The Pageant of the Shearmen and Taylors
Dramatis Personae
Isaiah as Prologue (Ll. 1-46)
In the Annunciation and the Nativity (Ll. 47-331)
Gabriel
Mary
Joseph
i. Angel
ii. Angel
i. Pastor
ii. Pastor
iii. Pastor
Participants in a learned dialogue (Ll. 332-474)
i. Profeta
ii. Profeta
iii. Profeta [non-speaking]
In the Adoration of the Kings and the Slaughter of the Innocents (Ll. 475-900)
Nuncius
Herod
i. Rex
ii. Bex
iii. Rex
Mary
Joseph
Angelus
i. Miles
ii. Miles
i. Woman
ii. Woman
iii. Woman
Prologue (S&T)
[Enter Isaiah as prologue]
Isaye
The Sofferent tliatt seithe evere seycrette,
He saue you all and make you parfett and stronge,
And geve us grace yvith his marce forto mete!
For now in grett mesere mankynd ys bownd;
The sarpent hathe gevin vs soo mortall a wonde
That no creature ys abull vs forto reyles
Tyll thye right vncion of Jvda dothe seyse. {7
Then schall moche myrthe and joie in-cresse;
And the right rote in Isaraell sprynge,
Thatt schall bryng forthe the greyne off whollenes;
And owt of danger he schall vs bryng
In-to thatt reygeon where he ys kyng
Wyche abowe all othur far dothe arbownde,
And thatt cruell Sathan he schall confownde. {14
Where-foro I cum hero apon this grownde
To comfordo eyue;"o creature off birthe;
For I, Isaye the profot, hathe fownde
Many swete msLtteiv whereof we ma make myrth
On this same wyse; {19
For, thogh that Adam be demid to deythe
With all his childur, asse Abell and Seythe,
Yett Ecce virgo consepeety —
Loo, where a reymede schall ryse! {23
Be-holde, a mayde schall conseyve a childe
And gett vs more grace then eyner men had.
And hir meydin-[h]od nothing defy lid.
Sche ys deputyd to beare the Sun, Almyghte God.
Loo! sufferntis, now ma you be glad, {28
For of this meydin all we ma be fayne;
For Adam, that now lyis in sorrois full sade,
Hir gloreose birth schall roydeme hym ageyn
From bondage and thrall. {32
Now be myrre eyuere mon
For this dede bryflfly in Isaraell schalbe done,
And before the Fathur in trone,
Thatt schall glade vs all {36
Benediction.
More of this matte?' fayne wolde I meve.
But lengur tyme I haue not here for to dwell.
That Lorde that ys marcefuU his marce soo in vs ma
p7'eve
For to sawe owre sollis from the darknes of hell; {40
And to his blys
He vs bryng,
Asse he ys
Bothe lord and kyng,
And schalbe eyuerlastyng,
In secula seculoium, amen! {46
Exit Isaiah; enter Gabriel to Mary.
Annunciation and Nativity (S&T)
Exit Isaiah; enter Gabriel to Mary.
Gaberell
Hayle, Mare, full of grace! {47
Owre Lord God ys with the;i
Aboue all wemen that ejner wasse,
Lade, hlesside mote thow be! {50
Mare
All-myght Fathur and King of blys.
From all dysscs th». sane me now!
For inwartlely my spretis trubbuld ys,
Thatt I am amacid and kno nott how. {54
Gaberell
Dred the nothyng, meydin, of this;
From hey vin a-bowe hyddur am I sent
Of ambassage from that Kyng of blys
Unto the, lade and virgin reyuerent! {58
Salutyng the hero asse most exselent,
Whose v/rtu aboue all othur dothe abownde.
Wherefore in the grace schalbe fownde;
For thow schalt conseyve apon this grownd {62
The Second Pe-sone of God in trone;
He wylbe borne of the alone;
W/t-owt sin thow schalt hy7?i see.
Thy grace and thi goodnes wyl neyuer bo gone.
But eyuer to lyve in vtrgeneto. {67
Mare
I marvell soore how thatt mabc.
Manw cu??ipany knev I neyuer yett,
Nor neyuer to do, kasfc I me,
Whyle thatt owre Lord sendith me my wytt. {71
Gaberell
The Wholle Gost in the schall lyght.
And schado thy soil aoo with \irtii
From the Fathur thatt ys on hyght.
These wordis, turtill, the be full tru. {75
This chylde that of the schalbe borne
Ys the Second Persone in Trenete;
He schall saue that wase forlorne
And the fyndis powar dystroie schall he. {79
Those wordis, lade, full tru the bene,
And furthur, lade, here in thy noone lonoge
Be-holde Eylesaboth, thy cosyn clene,
The wyche wosse barren and past all age, {83
And now wtt/ chyld sche hath bene
Syx monethis and more, asse schalbe sene;
Where-for, discomforde tliQ not. Mare!
For to God onpossibull nothyng mabe. {87
Mare
Kow, and yt be thatt liOrdis wyll
Of my bodde to be borne and forto be,
Hys hy pleysuris forto fuU-fyll
Asse his one hande-mayde I submyt me.. {91
Gaberell
Now blessid be the tyme sett
That thou wast borne in thy degre!
For now ys the knott surely knytt.
And God conseyvide in Trenete. {95
Now fare-well, lade off rayghtis most!
Vnto the God-hed I the be-teyche.
Mare
Thatt Lorde the gyde in eyuere cost,
And looly he leyde me and be my leyche! {99
[Here the angell departyth and Joseff cumyth in and seyth:]
Josoff
Mare, my wyff soo dere,
How doo ye, dame, and whatt chere
Ys with you this tyde?
Mare
Truly, husebonde, I am here
Owre Lordis wyll forto abyde. {104
Josoff
Whatt! I troo thatt we be all schent!
Sey, womon; who hath byn here sith I went.
To rage wyth thee?
Mare
Syr, here was nothur man nor mans eyvin,
But onlv the sond of owre Lorde God in hey vin. {109
Josoff
Sey not soo, womon; for schame, ley be!
Ye be with chyld soo wondurs grett,
Ye nede no more therof to tret
Agense all right.
For-sothe, this chylde, dame, ys not myne.
Alas, that ejaer with my nynee
I snld see this syght! {116
Tell me, womon; whose ys this chyld
Mare
Non but youris, husebond soo myld,
And thatt schalbe seyne, ywis.
Josoff
But myne 1 alias! alas! why sey ye soo!
Wele-awey! womon, now may I goo,
Be-gyld as many a-nothur ys. {122
Mare
Na, truly, sir, ye be not be-gylde,
Hot yet with spott of syn I am not defylde;
Trust yt well, huse-bonde.
Josoff
Huse-bond, in feytlic! and that acold I
A! weylle-awey, Josoff, as thow ar olde!
Lyke a fole now ma I stand {128
And truse.
But, in feyth. Mare, thou art in syn;
Soo moche ase I haue cheyrischyd the, dame, and all thi kyn,
Be-hynd my bake to serve me thus! {132
All olde men, insampull take be me, —
How I am be-gylid here may you see! —
To wed soo yong a chyld.
Now fare-well, Mare, I leyve the here alone, —
Wo worthe the, dam, and thy warkis ycheone! —
For I woll noo-more be be-gylid {138
For frynd nor fooe.
Now of this ded I am soo dull.
And off my lyff I am soo full,
No farthur ma I goo. {142
[Lies down to sleep; to him enters an angel.]
I. Angell
Aryse up, Josoff, and goo whom ageyne
Vnto Mare, thy wyff, that ys soo fre.
To comford hir loke that thow bo fayne,
For, Josoff a cleyne meydin ys schee: {146
Sche hath conscyvid with-owt any trayne
The Seycond Person in Trenete;
Jesus schalbe hys name, sarten,
And all thys world sawe schall lie; {150
Be not agast.
Josoff
Now, Lorde, I thanke the with hart full sad,
For of these tythyngis I am soo glad
Thatt all my care awey ys cast;
Wherefore to Mare I woll in hast. {155
[Returns to Mare.]
