The York plays

Contents 2018 Nov 25  22:07:40
The Barkers' Play: The Fall of the Angels
The Plasterers' Play: The Creation
The Cardmakers' Play: The Creation of Adam and Eve (Version A)
The Cardmakers' Play: The Creation of Adam and Eve (Version B)
The Fullers' Play: Adam and Eve in Eden
The Coopers' Play: The Fall of Man
The Armourers' Play: The Expulsion
The Glovers' Play: Cain and Abel
The Shipwrights' Play: The Building of the Ark
The Fishers' and Mariners' Play: The Flood
The Parchmentmakers' and Bookbinders' Play: Abraham and Isaac
The Hosiers' Play: Moses and Pharaoh
The Spicers' Play: The Annunciation and Visitation
The Pewterers' and Founders' Play: Joseph's Trouble about Mary
The Tile Thatchers' Play: The Nativity
The Chandlers' Play: The Shepherds
The Masons' and Goldsmiths' Play: Herod and the Magi
The Hatmakers, Masons, and Labourers' Play: The Purification
The Marshals' Play: The Flight into Egypt
The Girdlers and Nailers Play: The Slaughter of the Innocents
The Spurriers' and Lorimers' Play: Christ with the Doctors in the Temple
The Barbers' Play: The Baptism
The Smiths' Play: The Temptation
Unidentified two line fragment
The Curriers' Play: The Transfiguration
The Capmakers' Play: The Woman Taken in Adultery/The Raising of Lazarus
The Skinners' Play: The Entry into Jerusalem
The Cutlers' Play: The Conspiracy
The Baxters' Play: The Last Supper
The Cordwainers' Play: The Agony in the Garden and the Betrayal
The Bowers and Fletchers' Play: Christ Before Annas and Caiaphas
The Tapiters' and Couchers' Play: Christ before Pilate I: The Dream of Pilate's Wife
The Liststers' Play: Christ Before Herod
The Cooks' and Waterleaders' Play: The Remorse of Judas
The Tilemakers' Play: Christ Before Pilate 2: The Judgement
The Shearmen's Play: The Road to Calvary
The Pinners' Play: The Crucifixion
The Butchers' Play: The Death of Christ
The Saddlers' Play: The Harrowing of Hell
The Carpenters' Play: The Resurrection
The Winedrawers' Play: Christ's Appearance to Mary Magdalene
The Woolpackers' and Woolbrokers' Play: The Supper at Emmaus
The Scriveners' Play: The Incredulity of Thomas
The Tailors' Play: The Ascension
The Potters' Play: Pentecost
The Drapers' Play: The Death of the Virgin
The Weavers' Play: The Assumption of the Virgin
The Hostelers' Play: The Coronation of the Virgin
Unidentified fragment
The Mercers' Play: The Last Judgement
Finis

The Barkers' Play: The Fall of the AngelsContents

God
Ego sum Alpha et nouissimus.1
I am gracyus and grete, God withoutyn begynnyng,1
I am maker vnmade, all mighte es in me;
I am lyfe and way vnto welth-wynnyng,
I am formaste and fyrste, als I byd sall it be.
My blyssyng o ble sall be blendyng,
And heldand, fro harme to be hydande,
My body in blys ay abydande,7
Vnendande, withoutyn any endyng.
Sen I am maker vnmade and most es of mighte,
And ay sall be endeles and noghte es but I,
Vnto my dygnyté dere sall diewly be dyghte
A place full of plenté to my plesyng at ply;
And therewith als wyll I haue wroght13
Many dyuers doynges bedene,
Whilke warke sall mekely contene,
And all sall be made euen of noghte.
But onely the worthely warke of my wyll
In my sprete sall enspyre the mighte of me;
And in the fyrste, faythely, my thoghte to fullfyll,
Baynely in my blyssyng I byd at here be
A blys al-beledande abowte me,
In the whilke blys I byde at be here
Nyen ordres of aungels full clere,
In louyng ay-lastande at lowte me.
Here vndernethe me nowe a nexile I neuen,25
Whilke ile sall be erthe. Now all be at ones
Erthe haly, and helle, this hegheste be heuen,
And that welth sall welde sall won in this wones.
This graunte I yoowe, mynysters myne,
To-whils yohe ar stabill in thoghte-
And also to thaime that ar noghte31
Be put to my presone at pyne.
Of all the mightes I haue made, moste nexte after me
I make the als master and merour of my mighte;
I beelde the here baynely in blys for to be,
I name the for Lucifer, als berar of lyghte.
Nothyng here sall the be derand;37
In this blis sall be yohour beeldyng,
And haue all welth in yooure weledyng,
Ay-whils yohe ar buxumly berande.
Angel 1
A, mercyfull maker, full mekill es thi mighte,41
That all this warke at a worde worthely has wroghte.
Ay loued be that lufly lorde of his lighte,
That vs thus mighty has made that nowe was righte noghte,
In blys for to byde in his blyssyng.
Ay-lastande in luf lat vs lowte hym,
At beelde vs thus baynely abowete hym,47
Of myrthe neuermore to haue myssyng.
Lucifer
All the myrth that es made es markide in me!49
The bemes of my brighthode ar byrnande so bryghte,
And I so semely in syghte myselfe now I se,
For lyke a lorde am I lefte to lende in this lighte.
More fayrear be far than my feres,
In me is no poynte that may payre;
I fele me fetys and fayre,55
My powar es passande my peres.
Cherabyn
Lorde, wyth a lastande luf we loue the allone,57
Thou mightefull maker that markid vs and made vs,
And wroghte us thus worthely to wone in this wone,
Ther neuer felyng of fylth may full vs nor fade vs.
All blys es here beeldande aboute vs;
To-whyls we are stabyll in thoughte
In the worschipp of hym that us wroght,63
Of dere neuer thar vs more dowte vs.
Angel 2
O, what I am fetys and fayre and fygured full fytt!
The forme of all fayrehede apon me es feste,
All welth in my weelde es, I wote be my wytte;
The bemes of my brighthede are bygged with the beste.
My schewyng es schemerande and schynande,
So bygly to blys am I broghte;
Me nedes for to noy me righte noghte,71
Here sall neuer payne me be pynande.
Angel 1
With all the wytt at we welde we woyrschip thi wyll,
Thou gloryus God that es grunde of all grace;
Ay with stedefaste steuen lat vs stande styll,
Lorde, to be fede with the fode of thi fayre face.
In lyfe that es lely ay-lastande,
Thi dale, lorde, es ay daynetethly delande,
And whoso that fode may be felande-79
To se thi fayre face-es noght fastande.
Lucifer
Owe, certes, what I am worthely wroghte with wyrschip, iwys!
For in a glorius gle my gleteryng it glemes;
I am so mightyly made my mirth may noghte mys-
Ay sall I byde in this blys thorowe brightnes of bemes.
Me nedes noghte of noy for to neuen,
All welth in my welde haue I weledande;
Abowne yohit sall I be beeldand,87
On heghte in the hyeste of hewuen.
Ther sall I set myselfe full semely to seyghte,
To ressayue my reuerence thorowe righte o renowne;
I sall be lyke vnto hym that es hyeste on heghte.
Owe, what I am derworth and defte-Owe! Dewes! All goes downe!
My mighte and my mayne es all marrande-93
Helpe, felawes! In faythe I am fallande.
Angel 2
Fra heuen are we heledande on all hande,95
To wo are we weendande, I warande.
Lucifer
Owte! Owte! Harrowe! Helples, slyke hote at es here;
This es a dongon of dole that I am to dyghte.
Whare es my kynde become, so cumly and clere?
Nowe am I laytheste, allas, that are was lighte.
My bryghtnes es blakkeste and blo nowe,
My bale es ay betande and brynande-
That gares ane go gowlande and gyrnande.103
Owte! Ay walaway! I well euen in wo nowe.
Diabolus
Owte! Owte! I go wode for wo, my wytte es all wente nowe,
All oure fode es but filth we fynde vs beforn.
We that ware beelded in blys, in bale are we brent nowe-
Owte on the Lucifer, lurdan, oure lyghte has thou lorne.
Thi dedes to this dole nowe has dyghte us,
To spill vs thou was oure spedar,
For thow was oure lyghte and oure ledar,111
The hegheste of heuen hade thou hyght vs.
Lucifer
Walaway! Wa es me now, nowe es it war thane it was.
Vnthryuandely threpe yohe-I sayde but a thoghte.
Diabolus
We, lurdane, thou lost vs.115
Lucifer
Yhe ly! Owte, allas!115
I wyste noghte this wo sculde be wroghte.
Owte on yohow, lurdans, yohe smore me in smoke.
Diabolus
This wo has thou wroghte vs.118
Lucifer
Yhe ly, yohe ly!118
Diabolus
Thou lyes, and that sall thou by:119
We, lurdane, haue at yoowe, lat loke!
Cherabyn
A, lorde, louid be thi name that vs this lyghte lente,
Sen Lucifer oure ledar es lighted so lawe,
For hys vnbuxumnes in bale to be brente-
Thi rightewysnes to rewarde on rowe
Ilke warke eftyr is wroghte-
Thorowe grace of thi mercyfull myghte
The cause I se itt in syghte,127
Wharefore to bale he es broghte.
God
Those foles for thaire fayrehede in fantasyes fell,
And hade mayne of mi mighte that marked tham and made tham.
Forthi efter thaire warkes were, in wo sall thai well,
For sum ar fallen into fylthe that euermore sall fade tham,
And neuer sall haue grace for to gyrth tham.
So passande of power tham thoght tham,
Thai wolde noght me worschip that wroghte tham;135
Forthi sall my wreth euer go with tham.
Ande all that me wyrschippe sall wone here, iwys;
Forthi more forthe of my warke, wyrke nowe I will.
Syn than ther mighte es for-marryde that mente all omys,
Euen to myne awne fygure this blys to fulfyll,
Mankynde of moulde will I make.141
But fyrste wille I fourme hym before
All thyng that sall hym restore,
To whilke that his talente will take.
Ande in my fyrste makyng, to mustyr my mighte,
Sen erthe es vayne and voyde and myrknes emel,
I byd in my blyssyng yohe aungels gyf lyghte147
To the erthe, for it faded when the fendes fell.
In hell sall neuer myrknes be myssande,
The myrknes thus name I for nighte;
The day, that call I this lyghte-
My after-warkes sall thai be wyssande.
Ande nowe in my blyssyng I twyne tham in two,153
The nighte euen fro the day, so that thai mete neuer,
But ather in a kynde courese thaire gates for to go.
Bothe the nighte and the day, does dewly yohour deyuer,
To all I sall wirke be yohe wysshyng.
This day warke es done ilke a dele,
And all this warke lykes me ryght wele,159
And baynely I gyf it my blyssyng.

The Plasterers' Play: The CreationContents

God
In altissimis habito,1
In the heghest heuyn my hame haue I;
Eterne mentis et ego,
Withoutyn ende ay-lastandly.
Sen I haue wroght thire worldys wyde,
Heuyn and ayre and erthe also,
My hegh Godhede I will noght hyde7
All-yf sume foles be fallyn me fro.
When thai assent with syn of pride
Vp for to trine my trone vnto,
In heuyn thai myght no lengger byde
But wyghtly went to wone in wo;
And sen thai wrange haue wroght13
My lyk ys to lat tham go,
To suffir sorowe onsoght,
Syne thai haue seruid so.
Thare mys may neuer be amende
Sen thai asent me to forsake,
For all there force non sall thame fende19
For to be fendys foule and blake.
And tho that lykys with me to lende,
And trewly tent to me will take,
Sall wonne in welth withoutyn ende
And allway wynly with me wake;
Thai sall haue for thare sele25
Solace that neuer sall sclake.
This warke me thynkys full wele
And more now will I make.
Syne that this world es ordand euyn,
Furth well I publysch my power:
Noght by my strenkyth, but by my steuyn31
A firmament I byd apere,
Emange the waterris, lyght so leuyn,
There cursis lely for to lere,
And that same sall be namyd hewuyn,
With planitys and with clowdis clere.
The water I will be sent37
To flowe bothe fare and nere,
And than the firmament
In mydis to set thame sere.
The firmament sal nough moue,
But be a mene, thus will I mene,
Ouir all the worlde to halde and houe,43
And be tho tow wateris betwyne.
Vndir the heuyn and als aboue
The wateris serly sall be sene,
And so I wille my post proue
By creaturis of kyndis clene.
This warke his to my pay49
Righit will, withoutyn wyne;
Thus sese the secunde day
Of my doyingys bydene.
Moo sutyll werkys assesay I sall,
For to be set in seruice sere:
All the waterris grete and smalle55
That vndir heuyne er ordande here,
Gose togedir and holde yow all,
And be a flode festynde in fere,
So that the erthe, both downe and dale,
In drynesch playnly may apere.
The drynes ‘landé’ sall be61
Namyd bothe ferre and nere,
And then I name the ‘sé’,
Geddryng of wateris clere.
The erthe sall fostyr and furthe bryng
Buxsumly, as I wyle byde,
Erbys and also othir thyng,67
Well for to wax and worthe to wede;
Treys also tharon sall spryng
With braunchis and with bowis on brede,
With flouris fayr on heght to hyng
And fruth also to fylle and fede.
And thane I will that thay73
Of themselfe haue the sede
And mater, that thay may
Be lastande furth in lede.
And all ther materis es in mynde
For to be made of mekyl might,
And to be kest in dyueris kynde79
So for to bere sere burgvns bright.
And when ther frutys is fully fynde
And fayrest semande vnto syght,
Thane the wedris wete and wynde
Oway I will it wende full wyght;
And of there sede full sone85
New rotys sall ryse vpright.
The third day thus is done,
Thire dedis er dewly dyght.
Now sene the erthe thus ordand es,
Mesurid and made by myn assent-
Grathely for to growe with gres91
And wedis that sone away bese went-
Of my gudnes now will I ges,
So that my werkis no harmes hent,
Two lyghtis, one more and one lesse,
To be fest in the firmament.
The more light to the day97
Fully suthely sall be sent,
The lesse lyght allway
To the nyght sall take entent.
Thir figuris fayre that furth er fun
Thus on sere sydys serue thai sall:
The more lyght sall be namid the son,103
Dymnes to wast be downe and be dale.
Erbis and treys that er bygune
All sall he gouerne, gret and smale;
With cald yf thai be closid or bun
Thurgh hete of the sun thai sal be hale.
Als thei haue honours109
In alkyn welth to wale,
So sall my creaturis
Euir byde withoutyn bale.
The son and the mone on fayre manere
Now grathly gange in yoour degré,
Als ye haue tane yooure curses clere115
To serue furth loke ye be fre,
For ye sall set the sesons sere,
Kyndely to knowe in ilke cuntré,
Day fro day and yere fro yere
By sertayne signes suthly to se.
The heuyn sall be ouerhyld121
With sternys to stand plenté.
The furth day his fulfillid,
This werke well lykys me.
Now sen thir werkis er wroght with wyne
And fundyn furth be firth and fell,
The see now will I set within127
Whallis whikly for to dewell,
And othir fysch to flet with fyne-
Sum with skale and sum with skell,
Of diueris materis more and myn-
In sere maner to make and mell;
Sum sall be milde and meke,133
And sum both fers and fell.
This world thus will I eke,
Syn I am witt of well.
Also vp in the ayre on hyght
I byd now that thore be ordande
For to be foulis fayre and bright,139
Dewly in thare degré dewlland,
With fedrys fayre to frast ther flight
For stede to stede whore thai will stande,
And also leythly for to lyght
Whoreso tham lykis in ilke a londe.
Thane fysch and foulis sere,145
Kyndely I yoow commande
To meng on yooure manere,
Both be se and sande.
This materis more yoitt will I mende,
So for to fulfill my forthoght,
With diueris bestis in lande to lende151
To brede and be with balé furth brught.
And with bestis I wille be blende
Serpentis to be sene vnsoght,
And wormis vpon thaire wombis sall wende
To won in erth and worth to noght.
And so it sall be kende157
How all that eme is oght,
Begynnyng, mydes and ende
I with my worde hase wrothe.
For als I byde bus all thyng be
And dewly done als I will dresse,
Now bestys ar sett in sere degré163
On molde to moue, both more and lesse;
Thane foulis in ayre and fische in see
And bestis on erthe of bone and flesch,
I byde yoe wax furth fayre plenté
And grathly growes, als I yoow gesse.
So multiply yoe sall169
Ay furth in fayre processe,
My blyssyng haue yoe all;
The fift day endyd es.

The Cardmakers' Play: The Creation of Adam and Eve (Version A)Contents

God
In heuyn and erthe duly bedene1
Of v days werke, euyn onto ende,
I haue complete by curssis clene;
Methynke the space of thame well spende.
In heuyn er angels fayre and brighte,
Sternes and planetis ther curssis to ga,
The mone seruis onto the nyght7
The son to lyghte the day alswa.
In erthe is treys and gres to springe,
Bestis and foulys, bothe gret and smalle,
Fyschis in flode, all othyr thyng
Thryffe and haue my blyssyng all.
Thys werke is wroght now at my will,13
But yoet can I here no best see
That acordys be kynde and skyll,
And for my werke myght worschippe me.
For perfytt werke ne ware it nane
But ought ware made that myght it yoeme,
For loue mad I this warlde alane,19
Therfor my loffe sall in it seme.
To kepe this warlde, bothe mare and lesse,
A skylfull best thane will I make
Eftyr my schape and my lyknes,
The wilke sall worschipe to me take.
Off the symplest part of erthe that is here25
I sall make man, and for this skylle:
For to abate hys hauttande chere,
Bothe his gret pride and other ille;
And also for to haue in mynde
How simpyll he is at hys makyng,
For als febyll I sall hym fynde31
Qwen he is dede at his endyng.
For this reson and skyll alane
I sall make man lyke onto me.
Ryse vp, thou erthe, in blode and bane,
In schape of man, I commaunde the.
A female sall thou haue to fere,37
Her sall I make of thi lyft rybe,
Alane so sall thou nough be here
Withoutyn faythefull frende and sybe.
Takys now here the gast of lyffe
And ressayue bothe yooure saules of me;
This femall take thou to thi wyffe,43
Adam and Eue yoour names sall be.
Adam
A, lorde, full mekyll is thi mighte45
And that is sene in ilke a syde,
For now his here a ioyfull syght
To se this worlde so lange and wyde.
Mony diueris thyngis now here es,
Off bestis and foulis bathe wylde and tame;
Yet is nan made to thi liknes51
But we alone-A, louyd by thi name.
Eue
To swylke a lorde in all degré53
Be euirmore lastande louynge,
That tyll vs swylke a dyngnité
Has gyffyne before all othyr thynge;
And selcouth thyngis may we se here
Of this ilke warld so lange and brade,
With bestis and fowlis so many and sere;59
Blessid be he that hase us made.
Adam
A, blyssid lorde, now at thi wille61
Syne we er wroght, wochesaff to telle
And also say vs two vntyll
Qwate we sall do and whare to dewell?
God
For this skyl made I yoow this day,65
My name to worschip ay-whare;
Louys me, forthi, and louys me ay
For my makyng, I axke no mare.
Bothe wys and witty sall thou be,
Als man that I haue made of noght;
Lordschipe in erthe than graunt I the,71
All thynge to serue the that I haue wroght.
In paradyse sall yoe same wone,
Of erthely thyng get yoe no nede,
Ille and gude both sall yoe kone,
I sall yoou lerne yooure lyue to lede.
Adam
A, lorde, sene we sall do no thyng77
But louffe the for thi gret gudnesse,
We sall ay bay to thi biddyng
And fulfyll it, both more and less.
Eue
His syng sene he has on vs sett81
Beforne all othir thyng certayne,
Hym for to loue we sall noght lett
And worschip hym with myght and mayne.
God
At heuyne and erth first I begane85
And vj days wroght or I walde ryst;
My warke is endyde now at mane,
All lykes me will, but this is best.
My blyssyng haue thai ever and ay.
The seueynt day sall my restyng be,
Thus wille I sese, sothely to say,91
Of my doying in this degré.
To blys I sall yoow bryng,
Comys forth, yoe tow, with me;
Ye sall lyffe in lykyng-
My blyssyng wyth yoow be. Amen.

The Cardmakers' Play: The Creation of Adam and Eve (Version B)Contents

God
In heuyn and erthe duly bedene1
Of v daies werke evyn vnto the ende,
I haue complete by courssis clene-
Methynketh the space of tham wele spende.
In heuen ar aungels faire and bright,
Sternes and planetis ther courses to goo,
The mone serues vnto the nyghte,7
The sonne to lighte the day also.
In erthe is trees and gresse to springe,
Beestes and foules bothe grete and smale,
Fisshys in flode, all othir thynge,
Thryffe and haue my blissynge alle.
This werke is wrought nowe at my wille,13
But yitte can I here no beste see
That accordes by kyndly skylle,
And for my werke myght worshippe me.
For parfite werke ne wer it none
But oughte wer made that myghte it yoeme,
For loue made I this worlde alone,19
Therfore my loue shalle in it seme.
To kepe this worlde bothe more and lesse
A skylfull beeste than will Y make
Aftir my shappe and my liknesse,
The whilke shalle wirshippe to me take.
Of the sympylest parte of erthe that is here25
I schalle make man, and for this skylle,
For to abate his hauttande cheere,
Bothe his grete pride and othir ille;
And also for to haue in mynde
Howe symple he is at his makynge,
For als febill I shalle hym fynde31
Qwen he is dede at his endynge.
For this reasonne and skille allone
I schalle make man like vnto me.
Rise vppe, thou erthe, in bloode and bone,
In shappe of man, I comaunde the.
A female shalte thou haue to feere,37
Here schalle Y make of thy lefte rybbe,
Allone so shalle thou nought be heere,
Withoutyn faithfull freende and sibbe.
Takis nowe here the goste of liffe,
And ressayue bothe youre soules of me,
This femalle take thou to thi wiffe-43
Adam and Eue youre names schalle bee.
Adam
A, lord, ful mekill is thi myght,45
And that is seene in ilke a side,
For nowe is here a joifull sighte,
To see this worlde so longe and wide.
Many dyuerse thynges nowe here is,
Of beestis and foules bothe wilde and tame,
Yitte is non made to thi liknesse51
But we allone-a, loued be thy name.
Eue
To swilke a lorde in alle degree53
Be euermore lastand louynge,
That to vs such a dyngnyté
Has geffynne before all othir thynge.
And selcouthe thynges may we see heere
Of this ilke worlde so longe and broode,
With beestes and foules so many and seere,59
Blyssed be hee that hase vs made.
Adam
A, blissed lorde, nowe at thi wille61
Sethen we are wrought, wouchesaffe to telle
And also saie vs two vntille
Whatte we schalle do and where to dwelle.
God
For this skille made Y you this daye,65
My name to worschippe ay-where.
Lovis me forthy, and loues me aye
For my makyng-I aske no more.
Bothe wyse and witty shalle thou bee
Als man, that Y haue made of nought,
Lordshippe in erthe than graunte Y the,71
Alle thynge to serue the that is wrought.
In pardise shalle ye same wonne,
Of erthely thyng gete yoe no nede,
Ille and goode bothe shalle yoe konne,
I shalle you lerne youre lyffe to leede.
Adam
A, lord, sene we shalle do no thynge77
But loue the for thy grette goodnesse,
We shalle abeye to thi biddyng,
And fulfille it, bothe more and lees.
Eue
Hys syngne sen he has on vs sette81
Before al othir thyng certayne,
Hym for to loue we schal not lette,
And worshippe hym with myghte and mayne.
God
At heuene and erthe firste I beganne,85
And vj daies wroughte or Y wolde reste,
My werke is endid nowe at mane;
Alle likes me wele, but this the beste.
My blissynge haue they euer and ay.
The seuynte day shal my restyng be,
Thus wille I sese, sothly to say,91
Of my doyng in this degree.
To blisse I schal you brynge,
Comes forthe yoe two with me.
Ye shalle lyff in likyng:
My blissyng with you be. Amen.

The Fullers' Play: Adam and Eve in EdenContents

God
Adam and Eve, this is the place1
That I haue graunte you of my grace
To haue your wonnyng in.
Erbes, spyce, frute on tree,
Beastes, fewles, all that ye see
Shall bowe to you, more and myn.
This place hight paradyce,7
Here shall your joys begynne;
And yf that ye be wyse,
Frome thys tharr ye never twyn.
All your wyll here shall ye haue,
Lykyng for to eate or sayff
Fyshe, fewle or fee;13
And for to take at your owen wyll
All other creatours also theretyll,
Your suggettes shall they bee.
Adam, of more and lesse,
Lordeship in erthe here graunte I the;
Thys place that worthy is,19
Kepe it in honestye.
Looke that ye yoem ytt wetterly;
All other creatours shall multeply,
Ylke one in tender hower.
Looke that ye bothe saue and sett
Erbes and treys; for nothyng lett,25
So that ye may endower
To susteyn beast and man,
And fewll of ylke stature.
Dwell here yf that ye cann,
This shall be your endowre.
Adam
O lorde, lovyd be thy name,31
For nowe is this a joyfull hame
That thowe hais brought vs to,
Full of myrthe and solys faughe,
Erbes and trees, frute on haugh,
Wyth spysys many one hoo.
Loo, Eve, nowe ar we brought37
Bothe vnto rest and rowe,
We neyd to tayke no thought,
But loke ay well to doo.
Eue
Lovyng be ay to suche a lord,41
To vs hais geven so great reward
To governe bothe great and small,
And mayd vs after his owen read,
[…     …]44
Emonges these myrthes all.
Here is a joyfull sight
Where that wee wonn in shall;
We love the, mooste of myght,
Great God, that we on call.
God
Love my name with good entent50
And harken to my comaundement,
And do my byddyng buxomly:
Of all the frute in parradyce,
Tayke ye therof of your best wyse
And mayke you right merry.
The tree of good and yll,56
What tyme you eates of thys
Thowe speydes thyself to spyll,
And be brought owte of blysse.
All thynges is mayd, man, for thy prowe,
All creatours shall to the bowe
That here is mayd erthly;62
In erthe I mayke the lord of all,
And beast vnto the shall be thrall,
Thy kynd shall multeply.
Therefore this tree alone,
Adam, this owte-take I;
The frute of it negh none,68
For an ye do, then shall ye dye.
Adam
Alas lorde, that we shuld do so yll,70
Thy blyssed byddyng we shall fulfyll
Bothe in thought and deyd;
We shall no negh thys tre nor the bugh,
Nor yit the fruyte that thereon groweth
Therewith oure fleshe to feyd.
Eue
We shall do thy byddyng,76
We haue none other neyd;
Thys frute full styll shall hyng,
Lorde, that thowe hays forbyd.
God
Looke that ye doe as ye haue sayd,80
Of all that there is hold you apayd,
For here is welthe at wyll.
Thys tre that beres the fruyte of lyfe,
Luke nother thowe nor Eve thy wyf
Lay ye no handes theretyll.
For-why it is knowyng86
Bothe of good and yll,
This frute but ye lett hyng
Ye speyd yourself to spyll.
Forthy this tree that I owt-tayke,
Nowe kepe it grathly for my sayke,
That nothyng negh it neyre;92
All other at your wyll shall be,
I owte-take nothyng but this tree,
To feyd you with in feare.
Here shall ye leyd your lyffe
With dayntys that is deare;
Adam, and Eve thy wyfe,98
My blyssyng haue ye here.

The Coopers' Play: The Fall of ManContents

Satan
For woo my witte es in a were1
That moffes me mykill in my mynde;
The Godhede that I sawe so cleere,
And parsayued that he shuld take kynde
Of a degree
That he had wrought, and I dedyned
That aungell kynde shuld it noyot be;7
And we wer faire and bright,
Therfore me thoght that he
The kynde of vs tane myght,
And therat dedeyned me.
The kynde of man he thoght to take
And theratt hadde I grete envye,13
But he has made to hym a make,
And harde to her I wol me hye
That redy way,
That purpose proue to putte it by,
And fande to pike fro hym that pray.
My trauayle were wele sette19
Myght Y hym so betraye,
His likyng for to lette,
And sone I schalle assaye.
In a worme liknes wille Y wende,
And founde to feyne a lowde lesynge.
Eue, Eue.25
Eue
What es thare?25
Satan
I, a frende.25
And for thy gude es the comynge
I hydir sought.
Of all the fruyt that ye se hynge
In paradise, why ete yoe noght?
Eue
We may of tham ilkane30
Take al that vs goode thought,
Save a tree outt is tane,
Wolde do harme to neyghe it ought.
Satan
And why that tree, that wolde I witte,34
Any more than all othir by?
Eue
For oure lord God forbeedis vs itt,36
The frute therof, Adam nor I
To neghe it nere;
And yf we dide we both shuld dye,
He saide, and sese our solace sere.
Satan
Yha, Eue, to me take tente;41
Take hede and thou shalte here
What that the matere mente
He moved on that manere.
To ete therof he you defende
I knawe it wele, this was his skylle:
Bycause he wolde non othir kende47
Thes grete vertues that longes thertill.
For will thou see,
Who etis the frute of goode and ille
Shalle haue knowyng as wele as hee.
Eue
Why, what-kynne thyng art thou52
That telles this tale to me?
Satan
A worme, that wotith wele how54
That yhe may wirshipped be.
Eue
What wirshippe shulde we wynne therby?56
To ete therof vs nedith it nought,
We have lordshippe to make maistrie
Of alle thynge that in erthe is wrought.
Satan
Woman, do way!60
To gretter state ye may be broughte
And ye will do as I schall saye.
Eue
To do is vs full lothe63
That shuld oure God myspaye.
Satan
Nay, certis it is no wathe,65
Ete it saffely ye maye.
For perille ryght ther none in lyes,
Bot worshippe and a grete wynnynge,
For right als God yhe shalle be wyse
And pere to hym in all-kyn thynge.
Ay, goddis shalle ye be,71
Of ille and gode to haue knawyng,
For to be als wise as he.
Eue
Is this soth that thou sais?74
Satan
Yhe, why trowes thou noyot me?75
I wolde be no-kynnes wayes
Telle noyot but trouthe to the.
Eue
Than wille I to thy techyng traste78
And fange this frute vnto oure foode.
Satan
Byte on boldly, be nought abasshed,80
And bere Adam to amende his mode
And eke his blisse.
Eue
Adam, have here of frute full goode.83
Adam
Alas woman, why toke thou this?84
Owre lorde comaunded vs bothe
To tente the tree of his.
Thy werke wille make hym wrothe-
Allas, thou hast don amys.
Eue
Nay Adam, greve the nought at it,89
And I shal saie the reasonne why.
A worme has done me for to witte
We shalle be as goddis, thou and I,
Yf that we ete
Here of this tree; Adam, forthy
Lette noght that worshippe for to gete.95
For we shalle be als wise
Als God that is so grete,
And als mekill of prise;
Forthy ete of this mete.
Adam
To ete it wolde Y nought eschewe100
Myght I me sure in thy saying.
Eue
Byte on boldely, for it is trewe,102
We shalle be goddis and knawe al thyng.
Adam
To wynne that name104
I schalle it taste at thy techyng.
Allas, what haue I done, for shame!
Ille counsaille, woo worthe the!
A, Eue, thou art to blame,
To this entysed thou me-
Me shames with my lyghame,110
For I am naked as methynke.
Eue
Allas Adam, right so am I.112
Adam
And for sorowe sere why ne myght we synke,113
For we haue greved God almyghty
That made me man-
Brokyn his bidyng bittirly.
Allas that euer we it began.
This werke, Eue, hast thou wrought,
And made this bad bargayne.119
Eue
Nay Adam, wite me nought.120
Adam
Do wey, lefe Eue, whame than?121
Eue
The worme to wite wele worthy were,122
With tales vntrewe he me betrayed.
Adam
Allas, that I lete at thy lare124
Or trowed the trufuls that thou me saide.
So may I byde,
For I may banne that bittir brayde
And drery dede, that I it dyde.
Oure shappe for doole me defes,
Wherewith thay shalle be hydde.130
Eue
Late vs take there fygge-leves,131
Sythen it is thus betydde.
Adam
Ryght as thou sais so shalle it bee,133
For we are naked and all bare;
Full wondyr fayne I wolde hyde me
Fro my lordis sight, and I wiste whare,
Where I ne roght.
God
Adam, Adam.138
Adam
Lorde.138
God
Where art thou, yhare?138
Adam
I here the lorde and seys the noyot.139
God
Say, wheron is it longe,140
This werke why hast thou wrought?
Adam
Lorde, Eue garte me do wronge142
And to that bryg me brought.
God
Say, Eue, why hast thou garte thy make144
Ete frute I bad the shuld hynge stille,
And comaunded none of it to take?
Eue
A worme, lorde, entysed me thertill;147
So welaway,
That euer I did that dede so dill.
God
A, wikkid worme, woo worthe the ay150
For thou on this maner
Hast made tham swilke affraye;
My malysoune haue thou here
With all the myght Y may.
And on thy wombe than shall thou glyde,
And be ay full of enmyté156
To al mankynde on ilke a side,
And erthe it shalle thy sustynaunce be
To ete and drynke.
Adam and Eue alsoo, yhe
In erthe than shalle ye swete and swynke,
And trauayle for youre foode.162
Adam
Allas, whanne myght we synke,163
We that haues alle worldis goode
Ful derfly may vs thynke.
God
Now Cherubyn, myn aungell bryght,166
To middilerth tyte go dryve there twoo.
Angel
Alle redy lorde, as it is right,168
Syn thy wille is that it be soo,
And thy lykyng.
Adam and Eue, do you to goo,
For here may yoe make no dwellyng;
Goo yhe forthe faste to fare,
Of sorowe may yhe synge.174
Adam
Allas, for sorowe and care175
Oure handis may we wryng.

The Armourers' Play: The ExpulsionContents

Angel
Alle creatures to me take tent,1
Fro God of heuen now am I sent
Vnto the wrecchis that wronge has went
Thaymself to woo;
The joie of heuen that thaym was lent
Is lost thaym froo.
Fro thaym is loste bothe game and glee;7
He badde that thei schuld maistirs be
Ouer alle-kynne thyng, oute-tane a tree
He taught them tille;
And therto wente bothe she and he,
Agayne his wille.
Agaynst his wille thus haue they wrought,13
To greeffe grete God gaffe they right noght,
That wele wytt ye;
And therfore syte is to thaym sought,
As ye shalle see.
The fooles that faithe is fallen fra
Take tente to me nowe, or ye ga;19
Fro God of heuen vnto yow twa
Sente am I nowe,
For to warne you what-kynne wa
Is wrought for you.
Adam
For vs is wrought, so welaway,24
Doole endurand nyghte and day;
The welthe we wende haue wonnyd in ay
Is loste vs fra.
For this myscheffe ful wele we may
euer mornyng ma.
Angel
Adam, thyselffe made al this syte,30
For to the tree thou wente full tyte
And boldely on the frute gan byte
My lord forbed.
Adam
Yaa, allas, my wiffe that may I wite,34
For scho me red.
Angel
Adam, for thou trowyd hir tale,36
He sendis the worde and sais thou shale
Lyffe ay in sorowe,
Abide and be in bittir bale
Tille he the borowe.
Adam
Allas, wrecchis, what haue we wrought?41
To byggly blys we bothe wer brought;
Whillis we wer thare
We hadde inowe, nowe haue we noghte-
Allas, for care.
Eue
Oure cares ar comen bothe kyne and colde,46
With fele fandyngis manyfolde;
Allas, that tyraunte to me tolde,
Thurghoute his gyle,
That we shulde haue alle welthis in walde,
Wa worthe the whyle.
Angel
That while yee wrought vnwittely,52
Soo for to greue God almyghty,
And that mon ye full dere abye
Or that ye go;
And to lyffe, as is worthy,
In were and wo.
Adam, haue this, luke howe ye thynke,58
And tille withalle thi meete and drynke
For euermore.
Adam
Allas, for syte why ne myght Y synke,61
So shames me sore.
Eue
Soore may we shame with sorowes seere,63
And felly fare we bothe in feere;
Alas, that euyr we neghed it nere,
That tree vntill.
With dole now mon we bye full dere
Oure dedis ille.
Angel
Giffe for thou beswyked hym swa,69
Trauell herto shalle thou ta,
Thy barnes to bere with mekill wa-
This warne I the.
Buxom shalle thou and othir ma
To man ay be.
Eue
Allas for doole, what shall Y doo,75
Now mon I neuer haue rest ne roo.
Adam
Nay, lo, swilke a tole is taken me too77
To trauaylle tyte;
Nowe is shente both I and shoo,
Allas, for syte.
Allas, for syte and sorowe sadde,
Mournynge makis me mased and madde,
To thynke in herte what helpe Y hadde83
And nowe has none.
On grounde mon I neuyr goo gladde,
My gamys ere gane.
Gone ar my games withowten glee;
Allas, in blisse kouthe we noyot bee,
For putte we were to grete plenté89
At prime of the day;
Be tyme of none alle lost had wee,
Sa welawaye.
Sa welaway, for harde peyne,
Alle bestis were to my biddyng bayne,
Fisshe and fowle, they were fulle fayne95
With me to founde.
And nowe is alle thynge me agayne
That gois on grounde.
On grounde ongaynely may Y gange,
To suffre syte and peynes strange,
Alle is for dede I haue done wrange101
Thurgh wykkid wyle.
On lyve methynkith I lyffe to lange,
Allas the whille.
A, lord, I thynke what thynge is this
That me is ordayned for my mysse;
Gyffe I wirke wronge, who shulde me wys107
Be any waye?
How beste wille be, so haue Y blisse,
I shalle assaye.
Allas, for bale, what may this bee?
In worlde vnwisely wrought haue wee,
This erthe it trembelys for this tree113
And dyns ilke dele!
Alle this worlde is wrothe with mee,
This wote I wele.
Full wele Y wote my welthe is gone,
Erthe, elementis, euerilkane
For my synne has sorowe tane,119
This wele I see.
Was neuere wrecchis so wylle of wane
As nowe ar wee.
Eue
We are fulle wele worthy iwis123
To haue this myscheffe for oure mys,
For broght we were to byggely blys,
Euer in to be.
Now my sadde sorowe certis is this
Mysilfe to see.
Adam
To see it is a sytfull syghte,129
We bothe that were in blis so brighte,
We mon go nakid euery ilke a nyghte
And dayes bydene,
Allas, what womans witte was light!
That was wele sene.
Eue
Sethyn it was so me knyth it sore,135
Bot sethyn that woman witteles ware
Mans maistrie shulde haue bene more
Agayns the gilte.
Adam
Nay, at my speche wolde thou never spare,139
That has vs spilte.
Eue
Iff I hadde spoken youe oughte to spill141
Ye shulde haue taken gode tent theretyll,
And turnyd my thought.
Adam
Do way, woman, and neme it noght,144
For at my biddyng wolde thou not be
And therfore my woo wyte Y thee;
Thurgh ille counsaille thus casten ar we
In bitter bale.
Nowe God late never man aftir me
Triste woman tale.150
For certis me rewes fulle sare
That euere I shulde lerne at thi lare,
Thy counsaille has casten me in care,
That thou me kende.
Eue
Be stille Adam, and nemen it na mare,155
It may not mende.
For wele I wate I haue done wrange,
And therfore euere I morne emange,
Allas the whille I leue so lange,
Dede wolde I be.
Adam
On grounde mon I never gladde gange,161
Withowten glee.
Withowten glee I ga,
This sorowe wille me sla,
This tree vnto me wille I ta
That me is sende.
He that vs wrought wisse vs fro wa,167
Whare-som we wende.

The Glovers' Play: Cain and AbelContents

Angel
That lord of lyffe lele ay-lastand1
Whos myght vnmesured is to meyne,
He shoppe the sonne, bothe see and sande,
And wroughte this worlde with worde, I wene.
His aungell cleere as cristall clene,
Here vnto you thus am I sente
This tide.7
Abell and Cayme, yei, both bydeyne
To me enteerly takis entent;
To meve my message haue I ment
If that ye bide.
Allemyghty God of myghtes moste,
When he had wrought this world so wide,13
No thynge hym thoughte was wroughte in waste,
But in his blissyng boune to bide
Neyne ordurs for to telle, that tyde,
Of aungeles bryght he bad ther be.
For pride
And sone the tente part it was tried,19
And wente awaye as was worthye;
They heild to helle alle that meyné
Therin to bide.
Thanne made he manne to his liknes
That place of price for to restore,
And sithen he kyd hym such kyndnes25
Somwhat wille he wirke therfore:
The tente to tyne he askis, no more,
Of alle the goodes he haues you sent.
Full trew
To offyr loke that ye be yore,
And to my tale yhe take entent,31
For ilke a lede that liffe has lente
So shalle you sewe.
Abel
Gramercy God, of thy goodnes34
That me on molde has marked thi man,
I worshippe the with worthynes,
With alle the comforte that I can.
Me for to were fro warkes wanne,
For to fulfille thy comaundement,
The teynd40
Of alle the gode sen I beganne
Thow shalle it haue, sen thou it sent.
Come, brothir Cayme, I wolde we wente
With hert ful hende.
Cain
We! Whythir now, in wilde waneand?45
Trowes thou I thynke to trusse of towne?
Goo, jape the, robard jangillande,
Me liste noyot nowe to rouk nor rowne.
Abel
A, dere brothir, late vs be bowne49
Goddis biddyng blithe to fulfille,
I tell the.
Cain
Ya, daunce in the devil way, dresse the downe,52
For I wille wyrke euen as I will.
What mystris the, in gode or ille,
Of me to melle the?
Abel
To melle of the myldely I may.56
Bote goode brothir, go we in haste,
Gyffe God oure teynde dulye this day-
He byddis vs thus, be nouyot abassed.
Cain
Ya, deuell, methynketh that werke were waste,60
That he vs gaffe geffe hym agayne
To se.
Nowe fekyll frenshippe for to fraste
Methynkith ther is in hym sarteyne.
If he be moste in myghte and mayne
What nede has he?66
Abel
He has non nede vnto thi goode,67
But it wille please hym principall
If thou, myldly in mayne and moode,
Grouche noyot geue hym tente parte of all.
[…     …]70
Angel
It shall be done evyn as ye bydd,71
And that anone.
Brewbarret
Lo, maister Cayme, what shaves bryng I,73
Evyn of the best for to bere seyd,
And to the feylde I wyll me hye
To fetch you moo, if ye haue neyd.
Cain
Cume vp, sir knave, the devyll the speyd,76
Ye will not come but ye be prayd.
Brewbarret
O, maister Caym, I haue broken my to!79
Cain
Come vp syr, for by my thryft,80
Ye shall drynke or ye goo.
Angel
Thowe cursyd Came, where is Abell?82
Where hais thowe done thy broder dere?
Cain
What askes thowe me that taill to tell,84
For yit his keper was I never?
Angel
God hais sent the his curse downe,86
Fro hevyn to hell, maladictio dei.
Cain
Take that thyself, evyn on thy crowne,88
Quia non sum custos fratris mei,
To tyne.
Angel
God hais sent the his malyson,91
And inwardly I geve the myne.
Cain
The same curse light on thy crowne,93
And right so myght it worth and be
For he that sent that gretyng downe,
The devyll myght speyd both hym and the.
Fowll myght thowe fall!
Here is a cankerd company,
Therefore Goddes curse light on you all.99
Angel
What hast thou done? Beholde and heere,100
The voice of his bloode cryeth vengeaunce
Fro erthe to heuen, with voice entere
This tyde.
That God is greved with thy greuaunce
Take hede, I schalle telle the tydandis,
Therfore abide.106
Thou shall be curssed vppon the grounde,
God has geffyn the his malisonne;
Yff thou wolde tyll the erthe so rounde
No frute to the ther shalle be fonne.
Of wikkidnesse sen thou arte sonne,
Thou shalle be waferyng here and there112
This day.
In bittir bale nowe art thou boune,
Out-castyn shal thou be for care;
No man shal rewe of thy misfare
For this affraie.
Cain
Allas for syte, so may I saye,118
My synne it passis al mercie,
For ask it the lord I ne maye,
To haue it am I nouyot worthy.
Fro the shalle I be hidde in hye,
Thou castis me, lorde, oute of my kyth
In lande.124
Both here and there oute-caste am I,
For ilke a man that metis me with
They wille slee me, be fenne or frith,
With dynte of hande.
Angel
Nay Cayme, nouyot soo, haue thou no drede;129
Who that the slees shalle ponnysshed be
Sevene sithis for doyng of that dede.
Forthy a token shal thou see,
It shalle be prentyd so in the
That ilke a man shalle the knowe full wele.
Cain
Thanne wolle I fardir flee135
For shame.
Sethen I am sette thus out of seill,
That curse that I haue for to feill,
I giffe you the same.

The Shipwrights' Play: The Building of the ArkContents

God
Fyrst qwen I wrought this world so wyde,1
Wode and wynde and watters wane,
Heuyn and helle was noght to hyde,
Wyth herbys and gyrse thus I begane.
In endles blysse to be and byde.
And to my liknes made I man,
Lorde and syre on ilke a side7
Of all medillerthe I made hym than.
A woman also with hym wroght I,
Alle in lawe to lede ther lyffe,
I badde thame waxe and multiplye,
To fulfille this worlde, withowtyn striffe.
Sythn hays men wroght so wofully13
And synne is nowe reynand so ryffe,
That me repentys and rewys forthi
That ever I made outhir man or wiffe.
Bot sen they make me to repente
My werke I wroght so wele and trewe,
Wythowtyn seys will noght assente,19
Bot euer is bowne more bale to brewe.
Bot for ther synnes thai shall be shente
And fordone hoyly, hyde and hewe;
Of tham shal no more be mente,
Bot wirke this werke I wille al newe.
Al newe I will this worlde be wroght25
And waste away that wonnys therin,
A flowyd above thame shall be broght
To stroye medilerthe, both more and myn.
Bot Noe alon, lefe shal it noght
To all be sownkyn for ther synne;
He and his sones, thus is my thoght,31
And with ther wyffes away sall wynne.
Nooe, my seruand sad an cleyn,
For thou art stabill in stede and stalle,
I wyll thou wyrke withowten weyn
A warke to saffe thiselfe wythall.
Noah
O, mercy lorde, qwat may this meyne?37
God
I am thi Gode of grete and small38
Is comyn to telle the of thy teyn,
And qwat ferly sall eftir fall.
Noah
A, lorde, I lowe the lowde and still41
That vnto me-wretche vnworthye-
Thus with thy worde, as is thi will,
Lykis to appere thus propyrly.
God
Nooe, as I byd the, doo fulfill:45
A shippe I will haue wroght in hye;
All-yf thou can litill skyll,
Take it in hande, for helpe sall I.
Noah
A, worthy lorde, wolde thou take heede,49
I am full olde and oute of qwarte,
That me liste do no daies dede
Bot yf gret mystir me garte.
God
Begynne my werke behoves the nede53
And thou wyll passe from peynes smerte,
I sall the sokoure and the spede
And giffe the hele in hede and hert.
I se such ire emonge mankynde
That of thare werkis I will take wreke;
Thay shall be sownkyn for thare synne,59
Therfore a shippe I wille thou make.
Thou and thi sonnes shall be therin,
They sall be sauyd for thy sake.
Therfore go bowdly and begynne
Thy mesures and thy markis to take.
Noah
A, lorde, thi wille sall euer be wroght65
Os counsill gyfys of ilka clerk,
Bot first, of shippe-craft can I right noght;
Of ther makyng haue I no merke.
God
Noe, I byd the hartely haue no thought,69
I sall the wysshe in all thi werke,
And even to itt till ende be wroght;
Therfore to me take hede and herke.
Take high trees and hewe thame cleyne,
All be sware and noght of skwyn,
Make of thame burdes and wandes betwene75
Thus thrivandly, and noght ouer-thyn.
Luke that thi semes be suttilly seyn
And naylid wele that thei noght twyne;
Thus I deuyse ilk dele bedeyne,
Therfore do furthe, and leue thy dyne.
iij C cubyttis it sall be lang,81
And fyfty brode, all for thy blys;
The highte, of thyrty cubittis strang,
Lok lely that thou thynke on this.
Thus gyffe I the grathly or I gang
Thi mesures, that thou do not mysse.
Luk nowe that thou wirke noght wrang87
Thus wittely sen I the wyshe.
Noah
A, blistfull lord, that al may beylde,89
I thanke the hartely both euer and ay;
Fyfe hundreth wyntres I am of elde-
Methynk ther yoeris as yestirday.
Ful wayke I was and all vnwelde,
My werynes is wente away,
To wyrk this werke here in this feylde95
Al be myselfe I will assaye.
To hewe this burde I wyll begynne,
But firste I wille lygge on my lyne;
Now bud it be alle inlike thynne,
So that it nowthyr twynne nor twyne.
Thus sall I june it with a gynn101
And sadly sett it with symonde fyne:
Thus schall I wyrke it both more and mynne
Thurgh techyng of God, maistir myne.
[…     …]104
More suttelly kan no man sewe;
It sall be cleyngked euerilka dele
With nayles that are both noble and newe,
Thus sall I feste it fast to feele.
Take here a revette, and there a rewe,
With ther the bowe nowe wyrke I wele;110
This werke I warand both gud and trewe.
Full trewe it is who will take tente,
Bot faste my force begynnes to fawlde.
A hundereth wyntres away is wente
Sen I began this werk, full grathely talde,
And in slyke trauayle for to be bente116
Is harde to hym that is thus olde.
But he that to me this messages sent
He wille be my beylde, thus am I bowde.
God
Nooe, this werke is nere an ende120
And wrought right as I warned the.
Bot yit in maner it must be mende,
Therfore this lessoun lerne at me:
For dyuerse beestis therin must lende,
And fewles also in there degree,
And for that thay sall not sam blende126
Dyuerse stages must ther be.
And qwen that it is ordand soo
With dyuerse stawllys and stagis seere,
Of ilka kynde thou sall take twoo,
Bothe male and femalle fare in fere.
Thy wyffe, thy sonnes, with the sall goo132
And thare thre wyffes, withowten were;
There viij bodies withowten moo
Sall thus be saued on this manere.
Therfore to my biddyng be bayne,
Tille all be herberd haste the faste;
Eftir the vij day sall it rayne138
Tille fowrty dayes be fully paste.
Take with the geere sclyk os may gayne
To man and beeste thare lyffes to laste.
I sall the socoure for certeyne
Tille alle thi care awey be kaste.
Noah
A, lorde, that ilka mys may mende,144
I lowe thi lare both lowde and stille,
I thanke the both with herte and hende,
That me wille helpe fro angrys hill.
Abowte this werke now bus me wende
With beestys and fewlys my shippe to fill.
He that to me this Crafte has kende,150
He wysshe vs with his worthy wille.

The Fishers' and Mariners' Play: The FloodContents

Noah
That lord that leves ay-lastand lyff,1
I loue the euer with hart and hande,
That me wolde rewle be reasoune ryffe,
Sex hundereth yere to lyffe in lande.
Thre semely sonnes and a worthy wiffe
I haue euer at my steven to stande;
Bot nowe my cares aren keene as knyffe,7
Bycause I kenne what is commannde.
Thare comes to ilke contré,
Ya, cares bothe kene and calde.
For God has warned me
This worlde wastyd shalle be,
And certis the sothe I see,13
As forme-fadres has tald.
My fadir Lamech who, likes to neven,
Heere in this worlde thus lange gon lende,
Seuene hundereth yere seuenty and seuene,
In swilke a space his tyme he spende.
He prayed to god with stabill steuene19
That he to hym a sone shuld sende,
And at the laste ther come from heuen
Slyke hettyng that hym mekill amende,
And made hym grubbe and graue
As ordand faste beforne,
For he a sone shulde haue,25
As he gon aftir crave;
And as God vouchydsaue
In worlde than was I borne.
When I was borne Noye named he me,
And saide thees wordes with mekill wynne:
‘Loo’, he saide, ‘this ilke is he31
That shalle be comforte to mankynné.
Syrs, by this wele witte may ye,
My fadir knewe both more and mynne
By sarteyne signes he couthe wele see,
That al this worlde shuld synke for synne;
Howe God shulde vengeaunce take,37
As nowe is sene sertayne,
And hende of mankynde make
That synne wold nouyot forsake;
And howe that it shuld slake,
And a worlde waxe agayne.
I wolde God itt wasted were,43
Sa that I shuld nott tente thertille.
My semely sonnes and doughteres dere,
Takis yoe entent vnto my skylle.
Filius 1
Fader we are all redy heere,47
Youre biddyng baynly to fulfille.
Noah
Goos calle youre modir, and comes nere,49
And spede vs faste that we nouyot spille.
Filius 1
Fadir, we shal nouyot fyne51
To youre biddyng be done.
Noah
Alle that leues vndir lyne53
Sall, sone, soner passe to pyne.
Filius 1
Where are ye, modir myne?55
Come to my fadir sone.
Uxor
What sais thou sone?57
Filius 1
Moder, certeyne57
My fadir thynkis to flitte full ferre.
He biddis you haste with al youre mayne
Vnto hym, that no thyng you marre.
Uxor
Ya, goode sone, hy the faste agayne61
And telle hym I wol come no narre.
Filius 1
Dame, I wolde do youre biddyng fayne,63
But yow bus wende, els bese it warre.
Uxor
Werre? That wolde I witte.65
We bowrde al wrange, I wene.
Filius 1
Modir, I saie you yitte,67
My fadir is bowne to flitte.
Uxor
Now certis, I sall nouyot sitte69
Or I se what he mene.
Filius 1
Fadir, I haue done nowe as ye comaunde,71
My modir comes to you this daye.
Noah
Scho is welcome, I wele warrande;73
This worlde sall sone be waste awaye.
Uxor
Wher arte thou Noye?75
Noah
Loo, here at hande,75
Come hedir faste dame, I the praye.
Uxor
Trowes thou that I wol leue the harde lande77
And tourne vp here on toure deraye?
Nay Noye, I am nouyot bowne
To fonde nowe ouer there fellis.
Doo barnes, goo we and trusse to towne.
Noah
Nay, certis, sothly than mon ye drowne.82
Uxor
In faythe thou were als goode come downe83
And go do somwhat ellis.
Noah
Dame, fowrty dayes are nerhand past85
And gone sen it began to rayne,
On lyffe sall no man lenger laste
Bot we allane, is nought to layne.
Uxor
Now Noye, in faythe the fonnes full faste,89
This fare wille I no lenger frayne;
Thou arte nere woode, I am agaste,
Farewele, I wille go home agayne.
Noah
O woman, arte thou woode?93
Of my werkis thou not wotte;
All that has ban or bloode
Sall be ouere flowed with the floode.
Uxor
In faithe, the were als goode97
To late me go my gatte.
We! Owte! Herrowe!
Noah
What now, what cheere?99
Uxor
I will no nare for no-kynnes nede.100
Noah
Helpe, my sonnes, to holde her here,101
For tille hir harmes she takes no heede.
Filius 2
Beis mery modir, and mende youre chere;103
This worlde beis drowned, withouten drede.
Uxor
Allas, that I this lare shuld lere.105
Noah
Thou spilles vs alle, ill myght thou speede.106
Filius 3
Dere modir, wonne with vs,107
Ther shal no thyng you greve.
Uxor
Nay, nedlyngis home me bus,109
For I haue tolis to trusse.
Noah
Woman, why dois thou thus?111
To make vs more myscheue?
Uxor
Noye, thou myght haue leteyn me wete;113
Erly and late thou wente theroutte,
And ay at home thou lete me sytte
To loke that nowhere were wele aboutte.
Noah
Dame, thou holde me excused of itt,117
It was Goddis wille withowten doutte.
Uxor
What, wenys thou so for to go qwitte?119
Nay, be my trouthe, thou getis a clowte.
Noah
I pray the dame, be stille.121
Thus God wolde haue it wrought.
Uxor
Thow shulde haue witte my wille,123
Yf I wolde sente thertille,
And Noye, for that same skylle,
This bargan sall be bought.
Nowe at firste I fynde and feele
Wher thou hast to the forest soght,
Thou shuld haue tolde me for oure seele129
Whan we were to slyke bargane broght.
Noah
Now dame, the thar noyot drede a dele,131
For till accounte it cost the noght.
A hundereth wyntyr, I watte wele,
Is wente sen I this werke had wrought.
And when I made endyng,
God gaffe me mesore fayre
Of euery ilke a thyng;137
He bad that I shuld bryng
Of beestis and foules yoynge,
Of ilke a kynde a peyre.
Uxor
Nowe certis, and we shulde skape fro skathe141
And so be saffyd as ye saye here,
My commodrys and my cosynes bathe,
Tham wolde I wente with vs in feere.
Noah
To wende in the watir it were wathe,145
Loke in and loke withouten were.
Uxor
Allas, my lyff me is full lath,147
I lyffe ouere-lange this lare to lere.
Filia 1
Dere modir, mende youre moode,149
For we sall wende you with.
Uxor
My frendis that I fra yoode151
Are ouere flowen with floode.
Filia 2
Nowe thanke we God al goode153
That vs has grauntid grith.
Filia 3
Modir, of this werke nowe wolde ye noyot wene,155
That alle shuld worthe to watres wan.
Filius 2
Fadir, what may this meruaylle mene?157
Wherto made God medilerth and man?
Filia 1
So selcouthe sight was never non seene,159
Sen firste that God this worlde began.
Noah
Wendes and spers youre dores bedene,161
For bettyr counsell none I can.
This sorowe is sente for synne,
Therfore to God we pray
That he oure bale wolde blynne.
Filius 3
The kyng of al mankynne166
Owte of this woo vs wynne,
Als thou arte lorde, that maye.
Filius 1
Ya, lorde, as thou late vs be borne169
In this grete bale, som bote vs bede.
Noah
My sonnes, se yoe mydday and morne171
To thes catelles takes goode heede;
Keppes tham wele with haye and corne;
And women, fanges thes foules and feede,
So that they be noyot lightly lorne
Als longe as we this liffe sall lede.
Filius 2
Fadir, we ar full fayne177
Youre biddyng to fulfille.
ix monethes paste er playne
Sen we wer putte to peyne.
Filius 3
He that is most of mayne181
May mende it qwen he wyll.
Noah
O barnes, itt waxes clere aboute,183
That may yoe see ther wher yoe sitte.
Filius 1
I, leffe fadir, ye loke thareowte,185
Yf that the water wane ought yoitt.
Noah
That sall I do withowten dowte,187
Thorbe the wanyng may we witte.
A, lorde, to the I love and lowte.
The catteraks I trowe be knytte.
Beholde, my sonnes al three
The clowdes are waxen clere.
Filius 2
A, lorde of mercy free,193
Ay louyd myght thou be.
Noah
I sall assaye the see,195
How depe that it is here.
Uxor
Loved be that lord that giffes all grace,197
That kyndly thus oure care wolde kele.
Noah
I sall caste leede and loke the space,199
Howe depe the watir is ilke a dele.
Fyftene cobittis of highte itt hase
Ouere ilke a hille fully to feylle;
Butte beese wel comforte in this casse,
It is wanand, this wate I wele.
Therfore a fowle of flight205
Full sone sall I forthe sende
To seke if he haue sight,
Som lande vppon to light;
Thanne may we witte full right
When oure mornyng sall mende.
Of al the fowles that men may fynde211
The raven is wighte, and wyse is hee.
Thou arte full crabbed and al thy kynde,
Wende forthe thi course I comaunde the,
And werly watte, and yther the wynd
Yf thou fynde awdir lande or tree.
ix monethes here haue we bene pyned,217
But when God wyll, better mon bee.
Filia 1
That lorde that lennes vs lyffe219
To lere his lawes in lande,
He mayd bothe man and wyffe,
He helpe to stynte oure striffe.
Filia 3
Oure cares are kene as knyffe,223
God graunte vs goode tydand.
Filius 1
Fadir, this foule is forthe full lange;225
Vppon sum lande I trowe he lende,
His foode ther fore to fynde and fange-
That makis hym be a fayland frende.
Noah
Nowe sonne, and yf he so forthe gange,229
Sen he for all oure welthe gon wende,
Then be he for his werkis wrange
Euermore weried withowten ende.
And sertis for to see
Whan oure sorowe sall sesse,
Anodyr foule full free235
Owre messenger sall be;
Thou doufe, I comaunde the,
Owre comforte to encresse.
A faithfull fewle to sende art thow
Of alle within there wanys wyde;
Wende forthe I pray the, for owre prowe,241
And sadly seke on ilke a side
Yf the floodes be falland nowe,
That thou on the erthe may belde and byde;
Bryng vs som tokenyng that we may trowe
What tydandes sall of vs betyde.
Filia 2
Goode lorde, on vs thou luke,247
And sesse oure sorow seere,
Sen we al synne forsoke
And to thy lare vs toke.
Filia 3
A twelmothe bott xij weke251
Have we be houerand here.
Noah
Now barnes, we may be blithe and gladde253
And lowe oure lord of heuenes kyng;
My birde has done as I hym badde,
An olyue braunche I se hym brynge.
Blyste be thou fewle that neuere was fayd,
That in thy force makis no faylyng;
Mare joie in herte never are I hadde,259
We mone be saued, now may we synge.
Come hedir my sonnes in hye,
Oure woo away is wente,
I se here certaynely
The hillis of Hermonye.
Filius 1
Lovyd be that lord forthy265
That vs oure lyffes hase lente.
Uxor
For wrekis nowe that we may wynne267
Oute of this woo that we in wore;
But Noye, wher are nowe all oure kynne
And companye we knwe before?
Noah
Dame, all ar drowned, late be thy dyne,271
And sone thei boughte ther synnes sore.
Gud lewyn latte vs begynne,
So that we greue oure God no more;
He was greved in degré
And gretely moved in mynde
For synne, as men may see:277
Dum dixit ‘Penitet me‘.
Full sore forthynkyng was he
That euere he made mankynde.
That makis vs nowe to tole and trusse;
But sonnes, he saide-I watte wele when-
‘Arcum ponam in nubibus‘,283
He sette his bowe clerly to kenne
As a tokenyng bytwene hym and vs,
In knawlage tille all cristen men
That fro this worlde were fynyd thus,
With wattir wolde he neuere wast yt then.
Thus has God most of myght289
Sette his senge full clere
Vppe in the ayre of heght;
The raynebowe it is right,
As men may se in sight
In seasons of the yere.
Filius 2
Sir, nowe sen God oure souerand syre295
Has sette his syne thus in certayne,
Than may we wytte this worldis empire
Shall euermore laste, is noyot to layne.
Noah
Nay sonne, that sall we nouyot desire,299
For and we do we wirke in wane;
For it sall ones be waste with fyre,
And never worthe to worlde agayne.
Uxor
A, syre, owre hertis are soore303
For thes sawes that yoe saye here,
That myscheffe mon be more.
Noah
Beis noyot aferde therfore,306
Ye sall noght lyffe than yore
Be many hundereth yhere.
Filius 1
Fadir, howe sall this lyffe be ledde309
Sen non are in this worlde but we?
Noah
Sones, with youre wiffes yoe sall be stedde,311
And multyplye youre seede sall yoe.
Youre barnes sall ilkon othir wedde
And worshippe God in gud degré;
Beestes and foules sall forthe be bredde,
And so a worlde begynne to bee.
Nowe travaylle sall yoe taste317
To wynne you brede and wyne,
For alle this worlde is waste;
Thez beestes muste be vnbraste,
And wende we hense in haste,
In Goddis blissyng and myne.

