sey the same.167

But now to Bedlem must I wynde168
And scho my-self , soo full of care;
And I to leyve you, this grett, behynd, —
God wott, the whyle, dame, how you schuld fare.171

Mare
Na, hardely, husebond, dred ye nothyng;172

For I woll walke with you on the wey.173
I trust in God, all-niyghte kyng,

To spede right well in owre jurney.175

Josoff
Now I thanke you, Mare, of youre goodnes176
Thatt ye my wordis woll nott blame;

And syth that to Bedlem we scball vs dresse,178

Goo we to-gedur in Goddis wholle name. 179

[They set out and travel a while.]

Now to Bedlem liaiie we leyeds three:180
The day ys ny spent, yt drawy th toward nyglit;
Fayne at your es, dame, I wold that ye schulde be,
For you groue all werely, yt semyth in my syght.183

Mare
God haue marcy, Josoffe, my spowse soo dere;184
All profettis herto dothe beyre wyttnes,
The were tyme now draith nere
Thatt my chyld wolbe borne, wyche ys Kyng of blis.187

Vnto sum place, Josoff, hyndly me leyde,188
Thatt I moght rest me with grace in this tyde.
The lyght of the Fathur ouer hus both spreyde,
And the grace of my sun wtt ys here a-byde!191

Josoff
Loo! blessid Mare, here schall ye lend,192
Cheff chosyn of owre Lorde and cleynist in degre;
And I for help to towne woll I wende.
Ys nott this the best, dame? whatt sey ye?195

Mare, God haue marce, Josoff, my huse-bond soo meke!
And hartely I pra you, goo now fro me.

Josoff
Thatt schalbe done in hast, Mare soo swete!198
The comford of the Wholle Gost leyve I with the.199
Now to Bedlem streyght woll I wynd
To gett some helpe for Mare soo free.
Sum helpe of women God may me send,
Thatt Mare, full off grace, pleysid ma be.203

[In another part of the place a shepherd begins to speak.]

I. Pastor
Now God, that art in Trenete,204
Thow sawe my fellois and me!
For I kno nott wheyre my scheepe nor the be,
Thys nyght yt ys soo colde. 207
Now ys yt nygh the niyddis of the nyght;
These wedurs ar darke and dym of lyght>
Thatt of them can hy haue noo syght,
Stahdyng here on this wold.211

But now to make there hartis lyght,212

Kow wyll I full right213

Stand apon this looe,214

And to them cry wtt all my myght, —215
Full well my voiso the kno:
W7/at hoo! fellois! hoo! hooe! hoo!217

[Two other shepherds appear (in the street).]

II. Pastor
Hark, Sym, harke 1 I here owre hrother on the looe;
This ys hys woise, right well I knoo;
There-fore toward hym lett vs goo,

And folio his woise a-right.221
See, Sym, se, where he doth stond!
I am ryght glad we haue hym fond!
Brothur, where hast thow byn soo long,
And hit ys soo cold this nyght?225

I. Pastor
E! fryndis, ther cam a pyrie of wynd with a myst suddenly,
Thatt forth off my weyis went I
And grett heyvenes then made I

And wase full sore afryght.229

Then forto goo wyst I nott whyddur.230
But trawellid on this loo hyddur and thyddur;
I wasse so were of this cold weddur
Thatt nere past wasse my might.233

III. Pastor
Brethur, now we be past that f ryght,234
And hit ys far within the nyght,
Full sono woll spryng the day-lyght.
Hit drawith full nere the tyde. 237
Here awhyle lett vs rest,
And repast owreself of the best;
Tyll thatt the sun ryse in the est
Let vs all here abyde.241

There the scheppardis drawys furth there meyte and doth eyte and drynk; and asse the drynk, the fynd the star and sey thus:

III. Pastor
Brethur, loke vp and behold!242
Whatt thyng ys yondur thatt schynith soo bryght?
Asse long ase ejner I haue wachid my fold,
Yett sawe I neyucr soche a syght
In fyld.246
A ha! now ys cum the tyme that old fathurs hath told,
Thatt in the wynturs nyght soo cold
A chyld of meydyn borne be he wold
In whom all profeciys schalbe fullfyld.250

I. Pastor
Truth yt ys wttA-owt naye,251
Soo seyd the profett Isaye, shortest day.
Thatt a chylde schuld be borne of a made soo bryght
In wentur ny the schortist dey

Or elis in the myddis of the nyght,255

II. Pastor
Loovid be God, most off myght,256
That owre grace ys to see thatt syght;
Pray we to hym, ase hit ys right,

Yff thatt his wyll yt be,259

Thatt we ma haue knoleyge of this syngnefocacion260
And why hit aperith on this fassion;
And eyuer to hym lett vs geve lawdacion.

In yerthe whyle thatt we be.263

There the angelis syng “Glorea in exselsis Deo”,

III. Pastor
Harke! the syng abowe in the clowdis a merry clere!
Hard I neyuer of soo myrre a quere.
Now, gentyll brethur, draw we nere
To here there armony.267

I. Pastor
Brothur, royrth and solas ys cnm hus among;268
For be the swettnes of thev songe,
Goddis Sun ys cxwi, whom we haue lokid for long,

Asse syngnefyith thys star that we do see.271

II. Pastor
“Glare, glorea in exselsis”, that wase their songe,
How sey ye, fellois, seyd the not thus?273

I. Pastor
Thatt ys wet seyd; now goo we hence274
To worschipe thatt chyld of hy manyffeconce,
And that we ma syng in his presence
“Et in turra pax omynibus”.277

There the shepparidis syngis “Ase I owt Rodde,” and Josoff seyth:

Josoff
Now, Lorde, this noise thai I do here,278
With this grett solemnete,
Gretly amendid hath my chere;
I trust hy nevis schortly wolbe.281

There the angellis syng “Gloria in exsellsis” ageyne.

Mare
A! Josoff, husebond, cxi?w heddur anon;282

My chylde ys borne that ys Kyng of blys.283

Josoff
Now welcum to me, the Makar of mon,284
WitA all the omage thatt I con;

Thy swete mothe here woll I kys.286

Mare
A! Josoff, husebond, my chyld waxith cold,287
And we haue noo fyre to warme hym wit/i.

Josoff
Now in my narmys I schall hym fold,289
Kyng of all kyngis be fyld and be fiyth;

He myght haue had bettur, and hym-selfc* wold.291
Then the breylhyng of these bestis to warme hym with.

Mare
Now, Josoff, my husbond, fel heddur my chyld,293
The Maker off man and hy Kyng of blys.

Josoff
That schalbe done anon, Mare soo myld,295
For the brethyng of these bestis hath warmyd hym well, i-wys.

[Angels appear to the shepherds.]

I. Angell
Hyrd-men hynd,297
Drede ye nothyng
Off thys star thatt ye do se;
For thys same mome
Godis Sun ys borne

In Bedlem of a meydin fre.302

II. Angell
Hy you tliyddur in hast;303

Yt ys hys wyll ye schall hym see304
Lyinge in a crybbe * of pore rey paste,

Yett of Davithis lyne cnmon ys hoe.306

[The shepherds approach and worship the Babe.]

I. Pastor
Hayle, mayde-modur * and wyff soo myld!307
Asse the angell seyd, soo hauo we fonde.

I haue nothyng to present vfi\h th\ chylde309

But my pype; hold, hold, take yt in thy bond |310
Where-in moche pleysure thai I haue fond;

And now, to oonowre thy gloreose byrtho,312

Thow schallt yt haue to make the myrthe.313

II. Pastor
Now, hayle be thow, chyld, and thy dame!314
For in a pore loggyn here art thow ley do,
Soo the angell seyde and tolde vs thy name;
Holde, take thow here my hat on thy hedde!
And now off won thyng thow art well sped,
For weddur thow hast noo ncde to complayne.
For wynd, ne sun, hayle, snoo and rayne.

III. Pastor
Hayle be tiiow, Lorde ouer watur and landis!321
For thy cumyng all we ma make myrthe.
Haue here my myttens to pytt on thi hondis,
Othur treysure haue I non to present the with.324

Mare
Now, berdmen hynd,325
For youre comyng
To my chyld schall I prae,327
Asse he ys heyvin kyng,
To grant you his blessyng,
And to hys blys that ye may wynd
At your last day.331

There the scheppardis syngith ageyne and goth forthe of the place; and the ij profettis cumyth in and seyth thus:

A Learned Dialogue (S&T)Contents

There the acheppardis syngith ageyne and goth forthe of the place; and the ij profettis cumyth in and seyth thus:

I. Profeta
Novellis, Novellis332
Of wonderfull marvellys,
Were hy and defuce vnto the heryng!
Asse scripture tellis,
These strange novellis
To you I bryng.337

II. Profeta
Kow bartely, sir, I desyre to knoo,338
Yff hytt wolde pleyse you forto scboo,
Of whatt maner a thyng.

I. Profeta
Were mystocall vnto youre heryng, —341
Of the natevete off a kyng.342

II. Profeta
Of a kyng? Whence schuld he cum?343

I. Profeta
From thatt reygend ryall and mighty mancion,344
The sede seylesteall and beyvinly vysedome,
The Seycond Person and Godis one Sun,
For owre sake now ys man be-cum.347
This godly spere,
Desendid here
In-to a virgin clere,
Sche on-defyld;
Be whose warke obskevre
Owre frayle nature353
Ys now begilde.

II. Profeta
Why, hath sche a chyld?355

I. Profeta
E 1 trust hyt well;356
And neuer the las
Yet ys sche a inayde evin asse sche wasse,
And hir sun the king of Isaraell.

II. Profeta
A wondur-full marvell360
How thatt ma be,
And far dothe exsell
All owre capasete:363
How thatt the Trenete,
Of soo hy regallete,
Schuld jonyd be
Vnto owre mortallete!367

I. Profeta
Of his one grett marce,368
As ye shall se the exposyssion,
Throgh whose vmanyte
All Adamw progene
Reydemyd schalbe owt of perdyssion.372

Syth man did offend,373
Who schuld amend
But the seyd mon and no nothur?
For the wyche cawse he
Incarnate wold be
And lyve in mesere asse manis one brothur.378

II. Profeta
Syr, vnto the Deyite,379
I beleve parfettle,
Onpossibull to be there ys nothyng;
How be yt this warke
Vnto nie ys darke
In the opperacion or wyrkyng.384

I. Profeta
Whatt more reypriff385
Ys vnto belyff
Then to be dowtyng?387

II. Profeta
Yet dowtis oftymw bathe dereyacion.388

I. Profeta
Thatt ys be the mejnes of comenecacion389
Of trawthis to haue a dev probacion
Be the same dowts reysouiiig.

II. Profeta
Then to you this won thyng:392
Of whatt nobull and’ hy lenage ys schee
Thatt myght this verabul princis modur be?394

I. Profeta
Ondowtid sche ys own of hy parrage,395
Of the howse of Davith and Salamon the sage;
And won off the same lyne joynid to hir be mareage;
Of whose trybe
We do subscrybe
This chyldis lenage.400

II. Profeta
And why in thatt wysse?401

I. Profeta
For yt wasse the gysse402
To conte the parant on the manys lyne,
And nott on the feymyne
Amonst vs here in Isaraell.405