A! Mare, Mare, I knelo full loo;
Forgeve me, swete wyff, here in this loud!
Marce, Mare! for now I kno
Of youre good gouernance and how yt doth stond. {159
Thogh* thatt I dyd the mys-nam6,
Marco, Mare \ Whyle I leve
"Wyll I neyucr, swet wyff, the greve
In emyst nor in game. {163
Mare
Now, thatt Lord in heyvin, sir, he you f or-
gy ve!
And I do for-geve yow in hys name
For euermore.
Josoff
Now truly, swete wyff, to you I sey the same. {167
But now to Bedlem must I wynde
And scho my-self , soo full of care;
And I to leyve you, this grett, behynd, —
God wott, the whyle, dame, how you schuld fare. {171
Mare
Na, hardely, husebond, dred ye nothyng;
For I woll walke with you on the wey.
I trust in God, all-niyghte kyng,
To spede right well in owre jurney. {175
Josoff
Now I thanke you, Mare, of youre goodnes
Thatt ye my wordis woll nott blame;
And syth that to Bedlem we scball vs dresse,
Goo we to-gedur in Goddis wholle name. {179
[They set out and travel a while.]
Now to Bedlem liaiie we leyeds three:
The day ys ny spent, yt drawy th toward nyglit;
Fayne at your es, dame, I wold that ye schulde be,
For you groue all werely, yt semyth in my syght. {183
Mare
God haue marcy, Josoffe, my spowse soo dere;
All profettis herto dothe beyre wyttnes,
The were tyme now draith nere
Thatt my chyld wolbe borne, wyche ys Kyng of blis. {187
Vnto sum place, Josoff, hyndly me leyde,
Thatt I moght rest me with grace in this tyde.
The lyght of the Fathur ouer hus both spreyde,
And the grace of my sun wtt ys here a-byde! {191
Josoff
Loo! blessid Mare, here schall ye lend,
Cheff chosyn of owre Lorde and cleynist in degre;
And I for help to towne woll I wende.
Ys nott this the best, dame? whatt sey ye? {195
Mare, God haue marce, Josoff, my huse-bond soo meke!
And hartely I pra you, goo now fro me.
Josoff
Thatt schalbe done in hast, Mare soo swete!
The comford of the Wholle Gost leyve I with the. {199
Now to Bedlem streyght woll I wynd
To gett some helpe for Mare soo free.
Sum helpe of women God may me send,
Thatt Mare, full off grace, pleysid ma be. {203
[In another part of the place a shepherd begins to speak.]
I. Pastor
Now God, that art in Trenete,
Thow sawe my fellois and me!
For I kno nott wheyre my scheepe nor the be,
Thys nyght yt ys soo colde. {207
Now ys yt nygh the niyddis of the nyght;
These wedurs ar darke and dym of lyght>
Thatt of them can hy haue noo syght,
Stahdyng here on this wold. {211
But now to make there hartis lyght,
Kow wyll I full right
Stand apon this looe,
And to them cry wtt all my myght, —
Full well my voiso the kno:
W7/at hoo! fellois! hoo! hooe! hoo! {217
[Two other shepherds appear (in the street).]
II. Pastor
Hark, Sym, harke 1 I here owre hrother on the looe;
This ys hys woise, right well I knoo;
There-fore toward hym lett vs goo,
And folio his woise a-right. {221
See, Sym, se, where he doth stond!
I am ryght glad we haue hym fond!
Brothur, where hast thow byn soo long,
And hit ys soo cold this nyght? {225
I. Pastor
E! fryndis, ther cam a pyrie of wynd with a myst suddenly,
Thatt forth off my weyis went I
And grett heyvenes then made I
And wase full sore afryght. {229
Then forto goo wyst I nott whyddur.
But trawellid on this loo hyddur and thyddur;
I wasse so were of this cold weddur
Thatt nere past wasse my might. {233
III. Pastor
Brethur, now we be past that f ryght,
And hit ys far within the nyght,
Full sono woll spryng the day-lyght.
Hit drawith full nere the tyde. {237
Here awhyle lett vs rest,
And repast owreself of the best;
Tyll thatt the sun ryse in the est
Let vs all here abyde. {241
There the scheppardis drawys furth there meyte and doth eyte and drynk; and asse the drynk, the fynd the star and sey thus:
III. Pastor
Brethur, loke vp and behold!
Whatt thyng ys yondur thatt schynith soo bryght?
Asse long ase ejner I haue wachid my fold,
Yett sawe I neyucr soche a syght
In fyld. {246
A ha! now ys cum the tyme that old fathurs hath told,
Thatt in the wynturs nyght soo cold
A chyld of meydyn borne be he wold
In whom all profeciys schalbe fullfyld. {250
I. Pastor
Truth yt ys wttA-owt naye,
Soo seyd the profett Isaye, shortest day.
Thatt a chylde schuld be borne of a made soo bryght
In wentur ny the schortist dey
Or elis in the myddis of the nyght, {255
II. Pastor
Loovid be God, most off myght,
That owre grace ys to see thatt syght;
Pray we to hym, ase hit ys right,
Yff thatt his wyll yt be, {259
Thatt we ma haue knoleyge of this syngnefocacion
And why hit aperith on this fassion;
And eyuer to hym lett vs geve lawdacion.
In yerthe whyle thatt we be. {263
There the angelis syng “Glorea in exselsis Deo”,
III. Pastor
Harke! the syng abowe in the clowdis a merry clere!
Hard I neyuer of soo myrre a quere.
Now, gentyll brethur, draw we nere
To here there armony. {267
I. Pastor
Brothur, royrth and solas ys cnm hus among;
For be the swettnes of thev songe,
Goddis Sun ys cxwi, whom we haue lokid for long,
Asse syngnefyith thys star that we do see. {271
II. Pastor
“Glare, glorea in exselsis”, that wase their songe,
How sey ye, fellois, seyd the not thus? {273
I. Pastor
Thatt ys wet seyd; now goo we hence
To worschipe thatt chyld of hy manyffeconce,
And that we ma syng in his presence
“Et in turra pax omynibus”. {277
There the shepparidis syngis “Ase I owt Rodde,” and Josoff seyth:
Josoff
Now, Lorde, this noise thai I do here,
With this grett solemnete,
Gretly amendid hath my chere;
I trust hy nevis schortly wolbe. {281
There the angellis syng “Gloria in exsellsis” ageyne.
Mare
A! Josoff, husebond, cxi?w heddur anon;
My chylde ys borne that ys Kyng of blys.
Josoff
Now welcum to me, the Makar of mon,
WitA all the omage thatt I con;
Thy swete mothe here woll I kys. {286
Mare
A! Josoff, husebond, my chyld waxith cold,
And we haue noo fyre to warme hym wit/i.
Josoff
Now in my narmys I schall hym fold,
Kyng of all kyngis be fyld and be fiyth;
He myght haue had bettur, and hym-selfc* wold.
Then the breylhyng of these bestis to warme hym with. {292
Mare
Now, Josoff, my husbond, fel heddur my chyld,
The Maker off man and hy Kyng of blys.
Josoff
That schalbe done anon, Mare soo myld,
For the brethyng of these bestis hath warmyd hym well, i-wys. {296
[Angels appear to the shepherds.]
I. Angell
Hyrd-men hynd,
Drede ye nothyng
Off thys star thatt ye do se;
For thys same mome
Godis Sun ys borne
In Bedlem of a meydin fre. {302
II. Angell
Hy you tliyddur in hast;
Yt ys hys wyll ye schall hym see
Lyinge in a crybbe * of pore rey paste,
Yett of Davithis lyne cnmon ys hoe. {306
[The shepherds approach and worship the Babe.]
I. Pastor
Hayle, mayde-modur * and wyff soo myld!
Asse the angell seyd, soo hauo we fonde.