The Parchmentmakers' and Bookbinders' Play: Abraham and IsaacContents

Abraham
Grett God that alle this world has wrought,1
And wisely wote both gud and ille,
I thanke hym thraly in my thoght
Of alle his laue he lens me tille,
That thus fro barenhede has me broghte
A hundereth wynter to fulfille,
Thou graunte me myght so that I mowght7
Ordan my werkis aftir thi wille.
For in this erthely lyffe
Ar non to God more boune
Then is I and my wyffe,
For frenshippe we haue foune.
Vnto me tolde God on a tyde,13
Wher I was telde vnder a tree,
He saide my seede shulde be multyplyed
Lyke to the gravell of the see,
And als the sternes wer strewed wyde,
So saide he that my seede schuld be;
And bad I shulde be circumcicyd19
To fulfille the lawe-thus lernynde he me.
In worlde wherso we wonne
He sendes vs richeys ryve;
Als ferre as schynes the sonne,
He is stynter of stryve.
Abram first named was I,25
And sythen he sette a sylypp ma;
And my wiffe hyght Sarae
And sythen was scho named Sara.
But Sara was vncertan thanne
That euere oure seede shulde sagates yoelde,
Because hirselfe sho was barrane31
And we wer bothe gone in grete eelde.
But scho wroght as a wyse woman:
To haue a barne vs for to beelde,
Hir seruand prevely sho wan
Vnto my bede my wille to welde.
Sone aftir than befelle37
When God oure dede wolde dight,
Sho broght forthe Esmaell,
A sone semely to sight.
Than aftirward when we waxed alde,
My wyffe scho felle in feere for same;
Oure God nedes tythynges tyll vs talde43
Wher we wer in oure house at hame,
Tille haue a sone we shulde be balde,
And Isaak shulde be his name,
And his seede shulde springe manyfalde.
Gyff I were blythe, who wolde me blame?
And for I trowed this tythynge,49
That God talde to me thanne,
The grounde and the begynnyng
Of trowthe that tyme beganne.
Nowe awe I gretely God to yeelde,
That so walde telle me his entente,
And noght gaynestandyng oure grete eelde55
A semely sone he has vs sente.
Now he is wight hymselfe to welde
And fra me is all wightnes wente,
Therfore sall he be my beelde.
I lowe hym that this lane has lente,
For he may stynte oure stryve61
And fende vs fro alle ill;
I love hym as my liff,
With all myn herte and will.
Angel
Abraham, Abraham.65
Abraham
Loo, I am here.65
Angel
Nowe bodeword vnto the I brynge:66
God wille assaye thi wille and cheere,
Giffe thou wille bowe tylle his byddyng;
Isaak thi sone that is the dere,
Whom thou loues our alle thyng,
To the lande of vyssyon wende in feere
And there of hym thou make offering.72
I sall the shewe full sone
The stede of sacrifice.
God wille this dede be done,
And therfore the avise.
Abraham
Lord God that lens ay-lastand light,77
This is a ferly fare to feele.
Tille haue a sone semely to sight,
Isaak, that I loue full wele-
He is of eelde to reken right
Thyrty yoere and more sumdele-
And vnto dede hym buse be dight.83
God has saide me so for my seele,
And biddis me wende on all wise
To the lande of vysioune,
Ther to make sacryfice
Of Isaak that is my sone.
And that is hythyn thre daies jornay89
The ganeste gate that I cane goo;
And sertis, I sall noght say hym nay
If God commaunde myself to sloo.
Bot to my sone I will noght saye,
Bot take hym and my seruantis twoo,
And with our asse wende forthe our waye;95
As God has saide, it sall be soo.
Isaak, sone, I vndirstande
To wildirnesse now wende will we,
Thare fore to make oure offerand,
For so has God comaunded me.
Isaac
Fadir, I am euere at youre wille,101
As worthy is withowten trayne;
Goddis comaundement to fulfille
Awe all folke for to be fayne.
Abraham
Sone, thou sais me full gode skille,105
Bott alle the soth is noyot to sayne.
Go we sen we sall thertille-
I praye God sand vs wele agayne.
Isaac
Childir, lede forthe oure asse109
With wode that we sall bryne.
Euen as God ordand has,
To wyrke we will begynne.
Famulus 1
Att youre biddyng we wille be bowne113
What way in worlde that yoe wille wende.
Famulus 2
Why, sall we trusse ought forthe a towne115
In any vncouthe lande to lende?
Famulus 1
I hope tha haue in this sessoune117
Fro God of heuyn sum solayce sende.
Famulus 2
To fulfille yt is goode reasoune,119
And kyndely kepe that he has kende.
Famulus 1
Bott what thei mene certayne121
Haue I na knowlage clere.
Famulus 2
It may noght gretely gayne123
To move of swilke matere.
Abraham
No, noye you noght in no degré125
So for to deme here of oure dede,
For als God comaunded so wirke will we,
Vntill his tales vs bus take hede.
Famulus 1
All thos that wille his seruandis be129
Ful specially he wille thaym spede.
Isaac
Childir, with all the myght in me131
I lowe that lorde of ilke a lede,
And wirshippe hym certayne
My will is euere vnto.
Famulus 2
God giffe you myght and mayne135
Right here so for to doo.
Abraham
Sone, yf oure lord God almyghty137
Of myselfe walde haue his offerande,
I wolde be glade for hym to dye,
For all oure heele hyngis in his hande.
Isaac
Fadir, forsuth, ryght so walde I,141
Leuer than lange to leue in lande.
Abraham
A, sone, thu sais full wele, forthy143
God geue the grace gratthely to stande.
Childir, bide yoe here still,
No ferther sall yoe goo,
For yoondir I se the hill
That we sall wende vntoo.
Isaac
Kepe wele oure asse and all oure gere149
To tyme we come agayne you till.
Abraham
My sone, this wode behoues the bere151
Till thou come high vppon yone hill.
Isaac
Fadir, that may do no dere,153
Goddis comaundement to fullfyll,
For fra all wathes he will vs were
Wharso we wende to wirke his wille.
Abraham
A, sone, that was wele saide.157
Lay doune that woode euen here
Tille oure auter be grathide-
And, my sone, make goode cheere.
Isaac
Fadir, I see here woode and fyre,161
Bot wherof sall oure offerand be?
Abraham
Sertis son, gude God oure suffraynd syre163
Sall ordayne it in goode degré.
For sone, and we do his dessyre,
Full gud rewarde tharfore gette wee.
In heuyn ther mon we haue oure hyre,
For vnto vs so hight has hee.
Therfore sone, lete vs praye169
To God, bothe thou and I,
That we may make this daye
Oure offerand here dewly.
Grete God that all this worlde has wrought
And grathely gouernes goode and ill,
Thu graunte me myght so that I mowght175
Thy comaundementis to fullfill.
And gyffe my flessche groche or greue oght,
Or sertis my saule assentte thertill,
To byrne all that I hydir broght
I sall noght spare yf I shulde spille.
Isaac
Lorde God of grete pousté181
To wham all pepull prayes,
Graunte bothe my fadir and me
To wirke thi wille allweyes.
But fadir, nowe wolde I frayne full fayne
Wharof oure offerand shulde be grathid?
Abraham
Sertis sone, I may no lengar layne:187
Thyselfe shulde bide that bittir brayde.
Isaac
Why fadir, will God that I be slayne?189
Abraham
Ya, suthly sone, so has he saide.190
Isaac
And I sall noght grouche theragayne,191
To wirke his wille I am wele payed;
Sen it is his desire,
I sall be bayne to be
Brittynd and brent in fyre,
And therfore morne noght for me.
Abraham
Nay sone, this gatis most nedis be gone,197
My lord God will I noght gaynesaye,
Nor neuer make mornys nor mone
To make offerand of the this day.
Isaac
Fadir, sen God oure lorde allane201
Vowchesaffe to sende when yoe gon praye
A sone to you, whan ye had nane,
And nowe will that he wende his waye,
Therfore faynde me to fell
Tille offerand in this place;
But firste I sall you telle207
My counsaille in this case.
I knaw myselfe be course of kynde,
My flessche for dede will be dredande.
I am ferde that yoe sall fynde
My force youre forward to withstande.
Therfore is beste that ye me bynde213
In bandis faste, boothe fute and hande.
Nowe whillis I am in myght and mynde
So sall yoe saffely make offerrande,
For fadir, when I am boune
My myght may noght avayle.
Here sall no fawte be foune219
To make youre forward faylle.
For yoe are alde and alle vnwelde,
And I am wighte and wilde of thoght.
Abraham
To bynde hym that shuld be my beelde!223
Outtane Goddis will, that wolde I noght.
Bot loo, her sall no force be felde,
So sall God haue that he has soght.
Farewele my sone, I sall the yoelde
Tylle hym that all this world has wroght.
Nowe kysse me hartely I the pray.229
Isaak, I take my leue for ay-
Me bus the mys.
My blissyng haue thou enterly,
And I beseke God allmyghty
He giffe the his.
Thus aren we samyn assent235
Eftir thy wordis wise.
Lorde God, to this take tente,
Ressayue thy sacrifice.
This is to me a perles pyne,
To se myn nawe dere childe thus boune.
Me had wele leuer my lyf to tyne241
Than see this sight thus of my sone.
It is Goddis will, it sall be myne,
Agaynste his saande sall I neuer schone,
To Goddis cummaundement I sall enclyne,
That in me fawte non be foune.
Therfore my sone so dere,247
If thou will anythyng saye,
Thy dede it drawes nere,
Farewele, for anes and ay.
Isaac
Now my dere fadir, I wolde you praye,251
Here me thre wordes, graunte me my bone
Sen I fro this sall passe for ay;
I see myn houre is comen full sone.
In worde, in werke, or any waye
That I haue trespassed or oght mysdone,
Forgiffe me fadir or I dye this daye,257
For his luffe that made bothe sonne and mone.
Here sen we two sall twynne
Firste God I aske mercy,
And you in more and myne,
This day or euere I dy.
Abraham
Now my grete God Adonay263
That all this worlde has worthely wroght,
Forgyffe the sone for his mercye,
In worde, in worke, in dede and thoght.
Nowe sone, as we ar leryd
Our tyme may noyot myscarie.
Isaac
Nowe farewele all medilerth,269
My flesshe waxis faynte for ferde;
Nowe fadir, take youre swerde,
Methynke full lange yoe tarie.
Abraham
Nay, nay sone, nay, I the behete,273
That do I noght, withouten were.
Thy wordis makis me my wangges to wete
And chaunges, childe, ful often my cheere.
Therfore lye downe, hande and feete,
Nowe may thou witte thyn oure is nere.
Isaac
A, dere fadir, lyff is full swete,279
The drede of dede dose all my dere.
As I am here youre sone
To God I take me till,
Nowe am I laide here bone,
Do with me what yoe will.
For fadir, I aske no more respete,285
Bot here a worde what I wolde mene:
I beseke yoou or that yoe smyte
Lay doune this kyrcheffe on myn eghne,
Than may yooure offerand be parfite
If yoe wille wirke thus as I wene.
And here to God my saule I wite291
And all my body to brenne bydene.
Now fadir be noght myssyng,
But smyte fast as yoe may.
Abraham
Farewele, in Goddis dere blissyng295
And myn, for euer and ay.
That pereles prince I praye
Myn offerand heretill haue it,
My sacryfice this day
I praye the lorde ressayue it.
Angel
Abraham, Abraham.301
Abraham
Loo, here iwys.301
Angel
Abraham, abide, and halde the stille.302
Sla noght thy sone, do hym no mysse,
Take here a schepe thy offerrand tyll,
Is sente the fro the kyng of blisse
That faythfull ay to the is fone;
He biddis the make offerrand of this
Here at this tyme, and saffe thy sone.308
Abraham
I lowe that lord with herte entier309
That of his luffe this lane me lente,
To saffe my sone, my darlyng dere,
And sente this schepe to this entente,
That we sall offir it to the here-
So sall it be as thou has mente.
My sone, be gladde and make goode cheere,315
God has till vs goode comforte sente.
He will noght thou be dede,
But tille his lawes take kepe;
And se son, in thy stede
God has sente vs a schepe.
Isaac
To make oure offerand at his wille321
All for oure sake he has it sente.
To lowe that lorde I halde grete skyll
That tylle his menyoe thus has mente.
This dede I wolde haue tane me till
Full gladly lorde, to thyn entent.
Abraham
A, sone, thy bloode wolde he noght spill,327
Forthy this shepe thus has he sente;
And sone, I am full fayne
Of oure spede in this place-
Bot go we home agayne
And lowe God of his grace.
Angel
Abraham, Abraham.333
Abraham
Loo, here indede.333
Harke sone, sum saluyng of our sare.
Angel
God sais thou sall haue mekill mede335
For thys goode will that thou in ware.
Sen thou for hym wolde do this dede-
To spille thy sone and noght to spare-
He menes to multiplie youre seede
On sides seere, as he saide are;
And yit he hight you this,341
That of youre seede sall ryse,
Thurgh helpe of hym and his,
Ouere-hande of all enmys.
Luk yoe hym loue, this is his liste,
And lelly lyff eftir his laye,
For in youre seede all mon be bliste347
That ther bese borne be nyght or day.
If yoe will in hym trowe or triste
He will be with yoou euere and aye.
Abraham
Full wele wer vs and we it wiste,351
Howe we shulde wirke his will alwaye.
Isaac
Fadir, that sall we frayne353
At wyser men than wee,
And fulfille it ful fayne
Indede eftir oure degree.
Abraham
Nowe sone, sen we thus wele hase spede,357
That God has graunted me thy liffe,
It is my wille that thou be wedde
And welde a woman to thy wyffe;
So sall thy sede springe and be spredde
In the lawez of God be reasoune ryffe.
I wate in what steede sho is stede363
That thou sall wedde, withowten stryffe:
Rabek that damysell,
Hir fayrer is none fone,
The doughter of Batwell
That was my brothir sone.
Isaac
Fadir, as you likes my lyffe to spende369
I sall assente vnto the same.
Abraham
One of my seruandis sone sall I sende371
Vnto that birde to brynge hir hame.
The gaynest gates now will we wende.
My barnes, yee ar noght to blame
Yeff yoe thynke lang that we her lende;
Gedir same oure gere, in Goddis name,
And go we hame agayne377
Euyn vnto Barsabé.
God that is most of mayne
Vs wisse and with yoou be.

The Hosiers' Play: Moses and PharaohContents

Rex Pharao
O pees, I bidde that no man passe,1
But kepe the cours that I comaunde,
And takes gud heede to hym that hasse
Youre liff all haly in his hande.
Kyng Pharo my fadir was,
And led the lordshippe of this lande,
I am his hayre as elde will asse,7
Euere in his steede to styrre and stande.
All Egippe is myne awne
To lede aftir my lawe,
I will my myght be knawen
And honnoured as it awe.
Therfore als kyng I commaunde pees13
To all the pepill of this empire,
That no man putte hym fourthe in prees
But that will do als we desire.
And of youre sawes I rede you sees,
And sesse to me, youre sufferayne sire,
That most youre comforte may encrese19
And at my liste lose liffe and lyre.
Consolator 1
My lorde, yf any were21
That walde not wirke youre will,
And we wist whilke thay were
Ful sone we suld thaym spill.
Rex Pharao
Thurghoute my kyngdome wolde I kenn,25
And konne tham thanke that couthe me telle,
If any wer so weryd then
That wolde aught fande owre forse to fell.
Consolator 2
My lorde, thar are a maner of men29
That mustirs grete maistris tham emell,
The Jewes that wonnes here in Jessen
And er named the childir of Israell.
They multyplye so faste
That suthly we suppose
Thay are like, and they laste,35
Yowre lordshippe for to lose.
Rex Pharao
Why, devill, what gawdes haue they begonne?37
Er thai of myght to make afrayse?
Consolator 1
Tho felons folke, sir, first was fonn39
In kyng Pharo yooure fadyr dayse.
Thay come of Joseph, Jacob sonn,
That was a prince worthy to prayse,
And sithen in ryste furthe are they run,
Now ar they like to lose our layse.
Thay sall confounde vs clene45
Bot if thai sonner sese.
Rex Pharao
What devill ever may it mene47
That they so fast encrese?
Consolator 2
Howe they encrese full wele we kenn,49
Als oure elders before vs fande,
Thay were talde but sexty and ten
Whan thei enterd into this lande.
Sithen haue they soionerd here in Jessen
Foure houndereth yoere, this we warande,
Now are they noumbered of myghty men55
Wele more than thre hundereth thowsande,
Withowten wiffe and childe
And herdes that kepes ther fee.
Rex Pharao
So myght we be bygillid;59
Bot certis that sall noght be,
For with qwantise we sall tham qwelle,
That thei sall no farrar sprede.
Consolator 1
Lorde, we have herde oure fadres telle63
Howe clerkis, that ful wele couthe rede,
Saide a man shulde wax tham emell
That suld fordo vs and owre dede.
Rex Pharao
Fy on tham, to the devell of helle!67
Swilke destanye sall we noght drede.
We sall make mydwayes to spille tham,
Whenne oure Ebrewes are borne,
All that are mankynde to kille tham,
So sall they sone by lorne.
For of the other haue I non awe.73
Swilke bondage sall we to tham bede:
To dyke and delfe, beere and drawe,
And do all swilke vnhonest dede.
Thus sall the laddis beholden lawe,
Als losellis ever thaire lyff to leede.
Consolator 2
Certis lorde, this is a sotell sawe,79
So sall the folke no farrar sprede.
Rex Pharao
Yaa, helpes to halde tham doune,81
That we no fantyse fynde.
Consolator 1
Lorde, we sall ever be bowne83
In bondage tham to bynde.
Moyses
Grete God that all this grounde began85
And governes euere in gud degree,
That made me Moyses vnto man
And saued me sythen out of the see-
Kyng Pharo he comaunded than
So that no sonnes shulde saued be,
Agayns his wille away I wan-91
Thus has God shewed his myght in me.
Nowe am I here to kepe,
Sett vndir Synay syde,
The bisshoppe Jetro schepe,
So bettir bute to bide.
A, mercy God, mekill is thy myght,97
What man may of thy meruayles mene!
I se yoondyr a ful selcouth syght
Wherof befor no synge was seene.
A busk I se yondir brennand bright
And the leues last ay inlike grene;
If it be werke of worldly wight103
I will go witte withowten wene.
God
Moyses, come noght to nere105
Bot stille in that stede dwelle,
And take hede to me here,
And tente what I the telle.
I am thy lorde, withoutyn lak,
To lengh thi liffe euen as me list,
And the same God that somtyme spak111
Vnto thyne elders als thei wiste;
Both Abraham and Ysaac
And Jacob, saide I, suld be bliste
And multyplyeand, tham to mak,
So that ther seede shulde noght be myste.
And nowe kyng Pharo117
Fuls thare childir ful faste.
If I suffir hym soo
Thare seede shulde sone be past.
To make the message haue I mende
To hym that tham so harmed hase,
To warne hym with wordes hende123
So that he lette my pepull passe,
That they to wildirnesse may wende
And wirshippe me als whilom was.
And yf he lenger gar them lende
His sange ful sone sall be ‘alas’.
Moyses
A, lord, syth, with thy leue,129
That lynage loves me noght,
Gladly they walde me greve
And I slyke boodword brought.
Therfore lord, late sum othir fraste
That hase more forse tham for to feere.
God
Moyses, be noght abaste135
My bidding baldely to bere.
If thai with wrang ought walde the wrayste,
Owte of all wothis I sall the were.
Moyses
We, lord, thai wil noght to me trayste139
For al the othes that I may swere.
To neven slyke note of newe
To folke of wykkyd will,
Withouten taken trewe,
They will noght take tente thertill.
God
And if they will noght vndirstande145
Ne take heede how I haue the sente,
Before the kyng cast downe thy wande
And it sall seme as a serpent.
Sithen take the tayle in thy hande
And hardely vppe thou itt hente,
In the firste state als thou it fande-151
So sall it turne be myn entent.
Hyde thy hande in thy barme
And as a lepre it sall be like,
Sithen hale withouten harme;
Thi syngnes sall be slyke.
And if he wil not suffre than157
My pepull for to passe in pees,
I sall send vengeaunce ix or x
To sewe hym sararre, or I sesse.
Bot the Jewes that wonnes in Jessen
Sall noyot be merked with that messe,
Als lange als thai my lawes will kenne163
Ther comfort sal I euere encresse.
Moyses
A, lorde, lovyd be thy wille165
That makes thy folke so free,
I sall tell tham vntill
Als thou telles vnto me.
But to the kyng, lorde, whan I come
And he ask me what is thy name,
And I stande stille than, defe and dum,171
How sal I be withouten blame?
God
I saie thus ego sum qui sum,173
I am he that I am the same,
And if thou myght not meve ne mum
I sall the saffe fro synne and shame.
Moyses
I vndirstande this thyng177
With al the myght in me.
God
Be bolde in my blissyng,179
Thy belde ay sall I be.
Moyses
A, lorde of lyffe, lere me my layre181
That I there tales may trewly tell.
Vnto my frendis nowe will I fare,
The chosen childre of Israell,
To telle tham comforte of ther care,
And of there daunger that thei in dwell.
God mayntayne you and me euermare,187
And mekill myrthe be you emell.
Puer 1
A, Moyses, maistir dere,189
Oure myrthe is al mornyng,
We are harde halden here
Als carls vndir the kyng.
Puer 2
Moyses, we may mourne and myne,193
Ther is no man vs myrthes mase;
And sen we come al of a kynne,
Ken vs som comforte in this case.
Moyses
Beith of youre mornyng blyne,197
God wil defende you of your fays.
Oute of this woo he will you wynne
To plese hym in more plener place.
I sall carpe to the kyng
And fande to make you free.
Puer 3
God sende vs gud tythynge,203
And allway with you be.
Moyses
Kyng Pharo, to me take tent.205
Rex Pharao
Why, what tydyngis can thou tell?206
Moyses
Fro God of heuen thus am I sente207
To fecche his folke of Israell;
To wildirnesse he walde thei wente.
Rex Pharao
Yaa, wende thou to the devell of hell.210
I make no force howe thou has mente,
For in my daunger sall thei dwelle.
And faytour, for thy sake,
Thei sall be putte to pyne.
Moyses
Thanne will God vengeaunce take215
On the and on al thyne.
Rex Pharao
Fy on the ladde, oute of my lande!217
Wenes thou with wiles to lose oure laye?
When is this warlowe with his wande
That wolde thus wynne oure folke away?
Consolator 2
It is Moyses, we wele warrand,221
Agayne al Egipte is he ay.
Youre fadir grete faute in hym fande,
Nowe will he marre you if he may.
Rex Pharao
Nay, nay, that daunce is done,225
That lordan leryd ouere-late.
Moyses
God biddis the graunte my bone,227
And late me go my gate.
Rex Pharao
Biddis God me? Fals lurdayne, thou lyes!229
What takyn talde he, toke thou tent?
Moyses
Yaa sir, he saide thou suld despise231
Botht me and all his comaundement.
In thy presence kast on this wise
My wande he bad by his assent,
And that thou shulde the wele avise
Howe it shulde turne to a serpent.
And in his haly name237
Here sal I ley it downe:
Loo ser, se her the same.
Rex Pharao
A! Dogg! The deuyll the drowne!240
Moyses
He saide that I shulde take the tayle241
So for to proue his poure playne,
And sone he saide it shuld not fayle
For to turne a wande agayne.
Loo sir, behalde.
Rex Pharao
Hopp illa hayle!245
Now certis this is a sotill swayne,
But this boyes sall byde here in oure bayle,
For al thair gaudis sall noght tham gayne;
Bot warse, both morne and none,
Sall thei fare for thy sake.
Moyses
God sende sum vengeaunce sone,251
And on thi werke take wrake.
Egyptian 1
Allas, allas, this lande is lorne,253
On lif we may no lenger lende.
Egyptian 2
So grete myscheffe is made sen morne255
Ther may no medycyne vs amende.
Consolator 1
Sir kyng, we banne that we wer borne,257
Oure blisse is all with bales blende.
Rex Pharao
Why crys you swa, laddis? Liste you scorne?259
Egyptian 1
Sir kyng, slyk care was neuere kende.260
Oure watir that was ordand
To men and beestis fudde,
Thurghoute al Egipte lande
Is turned to rede blude.
Full vgly and ful ill is it
That was ful faire and fresshe before.266
Rex Pharao
This is grete wondir for to witt267
Of all the werkis that ever wore.
Egyptian 2
Nay lorde, ther is anothir yoitt269
That sodenly sewes vs ful sore,
For tadys and frosshis we may not flitte,
Thare venym loses lesse and more.
Egyptian 1
Lorde, grete myses bothe morn and none273
Bytis vs full bittirlye,
And we hope al by done
By Moyses, oure enemye.
Consolator 1
Lorde, whills ve with this menyhe meve277
Mon never myrthe be vs emange.
Rex Pharao
Go saie we sall no lenger greve-279
But thai sall neuere the tytar gang.
Egyptian 2
Moyses, my lord has grauntyd leve281
At lede thy folk to likyng lande,
So that we mende of oure myscheue.
Moyses
I wate ful wele thar wordes er wrange;284
That sall ful sone be sene,
For hardely I hym heete,
And he of malice mene
Mo mervaylles mon he mett.
Egyptian 1
Lorde, allas, for dule we dye,289
We dar not loke oute at no dore.
Rex Pharao
What deuyll ayles yow so to crye?291
Egyptian 2
We fare nowe werre than euere we fure.292
Grete loppis ouere all this lande thei flye,
That with bytyng makis mekill blure.
Egyptian 1
Lorde, oure beestis lyes dede and dry295
Als wele on myddyng als on more-
Both oxe, horse and asse
Fallis dede doune sodanly.
Rex Pharao
Therof no man harme has299
Halfe so mekil as I.
Consolator 2
Yis lorde, poure men has mekill woo301
To see ther catell be out cast.
The Jewes in Jessen faren noyot soo,
They haue al likyng in to last.
Rex Pharao
Go saie we giffe tham leue to goo305
To tyme there parellis be ouer-past-
But or thay flitte over-farre vs froo
We sall garre feste tham foure so fast.
Egyptian 2
Moyses, my lord giffis leue309
Thy men for to remewe.
Moyses
He mon haue more mischeff311
But if his tales be trewe.
Egyptian 1
We, lorde, we may not lede this liffe.313
Rex Pharao
Why, is ther greuaunce growen agayne?314
Egyptian 2
Swilke poudre, lord, apon vs dryffe315
That whare it bettis it makis a blayne.
Egyptian 1
Like mesellis makis it man and wyffe.317
Sythen ar they hurte with hayle and rayne;
Oure wynes in mountaynes may noyot thryve,
So ar they threst and thondour-slayne.
Rex Pharao
How do thay in Jessen,321
The Jewes, can yoe aught say?
Egyptian 2
This care nothyng they ken,323
Thay fele no such affray.
Rex Pharao
No? Devill! And sitte they so in pees325
And we ilke day in doute and drede?
Egyptian 1
My lorde, this care will euere encrese327
Tille Moyses have leve tham to lede.
Consolator 1
Lorde, war thay wente than walde it sese,329
So shuld we save vs and oure seede,
Ellis be we lorne-this is no lese.
Rex Pharao
Late hym do fourth, the devill hym spede!332
For his folke sall no ferre
Yf he go welland woode.
Consolator 2
Than will itt sone be warre,335
Yit war bettir thai yooode.
Egyptian 2
We, lorde, new harme is comon to hande.337
Rex Pharao
No! Devill! Will itt no bettir be?338
Egyptian 1
Wilde wormes is laide ouere al this lande,339
Thai leve no frute ne floure on tree;
Agayne that storme may nothyng stande.
Egyptian 2
Lord, ther is more myscheff thynke me,342
And thre daies hase itt bene durand,
So myrke that non myght othir see.
Egyptian 1
My lorde, grete pestelence345
Is like ful lange to last.
Rex Pharao
Owe, come that in oure presence?347
Than is oure pride al past.
Egyptian 2
My lorde, this vengeaunce lastis lange,349
And mon till Moyses haue his bone.
Consolator 1
Lorde, late tham wende, els wirke we wrang,351
It may not helpe to hover na hone.
Rex Pharao
Go saie we graunte tham leue to gange353
In the devill way, sen itt bus be done-
For so may fall we sall tham fang
And marre tham or tomorne at none.
Egyptian 1
Moyses, my lorde has saide357
Thou sall haue passage playne.
Moyses
And to passe am I paied.359
My frendes, bees nowe fayne,
For at oure will now sall we wende,
In lande of lykyng for to lende.
Puer 1
Kyng Pharo, that felowns fende,363
Will haue grete care fro this be kende,
Than will he schappe hym vs to shende
And sone his ooste aftir vs sende.
Moyses
Beis noght aferde, God is youre frende,367
Fro alle oure fooes he will vs fende.
Tharfore comes furthe with me,
Haves done and drede yow noght.
Puer 2
My lorde, loved mott thou bee,371
That us fro bale has brought.
Puer 3
Swilke frenshippe never before we fande,373
But in this faire defautys may fall.
The Rede See is ryght nere at hande,
Ther bus vs bide to we be thrall.
Moyses
I sall make vs way with my wande,377
For God hase sayde he saue vs sall;
On aythir syde the see sall stande,
Tille we be wente, right as a wall.
Therfore have yoe no drede,
But faynde ay God to plese.
Puer 1
That lorde to lande vs lede,383
Now wende we all at esse.
Egyptian 1
Kyng Pharro, ther folke er gane.385
Rex Pharao
Howe nowe, es ther any noyes of newe?386
Egyptian 2
The Ebrowes er wente ilkone.387
Rex Pharao
How sais thou that?388
Egyptian 1
Ther talis er trewe.388
Rex Pharao
Horse harneys tyte, that thei be tane,389
This ryott radly sall tham rewe.
We sall not sese or they be slone,
For to the se we sall tham sew.
Do charge oure charyottis swithe
And frekly folowes me.
Egyptian 2
My lorde we are full blithe395
At youre biddyng to be.
Consolator 2
Lorde, to youre biddyng we er boune397
Owre bodies baldely for to bede,
We sall noght byde, but dyng tham doune
Tylle all be dede, withouten drede.
Rex Pharao
Hefe vppe youre hartis ay to Mahownde,401
He will be nere vs in oure nede.
Owte! Ay herrowe! Devill, I drowne!
Egyptian 1
Allas, we dye for alle our dede.404
Puer 1
Nowe ar we wonne fra waa405
And saued oute of the see,
Cantemus domino,
To God a sange synge wee.

The Spicers' Play: The Annunciation and VisitationContents

Doctor
Lord God, grete meruell es to mene1
Howe man was made withouten mysse,
And sette whare he sulde euer haue bene
Withouten bale, bidand in blisse;
And howe he lost that comforth clene
And was putte oute fro paradys,
And sithen what sorouse sor warr sene7
Sente vnto hym and to al his;
And howe they lay lange space
In helle, lokyn fro lyght,
Tille God graunted tham grace
Of helpe, als he hadde hyght.
Than is it nedfull for to neven13
How prophettis all Goddis counsailes kende,
Als prophet Amos in his steuen
Lered whils he in his liffe gun lende:
Deus pater disposuit salutem fieri in medio terre, etc.
He sais thus: God the fadir in heuen
Ordand in erthe mankynde to mende;
And to grayth it with Godhede euen,
His sone he saide that he suld sende
To take kynde of mankyn,
In a mayden full mylde;22
So was many saued of syn
And the foule fende begyled.
And for the feende sulde so be fedd
Be tyne, and to no treuth take tentt,
God made that mayden to be wedde
Or he his sone vnto hir sentte.28
So was the Godhede closed and cledde
In wede of weddyng whare thy wente;
And that oure blisse sulde so be bredde
Ful many materes may be mente:
Quoniam in semine tuo benedicentur omnes gentes, etc.
God hymself sayde this thynge
To Abraham als hym liste:
Of thy sede sall vppe sprynge
Wharein folke sall be bliste.
To proue thes prophettes ordande er,
Als Isay, vnto olde and yenge,38
He moued oure myscheues for to merr,
For thus he prayed God for this thynge:
Rorate, celi, desuper-
Lord, late thou doune at thy likyng
The dewe to fall fro heuen so ferre,
For than the erthe sall sprede and sprynge44
A seede that vs sall saue,
That nowe in blisse are bente.
Of clerkis whoso will craue
Thus may ther gatis be mente:
The dewe to the gode haly gaste
May be remened in mannes mynde,50
The erthe vnto the mayden chaste,
Bycause sho comes of erthely kynde.
Thir wise wordis ware noght wroght in waste,
To waffe and wende away als wynde,
For this same prophett sone in haste
Saide forthermore, als folkes may fynde:56
Propter hoc dabit dominus ipse vobis signum, etc.56
Loo, he sais thus: God sall gyffe
Hereof a syngne to see
Tille all that lely lyffe,
And this thare sygne sal be,
Ecce uirgo concipiett, et pariet filium, etc.60
Loo, he sais a mayden mon
Here on this molde mankynde omell,
Full clere consayue and bere a sonne,
And neven his name Emanuell.
His kyngdom that euere is begonne
Sall never sese, but dure and dwell;66
On Dauid sege thore sall he wonne,
His domes to deme and trueth to telle.
Zelus domini faciet hoc, etc.68
He says, luffe of oure lorde
All this sall ordan thanne;
That mennes pees and accorde
To make with erthely manne.
More of this maiden meves me;
This prophett sais for oure socoure74
Egredietur virga de Jesse-
A wande sall brede of Jesse boure,
And of this same also sais hee:
Vpponne that wande sall springe a floure
Wheron the haly gast sall be,
To governe it with grete honnoure.80
That wande meynes vntill vs
This mayden, even and morne,
And the floure is Jesus,
That of that blyst bees borne.
The prophet Johell, a gentill Jewe,
Somtyme has saide of the same thyng,86
He likenes Criste euen als he knewe
Like to the dewe in doune-commyng:
Ero quasi ros; et virgo Israell germinabit sicut lilium.
The maiden of Israell al newe,
He sais, sall bere one and forthe brynge
Als the lelly floure, full faire of hewe.
This meynes sa to olde and yoenge,
That the hegh haly gaste
Come oure myscheffe to mende94
In Marie, mayden chaste,
When God his sone walde sende.
This lady is to the lilly lyke-
That is bycause of hir clene liffe,
For in this worlde was never slyke
One to be mayden, modir, and wyffe.100
And hir sonne, kyng in heuen-ryke,
Als oft es red be reasoune ryfe,
And hir husband, bath maistir and meke,
In charité to stynte all striffe-
This passed all worldly witte,
How God had ordand thaim thanne106
In hir one to be knytte,
Godhed, maydenhed, and manne.
Bot of this werke grete witnes was
With forme-faders, all folke may tell.
Whan Jacob blyst his sone Judas
He tolde the tale thaim two emell:112
Non auferetur septrum de Juda,112
donec ueniat qui mittendus est.112
He sais the septer sall noght passe
Fra Juda lande of Israell,
Or he comme that God ordand has
To be sente feendis force to fell.
Et ipse erit expectacio gencium.116
Hym sall alle folke abyde,
And stande vnto his steuen.
Ther sawes wer signified
To Crist, Goddis sone in heuen.
For howe he was sente, se we more,
And howe God wolde his place puruay;122
He saide, sonne, I sall sende byfore
Myne aungell to rede the thy way-
Ecce mitto aungelum meum ante faciem tuam,124
qui preparabit viam tuam ante te.124
Of John Baptist he menyd thore,
For in erthe he was ordand ay
To warne the folke that wilsom wore
Of Cristis comyng, and thus gon say:
Ego quidem baptizo in aqua vos, autem128
baptizabimini spiritu sancto.128
Eftir me sall come nowe
A man of myghtis mast,
And sall baptis yoowe
In the high haly gast.
Thus of Cristis commyng may we see
How sainte Luke spekis in his gospell:134
Fro God in heuen es sent, sais he,
An aungell is named Gabriell,
To Nazareth in Galalé,
Where than a mayden mylde gon dwell,
That with Joseph suld wedded be;
Hir name is Marie-thus gan he telle.140
How God his grace than grayd
To man in this manere,
And how the aungell saide,
Takes hede, all that will here.
Angel
Hayle Marie, full of grace and blysse,145
Oure lord God is with the
And has chosen the for his,
Of all women blist mot thou be.
Mary
What maner of halsyng is this149
Thus preuely comes to me?
For in myn herte a thoght it is,
The tokenyng that I here see.
Angel
Ne drede the noght thou mylde Marie,153
For nothyng that may befalle,
For thou has fun soueranly
At God a grace ouer othir all.
In chastité of thy bodye
Consayue and bere a childe thou sall;
This bodword brynge I the, forthy159
His name Jesu sall thou calle.
Mekill of myght than sall he bee,
He sall be God and called God sonn.
Dauid sege, his fadir free,
Sall God hym giffe to sytte vppon;
Als kyng for euer regne sall hee,165
In Jacob house ay for to wonne,
Of his kyngdome and dignité
Shall noo man erthly knaw ne con.
Mary
Thou Goddis aungell meke and mylde,169
Howe sulde it be, I the praye,
That I sulde consayve a childe
Of any man by nyght or daye?
I knawe no man that shulde haue fyled
My maydenhode, the sothe to saye;
Withouten will of werkis wilde175
In chastité I haue ben ay.
Angel
The haly gast in the sall lighte,177
Hegh vertue sall to the holde,
The holy birthe of the so bright
God sonne he sall be calde.
Loo, Elyzabeth thi cosyne ne myght
In elde consayue a childe for alde;
This is the sexte moneth full ryght,183
To hir that baran has ben talde.
Mary
Thou aungell, blissid messanger,185
Of Goddis will I holde me payde;
I love my lorde with herte clere,
The grace that he has for me layde.
Goddis handmayden, lo me here
To his wille all redy grayd;
Be done to me of all manere191
Thurgh thy worde als thou hast saide.
Now God that all oure hope is in,
Thur the myght of the haly gaste,
Saue the, dame, fro sak of synne,
And wisse the fro all werkis wast.
Elyzabeth myn awne cosyne,197
Methoght I coveyte alway mast
To speke with the of all my kynne,
Therfore I comme thus in this hast.
Elizabeth
A, welcome mylde Marie,201
Myne aughen cosyne so dere,
Joifull woman am I
That I nowe see the here.
Blissed be thou anely
Of all women in feere,
And the frute of thy body207
Be blissid ferre and nere.
This is joyfull tydyng
That I may nowe here see,
The modyr of my lord kyng
Thus-gate come to me.
Sone als the voyce of thine haylsing213
Moght myn neres entreand be,
The childe in my wombe so yenge
Makes grete myrthe vnto the.
Mary
Nowe lorde, blist be thou ay217
For the grace thou has me lente;
Lorde, I lofe the, God verray,
The sande thou hast me sente.
I thanke the nyght and day,
And prayes with goode entente
Thou make me to thy paye,223
To the my wille is wentte.
Elizabeth
Blissid be thou grathely grayed225
To God thurgh chastité,
Thou trowed and helde the payed
Atte his wille for to bee.
All that to the is saide
Fro my lorde so free,
Swilke grace is for the layde231
Sall be fulfilled in the.
Mary
To his grace I will me ta,233
With chastité to dele,
That made me thus to ga
Omange his maidens feele.
My saule sall louying ma
Vnto that lorde so lele,
And my gast make ioye alswa239
In God that es my hele.

The Pewterers' and Founders' Play: Joseph's Trouble about MaryContents

Joseph
Of grete mornyng may I me mene1
And walke full werily be this way,
For nowe than wende I best hafe bene
Att ease and reste by reasoune ay.
For I am of grete elde,
Wayke and al vnwelde,
Als ilke man se it maye;7
I may nowder buske ne belde
But owther in frithe or felde;
For shame what sall I saie,
That thus-gates nowe on myne alde dase
Has wedded a yonge wenche to my wiff,
And may noyot wele tryne over two strase?13
Nowe lorde, how lange sall I lede this liff?
My banes er heuy als lede
And may noyot stande in stede,
Als kende it is full ryfe.
Now lorde, thou me wisse and rede
Or sone me dryue to dede,19
Thou may best stynte this striffe.
For bittirly than may I banne
The way I in the temple wente,
Itt was to me a bad barganne,
For reuthe I may it ay repente.
For tharein was ordande25
Vnwedded men sulde stande,
Al sembled at asent,
And ilke ane a drye wande
On heght helde in his hand,
And I ne wist what it ment.
In-mange al othir ane bare I;31
Itt florisshed faire, and floures on sprede,
And thay saide to me forthy
That with a wiffe I sulde be wedde.
The bargayne I made thare,
That rewes me nowe full sare,
So am I straytely sted.37
Now castes itt me in care,
For wele I myght eueremare
Anlepy life haue led.
Hir werkis me wyrkis my wonges to wete;
I am begiled-how, wate I noyot.
My yoonge wiffe is with childe full grete,43
That makes me nowe sorowe vnsoght.
That reproffe nere has slayne me,
Forthy giff any man frayne me
How this thing miyot be wroght,
To gabbe yf I wolde payne me,
The lawe standis harde agayne me:49
To dede I mon be broght.
And lathe methinketh, on the todir syde,
My wiff with any man to defame,
And whethir of there twa that I bide
I mon noyot scape withouten schame.
The childe certis is noght myne;55
That reproffe dose me pyne
And gars me fle fra hame.
My liff gif I shuld tyne,
Sho is a clene virgine
For me, withouten blame.
But wele I wate thurgh prophicie61
A maiden clene suld bere a childe,
But it is nought sho, sekirly,
Forthy I wate I am begiled.
And why ne walde som yonge man ta her?
For certis I thynke ouer-ga hir
Into som wodes wilde,67
Thus thynke I to stele fra hir.
God childe ther wilde bestes sla hir,
She is so meke and mylde.
Of my wendyng wil I none warne,
Neuere the lees it is myne entente
To aske hir who gate hir that barne,73
Yitt wolde I witte fayne or I wente.
All hayle, God be hereinne.
Puella 1
Welcome, by Goddis dere myght.76
Joseph
Whare is that yoonge virgine77
Marie, my berde so bright?
Puella 1
Certis Joseph, yoe sall vndirstande79
That sho is not full farre you fra,
Sho sittis at hir boke full faste prayand
For yoou and vs, and for all tha
That oght has nede.
But for to telle hir will I ga
Of youre comyng, withouten drede.85
Haue done and rise vppe, dame,
And to me take gud hede-
Joseph, he is comen hame.
Mary
Welcome, als God me spede.89
Dredles to me he is full dere;
Joseph my spouse, welcome er yhe.
Joseph
Gramercy Marie, saie what chere,92
Telle me the soth, how est with the?
Wha has ben there?
Thy wombe is waxen grete, thynke me,
Thou arte with barne, allas for care.
A, maidens, wa worthe yoou,
That lete hir lere swilke lare.98
Puella 2
Joseph, yoe sall noyot trowe99
In hir no febill fare.
Joseph
Trowe it noght arme? Lefe wenche, do way!101
Hir sidis shewes she is with childe.
Whose ist Marie?
Mary
Sir, Goddis and youres.103
Joseph
Nay, nay,103
Now wate I wele I am begiled,
And reasoune why?
With me flesshely was thou neuere fylid,
And I forsake it here forthy.
Say maidens, how es this?
Tels me the sothe, rede I;109
And but yoe do, iwisse,
The bargayne sall yoe aby.
Puella 2
If yoe threte als faste as yhe can112
Thare is noght to saie theretill,
For trulye her come neuer no man
To waite the body with non ill
Of this swete wight,
For we haue dwelt ay with hir still
And was neuere fro hir day nor nyght.118
Hir kepars haue we bene
And sho ay in oure sight,
Come here no man bytwene
To touche that berde so bright.
Puella 1
Na, here come no man in there wanes123
And that euere witnesse will we,
Saue an aungell ilke a day anes
With bodily foode hir fedde has he,
Othir come nane.
Wharfore we ne wate how it shulde be
But thurgh the haly gaste allane.129
For trewly we trowe this,
Is grace with hir is gane,
For sho wroght neuere no mys,
We witnesse euere ilkane.
Joseph
Thanne se I wele youre menyng is134
The aungell has made hir with childe.
Nay, som man in aungellis liknesse
With somkyn gawde has hir begiled,
And that trow I.
Forthy nedes noght swilke wordis wilde
At carpe to me dissayuandly.140
We, why gab ye me swa
And feynes swilk fantassy?
Allas, me is full wa,
For dule why ne myght I dy.
To me this is a carefull cas;
Rekkeles I raffe, refte is my rede.146
I dare loke no man in the face,
Derfely for dole why ne were I dede;
Me lathis my liff.
In temple and in othir stede
Ilke man till hethyng will me dryff.
Was neuer wight sa wa,152
For ruthe I all to-ryff;
Allas, why wroght thou swa
Marie, my weddid wiffe?
Mary
To my witnesse grete God I call,156
That in mynde wroght neuere na mysse.
Joseph
Whose is the childe thou arte withall?158
Mary
Youres sir, and the kyngis of blisse.159
Joseph
Ye, and hoo than?160
Na, selcouthe tythandis than is this,
Excuse tham wele there women can.
But Marie, all that sese the
May witte thi werkis ere wan,
Thy wombe allway it wreyes the
That thou has mette with man.166
Whose is it, als faire mot the befall?
Mary
Sir, it is youres and Goddis will.168
Joseph
Nay, I ne haue noght ado withall-169
Neme it na more to me, be still!
Thou wate als wele as I,
That we two same flesshly
Wroght neuer swilk werkis with ill.
Loke thou dide no folye
Before me preuely175
Thy faire maydenhede to spill.
But who is the fader? Telle me his name.
Mary
None but youreselfe.178
Joseph
Late be, for shame.178
I did it neuere; thou dotist dame, by bukes and belles!
Full sakles shulde I bere this blame aftir thou telles,
For I wroght neuere in worde nor dede
Thyng that shulde marre thy maydenhede,
To touche me till.
For of slyk note war litill nede,184
Yhitt for myn awne I wolde it fede,
Might all be still;
Tharfore the fadir tell me, Marie.
Mary
But God and yhow, I knawe right nane.188
Joseph
A, slike sawes mase me full sarye,189
With grete mornyng to make my mane.
Therefore be noyot so balde,
That no slike tales be talde,
But halde the stille als stane.
Thou art yonge and I am alde,
Slike werkis yf I do walde,195
Thase games fra me are gane.
Therfore, telle me in priuité,
Whos is the childe thou is with nowe?
Sertis, ther sall non witte but we,
I drede the law als wele as thou.
Mary
Nowe grete God of his myght201
That all may dresse and dight,
Mekely to the I bowe.
Rewe on this wery wight,
That in his herte myght light
The soth to ken and trowe.
Joseph
Who had thy maydenhede Marie? Has thou oght mynde?207
Mary
Forsuth, I am a mayden clene.208
Joseph
Nay, thou spekis now agayne kynde,209
Slike thing myght neuere na man of mene.
A maiden to be with childe?
Thase werkis fra the ar wilde,
Sho is not borne I wene.
Mary
Joseph, yhe ar begiled,214
With synne was I neuer filid,
Goddis sande is on me sene.
Joseph
Goddis sande? Yha Marie, God helpe!217
Bot certis that childe was neuere oures twa.
But woman-kynde gif tham list yhelpe,
Yhitt walde thei na man wiste ther wa.
Mary
Sertis it is Goddis sande221
[…     …]221
That sall I neuer ga fra.
Joseph
Yha, Marie, drawe thyn hande,223
For forther yoitt will I fande,
I trowe not it be swa.
The soth fra me gif that thou layne,
The childe-bering may thou noyot hyde;
But sitte stille here tille I come agayne,
Me bus an erand here beside.229
Mary
Now grete God he you wisse,230
And mende you of your mysse
Of me, what so betyde.
Als he is kyng of blisse,
Sende yhou som seand of this,
In truth that ye might bide.
Joseph
Nowe lord God that al thing may236
At thyne awne will bothe do and dresse,
Wisse me now som redy way
To walke here in this wildirnesse.
Bot or I passe this hill,
Do with me what God will,
Owther more or lesse,242
Here bus me bide full stille
Till I haue slepid my fille,
Myn hert so heuy it is.
Angel
Waken, Joseph, and take bettir kepe246
To Marie, that is thi felawe fest.
Joseph
A, I am full werie, lefe, late me slepe,248
Forwandered and walked in this forest.
Angel
Rise vppe, and slepe na mare,250
Thou makist her herte full sare
That loues the alther best.
Joseph
We, now es this a farly fare253
For to be cached bathe here and thare,
And nowhere may haue rest.
Say, what arte thou? Telle me this thyng.
Angel
I, Gabriell, Goddis aungell full euen257
That has tane Marie to my kepyng,
And sente es the to say with steuen
In lele wedlak thou lede the.
Leffe hir noyot, I forbid the,
Na syn of hir thou neuen,
But tille hir fast thou spede the263
And of hir noght thou drede the,
It is Goddis sande of heuen.
The childe that sall be borne of her,
Itt is consayued of the haly gast.
Alle joie and blisse than sall be aftir,
And to al mankynde nowe althir mast.269
Jesus his name thou calle,
For slike happe sall hym fall
Als thou sall se in haste.
His pepull saffe he sall
Of euyllis and angris all,
That thei ar nowe enbraste.275
Joseph
And is this soth, aungell, thou saise?276
Angel
Yha, and this to taken right:277
Wende forthe to Marie thy wiffe alwayse,
Brynge hir to Bedlem this ilke nyght.
Ther sall a childe borne be,
Goddis sone of heuen is hee
And man ay mast of myght.
Joseph
Now lorde God full wele is me283
That euyr that I this sight suld see,
I was neuer ar so light.
For for I walde haue hir thus refused,
And sakles blame that ay was clere,
Me bus pray hir halde me excused,
Als som men dose with full gud chere.289
Saie Marie, wiffe, how fares thou?
Mary
The bettir sir, for yhou.291
Why stande yhe thare? Come nere.
Joseph
My bakke fayne wolde I bowe293
And aske forgifnesse nowe,
Wiste I thou wolde me here.
Mary
Forgiffnesse sir? Late be, for shame,296
Slike wordis suld all gud women lakke.
Joseph
Yha, Marie, I am to blame298
For wordis lang-are I to the spak.
But gadir same nowe all oure gere,
Slike poure wede as we were,
And prike tham in a pak.
Till Bedlem bus me it bere,
For litill thyng will women dere;304
Helpe vp nowe on my bak.

The Tile Thatchers' Play: The NativityContents

Joseph
All-weldand God in trinité,1
I praye the lord, for thy grete myght,
Vnto thy symple seruand see,
Here in this place wher we are pight,
Oureself allone.
Lord, graunte vs gode herberow this nyght
Within this wone.7
For we haue sought bothe vppe and doune
Thurgh diuerse stretis in this cité.
So mekill pepull is comen to towne
That we can nowhare herbered be,
There is slike prees;
Forsuthe I can no socoure see,13
But belde vs with there bestes.
And yf we here all nyght abide
We schall be stormed in this steede,
The walles are doune on ilke a side,
The ruffe is rayued aboven oure hede,
Als haue I roo;19
Say Marie, doughtir, what is thy rede,
How sall we doo?
For in grete nede nowe are we stedde
As thou thyselffe the soth may see,
For here is nowthir cloth ne bedde,
And we are weyke and all werie25
And fayne wolde rest.
Now gracious God, for thy mercie,
Wisse vs the best.
Mary
God will vs wisse, full wele witt yoe,29
Therfore Joseph be of gud chere,
For in this place borne will he be
That sall vs saue fro sorowes sere,
Bothe even and morne.
Sir, witte yoe wele the tyme is nere
He will be borne.35
Joseph
Than behoves vs bide here stille,36
Here in this same place all this nyght.
Mary
Ya sir, forsuth it is Goddis will.38
Joseph
Than wolde I fayne we had sum light,39
What so befall.
It waxis right myrke vnto my sight,
And colde withall.
I will go gete vs light forthy,
And fewell fande with me to bryng.
Mary
All-weldand God yow gouerne and gy,45
As he is sufferayne of all thyng
For his grete myght,
And lende me grace to his louyng
That I me dight.
Nowe in my sawle grete joie haue I,
I am all cladde in comforte clere,51
Now will be borne of my body
Both God and man togedir in feere,
Blist mott he be.
Jesu my sone that is so dere,
Nowe borne is he.
Hayle my lord God, hayle prince of pees,57
Hayle my fadir, and hayle my sone;
Hayle souereyne sege all synnes to sesse,
Hayle God and man in erth to wonne.
Hayle, thurgh whos myht
All this worlde was first begonne,
Merknes and light.63
Sone, as I am sympill sugett of thyne,
Vowchesaffe, swete sone I pray the,
That I myght the take in the armys of myne
And in this poure wede to arraie the.
Graunte me thi blisse,
As I am thy modir chosen to be69
In sothfastnesse.
Joseph
A, lorde God what the wedir is colde,71
The fellest freese that euere I felyd.
I pray God helpe tham that is alde
And namely tham that is vnwelde,
So may I saie.
Now gud God thou be my bilde
As thou best may.77
A, lord God, what light is this
That comes shynyng thus sodenly?
I can not saie als haue I blisse.
When I come home vnto Marie
Than sall I spirre.
A, here be God, for nowe come I.83
Mary
Ye ar welcum sirre.84
Joseph
Say Marie, doghtir, what chere with the?85
Mary
Right goode Joseph, as has ben ay.86
Joseph
O Marie, what swete thyng is that on thy kne?87
Mary
It is my sone, the soth to saye,88
That is so gud.
Joseph
Wele is me I bade this day90
To se this foode.
Me merueles mekill of this light
That thus-gates shynes in this place,
Forsuth it is a selcouth sight.
Mary
This hase he ordand of his grace,95
My sone so yoing,
A starne to be schynyng a space
At his bering.
For Balam tolde ful longe beforne
How that a sterne shulde rise full hye,
And of a maiden shulde be borne101
A sonne that sall oure saffyng be
Fro caris kene.
Forsuth it is my sone so free
Be whame Balam gon meene.
Joseph
Nowe welcome, floure fairest of hewe,106
I shall the menske with mayne and myght.
Hayle my maker, hayle Crist Jesu,
Hayle riall kyng, roote of all right,
Hayle saueour.
Hayle my lorde, lemer of light,
Hayle blessid floure.112
Mary
Nowe lord that all this worlde schall wynne,113
To the my sone is that I saye,
Here is no bedde to laye the inne,
Therfore my dere sone I the praye,
Sen it is soo,
Here in this cribbe I myght the lay
Betwene ther bestis two.119
And I sall happe the, myn owne dere childe,
With such clothes as we haue here.
Joseph
O Marie, beholde thes beestis mylde,122
They make louyng in ther manere
As thei wer men.
Forsothe it semes wele be ther chere
Thare lord thei ken.
Mary
Ther lorde thai kenne, that wate I wele,127
They worshippe hym with myght and mayne;
The wedir is colde as ye may feele,
To halde hym warme thei are full fayne
With thare warme breth,
And oondis on hym, is noght to layne,
To warme hym with.133
O, nowe slepis my sone, blist mot he be,
And lyes full warme ther bestis bytwene.
Joseph
O, nowe is fulfillid, forsuth I see,136
That Abacuc in mynde gon mene
And prechid by prophicie.
He saide oure sauyoure shall be sene
Betwene bestis lye,
And nowe I see the same in sight.
Mary
Ya sir, forsuth the same is he.142
Joseph
Honnoure and worshippe both day and nyght,143
Ay-lastand lorde, be done to the
Allway, as is worthy;
And lord, to thy seruice I oblissh me
With all myn herte, holy.
Mary
Thou mercyfull maker, most myghty,148
My God, my lorde, my sone so free,
Thy handemayden forsoth am I,
And to thi seruice I oblissh me,
With all myn herte entere.
Thy blissing, beseke I thee,
Thou graunte vs all in feere.154

The Chandlers' Play: The ShepherdsContents

Pastor 1
Bredir, in haste takis heede and here1
What I wille speke and specifie;
Sen we walke thus, withouten were,
What mengis my moode nowe meve yt will I.
Oure forme-fadres faythfull in fere,
Bothe Osye and Isaye,
Preued that a prins withouten pere7
Shulde descende doune in a lady,
And to make mankynde clerly,
To leche tham that are lorne.
And in Bedlem hereby
Sall that same barne by borne.
Pastor 2
Or he be borne in burgh hereby,13
Balaham, brothir, me haue herde say,
A sterne shulde schyne and signifie
With lightfull lemes like any day.
And als the texte it tellis clerly
By witty lerned men of oure lay,
With his blissid bloode he shulde vs by,19
He shulde take here al of a maye.
I herde my syre saye,
When he of hir was borne,
She shulde be als clene maye
As euer she was byforne.
Pastor 3
A, mercifull maker, mekill is thy myght,25
That thus will to thi seruauntes see,
Might we ones loke vppon that light
Gladder bretheren myght no men be.
I haue herde say, by that same light
The childre of Israell shulde be made free,
The force of the feende to felle in fighte,31
And all his pouer excluded shulde be.
Wherfore, brether, I rede that wee
Flitte faste ouere thees felles,
To frayste to fynde oure fee,
And talke of sumwhat ellis.
Pastor 1
We, Hudde!37
Pastor 2
We, howe?37
Pastor 1
Herkyn to me.37
Pastor 2
We, man, thou maddes all out of myght.38
Pastor 1
We, Colle!39
Pastor 3
What care is comen to the?39
Pastor 1
Steppe furth and stande by me right,40
And telle me than
Yf thou sawe euere swilke a sight.
Pastor 3
I? Nay, certis, nor neuere no man.43
Pastor 2
Say felowes, what, fynde yhe any feest,44
Me falles for to haue parte, pardé!
Pastor 1
Whe, Hudde, behalde into the heste,46
A selcouthe sight than sall thou see
Vppon the skye.
Pastor 2
We, telle me men, emang vs thre,49
Whatt garres yow stare thus sturdely?
Pastor 3
Als lange as we haue herde-men bene51
And kepid this catell in this cloghe,
So selcouth a sight was neuere non sene.
Pastor 1
We, no Colle. Nowe comes it newe inowe,54
That mon we fynde
[…     …]55
Pastor 3
Itt menes some meruayle vs emang,56
Full hardely I you behete.
Pastor 1
What it shulde mene that wate not yoee,58
For all that yoe can gape and gone.
I can synge itt alls wele as hee,60
And on asaie itt sall be sone
Proued or we passe.
Yf yoe will helpe, late see, halde on,
For thus it was:
Pastor 2
Ha! Ha! this was a mery note,65
Be the dede that I sall dye,
I haue so crakid in my throte
That my lippis are nere drye.
Pastor 3
I trowe thou royse,69
For what it was fayne witte walde I
That tille vs made this noble noyse.
Pastor 1
An aungell brought vs tythandes newe72
A babe in Bedlem shulde be borne,
Of whom than spake oure prophicie trewe-
And bad us mete hym thare this morne-
That mylde of mode.
I walde giffe hym bothe hatte and horne
And I myght fynde that frely foode.78
Pastor 3
Hym for to fynde has we no drede,79
I sall you telle achesoune why:
Yone sterne to that lorde sall vs lede.
Pastor 2
Ya, thou sais soth. Go we forthy82
Hym to honnour,
And make myrthe and melody,
With sange to seke oure savyour.
Pastor 1
Breder, bees all blythe and glad,86
Here is the burgh ther we shulde be.
Pastor 2
In that same steede now are we stadde,88
Tharefore I will go seke and see.
Slike happe of heele neuere herde-men hadde;
Loo, here is the house, and here is hee.
Pastor 3
Ya forsothe, this is the same,92
Loo whare that lorde is layde
Betwyxe two bestis tame,
Right als the aungell saide.
Pastor 1
The aungell saide that he shulde saue96
This worlde and all that wonnes therin,
Therfore yf I shulde oght aftir crave
To wirshippe hym I will begynne:
Sen I am but a symple knave,
Thof all I come of curtayse kynne,
Loo here slyke harnays as I haue-102
A baren-broche by a belle of tynne
At youre bosom to be;
And whenne yoe shall welde all
Gud sonne, forgete noyot me
Yf any fordele falle.
Pastor 2
Thou sonne that shall saue bothe see and sande,108
Se to me sen I haue the soght;
I am ovir poure to make presande
Als myn harte wolde, and I had ought.
Two cobill notis vppon a bande,
Loo, litill babe, what I haue broght,
And whan yoe sall be lorde in lande114
Dose goode agayne, forgete me noght,
For I haue herde declared
Of connyng clerkis and clene,
That bountith askis rewarde;
Nowe watte yoe what I mene.
Pastor 3
Nowe loke on me, my lorde dere,120
Thof all I putte me noght in pres,
Ye are a prince withouten pere,
I haue no presentte that you may plees.
But lo, an horne spone that haue I here-
And it will herbar fourty pese-
This will I giffe you with gud chere,126
Slike novelté may noght disease.
Farewele thou swete swayne,
God graunte vs levyng lange,
And go we hame agayne
And make mirthe as we gange.

The Masons' and Goldsmiths' Play: Herod and the MagiContents

Herod
The clowdes clapped in clerenes that ther clematis inclosis-
Jubiter and Jouis, Martis and Mercurij emyde-
Raykand ouere my rialté on rawe me reioyses,
Blonderande ther blastis to blaw when I bidde.
Saturne my subgett, that sotilly is hidde,
Listes at my likyng and laies hym full lowe.
The rakke of the rede skye full rappely I ridde,7
Thondres full thrallye by thousandes I thrawe
When me likis.
Venus his voice to me awe,
That princes to play in hym pikis.
The prince of planetis that proudely is pight
Sall brace furth his bemes that oure belde blithes,
The mone at my myght he mosteres his myght,
And kayssaris in castellis grete kyndynes me kythes.
Lordis and ladis, loo, luffely me lithes,
For I am fairer of face and fressher on folde-
The soth yf I saie sall-seuene and sexti sithis
Than glorius gulles that gayer is than golde19
In price.
How thynke yoe ther tales that I talde?
I am worthy, witty, and wyse.
Miles 1
All kynges to youre croune may clerly comende23
Youre lawe and youre lordshippe as lodsterne on hight;
What traytoure vntrewe that will not attende,
Ye sall lay thaim full lowe, fro leeme and fro light.
Miles 2
What faitoure, in faithe, that dose yoou offende,27
We sall sette hym full sore, that sotte, in youre sight.
Herod
In welthe sall I wisse yoou to wonne or I wende,29
For yoe are wightis ful worthy, both witty and wighte.
But yoe knawe wele, ser knyghtis in counsaill full conande,
That my regioun so riall is ruled her be rest,
For I wate of no wighte in this worlde that is wonnande
That in forges any felouné, with force sall be fest.
Arest yoe tho rebaldes that vnrewly are rownand,35
Be they kyngis or knyghtis, in care yoe thaim cast,
Yaa, and welde tham in woo to wonne, in the wanyand;
What browle that is brawlyng his brayne loke yoe brest,
And dynge yoe hym doune.
Miles 1
Sir, what foode in faith will yoou feese,40
That sott full sone myselfe sall hym sesse.
Miles 2
We sall noght here doute to do hym disesse,42
But with countenaunce full cruell we sall crake her his croune.
Herod
My sone that is semely, howe semes the ther sawes?44
Howe comely ther knyghtis thei carpe in this case.
Filius
Fadir, if thai like noght to listyn youre lawes,46
As traytoures ontrewe ye sall teche them a trace,
For fadir, vnkyndnes yoe kythe them no cause.
Herod
Faire falle the my faire sone, so fettis of face.49
And knyghtis, I comaunde, who to dule drawes,
Thas churles as cheueleres ye chastise and chase,
And drede yoe no doute.
Filius
Fadir, I sall fell tham in fight,53
What renke that reves you youre right.
Miles 1
With dyntes to dede bes he dight55
That liste not youre lawes for to lowte.
Rex 1
A, lorde that levis, euerelastande light,57
I loue the evir with harte and hande,
That me has made to se this sight
Whilke my kynrede was coveytande.
Thay saide a sterne with lemys bright
Owte of the eest shulde stabely stande,
And that it shulde meffe mekill myght63
Of one that shulde be lorde in lande,
That men of synne shulde saff.
And certis I sall saye,
God graunte me happe to haue
Wissyng of redy waye.
Rex 2
All-weldand God that all has wroght,69
I worshippe the als is worthye,
That with thy brightnes has me broght
Owte of my reame, riche Arabie.
I shall noght seys tille I haue sought
What selcouth thyng it sall syngnyfie,
God graunte me happe so that I myght75
Haue grace to gete goode companye,
And my comforte encrese
With thy sterne schynyng shene;
For certis, I sall noght cesse
Tille I witte what it mene.
Rex 3
Lorde God that all goode has bygonne81
And all may ende, both goode and euyll,
That made for man both mone and sonne,
And stedde yone sterne to stande stone stille,
Tille I the cause may clerly conne,
God wisse me with his worthy wille.
I hope I haue her felaws fonne87
My yarnyng fathfully to fullfille.
Sirs, God yowe saffe ande see,
And were yoow euere fro woo.
Rex 1
Amen, so myght it bee,91
And saffe yow sir, also.
Rex 3
Sirs, with youre wille, I wolde yow praye93
To telle me some of youre entent,
Whedir ye wende forthe in this way,
And fro what contré yoe are wente?
Rex 2
Full gladly sir I shall yoou say.97
A sodayne sight was till vs sente,
A royall sterne that rose or day
Before vs on the firmament,
That garte vs fare fro home
Som poynte therof to preffe.
Rex 3
Sertis syrs, I sawe the same103
That makis vs thus to moyfe;
For sirs, I haue herde saye sertayne
Itt shulde be seyne of selcowthe seere,
And ferther therof I wolde freyne;
That makis me moffe in this manere.
Rex 1
Sir, of felashippe are we fayne,109
Now sall we wende forth all in feere,
God graunte vs or we come agayne
Som gode hartyng therof to here.
Sir, here is Jerusalem
To wisse vs als we goo,
And beyonde is Bedleem,115
Ther schall we seke alsoo.
Rex 3
Sirs, yoe schall wele vndirstande,117
For to be wise nowe were it nede;
Sir Herowde is kyng of this lande
And has his lawes her for to leede.
Rex 1
Sir, sen we neghe now thus nerhand,121
Vntill his helpe vs muste take heede,
For haue we his wille and his warande
Than may we wende withouten drede.
Rex 2
To haue leve of the lorde,125
That is resoune and skyll.
Rex 3
And therto we all accorde,127
Wende we and witte his wille.
Nuncius
My lorde ser Herowde, kyng with croune!129
Herod
Pees dastarde, in the deueles dispite.130
Nuncius
My lorde, now note is nere this towne.131
Herod
What, false harlott, liste the flight?132
Go betis yone boy and dyngis hym downe.
Miles 2
Lorde, messengeres shulde no man wyte,134
It may be for youre awne renoune.
Herod
That wolde I here, do telle on tyte.136
Nuncius
My lorde, I mette at morne137
Thre kyngis carpand togedir
Of a barne that is borne,
And thei hight to come hiddir.
Herod
Thre kyngis, forsoth?141
Nuncius
Sir, so I say,141
For I saw thaim myselffe all fere.
Consolator 1
My lorde, appose hym I you pray.143
Herod
Say felowe, are they ferre or nere?144
Nuncius
Mi lorde, thei will be here this day,145
That wote I wele, withouten were.
Herod
Do rewle vs than in riche array,147
And ilke man make tham mery chere,
That no sembelant be sene
But frendshippe faire and still,
Till we witte what thei mene,
Whedir it be gud or ill.
Rex 1
The lorde that lenes ay-lastand light153
Whilke has vs ledde owte of oure lande,
Kepe the, ser kynge and comely knyght
And all thy folke that we her fynde.
Herod
Mahounde, my god and most of myght,157
That has myn hele all in his hande,
He saffe you sirs, semely in sight;
And telle vs nowe som new tithand.
Rex 2
Some sall we saie yoou sir-161
A sterne stode vs beforne,
That makis vs speke and spir
Of one that is new-borne.
Herod
New-borne? That burden halde I bad;165
And certis, vnwitty men ye wore
Nuncius
Mi lorde ser Herowde, kyng with croune!129
Herod
Pees dastard, in the deueles dispite.130
Nuncius
Sir, new nott is full nere this towne.131
Herod
What, false losell, liste the flighte?132
Go bette both and dyng tham downe.
Miles 2
Lorde, messengers shulde no man wyte,134
It may be for youre awne rennowne.
Herod
That wolde I here, telle on tyte.136
Nuncius
Mi lorde, I mette at morne137
Iij kyngis carpand togedir
Of one that is nowe borne,
And thai hight to come hedir.
Herod
Thre kyngis, forsothe?141
Nuncius
Sir, so I saie,141
For I saughe them myself all feere.
Consolator 1
My lorde, appose hym we yow praye.143
Herod
Say felowe, ar they ferre or nere?144
Nuncius
Mi lorde, thei will be here this day,145
That wotte I wele, withouten were.
Herod
Haue done. Dresse vs in riche array,147
And ilke man make tham mery chere,
That no sembland be seene
But frenshippe faire and stille,
Tille we wete what thei meene,
Whedir it be gud or ill.
Rex 1
The lorde that lenys this lastand light153
Whilke has vs ledde oute of oure lande,
Kepe the, sir kyng and comly knyght,
And all thi folke that we here fande.
Herod
Mahounde, my god and most of myght,157
That has myn hele all in his hande,
He saffe you sirs, semely in sight;
And telle vs nowe som new tythande.
Rex 2
Sum shall we saie sir-161
A sterne stud vs byforne,
That makis vs speke and spir
Of ane that is nowe-borne.
Herod
Nowe-borne? That birthe halde I badde;165
And certis, vnwitty men yoe werre
To leppe ouere lande to laite a ladde.
Say, whan loste yoe hym? Ought lange before?
All wise men will wene yoe madde
And therfore moves this neuer more.
Rex 3
Yis certis, swilke hertyng haue we hadde171
We will not cesse or we come thore.
Herod
This were a wondir-thyng.173
Saie, what barne shulde that be?
Rex 1
Forsoth, he sall be kynge175
Of Jewes and of Judé.
Herod
Kyng? In the deueles name, dogges, fye!177
Nowe se I wele yoe roye and raue.
Be any skemeryng of the skye
When shulde ye knawe outhir kyng or knave?
Filius
Naye, he is kyng and non but he,181
That sall yoe kenne if that yoe craue,
And he is jugge of all Jurie,
To speke or spille, to saie or saffe.
Herod
Swilke gawdes may gretely greue,185
To witnesse that nere was.
Rex 2
Nowe lorde, we axe but leve187
Be youre poure to passe.
Herod
Whedirward, in the deuelis name?189
To layte a ladde here in my lande?
Fals harlottis, bot yhe hye yoou hame
Ye sall be bette and bune in bande.
Consolator 2
Mi lorde, to fell this foule defame,193
Late alle there hye wordis falle on hande,
And spere thaim sadly of the same,
So sall yoe stabely vndirstande
Thaire mynde and ther menyng,
And takes gud tente therto.
Herod
I thanke the of thys thing,200
And certis so sall I doo.
Nowe kyngis, to cache all care awaye
Sen yoe are comen oute of youre kyth,
Loke noght ye legge agaynste oure laye,
Vppon payne to lose both lymme and lith.
To lepe ouere lande to late a ladde.206
Say, when lost yoe hym? Ought lange before?
All wyse men will wene yoe madde
And therfore moffis it neuere more.
Rex 3
Yis certis, such hartyng haue we hadde171
We schall noyot seys or we come thore.
Herod
This were a wondir-thyng.173
Say, what barne shulde that be?
Rex 1
Sir, he shall be kyng175
Of Jewes and of Judé.
Herod
Kyng? In the deuyl way, dogges, fy!177
Now I se wele yoe rothe and raue.
Be ony skymeryng of the skye
When shulde yoe knawe owthir kyng or knave?
Nay, I am kyng and non but I,
That shall yoe kenne yff that yoe craue,
And I am juge of all Jury,183
To speke or spille, to saie or saffe.
Swilke gawdes may gretely greue,
To wittenesse that neuere was.
Rex 2
Lorde, we aske noght but leue187
Be youre poure to passe.
Herod
Whedir, in the deuyls name?189
To late a ladde here in my lande?
Fals harlottis, but yoe hye you hame
Ye shall be bette and boune in bande.
Consolator 2
My lorde, to felle this foule deffame,193
Lattis all such wondir falle on hande,
And speres thaim sadly of the same,
So shall yoe stabely vndirstande
Ther mynde and ther menyng,
And takis gud tente tham too.
Herod
I thanke the of this thyng,199
And certis so will I doo.
Nowe kyngis, to cache all care away
Sen yoe ar comen oute of youre kytht,
Loke noght ye legge agayne oure lay,
Uppon peyne to lose both lyme and litht.
And so that yoe the soth will saye205
To come and go I graunte you grith,
And yf youre poyntes be to my paye
May fall myselfe sall wende yoou with.
Rex 1
Sir kyng, we all accorde,209
And sais a barne is borne
That sall be kyng and lorde,
And leche tham that ar lorne.
Rex 2
Sir, ye thar meruaylle nothynge213
Of this ilke noote that thusgattes newes,
For Balaham saide a starne shulde sprynge
Of Jacob kynde, and that is Jewes.
Rex 3
Isaie sais a maiden yonge217
Sall bere a barne emange Ebrewes,
That of all contrees sal be kynge
And gouerne all that on erthe grewes;
Emanuell beiths his name,
To say, ‘Goddis sone of heuené,
And certis this is the same223
That we here to you neuen.
Rex 1
Sir, the proued prophete Ossee225
Full trewly tolde in towne and toure,
A maiden of Israell, forsoth saide he,
Sall bere oone like to lilly floure.
He menes a childe consayued sall be
Withouten seede of mannys socoure,
And his modir a mayden free,231
And he both sonne and saueour.
Rex 2
That fadres talde me beforne233
Has no man myght to marre.
Herod
Allas, than am I lorne,235
This wax ay werre and werre.
Consolator 1
My lorde, be yoe nothyng abast,237
This brigge tille ende sall wele be broght.
Byde tham go furth and frendly frayste
The soth of this that thei haue soght,
And telle it yoou-soo sall yoe traste
Whedir ther tales be trewe or noght.
And so that yoe the soth will saye243
To come and goo I graunte yow grith,
And yf youre poynte be to my pay
May falle myselfe shall wende you with.
Rex 1
Sir kyng, we all accorde,209
And says a barne is borne
That shall be kyng and lorde,
And leche tham that ar lorne.
Rex 2
Sir, the thar meruayle nothyng213
Of this ilke nott that thus-gate newes,
For Balaham saide a starne shulde spring
Of Jacobe kynde, and that is Jewes.
Rex 3
Sir, Isaie sais a mayden yoenge217
Shall bere a sone amonge Ebrewes,
That of all contrees shall be kyng
And gouerne all that on erthe grewes;
Emanuell shal be his name,
To saie, ‘God sone of heuen’,
And certis this is the same223
That we now to you neven.
Rex 1
Sirs, the proved prophete Osee225
Full trulye talde in towne and toure,
That a mayden of Israell, sais he,
Shall bere one like to the lely floure.
He menys a barne consayued shulde be
Withouten seede of man socour,
And is modir a mayden free,231
And he both sone and saueour.
Rex 2
That fadirs has talde beforne233
Has no man myght to marre.
Herod
Allas, than am I lorne,235
This waxith ay werre and werre.
Consolator 1
My lorde, be yoe nothyng abast,237
This bryge shall well to ende be broght.
Bidde tham go furthe and frendly frast
The soth of this that thei haue soght,
And telle it yoou-so shall yoe trast
Whedir ther tales be trew or noght.
Than sall yoe waite thaim with a wraste243
And make all waste that thei haue wroght.
Herod
Nowe certis, this is wele saide,245
This matere makes me fayne.
Sir kyngis, I halde me paied
Off all youre purpose playne.
Wende furth youre forward to fulfill,
To Bedlem is but here at hande;
And speris grathely both gud and ille251
Of hym that shulde be lorde in lande;
And comes agayne than me vntill
And telle me trulye youre tithande-
To worshippe hym than were my will,
This sall ye stabely vndirstande.
Rex 2
Certis ser, we sall you say257
The soth of that same childe,
In all the haste we may.
Consolator 2
Fares wele-ye be bygilyd.260
Herod
Now certis, this is a sotell trayne.261
Nowe sall thai trulye take there trace,
And telle me of that swytteron swayne,
And all thare counsaille in this case.
Giffe itt be soth thai shall be slayne,
No golde shall gete them bettir grace;
Bot go we tille they come agayne267
And playe vs in som othir place.
This holde I gude counsaill,
Yitt wolde I na man wiste;
For certis, we shall noght faile
To lose tham as vs liste.
Than shall we wayte tham with a wrest273
And make all wast that thei haue wroght.
Herod
Nowe certis, this was wele saide,245
This matere makes me fayne.
Sir kyngis, I halde me paide
Of all youre purpose playne.
Wendis furth youre forward to fulfill,
To Bedlem, it is but here at hande;
And speris grathe bothe goode and ill251
Of hym that shulde be lorde in lande;
And comes agayne than me vntill
And telle me trulye youre tythande-
To worshippe hym, that is my will,
Thus shall yoe stabely vndirstande.
Rex 2
Sertis syr, we sall you say257
Alle the soth of that childe,
In alle the hast that we may.
Consolator 2
Fares wele-yoe be bygilid.260
Herod
Nowe certis, this is a sotille trayne.261
Nowe shall thei trewly take ther trace,
And telle me of that littil swayne,
And ther counsaill in this case.
If it be soth thei shall be slayne,
No golde shall gete tham bettir grace.
Go we nowe till thei come agayne267
To playe vs in som othir place.
This halde I gud counsaill,
Yitt wolde I no man wist;
For sertis, we shall not faill
To loyse tham as vs list.
Rex 1
A, sirs, for sight what shall I say?273
Whare is oure syne? I se it noth.
Rex 2
No more do I. Nowe dar I lay275
In oure wendyng som wrange is wroght.
Rex 3
Vnto that prince I rede we praye,277
That till vs sente his syngne vnsoght,
That he wysse vs in redy way
So frendly that we fynde hym moght.
Rex 1
A, siris, I se it stande281
Aboven where he is borne,
Lo, here is the house at hande,
We haue noyot myste this morne.
Ancilla
Whame seke yoe syrs, be wayes wilde,285
With talkyng, trauelyng to and froo?
Her wonnes a woman with hir childe
And hir husband, her ar no moo.
Rex 2
We seke a barne that all shall bylde,289
His sartayne syngne hath saide vs soo,
And his modir, a mayden mylde,
Her hope we to fynde tham twoo.
Ancilla
Come nere gud syirs and see,293
Youre way to ende is broght.
Rex 3
Behalde here syirs, her and se295
The same that yoe haue soght.
Rex 1
Loved be that lorde that lastis aye,297
That vs has kydde thus curtaysely
To wende by many a wilsom way,
And come to this clene companye.
Rex 2
Late vs make nowe no more delay,301
But tyte take furth oure tresurry
And ordand giftis of gud aray,
To worshippe hym als is worthy.
Rex 3
He is worthy to welde305
All worshippe, welthe, and wynne;
And for honnoure and elde
Brother, yoe shall begynne.
Rex 1
Hayle, the fairest of felde, folke for to fynde,309
Fro the fende and his feeres faithefully vs fende;
Hayll, the best that shall be borne to vnbynde
All the barnes that are borne and in bale bende.
Hayll, thou marc us thi men and make vs in mynde,
Sen thi myght is on molde misseis to amende.
Hayll, clene that is comen of a kynges kynde,315
And shall be kyng of this kyth, all clergy has kende.
And sith it shall worthe on this wise,
Thyselffe haue I soght sone, I say the,
With golde that is grettest of price;
Be paied of this present I pray the.
Rex 2
Hayll, foode that thy folke fully may fede,321
Hayll floure fairest, that neuer shall fade,
Hayll, sone that is sente of this same sede
That shall saue vs of synne that oure syris had.
Hayll mylde, for thou mett to marke vs to mede,
Off a may makeles thi modir thou made;
In that gude thurgh grace of thy Godhede327
Als the gleme in the glasse gladly thow glade.
And sythyn thow shall sitte to be demand,
To helle or to heuen for to haue vs,
Insens to thi seruis is semand.
Sone, se to thi suggettis and saue vs.
Rex 3
Hayll barne that is best oure balys to bete,333
For our boote shall thou be bounden and bett;
Hayll frende faithtfull, we fall to thy feete,
Thy fadiris folke fro the fende to the fette.
Hayll, man that is made to thi men mette,
Sen thou and thy modir with mirthis ar mette;
Hayll duke that dryues dede vndir fete,339
But whan thy dedys ar done to dye is thi dette.
And sen thy body beryed shal be,
This mirre will I giffe to thi grauyng.
The gifte is noght grete of degree,
Ressayue it, and se to oure sauyng.
Mary
Sir kyngis, yoe trauel not in vayne.345
Als yoe haue ment, hyr may yoe fynde,
For I consayued my sone sartayne
Withouten misse of man in mynde,
And bare hym here withouten payne,
Where women ar wonte to be pynyd.
Goddis aungell in his gretyng playne351
Saide he shulde comforte al mankynde,
Tharfore doute yow no dele
Here for to haue youre bone,
I shall witnesse full wele
All that is saide and done.
Rex 1
For solas ser now may we synge,357
All is parformed that we for prayde;
But gud barne, giffe vs thy blissing,
For faire happe is before the laide.
Rex 2
Wende we nowe to Herowde the kyng361
For of this poynte he will be paied,
And come hymselffe and make offeryng
Vnto this same, for so he saide.
Rex 3
I rede we reste a thrawe,365
For to maynteyne our myght,
And than do as we awe,
Both vnto kyng and knyght.
Angel
Nowe curtayse kynges, to me take tent369
And turne betyme or yoe be tenyd,
Fro God hymselfe thus am I sent
To warne yow als youre faithfull frende.
Herowde the kyng has malise ment
And shappis with shame yow for to shende,
And for that yoe non harmes shulde hente,375
Be othir waies God will ye wende
Euen to youre awne contré.
And yf yoe aske hym bone,
Youre beelde ay will he be
For this that yoe haue done.
Rex 1
A, lorde, I loue the inwardly.381
Sirs, God has gudly warned vs thre,
His aungell her now herde haue I,
And how he saide.
Rex 2
Sir, so did we.384
He saide Herowde is oure enmye,
And makis hym bowne oure bale to be
With feyned falsed, and forthy
Farre fro his force I rede we flee.
Rex 3
Syrs, faste I rede we flitte,389
Ilkone till oure contré,
He that is welle of witte
Vs wisse, and with yow be.