II. Profeta
Yett can I nott aspy be noo wysse406
How thys chylde borne schuldbe with-owt naturis prjudyse.

I. Profeta
Nay, no prejvdyso vnto nature, I dare well sey;408
For the kyng of nature may
Hawe all at his one wyll.410

Dyd not tJie powar of God411
Make Aronis rod
Bey re frute in on day 1 413

II. Profeta
Truth yt ys in-ded.414

I. Profeta
Then loke you and rede,415

II. Profeta
A! I perseyve the sede416
Where apon thatt you spake.417
Yt wasse for owro nede

Thai he frayle nature did take,419
And hifi blod he schuld* schede

Aniens forto make421

For owre transegression;422

Ase yt ys seyd in p?*ofece423

Thai of the lyne of Jude424

Schuld spryng a right Messe,425

Be whom all wee426

Schall haue reydemcion.427

I. Profeta
Sir, now ys the tyme cu?»,428
And the date there-of run,
Off his Natevete.

II. Profeta
Yett I beseke you hartele431
Tliai ye wold schoo me how
Thutt this strange nowelte
Were broght vnto you.434

I. Profeta
This othur nyght soo cold435
Hereby apon a wolde
Scheppardis wachyng there fold,

In the nyght soo far438

To them aperid a star,.439

And eyuer yt drev them nar;440
Wyche star the did behold
Bryghter, th sey, M folde

Then the sun so clere443

In his mydday spere,444
And the these tythyngis tolde.445

II. Profeta
Whatt, seycretly]446

I. Profeta
Na, na, hardely;447
The made there-of no conseil;
For the song ase lowde
Ase eyuer the cowde
Presyng the kyng of Isaraell451

II. Profeta
Yett do I marvell452

In whatt pyle or castell453

These herdmen dyd hym see.454

I. Profeta
Nothur in hallis nor yett in bowris455

Bom wold he not be,456
iother in castellis nor yet in towris

Thai semly were to se;458

But att hys Fathurs wyll,459
The profeci to fuU-fyll,

Be-twyxt an ox and an as461

Je8u«, thi kyng, borne he was.462
Heyvin he bryng us tyll!463

II. Profeta
S/r, a! but when these scheppardis had seyne hym there,
In-to whatt place did the repeyre!

I. Profeta
Forthe the went and glad th were,466

Going thQ did syng;467
Wtt/i myrthe and solas th made good chere

For joie of that new tything;469

And aftur, asse I hard the[m]* tell.470
He rey wardid them full well:
He graunt them hevyn er-in to dwell;
In ar the gon wttA joie and myrthe.
And there songe hit ys "Neowell".474

There the profettis gothe furthe and Erod cumyth in, and the messenger.

Adoration of the Kings (S&T)Contents

There the profettis gothe furthe and Erod cumyth in, and the messenger.

Nuncios
Faytes pais, dnyis, baronys de grande reynowne!475
Payis, seneoris, schevaleris de uooble posance!
Pays, gentis homos, companeouys petis egrance!
Je vos command dugard treytus sylance.
Payis, tauque vottur nooble Roie syre ege presance!
Que nollis persone ese non fawis perwynt dedfferauce,
Nese harde de frappas; mayis gardus to to paceance, —
Mayis gardus voter seneor to cor reyuerance;
Car elat vottur Roie to to puysance.
Anon de leo, pase tos! je vose cummande,
E lay Roie erott la grandeaboly vos vmport.485

Erode
Qui statis in Jude et Rex Iseraell,486
And the myghttyst conquerowre that eyaer walkid on grownd;
For I am evyn he thatt made bothe hevin and hell,
And of my myghte powar holdith vp this world rownd.
Magog and Madroke, bothe them did I confownde,
And with this bryght bronde there bonis I brak onsunder,
Thatt all the wyde worlde on those rappis did wonder.
I am the cawse of this grett lyght and thunder;
Ytt ys throgh my fure that the soche noyse dothe make.
My feyref uU contenance the clowdis so doth incumbur
Tliat oftymw for drede ther-of the verre yerth doth quake.
Loke, when I with males this bryght brond doth schake,
All the whole world from the north to the sowthe498
I ma them dystroie with won worde of my mowthe!499

To reycownt vnto you myn innevmerabull substanoe, —
Thatt were to moche for any tong to tell;
For all the whole Orent ys under myn obbeydeance,
And prynce am I of purgatorre and cheff capten of hell;
And those tyraneos tray turs be force ma I compell
Myne enmyis to vanquese and evyn to dust them dryve,
And with a twynke of myn iee not won to be lafte alyve.

Behold my contenance and my colur,507
Bryghtur then the sun in the meddis of t?tQ dey.

Where can you haue a more grettur succur509

Then to behold my person that jrs soo gayo?510
My fawcun and my fassion, wit/i my gorgis araye, —

He thatt had the grace all-wey er-on to thynke,512

Lyve the myght all-wey wtt-owt othur meyte or drynke.

And thys my tryomfande fame most hylist dothe abownde
Throgh-owt this world in all reygeons abrod,
Reyscmclyng the fauer of thatt most myght Mahownd:
From Jubvtor be desent and cosyn to the grett God,
And namyd the most reydowndid kyng Eyrodde,
Wyclie thatt all pryncis hath under subjeccion
And all there whole powar vndur my proteccion.
And therefore, my hareode here, callid Calcas,
Warne thow eyuere porte thatt noo schyppis a-ryve,
Nor also aleoud stranger throg my realme pas,
But the for there truage do pay markis fyve.524

Now spede the forth hastele,525

For the thatt wyll tlie contrare526

Apon a galowse hangid schalbe,527
A7ul, be Mahownde, of me the gett noo grace!528

Nuncios
Now, lord and mastur, in all the hast caicUas wiu529

Thy worethe wyll ytt schall be wroght.530
And thy ryall cuntreyis schalbe past

In asse schort tyme ase can be thoght.532

Erode
Now schall owre regeons throgh-owt be socht a search
In eyuere place bothe est and west;
Yff any katyffis to me be broght,
Yt schalbe nothyng for there best.
And the whyle thatt I do resst,
Trompettis, Tiallis, and othur armone
Schall bles the wakyug of my maleste.539

Here Erod goth awey and the iij kyngis speykyth in the strete.

I. Rex
Now blessid be God of his swet sonde, Tiie first icing
For yondur a feyre bryght star I do see!
Now ys he cofifion, vs a-monge,
Asse the profet seyd thatt yt schuld be.543

A seyd there schuld a babe be borne, and remem-544

Comyng of the rote of Jesse, prophecy.545

To sawe mankynd that wasse for-lorne;546

And truly Gomen now ys he.547

Keyuerence ajid worschip to hym woll I do548

Asse God and man, thatt all made of noght.549
All the profettis acordid and seyd evyn soo,

That with hys presseos blod mankynd schuld be boght.
He grant me grace,
Be yonder star that I see,
And in-to thatt place
Bryng me
Thatt I ma hym worschipe with umellete
And se hys gloreose face.557

II. Rex
Owt of my wey I deme thatt I am,558
For toocuns of thys cuntrey can I non see;
Now, God, thatt on yorth madist man.
Send me sum knoleyge where thatt I be!561

Yondur, me thynkc, a feyre, bryght star I see,562
The wyche be-tocunyth the byrth of a chyld
Thatt hedur ys cum to make man fre;
He borne of a mayde, and sche nothyng defyld.565

To worschip thatt chyld ys myn in-tent;566
Forth now wyll I take my wey.
I trust sum cumpany God hathe me sent,
For yonder I se a kyng labur on the wey;569

To-warde hym now woll I ryde.570
Harke! cumly kyng, I you pray,
In-to whatt cost wyll ye thys tyde.
Or weddur lyis youre jumey?573

I. Rex
To seke a chylde ys myne in-tent574
Of whom the profetis hathe ment;
The tyme ys cum, now ys he sent,
Be yondur star here ma you see.577

II. Rex
Sir, I prey you, with your lysence,578
To ryde with you vnto his presence;
To hym wyll I offur frank-in-sence.
For the hed of all Whole Churche schall he be.581

[Enter Third King to the other side of the pageant.]

III. Rex
I ryde wandeiyng in veyis wyde,582
Ouer montens and dalis; I wot not where I am.
Now, Kyng off all kyngis, send me soche gyde
Thatt I myght haue knoleyge of thys cuntreys name.
A! yondur I se a syght, be-semyng all afar,
The wyche be-tocuns sum nevis, ase I troo;
Asse me thynke, a chyld peryng in a stare.
I trust he be cum that schall defend vs from woo.589

To kyngis yondur I see, The Kings590
And to them woll I ryde
Forto haue there cmnpane;
I trust the wyll me abyde.593

Hayle, cumly kyngis augent!594
Good surs, I pray you, wheddur ar ye ment?

I. Rex
To seke a chylde ys owre in-tent,596
Wyche be-tocuns yonder star, asse ye ma see.597

II. Rex
To hym I purpose thys present.598

III. Rex
Surs, I pray you, and thatt ryght vmblee,599
With you thatt I ma ryde in cumpane.

All three
To all-myghte God now prey we601
Thatt hys pressiose persone we ma se.602

Here Erode cumyth in ageyne and the messengere seyth:

Nuncios
Hayle, lorde most off mycht!603
Thy commandement ys right;
In-to thy land ys comyn this nyght
Iij kyngis and with them a grett cumpany,606

Erode
Whatt make those kyngis in this cuntrey?607

Nuncios
To seke a kyng and a chyld, the sey.608

Erode
Of whatt age schuld he bee!609

Nuncios
Skant twellve deyis old fulle.610

Erode
And wasse he soo late borne?611

Nuncios
E! syr, soo the schode me, thys same dey in the morne.

Erode
Now, in payne of deyth, bryng them me beforne;613
And there-fore, harrode, now hy the in hast,614
In all spede thatt thow were dyght
Or thatt those kyngis the cuntrey be past;
Loke thow bryng them all iij before my syght;
And in Jerusalem inquere more of that chyld.
Main ftir* But I wame the that thy wordis be mylde,
qoiriea.’ For there must* thow hede and crafte weylde
How to for-do his powere; and those iij kyngis shalbe begild.

Nuncios
Lorde, I am redde att youro byddyng622
To sarve the ase my lord and kyng;
For joye there-of, loo, how I spryng
Wiih lyght hart ami fresche gamboldyng

Alofte here on this molde I626

Erode
Then sped the forthe hastely.627
And loke thai thow bey re the eyvinly;
And also I pray the hartely
Thatt thow doo comand me

Bothe to yong and olde.631

[The messenger goes to the kings.]

Nuncios
Hayle, syr kyngis, in youre degre;632
Erood, kyng of these cuntreyis wyde,
Desyrith to speyke with you all thre,
And for youre comyng he dothe abyde.635

I. Rex
Syr, att his wyll we be ryght bayne.636

Hy us, brethur, vnto thatt lordis place;637
To speyke with hym we wold be fayne;

Thatt chyld thatt we seke, he grant us of his grace!

[They go to Herod.]

Nuncios
Hayle, lorde with-owt pere!640
These iij kyngis here have we broght.

Erode
Now welcuTw, syr kyngis, all in fere;642
But of my bryght ble, surs, bassche ye noght I643

Sir kyngis, ase I vndurstand,644
A star hathe gydid you into my land,
Where-in grett harie ye haue fonde
Be reysun of hir beymw bryght. 647
Wherefore I pray you hartely
The vere truthe thatt ye wold sertefy,
How long yt ys surely
Syn of that star you had furst syght.651

I. Rex
Sir kynge, the vere truthe to sey652
And forto schoo you ase hit ys best,
This same ys evin the xij^th dey
Syth yt aperid to vs to be west.655

Erodr Brethur, then ys there no more to sey,656
But wtt hart and wyll kepe ye your jumey
And cuw jjhom by me this same wey,

Of your nevis thatt I myght knoo.659
You schall tryomfe in this cuntre
And with grett conquorde bankett wtt/i me,
And thatt chyld myself then woll I see
And honor hym also.663

II. Rex
Sir, youre coniTwandement we woll fullfyll664
And humbly abaye owreself there-tyll.
He thatt weldith all thyng at wyll

Tlie redde way bus teyche,’667
S/r kyng, thatt we ma passe your land in pes!

