The Spicers' Play: The Annunciation and Visitation DOCTOR Lord God, great marvel is to mean how man was made withouten miss, and set where he should ever have been withouten bale, biding in bliss; and how he lost that comfort clean and was put out from Paradise, and sithen what sorrows sore were seen, sent unto him and to all his, and how they lay long space in hell, locken from light, till God granted them grace of help, as he had hight. Then is it needful for to name how prophets all God’s counsels kenned, as prophet Amos in his steven taught while he lived in land: Reading from the book Deus pater disposuit salutem fieri in medio terre AMOS God, the father in heaven ordained in earth, mankind to mend; and to graith it with Godhead even, His son he said that he should send to take kind of man-kin, in a maiden full mild; so was many saved of sin and the foul fiend beguiled. DOCTOR Isaiah the prophet, as I see, says these words for our succour: Reading from the book Egredietur virga de Jesse ISAIAH A wand shall breed of Jesse’s bower, and of this same a sign to see: upon that wand shall spring a flower whereon the Holy Ghost shall be, and govern it with great honour. That wand means unto us this maiden, even and morn, and the flower is Jesus, of that blest maiden born. DOCTOR And how he was sent, say we more, and how God would his place purvey: He said, “Son, I shall send before mine angel to show thee the way” – of John Baptist he meant there, for in earth he was ordained aye to warn the folk that wilful were of Christ’s coming, and thus says he: Reading from the book Ego quidem baptizo in aqua vos, autem baptizamini spiritu sancto JOHN BAPTIST After me shall come now a man of mights most, and shall baptise you in the Holy Ghost. DOCTOR Thus of Christ’s coming we may see how Saint Luke speaks in his gospel: “From God in heaven is sent,” says he, “an angel is named Gabriel, to Nazareth in Galilee, where the maiden mild did dwell, that with Joseph should wedded be. Her name is Mary” – thus he did tell. How God his grace displayed to man in this manner, and how the angel said, take heed, all that will hear. Angelic singing ANGEL Hail Mary, full of grace and bliss! Our Lord God is with thee, and has chosen thee for his; of all women blessed thou be. MARY What manner of hailing is this, thus privily comes to me? For in mine heart a thought it is, the tokening that I here see. Angelic singing: “Ne timeas Maria” ANGEL Dread thee not, mild Mary, for nothing that may befall, for thou has found sovereignly from God a grace over other all. In chastity of thy body conceive and bear a child thou shall. This bidding bring I thee: His name Jesu shall thou call. Mickle of might then shall he be; he shall be God, and called God’s son. David’s seat, his father free, shall God him give to sit upon. As king for ever reign shall he, in Jacob’s house aye for to dwell. Of his kingdom and dignity Shall no man earthy know nor tell. MARY Thou God’s angel meek and mild, how should it be, I thee pray, that I should conceive a child of any man by night or day? I know no man that has defiled my maidenhood, the sooth to say; withouten will of works wild in chastity I have been aye. ANGEL The Holy Ghost shall in thee light; high virtue shall to thee hold. The holy birth of thee so bright God’s son he shall be called. Lo, Elizabeth, thy cousin, might not in her age conceive a child; but this is the sixth month, full right, for her that barren has been told. Exit Angel MARY Thou angel, blessed messenger, Of God’s will I hold me paid; I love my Lord with heart clear, the grace that he has for me laid. God’s handmaiden, lo me here, to his will all ready arrayed. Be it done to me in all manner through thy word as thou hast said. Meeting Elizabeth Elizabeth, mine own cousin, methought I covet alway most to speak with thee, of all my kin, therefore I come thus in this haste. ELIZABETH Ah, welcome, mild Mary, mine own cousin so dear. Joyful woman am I That I now see thee here. Blessed be thou only of all women without peer, and the fruit of thy body be blessed far and near. This is a joyful tiding, that I may now here see the mother of my lord king in this wise come to me. As soon as the voice of thy hailing might in mine ears be, the child