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mmm 

sEHHRiir 


THE   DIGBY   MYSTERIES. 


TO 

MRS   GEORGE   WHERRY, 

Corpus  Buildings,   Cambridge. 

MY  DEAR  MRS  WHERRY, 

You  and  I  once  studied  SHAKSPERE  for  a  time  together. 

I  well  recollect  your  capital  acting  of  Nerissa  in  the  Merchant  of 
Venice,  and  the  arch  way  in  which  you  tost  up  your  handkerchief  when 
you  heard  the  news  that  Bassanio  was  coming,  as  if  you  divined  that 
the  right  man  was  near. 

Some  friends  asserted  that  you  actually  winkt  at  him,  to  let  him  know 
which  were  the  wrong  caskets,  and  which  the  right ;  but  that  was  doubt 
less  a  libel.  At  any  rate  you  chafft  delightfully  that  saucy  Gratiano — 
the  impertinent ! — who  dared  to  say  that  it  was  a '  youth,' '  a  little  scrubbed 
boy,'  to  whom  he  gave  your  Ring. 

Then  you  left  such  merrymaking  to  nurse  "the  fpeachlefle  ficke," 
"  enforce  the  maimed  impotent  to  fmile  " ;  and  for  two  years  you  toiled 
in  the  Hospitals. 

You  have  your  reward  in  your  pretty,  happy  home,  in  the  affection 
of  the  able  and  accomplish!  gentleman  to  whom  you  have  linkt  your  life 
— the  tender  of  the  suffering,  the  helper  of  the  poor,  "  who  are  Christ's 
friends,"  as  Chaucer  says. 

I  think  of  your  choice  and  lot  with  pleasure,  and  I  venture  to  dedicate 
to  you  this  edition  of  a  few  of  the  Early  Religious  Dramas  before  Shak- 
spere's  time,  as  just  a  reminder  of  the  days  when  his  triumphant  art  was 
the  subject  of  our  mutual  work.  Believe  me  to  be, 

Always  sincerely  yours, 

F.  J.  FURNIVALL. 


p 


erc 


THE 


DIGBY 


7         Wo 

TAU 

MYSTERIES. 


i.   THE   KILLING   OF  THE   CHILDREN. 
2.   THE   CONVERSION   OF   ST   PAUL. 

3.   MARY   MAGDALENE. 
4.   CHRIST'S   BURIAL  AND   RESURRECTION, 

WITH    AN    INCOMPLETE 

MORALITY 

OF 

WISDOM,  WHO  IS  CHRIST 

(PART    OF    ONE    OF    THE    MACRO    MORALITIES). 


EDITED    FROM    THE    MSS. 
BY 

F.  J.  FURNIVALL, 

FOUNDER    AND    DIRECTOR    OF    THE    NEW    SHAKSPERE   SOCIETY,    ETC. 


PUBLISHT  FOR 

Nefo  Sijafcspere 

BY   N.   TRUBNER  &  CO.,   57,    59,   LUDGATE  HILL, 
LONDON,  E.C.,  1882. 


ser.  7 

tto.  1 


Strits  VII.    go.  1. 

BUNOAT  :     CLAY   AND   TAYLOR,    TUB    CUAUCBR  PRESS. 


CONTENTS. 

FAGB 

FOREWORDS  vii 

APPENDIX  :  Notes  on  the  Chester  Plays  and  Midsummer  Show    xviii 

HEROD'S  KILLING  OF  THE  CHILDREN  (Childermas, 
Dec.  28),  with  the  PURIFICATION  IN  THE  TEMPLE  (playd 
on  Candlemas  Day,  Feb.  2,  1512)  i 

THE  CONVERSION  OF  ST  PAUL  (Jan.  25)       25 

MARY  MAGDALENE,  in  2  Parts  :— 

Part  I.     Her  Father's  Death.     Her  Seduction.     Her  wiping 
Jesus's  Feet.     Lazarus's  Death  and  Againrising 53 

Part  II.    Christ's  Appearance  to  her.    Her  Conversion  of  the 
King  of  Marcylle.     Her  feeding  by  Angels.     Her  Death          90 

A  MORALITY  OF  WISDOM,  WHO  IS  CHRIST  (imperfect). 
How  Lucifer  tempts  the  Mind,  Will,  and  Understanding  of 
Man  to  sin  137 

CHRIST'S  BURIAL  AND  RESURRECTION,  in  2  Parts:— 

Part  I  (playd  on  Good  Friday).    Christ  taken  from  the  Cross 
and  buried          169 

Part    II    (playd   on   Easter  Day  in   the  Morning).     The  3 
Maries  go  to  the  Sepulchre,  and  Christ  appears  to  them         201 

EXTRACT  FROM  THE  ROMISH    SERVICE-BOOK   FOR 

EASTER  DAY 227 

GLOSSARY  AND  INDEX  (mainly  by  S.  J.  HERRTAGE)         ...     229 


The  Committee  of  the  New  Shakspere  Society  give  express  notice 
that  the  Editor  of  any  of  the  Society's  Books  is  alone  responsible 
for  the  opinions  exprest  in  it. 


Vlt 


FOREWORDS. 


THIS  book  opens  the  Seventh  Series  of  the  New  Shak- 
spere  Society's  publications,  that  of  the  "  English  Mysteries, 
Miracle-Plays,  Interludes,  &c.  up  to  Shakspere's  time."  Tho 
it  is  later  and  far  less  complete  than  the  other  sets  of  Mys 
teries — the  Towneley,  Chester,  Coventry,  and  Lord  Ash- 
burnham's  York  one,  still  kept  in  MS. — it  has  been  hitherto 
printed  in  so  few  copies1 — 50,  by  the  Abbotsford  Club  in 
1835 — that  I  chose  it,  on  that  account,  as  our  first  work  of 
the  kind,  in  order  that  it  might  get  more  generally  known. 
As  too  I  have  been  able  to  add  to  the  old  set  one  more 
Mystery  in  2  Parts, — that  of  the  '  Burial  and  Resurrection  of 
Christ,'  which  evidently  once  belongd  to  the  Digby  MS.  133, 
from  which  these  Mysteries  get  their  name, — the  prezent 
edition  has  a  fresh  value  of  its  own,  however  slight  that  value 
may  be. 

But  to  every  play-goer  and  every  student  of  the  drama, 
all  the  old  Mysteries  have  an  interest  independent  of  their 
literary  merit.  They  show  him  the  stories  and  scenes  in 
which  his  forefathers  before  and  up  to  Shakspere's  time  were 
content  to  find  edification  and  amusement.  They  prove  to 
him  that  these  old  plays  were  but  parts  of  the  Romish 
Church  service,  developt  and  taken  out  into  the  streets  (p. 
227-8,  below).  They  give  him  the  origin  of  that  mixture  of 
comedy  in  deepest  tragedy,  and  of  tragedy  in  highest  comedy, 
nay  in  roaring  farce,  which  is  a  leading  note  of  Shakspere's 

i  Hawkins  printed  the  first  play,  Candlemas  Day,  in  his  Origin  of 
the  English  Drama,  1773,  and  Marriott  reprinted  it  in  his  Celkctioii 
of  English  Miracle-Plays,  &c.,  Basel,  1838.— P.  A.  DANIEL. 


viii   'HEROD'S  KILLING  OF  THE  CHILDREN,'  AND  'THE  PURIFICATION.' 

drama,  and  which  so  shocks  the  classicist  critics  of  Romanti 
cism.  And  if  these  Digby  Mysteries,  being  poorer  than  the 
Towneley,  point  to  the  decay  of  the  old  religious  Drama  in 
England,  the  student  sees  in  that  only  the  greater  need  for 
Shakspere  to  arise,  replace  the  old  Religionism  with  the  new 
Humanity,  and  take  as  his  themes  the  love,  fears,  hates,  am 
bitions  of  men,  the  World  and  its  Ruler,  instead  of  Judaea 
and  its  King. 

The  first  Play,  'Herod's  Killing  of  the  Children1  or 
'  Murder  of  the  Innocents,'  and  the  Purification,  is  one  of  a 
set  of  New  Testament  Plays, — the  seventh,  says  Stowe,  p.  I, 
1.  2,  below,  but  the  3rd,  I  suppose,  the  'Annunciation  and 
Birth  of  Christ'  being  the  first,  and  the  'Adorations  of  the 
Shepherds  and  the  Three  Kings '  being  the  2nd.  Only  one 
of  these  plays  was  playd  yearly,  says  our  text,  p.  2,  so  that 
the  place  it  was  acted  in  must  have  been  some  small  town 
or  village ;  and  no  mention  is  made  of  any  Trade  supplying 
the  Actors.  The  4th  Play  of  the  set  was  to  be  '  Christ  Dis 
puting  with  the  Doctors  in  the  Temple,'  see  p.  23  ;  and  so, 
if  the  set  of  after  Plays  was  23  in  number,  like  the  Coventry 
New-Testament  set,  it  would  take  the  villagers  23  years  to 
get  through  the  story  of  Christ's  life.  But  no  doubt  several 
subjects  were  lumpt  into  one  play  in  the  Series  to  which  this 
Killing  of  tJie  Children  belongd. 

The  comedy  in  this  first  Play  was  supplied  by  music  and 
dancing  between  the  Prolog  and  Scene  i  (see  p.  2,  at  foot), 
and  after  the  Play  (p.  22)  as  well  as  after  the  Epilog  (p.  23), 
as  after  Shakspere's  plays.  Also  by  Herod's  bragging  and 
strutting  (p.  3),  by  his  man  Watkyn's  boasting,  and  then 
confessing  that  he  was  afraid  of  a  woman  with  a  distaff 
(p.  6,  7,  9),  and  later  by  the  women  '  laying  on '  and  beating 
Watkyn  with  their  distaffs  (p.  14).  The  killing  of  the  children 
was  done  on  the  stage,  seemingly  (p.  13),  and  Herod  died 
there  too  (p.  16).  But  there  does  not  seem  to  have  been  a 


'THE  CONVERSION  OF  ST.  PAUL.'     3  FLATS   IN  THE  PAGEANT,     ix 

curtain  to  the  pageant-wagon, — whose  existence  I  assume, — 
for  at  the  end  of  Scene  i  the  stage-direction  is,  "  Here  the 
Knyghtes  and  Watkyn  walke  about  the  place  tyH  Mary  & 
Joseph  be  conveid  into  Egipt."  The  Temple  (p.  18,  20) 
was,  I  suppose,  a  bit  of  painted  wood  on  the  floor  of  the 
wagon.  The  "Virgynes,  as  many  as  a  man  wyU"  (p.  19), 
who  held  tapers,  went  in  procession,  sang  (p.  20)  and  danced 
(p.  22,  23),  were,  I  suppose,  part  of  the  Audience,  as  well  as 
the  '  virgyn '  and  four  women  who  playd  the  Mothers,  of  the 
sixteen  Players  named  on  p.  24  as  performing  the  Play. 

The  second  Play,  The  Conversion  of  St  Paul, —  he  being 
"drest  lyke  an  aunterous  knyght," — seems  to  have  been  acted 
in  a  larger  town,  for  its  three  Acts  were  playd  at  three  Sta 
tions  or  open  sites  (p.  27,  33,  41),  at  the  first  of  which  there 
was  room  for  Saul's  horse  to  be  brought  up,  and  for  him  to 
ride  about  (p.  32,  33).  The  "pagent"  is  mentiond  at  p.  33, 
1.  167,  p.  52, 1.  657 ;  and  that  the  wagon  had  an  upper  (?  half-) 
stage  is  certain,1  as  the  Holy  Ghost  appeard  on  it  (p.  38,  at 
foot),  and  the  "fervent,"  lightning  or  thunderbolt  (p.  34)  would 
be  thrown  from  it.  In  this  case  too  there  were  Dances  after 
the  Prolog  (p.  27,  1.  14)  and  Act  I  (p.  33),  while  the  comedy 
was  developt  by  a  scene  of  broad  chaff  between  Paul's  serv 
ant  and  an  Ostler  (p.  30-1).  But  the  audience  who  followd 
the  wagon  from  Station  to  Station  (p.  33,  1.  156-7)  evidently 

1  "  In  the  great  Mysteries  the  stage  was  at  three  elevations  (and 
before  it  was  a  shallow  but  broad  podium  for  the  chorus).  _  The  lowest 
stage  represented  the  nether  world.  In  the  midst  was  a  door— the  mouth 
of  hell— and  steps  led  from  it  on  each  side  to  the  second  stage,  which 
figured  earth.  The  highest  stage  was  reserved  for  the  Deity  and  the 
saints;  it  was  heaven."  1879.  S.  Baring-Gould,  Germany,  Past  and 
Present,  ii.  4 :  an  excellent  book,  which  shows  in  its  next  3  pages  how 
effective  this  3-stage  arrangement  was  in  Theodore  Schernbeck's  play 
of  Frau  Jutta,  composed  in  1480  on  the  story  of  Pope  Joan.  A  pro 
cession  of  cardinals  "  with  tapers  and  banners  move  along  the  middle 
stage  chanting  a  litany.  Below,  the  demons  are  tormenting  the  soul  of 
Jutta,  who  pleads  on  in  piteous  hymn  to  Mary.  Above,  in^  heaven,  the 
Blessed  Virgin  and  St  Nicholas  are  entreating  the  Saviour."— Ib.  p.  7- 


X  '  MARY    MAGDALENE.' 

found  the  seriousness  of  the  original  Acts  II  and  III  dull, 
and  so  a  later  hand — ?  Miles  Blomefylde,  p.  55 — spiced  up 
Act  III  with  a  lively  scene  of  the  Devils  in  Hell,  amid  fire, 
flame,  roaring,  and  crying  (p.  43-46),  to  carry  off  the  weight 
of  Paul's  Sermon  on  the  Seven  Deadly  Sins,  which  followd.1 

In  the  third  Play,  Mary  Magdalene — of  which  Part  I 
describes  her  Father  Cyrus  and  his  death,  her  Seduction  by 
Lechery  and  a  Galant,  her  Repentance  and  Wiping  of  Jesus's 
feet  with  her  Hair,  and  also  her  brother  Lazarus's  Death  and 
Againrising — we  have  the  comedy  supplied  by  our  friend 
Herod  (p.  60- 1)  bragging  as  before,  by  the  King  of  the  Flesh 
kissing  Miss  Lechery  (p.  67),  and  by  a  scene  at  a  Tavern 
in  Jerusalem  (p.  72-5),  with  a  young  dandy  who  wants  a 
pretty  barmaid  to  chat  to,  and  who  makes  Mary  fall  in  love 
with  him.  Then  the  Devils  are  seen  in  Hell  (p.  75),  which 
is  the  lower  stage  (p.  76)  of  the  2-  or  3-staged  wagon  (p.  67, 
at  foot),  and  in  scene  xv,  p.  82-3,  all  the  Seven  Devils  are 
beaten  on  their  buttocks  on  the  stage.  A  house  is  also  set 
on  fire  (p.  83)  :  an  instance  of  early  Sensationalism. 

In  Part  II — which  tells  how  Christ  appears  to  Mary  at 
his  tomb,2  how  she  goes  to  Marcylle,  converts  its  King  and 
Queen,  is  fed  in  the  wilderness  by  Angels,  and  then  dies 
and  is  taken  up  to  Heaven — the  bragger  is  supplied  by  the 

1  "A  traveller  in  1790  .  .  goes  on  to  relate  that  in  other  villages  near 
Innsbruck,  St  Mary  Magdalene  [see  above,  and  p.  82-3  below]  and 
St  Sebastian  were  being  performed ;  and  he  was  assured  that  these 
pieces  possessed  superior  attractions  to  that  of  St  Pancras,  inasmuch  as 
more  devils  appeared  in  them."  (See  Pichler,  Ueber  das  Drama  des 
Alittelalters  in  Tirol,  Innsbruck,  1850.)  1879.  S.  Baring-Gould,  Ger 
many,  Past  and  Present,  ii.  17. 

1  On  the  three  Maries  and  the  Apostles  at  the  Tomb,  p.  92-4,  201- 
218,  compare  the  lines  (21-4)  in  Stubbes's  Anatomie,  Part  I,  Appendix, 
p.  336,  from  Naogeorgus  : 

"  In  fome  place  folemne  fightes  and  fhowes,  &  Pageants  fayre  are 

playd, 

With  fundrie  fortes  of  mafkers  brave,  in  ftraunge  attire  arrayd, 
As  where  the  Maries  three  doe  meete,  the  fepulcbre  to  fee, 
And  lohn  with  Peter  fwiftly  runnes,  before  him  there  to  bee." 


'MARY  MAGDALENE.'     'THE  BURIAL  OF  CHRIST.'  xi 

King  of  Marcylle  (p.  90),  and  the  fun  by  the  Priest's  boy  and 
his  doggrel  service  (p.  99-101),  the  Shipman  with  a  merry  song 
(p.  107),  and  his  boy  Grobbe  (p.  107,  119,  125).  In  this  Part 
there  must  have  been  a  third  stage  for  Heaven — see  note  l, 
page  ix,  and  p.  106,  113,  ?I3O,  131,  135  (gaudent  in  celis) — 
above  the  main  stage,  under  which  was  the  Hell  (as  in  Part  I) 
to  which  the  Devil  betook  himself  (p.  92,  1.  992)  after  he  had 
told  how  Christ  harrowd  Hell.  How  all  the'  scenes  of  the 
Temple,  the  burning  of  the  Idols,  the  Shipman  and  his  Ship, 
the  rock  on  the  island  where  the  Queen  of  Marcylle  was  left 
(p.  121),  &c.,  were  managed,  I  can't  tell.  Possibly  some  of 
the  Players  had  separate  scaffolds :  see  Sharp's  Dissertation 
on  the  Coventry  Plays.  But  make-believe  will  do  wonders. 
My  friend  Mr  P.  A.  Daniel  tells  me,  that  in  Melbourne  he 
saw  a  Chinese  troupe  act  admirably  on  a  small  stage,  with 
the  roughest  scenery.  A  wooden  form  servd  for  a  castle- 
wall,  a  chair  behind  it  for  the  battlements,  on  which  the 
besieged  King  mounted,  and  whence  he  made  a  spirited 
harangue  to  the  rebellious  besieging  General  and  his  army 
of  three  men,  as  Richard  II  does  to  Northumberland  at 
Flint  Castle  in  Shakspere's  Play,  III.  iii.  And  really,  when 
you  know  the  story,  you  don't  need  scenery,  as  we  found, 
who  were  lucky  enough  to  see  the  First  Quarto  of  Hamlet 
acted  at  St  George's  Hall  on  April  16,  1881. 

In  the  fourth  Mystery  here,  the  '  Burial  and  Resurrection 
of  Christ,'  there  is  no  comedy,  and  I  see  no  trace  of  the 
Pageant  or  Stages.  The  Stations  in  it  (if  any)  would  be 
only  those  of  the  Church  from  whose  service  it  was  either 
imitated,  or  of  which  it  once  formd  part.1  The  Play  is 
arranged  to  be  either  recited  or  acted,  and  a  warning  is  given 
at  the  beginning  (p.  171),  that  there  is  a  Proem,  "certen* 
lynes,  which  are  not  to  be  said*  if  it  (the  Play)  be  plaied*." 

i  The  Procession  of  the  Sacrament  no  longer  forms  part  of  the 
Romish  Church  Service  on  Easter  Sunday  morning. 


XII  MIXTURE    OF    FARCE    AND    TRAGEDY. 

At  several  other  places — see  notes  p.  173,  174,  176,  178,  180, 
182,  183,  184,  185,  &c. — is  evidence  of  the  double  character 
of  the  composition.  Towards  the  end  of  the  Play  (p.  223, 
226)  some  of  the  Sequences  of  the  Easter  Sunday  Mass  of 
the  Romish  Service  are  directed  to  be  sung  as  part  of  the 
performance,  as  on  p.  194-5. 

Now,  did  the  mixture  of  comic  bits  with  most  serious 
subjects  take  off  the  effect  of  the  mysteries  of  Christianity 
performd  before  the  common  folk  ?  I  doubt  it.  My  friend 
Mr  H.  H.  Furness,  the  editor  of  the  splendid  new  Variorum 
Shakspere,  once  told  me  that  he  saw  in  Spain  a  Mystery 
performd,  and  that  at  one  point  a  bell  tinkled,  and  in  came 
a  troupe  of  ballet-girls  in  short  frocks  and  flesh-tights,  and 
danced  a  ballet.  All  the  onlookers  evidently  took  it  as  a 
natural  and  proper  occurrence.1  They'd  grown  accustomd  to 

1  P.S.   Having  just  found  Mr  Furness's  note,  I  print  it : — 

"  Years  ago  I  saw  a  Passion  Play  in  Spain,  which  was  sublimely 
national.  After  the  Magi  had  presented  their  gifts  to  Mary,  who  was 
seated  beside  a  pasteboard  manger,  surrounded  by  pasteboard  oxen,  with 
a  great  deal  of  genuine  straw  about,  at  the  tinkle  of  a  little  bell,  ballet- 
girls  in  short  skirts  and  pink  tights  darted  from  the  side  scenes,  and, 
pirouetting  around  the  groups,  finally  struck  an  attitude  with  their  hands 
over  the  cradle,  and  their  elevated  toes  pointing  to  the  audience."  When 
the  curtain  went  down  there  were  vociferous  calls  for  the  actors,  and 
Christ  appeared,  leading  Joseph  and  Mary,  and  bowed  his  thanks.  It 
•was  deeply  religious  to  the  people,  and  many  women  wept." 

Compare  Mr  Baring-Gould's  experience  in  Brabant  : — 

"  But  perhaps  the  most  curious  representation  of  the  last  scenes  of 
the  sacred  history  I  have  witnessed,  was  at  Mechlin,  a  few  years  ago,  on 
the  fete  of  St  Rumbold.  A  travelling  band  of  players  had  erected  a 
large  tent  with  stage  in  it,  in  the  market-place ;  and  their  programme  of 
entertainments  consisted  of — 

"  I.  Tight-rope  dancing,  tumbling,  and  performing  dogs. 

"  2.  The  laughable  farce  of '  A  Ghost  in  spite  of  himself  (the  English 
farce  of  that  name  translated  into  Flemish). 

"  3.  The  Passion  and  Resurrection  of  Christ. 

"  It  was  more  than  startling  to  see  '  the  spangled  sprite  of  the  shining 
shower,'  who  pirouetted  on  the  tight-rope,  figure  half-an-hour  later  as 
the  Mater  Dolorosa,  and  the  human  spider,  a  man  in  fleshings,  who 
•walked  backwards  on  hands  and  feet,  transformed  into  the  Beloved 
Disciple;  but  the  Brabant  peasants  seemed  aware  of  no  incongruity, 
and  were  as  ready  to  weep  at  the  crucifixion,  as  they  were  to  laugh  at 
the  dancing  dogs.  The  peasant  mind  of  the  present  day  is  constituted 
like  that  of  their  Mediaeval  forefathers,  who  insisted  on  the  introduction 


ENGLISH    ABSURDITIES.       THE    MORALITY    OF    '  WISDOM.'         xiii 

it,  and  so  it  was  right.  Just  so,  most  Englishmen  take  the 
existence  of  our  hereditary  House  of  Lords,  and  the  spelling 
of  the  sound  '  enuf '  as  '  enough.'  The  survival  of  an  absurd 
ity  or  incongruity  never  shocks  traditional  minds ;  nay,  the 
propozal  to  remove  it  always  makes  them  angry. 

It  was  probably  some  feeling  of  this  kind  that  made  me 
reprint  the  fragment  of  the  Macro1  Morality  of  Wisdom, 
when  the  rest  of  it  had  been  printed  by  the  Abbotsford  Club 
in  1837.  But  this  fragment  was  in  the  Digby  MS.  133,  had 
been  in  the  Abbotsford-Club  print  of  that  MS.,  and  would  be 
expected  by  students  in  ours.  I  could  not  at  first  trace  the 
Macro  MS.  to  the  present  Mr  Gurney,  and  so  I  was  glad  of 
the  excuse  to  keep  this  bit  of  Wisdom  in  our  book.  (Even 
literary  Antiquaries  are  mortal  and  have  weaknesses.)  By 
Mr  Gurney's  kind  leave,  Miss  Marx  has  since  made  a  copy 
of  all  the  Macro  MSS.  for  the  Society,  and  when  we  have 
any  money  to  spare,  I  hope  to  edit  it. 

In  the  progress  of  the  drama,  Moralities  followd  Mys 
teries,  and  were  succeeded  by  Interludes.  When  folk  tired 
of  Religion  on  the  Stage,  they  took  to  the  inculcation  of 
morality  and  prudence  ;  and  when  this  bored  them,  they  set 
up  Fun. 

Our  Wisdom  Morality  hooks  on  to  dogmatic  Religion 
by  its  Wisdom  being  Christ,  and  by  its  doctrines,  p.  143,  &c. 
It  keeps  up  the  fun  of  the  old  Mystery  by  its  comic  man 
Lucifer  (p.  155,  Sec.),  its  dance  (p.  164),  and  its  later  hornpipe, 
quarrel  and  boy-devils  (p.  167).  It  is  one  of  a  set  playd  in 
London,  since  it  mentions  the  Holborn  Quest,2  p.  165,  1. 

of  an  element  of  grotesqueness  into  every  tragedy  and  religious  mystery." 
1879.     S.  Baring-Gould,  Germany,  Past  and  Present,  11.  8-9. 

1  The  MS.  containing  these  'Moralities'  once  belongd  to  a  Dr 
Macro. 

2  On  the  Holborn  Quest,  see  p.  168,  and  "  The  (65)  ancient  Article 
of  the  charge  of  the  Wardmote  Inquest,  formerly  delivered,"  in  Joseph 
Newell's  Inquest  Juryman,  1825,  p.  54-68. 


XIV  THE    DIALECT    OF    THE    MYSTERIES. 

733, — and  Westminster  and  St  Andrew  of  Ely  (cp.  St 
Andrew's,  Holborn,  nearly  opposite  Ely  Place), — and  has 
few,  if  any,  of  the  dialectal  peculiarities  which  mark  the 
Midland  Mysteries. 

With  regard  to  the  dialect  of  the  Mysteries  I  see  no 
special  marks  of  any  dialect  in  the  Killing  of  the  Children, 
tho  wha,  13/305,  mut  13/319,  chever  shiver  15/374,  thu  thou 
8/195-8,  16/397,  400,  &c.,  wolcome  18/437,  43®,  441,  gk  of 
abought  about  K)ltf6,parfight  perfect  18/446,  afforn  before 
20/484,  22/529  are  provincial,  and  the  verbal  n  plurals — 
ioyen  20/501,  bene  be  5/112,  4/88,  kan,  &c. — point,  I  suppose, 
to  the  Midland  rather  than  any  other  dialect. 

Of  the  Conversion  of  Sau/,  I  can  say  no  more.  It  is  fond 
of  a  for  e  and  o,—drad  27/20,  adrad  36/234,  frawardnes 
28/39,  massage  38/239,  marcy  38/290,  46/506,— of  /  for  v, 
we  gyf  28/43,  32/l32>  47/S22  J  Dut  though  the  lacking  of 
"  lytturatt  scyens "  and  the  "  non  intellygens  of  Retoryk  " 
which  it  confesses  to,  52/658,  66 1,  are  apparent,  its  district 
is  not,  to  me  at  least. 

In  Mary  Magdalene,  however,  East-Midland  character 
istics,  xal  shall,  qwat  what,  &c.,  clearly  appear,  as  I  have 
noted  on  p.  53,  note  I.  And  Christ's  Burial  and  Resur 
rection  was — saysDr  Richard  Morris,  p.  170, — Northumbrian, 
and  then  rewritten  or  copied  by  a  West-Midland  scribe. 

As  to  the  metre,  notes  will  be  found  on  or  near  the  first 
page  of  each  play.  The  Killing  of  the  Children  is  in  8-line 
stanzas,  ababb  cbc ;  and  the  Conversion  of  St  Paul  is  in 
7-line  stanzas,  ababb  cc.  Part  I  of  Mary  Magdalen  is  very 
irregular :  it  tried  seemingly  to  get  into  8-  or  9-line  stanzas, 
but  other  stanzas,  alternates  and  couplets  also  occur ;  Part 
II  is  mainly  in  alternates:  Wisdom  is  in  8-line  stanzas: 
Scene  i.  abab  bcbc ;  Scene  ii.  iii.  and  the  printed  bit  of  iv. 
aaab-aaab,  with  an  occasional  couplet  added,  as  in  165/735- 
6,  166/745-6,  and  some  of  the  stanzas  are  linkt,  the  first  line 


THE    METRE    AND    DATE    OF    THE    MYSTERIES.  X\ 

of  the  second  ryming  with  the  last  line  of  the  first.  The 
Burial  of  Christ  is,  as  noted  on  p.  171,  almost  all  in  6-line 
stanzas  aab,  ccb,  tho  sum  8-line  ones  occur,  aaab,  cccb.  The 
Virgin's  Complaint,  p.  191-3,  is  mainly  in  eight,  abab,  bcbc, 
with  some  sixes  and  sevens,  followd  by  couplets.  Parts  of 
this  Complaint — the  best  portion  of  the  volume — have  the 
same  burden  '  Who  cannot  wepe,  com  lerne  of  me '  as  the 
earlier  poem  in  my  Hymns  to  tlte  Virgin  and  Christ,  Early 
English  Text  Soc.  1867,  p.  126-7.  This  fashion  of  stanzas, 
alternates  and  couplets  in  dramas  lasted  well  into  Shakspere's 
time.  In  his  earliest  play  he  has  a  conversation  of  four  men 
in  no  less  than  17  alternates  (abab}  in  succession,  L.  L.  Lost, 
IV.  iii.  222 — 289 ;  Berowne  and  Boyet  talk  in  stanzas  now 
and  then,  ib.,  214 — 219,  V.  ii.  256 — 261.  (See  too  I.  i.  94-9, 
112-118.)  But  happily  our  great  playwright  soon  gave  up 
the  trammels  of  this  convention. 

The  date  of  the  Digby  MS.  I  have  put  at  1480-90.  At 
first  I  thought  1475,  but  the  late  regretted  Librarian  of  the 
Bodleian  wrote  to  me  on  July  8,  1879 : 

"1512  [the  copier's  date  at  p.  I ,  copy]  is  not  so  far  off  the 
mark  as  you  suggest.  I  do  not  think  that  the  text  is  20 
years  in  advance.  Ever  yrs.  sincerely,  H.  O.  Coxe." 

There  seem  to  be  at  least  three  hands  in  the  Digby  MS. 
Plays,  of  which  I  suppose  the  hand  before  1500, — ?John 
Parfre's, — to  write  leaves  146-157,  37-50  (less  45-47  >  t>k),  all 
the  Killing  of  the  Children,  and  Conversion  of  St  Paul,  ex 
cept  the  later  Devils  scene.  This  scene  (leaves  45-47,  back) 
and  Mary  Magdalene  (leaves  95-145)  appear  to  be  in  a  hand 
somewhat  later  than  that  of  the  two  other  plays,  and  I  sup 
pose  it  to  be  Miles  Blomefylde's.  He  signs  his  name  before 
the  Conversion  of  St  Paul,  but  there  I  hold  his  signature  to 
be  in  the  later  hand,  as  is  the  line  "  Ihon  Parfre  ded  wryte 
thys  booke,"  p.  24. 

The  Morality  of  Wisdom  (leaves  158-169,  bk)  seems  to 


XVI  THE    DATE    OF    THE    DIGBY    MYSTERIES. 

be  in  a  fresh  hand,  which  my  note  calls  later,  but  Mr  Macray 
and  Mr  Parker  say  is  earlier,  than  the  others.  The  latter 
agrees  in  thinking  there  are  three  hands  in  the  MS.  Plays, 
and  feels  sure  that  there  are  at  least  two.  My  notes,  and 
my  recollection,  are  for  the  three  hands. 

Looking  into  the  MS.  accounts  of  the  Chester  Plays 
some  years  ago,  I  copied  a  few  extracts  which  may  be  now 
shunted  into  an  Appendix,  on  the  chance  of  their  interest 
ing  some  friend  of  ours  in  America,  if  not  here,  and  helping 
him  to  realize  the  old  scene  at  the  acting  of  the  plays.  All 
the  extracts  have,  no  doubt,  been  printed  in  some  History 
of  Chester  or  elsewhere,  but  I  have  not  had  time  to  look 
round  for  them. 

With  thanks  to  Mr  George  Parker,  our  careful  copier 
and  collater  at  Oxford,  and  to  Mr  Herrtage  for  his  help  with 
the  Glossary  and  Index,  I  turn  to  Part  II.  of  Stubbes's 
A natomie  and  to  Shakspere  Allusions,  and  wish  our  Members 
the  pleasant  Long-Vacation  that  I  fear  I  sha'n't  get. 

June  29,  1882. 


XV11 


P.S.  In  the  Daily  News  of  April  4,  1881,  is  a  long  and 
interesting  account  of  a  Mussulman  Passion  Play. 

In  the  Academy  of  July  i,  1882,  is  a  short  statement 
about  the  York  Mystery  Plays,  which  the  prezent  Lord  Ash- 
burnham,  wisely  changing  the  dog-in-the-mangership  of  his 
late  father,  is  letting  Miss  L.  Toulmin  Smith  edit  his  unique 
big  4to.  MS.  of  for  the  Clarendon  Press.  The  York  volume 
contains  48  plays,  as  against  the  Coventry  43,  the  Towneley 
32,  and  the  Chester  24.  Four  or  five  of  the  York  plays  are 
the  same  as  some  of  the  Towneley  set,  with  additions  or 
omissions.  The  first  eleven  York  plays  are  from  the  Old 
Testament,  the  other  37  are  from  the  New  Testament,  the 
Gospel  of  Nicodemus  and  some  of  the  Marian  legends.  The 
MS.  gives  the  music  sung  by  the  angels  in  the  play  on  the 
vision  of  our  Lady  to  St  Thomas.  The  MS.  is  about  1450 
A.D.,  but  it  probably  represents  a  somewhat  earlier  text. 

The  Scriveners'  Play  of  this  York  set,  printed  by  Croft 
in  1797,  and  the  Camden  Soc.  in  1858,  seems  to  have  been 
set  from  an  actor's  copy,  lately  belonging  to  Dr  Sykes  of 
Doncaster. 

On  the  French  Mysteries,  see  the  Introduction  to  the 
Mistere  du  Vieil  Testament  by  the  late  liberal  Baron  James 
de  Rothschild,  in  the  edition  he  gave  to  the  Old  French 
Text  Society,  the  Miracles  de  la  Vierge  in  the  same  Society, 
M.  Petit  de  Julleville's  book  on  the  subject,  M.  One"syme 
Leroy's  Etudes  sur  les  Mysteres,  Messrs  Gaston  Paris  and 
Reynaud's  edition  of  the  Mystere  de  la  Passion,  and  the 
dramatic  section  of  Aubertin's  Histoire  de  la  Litte'rature 
franqaise  au  Moyen  Age. 


DIGBY    MYST. 


XV1I1 


APPENDIX   TO    FOREWORDS. 

NOTES    ON   THE    CHESTER    PLAYS    AND    MIDSUMMER    WATCH,    FROM 
HARLEIAN    MSS.    1944,     1948,    2125,    &C. 

Harl.  MS.  1944,  If.  21  bk. 

1  Now  of  ye  playes  of  Chester  called  ye  whitson  playes, 

when  they  weare  played,  and  what  occupaciones  bringe 

forthe  at  theire  charges  the  Playes  and  pagiantes. 

Heare  note  thai  these  playes  of  Chester  called  ye  whitson 

playes  weare  the  woorke  of  one  Rondoll,2  a  monke  of  ye 

Thesepiayes  Abbaye  of  Sl  Warburge  in  Chester,  who  redused 

<inr  now  111*  r      i         i       it       •  T-^         i  • 

aboiiishtd:  ye  whole  history  of  the  byble  into  Enghshe  storyes 
in  metter,  in  ye  englishe  tounge ;  and  this  moncke,  in  a  good 
desire  to  doe  good,  published  ye  same,  then  the  firste  mayor 
of  Chester,  namely  Sir  lohn  Arneway  knighte,  he  caused  the 

1  Part  of  Chap  :  4 :  From  "  A  breauarye,  or  some  fewe  Collectiones  of 
ye  Cittie  of  Chester,  gathered  out  of  some  fewe  writers,  and  heare  sett 
downe,  and  reduced  into  these  Chapters  followinge:"  Harl.  MS.  1944, 
If.  3.     The  Forewords  "  To  the  Reader"  are  signd  "  per  Dauid  Rogers  : 
1609:  July:  3";  and  Harl.  MS.  1948,  If.  18,  says  that  the  Collections 
•were  "collected  by  the   Reuerend:   mr    Robert   Rogers,   Batchlor  in 
Diuinitye,  Archdeacon  of   Chester,  and   Prebunde  in   the   Cathedrall 
Church  of  Chester  [and  parson  of  Gawsworth],"  and  "  written  by  his 
sonne  Dauid  Rogers." 

2  In  Harl.  2124  (a  Copy  of  the  Chester  Plays  made  by  Jas.  Miller  in 
1607),  a  vellum  fly-leaf  (?  later)  says  : 

The  Whitsun  playes  first  made  by  one  Don  Randle  Higgenet  o  Monke 
of  Chester  Abbey,  who  was  thrise  at  Rome  before  he  could  obtaine  leaue 
of  the  Pope  to  haue  them  in  the  English  tongue. 

The  Whitsun  playes  were  played  openly  in  pageants  by  the  Cittizens 
of  Chester  in  the  Whitsun  Weeke.  Nicholas  the  fift  then  was  Pope,  in 
the  year  of  o«r  Lord  1447.  Sir  Henry  Francis,  sometyme  a  Monke  of 
the  Monestery  of  Chester,  obtained  of  Pope  Clemens  a  thousand  daies 
of  pardon,  and  of  the  Bishop  of  Chester  40  dayes  pardon,  for  euery  person 
that  resorted  peaceably  to  see  the  same  playes,  and  that  euery  person  that 
disturbed  the  same  to  be  accursed  by  the  said  Pope,  vntill  such  tyme  as 
they  should  be  absolued  thereof. 


APPENDIX.       HOW    THE    CHESTER    PLAYS    WERE    PLAYD.          xix 

same  to  be  played  ["anno  domzVzz:  1329"] ;  the  manner  of 
w/zz'ch  playes  was  thus :  They  weare  deuided  into  24 
pagiantes  or  partes,  acordinge  to  the  number  of  ye  Com- 
panyes  of  ye  Cittie,  and  euery  Company  brought  forthe  their 
pagiente,  w/zzch  was  ye  cariage  or  place  w^zch  they  played 
in  :  And  yarlye  before  these  were  played,  there  was  a  man 
1  &/T/22.  fitted  for  ye  purpose  l  w^z'ch  did  ride,  as  I  take  it 
*  April  23.  vpon  S1  George  daye2throughe  ye  Cittie,  and  there 
I™*  Reading  published  the  tyme  and  the  matter  of  ye  playes  in 

o/  trie  Bans,      f        ,r  r  •   1  111  i  •  £  t        t 

orprociama-  breife,  w/zzch  was  called  ye  readmge  of  the  banes. 
te  to  They  were  played  vpon  monday,  tuseday.and  w'ense- 
^ay  m  w{tSOn  weeke.  And  they  first  beganne  at  ye 
Abbaye  gates ;  &  when  the  firste  pagiente  was  played  at  ye 
Abbaye  gates,  then  it  was  wheeled  from  thence  to  the  pentice 
at  ye  highe  crosse  before  ye  Mayor ;  and  before  that  was 
donne,  the  seconde  came,  and  ye  firste  wente  in-to  the  water- 
gate  streete,  and  from  thence  vnto  ye  Bridge-streete,  and  soe 
all,  one  after  an  other,  tell  all  ye  pagiantes  weare  played, 
appoynted  for  ye  firste  daye,  and  so  likewise  for  the  seconde 
y  description  &  the  thirde  daye  :  these  pagiantes  or  cariage  was 
"tiiTy  piayed"  a  highe  place  made  like  a  howse  wzth  ij  rowmes, 
beinge  open  on  ye  tope :  the  lower  rowme  they  ap- 
parrelled  &  dressed  them  seines ;  and  in  the  higher  rowme 
they  played  :  and  they  stoode  vpon  6  wheeles.  And  when 
they  had  done  wz'th  one  cariage  in  one  place,  they  wheeled 
the  same  from  one  streete  to  an  other :  first  from  ye  Abbaye 
gate  to  ye  pentise,  then  to  the  Watergate  streete,  then  to  y6 
bridge  streete,  throughe  the  lanes,  and  so  to  the  estgate 
streete.  And  thus  they  came  from  one  streete  to  an  other 
keapinge  a  direct  order  in  euery  streete  ;  for  before  ye  firste 
cariage  was  gone,  ye  seconde  came,  and  so  the  thirde,  and 
so  orderly  till  ye  laste  was  donne,  all  in  order,  wz'thout  any 
stayeinge  in  any  place ;  for,  worde  beinge  broughte  how 
euery  place  was  neere  done,  they  came,  and  made  no  place 
to  tarye,  till  ye  last  was  played  : 3 

Heareafter  followeth  ye  readinge  of  y6  banes,  w/zzch 
was  read  before  ye  beginninge  of  ye  whitson  playes, 
beinge  the  breife  of  ye  whole  playes  :/ 

3  The  shorter  Annals  or  "  Breauarye  of  the  Cittie  of  Chester,"  from 
Rogers  in  Harl.  1948,  adds  on  leaf  64,  back  (after  "all  the  streetes  have 
theire  pagiantes  afore  them  all  at  one  time  playeinge  togeather,")  'to  se 
w/«ch  playes  was  greate  resorte,  and  also  scafoldes  and  stages  made  in  the 
streetes  in  those  places  where  they  determined  to  playe  theire  pagiantes.' 