Erode
Yes, and walke softely ey vin at your one es;669
Youre pase-porte for a C deyis
Here schall you haue of clere cumnand,
Owre reme to labur any weyis
Here schall you haue be spesschall grante.673

III. Rex
Now fare-well, kyng of by degre,674
Humbly of you owre ley ve we take.

Erode
Then adev, sir kyngis all thre;676

And whyle I lyve, be bold of me!677

There ys nothyng in this cuntre678

But for youre one ye schall yt take. 679

[Exeunt the three kings]

Htrod wm Now these iij kyngis are gon on ther wey;680
smUi whM On-wjeely a9id on-wyttely haue the all wtoghte.

When the cum ageyne, the schall dy that saibo dey,682
And thus these yyle wreychis to dey th the schalhe broght, —
Soch.e ys my lykyng.684

He that agenst my lawis wyll hold,685
Be he kyng or keysar neyucr soo bold,
I schall them cast in-to caris cold

And to deyth I schall them bryng.688

There Erode goth his weyis and the iij kyngis cum in ageyne.

I. Rex
O blessid God, moche ys thy myht!689
Where ys this star thatt gawe vs lyghtt?690

II. Rex
Now kuele we downe here in this presence,691
Be-sekyng that Lord of hy mangnefecens
That we ma see his hy exsellence
Yff thatt his swot wyll be?694

III. Rex
Yondur, brothur, I see the star,695
Where-by I k no he ys nott far; —
Therefore, lordis, goo we nar
Into this pore place.698

Jliere the iij kyngie gois in-to the jeeen, to Mare and hir child.

I. Rex
Hayle, Lorde thatt all this worlde hathe wroght!700
Hale, God and man to-gedur in fere!
For thow hast made all thyng of noght,
Albe-yt thatt thow lyist porely here;
A cupe-full of golde here I haue the broght,
In toconyng thow art with-out pere.704

II. Rex
Hayle be thow, Lorde of hy mangnyffecens!705
In toconyng of prestehod and dyngnete of offece,
To the I offur a cupe-full off in-sence,
For yt be-hovith the to haue soche sacrefyce.708

III. Rex
Hayle be thow, Lorde longe lokid fore!709

I haue broght the myre for mortalete, «»« twrd.710

In to-cunyng thow schalt mankynd restore711

To lyflf be thy deyth apon a tre.712

Mare
God haue marce, kyngis, of yowre goodnes; Mary biemes

Be the gydyng of the godhed bidder ar ye sent;714
The provyssion off my swete sun your weyis whom reydres,
And gostely reywarde you for youre present!716

[As the kings go away, they say;]

I. Rex
Syr kyngis, af tur owre promes Tiiey are717
Whome be Erode I mvst nedis goo,

II. Rex
Now truly, brethur, we can noo las,719
But I am soo for-wachid I wott not wat to do.720

III. Rex
Right soo am I; where-fore I you pray,721
Lett all vs rest vs awhyle upon this grownd.

I. Rex
Brothur, your seying ys right well vnto my pay.723
The grace of thatt swet chylde saue vs all sownde!724

[They lie down, and while they sleep, an angel appears.]

Angellus
Kyng of Tawrus, Ser Jespar,725
Kyng of Arraby, Sir Baltliasar,
Melchor, Kyng of Aginare,
To you now am I sent.728
For drede of Eyrode, goo you west whom;
In-to those parties when ye cum downe,
Ye schalbe byrrid with gret reynowne;
The Wholle Gost thys knoleyge hath sent. [Exit.]

I. Rex
Awake, sir kyngis, I you praye,733
For the voise of an angell I hard in my dreyme.

II. Rex
Thatt ys full tru thatt ye do sey,735
For he reyherssid owre names playne. 736

III. Rex
He bad thatt we echuld goo downe be west737
For drede of Eyrodis fawls be-traye.

I. Rex
Soo forto do, yt ys the best;739
The Child that we haue soght, gyde vs the wey!740

Now fare-well, the feyrist of schapp so swete!741

And thaiikid be Jesus of his sonde,742
Thatt we iij to-goder soo suddenly schuld mete,

Thatt dwell soo wyde and in straunge lond,744

And here make owre presentacion745

Vnto tliis kyngis son clensid soo cleyne746

And to his moder for ovre saluacion;747

Of moche myrth now ma we meyne,748

Thatt we soo well hath done this obblacion.749

II. Rex
Now farewell, Sir Jaspar, brothur, to yoeu,750
Kyng of Tawrus the most worthe;
Sir Balthasar, also to you I bow;
And I thanke you bothe of youre good cumpany
Thatt we togeddur haue had.754
He thatt made vs to mete on hyll,
I thanke hym now and eyuer I wyll;
For now may we goo with-owt yll.
And off owre offerynge be full glad.758

III. Rex
Now syth thatt we mvst nedly goo759
For drede of Erode thatt ys soo wrotlie,
Now fare-well brothur, and brothur also,
I tike my leve here at you bothe
This day on fete.763

Now he thatt made vs to mete on playne764
And offur to Mare in hir jeseyne,
He gave vs grace in heyvin a-gayne

All to-geyder to mete!767

[The kings go out, and Herod and his train occupy the pageant]

Slaughter of the Innocents (S&T)Contents

[The kings go out, and Herod and his train occupy the pageant]

Nuncios
Hayle, kynge, most worthist in wede!768
Hayle, mauteinar of curtese throgh all this world wyde!
Hayle, the most myglityst that eyuer bestrod a stede!
Hayll, most monfullist mon in armor man to abyde!
Hayle, in thyne hoonowre!772
Thesso iij kyngis that forthe were sent
And schuld have cum ageyne before the here present,
Anothur wey, lorde, whom the went,
Contrare to thyn honowre.776

Erode
A-nothur wey? owt! owt! owtt!777
Hath those fawls traytvrs done me this ded?
I stampe! I stare! I loke all abowtt!
Myght I them take, I schuld them bren at a glode!
I rent! I rawe! and now run I wode!
A! thatt these velen trayturs hath mard this my mode!
The schallbe hangid yf I ma cum them to!783

Here Erode ragis in the pagond and in the strete also.

E! and thatt kerne of Bedlem, he schalbe ded784
And thus schall I for-do his profece. 785

How sey you, sir knyghtis? ys not this the best red,
Thatt all yong chyldur for this schuld be dede,
Wyth sworde to be slayne?788
Then schall I, Erod, lyve in lede,
And all folke me dowt and drede,
And offur to me bothe gold, rychesse, and mede;
Thereto wyll the be full fayne.792

I. Myles
My lorde, kyng Erode be name,793
Thy wordis agenst my wyll schalbe;
To see soo mawy yong chylder dy ys schame.
Therefore consell ther-to gettis thou non of me.796

II. Myles
Well seyd, fello, my trawth I plyght.797
Str kyng, perseyve right well you may,
Soo grett a morder to see of yong frute
Wyll make a rysyng in thi noone cuntrey.800

Erode
A rysyng! Owt! owt! owt! 801

There Erode ragis ageyne and then seyth thus:

Owt! velen wrychis, har apon you I cry!802
My wyll vtturly loke that yt be wroght,
Or apon a gallowse bothe you schall dy,
Be Mahownde most myghtyste, tJiat me doro hath boght!

I. Myles
Now, cruell Erode, syth we schall do this dede!806
Your wyll nedefully in this realme mvste be wroght;
All the chylder of that age dy the mvst nede;
Now with all my myght the schall be vpsoght.809

II. Myles
And I woll sweyre here apon your bryght sworde,810
All the chylder thatt I fynd, sclayne the schalbe;
Thatt make many a moder to wepe and be full sore aferde
In owre armor bryght when the hus see.813

Erode
Now you have swome, forth that ye goo,814
And my wyll thatt ye wyrke bothe be dey and nyght,
And then wyll I for fayne trypp lyke a doo.
But whan the be ded I wame you bryng ham be-fore my syglit.

[Herod and his train go away, and Joseph and Mary are, while asleep, addressed by an angel.]

Angellus
Mare and Josoff, to you I sey,818
Swete word from the Fathur I bryng you full ryght:
Owt of Bedlem in-to Eygype forth goo ye the wey
And with you take the King, full of myght,
For drede of Eroddis rede!822

Josoff
A-ryse up, Mare, hastely and sone;823
Owre Lordis wyll nedys mvst be done,
Lyke ase the angell vs bad. 825

Mare
Mekely, Josoff, my none spowse,826
Towarde that cuntrey let vs reypeyre;
Att Eygyp to sum cun off howse,
God grant hus grace saff to cum there!829

Here the wemen cum in wythe there chyldur, syngyng them; and Mare and Josoff goth awey cleyne.

I. Woman
I love my chylde wondursly swete,830
And in my narmis I do hyt kepe,
Be-cawse thatt yt schuld not crye.

II. Woman
Thatt babe thatt ys borne in Bedlem, so meke,833
He saue my chyld and me from velany!834

III. Woman
Be styll, be sty11, my lyttull chylde!835
That Lorde of lordis saue bothe the and me!
For Erode hath sworne with wordis wyld
Thatt all yong chyldur sclayne the schalbe.838

I. Myles
Sey ye, wyddurde wyvis, whydder ar ye a-wey?839
What beyre you in youre armis nedis mvst we se.
Yff the be man-chyldur, dy the mvst this dey.
For at Eroddis wyll all thyng mvst be.842

II. Myles
And I in handis wonys them hent.843
Them forto sley noght woll I spare;
We mvst full-fyll Erodis commandement,
Elis be we asse trayturs and cast all in care.846

I. Woman
Sir knyghtis, of youre curtessee,847
Thys dey schame not youre chevaldre,
But on my child haue pytte
For my sake in this styde;850

For a sympull sclaghtur yt were to sloo851
Or to wyrke soche a chyld woo,
That can noder speyke nor goo.
Nor neuer harme did. 854

II. Woman
He thatt sleyis my chyld in syglit,855
Yff thatt my strokis on hym ma lyglit,
Be he skwyar or knyght,
I hold hym but lost.858
Se, thow fawls losyngere,
A stroke schalt thow beyre me here
And spare for no cost.861

III. Woman
Sytt he neyuer soo hy in saddull,862
But I schall make his braynis addull
And here wih my pott-ladull
With hym woll I fyght865
I schall ley on hym, as thogh I wode were,
With thys same womanly geyre;
There scball noo man steyre,
Wheddur thatt be be kyng or knyght.869

[Here they kill the children.]

I. Myles
Who hard eyuer socbe a cry870
Of wemen thatt there chyldur haue lost,
And grettly reybukyng chewaldry
Throgh-owt this reme in eyuere cost,
Wyche many a mans lyff ys lyke to cost?
For thys grett wreyche that here ys done
I feyre moche wengance ther-off woll cum876

II. Myles
E! brotbur, socbe talis may we not tell;877
Where-fore to the kyng lett vs goo.
For be ys lyke to beyre the peroll,
Wyche wasse the cawser that we did soo.
Yett must the all be broght bym to
With waynis and waggyns fully fryght;
I tro there wolbe a carefull syght.883

[They go to Herod.]

I. Myles
Loo! Eyrode, kyug, here mast thow see884
How many M thatt we haue slayne.

II. Myles
And nedis thy wyll full-fyllid must be;886
There ma no mon sey there-ageyne. 887

[Enter Nuntius.}

Nuncios
Eyrode, kyng, I schall the tell.888
All thy dedis ys cam to noght;
This chyld ys gone in-to Eygipte to dwell.
Loo! sir in thy none land what wondurs byn wroght!891

Erode
Into Eygipte! alas, for woo!892
Lengur in lande here I canot abyde;
Saddull my palfrey, for in hast wyll I goo,
Aftor yondor trayturs now wyll I ryde.
Them for to sloo.896
Now all men hy fast
In-to Eygipte in hast!
All thatt contrey woll I tast,
Tyll I ma cum them to.900

Fynes lude de taylars and scharmen.