I haue nothyng to present vfi\h th\ chylde
But my pype; hold, hold, take yt in thy bond |
Where-in moche pleysure thai I haue fond;
And now, to oonowre thy gloreose byrtho,
Thow schallt yt haue to make the myrthe. {313
II. Pastor
Now, hayle be thow, chyld, and thy dame!
For in a pore loggyn here art thow ley do,
Soo the angell seyde and tolde vs thy name;
Holde, take thow here my hat on thy hedde!
And now off won thyng thow art well sped,
For weddur thow hast noo ncde to complayne.
For wynd, ne sun, hayle, snoo and rayne. {320
III. Pastor
Hayle be tiiow, Lorde ouer watur and landis!
For thy cumyng all we ma make myrthe.
Haue here my myttens to pytt on thi hondis,
Othur treysure haue I non to present the with. {324
Mare
Now, berdmen hynd,
For youre comyng
To my chyld schall I prae, {327
Asse he ys heyvin kyng,
To grant you his blessyng,
And to hys blys that ye may wynd
At your last day. {331
There the scheppardis syngith ageyne and goth forthe of the place; and the ij profettis cumyth in and seyth thus:
A Learned Dialogue (S&T)
There the acheppardis syngith ageyne and goth forthe of the place; and the ij profettis cumyth in and seyth thus:
I. Profeta
Novellis, Novellis {332
Of wonderfull marvellys,
Were hy and defuce vnto the heryng!
Asse scripture tellis,
These strange novellis
To you I bryng. {337
II. Profeta
Kow bartely, sir, I desyre to knoo,
Yff hytt wolde pleyse you forto scboo,
Of whatt maner a thyng.
I. Profeta
Were mystocall vnto youre heryng, —
Of the natevete off a kyng. {342
II. Profeta
Of a kyng? Whence schuld he cum?
I. Profeta
From thatt reygend ryall and mighty mancion,
The sede seylesteall and beyvinly vysedome,
The Seycond Person and Godis one Sun,
For owre sake now ys man be-cum. {347
This godly spere,
Desendid here
In-to a virgin clere,
Sche on-defyld;
Be whose warke obskevre
Owre frayle nature
Ys now begilde.
II. Profeta
Why, hath sche a chyld? {355
I. Profeta
E 1 trust hyt well;
And neuer the las
Yet ys sche a inayde evin asse sche wasse,
And hir sun the king of Isaraell.
II. Profeta
A wondur-full marvell
How thatt ma be,
And far dothe exsell
All owre capasete: {363
How thatt the Trenete,
Of soo hy regallete,
Schuld jonyd be
Vnto owre mortallete! {367
I. Profeta
Of his one grett marce,
As ye shall se the exposyssion,
Throgh whose vmanyte
All Adamw progene
Reydemyd schalbe owt of perdyssion. {372
Syth man did offend,
Who schuld amend
But the seyd mon and no nothur?
For the wyche cawse he
Incarnate wold be
And lyve in mesere asse manis one brothur. {378
II. Profeta
Syr, vnto the Deyite,
I beleve parfettle,
Onpossibull to be there ys nothyng;
How be yt this warke
Vnto nie ys darke
In the opperacion or wyrkyng. {384
I. Profeta
Whatt more reypriff
Ys vnto belyff
Then to be dowtyng? {387
II. Profeta
Yet dowtis oftymw bathe dereyacion.
I. Profeta
Thatt ys be the mejnes of comenecacion
Of trawthis to haue a dev probacion
Be the same dowts reysouiiig.
II. Profeta
Then to you this won thyng:
Of whatt nobull and' hy lenage ys schee
Thatt myght this verabul princis modur be? {394
I. Profeta
Ondowtid sche ys own of hy parrage,
Of the howse of Davith and Salamon the sage;
And won off the same lyne joynid to hir be mareage;
Of whose trybe
We do subscrybe
This chyldis lenage. {400
II. Profeta
And why in thatt wysse?
I. Profeta
For yt wasse the gysse
To conte the parant on the manys lyne,
And nott on the feymyne
Amonst vs here in Isaraell. {405
II. Profeta
Yett can I nott aspy be noo wysse
How thys chylde borne schuldbe with-owt naturis prjudyse.
I. Profeta
Nay, no prejvdyso vnto nature, I dare well sey;
For the kyng of nature may
Hawe all at his one wyll. {410
Dyd not tJie powar of God
Make Aronis rod
Bey re frute in on day 1 {413
II. Profeta
Truth yt ys in-ded.
I. Profeta
Then loke you and rede,
II. Profeta
A! I perseyve the sede
Where apon thatt you spake. {417
Yt wasse for owro nede
Thai he frayle nature did take,
And hifi blod he schuld* schede
Aniens forto make
For owre transegression; {422
Ase yt ys seyd in p?*ofece
Thai of the lyne of Jude
Schuld spryng a right Messe,
Be whom all wee
Schall haue reydemcion. {427
I. Profeta
Sir, now ys the tyme cu?»,
And the date there-of run,
Off his Natevete.
II. Profeta
Yett I beseke you hartele
Tliai ye wold schoo me how
Thutt this strange nowelte
Were broght vnto you. {434
I. Profeta
This othur nyght soo cold
Hereby apon a wolde
Scheppardis wachyng there fold,
In the nyght soo far
To them aperid a star,.
And eyuer yt drev them nar; {440
Wyche star the did behold
Bryghter, th sey, M folde
Then the sun so clere
In his mydday spere,
And the these tythyngis tolde. {445
II. Profeta
Whatt, seycretly]
I. Profeta
Na, na, hardely;
The made there-of no conseil;
For the song ase lowde
Ase eyuer the cowde
Presyng the kyng of Isaraell {451
II. Profeta
Yett do I marvell
In whatt pyle or castell
These herdmen dyd hym see. {454
I. Profeta
Nothur in hallis nor yett in bowris
Bom wold he not be,
iother in castellis nor yet in towris
Thai semly were to se; {458
But att hys Fathurs wyll,
The profeci to fuU-fyll,
Be-twyxt an ox and an as
Je8u«, thi kyng, borne he was.
Heyvin he bryng us tyll! {463
II. Profeta
S/r, a! but when these scheppardis had seyne hym there,
In-to whatt place did the repeyre!
I. Profeta
Forthe the went and glad th were,
Going thQ did syng;
Wtt/i myrthe and solas th made good chere
For joie of that new tything; {469
And aftur, asse I hard the[m]* tell.
He rey wardid them full well:
He graunt them hevyn er-in to dwell;
In ar the gon wttA joie and myrthe.
And there songe hit ys "Neowell". {474
There the profettis gothe furthe and Erod cumyth in, and the messenger.
Adoration of the Kings (S&T)
There the profettis gothe furthe and Erod cumyth in, and the messenger.
Nuncios
Faytes pais, dnyis, baronys de grande reynowne! {475
Payis, seneoris, schevaleris de uooble posance!
Pays, gentis homos, companeouys petis egrance!
Je vos command dugard treytus sylance.
Payis, tauque vottur nooble Roie syre ege presance! {479
Que nollis persone ese non fawis perwynt dedfferauce,
Nese harde de frappas; mayis gardus to to paceance, —
Mayis gardus voter seneor to cor reyuerance;
Car elat vottur Roie to to puysance.
Anon de leo, pase tos! je vose cummande,
E lay Roie erott la grandeaboly vos vmport. {485
Erode
Qui statis in Jude et Rex Iseraell,
And the myghttyst conquerowre that eyaer walkid on grownd;
For I am evyn he thatt made bothe hevin and hell,
And of my myghte powar holdith vp this world rownd.
Magog and Madroke, bothe them did I confownde,
And with this bryght bronde there bonis I brak onsunder,
Thatt all the wyde worlde on those rappis did wonder. {492
I am the cawse of this grett lyght and thunder;
Ytt ys throgh my fure that the soche noyse dothe make.
My feyref uU contenance the clowdis so doth incumbur
Tliat oftymw for drede ther-of the verre yerth doth quake.