in my womb so young makes great mirth unto thee. MARY Now, Lord, blessed be thou aye For the grace thou has me lent; Lord, I love thee, God verray, for the tidings thou hast sent. I thank thee night and day, And pray with good intent thou make me to thy way; to thee my will is bent. ELIZABETH Blessed be thou, best arrayed to God through chastity; thou trowed and held thee paid at his will for to be. All that to thee is said from my lord so free, such grace as is for thee laid shall be fulfilled in thee. MARY To his grace I will me take, in chastity to deal that dwelleth for his sake among his maidens all. My soul shall loving make unto that lord so loyal, and my joy shall never slake in God that is my heal. Singing: “Magnificat” The Pewterers' and Founders' Play: Joseph's Trouble about Mary JOSEPH Of great mourning now may I moan, and walk full wearily by this way, for now weened I best have been at ease and rest by reason aye, for I am of great eld, weak and all unwield, as each man see it may: I may neither bind nor build. But whether in fell or field, for shame what shall I say, that thus now in mine old days has wedded a young wench to my wife and may not well step over two straws? Now lord, how long shall I lead this life? The bargain that I made there, that rues me now full sore, I am so straitly stead. Now casts it me in care, for might I evermore a single life have led. Her works me work my cheeks to wet; I am beguiled – how, wot I nought. My young wife is with child full great, that makes me now sorrow unsought. The child certes is not mine; that reproof does me pain, and makes me flee from home. My troth be herein: she is a clean virgin for me, withouten blame. But well I wot through prophecy a maiden clean shall bear a child, But it is not so, certainly, therefore I am beguiled. And why would not some young man take her? For certes I will go from her into some woods wild, thus think I to steal from her. God shield no wild beasts slay her! She is so meek and mild. Of my wending will I none warn. Nevertheless it is mine intent to ask her who got her that bairn. That would I wit fain ere I went. All hail, God be herein! 1^st WOMAN Welcome, by God’s dear might! JOSEPH Where is that young virgin, Mary, my bird so bright? 1^st WOMAN Certes Joseph, ye shall understand that she is here full close she sits praying near at hand for you and us and all those that aught have need. But for to tell her will I go of your coming, withouten dread. Have done and rise up dame, and to me take good heed – Joseph, he is come home. MARY Welcome, as God me speed. Dreadless to me he is full dear. Joseph my spouse, welcome are ye. JOSEPH Gramercy Mary, say, what cheer? Tell me the sooth, how is’t with thee? Who has been here? Thy womb is waxen great, thinks me; thou art with bairn, alas for care! Ah, maidens, woe to you that let her learn such lore. 2^nd WOMAN Joseph, ye shall not trow in her no feeble fare. JOSEPH Trow it no harm? Good wench, do way! Her sides show she is with child. Whose is’t Mary? MARY Sir, God’s and yours. JOSEPH Nay nay! Now wot I well I am beguiled. And reason why? With me fleshly was thou ne’er defiled, and I will stand thereby. Say, maidens, how is this? Tell me the sooth, bid I. And, but ye do, i-wis, The bargain shall ye buy. 2^nd WOMAN If ye threat as fast as ye can’ there is nought to say theretill, for truly here came never so man to shame her body with no ill of this sweet wight. But we have dwelt aye with her still, and was never from her day nor night. Her keepers have we been, and she aye in our sight. Came here no man between to touch that bird so bright. 