The Hatmakers, Masons, and Labourers' Play: The PurificationContents

Prisbeter
Almyghty God in heven so hy,1
The maker of all heven and erth,
He ordenyd here all thynges evenly,
For man he ment to mend his myrth.
In nomber, weight, and mesure fyne
God creat here al thyng, I say,
His lawes he bad men shulde not tyne,7
But kepe his commandmentes allway.
In the mount of Syney full fayre,
And in two tabyls to you to tell,
His lawes to Moyses tuke God there
To geve to the chylder of Israell,
That Moyses shuld theme gyde alway,13
And lerne theme lely to knowe Goddes wyll,
And that he shulde not it denay,
But kepe his lawes stable and styll.
For payn that he hadd putt therefore,
To stone all theme that kepis it nott
Vtterly to death, both lesse and moore;19
There shulde no marcy for them be soght.
Therefore kepe well Goddes commandement,
And leyd your lyf after his lawes,
Or ells surely ye mon be shent
Bothe lesse and moore, ylkone on rawes.
This is his wyll after Moyses lawe:25
That ye shulde bryng your beistes good
And offer theme here your God to knawe,
And frome your synns to turne your moode.
Suche beestes as God hais marked here,
Vnto Moyses he spake as I yow tell,
And bad hyme boldly with good chere,31
To say to the chylder of Israell
That after dyvers seknes seer
And after dyvers synes alsoo,
Go bryng your beestes to the preest even here
To offer theme vp in Goddes sight, loo.
The woman that hais borne her chylde,37
She shall comme hether at the forty day
To be puryfied where she was fylde,
And bryng with her a lame, I say,
And two dove-byrdes for her offerand,
And take them to the preest of lay
To offer theme vp with his holy hand;43
There shulde no man to this say nay.
The lame is offeryd for Goddes honour
In sacrefyes all onely dight,
And the preistes prayer purchace secure
For the woman that was fylyd in God sight.
And yf so be that she be power49
And haue no lame to offer, than
Two tyrtle-doves to Godes honoure
To bryng with her for her offrand.
Loo, here am I preest present alway,
To resave all offerandes that hydder is broght,
And for the people to God to pray55
That helth and lyfe to theme be wroght.
Anna
Here in this holy playce I say57
Is my full purpose to abyde,
To serve my God bothe nyght and day
With prayer and fastyng in ever-ylk a tyde.
For I haue beyn a wyddo this threscore yere
And foure yere to, the truthe to tell,
And here I haue terryed with full good chere63
For the redempcyon of Israell.
And so for my holy conversacion
Grete grace to me hais nowe God sent,
To tell by profecy for mans redempcion
What shall befall by Goddes intent.
I tell you all here in this place,69
By Godes vertue in prophecy,
That one is borne to oure solace,
Here to be present securely
Within short space,
Of his owen mother, a madyn free,
Of all vyrgens moost chaist suthly,75
The well of mekenes, blyssed myght she be,
Moost full of grace.
And Symeon, that senyour
That is so semely in Godes sight,
He shall hyme se and do honour
And in his armes he shall hym plight,81
That worthy leyd.
Of the holy goost he shall suthly
Take strength, and answere when he shall hy
Furth to this temple and place holy
To do that deyd.
Symeon
A, blyssed God, thowe be my beylde87
And beat my baill bothe nyght and day,
In hevynes my hart is hylde,
Vnto myself, loo thus I say.
For I ame wayke and all vnwelde,
My welth ay wayns and passeth away,
Whereso I fayre in fyrth or feylde93
I fall ay downe for febyll, in fay.
In fay I fall whereso I fayre,
In hayre and hewe and hyde I say.
Owte of this worlde I wolde I were,
Thus wax I warr and warr alway
And my myscheyf growes in all that may.99
Bot thowe myghty lorde my mornyng mar;
Mar ye, for it shulde me well pay,
So happy to se hyme yf I warr.
Nowe certys then shulde my gamme begynne
And I myght se hyme, of hyme to tell,
That one is borne withouten synne105
And for mankynde mans myrth to mell.
Borne of a woman and madyn fre,
As wytnesse Davyt and Danyell,
Withouten synne or velanye,
As said also Isacheell.
And Melachiell that proffett snell111
Hais tolde vs of that babb so bright,
That he shulde comme with vs to dwell
In our temple as leme of light.
And other proffettes prophesieth
And of this blyssed babb dyd mell,
And of his mother, a madyn bright,117
In prophecy the truth gan tell,
That he shulde comme and harro hell
As a gyant grathly to glyde,
And fersly the feyndes malles to fell
And putt there poors all on syde.
The worthyest wight in this worlde so wyde123
His vertues seer no tong can tell,
He sendes all soccour in ylke tyde
As redemption of Israell.
Thus say they all,
There patryarkes and ther prophettes clere:
‘A babb is borne to be oure fere,129
Knytt in oure kynde for all our chere
To grete and small’.
Ay, well were me for ever and ay
If I myght se that babb so bright
Or I were buryed here in clay,
Then wolde my cors here mend in myght135
Right faithfully.
Nowe lorde, thowe grant to me thy grace
To lyf here in this worlde a space,
That I myght se that babb in his face
Here or I dy.
A, lorde God, I thynke may I endure,141
Trowe we that babb shall fynde me here;
Nowe certys with aige I ame so power
That ever it abaites my chere.
Yet yf kynde fale for aige in me,
God yett may length my lyfe suthly,
Tyll I that babb and foode so free147
Haue seyn in sight.
For trewly, yf I wyst relesse
Thare shulde nothyng my hart dyseas;
Lorde, len me grace yf that thowe pleas
And make me light.
When wyll thowe comme babb? Let se, haue done;153
Nay, comme on tyte and tarry nott,
For certys my lyf-days are nere done,
For aige to me grete wo hais wroght.
Great wo is wroght vnto mans harte
Whan he muste want that he wolde haue;
I kepe no longar to haue quarte159
For I haue seen that I for crave.
A, trowes thowe these ij eyes shall see
That blyssed babb or they be owte?
Ye, I pray God so myght it be-
Then were I putt all owte of dowte.
Angel
Olde Symeon, Gods seruaunt right,165
Bodworde to the I bryng I say,
For the holy goost moost of myght,
He says thowe shall not dye away
To thowe haue seen
Jesu the babb that Mary bare,
For all mankynde to slake there care.171
He shall do comforth to lesse and mayr,
Both morne and even.
Symeon
A, lorde, gramarcy nowe I say174
That thowe this grace hais to me hight,
Or I be buryed here in clay
To se that semely beam so bright.
No man of molde may haue more happ
To my solace and myrth allway,
Than for to se that Mary lapp180
Jesu my joy and savyour ay,
Blyssyd be his name.
Loo, nowe mon I se, the truth to tell,
The redempcion of Israell,
Jesu my lorde Emanuell,
Withouten blame.186
Mary
Joseph my husbonde and my feer,187
Ye take to me grathely entent,
I wyll you showe in this manere
What I wyll do, thus haue I ment:
Full xl days is comme and went
Sens that my babb Jesu was borne,
Therefore I wolde he were present193
As Moyses lawes sais hus beforne,
Here in this temple before Goddes sight
As other women doith in feer,
So methynke good skyll and right
The same to do nowe with good chere,
After Goddes sawe.199
Joseph
Mary my spowse and madyn clene,200
This matter that thowe moves to me
Is for all these women bedene
That hais conceyved with syn fleshely
To bere a chylde.
The lawe is ledgyd for theme right playn,
That they muste be puryfied agayne,206
For in mans pleasoure for certayn
Before were they fylyd.
But Mary, byrde, thowe neyd not soo
For this cause to be puryfiede, loo,
In Goddes temple.
For certys thowe arte a clene vyrgyn212
For any thoght thy harte within,
Nor never wroght no flesly synne
Nor never yll.
Mary
That I my madenheade hais kept styll216
It is onely throgh Godds wyll,
That be ye bold.
Yett to fulfyll the lawe ewysse,
That God almyghty gon expresse,
And for a sample of mekenesse
Offer I wolde.222
Joseph
A, Mary, blyssed be thowe ay,223
Thowe thynkes to do after Goddes wyll,
As thowe haist said Mary, I say,
I will hartely consent theretyll
Withouten dowte.
Wherefore we dresse vs furth oure way
And make offerand to God this day,229
Even lykwyse as thyself gon say
With hartes devowte.
Mary
Therto am I full redy dight,232
But one thyng Joseph I wolde you meyve.
Joseph
Mary my spouse and madyn bright,234
Tell on hartely, what is your greyf?
Mary
Both beest and fewll hus muste neydes haue,236
As a lambe and ij dove-byrdes also.
Lame haue we none nor none we crave,
Therefore Joseph what shall we do,
What is your read?
And we do not as custome is,
We are worth to be blamyd iwysse,242
I wolde we dyd nothyng amys
As God me speyd.
Joseph
A, good Mary, the lawe is this:245
To riche to offer bothe the lame and the byrd,
And the poore ij tyrtles iwys.
Or two doyf-byrdes shall not be fyrd
For our offerand;
And Mary, we haue doyf-byrdes two
As falls for hus, therefore we goo-251
They ar here in a panyer, loo,
Reddy at hand.
And yf we haue not both in feer,
The lame, the burd, as ryche men haue,
Thynke that vs muste present here
Oure babb Jesus, as we voutsaue257
Before Godes sight.
He is our lame Mary, kare the not,
For riche and power none better soght;
Full well thowe hais hym hither broght,
This our offerand right.
He is the lame of God I say,263
That all our syns shall take away
Of this worlde here.
He is the lame of God verray
That muste hus fend frome all our fray,
Borne of thy wombe, all for our pay
And for our chere.269
Mary
Joseph my spowse, ye say full trewe,270
Than lett vs dresse hus furth our way.
Joseph
Go we than Mary, and do oure dewe,272
And make meekly offerand this day.
Lo, here is the tempyll on this hyll
And also preest ordand by skyll,
Power havand.
And Mary, go we thyther forthy,
And lett vs both knele devowtly,278
And offre we vp to God meekly
Our dewe offrand.
Mary
Vnto my God highest in heven281
And to this preest ordand by skyll,
Jesu my babb I offer hyme
Here with my harte and my good wyll
Right hartely.
Thowe pray for hus to God on hyght
Thowe preest, present here in his myght,287
At this deyd may be in his sight
Accept goodly.
Joseph
Loo sir, and two doyf-byrddes ar here,290
Receyve them with your holy handes,
We ar no better of power,
For we haue neyther rentes ne landes
Trewely.
Bott good sir, pray to God of myght
To accepte this at we haue dight,296
That we haue offeryd as we arr hight
Here hartely.
Prisbeter
O God and graunter of all grace,299
Blyst be thy name both nyght and day,
Accepte there offerand in this place
That be here present to the alway.
A, blyssed lorde, say never nay,
But lett thys offerand be boot and beylde
Tyll all such folke lyvand in clay,305
That thus to the mekly wyll heyld;
That this babb lord, present in thy sight,
Borne of a madyns wombe vnfylde,
Accepte for there specyall gyft
Gevyn to mankynde, both man and chylde,
So specyally.311
And this babb borne and here present
May beylde vs, that we be not shent,
But ever reddy his grace to hent
Here verely.
A, blyssyd babb, welcome thowe be,
Borne of a madyn in chaistety,317
Thowe art our beylde, babb, our gamme and our glee
Ever sothly.
Welcome oure wytt and our wysdome,
Welcome, our joy all and somme,
Welcomme redemptour omnium
Tyll hus hartely.323
Anna
Welcome blyssed Mary and madyn ay,324
Welcome, mooste meke in thyne array;
Welcome bright starne that shyneth bright as day,
All for our blys.
Welcome, the blyssed beam so bryght,
Welcome the leym of all oure light,
Welcome that all pleasour hais plight330
To man and wyfe.
Welcome thowe blyssed babb so free,
Welcome oure welfayre wyelly
And welcome all our seall, suthly,
To grete and small.
Babb, welcome to thy beyldly boure,336
Babb, welcome nowe for our soccoure,
And babb, welcomme with all honour
Here in this hall.
Angel
Olde Symeon, I say to the340
Dresse the furth in thyne array,
Come to the temple, there shall thu see
Jesus that babb that Mary barre,
That be thowe bolde.
Symeon
A, lorde, I thanke the ever and ay,345
Nowe am I light as leyf on tree,
My age is went, I feyll no fray,
Methynke for this that is tolde me
I ame not olde.
Nowe wyll I to yon temple goo
To se the babb that Mary bare,351
He is my helth in well and woo,
And helps me ever frome great care.
Haill blyssed babb that Mary bare,
And blyssed be thy mother, Mary mylde,
Whose wombe that yeildyd fresh and fayr
And she a clean vyrgen ay vnfyld.357
Haill babb, the father of heven own chylde
Chosen to chere vs for our myschance;
No erthly tong can tell vnfylyd
What thy myght is in every chance.
Haill, the moost worthy to enhance,
Boldly thowe beylde frome all yll,363
Withoute thy beylde we gytt grevance
And for our deydes here shulde we spyll.
Haill floscampy and flower vyrgynall,
The odour of thy goodnes reflars to vs all.
Haill, moost happy to great and to small
For our weyll.369
Haill ryall roose, moost ruddy of hewe,
Haill flour vnfadyng, both freshe ay and newe,
Haill the kyndest in comforth that ever man knewe
For grete heyll.
And mekly I beseke the here where I kneyll
To suffre thy servant to take the in hand,375
And in my narmes for to heue the here for my weyll,
And where I bound am in bayll to bait all my bandes.
Nowe come to me, lorde of all landes,
Comme myghtyest by see and by sandes,
Come myrth by strete and by strandes
On moolde.381
Come halse me, the babb that is best born,
Come halse me, the myrth of our morne,
Come halse me, for ells I ame lorne
For olde.
I thanke the lord God of thy greet grace
That thus haith sparyd me a space,387
This babb in my narmes for to inbrace
As the prophecy telles.
I thanke the that me my lyfe lent,
I thanke the that me thus seyll sent,
That this sweyt babb, that I in armes hent
With myrth my myndes alwais melles.393
Mellyd are my myndes ay with myrth,
Full fresh nowe I feyll is my force,
Of thy grace thowe gave me this gyrth
Thus comly to catch here thy corse
Moost semely in sight.
Of helpe thus thy freynd never faills,399
Thy marcy as every man avaylls,
Both by downes and by daylls,
Thus mervelous and muche is thy myght.
A, babb, be thowe blyssed for ay,
For thowe art my savyour I say
And thowe here rewles me in fay,405
In all my lyfe.
Nowe blist be thi name,
For thowe saves hus fro shame,
And here thou beyld vs fro blame
And frome all stryfe.
Nowe care I no moore for my lyfe411
Sen I haue seen here this ryall so ryfe,
My strength and my stynter of stryfe
I you say.
In peace lorde nowe leyf thy servand
For myne eys haith seyn that is ordand,
The helth for all men that be levand417
Here for ay.
That helth lorde hais thowe ordand I say
Here before the face of thy people,
And thy light hais thowe shynyd this day
To be knowe of thy folke that was febyll
For evermore.423
And thy glory for the chylder of Israell,
That with the in thy kyngdome shall dwell
Whan the damnyd shall be drevyn to hell
Than with great care.
Joseph
Mary, my spowse and madyn mylde,428
In hart I marvell here greatly
Howe these folke spekes of our chylde.
They say and tells of great maistry
That he shall doo.
Mary
Yea certes, Joseph, I marvell also,433
But I shall bere it full styll in mynde.
Joseph
God geve hyme grace here well to do,435
For he is comme of gentyll kynde.
Symeon
Harke Mary, I shall tell the the truth or I goo.437
This was putt here to welde vs fro wo,
In redemption of many and recover also,
I the say.
And the sworde of sorro thy hart shal thyrll
Whan thowe shall se sothly thy son soffer yll
For the well of all wrytches, that shall be his wyll
Here in fay.
But to be comforth agayn right well thowe may,
And in harte to be fayne, the suth I the say,
For his myght is so muche thare can no tong say nay
Here to his wyll.
For this babb as a gyant full graythly shall glyde449
And the myghtiest mayster shall meve on ylke syde,
To all the wightes that wons in this worlde wyde,
For good or for yll.
Tharefore babb, beylde vs that we here not spyll,
And fayrwell the former of all at thy wyll,
Fayrwell starne stabylyst by lowde and be styll,455
In suthfastnes.
Fayrwell the ryolest roose that is renyng,
Fayrwell the babb best in thy beryng,
Fayrwell God son, thowe grant vs thy blyssyng
To fyne our dystresse.

The Marshals' Play: The Flight into EgyptContents

Joseph
Thow maker that is most of myght,1
To thy mercy I make my mone;
Lord, se vnto this symple wight
That hase non helpe but the allone.
For all this worlde I haue forsaken,
And to thy seruice I haue me taken
With witte and will7
For to fulfill
Thi commaundement.
Theron myn herte is sette
With grace thou has me lente,
Thare schall no lede me lette.
For all my triste lorde is in the13
That made me man, to thy liknes.
Thow myghtfull maker, haue mynde on me
And se vnto my sympplenes.
I waxe wayke as any wande,
For febill me faylles both foote and hande;
Whateuere it mene,19
Methynke myne eyne
Hevye as leede.
Therfore I halde it best
A whille her in this stede
To slepe and take my reste.
Mary
Thow luffely lord that last schall ay,25
My God, my lorde, my sone so dere,
To thy Godhede hartely I pray
With all myn harte holy entere.
As thou me to thy modir chaas,
I beseke the of thy grace
For all mankynde31
That has in mynde
To wirshippe the.
Thou se thy saules to saue,
Jesu my sone so free,
This bone of the I crave.
Angel
Wakyn Joseph, and take entent,37
My sawes schall seece thy sorowe sare.
Be noght heuy, thi happe is hentte,
Tharefore I bidde the slepe no mare.
Joseph
A, myghtfull lorde, whateuere that mente?41
So swete a voyce herde I neuere ayre.
But what arte thou with steuen so shylle
Thus in my slepe that spekis me till?
To me appere
And late me here
What that thou was.47
Angel
Joseph, haue thou no drede,48
Thou shalte witte or I passe,
Therefore to me take hede.
For I am sente to the,
Gabriell, Goddis aungell bright,
Is comen to bidde the flee
With Marie and hir worthy wight.54
For Herowde the kyng gars doo to dede
All knave-childer in ilke a stede,
That he may ta
With yoeris twa
That are of olde.
Tille he be dede, away60
In Egipte shall yoe beelde
Tille I witte the for to saie.
Joseph
Aye-lastand lord, loved mott thou be63
That thy swete sande wolde to me sende.
But lorde, what ayles the kyng at me,
For vnto hym I neuere offende?
Allas, what ayles hym for to spille
Smale yoonge barnes that neuere did ille
In worde ne dede,69
Vnto no lede
Be nyght nor day?
And sen he wille vs schende,
Dere lorde, I the praye,
Thou wolde be oure frende,
For be he neuere so wode or wrothe75
For all his force thou may vs fende.
I praye the lorde, kepe us fro skathe,
Thy socoure sone to vs thou sende;
For vnto Egipte wende we will
Thy biddyng baynly to fulfill,
As worthy is81
Thou kyng of blisse,
Thi will be wroght.
Marie my doughtir dere,
On the is all my thought.
Mary
A, leue Joseph, what chere?86
Joseph
The chere of me is done for ay.87
Mary
Allas, what tythandis herde haue yoe?88
Joseph
Now certis, full ille to the at saye,89
Ther is noght ellis but us most flee
Owte of oure kyth where we are knowyn,
Full wightely bus vs be withdrawen,
Both thou and I.
Mary
Leue Joseph, why?94
Layne it noght,
To doole who has vs demed,
Or what wronge haue we wroght
Wherfore we shulde be flemyd?
Joseph
Wroght we harme? Nay, nay, all wrange,99
Wytte thou wele it is noght soo.
That yonge page liffe thou mon forgange
But yf thou fast flee fro his foo.
Mary
His foo? Allas, what is youre reede,103
Wha wolde my dere barne do to dede?
I durk, I dare,
Whoo may my care
Of balis blynne?
To flee I wolde full fayne,
For all this worlde to wynne109
Wolde I noght se hym slayne.
Joseph
I warne the he is thraly thrette111
With Herowde kyng, harde harmes to haue.
With that mytyng yf that we be mette
Ther is no salue that hym may saue.
I warne the wele, he sleeis all
Knave-childir, grete and small,
In towne and felde117
Within the elde
Of two yoere,
And for thy sones sake.
He will fordo that dere,
May that traytoure hym take.
Mary
Leue Joseph, who tolde yow this?123
How hadde yoe wittering of this dede?
Joseph
An aungell bright that come fro blisse125
This tythandis tolde withouten drede,
And wakynd me oute of my slepe
That comely childe fro cares to kepe,
And bad me flee
With hym and the
Onto Egipte.131
And sertis I dred me sore
To make any smale trippe,
Or tyme that I come thare.
Mary
What ayles thei at my barne135
Slike harmes hym for to hete?
Allas, why schulde I tharne
My sone his liffe so swete?
His harte aught to be ful sare,
On slike a foode hym to forfare
That nevir did ill,141
Hym for to spill,
And he ne wate why.
I ware full wille of wane
My sone and he shulde dye,
And I haue but hym allone.
Joseph
We, leue Marie, do way, late be!147
I pray the, leue of thy dynne,
And fande the furthe faste for to flee,
Away with hym for to wynne,
That no myscheue on hym betyde,
Nor none vnhappe in no-kyn side
Be way nor strete,153
That we non mete
To slee hym.
Mary
Allas Joseph, for care,156
Why shuld I forgo hym,
My dere barne that I bare?
Joseph
That swete swayne yf thou saue159
Do tyte pakke same oure gere,
And such smale harnes as we haue.
Mary
A, leue Joseph, I may not bere.162
Joseph
Bere arme? No, I trowe but small.163
But God it wote I muste care for all,
For bed and bak
And alle the pakke
That nedis vnto vs.
It fortheres to fene me;
This pakald bere me bus,169
Off of all I plege and pleyne me.
But God graunte grace I noght forgete
No tulles that we schulde with vs take.
Mary
Allas Joseph, for greuaunce grete,173
Whan shall my sorowe slake,
For I wote noght whedir to fare?
Joseph
To Egipte-talde I the lang are.176
Mary
Whare standith itt?177
Fayne wolde I witt.
Joseph
What wate I?179
I wote not where it stande.
Mary
Joseph, I aske mersy,181
Helpe me oute of this lande.
Joseph
Nowe certis Marie, I wolde full fayne183
Helpe the al that I may,
And at my poure me peyne
To wynne with hym and the away.
Mary
Allas, what ayles that feende187
Thus wilsom wayes make vs to wende?
He dois grete synne,
Fro kyth and kynne
He gares vs flee.
Joseph
Leue Marie, leue thy grete.192
Mary
Joseph, full wo is me193
For my dere sone so swete.
Joseph
I pray the Marie, happe hym warme195
And sette hym softe that he noght syle,
And yf thou will ought ese thyn arme
Gyff me hym, late me bere hym awhile.
Mary
I thanke you of youre grete goode dede;199
Nowe gud Joseph tille hym take hede,
That fode so free,
Tille hym yoe see
Now in this tyde.
Joseph
Lat me and hym allone,204
And yf thou can ille ride
Haue and halde the faste by the mane.
Mary
Allas Joseph, for woo,207
Was neuer wight in worde so will.
Joseph
Do way Marie, and say nought soo,209
For thou schall haue no cause thertill.
For witte thou wele, God is oure frende,
He will be with vs wherso we lende.
In all oure nede
He will vs spede,
This wote I wele.215
I loue my lorde of all;
Such forse methynke I fele,
I may go where I schall.
Are was I wayke, nowe am I wight,
My lymes to welde ay at my wille.
I loue my maker most of myght221
That such grace has graunte me tille.
Nowe schall no hatyll do vs harme,
I haue oure helpe here in myn arme.
He wille vs fende
Wherso we lende
Fro tene and tray.227
Late vs goo with goode chere-
Farewele and haue gud day-
God blisse vs all in fere.
Mary
Amen as he beste may.231

The Girdlers and Nailers Play: The Slaughter of the InnocentsContents

Herod
Powre bewsheris aboute,1
Peyne of lyme and lande,
Stente of youre steuenes stoute
And stille as stone yoe stande,
And my carping recorde.
Ye aught to dare and doute,
And lere you lowe to lowte7
To me youre louely lord.
Ye awe in felde and towne
To bowe at my bidding,
With reuerence and renoune,
As fallis for swilk a kyng,
The lordlyest on lyue.13
Who herto is noght bowne,
Be allmyghty Mahounde,
To dede I schall hym dryue.
So bolde loke no man be
For to aske helpe ne helde
But of Mahounde and me,19
That hase this worlde in welde,
To mayntayne vs emell.
For welle of welthe are we
And my cheffe helpe is he;
Herto what can yoe tell?
Consolator 1
Lord, what you likis to do25
All folke will be full fayne
To take entente therto,
And none grucche theragayne.
That full wele witte shall yoe,
And yf thai wolde noyot soo
We shulde sone wirke tham woo.31
Herod
Ya, faire sirs, so shulde it bee.32
Consolator 2
Lorde, the soth to saie,33
Fulle wele we vndirstande
Mahounde is God werraye,
And yoe ar lorde of ilke a lande.
Therfore, so haue I seell,
I rede we wayte allway
What myrthe most mende yoou may.39
Herod
Sertis, yoe saie right well.40
But I am noyed of newe,
That blithe may I noyot be,
For thre kyngis as yoe knowe
That come thurgh this contré,
And saide thei sought a swayne.
Consolator 1
That rewlle I hope tham rewe,46
For hadde ther tales ben trewe
They hadde comen this waye agayne.
Consolator 2
We harde how thei yoou hight,49
Yf they myght fynde that childe
For to haue tolde yoou right,
But certis thei are begilyd.
Swilke tales ar noght to trowe,
Full wele wotte ilke a wight,
Ther schalle neuere man haue myght55
Ne maystrie unto yoou.
Consolator 1
Tham schamys so, for certayne,57
That they dar mete you no more.
Herod
Wherfore shulde thei be fayne59
To make swilke fare before,
To saie a boy was borne
That schulde be moste of mayne?
This gadlyng schall agayne
Yf that the deuyll had sworne.
For be well neuer thei wotte65
Whedir thei wirke wele or wrang,
To frayne garte tham thus-gate
To seke that gedlyng gang,
And swilke carping to kith.
Consolator 2
Nay lorde, they lered ouere-latte70
Youre blisse schal neuere abatte,
And therfore lorde, be blithe.
Nuncius
Mahounde withouten pere,73
My lorde, yoou saue and see.
Herod
Messenger, come nere,75
And bewcher, wele the be.
What tydyngis? Telles thou any?
Nuncius
Ya lorde. Sen I was here78
I haue sought sidis seere,
And sene merueyllis full many.
Herod
And of meruayles to mene81
That wer most myrthe to me.
Nuncius
Lorde, euen as I haue seene83
The soth sone schall yoe see,
Yf yoe wille, here in hye.
I mette tow townes betwene
Thre kyngis with crounes clene,
Rydand full ryally.
Herod
A, my blys, boy, thou burdis to brode.89
Nuncius
Sir, ther may no botment be.90
Herod
Owe, by sonne and mone,91
Than tydis vs talis tonyght.
Hopes thou thei will come sone
Hedir, as thei haue hight,
For to telle me tythande?
Nuncius
Nay lorde, that daunce is done.96
Herod
Why, whedir are thei gone?97
Nuncius
Ilkone into ther owne lande.98
Herod
How sais thou ladde? Late be.99
Nuncius
I saie, for they are past.100
Herod
What, forthe away fro me?101
Nuncius
Ya lord, in faitht ful faste,102
For I herde and toke hede
How that thei wente all thre
Into ther awne contré.
Herod
A, dogges, the deuell yoou spede.106
Nuncius
Sir, more of ther menyng107
Yitt well I vndirstode,
How thei hadde made offering
Vnto that frely foode
That nowe of newe is borne.
Thai saie he schulde be kyng
And welde all erthely thyng.113
Herod
Allas, than am I lorne.114
Fy on thaym, faytours, fy!
Wille thei begylle me thus?
Nuncius
Lorde, by ther prophicy117
Thei named his name Jesus.
Herod
Fy on the ladde, thou lyes.119
Consolator 2
Hense tyte but thou the hye,120
With doulle her schall thou dye,
That wreyes hym on this wise.
Nuncius
Ye wyte me all with wrang,123
Itt is thus and wele warre.
Herod
Thou lyes, false traytoure strange,125
Loke neuere thou negh me nere.
Vppon liffe and lymme
May I that faitour fange,
Full high I schall gar hym hange,
Both the, harlott, and hym.
Nuncius
I am nott worthy to wyte,131
Bot fareswele all the heppe.
Consolator 1
Go, in the deueles dispite,133
Or I schall gar the leppe
And dere aby this bro.
Herod
Als for sorowe and sighte136
My woo no wighte may wryte;
What deuell is best to do?
Consolator 2
Lorde, amende youre chere139
And takis no nedles noy,
We schall yoou lely lere
That ladde for to distroye,
Be counsaille if we cane.
Herod
That may yoe noght come nere,144
For it is past two yoere
Sen that this bale begane.
Consolator 1
Lorde, therfore haue no doute,147
Yf it were foure or fyve.
Gars gadir in grete rowte
Youre knyghtis kene belyue,
And biddis tham dynge to dede
Alle knave childir kepte in clowte,
In Bedlem and all aboute,153
To layte in ilke a stede.
Consolator 2
Lorde, saue none, for youre seell,155
That are of ij yoere age withinne,
Than schall that fandelyng felle
Belyue his blisse schall blynne,
With bale when he schall blede.
Herod
Sertis, yoe saie right wele,160
And as yoe deme ilke dele
Shall I garre do indede.
Sir knyghtis, curtayse and hende,
Thow the nott bees nowe all newe,
Ye schall fynde me youre frende
And yoe this tyme be trewe.166
Miles 1
What saie yoe lorde? Lette see.167
Herod
To Bedlehem bus yoe wende,168
That schorwe with schame to schende
That menes to maistir me.
And abowte Bedlehem bathe
Bus yowe wele spere and spye,
For ellis it will be wathe
That he losis this Jury,174
And certis that were grete schame.
Miles 2
My lorde, that wer vs lathe,176
And he escapid it wer skathe
And we welle worthy blame.
Miles 1
Full sone he schall be soughte,179
That make I myne avowe.
Consolator 1
I bide for hym yoow loghte,181
And latte me telle yowe howe
To werke when yoe come there:
Bycause yoe kenne hym noght,
To dede they muste be brought,
Knave-childre, lesse and more.
Herod
Yaa, all withinne two yoere,187
That none for speche be spared.
Miles 2
Lord, howe yoe vs lere189
Full wele we take rewarde,
And certis we schall not rest.
Miles 1
Comes furth felowes in feere,192
Loo, fondelyngis fynde we here
[…     …]193
Mulier 1
Owte on yoow theves, I crye,194
Ye slee my semely sone.
Miles 2
Ther browls schall dere abye196
This bale that is begonne,
Therfore lay fro the faste.
Mulier 2
Allas for doule, I dye,199
To saue my sone schall I,
Aye-whils my liff may last.
Miles 1
A, dame, the deuyll the spede202
And me, but itt be quytte.
Mulier 1
To dye I haue no drede204
I do the wele to witte,
To saue my sone so dere.
Miles 1
Asarmes, for nowe is nede;207
But yf we do yone dede
Ther quenys will quelle vs here.
Mulier 2
Allas, this lothly striffe,210
No blisse may be my bette,
The knyght vppon his knyffe
Hath slayne my sone so swette,
And I hadde but hym allone.
Mulier 1
Allas, I lose my liffe,215
Was neuere so wofull a wyffe
Ne halffe so wille of wone;
And certis, me were full lotht
That thei thus harmeles yoede.
Miles 1
The deuell myght spede you bothe,220
False wicchis, ar yoe woode?
Mulier 2
Nay, false lurdayns, yoe lye.222
Miles 1
Yf yoe be woode or wrothe223
Ye schall noyot skape fro skathe;
Wende we vs hense in hye.
Mulier 1
Allas that we wer wroughte226
In worlde women to be,
The barne that wee dere bought
Thus in oure sighte to see
Disputuously spill.
Mulier 2
And certis, ther nott is noght,231
The same that thei haue soughte
Schall thei neuere come till.
Miles 1
Go we to the kyng.234
Of all this contek kene
I schall nott lette for nothyng
To saie as we haue sene.
Miles 2
And certis, no more shall I;238
We haue done his bidding
How so they wraste or wryng,
We schall saie sothfastly.
Miles 1
Mahounde oure god of myght,242
Saue the, sir Herowde the kyng.
Consolator 1
Lorde, take kepe to youre knyght,244
He wille telle yoou nowe tyding
Of bordis wher they haue bene.
Herod
Yaa, and thei haue gone right247
And holde that thei vs hight,
Than shall solace be sene.
Miles 2
Lorde, as yoe demed vs to done250
In contrees wher we come-
Herod
Sir, by sonne and mone,252
Ye are welcome home
And worthy to haue rewarde.
Haue yoe geten vs this gome?
Miles 1
Wher we fande felle or fone256
Wittenesse we will that ther was none.
Miles 2
Lorde, they are dede ilkone,258
What wolde yoe we ded more?
Herod
I aske but aftir oone260
The kyngis tolde of before,
That schulde make grete maistrie;
Telle vs if he be tane.
Miles 1
Lorde, tokenyng hadde we none264
To knawe that brothell by.
Miles 2
In bale we haue tham brought266
Aboute all Bedleham towne.
Herod
Ye lye, yooure note is nought,268
The deueles of helle yoou droune.
So may that boy be fledde,
For in waste haue yoe wroght.
Or that same ladde be sought
Schalle I neuere byde in bedde.
Consolator 1
We will wende with you than,274
To dynge that dastard doune.
Herod
Asarme euere-ilke man276
That holdis of Mahounde.
Wer they a thousand skore
This bargayne schall thai banne.
Comes aftir as yhe canne,
For we will wende before.

The Spurriers' and Lorimers' Play: Christ with the Doctors in the TempleContents

Joseph
Marie, of mirthis we may vs mene,1
And trewly telle betwixte vs twoo
Of solempne sightis that we haue sene
In that cité where we come froo.
Mary
Sertis, Joseph, yoe will noyot wene5
What myrthis within my harte I maie,
Sen that oure sone with vs has bene
And sene ther solempne sightis alswae.
Joseph
Hamward I rede we hye9
In all the myght we maye,
Because of company
That will wende in oure waye,
For gode felawshippe haue we fone
And ay so forward schall we fynde.
Mary
A, sir, where is oure semely sone?15
I trowe oure wittis be waste as wynde.
Allas, in bale thus am I boone,
What ayleth vs both to be so blynde?
To go ouere-fast we haue begonne
And late that louely leue behynde.
Joseph
Marie, mende thy chere,21
For certis whan all is done
He comes with folke in feere,
And will oueretake vs sone.
Mary
Oueretake vs sone sir? Certis nay,25
Such gabbyngis may me noyot begyle,
For we haue trauelde all this day
Fro Jerusalem many a myle.
Joseph
I wende he hadde bene with vs aye,29
Awaye fro vs how schulde he wyle?
Mary
Hit helpis nought such sawes to saie,31
My barne is lost, allas the whille,
That euere we wente theroute
With hym in companye.
We lokid ouere-late aboute,
Full wooe is me forthy,
For he is wente som wayes wrang,37
And non is worthy to wyte but wee.
Joseph
Agaynewarde rede I that we gang39
The right way to that same citee,
To spire and spie all men emang,
For hardely homward gone is he.
Mary
Of sorowes sere schal be my sang,43
My semely sone tille I hym see,
He is but xij yoere alde.
Joseph
What way someuere he wendis46
Woman, we may be balde
To fynde hym with oure frendis.
Magister 1
Maistirs, takes to me intente,49
And rede youre resouns right on rawe,
And all the pepull in this present,
Euere-ilke man late see his sawe.
But witte I wolde, or we hens wente,
Be clargy clere if we couthe knawe
Yf any lede that liffe has lente55
Wolde aught allegge agaynste oure lawe,
Owthir in more or lesse.
Yf we defaute myght feele,
Dewly we schall gar dresse
Be dome euery-ilk a dele.
Magister 2
That was wele saide, so mot I the,61
Swilke notis to neven methynke wer nede,
For maistirs in this lande ar we
And has the lawes lelly to lede,
And doctoures also in oure degree
That demyng has of ilka dede.
Laye fourthe oure bokes belyue, late see,67
What mater moste were for oure mede.
Magister 3
We schall ordayne so wele,69
Sen we all clergy knawe,
Defaute shall no man fele
Nowdir in dede ne sawe.
Jesus
Lordingis, loue be with yoou lentte73
And mirthis be vnto this mené.
Magister 1
Sone, hense away I wolde thou wente,75
For othir haftis in hande haue we.
Magister 2
Sone, whoso the hedir sente,77
They were nouyot wise, that warne I the,
For we haue othir tales to tente
Than nowe with barnes bordand to be.
Magister 3
Sone, yf the list ought to lere81
To lyve by Moyses laye,
Come hedir and thou shalle here
The sawes that we shall saye,
For in som mynde itt may the brynge,
To here oure reasouns redde by rawes.
Jesus
To lerne of you nedis me nothing,87
For I knawe both youre dedys and sawes.
Magister 1
Nowe herken yoone barne with his bowrdyng,89
He wenes he kens more than we knawes.
We, nay, certis sone, thou arte ouere-yoonge
By clergy yoitt to knowe oure lawes.
Jesus
I wote als wele as yhe93
Howe that youre lawes wer wrought.
Magister 2
Cum sitte, sone schall we see,95
For certis so semys it noght.
Itt wer wondir that any wight
Vntill oure reasouns right schulde reche.
And thou sais thou hast insight
Oure lawes truly to telle and teche?
Jesus
The holy gost has on me light101
And has anoynted me as a leche,
And geven me pleyne poure and myght
The kyngdom of heuene for to preche.
Magister 1
Whens-euere this barne may be105
That shewes ther novellis nowe?
Jesus
Certis,I was or yoe,107
And schall be aftir yoou.
Magister 1
Sone, of thy sawes, als haue I cele,109
And of thy witte is wondir thyng,
But neuere the lesse fully I feele
Itt may falle wele in wirkyng.
For Dauid demys of ilka dele,
And sais thus of childir yoing:
Of ther mouthes, he wate full wele,115
Oure lord has parformed loving.
But yoitt sone, schulde thou lette
Here for to speke ouere-large,
For where maistirs are mette
Childre wordis are noyot to charge,
And if thou wolde neuere so fayne,121
Yf all the liste to lere the lawe,
Thou arte nowthir of myght ne mayne
To kenne it as a clerke may knawe.
Jesus
Sirs, I saie yoou for sartayne125
That suthfast schal be all my sawe,
And poure haue playnere and playne
To say and aunswer as me awe.
Doctor 1
Maistirs, what may this mene?129
Meruayle methynke haue I,
Whens-euere this barne haue bene
That carpis thus connandly?
Doctor 2
Als wyde in worlde als we haue wente133
Yitt fande we neuere swilke ferly fare,
For certis I trowe this barne be sente
Full souerandly to salue oure sare.
Jesus
Sirs, I schall proue in youre present137
Alle the sawes that I saide are.
Doctor 3
Why, whilke callest thou the firste comaundement,139
And the moste in Moyses lare?
Jesus
Sirs, sen yoe are sette on rowes141
And has youre bokes on brede,
Late se sirs, in youre sawes,
Howe right that yoe can rede.
Doctor 1
I rede this is the firste bidding145
That Moyses taught vs here vntill:
To honnoure God ouere all thing
With all thy witte and all thi will,
And all thyn harte in hym schall hyng,
Erlye and late, both lowde and still.
Jesus
Ye nedis non othir bokes to bring,151
But fandis this for to fulfill.
The secounde may men preve
And clerly knawe, wherby
Youre neghbours shall yoe loue
Als youreselffe, sekirly.
This comaunded Moyses to all men157
In his x comaundementis clere,
In ther ij biddingis, schall we kene,
Hyngis all the lawe that we shall lere.
Whoso ther two fulfilles then
With mayne and myght in goode manere,
He trulye fulfillis all the ten163
That aftir folowes in feere.
Than schulde we God honnoure
With all oure myght and mayne,
And loue wele ilke a neghboure
Right as oureselfe, certayne.
Doctor 1
Nowe sone, sen thou haste tolde vs two,169
Whilke ar the viij, can thou ought saye?
Jesus
The iij biddis whareso yoe goo171
That yoe schall halowe the halyday;
Than is the fourthe for frende or foo
That fadir and modir honnoure ay.
The vte you biddis noght for to sloo
No man nor woman by any way.
The vjte, suthly to see,177
Comaundis both more and myne
That thei schalle fande to flee
All filthes of flesshely synne.
The vijte forbedis you to stele
Youre neghboures goodes, more or lesse,
Whilke fautez nowe are founden fele183
Emang ther folke, that ferly is.
The viijte lernes yoou for to be lele,
Here for to bere no false witnesse.
Youre neghbours house, whillis yoe haue hele,
The ixte biddis take noyot be stresse.
His wiffe nor his women189
The xte biddis noyot coveyte.
Thez are the biddingis x,
Whoso will lelly layte.
Doctor 2
Behalde howe he alleggis oure layse,193
And lered neuere on boke to rede;
Full subtill sawes methinketh he saies,
And also trewe, yf we take hede.
Doctor 3
Ya, late hym wende fourth on his wayes,197
For and he dwelle, withouten drede,
The pepull schall full sone hym prayse
Wele more than vs for all oure dede.
Doctor 1
Nay, nay, than wer we wrang,201
Such speking wille we spare.
Als he come late hym gang,
And move vs nowe no more.
Mary
A, dere Joseph, what is youre rede?205
Of oure grete bale no bote may be,
Myne harte is heuy as any lede
My semely sone tille hym I see.
Nowe haue we sought in ilke a stede
Bothe vppe and doune ther dayes thre,
And whedir that he be quyk or dede211
Yitt wote we noght, so wo is me.
Joseph
Mysese had neuere man more,213
But mournyng may not mende;
I rede forther we fare
Till God som socoure sende.
Aboute yoone tempill if he be ought
I wolde we wiste this ilke nyght.
Mary
A, sir, I see that we haue sought,219
In worlde was neuere so semely a sight.
Lo where he sittis, se yoe hym noght
Emong yoone maistiris mekill of myght?
Joseph
Now blist be he vs hedir brought,223
For in lande was neuere non so light.
Mary
A, dere Joseph, als we haue cele,225
Go furthe and fette youre sone and myne.
This daye is done nere ilke a dele
And we haue nede for to gang hyne.
Joseph
With men of myght can I not mell,229
Than all my trauayle mon I tyne;
I can noyot with them, this wate thou wele,
They are so gay in furres fyne.
Mary
To tham youre herand for to say233
Suthly yoe thar noyot drede no dele,
They will take rewarde to you allway
Because of elde, this wate yoe wele.
Joseph
When I come there what schall I saye?237
I wate neuere, als haue I cele.
Sertis Marie, thou will haue me schamed for ay,
For I can nowthir croke nor knele.
Mary
Go we togedir, I halde it beste,241
Vnto yoone worthy wysse in wede;
And yf I see-als haue I reste-
That yoe will noyot than bus me nede.
Joseph
Gange on Marie, and telle thy tale firste,245
Thy sone to the will take goode heede.
Wende fourth Marie, and do thy beste,
I come behynde, als God me spede.
Mary
A, dere son Jesus,249
Sen we loue the allone,
Why dosse thou thus till vs
And gares vs make swilke mone?
Thy fadir and I betwyxte vs twa,
Son, for thy loue has likid ill.
We haue the sought both to and froo,255
Wepand full sore as wightis will.
Jesus
Wherto shulde yoe seke me soo?257
Ofte tymes it hase ben tolde you till,
My fadir werkis, for wele or woo,
Thus am I sente for to fulfyll.
Mary
There sawes, als haue I cele,261
Can I noyot vndirstande.
I schall thynke on tham wele
To fonde what is folowand.
Joseph
Now sothely sone, the sight of the265
Hath salued vs of all oure sore.
Come furth sone, with thi modir and me,
Att Nazareth I wolde we wore.
Jesus
Beleves wele, lordis free,269
For with my frendis nowe will I fare.
Doctor 1
Nowe sone, wher thou schall bide or be,271
Gode make the gode man euermore.
No wondir if yoone wiffe
Of his fynding be full fayne,
He schall, and he haue liff,
Proue till a praty swayne.
But sone, loke that thou layne for gud or ill277
The note that we haue nemed her nowe,
And if it like the to lende her stille
And wonne with vs, welcome art thowe.
Jesus
Graunte mercy sirs, of youre gode will,281
No lenger liste me lende with yoou,
My frendis thoughtis I wol fulfille
And to ther bidding baynely bowe.
Mary
Full wele is vs this tyde,285
Nowe maye we make goode chere.
Joseph
No lenger will we bide,287
Fares wele all folke in feere.

The Barbers' Play: The BaptismContents

John the Baptist
Almyghty God and lord verray,1
Full woundyrfull is mannys lesyng,
For yf I preche tham day be day
And telle tham, lorde, of thy comyng,
That all has wrought,
Men are so dull that my preching
Serues of noght.7
When I haue, lord, in the name of the
Baptiste the folke in watir clere,
Than haue I saide that aftir me
Shall he come that has more powere
Than I to taste;
He schall giffe baptyme more entire13
In fire and gaste.
Thus am I comen in message right
And be fore-reyner in certayne,
In wittnesse-bering of that light,
The wiche schall light in ilka man
That is comand19
Into this worlde; nowe whoso can
May vndirstande.
Thez folke had farly of my fare
And what I was full faste thei spied;
They askid yf I a prophette ware
And I saide nay, but sone I wreyede-25
High aperte
I saide I was a voyce that cryede
Here in deserte.
Loke thou make the redy-ay saide I-
Vnto oure lord God most of myght,
That is that thou be clene haly31
In worde, in werke ay redy dight
Agayns oure lord,
With parfite liffe that ilke a wight
Be well restored.
For if we be clene in levyng,
Oure bodis are Goddis tempyll than,37
In the whilke he will make his dwellyng.
Therfore be clene, bothe wiffe and man,
This is my reed;
God will make in yowe haly than
His wonnyng-steed.
And if yoe sette all youre delyte43
In luste and lykyng of this liff,
Than will he turne fro yow als tyte
Bycause of synne, boyth of man and wiffe,
And fro yoou flee,
For with whome that synne is riffe
Will God noght be.49
Angel 1
Thou John, take tente what I schall saye,50
I brynge the tythandis wondir gode:
My lorde Jesus schall come thys day
Fro Galylee vnto this flode
Ye Jourdane call,
Baptyme to take myldely with mode
This day he schall.56
John, of his sande therfore be gladde
And thanke hym hartely, both lowde and still.
John the Baptist
I thanke hym euere, but I am radde59
I am noyot abill to fullfill
This dede certayne.
Angel 2
John, the aught with harte and will62
To be full bayne
To do his bidding, all bydene.
Bot in his baptyme John, take tente,
The heuenes schalle be oppen sene,
The holy gost schalle doune be sente
To se in sight,68
The fadirs voyce with grete talent
Be herde full riyot,
That schall saie thus to hym forthy
John the Baptist
[…] with wordes fewne72
I will be subgett nyght and day
As me well awe,
To serue my lord Jesus to paye
In dede and sawe.
Bot wele I wote, baptyme is tane
To wasshe and clense man of synne,78
And wele I wotte that synne is none
In hym, withoute ne withinne.
What nedis hym than
For to be baptiste more or myne
Als synfull man?
Jesus
John, kynde of man is freele84
To the whilke that I haue me knytte,
But I shall shewe the skyllis twa
That thou schallt knawe by kyndly witte
The cause why I haue ordand swa,
And ane is this:
Mankynde may noyot vnbaptymde go90
Te endles blys.
And sithen myselffe haue taken mankynde,
For men schall me ther myrroure make
And haue my doyng in ther mynde,
Also I do the baptyme take.
I will forthy96
Myselfe be baptiste for ther sake
Full oppynly.
Anodir skill I schall the tell:
My will is this, that fro this day
The vertue of my baptyme dwelle
In baptyme-watir euere and ay,102
Mankynde to taste,
Thurgh my grace therto to take alway
The haly gaste.
John the Baptist
All-myghtfull lorde, grete is thi grace,106
I thanke the of thi grete fordede.
Jesus
Cum, baptise me John, in this place.108
John the Baptist
Lorde, saue thy grace that I forbede109
That itt soo be,
For lorde, methynketh it wer more nede
Thou baptised me.
That place that I yarne moste of all,
Fro thens come thou lorde, as I gesse.
How schulde I than, that is a thrall,115
Giffe the baptyme, that rightwis is
And has ben euere?
For thow arte roote of rightwissenesse,
That forfette neuere.
What riche man gose from dore to dore
To begge at hym that has right noght?121
Lorde, thou arte riche and I am full poure,
Thou may blisse all, sen thou all wrought.
Fro heuen come all
That helpes in erthe, yf soth be sought,
Fro erthe but small.
Jesus
Thou sais full wele John, certaynly,127
But suffre nowe for heuenly mede
That rightwisnesse be noyot oonlye
Fullfillid in worde but also in dede,
Thrughe baptyme clere.
Cum, baptise me in my manhed
Appertly here.133
Fyrst schall I take, sen schall I preche,
For so behovis mankynde fulfille
All rightwissenesse, als werray leche.
John the Baptist
Lord, I am redy at thi will,137
And will be ay
Thy subgett lord, both lowde and still,
In that I may.
A, lorde, I trymble ther I stande,
So am I arow to do that dede.
But saue me, lord that all ordand,143
For the to touche haue I grete drede
For doyngs dark.
Now helpe me lorde, thurgh thi Godhede,
To do this werk.
Jesus, my lord of myghtis most,
I baptise the here in the name149
Of the fadir and of the sone and holy gost;
But in this dede lorde, right no blame
This day by me,
And bryngis all thase to thy home
That trowes in the.
Jesus
John, for mannys prophyte-wit thou wele-155
Take I this baptyme certaynely.
The dragons poure ilk a dele
Thurgh my baptyme distroyed haue I,
This is certayne,
And saued mankynde, saule and body,
Fro endles payne.161
What man that trowis and baptised bes
Schall saued be and come to blisse.
Whoso trowes noyot, to payne endles
He schal be dampned sone, trowe wele this.
But wende we nowe
Wher most is nede the folke to wisse,167
Both I and thou.
John the Baptist
I loue the, lorde, as souereyne leche169
That come to salue men of thare sore,
As thou comaundis I schall gar preche
And lere to euery man that lare,
That are was thrall.
Now sirs, that barne that Marie bare
Be with yoou all.175

The Smiths' Play: The TemptationContents

Diabolus
Make rome belyve, and late me gang!1
Who makis here all this thrang?
High you hense, high myght yoou hang
Right with a roppe.
I drede me that I dwelle to lang
To do a jape.
For sithen the firste tyme that I fell7
For my pride fro heuen to hell,
Euere haue I mustered me emell
Emonge mannekynde,
How I in dole myght gar tham dwell
Ther to be pynde.
And certis, all that hath ben sithen borne13
Has comen to me, mydday and morne,
And I haue ordayned so tham forne
None may thame fende,
That fro all likyng ar they lorne
Withowten ende.
And nowe sum men spekis of a swayne,19
Howe he schall come and suffre payne
And with his dede to blisse agayne
Thei schulde be bought.
But certis this tale is but a trayne,
I trowe it noyot.
For I wotte ilke a dele bydene25
Of the mytyng that men of mene,
How he has in grete barett bene
Sithen he was borne,
And suffered mekill traye and tene
Bothe even and morne.
And nowe it is brought so aboute31
That lurdayne that thei loue and lowte
To wildirnesse he is wente owte,
Withowtyne moo;
To dere hym nowe haue I no doute,
Betwyxte vs two.
Before this tyme he has bene tent37
That I myght gete hym with no glent,
But now sen he allone is wente
I schall assay,
And garre hym to sum synne assente
If that I may.
He has fastid-that marris his mode-43
Ther fourty dayes withowten foode.
If he be man in bone and bloode
Hym hungris ill;
In glotonye than halde I gude
To witt his will.
For so it schall be knowen and kidde49
If Godhed be in hym hidde,
If he will do as I hym bidde
Whanne I come nare.
Ther was neuere dede that euere he dide
That greued hym warre.
Thou witty man and wise of rede,55
If thou can ought of Godhede
Byd nowe that ther stones be brede,
Betwyxte vs two;
Than may thei stande thyselfe in stede,
And othir moo.
For thou hast fastid longe I wene,61
I wolde now som mete wer sene
For olde acqueyntaunce vs bytwene,
Thyselue wote howe.
Ther sall no man witte what I mene
But I and thou.
Jesus
My fadir, that all cytte may slake,67
Honnoure eueremore to the I make
And gladly suffir I for thy sake
Swilk velany,
And thus temptacions for to take
Of myn enmy.
Thou weried wight, thi wittis are wode,73
For wrytyn it is, whoso vndirstode,
A man lyvis noght in mayne and mode
With brede allone,
But Goddis wordis are gostly fode
To men ilkone.
Iff I haue fastid oute of skill,79
Wytte thou me hungris not so ill
That I ne will wirke my fadirs will
In all degré;
Thi biddyng will I noyot fullfill,
That warne I the.
Diabolus
A, slyke carping neuere I kende,85
Hym hungres noyot, as I wende.
Nowe sen thy fadir may the fende
Be sotell sleghte,
Late se yf thou allone may lende
Ther vppon heghte,
Vppon the pynakill parfitely.91
Aha, nowe go we wele therby;
I schall assaye in vayne-glorie
To garre hym falle,
And if he be Goddis sone myghty,
Witte I schall.
Nowe liste to me a litill space:97
If thou be Goddis sone, full of grace,
Shew som poynte here in this place
To proue thi might.
Late se, falle doune vppon thi face
Here in my sight.
For it is wretyn, as wele is kende,103
How God schall aungellis to the sende,
And they schall kepe the in ther hende
Wherso thou gose,
That thou schall on no stones descende
To hurte thi tose.
And sen thou may withouten wathe109
Fall and do thyselffe no skathe,
Tumbill downe to ease vs bathe
Here to my fete;
And but thou do I will be wrothe,
That I the hette.
Jesus
Late be, warlowe, thy wordis kene,115
For wryten it is, withouten wene,
Thy God thou schall not tempte with tene
Nor with discorde,
Ne quarell schall thou none mayntene
Agaynste thi lorde.
And therfore trowe thou, withouten trayne,121
That all thi gaudes schall nothyng gayne;
Be subgette to thi souereyne
Arely and late.
Diabolus
What, this trauayle is in vayne125
Be ought I watte.
He proues that he is mekill of price,
Therfore it is goode I me avise,
And sen I may noyot on this wise
Make hym my thrall,
I will assaye in couetise131
To garre hym fall,
For certis I schall noyot leue hym yoitt.
Who is my souereyne, this wolde I witte?
Myselffe ordande the thore to sitte,
This wote thou wele,
And right euen as I ordande itt137
Is done ilke dele.
Than may thou se sen itt is soo
That I am souerayne of vs two,
And yoitt I graunte the or I goo
Withouten fayle,
That if thou woll assente me too143
It schall avayle.
For I haue all this worlde to welde,
Toure and toune, forest and felde;
If thou thyn herte will to me helde
With wordis hende,
Yitt will I baynly be thy belde149
And faithfull frende.
Behalde now ser, and thou schalt see
Sere kyngdomes and sere contré;
Alle this wile I giffe to the
For euermore,
And thou fall and honour me155
As I saide are.
Jesus
Sees of thy sawes, thou Sathanas,157
I graunte nothyng that thou me asse,
To pyne of helle I bide the passe
And wightely wende,
And wonne in woo, as thou are was,
Withouten ende.
Non othyr myght schal be thy mede,163
For wretyn it is, who right can rede,
Thy lord God the aught to drede
And honoure ay,
And serue hym in worde and dede
Both nyyot and day.
And sen thou dose not as I the tell169
No lenger liste me late the dwell,
I comaunde the thou hy to hell
And holde the thar,
With felawschip of fendis fell
For euermar.
Diabolus
Owte! I dar noyot loke, allas,175
Itt is warre than euere it was.
He musteres what myght he has,
Hye mote he hang.
Folowes fast, for me bus pas
To paynes strang.
Angel 1
A, mercy lorde, what may this mene?181
Me merueyles that yoe thole this tene
Of this foule fende cant and kene
Carpand yoou till,
And yoe his wickidnesse, I wene,
May waste at will.
Methynke that yoe ware straytely stedde187
Lorde, with this fende that nowe is fledde.
Jesus
Myn aungell dere, be noyot adred,189
He may not greue;
The haly goste me has ledde,
Thus schal thow leue.
For whan the fende schall folke see
And salus tham in sere degré,
Thare myrroure may thei make of me195
For to stande still,
For ouerecome schall thei noyot be
Bot yf thay will.
Angel 2
A, lorde, this is a grete mekenesse199
In yow in whome al mercy is,
And at youre wille may deme or dresse
Als is worthy;
And thre temptacions takes expres,
Thus suffirrantly.
Jesus
My blissing haue thei with my hande205
That with swilke greffe is noyot grucchand,
And also that will stiffely stande
Agaynste the fende.
I knawe my tyme is faste comand,
Now will I wende.