Loke, when I with males this bryght brond doth schake,
All the whole world from the north to the sowthe
I ma them dystroie with won worde of my mowthe! {499
To reycownt vnto you myn innevmerabull substanoe, —
Thatt were to moche for any tong to tell;
For all the whole Orent ys under myn obbeydeance,
And prynce am I of purgatorre and cheff capten of hell;
And those tyraneos tray turs be force ma I compell
Myne enmyis to vanquese and evyn to dust them dryve,
And with a twynke of myn iee not won to be lafte alyve. {506
Behold my contenance and my colur,
Bryghtur then the sun in the meddis of t?tQ dey.
Where can you haue a more grettur succur
Then to behold my person that jrs soo gayo?
My fawcun and my fassion, wit/i my gorgis araye, —
He thatt had the grace all-wey er-on to thynke,
Lyve the myght all-wey wtt-owt othur meyte or drynke. {513
And thys my tryomfande fame most hylist dothe abownde
Throgh-owt this world in all reygeons abrod,
Reyscmclyng the fauer of thatt most myght Mahownd:
From Jubvtor be desent and cosyn to the grett God,
And namyd the most reydowndid kyng Eyrodde,
Wyclie thatt all pryncis hath under subjeccion
And all there whole powar vndur my proteccion. {520
And therefore, my hareode here, callid Calcas,
Warne thow eyuere porte thatt noo schyppis a-ryve,
Nor also aleoud stranger throg my realme pas,
But the for there truage do pay markis fyve. {524
Now spede the forth hastele,
For the thatt wyll tlie contrare
Apon a galowse hangid schalbe,
A7ul, be Mahownde, of me the gett noo grace! {528
Nuncios
Now, lord and mastur, in all the hast caicUas wiu
Thy worethe wyll ytt schall be wroght.
And thy ryall cuntreyis schalbe past
In asse schort tyme ase can be thoght. {532
Erode
Now schall owre regeons throgh-owt be socht a search
In eyuere place bothe est and west;
Yff any katyffis to me be broght,
Yt schalbe nothyng for there best.
And the whyle thatt I do resst,
Trompettis, Tiallis, and othur armone
Schall bles the wakyug of my maleste. {539
Here Erod goth awey and the iij kyngis speykyth in the strete.
I. Rex
Now blessid be God of his swet sonde, Tiie first icing
For yondur a feyre bryght star I do see!
Now ys he cofifion, vs a-monge,
Asse the profet seyd thatt yt schuld be. {543
A seyd there schuld a babe be borne, and remem-
Comyng of the rote of Jesse, prophecy.
To sawe mankynd that wasse for-lorne;
And truly Gomen now ys he. {547
Keyuerence ajid worschip to hym woll I do
Asse God and man, thatt all made of noght.
All the profettis acordid and seyd evyn soo,
That with hys presseos blod mankynd schuld be boght. {551
He grant me grace,
Be yonder star that I see,
And in-to thatt place
Bryng me
Thatt I ma hym worschipe with umellete
And se hys gloreose face. {557
II. Rex
Owt of my wey I deme thatt I am,
For toocuns of thys cuntrey can I non see;
Now, God, thatt on yorth madist man.
Send me sum knoleyge where thatt I be! {561
Yondur, me thynkc, a feyre, bryght star I see,
The wyche be-tocunyth the byrth of a chyld
Thatt hedur ys cum to make man fre;
He borne of a mayde, and sche nothyng defyld. {565
To worschip thatt chyld ys myn in-tent;
Forth now wyll I take my wey.
I trust sum cumpany God hathe me sent,
For yonder I se a kyng labur on the wey; {569
To-warde hym now woll I ryde.
Harke! cumly kyng, I you pray,
In-to whatt cost wyll ye thys tyde.
Or weddur lyis youre jumey? {573
I. Rex
To seke a chylde ys myne in-tent
Of whom the profetis hathe ment;
The tyme ys cum, now ys he sent,
Be yondur star here ma you see. {577
II. Rex
Sir, I prey you, with your lysence,
To ryde with you vnto his presence;
To hym wyll I offur frank-in-sence.
For the hed of all Whole Churche schall he be. {581
[Enter Third King to the other side of the pageant.]
III. Rex
I ryde wandeiyng in veyis wyde,
Ouer montens and dalis; I wot not where I am.
Now, Kyng off all kyngis, send me soche gyde
Thatt I myght haue knoleyge of thys cuntreys name. {585
A! yondur I se a syght, be-semyng all afar,
The wyche be-tocuns sum nevis, ase I troo;
Asse me thynke, a chyld peryng in a stare.
I trust he be cum that schall defend vs from woo. {589
To kyngis yondur I see, The Kings
And to them woll I ryde
Forto haue there cmnpane;
I trust the wyll me abyde. {593
Hayle, cumly kyngis augent!
Good surs, I pray you, wheddur ar ye ment?
I. Rex
To seke a chylde ys owre in-tent,
Wyche be-tocuns yonder star, asse ye ma see. {597
II. Rex
To hym I purpose thys present.
III. Rex
Surs, I pray you, and thatt ryght vmblee,
With you thatt I ma ryde in cumpane.
All three
To all-myghte God now prey we
Thatt hys pressiose persone we ma se. {602
Here Erode cumyth in ageyne and the messengere seyth:
Nuncios
Hayle, lorde most off mycht!
Thy commandement ys right;
In-to thy land ys comyn this nyght
Iij kyngis and with them a grett cumpany, {606
Erode
Whatt make those kyngis in this cuntrey?
Nuncios
To seke a kyng and a chyld, the sey.
Erode
Of whatt age schuld he bee!
Nuncios
Skant twellve deyis old fulle. {610
Erode
And wasse he soo late borne?
Nuncios
E! syr, soo the schode me, thys same dey in the morne.
Erode
Now, in payne of deyth, bryng them me beforne;
And there-fore, harrode, now hy the in hast, {614
In all spede thatt thow were dyght
Or thatt those kyngis the cuntrey be past;
Loke thow bryng them all iij before my syght; {617
And in Jerusalem inquere more of that chyld.
Main ftir* But I wame the that thy wordis be mylde,
qoiriea.' For there must* thow hede and crafte weylde
How to for-do his powere; and those iij kyngis shalbe begild. {621
Nuncios
Lorde, I am redde att youro byddyng
To sarve the ase my lord and kyng;
For joye there-of, loo, how I spryng
Wiih lyght hart ami fresche gamboldyng
Alofte here on this molde I {626
Erode
Then sped the forthe hastely.
And loke thai thow bey re the eyvinly;
And also I pray the hartely
Thatt thow doo comand me
Bothe to yong and olde. {631
[The messenger goes to the kings.]
Nuncios
Hayle, syr kyngis, in youre degre;
Erood, kyng of these cuntreyis wyde,
Desyrith to speyke with you all thre,
And for youre comyng he dothe abyde. {635
I. Rex
Syr, att his wyll we be ryght bayne.
Hy us, brethur, vnto thatt lordis place;
To speyke with hym we wold be fayne;
Thatt chyld thatt we seke, he grant us of his grace! {639
[They go to Herod.]
Nuncios
Hayle, lorde with-owt pere!
These iij kyngis here have we broght.
Erode
Now welcuTw, syr kyngis, all in fere;
But of my bryght ble, surs, bassche ye noght I {643
Sir kyngis, ase I vndurstand,
A star hathe gydid you into my land,
Where-in grett harie ye haue fonde
Be reysun of hir beymw bryght. {647
Wherefore I pray you hartely
The vere truthe thatt ye wold sertefy,
How long yt ys surely
Syn of that star you had furst syght. {651
I. Rex
Sir kynge, the vere truthe to sey
And forto schoo you ase hit ys best,
This same ys evin the xijth dey
Syth yt aperid to vs to be west. {655
Erodr Brethur, then ys there no more to sey,
But wtt hart and wyll kepe ye your jumey
And cuw jjhom by me this same wey,
Of your nevis thatt I myght knoo. {659
You schall tryomfe in this cuntre
And with grett conquorde bankett wtt/i me,
And thatt chyld myself then woll I see
And honor hym also. {663
II. Rex
Sir, youre coniTwandement we woll fullfyll
And humbly abaye owreself there-tyll.