Tys matter / nevly correcte be Robart Croo / the
xiiij^th dey of marche / fenysschid in the yere of owre Lorde
God / M CCCCC & xxxiiij^te. [1534] / then beyng mayre mastur
Palmar / also mastris of the seyd fellyschipp Hev Cor-
bett / Eandull Pynkard and / John Baggeley.

Theise songes / belonge to / the Taylors and Shearemens

Pagant. / The first and the laste the shepheards singe / and the second or middlemost the women singe.

Thomas Mawdycke

Die decimo tertio Maij anno domimi millessimo quin-
gentesimo nonagesimo primo. [1591] / Praetor fait
Couentriæ D. Mathaeus Richardson, tunc Councelles /
Johanes Whitehead et Thomas Grauener.

Song I.

As I out rode this enderas night,1
Of thre ioli sheppardes I saw a sight,
And all a-bowte there fold a star shone bright;
They sange terli terlow;
So mereli the sheppards ther pipes can blow.

Song II.

Lully lulla, thow littell tine child1
By by, hllly lullay thow littell tyne child
By by, lully lullay!

O sisters too4
How may we do
For to preserve this day
This pore yongling
For whom we do singe
By by, lully lullay?6

Herod, the king,7
In his raging,
Chargid he hath this day
His men of might
In his owne sight
All yonge children to slay, —12

That wo is me,13
Pore child, for thee
And ever morne and may
For thi parting
Nether say nor singe,
By by, lully lullay.18

Song III.

Doune from heaven, from heaven so hie,1
Of angeles ther came a great companie,
With mirthe and ioy and great solemnitye,
The sange terly terlow;
So mereli the sheppards ther pipes can blow,

The Pageant of the WeaversContents

Dramatis Personae1

In the Prophet Play (Ll. 1-176)2

i. Profeta3
ii. Profeta
iii. Profeta [non-speaking]

In the Purification - introduction (Ll. 177-366)

Simeon7
Anna
i. Angel
ii. Angel
Clerk

In the Purification - Journey to the Temple and Quest for Doves (Ll. 367-584)

Gabriel13
Mary
Joseph
i. Angel

In the Purification proper (Ll. 585-721)

ii. Angel18
Simeon
Anna
Clerk
Mary
Joseph

In the Disputation in the Temple (Ll. 722-1191)

Joseph25
Mary
Jesus
i. Doctor
ii. Doctor
iii. Doctor

The Prophet Play (Weav)Contents

I. Profeta
Ye grett astronemars now awake,1
With youre iaamts fatheres of felosefy
And in-to the oreient reyspecte ye take,
Where nevis and strangis be cum of lately,
Affermyng the seyng of old profecie,
Thatt a star schuld apere
Apon the hyll of Wawse among hus here!7

II. Profeta
Ye brethur all, then be of good chere,8
For those tythings makyth my hart ful lyght!
We haue desirid many a yere
Of thatt star to haue a syght,
And spesschalli of that kyng of myght
Of whose cumyng we haue playne warnyng
Be this same star aftor profettis desemyng.14
Yet furtboTy I pra* you for my larnyng,
Lett has hawe’ sum comenecaciou
Of this star be oldd proostefying
How bit aperid and under whatt fassion.18

I. Profeta
Sir, aftur a strange deformacion19
As be atorite reyherse I can;
For this same star be interpretacion
Syngnefyth the nateyete of a man;22
As the profett Balam
In his text afarmyth right well,

Seying: “Orietur stella ex Jaeobo, et exmrget
homo de Israel.”25
He seyd of lacobe a star schuld springe,
Wyche syngnefyith only this same kynge
thatt amongist vs now ys cum.
And as towchyng the letter folloyng:
Et ipse dominabitur omni gen&Nidone,30

II. Profeta
Sir, here ma be movid a questeon31
Of this nobull prince of soo hi degree,

The wyche of all men schall haue domeneon,33
Vndur what maner borne he schuld be,

I. Profeta
Ase ye schall here right wonder-35
fulles
I5e devine powar of a virgene pure,

Afarmyng the profeci agenst all nature.37

II. Profeta
Where fynde you thai in wholle scrip-38
ture
Before pronostefide* this to be done?

I. Profeta
Isaee the profett wrytith full sure,41

Ecce Virgo conclpiet, pariet filium!42
Balam seyng of the heyvinly wyssedome
A man scbuld spryng here in Isaraell,
The seyd Isayee answeyring to that questeon:
Et vocaJbityxr nomen eius JEmanvel,45

II. Profeta
Yett haue I grett marvell,46

How thatt men schuld tell47

Off such strangis before the fell,48

And man beyng here but a mortall creature.49

I. Profeta
Be devine powar, I make you sure,50

The sprete of prof ece to them was sent,51
Soo to subscrybe in wholle scripture,*

And yett them-selfe wyst not watt yt ment.53

II. Profeta
Now laude be vnto hym that soche54
knoleyge sent

Vnto bus wreychis of pore symplecete.56
Where* he ys Lord and God omnipotent,

In this hys wyll to make bus prove!58

I. Profeta
Did nott tJiat prof ett man Malache59
Eesite vnto bus on this same wyse
thatt the sun of lyff schall spring and arise )60

Wyche cawsid Isaee to cast up his iees61

Toward hey vin with all his inward syght,62

Seying, " Good Lord, afarmyng thy p*omes.63

Send downe to bus this wonly sun off myght,64
Huse to reystore vnto owre right!

Owt of deserte, from the bard stone,66

Reycomfordyng thi dogbtur dwyllyng in Sion! "67

Also Jaramo,< thatt wholle mon,68

Seyd in beyvin God schuld make seede,69

A greyne off Davith, thatt now ys cum,70

Wyche eyuer in gracys shall spring and spreyde71
And kepe Juda owt off drede

And also Isaraell sett in surenes.73

And he schall make jugementis of rightwesenes.

II. Profeta
I wondre to here you this expres,75

Be actoris hi, this worthe mystere.76
And spesschalle of this ytrtu rightwessenes.

Where hit schalbe vsid and in whatt parte.78

I. Profeta
Apon the yarthe bothe wtt/2 hy and loo79
degre;
And rightwessenes men schall hym call,

When he schall cum to sit in the see [C s]82

Of King Davity tliai most riall stall;83
And ther schall he before the pristis all

Of Juda and Ley ve be his powar device,85

WM nev * insence to do sacref yce.85

To God aboue for the grett offence86

Of the peple and for yngnorance,*87

Wit there offeringe to make reycompence88
For the lenage of Adamt progeny.
This schall this childe by theym free

From all the offencis thatt th& haue done91

Be cruell deyth and bytter passion.92

II. Profeta
Good Sir, yett under prtdustacion*93

Owre feyth thereby for to incresse,94
Of this star lett hus haue reylacion,
How hit aperid and vndur whatt fassion,
Yff hit wold pleyse you for to expresse.

I. Profeta
Wit/i diners streymw of grett98
brightnes,98

A child therm of flagrant swetnes,99

Wyche apon his bake a crosse did beyre,100

And of an eygull hit bare the lykenes,101
Beytyng his wyngis into the eyre;
A woise there-in off lange feyre

Thatt wasse hard throgh-owt the cuntrey,104

Seyinge: * Nattcs est nobis oddie rex Judeorxim — et sethere:’

II. Profeta
Of a farthur dcclaracion I wold you praye,106
Whatt trybus the were and in whatt parte,

The were date, and whatt maner a wey108

They haue mside probate of this profece.109

I. Profeta
And thatt schall I scho you right eyvedently.110
The grett lordis of the land of Caldy
Fowndid twelve masturs of asestronemy

For to se this star apere;113
And when these masturs were eylecte,
On the hill of Wawse er wache the kepte
And the all togedder neuer sclepte
Abowe ix yere.117

II. Profeta
And dide the soo longe wache that hill?118

I. Profeta
Ye truly, tyll iJiAt hit was this kyngis will119

This seyd profece for to fullfyll,120
Thatt strange star to send them till,

Whereof the had intellegenee;122

That af tur the darkenes of the nyght123
In the day hit schone soo bright,
Thatt when the sun and the stare
In the yeyre togeythur warre,

Betwyxt them wasse lyttull or non indyfference.127

And soo this stare wasse a srveture128
And ynto iij kyngis a playn cundeture
Ynto the mancion of a yirn pure.130

II. Profeta
But ar you sure for whatt intent?131

I. Profeta
Forsothe to Bedlem streyght the went,132

Whereasse the ofifurd to this childe reuerent133

Wtt/t grett omage a famti present.134

The furst wasse gold, as most myghte kyng;135

The seycond wasse myr, asse prist of pristis beyng;

The thryd wasse insence, in tokyning of byrring.

II. Profeta
Yet wold I kno the cawse spesschalljy138
Whatt movid these kyngis to cum so hastelj,
And whedor the cam oopan or pievy.140

I. Profeta
The star broght them throgh ejnere cuntie;141
And eyur as the cam oopunly,
The dide inquere of those neyis;
Eyusr the axid, “Where ys he
Thatt ys borne for to be
The kyng of Juys?”146

Therefore lett bus wtt all delegence147
Ynto tJiat chyld geye honowre and reyuerence,
And thatt we ma cum vnto his presence
To haue fruyssion of his hi deyit[e].150
And, brothur, I thanke you of youre pacyence;
For now att thys tyme departe wyll wee.

II. Profeta
Now, brothur, for youre swete sentence,153
Att all tymiff welcum to me —154

Loo! fryndis, there may you see155
How God in man workith alwey.
Now all we that his servandis be
Hathe grett cawse in hym to joie,
Wyche sendyth bus knoleyge the truth to sey;
And he soo meraculosly wyrkyng iherwith
Thatt of all soycrettis we wryte* the were pyth;161

Wherefore moclie cawse haue we to make myrth,162
When we reymeiJibur the gloreose birthe
Of this virgyns sun.
He the Seconde Person in the Trenete
Eyquall iih his Fathur in deyite
Aud under the curteyne of owre vmanete,
For hus wold man becum.168

Wherefore, here I exsorte you all,169
That in this place here asembulde bo,.
Vnto this chyldo for merce cawll,
Wycbe schall reydeme vs apon a tre.172
And thatt gloreose blys thatt we ma see,
Wycbe he hathe ordenide for all men
In his selesteall place to be
In saecula seculorum, amen!176

Here Semeon intrythe and the last profett gothe ouftt.

Purification - introduction (Weav)Contents

Here Semeon intrythe and the last profett gothe ouftt.

Semeon
the seylesteall Soferent, owre by Gode eternall!177
Wycbe of this mervelus world ys the fowndatur,
And create the hy heyvins his one see emperell
With sun, mone and staris, yorthe, sky and wattur —
And al for the sustenance of owre vmayne nature —
With fysche, fowle, best, and eyuere othur thyng,
Vndur hus to haue the naturall cowrs and beyng.183

Yett owre formere parence at the begynnyng184
Throgh dyssobeydence had a grevose fall
From the hy pales and blys eyuerlastyng
Downe into this* wale off meserabull mvndall;
For the wyche transgression all we ar now mortall,
Thatt before wasse infynite for eyuer to remayne
And now schall take yend be deyth and cruell payne.

Wyche grevoise sorro ofte dothe me conatrayne191
Inwardly to syghe and byttur teyris to weph,
Tyll thatt I reymembur the grett comforde ageyne
Of anceant profettis with ther sentens swete,
Wbose fructuus syence of profownde larnyng depe
In there awturs aperith to hus right manefestly.
Of Isaee, Sebbellam, Balam, and Malache.197

Lorde of lordis! In hart beseke I the,198
Of this infinite worke to send me the tru lyght,
Truly to expownde this seyde wholle profece;
And also of that kyng that I ma haue a syght,201
And that we ma walke in his weyis uppright,
The wyche be reydemcion schall hus all reyles.
At whose cumyng the tru ovncion of Juda schall seyse.