XX      APPENDIX.     THE    CHESTER    PLAYS  :    A   PLEA    FOR    POOR    PLAYERS. 

[Here  follow  '  The  Banes' — an  Address  of  9  stanzas  to  the 
future  audience,  then  24  stanzas  on  the  24  Plays,  and  4  lines 
of  Conclusion, — all  printed  by  Thos.  Wright  in  the  Old  Sh. 
Soc.'s  Chester  Plays,  i.  1-7,  from  George  Bellin's  copy  in 
Harl.  MS.  2013  ;  and  then  Rogers  goes  on,  leaf  24,  back  : — ] 

"  The  sume  of  this  storye,  Lordes  &  ladyes  alle, 
he  -wisheth      I  haue  breifely  repeated,  &  how  they  muste  be  played. 
To'iake'y*1*  Of  one  thingc,  warnc  you  now  I  shall, 
sight  ofy*      That  not  possible  it  is,  these  matters  to  be  contynued 

play,  but  to 

constant  of  y  In  such  sorte  &  cunnmge,  &  by  such  playeres  of  price 
7t"mfghteix     As  at  ^is  day  good  players  &  fine  wittes  coulde  deuise, 
profitable  and  p*or  then  shoulde  all  those  p^rsones  that  as  Gods  doe  playe, 

not  offensive :/  ,  r     '    ' 

In  Clowdes  come  downe  wzth  voyce,  &  not  be  scene  ; 
For  no  man  can  proportion  that  Godhead,  I  saye, 
To  the  shape  of  man  face,  nose,  and  eyne ; 
But  sethence  ye  face  gilte  doth  disfigure  ye  man  that  deme 
A  Clowdy  Coueringe  of  ye  man  a  voyce  only  to  heare, 
W-  35!  And  not  God  in  shape  or  person  to  appeare ; 

By  Craftes  men  &  meane  men  these  Pageaunter  are  played 
and  to  Comwons  and  Contrye  men  acustomablye  before. 
If  better  men  &  finer  heades  now  come,  what  canne  be  saide  ? 
But  of  common  and  contrye  playeres  take  tho\\  the  storye  ; 
And  if  any  disdaine,  then  open  is  ye  doore 
That  lett  him  in  to  heare  :  packe  awaye  at  his  pleasure ; 
Oure  playeinge  is  not  to  gett  fame  or  treasure  : 

All  that  w/th  quiett  mynde 

Can  be  contented  to  tarye, 

Be  heare  on  whitson  monday  : 

Then  begineth  ye  storye. 

§ §  finis  :  DR. 

And  thus  much  of  ye  Banes  or  Breife  of  ye  whitson  playcs  in 
Chester  ;  for  if  I  shoulde  heare  resite  ye  whole  storye  of  ye 
whitson  playes,  it  woulde  be  tto  tediouse  for  to  resite  in  this 
breauarye  :  As  also,  they  beinge  nothinge  profitable  to  any 
vse,  excepte  it  be  to  shewe  ye  Ignorance  of  cure  forefatheres, 
and  to  make  vs  theire  ofspringe  vnexcusable  before  God, 
tJw\.  haue  ye  true  and  synceare  worde  of  ye  Gospell  of  owr 
lord  &  sauiour  Jesus  Christe,  if  we  apprehende  not  ye  same 
in  cure  life  &  practise,  to  ye  eternall  glorie  of  our  god,  and 
ye  saluation  &  cowforte  of  oure  owne  soles. 

:    Heare  followeth  all  ye  Cowpanyes  as  they  weare 
played  vpon  theire  seuerall  dayes,  w/«'ch  was  Monday  : 


APPENDIX.    THE  PLAYERS  AND  SUBJECTS  OF  THE  CHESTER  PLAYS.    XXI 

Tueseday  :  &  Wenseday  in  ye  whitson  weeke.  And 
how  manye  Pagiantes  weare  played  vpon  euery  day 
at  the  Charge  of  euery  Companye. 

The  Companyes  or  trades        The  story  or  matter  that  euery 
that  playe  :  Compawye  did  acte : 

jbringe  forthe    The  fallinge  of  Lucifer 

2  Drapers    j  The  creation  of  ye   worlde 
Hosieres  j 

3  Draweres  in  Dee  \  Noah  &  his  shi 
0  &  waterleaders     J 

Barbers  ") 

4  Waxe  chandlers  V     .     .     Abraham  &  Isacke 
Leeches  J 

[**/,&  lacki  5  Cappers  \  ,  Ri        Ba]ack  &  Balaam  w;th 

Wyerdraweres       V    .     .  Moyses :/ 

Pynners 

6  Wrightes    "^ 
slatereres 

Tyleres         V    ....     Natiuytie  of  our  lord 

Daubers       | 

ThatcharesJ 

7  Paynters        ) 

Imbrotheres  V  ...     The  shepperdes  offeringe 

Glasieres       J 

R  Vinteners     \   .  .     .     .     Kinge    Harrald    &    ye   mounte 
3  Marchantesj  victoriall 

Mercers  )  bringe  forthe  ye  3.  kinges  of  Collen  : 

^  Spicers  j 

These  9  Pagiantes  aboue  written  weare 

played  vppon  ye  first  day  beinge  Monday. 

Gould  smythes  \ The   destroyeinge  of  the 

1  Massons  }  Chillderen  by  Herod 

Smythes  ^ 

2  forberes      V Purification  of  o?/r  ladye 

Pevvterers  J 

3  Butchares The    pinackle,    w/th     ye 

woman  of  Canan.1 

1  The  Temptation,  and  the  Woman  taken  in  Adultery. 


XXII    APPENDIX.    THE  PLAYERS  AND  SUBJECTS  OF  THE  CHESTER  PLAYS. 

Glouers  &  }  [bringe  forthe]  The  risinge  of  Lazarus 

*  Parchment  makers  /  from  death  to  lifife  :/ 

Coruesters  or  |    •  .....  The  cominge  of  Christe  to 
•>  shoemakers     j  Jerusalem  :/ 

f.  Bakers      \  .     .     .     *     .     .     .  Christes  maundy  w/th  his 
Mylners    j  desiples 

Bovvyeres     ^ 
Fletcheres 

7  Stringers       }-  ......  The  scourginge  of  Christe 

Cowpers 

Turners        J 

8  R™em.°ngerS  1  ......  The  Crusifienge  of  Christ 


Tapsters  The  harrowinge  of  hell 

y  Hostlers  C 

Inkeapers 

These  9  pagiantes  aboue  written  weare 
played  vpon  ye  second  day:  beinge 
tueseday  :/ 

Skinners          ""j 
Cardemakers 

1  Hatters  V     .....     The  Resurrection. 
Poynters 

Girdlers  J 

Sadlers      (^    .......  The  Castle  of  Emaus  & 

2  fusters       j  the  Apostles 

3  Taylores  ........  The  Ascention  of  Christe 

4  Fishmongers      ......     Whitsonday  ye  makeinge 

of  the  Creede 

5  Shermen  ........     Pn?phetes  before  ye   day 

of  Dome 


DomesDaye 

ed  vpon  ye 
son   playes  w 
in   Chester  an«o  dorm'w/'  :    1574'    Sr  lohn  Sauage,  knight, 


These  7  pagiantes  weare   played  vpon  ye   third    daye, 
beinge  wensedaye  ;   &  these  whitson   playes  weare  played 
''  r 


APPENDIX.       THE    CHESTER    MIDSUMMER    SHOW.  XX111 

beinge  Mayor  of  Chester,  which  was  the  laste  tyme  they 
we  are  played.  And  we  haue  all  cause  to  power  out  our 
prayeres  before  God,  that  neither  we  nor  oure  posterities 
after  us,  maye  neuer  see  ye  like  abomination  of  desolation, 
wzth  such  a  Clowde  of  Ignorance  to  defyte  wzth  so  highe  a 
hand  ye  sacred  scriptures  of  God  :  But  of  ye  mercye  of  oure 
God  for  ye  tyme  of  oure  Ignorance  he  regardes  it  not :  and 
thus  much  in  breife  of  ye  whitson  playes  :/" 

The  worthy  Rogers  goes  on  with  a  chapter  on  the  Mid 
summer  Show,  which  was  acted  when  the  Plays  hadn't  been 
playd  in  Whitweek  ;  and  as  he  speaks  in  a  sidenote  of  certain 
improprieties  at  the  Show  put  down  by  a  godly  Mayor — 
"  ye  diuell  in  his  fathers  before  ye  butchers,  a  man  in  womans 
apparell,  w/th  a  diuill  waytinge  on  his  horse  called  cuppes 
&  cans,  god  in  stringes,1  wz'th  other  thinges," — I  copy  the 
passage,  to  get  more  information  about  this  Midsummer 
Show.  (See  p.  xxvi,  be'ow.) 

"  Of  ye  Midsomer  showe  or  watche  in  Chester. 

y  midsomer  Hearc  we  maye  note  that  ye  showe  or  watche,  on 
anekJStu  midsomer  eaue,  called  '  midsomer  showe,'  yearely 
ypiay'e?sifnot  now  vsed  wz'thin  ye  Citti  of  Chester,  was  vsed  in  ye 
moreanchant  tyme  of  those  whitson  playes,  &  before,  so  farr  as 
™omerlh£d'  I  canne  vndcrstande  ;  for  when  ye  whitson  playes 
•went,  then  wearc  played,  then  ye  showe  at  midsomer  wente  not : 
piayttwuu  And  when  ye  whitson  playes  weare  not  played,  then 
™Lny*  ye  midsomer  showe  wente  only  :  as  many  now  liue- 
v,hits<mti<iy  inge  [1609  A.D.]  canne  make  theire  owne  knowledge 
^h^aTmid-  proffe  sufficient :  But  since  these  playes  at  whitson- 
somerwent  ^Q  W6are  put  downe,  and  ye  midsomer  showe  went 
only,  there  hath  bene  taken  awaye  some  thinges,  &  reformed, 
\*ieaf*jack\  that  weare  2not  decente  :  whearein  ye  wisedome  & 
many  thinges  godly  care  of  those  magistrates  that  did  remoue 
rfin"dSdo£r  awaye  thinges  either  sinfull  or  offensiue,  is  to  be 
Smrenf"re  commended,  and  by  all  religeose  magistrates  there 
Hardware, &  stepes  to  be  troden  in,  inasmuch  as  they  intende  all 
frsSLW  theire  actiones  to  Gods  glorye,  &  the  rule  or  lyne 

1  This  is  the  only  way  that  Mr  C.  T.  Martin  of  the  Record  Office  and 
I  can  read  the  MS. 


XXIV  APPENDIX.       THE    CHESTER    MIDSUMMER    SHOW. 

?'"'V/I<V*,"    of  perfection,  the  w///ch,  howsoeuer  it  cannot  be 

frtneri  oejort  •  *    '  ....  ^J 

attaynd  vnto  in  this  line,  yet  it  is  the  marke  we 
are  all  to  aime  at.  In  which  I  cowmende  ye  gouer- 
rnentt  of  mr  Henry  Hardware  esquire,  somtymes 
may°r  °f  Chester  [1599],  whose  gouernement  was 
godly,  wherein  he  soughte  y6  redresse  of  manye 
.abuses,  as  namely  in  ye  midsomer  showe  he  caused 
som  tmnSes  to  be  reformed  and  taken  awaye,  t/iat  ye 
watchmen  of  o«r  soules,  or  deuines,  spake  againste, 
as  thinges  not  fitt  to  be  vsed  ;  for  w/«'ch  he  deserued 
juste  comwendation  ;  howsoeuer  the  vulgar  sorte  of  people 
did  oppose  themselues  againste  ye  reformation  of  sinnes,  not 
knowinge  that  anchant  synnes  ought  to  haue  new  reforma 
tion,  And  antiquitee  in  thinges  vnlawfull  or  offensiue  is  no 
reason  to  mayntayne  y6  same.  But  for  ye  decensie  of  y« 
midsomer  showe  as  it  is  now  [1609  A.D.]  vsed,2  I  referre  it 
to  ye  judgmente  of  those  who  are  more  judiciouse :/" 

1  Harl.  MS.  2125,  leaf  304  or  123  (see  If.  41  and  53).  1599  Hen. 

Hardware  esq  (?  in  Jn.  Stow's  hand) 

"  the  maior  caused  the  Graull  not  to  goe  at  Midsomer  wach,  but  in  stedd 
a  man  in  complet  white  Armore  on  horsback.  he,  at  same  show,  put  downe 
the  diuell  Ryding  for  buchers,  &  caused  a  boy  to  Ride  for  them  as  other 
companies,  nor  cupps  nor  canws  nor  dragon  &  naked  boys  would  he 
suffer  at  show :  he  tooke  vp  bakinge  at  High  Crosse  :  he  opposed  the 
showmakers  [shoemakers]  &  would  haue  them  receue  brethren  among 
them  for  small  somes  or  nothing :  and  restrayned  the  leaulokers  for 
sending  of  coyne  accordinge  to  their  auntient  custome  vsed  tyme  out  of 
mynd." 

On  the  '  Devil  in  Feathers,'  compare  also  John  Taylor  the  Water- 
poet,  in  a  description  of  a  Tinckhell,  or  Deer-driving  at  Braemar  in  1618 
at  which  he  was  present,  viz. — "  Being  come  to  our  lodgings,  there  was 
such  baking,  boyling,  resting,  and  stewing,  as  if  Cook  Ruffian  had  been 
there  to  have  scalded  the  Devil  in  his  feathers." 

The  description  from  which  the  above  is  an  excerpt  is  printed  in  the 
Appendix,  4th  Report  of  Historical  Manuscript  Commissioners,  p.  533. — 
A.  F.  WATSON. 

*  Daily  News,  Jan.  9,  1882,  p.  2,  col.  7  : — 

A  MIRACLE  PLAY  IN  WORCESTERSHIRE. — Our  Stoke-upon-Trent 
correspondent  telegraphs : — The  usually  quiet  village  of  Rouslench,  near 
Pershore,  Worcestershire,  has  during  the  past  week  been  the  scene  of  an 
extraordinary  miracle  play,  which  was  suggested  to  the  rector,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Chafey,  by  the  Passion  Play  of  Ober  Ammergau.  The  interest  in 
the  play  grew  daily,  and  on  Saturday  last  the  reproduction  was  witnessed 
by  a  large  number  of  people,  most  of  whom  had  come  considerable  dis 
tances.  In  style  the  piece  had  been  made  to  imitate  as  much  as  possible 


APPENDIX.       WHEN    THE    CHESTER    PLAYS    WERE    PLAYD.        XXV 

As  to  the  years  in  which  the  Chester  Plays  were  acted, 
I  find  the  following  entries  : — 

Harl.  I944,1  leaf  67. 

*.Mayores.*  *.Sherriffes.* 

.3,8     S^ohnArneway  knight  { gander  HureH     , 

The  whitson  playes  Inuented,  in  Chester, 
by  one  Rondoll  Higden,  a  monke  in 
Chester  abbaye./ 

In  the  list  of  Chester  Mayors  and  Sheriffs  in  Harl.  2105, 
the  only  mention  of  the  Playe  is  under  1546,  William 
Holcroft,  Mayor :  "  In  this  yere  mr-  Holcroft  died,  &  mr  John 
walles :  was  chosen  mayor,  &  the  plaies  went  that  same 
yere."  leaf  95,  at  foot. 

[Harl.  MS.  1944]  *.Mayores.*  *.Sheriffes.* 

[//:s6]          Quene  :  Eliza:  raig«e  :   14: 

(  Richard  Bauand, 
1571  lohn  Hankey,  merchant  .     .  j  wjj^ 

\      IrnemoTzger 

In  this  yere  the  Whitson  playes  weare 
played  in  Chester,  &c. 

Quene  :  Eliza  :  raig«e  :  17  : 

rjohn        Allen,  \ 

[#*,».!  1574  S'  John  Sauageknightej  Wn[^Good_  (-247 

\  man,  merchant  ) 

the  great  Passion  Play,  suitable  scenery  and  gorgeous  dresses  having 
been  obtained  at  great  cost.  The  performance  consisted  of  a  series  of 
tableaux  vivants  representing  various  events  in  the  life  of  Christ.  There 
were  exactly  fifty  persons  taking  part  in  the  performance,  their  ages 
ranging  from  four  years  to  82  years,  the  rector  taking  a  leading  character 
from  time  to  time.  An  explanation  was  given  of  the  successive  tableaux, 
and  selections  of  music  were  played  during  the  performance  from  Elijah 
and  the  Messiah. 

1  The  names  of  the  Mayors  &  Sheriffs  of  Chester,  with  other 
flings. 


APPENDIX.       WHEN    THE    CHESTER    PLAYS    WERE    PLAYD. 

The  Whitson  playes  weare  played  in  this 
Cittie  this  yere  .  .  -1 

[/*«/87]        Quene :  Eliza  :  raigwe  :  20 : 

i'  Valentine  Brough- 
,5;7     Thomas  Belline,  mOTer° 

\     mercer 

.  .  .  the  Sheapardes  play  was  played  at 
the  highe  crosse,  wz'th  other  triumphes  on 
the  Roode  dee  .  .  . 

[fr<»/9o]         Quene  :  Eliza  :  raigwe  :  42  : 

(  John      Owen,  \ 

T-  3      mercer  I 

1599     Henry    Hardware,    Esq.  4  John     Moylej  > 

(.      draper 

This  mayor  was  a  godly  zealous  man,  yet 
he  gott  ill  will  amonge  the  Commons,  for 
puttinge  downe  some  anchant  orders,  in 
the  Cittie  and  amonge  some  Companyes, 
especially  the  shooemakers,  whoe  he  much 
opposed  :  he  caused  the  giantes  w^z'ch  vse 
to  goe  at  midsomer  to  be  broken,  The 
bull  ringe  at  the  high  crosse  to  be  taken 
t»  lea/go,  back]  vp  :  The  dragon  and  naked  3  boyes  he 

suffered  not  to  goe  in  midsomer  showe,  nor 
the  diuell  for  the  Butchers,  but  a  boye  to 
ride,  as  other  Companyes ;  he  restrayned 
the  leaielookers,  for  sendinge  wine,  on 
the  feastifull  dayes,  accordinge  to  theire 
anchant  vse  and  Custome,  &c. 

1  Harl.  2125,  If.  40,  bk.     Randle  Holme's  collections. 

1 574  .  .  .  The  whitson  playes  played  in  pageantes  in  the  Cittye : 
[addition]  at  midsomer,  to  the  great  dislike  of  many,  because  the  playe 
was  in  on  part  of  the  Citty 

[If.  41]  1577.  Alsoe  he  [the  Mayor,  Thomas  Bellin]  Caused  the 
Sheappeardes  playe  to  be  played  at  the  hie  Crosse,  w/th  other  Trivmphes 
one  the  Roode  Deey.  (An  added  sidenote  says  that — when  this  Mayor 
'enterteyned  the  Earle  of  Darbie  and  his  sonne  Fordinando  Lorde 
Strange  two  nightes  at  his  bowse,' — "  the  scollers  of  the  freescole  also 
playd  a  comedy  before  ///em  at  mr  maiors  howse.") 

*  George  Bellin.  Was  he  a  seller  of  beer  and  ale?  see  Harl.  MS. 
2105,  leaf  29,  back. 


APPENDIX.       WHEN    THE    CHESTER    PLAYS    WERE    PLAYD.       XXvii 

Under  1600,  Rogers  enters  that  "mr  Brerewood"  (the 
Mayor  who  died  in  that  year  of  his  office)  "  restored  all  the 
anchant  customes  againe,  except  the  Corne  m^rkett  toule, 
w^z'ch  was  taken  from  the  sariantes  in  Mr  Hardwars  time, 
and  now  confermed  to  the  Mayor,  by  a  gen(^r)all  assembly." 
I  suppose  that  'customs'  here  does  not  include  the  Mid 
summer  show. 

In  the  list  of  the  "  Majors  and  Sherriffes  of  Chester  "  (?  by 
Wm.  Smith)  in  Daniel  King's  Vale-Royall,  1656,  the  only 
entries  I  find  about  the  Chester  Plays  are  (Part  I,  p.  86), 

Anno  Maiors  Sheriffs 

<Y  i     TT     T  ( Richard  Bavian 

1572.  John  Hanky.  \WilliamWalle 

This  year,  the  Maior  would  needs  have  the  Playes 
(commonly  called  Chester  Playes]  to  go  forward,  against  the 
wills  of  the  Bishops  of  Canterbury,  York,  and  Chester,  (p.  88) 

o-    rr  /     o  (  John  Allen 

1575.  Sir  John  Savage         {  wmam  Goodman 

This  year  the  said  Sir  John  Sauage  caused  tJte  Popish 
Plays  of  Chester,  to  be  played  the  Sunday,  Munday,  Tuesday 
and  Wednesday  after  Mid-sommer-day,  in  contempt  of  an 
Inhibition  and  the  Primats  Letters  from  York,  and  from  the 
Earl  of  Huntington.  For  which  cause,  he  was  served  by  a 
Pursevant  from  York,  the  same  day  that  the  new  Maior  was 
elected,  as  they  came  out  of  the  Common- H all :  notwith 
standing  the  said  Sir  John  Savage  took  his  Journey  towards 
London  ;  but  how  his  matter  sped,  is  not  known  ;  Also  Mr 
Hanky  was  served  by  the  same  Pursevant  for  the  like 
contempt,  when  he  was  Mayor  [in  1572].  Divers  others 
of  the  Citizens  and  Players  were  troubled  for  the  same 
matter,  p.  88. 

As  to  the  Midsummer  Watch, 

W.  Webb,  in  his  list  of  the  'Maiors  and  Sheriffs  of  Chester,' 
in  King's  Vale-Royall,  Pt  2,  p.  190,  notes  under  1498,  "It 
appeareth  that  the  Watch  on  Midsommer  Eve  began  this 
year." 


XXviii      APPENDIX.      THE    CHESTER    PLAYS    AND    MIDSUMMER    WATCH. 

Under  1563,  p.  199  :  "  Upon  the  Sunday  after  Midsommer 
day,  the  History  of  Eneas  and  Queen  Z>zd0  was  play'd  in  the 
Roods  Eye,  And  were  set  out  by  one  William  Croston,  Gent. 
and  one  Mr  Man,  on  which  Triumph  there  was  made  two 
Forts,  and  shipping  on  the  Water,  besides  many  horsemen 
well  armed  and  appointed." 

As  to  the  Plays,  Webb,  ib.  p.  199,  &c.,  repeats  and  adds- 
to  the  entries  given  two  pages  back  : 

Anno.  Maiors  Sheriffs 

„  .  .       ,  ,->  ,  (  Edw.  Martin,  Draper. 

1  567.          ******  Button         \  Qliver  Smitht  Dra£er 

This  year  the  WAitson-Playes  were  played,  and  divers 
other  pastimes. 

1571.  Jo:    Hankey,        (  Richard  Bavand,  Ironmonger. 

Merchant  (  William  Ball,  Ironmonger. 

This  year  Whitson  Playes  were  plaid,  and  an  Inhibition 
was  sent  from  the  Archbishop  to  stay  them,  but  it  came  too 
late  .  .  .  ib.  p  200. 

~  /     o  tr   •  14.  (  John  Allen,  Draper. 

1574.  Sir  Jok*  Savage  Knight  |  muiam  Goodman>  Merchant. 

....  The  Whitson-Y\zyzs  were  played  at  Midsommer, 
and  then  but  some  of  them,  leaving  others  unplayed, 
which  were  thought  might  not  be  justified,  for  the  supersti 
tion  that  was  in  them,  although  the  Maior  was  not  injoyned 
to  proceed  therein,  p.  200. 

„,.      D  ...     ,,  (  Valentine  Broughton,  Mercer. 

1577.     Tho.  Bellm,  Mercer    {  JQ  .  ^^  ^^ 


The  SJiepherds  Play,  was  played  at  the  high  Crosse,  and 
other  Triumphs,  at  the  Roods  Eye.     p.  201. 

TT      ,  ,-.  (Jo  :  Owen,  Mercer. 

1599.     Henry  Hardware,  Esq.      j  JQ  .  Moy^  Draper> 


....  This  Maior  for  his  time  altered  many  ancient 
Customs,  as  the  shooting  for  the  Sheriffs  Breakfast  [see 
Rogers's  Breuyarye,  Harl.  1944,  If.  26,  bk,  after  the  Watch]  ; 
The  going  of  the  Giants  at  Midsommer,  &c.,  and  would  not 
suffer  any  Playes,  Bearbaits,  or  Bull-bait.—  p.  208-9.  On 
p.  213, 


APPENDIX.       THE    CHESTER     PLAYS    AND     MIDSUMMER    WATCH.       XXIX 

-,,      «.  .  (  Hugh  Williamson,  Mercer. 

1610.  Tho.  Harvy,  Merchant  (  ^«  ^^  Tayl(Jn 

....  Midsommer  Eve  being  on  Sunday,  Mr.  Maior  caused 
the  Watch  to  be  set  forth  the  day  before,  although  that 
same  were  unwilling  thereof. 

<v     T>  *  7-^-    -D      u           '(Nick:  Ince,  Maulster 

1611.  Jo.  Ratdiffe,  Beerbrewer  Hat 


^^  ^^  Hatmaker> 

....  This  Maior  being  perswaded,  that  the  Sabbath  day 
should  be  truly  performed  and  kept,  he  caused  the  Reapers 
to  be  removed  that  came  every  Sunday  to  the  high  Crosse 
in  the  Harvest  time  to  be  hired  for  the  Week  following. 

The  evidence,  then,  is  against  the  regular  yearly  perform 
ance  of  the  Chester  Plays. 


HEROD'S 
KILLING   OF  THE   CHILDREN. 


XXXll 


f   THE   >{AMYS   OF  THE   PLEYERS. 


The  poete 

kyng  Herowde 

jte  knyght 

the  ijde  knyght 

iijde  knyght 

iiijth  knyght 

watkyn),  Messanger 

Symeon)  the  bysshope 

Joseph"  Summa  xvij 

Maria 

Anna  prophetissa 

A  virgyn) 

Angelus 

j*  mulier 

ij*  mulier 

iija  mulier 

iiij*  mulier 

Ihon  Parfre  ded  wryte  thys  booke.1 


1  This  line  was  not  written  at  the  same  time  as  the  writing  above ;  it  is  in  a 
different  coloured  ink. 


[Thit  page  stands  at  the  end  of  the  Play  in  the  MS.,  tee  p.  24,  but  it  repeated  here 
by  way  of  warning,  as  usual.] 


[Digby  MS.  133  (paper,  ?  1480-90  A.D.),  leaf  146.] 

1  candelmes  day  &  the  kyllynge  of  Me  children)  of 
Israeli,  anno  domini  1512.  M'D  xij.1  2the  vij  booke.2 

\_Prologue.~] 

H  Poeta. 
1T  This  solenne  ffest  •  to  be  had?  in  remembraunce3  This  Feast  is 

_^.      ,.        .  held  in  remem- 

Or  blissed*  seynt  Anne  *  moder  to  our  lady,  brance  of  St. 

Anne, 

whos  right  discent  was  fro  kyngay  alyaunce — 

Of1  dauyd?  and  salamon)  •  witnesseth  the  story  j — 

Hir  blissid?  doughter1  •  that  callid?  is  mary,  and  her  blessed 

daughter  Mary, 

by  goaaes  provision)  •  an  husbond?  shuld?  haue, 

Callid!  Joseph  '  of  natur1  old'  and  drye, 

&  she  moder  vnto  Crist  •  that  arl  the  world!  shaH  save.  8  Christ's  Mother, 

1f  This  glorious  maiden)  •  doughter  vnto  Anna, 

In  whos  worships  •  this  ffest  we  honour*, 

And  by  resemblaunce  '  likenyd?  vnto  Manna,  the  heavenly 

manna, 

wiche  is  in  tast  celestiali  of  savour1,  12 

And  of1  lerico  •  the  sote  rose  fBoure,  the  sweet  rose 

of  Jericho. 

Gold?  Ebryson)  •  callid?  in  pictur, 

Chosyn)  for  to  bere  mankyndo?  savyour*, 

with  a  prerogative  *  a-boue  eche  creature.  16 

U  These  grett  thyngw  remembred?  •  after  our*  entent, 

Is  for  to  worshippe  •  oure  ladye  and  seynt  Anne.  in  their  worship 

we  show  our 

we  be  comen)  heder  as  seruawnte*  diligent,  Play, 

our*  processe  to  shewe  you  as  we  can) ;  20 

wherfor,  of  benevolens  •  we  pray  euery  man) 
To  haue  vs  execusecJ  that  we  no  better  doo:  Excuse  out 

short-comings. 

An-other  tyme  to  emende  it  •  if*  we  can) 

be  the  grace  of  goo?  if  our"  cu/myng  be  ther-too.          24 

1 — T  in  a  later  hand.  2 — 2  in  Stow's  hand. 

3  The  whole  play  is  in  8-line  stanzas  ryming  ababb  cb  c. 
DIGBY    MY8T.  B 


CANDLEMAS  DAY.     HEROD  S   KILLING  OF  THE  CHILDREN.     PROL. 


Last  year  we 
ahowd  you  the 
Joymaking  of 
the  Shepherds, 
and  the  Coming 
of  the  3  Kings. 


[leaf  146,  back] 


Now  well  play 
Mary's  Purifica 
tion,  and  then 


Herod's  hearing 

of  the  3  Kings' 

departure, 


hia  fury  at  it, 
and  hi*  order 


to  kill  all  the 
children  of  2 
years  old  in 
Israel, 


and  how  Jesus 
escaped  into 

Egypt. 


This,  well  play 
you,  to  the  hon 
our  of  God  and 
St.  Anne. 


Minstrels  and 
Virgins,  amuse 
the  audience  1 


U  The  last  yeer1  we  shewidl  you  in  this  place 

how  the  shepherds  of  Cristes  birthe  made  letificacion, 

And  thre  kynges  •  that  come  fro  ther  Cuntrees  be  grace 

To  worship?  lesu,  with  enteer*  deuocion  ;  28 

And  now  we  purpose  •  with  hooH  AfFeccion) 

To  precede  in  oure  mater*  •  as  we  can), 

And  to  shew  you  of  our*  ladies  purificacion 

that  she  made  in  the  temple  '  as  the  vsage  was  than).  32 

^[  And  after  that  •  shall  herowdf  haue  tydynge* 

how  the  thre  kynges  be  goon)  hoom)  an-other  way, 

that  were  witA  lesu  and  made  ther  ofFrynge*-, 

And  promysed*  kyng  herowde  wztAout  delay  36 

To  come  a-geyn)  by  hym,  this  is  no  nay. 

And  whan)  he  wist  that  thei  were  goon), 

like  as  a  wod  man)  he  gan)  to  fray, 

&  commaundid!  his  knyghtei  for  to  go  a-noon)  40 

U  In-to  Israett,  to  serche  euery  town)  and  cite 
fFor  att  the  Children)  that  thei  cowde  ther  fynde 
of  ij  yeere.?  age  &  witAin,  sparyng  neither  bonde  nor  frree, 
but  sle  them  arl  either  for  fFoo  or  ffrende  :  44 

thus  he  coramaundid1  •  in  his  furious  wynde. 
Thought  that,  lesu  shuld1  haue  be  oon) ; 
And  yitt  he  failed  •  of  his  froward1  mynde, 
for  by  goodes  purviaunce  *  our*  lady  was  in-to  Egipte 
gon).  48 

U  ffrendej,  this  processe  we  purpose  to  pley  •  as  we  can) 

be-fore  you  aH,  here  in  your1  presens, 

To  the  honor  of  god1,  GUI'  lady,  &  seynt  Anne, 

besechyng  you  to  geve  vs  peseable  Audiens.  52 

And  ye  menstrallis,  dotfe  your*  diligens, 

&  ye  virgynes,  shewe  suwime  sport  &  plesure, 

These  people  to  solas,  &  to  do  god!  reuerens, 

As  ye  be  appoynted ;  doth  your  besy  cure !  $6 


Et  tripident 


CANDLEMAS  DAY.      HEROD'S  KILLING   OF  THE   CHILDREN.     SC.  1.       3 

[Scene  i.     Jerusalem.'] 

IF  Herodes.  fleaf  147] 

H  A-boue  aH  kynges  vnder  the  Clowdys  Cristatt  Uerod. 

Royally  I  reigne  in  welthe  with-out  woo; 

Of1  plesaunt  prosperyte  •  I  lakke  non  at  aH, 

ffortune  I  fynde  •  that  she  is  not  my  fFoo.  60 

I  Am  kyng  herowdes,  '  I  witt  it  be  knowen)  soo,  I  am  the  great 

king  Herod. 

most  strong  and  myghty  •  in  feld?  for  to  fygfet, 

And  to  venquysshe  my  enemy es  *  that  a-geynst  me  do ; 

I  am  most  be-dred!  •  with  my  bronde  bright.  64 

II  My  grett  goddes  I  gloryfye  •  with  gladnesse, 
And  to  honoure  them  '  I  knele  vp-on  my  knee, 
ffor  thei  haue  sett  me  in  solas  '  from  aH  sadnesse, 

that  no  conquerour*  nor  knyght  *  is  cowzparid?  to  me.    68  No  conqueror 

can  be  compard 

An  tho  that  rebelle  a-geyns  me '  ther  bane  I  wiH  be,        tome. 

Or  grudge  a-geyns  my  goddes  on  hyH  or  hethe ; 

AH  suche  rebellers  •  I  shatt  make  for  to  fflee, 

And  with  hard?  punysshementes  '  putt  them  to  dethe.  7  2 

U  what  erthely  wretches  •  with  pompe  &  pride  Myopposersand 

foes  shall  be 

do  a-geyns  my  lawes  '  or  wztA-stonde  myn)  entent,  confounded  and 

punisht. 

thei  shaH  suffre  woo  and  peyne  •  thurgh  bak  and  syde, 
With  a  very  myschaunce '  ther  flesshe  shalbe  aH  to-rent. 
And  aH  my  ffoes  '  shaH  haue  suche  cowzmaundement   77 
that  they  shalbe  glad*  to  do  my  byddyng ;  Ay, 
Or  elles  thei  shalbe  '  in  woo  and  myscheff1  permanent, 
that  thei  shaH  fere  me  nygftt  and  day.1  80 

1  The  next  page  of  the  MS.,  leaf  147,  back,  is  in  different  metre. 
It  contains  the  three  following  7-line  stanzas  (ababbcc)  and  one 
4-line  verse  (dcdc),  and  is  crosst  through  with  the  pen. 

U  My  messanger1  at  my  commaundement  *  come  heder  Herod. 

tome,  Messenger!  go 

i       i       i      -B         i         r    i     IT  i  and  spy  out  for 

And  take  hed!  •  what  I  shaH  to  the  say.  rebels,  and 

I  charge  the,  loke  a-bought  •  thurgh  aH  my  Cuntre  f07rtlteh|em  **" 

to  Aspye  if*  ony  rebelled  do  A-geynst  our*  lay  j  4 

And  if  ony  suche  come  in  thy  way 
brynge  hem  in-to  our*  high  presens, 
And  we  shaH  se  them  correctid!  •  or  (hei  go  hens.  7 

B  2 


4     CAYDLEMAS  DAY.    HEROD'S  KILLING  OF  THE  CHILDREN,    sc.  1. 

Herod. 
[leaf  148]  ^J  ij  do1  pwceyue,  though  I  be  here  in  my  cheff*  cite, 

callid1  Jerusalem,  •  my  riche  RoyaH  Town), 
Three  strange      I  am  falslv  disceyvid!  •  by  straunge  kyngey  three  : 

kings  have  de- 

ceivd  me.  Therfor  my  knyghtw  •  I  warne  you  *  without  delacion  84 

That  ye  make  serche  thurgfc-out  att  my  region), 
Knights  i  kill  all  wztA-oute  ony  tarieng  my  wille  may  be  seen), 

the  children  of  }  } 

2  years  old  in      And  sle  aH  tho  Childrefl  •  wjtA-out  excepcion 

Israel! 

Of1  to  yeeres  of1  age  •  that  wit/iin  Israett  bene.  88 


Watkyn),  Messanger. 

Watkyn.  my  lord1,  yo«r  commaundement  •  I  haue  fulfilled!          8 

I  have  done  BO.    evyn)  to  the  vttermest  •  of1  my  pore  power1 ; 

And  I  wold!  shew  you  more  •  2  so  ye  wold1  be  con- 

tentid! 2 ; 

but  I  dare  not  •  lest  ye  wold!  take  it  in  Anger1,  1 1 

ffor  if1  it  liked!  you  not  •  I  am  sure  my  deth  were  nere, 
And  therfor  my  lord1  I  wole  hold1  my  peas. 

herod!. 

I  warne  the,  thu  Tray  tour,  that  thu  not  seas  14 

To  shewe  euery  thyng  thu  knowist  A-geyns  our1  reuer- 
ence.  15 

Messanger. 

my  lord1,  if*  ye  haue  it  •  in  your1  remembraunce, 
Those  s  strange   ther  were  iij  straunger1  kyngey  •  but  late  in  your  presence, 
tonBethiehement  tnat  went  to  be<^em  to  oftre  8  with  due  obsmiaMnce,  18 
have  not  come     &  promysed!  to  come  a-geyn)  by  you  without  variaunce  ; 
gtnehom°eu'but  but  by  thes  bonys  ten)  •  thei  be  to  you  vntrue, 
another  way.       for  4  homward!  an-other  wey  thei  doo  sue.  2 1 

Herodi. 

Now,  be  my  grett  goddw  •  that  be  so  fuH  of  myghi, 
I  wiH  be  a-vengid!  vpon)  Israett  •  if  thi  tale  be  true. 

Messanger. 

That's  the  truth,  that  it  is  my  lord!  •  my  trouth  I  you  plight, 

for  ye  fouwde  me  neuer  false  syn  ye  me  knewe.  25 

[i_i  origi.  A  now  I]  [* — 2  orig*.  &  it  were  yo«r  will] 

[»  orig".  make  offryng]        [*  thei  be  departid  •  and  crosst  through] 


CANDLEMAS   DAY.      HEROD's  KILLING   OF  THE   CHILDREN.      SC.  1.       5 

1T  ffor  with-in  my-self1  thas  I  haue  concluded? 

ffor  to  a-voide  a-wey  aH  interrupcion, 

Sythen)  thes  thre  kynges  '  haue  me  thus  falsly  deluded1, 

As  in  maner  by  froward?  collusion),  92 

And  a-geyn)  resortid?  hom  •  in-to  ther  region)  j 

but  yitt,  mavgre  ther  hertes, '  I  shatt  avengid?  be 

bothe  in  bedlem  and  in1  provynces  euerychone; 

Sle  aH  the  Children)  *  to  kepe  my  liberte. 