He thatt weldith all thyng at wyll
Tlie redde way bus teyche,'
S/r kyng, thatt we ma passe your land in pes!
Erode
Yes, and walke softely ey vin at your one es; {669
Youre pase-porte for a C deyis
Here schall you haue of clere cumnand,
Owre reme to labur any weyis
Here schall you haue be spesschall grante. {673
III. Rex
Now fare-well, kyng of by degre,
Humbly of you owre ley ve we take.
Erode
Then adev, sir kyngis all thre;
And whyle I lyve, be bold of me!
There ys nothyng in this cuntre
But for youre one ye schall yt take. {679
[Exeunt the three kings]
Htrod wm Now these iij kyngis are gon on ther wey;
smUi whM On-wjeely a9id on-wyttely haue the all wtoghte.
When the cum ageyne, the schall dy that saibo dey,
And thus these yyle wreychis to dey th the schalhe broght, —
Soch.e ys my lykyng. {684
He that agenst my lawis wyll hold,
Be he kyng or keysar neyucr soo bold,
I schall them cast in-to caris cold
And to deyth I schall them bryng. {688
There Erode goth his weyis and the iij kyngis cum in ageyne.
I. Rex
O blessid God, moche ys thy myht!
Where ys this star thatt gawe vs lyghtt? {690
II. Rex
Now kuele we downe here in this presence,
Be-sekyng that Lord of hy mangnefecens
That we ma see his hy exsellence
Yff thatt his swot wyll be? {694
III. Rex
Yondur, brothur, I see the star,
Where-by I k no he ys nott far; —
Therefore, lordis, goo we nar
Into this pore place. {698
Jliere the iij kyngie gois in-to the jeeen, to Mare and hir child.
I. Rex
Hayle, Lorde thatt all this worlde hathe wroght!
Hale, God and man to-gedur in fere!
For thow hast made all thyng of noght,
Albe-yt thatt thow lyist porely here;
A cupe-full of golde here I haue the broght,
In toconyng thow art with-out pere. {704
II. Rex
Hayle be thow, Lorde of hy mangnyffecens!
In toconyng of prestehod and dyngnete of offece,
To the I offur a cupe-full off in-sence,
For yt be-hovith the to haue soche sacrefyce. {708
III. Rex
Hayle be thow, Lorde longe lokid fore!
I haue broght the myre for mortalete, «»« twrd.
In to-cunyng thow schalt mankynd restore
To lyflf be thy deyth apon a tre. {712
Mare
God haue marce, kyngis, of yowre goodnes; Mary biemes
Be the gydyng of the godhed bidder ar ye sent;
The provyssion off my swete sun your weyis whom reydres,
And gostely reywarde you for youre present! {716
[As the kings go away, they say;]
I. Rex
Syr kyngis, af tur owre promes Tiiey are
Whome be Erode I mvst nedis goo,
II. Rex
Now truly, brethur, we can noo las,
But I am soo for-wachid I wott not wat to do. {720
III. Rex
Right soo am I; where-fore I you pray,
Lett all vs rest vs awhyle upon this grownd.
I. Rex
Brothur, your seying ys right well vnto my pay.
The grace of thatt swet chylde saue vs all sownde! {724
[They lie down, and while they sleep, an angel appears.]
Angellus
Kyng of Tawrus, Ser Jespar,
Kyng of Arraby, Sir Baltliasar,
Melchor, Kyng of Aginare,
To you now am I sent. {728
For drede of Eyrode, goo you west whom;
In-to those parties when ye cum downe,
Ye schalbe byrrid with gret reynowne;
The Wholle Gost thys knoleyge hath sent. [Exit.] {732
I. Rex
Awake, sir kyngis, I you praye,
For the voise of an angell I hard in my dreyme.
II. Rex
Thatt ys full tru thatt ye do sey,
For he reyherssid owre names playne. {736
III. Rex
He bad thatt we echuld goo downe be west
For drede of Eyrodis fawls be-traye.
I. Rex
Soo forto do, yt ys the best;
The Child that we haue soght, gyde vs the wey! {740
Now fare-well, the feyrist of schapp so swete!
And thaiikid be Jesus of his sonde,
Thatt we iij to-goder soo suddenly schuld mete,
Thatt dwell soo wyde and in straunge lond, {744
And here make owre presentacion
Vnto tliis kyngis son clensid soo cleyne
And to his moder for ovre saluacion;
Of moche myrth now ma we meyne,
Thatt we soo well hath done this obblacion. {749
II. Rex
Now farewell, Sir Jaspar, brothur, to yoeu,
Kyng of Tawrus the most worthe;
Sir Balthasar, also to you I bow;
And I thanke you bothe of youre good cumpany
Thatt we togeddur haue had. {754
He thatt made vs to mete on hyll,
I thanke hym now and eyuer I wyll;
For now may we goo with-owt yll.
And off owre offerynge be full glad. {758
III. Rex
Now syth thatt we mvst nedly goo
For drede of Erode thatt ys soo wrotlie,
Now fare-well brothur, and brothur also,
I tike my leve here at you bothe
This day on fete. {763
Now he thatt made vs to mete on playne
And offur to Mare in hir jeseyne,
He gave vs grace in heyvin a-gayne
All to-geyder to mete! {767
[The kings go out, and Herod and his train occupy the pageant]
Slaughter of the Innocents (S&T)
[The kings go out, and Herod and his train occupy the pageant]
Nuncios
Hayle, kynge, most worthist in wede! {768
Hayle, mauteinar of curtese throgh all this world wyde!
Hayle, the most myglityst that eyuer bestrod a stede!
Hayll, most monfullist mon in armor man to abyde!
Hayle, in thyne hoonowre! {772
Thesso iij kyngis that forthe were sent
And schuld have cum ageyne before the here present,
Anothur wey, lorde, whom the went,
Contrare to thyn honowre. {776
Erode
A-nothur wey? owt! owt! owtt!
Hath those fawls traytvrs done me this ded?
I stampe! I stare! I loke all abowtt!
Myght I them take, I schuld them bren at a glode!
I rent! I rawe! and now run I wode!
A! thatt these velen trayturs hath mard this my mode!
The schallbe hangid yf I ma cum them to! {783
Here Erode ragis in the pagond and in the strete also.
E! and thatt kerne of Bedlem, he schalbe ded
And thus schall I for-do his profece. 785
How sey you, sir knyghtis? ys not this the best red,
Thatt all yong chyldur for this schuld be dede,
Wyth sworde to be slayne? {788
Then schall I, Erod, lyve in lede,
And all folke me dowt and drede,
And offur to me bothe gold, rychesse, and mede;
Thereto wyll the be full fayne. {792
I. Myles
My lorde, kyng Erode be name,
Thy wordis agenst my wyll schalbe;
To see soo mawy yong chylder dy ys schame.
Therefore consell ther-to gettis thou non of me. {796
II. Myles
Well seyd, fello, my trawth I plyght.
Str kyng, perseyve right well you may,
Soo grett a morder to see of yong frute
Wyll make a rysyng in thi noone cuntrey. {800
Erode
A rysyng! Owt! owt! owt! {801
There Erode ragis ageyne and then seyth thus:
Owt! velen wrychis, har apon you I cry!
My wyll vtturly loke that yt be wroght,
Or apon a gallowse bothe you schall dy,
Be Mahownde most myghtyste, tJiat me doro hath boght! {805
I. Myles
Now, cruell Erode, syth we schall do this dede!