Now, Lord, follfyll thatt hy tyme of pes!205
For age draith me fast apon.
Fayne wold I see thatt wholle of whollenes.
Or this mortall lyff fro me were gone.
Now, Lorde, ase thow art iij in won,
Grant me grace, yff thatt thy wyl be,
In my nold age that syght for to see!211

Then at thy wyll, Lorde, fayne wolde I be,212
Yff thow soche grace woldist me sende.
To loove the, Lorde, vfith all vmelyte,
And soo of my lyff then to make an ende!
Yett, Lorde, thi grace to me now extende,
Suffur me rathur yett to lyve in peyne
Then to dy, or thatt I thatt solam syght haue seyne!

[Here Ane eumyth in to Semeon and scythe:]

Ane
sufferent Semeon! With all solemnete,219
Thatt of owre gloreose tempull hath the goueanance,
With all dev reuerance here beseke I the
Thi olde frynde in Gode to haue in reymemburance,
The wyche hathe tarrid be a long contenvance
For the comyng of the right Messee,
Wyche hathe byn promysid vnto hus be profece.225

Lorde! thogh that I be nothynge worthe226
To see the fassion of thi most presseose pyctore,
Yett, Lorde, acsepte me of thi grett marce,
Asse thy pore serwand and feythfull creature.
To se the, Lorde, yff that I myght be sure,
No lenger on grownd wold I reyquere
In this mortall lyff to contenev here.232

Semeon
O fey thefull frynde and louer dere!233
To you this text ofte haue I tolde,
That the lyght of Leyve amonge vs here
In Isaraell schuld he boght and sold;
Asse avnceant profettis hereof hathe told,
That in this lande here he schuld make surenes.
And he to be cawlid the Kyng of Pes.239

Asse Isaee hymselfe herein to wyttnes,240
“In facie populorum” this did he sey,
“Cum venerit sanctus sanctorum cessabit unctio vestra.”
And soo when owre ryght blod schall seyse,
Moche yirtu and grace then schall incresse
WiUb hy jugementis of rightwessenes
Amongest hus evyn here in Isaraell.246

Ane
Yff thatt I myght abyde that dey,247
Thatt wholle off wholleis for to see
Wyche thatt I haue desyrid allwey,
In this worlde well were me.
Now, Lord, and yff thy wyll hit be,
Grant me my hoope, longe lokid fore;
Then joie nor welthe kepe I no more.253

Semeon
Now, Ane, systur and dere frynde,254
Lett hus bothe with a whole intent
In thys tru feyth owre lyvis yend,
Lawdyng thatt Lorde wyche ys omnipotent;
Wherefore I thynke hyt full expeydente
In conteniall preyar for to indure.
To kno therby his graceose plesure.260

Ane
O sofferent Semeon! Thi famus consell261
Inwardely gladyth me in my hart.
No-thyng contentyth my mynd soo well.
Wherefore at this tyme woll we departe. 264

Semeon
Now, Ane, syth that ye wol hence nede265
Vnto the tempull with all spede
Owre Lordis wyll for to abyde,
That Lord of lordis be thy gyde
And sende the that wyche thow lovist most;
Botlie heyle and bote for the provide,
Where-eyuer thow goo in any cost!271

[Ane goes out.]

Fryndis, now ys hit tyme to prey.272
Before that I my rest do take,
My custome hathe yt byn alwey,
Asse long ase eyaer I am awake,
Intersession vnto that Lorde to make
Of hym to obteyne all my reyquest.
And then full peysable to take my rest.278

Now, Lorde, that madist all thyng of noght,279
Both hevyn and hell and eyuere creature,
Asse thow knoist myn inwarde thoght,
Reycomforde me when hit ys thy plesure;
For I do covett no more treysure
Then the tyme of thy natevete
With my mortall yeeis thatt I myght se.285

But asse thow wolt, Lorde, all thyng mvst be.286
And reysun hit ys thatt hit be soo;
My wyll therto schall eyuer agre.
My wholle desyre now dost thou kno.
Or thatt I vnto slepe do goo,
I commytt my warkis with all the sircumstance
Wholly vnto thy lawis and ordonance.292

[There Semeon settys hym doune to rest, ase hit were, and the Angell seythe to hym:]

I. Angell
Semeon, of thy rest awake;293
Owre Lorde in heyvin he sendyth the gretyng
Of my message, with the for to make,
With the, hys f rind, a solame metyng;

Hj8 blessid bode vnto thi kepyng297
WiVdn schort tyme schal be broght,
And here in thy tempuU thow schalte be soght299

Semeon
Lorde, whence cam this solam noyse300
That awoke me here soo suddenly?
My spretis thervfith did soo reyjoyse,
Thatt no longer slepe cowlde I.
Me-thoght he seyde right perfettly,

Thatt solam Sufferent thatt I schulde see305

And haue hym here in my custode.306

II. Angell
Semeon, thatt Lorde in Trenete307

Whom thow hast desirid to see alwey308
At thy tempull offurde schal be

Vnto thy honde this same day;310

Therfore spede in all thatt thow may,311
That the tempull in ordur be
This prynce to reyseyve yri\Ji all vmelete.313

[Exeunt the two angels.]

Semeon
Now, Lorde of lordis, thankis be to the!314
These gloreose tythyngis that here be tolde
In my hart soo gladith me
Thatt I am lyghtar a M folde
Then eyucr I wasse before.318
Therefore wyll I with al my myght
To se my tempull soo presseoosly pyght
In gorgis araye thatt hyt be dyght
This prynce for to ownowre.322

There Semeon gothe to his Clarke and seyth:

Now, fryndis all, be of good chere,323
And to owre tempull draw we nere;
Soche solam nevis now I here,

Thatt all my spretis dothe glade.326
Thatt babe ys borne of dyngnete
Thatt we soo long hathe desirid to see,
Oure Lord and Kyng most myghte,
Thatt all this world made.330

Clarecus
Kow blessid mot that lorde be,331
Thatt dey and owre thatt we schall see
His gloreose bodde in Trencte,
Thatt flowre that nener schall fade!334

Semeon
No lenger, Surs, lett vs abyde,335
But to the tempull with all spede
To reyseve the Saueowre of this world wyde
And hym to serve with lowe and drede!
Now, Sirs, loke thatt ye take good hede
To wayte and serve with all delegence,
His grace to ownowre with humble reuerence!341

Clarecus
To serue a prynce of soche maimeffecens,342
Sir, I wasse neuer wont there-to.
Sythe ye therin hathe more intellegence,
Instructe me, Sir, how that I schuld do,
Lest thatt I do offende;346
For rathur then I wolde hym greive,
Thatt Lord on whom I do beleve, —
Yett had I leyuer my-self reymeve
Vnto the worldis yende.350

Semeon
Sith thatt ye for knoleyge dothe make sute,351
Your wyttis the bettur do I reypute. -
With humble hartis and meke,353
Won of hus must holde the lyght
Ande the othur the sacrefyce;
And I on kneis, asse hyt ys right,
The offece to exsersyse
Vnto thatt babe soo swette.358

Clarecus
Then hast we this alter to araye359
And clothis off onowre theron to laye
Ande the grownde straw we with flowris gay
Thatt of oddur swetely smellis. 362

Semeon
And when he aprochis nere this place,363
Syng then with me thatt conyng hasse
And the othur the meyne space
For joie rynge ye the bellis. Cantant.366

[Mary and Joseph with the child have occupied the front part of the pageant.] There Semeon and his Clarks gothe vp to the tempull and Gaberell cumyth to the tempull dore and seyth:

Journey to the Temple and Quest for Doves (Weav)Contents

[Mary and Joseph with the child have occupied the front part of the pageant.] There Semeon and his Clarks gothe vp to the tempull and Gaberell cumyth to the tempull dore and seyth:

Gaberell
Hayle, Mare, meke and myld!367
The virtu in the schall neyuer fade.
Hayle, meydyn, and thy chylde,
Thatt all this world made!370

Thy seylesteall Fadur wyche ys omnipotent371
Of his ambassaye hethur hathe me sent
Vnto the, lade and virgyn reyuerent,
With thy sun, owre heyviñ Kynge!374
Unto the tempull thatt thou schuldist goo,
And to whyt turtuls with the also,
And present the chyld and them to,
All iij of them in offeryng.378
Spede you forth thatt ye were gone!
But leyve nott ye wold Josoff at whome;
For nedely, lade, he mvste be won
In this sacrcfyce doyng.382

Mare
With hart and wyll hit schal be done383
In pleysing of that fathur of myght.
Thyddur wyll I bothe hastely and sone
And take with me my child soo bryght.386

Gaberell
Then to Josoff goo ye full right.387
And make hym preve of this case.
Byd hym hast that he were dyght
To gyd you theddur into that place.
Now rest well, Mare, with moche solas!
For I mvst thiddur asse I cam froo.392

[Gabriel goes out.]

Mare
He thatt ys ande eyuer wasse393
Be thy gyde where-euer thow goo,
And send hus all of his grace!
I pray here knelynge hit ma be soo.396

[Addresses Jesus.]

Kow, cum heddur to me, my darlyng dere,397
My myrthe, my joie, and al my chere!
Swetter then eyuer wasse blossum on brere!
Thy swete mowthe now wyll I kls.400
Now, Lorde of lordis, be owre gide,
Where-eyuer we walke in cuntreyis wyde,
And these to turtuls for hus provide
Off them thatt we do nott mys!404

Here Mare goth to Josoff and seyis:

Rest well, Josoff, my spouse soo free!405

Josoff
Now welcum, Mare! Dame, whatt sey yee!406

Mare
Swet nevis, husebond, I bring to thee;407
The angell of God with me hath be
To geve hus bothe warnyng,409
Thatt you and I with a wholle intent,
Aftur the law thatt here ys ment,
Schuld in the tempull owre chyld present
In Jerusalem, ther to make offeryng.413

Josoff
Now, Mare, thatt woll I neuer deny;414
But aftur my powar for to apply
And thatt you kno, dame, asse well asse I;
You neuer cawll but I am reddy.417

Mare
Now, husebond, ye speyke full gentylle;418
Therfore loke, Josoff, and ye cold spy
To turtyll dowis, how thatt we myght cum ny:
For nedely turtullis offer mvst we;
Thatt offeryng fawlyth for owre degre.422

Josoff
Nay, nay, Mare, thatt wol not be.423
Myne age ys soche, I ma not well see;
There schall noo duffus be soght for me,425
Also God me saue!

Mare
Swette Josoff, fullfyll ye owre Lordis hestes.427

Josoff
Why and woldist thou haue me to hunt bridis nestis?
I pray the hartely, dame, leve thosse jestis
And talke of thatt wol be.430

For, dame, woll I neuer vast my wyttis.431
To wayte or pry where the wodkoce syttis;
Nor to jubbard among the merle pyttis,
For thatt wasse neyuer my gyse.434
Now am I wold and ma not well goo:
A small twyge wold me ouerthroo;
And yche were wons lyggyd aloo.
Full yll then schulde I ryse.438

Mare
Ye hardely, Josoff, do nott drede!439
Owre Lorde wyll quyte right well youre mede,
And att all tymis be youre spede.
And further you in youre viage.442

Josoff
Ey! dame, ey! God helpe hus all!443
Me-thynke youre meymorre were small.
On me soo whomly eyuer to call:
You mynde nothynge myne age
But the weykist gothe eyuer to the walle;
Therefore go thyself, dame; for me thow schall,
Ye, or ellis get the a nev page.449

Mare
Husebande, these be no womens dedis;450
Therefore, Josoff, ye must forthe nedis;
For surely there ys no reymedy.452

Josoff
Noo remedy then but I mvst goo ?453
Kow be my trowthe, I ma tell you,
Thosse tythingis ar but cold.455
Then nedis mvste thatt nedis schall;
And now he thatt ma worst of all
The candyll ys lyke to holde.458

Mare
Now, gentyll Josoff, when wyll ye goo459
To make an ende of this owre jurney ?