Primus  Miles. 

my  lord?,  ye  may  be  sure  that  I  shaH  not  spare 
ffor  to  fulfille  •  yowr  noble  co/nmaundement, 
with  sharpe  sword?  •  to  perse  them  aH  bare, 
In  att  Cuntrees  *  that  be  to  you  adiacent. 


Ill  be  aveng'd 
on  Bethlehem, 
Sic,  and  slay  all 
the  children. 

[« in  alttrd  to  my 
by  a  later  hand] 


100 


if"4  Miles. 
And  for  your  sake  to  obserue  yowr  co/nmaundement. 

iij"'  Miles. 
not  on  of1  them  aH  •  our1  hander  shaH  astert. 

iiij"'  Miles. 

ffor  we  wole  cruelly  '  execute  your*  Judgement,         103 
with  swerde  and  spere  •  to  perse  them  thurgh  the  hert. 

Herod?. 

I  thanke  you,  my  knyghtes  *  but  loke  ye  make  no  tarieng  !  Don't  tarry  i 

Do  arme  your  self  in  stele  '  shynyng  bright,  Arm!  and, 

And  conceyve  in  your  myndes  that  I  am  your  kyng,  [leaf  us,  backj 


Gevyng  you  charge  •  fat  with  all  yowr  myght, 
In  conseruacion)  of1  my  tytett  of*  right, 
that  ye  go  and  loke  for  myn)  aduawntage, 
And  sle  att  the  Children)  •  \at  come  in  yowr  sight 
wiche  ben)  witAin  too  yeer1  •  of1  age. 


1 08   to  preserve  my 


,o  pr 

itle, 


tit 


kill  all  the  chil 
dren  of  2  years 
1 12    old; 


^[  Now  be  ware  that  my  byddyng  ye  truly  obey, 

for  non  but  I  shaH  reigne  wztA  equyte. 

Make  aH  the  Children)  on  yowr  swordes  to  dey ! 

I  charge  you,  spare  not  oon)  •  for  mercy  nor  pyte.      116  spare  not  one  i 


6       CANDLEMAS  DAY.      HEROD*8  KILLING  OF  THE  CHILDREN.      SC.  1. 

Am  not  I  lore*  and  Kyng  of1  the  Cuntre  ? 
The  Crowne  of  aH  Jerusalem  longith  to  me  of1  right. 
who-so-euer  sey  '  nay,'  of  high  or  lowe  degre,          1  19 
I  Charge  you,  sle  aH  suche  fat  come  in  yowr  sight  ! 

I"*  Miles. 
The  soldiers        ^[  My  lord1,  be  ye  sure  accordyng  to  yowr  wiH, 

promise  to  kill  ,  .  . 

the  children.        like  as  ye  charge  vs  be  streigt  commaundement, 

AH  the  children)  of1  IsraeH  doughtles  we  shaH  kylle  12.3 
Within  to  yeer1  of  Age  :  this  is  GUI'  entent. 

ij'"  Miles. 

my  lord1,  of1  aH  lurye  we  hold*  you  for  chef1  regent, 
by  titeH  of1  enheritaunce  as  your  auncetowrs  be-forn)  ; 
he  that  seith  the  contrary  •  be  Mahountf  shalbe  shent, 
And  curse  the  tyme  that  euer  [he]  was  borne.          128 

Herod*. 

^[  I  thanke  you,  my  knyghtes,  •  with  hooH  affeccion), 
Herod  promises    And  whan)  ye  come  a-geyn)  •  I  shaH  you  avaunce  ; 

them  rewards.  .  % 

Therfor  quyte  you  wele  in  feldl  and  town), 

And  of  aH  tho  fondlynges  make  a  delyueraunce.       132 

[^[  here  the  knyghtey  shatt  departe  from  herowd?  to 
Israett,  and   watkyn)  shaH   a-byde,  seyng  thus  to 
herod1  : 
[leaf  1491  Watkyn). 

Now,  my  lord1,  1  beseche  you  to  here  my  dalyaunce, 
,  Herod's  I  wold!  aske  you  a  bone  •  if1  I  durst  a-right, 


messenger,  asks  . 

to  be  knighted.    But  I  were  loth  •  ye  shuld1  take  ony  displesaunce  ; 

Now  for  Mahoundw  sake  •  make  me  a  knyght.         136 

^f  fFor  oon)  thyng  I  promyse  you  •  I  wiH  manly  fight, 
And  for  to  avenge  yowr  quarett  •  I  dare  vndertake, 
though  I  sey  it  my-.e.f1  •  I  am  a  man)  of  myght,        139 
And  dare  live  and  deye  in  this  quareH  for  }  o«r  sake  ; 
for  whan)  I  com  amonge  them  for  fere  thei  shaH  quake, 
And  thougfi  thei  sharme  and  crye,  I  care  not  a  myght, 


CANDLEMAS  DAY.     HEROD's  KILLING  OF  THE  CHILDREN.     SC.  I.       7 

but  with  my  sharpe  sworde  ther  ribbes  I  shaft  shake, 
evyn)  thurgfi  the  guttes  •  for  anger  &  despight.  144 

herowdf. 
^[  be  thi  trouthe,  Watkyn)  •  woldest  thu  be  made  a 

knygfit ; 

thu  hast  be  my  seruaunt  and  Messanger*  many  a  day, 
but  thu  were  neuer  provid?  in  balaile  nor  in  fight,  Herod  bids  Wat- 

kyn  prove  his 

And  therfor,  to  avaunce  the  so  sodeynly,  I  ne  may ;  148  ^"J^ifh*' 

but  oon)  thyng  to  the  I  shaft  say,  hl8  knights. 

be-cause  I  fynde  the  true  in  thyn)  en  tent, 

fforth  with  my  knyghtes  '  thu  shalt  take  the  Way, 

And  quyte  the  wele  •  and  thu  shalt  it  not  repent.       152 

Watkyn). 

^[  Now  a  largeys,  my  lord?  •  I  am  right  wele  a-paid?, 
if*  I  do  not  wele  •  ley  my  hed*  vpon)  a  stokke ; 
I  shaft  go  shew  yowr  knyghtes  '  how  ye  haue  seid!,    155 
And  arme  my-self1  /  manly,  and  go  forth  on  the  flokke ; 
And  if  I  fynde  a  yong  child?  •  I  shaft  choppe  it  on  a  blokke ; 

i         i  -i  T    i     iu       i        \  Watkyn  is  af  rail 

though  the  moder  be  angry,  the  child?  shalbe  sJayn),          of  awomanwith 

a  distaff, 

but  yitt  I  drede  no  thyng  more  than)  a  woman)  with  a  [leaf  149,  back] 

Rokke, 
ffor  if1 1  se  ony  suche,  be  my  feith  I  come  a-geyn).    160 

herowd?. 

^[  what,  shaft  a  woman)  with  a  Rokke  drive  the  a-way  ? 
ffye  on  the  traitowr !  now  I  tremble  for  tene. 
I  haue  trosted?  the  long  and  many  a  day ; 
A  bold*  man)  and  an  hardy  I  went  thu  haddist  ben).  164 

Watkyw,1  Messanger.  t1  Watkyn  late-,-} 

So  am  I,  my  lord?,  and  that  shalbe  seen) 
that  I  am  a  bold?  man)  and  best  dare  a-byde ; 
And  ther  come  an  hundred?  women)  I  wole  not  ffleen), 
but  fro  morowe  tyH  nyght  with  them  I  dare  chide ;   168 
^[  And  therfor  my  lord? '  ye  may  trust  vnto  me, 
for  aH  the  children)  of  IsraeH  yowr  knyghtes  and  I  shaft 
kylle, 


8       CANDLEMAS  DAY.      HBROD's  KILLING  UP  THE  CHILDREN.     SC.  1. 


I  wyH  not  spare  on),  but  dede  thei  shalbe  171 

If1  the  leader  and  moder  witt  lete  me  haue  my  wille. 

Herowd1. 
Herod  bid*  Wat-  Thu  lurdeyn).  take  bed?  what  I  sey  the  tyH, 

kyn  tell  his  J  '     ' 

knighu  to  slay.   And  high"  the  to  my  knyghtey  as  fast  as  thu  can)  j 

say,  I  warne  them  in  ony  wyse  \er  blood?  fat  thei  spille 
A-bought  in  euery  Cuntre,  and  lette  for  no  man).      176 

Watkyn). 

^f  Nay,  nay,  my  lord1,  we  wyH  let  for  no  man), 
though  ther  come  a  Thousand1  on  a  rought ; 
for  yowr  knyghtey  •  and  I  witt  kyll  them  aH  if1  we  can), 
but  for  the  wyves,  that  is  aH  my  dought.  180 

And  if"  I  se  ony  walkyng  a-bought, 
I  wiH  take  good1  hede  tiH  she  be  goon) ; 
And  assone  as  I  aspye  that  she  is  oute, 
by  my  feith  in-to  the  hous  I  wiH  go  A-non).  184 


But  Watkyn  is 
afraid  of  the 
mothers. 


[leaf  150] 


Bell  creep 
under  a  bench 
when  the 
mother  is  in- 


when  she  goes 
out. 


Watkyn). 

^[  And  thus  I  promyse  you,  that  I  shaB  neuer  slepe, 
but  euermore  wayte  to  fynde  the  children)  alone, 
And  if1  the  moder  come  In  •  vnder  the  benche  I  witt 

crepe 

And  lye  stille  ther  tyrl  she  be  goon);  188 

than)  manly  I  shatt  come  out  and  hir  children)  sloon), 
doors,  and  then    And  whan)  I  haue  don),  I  shali  renne  fast  a-way. 

kill  her  children  J 

if*  she  founde  hir  child?  dede,  and  toke  me  ther  alone, 
be  my  feith  I  am  sure  we  shuld1  make  a  fray.  192 

herowd1. 
^f  Nay,  harlott,  a-byde  stylle  witA  my  knyghtw,  I  warne 

the, 

tytt  the  children)  be  slayn)  aH  the  hooH  rought  j 
and  whan)  thu  comyst  home  a-geyn  •  I  shatt  avaunce  the 
If  thu  quyte  the  like  a  man),  whiH  thu  art  ougfitj    196 
And  if*  thu  pley  the  coward1,  I  put  the  owt  of*  dought, 
of  me  thu  shalt  neyther  haue  ffee  nor  aduawntage  ; 


He's  not  to  be 
knighted  unless 
he  fights  well. 


CANDLEMAS  DAY.      HEROD's  KILLING  OF  THE  CHILDREN.     SC.  1.       Q 

therfor  I  charge  you  the  centre  be  weH  sought, 

And  whan)  thu  comyst  home,  shalt  haue  thi  wage.  200 

watkyn). 

^[  Yis,  sire,  be  my  trouthe  ye  shaH  wele  knowe 
whiH  I  am  oute  •  how  I  shaH  aquyte  me, 
for  I  pwrpos  to  spare  neither  high"  nor  lowe,  Watkyn  will  km 

all  the  children. 

Ir  ther  be  no  man)  •  wole  smyte  me.  204 

the  most  I  fere  •  the  wyues  wiH  bete  me  j 

yitt  shaH  I  take  good1  hert  to  me  and  loke  wele  a-bought, 

And  loke  that  your  knygfetey  be  not  ferre  fro  me, 

For  if1 1  be  alone  I  may  sone  gete  a  Clought.  208 

Herod1. 

5f  I  say,  hye  the  hens  •  that  thu  were  goon), 
And  vnto  my  knyghtw  •  loke  ye  take  the  way, 
And  sey,  I  charge  them  that  my  commaundemewt  be  don) 
In  aH  hast  possible  wztAout  more  delay ;  212 

And  if1  ther  be  ony  that  wiH  sey  you  nay,  J>af  150,  back] 

Every  opponent 

Redde  him1  of  his  lyff1  out  of  hand1  a-non) }  is  to  be  slain. 

And  if1  thu  quyte  the  weeH  •  vnto  my  pay,  I1  Mm  '«<«•] 

I  shaH  make  J>e  a  knyght  aventurowrs  whan)  Jm  comyst 

home.  [et  exeat.     216 

Watkyn). 

^[  Syr  knyghtw,  I  must  go  forth  with  you — 

Thus  my  lord'  coramaunded*  me  for  to  don), — 

And  if  I  quyte  me  weeH  whiH  I  am  amonge  you,    219 

I  shalbe  made  a  knyght  aventuro  whan)  I  come  home. 

ffor  oon)  thyng  I  promyse  you,  I  wiH  fight  a-non), 

if1  my  hert  faile  not  whan)  I  shalbe-gynne  j 

the  most  I  fere  *  is  to  come  amonge  women),  223  But  Watkyn 

fears  the 

for  thei  fight  like  deueB&y  with  Rokkes  whan)  J?ei  spynne.  mothers. 

I"'  Miles. 

^[  Watkyn),  I  loue  the  •  for  thu  art  euer  a  man) } 
If*  thu  quyte  the  weeH  in  this  grett  viage, 
I  shaH  speke  to  my  lord'  for  the  that  I  can), 
that  thu  shalt  no  more  be  neither  grome  nor  page.  228 


1O      CANDLEMAS  DAY.      HEROD  S  KILLING  OF  THE  CHILDREN.      SC.  2. 


ij"  Miles. 

I  wyH  speke  for  the  that  thu  shall  haue  better  wage 
If*  thu  quyte  the  manly  •  a-monge  the  wyves, 
ffor  thei  be  as  fers  as  a  lyon)  in  a  cage  231 

whan)  thei  are  broken)  ought  '  to  reve  men  of  \er  lives. 

[^[  her*  the  knyghtro  and  watkyn)  walke  a-bought 
the  place  tyH  Mary  and  Joseph  be  couveid  in-to 
Egipt.  —  Dixit  Angelus. 

[Scene  2.     Bethlehem.'] 

^[  Angelus. 
^[  O  losepfe,  ryse  vp,  and  loke  thu  tary  nought  ! 


The  Angel  bids 

Joseph  fle«  with  .  . 

Mary  and  Jesus   take  mary  wttA  the  •  ana.  m-to  kgipt  niee, 

into  Egypt. 

ftor  lesu  thi  soue  pwrsuyof  is  and  sought 


[leaf  i5i] 


by  kyng  herowd1,  '  the  wiche,  of1  gret  Inyquyte, 

Cowzmaundid1  hath  thurgh  bedlem  Cite, 

In  his  crueH  and  furyous  rage, 

To  sle  aH  the  children)  that  be  in  that  Cuntre 

that  may  be  founde  wit/jin  to  yeer*  of  age. 


236 


240 


At  Christ's 
presence  the 
Egyptian  idols 
«ha.ii  fall  down. 


^[  Ther  shaH  he  shewe  in  that  region) 
diuerse  myracles  of  his  high  regalye  ; 
In  att  ther  temples  •  the  Mawmentes  shati  falle  down) 
To  shew  a  tokyn)  towards  the  partie.  244 

This  child!  hath  lordship,  as  prophetes  do  specific, 
And  at  his  comyng,  thurgh  his  myghty  hond1, 
In  despight  of*  aH  Idolatrie,  247 

oon)  shaH  falle  •  whan)  he  comyth  in-to  the  lond1. 


Joseph  «ays  he 

will  obey, 


and  trust  in 
God. 


losepfi. 

^[  O  good1  lord1,  of  thi  gracious  ordenawnce, 
like  as  thu  list  for  our*  jorney  provide, 
In  this  viage  with  humble  attendaunce, 
As  god  disposeth  and  list  to  be  our*  gyde  j 
Therfor  vpon)  them  bothe  mekely  I  shaH  abide, 
prayng  to  that  lord1  to  think  vpon)  vs  three, 


252 


CANDLEMAS   DAY.      HEROD's   KILLING   OF  THE   CHILDREN.      SC.  2.     I] 


vs  to  preserue,  wheder  we  go  or  Ryde 
Towards  Egipte,  from  aH  aduercitie. 

Mary. 

5f  Now,  husbond?,  in  aH:  hast  I  pray  you  go  we  hens, 
ffor  drede  of  Herowd?,  that  crueH  knyght  ! 
GentyH  spouse,  now  do  your*  diligens, 
And  bryng  your  asse,  I  pray  you,  a-non  right, 
And  from  hens  let  vs  passe  with"  aH  GUI'  myght, 
Thankyng  that  lord?  so  for  vs  doth  provide, 
that  we  may  go  from  herowd?,  Jjat  cursid?  wigfit, 
wiche  witt  vs  devour1  if1  that  we  abide. 


256 


Mary  begs  that 
haste. 


260 


[leaf  151,  back] 


264 


losepfi. 

^f  Mary,  you  to  do  plesaunce  without  ony  lett, 

I  shaH  brynge  forth  yowr  asse  wztA-out  more  delay 

fFul  sone,  Mary,  theron)  ye  shalbe  sett, 

And  this  liteH  Child?  that  in  yowr  wombe  lay. 

Take  hym  in  your  arrays  •  Mary,  I  you  pray, 

&  of1  yo?^r  swete  mylke  lete  hym  sowke  I-nowe, 

Mawger*  herowd!  and  his  grett  fray  j 

&  as  yowr  spouse,  mary,  I  shaft  go  witA  you1. 


268  Joseph  bids  her 

take  her  boy, 

and  suckle  him. 


272 


5T  This  ferdett  of1  gere  '  I  ley  vp  my  bakke, 

Now  I  am  redy  to  go  from  this  Cuntre  ; 

AH  my  smale  instruments  is  putt  in  my  pakke  ; 

[&  exeant. 

Now  go  we  hens,  Mary,  •  it  wiH  no  better  be;          276 
ffor  drede  of  Herowd1  •  a  paas  I  wyH  higR  me  , 
lo,  now  is  our*  geer*  •  trussid?  •  both  more  and  lesse.  AU  is  packt. 

Mary,  for  to  plese  you  with  aH  humylite, 

I  shaH  go  be-fore  •  and  lede  forth  your1  asse.  280  Joseph  leads  the 

ass. 

[*f[  Here  mary  and  losepfi  shaH  go  out  of1  )>e  place 
and  fe  godde*  shaH  falle,  and  than)  shaH  come  in  the 
women)  of1  Israel  •  wztA  yong  children)  in  ther  armys, 
awd  than)  the  knyghtw  shaH  go  to  them,  sayng  as 
foluyth  : 


12    CANDLEMAS  DAY.      HEROD  S  KILLING   OF  THE  CHILDREN.     SC.  3. 

[Scene  3.     Bethlehem.] 

I"1  Miles. 

The  Soldier*        II  Herke,  ye  wyflys,  we  be  come  your  housholde*  to  visite ; 
thougfe  ye  be  neuer  so  wrotfi  nor  wood, 
wit  A  sharpe  swerdw  that  redely  wiH  byte,  283 

come  to  kill  ail    1  your  children)  of  to  yeer1  age,  in  GUI'  crueH  mood1, 

children  under 

two.  thurgfce-out  aft  bethleem  to  kylle  and  shed?  ther  yong 

blood1, 

[leaf  152)       As  we  be  bound  be  the  cowzmaundement  of1  J)e  kyng. 
who  that  seith"  nay,  we  shatt  make  a  flood? 
To  renne  in  the  stretis  •  by  ther  blood1  shedyng.         288 

ij"1  Miles. 

U  Therfor  vnto  vs  •  ye  make  a  delyueraunce 
Of*  your*  yong  children),  •  and  that  a-none ; 
and  will  slay  all   Or  ellw  be  Mahounde  we  shaH  geve  you  a  myschaunce ; 

who  resist  them. 

Our  sharpe  swerdey  thurgh  yowr  bodies  shan  goon).  292 

Watkyn). 

Therfor  beware, '  for  we  wift  not  leve  oon) 
In  att  this  Cuntre  that  shaH  vs  escape; 
I  shaH  rather  slee  them  euerychoon), 
&  make  them  to  lye  and  mowe  like  an  ape.  296 

Prima  mulier. 

The  Mothers        U  flye  on  you,  traitors  of1  cruerl  tormentrye, 
denounce  these         ....  «,  n     •    i 

Murderers,          wiche  witA  yoMr  swerdes  or  mortan  violens, 

Secunda  mulier. 

Our*  yong  children),  that  can  no  socour1  but  crie, 
wyH  slee  and  devoure  •  in  ther  Innocens.  300 

Tercia  mulier. 

Ye  false  traitowrs  •  vnto  god?  ye  do  grett  ofFens 
to  sle  and  morder1  yong  children)  •  )>at  in  \er  cradeH 
slumber. 

1  alle  put  before  your ;  and  of  altered  to  witAin  I'M  a  later  hand. 


CANDLEMAS   DAY.      HEROD  S   KILLING   OF  THE   CHILDREN.      SC.  3.     13 

iiij"  mulier. 
but  we  women)  shaH  make  a-geyns  you  resistens,  and  declare 

6  ]        '  they'll  resist. 

after  our*  power*,  your*  malice  to  encomber.  304 

Watkyn). 

1F  Peas,  you  folysshe  quenys  !  wha  shuld?  you  defende 
A-geyns  vs  armyd?  men  in  this  apparaile  ? 
we  be  bold?  men),  and  the  kyng  vs  ded?  sende 
Hedyr  in-to  this  Cuntre  to  hold?  with  you  bataile.     308 

prima  mulier. 
ffye  vpon)  the,  coward?,  of1  the  I  wiH  not  faile  One  Mother 

J  threatens 

to  dubbe  the  knyght  •  with  my  rokke  rounde !  Watkyn. 

women  be  ferse  when)  thei  list  to  assaile, 

Suche  prowde  boyes  to  caste  to  the  grounde.  312 

Watkyn). 

Avaunt,  ye  skowtys,  I  defye  you  euery-chone, 
ffor  I  wole  bete  you  aft  *  my-self1  a-lone. 

[HlC  Occident  pueros.    The  Children 
are  killd. 

I"  mulier. 
IF  Alas,  alasse,  good?  Gossyppes  •  this  is  a  sorowfuH  payn),    [leaf  152,  back] . 

To  se  our1  dere  Children)  that  be  so  yong,  316  cau  for  venge 

ance  on  the 
With  these  Caytyves  thus  sodeynly  to  be  slayn)  j  Murderers 

A  vengeaunce  I  aske  on  them  aft  for  this  grett  wrong. 

ij°  mulier. 

And  a  very  myscheff1  mut  come  them  a-monge, 
wherso-euer  thei  be  come  or  goon),  320 

ffor  thei  haue  kylled?  my  yong  sone  loRn. 

iij"  mulier. 
IF  Gossippis,  a  shamefutt  deth  I  aske  vpon)  herowde  our1  and  King  Herod. 

kyng, 
that  thus  rygorously  our*  children)  hath  slayn). 


iiij"  mulier. 
n  l  to  an  Ille 
And  in  helle  pytte  to  dwelle  euer  in  pej  n) 


I  pray  god  bryng  hym  1to  an  Ille  endyng1,  324  p— » and  aii«  his 

blood*  erase*.] 


14    CANDLEMAS  DAY.      HEROD's   KILLING  OF  THE  CHILDREN.     SC.  3. 

Watkyn). 
watkyn  rebuke*  What,  ye  harlottw,  I  haue  aspied  certeyn) 

the  Mother*. 

that  ye  be  traytours  to  my  lord!  the  kyng, 

&  therfor  I  am  sure  •  ye  shaH  haue  an  Ille  endyng.    328 

I"  mulier. 

U  If1  ye  abide,  watkyn),  you  and  I  shaH  game 
with  my  distaff1  that  is  so  Rounde. 

ij"  mulier. 

And  if1  I  seas,  thanne  haue  I  shame 
tyH  thu  be  fellid?  down)  •  to  the  grounde.  332 

iij"  mulier. 

And  I  may  gete  the  with-in  my  bounde, 
witA  this  staff1  I  shaft  make  the  lame. 

Watkyn). 

Yee,  I  come  no  more  ther,  '  be  seynt  Mahound1, 
ffor  if  I  do  *  me  thynketh  I  shaft  be  made  tame.        336 

I"  mulier. 
H  A-byde,  Watkyn)  •  I  shaH  make  the  a  knyght. 

Watkyn). 

thu  make  me  a  knyght  *  that  were  on  the  newe ! 
and,  though  he    but  for  shame  '  my  trouthe  I  you  pligfit, 

I  shuldl  bete  you  bak  and  side  tyft  it  were  blewe  j     340 


They  threaten 
to  beat  him, 


but,  be  my  god!  Mahounde  that  is  so  true, 
[leaf  153]       my  hert  be-gynne  to  fayle  and  waxetfi  feynt, 
Or  e\\es  be  Mahoundw  blood?  •  ye  sbuld!  it  rue ; 
but  ye  shaH  lose  your  goodes  as  traitours  atteynt.       344 

I"  mulier. 

IT  what,  thu  lavell  •  canst  not  haue  do  ? 
thu  and  thi  Cumpany  shati  not  depart, 
tyH  of  our*  dibtavys  '  ye  haue  take  part : 
therfor,  ley  on  gossippes  •  wit  A  a  mery  hart,  348 

And  lett  them  not  •  from  vs  goo. 
they  beat  him.  [here  thei  shatt  bete  watkyn),  •  and  the  knyghtej 


CANDLEMAS   DAY.      HEROD's   KILLING  OF  THE   CHILDREN.      SC.  4.     15 

shaft  come  to  rescue  hym,  *  and  than)  thei  go  to 
Herowd?  Jjus  sayng : 

[Scene  4.     Jerusalem.] 

I"'  miles. 
II  Honorable  prynce  •  of  giett  apparayle,  350  The  Soldiers  tell 

Herod 

thurgfi.  Jerusalem  and  Jude  '  yowr  wytt  we  haue  wrought ; 
ffurl  suerly  harneysed?  •  in  armowr  of1  plate  and  maile, 

The  Children)  of*  Israerl  •  vnto  deth  we  haue  brought.       that  they've 

killd 

ij"*  miles. 

Syr,  to  werke  yowr  cowmaundement  we  lettid?  nought, 
In  the  siretes,  of1  the  children)  to  make  a  flood? ;  all  the  Children 

We  sparid?  neither*  •  for  care  nor  though"  ,  356 

Thurgh  bethlem  '  to  shede  arl  the  yong  blood?.  in  Bethlehem. 

\V~atkyn).  [one  stanza  on  a 

separate  glip] 

In  tfeyth,  my  lord?  •  arl  the  Children)  be  dede, 

And  arl  the  men  •  out  of  the  Cuntre  be  goon) ; 

Ther*  be  but  women),  and  thei  crie  in  euery  stede,      360  The  Mothers  cry 

for  vengeance 

'  A  vengeaunce  take  kyng  herode  •  for  he  hath  owr  children)  °n  him- 

sloon) ' ! 

And  bidde  A  myscheff1  take  hym  both  evyn)  and  morn) : 
ftbr  kyllyng  of1  ther  children),  on  you  thei  crie  oute, 
And  thus  goth  yowr  name  aft  the  Cuntre  a- bought.  364 

Herodes. 

U  Oute,  I  am  madde  '  my  wyttes  be  ner  goon),  Herod  laments; 

I  am  wo  for  the  wrokyng l '  of*  this  werke  wylde,  P  ?/<"•  workyng 

ffbr  as  wele  I  haue  slayn)  my  fFrende*  as  my  foon) ; 
wherfor  I  fere  *  deth  hath  me  begyled?,  368 

no^-wzt^stondyng,  syn)  thei  be  arl  defyledl, 
&  on  J)e  yong  blood8  of1  bethlem  •  wrought  wo  and  wrake, 
yitt  I  am  in  no  certeyn)  of1  that  yong  child? ; 
Now  for  woo  myn)  herte  gynneth  to  quake.  372  his  heart 

quakes ; 

U  Alas,  I  am  so  sorowfuH  •  and  sett  out2  of  Sadnes ;          he  is  sad. 
I  Chille  and  Chever*  for  this  Orrible  chaunce  ;  [leaf  153,  back: 

[2  in  has  been  substituted  for  out,  by  a  later  ha»d.~\ 


l6      CANDLEMAS  DAY.     HEROD's   KILLING  OF  THE   CHILDREN.     SC.  6. 


Herod  orders  hit  I  cowimaunde  you  aH,  as  ye  wole  stond  in  my  grace, 
J««u«.  after  this  yong  kyng  •  to  make  good!  enqueraunce;    376 

And   he    J>at    bryngeth    me   tydyngey  •  I    shaH    hym 

•Horace. 

now  vnto  my  chambeij  •  I  purpose  me  this  tyde, 
And  I  charge  you  to  my  preceptes  geve  attendaunce 
In  ony  place  wher*  ye  goo  or  Ryde.  380 


Herod  quakes, 
tears  his  robes 
ID  two, 


and  dies. 


Vacat  ab  hinc. 
[in  later  hanti] 

Simeon  prays 
God  for  grace 


to  teach  the 
people. 


He  praise*  God 
for  the 

[leaf  154] 
Incarnation. 


U  What  out,  out,  alias  !  •  I  wene  I  shaH  dey  \>is  day  ; 

my  hert  tremelith  and  quakith  for  ffeer1, 

my  Robys  I  rende  a  to  •  for  I  am  in  a  fray 

that  my  hert  wiH  brest  a-sunder*  evyn)  beer*.  384 

my  lord1  Mahound*,  I  pray  the  with  hert  enteer* 

take  my  soule  in-to  thy  holy  hande, 

ffor  I  fele  be  my  hert  '  I  shaH  dey  evyn)  heer*, 

ffor  my  legges  {Falter*,  I  may  no  lenger1  stande.          388 

[here  dieth  herowde,  •  and  Symeon)  shafl  sey  as 
foluyth  : 

[Scene  5.     Jerusalem'] 
Symeon). 

IT  Now,  god1,  that  art  botfe  lok  and  keye 

of1  aH  goodnesse  and  goostly  gouernaunce, 

So  yeve  vs  grace  thi  lawys  to  obeye, 

that  we  vn-to  the  '  do  no  displesaunce  ;  392 

lett  thi  grace  of1  merciful!  haboundaunce 

Vpon)  me  shyne,  that  callid1  am  Syme(  n), 

So  that  I  may  witAout  ony  variaunce 

Teche  thi  people  •  thi  law  is  euery-chon). 


IT  ffrom  the  sterrid!  hevyn)  •  lord,  thu  list  come  down) 

In-to  the  Closett  of  a  pure  virgin), 

Our*  kynde  to  take  '  for  mannys  saluacion). 

Thi  grett  mercy,  thu  lowe  lyst  enclyne,  400 

lyke  as  prophetys  '  by  grace  that  is  divyne 

haue  prophecied1  of*  the  •  sythe  longe  afforn)  } 


THE    KILLING    OF    THE    CHILDREN.       SCENE    5. 


It  is  fulfilled?,  I  knowe,  be  ther  doctryne, 

&  of1  a  ohast  maide  •  I  wote  wele  thu  art  born). 

U  Now,  good*  lord?,  hertly  I  the  pray 

here  my  requeste  grounded?  vpon)  rigRt  j 

Most  blissed1  lord',  lett  me  neuer  dey 

TyH  that  I  of1  the  may  haue  a  sight ! 

Thu  art  so  gloryous,  so  blissed?,  and  so  brigfit, 

that  thi  presence  to  me  shuld?  be  gret  solas. 

I  shall  not  reste,  but  pray  bothe  day  and  nyght, 

Tytt  I  may  behold?,  o  lord8,  thi  swete  face. 


404 


4.O  <    Symeon  praya 

T  J    that  be  may 

not  die 


408 


412   till  he  has  seen 
Jesus. 


[Scene  6.     Jerusalem]  Sc.  vi.  Jerusalem, 

[Her*  shaH:  our*  lady  come  forth  holdyng  lem  in  hir 
arrays,  and  sey  this  language  foluyng  to  losepli. 


Maria. 

IT  losepB.,  my  Spouse  *  tyine  it  is  we  goo 
Vn-to  the  Temple  to  make  an  Offrynge 
Of1  our1  swete  sone  j  *  the  lawe  cowzmaundith  so, 
And  ij  yonge  dowys  •  wztA  vs  for  to  bryng 
In-to  a  prestos  handes  •  witA-oute  tarieng. 
I  shaH  presente '  for  an  obseruaunce 
Our*  babe  so  blissed?  •  wiche  is  but  yonge ; 
With  me  to  go  •  I  pray  you  make  purviaunce. 

losepfi. 

U  Most  blissed'  Spouse  •  me  list  not  to  feyne. 
fFayn)  wold?  I  plese  you  '  with  hooli  affeccion) : 
behold?  now,  wyff1 '  her  are  dowys  tweyne 
Of  wicbe  ye  shuli  make  an  oblaczon 
WztA  our*  child1  of  fuH  grett  devocion). 
Goth  forth  a-forn)  •  hertly  I  you  pray, 
And  I  shaH  folue  •  voide  of  presutnpcion) 
with  true  entent  *  as  an  old1  man)  may. 

DIGBY    MYST. 


413    MaryteUs 

Joseph  that  they 
must  offer  2 
Doves  Li  the 
Temple. 


42O 


421 


[leaf  154,  back] 


Joseph  brings 
the  Doves,  and 
424   says 


428 
C 


hell  follow  her 
humbly. 


i8 


THE    KILLING    OF    THE    CHILDKEN.       SCENE    6. 


Mary  asks 
Syiueou  to 


take  her 
offering. 


Symeon  accept* 


[leaf  155] 
takes  the  babe 
Jesus  in  his 
arms, 


[IT  here  Maria  and  losepfi  go  toward!  the  temple 
witA  Imi  and  ij  dowes,  and  our*  lady  seith  vnto 
Symeon) : — 

Maria. 

U  HeyH,  holy  Symeon)  •  full  of*  grett  vertu,  429 

To  make  an  Offryng  •  I  gan  my-self1  purvey e 

Of  my  souereigne  sone  •  that  callid!  is  lesu, 

wjtA  ij  yonge  dowes  the  lawe  to  Obeye;  432 

Toward?  this  temple  •  grace  list  me  conveye, 

Of  goddes  sone  to  make  a  presentation)  j 

wherfore,  Symeon)  *  hertly  I  you  pray, 

In-to  your  handes  *  take  myn)  oblacion).  436 

[U  her  shaH  symeon)  receyve  of1  maria,  lesu  and  ij 
dowis,  and  holde  lesu  in  his  armys  expownywg  nuwc 
dimittw,  &C1.,  seyng  thus  : — 

Symeon). 

11  welcome,  lord!  •  excellent  of1  power*  j  43  7 

And  welcome,  Maria  •  witA  your  soue  souereigne ! 
Your  oblacion  •  of1  hooH  herte  and  enteer* 
I  receyue  witA  these  •  dowys  tweyn)  j  440 

wolcome,  babe  !  for  loye  what  may  I  seyn)  ? 
At  wen)  myn)  armys  •  now  shaH  I  the  en  brace ; 
My  prayer,  lord!,  was  not  made  in  veyn), 
ffor  now  I  se  thy  celestiaH  face.  444 

[here  declare[th  he1]  nunc  dimitt/.v. 


IF  O  blissed!  lord1,  after  thi  langage, 
In  parfigtt  peas  now  lett  thy  seruawnt  reste, 
ffor  why  •  myri)  eyen)  haue  seyn)  thi  visage, 
&  eke  thyn)  helthe  •  thurgh  my  meke  request. 
Of1  the  derk  dungeon)  •  let  the  gate^  brest 
be-fore  the  face  '  of1  thyn)  people  alle. 
thu  hast  brought  triacle  and  bawme  of1  the  best, 
witA  Souereigne  Sugei'  •  geyn)  att  bitter  galle. 
['  or  they  :  MS.  is  torn.] 


445 


448 


THE    KILLING    OF    THE    CHILDREN.        SCENE    6. 


IT  I  mene  thi  self1,  lord?  •  gracious  and  benigne, 
That  woldest  come  down)  from  thyn)  high  glorye 
Poyson)  to  repelle  '  thi  mercy  doth  now  shyne, 
To  chaunge  thynges  •  that  are  transitory ; 
Thu  art  the  light  and  the  hevynly  skye 
To  the  relevyng  of1  folk  most  cruetl  j 
Thu  hast  brought  gladnesse  to  our*  oratorye, 
And  enlumyned?  thy  people  of1  Israett. 


and  blesses  Him 
for  coming  on 
earth 


to  relieve  His 
folk. 


460 


[Here  shall  Anna,  prophetissa,  sey  thus  to  Virgynes  : 


Anna,  prophetissa. 

^f  Ye  pure  Virgynes  '  in  that  ye  may  or  can), 
•with  tapers  of  wex  *  loke  ye  come  forth  here 
&  worship  this  child?  •  very  god?  and  man), 
Offrid?  in  this  temple  •  be  his  moder  dere. 

[her,  virgynes,  as  many  as  a  man  wyH,  shaH  holde 
tapers  in  ther  handey,  •  and  the  first  seyth : 

Prima  virgo. 

As  ye  comaunde,  we  shal  do  our*  dever?, 

that  lord?  to  plese  /  echon)  for  our*  partye, 

he  makytri  vn[-to]  vs  so  comfortable  chere, 

that  we  must  nedes  this  babe  magnifie.  468 


46  I    Anna  bids  the 
Virgins  worship 
the  boy  Jesus. 


464 


[leaf  155,  back] 
[a  different  hand) 


Symeon). 

Now,  mary,  I  shaft  teH  you  how  I  am  purposed? : 

to  worship*?  this  lord?  /  I  wil  go  procession) ; 

ffor  I  se  anna,  with  virgynes  disposed?, 

mekly  as  nowe,  to  your*  sonys  laudaczon.  472 

Maria. 

blissed?  Symeon,  with  hertly  affeccz'on, 
as  ye  han  seyd?,  I  concent  therto. 

losepA. 

In  worship*?  of1  our*  Child1,  with  gret  devossion), 
abougfit  the  tempirl  /  in  ordir1  let  vs  go.  476 

c  2 


460   Symeon  resolve 
to  go  in  pro 
cession 


round  the  Tem 
ple  in  honour  of 
Christ. 


THE    KILLING    OF    THE    CHILDREN.       SCENE    6. 


Symeon). 

Symeon  bids  the  ye  virgynes  alle  /  with  feytfifutt  intent  477 

dispose  your*  silf1  a  song*  for  to  synge, 
to  worsAip  this  Child1  that  is  her1  present, 
whiche  to  mankende  gladnes  list  brynge,  480 

['  MS.  wichej     In  tokyri)  GUI'  hertes  /  withe l  loye  dotti  sprynge : 
betwyn)  myn)  armys  this  babe  shalbe  born), 
now,  ye  virgynis,  to  this  lordey  preysyng 
syngytn"  nunc  dimittw  /  of1  whiche  I  spak1  afforn).     484 

[11  here  shal  Symeon  bere  lesu  in  his  armys,  goyng* 
a  procession)  rounde  aboute  the  tempiH  -}  and  al  this 
wyle  the  virgynis  synge  nunc  dimittw,  and  whan) 
that  is  don),  Symeon  seyth" : 


lTu*c  Dinittit 
in  praise  of 
Jesus. 


Symeon  shows 
how  the  wax, 
wick,  and  light 
of  the  taper  are 
emblems  of 
Christ's  quali 
ties. 


[leaf  156] 


Ho  declares  the 
Boy  to  be  very 
God  and  Man, 


uid  rejoices  to 
l«hold  Him. 


Symeon). 

U  O  lesu,  chef  cause  of1  our1  welfare,  485 

In  yone  tapir*  therbe  thing1  iij*, 

wax,  week1  and  ligfit,  whiche  I  shaH  declare 

to  the  apporprid?  by  moralite ;  488 

lord1,  wax  betoknyth  /  thyn)  humanyte, 

&  week1  betoknytfi  /  thy  soule  most  swete ; 

yone  lygfit  I  lykene  /  to  the  godhed*  of1  the, 

brighter*  than  phebus  /  for  al  his  fervent  hete.  492 

Pes  and  mercy  han  set  in  the,  her?  swete,  493 

to  slake  the  sharpnes,  o  lord*  of  rigour*, — 

very  god1  and  man)  /  gun  to-gedir*  mete. 