Your wyll nedefully in this realme mvste be wroght;
All the chylder of that age dy the mvst nede;
Now with all my myght the schall be vpsoght. {809
II. Myles
And I woll sweyre here apon your bryght sworde,
All the chylder thatt I fynd, sclayne the schalbe;
Thatt make many a moder to wepe and be full sore aferde
In owre armor bryght when the hus see. {813
Erode
Now you have swome, forth that ye goo,
And my wyll thatt ye wyrke bothe be dey and nyght,
And then wyll I for fayne trypp lyke a doo.
But whan the be ded I wame you bryng ham be-fore my syglit. {817
[Herod and his train go away, and Joseph and Mary are, while asleep, addressed by an angel.]
Angellus
Mare and Josoff, to you I sey,
Swete word from the Fathur I bryng you full ryght:
Owt of Bedlem in-to Eygype forth goo ye the wey
And with you take the King, full of myght,
For drede of Eroddis rede! {822
Josoff
A-ryse up, Mare, hastely and sone;
Owre Lordis wyll nedys mvst be done,
Lyke ase the angell vs bad. {825
Mare
Mekely, Josoff, my none spowse,
Towarde that cuntrey let vs reypeyre;
Att Eygyp to sum cun off howse,
God grant hus grace saff to cum there! {829
Here the wemen cum in wythe there chyldur, syngyng them; and Mare and Josoff goth awey cleyne.
I. Woman
I love my chylde wondursly swete,
And in my narmis I do hyt kepe,
Be-cawse thatt yt schuld not crye.
II. Woman
Thatt babe thatt ys borne in Bedlem, so meke,
He saue my chyld and me from velany! {834
III. Woman
Be styll, be sty11, my lyttull chylde!
That Lorde of lordis saue bothe the and me!
For Erode hath sworne with wordis wyld
Thatt all yong chyldur sclayne the schalbe. {838
I. Myles
Sey ye, wyddurde wyvis, whydder ar ye a-wey?
What beyre you in youre armis nedis mvst we se.
Yff the be man-chyldur, dy the mvst this dey.
For at Eroddis wyll all thyng mvst be. {842
II. Myles
And I in handis wonys them hent.
Them forto sley noght woll I spare;
We mvst full-fyll Erodis commandement,
Elis be we asse trayturs and cast all in care. {846
I. Woman
Sir knyghtis, of youre curtessee,
Thys dey schame not youre chevaldre,
But on my child haue pytte
For my sake in this styde; {850
For a sympull sclaghtur yt were to sloo
Or to wyrke soche a chyld woo,
That can noder speyke nor goo.
Nor neuer harme did. {854
II. Woman
He thatt sleyis my chyld in syglit,
Yff thatt my strokis on hym ma lyglit,
Be he skwyar or knyght,
I hold hym but lost. {858
Se, thow fawls losyngere,
A stroke schalt thow beyre me here
And spare for no cost. {861
III. Woman
Sytt he neyuer soo hy in saddull,
But I schall make his braynis addull
And here wih my pott-ladull
With hym woll I fyght {865
I schall ley on hym, as thogh I wode were,
With thys same womanly geyre;
There scball noo man steyre,
Wheddur thatt be be kyng or knyght. {869
[Here they kill the children.]
I. Myles
Who hard eyuer socbe a cry
Of wemen thatt there chyldur haue lost,
And grettly reybukyng chewaldry
Throgh-owt this reme in eyuere cost,
Wyche many a mans lyff ys lyke to cost?
For thys grett wreyche that here ys done
I feyre moche wengance ther-off woll cum {876
II. Myles
E! brotbur, socbe talis may we not tell;
Where-fore to the kyng lett vs goo.
For be ys lyke to beyre the peroll,
Wyche wasse the cawser that we did soo.
Yett must the all be broght bym to
With waynis and waggyns fully fryght;
I tro there wolbe a carefull syght. {883
[They go to Herod.]
I. Myles
Loo! Eyrode, kyug, here mast thow see
How many M thatt we haue slayne.
II. Myles
And nedis thy wyll full-fyllid must be;
There ma no mon sey there-ageyne. {887
[Enter Nuntius.}
Nuncios
Eyrode, kyng, I schall the tell.
All thy dedis ys cam to noght;
This chyld ys gone in-to Eygipte to dwell.
Loo! sir in thy none land what wondurs byn wroght! {891
Erode
Into Eygipte! alas, for woo!
Lengur in lande here I canot abyde;
Saddull my palfrey, for in hast wyll I goo,
Aftor yondor trayturs now wyll I ryde.
Them for to sloo. {896
Now all men hy fast
In-to Eygipte in hast!
All thatt contrey woll I tast,
Tyll I ma cum them to. {900
{
Fynes lude de taylars and scharmen. {
Tys matter / nevly correcte be Robart Croo / the {
xiiijth dey of marche / fenysschid in the yere of owre Lorde
God / M CCCCC & xxxiiijte. [1534] / then beyng mayre mastur
Palmar / also mastris of the seyd fellyschipp Hev Cor-
bett / Eandull Pynkard and / John Baggeley.
Theise songes / belonge to / the Taylors and Shearemens
Pagant. / The first and the laste the shepheards singe / and the second or middlemost the women singe.
Thomas Mawdycke {
Die decimo tertio Maij anno domimi millessimo quin-
gentesimo nonagesimo primo. [1591] / Praetor fait
Couentriæ D. Mathaeus Richardson, tunc Councelles /
Johanes Whitehead et Thomas Grauener.
Song I. {
As I out rode this enderas night, {1
Of thre ioli sheppardes I saw a sight,
And all a-bowte there fold a star shone bright;
They sange terli terlow;
So mereli the sheppards ther pipes can blow.
Song II. {
Lully lulla, thow littell tine child {1
By by, hllly lullay thow littell tyne child
By by, lully lullay!
O sisters too
How may we do
For to preserve this day
This pore yongling
For whom we do singe
By by, lully lullay? {6
Herod, the king,
In his raging,
Chargid he hath this day
His men of might
In his owne sight
All yonge children to slay, — {12
That wo is me,
Pore child, for thee
And ever morne and may
For thi parting
Nether say nor singe,
By by, lully lullay. {18
Song III. {
Doune from heaven, from heaven so hie, {1
Of angeles ther came a great companie,
With mirthe and ioy and great solemnitye,
The sange terly terlow;
So mereli the sheppards ther pipes can blow, {5
The Pageant of the Weavers
Dramatis Personae
In the Prophet Play (Ll. 1-176)
i. Profeta
ii. Profeta
iii. Profeta [non-speaking]
In the Purification - introduction (Ll. 177-366)
Simeon
Anna
i. Angel
ii. Angel
Clerk
In the Purification - Journey to the Temple and Quest for Doves (Ll. 367-584)
Gabriel
Mary
Joseph
i. Angel
In the Purification proper (Ll. 585-721)
ii. Angel
Simeon
Anna
Clerk
Mary
Joseph
In the Disputation in the Temple (Ll. 722-1191)
Joseph
Mary
Jesus
i. Doctor
ii. Doctor
iii. Doctor
The Prophet Play (Weav)
I. Profeta
Ye grett astronemars now awake, {1
With youre iaamts fatheres of felosefy
And in-to the oreient reyspecte ye take,
Where nevis and strangis be cum of lately,
Affermyng the seyng of old profecie,
Thatt a star schuld apere
Apon the hyll of Wawse among hus here! {7
II. Profeta
Ye brethur all, then be of good chere,
For those tythings makyth my hart ful lyght!
We haue desirid many a yere
Of thatt star to haue a syght,
And spesschalli of that kyng of myght
Of whose cumyng we haue playne warnyng
Be this same star aftor profettis desemyng. {14
Yet furtboTy I pra* you for my larnyng,
Lett has hawe' sum comenecaciou
Of this star be oldd proostefying
How bit aperid and under whatt fassion. {18
I. Profeta
Sir, aftur a strange deformacion
As be atorite reyherse I can;
For this same star be interpretacion
Syngnefyth the nateyete of a man; {22
As the profett Balam
In his text afarmyth right well,
Seying: “Orietur stella ex Jaeobo, et exmrget
homo de Israel.” {25
He seyd of lacobe a star schuld springe,
Wyche syngnefyith only this same kynge
thatt amongist vs now ys cum.
