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 COLLECTION 
 
 OF 
 
 I \ G I I S II 
 
 MIRACLE-PLAYS 
 
 OR 
 
 MYSTER I E S ; 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 M.\ DRAMAS FROM THE CHESTER, COVENTRY, AND 
 TOWNELEI SERIES, WITH TWO OF LATTER DATE. 
 
 TO WHICH IS PltEIIXED, 
 
 AN HISTORICAL VIEW OF THIS DESCRIPTION 
 
 OF PLAYS. 
 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM MARRIOTT, i»i. j>. 
 
 BASEL: 
 
 BCIM E I <J ll \ I 8 i. it Gf <' <> 
 \M> BHOCKHAUS ft WVENARIU8 PARIS
 
 
 2. ' 
 
 
 C O > T E > T S. 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 HISTORICAL VIEW OF ENGLISH 
 MIRACLE-PLAYS OR MYSTERIES. 
 
 Pi 
 
 ,;,,> 
 
 VII 
 
 CHESTER MIRACLE-PLAYS. 
 
 THE DELUGE 
 WITCH RIST 
 
 5 
 
 COVENTRY MIRACLE-PLAYS. 
 
 JOSEPH S JEVEOI SY 
 
 I HE TBIAL OF MUY AND JOSEPH .. 
 THE PAGEANT OF THE COMPANY OE 
 SHEARMEN AND TAILOH8 
 
 41 
 
 ;>!> 
 
 TOWNELEY MIRACLE-PLAYS. 
 
 piiutvo 
 
 I'lSTOHES 
 
 CR1 CIFIXIO 
 
 BXTRACTIO \MM\IWU VI! INFERNO 
 
 I! 1)1 I II M 
 
 I 
 
 93 
 109 
 
 ir,7 
 I6J 
 
 17.;
 
 TV 
 
 CANDLEMAS DAY, OR THE KILLING 
 
 OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL ... Page 197 
 
 GOD'S PROMISES „ 221 
 
 GLOSSARY „ 239 
 
 ■-
 
 PR EF A C E. 
 
 I he Editor of the following pages has been in- 
 duced to publish the present Collection of English 
 Miracle-plays or Mysteries, from its appearing to him 
 to be a desideratum. This will no doubt be appa- 
 rent, if it be considered, that, although much has been 
 done to illustrate the history of the English theatre, 
 especially of the sixteenth century, not one of the 
 various publications on this subject, contains a single 
 play of the Chester, Coventry, or Townely series. 
 Thai these dramas are particularly deserving of at- 
 tention, can scarcely be denied, as they are the oldest 
 pieces of the kind in existence, and present as moreover 
 with the onl\ connected view, that is to he had, of 
 the manner in which (he whole Bible was theatrically 
 represented. 1( is also a lillle singular, thai She 
 publications of Dodsley, Hawkins and others, afford 
 hut lillle information on this subject; that of Collier 
 on i In- contrary much more, though his remarks 
 are unfortunately too much scattered in his excellent 
 
 ■J 
 
 work. Thai so lillle has been done as \cl lo i*\\v a 
 correct view of the ancient history of the Enj?lish
 
 VI 
 
 stage, is much to be regretted, although it cannot 
 surprise us , if we weigh the assertion of Malone , 
 that « a minute investigation of the origin and progress 
 of* the drama in England, will scarcely repay the 
 labour of inquiry." Other writers appear to have 
 held the same opinion, and not to have reflected, 
 that the early Miracle-plays afford one of the best 
 illustrations of the manners and customs of our fore- 
 fathers. Moreover we learn from them the opinions 
 of our ancestors on various subjects, their manner 
 of thinking , and are perhaps better enabled to judge 
 of the state of civilisation in which they were , than 
 from other sources. Such must be the light in which 
 unprejudiced minds will regard the ancient English 
 theatre , whatever they may think of the later and 
 present state of the drama. It must, however, be 
 observed, that the following pages contain, with few 
 exceptions , only facts and not remarks on these plays, 
 as this volume is intended to be used as a lecture book. 
 In conclusion, the Editor must remark , that, although 
 he is fully aware of the imperfections of his attempt 
 to give a concise view of the history of English 
 Miracle-plays , yet he believes he has not omitted any 
 notice of importance recorded by any writer on the 
 theatre , or that is to be found in any work that was 
 likely to illustrate the subject. 
 
 Basel, June oOlli . IH08
 
 A\ HISTORICAL VIEW 
 
 OF 
 
 EXf.LISII MIRACLE - PLAYS OR MYSTERIES 
 
 H* cli;; ion , which has in all countries first exci- 
 ted dramatic representation , was the subject of the 
 English Miracle - plays or Mysteries. These pro- 
 duel ions were either founded on the various histories 
 of the Old and New Testament, or on the legends 
 of the li\cs of the saints, which latter appear, how- 
 ever, to have afforded fewer subjects for exhibi- 
 tion. The English religions dramas were, during 
 the period of their representation and for a lonj; 
 lime afterwards, termed Miracle -plays; most pro- 
 babh from the first or chief pieces being a repre- 
 sentation of the miracles of our Lord , or from their 
 containing a narration of the Wonders of the chris- 
 tian faith. In latter limes they have been usuall\ 
 called Mysteries, under which appellation they are 
 at present best known. This term, although at a 
 
 \er\ e;ul\ date applied to them in France, wis 
 most probabK first given to Ihem ill Enjjlaml l»\ 
 
 Dodslej - in the preface to the Collection of Old
 
 Mil 
 
 Plays, which he published in 1744. They are also 
 in some MSS. termed Pageants , by which name 
 they were generally called, although not in all in- 
 stances, when performed by members of trading- 
 companies. 
 
 Not a few writers have speculated on the ori- 
 gin of English Miracle - plays , but it must unfortu- 
 nately be confessed that their theories afford no 
 very satisfactory explanation of the subject. Although 
 such is the case, it may not be uninteresting to 
 quote what Warton says on this point, as he is 
 generally considered the first authority on all sub- 
 jects connected with English literature. He remarks : 
 « About the eighth century trade was principally 
 carried on by means of fairs, which lasted several 
 days. Charlemagne established many great marts 
 of this sort in France ; as did William the Con- 
 queror, and his Norman successors, in England. 
 The merchants, who frequented these fairs in nu- 
 merous caravans or companies, employed every art 
 to draw the people together. They were therefore 
 accompanied by juglcrs , minstrels , and buffons ; 
 who were no less interested in giving their atten- 
 dance , and exerting all their skill , on these occa- 
 sions. As now but few large towns existed , no 
 public spectacles or popular amusements were estab- 
 lished; and as the sedentary pleasures of domestic 
 life and private society were yet unknown , the fair- 
 time was the season for diversion. In proportion 
 as these shews were attended and encouraged , they 
 began to be set olf with new decorations and im- 
 provements; and the arts of buffoonery being ren- 
 dered still more attractive by extending- their circle
 
 I\ 
 
 of exhibition^ acquired an importance in the eyes 
 of the people. \i\ degrees the clergj , observing 
 dial the entertainments of dancing, music , mimicry, 
 exhibited at these annual celebrities., made the people 
 less religious , by promoting idleness and a love of 
 festivity, proscribed these sports, and excommuni- 
 cated the performers. But finding that no regard 
 was paid to their ('ensures, die> changed their plan, 
 and determined to take these recreations into their 
 own hands. The\ turned actors: and instead of 
 
 ■I 
 
 profane mummeries, presented, stories taken from 
 legends or the Bible. This was the origin of sacred 
 comedy*.* That AVarlon has formed an erroneous 
 opinion on this subject , seems not improbable, if we 
 reflect thai religious dramas arc of a much earlier ori- 
 gin than is generally considered; for we have an 
 account of a religious play, performed perhaps he- 
 lore the final destruction of Jerusalem, lint certainly 
 not later than the second eenfur\ , portions of which 
 have come down to our day T. Moreover mention 
 is made of religous dramas by writers in the first 
 centuries of the christian aera, and although it is 
 difficult to prove that such were performed in every 
 age since the time of Christ*, which is not to be 
 wondered at, if we consider the slate of literature 
 during I lie dark a<>es, and how much has heen lost 
 in such a period of time, yet enough authorities 
 are still existing to show lhal such performances 
 
 History of English Poetrj . vol. ii. pp. ."><>(>. 367, edit. f tU\ 
 
 7 Ezechielis Tragici Judaicaram historiarum poetae , eductio seu 
 liberaUo Hebraeorum Tragoedia sacra, exodo respondens; < - \ libra l\ 
 Easebii dc Prsep Rvang selccta . el plerisque i" locix castigala. 
 
 i',,,- i.;:m> Bvo
 
 have been from the earliest times*. The origin 
 of religions dramas, should this view of the subject 
 be considered correct, must be ascribed to the in- 
 ilnence that the ancient theatre exercised on the 
 first christians. It may, perhaps, from the fore- 
 going observations, not be deemed improbable, that, 
 as religious plays can be proved to have been writ- 
 ten in the first centuries , and acted as late as the 
 year 990 * 9 they were not improbably performed 
 during the following century, although we have no 
 account of it. If this may be assumed, and it ap- 
 pears to be no far fetched hypothesis , especially 
 as it will hereafter be shown , that the firs Miracle- 
 play performed in England, was written by a French- 
 man about the year 1100; and as there are, more- 
 over, very good grounds for believing, that the 
 earliest English religious plays are, at least in part, 
 translations from the French %, it follows , that what 
 are termed Miracle - plays are nothing more than a 
 continuation of the sacred dramas , that were written 
 since the first centuries. Should this view of the 
 subject not be deemed correct , the opinion of Percy 
 may, perhaps, be considered more satisfactory. He 
 remarks, that «they were probably a kind of dumb 
 shews, intermingled, it may be, with a few short 
 
 As it does not lie within the limits of these pages to enter on 
 this subject more at large , the following notices of works , which 
 contain remarks on this point, must suflice. Socrates, Ecclcs. Hist. 
 p. o0i5 , edit. 1G65. Lardner, vol. ii. p. 405. 4to. Hone, Ancient 
 Mysteries Described, pp. 146 — li>6. Cabinet Cyclopaedia , Literary 
 and Scientific Men, vol. i. pp. 174—179. 
 
 •f" Cedren , Compend. Hist. p. 659. I{. 1647. Comment, ad 
 ('anon. Kii. Synod, vi. in Trullo. A pud Bcrerigium Synodic, torn, i- 
 pp. 230, 251 fol. Oxon. 1672.
 
 \l 
 
 speeches ; at length thej j;rew into a regular series 
 of connected dialogues, formally divided into acts 
 and scenes*. 1 This observation, although by him 
 
 onh applied to English Miracle - plays, appears to 
 be at least quite as applicable to the religious ex- 
 hibitions in the first ages of Christianity. 
 
 The first mention of theatrical representations 
 in England, is recorded by Matthew Paris, who 
 wrote as early as 12-10. He relates in his Vila- 
 
 m 
 
 Atbatoun, e/c, that while Geoffrey, afterwards Ab- 
 bot of Si. Albans, was yet a secular person, he 
 was invited from Normandy by Richard, the then 
 Abbot of St. Albans, to teach the school estab- 
 lished there; that, in consequence of some delay, 
 when Geoffrey arrived the vacant office had been 
 filled, and that he, therefore, tool; up his residence 
 at Dunstaple, and brought out the Miracle -play of 
 St. Catherine: — Lcyit igUur apud DunestapUam^ 
 expeetmns schoiam S. Albani sibi repromissam ; ubi 
 quondam ludum de S. Katerina, (quern Miracula 
 vulgariter appellamus) fecit; ad qua' decoranda pctiit 
 a Smcrista S. Albania til sibi capce chorales accom- 
 mwdaretdur , et obtiimit ~. We learn from the tes- 
 limoiiN of Bulaeus, in his Ilisloria Universittitis 
 Parisiensig . that Geoffrey was a member of the 
 
 * 
 
 University of Paris, and that he died in 1146, hav- 
 ing been raised to (he dignity of Abbot of Si. 
 Albans in 1119 §. From the before mentioned ([no- 
 tation, it is quite clear, that Ceoffrc\ brought out 
 the pla\ of Si. Catherine Ion.; before he assumed 
 
 Reliqiies "i tncienl EoglisL Poclrj rol. i pi 128, ««l it 1704. 
 \ ii \M. ad cak, BListar. Majoi torn i p •!<» . edit, 1640. 
 
 g \..| „ ,, <±>i.\ Pari, |668
 
 Ml 
 
 the religious habit, and considering: that he could 
 not attain the dignity of Abbot, which he obtained 
 in 1119, till after a number of years, the opinion 
 of Percy , that it was « probably written within the 
 eleventh century," is likely not to be far from the 
 truth \ Bulaeus informs us also , that this play of 
 St. Catherine was not then by any means a novely : - 
 non novo quidem institute, sed de consuetudine ma- 
 gislrorum et scholarum. 
 
 William Fitzstephen who wrote about 1182 his 
 Pita Sancti Tlionue Archiepiscopi et Martyris, to 
 which is appended a description of London , says ; 
 — Lundonia pro spectaculis theatralibus 9 pro ludis 
 sccnicis, ludos habet sanctiores , repraisentationes mi- 
 raculorum quae sancti confessores operati sunt, sen 
 reproesentationes passionum quibus claruit constantia 
 martyrum. This early notice of English Miracle - 
 plays was first published by Stow in his Survey of 
 London, li599. He translates the passage as fol- 
 lows: — «London, for the shews upon theatres, 
 and comical pastimes, hath holy plays, represen- 
 tations of miracles , which holy confessors have 
 wrought 5 or representations of tormentes, wherein 
 the constancie of martirs appeared f. » 
 
 It has been supposed, that the pilgrims who 
 returned from the Holy Land, and who composed 
 songs on their travels, mixing with them a recital 
 of the life and death of Christ , contributed greatly 
 
 Reliques , vol. i. p. io4. 
 
 T P- 68. It is necessary to remark , in order to understand cor- 
 rectly litis quotation , lhat Fitzstephen had previously referred lo (he 
 slate of (he theatres in Rome , and seems to be drawing a comparison 
 between the public amusements (here and in London.
 
 Mil 
 
 to increase I lie taste for these religious representa- 
 tions: iuil whatever influence they may have ex- 
 
 *J «.- 
 
 ercised in France*, and in oilier countries, on 
 such performances, there is no certainty of there 
 having in any waj promoted these exhibitions in 
 England ~. 
 
 That plays were frequently performed about 
 the middle of the thirteenth century , may he infer- 
 red from a regulation under the date of A.. D. 12*28 
 in the Annates Burtonen&es, which prohibits stroll- 
 ing players from performing in presence of the in- 
 mates of the monastery ; yet which allows their wants 
 to be relieved, not because they were players, hut 
 because they were poor: — Histrionibus potest dari 
 dbug } quia pauperes sunt, non quia Itistriones ; et 
 eorum ludi non videantur , vel audiantur , vel pcrmil- 
 lantur fieri coram Abbate vel monachis*. 
 
 About the year 1268 Miracle- plays were per- 
 formed in Chester, and continued to be acted there 
 for many successive centuries ; but as the religious 
 dramas brought out in that city, form one of the 
 three series of Miracle - plays now in existence, they 
 will be referred to more at large hereafter. 
 
 Towards the end of the thirteenth century , the 
 religious ceremony of the Corpus Christi Play an as 
 instituted at York, and was celebrated each year 
 on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. Drake, 
 
 Soiih- information respecting the influence t lia( French pilgrims 
 exercised on the Hysterica of their own country, may be gathered 
 from Bayle's Diet, art. Chocquet, -w !■■<-]> contains some observations 
 l>\ Menestricr on (his subject. 
 
 The characters, however, in the y\:w of St. George, seem lo 
 iflbrd proof of an eastern origin. 
 
 5 * i ;i J <■ Rerum Anglic, Script. Vet. l<»m. i. |>. ^.">7
 
 XIV 
 
 the historian of this city, says, « this ceremony must 
 have been in its time one of the most extaoidinary 
 entertainments that could be exhibited. Every trade 
 in the city, from the highest to the lowest, was 
 obliged to furnish out a pageant at its own expense 
 on this occasion. » Many orders and ordinances , 
 existing- in the registers of the city, regulate the 
 performance of this religious ceremony. One of 
 these recites, that « Whereas for a long course of 
 time the artificers and tradesmen of the city of York 
 have , at their own expense , acted plays •, and par- 
 ticularly a certain sumptuous play , exhibited in seve- 
 ral pageants , wherein the history of the Old and 
 INew Testament in divers places of the said city, 
 in the feast of Corpus Christi , by a solemn pro- 
 cession is represented , in reverence to the sacrament 
 of the Body of Christ •, beginning first at the great 
 gates of the Priory of the Holy Trinity in York, 
 and so going in procession to and into the Cathe- 
 dral Church of the same 5 and afterwards to the 
 Hospital of St. Leonard, in York, leaving the afore- 
 said sacrament in that place 5 preceded by a vast 
 number of lig-hted torches , and a great multitude 
 of priests in their proper habits , and followed by 
 the mayor and citizens, with a prodigious crowd of 
 the populace attending-. And whereas, upon this, 
 a certain very religious father , William Melton , of 
 the order of friars minors , professor of holy page- 
 antry, and a most famous preacher of the word of 
 God , coming to this city , in several sermons recom- 
 mended the aforesaid play to the people 5 affirming 
 that it was good in itself and very commendable 
 so to do ; yet also said , that the citizens of the
 
 \\ 
 
 said t*il\ , and other foreigners coming to the said 
 least, had greatly disgraced the plaj l>\ revellingg, 
 drunkenness, shoots, songs and other insolencies , 
 little regarding the divine offices of the said day, 
 and whal was to he lamented, (hey loose, for thai 
 reason , ihe indulgences l>\ (he holy father pope 
 Urban 1Y. in this part graciously conceded; those, 
 viz. faithfnl in Christ, who attended at morning ser- 
 vice at the said least in the church where it was 
 celebrated, a hundred days; (hose at the mass, the 
 same; those also, who eame to the first vespers of 
 the said feast, the like a hundred days; the same 
 in the second; to ihose also, who were at the first, 
 third, sixth, ami ninth completory offices, for every 
 hour of those forty days; to those also, who attended 
 service on the octaves of the said feast, at mat tins or 
 \espers, mass or the aforesaid hours ; a hundred days 
 for even day of the said octaves, as in the holy 
 canons, for this end made, is more fully contained: 
 and therefore, as it seemed most wholesome to the 
 said father William, the people of the city were 
 inclined (hat the play should be played on one day, 
 and the procession on another , so that the people 
 might attend divine service at the churches, on the 
 said feasf , for the indulgences aforesaid. Where- 
 fore Peter Buokey, mayor of tins city of York, 
 | 10 Aldermen, 2 Sherill's, and 21 others whose 
 names are mentioned] were met in the conned 
 chamber of the said city the 6lh day of June, in 
 i he year oi graee 1426, and of the reign of king 
 I Iciii-n VI. after the conquest of England, the 
 fourth. ;«nd l>\ the said wholesome exhortations and 
 admonitions of the said father William being incited,
 
 AVI 
 
 that it is no crime , nor can it offend God , if good 
 be converted into better. Therefore, having dili- 
 gently considered of the premises, they gave their 
 express and unanimous consent, that the cause afore- 
 said should be published to the whole city in the 
 common hall of the same, and having their consent 
 that the premises should be better reformed. Upon 
 which the aforesaid mayor convened the citizens 
 together in the said hall the tenth day of the month 
 aforesaid and the same year, and made proclama- 
 tion in a solemn manner, where it was ordained, 
 by the common assent , that this solemn play of 
 Corpus Christi should be played every year on the 
 vigil of the said feast , and that the procession 
 should be made constantly on the day of the said 
 feast, so that all people being in the said city 
 might have leisure to attend devoutly the mattins , 
 vespers and the other hours of the said feast, and 
 be made partakers of the indulgences, in that part 
 by the said Roman pope Urban the fourth most 
 graciously granted and confirmed. » 
 
 A solemn proclamation for the play of Cor- 
 pus Christi , made on the aforesaid vigil , commands 
 on behalf of the king-, the mayor, and the sheriffs, 
 that the players «play at the places that is assig-- 
 ned therefore , and no where else on the pain of 
 the forfeiture that is ordained therefore; that is to 
 say xls. ; and that men of crafts , and all other men 
 that find torches, that they come forth in array, 
 and in the manner as it has been used and custom- 
 ed before his time. » The following is an extract 
 of an order for the regulation of the play of Cor- 
 pus Christi, dated the 7lh of June, 1417; and
 
 \\ II 
 
 signed by William Bowes, mayor* Si is ordained 
 for the convenience of I lit 1 citizens, and of all 
 strangers coming- to the said feast, that all the pa- 
 geants of the play called Corpus Christi play , should 
 begin to pla\ first at I he gates of the Priory of 
 the Holy Trinity in ]M ikel - gate , next at the door 
 of Robert Harpham, next at the door of the late 
 John Gyseburn, next at Shelder- gate -bend and 
 North - strete towards Castel-gatc, next at the end 
 of Jubir-gate , next at the door of Henry Wyinan 
 deceased, in Conyng -strete, then at the common 
 hall at the end of Conyng -strete, then at the 
 door of Adam tlel Brygs tleeeased, in Stayne-gate, 
 then at the end of Stayne-gate at the Minster-gates, 
 then at the end of Girdler - gate , and lastly upon 
 the Pavement, etc. And father William Mellon, 
 willing to destroy sin, and a great lover of virtue, 
 having, by preaching, exhorted the populace that 
 lht'\ would cause to be removed all public concu- 
 bines in fornication or adultery; wherefore the 
 mayor, 1» consent of the community, ordained that 
 they should depart the city within eight days, on 
 pain of imprisonment, unless any of them should 
 find good security that she would not exercise her 
 illegal vocation for the future." The following list 
 of the trading companies with the parts they played, 
 will, perhaps, be found not entirely void of interest*. 
 «Thc order of the Pageants of the Pla> of 
 Corpus Christi, in the time of the mayoralty of 
 William Alne , in the third year of the reign of 
 King Henry V. anno 1415* compiled bj Roger 
 Burton , town clerk : — 
 
 ' Drake, Histerj of fork, pp. 288 246 
 
 n
 
 XVIII 
 
 Tanners. 
 
 
 
 Plasterers. 
 
 Carde - makers. 
 
 Fullers. 
 Coupers. 
 
 Armourers. 
 
 Gaunters. 
 ShipwrigJits. 
 
 Fyshmongers , 
 Pessy tiers , 
 Mariners. 
 
 Perchemyners , 
 Bukbynders. 
 
 Hosyers. 
 
 Sjricers. 
 
 God the Father Almighty creating- and 
 forming the heavens , angels and archan- 
 gels ; Lucifer and the angels that fell 
 with him into hell. 
 
 God the Father , in his own suhstance , 
 creating the earth , and all which is 
 therein, in the space of five days. 
 
 God the Father creating Adam of the 
 slime of the earth, and making Eve of 
 the rib , and inspiring them with the 
 spirit of life. 
 
 God prohibiting Adam and Eve from eating 
 of the tree of life. 
 
 Adam and Eve with a tree betwixt them; 
 the serpent deceiving them with apples ; 
 God speaking to them and cursing the 
 serpent , and an angel with a sword 
 driving them out of paradise. 
 
 Adam and Eve , an angel with a spade 
 and a distaff assigning them labour. 
 
 Abel and Cain killing sacrifices. 
 
 God foretelling JNoah to make an ark of 
 light wood. 
 
 Noah in the ark with his wife and three 
 children, and divers animals. 
 
 Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac; a ram, 
 bush, and angel. 
 
 Moses exalting the serpent in the wilder- 
 ness; king Pharaoh; eight Jews admir- 
 ing and expecting. 
 
 Mary and a docter declaring the sayings 
 of the prophets about the future birth 
 of Christ ; an angel saluting her. Mary 
 saluting Elizabeth.
 
 \l\ 
 
 Peuterers , 
 Founders. 
 
 Tylers, 
 
 Chaundelers, 
 
 Goldsmtthes . 
 Orfeures. 
 
 Gold - beters , 
 Mone - milkers. 
 
 Mu sons. 
 
 Marashals, 
 
 Girdellers , 
 
 Autjltrs, 
 
 Sawters. 
 
 Sjjoriers , 
 Lory mers. 
 
 Barbers, 
 fi/ntners. 
 
 Mary, Joseph willing to put her away, 
 an angel speaking to theui that they 
 should go to Bethlehem. 
 
 .Mary. Joseph, a midwife, the child horn 
 lying: in a manger betwixt an ox and 
 an ass, and the angel speaking- to the 
 shepherds. 
 
 The shepherds speaking hy turns; the 
 star in the east ; an angel giving- joy 
 to the shepherds that a child was horn. 
 
 The three kings coming from the east, 
 Herod asking- them about the child 
 Christ; with the son of Herod, two 
 counsellors and a messenger. 
 
 Alary with the child and the star above, 
 and the three kings offering gifts. 
 
 Mary with the child ; Joseph , Anna , and 
 a nurse with young pigeons; Simeon 
 receiving the child in his arms , and 
 two sons of Simeon. 
 
 Mary with the child , and Joseph flying 
 into Egypt, by an angel's telling them. 
 
 Herod commanding the children to be 
 slain, four soldiers with lances, two 
 counsellors of the king , and four wo- 
 men lamenting the slaughter of them. 
 
 The doctors, the child Jesus sitting in 
 the temple in the midst of them , hear- 
 ing them and asking them questions. 
 Four Jews, Mary and Joseph seeking 
 him and finding him in the temple. 
 
 Jesus, John the baptist baptizing him, 
 and two angels • helping them. 
 
 Jesus, Mary, bridegroom and bride, mas- 
 ter of the household with his family 
 with six water -pots, where water is 
 turned into wine. 
 
 ll
 
 XX 
 
 Smythes, 
 Fevers. 
 
 C\orvisors^\ 
 
 Elennagers. 
 
 Plummers , 
 Patten - makers. 
 
 Pouch - makers , 
 Botillers , 
 Cap - makers. 
 
 Vestment-makers , 
 Skynners. 
 
 Jesus upon the pinnacle of the temple; 
 Satan tempting: with stones ; two angels 
 administering-, etc. 
 
 Peter , James and John ; Jesus ascending 
 into the mountain and transfiguring- him- 
 self hefore them. Moses and Elias ap- 
 pearing-, and a voice speaking from a 
 cloud. 
 
 Simon the leper asking- Jesus if he would 
 eat with him. Two disciples; Mary 
 Magdalene washing- the feet of Jesus , 
 and wiping- them with her hair. 
 
 Jesus , two apostles , the woman taken in 
 adultery , four Jews accusing- her. 
 
 Lazarus in the sepulchre; Mary Magda- 
 dalene, Martha, and two Jews admiring. 
 
 Jesus upon an ass with its foal; twelve 
 apostles following- Jesus; six rich and 
 six poor men , with eight hoys with 
 branches of palm trees, constantly saying 
 blessed , etc. , and Zaccheus ascending 
 into a sycamore tree. 
 
 Cuttelers , 
 Blade - smythes , 
 Shethers , 
 Scalers, 
 Bukle - makers , 
 Homers. 
 
 Bakers , 
 IVaterleders. 
 
 Pilate , Caiaphas , two soldiers . 
 Jews, Judas selling Jesus. 
 
 thret 
 
 Cordwaners. 
 
 The supper of the Lord and paschal 
 Lamb, twelve apostles ; Jesus, tied about 
 with a linen towel, washing their feet. 
 The institution of the sacrament of the 
 body of Christ in the new law, and 
 communion of the Apostles. 
 
 Pilate , Caiaphas , Annas , forty armed sol- 
 diers , Malchas , Peter , James , John ,
 
 \\I 
 
 Jesus, and Judas kissing ami betraying 
 him. 
 
 /lowers, Jesus, Annas, Caiaphas , and four Jews 
 
 Fletchers. striking and bastinadoing Christ. Peter, 
 
 the woman accusing him, and Malchas. 
 
 To/risers , Jesus , Pilate , Annas , Caiaphas ; two 
 
 Vouchers. counsellors and tour Jews accusing Christ. 
 
 Lit testers. Herod, two counsellors, four soldiers, 
 
 Jesus, and three Je>\s. 
 Cukes, Pilate, Annas, Caiaphas, two Jews, ami 
 
 // utrr - leders. Judas carrying from them thirty pieces 
 
 of silver. 
 
 Same - makers. Judas hanging himself. 
 
 Mil tiers , Jesus, Pilate, Caiaphas, Annas, six sol- 
 
 Tiel - makers , diers carrying- spears and ensigns, and 
 
 Ropers, other four leading Jesus from Herod 
 
 Cevers, desiring Barabbas to he released and 
 
 Turners, Jesus to he crucified, and then binding 
 
 Hayresters , and scourging him, putting a crown 
 
 Hollers. of thorns upon his head ; three soldiers 
 
 casting lots for the vesture of Jesus. 
 
 Shermen. Jesus covered with hlood hearing his cross 
 
 towards mount Calvary , Simon Sere- 
 neus , etc. 
 
 Runners, The cross, Jesus extended upon it on 
 
 Lateners, the earth; four Jews scourging him 
 
 Paunters. with whips, and afterwards erecting the 
 
 cross, with Jesus upon it, on Mount 
 
 Calvary. 
 
 Bouchers, The cross, two thieves crucified and Je- 
 
 Pulterers, sus suspended betwixt them ; Mary the 
 
 mother of Jesus , John , Mary , James 
 and Salome; a soldier with a lance, 
 and a servant with a sponge. Pilate . 
 Annas , Caiaphas , a centurion , Joseph 
 of Arimathea . and Nichodemus taking 
 him down and laying him in the sepulchre.
 
 XXII 
 
 Satellers , 
 Sellers , 
 Glasiers, 
 
 Carpenters , 
 Joynei'S. 
 
 Cartivrights , 
 Carvers , 
 Smvyers. 
 
 TVyedrawers. 
 
 Broggers , 
 iVool-pakkers , 
 IVadsmen. 
 
 Escriviners , 
 Lunmers , 
 Quest or s , 
 Diibbors. 
 Taillyoures, 
 
 Potters. 
 
 Drapers. 
 
 Jesus destroying hell; twelve good and 
 twelve evil spirits. 
 
 The Centurion declaring to Pilate, Caia- 
 phas and Annas, with other Jews, the 
 signs appearing on the death of Jesus. 
 
 Jesus rising from the sepulchre, four 
 soldiers armed, and three Marias lament- 
 ing ; Pilate, Caiaphas, and Annas; a 
 young man clothed in white sitting iu 
 the sepulchre and talking to the women. 
 
 Jesus, Mary , Mary Magdalene with spices. 
 
 Jesus , Luke and Cleophas in the form 
 of travellers. 
 
 Jesus, Peter, John, James, Philip and 
 other Apostles; Thomas feeling the 
 wounds of Jesus. 
 
 Mary, John the Evangelist, two angels, 
 and eleven Apostles ; Jesus ascending 
 before them , and foiu* angels bearing a 
 cloud. 
 
 Mary, two angels, eleven Apostles, the 
 Holy Ghost descending upon them , and 
 four Jews admiring. 
 
 Jesus , Mary , Gabriel with two angels, 
 two virgins and three Jews of the kin- 
 dred of Mary, eight Apostles, and two 
 devils. 
 
 Lynwevers. 
 
 Four Apostles bearing the shrine of Mary, 
 Fergus hanging upon it with two other 
 Jews , and one angel. 
 
 IVevers ofwollen. Mary ascending with a multitude of an- 
 gels ; eight Apostles, with Thomas preach- 
 ing in the desert.
 
 win 
 
 Hostile):,. Mary, and Jesus crowning: ber with a 
 
 great number of angels. 
 
 Mercers. Jesus, Mary, twelve Apostles; four an- 
 
 gels with trumpets , anil four with a 
 lance with two scourges; four good and 
 four bad spirits, and six devils. 
 
 Robert Mannvng, or as he is more commonly 
 called Robert tie Rriinnc , a Gilbertine canon in 
 the monastery of Hrunne, near Depyng, in Lin- 
 colnshire , translated in the year 1305 an Anglo - 
 French poem, entitled the Manuel de Peche^ , writ- 
 ten about the middle of the thirteenth century, and 
 which contains a notice of Miracle - plays. 
 
 Hyt ys forbode hym yn the decre 
 
 Myraeles for to make or se ; 
 
 For myraeles , zyf you bygynne , 
 
 Hyt ys a gaderynt, a syght of synne. 
 
 He may yn the cherche, thurgh thys resun , 
 
 Pley the resurreccyun ; 
 
 That is to seye, how god rose, 
 
 God and man yn myght and los , 
 
 To make men be yn beleve gode, 
 
 That he ros with flesshc and hlode ; 
 
 And he may pleyc wythoutyn plyght 
 
 Howe god was bore yn thole nyght, 
 
 To make men to beleve stedfastly 
 
 That he lyght yn the vyrgyne Mary. 
 
 Zyf thou do hyt in weyys or grenys, 
 
 A sygbt of synne truly hyt semys. 
 
 Robert Raston , a Carmelite friar of Scar- 
 borough , v. ho lived in the reign of Edward II., 
 
 Robert Grosthead, llislioi> of Lincoln, who died in I2i>r> iv 
 
 rap] 'I to be the author of this mirk. YYarton, Hist, of Kog< 
 
 Poet v„l. i. pp. 89, 715, 8tf
 
 XX i\ 
 
 and accompanied that king in his expedition to be- 
 siege Stirling Castle, in Scotland, is mentioned by 
 Bale as a writer of Traycedite el Comcediie vulgares*. 
 None of these pieces are now extant , but no rea- 
 sonable doubt can be entertained that they were Mi- 
 racle-plays, for Bale calls his own productions of 
 a similar kind, « tragedies and comedies ;» and it is 
 not at all improbable, that some of these religious 
 dramas mipht be in existence at the time when Bale 
 
 or 
 
 wrote , which was towards the middle of the six- 
 teenth century. 
 
 Robert Longlande, a secular priest, and a 
 fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, who wrote about 
 the middle of the fourteenth century, in his Piers 
 Ploughman's Crede , puts two lines into the mouth 
 of a friar, which refer to the performance of Mi- 
 racle-plays in market towns: — 
 
 We kannten no tauernes , ne hobelen abouten , 
 At marketes and miraclevS we medely vs neuerj". 
 
 Chaucer has many allusions to these religious 
 dramas , and he represents his Wife of BaJh amus- 
 ing herself with these fashionable diversions, while 
 her husband is absent in London , during the holy 
 season of Lent: — 
 
 Therefore made I my visitations 
 
 To vigilies and to processions , 
 
 To prechingrs eke, and to thise pilgrimages, 
 
 To playes of myracles and to manages , 
 
 And werid upon my gay skarlet gites §. 
 
 * Seriptor. Must. M. Brit. p. 300. Basil VS57. 
 
 f Signat. A. iii. 1>. edit. 1S61. 
 
 § The Wif of Bathes Prologue, v. 6io7. Tyrwhitt's c«lit.
 
 \\\ 
 
 In 15&>, the guild of Corpus Chris ti at Cam- 
 bridge , on that festival , represented Ludus /Riorum 
 Israelis'. 
 
 It cannot but be considered a little singular, 
 that we have no account of Miracle - plays being 
 performed in London from the time of Henry II., 
 till nearly two hundred years afterwards. That 
 there were such exhibitions during this period in 
 the metropolis, can scarcely be doubted, if we con- 
 sider that other places of much less importance 
 were honored with them. In 1578, the scholar's 
 or choristers of St. Paul's Cathedral in London, 
 presented a petition to Richard II., praying' him 
 «to prohibit some [inexpert people from presenting- 
 the History of the Old Testament, to the great 
 prejudice of the said clergy, who have been at 
 great expense to represent it publicly at Christ- 
 inas"." This restraint, if it were imposed , appears 
 not to have applied to the parish clerks of London, 
 who bad been incorporated into a guild by Henry III. 
 about the year 1240, under the patronage of St. 
 Nicholas. Stow acquaints us , that in 1591 they per- 
 formed a play at Skinner's Well, near Smilhfield, 
 in the presence of the lung' , queen, and the nobles 
 of the realm, which lasted for three days. The 
 same authority informs us, that «lhis yeere (1409) 
 was a great plaj at the Skinners Well , neere unto 
 Cleat -kcnwcll , besides London, which lasted eight 
 dairs, and was of matter from the creation of the 
 world v. " 
 
 Matter, History of Corpus Christ! College, Cambridge, vol. i. |». 8. 
 
 f W.rloii, Hisl. of Eng. Poet. w.l. ii. |». 591. 
 
 M(M\ Chronicle, p. il^O, edit. 1611$. The undent perform-
 
 XXVI 
 
 In 1416, the Emperor Sigismund was in Eng- 
 land, having- come for the purpose of endeavouring 
 to make peace between this kingdom and France. 
 He was magnificently received and entertained at 
 Windsor; and a chronicle in the Cottonian Col- 
 lection gives a description of a performance before 
 him and Henry V., on the incidents of the life of 
 St. George of Cappadocia. The representation 
 seems to have been divided into three parts, and 
 to have been accomplished by certain artificial con- 
 trivances, exhibiting, first, «the armyng of Seint 
 George , and an Angel doyng on his spores ; » se- 
 condly , « Seint George ridyng and fightyng with 
 the dragon , with his spere in his hand ; » and 
 thirdly , « a castel , and Seint George and the Kynges 
 daughter ledyng the lambe in at the castel gates*. 8 
 
 The English fathers at the Council of Constance 
 caused, on the 24th January, 1417, a sacred 
 drama to be represented before the government of 
 that city , the subjects of which were , the Nativity 
 of our Saviour; the arrival of the Magi; and the 
 massacre by Herod. This play appears to have 
 given such satisfaction, that it was acted again on 
 the 51st of the same month before the members 
 of the Council t. 
 
 ances of the parish clerks are memorialized in raised letters of iron , 
 upon a pump on the east side of Rag Street, now called Ray Street, 
 beyond the Sessions - house , Clerkenwell ; from which exhibitions , as 
 well as from the well, the parish takes its name. 
 
 Cotton M S., Calig. B. II. Apud Collier, Annals of the Stage, 
 vol. i. p. 20. 
 
 T Dachcr , an eye-witness , quoted by Herman , gives the following- 
 account. : — «Am 24ten tag des Monats Januarii , das war auft' Ti- 
 motheus tag , da luden die Bischoff aus Engeland , dcr Bischofl' Salis-
 
 XXVII 
 
 John Lydgate, a moiik of the Benedictine 
 abbey of Bury in Suffolk , who lived in the first 
 half of the fifteenth century, and was a most volu- 
 minous writer, being the author of upwards of two 
 hundred and fifty poetical pieces, is said to have 
 a ritten Miracle - plays*. 
 
 Corpus Christ* day, at Newcastle upon Tyne, 
 uas celebrated with the exhibition of religious dra- 
 mas. The earliest mention of such performances there, 
 is in the ordinary of the coopers, dated January 
 20th, 1426. They are mentioned also in those of 
 the smiths and glovers, 1456; barbers, 1442; 
 slaters, 1451; sadlers, 14o9; and of the fullers 
 and dyers, 1477. By the ordinary of the gold- 
 smiths , plumbers , glaziers , pewterers and painters, 
 dated lo36, they were commanded to play at their 
 least « the three Kynges of Coleyn." In 1552, 
 mention occurs of the merchant - adventurers as 
 being concerned in the exhibition of five plays, one 
 
 burgensis, der Bischof von London, und demnach funff Risckoff von 
 England, alle Itiihl zu Costnitz und sonst viel chrbar Itiirgcr daselbst, in 
 Borchart Walters Hans, das man vorzeiten nennt zu dem Burgthor, ilzt 
 En dem golden Schwert, alleriiiichst l»ei S. Lanrenz. Und gal» ihnen 
 fasfl tin kostlich mahl, ie 5. Gcricht nach einander, jedes Gcricht 
 bewmdef mit ft. Essen : Die trug man allwcg cins mal dar , deren 
 alweg waren 4. vergnld oder rersilbert. In dem mahl, zwischen dem 
 Essen , so maehten sic soldi hild und geberd als unscr Frau ihr Kind 
 uiiserii Hern und auch Gotl gchahr, mil fast kostlichen Tnchern und 
 GewamL Und Joseph stelHen sic zu ihr. Und die heiligen 5. Kdnige, 
 
 ■Is die miser Franen die Opffer l)ia< lilen. I nd halten gemaclil einen 
 lantern guldnen Slern , der ging vor ihnen, an einen kleinen eisern Drat. 
 I n<l maehten Konig Herodem, wie er den drey Konigen nachsandt, und 
 
 IOC er die Ivii.illrin erlodlef. Das luaelifen sie alles mil gar kostll- 
 
 i In ii Gewand, and mil grosseu guldenen and silbernen Gurteln, und 
 maehten >lax mit groster Gezierd, mid mit grosser Demoht. ('.<>r|>. Vet 
 e< Decrel > Constant Cone. torn. I\ |> 1009 
 
 ' Ritsoa . ltil.l Poet p 70
 
 XXVIII 
 
 of which is assigned to the ostmen , and charged to 
 the account of the corporation. The drapers, mer- 
 cers and boothmen had probably each one, and the 
 last might belong to the spicers , who appear an- 
 ciently to have been a branch of the merchant-adven- 
 turers. A law was made by the merchants of this 
 city, March 25rd, 20 Edw. IV. for settling the 
 order of their procession on Corpus Christi day. 
 By the ordinary of the millers, dated 1578, we 
 may infer that the Corpus Christi plays were at 
 that time on the decline, and never acted but 
 by special command of the magistrates of Newcastle. 
 « Whensoever ,» says that authority, «the generall 
 plaies of the towne shall be commanded by the 
 mayor, etc." they are to act «the antient playe of 
 their fellowship , the Deliverance of the Children 
 of Isrell out of the Thraldome , Bondage , and Ser- 
 vitude of King Pharo." Thus also in that of the 
 house-carpenters, dated July 3rd, 1579, it is or- 
 dered, that ((whensoever the general plaies of the 
 towne shall be plaied , » they shall perforin « the 
 Buriall of Christ," pertaining anciently to the said 
 fellowship. To the same effect it was ordered by 
 that of the masons, li>81 5 whose play was «the 
 Buriall of our Lady, Saint Mary the Virgin :» and 
 lastly, by the joiners' ordinary, in 1589. Of the 
 ancient sacred dramas performed by the trading 
 companies of Newcastle , only one has come down 
 to our times, entitled, « Noah's Arl;, or the ship- 
 wrights ancient play or dirge," which may be seen 
 in Brand's History of Newcastle *, from which the 
 foregoing account is taken. 
 
 * Yol 11. pp 369 - 379.
 
 \\[\ 
 
 The Guild of the Holy Trinity of St. Botolph 
 without Aldgate , appears, from the expenses record- 
 ed in their registers, to have been engaged be- 
 tween the years 1445 and 1448 , in the performance 
 of Miracle -plays ; and to have possessed at this time 
   a rolle of veloiii," containing what is called «the 
 Pagenl of the Holy Trinity*." 
 
 In the year 1487, while Henry VII. resided 
 at his eastle of Winchester, on occasion of the 
 birth of prince Arthur, on a Sunday, daring the 
 time of dinner, he was entertained with a religions 
 drama called Christi descensus ad inferos t. 
 
 It is stated in Dives and Pauper, a booh print- 
 ed in 1496, that «to represente in playnge at 
 Crystinasse , herodes , and the thre kynges , and 
 other processes of the gospelle, both than, and at 
 Ester, and other t vines also, it is lefull and com- 
 mendable s . » 
 
 The accounts of the churchwardens of Bassing- 
 borne, in Cambridgeshire, for loll, contain an 
 account of the expenses and receipts for performing 
 the Miracle - play of St. George. Among' other cir- 
 cumstances that are mentioned, it is stated that 
 twenty -seven neighbouring parishes contributed mo- 
 no towards furnishing the play, which was acted 
 on a stage in an open Held in the before mentioned 
 parish II . 
 
 Done, kite. Myst. Desc. \>\>. 84, H6. 
 
 7 Regutr. Priorat. S. Switbin. Winton. Apud Warton, Hist. 
 Bag. Poet rol. ii. p. !iO<;. 
 
 § Sandys, Christmas Carols, Introduction, |». \\ii. 
 
 Warton, Hist Eng. Poet. rol. lii. |»- 526.
 
 XXX 
 
 It appears from the Earl of Northumberland's 
 Household Book, 1512, that the children of his 
 chapel performed Miracle - plays during- the twelve 
 days of Christmas, and at Easter, under the direc- 
 tion of his Master of the Revels *. 
 
 A MS- written in the seventh year of the reign 
 of Henry VIII., enumerates certain articles which 
 were most probahly used in the representation of 
 some Miracle-play before this monarch. Among: 
 others are mentioned, «A long garment of cloth 
 of golde and tynsell, for the Prophete upon Palme 
 Sonday.* «Item a littill gowne for a woman, the 
 virgin, of cloth of silver." «Item a littill coote for 
 a childe of cloth of silver f . 
 
 In the Chapter - house , Westminster, is pre- 
 served a MS. containing an account of payments 
 of money in the year 1527 , for the entertainment 
 of Henry VIH. Among other sums , is to be found 
 one for « dyvers necessaries bought for the trymmyng 
 of the Father of Heaven §.» 
 
 Ralph Radcliffe, educated at Oxford, opened 
 in the year 1558 a school at Hitchin, in Hert- 
 fordshire ; and , obtaining a grant of the dissolved 
 friery of the Carmelites in that town, converted 
 the refectory into a theatre. He was the author 
 of several Miracle - plays , the names of which only 
 have come down to our times 1 1 . 
 
 At Christmas 1546, the Miracle -play of Jeph- 
 tha, taken from the eleventh chapter of the book 
 
 Percy , Reliques. vol. i. p. 13«>. 
 f Collier, Annals of the Stage, vol. i. p. 80, 81. 
 § Ibid. p. 99. 
 I! Bale, Scriptor. Illust. M. Brit. p. 700.
 
 VXXI 
 
 of Judges, and written both in Latin and Greek, 
 was aeted in the University of Cambridge. It was 
 composed In John Christopherson, one of the first 
 Fellows of Trinity, afterwards Master, Dean of 
 Norwich, and Bishop of Chichester*. 
 
 John Bale, Bishop of Ossor\ , in Ireland, and 
 a most voluminous writer, was the author of at 
 least eleven sacred dramas T, of which only four are 
 now extant: 1. The three Laws of Nature, Mo- 
 
 ses , and Christ. 2. God's Promises §. J. John 
 the Baptists preaching in the Wilderness. 4. The 
 Temptation of Christ, Bales plays arc deserving of 
 attention as containing the first attempt, by means 
 of the stage , to promote the Reformation. The 
 following is a short extract from the epilogue of 
 The Temptation of Christ, in which he attacks the 
 Roman Catholics , who would keep the people in 
 ignorance and from the use of the Scriptures , and 
 which passage will afford a sufficient specimen of 
 the manner in which he treats his antagonists. 
 
 What enemyes are they, that from the people wyll have 
 The scriptures of God , whych are the niyghty weapon 
 Thai Christ left them here their sowles from hell to save, 
 Ami throw them headlondcs into the devyls domynon. 
 If they he no devyls, I saye they are devyls non. 
 They brynge in fastynge, hut they leave out Scrrptum est. 
 Chalke Uiey geve for gold, soch fryndes are they ol'the Ueest. 
 
 Eduard YI. is staled hv Bale to have written 
 
 •J 
 
 a Miracle -play called JJe meretriee liabyloniea \\. 
 
 Retrospective Review vol. xii. \>. 0. 
 t is.l.- . Beriptor. Dlost M Brit pp. 709—701$. 
 
 Reprinted in thu Collection, |>. i£2t. 
 || Bale, Beriptor. Unit. M Itrit. pp. 675, en \
 
 XXXII 
 
 Such attacks as the before mentioned induced 
 Mary to issue a proclamation on the 16th August, 
 1553, the object of which was, among other things, 
 to prevent the performance of plays calculated to 
 advance the principles and doctrines of the Refor- 
 mation. On the 50th of April, 1556, the Privy 
 Council addressed a letter to the Earl of Shrews- 
 bury , President of the North , complaining that 
 «certain lewd persons, to the number of six or 
 seven in a company , naming themselves to be ser- 
 vants unto Sir Francis Leek , and wearing his livery 
 and badge on their sleeves, had wandered about 
 those north parts , and represented certain plays 
 and interludes, containing very naughty and sedi- 
 tious matter touching the King's and Queen's Ma- 
 jesties, and the state of the realm, and to the slan- 
 der of Christ's true and catholic religion*." 
 
 In the year 1556 , the Passion of Christ was 
 represented at Grey Friers in London, on Corpus 
 Christi day , before the lord mayor , the privy coun- 
 cil , and many great persons of the realm t. Strype 
 mentions, under the year 1557, a play with a si- 
 milar name , that was acted at the same place , on 
 the day that war was proclaimed against France, 
 and in honour of that occasion §. On St. Olave's 
 day in the same year, the holiday of the church 
 in Silver Street which is dedicated to that saint, 
 was kept with much solemnity. «At eight o'clock 
 at night, began a play of goodly matter, being the 
 
 * Lodge, Illustrations of British History, vol. i. p. 212. 
 "f" Strype , Life of Sir Thomas Pope , pref. p. vii. 
 § Ecclesiastical Memorials, vol. iii. c. xlix.
 
 XXXIII 
 
 miraculous history of the life of that saint, which 
 lasted four hours *. 
 
 Queen Elizabeth', during' her progress iu the 
 summer of loGl, visited the University of Cam- 
 bridge, and was entertained at King's College with 
 a pla\ called Ezechias*. 
 
 At Tewkesbury * "i the years li>78 and 1585, 
 Miracle-plays Mere performed, which fact is reeord- 
 ed in the accounts of the churchwardens*. 
 
 Carew, who wrote in Queen Elizabeth's time, 
 observes, that «the Guary Miracle, in English a 
 IHiracle -play, is a hind of interlude compiled in 
 Cornish , out of some Scripture-History. For repre- 
 senting it they raise an amphitheatre in some open 
 field, having the diameter of his inclosed plain, 
 some 40 or 50 foot. The country people lloel; 
 from all sides main miles off, to see and hear it; 
 for [\ic\ have therein devils and devices to delight 
 the eve as the ear[|.» 
 
 Weever relates, that he had «seen Corpus 
 Chrisli plays aeled at Preston, Lancaster, and at 
 Kendall, in the beginning of the reign of James I., 
 the subjects of which were the sacred Scriptures 
 from the creation of the world**." 
 
 It is generally considered that the last Miracle- 
 plai represented in England, was that of Christ s 
 Passion , in the reign of James I., which Prynne 
 
 Strype, Ecclesiastical Memorials, vol Hi. j>. 579. 
 
 t M.li. ,U. Progresses of Queen Elizabeth, vol. i. |> 186. edit. 
 
 L815. 
 
 ;> Collier, Viiu.iK of the Stage, vol. ii. p. 140. 
 
 || Snrrej of Cornwall, |>. 71. edit 1602. 
 
 I 1 1 1 1 •• i 1 1 Monuments, p. 40o. 
 
 Ill
 
 XXXIV 
 
 informs us was « performed at Elie House in Hol- 
 born , when Gundomar lay there , on Good - friday 
 at night, at wliich there were thousands present*. 1 ' 
 
 Although this historical view of Miracle - plays 
 terminates properly at this period, yet we find tra- 
 ces of their existence even in the present century. 
 
 The author of the Lives of Literary and Scien- 
 tific Men states, that in 1809 he « witnessed, on 
 the borders of Lancashire and Yorkshire, on Good 
 Friday, Saracens and Christians, Saladin, Richard, 
 and other notable persons, represented by some 
 young - men $ whose uncouth , fantastic garbs were 
 not the least remarkable feature of the scene. The 
 dialogue was in verse, and though somewhat mo- 
 dernised, bore marks of considerable antiquity t. 
 
 Collier mentions , that a kind of Miracle - play 
 is still exhibited in Gloucestershire at Christmas, 
 with the characters of Herod, Belzebub, and others§. 
 
 Sandys remarks , that « the Christmas - play of 
 St. George and the Dragon is still preserved in 
 the western and northern parts of the kingdom II • • 
 It may not, perhaps, be uninteresting to give here 
 this play as performed at the present time in the 
 county of Cornwall ; particularly as the old Miracle- 
 play of St. George , from wliich this is undoubtedly 
 derived, has not come down to our days. 
 
 * Histriomastix, p. 117. edit. 1655. 
 
 f Vol. i. P . 185. 
 
 § Annals of the Stage, vol. i. p. 17. edit. 1851. 
 
 II Christinas Carols, p. 17. edit. 1855.
 
 \\\> 
 
 CHARACTERS. 
 
 SUM GEORGE. RING OF EGYPT. 
 
 TOE DRAGON. TURKISH KNIGHT. 
 
 FATHER CHRISTMAS. THE GIANT TURPIN. 
 THE DOCTOR. 
 
 Enter the Turkish Knight. 
 
 Open your doors, and let me in, 
 
 I hope your favors I shall win ; 
 
 Whether I rise or whether I fall, 
 
 I'll do my best to please you all. 
 
 St. George is here, and swears he will eome in, 
 
 And , if he does , I know he'll pierce my skin. 
 
 If you will not helieve what I do say, 
 
 Let Father Christmas eome in — clear the way. 
 
 [Heft'rc*-.] 
 
 Enter Father Christmas. 
 
 Here come I, old Father Christmas, 
 
 Welcome, or welcome not, 
 I hope old Father Christmas 
 
 Will never he forgot. 
 
 I am not come here to laugh or to jeer , 
 
 But for a poeketfull of money, and a skinfull of beer, 
 
 If you will not helieve what I do say , 
 
 Come in the King of Egypt — clear the way. 
 
 Enter the King of Egypt. 
 
 Here I, the Ring of Egypt, boldly do appear, 
 St. George, St. George, walk in, my only son and heir 
 Walk in, my son St. George, and boldly act thy part, 
 That all llit- people here may see thy wond'rous art. 
 
 Enter Saint George. 
 
 Here eome I, St. George, from Britain did I spring, 
 I'll fight tin- Dragon hold, my wonders to begin. 
 
 I'll dip his "injjs, he shall not fly; 
 I II cut him down, or rise I die. 
 
 111
 
 XXXVI 
 
 Enter the Dragon. 
 
 Who's he that seeks the Dragon's hlood , 
 
 And calls so angry, and so loud? 
 
 That English dog, will he hefore me stand? 
 
 I'll cut him down with my courageous hand. 
 
 With my long teeth, and scurvy jaw, 
 
 Of such I'd break up half a score , 
 
 And stay my stomach, till I'd more. 
 
 [St. George and the Dragon fight , the latter is killed.] 
 
 Father Christmas. 
 
 Is there a doctor to be found 
 
 All ready , near at hand , 
 To cure a deep and deadly wound , 
 
 And make the champion stand. 
 
 Enter Doctor. 
 
 Oh! yes, there is a doctor to be found 
 
 All ready , near at hand , 
 To cure a deep and deadly wound, 
 
 And make the champion stand. 
 
 Father Christmas. 
 What can you cure? 
 
 Doctor. 
 
 All sorts of diseases , 
 
 Wliatever you pleases, 
 
 The phthisic , the palsy , and the gout ; 
 
 If the devil's in, I'll blow him out. 
 
 Father Christmas. 
 What is your fee? 
 
 Doctor. 
 
 Fifteen pound, it is my fee, 
 
 The money to lay down. 
 But, as 'tis such a rogue as thee , 
 
 I cure for ten pound.
 
 WWII 
 
 I cany a little bottle of alieuuipane; 
 
 Here Jack , take a little of my flip flop , 
 Pour it down thy tip top; 
 Rise up and fight again. 
 
 [The Doctor performs his cure, the fight is renewed , 
 and the Dragon again killed.] 
 
 Saint George. 
 
 Here am I, St. George, 
 
 That worthy champion hold, 
 And with my sword and spear 
 
 I won three crowns of gold. 
 I fought the fiery dragon, 
 
 And brought him to the slaughter; 
 By that I won fair Sabra , 
 
 The King of Egypt's daughter. 
 Where is the man , that now will me defy ? 
 I'll cut his giblets full of holes, and make his buttons fly. 
 
 The Turkish Knight advances. 
 
 Here come I , the Turkish Knight , 
 
 Come from the Turkish land to fight. 
 
 Ill fight St. George, who is my foe, 
 
 111 make him yield before I go; 
 
 He brags to such a high degree , 
 
 He thinks there's none can do the like of he. 
 
 Saint George. 
 
 Where is the Turk, that will before me stand? 
 II I cut him down with my courageous hand. 
 
 [They fight, the Knight is overcome, and falls on one kuee.\ 
 Turkish Knight. 
 
 < Mi! pardon me, St. George, pardon of thee I crave, 
 Oh! pardon me this night, and I will be thy slave. 
 
 Saint George 
 No pardon shall thou have, while I have foot to stand. 
 So rise thee up again, anil fight out swonl in hand. 
 
 I'l'hn/ fight again, and thn Knight is killed. Father Christ- 
 mat tails for the Doctor, with whom the same dialogue 
 
 ocean «» before, and the rme is performed.]
 
 XXXVIII 
 
 Enter the Giant Turpin. 
 
 Here come I , the Giant , bold Turpin is my name , 
 And all the nations round do tremble at my fame. 
 Wheree'r I go, they tremble at my sight, 
 No lord or champion long with me would fight. 
 
 Saint George. 
 
 Here's one that dares to look thee in the face , 
 And soon will send thee to another place. 
 
 [They fight, and tJtc Giant is killed; medical aid is called 
 in as before, and the cure performed by ihe Doctor, to 
 whom then is given a basin of git'dy grout and a kick , 
 and driven out.] 
 
 Father Christmas. 
 Now, ladies and gentlemen, your sport is most ended, 
 So prepare for the hat, which is highly commended. 
 The hat it would speak, if it had but a tongue; 
 Come throw in your money , and think it no wrong. 
 
 There are , besides several single Miracle-plays, 
 three distinct series, — the Chester, the Coventry, 
 and'''Tfee~^owneIey or Widkirk. 
 
 It is supposed, on pretty good grounds, that 
 the Chester series is the most ancient, though if 
 internal evidence were to decide the question, it 
 would be in favour of the Towneley. All have 
 undoubtedly been frequently transcribed , so that 
 no correct opinion can be formed concerning: the 
 age in which they were compiled from the style 
 in which they are written. « The Banes , » a pro- 
 logue to the Chester Plays , which was always read 
 previous to the representation, supplies us with 
 some data enabling- us to assign a period approxi- 
 mating at least to the true one.
 
 \\\IV 
 
 Keverende lordes and ladyes all , 
 
 That at this time here assembled bee, 
 
 By this messenjje understand you shall. 
 
 That some limes there was mayor of this eitie . 
 
 Sir John Arnwav. knyp/hte, who most worthilie 
 
 Contented himself to sett out in playe, 
 
 The devise of one Doin Randall , monke of Chester abbey. 
 
 This prologue, modernised as it evidently is, 
 appears to have been written at a period subse- 
 quent to the dramas themselves. From the testi- 
 mony of ancient, almost of contemporary documents, 
 it is certain that John Arnwav was the chief ma- 
 
 ■J 
 
 gistrate of Chester between l'JGtt and i*27(>*. An 
 attempt, however, has been made to invalidate the 
 antiquity of this period by two assertions; first, that 
 the Dom Randall here mentioned was no other 
 than the celebrated Runulf, or Randal Higden , com- 
 piler of the Pohjchronicon $ and secondly, that the 
 period in which he lived will not agree vulh the 
 time when John Arnwav was mayor. Randal Hig- 
 den, according to Rale, (lied in 15(>.">f, and even 
 supposing he had attained an unusual great age, 
 could not have written these plays between 12(JU 
 and 1276. It deserves to be remarked, that the 
 name of Randal is one of frequent recurrence in 
 the old archives, whether public or private, of 
 Chester. Il is not, perhaps, to be disputed, thai 
 Higden was in some way, and at some period , con- 
 cerned in the performance of the Chester Miracle- 
 plays; though in what way is not so (dear. He 
 mils have made several additions, though il is, 
 
 Cabinet Cyclopaedia. Literarj and Scientific Urn. *<>l i. |> IU." 
 • ripl IMmI >l Brit p 169.
 
 XL 
 
 perhaps, more probable that he only translated 
 them. A note to one of the MSS. of these pro- 
 ductions, informs us*, that Higden «was thrice at 
 Rome before he could obtain leave of the Pope to 
 have them in the English tongue 5 » and a remark 
 appended to another one states , that these plays 
 were written by him in 1528 f. The only way, 
 however, of explaining in any satisfactory manner 
 the mention of John Arnvvay and Randall in «the 
 Ranes," is to consider the latter as the translator, 
 and that they were previously performed in the 
 mayoralty of the former. The Chester -plays be- 
 gan on Whit - monday , and continued until Wed- 
 nesday. They consist of twenty-four dramas § , and 
 were annually performed, with some interruptions, 
 until 1577. 
 
 * Hail. No. 2124. Apud Collier, vol. ii. p. 129. 
 
 f Marl. No. 2015. Apud WartoH, vol. ii. p. 179. 
 
 § /. The Fall of Lucifer, by the Tanners. //. The Creation, 
 by tbe Drapers. ///. The Iteluae, by the Dyers. IV. Abraham, 
 Melchisedech, and Lot, by the Barbers and Wax -chandlers. V.Mo- 
 ses, Balah , and Balaam, by the Hatters and Linen-drapers. VI. The 
 Salutation and Nativity, by the Wrights. VII. The Shepherds feed- 
 ing their flocks by niqhl, by the Painters and Glaziers. VIII. The 
 three Kings , by the Vintners. IX. The Oblation of the three Kings, 
 by the Mercers. X. The Killituj of the Innocents, by the Goldsmiths. 
 XI. The Purification, by the Blacksmiths. XII. The Temptation, 
 by the Butchers. XIII. The JBlindmcn and Lazarus, by the Glovers. 
 XIV. Jesus and the Lepers, by the Corvisors. XV. The last Snpper, 
 by the Bakers. XVI. The Passion and Crucifixion of Christ, by 
 the Fletchers, Coopers, and Ironmongers. XVII. The Descent into 
 Hell, by the Cooks. XVIII. The Resurrection, by the Skinners. 
 
 XIX. The Appearing of Christ to the two Disciples, by the Saddlers. 
 
 XX. The Ascension , by the Tailors. XXI. The Election of St. Ma- 
 thias , sending of the Holy Ghost , by the Fishmongers. XXII. Eze- 
 hicl , by the Clothiers. XXIII. Antichrist , by the Dyers. XXIV. The
 
 M.I 
 
 The sacred dramas anciently exhibited at Co- 
 ventry drew immense multitudes to that city, which 
 was as much owing- to its central situation, as to 
 these exhibitions being: sometimes frequented by 
 royalty. In HI 6, Henry V. and his nobles took 
 greal delight in seeing the Pageants 5 and in 14156, 
 ton Corpus Christi yeven at nyght came the queue 
 [Margaret] from Kelyngworth to Coventre, at which 
 tvme she wold not be met, but came prively to se 
 the play there on the morowe, and she sygh the 
 pagentes pleyde save domes day, which might not 
 be pleyde lor lack of day, and she was loged at 
 Richard Wodes the grocer, where Richard Sharp 
 sometyme dwelled, and there all the pleys were 
 furst pleyde, and there were with her then lordes 
 and ladyes. » Richard III. in 1484, came to see the 
 Corpus Christi Plays. In 1486, Henry VII. was 
 present at the performance of the Pageants on St. 
 Peter's day, and much commended them; and in 
 1492 again visited the city, to see the plays acted 
 h\ the Grey Friers*. Before the suppression of 
 the Monasteries, the Grey Friers of Coventry were 
 greatlj celebrated for their exhibitions on Corpus 
 Christi day; their Pageants, says Dugdale, «being 
 acted with mightj State and Reverence by the 
 Friers of this House, had Theaters for the several 
 Seems, \er\ large and high, placed upon Wheels, 
 and drawn to all the eminent Parts of the City, 
 
 Day of Judgment, h\ the Websters. Of ibis scries, there arc two 
 espies aasong the Harleian MSS. in the lliiiisli Unseam, one ol llic 
 Bodleian, and one in the possession <>(' the Duke of Devonshire. They 
 bear the dates <.i 1600, 1607, 1604, and 1891 respectively. II 
 is fi <mn thai of It.OO the pieces to. this Collection arc printed. 
 