In  the  tabirnacle  /  of1  thy  modrys  bower*,  496 

now  shalt  thu  exile  /  wo  and  all  langour*, 

&  of1  mankende  tappese  inlernaH  stryf1. 

Record?  of1  prophets,  thou  shalt  be  redemptour', 

and  singulei*  repast  of1  euerlastyng1  lyf\  500 

My  spretw  loyen)  //  thou  art  so  amyable,  501 

I  am  nat  wery  /  to  loke  on  thi  face ; 

our*  trewe  entent  /  let  it  be  acceptable 

To  the  honor  of  the  shewyd1  in  this  place.  504 


THE    KILLING    OF    THE    CHILDREN.       SCENE    6. 


21 


Mary  asks 
Symeon  for  her 
Child. 


ffor  thy  seruauntes  a  dwellywge  thou  shalt  purchase, 

brighter*  than)  beraH  outlier*  clere  cristaB  j 

the  to  worships  as  chef1  welle  of1  grace, 

On  botn  my  knees  /  now  down  knele  I  shaH.  508 

Maria. 

Now,  Semyon),  take  me  /  my  child?,  that  is  so  bright, 

Chef1  lodesterre  /  of1  my  felicyte, 

and  aH  that  longytfi  /  to  the  lawe  of1  rigfit 

I  shall  obeye  /  as  it  lytfe  in  me.  512 


Symeon. 

this  lord1,  I  take  you  /  knelyng1  on  my  kne,  He,  kneeling, 

Whiche  shall  to  blisse  folk1  ageyn)  restore, 
and  eke  be  called!  tonne  of1  tranquylyte, 
to  yeve  hem  drynke  /  that  han)  thrustyd!  sore.  516 

[her*  she  receyvetfi  hir  sone  thus  seyeng1 :  gives  her  the 

Boy, 

Maria. 

Now  is  myn)  offryng*  to  an  ende  conveyed1;  "517 

wherfore,  Symeon),  hens  I  wole  wende. 

Symeon). 

The  lawes,  Mary,  ful  weU  ye  han  obbeyed!,  [leaf  ise,  back] 

In  this  tempiH  /  with  hert  and  mende  :  520 

no  we  ferweH,  lord',  comfort  to  aH  mankende  j 
ffarweH,  Maria  and  losepA,  on  you  waytyng1. 


and  bids  them 
farewell. 


losepA. 

SelestiaH  socour*  /  oui^  sone  mot  you  sende, 
and  for  his  high  mercy  //yeve  you  his  blissyng1.         <524 
[^1  here  maria  and  losepA  goyng1  from  the  tempitt, 

seyng1: 

Maria. 

husbond',  I  thenKe  you  /  of*  your1  Gentilnes 
that  ye  han  shewed?  onto  me  this  day, 


C  2  ^    Mary  thanks 
J    J    Joseph  for  his 
kindness. 


22 


THE    KILLING    OF    THE    CHILDREN.        SCENE    6. 


witA  GUI'  child,  most  gracious  of1  godenesj 
let  vs  go  hens,  hertly  I  you  pray. 

losepA. 
Joseph  promises  go  forthe  afforn),  my  ovne  wyf1,  I  sey, 

to  cherish  his  J  J    >  J> 

wife  Mary.          &  I  shaft  come  aftir1,  stil  vpon)  Mis  grou/zd. 
ye  shal  me  fynde  plesantf  at  euery  assayej 
to  cherysshe  you,  wyf1,  gretly  am  I  bouwde. 


528 
5*9 

532 


Symeon  is  glad 
he  has  seen 
Christ, 


Symeon). 

Nowe  may  I  be  glad  in  myn)  Inward  mende, 
for  I  haue  seyn)  I  em  with  my  bodely  eye, 
wiche  on  a  cros  shaH  bey  al  men-kende, 
slayn)  by  Iwes  at  Me  mount  of1  calvery ; 
and  throwe  devyn)  grace  here  I  wiH  provysye 
and  foretells        Of  blissed  mary  '  howe  she  shaH  suffre  peyn), 

Mary's  sufferiug 

when  her  Son  is  whan)  hir*  swete  sone  shaH  on  a  rood  deye ; 

mi  fhrt  Ornaia  J       f 


011  the  Cross. 


536 


539 


A  sharpe  Sward  of1  Sorowe  shaH  cleve  hir  hert  atweyn). 

Anna,  prophetifsa,  hertly  I  prey  you  nowe  541 

doth  your*  devir*  and  your*  diligent  labour*, 

and  take  these  virgynis  euerychon)  witA  you, 

and  teche  hem  to  plese  god  of1  most  honou^  544 


[leaf  157] 


Anna  bids  the 
Virgins  honour 

Christ. 


548 


Anna,  prophetissa. 

lyke  as  ye  say,  I  wiH  do  this  hour*, 
ye  chast  virgynis  witA  aH  humylite, 
Worship?  we  lesu,  that  shalbe  our1  sauyoui*  j 
alle  at  ones  come  on,  and  folowe  me, 
Utrrf tend <vam]  &  shewe  ye  summe  plesur^  as  ye  can), 

Tn  the  worships  of  lesu,  our  lady,  and  seynt  Anne.    550 

Anna,  prophet[issa]  &  [omnes]  tripident. 

[Epilogue."] 

1F  Preta. 

U  Honorable  sou<?r«ignes,  thus  we  conclude  551 

Our*  matei*  that  we  haue  shewid  here  in  yowr  presens, 


THE    KILLING    OF    THE    CHILDREN.       EPILOGUE.  23 

And  though  our*  eloquens  be  but  rude, 

we  beseche  you  aH,  of1  your*  paciens  554  The  Poet  begs 

pardon  for 

To  pardon)  vs  or  our  offensj  shortcomings, 

ffor'  after  the  sympyll  cunnyng  that  we  can), 

This  mater*  we  haue  shewid?  to  yowr  audiens,  557 

In  the  worshipe  of1  our*  lady,  and  hir  moder  seynt  Anne. 

1T  Now  of  this  pore  processe  we  make  an  ende,         559 

thankyng  you  aH  of1  yowr  good!  attendaunce ; 

and  the  next  veer,  as  we  be  pwrposid?  in  our*  mynde.         and  promises 

•  J  that  his  feUows 

The  disputaczon  of1  the  doctowrs  to  shew  in  yowr  presens.  sl^u  p^y  the 

Disputation  of  tht 

wherfor  now,  ye  virgynes,  er  we  go  hens,  563  Doctors  next 

year* 

with  aH:  yowr  cumpany,  you  goodly  avaunce, 

Also  ye  menstralles  doth  yowr  diligens, 

A-fore  our*  departyng  geve  vs  a  daunce.  $66 

f  ffinis. 

Anno  dommi  Milienmo1,  CCCCCxij.  ff  later  ka*d] 

[i  P  MS] 


24       Tilt    KILLING    OF    1  HE    CHILDREN.       THE    PLAYERS      NAMES. 


THE  NAMYS  OF  THE  PLEYERS. 


The  poete 

kyng  Herowde 

jte  knyght 

the  ijde  knyght 

iijde  knyght 

iiij*  knyght 

watkyu),  Messanger 

Synieou)  the  bysshope 

Josepfc  Summa  xvij. 

Maria 

Anna  prophetissa 

A  virgyn) 

Angelas 

j*  raulier 

ij*  mulier 

iij*  mulier 

iiij'  mulier 

Ihon  Parfre  ded  wryte  thys  booke.1 


1  This  line  was  not  written  at  the  same  time  as  the  writing  alove ;  it  is  in  a 
different  coloured  ink. 


THE  CONVERSION  OF  S'  PAUL. 

(In  J-line  Stanzas,  ababbcc.) 


[This  play  comes  before  the  Killing  of  the  Children  in  the  com 
posite  Digby  MS.  as  at  present  bound.  The  Festival  of  The  Con 
version  of  St  Paul,  January  25,  also  comes  before  that  of  Childermas 
or  Innocents'  Day,  the  Feast  of  the  Holy  Innocents,  December  28  J  j 
and  before  Candlemas  Day,  February  2.  But  as  Mysteries  were 
usually  acted  in  the  '  chronological  order '  of  the  facts  they  represented, 
that  order  is  kept  here.] 

1  The  Civil,  Ecclesiastical,  and  Legal  year  began  at  Christmas,  till  the  end  of 
the  13th  century.    Thenceforward  till  Jan.  1,  1753,  it  began  on  the  25th  of  March. 


[THE  NAMES  OF  THE  PLAYERS. 


Poeta,  p.  27,  33,40,41. 
Saulus,  p.  27,  33,  46. 
Caypha,  p.  28,  42. 
Anna,  p.  28,  42. 
Primus  Miles,  p.  29,  37,  41. 
Secundus  Miles,  p.  29,  37,  41. 
Servus,  p.  30. 
Stabularyus,  p.  30. 


Deus,  p.  34. 

Ananias,  p.  35. 

Spiritus  Sanctus,  38. 

Belyall,  p.  43. 

Mercury,  another  deuyll,  p.  44. 

Servus  Sacerdotum,  p.  49. 

Angelus,  p.  51.] 


[THE   CONVERSION    OF   Sl   PAUL.] 

[Digly  MS.  133,  leaf  3  7,  in  a  third  hand.} 
[i"  Station.] 

Poeta.     'Myles  Blomefylde.1 


Re; 


>x  glorie,  kyng*  omnipotent,  May  Christ  and 

.  the  Virgin  Mary 

Redemer  of  the  world1  by  the  pouer  dmine, 
and  maria,  that  pure  vyrgy[ra]  quene  most  excellent, 
wyche  bare  that  blyssyd?  babe,  lesu,  that  for  vs  sufferd 
payne,  4 

vnto  whoys  goodnes  I  do  inclyne, 
besechyng  that  lord  of  hys  pytous  Influens, 
to  preserue  &  gouerne  thys  wyrshypfutt  audyens.  7  preserve  this 

audience ! 

1[  Honorable  frendw,  besechyng1  yow  of1  lycens,  8 

to  precede  owr  processe,  we  may,  vnder  your  correccion,  we're  going  to 

.,  ,  -  act  the  Conversion 

the  conuersyon  or  seynt  paule,  as  the  byble  gyr  experyens,  of  st.  Paul. 

whoo  lyst  to  rede  the  booke  '  Actum  Appostolorum,    1 1 

ther  shaft  he  haue  the  very  notycyon ; 

but  as  we  can,  we  shall  vs  redres, 

firefly  with  yowr  fauowr  begynyng*  owr  proces.  14  Daunce2 

[here  entryth  saule,  goodly  besene  in  the  best  wyse  /  |f-  *•  Jerusalem. 

lyke  an  aunterous  knyth,  thus  sayyng1 : 

Saulus. 
Most  dowtyo?  man,  I  am  lyuyrag  vpon  the  ground1,      i  <;  I'm  the  most 

0    feard  and  most 

goodly  besene  with  many  a  riche  garlement. 

my  pere  on  lyue  I  trow  ys  nott  found?, 

thorow  the  world!,  fro  the  oryent  to  the  occydent,         18 

my  fame  ys  best  knowyn  vndyr  the  fyrmamewt ;  renowndman 

'  J  3  under  the  sky. 

I  am  most  drad  of1  pepuH  vnyuersaH, 
they  dare  not  dyspease  my  most  noble.  ai 

'— '  Iti  a  later  hand.  ?  Dauwce  is  in  a  Inter  hand. 


28 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.    PAUL.       STATION    1.       ACT    I. 


My  name  la 
SAUL, 


and  I  got 
Christ  a  disciples 
puniaht. 

[leaf  37,  back] 


I'll  pursue  em 
thro  Damascus 
and  Lybia. 


Saul  asks  the 
priests  Caypha 
and  Anna  for 
letters  to  quell 
the  Christian 
rebels. 


Caypha  and 


[leaf  38] 
Anna  give  tho 
letters, 


U  Saule  ys  my  name,  I  wyll  that  ye  notyfy,  22 

whych  conspyreth  the  dyscyplys  with  threte*  and  menace*, 

be-fore  the  prynce*  of  preste*  most  hye  and  noble, 

1  bring1  them  to  punyshement  for  ther  trespace.  25 

we  wyti  them  nott  suft'er  to  rest  in  no  place  j 

rtbr  they  go  a-bou^te  to  preche  and  gyff1  exemplis, 

To  destroye  our*  lawes,  sinagoges,  and*  templis.  28 

By  the  god1  bellyati  I  schall  make  progresse,  29 

Vnto  the  prince*  both  Caypha  Andf  Anna, 

wher1  I  schall  aske  of1  them  in  suernes, 

To  persue  thorow  all  dammask1  and  liba,  3* 

And1  thus  we  schall  soone  after  than 

Bryng  them  that  so  do  lyff1  in-to  Jerusalem, 

Both  man  and!  child1  that  I  fynd1  of  them.  35 

[Her  cummy  th  sale  to  caypha  and  anna,  preste*  of  the 
tempyti. 

NobyH  prelate*  and  prince*  of  Regalyte,  36 

Desyryng1  and  askyng*  of  your  benyngne  wurthynes, 

Your  letters  and  epystolys  of  most  souerente, 

To  subdue  rebellyons  that  wyti  of  frawardnes,  39 

A-gaynst  our  lawes  rebeti  or  transgresse, 

Nor  wyti  not  iuclyne  but  mak  obiecc[i]on, 

To  pursue  all  such  I  wyll  do  proteccion.  43 

Caypha. 

To  yowr  desyer  we  gyf  perfyth  seutens,  43 

Accordyng1  to  your  petyczons  that  ye  make  postulacion, 
By-cause  we  know  yowr  trewe  delygens, 
To  persue  ati  tho  that  do  reprobacion  46 

A-gayns  owur  lawes  by  ony  redarguacion ; 
wherefor  shortly  we  gyf  in  commandmefit 
To  put  down  them  that  be  dy[s]obedyeflt.  49 

Anna. 

And  by  thes  letturs  that  be  most  reuerrewt,  50 

Take  them  in  hand,  full  agre  ther-to, 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.    PAUL.       STATION    1.       ACT    I. 


Constreyn)  all  rebellys  by  owwr  hole  assent, 
We  gyf  yow  full  power  so  to  doo. 
Spare  not  hardly  for  frend  nor  foo, 
All  thos  ye  fynd  of  thai  lyfe  in  thys  realme 
Bounde,  loke  ye  bryng1  them  in-to  Jerusalem. 
[Her  saule  resayuyth  ther  letters. 

Saulus. 

Thys  precept  here  I  take  in  hande, 

To  fullfyH  after  yowwr  wylles  both, 

wher  I  shall  spare  wzt^-in  this  londe 

nother  man  nor  woman ;  to  this  I  make  an  oth 

But  to  subdue  I  wyH  not  be  loth : 

Now  folow  me,  knytys  and  semantic  trewe, 

In-to  Damaske  as  fast  as  ye  can  sewe. 

Primus  miles. 

Vnto  yowr  corwmaundment  T  do  obeysaunce  ; 
I  wyll  not  gaynsay  nor  make  delacion, 
But  with  good  mynd  and  harty  plesaunce 
I  shall  yow  succede  and  make  perambulackm, 
Thorow-oute  damaske  with  all  delectaczon, 
And  all  thoo  rebell  and  make  resystens, 
ffor  to  oppres  I  wyH  do  my  delygens. 

Secundws  miles. 

And  in  me  shalbe  no  neclygens, 

But  to  thys  precept  my-self  I  shall  applye 

To  do  yowr  behest  with  aH  cowuenyens, 

WitA-owt  eny  frowardnes  or  eny  obstynacy ; 

non  shall  appere  in  me  but  verely, 

with  all  my  mynd  I  yow  insure, 

To  resyst  tho  rebelled  I  wyH  do  my  cure. 

Saulus. 

Truly  to  me  yt  ys  grett  consolacion 
To  here  thys  report  that  ye  do  avaz/ns 


53 


and  exhort  Saul 
to  bring  all 
Christians 
bound  to  Jeru- 
salem. 


57 


60 


Saul  swears  hell 
spare  none, 


and  bids  his  men 
follow  him  to 
Damascus. 


64 


67    His  knights 
promise 


70 


to  do  his  behest 

74 


and  punish  the 
Christian  rebels. 


78      [leaf  38,  back] 


3° 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.    PAUL.       STATION    1.       ACT    I. 


Saul  orders  bis 
horse  to  be 

brought. 


His  man  asks 
the  Ostler  for 
a  bottle  of  hay, 
and  scolds  him. 


servant 


ffor  your  sapyencyaH  wyltes  I  gyf1  commendacion, 
Euer  at  my  nede  I  haue  founde  yow  constant;  81 

But  knytey  and  seruuantes  thai  be  so  plesaunt, 
I  pray  yow  anon  my  pal  fray  ye  bryng*, 
To  spede  my  lurney  witA-owt  lettyng1.  84 

[here  goyth  sale  forth  a  lytyH  a-syde  for  to  make  hym 
redy  to  ryde  /  the  seruuant  thus  seyng* : 

seruus. 

How,  hosteler,  how,  a  peck  of  otys  and  a  botell  of*  haye ; 

Com  of1  a  pase,  or  I  wyH  to  a-nother  Inne ; 

What,  hosteler,  why  commyst  not  thy  way? 

Hye  the  faster,  I  beshrew  thi  skynne.  88 

Stabularyus. 
The  Ostler          I  am  non  hosteler  nor  non  hostelers  kynne, 

declares  he's  a 

gentleman's         But  a  lentylmanys  seruuant,  I  than  dost  know ; 

Such  crabyysh  wordes  do  aske  a  blow.  91 

Seruus. 

I  cry  yow  mercy,  sir  .  I  wyst  weH  suwz-what  ye  were,  92 
owther  a  gentylman  or  a  knaue  .  me  thynkyth  by  your 

physnomy  j 

yf  on  loke  yow  in  the  face  that  neuer  se  yow  ere 
wold  thynk  ye  were  at  the  next  dore  by.  95 

In  good  fayth  I  wenyd  yow  had  bene  an  hosteler  verely ; 
I  sye  suche  a-nother  lentylman  witA  yow,  a  barowfuH 

bare 
of1  horsdowng1  and  dogges  tordes,  and  sych  <  ther  gere,  98 

And  how  yt  happenyd  a  nurvelous  chance  be-tyde :  99 
Yowr  felow  was  not  suer  cf1  foote,  and  ytt  he  went  very 

brode,1 
and  down  both     Butt  in  a  cow  ton!  botli  dyd  ye  slydej 

of  you  slipt  into  .        .  . 

a  cow-turd,         And  as  I  wene  yowr  nose  tner-m  rode,  102 

uoae  first.'  .  .  , 

Yowr  face  was  be-paynt/d  v/itn  sowters  code  j 
[*  tubstituted fur  wyde.] 


'  Well,  you  ore  a 
Gentleman, 
or  a  Knave. 


I  thought  you'd 
been  an  Ostler. 
I  saw  another 
Gentleman  and 
you  carrying  a 
barrowful  of 
dogs'  turds ; 


THE    CONVEKSION    OF    ST.    PAUL.        STATION    1.       ACT    I.  31 

I  sey  neuer  sych  a  syjt,  I  make  god  a  vow,  [leaf  39] 

ye  were  so  be-grymlyd  and  yt  had  bene  a  sowe.         105 

Stabulariw.?. 
In  fayth  thou  neuer  syest  me  tyrl  this  day:  106  'Why,youn;ver 

*  saw  me  befo.-e 

I  haue  dwellyd  with  my  master  thys  vij  }ere  and  more  ;  to-day  i  • 
ffull  well  I  haue  pleasyd  hym,  he  wyrl  not  say  nay, 
And  mykyll  he  makyth  of  me  therfore.  109 


By  my  trowth  than  be  ye  changyd  to  a  new  lore:  'Then  you're 

translated  ! 

A  seruand  ye  are  and  thai  a  good,  You're  a  first- 

rate  servant.' 

ther  ys  no  better  lokyth  owt  of1  a  hoodf.  112 

Stabularius. 
fFor  soth  and  a  hood?  I  vse  for  to  were,  113   'Goto!   I  wear 

a  hood  lined 

ffull  well  yt  ys  lynyd  vfith  sylk  and  chamlettj  with  silk.' 

yt  kepyth  me  fro  the  cold!  that  the  wynd  doth  me  not 

dere, 
nowther  frost  nor  snow  that  I  therby  do  sett.  116 

Seru«.y. 

yea,  yt  ys  a  dobytt  hood  and  that  a  fett  ; 

he  was  a  good  man  that  made  yt,  I  warant  yow  j 

he  was  nother  horse  ne  mare1,  nor  yet  yokyd  sow.     119 

[Here  commyth  the  fyrst  knyth  to  the  stabyl  grom, 

sayng1  : 

Primus  miles. 

Now,  stabyll  groin,  shortly  bryng1  forth  away  120  Saul's  Knight 

}        }  J  bids  the  Ostler 

The  best  horse,  for  o^ur  lorde  wyrl  ryde.  t>rmg  °u 

*  »  Vma^  Vir»>^a 


best  horse. 


StabuWy/.y. 

I  am  fuH  redy  j  here  ys  a  palfray, 

There  can  no  man  a  better  bestryde :  123 

He  wyH;  cowducte  owwr  lorde,  and  gyde 

C1  J^S.  nare.] 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.    PAUL.       STATION    1.       ACT    I. 


Saul's  knight 
brings  him  his 


[leaf  39,  back! 

and  says  his 
servants  11 
follow  him 
anywhere. 


Saul  starts  on 
his  journey. 


The  priests, 
Caypha  and 


Anna,  praise 


Thorow  the  world  he  ys  sure  and  abjH 

To  here  a  gentyllman,  he  [is]  esy  and  prophetabyH.  1 26 

[Her  the  knyth  cu/wmyth  to  saule  with  a  horse. 

Primus  miles. 

Behold,  sir  saule,  yo«r  palfray  ys  coin,  127 

fuH  goodly  besene,  as  yt  ys  yowr  desyer 

To  take  yowwr  vyage  thorow  euery  regyon. 

Be  nott  in  dowt,  he  wyti  spede  your  mater,  130 

And  we  as  yowr  seruauntes  with  glad  chere 

Shall  gyf  attendance ;  we  wyll  nott  gaynsay, 

But  folow  yow  where  ye  go  be  ny$t  or  day.  133 

Saulus. 

Vnto  Damask  I  make  my  progressyon,  134 

To  pursue  aH  rebellyous  beyng*  froward  and  obstynate 

Agayns  our  lawes  be  ony  transgressyon. 

witA  aH  my  delygens  •  my-self  I  wyti  prepare,  137 

Concernyng1  my  purpose  to  oppres  and  separate  j 

Non  shaH  reioyce  that  doth  offend, 

But  vtterly  to  reproue  with  mynde  and  intende.         140 

[Her  sale  rydyth  forth  with  hys  semantes  a-bowt  the 
place,  [&]  owt  of  the  pl[ace]. 

Caypha. 

Now  saule  hath  takyn  hys  wwrthy  wyage  141 

To  pursue  rebellyous  •  of  what  degre  thei  be ; 

He  wyll  non  suffer  to  raygne  nor  haue  passage 

witA-In  aH  thys  regyon  we  be  in  sertayn:  144 

wnerefor  I  commende  hys  goodly  dygnyte, 

That  he  thus  aluay  takyth  in  hande 

By  hys  power  to  gonerne  thus  all  thys  lande  147 

Anna. 

We  may  lyue  in  rest  by  hys  consoladonj  148 

He  defendyth  vs.  where-for  we  be  bownde 


THE   CONVERSION   OF   ST.   PAUL.        STATION  2.        ACT  II,   SC.   1.       33 


To  loue  hym  intyrely  with  our  harttes  affecczon, 

And  honour  hym  as  champyon  in  euery  stownde  :     15 1   Saul  as  their 

champion. 

ther  ys  non  suche  lyuyng1  vpon  the  grownde, 

That  may  be  lyke1  hym  nor  be  hys  pere, 

Be  est  nor  west,  ferre  nor  nere.  154 


Poeta — si  placet. 

Cowclusyora. 

ffynally  of  this  stacon  thus  we  mak  a  coraclusyon), 
besechyng*  thys  audyens  to  folow  and  succede 
with  all  yoz/r  delygens  this  generall  processyon, 
To  vnderstande  this  matter  wo  lyst  to  rede 
The  holy  bybyH:  for  the  better  spede  j 
Ther  shall  he  haue  the  perfyth  intellygens, 
And  thus  we  comyt  yow  to  crystys  magnyfycens. 

fFinis  Istius  stacio/zis,  et  altera  sequitur. 

\_ind  Station.'] 

Poeta. 

Honorable  frend&y,  we  beseche  yow  of  audyens, 
To  here  our  intencion  and  also  owr  prosses 
Vpon  our  matter  :  be  yo?/r  fauorable  lycens 
A-nother  part  of  the  story  we  wyll  redres  ; 
Here  shalbe  brefly  shewyd?  with  all  owr  besynes 
At  thys  pagent  saynt  poullys  cowuercyon ; 
Take  ye  good  hede  and  ther-to  gyf  affecdon. 


Epilogue  to 
Act  I. 

Daunce 

[in  later  hand\ 


161 


162 


[leaf  40] 

Act  II. 

Prologue. 


1 68 


[Here  cowimyth  saule  rydyng1  in  with  hys  seruantes. 

Sauius. 

My  purpose  to  Damask  fully  I  intende,  169 

To  pursewe  the  dyscypulys  my  lyfe  I  apply, 
ffor  to  breke  down  the  chyrchys  thus  I  co«descende. 
Non  I  wyll  suffer  that  [they]  shall  edyfey,  172 

perchaunce  owur  lawes  than  my^te  ther-by, 
And  the  pepuH  also  turne  and  cowuerte, 


St.  Paul's  Con 
version  is  now 
to  be  playd. 


Scene  i. 
The  Road  to 
Damascus. 


Saul  declares 
he'll  persecute 
Christ's  dis 
ciples. 


[l  a  fate  to  put  above.] 


DIQBY    MYST. 


34       THE  CONVERSION   OK  ST.   PAUL.       STATION  2.       ACT   II,   SC.   1. 


Saul  TOWS  hell 
bring  all  the 

Christians 
bound  to  Jeru 
salem. 


He's  struck  by 
lightning,  and 
fulls  off  his 
horse. 


whych  shuld"  be  gret  heuynes  vnto  myn  hart.  175 

Nay,  that  shaH  nott  be  butt  layd  a-part.  176 

the  prynces  haue  gouyn  me  fuH  potestaczon. 

All  that  I  fynd  thei  shaH  nott  start, 

But  bounde  to  Jerusalem,  with  furyous  vyolacion,      179 

Be-for  cesar  caypha,  and  annas  pres^ntac/on, 

Thus  shalbe  subduyd  •  tho  wretchys  of  that  lyfe 

'That  non  shall  in-Ioy  nother  man  chyde  nor  wyfe.    182 

[Here  co?nmyth  a  feruent  with  gret  tempest1,  and 
saule  faulyth  down  of  hys  horse  :  that  done,  godhed 
spekyth  in  heuyn). 


Christ  rebukes 
him. 


Dews. 

Saule,  saule,  why  dost  thou  me  pursue  ?  183 

yt  ys  hard  to  pryke  a-gayns  the  spore 

I  am  th\  savyour  that  ys  so  trwe, 

whych  made  heuyn  and  erth  and  eche  creature ;        186 

offende  nott  my  goodnes  I  wyll  the  recure 

[leaf  40,  back]  SaulllS. 

Saul  asks  what     O  lord,  I  am  a-ferd,  I  trymble  for  fere, 

Christ  would  ,,  ,  0 

have  him  do.        what  woldyst  I  ded,  ten  me  here.  109 

Deus. 

Christ  Wds  him    A-ryse  and  goo  thou  wyth  glad  chere  190 

go  into  the  city 

close  by.  In-to  the  Cyte  a  lytyll  be-syde, 

And  I  shall  the  socor  in  euery  dere 

That  no  maner  of  ytt  xalbe-tyde,  193 

And  I  wyll  ther  for  the  prouyde 

by  my  grete  goodnes  what  thou  shalt  doo  5 

Hy  the  as  fast  thether  as  thou  mast  goo.  196 


Saul  is  lame 
ami  blind. 


Saulw.v. 

0  mercyfun  gotf,  what  aylyth  me?  *9 

1  am  lame,  my  legges  be  take  me  fro, 
my  sygth  lykwyse  I  may  nott  see ; 

1  A  plate  of  sheet-iron,  probably,  to  imitate  thunder.— P.  A.  D. 


THE  CONVERSION  OF  ST.  PAUL.       STATION  2.       ACT  II,  SC.  2.       35 


I  can  nott  tell  whether  to  goo  : 

my  men  hath  forsake  me  also. 

whether  shall  I  wynde,  or  whether  shall  I  pas  ? 

lord,  I  beseche  the,  helpe  me  of  thy  grace. 

j*"  miles. 

Syr,  we  be  here  to  help  the  in  thi  nede, 
with  all  our  affyance  we  wyrl  not  seise.1 

Saulwj. 

Than  in  Damask  I  pray  yow  me  lede 
I  godes  name,  accordyng*  to  my  promyse. 


200 


2O  3    Saul  prays  to 
J    God, 


204 


207 


and  bids  his 
knight  lead  him 
into  Damascus. 


2*»  miles. 

To  put  forth  yowwr  hand  loke  ye  dresse, 
Cam  on  yowr  way,  we  shall  yow  bryng* 
In-to  the  cyte  -with-owt  taryng1. 

[Here  the  knyshtes  lede  forth  sale  in-to  a  place,  and     Act  n.  «c.  a. 

1  •  Damascus. 

cryst  apperyth  to  annanie,  sayng* : 


210 


Deus. 
Ananie,  ananie :  where  art  thou,  ananie  ? 

Ananias. 
Here,  lord,  I  am  here  trwly.2 

Deus. 


211    Christ  calls 
Ananias, 


[leaf  41] 


Go  thy  way  and  make  thi  curse 

As  I  shall  assyng1  the  by  myn  aduysse, 

Into  the  strete,  qui  dicitur  rectus, 

And  in  a  certayn  house  of  warantyse, 

ther  shall  ye  fynd  •  saule  in  humble  vyse, 

As  a  meke  lambe,  that  a  wolf  before  was  namyd?;     218 

Do  my  behest ;  be  nothyng1  a-shamyd*. 

He  wantyth  hys  syth,  by  my  punyshment  constrayned*.    blind. 


214   and  bids  him  go 
into  Straight 
Street, 


217    where  he  shall 
1    find  Saul, 


1  serse?  MS.        2  In  lines  212-24  the  rymes  get  mixt. 

D    2 


36       THE  CONVERSION  OF  ST.  PAUL.       STATION  2.       ACT  II,  SC.  2. 


Ananias  la 
afraid  to  go  to 
Saul, 


prayeng1  vnto  me,  I  assure  thou.  shalt  hym  fynd1,       221 
•with  my  stroke  of  pyte,  sore  ys  he  paynyde, 
wantyng*  hys  sygth,  for  he  ys  truly  blynyde. 

Ananias. 

lord,  I  am  aferd,  for  aluay  in  my  mind1  224 

I  here  so  myche  of  hys  furyows  cruelte,  225 

that  for  spekyng*  of  thi  name  to  deth  he  will  put  me. 


Deus. 

nay,  ananie,  nay,  I  assure  the 
He  wulbe  glad  of1  thy  cummyng. 


228 


Ananias. 

A,  lord,  but  I  know  of*  a  certayn 
because  he  has     that  thy  sevntej  in  Jerusalem  :  to  deth  he  doth  bryng1. 

brought  God's  J       ' 

Saints  to  death,    many  yllys  of  hym  I  haue  be  kennyng1, 
ffor  he  hath  the  pour*  of1  the  princes  aHe, 
To  saue  or  spyHe,  do  which  he  schaH.  233 

Deus. 
Christ  says  that   be  nothyng  a-drad,  he  ys  a  chosen  wessell,  234 

Saul  is  a  chosen 

vessel,  and  shall  To  me  assyngned  by  my  godly  elecczon. 

He  shaH  bere  my  name  •  be-fore  the  kyngw '  and  chylder 

of  IsraeH. 

by  many  sharpe  shourw  sufferyng*  correcczon,  237 

a  gret  doctor  of1  benyngne  conpleccion, 
[leaf  4i,  back]    The  trwe  precher  of1  the  hye  deuynete, 

A  very  pynacle  of  the  fayth,  I  ensure  the.  240 

Ananyas. 

lorde,  thy  commandment  I  shall  fullf)tt;  241 

Vn-to  saule  I  w}H  take  my  waye. 


a  pinnacle  of 
the  faith ; 


Ananias  is  not 
to  fear  him. 


Deus. 

be  nothyng*  in  dowte  for  good1  nor  yH. 
fare-well,  Ananie,  tell  saule  what  I  do  say. 

[et  exiat  Dew*. 


244 


THE  CONVERSION  OF  ST.  PAUL.       STATION  2.       ACT  II,  SC.  3.       37 

Ananias. 

Blyssyd  lord,  defende  me  as  thou.  best  may ; 

Gretly  I  fere  hys  crueH  tyranny ; 

But  to  do  Mi  precept  my-self  I  shall  applye.  247  Ananias  obeys, 

[Here  Ananias  goth  toward  saule.  j^*068  *° 8eek 
i"*  myles.  Act  IL  *•  *"• 

1  Damateut. 

I  maruayle  gretly  what  yt  doth  mene,  248 

To  se  owwr  master  in  thys  hard  stounde.  Bwd's  knights 

talk  over  his 

The  wonder  grett  lythtys  thai  were  so  shene,  striking  to  the 

smett  hym  doune  of  hys  hors  to  the  grownde,  251 

And  me  thowt  *  that  I  hard  a  sounde 

Of  won  spekyng4  •  wit  A  voyce  delectable,  tjj*  *°k«  "peak- 

Why  ch  was  to  wonderfuH  myrable.  254 

2"  myles. 

Sertenly  thys  ly^t  was  ferefull  to  see,  255 

The  sperkys  of  fyer  were  very  feruent, 

yt  inflamyd  so  greuosely  about  the  countre, 

That  by  my  trowth  I  went  we  shuid  a  ben)  brent.    258 

But  now,  serys,  lett  vs  relente 

Agayne  to  caypha  and  anna,  to  tell  this  chaunce, 

How  yt  be-fell  to  vs  thys  greuauras.  261 

[Her  saule  ys  in  contemplacion.1 

Sauluj. 
lord,  of1  th\  counfort  moch  I  desyre,  262 

J  comfort  from 

thou  my3ty  prince  of1  Israeli  '  kyng1  of1  pyte, 
whyche  me  hast  punyshyd  as  thi  presoner, 
That  nother  etc  nor  dranke  •  thys  dayes  thre  ;  265 

But,  gracyos  lorde,  of*  thi  vysytacyon  I  thanke  the. 
Thy  seruant  shall  I  be  as  long1  as  I  haue  breth, 
Thowgh  I  therfor  shuld  suffer  dethe.  268 

[Here  coTnmyth  anania  to  saule,  sayeng* : 
[:  MS.  comteraplaci'on] 


38       THB  CONVERSION  OP  ST.  PAUL.       STATION  2.       ACT  II,  SC.  3. 

Ananias. 

Pease  be  in  thys  place  and  goodly  mansyon  ;  269 

who  ys  wztA-in  ?  speke  in  crystys  holy  name  ! 


tells  Saul  he's 
to  him. 


I  am  here,  saule  !  CUTO  in  on  goddes  benyson  ! 

what  ys  your  wytt?  tell  witA-owten  blame.  272 

Ananias. 

ffrom  almyghty  god,  sertanly  to  the  sent  I  am, 
and  ananie  men  call  me  wher  as  I  dweti. 

Sauluj. 
what  wold1  ye  haue  :   I  pray  yow  me  teH.  275 

Ananias. 

Gyfe  me  your  hand  for  your  awayle,  276 

for  as  I  was  cowzmaundyd  by  hys  gracyos  sentens, 

&  bad  the  be  stedfast  for  thou  shall  be  hayle. 

ffor  thys  same  cause  he  sent  me  to  th\  presens;         279 

Also  he  bad  the  remember  hys  hye  excellens, 

Be  the  same  tokyn  that  he  dyd  the  mete, 

Toward1  the  cyte  when  he  apperyd  in  the  strete.        282 


^[  Ther  mayst  thou  know  hys  power  celestyatt,         283 
How  he  dysposyth  euery  thyng1  as  hym  lyst  ; 
God  is  almighty,  no  thyng1  may  withstand  hys  myjte  essency;H, 
to  lift  up  or  cast  To  stond  vp-ryght,  or  els  doun  to  thryste.  286 

down. 

Thys  ys  hys  powur,  yt  may  not  be  myste, 

ffor  who  that  yt  wantyth  /  lackyth  a  frende. 

Thys  ys  the  massage  that  he  doth  Me  sende.  289 


Ananias  bids 

Saul  be  stodf  art 


and  remember 

Qod  B  excellence. 


[leaf  42,  back] 


The  Holy  Ghost 

appears. 


SauluS. 

Hys  marcy  to  me  ys  ryght  welcom  j 
I  am  ryght  glad  that  yt  ys  thus. 

PTT-  L-^        •   •, 

["1C  aparebit  spin/us  sanctus  super  eum. 


290 


THE  CONVERSION   OF  ST.   PAUL.        STATION  2.       ACT   II,   SC.  3.       39 


Ananias. 

Be  of1  good?  chere  and  perfyte  lubylaczon, 
Discendet  super  te  spirytus  sanctus,  293 

whych  hath  with  hys1  grace  illumynyd  vsj 
put  fo[r]th  thi  hond  and  goo  wyth  me, 
A-gayne  to  thy  syght  here  I  restore  the.  296 

Saulus. 

Blyssyd  lord?,  thankys  to  yow  euer  bee,  297 

The  swame  ys  fallyn  from  my  eyes  twayne ; 
where  I  was  blynyd  and  cowd  nott  see, 
lord,  than  hast  sent  me  my  syght  agayne.  300 

ffrom  sobbyng1  and  wepyng*  I  can  not  refrayne ; 
my  pensyue  hart,  full  of1  coratrycczon 
ffor  my  offences,  my  body  shal  haue  punycyoiij        303 
And  where  I  haue  vsed  so  gret  persecucyon,  304 

Of  thi  descyplys  thorow  all  Jerusalem, 
I  wyll  [aid]  and  defende  ther  predycacyon, 
That  th[e]y  dyd?  tech  on  all  this  reme.  307 

wherefor,  Ananie,  at  the  watery  streme, 
Baptyse  me  hartely  I  the  praye,  309 

A-mong<  yottr  nurabyr,  that  I  electe  and  chosen  be  may. 

Ananias. 

On  to  this  well  of  mych  vertu,  311 

we  wyll  vs  hye  with  all  our  delygens. 


Ananias 


restores  Saul's 
sight. 


Saul  blesses 
Christ  for  his 
sight, 


weeps,  and 


vows  that  hell 
help  Christ's 
disciples. 


He  asks  to  be 
baptizd, 


Saul  MS. 

Go  yow  be-fore,  and  after  I  shall  sewe, 
laudyng1  and  praysyng1  owr  lordes  benevolens ; 
I  shall  neuer  offend?  hys  my3ty  magnyfycens, 
But  aluay  obserue  hys  preceptys  and  kepe : 
ffor  my  gret  vnkyndnes  my  hart  doth  wepe. 

Ananias. 

knele  .ye  down  vpon  thys  grownde, 
Receyuyng*  thys  crystenyng1  with  good?  intent, 

C1  MS.  hys  hys.] 


314    praises  God, 

[leaf  43] 

n  j  *    and  repents  his 
•     '     sins. 

3T8 


40       THE  CONVERSION   OF  ST.  PAUL.       STATION  3.       ACT   II,  SC.  3. 


Ananias  bap 
tizes  Saul 


whyche  shall  make  yow  hole  of  your  dedly  wound, 
That  was  infecte  wit  A  venom  nocentf.  321 

Yt  purgyth  synne,  and  fendes  poures  so  fraudelent 
It  putyth  a-syde  j  where  thys  doth  at-tayne, 
In  euery  stede  he  may  not  obtayne.  324 

^[  I  crysten  yow  witA  mynd  full  perfyght,  325 

reseyuyng1  yow  in-to  owur  relygyon, 
euer  to  be  stedfast  and  neuer  to  flyt  j 
but  euer  constant,  witA-owt  varyacyon.  328 

now  ys  fulfyllyd  all  our  obseruacyon, 
in  the  name  of     concludyng1  /Aou  mayst  yt  ken, 

Father,  Son,  and  /    '  }      ] 

Holy  Ghost;        In  nomine  patris  et  filij  et  spiritus  sancti.     Amen.     331 


Saulus. 