Josoff
That shal be or I have any lust thereto461
And thatt dare I boldely sey.462

How sey ye all this cumpany463
Thatt be weddid asse well asse I?
I wene that ye suffur moche woo;465
For he thatt weddyth a yonge thyng
Mvst fullfyll all hir byddyng,
Or els ma he his handis wryng,
Or watur his iis when he wold syng;
And thatt all you do knoo.470

Mare
Why sey ye soo, sir? Ye be to blame.471

Josoff
Dame, all this cnmpany wyll sey the same,472
Ys itt not soo? Speyke, men, for schame!
Tell you the trothe ase you well con!474
For the that woll nott there wyffis plese
Ofte-tymis schall suff ur moche dysees;
Therefore I holde hym well at es
Thatt hathe to doo with non.478

Mare
Leyve of these gawdis for my lowe;479
And goo for these fowlys, Sir, I you pray.
The Fadur of heyvin thatt ys abowe
Wyll spede you well in youre jurney.482

Josoff
No reymede but I mvst forthe nede.483
Now owre Lord grant me well for to spede!
Loo! feyre wordis full ofte doth leyde
Men cleyne agen there mynd.486

Now, Lorde God, thow sende me feyre weddur.487
And thatt I ma fynd those fowlis togeddur,
Whytt or blake, I care nott wheddur.
So thatt I ma them fynde!490

Mare
Full well schall you spede hardely,491
YfF thatt ye goo abowt hytt wyllyngly.

Josoff
Then I woll goo by and by,493
Thogh hit be not full hastely.
With all my hart I wol goo spy, 495
YfF any be in my wey,
I wyll them fynd and I may,
Or thatt I make an ende.498

Mare
Now that Lorde, thatt best may,499
He be your spede in youre jumey,
Ande good tythyngis of you me send!501

Josoff
Yea, he thatt hatth soche on on hym to crawe502
He schal be sure, asse Ood me sawe,
Eyuer the worse yend of the staff to haue,
Att the lattur yend.505

Here Josoff gothe from Mare and seyth:

I wandur abowt myself alone,506
Turtulis or dowis can I non see.
Now, Kyng of heyvin, thow amend my mone;
For I tro I seke nott where the be!509

My myght, my strenth ys worne fro me;510
For age I am waxun almost blynd.
Those fowlys the ar full far fro me
And werie yvill for me to fynde.513

I loke fast and neuer the nere;514
My wynd for feynt ys allmost gone.
Lord, benedissete! Whatt make I here
Among these heggis myself alone?517

For-were I ma no lengur stond;518
These buskis the teyre me on eyure syde.
Here woll I sytt apon this londe,
Ours Lordis wyll for to abyde.521

I. Angell
Aryse vp, Josoff, and take no thoght522
For these to fowlys thatt thow hast soght.
Evyn to thy hond I haue them broght,
And therefore be off good chere.525
Take them here bothe to
And ageyne to Mare thy wyff thow goo
Yn all the hast thatt hit be doo;
Thow tarre noo lengur here! 529

Josoff
O! lawde be vnto thatt Lorde soo exsellent530
For those to fowlis thatt I have soght!
Fullfyllid now ys myn intent;
My hart ys eyyn asse yt oght,
All care fro me ys past,534
Now thatt Mare my wyff these birddis had!
For to make hir hart asse glad
To hir wyll I in hast [Returns to Mary.]537

Now rest well, Mare; my none darlyng!538
Loo! dame, I have done thy byddyng
And broght these dowis for oure offeryng;
Here be the bothe alyve.541
Womon, have them in thy honde,
I am full glade I have them fond.
Am nott I a good husbonde!
Ye! dame, soo mot I thryve!545

Mare
Now, the Fathur of heyvin that ys abowe.546
He quyt you, Josoff, for this dede;
And furthur I pray you for my lowe,
Vnto the tempull lett vs make spede!549

Josoff
Ey! bloo a whyle, dame, I the pray!550
For soft and essele men goo far.
I haue laborde all this dey;
Yett am I vere lyttull the nar.
I tro thatt I schall neyuer be war.
Soo full of feyre wordis these wemen be,
Thatt men thereto must nedis agre;556

And therefore, dame, alsoo mote I the.557
Af tur my labur fayne wolde I rest;
Therefore goo thyselfe thow schalt for me.
Or tarre att whome wheddur thou thynkist beste.560

Mare
Na, swet husebond, ye do well kno561
To goo alone ys not for me;
Wherefore, good sir, I pray you soo
Thatt I ma haue your cumpany. 564

Josoff
Loo! fryndis, here ma you knoo565
The maner of my wyff ys soo,
Thatt with hyr nedis mvst I goo,
Wheddur I wyll or nyll.568
Kow ys nott this a cumburs lyff!
Loo! sirs, whait ytt ys to haue a wyff!
Yett had I leyuer, nor to live in strylf,
Apply evyn to hir wyll.572

For syth thai here ys no remede,573
Take vp youre chylde, I sey, Mare,
And walke we togedur feyre and essele
And soo to stynt all stry we;
And I woll trusse vp thys gere,
For I se well I mvst hit beyre.
At Jerusalem I wold all ye were,579
Also mote I thryve.580

Mare
There schall we be when God wyll,581
For at his plesure all thyng mvst be.

Josoff
Dame, and thatt ys bothe reysun and skill;583
Sett forward then and lett me see.584

[They continue in the front part of the pageant as if making a journey. An angel appears in the temple.]

Purification proper (Weav)Contents

[Mary and Joseph continue in the front part of the pageant as if making a journey. An angel appears in the temple.]

II. Angell
Awake, Semeon, and drede the noght!585
In all the hast thatt eyuer ma be.
And reyseyve that Lord thatt all hathe wroght,
With hym his modur Mare.588
Make spede, Semeon, that thow were dyght
To reyseyve thatt chyld with all thy myght
Now schalt thow see the blessidist syght
Thatt eyuer thow didist see.592

Semeon
O Lord of lordis! this solam noyse593
From the Maker of heyvin and hell.
My hart therewith soo dide reyjoise,
Thatt the myrthe theroff can noo tong tell,
Nor hand with pen subscrybe.
I thanke that Lorde and Kyng of myght,
Thogh all my lust throgh age be worne,599
Thatt I schall see this gloreose syght
Blessid be the owre thatt thow wast borne,
This dey that eyuer I do abide.602

Now to reyseve this Kyng of pes603
Thatt owt of dangyr schall hus reles.
Owre hy merrettis schall he incres
In joiye abundantly;606
For here kepe I no more blis,
But thatt he marke me for won of his,
And then whan his swete wyll ys,
Am I evyn redde to dy.610

Now, Clarkis, cum forth and do your offes,611
And this awter hastely that ye aray;
For here schal be the solamyst sacrefyce
Thatt eyuer wasse seyne in Juda.614

Make sure, fryndis, and all thatt ye may615
Thatt ordur be hade in eyuere place.

Clarecus
Now that Lord of lordis thatt best may617
To do oure devties he grant vs grace!
And for to plese hym to his paye
Sey al you Deo gracias,620

Loo! mastur, bothe man and place621
Be all redde at your byddyng.

Semeon
Then, surs, cum forthe apase623
And myrrele the bellis ryng.624

Ane, systur, goo ye with me625
For to reyseyve that prince of onowre
And hym to welcum reuerently,
Ase of this world lorde and gouernowre.628

Ane
Now, fathur Semeon, I am obeydentt,629
Youre graceose pleysure for to obbey.
To serve thatt Lorde wyche ys omnipotent,
Lett vs goo mete hym on the wey. 632

Clarecus
Mastur, now ar the bellis rong633
And redde att hond ys eyuere thyng.

Semeon
Then lett me see with hart and tonge.635
How myrrely thatt ye can syng. Cantant.636

Here the cum downe with pressession to mete them:

Mare
Heyle, suffurent Semeon so good!637
My semely sun here I bryng to the
To offur hym vp in flesche and blode,
Ase be the law he oght to be.640

Semeon
Now, wholle Mare and Josofif also,641
Ye be ryght welcum vnto this place;
For off God ar ye blessid bothe to
Thatt hath you grondid in soche grace:
And ye, Josoff, of soo grett age645
Thatt soche a babe forth can bryng,
In whom all owre reydemcion dothe hyug,
And off this worlde ys lorde and kyng;
This wase a graceose mareage.649

Josoff
Now gentill bysschope, I the pray,650
Evyn the verre truth thow woldist me sey,
Ys nott this a prette bewey
Asse eyuer thow hast knone?653
Now, be hym that, made both heyvin and hell
This lyttull myte I lowe as well,
Asse thogh he were myn oone!656

Mare
Reyseyve him, Semeon, with good chere;657
The law wyll hit schall so be.
For wyche cawse I bryng hym here:
Here in thi hondis take hym to the.660

Semeon
Now welcum, Lord of honowr!661
Now welcum, Prince, vnto this place!
Welcum, owre sufferent Saweowre!
Welcum, the Growndr of owre grace!
Welcum, owre joie! welcum, owre myrthe!665
Welcum, owre graceose Gouernowre!
Welcum to huse, thatt heyvinly flowre!
Now, blessid be the dey and owre
Of thy gloreose byrthe!669

Ane
Now welcum, Kyng of kingis all!670
Now welcum, Maker of all mankynd!
Welcum to hus, bothe grett and small!
Good Lord, thy sarvandis now haue in mynd
Thatt longe hath levid here.674
In clenes pure withowt offence,
With grett desyris for to be hence;
But now the syght of thy presence
Hath amendid all owre chere.678

Clarecus
Now welcum, Lord, vnto all hus,679
Thi none tru servandis, as reysun ys!
Welcum, owre God and Kyng of blys,
Owre Lorde, longe lokid fore!682
All the profettis thatt of the spake
Seyd thow schuldist, for owre sake,
Fleysche and blod of a meydyn take
Owre joys to reystore.686

Semeon
On, on with me, my fryndis dere.687
With this chylde thatt we haue here.
Of this worlde the lanterne clere
Of whom all lyght schall spryng!690
With hoole hartis, now lett hus praee!
Thatt owre and tyme now blesse we may
That eyuer we abode the dey
Of this chyldis comynge. Cantant694

Here Semeon goth to the awtere with the chyld in hys armis and seyth:

Now art thow cum, Lorde, to my honde,695
Thogh thatt I onworthe were;
Yett, Lorde, forgave thi pore serwande —

Mare
Whyle the weddur ys soo feyre;698
And I woll cum aftur asse I may,
For now att whome I wolde we weyre.700

Josoff
To goo before now I woll asaye,701
Thogh thatt my fetemanscipe be not full gaye.
I pray God spede vs in oure jurney;
For I schall be were or thatt I cum there.704

There Mare and Josoff departis owt of the upper parte of the pagand

Semeon
Loo! fryndis, how God for vs hathe wroght.705
And schode hymself here at this tyde!
Blessid mot he be in word and thought
Myghtefull Maker of thys world wyde!708

I wasse lame of fote and hand,709
And now am whole ase ye ma see.
I thanke thatt Lord of his sond,
And eyuer his servande wyll I be,
Thatt Lorde soo moche of myght.713
Now, Lorde of lordis that hath no pere,
Wyche att this tyme wase offurd here,
Sende you all the fruysson clere
Of his heyvinly mancion soo bryght!717

Clarecus
And of owre mys he amend vs,718
And from owre foys defend vs,
And his hy trone he send vs.
In secula seculorum, amen!721

Here gothe Semeon and his Clarkis out of the tempull.