 Sharpc, Dissertation on the Coventrj Mysteries, |>|>. r i , o. 4to.
 
 XLII 
 
 for the better Advantage of Spectators: And contain- 
 ed the Story of the Old and New Testament, com- 
 posed in the old English Rithme , as appeareth by 
 an antient MS. intituled Lucius Corporis ChrisU, or 
 Ludus Coventrice. I have been told by some old 
 people , who in their younger years were eye - wit- 
 nesses of these Pageants so acted, that the yearly 
 confluence of people to see that shew was extraor- 
 dinary great, and yielded no small advantage to 
 this City*." These plays certainly formed no part 
 of the entertainments exhibited by the trading com- 
 panies of Coventry. The subjects are for the most 
 part identical with those of the two other series, 
 but more numerous , consisting of forty-two plays "i". 
 The Towneley Miracle - plays , (so named from 
 being in the possession of this family,) called also 
 
 Dugdale, History of "Warwickshire , p. 116, edit. 1G£>6. 
 
 f I. The Creation. II. The Fall of Man. III. The Death of 
 Ahel. IV. Noah's Flood. V. Abraham's Sacrifice. VI. Moses and 
 the Two Tables. VII. The Genealogy of Christ. VIII. Anna's 
 Pregnancy. IX. Mary in the Temple. X. Her Betrolhmcnt. XI. 
 The Salutation and Conception. XII. Joseph's Return. XIII. The 
 Visit to Elizabeth. XIV.s The Trial of Joseph and Mary. XV. The 
 Birth of Christ. XVI. The Shepherds' Offering. XVII. Caret in 
 MS. XVIII. Adoration of the Magi. XIX. The Purification. XX. 
 Slaughter of the Innocents. XXI. Christ disputing in the Temple. 
 XXII. The Baptism of Christ. XXIII. The Temptation. XXIV. 
 The Woman taken in Adultery. XXV. Lazarus. XXVI. Council 
 of the Jews. XXVII. Mary Magdalen. XXVIII. Christ betrayed. 
 XXIX. Herod. XXX. The Trial of Christ. XXXI. The Bream of 
 Pilate's Wife. XXXII. The Crucifixion. XXXIII. The Descent 
 into Hell. XXXIV. Scaling of the Tomb. XXXV. The Resurrec- 
 tion. XXXVI. The Three Marias. XXXVII. Christ appearing to 
 Mary Magdalen. XXXVIII. The Pilgrim of Fmaus. XXXIX. The 
 Ascension. XL. Descent of the Holy Ghost. XLI. The Assumption 
 of the Virgin. XLII. Doomsday. This ]>IS. was written at least 
 as early as the reign of Henry VII., and is in (he British Museum 
 in (he Bihl. Cotton, Vesp. D. VIII.
 
 \LII1 
 
 the Widkirk, are written in a style that may be 
 referred to the reign of Henry YI. or Edward IY. 
 Where the plays constituting; this series were ori- 
 ginally performed , is a matter of some doubt. These 
 dramas are frequently called the Widkirk , from a 
 tradition, that, prior to the dissolution of the mo- 
 nasteries, they belonged to the Abbey of Widkirk, 
 near Wakefield, in the County of York. This tra- 
 dition has marks of a genome character. There is, 
 however, no place called \YidI;irl; in flie neigh- 
 bourhood of ^Vakefield-, and neither there nor in 
 any part of England was there an Abbey of "\Yid- 
 kirk. Hut there is a place called Woodkirk in that 
 neighbourhood, and at Woodkirk there was a cell 
 of Augustinian friars. Whatever weight there may 
 be attached to the tradition respecting- the original 
 possession, must, therefore, be given to the claim 
 of this Cell of Monks at Woodkirk. This place is 
 about four miles to the north of \Yakelield. A 
 small religious Community was established there in 
 the first half century after the Conquest by the 
 Earls Warren, to whom the great Lordship of 
 Wakefield belonged , and they were placed in sub- 
 jection to the house of Nostel. Henry I. granted 
 to the friars of Nostel, a charter, for two fairs to 
 be held al Woodkirk, — one at the Feast of the 
 Assumption, (he other on the Feast of the IValhil\ 
 of the Blessed Mary. This grant was confirmed Uy 
 King Stephen. Aow it was at such places and on 
 such occasions, that sacred dramas were usually 
 exhibited. Moreover internal evidence confirms the 
 tradition. Words ami phrases thai are peculiar to 
 this pari of Yorkshire, al least more frequently to
 
 XLIV 
 
 be heard there than in any other part, and are 
 still existing in the vernacular language of that di- 
 strict, in the sense in which they are used in these 
 plays, are often to be met with in this series. 
 Though the original possession of this MS. must 
 be attributed to the Friars of Woodkirk , yet it 
 seems very probable that some of these dramas 
 were performed at Wakefield. Thus at the begin- 
 ning of the first is written in a large hand « WAKE- 
 FELDE » and « BERKERS , » the meaning of 
 which seems to be, that this Miracle-play was re- 
 presented at the town of Wakefield by the company 
 or fellowship of the Barkers or Tanners. To the 
 second is prefixed « GLOVER PAG..,» without 
 the word Wakefield. The imperfect word seems to 
 have been « Pagina. » At the head of the third , we 
 find «WAKEFELD,» without the name of any 
 trade. There are also two more allusions of the 
 same kind. In the language as well as the style 
 of this series , a diversity may be perceived , arising, 
 perhaps, from their not having proceeded from one 
 hand, and from the collection having been made 
 up partly of compositions strictly original, and 
 partly of compositions from other similar collections . 
 The Miracle-play entitled Secunda Pastorum , re- 
 printed in this Collection , is , perhaps , the most sin- 
 gular religious drama, if such a term may be 
 applied to it, now in existence. This series con- 
 sists of thirty-two plays T. 
 
 * Peiface to the Towneley Mysteries," 8vo. 1856. 
 
 f I. Creatio. II. Mactatio Abel. III. Processus JVoe cum filiis. 
 IV. Abraham. V. Isaac. VI. Jacob. VII. Processus Propbctaruin. 
 VIII. Phaiao. IX. Csesar Augustus. X. Annunciatio. XI. Salutatio
 
 XLV 
 
 In what language the early English 31iraele- 
 plays were written, is a subject of some uncertainty, 
 and which is undoubtedly owing, in a great mea- 
 sure , to the (lest ruction at the time of the Re- 
 formation of numbers of 3ISS. that savoured of 
 Roman Catholicism *. If we consider , that the first 
 piece of this hind we have an account of was writ- 
 ten by a Frenchman, that William the Conqueror 
 as an ell as his successors endeavoured to bring- the 
 French language into general use in England, and 
 that till the reign of Edward III. this tongue was 
 the prevailing one in England f , Ave shall have 
 some reason for concluding that this was the lan- 
 guage in which these performances were first writ- 
 ten §. Several verses are to be found in these 
 
 Elizabeth. XII. Prima Pagina Pastorum. XIII. Secunda Pagina 
 Pastoruni. XIV. Oblalio Magorum. XV. Fugatio Joseph et Mariae 
 in E gyptian , XVI. Magnus Herodcs. XVII. Purificatio Mariae. 
 \\ III. Pagina Doetorum. XIX. Johannes Raptista. XX. Conspi- 
 ratio et Captio. XXI. Coliphizatio. XXII. Flagellatio. XXIII. Pro- 
 cessus Crueis. XXIV. Processus Talcnlorum. XXV. Extractio Ani- 
 marum ah Inferno. XXVI. Resurrectio Domini. XXVII. Peregrini. 
 WYIII. Thomas India?. XXIX. Ascensio Domini. XXX. Juditium. 
 WXI. Lazarus. XXXII. Suspensio Judae. 
 
 * Ecland , the antiquary and one of the most enlightened men of 
 his age , ■who was appointed by Henry VIII. to search for and pre- 
 serve such works as might rescue remarkable English events and oc- 
 currence from oblivion , u as nevertheless a destroyer of 3ISS. that 
 contained any reference to the peculiar doctrines of the Roman Ca- 
 tholic religion. He remarks, in a report, that one of his purposes in 
 tin- ("lamination of the different liherarics , was to expel « the crafty 
 coloured doctrine of a rout of Romayne bysshopps. " 
 
 f Ellis. Early English Poets, vol. i. pp. 124-120. ed. 1811. 
 
 I In VI. In ilr la Hue anil Monsieur Chateaubriand arc of opi- 
 nion , that the lirst Uiracle-plai performed in England "as composed 
 in Frenck. Etudes tur let Mysleres, par Onesime le Roy, />■ *'• td, 
 1U."7 Tkerc h:>s recentlj been discovered in the Royal Librarj at
 
 XL VI 
 
 plays in Latin , but it is no proof of their having- been 
 composed in that tongue; for it was a custom of 
 the early English poets to interweave their pieces 
 with lines in that language. It must , nevertheless , 
 be remarked, that though the general opinion of 
 English writers favours a French original in prefer- 
 ence to a Latin , yet many reasons might be as- 
 signed to make it extremely doubtful 5 but as this is 
 a subject on which authors are not agreed, it is 
 useless , on the present occasion , to enter on a re- 
 view of suppositions and theories , while engaged in 
 the consideration of matters of fact*. 
 
 It has been already remarked , that Higden, 
 supposed to be the author of the Chester series, 
 was three times at Rome before he could obtain 
 leave to have these plays in English , and not long 
 afterwards a law was passed requiring «all pleas in 
 the Courts of the King, or of any other lord, shall 
 be pleaded in the English tongue f . » Many of the 
 
 Paris a fragment of a play of the Resurrection in Anglo-Norman, and 
 ■which is supposed, to have heen composed ahout the middle of the 
 twelfth century. It was published in 1854 by Monsieur A. Jubinal. 
 
 The opinions of French writers on this point may be best 
 gathered from Etudes sur les Myst'eres , par Onesime le Roy, Intro- 
 duction, pp. IX, X\I— XIX, edit. 1856, and Mysleres inedits du 
 uuinzietne siecle par Achille Jubinal, Preface, pp. X — XVII. edit. 1857. 
 
 i* 56th of Edward III. It appears probable , that previous to this 
 period these dramas were written in Anglo-Norman, if not still ear- 
 lier in Latin. Besides the Miracle-play in Anglo-Norman mentioned 
 in a former note (see p. XLV note §), two others written in the same 
 language have been lately discovered ; one of them is by Hermann , 
 an Anglo-Norman poet, who lived 1127—1170; the other by Arch- 
 bishop Langton. M. Itaynouard has printed in his Choix de poesies 
 des Troubadours a Miracle-play — the wise and foolish I r irr/ins , a 
 drama of the eleventh century written in Latin, French, and the lan- 
 guage of Provence.
 
 XL VII 
 
 plays strengthen the supposition that they were ori- 
 ginally written in French, at least show pretty 
 plainh that some of them were translations from 
 that language. In Le Misterc du viel Testament 
 par personnages , joue a Paris, printed by Antoine 
 Verard about 1490, but acted at a much earlier 
 date, we find the following exclamation of Isaac: — 
 
 Mais vueillez moy les yeulx cachicr, 
 AUin que le glaive ne voye ; 
 (Juant ile inoy veudres approchier, 
 Peult elre que je fouyroye. 
 
 In the fourth play of the Chester series, we 
 find these hues: — 
 
 Also, father, I pray you, hyde my eyen, 
 That I see not your sworde so keene ; 
 Your stroke, father, I would not see, 
 Least I against it grill. 
 
 The fifth play of the same collection affords 
 still farther evidence to the same point: it relates 
 to King: lialak, and Balaam the prophet. In the 
 French Mistere, the Ass, sorely beaten, thus ad- 
 dresses his rider: — 
 
 Baalam , suis je pas ta bestc , 
 Sur qui tu a toujours este , 
 Tant en yver coinme en este ? 
 Te feiz jamais tell chose ? 
 
 In the Chester play the passage occupies one 
 line more : — 
 
 Ann- not I, master, thyne owne asse, 
 To beare thee whether thou «ili<- passe,
 
 XLVIII 
 
 And many winters ready was ? 
 To smyte me it is shanie .... 
 Nay , never yet so served I thee *. 
 
 The fourteenth play of the same series contains 
 a prayer that the king of France may not be ex- 
 posed to treachery : — 
 
 And woidd god alinightie 
 The Kinge of France might so afye 
 In this realnie and baronye , 
 That they were all so tren. 
 
 The «realme and baronye" could be no other 
 than the kingdom of France, from whence this piece 
 must have been imported , and in rendering: which 
 into English , the translator omitted to adapt to the 
 change of country. In the play entitled Magnus 
 Herodes of the Townely series, Herod concludes 
 the piece with these two lines : — 
 
 Bot adew to the devylle 
 I can no more Franche. 
 
 We find also small portions of some of the 
 plays in French ; and there certainly could not have 
 heen any reason for translating" them into that lan- 
 guage , if they had been originally composed in 
 Latin or English. It appears probable that they 
 were omitted , perhaps through carelessness , to be 
 translated. Some sentences of the speech of Augus- 
 tus Caesar in the sixth, and part of the dialogue 
 between the three kings in the eighth play of the 
 Chester series, are still preserved in that language. 
 
 * These two extracts are taken from Collier, vol. ii, pp. 154, 
 i3o, where other comparisons may he found.
 
 \1.1\ 
 
 Miracle -plays were for a long period acted, 
 as well as written, by ecclesiastics. This we have 
 already seen in the extract given from the Manuel 
 de PeeAe', as well as that Lydgate, monk of Bury, 
 was a writer of sacred dramas. The books of the 
 churchwardens of Bassingstoke contain, under the 
 date of loll, a payment to «John Ilobard , bro- 
 therhoode preeste," for a Miracle-play*. The House- 
 hold Hook of the fifth Earl of Northumberland 
 has , among; mam other entries of a like kind , 
 the two following. « My Lordes Chapleyns in 
 Household vj. viz. The Ahnonar , and if he be a 
 maker of Interludys, than he is to have a servaunl 
 to the intent for writynge of the parts; and ells to 
 have none. • «My lorde useth and accustomyth to 
 gyf every of the iiij Parsones that his lordship ad- 
 myted as his Players to com to his lordship ycrly 
 at Chrish nines and at all other such tymes as his 
 lordship shall comande them for playingc ofPlayes 
 and Interludes affor his lordship in his lordshipis 
 hous for every of their fees for an hole yeret.» 
 A MS. in the possession of the Duke of Newcastle 
 affords indisputable testimony of the assistance of 
 the clergy. It consists of minute entries of all the 
 expenses incurred by the Priory of Thctford from 
 Christmas, 1461, to Christmas, 11540, alter which 
 dale the house was dissolved; and contains several 
 hundred entries of payments to players and min- 
 strels, and, in not a lew instances, it is expressly 
 ;i(l<l«'(l , thai the plays were represented with the 
 assistance of the members of the convent : 
 
 Hist. Engl. Poet. rol. iii p. .V27 
 f \|mrl Pcrcj \<>l i. p, 136. 
 
 IV
 
 11 Henry VIII., « Lusoribus cum adjutorio Con- 
 ventus, 2s. :» — 12 Henry VIII., « Jocatoribus 
 cum adjutorio Conventus , 2s. * » 
 
 Although we have shown that the clergy assist- 
 ed in these performances , yet it does not appear 
 that they had, at least in latter times, the chief 
 hand in them. Such appears to have been the case 
 at Chester, York, and Newcastle, where Miracle- 
 plays were performed by trading-- companies, each 
 guild undertaking a portion of the performance , and 
 sustaining a share of the expense. The authentic 
 information regarding the exhibition of the Corpus 
 Christi plays at Coventry, extends from 1416 to 
 1591, and during the whole of that period there 
 is not the slightest indication that the clergy in any 
 way co-operated. 
 
 Miracle -plays were most probably at first ex- 
 hibited in churches. Some MSS. contain the di- 
 rection, cum cantu el organise — a proof that they 
 were acted in holy places. In the register of Wil- 
 liam of Wyl;ehan, Bishop of Winchester, under 
 the year 1584, an episcopal injunction is recited 
 against the exhibition of Speclacula in the cemetery 
 of his cathedral t. Burnet informs us , that Bonner, 
 Bishop of London, issued a proclamation to the 
 clergy of his diocese, dated 1542, prohibiting «all 
 manner of common plays , games , or interludes to 
 be played, set forth, or declared, within their 
 churches , chapels , etc. §. " 
 
 Apud Collier, vol. ii. p. 142. 
 f Apud Warton, vol. i. p. 240. 
 § History of the Reformation, i Coll. Rec. p. 22S. edit. fol.
 
 1.1 
 
 It is nol verj easj to give a clear and correct 
 account of the mechanical contrivances used in the 
 representation of Miracle-plays, owing; to the differ- 
 ent changes which must from time to time have 
 taken [dace in the manner of exhibiting them in 
 the earlier times, from the way in which they were 
 acted in the sixteenth century. Sacred dramas, as 
 we have already seen, were frequently represented 
 in churches, but with what assistance, except that 
 of the choir and organ, we are ignorant. They 
 were sometimes exhibited in a field, as was the case 
 in 1511, in the parish of Bassingborne , in Cam- 
 bridgeshire; and mc find in the play Mactalio Abel 
 of the Towneley series, Cain at plough with a team 
 of horses, which could not have been shown on a 
 scaffold. In latter times they appear to have been 
 frequently represented on moveable stages. Arch- 
 deacon Rogers, who died in li>9i5, and saw the 
 Miracle -plays acted in Chester, gives the following 
 account of the way in which they were exhibited: — 
 «The inaner of these playes weare, every company 
 had his pagiant, w cb pagiants weare a high scaf- 
 olde with 2 rowmes, a higher and a lower, upon 
 4 wheeles. In the lower they apparelled them- 
 selves, and in the higher row me they played, beinge 
 all open on the lope, that all behoulders might 
 heare and see them. The places where lhe\ played 
 I hem was in every slreele. The\ begane first at 
 the Aha\ gates, and when the first pagianle was 
 played, it was wheeled to the highe crosse before 
 the Mayor, and so to everj streete, and soe everj 
 sincic had ;i pagiant playinge before them at one 
 
 time, lill all the pagiantes for the daye appoynted 
 
 \ i *
 
 LII 
 
 weare played , and when one pagiant was neerc 
 ended, worde was broughte from streete to streete, 
 that soe they mighte come in place thereof, exced- 
 inge orderlye, and all the streetes have their pa- 
 giantes afore them all at one time playeinge togea- 
 ther; to se which playes was great resorte, and 
 also scafoldes and stag-es made in the streetes in 
 those places where they determined to playe theire 
 pagiantes *. » 
 
 Strutt gives the following' description of the 
 manner of performing' these plays: — «In the early 
 dawn of literature, and when the sacred Mysteries 
 were the only theatrical performances , what is now 
 called the stag-e did then consist of three several 
 platforms or stages, raised one above another; on 
 the uppermost sat the Pater Ccelestis, surrounded 
 with his angels; on the second appeared the holy 
 saints and glorified men; and the last and lowest 
 was occupied by mere men , who had not yet pass- 
 ed from this transitory life to the regions of eter- 
 nity. On one side of this lowest platform was the 
 resemblance of a dark pitchy cavern, from whence 
 issued appearance of fire and flames ; and when it 
 was necessary the audience were treated with hideous 
 yelling-s and noises, as imitative of the bowlings and 
 cries of the wretched souls tormented by the relent- 
 less daemons. From this yawning: cave the devils 
 themselves constantly ascended , to delight and to 
 instruct the spectators; to delight, because they 
 were usually the greatest jesters and buffoons that 
 then appeared; and to instruct, for that they treated 
 
 Sharpe, Dissertation on the Coventry Mysteries, j». 17. 4to.
 
 I III 
 
 the wretched mortals, who were delivered to them, 
 with the utmost cruelty, warning thereby all men 
 carefiillj to avoid the Falling into the clutches of 
 
 such hardened and remorseless spirits*." 
 
 The Pageants exhibited in Coventry by the 
 different guilds, were performed on moveable seaf- 
 folds, as is plainly proved by numerous entries from 
 \ f ti\0 to li>91 , which are still to be read in the 
 accounts of their expenses, and which may be seen 
 in the work of Sharp t. The Cappers' Company 
 had twelve, and the Drapers' ten men, to draw 
 their scaffolds. Only one instance occurs of horses 
 having been employed, and that is in the records 
 of the Drapers' Company for lo91 , the last year 
 in which I hey performed. 
 
 The accounts of the various guilds contain 
 entries of sums paid for machinery, dresses, etc., 
 which tend to throw some light on the way in 
 which lliese Pageants were represented. The sub- 
 ject of the Smith's Pageant was the Trial, Condem- 
 nation, and Crucifixion of Christ, as will appear 
 from the following list of Characters, Machinery, 
 etc. collected from various entries of charges in the 
 records of this company between 1449 and lo8i>, 
 the last year of their exhibiting: — 
 
 CHARACTERS. 
 
 God, sometimes .lesus. Peter and Malchns-. 
 Cayphas. Anna. 
 
 Heroude. Pilate. 
 
 Pilate's Wife. Pilate's Son. 
 
 Hansen and Customs, vol. iii- p. I>"»0. 
 Dissertation on the Coventrj Mysteries, p. 20. 4to
 
 LIV 
 
 The Beadle. 2 Knights. 
 
 The Devil. 4 Tormentors. 
 
 Judas. 2 Princes, A. D. 1490 only. 
 
 MACHINERY, etc. 
 
 The Cross with a Rope to draw it up, and a Curtain 
 
 hanging hefore it. 
 Gilding the Pillar and the Cross. 
 2 Pair of Gallows. 
 4 Scourges and a Pillar. 
 Scaffold. 
 
 Fanes to the Pageant. 
 Mending of Imagery occurs 1469. 
 A Standard of red Buckram. 
 
 Two red Pensiles of Cloth painted, and silk Fringe. 
 Iron to hold up the Streamer. 
 
 DRESSES, etc. 
 
 4 Gowns and 4 Hoods for the Tormentors. — (These are 
 
 afterwards described as Jackets of black buckram with 
 nails and dice upon them.) Other 4 gowns with da- 
 mask flowers; also 2 Jackets party red and black. 
 
 2 Mitres (for Cayphas aud Annas). 
 
 A Rochet for one of the Bishops. 
 
 God's Coat of white leather, 6 skins. 
 
 A Staff for the Demon. 
 
 2 Spears. 
 
 Gloves (12 pair at once). 
 
 Herod's Crest of Iron. 
 
 Scarlet Hoods and a Tabard. 
 
 Hats and Caps. 
 
 Cheverel [Peruke] for God. 
 
 5 Cheverels and a Beard. 
 
 2 Cheverels gilt for Jesus and Peter. 
 Faulchion for Herod. 
 Scarlet Gown. 
 Maces.
 
 I.'X 
 
 Girdle for God. 
 
 A new Sudere [the veronica] for God. 
 
 A Seld.dl [seat] for God. 
 
 Sceptres for Herod and his Son. 
 
 Poleaxe for Pilate's Son. 
 
 THE EXPEXSES FOR 1490, VERBATIM. 
 
 This is the expens of the furste reherse of our players 
 in ester wekc. 
 
 Iiipriutis in Rrede 
 
 I tin in Ale .... 
 
 Itm in keehyn 
 
 liui in Vynegra 
 
 Itm payd at the Second Reherse in Whyltson- 
 
 weke in hrede , Ale and keehyn. 
 Itm for drynkynjje at the payent in \i;\\ in<; 
 
 forthe in Wyne and ale .... 
 Itui in the uiornynfje at diner and at Sopper 
 
 in Costs in Brede 
 I tin for i\ jjalons of Ale . 
 Itm fop a Ryhhc of hefe and j j>osc . 
 I tin for keehyn to dener and sopp 
 I tin for a Ryhhc of hefe . 
 Itin for a quarte of wyne . 
 I tin for an other quarte for hcyrynye of procula 
 
 is ;;o\vne 
 
 Itm for jjloves . 
 
 1 1 in spend at the repellynjje 
 
 and I lie exnenecs of having: 
 Itui in paper 
 
 Md payd to the players for 
 Iiipriinis to God 
 Ilm Id Gayphas 
 
 I I III III III Finnic 
 
 Ilm to Pilatt is wyffe 
 
 Itm lo the Bedull 
 
 Ilm to one of I lie Rnightfl 
 
 Itm in the devyll and to Judas 
 
 • • • •   
 
 "'.I' 1 
 viij- 1 
 
 xiij' 
 
 vij d 
 
 vij' 1 
 xviij* 1 
 
 vj d 
 
 iij- 1 
 ij d 
 
 of the pajjaiille 
 it in and furlhc 
 
 corpus xisti d 
 
 T 
 
 v j.i 
 
 xiiij' 1 
 oh. 
 
 iye. 
 
 hi 
 
 .. r 
 
 iiij' 1 
 
 111/ 
 
 ii s 
 
 • • • • I 
 
 ii i j' 1 
 
 (j 1 
 
 wiij' 1
 
 LVI 
 
 Itm to Petiu* and malehus ..... xvj a 
 
 Ilni to Anna . . . . . ij s ij' 1 
 
 Itm to Pilatte ....... iiij s 
 
 I tin to Pilatte is soune ..... iiij d 
 
 Itm to au other knigkte . . . . . ij s 
 
 Itm to the Mynstrell ..... xiiij' 1 * 
 
 Minstrels appear to have taken no inconsider- 
 able part in these performances, for we find them 
 very frequently assisting" in their execution. It is, 
 however, impossible to discover at what time they 
 fi»*st performed in these exhibitions , as the earliest 
 MS. we have of these sacred dramas is not much 
 older than the middle of the fifteenth century; 
 though if we may judge from the popularity of 
 minstrels in England, even as early as the Con- 
 quest, it is not at all improbable that they assisted 
 at a very early period. In the second play of the 
 Chester series, « mynstrells playitig-e" is noted in 
 the margin not less than four times ; and in the 
 eig:hlh play of the same series they also take part 
 in the execution of the piece. The accounts of 
 the Trading Companies of Coventry contain many 
 entries of sums of money paid to minstrels between 
 the years 14i50 and 1590. It seems not impro- 
 bable that they, besides performing: in their pecu- 
 liar quality, acted such parts as required to be sung-, 
 which certainly would be very appropriate for them, 
 and could not have been well performed without 
 their assistance. 
 
 We meet often with the character of God in 
 these dramas, and this, according- to our ideas, 
 appears to be highly improper and even irreverent. 
 
 Sharpe , pp. 14— ifi
 
 IV II 
 
 il must, however, be considered, dial as one of 
 the designs of Miracle - plays was to instruct the 
 people in the Scriptures, this character Mas partly 
 necessary: at least our forefathers could ha\e seen 
 no great impropriety in it, or they would not have 
 admitted it in these performances to the extent they 
 did. It is worthy of remark, that in the accounts 
 of the Cappers' Company of Coventry for I060, 
 the following: entry is found: — «ltm payd to 
 
 God x 'j <l 5 B which is the more singular as it 
 
 occurs some years after the Reformation was effected 
 in England. This does not, however, at all prove, 
 that even at that time when there was a greater 
 sense of propriety prevalent, it was considered by 
 any irreligious; lor we must recollect that these 
 plays were generally performed every year, so that 
 persons accustomed to behold them from their ear- 
 liest infancy, did not perceive those improprieties, 
 which would have occurred to others differently 
 circumstanced. 
 
 A character even more irreverent than the 
 foregoing: was the Holy Ghost, who, though some- 
 times represented as a dove , was occasionally as a 
 human figure. The eleventh play of the Chester 
 series has this personage. The following entries, 
 which are to he found in the boohs of the Cappers' 
 Company, prove that the Holy Ghost was repre- 
 sented by a real person : — 
 
 I tm payd to the sprytt of {jod .... xvj d 
 
 Itin payd for the spret of gods cote . '.I s 
 
 llin payd for the making of the same cote viij' 1 
 lim payd for ij yardes and halfe of bockraui 
 
 to make the sp\riis cole .... i,| V
 
 LVIII 
 
 Of all the various characters that played in 
 these religious dramas, no one appears to have 
 acted so prominent a part as the Devil. This can 
 be easily accounted for, as he seems clearly to 
 have been the harlequin in Miracle-plays , and there- 
 fore a great favorite with the spectators. It is not 
 unlikely, from the extracts given by Sharpe*, that 
 he was usually represented with horns', a very wide 
 mouth (by means of a mask) , staring: eyes , a large 
 nose , a red beard , cloven feet , a tail 5 and was 
 furnished with a good thick club. 
 
 Several of the pieces of the Chester and Co- 
 ventry series have characters named Expositor, 
 Doctor, and Contemplation, whose office appears 
 to have been to deliver a prologue , epilogue , or , 
 as is the case in the thirteenth play of the last 
 mentioned series, to make remarks on what passes. 
 The following is the epilogue to this drama, which 
 is spoken by Contemplation, and is curious on 
 account of the introduction of a number of persons 
 with English names, who are summoned to appear 
 before the Bishop ] as well as that it informs us, 
 in the seventh verse , that money was collected for 
 the performances. It is necessary to remark, in 
 order to understand correctly the first and last ver- 
 ses , that the following play is The Trial of Mary 
 and Joseph. 
 
 Avoytl, sers, and lete uiy lorde the buschop coine , 
 And syt in the courte the lawes for to doo ; 
 
 And I scball gon in this place them for to soniowne, 
 
 The that ben in my book, the court ye must com too. 
 
 * Dissertation on the Coventry Mysteries , pp. 37 , 08.
 
 LIX 
 
 I ivarne you here all a bowte , 
 That I Bomown you, all the rowte, 
 Loke ye layl for no dowte 
 At the court to pere : 
 
 Both John Jurdon , and Geffrey Gyle , 
 Malkyn Mylkedoke, and fayr Mahyle, 
 Stevyn Sturdy, and Jak at the style, 
 And Sawdyr sadelere. 
 
 Thorn Tynker, and Betrys helle, 
 Peyrs Potter, and AYhatt at the welle , 
 Synnne Snialfeyth, and Kate Kelle, 
 And Bertylmew the hoeher. 
 
 Kytt cakeler, and Colett crane, 
 Gylle fetyse, and fayr Jane, 
 Powle pewter, and Piuel prane, 
 
 And Phelypp the {food flcccher. 
 
 Cok crane, and Davy drydust, 
 Lnee Lyer, and Letyce lytyl trust, 
 Miles the miller, and eolle crake crust, 
 
 Both hette the baker, and Rohyn Rede.. 
 
 And loke ye rynge wele in yowr purs , 
 For ellys yowr cawsc may spede the wurs , 
 Thow that ye slyn^e goddys curs , 
 Evyn at myn hede. 
 
 Botlie Bonlyng the hrowster, and Syhyly Slynge, 
 Ifegge Mery wedyr, and Sabyn Spi-ynjjc, 
 Tyffany Twynkeler, fayle for no thynge ; 
 
 Fast com a wsn 
 
 The eourle schal he this day. 
 
 Several of the Miracle -plays are founded on 
 the New Testament Apocrypha. This is more es- 
 pecialrj the case with those of the Coventry series, 
 of which ciijlil owe their origin to this source. In
 
 LX 
 
 the eighth play of this series, Annas Pregnancy ? 
 Joachim says , 
 
 So sliulde every curat, in this werde wyde , 
 Geve a part to bis channccl , I wys ; 
 
 A part to his parocheners , that to povert slyde ; 
 The thyrd part to kepe for hym and his. 
 
 In the New Testament Apocrypha we find in 
 the boo!; of Mary, Chap. I. v. 3. Their lives were 
 plain and right in the sight of the Lord, pious and 
 faultless before men. For they divided all their 
 substance into three parts : 4. One of which they 
 devoted to the temple and officers of the temple ; 
 another they distributed among strangers , and per- 
 sons in poor circumstances; and the third they 
 reserved for themselves and the uses of their own 
 family. 
 
 In the ninth play , Mary in the Temple , the 
 Bishop says , 
 
 A gracyous lord! this is a mervelyous thynge 
 
 That we se here all in syght , 
 A babe of thre yer age so zynge , 
 
 To come vp these greeys so vp right ; 
 It is an hey meracle. 
 
 The parallel passage is in the booh of Mary, 
 Chap. IV. v. 4. The parents of the blessed Virgin 
 and infant Mary put her upon one of these stairs; 
 
 5. But while they were putting oif their clothes, 
 in which they had travelled , and according to 
 custom putting on some that were neat and clean. 
 
 6. In the mean time the Virgin of the Lord in 
 such a manner went up all the stairs one [after
 
 I.XI 
 
 another, \\ ithonf the help of an\ to lead her or 
 lil'l her, thai any one would have judged from 
 hence, that she was of perfect age. 
 
 In the fourteenth play, the Trial of Joseph 
 and Man/, I he Jlt'shop says, 
 
 Her is the bote! of Goddys vengeaunsj 
 
 This drink shall be now tlii purgacion. 
 
 W e iii id in the hook of Protevan , Chap. XI. 
 \. 17. Bui he wept bitterly, and the priest added, 
 I >\ill cause von both to drink the water of the 
 
 Lord, which is for trial, and so your iniquity shall 
 he laid open before you. 
 
 The New Testament Apocrypha has been used 
 not onl\ in the compilation of the Coventry series, 
 (ml also in the Chester and Townely. The Descent 
 of (heist into Hell, founded upon the apocryphal 
 gospel of Nicodemus, forms part of each of these 
 three collections. There can be liUllc doubt, that 
 the Apocrypha was chosen by the writers of these 
 plays as best suited to the barbarous ages in which 
 they appeared, from its containing- more improba- 
 bilities and absurdities. 
 
 The feeling of propriety that our ancestors 
 , entertained was certainly rather of alas hind, which 
 is seen from the contents of many of these plays, 
 hut especially from the stage directions to the se- 
 cond |>l;i\ of the Chester series. This drama com- 
 prised the creation, temptation and fall: after this 
 event the direction in the margin is, that Adam 
 and Eve shall cover genitalia ma cum foliis 9 whereas
 
 LXII 
 
 until then siabunt nttdi, et non verecundabuntur \ 
 Perhaps our forefathers thought it no indecency 
 to give such representations, considering- they had 
 the authority of scripture for such exhibitions ; but it 
 must nevertheless strike us as not a little extraor- 
 dinary, that at least as late as the close of the 
 sixteenth century such scenes were to be found in 
 England. We learn this fact from a play entitled 
 The Travailes of the three English Brothers, 1607. 
 4to., of vfhich the following is an extract. 
 
 Seruant. 
 Sir, heres an Englishman desires accesse to you. 
 
 Sir Anthony Shirley. 
 An Englishman whats his name. 
 
 Seruant. 
 
 He calls himselfe Kempe. 
 
 [Enter Kempe.} 
 
 Sir Anthony Shirley. 
 
 Kemp, bid him come in, welcome honest Will, and 
 how doth all thy fellowes in England. 
 
 Kempe. 
 
 Why like good fellowes when they haue no money , 
 liue vpon credit. 
 
 Sir Anthony Shirley. 
 And what good new Plays haue you. 
 
 * In the second play of the Coventry series, Adam says, 
 Se us nafcyd be for and be hynde, 
 
 Woman ley this leff on thi pryvyte, 
 And with this leff I shall hyde me.
 
 LXIII 
 
 Rempe. 
 
 Many idle toyes, but the old play that Adam and Euc 
 acted in hare action vnder the fig'ge tree drawes most of 
 the Gentlemen*. , 
 
 In whatever light we may be disposed to view 
 Miracle -plays, there can be no doubt that the 
 public exhibition of them was al tended with several 
 bene ficial effects.. They were very useful in the ci- 
 vilisation of the people, from their bringing together 
 all classes, and giving' them a taste for other amuse- 
 ments than those which required only strength 
 and prowess, and must moreover have been highly 
 valuable in an age when few could read, as a 
 means of instructing the people in the truths of 
 Christianity. 
 
 Tliis extract is taken from a reprint of this play in Bibliogra- 
 phical Memoranda, p. o47. Bristol ltttG. Of this worts only one 
 bandied copies were published, and it is much to be regretted that this 
 custom of reprinting only a very limited number of scarce books , often 
 onlv twenty-fire, prevails so generally, as it tends to make these 
 works excessively expensive, and very difficult to procure.
 
 CHESTER 
 
 MIRACLE - PLAYS.
 
 THE D E L l T G E. 
 
 Dens. 
 A God that all the World have wrought 
 Heaven, Earth, and all oi' nought, 
 I see my people, in deede and thought, 
 Are fowle rotted in synne. 
 
 My Ghost shall not lengc in man, 
 That through flesklie liking is my fone: 
 Hut till vi shore yeares he gone, 
 To loke if they will hlynne. 
 
 Manne that I made I will destroy; 
 Beast, worine, and fowle to ilie: 
 For on earthe th«'y doe me noyc. 
 The lolke y 1 is thereon. 
 
 For it harmcs me so hartfnllie 
 The malyce now that can mullcply , 
 Thai sore me greves, inwardlie, 
 That ever I made mannc. 
 
 Therfore Pfoe, my servant free, 
 Thai righteous man art, as I sec, 
 A shipp BOne thou shall make llie, 
 Of In is ,|i V ,. ; lll( | light, 
 
 I ' 

 
 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Little chambers therein thou make, 
 And bynding slich also thou take: 
 Whin and out , thou ne slake 
 To anoynte it through all thy might. 
 
 500 Cubytes it shall be longe, 
 And so of breadeth, to make it strong, 
 Of heighte so, the mest thou fonge, 
 Thus measure it about. 
 
 One Window worch through thy might, 
 One eubyte of length and breadeth make it: 
 Upon the syde a dore shall fit, 
 For to come in and out. 
 
 Eatinge places thou make also, 
 Three rowfed chambers , one or two : 
 For w tl « water I thinke to stowe 
 Man that I can make. 
 
 Destroyed all the World shall be, 
 Save thou , thy Wife , thy sonnes thre ; 
 And all their AVives, also, w fh the, 
 Shall saved be for thy sake. 
 Noe. 
 
 Ah Lord! I thanke the, lowd ami still, 
 That to me art in such will; 
 And spares me and my house to spill, 
 As now I sothlie fynd. 
 
 Thy bydding, Lord, I shall fulfill, 
 And never more the greeve , ne grill , 
 That suche grace has sent me till , 
 Among all mankinde. 
 
 Have done yow men and women all ; 
 Helpe , for ought that may befall , 
 To worke this shipp , chamber and hall , 
 As God hath bydden vs doe. 
 Sent. 
 
 Father , I am already howne , 
 Anne axe I have, by my crownc!
 
 Till: DELUGE. ,1 
 
 As sharpr as an\ in all this towne, 
 For lo goe thereto. 
 
 Ham. 
 1 have a hatchet, wonder kene, 
 To byte well, as ina> be seene , 
 A better grownden, as I wene, 
 Is not in all this towue. 
 Japhet. 
 And I can well make a pyn, 
 And w*l> this hammer knocke yi in; 
 Goe and worche, w'hout more dyme, 
 And I am readj bowne. 
 f'xor Noe. 
 And >\c shall bring tymber, to, 
 For women nothing ids doe; 
 Women be weake to nndergoc 
 An\ great travayle. 
 
 / xor Sew. 
 Here is a good hackstoke; 
 On this Min innst hew and knoch: 
 Shall noil be idle in this flocke, 
 \c mm ini\ ii - » man fayle. 
 Vxw Ham. 
 And I will goe lo gather slicke, 
 The slii|>|> for to cleane and piche: 
 Anoynted it must be, every stich , 
 Board . tree , and pj n. 
 
 f'xor Jayihet. 
 Ami I will gather ekippes bere 
 To make a fire for vow, in feere, 
 Ami lor lo ili;;lil \o r dynner, 
 \';.iiiisi \d\\ come in. 
 
 I '/'line faciunt liana quasi laborareni cum divertu 
 instruments. I
 
 t» U1KAC.LK-PI.AM>. 
 
 Noe. 
 Now, in the name of God, I will begin 
 To mr.ke the shippe that we shall in , 
 That we lie ready for to swym 
 At the coming- of the floode. 
 
 These burdes I joyne together, 
 To keep vs safe from the wedder , 
 That we may rome both hither and thider , 
 And safe be from this flooile. 
 
 Of this tree will I have the mast 
 Tyde w tb gables that will last; 
 W*' 1 a sayle yarde for each blaste, 
 And each thing in the kinde. 
 
 With topeas he and hew sprytt, 
 W lh coardes and ropes I hold all meete 
 To sayle forth at the next wecte. 
 This shipp is at an ende. 
 Noe. 
 Wife , in this castle we shall be keped ; 
 My childer and thou I wold in leaped! 
 Vxor Noe. 
 In faith, Noe, I had as lief thou had slepped, 
 for all thy frankishfare , 
 For I w ill not doe after thy red. 
 Noe. 
 Good Wife doe as I the bydd. 
 
 Fxor Noe. 
 By Christ not, or I see more neede, 
 Though thou stand all the day and rave. 
 Noe. 
 Lord , that women be crabbed aye ! 
 And never are meke , that dare I saye. 
 This is well sene by me to daye , 
 In witness of you each one. 
 
 Good wife, let be all Ihis beere 
 Thai thou makes in (his place here.
 
 THK DEIAGE. 
 
 For all they wene thou art master; 
 And so thou art, hy St. John! 
 
 DettS. 
 
 >"oo , lake thou thy ineanye , 
 Ami in the shippe hye that you be , 
 For none so righteous man to me 
 Is now on earth lyvinge. 
 
 Of cleane heasles w lh thee thou lake 
 Seaven ami seaven, or thou slake, 
 Ilee and shee make to make 
 Belyve in that thou bringe. 
 
 Of beastes oncleane two and two , 
 Male and female, without moe ; 
 Of cleane fowles seaven alsoe, 
 The hee and shee together. 
 
 Of fowles uncleane two, and no more; 
 Of beastes as I said hefore: 
 That shall he saved throughe iny lore, 
 Against I send the vredder. 
 
 Of all meates that must he eaten 
 Into the ship lokc there he getten, 
 For that no way may be foryeten, 
 And doc all this hy deene. 
 
 To snslayne man and beastes therein, 
 Aye. till the waters cease and hlyn. 
 This world is tilled full of synne , 
 And that is now well sene. 
 
 Seaven dayes he yet eominge, 
 Fob shall have space them into bringe; 
 Alter that , it is my lyking 
 Mankinds for to nojc. 
 
 Forty dayes and forty nightes, 
 ll.iMie sh;ill fall for their nnrightes, 
 And thai I hare made tlirouijli my mijjhte 
 Now iliinl.c I In destove.
 
 8 MIKACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Noe. 
 
 Lord, at youre byddinge I am hayne, 
 Sith non other grace will gayne , 
 Hit will I fulfill fayne, 
 For gracious I the fynde. 
 
 A hundred wynters and twenty 
 This shipp making tarried have I : 
 If, through amendment, any mercye 
 Wolde fall vnto mankinde. 
 
 Have done , you men and women all ; 
 Hye you, lest this water fall, 
 That each beast were in his stall 
 And into ship broughte. 
 
 Of cleane beastes seaven shall be , 
 Of vncleane two , this God bade me ; 
 This floode is nye well may we see, 
 Therefore tary you noughte. 
 
 Sem. 
 
 Syrr , here are lyons , libardos in , 
 Horses , mares , oxen , and swyne , 
 Goates , calves , sheepe , and bine , 
 Here sitten thou may see. 
 Ham, 
 
 Camels , afses , men may finde , 
 Buck , doe , harte and hynde , 
 And beastes of all manner kinde , 
 Here bene , as thinckes mee. 
 
 Japhet. 
 Take here cattes and doggs to , 
 Otter, fox, fubnart also; 
 Hares , hopping gaylie , can yce 
 Have cowle here for to cate, 
 Vxor Noe. 
 And here are beares , wolfes sett , 
 Apes , owles , marmoset ;
 
 TUE DEM UK. J) 
 
 Weesells , squirrles, and ferret, 
 Here thej eaten (heir meate. 
 
 Vxw Sail. 
 Vet more beastes are in this house ! 
 Hero callcs inakcn in full crowse ; 
 litre a ratten, here a mouse, 
 Thej stand uye together. 
 Vxw Ham. 
 Ami here are fowles les and more, 
 llearnes , cranes, and byttour. 
 Swans, peacocks, have them before! 
 Afeate for this wedder. 
 
 Vxw Japhet. 
 Here arc cocks, kites, erowes , 
 Rookes, ravens, many rowes; 
 Guckoes, curie wea, whoso knows, 
 Each one in his kimle. 
 
 Ami here are doves, diggs, drakes, 
 Redshankes, running through y e lakes, 
 Ami each fowle that ledden makes, 
 In this shipp men may finde. 
 
 In the stage direction the sons of Aoah arc en- 
 joined to mention aloud I In- names of the animals 
 which enter; a representation of which, painted on 
 parchment, is to be carried l>\ the actors. 
 
 Xoe. 
 Wife, come in, why standes thou there? 
 Thou art ever forward, that dare I sweare : 
 Gome on Gods half, tyinc yl were, 
 For fearc lest that we (Iron no. 
 
 Vxw IVoe. 
 Yea Syr, set vp yo'sayle, 
 Ami rowe forth ^^ tll evil] heale, 
 For, \> 'luml an\ fayle, 
 
 will no) oul of this lm\ ue
 
 |0 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 But I have niy gossips everichan. 
 One foote further I will not gone ; 
 They shall not drowne, hy St. John! 
 And I may save their lyfe. 
 
 They loved me full well, hy Christ! 
 But thou wilt let them in thy chist, 
 Els rowe forth, Noe, whither thou list, 
 And get thee a new wife. 
 Noe. 
 
 Sem, some loe thy mother is wraw; 
 Forsooth, sueh another I do not know! 
 Sem. 
 
 Father, I shall sett her in, I trow, 
 Without any fayle. 
 
 Mother, my father after thee send, 
 And hydds thee into yonder ship wend : 
 Loke vp and se the wynde , 
 For we he ready to sayle. 
 
 Vxor Noe. 
 Sonne , goe againe to him , and say , 
 I will not come therein to daye ! 
 
 Noe. 
 Come in, wife, in twenty devills waye; 
 Or els stand w'hout. 
 
 Ham. 
 Shall we all fetche her in? 
 
 Noe. 
 Yea, sonnes , in Christs hlessinge and myne , 
 I wolde you hyde you hetyme , 
 For of this flood I am in douhte. 
 
 Japhet. 
 Mother, we pray yow altogether, 
 For we are here, yo T childer; 
 Come into the ship fore feare of the redder. 
 For his love fckat you honghte.
 
 THE DELI HE. 
 
 II 
 
 f'.xov Noe. 
 That will I not for yo r call , 
 But if I have iny gossips all. 
 Gossip. 
 
 The Hood comes in fall fleetinge fast. 
 On every side it hreadeth in hast; 
 Tor feare of drowsing 1 am agast: 
 Good }>ossii>. let me come in! 
 
 Or let \ s drincke , or we depart , 
 For often ly iik's we have d<tne soe ; 
 For at a time thou drinekes a quarto. 
 And so will I or that I goe. 
 Sent. 
 
 In feylh, mother, yet you shall, 
 Whether you will or not! 
 
 [Time ibit. | 
 Noe. 
 Welcome , wife , into this boate ! 
 
 f'xor Noe. 
 And have thou that for thy note ! 
 
 [El (Jut alitjiam ?»!>/«.] 
 
 Noe. 
 
 Aha! many this is hole! 
 It is yood to he still. 
 
 A childer! melhinkes this hoale removes! 
 Our tarrying here hugelie mc jjreves! 
 Over the lande the water spredes! 
 Grod doc as he will ! 
 
 All, greal God! thou art so good! 
 Now .ill this world is on a Hood! 
 As I see well in sijjlile. 
 
 This window will I steal. e anon, 
 \nil into in \ chamber will I gone, 
 Till lliis water, so ;;reate one, 
 lie slaked Ihronghe thy mighte.
 
 12 
 
 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 I>oah, according; to the stage directions, is now 
 to shut the windows of the ark , and retire tor a 
 short time. He is then to chaunt the psalm , Salva 
 y/*e, Domine! and afterwards to open them and look out. 
 
 Now forty dayes are fullic gone , 
 Send a raven I will anone; 
 If aught were earth, tree, or stone. 
 Be drye in any place. 
 
 And if this fowle come not againe, 
 It is a signe, soth to sayne, 
 That drye it is on hill or playne , 
 And God hath done some grace. 
 
 A raven is now despatched. 
 
 Ah Lord ! wherever this raven lie , 
 Somewhere is drye well I see; 
 But yet a dove, hy my lewtye , 
 After I will sende. 
 
 Thou wilt turn againe to me, 
 For of all foules that may flye, 
 Thou art most niche and hend. 
 
 The stage direction enjoins here that another 
 
 dove shall be ready with an olive branch in its 
 
 mouth, which is to be dropt, by means of a cord, 
 
 into the hand of Noah. 
 
 Ah , Lord ! hlefsed he thou aye , 
 That me hast comfort thus to daye! 
 By this sight , I may well saye , 
 This flood heginnes to cease. 
 
 My sweete doue to me brought hasc 
 A branch of olyue from some place; 
 This betoKencth God has done vs some grace, 
 And is a signe of peace. 
 
 Ah, Lord! honoured most thou he! 
 All carl he dryes no« I see;
 
 THE DELUGE. 15 
 
 Hut yel t\ll thou eonHnande me, 
 Hence "ill I not bye. 
 
 All this water is alwaye, 
 Therefore , as sone as I mai e 
 Sacryfice I shall doe in feye 
 To The devoutlye. 
 
 Deus. 
 
 lVoe, take thy wife anone, 
 And thv childer every one, 
 Out of the shippe thou shalt gone, 
 And they all with thee. 
 
 Beastes, and all that can flie , 
 Out anon they shall bye, 
 On earth to <;row and multeplyo : 
 I will y 1 > I be soe. 
 
 Xoe. 
 
 Lord, I thank the, through thy might, 
 Thv bydding shall he done in bight, 
 And. as last as I may dighte , 
 I will doe the honoure. 
 
 And to the offer saeryfice , 
 Therefore eonies in all wise , 
 For of these heastes that hene hise 
 Offer I will this slower. 
 
 [Time eqrediens archu cum loin familia sua aceipiet 
 animalia sun ct volucres, el ofjerel en ct 
 muctubil.] 
 
 Lord God, in majesty, 
 That such grace has graunted me , 
 When all A\as borne safe to be, 
 Therefore now I am houne. 
 
 Mv wife, my childer, my meanye, 
 
 With s.Kr\lice to honour the 
 
 With beastes, fowles, as thou may se, 
 
 I offer here right sone.
 
 14 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Deus. 
 
 ISoe , to me thou arte full able , 
 And thy saeryfice aeceptable , 
 For I have found the true and stable, 
 On the now must I myn. 
 
 Warry earth will I no more , 
 That maims synne y l greves sore , 
 For of youth manfull yore 
 Has byn enclyned to synne. 
 
 You shall now grow and multeply , 
 And earth you edefie : 
 Each beast and fowle y'may flie 
 Shall be afrayd for yow. 
 
 And fishe in sea y* may flytte 
 Shall susteyne yow — I yow behite: 
 To eate of them yow ne lett 
 That cleane bene you may knowe. 
 
 There as yow have eaten before 
 Grasse and rootes , sith you were bore , 
 Of cleane beastes , les and more , 
 I geve you leave to eate. 
 
 Safe bloode and fishe bothe in feare 
 Of wrong- dead can-en that is here, 
 Eates not of that in no manere , 
 For that aye you shall lett. 
 
 Manslaughter also yow shall flee , 
 For that is not pleasant to mee , 
 That shedes bloode , he or shee , 
 Ought where amonge mankinde. 
 
 That shedes bloode , his bloode shall be . 
 And vengence haue, that men shall se; 
 Therefore now beware now all yee 
 You fall not in that synne. 
 
 And forwarde now with yow I make, 
 And all thy seede, for thy sake.
 
 THE DELUGE. ItS 
 
 Of suche rcngence f»»r to slake, 
 For now I have my will. 
 
 Here I behet the a behest. 
 That man , woman , fowle , ne beaste , 
 With water, while the worlde shall last, 
 I will no more spill. 
 
 My bowe betwene y<m and me 
 In the firmament shall bee, 
 By verey tokens, that yon may se. 
 That such vengenee shall cease. 
 
 That man, ne woman, shall never more, 
 Be wasted by water, as is before, 
 But for synne, that greveth sore, 
 Therefore this vengence was. 
 
 Where cloudes in the welkin bene, 
 That ilke bowe shall be sene, 
 In tokennge that my wrath or tene , 
 Shold never this wroken bee. 
 
 The stringe is turned toward yow, 
 And toward me bend is the bowe , 
 That sueh wedder shall never showe, 
 And this behet I the. 
 
 My hlessiuj;-e now I {>'cve the here, 
 To the, Noe, my servant dere, 
 For vengenee shall no more appeare; 
 And now farewell, my darling' deere!
 
 10 ltIRACl.E-PT.AYS. 
 
 ANTICHRIST. 
 
 Antichristus. 
 
 De celso throno poli , pollens elarior sole , 
 Aye vos rnonstrare, descendi vos judicare. 
 lieges et priucipes sunt subditi sub me venientes. 
 Sltis sapientes, vos semper in me eredentes, 
 Et faciam flentes gaudere atque dolentes. 
 Sic omnes Rentes gaudebunt in me sperantes. 
 Deseendo presens rex pius et perlustrator; 
 Princeps cternus vocor , Cbristus vester salvator. 
 All lordes in lande now belighte 
 
 Tbat will be ruled throughout the righte , 
 
 Your savyour now , in your sighte , 
 
 Here may you safely see. 
 
 Messias, Christe, and most of niighte, 
 
 That in the law was you beheight. 
 
 All mankynde to joye , to dighte , 
 
 Is comen , for I am hee. 
 
 Of me was spoken , in prophesye 
 
 Of Moyses , David , and Esay ; 
 
 I am he they call Messy, 
 
 Forebyer of Israeli. 
 
 Those that leeven on me steadfastly 
 
 I shall them save from aiioy; 
 
 And joy, righte as have I, 
 
 W th them I think to deal. 
 
 But one hath tigged me here in lande, 
 
 Jesu he hight, I understande ; 
 
 To further falsehood he cane founde , 
 
 And farde with fantayse. 
 
 His wikednes he woulde not wounde , 
 
 Tell he was taken and put in bande,
 
 ANTnJlKlsT. 17 
 
 Ami slayne throughe vertue of my soun.de; 
 This is soth seekerly. 
 
 My people of J ewes he could twayue. 
 
 That there lande came the never in ; 
 Then one Ihem now must I inyne, 
 And restore them agayne. 
 
 To buylde this temple will I not blyne, 
 As God honoured be therein: 
 And endlesse wayle 1 shall them wyne , 
 All that to me bene bayne. 
 
 One thinge me glades, be yon boulde, 
 As Danyell tlie prophett before me tolde, 
 All women in worlde me love shoulde, 
 And there fayrenes to founde. 
 
 What say you kings, that here bene lente? 
 Are not my wordes at your assent e? 
 That I am Christe omnipotente, 
 Leeve you not this eieh one ? 
 Prim us Rex. 
 
 We Leeyen, Lorde , without let. 
 That Christe is not eoineu yet;; 
 Yl thou be be, thou shal be set 
 In temple as God alone. 
 
 Seen n fins Hex. 
 
 Vf thou be Christe, called Messy, 
 That from OUT bale shall us lye, 
 Doe before us, masterye, 
 \ signe that we may see. 
 Tercitis Hex. 
 
 Then will I leeve that it is soe , 
 Vf Ihon doe wnnnders or thou goe ; 
 Soe thai Ihon sa\e US from WO, 
 Then honoured shalte thon be. 
 
 Quartus Hex. 
 Houle have we leeved many a yeare, 
 And of our weyninge man] a weare; 
 
 <2
 
 i H MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 And thou be Christe nowe conien here , 
 Then inaye thou stynte all stryffe. 
 Antichristus. 
 
 That I am Christe , and Christe will he , 
 By verye signes you shall see ; 
 For dead men through my postee 
 Shall rise from death to life. 
 
 Now will I torne all, through my mighte, 
 Trees downe , the rootes uprighte ; 
 That is marwayl to your sighte, 
 That frute growing upon. 
 
 Soe shall the groe and multeplye, 
 Through my mighte and my masterye ; 
 I put you out of heresye , 
 Ty leeve me upon. 
 
 And bodyes that bene dead and slayne , 
 Yf I maye rayse them up agayne, 
 Then honour me with mighte and mayne , 
 Then shall no man you greeve. 
 
 Forsoth, then, after will I dye, 
 And rise agayne , throughe my postee ; 
 Yf I maye doe this marvelously, 
 I red ye one me leeve. 
 
 Men buryed in graves you maye see , 
 AVhat mastery, is now hope ye 
 To rayse them up , throughe my postee , 
 And all throughe inyne aecorde. 
 
 Whether I in my godhead be 
 By very signes you shall see : 
 Bise up, dead men, and honour me, 
 And know me for your Lorde. 
 
 [Here the dead rise from their graves.] 
 
 Primus Mortuus. 
 O lorde , to the I aske mercye ! 
 I was dead but nowe live:
 
 ANTICHRIST. 1J> 
 
 Now wott I well and witter ly , 
 
 That Christe is hether come. 
 
 Secundus Mortuus. 
 
 Ilyni honour we and all men , 
 
 Devoutly kneelinge one our ken; 
 Worshipped he thon (here, amen! 
 Christ oiu" name is eoinen. 
 Antichristtis. 
 
 That I shall fulfil] wholly wrytten - 
 You shall wott and knowe well it; 
 For I am Avail, weale, and wytt, 
 And lorde of every lande. 
 
 And as the prophet , Sophany , 
 Speaketh of me , i'ull wilterly , 
 I shall rehearse readely , 
 That elearke shall nnderstande. 
 
 Now will I die that you shall see , 
 And rise agayne , through my postee; 
 I will i" grave that you put me, 
 And worshipp me alone. 
 
 For in this temple a loinhe is made, 
 There in my hodye shalhe layde ; 
 Then will I rise as I have sayde ; 
 Take tecne to me eich one. 
 
 And after my resurreeeion , 
 Then uill I sit in greale renowne , 
 And my ghost send to yon downe 
 In forme of her, lull sone. 
 
 I dye! I dye! now aine 1 dead, 
 I* rim us Hex. 
 
 Now, Berth litis worthy lorde is dead, 
 Ami Lis grave is «"' us leade, 
 To take l»i» bodye, il is inj read, 
 
 And bury il in a grave. 
 
 2'
 
 20 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Secundus Rex. 
 For soth, and soe to us he sayde , 
 In a toinbe he woulde he layde; 
 Now goe we forth all in abreade, 
 From disease he maye us save. 
 
 [Then they pass over to Antichrist] 
 
 Tercius Rex'. 
 Take we the hodye of this sweete, 
 And bury it low under the greete; 
 Now lorde comforte us! we the heseeke! 
 And sende us of thy grace. 
 Quart ns Rex. 
 And yf he rise sone throughe his niighte , 
 From death to life , as he beheighte , 
 Hym will I honour daye and nighte, 
 As God in every place. 
 
 [TJietj now ascend from the tomb to the surface of 
 the earth.] 
 
 Primus Rex. 
 Now wott I well that he is dead, 
 For now in grave we have him layde; 
 Yf he rise , as he hath sayde , 
 He is full of great mighte. 
 Secundus Rex. 
 I cannot leeve hym upon, 
 But yf he rise hym selfe alone , 
 As he hath sayde to many one, 
 And shew hym here in sighte. 
 Tercius Rex. 
 Tell that my savyour he risen agayne, 
 In fayth my harte maye not he fayne , 
 Tell I hym see with joye. 
 Quartus Rex. 
 I must mourne with all my mayne, 
 Tell Christc be risen up agayne; 

 
 ANTICHRIST. 21 
 
 And of that mirrackle make us feigne . 
 Kise up , lorde , that we may sec ! 
 
 [Here Antichrist rises from the dead. | 
 
 Antiehristus. 
 
 1 list' , now reverence doe to me , 
 God gloryfyed created of degree , 
 Vf I be Christe , now leave you me 
 And worke after my wyse. 
 Primus Hex. 
 O lorde, welcome mayst thou he! 
 That thou art good now leeve we; 
 Therefore goe sit up in thy see, 
 And keep our sacryfice. 
 
 [Here they tjo oner to Antichrist, and sacrifice to 
 him.] 
 Secundus Hex. 
 For soth in seat thou shalte he set , 
 And honoured with laude greate, 
 As Moyses law that lasteth yet , 
 As he hath sayde before. 
 Tercius Hex. 
 
 gracious lorde! goe siht downe then. 
 And we shall kneel upon our ken 
 
 And wonhippe the , as thyne ownc men , 
 And worke after thy lorde. 
 
 [Here Antichrist ascends the throne.} 
 Quart us Hex. 
 Hellicr we he coincn, with good intente, 
 To make our sacryffice, lorde evelente! 
 Willi Ihis lambe that I have here hente, 
 Kneelinge the before. 
 
 Antiehristus. 
 
 1 Lorde, I God, I High Justice, 
 
 I Christe that made the dead to rise; 
 Here I receive your sacryffice, 
 And blessc you fleshc and fell.
 
 22 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 I will now sende my Holy Ghost, 
 You kinges also you I tell 
 To knowe me love, of niigkte most 
 Of heaven , earth and hell. 
 
 [Here his ghost descends.} 
 
 Severales Reges. 
 
 A God , a Lorde , niiekle of niighte , 
 This Holy Ghost is in us pighte ; 
 Me thinkes my haste is very lighte 
 Seth it came into me. 
 
 Primus Rex. 
 
 Lorde, we thee honour day and night, 
 For thou shewest us in sighte , 
 Right as Moyses us beheighte, 
 Honoured must thou he. 
 
 Antichristus. 
 
 Yet worthy workes , to your will , 
 Of phrophesye I shall fulfill , 
 As Danyell phrophesyed untill 
 That landes should devyse. 
 
 You kinges I shall advaunce you all, 
 And hecause your regions he but small , 
 Cities, castells , shall you befall, 
 With townes and towers gaye. 
 
 And the gyftes I shal beheight 
 You shall have, as is good righte, 
 Heuse ere I goe out of your sighte , 
 Eich one shall knowe his dole. 
 
 To the I gyve Lomberdy ; 
 And to the Demarke and Hongarye ; 
 And take thou Pontus and Italy; 
 And Rome it shal be thyne. 
 