I  am  ryght  glad  as  foule  on  flyte,  332 

That  I  haue  receyuyd  this  blyssyd  sacremewt. 

Ananias.  .    .' 

Com  on  your  way,  saule,  for  nothyng*  lett, 

Take  yow  sum  coumforth  for  your  bodyes  noryschment 

ye  shall  abyde  witA  the  dyscyplys  verament,  336 

Thys  many  dayes  in  damask  cyte, 

Vn-tyB  Me  tyme  more  perfyt  ye  may  be.  338 


bids  him  take 
food,  and  stay 
for  a  time  in 
Damascus. 


Saul  will  do  as 
he  is  bid. 


Epilogue  to 
Act  II. 

Dauflce 


Saulus. 

As  ye  cowmande,  holy  father,  ananie, 

I  full  assent  at  yow[r]  request, 

To  be  gydyd  and  rulyd  as  ye  wyll  haue  me, 

Evyn  at  yowr  pleasur,  as  ye  thynk  best : 

I  shall  not  offend  for  most  nor  lest. 

Go  forth  yowwr  way  j  I  wyll  succede 

In-to  what  place  ye  wyll  me  lede. 

poeta. 

Thus  saule  ys  cowuertyd,  as  ye  se  expres, 
The  very  trw  smiant  of  our  lord  lesn. 


339 


342 


345 
Conclusyo. 

346 


THE  CONVERSION  OF  ST.   PAUL.      STATION  3.      ACT   III,  SC.   1.       4! 

non  may  be  lyke  to  hys  perfy$t  holynes, 

So  nobyll  a  doctor,  co?zstant  and  trwe.  349 

Aftyr  hys  comiersyon  neuer  mutable,  but  styll  insue 

the  lawys  of  god  to  teche  euer  more  and  more, 

As  holy  scryptur*  tellyd?  who-so  lyst  to  loke  ther-fore.  352 

^[  Thus  we  comyte  yow  all  to  the  trynyte,  353 

Oonkludyng*  thys  staczon  as  we  can  or  may,  The  Compiler 

begs  learned 

vnder  the  correccyon  of1  them  that  letteryd!  be ;  j^11  *°  correct 

How  be  yt  vnable  as  I  dare  speke  or  say  356 

The  corapyler  here-of  shuld!  translat  veray 

so  holy  a  story  •  but  with  fauorable  correccyon 

of  my  fauorable  masters  of  ther  benygne  supplexion.  359 

ffinis  istiw*  secunde  staciowis  et  sequitur  tarcia. 

[3"*  Station.']  A*~fii. 

Poeta.  Prologue. 

The  myght  of  the  fadires  potenciall  deite  360 

preserue  thys  honorable  and  wurshypfuH  cowgregaczon 
That  here  be  present  of  hye  and  low  degre, 
To  vnderstond  thys  pagent  at  thys  lytyll  staczon,        363 
whych  we  shall  precede  with  all  our  delectac[i]on. 
yf  yt  wyll  plese  yow  :  to  gyf  audyens  fauorabte, 
Hark  wysely  ther-to ;  yt  ys  good  and  profetabte.       366 

primes  miles.  [leaf  44] 

Nobyll  prelates,  take  hede  to  owwr  sentens.  367       Jerusalem. 
A  wundyrfull  chauwce  fyll  and  dyd  be-tyde 
vn-to  owr  master  sauH  when  he  departyd  hens  Saul's  Knights 

tell  the  Priests 

ln-to  damaske  pwrposyd  to  ryde.  370  howSauiwas 

3  '       struck  off  his 

A  meruelous  ly^t  fro  thelement  dyd  glyde  horse, 

whyche  smet  doun1  hym  to  grunde  both  horse  and  man 
with  the  ferfulest  wether  that  euer  1  in  cam.  373 

2**  miles. 
It  rauysshid?  hym,  and!  his  spirited  did!  be-nome  :        374  and  a  sweet 

voice  spoke  to 

A  swete  dulcet  voyce  spake  hym  vnto,  him 

1  MS.  doum. 


42       THE    CONVERSION  OF  ST.  PAUL.      STATION  8.      ACT  lit,  SC.  1. 

And  askyd1  wherfor  he  made  suche  persecucyon 
A-geynst  hys  dyscyplys  and  why  he  dyd  soo.  377 

and  bad  him  be    he  bad  hym  in-to  damaske  to  ananie  goo, 

baptizd  by 

Ananias.  And1  ther  he  shuld1  reseyue  baptym  truly  ; 

and  now  clene  a-geyns  owwr  lawys  lie  ys  trwly.         380 

Caypha. 
Caypha  won't      I  am  sure  thys  tale  ys  not  trw  :  381 

believe  in  Saul's 

conversion,         what !  saule  conuertydf  from  our  law  ! 
he  went  to  damask  for  to  pursue 

All  the  dyscyplys  that  dyd  wit/j-draw  384 

fro  ow//r  fayth  :  thys  was  hys  sawe : 
how  say,  ye,  anna  to  thys  mater  ?  Mis  ys  a  mervelos 

chans ; 
I  can  not  beleve  that  thys  ys  of  assnrans.  387 

Anna. 

nor  will  Anna.     No,  caypha,  my  mynde  trwly  do  [I]  teH,  388 

that  he  wyll  not  turne  in  no  maner  wyse ; 
but  rather  to  deth  put  and  expeH 

aH  myscreauntes  and  wretchys  thai,  doth  aryse  391 

agaynst  our  lawes  *  by  ony  enterpryse  : 
say  the  trwth  witA-[owt]  ony  cause  frawdelent, 
or  els  for  your  talys  ye  be  lyke  to  be  shent.  394 

j1"  miles. 

Saul's  knight       Ellys  owwr  bodyes  may  put  to  payn) :  395 

the  truth.  all  thai  we  declare  I  sye  yt  with  my  nye, 

nothyng*  offendyng1  but  trwly  do  iustyfye. 
[leaf  44,  back]  Cayphas. 

By  the  gret  god,  I  do  maruayle  gretly  :  398 

™nl£aUeW8       and  ^^  be  trw  tflai  >  e  do  reherse 
against  SauL        He  shaH  repent  hys  Rebellyous  treytory, 

That  all  shalbe  ware  of  hys  falsnes.  401 

We  wyll  not  suffer  hym  to  obtayne  dowtles, 

ffor  meny  perellys  that  myght  be-tyde 

by  hys  subtyH  meanys  on  euery  syde.  404 


THE  CONVERSION  OF  ST.  PAUL.      STATION  3.      ACT  III,  SC.  2.      43 

Anna.  The  priest 

Anna  declares 

The  law  ys  commyttyd  to  owwr  aduysment,  405  thgfr  Law™1 

wherfor  we  wyll  not  se  yt  decay, 

but  rather  vphold?  yt  help  and  awgmewt, 

That  ony  reprofe  to  vs  fall  may  408 

of  Cesar  themprouf  by  ny^t  or  day 

we  shall  to  such  maters  harke  and  attende 

accordyng1  to  the  lawes  •  our  wyttes  to  spende.          411 

Act  III.  sc.  ii. 

PHere  to  enter  a  dyvel  \viih  thunder  and  fyre,  and  _.  tleaf  45] 

,  ,       Diabolus. 
to  avaurace  hyra  sylre,  saying  as  folowyth ;  and  hys          

3         ^         ,     }        .  J      Scene  of  the 

spech  spokyn,  to  syt  downe  in  a  chayre.  Devils  in  Hell, 

inserted. 

belyall. 
Ho,  ho,  be-holde  me,  the  myste  prince  of  the  parted  I  am  the  God 

BELIAL,  second 
in-fernall,  412    only  to  Lucifer. 

Next  vnto  lucyfer  I  am  in  magestyej 
By  name  I  am  nominate  the  god  belyall, 
aora  of*  more  my^te  nor  of1  more  excellencye;  415 

my  powre  ys  princypall,  and  now  of1  most  soferaynte ; 
In  the  temple*  and  synogoges  who  deneyth  me  to  honore, 
my  busshopes  thorow  my  motyon  the\  wyl  hym  sone 
devoure.  418 

IT  I  haue  movyd  my  prelates  cayphas  and  amia          419  i  have  set  my 

Bishops  Caypha 

to  persew  and  put  downe,  by  powre  ryall  and  Anna  to 

put  down  the 

thorow  the  sytyes  of  damaske  and  liba,  Christians  by 

means  of  Saul. 

All  soch  as  do  worship  the  hye  god  supernall,  422 

ther  deth  ys  cowspyryd  wit^-owt  any  fauoure  at  all, 
my  busshopys  hathe  chosyne  won  most  rygorus 
them  to  persew,  howse  name  ys  saulus.  425 

U  ho,  thus  as  a  god  most  hye  in  magestye,  426 

I  rayne  and  I  rule  ouer  creatures  humayne 
wztA  souerayne  sewte  sow^te  to  ys  my  deyte, 

1  The  parts  within  brackets  are  by  a  later  hand,  and  inserted  on 
3  separate  leaves.  The  14  lines  between  411  and  here  are  crosst 
through,  but  are  given  below,  where  they  are  rewritten,  p.  46-7, 
1.  502-15. 


44      THE  CONVERSION  OF  ST.   PAUL.      STATION  3.      ACT   III,  SC.  2. 


I  long  for  news 
by  my  messen 
ger  Mercury  I 


[leaf  45,  back] 
Mercury  ap 
pears, 


mans  mynd  ys  applicant,  as  I  lyst  to  ordeyne,  429 

my  law  styll  encreasyth  wherof  I  am  fayne, 
yet  of1  late  I  haue  hard  of  no  newys  truly, 
wherfor    I     long   tyll    I    speke    with    my    messewger 
mercurye.  432 

[Here  shall  entere  a-no/Aer  devyll  callyd  mercury, 
with  a  fyeryng,  comrayng1  in  hast,  cryeng  and  roryng, 
and  shal  say  as  folowyth  : — 


and  walls  that 


Marcury. 

Ho,  owjt,  owjt !  alas,  thys  sodayne  chance  ! 
Well  may  we  bewayle  //(is  cursyd  aduewture. 


433 


tbo  Devil's  law 
11  soon  be  put 
down. 


belyal. 

Marcurye,  what  aylyse  thou  ?  tell  me  thy  grevaunce. 
ys  ther  any  that  hath  wrow^te  vs  dyspleasure  ?  436 


mercury. 

Dyspleasure  I-nowgh  therof  ye  may  be  sure  j 
our  law,  at  lengthe  yt  wylbe  clene  downe  layd,- 
for  yt  decayth  sore,  and  more  wyl,  I  am  a-frayd. 


Belial  11  not 
believe  it 


belyal. 

Ho,  how  can  that  be  ?  yt  ys  not  possyble  ; 
co[7/]syder,  thou  foole,  the  long  contynuance. 
clecaye,  quod  a,  yt  ys  not  credyble  ; 
of  fals  tydyngej  thou  makyst  here  vtterance  : 
behold,  how  the  peple  hath  no  pleasauwce 
Folk  delight  but  but  in  syn,  and  to  folow  our  desyere. 

pryde  and  voluptuosyte  ther  hartes  doth  so  fyre, 
thow3e  on  do  swauer  away  from  our  lore, 
yet  ys  our  powre  of*  suche  nobylyte 
to  have  hym  a-gayne,  and  twoo  therfore, 
Mat  shal  preferre  the  prayse  of1  owre  maiestye. 
what  ys  the  tydyngw  ?  tell  owt,  lett  vs  see  j 
why  arte  Mou  amasyd  so  ?  declare  afore  vs 
what  fury  ys  fallyn  that  troblyth  the  thus? 


439 


440 


443 


446 
447 


45° 


453 


THE  CONVERSION  OF  ST.  PAUL.      STATION  3.      ACT  III,  SC.  2.       45 

Mercury.  [leaf  46] 

Ho  !  owst,  owate  !  he  thai  I  most  trustyd  to,  4*4  -Because  our 

.    ,         ,        T    .  .7   special  friend 

&  he  that  i  thowate  wold  haue  ben  to  vs  most  specyall,  has  turnd  our 

}  cruel  foe. 

ys  now  of  late  turnyd,  and  our  cruell  foo  ; 

our  specyall  frynd,  our  chosen  saull,  457 

ys  be-cowme  seruante  to  the  bye  god  eternall. 

as  he  dyd  ryde  on  our  enemyes  persecutyon, 

he  was  sodenly  strykyn  by  the  hye  provysyon,  460 

&  now  ys  baptysyd,  and  promys  he  hath  made  461   Saul  has  been 

baptizd ;  and 

neuer  to  vary,  and  soch  grace  he  hath  opteynyd  his  faith  "*  God 

1    ]  cannot  fade.' 

that  ondowtyd  hys  fayth  from  hym  can-not  fade ; 
wherfor  to  cowzplayne  I  am  co?zstrayny(J,  464 

for  mocli  by  hym  shuld  we  haue  prevaylyd. 

belyal. 

Ho  !    OW^t,  OW^t  !    what  haue  we  loste  !  Belial  laments 

,     ,  ,  the  loss  of  his 

our  darlyng  most  dere  whom  we  lovyd  moste  :          467  darling  Saul, 
but  ys  yt  of  trowth  that  thou  doyst  here  specyfye  ?     468 

mercury. 

yt  ys  so,  vndowjtyd  ;  why  shuld  I  fayne  ? 
for  thow^te  I  can  do  non  other  but  crye. 

[Here  thei  shal  rore  and  crye,  and  then  belyal  shal  and  the  Devils 

roar  over  it. 

saye : 

belyal. 

owjte,  this  grevyth  vs  worse  fAan  hell  payne  :  47 1 

the  conuersyon  of1  synner  certayne 

ys  more  payne  to  vs,  and  persecutyon, 

than  all  the  furyes  of1  the  Infernall  dongyon.  474 

Mercury.  [leaf  46,  back] 

yt  doyth  not  avayl  vs  thus  to  lament,  475 

but  lett  vs  provyd  for  remedy  shortlye ; 
wherfor  let  vs  both  by  on  assent 
go  to  the  busshopys,  and  moue  them  pryvelye,  478  Mercury  says, 

'  Set  on  your 

that  by  some  sotyl  meane  thei  may  cause  hywz  to  dye  ;      Bishops  to 

scheme  his 

than  shal  he  in  our  law  make  no  dysturbauwce,  death.1 

nor  here-after  cause  vs  to  haue  more  greuauwce.         481 


46"       THE  CONVERSION  OF  ST    PAUL.      STATION  3.      ACT  III,  SC.  3. 


Belyal  approves 
Mercury  s  ad 
vice,  and  says 
Saul  shall  repent 
his  desertion. 


The  Devils' 
power  was  never 
greater  than 
now. 

[leaf  47] 

Gluttony, 
Wrath,  Covet- 
ousness  prevail 
over  all. 


belyal. 

Wei  sayd,  mercurye,  thy  cowflcel  ys  profytable.        482 
Ho,  saul,  thoii  shalt  repent  thy  vnstablenes  ; 
thou  hadyst  ben  better  to  haue  byn  conformable 
to  our  law  ;  for  thys  deth,  dowtles  485 

yt  ys  corzspyryd  to  reward  thy  falsnes. 
thowgh  on  hath  dyssayvyd  vs,  yet  now  a  days 
xx"  doyth  gladly  folow  oure  layesj  488 

U  some  by  pryde,  some  thorowgh  envye  :  489 

ther  rayneth  thorow  my  myght  so  moch  dysobedyauwce  : 
ther  was  neuer  a-mong  crystyans  lesse  charyte 
than  ys  at  Mis  howre,  and  as  for  cowcupysence  492 

rayneth  as  a  lord  thorow  my  violence  ; 
glotony  and  wrath  euery  man  doth  devyse, 
&  most  now  ys  praysyd  my  cosyn  covytyce.  49  5 

U  cu/n,  mercury,  let  vs  go  and  do  as  we  haue  sayd,  496 
to  delate  yt  any  lenger  yt  ys  not  best. 


mercury. 

to  bryng  yt  a-bow^t,  I  wold  be  wel  apayd, 
tell  yt  be  done  let  vs  not  rest. 


499 


They'll  plot 
Saul's  death. 


[leaf  44,  back] 


Act  III.  tcene  Hi. 
DamaKui. 

Saul's  Sermon. 

God  save  you 
sitters  and 
•landers  here  t 


belyal. 

go  we  than  shortly  ;  let  vs  departe, 
Hys  deth  to  devyse,  syth  he  wyl  not  revart.  502 

[Here  thei  shal  vanyshe  away  witA  a  fyrye  flame  and 

a  tewzpest. 
[Her  apperyth  saule  in  a1  disciplis  wede,  sayng*  : 

2Saulus3. 

That  lord1  that  ys  shaper  of1  see  and  of  sond1,  503 

and  hath  wrowth  witA  hys  woord  aH  thyng*  at  hys  wyH, 
saue  thys  4semely  that  here  syttyth  or  stonde, 
ffbr  hys  meke  marcy  that  we  do  not  spyH.  506 

P  hys] 

[2  The  14  lines  following  are  printed  from  leaf  44,  back,  of  the 
MS.  They  are  collated  here,  for  words,  with  the  version  of  them  on 
leaf  47,  back.] 

p  Saulus,  and  Diabolus  (p.  43),  in  margin,  omitted.]     [*  asemly] 


THE   CONVERSION  OF  ST.   PAUL.      STATION  3.      ACT   til,   SC.  3.       47 


grant  me,  good  lord?,  thy  pleased  to  rulfyH, 

and  send  me  suche  speche  that  I  the  trwth  say, 

my  entenckms  proph[i]table  to  meve  yf  I  may.         509 

^[  Welbelouyd*  frendes,  ther  be  vij  mortati  synnes,    510 

whych  be  provyd?  pryncypari  and  prince  of1  poysonnes ; 

Pride,  that  of1  bytternes  all  bale  begynnes, 

witA-holdyng1  all  fayth,  yt  fedyth  and  foysonnes,        513 

As  holy  scryptur  beryth  playn  wyttnesse, — 

Inicium  omnium  peccatoruwz  superbya1  est, — 

That  often  dystroyeth  both  most  and  lest.2  516 

U  Off  all  vyces  and  foly  pride  ys  the  Roote ;  517 

Humyly.te  may  not  rayn  ner  yet  indure ; 

pyte,  alak,  that  ys  flower  and  boot, 

ys  exylyd  wher  pride  hath  socour1, —  520 

Omnis  qui  se  exaltat  humiliabitur', — 

good  lord*,  gyf1  vs  grace  to  vnderstond  and  perseuei0, 

Thys  wurd  as  thou  bydyst  to  fulfyll  euer1.  523 

H  Who-so  in  pride  beryth  hym  to  hye,  524 

\vitk  mys[c]heffshalbe  mekyd?,  as  I  mak  mensyon, 

and  I  therfor  assent  and  fully  certyfy, 

In  text  as  I  tell  the  trw  entencyon  527 

of  perfyjt  goodnes  and  very  locucyon  : 

noli  tibi  dico  in  altum  sapere  sed*  time ; 

Thys  ys  my  conseH,  here  the  not  to  hye,  530 

IF  But  drede  alway  synne  and  folye,  53 1 

wrath,  enuy,  couytys,  and  slugyshnes  : 

Exeuwt  owt  of1  thy  sy^t,  glotony  and  lechery, 

vanytye  and  vayneglory,  and  fals  Idylnes :  534 

Thes  be  the  branchys  of  aH  wyckydnes  : 

who  that  in  hym  thes  vyces  do  Roote, 

He  lackyth  all  grace,  and  bale  ys  the  boote.  537 

U  lern)  at  my-self1,  for  I  am  meke  in  hart :  538 

owr  lorde  to  hys  seruantes  thus  he  sayth  : 

ffor  meknes  I  sufferyd*  a  spere  at.  my  hart  j 

[l  subia  (sic).]  [2  man  &  best.] 


(Saul's  Sermon 
on  the  Seven 
Deadly  Sins.) 


Pride  is  the  root 
of  all  sins 


and  folly. 

[leaf  48] 
[the  older  hand 
(2)  again] 
It  banishes 
Humility  and 
Pity. 


Whoso  is  proud, 
he  shall  be 
brought  low. 


Put  away  Wrath, 
Envy,  Covetous- 
ness,  Sloth, 
Gluttony, 
Lechery. 


Learn  of  Christ ; 
he  is  meek  of 
heart; 


48       THE  CONVERSION  OF  ST.  PAUL.      STATION  3.      ACT  III,  SC.  3. 

(Saui'$  Sermon      meknes  all  vyces  anullyth  and  delayeth ;  541 

rest  to  soulys  yt  shall  fynd  in  fayth  : 
Discite  a  me,  quia  mitis  sum,  et  corde  humilis, 
Et  invenietw  requiem  animabus  vestris.  544 

|£d ye^shaiifind  5J  So  owz/r  sauyour  shewyth  vs  exampls  of  meknes,  545 
B0u1*-  Thorow  grace  of1  hys  goodnes  mekly  ys  groundys ; 

Trwly  yt  wyll  vs  saue  fro  Me  synnes  sekenes, 
ffor1  pryde  and  hys  progeny  mekenes  confoundys  :    548 
[leaf  48,  back]     Quanto  maior  es,  tanto  humilia  te  in  omnibus: 
Be  lowly.  The  gretter  thou  art,  the  lower  loke  thu  be ; 

Bere  the  neuer  the  hyer  for  thi  degre.  55 1 

Keep  from          ^  ffro  sensualyte  of  fleshe  thy-self  loke  thou.  lede,      <<a 

Sensuality.  J 

vnlefully  therin  vse  not  thy  lyfe  : 
whoso  therin  delyteth,  to  deth  he  must  nede  j 
It  consumyth  natur1,  the  body  sleyth  witA-owt  knyf*.  555 
also  yt  styntyth  nott  but  manslawter  and  stryf1, — 
No  unclean         Omnis  fornicator  aut  immundus  non  haket  hereditatem 

man  shall 

inherit  heaven.  Christi, — 

now  shall  in  heuyn)  posses  /  that  be  so  vnthryfty.        558 
Flee  Fornica-       1f  ffle  fornycacon,  nor  be  no  letchour1,  <;  Co 

tion.    Speak  not 

of  it-  but  spare  yowr  speche,  and  spek  nott  theron  : 

Ex  habundancia  cordis,  os  loquitur ; 
who  movyth  yt  oft,  chastyte  louyth  non ;  562 

of  the  hartes  habundans  the  tunge  makyth  locucion  : 
what  manys  mynde  ys  laboryd1,  therof  yt  spekyth, 
That  ys  of  sucrnes,  as  holy  scryptur  tretyth.  565 

H  wherfor  I  reherse  thys  with  myn)  owyn)  mowthe, — 
Caste  viuentes,  templu/tt  Dei  sunt, — 
Keep  your  body   kepe  clene  yowr  body  from  synne  vncuth ; 

pure,  and  your 

sight  steady.       stabyn  your  syghtw,  and  look  ye  not  stunt,  509 

ffor  of  a  sertaynte  I  know  at  a  brunt, — 
Oculus  est  nuncius  peccati, — 

The  eye  is  Folly's  That  the  ley  ys  euer  the  messenger  of  foly.  <,72 

messenger.  '   ' 

i  MS.  ffror. 


THE   CONVERSION  OF  ST.  PAUL.      STATION  3.      ACT  III,  SC.  3. 


semus  sacerdotum. 
whate,  ys  not  thys  saule  that  toke  hys  vyage  573  The  Priest's 

servant  asks 

In-to  Lerusalem  ,  the  dyscyplys  to  oppresse  ?  if  this  isn't  Saul 

who  was  going 

bounde  he  wold  bryng1  them,  yf  ony  dyd  rage  to  bind  the 

vpon  cryst :  this  was  hys  processe :  ^6 

To  the.  princes  of  prestys,  he  sayde  dowtles, 

Thorow  all  damask  and  also  lerwsalem, 

subdwe  all  templys  that  he  founde  of  them.  579 

Sa[u]lus.  [leaf  49] 

yes,  sertaynly,  saule  ys  my  proper  name,  380  Saul  says  'Yes, 

That  had  in  powr  the  full  dominion, — 
To  hyde  yt  fro  you,  yt  were  gret  shame, 
And  mortall  synne,  as  in  my  opynyon, —  583 

vnder  cesar  and  pristes  of  the  relygyon, 
And  templys  of1  lues  that  be  very  hedyous, 
A-gayns  almyghty  cryst  that  Kyng1  so  precyous.        586 

seruus  sacerdotuw. 

To  Anna  and  caypha  '  ye  must  make  yowr  recursej  587 
Com  2  on  yowr  way,  and  make  no  delaczon. 

Saulws. 

I  wyll  yow  succede,  for  better  or  wors, 
To  the  prync&y  of  pristes  wz'tA  all  delectacion. 


and  I'll  go  with 
you  to  the 
Priests.' 


[Scene  4.] 

seruus  sacerdotu/w. 
Holy  pristes  of  hye  potestaczon, 
Here  ys  saule;  lok  on  hym  wysely: 
he  ys  a-nother  man  than  he  was  verely. 

Saulus. 

I  am  the  seruant  of  Ihesu  Almyghty, 
Creator  and  maker  of  see  and  sonnd?, 
whiche  ys  kyng1  conctypotent  of  heuyn)  glory, 
Chef  corafort  and  solace  :  both  to  fre  and  bonde, 

1  ?for  Damascus  [«  MS.  Con.] 

DIGBY   MY6T. 


Act  HI.  sc.  iv. 

The  Temple  in 

Damascus. 


593 


,594   S3"1  declares 
himself  the 
servant  of  Jesus. 


597 


5<>       THE  CONVERSION  OF  ST.  PAUL.      STATION  3.      ACT  III,  SC.  4. 


Caypha  thinka 
the  change  in 
Saul  has  been 
wrought  by 
conjuring. 


A-gayns  whos  power  nothyng*  may  stonde  j 

Emperowr  he  ys  both  of  heuyn  and  heU, 

whoys  goodiies  and  grace  al  thyng1  doth  exceH.         600 

[recedit  paulisper. 
Caypha. 

Vn-to  my  hart  thys  ys  gret  admyracion,  60 1 

That  saule  ys  thus  mervelously  changyd"j 

I  trow  he  ys  bewytchyd  by  sum  cowiuracion, 

or  els  the  devyti  on  hym  ys  auengyd.  604 

Alas,  to  my  hart  yt  ys  dessendyd*, 

that  he  ys  thus  takyn  fro  our  relygyon  : 

How  say  ye,  Anna,  to  thys  cowuercyon  ? 


Cleaf  49,  back]  Anna. 

ffuH  mervelously,  as  in  my  concepcion, 
Thys  wnderfull  Case  how  yt  be-feH ; 
To  se  thys  chaunce  so  sodenly  don, 
vn-to  my  hart  yt  doth  grete  yH  3 
but  for  hys  falsnes  •  we  shall  hym  spytij 
Anna  says  they    by  myn  assent,  to  dethe  we  wyll  hym  bryng*, 

must  put  Saul         *  ,/•/-, 

to  death,  lest  that  more  myschef  •  of  hym  may  spryng*. 

Caypha. 

Ye  say  very  trew,  we  my^t  yt  all  rewe  j 
But  shortly  in  thys  we  must  haue  aduysement, 
ffor  thus  a-gayns  vs  he  may  nott  coratynew ; 
perauentur  than  of  Cesar  we  may  be  shent. 

Anna, 
or  bum  him.       nay,  I  had  leuer  in  fyer  he  were  brent, 

Than  of  cesar  we  slfuld?  haue  dysp[l]easure 
ffor  sych  a  rebell  •  and  subtyle  fals  treator*. 

Caypha. 
The  gates  must    we  wyH  command  the  gates  to  be  kept  aboute, 

be  guarded  lest  ,  , 

Saul  escape.         &  the  walles  suerly  on  euery  stede, 

that  he  may  not  eskape  no-where  owjte  j 
for  dye  he  shall,  I  ensuer  yow  indede. 


607 


608 


611 


614 


618 


621 


622 


625 


THE  CONVERSION  OF  ST.  PAUL.      STATION  3.      ACT  III,  SC.  5.       51 


Anna. 

Thys  traytowr  rebellyous,  evyll  mut  he  spede, 
That  doth  this  vnhappynes  A-gayns  aH ! 
now  euery  costodyer  kepe  well  hys  waH.  628 

serous  sacerdotum. 

The  gatys  be  shytt,  he  can-note  skape ;  629 

Euery  place  ys  kepte  well  and  sure, 
That  in  no  wyse  he  may,  tyll  he  be  take, 
gett  owt  of  the  cyte  by  ony  coniecture.  632 

vpon  that  caytyf1  and  fals  traytowr, 
loke  ye  be  auengyd  with  deth  mortall, 
&  ludge  hym)  as  ye  lyst  to  what  end  he  shaH.  63^ 

[Scene  5.] 
Angelas. 

Holy  saule,  I  gyf  yow  monycyon  :  636 

The  prince?  of  lues  '  entende  sertayn 
To  put  yow  to  deth  •  but  by  goddes  provysyon 
He  wyll  ye  sharl  lyue  lenger,  and  optayn  j  639 

And  after  thy  deth  thou.  shalt  rayng1 
Above  in  heuyn,  with  owr  lordey  grace : 
Cowuay  yowr-self  shortly  in-to  a-nother  place.  642 

Saul  us. 

That  lordes  pleasur  euer  mut  be  down,  643 

both  in  heuyn)  and  in  hell,  as  hys  wyll  ys. 
In  a  beryng1  baskett  or  a  lepe,  a-non 
I  shall  me  co[w]uay  with  help  of  the  dyscyplys :        646 
for  euery  gate  ys  shett  and  kept  with  mu'.tytud  of  pepuH: ; 
but  I  trust  in  owr  lord,  that  ys  my  socowr, 
to  resyst  ther  malyce  and  cruell  furowr.  649 

Cowclusyo. 

[Epilogue.'] 

Poeta. 
Thus  leve  we  saule  wztA-in  the  cyte,  650 

The  gates  kep  by  commandment  of  caypha  and  Anna ; 

E  2 


So  the  gates  are 
shut,  and  the 
priests  exhorted 
to  kill  riauL 


Act  III.  te.  v. 

Damascus. 

[leaf  50] 


All  Angel  warns 
Saul  of  his 
threatend 
death, 


and  bids  him  go 
to  another  place. 


Saul  says  he  11 
escape  over  the 
wall  in  a  basket. 


Epilogue. 


Here  we  leave 
SauL 


5»       THE    CONVBHSION    OF    ST.    PAUL.       STATION    3.       EPILOGUE. 

The  disciples  let  but  the  dvscyplys  in  the  ny*t  ouer  the  wall,  truly, 

him  down  over  J     3V  }  JJ 

thewaiL  As  the  by  bull  sayeth  *  dim[i]seni7it  eu/n  summitten,?  in 

sporta  3 —  653 

Saul  goe»  to        And  saule  after  that,  in  lenwalem  vera, 

Jerusalem. 

loyned  hym)-self,  and  ther  accompenyed1 

with  the  dyscyplys,  wher  thei  were  vnfayned1.  656 

Thys  lytyll  pagent  thus  conclud  we  657 

Pray  excuse  our  as  we  can.  lackyng  lytturaH  scyens : 

lack  oflettere,  3    5    J  * 

and  our  simple-    besechyng1  yow  all  of  hye  and  low  degre, 

owr  sympylnes  to  hold1  excusydl,  and  lycens,  660 

[leaf  M,  back]    That  of  Retoryk  haue  now  intellygens ; 

Co/Timyttyng1  yow  aH  to  owr  lord  Ihesus, 

To  whoys  lawd  ye  syng1, — Exultet  celum  laudibus !  663 

snd  of  tht  piay,         ffinis  co[ii]uercionis  sancti  pauli. 


[Leaves  51  to  94,  back,  of  the  MS.  contain  2  tracts ; 
I.  English,  beginning  'De  theorica  triwm  superioruw. 
Every  one  of  the  3  superiour  plannetes  (&c.) ' ;  2. 
Italian,  begins  '  Geomantia  e  una  scientia  breue  da 
conosere  per  uirtu  destrologia  quelli  cose  che  la  persona 
uuole  operare  qual  fine,'  &c.] 


53 

MARY  MAGDALENE,1 

IN  TWO  PARTS. 


PART  I,  IN  20  SCENES. 
(In  Rome,  Bethany,  Hell,  Jerusalem,  and  beyond  Jordan.) 

MARY'S  FATHER  CYRUS,  AND  HIS  DEATH. 

HER  SEDUCTION  BY  LECHERY  AND  A  GALLANT. 

HER  REPENTANCE,  AND  WIPING  JESUs's   FEET  WITH  HER  HAIR. 

HER  BROTHER  LAZARUs's  DEATH,  AND  AGAINRISING. 


Scene 

1,  Tiberius  Caesar,  p.  55. 

2,  Mary's  father  Cyrus,  p.  56. 

3,  Tiberius  Caesar,  p.  59. 

4,  Herod,  p.  59. 

5,  Pilate,  p.  63. 

6,  Cyrus's  death,  p.  64. 

7,  The  Devils  in  Council,  p.  66. 

8,  Lechery  and  Mary,  p.  71. 

9,  Mary  and  her  Gallant,  p.  72. 
10,  The  Devils  rejoicing,  p.  75. 


Scene 

u,  Mary  in  her  Arbour,  p.  76. 

12,  Simon  the  Leper,  p.  77. 

13,  The  Good  Angel,  and  Mary,  p.  77. 

14,  Mary  washes  Christ's  feet,  p.  78. 

15,  The  Beating  of  8  Devils,  p.  82. 

1 6,  Lazarus's  sickness,  p.  83. 

17,  Mary  meets  Jesus,  p.  85. 

1 8,  Lazarus  dies,  p.  86. 

19,  Jesus  comes,  p.  87. 

20,  Lazarus  is  raisd,  p.  88. 


PART  II,  IN  31  SCENES. 
(In  Marcylle,  Hell,  Jerusalem,  the  Wilderness,  and  Heaven?) 

CHRIST'S  APPEARANCE  TO  MARY  AT  HIS  SEPULCHRE. 

HER  CONVERSION  OF  THE  KING  AND  GUEEN  OF  MARCYLLE. 

HER  FEEDING  BY  ANGELS,  FROM  HEAVEN,  IN  THE  WILDERNESS, 

HER  DEATH. 


Scene 

21,  King  &  Q.  of  Marcylle,  p.  90. 

22,  Hell  harrowd,  p.  91. 

23,  3  Maries  at  Christ's  Tomb,  p.  92. 

24,  „        meet  Peter,  John,  p.  94. 

25,  Jesus  appears  to  Mary,  p.  95. 

26,  The  Palace  of  Marcylle,  p.  98. 

27,  The   Heathen   Temple   at   Mar- 

cylle,  p.  99- 

28,  Pilate  and  Jesus's  Death,  p.  102. 

29,  Herod,  and   Pilate's   Messenger, 

p.  103. 

30,  The  Emperor  and  Pilate's  Letter, 

p.  104. 

31,  Mary   Magdalene   in  Jerusalem, 

p.  105. 

32,  Jesus  in  Heaven,  p.  106. 

33,  Angel  Raphael  and  Mary,  p.  107. 

34,  The  Marcylle  Shipman  and  Mary, 

p.  107. 

35,  Mary  and  the  King  of  Marcylle, 

p.  109. 


Scene 

36,  The  Marcylle  Idols  burnt,  p.  113. 

37,  Mary  to  convert  Marcylle,  p.  114. 

38,  She  warns  the  King  and  Queen, 

p.  115. 

39,  She  converts  them,  p.  116. 

40,  They  take  ship  for  the  Holy  Land, 

p.  119. 

41,  The  Queen  dies.  The  King  lands, 

p.  121. 

42,  St.  Peter  baptizes  the  King,  p.  123. 

43,  The  King  sails  for  home,  p.  125. 

44,  The  Queen  lives  again,  p.  126. 

45,  Mary    receives    the     King    and 

Queen,  p.  127. 

46,  Mary  in  the  Wilderness,  p.  130. 

47,  Jesus  in  Heaven,  p.  130. 

48,  Two  Angels  feed  Mary,  p.  131. 

49,  A  Priest  comes  to  Mary,  p.  132. 

50,  Jesus  &  his  Angels,  p.  133. 

51,  Angels    &    Mary.     Her    death, 

p.  134. 


1  The  xal  for  '  shal ',  qwat  for  '  what ',  &c.,  show  the  play  to  be  in  the  East  Midland  dialect, 
probably  about  Lynn,  Norfolk,  or  in  Lincolnshire. 

The  metre  is  very  irregular.  It  seems  to  have  tried  to  get  into  8-  or  p-line  stanzas,  and  to 
have  done  so  now  and  then.  Other  stanzas,  alternates,  and  couplets,  also  occur.  The  line-num 
bers  show  them  to  some  extent.  Part  II  is  mainly  in  alternates.  On  p.  135,  1.  2143,  the  writer 
names  'redurs ',  not  hearers.  But  see  1.  2133. 


54 


[THE  NAMES  OF  THE  PLAYERS.] 


PART  I. 


[Inpcrator,    the    Emperor,    Tiberius 

Caesar,  p.  55',  59. 
Serybyl,  or  Serybb,  p.  55. 
Provost,  p.  59. 
The  pepul,  p.  56,  87,  90. 
Syrus,    or    Cyrus,    father    of    Mary 

Maudeleyn  *,  Martha,  and  Lazarus, 

P-  56,  64- 
Lazarus,  p.  58,  64.,  84;   dies,  p.  86; 

rises  from  the  grave,  89. 
Mary  Maudeleyn,  p.  58,65,71,  74(she 

sins),  76,  78  (she  repents),  79  (she 

washes  Christ's  feet) ;  83,  85,  88. 
Martha,  p.  58,  65,  83,  86,  88. 
Nuncyus (the  Messenger),  p.  59,62,63. 
Herowdes,  p.  59. 
Phelysofyr  (Herod's),  p.  60. 
Secundus  Phylosofyr,  p.  61. 
Primus  Miles,  p.  61,  86. 
Secundus  Miles,  p.  61,  86. 
Pylatt,  p.  63. 
Primus  Seriunt,  p.  63. 
Secundus  Seriawnt,  p.  63. 
The  Kyng  ot  the  World,  or  Mundus, 

p.  66,  76. 


The  Kyng  of  the  Flesch,  p.  66,  67. 
The  Dylte,  Satan,  or  the  Prynse  ot 

Dybles,  p.  66,  68,  76. 
The  Seven  Dedly  Synnes,  p.  75. 

Pryde  and  Covetyse,  p.  66. 

Slowth  and  Gloteny,  p.  67. 

Lechery,  or  Luxuria,  p.  67,71, 73. 

Wrath  and  Envy,  p.  68. 
A  bad  Angyl,  p.  71,  75,  88. 
A  good  Angyll,  p.  77,  81. 
A  Masenger,  Sensualyte,  p.  80. 
A  Taverner,  p.  72. 
A  Galawnt,  Coryossyte  [=  Dandy], 

P-  73,  74- 
Diablus,  p.  76. 
Symond  leprus,  p.  77,  78. 
lesus,  p.  78,  85,  87,  88. 
Secundus  Diabolus,  Belfagour,  p.  82. 
Tercius  Diabolus,  Belzabub,  p.  82. 
Spiritus  Malignus,  p.  82. 
Dcsyplys,  and  Dissipulus,  (of  Jesus,) 

p.  78,  87. 
Weepers,  86. 
A  lew,  p.  88. 


PART  II. 


The  Kyng  of  Marcylle,  p.  90,  98, 

101,    IIO,   112,   Il6,    117,    120,    121, 
123,    126,    128. 

His  Knights,  p.  91,  1 16  ;  his  Attend 
ants,  p.  112. 