Unidentified two line fragmentContents

Archdeclyne
Loo this is a yoyfull day1
For me and …

The Curriers' Play: The TransfigurationContents

Jesus
Petir myne awne discipill dere,1
And James and John my cosyns two,
Takis hartely hede, for yoe schall here
That I wille telle vnto no moo.
And als yoe schall see sightis seere
Whilke none schall see bot yoe alsoo,
Therfore comes forth with me in fere,7
For to yoone mountayne will I goo.
Ther schall yoe see a sight
Whilk yoe haue yoerned lange.
Peter
My lorde, we are full light11
And glad with the to gange.
Jesus
Longe haue yoe coveyte for to kenne13
My fadir, for I sette hym before,
And wele yoe wote whilke tyme and when
In Galylé gangand we were.
‘Shewe vs thy fadir’-thus saide yoe then-
‘That suffice us withouten moré.
I saide to yoou and to all men19
‘Who seis me seis my fadyr thoré.
Such wordis to yoou I spakke
In trewthe to make yoou bolde;
Ye cowde noght vndyrtake
The talez that I yoou tolde.
Anodir tyme, for to encresse25
Youre trouthe and worldly yoou to wys,
I saide ‘Quem dicunt homines
Esse filium hominis?’
I askid yoow wham the pepill chase
To be mannys sone, withouten mys.
Ye aunswered and saide ‘Sum Moyses,’31
And sum, saide than ‘Hely it is’,
And sum saide ‘John Baptist’.
Than more I enquered you yoitt,
I askid yoiff yoe ought wiste
Who I was, by youre witte.
Thou aunswered, Petir, for thy prowe,37
And saide that I was Crist, God sonne,
Bot of thyselffe that had noght thowe,
My fadir hadde that grace begonne.
Therfore bese bolde and biddis now
To tyme yoe haue my fadir fonne.
Jacobus
Lord, to thy byddyng will we bowe43
Full buxumly, as we are bonne.
John
Lorde, we will wirke thy will45
Allway with trewe entent,
We love God lowde and stille
That vs this layne has lente.
Peter
Full glad and blithe awe vs to be,49
And thanke oure maistir mekill of mayne
That sais we schall the sightis see,
The whiche non othir schall see certayne.
Jacobus
He talde vs of his fadir free,53
Of that fare wolde we be full fayne.
John
All that he hyghte vs holde will hee,55
Therfore we will no forther frayne,
But as he fouchesaffe
So sall we vndirstande.
Peter
Beholde, her we nowe haue59
In hast som new tythande.
Helyas
Lord God, I loue the lastandly61
And highly, botht with harte and hande,
That me, thy poure prophett Hely,
Has steuened in this stede to stande.
In Paradise wonnand am I
Ay sen I lefte this erthely lande;
I come Cristis name to clarifie67
As God his fadir me has ordand,
And for to bere witnesse
In worde to man and wyffe,
That this his owne sone is
And lord of lastand liff.
Moyses
Lord God that of all welth is wele,73
With wille and witte we wirschippe the,
That vnto me, Moyses, wolde tell
This grete poynte of thy pryuyté,
And hendly hente me oute of hell
This solempne syght for I schuld see,
Whan thy dere darlynges that thore dwell79
Hase noght thy grace in swilk degree.
Oure forme-fadyrs full fayne
Wolde se this solempne sight,
That in this place thus pleyne
Is mustered thurgh thi myght.
Peter
Brethir, whateuere yoone brightnes be?85
Swilk burdis beforne was neuere sene.
It marres my myght, I may not see,
So selcouth thyng was neuere sene.
Jacobus
What it will worthe that wote noyot wee;89
How wayke I waxe yoe will not wene.
Are was ther one, now is ther thre,
Methynke oure maistir is betwene.
John
That oure maistir is thare93
That may we trewly trowe,
He was full fayre before
But neuere als he is nowe.
Peter
His clothyng is as white as snowe,97
His face schynes as the sonne;
To speke with hym I haue grete awe,
Swilk faire before was neuere fune.
Jacobus
The tothir two fayne wolde I knawe101
And witte what werke tham hedir has wonne.
John
I rede we aske tham all on rowe103
And grope tham how this game is begonne.
Peter
My bredir, if that yoe come be105
To make clere Cristis name,
Telles here till vs thre,
For we seke to the same.
Elias
Itt is Goddis will that we yoou wys109
Of his werkis, as is worthy.
I haue my place in Paradise,
Ennok my brodyr me by.
Als messenger withouten mys
Am I called to this company,
To witnesse that Goddis sone is this,115
Euyn with hym mette and allmyghty.
To dede we wer noght dight,
But quyk schall we come
With Antecrist for to fyght,
Beffore the day of dome.
Moyses
Frendis, if that yoe frayne my name,121
Moyses than may yoe rede by rawe.
Two thousand yoere aftir Adam
Than gaffe God vnto me his lawe,
And sythen in helle has bene oure hame,
Allas, Adams kynne, this schall yoe knawe.
Vnto Crist come, this is the same127
That vs schall fro that dongeoun drawe.
He schall brynge tham to blys
That nowe in bale are bonne.
This myrthe we may not mys,
For this same is Goddis sonne.
Jesus
My dere discipils, drede yoou noyot,133
I am yooure souerayne certenly.
This wondir-werke that here is wrought
Is of my fadir almyghty.
Thire both are hydir brought-
The tone Moyses, the todir Ely-
And for youre sake thus are thei sought139
To saie yoou, his sone am I.
So schall bothe heuen and helle
Be demers of this dede,
And yoe in erth schall tell
My name wher itt is nede.
Peter
A, loued be thou euere my lord Jesus145
That all this solempne sight has sent,
That fouchest saffe to schew the thus
So that thi myghtis may be kende.
Here is full faire dwellyng for vs,
A lykand place in for to lende.
A, lord, late vs no forther trus,151
For we will make with herte and hende
A taburnakill vnto the
Belyue, and thou will bide;
One schall to Moyses be
And to Ely the thirde.
Jacobus
Ya, wittirly, that were wele done,157
But vs awe noght swilk case to craue.
Tham thare but saie and haue it sone,
Such seruice and he fouchesaffe.
He hetis his men both morne and none
Thare herber high in heuen to haue,
Therfore is beste we bide hys bone;163
Who othir reedis, rudely thei raue.
John
Such sonde as he will sende165
May mende all oure mischeue,
And where hym lykis to lende,
We will lende, with his leue.
Pater
Ye febill of faithe, folke affraied,169
Beis noyot aferde for vs in feere.
I am yooure God that gudly grayde
Both erthe and eyre with clowdes clere.
This is my sone, as yoe haue saide,
As he has schewed by sygnes sere.
Of all his werkis I am wele paied,175
Therfore till hym takis hede and here.
Where he is, thare am I,
He is myne and I am his,
Who trowis this stedfastly
Shall byde in endles blisse.
Jesus
Petir, pees be vnto the,181
And to yoou also James and John.
Rise vppe and tellis me what yoe see,
And beis no more so wille of wone.
Peter
A, lorde, what may this meruayle be,185
Whedir is this glorious gleme al gone?
We saugh here pleynly persones thre
And nowe is oure lorde lefte allone.
This meruayle movis my mynde
And makis my flessh affrayed.
Jacobus
This brightnes made me blynde,191
I bode neuere swilke a brayde.
John
Lorde God oure maker almyghty,193
This mater euermore be ment,
We saw two bodis stande hym by
And saide his fadir had thame sent.
Peter
There come a clowde of the skye197
Lyght als the lemys on thame lent,
And now fares all as fantasye
For wote noyot we how thai are wente.
Jacobus
That clowde cloumsed vs clene201
That come schynand so clere,
Such syght was never sene,
To seke all sydis seere.
John
Nay, nay, that noys noyed vs more205
That here was herde so hydously.
Jesus
Frendis, be noght afferde therfore,207
I schall yoou saye encheson why:
My fadir wiste how that yoe were
In yooure faith fayland, and forthy
He come to witnesse ay-where,
And saide that his sone am I.
And also in this stede213
To witnesse the same,
A quyk man and a dede
Come to make clere my name.
Peter
A, lord, why latest thou vs noyot see217
Thy fadirs face in his fayrenes?
Jesus
Petir, thou askis over-grete degree,219
That grace may noyot be graunted the, I gesse.
In his Godhed so high is he
As all yooure prophetis names expresse,
That langar of lyffe schall he noght be
That seys his Godhede as it is.
Here haue yoe sene in sight225
Poyntes of his priuité,
Als mekill als erthely wighte
May suffre in erthe to see.
And therfore wende we nowe agayne
To oure meyné, and mende ther chere.
Jacobus
Oure felaws ful faste wil vs frayne231
How we haue faren, al in feere.
Jesus
This visioun lely loke yoe layne,233
Vnto no leffand lede itt lere
Tille tyme mannys sone haue suffered payne
And resen fro dede; kens it than clere.
For all that trowis that thyng
Of my fadir and me,
Thay schall haue his blessing239
And myne, so motte it be.

The Capmakers' Play: The Woman Taken in Adultery/The Raising of LazarusContents

Judeus 1
Steppe fourth, late vs no lenger stande,1
But smertely that oure gere wer grayde;
This felowe that we with folye fande,
Late haste vs fast that she wer flayed.
Judeus 2
We will bere witnesse and warande5
How we hir raysed all vnarayed,
Agaynste the lawes here of oure lande
Wher sche was with hir leman laide.
Judeus 1
Yaa, and he a wedded man,9
That was a wikkid synne.
Judeus 2
That bargayne schall sche banne11
With bale nowe or we blynne.
Judeus 1
A, false stodmere and stynkand stroye,13
How durste thou stele so stille away
To do so vilaunce avowtry
That is so grete agaynste oure lay?
Judeus 2
Hir bawdery schall sche dere abye,17
For as we sawe so schall we saye,
And also hir wirkyng is worthy
Sho schall be demed to ded this day.
Judeus 1
The maistirs of the lawe21
Are here even at oure hande.
Judeus 2
Go we reherse by rawe23
Hir fawtes as we tham fande.
Judeus 1
God saue yoou maistirs, mekill of mayne,25
That grete clergy and counsaille can.
Judeus 3
Welcome frendis, but I wolde frayne27
How fare yoe with that faire woman?
Judeus 2
A, sirs, we schall yoou saie certayne29
Of mekill sorowe sen sche began.
We haue hir tane with putry playne,
Hirselff may noyot gaynesaie it than.
Judeus 4
What hath sche done, folye33
In fornicacioun and synne?
Judeus 1
Nay, nay, in avowtery35
Full bolde, and will noyot blynne.
Judeus 3
Avowtery? Nemyn it noght for schame!37
It is so foule opynly I it fye.
Is it sothe that thei saie the dame?
Judeus 2
What sir, scho may it noyot denye.40
We wer than worthy for to blame
To greve hir but sche wer gilty.
Judeus 4
Now certis, this is a foule defame43
And mekill bale muste be tharby.
Judeus 3
Ya sir, yoe saie wele thore45
By lawe and rightwise rede,
Ther falles noght ellis therfore
But to be stoned to dede.
Judeus 1
Sirs, sen yoe telle the lawe this tyde49
And knawes the course in this contré,
Demes hir on heght, no lenger hyde,
And aftir yooure wordis wirke schall we.
Judeus 4
Beis noght so bryme, bewsheris, abide,53
A new mater nowe moues me
[…     …]54
Judeus 3
He shewes my mysdedis more and myne,55
I leue yoou here, late hym allone.
Judeus 4
Owe, here will new gaudes begynne-57
Ya, grete all wele, saie that I am gone.
Judeus 1
And sen yoe are noght bolde,59
No lengar bide will I.
Judeus 2
Pees, late no tales be tolde,61
But passe fourth preuylye.
Jesus
Woman, wher are tho wighte men went63
That kenely here accused the?
Who hase the dampned, toke thou entent?
Mulier
Lord, no man has dampned me.66
Jesus
And for me schall thou noyot be schent.67
Of all thy mys I make the free,
Loke thou no more to synne assentte.
Mulier
A, lord, ay loued mott thou bee.70
All erthely folke in feere
Loves hym and his high name,
That me on this manere
Hath saued fro synne and schame.
Apostolus 1
A, lorde, we loue the inwardly75
And all thi lore, both lowde and still,
That grauntes thy grace to the gilty
And spares tham that the folke wolde spill.
Jesus
I schall yoou saie encheson why:79
I wote it is my fadirs will,
And for to make tham ware therby
To knawe thamselffe haue done more ill.
And euermore of this same
Ensample schall be sene,
Whoso schall othir blame85
Loke firste thamself be clene.
Apostolus 2
A, maistir, here may men se also87
How mekenes may full mekill amende,
To forgeue gladly where we goo
All folke that hath vs oght offende.
Jesus
He that will noyot forgiffe his foo91
And vse mekenesse with herte and hende,
The kyngdom may he noght come too
That ordande is withouten ende.
And more sone schall we see
Here or yoe forther fare,
How that my fadir free97
Will mustir myghtis more.
Nuncius
Jesu that es prophett veray,99
My ladys Martha and Marie,
If thou fouchesaffe thai wolde the pray
For to come vnto Bethany.
He whom thou loues full wele alway
Es seke, and like, lord, for to dye.
Yf thou wolde come, amende hym thou may105
And comforte all that cumpany.
Jesus
I saie yoou that sekeness107
Is noyot onto the dede,
But joie of Goddis gudnesse
Schal be schewed in that stede.
And Goddis sone schall be glorified
By that sekenesse and signes seere,
Therfore brethir no lenger bide,113
Two daies fully haue we ben here.
We will go soiourne here beside
In the Jurie with frendis in feere.
Apostolus 1
A, lorde, thou wote wele ilke a tyde117
The Jewes thei layte the ferre and nere,
To stone the vnto dede
Or putte to pereles payne,
And thou to that same stede
Covaites to gange agayne?
Jesus
Ye wote by cours wele for to kast,123
The daie is now of xij oures lange,
And whilis light of the day may last
It is gode that we grathely gange.
For whan daylight is pleynly past
Full sone than may yoe wende all wrang,
Therfore takes hede and trauayle fast129
Whills light of liffe is yoou emang.
And to yoou saie I more,
How that Lazar oure frende
Slepes nowe, and I therfore
With yoou to hym will wende.
Apostolus 2
We will be ruled aftir thi rede,135
But and he slepe he schall be saue.
Jesus
I saie to yoou, Lazare is dede,137
And for yoou all grete joie I haue
Ye wote I was noght in that stede
What tyme that he was graued in graue.
His sisteres praye with bowsom beede
And for comforte thei call and craue,
Therfore go we togedir143
To make there myrthis more.
Apostolus 1
Sen he will nedes wende thedir,145
Go we and dye with hym thore.
Maria
Allas, owtane Goddis will allone,147
That I schulld sitte to see this sight,
For I may morne and make my mone,
So wo in worlde was neuere wight.
That I loued most is fro me gone,
My dere brothir that Lazar hight,
And I durst saye I wolde be slone153
For nowe me fayles both mynde and myght.
My welthe is wente for euere,
No medycyne mende me may.
A, dede, thou do thy deuer
And haue me hense away.
Martha
Allas, for ruthe now may I raue159
And febilly fare by frith and felde,
Wolde God that I wer grathed in graue,
That dede hadde tane me vndir telde.
For hele in harte mon I neuere haue
But if he helpe that all may welde,
Of Crist I will som comforte craue165
For he may be my bote and belde.
To seke I schal noyot cesse
Tille I my souereyne see.
Hayle, pereles prince of pesse,
Jesu my maistir so free.
Jesus
Martha, what menes thou to make such chere?171
[…     …]171
This stone we schall full sone
Remove and sette on syde.
Jesus
Fadir, that is in heuyn on highte,174
I thanke the euere ouere all thyng
That hendely heres me day and nyght,
And takis hede vnto myn askyng.
Wherfore fouchesaffe of thy grete myght
So that this pepull, olde and yoyng,
That standis and bidis to se that sight180
May trulye trowe and haue knowyng,
This tyme here or I pas
How that thou has me sent.
Lazar, veni foras,
Come fro thy monument.
Lazarus
A, pereles prince, full of pitee,186
Worshipped be thou in worlde alway
That thus hast schewed thi myght in me,
Both dede and doluen, this is the fourthe day.
By certayne singnes here may men see
How that thou art Goddis sone verray.
All tho that trulye trastis in the192
Schall neuere dye, this dar I saye.
Therfore yoe folke in fere,
Menske hym with mayne and myght,
His lawes luke that yoe lere,
Than will he lede yoou to his light.
Maria
Here may men fynde a faythfull frende198
That thus has couered vs of oure care.
Martha
Jesu my lord and maistir hende,200
Of this we thanke the euermore.
Jesus
Sisteres, I may no lenger lende,202
To othir folke nowe bus me fare,
And to Jerusalem will I wende
For thyngis that muste be fulfilled there.
Therfore rede I you right,
My men, to wende with me.
Ye that haue sene this sight208
My blissyng with yoo be.

The Skinners' Play: The Entry into JerusalemContents

Jesus
To me takis tent and giffis gud hede1
My dere discipulis that ben here,
I schall yoou telle that shal be indede:
My tyme to passe hense it drawith nere,
And by this skill,
Mannys sowle to saue fro sorowes sere
That loste was ill.7
From heuen to erth whan I dyssende
Rawnsom to make I made promys,
The prophicie nowe drawes to ende,
My fadirs wille forsoth it is
That sente me hedyr.
Petir, Phelippe, I schall yoou blisse,13
And go togedir
Vnto yoone castell that is yoou agayne,
Gois with gud harte and tarie noyot,
My comaundement to do be yoe bayne.
Also I yoou charge loke it be wrought
That schal yoe fynde19
An asse this feste als yoe had soght.
Ye hir vnbynde
With hir foole, and to me hem bring,
That I on hir may sitte a space,
So the prophicy clere menyng
May be fulfillid here in this place:25
‘Doghtyr Syon,
Loo, thi lorde comys rydand an asse
The to opon’.
Yf any man will yoou gaynesaye,
Say that youre lorde has nede of tham
And schall restore thame this same day31
Vnto what man will tham clayme;
Do thus this thyng.
Go furthe yoe both and be ay bayne
In my blissyng.
Peter
Jesu, maistir evyn at thy wille36
And at thi liste vs likis to doo.
Yone beste whilke thou desires the tille
Euen at thi will schall come the too,
Vnto thin esse.
Sertis lord, we will thedyre all go
The for to plese.42
Philip
Lord, the to plese we are full bayne43
Bothe nyght and day to do thi will.
Go we brothere, with all oure mayne
My lordis desire for to fulfill,
For prophycye
Vs bus it do to hym by skyll
Tharto dewly.49
Peter
Ya, brodir Phelipp, behalde grathely,50
For als he saide we schulde sone fynde,
Methinke yoone bestis before myn eye
Thai are the same we schulde vnbynde.
Therfore frely
Go we to hym that thame gan bynde,
And aske mekely.56
Philip
The beestis are comen, wele I knawe,57
Therfore vs nedis to aske lesse leue;
And oure maistir kepis the lawe
We may thame take tyter, I preue.
For noght we lett,
For wele I watte oure tyme is breue,
Go we tham fett.63
Janitor
Saie, what are yoe that makis here maistrie,64
To loose thes bestis withoute leverie?
Yow semes to bolde, sen noght that yoe
Hase here to do; therfore rede I
Such thingis to sesse,
Or ellis yoe may falle in folye
And grette diseasse.70
Peter
Sir, with thi leue, hartely we praye71
This beste that we myght haue.
Janitor
To what intente firste shall yoe saye,73
And than I graunte what yoe will crave
Be gode resoune.
Philip
Oure maistir sir, that all may saue,76
Aske by chesoune.
Janitor
What man is that yoe maistir call78
Swilke priuelege dare to hym clayme?
Peter
Jesus, of Jewes kyng and ay be schall,80
Of Nazareth prophete the same.
This same is he,
Both God and man withouten blame,
This trist wele we.
Janitor
Sirs, of that prophette herde I haue,85
But telle me firste playnly, wher is hee?
Philip
He comes at hande so God me saue,87
That lorde we lefte at Bephagé,
He bidis vs there.
Janitor
Sir, take this beste with herte full free,90
And forthe yoe fare.
And if yoou thynke it be to don,
I schall declare playnly his comyng
To the chiffe of the Jewes, that thei may sone
Assemble same to his metyng;
What is your rede?96
Peter
Thou sais full wele in thy menyng.97
Do forthe thi dede,
And sone this beste we schall the bring
And it restore as resoune will.
Janitor
This tydyngis schall haue no laynyng,101
But be the citezens declared till
Of this cyté.
I suppose fully that thei wolle
Come mete that free.
And sen I will thei warned be,
Both yoonge and olde in ilke a state,107
For his comyng I will tham mete
To late tham witte, withoute debate.
Lo, wher thei stande,
The citezens cheff withoute debate
Of all this lande.
He that is rewler of all right113
And freely schoppe both sande and see,
He saue yoou, lordyngis gayly dight,
And kepe yoou in yooure semelyté
And all honoure.
Burger 1
Welcome porter, what novelté?118
Telle vs this owre.
Janitor
Sirs, novelté I can yoou tell120
And triste thame fully as for trewe:
Her comes of kynde of Israell
Att hande the prophette called Jesu,
Lo, this same day,
Rydand on an asse. This tydandis newe
Consayue yoe may.126
Burger 2
And is that prophette Jesu nere?127
Off hym I haue herde grete ferlis tolde.
He dois grete wounderes in contrees seere,
He helys the seke, both yoonge and olde,
And the blynde giffis tham ther sight.
Both dome and deffe, as hymselffe wolde,
He cures thame right.133
Burger 3
Ya, v thowsand men with loves fyue134
He fedde, and ilkone hadde inowe.
Watir to wyne he turned ryue,
He garte corne growe withouten plogh
Wher are was none.
To dede men als he gaffe liffe,
Lazar was one.140
Burger 4
In oure tempill if he prechid141
Agaynste the pepull that leued wrong,
And also new lawes if he teched
Agaynste oure lawis we vsed so lang,
And saide pleynlye
The olde schall waste, the new schall gang,
That we schall see.147
Burger 5
Ya, Moyses lawe he cowde ilke dele148
And all the prophettis on a rowe,
He telles tham so that ilke a man may fele
And what thei say interly knowe
Yf thei were dyme.
What the prophettis saide in ther sawe,
All longis to hym.154
Burger 6
Emanuell also by right155
Thai calle that prophette by this skill,
He is the same that are was hyght
Be Ysaye befor vs till,
Thus saide full clere:
Loo, a maydyn that knew neuere ille
A childe schuld bere.161
Burger 7
Dauid spake of hym I wene162
And lefte witnesse yoe knowe ilkone,
He saide the frute of his corse clene
Shulde royally regne vpon his trone,
And therfore he
Of Dauid kyn and othir none
Oure kyng schal be.168
Burger 8
Sirs, methynketh yoe saie right wele169
And gud ensampelys furth yoe bryng,
And sen we thus this mater fele
Go we hym meete as oure owne kyng,
And kyng hym call.
What is youre counsaill in this thyng?
Now say yoe all.175
Burger 1
Agaynste resoune I will noyot plete176
For wele I wote oure kyng he is.
Whoso agaynst his kyng liste threte
He is noyot wise, he dose amys.
Porter, come nere.
What knowlage hast thou of his comyng?
Tels vs all here,182
And than we will go mete that free,
And hym honnoure as we wele awe
Worthely tyll oure citee,
And for oure souerayne lord hym knawe,
In whome we triste.
Janitor
Sirs, I schall telle yoou all on rowe188
And yoe will lyste.
Of his discipillis, ij this day
Where that I stode thei faire me grette,
And on ther maistir halfe gan praye
Oure comon asse that thei myght gete
Bot for a while,194
Wheron ther maistir softe myght sitte
Space of a mile.
And all this mater thai me tolde
Right haly as I saie to yoou,
And the asse thei haue right as thei wolde
And sone will bringe agayne I trowe,200
So thai beheste.
What yoe will doo avise yoou nowe,
Thus thinke me beste.
Burger 2
Trewlye as for me I say204
I rede we make vs redy bowne,
Hym to mete gudly this day
And hym ressayue with grete rennowne
As worthy is.
And therfore sirs, in felde and towne
Ye fulfille this.210
Janitor
Ya, and yooure childer with yoou take,211
Thoff all in age that thei be yoonge,
Ye may fare the bettir for ther sake
Thurgh the blissing of so goode a kyng,
This is no dowte.
Burger 3
I kan the thanke for thy saying,216
We will hym lowte.
And hym to mete I am right bayne
On the beste maner that I cane,
For I desire to se hym fayne
And hym honnoure as his awne man,
Sen the soth I see.222
Kyng of Juuys we call hym than,
Oure kyng is he.
Burger 4
Oure kyng is he-that is no lesse-225
Oure awne lawe to it cordis will,
The prophettis all bare full witnesse
Qwilke of hym secrete gone telle,
And thus wolde say:
‘Emang youreselff schall come grete seele
Thurgh God verray’.231
Burger 5
This same is he, ther is non othir,232
Was vs beheest full lange before,
For Moyses saide als oure owne brothir
A newe prophette God schulde restore.
Therfore loke yoe
What yoe will do, withouten more,
Oure kyng is he.238
Burger 6
Of Juda come owre kyng so gent,239
Of Jesse, Dauid, Salamon;
Also by his modir kynne take tente,
The genolagye beres witnesse on,
This is right playne.
Hym to honnoure right as I can
I am full bayne.245
Burger 7
Of youre clene witte and youre consayte246
I am full gladde in harte and thought,
And hym to mete withouten latt
I am redy, and feyne will noght,
Bot with yoou same
Go hym agayne vs blisse hath brought,
With myrthe and game.252
Burger 8
Youre argumentis thai are so clere253
I can noyot saie but graunte you till,
For whanne I of that counsaille here
I coveyte hym with feruent wille
Onys for to see,
I trowe fro thens I schall
Bettir man be.259
Burger 1
Go we than with processioun260
To mete that comely as vs awe,
With braunches, floures and vnysoune.
With myghtfull songes her on a rawe
Our childir schall
Go synge before, that men may knawe.
Burger 2
To this graunte we all.266
Peter
Jesu, lord and maistir free,267
Als thou comaunde so haue we done.
This asse here we haue brought to the,
What is thi wille thou schewe vs sone
And tarie noyot,
And than schall we withouten hune
Fulfill thi thouyot.273
Jesus
I thanke yoou brethere mylde of mode.274
Do on this asse youre clothis yoe laye,
And lifte me vppe with hertis gud
That I on hir may sitte this daye
In my blissing.
Philip
Lord, thi will to do allway279
We graunte this thing.
Jesus
Now my brethere with gud chere281
Gyues gode entente, for ryde I will
Vnto yoone cyté yoe se so nere.
Ye shall me folowe sam and still
Als I are sayde.
Philip
Lord, as the lyst we graunte the till,286
And halde vs payde.
Cecus
A, lorde, that all this world has made,288
Bothe sonne and mone, nyght and day,
What noyse is this that makis me gladde?
Fro whens it schulde come I can noyot saye,
Or what it mene.
Yf any man walke in this way
Telle hym me bedene.294
Pauper
Man, what ayles the to crye?295
Where wolde thou be? Thou say me here.
Cecus
A, sir, a blynde man am I297
And ay has bene of tendyr yoere
Sen I was borne.
I harde a voyce with nobill chere
Here me beforne.
Pauper
Man, will thou oght that I can do?302
Cecus
Ya sir, gladly wolde I witte303
Yf thou couthe oght declare me to
This myrthe I herde, what mene may it
Or vndirstande?
Pauper
Jesu the prophite full of grace307
Comys here at hande,
And all the cetezens thay are bowne
Gose hym to mete with melodye,
With the fayrest processioun
That euere was sene in this Jury;
He is right nere.313
Cecus
Sir, helpe me to the strete hastely,314
That I may here
That noyse, and also that I myght thurgh grace
My syght of hym to craue I wolde.
Pauper
Loo, he is here at this same place.318
Crye faste on hym, loke thou be bolde,
With voyce right high.
Cecus
Jesu the sone of Dauid calde,321
Thou haue mercy.
Allas, I crye, he heris me noyot,
He has no ruthe of my mysfare.
He turnes his herre, where is his thought?
Pauper
Cry somwhat lowdar, loke thou noyot spare,326
So may thou spye.
Cecus
Jesu the saluer of all sare,328
To me giffis gode hye.
Philip
Cesse man and crye noyot soo,330
The voyce of the pepill gose the by.
The aghe sette still and tente giffe to,
Here passez the prophite of mercye-
Thou doys amys.
Cecus
A, Dauid sone, to the I crye,335
The kyng of blisse.
Peter
Lorde, haue mercy and late hym goo,337
He can noyot cesse of his crying.
He folows vs both to and froo,
Graunte hym his boone and his askyng
And late hym wende.
We gette no reste or that this thyng
Be broyot to ende.343
Jesus
What wolde thou man I to the dede344
In this present? Telle oppynly.
Cecus
Lorde, my syght is fro me hydde,346
Thou graunte me it, I crye mercy,
This wolde I haue.
Jesus
Loke vppe nowe with chere blythely,349
Thi faith shall the saue.
Cecus
Wirschippe and honnoure ay to the351
With all the seruice that can be done,
The kyng of blisse loued mote he be
That thus my sight hath sente so sone,
And by grete skill.
I was are blynde as any stone:
I se at wille.357
Claudus
A, wele wer tham that euere had liffe,358
Olde or yonge whedir it were,
Might welde ther lymmes withouten striffe,
Go with this mirthe that I see here
And contynewe;
For I am sette in sorowes sere
That ay ar newe.364
Thou lord that schope both nyght and day,
For thy mercy haue mynde on me
And helpe me lorde, as thou wele may
[…     …]367
i may noyot gang.368
For I am lame as men may se
And has ben lang.
For wele I wote, as knowyn is ryffe,
Bothe dome and deffe thou grauntist tham grace,
And also the dede that thou hauyst geuen liff;
Therfore graunte me lord in this place374
My lymbis to welde.
Jesus
My man, ryse and caste the crucchys gode space376
Her in the felde,
And loke in trouthe thou stedfast be,
And folow me furth with gode menyng.
Claudus
Lorde, lo my crouchis whare thei flee380
Als ferre as I may late tham flenge
With bothe my hende.
That euere we haue metyng
Now I defende,
For I was halte of lyme and lame
And I suffered tene and sorowes inowe.386
Ay-lastand lord, loued be thi name,
I am als light as birde on bowe.
Ay be thou blist,
Such grace hast thou schewed to me
Lorde, as the list.
Zaché
Sen firste this worlde was made of noyot392
And all thyng sette in equité,
Such ferly thyng was neuere non wroght
As men this tyme may see with eye.
What it may mene-
I can noyot saye what it may be,
Comforte or tene.398
And cheffely of a prophete new
That mekill is profite, and that of latte
Both day and nyght thai hym assewe,
Oure pepill same thurgh strete and gatte
[…     …]402
Oure olde lawes as nowe thei hatte
And his kepis yoare.
Men fro deth to liffe he rayse,
The blynde and dome geve speche and sight,
Gretely therfor oure folke hym prayse
And folowis hym both day and nyght408
Fro towne to towne.
Thay calle hym prophite be right
As of renowne.
And yoit I meruayle of that thyng,
Of puplicans sen prince am I
Of hym I cowthe haue no knowyng,414
Yf all I wolde haue comen hym neyoe,
Arly and late.
For I am lawe, and of men high
Full is the gate.
Bot sen no bettir may befalle
I thynke what beste is for to doo,420
I am schorte yoe knawe wele all,
Therfore yoone tre I will go too
And in it clyme.
Whedir he come or passe me fro
I schall se hym.
A, nobill tree thou secomoure,426
I blisse hym that the on the erthe broght.
Now may I see both here and thore
That vndir me hid may be noyot.
Therfore in the
Wille I bidde in herte and thought
Till I hym se.432
Vnto the prophete come to towne
Her will I bide what so befalle.
Jesus
Do Zaché, do faste come downe.435
Zaché
Lorde, even at thi wille hastely I schall,436
And tarie noght.
To the on knes lord here I fall
For synne I wroght;
And welcome, prophete trast and trewe,
With all the pepull that to the lange.
Jesus
Zaché, thi seruice new442
Schall make the clene of all the wrong
That thou haste done.
Zaché
Lorde, I lette noyot for this thrang445
Her to say sone
Me schamys with synne but ouyot to mende.
Mi synne forsake therfore I will,
Halue my gud I haue vnspende
Poure folke to geue it till,
This will I fayne.451
Whom I begylyd to hym I will
Make asith agayne.
Jesus
Thy clere confessioun schall the clense,454
Thou may be sure of lastand lyffe.
Vnto thi house withouten offense
Is graunted pees withouten striffe.
Farewele Zaché.
Zaché
Lord, the lowte ay man and wiffe,459
Blist myght thou be.
Jesus
My dere discipulis, beholde and see,461
Vnto Jerusalem we schall assende,
Man sone schall ther betrayed be
And gevyn into his enmys hende
With grete dispitte.
Ther spitting on hym ther schall thei spende
And smertly smyte.467
Petir, take this asse me fro
And lede it where thou are it toke.
I murne, I sigh, I wepe also
Jerusalem on the to loke.
And so may thou rewe
That euere thou thi kyng forsuke473
And was vntrewe.
For stone on stone schall none be lefte
But doune to the grounde all schal be caste,
Thy game, thi gle, al fro the refte
And all for synne that thou done hast.
Thou arte vnkynde;479
Agayne thi kyng thou hast trespast,
Haue this in mynde.
Peter
Porter, take here thyn asse agayne,482
At hande my lorde comys on his fette.
Janitor
Behalde where all the burgeis bayne484
Comes with wirschippe hym to mete.
Therfore I will
Late hym abide here in this strete
And lowte hym till.
Burger 1
Hayll prophette preued withouten pere,489
Hayll prince of pees schall euere endure,
Hayll kyng comely, curteyse and clere,
Hayll souerayne semely, to synfull sure;
To the all bowes.
Hayll lord louely oure cares may cure,
Hayll kyng of Jewes.495
Burger 2
Hayll florisshand floure that neuere shall fade,496
Hayll vyolett vernand with swete odoure,
Hayll marke of myrthe oure medecyne made,
Hayll blossome bright, hayll oure socoure,
Hayll kyng comely.
Hayll menskfull man, we the honnoure
With herte frely.502
Burger 3
Hayll Dauid sone, doughty in dede,503
Hayll rose ruddy, hayll birrall clere,
Hayll, welle of welthe may make vs mede,
Hayll saluer of oure sores sere,
We wirschippe the.
Hayll hendfull, with solas sere
Welcome thou be509
Burger 4
Hayll blisfull babe, in Bedleme borne,510
Hayll boote of all oure bittir balis,
Hayll, sege that schoppe bothe even and morne,
Hayll talker trystefull of trew tales,
Hayll comely knyght,
Hayll of mode that moste preuayles
To saue the tyght.516
Burger 5
Hayll dyamaunde with drewry dight,517
Hayll jasper gentill of Jury,
Hayll lylly lufsome lemyd with lyght,
Hayll balme of boote, moyste and drye
To all has nede.
Hayll barne most blist of mylde Marie,
Hayll all oure mede.523
Burger 6
Hayll conquerour, hayll most of myght,524
Hayll rawnsoner of synfull all,
Hayll pytefull, hayll louely light,
Hayll to vs welcome be schall,
Hayll kyng of Jues.
Hayll comely corse that we the call
With mirthe that newes.530
Burger 7
Hayll sonne ay schynand with bright bemes,531
Hayll lampe of liff schall neuere waste,
Hayll lykand lanterne, luffely lemys,
Hayll texte of trewthe the trew to taste.
Hayll kyng and sire,
Hayll maydens chylde that menskid hir most,
We the desire.537
Burger 8
Hayll domysman dredful, that all schall deme,538
Hayll that all quyk and dede schall lowte,
Hayll whom worschippe moste will seme,
Hayll whom all thyng schall drede and dowte.
We welcome the,
Hayll and welcome of all abowte
To owre ceté.544

The Cutlers' Play: The ConspiracyContents

Pilate
Vndir the ryallest roye of rente and renowne1
Now am I regent of rewle this region in reste,
Obeye vnto bidding bud busshoppis me bowne
And bolde men that in batayll makis brestis to breste.
To me betaught is the tent this towre-begon towne,
For traytoures tyte will I taynte the trewthe for to triste.
The dubbyng of my dingnité may noyot be done downe,
Nowdir with duke nor dugeperes, my dedis are so dreste.
My desire muste dayly be done
With thame that are grettest of game,
And theragayne fynde I but fone,
Wherfore I schall bettir ther bone-
But he that me greues for a grone,13
Beware, for wyscus I am.
Pounce Pilatt of thre partis than is my propir name,
I am a perelous prince to proue wher I peere.
Emange the philosofers firste ther fanged I my fame,
Wherfore I fell to affecte I fynde noyot my feere.
He schall full bittirly banne that bide schall my blame,
If all my blee be as bright as blossome on brere,
For sone his liffe shall he lose or left be for lame
That lowtes noyot to me lowly nor liste noyot to leere.
And thus sen we stande in oure state
Als lordis with all lykyng in lande,
Do and late vs wete if yoe wate25
Owthir, sirs, of bayle or debate
That nedis for to be handeled full hate,
Sen all youre helpe hanges in my hande.
Caiphas
Sir, and for to certefie the soth in youre sight,29
As to yoou for oure souerayne semely we seke.
Pilate
Why, is ther any myscheue that musteres his myyot31
Or malice thurgh meene menn vs musters to meke?
Anna
Ya sir, ther is a ranke swayne whos rule is noyot right,
For thurgh his romour in this reme hath raysede mekill reke.
Pilate
I here wele yoe hate hym; youre hartis are on heght,
And ellis if I helpe wolde his harmes for to eke.
But why are yoe barely thus brathe?
Bees rewly and ray fourth youre reasoune.
Caiphas
Tille vs sir his lore is full lothe.39
Pilate
Beware that we wax noyot to wrothe.40
Anna
Why sir, to skyfte fro his skath41
We seke for youre socoure this sesoune.
Pilate
And if that wrecche in oure warde haue wrought any wrong,
Sen we are warned we walde witte, and wille or we wende.
But and his sawe be lawfull, legge noyot to lange,
For we schall leue hym if us list with luffe here to lende.
Doctor 1
And yf that false faytor youre fortheraunce may fang,
Than fele I wele that oure folke mon fayle of a frende.
Sir, the strenghe of his steuen ay still is so strange
That but he schortely be schent he schappe vs to schende,
For he kennes folke hym for to call
Grete God son-thus greues vs that gome-
And sais that he sittande be schall53
In high heuen, for there is his hall.
Pilate
And frendis, if that force to hym fall55
It semes noyot yoe schall hym consume.
But that hymselfe is the same yoe saide schulde descende
Youre seede and yoou then all for to socoure.
Caiphas
A, softe sir, and sese,58
For of Criste whan he comes no kynne schall be kenned,
But of this caytiffe kynreden we knawe the encrese.
He lykens hym to be lyke God, ay-lastand to lende,
To lifte vppe the laby, to lose or relesse.
Pilate
His maistreys schulde moue yoou youre mode for to amende.
Anna
Nay, for swilke mys fro malice we may noyot vs meese,
For he sais he schall deme vs, that dote,
And that tille vs is dayne or dispite.
Pilate
To noye hym nowe is youre noote,67
But yoitt the lawe lyes in my lotte.
Doctor 1
And yf yoe will witt sir, yoe wotte69
That he is wele worthy to wyte.
For in oure temple has he taught by tymes moo than tenne
Where tabillis full of tresoure lay to telle and to trye,
Of oure cheffe mony-changers-butte, curstely to kenne,
He caste tham ouere, that caystiffe, and counted noyot therby.
Caiphas
Loo sir, this is a periurye to prente vndir penne,75
Wherfore make yoe that appostita, we praye yoou, to plye.
Pilate
Howe mene yoe?77
Caiphas
Sir, to mort hym for mouyng of men.77
Pilate
Than schulde we make hym to morne but thurgh yooure maistrie.
Latte be sirs, and move that no more;
But what in youre temple betyde?
Miles 1
We, thare sir he skelpte oute of score81
That stately stode selland ther store.
Pilate
Than felte he tham fawté before83
And made the cause wele to be kydde.
But what taught he that tyme, swilk tales as thou telles?
Miles 1
Sir, that oure tempill is the toure of his troned sire,
And thus to prayse in that place oure prophettis compellis,
Tille hym that has posté of prince and of empire;
And thei make domus domini that deland thare dwellis
The denn of the derfenes and ofte that thei desire.
Pilate
Loo, is he noght a mad man that for youre mede melles,
Sen yoe ymagyn amys that makeles to myre?
Youre rankoure is raykand full rawe.
Caiphas
Nay nay sir, we rewle vs but right.94
Pilate
Forsothe, yoe ar ouer-cruell to knawe.95
Caiphas
Why sir? For he wolde lose oure lawe96
Hartely we hym hate as we awe,
And therto schulde yoe mayntayne oure myght.
For why, vppon oure Sabbott day the seke makes he saffe
And will noyot sesse for oure sawes to synke so in synne.
Miles 2
Sir, he coueres all that comes recoueraunce to craue
But in a schorte contynuaunce, that kennes all oure kynne.
But he haldis noght oure haly dayes, harde happe myght hym haue,
And therfore hanged be he and that by the halse.
Pilate
A, hoo sir nowe, and holde in.104
For thoff yoe gange thus gedy hym gilteles to graue,
Withouten grounde yoow gaynes noght swilke greffe to begynne;
And loke youre leggyng be lele,
Withowtyn any tryfils to telle.
Anna
For certayne owre sawes dare we seele.109
Pilate
And than may we prophite oure pele.110
Caiphas
Sir, bot his fawtes wer fele111
We mente noyot of hym for to melle.
For he pervertis oure pepull that proues his prechyng,
And for that poynte yoe schulde prese his poosté to paire.
Doctor 2
Ya sir, and also that caytiff he callis hym oure kyng,
And for that cause our comons are casten in care.
Pilate
And if so be, that borde to bayll will hym bryng117
And make hym boldely to banne the bones that hym bare.
For-why that wrecche fro oure wretthe schal not wryng
Or ther be wrought on hym wrake.
Doctor 1
So wolde we it ware,120
For so schulde yoe susteyne youre seele
And myldely haue mynde for to meke yoou.
Pilate
Wele witte yoe, this werke schall be wele,123
For kende schall that knave be to knele.
Doctor 2
And so that oure force he may feele125
All samme for the same we beseke yoou.
Judas
Ingenti pro inuria- hym Jesus, that Jewe127
Vnjust vnto me, Judas, I juge to be lathe.
For at oure soper as we satte, the sothe to pursewe,
With Symond luprus, full sone my skiffte come to scathe.
Tille hym ther brought one a boyste my bale for to brewe
That baynly to his bare feete to bowe was full braythe,
Sho anoynte tham with an oynement that nobill was and newe,
But for that werke that sche wrought I wexe woundir wrothe.
And this-to discouer-was my skill:
For of his penys purser was I,
And what that me taught was vntill
The tente parte that stale I ay still.
But nowe for me wantis of my will139
That bargayne with bale schall he by.
That same oynement, I saide, might same haue bene solde
For siluer penys in a sowme thre hundereth, and fyne
Haue ben departid to poure men as playne pité wolde;
But for the poore, ne thare parte priked me no peyne-
But me tened for the tente parte, the trewthe to beholde,
That thirty pens of iij hundereth so tyte I schulde tyne.
And for I mysse this mony I morne on this molde,
Wherfore for to mischeue this maistir of myne
And therfore faste forthe will I flitte
The princes of prestis vntill,
And selle hym full sone or that I sitte151
For therty pens in a knotte knytte.
Thus-gatis full wele schall he witte
That of my wretthe wreke me I will.
Do open, porter, the porte of this prowde place
That I may passe to youre princes to proue for youre prowe.
Janitor
Go hense thou glorand gedlyng, God geue the ille grace,
Thy glyfftyng is so grymly thou gars my harte growe.
Judas
Goode sir, be toward this tyme and tarie noght my trace,
For I haue tythandis to telle.
Janitor
Ya, som tresoune I trowe,160
For I fele by a figure in youre fals face
It is but foly to feste affeccioun in yoou.
For Mars he hath morteysed his mark,
Eftir all lynes of my lore,
And sais yoe are wikkid of werk
And bothe a strange theffe and a stark.166
Judas
Sir, thus at my berde and yoe berk167
It semes it schall sitte yow full sore.
Janitor
Say bittilbrowed bribour, why blowes thou such boste?
Full false in thy face in faith can I fynde.
Thou arte combered in curstnesse and caris to this coste,
To marre men of myght haste thou marked in thy mynde.
Judas
Sir, I mene of no malice but mirthe meve I moste.173
Janitor
Say, on-hanged harlott, I holde the vnhende,174
Thou lokist like a lurdayne his liffelod hadde loste.
Woo schall I wirke the away but thou wende.
Judas
A, goode sir, take tente to my talkyng this tyde,177
For tythandis full trew can I telle.
Janitor
Say brethell, I bidde the abide,179
Thou chaterist like a churle that can chyde.
Judas
Ya sir, but and the truthe schulde be tryed181
Of myrthe are ther materes I mell,
For thurgh my dedis youre dugeperes fro dere may be drawen.
Janitor
What, demes thou till oure dukes that doole schulde be dight?
Judas
Nay sir, so saide I noght.184
If I be callid to counsaille that cause schall be knawen
Emang that comely companye, to clerke and to knyght.
Janitor
Byde me here bewchere or more blore be blowen,187
And I schall buske to the benke wher baneres are bright
And saie vnto oure souereynes, or seede more be sawen,
That swilke a seege as thiselff sewes to ther sight.
My lorde nowe of witte that is well,
I come for a cas to be kydde.
Pilate
We, speke on and spare not thi spell.193
Caiphas
Ya, and if vs mystir te mell,194
Sen yoe bere of bewté the bell,
Blythely schall we bowe as yoe bidde.
Janitor
Sir, withoute this abatyng ther houes as I hope197
A hyne helte-full of ire, for hasty he is.
Pilate
What comes he fore?199
Janitor
I kenne hym noght, but he is cladde in a cope,199
He cares with a kene face vncomely to kys.
Pilate
Go gete hym that his greffe we grathely may grope,201
So no oppen langage be goyng amys.
Janitor
Comes on bylyue to my lorde and if the liste to lepe,
But vttir so thy langage that thou lette noght thare blys.
Judas
That lorde, sirs, myght susteyne yooure seele205
That floure is of fortune and fame.
Pilate
Welcome, thy wordis are but wele.207
Caiphas
Say, harste thou knave, can thou not knele?208
Pilate
Loo, here may men faute in you fele,209
Late be sir youre scornyng, for schame.
Bot bewshere, be noyot abayst to byde at the bar.
Judas
Before you sirs to be brought abowte haue I bene,212
And allway for youre worschippe.
Anna
Say, wotte thou any were?213
Judas
Of werke sir that hath wretthid yoou I wotte what I meene,
But I wolde make a marchaundyse youre myscheffe to marre.
Pilate
And may thou soo?216
Judas
Els madde I such maistries to mene.216
Anna
Than kennes thou of som comberaunce oure charge for to chere?
For cosyne, thou art cruell.
Judas
My cause sir is kene.218
For if yoe will bargayne or by,
Jesus this tyme will I selle yoou.
Doctor 1
My blissing sone haue thou forthy-221
Loo, here is a sporte for to spye.
Judas
And hym dar I hete yoou in hye,223
If yoe will be toward I telle yoou.
Pilate
What hytist thou?225
Judas
Judas Scariott.225
Pilate
Thou art a juste man225
That will Jesus be justified by oure jugement.
But howe-gates bought schall he be? Bidde furthe thy bargayne.
Judas
But for a litill betyng to bere fro this bente.228
Pilate
Now what schall we pay?229
Judas
Sir, thirti pens and plete, no more than.229
Pilate
Say, ar yoe plesid of this price he preces to present?
Doctor 2
Ellis contrarie we oure consciens, consayue sen we can
That Judas knawes hym culpabill.
Pilate
I call yoou consent.232
But Judas, a knott for to knytt,
Wilt thou to this comenaunt accorde?
Judas
Ya, at a worde.235
Pilate
Welcome is it.235
Miles 2
Take therof, a traytour tyte.236
Miles 1
Now, leue ser, late no man wete237
How this losell laykis with his lord.
Pilate
Why, dwellis he with that dochard whos dedis hase us drouyd?
Miles 1
That hase he done ser and dose, no dowte is this day.
Pilate
Than wolde we knawe why this knave thus cursidly contryued.
Miles 2
Enquere hym, sen yoe can best kenne if he contrarie.
Pilate
Say man, to selle thi maistir what mysse hath he moved?
Judas
For of als mekill mony he made me delay,244
Of yoou as I resayue schall but right be reproued.
Anna
I rede noght that yoe reken vs oure rewle so to ray,
For that the false fende schall the fang.
Miles 1
When he schall wante of a wraste.248
Doctor 1
To whome wirke we wittandly wrang.249
Doctor 2
Tille hym bot yoe hastely hang.250
Doctor 3
Youre langage yoe lay oute to lang.251
But Judas, we trewly the trast,
For truly thou moste lerne vs that losell to lache,
Or of lande thurgh a lirte that lurdayne may lepe.
Judas
I schall yoou teche a token hym tyte for to take255
Wher he is thryngand in the thrang, withouten any threpe.
Miles 1
We knawe hym noght.257
Judas
Take kepe than that caytiffe to catche257
The whilke that I kisse.
Miles 2
That comes wele the, corious, I cleepe!258
But yoitt to warne vs wisely allwayes muste yoe wacche.
Whan thou schall wende forthwith we schall walke a wilde hepe,
And therfore besye loke now thou be.
Judas
Yis, yois, a space schall I spie vs262
Als sone as the sonne is sette, as yoe see.
Miles 1
Go forthe, for a traytoure ar yoe.264
Miles 2
Ya, and a wikkid man.265
Doctor 1
Why, what is he?265
Doctor 2
A losell ser, but lewté shuld lye vs.266
He is trappid full of trayne, the truthe for to trist,
I holde it but folye his faythe for to trowe.
Pilate
Abide in my blyssing and late youre breste,269
For it is beste for oure bote in bayle for to bowe.
And Judas, for oure prophite we praye the be prest.
Judas
Yitt hadde I noght a peny to purvey for my prowe.272
Pilate
Thou schalte haue delyueraunce belyue at thi list,273
So that thou schall haue liking oure lordschipp to loue.
And therfore Judas mende thou thy mone
And take ther thi siluere all same.
Judas
Ya, nowe is my grete greffe ouere-gone.277
Miles 1
Be lyght than.278
Judas
Yis, latte me allone,278
For tytte schall that taynte be tone
And therto jocounde and joly I am.
Pilate
Judas, to holde thi behest be hende for oure happe,
And of vs helpe and vpholde we hete the to haue.
Judas
I schall bekenne yoou his corse in care for to clappe.
Anna
And more comforte in this case we coveyte not to craue.
Miles 1
Fro we may reche that rekeles his ribbis schall we rappe,
And make that roy or we rest for rennyng to raffe.
Pilate
Nay sirs, all if yoe scourge hym yoe schende noyot his schappe,
For if the sotte be sakles vs sittis hym to saue.
Wherfore when yoe go schall to gete hym
Vnto his body brew yoe no bale.
Miles 2
Our liste is fro leping to lette hym,291
But in youre sight sownde schall ve sette hym.
Pilate
Do flitte nowe forthe till yoe fette hym293
With solace all same to youre sale.

The Baxters' Play: The Last SupperContents

Jesus
Pees be both be day and nyght1
Vntill this house and till all that is here.
Here will I holde as I haue hight
The feeste of Paas with frendis in feere.
Marcellus
Maistir, we haue arayed full right5
Seruise that semes for youre sopere.
Oure lambe is roste and redy dight,
As Moyses lawe will lely lere.
Jesus
That is, ilke man that has9
Pepill in his awne posté
Shall roste a lambe at Paas,
To hym and his meyné.
Andrew
Maistir, the custome wele we knawe13
That with oure elthers euer has bene,
How ilke man with his meyné awe
To roste a lambe and ete it clene.
Jesus
I thanke yoou sothtly of youre sawe,17
For yoe saye as youreselffe has sene.
Therfore array yoou all on rawe,
Myselfe schall parte itt yoou betwene.
Wherfore I will that yoe
Ette therof euere-ilkone,
The remelaunt parted schall be23
To the poure that purueyse none.
Of Moyses lawes here make I an ende
In som party, but noght in all.
My comaundement schall othirwise be kende
With tham that men schall craftely call.
But the lambe of Pase that here is spende,29
Whilke Jewes vses grete and small,
Euere forward nowe I itt deffende
Fro Cristis folke what so befall.
In that stede schall be sette
A newe lawe vs bytwene,
But who therof schall ette35
Behoues to be wasshed clene.
For that new lawe whoso schall lere,
In harte tham bus be clene and chaste.
Marcelle myn awne discipill dere,
Do vs haue watir here in hast.
Marcellus
Maistir, it is all redy here,41
And here a towell clene to taste.
Jesus
Commes forthe with me all in feere,43
My wordis schall noght be wroght in waste.
Settis youre feete fourth, late see,
They schall be wasshen sone.
Peter
A, lorde, with thi leue, of thee47
That dede schall noyot be done.
I schall neuere make my membres mete,
Of my souerayne seruice to see.
Jesus
Petir, bott if thou latte me wasshe thi feete51
Thou getis no parte in blisse with me.
Peter
A, mercy lorde and maistir swete,53
Owte of that blisse that I noght be-
Wasshe on my lorde to all be wete,
Both hede and hande, beseke I the.
Jesus
Petir, thou wotiste noyot yoitt57
What this werke will bemene.
Hereaftir schall thou witte,
And so schall yoe all bedene.
Youre lorde and maistir yoe me call,
And so I am, all welthe to welde.
Here haue I knelid vnto yoou all,63
To wasshe youre feete as yoe haue feled.
Ensaumple of me take yoe schall
Euer for to yoeme in yoouthe and elde,
To be buxsome in boure and hall,
Ilkone for to bede othir belde.
For all-if yoe be trewe69
And lele of loue ilkone,
Ye schall fynde othir ay newe
To greue whan I am gone.
Jacobus
Now sen oure maistir sais he schall73
Wende and will not telle vs whedir,
Whilke of vs schall be princepall?
Late loke now whils we dwell togedir.
Jesus
I wotte youre will both grete and small,77
And youre high hartis I here tham hedir;
To whilke of yoou such fare schulde fall
That myght yoe carpe when yoe come thedir,
Where it so schulde be tyde
Of such materes to melle.
But first behoues yoou bide83
Fayndyngis full ferse and felle.
Here schall I sette yoou for to see
This yoonge childe for insaumpills seere,
Both meke and mylde of harte is he,
And fro all malice, mery of chere;
So meke and mylde but if yoe be89
[…     …]89
Jesus
Quod facis fac cicius:90
That thou schall do, do sone.
Thomas
Allas, so wilsom wightis as we92
Was neuere in worlde walkand in wede,
Oure maistir sais his awne meyné
Has betrayed hym to synfull seede.
Jacobus
A, Jhon, sen thou sittist nexte his kne,96
We pray the spire hym for oure spede.
John
Domine, quis est qui tradit te?98
Lord, who schall do that doulfull dede?
Allas, oure playe is paste,
This false forward is feste.
I may no lenger laste,
For bale myn herte may breste.
Judas
Now is tyme to me to gang,104
For here begynnes noye all of newe.
My fellaws momellis thame emang
That I schulde alle this bargayne brewe-
And certis thai schall noyot wene it wrang.
To the prince of prestis I schall pursue,
And thei schall lere hym othir ought long110
That all his sawes sore schall hym rewe.
I wotte whedir he remoues
With his meyné ilkone,
I schall telle to the Jewes
And tyte he schalle be tane.
Jesus
I warne yoou nowe my frendis free,116
Sese to ther sawes that I schall say:
The fende is wrothe with yoou and me
And will yoou marre if that he may.
But Petir, I haue prayed for the,
So that thou schall noyot drede his dray;
And comforte thou this meyné122
And wisse hem whan I am gone away.
Peter
A, lorde, where wilte thou lende?124
I schall lende in that steede,
And with the schall I wende
Euermore in lyffe and dede.
Andrew
No wordely drede schall me withdrawe128
That I schall with the leue and dye.
Thomas
Certis, so schall we all on rawe,130
Ellis mekill woo were we worthy.
Jesus
Petir, I saie to the this sawe132
That thou schalte fynde no fantasie:
This ilke nyght or the cokkys crowe
Shall thou thre tymes my name denye,
And saye thou knewe me neuere
Nor no meyné of myne.
Peter
Allas, lorde, me were lever138
Be putte to endles pyne.
Jesus
As I yow saie so schall it bee,140
Ye nedis non othir recours to craue.
All that in worlde is wretyn of me
Shall be fulfilled, for knyght or knave.
I am the herde, the schepe are yoe,
And whane the herde schall harmes haue
The flokke schall be full fayne to flee,146
And socoure seke thameselffe to saue.
Ye schall whan I am slayne
In grete myslykyng lende,
But whanne I ryse agayne
Than schall youre myrthe be mende.
Ye haue bene bowne my bale to bete,152
Therfore youre belde ay schall I be.
And for yoe did in drye and wete
My comaundementis in ilke contré,
The kyngdome of heuen I you behete
Euen as my fadir has highte itt me.
With gostely mete there schall yoe mete158
And on twelffe seeges sitte schall yoe,
For yoe trewlye toke yoeme
In worlde with me to dwell,
There shall yoe sitte to deme
Xij kyndis of Israell.
But firste yoe schall be wille of wone,164
And mo wathes then yoe of wene
Fro tyme schall come that I be tone,
Than schall yoe turne away with tene.
And loke that yoe haue swerdis ilkone,
And whoso haues non yoou bytwene
Shall selle his cote and bye hym one,170
Thus bidde I that yoe do bedene.
Satcheles I will yoe haue,
And stones to stynte all striffe,
Youreselffe for to saue
In lenghyng of youre liff.
Andrew
Maistir, we haue here swerdis twoo176
Vs with to saue on sidis seere.
Jesus
Itt is inowe, yoe nedis no moo,178
For fro all wathis I schall yoou were.
Butt ryse now vppe, for we will goo,
By this owre enemyes ordand are;
My fadir saide it schall be soo,
His bidding will I noyot forbere.
Loke yoe lere forthe this lawe184
Als yoe haue herde of me,
Alle that wele will itt knawe
Ay blessid schall thei bee.

The Cordwainers' Play: The Agony in the Garden and the BetrayalContents

Jesus
Beholde, my discipulis that deyne is and dere,1
My flesshe dyderis and daris for doute of my dede.
Myne enemyes will newly be neghand full nere
With all the myght if thei may to marre my manhede.
But sen yoe are forwakid and wanderede in were,
Loke yoe sette yoou doune rathely and reste yooue, I reede.
Beis noyot heuy in yooure hertis, but holde yow even here
And bidis me a stounde stille in this same steede.
Beeis witty and wyse in youre wandyng
So that yoe be wakand alway,
And lokis nowe prestely yoe pray
To my fadir, that yoe falle in no fandyng.
Peter
Yis lorde, at thy bidding full baynly schall we abide,
For thou arte boote of oure bale and bidis for the best.
John
Lorde, all oure helpe and oure hele, that is noght to hyde,
In the-oure faythe and oure foode-all hollye is feste.
Jacobus
Qwat way is he willid in this worlde wyde,17
Whedir is he walked, estewarde or weste?
Peter
Yaa sirs, I schall saye yoou, sittis vs doune on euery ilka side,
And late vs nowe rathely here take oure reste;
My lymmys are heuy as any leede.
John
And I muste slepe, doune muste I lye.22
Jacobus
In faithe felawes, right so fare I,23
I may no lenger holde vppe my hede.
Peter
Oure liffe of his lyolty his liffe schall he lose,25
Vnkyndely be crucified and naylyd to a tree.
Jesus
Baynly of my blissing youre eghen yoe vnclose,27
So that yoe falle in no fandyng for noght that may be,
But prayes fast.
John
Lorde, som prayer thou kende vs,30
That somwhat myght mirthe vs or mende vs.
Jacobus
Fro all fandyng vnfaythfull thou fende vs32
Here in this worlde of liffe whille we laste.
Jesus
I schall kenne yoou and comforte yoou and kepe yoou from care.
Ye schall be broughte, wete yoe wele, fro bale vnto blisse.
Peter
Yaa, but lorde, and youre willis were witte wolde we more,
Of this prayer so precious late vs noyot mys
We beseke the.
John
For my felows and me alle in feere,39
Some prayer that is precious to lere.
Jacobus
Vnto thy fadir that moste is of poure41
Som solace of socoure to sende the.
[…     …]42
Jesus
The nowys that me neghed hase it nedis not to neuen,
For all wate yoe full wele what wayes I haue wente.
Instore me and strenghe with a stille steuen,
I pray the interly thou take entent
Thou menske my manhed with mode.
My flessh is full dredand for drede,
For my jorneys of my manhed49
I swete now both watir and bloode.
Thes Jewes hase mente in ther mynde full of malice
And pretende me to take withouten any trespasse.
But fadir, as thou wate wele, I mente neuere amys,
In worde nor in werk I neuer worthy was.
Als thou arte bote of all bale and belder of blisse
And all helpe and hele in thy hande hase,
Thou mensk thy manhede, thou mendar of mysse,
And if it possible be this payne myght I ouerpasse.
And fadir, if thou se it may noght,
Be it worthely wrought
Euen at thyne awne will,61
Euermore both myldely and still,
With worschippe allway be it wroght.
Vnto my discipillis will I go agayne,
Kyndely to comforte tham that kacchid are in care.
What, are yoe fallen on slepe now euerilkone
And the passioun of me in mynde hase no more?67
What, wille yoe leue me thus lightly and latte me allone
In sorowe and in sighyng that sattillis full sore?
To whome may I meue me and make nowe my mone?
I wolde that yoe wakened, and your will wore.
Do Petir sitte vppe nowe, late se,
Thou arte strongly stedde in this stoure.73
Might thou noght the space of an owre
Haue wakid nowe mildely with me?
Peter
Yis lorde, with youre leue nowe wille we lere76
Full warely to were yoou fro alle wandynge.
Jesus
Beeis wakand and prayes faste all in fere78
To my fadir, that yoe falle in no fanding,
For the euelle spirit is neghand full nere
That will yoou tarie at this tyme with his tentyng.
And I will wende ther I was withouten any were,
But bidis me here baynly in my blissing.
Agayne to the mounte I will gang84
Yitt eftesones where I was ere,
But loke that yoe cacche yoow no care,
For lely I schall noyot dwelle lange.
Thou fadir that all formed hase with fode for to fill,
I fele by my ferdnes my flessh wolde full fayne
Be torned fro this turnement and takyn the vntill,90
For mased is manhed in mode and in mayne.
But if thou se sothly that thi sone sill
Withouten surffette of synne thus sakles be slayne,
Be it worthly wroght even at thyne awne will,
For fadir, att thi bidding am I buxum and bayne.
Now wightely agayne will I wende96
Vnto my discipilis so dere.
What, slepe yoe so faste all in fere?
I am ferde yoe mon faile of youre frende.
But yoitt will I leue yoou and late you allone
And eftesones there I was agayne will I wende.
Vnto my fadir of myght now make I my mone,102
As thou arte saluer of all sore som socoure me sende.
The passioun they purpose to putte me vppon,
My flesshe is full ferde and fayne wolde defende.
At thi wille be itt wrought worthely in wone;
Haue mynde of my manhed my mode for to mende,
Some comforte me kythe in this case.108
And fadir, I schall dede taste, I will it noyot deffende-
Yitt yf thy willis be, spare me a space.
[And seis …     …yght
With rappes full rudely …     …the rode rente]
Angel
Vnto the maker vnmade that moste is of myght113
Be louyng ay-lastand in light that is lente.
Thy fadir that in heuen is moste he vppon highte,
Thy sorowes for to sobir to the he hase me sente.
For dedis that man done has thy dede schall be dight,
And thou with turmentis be tulyd-but take nowe entente,
Thy bale schall be for the beste,119
Thurgh that mannys mys schall be mende.
Than schall thou withouten any ende
Rengne in thy rialté full of reste.
Jesus
Now if my flessh ferde be, fadir I am fayne123
That myne angwisshe and my noyes are nere at an ende.
Vnto my discipilis go will I agayne,
Kyndely to comforte tham that mased is in ther mynde.
Do slepe yoe nowe sauely, and I schall yoou sayne.
Wakyns vppe wightely and late vs hens wende,
For als tyte mon I be taken with tresoune and with trayne;
My flesshe is full ferde and fayne wolde deffende.
Full derfely my dede schall be dight,
And als sone as I am tane
Than schall yoe forsake me ilkone,
And saie neuere yoe sawe me with sight.
Peter
Nay sothely, I schall neuere my souereyne forsake,135
If I schulde for the dede darfely here dye.
John
Nay, such mobardis schall neuere man vs make,137
Erste schulde we dye all at onys.
Jacobus
Nowe in faith felows, so shulde I.138
Jesus
Ya, but when tyme is betydde thanne men schalle me take,
For all yooure hartely hetyng yoe schall hyde yoou in hy.
Lyke schepe that were scharid away schall yoe schake,
Ther schall none of yoou be balde to byde me than by.
Peter
Nay sothely, whils I may vayle the143
I schall were the and wake the,
And if all othir forsake the
I schall neuere fayntely defayle the.
Jesus
A, Petir, of swilke bostyng I rede thou late bee,147
For all thy kene carpyng full kenely I knawe.
For ferde of myne enmyse thou schalte sone denye me
Thries yoitt full thraly or the cokkes crowe;
For ferde of my fomen full fayne be for to flee,
And for grete doute of thi dede the to withdrawe.
Anna
Sir Cayphas, of youre counsaille do sone late vs now see,
For lely it langes vs to luke vnto oure lawe.
And therfore sir prestely I pray yoou,
Sen that we are of counsaille ilkone,
That Jesus that traytoure wer tane;
Do sone late se sir I pray yoou.
Caiphas
In certayne sir, and sone schall I saye yoou,159
I wolde wene by my witte this werke wolde be wele.
Late vs justely vs june tille Judas the gente,
For he kennes his dygnites full duly ilke a dele,
Ya, and beste wote I warande what wayes that he is wente.
Anna
Now this was wisely saide, als euer haue I seele;164
And sir, to youre saiyng I saddely will assente,
Therfore take vs of oure knyghtis that is stedfast as stele
And late Judas go lede tham belyffe wher that he laste lente.
Caiphas
Full wele sir.168
Nowe Judas dere neghbour, drawe nere vs.
Lo Judas, thus in mynd haue we ment:
To take Jesus is oure entent,
For thou muste lede vs and lere vs.
Judas
Sirs, I schall wisse you the way euen at youre awne will-
But loke that yoe haue many myghty men
That is both strang and sterand, and stedde hym stone stille.
Anna
Yis Judas, but be what knowlache shall we that corse kenne?
Judas
Sirs, a tokenyng in this tyme I schall telle yoou vntill,
But lokis by youre lewty no liffe yoe hym lenne:
Qwhat man som I kys that corse schall ye kyll,
And also beis ware that he will not away-I schrew you all thenne.
Caiphas
Why nay Judas,181
We purpose the page schall not passe.
Sir knyghtis in hy.
Miles 1
Lorde, we are here.183
Caiphas
Calles fourth youre felaws in feere184
And gose justely with gentill Judas.
Miles 1
Come felaws, by youre faith, come forthe all faste186
And carpis with sir Cayphas, he comaundis me to call.
Miles 2
I schrewe hym all his liffe that loues to be last.188
Miles 3
Go we hens than in hy and haste vs to the halle.189
Miles 4
Lorde, of youre will worthely wolde I witte what was’t?
Caiphas
To take Jesus that sawntrelle all same, that yoe schall.
Miles 1
Lorde, to that purpose I wolde that we paste.192
Anna
Ya, but loke that yoe be armed wele all,193
The moste gentill of the Jury schalle gyde yoou.
Caiphas
Ya, and euery ilke a knyght in degré195
Both armed and harneysed yoe be,
To belde yoou, and baynely go byde yoou.
Anna
Ya, and therfore sir Cayphas yoe hye yoou,198
Youre wirschippe yoe wynne in this cas.
As yoe are a lorde most lofsom of lyre
Vndir sir Pilate that lyfis in this empire,
Yone segger that callis hymselffe a sire
With tresoure and tene sall we taste hym.
Of yoone losell his bale schall he brewe,204
Do trottes on for that traytoure apas
In hast.
Caiphas
Nowe sirs, sen yoe say my poure is most beste207
And hase all this werke thus to wirke at my will,
Now certayne I thinke not to rest,
But solempnely youre will to fulfille
Riyot sone.
Full tyte the traytoure schall be tane-
Sirs, knyghtis, yoe hye yoou ilkone,213
For in certayne the losell schall be slane.
Sir Anna, I praye yoou haue done.
Anna
Full redy tyte I schall be boune216
This journay for to go till.
Als yoe are a lorde of grete renoune
Ye spare hym not to spill,
The devill hym spede.
Go we with oure knyghtis in fere,
Lo, thay are arrayed and armed clere.222
Sir knyghtis, loke yoe be of full gud chere,
Where yoe hym see on hym take hede.
Judeus 1
Goode tente to hym lorde schall we take,225
He schall banne the tyme that he was borne.
All his kynne schall come to late,
He schall noght skape withouten scorne
Fro vs in fere.
Judeus 2
We schall hym seke both even and morne,230
Erly and late with full gode chere
Is oure entente.
Judeus 3
Stye nor strete we schall spare none,233
Felde nor towne, thus haue we mente
And boune in corde.
Caiphas
Malcus!236
Malcus
A, ay, and I schulde be rewarde,236
And right als wele worthy were,
Loo, for I bere light for my lorde.
Caiphas
A, sir, of youre speche lette, and late vs spede239
A space and of oure speche spare.
And Judas, go fande thou before
And wisely thou wisse tham the way,
For sothely sone schall we saye
To make hym to marre vs no more.
Jesus
Now will this oure be neghand full nere245
That schall certefie all the soth that I haue saide.
Caiphas
Go, fecche forth the freyke for his forfette.247
Judas
All hayll maistir, in faith, and felawes all in fere,
With grete gracious gretyng on grounde be yoe graied.
I wolde aske you a kysse maistir, and youre willes were,
For all my loue and my likyng is holy vppon yoou layde.
Jesus
Full hartely Judas, haue it even here,252
For with this kissing is mans sone betrayed.
Miles 1
Whe, stande traytoure, I telle the for tane.254
Caiphas
Whe, do knyghtis, go falle on before.255
Miles 2
Yis maistir, moue thou no more,256
But lightly late vs allone.
Miles 3
Allas, we are loste for leme of this light.258
Jesus
Saye yoe here, whome seke yoe? Do saye me, late see.
Judeus 1
One Jesu of Nazareth I hope that he hight.260
Jesus
Beholdis all hedirward, loo here, I am hee.261
Miles 1
Stande dastarde, so darfely thy dede schall be dight,
I will no more be abasshed for blenke of thy blee.
Judeus 1
We, oute, I ame mased almost in mayne and in myght.
Judeus 2
And I am ferde be my feyth and fayne wolde I flee,265
For such a siyot haue I not sene.
Judeus 3
This leme it lemed so light,267
I saugh neuer such a siyot,
Me meruayles what it may mene.
Jesus
Doo, whame seke yoe all same yoitt I saye?270
Judeus 1
One Jesus of Nazareth, hym wolde we neghe nowe.271
Jesus
And I am he sothly.272
Malcus
And that schall I asaie,272
For thou schalte dye, dastard, sen that it is thowe.
Peter
And I schall fande be my feythe the for to flaye,274
Here with a lusshe, lordayne, I schalle the allowe.
Malcus
We! Oute! All my deueres are done.276
Peter
Nay276
Traytoure, but trewly I schall trappe the I trowe.
Jesus
Pees, Petir, I bidde the,278
Melle the nor move the no more.
For witte thou wele, and my willis were,
I myght haue poure grete plenté
Of aungellis full many to mustir my myght.
Forthy putte vppe thi swerde full goodely agayne,
For he that takis vengeaunce all rewlid schall be right
With purgens and vengeaunce that voydes in vayne.
Thou man that is thus derede and doulfully dyght,
Come hedir to me sauely and I schalle the sayne.
In the name of my fadir that in heuene is most vpon hight,
Of thy hurtis be thou hole in hyde and in hane,
Thurgh vertewe thi vaynes be at vayle.290
Malcus
What, ille hayle, I hope that I be hole-291
Nowe I schrewe hym this tyme that gyvis tale
To touche the for thi trauayle.
Judeus 1
Do felaws, be youre faithe, late vs fange on in fere,
For I haue on this hyne […     …]
Miles 2
And I haue a loke on hym nowe-howe felawes, drawe nere.
Miles 3
Yis, by the bonys that this bare, this bourde schall he banne.
Jesus
Euen like a theffe heneusly hurle yoe me here;298
I taught you in youre tempill, why toke yoe me noyot thanne?
Now haues merkenes on molde all his power.
Judeus 1
Do, do, laye youre handes belyue on this lourdayne.
Judeus 3
We, haue holde this hauk in thi hende.302
Malcus
Whe, yois felawes, be my faith he is fast.303
Judeus
Vnto sir Cayphas I wolde that he past.304
Farewele, for, iwisse, we will wende.