 Secundus Rex. 
 Grante mercye , Lorde , your gyfts to daye , 
 Honour we will the alwaye ;
 
 WIMIUUST. °.."> 
 
 For we irerc never so riehe, in taye, 
 Nor noil of all our kyne. 
 .into lirislits. 
 
 Therefore, 1 > « - true and steadfast aye, 
 Ami truerj leeves ou my lav< , 
 For I will barken one you Jo daye, 
 Stvdfasf yf you 1 f> ode. 
 /■Jtunke. 
 
 All mighty God. in majesty, 
 That made tin* heaven and earth Jo be, 
 Fier, water, stonne, and tree, 
 Ami man through 1 1»> mighte. 
 
 The poyntes of thy privity , 
 Any earthly man to see. 
 Is impossible, as lliinl.es me, 
 Or any worldly wighte. 
 
 Gracious Lorde , that art soe good, 
 That who soe longe in llcshe and blonde, 
 II.it li granted life and heavenly food, 
 Lol never our thought be defiled. 
 
 Hul geve us, Lorde, mighte and mayne, 
 Or wee of this shrew he slayne , 
 To eonverle thy people ajjayne , 
 Thai he hath thus defiled. 
 
 Synce first the worhle begane, 
 Tbrongfa belpe of high heavenly Binge, 
 I have lived in greete likeinge 
 In Parradiz w" 1 out anoye. 
 ICII we harde takeinge 
 Of this theetles coniin;;e , 
 Thai now on earili is reigning* , 
 
 Ami doth Glides foll.es dcslroye. 
 
 T«i Parradiz taken I was that tyde, 
 This thefes cominge to abyde, 
 \ml Heli in \ brother kere bj syde 
 \\ .iv after Rente l<» me.
 
 24 MIKACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 With this champion we must chide, 
 That now in worlde walketk wyde, 
 To disprove his pompe and pride, 
 And payer all b'S postee. 
 Helyas. 
 
 Lorde, that madest all thinge, 
 And louge hath lenle us livinge, 
 Let never the devills power springe, 
 That man hath hvm with in. 
 
 God gvve you grace, houth oulde and younge, 
 To know deceate in his doinge , 
 That you may come to that likeinge 
 Of hlys that never shal hlyne. 
 
 1 warne you all men, witterly, 
 This is Enocke , I am Hely, 
 Bene comen his errours to destroy, 
 That he to you now shewes. 
 
 He calles hym self Christe and Messi, 
 He lyes, for soth, apertely; 
 He is the Devill , you to anoye, 
 And for non other hj'in knowe. 
 Primus Rex. 
 
 Amen , what speake ye of Hely 
 And Enocke, the bene houth in company, 
 Of our blonde the bene witterly , 
 And we bene of their k^ne. 
 Quartus Rex. 
 
 AVe readen in bookes of our law, 
 And they to heaven were drawe, 
 And yet bene there is the commou sawe , 
 Wrytten as men in aye fynde. 
 Enocke. 
 
 We bene those men, for soth, I wrys , 
 Comen to tell you doe amysse , 
 And bringe your soules to heaven bJisse, 
 Yf y' were any boote.
 
 WTICIIRIST. °.0 
 
 UrUjas. 
 Tliis devilles lyme that comen is, 
 That sayth heaven and earth is his ; 
 Pfowe we he ready, leeve you (his, 
 A;;.imisI hyiu for to mote. 
 
 Primus Rex. 
 Yf that we here wytt nione 
 By profles of disputacion 
 That you have skill and reason , 
 \\ "ith yon we wiD ahyde. 
 
 Secundus Rex. 
 Yf your skills may doe hym downe , 
 To dye with you we will he houne , 
 In hope of salvacion , 
 Whatsoever hetyde. 
 
 Enoeke. 
 To doe hym downe we shall assayc 
 Through mijyhle of Jesee , home of a inaye, 
 By rijjhte and reason, as you shall say, 
 And that shall well here. 
 
 And for that cause hether we he sentc 
 By Jesu Cbriste, omnipotente, 
 Ami that you shall not alhe shente, 
 He hoiij'lil you all full deare. 
 
 Be (rlade therefore and make g-ood chearc, — 
 And I doe reade as I doe leave, — 
 For we he comen in jyood mannere, 
 To s.i\e you every one. 
 
 And dreade you not for that false feyn.de; 
 For von shall see hym east hehynde, 
 Or we departe, or from hym wyn.de, 
 Ami shame shall lij;lil hym one. 
 
 I Here Enoch and Elijah shall pass met in Antichrist I 
 
 Saye, thou verve devilles lyme, 
 
 That silK sue ;;r\sclv and so j; i-> im   ,
 
 26 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 From hym thou came and shall to hym , 
 For many a soule thou tleceives. 
 
 Thou haste deceived men many a daye 
 And made the people to thy paye , 
 And bewiched them into a wronge waye 
 Wickedly w th thy wyles. 
 
 Antlchristus. 
 
 False features from me you fley ! 
 Ame not I most in majesty? 
 AVhat men dare name them thus to me , 
 Or make such distaunce? 
 Hehjas. 
 
 Fye one the feature ! fye one thee ! 
 The devilles owne nurry! 
 
 Through hym thou preachest and haste posty 
 A while, through siuTeraunce. 
 
 Antichristus. 
 
 O , ye ypocrytes that soe cryen ! 
 Lossels lordens , soe lewdly lyen ! 
 To spill my lawe , you spine! 
 That speach is good to spare. 
 
 You that my true fay th defyne ! 
 And needles my folke deiryne, 
 From hense hastely you hyne ! 
 To you comes sorrowe and care. 
 
 Enocke. 
 Thy sorrowe and care come one thy head ! 
 For falsely, through thy wicked read, 
 Thy people is put to payne. 
 I woulde thy body were from thy head 
 Twenty myles from it lead , 
 Tell I brought yt againe. 
 
 Antichristus. 
 But I shall teach you curteseye, 
 Your sairjour to knowe anon in hye!
 
 ANTICHRIST. ^^ 
 
 False l Welles , w* your heresy e , 
 And yf you dare abyde — 
 Hehjas. 
 Yes, for soth, for all thy pride, 
 Through [grace of God all night, 
 Here we porpose for to abyde : 
 And all the worlde that is soe Wjde 
 Shall wounder one the one every syde, 
 Sone in all mens sighte. 
 
 sintichvistus. 
 Out one you theefles! bouth two , 
 Eich man maye see you be soe , 
 Alby your array e, 
 
 Muffled in mantles non such I know, 
 I shall make you lowtc full lowe , 
 Or I departe you free, 
 To know me Lorde for aye. 
 
 Enocke. 
 
 YVe be no theefles we the tell , 
 Thou false feynde, comen from hell! 
 With thee we porpose for to mell , 
 My fellowe and I, in feare. 
 
 To knowe thy power and thy mighte, 
 As we these kinoes, have be height, 
 And there to we be ready dig'hte , 
 Thai all men nowe inayc heare. 
 
 Antichristus. 
 
 W\ mighte is moste I tell to thee, 
 I died , I rose , through my poslee. 
 Thai all these kinges saw with llieyr eye, 
 Ami everj man and will". 
 
 Ami m\ iT.iel.les ;iml marveyles, I did, also 
 
 I consell yon therefore bouth two 
 To worshipp me, and no moe, 
 
 \ikI l«i us nowe no more rtryve.
 
 28 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Helyas. 
 They were no myrrackles , but maweless things, 
 That thou showest xinto these kings , 
 Through thy feyndes crafte. 
 
 And as the flower now springs 
 Fayleth fayth and beings 
 So thy joye it reignes 
 That shalbe frome the rafte. 
 
 Antichrist us. 
 Out one the theefle that sitts soe still! 
 Why wylt thou not speake them till. 
 
 Docter. 
 
 lorde master, what shall I say then? 
 
 Antichristus. 
 
 1 heshew both thy .... 
 Arte thou nowe for to kene, 
 I fayth, I shall the greeve. 
 
 Of my Godhead I made thee wise, 
 And set the ever at mickle price, 
 Now I woulde feele thy good advise, 
 And heare what thou woidde saye. 
 
 These losells they woulde me greeve, 
 And nothinge one me they wille leeve, 
 But ever be ready me to reprove, 
 And all the people of my law. 
 
 Docter. 
 O Lorde thou arte soe mickle of mighte, 
 Me thinke thou should mey chide no feight; 
 But curse them all, through thy mighte, 
 Then shal they fare fall yll. 
 
 For those thou blesses they shall well speed, 
 And those thou curses they are but dead; 
 This is my consell and my read 
 Yender herelykes for to spill.
 
 ANTlOIIHlsl. 
 
 !2i> 
 
 Aiitichtistus. 
 The same I porposed, leeye thou to me, 
 
 All thinges I know through uiy posl<>o. 
 Hul yet ih> wytl I thought to se 
 What was thy intenle. 
 
 Yt shall donne, right witterly , 
 The sentence geven full openly 
 With my mouth truely 
 Upon them shal be bente. 
 
 M\ curse I geve you to amende 
 Your meales , 
 
 From your heade unto your hceles, 
 \Yalke you forth, in twenty devills way! 
 Enocke. 
 
 Yea thon shalt never come inclysse, 
 For falsely with thy wyles, 
 The people is put in payne. 
 Antichvistus. 
 
 Out one you theefles ! why fare you this? 
 Whether had you rather have paine or hies, 
 I maye you save from all amysse. 
 
 I made the daye and eke the nighte, 
 And all thinges that is one earth growinge; 
 Flowers fresh e that layer ean springe; 
 Also I made all other ihiuge — 
 The starres that he so hrighle. 
 Hrli/fis. 
 
 Thou lyesl ! vengenee one thee fall! 
 Oul one thee, wretch! wroth thee I shall! 
 Thou callcsl thee hinge and lorde of all ! 
 A fecyude is the within! 
 
 . tntichristus. 
 
 Thou lyesl falsely, I thee tell! 
 Thou wyll he damned info hell. 
 I made the man of fleshe and fell. 
 
 Ami all Ilia) is Iwcingc.
 
 50 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 For other godes have you nowe, 
 Therefore worshippe nie alone, 
 The w ck hath made the water and stone, 
 And all at iny lykeing. 
 Enocke. 
 
 For soth, thou lyest falsely; 
 Thou art a feynde conien to anoye 
 Godes people that standeth us by. 
 In hell 1 woulde thou were! 
 Helyas. 
 
 Fye on the fellow! fye on the! Fye; 
 For all thy wichcrafte and sorcerye! 
 To mote with the I am readye, 
 That all this people maye here. 
 yinticliristus. 
 
 Out one you harlotts! whense come ye? 
 Where have you any other god hut me? 
 Enocke. 
 
 Yes Christe, God in Trenity, 
 Thou false feature attaynte — 
 That sent his sonne from heaven see, 
 That for manhynde dyed one roode tree, 
 That shall sone make the to flee, 
 Thou feature false and faynte! 
 Antichristus. 
 
 Ryhhaldes ruled out of raye! 
 What is the Trenety for to saye ? 
 Helyas. 
 
 Thre personesas thou leeve maye 
 In one Godhead in free. 
 
 Father and Sonne, that is no ney, 
 And the Holy Ghost, styrringe aye, 
 That is one God verey, 
 Bene all thre named here.
 
 ANTIt.HRIST. 31 
 
 Antichvistus. 
 
 Out one you theefles! what sayen yee? 
 Will ye have one God and Thre ? 
 Hon dare you soe saye? 
 
 Madmen therefore leeve one me 
 That am one God, soe is not hee, 
 Then maye yon live in joye and he. 
 All this lande I dare laye. 
 Enoeke. 
 
 Ney tyrante, understand thou this 
 Without begyninge his Godhead is, 
 And also without endinge is, 
 Thus fully leeveu «r. 
 
 And thou that Engendered was amysse, 
 Haste begyninge and novo this hliss , 
 An ende shall hare, no dreade there is, 
 Full fowle as men shall se. 
 
 Antichrist us. 
 
 Wreches gowles, you he hleute! 
 Gode sonne I am, from hym sente ! 
 How dare you inaynteyne your intente, 
 Seitib he and I he one? 
 
 Have I not synce I came hym froe , 
 Made the dead to rise and {joe, 
 And to men I sent my jjhoste alsoe 
 That leered me upon. 
 
 Ilrhjas. 
 
 Fye one the , fellow ! fye one the ! fye ! 
 For through his mighte and his mastr} . 
 I5\ rafferaunce of God Almighty , 
 The people is blente through the. 
 
 Yf those men he raysed uitterly, 
 Without the deyilla fantasye, 
 Here ■halbe provyd perfectly, 
 
 I hit .'ill men shall se.
 
 32 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Antichristus. 
 
 A fooles 1 red you leeve me upon, 
 To the people every eieh one, 
 To put them out of douhte. 
 
 Therefore I red you hastely, 
 Converted to me most inightely , — 
 I shall you save from anoye, 
 Aud that I aiue ahoute. 
 Enocke. 
 
 Now of thy myrrackles woulde I se. 
 Hehjas. 
 
 Therefore comen hether hene we, 
 Doe what is thy great postee , 
 And sone thereof to leeve. 
 Antichristus. 
 
 Sone maye you se, yf you will ahydc, 
 For I will neither feight ney elude; 
 Of all the worlde that is soe wyde 
 Therein is not my peace. 
 Enocke. 
 
 Briuge forth these men here in our sighte 
 That thou hast raysed agaynst the righte, 
 Yf thou he soe mickle of mighte 
 To make them eate and drinke. 
 
 For very god we Avill the knowe, 
 Such a signe if thou wylt show, 
 And doe thee reverence one a row, 
 All at thy lykeinge. 
 
 Antichristus. 
 
 Wreches dampned al he yec , 
 But nought for that it falleth me, 
 As gracious God ahydinge he, 
 Yf you will mende your life. 
 
 You dead men rise, through my postee; 
 Come eate and drinke that men maye se , 

 
 ANTICHRIST. OO 
 
 And prove me worthy oi' dyety, 
 Soe slial we styntc al strytfe. 
 Primus Mortuus. 
 
 Lorde, thy hydinge I will doc aye, 
 And for to eate I will assaye. 
 Secundus Mortuus. 
 
 And I wiD al that I maye , 
 Will dot* thy bydinge here. 
 Ilclijas. 
 
 Have here bread honth two, 
 Hut I must hlesse yt or I {joe, 
 That the feynde , nianhyndes foe, 
 One \l have no power. 
 
 This bread I hlesse with my hande, 
 In Jesus name, I underslande 
 The wh ch is lorde of sea and lande, 
 And hinge in heaven soe hyc. 
 
 In nomine Patris, that all hath wrought, 
 Et Filii llryinis , that deare us bought, — 
 Et SpaHus Sancti, is all my thought, — 
 One God and persons thre. 
 Primus Mortuus. 
 
 Alas! put that hreade out of my sights, 
 To loke one yt I ame not lightc ; 
 That printc that is upon yt pighte, 
 That putts me to greate feare. 
 Secundus Mortuus. 
 
 To loke one yt I ame not lightc , 
 That bread to me it is soe hrighte, 
 And is my foe houth daye and nighte, 
 And putts me to greate tlrcade. 
 Enocke. 
 
 \o\\e. you men that hath done amysse, 
 Yuu see well what his power is, 
 
 Conyertea i<» bym I red , I wys 
 
 Tli ii von < rood hath boughte.
 
 54 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Tercius Rex. 
 
 And nowe we know appeartely 
 
 We have bene broughte in heresye, 
 
 \ytii y 0U to death we will for thy, 
 
 And never more torne our thoughte. 
 
 Quartiis Rex. 
 IVowe , Eiiocke and Hely , yt is no ney , 
 You have taunted the tyrrant this same daye, 
 Blessed be Jesu, borne of a maye, 
 - One hym I leeve upon. 
 
 Primus Rex. 
 Thou feature fere w th fantasye , 
 W' 1 ' sorcerye, wichcrafte and nigreiny 
 Thou hast us led in heresye, 
 Fye one thy workes eich one. 
 
 Secundus Rex. 
 Jesu, for thy mickle grace, 
 Forgeve us al our trespasse , 
 And bring us to thy heavenly place, 
 As thou art God and man. 
 
 IVowe ame I wise made through thy mighte . 
 Blessed be thou Jesu daye and nighte! 
 This greesly groome greetes hym to feighte , 
 To slea us here anon. 
 
 Tercius Rex. 
 Of our lyves let us not reach, 
 Though we be slayne of such a wrech, 
 For Jesu his sake that maye us leech. 
 Our soules to bringe to blisse. 
 
 Quartus Rex. 
 
 That was well sayde, and soe I assente 
 To dye , for soth is my intente , 
 For Christes sake, oinnipotente, 
 In cause that is rightc wise.
 
 ANTICHRIST. 5u 
 
 Antichrist its. 
 A false features tome you nowe! 
 Yon shalhe slayne, I make a vowe; 
 And those traytors that soe turned you, 
 I shall make them unfeaync. 
 
 That all other hy very sijjhte 
 
 Shall knowe that I ame most of mijjhte ; 
 
 For w ,L this swordc nowe will I feightc , 
 
 For al you shalhe slayne. 
 
 [Here Antiehristus hills litem ,] 
 
 Michaell. 
 Antiehristus nowe is comen this daye , 
 Reiyne no longer thou ney maye , 
 He that hath led thee allwaye , 
 >'o>vc hym thou must {joe to. 
 
 Xo more men shalhe slayne hy the , 
 My Lorde will dead that thou he, 
 He that jjyven the this postee 
 Thy soule shall under soe. 
 
 In synne ingendered fyrst thou was; 
 In synne leade thy life thou hast; 
 In synne nowe an endc thou made , 
 That marred hath many one. 
 
 Thre yeares and halfe one, witlerly, 
 Thou hast had leeve to destroye 
 Godes people wickedly , 
 Through thy fowle read. 
 
 Nowe thou shall knowe and witt, in hye, 
 That more is Godes majesty, 
 Than eke the devills and thyne thereby, 
 For none thou shall he dead. 
 
 Tliou hast ever served Salhanas, 
 And hail his power in every place;
 
 50 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Therefore thou getts no other grace , 
 With hyin thou must gone. 
 
 \_Here Michacll shall kill Antichristus, and Anti 
 christus shall call aloud , Help ! help ! help .'] 
 
 Antichristus. 
 Helpe , Sathanas and Luciflier ! 
 Relzabubb , holde Balacheire ! 
 Ragnell, Ragnell, thou art iny deave ! 
 Nowe face I wounder evill. 
 
 Alas ! alas ! where is my power ? 
 Alas ! my wittes is in a were ! 
 IVowe bodye and soide bouth in feare , 
 And all goeth to the devill. 
 
 [Here Antichristus shall die, and two devils shall 
 come.] 
 
 Primus Demon. 
 
 Anon, master, anon, anon! 
 From hell grounde I harde the grone. 
 I thought not to come my selfe alone, 
 For worshippe of thyne estate. 
 
 With us to hell thou shalbe gone , 
 For thy death we make greate mone , 
 To wyne more soules into our pond, 
 But now y* is too late. 
 
 Secundus Demon. 
 
 With me thou shalbe , from me thou come , 
 Of me shall come thy last dome , 
 For thou hast well deserved; 
 And, through my m^htc and my postee, 
 Thou hast lived in dignitye , 
 And many a soule deceived. 
 Primus Demon. 
 
 This bodye was gotten by inyne assente 
 In cleane hordome , verament , 
 Of mother wonibe or that he wente , 
 I was hym w* 1 ' in.
 
 VNTlf.llRIST. 57 
 
 And taughte hyin aye, with niyne intente, 
 Synne l>> w«* he shalbe shente; 
 For he did my eounuandemente , 
 His soule shall never hlyne. 
 
 Secundus Demon. 
 
 Xowe fellow, ill fayth, greato mone we maye maRe, 
 For this Iorde of estate that standeth us instead, 
 Many a fatt morscll we had for his sake 
 Of sonles that have bene saved in hell by the head 
 
 {Here the devils carry -inticftrislus awtty-] 
 
 /'Jnocke. 
 
 A Lorde that al shall leade , 
 And bouth deeine the quicke and dead ; 
 That reverence the thou one them read , 
 And them through righte releeved. 
 
 I was dead and righte here slayne, 
 But through thy mighte , Lorde , and thy maync , 
 Thou hast me raysed up againe, 
 Thee a> ill I love and leeve. 
 
 Hehjas. 
 
 Yea , Lorde , blessed must thou be ; 
 My Aeshe gloryffyed now I se; 
 (jxld* Will lu-y sleight againste the 
 Conspired may be by no way. 
 
 Al that leeve in thee stedfastly 
 Thou hcl|Hs, Lorde ,- from al anoye; 
 For dead I u as and nowe lyve I; 
 Honoured be thou aye! 
 
 MichaeU. 
 Enocke and Ilely cdiuc you anon ; 
 \l\ Lorde "ill thai mhi a\ illi me gone 
 To heaven blisse, bouth bloude and bone, 
 Ever more there lo l»r
 
 58 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 You have bene lange , for you bene wise , 
 Dwellinge in earthly parradize, 
 But to heaven where hym selfe is, 
 Nowe shall you g-oe with ine. 
 [ilere the Archangel shall lead them to heaven , and shall 
 sing « Gaudele. " ] 
 
 Finis — Deo Gracias !
 
 COVENTRY 
 
 MIRACLE- PLAYS.
 
 JOSEPH'S JEALOUSY 
 
 Joseph. 
 How dame, how! vndo your dor! vmlo! 
 Ar ye at horn? why speke ye notht? 
 Susannah. 
 Who is ther? why cry ye so? 
 
 Telle us your heraiul: wyl je ought? 
 Joseph. 
 Vndo yowr dor! I sey yow to, 
 For to com in is all my thought 
 Mary. 
 It is my spowse, that spekyth us to, 
 
 Oiulo the dor j his wyl were wrought. 
 Well come homo, my hushonil der! 
 How have you l'erd , in fer countre? 
 Joseph . 
 To gete our levynge, with owtyn dwere, 
 I have son- lahoiyd , lor the and mo. 
 Mar ;/. 
 Husbond, ryghl gracyously , now come !»<• yes 
 It solacyth me Bore, sothly. to Be yow in syth
 
 42 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Joseph. 
 Me merveylyth, wyff! surely your face I can not se, 
 But as the sonne with his bemys in the is most 
 bryth. 
 
 Maru. 
 Husbond, it is, as it plesyth our Lord, that grace 
 of hy grew. 
 Who that evyr beholdyth me, veryly , 
 They schal be grettly steryd to verlu; 
 
 For this gyfte, and many moo, good lord gra- 
 mercy ! 
 
 Joseph. 
 How hast thou ferde, jenlyl mayde, 
 Whyl I have ben out of londe? 
 Mary. 
 Sekyr, ser; beth nowth dysmaydc , 
 Byth aftyr the wyl of Goddys sonde. 
 Joseph. 
 That semyth e\yl, I am afrayd; 
 
 Thi wombe to hyge doth stonde ; 
 I dvede me sore I am betrayd, 
 
 Sum other man the had in honde, 
 Hens , sythe , that I went. 
 Thy wombe is gret, it gynnyth to ryse, 
 Than has thou begownne a synnfull gysc, 
 
 Thy self thou art thus schent. 
 Now, dame, what thinge menyth this? 
 
 With childe thou gynnyst rjth gret to gou; 
 Sey me, Mary, this childys fadjr who is? 
 I pray the telle me , and that anon ? 
 Mary. 
 The fadyr of hevyn , and se , it is, 
 
 Other fadyr hath he non : 
 I dede nevyr forfete with man, I wys, 
 
 Wherefore, I pray yow, amende yowr moii: 
 This childe is Goddys , and yours.
 
 Joseph's jealousy. \7* 
 
 Joseph, 
 
 Goddys childe ! thou lyist , in fa> e 
 God dcde ne\yr rape so willi mayo. 
 
 ¥ * * » 
 
 But yit I say, Mary, whoos childe is this? 
 
 Mary. 
 Goddys and yours, I sey , I wys. 
 
 Joseph. 
 Va , ya ! all olde men , to me take tent , 
 
 And weddyth no M\ff, in no kynnys wyse , 
 That is a yonge wench, he my aseut , 
 
 For doute and drede and swyeh servyse. 
 Alas! Alas! my name is shent: 
 
 All men may me now dyspyse, 
 And scjn olde eokwold ! thi bowe is benl 
 
 Newly now , alter the frensche jjyse. 
 
 Alas, and welaway ! 
 Alas, dame! why dedyst thou so? 
 For this synne, that thou hast do, 
 I the forsake, and from the jjo, 
 
 For onys evyr, and dy. 
 Mary. 
 Alas ftodc spowse! why sey ye thus? 
 
 Alas dere hoshund amende your inod ! 
 It is no man, but swetc Jhus , 
 
 He wyl] he clad in flesch and blood, 
 And of your My IF be born. 
 
 Saphor. 
 
 For so the the Anj^el thus seyd he , 
 
 That Goddys gone, in trynite , 
 For uiaiinys sake, a man wolde he, 
 
 To save that is forlorn. 
 Joseph. 
 
 An Aii;;rl ! ;t||;tN. alas ! fy for schaiue ! 
 ^ r s\n imw . in that \< do say;
 
 44 
 
 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 To puttyn an Angel in so gret blame. 
 
 Alas , alas ! let he do way ; 
 It was sum boy began this game, 
 
 That elothytl was elene and gay , 
 And ye geve hym now an Angel name. 
 
 Alas , alas ! and welaway , 
 
 That evyr this game be tydde ! 
 A dame ! what thought haddyst thou ? 
 Her may all men this proverbe trow , 
 That many a man doth bete the bow. 
 
 Another man hath the brydde. 
 
 Mary, 
 
 A gracyous God ! in hefne trone ! 
 
 Comforte my spowse in this hard cas ; 
 Mereyful God amend his mone , 
 
 As I dede nevyr so gret trespas. 
 
 Joseph. 
 Lo , lo , sers ! what told I yow , 
 That it was not for my prow, 
 
 A wyff to take me to , 
 And that is wel sene now ; 
 For Mary , I make God a vow , 
 
 Is grett with childe , lo ! 
 Alas ! why is it so ? 
 
 To the busshop I wole it telle , 
 That he the lawe may here do , 
 
 AVith stonys her to qwelle. 
 Nay , nay , yet God forbede ! 
 That I shuld do that vengcabyl dede. 
 
 But if I wyst , welaway ! 
 I knew nevyr with her , so God me spede 
 To ky of thynge , in word nor dede, 
 
 That towchyd velany. 
 Nevyr the less what for thy , 
 Thow she be meke and mylde , 

 
 JOSEPH S JEALOUSY. 
 
 IS 
 
 Willi owth mannys company . 
 
 She mvjdit not be with ehilde. 
 Hut I ensure me was it nevyr: 
 Thou ^ct she hath not done her devyr, 
 Rather than I shuld pleyny opynly, 
 Qerteynlj - yetl . had 1 levyr 
 Forsake the conntre for evyr, 
 
 And nevyr come in her company. 
 For, and men knew this velany , 
 
 In reproff thei wolde me holde , 
 And yett many hettyr than I, 
 Fa ! hath hen made cokolde. 
 Now, alas! whedyr schal I gone? 
 
 I wot nevyr whedyr, nor to what place; 
 For often tynie sorrowe comyth sone , 
 
 And longe it is or it paee. 
 \o comfort may I have here. 
 
 I wys, wyff, thon dedyst me wronjje , 
 Alas I taryed from the to longe, 
 All men have pety enime amonge , 
 For to my sorrowe is no eher. 
 
 Mary. 
 God! that in my body art scsyd , 
 Thon knowist my hushond is dysplesyd , 
 
 To se me in this plight; 
 For onknowlage be is desesyd, 
 And therfor help that he were csyd , 
 
 Thai he inyj;ht knowe the fa] profyjjhl ; 
 For I have levyr ahyde respyt , 
 
 To kepe thi sone in priuite, 
 (ii .united by the holy sjiyryt , 
 
 Than thai it ehulde be opyned by me. 
 
 God appears and instructs an Angel to desire 
 Joseph ifill :«l»i(lr with Mai\ , she being pregnant 
 l>\ <hmI himself.
 
 40 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Angel. 
 Joseph ! Joseph ! thou wepyst shyrle , 
 From thi wyff why coinyst thou owte? 
 Joseph. 
 Good ser! lete me wepe my fyle; 
 
 Go forthe that wey , and lelt me nowght. 
 The Anycl requests him to return and cheer her: — 
 
 Schc is a ful clene maye , 
 
 I tolle ye God wyl of her ]>e borii , 
 And sche clene mayd as she was heforn , 
 To save mankynd that is forlorn ; 
 Go chere her, therefor, I say. 
 
 Joseph. 
 A! Lord God! henedicite! 
 Of thi gret comforte I thank the, 
 
 That thou sent me this space ; 
 I myght wel a wyst parde. 
 So good a creature as sche , 
 
 Wold nevjr a done trespace 
 
 ¥ * ¥ * 
 
 Joseph then returns to Mary, and under a feeling 
 of repentance and delight, says, 
 
 Alas ! for joy , I qwedyr and qwake ! 
 
 Alas! what hap now was this! 
 A mercy ! mercy ! my jentyl make , 
 
 Mercy ! I have seyd al amys ; 
 All that I have seyd her I forsake, 
 Your swete fete now let me kys. 
 Mary. 
 I\ay lett he ; my fete not thou them take %, 
 My mowth ye may kys, I wys, 
 And welcome on to me. 
 Joseph. 
 Grainercy ! my owyn swete wyff ! 
 Grainercy ! myn hert! my love! my lyff!
 
 JOSEPn S JEALOUSY. \~i 
 
 Sehal I nevyr more m.*ik snche stryff, 
 
 BetwyX me and tlie ! 
 
 He tells her he is convinced: — 
 
 Had thou not ben a vertndns wyff, 
 
 God wold not a ben the Avilli inne. 
 
 Joseph assures Mary thai hereafter he will serve 
 her, and worship the child; yet he expresses cu- 
 riosity: — 
 
 And therefor telle me , and nothynge vrilhhoulde, 
 The holy matter of your concepcion. 
 Man/ relates, that the An^el (iabriel greeted 
 her, and said, 
 
 God shulde be l)orne of my bode, 
 The fe&dys powste for to felle , 
 ThoroWe the Holy Gost, as I well se: 
 Thus God, in mc , wyl byde and dwelle. 
 .Joseph expresses satisfaction^ thanks fiod, is re- 
 conciled to Mary, and the performance concludes.
 
 48 
 
 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 THE TRIAL OF MARY AND JOSEPH 
 
 Primus Detractor. 
 A ! A ! serys , God save you all ! 
 Here is a fayr pcpyl, in good fay. 
 
 ¥ * ¥ ¥ ¥ 
 
 To reyse blawdyr is al my lay , 
 
 Bakbytcr is uiy brother of blood. 
 Dede be ought come bedyr in al this day ; 
 
 IVow wolde God tbat be wer here , 
 And , be my trewth , I dare wel say , 
 
 That, if we tweyn, togedyr apere, 
 Mor slawndyr we to schal arere, 
 
 Within an ho wrc , thorwe outh this town , 
 Than evyr iher was this thowsand yer, 
 
 And ellys 1 shrewe you, bothe vp and down. 
 RToav , be my trewth , I have a syght , 
 
 Euyn of my brother , lo wher he is : — 
 Welcom , der brother ! my trowth I plygbt , 
 
 Yowr jentyl mowth let me now kys. 
 Secundus Detractor. 
 Grainercy! brother, so have I blys ; 
 
 I am ful glad we met this day. 
 Primus Detractor. 
 Ryght so am I, brother, I wys , 
 
 Moch gladder than I ban say. 
 But yitt good brother, I yow pray, 
 
 Telle, al these pepyl, what is yowr name: 
 For yf thei knew it, my lyf I lay, 
 
 Thei wole yow wurchep, and spek gret fame. 
 Secundus Detractor. 
 I am bakbyter, that spyllylh all game, 
 
 Bolhc hyd and knnwyn , in many a place.
 
 MARY A>D JOSEPH. 49 
 
 Primus Detractor. 
 Be uiy trowth, I seyd the same; 
 
 And yel sum Myden thou shultle have evyl grace. 
 Seen mlus Detractor. 
 Herk ! revse selaundyr: eanst thou owth telle 
 Of any Bewe thynge thai wrought was late? 
 Primus Detractor. 
 Within a shorte whyle a thynge hefelle , 
 
 I trowe thou wylf lawgh ryghtt wel therate , 
 For, he trowth , rvghl mekyl hate, 
 If it he wyst, therof wyl growe. 
 Secundum Detractor. 
 If I may revse ther with debate , 
 I sehal not spare the seyd to so«e. 
 Primus Detractor. 
 Syr, in the tempyl , a mayd ther was, 
 
 Galde mayd Mary; the trewth to tell, 
 Sehe seruyd so holy , with inne that plas , 
 
 Men seyd sehe was fedde with holy Angcll ; 
 Sehe made a vow with man nevyr to melle , 
 
 But to leve chast, and elene virgin e , 
 Howevyr it he, her wombe doth swelle, 
 And is as gret as thyne or myne. 
 
 Tnej discourse for some time upon this news , 
 but in terms not befitting modern refinement. 
 
 The Bishop, Al)i/.aehar, enters w 1 1 la two Doctors 
 of Law. Tlw\ listen to part of the slander, and 
 ;ii last the Bishop says, 
 
 I eharge you serys of your fals cry , 
 For sehe is syhhe of my owyn hlood. 
 Secundus Detractor. 
 S\h of tlii l.\n thow llial she he, 
 
 All gret uiih chylde her wombe doth swelle; 
 Do ealle lor bedyr, 1 1     self sehal se, 
 lli.i it i>, trewthe thai I thee telle. 
 
 4
 
 i»0 MIRACLE- PLAYS. 
 
 Primus Detractor. 
 Ser, for yowr sake, I schal kepe cowncelle, 
 
 Yow for to greve I am rygbt loth , 
 But list, syrs, lyst, what seyth the helle ? 
 
 Our fayr mayd now gret with childe gotli. 
 
 Principalis Doctor Legum. 
 Make good heed , sers , what ye doth say , 
 
 Avyse yow wele what ye present , 
 If this he fownde fals ; anothyr day 
 
 Ful sore ye schal yowr tale repent. 
 Secundus Detractor. 
 Ser, the mayd, forsothe, is good, and gent, 
 
 Both comely , and gay , and a fayr wench ; 
 And , feetly , with help , sche can consent , 
 
 To set a cokewolde on the hye henche. 
 
 Episcopus. 
 This verey talys my hert doth greve, 
 
 Of hir to here such fowle dalyawnce , 
 If she he fowndyn in such repreve, 
 
 She schal sore rewe her governawns. 
 Sym Somnor , in hast wend thou thi way, 
 
 Byd Joseph, and his wyff, he name 
 At the coorte to apper this day , 
 
 Here hem to pourge of her defame ; 
 Sey that I here of hem grett schaine , 
 
 And that doth me gret hevynes , 
 If thei he clene , withowtyn hlaine , 
 Byd hem come hedyr , aud shewe wyttnes. 
 
 Denunciator. 
 All redy , ser , 1 schal hem calle , 
 
 Here at yowr coorte for to apper, 
 And , yf I may hem mete with all , 
 
 I hope ryght sone thei schal ben her. 
 Awey , sers! let me com nerne; 
 
 A man of wurchep here comyth to place.
 
 M\RY A>D JOSKFII. j> 1 
 
 Of curtesy, Die scinyth. ye be to lerne, 
 
 Do of you body 8 j with an evyl gTace! 
 Do uie sum wurchep befor my face, 
 
 Or, be my trowtli, I shall yow make 
 If that I rolle yow up in my race, 
 
 For fer 1 schal do yowr limbs awake, 
 But yit smn uiede , and ye me take, 
 
 I wyl withdrawe my gret rough toth. 
 Cold, or sylvyr, I wyl not forsake, 
 
 But evyn as all Somnors doth. 
 A, Joseph! good day, with llii fayr spowse ; 
 
 My lorde , the husehop , hath for yow sent. 
 It is hym tolde that in tlii house 
 
 A eockolde is — 
 
 Mary. 
 
 Of God, in hevyn , I take wyttnes, 
 
 That synful werk was nevyr my thought, 
 
 I am a mayd yit, of pure olenites, 
 
 Lyke as I was into this werd brought. 
 
 Denunciator. 
 Othyr wyttnes shall nun be sought; 
 
 Thou art with childe, eche man may se; 
 I charge yow bothe ye tary nought, 
 
 But, to the husehop, com forth, with me. 
 
 Joseph. 
 
 To the husehop, with yow, we weude ; 
 Of our purgacion hawe \>e no dowlli, 
 
 Mary. 
 
 Almighty God shal be our frende , 
 When tin- trewthe is tryed owth. 
 
 Denunciator. 
 
 Ha! On lliis |vy«e, c\rus\tli hrr . c\er_> seowte, 
 \N Ii.hi hit 6wyn sniiiii' Iii-iii ilntli defame:
 
 51 MIRACLE- PLAYS. 
 
 But lowly therin thei gyn to lowth, 
 
 Whan thei he gylty, and fowndyn in blame. 
 Therfore come forth cokewolde — 
 
 Denunciator upbraids them further, and brings 
 them before the Bishop , whom he thus addresses : — 
 
 My lord, the buschop ; here haue I brought 
 This goodly copyl , at yowr byddyng ; 
 
 And , as me semyth , as be here , fraught 
 Fayr ehylde , lullay , sone must sbe syng. 
 
 Primus Detractor. 
 
 To her a credyl ye wolde brynge , 
 Ye myght saue mony in her purse, 
 
 Becawse she is yowr cosyn , — thinge , 
 
 I pray yow , ser , lete her nevyr far the wers. 
 
 Episcopus. 
 
 Alas , Mary ! what hast thou wrought ? 
 I am a schamyd evyn for thi sake. 
 
 * ¥ V * 
 
 Tell me who hath wrought this wranke , 
 How r hast thou lost thi holy name ? 
 
 Mary. 
 
 My name, I hope, is saff and sownde, 
 
 God to wyttnes I am a mayd. 
 » » » » 
 
 Of flescbly lust and gostly wownde 
 
 In dede nor thought I nevyr asayd. 
 
 Secundus Doctor Legum. 
 Herke thou, Joseph; I am afrayd 
 
 That thou hast wrought this «pyn synne: 
 This woman thou hast thus betray d , 
 
 With gret flaterynge , or sum fals gynne.
 
 M\H\ A>D JOSEPH. i>r> 
 
 Sectttulus Detractor. 
 Now, be my trowth, ye bytte the pynue . 
 
 With that purpose in feyth I holde , 
 Tell now how thou thus hir dudyst Wynne , 
 
 Or knowljeh thi self for a eockewold? 
 Joseph, 
 Sche is. tor me, a trewe elcne raayde, 
 
 And I, for hir, am clene also; 
 Of fleschly svnue I nevyr asayde , 
 
 Sythyu that sche was weddyd me to. 
 
 B/piscopits. 
 
 Thou schalt not schape from vs, yitt so, 
 
 Fyrst thou shalte tellyn us another lay: 
 Streyt to the awter thou shalt go, 
 
 The dryngc of venjjeawns ther to asay. 
 Here is the hotel of Goddys vengeauns : 
 
 This dryuk shall he now thi purgaeion : 
 This hath suche vertu, by Goddys ordenauns, 
 
 That what man drynk of this potaeion, 
 And goth straightway in processyon, 
 
 Here in this plaee this awter ahowth , 
 If he he {jylty, sum inaeidacion , 
 
 Pleyu in his face, sehal she we it owth. 
 [Hit JOSEPH libit et sejtcies eircumit altnrc dicens: — 
 This drynk I take, with meke entent , 
 
 As I am ftyltles, to God I pray; 
 Lord! as thou art oninvpotente , 
 
 On me then shewe the trowth this day. 
 
 [Modo bibil.} 
 
 About this awter I take the wa\ ; 
 
 O eraCTOOJ God help thi servaunt , 
 As, I am gyltles, ageyn you may; 
 
 Thi hand of mercy , this tyme , mc {flaunt. 
 Denunciator. 
 Tbif oldc tbrewe nun n<»t ivele ;;«»u. 
 
 IjiiiM'r In* tar'xclli In >•<> ;dioutli:
 
 o4 MIRACLE -PLAYS'. 
 
 Lyft up thi feet, set forth thy ton, 
 
 Or, he my trewth, thou getyst a elowte. 
 
 Joseph is sorely upbraided and taunted, by De- 
 nunciator and the Detractors , whilst he paces round 
 the altar. 
 
 Joseph. 
 
 A , gracyous God ! help me this tyde , 
 
 Ageyn this pepyl , that doth me defame : 
 As I nevyr more dede towche her syde, 
 
 This day help me, from werdly schame, 
 Ahoute this awter to kepe my fame. 
 
 vij tymes I haue gon rownd ahowte, 
 If I be wurthy to sufiyr blame , 
 
 O, ryghtful God! my syuue shewe owghte. 
 
 Episcopus. 
 Joseph ; with herte , thank God , thi lorde , 
 
 Whos hey mercy doth the excuse ; 
 For thi purgacion we schal recorde, 
 
 With hyr, of synne, thou dedyst nevyr muse; 
 But, Mary, thi self mayst not refuse, 
 
 All grett with chlyde we se the stonde; 
 What mystyz man dede the mysvse ? 
 
 Wliy hast thou synned ageyn thi husbonde? 
 
 Mary. 
 
 I trespacyd nevyr, with erthely wyght, 
 
 Therof I hope , throwe Goddys sonde , 
 Her to be purgyd, befor yowr syght , 
 
 From all synne clene , lyke as my husbonde ; 
 Take me the hotel, out of yowr hoiule; 
 
 Her schal I tlrynke , beforn yowr face , 
 Abowth this awter than schal I fonde 
 
 vij tymes to go , by Godys grace.
 
 Si at itdus Doctor Lftfiini. 
 
 Willi Goddys Ii>{; iny»ht loke thou not rape, 
 
 Of tin purgacion wel the avyse; 
 Vf thou he gylty thou mayst not Bcfaape, 
 
 Bewar evyt of God that ryghtfal justyee. 
 [f God with yeii|;eauns set on the his syse , 
 
 Not only tliou. hut all thi hyu is schamyd, 
 Bettyr it is to telle the trewth devy8e 3 
 
 Than God tor to greve , and of hym he gramyd 
 
 Mary drinks of the water of vengeance , and 
 walks around the altar, saying- a prayer to God, 
 \% liieli she concludes thus: — 
 
 Gabryel me, with wordys, he he forn. 
 
 That ye, of your jjoodnes, woulde become my 
 chylde ; 
 
 Help now of your hyjj-ness, my wurehep he not lorn, 
 A dere sone ! I pray vow, help yowr modyr mylde. 
 
 Mary receives no harm from the potation, and 
 the Bishop, in astonishment, declares, that 
 
 Sehe is eleue mayde, hoth modyr and wyff! 
 The Detractors suspecting some deceit, express 
 I heir dissatisfaction. 
 
 Primus Detractor. 
 
 Hr m> fadyr sowle, here is gret gyle, 
 
 lieeause sehe is syh of yowr hynreed: 
 I Ik* dr\iili is ehanngydj by sum Pals wyle, 
 
 I li.il sehe no shame shuhle ham' Ihis steed. 
 
 ITie Bishop orders Detractor to drink of the 
 name cup.
 
 iS6 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Primus Detractor. 
 Syr, iu good feyth, a draught I pulle , 
 If these to drinkers have not all spent. 
 He instanly becomes frantic from the draught ; 
 the Bishop and all present ask pardon of Mary for 
 their suspicion and detraction, which she grants ; 
 she and Joseph congratulate each other; and the 
 piece concludes.
 
 TIIK 
 
 l» A 6EANT 
 
 OF 
 
 THE COMPANY OF SHEARMEN AND TAILORS, 
 
 1H COVENTRY.
 
 Although the Transcriber of this Pageant in li>54, complacently 
 announces that it is « nevly correcte " , we must nevertheless regret the loss 
 of older copies; for the orthography of -Robert Croo" is so illiterate 
 and confused , as not to exhibit the language of his times in a fair 
 and appropriate dress. The Speech of the « Nonceose " in French is 
 particularly corrupted. 

 
 HIE NATIVITY 
 
 Isaye. 
 
 The soffercnt thatt seithe evere seycrette , 
 
 He saue you all and make you perfett and stronger 
 
 And gevenes grace w* his marce forto mete , 
 
 For now in grctt mesere mankynd ys bownd. 
 
 The sarpcnt bathe gevin vs soo mortall a wonde , 
 
 That no creature ys ahull vs forto reyles 
 
 Tyll thye right vncion of Jvda dothe seyse; 
 
 Then schall inoche myrthe and joie in cresse , 
 
 And the right rote in Isaraell sprynge, 
 
 Thatt schall bryng forthc the grcyne off whollcnes : 
 
 And <»ul of danger he schall vs bryng 
 
 In to thatt rcygeon where he ys kyng : 
 
 Wyche abowe all othur far dothe a bownde , 
 
 And I halt cruel] Sathan he schall confowndc. 
 
 Where lore I cum here apon this grownde , 
 
 To coaaforde eyuere creature off birtlie; 
 
 For I laaye, the profet, bathe fownde 
 
 Ifanv s\wl«> mailers, wlicrcol' we ma make myrlh 
 
 On ihi^ lame WV8C
 
 60 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 For thogh that Adam be demid to deythe 
 W l all his childur, asse Abell and Seythe : 
 Yett ecce vircjo consepeet ; 
 Loo , where a reymede schall ryse ! 
 Be holde a mayde schall conseyve a childe , 
 And gett vs more grace than eyuer men had : 
 And hir meydin od nothing defylid : 
 Sche ys deputyd to beare the sun almyghte God. 
 Loo, sufferntis now ma you he glad, 
 For of this meydin all we ma he fayne ; 
 For Adam , that now lyis in sorrois full sadc , 
 Hir gloreose birth schall reydeme hym ageyn 
 From bondage and thrall. 
 3Vow be myrre eyuere nion, 
 
 For this dede bryflly in Isaraell schalbe done , 
 And before the fathur in trone, 
 Thatt schall glade vs all. 
 More of this matter fayne wolde I meve , 
 But lengur tyme I haue not here for to dwell. 
 That lorde that ys mercefull his merce soo in vs ma prove, 
 For to sawe owre sollis from the darknes of hell , 
 And to his blys he vs bryng asse he ys bothe lord and kyng , 
 And shalbe eyuerlastyng in secula seculos : ainen. 
 
 Gaberell. 
 Hayle ! Mare , full of grace , oure Lord God ys w* the 
 Aboue all wemen that eyuer wasse ; 
 Lade blesside mote thow be. 
 
 Mare. 
 All niyght fathur and kyng of blys , 
 From all dysses thu saue me now : 
 For inwardely my spretis trubbuld ys , 
 Thatt I am arnacid and kno nott how. 
 
 Gaberell. 
 Died the nothyng meydin of this : 
 From heyvin a bowe hyddur am I sent. 
 Of ambassage from that kyng of blys.
 
 THE >"\TIVIT\. 
 
 til 
 
 Unto the lade aud virgin reyuerent, 
 Salutyng the here asse most exselent , 
 Whose rata abone all othur clothe abownde ; 
 Wherefore in the grace schalhe fownde : 
 For thow sehalt conseyve apon this grownd 
 The second persone of God in hone ; 
 
 He wvlhe home of the alone, w l owt sin thu sehalt hyni see. 
 Thy grace and thi goodncs vryl neyner he gone , 
 But evuer to lyre in vergenete- 
 
 Mure. 
 
 I marvel 1 soore how thatt mahe : 
 Manes cnmpany knev I neyuer yett, 
 Nor neyuer to do kast I me, 
 Whyle thatt owe lord sendith ine my wytt 
 
 Gaberell. 
 
 The wholle Gosl in the schall lyght , 
 And schall do thy soil soo w* vertu. 
 From the fathur thatt ys on hyght : 
 These wordis turtill the he full tru. 
 This divide that of the schalhe home, 
 Ys the seeonde persone in trenete; 
 He schall sane that wase forlorne , 
 And the I'vndis power dystroie schall he; 
 These cordis, lade, full tru the henc , 
 And furthur, lade, here in thy noone lenage. 
 Be holde Eylesaheth thy eosyn elcne , 
 The wyche wassc harren and past all age , 
 Amd now w 1 ehyld sche hath bene 
 Syx mnnclhis, and more asse schalhe scne ; 
 Where for discomforde the not Mare , 
 For t<> God onpossihull nothyng mahe. 
 
 Mare. 
 
 \o» and \l l»e thatt lordis wyll , 
 
 Of an bodde to he borne and forto he; 
 lf\s h\ pleysnrii forto lull lyl, 
 
 Asse his one hande nia\de I suhinyt me.
 
 02 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Gaberell. 
 
 Now blessid be the tyme sett , 
 That thu waste borne in thy degre : 
 For now ys the Knoll sorely knytt , 
 And God conseyvide in trenete. 
 Now fare well lade off myghtis most, 
 Vnto the God lied I the be teyche. 
 
 Mare. 
 
 Thatt lorde the gyde in eyuere cost , 
 And looly he leyde ine and be my leyche. 
 
 [Here the Angell deptyth , and JOSOFF cumyth in and seyth 
 
 Mare , my wyff soo dere ! 
 How doo ye dame , and whatt chere 
 Ys w* yon this tyde ? 
 
 Mare. 
 
 Truly , husebonde , I am here , 
 Owre Lordis wyll forto abyde. 
 
 Josoff. 
 
 Whatt I troo thatt we be all schent : 
 Sey womon who hath byn here sith I went , 
 To rage wyth the. 
 
 Mare. 
 
 Syr , here wase nothur man nor mans eyvin , 
 But only the sond of owre Lorde God in heyvin. 
 
 Josoff. 
 
 Sey not soo womon , for schame ley be : 
 Ye be w* chyld soo wondurs grett, 
 Ye nede no more therof to tret , 
 Agense all right. 
 
 For sothe this chylde dame ys not myne , 
 Alas that eyuer w* my nynee 
 I suld see this syght. 
 Tell me womon whose ys this chyld? 
 
 Mare. 
 
 Non but youris husebond soo my hi , 
 And thatt schalbe seyne.
 
 THK NATIVITY 
 
 05 
 
 Josoff. 
 But mviie. alias! alias! why sey ye soo ? 
 Wele awey woaura, now may I goo 
 Be j>y Id as many a nothur ys ! 
 
 Mare. 
 Na truly, sir, ye be not be {jylde, 
 Nop yet w 1 spotf of syn I am not defylde; 
 Trust yt well buse bonde. 
 
 Josoff. 
 Huse bond in feytbe , and tbat acold : 
 A wevlle awey Josoff, as tbow ar olde ! 
 L\ ke a fole now ma I stand and truse , 
 But in feyth. Mare, tbu art in syn. 
 
 Soo moebe ase I haue cbeyrisehyd the dame and all tbi kyn, 
 Be bynd my bake to serve me thus: 
 All olde men insanipull take be me; 
 How I am be j;ylid here may you see, 
 To wed soo yong a ehyld. 
 
 Now fare well, Mare, I leyve the here alone, 
 Wortbe the dam and thy warkis ycheone : 
 For I woll noo more be gylid be for frynd nor fooe. 
 >"o« of this ded I am soo dull , 
 
 And off my lyff I am soo full, no farthur ma I oo. 'tit 
 
 Angell j. 
 Aryse up Josoff, and goo whom agcyne 
 Vuto Mare thy wyff that ys soo fre ; 
 To comford hir loke that tbow be fayne, 
 For Josoff a eleyne ineydin ys sehee. 
 Sche bath conaeyvid w* owt any trayne 
 The se\eond person in trenete : 
 Jim sehalbe li\ s name sarlcn , 
 And .ill tins irorld sawe schall be not agast. 
 
 Josoff. 
 .\<>u . I. orde! I thanke tlie w* hart full sad, 
 For <d these tythyngia I an so glad, 
 
 Tliatl all in) rare awe) js e;isl :
 
 64 MIRACLE- PLAYS. 
 
 Wherefore to Mare I woll in hast. 
 
 A Mare ! Mare ! I knele full loo , 
 
 Forgeve me, swete wyff, here in this lond. 
 
 Marce , Mare ! for now I kno 
 
 Of youre good gouernancc and how yt doth stond : 
 
 Thoght thatt I dyd the mys name. 
 
 Marce , Mare ! whyle I leve 
 
 Wyll I neyuer , swet wyff, the greve in ernyst , nor in game. 
 
 Mare. 
 Now thatt Lord in hey vin , sir, he you forgy ve : 
 And I do for geve yow in hys name for euermore. 
 
 Josoff. 
 Now truly, swete wyff, to you I sey the same; 
 But now to Bedlem must I wynde , 
 And scho my self soo full of care , 
 And I to leyve you this gretl hehynd, 
 God wott the whyle dame how you schuld fare. 
 
 Mare. 
 Na hardely , husehond , dred ye nothyng , 
 For I woll walke w' you on the wey. 
 I trust in God all myghte hyng 
 To spede right well in owre jurney. 
 
 Josoff. 
 Now I thanke you, Mare, of youre goodnes , 
 Thatt ye my wordis woll not blame ; 
 And syth that to Bedlem we schall vs dresse , 
 Goo we to gedur in Goddis wholle name. 
 Now to Bedlem haue we leygis three , 
 The day ys ny spent, yt drawyth toward nyght: 
 Fayne at your es , dame , I wold that ye schulde he : 
 For you groue all werely, yt semyth in my syght. 
 
 Mare. 
 God haue marey ! Josoffe , my spowse , soo dere ! 
 All profettis herto dothe heyre wyttnes, 
 The were tyme now draith nere 
 Thatt my chyld wolhe home , wyche ys kyng of hlis.
 
 THE NVTIYITY. (>0 
 
 Vnto sum place , Josoft'. kyndly ine leyde , 
 Thatt I mojjht rest me \\ l grace in this tyde. 
 The l\;;ht of llie fathur ouer hus both sprcyile , 
 And the grace of my sun w* vs here ahyde. 
 
 Josu/f. 
 
 Loo, hlessid Mare! here Bchall ve lend, 
 CSheff ehosyn of OWN Lorde, and eleynist in degre; 
 And I for help to towne woll 1 wen.de. 
 *t s unit this the lu'sl dame, whatt sey ye? 
 
 Mare. 
 
 God haue maree ! Josoft*, my huse bond , soo meke ! 
 And hartoly I pra you {yoo now fro me. 
 
 Josoff. 
 
 Thatt sohalbo done in hast, Mare, soo swete ! 
 The comfbrd of the wholle Gost leyve I w' the. 
 Now to liedlem streyjjlit woll I wynd, 
 To g-ett som helpe for Mare soo fre, 
 Sum helpe of wemen , God ma me send! 
 Thatt Mare, full oft* grace, pleysid ma be. 
 
 Pastor j. 
 
 Now God that art in trenete, 
 Thow Bawe my fellois and me ; 
 For I kno nott wheyre my seheepe nor the be , 
 Thys nyybt yt ys soo colde. 
 "Now js yt nyjjh the myddis of the nyght, 
 These ^% (mIiii-s ar darke and dym of lyght, 
 Thatt of them can hy haue noo syj'ht 
 SI;iiiiImi;; lure Oil this wold. 
 But iimns to make there harlis lytfht, 
 \ow will I full right stand apon this looe, 
 And t» them ery w* all my myght: 
 Full well my \oise the I. no, 
 \V hoo! fellois! boo! boo! hoo! 
 
 Pastor ij. 
 Hail.. Sym, barke, I here owre brothur on the loe, 
 
 this \s byi v\«iisr. rijfht well I knoo . 
 
 .1
 
 60 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 There fore toward hym lett vs goo, 
 And folio his woise a right. 
 See, Sym, se where he doth stond; 
 I am ryght glad we hane hym fond. 
 Brothur! where hast thow byn soo long, 
 And this nyght hit ys soo cold? 
 
 Pastor j. 
 E! fryndis! ther cam a pyrie of wynd w* a myst suddenly, 
 Thatt forth off my weyis went I, 
 And grett heyvenes in made I, 
 And wase full sore afrayde; 
 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 myght. 
 
 Pastor iij. 
 
 Brethur, now we be past that fryght, 
 And hit ys far w* in the nyght: 
 Full sone woll spryng the day lyght, 
 Hit drawith full nere the tyde. 
 Here awhyle lett vs rest, 
 And repast owreself of the best, 
 Tyll thatt the sun ryse in the est, 
 Let vs all here abyde. 
 
 iTIiere the SCHEPPERDIS drawxjs furlh ther meyte , and 
 doth eyte and drynk , and asse the drynh , the fynd 
 the star and sey thus; — 
 
 Brethur, loke vp and behold, 
 Whatt thyng ys yondur thatt schynith soo bryght, 
 Asse long ase eyuer I haue wachid my fold, 
 Yett sawe I neyuer soche a syght in fyld. 
 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.
 
 THE NATIVITY. «{7 
 
 Pastor j. 
 Truth y l ys a\' on t naye . 
 Sou seyd the profetl Isaye , 
 
 Thatt a ehylde schnld be borne of a made .sou bryght, 
 In wentur ny the sehortist dey , 
 Or elis in the myddis of the nyfthl. 
 
 Pastor ij. 
 Loevid be God, most off myeht! 
 That OWre grace ys to see thatt syght: 
 Pra\ we to hyui ase hit ys rij;lit , 
 Yff thatt hys wyfl yt he, 
 
 Thatt we ma baue knoleyjje Of tliis syiij;iiefocaeion , 
 And why liit aperith on this fassion; 
 Ami eyuer to hyin lett vs jyevc lawdaeion , 
 In yerthe, whyle thatt we he. 
 
 I T/irrr the AnOelis syng Glorea in exselsis Dim*. | 
 Pastor iij. 
 Harke , the syny abowe in the clowdis elere ; 
 Hard I neyuer of soo myrre a <|uere : 
 Now jjeulyll hrethur draw we nere 
 To here there arniony ? 
 
 Pastor j. 
 Brothnr, niyrth and solas ys cum lius amony , 
 For be the swettnes of ther BOUge; 
 Goddifl sun ys cum, whom we haue lokid for long, 
 Asse syn{;nefyith thys star that we do see. 
 
 Pastor ij. 
 Glore, f/lorca in exselsis, that wase ther sonjye ; 
 How s<\ yr , ffllois ! seyd the not thus'.' 
 
 Pastor j. 
 Tliatt ys welseyd, now g-oo we hence 
 To wonehipe thatt chyld of hy manyffecence ; 
 
 And that we may synj; in his presence , 
 I.I in tnrra VOX oiiti/nihus. 
 
 \'ihrrr l/ir Srlti-fifivrdis tVHgii \si- I owl roilili* . find JOSOFt 
 MWM | —
 
 68 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Now Lorde this noise that I do here, 
 W this grett solemnete, 
 Gretly amendid hath my chere , 
 I trust hy nevis schortly wolhe. 
 
 [There the Amjellis sync/ Gloria in exselsis ageyne.] 
 
 Mare. 
 A ! Josoff , husehond , cum heddur anon , 
 My chylde ys borne that ys kyng of hlys. 
 
 Josoff. 
 Now welcuin to me, the makar of mon, 
 W* all the omage thatt I con; 
 Thy swete mothe here woll I kys. 
 
 Mare. 
 A! Josoff, husehond, my chyld waxith cold, 
 And we haue noo fyre to warme hym w*. 
 
 Josoff. 
 IVow in my armys I schall hym fold , 
 Kyng: of all kyngis he fyld and he fryth: 
 He myght haue had hettur, and hym selfe wold, 
 Then the breythyng of these hestis to warme hym w*. 
 
 Mare. 
 Now Josoff, my hushond, fet heddur my chyld. 
 The maker off man , and hy kyng of hlys. 
 
 Josoff. 
 That schalhe done anon , Mare , soo myld ! 
 For the brethyng of these hestis hath warmyd well I wys. 
 
 Angell j. 
 Hyrd men hynd drede ye nothyng, 
 Off thys star thatt ye do se ; 
 For thys same morne Godis sun ys borne, 
 In Bedlem of a maydin fre. 
 
 Angell ij. 
 Hy you hyddur in hast; 
 Yt ys hys wyll ye schall hym see 
 Lyinge in a crybbe of pore reypaste , 
 Yett of Davithis lyne cumon ys hee.
 
 THE NATIVITY. (»{) 
 
 I'astor j. 
 
 Hayle, inayde, modur , and wyff, soo inyld! 
 Asse the Angel] seyd . soo haue we foiule. 
 I haue nothyng to present i? 1 the chylde, 
 But my |»> |k* bold, take yt iu thy bond; 
 Where in moche pleysure that I haue fond, 
 Ami ikiw to oonowre thy jjloreose byrthe, 
 Thow sehallt \t bane to make the myrlhe. 
 
 Pastor if. 
 
 Xon bayle l»e thow ehyhl , ami tliy dame, 
 For iu apore loggyn here art thow leyde; 
 Soe the Aii;;cll seyde , and toldc vs thy name. 
 Holde, take thow here my hat on thy hedde, 
 And now oft' won thyng thow art well sped; 
 For weddur thow hast noo nede to complayne, 
 For wynde, ne sun, hayle, snoo, and rayne. 
 
 Pastor iij. 
 
 Hayle, he thow lorde ouer watur and landis. 
 For thy cumyng all we ma make myrthe; 
 Haue here my myttens to pytt on tlii hondis, 
 Othur treysure haue I non to present the w*. 
 
 Mare. 
 
 ;Vow . lierdinen , hynd for youre corny ng- , 
 To my chylde schall I pra, 
 
 Asse lif \> beyvin kyng, to grant you his hlessynjj, 
 And In hys hlys that ye may wynd at your last day. 
 
 I / here (lie Sehepperdis syngith ageyne, and noth for the of 
 
 the place . and the ij ProfetHt ciimyth in and seyth thus j — 
 
 Profeta j. 
 \<iM'|lis, novellis, of wondrf'ull mervellys! 
 \\ i i ■!• Ii\ and defuce vnto the heryn;; r, 
 Ajmc scripture li'llis these strange novellis to you I bryng. 
 
 Profeta ij. 
 Ann bartely, syr, I desyre to knoo, 
 YH h\it vrolde pleyae yon forto schod 
 
 Ol' wh.ilt in.inir B llivni;.
 
 70 MIKACMJ- PLAYS. 
 
 Prof eta j. 
 Were mysteeall vnto youre heryng 
 Of the natevete off a kyng? 
 
 Profeta ij. 
 Of a kyng, whence schuld he cum? 
 
 Profeta j. 
 From thatt reygend ryall , and mighty mancion , 
 The sede seylesteall and heyvinly vysedoine; 
 The seycond person , and Godis one sum , 
 For owre sake ys man he cum; 
 This godly spere desendid here, 
 In to a vergin clere sche on defyld, 
 Be whose warke ohskevre 
 Owre frayle nature ys now begilde. 
 
 Profeta ij. 
 Why hathe sche a chyld ? 
 
 Profeta j. 
 E ! trust hyt well , and neuer the las , 
 Yet ys sche a mayde evin asse sche wasse, 
 And hir sun the kyng of IsaraeU. 
 
 Profeta ij. 
 A wondur full marvell how thatt ma he , 
 And far dothe exsell all owre capasete, 
 How thatt the trenete of soo hy regallete , 
 Schuld be jonyd vnto owre mortallete. 
 