1^st WOMAN Nay, here came no man in this house, and that ever witness will we, save an angel that day once with bodily food her fed has he; other came none. Wherefore we wot not how it should be But through the Holy Ghost alone. For truly we trow this, his grace with her is gone, for she wrought never no miss, we witness ever each one. JOSEPH Then see I well your meaning is The angel has made her with child. Nay, some man in angel’s likeness with some game has her beguiled, and that trow I. So it needs not such words wild to carp at me deceivingly. Weh! Why gab ye at me so and feign such fantasy? Alas, me is full woe! For dole so might I die! MARY To my witness great God I call that I in mind wrought never no miss. JOSEPH Whose is the child thou art withal? MARY Yours sir, and the king of bliss. JOSEPH With great mourning make I my moan! Therof be not so bold, that no such tales be told, but hold thee still as stone. Thou art young and I am old, such works if I would, these games from me are gone. Who had thy maidenhead, Mary? Hast thou in mind? MARY Forsooth, I am a maiden clean. JOSEPH Nay, thou speaks now against kind; such thing has never been a maiden to be with child. Those words from thee are wild. She was not born, I ween. MARY Joseph, ye are beguiled. With no sin was I never defiled; God’s sign is on me seen. JOSEPH God’s sign? Yea Mary, God help! But certes that child was never ours two. MARY Certes, it is God’s command; from that shall I never go. JOSEPH Yea, Mary, withdraw thy hand; I trow it not be so. The truth from me though thou refrain, the child-bearing thou may not hide. But sit still here till I come again; I have an errand here beside. MARY Now great God be your guide, and mend you of your miss of me, what so betide. As he is king of bliss, send you some seeing of this, the truth that ye might bide. JOSEPH Now lord God that all thing may at thy will both do and dress, show me some ready way to walk here in this wilderness. But ere I pass this hill, do with me what God will. Either more or less here must I bide full still till I have slept my fill, my heart so heavy is. Enter ANGEL ANGEL Waken, Joseph, and take better keep to Mary, that is thy fellow fast. JOSEPH I am full weary, sir, let me sleep, for wandering and walking in this forest. ANGEL Rise up and sleep no more, thou makest her heart so sore that loves thee as the best. JOSEPH Weh! This is a fine affair, for to be chased both here and there, and nowhere may have rest. Say, what art thou? Tell me this thing. ANGEL I, Gabriel, God’s angel am, that has taken Mary to my keeping, and sent is thee to say full even: in loyal wedlock thou lead thee. Leave her not, I forbid thee, no sin in her thou name, but to her fast thou speed thee, and of her nought dread thee; it is God’s sign from heaven. The child that shall be born of her, it is conceived of the Holy Ghost; all joy and bliss shall be after, and now to all mankind the most. Jesus his name thou call, for such hap shall him fall as thou shall see in haste: his people save he shall of evils and angers all that they are now embraced. JOSEPH And is this sooth, Angel, thou says? ANGEL Yea, and this to take aright: wend forth to Mary thy wife always, bring her to Bethlehem this same night. There shall a child born be, God’s son of heaven is he, And man aye most of might. JOSEPH Now Lord God, full well is me that ever that I this sight should see, I was never ere so light. For I would have her thus refused, and sinless blamed that aye was clear, I must pray her hold me excused, as some men do with full good cheer. Say, Mary wife, how fares thou? MARY The better sir for you. Why stand ye there? Come near. JOSEPH My back fain would I bow and ask forgiveness now, wist I thou would me hear. MARY Forgiveness sir? Let be for shame. Such words should all good women lack. JOSEPH Yea, Mary, I am to blame for words long-ere I to thee spake. But gather up now all our gear, such poor weeds as we wear, and put them in a pack. To Bethlehem I must it bear for little things cause women care. Help up now on my back! The Tile Thatchers' Play: The Nativity JOSEPH All-wielding God in trinity, I pray thee Lord, for thy great might, Unto thy simple servant see, here is this place where we are pight, Ourselves alone. Lord, grant us good harbour this night within this town. For we have sought both up and down Through diverse streets in this city. So mickle people is come to town that we can nowhere harboured be, there is such press; forsooth, can I no succour see but bide us with these beasts. For in great need now are we stead, as thou thyself the sooth may see, for here is neither cloth nor bed, and we are weak and all weary, that does me rue. Say, Mary daughter, what is thy rede? How shall we do? MARY God will us guide, full well wit ye, therefore Joseph be of good cheer, for in this place born will he be that shall us save from