The Bowers and Fletchers' Play: Christ Before Annas and CaiaphasContents

Caiphas
Pees bewshers, I bid no jangelyng yoe make,1
And sese sone of youre sawes and se what I saye,
And trewe tente vnto me this tyme that yoe take,
For I am a lorde lerned lelly in youre lay.
By connyng of clergy and casting of witte
Full wisely my wordis I welde at my will,
So semely in seete me semys for to sitte7
And the lawe for to lerne you and lede it by skill,
Right sone.
What wyte so will oght with me
Full frendly in feyth am I foune;
Come of, do tyte late me see
Howe graciously I shall graunte hym his bone.13
Ther is nowder lorde ne lady lerned in the lawe,
Ne bisshoppe ne prelate that preued is for pris,
Nor clerke in the courte that connyng will knawe,
With wisdam may were hym in worlde is so wise.
I haue the renke and the rewle of all the ryall,
To rewle it by right als reasoune it is.19
All domesmen on dese awe for to dowte me
That hase thaym in bandome in bale or in blis;
Wherfore takes tente to my tales, and lowtis vnto me.
And therfore sir knyghtis-
Tunc dicunt Lorde.23
I charge you chalange youre rightis,
To wayte both be day and by nyghtis
Of the bringyng of a boy into bayle.
Miles 1
Yis lorde, we schall wayte if any wonderes walke,27
And freyne howe youre folkis fare that are furth ronne.
Miles 2
We schall be bayne at youre bidding and it not to-balke
Yf thei presente you that boy in a bande boune.
Anna
Why syr, and is ther a boy that will noght lowte to youre biding?
Caiphas
Ya sir, and of the coriousenesse of that karle ther is carping,
But I haue sente for that segge halfe for hethyng.
Anna
What wondirfull werkis workis that wighte?34
Caiphas
Seke men and sori he sendis siker helyng-35
And to lame men-and blynde he sendis ther sight.
Of croked crepillis that we knawe
Itt is to here grete wondering,
How that he helis thame all on rawe,
And all thurgh his false happenyng.
I am sorie of a sight41
That egges me to ire,
Oure lawe he brekis with all his myght,
That is moste his desire.
Oure Sabott day he will not safe
But is aboute to bringe it downe,
And therfore sorowe muste hym haue47
May he be kacched in felde or towne,
For his false stevyn,
He defamys fowly the Godhed
And callis hymselffe God sone of hevene.
Anna
I haue goode knowlache of that knafe:52
Marie me menys his modir highte,
And Joseph his fadir as God me safe
Was kidde and knowen wele for a wrighte.
But o thyng me mervayles mekill ouere all,
Of diuerse dedis that he has done-
Caiphas
With wicche-crafte he fares withall58
Sir, that schall yoe se full sone.
Oure knyghtis thai are furth wente
To take hym with a traye,
By this I holde hym shente,
He can not wende away.
Anna
Wolde yoe, sir, take youre reste-64
This day is comen on hande-
And with wyne slake youre thirste?
Than durste I wele warande
Ye schulde haue tithandis sone
Of the knyghtis that are gone,
And howe that thei haue done70
To take hym by a trayne.
And putte all thought away
And late youre materes reste.
Caiphas
I will do as yoe saie,74
Do gette vs wyne of the best.
Miles 1
My lorde, here is wyne that will make you to wynke,
Itt is licoure full delicious my lorde, and you like.
Wherfore I rede drely a draughte that yoe drynke,
For in this contré, that we knawe, iwisse ther is none slyke,
Wherfore we counsaile you this cuppe sauerly for to kisse.
Caiphas
Do on dayntely and dresse me on dees81
And hendely hille on me happing,
And warne all wightis to be in pees
For I am late layde vnto napping.
Anna
My lorde, with youre leue, and it like you, I passe.
Caiphas
Adiew be unte, as the manere is.86
Mulier
Sir knyghtys, do kepe this boy in bande,87
For I will go witte what it may mene,
Why that yone wighte was hym folowand
Erly and late, morne and ene.
He will come nere, he will not lette,
He is a spie, I warand, full bolde.
Miles 3
It semes by his sembland he had leuere be sette93
By the feruent fire to fleme hym fro colde.
Mulier
Ya, but and yoe wiste as wele as I95
What wonders that this wight has wrought,
And thurgh his maistir sorssery,
Full derfely schulde his deth be bought.
Miles 4
Dame, we haue hym nowe at will99
That we haue longe tyme soughte,
Yf othir go by vs still
Therfore we haue no thought.
Mulier
Itt were grete skorne that he schulde skape103
Withoute he hadde resoune and skill,
He lokis lurkand like an nape,
I hope I schall haste me hym tille.
Thou caytiffe, what meves the stande
So stabill and stille in thi thoght?
Thou hast wrought mekill wronge in londe109
And wondirfull werkis haste thou wroght.
A lorell, a leder of lawe,
To sette hym and suye has thou soght.
Stande furth and threste in yone thrawe,
Thy maistry thou bryng vnto noght.
Wayte nowe, he lokis like a brokke115
Were he in a bande for to bayte,
Or ellis like an nowele in a stok
Full preualy his pray for to wayte.
Peter
Woman, thy wordis and thy wynde thou not waste,119
Of his company never are I was kende.
Thou haste the mismarkid, trewly be traste,
Wherfore of thi misse thou the amende.
Mulier
Than gaynesaies thou here the sawes that thou saide,
How he schulde clayme to be callid God sonne,
And with the werkis that he wrought whils he walked
Baynly at oure bydding alway to be bonne.
Peter
I will consente to youre sawes, what schulde I saye more?
For women are crabbed-that comes them of kynde.
But I saye as I firste saide, I sawe hym neuere are,
But as a frende of youre felawschippe shall ye me aye fynde.
Malchus
Herke, knyghtis that are knawen in this contré as we kenne,
Howe yone boy with his boste has brewed mekill bale.
He has forsaken his maistir before yoone womenne,
But I schall preue to yoou pertly and telle you my tale.
I was presente with pepull whenne prese was full prest
To mete with his maistir with mayne and with myght,
And hurled hym hardely and hastely hym arreste,137
And in bandis full bittirly bande hym sore all that nyght.
And of tokenyng of trouth schall I telle yowe
Howe yone boy with a brande brayede me full nere-
Do move of thez materes emelle yowe-
For swiftely he swapped of my nere.
His maistir with his myght helyd me all hole,143
That by no syne I cowthe see no man cowthe it witten,
And than badde hym bere pees in euery-ilke bale,
For he that strikis with a swerd with a swerde schall be smitten.
Late se whedir grauntest thou gilte:
Do speke oon and spare not to telle vs
Or full faste I schall fonde the flitte,149
The soth but thou saie here emelle vs.
Come of, do tyte late me see nowe,
In sauyng of thyselffe fro schame
[…     …]152
Ya, and also for beryng of blame.
Peter
I was neuere with hym in werke that he wroght,154
In worde nor in werke, in will nor in dede.
I knawe no corse that yoe haue hidir brought,
In no courte of this kith, yf I schulde right rede.
Malchus
Here sirs howe he sais, and has forsaken158
His maistir to this woman here twyes,
And newly oure lawe has he taken-
Thus hath he denyed hym thryes.
Jesus
Petir, Petir, thus saide I are162
When thou saide thou wolde abide with me
In wele and woo, in sorowe and care,
Whillis I schulde thries forsaken be.
Peter
Alas the while that I come here,166
That euere I denyed my lorde in quarte,
The loke of his faire face so clere
With full sadde sorrowe sheris my harte.
Miles 3
Sir knyghtis, take kepe of this karll and be konnand
Because of sir Cayphas, we knowe wele his thoght.
He will rewarde vs full wele, that dare I wele warand,
Whan he wete of oure werkis how wele we haue wroght.
Miles 4
Sir, this is Cayphas halle here at hande,174
Go we boldly with this boy that we haue here broght.
Miles 3
Nay sirs, vs muste stalke to that stede and full still stande,
For itt is nowe of the nyght, yf thei nappe oght.
Say, who is here?
Miles 1
Say who is here?178
Miles 3
I, a frende,178
Well knawyn in this contré for a knyght.
Miles 2
Gose furthe, on youre wayes may yee wende,180
For we haue herbered enowe for tonyght.
Miles 1
Gose abakke bewscheres, yoe bothe are to blame182
To bourde whenne oure busshopp is boune to his bedde.
Miles 4
Why sir, it were worthy to welcome vs home,184
We haue gone for this warlowe and we haue wele spedde.
Miles 2
Why, who is that?186
Miles 3
The Jewes kyng, Jesus by name.186
Miles 1
A, yee be welcome, that dare I wele wedde,187
My lorde has sente for to seke hym.
Miles 4
Loo, se here the same.188
Miles 2
Abidde as I bidde and be noght adreed.189
My lorde, my lorde, my lorde, here is layke and yoou list.
Caiphas
Pees, loselles. Leste yoe be nyse?191
Miles 1
My lorde, it is wele and ye wiste.192
Caiphas
What, nemen vs no more, for it is twyes.193
Thou takist non hede to the haste that we haue here on honde,
Go frayne howe oure folke faris that are furth ronne.
Miles 2
My lorde, youre knyghtis has kared as ye thame commaunde
And thei haue fallen full faire.
Caiphas
Why, and is the foole fonne?197
Miles 1
Ya lorde, thei haue brought a boy in a bande boune.
Caiphas
Where nowe sir Anna, that is one and able to be nere?
Anna
My lorde, with youre leue me behoues to be here.200
Caiphas
A, sir, come nere and sitte we both in fere.201
Anna
Do sir bidde tham bring in that boy that is bune.202
Caiphas
Pese now sir Anna, be stille and late hym stande,203
And late vs grope yf this gome be grathly begune.
Anna
Sir, this game is begune of the best,205
Nowe hadde he no force for to flee thame.
Caiphas
Nowe in faithe I am fayne he is fast,207
Do lede in that ladde, late me se than.
Miles 2
Lo sir, we haue saide to oure souereyne,209
Gose nowe and suye to hymselfe for the same thyng.
Miles 3
Mi lorde, to youre bidding we haue ben buxom and bayne,
Lo, here is the belschere broght that ye bad bring.
Miles 4
My lorde, fandis now to fere hym.213
Caiphas
Nowe I am fayne,213
And felawes, faire mott ye fall for youre fynding.
Anna
Sir, and ye trowe thei be trewe withowten any trayne,
Bidde thayme telle you the tyme of the takyng.
Caiphas
Say felawes, howe wente ye so nemely by nyyot?217
Miles 3
My lorde, was there no man to marre vs ne mende vs.
Miles 4
My lorde, we had lanternes and light219
And some of his company kende vs.
Anna
But saie, howe did he, Judas?221
Miles 3
A, sir, full wisely and wele,221
He markid vs his maistir emang all his men
And kyssid hym full kyndely his comforte to kele,
By cause of a countenaunce that karll for to kenne.
Caiphas
And thus did he his deuere?225
Miles 4
Ya lorde, euere-ilke a dele,225
He taughte vs to take hym the tyme aftir tenne.
Anna
Nowe be my feith a faynte frende myght he ther fele.
Miles 3
Sire, ye myght so haue saide hadde ye hym sene thenne.
Miles 4
He sette vs to the same that he solde vs229
And feyned to be his frende as a faytour,
This was the tokenyng before that he tolde vs.
Caiphas
Nowe trewly, this was a trante of a traytour.232
Anna
Ya, be he traytour or trewe geue we neuer tale,233
But takes tente at this tyme and here what he telles.
Caiphas
Now sees that oure howsolde be holden here hole,235
So that none carpe in case but that in court dwellis.
Miles 3
A, lorde, this brethell hath brewed moche bale.237
Caiphas
Therfore schall we spede vs to spere of his spellis.
Sir Anna, takis hede nowe and here hym.
Anna
Say ladde, liste the noght lowte to a lorde?240
Miles 4
No sir, with youre leue we schall lere hym.241
Caiphas
Nay sir, noght so, no haste,242
Itt is no burde to bete bestis that are bune.
And therfore with fayrenes firste we vill hym fraste
And sithen forther hym furth as we haue fune.
And telle vs som tales truly to traste.
Anna
Sir, we myght als wele talke tille a tome tonne.247
I warande hym witteles, or ellis he is wrang wrayste,
Or ellis he waitis to wirke als he was are wonne.
Miles 3
His wonne was to wirke mekill woo250
And make many maystries emelle vs.
Caiphas
And some schall he graunte or he goo,252
Or muste yowe tente hym and telle vs.
Miles 4
Mi lorde, to witte the wonderes that he has wroght,
For to telle you the tente it wolde oure tonges tere.
Caiphas
Sen the boy for his boste is into bale broght256
We will witte or he wende how his werkis were.
Miles 3
Oure Sabott day we saye saves he right noght,258
That he schulde halowe and holde full dingne and full dere.
Miles 4
No sir, in the same feste als we the sotte soughte260
He salued thame of sikenesse on many sidis seere.
Caiphas
What than, makes he thame grathely to gange?262
Miles 3
Ya lorde, even forthe in euery-ilke a toune263
He thame lechis to liffe aftir lange.
Caiphas
A, this makes he by the myghtis of Mahounde.265
Miles 4
Sir, oure stiffe tempill that made is of stone,266
That passes any paleys of price for to preyse,
And it were doune to the erth and to the gronde gone
This rebalde he rowses hym it rathely to rayse.
Miles 3
Ya lorde, and othir wonderis he workis grete wone,270
And with his lowde lesyngis he losis oure layes.
Caiphas
Go lowse hym, and levis than and late me allone,272
For myselfe schall serche hym and here what he saies.
Anna
Herke, Jesus of Jewes, we will haue joie274
To spille all thy sporte for thy spellis.
Caiphas
Do meve, felawe, of thy frendis that fedde the beforne,
And sithen, felowe, of thi fare forther will I freyne;
Do neven vs lightly. His langage is lorne!
Miles 3
My lorde, with youre leve, hym likis for to layne,279
But and he schulde scape skatheles it wer a full skorne,
For he has mustered emonge vs full mekil of his mayne.
Miles 4
Malkus youre man, lord, that had his ere schorne,282
This harlotte full hastely helid it agayne.
Caiphas
What, and liste hym be nyse for the nonys,284
And heres howe we haste to rehete hym.
Anna
Nowe by Beliall bloode and his bonys,286
I holde it beste to go bete hym.
Caiphas
Nay sir, none haste, we schall haue game or we goo.
Boy, be not agaste if we seme gaye.
I coniure the kyndely and comaunde the also,
By grete God that is liffand and laste schall ay,
Yf thou be Criste, Goddis sonne, telle till vs two.
Jesus
Sir, thou says it thiselffe, and sothly I saye293
That I schall go to my fadir that I come froo
And dwelle with hym wynly in welthe allway.
Caiphas
Why, fie on the faitoure vntrewe,296
Thy fadir haste thou fowly defamed.
Now nedis vs no notes of newe,
Hymselfe with his sawes has he schamed.
Anna
Nowe nedis nowdir wittenesse ne counsaille to call,
But take his sawes as he saieth in the same stede.
He sclaunderes the Godhed and greues vs all,
Wherfore he is wele worthy to be dede-
And therfore sir, saies hym the sothe.
Caiphas
Sertis so I schall.304
Heres thou not, harlott? Ille happe on thy hede!
Aunswere here grathely to grete and to small
And reche vs oute rathely som resoune, I rede.
Jesus
My reasouns are not to reherse,308
Nor they that myght helpe me are noyot here nowe.
Anna
Say ladde, liste the make verse?310
Do telle on belyffe, late vs here nowe.
Jesus
Sir, if I saie the sothe thou schall not assente,312
But hyndir, or haste me to hynge.
I prechid wher pepull was moste in present,
And no poynte in priuité to olde ne yoonge.
And also in youre tempill I tolde myne entente;
Ye myght haue tane me that tyme for my tellyng
Wele bettir than bringe me with brondis vnbrente,318
And thus to noye me be nyght, and also for nothyng.
Caiphas
For nothyng, losell? Thou lies!320
Thy wordis and werkis will haue a wrekyng.
Jesus
Sire, sen thou with wrong so me wreyes,322
Go spere thame that herde of my spekyng.
Caiphas
A, this traitoure has tened me with tales that he has tolde,
Yitt hadde I neuere such hething of a harlott as hee.
Miles 1
What, fye on the, beggar, who made the so bolde326
To bourde with oure busshoppe? Thy bane schalle I bee.
Jesus
Sir, if my wordis be wrange or werse than thou wolde,
A wronge wittenesse I wotte nowe ar yoe;
And if my sawes be soth thei mon be sore solde,
Wherfore thou bourdes to brode for to bete me.
Miles 2
My lorde, will yoe here? For Mahounde,332
No more now for to neven that it nedis.
Caiphas
Gose dresse you and dyng yoe hym doune,334
And deffe vs no more with his dedis.
Anna
Nay sir, than blemysshe yee prelatis estate,336
Ye awe to deme no man to dede for to dynge.
Caiphas
Why sir? So were bettir than be in debate,338
Ye see the boy will noyot bowe for oure bidding.
Anna
Nowe sir, ye muste presente this boy vnto sir Pilate
For he is domysman nere and nexte to the king,
And late hym here alle the hole, how ye hym hate,
And whedir he will helpe hym or haste hym to hyng.
Miles 1
My lorde, late men lede hym by nyght,344
So schall ye beste skape oute o skornyng.
Miles 2
My lorde, it is nowe in the nyght,346
I rede yoe abide tille the mornyng.
Caiphas
Bewschere, thou sais the beste and so schall it be-
But lerne yone boy bettir to bende and bowe.
Miles 1
We schall lerne yone ladde, be my lewté,350
For to loute vnto ilke lorde like vnto yowe.
Caiphas
Ya, and felawes, wayte that he be ay wakand.352
Miles 2
Yis lorde, that warant will wee,352
Itt were a full nedles note to bidde vs nappe nowe.
Miles 3
Sertis, will ye sitte and sone schall ye see354
Howe we schall play popse for the pages prowe.
Miles 4
Late see, who stertis for a stole?356
For I haue here a hatir to hyde hym.
Miles 1
Lo, here is one full fitte for a foole,358
Go gete it and sette the beside hym.
Miles 2
Nay, I schall sette it myselffe and frusshe hym also.
Lo here a shrowde for a shrewe, and of shene shappe.
Miles 3
Playes faire in feere, and ther is one and ther is-ij;
I schall fande to feste it with a faire flappe-
And ther is-iij; and there is-iiij.
Say nowe with an nevill happe,
Who negheth the nowe? Not o worde, no!
Miles 4
Dose noddill on hym with neffes that he noght nappe.
Miles 1
Nay, nowe to nappe is no nede,368
Wassaille! Wassaylle! I warande hym wakande.
Miles 2
Ya, and bot he bettir bourdis can byde370
Such buffettis schall he be takande.
Miles 3
Prophete, Y saie, to be oute of debate,372
Quis te percussit, man? Rede, giffe thou may.
Miles 4
Those wordes are in waste, what wenes thou he wate?
It semys be his wirkyng his wittes were awaye.
Miles 1
Now late hym stande as he stode in a foles state,376
For he likis noyot this layke my liffe dare I laye.
Miles 2
Sirs, vs muste presente this page to ser Pilate,378
But go we firste to oure souerayne and see what he saie.
Miles 3
My lorde, we haue bourded with this boy380
And holden hym full hote emelle vs.
Caiphas
Thanne herde ye some japes of joye?382
Miles 4
The devell haue the worde, lorde, he wolde telle vs.
Anna
Sir, bidde belyue thei goo and bynde hym agayne,384
So that he skape noght, for that were a skorne.
Caiphas
Do telle to sir Pilate oure pleyntes all pleyne,386
And saie this ladde with his lesyngis has oure lawes lorne.
And saie this same day muste he be slayne
Because of Sabott day that schal be tomorne,
And saie that we come ourselffe for certayne,
And for to fortheren this fare, fare yee beforne.
Miles 1
Mi lorde, with youre leve, vs muste wende,392
Oure message to make as we maye.
Caiphas
Sir, youre faire felawschippe we betake to the fende,
Goose onne nowe, and daunce forth in the deuyll way.

The Tapiters' and Couchers' Play: Christ before Pilate I: The Dream of Pilate's WifeContents

Pilate
Yhe cursed creatures that cruelly are cryand,1
Restreyne you for stryuyng for strengh of my strakis;
Youre pleyntes in my presence vse plately applyand,
Or ellis this brande in youre braynes sone brestis and brekis.
This brande in his bones brekis,
What brawle that with brawlyng me brewis,
That wrecche may not wrye fro my wrekis,7
Nor his sleyghtis noyot slely hym slakis;
Latte that traytour noyot triste in my trewys.
For sir Sesar was my sier and I sothely his sonne,
That exelent emperoure exaltid in hight
Whylk all this wilde worlde with wytes had wone,
And my modir hight Pila that proude was o plight;13
O Pila that prowde, Atus hir fadir he hight.
This ‘Pila’ was hadde into ‘Atus’-
Nowe renkis, rede yhe it right?
For thus schortely I haue schewid you in sight
Howe I am prowdely preued ‘Pilatus’.
Loo, Pilate I am, proued a prince of grete pride.19
I was putte into Pounce the pepill to presse,
And sithen Sesar hymselffe with exynatores be his side
Remytte me to ther remys the renkes to redresse.
And yitte am Y graunted on grounde as I gesse
To justifie and juge all the Jewes.
A, luffe, here lady? No lesse?25
Lo sirs, my worthely wiffe, that sche is,
So semely, loo, certayne scho schewys.
Uxor
Was nevir juge in this Jurie of so jocounde generacion,
Nor of so joifull genologie to gentrys enioyned
As yhe, my duke doughty, demar of dampnacion
To princes and prelatis that youre preceptis perloyned.
Who that youre preceptis pertely perloyned,
With drede into dede schall ye dryffe hym;
By my trouthe, he vntrewly is troned34
That agaynste youre behestis hase honed;
All to ragges schall ye rente hym and ryue hym.
I am dame precious Percula, of prynces the prise,
Wiffe to ser Pilate here, prince withouten pere.
All welle of all womanhede I am, wittie and wise,
Consayue nowe my countenaunce so comly and clere.40
The coloure of my corse is full clere
And in richesse of robis I am rayed,
Ther is no lorde in this londe as I lere,
In faith, that hath a frendlyar feere
Than yhe my lorde, myselffe thof I saye itt.
Pilate
Nowe saye itt may ye saffely, for I will certefie the same.
Uxor
Gracious lorde, gramercye, youre gode worde is gayne.
Pilate
Yhitt for to comforte my corse me muste kisse you madame.
Uxor
To fulfille youre forward my fayre lorde I am fayne.
Pilate
Howe, howe, felawys! Nowe in faith I am fayne50
Of theis lippis so loffely are lappid
In bedde is full buxhome and bayne.
Domina
Yha sir, it nedith not to layne,53
All ladise we coveyte than bothe to be kyssid and clappid.
Bedellus
My liberall lorde, o leder of lawis,55
O schynyng schawe that all schames escheues,
I beseke you my souerayne, assente to my sawes,
As ye are gentill juger and justice of Jewes.
Domina
Do herke howe yon, javell, jangill of Jewes.59
Why, go bette horosonne boy, when I bidde the.
Bedellus
Madame, I do but that diewe is.61
Domina
But yf thou reste of thy resoune thou rewis,62
For all is acursed, carle-hase in, kydde the!
Pilate
Do mende you madame, and youre mode be amendand,64
For me semys it wer sittand to se what he sais.
Domina
Mi lorde, he tolde nevir tale that to me was tendand,
But with wrynkis and with wiles to wend me my weys.
Bedellus
Gwisse, of youre wayes to be wendand itt langis to oure lawes.
Domina
Loo lorde, this ladde with his lawes!69
Howe, thynke ye it prophitis wele his prechyng to prayse?
Pilate
Yha luffe, he knawis all oure custome,71
I knawe wele …
Bedellus
My seniour, will ye see nowe the sonne in youre sight,
For his stately strengh he stemmys in his stremys?
Behalde ovir youre hede how he heldis fro hight
And glydis to the grounde with his glitterand glemys.
To the grounde he gois with his bemys
And the nyght is neghand anone.
Yhe may deme aftir no dremys,79
But late my lady here with all hir light lemys
Wightely go wende till hir wone;
For ye muste sitte sir this same nyght, of lyfe and of lyme.
Itt is noyot leeffull for my lady by the lawe of this lande
In dome for to dwelle for the day waxe ought dymme,
For scho may stakir in the strete but scho stalworthely stande.
[…     …]85
Late hir take hir leve whill that light is.
Pilate
Nowe wiffe, than ye blythely be buskand.87
Domina
I am here sir, hendely att hande.88
Pilate
Loo, this renke has vs redde als right is.89
Domina
Youre comaundement to kepe to kare forthe Y caste me.
My lorde, with youre leue, no lenger Y lette yowe.
Pilate
Itt were a repreue to my persone that preuely yoe paste me,
Or ye wente fro this wones or with wynne yoe had wette yowe.
Ye schall wende forthe with wynne whenne that yoe haue wette yowe.
Gete drinke! What dose thou? Haue done!
Come semely, beside me, and sette yowe.
Loke, nowe it is even here that I are behete you,
Ya, saie it nowe sadly and sone.98
Domina
Itt wolde glad me my lorde if yoe gudly begynne.99
Pilate
Nowe I assente to youre counsaille so comely and clere.
Nowe drynke madame-to deth all this dynne.
Domina
Iff it like yowe, myne awne lorde, I am not to lere-
This lare I am not to lere.
Pilate
Yitt efte to youre damysell madame.104
Domina
In thy hande, holde nowe and haue here.105
Ancilla
Gramarcy, my lady so dere.106
Pilate
Nowe fares-wele, and walke on youre way.107
[…     …]107
Domina
Now farewele the frendlyest, youre fomen to fende.108
Pilate
Nowe farewele the fayrest figure that euere did fode fede,
And farewele ye damysell, indede.
Ancilla
My lorde, I comande me to youre ryalté.111
Pilate
Fayre lady, here is schall you lede.112
Sir, go with this worthy in wede,
And what scho biddis you doo loke that buxsome you be.
Filius
I am prowde and preste to passe on apasse,115
To go with this gracious hir gudly to gyde.
Pilate
Take tente to my tale thou turne on no trayse,117
Come tyte and telle me yf any tythyngis betyde.
Filius
Yf any tythyngis my lady betyde,119
I schall full sone sir witte you to say.
This semely schall I schewe by hir side
Belyffe sir, no lenger we byde.
Pilate
Nowe fares-wele, and walkes on youre way.123
Nowe wente is my wiffe, yf it wer not hir will,
And scho rakis tille hir reste as of nothyng scho rought.
Tyme is, I telle the, thou tente me vntill;
And buske the belyue, belamy, to bedde that Y wer broght
[…     …]127
And loke I be rychely arrayed.
Bedellus
Als youre seruaunte I haue sadly it sought,129
And this nyght, sir, newe schall ye noght,
I dare laye, fro ye luffely be layde.
Pilate
I comaunde the to come nere, for I will kare to my couche.
Haue in thy handes hendely and heue me fro hyne,
But loke that thou tene me not with thi tastyng, but tendirly me touche.
Bedellus
A, sir, yhe whe wele.135
Pilate
Yha, I haue wette me with wyne135
[…     …]135
Yhit helde doune and lappe me even here,
For I will slelye slepe vnto synne.
Loke that no man nor no myron of myne
With no noyse be neghand me nere.
Bedellus
Sir, what warlowe yow wakens with wordis full wilde,
That boy for his brawlyng were bettir be vnborne.
Pilate
Yha, who chatteres, hym chastise, be he churle or childe,
For and he skape skatheles itt were to vs a grete skorne-
Yf skatheles he skape it wer a skorne.
What rebalde that redely will rore,
I schall mete with that myron tomorne
And for his ledir lewdenes hym lerne to be lorne.
Bedellus
Whe! So sir, slepe ye, and saies no more.148
Domina
Nowe are we at home. Do helpe yf ye may,149
For I will make me redye and rayke to my reste.
Ancilla
Yhe are werie madame, for-wente of youre way,151
Do boune you to bedde, for that holde I beste.
Filius
Here is a bedde arayed of the beste.153
Domina
Do happe me, and faste hense ye hye.154
Ancilla
Madame, anone all dewly is dressid.155
Filius
With no stalkyng nor no striffe be ye stressed.156
Domina
Nowe be yhe in pese, both youre carpyng and crye.157
Diabolus
Owte! Owte! Harrowe!157
Into bale am I brought, this bargayne may I banne,
But yf Y wirke some wile in wo mon I wonne.
This gentilman, Jesu, of cursednesse he can,
Be any syngne that I see this same is Goddis sonne.
And he be slone oure solace will sese,
He will saue man saule fro oure sonde163
And refe vs the remys that are rounde.
I will on stiffely in this stounde
Vnto ser Pilate wiffe pertely and putte me in prese.
O woman, be wise and ware, and wonne in thi witte
Ther schall a gentilman, Jesu, vnjustely be juged
Byfore thy husband in haste, and with harlottis be hytte.
And that doughty today to deth thus be dyghted,
Sir Pilate, for his prechyng, and thou,
With nede schalle ye namely be noyed.
Youre striffe and youre strenghe schal be stroyed,
Youre richesse schal be refte you that is rude,
With vengeaunce, and that dare I auowe.175
Domina
A, I am drecchid with a dreme full dredfully to dowte.
Say childe, rise vppe radly and reste for no roo,
Thow muste launce to my lorde and lowly hym lowte,
Comaunde me to his reuerence, as right weill Y doo.
Filius
O, what, schall I trauayle thus tymely this tyde?180
Madame, for the drecchyng of heuen,
Slyke note is newsome to neven
And it neghes vnto mydnyght full even.
Domina
Go bette boy, I bidde no lenger thou byde,184
And saie to my souereyne this same is soth that I send hym:
All naked this nyght as I napped
With tene and with trayne was I trapped,
With a sweuene that swiftely me swapped
Of one Jesu, the juste man the Jewes will vndoo.
She prayes tente to that trewe man, with tyne be noyot trapped,
But als a domesman dewly to be dressand,
And lelye delyuere that lede.
Filius
Madame, I am dressid to that dede-193
But firste will I nappe in this nede,
For he hase mystir of a morne-slepe that mydnyght is myssand.
Anna
Sir Cayphas, ye kenne wele this caytiffe we haue cached
That ofte-tymes in oure tempill hase teched vntrewly.
Oure meyné with myght at mydnyght hym mached
And hase drevyn hym till his demyng for his dedis vndewly;
Wherfore I counsaile that kyndely we care
Vnto ser Pilate oure prince, and pray hym
That he for oure right will arraye hym-202
This faitour-for his falsed to flay hym;
For fro we saie hym the soth he schall sitte hym full sore.
Caiphas
Sir Anna, this sporte haue ye spedely aspied,205
As I am pontificall prince of all prestis.
We will prese to ser Pilate, and presente hym with pride
With this harlott that has hewed oure hartis fro oure brestis
Thurgh talkyng of tales vntrewe.
And therfor ser knyghtis-
Milites
Lorde.210
Caiphas
Sir knyghtis that are curtayse and kynde,211
We charge you that chorle be wele chyned.
Do buske you and grathely hym bynde
And rugge hym in ropes his rase till he rewe.
Miles 1
Sir, youre sawes schall be serued schortely and sone.
Yha, do felawe, be thy feith; late vs feste this faitour full fast.
Miles 2
I am douty to this dede, delyuer, haue done;217
Latte vs pulle on with pride till his poure be paste.
Miles 1
Do haue faste and halde at his handes.219
Miles 2
For this same is he that lightly avaunted,220
And God sone he grathely hym graunted.
Miles 1
He bese hurled for the highnes he haunted-222
Loo, he stonyes for vs, he stares where he standis.
Miles 2
Nowe is the brothell boune for all the boste that he blawe,
And the laste day he lete no lordynges myyot lawe hym.
Anna
Ya, he wende this worlde had bene haly his awne.226
Als ye are dowtiest today tille his demyng ye drawe hym,
And than schall we kenne how that he canne excuse hym.
Miles 1
Here, ye gomes, gose a-rome, giffe vs gate,229
We muste steppe to yone sterne of astate.
Miles 2
We muste yappely wende in at this yate,231
For he that comes to courte, to curtesye muste vse hym.
Miles 1
Do rappe on the renkis that we may rayse with oure rolyng.
Come forthe sir coward, why cowre ye behynde?
Bedellus
O, what javellis are ye that jappis with gollyng?235
Miles 1
A, goode sir, be noyot wroth, for wordis are as the wynde.
Bedellus
I saye, gedlynges, gose bakke with youre gawdes.237
Miles 2
Be sufferand I beseke you,238
And more of this matere yhe meke yowe.
Bedellus
Why, vnconand knaves, an I cleke yowe,240
I schall felle yowe, be my faith, for all youre false frawdes.
Pilate
Say childe, ill cheffe you! What churlles are so claterand?
Bedellus
My lorde, vnconand knaves thei crye and thei call.243
Pilate
Gose baldely beliffe and thos brethellis be batterand,
And putte tham in prisoune vppon peyne that may fall.
Yha, spedely spir tham yf any sporte can thei spell-
Yha, and loke what lordingis thei be.
Bedellus
My lorde that luffull in lee,248
I am boxsom and blithe to your blee.
Pilate
And if they talke any tythyngis come tyte and me tell.
Bedellus
Can ye talke any tythandis, by youre faith, my felawes?
Miles 1
Yha sir, sir Cayphas and Anna ar come both togedir252
To sir Pilate o Pounce and prince of oure lawes;
And thei haue laughte a lorell that is lawles and liddir.
Bedellus
My lorde, my lorde!255
Pilate
Howe?255
Bedellus
My lorde, vnlappe yow belyve where ye lye.256
Sir Cayphas to youre courte is caried,
And sir Anna, but a traytour hem taried.
Many wight of that warlowe has waried,
They haue brought hym in a bande his balis to bye.
Pilate
But are thes sawes certayne in soth that thou saies?
Bedellus
Yha lorde, the states yondir standis, for striffe are they stonde.
stond.
Pilate
Now than am I light as a roo, and ethe for to rayse.
Go bidde tham come in both, and the boye they haue ne.
Bedellus
Siris, my lorde geues leue inne for to come.265
Caiphas
Hayle prince that is pereles in price,266
Ye are leder of lawes in this lande,
Youre helpe is full hendely at hande.
Anna
Hayle, stronge in youre state for to stande,269
Alle this dome muste be dressed at youre dulye deuyse.
Pilate
Who is there, my prelates?271
Caiphas
Yha lorde.271
Pilate
Nowe be yoe welcome iwisse.271
Caiphas
Gramercy my souerayne. But we beseke you all same272
Bycause of wakand you vnwarly be noght wroth with this,
For we haue brought here a lorell-he lokis like a lambe.
Pilate
Come byn, you bothe, and to the benke brayde yowe.275
Caiphas
Nay gud sir, laugher is leffull for vs.276
Pilate
A, sir Cayphas, be curtayse yhe bus.277
Anna
Nay goode lorde, it may not be thus.278
Pilate
Sais no more, but come sitte you beside me in sorowe as I saide youe.
Filius
Hayle, the semelieste seeg vndir sonne sought,280
Hayle, the derrest duke and doughtiest in dede.
Pilate
Now bene-veneuew beuscher, what boodworde haste thou brought?
Hase any langour my lady newe laught in this leede?
Filius
Sir, that comely comaundes hir youe too,284
And sais, al nakid this nyght as sche napped
With tene and with traye was sche trapped,
With a sweuene that swiftely hir swapped
Of one Jesu, the juste man the Jewes will vndo.
She beseches you as hir souerayne that symple to saue,
Deme hym noght to deth for drede of vengeaunce.290
Pilate
What, I hope this be he that hyder harlid yoe haue.
Caiphas
Ya sir, the same and the selffe-but this is but a skaunce,
He with wicchecrafte this wile has he wrought.
Some feende of his sand has he sente
And warned youre wiffe or he wente.
Pilate
Yowe! That schalke shuld not shamely be shente,296
This is sikir in certayne, and soth schulde be sought.
Anna
Yha, thurgh his fantome and falshed and fendes-craft
He has wroght many wondir where he walked full wyde,
Wherfore, my lorde, it wer leeffull his liffe were hym rafte.
Pilate
Be ye neuere so bryme ye bothe bus abide301
But if the traytoure be taught for vntrewthe,
And therfore sermones you no more.
I will sekirly sende hymselffe fore,
And se what he sais to the sore.
Bedell, go brynge hyme, for of that renke haue I rewthe.
Bedellus
This forward to fulfille am I fayne moued in myn herte.
Say, Jesu, the juges and the Jewes hase me enioyned
To bringe the before tham even bounden as thou arte.
Yone lordyngis to lose the full longe haue thei heyned,
But firste schall I wirschippe the with witte and with will.
This reuerence I do the forthy,
For wytes that wer wiser than I,313
They worshipped the full holy on hy
And with solempnité sang Osanna till.
Miles 1
My lorde that is leder of lawes in this lande,316
All bedilis to your biding schulde be boxsome and bayne,
And yoitt this boy here before yowe full boldely was bowand
To worschippe this warlowe-methynke we wirke all in vayne.
Miles 2
Yha, and in youre presence he prayed hym of pees,320
In knelyng on knes to this knave
He besoughte hym his seruaunte to saue.
Caiphas
Loo lord, such arrore amange them thei haue323
It is grete sorowe to see, no seeg may it sese.
It is no menske to youre manhed that mekill is of myght
To forbere such forfettis that falsely are feyned,
Such spites in especiall wolde be eschewed in your sight.
Pilate
Sirs, moves you noyot in this matere but bese myldely demeaned,
For yone curtasie I kenne had som cause.
Anna
In youre sight sir the soth schall I saye,330
As ye are prince take hede I you praye,
Such a lourdayne vnlele, dare I laye,
Many lordis of oure landis might lede fro oure lawes.
Pilate
Saye losell, who gaue the leve so for to lowte to yone ladde
And solace hym in my sight so semely that I sawe?
Bedellus
A, gracious lorde, greue you noght for gude case I hadde.
Yhe comaunded me to care, als ye kenne wele and knawe,
To Jerusalem on a journay, with seele;
And than this semely on an asse was sette
And many men myldely hym mette,
Als a God in that grounde thai hym grette,
Wele semand hym in waye with worschippe lele.342
‘Osanna’ thei sange, ‘the sone of Dauid’,
Riche men with thare robes thei ranne to his fete,
And poure folke fecched floures of the frith
And made myrthe and melody this man for to mete.
Pilate
Nowe gode sir, be thi feith, what is ‘Osanna’ to saie?
Bedellus
Sir, constrew it we may be langage of this lande as I leue,
It is als moche to me for to meue-
Youre prelatis in this place can it preue-
Als, ‘oure sauiour and souerayne thou saue vs we prayé.
Pilate
Loo senioures, how semes yow? The sothe I you saide.
Caiphas
Yha lorde, this ladde is full liddir, be this light.
Yf his sawes wer serchid and sadly assaied,
Saue youre reuerence, his resoune thei rekenne noyot with right.
This caytiffe thus cursedly can construe vs.
Bedellus
Sirs, trulye the trouthe I haue tolde357
Of this wighte yoe haue wrapped in wolde.
Anna
I saie, harlott, thy tonge schulde thou holde,359
And noght agaynste thi maistirs to meve thus.
Pilate
Do sese of youre seggyng, and I schall examyne full sore.
Anna
Sir, demes hym to deth or dose hym away.362
Pilate
Sir, haue ye saide?363
Anna
Yha lorde.363
Pilate
Nowe go sette you with sorowe and care,363
For I will lose no lede that is lele to oure lay.
But steppe furth and stonde vppe on hight
And buske to my bidding, thou boy,
And for the nones that thou neven vs a noy.
Bedellus
I am here at youre hande to halow a hoy,368
Do move of youre maistir for I shall melle it with myyot.
Pilate
Cry ‘Oyas’.370
Bedellus
Oyas.370
Pilate
Yit efte, be thi feithe.370
Bedellus
Oyas!370
Pilate
Yit lowdar, that ilke lede may lithe-371
Crye pece in this prese, vppon payne thervppon,
Bidde them swage of ther sweying bothe swiftely and swithe
And stynte of ther stryuyng and stande still as a stone.
Calle Jesu the gentill of Jacob, the Jewe.
Come preste and appere,
To the barre drawe the nere,377
To thi jugement here,
To be demed for his dedis vndewe.
Miles 1
Whe, harke how this harlott he heldis oute of harre,
This lotterelle liste noght my lorde to lowte.
Miles 2
Say beggar, why brawlest thou? Go boune the to the barre.
Miles 1
Steppe on thy standyng so sterne and so stoute.383
Miles 2
Steppe on thys standyng so still.384
Miles 1
Sir cowarde, to courte muste yhe care-385
Miles 2
A lessoune to lerne of oure lare.386
Miles 1
Flitte fourthe, foule myght thou fare.387
Miles 2
Say warlowe, thou wantist of thi will.388
Filius
O Jesu vngentill, thi joie is in japes,389
Thou can not be curtayse, thou caytiffe I calle the,
No ruthe were it to rug the and ryue the in ropes.
Why falles thou noyot flatte here, foule falle the,
For ferde of my fadir so free?
Thou wotte noght his wisdome iwys,
All thyne helpe in his hande that it is,395
Howe sone he myght saue the fro this.
Obeye hym, brothell, I bidde the.
Pilate
Now Jesu, thou art welcome ewys, as I wene,398
Be noyot abasshed but boldely boune the to the barre;
What seyniour will sewe for the sore I haue sene.
To wirke on this warlowe, his witte is in warre.
Come preste, of a payne, and appere,
And sir prelatis, youre pontes bes prevyng.
What cause can ye caste of accusyng?404
This mater ye marke to be meving,
And hendly in haste late vs here.
Caiphas
Sir Pilate o Pounce and prince of grete price,407
We triste ye will trowe oure tales thei be trewe,
To deth for to deme hym with dewly device.
For cursidnesse yone knave hase in case, if ye knew,
In harte wolde ye hate hym in hye.
For if it wer so
We mente not to misdo;413
Triste, ser, schall ye therto,
We hadde not hym taken to the.
Pilate
Sir, youre tales wolde I trowe but thei touche none entente.
What cause can ye fynde now this freke for to felle?
Anna
Our Sabbotte he saues not, but sadly assente418
To wirke full vnwisely, this wote I riyot wele,
[…     …]419
He werkis whane he will, wele I wote,
And therfore in herte we hym hate.
Itt sittis you to strenghe youre estate
Yone losell to louse for his lay.
Pilate
Ilke a lede for to louse for his lay is not lele.424
Youre lawes is leffull, but to youre lawis longis it
This faitoure to feese wele with flappes full fele,
And woo may ye wirke hym be lawe, for he wranges it.
Therfore takes vnto you full tyte,
And like as youre lawes will you lede
Ye deme hym to deth for his dede.430
Caiphas
Nay, nay sir, that dome muste vs drede,431
[…     …]431
It longes noyot till vs no lede for to lose.
Pilate
What wolde ye I did thanne? The deuyll motte you drawe!
Full fewe are his frendis but fele are his fooes.
His liff for to lose thare longes no lawe,
Nor no cause can I kyndely contryue
That why he schulde lose thus his liffe.
Anna
A, gude sir, it raykes full ryffe438
In steedis wher he has stirrid mekill striffe
Of ledis that is lele to youre liffe.
Caiphas
Sir, hatle men and hurte he helid in haste,441
The deffe and the dome he delyuered fro doole
By wicchecrafte, I warande-his wittis schall waste-
For the farles that he farith with loo how thei folowe yone fole,
Oure folke so thus he frayes in fere.
Anna
The dede he rayses anone-446
This Lazare that lowe lay allone
He graunte hym his gates for to gone,
And pertely thus proued he his poure.
Pilate
Now goode siris, I saie, what wolde yhe seme?450
Caiphas
Sir, to dede for to do hym or dose hym adawe.451
Pilate
Yha, for he dose wele his deth for to deme?452
Go layke you sir, lightly; wher lerned ye such lawe?
This touches no tresoune I telle you.
Yhe prelatis that proued are for price,
Yhe schulde be bothe witty and wise
And legge oure lawe wher it lyse,
Oure materes ye meve thus emel you.458
Anna
Misplese noyot youre persone, yhe prince withouten pere,
It touches to tresoune this tale I schall tell:
Yone briboure, full baynly he bed to forbere
The tribute to the emperoure, thus wolde he compell
Oure pepill thus is poyntis to applye.
Caiphas
The pepull he saies he schall saue,464
And Criste garres he calle hym, yone knave,
And sais he will the high kyngdome haue-
Loke whethir he deserue to dye.
Pilate
To dye he deserues yf he do thus indede,468
But Y will se myselffe what he sais.
Speke Jesu, and spende nowe thi space for to spede.
Thez lordyngis thei legge the thou liste noyot leve on oure lays,
They accuse the cruelly and kene;
And therfore as a chiftene Y charge the,
Iff thou be Criste that thou telle me,474
And God sone thou grughe not to graunte the,
For this is the matere that Y mene.
Jesus
Thou saiste so thiselue. I am sothly the same477
Here wonnyng in worlde to wirke al thi will.
My fadir is faithfull to felle all thi fame;
Withouten trespas or tene am I taken the till.
Pilate
Loo busshoppis, why blame ye this boye?481
Me semys that it is soth that he saies.
Ye meve all the malice ye may
With youre wrenchis and wiles to wrythe hym away,
Vnjustely to juge hym fro joie.
Caiphas
Noght so sir, his seggyng is full sothly soth,486
It bryngis oure bernes in bale for to bynde.
Anna
Sir, douteles we deme als dewe of the deth488
This foole that ye fauour-grete fautes can we fynde
This daye for to deme hym to dye.
Pilate
Saie losell, thou lies be this light!491
Naie, thou rebalde, thou rekens vnright.
Caiphas
Avise you sir, with mayne and with myght,493
And wreke not youre wrethe nowe forthy.
Pilate
Me likes noyot his langage so largely for to lythe.
Caiphas
A, mercy lorde, mekely, no malice we mente.496
Pilate
Noo done is it douteles, balde be and blithe,497
Talke on that traytoure and telle youre entente.
Yone segge is sotell ye saie;
Gud sirs, wer lerned he such lare?
Caiphas
In faith, we can not fynde whare.501
Pilate
Yhis, his fadir with som farlis gan fare502
And has lered this ladde of his laie.
Anna
Nay, nay sir, we wiste that he was but a write,504
No sotelté he schewed that any segge saw.
Pilate
Thanne mene yhe of malice to marre hym of myght,506
Of cursidnesse convik no cause can yhe knawe.
Me meruellis ye malyngne o mys.
Caiphas
Sir, for Galely hidir and hoo509
The gretteste agayne hym ganne goo,
Yone warlowe to waken of woo,
And of this werke beres witnesse ywis.
Pilate
Why, and has he gone in Galely, yone gedlyng ongayne?
Anna
Yha lorde, ther was he borne, yone brethelle, and bredde.
Pilate
Nowe withouten fagyng, my frendis, in faith I am fayne,
For now schall oure striffe full sternely be stede.
Sir Herowde is kyng ther ye kenne,
His poure is preued full preste
To ridde hym or reue hym of rest.
And therfore, to go with yone gest
Yhe marke vs oute of the manliest men.521
Caiphas
Als witte and wisdome youre will schal be wroght,522
Here is kempis full kene to the kyng for to care.
Pilate
Nowe seniours, I saie yow sen soth schall be soght,
But if he schortely be sente it may sitte vs full sore.
And therfore sir knyghtis-
Milites
Lorde.526
Pilate
Sir knyghtis that are cruell and kene,527
That warlowe ye warrok and wraste,
And loke that he brymly be braste
[…     …]529
Do take on that traytoure you betwene.
Tille Herowde in haste with that harlott ye hye,
Comaunde me full mekely vnto his moste myght.
Saie the dome of this boy, to deme hym to dye,
Is done vpponne hym dewly, to dresse or to dight
Or liffe for to leue at his liste.535
Say ought I may do hym indede,
His awne am I worthely in wede.
Miles 1
My lorde, we schall springe on a-spede.538
Come thens! To me this traitoure full tryste.
Pilate
Bewe sirs, I bidde you ye be not to bolde,540
But takes tente for oure tribute full trulye to trete.
Miles 2
Mi lorde, we schall hye this beheste for to halde542
And wirke it full wisely in wille and in witte.
Pilate
So sirs me semys itt is sittand.544
Miles 1
Mahounde, sirs, he menske you with myght-545
Miles 2
And saue you sir, semely in sight.546
Pilate
Now in the wilde vengeaunce ye walke with that wight,
And fresshely ye founde to be flittand.

The Liststers' Play: Christ Before HerodContents

Rex
Pes, ye brothellis and browlys in this broydenesse inbrased,
And freykis that are frendely your freykenesse to frayne,
Youre tounges fro tretyng of triffillis be trased,
Or this brande that is bright schall breste in youre brayne.
Plextis for no plasis but platte you to this playne,
And drawe to no drofyng but dresse you to drede,
With dasshis.7
Traueylis noyot as traytours that tristis in trayne,
Or by the bloode that Mahounde bledde with this blad schal ye blede.
Thus schall I brittyn all youre bones on brede,
Yae, and lusshe all youre lymmys with lasschis.
Dragons that are dredfull schall derke in ther dennes
In wrathe when we writhe, or in wrathenesse ar wapped.
Agaynste jeauntis ongentill haue we joined with ingendis,
And swannys that are swymmyng to oure swetnes schall be suapped,
And joged doune ther jolynes oure gentries engenderand.
Whoso repreue oure estate we schall choppe tham in cheynes,
All renkkis that are renand to vs schall be reuerande.
Therfore I bidde you sese or any bale be,19
That no brothell be so bolde boste for to blowes.
And yoe that luffis youre liffis, listen to me
As a lorde that is lerned to lede you be lawes.
And ye that are of my men and of my menyoe,
Sen we are comen fro oure kyth as yoe wele knawes,
And semlys all here same in this cyté,25
It sittis vs in sadnesse to sette all oure sawes.
Dux 1
My lorde, we schall take kepe to youre call27
And stirre to no stede but yoe steuen vs,
No greuaunce to grete ne to small.
Rex
Ya, but loke that no fawtes befall.30
Dux 2
Lely my lord so we shall,31
Ye nede not no more for to nevyn vs.
Dux 1
Mounseniour, demene you to menske in mynde what I mene
And boune to youre bedward, for so holde I best,
For all the comons of this courte bene avoyde clene,
And ilke a renke, as resoune as, are gone to ther reste-
Wherfore I counsaile, my lorde, yoe comaunde you a drynke.
Rex
Nowe certis, I assente as thou sais.38
Se ych a qwy is wente on his ways
Lightly withouten any delayes.
Giffe vs wyne wynly and late vs go wynke,
And se that no durdan be done.
Dux 1
My lorde, vnlase you to lye,43
Here schall none come for to crye.
Rex
Nowe spedely loke that thou spie45
That no noyse be neghand this none.
Dux 1
My lorde, youre bedde is new made, you nedis noyot for to bide it.
Rex
Ya, but as thou luffes me hartely, laye me doune softely,
For thou wotte full wele that I am full tendirly hydid.
Dux 1
Howe lye yoe my goode lorde?50
Rex
Right wele, be this light,50
All hole at my desire.
Wherfore I praye ser Satan oure sire,
And Lucifer moste luffely of lyre,
He sauffe you all sirs, and giffe you goode nyght.
Miles 1
Sir knyght, ye wote we ar warned to wende55
To witte of this warlowe what is the kyngis will.
Miles 2
Sir, here is Herowde all even here at oure hende,57
And all oure entente tyte schall we tell hym vntill.
Miles 1
Who is here?59
Dux 1
Who is there?59
Miles 1
Sir, we are knyghtis kende59
Is comen to youre counsaill this carle for to kill.
Dux 1
Sirs, but youre message may myrthis amende,61
Stalkis furthe be yone stretis or stande stone still.
Miles 2
Yis certis ser, of myrthis we mene,63
The kyng schall haue matteres to melle hym.
The kyng schall haue matteres to melle hym.
We brynge here a boy vs betwene,
Wherefore to haue worschippe we wene.
Dux 1
Wele sirs, so that it turne to no tene,67
Tentis hym and we schall go telle hym.
My lorde, yondir is a boy boune that brought is in blame,
Haste you in hye, thei houe at youre yoate.
Rex
What, and schall I rise nowe, in the deuyllis name,
To stighill amang straungeres in stales of astate?
But haue here my hande, halde nowe,
And se that my sloppe be wele sittande.
Dux 1
My lorde, with a goode will Y wolde youe,75
No wrange will I witte at my wittande.
But my lorde, we can tell yoou of vncouthe tythande.
Rex
Ya, but loke ye telle vs no tales but trewe.78
Dux 2
My lorde, thei bryng you yondir a boy boune in a bande
That bodus outhir bourdyng or bales to brewe.
Rex
Thanne gete we some harrowe full hastely at hande.81
Dux 1
My lorde, ther is some note that is nedfull to neven you of new.
Rex
Why, hoppis thou thei haste hym to hyng?83
Dux 2
We wotte noght ther will nor ther wenyng,84
But boodword full blithely thei bryng.
Rex
Nowe do than and late vs se of there sayng.86
Dux 2
Lo sirs, ye schall carpe with the kyng,87
And telles to hym manly youre menyng.
Miles 1
Lorde, welthis and worschippis be with you alway.89
Rex
What wolde you?90
Miles 2
A worde, lorde, and youre willes were.90
Rex
Well, saye on than.91
Miles 1
My lorde, we fare foolys to flay91
That to you wolde forfette.
Rex
We, faire falle you therfore.92
Miles 1
My lorde, fro yoe here what we saie93
Itt will heffe vppe youre hertis.
Rex
Ya, but saie what heynde haue yoe thore?94
Miles 2
A presente fro Pilate, lorde, the prince of oure lay.
Rex
Pese in my presence, and nemys hym no more.96
Miles 1
My lorde, he woll worschippe you faine.97
Rex
I consayue yoe are ful foes of hym.98
Miles 2
My lorde, he wolde menske you with mayne,99
And therfore he sendis you this swayne.
Rex
Gose tyte with that gedlyng agayne,101
And saie hym a borowed bene sette I noght be hym.
Dux 1
A, my lorde, with youre leve, thei haue faren ferre,
And for to fraiste of youre fare was no folye.
Dux 2
My lorde, and this gedlyng go thus it will greue werre,
For he gares growe on this grounde grete velanye.
Rex
Why, menys thou that that myghtyng schulde my myghtes marre?
Dux 1
Nay lorde, but he makis on this molde mekill maystrie.
Rex
Go ynne, and late vs see of the sawes ere,109
And but yf thei be to oure bordyng, thai both schalle abye.
Miles 2
My lorde, we were worthy to blame111
To brynge you any message of mysse.
Rex
Why than, can ye nemyn vs his name?113
Miles 1
Sir, Criste haue we called hym at hame.114
Rex
O, this is the ilke selue and the same-115
Nowe sirs, ye be welcome ywisse.
And in faith I am fayne he is fonne,
His farles to frayne and to fele;
Nowe thes games was grathely begonne.
Miles 2
Lorde, lely that likis vs wele.120
Rex
Ya, but dar yoe hete hartely that harlott is he?121
Miles 1
My lorde, takis hede and in haste ye schall here howe.
Rex
Ya, but what menys that this message was made vnto me?
Miles 2
My lorde, for it touches to tresoune I trowe.124
Miles 1
My lorde, he is culpabill kende in oure contré
Of many perillus poyntis, as Pilate preves nowe.
Miles 2
My lorde, when Pilate herde he had gone thurgh Galylé
He lerned vs that that lordschippe longed to yoou,
And or he wiste what youre willis were,
No ferther wolde he speke for to spille hym.
Rex
Thanne knawes he that oure myghtis are the more?131
Miles 1
Ya, certis sir, so saie we thore.132
Rex
Nowe sertis, and oure frenschippe therfore133
We graunte hym, and no greuaunce we will hym.
And sirs, ye are welcome ywisse as ye wele awe,
And for to wende at youre wille Y you warande,
For I haue coveite kyndely that comely to knawe,
For men carpis that the carle schulde be konnand.
Miles 2
My lorde, wolde he saie you soth of his sawe,139
Ye saugh nevir slik selcouth, be see nor be sande.
Rex
Nowe gois abakke both and late the boy blowe,141
For I hope we gete some harre hastely at hande.
Miles 1
Jerusalem and the Jewes may haue joie143
And hele in ther herte for to here hym.
Rex
Saie, beene-venew in bone fay,145
Ne plesew a parle remoy?
Miles 2
Nay my lorde, he can of no bourdyng, this boy.147
Rex
No sir? With thi leue we schall lere hym.148
Filius 1
Mi lorde, se ther knyghtis that knawe and are kene,
How thai come to youre courte withoutyn any call.
Rex
Ya sone, and musteris grete maistries, what may this bymene?
Dux 1
My lorde, for youre myghtis are more than thei all152
They seke you as souerayne, and sertis that is sene.
Rex
Nowe certis, sen yoe saie so, assaie hym I schall,154
For I am fayner of that freyke then othir fiftene,
Yae, and hym that firste fande, faire myght hym fall.
Miles 1
Lorde, lely we lereth you no legh,157
This liffe that he ledis will lose hym.
Rex
Wele sirs, drawes you adrygh,159
And bewscheris, bryngis yoe hym nygh,
For yif all that his sleghtis be slye
Yitte or he passe we schalle appose hym.
O, my harte hoppis for joie
To se nowe this prophette appere.
We schall haue goode game with this boy-165
Takis hede, for in haste yoe schall here.
I leve we schall laugh and haue likyng
To se nowe this lidderon her he leggis oure lawis.
Dux 2
Harke cosyne, thou comys to karpe with a kyng,169
Take tente and be conande, and carpe as thou knowis.
Dux 1
Ya, and loke that thou be not a sotte of thy saying,
But sadly and sone thou sette all thi sawes.
Rex
Hym semys full boudisch, that boy that thei bryng.173
Dux 2
Mi lorde, and of his bordyng grete bostyng men blawes.
Rex
Whi, therfore haue I soughte hym to see.175
Loke, bewsheris, ye be to oure bodis boune.
Dux 1
Knele doune here to the kyng on thy knee.177
Dux 2
Naye, nedelyngis yt will not be.178
Rex
Loo sirs, he mekis hym no more vnto me179
Thanne it were to a man of ther awne toune.
Dux 1
Whe! Go, lawmere, and lerne the to lowte181
Or thai more blame the to-bring.
Rex
Nay, dredeles withouten any doute183
He knawes noyot the course of a kyng.
And her beeis in oure bale, bourde or we blynne-
Saie firste at the begynnyng withall, where was thou borne?
Do felawe, for thy faith, latte vs falle ynne.
Firste of thi ferleis, who fedde the beforne?
What, deynes thou not? Lo sirs, he deffis vs with dynne.
Say, whare ledde yoe this lidrone? His langage is lorne.
Miles 1
My lorde, his mervaylis to more and to myne191
Or musteres emange vs both mydday and morne.
Miles 2
Mi lorde, it were to fele193
Of wonderes, he workith tham so wightely.
Miles 1
Whe man, momelyng may nothyng avayle,195
Go to the kyng and tell hyme fro toppe vnto tayle.
Rex
Do bringe vs that boy vnto bale,197
For lely we leffe hym noyot lightly.
Dux 1
This mop mennes that he may marke men to ther mede;
He makes many maistries and mervayles emange.
Dux 2
V ml. folke faire gon he feede201
With fyve looffis and two fisshis to fange.
Rex
Howe fele folke sais thou he fedde?203
Dux 2
V ml. lorde, that come to his call.204
Rex
Ya boye? Howe mekill brede he them bedde?205
Dux 1
But v looffis dare I wele wedde.206
Rex
Nowe be the bloode that Mahounde bledde,207
What, this was a wondir at all.
Dux 2
Nowe lorde, ij fisshis blissid he efte209
And gaffe thame, and ther none was forgetyn.
Dux 1
Ya lorde, and xij lepfull ther lefte211
Of releue whan all men had eten.
Rex
Of such anodir mangery no man mene may.213
Dux 2
Mi lorde, but his maistries that musteris his myght.
Rex
But saie sirs, ar ther sawis soth that thei saie?215
Miles 2
Ya lorde, and more selcouth were schewed to oure sight.
One Lazar, a ladde that in oure lande lay,
Lay loken vndir layre fro lymme and fro light,
And his sistir come rakand in rewfull arraye.
And lorde, for ther raryng he raysed hym full right,
And fro his grath garte hym gang
Euere forthe, withouten any evill.222
Rex
We, such lesyngis lastis to lange.223
Miles 1
Why lorde, wene yoe that wordis be wronge?224
This same ladde leuys vs emang.
Rex
Why, there hope Y be dedis of the deuyll.226
Why schulde yoe haste hym to hyng
That sought not newly youre newys?
Miles 2
My lorde, for he callis hym a kyng229
And claymes to be a kyng of Jewis.
Rex
But saie, is he kyng in his kyth wher he come froo?
Miles 1
Nay lorde, but he callis hym a kyng his caris to kele.
Rex
Thanne is it litill wondir yf that he be woo,233
For to be weried with wrang sen he wirkis wele;
But he schalle sitte be myselfe sen yoe saie soo.
Comes nerre, kyng, into courte. Saie, can yoe not knele?
We schalle haue gaudis full goode and games or we goo.
Howe likis tha, wele lorde? Saie. What, deuyll, neuere a dele?
I faute in my reuerant in otill moy,239
I am of fauour, loo, fairer be ferre.
Kyte oute yugilment. Vta! Oy! Oy!
Be any witte that Y watte it will waxe werre.
Seruicia primet,
Such losellis and lurdaynes as thou, loo,
Respicias timet.245
What the deuyll and his dame schall Y now doo?
Do carpe on, carle, for Y can the cure.
Say, may thou not here me? Oy man, arte thou woode?
Nowe telle me faithfully before howe thou fore.
Forthe, frende. Be my faith, thou arte a fonde foode.
Dux 1
My lorde, it astonys hym, youre steuen is so store251
Hym had leuere haue stande stone still ther he stode.
Rex
And whedir the boy be abasshid of Herrowde byg blure
That were a bourde of the beste, be Mahoundes bloode.
Dux 2
My lorde, Y trowe youre fauchone hym flaies255
And lettis hym.
Rex
Nowe lely I leue the,256
And therfore schall Y waffe it away
And softely with a septoure assaie.
Nowe sir, be perte Y the pray,
For none of my gromys schall greue the.
Si loqueris tibi laus,
Pariter quoque prospera dantur;262
Si loqueris tibi fraus,
Fell fex et bella parantur.
Mi menne, yoe go menske hym with mayne,
And loke yhow that it wolde seme.
Dux 1
Dewcus fayff ser and sofferayne.267
Dux 2
Sir vdins amangidre demayne.268
Rex
Go aunswer thaym grathely agayne.269
What, deuyll, whedir dote we or dreme?
Miles 1
Naye we gete noyot o worde, dare Y wele wedde,271
For he is wraiste of his witte or will of his wone.
Rex
Ye saie he lakkid youre lawis as yoe that ladde ledde?
Miles 2
Ya lorde, and made many gaudis as we haue gone.274
Rex
Nowe sen he comes as a knave and as a knave cledde,
Wherto calle ye hym a kyng?
Dux 1
Nay lorde, he is none,276
But an harlotte is hee.
Rex
What, deuyll, Y ame harde stedde,277
A man myght as wele stere a stokke as a stone.
Filius 1
My lorde, this faitour so fouly is affrayde,279
He loked neuere of lorde so langly allone.
Rex
No sone, the rebalde seis vs so richely arayed281
He wenys we be aungelis euere-ilkone.
Dux 2
My lorde, Y holde hym agaste of youre gaye gere.283
Rex
Grete lordis augh to be gay.284
Here schall no man do to the dere,
And therfore yit nemyne in my nere-
For by the grete god, and thou garre me swere
Thou had neuere dole or this day.
Do carpe on tyte, karle, of thy kynne.
Dux 1
Nay, nedelyngis he neuyns you with none.290
Rex
That schalle he bye or he blynne-291
Dux 2
A, leves lorde.292
Rex
Lattis me allone.292
Dux 1
Nowe goode lorde, and ye may, meue you no more,293
Itt is not faire to feght with a fonned foode,
But gose to youre counsaille and comforte you there.
Rex
Thou sais soth. We schall see yf so will be goode,296
For certis oure sorowes are sadde.
Filius 2
What a deuyll ayles hym?298
Mi lorde, I can garre you be gladde,
For in tyme oure maistir is madde.
He lurkis, loo, and lokis like a ladde,
He is wode lorde, or ellis his witte faylis hym.
Filius 3
Mi lorde, yoe haue mefte you as mekill as yoe may,303
For yhe myght menske hym no more were he Mahounde;
And sen it semys to be soo, latte vs nowe assaie.
Rex
Loke, bewscheris, yoe be to oure bodis boune.306
Dux.1
Mi lorde, howe schulde he dowte vs? He dredis not youre dray.
Rex
Nowe do fourthe, the deuyll myght hym droune!308
And sen he freyms falsed and makis foule fraye,
Raris on hym rudely, and loke yoe not roune.
Filius 1
Mi lorde, I schall enforce myselffe sen yoe saie soo.
Felawe, be noyot afferde nor feyne not therfore,
But telle vs nowe some truffillis betwene vs twoo,
And none of oure men schall medill tham more.
And therfore by resoune array the,
Do telle vs some poynte for thy prowe.
Heris thou not what Y saie the?317
Thou mummeland myghtyng, I may the
Helpe, and turne the fro tene as Y trowe.
Filius 2
Loke vppe ladde, lightly, and loute to my lorde here,
For fro bale vnto blisse he may nowe the borowe.
Carpe on, knave, kantely, and caste the to corde here,
And saie me nowe somwhat, thou sauterell, with sorowe.
Why standis thou as stille as a stone here?
Spare not, but speke in this place here
Thou gedlyng, it may gayne the some grace here.326
Filius 3
My lorde, this faitour is so ferde in youre face here
None aunswere in this nede he nevyns you with none here.
Do bewsher, for Beliall bloode and his bonys,
Say somwhat-or it will waxe werre.
Filius 1
Nay, we gete nouyot one worde in this wonys.331
Filius 2
Do crie we all on hym at onys.332
All Chylder
Oyoez! Oyoez! Oyoez!333
Rex
O, yoe make a foule noyse for the nonys.333
Filius 3
Nedlyng my lorde, it is neuere the nerre.334
Filius 1
Mi lorde, all youre mutyng amendis not a myte,335
To medill with a madman is meruaille to me.
Comaunde youre knyghtis to clothe hym in white
And late hym carre as he come to youre contré.
Rex
Lo sirs, we lede you no lenger a lite,339
Mi sone has saide sadly how that it schuld be-
But such a poynte for a page is to parfite.
Dux 1
Mi lorde, fooles that are fonde thei falle such a fee.
Rex
What, in a white garmente to goo,343
Thus gayly girde in a gowne?
Dux 2
Nay lorde, but as a foole forcid hym froo.345
Rex
How saie yoe sirs, schulde it be soo?346
All Chylder
Ya lord.347
Rex
We, than is ther no more,347
But boldely bidde tham be boune.
Sir knyghtis, we caste to garre you be gladde,
Oure counsaile has warned vs wisely and wele.
White clothis we saie fallis for a fonned ladde,
And all his foly in faith fully we feele.
Dux 1
We will with a goode will for his wedis wende,353
For we wotte wele anowe what wedis he schall were.
Dux 2
Loo, here is an haterell here at youre hende355
Alle faciound therfore foolis to feere.
Miles 1
Loo here a joppon of joie,357
All such schulde be gode for a boy.
Dux 1
He schalle be rayed like a roye,359
And schall be fonne in his folie.
Dux 2
We, thanke tham, euyll motte thou the.361
Miles 1
Nay, we gete noyot a worde wele Y warand.362
Miles 2
Man, mustir some meruaile to me.363
Dux 1
What, wene yoe he be wiser than we?364
Leffe we and late the kyng see
Howe it is forcyd and farand.
Mi lorde, loke yf yoe be paied,
For we haue getyn hym his gere.
Rex
Why, and is this rebalde arayed?369
My blissing, bewscheris, yoe bere.
Gose, garre crye in my courte and grathely garre write
All the dedis that we haue done in this same degré.
And who fyndis hym greued late hym telle tyte,
And yf we fynde no defaute hym fallis to go free.
Dux 1
Oyoes! Yf any wight with this wriche any werse wate
Werkis beris wittenesse who so wirkis wrang,
Buske boldely to the barre his balis to abate,
For my lorde, be my lewté, will not be deland lang.
My lorde, here apperes none to appeyre his estate.
Rex
Wele thanne, fallis hym goo free.380
Sir knyghtis, thanne grathis you goodly to gange,
And repaire with youre present and saie to Pilate
We graunte hym oure frenschippe all fully to fang.
Miles 1
My lorde, with youre leue this way schall we lere,384
Vs likis no lenger here to abide.
Miles 2
Mi lorde, and he worthe ought in were,386
We come agayne with goode chere.
Rex
Nay bewscheris, yoe fynde vs not here,388
Oure leue will we take at this tyde
And rathely araye vs to reste,
For such notis has noyed vs or nowe.
Dux 1
Ya, certis lorde, so holde Y beste,392
For this gedlyng vngoodly has greued you.
Dux 2
Loke yoe bere worde as ye wotte,394
Howe wele we haue quitte vs this while.
Miles 1
We, wise men will deme it we dote396
But if we make ende of oure note.
Rex
Wendis fourth, the deuyll in thi throte,398
We fynde no defaute hym to file.
Wherfore schulde we flaye hym or fleme hym
We fynde noyot in rollis of recorde;
And sen that he is dome, for to deme hym,
Ware this a goode lawe for a lorde?
Nay losellis, vnlely yoe lerned all to late,404
Go lere thus lordingis of youre londe such lessons to lere.
Repaire with youre present and saie to Pilate
We graunte hym oure poure all playne to appere,
And also oure greuaunce forgeue we algate
And we graunte hym oure grace with a goode chere.
As touchyng this brothell that brawlis or debate,410
Bidde hym wirke as he will, and wirke noght in were.
Go telle hym this message fro me,
And lede fourth that mytyng, euyll motte he the.
Miles 1
Mi lorde, with youre leue, late hym be,414
For all to longe ledde hym haue we.
Miles 2
What, yoe sirs, my lorde, will yoe see?416
Rex
What, felawes? Take yoe no tente what I telle you417
And bid you? That yoman ye yoeme.
Miles 2
Mi lorde, we schall wage hym an ill way.419
Rex
Nay bewscheris, be not so bryme.420
Fare softely, for so will it seme.
Miles 1
Nowe sen we schall do as ye deme,422
Adewe sir.
Rex
Daunce on, in the deuyll way.423