 Profeta j. 
 Of his one grett marce as ye schall se the exposyssion 
 Throgh whose vmanyte all Adamis progene 
 Reydemyd schalbe owt of perdyssion; 
 Syth man did offend, who schuld amend, 
 But the scyd mon and no nothur; 
 For the wyche cawse he inearnate wold he, 
 And lyve in mesere asse manis one hrothur. 
 
 Profeta ij. 
 Syr, vnto the dcyite I helevc perfettle 
 Onpossihull to ho there ys nothyng:
 
 THE NATIVITY. 
 
 71 
 
 How be yt this warke vnto me ys ilarke, 
 In the opperacion or wyrkyng. 
 
 Pvofeta j. 
 \\ hatt more reypriff ys vnto belyff then to he dowlynj;. 
 
 Pvofeta ij. 
 Vet dowtis oftvuiis hathc dercvacion. 
 
 Pvofeta j. 
 Thatt >s be the uieyues of comenecaeiou , 
 Of Ira w this to haue a tlev probacion, 
 Be I lie s;uiie dowtfl reasoning. 
 
 Pvofeta ij. 
 Then to you thys won thynj;-; — 
 Of what! nohull and hy lenajje ys schee, 
 Thatt mvj;ht this verahidl princis modur he? 
 
 Pvofeta j. 
 Ondowtid sehe ys cum of hy parrage , 
 Of the bowse ot'Davith, and Salamon the saj»e, 
 And won off the same lyne joyuid to hir he mareajye , 
 Of whose tryhe we do suhseryve this cliy[ljdis lenaye. 
 
 Pvofeta ij. 
 And why in thatt wysse? 
 
 Pvofeta j. 
 For j I wasse the j;ysse 
 To eonte the parant on the manys lyne , 
 Ami nott on the l'eymyne, 
 Ainonst \s here in Isai'aell. 
 
 Pvofeta ij. 
 Veil can I nott aspy, he no wysse, 
 1 1 1>\\ lli>s chylde borne Bchuldbe w* ow [ij naluris pxejudyse. 
 
 Pvofeta j. 
 \av no prejndyse vnto nature I dare well sey , 
 I'm tli<- l.\ii|; of nature may hawe all at his one WjU. 
 h\il not the DOWar of God make Aronis rod be} re I'rule 
 in on day? 
 
 Profeta >) 
 Truth v' n s i'» ded
 
 72 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Profeta j. 
 
 Then loke you and rede. 
 
 Profeta ij. 
 
 A! I preseyve the sede where apon thatt you spake; 
 Yt wasse for owre nede thatt he frayle nature did take, 
 And his blod he schuld schede amens forto make 
 For owre transegression , 
 
 Ase yt ys seyd in profece ; — thatt of the lyne of Jude 
 Schuld spryng a right Messe , 
 Be whom all wee schalld haue reydemcion. 
 
 Profeta j. 
 
 S 1 , now ys the tyme cum, 
 And the date there of run 
 Off his natevete. 
 
 Profeta ij. 
 
 Yett I heseke you hartele, that ye wold schoo me how 
 Thatt this strange nowelte were broght vnto you. 
 
 Profeta j. 
 
 This othur nyght soo cold, 
 Hereby apon a wolde, 
 Schepperdis wachyng there fold, 
 In the nyght soo far, 
 To them aperid a star, 
 And eyuer yt drev them nar ; 
 Wyche star the did behold, 
 Bryghter the sey M folde , 
 Then the sun so clere 
 In his mydday spere j 
 And the these tythyngis tolde. 
 
 Profeta ij. 
 
 What seycretly ? 
 
 Profeta j. 
 
 IVa , na , hardely , 
 The made there of no conseil , 
 For the song ase lowde ,
 
 Tilt .VYTI\U\. 
 
 75 
 
 Ase i'miit the eowde, 
 Presyng the kyng of lsaraell. 
 
 Profeta ij. 
 
 Yett do I inarvell. 
 In what pyle <»r castell, 
 These berdmen dyd bym Bee. 
 
 Profeta j. 
 
 Xothur in liallis. nor >ett in bowris, 
 Borne ^ old lie not lie: 
 \ntlinr in e.islellis, nor yet in tOWlis, 
 Thai seml\ were to se: 
 l$ut alt livs fathurs Avyll , 
 The profed to full fyll. 
 Be twyxl an n\ and an as, 
 Hiii this hviijj home he Avas; 
 Heyvin he hryng us tyll ! 
 
 Profeta ij. 
 
 S r , a! hut when these Schepperdis had seyne hym there, 
 In to whatt place did they repcyre ? 
 
 Profeta j. 
 
 Forilie the went, and glad the were; 
 Going I lie did synft 
 
 W niMllie and solas, the made ftood ehere , 
 For joie of thatl new tythinjy. 
 And aftur asse I hard the tell, 
 Mr n\ u.uilicl them full well, 
 lie ;;raiint them hevyn ther in to dwell. 
 In at llie ;;on w* joie and invrthe , 
 And there son;;e liil ys neowell. 
 
 [Here the ProfetUs aothe furthe, and Erod cumylh in and the 
 Messenger, | 
 
 Aoneeose. 
 I'asles pais. dinnii\is l>aron\s de ;;rande reynnwne! 
 
 Payis, leneorii schevaleris de nooble posance! 
 
 Pays, ifenlis Iminos enin|ianenii\ s pelis eeranec 
 
 .!<• \<is command dngard treytni sylance!
 
 74 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Payis tanque vottur nooble Roie syre ese peresance ! 
 Que nollis persone ese non fawis perwynt dedfferance : 
 Nese harde de frappas, inayis gardus to cor paceance 
 Mayis gardus voter seneor to cor reyuerance ; 
 Car elat vottur Roie tuto puysance. 
 Anion de leo pase , tos je vose cunimande , 
 
 E lay Roie Erott la, grandeaboly vos vmport. 
 
 Erode. 
 Qui statis in Jude et Rex Jseraell, 
 And the niyghttyst conquerowre that eyuer walkid on grownd 5 
 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 the did I confownde , 
 And \\* this bryght bronde there bonis I brak on simd'r, 
 Thatt all the wyde worlde on those rappis did wond'r. 
 I am the cawse of this grett lyght and thxind'r; 
 Yett ys throgh my fure that the soche noyse dothe make. 
 My feyrefull contenance the clowdis so doth incumbur , 
 Thatt oftymis for dred ther of the verre yerth doth quake. 
 Loke when I w* males this bryght brond doth schake ; 
 All the whole world from the north to the sowthe , 
 I ma them dystroie w* won worde of my mowthe. 
 To reycownt vnto you myn innevmerabull substance 
 Thatt were to moche for any tong to tell; 
 For all the whole Orent ys vnd'r myn obbeydeance, 
 And prynce am I of purgatorre , and cheff capten of hell. 
 And those tyraneos trayturs be force ma I compell 
 Myne enmyis to vanquese, and evyn to dust them dryve, 
 And w* a twynke of myne iee not won to be lafte alyve. 
 Behold my contenance and my colur, 
 Bryghtur then the sun in the meddis of the dey ! 
 Where can you haue a more grettur succur, 
 Then to behold my person that ys soo gaye ; 
 My fawcun and my fassion w* my gorgis araye? 
 He thatt had the grace all wey ther on to thynke , 
 Lyve the myght all wey w l owl othur meyte or drynke;
 
 Tilt .VVTIX ITY. 
 
 7,% 
 
 And tins mv Uyomfande lain.- most hylisl dothe a bomide, 
 Throgh owl this world in all reygeons abrod, 
 Reysemelyng the fetter of thatt most myght Mahownd; 
 From Jnbytor be desent , and eosyn to the grett God, 
 And nainyd the most revhnvndid kyng Eyrodde , 
 Wyehe thatt all pryneis hath nndur subjeccion , 
 And all there w hole poWW vndur my proteocion ; 
 And therefore my hareode here eallid Calcas , 
 Warne Hiow eyuer porte, thatt no sehyppis a ryve. 
 Sot also aleond stranger tbrog my realme pas, 
 Hut the for there tillage do pay markis fyve. 
 INow Bpede the forth hastele, 
 For the thatt wyll the contrare 
 Apon a galowse hangid schalbc; 
 And. lie Mahownde, of me the gett noo grace. 
 
 Noticios. 
 Now, lord and mastnr ! in all the bast, 
 
 Thy worethe wyll ytt sehall be wroght; 
 And thy ryall cuntreyis schalhe past, 
 
 In asse schorl tyme asse can be thoght. 
 
 Erode. 
 .Now sehall owre regeons throgh o>vt be soghl 
 
 In eyuer place, bothe Est and West: 
 
 Yfl' any katyflis to mc be broght 
 
 Yt schalbe nnlhyng for there best. 
 
 And the whyle thatt I do resst , 
 
 Trompettu, \iallis, and olhur arinonc , 
 
 Sehall l»l<'^ the wakyng of my maistc. 
 
 | Were Erod goth awey, and the iij Kyngis speykyto in t/ie strete.j 
 
 Hex j. 
 
 \..w blesaid !»<• God of his suet sonde, 
 Tor vondur a feyre bryghl star I do see! 
 \ow \s be common \s a monge 
 Asm' the profettu seyd that \t schuld be. 
 Aseyd there Behold   babe he borne 
 
 ( i>m\ li" nl llir rule of JeBSC •
 
 70 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 To sawe inankynd that wasse for lorne , 
 
 And truly come now ys he. 
 
 Rcyuerence and worschip to hyin woll I do , 
 
 Asse God and man thatt all made of noght. 
 
 All the profettis acordid and seyd evyn soo, 
 
 Thatt w* hys presseos Mod mankynd schuld he boght. 
 
 He grant me grace he yonder star thatt I see , 
 
 And in to thatt place hryng me, 
 
 Thatt I ma hym worschipe w* umellete , 
 
 And se hys gloreose face. 
 
 Rex ij. 
 Ovvt off 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 siun knoleyge where thatt I he. 
 Yondur me thynke 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; 
 To worschip thatt chyld ys myn in tent. 
 Forth now wyll I take my wey; 
 I trust sum cumpany God hath me sent, 
 For yondur I se a kyng lahur on the wey; 
 To warde hym now woll I ryde. 
 Harke , cumly kyng , I you pray , 
 In to whatt cost wyll ye thys tyde, 
 Or weddur lyis yowre jurney? 
 
 Rex j. 
 
 To seke a chylde ys myne in tent, 
 Of whom the profettis bathe ment; 
 The tyme ys cum now ys he sent, 
 Be yondur star here ma [you] see. 
 
 Rex ij. 
 
 S r , I prey you w* your lysence, 
 To ryde w* you vnto his presence;
 
 Till: N V i I MTV. 
 
 77 
 
 To hym wyll I othir frank in sence, 
 For the hod of all whole churche sehall ho be. 
 
 Rex iij. 
 I ryde wanderyng in veyis wyde, 
 Oner montens and dalis, I wot not where I am. 
 Now kyng of all kyngis send me soche gyde, 
 Thatt I invjjht bane knoleyge of this enntreys name. 
 A yondnr 1 so a syghf be seymyng all afar, 
 The wyche he toonns sum novis ase I troo, 
 Asse me thynke a ehyld peryng in a stare; 
 I trust he be emu thatt sohall defend vs from woo. 
 To hynj;is yundnr I soo , and to them wol] I ryde, 
 Forto bane there cnmpane I trust the wyll me abyde. 
 Hayle, cnmly kyngis, augent! 
 Good surs , I pray you wheddnr at ye ment? 
 
 Rex j. 
 To seke a ehylde ys owre in tent , 
 Wyche be toeuns yondur star asse ye ma see. 
 
 Rex ij. 
 To hym I purpose thys present. 
 
 Rex iij. 
 Surs, I pray you and thatt ryght vmhlec, 
 \V you thatt I ma ryde in cnmpane; 
 To all my j; lite (iod now prey we, 
 Thai I hys pressiosc persone we ma so. 
 
 [Here Ertde cumylh in ageyne, and the MESSEXGERE seytfi; 
 Hayle lorde, most offmyght! 
 T!i> eonimaudement ys rij[ht. 
 In to thy land ys comyn thys nyght 
 iij kyngU, and w* them a grett cumpany. 
 
 E/rod. 
 \\ hatt make those kynj>is in this cuntrey ? 
 
 Xoncios. 
 To leke   kyng and   ehyld the soy. 
 
 Evade. 
 Of what! ace tehnld be bee? 
 
 n
 
 7tf MIRACLE -TLAYS. 
 
 Noncios. 
 Skant twellve deyis old fulle. 
 
 Erod. 
 And wasse he soo late borne ? 
 
 Noncios. 
 E! Syr, soo the schode me thys same dey in the morne. 
 
 Erod. 
 Now , in payne of deyth , bryng them me beforne ; 
 And there fore , harrode , now by the in hast , 
 Iu all spede thatt thow were dyght, 
 Or thatt those kyngis the cuntrey be past; 
 Loke thow bryng them all iij before my sygkt. 
 And in Jerusalem inqnere more of thatt chyld? 
 But I wame the that thy wordis be mylde , 
 For there mast thow hede, and crafty wey 
 How to do his powere, and those iij kyngis shalbe begild. 
 
 Noncios. 
 Lorde , I am redde att youre byddyng , 
 To sarvc the ase my lord and kyng, 
 For joye there of loo how I spryng, 
 W* lyght hart and fresehe gambol dyng, 
 Alofte here on this molde. 
 
 Erode. 
 Then sped the forthe hastely, 
 And loke thatt thow beyre the eyvinly: 
 And also I pray the hartely, thatt thow doo 
 Comand me bothe to yong and olde. 
 
 Nuncios. 
 Hayle , syr kyngis , in youre degre ! 
 Erood, kyng of these cuntreyis wyde 
 Desyrith to speyke w l you all thre, 
 And for youre comyng he dothe abyde. 
 
 Rex j. 
 Syr, att his wyll we be ryght bayne. 
 Hy us brethur vnto thatt lordis place ;
 
 THE WTIWTY. 
 
 7\) 
 
 To speyke w 1 bym we wold he fayne, 
 
 Thatt chyld th.itt wo soke, ho grant vs of his grace! 
 
 Xoiieios. 
 Hayle, lorde w* owt pore! 
 Those iij kynj;is hero have we hrojjht. 
 
 Evodc. 
 Now woleum, syr kynjjis, all in fere; 
 But of my bryght hlesurs hassohc ye noght. 
 S r kynjjis . ase 1 Midurstaml 
 A star bathe gydid you into my land; 
 Where in gretJ harie yo hane fondo , 
 Be reysun of hir hoymis bryght; 
 Wherefore I pray you hartely, 
 The vero truthe thatt ye wold serlefy; 
 llnw Long yt ys surely, 
 Syn of thai star you had furst syght? 
 
 Rex j. 
 S r kynge , the vere truthe soy. 
 And forto sohoo you ase hit ys hest, 
 This same ys evin the XII th dey 
 Soyth yt aperid to vs to he west. 
 
 Erode. 
 Brethur , then ys there no more to sey , 
 But w l hart and wyll kepe ye your jurney; 
 And euui whom hy me this same wcy, 
 Of your nevis thatt I myjjht knoo. 
 You Bchall bryomfe in this eunlrc, 
 And «' grett eompiorde hankolt w l me: 
 And thatt ehylde myself then woll I see, 
 And honor hym also. 
 
 Rex ij. 
 S r , youre eommandement we woll fill fy 11 , 
 And humbly abaye owreself there tyll ; 
 He Jliait ireldHh all thyng at wyll 
 The redde tray bus teyebe, 
 
 S' kyii|; ! thatt we ma pass your land in pes.
 
 80 MIRACLE- PLAYS. 
 
 Erode. 
 Yes! and walhe softely eyvin at your one es, 
 Youre pase porte for a C deyis, 
 Here schall you haue of clere cummaiul 
 Owre renie to labur any weyis, 
 Here schall you haue be spesschall g-rante. 
 
 Rex iij. 
 Now fare well kyng of hy degre; 
 Humbly of you owre leyve we take. 
 
 Erode. 
 Then adev , S r kyngls , all thre ; 
 And whyle I lyve be bold of me; 
 There ys nothyng in this cuntre, 
 But for youre one ye schall yt take. 
 Now these iij kyngis ar gon on ther wey. 
 On wysely and on wyttely haue the all wroghte. 
 YYhen the ciun ageyne the schall dy thatt same dey, 
 And thus these vyle wreychis to deyth the schalbe broght ; 
 Soche ys my lykyng. 
 He that agenst my lawys wyll hold, 
 Be he kyng or keysar , neyuer soo bold , 
 I shall them cast in to caris cold, 
 Antl to deyth I schall them bryng. 
 
 [77tere Erode goth his weys, and the iij liyngis cum in ageyne.] 
 
 Rex j. 
 O blessid God, moche ys thy myght! 
 Where ys this star thatt gawe vs lyght? 
 
 Rex ij. 
 Now knele we downe here in this presence , 
 Be sekyng that lord of hy maugnefecens ; 
 That we ma see his hy exsellence, 
 Yff that his swet wylbe. 
 
 Hex iij. 
 Yondur , brothur , I see the star , 
 Where by I kno he ys nott far ;
 
 THE NATIVITY. HI 
 
 Therefore, lordis, goo we nar 
 Into tliis pore place. 
 
 iThcrc the iij Riptgis gois in to the Jcxen , to Blare, and hir child.} 
 
 Hex j. 
 
 Hayle, Lorde thatt ail this worlde hath wroght! 
 Hah', God and man to gedur in fere ! 
 For thow hast made all th\ ng ol' noght, 
 Alhe >t thatt thow lyist porelv here. 
 A cape lull [ of] golde here I haue the broght 
 In toconyng thow art w* owi pere. 
 
 Bex ij. 
 
 Hayle be thow, lorde of hy maognyffecens ! 
 In toconyng of presteod, and dyngnete of offece, 
 To the I offor a cape lull of in scnce; 
 For vt be hovith the to haue soche sacrefyce. 
 
 Rex iij. 
 Hayle be thow, lorde longc lokid fore! 
 I haue broght the myre lor mortalcte , 
 In to cunyng thow Bchalt manfcynd restore, 
 To lylf be tli\ deyth apon a tre. 
 
 Mare. 
 
 God haue merce , kyngis, of yowre goodnes! 
 15c the gydyng of the godhed hiddur are ye sent; 
 The provyssion of my swete sun your weyis whom reydres, 
 Ami gostelj reywarde you for yoore present. 
 
 Bex j. 
 
 S\ r kyngis, aftur owre proines , 
 \\ luiine be Erode, I mvsl nedis goo. 
 
 Rex ij. 
 Now truK , berthur , we can noo las 
 But I am soo far waehid I wott not wat to <lo. 
 
 Hex iij. 
 
 Ryghl simi am I. where lore I ><hi |H"."*y , 
 
 Lett all \s rest vt awhyle apon this grownd. 
 
 6
 
 82 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Rex j. 
 Brethur , your seying ys right Avell vnto my pay : 
 The grace of thatt swet chylde sane vs all sownde. 
 
 Angell. 
 Kyng of Tawrus , S r Jesper ! 
 Kyng of Arrahy , S r Balthasar ! 
 Melchor kyng , of Aginare ! 
 To you now am I sent. 
 
 For drede of Eyrode, goo you west whom 
 In to those perties when ye cum downe , 
 Ye schalhe hyrrid w l gret reynowne : 
 The wholle Gost thus knoleyge hath sent. 
 
 Rex j. 
 Awake , S r Kyngis , I you praye , 
 For the voise of an Angell I hard in my dreme ! 
 
 Rex tj. 
 Thatt ys full tru thatt ye do sey , 
 For he rcyherssid owre names playne. 
 
 Rex iij. 
 He had thatt we schuld goo downe he west , 
 For drede of Eryrodis fawls he traye. 
 
 Rex j. 
 Soo forto do yt ys the hest, 
 The child that we haue soght , gyde vs the wey ! 
 Now fare well the feyrist of schapp soo swete, 
 And thankid he Jhu of his sonde , 
 Thatt we iij to gedur soo suddenly sehuld mete , 
 Thatt dwell soo wyde , and in straunge lond , 
 And here make owre presentacion 
 Vnto this kyngis son clensid soo cleyne, 
 And to his modur for ovre saluacion; 
 Of moche myrth now ma we nieyne , 
 Thatt we soo well hath done this ohhlacion. 
 
 Rex ij. 
 IVow farewell , S r Jaspar , hrothur to you 
 Kyng of Tawrus , the most wortlie ;
 
 THE NATIVITY. J{5 
 
 S r Balthasar, also to you I bow . 
 And T thanke you bothe of youre good company , 
 Thait we togeddor haoe had. 
 He llialt made \s to mete on hyll, 
 I thanke hym now and eyuer I wyll : 
 For no« may we goo ow I >II. 
 And off owre offerynge be full Payne. 
 
 Hex iij. 
 
 \om s\lb t li;» 1 1 we m\sl nedh goo 
 For drede of Erode, thatl ys soo wrothe, 
 Now fare well, brothur, and brothur also; 
 I take iny leye bore a1 you botbe 
 Tbis dey on fote. 
 
 Now he tkatt made vs to mote on playne . 
 And offurde to Mare in hir jeseyne; 
 lie gere vs grace iu heyvin a gayne 
 All to geyder to mete. 
 
 Nuncios. 
 
 Hayle, bynjjj most worthist in wede! 
 Hayle , manteinar of curterse throgh all tliis world wyde! 
 Hayle, the most myghtyst thai eyuer bestrod a stede! 
 HajYjle, most inonfiillist moil in armor man lo a byde ! 
 Hayle, in thyne hoonowre ! 
 Theese iij kyngu tbatt fortho were sent. 
 And Behold haue cum ageyne before the here present, 
 A iiotlini- wey, Lorde, whom the went 
 Cootrare to thyn hoooore. 
 
 Erode. 
 
 A noilnir wey! owl ! owl ! owl ! 
 Hath those law Is traytvra done ma litis ded? 
 I stampe, I stare, I loke all abowtt; 
 Myghl I I licui lake I sehuld them bren a) a glede ! 
 
 I lint. I rawe , and now run I wode. 
 
 A! thatl these relen traytun bath maid thy s my mode! 
 I In- schalbe bangid \f I ma com them lo. 
 
 I //c;c Erode ruifis in thyt /Hti/mul , ami in the tttTte <ih<i\
 
 g4 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 E ! and tbatt kerne of Bedlem , he schalbe ded , 
 And thus schall I for do his profece. 
 How sey you, S' knygktis, ys not this the best red, 
 Thatt all yong chyldur for this schuld he dede , 
 Wyth sworde to he slayne? 
 Then schall I, Erod , lyve in lede, 
 And all folke me dowt and drcde , 
 And offur to me hothe gold , rychesse , and mede ; 
 Thereto wyll the he full fayne. 
 
 3Iyles j. 
 My lorde , kyng Erode be name ! 
 Thy wordis agenst my wyll sckalbe, 
 To see so many yong chyldur dy , ys schame ; 
 Therefore consell thcr to gettis thu non of me. 
 
 Myles ij. 
 Well seyd, fello! my trawth I plyght; 
 S r kyng! perscyve right well you may, 
 Soo grett a morder to see of yong frute , 
 Wyll make a rysyng in thi noone cuntrey. 
 
 Erode. 
 A rysyng ! — owt ! owt ! owt ! 
 
 [There Erode ragis ageyne , and then seyih thus; - 
 Owt , velen wrychis ! bar apon you I cry , 
 My wyll vtturly loke thatt yt be wroght, 
 Or apon a gallowse hothe you schall dy, 
 Be Mabovvnde , most myghtyste, thatt me dere bath boght 
 
 Myles j. 
 Now, cruell Erode, sytb we schall do this dede, 
 Your wyll ncdefully in this rcaline moste be wroght; 
 All the chyldur of thatt age dy the most nede , 
 Now \v l all my myght the schall be vpsogbt. 
 
 Myles ij. 
 And I avoII sweyre here apon your bryght sworde. 
 All the chyldur thatt I fynd sclayne the schalbe; 
 Thatt mnke many a modur to wepe
 
 <> ' 
 
 THE NATIVITY. l\. 
 
 And be lull s<»ic aferde, 
 
 In owre armor bryghi when the lius see. 
 
 Erode. 
 Now \(»u baye sworne forth that ye goo; 
 And my wyM tlialt ye wyrke bothe be dey and ayght; 
 And then wyll 1 for foyne trypp lyke a doo ; 
 But whan me be ded, I warne yon, bryng bam be fore 
 my Byght 
 
 AngeVL. 
 Mare and Josoff! to yon I sey , 
 Swcic word from the father I bryng you full ryght; 
 Owl of Bedlem in to Eygype forth goo ye the wey, 
 And >\ l ><»u take the byng full ofmyght, 
 For drede of Eroddis red. 
 
 Josoff. 
 A ryse up , Mare, hastcly and sone! 
 Owre Lordis wyll nedya most he done, 
 Lyke ase the Angel] \s had. 
 
 Mure 
 Rfekeh . Josoff, my one spowse, 
 Towarde thai cuntrej let vs reypeyre. 
 All Eygyp Bum tocun off bowse, 
 God grant litis grace sail' to cam there ! 
 
 I //or llic fWemen cum in wythe there chyldur , \/ f ''/,7",'/ them, 
 itnil Marc anil Josoff i/nl/i awcif ctc./nc] 
 
 // inn <iii j. 
 I lolle m\ divide H oiidursU sn\ etc , 
 
 Ami In mi li.iiinis 1 do by! kepe, 
 lie cawse tlialt \\ schuld not crye. 
 
 1 1 Omit n ij. 
 
 Ill ill babe that! ys borne, in Bedlem, bo meke. 
 
 He Bane ni\ chyld and me from velaiiv ! 
 
 // i mill n ///. 
 
 lie ityll ! I.e ityll! iiin In iiul chylde ! 
 Thai Lorde of lordis sane (■<■ i In die and me;
 
 }{({ MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 For Erotic hath sworne w* wordis wyld, 
 Thatt all yong ehyldur sclayne the schalhc. 
 
 3Iiles j. 
 Sey ye wyddurde , wy vis , wyddur ar ye a wey ? 
 What heyre you in youre arniis nedis mvst we see; 
 Yff the he man ehyldur , dy the invst thys dey , 
 For at Eroddis wyll all thyng mvst he. 
 
 Myles ij. 
 And I in handis wonys them hent , 
 Them forto sley noght woll I spare ; 
 We most full fyll Erodis commandement, 
 Elis he we asse trayturs, and cast all in care. 
 
 Woman j. 
 S 1 knyghtis ! of youre curtesse 
 Thys dey schame not youre chevaldre , 
 But on my child haue pytte, 
 For my sake in this tyde. 
 For a sympull sclaghtur yt were to sloo , 
 Or to wyrke soehe a chyld woo , 
 Thatt can nodur speykc nor goo , 
 Nor neuer harme did. 
 
 IVoman ij. 
 lie thatt sleyis my chyld in syght, 
 Yff thatt my strokis on hym ma lyght , 
 Be he skwyar or knyght , 
 I hold hym hut lost. 
 Sc thow fawls losyngere , 
 A stroke schalt thow heyre me here , 
 And spare for no cost. 
 
 IVoman iij. 
 Sytt he neyucr soo hy in saddull , 
 But I schall make his hraynis addull . 
 And here w' my pott ladull , 
 W l hym uoll I fyghl. 
 
 I schall ley on hyin athog , I wode were , 
 W* thys same womanly geyre ;
 
 Till" NATIVITY. J57 
 
 Then. 1 sehall nno uian steyre, 
 Wheddur thai I be be ky»j> or knyght. 
 
 Myles j. 
 Who hard eyuer soche a cry 
 Of weiuen. tliall there chyldur haue lost, 
 And iji-ettly reyhukyng chewaldry, 
 Throgh owl this reme in eyuer cost, 
 Wyehe many a mans lyff ys lyko to cost; 
 For tins gretf wreyehe thatt here ys done, 
 I feyre moehe wengance ther oil' woll eum. 
 
 Myles ij. 
 K. brothor, soehe talis may we not tell. 
 Where lore to the kyng lett ys jyoo , 
 For He \s hke to heyre the hell, 
 Wyehe wasse the causer that we did soo : 
 Yell must tin 1 all he broght hym to, 
 \\ ' vraynifl and waggyns fully fryght: 
 I tro there wolhe a carefull syght 
 
 Myles j. 
 Loo! Eyrode, kyng ! here mast thow see 
 How malt] M' I hat I we haue slayne. 
 
 Myles ij. 
 And nrdis thy wyll full fyllid must he. 
 There ma no mon sey there ageyne. 
 
 Nuncios. 
 Fmo.I. kyng! 1 sehall the tell. 
 All lh\ dedifl js earn to noght; 
 This child \s ifdiic in to Eyjpnle to dwell, 
 Lo«t ! S r . in thy one land what wonduis h> D wroj;ht. 
 
 Erod 
 Into Eygipte, alas! for woo, 
 Lengor in lande bere F eanot ahyde; 
 Saddull ion palfrey, for in has! u>M I i;«»«» 
 Alinr mmiiImi traytnn now wyll I ryde , 
 Tbem for to iloo
 
 88 MIRACLE- PLAYS. 
 
 Now all men , hy fast , 
 
 In to Eygipte in hast; 
 
 All thatt cuntrey woll I tast, 
 
 Tyll I ma cum them to. 
 
 Fynes hide <le Taylors and Scharmen. 
 
 T[h]ys matter 
 
 nevly correcte he Rohart Croo , 
 
 the xiiij th (ley of Marche ; 
 
 fenyschid in the ycre of owre Lorde God 
 
 MCCCCC and xxxiiij* 
 
 then beyng Mayre , Mastuv Palmur: 
 
 also Mastris of the seyd Fellysehipp , Hev. Corhett, 
 
 Randull Pynkard, aiul 
 
 John Baggely. 
 
 THEISE SONGES 
 
 BELONGE TO 
 THE TAYLORS AND SHEAREMENS PAGAIVT. 
 
 THE FIRST AND THE LASTE THE SHEPHEARDS SINGE , 
 AND THE SECOND OR MIDDLEMOST THE WOMEN SINGE. 
 
 THOMAS MAWDYCKE 
 
 die decimo tertio Mai ; anno Domini quingentesimo nona- 
 gesimo primo. Praetor fuit civitatis Couventriae D.Mathaeus 
 Richardson: tunc Consules Johannes Wliifeliead et Thomas 
 Grauener.
 
 THE >ATIVIT\. 
 
 »1> 
 
 SONG 1. 
 
 As I out rode tins enderes night, 
 Of thro ioli sheppardes I Baw a shrht . 
 Ami all a bowte there fold a star shone bright 
 They sange, terli, terlow; 
 So mereli the sheppards (her pipes can blow. 
 
 SONG //. 
 
 Lolly, lulla. thow littel tine child ; 
 By, by, Inlly, lullay, thow littell tyne child j 
 
 By , by , hilly , lullay. 
 
 O sisters too ! how may we do , 
 For to preserve this da] 
 This pore yongling, for whom we do singe 
 By. by, Inlly, lullay. 
 
 Herod, the king, in his raging, 
 Chargid he hath this day 
 His men of might, in his owne sijdit, 
 All yonge children to slay. 
 
 That ho is mi', pore child for the! 
 Anil over inorne and day , 
 For t lii parting nether say nor single, 
 By, by, rally, lallay. 
 
 SONG OF. 
 
 Domic from heaven, from heaven so hie, 
 < If angeles ther came a great companie, 
 W mirthe, and ioy, and greal solemnitye 
 The sange , terly . terlou ; 
 So mereli the sheppards ther pipes can blow.
 
 TOWINELEY 
 
 SI [RAGLE- PLAYS
 
 PIIARAO. 
 
 Pharao. 
 Peas , of payn that no man pas ; 
 But kepe the course that I eommannde , 
 And take good hede of hym that has 
 Vonre lielthe alle holy in hys haude , 
 For kyng Pharro my fader was, 
 And led thys lordshyp of thys land ; 
 I am hys hayre , as ajye wylle has , 
 Ever in stede to styr or stand. 
 Alle Ejj-ypt is myne awuc 
 To leede aftyr my law , 
 I wold my myhte were knowne 
 Ami konoryd, as hit awe. 
 Fnlle low he shalle he thrawne 
 Thai barkyns not my sawe , 
 Hanged hy and drawne, 
 Therfoi no hostc ye blaw ; 
 Bat, m for kyng, I connnannd peasse, 
 To alle the people of thys empyre. 
 Looke no man |>u I hym self in preasse, 
 Itof tli.ii w \ He «lo .is I desvre -
 
 94 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 And of youre wordes look that ye seasse. 
 Take tent to me, youre soferand syre, 
 That may youre comfort most increasse , 
 And to my lyst howe lyfe and lyre. 
 
 Primus Miles. 
 My Lord , if any here were , 
 That wold not wyrk youre wylle ; 
 If we myghte com thaym nere , 
 Fulle soyn we shuld theym spylle. 
 
 Pharao. 
 Thrughe out my kyngdom wold I ken , 
 And kun hym thank that wold me telle , 
 If any were so waryd men, 
 That wold my fors down felle. 
 
 Secundus Miles. 
 My Lord , ye have a manner of men 
 That make great mastres us emelle; 
 The Jues that won in Gersen, 
 Thay ar callyd chyldyr of Israel. 
 Thay multyplye fulle fast , 
 And sothly we suppose 
 That shalle ever last , 
 Owe lordshyp for to lose. 
 
 Pharao. 
 Why , how have thay syche gawdes begun ? 
 Ar thay of niyght to make sych frayes ? 
 
 Primus 3Iiles. 
 Yei, Lord, fulle felle folk ther was fun 
 In kyng Pharao, youre faders, dayes. 
 Thay cam of Josephe , was Jacob son , 
 He was a prince worthy to prayse; 
 In sythen in ryst have thay ay rou; 
 Thus ar thay lyke to lose youre layse , 
 Thay wylle confound you cleyn , 
 Bot if thay soner seasse.
 
 PHARAO. 
 
 })o 
 
 Phavao. 
 What, devjlle, is that thay uieyn 
 That thay so fast increase ? 
 
 Seen nd us Miles. 
 
 How thav Lucres fullo welle we ken. 
 As onre faders dyd understand ; 
 Thai were hot soxty and ten 
 When th.)\ ISrst cam in to thys laud; 
 S\ then have sojcrned in Gerscn 
 Four hundred wynter, I dar warand; 
 \ow ar thay nowuihred of mygkty men 
 Moo then ccc thousand , 
 Wythe outen wyfe and ehyld , 
 Or hyrdes that kepc thare fee. 
 
 Phavao. 
 
 How thus myghte we he heyyled! 
 Bot shalle it not he; 
 
 For wythe quantyse we shalle thaym quelle. 
 So that thay sehalle not far sprede. 
 Primus Miles. 
 
 My Lord, we have hard onre fadcrs telle, 
 And elerkes that welle couthe rede, 
 Ther shuld a man walk us amelle 
 Thai shuld fordo us and onre dede. 
 
 PJutrao. 
 
 I"\ on Iiyiii , to the devylle of hello , 
 Sych destyny wylle we not drede; 
 We shalle make mydwyfes to spylle them 
 Where any Ehrew is home, 
 Ami alle menkynde to kylle (hem, 
 S<> shalle thay soyu he lorne. 
 
 Ancl .is for elder have I none awe, 
 Syche bondage shalle 1 to theym beyde, 
 To dyke and delf, bere and draw, 
 
 And In do all nnhonesl deyde ;
 
 96 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 So shalle these ladttes be liokleu law 
 
 In thraldom ever thare lyfe to leyde. 
 Secundus Miles. 
 Now, certes, thys was a sotelle saw, 
 Thus shalle these folk no farthere sprede. 
 
 Pharao. 
 Now help to hald theym downe, 
 Look I no fayntnes fyiule. 
 
 Primus Miles. 
 Alle rcdy, Lord, we shalle he howne , 
 In bondage thaym to bynde. 
 
 [Tunc inlrat Moyses cum virgii in manu, etc,] 
 
 Moyses. 
 
 Gret God , that alle thys warld began , 
 And growndyd it in good degre , 
 Thou niayde me , Moyses , unto man , 
 And sythen thou savyd me from the se , 
 Kyng Pharao had eommawndyd than 
 Ther shuld no man chyld savyd be ; 
 Agans hys wylle away I wan ; 
 Thus has God showed hys might for me. 
 Now am I set to kepe, 
 Under thys montayn syde , 
 Byschope Jettyr shepe , 
 To better may betyde; 
 A , Lord , grete is thy myght ! 
 What man may of yond mervelle meyn ? 
 Yonder I se a seleowth syght , 
 Syche on in warld was never seyn ; 
 A bush I se burnand fullc bryght, 
 And ever elykc the leyfes ar greyn , 
 If it be wark of warldely wyght , 
 I wylle go wyt wythoutyn weyn. 
 
 Deus. 
 
 Moyses! Moyses! 
 
 [Ilie propcrat ai riibum, et (licit ei Dens. —
 
 1MIARAO. 07 
 
 Ifoyses com not to nere, 
 Bol stylle in tli.-it stede thou dwelle, 
 Ami barkyn onto me here; 
 Take tent what I the telle. 
 Do of th\ shoyes in fere. 
 Wvlh mouth as I the melle; 
 The place thoo Btandes in there, 
 Forsoth, is halowd welle. 
 1 am tli> Lord, mthouten Lak, 
 To lengthe flii lyfe oven as I lysl ; 
 I am God thai som tyme spake 
 To thyn elders, as thay wyst; 
 To Abraham, and Isaac, 
 And Jacob, I Bayde shulde lie blyst, 
 And mulfytude of them to make. 
 So thai thare seyde shnld not be myst. 
 Bui bow llivs kyng, Pharao, 
 He hurtys my folk so fast, 
 If that I suH're hvni so . 
 Thare seyde shuld soyne be past ; 
 Hot I w \lle not so do , 
 In me if thay wylle trast 
 Bondage to brynge thaym fro. 
 I herfor thou go in hast , 
 To do my message have in mynde 
 To hym, that me syche harme mase; 
 Thou speke to hym wythe wordes heynde, 
 So that he let my people pas 
 To ivyldernes, that thay may weynde 
 To irorshyp me as I wylle asse. 
 Ajjans in \ wylle if that thay leynd, 
 I'nl soya hyi son;; shalle be, alas. 
 
 Mouses, 
 A. Lord! pardon me, vryth th\ leyf, 
 
 I ll»l I] II i;;r lllll'.s inr no-Ill ; 
 
 Gladlj iIi.in wold me jreyf, 
 
 7
 
 08 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 If I syehc bodworde broght. 
 Good Lord, lette som othere frast, 
 That has more fors the folke to fere. 
 
 Dens. 
 
 Moyses , he thou nott abast , 
 My bydyng shalle thou boldly here; 
 If thay wyth wrong away wold wrast , 
 Outt of the way I shalle the were. 
 
 Moyses. 
 
 Good Lord, thay wylle not me trast 
 For allc the othes that I can swere; 
 To neven sych noytes new 
 To folk of wykyd wylle , 
 Wyth outen tohyn trew, 
 Thay wylle not tent ther tylle. 
 
 Dens. 
 
 If that he wylle not understand 
 Thys tokyn trew that I shalle sent , 
 Afore the kyng cast down thy wand, 
 And it shalle turne to a serpent ; 
 Then take the tayllc agane in hand , 
 Boldly up look thou it hent, 
 And in the state thou it fand 
 Thou shal it turne by niyne intent. 
 Sythen bald thy hand soyn in thy barme , 
 And as a lepre it shal be lyke , 
 And hole agane with outen barme ; 
 Lo , my tokyns shal be slyke. 
 And if he wylle not suffre then 
 My people for to pas in peasse , 
 I shalle send venyance ix or ten, 
 Shalle sowe fulle sore or I seasse. 
 Bot ye Ebrewes , won in Jessen , 
 Shalle not be merkyd with that measse ; 
 As long as thay my lawes wylle ken 
 Thare comforthe shalle ever inereasse.
 
 PHVRAO. 1M) 
 
 Monte*. 
 
 A, Lord, to luf the ajjht us welle 
 That makes tin folk thus free ; 
 I shalle unto thayni telle 
 As thou has told to me. 
 Hot to the kyng, Lord, when I coin, 
 If be aske what is thy name, 
 And 1 stand stylle , both deyf and doin , 
 ILn\ sliuld I skape >\ithoutten blame ? 
 
 Deus. 
 
 I say the thus , Ego sum qui sum , 
 I am he that is the same ; 
 If thou can nother muf nor mom, 
 I shalle sheld the from shame. 
 
 Moyses. 
 
 I understand fidle welle thys thynj; ; 
 I go, Lord, with alle the myght in me. 
 
 Deus. 
 
 Be hold in my hlyssynj; , 
 Thi Boconre shalle I be. 
 
 Slouses. 
 
 A, Lord of luf, leyn me thy lare , 
 That I may truly talys telle : 
 To my freyndes now wylle I fare , 
 The ehosyn t-hihlre of Israelle, 
 To telle theym comforthe of thare care , 
 In dawngere ther as thay dwelle. 
 God manteyn you evermare, 
 And liiel.vlle niyilhe he you emelle. 
 
 ■I el *• 
 
 Primus I'uer. 
 A . mast rr .Moyses, derc! 
 Owe ■yrthe it alle aaowmynjy; 
 Folic hard balden ar we h«ra , 
 
 \^ carta under the l.\ ir>. 
 
 7
 
 100 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Secundvts Puer. 
 We may mown, both more and myn, 
 Ther is uo man that oure niyrlh mase; 
 Bot syn we ar alle of a kyn 
 God send us eomforth in thys case. 
 
 Moyses. 
 Brethere , of y onre inowrnyng hlyn , 
 God wylle delyver you thrughe his grace j 
 Out of this wo he wylle you wyn, 
 And put you to youre pleassyng place ; 
 For I shalle carp unto the kyng , 
 And fownd fulle soyn to make you free. 
 Primus Puer. 
 God grant you good weyndyng, 
 And evermore with you he. 
 
 Moyses. 
 Kyng Pharao, to me take tent. 
 
 Pharao. 
 Why , hoy , what tythynges can thou telle ? 
 
 Mouses. 
 From God hym self hyder am I sent 
 To foche the chyldre of Israelle ; 
 To wyldernes he wold thay went. 
 
 Pharao. 
 Yei, weynd the to the devylle of helle ; 
 I gyf no force what he has ment ; 
 In my dangere , herst thou , shalle thay dwelle ; 
 And , fatiu*e , for thy sake , 
 Thay shalbe pent to pyne. 
 
 Moyses. 
 Then wylle God venyance take 
 Of the , and of alle thyn. 
 
 Pharao. 
 On me? fy on the lad, out of my land! 
 Wcnys thou thus to loyse oure lay ?
 
 l'MVKAO. 101 
 
 Sa\ . whence is yond warlow with his wand 
 Thai thus wold wyle oure folk awaj ? 
 Primus Styles. 
 
 Yond is Moyses, I dar warand, 
 A;;.uis alle Egypt lias beyn ay; 
 Greatl defawte with hym youre fader fand ; 
 Now wylle be mar you if he may. 
 
 Phttrao. 
 F\ on hym! nay. nay. that dawnce is done; 
 Lnrdan . thou loryd to late. 
 
 Slouses. 
 God hydes the graunt my hone, 
 Aiul let me go my gate. 
 
 P/imao. 
 Bydes God me? fals loselle, thou lyse! 
 What tokyn told be? take thou tent. 
 
 Moyses. 
 Hi sayd thou shuhl dyspyse 
 I'm. lli me, and hys iMiiiimaundemciit ; 
 Forthy, apon thys wyse , 
 \l\ wand he had, in Ihi present, 
 
 I shuld lay downe, and Ihe avysc 
 Dow it shuhl turne to oone serpent. 
 Ami in Ins holy name 
 
 Here I lay it dow iir : 
 
 Lo, Byr 3 bere nun thou se the same. 
 Phuraoi 
 A. ba . dog! Ihe deville t li<' drowne! 
 
 Mouses. 
 He bad me take il bj the taylle, 
 For to prefe Ins uowere playn, 
 Then sayde, wythouten faylle . 
 
 I I n I -liulil to a " and flgai n 
 
 I. ii . sir . lu'liolil.
 
 |02 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Pharao. 
 Wyth yl a haylle ! 
 Certes this is a sotelle swayn ; 
 Bot thyse boyes slialle abyde in bay lie, 
 Alle thi gawdes slialle thaym not gayn; 
 Bot wars, both morne and none, 
 Shalle thay fare, for thi sake. 
 
 3Ioyses 
 I pray God send us venyange sone, 
 And on thi warkes take wrake. 
 Primus Miles. 
 Alas, alas! this land is lorne ! 
 On lyfe we may [no] longer leynd ; 
 Syche myschefe is fallen syn morne, 
 Ther may no medsyn it amend. 
 
 Pharao. 
 Why cry ye so? laddes, lyst ye skorne? 
 
 Secundus Miles. 
 Syr kyng, syche care was never kend, 
 In no mans tyme that ever was borne. 
 
 Pharao. 
 Telle on, belyfe, and make an end. 
 
 Primus Miles. 
 Syr, the waters that were ordand 
 For men and bestes foyde , 
 Tkrughe outt alle Egypt land, 
 Ar turnyd into reede bloyde; 
 Fullc ugly and fulle ylle is hytt, 
 That bothe freshe and fayre was before*. 
 
 Pharao. 
 O , ho ! this is a wonderfulle thyng to wytt , 
 Of all the warkes that ever wore. 
 Secundus Miles. 
 Nay, Lord, ther is anothere yit, 
 That sodanly sowys us fulle sore ;
 
 I'll \u vo. ior> 
 
 For todes and frmhm aaaj no man llyt, 
 Tha\ M'lioui us so, hothe lea ami more. 
 Primus Miles. 
 Greatte mystesj sir, there is bothe morne and noyn, 
 Byte us tulle hy t terry : 
 We trow that it he done 
 Thrughe Moyses, oure grentfe enmy. 
 
 Secutuius Miles. 
 y\\ Lord, hot if this menye may reiuel'e ; 
 Mod never myrthe he us auiauj;-. 
 
 Pharao. 
 tio , say to hym we wylle not grefe , 
 hot thay shalle never the tytter gayng. 
 Primus Miles. 
 Moyses, my Lord (jylfys leyfe 
 To leyd till folk to lykyny lanj;-. 
 So that we mend of oure myschefe. 
 
 Moyses. 
 Fulle welle. I wote , thyse wordes ar vrrang; 
 lint hardely alle that I heytt 
 Fulle sodanl} it shalle he seyn : 
 (Jncowth mervels shalhe meyt 
 And he of inalyee meyn. 
 
 Secuiidus Miles. 
 A. Lord. alas, lor doylle we dy ! 
 We «lar look nule at no dowre. 
 
 Pharao. 
 \\ hat. ragyd the dwylle ofhelle, alysyou so to cr j ? 
 
 Primus Miles. 
 For ire tare wars I lien ever we Cow re ; 
 
 Grete loppys over alle this land thaj lly , 
 Ami where thai byte tluiy make grete blowre, 
 
 Vml in r\ery place oure hesles dede ly. 
 
 Seeundui Miles. 
 
 1 1 on . <>\ . anil asse . 
 
 ' I 1 1 . t \ fall*" downe dede , syr. Bodanly.
 
 I 04 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Pharao. 
 We, lo , ther is no man that has 
 Half as myche harme as I. 
 
 Primus Miles. 
 Yis , sir , poore folk have inekylle wo , 
 To se thare catalle thus out cast. 
 The Jucs in Gessen fayre not so , 
 Thay have lykyng for to last. 
 
 Pharao . 
 Then shalle we gyf theym leyf to go 
 To tyine this perelle he on past ; 
 Bot , or thay flytt oght far us fro , 
 We shalle thein bond twyse as fast. 
 Secundus Miles. 
 Moyses , my Lord gyffes leyf 
 Thi meneye to remeve. 
 
 Moyses. 
 Ye mon hafe more myschefe 
 Bot if thyse talys be trew. 
 
 Primus Miles. 
 A, Lord, Ave may not leyde thyse lyfys. 
 
 Pharao. 
 What , dwylle , is grevance grofen agayn ? 
 
 Secundus Miles. 
 Ye, sir, sich powder apon us dryfys, 
 Where it abides it makes a blayu ; 
 Meselle makes it man and wyfe ; 
 Thus ar we hurt with haylle and rayn. 
 Syr, unys in montanse may not thryfe , 
 So has frost and thoner thaym slayn. 
 
 Pharao. 
 Yei , bot how do thay in Gessen , 
 The Jues , can ye me say ? 
 
 Primus Miles. 
 Of alle these cares no thyng thay ken , 
 Thay feyllc noghte of our afray.
 
 PHAH.VO. IO/> 
 
 PlldfUO. 
 
 No? the ragyd, die d\>}llo. sytt thay in peasse? 
 And we every day in doute and drede? 
 Seetmdus Miles. 
 Mv lord . this care will over encrese , 
 To Moysefl have his folk to leyd; 
 Els he we lorne, it is no lesse , 
 Yit were it better that thai yede. 
 
 Pharao. 
 Thes folk shall llyl no for, 
 If lie {jo welland w ode. 
 
 Primus Miles. 
 Then wille it sone he war. 
 It were better thay yode. 
 
 Secundus Miles. 
 My lord, new harme is comyn in hand. 
 
 Pharao. 
 Yoi . dwille. wille it no hetter he? 
 
 Primus Miles. 
 Wyld wnrmes ar layd over all this land, 
 Thai leyf no llonre , nor leyf on tre. 
 Secundus Miles. 
 Ajj-ans that storme may no man statute ; 
 And mckvlle more mervelle thynk me, 
 Thatt these iij dayes has hene dnrand 
 Siche tnjst. that no man may other se. 
 Primus Miles. 
 A , tin Lord ! 
 
 Pharao, 
 Hag he! 
 
 Secundus Miles. 
 Grete pestilence is comyn; 
 li is like In I lone to last. 
 
 Pharao. 
 Pestilence? in the tlwilys name! 
 I In n iv null pride over past
 
 10G MIHACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Primus Miles. 
 My Lord , this care lastes lang , 
 And wille to Moyses have his hone : 
 Let hym go, els wyrk we wrang, 
 It may not help to hover ne hone. 
 
 Pharao. 
 Then wille we gif theym leyf to gang , 
 Syn it must nedes be doyn ; 
 Perchauns we shall e thaym fang 
 And mar them or to morne at none. 
 Secundus Miles. 
 Moyses, my lord he says 
 Thou shalle have passage playn. 
 
 Moyses. 
 Now have we lefe to pas , 
 My freyndes , now he ye fayn ; 
 Com furthe; now shalle ye weynd 
 To land of lykyng you to pay. 
 Primus Piter. 
 Bot kyng Pharao, that fals feynd, 
 He will us eft betray ; 
 Fulle soyn he wille shape us to sheynd , 
 And after us send his garray. 
 
 Moyses, 
 Be not abast, God is ourc freynd, 
 And alle oure foes wille slay ; 
 Therfor com on with me , 
 Have done and drede you noght. 
 Secundus Puer. 
 That Lord blyst might he be, 
 That us from baylle has broght. 
 Primus Puer. 
 Siche frenship never we fand ; 
 Hot yit I drede for perels alle , 
 The Beedc See is here at hand , 
 Ther shal we bvdc to we be tlualle.
 
 I'll \r. vo 
 
 107 
 
 Moijses. 
 I shalle make way ther with my "and. 
 As God has sayde , to sayf us alle ; 
 On avther syde the see niou stand. 
 To we he gone , right as a walle. 
 Com an wyth me, leyf none hehynde , 
 Lo fowml ye now youre God to pleasse. 
 
 [Hie pertramsieui ma>e.\ 
 
 Secundus Ptter. 
 
 O, Lord! this way is heynd ; 
 >o\v weynd us all at easse. 
 
 Primus Miles. 
 Ryng Pharao ! thysc folk ar gone. 
 
 Pharao. 
 
 Say. ar ther any noyes new? 
 
 Secundus Miles. 
 Thise Ehrews ar gone, lord, everiehon. 
 
 Pharao. 
 How sa>s thou that? 
 
 Primus Miles. 
 Lord, that taylle is trew. 
 
 Pharao. 
 We. outlyte, that they were tayn : 
 That ryett radly shall thay rew ; 
 \\v ghalle not scasse to thay he slayn, 
 I'm- to the see we shall thaym sew ; 
 So charge youre charlottes swythe , 
 Ami feraly look ye (blow me. 
 Seen nd 'us Miles. 
 Alii- redy, lord, we ar ftille blythe 
 At yoore byddyng to be. 
 
 Primus Mibs. 
 Lord , al yonre byddyng ar we bowne 
 
 Omit bodya Ixililly lor to beyd; 
 
 \\ i shalle not teasae . bol dyng alle downe, 
 
 I'n   1 1 < li" ilcilc Mrithouten drede.
 
 108 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Pharao. 
 Heyf up youre hertes unto Mahowne , 
 He Aville be nere us in oure nede ; 
 Help , the raggyd dwyllc , we drowne ! 
 Now mon we dy for alle oure dede. 
 
 [Tunc merget eos mare.} 
 
 Moyses. 
 
 Now ar we won from alle oure wo , 
 And savyd out of the see ; • 
 Lovyng gyf we God unto , 
 Go we to land now merely. 
 Primus Puer. 
 
 Lofe we may that Lord on hyght , 
 And ever telle on this mervelle; 
 Drownyd he has Kyng Pharao myght, 
 Lovyd he that Lord Emanuelle. 
 
 Moyses. 
 
 Heven, thou attend, I say in syght; 
 And erthe my wordys , here what I telle. 
 As rayn or dew on erthe doys lyght 
 And waters , herhys , and trees fulle welle , 
 Gyf lovyng to Goddes mageste, 
 Hys dedys ar done , hys ways ar trew. 
 Honowred he he in trynyte , 
 To hym he honowre and verteu. 
 
 AMEN. 
 
 EXPLICIT rilARAO.
 
 PA8TORE8. Ill: I 
 
 PAST ORES. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 
 Lord, what these weders ar cold , and I am ylle happyd; 
 I am nere hande dold, so long have I nappyd; 
 II) lejj^s thay fold, my fyngers ar chappyd, 
 It is not as I wold , for I am a] lappyd 
 
 In BOrOW. 
 
 In slormes and tempest, 
 
 Now in the eest, now in the west, 
 
 Wo is In m has never rest 
 
 Myd day nor morOW. 
 
 Hoi we scly shepardes, thai walkys on the moore, 
 
 In fayth we arc nere handes outt of the doorc ; 
 
 No wonder as it standys if we be poore, 
 
 Foi tlie tylthe of onre landea lyys falow as the lloorc, 
 
 As \ e ken. 
 ^\ •■ arc so ham\ <l . 
 For taxed and ramvd . 
 We ar mayde hand tamyd, 
 
 Willie thyse gentlery men. 
 '[ lius iIi.in i rle us onre rest, Oure Lady theym wary, 
 These men that ar lord test lhay cause the ploghc tary. 
 Thai men mtj is for the heat we rynde it contrary, 
 I Iniv at liushamles opprest , ill point to myscary , 
 
 On lylc. 
 
 I Inis liuiil thai us bonder - 
 Tims ili,i\ bryng us in blonder, 
 
 I I w ere great te h under . 
 
 \nil ever slndd we thryfe. 
 
 For iiiin lie ;;ell a |i;i\ ill slide or a hroehe now on da\es, 
 
 \\ <> is li\ni thai bym grefe, <n- onys agane Bays, 
 l)ii- no inan li \ in reprefe, what mastri be mays 5
 
 110 MIRACLE- PLAYS. 
 
 And yit may no man lefe oone word that he says 
 
 l\o letter. 
 He can make purveance, 
 With boste and bragance , 
 And alle is thrughe mantenance 
 
 Of men that are gretter. 
 Ther shalle com a swane as prowde as a po , 
 He must borow my wane, my ploghe also, 
 Then I am fulle fane to graunt or he go. 
 Thus lyf we in payne , anger , and wo , 
 
 By nyght and day ; 
 He must have if he langyd, 
 If I shuld forgang it , 
 I were better be hangyd 
 
 Then oones say hym nay. 
 It dos me good, as I walk thus by myn oone, 
 Of this warld for to talk in maner of mone : 
 To my shepe wylle I stalk and herkyn anone, 
 Ther abyde on a balk, or sytt on a stone 
 
 Full soyne. 
 For Iftrowe, parde , 
 Trew men if thay be , 
 We gett more compane 
 
 Or it be noyne. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Benste and Dominus ! what may this bemeyne? 
 Why fares this warld thus oft have we not sene. 
 Lord , thyse weders ar spytus , and the weders fulle kene 
 And the frost so hydus thay water myn eeyne , 
 
 No ly. 
 Now in dry , now in wete , 
 IVow in snaw, now in slete, 
 When my shone freys to my fete 
 
 It is not alle esy. 
 Bo I as far as I ken, or yit as I go. 
 We sely wodmen ure mekylle wo ;
 
 PAST0RES. | 1 I 
 
 We have sorow then and then, it fallys oil so, 
 Sely Capvll, owe hen. both to anil fro 
 
 She kakyls, 
 Bot begyn she to erok , 
 To groyne or to elok . 
 >\"<» is hym of oure cok , 
 
 For he is iu the shekyls. 
 These men that ar wed have not alle (hare wylle, 
 When they ar l'nlle hard sled thay s\j;he fill lo stylle; 
 God wayte thay ar led fhlle hard and l'nlle ylle , 
 In bower nor in bed thay say noyht ther ty lie , 
 
 This tyde. 
 M \ parte have I fun , 
 I know my lesson , 
 Wo is hym that is bun. 
 
 For he must abyde. 
 Bot now late in oure lyfys, a marvel to me , • 
 
 That I thynk mv hart ryfys siehe wonders to see. 
 What that destany dryfys it shuld so be , 
 Soui men wylle have two wyfys , and som men tlire , 
 
 In store. 
 Sum ar wo thai has any; 
 Hot so far ean I , 
 Wo is hym that has many , 
 
 For he felys sore. 
 Hot yong men of wowynjj, for God that you boght, 
 Be welle war of wedyng, and thynk in yonre thojjht 
 
 Had I wyst" is a thyng' it servys of aoght ; 
 M.l.\ lie stylle mowrnyng has wedyng home brojjht 
 
 And grefj s . 
 W'i t li many a sharp showre , 
 For limn ni.i\ eaehe in an owre 
 I Int shalle tayonr fhlle bowre 
 \s long as thou ly 11\ *-. 
 
 For, as )\ci red I |»\sl\||c. I lia\c none to in > ten- . 
 \s -|tar|> as tli\sl\||c . as iiijjIi as a hrerr .
 
 112 MIKACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 She is browyd lyke a bryslylle, with a sowre, loten, chore ; 
 Had she oones wett hyr whystyll she couth syng- fulle clcre 
 
 Hyr pater noster. 
 She is as greatt as a whalle, 
 She has a galon of galle , 
 By hym that dyed for us alle ! 
 
 I wald I had ryn to I lost liir. 
 Primus Pastor. 
 God looke over the raw, fulle defly ye stand. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Yee , the deville in thi inaw, so tariand, 
 Saghe thou awro of Daw ? 
 Primus Pastor. 
 Yee , on a ley land 
 Hard I hym blaw , he conimys here at hand , 
 
 Not far ; 
 StandAylle. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Qwhy ? 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 For he coimnys hope I. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 He wylle make us both a ly 
 Bot if we he war. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Crystes crosse me spede .and Sant IVycholas, 
 Ther of had I nede , it is wars then it was. 
 Whoso couthe take hede, and lett the warld pas, 
 It is ever in drede and hrekylle as glas, 
 
 And slythys. 
 This warld fowre never so , 
 With mervels mo and mo , 
 Now in weylle, now in wo , 
 
 » And alle thyng- wry thy s. 
 Was never syn Noe lloode sich floodes seyn, 
 Wyndes and ranys so rude , and stonues so keyn ,
 
 I'VsroKKS. I 15 
 
 Soui Btamerd, Bom stod in dowte, as I weyn, 
 
 Now God tome alio to good, I say as I mono, 
 
 For ponder. 
 Those Hondo so I li;i\ drow nc . 
 Both in feyldes and in lownc , 
 And beri s alio don ae . 
 
 And lhal is a wonder. 
 We thai. wail, on the nyghtys onre eatelle to kepe , 
 We se Bodan syghtes when othere men slepe: 
 let me llivnh my bart lyghtes, I se Bhrewys pepe, 
 Ye ar two alle wyghtes, I wylle gyf my shepe 
 
 A Inrne. 
 Bot (bile ylle have I ment, 
 As 1 walk on (his bent, 
 I may ly;;htly repent , 
 
 My toes if I spurne. 
 A, sir, God you save, and master myne! 
 A drynk fayn wold I have and somwhat to dyne. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 Crystes cars, my knave, thou art a ledyr hyne. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 What, the hoy lvs( rave, ahyde unto syne 
 We have mayde it. 
 Ylle thiyfte on thy pate! 
 Thoughe the shrew cam late 
 ^ it is lie in stale 
 
 To dyne , if he had it. 
 
 Tercitts Pastor. 
 Sielie ser\ amies as I, that sweltys and swynkys , 
 Etya onre brede fnlle drye, and that me forthynkys; 
 We are oft weytl and wets when master men wynkys, 
 
 l it COmmyi fnlle lately hoth dyners and drynkys. 
 
 Bol nately. 
 Bothe Onre dame and onre syre, 
 
 IVhen nc have ryn in the myre, 
 
 8
 
 114 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Thay can nyp at oiire hyre , 
 
 And pay us fulle lately. 
 Bot here my trouthe, master, for the fayr that ye make 
 I shalle do therafter wyrk , as I take ; 
 I shalle do a lyttlle, sir, and eniang ever lake, 
 For yit lay my soper never on my stomake 
 
 In feyldys. 
 Wherto shuld I threpe ? 
 With my staff can I lepe, 
 And men say «lyght chepe 
 
 Letherly for yeldes." 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 Thou were an ylle lad, to ryde on wowyng 
 With a man that had hot lytylle of spendyng. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Peasse hoy I had, no more jangling, 
 Or I shall make the fulle rad , hy the hevens kyng ! 
 
 With thy gawdys; 
 Wher ar oure shepe, hoy, we skorne? 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Sir , this same day at morne , 
 I them left in the corne, 
 
 When thay rang lawdys ; 
 Thay have pasture good, thay can not go wrong. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 That is right, hy the roode, thyse nyghtes ar long, 
 Yit I wold , or we yode , oone gaf us a song. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 So I thoght as I stode , to myrth us emong. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 I graunt. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 Lett me syng the tenory. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 And I the tryhle so hye.
 
 ■•\s roiiKs. I |o 
 
 Fertms Pastor. 
 Then the merne talks to me; 
 
 •I * 
 
 Lett se Imn m' chauntt. 
 
 I Tunc intrmt Mak in clumitlc te super tot/tun vettitms.i 
 Mak. 
 .\m\ Lord, tor tin naymes scmmi. that made hoth moyn 
 ami Btarnes 
 Welle mo then I can neven: thi wille, Lorde, of me tharnys ; 
 I am alle uneven, that moves oil my haraes , 
 \ . i \\ wold God I >vere in heveu, for tlier wepe no harm's 
 So Btylle. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 Who is that pypys so noore ? 
 
 Mak. 
 Wold God ye wysl how I foore! 
 