Regina  (Queen  of  Marcylle),  p.  91, 
98,  116,  117,  120,  121,  126,  128. 

Her  Child,  p.  121,  126. 

A  Dyllc  (Devil),  p.  91. 

Mary  Maudlyn,  p.  92,  94,  95,  105, 
107,  108,  109,  113,  115,  117,  i*7, 
130,  131,  132,  134. 

Her  Dysypyll,  p.  105. 

Mary  Jacobe  (the  mother  of  James 
the  ApostM3,  p.  92,  97. 

Mary  Salome  ,  p.  93,  97. 

lesus,  p.  95,  97,  106,  114,  130,  133. 

Primus  Angelus,  p.  93,  115,  131,  133, 

»35- 
Secundus  Angelus,  p.  94,   115,   131, 


[PTertius]  Angelus,  p.  106,  133. 

St.  Peter,  p.  94,  123. 

St.  Ihon,  p.  94. 

An  hethen  Prest,  or  Presbyter,  p.  99, 

113. 
The  hethen  Prest 's  Boy,  or  Clericus, 

p.  99,  113. 
Pylatt,  p.  101. 
His  Nuncyus,  or  Messenger,  p.  103, 

104. 
His    two    Serjantts    or    Servants,    p. 

103. 

Herodes,  p.  103. 

The  Emperower  of  Rome,  p.  104. 
His  Provost,  p.  104. 
Shepman,  or  Nauta,  p.  107,  119,  125, 

!26. 

Grobbe,  the  Shipman's  Boy,  p.  107, 

119,  1*5- 
An  holy  Prest,  p.  132,  134.] 


»33,  '34,  135- 

1  The  page-numbers  are  meant  to  mark  the  Scenes  where  the  Actors  come  in,  not  every  time 
they  speak. 

*  There  is  no  ground  in  the  Bible  for  making  Mary  Magdalene  one  with  Mary  the  sister  of 
Martha  and  I.a/.irus. 

-1  Mary  the  moth  r  of  J:ime  &r..  and  Mary  Salome,  are  the  same  person,  according  to 
Biblical  critic^. 


55 


[MARY   MAGDALENE.] 

[7ra  the  second,  and  rather  later  hand.~\ 
{PART  I.     Scene  i.]       . 

M.  B.  [/or  Miles  Blomefylde.] 

Inperator. 

I  command!  sylyns  in  J>e  peyn  of1  forfetwr, 
to  all  myn)  avdyeans  present1  general. 
of1  my  most1  hyest1  and  mytyest1  wolurate, 
I  woll  it  be  knowyri)  to  al  J)e  word  vnyversal, 
That*  of1  heven)  and  hell  chyfF  rewlar  am)  I, 
to  wos  Magnyfyceras  nora  stondyt  egall, 
for  I  am)  soveren)  of1  al  sovere/zs  subjugal 
On)-to  myn)  empere,  beyng*  in-comparable, 
tyberyus  sesar,  wos  power  is  potency  all.  9 

I  am)  J?e  blod  ryall  most  of*  soverentej  10 
of1  all  emperowers  and  kynges  my  byrth  is  best, 

&  all  regeouns  obey  my  myty  voluwte  j 

lyfe  and  lem)  and  goodes,  all  be  at  my  request1:  13 

so  of*  all  soverens,  my  magnyfycens  most1  mytyest1 

May  nat  be  a-gayn)-sayd  of1  frend  nor  of1  foo  j 

But  all  abydyn)  Ivgmenf  and  rewle  of1  my  lysf.  16 

all  grace  vp-on)  erth  from)  my  goodne^  commyf  fro, 

and  ]>ai  bryng-is  all  pepell  in  blysse  so;  18 

for  pe  most1  worthyest1,  woll  I  rest1  in  my  sete. 

serybyl. 

II  syr,  from)  yowr  person)  growyt1  moch  grace.  20 

Inperator. 

now  for  J)in)  answer,  belyall,  blysse  fi  face ! 
mykyl  presporyte  I  gyri)  to  porchase  j 
I  am  wonddyn)  in  welth  from)  all  woo.  2.3 

Herke  ]nu,  provosf,  I  gyif*  fe  in  commandmeTzt, 
all  yowr  pepull  preserve  in  pesabyl  possesson). 
yff1  ony  fer  be  to  my  goddes  [disjobedyent, 


Part  I.    Scene  1. 
Rome. 

[leaf  95] 


The  Emperor. 
Silence,  all  1 


I  am  Chief  Ruler 
of  heaven  and 
hell 


I  am  the  incom 
parable  Tiberius 
Csesar. 


All  lands  obey 
me. 


All  rule  by  my 
pleasure. 


I  am  wrapt  in 
wealth  against 
[leaf  95,  back] 
woe. 

Provost,  find  out 
the  Christians 
who  disobey  my 


$6  MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    I.       SCENES    1,  2. 

Gods,  and  m      dyssever  tho  harlottej,  and  make  to  me  declaracyon),  27 
&  I  xall  make  all  swych  to  dye, 
Thos  precharsse  of1  crystys  incarnacyon). 

II  Provost1. 
H  Lord  of1  all  lorddw,  I  xall  gyff1  yow  In-formacyon). 

Inperator. 

U  Lo,  how  all  J?e  word  obeyit  my  domynacyon)  j  3 1 
that  person)  is  nat  born)  Jjat  dare  me  dysse-obey.  32 
diwte  Tm  Syrybbe,  I  warne  yow  se  fat  my  lawys 


1*w*»  In  all  your  partyys  have  dew  obeysavns ; 

In-quere  and  aske,  eche  day  fat  davnnej, 
yf1  in  my  pepul  be  fovnd  ony  weryous,  36 

contrary  to  me  in  ony  chansse, 

or  crumbles        or  with  my  efoldvn)  eoddes  erocth  on)  errone, 

against  my  Gods, 

111  murder  him.  I  woll  marre  swych  harlottej  with  mordor  and  myschanse ; 
yff1  ony  swyche  remayn),  put1  hem)  in  repreffe,  40 

&  I  xall  yow  releff*. 

11  Serybb. 

H  yf  xall  be  don),  lord,  witA-owtyn)  ony  lett  or  wftA-owt 
doth. 

Inperator. 

H  lord  and  lad,  to  my  law  doth  lowte ; 
is  it  nat  so  ?  sey  yow  all  with  on)  showte.  44 

[Here  answerryf  all  f  e  pepul  at  ons,  33,  my  lord,  33. 

11  Inperator. 

so,  fe  froward  folkey,  now  am)  [I]  plesyd1} 
Bet  on  wine  and  sett  wyn)  and  spycys  to  my  consell  full  cler. 

spices,  and  let's 

[leaf  W]         Now  have  I  told1  yow  my  harf ,  I  am)  wyll  plesyd1 : 

make  good 

cheer.  Now  lett  vs  sett  don)  alle,  and  make  good  chyr.          48 

Parti.   Scent  2.  [PARTI.     Scene  2.1 

The  CdttU  of 

[H  Her  entyr  syrus,  J>e  fader  of  mary  mavdleyn) 

syrus. 

H  Emperor,  and  ky[n]gge^,  ana"  coTiquerors  kene, 
Erlys,  and  borons,  and  knytes  fat  byn)  boldf, 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  I.   SCENE  2. 


Berdey  in  my  bower,  so  semely  to  sefie, 

I  commav[n]d  yow  at  onys  my  hestey  to  hold. 

be-hold?  my  person),  glystery/zg  in  gold?, 

semely  be-syn)  of1  all  other  men) : 

Cyrus  is  my  name,  be  cleffys  so  colcf, 

I  command  yow  all,  obedyent  to  beyn) ; 

wo-so  woll  natt,  in  bale  I  hem)  bryng1, 

And  knett  swyche  cayftyys1  in  knottes  of1  care. 

thys  castell  of*  mavdleyn)  is  at1  my  wylddyng1, 

with  all  f  e  coratre,  bothe  lesse  and  more,2 

&  Lord  of1  lerusalem,  who  agens  me  don)  dare. 

Alle  beteny  at  my  beddyng1  be  $ 

I  am)  sett  in  solas  from)  al  syyrag  sore,2 

and  so  xaH  all  my  posteryte, 

thus  for  to  leuen)  in  rest1  and  ryalte, 

I  have  her  a  sone  fat  is  to  me  ful  trew, 

no  comlyar  creatur  of1  goddes  creacyon), 

to  amyabyll  dovctors  full  brygth  of*  ble, 

ful  gloryos  to  my  syth  an  ful  of1  delectacyon). 

Lazarus  my  son),  in  my  resspeccyon). 

Here  is  mary,  ful  fayr  and  ful  of*  femynyte, 

and  martha,  ful  [of]  bevte  and  of1  delycyte, 

ful  of*  womawly  merrorys  and  of1  benygnyte, 

fey  haue  fulfyllyd  my  hart1  with  cowsolacyon). 

Here  is  a  coleccyon)  of1  cyrcuwzstance, 

to  my  cognysshon)  never  swych  a-nothyr, 

as  be  demonstracyon)  knett  incoratynens, 

save3  a-lonly  my  lady,  fat  was  fer  mother. 

Now  Lazarus,  my  sonne,  whech  art  fer  brothyr, 

The  lordshep  of*  Jerusalem  I  gyff  fe  after  my4  dysses, 

and  mary,  thys  castell,  a-lonly,  an  non)  othyr; 

&  martha  xall  haue  beteny,  I  sey  exprese  : 

thes  gyftes  I  gravnt  yow  wztA-owtyn  les, 

whyll  fat  I  am)  in  good  myndf. 


I  am  Cyrus, 
glittering  in 
gold. 


_5  6  Let  all  obey  me. 

57 


This  Castle  of 

Maudleyn, 


Jerusalem, 
and  Bethany  are 
mine. 


65 

66   I  have  a  most 
comely  son, 


7o      [leaf  96,  back] 
Lazarus, 
and  2  daughters, 
Mary  and 
Martha. 


74 
75 


79    After  my  death, 
I  give  Lazarus, 
the  Lordship 
of  Jerusalem ; 
Mary,  the  Castle 
of  Maudleyn ; 
Martha, 
Bethany. 

83 

84 


[l  Pcaytyfys.]         2  The  rymes  require  'mare,  sure'. 
[3  MS.  Of  crost  thro,  and  save  added.]  [4  MS.  mo.] 


MARY     MAGDALENE.        PART    I.        SCENE    2. 


Lazarus  thanks 

his  father  Cyrus 

for  his  gifts, 


and  prays  God 
for  grace  to 

livu  well. 


[leaf  97] 


and  thanks  her 
father  Cyrus 
for  his  gifts. 


\azarus. 

U  Most  reuerent*  father !  I  thank  yow  hartely 
of1  yower  grett  kyndnes  shuyd  on)-to  me ! 
ye  haue  gravntyd  swych  a  lyfelod1,  worthy 
Me  to  restreyn)  from)  all  nessesyte. 
now,  good  lord1,  &  hys  wyll  it1  be 
gravnt  me  grace  to  lyue  to  thy  plesowans, 
&  a-jens  hem)  so  to  rewle  me, 
Thatt  we  may  have  loye  witA-owtyn  weryavws. 

Mary  mavdleyn. 

Thatt  god  of1  pes  and  pryncypall  covwsell, 
More  swetter  is  J>i  name  Jjan  hony  be  kynd1 ! 
we  thank  yow,  fathyr,  for  your  gyftes  ryall, 
owt  of1  peynes  of1  poverte  vs  to  onJ-bynd1  j 
thys  is  a  preseruatyff  from)  streytnes,  we  fynd1, 
from)  wordly  labors  to  my  covw  forty ng«; 
for  thys  lyfflod  is  abyll  for  J>e  dowtter  of1  a  kyng1, 
thys  place  of1  plesavns,  J»e  soth  to  seye. 

martha. 

O  ye  good!  fathyr  of1  grete  degre, 
thus  to  depcrte  with  your  ryches, 
consederyng1  ower  lowlynes  and  humylyte, 
vs  to  save  from)  wordly  dessetres  : 
36  shew  vs  poyntw  of1  grete  lentylnes, 
so  mekly  to  meyntyn)  vs  to  yowr  grace, 
hey  in  heuen)  a-wansyd1  mot  yow  be 
In  blysse,  to  se  J>at  lordej  face, 
whan)  ye  xal  hens  passe  ! 

cyrus. 

f  Now  I  reioyse  with  all  my  mygthtw  j 
to  enhanse  my  chyldryn),  it  was  my  delyte : 
Cyrus  orders       now  wyu)  and  spycys,  ae  lentyll  knytte^, 

wine  and  spices. 

on-to  )>es  ladys  of  lentylnes. 

[Here  xal  ]>ey  be  servyd  with  wyn)  and  spycys. 


Martha  also 
praises  and 
thanks  her 
father, 


and  prays  that 
he  may  see 
God's  face  in 
heaven. 


88 


92 


93 


96 


99 

100 


101 


109 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PAKT    I.       SCENE   3. 


59 


[PART  I.     Scene  3.] 

Inperator. 

H  syr  provost1,  and  skrybe,  lugger  of1  my  rem,  114 

my  massenger  I  woll  send  in-to  ferre  cuntre, 
On>-to  my  sete  of1  lerusalem, 

On)- to  Herowdes,  fat  regent  \er  ondyr  me,  117 

and  on)-to  pylat,  luggey  of1  )>e  covntre  : 
myri)  entent  I  woll  hem)  teche. 

take  hed?,  j>ou  provost1,  my  precept  wretyn)  be,  120 

&  sey  I  curamavnd*  hem),  as  fey  woll  be  owjt  wrech, 
yf1  f  er  be  ony  in  f  e  cuwtre,  ageyn)  my  law  doth  prech, 
or  ageyn)  my  godd«  ony  trobyll  teller,  123 

that*  thus  agens  my  lawys  rebelled, 
as  he  is  regent1,  and?  in  fat  reme  dwelley, 
&  holdyth  hys  crovn)  of*  me  be  ryth,  126 

yff  \er  be  ony  harletter  J?at  a-gens  me  make  replycacyora, 
Or  ony  moteryng1  a^ens  me  make  wztA  malynacyow. 

[end  of  speech  left  out.~\  [andklUem.] 

provost1. 

II  syr,  of1  all  thys  they  xall  have  in-formacyow, 
so  to  vp-hold?  jower  renovn)  and  ryte. 


Part  7.    Scene  3. 
Rome. 


Tiberius  Caesar 
resolves  to  send 
orders  to  Herod 


Deaf  97,  back] 


to  search  out 
rebels  against 
him,  the 
Emperor, 
or  his  Gods, 


[Inperator.] 

now,  massenger,  wztA-owtyn)  taryyng1, 
Have  here  gold1  on)-to  J>i  fe ; 
so  bere  thes  lettyrs  to  Herowd'es  the  kyng1, 
&  byd  hem)  make  In-quyrans  in  euery  cuntre, 
as  he  is  lugge  in  j?at  cuntre  beyng*. 

nvncyus. 

^1  soueren),  yowr  arena?  it1  xall  be  don)  ful  redy 
In  alle  J>e  hasf  J?at  I  may  j 
for  to  fullfyll  yowr  byddyng1 
1  woll  nat  spare  nother  be  nyth  nor  be  day. 

[II  Here  goth  pe  masenger  to-ward  herowdw. 


130 


132    He  bids  his 

Messenger  start. 


136 


The  Messenger 
says  hell  haste. 


139 


6o 


MABY  MAGDALENE.   PART  I.   SCENE  4. 


Part  I.    Seme  4. 
JerutaUm, 

[leaf  98] 


HEROD,  '111 
hurl  off  any 
one's  head  who 
B  peaks. 


Off  hate  I 
Stand  barehead, 
you  beggars  I 


Look  at  my 
rubies  and  green 
pearl! 

What  king  Is 
equal  to  me  f 


None  but  the 

Emperor 

Tiberius. 

[leaf  98,  back] 
Speak,  Philoso 
phers  1 ' 


IP  ART  I.     Scene  4.] 

Herowdes. 

In  fe  wyld  wanyng1  word,  pes  all  at  onys  !  140 

no  noyse,  I  warne  yow,  for  greveyng*  of  me ! 
yff  yow  do,  I  xal  hovrle  of1  yower  hedes,  be  mahondey 

bones, 

as  I  am)  trew  kyng1  to  mahond  so  fre.  143 

help,  help,  fat  I  had  a  swerd!  ! 

fall  don),  ye  faytowrs,  flatt  to  ]>e  grovnd! !  145 

Heve  of  your  hodes  and  hattw,  I  cummavnd  yow  alle  : 
stond!  bare  hed,  ye  beggars  !  wo  made  yow  so  bold!  ? 
I  xal  make  yow  know  yowr  kyng1  ryall : 
thus  woll  I  be  obeyyd?  thorow  al  the  wor[l]d;  149 

&  who-so  wol  nat,  he  xal  be  had  in  hold; 
&  so  to  be  cast  in  carys  cold!,  151 

that  werkyn)  ony  wondyr  a-3ens  my  magnyfycens.    152 
be-hold!  these  ryche  rubyys,  red  as  ony  fyr, 
with  J>e  goodly  grene  perle  ful  sett  a-bowgth  : 
what  kyng*  is  worthy  or  egall  to  my  power  ? 
or  in  thys  word,  who  is  more  had  in  dowf  156 

than  is  |>e  hey  name  of  herowdey,  kyng*  of  lerusalem, 
Lord  of  alapye,  assye,  and  tyr, 

of  abyron),  berjaby,  and  bedlem)  ?  159 

all  thes  byn)  ondyr  my  governouns.  160 

Lo,  all  fes  I  hold!  witA-owtyn)  reprobacyon)  j 
No  mara  is  to  me  egall,  save  a-lonly  J>e  emperower 
tyberyus,  as  I  have  In  provostycacyon).  163 

How  sey  )>e  phylyssoverys  be  my  ryche  reyne  ?          164 
Am)  nat  I  J>e  grettesf  governower  ? 
Lett  me  ondyr-stond  whatt  can  ye  seyn).  166 

phelysofyr. 

U  Soueren,  and  it  piece  yow  I  woll  expresse  :  167 

ye  be  J>e  rewlar  of  J>is  regyon), 
&  most1  worthy  sovereyn)  of  nobylnes 
That  euer  in  lude  barre  domynacyon):  170 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    I.       SCENE    4. 


6l 


Bott,  syr,  skreptour  gevytt  informacyon), 
&  doth  rehersse  it  werely, 
that  chyl(J  xal  remayn)  of1  grete  renovr), 
&  all  f  e  word?  of1  hem)  shold?  magnyfy, — 
ef  ambulaburatt  gentes  in  lumine,  et  reges 
In  solendore l  ortus  tui. 

Herowdey. 
H  and?  whatt  seyst  thow  ? 

secu«dw,s  phy[/o.so/yr.] 
II  the  same  weryfyyt  my  bok,  as  how 
as  f  e  skryptoar  doth  me  tell 
of*  a  myty  duke  xal  rese  and  reyri), 
whych  xall  reyn)  and  rewle  all  Israeli, 
no  kyng1  a-3ens  hys  worthynes  xall  opteyn), 
the  whech  in  profesy  hath  grett  eloquence,- 
non)  avferetur  septrum  luda,  et  dux  de 
femore  eius,  donee  veniet  Imitendwi  est1. 


171 


'  The  Scripture 
tells  of  a  Child 
of  great  renown, 


1 74   in  the  glory  of 
whose  rising, 
kings  shall 
walk. 

I76 


I78 


This  Child,  a 
mighty  Duke, 
shall  rule 
all  Israel, 

182    and  excel  all 
kings.' 


184 


Herowde*.  [leaf  99] 

A,  ow^t,  ow^t,  now  am  [I]  grevyd?  all  with  J»e  worst1!  186 
^e  dastardws  !  ye  dogger  !  J>e  dylfe  mote  yow  draw  ! 
wztA  fleyyng1  flappey  I  byd  yow  to  a  festt. 
A  swerd,  a  swerd? !  J?es  lordeynnw  wer  slaw  !  189 

ye  langbaynn&y,  loselle^,  for-sake  je  ])at  word ! 
fat  caytyff*  xall  be  cawth,  and  suer  I  xall  hem)  flaw  j 
for  hym),  many  mo  xal  be  marry  with  mordor.          192  ^d  slay  him.' 


'  The  Devil  tear 
you,  dogs ! ' 
says  Herod ; 


« 111  catch  that 
Caitiff, 


Herod's  knights 
tell  him  not  to 
mind  these 
Philosopher- 


lus  miles.2 

IT  My  sovereyn)  lord?,  dysse-may  yow  ryth  nowf ! 
they  ar  but  folys,  J>er  eloquens  wantyng1, 

*  Pbilosophe 

for  in  sorow  and  care  sone  fey  xall  be  cawf ;  fools>  talk- 

a-3ens  vs  fey  can)  mak  no  dysstonddyng1.  196 

ij*"  miles. 

IT  my  lord,  all  swych  xall  be  browte  before  yowr  avdyens, 
and  leuyn)  ondyr  yowr  domynacyon), 

[!  MS.  spelndore.]  [2  MS.  milis.] 


62  MAKY    MAGDALENE.       PART    I.       SCENE    4. 

or  ellw  da/nmyd  to  deth  wttA  mortal  sentense, 

yf1  we  hem)  gett  onder  ower  gubernacyon).  200 

Herowdej. 
Herod  is  com-      U  now  thys  is  to  me  a  gracyows  exsortacyon),  201 

t  orted  by  his  ' 

knights-  counsel,  &  grettly  reioysyth  to  my  spryte*  in-dede  5 

thow  bes  sotte.y  a-^ens  me  make  replycacyon), 
I  woll  suffer  now  to  spryng*  of  J)at  kenredl;  204 

some  woys  in  my  londl  shall  sprede, 
prevely  or  pertely  in  my  lond  a-bowth  : 
[leaf  99,  back]    whyle  I  haue  swych  men),  I  nede  nat  to  drede, 

and  makes  sure 

*SL*JAS  *°     But  bat  he  xal  be  browf  on)der,  wztA-owtyn)  doth.    208 

catch  Christ.  * 

[IT  Her  cowimytf  J>e  emperowers  [masenger]  thus 
sayyng1  to  herowdw  : 

Masenger. 

Me^n"  H^"  ^  Hey^»  prynse  of1  bovntyows-nesse  !  209 

Herod,  Heyll,  myty  lord  of1  to  magnyfy  ! 

Heyll,  most1  of1  worchep  of*  to  expresse  ! 
Heyll,  reytyus  rewlar  in  ]>i  regensy  !  212 

My  sofereyn),  tyberyuw^,  chyff1  of  chyfalry, 
Hw  soveren)  sond  hath  sent  to  yow  here  : 
He  desyrth  3ow,  and  preyyf  on)  eche  party, 
to  fulfyll  his  coTwmavndment  and  desyre.  216 

[^|  Here  he  xall  take  be  lettyrs  on)-to  be  kyng1. 


letters. 

Herawdej. 

U  Be  he  sekyr  I  woll  natt  spare  217 

for  [to]  complyshe  his  cummavnddment, 
Herod  promises    w  ith  scharp  swerdd«  to  perce  be  bare. 

to  kill  all  rebels, 

In  all  covntres  wztA-ih  thys  regent1,  220 

for  his  love,  to  fulfyll  his  in-tentt  : 
non  swych1  xall  from)  ower  handys  stertt, 
for  we  woll  fulfyll  his  ryall  luggement, 
witA  swerd!  and  spere  to  perce  thorow  be  hartt.         224 
and  orders  the     but1,  masenger,  reseyve  thys  letter  wyth, 

letter  to  be  }  }  J 

taken  to  Pilate,    and?  berytt  on)-to  pylatt-ys  syth. 

['  MS.  swych  Bwych.] 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  I.   SCENE  5. 


me&enger. 

My  lord,  it  xall  be  don)  ful  wygth  j 
In  hast1  I  woll  me  spede. 

IP  ART  L     Scene  5.] 
Pylatt. 

IT  now  ryally  I  reyne  In  robys  of1  rych[e]sse, 

kyd  and  knowyn)  both  ny  and  ferre, 

for  luge  of1  lerusalem,  ]>e  trewth  to  expresse, 

Ondyr  the  emperower  tyberms  cesar. 

Jjerfor  I  rede  yow  all,  be-warre 

ye  do  no  pregedyse  a-3en)  J?e  law, 

for  and  }e  do,  I  wyll  yow  natt  spare 

tyl  he  haue  lugment*  to  be  hangyd  and  draw  ; 

for  I  am)  pylat  pr[o]mmyssary  and  president1, 

alle  renogat  robber  Inper-rowpentf, 

to  put  hem)  to  peyn),  I  spare  for  no  pete. 

my  ser-jaunt&y  semle,  quat  sye  ye  ? 

of*  J>is  rehersyd,  I  wyll  natt  spare. 

plesaurctly,  serrys,  avnswer  to  me, 

for  in  my  herte  I  xall  haue  J?e  lesse  care. 

Ius  seriurat. 

IT  as  ye  haue  seyd,  I  hold?  if  for  J>e  best1, 
yf1  ony  swych  a-mong  vs  may  we  know. 


[leaf  100] 


228 


Part  /.    Scene  5. 
Jerusalem. 


229   Pilate  proclaims 
his  power  as 
Judge  of  Jeru 
salem, 


232 


236 


and  declares 
he'll  hang  and 
draw  all  who 
offend  the  Laws. 


IT  for  to  gyff1  hem  lugmerat  I  holdd  yt  best1, 
&  so  xall  ye  be  dred?  of1  hye  and  low. 

pylat. 

IT  A,  now  I  am)  restoryd  to  felycyte. 

[Her  comyt  J?e  emprores  masenger  to  pylat. 

Mase/zger. 

Heyll,  ryall  in  rem  in  robis  of*  rychesse  ! 
Heyl,  present  J>ou  prynsys  pere  ! 
Heyl,  lugge  of1  lerusalem,  fe  trewth  to  expresse  ! 
Tyberyus  J>e  emprower  sendyt  wrytyng1  herre, 


240 


243 


244  His  servants 

promise  to  back 
him. 


247 


248 


[leaf  100,  back] 


Tiberius  Caesar'* 
letters  are  de- 
liverd  to  him. 


25  2 


64  MARY    MAGDALENE.       PABT    I.       SCENES    6,   8. 

and  prayyt  yow,  as  yow  be  his  lover  dere, 
Of1  J>is  wrytyng*  to  take  a-vysemenf 
In  strenthyng1  of1  his  lawys  cleyr, 

as  he  hath  set  yow  In  be  state  of1  lugmentf.  256 

[Her  pylat  takyt  be  lettyrs  wttA  grete  reverens. 

pylat. 
Pilate  declares     Now,  be  martw  so  my  thy,  I  xal  sett  many  a  snare,  21  7 

he  will  uphold 

Tiberius  Cesar's  Hw  lawys  to  strenth  in  al  bat  I  may  ; 

I  rejoyse  of1  his  renown)  and  of1  his  wylfare  j 
and  gives  the       &  for  bi  tydyngges,  I  ereyff1  be  bis  gold  to-day.          260 

Messenger  gold. 

masenger. 

a  largeys,  30  lord,  I  crye  bis  day  ;  261 

for  bis  is  a  jeft  of1  grete  degre. 

pylat1. 

Masenger,  on-to  my  sovereyn)  bou  sey, 
On  be  most  specyall  wyse  recuwzmend  me.  264 

[Her  a-voydyt  be  masengyr,  and  syrua  takyt  his 
deth. 

Parti~see>u9.  [PARTI.     Scene  6.1 

ThfCaMeof 
Maudleyn, 


A  !  help  !  help  !  I  stond  in  drede,  265 

syknes  is  sett  onder  my  syde  ! 
Cyrus  is  stricken  A  !  help  !  jdeth  wyll  a-quyte  me  my  mede! 

with  death,  „ 

[leaf  101]        A  !  gret  gode  !  bou  be  my  gyde  ;  260 

How  I  am)  trobyllyd  both  bak  and  syde, 

and  asks  to  be     now  wythly  help  me  to  my  bede. 

deathbed.  A  !  this  rendyt  my  rybbys  !.I  xall  never  goo  nor  ryde! 

the  dent  of*  deth  is  hevyar  ban)  led.  271 

A  !  lord,  Lord  !  what  xal  I  doo  bis  tyde  ? 

He  prays  to  God  A  !  gracyows  god  !  have  ruth  on  me, 

for  mercy,  ,      , 

In  thys  word  no  lengar  to  a-byde. 
and  blesses  nis     I  blys  yow,  my  chyldyrn),  god  mot  with  vs  be  !         276 

children. 

[Her  a-voydyt  syrua  sodenly,  and  than  [comyt] 
sayyng,  lazarua. 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  I.   SCENE  6. 


[Lazarus.] 

Alas,  I  am  sett  in  grete  hevynesse  ! 
per  is  no  tong  my  sorow  may  tell, 
so  sore  I  am  browth  in  dystresse  j 
in  feyntnes  I  falter,  for  [p]is  fray  fell  ; 
thys  dewresse  wyl  lettt  me  no  longar  dwelle, 
But  god  of1  grace  sone  me  redresse. 
A  !  how  my  peynes  don)  me  repelle  ! 
Lord,  wzt/t-stond  pis  duresse  ! 

mary  magleyra. 

the  in-wyttiysymws1  god  fat  euer  xal  reyne, 

be  his  help,  an  sowlys  sokor  ! 

to  whom)  it  is  most  nedfull  to  cum-playn), 

he  to  bry[w]g  vs  ow^t  of1  ower  dolor, 

he  is  most*  mytyest1  governowr*, 

from)  soroyng1,  vs  to  restryne. 

martha. 

A  !  how  I  am  settf  in  sorowys  sad, 
That1  long1  my  lyf  y  may  nat  in-devre  ! 
thes  grawous  peynes  make  me  ner  mad?  ! 
vndyr  clower  is  now  my  fathyris  cure, 
fat  sumtyme  was  here  ful  mery  and  glad?. 
Ower  lordes  mercy  be  his  mesure, 
&  defeynd?  h)  m)  from)  peynes  sad?  ! 


277 


Lazarus  grieves 
greatly  for  his 
father  Cyrus's 
death.    ' 


284 


285    ['  L.  infinitissi- 
mus] 


Mary  Magdalene 
prays  God  to 
288    ^ring  them  out 
of  their  sorrow. 


290 


291 


(.leaf  101,  back] 

Martha  thinks 
her  troubles  '11 
soon  end  her 
life; 


294 


297 


now,  systyrs,  ower  fatherys  wyll  we  vvoll2  exprese  :  298  [2  fiiifyiie  crost 

out.] 

thys  castell  is  owerys,  with  all  pe  fee. 


martha. 

as  hed  and  governower,  as  reson)  is, 

and1  on)  pis  wyse  abydyn)  with  yow,  wyil  wee  ; 

we  wyll  natt  desevyr,  whatt  so  be-falle. 


but  she  and 
Mary  '11  live 
7  O  I    with  Lazarus, 
and  obey  him. 


maria. 

Now,  brothyr  and  systyrs,  wel-cuw 
&  ther-of1  specyally  I  pray  jow  all. 

DIGBY    MYST. 


be. 


66 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    I.       SCENE    7. 


Part  I.     Sean  7. 
f  Wkert. 


The  World  Bays 
be  is  the  first 
potentate  next 
to  Heaven, 


[leaf  102] 

and  guides  the 
Wheel  of 
Fortune. 
In  him  rests 
the  order  of  the 
Seven  Metals 
knit  each  to  a 
Star:— 


as  Copper  to 
Venus,  Tin  to 
Jupiter,  Lead  to 
Saturn  ; — 


wherewith  the 
Seven  Princes  of 
Hell  are 
enricht 


Pri.U-  and 


Covetousness 
praise  him. 


[PART  I.     Scene  7.] 

[Her  xal  entyr  be  kyng  of  be  word,  [ben  be  kyng 
of]  be  flesch,  and  [ben]  be  dylfe,  vrith  be  seuen 
dedly  synnea,  a  bad  angyll  an  an  good  angyl, 
bus  seyyng  be  word. 

[The  King  of  the  World.] 

I  am  fe  word,  worthyest  fat  euyr  god  wrowth,        305 
&  also  I  am)  fe  prymatt  portatur1 
next  heueyn),  yf  fe  trewth  be  sowth,  — 
&  that  I  lugge  me  to  skryptwr  j  —  308 

&  I  am)  he  fat  lengestf  xal  Induer1, 
and  also  most  of*  domynacyon)  ; 
yf  1  be  hys  foo,  woo  is  abyll  to  recure, 
for  fe  whele  of*  fortune  vrith  me  hath  sett  his  sentur1. 

H  in  me  restyt  fe  ordor  of  fe  metfelles  seuyn),          313 
fe  whych  to  f  e  seuen)  planytte*  ar  knetf  ful  sure  ; 
gol(J  perteynywg  to  pe  sowne,  as  astronomer'  nevyn)  j 


sylvyr,  to  ]>e  mone  whyte  and  purej 

Iryn),  on)-to  J>e  maris  fat  long  may  endure  j 

J)e  fegetyff  mercury,  on-to  mercury  iw  j 

copyr,  on)-to  venus  red  In  his  merrowr} 

the  frangabyll  tyn),  to  lubyter,  yf  je  can)  dyscusj 

On)  fis  planyt  saturne,  ful  of  rancur*, 

fis  soft*  metell  led,  nat  of  so  gret  puernesse  : 

Lo,  alle  J)is  rych  tresor  witA  fe  word  doth  indure 

the  vij  prynsys  of  hell  of  gret  bowntosnesse. 

now,  who  may  presume  to  com)  to  my  honour  ? 

pryde. 

36  worthy  wordf,  je  be  gronddar  of  gladnesse, 
to  J>em)  J>at  dwellyng*  ondyr  yower  domynacyon). 

covetyse. 

&  who-so  wol  nat,  he  is  sone  set  a-syde, 
wber-as  I  couetyse  take  mynystracyon). 


316 


319 

320 


323 


326 
327 


of  fat  I  pray  yow  make  no  declareracyon)  ; 
make  swych  to  know  my  soverreynte, 


330 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    I.       SCENE    7. 


&  than)  fey  xal  be  fayn)  to  make  supplycacyon) 
yf1  fat  fey  stond  In  ony  nesessyte. 


333 


[Her  xal  entyr  \>e  kynge  of  flesch  with  slowth,    [leaf  102,  back] 
gloteny,  lechery. 


flesch. 

I,  kyng1  of*  flesch,  florychyd  in  my  flowers,  334 

Of1  deyntys  delycyows  I  have  grett  domynacyon), 

so  ryal  a  kyng1  was  neuyr  borne  In  bowrys, 

nor  hath  more  delyth  ne  more  delectacyon),  337 

for  I  haue  conrfortat  ywys  to  my  comfortacyon), 

dya,  galonga,  ambra,  and  also  margaretton), 

alle  fis  is  at  my  lyst  a-jens  alle  vexacyon)}  340 

alle  wykkyt  thyng&s  I  woll  sett  a-syde,  341 

clary,  pepur  long1,  with  granorum  paradysy, 

3en3ybyr  and  synamom)  at  euery  tyde ; 

lo,  alle  swych  deyntyys  delycyus  vse  I  j  344 

with  swyche  deyntyys  I  have  my  blysse. 

who  woll  covett  more  game  and  gle, 

my  fayer*  spowse  lechery  to  halse  and  kysse, 

Here  ys  my  knyth  gloteny,  as  good  reson)  is, 

with  fis  plesavnt1  lady  to  rest1  be  my  syde ; 

Here  is  slowth,  anothyr  goodly  of1  to  expresse  :  his  Mend  sloth. 

A  more  plesavnt1  cowpeny  doth  no-wher  a-byde.       35 1 

luxuria. 

O  ye  prynse,  how  I  am)  ful  of1  ardent1  lowe,  352 

with  sparkylley  ful  of1  amerowsnesse; 

with  yow  to  rest1,  fayn)  wold?  I  a-prowe, 

to  shew  plesavns  to  yowr  lentylnesse.  3  55 

fe  flesch. 

0  je  bewtews  byrd?,  I  must1  yow  kysse, 

1  am)  ful  of1  lost1  to  halse  yow  fis  tyde. 

[Here  xal  entyr  be  prynse  of  dylles  In  a  stage, 
and  Helle  ondyr-neth  bat  stage,  bws  seyyng  be 
dylfe. 

P  2 


The  King  of  the 
Flesh  has 
delights  in  hia 
flowers, 


galingale  (?), 


Grains  of  Para 
dise  and  Cina- 
mon ; 


347    and  in  his 

spouse  Lechery, 
his  knight 
Gluttony,  and 


He  kisses 
Lechery,  and 
desires  her. 

[leaf  103] 


68 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   FART  I.   SCENE  7. 


Prince  Satan  la  a 


King,  with 
Wrath  and  Envy 
in  his  retinue. 


He  strives  to 
ruin  men, 
body  and  soul, 
because  they 
gaind  what 
Lucifer  lost. 


358 


361 


He  calls  his 
Knights  to 
council, 


[Satan,  The  Prince  of  the  Devils.] 
Now  I,  prynse  pyrked!  prykkyd  in  pryde, 
satan)  ower  sovereyn),  set  witA  euery  cyrcuwistanse, 
for  I  am  a-tyred  in  my  tower  to  tempt  yow  jjis  tyde 
as  a  kyng  ryall  I  sette  at  my  plesavns, 
witA  wroth  [and]  Invy  at  my  ryall  retynawns ; 
the  bolddest  m  bower  I  bryng*  to  a-baye; 
Mann  is  sowle  to  be-segyn)  and  bryng1  to  obeysavns, 
33  [with]  tyde  and  tyme  I  do  )>at  I  may,  365 

for  at  hem)  I  haue  dysspyte  \>at  he  xold!  haue  J>e  loye 
That  lycyfer,  wit  A  many  a  legyown),  lost  for  \er  pryde ; 
J>e  snare.v  J>at  I  xal  set,  wher  never  set  at  troye, 
so  I  thynk  to  besegyn)  hem)  be  every  waye  wyde;     369 
I  xal  getyn)  hem)  from)  grace,  wher-so-euer  he  abyde, 
That  body  and  sowle  xal  com  to  my  hold!, 

Hym)  for  to  take. 
Now  my  knythte-y  so  stowth, 
•with  me  ye  xall  ron)  In  rowte, 
My  cowsell  to  take  for  a  skowte, 
whytly  jjat  we  wer1  went  for  my  sake. 


37* 
373 


37<5 


wrath. 


how  to  make       wjt/;  wrath  or  wyhyllej  we  xal  hyrre  wynne.  377 

Mary  Magdalene 


sin, 


envy, 
or  wtiA  sum  sotyllte  sett  hur  in  synne. 


dylfe. 

com  of  )>an,  let  vs  be-gynne 

to  werkyn  bur*  sum  wrake.  380 

lleaf  103,  back]  [Her  xal  be  deywl  go  to  >e  word  wit h  hit  compeny. 

satan. 

Heyle  word1,  worthyesf  of1  a-bowndans !  381 

In  hast1  we  ma-.t1  a  conseyll  take ; 
,uid  serve  the      ye  must  aply  yow  -with  all  your  afyavfis, 

A  woma«  of1  whorshep  ower  servant  to  make.  384 


MART    MAGDALENE.       PART    I.       SCENE    7. 


69 


satan,  with  my  cowsell  I  wyll  ]?e  a-wansse, 

I  pray  J>e  cu?«  vp  on)-to  my  tent1. 

were  J)e  kyng  of1  flesch  her  with  his  a-semlawnvs  ! 

Masenger,  a-non)  pat  Jm  werre  went* 

thys  tyde  ! 

sey  pe  kyng*  of1  flesch  wztA  grete  renown, 

with  his  co«sell  pat  to  hym)  be  bown), 

In  alle  pe  hast1  Jjat  euer  they  mown), 

cow  as  fast  as  he  may  ryde. 

masewger.     [Sensuality."] 
My  lord,  I  am  yowr  servant1  sensvalyte, 
yowr  masege  to  don),  I  am  of1  glad  chyr  ; 
Ryth  sone  In  presens  $e  xal  hym)  se, 
your  wyl  for  to  fulfylle  her. 

[Her  he  goth  to  j?e  flesch,  thus  seyynge. 