The Cooks' and Waterleaders' Play: The Remorse of JudasContents

Pilate
Pees, bewscheres, I bidde you, that beldis here aboute me,
And loke that yoe stirre with no striffe but stande stone still,
Or by the lorde that me liffe lente I schall garre you lowte me,
And all schall byde in my bale that wirkis noyot my will.
Ye rebaldis that regnys in this rowte,
Ye stynte of youre steuenyng so stowte,
Or with this brande that dere is to doute7
All to dede I schall dryue you this day.
For sir Pilate of Pounce as prince am Y preued,
As renke moste royall in richeste array,
Ther is no berne in this burgh has me aboute heuyd,
But he sekis me for souereyne, in certayne Y saie,
To knawe.13
Therfore take hede to youre lordis estate,
That none jangill nor jolle at my yoate,
Nor no man to grath hym no gate
Tille I haue seggid and saide all my sawe.
For I ame the luffeliest lappid and laide,
With feetour full faire in my face,19
My forhed both brente is and brade
And myne eyne thei glittir like the gleme in the glasse.
And the hore that hillis my heed
Is even like to the golde wyre,
My chekis are bothe ruddy and reede
And my coloure as cristall is cleere.25
Ther is no prince preuyd vndir palle
But I ame moste myghty of all to behold,
Nor no kyng but he schall come to my call,
Nor grome that dare greue me for golde.
Sir Kayphas, thurgh counsaill thi clergy is kid,
For thy counsaille is knowyn for connand and clere;
And sir Anna, thyn aunswer aught not to be hidde,
For thou is one and is abill and aught to be nere
In parlament playne.
And I am prince pereles youre poyntis to enquere:
How saie yoe Jues of Jesus, that swayne?
Haue done sirs, sais on youre sawis,37
What tytill nowe haue yoe vntill hym
And lely yoe loke vppon youre lawes?
Saye, why sente yoe so sone for to spille hym?
Anna
Sir, that is prince and lorde of oure laye,41
That traitour vntrewe that ye of telle vs,
Nowe certayne and sone the soth schall I saie
It is Jesus that japer that Judas ganne selle vs.
He marres oure men in all that he may,
His merueylis full mekill is mustered emelle vs,
That faitoure so false.47
He dois many derffe dedis on oure Sabotte day,
That vnconnand conjeon he castis hym to quelle vs,
Fro man onto man he will compelle vs
And vndo you and ourselffe als.
Youreselffe he will fordo
And he halde furth this space,53
And all this Jurie to
Yf that ye graunte hym grace.
Pilate
Sir Anna, this aunswere allow I no thyng,56
I halde it but hatereden, this artikill hale;
And therfore ser busshoppe, at my biddyng,
Do telle me nowe trewly the texte of this tale.
Do termyne it trewly and tyte
And lely yoe lede it by the lawe;
Felonye or falsed euyn here I defie it-62
Saie me sadly the soth, for loue or for awe.
Caiphas
Sir Pilate, the talis the traitoure has tolde,64
It heuys vs in harte full haly to here tham.
The warlowe with his wilis he wenys tham to wolde,
The ladde with his lesyngis full lightly gan lere tham.
Full tyte will he take tham vntill hym
And he thus forth go with his gaudis,
Or speche ouersprede-yoa, bettir is to spille hym,70
The faitoure is so felle with his false fraudis.
Pilate
Youre aunsweres is hedouse and hatefull to here.72
Hadde I not herde hym and myselfe had hym sene
Yitt yoe myght haue made me to trowe you intere;
But faute in hym I fynde none, but conande and clene.
For conande and clene can I clere hym,
No faute can I fynde to reffuse hym,
I hope yitt in haste yoe schall here hym78
Whanne he comys to racleyme-than may yoe cuse hym.
Miles 1
Lorde, fele of his ferles in faith haue we fonne,80
Yone harlotte heuys oure hartis full of hate ire.
He sais hymselffe that he is Goddis sone
And schall sitte on the right hande beside his awne sire.
Miles 2
Ther talis is full trewe that we telle.84
On the raynebowe the rebalde it redis,
He sais he schall haue vs to heuene or to hell
To deme vs aday aftir oure dedis.
Pilate
To deme vs, in the deuyll name? Say whedir? Saie whedir, to the deuyll?
What, dastardis, wene ye be wiser than we?
Miles 1
Mi lorde, with youre leue, we neuen it for non ill,
He has mustered his mervayles to mo than to me.
Mi souerayne lorde, yone sauterell he sais
He schall caste doune oure tempill, noyot for to layne,
And dresse it vppe dewly within thre daies
Als wele as it was, full goodely agayne.
Anna
Ya sir, and on oure awne Sabott day96
Thanne werkis he werkis full wele.
Pilate
We, fye on hym, faitour, for ay,98
For thei are darke dedis of the deuyll.
Caiphas
Sir, a noysomemare note newly is noysed100
That greuis me more than any kynne thyng,
He claymes hym clerly till a kyngdome of Jewes
And callis hymselffe oure comeliest kyng.
Pilate
Kyng, in the deuillis name? We, fye on hym, dastard.
What, wenys that woode warlowe ouere-wyn vs thus wightly?
A begger of Bedlem, borne as a bastard?
Nowe by Lucifer, lach I that ladde I leue hym not lightly.
Anna
Sir, the harlotte is at Heroudes hall euyn her at your hande.
Pilate
I sente to hym that warlowe, the deuyll myght hym wery.
Caiphas
It langis to youre lordschippe be lawe of this land
As souerayne youreselffe to sitte of enquery.
Anna
Sir, the traitoure has tolde vs mo trufullis truly112
Wolde tene you full tyte and we you tham tolde.
Pilate
Nowe be Beliall bonis that boy schall abie114
And bring on his bak a burdeyne of golde.
Filius 1
Mi lorde that is ledar of lawis of this lande,116
Ye sente hym yourselfe to Herowde the kyng
And sais, ‘The dome of that doge lies holy in your hande,
To deme hym or lose hym at youre likyng’.
And thus yoe comaunded youre knyghtis for to saie;
For sir Heroude will serche hym full sore,
So that he wende with no wilis away-122
And therfore, my goode lorde, moue you no more.
Caiphas
Nowe certis this was wele saide.124
But sir, wille yoe sese nowe and we schall se syne?
Pilate
Sir Kayphas and Anna, right so nowe I thynke.126
Sittis, in Mahoundis blissing, and aske vs the wyne-
Ye knyghtis of my courte, comaundis vs to drynke.
Judas
Allas for woo that I was wrought129
Or euere I come be kynde or kynne,
I banne the bonys that me furth brought,
Woo worthe the wombe that I bredde ynne.
So may I bidde,
For I so falsely did to hym
That vnto me grete kyndnesse kidde.135
The purse with his spens aboute I bare,
Ther was none trowed so wele as I.
Of me he triste, no man mare,
And I betrayed hym traytourly
With a false trayne.
Sakles I solde his blessid body141
Vnto Jues for to be slayne.
To slaa my souereyne assente I
And tolde them the tyme of his takyng,
Shamously myselfe thus schente I
So sone for to sente to his slayng.
Nowe wiste I howe he myght passe that payne;147
To loke that howe beste bote myght be
Vnto the Jues I will agayne
To saue hym-he myght passe free,
This ware my will.
Lorde, welthe and worschippe mot with yow be.
Pilate
What tythandis, Judas, tellis thou vs till?153
Judas
My tydyngis are tenefull, I telle yoou154
Sir Pilate, therfore I you praye,
My maistir that I gune selle yoou,
Gode lorde, late hym wende on his way.
Caiphas
Nay, nedelyngis Judas, that we denye.158
What mynde or mater has moued the thus?
Judas
Sir, I haue synned full greuously,160
Betraied that rightwisse bloode, Jesus
And maistir myne.
Caiphas
Bewscher, what is that till vs?163
The perill and the plight is thyne.
Thyne is the wronge, thou wroughte it.
Thou hight vs full trulye to take hym,
And oures is the bargayne, we boughte it-
Loo, we are alle sente for to slee hym.
Judas
Allas, that may me rewe full ill169
Giffe yoe assente hym for to slaa.
Pilate
Why, what wolde thou that we did thertill?171
Judas
I praie you goode lorde, late hym gaa,172
And here is of me youre paymente playne.
Caiphas
Naie, we will noght so,174
We bought hym for he schulde be slayne.
To slee hym thiselffe thou assentit,
This wate thou wondirly wele.
What right is nowe to repente it?
Thou schapist thiselffe vnseele.
Anna
Do waie Judas, thou dose for noght,180
Thy wordis I warne the are in waste.
Thyselffe to selle hym whanne thou vs sought,
Thou was agaynste hym thanne the moste
Of vs ilkan.
Caiphas
We schall be venged on hym in haste,185
Whedir that euere he wille or none.
Pilate
Ther wordis that thou nenys noght nedis it,187
Thou onhanged harlott, harke what I saie;
Spare of thy spekyng, noght spedis it,
Or walke oute at the dore in the deuill way.
Judas
Why will ye thanne noyot latte hym passe191
And haue of me agayne youre paie?
Pilate
I telle the traytoure, I wille it noght.193
Judas
Allas, thanne am I lorne194
Bothe bone and bloode.
Allas the while so may I saie,
That euere I sente to spille his bloode.
To saue his bloode sirs, I saie youe,
And takes you thare youre payment hole.
Spare for to spille hym I praye youe,200
Ellis brewe yoe me full mekill bale.
Pilate
Nay, heriste thou Judas, thou schall agayne,202
We will it nouyot. What deuyll art thou?
When thou vs sought thou was full fayne
Of this money. What aylis the nowe
For to repente?
Judas
Agayne sirs here I giffe it you,207
And saue hym that he be noyot schent.
Pilate
To schende hym thyselfe has the schamed,209
Thou may lathe with thi liffe that thou ledis,
Fondely as a false foole thiselffe has famed,
Therfore the deuyll the droune for thy darfe dedis.
Judas
I knawe my trespasse and my gilte,213
It is so grete it garres me grise;
Me is full woo he schulde be spilte,
Might I hym saue of any wise
Wele were me than.
Saue hym sirs-to youre seruise
I will me bynde to be your man.219
Youre bondeman, lorde, to be
Nowe euere will I bynde me.
Sir Pilate, ye may trowe me,
Full faithfull schall yoe fynde me.
Pilate
Fynde the faithfull? A, foule mot the falle224
Or thou come in oure companye,
For by Mahoundes bloode thou wolde selle vs all.
Thi seruice will we noght, forthy
Thou art vnknowen.
Fals tiraunte, for thi traitoury
Thou art worthi to be hanged and drawen.230
Hanged and drawen schulde thou be, knave,
And thou had right, by all goode reasoune.
Thi maistirs bloode thou biddist vs saue
And thou was firste that did hym treasoune.
Judas
I cry yoou mercy lorde, on me rewe,235
This werryd wight that wronge has wrought.
Haue mercy on my maistir trewe
That I haue in youre bandome brought
[…     …]238
Pilate
Goo jape the Judas, and neuen it noght,239
Nor move vs of this matere more.
Anna
No more of this matere thou move the,241
Thou momeland mytyng emell,
Oure poynte expresse her reproues the
Of felonye falsely and felle.
Caiphas
He grucchis noyot to graunte his gilte,245
Why schonnys thou noyot to shewe thi schame?
We bought hym for he schulde be spilte,
All same we were consente to the same
And thiselffe als.
Thou feyned noyot for to defame,
Thou saide he was a traytoure fals.251
Pilate
Yaa, and for a false faitoure252
Thyselffe full fully gon file hym-
O that was a trante of a traytour,
So sone thou schulde goo to begile hym.
Miles 1
What, wolde thou that we lete hym ga,256
Yone weried wight that wrought such wronge?
We will noght lose oure bargayne swaa,
So lightely for to late hym gang.
And reson why?
Latte we that lotterell liffe ought long
It will be fonde, in faith, foly.262
Miles 2
Yone folte, for no fooles schall he fynde vs.263
We wotte all full wele howe it was
His maistir whanne he gune bringe vs,
He praied yow my goode lord late hym not passe.
Pilate
Nay, sertis, he schalle noyot passe free267
That we for oure mony has paied.
Judas
Take it agayne that yoe toke me269
And saue hym fro that bittir braide,
Than were I fayne.
Anna
Itt serues of noght that thou has saide,272
And therfore takis it tyte agayne.
Pilate
Tyte agayne, traytoure, thou take it,274
We wille it noght welde within oure wolde.
Yitt schalte thou noyot, sawterell, thus sune forsake it,
For I schall sers hym myselffe sen thou has hym solde.
Caiphas
Forsake it in faith, that he ne schall,278
For we will halde hym that we haue.
The payment chenys the withall,
The thar no nodir comenaunte craue
[…     …]281
Judas
Sen yoe assente hym for to slaa,282
Vengeaunce I crie on you ilkone.
Ilkane I crie, the deuill fordo youe,
And that myghte I both here and see.
Herde heuenyng here I wnto youe,
For sorowe onsought ye on me se.
Caiphas
Whe, fye on the, traytoure attaynte, at this tyde,288
Of treasoune thou tyxste hym that triste the for trewe.
Do buske the henne, brothell, no lenger thou abide,
For if thou do, all thi respouns sare schall the rewe.
Say, wote thou noght who is I?
Nowe be my nociens, myght I negh nere the,
In certayne, ladde, yitt schulde I lere the294
To lordis to speke curtaisely.
Pilate
Go thy gatis, geddlyng, and greue vs no more.296
Leffe of thi talke, the deuill mot the hange.
Judas
That att yoe toke me, take it you there,298
Ther with youre maistrie make yowe emange
And clayme it you clene,
Me lathes with my liff, so liffe I to lang,
My traitourfull torne he turment my tene.
Sen for my treasoune haue I tane vnto me,
Me thare aske no mercy, for none mon Y gete.304
Therfore in haste myselffe schall fordo me,
Allas the harde while that euere ete I meete.
Thus schall I marke my mytyng meede
And wirke me wreke with harte and will,
To spille myselffe nowe wille I spede,
For sadly haue I seruyd thertill.310
So walaway
That euere I was in witte or wille
That tristy trewe for to betraye.
Allas, who may I meue to,
Shall I me take non othir reede?
Miselffe in haste I schall fordoo316
And take me nowe vnto my dede.
Caiphas
Haue done nowe sir Pilate, late se what yoe saie318
As touchyng this money that we here haue,
That Judas in a wreth has wauyd away
And keste vs crabbidly, that cursed knave.
How saie yoe therby?
Anna
Sir, sen he it slang we schall it saue.323
Caiphas
Tite truste it tille oure tresorie.324
Pilate
Nay sir, noght soo.325
Caiphas
Why sir, how than?325
Pilate
Sir, it schall nouyot combre vs nor come in oure corbonan.
Caiphas
No, tille oure tresory certayne farther schall it nought.
Pilate
And se youreselffe soth certayne and skill328
It is price of the bloode that we with it boght,
Therfore some othir poynte I purpose it till,
And thus I deuyse:
A spotte of erthe for to by wayte nowe I will,
To berie in pilgrimes that by the wey dies.
Pilgrimes and palmeres to putte there-334
Sir Kaiphas and Anna, assente yoe therto?-
And othere false felons that we forfare.
Anna
As yoe deme lorde, so wille we doo.337
Armiger
Hayle sir Pilate perles, and prince of this empire,
Haile the gaiest on grounde in golde ther yoe glide,
Haile the louffeliest lorde of lyme and of lyre,
And all the soferans semely that sittith the beside.
Pilate
What wolde thou?342
Armiger
A worde lorde, and wende.342
Pilate
Nowe thou arte welcome iwisse.343
But delyuere the lightly withouten any lette,
We haue no tome all day to tente onto the.
Armiger
A place here-beside lorde wolde I wedde-sette.346
Pilate
What title has thou therto? Is it thyne awne free?347
Armiger
Lorde, fre be my fredome me fallis it,348
This tale is full trewe that I telle yoou,
And Caluary-locus men callis it.
I wolle it wedde-sette, but not for to selle yoou.
Pilate
What wolde thou borowe, bewshire? Belyve late me se.
Armiger
If it ware youre lekyng, my lorde, for to lene it,353
xxxti pens I wolde yoe lente onto me.
Caiphas
Yis bewshire, that schall thou haue.355
Pilate
Shewe vs thi dedis and haue here thi mony.356
Armiger
Haue her gode lord, but loke yoe thame saue.357
Pilate
Yis certis, we schall saue thame full soundely,358
And ellis do we noght dewly oure deuere.
Faste, freke, for thy faith, on thy fote fonde the,
For fro this place, bewschere, I soile the foreuere.
Armiger
Now sorowe on such socoure as I haue soght,362
For all my tresoure thurgh tresoune I tyne.
I tyne it vntrewly by tresoune,
Therfore nowe my way will I wende,
For yoe do me no right nor no resoune
I betake you all to the fende.
Pilate
Nowe certis we are serued att all,368
This place is purchesed full propirly.
The Felde of Bloode loke yoe it call,
I you comaunde ilkone forthy.
Caiphas
Sir, as yoe comaunde vs call it schall we soo.372
But my lorde, with youre leue, we may lende her no lengar,
But faste late vs founde to fang on oure foo,
Yone gedlyng ongodly has brewed vs grete angir.
Anna
Do way sir busshoppe, and be not abaste,376
For loste is all oure lekyng, lepe he so light.
Caiphas
Nay sir, he schall not trusse so tite, and that be yoe traste,
For it wynnes vs no worschippe the werkis of yone wight,
But grete angir.
Forthy late vs dresse vs his deth for to dite,
And late we this lotterell leue her no lengar.
Pilate
Sir Kayphas, thurgh counsaile comaunde we our knyghtis
To wacche on yone warlowe what way that he wendis.
Do dresse yoou nowe dewly, to yone doderon yoou dightis
And lette noyot to laite hym in lande where he lendis,
Nor leuys hym noyot lightly.
Miles 2
In faith we schall fette hym full farre fro his frendis.
Pilate
Nowe walkis on in the wanyand and wende youre way wightely.

The Tilemakers' Play: Christ Before Pilate 2: The JudgementContents

Pilate
Lordyngis that are lymett to the lare of my liaunce,
Ye schappely schalkes and schene for to schawe,
I charge yoou as yoour chiftan that yoe chatt for no chaunce,
But loke to youre lord here and lere at my lawe-
As a duke I may dampne yoou and drawe.
Many bernys bolde are aboute me,
And what knyght or knave I may knawe7
That list noyot as a lord for to lowte me,
I sall lere hym
In the deueles name, that dastard, to dowte me-
Ya, who werkis any werkes withoute me,
I sall charge hym in chynes to chere hym.
Tharfore yoe lusty ledes within this lenght lapped,
Do stynte of yooure stalkyng and of stoutnes be stalland.
What traytoure his tong with tales has trapped,
That fende for his flateryng full foull sall be falland.
What broll ouere-brathely is bralland
Or vnsoftely will sege in ther sales,
That caysteffe thus carpand and calland19
As a boy sall be broght vnto bales.
Therfore
Talkes not nor trete not of tales,
For that gome that gyrnes or gales,
I myself sall hym hurte full sore.
Anna
Ye sall sytt hym full sore, what sege will assay yoou;
If he like not youre lordshippe, that ladde, sall yoe lere hym
As a pereles prince full prestly to pay yoou,
Or as a derworth duke with dyntes sall yoe dere hym.
Caiphas
Yaa, in faythe yoe haue force for to fere hym,29
Thurgh youre manhede and myght bes he marred.
No chyualrus chiftan may chere hym
Fro that churll with charge yoe haue charred
[…     …]32
In pynyng payne bees he parred.
Anna
Yaa, and with schath of skelpys yll scarred34
Fro tyme that youre tene he haue tasted.
Pilate
Now certes, as me semes, whoso sadly has soght yoou,
Youre praysyng is prophetable yoe prelates of pees.
Gramercy yooure goode worde, and vngayne sall it noyot you
That yoe will say the sothe and for no sege cese.
Caiphas
Elles were it pité we appered in this prees-
But consayue how yooure knyghtes ere command.
Anna
Ya my lord, that leve yoe no lese,42
I can telle you yoou tydes sum tythand
Ful sadde.
Pilate
Se, they bring yooone brolle in a bande.45
We sall here nowe hastely at hand
What vnhappe before Herowde he had.
Miles 1
Hayll louelyest lorde that euere lawe led yoitt,48
Hayll semelyest vndre sylke on euere ilka syde,
Hayll stateliest on stede in strenghe that is sted yoitt,
Hayll liberall, hayll lusty to lordes allied.
Pilate
Welcome, what tydandis this tyde?52
Late no langgage lightly nowe lette yoou.
Miles 2
Sir Herowde ser, it is noght to hyde,54
As his gud frende grathely he grete yowe
Foreuere.
In what manere that euere he mete yoou,
By hymselfe full sone wille he sette yoou
And sais that yoe sall not disseuer.
Pilate
I thanke hym full thraly; and ser, I saie hym the same-
But what meruelous materes dyd this myron ther mell?
Miles 1
For all the lordis langage his lipps, ser, wer lame;
For any spirringes in that space no speche walde he spell,
Bot domme as a dore gon he dwell.
Thus no faute in hym gon he fynde,
For his dedis to deme hym to qwell,
Nor in bandis hym brathely to bynde;
And thus68
He sente hym to youreself, and assynde
That we, youre knyghtis, suld be clenly enclyned
And tyte with hym to you to trus.
Pilate
Syrs, herkens, here yoe not what we haue oppon hand?
Loo howe there knyghtes carpe that to the kyng cared.
Syr Herowde, thai say, no faute in me fand,
He fest me to his frenschippe, so frendly he fared,
Moreover sirs, he spake-and noght spared-
Full gentilly to Jesu, this Jewe,
And sithen to ther knyghtis declared78
How fawtes in hym fande he but fewe
To dye.
He taste hym, I telle yoou for trewe,
For to dere hym he demed vndewe,
And sirs, ye sothly saie I.
Caiphas
Sir Pilate oure prince, we prelatis nowe pray yoou84
Sen Herowde fraysted no ferther this faitour to flaye,
Resayue in yoour sall ther sawes that I saie yoou.
Late bryng hym to barre and at his berde sall we baye.
Anna
Ya, for and he wende thus by wiles away88
I wate wele he wirke will vs wondre.
Oure menyoé he marres that he may,
With his seggynges he settes tham in sondre,
With synne;
With his blure he bredis mekill blondre.
Whills yoe haue hym nowe haldes hym vndir-94
We sall wery hym away yf he wynne.
Caiphas
Sir, no tyme is to tarie this traytour to taste.96
Agayne ser Cesar hymselfe he segges, and saies
All the wightis in this world wirkis in waste
That takis hym any tribute-thus his teching outrayes.
Yitt forther he feynes slik affraies,
And sais that hymself is God son.
And ser, oure lawe leggis and layes102
In what faytour falsed is fon
Suld be slayne.
Pilate
For no schame hym to shende will we shon.105
Anna
Sir, witnesse of this wanes may be wonne,106
That will telle this withowten any trayne.
Caiphas
I can reken a rable of renkes full right,108
Of perte men in prese fro this place ar I pas,
That will witnesse, I warande, the wordis of this wight,
How wikkidly wrought that this wrecche has:
Simon, Yarus and Judas,
Datan and Gamaliell,
Neptalim, Leui and Lucas,114
And Amys this maters can mell
Togithere.
Ther tales for trewe can they telle
Of this faytour that false is and felle,
And in legyng of lawes ful lithre.
Pilate
Ya, tussch for youre tales, thai touche not entente.
Ther witnesse I warande that to witnesse yoe wage,
Some hatred in ther hartis agaynes hym haue hent
And purpose be this processe to putt doun this page.
Caiphas
Sir, in faith vs fallith not to fage,124
Thai are trist men and true that we telle yoou.
Pilate
Youre swering, seris, swiftely yoe swage,126
And no more in this maters ye mell yoou
I charge.
Anna
Sir, dispise not this speche that we spell you.129
Pilate
If yoe feyne slike frawdis I sall felle yoou,130
For me likis noght youre langage so large.
Caiphas
Oure langage is to large, but yooure lordshipp releue vs.
Yitt we both beseke you late brynge hym to barre;
What poyntes that we putte forth latt your presence appreue vs-
Ye sall here how this harlott heldes out of herre.
Pilate
Ya, butt be wise, witty, and warre.136
Anna
Yis sir, drede yoou noyot for nothyng we doute hym.
Pilate
Fecche hym, he is noght right ferre-138
Do bedell, buske the abowte hym.
Preco
I am fayne140
My lorde for to lede hym or lowte hym.
Vncleth hym, clappe hym and clowte hym
If yoe bid me I am buxhome and bayne.
Knyghtis, yoe er commaundid with this caityf to care,
And bryng hym to barre, and so my lord badd.
Miles 1
Is this thy messege?146
Preco
Ya sir.146
Miles 1
Than moue the no mare,146
For we ar light for to leppe and lede forthe this ladd.
Miles 2
Do steppe furth; in striffe ert thou stadde,148
I vphalde full euyll has the happed.
Miles 1
O man, thy mynde is full madde,150
In oure clukis to be clowted and clapped
And closed.
Miles 2
Thou bes lassched, lusschyd and lapped.153
Miles 1
Ya, rowted, russhed and rapped,154
Thus thy name with noye sall be noysed.
Miles 2
Loo this sege her, my souerayne, that yoe for sente.
Pilate
Wele, stirre noyot fro that stede, but stande stille thare.
Bot he schappe som shrewdnesse with shame bese he shente,
And I will frayst in faith to frayne of his fare.
Caiphas
We! Outte! Stande may I noyot, so I stare.160
Anna
Ya, harrowe of this traytour with tene.161
Pilate
Say renkes, what rewth gars you rare?162
Er ye woode or wittles I wene?
What eyles yoou?
Caiphas
Out, slike a sight suld be sene.165
Anna
Ya, allas, conquered ar we clene.166
Pilate
We, ere yoe fonde, or youre force fayles yoou?167
Caiphas
A, ser, saugh yoe noyot this sight, how that ther schaftes schuke,
And thez baneres to this brothel thai bowde all on brede?
Anna
Ya, ther cursed knyghtes by crafte lete them croke170
To worshippe this warlowe vnworthy in wede.
Pilate
Was it dewly done thus indede?172
Caiphas
Ya, yoa sir, oureselfe we it sawe.173
Pilate
We, spitte on them, ill mott thai spede-174
Say dastardes, the deuyll mote yoou drawe,
How dar yoe
Ther baners on brede that her blawe
Lat lowte to this lurdan so lawe?
O faytouris, with falshed how fare yoe?
Miles 3
We beseke you and tho seniouris beside yoou sir sitte,
With none of oure gouernaunce to be greuous and gryll,
For it lay not in oure lott ther launces to lett,
And this werke that we haue wrought it was not oure will.
Pilate
Thou lise-harstow lurdan?-full ille.184
Wele thou watte if thou witnes it walde.
Miles 4
Sir, oure strengh myght noyot stabill tham stille,186
They hilded for ought we couthe halde,
Oure vnwittyng.
Miles
For all oure fors in faith did thai folde189
As this warlowe worschippe thai wolde-
And vs semid, forsoth, it vnsittyng.
Caiphas
A, vnfrendly faytours, full fals is youre fable,192
This segge with his suttelté to his seett hath you sesid.
Miles 6
Ye may say what you semes ser, bot ther standerdes to stabill
What freyke hym enforces full foull sall he be fesid.
Anna
Be the deuyllis nese, yoe ar doggydly diseasid-196
A, henne-harte, ill happe mot yoou hente.
Pilate
For a whapp so he whyned and whesid,198
And yoitt no lasshe to the lurdan was lente.
Foul fall yoou.
Miles 3
Sir, iwisse no wiles we haue wente.201
Pilate
Shamefully yoou satt to be shente,202
Here combred caystiffes I call yoou.
Miles 4
Sen yoou lykis not, my lord, oure langage to leve,204
Latte bryng the biggest men that abides in this land
Propirly in youre presence ther pousté to preve;
Beholde that they helde nott fro thei haue thaim in hand.
Pilate
Now yoe er ferdest that euere I fand,208
Fy on youre faynte hertis in feere.
Stir the, no langer thou stande
Thou bedell, this bodworde thou bere
Thurgh this towne,
The wyghtest men vnto were
And the strangest ther standerdis to stere,214
Hider blithely bid tham be bowne.
Preco
My souerayne, full sone sall be serued youre sawe,216
I sall bryng to ther baneres right bigg men and strange.
A company of keuellis in this contré I knawe
That grete ere and grill, to the gomes will I gange.
Say, ye ledis botht lusty and lange,
Ye most passe to ser Pilate apace.
Miles 1
If we wirke not his wille it wer wrang,222
We ar redy to renne on a race
And rayke.
Preco
Then tarie not, but tryne on a trace225
And folow me fast to his face.
Miles 2
Do lede vs, vs lykes wele this lake.227
Preco
Lorde, here are the biggest bernes that bildis in this burgh,
Most stately and strange if with strenght thai be streyned.
Leve me ser, I lie not, to loke this lande thurgh,
Thai er myghtiest men with manhode demened.
Pilate
Wate thou wele, or ellis has thou wenyd?232
Preco
Sir, I wate wele withoute wordis moo.233
Caiphas
In thy tale be not taynted nor tenyd.234
Preco
We, nay ser, why shuld I be soo?235
Pilate
Wele than,236
We sall frayst or they founde vs fer fro
To what game thai begynne for to go.
Sir Cayphas, declare tham yoe can.
Caiphas
Ye lusty ledis, nowe lith to my lare,240
Schappe yoou to ther schaftis that so schenely her schyne.
If yoon baners bowe the brede of an hare
Platly yoe be putte to perpetuell pyne.
Miles 1
I sall holde this as even as a lyne.244
Anna
Whoso schakis with schames he shendes.245
Miles 2
I, certayne I saie as for myne,246
Whan it sattles or sadly discendis
Whare I stande-
When it wryngis or wronge it wendis,
Outher bristis, barkis, or bendes-
Hardly lat hakke of myn hande.
Pilate
Sirs, waites to ther wightis that no wiles be wrought,
Thai are burely and brode, thare bost haue thai blowen.
Anna
To neven of that nowe ser it nedis right noght,254
For who curstely hym quytes he sone sall be knawen.
Caiphas
Ya, that dastard to dede sall be drawen,256
Whoso fautis he fouly sall falle.
Pilate
Nowe knyghtis, sen the cokkis has crowen,258
Haue hym hense with hast fra this halle
His wayes.
Do stiffely steppe on this stalle,
Make a crye, and cantely thou call
Euene like as ser Annay the sais.
Anna
Oyes. Jesu, thou Jewe of gentill Jacob kynne,264
Thou nerthrist of Nazareth, now neuend is thi name.
Alle creatures the accuses. We commaunde the comme in
And aunswer to thin enemys; deffende now thy fame.
Caiphas
We! Out! We are shente alle for shame,268
This is wrasted all wrange as I wene.
Anna
For all ther boste yoone boyes are to blame.270
Pilate
Slike a sight was neuere yoit sene.271
Come sytt,
My comforth was caught fro me clene-
I vpstritt, I me myght noyot abstene
To wirschip hym in wark and in witte.
Caiphas
Therof meruayled we mekill what moued yoou in mynde
In reuerence of this ribald so rudely to ryse.
Pilate
I was past all my powre thogh I payned me and pynd,
I wrought not as I wolde in no maner of wise.
Bot syrs, my spech wele aspise:
Wightly his wayes late hym wende,
Thus my dome will dewly deuyse,
For I am ferde hym in faith to offende
In sightes.284
Anna
Than oure lawe were laght till an ende285
To his tales if yoe treuly attende-
He enchaunted and charmed oure knyghtis.
Caiphas
Be his sorcery, ser-youreselffe the soth sawe-288
He charmed oure chyualers and with myscheffe enchaunted.
To reuerence hym ryally we rase all on rowe;
Doutles we endure not of this dastard be daunted.
Pilate
Why, what harmes has this hatell here haunted?292
I kenne to convyk hym no cause.
Anna
To all gomes he God son hym graunted294
And liste not to leve on oure lawes.
Pilate
Say man,296
Consayues thou noyot what comberous clause
That this clargye accusyng the knawse?
Speke, and excuse the if thou can.
Jesus
Euery man has a mouthe that made is on molde300
In wele and in woo to welde at his will,
If he gouerne it gudly like as God wolde
For his spirituale speche hym thar not to spill.
And what gome so gouerne it ill,
Full vnhendly and ill sall he happe;
Of ilk tale thou talkis vs vntill306
Thou accounte sall, thou can not escappe.
Pilate
Sirs myne,308
Ye fonne in faithe, all the frappe,
For in this lede no lese can I lappe
Nor no poynte to putt hym to pyne.
Caiphas
Withoute cause ser we come not this carle to accuse hym,
And that will we yoe witt as wele is worthy.
Pilate
Now I recorde wele the right yoe will no rathere refuse hym
To he be dreuen to his dede and demed to dye;
But takes hym vnto you forthé,
And like as youre lawe will you lere,
Deme yoe his body to abye.
Anna
O, sir Pilate withouten any pere,319
Do way,
Ye wate wele withouten any were
Vs falles not, nor oure felowes in feere,
To slo no man-youreself the soth say..
Pilate
Why suld I deme to dede than withoute deseruyng in dede?
But I haue herde al haly why in hertes yoe hym hate.
He is fautles, in faith, and so God mote me spede
I graunte hym my gud will to gang on his gate.
Caiphas
Nought so ser, for wele yoe it wate,328
To be kyng he claymeth, with croune,
And whoso stoutely will steppe to that state
Ye suld deme ser, to be dong doune
And dede.
Pilate
Sir, trulye that touched to treasoune,333
And or I remewe he rewe sall that reasoune,
And or I stalke or stirre fro this stede.
Sir knyghtis that ar comly, take this caystiff in keping,
Skelpe hym with scourges and with skathes hym scorne.
Wrayste and wrynge hym to, for wo to he be wepyng,
And than bryng hym before vs as he was beforne.339
Miles 1
He may banne the tyme he was borne,340
Sone sall he be serued as yoe saide vs.
Anna
Do wappe of his wedis that are worne.342
Miles 2
All redy ser, we haue arayde vs.343
Haue done,
To this broll late vs buske vs and brayde vs
As ser Pilate has propirly prayde vs.
Miles 3
We sall sette to hym sadly sone.347
Miles 4
Late vs gete of his gere, God giffe hym ille grace.
Miles 1
Thai ere tytt of tite lo, take ther his trasshes.349
Miles 3
Nowe knytte hym in this corde.350
Miles 2
I am cant in this case.350
Miles 4
He is bun faste-nowe bete on with bittir brasshis.351
Miles 1
Go on, lepis, haryoé lordingis, with lasshes,
And enforce we, this faitour, to flay hym.
Miles 2
Late vs driffe to hym derfly with dasshes,354
Alle rede with oure rowtes we aray hym
And rente hym.
Miles 3
For my parte I am prest for to pay hym.357
Miles 4
Ya, sende hym sorow, assaye hym.358
Miles 1
Take hym that I haue tome for to tente hym.359
Miles 2
Swyng to this swyre to swiftely he swete.360
Miles 3
Swete may this swayne for sweght of our swappes.361
Miles 4
Russhe on this rebald and hym rathely rehete.362
Miles 1
Rehete hym I rede you with rowtes and rappes.363
Miles 2
For all oure noy this nygard he nappes.364
Miles 3
We sall wakken hym with wynde of oure whippes.365
Miles 4
Nowe flynge to this flaterer with flappes.366
Miles 1
I sall hertely hitte on his hippes367
And haunch.
Miles 2
Fra oure skelpes not scatheles he skyppes.369
Miles 3
Yitt hym list not lyft vp his lippis370
And pray vs to haue pety on his paunch.
Miles 4
To haue petie of his paunche he propheres no prayere.
Miles 1
Lorde, how likes you this lake and this lare that we lere yoou?
Miles 2
Lo, I pull at his pilche, I am prowd payere.374
Miles 3
Thus youre cloke sall we cloute to clence you and clere yoou.
Miles 4
I am straunge in striffe for to stere yoou.376
Miles 1
Thus with choppes this churll sall we chastye.377
Miles 2
I trowe with this trace we sall tere you.378
Miles 3
All thin vntrew techyngis thus taste I,379
Thou tarand.
Miles 4
I hope I be hardy and hasty.381
Miles 1
I wate wele my wepon not wast I.382
Miles 2
He swounes or sweltes I swarand.383
Miles 3
Late vs louse hym lightyly, do lay on your handes.384
Miles 4
Ya, for and he dye for this dede vndone ere we all.
Miles 1
Nowe vnboune is this broll and vnbraced his bandes.
Miles 2
O fule, how faris thou now? Foull mott the fall!387
Miles 3
Nowe because he oure kyng gon hym call388
We will kyndely hym croune with a brere.
Miles 4
Ya, but first this purpure and palle390
And this worthy wede sall he were,
For scorne.
Miles 1
I am prowd at this poynte to apper.393
Miles 2
Latte vs clethe hym in ther clothes full clere,394
As a lorde that his lordshippe has lorne.
Miles 3
Lange or thou mete slike a menyoé as thou mett with this morne.
Miles 4
Do sette hym in this sete as a semely in sales.397
Miles 1
Now thryng to hym thrally with this thikk thorne.398
Miles 2
Lo, it heldes to his hede that the harnes out hales.
Miles 3
Thus we teche hym to tempre his tales-400
His brayne begynnes for to blede.
Miles 4
Ya, his blondre has hym broght to ther bales.402
Now reche hym and raught hym in a rede
So rounde,
For his septure it serues indede.
Miles 1
Ya, it is gode inowe in this nede,406
Late vs gudly hym grete on this grounde.
Aue, riall roy and rex judeorum,
Hayle, comely kyng that no kyngdom has kende.
Hayll vndughty duke, thi dedis ere dom,
Hayll, man vnmyghty thi menyoé to mende.
Miles 3
Hayll, lord without lande for to lende,412
Hayll kyng, hayll knave vnconand.
Miles 4
Hayll, freyke without forse the to fende,414
Hayll strang, that may not wele stand
To stryve.
Miles 1
We, harlott, heve vp thy hande,417
And vs all that the wirschip are wirkand
Thanke vs, ther ill mot thou thryve.
Miles 2
So late lede hym belyve and lenge her no lenger,420
To ser Pilate oure prince oure pride will we prayse.
Miles 3
Ya, he may synge or he slepe of sorowe and angir,422
For many derfe dedes he has done in his dayes.
Miles 4
Now wightly late wende on oure wayes,424
Late vs trusse vs, no tyme is to tarie.
Miles 1
My lorde, will yoe listen oure layes?426
Here this boy is yoe bade vs go bary
With battis.
Miles 2
We ar combered his corpus for to cary,429
Many wightis on hym wondres and wary-
Lo, his flessh al beflapped that fat is.
Pilate
Wele, bringe hym before vs as he blisshes all bloo;
I suppose of his seggyng he will cese euermore.
Sirs, beholde vpon hight and ecce homoo
Thus bounden and bette and broght you before.
Me semes that it sewes hym full sore,
For his gilte on this grounde is he greuyd;
If yoou like for to listen my lore438
[…     …]438
In race
[…     …]439
Pilate
For propirly by this processe will I preve440
I had no force fro this felawshippe this freke for to fende.
Preco
Here is al, ser that yoe for sende.442
Wille yoe wasshe whill the watir is hote?
Pilate
Nowe this Barabas bandes yoe vnbende,444
With grace late hym gange on his gate
Where yoe will.
Barabas
Ye worthy men that I here wate,447
God encrece all youre comely estate
For the grace yoe haue graunt me vntill.
Pilate
Here the jugement of Jesu, all Jewes in this stede:
Crucifie hym on a crosse and on Caluerye hym kill.
I dampne hym today to dy this same dede,
Therfore hyngis hym on hight vppon that high hill.
And on aythir side hym I will
That a harlott yoe hyng in this hast-
Methynkith it both reasoune and skill456
Emyddis, sen his malice is mast,
Ye hyng hym;
Then hym turmente, som tene for to tast.
Mo wordis I will not nowe wast,
But blynne not to dede to yoe bryng hym.
Caiphas
Sir, vs semys in oure sight that yoe sadly has saide.
Now knyghtis that are conant with this catyf yoe care,
The liffe of this losell in youre list is it laide.
Miles 1
Late vs one my lorde, and lere vs na lare.465
Siris, sette to hym sadly and sare,
All in cordis his coorse vmbycast.
Miles 2
Late vs bynde hym in bandis all bare.468
Miles 3
Here is one, full lange will it laste.469
Miles 4
Lay on hande here.470
Miles
I powll to my poure is past.471
Nowe feste is he felawes, ful fast;
Late vs stere vs, we may not long stand here.
Anna
Drawe hym faste hense, delyuere yoou, haue done.474
Go, do se hym to dede withoute lenger delay,
For dede bus hym be nedlyng be none.
All myrthe bus vs move tomorne that we may,
Itt is sothly oure grette Sabott day-
No dede bodis vnberid sall be.
Miles 6
We see wele the soth yoe vs say.480
We sall traylle hym tyte to his tree,
Thus talkand.
Miles 4
Farewele, now wightely wende we.483
Pilate
Nowe certis yoe are a manly menyoe,484
Furth in the wylde wanyand be walkand.

The Shearmen's Play: The Road to CalvaryContents

Miles 1
Pees, barnes and bachillers that beldis here aboute,
Stirre noyot ones in this stede but stonde stone stille,
Or be the lorde that I leue on I schall gar you lowte.
But yoe spare when I speke youre speche schall I spille
Smertely and sone,
For I am sente fro sir Pilate with pride
To lede this ladde oure lawes to abide,7
He getis no bettir bone.
Therfore I comaunde you on euere ilke a side,
Vppon payne of enprisonment that no man appere
To suppowle this traytoure, be tyme ne be tyde,
[…     …]11
Noght one of this prees,
Nor noght ones so hardy for to enquere,
But helpe me holly alle that are here
This kaitiffe care to encrees.
Therfore make rome and rewle you nowe right,
That we may with this weried wight17
Wightely wende on oure waye.
He napped noght of all this nyght,
And this daye schall his deth be dight-
Latte see who dare saie naye?
Because tomorne is prouyde
For oure dere Sabbott day,23
We wille no mysse be moued,
But mirthe in all that euere men may.
We haue bene besie all this morne
To clothe hym and to croune with thorne,
As falles for a fole kyng,
And nowe methynkith oure felawes skorne,29
They highte to haue ben here this morne
This faitour forthe to bring.
To nappe nowe is noyot goode-
We, howe! High myght he hyng!
Miles 2
Pees man, for Mahoundes bloode,34
Why make yoe such crying?
Miles 1
Why, wotte thou noght als wele as I,36
This carle burde vnto Caluery
And there on crosse be done?
Miles 2
Sen dome is geuen that he schall dy39
Late calle to vs more companye,
And ellis we erre oure-fone.
Miles 1
Oure gere behoues to be grayde42
And felawes sammed sone,
For sir Pilate has saide
Hym bus be dede be none.
Where is sir Wymond, wotte thou oght?
Miles 2
He wente to garre a crosse be wroght47
To bere this cursed knave.
Miles 1
That wolde I sone wer hyder broght,49
For sithen schall othir gere be soght
That vs behoues to haffe.
Miles 2
Vs bus haue sties and ropes52
To rugge hym tille he raue,
And nayles and othir japes
If we oureselue wille saue.
Miles 1
To tarie longe vs were full lathe,56
But Wymond come it is in wathe
But we be blamed all three.
We, howe, sir Wymond wayteskathe.
Miles 2
We, howe, sir Wymond, howe.60
Miles 3
I am here-what saie yoe bathe?60
Why crye yoe so on me?
I haue bene garre make
This crosse, as yhe may see,
Of that laye ouere the lake-
Men called it the kyngis tree.
Miles 1
Nowe sekirly I thought the same,66
For that balke will no man vs blame
To cutte it for the kyng.
Miles 2
This karle has called hym kyng at hame,69
And sen this tre has such a name
It is accordyng thyng
That his rigge on it may reste,
For skorne and for hethyng.
Miles 3
Methoughte it semyd beste74
Tille this bargayne to bryng.
Miles 1
It is wele warred, so motte I spede,76
And it be lele in lenghe and brede
Than is this space wele spende.
Miles 3
To loke theraftir it is no nede,79
I toke the mesure or I yode,
Bothe for the fette and hende.
Miles 2
Beholde howe it is boorede82
Full euen at ilke an ende.
This werke will wele accorde,
It may not be amende.
Miles 3
Nay, I haue ordande mekill more,86
Yaa, thes theues are sente before
That beside hym schall hyng.
And sties also are ordande thore
With stalworthe steeles as mystir wore,
Bothe some schorte and some lang.
Miles 1
For hameres and nayles92
Latte see sone who schall gang.
Miles 2
Here are bragges that will noght faile,94
Of irnne and stele full strange.
Miles 3
Thanne is it as it aweth to bee-96
But whiche of yowe schall beere this tree,
Sen I haue broughte it hedir?
Miles 1
Be my feithe, bere it schall hee99
That theron hanged sone schall bee,
And we schall teeche hym whedir.
Miles 2
Vppon his bakke it schalle be laide,102
For sone we schall come thedir.
Miles 3
Loke that oure gere be grayede104
And go we all togedir.
John
Allas for my maistir that moste is of myght,106
That yoister-even late, with lanternes light,
Before the busshoppe was brought.
Bothe Petir and I we saugh that sight
And sithen we wente oure wayes full wight,
When the Jewes wondirly wrought.
At morne thei toke to rede112
And soteltes vpsoght,
And demed hym to be dede
That to tham trespassed noght.
Allas for syte what schall I saie?
My worldly welthe is wente for ay,
In woo euere may I wende.118
My maistir that neuere lakke in lay
Is demed to be dede this day,
Ewen in hys elmys hende.
Allas for my maistir mylde
That all mennys mysse may mende,
Shulde so falsely be filed124
And no frendis hym to fende.
Allas for his modir and othir moo,
Mi modir and hir sisteres alsoo,
Sittes samen with sighyngis sore.
Thai wate nothyng of all this woo,
Forthy to warne tham will I goo130
Sen I may mende no more.
Sen he schall dye as tyte
And thei vnwarned wore,
I ware worthy to wite-
I will go faste therfore.
But in myn herte grete drede haue I136
That his modir for dole schall dye,
When she see ones that sight.
But certis I schal not wande forthy
To warne that carefull company
Or he to dede be dight.
[…     …]141
Sen he fro vs will twynne
I schall the neuere forsake.
Allas the tyme and tyde,
I watte wele the day is come
That are was specified
Of prophete Symeoun in prophicie:147
The swerde of sorowe schulde renne
Thurghoute the herte, sotelly.
Maria 2
Allas this is a sithfull sight,150
He that was euere luffely and light
And lorde of high and lawe,
Oo, doulfully nowe is he dight.
In worlde is none so wofull a wighte
Ne so carefull to knawe.
Thei that he mended moste156
In dede and als in sawe,
Now haue they full grete haste
To dede hym for to drawe.
Jesus
Doughteres of Jerusalem cytté,160
Sees, and mournes no more for me,
But thynkes vppon this thyng:
For youreselfe mourne schall yoee,
And for the sonnes that borne schal be
Of yowe, bothe olde and yonge.
For such fare schall befalle,166
That yoe schall giffe blissyng
To barayne bodies all,
That no barnes forthe may brynge.
For certis yoe schall see suche a day,
That with sore sighyng schall yoe saye
Vnto the hillis on highte,172
‘Falle on vs mountaynes, and yoe may,
And couere vs fro that felle affraye
That on vs sone schall light’.
Turnes home the toune vntill,
Sen yoe haue seen this sight.
It is my fadirs will,178
Alle that is done and dighte.
Maria 3
Allas, this is a cursed cas.180
He that alle hele in his hande has
Shall here be sakles slayne.
A, lorde, beleue lete clense thy face-
Behalde howe he hath schewed his grace,
Howe he is moste of mayne!
This signe schalle bere witnesse186
Vnto all pepull playne,
Howe Goddes sone here gilteles
Is putte to pereles payne.
Miles 1
Saie, wherto bide yoe here aboute?190
Thare quenys with ther skymeryng and ther schoute
Wille noght ther stevenis steere.
Miles 2
Go home casbalde, with thi clowte,193
Or be that lorde we loue and loute,
Thou schall abye full dere.
Maria 3
This signe schall vengeaunce calle196
On yowe holly in feere.
Miles 3
Go, hye the hense withalle,198
Or ille hayle come thou here.
John
Lady, youre gretyng greues me sore.200
Mary
John, helpe me nowe and eueremore,201
That I myght come hym tille.
John
My lady, wende we forthe before,203
To Caluery when yoe come thore
Than schall yoe saie what yoe will.
Miles 1
What a deuyll is this to saye,206
How longe schall we stande stille?
Go, hye you hens awaye,
In the deuylis name, doune the hill.
Miles 2
Ther quenes vs comeres with ther clakke.210
He schall be serued for ther sake,
With sorowe and with sore.
Miles 3
And thei come more such noyse to make,213
We schall garre lygge thame in the lake
Yf thei were halfe a skore.
Miles 1
Latis nowe such bourdyng be.216
Sen oure tooles are before,
This traitoure and this tree
Wolde I full fayne were thore.
Miles 2
We schall no more so stille be stedde,220
For nowe ther quenes are fro vs fledde
That falsely wolde vs feere.
Miles 3
Methynkith this boy is so forbledde223
With this ladde may he noght be ledde;
He swounes, that dare I swere.
Miles 1
It nedis noyot harde to harle226
Sen it dose hym slike dere.
Miles 2
I se here comes a karle228
Shall helpe hym for to bere.
Miles 3
That schall yoe see sone one assaye.230
Goode man, whedir is thou away?
Thou walkis as thou were wrothe.
Simon
Sir, I haue a grete journay233
That bus be done this same day,
Or ellis it may do skathe.
Miles 1
Thou may with litill payne236
Eease thyselffe and vs bathe.
Simon
Goode sirs, that wolde I fayne,238
But to dwelle were me lathe.
Miles 2
Nay beuscher, thou schall sone be spedde,240
Loo here a ladde that muste be ledde
For his ille dedis to dye.
Miles 3
And he is brosid and all forbledde,243
That makis vs here thus stille be stedde.
We pray the sir, forthy,
That thou wilte take this tree
And bere it to Caluerye.
Simon
Goode sirs, that may nouyot be,248
For full grete haste haue I.
My wayes are lang and wyde,
And I may noght abide
For drede I come to late,
For sureté haue I hight
Muste be fulfillid this nyght,254
Or it will paire my state.
Therfore sirs, by youre leue,
Methynkith I dwelle full lang.
Me were loth you for to greue-
Goode sirs, yoe late me gang,
No lenger here now may I wone.260
Miles 1
Nay, certis, thou schalte noyot go so sone261
For ought that thou can saye.
This dede is moste haste to be done,
For this boy muste be dede by none
And nowe is nere myddaye.
Go helpe hym in this nede
And make no more delaye.267
Simon
I praye yowe dose youre dede268
And latis me wende my waye,
And sirs, I schall come sone agayne
To helpe this man with all my mayne,
And even at youre awne will.
Miles 2
What, wolde thou trusse with such a trayne?273
Nay faitour, thou schalte be fayne
This forwarde to fullfille,
Or be myghty Mahounde
Thou schalte rewe it full ille.
Miles 3
Late dyng this dastarde doune278
But he goo tyte thertill.
Simon
Sertis sir, that wer nought wisely wrought280
To bete me but I trespassid ought,
Outhir in worde or dede.
Miles 1
Vppon his bakke it schall be brought283
To bere it, whedir he wille or noght-
What, deuyll, whome schulde we drede?
Go, take it vppe belyve
And bere it forthe goode spede.
Simon
It helpis noyot here to striue,288
Bere it behoues me nede,
And therfore sirs, as yoe haue saide,
To bere this crosse I holde me paied
Right as yoe wolde it wore.
Miles 2
Yaa, nowe are we right arraied.293
Loke that oure gere be redy grayed
To wirke whanne we come thore.
Miles 3
I warand all redy,296
Oure tooles bothe lesse and more.
Late hym goo hardely
Forthe with the crosse before.
Miles 1
Sen he has his lade nowe late hym gang,300
For with this warlowe wirke we wrang
And we thus with hym yode.
Miles 2
And nowe is noght goode to tarie lang,303
What schulde we done more vs emang?
Say sone, so motte thou spede.
Miles 3
Neuen vs no nodir noote306
Tille we haue done this dede.
Miles 1
Weme, methynke we doote,308
He muste be naked, nede.
All yf he called hymselffe a kyng
In his clothis he schall noyot hyng,
But naked as a stone be stedde.
Miles 2
That calle I accordand thyng-313
But tille his sidis I trowe thei clyng
For bloode that he has bledde.
Miles 3
Wheder thei clynge or cleue316
Naked he schalle be ledde,
And for the more myscheue
Buffettis hym schall be bedde.
Miles 1
Take of his clothis beliffe, latte see-320
A ha, this garment will falle wele for mee
And so I hope it schall.
Miles 2
Nay sir, so may it noght be,323
Thame muste be parte amonge vs thre,
Take euen as will fall.
Miles 3
Yaa, and sir Pilate melle hym326
Youre parte woll be but small.
Miles 1
Sir, and yoe liste go telle hym,328
Yitt schall he noght haue all,
Butte even his awne parte and no more.
Miles 2
Yaa, late thame ligge stille here in stoore331
Vntill this dede be done.
Miles 3
Latte bynde hym as he was before333
And harle on harde that he wer thore,
And hanged or it be none.
Miles 1
He schall be feste as fee,336
And that right sore and sone.
Miles 2
So fallis hym for to be,338
He gettis no bettir bone.
Miles 3
This werke is wele nowe I warand,340
For he is boune as beeste in bande
That is demed for to dye.
Miles 1
Thanne rede I that we no lenger stande,343
But ilke man feste on hym a hande
And harle hym hense in hye.
Miles 2
Yaa, nowe is tyme to trusse346
To alle oure companye.
Miles 3
If anye aske aftir vs,348
Kenne thame to Caluarie.

The Pinners' Play: The CrucifixionContents

Miles 1
Sir knyghtis, take heede hydir in hye,1
This dede on dergh we may noght drawe.
Yee wootte youreselffe als wele as I
Howe lordis and leders of owre lawe
Has geven dome that this doote schall dye.
Miles 2
Sir, alle thare counsaile wele we knawe.6
Sen we are comen to Caluarie
Latte ilke man helpe nowe as hym awe.
Miles 3
We are alle redy, loo,9
That forward to fulfille.
Miles 4
Late here howe we schall doo,11
And go we tyte thertille.
Miles 1
It may noyot helpe her for to hone13
If we schall any worshippe wynne.
Miles 2
He muste be dede nedelyngis by none.15
Miles 3
Thanne is goode tyme that we begynne.16
Miles 4
Late dynge hym doune, than is he done-17
He schall nought dere vs with his dynne.
Miles 1
He schall be sette and lerned sone,19
With care to hym and all his kynne.
Miles 2
The foulest dede of all21
Shalle he dye for his dedis.
Miles 3
That menes crosse hym we schall.23
Miles 4
Behalde, so right he redis.24
Miles 1
Thanne to this werke vs muste take heede,25
So that oure wirkyng be noght wronge.
Miles 2
None othir noote to neven is nede,27
But latte vs haste hym for to hange.
Miles 3
And I haue gone for gere goode speede,29
Bothe hammeres and nayles large and lange.
Miles 4
Thanne may we boldely do this dede.31
Commes on, late kille this traitoure strange.
Miles 1
Faire myght yoe falle in feere33
That has wrought on this wise.
Miles 2
Vs nedis nought for to lere35
Suche faitoures to chastise.
Miles 3
Sen ilke a thyng es right arrayed,37
The wiselier nowe wirke may we.
Miles 4
The crosse on grounde is goodely graied39
And boorede even as it awith to be.
Miles 1
Lokis that the ladde on lenghe be layde41
And made me thane vnto this tree.
Miles 2
For alle his fare he schalle be flaied,43
That one assaie sone schalle ye see.
Miles 3
Come forthe thou cursed knave,45
Thy comforte sone schall kele.
Miles 4
Thyne hyre here schall thou haue.47
Miles 1
Walkes oon-now wirke we wele.48
Jesus
Almyghty God, my fadir free,49
Late this materes be made in mynde:
Thou badde that I schulde buxsome be
For Adam plyght for to be pyned.
Here to dede I obblisshe me
Fro that synne for to saue mankynde,
And soueraynely beseke I the55
That thai for me may fauoure fynde.
And fro the fende thame fende,
So that ther saules be saffe
In welthe withouten ende-
I kepe nought ellis to craue.
Miles 1
We, herke sir knyghtis, for Mahoundis bloode,61
Of Adam-kynde is all his thoght.
Miles 2
The warlowe waxis werre than woode,63
This doulfull dede ne dredith he noght.
Miles 3
Thou schulde haue mynde, with mayne and moode,65
Of wikkid werkis that thou haste wrought.
Miles 4
I hope that he hadde bene as goode67
Haue sesed of sawes that he vppe-sought.
Miles 1
Thoo sawes schall rewe hym sore69
For all his saunteryng sone.
Miles 2
Ille spede thame that hym spare71
Tille he to dede be done.
Miles 3
Haue done belyue boy, and make the boune,73
And bende thi bakke vnto this tree.
Miles 4
Byhalde, hymselffe has laide hym doune75
In lenghe and breede as he schulde bee.
Miles 1
This traitoure here teynted of treasoune,77
Gose faste and fetter hym than yoe thre;
And sen he claymeth kyngdome with croune,
Even as a kyng here hange schall hee.
Miles 2
Nowe, certis, I schall noyot fyne81
Or his right hande be feste.
Miles 3
The lefte hande thanne is myne-83
Late see who beres hym beste.
Miles 4
Hys lymmys on lenghe than schalle I lede,85
And even vnto the bore thame bringe.
Miles 1
Vnto his heede I schall take hede,87
And with myne hande helpe hym to hyng.
Miles 2
Nowe sen we foure schall do this dede89
And medill with this vnthrifty thyng,
Late no man spare for speciall speede
Tille that we haue made endyng.
Miles 3
This forward may not faile;93
Nowe are we right arraiede.
Miles 4
This boy here in oure baile95
Shall bide full bittir brayde.
Miles 1
Sir knyghtis, saie, howe wirke we nowe?97
Miles 2
Yis, certis, I hope I holde this hande,98
And to the boore I haue it brought
Full boxumly withouten bande.
Miles 1
Strike on than harde, for hym the boght.101
Miles 2
Yis, here is a stubbe will stiffely stande,102
Thurgh bones and senous it schall be soght-
This werke is wele, I will warande.
Miles 1
Saie sir, howe do we thore?105
This bargayne may not blynne.
Miles 3
It failis a foote and more,107
The senous are so gone ynne.
Miles 4
I hope that marke amisse be bored.109
Miles 2
Than muste he bide in bittir bale.110
Miles 3
In faith, it was ouere-skantely scored,111
That makis it fouly for to faile.
Miles 1
Why carpe yoe so? Faste on a corde113
And tugge hym to, by toppe and taile.
Miles 3
Ya, thou comaundis lightly as a lorde;115
Come helpe to haale, with ille haile.
Miles 1
Nowe certis that schall I doo-117
Full snelly as a snayle
Miles 3
And I schall tacche hym too,119
Full nemely with a nayle.
This werke will holde, that dar I heete,
For nowe are feste faste both his hende.
Miles 4
Go we all foure thanne to his feete,123
So schall oure space be spedely spende.
Miles 2
Latte see what bourde his bale myght beete,125
Tharto my bakke nowe wolde I bende.
Miles 4
Owe, this werke is all vnmeete-127
This boring muste all be amende.
Miles 1
A, pees man, for Mahounde,129
Latte no man wotte that wondir,
A roope schall rugge hym doune
Yf all his synnous go asoundre.
Miles 2
That corde full kyndely can I knytte,133
The comforte of this karle to kele.
Miles 1
Feste on thanne faste that all be fytte,135
It is no force howe felle he feele.
Miles 2
Lugge on yoe both a litill yoitt.137
Miles 3
I schalle nought sese, as I haue seele.138
Miles 4
And I schall fonde hym for to hitte.139
Miles 2
Owe, haylle!140
Miles 4
Hoo nowe, I halde it wele.140
Miles 1
Haue done, dryue in that nayle,141
So that no faute be foune.
Miles 4
This wirkyng wolde noyot faile143
Yf foure bullis here were boune.
Miles 1
Ther cordis haue evill encressed his paynes,145
Or he wer tille the booryngis brought.
Miles 2
Yaa, assoundir are bothe synnous and veynis147
On ilke a side, so haue we soughte.
Miles 3
Nowe all his gaudis nothyng hym gaynes,149
His sauntering schall with bale be bought.
Miles 4
I wille goo saie to oure soueraynes151
Of all this werkis howe we haue wrought.
Miles 1
Nay sirs, anothir thyng153
Fallis firste to youe and me,
Thei badde we schulde hym hyng
On heghte that men myght see.
Miles 2
We woote wele so ther wordes wore,157
But sir, that dede will do vs dere.
Miles 1
It may not mende for to moote more,159
This harlotte muste be hanged here.
Miles 2
The mortaise is made fitte therfore.161
Miles 3
Feste on youre fyngeres than, in feere.162
Miles 4
I wene it wolle neuere come thore-163
We foure rayse it noyot right to-yere.
Miles 1
Say man, whi carpis thou soo?165
Thy liftyng was but light.
Miles 2
He menes ther muste be moo167
To heve hym vppe on hight.
Miles 3
Now certis, I hope it schall noght nede169
To calle to vs more companye.
Methynke we foure schulde do this dede
And bere hym to yoone hille on high.
Miles 1
It muste be done, withouten drede.173
No more, but loke yoe be redy,
And this parte schalle I lifte and leede;
On lenghe he schalle no lenger lie.
Therfore nowe makis you boune,
Late bere hym to yoone hill.
Miles 4
Thanne will I bere here doune,179
And tente his tase vntill.
Miles 2
We twoo schall see tille aythir side,181
For ellis this werke wille wrie all wrang.
Miles 3
We are redy.183
Miles 4
Gode sirs, abide,183
And late me first his fete vp fang.
Miles 2
Why tente yoe so to tales this tyde?185
Miles 1
Lifte vppe!186
Miles 4
Latte see!186
Miles 2
Owe, lifte alang.186
Miles 3
Fro all this harme he schulde hym hyde187
And he war God.
Miles 4
The deuill hym hang!188
Miles 1
For-grete harme haue I hente,189
My schuldir is in soundre.
Miles 2
And sertis I am nere schente,191
So lange haue I borne vndir.
Miles 3
This crosse and I in twoo muste twynne,193
Ellis brekis my bakke in sondre sone.
Miles 4
Laye downe agayne and leue youre dynne,195
This dede for vs will neuere be done.
Miles 1
Assaie sirs, latte se yf any gynne197
May helpe hym vppe withouten hone,
For here schulde wight men worschippe wynne,
And noght with gaudis al day to gone.
Miles 2
More wighter men than we201
Full fewe I hope yoe fynde.
Miles 3
This bargayne will noght bee,203
For certis me wantis wynde.
Miles 4
So wille of werke neuere we wore-205
I hope this carle some cautellis caste.
Miles 2
My bourdeyne satte me wondir soore,207
Vnto the hill I myght noght laste.
Miles 1
Lifte vppe, and sone he schall be thore,209
Therfore feste on youre fyngeres faste.
Miles 3
Owe, lifte!211
Miles 1
We, loo!211
Miles 4
A litill more.211
Miles 2
Holde thanne!212
Miles 1
Howe nowe?212
Miles 2
The werste is paste.212
Miles 3
He weyes a wikkid weght.213
Miles 2
So may we all foure saie,214
Or he was heued on heght
And raysed in this array.
Miles 4
He made vs stande as any stones,217
So boustous was he for to bere.
Miles 1
Nowe raise hym nemely for the nonys219
And sette hym be this mortas heere,
And latte hym falle in alle at ones,
For certis that payne schall haue no pere.
Miles 3
Heue vppe!223
Miles 4
Latte doune, so all his bones223
Are asoundre nowe on sides seere.
Miles 1
This fallyng was more felle225
Than all the harmes he hadde.
Nowe may a man wele telle
The leste lith of this ladde.
Miles 3
Methynkith this crosse will noght abide229
Ne stande stille in this morteyse yoitt.
Miles 4
Att the firste tyme was it made ouere-wyde;231
That makis it wave, thou may wele witte.
Miles 1
Itt schall be sette on ilke a side233
So that it schall no forther flitte.
Goode wegges schall we take this tyde
And feste the foote, thanne is all fitte.
Miles 2
Here are wegges arraied237
For that, both grete and smale.
Miles 3
Where are oure hameres laide239
That we schulde wirke withall?
Miles 4
We haue them here euen atte oure hande.241
Miles 2
Gyffe me this wegge, I schall it in dryue.242
Miles 4
Here is anodir yoitt ordande.243
Miles 3
Do take it me hidir belyue.244
Miles 1
Laye on thanne faste.245
Miles 3
Yis, I warrande.245
I thryng thame same, so motte I thryve.
Nowe will this crosse full stabely stande,
All-yf he raue thei will noght ryve.
Miles 1
Say sir, howe likis you nowe,249
This werke that we haue wrought?
Miles 4
We praye youe sais vs howe251
Ye fele, or faynte yoe ought.
Jesus
Al men that walkis by waye or strete,253
Takes tente yoe schalle no trauayle tyne.
Byholdes myn heede, myn handis, and my feete,
And fully feele nowe, or yoe fyne,
Yf any mournyng may be meete,
Or myscheue mesured vnto myne.
My fadir, that alle bales may bete,259
Forgiffis thes men that dois me pyne.
What thei wirke wotte thai noght;
Therfore, my fadir, I craue,
Latte neuere ther synnys be sought,
But see ther saules to saue.
Miles 1
We, harke, he jangelis like a jay.265
Miles 2
Methynke he patris like a py.266
Miles 3
He has ben doand all this day,267
And made grete meuyng of mercy.
Miles 4
Es this the same that gune vs say269
That he was Goddis sone almyghty?
Miles 1
Therfore he felis full felle affraye,271
And demyd this day for to dye.
Miles 2
Vath, qui destruis templum!273
Miles 3
His sawes wer so, certayne.274
Miles 4
And sirs, he saide to some275
He myght rayse it agayne.
Miles 1
To mustir that he hadde no myght,277
For all the kautelles that he couthe kaste.
All-yf he wer in worde so wight,
For all his force nowe he is feste.
Als Pilate demed is done and dight,
Therfore I rede that we go reste.
Miles 2
This race mon be rehersed right,283
Thurgh the worlde both este and weste.
Miles 3
Yaa, late hym hynge here stille285
And make mowes on the mone.
Miles 4
Thanne may we wende at wille.287
Miles 1
Nay goode sirs, noght so sone,288
For certis vs nedis anodir note:
This kirtill wolde I of you craue.
Miles 2
Nay, nay sir, we will loke be lotte291
Whilke of vs foure fallis it to haue.
Miles 3
I rede we drawe cutte for this coote-293
Loo, se howe sone-alle sidis to saue.
Miles 4
The schorte cutte schall wynne, that wele yoe woote,
Whedir itt falle to knyght or knave.
Miles 1
Felowes, yoe thar noght flyte,297
For this mantell is myne.
Miles 2
Goo we thanne hense tyte,299
This trauayle here we tyne &c.