 Lo a man thai walkes on the moore , 
 And has not alle his wylle. 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Mak. where has thou gone? tell us tythyng. 
 
 renins Pastor. 
 Is he eommen? then >lkon lake kede to his thing*. 
 
 | /.'* ncci/iil elamidem ab i/iso\ 
 
 Mak. 
 What, icfa he a wyoman, I telle you, of the king; 
 The self and the same, sond from a greatt lordyng, 
 
 And siche. 
 l\ on yon, goythe hence. 
 Out of in \ presence . 
 I inii-i lia\ c rei erence - 
 
 \\li\ . w Ini he i « - 1   « - ? 
 
 PrWttU Pastor. 
 \\ !.\ inal.r y ii so <|«aynt? .Mak, ye do wrang. 
 
 Secundut Pastor. 
 Hot. Mai. . lysl ye say nt V I trow thai ye lang. 
 
 Tardus Pastor. 
 I troii the -dum can paynt, the dewyUemyghthym hang!
 
 HO MIRACLE- PLAYS. 
 
 Mak. 
 
 Ich shalle make complaynt, aad make you alle to thwang 
 
 At a worde, 
 
 And tell evyn how ye doth. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 
 Bot Mak, is that sothe ? 
 
 Now take outt that sothren tothe 
 
 And sett in a torde. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 
 Mak , the dewille in your ee , a stroke wold I leyne you. 
 
 Tercitis Pastor. 
 
 Mak, know ye not me? hy God I couthe teyle you. 
 
 Mak 
 
 God looke you alle thre, me thought I had sene you. 
 
 Ye ar a fare compane. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 
 Can ye now mene you? 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Shrew , jape; 
 
 Thus late as thou goys, 
 
 What wylle men suppoys ? 
 
 And thou has an ylle noys 
 
 Of stelyng of shepe. 
 
 Mak. 
 
 And I am trew as steylle alle men waytt, 
 
 Bot a sekenes I feylle that haldes me fulle haytt. 
 
 My helly farys not weylle, it is out of astate. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 
 Seldom lyys the dewylle dede hy the gate. 
 
 Mak. 
 Therfore 
 
 Fulle sore am I and ylle , 
 
 , If I stande stone stylle ; 
 
 I ete not an nedylle 
 
 Thys moneth and more. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 
 How farys thi wyff ? by ni\ hnode , how farvs sho ?
 
 PASTORES. 117 
 
 Mak. 
 Lws walteryng, 1>\ the roode, by the IS ere 1<>, 
 And a howse I'ul If ol* brude, she drynkys weUe to. 
 Vile Bpede othere good thai she wylle do; 
 
 Hoi BO 
 Etys .is fa8l as she ('.in. 
 
 And ilk yere thai commys to man. 
 She brynges fhrthe a lakan, 
 
 And soin yeres two. 
 Itol were I not more gracyus, and rychere befar, 
 I were eten out! ol' bowse, and of harbar, 
 \ il is she a fowlle dowse , if ye com nar : 
 Ther is aon thai trowse, nor knowys a war. 
 
 Then ken I. 
 Now wylle ye Be what I proffer, 
 To gyf alle in my cofer 
 To limine al next lo offer 
 
 Her lied mas penny. 
 
 Secunaus Pastor. 
 I wote so forwakvd is none in lliis slixre: 
 1 wold slepe if I laliyd les to my hyere. 
 
 Tardus Pastor. 
 I am cold and nakyd, and wold have a fyere. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 I .1111 w erv lor rakyd, and run in the myre. 
 Wake thou! 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 
 \.i\ . I \\\ lie lyg (Inn lie li\ . 
 For 1 must slepe folly. 
 
 Tereius Pastor, 
 
 As good .< in.uiNs son was I 
 As any of \ on. 
 Bot, M.il. . com beder, betwene shalle thou lyg downe. 
 
 MaL 
 Then myght I let! you bedene: of that \«' wold rowne, 
 \n drede.
 
 H8 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Fro my top to my too 
 Mantis tuas commendo 
 Pontio Pilato, 
 
 Cryst crosse me spede. 
 
 [Tunc surgil, pastorihus dormientibus , el dieit : 
 
 Now were tyme for a man , that lakkys what he wold , 
 To stalk prively than nnto a fold , 
 And neemly to wyrk than, and he not to hold. 
 For he myght ahy the barman , if it were told 
 
 At the endyng. 
 Now were tyme for to reylle ; 
 Bot he nedes good eounselle 
 That fayn wold fare weylle , 
 
 And has hot lytylle spendyng. 
 Bot ahowte yon a serkylle , as rownde as a moyn, 
 To I have done that I wylle, tylle that it he noyu , 
 That ye lyg stone stylle, to that I have doyne , 
 And I shall say thertylle of good wordes a foyne. 
 
 On hight 
 Over yonre heydes my hand I lyft , 
 Ontt go yonre een, fordo your syght, 
 Bot yit I must make hetter shyft , 
 
 And it he right. 
 Lord! what thay slepe hard, that may ye alle here; 
 Was I never a shepard, hot now wylle I lere. 
 If the flok he skard, yit shalle I nyp nere, 
 How drawcs hederward : now mendes oure ehere 
 
 From sorow : 
 A fatt shepe I dar say , 
 A good flese dar I lay, 
 Eft whyte when I may, 
 
 Bot this wille I horow. 
 How, Gylle, art thou in? Gett us som lyght. 
 
 Uxor Ejus. 
 Who makys sich dyn this tyme of the nyght '• 
 I am sett for to spyn: 1 hope not I myghl
 
 1'ASTOHKS. I 1 J) 
 
 K\so a poiin> lo a\>d: 1 shrow lliiMti on bight 
 
 So farys 
 A huswyff thai has bene 
 To be rasyd llms betwene : 
 There ma> no note be sene 
 
 For rich smalle charys. 
 Mak. 
 Good >% > tV . open the hek. Sojs thou not what 1 bryng? 
 
 Uxor. 
 I may l hole the tlrav the suck. A, oom in, my swetyng. 
 
 Mak. 
 \ Cc . thou that not refc of my long - standyng. 
 
 Uxor. 
 
 Il\ the nakyd nek art thou lykc for to byng. 
 
 Mak. 
 
 Do \\a> : 
 1 ;nn worthy my mete . 
 For in a strati' ran I gett 
 .More then thay that swynke and swette 
 
 Alio tin* Long dai , 
 Thus il folio to my lot, Gylle, I had rich grace. 
 
 Uxor. 
 It irere a fowlle hlolt to be hanged for the caso. 
 
 Mak. 
 I bare skapyd, Jelott, oft as hard a glase. 
 
 Uxor. 
 l(oi so long i|n\s the poll to the water," men says, 
 ..At lasl 
 Comys it borne broken. 
 
 Mak. 
 Wollo knowe I tin- token, 
 |{oi let it no\ iv be spoken ; 
 
 Itoi com and I   < i | > fast. 
 I m old !'<■ *i ere Ma\ a   I l>si « oil cii 
 rhu twclmothe >n ;• ^ I not so fayn of oone shene mete
 
 120 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Uxor. 
 Com thay or he be slayn , and here the sbepe blete ? 
 
 Mah. 
 
 Then myght I be tane : that were a cold swette. 
 Go spar 
 The gaytt doore. 
 
 Uxor. 
 Yis Mah , 
 For and thay com at thy bah. 
 
 Mak. 
 Then inyght I by for alle the pak 
 The deAville of the war. 
 
 Uxor. 
 A good bowrde have I spied, syn thon can none: 
 Here sballe we hym hyde , to thay be gone; 
 In my credylle abyde. Lett me alone, 
 And I shalle lyg r besyde in ehylbed and grone. 
 
 Mak. 
 Thou red; 
 And I shalle say thou was lyght 
 Of a knave chible this nyght. 
 
 Uxor. 
 Now welle is me day bright, 
 That ever I was bred. 
 This is a good gyse and a far cast ; 
 Yit a woman avyse helpys at the last. 
 I wote never who spyse: agane go thou fast. 
 
 Mak. 
 Bot I com or thay ryse, els blawes a cold blast. 
 I wylle go slepe. 
 Yit slepys alle this meneye, 
 And I shalle go stalk prevely, 
 As it had never bene I 
 
 That caryed thare shepe.
 
 PASTOR] 5. |«2t 
 
 1'iimits Pastor. 
 
 Resurrex a wutrtruis: hare bald my hand. 
 Judas ettmas dem u n us , I may not welle stand: 
 >l\ foytl slepys, l»y Jesus, and I water fastand. 
 I thoghf that we layd us fhlle aere \ mjland. 
 
 Secundtis Pastor. 
 
 A ye! 
 Lord ! what I have slept weyllej 
 As fresh as an eylle , 
 An lyghf I mo feylle 
 
 As leyfe on a Ire. 
 
 Tercius Paster. 
 Benste be here in. So m\ qwakys 
 M\ liar! is onti of skyn, A\hat so il makys. 
 Who makys alle flu's dyn? So my browes blakys, 
 To the dowore \% n 1 1 < ' I wyn. Harke felows, wakys! 
 We wore fowre: 
 
 Si- \c aw re of Mai; now? 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 We were an or thoa. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 
 Man. I gyf God a vinve , 
 ^ if \ ede he nawre. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Mr I Imp; hi In- was lapf in a wolfe skyn. 
 
 I' limns Pastor. 
 So an- many bant now namely within. 
 
 SecundtlS Pastor. 
 When we had long oapt; me thoghl with a gyn 
 A lilt shepe lie trapl . bot lie mayde no dyn, 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Be Btylle: 
 
 I In 1 1 1 • 1 1 1   in 1 1, ik the H node : 
 
 It i^ lint i.iiiiom . In ilii- roode.
 
 122 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 
 IVow God turne alle to good , 
 
 If it be his wylle. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 
 Ryse , Mak , for shame ! thou lyges right laag. 
 
 Mak. 
 
 IVow Crystes holy name he us emang , 
 
 AVhat is this for? Sant Jame! I may not welle gang. 
 
 I trow I he the same. A ! my nek has lygen wrang 
 
 Enoghe. 
 
 Mekillc thank , syn yister even 
 
 Now, by Sant Strevyn! 
 
 I was flayd with a swevyn 
 
 My hart out of sloghe. 
 
 I thoght Gylle began to crok , and travclle fulle sad , 
 
 Welner at the fyrst cok, of a yong lad, 
 
 For to mend oure flok : then be I never glad. 
 
 I have tow on my rok , more then ever I had. 
 
 A , my hcede ! 
 
 A house fulle of yong tharmes, 
 
 The dewille knok outt thare harnes 
 
 Wo is hym has many barnes , 
 
 And therto lytylle brede. 
 
 I must go home, by youre lefe , to Gylle as I thoght. 
 
 I pray you look my slefe, that I steylle noght : 
 
 I am loth you to grefe, or from you take oght. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 
 Go furth, ylle myght thou chefe , now wold I we soghl. 
 
 This morne, 
 
 That we had alle oure store. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 
 Hot I wille go before , 
 
 Let us mete. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Whore ? 
 
 Tercius Pastor, 
 
 At the r-rokyd thorne.
 
 PASTOKi *. IS5o 
 
 Mak. 
 Undo this door el who is bere? how lonjj shalle I stand? 
 
 Uxor EJjus. 
 Who makys Bich a bere? now walke in the wenyand. 
 
 Mak. 
 V. (i>llc. >\ hat chcrc? it is I, Mak, youre busbande. 
 
 Uxor. 
 Then ma\ uc be bere, the dewille in a bande, 
 Syr Gyle. 
 Lo, In 1 commys with a lote 
 As he were holden in the throte. 
 1 may not syl at my note. 
 A hand Ian;; while. 
 
 Mak. 
 Wylle ye bere >> liat fare she makys lo get hir a glose, 
 Ami ilu aoehl bnl lakys and clowse hir toose. 
 
 Uxor. 
 Why, who wanders, who wak\s, who comys, whojjose? 
 Who brewys, who bakys? what makes me thus hose? 
 
 Ami than 
 It is rew the to be holde , 
 Now iii bote, now iii eolde, 
 Fulle wofulle is the bonseholde 
 That wants a woman. 
 Bol w li.tl ende lias thou mayde with the hyrdys, Mak? 
 
 Mak. 
 The la>l worde that thay sayde, when I turnyd my hak, 
 Thay wold looke thai thaj li.iv <■ thare shepe alio the pak. 
 I bone thay «\ ll<- not !»<■ welle payde, when thay thare shepe lak. 
 
 Perde. 
 r»<. i linw mi the gam isoae, 
 
 I < ' the] m j lie suppose - 
 
 And make a foulle noyse. 
 
 Ami i-ia null apon me. 
 Iliii thou must do ai limn h>;;hl.
 
 VI \ 
 
 MIKACI.K- PLAYS. 
 
 Uxor. 
 I accorde me thertylle. 
 I shalle swedylle hym right in iny credylle. 
 If it were a gxetler slyght, yit couthe I lielpe tylle. 
 I wylle lyg downe stright. Com hap me. 
 
 Mah 
 
 I wylle. 
 Uxor. 
 Bchynde. 
 Com Colle and his maroo, 
 Thay wylle nyp us fulle naroo. 
 
 Mak. 
 Uot I may cry out karoo , 
 
 The shepe if thay fynde. 
 Uxor. 
 Harken ay when thay calle : thay wille com anone. 
 Com and make redy alle , and syng hy thyn oone , 
 Syng lullay thou shalle , for I must grone , 
 And cry oult hy the walle on Mary and John , 
 
 For sore. 
 Syng lullay on fast 
 When thou heris at the last ; 
 And hot I play a fals cast 
 Trust me no more. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 A, Colle, goode inorne : why slepys thou notl ? 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 Alas, that ever was I home! we have a fovvlle blot. 
 A fat wedir have we lorne. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 
 Mary , Codes forhott ! 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Who shuld do us that skorne ? that were a fowlle spotl. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 Some shrewe. 
 J have soght with my doges
 
 t'Asionis. I <>,) 
 
 A lie Horben sbroges . 
 
 And Of W 111);; is 
 
 Fond 1 hot none ewe. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Now trow me if ye mile; by Sant Thomas of Rent! 
 Ayther Mak or Gylle \>as at that assent. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 lVasse . man, be still*'; 1 sagb when lie went. 
 Thou gklanders bym 5 lie; thou ajjht to repent. 
 Goode spede. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Now as ever myght I the, 
 If I shuhl evyn here de, 
 1 wold s.iv it were he 
 
 That dyd that same dede. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Go we theder I rede , and ryn on oure feete. 
 Slulle I never ete hrede, the sothe to I wylt. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 flfor drynk in m\ heede \\ilh bym tylle I mete. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 \ wylle rest in no stede , tylle that I hym grete , 
 My brothere 
 
 i lone I w ille hijjht : 
 IN lie I s <' bym in sight 
 Sh.illi- I aerer slepe one nyght 
 
 Ther 1 1I0 a no there. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Willi- ye bere how thai hak, oure syre, lyst , croyne. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 Hard I aeret none crak so clere out of toyne. 
 Calle mi bym, 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Mak! iiiiiln you re doore aoynei
 
 1 U(j MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Mak. 
 Who is that spak , as it were noyne? 
 > On loft, 
 
 Who is that I say? 
 
 Terciiis Pastor. 
 Goode felowse, were it day. 
 
 Mak. 
 
 As far as ye may , 
 
 Good, spekes soft 
 Over a seke womans heede , that is at maylle easse, 
 I had lever he dede or she had any dyseasse. 
 
 Uxor. 
 Go to an othere stede $ I may not welle qweasse. 
 Ich fote that ye trede goys thorow my nese 
 So hee. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 Telle us , Mak , if ye may , 
 How fare ye , I say ? 
 
 Mak. 
 Bot ar ye in this towne to day ? 
 
 Now how fare ye? 
 Ye have ryn in the myre, and ar weytt yit : 
 I shalle make you a fyre, if ye wille syt. 
 A nores wold I hyre ; thynk ye on yit , 
 Welle qwitt is my hyre , my dreine this is itl 
 
 A seson. 
 I have harnes if ye knew , 
 Welle mo then enewe , 
 Bot we must drynk as we brew, 
 
 And that is bot reson. 
 I wold ye dynyd ar ye yode : me thynk that ye swette. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Nay, nawther mendys ourc mode, drynke nor mette. 
 
 Mak. 
 Why , sir , alys you oght bot goode ?
 
 PASTURES. 127 
 
 Terchu Pastor. 
 
 Yes , our shepe thai we jyetl, 
 Ar stollyn as thay yode. Oure los is grette. 
 
 Btak. 
 
 Sats . dryukes. 
 Had I bene there 
 
 Some Bhuld have boghl it tulle sore. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 Mary, some men trowes thai ye wore, 
 And that us forthynkes. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Hah, some men troAves that it slmltl be ye. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Ayther ye or youre spouse; so say Ave. 
 
 Mo*. 
 Now if ac have SUSpOWSe to (idle or to me, 
 ("-iiiu and rype oure bowse, and then may ye se 
 
 Who had hir. 
 It' I aiiA shepe fott, 
 Aa 1 1 i o i- cow or stott . 
 And Ci\ 1 1«- . my a\ a le . rose uott 
 Here sa u she lade hir. 
 A> I am and true and lele , to God here I pray, 
 That this he the fyrst melc that I shalle ete this day. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 Mai;, as have I ceylle , aryse the, I say, 
 He lernyd tymeH l<> steylle thai couth not say nay. 
 
 I xor. 
 I SAvelt. 
 Onit. thefys, fro my wonys ! 
 Ye com to rob us for the nonys. 
 
 Mak. 
 Here ye uol how she eronys? 
 i our hart] i Bhuld melt. 
 Uxor. 
 
 Outt, lliel\s. fro in\ harne ! ne;;li h>m D01 thorp.
 
 I Hit MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Mak. 
 Wyst ye how she bad fame , youre hartys wold be sore. 
 Ye do wrang , I you warne , that thus commys before 
 To a woman that has fame; hot I say no more. 
 
 Uxor. 
 A my medylle ! 
 I pray to God so mylde, 
 If ever I you begyld, 
 That I ete this chylde , 
 
 That lyges in this credylle. 
 Mak. 
 Peasse , woman, for Godes payn, and cry not so: 
 Thou spyllys thy brane, and makes me fulle wo. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 I trow oure shepe be slayn , what fintle ye two ? 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Alle wyrk we in vayn : as welle may we go. 
 But liatters 
 I can fynde no flesh , 
 Hard nor nesh, 
 Salt nor fresh , 
 
 Bot two tome platers. 
 Whik catelle bot this , tame nor wylde , 
 None, as have I blys , as lowde as he smylde. 
 
 Uxor. 
 No, so God me blys, and gyf me joy of my chylde. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 We have marked amys : I hold us begyld. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Syr, don. 
 Syr, oure lady hyni save, 
 Is youre chyld a knave ? 
 
 Mak. 
 Any lord myght hym have 
 
 This chyld to his son. 
 When he wakyns be kyppys, that joy is to se.
 
 PA8TORES. 120 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 In good tyme to hya hyppys, and in eele. 
 
 ltnl who was hvs gossyppys, so sone redo? 
 
 Mak. 
 So Tare falle lhare ly|>l>s. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 
 Hark now, a le. 
 Mak. 
 So (mil lli;tym thank, 
 Pari, mi . and Gybon Waller, I say, 
 And ;;enlille John Home, in good fay, 
 lie made alio the garray, 
 
 W i ll» i1k> greatt shank. 
 
 Scant this Pastor. 
 Mak . freyndes wille we be, for we are alle oone. 
 
 Mak. 
 We noi\ I hald for me, for mendes gett I none. 
 Fare welle all tine: alle glad were ye gone. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Fare worths may the* he, but lnf llier is none 
 This Mie. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 Gaf ye the chyld any thyng? 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 I trow not oone farlhyn;;-. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Fast agayne wille I flyng, 
 
 Abyde M' me there. 
 MLak, lake it to no grefe, if I eoin lo llii harne. 
 
 Mak. 
 \;i\ . Iliou does me great I reprelle, and fowlle has Ihon fame. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 The child wiile it noi grefe, thai lytylle daj Btarne 
 Mil., with yonre life, lei me gyf youre harne. 
 Itol \ | pence. 
 
 9
 
 150 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Mah. 
 Nay, do way: he slepys. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Me thyok he pepys. 
 
 Mah. 
 When he wakyns he wepys. 
 I pray you go hence. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Gyf me lefe hym to kys, and lyft up the clowtt. 
 What the dewille is this? he has a long- snowte. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 He is markyd amys. We wate ille ahowte. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Ille spon weft, h\ys, ay commys foulle owte. 
 Ay, so? 
 He is lyke to oure shepe. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 How , Gyh , may I pepe ? 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 I trow, kynde wille crepe 
 
 Where it may not go. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 This was a qvvantte gawde, and a far cast. 
 It was a hee frawde. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 
 Yee, syrs, wast. 
 Lett hren this hawde and hynd hir fast. 
 A fals skawde hang at the last; 
 
 So shalle thou. 
 Wylle ye se how thay swedjlle 
 His foure feytt in the medylle? 
 Sagh I never in a credylle 
 
 A hornyd lad or now. 
 Mak. 
 Peasse hyd I: what! lett he youre fare; 
 I am he that hym gatt, and yond woman hym hare.
 
 PASTURES. 151 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 WIk.I dewille shall he hall? Mak, lo God Makys ayre 
 
 Srcioutus Pastor. 
 Let he alle thai. Not? Goil gyf bym care, 
 I saj;h. 
 
 Uxor, 
 A pratty child is he 
 As syttes on a womanya kiic ; 
 A dylly downe , perde, 
 
 To gar a man lajjhe. 
 
 Terctiis Pastor. 
 I know hyin by the cere marhc : lhat is a jyood tokyn. 
 
 Mak. 
 I telle yon, syrs, hark: hy s noys was broken. 
 Sythen lohl me a clerk, thai lie was forspokyn. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 This is a lalsc walk. I wold fayn lie wrokyn : 
 Gel I vrepyn. 
 
 Uxor. 
 lie was takya with an elfe ; 
 I Ban il myself. 
 
 When the elok stroke hvelf 
 Was he lorsliapyn. 
 
 SecunduS Pastor. 
 \ c Inn n welle feft, sain in a slede. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Smi iIi,i\ manteyn thare theft, let do thaym to dede. 
 
 Mak. 
 \ I brespaa eft, gyrd of my heede. 
 Willi yon uill<- I be [eft. 
 
 Primas Pas/or. 
 
 Syrs , do my recde 
 For iliis trespas, 
 \\ i- n ille naw ther ban m H> te 
 Fyghl ii"i chyte, 
 Idii 1 1 ; < % c done as tyte  
 
 152 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 And cast hym in canvas. 
 Lord! what I am sore, in poynt for to bryst: 
 In faylli I may no more, therfor wylle I ryst. 
 
 Seciindns Pastor. 
 As a sbepe of vij. shore he weyd in my fyst. 
 For to slepe ay whore , me tbynk that I lyst. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Now I pray yon, 
 Lyg downe on this grene. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 On these theftes yit I mene. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Wherto shuld ye tene? 
 Do as I say you. 
 
 \_ANGELUS cantat "Gloria in excelsis ;" poslea dicat, 
 Ryse, hyrd men heynd, for now is he borne 
 That shall take fro the feyncl that Adam had lorne: 
 That warloo to sheynd, this nyght is he borne. 
 God is made youre freynd : now at this morne , 
 
 He beheslys; 
 At Bedlem go se , 
 Ther lyges that fre 
 In a cryb fulle poorely , 
 
 Betwix two bestys. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 This was a qwant stevyn that ever yit I hard. 
 It is a marvelle to nevyn thus to be skard. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Of Godes son of hevyn he spak up ward. 
 Alle the wod on a levyn me thoght that he gard 
 Appere. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 He spake of a barne 
 In Bedlem I you warne.
 
 PASTOR] B loo 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 Thai hetok\ us Minder starne. 
 Lei iis seke hym there. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Say, nhal was his son;;? hard ye not how he erakydil? 
 Tine hret'es to a Ion;;. 
 
 Tereius Pastor. 
 
 Yee , inary, he hakt it 
 Was no crochetl wrong, nor no thyng that lakt it. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 For lo syng us emong, right as lie knakt it, 
 I can. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Lei se Imw ye eroyne. 
 Can ye hark at the uione? 
 
 Tereius Pastor. 
 Bold yonre tonnes, have done. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 Hark after, than. 
 
 Secuii (I us Pastor. 
 To Bedlam he had Ihat we shuhl gang: 
 I am tulle lard Ihat we tarj lo lang. 
 
 Tereius Pastor. 
 Me inery and not sad: of myrth is ourc sang, 
 Ever lastyng glad lo uiedc may we fang, 
 Willioutt noyse. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 1 1 \ we Iheder for Iky; 
 If we lie wele and wery, 
 
 To mat chyld and mat lady 
 
 We have it not lo slose. 
 
 Secumlus Pastor. 
 We fynde by the prophecy — let he yonre dyn 
 Of David ami bay, and mo then I myn; 
 I li.-i s prophecyed I > v clergy, thai in a vyrgyn 
 sliulil In- l\ ;lii .hhI ly, in tlokyn oure smi
 
 154 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Aud slake it, 
 Owe kynde from wo ; 
 For Isay sayd so, 
 Cite virgo 
 
 Concipiet a chyld that is nakyd. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Fulle glad may we be , aud abyde that day 
 That lufly to se, that alle niygktes may. 
 Lord welle were me, for ones and for ay, 
 Myght I kuele on my kne som word for to say 
 
 To that chylde. 
 Bot the angelic sayd 
 In a cryb was he layde ; 
 He was poorly arayd, 
 
 Both mener and mylde. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 Patryarkes that has bene , and prophetes beforne , 
 Thay desyrd to have sene this ehylile that is borne. 
 Thay ar gone fulle clene, that have thay lorne. 
 We shall e se hym , I weyn , or it be niorne 
 
 To tokyn. 
 When I se hym and fcle , 
 Then wote I fulle weylle 
 It is true as steylle 
 
 That prophetes have spokyn. 
 To so poore as we ar , that he wold apperc , 
 Fyrst fynd, and declare by his messyngere. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Go we now, lett us fare: the place is us nere, 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 I am redy and yare : go we in fere 
 To that bright. 
 Lord ! if thi wylles be , 
 Wc ar lewd alle thre, 
 Thou grauntt us somkyns gle 
 
 To comforth thi wight.
 
 PASTOR] I5g 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 Haylle comly and elene; baylle yong elrld! 
 1 1 1 % II*' milker. ;is I meyne, of a inadyn so mylde! 
 Thou has waryd, 1 weyne, the warlo so wylde, 
 The i'als gyler <»t' teyn, now goys he begylde. 
 
 Lo . be merys; 
 Lo . be laghys, my swetyng, 
 A welfare metyng, 
 I have holden my betyng, 
 
 Have a hoh of cherys. 
 
 Secundus Pas lor. 
 Haylle, snfleran savybure, for Ihou has us soght! 
 HayUe (rely foyde and floure, that alle thyng has wroght! 
 Ila\lle fnlle of lavoure, thai made alle of noght! 
 Day He! I kneylle and I cowre. A hjrd have I broght 
 
 To in\ harne. 
 Haylle lylylle tyne mop, 
 <)l' um- crede thou art crop! 
 I wold drynk on thy cop, 
 Lytylle day starne. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 Baylle, derlyng dere, fnlle of godhede! 
 I pray the he nere when that I have nede. 
 Daylle! mete is thy chere: my hart wold blcde 
 To se the sytl here in so poore wede 
 
 With no penny s. 
 Haylle! pat farthe thy dalle, 
 I l»i\ ng the l»ol a balle : 
 Have and plai the with alle, 
 
 A 'id go to the lenys. 
 
 Maria. 
 The fader of beven, <!<>d omny potent, 
 Thai setl alle <>n seven, lii-- son lias he Bent. 
 Al\ ii.iDi' conthe be neven and lyghl <>r be went. 
 I conceyvid bym fhlle even, thrugh nayghf aa be ment; 
 \nd new is In- borne
 
 io(i 
 
 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 He kepe you fro wo : 
 I shalle pray hyin so $ 
 Telle furth as ye go , 
 
 And uryn on this morne. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 Farewelle, lady, so fare to beholde, 
 With thy chylde on thi line. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 
 Bot he lyges fidle cold. 
 Lord! welle is me: now we go, thou behold. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 For sothe alle redy, it semys to be told 
 Fulle oft. 
 
 Primus Pastor. 
 What grace we have fun. 
 
 Secundus Pastor. 
 Com furthe, now ar we won. 
 
 Tercius Pastor. 
 To syng ar we bun : 
 
 Let take on loft. 
 
 EXPLICIT I'AGINA I'ASTORIIM.
 
 < in t iFixio. ir»7 
 
 (III TGIFIXIO. 
 
 P&atus. 
 
 Peasse I byd everyeich wight; 
 Stand .is stylle as stone in walle, 
 Whyles ye ar present in my syjjht, 
 Thai none of ye clatter ne calle; 
 For if ye Jo youre dede is dyght, 
 I warne it you l)oth greatte and snialle, 
 Willi this brand bnrnyshyd so bright, 
 Therfof in peasse loke ye be alle. 
 What! peasse in the dwiilys name! 
 Qarlottes and dastards alle bedene, 
 On gains ye be maide fulle tame, 
 Tlieles and mychers l;e\ n : 
 Wille ye not peasse when I hid you? 
 By Mahownys bloode! if ye me teyn, 
 I shalle ordan sone for you, 
 Paynes that never ere were seyn , 
 
 And that anonc: 
 Dc ye so bold beggars , I warn you , 
 
 Folic boldly shalle 1 hell you , 
 
 To belle the dwille shalle draw you, 
 
 Bodv , link, ami hone. 
 I am a lord thai inel.ylle is of myght, 
 Prynce of alle Jury, sir Pilate I bighte, 
 Next kyng Herode gryttysl of alle, 
 Bowys to my byddyng bothe greatt and small*-. 
 
 Or els be \r shentl ; 
 I Jul line sieic youre tongeij I warn you alle, 
 
 And niiln us take tenl
 
 158 MIRACLE -PLAYs. 
 
 Primus Tort or. 
 Alle peasse, alle peasse , emang you allc ! 
 And herkyns now what shalle befalle 
 
 Of tbis fals chuffcr here; 
 That with his fals quantyse , 
 lias lctt hjm self as God wyse, 
 
 Enianges ns many a yere. 
 He cals hvm self a prophet I, 
 And says that he can hales bete , 
 
 And mahe all thynges amende; 
 Bot or lang wytt we shalle , 
 Wheder he can bete bis awne bale, 
 
 Or skapp out of oure hende. 
 Was not tb!s a wonder thyng, 
 That he durst calle hym self a kyng 
 And make so great! a lee? 
 (f4t Bot,Jry Mfhowne! whyls I may lyf 
 / Those prowde wordes shalle I never forgyf, 
 TyHe he be banged on he. 
 Secundus Tortor. 
 His pride, fy, we sett at noght, 
 Bot ich man kest in bis thoght, 
 
 And looke that we noght wante; 
 For I shalle fownde, if that I may, 
 By the order of knyghtede, to day, 
 To cause his hart pante. 
 Tercius Torlor. 
 And so shalle I with alle my myght. 
 Abate liis pryde this ylk nyght, 
 
 And rekyn hym a crede. 
 Lo, he lettes he cowde none ylle , 
 Bot he can ay, when he wylle, 
 Do a fulle fowlle dede. 
 Quarlus Torlor. 
 Yci felows , yei, as have I rest ; 
 Emangcs us alle I red we kest
 
 cauciFixio. 
 
 To bryag this ihefe to dede: 
 Looke that we have that we shuld Date, 
 For to bald this shrew strate. 
 Primus Tortor. 
 Thai .wis a aobylje red; 
 Lo. here I have a bande, 
 If aede he to bynde his hande; 
 
 Tliis thwou;;, I trow . wille last. 
 
 Secundus Tortor. 
 
 And here oonc to the othere sytlc, 
 That shalle abate his pride, 
 Be it he drawen fast. 
 Tardus Tortor. 
 Lo, here a haniere and nales also. 
 Tin to t'eslen last oure loo 
 
 To this Ire fnlle soyn. 
 Quarhis Tortor. 
 Ye are wise, withoutten drcde, 
 Th;it so can help yourself at aede 
 
 Ol' thyng that shuld he done. 
 Primus Torlor. 
 Now dar I say hardely, 
 lie shaPe with alle his mawuienli-y 
 No longere us he telle. 
 Secundus Torlor. 
 Smi Pilate has liyui lylle us {yeyn, 
 Have done, belyfe, let it he seyn 
 
 How we can withe hjni uielle. 
 Terehts Tortor. 
 \(iw n we al the 3Jonte ol' Calvaryc, 
 Have done, blows, and let now se *- 
 How w<- can with hj in lake. 
 
 QuartuS Torlor. 
 ^it. lor as modee as he can lol.c 
 
 Ih wold have tornyd an otbere eroke 
 31 \;; lit hf have h.ol the rake 
 
 lol>
 
 140 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Primus Tortor. 
 In fayth, syr, sen ye callyd you a kyng-, 
 
   
 
 Ye must prufe a worthy tkyng: 
 
 That falles unto the were; 
 Ye must just in tornamente, 
 Bot ye sytt fast els ye he shenC, 
 
 Els downe I shalle you here. 
 
 Secundus Tortor. 
 If thou he Gocles son, as thou tellys, 
 Thou can the kepe ; how shuld thou cllys ? 
 
 Els were it mervelle greatt ; 
 And hot if thou can, we wille not trow 
 That thou has saide, hote make the mow 
 When thou syttes in yond sett. 
 
 Tercius Tortor. 
 If thou he kynjj we shalle thank adylle , 
 For we shalle sett the in thy sadylle , 
 
 For fallynjy he thou hold : 
 I hete the welle thou hydys a shaft, 
 Bot if thou sytt welle thou had hotter laft 
 The tales that thou has told. 
 
 Quartus Tortor. 
 Stand nere, felows , and let se 
 How we can hors oure kyng: so fre , 
 
 By any craft j 
 Stand thou yonder on yond syde, 
 And we shalle se how he can ryde, 
 And how to weld a shaft. 
 
 Primus Tortor. 
 Syr, commys heder and have done, 
 And wyn apon youre palfray sone , 
 
 For he redy howne: 
 
 If ye he bond to hym he not wrolhe, 
 
 For he ye secure we were fulle lothe 
 
 On any wyse that ye felle downe.
 
 CRUCIFIXIO. 141 
 
 Secttndus Tot-tor. 
 Riiil thou a knott, withe alio tin strength, 
 For to draw this anno on lengthe, 
 Tyllc it com to the bore. 
 Tevcius Tartar. 
 Thou uinddcs . man, hi this lij>ht! 
 It wanhs. lyllo ieh manis sight, 
 
 Othere half span and more. 
 Quartus Tartar. 
 Yit drawe out this arme and fest it fast, 
 Withe this rope, that welle wille last, 
 And ilk man lay hand to. 
 Primus Tartar. 
 Yee, and ltMid thou last that hand. 
 We shalle go to that other hand 
 
 And hike what we can do. 
 Secundus Tartar. 
 Do dryfe a naylle ther thraghe outt, 
 And then lhar us notliyng dontt, 
 For it nillc not hresl. 
 Tardus Tartar. 
 Thai shalle I do, as myght I thryfe , 
 For to elynk and for to dryfe 
 
 Tkerlo I am fulle prcst; 
 So lei it styk, for it is avcIc 
 Quartus Tartar. 
 Thou says solhe, as have I eele, 
 Ther can no man it mendc. 
 Primus Tort or. 
 Bald downe his knees. 
 
 Secundus Tartar. 
 
 That shalle I do. 
 
 His noryse yede never heller to; 
 Lay on alle yonr hende. 
 1 1, tins Tartar. 
 
 Dr.iu Mill h\s Imiiiiics. lei se , ha\ e at.
 
 1 42 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Quartus Tortor. 
 
 That was welle clrawen that that, 
 Fare fallc hyin that so puld! 
 For to have getten it to the marke 
 I trow lewde man, ne clerk, 
 Notkyng hetter shuld. 
 
 Primus Tortor. 
 Hatd it now fast thor , 
 And oone of you take the bore, 
 
 And then may it not faylle. 
 
 Secundus Tortor. 
 That shalle I do witthoutten drcde , 
 As ever myght I welle spede , 
 Ilym to mekyllc hayle. 
 
 Tercius Tortor. 
 So, that is welle, it wille not brest 
 Bot let now se who dos the best 
 
 Withe any slegthe of hande. 
 
 Quartus Tortor. 
 Go we now unto the othere ende; 
 Felowse, fest on fast youre hende , 
 
 And pulle welle at this band. 
 
 Primus Tortor. 
 I red, felowse, by this wedyr, 
 That we draw alle ons togedir, 
 
 And loke how it wille fare. 
 
 Secundus Tortor. 
 Let now se and leyf youre dyn, 
 And draw we ilka syn from syn ? 
 For nothyng let us spare. 
 
 Tercius Tortor. 
 Nay , felowse , this is no gam , 
 We wille no longere draw alle sam, 
 So mekille have I asspyed.
 
 CRVCIFIXIO. 143 
 
 Qmurttu Tortor. 
 
 No 3 for as have I hlys, 
 Soin can Iwyk, who so it is, 
 
 Sekea easse on aom kyn syde. 
 /'limits Tor toy. 
 It i> better as I hope, 
 Oone bi li is self to draw this tope, 
 
 And thou may v« o sc 
 Who it is that ere while 
 A lie liis felows can begyle 
 Of this company e. 
 
 Secundtts Toiior. 
 Sou thou wille so have here lor mo; 
 Bow draw I, as myght thou the? 
 Tercius Toiior. 
 Thou drew rijjht wele, 
 Have here for uie half a ibytc. 
 
 Quartus Tortor. 
 Wema, man! I trow thou doyle . 
 Thou 11} I it never a dele; 
 Dot have for mc here that I may. 
 
 Trim us Tortor. 
 Welle drawen, son, hi this day! 
 
 Thou eose welle to tin warke. 
 Secundus Tortor. 
 Yii efte, wliils ilii hande is in, 
 Polle flier at with som tyn jfyn. 
 Tercius Tortor. 
 Y<i, and hryng it to the inarkc 
 Quartus Tortor. 
 
 Polle, polle! 
 
 Primus Tortor. 
 
 Have now. 
 
 SeCUndliS Tortor. 
 
 Let
 
 \\?i MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Tercius Tortor. 
 A ha! 
 
 Quart us Tortor. 
 Yit a dra ght. 
 
 Primus Tortor. 
 Therto with alle my inaght. 
 
 Secundus Tortor. 
 A, ha, hold stillc thore. 
 
 Tercius Tortor. 
 So fclowse ! looke now belyfe 
 YVhichc of you can best ilryfe, 
 
 And I slialle take the bore. 
 Quartus Tortor. 
 Let me go therto , if I shalle 
 I hope that I be the best mershalle 
 
 For [to] clynke it right; 
 Do rase hyin up now when we may , 
 For I hope he and his palfray 
 
 Shalle not twyn this nyght. 
 
 Primus Tortor. 
 Come hedir, felowse, and have done 
 And help that this trc sone 
 
 To lyft with alle youre sleght 
 
 Secundus Tortor. 
 Yit let us wyrk a whyle, 
 And no man now o there begyle 
 
 To it be broght on heght. 
 Tercius Tortor. 
 Felowse, fest on alle youre hende 
 For to rase this tre on ende , 
 
 And let se who is last. 
 Quartus Tortor. 
 I red we do as that he says , 
 Set we tbc trc on the mortase , 
 
 And ther willc it stand fast.
 
 CRI'CIFIXIO. |4S 
 
 Primus Torfor. 
 Up With the tyinbre. 
 
 Secundus Torfor. 
 
 A , it heldys. 
 For livin that alio this warld weldys, 
 Put fro the with (hi hande. 
 Tercius Tor/or. 
 I l.i LI even eiuanges us alle. 
 Quarlus Tortor. 
 \ ee , and let it into the mortase Palle, 
 For then wflle it best stande. 
 Primus Torfor. 
 Go we to it and be >> e strong, 
 And rase it, he il never so long. 
 Sen that it is fast hon. 
 Secundus Torfor. 
 I p with the tvinhre fast on ende. 
 
 Tercius Tortor. 
 
 A felow8e, fare falle youre hende ! 
 
 Quarlus Torfor. 
 
 So sir, gape agans the son! 
 
 Primus Torfor. 
 
 \ felow, war thi crowne! 
 
 Secundus Tortor. 
 Trowea thou this tymbre wille oght downe? 
 Tercius Tortor. 
 \ il help that il were fast. 
 (Juurlus Tortor. 
 Sogh hym welle and lei us lyfte. 
 
 Primus I oil or. 
 Folic ihorte shalbe hys tbryfte. 
 Secundus Tortor. 
 A, it standee up lyke a nasi 
 Jesus. 
 I pr-'J yOll pe|>\lle. Ilial passe ine h\ . 
 
 That lede yonre lyfe so lykandly 9 
 
 it)
 
 I4(j MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Heyfe up youre hertes on highte ; 
 Behold if ever ye saw body 
 Suffer and bett thus blody, 
 
 Or yit thus dulfully dight ; 
 In warld was never no wight 
 
 That suffred half so sare. 
 My mayn , my mode , my niyght , 
 Is nogbt hot sorow to sight, 
 
 And comfurthe none hot care ; 
 My folk, what have I done to the, 
 That thou alle thus shalle tormente me ? 
 
 Thy syn by I fulle sone. 
 What have I grevyd the? answere me, 
 That thou thus nalys me to a tre, 
 
 And alle for thyn erroure : 
 Where shalle thou seke socoure ? 
 
 This mys how shalle thou amende, 
 "When that thou thy saveoure 
 Dryfes to tliis dyshonoure , 
 
 And nalys thrughe feete and hende? 
 Alle creatoures that kynde may kest, 
 Beestys, byrdes, alle have thay rest, 
 
 When thay ar wo begon ; 
 Bot Godes son, that shuld be best, 
 Has not where apon his hede to rest , 
 
 Bot on his shulder bone : 
 To whomc now may I make my mone 
 
 W T heu thay thus martyr me, 
 And sakles wille me slone , 
 And bete me bloode and bone, 
 
 That my brethere shuld be ? 
 What kyndnes shuld I kythe theym to ? 
 Have I not done that I aght to do , 
 
 Maide the to my lyknes? 
 And thou thus ryfes me rest and ro , 
 And lettes thus lightly on me, lo
 
 (RI C1KIMO. 
 
 I '<7 
 
 Siche is t li> eal\l'nes: 
 
 1 have the kyd kyndnes, uukyndl> thou ne iju>tys; 
 Se dins tlii wehydnee, loke how thou mo dyspytys. 
 Gyltles thus am 1 put to pyne, 
 Nol for [m\ I mys, man, l>ot lor thyoe , 
 
 Thus .1111 I real on rode; 
 For I that tresoure wold aol tyne 
 Thai I markyd and made lor myne; 
 
 Thus hy I Adam blode 
 Thai Bonken ^as in syn, 
 Willi none crllily jjood 
 ltol with my flesh and ldod<> 
 Thai Lothe uas for to wyn. 
 >l\ hrothero thai I cam forte by 
 Has h anged me here, thus hedusly, 
 
 And freyndes I'ynde I foyn; 
 Tims have thaj dight me drerely, 
 And alle b\ spy It me spytusly , 
 
 As helples man in won. 
 Hot Fader that smiles in In 
 
 Forgyf lliou them this <;yll . 
 
 I praj t<» the this boyn , 
 
 Thai WOte nol w li;i I lha> doyn , 
 
 Xor whom thay ha\o thus spy It 
 
 Primus Tartar. 
 
 Vis. what we do tulle nolle we l.naw. 
 
 Secundus Tartar. 
 ¥ee, that shalle ke fynde within a threw. 
 
 renins Tartar. 
 .Now. with a myschannce t\lle his eors, 
 \\ eni i he that " e ;;> l an\ force 
 
 What dwille BO ever be aylle'.' 
 
 Quartus Tartor. 
 
 I or he wold 1 . 1 1 \ us alle da\ 
 
 Of his dede lo lll.'il.e (lel.iS 
 
 I telle >ou . tansfai lie. 
 
 to
 
 148 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
   
 
 Primus Tortor. 
 Lyft us this tre enianges us alle. 
 
 Secundiis Tortor. 
 
 Yee, and let it into the mortase falle, 
 And that shalle gar hyui hrest. 
 Tercius Tortor. 
 Yec , and alle to ryfe hym lyin from lym. 
 
 Quartiis Tortor. 
 And it wille hreke ilk jonte in hym ; 
 Let se now who dos best. 
 
 Maria. 
 Alas the doyle I dre! I drowpe, I dare in drede; 
 Whi hynges thou, son, so hee ? my haylle hegynnes to hrede. 
 Alle hlemyshed is thi hie, I se thi body hlede , 
 In warld, son, were never we so wo as I in wede. 
 My foode that I have fed, 
 In lyf longyng the led, 
 Fulle stratly art thou sted 
 
 Emanges thi foo men felle: 
 Sich sorow forto se, 
 My dere born , on the , 
 Is more mowrnyng to me 
 
 Then any tong may telle. 
 Alas! thi holy hede 
 Has not wheron to held, 
 Thi face with blode is red 
 
 Was fare as lloure in feylde; 
 How shuld I stand in sted 
 To se my barne thus hlede , 
 Bete as bio as lede, 
 
 And has no lym to weylde? 
 Festynd both handes and feete 
 With nalys fulle unmete, 
 His woundes wryngyng: wete , 
 
 Alas , my childe , for care !
 
 cnucmxio. 149 
 
 For alle rent is tlii hyde, 
 I se mi ;i\ there syde 
 
 Teres of Mode dow ne glide 
 
 Over alle thi body bare , 
 Alas that over I ahold byde and se my feyr thus fare! 
 
 Johannes. 
 
 Alaa, for doylle, my lady dere! 
 
 Alle for ehan;;id is thv eh ere , 
 To see this prynce withouten pore 
 
 Thus lappyd alle in wo : 
 He was tlii foode, till faryst foine , 
 Thi luf. tlii lake, tlii lulVsoni son. 
 That high on tro thus hyngea alone 
 
 With body blah and bio; 
 
 Alas! 
 To nie and many ino a good mastor ho wa8. 
 Hot . lady, son it is his wille 
 The prophecy to fulfylle . 
 
 That maiil.Midc in s\|n] not spille , 
 For them to thole payn; 
 
 And with liis ded ratiiison to make, 
 
 A> prophetya beforn of hym spake, 
 For tlii I red tlii aorowe Ihoo slake, 
 Tlii wepyng may not gayn 
 
 In sorowe ; 
 
 Ouie lioytt he byes fulle bayn, 
 
 Is alle from hale to hoi(n\ e. 
 
 Maria. 
 Alaa! thyn een as criatalle clere, that shone as son in Bight, 
 Thai lulK were in lyere, lost lhay have thare light 
 And ma Me Iked in fen, alle dym then ar lhay dight, 
 In payn his thou no pere, that is mthontten pight. 
 Swete son, say iu<' thi thoghtj 
 What ironden has thou wroghl 
 To !'<• in payn thim hrog hi. 
 
 Thi hlisscil blode to blende ?
 
 |50 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 A sou, think on my wo, 
 Win wille thou fare ine fro? 
 On mold is no man mo 
 
 That may my myrthes amende. 
 
 Johannes. 
 Comly lady , good and couthe , fayn wold I comforth the ; 
 Me inynnys my master with mowth told unto his nienyee 
 That he shuld thole fulle niekille payn and dy apon a tre , 
 And to the lyfe ryse up agayn, apon the thryd day shnld it he 
 
 Fulle right; 
 For thi, my lady swete , 
 Styut a while of grete , 
 Oure bale then wille he bete 
 
 As he before has hight. 
 
 Maria. 
 My sorow it is so sad no solace may me safe , 
 Mowrnyug makes me mad, none hope of help I hafe; 
 I am rcdles and rad, for ferd that I mon rafe , 
 Noghte may make me glad to I be in my grafe. 
 To deth my dere is dryffen, 
 His robe is alle to ryfFcn, 
 That of me was hym gyffen 
 
 And shapcn withe my sydes: 
 Thise Jues and he has stryffen 
 
 That alle the bale he bydes. 
 Alas! my lam so mylde, whi wille thou fare me fro 
 Eniang thise wulfes wylde , that wyrke on the this wo? 
 For shame who may the shelde, for freyndes has thou f o ? 
 Alas! my comly childc , whi wille thou fare me fro? 
 Madyns, make youre mone, 
 And wepe ye , wyfes , everyichon , 
 Withe me, most wriche, in wone, 
 
 The ehilde that borne was best : 
 My harte is styf as stone , 
 
 That for no baylle wille hresl.
 
 CRICIIIXIO. i.'.l 
 
 Johannes. 
 
 A. lady, uelle wrote I thi hart is fulle of eare 
 When thou llms o|tenl\ Sees thi childe thus fare; 
 
 Luf gars In m rathly, bym self wille he not spare 
 Ua alle fro baylle to by, <»f* J»lis thai ar fulle bare 
 
 For s\ it : 
 
 Bfj leve lady, for thy of mowmyng loke. thou blyn. 
 
 Maria. 
 
 Alas! may ever be my sang, whyls 1 may lyf in leyd, 
 
 >le iIimiI. m»\\ thai I lyf to lang to se rot barhe thus blede; 
 
 Joes wyrke with hym alle wrang , wherfor do thav thisdede? 
 
 Lu so h\ lha> have hym lianj;-, lhay let for no drede; 
 
 Whi so? 
 His fomen is he emang, no freyade he has hot f'o. 
 My firely foode now farys me fro, what shalle worthe on me? 
 Thou art warpyd alle in wo and spred here on a tre 
 
 Fulle bee; 
 I mowrne, and so may mo, that sees this payn on the. 
 
 Johannes. 
 Dere lady, welle were me 
 If thai I myghl eomforthe the. 
 For the sorow that 1 se 
 
 Sherys myn harte in sonder; 
 \\ ben thai I se in\ master hang 
 With bytter paynes and strong, 
 Was never wighl with wrang 
 
 \\ roght so mekille wonder. 
 Maria, 
 Alas! drill', thou dwellys in Lang, whi art thou hid fro me? 
 \\ ho I. mil tin- Iii my childe to {, r aiij;? alle ldak tliou makes 
 Ills 1 1 1 1   ; 
 
 .Now witterl] limn wyrkes wrang, the more I wille wyte the, 
 I5"i if thou wille my barte stang thai Imyghtwith bym dee 
 
 Ami byde. 
 Sore gyghyng is va\ shim, for thyrlyd is his byde, 
 A- dede, what Ins thou done? with the willelmoytl sone;
 
 1«>2 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Sen I Lad childer none hot oone, best under son or moyn, 
 Freyndes I had fulle foyn, that gars me grete and grone 
 
 Fullc sore. 
 Good Lord, grauiite me my boyn, and let me lyf no more! 
 Gabrielle! that good som tyme thou can me gretc, 
 And then I understud thi wordes that were so swete , 
 Bot now thay ineng my moode, for grace thou can me hete 
 To here alle of my bloode a cliilde oure haylle shuld hete 
 
 With right. 
 IVow hynges he here on rude, where is that thou me hight? 
 Alle that thou of hlys hight me in that stede 
 From myrthe is faren omys, and yit I trow thi red ; 
 Thy councelle now of this, my lyfe how shalle I lede 
 When fro me gone is he that was my hede 
 
 In hy? 
 My dede now comen it is . my dere son , have mercy ! 
 
 Jesus. 
 My moder mylde, thou chaunge thi chere, 
 Cease of thi sorow and sighjng sere, 
 
 It syttes unto my hart fulle sore ; 
 The sorow is sharp I suffre here, 
 Bot doylle thou drees, my moder dere, 
 
 Me marters mekille more. 
 Thus wille my fader I fare 
 
 To lowse mankynde of handys. 
 His son wille he not spare 
 To lowse that hon was are 
 
 Fulle fast in feyndes haudes. 
 The fyt-st cause, moder, of my comyng 
 Was for mankynde myscarying, 
 
 To saif thare sore I soght; 
 Therfor, moder, make none mowrnyug 
 Sen mankynde thrugh my dyyng 
 
 May thus to hlis he hoght. 
 Woman, wepe thou right noght, 
 
 Take ther Johne unto thi chylde.
 
 T.Rl CIFIXIO. 
 
 Mankynde must nedes be boght; 
 Ami Ihou kest, eosyn, in tlii thoght, 
 
 Johne , 1<» thei thi model mylde ! 
 Bio and blodj thus am I bett, 
 Swongen with swepys and alle to swett, 
 
 Mankynde, for tin mysdede; 
 For my luf lust when wold thou lett, 
 And tlii harte sadly sett , 
 
 Sen I thus for the have blede? 
 Sich lyf, for sothe, I led that unothes may I more. 
 This sufire I for thi node, 
 To marke the , man , thi mede : 
 
 Now thyrsi I wonder sore. 
 Prim us Tort or. 
 Noght hot hold thi peasse, 
 Thou shalle have drynke with in a resse. 
 
 My self shalhe thy knave; 
 Have here the draght that I the hete , 
 And I shalle warand it is not Bwete 
 Ou alle the good I have. 
 
 Seeunthis Torlor. 
 So svr, say now alle youre wille, 
 For if ye couthe have balden you stylle 
 Ye had not had this hrade. 
 Tercius Torlor. 
 Thou wold alle gaytt he kyng of Jues, 
 Hoi l>\ this I how thou rues 
 
 Alle that Ihou has sayde. 
 
 Quarfus Torlor. 
 lie has Iimu rased of jjrcall propheS, 
 Thai he slmld make us teuipy lies , 
 
 Ami gar it clene downe falle; 
 And Nil lif sayde be slmld it rase 
 
 As irelle as il was within thre daves , 
 
 llr lyes thai wote we alle . 
 Ami for l>i v lyes in great dispyte 
 
 ii>r>
 
 £54 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 We wille departe his clothyng tyte, 
 Bot he can more of arte. 
 
 Primus Tortor. 
 Yee, as ever myght I thryfe, 
 Soyn wille we this inantyllc ryfe, 
 
 And iche man take his parte. 
 Secundus Tortor. 
 How, wold thou we share this clothe? 
 
 Tercius Tortor. 
 May forsothe, that were I lothe, 
 
 Then were it alle gate spylt; 
 Bot assent thou to my saw, 
 Let us alle cutt draw, 
 
 And then is none hegylt. 
 
 Secundus Tortor. 
 How so hefallys now wylle I draw, 
 This is niyn hy comon law, 
 Say not ther agayn. 
 
 Primus Tortor. 
 Now sen it mon no hetter he, 
 Chcvithe the with it for me , 
 
 Me thy nk thou art full fayne. 
 
 Secundus Tortor. 
 How felowse, se ye not yon skraw? 
 It is writen yonder within a thraw, 
 Now sen that we drew cut. 
 
 Tercius Tortor. 
 There is no man that is on lyfe 
 Bot it were Pilate, as might I thrife, 
 That durst it there have putt. 
 
 Quart us Tortor. 
 Go we fast, and let us loke 
 What is wretyne on yond hokc, 
 And what it may hemyn.
 
 CRltlUMII. li>i> 
 
 /'limits Tartar. 
 A the more I take theron. 
 A the more I thynke I Ion; 
 
 Alle is not worthe a beyn. 
 
 Securuhts Tartar. 
 \ is for so the. me lh\nl; I Be 
 Theron miten langage Are, 
 Ehrew ami Lata u , 
 And Grew me thynk writen theron, 
 For it is hard lor to expowne. 
 
 Tercius Tartar. 
 Thou red, l>\ Apollyon! 
 
 Quart** Tartar. 
 Yee . as I am a tren l.n\;;hl. 
 I aui the best Latvn urvjjht 
 Of this company : 
 
 I mile ;;<> vrithoutten delay 
 And idle miii what il is to say, 
 
 Behald, syra, witterly, 
 Yonder is vrretyn Jesus id' Nazareyn, 
 He is kyng of .lues, I vreyn. 
 
 Primus Tartar. 
 
 A, that is writene wrong. 
 
 Secundus Tartar. 
 
 lit- callyS liv in so. hoi he is none. 
 
 Ttniits Tartar. 
 tin ire to Pilate and make oure mone. 
 
 Have done anil dwclle not laiijj. 
 
 Pilate, ronder is   fals tabylle, 
 Theron is irryten nogh( bol fabylle, 
 
 Of dins be is mil l.\ iijj- , 
 lie callyS livin so. hoi he no) js. 
 
 I I is |'als|\ w riten . i^ j i - 
 
 I Ins is a u ran;; w \ s lh\ |i{;
 
 lo(3 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Pilatus. 
 
 Boys, I say what melle ye you? 
 As it is writen shalle it be now , 
 
 I say certaine ; 
 Quod script am scripsi, 
 That same wrote I , 
 
 What gadlyng gruches ther agane ? 
 
 Quart us Tortor. 
 Sen that he is a man of law he must nedys have his wille : 
 I trow he had not writen that saw without som pvopre skylle. 
 
 Primus Tortor. 
 Yee,_,let it hang' above his hede, 
 It shalle not save hym fro the dede , 
 lYoght that he can write. 
 
 Secundus Tortor. 
 ]\ow ilia hale was he borne. 
 
 Tercius Tortor. 
 
 Ma fa , I telle his lyfe is lorne , 
 
 He shalle be slayn as tyte. 
 If thou be Crist, as men the calle , 
 Com downe emanges us alle , 
 
 And thole not thise missaes. 
 
 Quartus Tortor. 
 Yee , and help tlii self that we may se , 
 And we shalle alle trow in the, 
 What soever thou says. 
 
 Primus Tortor. 
 He callys hym self good of myght, 
 IJot I wold sc hym be so wight 
 
 To do siche a dede ; 
 He rasyd Lazare out of his delfe , 
 Bot he ean not help hym selfc, 
 IVow in his great nede. 

 
 CRUCIF1XIO. 
 
 187 
 
 Jesus. 
 Hely, Holy, lamazabatany ! 
 My God, my God! wherfer and whj 
 Has tlum fcrsakyn uie? 
 
 Secmidus Tartar. 
 How. hero u- not, as welle as I, 
 How he can now on Hely cry 
 Apon this wyse? 
 
 Tardus Tartar. 
 Yee, ther is none Hely in this countre 
 Shalle delyver hyin from this meneye, 
 On no kyns wyse. 
 
 Quartus Tartar. 
 I warand you now at the last 
 That he shalle soyn yeltle the gast, 
 For hrestyn is his galle. 
 Jesus. 
 Xow is my passyon brog-ht tylle enile, 
 Fader of heven in to thyn hende 
 I betake my saulle ! 
 
 Primus Tartar. 
 Let oone pryk hyin withe a spere , 
 And if that it do hyin no dere 
 
 Then is his lyfe nere past. 
 Secundus Tartar. 
 This blynde knyght may best do thai. 
 
 IdOngeus. 
 Gar me not do hot I wole what. 
 
 Tercius Tartar. 
 Not hut put up last. 
 
 Laiu/rus 
 A! Lord, what may this he? 
 
 Ere uai I bHrnde, im» may I se; 
 Godet son . here me - vera ! 
 I'nr tins trespaaoa me thou tew.
 
 158 
 
 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 For, lord, o there men me gart, 
 That I the stroke unto the hart, 
 I se thou hynges here on hy , 
 And dyse to fulfylle the prophecy. 
 
 Quartus Tortor. 
 Go we hens, and leyfe hym here, 
 For I shalle he his borghe to yere 
 
 He felys no more payn; 
 For Hely ne for none othere man 
 Alle the good that ever he wan , 
 
 Gettes not his lyfe agayne. 
 
 Josephns. 
 Alas , alas , and walaway ! 
 That ever shuld I abyde this day 
 
 To se my master dede; 
 Thus wykydly as he is shent, 
 With so bytter tornamente, 
 
 Thrughe fals Jues red. 
 Nychodeme , I wold we yede 
 To sir Pilate, if we myght spede 
 
 His body for to crave; 
 I wille fownde with alle my myght , 
 For my servyce to ask that knyght , 
 
 His body for to grave. 
 
 Nichodemns. 
 Josephe, I wille weynde with the 
 For to do that is in me , 
 
 For that body to pray; 
 For oure good wille and oure travale 
 I hope that it mon us avaylle 
 
 Here after ward som day. 
 Josephus. 
 Sir Pilate , God the save ! 
 Graunte me that I crave, 
 
 If that it be thi wille.
 
 ( III CIFIXIO. 1 r >tl 
 
 I'iltttits. 
 
 Weleom Josephe myghfl thou he. 
 
 What so thou a&kys I grannie it the. 
 So that it be shylle. 
 
 Josephus. 
 
 For my Ion;; 8ervyce 3 I the pray, 
 Granule uie the body, say me not nay, 
 
 Of Jesus deile on rud. 
 
 PiUitns. 
 I ;;iauntt' welle it' he ded he, 
 Good leyfe shalle thou have (tt'me, 
 
 Do Wytfa hyin what thou thynk gud. 
 
 Josephus. 
 
 Gramerev . sir . of youre good grace , 
 That ye have graunte me in this place, 
 
 Go we oure way : 
 Nychodeme, come me furthe with. 
 
 For I my sell' shalle be the shin the 
 The nalcs out for to dray. 
 
 Nichodemus. 
 
 Josephe . [ am redy here 
 To go w i I ln> the witb (bile good chere, 
 
 To help the at my myght ; 
 I'ulli fbrthe tlir nales on aythere syde, 
 Ami I shalle bald bym ap tliis tyde, 
 A, lord, so thou is dight 
 
 Josephus. 
 
 Help now, felow, with alle t hi myght, 
 1 li.it he were wonden ami welle dight, 
 
 Ami lav bym on this here; 
 
 Here w< bym fbrthe unto the kyrke 9 
 
 I ii tlir i oiuIm thai I gard m \ rl. . 
 Sen (bile mani a yere.
 
 160 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Nichodemus. 
 It shalle be so with outten nay. 
 He that dyed on Giul Friday 
 
 And crownyd was withe thorn e 
 Save you alle that now here he , 
 That Lord that thus wold dee 
 
 And rose on Pasche morne. 
 
 EXPLICIT CR11CIFIXIO CHRIST1.
 
 I \ 1 K\t.TIO VMM Mil M. Mil 
 
 EXTRACTIO AMMAIU U 
 VB INFERNO. 
 
 Jesus. 
 Mv fader me Gram l»lys has send 
 Title erthe for mankynde sake, 
 
 Adam mya for to amend, 
 
 Xi\ deth aede must I take: 
 
 I dwellyd tker tkyrty yeres and two, 
 
 And som dele more, the sothe to say, 
 
 In anger, pyne, and mekylle «n . 
 
 I dyde on cros this day. 
 
 Therfor tille belle now wille I go , 
 
 To chalange that is myne, 
 
 Adam, Eve, and otkere mo, 
 
 I lia\ shalle no longer dwelle in pyne; 
 
 The feynde theym wan withe trayn, 
 
 Thrughe Grande of earthly lode , 
 
 I bare theym bojjht agan 
 
 With shedyng of my blode. 
 
 And nnw I wille that stede restore, 
 
 W hiehe the feynde telle Era for syn , 
 
 Sum lid. \ ii wille I send before, 
 
 Willie myrthe l«> gar thare j;ainmes be;;yn. 
 
 A light I wille thai have 
 
 To know I wille com sone , 
 
 \l\ bud\ shalle abyde in grave 
 
 I die alle this dede he done 
 
 . itliim. 
 Ms brother, nerkyn onto me here. 
 More hope of ln-lili never ive had. 
 
 II
 
 1G2 MIRACLE- PLAYS. 
 