sorrows sore both even and morn. Sir, wit ye well, the time is near he will be born. JOSEPH Then behoves us bide here still, Here in this same place this night. MARY Yea sir, forsooth, it is God’s will. JOSEPH Then would I fain we had some light, whatso befall. It waxes right murk unto my sight, and cold withal. I will go get us light beside, and fuel find with me to bring. Exit Joseph MARY All-wielding God you govern and guide, as he is sovereign of all thing for his great might, and lend me grace to his lauding in this night. Now in my soul great joy have I, I am all clad in comfort clear. Now will be born of my body both God and man together here. Blest may he be, Jesu my son that is so dear, now born is he. Hail my Lord God, hail prince of peace; Hail my father, and hail my son; Hail sovereign saviour all sins to cease; Hail God and man in earthly home. Hail, through whose might all this world was first begun, darkness and light. Son, as I am simple subject of thine, vouchsafe, sweet son I pray thee, that I might thee take in these arms of mine and in these poor weeds to array thee. Grant me thy bliss, as I am thy mother chosen to be in soothfastness. Enter Joseph JOSEPH Ah, Lord God, what the weather is cold, the foulest freeze that ever I felt. I pray God help them that is old, and namely them that is unwield, so may I say. Now, good God, thou be my shield as thou best may. Ah, Lord God, what light is this that comes shining so suddenly? I cannot say, as have I bliss. When I come home to Mary, I shall ask her. Ah, praise be God, for now come I! MARY Ye are welcome sir. JOSEPH Say Mary daughter, what cheer with thee? MARY Right good, Joseph, as has been aye. JOSEPH O Mary, what sweet thing is that on thy knee? MARY It is my son, the sooth to say, that is so good JOSEPH Well is me that I bode this day to see this food. Me marvels mickle of this light that thus-wise shines in this place, forsooth, it is a wondrous sight. MARY This he has ordained of his grace, my son so young, a star to be shining a space at his bearing. JOSEPH Now welcome, flower, fairest of hue, I worship thee with main and might. Hail my maker, hail Christ Jesu; Hail royal king, root of all right; Hail saviour. Hail my lord, lantern of light; Hail blessed flower. MARY Now lord that all this world shall win, to thee my son this word I say: Here is no bed to lay thee in, therefore my dear son I thee pray, since it is so, here in this crib I might thee lay, between these beasts two. Thou merciful maker, most mighty, My God, my lord, my son so free, thy handmaiden forsooth am I, and to thy service I bind me, with all mine heart entire. Thy blessing beseech I thee, thou grant to all are here. The Masons' and Goldsmiths' Play: no Herod, just the Magi 1^st KING Ah, lord that lives, everlasting light, I love thee ever with heart and hand that me has made to see this sight while my kindred was longing. They said a star with beams bright out of the east should stably stand, and that it should mean mickle might of one that should be lord in land, that men from sin should save. And certes I shall say, God grant me hap to have, and knowing of ready way. 2^nd KING All-wielding God that all has wrought, I worship thee as is worthy, that with thy brightness has me brought out of my realm, rich Araby. I shall nought say till I have sought what marvel it shall signify. God grant me grace to get good company, and my comfort increase with thy star shining sheen, for certes I shall not cease till I wit what it mean. 3^rd KING Lord God that all good has begun and all may end, both good and evil, that made for man both moon and sun, and stayed yon star to stand stone still, till I the cause may understand, God guide me with his worthy will. I hope I have here fellows found my yearning faithfully to fulfil. Sirs, God you save and see, and keep you ever from woe. 1^st KING Amen, so might it be, and save you sir also. 3^rd KING Sirs, with your will, I would you pray to tell me some of your intent, whither ye wend forth in this way, and from what country ye are went? 2^nd KING Full gladly, sir, I shall you say. A sudden sight was to us sent, a royal star that rose ere day before us in the firmament, that made me fare from home some point thereof to prove. 