The Butchers' Play: The Death of ChristContents

Pilate
Sees, seniours, and see what I saie,1
Takis tente to my talkyng enteere.
Devoyde all this dynne here this day,
And fallis to my frenschippe in feere.
Sir Pilate, a prince withowten pere,
My name is full neuenly to neuen,
And domisman full derworth in dere7
Of gentillest Jewry full euen
Am I.
Who makis oppressioun
Or dose transgressioun,
Be my discressioun
Shall be demed dewly to dy.13
To dye schall I deme thame, to dede,
Tho rebelles that rewles thame vnright.
Who that to yoone hill wille take heede
May se ther the soth in his sight,
Howe doulfull to dede thei are dight
That liste noyot owre lawes for to lere.19
Lo, thus be my mayne and my myght
Tho churles schalle I chasteise and cheere,
Be lawe.
Ilke feloune false
Shall hynge be the halse.
Transgressours als25
On the crosse schalle be knytte for to knawe.
To knawe schall I knytte thame on crosse,
To schende thame with schame schall I shappe.
Ther liffis for to leese is no losse,
Suche tirrauntis with teene for to trappe.
Thus leelly the lawe I vnlappe31
And punyssh thame pitously.
Of Jesu I holde it vnhappe
That he on yone hill hyng so hye
For gilte.
His bloode to spille
Toke ye you tille,37
Thus was youre wille
Full spitously to spede he were spilte.
Caiphas
To spille hym we spake in a speede,40
For falsed he folowde in faie.
With fraudes oure folke gan he feede
And laboured to lere thame his laye.
Anna
Sir Pilate, of pees we youe praye-44
Oure lawe was full lyke to be lorne.
He saued noyot oure dere Sabott daye,
And that-for to scape it-were a scorne,
By lawe.
Pilate
Sirs, before youre sight,49
With all my myght
I examynde hym right,
And cause non in hym cowthe I knawe.
Caiphas
Ye knawe wele the cause sir, in cace;53
It touched treasoune vntrewe.
The tribute to take or to trace
Forbadde he, oure bale for to brewe.
Anna
Of japes yoitt jangelid yone Jewe,57
And cursedly he called hym a kyng.
To deme hym to dede it is diewe,
For treasoune it touches, that thyng,
Indede.
Caiphas
Yitt principall,62
And worste of all,
He garte hym call
Goddes sonne-that foulle motte hyme speede.
Pilate
He spedis for to spille in space,66
So wondirly wrought is youre will.
His bloode schall youre bodis enbrace,
For that haue yoe taken you till.
Anna
That forwarde ful fayne to fulfille70
Indede schall we dresse vs bedene.
Yone losell hym likis full ille,
For turned is his trantis all to teene,
I trowe.
Caiphas
He called hym kyng,75
Ille joie hym wring.
Ya, late hym hyng
Full madly on the mone for to mowe.
Anna
To mowe on the moone has he mente.79
We, fye on the, faitour, in faye!
Who, trowes thou, to thi tales toke tente?
Thou saggard, thiselffe gan thou saie,
The tempill distroie the todaye,
Be the thirde day ware done ilka dele
To rayse it thou schulde the arraye.85
Loo, howe was thi falsed to feele,
Foule falle the.
For thy presumpcyoune
Thou haste thy warisoune.
Do faste come doune,
And a comely kyng schalle I calle thee.91
Caiphas
I calle the a coward to kenne,92
That meruaylles and mirakills made.
Thou mustered emange many menne;
But, brothell, thou bourded to brade.
Thou saued thame fro sorowes, thai saide-
To saue nowe thiselffe late vs see.
God sonne if thou grathely be grayde,98
Delyuere the doune of that tree
Anone.
If thou be funne
To be Goddis sonne,
We schalle be bonne
To trowe on the trewlye ilkone.104
Anna
Sir Pilate, youre pleasaunce we praye,105
Takis tente to oure talkyng this tide,
And wipe yoe yone writyng away,
It is not beste it abide.
It sittis youe to sette it aside
And sette that he saide in his sawe,
As he that was prente full of pride:111
‘Jewes kyng am I’, comely to knawe,
Full playne.
Pilate
Quod scripci, scripci.114
Yone same wrotte I;
I bide therby,
What gedlyng will grucche thereagayne.
Jesus
Thou man that of mys here has mente,118
To me tente enteerly thou take.
On roode am I ragged and rente,
Thou synfull sawle, for thy sake;
For thy misse amendis wille I make.
My bakke for to bende here I bide,
This teene for thi trespase I take.124
Who couthe the more kyndynes haue kydde
Than I?
Thus for thy goode
I schedde my bloode.
Manne, mende thy moode,
For full bittir thi blisse mon I by.130
Mary
Allas for my swete sonne I saie,131
That doulfully to dede thus is diyot.
Allas, for full louely he laye
In my wombe, this worthely wight.
Allas that I schulde see this sight
Of my sone so semely to see.
Allas, that this blossome so bright137
Vntrewly is tugged to this tree.
Allas,
My lorde, my leyffe,
With full grete greffe
Hyngis as a theffe.
Allas, he did neuer trespasse.143
Jesus
Thou woman, do way of thy wepyng,144
For me may thou nothyng amende.
My fadirs wille to be wirkyng,
For mankynde my body I bende.
Mary
Allas, that thou likes noght to lende,148
Howe schulde I but wepe for thy woo?
To care nowe my comforte is kende.
Allas, why schulde we twynne thus in twoo
Foreuere?
Jesus
Womanne, instede of me,153
Loo, John thi sone schall bee.
John, see to thi modir free,
For my sake do thou thi deuere.
Mary
Allas sone, sorowe and siyote,157
That me were closed in clay.
A swerde of sorowe me smyte,
To dede I were done this day.
John
A, modir, so schall yoe noght saie.161
I praye youe be pees in this presse,
For with all the myght that I maye
Youre comforte I caste to encresse,
Indede.
Youre sone am I,
Loo, here redy;167
And nowe forthy
I praye yowe hense for to speede.
Mary
My steuen for to stede or to steere,170
Howe schulde I, such sorowe to see,
My sone that is dereworthy and dere
Thus doulfull a dede for to dye?
John
A, dere modir, blynne of this blee,174
Youre mournyng it may not amende.
Mary Cleophas
A, Marie, take triste vnto the,176
For socoure to the will he sende
This tyde.
John
Fayre modir, faste179
Hense latte vs caste.
Mary
To he be paste181
Wille I buske here baynly to bide.
Jesus
With bittirfull bale haue I bought,183
Thus, man, all thi misse for te mende.
On me for to looke lette thou noyot,
Howe baynly my body I bende.
No wighte in this worlde wolde haue wende
What sorowe I suffre for thy sake.
Manne, kaste the thy kyndynesse be kende,189
Trewe tente vnto me that thou take,
And treste.
For foxis ther dennys haue thei,
Birdis hase ther nestis to paye,
But the sone of man this daye
Hase noyot on his heed for to reste.195
Latro Sinister
If thou be Goddis sone so free,196
Why hyng thou thus on this hille?
To saffe nowe thyselffe late vs see,
And vs now, that spedis for to spille.
Latro Dexter
Manne, stynte of thy steuen and be stille,200
For douteles thy God dredis thou noyot.
Full wele are we worthy thertill,
Vnwisely wrange haue we wrought,
Iwisse.
Noon ille did hee
Thus for to dye.206
Lord, haue mynde of me
Whan thou art come to thi blisse.
Jesus
Forsothe sonne, to the schall I saie,209
Sen thou fro thy foly will falle,
Sen thou fro thy foly will falle,
With me schall dwelle nowe this daye,
In paradise place principall.
Heloy, heloy!
My God, my God full free,215
Lama zabatanye,
Wharto forsoke thou me
In care?
And I did neuere ille
This dede for to go tille,
But be it at thi wille.221
A, me thristis sare.
Garcio
A drinke schalle I dresse the, indede,222
A draughte that is full dayntely dight.
Full faste schall I springe for to spede,
I hope I schall holde that I haue hight.
Caiphas
Sir Pilate that moste is of myght,226
Harke, ‘Heely’ now harde I hym crye.
He wenys that that worthely wight
In haste for to helpe hym in hye
In his nede.
Pilate
If he do soo231
He schall haue woo.
Anna
He wer oure foo233
If he dresse hym to do vs that dede.
Garcio
That dede for to dresse yf he doo,235
In sertis he schall rewe it full sore.
Neuerethelees, if he like it noght, loo,
Full sone may he couere that care.
Now swete sir, youre wille yf it ware,
A draughte here of drinke haue I dreste,
To spede for no spence that yoe spare,241
But baldely ye bib it for the beste.
For-why
Aysell and galle
Is menged withalle;
Drynke it yoe schalle-
Youre lippis I halde thame fulle drye.247
Jesus
Thi drinke it schalle do me no deere,248
Wete thou wele, therof will I none.
Nowe fadir, that formed alle in fere,
To thy moste myght make I my mone:
Thi wille haue I wrought in this wone,
Thus ragged and rente on this roode,
Thus doulffully to dede haue thei done.254
Forgiffe thame be grace that is goode,
Thai ne wote noyot what it was.
My fadir, here my bone,
For nowe all thyng is done.
My spirite to thee right sone
Comende I, in manus tuas.260
Mary
Now dere sone, Jesus so jente,261
Sen my harte is heuy as leede,
O worde wolde I witte or thou wente.
Allas, nowe my dere sone is dede,
Full rewfully refte is my rede.
Allas for my darlyng so dere.
John
A, modir, yoe halde vppe youre heede,267
And sigh noyot with sorowes so seere
I praye.
Mary Cleophas
It dose hir pyne270
To see hym tyne.
Lede we her heyne,
This mornyng helpe hir ne maye.
Caiphas
Sir Pilate, parceyue I you praye,274
Oure costemes to kepe wele yoe canne.
Tomorne is oure dere Sabott daye,
Of mirthe muste vs meve ilke a man.
Yone warlous nowe waxis full wan
And nedis muste thei beried be.
Delyuer ther dede sir, and thane280
Shall we sewe to oure saide solempnité
Indede.
Pilate
It schalle be done283
In wordis fone.
Sir knyghtis, go sone,
To yoone harlottis you hendely take heede.
Tho caytiffis thou kille with thi knyffe-
Delyuere, haue done thei were dede.
Miles
Mi lorde, I schall lenghe so ther liffe289
That tho brothelles schall neuere bite brede.
Pilate
Ser Longeus, steppe forthe in this steede;291
This spere, loo, haue halde in thy hande.
To Jesus thou rake fourthe I rede,
And sted nouyot, but stiffely thou stande
A stounde.
In Jesu side
Schoffe it this tyde.297
No lenger bide,
But grathely thou go to the grounde.
Longeus Latus
O maker vnmade, full of myght,300
O Jesu so jentill and jente
That sodenly has sente me my sight,
Lorde, louyng to the be it lente.
On rode arte thou ragged and rente,
Mankynde for to mende of his mys.
Full spitously spilte is and spente306
Thi bloode, lorde, to bringe vs to blis
Full free.
A, mercy my socoure,
Mercy, my treasoure,
Mercy, my sauioure,
Thi mercy be markid in me.312
Centurio
O wondirfull werkar iwis,313
This weedir is waxen full wan.
Trewe token I trowe that it is
That mercy is mente vnto man.
Full clerly consayue thus I can
No cause in this corse couthe thei knowe,
Yitt doulfull thei demyd hym than319
To lose thus his liffe be ther lawe,
No riyote.
Trewly I saie,
Goddis sone verraye
Was he this daye,
That doulfully to dede thus is diyot.325
Joseph
That lorde lele ay-lastyng in lande,326
Sir Pilate, full preste in this presse,
He saue the be see and be sande,
And all that is derworth on deesse.
Pilate
Joseph, this is lely, no lesse,330
To me arte thou welcome iwisse.
Do saie me the soth or thou sesse,
Thy worthyly wille what it is
Anone.
Joseph
To the I praye,335
Giffe me in hye
Jesu bodye,
In gree it for to graue al alone.
Pilate
Joseph sir, I graunte the that geste,339
I grucche noyot to grath hym in grave.
Delyuer, haue done he were dreste,
And sewe, sir, oure Sabott to saffe.
Joseph
With handis and harte that I haue343
I thanke the in faith for my frende.
God kepe the thi comforte to craue,
For wightely my way will I wende
In hye.
To do that dede
He be my speede349
That armys gun sprede,
Mannekynde be his bloode for to bye.
Nicodemus
Weill mette, ser. In mynde gune I meffe352
For Jesu that juged was vnjente.
Ye laboured for license and leve
To berye his body on bente?
Joseph
Full myldely that matere I mente,356
And that for to do will I dresse.
Nicodemus
Both same I wolde that we wente358
And lette not for more ne for lesse,
For-why
Oure frende was he,
Faithfull and free.
Joseph
Therfore go we363
To berie that body in hye.
All mankynde may marke in his mynde
To see here this sorowfull sight.
No falsnesse in hym couthe thei fynde
That doulfully to dede thus is dight.
Nicodemus
He was a full worthy wight,369
Nowe blemysght and bolned with bloode.
Joseph
Ya, for that he mustered his myght,371
Full falsely thei fellid that foode
I wyne.
Bothe bakke and side
Has woundes wide,
Forthi this tyde
Take we hym doune vs betwene.377
Nicodemus
Betwene vs take we hym doune378
And laie hym on lenthe on this lande.
Joseph
This reuerent and riche of rennoune,380
Late vs halde hym and halse hym with hande.
A graue haue I garte here be ordande
That neuer was in noote, it is newe.
Nicodemus
To this corse it is comely accordande,384
To dresse hym with dedis full dewe
This stounde.
Joseph
A sudarye,387
Loo here, haue I.
Wynde hym forthy,
And sone schalle we graue hym in grounde.
Nicodemus
In grounde late vs graue hym and goo;391
Do liffely latte vs laie hym allone.
Nowe sauiour be see and be sande,
Thou kepe vs in clennesse ilkone.
Joseph
To thy mercy nowe make I my moone:395
As sauiour be see and be sande,
Thou gyde me that my griffe be al gone,
With lele liffe to lenge in this lande,
And esse.
Nicodemus
Seere oynementis here haue I400
Brought for this faire body.
I anoynte the forthy
With myrre and aloes.
Joseph
This dede it is done ilke a dele,404
And wroughte is this werke wele iwis.
To the, kyng, on knes here I knele,
That baynly thou belde me in blisse.
Nicodemus
He highte me full hendely to be his408
A nyght whan I neghed hym full nere.
Haue mynde lorde, and mende me of mys,
For done is oure dedis full dere
This tyde.
Joseph
This lorde so goode413
That schedde his bloode,
He mende youre moode,
And buske on this blis for to bide.

The Saddlers' Play: The Harrowing of HellContents

Jesus
Manne on molde, be meke to me,1
And haue thy maker in thi mynde,
And thynke howe I haue tholid for the
With pereles paynes for to be pyned.
The forward of my fadir free
Haue I fulfillid, as folke may fynde,
Therfore aboute nowe woll I bee7
That I haue bought for to vnbynde.
The feende thame wanne with trayne
Thurgh frewte of erthely foode;
I haue thame getyn agayne
Thurgh bying with my bloode.
And so I schall that steede restore13
For whilke the feende fell for synne,
Thare schalle mankynde wonne euermore
In blisse that schall neuere blynne.
All that in werke my werkemen were,
Owte of thare woo I wol thame wynne,
And some signe schall I sende before19
Of grace, to garre ther gamys begynne.
A light I woll thei haue
To schewe thame I schall come sone.
My bodie bidis in graue
Tille alle thes dedis be done.
My fadir ordand on this wise25
Aftir his will that I schulde wende,
For to fulfille the prophicyes,
And als I spake my solace to spende.
My frendis that in me faith affies,
Nowe fro ther fois I schall thame fende,
And on the thirde day ryght vprise,31
And so tille heuen I schall assende.
Sithen schall I come agayne
To deme bothe goode and ill
Tille endles joie or peyne;
Thus is my fadris will.
Adam
Mi bretheren, harkens to me here,37
Swilke hope of heele neuere are we hadde;
Foure thowsande and sex hundereth yoere
Haue we bene heere in this stedde.
Nowe see I signe of solace seere,
A glorious gleme to make vs gladde,
Wherfore I hope oure helpe is nere43
And sone schall sesse oure sorowes sadde.
Eue
Adame, my husband hende,45
This menys solas certayne.
Such light gune on vs lende
In paradise full playne.
Isaiah
Adame, we schall wele vndirstande-49
I, Ysaias, as God me kende,
I prechid in Neptalym, that lande,
And Zabulon, even vntill ende.
I spake of folke in mirke walkand
And saide a light schulde on thame lende.
This lered I whils I was leuand,55
Nowe se I God this same hath sende.
This light comes all of Criste,
That seede to saue vs nowe.
Thus is my poynte puplisshid-
But Symeon, what sais thou?
Symeon
Thhis, my tale of farleis feele,61
For in the temple his frendis me fande.
I hadde delite with hym to dele
And halsed homely with my hande.
I saide, ‘Lorde, late thy seruaunt lele
Passe nowe in pesse to liffe lastand,
For nowe myselfe has sene thy hele67
Me liste no lengar to liffe in landé.
This light thou hast purueyed
To folkes that liffis in leede,
The same that I thame saide
I see fulfillid in dede.
John the Baptist
Als voyce criand to folke I kende73
The weyes of Criste als I wele kanne.
I baptiste hym with bothe my hende
Euen in the floode of flume Jordanne.
The holy goste fro heuene discende
Als a white dowue doune on hym thanne;
The fadir voice, my mirthe to mende,79
Was made to me euen als manne:
‘This is my soné, he saide,
‘In whome me paies full welé.
His light is on vs laide,
He comes oure cares to kele.
Moyses
Of that same light lernyng haue I:85
To me, Moyses, he mustered his myght,
And also vnto anodir, Hely,
Wher we were on an hille on hight.
Whyte as snowe was his body,
And his face like to the sonne to sight;
No man on molde was so myghty91
Grathely to loke agaynste that light.
That same light se I nowe
Shynyng on vs sarteyne,
Wherfore trewly I trowe
We schalle sone passe fro payne.
Diabolus 1
Helpe, Belsabub, to bynde ther boyes-97
Such harrowe was neuer are herde in helle.
Diabolus 2
Why rooris thou soo, Rebalde? Thou royis-99
What is betidde, canne thou ought telle?
Diabolus 1
What, heris thou noyot this vggely noyse?101
Thes lurdans that in Lymbo dwelle,
Thei make menyng of many joies
And musteres grete mirthe thame emell.
Diabolus 2
Mirthe? Nay, nay, that poynte is paste,105
More hele schall thei neuer haue.
Diabolus 1
Thei crie on Criste full faste107
And sais he schal thame saue.
Belsabub
Ya, if he saue thame noght, we schall,109
For they are sperde in speciall space.
Whils I am prince and principall
Schall thei neuer passe oute of this place.
Calle vppe Astrotte and Anaball
To giffe ther counsaille in this case,
Bele-Berit and Belial,115
To marre thame that swilke maistries mase.
Say to Satan oure sire,
And bidde thame bringe also
Lucifer, louely of lyre.
Diabolus 1
Al redy, lorde, I goo.120
Jesus
Attollite portas, principes,121
Oppen vppe, yoe princes of paynes sere,
Et eleuamini eternales,
Youre yendles yoatis that yoe haue here.
Satan
What page is there that makes prees125
And callis hym kyng of vs in fere?
David
I lered leuand, withouten lees,127
He is a kyng of vertues clere,
A lorde mekill of myght
And stronge in ilke a stoure,
In batailes ferse to fight
And worthy to wynne honnoure.
Satan
Honnoure? In the deuel way! For what dede?133
All erthely men to me are thrall.
The lady that calles hym lorde in leede
Hadde neuer yoitt herberowe, house, ne halle.
Diabolus 1
Harke Belsabub, I haue grete drede,137
For hydously I herde hym calle.
Belial
We, spere oure yoates, all ill mot thou spede,139
And sette furthe watches on the wall-
And if he calle or crie
To make vs more debate,
Lay on hym than hardely
And garre hym gange his gate.
Satan
Telle me what boyes dare be so bolde145
For drede to make so mekill draye.
Diabolus 1
Itt is the Jewe that Judas solde147
For to be dede this othir daye.
Satan
Owe, this tale in tyme is tolde,149
This traytoure traueses vs alway.
He schall be here full harde in holde,
Loke that he passe noght, I the praye.
Diabolus 2
Nay, nay, he will noyot wende153
Away or I be ware,
He shappis hym for to schende
Alle helle or he go ferre.
Satan
Nay faitour, therof schall he faile,157
For alle his fare I hym deffie.
I knowe his trantis fro toppe to taile,
He leuys with gaudis and with gilery.
Therby he brought oute of oure bale
Nowe late Lazar of Betannye;
Therfore I gaffe to the Jewes counsaille163
That thei schulde alway garre hym dye.
I entered in Judas
That forwarde to fulfille,
Therfore his hire he has
Allway to wonne here stille.
Belsabub
Sir Sattanne, sen we here the saie169
That thou and the Jewes wer same assente,
And wotte he wanne Lazar awaye
That tille vs was tane for to tente,
Trowe thou that thou marre hym maye,
To mustir mightis what he has mente?
If he nowe depriue vs of oure praye,175
We will yoe witte whanne thei are wente.
Satan
I bidde yoou be noyot abasshed,177
But boldely make youe boune
With toles that yoe on traste,
And dynge that dastard doune.
Jesus
Principes, portas tollite,181
Vndo youre yoatis, yoe princis of pryde,
Et introibit rex glorie,
The kyng of blisse comes in this tyde.
Satan
Owte, harrowe! What harlot is hee185
That sais his kyngdome schall be cryed?
David
That may thou in my Sawter see,187
For that poynte I prophicied.
I saide that he schuld breke
Youre barres and bandis by name,
And on youre werkis take wreke-
Nowe schalle yoe see the same.
Jesus
This steede schall stonde no lenger stoken:193
Opynne vppe, and latte my pepul passe.
Diabolus 1
Owte! Beholdes, oure baill is brokynne,195
And brosten are alle oure bandis of bras-
Telle Lucifer alle is vnlokynne.
Belsabub
What thanne, is Lymbus lorne? Allas,198
Garre Satan helpe that we wer wroken;
This werke is werse thanne euere it was.
Satan
I badde yoe schulde be boune201
If he made maistries more.
Do dynge that dastard doune
And sette hym sadde and sore.
Belsabub
Ya, sette hym sore-that is sone saide,205
But come thiselffe and serue hym soo.
We may not bide his bittir braide,
He wille vs marre and we wer moo.
Satan
What, faitours, wherfore are yoe flayd?209
Haue yoe no force to flitte hym froo?
Belyue loke that my gere be grathed,
Miselffe schall to that gedlyng goo.
Howe, belamy, abide,
With al thy booste and bere,
And telle to me this tyde215
What maistries makes thou here?
Jesus
I make no maistries but for myne,217
Thame wolle I saue I telle the nowe.
Thou hadde no poure thame to pyne,
But as my prisounes for ther prowe
Here haue thei soiorned, noght as thyne,
But in thy warde-thou wote wele howe.
Satan
And what deuel haste thou done ay syne223
That neuer wolde negh thame nere or nowe?
Jesus
Nowe is the tyme certayne225
Mi fadir ordand before,
That they schulde passe fro payne
And wonne in mirthe euer more.
Satan
Thy fadir knewe I wele be sight,229
He was a write his mette to wynne,
And Marie me menys thi modir hight-
The vttiremeste ende of all thi kynne.
Who made the be so mekill of myght?
Jesus
Thou wikid feende, latte be thy dynne.234
Mi fadir wonnys in heuen on hight,
With blisse that schall neuere blynne.
I am his awne sone,
His forward to fulfille,
And same ay schall we wonne
And sundir whan we wolle.240
Satan
God sonne? Thanne schulde thou be ful gladde,241
Aftir no catel neyd thowe crave!
But thou has leued ay like a ladde,
And in sorowe as a symple knave.
Jesus
That was for hartely loue I hadde245
Vnto mannis soule, it for to saue;
And for to make the mased and madde,
And by that resoune thus dewly to haue
Mi Godhede here, I hidde
In Marie modir myne,
For it schulde noyot be kidde251
To the nor to none of thyne.
Satan
A, this wolde I were tolde in ilke a toune.253
So, sen thou sais God is thy sire,
I schall the proue be right resoune
Thou motes his men into the myre.
To breke his bidding were thei boune,
And, for they did at my desire,
Fro paradise he putte thame doune259
In helle here to haue ther hyre.
And thyselfe, day and nyght,
Has taught al men emang
To do resoune and right,
And here werkis thou all wrang.
Jesus
I wirke noght wrang, that schal thow witte,265
If I my men fro woo will wynne.
Mi prophetis playnly prechid it,
All this note that nowe begynne.
Thai saide that I schulde be obitte,
To helle that I schulde entre in,
And saue my seruauntis fro that pitte271
Wher dampned saulis schall sitte for synne.
And ilke trewe prophettis tale
Muste be fulfillid in mee;
I haue thame boughte with bale,
And in blisse schal thei be.
Satan
Nowe sen the liste allegge the lawes,277
Thou schalte be atteynted or we twynne,
For tho that thou to wittenesse drawes
Full even agaynste the will begynne.
Salamon saide in his sawes
That whoso enteres helle withynne
Shall neuer come oute, thus clerkis knawes-283
And therfore felowe, leue thi dynne.
Job, thi seruaunte, also
Thus in his tyme gune telle
That nowthir frende nor foo
Shulde fynde reles in helle.
Jesus
He saide full soth, that schall thou see,289
That in helle may be no reles,
But of that place than preched he
Where synffull care schall euere encrees.
And in that bale ay schall thou be
Whare sorowes sere schall neuer sesse,
And for my folke therfro wer free,295
Nowe schall thei passe to the place of pees.
Thai were here with my wille,
And so schall thei fourthe wende,
And thiselue schall fulfille
Ther wooe withouten ende.
Satan
Owe, thanne se I howe thou menys emang301
Some mesure with malice to melle,
Sen thou sais all schall noyot gang,
But some schalle alway with vs dwelle.
Jesus
Yaa, witte thou wele, ellis were it wrang,305
Als cursed Cayme that slewe Abell,
And all that hastis hemselue to hange,
Als Judas and Archedefell,
Datan and Abiron,
And alle of thare assente,
Als tyrantis euerilkone311
That me and myne turmente.
And all that liste noght to lere my lawe
That I haue lefte in lande nowe newe-
That is my comyng for to knawe,
And to my sacramente pursewe,
Mi dede, my rysing, rede be rawe-317
Who will noght trowe, thei are noght trewe.
Vnto my dome I schall thame drawe,
And juge thame worse thanne any Jewe.
And all that likis to leere
My lawe and leue therbye,
Shall neuere haue harmes heere,323
But welthe, as is worthy.
Satan
Nowe here my hande, I halde me paied,325
This poynte is playnly for oure prowe.
If this be soth that thou hast saide
We schall haue moo thanne we haue nowe.
This lawe that thou nowe late has laide
I schall lere men noyot to allowe;
Iff thei it take thei be betraied,331
For I schall turne thame tyte, I trowe.
I schall walke este and weste,
And garre thame werke wele werre.
Jesus
Naye, feende, thou schall be feste,335
That thou schalte flitte not ferre.
Satan
Feste? That were a foule reasoune-337
Nay bellamy, thou bus be smytte.
Jesus
Mighill myne aungell, make the boune339
And feste yone fende that he noght flitte.
And, Deuyll, I comaunde the go doune
Into thy selle where thou schalte sitte.
Satan
Owt! Ay herrowe! Helpe, Mahounde!343
Nowe wex I woode oute of my witte.
Belsabub
Sattan, this saide we are,345
Nowe schall thou fele thi fitte.
Satan
Allas for dole and care,347
I synke into helle pitte.
Adam
A, Jesu, lorde, mekill is thi myght,349
That mekis thiselffe in this manere,
Vs for to helpe as thou has hight,
Whanne both forfette, I and my feere.
Here haue we leuyd withouten light
Four thousand and vi c yoere;
Now se I be this solempne sight355
Howe thy mercy hath made vs clere.
Eue
A, lorde, we were worthy357
Mo turmentis for to taste,
But mende vs with mercye
Als thou of myght is moste.
John the Baptist
A, lorde, I loue the inwardly,361
That me wolde make thi messengere
Thy comyng in erth for to crye,
And teche thi faith to folke in feere;
And sithen before the for to dye
And bringe boodworde to thame here,
How thai schulde haue thyne helpe in hye.367
Nowe se I all thi poyntis appere
Als Dauid, prophete trewe,
Ofte tymes tolde vntill vs;
Of this comyng he knewe,
And saide it schulde be thus.
David
Als I haue saide, yoitt saie I soo,373
Ne derelinquas, domine,
Animam meam in inferno,
Leffe noght my saule, lorde, aftir the
In depe helle where dampned schall goo;
Ne suffre neuere saules fro the be,
The sorowe of thame that wonnes in woo379
Ay full of filthe, that may repleye.
Adam
We thanke his grete goodnesse381
He fette vs fro this place.
Makes joie nowe, more and lesse.
Omnis
We laude God of his grace.384
Jesus
Adame, and my frendis in feere,385
Fro all youre fooes come fourth with me.
Ye schalle be sette in solas seere
Wher yoe schall neuere of sorowes see.
And Mighill, myn aungell clere,
Ressayue thes saules all vnto the
And lede thame als I schall the lere,391
To paradise with playe and plenté.
Mi graue I woll go till,
Redy to rise vpperight,
And so I schall fulfille
That I before haue highte.
Michill
Lorde, wende we schall aftir thi sawe,397
To solace sere thai schall be sende.
But that ther deuelis no draught vs drawe
Lorde, blisse vs with thi holy hende.
Jesus
Mi blissing haue yoe all on rawe,401
I schall be with youe wher yoe wende,
And all that lelly luffes my lawe,
Thai schall be blissid withowten ende.
Adam
To the, lorde, be louyng,405
That vs has wonne fro waa.
For solas will we syng
Laus tibi cum gloria etc.

The Carpenters' Play: The ResurrectionContents

Pilate
Lordingis, listenys nowe vnto me:1
I comaunde yoou in ilke degré
Als domesman chiffe in this contré,
For counsaill kende,
Atte my bidding yoou awe to be
And baynly bende.
And sir Cayphas, chiffe of clergye,7
Of youre counsaill late here in hye.
By youre assente sen we dyd dye
Jhesus this day,
That yoe mayntayne, and stande therby
That werke allway.
Caiphas
Yis sir, that dede schall we mayntayne,13
By lawe it was done all bedene,
Ye wotte youreselue withouten wene
Als wele as we.
His sawes are nowe vppon hym sene
And ay schall be.
Anna
The pepull, sir, in this same steede,19
Before yoou saide with a hole-hede
That he was worthy to be dede,
And therto sware.
Sen all was rewlid by rightis rede
Nevyn it no more.
Pilate
To neuyn methinketh it nedfull thyng.25
Sen he was hadde to beriyng
Herde we nowthir of olde ne yoing
Thithynges betwene.
Caiphas
Centurio, sir, will bringe thiding29
Of all bedene.
We lefte hym there for man moste wise,
If any rebelles wolde ought rise
Oure rightwise dome for to dispise
Or it offende,
To sese thame till the nexte assise35
And than make ende.
Centurio
A, blissid lorde Adonay,37
What may thes meruayles signifie
That her was schewed so oppinly
Vnto oure sight,
This day whanne that the man gune dye
That Jesus highte?
Itt is a misty thyng to mene,43
So selcouth a sight was neuere sene,
That oure princes and prestis bedene
Of this affray
I woll go weten withouten wene,
What thei can saye.
God saue yoou sirs on ilke a side,49
Worschippe and welthe in worldis wide;
With mekill mirthe myght yoe abide
Both day and nyght.
Pilate
Centurio, welcome this tide,53
Oure comely knyght.
Ye haue bene miste vs here among.
Centurio
God giffe you grace grathely to gang.56
Pilate
Centurio, oure frende full lang,57
What is your will?
Centurio
I drede me that yoe haue done wrang59
And wondir ill.
Caiphas
Wondir ill? I pray the, why?61
Declare it to this company.
Centurio
So schall I sirs telle yoou trewly63
Withowten trayne:
The rightwise mane thanne mene I by
That yoe haue slayne.
Pilate
Centurio, sesse of such sawe,67
Thou arte a lered man in the lawe,
And if we schulde any witnes drawe
Vs to excuse,
To mayntayne vs euermore the awe,
And noyot reffuse.
Centurio
To mayntayne trouthe is wele worthi.73
I saide yoou whanne I sawe hym dy
That he was Goddis sone almyghty
That hangeth thore;
Yitt saie I soo, and stande therby
For euermore.
Caiphas
Ya sir, such reasouns may yoe rewe.79
Ye schulde noght neueyn such note enewe
But yoe couthe any tokenyngis trewe
Vnto vs tell.
Centurio
Such woundirfull cas neuere yoitt yoe knewe83
As now befell.
Anna
We praye the telle vs of what thyng.85
Centurio
All elementis, both olde and yoing,86
In ther maneres thai made mornyng
In ilke a stede,
And knewe be countenaunce that ther kyng
Was done to dede.
The sonne for woo he waxed all wanne,
The mone and sterres of schynyng blanne,92
The erthe tremeled and also manne
Began to speke;
The stones that neuer was stered or thanne
Gune asondir breke,
And dede men rose, both grete and small.
Pilate
Centurio, beware withall,98
Ye wote oure clerkis the clipsis thei call
Such sodayne sight.
Both sonne and mone that sesoune schall
Lak of ther light.
Caiphas
Ya, and if dede men rose bodily103
That myght be done thurgh socery,
Therfore we sette nothyng therby
To be abaiste.
Centurio
All that I tell for trewthe schall I107
Euermore traste.
In this ilke werke that yoe did wirke
Nought allone the sonne was mirke,
But howe youre vaile raffe in youre kirke,
That witte I wolde.
Pilate
Swilke tales full sone will make vs irke113
And thei be talde.
Anna
Centurio, such speche withdrawe,115
Of all thes wordes we haue none awe.
Centurio
Nowe sen yoe sette noght be my sawe117
Sirs, haue gode day.
God graunte you grace that yoe may knawe
The soth alway.
Anna
Withdrawe the faste sen thou the dredis,121
For we schall wele mayntayne oure dedis.
Pilate
Such wondir reasouns as he redis123
Was neuere beforne.
Caiphas
To neven this noote no more vs nedis,125
Nowthere even ne morne.
Therfore loke no manne make ille chere,
All this doyng may do no dere.
But to beware yoitt of more were
That folke may fele,
We praye you sirs, of thes sawes sere131
Avise yoou wele.
And to this tale takes hede in hye,
For Jesu saide even opynly
A thyng that greues all this Jury,
And riyot so may:
That he schulde rise vppe bodily137
Within the thirde day.
And be it so, als motte I spede,
His lattar deede is more to drede
Than is the firste if we take hede
Or tente therto.
To neuyn this noote methynke moste nede143
And beste to do.
Anna
Ya sir, if all that he saide soo,145
He has no myght to rise and goo
But if his menne stele hym vs froo
And bere away.
That were tille us and other moo
A foule fraye,
For thanne wolde thei saie euere-ilkone151
That he roose by hymselffe allone.
Therfore latte hym be kepte anone
With knyghtes hende,
Vnto thre daies be comen and gone
And broght till ende.
Pilate
In certayne sirs right wele yoe saie,157
For this ilke poynte nowe to purvaye
I schall ordayne if I may.
He schall not ryse,
Nor none schalle wynne hym thens away
On nokyns wise.
Sir knyghtis, that are in dedis dowty,163
Chosen for chiffe of cheualrye,
As we ay in youre force affie
Bothe day and nyght,
Wendis and kepis Jesu body
With all youre myghte.
And for thyng that euere be maye169
Kepis hym wele to the thirde day,
And latis no man take hym away
Oute of that stede-
For and thei do, suthly I saie
Ye schall be dede.
Miles 1
Lordingis, we saie yoou for certayne,175
We schall kepe hym with myghtis and mayne.
Ther schall no traitoures with no trayne
Stele hym vs froo.
Sir knyghtis, takis gere that moste may gayne
And lates vs goo.
Miles 2
Yis, certis, we are all redy bowne,181
We schall hym kepe till oure rennowne,
On ilke a side latte vs sitte doune
Nowe all in fere,
And sone we schall crake his croune
Whoso comes here.
Maria 1
Allas, to dede I wolde be dight,187
So woo in werke was neuere wight,
Mi sorowe is all for that sight
That I gune see,
Howe Criste my maistir moste of myght
Is dede fro me.
Allas that I schulde se his pyne193
Or yit that I his liffe schulde tyne,
Of ilke a myscheue he was medicyne
And bote of all,
Helpe and halde to ilke a hyne
That on hym wolde call.
Maria 2
Allas, who schall my balis bete199
Whanne I thynke on his woundes wete.
Jesu, that was of loue so swete
And neuere did ill,
Es dede and grauen vnder the grete,
Withouten skill.
Maria 3
Withowten skill the Jewes ilkone205
That louely lorde has newly slayne,
And trespasse did he neuere none
In nokyn steede.
To whome nowe schall I make my mone
Sen he is dede?
Maria 1
Sen he is dede my sisteres dere,211
Wende we will on mylde manere
With oure anoynementis faire and clere
That we haue broght,
To noynte his wondis on sides sere
That Jewes hym wroght.
Maria 2
Goo we same my sisteres free,217
Full faire vs longis his corse to see.
But I wotte noght howe beste may be,
Helpe haue we none.
And who schall nowe here of vs thre
Remove the stone?
Maria 3
That do we noght but we wer moo,223
For it is huge and heuy also.
Maria 1
Sisteris, a yoonge childe, as we goo225
Makand mornyng,
I see it sitte wher we wende to,
In white clothyng.
Maria 2
Sistirs, sertis it is noght to hide,229
The heuy stone is putte beside.
Maria 3
Sertis, for thyng that may betyde231
Nere will we wende,
To layte that luffely and with hym bide
That was oure frende.
Angel
Ye mournand women in youre thought,235
Here in this place whome haue yoe sought?
Maria 1
Jesu, that to dede is brought,237
Oure lorde so free.
Angel
Women, certayne here is he noght,239
Come nere and see.
He is noght here the soth to saie,
The place is voide that he in laye,
The sudary here se yoe may
Was on hym laide.
He is resen and wente his way,245
As he yoou saide.
Euen as he saide so done has hee,
He is resen thurgh grete poostee,
He schall be foune in Galilé
In flesshe and fell.
To his discipilis nowe wende yoe251
And thus thame tell.
Maria 1
Mi sisteres dere, sen it is soo253
That he is resen dede thus froo,
As the aungell tolde me and yow too-
Oure lorde so fre-
Hens will I neuer goo
Or I hym see.
Maria 2
Marie, vs thare no lenger lende,259
To Galilé nowe late vs wende.
Maria 1
Nought tille I see that faithfull frende261
Mi lorde and leche,
Therfore all this my sisteres hende,
That yoe forth preche.
Maria 3
As we haue herde so schall we saie.265
Marie oure sistir, haue goode daye.
Maria 1
Nowe verray God as he wele maye-267
Man most of myght-
He wisse you, sisteres, wele in youre waye
And rewle yoou right.
Allas, what schall nowe worthe on me.
Mi kaytiffe herte will breke in three
Whenne I thynke on that body free,273
How it was spilte.
Both feete and handes nayled tille a tre,
Withouten gilte.
Withouten gilte the trewe was tane,
For trespas did he neuere none,
The woundes he suffered many one279
Was for my misse.
It was my dede he was for slayne
And nothyng his.
How might I, but I loued that swete,
That for my loue tholed woundes wete
And sithen be grauen vndir the grete,285
Such kyndnes kithe?
Ther is nothing to that we mete
May make me blithe.
Miles 1
What, oute allas, what schall I saie?288
Where is the corse that herein laye?
Miles 2
What ayles the man? Is he awaye290
That we schulde tent?
Miles 1
Rise vppe and see.292
Miles 2
Harrowe, for ay292
I telle vs schente.
Miles 3
What deuill is this, what aylis yoou twoo,294
Such noyse and crye thus for to make too?
Miles 1
Why is he gone?296
Miles 3
Allas, whare is he that here laye?297
Miles 4
Whe, harrowe! Deuill, whare is he away?298
Miles 3
What, is he thus-gatis fro vs wente,299
That fals traitour that here was lente,
And we trewly here for to tente
Had vndirtane?
Sekirlie, I telle vs schente
Holy ilkane.
Miles 1
Allas, what schall we do this day,305
That thus this warlowe is wente his waye?
And sauely sirs I dare wele saie
He rose allone.
Miles 2
Witte sir Pilate of this affraye309
We mon be slone.
Miles 3
Why, canne none of vs no bettir rede?311
Miles 4
Ther is not ellis but we be dede.312
Miles 2
Whanne that he stered oute of this steede313
None couthe it kenne.
Miles 1
Allas, harde happe was on my hede315
Amonge all menne.
Fro sir Pilate witte of this dede,
That we were slepande whanne he yoede,
He will forfette withouten drede
All that we haue.
Miles 2
Vs muste make lies, for that is nede,321
Oureselue to saue.
Miles 3
Ya, that rede I wele, also motte I goo.323
Miles 4
And I assente therto alsoo.324
Miles 2
An hundereth schall I saie, and moo,325
Armed ilkone,
Come and toke his corse vs froo
And vs nere slayne.
Miles 1
Nay; certis I halde there none so goode329
As saie the soth even as it stoode,
Howe that he rose with mayne and mode
And wente his way.
To sir Pilate if he be wode
This dar I saie.
Miles 2
Why, dare thou to sir Pilate goo335
With thes tydingis and saie hym soo?
Miles 1
So rede I; if he vs sloo337
We dye but onys.
Miles 3
Nowe he that wrought vs all this woo339
Woo worthe his bonys.
Miles 4
Go we thanne, sir knyghtis hende,341
Sen that we schall to sir Pilate wende.
I trowe that we schall parte no frende
Or that we passe.
Miles 1
And I schall hym saie ilke worde tille ende,345
Even as it was.
Sir Pilate, prince withouten pere,
Sir Cayphas and Anna in fere,
And all yoe lordyngis that are here
To neven by name,
God saue yoou all on sidis sere351
Fro synne and schame.
Pilate
Ye are welcome, oure knyghtis kene,353
Of mekill mirthe nowe may yoe mene,
Therfore some tales telle vs betwene
Howe yoe haue wroght.
Miles 1
Oure wakyng, lorde, withouten wene,357
Is worthed to noyot.
Caiphas
To noght? Allas, sesse of such sawe.359
Miles 2
The prophete Jesu that yoe wele knawe360
Is resen and gone for all oure awe,
With mayne and myght.
Pilate
Therfore the deuill hymselffe the drawe,363
Fals recrayed knyght.
Combered cowardis I you call,
Haue yoe latten hym goo fro you all?
Miles 3
Sir, ther was none that did but small367
When that he yoede.
Miles 4
We wer so ferde downe ganne we falle369
And dared for drede.
Anna
Hadde yoe no strenghe hym to gaynestande?371
Traitoures, yoe myght haue boune in bande
Bothe hym and thame that yoe ther fande,
And sessid thame sone.
Miles 1
That dede all erthely men leuand375
Myght noyot haue done.
Miles 2
We wer so radde euerilkone377
Whanne that he putte beside the stone,
We wer so stonyed we durste stirre none,
And so abasshed.
Pilate
What, rose he by hymselfe allone?381
Miles 1
Ya sir, that be yoe traste.382
Miles 4
We herde never sen we were borne,383
Nor all oure faderes vs beforne,
Suche melodie mydday ne morne
As was made there.
Caiphas
Allas, thanne is oure lawes lorne387
For eueremare.
Miles 2
What tyme he rose goode tente I toke,389
The erthe that tyme tremylled and quoke,
All kyndely force than me forsoke
Tille he was gone.
Miles 3
I was aferde, I durste not loke393
Ne myght had none,
I myght not stande, so was I starke.
Pilate
Sir Cayphas, yoe are a connyng clerke:396
If we amysse haue tane oure merke,
I trowe same faile-
Therfore what schalle worthe nowe of this werke?
Sais your counsaille.
Caiphas
To saie the beste forsothe I schall401
That schall be prophete to vs all.
Yone knyghtis behoues there wordis agayne-call,
Howe he is miste.
We nolde for thyng that myght befall
That no man wiste.
Anna
Now sir Pilate, sen that it is soo407
That he is resynne dede vs froo,
Comaundis youre knyghtis to saie wher thei goo
That he was tane
With xxti ml. men and mo,
And thame nere slayne,
And therto of oure tresorie413
Giffe to thame a rewarde forthy.
Pilate
Nowe of this purpose wele plesed am I,415
And forther thus:
Sir knyghtis that are in dedis dowty,
Takes tente to vs,
And herkenes what that yoe schall saie
To ilke a man both nyyot and daye,
That ten ml. men in goode araye421
Come yoou vntill,
With forse of armys bare hym awaye
Agaynst your will.
Thus schall yoe saie in ilke a lande,
And therto on that same comenaunde
A thousande pounde haue in youre hande427
To your rewarde-
And frenschippe sirs, yoe vndirstande,
Schall not be spared.
Caiphas
Ilkone youre state we schall amende,431
And loke yoe saie as we yoou kende.
Miles 1
In what contré so yoe vs sende433
Be nyght or daye,
Wherso we come wherso we wende
So schall we saie.
Pilate
Ya, and whereso yoe tarie in ilke contré,437
Of oure doyng in no degré
Dois that no manne the wiser be
Ne freyne beforne,
Ne of the sight that yoe gonne see
Nevynnes it nowthere even ne morne.
For we schall mayntayne yoou alwaye,443
And to the pepull schall we saie
It is gretely agaynste oure lay
To trowe such thing.
So schall thei deme both nyght and day
All is lesyng.
Thus schall the sothe be bought and solde449
And treasoune schall for trewthe be tolde,
Therfore ay in youre hartis yoe holde
This counsaile clene.
And fares nowe wele both yonge and olde,
Haly bedene.

The Winedrawers' Play: Christ's Appearance to Mary MagdaleneContents

Mary Magdalene
Allas, in this worlde was neuere no wight1
Walkand with so mekill woo.
Thou dredfull dede, drawe hythir and dight
And marre me as thou haste done moo.
In lame is it loken, all my light,
Forthy on grounde onglad I goo;
Jesus of Nazareth he hight,7
The false Jewes slewe hym me froo.
Mi witte is waste nowe in wede.
I walowe, I walke, nowe woo is me,
For laide nowe is that lufsome in lede,
The Jewes hym nayled vntill a tree.
My doulfull herte is euere in drede,13
To grounde nowe gone is all my glee.
I sporne ther I was wonte to spede,
Nowe helpe me God in persones three.
Thou lufsome lede in ilke a lande,
As thou schope both day and nyght,
Sonne and mone both bright schynand,19
Thou graunte me grace to haue a sight
Of my lorde, or ellis his sande.
Jesus
Thou wilfull woman in this waye,22
Why wepis thou soo als thou wolde wede,
Als thou on felde wolde falle doune faie?
Do way, and do no more that dede.
Whome sekist thou this longe daye?
Say me the sothe, als Criste the rede.
Mary Magdalene
Mi lorde Jesu and God verray,28
That suffered for synnes his sides bleede.
Jesus
I schall the saie, will thou me here,30
The soth of hym that thou hast sought:
Withowten drede, thou faithfull fere,
He is full nere that mankynde bought.
Mary Magdalene
Sir, I wolde loke both ferre and nere34
To fynde my lorde-I se hym noght.
Jesus
Womane, wepe noght, but mende thy chere,36
I wotte wele whedir that he was brought.
Mary Magdalene
Swete sir, yf thou hym bare awaye,38
Saie me the sothe and thedir me leede
Where thou hym didde, withouten delay
I schall hym seke agayne goode speede.
Therfore, goode gardener, saie thou me,
I praye the for the prophetis sake,
Of thez tythyngis that I aske the.44
For it wolde do my sorowe to slake
When Goddis body founden myght be,
That Joseph of the crosse gonne take.
Might I hym fange vnto my fee,
Of all my woo he wolde me wrake.
Jesus
What wolde thou doo with that body bare50
That beried was with balefull chere?
Thou may noght salue hym of his sare,
His peynes were so sadde and seere.
But he schall cover mankynde of care,
That clowded was he schall make clere,
And the folke wele for to fare56
That fyled were all in feere.
Mary Magdalene
A, myght I euere with that man mete,58
The whiche that is so mekill of myght,
Drye schulde I wype that nowe is wete;
I am but sorowe of worldly sight.
Jesus
Marie, of mournyng amende thy moode,62
And beholde my woundes wyde.
Thus for mannys synnes I schedde my bloode
And all this bittir bale gonne bide.
Thus was I rased on the roode
With spere and nayles that were vnride.
Trowe it wele, it turnes to goode68
Whanne men in erthe ther flessh schall hyde.
Mary Magdalene
A, Rabony, I haue the sought,70
Mi maistir dere, full faste this day.
Jesus
Goo awaye Marie, and touche me noyot,72
But take goode kepe what I schall saie:
I ame hee that all thyng wroght,
That thou callis thi lorde and God verraye.
With bittir dede I mankynde boght,
And I am resen as thou se may.
And therfore, Marie, speke nowe with me,78
And latte thou nowe be thy grette.
Mary Magdalene
Mi lorde Jesu, I knowe nowe the,80
Thi woundes thai are nowe wette.
Jesus
Negh me noght, my loue, latte be82
Marie my doughtir swete.
To my fadir in Trinité
Forthe I stigh noyot yette.
Mary Magdalene
A, mercy, comely conquerour,86
Thurgh thi myght thou haste ouercome dede.
Mercy, Jesu, man and saueour,
Thi loue is swetter thanne the mede.
Mercy, myghty confortour,
For are I was full wille of rede.
Welcome lorde, all myn honnoure,92
Mi joie, my luffe, in ilke a stede.
Jesus
Marie, in thyne harte thou write94
Myne armoure riche and goode:
Myne actone couered all with white
Als cors of man behewede,
With stuffe goode and parfite
Of maydenes flessh and bloode;
Whan thei ganne thirle and smyte100
Mi heede for hawberke stoode.
Mi plates wer spredde all on brede,
That was my body vppon a tree;
Myne helme couered all with manhede,
The strengh therof may no man see;
The croune of thorne that garte me blede,106
Itt bemenes my dignité.
Mi diademe sais, withouten drede,
That dede schall I neuere be.
Mary Magdalene
A, blessid body that bale wolde beete,110
Dere haste thou bought mankynne.
Thy woundes hath made thi body wete
With bloode that was the withinne.
Nayled thou was thurgh hande and feete,
And all was for oure synne.
Full grissely muste we caitiffis grete-116
Of bale howe schulde I blynne?
To se this ferly foode
Thus ruffully dight,
Rugged and rente on a roode,
This is a rewfull sight;
And all is for oure goode,122
And nothyng for his plight.
Spilte thus is his bloode,
For ilke a synfull wight.
Jesus
To my God and my fadir dere,126
To hym als-swithe I schall assende,
For I schall nowe noyot longe dwelle here,
I haue done als my fadir me kende;
And therfore loke that ilke man lere
Howe that in erthe ther liffe may mende.
All that me loues I schall drawe nere132
Mi fadirs blisse that neuere schall ende.
Mary Magdalene
Alle for joie me likes to synge,134
Myne herte is gladder thanne the glee,
And all for joie of thy risyng
That suffered dede vpponne a tree.
Of luffe nowe is thou crouned kyng,
Is none so trewe levand more free.
Thy loue passis all erthely thyng,140
Lorde, blissed motte thou euere bee.
Jesus
To Galilé schall thou wende142
Marie, my doghtir dere,
Vnto my brethir hende,
Ther thei are all in fere.
Telle thame ilke worde to ende
That thou spake with me here.
Mi blissing on the lende,148
And all that we leffe here.

The Woolpackers' and Woolbrokers' Play: The Supper at EmmausContents

Pilgrim 1
That lorde that me lente this liffe for to lede,1
In my wayes thou me wisse thus will of wone.
Qwen othir men halfe moste mirthe to ther mede,
Thanne als a mornand manne make I my mone.
For douteles nowe may we drede vs-
Allas, thei haue refte vs oure rede,
With doole haue thei dight hym to dede,7
That lorde that was leeffe for to lede vs.
Pilgrim 2
He ledde vs full lelly that lorde, nowe allas,9
Mi lorde for his lewté his liffe has he lorne.
Pilgrim 1
Saye, who comes there claterand?11
Pilgrim 2
Sir, I Cleophas;11
Abide, my leffe brothere, to bale am I borne.
But telle me whedir thou bounes?
Pilgrim 1
To Emax, this castell beside vs.14
Ther may we bothe herber and hyde vs,
Therfore late vs tarie at no townes.
Pilgrim 2
Atte townes for to tarie take we no tent,17
But take vs tome at this tyme to talke of sume tales,
And jangle of the Jewes and of Jesu so gente,
Howe thei bette that body was bote of all bales.
With buffettis thei bete hym full barely,
In sir Cayphas hall garte thei hym call;
And hym before sir Pilate in his hall23
On the morne than aftir, full arely.
Pilgrim 1
Full arely the juggemen demed hym to dye;25
Both prestis and prelatis to Pilate made preysing,
And alls cursid caytiffis and kene on Criste gan thei crie,
And on that lele lorde made many a lesyng.
Thei spitte in his face to dispise hym,
To spoile hym nothyng thei spared hym,
But natheles baynly thei bared hym,31
With scourges smertly goyng thei smote hym.
Pilgrim 2
Thei smotte hym full smertely that the bloode oute braste,
That all his hyde in hurth was hastely hidde.
A croune of thorne on his heede full thraly thei thraste,
Itt is grete dole for to deme the dedis thei hym dide.
With byndyng vnbaynly and betyng,
Thane on his bakke bare he thame by
A crosse vnto Caluery;39
That swettyng was swemyed for swetyng.
Pilgrim 1
For all the swette that he swete with swyngis thei hym swang,
And raffe hym full rewfully with rapes on a rode.
Than heuyd thei hym highly on hight for to hang,
Withouten misse of this man, thus mensked thai his mode
That euere has bene trewest in trastyng.
Methynkith myn herte is boune for to breke,
Of his pitefull paynes when we here speke,47
So frendfull we fonde hym in fraistyng.
Pilgrim 2
In frasting we fonde hym full faithfull and free,49
In his mynde mente he neuere mysse to no man.
Itt was a sorowe, forsoth, in sight for to see
Whanne that a spetyffull spere vnto his harte ranne.
In baill thus his body was beltid,
Into his harte thraly thei thraste;
Whan his piteffull paynes were paste,55
That swet thyng full swiftely he sweltid.
Pilgrim 1
He sweltid full swithe in swonyng, that swette.57
Allas for that luffely that laide is so lowe,
With granyng full grissely on grounde may we grette,
For so comely a corse canne I none knowe.
With dole vnto dede thei did hym
For his wise werkis that he wroght thame,
Thes false folke, whan thei bethoughte thame,63
That grette vnkyndynesse thei kidde hym.
Pilgrim 2
Vnkyndynesse thei kidde hym, tho caitiffis so kene,
And als vnwitty wightis wrought thei hym wrake.
Jesus
What are thes meruailes that yoe of mene67
And thus mekill mournyng in mynde that yoe make,
Walkyng thus wille by thes wayes?
Pilgrim 2
Why, arte thou a pilgryme and haste bene70
At Jerusalem, and haste thou noght sene
What dole has ben done in thes daies?
Jesus
In ther daies, dere sir, what dole was ther done?73
Of that werke wolde I witte, and youre will were,
And therfore I pray you telle me now sone,
Was ther any hurlyng in hande? Nowe late me here.
Pilgrim 1
Why, herde thou no carpyng nor crying77
Att Jerusalem ther thou haste bene,
Whenne Jesu the Nazarene
Was doulfully dight to the dying?
Pilgrim 2
To the dying thei dight hym that defte was and dere,
Thurgh prokering of princes that were ther in prees.
Forthy as wightis that are will thus walke we in were,
For-pechyng als pilgrymes that putte are to pees.
For mornyng of oure maistir thus morne wee,
As wightis that are wilsome thus walke we,
Of Jesus in telling thus talke we,87
Fro townes for takyng thus turne we.
Pilgrim 1
Thus turne we fro townes, but take we entent89
How thei mourthered that man that we of mene.
Full rewfully with ropis on rode thei hym rente
And takkid hym thertill full tyte in a tene.
Vpperightis full rudely thei raised hym,
Thanne myghtely to noye hym withall,
In a mortaise faste lete hym fall-95
To pynne hym thei putte hym and peysed hym.
Pilgrim 2
Thei peysed hym to pynne hym, that pereles of pese;
Thus on that wight that was wise wroyot thei grete wondir,
Yitt with that sorowe wolde thei noyot sesse-
They schogged hym and schotte hym his lymes all in sondir,
His braynes thus brake thei and braste hym.
A blynde knyght, such was his happe,
Inne with a spere-poynte atte the pappe103
To the harte full thraly he thraste hym.
Pilgrim 1
Thei thraste hym full thraly, than was ther no threpyng,
Thus with dole was that dere vnto dede dight.
His bak and his body was bolned for betyng-
Itt was, I saie the forsoth, a sorowfull sight.
But ofte-sithes haue we herde saie,
And we trowe as we herde telle,
That he was to rawsoune Israell;111
But nowe is this the thirde daye.
Pilgrim 2
Thes dayes newe owre wittis are waxen in were,113
For some of oure women for certayne thei saide
That thai sawe in ther sightis solas full seere,
Howe all was lemand light wher he was laide.
Thei called vs, as euer myght thei thriffe,
For certayne thei saugh it in sight,
A visioune of aungellis bright,119
And tolde thame ther lorde was alyue.
Pilgrim 1
On lyue tolde thei that lorde leued hir in lande;121
Thez women come lightly to warne, I wene.
Some of oure folke hyed forthe, and faste thei it fande
That all was soth that thei saide that sight had thei sene.
For lely thei loked ther he laye
Thei wende ther that foode to haue fonne;
Thanne was his toumbe tome as a tonne-127
Thanne wiste thei that wight was away.
Pilgrim 2
Awaye is that wight that wonte was vs for to wisse.
Jesus
A, fooles that are fauty and failes of youre feithe,
This bale bud hym bide and belde thame in blisse-
But yoe be lele of youre laye youre liffe holde I laith.
To prophetis he proued it and preched,
And also to Moyses gan he saie
That he muste nedis die on a day,
And Moyses forth talde it and teched,136
And talde it and teched it many tymes than.
Pilgrim 1
A, more of this talking we pray you to telle vs.138
Pilgrim 2
Ya sir, be youre carping full kyndely we kenne139
Ye meene of oure maistir of whome that we melle vs.
Pilgrim 1
Ya, goode sir, see what I saie yoou,141
Se yoe this castell beside her?
All nyght we thynke for to bide here;
Bide with vs sir pilgrime, we praye yoou.
We praye yoou, sir pilgrime, yoe presse noyot to passe.
Jesus
Yis sir, me bus nede.146
Pilgrim 1
Nay sir, the nyght is ovir-nere.146
Jesus
And I haue ferre for to founde.147
Pilgrim 2
I hope wele thou has.147
Pilgrim 1
We praye the sir, hartely, all nyght holde the here.
Jesus
I thanke youe of this kyndinesse yoe kydde me.149
Pilgrim 1
Go in sir, sadly and sone.150
Pilgrim 2
Sir, daunger dowte noyot, haue done.151
Jesus
Sir, I muste nedis do as yoe bid me.152
Ye bidde me so baynly I bide for the beste.
Pilgrim 1
Lo, her is a sege goode sir, I saie yoou.154
Pilgrim 2
With such goode as we haue glad we oure geste.155
Pilgrim 1
Sir, of this poure pitaunce take parte now we pray yow.
[…     …]156
Jesus
Nowe blisse I this brede that brought is on the borde.
Fraste theron faithfully, my frendis, you to feede.
Pilgrim 1
[…     …] vnterly haue we tane entent-
Ow, I trowe some torfoyr is betidde vs!
Saie, wher is this man?
Pilgrim 2
Away is he wente-161
Right now satte he beside vs.
Pilgrim 1
Beside vs we both sawe hym sitte,163
And by no poynte couthe I parceyue hym passe.
Pilgrim 2
Nay, be the werkis that he wrought full wele myght we witte
Itt was Jesus hymselffe-I wiste who it was.
Pilgrim 1
Itt was Jesus thus wisely that wrought,167
That raised was and rewfully rente on the rode.
Of bale and of bittirnesse has he vs boght,
Boune was and betyn that all braste on bloode.
Pilgrim 2
All braste on bloode, so sore was he bette,171
With ther wickid Jewes that wrethfull was euere;
With scourges and scharpe thornes on his heede sette,
Suche torfoyr and torment of telle herde I neuere.
Pilgrim 1
Of telle herde I neuere of so pitefull peyne175
As suffered oure souerayne hyngand on hight;
Nowe is he resen with myght and with mayne,
I telle for sikir, we saugh hym in sight.
Pilgrim 2
We saugh hym in sight, nowe take we entent179
Be the brede that he brake vs so baynly betwene,
Such wondirfull wais as we haue wente
Of Jesus the gente was neuere none seene.
Pilgrim 1
Sene was ther neuere so wondirfull werkes,183
Be see ne be sande, in this worlde so wide.
Menskfully in mynde thes materes now merkis,
And preche we it prestly on euery ilke side.
Pilgrim 2
On euery ilke side prestely prechis we-187
Go we to Jerusaleme thes tydingis to telle.
Oure felawes fro fandyng nowe fraste we,
More of this mater her may we not melle.
Pilgrim 1
Here may we notte melle more at this tyde,191
For prossesse of plaies that precis in plight.
He bringe to his blisse on euery ilke side,
That sofferayne lorde that moste is of myght.

The Scriveners' Play: The Incredulity of ThomasContents

Peter
Allas, to woo that we wer wrought,1
Hadde never no men so mekill thought,
Sen that oure lorde to dede was brought
With Jewes fell;
Oute of this steede ne durste we noght,
But here ay dwelle.
John
Here haue we dwelte with peynes strang;7
Of oure liffe vs lothis, we leve to lange,
For sen the Jewes wrought vs that wrong
Oure lorde to sloo,
Durste we neuere come thame emang,
Ne hense to goo.
Jacobus
The wikkid Jewes hatis vs full ille,13
And bittir paynes wolde putte vs till.
Therfore I rede that we dwelle stille
Here ther we lende,
Vnto that Criste oure lorde vs wille
Some socoure sende.
God
Pees and reste be with yowe.19
Peter
A, brethir dere, what may we trowe?20
What was this sight that we saughe nowe
Shynand so bright,
And vanysshed thus and we ne wote how,
Oute of oure sight?
John
Oute of oure sight nowe is it soghte,25
Itt makith vs madde, the light it broght,
What may it be?
Jacobus
Sertis, I wotte noght,27
But sekirly
Itt was vanyté in oure thought,
Nought ellis trowe I it be.
God
Pees vnto yowe euermore myght be,31
Drede you noyot, for I am hee.
Peter
On Goddis name, benedicite!33
What may this mene?
Jacobus
Itt is a sperite forsothe, thynketh me,35
That dose vs tene.
John
A sperite it is, that trowe I right,37
All thus appered here to oure sight.
Itt makis vs madde of mayne and myght,
So is vs flaied;
Yone is the same that broughte the light
That vs affraied.
God
What thynke yoe, madmen, in youre thought?43
What mournyng in youre hertis is brought?
I ame Criste, ne drede yoou noght;
Her may yoe se
The same body that has you bought
Vppon a tre.
That I am comen yoou here to mete,49
Behalde and se myn handis and feete,
And grathely gropes my woundes wete
Al that here is.
Thus was I dight youre balis to beete,
And bring to blis.
For yowe ther gatis thanne haue I gone.55
Felys me grathely euerilkone,
And se that I haue flessh and bone.
Gropes me nowe,
For so ne has sperite none,
That schall yoe trowe.
To garre yoou kenne and knowe me clere61
I schall you schewe ensaumpillis sere.
Bringe nowe forthe vnto me here
Some of youre mette,
If yoe amange you all in fere
Haue ought to ete.
Jacobus
Thou luffand lorde that laste schall ay,67
Loo, here is mette that thou ete may,
A hony kombe the soth to saye,
Roste fecche thertill.
To ete therof here we the praie
With full goode will.
God
Nowe sen yoe haue broughte me this mete,73
To make youre trouthe stedfast and grete,
And for yoe schall wanhope forgete
And trowe in me,
With youe than here wol I ete,
That yoe schalle see.
Nowe haue I done, yoe haue sene howe,79
Boldely etyng here with youe.
Stedfastly loke that yoe trowe
Yitt in me efte,
And takis the remenaunte sone to you
That her is lefte.
For yooue thus was I reuyn and rayst,85
Therfore some of my peyne yoe taste;
And spekis now nowhare my worde waste,
That schall yoe lere,
And vnto yoou the holy goste
Resave yow here.
Beis now trewe, and trowes in me,91
And here I graunte youe in youre posté:
Whome that yoe bynde, bounden schall be
Right at youre steuene,
And whome that yoe lowys, losed schal be
Euermore in heuene.
Thomas
Allas for sight and sorowes sadde,97
Mornyng makis me mased and madde;
On grounde nowe may I gang vngladde
Bothe even and morne.
That hende that I my helpe of hadde
His liffe has lorne.
Lorne I haue that louely light,103
That was my maistir moste of myght.
So doulfully as he was dight
Was neuere no man;
Such woo was wrought of that worthy wighte
With wondis wan.
Wan was his wondis and wonderus wette,109
With skelpis sore was he swongen, that swette,
All naked nailed thurgh hande and feete.
Allas, for pyne,
That bliste, that beste my bale myght bete,
His liffe schulde tyne.
Allas, for sorowe myselffe I schende115
When I thynke hartely on that hende,
I fande hym ay a faithfull frende,
Trulie to telle.
To my brethir nowe wille I wende
Wherso thei dwell.
So wofull wyghtis was neuere none,121
Oure joie and comforte is all gone.
Of mournyng may we make oure mone
In ilka lande.
God blisse you brether, bloode and bone,
Same ther yoe stande.
Peter
Welcome Thomas, where has thou bene?127
Wete thou wele withouten wene
Jesu oure lorde than haue we sene
On grounde her gang.
Thomas
What saie yoe men? Allas, for tene,131
I trowe yoe mang.
John
Thomas, trewly it is noght to layne,133
Jesu oure lorde is resen agayne.
Thomas
Do waie, thes tales is but a trayne135
Of fooles vnwise.
He that was so fully slayne,
Howe schulde he rise?
Jacobus
Thomas, trewly he is on lyue139
That tholede the Jewes his flessh to riffe,
He lete vs fele his woundes fyue,
Oure lorde verray.
Thomas
That trowe I nought, so motte I thryue,143
Whatso yoe saie.
Peter
Thomas, we saugh his woundes wette,145
Howe he was nayled thurgh hande and feete;
Hony and fisshe with vs he eette,
That body free.
Thomas
I laye my liff it was some sperit149
Ye wende wer hee.
John
Nay Thomas, thou haste misgone,151
Forwhy he bad vs euerilkon
To grope hym grathely, bloode and bone
And flessh to feele.
Such thyngis, Thomas, hase sperite none,
That wote thou wele.
Thomas
What, leue felawes, late be youre fare.157
Tille that I see his body bare
And sithen my fyngir putte in thare
Within his hyde,
And fele the wounde the spere did schere
Riyot in his syde,
Are schalle I trowe no tales betwene.163
Jacobus
Thomas, that wounde haue we seene.164
Thomas
Ya, yoe wotte neuere what yoe mene,165
Youre witte it wantis.
Ye muste thynke no syne me thus to tene
And tule with trantis.
God
Pees, brethir, be vnto you;169
And Thomas, tente to me takis thou,
Putte forthe thy fyngir to me nowe.
Myn handis thou see,
Howe I was nayled for mannys prowe
Vppon a tree.
Beholde my woundis are bledand;175
Here in my side putte in thi hande,
And fele my woundis and vndirstande
That this is I,
And be no more mistrowand,
But trowe trewly.
Thomas
Mi lorde, my God, full wele is me.181
A, blode of price, blessid mote thou be;
Mankynd in erth, behold and see
This blessid blode.
Mercy nowe lorde ax I the,
With mayne and mode.
God
Thomas, for thou haste sene this sight,187
That I am resen as I the hight,
Therfore thou trowes it-but ilka wight,
Blissed be they euere
That trowis haly in my rising right,
And saw it neuere.
My brethir, fonde nowe forthe in fere,193
Ouereall in ilke a contré clere.
My rising both ferre and nere
Preche it schall yoe;
And my blissyng I giffe yoou here,
And my menyoe.