 Four thousand and six hundred yere 
 Have we bene here in darknes stad ; 
 Now se I tokyns of solace sere , 
 A gloryous gleme to make us glad , 
 Wherthrughe I hope that help is nere , 
 That sone shalle slake oure sorowes sad. 
 
 Eve. 
 
 Adam , my husband heynd , 
 This menys solace certan, 
 Siche lighte can on us leynd 
 In paradyse fulle playn. 
 
 Isaias. 
 
 Adam , thrugh thi syn 
 Here were we put to dwelle , 
 This wykyd place within , 
 The name of it is helle; 
 Here paynes shalle never blyn 
 That wykyd ar and felle , 
 Love that lord withe wyn 
 His lyfe for us wold selle. 
 
 [fit cantent omnes «Salvator mundi ," primum versum. - ] 
 Adam, thou welle understand, 
 I am Isaias , so Crist me kende , 
 I spake of folk in darknes walkand, 
 I saide a light shuld on them lende ; 
 This light is alle from Crist commande, 
 That he tille us has hedir sende , 
 Thus is my poynt proved in hand, 
 As I before to fold it kende. 
 
 Simeon. 
 
 So may I telle of farlys feylle , 
 For in the tempylle his freyndes me fande, 
 Me thoght dayntethe with hym to deylle, 
 I halsyd hym homely with my hand, 
 I saide, Lord, let thi servandes leylle 
 Pas in peasse to lyf lastande , 

 
 KVTRACTIO AMMARIM 105 
 
 Now thai uivn eeyn has seuo thyn bele 
 
 Xo longer l\st I lyf in lande. 
 
 This liji'hJ thou has purvayde 
 
 For theym thai lyf in lode, 
 
 That I before of the have saide 
 
 I se it is fulfillyd in dede. 
 
 Jo/hi lines Baptista. 
 As a \oieo ciyand 1 kend 
 The vrayes of Grist, as I wolle can, 
 1 baptisid h\ui with bothe myn hende 
 In the Mater of flume Jordan ; 
 The Holy Gost from heven discende 
 A^ a white dowfe downe on me than, 
 The Fader voyee oure myrthes to amende 
 Was made to me lyke as a man; 
 
 Fond is my son," he saide, 
 
 And wbiche jdeasses me fulle welle," 
 His light is on us layde , 
 And eommys oure karys to kele. 
 
 Hfoyses. 
 Xow this same nyght lernyng have I, 
 To me, Moyses, he shewid his myght , 
 And also to another oone , Hely , 
 Where «<• stud on a hille on hytfht, 
 As vrhyte as sna\s was his body, 
 His face was like the son for bright, 
 Nip man on mold Has so mighty 
 GrathH dnrsl loke agans that li;;ht, 
 
 And lliaf same lighte hero so I now 
 
 Sin n\ ng on us . eertai n , 
 
 Where thrnghe truli I trow 
 
 That we shalle Bone pas fro this payn 
 
 Heboid. 
 
 Sen I'm si that belle was mayde and 1 ivai put therin 
 
 Siche snrnw never ere I had nor hard I siehe a d\n, 
 
 I I *
 
 164 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 My hart begynnys to brade, my wytt waxys tbyn, 
 I drede we can not be glad, tbise sanies mon fro us twyn; 
 How, Belsabub! bynde tbise boys, sicbe harow was never 
 bard in helle. 
 
 Belzabub. 
 Oat, Rybald! tbou rores, wbat is betyd? can thou oght telle? 
 
 Rybald. 
 Whi, herys thou not Ibis ugly noyse? 
 Thise lurdans that in lymbo dwelle , 
 They make nienyng of many joyse, 
 And muster myrthes theym emelle. 
 
 Belzabub. 
 Myrth ? nay , nay ! that poyut is past , 
 More hope of helthe shalle they never have. 
 
 Rybald. 
 That cry on Crist fulle fast, 
 And says he shalle thaym save. 
 
 Belzabub. 
 Yee , though he do not , I shalle , 
 For thay ar sparyd in specyalle space, 
 Whils I am prynce and pryncypalle , 
 Thay shalle never pas out of this place; 
 Calle up Astarot and Anaballe, 
 To gyf us counselle in this case; 
 Telle Berith and Bellyalle 
 To mar theym that sicbe mastry mase ; 
 Say to sir Satan oure syre, 
 And byd hym bi'yng also 
 Sir Lucyfer lufly of lyre. 
 
 Rybald. 
 Alle redy, lord, I go. 
 
 Jesus. 
 Attolite portas , prineipes, vestras et elevamini portoe (eter- 
 nales, et introibit rex gloriw.
 
 EXTBACTIO \MM\HIM. !<►<> 
 
 llijbahi. 
 
 Out. harm, out! what devOle is be 
 
 Th.it c.ilKs livm I.mi;; mrr us a lie? 
 Hail. llcl/ahiih . coin nc . 
 Fur hedusly I bard bym calle. 
 
 Brizitbub. 
 Go spar the yates, ylle mot Ihou the! 
 Ami set the waehes on the waHe, 
 ll' thai brodelle com ne 
 With us a\ mm he shallo ; 
 Ami it' he more eaDe or cry, 
 T<» make us more debate) 
 Lav on bym harderj . 
 Ami make h\ in go his gate. 
 
 David. 
 
 Nay, uitlic hyin may yo not fyght, 
 For be is king and conqueroure , 
 Ami of so mekHle myghl . 
 
 And s|\ f in c\ ( r\ stOUTe ; 
 
 Of bym commys alle this lijjht 
 That shynys in tin's bowre; 
 He is folic few in fight, 
 
 Worlhi to wyn honouro. 
 
 Bdzabub. 
 Honoure! barsto, harlot, for what dede 
 Alle erthli men to me ar thralle, 
 I hat lad that thon callya lord in lede 
 Id' had never harbor, house, ne halle; 
 How . sii Sal lianas, coin nar 
 
 And bark this amid rowte! 
 
 Sathanas. 
 The dewulc % on auc to bar ! 
 
 \\ li.il airs the so to show If? 
 
 \ nd mi', if I coin nar, 
 
 I li\ lu,i\ ii hoi In \ si on te.
 
 itJ() MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Belzabub. 
 Thou must com help to spar, 
 Wc ar beseged abowte. 
 
 Sathanas. 
 Besegyd aboutc! whi, who durst he so hold 
 For drede to make on us a fray? 
 
 Belzabub. 
 It is the Jew that Judas sold 
 For to he dede this othere day. 
 
 Sathanas. 
 How, in tyme that tale was told, 
 That trature travesses us alle way; 
 He shalle he here fulle hard in hold, 
 Bot loke he pas not I the pray. 
 
 Belzabub. 
 Pas ! nay , nay , he wille not weynde 
 From hens or it be war, 
 He shapys hym for to sheynd 
 Alle belle or he go far. 
 
 Sathanas. 
 Fy, fature, therof shalle he faylle, 
 For alle his fare I hym defy ; 
 I know his trantes fro top to taylle, 
 He lyffes by gawdes and glory. 
 Therhy he broght furthe of oure bay lie 
 The lathe Lazare of Betany, 
 Bot to the Jues I gaf counsaylle 
 That thay shuld cause hym dy: 
 I entered there into Judas 
 That forward to fulfylle , 
 Therfor his hyere he has 
 Alle wayes to won here stylle. 
 
 Rybald. 
 Sir Sathan, sen we here the say 
 Thou and the Jues were at assent ,
 
 BXTBACTIO AMMVHl.M. 
 
 Ami wote he wan the Lazaro away 
 That unto us >\ as taken to tent, 
 II..|>\n thou that thou mar hym may 
 To muster the malyce thai be has meut .' 
 For ami be refe us now oure pray 
 We vrille ye \^ i 1 1 or he is went. 
 
 Sulhattas. 
 I byd the DOghl ahaste 
 Bot hohllv make you bowne, 
 Withe toyles thai \e intraste, 
 And dyng that dastard downe. 
 
 JeSUS. 
 
 Jttolite porta* prmeipes vestras, etc. 
 
 Rybald. 
 
 Oult, harm! what harlot is he 
 That Bays his kyn;;dom shalh«- eryde? 
 
 David. 
 
 That may thou in sawter se, 
 For of ihi^ prynce ilms ere I saide; 
 I saide thai be shnld breke 
 Youre barres and bandes by name. 
 And of youre warl.es take wroke; 
 Now shalle thou se the same. 
 
 Jesus. 
 
 Ye prynces of belle open youre yate, 
 And lri ins folh fnrthe gone . 
 A prynce of peasse shalle enter theral 
 
 Whedei %<■ wille or none. 
 
 Bybald. 
 
 What art thou that sprigs so? 
 
 Jesus. 
 A kyng of blys thai bight Jesus. 
 
 fybald. 
 Vee . bens last I red thou go . 
 
 \ ii < I null. Ihr not \\ illi us. 
 
 107
 
 M>H MIRACLE- PLAYS. 
 
 lietzabub. 
 Oure yates I trow wille last, 
 Thay ar so strong: I weyn , 
 Bot if oure barres brast 
 For the thay shalle not twyn. 
 
 Jesus. 
 This stede shalle stande no longer stohyu; 
 Open up and let my pepille pas. 
 
 Rijbald. 
 Out , harro ! oure haylle is hrokyn , 
 And brusten ar alle oure handes of bras. 
 
 Belzabitb. 
 Harro ! oure yates begyn to crak , 
 In sonder, I trow, thay go, 
 And belle, I trow, wille all to shak ; 
 Alas , what I am wo ! 
 
 Rybald^ 
 Lymbo is lorn, alas! 
 Sir Sathanas com up - v 
 This wark is wars tben it was. 
 
 Sathanas. 
 Yee, hangyd be thou on a crake;, 
 Thefys, I bad ye shuld be bowne 
 If he maide mastres more 
 To dyng that dastard downe , 
 Sett hym bothe sad and sore. 
 
 Belzabub. 
 So sett hym sore that is sone saide, 
 Com thou thi self and serve hym so ; 
 We may not abyde his bytter brayde , 
 He wold us mar and we were mo. 
 
 Sathanas. 
 Fy , fature ! wherfor were ye flayd ? 
 Have ye no force to flyt hym fro ? 
 Loke in haste my gere be grayd, 
 My self shalle to that gadlyng go.
 
 I S.TR ACTIO AMMAItl M. 
 
 How, thou belamy, abyde, 
 Withi' .illc tlii boste and beyr, 
 
 And telle me in this lyde 
 What mastres thou makes here. 
 
 Jesus. 
 
 I make no mastrj bo1 for myne, 
 I irille theym save, thai shalle the so« . 
 Thou has mi powere theym to pyne, 
 linl in my pryson lor thare prow 
 Here have thai Bojornyd, not as thyne, 
 But in tlii waryd, thou wotc as how. 
 
 Sathanas. 
 
 Why, where has thou bene ay syn 
 That never wold neghe theym nere or DOW? 
 
 Jesus. 
 
 Nov is the tyme certan 
 AI\ Fader ordand herlor „ 
 That the] shuld pas fro payn 
 In brys to dwelle for ever more. 
 
 Sathanas. 
 
 Thj fader knew I welle by ayght, 
 lie \>as a wright his meetl t<» wyn, 
 Rfarj me mynnya tlii moder hight, 
 The iilinasl ende of alle thy kyn, 
 Say who made the so mekille of myght? 
 
 Jesus. 
 
 Thou \wl.\d feynde letl be thi d\|nl, 
 M\ Fader ironnea in beven on bdght , 
 
 In hl\s lliat never more shalle hlyn : 
 
 I am his oonl\ son his forward to I'lillylle, 
 
 Togeder vrille ire iron in sunder when we wyllcn 
 
 Sathanas. 
 Goddea son! n.i\ ilirn myght thou be glad 
 
 For no ca telle llmrl ihc crave: 
 
 Itoi limn li.is lyffed a] lyke a lad . 
 In sorou . and an h \ 1 1 1 1 . 1 1 1 . knave 
 
 !«;«.»
 
 170 MIHACLE- PLAYS. 
 
 Jesus. 
 
 That was for the hartly luf I had 
 Unto man's saulle it forto save, 
 And forto make the inasyd and mad, 
 And for that reson rufnlly to rafe. 
 My Godhede here I hyd 
 In Mary, moder niyne, 
 Where it shalle never be kyd 
 To the ne none of thyne. 
 
 Sathanas. 
 
 How now? this wold I were told in towne, 
 Thou says God is thi syre ; 
 I shalle the prove by good reson 
 Thou moyttes as man dos into myre. 
 To breke thi byddyng- they were fulle bowne, 
 And soyn they wroght at my desyre , 
 From paradise thou putt theym downe , 
 In helle here to have tharc byre ; 
 And thou thi self, by day and nyght, 
 Tag*ht ever alle men eniang-, 
 Ever to do reson and rig-ht, 
 And here thou wyrkys alle wrang-. 
 
 Jesus. 
 I wyrk no wrang., that shalle thou wytt, 
 If I my men fro wo wille wyn; 
 My prophettes playuly prechyd it , 
 Alle the noytes that I begyn ; 
 They saide that I shuld be that ilke 
 In helle where I shuld entre in, 
 To save my servandes fro that pytt 
 Where dampnyd saullys shalle syt for syn. 
 And ilke true prephcte taylle 
 Shalle be fulfillid in me ; 
 I have thaym boght fro baylle, 
 In hlis now shalle thay he.
 
 EXTKAGTIO AMMARI M. 
 
 Smtktuuu. 
 
 Now sen tli<»u lysl to legge Ike law«a 
 Thou shalbe tenyd or we twyn, 
 For those thai thou to witaea drawea 
 Fulle even agans the shalle begyn; 
 As Salainaii saide in his s.mes. 
 Who thai ones eoaamys helle within 
 He shalle never owte 3 as clerkea knawes, 
 Therfor, belamy, let he thy tlyn. 
 Joh thi servande also 
 lu his tyme can telle 
 That aawder freynde nor lb 
 Shalle fynde relese in helle. 
 
 Jesus. 
 lie savde tulle soy the , that shalle thou se, 
 
 In helle shalhe no relese, 
 
 ftot of that place then ment he 
 
 Where synfulle care shalle ever encrese. 
 
 In that baylle a\ shalle thou be, 
 
 Where BOrowes seyr shalle never sesse , 
 
 And m\ folk that wet most Ire 
 
 Shalle |»as unto the place of peasse ; 
 
 For thay were here with my wille, 
 
 Ami s<» thai shalle forthe weynde, 
 
 Thou shalle thi self fullSlle . 
 
 Ever wo withoutten ende. 
 
 Sathanas. 
 Whi . and ^%   1 1 « - thou tal.e Ihcyin alle me fro 
 
 Then tin id. me thou ar unliMide ; 
 
 Yi\ . I pra\ the do not so , 
 
 I mthynke the better in thy mynde, 
 
 Or ell le( BBC With the jfo ; 
 
 I pray the leyfe me not behynde. 
 
 fllSll.S. 
 
 \a\ trator, thou shalle won in wo, 
 
 i 
 
 \nd title n stake I shalle the bvade. 
 
 171
 
 172 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Sathanas. 
 Now here I how thou inenys emang 
 With mesure and malyce for to inelle, 
 Bot sen thou says it shalhe lang, 
 Yit som let alle wayes with us dwelle. 
 
 Jesus. 
 Yis, witt thou welle, els were greatt wrang, 
 Thou shall e have Cayin that slo Abelle, 
 And alle that hastes theym self to hang, 
 As dyd Judas and Architophelle ; 
 And Daton and Aharon and alle of thare assent, 
 Cursyd tyranttes ever ilkon that me and myn tormente. 
 And alle that wille not lere my law 
 That I have left in land for new 
 That makes my cominyng knaw, 
 And alle my sacramcntes persew; 
 My deth , my rysyng , red by raw , 
 Who trow thayni not tbay ar untrewe, 
 Unto my dome I shalle theym draw, 
 And juge thaym wars then any Jew. 
 And thay that lyst to lere my law and lyf therby 
 Shalle never have harmes here , hot welth as is worthy. 
 
 Sathanas. 
 Now here my hand , I hold me payde , 
 Thise poyntes ar playnly for my prow, 
 If this he trew as thou has saide 
 We shalle have mo then we have now ; 
 Thise lawes that thou has late here laide 
 I shalle theym lere not to alow, 
 If thay myn take thay ar hetraide, 
 And I shalle turne theym tyttc I trow. 
 I shalle walk eest, I shalle walk west, 
 And gar theym wyrk welle war. 
 
 Jesus. 
 IVay feynde , thou shalbe fesle. 
 That thou shalle flyt no far.
 
 EXTKACTIO AMMARIM. 175 
 
 Satfitiims. 
 Festo ? fy! that were a wykyd trcson! 
 Belamj , thou shalle be mhvII. 
 
 Jesus. 
 Deyille, I commaunde the to go downe 
 Into thi sole where thou shalle syt. 
 
 Sathanas. 
 Alas! tor doylle and care 
 I synk into belle |>vt. 
 
 Rijbald. 
 Sir Sathanas, so Baide I are, 
 \<iu shalle tliou baye a fytt. 
 
 Jesu s. 
 Com now t'lirlhe my chillier ;illc. 
 I lbrg> f yon youre mys; 
 Withe Mic now go ye shalle 
 To joy and cndlcs hlvs. 
 
 .Ill a m. 
 Lord, tliou art tulle mekylle of myght, 
 Thai mekvs llii sell" on this niauere , 
 To help us alle as thou had us hight, 
 When bothe forfeit I anil my I'ere ; 
 Here have we dwelt vrithoutten light 
 Four thousand and six hundreth yere, 
 .Now m' we lis this solempne sight 
 
 Mow thai ley makes ns dere. 
 
 Efoa. 
 
 I.iikI. we were worthy more lornamenles to tast, 
 I boa help ns lord of thi mere] , as thou of myght is mast 
 
 Johannes. 
 
 Lord. I love the inwardly, 
 I hat me wold make thi me-.s\ n o ere . 
 
 I hi eoniiin n;| in erthe to eri . 
 
 lad teehe thi fayfh to folk in fere; 
 
 S\ linn before the forto > I % . 
 
 To bryng theym bodword thai be here.
 
 I 7 A MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 How tbay shuld have llii help in by, 
 Now se I alle those poyntes appere. 
 
 Moyses. 
 
 David, thi prophette trew, 
 Of tyines told unto us; 
 Of thi comuiyng- he knew, 
 And saide it shuld he thus. 
 
 David. 
 
 As I saide ere yit say I so , 
 Ne derelinquas , domine , 
 Animam meant in inferno; 
 Leyfe never my saulle, Lord, after the, 
 In depe helle whedur dampned shalle go , 
 Suffre thou never thi sayntes to se 
 The sorow of thaym that won in wo, 
 Ay fulle of fylthc and may not fle. 
 
 3Ioyses. 
 
 Make myrthe hothe more and les , 
 And love oure lord we may, 
 That has broght us fro bytternes 
 In blys to abyde for ay. 
 
 Ysaias. 
 
 Tberfor now let us syng 
 To love oure lord Jesus, 
 Unto his blys he wille us bryng, 
 Te Deum laudamus. 
 
 EXPLICIT EXTRACTIO ANIMARUM AB 1XFERNO.
 
 ji ditii m. 178 
 
 Jl'DITU'M. 
 
 Fulle darfe has bene oure dede, fop tin commen is oure care, 
 This day to take oure niede, for notbyng may we spare. 
 Alas! I harde that borne that callys us to the dome , 
 Alle that ever were borne tbider bebofys theyui com; 
 Mai natbere land ne se us fro this dome hide, 
 For ferde fayn wold I lie, hoi I must cedes abide; 
 Alas! I stand great agbe to loke on that Justyce, 
 Tber may no man of lagbe help with no quantyce. 
 Voketty8 ten or I Willi- may none help at this nede, 
 Hot ilk man for his self sballe answere for his dede. 
 
 Alas, that I \\as home ! 
 I se now me beforne, 
 
 That Lord wilh wonndes fyfej 
 llnw mai 1 on hyin loke. 
 Thai falsi] bym forsoke, 
 
 When I led synfulle lyfe? 
 Tercius Mains. 
 Alas! carefolle catyfes may wc ryse, 
 Sore ma\ w <• wrviij' oure handes and wepe. 
 I nr ciirsid ami sore COVVtyse 
 
 Dampnyd be %\ «■ in belle fulle depe; 
 \\ ro;;hi ire never of Godes servyce, 
 His comaundeaaents wold we not kepe , 
 Itut oil Imiics manic wc sacrifice 
 To Satbauas irken otbere can slepe. 
 Alas' now vrakym alle oure were, 
 Oure w\l,\il w. ul.es earn we not hiile, 
 
 hnl mi OHM hal.es wc iinisl llie\m here. 
 
 I h.it irille us ttoroo on ilka Rvde.
 
 17<j 
 
 MIRACLE - 1>I,\YS. 
 
 Oure dedys this day wille do us dere, 
 Oure doniys man here we must abide , 
 And fey tides, that wille us felly fere, 
 Thare pray to have us for thare pride. 
 Brymly before us be thai broght, 
 Oure dedes that shalle dam us bidene ; 
 That eyre has harde, or harte thoght, 
 That mowthe has spokyn , or ee sene , 
 That foote has gone, or hande wroght, 
 In any tyme that we may mene, 
 Fulle dere this day now bees it boght. 
 Alas , unborne then had I bene ! 
 
 Quartus 3Ialus. 
 Alas , I am forlorne! a spytus blast here blawes, 
 I harde welle hi yonde borne , I wote wherto it drawes ; 
 I wold I were unborne, alas! that this day dawes, 
 Now inon be dampnyd this inorne my warkys , my dedes , 
 
 my sawes. 
 Now bees my curstnes kyd, alas! I may not layn 
 Alle that ever I dyd , it bees put up fulle playn. 
 That I wold fayn were hyd , my synfulle Avordes and vayu 
 Fulle new now mon be rekyuyd up to me agayn. 
 Alas! fayn wold I fle for dedes that I have done, 
 Bot that may now not be, I must abyde my boyn, 
 I trowed never to have sene this dredfulle day thus soyu ; 
 Alas ! what shalle I say when he sittes on his troue ? 
 To se his woundes bledande this is a dulfulle case , 
 Alas! how shalle I stand or loke hym in the face, 
 So curtes I hym fand that gaf me life so lang a space, 
 Mi care is alle command , alas ! where was my grace ? 
 Alas! catyfifes unkynde , where on was oure thoght? 
 Alas ! where on was oure niynde, so wykyd warkes we wroghte? 
 To se how he was pynde , how dere oure luf he boght , 
 Alas! we were fulle blynde , now ar we wars then noght. 
 Alas ! my covetyse, myne ylle wille , and myn ire , 
 Mi neghbur to dispise most was my desyre ;
 
 'J 
 ? 
 
 JUDITIIM. 177 
 
 I demyd ever at iny devyse, me tliog-ht I Lad no peyre , 
 A\ ith my self sore may I grise , now am quyt my Lyre. 
 Where 1 was wonte to go and Lave my wordes at wille, 
 New am I set 1'ulle tLro and fayn to Lold me stille ; 
 I ucnl both to and fro, me tLoglit I did never illc, 
 Mi neghhurs for to slo or Lurt withouttcn skille. 
 AA'o vrorthe ever the fader tLat gate me to Lc Lome! 
 That ever lie let me stir Lot tLat I Lad bene forlorne; 
 AA'arid be iny moder , and warid be tLe morne 
 TLat 1 was Lome of Lir, alas, for sLame and skorne ! 
 Primus ^iiujelus, cum gludio. 
 
 Stand not togeder, parte in two, 
 A lie sam sLalle ye not Lc in Llys , 
 Dure lord of Leven wille it Le so, 
 For many of yon Las done amys; 
 On Lis right Land ye good sLalle ^o. 
 The way to Leven Le sLalle you wys 
 Ye wykid sanies ye weynd Lym fro, 
 On Lis left Lande as none of Lis. 
 
 Jesus. 
 
 The tyme is eommen, I wille make ende, 
 \l\ Fader of Leven wille it so Le , 
 Therfor tille erlhe now A>ille I we^nde, 
 Ml selfe to sytt in majestic; 
 To dele my dome I wille discende , 
 Tliis hody wille I here with me, 
 Mow il vras dighf man's mys to amende 
 A I If man's I.muIc ther shalle it se. 
 
 Primus Divmou. 
 
 Oute, haro, out, out! haxkyn to this home, 
 I was ni\<r in iluwte or now at this morne, 
 So sturdl a showte s<'ii that I was home 
 Hard I never here aliowtc, in erneste ne in skorne. 
 A wonder; 
 
 I was bonde lulle fast 
 I n \ rem for to last . 
 
 19
 
 178 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Bot iny bandes thai brast 
 
 Aud sboke alle in sonder. 
 
 Secundus Dcemon. 
 I sbotcrde and sboke, I herd siche a rerd , 
 When I harde it I qwoke for alle that I lerd, 
 Bot to swerc on a boke I durst not aperd , 
 I durst not loke for alle medille erd 
 
 Fulle paylle ; 
 Bot gyrned and gnast, 
 My force did I frast, 
 Bot I wroghtc alle wast, 
 
 It myghte not avaylle. 
 
 Primus Daemon. 
 It was like to a trump e , it had sich a sownde , 
 I felle on a lumpe for ferd that I swonde. 
 
 Secundus Daemon. 
 There I stode on my stumpe I stakerd that stownde. 
 There chachid I the crump e , yit held I my grounde 
 Halfe nome. 
 
 Primus Daemon. 
 Make redy oure gere, 
 "We ar like to have were, 
 For now dar I swere 
 
 That domysday is comine; 
 For alle oure saules ar wente and none ar in helle. 
 
 Secundus Daemon. 
 Bot we go we ar shente, let us not dwelle , 
 It sittes you to tente in this mater to melle, 
 As a pere in a parlamente what case so befelle ; 
 
 It is nedefulle 
 That ye tente to youre aAvne, 
 What draght so be drawne , 
 If the courte be knawen 
 
 The juge is right dred fulle. 
 Primus Daemon. 
 For to stande this tome thou gars me grete.
 
 jrnnuM. 170 
 
 Secundns Daemon. 
 Let us go to this dome up YVatlyn Strete. 
 
 Primus Damon. 
 I had Level go to Rome; yei thrysc on my fete, 
 Then forto grefe yonde grome, or with hyiu for to uiete; 
 
 For wysely 
 He spekys on trete, 
 His paustee is grete, 
 Bot begyn he to threte 
 
 He htkes fidle grisly: 
 Rot last take oure rentals, hy , let us go hence! 
 For as this fals the great sentence. 
 
 Secundns Damon. 
 Thai ar here in my dais, fast stand we to fence, 
 Agans thise dampnyd sanies without repentence, 
 
 And just. 
 
 Primus Dcemon. 
 How so the gam crokys , 
 Examyn oure hokys. 
 
 Secundns Daemon. 
 Here is a hag" tulle, lokys, 
 Of pride and of lust, 
 Of wraggers and wrears, a hag fulle of hrefes, 
 Of earpars and cryars, of myehers and thefes , 
 Of InrdaiH and lyars that no man lefys , 
 Ol llytars, of lhars, and renderars of retlys, 
 
 This can I, 
 < M" all.yn astalcs 
 Tli.it go hi the gatys, 
 
 Of poore pride, thai God hates, 
 
 Twenty so many. 
 
 Primus Damon. 
 
 Peame, I prai the, !•<• siillc. I laghe that I kynke, 
 Is oghte ite in thi bille and then shalle thou drynke? 
 
 V2'
 
 liH) MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Secundus Daemon. 
 
 Sir, so inekille ille wille that thay wold synke 
 Tkare foes in a fyere stille; hot not alle that I thynke 
 
 Dar I say, 
 Bot before hyin he prase hyni, 
 Bchynde he myssase hyni, 
 Thus dowbille he mase hyni, 
 Thus do thai today. 
 
 Primus Daemon. 
 Has thou oght writen there of the feniynyn gender? 
 
 Secundus Daemon. 
 Yei , mo then I may here of rolles forto render ; 
 Thai ar sharp as a spere if thai seme hot slender, 
 Thai ar ever in were if thai he tender, 
 
 Ylle fetyld; 
 She that is most meke , 
 When she semys fulle seke , 
 She can raise up a reke 
 
 If she be welle netyld. 
 
 Primus Daemon. 
 Thou art the best hyne that ever cam besyde us. 
 
 Secundus Daemon. 
 Yei bot go we , master myne , yet wold I we hyde us , 
 Thai have blowen lang syne, thai wille not abide us, 
 YVe may lightly tyne, and then wille ye chide us 
 Togeder. 
 
 Primus Daemon. 
 Make redy oure tolys , 
 For we dele with no folys. 
 
 Secundus Daemon. 
 
 Sir, alle clerkys of oure scolys 
 Abowne furthe theder; 
 Bot, sir, I telle you before had domysday oght tarid 
 We must have biggid helle more , the warld is so warid.
 
 .n -niTii'M. IB I 
 
 Primus Ihrmon. 
 Now jj-ott we dowhille store of bodys iftyscarid 
 To the sonlcs where Ibai wore, botbe sam to be harrid. 
 
 Secundum Damon. 
 
 Thise rollcs 
 At of bahhj tars , 
 Ami f;ils quest dytars, 
 I had no help of writars 
 
 Hot thise two dalles ; 
 Faithe and trow the, mnffay , have do fete to stande , 
 The poore pepyfle must pay if ojyht be in bahde , 
 The drede of God is away and lawe Out of lande. 
 
 Primus Damon. 
 Bv that \\ ist I that doinysday was at hailde 
 In seson. 
 
 Secundus Damon. 
 
 Sir , it is saide in old sawes , 
 The longere that day dawes, 
 Wars pepille, wars lawes. 
 
 Primus Damon. 
 
 I laghe at tlii reson ; 
 Alle this was token doinysday to drede, 
 Inlle oil was it snokyn, fidle few take hede , 
 Hut nuu shalle we lie wrohyn of thare falshede, 
 For now bese unlohyn many dern dedc 
 
 In ire : 
 Alle thare synnes shalle he knowen., 
 Othere men's, then thare owne. 
 
 Secundus Damon. 
 Bui if this draght be irelle drawen 
 Dun is in the inyre. 
 
 lidiviHus. 
 Win spyr ye not syr no qu e wty ons? 
 
 I am uiiiic of \ on n- Order and oune of your sons; 
 I stande nl mi tristnr when othere men Bhones.
 
 5 
 
 's 
 
 I am ,<l I .1 >il . i . 
 
 ' 5 
 
 182 MIRACLE -FLAYS. 
 
 Primus Dcemon. 
 Now thou art nryn awne qiierestur, 
 I wote where thou wonnes; 
 Do telle me. 
 
 Tutivillus. 
 I was youre chefe tollare, 
 Aud sithen courte rollar 
 Now am I master Lollar. 
 
 And of sich men I melle me, 
 I have broght to youre hande of saules, dar I say, 
 Mo than ten thowsand in an howre of a day; 
 Som at aylle howse I fande, and som of ferray, 
 Som cursid , som hande , som yei som nay ; 
 
 So many 
 Thus broght I on blure, 
 Thus dyd I my cure. 
 
 Primus Dcemon. 
 Thou art the hest sawg-eoure 
 That ever had I any. 
 
 Tutivillus. 
 Here a rolle of ragman of the rownde tahille , 
 Of hreffes in my hag:, man, of synnes dampnahille, 
 Unethes may I wag-, man, for wery in youre stahille 
 Whils I set my stag-, man. 
 
 Secundus Dcemon. 
 
 Ahide, ye ar ahille. 
 To tahe wage; 
 Thow can of cowrte thew, 
 Bot lay downe the dewe 
 For thou wille be a shrew, 
 
 Be thou com at ag-e. 
 
 Tutivillus. 
 Here I he g-esse of many nyce hoket, < 
 Of care and of curstnes, hethyng- and hoket, 
 Gay g-ere and witles, his hode set on koket, 
 As prowde as pennyles, his slefe has no poket,
 
 .ii i»i hi M 183 
 
 Fulle redles ; 
 Willi thare bemmyd shoyn-, 
 
 Vile llii> nmsi l»t- done - 
 liot lyre is out at bye noyne 
 
 Ami his liarncs hrodeles. 
 A home and a dueh ax. his slele must he llekyt, 
 A syde hede ami a fare tax. his gowne must ho spekytt. 
 Thus take I voiu'c tax - thus ar my bokys blekyt. 
 
 Primus Dtvmon. 
 Thoa art best on thi wax that ever was clekyt, 
 Or knowen; 
 Willi wordes wOle thou fille us. 
 Itnl Idle thi name tille us. 
 
 Tulivillits 
 My oame is Tulivillus. 
 
 y\\ Inline is blawen; 
 Fragmma variorum Tutivillus colHgit horum > 
 Belzabub algorum . Belial helium doliorum. 
 
 Secundus Dcemon. 
 Wli.it . I se thoil can of jjramory ami soiu what of arte; 
 Had 1 lint a penny on the wold I warte. 
 
 TutwUlus. 
 Of lemelhs a quantite liere I'ymle I parte. 
 
 Primus Dannon. 
 
 r ruti\illus. lei se , Codes forbol thou sparle! 
 
 Ddii'i'llns. 
 So joly, 
 III. a las in a I. Hide . 
 Like a lady nere hande . 
 So I'reshe and so plesamle. 
 
 Hakes men lo foly. 
 If she he never so fowlle a dowde, with hir kelles ami bir 
 
 |i\ inn - . 
 
 The shrew hir self can shrowde, both I a j j- chekys and hir 
 
 e|i\ lilies .
 
 184 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 She can make it fulle prowde with japes and with gynnes, 
 Hir hede as hy as a clowde, hot no shame of hir synnes 
 
 Thai fele ; 
 When she is thus paynt, 
 She makes it so quaynte, 
 She lokes like a saynt, 
 
 And wars then the deyle. 
 
 She is hornyd like a kowe fon syn, 
 
 The cuker hynges so side now, furrid with a cat skyn ? 
 Alle thise ar for you, thay ar commen of youre kyn. 
 
 Secundus Daemon. 
 Now, the hest hody art thou that ever cam here in. 
 
 Tutivillus. 
 An usage , 
 Swilk dar I undertake, 
 Makes th'eym breke thare wedlake, 
 And lif in syn for hir sake, 
 
 And breke tbare awne spowsage. 
 Yet a poynt have I fon, I telle you before, 
 That fals swerers shalle hider com mo than a thowsand 
 
 skore ; 
 Iu swcryng thai grefo Godes son, and pyne hym more and 
 
 more, 
 Therfor mon thai with us won in helle for ever more. 
 
 I say thus , 
 That rasers of the fals tax, 
 And gederars of greyn wax, 
 Diabolus est mendax 
 
 Et pater ejus. 
 Yit a poynte of the new gett to telle wille I not blyn, 
 Of prankyd gownes and shulders up set, mos and flokkes 
 
 sewyd wyth in, 
 To use siche gise thai wille not let , thai say it is no syn , 
 Bot on sich pilus I me set and clap thayin cheke and chyn, 
 
 No nay. 
 David in his sawtere says thus.
 
 Jl'DITIl'M. 153ij 
 
 That to kelle shalie thay Irus , 
 Cum ski's iiiliiivcntiom'bus , 
 
 For onys ami for ay. 
 Yit of thise kyrkchateran bere ar a nienee, 
 Of barganan and okerars and hilars of synionee, 
 Of rankers and rowners, God castes I hay in out trulee 
 From his temple aJle sich mysdoers , 1 each tliaym then 
 to me 
 
 Fnlle soyn; 
 For writen 1 wote it is 
 In the Gospelle, withoutten mys, 
 I- J earn fee is I is 
 
 Sjjel lined m latronum. 
 Yit of the sy nnes seven soin thynjj- speeialle 
 Now nately to neven , ilia t ronnys over alle , 
 Thise laddes thai leven as lordes rialle, 
 At ee to he even pietnrde yn pallc 
 
 As kyn;>es; 
 May he dog liym a doket, 
 A kodpese like a pokett, 
 
 !l\in thynk it no hoi. el 
 
 His t;iylle when he wrynges. 
 His lnddokkys thai lotvke like walk mylne clogges 
 His hede is like a slowkc, hiirlyd as hogges, 
 A weUe blawea bowke thise (rygges as tropes, 
 I his jelian jowkc dryfys he no dojygcs 
 
 To feller. 
 |{ol with yonre yolow lokkys, 
 For alle youre many inokkes , 
 ^ »• shalie elym on hello crokkys 
 
 With a balpeny heltere. 
 Ami Nolle with hir nyfyls of crisp and of sylke , 
 Tent uelle mhiit tw \ l\ Is your nek ahowte as ni\ll.e; 
 Willi \our bendyfl and >oure hri<l\ls of Salhan the «liilke. 
 Sir S.tlli.ni.is idyll yon for Ilia ilke
 
 186 MIRACLE- PLAYS. 
 
 This grille knave , 
 It is open behynde , 
 Before is it pynde , 
 Be war of the west wynde 
 
 Youre suiok lest it wafe. 
 Of ire and of envy fynde I kerto, 
 Of covetyse and glotony and many other mo , 
 Thai calle and thai cry «go we now, go, 
 I dy nere for dry," and ther syt thai so 
 
 All nyghte, 
 YVith hawvelle and jawvelle, 
 Syngyng of lawvelle, 
 Thise ar howndes of helle, 
 
 That is thare right. 
 In slewthe then thai syn , Goddes warkes thai not wyrke. 
 To belke thai begryn and spew that is irke , 
 His hede must he holdyn ther in the myrke , 
 Then deffes hym with dyn the hellys of the kyrke 
 
 When thai clatter; 
 He wishys the clerke hanged 
 For that he rang it , 
 Bot thar hym not lang it, 
 
 What commys ther after. 
 And ye Janettes of the stewys ; and lychoures on lofte 
 Your haille now hrewys , avowtrees fulle ofte , 
 Youre gam now grewys, I shalle you set softe, 
 Your sorow enewes , com to my croftc 
 
 Alle ye ; 
 Alle harlottes and horres , 
 And hawdes that procures , 
 To hryng thaym to lures , 
 
 Wei com to my see. 
 Ye lurdans and lyars , mychers and thefes, 
 Flytars and flyars that alle men reprefes , 
 Spolars , extorcyonars , welcoin, my lefes! 
 Fals jui'ors and usurars fo syinony that clevys.
 
 .H DITI1 M. I<>7 
 
 To telle, 
 
 Hasardars and dysars. 
 Fals dedes forgan, 
 Slanderan . bakbytars, 
 
 Alle unto belle. 
 
 Primus Damon. 
 When I harde many swilke, many spy lus and Telle, 
 And few good of ilke I had iner\elle, 
 I trowid il drew nere the prik. 
 
 Secundus Daemon. 
 
 Sir, a worde of couuselle; 
 Sanies eain so thyk now late unto helle 
 
 As ever . 
 Oure porter at helle gate 
 Is halden so strate , 
 Op erly and downe late, 
 He rystys aeyer. 
 
 Primus Dwmon. 
 Thou art uercles of tho that ever yil knew I, 
 When I wille may I go if thou he hy; 
 Go we now, we two. 
 
 Secundus Dcemon. 
 
 Sir, I am rcdy. 
 Primus Dcemon. 
 Take oure rolles also, ye knaue the cause why, 
 Do com 
 And tent welle tins day. 
 
 Secundus Damon. 
 Sir, as welle as I may. 
 
 Primus D<emon. 
 Qui veto mula 
 
 Secundus Dcemon. 
 In ignem ceternum, 
 
 Jesus. 
 111. a creatonra take tente 
 \\ li.ii bodwarae I shalle vob, bryng,
 
 18JJ MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 This wykyd warld away is wente , 
 And I am coinnien as crownyd kyng ; 
 My fader of heven has me downe seat, 
 To deme youre dedes and make endyng; 
 Commen is the day of Jugemente , 
 Of sorow may every synfulle syng. 
 The day is commen of catyfnes, 
 Alle those to care that ar uncleyn, 
 The day of hatelle and hitternes , 
 Fulle long- ahiden has it heyn; 
 The day of drede to more and les , 
 Of joy, of tremlyng and of teyn, 
 Ilka wight that wykyd is 
 May say, alas this day is seyn ! 
 
 [Tunc expandit manus suas et ostendit eis vulncra sua 
 
 Here may ye se my wonndes wide 
 
 That I suffred for youre mysdede, 
 
 Tkrughe harte , hede, fote, hande and syde, 
 
 Not for my gilte hot for youre nede. 
 
 Behald hoth bak, body, and syde, 
 
 How dere I bog-lit youre broder hede, 
 
 Thise bitter paynes I wold abide , 
 
 To by you blys thus wold I blede. 
 
 Mi body was skowrgid withoutten skille, 
 
 Also ther fulle throly was I thrett, 
 
 On crosse thai hang me on a hille , 
 
 Bio and blody thus Avas I bett, 
 
 With crowne of thorne thrastyn fulle ille, 
 
 A spere unto my harte thai sett. 
 
 Mi harte blode sparid thai not to spille, 
 
 Man, for thi luf wold I not lett. 
 
 The Jues spytt on me spitusly, 
 
 Thai sparid me no more then a thefe, 
 
 When thai me smote I stud stilly, 
 
 Agans thaym did I nokyns grefe. 
 
 Beholde , mankynde , this ilke ,am I,
 
 .ii niTiiM. 
 
 tar> 
 
 That tor the suiVred sich myschefe , 
 Thus was 1 (light for thi foh. 
 Man. take thi luf was me tulle lefe. 
 Thus was I (light thi sorow to slake , 
 Man, thus hehovid the horud to he, 
 Iu alle n»> ^n o tooke I no wrake , 
 My vville it was for luf of the; 
 Man, for sorow aghft the to qwake, 
 This dredful (lay this sight to se , 
 Alle this suffred I for thi sake, 
 Say, man, what suffred thou for me? 
 
 [Tunc iierlens se ad Lottos , (licit Mis, — 
 
 Mi hlessid harnes on my right hande, 
 Youre dome this day thar ye not drede, 
 For alle youre joy is now coinmaudc , 
 Youre life in lykyng shalle ye lede; 
 Commes to the kyngdom ay lastaud, 
 That you is dight for youre good dede , 
 Fulle blithe may ye he there ye stand, 
 l"(ir mekille in heven hees youre mede. 
 When I ^as hungre ye me fed, 
 To slek my thrist ye war fulle fre , 
 When I was clolhles ye me cled, 
 Ye Avoid no sorowe on me se; 
 In hard prison when I was sted 
 On my penance ye had pyte , 
 Fulle seke when I was hroght in hed 
 1 1 \ 1 1 . 1 1 \ ye cam to comforth no-. 
 When I was v\ille and weriest 
 Ye harberd me fulle esely, 
 Fulle glad then were ye of youre gest, 
 Ye plenyd my poverte fnlle pilusly; 
 Belife ye broghf me of the best, 
 Ami maide my lied there I shuld ly , 
 Therfor in heven shalle he youre rest, 
 In jn\ and hlvs to held me hy.
 
 190 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Primus Bonus. 
 
 Lord, when had lliou so inekille nede? 
 Hungre or thrusty how myjj-ht it he? 
 
 Secundus Bonus. 
 
 When was oure harte fre the to feede ? 
 In prison when niyght we the se? 
 
 Tercius Bonus. 
 
 When was thou seke or wantyd wede ? 
 To harhowre the when helpid we? 
 
 Quartus Bonus. 
 
 When had thou nede of oure fordede ? 
 W r hen did we alle this dcde for the? 
 
 Jesus. 
 
 Mi hlissid harnes, I shalle you say 
 "What tyme this dede was to me done , 
 When any that nede had nygkt or day, 
 Askyd you help and had it sone ; 
 Youre fre harte saidc theyin never nay, 
 Erly ne late , niyd day ne noyn , 
 As ofte sithes as thai wold pray , 
 Thai thurte hot aske and have thare hoyn. 
 
 [Tunc (licet malis, 
 Ye cursid catyfs of Karnes kyn, 
 That never me comforthid in my care , 
 Now I and ye for ever shalle twyn , 
 In doylle to dwelle for ever mare ; 
 Youre hitter hayles shalle never hlyn 
 That ye shall thole when ye com thare ; 
 Thus have ye servyd for youre syn, 
 For derfe dedes ye have doyn are. 
 When I had myster of mete and drynke , 
 Catyfs, ye chaste me from youre yatc, 
 W T hen ye were set as syres on hynke 
 I stodc thcr oute wery and wate, 
 Yet none of you wold on me thynke, 
 To have pite on my poore astate,
 
 .ii nun m. 
 
 I!>1 
 
 Therfor l<» belle 1 shalle yon synke . 
 
 Welle ;iic \c worthy to go thai gate. 
 
 When I was si'Kc and soryesl 
 
 Ye > isrl me noght, for I was poore; 
 
 In prison fast when I was lest 
 
 Wold none of vim loke how I foore ; 
 
 When I wist never where to rest 
 
 Willi d\ntes ye drofe me from youre doorc . 
 
 Bol ever to pride then were ye prest; 
 
 Mi flesh, my hloode , ye oft forswore. 
 
 ClothleSj when that I was oold 
 
 That nere hande for yon yodo I nakyd, 
 
 Mi mysehefe sajjhe ye many folde. 
 
 Was none of yon my sorow slakyd, 
 
 Hot erer forsoke me yong and olde , 
 
 Therfor shalle ye now be forsakyd. 
 
 Primus Mains. 
 
 Lorde, when had thou , that alle has, 
 Banger or thriste, sen thou God is? 
 When was thai thon in prison was? 
 Winn was thon nakyd or barberies? 
 
 Secnndns Mains. 
 
 When in\;;lil \w see the sehe, alas! 
 And kyd the alle this unkyndnes ? 
 
 Tercius Mains. 
 
 When was we let the helples pas ? 
 Whey dyd We Ihe (his wil.\dnes? 
 
 Quartos Mains. 
 Alas, for doylle this day! 
 Alas . thai ever I ii abode ! 
 ."No w ;nn I dampned for ay, 
 
 This dome may I not avoyde. 
 
 Jesus. 
 GatyfeSj alas! ofte as it betyde 
 Thai neili Inlle Oghl sskyd in my name.
 
 192 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Ye hard them noght, youre eeres was hid, 
 
 Youre help to thayin was not at hame; 
 
 To me was that unkyndnes hyd, 
 
 Therfor ye here this hitter hlame, 
 
 To the lest of myne when ye oghte dyd, 
 
 To me ye dyd the self and same. 
 
 [7mhc dleet bonis, — 
 
 Mi chosyn childer, come to me, 
 
 With me to dwelle now shalle ye weynde, 
 
 Ther joy and hlys ever shalle he, 
 
 Youre life in lyhyng for to leynde. 
 
 [Tunc dicet malis, — 
 
 Ye warid wightes , from me ye fle , 
 In helle to dwelle withoutten ende, 
 Ther shalle ye noght hot sorow se, 
 And sit hi Sathanas the feynde. 
 
 Primus Dcemon. 
 Do now go furthe, trns, go we hyne, 
 Unto endles wo , ay lastand pyne , 
 Nay, tary not so, we get ado syne. 
 
 Secimdus Dcemon. 
 Flyte hyder warde, ho, Harry Ruskyne 
 War oute ! 
 The meyn shalle ye nehylle, 
 And I shalle syng the trehille , 
 A revant the deville 
 
 Tille alle this hole rowte. 
 Tutivillus. 
 Youre lyfes ar lorne and commen is youre care. 
 Ye may han ye were home the hodes you hare, 
 And youre faders heforne , so cursid ye ar. 
 
 Primus Dcemon. 
 Ye may wary the morne and day that ye ware 
 Of youre moder 
 First home forto he, 
 For the wo ye inon dre.
 
 lUDiTitm 1 9o 
 
 Promts Dtemon. 
 
 I Ikon of you mon Be 
 Sorow of oder : 
 Where is the gold and the good thai ye gederd togedir? 
 The uiery menee that yode hidex and thedir? 
 
 I'ulti'illits. 
 Gay gyrdyls, jaggid hode, prankyd gownes, whedir? 
 Have ye wit or ye wode ye brojdit not hide? 
 
 I Jo I Borowe, 
 And your syunes in youre nekkys. 
 
 PrimMS Dicmon. 
 I beshrew thaym that rekkys, 
 IK* eoincs to late that bekkys 
 
 Youre bodyes to liorow. 
 
 Secundus Daemon. 
 Sir, I wold cut thaym a skawte and make theyin he knawen, 
 Thay were sturdy and hawte, great bosto have thai blawne, 
 A o urc pride and youre pransawte what wille it gawne ? 
 A e tolde ilk mans defawte and forgate youre awne. 
 
 TutwUlus. 
 Moreover 
 Tliare neghbnrs thai demyd, 
 Thaym self as it semyd, 
 Hot now ar thai lleinyd 
 
 From sayntes to recover. 
 
 Primus Dwinon. 
 Thare aeghbun thai towchid with wordes fulle il!o. 
 The want ay tliai BOWchid and had no skille. 
 
 Secundus Dwmon. 
 The pennys thai powchid and held thaym slillc. 
 The negons thai mowchid and had no uille 
 For hart Care, 
 
 Bo( riche and illc dedy, 
 
 Gederand and gredy, 
 Soi' oapand and nedy 
 
 ^ onre godei forto spare.
 
 194 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Tutivillus. 
 For alle that yc spard and dyd extorcyon, 
 For youre cbildcr yc card, yourc heyrc and yonrc son 
 Now is alle in oure ward , youre yeres ar ron , 
 It is conimeu in vowgard youre dame malison , 
 
 To bynde it; 
 Ye set l)i no cursyng, 
 IV c no siche smalle thyng. 
 
 Primus Daemon. 
 IVo , Lot prase at the partyng , 
 
 For now nion ye fynde ik; 
 Youre leyfes and your females, ye brake youre wedlake, 
 Telle me now what it vales alle that mery lake? 
 Se so falsly it falys. 
 
 Secundus Daemon. 
 
 Syr, I dar undertake 
 Thai wille telle no tales, hot se so thai tjwake 
 
 For nioton, 
 He that to that gam gose, 
 Noav namely on old tose. 
 
 Tutivillus. 
 Thou held up the lose 
 
 That had I forgotten. 
 
 Primus Daemon. 
 Sir , I trow thai he doin som tyme were fulle melland . 
 Welle ye se how thai glom. 
 
 Secundus Daemon. 
 
 Thou art ay telland , 
 IV ow shalle thai have rom in pyk and tar ever dwclland, 
 Of thare sorow no some , hot ay to he yelland 
 In oure fostre. 
 
 Tutivillus. 
 By yourc lefe may wc incfe you ? 
 
 Primus Dcemon. 
 Showe furthe , I shrew you.
 
 JUDITH M. |<)i> 
 
 Seeundus Damon. 
 Yet tonyght shalle I shew yon 
 A uiese of Qle ostre. 
 
 TutwiUHS. 
 
 Of ihise corsid lorsworno and alio lliaf lioro lovitdos, 
 Blawj wolfes hede and oatehorne, now namely my freyndes. 
 
 Primus Daemon. 
 Ilia bailie were ye borne, youre awne shame you sheyndes 
 That sliallo ye lynde or to inorne. 
 
 Secundtts Daemon. 
 
 Com now with feyndes 
 To youre angre; 
 Youre dedes yon dam, 
 Com, go we now Bam, 
 ll is commen youre gam, 
 
 Com , tary no longer. 
 
 Primus Bonus. 
 We love the, Lord, in alkyn thyng, 
 That lor thyne awne has ordand thus, 
 That we may have now oure dwellyng 
 In heven hi is giffen unto as; 
 Therfor folio hohllv may we synjy 
 On oure way as we trns, 
 Slake alle myrthe and lovyng 
 With Te Drum Itiudumus. 
 
 EXPI.il I I Jl Dl I 11 N. 
 
 I — •
 
 CANDLEMAS- DAY, 
 
 OB 
 
 THE KILLING OF THE 
 
 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.
 
 THE NAMES OF THE PLEYERS. 
 
 Tfie Poete. 
 
 Kyng Heroxvd. 
 
 Knyght j. 
 
 Knyght ij. 
 
 Knyght iij. 
 
 Knyght iiij 
 
 IVatkyn , Messanger. 
 
 Symeon, the Bysshop. 
 
 Joseph. 
 
 Maria. 
 
 Anna, Prophetissa. 
 
 A Virgyn, 
 
 Angelas. 
 
 Mulier j. 
 
 Mulier ij. 
 
 Mulier iij. 
 
 Mulier iiij. 
 
 Jhan Par/re ded write thys booke. 
 
 The original of this play is preserved among the Dighy MSS. 
 in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and has the date of VSV1. I\o par- 
 ticulars are known of Jhan Parfre.
 
 CANDLEMAS -DAY 
 
 Pneta. 
 
 This solemne test to be had in remenbraunce 
 
 Of blissed Beynt Anno, moder to our lady, 
 
 YVhos ryghf discent was fro kyngs allyaunce, 
 
 Of Daw (I and Salainnn witnesseth (lie story; 
 
 llir blissid doughter, flint callid is Mary, 
 
 By Gods provision an hnshnnd slmld have, 
 
 Callid Joseph, of nature old and drye, 
 
 And the moder onto Christ that all the world shall save. 
 
 Tliis glorious maiden doughter unto Anna, 
 In whos worship iliis icsi w c honour, 
 Ami l>\ resemblaunce likenyd unto manna, 
 Wiche is iii tast ecelestiall of Bavour, 
 And of Jerico the SOte rose (Inure, 
 Gold Abryson callid in pieture, 
 
 Chosyil for l<» here iu.iiil,\ nils s.iwnur; 
 
 With a prerogative above eche creature. 
 
 These gretl thynge remembred, after our entenl 
 Is for to vrorshyppe oure lad] and seynl Anne: 
 W «• be < iiiiicn beder as servaunts diligent 
 Omit processe i«> shewe yon si >><■ can;
 
 1200 
 
 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Wlicrfor of benevolence wc pray every man , 
 To have us excused, that we no better doo , 
 An other tyme to emende it if we can, 
 Be the grace of God , if our cunnyng he thcr too. 
 
 The last ycer we shewid you, and in this place, 
 How the shepherds of Crist hy the made letification, 
 And thre kynges that ycoine fro the cun trees he grace 
 To worshyp Jcsu with enteer devotion: 
 And now we propose with hooll affection. 
 To procede in oure matter as we can, 
 And to shew you of oure ladies purification, 
 That she made in the temple, as the usage was than: 
 
 And after that shall Herowd have tydyngs, 
 How the thre kyngs he goon hoom another way , 
 That were with Jesu, and made thcr offryngs , 
 And promysed kynge Herowd, without delay 
 To come a geyn hy him ; this is no nay. 
 And whan he wist that thei were goon , 
 Like as a wodman he gan to fray, 
 And commaunded his knyght forth to go a noon 
 
 In to Israeli , to serche every townc and cite 
 For all the children that thei cowde ther fynde, 
 Of ij yeers age and under, sparyng neither honde nor free, 
 But sle them all, cither for foo or frende; 
 Thus he commaunded in his furious mynde; 
 Thought that Jesu shuld have he oon, 
 And yitt he failed of his froward mynde; 
 For, hy Gods providaunce, our lady was in to Egyptc gon. 
 
 Frends , this processe we propose to pley as we can , 
 Before you all here in your presens , 
 To the honoure of God, oure lady, and seynt Anne; 
 Beseechyng you to geve us peseahle audiens. 
 And ye menstrallis doth your diligens; 
 And ye virgynes , shewe sume sport and plesure, 
 These people to solas, and to do God reverens; 
 As ye he appoyntcd doth your hesy oure.
 
 » VMll.LM \> - l>V\ . !20i 
 
 Herc/wd. 
 
 Above all kynges under the clowdys cristall, 
 Royallj I reigne in welthe without woo. 
 Of plesaunl prosperytie I lakke noo at all: 
 Fortune I fyiule. that she is not my loo, 
 I am kyng Elerowd, I will it In* knowcn so, 
 Bfosl strong and myghty in feld for to fyjjbt, 
 Ami to venquyshe my enemycs that a geynst me do . 
 I am most be dred with my bronde bryght. 
 
 \i\ grett goddes I gloryfye with gladnesse, 
 And to honoure them I knelc np on my knee; 
 For thei have sett me in solas from all sadnesse, 
 That no conoueroure nor knyjyht is compared to me: 
 All the that rebelle a geyns me tber l>ane I will be. 
 Or grudge a geyns my jjodds on liyll or betbe; 
 All suche rebeller8 I shall make for to flee, 
 And with hard piinyshcmcnls pnlt them to dethe. 
 
 What erthely wretches, what pompe and pride, 
 Do a geyns my [awes or withstonde uiyne entent, 
 Thei shall Bufire woo and pcyne tlirnjjh bak and syde y 
 Willi a very myschaunce tber fleshe shal be all to rent; 
 And all my foes shall have snehe rnnunanndemcnl 
 Thai thei shalbe glad to do my byddyn ay, 
 Or ells thei Bhalbe in woo and myscheff permanent, 
 Thai thei shall fere me nyght and day. 
 
 Af \ messanger, al mi commaundement come heder to me, 
 And take bed what I shall to the say: 
 I charge the, loke a bought thurgh my cuntre 
 To as|>\«' it' oni rebel! do a geynst our lay: 
 And if mi\ SUche ('(tin* 1 in lliv wai j 
 
 Brynge bem in !<• <>nr hygh presens, 
 
 Ami wc shal se them correetid, or thei ;;<• l>«ns 

 
 20°. MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 IVathjn , the 3Iessanger. 
 
 My lord , your commaundement I have fulfilled 
 Evyn to the uttermost of iny pore power ; 
 And I wold shew you more , so ye wold he coutentid, 
 But I dare not, lest ye wold take it in anger: 
 For if it liked you not, I am sure my deth were nere ; 
 And therfor, my lord, I wole hold my peas. 
 
 Heroivd. 
 
 I warne the , thu traytor , that thu not seas 
 To ohserve every thyng thu knowest a geyns our reverence. 
 
 3Iessanger. 
 
 My lord, if ye have it in your remenhraunce , 
 Ther were iij straunger knyghts, hut late in your presence, 
 That went to Bedleni to offre with due ohscrvaunce, 
 And promysed to come a geyn hy you without variauncc; 
 But hy ther honys ten, thei he to you untrue, 
 For homeward an other wey thei doo sue. 
 
 Herod. 
 
 IVow he my grett godcls, that he so full of niyght 
 I will he a vengid upon Israeli , if this talc he true. 
 
 Messanger. 
 
 That it is, my lord, my trouth I you plight, 
 For ye founde me never false syn ye ine knewe. 
 
 Herod. 
 
 I do perccyve , though I he here in my cheff cite , 
 Callid Jerusalem , "my riche royall town , 
 I am falsly disceyved hy straunge knyghts thre : 
 Therfor , my knyghts , I warne you , without delaeion , 
 That ye make serchc thurgh oute all my region, 
 Withoute any taricng my willc may he seen. 
 And sic all the children without excepcion 
 Of to yecrs of age , that within Israeli hene : 
 
 For within my self thus I have concluded, 
 For to avoide a wey all interrupcion , 
 
 Sythcnes thes thre knyghts have mc thus falsly deluded, 
 As in manner hy froward collusion,
 
 CANDLEMAS - DAY. 
 
 W7> 
 
 And a |;evn resorted limn in to ther region: 
 Bui \itt. maugre ther herts , I shall avengid be: 
 Bothe in Bedlem and my provynces everychone, 
 Sle all the children to kepe my liberte. 
 
 M3.es j. 
 Mv lord, ve may be sure that I shall nol spare 
 For to fullille your nolde eosninanndeinetit, 
 AYitli sharpe BWerde to perse them all hare. 
 In all euntrees that he to yon adjacent. 
 
 Miles ij. 
 And lor your s;ike to observe your commaundement. 
 
 Miles iij. 
 Not on of them all our hands shall aslert. 
 
 Miles iiij. 
 For we wole cruelly execute your judgement 
 \\ ilh swerde and spere to perse them thurgh the hert. 
 
 Herod. 
 I thanke you, my knyghts, but lohe ye, make no tarieng, 
 Go arme your sell' in stele shynyng bright; 
 And conceyve in your mynds, that I am your kyng, 
 Gevyng you charge, thai with all your myght 
 In confirmaciou of my ty loll of ryghf , 
 That ye go and lohe for myn advantage, 
 And sle .ill the children that eoine in your sij;ht 
 Wiche hen within two ycers of age. 
 
 >ou be wire, that my byddyng ye truly obey, 
 For non hut I shall reigne with equytej 
 Make all the children on your swerds to dey, 
 I charge you, spare not oon for mercy nor pyte. 
 Am not I lord and kyng of the cuntre? 
 The crowne of all Jerusalem longith to me of right; 
 Who su ever gey nay of high or lowc degre, 
 I charge you, sle all Buche that come in your syght 
 
 Miles j. 
 M\ lord, he ye sure, occordyng to your will. 
 Like is ye charge ns be Btreigt commaundement,
 
 204 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 All the children of Israeli douhtles wc shall kylle 
 Within to yeers of age, this is our entent. 
 
 31iles ij. 
 My lord of all Jurye , we hold you for chef regent , 
 By tytell of enheritaunce as your auncestors he forn; 
 He that seith the contrary, he Mahound, shalhe shent , 
 And curse the tyme that ever was horn. 
 
 Herod. 
 I thanke you, my knyghts, with hooll affection. 
 And whan ye come a geyn I shall you avaunce ; 
 Therfor quyte you wele in feld and town, 
 And of all the fondlyngs make a delyvcraunce. 
 
 [Here the Knyyhls shall departe from Herowd to Israeli ; and 
 WATKYJM shall abyde, scyng thus to llerowd: — 
 
 Now, my lord, I heseche you to here my dalyaunce , 
 I wole aske you a hone , if I durst a right ; 
 But I were loth ye shuld take ony displesaunce : 
 Now for Mahounds sake, make me a knyght. 
 
 For oon thyng I promyse you, I will manly fight, 
 And for to avenge your quarrell I dare undertake ; 
 Though I sey my self, I am a man of inyght, 
 And dare live and deye in this quarrell for your sake; 
 For whan I com amonge them, for fere thei shall quake; 
 And , though thei sharme and crye , I care not a myght , 
 But with my sharpe sworde ther rihhes I shall shake 
 Evyn thurgh the guttcs for anger and despight. 
 
 Herod. 
 Be thi trouthe, Watkyn, woldest thu he made a knyght? 
 Thu hast he my servaunt and messanger many a day, 
 But thu were never provid in hattaile nor in fight, 
 And therfor to avaunce the so sodenly I ne may: 
 But oon thyng to the I shall sny , 
 Be cause I fynde the true in thyn entent. 
 Forth with my knyghts thu shall take the way, 
 And quyte the wele, and thu shall it not repent.
 
 CANDLEMAS -DAY. 
 
 208 
 
 IJutkiju. 
 No* a largeys, my lord. I am rygiil mile apaid, 
 If I do not vrele, ley my lied upon a slokke; 
 I shall {jo shew your knyjjlits how ye have seid, 
 Ami .nine inv self manly and go forth on the tlokke . 
 And if I fymle a young child I shall choppe it mi a hlokke. 
 Though llw- mode* be angry the child shalbe slayn: 
 Hut \itt I dredde no ihynjj more than a woman with a rokke. 
 For if I se ony suehe , he my feith , I conic a geyn. 
 
 Herawd. 
 What . shall a woman with a rokke drive the away ? 
 Fye on the. traitor, now I tremble for teiie, 
 
 I have trusted the long, and many a daye ; 
 
 A hold man and an hardy I went thu haddist hen. 
 