3^rd KING Certes, sirs, I saw the same that makes me thus to move. For sirs, I have heard say certain it should be seen by others here, and further thereof I would learn That makes me move in this manner. 1^st KING Sir, Isaiah says a maiden young shall bear a child among Hebrews, that of all countries shall be king and govern all that on earth grows. 2^nd KING Sirs, the proved prophet Hosee full truly told in town and tower that a maiden of Israel, says he, shall bear one like to the lily flower. 3^rd KING Balaam told full long before how a star should rise full high, and of a maiden should be born a son that shall our saving be. 1^st KING Sirs, of fellowship are we fain, Now wend we forth all together. God grant us ere we come again some good hearting thereof to hear. Sirs, here is Jerusalem to guide us as we go, and beyond is Bethlehem; there shall we seek also. The Kings travel; the star disappears 1^st KING Ah, sirs, for sight what shall I say? Where is our sign? I see it not. 2^nd King No more do I. Now dare I lay in our wending some wrong is wrought. 3^rd KING Unto that prince I rede we pray, that to us sent his sign unsought, that he guide us in ready way so friendly that we find him might. They pray; the star re-appears ATTENDANT Ah sirs, I see it stand above where he is born. Lo, here is the house at hand; we have not missed this morn. WOMAN Whom seek ye sirs, by ways wild, with talking, travelling to and fro? Here dwells a woman with her child and her husband; here are no more. 2^nd KING We seek a bairn that all shall shield, his certain sign hath said us so, and his mother, a maiden mild; here hope we to find them two. WOMAN Come near good sirs and see; your way to end is brought. 3^rd KING Behold here, sirs, and see the same that ye have sought. 1^st KING Loved be that lord that lasteth aye, that has us kenned thus courteously to wend by many a wildsome way, and come to this clean company. 2^nd KING Let us make now no more delay, but straight take forth our treasury and ordain gifts of good array to worship him as is worthy. 3^rd King He is worthy to wield all wealth and worship to win; and for honour and eld brother, ye shall begin. 1^st KING Hail, fairest of field, folk for to find, from the fiend and his fellows faithfully us fend. Hail, the best that shall be born to unbind all the bairns that are born and in sin bound. Hail, thou mark us thy men and keep us in mind, since thy might is on earth mis-ease to amend. Hail, clean that is comen of a king’s kind, and shall be king of all this kith, all clergy have kenned. And since it shall be in this wise, thyself have I sought, son, I say thee, with gold that is greatest of price; be pleased with this present, I pray thee. 2^nd KING Hail, food that thy folk fully may feed, Hail, flower fairest that never shall fade, Hail, son, that is sent from this same seed that shall save us from sin that our sires had. Hail, mild, that art come to purvey for our need, of a maid matchless thy mother thou made. In that good through grace of thy godhead as the gleam in the glass gladly thou glowed. And since thou shall sit for to deem to hell or to heaven to have us, let incense thy service beseem. Son, see to thy subjects and save us. 3^rd KING Hail, bairn that is best our bales to beat, for our heal shall thou be bounden and stretched. Hail, friend faithful, we fall at thy feet, thy father’s folk from the fiend to be fetched. Hail man that is made mankind to meet, since thou and thy mother with mirth are met, Hail duke that drives death under foot, but when thy deeds are done, to die is thy debt. And since thy body buried shall be, this myrrh will I give to thy graving, the gift is not great of degree; receive it, and see to our saving. MARY Sir kings, ye travel not in vain. As ye have meant, here may ye find, for I conceived my son, certain, withouten miss of man in mind, and bore him here withouten pain, where women are wont to be pained God’s angel, in his greeting plain said he should comfort all mankind, therefore doubt you none ill here for to have your boon. I shall witness full well all that is said and done. 1^st KING All is performed that we for prayed. But good bairn, give us thy blessing. Fair hap is before us laid. For solace, sirs, now may we sing.