Disputation in the Temple (Weav)Contents

[Mary and Joseph enter the lower front-part of the pageant]

Josoff
Now, Mare, my wyff here present,722
Vnto God myche bondon, dame, ar we
Thatt soo goodly a childe here hath vs sent;
In this world a feyrear ther canott be.725

Mare
I thanke that Lord omnipotent,726
For yt dothe me good hym for to see;
Wherofore, Josoff, I wold he went
Vnto Jerusalem wtt/t you and me. 729.

For now he ys x\j yere of age,730

Full well reyconid yt ma be,731
Of lymys he waxith feyre and large.

And mocke he desyrith cumpane.733

Josoff
Now, dame, he ys a prette page it. ii sj734

And, as ye sey, full well cum on.735
I kno non soche on of hys age;

I pra God make hym a right good mon.737

Mare
Now, Jesus, my son, wtt you whatt chore f738

Whatt m[y]ptlie* make ye chyld, this deyl739
Thow art he tliatt I love most dere.

My joie, my myrthe and all my pley! —741

Iesus
I thanke you, my modur, in all thatt I may;742
And at youre hand, I am here
To do you serves, bothe nyght and dey,
And redde alwey to make you chere.745

Now, Gods blyasyng haue you and myne! *746

Josoff
Loo! fryndis, here doth apere,747
Yt ys cyrly scharp thatt wol be thorne.
How glad he ys his modr to pleyse!
And eyuer hathe byn syth he wasse borne.
Thogh thatt my vthe frome me be wome,
Yet in his dedis I have moche joie;
For, in feythe, he woll preve evin a prette bwey.753

Cum, my sun, well mot thou theo!754
Thow schalt to Jemsalem wtt thi modur and me,
Swn goodly syghtis, sun, for to see
Apon this owre festefawU dey.757

Mare
Now truly, Josoff, as ye soy,758
Sum vertuos cuwipany I wold we had.

Josoff
Ye, dame, God shal belowre gyde.761

Dame, I kepe noo moo but evyn this lad;762
For you nor I canot be sade
Thatt dey thai we hyw see,764
Mary, you kno thatt I am olde,
And in cuwipany canot be soo bolde,
Asse I wasse wont to be;767

Therefore, Mare, leyde ye the wey768

And essely lett vs togeddr goo;769
Thogh yt be far furth on the dey,
Yett all be owre fryndis I dare wel sey,

And neuer a won owre foo.772

Mare
Now, God hold thatt wyche best may;773

And, gentyll Josoff, lett vs goo!774

Be the hand the chylde wyll I leyde;775
I trust the bettur for to spede,

Ande ye,* Josoff, alsoo.777

Josoff
Ye dame, lett hym goo before ye and me,778

And* be nothyng afrayde!779

For the best foteman of hus thre,780

In good feyth, dame, thatt ys hee,781

Yff he were well asayde.782

Iesus
I am full redde vfith you to goo783
At your bydding in weyle and woo,
And to do you serves bothe to,

In hart wtt all mekenes.786

Cuw on, my mothur, and dred ye noght;787
And on your jurney, ase you oght.
The Fadur of heyvin that all hath wroght.

He kepe you from dystres!790

Josoff
Now, thys ys wyttele sayde and wyll! 791
Now, Lord, when I to mynde do call
In vthe when I was werie small,
Many wynturs agone, —
Lord God, benedicete!
Yong chyldur now more wyser be,
Nor wase then an olde mon.797

[They set out and travel a while

Mare
Now welcum be owre Lordis sond!798
Therefore cum on, gentyll husbond,
The sytte ys evyn at owre honde;
Good cumpany there ma we fymd.801

Josoff
£y! ey! dame, in feytli, I can noo more;802
My leggis byn were, my fete be soore.
That man thatt canot goo before
Nedis mvst cum behynd.805

There the all goo vp to the awter and Iesus before. The syng an antem,

Now, Mare, my wyff, cum hethur to me I806
Now, Mare, harke what I shall say!
All thyng ys done ase yt schuld be
And serves song full sollamle
For this owre fostefawll dey.810

Mare
Now, huseband, then lett vs iij811
Make tho hast thai ma bo
Whom to goo with cumpane
To bryng vs on the wey!814

There the goo done into the for pagond and Iesus steylyth awey.

Josoff
Mare, my spretis be ravisschid cleyne,815
And clerely cast owt off all woo
With these solam syghtys thatt we haue seyne
In yondur tempull that we cam froo.818

Mare
Now, serten, Josoff, you wold not wene819
Whatt myrthe I make withowt woo,
Thatt my chyldo with hus hathe bene
And those solam syghtis seyne alsoo. 822

Josoff
Then whomwarde, Mare, lett vs goo823
Whyle thatt we haue the lyght ofE the day;

For you haue eyuer lovid cumpany,825

For yt dothe schorttun well youre wey.826

Yett in good owre we ma bothe eey,827
For othur did we neyuer fynde.

Mare
Alas! Josoff, and well-awey!829
Now haue we lefte owre chyld behynd.830

Josoff
Whatt! Mare, I sey amend thy chore!831
Pardy 1 dame, he dothe but as othur done;
Chyldur togedur woll draw nere,
He woll I warrand ouertake vs sone.834

Mare
Ouertake vs sone? quotha nay! sertes na!835
Whatt nede you me soche talis to tell!
He ys gon sum othur wey,
Or serten, Josoff, he ys not well.838

Josoff
Dame, he ys nott far awey.839

From vs no man wyll hym wyle.840

Mare
Hyt helpyth not, Josoff, soche wordis to sey;841

My chylde ys gone, alas the whyle!842

Josoff
We schall haue [hym], dame, or hit be longe,843

Yff we serche well yondur sy tte;844
Sum chyldur there he ys amonge.

Or elis surely whomwarde ys he.846

Mare
Off sorro now schal be my songe.847

My chylde ageyne tyll I ma see.848

Josoff
Dame, of his welfare I wold be glade.849

And of the othur I wolde be woo;850
Therefore, Mare, no more be sade,

But agene to the sytte lett vs goo.852

Mare
Make hast, Josoff, thatt we were there;853
For had I neuer more lust thereto.
Bake agane lett vs reypeyre;
For thatt ys best for vs to do.856

Here Mare and Josoff goth downe into the tempull-warde.

I. Doctor
Now, lordyugis, lystun to me a whyle;857
Wyche hathe the lawis vndur Londe,
And thatt no man fawll in soche perell
Agenst any artyccullfor to stand;

For tlie comen statute of this lande861
Woll that all soche personys schulde be tane
And in the face of peple ooponly slayne.863

II. Doctor
K! and the othur wholle decryis ageyne,864
Wyche vnto Moyses wonly wasse sent
In tabulis of ston only to reymayne

Vndur an hy and streyte cummaiidement,867
AVycho at thys tyme we thyuke couvenent

Tlu»rt-aiK>n to holde dyssepyssions* here869

lUi }>olutiko syence of clarge clero. ’870

III. Doctor
AVherofore, all peple, now draw nere871

And in this place gewe your atendence.872
How ye schuld ly ve, hero ma you lere

Aconlyng vnto your aleygence;874

For yt ys woll knono vnto thys presence875
Thatt doctoria wo ar mifl of hy degre,
Anil hiuio the la wis in custode.877

Till’ Inw of878

I. Doctor, Ley forth youre reysonis; now lett mo see
How lawo of loygence oght to bo lade,

AVycho of tho Ebruys subscribyd bo881

’Wiih othur of Moyses thatt now ys hade.882
To contend heroin I wold be glade

Aniowge tho peplo here manofestly,884

And tho trutho expownd"* to them oopinly.884

[Jesus comes in.]

Iesus
Lordis, moche lowe \Yith you be lent,885
And pes be amongo this cumpany!

III. Doctor
Sun, awe I wold thow went,887
For othur haft in hand haue we. 888

II. Doctor
Chylde, who-soo-eyuer the hyddur sent,889
The were not wyse thus warne I the;
For we haue othur talis to tent,
Then wit chyldur bordyng to bee.892

I. Doctor
Good sun, thow art to yonge to larne893
The hy mystere of Mosees law;
Thy reysun canot yt deserne,
For thy wytt ys not worthe a strawe;
And no marvell thogh thow schuldist be rawe,
In soche hy poyntis for to be reysonyng
For of age art thow a vere yonglyng.899

Iesus
E! Surs, whatt-soo-eyuer to me you sey,900
Me nedith not of you to lerne nothyng.901

II. Doctor
This besse bweye of his tong902
All secrettis surely he thynkith he knois.

III. Doctor
Nay, serten, sun, thow art to yonge904
Be clarge clere to kno owre lawis.905

Jesus
Ye doctoris all, thatt be present,906
Suffyce and mvse no more off me;
For off your lawis the wholl intent,
No-thyng theroff ys hyde froo me;909
For in those placis haue I be
Where all owre lawis furst were wroght.

I. Doctor
Cum, sett the here and we schall see!912
For sarten, sun, soo semys yt noght.913

There the Doctoris settyth Cryst among them.

Now were yt nott a wondurs thyng,914
Thys chylde owre reysuns that he schuld reyche?
And yett he seyth he hath a felyng
Owre lawis truly for to teyche.917

Iesus
Suris, the whoole goste in me hath lyght,918
Thatt my powar ys to preyche;
And of the Godhed most of myght
Most perfettly here ma I teyche. 921

III. Doctor
Whense cam thys chylde, I marvell922
score,

Thatt speykyth to vs this mystecawUy I924

Iesus
Sure, I wasse all you before925

And aftur you agen schal be.925

I. Doctor
Surs, ys nott this a wondurs thyug,926

And also a moche more mervell I927
How-be-yt, surely, in his workyng,

The actis thereof ma folio right well;929

For ase Dauith in his salme dothe tell,930
Be chyldur yong, seyng of them.
Ex are infancium et lactancium jpev/edtfti laudem,932

Of chyldurs mothis, ye kno right well,933
God hath performyde* loving;

But of such on hard I neuer tell,935
He beyng but soo yong a thyng. [f. i4]936

Yett, sun, suTTi-whatt thow schuldest haue let937

In this place here to speyke so large;938
Where nobull doctors togeddur are met,

There chyldurs wordis ar at no charge.940

For sure, yff thow woldist neuer so fayne,941

Labur thi wyttis to leme owre la we;942
Yett art thow nodur of myght nor mayne

To perseyve thatt ase a clark ma knoe.944

Iesus
My wordis in noo wyse wole I reyfrayue,945

The trawthe thereby for to debaiTC;946
I woll them prove both platt and playne

Be youre one la wis, and neuer arre.948

II. Doctor
Mastur[s] * all, whatt ma this meyne!949

I wondur score how this can be;950

Soo yong a chylde haue I nott seyne951

Wi\h clarkis to talke soo conyngle.952

III. Doctor
Ase wyde in wor[l]de asse eyuer I went,953

Saw I neyuer non soche before;954
But I troo amonst vs he be sent

To be the saluer of owre sore. 956

Iesus
Suris, I woU prove be actoris evedent957
Har mystereis than eyuer you red or saw.