 // titkijn. 
 So am I , my lord , and that shalhe seen , 
 That I am a hold man and best dare a hyde, 
 And ther conic an hundred women I wole not fleen , 
 But fro morrowe tyll nyjjht with them I dare chide. 
 And therfor, my lord, yc may trust unto me; 
 For all the children of Israeli your knyghts and I shall kylle, 
 I will not spare on, hult dede thei shall he, 
 If the fader and moder will let me have my wille. 
 
 Herawd. 
 
 Thu lurdeyn, take bed what I sey the tyll, 
 Ami high the to my knyghts as fast as thu can,: 
 Sc\. I warne them in ony wvse ther blood that thei spille. 
 A bought in every euntre , and lelte for no man. 
 
 Wutkyn. 
 \.i\ . nay, my lord, we "\ll let for no man, 
 Though ther come a thousand on a roiijjht; 
 For rour knyghts and I mil kylle them all. if we can: 
 
 lint fur the w\\<s llial is all my doughtj 
 
 Ami if I se onj mdkyng a bought, 
 
 I N\ill lake good kede tyll the he goon,
 
 
 206 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 And assone as I aspye that she is oute, 
 By my frith , into the hons I will go anon. 
 
 And this I promyse yon, that I shall never slepe, 
 But evermore wayle to fyndc the children alone; 
 And if the moder come in , under the hench I will crepe , 
 And lye stille ther tyll she he goon, 
 Than manly I shall come out and hir children sloon, 
 And whan I have don I shall renne fast away : 
 It she fonnde hir child dede, and toke me ther alone, 
 Be my frith, I am snre we shnld inake a fray. 
 
 Herowd. 
 
 Nay, harlott , ahyde stylle Avith my knyghts I warne the, 
 Tyll the children he slayn all the hooll rought; 
 And whan thu comyst home a gayn I shall avannce the , 
 If thu quyte thee like a man whill thu art ought , 
 And if thu pley the coward, I put the owt of dought, 
 Of me thu shalt neyther have fe nor advauntage, 
 Therfor I charge you the contre he well sought, 
 And whan thu comyst home shalt have tin wage. 
 
 JVatkyn. 
 
 Yis, ser, he my trouthe, ye shall wele knowe 
 Whill I am oute how I shall aquyte me , 
 For I propose to spare neither high nor lowe , 
 If ther he no man wole smyte me : 
 The most I fere the wyves will hete me, 
 Yitt shall I take good hert to me and loke wele ahought. 
 And loke that your knyghts he not frrre fro me, 
 For if I he alone I may sone gete a nought. 
 
 Herod. 
 
 I say, hye the hens, that thu were goon, 
 And unto my knyghts loke ye take the way, 
 And sey, I charge them that my cominaundcment he don 
 In all hast possihle without more delay; 
 And if ther he ony that will sey you nay, 
 Bedde him of his lyff out of hand anon ; 
 And if thu uuytc the wcell unto iny pay,
 
 i wru i m \s- n w. ^07 
 
 I shall mala' the a knyght a\entryous whan tliu eomyst 
 home. 
 
 // 'athfn. 
 
 S\r l.n\;;lils. I must go forth with you. 
 
 Thus my l<ud commaunded me for to don: 
 Ami if I quyte me weell whill I am amonge you, 
 I shalbe made a knyght aventrys whan I come home: 
 For oon thyng I promyse you, I ^vill fight anon, 
 If m% herl faile not whan 1 shalbe gynne; 
 The most I fere is lo come amonge women, 
 For thei light like devells with ther rokke whan thei spynne. 
 
 Miles j. 
 
 Watkyn, I love the, for thu art even a man; 
 If thu quyte the weell in this gTett Wage, 
 I shall speke to in> lord for tin* that I can, 
 That thu shalt no more be neither grome nor page. 
 
 Miles ij. 
 
 I wyll speke for the that thu shall have better wage, 
 If thu OUyte the manly amonge the wyveSJ 
 For thei be as fers as a lyon in a cage - 
 Whan thei are vroken ought to reve men of ther lives. 
 
 [Here the Rnyghts and 11'alhijn walke {thought the place 
 li/ll Mary and Joseph he eonveid in to Egipt.] 
 
 Anqehis. 
 O Joseph, r\ se u|», and loke thu tary nought; 
 Take Mary with tlie, and in to F;;i|>t flee; 
 For tlesu ili\ sone pnrsuyd is and Bought 
 \\\ kyng Herowd, the wiche of grete inyquyte 
 Commaunded bath thurgb Bedlem cite. 
 In his craell and furyous rage, 
 To sle all (lie children thai he in that cuntre, 
 Thai nia\ he founde within to veers of age: 
 
 I her shall he slieue in that re;;io:, 
 
 Diverse myracles of his bigb rcgalye, 
 
 In all ther temples the mawments shall falle down, 
 
 lo Aww a tokyn towards the partie,
 
 208 
 
 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 This child hath lordship, as prophets do speake, 
 
 And at his coniyng thurgh his myghty ho ml. 
 
 In despyght of all idolatrye , 
 
 Every ooa shall fallc whan he comyth in to the lond. 
 
 Joseph. 
 O good lord, of tlii gracious ortlenaunce, 
 Like as thu list for our journey provide , 
 In this viagc with humble attcndaunce 
 As God disposeth and list to he our gyde, 
 Thcrfor upon them hothe mekely I shall ahide , 
 Praying to that Lord to thynk upon us three , 
 Us to preserve wheder we go or ryde 
 Towards Egipte from all advercitie. 
 
 Mary. 
 
 Now, husband, in all hart I pray you, go we hens, 
 For dredd of Herowd that cruell knyght: 
 Gentyll spouse, now do your diligens, 
 And bryng your asse, I pray you, a non ryght, 
 And from hens let us passe with all our myght. 
 Thaukyng that Lord so for us doth provide, 
 That we may go from Herowd that cursed wyght, 
 Wiche will us devour if that we abide. 
 
 Joseph. 
 
 Mary, you to do plesaunce without ony lett 
 I shall brynge forth your asse without more delay ; 
 Fulsone, Mary, theron ye shalbe sett, 
 And this litell child that in your wonibe lay , 
 Take hym in your armys, Mary, I you pray, 
 And of your swete mylke let him sovvke inowo, 
 Mawger Herowd and his grett fray: 
 And as your spouse, Mary, I shall go with you. 
 
 This ferdell of gere I ley upon my hakke: 
 Now I am redy to go from this cuntre, 
 All my smale instruments is putt in my pakke. 
 
 [Et exeunt.]
 
 CANDLEMAS- DAY. 209 
 
 Now {;•(> we hens. Mary, it will no better be, 
 For dretle of Ilerowd , a paas I wyll high me. 
 Lo , now is our gecr trussid both more and lesse: 
 Usury, for to plese you with all humylitc 
 I shall go be fore, and lede forth your asse. 
 
 [Here Mary and Joseph shall i/o out of the place, and the 
 y odds shall fall : and than shall come in the women 
 of Israeli with i/ouiu/ children in ther armys, and 
 than (he knj/ghts shall ijo to them saifnif as foluth: — 
 
 Miles j. 
 Herke, ye wyffys, we be eome your houshold to visite ; 
 Though ye be never so wroth nor wood, 
 With sharpe swerds that redely will byte, 
 All your children within to veers age in our cruel! mood 
 Thurghe out all Bethleem to hylic and shed ther young' 
 
 blood, 
 As we be bound be the comuiaundement of the hyng: 
 Who that seith nay we shall make a flood 
 To renne in the stretis by ther blood shedyng. 
 
 Miles ij. 
 Therfor unto us ye make a delyveraunce 
 Of your young children, and that a none, 
 Or ells, be Mahounde, we shall geve a myschaunce. 
 Our sharpe swerds thurgh your bodies shall goon. 
 
 Watkyn. 
 Therfor be ware, for we will not leve oon 
 In all this cuntre that shall us escape, 
 I shall rather slee them everychoon, 
 \ml make then to lye and mowe like an ape. 
 
 Mulier j. 
 Fye <ni yon, traitors of cruel] lormenlrye, 
 Wiche with your swerdi of mortal] violens, — 
 
 Mulii r ij. 
 Our young children, that tan no socoure but crie, 
 \\\ll dee ami deroure in flier unnocens. 
 
 M
 
 210 MIRACLE- PLAYS. 
 
 Mulier iij. 
 Ye false traitors unto God , ye do grett offens 
 To sle and morder young children that in the cradell slumber. 
 
 Mulier iiij. 
 But we women shall make a gcyns you resistens 
 After our power, your malice to encomber. 
 
 JVntkyn. 
 Peas, you folyshe cpienys, wha shuld you defende 
 Ageyns us armyd men in this apparaile ? 
 We be bold men , and the kyng us ded sende 
 Hedyr in to this cuntre to hold with you battaile. 
 
 Mulier j. 
 Fye upon the coward, of the I will not faile 
 To dubbe the hnyght with my rohke rnunde; 
 Women be ferse when thei list to assaile 
 Suche proude boyes to caste to the grounde. 
 
 Mulier ij. 
 A vaunt , ye skowtys , I defye you everychone , 
 For I wole bete you all my self alone. 
 
 \_TVatkyn hie occidet per se.j 
 Mulier j. 
 Alas, alasse, good cossynnes, this is a sorowfull peyn, 
 To se our dere children that be so yong 
 With these caytyves thus sodeynly to be slayn: 
 A vengeaunce I ashe on them all for this grett wrong. 
 
 Mulier ij. 
 And a very myschefF must come them a monge , 
 Wherso ever thei be come or goon; 
 For thei have hilled my yong sone John. 
 
 Mulier iij. 
 Gosippis, a shamcfull deth I aske upon Herowde our 
 kyng, 
 That thus rygorously our children hath slayn. 
 
 Mulier iiij. 
 I pray God bryng hym to an ille endyng, 
 And in helle pytte to dwelle ever in peyn.
 
 . VVDLEM.VS- D.W. «J I 1 
 
 // atkyn. 
 What, ye harlotls? I have asuied eerteyn, 
 That ye he tratoiys to my lord the kjng. 
 Anil therfore I an sure, ye shall have an ille endyng. 
 
 Muliev j. 
 If ve abide, Watkyn, you and I shall game 
 Willi uiy distaff that is so rounde. 
 
 Muliev ij. 
 And if I seas thanne have I shame, 
 Tyll thu be fellid down to the grounde. 
 
 Mulier iij. 
 And I may gete the within my hounde, 
 With this staffe I shall make thee lame. 
 
 Ff'titki/n. 
 Yee, I come no more ther , he seynt Mahound ; 
 For if I do , methynketh I shall he made tame. 
 
 MuUer j. 
 
 Ahyde , Watkyn, I shall make the a knyght. 
 
 tVathyn. 
 
 Thu make me a knyght? that were on the uewe ; 
 But for shame, my trouthe I you plight, 
 I shod bete you hak and side tyll it were hlewe ; 
 But, he my God Mahounde , that is so true, 
 My hert he gynne to fayle , and waxclh feynt, 
 Or ells, he Maliounds hlood, ye shuld it rue, 
 But ye shall lose your goods as traitors atteynt. 
 
 Mulier. j. 
 
 \\ li.il . thu jahell, canst not ha\e do? 
 I liu and (hi company shall not depart, 
 Tyll of our distavys ye have take part. — 
 
 Therfor lej on, frossippes, with a mery hart, 
 Ami li ii them not from us (too. 
 
 \_llvrr lliri shall brlv Uatli/n; nml the /.'n 1/7/1.' v shall come 
 In risrue hi/m, and than tlni no In llrrnwih hau\ 
 
 u*
 
 212 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Miles j. 
 
 Honorable prynce of grett apparayle, 
 Thurgh Jerusalem and Jude , your wyll we have wrought, 
 Full suerly harneysed in arms of plate and maile, 
 The children of Israeli unto deth we have brought. 
 
 Miles ij. 
 
 Syr , to werhe your commaundement we lettid nought , 
 In the strets of the children to make a flood; 
 We sparid neither for care nor thought , 
 Thurgh Bethlem to shedde all the young blood. 
 
 IVatkyn. 
 
 In feyth, my lord, all the children be dede, 
 And alle the men out of the cuntre be goon; 
 Ther be but women, and thei crie in every stede, 
 A vengeaunce take kyng Herode , for he hath our children 
 
 slean ! 
 And bidde , a mischeff take him both evyn and morn ! 
 For kylling of ther children on you thei crie oute; 
 And thus goth your name all the cuntre abought. 
 
 Herodes. 
 
 Oute, I am inadde , my wyttes be nei goon, 
 I am wo for the workyng of this werke wylde; 
 For as wele I have slayn my frends as my foon, 
 Wherfor I fere , deth hath me begyled ; 
 Notwithstondyng syn thei be all defyled, 
 And on the young blood of Bethlem wrought wo and wrake, 
 Yitt I am in no certeyn of that yong child; 
 Now for woo myn herte gynneth to quake. 
 
 Alas, I am so sorowful and sett in of sadnes, 
 I chille and chevere for this orrible chaunce; 
 I commaunde you all, as ye wole stond in my grace, 
 Aft this yong kyng to mak good enqueraunce, 
 And he that bryngeth me tydyngs I shall hym avaunce. 
 Now unto my chamber I purpose me this tyde, 
 And I charge you , to my precept geve attendaunce , 
 In ony place wher ye goo or ryde. 

 
 CA>DLEMAS -DAY. *2 1 5 
 
 What, out, out alias! I wene I shall (ley this day; 
 My hert tremblith and quakith for fcer, 
 M\ robys 1 rende a to; for I am in a fray, 
 That my hert will bresi asunder evyn hcer. 
 M\ lord Mahound, I pray the with hert enteer, 
 Take my soule in to thy holy hande , 
 For I fele by my hert, I shall dey evyn heer, 
 For my Ieggs falter , 1 may no lender stande. 
 
 [Here dietA Hernwde, and SYMJSON shall sey as f'oluyth 
 
 Now . God, that art both lok and keye 
 Of all goodnesse and jyoostly yovernaunce , 
 So geve us grace thi lawys to obeye , 
 That we unto the do no displcasaunce ; 
 Lett thi grace of merciful] habondaunce 
 Upon me shyne, that callid am Symcon, 
 So that I may without any variaunce 
 Teehe tlii people thi lawis everychon. 
 
 From the sterrid hevyn , lord, thu list come down 
 In to the elosett of a pure virgyn, 
 Our kynde to take for mannys salvation, 
 Thi jjrett merey thu lowe lyst enelyue, 
 Lyke as prophetys by grace that is divyne 
 lla\e prophecied of the, sythc longe afforn; 
 It is fulfilled, I knowe be ther doctryne, 
 And of a chast maide , I wote wele, thu art born. 
 
 .\mu . good Lord, hertly I the pray, 
 Here an requeste, grounded upon right: 
 Most Missed Lord, lett me never dey 
 Tyll thai I of the may have a sight; 
 I'd i   ;ui so glorious, so blissed, and so bright, 
 Thai lid presence to me shuld be grct solas; 
 I shall nol iislc. hut pray bolhe day and nyjjht 
 Tyll I ni.i\ behold, o Lord, thi swete face. 
 
 [Her* ikalt OIK l..il>\ tome forth holdjfttg Je*« «<< hit 
 army* n»d rev ihit language foluyng to Josefili
 
 214 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Joseph, my spouse, tyme it is, we goo 
 Unto the temple to make an offryng-e 
 Of our swete sone; the law commandith so, 
 And ij yonge dowys with us for to bryng 
 In to a prests hands, without tarieug, 
 I shall presente for an ohservaunce , 
 Our habe so hlissed wiche is hut yonge 
 With me to go , I pray you , make purviaunce. 
 
 Joseph. 
 Most hlissed spouse , me list not to feyne, 
 
 Fayn wold I plese you with hooll affeccion; 
 
 Behold now , wyff , here are dowys tweyne , 
 
 Of wiche ye shull make an ohlacion , 
 
 With our cbild of full grett devocion : 
 
 Goth forth a forn , hertly I you pray , 
 
 And I shall folue , void of presumpciou , 
 
 With true entent as an old man may. 
 
 [Here Maria and Joseph r/o towards the temple with Jesn 
 and ij dowes, and OUR LADY seith unto St/meon, — 
 
 Heyll , holy Symeon, full of grett vertu; 
 To make an offryng I gaii my self perveye 
 Of my sovereyne sone that callid is Jesu, 
 With ij yonge dowes , the lawe to oheye , 
 Toward this temple , grace list me conveye , 
 Of Godds sone to make a presentacion ; 
 Wherfore, Symeon, hertly I you pray, 
 In to your hands take myn ohlacion. 
 
 [Here shall SYMEON receyve of Maria, Jesu, and ij dowis , 
 and holde Jesu in Jiis armys , expownyny Nunc dimittis 
 etc seyny thus , — 
 
 Welcome, lord, excellent of power; 
 And welcome , 31aria , with your sone sovereyne : 
 Your ohlacion of hooll herte and entecr 
 I receyve , with these dowys tweyne ; 
 Welcome , babe , for joye what may I seyn ? 
 Atwen myn armys now shall I thee embrace:
 
 CANDLEMAS -DAY. <£ I ft 
 
 My prayer, Lord. was not made in veyn, 
 For now I se t li> eelostiall face. 
 
 [Here declare \unc dimittis.] 
 
 blissed Lord, ait tin language, 
 
 In parfighl peas now lot t thy servannt reste ; 
 For why, myn even hare seyn tlii visage, 
 And eke thyn hclthc thurgh my meke request: 
 Of the derk dungeon lot the gats hrest 
 Before the Pace of thyn people alle; 
 Thn lin>i broughl triacle and hnwmc of the best 
 \\ itli sovereyne soger geyn all bitter galle: 
 
 1 inene tlii self, Lord, gracious and benijyne , 
 That woldest come down from thyn hi<;h jjlorve 
 Poyson to repelle. tlii merey doth now shyne 
 To chainge thyngs that are transitory, 
 
 Thn arl the li|»ht and the hevynly skye 
 To the relevyng of folk most ernell , 
 Thn hast brought gladnesse to onr oratorye , 
 And enbnnvned thy people of Israeli. 
 
 [Here shall ANNA, PBOPHETISSA sey thus to Virtjynes: 
 Fe pure virgynes, in that ye may or can, 
 With tapers of wex loke ye come forth here, 
 And \\ o j-sli ip this child very God and man, 
 Ofl'rid in Ihis temple be his moder dere. 
 
 [ Here virgynes as many as a man wyll shall holde tapers in 
 thcr hands; and the first seyth , — 
 lirf/nj. 
 Av ye commannde we shall do onr defer 
 That lorde lo plese echon for onr partve, 
 
 lie mil. \ ili for us so comfortable' ehere 
 That we mnst nede your babe magnifie. 
 
 Sijmron. 
 \d\\ . Mar] . I shall tell yon how I am purposed; 
 To worship Mnir lord I *.\il go percession, 
 
 Fur I Bee Anna with \ indues disposed 
 \l« l.l\ as n«i" t«> \<>tir suiins laadacion.
 
 216 MIKACLE- PLAYS. 
 
 Maria. 
 Blissed Symeon, with hertly aflfection 
 As ye have seyd I concent therto. 
 
 Joseph. 
 In worship of our child with grett devossion 
 Abought the tempill in order let us go. 
 
 Symeon. 
 Ye virgynes alle , with feythfull entent 
 Dispose your silf a songe for to synge, 
 To worship this childe that is here present, 
 Whiche to mankende gladnes list hryng , 
 In tokyn our herts, wiche joye doth spryng, 
 Betwyn inyn arniys this babe shalbe born , 
 Now, ye virgynis, to this Lord praysing, 
 Syngyth Nunc dimittis of whiche I spak afforn. 
 
 [Here shall Symeon here Jesu in his arniys yoyny a jtcrcession 
 ronndc aboute the tempill, and al this wyle Vryynis 
 sinye Nunc dimittis; and whan that is don SYMEOM 
 seyth , — 
 
 O Jesu, chef cause of our welfare, 
 In yone tapirs ther be tilings iij , 
 Wax week and lyght, whiche I shall declare 
 To the apporprid by moralite : 
 Lorde , wax betokyneth thyn humanyte , 
 And week betokyneth thy soule most swete, 
 Yone lyght I lyken to the godhede of the, 
 Brighter than Phebus for al his fervent hete , 
 Pes and mercy ban set in the here swete 
 To slake the sharpnes, o Lorde, of rigour , 
 Very God and man grace togedir mete , 
 In the tabirnacle of thy modrys bower: 
 IVow shalt thu exile wo and al langour. 
 And of mankende tappese infernall stryf , 
 Record of prophets thou shalt be redemptour. 
 And singuler repast of everlastyng lyf.
 
 CANDLEMAS- DA\. 
 
 •217 
 
 \\\ Bprete joyeth thu art so amyable, 
 
 I am not wen to loke on tlii face, 
 Our trowe tnl cut let it be acceptable, 
 To the honor of Ike shewys in this place; 
 For thy friends a dwclhn;; lliu shall purchase , 
 Brighter man berall outlier clere cry stall. 
 Thee to worship as chef well e of grace; 
 On both in\ knees now down hnele I shall. 
 
 Mn rid. 
 Now, Symeon, take me my childe that is so bright, 
 Chef lodesterre of my felicyte; 
 And all that longyth to the lawe of rij'ht 
 I shall obeye, as it lvth ill me. 
 
 Sumeon. 
 
 This . Lord, I take yon knelyng on my kne , 
 Whiche shall to hlisse folk ageyn restore, 
 And s<i be eallid Sonne of tramiuylyte , 
 To geve I hem drynkc that hem thyrstyd sore. 
 
 [flier* .V. /HI. I receyveth fur xoue thus seyna, — 
 
 Now is my 11 omrynge to an ende conveyed ; 
 Wherfore, Symeon, hens I wolde bende. 
 
 Sumeon. 
 The lawes, Mary, fuhvell ye han ohheyed 
 In this tempill with hert and mende. 
 Now ferwell, Lord, comfort to all mankende: 
 Ferwell, Maria, and Joseph on yon waytyng. 
 
 Joseph. 
 Celestial] bocout our sone mot you sende, 
 And for his high mercy geve yon his blissyng. 
 
 [Here Maria ami Joteph !/i>>/»!/ from the tempill teyngt 
 Miirin. 
 
 Ilii-l I . I thank vou of your ffenfflnes, 
 
 Thai thu han shewed onto nic this day, 
 With our child niosl graClOUl of godenOSl 
 
 Lei us go hens, bertta 1 you pniy.
 
 218 
 
 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Joseph. 
 
 Go forthe afforn , my owne wyf , I sey , 
 And I shall come aftir stil upon this ground , 
 Ye shal me fynde plesant at every assaye; 
 To cheryshe you, wyf, gretly am I bonde. 
 
 Symeon. 
 
 IVowe may I be glad in myn inwarde mynde ; 
 For I have seyn Jesu with uiy bodcly eye , 
 Wiche on a cross shall bey al menkende, 
 Slayn by Jews at the mount of Calvery, 
 And throw evyns grace here I will provysye 
 Of blissid Mary how she shall suftre peyn, 
 Whan hir swete sone shall on a rood deye ; 
 A sharpe swarde of sorow shall cleve hir hert atweyn. 
 Anna prophetissa, hertly I pray you nowe, 
 Doth your devir and your diligent labour, 
 And take these virgynis every ebon with you, 
 And teche hem to plese God of most honour. 
 
 Anna, Prophetissa . 
 
 Lyke as ye say, I will do this hour: 
 Ye chast virgynis , with all humilite 
 Worshipe we Jesu that shalbe our savyour; 
 Alle at ones come on , and folowe me. 
 
 Anna , Prophetissa. 
 
 She we ye sume plesur as ye can, 
 In the worship of Jesu , our Lady , and seynt Anne. 
 
 Poeta. 
 Honorable soverignes , thus we conclude 
 Our matter, that we have shewid here in your presens; 
 And though our eloquens be but rude, 
 We beseeche you all of your paciens.
 
 CAltDUEMAS- DAY. °. 1 9 
 
 To pardon us of our ofl'ens; 
 
 For ai'l the sympyll cunnyng that avc can. 
 
 This matter we have shewid to your audiens, 
 
 In the worship of our Lady and fair moder seynl Anne. 
 
 Nowe of this pore processe we make an ende, 
 Thankyng you all of your good attendaun.ee; 
 And the next \rcr, as we he perposid in our myiidc. 
 The disputucion of the doctors to shew in your presens. 
 Wherfor now . ye vyrgynes, or we go hens, 
 With all \our cuinpanv you goodly avaunce : 
 Also ye menstralles doth your diligens, 
 A tore our depcrtynj; geve us a dauuee. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 GODS PROMISES. 
 
 <ry- 
 
 ffi*> 
 
 <a
 
 A Tragedy or enterlude manyfestyng the chefe promyses 
 of God unto man by all ayes in the olde lawe, from the fall 
 of Adam to the tncarnacyon of the lorde Jesus Christ. Com- 
 pyled by Johan Bale, Anno Domini MDXXXfHI. 
 
   
 
 **** ■* s c% 
 
 v 
 
 It is uncertain where this play was first printed, hut most proha- 
 hly in the Low Countries, or in Switzerland.
 
 GODS PROMISES. 
 
 Jialeus, Prolocutor. 
 
 If profyghfl mayc growe, most Christen audyence, 
 By knowlege of thyn^cs whych are but transvtorye, 
 And here for a tyme , of inoch more congruence, 
 Advantage myght spryn{je, by the serche of causes beavcnlye, 
 As those matters arc, that the Gospel] specyfye; 
 Without whose knowledge no man to the truthe can fall, 
 Nor ever atteyne to the lyfc perpetuall. 
 
 For ho thai knoweth not the lyrynge God cternall, 
 The father, the Bonne, and also the holye Ghost, 
 And what Christ suffered for redempcyon of us all, 
 \\ h.ii he eonunaunded, and taught in every coosl , 
 And what he forhode, thai man must nedes he lost, 
 
 And cleane secluded, from the faythfull ehosen sorle , 
 In the beavens aboye, to bys most bygh dysconforte. 
 
 Yom therfor, good fryndes, I lovyngely exhort 
 To »raye soche mailers, as wyll be ottered here. 
 Of vrhom ire nun loke to bare no tryfeling sports 
 In fantssyes fayned, nor soche lyhe gaudysh gere, 
 
 Kill Ihe thyngS thai shall >our inwardc stomakc ehear ,
 
 224 
 
 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 To rejoyee in God for your justyfycacyon , 
 
 And alone in Christ to hope for your salvacyon. 
 
 Yea , first ye shall have the eternal generacyon 
 Of Christ, like as Johan in hys first chaptre wryght, 
 And consequentlye of man the first creaeyon , 
 The abuse and fall, through hys first oversyght, 
 And the rayse agayne through God's hygh grace and niyght 
 By proniyses first, whych shall he declared all, 
 Then hy hys owne sonne, the worker pryncypall. 
 
 After that Adam hywayleth here hys fall, 
 God wyll she we mercye to every generacyon, 
 And to hys kyngedome, of hys great goodnesse call 
 Hys elected spouse, or faythfull congregacyon , 
 As here shall apere hy open protestacyon , 
 Whych from Christe's hirthe shall to hys death conclude : 
 They come that therof wyll shewe the certytude. 
 
 ACTUS PRIMUS. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 
 In the begynynnge, hefore the heavens were create, 
 In me and of me was my sonne sempyternall 
 With the holy Ghost, in one degre or estate 
 Of the hygh Godhed , to me the father coequall , 
 And thys my sonne was with me one God esseneyall, 
 Without separacyon at any tyme from me. 
 True God he is, of equal 1 dignyte. 
 
 Sens the hegynnynge , my sonne has ever he , 
 Joined wyth hys Father in one esseneyall heynge. 
 All thynges were create hy hym in yche degre, 
 In heaven and earthe, and have their dyverse workynge; 
 Wythout hys power, was never made anye thynge ,
 
 god's promises. «22i» 
 
 That was wrought; but through hys ordynaunce, 
 Each have h\s strength and whole eontynuancc. 
 In hvin is the lyfe and the just recoveraunce 
 
 For Adam and h\s, which Bought hut deathc deserved. 
 
 And thys lyfe to men is an hygh pcrseveraunec , 
 
 Of a lygfat of faythe, wherby they shall he saved. 
 
 Ami thys lyght shall sliyne amonge the people darkened 
 With anfaythfnlnesse. Yet shall they not with liym take, 
 Hut of wyllfol] hart hvs Ivherall grace forsake. 
 
 A\h\ch wyll compel! me agaynst man lor to make 
 In my displeasure, and sende plages of eoreecyon , 
 Most grevoose and sharpe, hys wanton Instes to slake, 
 lt\ water and fyrc, by syeknesse and infeeeyon, 
 Of pestylent sores, molestynge hys eompleccydn, 
 IK tronhlonse warre , by derthe and peynefull searsenesse , 
 And after thys lyfc be an extreme heavynesse. 
 
 I wyll first begynne with Adam for hys lcwdencsse, 
 wVhych for an apple neglected mv commanndement. 
 He shall eonlynne in lahoure for hys rashencsse, 
 Hys onlye BWeatc shall provyde hys food and rayinent : 
 Yea, yi must he have a greatter ponnyshment, 
 Most terryble deathe shall brynge hym to hys cnde 
 To teaehe hym how he hys lord God shall offende. 
 
 [llic prteeeps in te rram catlit Adamut, ac post quattuth \<cr 
 sum dcntio resurgit.] 
 
 .t<Iam primus homo. 
 Mercyfnll Father, thy pytiefull grace extende 
 in me careful] wretche, whych ha^ inesore abused, 
 I h\ precepl breakynge. O Lorde, I mynde to amende) 
 It lli\ great goodnesse woldc now have me excused, 
 .Must beavenlye Maker, lelc me hni he refused, 
 
 \iu cast from lh\ Syght for one pure sviiihTiiII crvme . 
 Alas I am fra\ lc . m\ whole h\ ndc >s hut sl>mc. 
 
 I'tiicr ccelestis. 
 I wuii it is mi. \<i art ilni no [esse faultyc, 
 I lian ilni haddysl hone mada of matter mocb more worthye
 
 226 
 
 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 I gave the reason, and wytte to understande 
 The good from the evyll, and not to take on hande, 
 Of a braynelesse mynde, the thynge why eh I forbad the. 
 
 Adam primus homo. 
 Soch heavye fortune hath chefelye chaunced me, 
 For that I was left to niyne owue lyberte. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 Then thu art hlamelesse, and the faulte tliu layest to me. 
 
 Adam primus homo. 
 Naye all I ascribe to my own imbecyllyte. 
 No faulte in the Lorde, but in my inlmuyte, 
 And want of respect in soche gyftes as thu gavest me. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 For that I put the at thyne owne lyberte, 
 Thu oughtest my goodnesse to have in more regarde. 
 Adam primus homo. 
 Avoyde it I cannot, thu layest it to me so harde. 
 Lorde, now I perceyve what power is in man, 
 And strength of hymselfe , whan thy swete grace is absent. 
 He must nedes but fall, do he the best he can, 
 And daunger hymselfe, as apereth evydent; 
 For I synned not to longe as thu w r ert present; 
 But whan thu wert gone, I fell to synne by and by, 
 And the dyspleased. Good lorde I axe the mercy. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 Thu shalt dye for it, with all thy posteryte. 
 
 Adam primus homo. 
 For one faulte, good lorde, avenge not thyself on me, 
 Who am but a worme, or a fleshelye vanyte. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 I saye thu shalt dye, with thy whole posteryte. 
 
 Adam primus homo. 
 Yet mercy swete lorde, yf anye mercy maye be. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 I am immutable, I maye change no decre; 
 Thu shalt dye, I saye, without anye remedye.
 
 GOD S PROMISES. 
 
 V17 
 
 Adam p r imu s homo. 
 
 Yet gracyeuse Father, extende to mo thy uiereye, 
 And throve not awaye the worke whych thu hast create 
 To thyne ownc Image, lint avert from mc thy hate. 
 
 Pater cwlesti*. 
 
 But art thu sorye from bottom of thy hart? 
 Adam primus homo. 
 
 Thy dyspleasure is to me most heavye smart. 
 
 Pater calestis. 
 
 Than uvll I tell the what thu shalt styeke unto, 
 Lyfe to recover, and my good fever also. 
 
 .(dam primus homo. 
 
 Tell it me, swete Lorde , that I mayo therafter go. 
 
 Pater caiestis. 
 
 Thys vs my covenant to the and all thy ofsprynge. 
 For that thu hast bene deceyvcd by the serpent, 
 I wyD put hatred betwixt hym for hys doynge, 
 And (lie woman kymle. They shall herafter dyssenl ; 
 Hvs sede with her sede shall never have ajjrement; 
 Her sede shall presse downe hys heade unto the groundc , 
 Slee hys BUggestyons , and hys whole power confounde. 
 
 Cleave to thys promysc , with all thy inwarde powre, 
 Fyrmelye enclose it in thy renieinhraunee fast; 
 Folde it in thy faythe with full hope day and houre, 
 And thy Balvacyon it will be at the last. 
 That sede Bhali clere the of all thy w\ el.ednesse past, 
 And procure thy peace, with most bygh grace in my syjjht. 
 Se thu trust to it. and holde not the mailer lyjjht. 
 
 Adam primus homo. 
 
 Swele lorde, the promyse that thyself here hath made me, 
 or ih\ mere goodaesse, and not of my deservyage, 
 In ni\ Faythe I trual shall so establyshed he, 
 |{% helpe of t li % grace, thai il shall he remayayuge 
 
 So longe as I ihall have here conl\ nu\ n;;e , 
 
 And shewe it I w\ll to m\ pottery te, 
 Thai the} in lyke case have iherhv felycyte.
 
 SJ28 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 
 For a closynge up, take yet one sentence with the. 
 Adam primus homo. 
 
 At thy pleasure , Lorde , all thynges inyght ever he. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 
 For that my promyse maye have the deper effect 
 In the faythe of the and all thy gcneracyon , 
 Take thys sygne with it, as a seale therto connect. 
 Crepe shall the serpent, for hys abhomynacyon; 
 The woman shall sorowe in paynefull propagacyon. 
 Like as thu shalt finde thys true in outwarde workynge, 
 So thynke the other, though it he an hyddeu tkyiige. 
 
 Adam primus homo. 
 
 Incessaunt praysynge to the most heavenlye lorde 
 For thys thy socoure, and undeserved kyndnesse 
 Thu hyndest me in hart thy gracyouse gyftes to recorde , 
 And to heare in mynde, now after my heavynesse, 
 The brute of thy name, with inwarde joye and gladncsse. 
 Thu dysdaynest not, as wele apereth thys daye, 
 To fatche to thy folde thy first shepe goynge astraye. 
 
 Most myghtye maker, thu castest not yet awaye 
 Thy synnefull servaunt, whych hath done most offence. 
 It is not thy mynde for ever I shuld decaye, 
 But thu reservest me , of thy benyvolence , 
 And hast provyded for me a recompence, 
 By thy appoyntment, like as I have receyved 
 In thy stronge promyse, here openly pronounced. 
 
 Thys goodnesse, dere lorde, of me is undeserved, 
 I so declynynge from thy first instytucyon, 
 At so lyght mocyons. To one that thus hath swerved, 
 What a lorde art thu , to gevc soche retrybucyon ! 
 I, damnable wretche, deserved execucyon 
 Of terryble deathe , without all remcdye , 
 And to be put out of all good memorye. 
 
 I am enforced to rejoycc here inwardelye, 
 An ympe though I be of hclle , deathe , and dampnacyon ,
 
 god's promises. °.°.J) 
 
 Through my owne workynge : for I eonsydre thy mercye 
 
 Ami jntiefull mynde for my whole generacyon. 
 It is tlm. swete lorde, that workest my salvacyon, 
 And my recover. Therfor of a congruence, 
 From hens tlm must have my hart and ohedycnce. 
 Though I he mortal], hy reason of my offence, 
 And shall dve the deathe , like as God hath appoynted: 
 Of tins am I sure, through hys hyjjh influence, 
 At a serten daye agayne to he revyved. 
 From grounde of my hart thys shall not he removed, 
 I have it in faythe and therfor I will synjye 
 Tins Antheme to hym that my salvacyon shall hrynge. 
 
 [ Tunc sonora voce , provolutis fjenibus, .iuliji/ionttm incipit, 
 O sapientia, quam prosequetur chorus cum organis, 
 
 co interim cretin te : vcl sub eodem tono polerit sic 
 Anulicc cantari. ] 
 
 O eternal sapyence, that nroeedest from the uiouthe of 
 tin' hyghest, reachynge fourth with a great power from the 
 begynnynge to the ende, with heavenlye swetnesse dysposynge 
 all creatures, come now and enstruct us the true waye of 
 thy godlye prudence. 
 
 I'init Actus primus. 
 
 ACTUS SECUNDUS. 
 
 Pater iivlestis. 
 1 li.i \ «■ bene moved to stryke man dyverselye, 
 Sens I lefte Adam in thys same earthly mansyon; 
 For \\li\i'.' be hath done to me dyspleasures manye, 
 Ami w\ll mil amende Ins lyfe in anye condycyon: 
 V> respect hatfa In- to mv worde nor monycyon, 
 liui ilciili wliii li \ in Insi , \\\ili(nii dyscrete advysement, 
 Ami iryll in nu vryse take u\\\u- advertysement.
 
 230 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Cain hath slayne Abel, hys brother, an innocent, 
 Whose blomle from the earthe doth call to me for vengeaunce ; 
 My children with mennis so carnallye consent, 
 That their vayne workynge is unto me moche grevaunce : 
 Mankynde is but fleshe in hys whole dallyaunce. 
 All vyce eiicreaseth in hym contynuallyc, 
 INothynge he regardeth to walk unto my glorye. 
 
 My hart abhorreth hys wylfull myserye, 
 Hys cankred malyce, hys cursed covetousenesse, 
 Hys lustes lecherouse, hys vengeable tyrannyc, 
 Unmercyfull mourther, and other ungodlynesse. 
 I will destroye hym for hys outragyousnesse, 
 And not hym onlye, but all that on earthe do stere, 
 For it repentcth me that ever I made them here. 
 
 Justus Noah. 
 
 Most gentyll maker, with hys frayleness sumwhat beare. 
 Man is thy creature, thyselfe cannot saye naye. 
 Though thu punysh hym, to put hym sumwhat in feare, 
 Hys faulte to acknowledge, yet seke not hys decaye. 
 Thu mayest reclayme hym, though he goeth now astraye, 
 And brynge hym agayne, of thy abundaunt grace, 
 To the fold of faythe , he acknowlegynge hys trespace. 
 
 Pater cadestis. 
 
 Thu knowest I have gevcn to him convenyent space , 
 With lawfull warnynges , yet he amende th in no place. 
 The naturall lawes, which I wrote in hys harte, 
 He hath outraced, all goodnesse puttynge a parte: 
 Of helthe the covenaunt, whych I to Adam made, 
 He regardeth not , but walketh a damnable trade. 
 
 Justus Noah. 
 
 All thys is true , lorde , I cannot thy Avords reprove , 
 Lete hys w r eaknesse yet thy mercyfull goodnesse move. 
 
 Pater cojlestis. 
 
 No weaknesse is it , but wylfull workynge all , 
 That reigneth in man through mynde dyabolycall. 
 He shall have therfor lyke as he hath deserved.
 
 goo's promises. SJ51 
 
 Justus Pionh. 
 
 Lose hvm not yet, lorde, though he hath depelye swenrd. 
 I knowe thv mereye is farre above hys radenesse, 
 Beyenge infynyte, as all other thynges are in the. 
 Ihs folye therfor dot? pardone of thy goodnesse, 
 And measure it not beyonde thy godlye pytie. 
 Esteuie nol li\s laulte larder than helne may be, 
 lint graunt In in lh\ grace, as he ottendeth so depelye, 
 The to remembre . and abhorre hys myserye. 
 
 Of all goodnesse , lorde , remembre thy great mereye 
 To Adam and Eve, breakynge thy first eonimaundement. 
 Tbem tlm relevedest with thy swete promyse heavenlye, 
 Synnefbll tbougb they were, and their lyves neglygent. 
 I knowe that mereye with the is permanent, 
 Ami \\ill l>c ever, so longe as the worlde endure: 
 Than elose not thy hande from man, whych is thy creature. 
 
 Beynge thy subject, be is undreneth thy cure, 
 Correct liym thu maycst , and so brynge hyni to grace. 
 All lyeth in thy handles, to leave or to allure, 
 Bytter deathe to geve, or grauntc most suffren solace. 
 I tterlye from man averle not then thy face, 
 But lete hyin saver thy swete bcnyvolcnce , 
 Sumwhat, though he fele thy hande for hys offence. 
 
 Pater ceelestis. 
 
 My true servaunt Xoah , thy ryghtousnesse doth move me 
 Sumwhat to reserve for mannys posteryte. 
 Though I drowne the worlde, yet wyll I save the lyves 
 Ol the and tliv wyfe, thy three sonncs and their wy\es„ 
 And of ych kynde two, to maynteyne yow herafter. 
 
 Justus Noah. 
 
 Blessed be thy name, most myghtye mercyfull maker, 
 With the to dyspute, it were onconvenyent. 
 
 Pater ceelestis, 
 
 Whye doesl thn saye so? be bolde to speke thy intent. 
 
 Justus Noah. 
 
 Sliall the other dye without any remedye?
 
 232 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Pater coclestis. 
 
 I wyll drowne them all , for their wylful wycked folye , 
 That man herafter therhy maye knowe my powre , 
 And feare to offende my goodnesse daye and honre. 
 
 Justus Noah. 
 
 As thy pleasure is, so niyght it alwayes he, 
 For my helthe thn art, and sowle's felycyte. 
 
 Pater cwlestis. 
 After that thys floude have had hys ragynge passage, 
 Thys shall he to the my covenannt everlastynge. 
 The sees and waters so farre never more shall rage , 
 As all fleshe to drowne, I wyll so tempre their workynge; 
 Thys sygne wyll I adde also , to confirme the tbynge. 
 In the cloudes ahove, as a seale or token clere, 
 For savegarde of man, my raynehowe shall apere. 
 
 Take thu thys covenannt for an ernest confirmaeyon 
 Of my former promyse to Adam's generacyon. 
 
 Justus Noah. 
 I wyll, blessed lorde, with my whole hart and mynde. 
 
 Pater cadestis. 
 Farewele then, just Noah, here leave I the hehyndc. 
 
 Justus Noah. 
 Most myghtyc maker, ere I from hens depart, 
 I must geve the prayse from the bottom of my hart. . 
 
 Whom may we thanke , lorde , for our helthe and salvacyon 
 But thy great mercye and goodnesse undeserved ? 
 Thy promyse in faythe, is our justyfycacyon, 
 As it was Adam's, whan hys hart therin rested, 
 And as it was theirs, wbych therein also trusted. 
 Thys faythe was grounded in Adam's memoryc, 
 And clerelye declared in Abel's innocencye. 
 
 Faythe in that promyse , olde Adam ded justyiye , 
 In that promyse faythe, made Eva to prophecye. 
 Faythe in that promyse, proved Abel innocent, 
 In that promyse faythe, made Seth full obedyent.
 
 GOD'S HtOMISBS. lioo 
 
 Thai faythe taught Enos, on God"s name first to call. 
 And made Mathnsalali the oldest man of all. 
 
 That fayth brought Enoch to so hygh exereyse, 
 That God toke hyn uj> with hyra into paradyse. 
 Of that faythe the vrant, made Cain lo hale the good. 
 And all hys ofsprynge to peryshe in the Hood. 
 Faythe in that promyse, preserved hoth me and myne: 
 So will it all them whych folowe the same lyne. 
 
 Not onlye thya gyfte llm has! geven me, swete lorde. 
 Hut with it also thyne everlastynge coyenaunt, 
 Of i nisi lor ever, thy raynebowe bearynge recorde, 
 A evermore to drowne the worlde hy lloude ineonslaunt. 
 Alar I can not to the geve prayse eondygne, 
 Yet iryll I synge here with harte meke and heny^nc. 
 
 I Magnm tunc voce /dntiphtmam intivit, (O oricns splendor,) 
 
 qfe, in ijenuu cadcns; tjuum chorus jirosct/uctur cum 
 organis ut supra . vel .inijlice sub codcm tono ] 
 
 O most orient clerenesse, and lyght snynynge of the 
 sempiternal] bryghtnesse! O clere Bonne of jnstyce and 
 heavenlye ryghtonsnesseJ come byther and illnmyne the 
 prisoner, By ttynge now in the darke prison and shaddowe of 
 eternal] deathe. 
 
 /■'/nil Actus secundus. 
 
 ACTUS TEKTH'S. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 Myne bygli displeasure mns1 oedes retnrne to man, 
 Consyderynge the synne that he dolli daye l>\ dayej 
 For ncythcr kyndencsse, dot extreme handelynge can. 
 Slake bym in l.iinwr me l>\ anj faythfull wayej 
   ►•it si\ll in mvscbefc lie wall.elli to liss decavc
 
 254 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 If lie do not sone hys wyckednesse consydre, 
 He is like, doubtlesse, to perysh all togydre. 
 
 In iny syght, he is more venym than the spyder, 
 Through soch abuses as he hath exercysed, 
 From the tyme of IXoah, to this same season hyder. 
 An uncomelye acte without shame Cham commysed , 
 When he of hys father the secrete partes reveled. 
 In lyke case IVemrod against me wrought ahusyon , 
 As he raysed up the castell of confusyon. 
 
 Ninus hath also , and all by the devyl's illusyon , 
 Through ymage makynge , up raysed idolatrye , 
 Me to dyshonoure. And now in the conclusyon 
 The vyle Sodomytes lyve so unnaturallye , 
 That their synne vengeaunce axeth contynilallye , 
 For my covenaunte's seke , I wyll not drowne with water , 
 Yet shall I vysyte their synnes with other matter. 
 
 Abraham fidelis. 
 
 Yet, mercyfull lorde, thy gracyousnesse remembrc 
 To Adam and lYoah, both in thy worde and promes: 
 And lose not the sowles of men in so great nombre, 
 But save thyne owne worke, of thy most dyscrete goodness. 
 I wote thy mercy cs arc plentyfull and endles. 
 Never can they dye, nor faylc, thyself endurynge, 
 Thys hath faythc fixed fast in my understandyngc. 
 
 Pater cwlestis. 
 
 Abraham my servaunt, for thy most faythfull meanynge, 
 Both tbu and thy stocke shall have my plentouse blessynge. 
 Where the unfaythfull, uudre my curse evermore, 
 For their vayne workynge , shall rewe their wyckednesse sore. 
 
 Abraham fidelis. 
 
 Tell me , blessed lorde , where wyll thy great malyce lyght. 
 My hope is, all fleshe shall not perysh in thy syght. 
 
 Pater coelestis. 
 
 ]\o trulye Abraham , thu chauncest upon the right. 
 The thynge I shall do, I wyll not hyde from the, 
 AVhom I have blessyd for thy true fydelyte:
 
 (.((US PROMISES. *25o 
 
 For i knowe thou a\ lit cause both thy ehyldren and servauntes, 
 Iu my wayea to walke, and trust uuto my covenauntes, 
 That 1 ni.iN perfoorme with the my earnest promes. 
 
 . tbraham fideUi. 
 
 All that wyll I do. by assystenee of thy jjoodnes. 
 
 Pater cwlestis. 
 
 From Sodom and Goinor, the ahhoinynaeyons eall 
 For my great vengeaunce, whych wyll upon them tall. 
 Wylde IS re and hrunslone shall lyght upon them all. 
 
 Abraham fidclis. 
 
 IMiefull maker, though they have kyndled thy t'urye , 
 Cast not awaye yet the just sort with the nngodlye. 
 Paraventure there maye be fiftyc ryghteouse persones 
 Within those eylies , wylt thu lose them all at ones, 
 Ami not Bpare the place, for those fyftye ryghteouse sake? 
 Be it fane from the soch rygoure to undertake. 
 
 I hope there is not in the so cruell hardenesse, 
 As to cast awaye the just men with the rcchelesse , 
 And so to destroye the j;ood with the nngodlye: 
 In the judge of all, be never soch a furye. 
 
 Pater coolest is. 
 
 At Sodom, if I may fynde just persones fifty e, 
 The place w\ll I spare for their Bakes verelye. 
 
 . tbraliam fidelis. 
 
 I take upon me, to speakc here in thy presence, 
 More then become me, lorde pardon my neglygence: 
 I am hut ashes, and were lolhe the to oll'endc. 
 
 Paler cadeslis. 
 Saye fourth, good Abraham, for yll dost thu aon intende. 
 
 Abraham fidelis. 
 Happlye there maye he fyve lesse in the same nombre; 
 For their sake* t trust thu wylt not the rest accombre. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 
 II I amonge them myjdit fynde bul fryve ami fortye, 
 Them wolde 1 not lose for that jusl compauye.
 
 256 
 
 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Abraham fidelis. 
 What if the cytie inaye fortye ryghtcouse make? 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 Then wyll I pardone it for those same fortye's sake? 
 
 Abraham fidelis. 
 Be not angry e , lorde , though I speake undyscretelye. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 Utter thy whole mynde , and spare me not hardelye. 
 
 Abraham fidelis. 
 Perauventure there maye he thirty founde amonge them. 
 
 Pater cwlestis. 
 Maye I fynde thirty, I wyll nothyngc do unto them. 
 
 Abraham fidelis. 
 I take vipon me to moche , lorde , in thy syght. 
 
 Pater cwlestis. 
 No, no, good Abraham, for I knowe thy faythe is right. 
 
 Abraham fidelis. 
 No lesse, I suppose, than twenty, can it have. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 Coulde I fynde twenty, that cytie wolde I save. 
 
 Abraham fidelis. 
 Ones yet wyll I speake my mynde - and than no more. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 Spare not to utter so moche as thu hast in store. 
 
 Abraham fidelis. 
 And what if there myght he ten good creatures founde? 
 
 Pater calestis. 
 The rest for their sakes myght so he safe and sounde, 
 And not destroyed for their abhomynacyon. 
 
 Abraham fidelis. 
 O mercyfull maker, moche is thy tolleracyon 
 And sufferauncc of synne. I se it now in dedc , 
 Witsave yet of faver out of those cyties to leade 
 Those that be faythfull , though their flocke be bill small.
 
 GODS MOUSES. <2o7 
 
 Pater easiest is. 
 Loth and hys howsholde . I av^II delyver all, 
 For ryghteonsnesse Bake, whych is of me and no! them. 
 
 Abraham full Us. 
 Great arc tli\ grace8 in llio <;oneraeyon of Sem. 
 
 Pater ealesds. 
 AYell Abraham, well, for thy true faythfulnes, 
 \ou \w\\ I geve llit* w\ onvonannt, or third promos. 
 Loke llui beleve it. as tlm eovetyst ryghtuousnesse. 
 
 Abraham fid el is. 
 Lorde so regarde mo, as I receyve it with <jladnesso. 
 
 Pater ca-leslis. 
 Of manye peoples the father I \\\\\ make the, 
 All generacyons in thy sede shall be blessyd: 
 As the starres of heaven, so shall thy kyndred he; 
 And by the same sede the worlde shall he redressed. 
 In eyrcumeysyon shall thys thynge he expressed, 
 As in a sine scale, to prove my promysc true, 
 1'iMit thys in thy Paythe, and it shall thy sowlo ronuc. 
 
 . ibraham fideUs. 
 I w\ll not one jotc , lordc , from thy wyll dysscnt , 
 Itnl to lliy pleasure be alwayes ohodyont, 
 Thy lawes to fullfyll, and most proeyousc commaundement. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 Farwele Abraham, for hearc in place I leave the. 
 
 . ibraham fidelis. 
 Thankes wyll I rendre, lyhe as it shall behove me. 
 Everlastynge prayse to thy most gloryouse name, 
 IVhych savedyst Adam through faythe in thy sweet promos 
 
 Of the uniiianiivs sede, and now conlS rinesl the same 
 
 In the sede of me. Fosotb great is thy goodnea. 
 
 I <•, oi perceyve, but (hat thy mereye is mdlea, 
 
 To sock as feare the, in every generacyon, 
 For it endnreth without abrevyacyon. 
 
 Thys have I prynted in depe censyderacyon , 
 \«> worldly mattei can ran- it ont of mynde
 
 25U 
 
 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 For ones it wyll be the fynall restauracyon 
 Of Adam and Eve, with other that hath syude; 
 Yea, the sure helthe and rayse of all nianhynde. 
 Ilelpe have the faythfull therof, though they be infect, 
 They condcnipnacyon where as it is reject. 
 
 Mereyfull maker, my crahhed voyce dyrect, 
 That it maye breake out in some swete prayse to the; 
 And suffre me not thy due lawdes to neglect, 
 But lcle me shewe forth thy conimeudacyous fre. 
 Stoppe not my wynde pypes, hut geve them lyherte , 
 To soundc to thy name, whych is most gracyouse , 
 And in it re Joyce with hart melodyouse. 
 
 [Tunc alia voce canit Antiphouam , O rex gentium, chovo 
 enndem prosequente cum organis, ut prius, vel Anglice 
 hoc modo : — 
 
 O most myghtye governour of thy people, and in hart most 
 desyrcd, the harde rocke and true corner stone, that of 
 two maketh one, unynge the Jews with the Gentyles in one 
 churche, come now and rclevc maukymle wkoui thu hast 
 fourmed of the vyle earthe. 
 
 Finit Actus tertius. 
 
 ACTUS QUAIiTUS. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 Styll so increascth the wyckednesse of man, 
 That I am moved with plages hyin to confoundc. 
 Hys wcakenesse to ayde , I do the best I can, 
 Yet he regardeth me no more than doth an hounde. 
 My worde and promyse in hys faythe taketh no groundc ; 
 He wyll so longe walke in hys ownc lustes at large , 
 That nought he shall fynde hys folye to dyschargc.
 
 GODS PROMISES. 259 
 
 Sons Abraham's tyme, whych was my true elect, 
 Isinaol bave I founde both wycked, fearee, and crnell: 
 Ami Esaa in mynde with hateful] murther infect 
 The Bonnes of Jacob to lustes unnatural fell, 
 And into Egypte tied they their brother sell. 
 Laban t<» ydolles gave faythful] reverence, 
 Din.i was corrupt through Sichem's Nyolonce. 
 
 Ruben abused Ins Father's concubyne, 
 Judas eate eh\ Idreu of Ins own doughter in lawe: 
 Yea. her in na] syght went after a wycked lyne. 
 I Ins sede Onan spylte, his brother's name to withdrawe. 
 Aclian lyved here withoul all godlye a>vo. 
 And now the chyldren of Israel abuse my poivrc 
 In so vvle manor, that they move me everye howre. 
 
 Moses sanctus. 
 
 Pacyfye thy wrathe, swete Iorde, I the desyre, 
 As thu art {j-entyll , benygne, and pacyent, 
 Lose no! thai people in fearcenesse of thine yre 
 Foi whom thu hast shewed soehe tokens ovydent, 
 Convertynge tins rodde into a lyrelye serpent, 
 And the Bame serpent into tins rodde agayne, 
 Thy wonderful] power declarynge very playne. 
 
 For their Bakes also puttesl lMiarao to payne 
 In leu dyverse plages, as I shall here declare. 
 ll\ bloude,frogges, andlyce; by flyes, death, botche, and blayne; 
 In 1 1 . i \ 1 1 • . I in jjiassoppers, hy darhnesse , and hy care; 
 llv a soden plage, all their first gotteo ware, 
 Thu slewest. in ihic nyght, for hys fearee cruelnesse. 
 From that tin people witholde not now thy goodnesse. 
 
 Pater coelestis. 
 
 I certyfye the, my chosen Bervaunl Bfoses, 
 lli.it people of myne is lull of nnthankefulnes. 
 
 Musis gatlCtuS. 
 
 Derc Iorde, I knowe it. alas! yet waye their weakenesse. 
 Ami beare with their faultes, of ili\ great bounteousnesse. 
 In a Qamynge bushe bavynge in them respect,
 
 240 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Thu appoyntcdst me their passage to direct, 
 
 And through the reade see thy ryght hande ded us lede 
 
 Where Pharoe's hoost the floude overwhelmed in dede. 
 
 Thu wentest hcforn them in a shynynge cloude all daye. 
 And in the darkc nyght in fyre thu shewedest their waye. 
 Thu sentest them manna from heaven to he their food. 
 Out of the harde stone thu gavest them water good. 
 Thu appoyntcdst them a lande of mylke and honye. 
 Let them not perysh for want of thy great mercye. 
 
 Pater ccclestis. 
 
 Content they are not with foule nor yet with fayre , 
 But murmour and grudge as people in dyspayre. 
 As I sent manna they had it in dysdayne, 
 Thus of their welfare thay manye tymes complayne. 
 Over Amalech I gave them the vyctorye. 
 
 3Ioses sanctus. 
 
 Most gloryouse maker, all that is to thy glorye. 
 Thu sentest them also a lawe from heaven ahove , 
 And dalye shewedest them manye tokens of great love. 
 The hrazen serpent thu gavest them for their healynge , 
 And Balaam's curse thu turnedest into a hlessynge. 
 I hope thu wilt not dysdayne to help them sty 11. 
 
 Pater ccclestis. 
 
 I gave them preccptes, which they will not fulfyll, 
 
 ]\or yet knowledge me for their God and good lorde , 
 So do their vyle dedes with their wyked hartcs accorde 
 Whyls thu hast talked with me famylyarlye 
 In Synai's mountayne, the space hut of dayes fortye, 
 Those sightes all they have forgotten clerely, 
 And are turned to shamefull ydolatrye. 
 For their God , they have sett up a golden calfe. 
 
 3Ioses sanctus. 
 
 Let me saye sumwhat, swele Father , in their hehalfe. 
 
 Pater cailestis. 
 
 I wyll first conclude, and then saye on thy mynde. 
 For that I have founde that people so unkynde ,
 
 god's pbomises. iMI 
 
 Not one of them shall enjoye the promyse of inc. 
 For enterynge the lande, but Caleh and Josue. 
 
 Moses sail el u\. 
 Tli\ eternal] wyll evermore fulfylled be. 
 For dysobeydence Ilm slewesl the spnnes of Aaron, 
 The earthe swellowed in liolh Dathan and Abiron. 
 The adders ded sfynge other wycked persones els , 
 In wonderful] nombre, Tims hasl Ilm ponnyshed rebels. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 Never wyll 1 spare the cursed inyquyte 
 Or ydolatrye, for no cause, thu mayst trust me. 
 
 Moses sanctus. 
 Forgeve them yet, Lorde, for thys tyme, if it may be. 
 
 Paler ccelestis. 
 Thynkest tlm that I wyll so sone change my decre? 
 No, no, frynde Moses, so lygbt tlm shalt not fynde me, 
 I wyll ponnysb them all; Israel shall it se. 
 
 Moses sanctus. 
 I wote, thy people bath wrought abhomynacyon , 
 Worshyppynge false jroddes, to thy honour's derogacyon, 
 Yet mercyfullye thu mayesl upon them lobe; 
 And if Ilm wylt not . thrust me out of thy boke. 
 
 I*, iter ccelestis. 
 Those great blasphemers shall out of my boke cleane, 
 Itul ilm shall not so, tor I knowe what thu doest meane. 
 Conduct my people, myne angell shall assyst the, 
 'I li.it synne al a daj wyll not uncorrected be. 
 Vml for the true eele that tlm to my people bast, 
 I adde thya covenaunl onto my promyses past. 
 
 Etayae them up I u\ll a prophete from amonge them, 
 Not onlyke to the, to speke m\ wordes unto them. 
 IVhoao neareth not that he sliall speake in my name, 
 I wyll revenge ii to bys perpetual shame. 
 I In passover Uunbe wyll be a token jnsi 
 Oi thya stronge covenaunt Tins ha\<- I clerch iKscustc , 
 In w\\ appontycmenl ili\s boure for youre delyveraunce. 
 
 17
 
 2V2 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 3Ioses sanctus. 
 
 Never shall tbys thynge depart from my remembraunee. 
 
 Laude be for ever to tbe most mercyfull lorde , 
 Whych never withdrawest from man tby heavenlye comfort, 
 But from age to age tby benefytes dotb recorde 
 What thy goodnesse is, and hath bene to bys sort. 
 As we fynde thy grace , so ought we to report. 
 And doubtlesse it is to us most bounteouse, 
 Yea , for all our synnes most rype and plenteouse. 
 
 Abraham our father founde the benyvolouse, 
 So detl good Isaac in bys dystresse amonge. 
 To Jacob thu wert a gyde most gracyouse. 
 Joseph thu savedest from daungerouse deadlye wrouge. 
 Melchisedech and Job felt tby great goodnesse stronge , 
 So ded good Sara , Rebecca , and fayre Rachel, 
 With Sephora my wyfe , tbe dougbter of Raguel. 
 
 To prayse tbe, swete lorde, my faythe doth me compell, 
 For tby covenaunte's sake wherin rest our salvacyon , 
 The sede of promyse , all other sedes excell, 
 For therin remayneth our full justyfycacyon. 
 From Adam to IVoah, in Abraham's generacyon, 
 That sede procureth God's myghty grace and powre; 
 For the same sede's sake , I wyll synge now thys howre. 
 
 I Clara tunc voce Antiphondm ineipit, O Emanuel, quam 
 chorus (ut prius) proscquetur cum organis , vel 
 Anylice canal , — 
 
 O hygh kynge Emanuel, and our lege lorde! the longe 
 expectacyon of Gentyles, and tbe myghtye saver of their 
 multytude , the healthe and consolacyon of synners , come 
 now for to save us, as our Lorde and our Redeemer. 
 
 Finit Actus quartus.
 
 GODS PROMISES. 243 
 
 ICTUS QUINTITS. 
 
 Pater arlcslis. 
 
 For all the Caver I have shewed Israel, 
 Delyverynge her from Pharaoe's tyranuye, 
 And gevynge the lande, fluentem lac <t mel, 
 Fel \> \ 1 1 she not leave her olde ydolatrye, 
 \or know mm' for God. I abhorre her myserye. 
 Vexed her I have with battayles and decayes, 
 Sty]] musl I plage her, I se no other wayes. 
 
 David rex pius. 
 
 Remembre yet, lorde, thy worthye servauut Moses, 
 \\ all«\ nge iii thy Byght, without rebuke of the. 
 JJoth Aaron. Jetro, EUeazar, and Phinees, 
 Evermore feared to offende thy mageste, 
 Bfoch iliu acceptedst tin servant Josue. 
 Caleb and Othooiel Bought the with all their hart, 
 Ainth and Sanj;ar for thy l'olke ded their part. 
 
 Gedeon and Thola thy euemyes put to smart, 
 Jayr and Jephte gave prayses to thy name. 
 These, to leave ydolles, thy people tied coart. 
 Samson the stongest, for hys part ded the same. 
 Samuel and Nathan tin messages ded proclame. 
 W hai though fearce Pharao wrought myschef in thy syght, 
 lie was a pagane, lave not that in our lyght. 
 
 I vrote the Benjamytes abused the wayes of ryght, 
 S<i ded 1 1 « • I \ i   s sonnes, and the Bonnes of Samuel. 
 
 Said in hys oftVce Was slim llilu I daye and night, 
 
 IVycked was Semei, so was Achitophel. 
 Measure no! I»\ them the unites <d' Israel, 
 \\ liom iliu hast loved of longe tyme bo inteyrlye, 
 Hiii <»| ili\ great grace remyl her wycked folye.
 