And as towchyng the letter folloyng:
Et ipse dominabitur omni gen&Nidone, {30
II. Profeta
Sir, here ma be movid a questeon
Of this nobull prince of soo hi degree,
The wyche of all men schall haue domeneon,
Vndur what maner borne he schuld be,
I. Profeta
Ase ye schall here right wonder-
fulles
I5e devine powar of a virgene pure,
Afarmyng the profeci agenst all nature. {37
II. Profeta
Where fynde you thai in wholle scrip-
ture
Before pronostefide* this to be done?
I. Profeta
Isaee the profett wrytith full sure,
Ecce Virgo conclpiet, pariet filium!
Balam seyng of the heyvinly wyssedome
A man scbuld spryng here in Isaraell,
The seyd Isayee answeyring to that questeon:
Et vocaJbityxr nomen eius JEmanvel, {45
II. Profeta
Yett haue I grett marvell,
How thatt men schuld tell
Off such strangis before the fell,
And man beyng here but a mortall creature. {49
I. Profeta
Be devine powar, I make you sure,
The sprete of prof ece to them was sent,
Soo to subscrybe in wholle scripture,*
And yett them-selfe wyst not watt yt ment. {53
II. Profeta
Now laude be vnto hym that soche
knoleyge sent
Vnto bus wreychis of pore symplecete.
Where* he ys Lord and God omnipotent,
In this hys wyll to make bus prove!
I. Profeta
Did nott tJiat prof ett man Malache
Eesite vnto bus on this same wyse
thatt the sun of lyff schall spring and arise ) {60
Wyche cawsid Isaee to cast up his iees
Toward hey vin with all his inward syght,
Seying, " Good Lord, afarmyng thy p*omes.
Send downe to bus this wonly sun off myght,
Huse to reystore vnto owre right!
Owt of deserte, from the bard stone,
Reycomfordyng thi dogbtur dwyllyng in Sion! " {67
Also Jaramo,< thatt wholle mon,
Seyd in beyvin God schuld make seede,
A greyne off Davith, thatt now ys cum,
Wyche eyuer in gracys shall spring and spreyde
And kepe Juda owt off drede
And also Isaraell sett in surenes.
And he schall make jugementis of rightwesenes. {74
II. Profeta
I wondre to here you this expres,
Be actoris hi, this worthe mystere.
And spesschalle of this ytrtu rightwessenes.
Where hit schalbe vsid and in whatt parte. {78
I. Profeta
Apon the yarthe bothe wtt/2 hy and loo
degre;
And rightwessenes men schall hym call,
When he schall cum to sit in the see [C s]
Of King Davity tliai most riall stall;
And ther schall he before the pristis all
Of Juda and Ley ve be his powar device,
WM nev * insence to do sacref yce. {85
To God aboue for the grett offence
Of the peple and for yngnorance,*
Wit there offeringe to make reycompence
For the lenage of Adamt progeny.
This schall this childe by theym free
From all the offencis thatt th& haue done
Be cruell deyth and bytter passion. {92
II. Profeta
Good Sir, yett under prtdustacion*
Owre feyth thereby for to incresse,
Of this star lett hus haue reylacion,
How hit aperid and vndur whatt fassion,
Yff hit wold pleyse you for to expresse.
I. Profeta
Wit/i diners streymw of grett
brightnes, {98
A child therm of flagrant swetnes,
Wyche apon his bake a crosse did beyre,
And of an eygull hit bare the lykenes,
Beytyng his wyngis into the eyre;
A woise there-in off lange feyre
Thatt wasse hard throgh-owt the cuntrey,
Seyinge: * Nattcs est nobis oddie rex Judeorxim — et sethere:' {105
II. Profeta
Of a farthur dcclaracion I wold you praye,
Whatt trybus the were and in whatt parte,
The were date, and whatt maner a wey
They haue mside probate of this profece. {109
I. Profeta
And thatt schall I scho you right eyvedently.
The grett lordis of the land of Caldy
Fowndid twelve masturs of asestronemy
For to se this star apere;
And when these masturs were eylecte,
On the hill of Wawse er wache the kepte
And the all togedder neuer sclepte
Abowe ix yere. {117
II. Profeta
And dide the soo longe wache that hill?
I. Profeta
Ye truly, tyll iJiAt hit was this kyngis will
This seyd profece for to fullfyll,
Thatt strange star to send them till,
Whereof the had intellegenee; {122
That af tur the darkenes of the nyght
In the day hit schone soo bright,
Thatt when the sun and the stare
In the yeyre togeythur warre,
Betwyxt them wasse lyttull or non indyfference. {127
And soo this stare wasse a srveture
And ynto iij kyngis a playn cundeture
Ynto the mancion of a yirn pure. {130
II. Profeta
But ar you sure for whatt intent?
I. Profeta
Forsothe to Bedlem streyght the went,
Whereasse the ofifurd to this childe reuerent
Wtt/t grett omage a famti present. {134
The furst wasse gold, as most myghte kyng;
The seycond wasse myr, asse prist of pristis beyng;
The thryd wasse insence, in tokyning of byrring. {137
II. Profeta
Yet wold I kno the cawse spesschalljy
Whatt movid these kyngis to cum so hastelj,
And whedor the cam oopan or pievy. {140
I. Profeta
The star broght them throgh ejnere cuntie;
And eyur as the cam oopunly,
The dide inquere of those neyis;
Eyusr the axid, “Where ys he
Thatt ys borne for to be
The kyng of Juys?” {146
Therefore lett bus wtt all delegence
Ynto tJiat chyld geye honowre and reyuerence,
And thatt we ma cum vnto his presence
To haue fruyssion of his hi deyit[e]. {150
And, brothur, I thanke you of youre pacyence;
For now att thys tyme departe wyll wee.
II. Profeta
Now, brothur, for youre swete sentence,
Att all tymiff welcum to me — {154
Loo! fryndis, there may you see
How God in man workith alwey.
Now all we that his servandis be
Hathe grett cawse in hym to joie,
Wyche sendyth bus knoleyge the truth to sey;
And he soo meraculosly wyrkyng iherwith
Thatt of all soycrettis we wryte* the were pyth; {161
Wherefore moclie cawse haue we to make myrth,
When we reymeiJibur the gloreose birthe
Of this virgyns sun.
He the Seconde Person in the Trenete
Eyquall iih his Fathur in deyite
Aud under the curteyne of owre vmanete,
For hus wold man becum. {168
Wherefore, here I exsorte you all,
That in this place here asembulde bo,.
Vnto this chyldo for merce cawll,
Wycbe schall reydeme vs apon a tre. {172
And thatt gloreose blys thatt we ma see,
Wycbe he hathe ordenide for all men
In his selesteall place to be
In saecula seculorum, amen! {176
Here Semeon intrythe and the last profett gothe ouftt.
Purification - introduction (Weav)
Here Semeon intrythe and the last profett gothe ouftt.
Semeon
the seylesteall Soferent, owre by Gode eternall! {177
Wycbe of this mervelus world ys the fowndatur,
And create the hy heyvins his one see emperell
With sun, mone and staris, yorthe, sky and wattur —
And al for the sustenance of owre vmayne nature —
With fysche, fowle, best, and eyuere othur thyng,
Vndur hus to haue the naturall cowrs and beyng. {183
Yett owre formere parence at the begynnyng
Throgh dyssobeydence had a grevose fall
From the hy pales and blys eyuerlastyng
Downe into this* wale off meserabull mvndall;
For the wyche transgression all we ar now mortall,
Thatt before wasse infynite for eyuer to remayne
And now schall take yend be deyth and cruell payne. {190
Wyche grevoise sorro ofte dothe me conatrayne
Inwardly to syghe and byttur teyris to weph,
Tyll thatt I reymembur the grett comforde ageyne
Of anceant profettis with ther sentens swete,
Wbose fructuus syence of profownde larnyng depe
In there awturs aperith to hus right manefestly.