I. Doctor
Sey, sun, wyche wasse the furst commandement959
Thatt wasse subscribyd in Moses lawe?960

Iesus
Sythe all you masturs togethur be sett961
And youre bokys here leyde on breyde,
Ley forthe youre reysunis and do nott lett
How right thatt ye can rede.964

II. Doctor
I rede this in the furst byddyng,965
Wyche Moses dyd rede vs vntill,

Furst honor God aboue all thyng967

With all thy hartt and all thy wyll,968

And asse thy-self love thy neybur969
And in noo wyse to do hym yll.970

Iesus
Ye nede noo nodur bokis to bryng;971

But these to pwyntis for to insev,972
In whome the whole afecte* doth hynge

Of all owre* lawis bothe olde and nev.974

III. Doctor
Syth he these to, son, hath the schoide.975
Tell me the othur, chylde, I the pra.

Iesus
The thryd beddith the, in any wey,977
Thatt of thy labur thow schuldyst reste,

And truly kepe thy Sabett day,979
Thy-selfe, thi serwande, and thy best.980
The forthe bydithe the do thy best
Thy fathur and mothur for to honowre;
And when ther goodis are decrest,
With all thy myght thow schuldist them succure.984

The fyfte cummandythe for any reygur985

Man nor woman that thou schuldist kyll.986
To fle advltre ys anothure,
And all thatt towchis any yll. 988
Tlio vij seyifl thow schuldyst noU steyle

I1iy iieyburis goodiB, more nor les.990
The viij forbyildyth the to cownsayle
Or to bare any fawls wyttines.992

The ix^th forbyddyth othys grett.993
In any wise thou schuldist not sweyre;
The last wold thou schuldist not covett
Thy neyburs goodis, hym to apere;996

And this Mosees, amonge vs here,997
Hatho declarid amonge all men,
Aftur scripture that we schulde lere,
How to kepe those commandementis X.1000

I. Doctor
Beholde, owre lawis how he dothe expownde,1001
Thatt neuer larnyd on boke to rede!
Then all we, he ys moche more profownde
In all trawthis, yff we take hede.1004

II. Doctor
Brother, lett hym goo his weyis;1005
For yff this abrode were knone perfettly.
The peple wolde gove him more prese
Then we docturs for all owre clarge.1008

III. Doctor
Ye fryndis bothe, syth yt is soo,1009
He knois no farthur of owre lore;
But asse he cum soo let hym goo,
For with vs he schall medyll no more.1012

There cumyth Josoff and Mare sekyng the chylde and Mare seyth:

Mare
A! dere Josoff, whatt ys youre redde?1013
Of my grett dolor noo bote ma be;
My hart ys heyve as any leyd,
My cliylde ageyne tyll I ma see.1016
We have hym soght in many a stedo,
Vp and downe these deyis iij;
And wheythur that he be quyke or ded,
I do not kno thatt; woo ys mee! 1020

Josoff
In sorro wasse there neyuer man more,1021
But mornyng ma nott ytt amend;
Mare, wyfF, lett vs therefore
Take the grace that God woll send.1024

YfE chyldurs cumpany he haue coght,1025
Abowt yondur tempull he ys full right.

[They turn toward the temple.]

Mare
A! Josoff, I see that I haue soght!1027
In this worlde wasse neuer soche a syght.1028
See, husebond, where he syttyth aloft
Amonge yondur masturs soo moche off myght.

Josoff
Now blessid be hym thatt hethur vs broght,1031
For now in hart I am full lyght!1032

Mare
Josoff, ye kno the ordur well,1033
Goo ye and feyche youre chylde and myne.
Now I see hym owt of all peryll,
Whom he schall with vs ageyne.1036

Josoff
Ey! Mare, wyff, ye kno ryght well,1037
Asse I haue tolde you many a tyme,
With men of myght durst I neyuer mell.
Loo! dame, how the sytt in there furis fyn!1040

Mare
To them youre arand for to sey,1041
Therein, Josoff, ther ys no perell;
The haue reygardid you alwey
Because of age, this wott I well.1044

Josoff
To them, wyff, whatt schulde I sey?1045
In feythe, I do nott knoo full wele.
Surely, I schall be schamyde to-dey;
For I cane nothur croke nor knele.1048

Mare
Then goo we theddur bothe to1049
To them that sytt soo worthe in wede;
Yff ye woll not the arrande doo.
No reymedy but I mvst nede. 1052

Josoff
E! dame, goo tell them thi tale futst;1053

For lyke tho}i art to do thatt dede.1054

I wold tell luyne and I dunt,1055

[I come be-hynde] also €rod me spede.1056

[They go up toward the altar.]

Mare
A! Iesus, Iesus my sun soo swete,1057
hy gooyng froo me soo suddenly
I lathe cawsid vs bothe for to wepe
With byttur teyris abundantly.1060

Thyn olde fathur here and I1061
For thy sake, sun, hathe lykyd full yll.
Owre yis the were but seldum dry,

But now thatt we ar cu;/< the tylL1064

Iesus
Modur, why did you seek me soot1065

Hyt hathe byn oft seyde vnto you,1066
My Fathurs wyll I mvst fullfyll

In eyucrc* pwynt, for well or woo.1068

Mare
Sun, these talis thatt you me tell1069

Aso yet I canot vndunstaud;1070
But my hart, this kno I we]l,

Ys were glade I haue the fonde.1072

I. DocTOB, Xow truly, dame, no mervell ys1073

Thogh thow in hart were full woo1074
To lose soche a divide asse this.

How long, wytf, hathe he byn thee froo I1076

Mare
Syr, yt ys now these dayis iij,1077
Sy th that he departid f urst fro me;
I am full [glade] * here hym to see

Alyve wtt/iowt* woo.1080

Iesus
Now farewell, masturs of myght arid mayne!1081

For with my modur now must I nede1082
For to reycomford hyr ageyne,

Wyche soo longe for me hath levid in drede.

I. Doctor
Now thatt Lorde of lordis be thy spede They invite1085

Where-eyuer thow goo in any quost!1086
But yff thow wolt tarre, thow schalt not nede
Any moro to put thy fryndis to cost.1088

III. Doctor
How seyhst thow, fathur, for thy1089

goo[d]* wyll,1090
Wolt thow grant thi help thyre-tyll, . P. i6]

Awey thatt he do not goo 11091

Josoff
Noo, StV, in good feyth, that I nyll, Joseph and1092

M&ry object.1093

Nor neyuer forgoo hym be my wyll,1094

Nodur for frynde nor foo.1094

A long whyle we have hym myst.1095
And gone he wasse, or thatt I wyst;
But hade I hym wonis be the fyst.

He schall noo more doo soo I1098

Mare
Now, lordyngis, of your curtesse,1099
Do ye nott wyll my chylde fro me;
For W2t my wyll yt schall nott be,

Whyle thatt owre lyvis last.1102

I. Doctor
Then yt is noo bote for to intreyte. More fiure-1103
Thy chylde I see I canot gete;

I tro yt be but wast to speyke,1105

Thatt tyme I thynke ys past.1106

Iesus, Now lordyngis all, with youre lysence,1107
Good tyme yt ys thatt we were hence;
I thanke you of youre hy sapence
Thatt I wit you haue hade.1110

II. Doctor
Now, sun, when-eyuer thow cumyst this wey,1111
Be bold of hus, I the praye.
Yfy thow to age lyve may.

Thy fryndis ma be full glade.1114

Mare
Now farewell, lordis of hy degre!1115

I take my ley ve at you all three;1116
Thatt Lorde thatt ys in Trenete,

He kepe you all from care! 1118

Josoff
And for the fynxiyng of this oure suij,1119

In heyvynis blysse thatt we ma wone,
And geve you well to fare.1121

Now, cum on, Mare, YfiiJi myrre chere,1122

And brynge youre chyld with you here;1123

At Nazarethe now I wold wee weyre.1124

Mare
Sir, in good tyme wee schall cum there;1125

The wey and weddur and all ys feyre,1126

Whereoff am I right fayne.1127

Josoff
In this place why le we ar here,1128
Loke thatt we haue all owre gere,
Thatt we cum nott agayne.1130

Mare
Josoffe, husebonde, we myse nothyng;1131
But at youre wyll lett vs be gooyng

Asse fast ase eyuer we can.1133
Ande now att all this cumpany.
My ley ve I take and that full humbly;

Vnto thatt Lorde most myghty1136

Now I betake you eyuere mon.1137

Josoff
Now farewell, my fryndis all!1138
For I mvst goo whatt-eyuer befall;
Nedis mvst that nedis schall.

Be me here may you kno.1141
A! thatt all you ma vse thatt weyis.
At all tjmis youre wy vis to pleyse;
Then schall you awoide moche dysees.
God grsmt thatt you ma do soo!1145

[They go out]

I. Doctor
Now, ye lordis thatt hathe the lawis to leyde,1146
Marke well the wordis thatt hathe byn seyde
Be yondur chylde of wysedome grett, 1148
Wyche at this tyme amonge vs here
Declarid owre lawis be clarge clere,
Wyche be his actis dothe apere,

Thatt of God he ys eylecte!1152

II. Doctor
Now surely yt can no nothur be,1153
For lie ys nott levyng thai eyiier see
Soch hy knoleyge of exselence
In soo tendur vthe;1156
For in owre moste hyist dysspecionis,
To them he gawe tni solyssionys,
And also made exposysionis
Acordyng to the truthe.1160

III. Doctor
Ys not thys a wondurs case,1161
Thatt thiB yonge chylde soche knolege base ?
Now surely he hath asposschall grace,

Soo hy dowtis desemyng;1164

Thatt we wyche nobuU docturs be,1165
And gradudis gret of old antequete.
And now on this place vfitli yonge infance

Ageyne ar sett to larnyng.1168

I. Doctor
JSTow, bredur bothe, be my consell1169

These myghtte matters you sett on syde.1170
And in avoidyng of more pe’ell

Thatt here-apon myght betyde;1172

Therefore lett vs no lengur abyde1173
In these cawsis for to contende.
For iMs dey ys almost at an yende.1175

II. Doctor
Now, brethur bothe, syth yt ys soo,1176

Ase vere nature dothe me compell,1177
Here my trowthe I plyght you to

In hart for eyuer vfiili you to dwell.1179

III. Doctor
Now, masturs all, be won assent,1180
All owre matters reyjurnyd be,
Tyll thatt a dey of argument
Ma be apwyntyd indyfferentle;
Where all you, the comenalte,
You ma departe on this condyssion,
Thatt ye atende at the next monyssion.1186

I. Doctor
Now, fryndis, tochyng owro festefall dej,1187
Ys there oght els thai I ma sey t

II. Doctor
No more now, bate evyn awey.1189
For the nyght drawls fast apon.1190

III. Doctor
And of youre cumpany I wold you pra.1191
And here I take my leve at eyvere mon.1192

Tys matter nevly translate be Robert Croo in the
yere of oure Lord God Mdxxxiiij, [1534] then beyng meyre
Mastur Palmar, beddar; and Rychard Smythe and
Herre Pyxley masturs of the Weywars; thys boke
yendide the seycond day of Marche in yere above seyde.

Thomas Mawdycke

Song I.

Rejoyce, rejoyco, all that here be!1
The Angell these tythyngs hath browght,
That Simion, before he dye,
Shalle se the Lorde which all hathe wrowght;4
Wlierefore now let vs all prepare
Owre temple that yn order be!
For he hathe put awey owre care,
The Seconde Persone in Trinitye.8

Rychard.

Song II.

Beholde, now hit ys come to pase,1
That manye yeros before was tolde,
How that Christ, owre ryght Messyas,
By Jwdas scholdo be bowght and solde! 4
For owre offence he man became,
His fathers wrathe to pacyfye,
And after, mekely as a lamb,
Vpon the crose there dyd he dye.8

Lorde! as thou hast bowght us all,9
And suffryd at Mownt Callverye,
Recownfort us bothe gret and small,
That yn thy trewth we lyve and dye!12

James Hewyt.

FinisContents

2022 Jul 05 13:02:11