 244 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 
 
 Pater ea-lestis. 
 
 I cannot abyde the vyce of ydolatrye , 
 Though I shuhl suffer all other vyllanye. 
 Whan Josue was dead, that sort from me ded fall 
 To the worshyppynge of Asteroth and Baal, 
 Full uncleane ydolles, and monsters hestyall. 
 
 David rex pins. 
 
 For it they have had thy righteouse ponuyshinciit. 
 And for as inoch as they did wyckcdly consent 
 To the Palestynes and Chananytcs ungodlye 
 Idolaters , takynge to them in matrymonye , 
 Thu thrcwest them uudre the kynge of Mesopotamye, 
 After thu suhducdest them for their idolatrye. 
 
 Eygktene years to Eglon, the kynge of Moabytes, 
 And xx. years to Jabin, the kynge of Chananytcs, 
 Oppressed they were vn. years of the Myclyanytes , 
 And xviii. years vexed of the cruell Ammonytes. 
 In three great battayles , of three score thousand and fyve, 
 Of thys thy people , not one was left alyve. 
 Have mercye now , lordc , and call them to repentaunce. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 
 So longe as they synne , so longe shall they have grevaunce. 
 David my servaunt, sumwhat must I say to the, 
 For that thu latelye hast wrought soch vanyte. 
 
 David rex pins. 
 
 Spare not, blessed lorde, but saye thy pleasure to me. 
 
 Pate)' ccelestis. 
 
 Of late dayes thu hast mysused Bersabe , 
 The wyfe of Urye , and slayne hym in the fyelde. 
 
 David rex pins. 
 
 Mercye, lorde, mercye, for doubtlesse I am defyelde. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 
 I constytute the a kynge over Israel, 
 And the preserved from Saul, whych was thy enemye. 
 Yea, in my faver, so moch thu dedyest excell. 
 That of thy encmyes I gave the vyetorye.
 
 <,Ul> S I'HOMISKS. 1\r\ 
 
 Palestynes and Syryanes to the came trybutarye. 
 
 A\ h\ li;tsl tliu then wronghl BOch folye in \n\ Byght, 
 
 Despysynge nay worde, against all godlye ryght? 
 
 David rex pins. 
 I nave Bynned, lord. I beseech the, pardon me. 
 
 Paler ccelestis. 
 Thn shall imi dye, David, lor thys inyquyte, 
 For tin repentaunce; l»ut thy sonnc by IJersahc 
 Shall dye, lor as modi as my naiuc is blasphemed 
 Anion;; my enemy es, and dm the worse estemed. 
 From thy house for thys the swerde shall not depart. 
 
 David rex pins. 
 I am sorye, lorde, l'rom the bottom of my hail. 
 
 Paler ccelestis. 
 To farther anger thn doost me yet compell. 
 
 David rex puts. 
 For what matter, lorde ? I heseeeh thy goodnesse tell. 
 
 Paler ccelestis. 
 Why dedest thn numbre the people of Israel ? 
 Supposesl in thy mind therin thn hast done well? 
 
 David rex pitis. 
 I cannot saye oaye, hut I have done undyscretelye 
 To forge! tliy grace for a humayne pollycye. 
 
 Paler ccelestis, 
 I Ini shall of these three chose whych plage thou wilt have, 
 For iliii synnefull acte, that 1 thy sowle mayo save. 
 A scarcenesse \n. years, or else in. monthes exyle, 
 Eyther for m. days the pestylence most vyle, 
 For one tliu must have, there is no remedye. 
 
 David rex puts. 
 Lorde, at ili\ pleasure, for tliu art (nil <>l mercye. 
 
 Paler ccelestis. 
 Of a pe lylcucc ; then hi. score thousand and ten 
 In in. rlnyea shall •!%'■ of thy most puysanl men.
 
 
 246 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 David rex pins. 
 O lorde, it is I whych have offended thy grace, 
 Spare them and not me, for I have done the trespace. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 
 Though thy synnes he great, thy inwarde harte's contryeyon 
 Doth move my stomake in wonderfull eondycion. 
 I fyndc the a man accordynge to my hart; 
 Wherefor thys promyse I make the, ere I depart. 
 
 A frute there shall come forth yssuynge from thy hodye •> 
 Wkoui I wyll advaunce upon thy seate for ever. 
 Hys trone shall hecome a seate of heavcnlye glorye , 
 Hys worthy scepture from ryght wyll not dyssever , 
 Hys happye kingedome , of fayth shall perysh never. 
 Of heaven and of earthe he was autor pryncypall, 
 And wyll contynue, though they do perysh all. 
 
 Thys sygne shalt thu have for a token specyall , 
 That thu mayst heleve my wordes unfaynedlye, 
 Where thu hast mynded, for my memoryall , 
 To huylde a temple, thu shalt not fynysh it trulye; 
 But Salomon thy sonne shall do that accyon worthye , 
 In token that Christ must fynysh every thynge 
 That I have hegunne , to my prayse evezdastynge. 
 
 David rex pius. 
 
 Immortall glorye to the, most heavenlye kynge , 
 For that thu hast geven contynuall vyctorye 
 To me thy servaunt, ever sens my anoyntynge, 
 And also hefore , hy manye conquestes worthye. 
 A beare and lyon I slewe through thy strength onlye. 
 I slew Golias , which was vi. cuhites longe. 
 Agaynst thy enemyes thu madest me ever stronge. 
 
 My fleshlye fraylenesse made me do deadlye Avronge , 
 And cleane to forget thy lawes of ryghteousnesse. 
 And though thu vysytedst my synnei'ulnesse amonge, 
 With pestylent plages , and other un<juyetncsse ; 
 Yet never tokest thu from me the plenteonsnessr
 
 i;od s PAOMT8B8. U^7 
 
 Of thy godly sprete. which tliu in me dedest plant. 
 [ havynge remorce, thy grace coulde never want. 
 For in conclusyon, thv everlastynge covenaunt 
 Tim gavesf unto me for all m> wycked synne; 
 Ami hast promysed here h\ protestacyon constant. 
 That one of m\ sede shall Boch bygh fortune wynne, 
 As never ded man sens thys worlde ded begynne. 
 I?v Ins |iu\v(']' hi- shall [ml S a than from hys holde, 
 In rejoyce whereof to synge wyll I he holde. 
 
 {Cimuifi cdcc tunc incipil /fntiphonam, C) Adonai, mum 
 (ut prius) prosequetur chorus cum organit, vet 
 
 sic - tngliee : — 
 
 O lorde God Adonai , and gyde of the faythfnll howse 
 of Israel, whych aumtyme aperedst in the namyng bushe to 
 Moses, and to hyiu dedst j;eve a lane in mounte Syna, eome 
 now for to redeine us in the strengthe of thy ryght hande. 
 
 Ftnit Actus quintus. 
 
 ACTUS SEXTUS. 
 
 Pater cwleslis. 
 
 I brought up ehyldren from their first infaneye, 
 \\ hych now despyseth my godlye instrueeyons. 
 An oxe knowcth hys lorde, an asse hys master's dewtye , 
 Hut Israel wyll not know me, nor my eondyeyons. 
 Oli frowarde people, geyen all to superatycyona , 
 I ii ii.-t I ii i-.-i 1 1 ehyldren, expert in blasphemy**, 
 Provoketb me to hate, hy their ydolatryea. 
 
 Take bede to my wordes, ye tyrauntea of Sodoma, 
 In rayne ye offer your sacryfyee to me. 
 Dyscontenl I am ^^ i I Ii yo* beastea ofGomorra, 
 Ami have no pleasure whan I your offeryngea ae' 
 I abhorre your Castes and your aolempnyte.
 
 24H MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 For your tradycyons my wayes ye set apart, 
 
 Your workes are in vaync , I hate them from the hart. 
 
 Esaias propheta. 
 
 Thy cytie, swete lorde, is now hecome unfaythfull, 
 And her comlycyons are turned up so downc. 
 Her lyfe is unehast, her actes he very hurtefull , 
 Her murther and theft hath darkened her renownc. 
 Covetouse rewardes doth so their conseyence drowne, 
 That the fatherlesse they wyll not help to ryght, 
 The poore wydowe's cause come not afore their syght. 
 
 Thy peceahle pathes seke they neyther daye nor nyght; 
 But walke wycked wayes after their fantasye. 
 Convert their hartes, lorde, and geve them thy true lyght , 
 That they maye perceyve their customahlc folye : 
 Leave them not helplesse in so depe myserye , 
 But call them from it of thy most specyall grace, 
 By thy true prophctes , to their sowle's helthe and solace. 
 
 Pater coclestis. 
 First they had fathers, than had they patryarkes, 
 Than dukes , than judges to their gydes and monarkes : 
 Now have they stowte kynges , yet are they wycked styll , 
 And wyll in no wyse my pleasaunt lawes fulfyll. 
 Ahvayes they applye to ydolles worshyppynge , 
 From the vyle hegger to the anoynted hynge. 
 
 Esaias propheta. 
 
 For that cause thu hast in two devyded them , 
 In Samaria the one, the other in Hierusalem. 
 The kynge of Jiula in Hierusalem ded dwell , 
 And in Samaria the kynge of Israel. 
 Ten of the twelve tryhes hycame Samarytanes, 
 And the other two were Hierosolymytanes. 
 
 In hoth these cuntreyes , accordynge to their doynges, 
 Thu permyttede^t them to have most cruell kynges. 
 The first of Juda was wycked kynge Bohoam, 
 Of Israel the first was that cruell Hicrohoam ;
 
 !.Ol>"s PROMISES. *2\{) 
 
 Abia than Mowed, and in tin* other Xadab, 
 
 rii.ui Basa, then llela. then Zambri, Joram and Achab. 
 
 Then Ocbosias, then Athalia, thou Joas; 
 On the othet pari was Jonathan and Aehas. 
 To rehearce them all that have done wretchydlye 
 In the Byghl of tin-, it were longe verelye. 
 
 Pater, codestis. 
 
 For the wycked synne of fylthye ydolatrye, 
 Whych the ten trybes ded in the lande of Samarye, 
 In space of one daye tVfty thousand men I slewe, 
 Thre of their eyties also I ovorlhrewe , 
 And left the people in soche captyvyte, 
 That in all the worlde they wyst not wkyther to fle. 
 
 The other n. trybes, whan they from me went bads 
 To ydolatrye, I let! in the hande of Sesaek, 
 The kynge of Egipt, whych toke awaye their treasure, 
 Gonvayed their cattel, and slewe them without measure. 
 In I wne of Aehas. an hondred thonsande and hventye 
 Were slayne at one tyme for their ydolatrye. 
 
 Two hondred thonsande from thens were eaplyve led, 
 Their goodea dyspersed, and they with penurye fed. 
 Seldom lhc\ fa\le it, but eylher the Egipcyanes 
 1 1 < \ «■ them in bondage, or els the Assyreanes: 
 And alone they ina\e lhanke their ydolatrye. 
 
 Esaias propheta. 
 
 Wele, yet Urssrd lorde , releve them with thy mercye. 
 
 Though they have been >II hy other prynces dayes, 
 Yet good Ezechias hath taught them godlye wayes. 
 Whan the prynce i-> good , tin' people are the better; 
 Ami as lie is nought, their vyces are (he greatter. 
 Heavenlye lorde, therfor send mem the consolacyon, 
 Whych thn hasl covenaunted with every generacyon. 
 
 open ilm the heavens, and lete tin- lambe come hither, 
 Whych «>ll delyyer thy people all togytner. 
 ^e planetes and cloudeij caal downe your dewea and rayne, 
 Thai the earth maye beare out helihful naver playne. 
 
 i a
 
 
 250 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 Maye the wyfe forget the chyltle of her ownc bodye? 
 
 Esaias propheta. 
 Naye , that she can not in anye wyse verelye. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 ]\o more can I them whych wyll do my commandementes, 
 But must preserve them from all inconvenyentes. 
 
 Esaias propheta. 
 Blessed art thu , lorde , in all thy actes and judgcinentes. 
 
 Pater ccelestis. 
 AVele , Esaias , for thys thy fydelyte , 
 A covenaunt of helthe thu shalt have also of me. 
 For Syon's sake now I wyll not holde my peace, 
 And for Hierusalem , to speake wyll I not cease 
 Tyll that ryghteouse lorde become as a sunne beame bryght, 
 And their just saver as a lampe extende hys lyght. 
 
 A rodde shall shut fourth from the olde stocke of Jesse , 
 And a bryght blossome from that rote wyll aryse, 
 Upon whom alwayes the sprete of the lorde shall be , 
 The sprete of wysdome, the sprete of heavenly practyse, 
 And the sprete that wyll all godlynesse devyse. 
 Take thys for a sygne, a mayde of Israel 
 Shall conceyve and beare that lord Emanuel. 
 
 Esaias propheta. 
 Thy prayses condygne no mortal tunge can tell , 
 Most worthye maker and kynge of heavenlye glorye , 
 For all capacytees thy goodnesse doth excell, 
 Thy plenteouse graces no brayne can ciunpas trulye, 
 IVo wyt can conceyve the greatnesse of thy mercye, 
 Declared of late in David thy true servaunt, 
 And now confirmed in thys thy latter covenaunt. 
 
 Of goodnesse thu madest Salomon of wyt most pregnaunt, 
 Asa and Josaphat, with good kynge Ezechias, 
 In thy syght to do that was to the ryght pleasaunt. 
 To quench ydolatrye thu raysedest up Helias, 
 Jehu. Heliseus, Michas, and Abdias,
 
 god's PROMISES. 2i5l 
 
 Ami Nanui Syrus thu poorgedst of a leprye. 
 The workes wonderful! who cm hut magayfye? 
 
 Ar\se. Ilioiusnliui . and take fay the hy and bye, 
 For the rerye lyght dial shall save the is conunynge. 
 The Sonne of the lord tpere wyll evydentlye, 
 Whan he shall resort, se that no joye !»<• wantynge. 
 lie is tin Barer, and thy lyfe everlastynge , 
 Thi release from synne, and Ihj whole ryghteousnesae. 
 Help me in th\ s songe to knowledge his great goednesse. 
 
 {(Duciuiia tunc voce .luti/ihonam inefioat, O radix Jesse t/iuim 
 cttorns wrmtemteter cum orgatxis, vtl Anglic* hocmodo 
 
 cmwt : — 
 
 <> frutcfull rote of Jesse, that shall lie set as a synjfe 
 amonge people, agaynst the worldly rnlers shall feareely 
 opea their mouthes. Whom the Gentyles worshypp as their 
 heavenlye lorde, come now for to delyver us, and delays 
 tin* tyme no longar. 
 
 Finii Actus sextus. 
 
 ACTl'S SEPTIMUS 
 
 Pater calcstis. 
 
 I bare will fearcenesee mankynde oft tymes corrected, 
 And agayne I bare allured bym bj rwete promes. 
 I bare sent bon plages, when he hath mc neglected] 
 Ami then l>\ and by, iiinsi eonfortable swetnes. 
 To wynne bym to grace, bothe mercye and ryghteooenes 
 I baye exercysed, yet n% \ 1 1 be not amende. 
 Shall I now lose bym, <»r shall I bym defende? 
 
 In h\s mosi mysehefe, most hygb grace "ill I sende 
 To overcome bym bj favoure, if it may !»<•.
 
 2«S2 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 With hys abusyons no longer wyll I contendc 
 But now accoinplysh my first wyll and dccre. 
 My wordc beynge flesh, from hens shall set hym fre, 
 Hym teachynge a waye of perfyght ryghteousnesse , 
 That he shall not nede to perysh in his weaknesse. 
 
 Johannes baptist a. 
 Manasses is past , whych turned from the hys harte , 
 Achas and Anion have now no more ado , 
 Jeehonias with others, whych ded themselves avartc 
 Fro the to ydolles , may now no farther go. 
 The two false judges, and Bel's wycked prestes also, 
 Phassur and Semeias, with IVabuchodonosore , 
 Antiochus and Triphon , shall the dysplease no more. 
 
 Thre score yeares and ten, thy people into Babylon 
 Were captyve and thrall for ydolles worshyppynge. 
 Hierusalem was lost, and left voyde of domynyon, 
 Brent was their temple, so was their other buyldynge, 
 Ther hygh prestes were slayne, ther treasure came to nothyng; 
 The strength and bewtye of thyne owne heretagc, 
 Thus dedest thu leave then in myserable bondage. 
 
 Oft had they warnynges, sumtyme by Ezechiel 
 And other prophetes, as Esaye and Hieremye, 
 Sumtyme by Daniel, sumtyme by Ose and Johel, 
 Ay Amos and Abdias , by Jonas and by Sophonye, 
 By IVahum and Michcas , by Agge and by Zacharyc , 
 By Malachias, and also by Abacuch, 
 By Olda the wydowe , and by the prophete Barueh. 
 Bemembre Josias, whych toke the abhoinynacyon 
 From the people, then restoryngc thy lawcs agaync. 
 Of Bechab consydre the faythfull generacyon, 
 Whom to wyne drynkyuge no fryndshyppc myght constraync. 
 Bemembre Abdemelech, the frynde of truthe certayne , 
 Zorobabel the prynce, whych ded repare the temple, 
 And Jesus Josedech, of vertu the exemj>Ie. 
 
 Consydre Nehemias, and Esdras the good scrybe, 
 Mercyfull Tobias , and conslaunl Mardocheus ;
 
 GOD'S I'HOMISES. lit»r» 
 
 J ml i ill and quelle Hester, of the same j;o<Uj trybe, 
 Devoute Bfathias, and Judas Ifachabeus. 
 
 Have inv nde (if Klea/.ar. and then Joannes Ilireanus. 
 Wave the earnest favthe of thys j;odlye COmpanye, 
 Though the other eleane Call from thy memorv e. 
 
 Pater eulestis. 
 I \v\ll Johan. I wjH , for as I sayd afore, 
 RygOUT and hardenesse I have now set apart. 
 Rfyndynge from hens fourth to wynno man evermore 
 By wonderful! kyndenesse to breake hys stabberne hart, 
 And change it from synne. For Christ shall suffre smart, 
 In mannys frayle nature for hys inyquyte, 
 Tins to make open, my massengcr shalt thu be. 
 
 Johannes bajttista. 
 As thy pleasure is, so blessed lorde appoynte me, 
 For my helthe thu art. and my sowle's felyeyte. 
 
 Paler eulestis. 
 
 Lonj;e ere I made the, I the predestynale, 
 Before thu wert home I the endued with jjrace. 
 In thy mother's vrombe wert thu sanctyfyeate 
 By my godlye gyft, and so confirmed in place, 
 A prophete , to sbewe a waye before the face 
 Of mv most dere soune, whyeb wyll come: then untyll 
 Applye the apace thyne oftyce to lulfyll. 
 
 Preaehe to die people, rebukynge their nej>lyj>cnee , 
 Doppe them in water, they knowledgynge their offence; 
 And saye unto them, The kyngedome of God doth cum. 
 
 Julian nes baptista. 
 
 I nmete, lorde, I am. Quia pui-r ego sum. 
 An other than that, alae, I have no seyence 
 l'\i for that oftyce, neyther yet eleane eloquence. 
 
 Pater eulestis. 
 Iliu sliall n o I saye so. for I have jjeven the grace. 
 Eloquence ami age, to Bpeake in desarl place. 
 I Iim mnal il<> therefor as I sliall the adryse, 
 >l\ appoynted pleasure fourth utter in anj vryse;
 
 2<l>4 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 
 
 My sti'onge inyghtye wordes put I into thy niouthc , 
 Spare not, but speake them to east, west, north and southe. 
 
 [Hie extenders Dominus manum , labia Joannis dicfito tanget, 
 «c ori imponet auream linguam.J 
 
 Go now thy waye fourth , I shall the never fayle , 
 The sprete of Helias have I geven the alredye. 
 Persuade the people , that they their synnes bywayle ; 
 And if they repent their customable folye, 
 Longe shall it not he ere they have remedye. 
 Open thu their hartes ; tell theru their helth is comniynge 
 As a voyce in desart ; se thu declare the thynge. 
 
 I promyse the sure, thu shalt washe hym anionge them 
 In Jordane, a floude not farre from Hierusalem. 
 
 Johannes baptist a. 
 
 Shewe me yet, good lorde, whereby shall I knowe that man, 
 In the multytude whych wyll resort to Jordan. 
 
 Pater easiest is. 
 
 In thy mother's wombe of hym haddest thu cognycyon. 
 
 Johannes baptista. 
 
 Yea , that was in sprete. I wolde now knowe hys person. 
 
 Pater coilestis. 
 
 Have thu no feare, Johan , hym shalt thu kuowe full well, 
 And one specyall token afore wyll I the tell. 
 Super quern videris spirit um descendentem et manentem 
 Super earn, hie est qui baptizat spiritu sancto. 
 
 Anionge all other whom thu shalt baptyse there, 
 Upon whom thu seyst the Holy Ghost descende 
 In shappe of a dove , restynge upon hys shuldere , 
 Holde hym for the same , that shall the worlde amende 
 By baptysm of sprete, and also to man extende 
 Most specyall grace. For he must repare hys fall, 
 Restorynge agayne the justyce orygynall. 
 
 Take now thy journaye , and do as I the advyse ; 
 First prcache rcpentaunce, and than the people baptyse.
 
 turn's PROMISES. !2.»/> 
 
 Johannes baiatistu. 
 
 Hygh honour, worshypp, and ;;lorye be unto the, 
 M\ God eternal) - and patrone of all puryte. 
 
 Repent, good people, for synnes that now arc past, 
 The kyngdome of heaven is at hande very nye. 
 The promy8ed lyght to )<>w approcheth fast, 
 Baye fay the, and applye oom to recyve him boldelye. 
 I am not the lyght, but to beare testyuionye 
 Of hym am Bent, tliat all men maye beleve, 
 That li\ s blonde he wyll for their redemptyon geve. 
 
 He is BOcfa a lyghl as all men doth illuinyne, 
 That ever were here, or shall he after thys. 
 All the worlde he made by hys myghtye power devyne, 
 And yet that rude worlde wyll not knowe what he is. 
 \\\s owne he enterynge, is not regarded of hys. 
 They that receyve hym, are God's true chyldren playne, 
 In Bprete regenerate, and all grace shall attayne. 
 
 Maine do recken, that I Johan Baptyst am he, 
 Deceyved arc the] . and that wyll apere in space. 
 Though he come after, yet he was lpnge afore me. 
 We arc weake vessels, he is the welle of jyrace, 
 Of li\ ^ greal goodnesse all that we have we purchase. 
 
 lly In in are w e like to have a heller inerees 
 Than ever we had by the lawe Of Moses. 
 
 In Moses harde lawe we had not els hut darkenes , 
 Fygure and shaddowe ; all was not els IhiI nyght, 
 Ponnyshment for synne, much rygour, payne and ronghnes. 
 An bygh change is (here, where all is turned to lyght, 
 Graee ami remyssyon anon wyll shyne full bryght. 
 
 Never man lyved that ever se God afore. 
 
 Winch now in our kynde mann\s rin ne wyll restore. 
 
 Helpe me to geve thanl.es lo thai lorde evermore, 
 Whych an unto Christ a eryar's voyce in the desart, 
 To prepare the pathes and bygh waves bym before, 
 For h\s delyght is on the poore symple hart.
 
 25G MIRACLE- PL VYS. 
 
 That innocent lambe from soch wyll never depart, 
 As wyll faythfullye receyve hyin with good mynde. 
 Lete our voyce then sounde in some swete musycall kyndfi. 
 
 [Resona tunc voce Antiphonam ineipit, O clavis David, quam 
 prosequctiir chorus cum orgatiis, til prius , vel in 
 Anglico sermone sic : — 
 
 O perfygkt keye of David, and hygh scepture of the 
 kyndred of Jacob, whych openest and no man speareth, 
 thu speakest and no man openeth; come and delyver thy 
 servaunt mankyndc , hound in prison , sytting in the darknesse 
 of synne and hytter dampnacyon. 
 
 Baleus , Prolocutor. 
 
 The matters are soch that we have uttered here 
 As ought not to slyde from your memoryall ; 
 For they have opened soch confortahle gere, 
 As is to the helthe of this kymle universal! , 
 Graces of the lorde and promyses lyherall , 
 Whych he hath geven to man for every age, 
 To knytt hym to Christ , and so clere hym of bondage, 
 
 As saynt Paule doth write unto the Corinthes playne, 
 Our fore fathers were undre the cloud of darkenes, 
 And unto Christe's days ded in the shaddowe reniayne; 
 Yet were they not left, for of hym they had promes , 
 All they receyved one spirytuall fedynge doubtles. 
 They dronke of the roeke whych them to lyfc refreshed . 
 For one savynge helthe , in Christ , all they confessed. 
 
 In the woman's sede was Adam first justyfyed, 
 So was faythfidl ]\oah , so was just Abraham ; 
 The faythe in that sede in Moses fourth multyplyed, 
 Lykewyse in David and Esaye that after cam, 
 And in Johan Baptyst, whych shewed the very lam. 
 Though they se afarre , yet all they had one justyce , 
 One masse, as they call it, and in Christ one sacryfyce.
 
   .on s i'romimn «>,;7 
 
 A man can mil bere to God do better servyce, 
 Tban on thys to grounde bys faythe and understandynge. 
 For all the irorlde's synne alone Christ payed the pryce, 
 In liys only deal In- was nianiiys 1> fe alwayes restynge, 
 Ami not in wyll workes, nor yet in mennys deservynge . 
 The lyghl of our faythe make lli>s thynge evydent, 
 Ami mil the practyse of other experiment. 
 
 Where is now fre wyll, whom the hypocrytes comment? 
 Whereb) they report thej maye a( their owne pleasure 
 |)n -noil of themselves, though grace and fayth be absent, 
 Ami have good Lntentes their madnesse with lo measure. 
 The \w\\ of the fleshe is proved hero small treasure, 
 And mi is mannys will, for the grace of God doth all. 
 More of thya ma tier conclude hereafter we shall. 
 
 Tims endeth thys Tragedy or enterlude, manyfestyngi 
 the chefe promyses of Cod unto Alan hy all ages in the 
 olde la we, from tin- fall of Adam, to the incarnacyon of 
 the lorde Jesus Christ. Gompyled by Johan Bayle, Anno 
 
 hi. mini I. >»">«►. 
 
 I«>
 
 GLOSSARY.
 
 

 
 «. LOSS A 11 Y 
 
 A. 
 
 V. aye ever V is sometimes used 
 
 instead of I ;>> persona] pronoun. 
 
 \, combre, '2~>> i» overwhelm !<• 
 
 .Icstr«i\ . 
 \inlil. 65, so i tailed. 
 V i; li.-. l~'> awe, dread, 
 lent, 128, I '<<;. <li<- imp of a>\.-. 
 Ueond , ~ ■'* bj land. 
 V in. II.' . '. , .'.. among. 
 
 Iperteh . '1 '< } • , , 
 i evidei 
 
 Ippeartely, 54, ) 
 
 ih 
 
 lure, 182, before. 
 
 Irere, 18 , l<» raise. 
 
 V reran! . 192 , back again. 
 
 tssc 97 . to ask "iili aathoritj 
 
 In I 1 1 I 1 1<< 
 
 V 1 1 1 . . . . 86 as though 
 
 lugenl . 77, august. 
 
 V \ <>\\ I ■■-•' !<><>. adultery. 
 
 \„,. 93, in owe, the old present 
 
 i, nse "l ought 
 
 \ n re , 121 , ) , , 
 
 > ever aueul 
 
 Iwro, 112, ) 
 Iwtei •••"> ;/ < all. .1 
 
 ll..ll 
 
 It 
 
 17 \ 19 grid 
 
 ronusiv 
 
 li.il. I l<t a i ni;;" "l land 
 
 Baylle, 102. 106, grief, misery. 
 Bayne, 17. to belong i<» . to be 
 
 nl' Win In. 
 Bayne, ». 78, prepared, ready. 
 Bedene, 117, immediately. 
 Begownne, 42. committed. 
 Beheight, 16, 20. promised 
 Behest, lo, covenant; l<~>2 <<• 
 
 promise, to command. 
 Behet, IS, j 
 Behite, V F i. ) 
 Belamy, 100. 171, 17.". bel-amil 
 Belighte, 10, to believe. 
 Belke, 100. to belch. 
 Belyve, 7. 102, quickly. 
 Bemys . 42, beams . rays. 
 Bendys, 188, bands or ribbons. 
 Benste, 110, 121, benedicite. 
 Bent . 1 13, the open field. 
 Bere . 123, a uoise. 
 Beshew, 29, read beshrew, t<> curse 
 Be-tellc, 159, to deceive, i<> mislead 
 Beteyche, 62, to commit 
 Beth, 12, be. 
 Beyn 188 a bean. 
 Iti \ r . 169, > noise. 
 Bidene, 170 , see bedene. 
 Biggid 180, builded. 
 Blawdyi 18 scandal 
 
 1 ',!{ |.j | fad   ""iinl. nam ..
 
 20i> 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Blekvt, 185, blacked. 
 
 Blende, 149, to shed 
 
 Blenle , 31, blinded. 
 
 Blonder, 109, sorrow. 
 
 Blowre, 105, a pimple, a pustule. 
 
 Blurc , brought on. 182, bleared 
 
 the eye , deceived. 
 Blyn, 5, 7, 17, | to cease, to 
 Blynne, 181, 1G2, J desist. 
 Bodword , 98. 1 75, a message. 
 Bon, 148, bound. 
 Bone, 101, 106, a boon. 
 Boote, 24, profit, gain. 
 Borgke , 188, a surety. 
 Bot , but , except; hot if, unless. 
 Boune, 15, 28, prepared, ready. 
 Bow, bete the, 44, beat the bush. 
 Bowke, 188, bulb, stomach. 
 Bowie, 4, 8, 96, prepared, ready. 
 Bowrde, 120, a joke. 
 Boyn, 147, 182, a boon. 
 Boytt, 149, a compensation ; more 
 
 commonly help or succour. 
 Brade, 185, a start, a sudden turn 
 
 or assault; 164, to start. 
 Brand, 157, a sword. 
 Brefes, 179, 182, letters. 
 Brest, 141, 142, to burst. 
 Brodelle , 168, a blackguard. 
 Bronde, 74, 201, a sword. 
 Brymly , 1 76, fiercely. 
 Bryth , 42, bright. 
 Bun, 111, 156, hound. 
 Burde , 6, a board. 
 Rynke , 190, a bench. 
 Byth, 42, but. 
 
 C. 
 
 Carl , 99, a churl , a bondman. 
 Carp, 100, to relate, to talk. 
 Catyfes, 178, 176, caitiffs.! 
 Catyfnes, 147, 188, captivity, 
 
 wretchedness. 
 Cele, 129, 141, 
 Ceylle, 127, 
 
 happiness. 
 
 Charys , 119, turns, jolts. 
 
 Ckcfe , 122, to succeed. 
 
 Chepe , 114, merchandise. 
 
 Chevithe, 184, to make a bargain. 
 
 Chyte, 151, to chide. 
 
 Clekyt, 185, hatched. 
 
 Clok , 111, to clock, the noise a 
 
 hen makes when she has ceased 
 
 to lay, and is desirous of sitting 
 
 upon her eggs. 
 Clowte, 84, a mark, a blow. 
 Cokwold , 45, 48, a cuckold. 
 Conseil, 72, concealment. 
 Cop , 158, a cup. 
 Courte-rollar , 182, the Writer or 
 
 keeper of the rolls of a court 
 
 of law. 
 Coutke, 98, 112, could. 
 Cowle , 8, colewort , cabbage. 
 Crak, 128, to boast. 
 Croyne, 128, 155, to crone, to 
 
 utter a low murmuring sound. 
 Crisp, 188, fine linen or cobwed 
 
 lawn. 
 Crumpe , 178, the cramp. 
 Cuker, 184, part of a woman's 
 
 head dress. 
 
 D. 
 
 Dalle, 158, 179, the hand. 
 Dalyawnce, 80, dalliance, conjugal 
 
 conversation. 
 Darfe, 178, hard, cruel. 
 Dayntethe , 162, a dainty thing. 
 Bede, 157, 149, death; 105, 107, 
 
 dead. 
 Beeme, 57, to redeem. 
 Deene , 7, see bedene. 
 Defyne, 26, to defy. 
 Dciryne, 26, dear. 
 Delf, 98, to dig. 
 Delfc, 186, a grave. 
 Dcme , 188, to doom, to judge. 
 Dcre , 187, 176, hurt, damage. 
 Derfc , 190, hard, cruel. 
 

 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 263 
 
 Dern , 181. concealed secret 
 
 Devyr , 46, duty. 
 
 Digg>. !». ducks. 
 
 Dight. J, 15, 27. hi prepare, to dress. 
 
 Dold , 100. stupid, confused. 
 
 Dole, 22. a part. 
 
 Doket . 18o, a slire<l or piece. 
 
 Dowse, 117. a slut. 
 
 Doylle. 10o, 148, dolor, grief. 
 Dray , 1 10. to draw . 
 Die, 148. 162, to endure. 
 Dresse, 64, to address 
 Dag, 18J>. to cut? 
 Dastards 157. dastards? 
 Dwerc, 41. a door. 
 
 Dyght. 78. 157. prepared. 
 
 Dyke, Oo, to make ditches. 
 Dyag, 107. 1G8. to cast down. 
 Dytars, 181. inditers, accusers. 
 
 E. 
 
 I'.. ..\r 
 
 Ee, lit!. 17G. the eye. 
 
 Eeyne, 110, 1G5, the plural of 
 
 eye. 
 in.- . 145. again. 
 Eich , each. 
 Elyke, 90, alike. 
 
 Fmell.-. 04, 1)0. .Ill j; 
 
 Knderes. 80. the last. 
 
 Enewe, 120, 180, enongh. 
 ETeriehan, lO. 107. ererj one. 
 Eyrin, 69, erea, eqaal, Fellow. 
 
 F. 
 
 Pa, 186, (kith. 
 
 I ..< <i . 1 f9, faded. 
 
 I".. II,,. 106, 1 •">•"». i<> take. 
 
 I nil. 133, .'ilVaid. 
 
 t tide "ill. Fantafye, 16, lull of 
 
 deceit. 
 Parly , 1 1','2. .i range, 
 l irne, 198, 199 pasl p irt of fare. 
 I ' >nni . 7 It fall liiun 
 
 I iture loo. l<;<; 168 i lazi 
 
 idle fellow. 
 
 Fawcaa, 74, a falcon. 
 
 Fa\. 183, the hair of the head 
 
 Fare, 13. *8. faith. 
 
 Fayne, GO. Go, glad, desirous. 
 
 Feare, a mate, a comrade; in fere. 
 
 27. in company . together. 
 Feature , 20, 54, a deceiver. 
 Fee. Oii. cattle. 
 
 Feetly, SO, 6fly. 
 
 Feigne, 21, glad, desirous. 
 
 fell. 2 1. skin, hide. 
 
 Felle, 04, 148, many. 
 
 Felter , 18i>, to entangle. 
 
 Ferd. 41. 42, fared. 
 
 Ferde, 176, 178, fear. 
 
 Ferdell, 208, a bundle. 
 
 Fere, a mate, a comrade ; in fere, 
 
 70. 81, in company, together. 
 Fere, 08, to put in fear. 
 Ferray, of, 182. on a foray. 
 Fctyld, 180, prepared, made ready 
 
 for use. 
 Feyne. 214. to lie glad. 
 I l.l.> t . 183, mended. 
 Flemyd, 10.". driven out, put to 
 
 flight. 
 Flume. IGo, a river. 
 Flyt, 105, 104, to fly. to flee from. 
 I Mars, 170, 180. scolders, 
 Foche, 100, to fetch. 
 
 Fun, 168, to lie foolish 
 
 Fon, 184, found 
 
 lone, 5, foe. 
 
 Fonge, f t, see fang. 
 
 Food. 181, oil spring. 
 
 Foore, 115, 101, the imp. of fare 
 
 Fordo . 78. 98, to destroy. 
 
 Forebyer, 16, Redeemer. 
 
 Forf.tr. 19, lo Forfeit, to transgress 
 
 Forgang, 1 10. to forego. 
 
 lorn , 5.1 In lore. 
 
 Forrakyd , 117, overdone with 
 
 walking. 
 Forspokyn, 151. low itched
 
 «2<i'< 
 
 GLOSSARY, 
 
 Fortaxed, 109, wrongly taxed. 
 For thy, 54, 101, therefore, for 
 
 this cause. 
 For thy nh , 115, 127 , to repent, 
 
 to grieve. 
 Foryeten, 7, forgotten. 
 Fott, 127, to fetch, to take. 
 Founde, 17, ) to try, to 
 
 Fownde, 158, 138, ] attempt. 
 Fowre, 105, 112, the imp. of fare. 
 Foyn, 147, the plural of foe. 
 Foyne, 118, 142, a heap, an 
 
 abundance. 
 Frankishfare , 6, nonsense. 
 Frast, 98, 178, to inquire, to tempt. 
 Fryg , 188, a freik , a man. 
 Fryth, frith; be fryth, G8, by sea. 
 Fun, 94, 111, found. 
 Fyld, field; be fyld, G8, by land. 
 
 G. 
 
 Gadlyng, 156, 168, an idle fellow. 
 
 Gang, 122, 155, to go. 
 
 Gar, 151, 152, to cause, to make. 
 
 Garray , 106, 129, array, troops. 
 
 Gart, the imp. of gar. 
 
 Gate, way ; alle gate, 154, alvray. 
 
 Gawde, 94, 102, tricks. 
 
 Gaytt, 155, see gate. 
 
 Gent, 50, gentle. 
 
 Gere, 168, 178, gear. 
 
 Gett, 184, fashion. 
 
 Geyn, 159, given. 
 
 Glasc, 119, gloss, appearance. 
 
 Glcdc, 85, a fire. 
 
 Gowlcs, 51, gulls. 
 
 Gramercy, 42, 46, 48, many thanks. 
 
 Gramory, 185, Latin learning. 
 
 Gramyd, 55, angered, afflicted. 
 
 Grathly, 165, suddenly, swiftly. 
 
 Grayd, 168, past part, of graythe 
 
 to prepare. 
 Greesly, 54, grisly, horrible. 
 Greete, 20, grit, gravel, earth. 
 Gretc, 152, 178, to weep. 
 
 Grewys , 186, grieves. 
 Grill, 4, to anger, to pain. 
 Grise, 177, to shudder, to tremble. 
 Grofen , 104, past part, of grufe 
 
 to grow. 
 Gruch, 156, to repine. 
 Grysely, 25, 179, grisly, horrible. 
 Gyn, 52, to begin. 
 Gyrd , 151, to strike oil*. 
 Gysc, 42, 45, guise, way, fashion. 
 
 H. 
 
 Ilaghe, 105 , an interjection of 
 
 astonishment. 
 Hak, 125, 155, to back, to sing 
 
 badly. 
 Ilamyd, 109. hemmed in, sur- 
 rounded. 
 Ilap, 124, to wrap up, to cover. 
 liar, 84, 165, to harry, to plague. 
 Hardely, 105, 159, certainly. 
 Harie, 79, trouble. 
 Harnes, 115, 122, brains. 
 Haro, 177, j) the ancient ISTor- 
 Haroo, 124, > man Hue and 
 Ilarro, 165, ) Cry. 
 
 Harslo , 165, hcarest thou. 
 Hatters, 128, spiders. 
 Ilawvelle and jawvelle , 18G , 
 havers and jabbering, idle talk. 
 He, 6, 150, high. 
 Heale, 9, health. 
 Height, 27; sec beheight. 
 Heings, 28. 
 Hek, 119, a door. 
 Hem, him, them. 
 Hend, 12, courteous, kind. 
 Hent, 86, 98, to take; hente 21, 
 
 taken , caught. 
 Ilete, 152, 155, to promise. 
 Hethyng, 182, scorn, derision. 
 Hetyng, 155, a promise. 
 Hcynde, 97, 152, courteous, kind; 
 107, applied to inanimate objecls, 
 commodious.
 
 (,l (INS Ui\. 
 
 263 
 
 Hej tt . I < ».".. proioisetl. 
 
 Ili|;li. 209, to liir. to hasten. 
 
 Bighl . 16, 157, called 
 
 llir . her. 
 
 1 1 <m1 \ s . .' I . koods. 
 Hokct. 102. 188, scorn. 
 Okie, 98, I" fetch . to take. 
 
 Hon. I. !, 12, 64, III.- han.l. 
 
 Hone. 106, to delay. 
 Dose, 193, hoarse, 
 lloiilc . 1 7. to bum 
 Hurlyd, lit. I. staring, bristled, 
 Hyde, 10, 180, ) to lie, to 
 Hye . 7. 0. 70. ) hasten. 
 Hyge, 19, .!.». kigk. 
 Hygkt, 123, promised. 
 Dyad, 08. 01). eonrteous, kind. 
 Hyme, I 13, 180, a servant 
 Byae, 26, to hie, to hasten. 
 Hyne, 192, In nee. 
 Il\tt the pynne, 85, to knock 
 the right nail on the bead . to 
 
 guess right. 
 
 I. 
 
 leh, 1. 
 
 [eh, 12G, 141, each. 
 
 Ill;, 117, 141, each. 
 Dke, I-'.. 170, same. 
 I li. on. 193, each. 
 Dl-a-hale, 156, ill Inch to you, 
 ill In. I. on it. 
 
 laelysse, 29, in clysse, in glory? 
 Intraste . I (!7. entrace 1 
 l»\ j n . I 50, 133, certainly. 
 
 J. 
 
 Jahell . '1 II , a gOSsip 
 Jape, 184, <leeeit. 
 
 Jajie . Il<», a deceiver. 
 
 Jesen . 81, 83, a lyingin childbed. 
 
 Joyn I..- . III.!, a dissembler. 
 
 EC. 
 
 K .-lie . I 85,   ..nil . pari of a 
 w oiii.in s lii.ni i| restj 
 
 Ken. 19, 21. the I, 
 
 Ken . 94, 98, 1)0, to know. 
 Kerne, 84, an i.lle person, a 
 
 vagabond. 
 Keysar, 80, Ccesar or emnerur. 
 Knave, 128, a l><>\ : knareckiltl, 
 
 120. man-child. 
 Knowlych, i».">. to acknowledge. 
 Koket, I <>'.£. cocked, eeguetish. 
 Kim thank, 94, to thank. 
 h> , #4, to kyke, to look. 
 Kyd, l'<7. 170, past part. Of kythe 
 Kynke, 170. to draw the breath 
 
 audibly, to laugh aloud. 
 Kynnys, 43, kind, manner. 
 I\\ ppys . 120, skips. 
 
 Kythe, 146, to show, to make 
 evident. 
 
 Laghe , I7i>„ law. 
 
 Lakan, 117, 149, a plaj thing, 
 
 a toy. 
 Lake, 114, 125, to play. 
 Lare, 5)0. lore, learning. 
 Lathe, 100, loathsome. 
 Lawdys, 114, the laudes or lands, 
 
 the concluding part of the Matins 
 
 service. 
 Lay, ;!,"», song, affair, Iking. 
 Lav . 201, law. 
 Leare, 23, to learn, to teach. 
 I. edden , 0, language. 
 Lede, a people, a nation; in lede, 
 
 163, lli.i. among the people. 
 Led] r, I 13, lazj . 
 I.e.- , 31, pleasure 
 Leech, 54, to cure, to preserve. 
 Leeven, 10, 17, to believe; also 
 
 lo leave. 
 tele. I 10, to believe. 
 Legge, 17 1. to alledge, to cite 
 tele, 197, loyal, faithful. 
 t.-nl... 17. tarrying. 
 I .... I 111. I7'2 to I.. ii-n. I., leach 
 
 20
 
 i><50 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Let, 17, to cease. 
 Letherly, 114, lowly, meanly. 
 Lever, 12G, 179, ) the compari- 
 L-yr, 45, ( ]eare > 
 
 Levyn, 152, lightning. 
 
 Lewd, 154, 142. unlettered, one 
 of the leod or common people. 
 
 Lewtye, 12, lawty, fidelity. 
 
 Ley he, 62, lay by, cease. 
 
 Leyche, G2, a physician. 
 
 Leyd, in, 151; see lede. 
 
 Leygis, 64, leagues. 
 
 Ley-land, 112, unploughed land. 
 
 Leyn, 99, 110, to lend, to grant. 
 
 Leynd, 97, 102, to tarry, to 
 remain. 
 
 Libarde, 8, a leopard. 
 
 Ligged, 10, lurked. 
 
 Loe, 10, to think. 
 
 Lollar, 182, one of the sect of 
 the Lollards. 
 
 Looe, 05, a lowe, a mount. 
 
 Loppys, 105, lops, fleas. 
 
 Lorden, see lurdan. 
 
 Lore, 7, learning, direction. 
 
 Loryd, 101, learned. 
 
 Lose, 194, praise. 
 
 Losell, 101, | a dissolute 
 
 Lossell, 20, 28 ) lazy fellow. 
 
 Losyngerc, 80, a liar. 
 
 Loten, 112, see sowre. 
 
 Lowd and still, 4, at all times. 
 
 Lowte, 27, ) 
 
 Lowth, 52, \ *° b ° W ' *° Lend> 
 
 Luddokkys, 185, 
 
 Lufly, 154, lovely. 
 
 Lurdan, 101, 164, ) a dissolute 
 
 Lurdeyn, 205, J lazy fellow. 
 
 Lyere, 149, flesh. 
 
 Lymbo, 104, 108. Liinbus is the 
 
 name given by the Church of 
 
 Rome to the place in which it 
 
 is supposed the righteous were 
 
 confined before our Saviour's death. 
 
 Lyme, 25, a limb, an assistant. 
 Lyst, 94, lust, pleasure. 
 
 M. 
 
 Ma, 156, my. 
 
 Maculacion , 55, a spot , a stain. 
 
 Make to make, 7, mate to mate, 
 like to like. 
 
 Maken, 9, to mate, to associate. 
 
 Maroo, 124, an associate. 
 
 Mase , 97, 164, the 5rd person 
 singular of may to make. 
 
 Masyd, 170, amazed, bewildered. 
 
 Maugre, 205 , in spite of , not- 
 withstanding. 
 
 Maweless, 28, unsubstantial, false. 
 
 Mawgre, 208, in spite of, not- 
 withstanding. 
 
 Mawmentry, 159, idolatry. 
 
 Maye, 25, 54, a maid. 
 
 Maylle easse, 120, mal-aise, illness. 
 
 Mayne, 20, 25, main, might. 
 
 Meanye, 7, 15, see meneye. 
 
 Measse, 98, a mess, the measles, 
 leprosy, scurvy. 
 
 Mede, 84, 155, reward, desert. 
 
 Medille-erd, 178, the middle ha- 
 bitation between heaven and hell, 
 the world. 
 
 Mefe, 194, to move, 
 
 Mekylle, 99, 104, much. 
 
 Melle, 27, 49, to meddle, to contend. 
 
 Melle, 97, 150, to tell, to speak. 
 
 Mener, 154, handsome. 
 
 Meneye, 104, 120, 157, \ a noun of 
 
 Menyec, 150, 150, \ multi- 
 
 tude, having in general a relative 
 signification according to its con- 
 nexion. Thus the meneye of a 
 king is his court and retinue ; of 
 a general , his army ; of our 
 Saviour , his disciples. Anglo 
 Saxon maniu, mcenigeo, or moe- 
 nigu , the word used by ^Elfric
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 267 
 
 For the congregation of the Chil- 
 dren of Israel, 
 
 Meng, 139, in mingle. 
 
 Heat, 70. 77. 100. meant, minded. 
 
 Meselle, 104, measled, afflicted 
 \wlli lepras] or scarry. 
 
 Here, 60, l<> more, to moot, to 
 argue. 
 
 ■erne, 11.!. 199, H„. bass part 
 in singing. 
 
 Mickle, '±'2. 28, moeh 
 
 Hissaes, 186, ^^ !•;•( is mis-said, 
 lies, frc 
 
 Mom 99, ii» mumble. 
 
 Hon, 104, 107. 108, must. 
 
 Mote, 23, 50, l<> moot, to argne. 
 
 M<m . 140, to make months, gri- 
 maces. 
 
 Hoytt, l.> I. 170, to moot, to argne. 
 
 Muf. !<0. to nunc. 
 
 Nychers, 137, 170. cheaters. 
 
 Hyn, 1 r i. 17. 180, to hare in mind. 
 
 to remember. 
 Hyn, 100, less. 
 Hyssase, I HO. to mis-saj . to lie, 
 
 In contradict, 
 Nyster, 190, need. 
 Hystys, .'.'«. mysterious, unknown. 
 
 N. 
 
 Napand, 193, gasping. 
 
 Kate, 139, i <» hare occasion lor. 
 
 Yiti-I\ . I 1 .". neatlj . 
 
 Nawre, I fi I . the negatiTe of awre. 
 
 "V- , nor. 
 
 >••! inl\ . I I J{. nimbi] . 
 
 Negons, 193, negh oiks? Neigh* 
 
 llllllls. 
 
 NioxmII. 7.". ,i Christmas earol, 
 Were hande, loo. |0|. almost . 
 
 \ a ^ ii' >i 
 [fesh, 128, tender 
 Neven, OH. I 18, in nanie, in ipeah 
 N igrem) . 54, necromanci 
 "onys, 127, nonce, purpose 
 
 Noras, I '20, 
 
 ■«. ir, urse. 
 
 Noryse, 141. 
 
 Note . 1 1. 193, ) Imsiii.ss, oc- 
 
 Noyte, 98, 170, ) cupation. 
 
 >oili(. 't I, nought. 
 
 Noye, 5, 7, annoyance, hurt. 
 
 \uit> . 26, a nursling, ;i child. 
 
 Nyfyls, I)',.;. trifles. 
 
 O. 
 
 Odor. 193, oilier. 
 
 Okerars, 11U5, usurers. 
 
 Onys, 4<">. once. 
 
 Or, ere, before. 
 
 Outehorne, 10.!, an outlaw. 
 
 Owtli. 49, i!o. ought, any lliiii};'. 
 
 P. 
 Pardc, 40. 1 10, parDieu, by God. 
 Parrage, 71, parentage, extraction. 
 Pay, 82, liking, satisfaction. 
 Pay, IOC, to please. 
 Payer, 24, to impair, (o lessen. 
 Perde, 123, 131, see parde. 
 Peryng, 77, appearing. 
 Petj enime, 43, a mean adrersarj . 
 
 a slanderer. 
 Pight, 140, (o complain. 
 Pighte, 29, 53, fixed. 
 Pleyny, 4ii. ICO, to complain. 
 Po, 1 10, a peacock. 
 Postee, IC, 10, power. 
 Profles, 2o, proofs. 
 Prow. 44. 169, profit 
 Pyrie, CC, a sudden wind. 
 Pystylle, 111, an epistle. 
 
 Q 
 
 Qnantyse, O.J, l.">C, cunning. 
 
 Ouere, 07, choir. 
 
 Qweasse, l26,towhee«e, to breath 
 
 with difficulty. 
 Qwedyr, 4C. to quiver, to shake. 
 
 It 
 
 Race . •> I . train '.' 
 
 It ..I I I i 180, afraid.
 
 <><}}{ 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Radly, 107, quickly. 
 
 Rafte, 28, reft, taken away. 
 
 Ragman, roll of, 182, any authentic 
 catalogue or list drawn up se- 
 cundum regimen. 
 
 Rake, 159, range, liberty. 
 
 Rakyd, 117, forrakyd. 
 
 Ramyd , 109, thrust , cast down. 
 
 Rape , 55, to hasten. 
 
 Rathly, 151, ready, 
 
 Reach, 54, to reck , to care. 
 
 Read, 19, 28, ) , . 
 _.,„„, ; advice, counsel. 
 
 Red , b, 8-4, ) 
 
 Red, 18, 55, to advise, to counsel. 
 
 Refe, 109, 1G7, to bereave, to rob. 
 
 Rck, 119, 195, to reck, to care. 
 
 Reme , 80, 87, realm. 
 
 Renderars of refl'ys , 179, those 
 
 who undertake to restore stolen 
 
 goods for a reward. 
 Rerd, 178, a voice, a noise. 
 Rew , 157, to compassionate. 
 Reyllc, 118, to ramble about. 
 Ro, 146, rest. 
 Rode, 147, I 
 
 Roode, 55, 114, 5 
 Rok, 122, a distaff. 
 Hollar; sec courte-rollar. 
 Rome, 0, to roam. 
 Rowners , 185, whisperers. 
 Rude, 152, 159; see rode. 
 Ruled out of raye , 50, deprived 
 
 of reason. 
 Runkers, 185, double tongued. 
 Rused , 155, praised. 
 Ryth, 42, right. 
 
 Sagh, 151, to say. 
 
 Sairjour, 26, saviour. 
 
 Sakles , 146, blameless , innocent. 
 
 Sam, 151, 142, together. 
 
 Sawe, 24, 95, a saying, a report. 
 
 Sawgeoure , 182, a soldier. 
 
 Sawter, 167, 184. the psalter. 
 
 the cross. 
 
 Sa\nl , 115, say it. 
 
 Schape, 55, 55, to escape. 
 
 Schapp , 82, shape, make. 
 
 See, 21, 50, a seat, a throne. 
 
 Seekerly, 17, certainly. 
 
 Seith, 51, since. 
 
 Sekyr, 42, sure, certain. 
 
 Sclcowth, 96, seldom, extraordinary. 
 
 Sely, 109, 110, simple. 
 
 Sen, 145, 145, since. 
 
 Serys , 48, 49, sirs. 
 
 Selh, 22, since. 
 
 Seven, to set all in, 155, to put 
 
 all in order. 
 Sew, 107, to follow. 
 Sey, 87, to assay , to attempt. 
 Seyd, 49, 97, seed; 49, said. 
 Seyr, 171, various. 
 Sharnie, 204, to sham. 
 Shekyls, 111, ague, trembling. 
 Shente, 25, 57, ruined, destroyed. 
 Sheynd, 106, 152, to ruin, to 
 
 destroy. 
 Shone , 1 10, the plural of shoe. 
 Shrew, 25, 115, a cursed fellow. 
 Shrew e , 48, 119, to curse. 
 Shroges, 125, rough uninclosed 
 
 ground more or less covered with 
 
 brushwood. 
 Sith , 8, 14, since. 
 Skant, 78, scant, scarcely. 
 Skape, 99, 119, to escape. 
 Skawde, 150, a scold. 
 Skawte, 195. 
 Skraw , 154, a scroll. 
 Slea, 54, to slay. 
 Slew the, 186, sloth. 
 
 Slich, 4, ) sl[me 
 Slicke, 5, ) 
 
 Sloghe, 122 
 
 Slokyn, 155, to slake, to quench. 
 
 Slosc, 155, sloth. 
 
 Slyke , 98, such like. 
 
 Slylh, 112, fo slit, lo tear. 
 
 Suck. 119. the latch of a door.
 
 GL088ARY. 
 
 269 
 
 true. 
 
 Soffereal . 69, sovereign. 
 Sonde, VJ. ,\\. 02.   message 
 
   messenger. 
 Soort'. 01. exceedingly. 
 Sole, 800, \ 
 Soft, 18, 17. ] 
 Sothrea, I 10. boiled, eaten away. 
 
 Siiunile . 17.   \ni< e . a word. 
 
 Sowe, !>0. 108, to ensue, to follow. 
 
 SuniT loten, 118, sour leaven is 
 
 de r ive d (Yon leaving the piece 
 
 nl' dough to ferment ; loten 
 signifies the same, and is the 
 part, of loetan, to leave. 
 
 Sinn. 98, 07, soon. 
 
 Sparte . 10«~, spare it. 
 
 Speareth , 886, asketh, enquireth. 
 
 Spere . 70. spirit. 
 S|.ill. f, 10. ) 
 
 « ii «»/. qm t ,0 destroy* 
 
 .Np\ lie. \l \. ;i.>. 1 
 
 Springe. 24. 29, to flourish, to 
 
 sneeeeil. 
 
 Spyr, 101. to ask, to enquire. 
 Spytns, 1 10, 170. spiteful. 
 
 Stad, 168, 1 
 
 . .«. < slant, placed. 
 si.,1. HI, 148. 5 ' 
 
 Steal, e , ||. to fasten with stieks. 
 
 Stede, 188, 131,   place 
 
 siev mi . 1 58, a roioe. 
 
 SiiHire . 168, a trouble, a perilous 
 
 situation. 
 
 Stower, 13,   steer. 
 
 Stowke, 188, twelve sheaves of 
 
 corn piled up. 
 Stowade, 170, an acute pain. 
 Sull'ei ii i i s. 60, sovereigns. 
 Suspowse, 127. suspicion. 
 SwedyUe, 184, ISO, l«. swathe , 
 
 to bind 
 Swell . 127. In .lie. 
 
 S\m |i\ -, . I 85, n hips. 
 
 Sw evyn, I 22. a dream. 
 Bwilb, 184, H!7. sueli 
 Awongen, 183, past pari ofswinge 
 
 to l.e.it 
 
 Swych, 45. such. 
 Swynk, 113, 1 19, to toil. 
 Swythe, 107. s\> il't . quick. 
 
 S\lilie. V.>. 86, a relation by blood. 
 
 a kinsman, a kinswoman. 
 Smi, 112, 127, since, afterwards. 
 
 S\se. 00, assize, judgement. 
 
 S>lh. 41, time. 
 
 Sythen, 98, 90, since, afterwards. 
 
 Fane, 180, taken. 
 Taxed , see fortaxed. 
 TayUe , 170. an account. 
 Teene, to take, 19, to fake beed to. 
 Tene , 16, 138, grief. 
 Tent, 45, 94, attention, beed. 
 Tent, 170, 100, to take beed to. 
 Teyche, see beteyche. 
 
 Ton, 108, grief. 
 
 Teyn, 157, 171, to affllict, to 
 
 provoke. 
 Thar, 100, 189, to need. 
 Tharmes, 122, giits. 
 The, thee, they. 
 
 Thevt , 102, service. 
 
 Tho. 107, those. 
 
 Thole, U9, 149, to suffer. 
 
 Thoner, 104, thunder. 
 
 Thraw, 147, 104, a short space 
 
 of time. 
 Threpe, 114, to trip. 
 Thurt, 109, 190, the imp. of tbar. 
 Thyrlyd, 101, pierced through. 
 To anil lil are used indiscrimatelv 
 
 with reference hoth to lime and 
 
 place. 
 Tollare, 102, a speaker. 
 Tolle, 40. to tell. 
 
 Tome, 188, 170, emptj 
 
 Tun. .11. lues. 
 
 Tupeas. 6, topmast. 
 
 Tranles, 166, links. 
 
 Trayn, Mil. an artifice, a contri 
 
 ia nee
 
 270 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Trete, on, 179, in an entreating 
 
 manner. 
 Tristur , 181, the place allotted 
 
 to a person in hunting'. 
 
 Trowse, 117, ) to tie up the 
 
 Truse, 65, ) hrecches. 
 
 Truage, 7iJ, toll, custom. 
 
 Trus, 18o, 192, to pack, to g-o. 
 
 Twayne, 17, ) 
 
 ™ . , , .„, < l « divide. 
 
 Twyn, 144, 164, ) 
 
 Twyfyls, 18o, two-folds. 
 
 Twyk , 145, to twitch, to pull 
 
 suddenly. 
 Tyne 147, 180, to lose. 
 Tyte , 107, 151, quick, swiff; as 
 
 tyte, loG, as quick as possihle. 
 Tythyng, 65, 75, tidings. 
 Tytter, 105, a tittle, the least 
 
 distance. 
 
 u. 
 
 scarcely. 
 
 Unitkynke, 171, to deliberate 
 
 Unethes, 182, 
 
 Unothes, 135, 
 
 Unfeayne, 53, unfeigned. 
 
 Unys , 104, probably a mistake in 
 
 the original copyist for uuys , 
 
 ewes. 
 Ure , 110, to experience. 
 
 Verament , 56, verily, truly. 
 Voket, 173, an advocate. 
 Vowgard, 194, 
 Vroken , 207, revenged. 
 
 w. 
 
 Walk-mylne, 183, a fulling mill. 
 Wall, weale and wytf, 19, power, 
 
 felicity and wisdom. 
 Wan , 96, imp. of win, to go. 
 War, 117, worse. 
 Warloo, 152, 153,) a warlock , 
 Warlow, 101. ) a wizard. 
 
 War-oute,192,atermusedindriving. 
 Warry, 14, 109, to curse. 
 Wartc , 185, wear it, spend it. 
 Wate, 150, wote, knew. 
 Wate, 190, wet. 
 Wax, on thy, 185, of thy growth. 
 Wayt 111, 116, to know. 
 Wede , 85, 153, raiment. 
 Wedurs, 63, 110, clouds. 
 Wecte, 6, the tide. 
 Welkin, 13, the sky. 
 Welland, 103, boiling. 
 Welner, 122, well nigh. 
 Wema , 145, an exclamation de- 
 manding attention. 
 Wend, 10, 30, to go. 
 Wene, 3, 7, to think. 
 Went, 203, weened, thought. 
 Wenyand , 125, an illusion to the 
 belief that actions undertaken in 
 the wane of the moon would be 
 unsuccessful. 
 Werd, SI, the world. 
 Were , 56, 178, confusion, war. 
 Were, 140, 173, doubt, uncertainty. 
 Were, 98, to defend. 
 Weyn, 115, 154, to ween, to 
 
 think. 
 Weyn, 96, doubt. 
 Weynde, 93, 100, to go. 
 Whik, 128, quick, living. 
 Witt, 53, to know. 
 Witterly, 19, 24, verily, truly. 
 Wode, 85, 86, mad. 
 Won, 94, 98, to dwell. 
 Wonden , 139 , wrapped in a 
 
 winding sheet. 
 Wonys, 127, dwelling places. 
 Wonys, 86, once. 
 Woode, 121, 209, mad. 
 Wraggers, 179, wranglers. 
 Wrake, 102, 189, revenge. 
 Wranke, 32, a trie!.? wrong? 
 Wrast, 98, wrest. 
 Wrears, 179, perverters.
 
 GLOSS vll\ 
 
 «J7 I 
 
 Wreke, HIT. } ,.,..„„,. 
 
 J wreak, revenge. 
 
 \\ reyche, it". ) 
 Wright, 169, ;i carpenter. 
 Wroken, 15, } P»st part. 
 
 \\ rokyn, 151, 181, 3 of wrake 
 
 to revenge. 
 \\ t. with. 
 
 » yn, 162, j">- pleasure. 
 Wynde, '2'*. «'>'«- to go. 
 A\ \v. ."».">. to know 
 \\ ese, 15, 51, ";>>■ 
 
 \\ Nil. 25, 102, tO lillO". 
 
 \ arc 154, apt, ready. 
 
 Fate, 167, 168, a gate. 
 
 Xch, 251, each 
 
 \ ,.,!,. , 105, 121, llu- imp. of go 
 
 or gang. 
 Yister, i'i'i. yesterday. 
 Yl-a-haylle, 102, ill luck to you, 
 
 ill luck on it. 
 
 \ II,. I ."It, sanu'. 
 
 \ ode, 105, J 1 ijtheimp.ofgoorgang. 
 
 \t. that. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 57, I. II, from bottom, for Wilt, read Jt'ilh. 
 
 65, .. 'J", for oo, read goo. 
 
 70, „ !S, from bottom , for intamatc , read incarnate. 
 
 78, ,, 16, for do, read fordo. 
 
 1 |S, ,. 17. for tylh: read itylle. 
 
 158, .. 17, for Ay. read ly. 
 
 168, ., 21, for huew, read knew.

 
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