Of Isaee, Sebbellam, Balam, and Malache. {197
Lorde of lordis! In hart beseke I the,
Of this infinite worke to send me the tru lyght,
Truly to expownde this seyde wholle profece;
And also of that kyng that I ma haue a syght, {201
And that we ma walke in his weyis uppright,
The wyche be reydemcion schall hus all reyles.
At whose cumyng the tru ovncion of Juda schall seyse. {204
Now, Lord, follfyll thatt hy tyme of pes!
For age draith me fast apon.
Fayne wold I see thatt wholle of whollenes.
Or this mortall lyff fro me were gone.
Now, Lorde, ase thow art iij in won,
Grant me grace, yff thatt thy wyl be,
In my nold age that syght for to see! {211
Then at thy wyll, Lorde, fayne wolde I be,
Yff thow soche grace woldist me sende.
To loove the, Lorde, vfith all vmelyte,
And soo of my lyff then to make an ende!
Yett, Lorde, thi grace to me now extende,
Suffur me rathur yett to lyve in peyne
Then to dy, or thatt I thatt solam syght haue seyne! {218
[Here Ane eumyth in to Semeon and scythe:]
Ane
sufferent Semeon! With all solemnete,
Thatt of owre gloreose tempull hath the goueanance,
With all dev reuerance here beseke I the
Thi olde frynde in Gode to haue in reymemburance,
The wyche hathe tarrid be a long contenvance
For the comyng of the right Messee,
Wyche hathe byn promysid vnto hus be profece. {225
Lorde! thogh that I be nothynge worthe
To see the fassion of thi most presseose pyctore,
Yett, Lorde, acsepte me of thi grett marce,
Asse thy pore serwand and feythfull creature.
To se the, Lorde, yff that I myght be sure,
No lenger on grownd wold I reyquere
In this mortall lyff to contenev here. {232
Semeon
O fey thefull frynde and louer dere!
To you this text ofte haue I tolde,
That the lyght of Leyve amonge vs here
In Isaraell schuld he boght and sold;
Asse avnceant profettis hereof hathe told,
That in this lande here he schuld make surenes.
And he to be cawlid the Kyng of Pes. {239
Asse Isaee hymselfe herein to wyttnes,
“In facie populorum” this did he sey,
“Cum venerit sanctus sanctorum cessabit unctio vestra.”
And soo when owre ryght blod schall seyse,
Moche yirtu and grace then schall incresse
WiUb hy jugementis of rightwessenes
Amongest hus evyn here in Isaraell. {246
Ane
Yff thatt I myght abyde that dey,
Thatt wholle off wholleis for to see
Wyche thatt I haue desyrid allwey,
In this worlde well were me.
Now, Lord, and yff thy wyll hit be,
Grant me my hoope, longe lokid fore;
Then joie nor welthe kepe I no more. {253
Semeon
Now, Ane, systur and dere frynde,
Lett hus bothe with a whole intent
In thys tru feyth owre lyvis yend,
Lawdyng thatt Lorde wyche ys omnipotent;
Wherefore I thynke hyt full expeydente
In conteniall preyar for to indure.
To kno therby his graceose plesure. {260
Ane
O sofferent Semeon! Thi famus consell
Inwardely gladyth me in my hart.
No-thyng contentyth my mynd soo well.
Wherefore at this tyme woll we departe. {264
Semeon
Now, Ane, syth that ye wol hence nede
Vnto the tempull with all spede
Owre Lordis wyll for to abyde,
That Lord of lordis be thy gyde
And sende the that wyche thow lovist most;
Botlie heyle and bote for the provide,
Where-eyuer thow goo in any cost! {271
[Ane goes out.]
Fryndis, now ys hit tyme to prey.
Before that I my rest do take,
My custome hathe yt byn alwey,
Asse long ase eyaer I am awake,
Intersession vnto that Lorde to make
Of hym to obteyne all my reyquest.
And then full peysable to take my rest. {278
Now, Lorde, that madist all thyng of noght,
Both hevyn and hell and eyuere creature,
Asse thow knoist myn inwarde thoght,
Reycomforde me when hit ys thy plesure;
For I do covett no more treysure
Then the tyme of thy natevete
With my mortall yeeis thatt I myght se. {285
But asse thow wolt, Lorde, all thyng mvst be.
And reysun hit ys thatt hit be soo;
My wyll therto schall eyuer agre.
My wholle desyre now dost thou kno.
Or thatt I vnto slepe do goo,
I commytt my warkis with all the sircumstance
Wholly vnto thy lawis and ordonance. {292
[There Semeon settys hym doune to rest, ase hit were, and the Angell seythe to hym:]
I. Angell
Semeon, of thy rest awake;
Owre Lorde in heyvin he sendyth the gretyng
Of my message, with the for to make,
With the, hys f rind, a solame metyng;
Hj8 blessid bode vnto thi kepyng
WiVdn schort tyme schal be broght,
And here in thy tempuU thow schalte be soght {299
Semeon
Lorde, whence cam this solam noyse
That awoke me here soo suddenly?
My spretis thervfith did soo reyjoyse,
Thatt no longer slepe cowlde I.
Me-thoght he seyde right perfettly,
Thatt solam Sufferent thatt I schulde see
And haue hym here in my custode. {306
II. Angell
Semeon, thatt Lorde in Trenete
Whom thow hast desirid to see alwey
At thy tempull offurde schal be
Vnto thy honde this same day;
Therfore spede in all thatt thow may,
That the tempull in ordur be
This prynce to reyseyve yri\Ji all vmelete. {313
[Exeunt the two angels.]
Semeon
Now, Lorde of lordis, thankis be to the!
These gloreose tythyngis that here be tolde
In my hart soo gladith me
Thatt I am lyghtar a M folde
Then eyucr I wasse before. {318
Therefore wyll I with al my myght
To se my tempull soo presseoosly pyght
In gorgis araye thatt hyt be dyght
This prynce for to ownowre. {322
There Semeon gothe to his Clarke and seyth:
Now, fryndis all, be of good chere,
And to owre tempull draw we nere;
Soche solam nevis now I here,
Thatt all my spretis dothe glade. {326
Thatt babe ys borne of dyngnete
Thatt we soo long hathe desirid to see,
Oure Lord and Kyng most myghte,
Thatt all this world made. {330
Clarecus
Kow blessid mot that lorde be,
Thatt dey and owre thatt we schall see
His gloreose bodde in Trencte,
Thatt flowre that nener schall fade! {334
Semeon
No lenger, Surs, lett vs abyde,
But to the tempull with all spede
To reyseve the Saueowre of this world wyde
And hym to serve with lowe and drede!
Now, Sirs, loke thatt ye take good hede
To wayte and serve with all delegence,
His grace to ownowre with humble reuerence! {341
Clarecus
To serue a prynce of soche maimeffecens,
Sir, I wasse neuer wont there-to.
Sythe ye therin hathe more intellegence,
Instructe me, Sir, how that I schuld do,
Lest thatt I do offende; {346
For rathur then I wolde hym greive,
Thatt Lord on whom I do beleve, —
Yett had I leyuer my-self reymeve
Vnto the worldis yende. {350
Semeon
Sith thatt ye for knoleyge dothe make sute,
Your wyttis the bettur do I reypute. -
With humble hartis and meke, {353
Won of hus must holde the lyght
Ande the othur the sacrefyce;
And I on kneis, asse hyt ys right,
The offece to exsersyse
Vnto thatt babe soo swette. {358
Clarecus
Then hast we this alter to araye
And clothis off onowre theron to laye
Ande the grownde straw we with flowris gay
Thatt of oddur swetely smellis. {362
Semeon
And when he aprochis nere this place,
Syng then with me thatt conyng hasse
And the othur the meyne space
For joie rynge ye the bellis.