Heyl,  lord  in  lond,  led  with  lykyng1  ! 
Heyl,  flesch  in  lust1,  fayyrest1  to  be-hold?  ! 
Heyl,  lord  and  ledar  of1  empror*  and  kyng1  ! 
J?e  worthy  word,  be  wey  and  wold!, 
Hath  sent  for  yow  and  your  corasell. 
satan)  is  sembled?  with  his  howshold!  j 

covwseyl  to  haue,  most1  fo[r]  a-weyle. 


flesch. 

Hens  !  In  hast,  )>at  we  per  wh[e]re  ! 
lett  vs  make  no  lengar  delay  ! 


The  King  of  the 
World  asks 
Satan  to  his 
tent, 


388 
389 


and  sends  for 
the  King  of  the 
Flesh. 


393 


394   World's 

Messenger, 
Sensuality, 


397 


398 


401 


tells  the  Flesh 


he  is  wanted  at 
Satan's  Council 


404 


[leaf  104] 


40  <(    Flesh  hastes 
away 


senswalite. 

gret  myrth  to  per  herte^  shold?  yow  arere, 
be  my  trowth,  I  dare  safly  saye.  408 

[Her  comyt  \>e  kynge  of  flesch  to  \>e  word,  Jms  to  World, 
seyynge. 

[flesch.] 

Heyl  be  yow,  soverens  lefe  ana"  dere ! 
why  so  hastely  do  }e  for  me  sencP  ? 


and  greets  the 
Kings. 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  I.   SCENE  7. 


Calld  on  by 
World, 


A !  we  ai*  ryth  glad  we  haue  yow  here. 
Ower  covwsell  to-gethyr  to  comprehend. 
Now,  satan),  sey  yowr  devyse. 

satan. 


Satan  opens  the    Serys,  now  ye  be  set.  I  xal  yow  say  : 

debate  on  Mary  ' 

Magdalene.         syrus  dyyd  f  is  odyr  day  j 

Now  mary  his  dowctor,  fat  may, 
of  fat  castel  beryt  )>e  pryse. 


4" 


414 


If  she  keeps 
vertuous,  she'll 
be  able  to 
destroy  Hell. 


Therefore 
Lechery 


must  seduce 
her. 


sertenly,  serys,  I  yow  telle, 

yf  she  in  vertu  stylle  may  dwelle, 

she  xal  byn)  abyll  to  dystroye  helle, 

but  yf  yottr  cov/zseyll  may  othyrwyse  devyse. 

flesch. 


418 


421 


now,  f  e  lady  lechery,  yow  must1  don)  your  attendans, 
for  yow  be  flower  fayrestt  of*  femynyte ; 
yow  xal  go  desyyr  servyse,  and  byn)  at  hur1  atendavns, 
for  $e  xal  sonesf  enter  36  beral  of  bewte.  425 


lechery. 

serys,  I  abey  yowr  covnsell  in  eche  degrej 
strytt  waye  fethyr  woll  I  passe. 

satan. 


426 


The  Evil  Spirits 
shall  tempt  her. 


The  6  now  here 
[leaf  104,  back] 


shall  help  to 
bring  her  to 
Hell. 


spirits  malyngny  xal  com  to  J>e, 

Hyr*  to  tempt1  in  euery  plase.  429 

now  alle  J?e  vj  fat  her*  be, 

wysely  to  werke,  hyr  fawor  to  wynne, 

10  entyr  hyr  person)  be  fe  labor  of  lechery,  432 

fat  she  at  f e  last1  may  com  to  helle. 

H  How,  how,  spirits  malyng1  j  f  ou  wottysf  what  I  mene ! 

Cu;n  ow^t,  I  sey  !  herysf  nat  what  I  seye  ?  435 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  I.   SCENE  8.  1 

bad  angyll. 

syrrus,  I  obey  ycmr  covnsell  In  eche  degree ;  436  The  Bad  Angel 

strytt  waye  Jjethyr  woll  I  passe ; 

speke  soft,  speke  soft1,  I  trotte  hyr  to  tene,  ^tarts  to  tempt 

I  prey  ]>e  pertly  make  no  more  noyse.  439 

[Her  xal  alle  \>e  vij  dedly  synnes  be-sege  J^e  castell 
tyll  [they]  A-gre  to  go  to  lerusalem.  lechery  xall 
entyr  \>e  castell  with  >e  bad  angyl,  }ms  seyyngc 
lechery. 

[PARTI.     SceneS.] 

r_       ,  r  .     -  Maudleyn, 

[LeCliery,  Or  LuXUria.]  Bethany. 

Heyl,  lady  most  lavdabyll  of*  alyauvns !  440 

Heyl,  oryent,  as  J>e  sonne  In  his  reflexite ! 

Myche  pepul  be  cowzfortyd  be  yowr  benyng  afyavns, 

Bryter  pan)  )?e  bornyo?,  is  yoar  bemys  of1  bewte, 

most*  debonarim,  with  your  aungelly  delycyte !         444  beauty- 

Marya. 
ow at  personne  be  36  ])at  ^>us  me  comende l  ?  C1  MS.  oomen- 

luxurya. 
your  servant  to  be,  1  wold  comprehende. 

mary. 

yowr  debonarius  obedyau/zs  ravyssyt  me  to  trankquelyte  !  Mary  is 

now,  syth  ye  desyre  In  eche  de-gree,  448 

to  receyve  yow  I  have  grett  delectacyon)  j 

36  be  hartely  welcuw  cn)-to  me  ! 

your  tong1  is  so  amyabyll  devydyd  with  reson).  45 1 

Luxurya 

now,  good  lady,  wyll  $e  me  expresse,  452 

why  may  \er  no  gladdnes  to  yow  resort1  ? 

mary. 

for  my  father,  I  haue  had!  grett  heuynesse ; 

whan)  I  remewzbyr,  my  mynd  waxit1  morf.  455  death. 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  I.   SCENES  8,  9. 


Lechery  cheers 
.M:iry  up,  and 
a  1  vises  her  to 
HIIIIIHU  herself. 


So  Mary  bids 
Lnzarusand 
Martha  good 
bye. 


The  Tavemer 
declares  he's  the 
best  in  Jerusa 
lem, 
[leaf  105,  back] 


He  sells 

lulmsey, 

Claret, 

Gueldei 

and  Ouyenne 
•vine,  and 
Vernage. 


luxsurya. 

33  lady,  for  all  fat,  be  of1  good  comfort*, 
for  swych  obusyouns  may  brede  myche  dysese  ; 
swych  desepcyouns,  potyt  peynw  to  exsportf, 
prynt  yow  in  sportes  whych  best1  doth  yow  plese. 

mary. 

for-sothe  ye  be  welcuwz  to  myn)  hawdyens, 

ye  be  my  hartw  leche  ; 

brother  lazarus,  and  it*  be  yower  ple^auws, 

&  36  systyr  martha  also  in  substawns, 

Thys  place  I  commend  on)-to  your  governons, 

and  on)-to  god  I  yow  be-take  1. 


Part  I.     Scene  9. 
A  Tavern  in 

Jerusalem 


now,  systyr,  we  xal  do  yowr  intente, 
in  thys  place  to  be  resydenf 
whyle  fat  3?  be  absent1, 
to  kepe  fis  place  from)  wreche. 

IP  ART  I.     Scene  9.] 


456 


459 


46  1 
462 


465 


466 


469 


[Here  takyt  mary  hur  wey  to  lerusalem  with 
Luxsurya,  and  bey  xal  resort  to  a  taverner,  bus 
seyy[n]g  j>e  taverner. 


I  am)  a  taverner  wytty  and  wyse,  470 

that  wynys  haue  to  sell  gret  plente. 
of1  all  J>e  taverners  I  bere  be  pryse 

that  be  dwellyng1  witA-inne  |>e  cete  ;  473 

of1  wynys  I  haue  grete  plente, 

both  whyte  wywne  and  red  J>at  [ys]  so  cleyr1  :  475 

Here  ys  wynne  of  mawt  and  Malmeseyn),  476 

clary  wywne  and  claret,  and  other  moo, 
wyn  of*  gyldyr  and  of1  gallw,  fat  made  at  )>e  grome,[?] 
wyn  of*  wyan)  and  vernage,  I  seye  also  j 
Ther  be  no  better8,  as  ferre  as  36  can)  goo.  480 

1  The  ryme  wants  'beteche'.  [2  MS.  berttcr.} 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    I.       SCENE    9. 


luxsu[r]ya. 

lo,  lady,  )>e  comfort  and  J>e  sokower,  48  f 

go  we  ner  and  take  a  ta.st1, 
thys  xal  bryng1  your  sprytes  to  fawor. 
Taverner*,  bryn)_j  vs  of1  J>e  fywnesf  j>cm  hast*.  484 

taverner". 

here,  lady,  is  wyn),  a  re-pasf  485 

to  man),  ana"  womarc  a  good  restoratyff1  j 
36  xall  nat  thynk  yowr  mony  spent  in  wasf, 
from)  stodyys  and  hevynes  it  woll  yow  relyffX 

mary. 

I-wys  36  seye  soth,  36  groin)  of1  blysse; 
to  me  36  be  covrtes  and  kynde. 

Her  xal  entyr  a  galavnt  \>us  seyyng 

galavwt.     [Curiosity,  a  Dandy.] 
Hof,  hof1,  hof1,  a  frysch  new  galavwt, 
ware  of  thryst,  ley  j?at  a-doune  ! 
what1 !  wene  36,  syrrys,  J>at  I  were  a  marchanf, 
be-cavse  j>at  I  am)  new  com)  to  town)  ?  494 

witA  SUTO  praty  tasppysster*  wold?  I  fayne  rown)1^      495 
I  haue  a  shert  of*  reynney  with  slevys  peneawnt, 
a  lase  of1  sylke  for  my  lady  constant1. 
a  !  how  she  is  bewtefull  and  ressplendanf !  498 

whan)  I  am)  from)  hyr"  pmens,  lord,  how  I  syhe !      499 
I  wol  a-wye  sovereyns ;  and  soiettes  I  dys-deyne. 
In  wynter  a  stomachyr,  In  somer  now  att  al ; 
My  dobelet  and  my  hossys  euer  to-gether  a-byde ;     502 
I  woll,  or  euen),  be  shavyn),  for  to  seme  3yng*  j          503 
with  her*  a-3en)  Jje  her,  I  love  mych  pleyyng1^ 
that  makyt  me  Ile3a«tf  and  lusty  in  lykyng1; 
thus  I  lefe  in  J>is  wor^j  I  do  it  for  no  pryde.  506 

luxsurya. 

lady,  Jjis  maw  is  for  3ow,  as  I  se  can ;  507 

to  sett  yow  I  sporttes  and  talkyng1  |)is  tyde. 


Lechery  orders 
some  of  the 
best  wine, 


to  cheer  them 
up. 


49° 


40 1    A  smart  Gallant 
comes,  and 


PMS.  rowned] 

[leaf  106] 
wants  a  pretty 
Barmaid  to  chat 
to. 


His  love  is  a 
beauty. 


He  wears  no 
stomacher  in 
summer, 


and  likes  his  hair 
against  a  girl's. 


74  MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  I.   SCENE  9. 

mary. 
Mary  bids  the      cal  hym  In,  tavmiei*,  as  ae  my  loue  wyll  han, 

Taverner  call 

the  Oaii»nt  in.     &  we  Xall  make  ful  mery  yf1  he  wolle  a-byde  510 

tavfrner1. 
How,  how,  my  mastyr1  coryossyte?  511 

coryoste. 
what  is  your  wyll,  syr  ?  what  wyl  36  with  me  ? 

taverner1. 

Her*  ar  lentyll  women  dysyor*  your  presens  to  se, 
&  for  to  dryng*  witA  yow  thys  tyde.  5J4 

coryoste. 
He  comes,  and     A  dere  dewchessc,  my  daysyys  lee  !  515 

makes  love  to  „ 

Mary  Magda-       splendavwt  or  colowr,  most  or  femynyte, 

lene, 

your  sofreyn)  colowrw  set  wit  A  synseryte ! 
[leaf  106,  beck]   co/zsedei'  my  loue  in-to  yower  alye, 

or  elle^  I  am)  smet  with  peynnes  of1  perplexite  !         519 

mari. 

Why,  sir,  wene  36  J>at  I  were  a  kelle  ?  520 

corioste. 

calls  her  his        nay,  prensses  parde,  ^e  be  my  herte*  hele, 

Princess  and  , 

Sweetheart,         so  wolo?  to  god  je  wolo?  my  loue  tele. 

mari. 
qo>at  cavse  J)at  36  love  me  so  sodenly  ?  523 

corioste. 
and  says  he         o  nedys  I  mvsf,  myn)  own)  lady, 

:<*n't  help 

loving  her.          yowr  person),  ittw  so  womanly, 

I  can)  nat  refreyn),  me  swete  lelly.  526 

mari. 

sir,  curtesy  doth  it  yow  lere.  527 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  I.   SCENES  9,  10, 


corioste. 

Now,  gracyus  gosf,  wztA-owtyn)  pere 

Mych  nortwr  is  J)at  36  connej 

But  wol  yow  dawns,  my  own)  dere  ? 

mary. 

sir,  I  asent  In  good  maner  j 

go  36  be-  fore  j  I  sue  yow  ner*  5 

for  a-mara  at  alle  tymys  beryt  reverens. 

corioste. 

Now,  be  my  trowth,  36  be  with  other  ten)  j 
felle  a  pese,  taverner*,  let  vs  sen), 
soppey  in  wyne,  how  love  30  ? 

mari. 

As  ^e  don,  so  doth  me  j 
I  am  ryth  glad  J>at  met  be  we  ; 
my  loue,  In  yow  gywnyt  to  close. 

coryoste. 

Now,  derlyng  dere,  wol  yow  do  be  my  rede  ? 
we  haue  dronkyn)  and  ete  lytyl  brede. 
wyll  we  walk  to  a-nother  stede  ? 

mari. 

Ewyn)  at1  your  wyl,  my  dere  derlyng1  ! 
thowe  ^e  wyl  go  to  ]?e  worde*  eynd?, 
I  wol  neuer  from)  yow  wynd?, 
to  dye  for  yowr  sake. 


f  2O    He  asks  Mary  to 
J   y   dance  with  him. 

530 


She  agrees, 


533 


534 


f.  5  6 


and  will  take 
sops-in-wine 


She  begins  to 
love  him ; 

539 

540          [leaf  107] 
542 


nay,  will  go  to 
the  end  of  the 
world  with  him, 
and  die  for  his 
sake. 


[Here  xal  mary  &  \>e  galont  a-woyd. 
angyll  goth  to  \>e  word,  \>e  flych,  &  \> 
sayywg  j^e  bad  angyl. 


546 

&  be  bad 
dylfe,  b«s 


[PART  I.     Scene  10.] 

[Bad  Angyl.] 

a  lorges,  a  lorges,  lorddey  alle  at  onys  ! 
36  haue  a  servant  fayer  and  afyabylle, 
for  she  is  fallyn)  in  ower  grogly  gromys  -} 
33,  pryde  callyd  corioste,  to  hut*  is  ful  lavdabyll, 


Part  I.    Scene  10. 
Hell' 


1:47  The  Bad  Angel 

•FT*    tens  the  Devils 


of  Mary  Magda 
lene's  fall 


550 


7<5  MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    I.       SCENES    10,    11. 

and  to  bui*  he  is  most  preysse-abyll,  551 

She  baa  granted  for  she  hath  gravnttyd  hyni)  al  his  bones  : 
Curiosity  all  he  f*. 

askt  she  thynkyt  his  person  so  amyabyll, 

to  her'  syte  he  is  semelyar1  ban)  ony  kyng  in  trones.  554 

diab[o]b«. 

a  !  how  I  tremyl  and  trott  for  jese  tydyngw  !  555 

she  is  a  soveryn  servant*  bat  hath  hur1  fet  in  synne. 
The  Devil  sends   gO  thow  agayn),  and  ewer  be  hur  gyde  : 

Lechery  back  to    °  °  J  °J 

keep  Mary  in       j,e  lavdabyll  lyfe  of1  lecherry  let1  hur  neuer  lynne, 

for  of*  hur1  al  helle  xall  make  reioysseyng1.  559 

Here  goth  ^e  bad  angyl  to  mari  a-gayn. 

rex  diabol//  v  . 

Satan  and  the      fare-well,  fare-well,  36  to  nobyl  kynges  bis  tyde,       560 
Flesh,'  bid  one     for  horn)  in  hasf  I  wol  me  dresse. 

[leaf  107,  back]  DlTlwdtt^. 

another  fare-        fare-well,  satan),  prynsse  of*  pryde  ! 
well. 

flesch. 
fare-well,  semfljyest*  all  sorowys  to  sesse  !  563 

[Here  xal  satan  go  horn  to  his  stage,  and  mari  xal 
entyr  In-to  \>e  place  alone,  save  |>e  bad  angyl  and 
al  \>e  seuen  dedly  synne«  xal  be  co^zveyyd  in-to  }>e 
howse  of  symont  leprovs,  ^ey  xal  be  a-rayyd  lyke 
vij  dylf  :  fms  kept  closse,  mari  xal  be  in  an  erbyr, 
hws  seyynge. 

Part  r~&«u  11.  [PART  I.     Scene  1  1  .] 

Jenualem.  J 

An  Arbour. 


Mary  Magdalene  A  !  god  be  with  my  valentynw,  ^64 

thinks  of  her 

darling  lovers,      My  byrd!  swetyng1,  my  lovys  so  dere  ! 

for  fey  be  bote  for  a  blossum  of*  blysse  j 

me  mervellyt  sore  fey  be  nat  here,  567 

and  will  rest  in    but  I  woll  restyn)  in  b/s  erbyr1 

the  Arbour  till  . 

one  comes  to        A-mons  thes  bamys  precyus  or  prysse, 
Tyll  som)  lover  wol  apere, 

that  me  is  wont  to  halse  and  kysse.  571 

Her  xal  mary  lye  down,  and  slepe  in  be  erbyr. 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  I.   SCENES  12,  13. 


77 


[PART  I.     Scene  12.] 

symond  leprus.  , 

Thys  day  holly  I  po.  in  reme/wberowns  572 

to  solas  my  gestes  to  my  power, 
I  haue  ordeyA/nyd!  a  dyner1  of1  substawns, 
My  chyff  freyndes  fyerwith  to  chy^j  575 

In-to  J>s  sete  I  woll  a-pere, 
ffor  my  gestes  to  make  porvyawns, 
for  tyme  drayt  ny  to  go  to  dyner, 

and  my  offycyrs  be  redy  with  \er  ordynowns.  579 

^[  so  wold!  to  god!  I  myte  have  a-queyntowns  580 

of*  J>e  profyth  of*  trew  perfytnesse, 
to  com)  to  my  place  and  porvyowns ; 
it  wold?  rejoyse  my  hert  in  gret1  gladnesse ;  583 

for  ^e  report  of1  hys  hye  nobyll-nesse 
rennyf  in  contreys  fer  and  nei'j 
Hys  prechejrog1  is  of1  gret  perfythnes, 
of1  rythwysnesse,  and  mercy  cleyr1.  587 

Her  entyr  •  symont  in-to  36  place,  \>e  good  angyll 
\>ua  seyynge  to  Mary. 

[PART  I.     Scene  13.] 

[good  angyll.] 

woman,  womaw,  why  art  J>ou  so  on-stabyll  ?  j88 

ful  bytterly  thys  blysse  it  wol  be  bowth ; 
why  art1  ]?ou  a-^ens  god  so  veryabyll  ? 
wy  thynke*  fou  nat  goo?  made  J)e  of1  nowih  ? 
In  syn)  and  sorow  fou  art  browth,  592 

fleschly  lust1  is  to  }e  full  delectabyll ; 
salue  for  f»i  sowle  must1  be  sowth, 

and  leve  J>i  werkes  wayn)  and  veryabyll.  595 

Remewbyr,  woma?z,  for  j)i  pore  pryde,  596 

How  J>i  sowle  xal  lyyri)  in  helle  fyr1 ! 
U  A !  remembyr  how  sorowful  ittis  to  a-byde 
wztA-owtyn)  eynd  in  angur*  and  Ir[e]  !  599 

romembyr  fe  on)1  mercy  make  ]?i  sowle  clyr* ! 
I  am)  J)e  gost1  of  goodnesse  \>at  so  wold!  36  gydde. 

1  ?  MS.  may  be  cu'  =  cuwz. 


Part  I.    Scene  12. 

Bethany. 

The  House  of 

Simon  the  Leper. 


Simon  has 
orderd  a  grand 
dinner. 


[leaf  108] 

He  wishes  he 
could  get  the 


Prophet,  to  come 
to  it, 


for  His  preach 
ing  is  of  Right 
eousness  and 
Mercy. 


Part  I.  Scene  13. 
Mary's  Arbour 
in  Jerusalem. 


The  Good  Angel 
warns  Mary  to 


seek  healing 
for  her  soul, 


which  else  shall 
lie  in  the  fire  of 
hell. 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  I.   SCENES  13,  U. 


[leaf  108,  i~ick]  mary. 

Mary  Magdalene  A  !  how  J>e  speryf  of  goodnesse  hat  promtyt  me  J)is  tyde, 
And  temtyd  me  with  tytyll  of1  trew  perfythnesse. 
A-las !  how  bettemesse  In  my  hert  doth  a-byde  !       604 
I  am)  wonddyd  with  werkej  of1  gret  dystresse.  605 

A  !   how  pynsynesse  potytt  me  to  oppresse, 
that*  I  haue  synnyd  on)  euery  syde. 
O  lord  !  wo  xall  put*  me  from)  Jjis  peynfulnesse  ?       608 
A !  woo  xal  to  mercy  be  my  gostly  gyde  ? 
U  I  xal  porsue  J>e  prophett*,  wherso  he  be, 
for  he  is  fe  welle  of1  perfyth  charyte ;  61 1 

be  J>e  oyle  of*  mercy  he  xal  me  relyft". 
witA  swete  bawmys  I  wyl  sekyn)  hym)  )>is  syth, 
and  sadly  folow  his  lordshep  in  eche  degre. 


laments  her  (in ; 


and  asks  who 
shall  deliver 
her. 

She  resolves 


to  seek  Christ. 


614 


Parti. 

Bethany. 
Simon'i  House. 


Christ  enters, 
and  Simon 
beseeches  Him 


to  dine  with 
him. 


Jesus  says  he 
will, 


[leaf  109] 

and  enters 
Simon's  house. 


Simon  thanks 
him, 


[PART  I.     Scene  14.] 


[Here  xal  entyr  be  prophet  vrith  his  desyplys,  bus 
seyyng  syxnont  leprus. 

[symont  leprus.] 

Now  ye  be  welcom),  mastyr,  most1  of1  magnyfycens,  615 
I  be-seche  yow  benyngly  }e  wol  be  so  gracyows 
yf*  fat  it*  be  lekyng1  on)-to  yower  hye  presens 
thys  daye  to  com)  dyne  af  my  hows.  618 


lesuS. 

god  a  mercy,  symont1,  )>at  J»ou  wyltf  me  knowe ! 
I  woll  entyr  J>i  hows  with  pes  and  vnyte ; 
I  am)  glad  for  to  resf ;  \er  grace  gynn)  f  grow  j 
for  witA-inne  )?i  hows  xal  rest*  charyte, 
And  J>e  bemys  of1  grace  xal  byn)  Illumynows. 
But1  syth  J)ou  wytystf  saff*  a  dyner*  on)  me, 
wit  A  pes  and  grace  I  entyr  \\  hows. 

symond1. 

I  thank  yow,  master,  most1  benyng  and  gracyus, 
that*  yow  wol  cf1  yowr  hye  soverente  j 
to  me  Ittw  a  loye  most1  speceows, 


619 


622 
623 


626 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  I.   SCENE  14.  79 

witA-Inne  my  hows  bat  I  may  yow  se  ! 

now  syt  to  be  bord,  mastyrs  alle.  630  and  bids  aU  sit 

}  °      down  to  table. 

[Her  xal  mary  folowa-longe,wtt^  bis  lamentacyorc. 

mary. 

0  I,  cursyd  cayftyff1,  bat  myche  wo  hath  wrowth     631  Mary  Magdalene 

reproaches  her- 

A.-}ens  my  makar,  of*  myt&y  most1;  self  for  her  sin, 

1  have  offendyd?  hym)  with  dede  and  thowth, 

But*  in  his  grace  is  all  my  trost1,  634  buttrustsin 

God's  grace. 

Or  elles  I  know  well  I  am)  but  lostf, 

body  and  sowle  damdpnyd!  perpetuall. 

$et,  good  lord  of1  lorddey,  my  hope  perhenuall,          63  7 

witk  be  to  stond  In  grace  and  fawowr  to  se, 

thow  knowystf  my  hart  and  thowt  in  especyal  ;  He  knows  her 

therfor,  good  lord,  after  my  hart  reward1  me.  640 


[Her  xal  mary  wasche  \>e  fett  of  be  prophet  with  christfeet 
J?e  terres  of  hur  yys,  whypyng  hem  wit  h  hur  herre,  with  her  tears, 
and  ban  a-noynt  hym  wit  h  a  precyus  noyttment.  wipes  them  with 

her  hair,  and 
anoints  them 

lesuB  dicifr. 

symond,  I  thank  }e  speceally  641  Jesus  says, 

for  bis  grett  r[e]pasf  bat  her*  hath  bej 

But1,  symond1,  I  telle  be  fectually  [leaf  109,  back] 

I  have  thyngey  to  seyn)  to  be.  644 

Symond*. 
Master,  qwat  your  wyll  be,  645  "Simon,  I  have 

.  somewhat  to 

and!  it  plese  yow,  I  well  yow  her,  say  to  thee  : 

seyth  your  lykyng1  on)-to  me, 

&  al  be  plesawnf  of1  yowr  mynd1  and  desyyr.  648 

lesuB. 
symond1,  ber  was  a  man  in  bis  present  lyf,  649  A  man  had  2 

poor  debtors. 

the  wyche  had  to  dectoz/rs  well  suer, 

be  whych  wher  pore,  and  myth  make  no  icstoratjf1, 

But1  stylle  in  b^r  de^f  ded  in-duowrj  652 

be  on)  ow  Jt  hym)  an  hondyrd  pense  ful  suer",  One  owd  him 

100  pence,  the 

&  be  other  fefty,  so  be  -fell  b-  (hanse;  other  so  ;  and 

&  be-cawse  he  cowdl  nat  hw  mony  recure,  655 


8o 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    I.       SCENE    14. 


he  forgave  them  they  askydf  hym)  for-jewnesse  j  and  he  for-iaf1  in  substans : 

both. 

but,  symont1,  I  pray  je,  answer  me  to  ]>is  sentens,      657 
whych  of1  j>es  to  personnel  was  most1  be-holddyn)  to  fat 
man? 

symond. 

Master,  and  it  pleje  yowr  hey  presens, 

He  fat  most  owjt  hym),  as  my  resoii)  jef1  can).  660 


Which  was 
most  beholden 
to  him  T" 

Simon  : 

"  The  one  that 
owd  him  most ! ' 


Jesus : 

"  Thou  hast 
judgd  rightly. 


Ye  two  are  the 
debtors : 
[leaf  110] 


this  woman  lias 
washt  my  feet 
with  her  tears, 
anointed  them, 
and  wiped  them 
with  her  fair 
hair. 


Thou  .Hdst 
neither. 


Woman,  I 
forgive  thee, 
and  make  theo 
whole  in  soul !  " 


lesul. 


66l 


664 


Recte  ivdicasti !  j>ou  art  a  wyse  man 

and  fis  quessou)  hast*  dempte  trewly. 

yff1  Jm  In  fi  concyens  remewbyr  can), 

30  to,  be  $e  dectowrs  fat  I  of*  specefy. 

But1,  symond1,  be-holdf  J?is  woman  in  al  wyse, 

How  she  with  teres  of*  hyr  better  wepyng4 

she  wassheth  my  fete,  and  dothe  me  servyse, 

and  anoy[n]tyf  hem  with  onymentes,  lowly  knelyng*,  668 

&  with  her  her,  fayer  and  brygth  shynnyng1, 

she  wypeth  hem)  agayn)  w ith  good  In  ententt ; 

^f  But1,  symont*,  syth  that  I  entyrd  J>i  hows,  671 

To  wasshe  my  fete  Jjou  dedysf  nat  aplye, 

Nor  to  wype  my  fete  Jjou  wer*  nat  so  faworzw ; 

wherfor  In  J)i  conscyens  \>ou  owttysf  nat  to  replye.   674 

But,  woman,  I  sey  to  J>e  werely, 

I  for-geyfFe  j»e  )>i  wrecchednes.se, 

And  hoi  In  sowle  be  J>ou  made  \>erby !  677 


Mary  Magd.  : 

"  Blessed  i>e        O  blessyd1  be  bf>u,  lord?  of1  euer-lastyng1  lyfe  ! 

thou,  Lord  of  }  }    "     } 

Life!  &  blyssyd1  be  J)i  berth  of1  J>at  puer  vergynne ! 

Blyssydf  be  J)ou,  repast*  contemplatyf1, 
A-jens  my  seknes,  helth,  and  medsyn)! 
and  for  fat  I  haue  synuyd  In  J>e  synne  of*  pryde, 

I  will  clothe  me    I  Wol  en-abvte  me  with  humelyte  : 

in  Humility,  '  ' 


Patience  and 
Charity." 


A-jens  wrath  and  envy,  I  wyl  devyde 
Thes  fayer  vertuys,  pacyens  and  charyte. 


678 


68 1 


68.$ 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PAKX    I.       SCENE    14.  8  1 

Iesu&.  [leal  110,  back] 

Woman),  in  cowtrysson)  fou  art*  expert1,  686  Jesus  bids  Mary 

And  in  Jn  sowle  hast*  Inward  my  the 

That1  sumtyme  were  In  desert1, 

and  from)  therknesse  hast1  porchasydl  lyth  ;  689 

thy  feyth  hath  savyf  fe,  and  made  J>e  bryth  ; 

Wherfor  I  sey  to  fe,  "  vade  In  pace."  691  depart  in  peace. 

[With  I?is  word  vij  dyllys  xall  de-woyde  frome  >e  r  Devils  go  out 
woman,  and  the  bad  angyll  enter  into  hell  with  of  her  ^to  Hell. 
thondyr. 

[Maria.] 
O  JJGU  glorym  Lord  !  fis  rehersyd  for  my  sped,         692  she  thanks 

_  Jesus. 

sowle  helth  attes  tyme  for-to  recure. 
Lord,  for  fat  I  was  In  whanhope,  now  stond  I  In  dred', 
But  fat  pi  gret  mercy  with  me  may  endure  ;  695 

My  thowth  J)ou  knewyst1  witA-owtyn)  ony  dowth  ; 
now  may  I  trost*  fe  techeyng1  of1  Izaye  in  scryplwr, 
Wos  report*  of*  f  i  nobyllnesse  rennyt  fer*  abowt.  698 


Blyssyd  be  fey  at  alle  tyme,  699  He  tells  her  to 

that  sen  me  nafr,  and  have  me  in  credens  ; 

With  contrysson)  fou  hast1  mad  a  recuwzpens, 

fi  sowle  to  save  from)  all  dystresse  ; 

be  war*,  and  kepe  f  e  from)  alle  neclygens,  be  careful  ; 

.  and  she  shall 

and  after  fou  xal  be  pertener  or  my  blysse.  704  partake  of  his 

bliss. 

[Here  devodyte  lesus  -with  Ta.is  desipylles,  |?e  good        [leaf  ni] 
angyll  reioysynge  ofe  mawdleyw. 


Holy  god,  hyest  of  omwipotewcy,  705  The  Good  Angel 

The  astat  of  good  gove?-nowns  to  J>e  I  recuwmered, 

HuTwbylly  be-secheyng1  fyn)  Inperall  glorye,  prays  Jesus  to 

In  fi  devyn)  vertu  vs  to  comprehend*.  708 

^[  and  delectabyll  le^u,  soverreyn)  sapyens, 

Ower  feyth  we  recu/ramend'  on)-to  yowr  purpete, 

Most  mekely  prayyr.g1  to  your  holy  aparens, 

Illumyn)  ower  ygnorans  witA  yowr  devynyte  !  712 

DIGBY    MY8T.  G 


82  MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    I.        SCENES    14    AND    16. 

The  Good  Angel  ye  be  clepyd  Redempcyon)  of  sowlys  defens,  713 

whyche  shal  ben)  obscuryd!  be  J>i  blessyd1  mortalyte. 
O  lux  vera,  gravnt  vs  jower  lucense, 
that  -with  fe  spryte  of  errowr  I  nat  seduet  be  !  716 

nSTthed^hly     "^nc*  sPerytzw  a'me>  to  yow  most  benyne, 
Trinity  that        thre  persons  In  trenyte,  and  on  god  eterne, 

Most1  lowly  ower  feyth  we  consyngne, 
they  may  come    J>at  we  may  com  to  your  blysse  gloryfyed  from)  malywgne, 

&  wit  A  your  gostely  bred  to  fede  vs,  we  desyern).       721 

&«Mi£  'HM.  [.PART  I.     Scene  15..] 

Eex  deabolw.f. 

A,  owt,  owt,  and  harrow  !  I  am  hampord  wilh  hate  !  722 

In  hast  wyl  I  set  on  lugmentt  to  sej 
[leaf  111,  back]    \vith  thes  betyll  browyd  bycheys  I  am  at  debate. 

The  Ring  of  the 

Devils  cuiit  up     How  !  belfagowr  and  beljabub  !  com  vp  here  to  me  !   725 
^fdgi  Tthe'  ^  [Here  aperytte  to  dyvllys  be-fore  f>e  master. 

secu//d//y  diabol//-. 
Here,  lord,  here  !  qwat  wol  }e  ? 

terciiis  diabolw.v. 

the  lugme/ft  of  harlottw  here  to  se, 
settyng1  In  ludycyal  lyke  a  state.  728 

Bad  Angel  who    How,  thow  bad  angyll  !  a-pere  before  my  grace  ! 

Magdalene. 

'  malign/^. 


as  flat  as  fox,  I  falle  before  yowr  face. 

I"1  Diabolwj. 

thow  thefte,  wy  hast1  Jj-m  d<.u>  nlle  fis  trespas, 

to  lett  J>en)  woman  ]?i  bonder  breke  ?  732 

mali[g]n'/\  spir/'/ws. 
the  speryt  of  grace  sore  ded  hyr  smythj 
8c  temptyd1  so  sore  |>at  Ipocryte. 

I1 


He's  to  be  Ja  !  thys  hard  balys  on)  bi  bottokkys  xall  byte  ! 

beaten  on  hi«  ' 

buttocks,  In  hast*  on)  J>e  I  wol  be  wroke.  73" 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    I.       SCENES    15    AND    16. 


720   and  so  are  all 
'  oy   the  other  7 


house  [?  whose.] 


cum  vp,  }e  horsons,  and  skore  a-wey  Jje  yche !  737 

&  with  thys  panne  $e  do  hym)  pycche  ! 
cum  of,  }e  harlottes,  Jiot  yt  wer  don) ! 

[Here  xall  }>ey  serva  all  \>e  seuyne  as  f?ey  do  \>e  freste.  Devils  who 

Primus  Deabok*.  Maiy> 

Now  have  I  a  part  of  my  desyer1 :  740 

goo  In-to  pis  howsse,  je  lordeynney  here, 
&  loke  ye  set  yt  on)  a  feyer1, 
&  Jjaf  xall  hem)  a-wake.  743 

[Here  xall  j?e  tother  deylles  sette  \>e  howse  one  a        [leaf  112] 
fyere,  and  make  a  sowth,  and  mari  xall  go  to  lazar  T1ie  °ther  Devils 
andtomartha. 

I"'  diabolzw. 

So,  now  have  we  well  afrayyd  ]>ese  felons  ffals !          744 

They  be  blasyd  both  body  and  hals ! 

Now  to  hell  lett  vs  synkyn)  als, 

to  ower  felaws  blake.  747 

IP  ART  I.     Scene  16.] 

mari  mavgleyra. 
O  brother,  my  barter  cowsolacyown) !  748 

0  blessyd  In  lyffe,  and  solytary  ! 

the  blyssyd  prophet,  my  cowfortacyown), 
He  hathe  made  me  clene  and  delectary, 
the  wyche  was  to  synne  a  subiectary. 
Thys  kyng*  cryste  corasedyryd  his  creacyown) ; 

1  was  drynchyn)  In  synne  deversarye 

tyll  J)at  lord  relevyo?  me  be  his  domynacy^n), 
grace  to  me  he  wold  never  de-nye  j 
thowe  I  were  nevyr  so  synful,  he  seyd? '  revertere ' ! 
O,  I  synful  creature,  to  grace  I  woll  a-plye ; 
the  oyle  of1  mercy  hath  helyd?  myn)  Infyrmyte. 

martha. 

now  worchepyd?  be  Jjat  hey  name,  le^u,  760  Martha  says 

the  wyche  In  latyn)  is  callyd?  savyower ! 
fulfyllyng*  pat  word  ewyn)  of  dewe, 

to  alle  synfull  and  seke  he  is  sokowr.  763 

G  2 


Part  I. 

Scene  16. 

The  Castle  of 

Maudleyn, 

Bethany. 

Mary  Magdalene 
tells  Lazarus 
how  Jesus 
cleansd  her  of 
sin, 


and  bade  her 
'  Turn  again.' 


He  is  the  suc 
cour  of  all 
sinners. 


84  MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    I.       SCENE    16. 

Lazarus. 
[leaf  112.  backj   systyr,  $e  be  welcuw  on)-to  yower  to  were !  764 

Mme*Matf*i8ter   ^'ac^  *n  kart  °fy°wer  obessyawnse, 

<uiene.  wheyl  bat  I  leffe,  I  wyl  serve  hym)  with  honour, 

that  je  have  forsakyn)  synne  and  varyawfis.  767 

mary  JUavdeleyn. 

chrilit**"  Cryst'  J*at  is  J56  ^th  and  J56  cler  daye'  768 

He  hath  on)-curyd  be  therknesse  of  be  clowdy  nyth. 

of  lyth  be  lucens  and  lyth  veray, 
Wos  prechyng1  to  vs  is  a  gracyows  lyth, 
Lordf,  we  be-seche  be,  as  bou  art1  most4  of  myth,        772 
to  give  them       Owf  of1  be  ded  slep  of1  therknesse  de-fend  vs  aye  ! 

grace  to  serve  y 

Htm  ever.  gyff<  vs  grace  ewyr  to  rest1  In  lyth, 

In  quyet  and  In  pes  to  serve  be  nyth  and  day !  775 

[Here  xall  lazar  take  his  deth,  }  us  seyyng- 

[Lazarus.] 
lAiarusia  A,  help,  help,  systyrs !  forcharyte!  776 

stricken  with 

death,  and  calls    a_ias  i  dethe  is  sett  at  my  hart : 

to  his  sisters  * 

for  help.  a  i  iey  on)  hande*  !  wher  ar1  30  ? 

a  !  I  faltyr  and  falle  !  I  wax  alle  on)-quarte !  779 

A  !  I  borne  a-bove ;  I  wax  alle  swertt ! 

A,  good  lesM,  thow  be  my  gyde ! 

A !  no  lengar  now  I  reverte  ! 

I  yeld1  vp  be  gost1,  I  may  natt1  a-byde !  783 

[leaf  113]  mary  THavdeleyn. 

Mary  Magdalene  Q  eood  brother,  take  covwzforth  and  myth,  784 

comforts  him. 

and?  lett  non)  heuynes  In  $ower  hart1  a-byde  j 

Lett  a-way  alle  bis  feyntnesse  and  fretth, 

&  we  xal  gete  yow  leches,  jower  peyne^  to  devyde.  787 

martha. 
Martha  says        A !  I  syth  and  sorow,  and  sey,  a-las !  788 

thys  sorow  ys  a-poynt  to  be  my  confusyon). 
they'll  go  for       lentyl  syster,  hye  we  from)  bis  place, 

Christ. 

for  be  prophe[t]  to  hy m  hatt  grett  delectacyon) ;        79 1 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  I.   SCENE  17. 