The Tailors' Play: The AscensionContents

Peter
O mightfull God, how standis it nowe,1
In worlde thus will was I neuere are;
Butte he apperes, bot I ne wote howe-
He fro vs twynnes whanne he will fare.
And yoitt may falle that for oure prowe,
And alle his wirkyng lesse and mare.
A, kyng of comforte, gudde arte thou7
And lele, and likand is thy lare.
John
The missing of my maistir trewe9
That lenghis not with vs lastandly,
Makis me to morne ilke a day newe
For tharnyng of his company.
His peere of gudnes neuere I knewe,
Of myght ne wisdome yoit any.
Peter
That we hym tharne sore may vs rewe,15
For he luffed vs full faithfully.
Bot yoitt in all my mysselykyng
A worde that Criste saide comfortis me:
Oure heuynes and oure mournyng,
He saide, to joie turned schuld be.
That joie, he saide in his hetyng,21
To reue vs none schulde haue no posté,
Wherfore abouen all othir thyng
That joie me longis to knowe and see.
Mary
Thou Petir, whanne my sone was slayne25
And laide in graue, yoe wer in were
Whedir he schulde rise, almoste ilkane;
But nowe yoe wotte thurgh knowyng clere.
Some that he saide schulde come is gane,
And some to come; but ilkane sere,
Whedir it be to come or none,31
Vs awe to knowe it all in fere.
Jesus
Almyghty God, my fadir free,33
In erthe thi bidding haue I done
And clarified the name of the;
To thyselffe clarifie the sone.
Als thou haste geuen me pleyne posté
Of ilke a flesh, graunte me my bone,
That thou me gaffe myght lyffand be39
In endles liffe and with the wonne.
That liffe is this that hath none ende,
To knawe the, fadir, moste of myght;
And me thy sone, whame thou gon sende
To dye for man withouten plight.
Mankynde was thyne, whome thou bekende45
And toke me to my yoemyng right.
I died for man, mannes misse to mende,
And vnto spitous dede was dight.
Thy wille vnto them taughte haue I,
That wolde vnto my lare enclyne.
Mi lare haue they tane buxsomly,51
Schall none of them ther trauaile tyne.
Thou gaffe them me but noght forthy,
Yitt are they thyne als wele as myne;
Fleme them not fro oure companye,
Sen thyne are myne and myne er thyne.
Sen they are oures, if thame nede ought57
Thou helpe them, if it be thy will;
And als thou wate that I thame boght,
For faute of helpe latte them not spill.
Fro the worlde to take them pray I noght,
But that thou kepe thame ay fro ill,
All thois also that settis thare thoght63
In erthe my techyng to fulfill.
Mi tythandis tane has my menyoe
To teche the pepull wher they fare,
In erthe schall thei leue aftir me
And suffir sorowes sadde and sare.
Dispised and hatted schall thei be,69
Als I haue bene, with lesse and mare,
And suffer dede in sere degré,
For sothfastnesse schall none them spare.
Thou halowe thame fadir, forthy,
In sothfastnes so that thei may
Be ane as we ar, thowe and I,75
In will and werke, both nyght and day,
And knawe that I ame verilye
Both sothfastnes and liffe alway,
Be the whilke ilke man that is willy
May wynne the liffe that laste schall ay.
Bot yoe, my postelis all bedene81
That lange has wente abowte with me,
In grete wanne-trowyng haue yoe bene,
And wondir harde of hartis ar yoe.
Worthy to be reproued, I wene,
Ar yoe forsothe, and yoe will see
In als mekill als yoe haue sene87
My wirkyng proued and my posté.
Whan I was dede and laide in graue
Of myne vpryse yoe were in doute,
And some for myne vprysing straue
When I was laide als vndir clowte
So depe in erthe. But sithen I haue93
Ben walkand fourty daies aboute,
Eten with yoou, youre trouthe to saue,
Comand emange yoou inne and oute.
And therfore beis no more in were
Of myne vpperysing, day nor nyght.
Youre misbeleue leues ilkone seere,99
For witte yoe wele, als man of myght
Over whome no dede may haue poure,
I schall be endles liffeand right.
Bot for to schewe you figure clere,
Schewe I me thusgatis to youre sight.
Howe man by cours of kynde schall ryse,105
Allthogh he be roten ontill noyot.
Oute of his graue in this same wise
At the daye of dome schall he be broght
Wher I schall sitte as trewe justise,
And deme man aftir he has wroght,
The wikkid to wende with ther enmyse,111
The gode to blisse thei schall be broght.
Anodir skill forsoth is this:
In a tre man was traied thurgh trayne;
Ane man, forthy to mende that misse
On a tree boght mankynde agayne,
In confusioune of hym and his117
That falsely to forge that frawde was fayne,
Mankynde to bringe agayne to blisse,
His foo, the fende, till endles peyne.
The thirde skille is, trewly to tell,
Right als I wende als wele will seme,
So schall I come in flessh and fell123
Atte the day of dome, whan I schall deme
The goode in endles blisse to dwell,
Mi fomen fro me for to fleme
Withouten ende in woo to well,
Ilke leuand man here to take yeme.
But intill all the worlde wendand,129
The gospell trewly preche schall yoe
Tille ilke a creatoure liffand.
Who trowes, if that he baptised be
He schall, als yhe schall vndirstande,
Be saued, and of all thraldome free.
Who trowis it not, as mistrowand135
For faute of trouthe dampned is he.
But all ther tokenyngis bedene
Schall folowe tham that trowis it right,
In my name deuellis crewell and kene
Schall thei oute-caste of ilka wight,
With newe tongis speke, serpentis vnclene141
Fordo; and if thei day or nyght
Drinke venym wik, withouten wene,
To noye thame schall it haue no myght.
On seke folke schall thei handes lay
And wele schall thei haue sone at welde,
This poure schall thei haue alway,147
My menyohe, bothe in towne and felde;
And witte yoe wele, so schall thei
That wirkis my wille in youthe or elde-
A place for thame I schall purveye
In blisse with me ay in to belde.
Nowe is my jornay brought till ende,153
Mi tyme that me so lang was lente.
To my fadir nowe vppe I wende,
And youre fadir that me doune sente-
Mi God, youre God, and ilk mannes frende
That till his techyng will consente,
Till synneres that no synne thame schende,159
That mys amendis and will repente.
But for I speke thes wordis nowe
To you, youre hartis hase heuynes.
Fullfillid all be it for youre prowe
That I hense wende, als nedfull is.
And butte I wende comes noght to yowe165
The comforteoure of comforteles,
And if I wende yoe schall fynde howe
I schall hym sende, of my goodnesse.
Mi fadirs will fullfillid haue I,
Therfore fareswele ilkone seere;
I goo make youe a stede redye171
Endles to wonne with me in feere.
Sende doune a clowde, fadir, forthy
I come to the my fadir deere.
The fadir blissing moste myghty
Giffe I you all that leffe here.
Mary
A, myghtfull God, ay moste of myght,177
A selcouth sight is this to see,
Mi sone thus to be ravisshed right
In a clowde wendande vppe fro me.
Bothe is my herte heuy and light,
Heuy for swilke twynnyng schulde be,
And light for he haldis that he hight183
And thus vppe wendis in grette posté.
His hetyngis haldis he all bedene,
That comfortis me in all my care.
But vnto whome schall I me mene?
Thus will in worlde was I neuere are,
To dwelle amonge thes Jewes kene-189
Me to dispise will thei not spare.
John
All be he noght in presens seene,191
Yitt is he salue of ilka sare.
But lady, sen that he betoke
Me for to serue you as youre sonne,
You nedis nothyng, lady, but loke
What thyng in erthe yoe will haue done.
I ware to blame if I forsoke197
To wirke youre wille, midday or none,
Or any tyme yoitt of the woke.
Mary
I thanke the John, with wordis fune:200
Mi modirhed, John, schall thou haue,
And for my sone I wolle the take.
John
That grace, dere lady, wolde I craue.203
Mary
Mi sone sawes will I neuere forsake,204
Itt were not semand that we straue
Ne contraried noyot that he spake;
But John, tille I be broght in graue,
Schall thou never see my sorowe slake.
Jacob
Owre worthy lorde, sen he is wente209
For vs, lady, als is his will,
We thanke hym that vs the hath lente
With vs on lyue to lenge her stille.
I saie for me with full concente,
Thi likyng all will I fulfille.
Andrew
So wille we all with grete talent,215
Forthy lady, giffe the noght ill.
Angel 1
Ye men of the lande of Galilé,217
What wondir yoe to heuene lokand?
This Jesus whome yoe fro youe see
Vppe-tane, yoe schall wele vndirstande,
Right so agayne come doune schall he.
When he so comes with woundes bledand,
Who wele has wrought full gladde may be,223
Who ill has leved full sore dredand.
Angel 2
Ye that has bene his seruauntis trewe225
And with hym lengand nyght and day,
Slike wirkyng als yoe with hym knew
Loke that yoe preche it fourthe alway.
Youre mede in heuene beis ilke day newe,
And all that seruis hym wele to paye.
Who trowes you noght it schall thame rewe,231
Thei mon haue peyne encresand ay.
Jacobus
Loued be thou lorde ay moste of myght,233
That thus, in all oure grete disease,
Vs comfortist with thyne aungellis bright.
Nowe aught ther Jewes thare malise meese,
That sawe thameselue this wondir sight
Thus nere thame wroght vndir ther nese-
And we haue mater day and nyght239
Oure God more for to preyse and plese.
Andrew
Nowe may ther Jewes be all confused241
If thai on-thinke thame inwardly,
Howe falsely thei haue hym accused
And sakles schente thurgh ther envy.
Ther falsed, that thei longe haue vsed,
Nowe is it proued here opynly;
And they were of this mater mused247
Itt schulde thame stirre to aske mercy.
Peter
That wille thei noyot Andrewe, late be,249
For thei are full of pompe and pride.
Itt may noyot availe to the ne me
Ne none of vs with thame to chide.
Prophite to dwelle can I none see,
Forthy late us no lenger bide,
But wende we vnto seere contré255
To preche thurgh all this worlde so wide.
John
That is oure charge, for that is beste,257
That we lenge nowe no lenger here,
For here gete we no place of reste
To lenge so nere the Jewes poure.
Vs to fordo thei will thame caste,
Forthy come forthe my lady dere
And wende vs hense; I am full preste263
With you to wende with full goode chere.
Mi triste is nowe euer ilk a dele
In yowe, to wirke aftir youre counsaill.
Jacobus
Mi lady dere, that schall yoe fele267
In oght that euere vs may availe.
Oure comforte, youre care to kele,
Whill we may leue we schall not faile.
Mary
Mi brethir dere, I traste itt wele,271
Mi sone schall quyte yoou youre trauaile.
Peter
To Jerusalem go we agayne273
And loke what fayre so aftir fall,
Oure lorde and maistir moste of mayne
He wisse youe, and be with youe all.

The Potters' Play: PentecostContents

Peter
Brethir, takes tente vnto my steuen,1
Thanne schall yoe stabily vndirstande
Oure maistir hende is hente to heuyn,
To reste there on his fadirs right hande.
And we are leued alyue elleuyn,
To lere his lawes lely in lande;
Or we begynne vs muste be even7
Ellis are owre werkis noght to warande.
For parfite noumbre it is none
Off elleuen for to lere,
Twelue may be asoundir tone
And sett in parties seere.
Nobis precepit dominus predicare populo, et testificare
quia prope est iudex viuorum et mortuorum.12
Oure lord comaunded vs more and lesse
To rewle vs right aftir his rede,
He badde vs preche and bere wittenesse
That he schulde deme bothe quike and dede.
To hym all prophettis preuys expresse
All tho that trowis in his Godhede,18
Off synnes thei schall haue forgiffenesse,
So schall we say …mekill rede.
And senne we on this wise
Schall his counsaile discrie,
Itt nedis we vs avise
That we saye noyot serely.24
John
Serely he saide that we schulde wende25
In all this worlde his will to wirke,
And be his counsaile to be kende
He saide he schulde sette haly kirke.
But firste he saide he schulde doune sende
His sande, that we schuld noyot be irke,
His haly gaste on vs to lende31
And make vs to melle of materes mirke.
Vs menis he saide vs thus
Whan that he fared vs froo:
‘Cum venerit paraclitus
Docebit vos omnia‘.
Jacobus
Ya, certaynely he saide vs soo,37
And mekill more thanne we of mene:
‘Nisi ego abiero‘,
Thus tolde he ofte-tymes vs betwene.
He saide, forsoth, ‘But if thi goo
The holy goste schall not be sene,
Et cum assumptus fuero43
Thanne schall I sende yoou comforte clené.
Thus tolde he holy howe
That oure dedis schulde be dight,
So schall we trewly trowe
He will holde that he vs highte.
He will holde that he vs hight.49
Apostle 4
He highte vs fro harme for to hyde49
And holde in hele both hede and hende,
Whanne we take that he talde that tyde,
Fro all oure foois it schall vs fende.
But thus in bayle behoues vs bide
To tyme that sande till vs be sende;
The Jewes besettis vs in ilke a side55
That we may nowdir walke nor wende.
Apostle 5
We dare noyot walke for drede57
Or comforte come vs till,
Itt is moste for oure spede
Here to be stokyn still.
Mary
Brethir, what mene yoe yoou emelle,61
To make mournyng at ilk a mele?
My sone that of all welthe is well,
He will yoou wisse to wirke full wele,
For the tente day is this to telle
Sen he saide we schull fauoure fele.
Leuys wele that lange schall it not dwell,67
And therfore drede you neuere a dele,
But prayes with harte and hende
That we his helpe may haue,
Thanne schall it sone be sende,
The sande that schall vs saue.
Doctor 1
Harke maistir, for Mahoundes peyne,73
Howe that thes mobbardis maddis nowe.
Ther maistir that oure men haue slayne
Hase garte thame on his trifullis trowe.
Doctor 2
The lurdayne sais he leffis agayne;77
That mater may thei neuere avowe,
For as thei herde his prechyng pleyne
He was away, thai wiste noyot howe.
Doctor 1
They wiste noyot whenne he wente,81
Therfore fully thei faile,
And sais tham schall be sente
Grete helpe thurgh his counsaille.
Doctor 2
He myghte nowdir sende clothe nor clowte,85
He was neuere but a wrecche alway-
But samme oure men and make a schowte,
So schall we beste yone foolis flaye.
Doctor 1
Nay, nay, than will thei dye for doute.89
I rede we make noyot mekill dray,
But warly wayte when thai come oute
And marre thame thanne, if that we may.
Doctor 2
Now certis, I assente thertille,93
Yitt wolde I noght thei wiste;
Yone carles than schall we kill
But thei liffe als vs liste.
Mary
Honnoure and blisse be euer newe,97
With worschippe in this worlde alwaye,
To my souerayne sone Jesu,
Oure lorde allone that laste schall ay.
Nowe may we triste his talis ar trewe,
Be dedis that here is done this day;
Als lange as yoe his pase pursue103
The fende he fendis yow for to flay.
For his high hali gaste
He lattis here on yoou lende,
Mirthis and trewthe to taste
And all misse to amende.
Peter
All mys to mende nowe haue we myght,109
This is the mirthe oure maistir of mente.
I myght noyot loke, so was it light-
A, loued be that lorde that itt vs lente.
Now hase he holden that he vs highte,
His holy goste here haue we hente;
Like to the sonne itt semed in sight,115
And sodenly thanne was itt sente.
Apostle 2
Hitt was sente for oure sele,117
Hitt giffis vs happe and hele,
Methynke slike forse I fele
I myght felle folke full feele.
Apostle 3
We haue force for to fighte in felde121
And fauour of all folke in feere,
With wisdome in this worlde to welde
Be knowing of all clergye clere.
Apostle 4
We haue bewteis to be oure belde125
And langage nedis vs none to lere,
That lorde vs awe yoappely to yoelde
That vs has yoemed vnto this yoere.
Apostle 5
This is the yoere of grace129
That musteris vs emang,
As aungellis in this place
That sais thus in ther sange.
Apostle 1
In thare sigging saide thei thus,133
And tolde ther talis betwene them two:
‘Veni creator spiritus,
Mentes tuorum visita‘.
Thei praied the spirite come till vs
And mende oure myndis with mirthis ma,
That lered thei of oure lorde Jesus,139
For he saide that itt schulde be swa.
Apostle 2
He saide he schulde vs sende141
His holy goste fro heuyn,
Oure myndis with mirthe to mende-
Nowe is all ordand euyn.
Apostle 3
Euen als he saide schulde to vs come145
So has bene schewid vnto oure sight;
‘Tristicia impleuit cor vestrum’-
Firste sorowe in herte he vs hight;
‘Sed conuertetur in gaudium‘.
Sen saide he that we schulde be light.
Nowe that he saide vs, all and summe,151
Is mefid emange vs thurgh his myght.
Apostle 4
His myght with mayne and mode153
May comforte all mankynde.
Doctor 1
Harke man, for Mahoundes bloode,155
Ther men maddis oute of mynde.
Thei make carpyng of ilke contré,
And leris langage of ilk a lande.
Doctor 2
They speke oure speche als wele as we,159
And in ilke a steede it vndirstande.
Doctor 1
And alle are noyot of Galilee161
That takis this hardinesse on hande?
Butt thei are drounken, all thes menyoe,
Of muste or wyne, I wolle warande.
Doctor 2
Nowe certis this was wele saide,165
That makis ther mynde to marre;
Yone faitours schall be flaied
Or that thei flitte aught ferre.
Apostle 4
Harke brethir, waites wele aboute,169
For in oure fayre we fynde no frende.
The Jewes with strengh are sterne and stoute
And scharpely schapes them vs to schende.
Apostle 1
Oure maistir has putte all perellis oute173
And fellid the falsed of the fende.
Vndo youre dores and haues no doute,
For to yoone warlowes will we wende.
Apostle 2
To wende haue we no drede,177
Noght for to do oure dette,
For to neuyn that is nede
Shall none on lyve vs lette.
Peter
Ye Jewez that in Jerusalem dwelle,181
Youre tales are false, that schall yoe fynde.
That we are dronken we here you telle
Because yoe hope we haue bene pynnyd.
A prophette preued, his name is Johell,
A gentill Jewe of youre awne kynde,
He spekis thus in his speciall spell187
And of this matere makis he mynde.
Be poyntis of prophicie
He tolde full ferre before,
This may yoe noyot denye,
For thus his wordis wore:
‘Et erit nouissimis diebus, dicit dominus,192
effundam de spiritu meo super omnem carnem‘.192
Apostle 3
Loo, losellis, loo, thus may ye lere193
Howe youre elders wrotte alway.
The holy goste haue we tane here
As youre awne prophettis prechid ay.
Apostle 4
Hitt is the myght of oure maistir dere,197
All dedis that here are done this daye;
He giffis vs myght and playne power
To conclude all that yoe can saie.
Doctor 1
There men hase mekill myght201
Thurgh happe thei here haue tone.
Doctor 2
Wende we oute of ther sight203
And latte them even allone.
Apostle 1
Nowe, brethir myne, sen we all meffe205
To teche the feithe to foo and frende,
Oure tarying may turne vs to mischeffe,
Wherfore I counsaille that we wende
Vntille oure lady and take oure leue.
Apostle 2
Sertis, so woll we with wordis hende.210
Mi lady, takis it noght to greue,
I may no lenger with you lende.
[…     …]212
Mary
Nowe Petir, sen itt schall be soo213
That yoe haue diuerse gatis to gang,
Ther schall none dere you for to doo
Whils my sone musteris you emang.
Butt John and Jamys, my cosyns twoo,
Loke that yoe lenge not fro me lange.
John
Lady, youre wille in wele and woo,219
Itt schall be wroght, ellis wirke we wrang.
Jacobus
Lady, we bothe are boune221
Atte youre biddyng to be.
Mary
The blissing of my sone223
Be boith with you and me.

The Drapers' Play: The Death of the VirginContents

Gabriel
Hayle, myghfull Marie, Godis modir so mylde,1
Hayle be thou, roote of all reste, hayle be thou, ryall.
Hayle floure and frewte noyot fadid nor filyd,
Haile, salue to all synnefull. Nowe saie the I schall
Thy sone to thiselue me has sente,
His sande, and sothly he saies
No lenger than ther thre dayes7
Here lefte the this liffe that is lente.
And therfore he biddis the loke that thou blithe be,
For to that bigly blisse that berde will the bring,
There to sitte with hymselue, all solas to see,
And to be crowned for his quene and he hymselue kyng
In mirthe that euere schall be newe.13
He sendis to the worthely iwis
This palme oute of paradise,
In tokenyng that it schall be trewe.
Mary
I thanke my sone semely of all his sandis sere;17
Vnto hym lastandly be ay louyng
That me thus worthely wolde menske on this manere,
And to his bigly blisse my bones for to bringe.
But gode ser, neuenes me thi name.
Gabriel
Gabriell, that baynly ganne bringe22
The boodworde of his bering-
Forsothe lady, I ame the same.
Mary
Nowe Gabriell that sothly is fro my sone sent,25
I thanke the ther tythyngis thou tellis me vntill,
And loued be that lorde of the lane that has me lente
[…     …]27
And dere sone, I beseke the
Grete God, thou graunte me thi grace,
Thyne appostelis to haue in this place,
That thei at my bering may be.
Gabriel
Nowe foode fairest of face, most faithfull and fre,
Thyne askyng thi sone has graunte of his grace,
And saies all same in sight yoe schall see
All his appostelis appere in this place,
To wirke all thi will at thi wending.
And sone schall thi peynes be paste,
And thou to be in liffe that schall laste38
Euermore withouten any ending.
John
Marie my modir, that mylde is and meke40
And cheffe chosen for chaste, nowe telle me, what chere?
Mary
John, sone, I saie the forsothe I am seke.42
Mi swete sone sonde I hente, right nowe it was here,
And douteles he saies I schall dye.
Within thre daies iwis,
I schall be beldid in blisse
And come to his awne company.
John
A, with thi leue lady, thou neuene it me noght,48
Ne telle me no tydingis to twynne vs in two,
For be thou, blissid birde, vnto bere broght
Euermore whils I wonne in this worlde will me be full woo,
Therfore lete it stynte and be still.
Mary
Nay John, sone, myselue nowe I see53
Atte Goddis will moste it nedis be,
Therfore be it wroght at his will.
John
A, worthy, when thou art wente will me be full woo-
But God giffe the appostelis wiste of thi wending.
Mary
Yis John, sone, for certayne schall it be so,58
All schall thei hardely be here at myne ending.
The sonde of my sone saide me this,
That sone schall my penaunce be paste
And I to be in liffe that euere schall laste,
Than baynly to belde in that blisse.
Peter
O God omnipotent, the giffer of all grace,64
Benedicite dominus, a clowde now full clere
Vmbelappid me in Judé prechand as I was,
And I haue mekill meruayle how that I come here.
Jacobus
A, sesse, of this assemelyng can I noyot saie68
Howe and in what wise that we are here mette,
Owthir myrthe or of mornyng mene wele it maye,
For sodenly in sight here sone was I sette.
Andrew
A, bredir, be my wetand and iwisse so wer we,72
In diuerse landes lely I wotte we were lente,
And how we are semelid thus can I noyot see,
But as God of his sande has vs same sente.
John
A, felawes, late be youre fare,76
For as God will it moste nedis be,
That pereles is of posté,
His myyot is to do mekill mare.
For Marie that worthy schall wende nowe I wene,
Vnto that bigly blisse that high barne baynly vs boght;
That we in hir sight all same myght be sene82
Or sche disseuer vs froo, hir sone sche besoght.
And thus has he wroght atte hir will,
Whanne sche schal be broght on a bere,
That we may be neghand hir nere
This tyme for to tente hir vntill.
Mary
Jesu my darlyng that ding is and dere,88
I thanke the my dere sone of thi grete grace
That I all this faire felawschip atte hande nowe has here,
That thei me some comforte may kythe in this case.
This sikenes it sittis me full sare;
My maidens, take kepe nowe on me
And caste some watir vppon me-94
I faynte, so febill I fare.
Ancilla 1
Allas for my lady that lemed so light,96
That euere I leued in this lede thus longe for to lende,
That I on this semely schulde se such a sight.
Ancilla 2
Allas, helpe, sche dyes in oure hende.99
A, Marie, of me haue thou mynde
[…     …]100
Some comforte vs two for to kythe,
Thou knowes we are comen of thi kynde.
Mary
What ayles yow women for wo thus wynly to wepe?103
Yhe do me dere with youre dynne, for me muste nedis dye
Yhe schulde, whenne yoe saw me so slippe on slepe,
Haue lefte all youre late and lette me lye.
John, cosyne, garre thame stynte and be still.
John
A, Marie that mylde is of mode,108
When thi sone was raised on a rode
To tente the he toke me the till,
And therfore at thi bidding full bayne will I be.
Iff ther be oght, modir, that I amende may,
I pray the, myldest of mode, meue the to me,
And I schall, dereworthi dame, do it ilke a daye.114
Mary
A, John, sone, that this peyne were ouere-paste!115
With goode harte yoe alle that are here
Praies for me faithfully in feere,
For I mon wende fro you as faste.
Judeus 1
A, foode fairest of face, moste faithfull to fynde,
Thou mayden and modir that mylde is and meke,
As thou arte curtaise and comen of oure kynde
All oure synnes for to sesse thi sone thou beseke,
With mercy to mende vs of mys.
Judeus 2
Sen thou, lady, come of oure kynne,124
Thou helpe vs nowe thou veray virginne,
That we may be broght vnto blisse.
Mary
Jesu my sone, for my sake beseke I the this,127
As thou arte gracious and grete God thou graunte me thy grace.
Thei that is comen of my kynde and amende will there mys,
Nowe specially thou thame spede and spare thame a space,
And be ther belde, if thi willis be.
And dere sone, whane I schall dye,
I pray the than for thi mercy133
The fende thou latte me noyot see.
And also my blissid barne, if thi will be,
I sadly beseke the my sone, for my sake,
Men that are stedde stiffely in stormes or in see
And are in will wittirly my worschippe to awake,
And thanne nevenes my name in that nede,139
Thou late thame not perissh nor spille.
Of this bone my sone, at thi will,
Thou graunte me specially to spede.
Also my bliste barne thou graunte me my bone,
All that are in newe or in nede and nevenes me be name,
I praie the sone for my sake thou socoure thame sone,
In alle ther schoures that are scharpe thou shelde thame fro schame.
And women also in thare childing,
Nowe speciall thou thame spede,
And if so be thei die in that drede
To thi blisse thane baynly thou thame bringe.
Jesus
Marie my modir, thurgh the myght nowe of me151
For to make the in mynde with mirthe to be mending,
Thyne asking all haly here heete I nowe the.
But modir, the fende muste be nedis at thyne endyng
In figoure full foule for to fere the.
Myne aungelis schall thane be aboute the,
And therfore dere dame thou thar noyot doute the,157
For douteles thi dede schall noyot dere the.
And therfore my modir come myldely to me,
For aftir the sonne my sande will I sende,
And to sitte with myselfe all solas to se
In ay-lastand liffe in likyng to lende.
In this blisse schall be thi bilding,163
Of mirth schall thou neuere haue missing
But euermore abide in my blissing,
All this schall thou haue at thi welding.
Mary
I thanke the my swete sone, for certis I am seke,167
I may noyot now meve me for mercie almoste
To the, sone myne that made me, thi maiden so meke;
Here thurgh thi grace, god sone, I giffe the my goste.
Mi sely saule I the sende
To heuene that is highest on heghte,
To the, sone myne that moste is of myght,173
Ressayue it here into thyne hende.
Jesus
Myne aungellis louely of late, lighter than the levene,
Into the erthe wightly I will that yoe wende
And bringe me my modir to the highest of heuene,
With mirthe and with melody hir mode for to mende,
For here schall hir blisse neuer be blynnande.
Mi modir schall myldely be me
Sitte nexte the high trinité,181
And neuere in two to be twynnand.
Angel 1
Lorde, atte thi bidding full bayne will I be,183
That floure that neuere was fadid full fayne will we fette.
Angel 2
And atte thi will, gode lorde, wirke will we185
With solace on ilke side that semely vmsitte.
Angel 3
Latte vs fonde to hir faste hir fors to deffende,187
That birde for to bringe vnto this blis bright.
Body and sawle we schall hir assende
To regne in this regally be regentté full right.
Angel 4
To blisse that birde for to bringe191
Nowe Gabriell late vs wightly be wendand.
This maiden mirthe to be mendand
A semely song latte vs sing.

The Weavers' Play: The Assumption of the VirginContents

Thomas
In waylyng and weping, in woo am I wapped,1
In site and in sorowe, in sighing full sadde.
Mi lorde and my luffe, loo, full lowe is he lapped,
That makes me to mourne nowe full mate and full madde.
What harling and what hurlyng that hedesman he hadde,
What breking of braunches ware brosten aboute hym,
What bolnyng with betyng of brothellis full badde;7
Itt leres me full lely to loue hym and lowte hym,
That comely to kenne.
Goddis sone Jesus
He died for vs,
That makes me thus
To mourne amange many men.13
Emange men may I mourne for the malice thei mente
To Jesus the gentillest of Jewes generacioun.
Of wisdome and witte were the waies that he wente
That drewe all tho domesmen derffe indignacioun,
For douteles full dere was his diewe dominacioun.
Vnkyndely thei kidde them ther kyng for to kenne19
With carefull comforth and colde recreacioun,
For he mustered his miracles amonge many men
And to the pepull he preched.
But the Pharases fers
All his resouns revers,
And to ther hedesmen rehers25
That vntrewe were the tales that he teched.
He teched full trewe, but the tirauntes were tened.
For he reproued ther pride thai purposed thame preste
To mischeue hym, with malis in there mynde haue thei menyd,
And to accuse hym of cursednesse the caistiffis has caste.
Ther rancoure was raised, no renke might it reste,31
Thai toke hym with treasoune, that turtill of treuthe,
Thei fedde hym with flappes, with fersnesse hym feste,
To rugge hym, to riffe hym; ther reyned no rewthe.
Vndewly thei demed hym:
Thei dusshed hym, thei dasshed hym,
Thei lusshed hym, thei lasshed hym,37
Thei pusshed hym, thei passhed hym,
All sorowe thei saide that it semed hym.
Itt semed hym all sorowe, thei saide in ther seggyng.
Thei skippid and scourged hym-he skapid not-with scornes;
That he was leder and lorde in there lawe lay no leggyng,
But thrange on and thristed a croune of thik thornes.
Ilk tag of that turtill so tatterid and torne es
That that blissid body blo is and bolned for betyng,
Yitt the hedesmen to hynge hym with huge hydous hornes
As brothellis or bribours were belyng and bletyng:
‘Crucifie hym’ thei cried.
Sone Pilate in parlement49
Of Jesus gaffe jugement,
To hynge hym the harlottis hym hente;
Ther was no deide of that domesman denyed.
Denyed not that domesman to deme hym to dede,
That frendly faire foode that neuere offended.
Thei hied thame in haste than to hynge vppe there heede,
What woo that thei wroghte hym no wiyot wolde haue wende it.
His true titill thei toke thame no tome for to attende it,
But as a traitour atteynted thei toled hym and tuggid hym,
Thei schonte for no schoutis his schappe for to schende it,
Thei rasid hym on rode als full rasely thei rugged hym.
Thei persed hym with a spere,61
That the blode riall
To the erthe gun fall,
In redempcion of all
That his lele lawes likis to lere.
To lere he that likis of his lawe that is lele
Mai fynde in oure frende here full faithfull feste,
That wolde hynge thus on hight to enhaunce vs in hele
And by vs fro bondage by his bloode that is beste.
Than the comforte of oure companye in kares were keste,
But that lorde so allone wolde not leffe vs full longe.
On the thirde day he rose riyot with his renkis to reste,
Both flessh and fell fersly that figour gon fange73
And to my brethir gonne appere.
Thai tolde me of this
Bot I leued amys,
To rise flesshly iwis
Methought that it paste mans poure.
But the poure of that prince was presiously previd79
Whan that souerayne schewed hymselffe to my siyot.
To mene of his manhode my mynde was all meued,
But that reuerent redused me be resoune and be riyot.
The woundes full wide of that worthy wight
He frayned me to fele thame my faith for to feste,
And so I did douteless, and doune I me diyot-85
I bende my bak for to bowe and obeyed hym for beste.
So sone he assendid
Mi felaus in feere
Ware sondered sere,
If thai were here
Mi myrthe were mekill amended91
Amendid were my mirthe with that meyné to mete.
Mi felaus in fere for to fynde woll I fonde,
I schall nott stedde in no stede but in stall and in strete
Grath me be gydis to gette thame on grounde.
O souerayne, how sone am I sette here so sounde!
This is the Vale of Josophat in Jury so gente.97
I will steme of my steuene and sted here a stounde,
For I am wery for walkyng the waies that I wente
Full wilsome and wide.
Therfore I kaste
Here for to reste,
I halde it beste103
To buske on this banke for to bide.
Surge Proxima
Surge, proxima mea,104
columba mea, tabernaculum glorie,104
vasculum vite, templum celeste.104
Angel 1
Rise Marie, thou maiden and modir so milde.105
Angel 2
Rise, lilly full lusty, thi luffe is full likand.106
Angel 3
Rise, chefteyne of chastité in chering thi childe.
Angel 4
Rise, rose ripe redolent, in reste to be reynand.108
Angel 5
Rise, douffe of that domesman all dedis is demand.109
Angel 6
Rise turtour, tabernacle, and tempull full trewe.110
Angel 7
Rise, semely in sight, of thi sone to be semande.111
Angel 8
Rise, grathed full goodely in grace for to grewe.112
Angel 9
Rise vppe this stounde.113
Angel 10
Come chosen childe.114
Angel 11
Come Marie milde.115
Angel 12
Come floure vnfiled.116
Angel 8
Come vppe to the kyng to be crouned.117
Veni de Libano
Veni de Libano sponsa,117
veni, corona beris.117
Thomas
O glorious God what glemes are glydand,118
I meve in my mynde what may this bemene?
I see a berde borne in blisse to be bidand
With aungelus companye, comely and clene.
Many selcouth sitis in sertis haue I sene,
But this mirthe and this melody mengis my mode.
Mary
Thomas, do way all thi doutes bedene,124
For I ame foundynge fourthe to my faire fode
I telle the this tyde.
Thomas
Who, my souerayne lady?127
Mary
Ya, sertis I saie the.128
Thomas
Whedir wendes thou I praye the?129
Mary
To blisse with my barne for to bide.130
Thomas
To bide with thy barne in blisse to be beldand?131
Hayle jentilest of Jesse in Jewes generacioun,
Haile welthe of this worlde all welthis is weldand,
Haile hendest, enhaunsed to high habitacioun,
Haile, derworth and dere is thi diewe dominacioun,
Haile floure fressh florisshed, thi frewte is full felesome,
Haile sete of oure saveour and sege of saluacioun,137
Haile happy to helde to, thi helpe is full helesome.
Haile pereles in plesaunce,
Haile precious and pure,
Haile salue that is sure,
Haile lettir of langure,
Haile bote of oure bale in obeyesaunce.143
Mary
Go to thi brethir that in bale are abiding,144
And of what wise to welthe I ame wendande
Withoute tarying thou telle thame this tithynge,
Ther mirthe so besse mekill amendande.
For Thomas, to me were thei tendande
Whanne I drewe to the dede, all but thou.
Thomas
Bot I lady? Whillis in lande I ame lendande150
Obeye the full baynly my bones will I bowe.
Bot I, allas!
Whare was I thanne
When that barette beganne?
An vnhappy manne
Both nowe and euere I was.156
Vnhappy, vnhende am I holden at home;
What drerye destonye me drewe fro that dede?
Mary
Thomas, sesse of thy sorowe for I am sothly the same.
Thomas
That wote I wele, the worthiest that wrapped is in wede.
Mary
Thanne spare nott a space nowe my speche for to spede,
Go saie them sothely thou sawe me assendinge.
Thomas
Now douteles, derworthy, I dare not for drede,163
For to my tales that I telle thei are not attendinge,
For no spelle that is spoken.
Mary
I schall the schewe166
A token trewe
Full fresshe of hewe,
My girdill, loo, take thame this tokyn.
Thomas
I thanke the as reuerent rote of oure reste,170
I thanke the as stedfast stokke for to stande,
I thanke the as tristy tre for to treste,
I thanke the as buxsom bough to the bande,
I thanke the as leeffe the lustiest in lande,
I thanke the as bewteuous braunche for to bere,
I thanke the as floure that neuere is fadande,176
I thanke the as frewte that has fedde vs in fere,
I thanke the for euere.
If thay repreue me
Now schall thei leue me.
Thi blissinge giffe me
And douteles I schall do my deuere.182
Mary
Thomas, to do thanne thy deuere be dressand,183
He bid the his blissinge that beldis aboven.
And in siyotte of my sone ther is sittand
Shall I knele to that comely with croune,
That who in dispaire be dale or be doune
With pitevous playnte in perellis will pray me,
If he swynke or swete in swelte or in swoune,189
I schall sewe to my souerayne sone for to say me
He schall graunte thame ther grace.
Be it manne in his mournyng
Or womanne in childinge,
All thes to be helpinge
That prince schall I praye in that place.195
Thomas
Gramercy the goodliest grounded in grace,196
Gramercy the lufliest lady of lire,
Gramercy the fairest in figure and face,
Gramercy the derrest to do oure desire.
Mary
Farewele, nowe I passe to the pereles empire.200
Farewele Thomas, I tarie no tyde here.
Thomas
Farewele thou schynyng schappe that schyniste so schire,
Farewele the belle of all bewtes to bide here,
Farewele thou faire foode.
Farewele the keye of counsaile,
Farewele all this worldes wele,
Farewele oure hope and oure hele,
Farewele nowe, both gracious and goode.208
Veni Electa
Veni, electa mea et ponam in te thronum meum,208
quia concupivit rex speciem tuam.208
Thomas
That I mette with this may here my mirthe is amend.
I will hy me in haste and holde that I haue hight,
To bere my brethir this boodeword my bak schall I bende
And saie thame in certayne the soth of this sight.
Be dale and be doune schall I dresse me to diyot
To I fynde of this felawschippe faithfull in fere,
I schall renne and reste not to ransake full right.
Lo, the menyoe I mente of I mete thame even here
At hande.
God saffe yoou in feere,
Say brethir, what chere?
Peter
What dois thou here?220
Thou may nowe of thi gatis be gangand.
Thomas
Why dere brethir, what bale is begune?221
Peter
Thomas, I telle the that tene is betidde vs.223
Thomas
Me forthinkith for my frendis that faithfull are foune.
Jacobus
Ya, but in care litill kyndnes thou kid vs.225
Andrew
His bragge and his boste is he besie to bid vs,226
But and ther come any cares he kepis not to kenne.
We may renne till we raue or any ruth rid vs
For the frenschippe he fecched vs, be frith or be fenne.
Thomas
Sirs, me meruailes, I saie yowe,230
What mevis in youre mynde.
John
We can wele fynde232
Thou arte vnkynde.
Thomas
Nowe pees thanne, and preue it I pray yowe.234
Peter
That thou come not to courte here vnkyndynes thou kid vs,
Oure treuth has of-turned vs to tene and to traye.
This yere haste thou rakid, thi reuth wolde not ridde vs,
For witte thou wele that worthy is wente on hir waye.
In a depe denne dede is scho doluen this daye,
Marie that maiden and modir so milde.
Thomas
I wate wele iwis.241
Jacobus
Thomas, do way.241
Andrew
Itt forse noyot to frayne hym, he will not be filde.
Thomas
Sirs, with hir haue I spoken243
Lattar thanne yee.
John
That may not bee.245
Thomas
Yis, knelyng on kne.246
Peter
Thanne tite can thou telle vs some token?247
Thomas
Lo this token full tristy scho toke me to take youe.
Jacobus
A, Thomas, whare gate thou that girdill so gode?249
Thomas
Sirs, my message is meuand some mirthe for to make youe,
For founding flesshly I fande hir till hir faire foode,
And when I mette with that maiden it mendid my mode.
Hir sande has scho sente youe, so semely to see.
Andrew
Ya, Thomas, vnstedfaste full staring thou stode-254
That makis thi mynde nowe full madde for to be.
But herken and here nowe;
Late vs loke where we laid hir,
If any folke haue affraied hir.
John
Go we groppe wher we graued hir,259
If we fynde ouyote that faire one, in fere nowe.
Peter
Behalde nowe hidir youre hedis in haste,261
This glorious and goodely is gone fro this graue.
Thomas
Loo, to my talking ye toke youe no tente for to traste.
Jacobus
A, Thomas, vntrewly nowe trespassed we haue.264
Mercy full kyndely we crie and we craue.
Andrew
Mercye, for foule haue we fautid in faye.266
John
Mercye we praye the, we will not depraue.267
Peter
Mercye for dedis we did the this daye.268
Thomas
Oure saueour so swete269
Forgiffe you all,
And so I schall.
This tokyn tall
Haue I brought yowe youre bales to beete.
Peter
Itt is welcome iwis fro that worthy wight,274
For it was wonte for to wappe that worthy virgine.
Jacobus
Itt is welcome iwis fro that lady so light,276
For hir wombe wolde scho wrappe with it and were it with wynne.
Andrew
Itt is welcome iwis fro that saluer of synne,278
For scho bende it aboute hir with blossome so bright.
John
Itt is welcome iwis fro the keye of oure kynne,280
For aboute that reuerent it rechid full right.
Peter
Nowe knele we ilkone282
Vpponne oure kne.
Jacobus
To that lady free.284
Andrew
Blissid motte sche be,285
Ya, for scho is lady lufsome allone.
Thomas
Nowe brethir, bese besie and buske to be bownand.287
To Ynde will I torne me and trauell to teche.
Peter
And to Romans so royall tho renkis to be rownand289
Will I passe fro this place my pepull to preche.
Jacobus
And I schall Samaritanus so sadly enserche,291
To were tham be wisdome thei wirke not in waste.
Andrew
And I to Achaia full lely that lede for to leche293
Will hy me to helpe thame and hele thame in haste.
John
This comenaunt accordis;295
Sirs, sen yoe will soo
Me muste nedis parte youe froo,
To Assia will I goo.
He lede yoou, that lorde of all lordis.
Thomas
The lorde of all lordis in lande schall he lede youe
Whillis yoe trauell in trouble the trewthe for to teche.
With frewte of oure feithe in firthe schall we fede youe
For that laboure is lufsome ilke lede for to leche.
Nowe I passe fro youre presence the pepull to preche,
To lede thame and lere thame the lawe of oure lorde.
As I saide, vs muste asoundre and sadly enserche306
Ilke contré to kepe clene and knytte in o corde
Off oure faithe.
That frelye foode
That died on rode
With mayne and moode
He grath yowe be gydis full grath.312
Surge Propera Mea
Surge propera mea,312
columba mea, tabernaculum glorie,312
vasculum vite, templum celeste.312
Veni de Libano
Veni de libano sponsa,312
veni corona beris.312
Veni Electa
Veni electa mea312
et ponam thronum meum312
quia concupivit speciem tuam.312

The Hostelers' Play: The Coronation of the VirginContents

Jesus
Myne aungellis that are bright and schene,1
On my message take ye the waye
Vnto Marie, my modir clene,
That berde is brighter than the daye.
Grete hir wele haly bedene,
An to that semely schall yoe saye
Off heuene I haue hir chosen quene,7
In joie and blisse that laste schall aye.
I wille yoou saie what I haue thoughte
And why that yoe schall tille hir wende,
I will hir body to me be brought
To beilde in blisse withouten ende.
Mi flesshe of hir in erthe was tone;13
Vnkindely thing it were iwis,
That scho schulde bide be hire allone
And I beilde here so high in blis.
Forthy tille hir than schall yoe fare
Full frendlye for to fecche hir hedir,
There is no thyng that I loue more,19
In blisse thanne schall we belde togedir.
Angel 1
O blisfull lorde nowe moste of myght,21
We are redye with all oure myght
Thy bidding to fulfille,
To thi modir that maiden free,
Chosen cheffe of chastité,
As it is thy wille.
Angel 2
Off this message we are full fayne,27
We are redy with myght and mayne,
Bothe be day and be nyght.
Heuene and erthe nowe gladde may be,
That frely foode nowe for to see
In whome that thou did light.
Angel 3
Lorde Jesu Criste, oure gouernoure,33
We are all boune atte thi bidding,
With joie and blisse and grete honnoure,
We schall thi modir to the bringe.
Angel 4
Hayle, the doughtir of blissid Anne,37
The whiche consayued thurgh the holy goste,
And thou brought forthe both God and manne,
The whiche felled doune the fendis boste.
Angel 5
Haile, roote of risse, that fourthe brought41
That blissid floure oure saueoure,
The whiche that made mankynde of noght
And brought hym vppe into his toure.
Angel 6
Of the allone he wolde be borne45
Into this worlde of wrecchidnesse,
To saue mankynde that was forlorne
And bringe thame oute of grete distresse.
Angel 1
Thou may be gladde bothe day and nyght49
To se thy sone oure saueoure,
He will the croune nowe, lady bright,
Thou blissid modir and faire floure.
Angel 2
Marie, modir and mayden clene,53
Chosen cheffe vnto thi childe,
Of heuene and erthe thou arte quene;
Come vppe nowe lady, meke and mylde.
Angel 3
Thi sone has sente vs aftir the57
To bringe the nowe vnto his blisse,
Ther schall thou belde and blithe be,
Of joie and mirthe schall thou noyot misse.
Angel 4
For in his blisse withouten ende,61
There schall thou alkynne solas see,
Thi liffe in likyng for to lende
With thi dere sone in trinité.
Mary
A, blissid be God, fadir all-weldand,65
Hymselffe wottith best what is to doo.
I thanke hym with harte and hande,
That thus his blisse wolde take me too,
And yoou also his aungellis bright
That fro my sone to me is sente,
I am redy with all my myght71
For to fulfille his comaundement.
Angel 5
Go we nowe thou worthi wight73
Vnto thi sone that is so gente,
We schall the bringe into his sight
To croune the quene, thus hase he mente.
Angel 6
Alle heuene and erthe schall worschippe the77
And baynnely be at thi biddinge,
Thy joie schall euere incressid be,
Of solas sere than schall thou synge.
Angel 1
Jesu, lorde and heueneis kyng,81
Here is thi modir thou aftir sente,
We haue her brought at thi biddynge,
Take hir to the as thou haste mente.
Mary
Jesu my sone, loved motte thou be,85
I thanke the hartely in my thought
That this wise ordand is for me,
And to this blisse thou haste me broght.
Jesus
Haile be thou Marie, maiden bright,89
Thou arte my modir and I thy sone,
With grace and goodnesse arte thou dight,
With me in blisse ay schall thou wonne.
Nowe schall thou haue that I the hight,
Thy tyme is paste of all thi care,
Wirschippe schall the aungellis bright,95
Of newe schall thou witte neuere more.
Mary
Jesu my sone, loued motte thou be,97
I thanke the hartely in my thoyot,
That on this wise ordand is for me,
And to this blisse thou has me broght.
Jesus
Come forth with me my modir bright,101
Into my blisse we schall assende
To wonne in welthe, thou worthi wight,
That neuere more schall it haue ende.
Thi newis, modir, to neuen thame nowe,
Are turned to joie, and soth it is
All aungellis bright thei schall the bowe107
And worschippe the worthely iwis.
For mekill joie, modir, had thou
Whan Gabriell grette the wele be this,
And tolde the tristely for to trowe
Thou schulde consayue the kyng of blisse.
Nowe maiden meke and modir myne,113
Itt was full mekill myrthe to the
That I schuld ligge in wombe of thine
Thurgh gretyng of an aungell free.
The secounde joie, modir, was syne
Withouten payne whan thou bare me;
The thirde aftir my bittir peyne119
Fro dede on lyve thou sawe me be.
The fourthe was when I stied vppe right
To heuene vnto my fadir dere-
My modir, when thou saugh that sight,
To the it was a solas seere.
This is the fifte thou worthy wight,125
Of the jois this has no pere,
Nowe schall thou belde in blisse so bright
For euer and ay, I highte the here,
For thou arte cheffe of chastité,
Off all women thou beris the floure;
Nowe schalle thou, lady, belde with me131
In blisse that schall euere indowre
Full high on highte in magesté,
With all worshippe and all honnoure,
Wher we schall euere samen be
Beldand in oure bigly boure.
Alle-kynnys swetnesse is therin137
That manne vppon may thynke, or wiffe,
With joie and blisse that neuere schall blynne
Ther schall thou, lady, lede thy liffe.
Thou schalte be worshippid with honnoures
In heuene blisse that is so bright,
With martiris and with confessouris,143
With all virginis, thou worthy wight.
Before all othere creatours
I schall the giffe both grace and might,
In heuene and erthe to sende socoures
To all that seruis the day and nyght.
I graunte thame grace with all my myght,149
Thurgh askyng of thi praier,
That to the call be day or nyght.
In what disease so that thei are.
Thou arte my liffe and my lekyng,
Mi modir and my mayden schene;
Ressayue this croune my dere darlyng,155
Ther I am kyng thou schalte be quene.
Myne aungellis bright, a songe yoe singe
In the honnoure of my modir dere,
And here I giffe yoou my blissing
Haly nowe, all in fere.

Unidentified fragmentContents

Jesus
Hayle, fulgent Phebus and fader eternall,1
Parfite plasmator and God omnipotent,
Be whos will and power perpetuall
All thinges hath influence and beyng verament.
To the I giffe louyng and laude right excellent,
And to the sperite also, graunter of all grace,
Whilke by thi woorde and thi warke omnipotent7
I am thi sonne and equale in that case.
O sapor suauitatis, o succour and solace,
O life eternall and luffer of chastité,
Whome aungels abowne and the erthe in his grete space
And all thinges create loues in magesté.
Remembre, fader meke, in thi solempnyté13
The woundes of thi sonne, whilke by thy providence
Thou made discende frome thyne equalité
Into the wombe of Marye, be meke obedience.
Of a virgin inviolate for mans iniquyté,
Whilke for his synne stoode mekill fro thi grace,
Be hoole assente of thi solempnité19
Thou made me incarnate, and trulie man I was.
Wherefore too spede me here in this space,
Thou here me fader, hertely I the praye,
As for my moder truely in this case
Thou here thi sonne, and herk what I shall saye.
Me semes mysilfe it is right grete offence25
My moder wombe in erthe sulde putrifye,
Sen hir flessh and myne were bothe oone in escence,
I had none othir bot of hir truely.
She is my moder to whome legem adimpleui
Whilke thou has ordinate as by thi prouidence.
Graunte me thi grace, I the beseke hertely,31
As for the tyme of hir meke innocence,
In woorde ne dede thoght the neuer to offende,
Sho myght be assumpt, I pray thyne excellence,
Vnto thi troone, and so to be commende,
In bodye and saule euer withoutyn ende
With the to reyne in thyne eternyté,37
Fro sorrowe and sadnesse synners to offende.
O flagraunt fader, graunte yt myght so be.
God
O lampe of light, o lumen eternall,40
O coequale sonne, o verrey sapience,
O mediator ande meen and lyfe perpetuall,
In whome of derk clowedes may haue none accidence-
Thoue knawes right wele by thy providence
I haue commyt my powere generall,
Tibi data potestas, ande plenall influence.46
Thou ert my sonne …

The Mercers' Play: The Last JudgementContents

God
Firste when I this worlde hadde wroght-1
Woode and wynde and wateris wan,
And all-kynne thyng that nowe is oght-
Fulle wele methoght that I did thanne.
Whenne thei were made, goode me thame thoght;
Sethen to my liknes made I man
And man to greue me gaffe he noght,7
Therfore me rewis that I the worlde began.
Whanne I had made man at my will,
I gaffe hym wittis hymselue to wisse,
And paradise I putte hym till
And bad hym halde it all as his.
But of the tree of goode and ill13
I saide, ‘What tyme thou etis of this,
Manne, thou spedes thiselue to spill-
Thou arte broght oute of all blissé.
Belyue brak manne my bidding.
He wende haue bene a god therby;
He wende haue wittyne of all-kynne thyng,19
In worlde to haue bene als wise as I.
He ete the appill I badde schulde hyng,
Thus was he begilid thurgh glotony;
Sithen both hym and his ospring
To pyne I putte thame all forthy.
To lange and late methoghte it goode25
To catche thois caitiffis oute of care.
I sente my sone with full blithe moode
Till erthe, to salue thame of thare sare.
For rewthe of thame he reste on roode
And boughte thame with his body bare;
For thame he shedde his harte-bloode-31
What kyndinesse myght I do thame mare?
Sethen aftirwarde he heryed hell
And toke oute thois wrecchis that ware thareinne;
Ther faughte that free with feendis feele
For thame that ware sounkyn for synne.
Sethen in erthe than gonne he dwelle,37
Ensaumpill he gaue thame heuene to wynne,
In tempill hymselffe to teche and tell,
To by thame blisse that neuere may blynne.
Sethen haue thei founde me full of mercye,
Full of grace and forgiffenesse,
And thei als wrecchis, wittirly,43
Has ledde ther liffe in lithirnesse.
Ofte haue thei greued me greuously,
Thus haue thei quitte me my kyndinesse;
Therfore no lenger, sekirlye,
Thole will I thare wikkidnesse.
Men seis the worlde but vanité,49
Yitt will no manne beware therby;
Ilke a day ther mirroure may thei se,
Yitt thynke thei noyot that thei schall dye.
All that euere I saide schulde be
Is nowe fulfillid thurgh prophicie,
Therfore nowe is it tyme to me55
To make endyng of mannes folie.
I haue tholed mankynde many a yoere
In luste and likyng for to lende,
And vnethis fynde I ferre or nere
A man that will his misse amende.
In erthe I see butte synnes seere,61
Therfore myne aungellis will I sende
To blawe ther bemys, that all may here
The tyme is comen I will make ende.
Aungellis, blawes youre bemys belyue,
Ilke a creatoure for to call,
Leerid and lewde, both man and wiffe,67
Ressayue ther dome this day thei schall,
Ilke a leede that euere hadde liffe-
Bese none forgetyn, grete ne small.
Ther schall thei see the woundes fyve
That my sone suffered for them all.
And sounderes thame before my sight,73
All same in blisse schall thei not be.
Mi blissid childre, as I haue hight,
On my right hande I schall thame see;
Sethen schall ilke a weried wight
On my lifte side for ferdnesse flee.
This day ther domys thus haue I dight79
To ilke a man as he hath serued me.
Angel 1
Loued be thou, lorde of myghtis moste,81
That aungell made to messengere.
Thy will schall be fulfillid in haste,
That heuene and erthe and helle schalle here.
Goode and ill, euery-ilke a gaste,
Rise and fecche youre flessh that was youre feere,
For all this worlde is broght to waste.87
Drawes to youre dome, it neghes nere.
Angel 2
Ilke a creature, bothe olde and yhing,89
Belyue I bidde yoou that yoe ryse;
Body and sawle with yoou yoe bring,
And comes before the high justise.
For I am sente fro heuene kyng
To calle yoou to this grette assise,
Therfore rise vppe and geue rekenyng95
How yoe hym serued vppon sere wise.
Good Soul 1
Loued be thou lorde, that is so schene,97
That on this manere made vs to rise,
Body and sawle togedir, clene,
To come before the high justise.
Of oure ill dedis, lorde, thou not mene,
That we haue wroght vppon sere wise,
But graunte vs for thy grace bedene103
That we may wonne in paradise.
Good Soul 2
A, loued be thou, lorde of all,105
That heuene and erthe and all has wroght,
That with thyne aungellis wolde vs call
Oute of oure graues hidir to be broght.
Ofte haue we greued the, grette and small,
Theraftir lorde thou deme vs noght,
Ne suffir vs neuere to fendis to be thrall,111
That ofte in erthe with synne vs soght.
Bad Soul 1
Allas, allas, that we were borne,113
So may we synfull kaytiffis say;
I here wele be this hydous horne
Itt drawes full nere to domesday.
Allas, we wrecchis that are forlorne,
That never yoitt serued God to paye,
But ofte we haue his flessh forsworne-119
Allas, allas, and welaway.
What schall we wrecchis do for drede,
Or whedir for ferdnes may we flee,
When we may bringe forthe no goode dede
Before hym that oure juge schall be?
To aske mercy vs is no nede,125
For wele I wotte dampned be we,
Allas, that we swilke liffe schulde lede
That dighte vs has this destonye.
Oure wikkid werkis thei will vs wreye,
That we wende never schuld haue bene weten,
That we did ofte full pryuely,131
Appertely may we se them wreten.
Allas, wrecchis, dere mon we by-
Full smerte with helle fyre be we smetyn.
Nowe mon neuere saule ne body dye,
But with wikkid peynes euermore be betyne.
Allas, for drede sore may we quake,137
Oure dedis beis oure dampnacioune.
For oure mys menyng mon we make,
Helpe may none excusacioune.
We mon be sette for oure synnes sake
Foreuere fro oure saluacioune,
In helle to dwelle with feendes blake,143
Wher neuer schall be redempcioune.
Bad Soul 2
Als carefull caitiffis may we ryse,145
Sore may we wringe oure handis and wepe;
For cursidnesse and for covetise
Dampned be we to helle full depe.
Rought we neuere of Goddis seruise,
His comaundementis wolde we noyot kepe,
But ofte than made we sacrafise151
To Satanas when othir slepe.
Allas, now wakens all oure were,
Oure wikkid werkis may we not hide,
But on oure bakkis vs muste them bere-
Thei wille vs wreye on ilke a side.
I see foule feendis that wille vs feere,157
And all for pompe of wikkid pride.
Wepe we may with many a teere,
Allas, that we this day schulde bide.
Before vs playnly bese fourth brought
The dedis that vs schall dame bedene;
That eres has herde, or harte has thoght,163
Sen any tyme that we may mene,
That fote has gone or hande has wroght,
That mouthe hath spoken or ey has sene-
This day full dere thanne bese it boght;
Allas, vnborne and we hadde bene.
Angel 3
Standis noght togedir, parte you in two!169
All sam schall yoe noght be in blisse;
Oure fadir of heuene woll it be soo,
For many of yowe has wroght amys.
The goode on his right hande yoe goe,
The way till heuene he will you wisse;
Ye weryed wightis, yoe flee hym froo175
On his lefte hande as none of his.
God
This woffull worlde is brought till ende,177
Mi fadir of heuene he woll it be;
Therfore till erthe nowe will I wende
Miselue to sitte in magesté.
To deme my domes I woll descende;
This body will I bere with me-
Howe it was dight, mannes mys to mende,183
All mankynde there schall it see.
Mi postelis and my darlyngis dere,
The dredfull dome this day is dight.
Both heuen and erthe and hell schall here
Howe I schall holde that I haue hight:
That yoe schall sitte on seetis sere189
Beside myselffe to se that sight,
And for to deme folke ferre and nere
Aftir ther werkyng, wronge or right.
I saide also whan I you sente
To suffre sorowe for my sake,
All tho that wolde thame right repente195
Shulde with you wende and wynly wake;
And to youre tales who toke no tente
Shulde fare to fyre with fendis blake.
Of mercy nowe may noyot be mente,
Butt, aftir wirkyng, welth or wrake.
My hetyng haly schall I fullfille,201
Therfore comes furth and sittis me by
To here the dome of goode and ill.
1Apostle 1
I loue the, lord God allmyghty;204
Late and herely, lowde and still,
To do thy bidding bayne am I.
I obblissh me to do thi will
With all my myght, als is worthy.
2Apostle 2
A, myghtfull God, here is it sene209
Thou will fulfille thi forward right,
And all thi sawes thou will maynteyne.
I loue the, lorde, with all my myght,
That for vs that has erthely bene
Swilke dingnitees has dressed and dight.
God
Comes fourthe, I schall sitte yoou betwene,215
And all fullfille that I haue hight.
1Diabolus 1
Felas, arraye vs for to fight,217
And go we faste oure fee to fange.
The dredefull dome this day is dight-
I drede me that we dwelle full longe.
2Diabolus 2
We schall be sene euere in ther sight221
And warly waite, ellis wirke we wrange,
For if the domisman do vs right,
Full grete partie with vs schall gang.
3Diabolus 3
He schall do right to foo and frende,225
For nowe schall all the soth be sought.
All weried wightis with vs schall wende,
To payne endles thei schall be broght.
[…     …]228
God
Ilke a creature, takes entent229
What bodworde I to you bringe:
This wofull worlde away is wente,
And I am come as crouned kynge.
Mi fadir of heuene, he has me sente
To deme youre dedis and make ending.
Comen is the day of jugement;235
Of sorowe may ilke a synfull synge.
The day is comen of kaydyfnes,
All tham to care that are vnclene,
The day of bale and bittirnes-
Full longe abedyn has it bene;
The day of drede to more and lesse,241
Of ire, of trymbelyng, and of tene,
That ilke a wight that weried is
May say, ‘Allas, this daye is sené.
Here may yoe see my woundes wide,
The whilke I tholed for youre mysdede.
Thurgh harte and heed, foote, hande and hide,247
Nought for my gilte, butt for youre nede.
Beholdis both body, bak and side,
How dere I bought youre brotherhede.
Thes bittir peynes I wolde abide-
To bye you blisse thus wolde I bleede.
Mi body was scourged withouten skill,253
As theffe full thraly was I thrette;
On crosse thei hanged me, on a hill,
Blody and bloo, as I was bette,
With croune of thorne throsten full ill.
This spere vnto my side was sette-
Myne harte-bloode spared noght thei for to spill;259
Manne, for thy loue wolde I not lette.
The Jewes spitte on me spitously,
Thei spared me no more than a theffe.
Whan thei me strake I stode full stilly,
Agaynste tham did I nothyng greue.
Behalde, mankynde, this ilke is I,265
Thus was I dight for thy folye-267
Man, loke, thy liffe was to me full leffe.
Thus was I dight thi sorowe to slake;
Manne, thus behoued the to borowed be.
In all my woo toke I no wrake,
Mi will itt was for the loue of the.
Man, sore aught the for to quake,273
This dredfull day this sight to see.
All this I suffered for thi sake-
Say, man, what suffered thou for me?
My blissid childre on my right hande,
Youre dome this day yoe thar not drede,
For all youre comforte is command,279
Youre liffe in likyng schall yoe lede.
Commes to the kyngdome ay-lastand
That yoou is dight for youre goode dede,
Full blithe may yoe be where yoe stande,
For mekill in heuene schall be youre mede.
Whenne I was hungery yoe me fedde,285
To slake my thirste youre harte was free;
Whanne I was clothles yoe me cledde,
Ye wolde no sorowe vppon me see.
In harde presse whan I was stedde,
Of my payns yoe hadde pitee;
Full seke whan I was brought in bedde,291
Kyndely yoe come to coumforte me.
Whanne I was wille and werieste
Ye herbered me full hartefully;
Full gladde thanne were yoe of youre geste,
And pleyned my pouerté piteuously.
Belyue yoe brought me of the beste297
And made my bedde full esyly,
Therfore in heuene schall be youre reste,
In joie and blisse to be me by.
Good Soul 1
Whanne hadde we, lorde that all has wroght,301
Meete and drinke the with to feede,
Sen we in erthe hadde neuere noght
But thurgh the grace of thy Godhede?
Good Soul 2
Whanne waste that we the clothes brought,305
Or visite the in any nede,
Or in thi sikenes we the sought?
Lorde, when did we the this dede?
God
Mi blissid childir, I schall yoou saye309
What tyme this dede was to me done:
When any that nede hadde, nyght or day,
Askid yoou helpe and hadde it sone.
Youre fre hartis saide them neuere nay,
Erely ne late, mydday ne none,
But als ofte-sithis as thei wolde praye,315
Thame thurte but bide and haue ther bone.
Ye cursid caytiffis of Kaymes kynne,
That neuere me comforte in my care,
I and yoe foreuer will twynne,
In dole to dwelle for euermare.
Youre bittir bales schall neuere blynne321
That yoe schall haue when yoe come thare;
Thus haue yoe serued for youre synne,
For derffe dedis yoe haue done are.
Whanne I had mistir of mete and drynke,
Caytiffis, yoe cacched me fro youre yoate.
Whanne yoe wer sette as sirs on benke,327
I stode theroute, werie and wette;
Was none of yowe wolde on me thynke,
Pyté to haue of my poure state,
Therfore till hell I schall you synke-
Weele are yoe worthy to go that gate.
Whanne I was seke and soriest333
Ye visitte me noght, for I was poure;
In prisoune faste whan I was feste
Was none of you loked howe I fore.
Whenne I wiste neuere where for to reste,
With dyntes yoe draffe me fro your dore,
Butte euer to pride thanne were yoe preste,339
Mi flessh, my bloode, ofte yoe forswore.
Clothles whanne I was ofte, and colde,
At nede of you, yoede I full naked;
House ne herborow, helpe ne holde
Hadde I none of you, thof I quaked.
Mi mischeffe sawe ye manyfolde,345
Was none of you my sorowe slaked,
Butt euere forsoke me, yonge and alde,
Therfore schall yoe nowe be forsaked.
Bad Soul 1
Whan had thou, lorde that all thing has,349
Hungir or thirste, sen thou God is?
Whan was that thou in prisoune was?
Whan was thou naked or herberles?
Bad Soul 2
Whan was it we sawe the seke, allas?353
Whan kid we the this vnkyndinesse?
Werie or wette to late the passe,
When did we the this wikkidnesse?
God
Caistiffis, als ofte als it betidde357
That nedfull aught askid in my name,
Ye herde them noght, youre eris yoe hidde,
Youre helpe to thame was noyot at hame.
To me was that vnkyndines kyd,
Therfore ye bere this bittir blame;
To leste or moste whan yoe it did,363
To me yoe did the selue and the same.
Mi chosen childir, comes vnto me,
With me to wonne nowe schall yoe wende
There joie and blisse schall euer be,
Youre liffe in lyking schall yoe lende.
Ye cursed kaitiffis, fro me yoe flee,369
In helle to dwelle withouten ende,
Ther yoe schall neuere butt sorowe see
And sitte be Satanas the fende.
Nowe is fulfillid all my forthoght,
For endid is all erthely thyng.
All worldly wightis that I haue wroght,375
Aftir ther werkis haue nowe wonnyng.
Thei that wolde synne and sessid noght,
Of sorowes sere now schall thei syng,
And thei that mendid thame whils thei moght
Shall belde and bide in my blissing.

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2018 Nov 25  22:07:40