8.5 


good  brother*,  take  somrae  comfortacyon), 
for  we  woll  go  to  seke  yow  cure. 


793 


[Here  goth  mary  and  martha,  and  mett  vrith  lesws, 
|?us  seyynge. 

\_P ART  /.     Scene  17.] 

[Mary  &  Martha.] 

O  lord  Ie.ni,  ower  melleflueus  swettnesse,  794 

thowe  art  grettest  lord  In  glorie, 
Lover  to  J»e  lord  In  all  lowlynesse ! 
Comfort  J>i  creator  J>at  to  J>e  crye !  797 

be-hold!  yower  lover,  good  lord?,  specyally, 
How  Lazar1  lyth  seke  In  grett  dystresse  ! 
He  ys  )>i  lover,  lord?,  suerly ; 
on-bynd  hym),  good  lord,  of*  his  heuynesse  !  80 1 


Part  1. 

Scene  17. 

Beyond  Jordan. 


Mary  and 
Martha  tell 
Jesus  that 
Lazarus  is  sick, 


and  ask  Him  to 
heal  him. 


lesuS. 

of*  all  In-fyrmyte,  J>er  is  now  to  deth,  802 

for  of*  all  peynnes  \>at  is  Inpossyble. 
To  vndyr*-stond  be  reson),  to  know  J>e  werke,  804 

the  loye  j>at  is  in  lerw^allem  heuenly, 
Can)  never  be  cowipylyd1  be  covnnyng1  of*  clerke, 
to  se  fe  loyys  of1  ]>e  fathyr  In  glory,  807 

the  loyys  of*  ]>e  sorane  whych  owth  to  be  magnyfyed, 
And  of1  J>e  therd  person,  ]>e  holy  gosf  truly, 
&  alle  iij  but  on)  In  heuen)  gloryfyedf.  810 

Now,  women,  fat  arn  In  my  presens  here, 
of1  my  wordys  take  a-wysemewt  ; 
go  hona)  3-3611  to  yower  brothyr  Lazere  ; 
my  grace  to  hym)  xall  be  sent1.  814. 


.  back] 


Jesus  bids  them 
go  home. 
His  grace  shall 
be  sent  to 
Lazarus. 


mary  "SILavdeleyn, 

O  thow  gloryuj  lord?,  here  present, 
We  yeld?  to  Jje  salutacyon) ! 
In  ower  weyys  we  be  expedyent1 ; 
now,  Lord",  vs  defend1  from)  trybulacyon) ! 


8 1  <    They  thank 
J    Him, 


818 


[Here  goth  mary  and  martha  homvard,  and  leans  and  go  home  to 
devodyte.  Bethany- 


86 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    I.       SCENE    18. 


Parti. 

Scene  IS. 
The  Outfit  of 
Maudleyn,  and 
the  Sepulchn 
in  Bethany. 


Lazarus  bids 
his  sisters  fare 
well,  and  dies. 


[leaf  114] 


Martha  says 


they  must 
bury  Lazarus. 


Mary  adds, 
'  with  Weepers 

clad  in  black.' 


Neighbours 
come  weeping. 


The  grave  is 
made  ready. 


I.     Scene  18.] 
Lazarus 

A  !  In  woo  I  waltyr,  as  wawys  In  J>e  wynd! !  819 

A-wey  ys  went  all  my  sokowr ! 
A  !  deth,  deth,  J>ou  art  on)-kynd? ! 
Ala!  now  brystyt1  myn)  hartt !  J)is  is  a  sharp  shower ! 
fare-well,  my  systyrs,  my  bodely  helth  !  823 

[mortuis  est. 

mary  JUavdeleyn. 
lesu,  my  lord,  be  yower  sokowi*, 
And  he  mott  be  yower  gostes  welth !  825 

prim//?  miles. 

goddes  grace  mott  be  hys  governowr,  826 

In  loy  euerlastyng1  for*  to  be  ! 

secu//d//v  miles. 

A-monge  alle  good  sowlys  send  hym)  favour 
as  J>i  power1  ys  most1  of1  dygnyte  !  829 

martha. 

Now  syn)  J>e  chans  is  fallyn)  soo  830 

that  deth  hath  drewyn)  hym)  don)  |>is  day, 
we  must*  nedys  ower  devyrs  doo, 
to  J>e  erth  to  bryng*  hym)  witA-owt  delay.  833 

mary  TlLavdeleyn. 

as  J?e  vse  is  now,  and  hath  byn)  aye,  834 

witA  wepers  to  fe  erth  yow  hym)  bryng1  j 
alle  ))is  must  be  donne  as  I  yow  saye, 
Clad1  In  blake,  wztA-owtyn)  lesyng1.  837 

primus  miles. 

gracyows  ladyys  of1  grett  honowr,  838 

thys  pepull  is  com)  here  In  yower  syth, 
wepyng1  and  welyng  with  gret  dolowr 
be-cavse  of1  my  lordes  dethe.  841 

[Here  be  one  knygth  make  redy  be  stone,  and 
other  bryng  in  be  wepars  arayyd  in  blak. 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    I.        SCENE    19. 


•primus  miles. 

Now,  good  fryndes  ]>at  here  be,  842 

Take  vp  thys  body  with  good  wyll, 
&  ley  it  In  his  sepoltur  semely  to  se. 
good  lord!,  hym)  save  from)  alle  maner  ille  !  845 

[Lay  hym  In. 

Here  al  \>e  pepyll  resort  to  ]>Q  castell,  pus  seyynge 

lesus. 

[PART  /.     Scene  19.] 

[lesus.] 

Tyme  ys  comyri),  of1  very  cognysson).  846 

My  dyssyplys,  goth  with  me, 
for  to  fulfyll  possybyll  peticion). 

go  we  to-gether  In-to  lude,  849 

Ther1  lazar,  my  frynd,  is  he  ; 
gow  we  to-gether  as  chyldyurra  of*  lyth  ; 
and,  from)  grevos  slepe,  sawen)  heym)  wyll  we. 


Lazarus  is 

laid  in  his  tomb. 


Part  /. 

Scene  19. 

Beyond  Jordan. 


Jesus  bids  his 
Disciples  go  into 
Judea  with  him, 


[leaf  114,  back] 


to  save  Lazarus 
from  sleep. 


Lord,  it  plese  yower  myty  voluwte,  853 

thow  he  slepe,  he  may  be  savyd  be  skyll. 

"LesuS. 

That  is  trew,  and  be  possybilyte  ; 

therfor  of1  my  deth  shew  yow  I  wyll.  856 

^f  My  fathyr,  of1  nemyows  charyte, 
sent  me,  his  son),  to  make  redemcyon), 
wyche  was  cowseyvyd  be  puer  verginyte, 
And  so  In  my  mother  had  cler  Incarnacrc  n);  860 

and  herfor*  must  I  sutfyr"  grewos  passyon) 
ondyr*  povnse  pylat,  with  grett  perplexite, 
betyn),  bobbyd,  skoernyd,  crownnyd  with  thorne  : 
Alle  J)is  xall  be  fe  soferons  of1  my  deite.  864 

^[  I,  therfor,  hastely  folow  me  now, 
for  Lazar  is  ded  verely  to  preve  ; 
whe[r]tbr  I  am)  loyfull,  I  sey  ori)-to  yow, 
that  I  knowlege  yow  \er-with,  fiat  ye  may  it  beleve.  868 

[Here  xal  lesus  com  vrith  "his  dissipules  ;  and  one 
lew  tellyt  martha. 


He  tells  them 
how  his  Father 
sent  him, 
born  of  a  pure 
Virgin, 


to  be  beaten, 
and  crownd 
with  thorns. 


And  that 
Lazarus  is  dead. 


88 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    I.       SCENE    20. 


rartl. 
ScrneVO. 
Bethany. 


[leaf  115] 

Martha  runs 
to  greet  Christ, 
and  says, 


If  he'd  been 

there, 

her  brother  'ud 

not  have  died. 

Jesus  rays  that 


869 


872 


[PART  I.     Scene  20.] 

[lew.] 

A  !  martha,  Martha  !  be  full  of1  gladnesse  ! 
for  be  prophett  ys  cowyng*,  I  sey  trewly, 
witA  his  dyssypyllw  In  grett  lowlynesse} 
He  shall  yow  cowifortt  witA  his  mercy. 

[Here  martha  xall  ronne  a-jene  lesua,  f>us  seyynge. 

[Martha.] 

a,  Lord !  me,  sympyl  creatur,  nat  denye !  873 

thow  I  be  wrappyd  In  wrecchydnesse ! 
Lord1,  and  bou  haddystf  byn)  her",  werely 
My  brother  had  natt  a  byn)  ded ;  I  know  well  thysse.  876 

lesuS. 

Martha,  docctor  !  on)-to  be  I  sey,  877 

thy  brother  xall  reyse  agayn). 

martha. 

yee,  lord,  at  be  last  day  j 
that  I  be-leve  ful  pleyn).  880 


ail  who  believe     I  am)  be  resurreccvon)  of1  lyfe,  bat  euer  xall  reywne :  88  j 

in  him  shall  '  J        * 

have  everlasting  &  whoso  be-levyt  verely  In  me 

life. 

Xall  have  lyfe  euerlastyng1,  be  soth  to  seyn). 

martha,  be-levyst  thow  bis  [truly]  ?  884 

martha. 

3e,  forsoth,  be  prynsse  of1  blysch !  885 

I  be-leve  In  cryst,  be  son)  of1  sapyens, 
whyche  witA-owt  eynd1  ryngne  xall  he, 
To  redemyn)  vs  freell  from)  ower  Iniquite.  888 

[Here  mary  xall  falle  to  lesua,  )^us  seyynge  mary. 

[leaf  us,  back]  mary  M. 

Mary  tells  Jesus  Q  bou  rythewys  regent1,  reynywg  in  equite,  889 

that  if  he  had 

been  with  em,      hou  gTacyows  lord1,  bou  swete  lesus  I 

their  brother  6        / 

had  not  died.       And1  bou  haddyst  byn)  her*,  my  brothyr  a-lyfe  had1  be. 
good  lord1,  myn)  hertt  doth  bis  dyscus.  892 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    I.       SCENE    20. 


lest.*. 

Wher  have  }e  put  hym)?-  sey  me  thys.  893  Jesus  orders 

mary  M. 
In  his  mo[nu]me«t,  lord?,  is  he. 

Jesus. 

to  that  place  je  me  wysj 

Thatt  grave  I  desyre  to  se.  896 

take  of1  )>e  ston)  of  )>is  monvmewt ! 
The  agremewt  of1  grace,  her*  shewyn)  I  wyll. 

martha. 

A,  lord?,  yower  presepttt  fulfyllyd?  xall  be ;  899 

thys  ston)  I  remeve  with  glad!  chyr. 
gracyows  lord?,  I  aske  J>e  mercy, 
thy  wyll  mott  be  fullfyllyd?  here.  902 

[Here  xall  martha  put  ofe  pe  grave-stone. 


the  stone  to  be 
taken  off 
Lazarus's  tomb. 


Martha  takes  it 
off. 


lesuS. 

Now,  father,  I  be-seche  thyn)  hey  paternyte,  903 

that  my  prayowr  be  resowwdable  to  J)i  fathyrod  In  glory, 
to  opyn)  J)eyn)  erys  to  J)i  son)  In  humanyte ! 
nat  only  for  me,  but  for  J?i  pepyll  verely,  906 

That  fey  may  be-leue,  and  be-take  to  J)i  mercy, 
fathyr  !  for1  J?em)  I  make  supply cacyon). 
gracyows  father !  gravnt  me  my  bone  ! 
Lazer  !   Lazer  !  com)  hethyr  to  me  !  910 

[Here  xall  lazar  a-ryse,  trossyd  vrith  towelles,  In 
a  shete. 

^  Lazar. 

A !  my  makar,  my  savyowr  !  blyssyd  mott  fou  be !  911 

Here  men  may  know  ])i  werkey  of*  wondyr1 ! 

Lord,  no  thy[n]g  ys  on)-possybyll  to  the, 

for  my  body  and  my  sowle  was  departyd  asonder !    914 

I  xuld1  a1-rottyt,  as  doth  fe  tondyr* 

fleysch  from)  pe  bonys  a1-cowsumyd  a-way.  916 


Jesus  prays  to 
his  Father, 


[leaf  116] 
and  bids 
Lazarus  conr- 
to  him. 
Lazarus  rises 
from  his  tomb, 


and  blesses 
Jesus. 


['  a  =  have] 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PT.   I.       SC.  20.       PT.   II.       SC.  21. 


Lazarus  pro 
claims  God's 
goodness. 


The  folk  tay 
they  believe  in 
Jesus. 


Now  is  a-loftt,  Jiat  late  was  ondyr !  917 

the  goodnesse  of1  god  hath  don)  for  me  here ; 

for  he  is  bote  of1  all  balys  to  on)-byndf, 

that  blyssyd1  lord  J>at  here  ded  a-pere.  920 

[Here  all  be  pepull,  and  be  lewys,  mari,  and  martha 
with  one  woys  sey  bes  wordes :  we  be-leve  in  yow 
eavyowr,  lea  us,  leaua,  ICSUB  I 


PART  if. 

Scene  21. 
Mareylle. 

[leaf  116,  back] 
The  King  :— 
'  Why  don't  ye 
bend  low  to  me, 
ye  blabber-lipt 
bitches  ? 


I'm  the  Head  of 
all  Heathendom, 


King  of 
Marcylle  ! 


I  have  a  lovely 
wife. 


921 


[lesus.] 

of1  yower  good  hertes  I  have  ad-vertacyounes, 
where  thorow,  In  sowle  holl  made  je  be ; 
be-twyx  yow  and  me  be  never  varyacyounes, 
Wherfor  I  sey,  "  vade  In  pace."  924 

[Here  devoydyt  leaus  vrith  his  desypylles ;  mary, 
<  i  in  I  martha,  and  lazare,  gone  home  to  be  cast  ell ;  and 
here  [the  kyng  of  Marcylle]  be-gynnyt  hys  boste. 

[PART  II.     Scene  21.] 

[Kyng  of  Marcylle.] 

A-wantt,  a-want  J>e,  on-worthy  wrecchesse  !  925 

Why  lowtt  je  nat  low  to  my  lawdabyll  presens, 
ye  brawlyng*  breelles,  and  blabyr-lyppyd  bycchys, 
obedyenly  to  obbey  me  with-owl  of-fense  ?  928 

I  am  a  sofereyn)  semely,  pat  ye  se  butt  seyld  j  929 

non  swyche  onder  sonne,  Jje  sothe  for  to  say  ; 
whanne  I  fare  fresly  and  fers  to  J>e  feldf, 
my  fomen  fle  for  fer  of1  my  fray. 

ewen)  as  an  enperower  I  am)  onored  ay,  933 

Wanne  baner  gyn)  to  blasse,  and  bewimys  gyn)  to  blow. 
Hed  am)  I  heyesf  of*  all  hethennesse  holld1 !  935 

both  kyngge*  and  cayseres,  I  woll  ])ey  xall  me  know, 
Or  elles  j>ey  bey  the  bargayn),  J>at  ewer  Jiey  wer1  so  bold. 
^[  I  am)  kyng*  of1  marcylle,  talys  to  be  told!;  938 

Thus  I  wold1  it  wer1  knowyn)  ferre  and  ner*. 
Ho  sey  cowtraly,  I  cast  heym)  In  care.v  coldf, 
and  he  xall  bey  the  bargayn)  wondyr  dere.  941 

I  have  a  favorows  fode,  and  fresse  as  the  fakown),      942 
she  is  full  fayer  In  hyr  femynyte;  943 


MARY    MAGDALENE.        PART    II.       SCENES    21    AND    22.  9! 

whaii)  I  loke  on)  j>is  lady,  I  am)  lofty  as  the  lyon) ; 

In  my  syth,  945 

of*  delycyte  most*  delycyows,  046  She's  the  most 

delicious 

or  relachyp  most1  felecyows,  creature  alive.' 

of*  alle  fodys  most1  favarows, 

o  !  my  blysse  !  In  bevteus  brygth !  949 

regina.  Deaf  117] 

O  of1  condycyons,  and  most  onorabyll !  950  The  Queen  of 

.  Marcylle  thanks 

Lowly  1  thank  yow  for  pis  recummewdacyon)  o  o   the  King  for  his 

3  'SO       praise  of  her. 

the  bovnteest,  and  the  boldest  onder  baner  bryth  ! 
no  creatur  so  coroscarat  to  my  consolacyon) ! 
whan)  the  regent  be  resydewt,  ittis  my  refeccyow ;      954 
yower  dilectabyll  dedes  devydytt  me  from)  dyversyte ; 
In  my  person  I  privyde  to  put  me  from)  polucyon)j 
To  be  plejawt  to  yower  person,  ittw  my  prosperyte.  957 

rex. 

now  godamercy,  berel  brytest  of1  bewte!  958  He  declares 

j  ,  ,  she's  the  Beryl 

godamercy,  rubu  rody  as  )>e  rose  !  Of  Beauty,    " 

ye  be  so  ple[s]avnf  to  my  pay,  36  put  me  from  peyn. 

now,  comly  knygthys,  loke  fat  $e  forth  dresse 

both  spycys  and  wyn  her1  In  hast.  962  and  orders  wine 

and  spices. 

[Here  xall  J?e  knygtes  gete  spycys  and  wynne.  and 
here  xall  enter  a  dy  lie  In  orebyll  a-ray,  >us  seyy  nge. 

{PART  II.     Scene  22.]  />a,77/. 

r  -  Scene  22. 

[A  Dylle.\  Marcylle. 

Ow^t !  ow$t !  harrow  I  may  crye  and  yelle,  963  A  yelling  Devil 

r       i      .    .       i  •  1    ,         ,        ,        ,.       _  tells  how  Christ 

tor  lost  is  all  ower  labor  !  wherfor  I  sey,  alas  !  has  harrowd 

for  of*  all  holddes  J>at  ever  hort  non)  so  as  hell.  965 

ower  barre^of1  IrorDar  all  to-brost !  stronge  gates  of*  brasse ! 

the  kyng1  of*  loy  enteryd  In  ]?er-at,  as  bryth  as  iyr'ys  blase ! 

for  fray  of1  his  ferfull  baner1,  ower  felashep  fled  asondyr ; 

whan)  he  towcheyd  it,  with  his  toukkyng*  J?ey  brast  as  He  broke  their 

,  iron  gates  like 

ony  glase,  969  glass 

and  rofe  asonder,  as  it  byn)  with  thondor1.  970 

now  ar1  we  thrall,  J>at  fresf  wher  fre,  97  j    [leaf  117,  back] 


M\RY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENES 


AND    23. 


'  Chrifit'a  Cross 
ban  destroyd 
Hell's  work, 

and  emptid 
Limbo  of  Adam. 
Sic. 


He's  risen, 
and  gone  Into 


He's  wiped 
our  eye, 


and  we  shall 
lose  our  victims. 


Ill  go  to  Hell.' 
[leaf  118] 


Part  II. 

Scene  23. 

Jerusalem,  and 

the  Sepulchre. 

Mary  Magda 
lene,  and  Mary 
the  mother  of 
James,  lament 
Christ's  death. 


Be  J>e  passon)  of1  h/.v  manhede. 

O[n]  a  crosce  on)  hye  hangyd  was  he, 

whych  hath  dystroyd  ower  labor  and  alle  ower  dede.  974 

He  hath  lytynnyd  lymbo,  and  to  paradyse  jede.        975 

j>at  wondyr-full  worke  werkytt  vs  wrake : 

Adam)  and  abram),  and  alle  hyr*  kynred, 

Owjt  of*  ower  preson),  to  loy  wer*  J>ey  take  :  978 

all  jris  hath  byn)  wrowth  syn)  freyday  at  nofle  j  979 

brostyn)  don)  ower  gates  Jjat  hangyd  wer*  full  hye. 

Now  is  he  resyn),  his  resurreccyon  is  don), 

And  is  procedyd  In-to  galelye.  982 

•with  many  a  tewztacyon)  we  tochyd  hym)  to  a-trey, 

to  know  whether  he  was  god  or*  non). 

3e[t],  for  all  ower  besynes,  bleryd  is  ower  eye,  985 

for  witA  his  wyld  werke  he  hath  woiine  hem)  everychon. 

now  for  J>e  tyme  to  come  987 

per  xall  non)  falle  to  ower  chanse, 

But  at  his  deleverans, 

And!  weyyd  be  rythfull  balans,  990 

And  jowyn)  be  rythfull  dome. 

I  telle  yow  alle,  In  fine  to  helle  wyll  1  gonne.  992 

[Here  atall  enter  )>e  iij  mariis  a-rayyd  as  chast 
women,  with  sygnis  ofe  ^e  passt'on  pryntyde  vp- 
one  }>er  brest<>,  )pu&  seyynge  Mawdleyn. 

[PJRT  II.     Scene  23.] 

[Mavdlyn.] 

Alas !  alas  !  for  J>at  ryall  bem) !  993 

A  !  J>is  percytt  my  hartt  worst1  of1  all ; 
for  here  he  turnyd  a-^erv  to  )>e  woman  of  Jerusalem), 
And  for  wherynesse  lett  J>e  crosse  falle.  996 

M[aTy]  Jacobe.1 

Thys  sorow  is  beytte.-ai'  J>an)  ony  galle ;  997 

for  here  J).-  If\ys  spornyd  hym)  to  make  hym)  goo  j 

1  This  Mary  was  supposd  to  be  the  supposd  Virgin  Mary's  sister, 
the  wife  of  Alpheus,  the  mother  of  the  Apostle  James,  &c.,  and 
Christ's  Aunt.  She  is  always  identified  with  Mary  Salome,  who  is 
here  a  distinct  person. 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  II.   SCENE  23. 


9-3 


and?  J?ey  dysspyttyd  )vr  kvng1  ryall : 

that  clyvytt  myn)  hart  and  makett  me  woo. 

M.  salome. 

yt  ys  In-tollerabyll  to  se  or  to  tell, 
for  ony  creature,  ]>at  stronkg*  towrmewtry. 
O  lord  !  Jiou  haddyst  a  mervelows  mell ! 
yt  is  to  hedyows  to  dyscry. 


1000 


IOOI  Mary  Salome 
grieves  with 
them. 


1004 


[al  J>e  maryys  with  one  woyce  sey  f>is  folowyrag. 

[Maryy?.] 

Heylle,  gloryows  crosse !  }?ou  baryst  J>at  lord  on)  hye, 
whych  be  J)i  mygth  deddyst  lowly  bowe  don), 
mannys  sowle  to  bye  from)  all  thraldam), 
that  euer-more  In  peyne  shold*  a-be,  1008 

Be  record  of1  davyt,  with  myld*  stevyn), 
Domine,  inclina  celos  tuos,  et  dessende  ! 


The  3  Maries 
hail  the  Cross, 


and  pray  God  to 
come  down. 


1010 


M.  magdleyw. 

Now  to  pe  monument  lett  vs  gon), 
wher  as  ower  lord  and  savyowr  layd?  was, 
to  a-noynt  hym)  body  and  bone, 
To  make  a-mendes  for  ower  trespas. 
Ho  xall  put  don)  j>e  led?  of*  J>e  monvment, 
thatt  we  may  a-noy[n]tt  his  gracyus  wovnde*? 
with  hartt  and  my[n]d  to  do  ower  Intentt, 
with  precyus  bamys,  J>is  same  stovndde*. 

M.  salome. 

Thatt  blyssyd  body  with-In  )?is  bovnd&y 

here  was  layd  with  rvfull  mones ; 

Never  creature  was  borne  vp-on)  grondde^ 

\>at  mygth  sofer1  so  hediows  a  peyne  at  onys.  1022 

Two  angels 

[Here  xall  a-pere  ij  angel«s  In  whyte  at  \>e  grave,  appear  to  them 

at  the  Tomb. 

[I"8]  a«gelw.s. 

}e  women  presentt,  dredytt  yow  ryth  nowth  ?  1023 

lesus  is  resun,  and  is  natt  here. 


[leaf  118,  back] 

1 0 1 1    They  will  go  to 
the  Sepulchre 


and  anoint 
Christ's  wounds. 


1018 


1019 


94  MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENES    23    AND    24. 

Loo  !  here  is  be  place  bat  he  was  In-browth. 

go,  sey  to  his  dysypyllej  and  to  peter  he  xall  a-pere. 


The  Angels  say     Loo  !  here  is  be  place  bat  he  was  In-browth.  102? 

that  Christ  shall 


ij"  angel  •/  s. 

in  Gain**.  In  galelye,  witA-owtyn)  ony  wyre,  1027 

ber  xall  ye  se  hym),  lyke  as  he  sayd1. 
goo  yower  way,  and  take  co/nfortt  and  chyr, 
for  bat  he  sayd,  xall  natt  be  delayyd1.  1030 

[Here  xall  J?e  maryys  mete  wi't//  pet-  ;•  ana1  Ihone. 

Part  II. 
Scene  24. 

[PART  II.     Scene  24.] 


[leaf  119]  M.  mavdly//. 

M«r  Magdalene  o  peter  ana1  Ihon)  !  we  be  be-gylyd*!  1031 

tells  Peter  and  °-r  * 

John  that  ower  lordei  body  is  borne  a-  way  ! 

Christ  s  body  is  J  J 


oarrid  away.  I  am) 

I  am)  so  carefull,  I  wott  natt  whatt  to  saye.  I034 

Peter. 

of*  bes  tydynggys,  gretly  I  dysmay  !  IO35 

I  woll  me  thether*  hye  with  all  my  myth. 
They  resolve  to    now,  lord?  defend  vs  as  he  best  may  ! 

go  to  the  Sepul- 

chre,  or  be  sepulture  we  woll  have  a  syth.  1038 

Ihon). 

Tf  A  !  myn)  Invard1  sowle  stondyng1  In  dystresse,  —  1039 
be  weche  of*  my  body  xuld?  have  a  gyde,  — 
for  my  lord  stondyng*  In  hevynesse, 
lamenting  his      whan)  I  remembyr  hw  wovndej  wyde  !  1042 

sufferings 

Peter. 

The  sorow  and  peyne  bat  he  ded  drye  1043 

for  ower  offens  and  abomynacyon)  ! 

&  also  I  for-soke  hym)  In  hys  turme«try  ; 

I  toke  no  hede  to  hw  techeyug1  and  exortacyon).      1046 

[How  peter  and  Ihon  go  to  \>e  sepulcur,  and  \>* 
maryys  folowyng. 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  II.   SCENE  25.  95 

[PART  II.     Scene  2.5.]  Part  it. 

L  Scene  25. 

T  Peter  1  Tl'e  SepuMire- 

A!  now  I  se  and  know  be  sothe  !  IO47 

but,  gracyus  lord!,  be  ower  protexcyon)  ! 
Here  is  nothyng*  left  butt  a  sudare  cloth, 
fat  of*  ])i  beryyng1  xuld?  make  mencyon).  IO5° 

Ihon). 

I  am)  a-ferd?  of1  wykkytt  opressyon);  105  1 

where  he  is  be-cura,  it  can-natt  be  devysyd?  ; 
butt  he  seyd,  after  be  iijd  day  he  xuld?  have  resurVexon.     St.  John  says 

that  Christ 

Long*  be-forn),  thys  was  promysyd*.  IO54    [leaf  119,  back] 

promist  to  rise 
ere  the  3rd  day. 

M.  magdley«. 

Alas  !  I  may  no  lengar  a-byde,  1055 

for  dolour  and  dyssese  J>at  In  my  hartt  doth  dwell. 

I//,v  angel//,?. 

woman!  womao  !  wy  wepest  bou  ?  1O57 

worn)  sekesfr  bou  wzt/i  dolar*  thus  : 

M.  magdleyra. 
A  !  fayn)  wold?  I  wete,  and  I  wyst  how,  Mary  Magdalene 

asks  the  Angel, 

wo  hath  born)  a-way  my  lord  le^MS.  1060  who  has  can-id 

off  her  lord, 
[Hie  aparuit  lesUB.  Jes^  appears, 


woman!  woman!  wy  syest  thow  ?  1061  and  asks  Mary 

.       .,  .  whom  she  seeks. 

worn)  sekest  bou  ?  tell  me  bis. 

M.  magdlyw. 

A,  good  syr  !  tell  me  now  she  asks  him 

if  he  has  borne 

yf1  bou  have  born)  awey  my  lord  lesus,  1064  away  her  lord 

for  I  have  porposyd!  In  eche  degre  1065 

to  have  hym)  with  me  werely, 

the  wyche  my  specyall  lord  hath  be, 

and  I  his  lover  and  cavse  wyll  phy.  1068 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       FART    II.       SCENE    26. 


IfSUt. 

O  mari !  1069 

M.  magdleyn. 
She  knows  him,   A,  gracyoj  master  and  lord! !  yow  it1  is  fat  I  seke  !  1070 

Lett  me  a-noynt  yow  with  bis  bamys  sote. 

Lord  !  long  hasf  bou  hyd  be  from)  my  spece, 
and  kiss  him.       Butt  now  wyll  I  kesse  bou,  for  my  harte*  bote.        1073 


He  calls  her 
Mary. 


and  wants  to 
anoint 


Ems. 

Jesus  bids  Mary  Towche  me  natt,  mary  !  I  ded  natt  asend? 

not  to  touch 

him.  to  my  father  In  deyyte,  and  on)-to  yowers ; 

[leaf  120]        Butt  go  sey  to  my  brotheryn),  I  wyll  pretende 
To  stey  to  my  father  In  heu[n]ly  towers. 

M.  magdleyn. 
She  at  first         whan)  I  sye  yow  fyrst.  lord,  verely 

thought  he  was  J     J  J 

the  gardener.       I  wentt  ye  had  byn)  symovd,  J)e  gardener. 


1074 


1077 


1078 


Ie.su  S. 


Jesus  says  he  is    so  I  am,  for-sothe,  mary  : 

the  Gardener  of 
man's  Heart, 


1081 


whence  he 
plucks  the 

i  of  Vice. 


mannys  hartt  is  my  gardyn)  here ; 

ber-In  I  sow  sedys  of1  vertu  all  be  jere ; 

be  fowle  wede.s  and  wycys,  I  reynd!  vp  be  be  rote. 

whan)  bat  gardyn)  is  watteryd!  with  terys  clere, 

than)  spryng*  vertuus,  and  smelle  full  sote.  1085 

M.  Magdle//'/. 

O,  )Jou  dere  worthy  emperowere,  b      hye  devyne  !   1086 
to  me  bis  is  a  loyfull  tydyng*, 
And  on)-to  all  pepull  bat  after  vs  xall  reyngne, 
thys  knowlege  of*  bi  deyyte, 
to  all  pepull  bat  xall  obteyne 
and  know  bis  be  posybyl[it]e. 

lesun. 
He  will  appear     I  woll  shew  to  synnars,  as  I  do  to  be, 

to  all  sinners 

who  seek  him.     yf  bey  woll  with  veruens  of1  love  me  seke. 


1088 


1092 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  II.   SCENE  25. 


97 


be  stedfast,  and  I  xall  ever  with  }>e  be, 
and  with  all  tho  J>at  to  me  byn)  meke. 


I095 


[Here  a-voydyt  lesus  sodenly,  }>us  seyy?ig  mary  M. 

O,  systyr !  fws  J>e  hey  and  nobyll  Inflventt  grace    1096 

OF  my  most  blessyd  lord  lesus,  lesus,  lesus  \ 

He  a-peryd  o?z-to  me  at  J>e  sepulcur  Tper  I  was! 

fat  hath  relevyd  my  woo,  and  moryd  my  blysche  !  1099 

ittis  In-nvmerabyll  to  expresse, 

Or  for  ony  long*  for  to  tell, 

of1  my  loye  how  myche  itt&y, 

so  myche  my  peyniies  itt  doth  excelle.  1103 


Mary  says  that 
Christ's  appear 
ing 
[leaf  120,  back] 


has  relierd  her 
woe. 


Mary  Salome 
proposes  to  tell 
Christ's  Mother 
and  his  disciples. 


Jesus  appears  to 
them, 


M.  salonie. 

Now  lett  vs  go  to  fe  sette,  to  ower  lady  dere,          1104 
Hyr  to  shew  of1  his  wellfare, 
and  also  to  dyssypylles  pat  we  have  syn)  here  : 
J?e  more  yt  xall  rejoyse  }>em)  from)  care.  1 107 

M.  lacob. 

Now,  systyr  magdleyn,  with  glad  chyrj  1108 

so  wold!,  pat  good  lord,  we  myth  wftA  hym)  mete  ! 

lesus. 

To  shew  desyrows  hartw  I  am)  full  ner<?; 
womew,  I  a-pere  to  yow,  and  sey  '  awete.'  1 1 1 1 

salome. 

Now,  grocyus  lord,  of1  yower  nymyos  charyte, —    1112 
With  hombyll  harte^  to  Jn  presens  cowplayne, — 
gravntt  vs  J)',  blyssyng1  of*  J»   hye  deyte, 
gostly  ower  sowlys  for  to  sostey/aie.  1 1 15 

lesua. 

alle  tho  byn)  blyssycB  ]>at  sore  refreynne  :  1 1 16  blesses  them, 

we  blysch  yow,  father,  and  son),  and  holy  gosf, 
all  sorow  and  care  to  corcstryne, 
Be  ower  power  of1  mytes  mo.-f,  1119 

DIGBY    MYST.  H 


[leaf  121] 


98  MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENES    25    AND    26. 

In  nowi//e  patrys  ett  felii  et  spirits  sa«cti,  amen)  ! 
and  bids  them     goo  ye  to  my  brethryn),  and  sey  to  lum)  ber.  1121 

tell  his  Disciples   °        J  J  J  ] 


Gan  int°  ^at  J*ey  Procec^e  an^  §°  In-to  gallelye  j 

&  bcr  xall  bey  se  me,  as  I  s^yd  be-fore, 
bodyly,  with  here  caruall  yye.  1  1  24 

Here  I?sua  devoydytt  a-jen. 

magdleyn. 

Mary  blesses       O  bou  gloryay  lord  of1  heuen)  regyon),  u*5 

now  blyssyd  be  bi  hye  devynyte, 

thatt  ever  thow  tokest  In-carnacyon) 

thus  for  to  vesyte  bi  pore  servants  thre.  1128 

and  wiu  fulfil      bi  wyll,  gracyows  lord,  fulfyllycJ  xall  be 

his  best. 

As  bou  commavndyst  vs  In  all  thyng*} 

Ower  gracyows  brethryn)  we  woll  go  se, 

witA  hem)  to  seyn)  all  ower  lekeyng1.  1132 

Here  devoyd  all  \>e  iij  maryys  ;  and  ]>e  kynge  ofe 
marcyll  xall  be-gynne  a  sacryfyce. 


Part  II,  Seme  2«.  {PART  II.      Scene   26.] 

Palace  of 

rex  mercyll. 
The  King  of         Now,  lorddes  and  ladyys  of1  grett  a-prise,  J 1 3  ? 

Marcyllproposes 

to  sacrifice  to      a  mater  to  meve  yow  is  in  my  memoryall, 

bis  day  to  do  a  sacryfyce 

wkA  multetude  of1  myrth  be-fore  ow<>r  goddw  all,  1136 
•peciaiiy  vfith  preors  In  a-specyall  be-fore  hw  presens, 

eche  creature  with  hartt  de-mvre.  1 138 

[leaf  121,  back]  Eegina. 

To  bat  lord  curteys  and  keynd,  1139 

to  Mahound.        mahond*,  bat  is  so  mykyll  of  myth, 
with  mynstrelly  and  myrth  In  mynd1, 
lett  vs  gon)  ofer  In  bat  hye  kyng«is  syth.  1 142 

Here  xall  enter  an  hethene  preste  ancZ  his  boye. 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  II.   SCENE  27. 


99 


Part  II.  Scene  27. 

Marcyll. 
The  Temple. 

The  Priest  bids 
his  boy  get  the 
altar  ready, 
and  ring  the 
bells. 


[P^RT  II.     Scene  27,] 

presbyter. 

now,  my  clerke,  Hawkyn,  for  loue  of*  me  1143 

Loke  fast  myn)  awter  wer*  a-rayd!  ; 
goo  ryng1  a  bell  to  or  thre  ! 
lythly,  chyle?,  it  be  natt  delayd1,  1146 

for  here  xall  be  a  grett  solewmyte. 
loke,  boy,  J)ou  do  it1  with  a  brayd?  !  1  148 

clerics. 

whatt,master,woldyst  J?ou  have  file???  man  to  Jribeddessyde?  The  boy  says, 

"  Do  you  want 

thow  xall  a-byde  tyll  my  servyse  is  sayd.  ti^o  your  wench? 

presbyter. 

boy!  I  sey,  be  sentt  coppyn),  IT5T 

no  swyche  wordes  to  fe  I  spake. 

boy. 

wether  J?ou  ded  or  natt,  J>e  fryst  lorny  xall  be  myn), 

for,  be  my  feyth,  J)ou  beryst  wattes  pakke;  JI54 

but,  syr,  my  master  grett  mo'rell,  1  1 

ye  have  so  fellyo?  yower  bylly  with  growell, 

]>at  it  growit1  grett  as  )>e  dywll  of1  hell. 

on)-shaply  ]>ou  art  to  see  !  1  158 

whan)  womew  corame  to  here  J)i  sermon), 

pratyly  with  hem)  I  can)  houkk)  n), 

with  kyrchon)  and  fayer  marycn). 

J>ey  love  me  better  pan)  ^,  j  162 

I  dare  sey  and  J)ou  xulddes  ryde,  1  163 

J)i  body  is  so  grett  and  wyde, 

pat  never  horse  may  J>e  a-byde, 

exseptt  J>ou  breke  his  bakk  asovnd)!*  1166 


But  111  have 
first  turn. 


Your  belly's  as 
big  as  the 
Devil's 


I  can  houk 
Kirchon  and 
[leaf  122] 
Marion  :  they 
love  me  bettei 
than  you. 


You're  so  fat 
that  you'd  break 
a  horse's  back." 


presbyter. 

A  !  JJQU  lyyst,  boy,  be  J>e  dyvll  of1  hell  ! 
I  pray  god  mahond  mott  pe  quell  ! 
I  xall  whyp  J>e  tyll  J>i  ars  xall  belle  ! 
On  pi  ars  com  mych  wondyr*. 


1167    The  Priest 

declares  he'll 
flog  the  Boy. 


1170 


H    2 


100 


MABY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENE    27. 


boy. 
The  Boy  calls      A  fartt,  master,  and  kysse  my  grenne !  1171 

the  Priest  the 

Devil's  uncle.       pe  dyvll  or  hell  was  J)i  e/nme ; 
pis  kenredl  is  a-sprongyn)  late. 
Loo,  mastyrs,  of1  swyche  a  stokke  he  cam).  1 1 74 

presbyter. 

mahovndes  blod,  precyows  knave  !  1175 

stryppys  on)  J>i  ars  pou  xall  have, 

&  rappys  on)  pi  pate  !  1 177 

bete  hym. 

rex  dicitt. 

The  King  asks     Now,  prystej  and  clerkys,  of  pis  tempyll  cler,          1178 
service.  yower  servyse  to  sey,  lett  me  se. 


1181 
1182 


A,  soveryn)  lord,  we  shall  don)  ower  devyr. 
The  Priest  calls    boy,  a  boke  a-non  bou  bryne  me ! 

for  his  book,  &c.         *' 

now,  boy,  to  my  awter  I  wyll  me  dresse ; 
On  xall  my  westmewt  and  myn)  aray. 

boy. 

The  Boy  says  a     now  ban),  be  lesson)  I  woll  expresse, 

mocking  non 
sensical  (service.    ]yfce  as  longytt  for  pe  servyse  of1  pis  day  : —  1 1 85 

U  '  Leccyo  mahow/jdys,  viri  fortissimi  sarasenorum, 
[leaf  122,  back]    glabriosim  ad  glvmarcdum  glvmardinor«77i, 

gormondoruTO  alocorwm,  stampatinantuwi  cursorum, 

Cowwthte*  fulcatuTO,  congrvryanduw?  tersorj/m,         1 1 89 

mursum  malgor«?n,  Marara3onm, 

skartu/n  sialporwrn,  fartu/ra  cardiculorwm, 

slavndri  strovmppum,  corbolcorum, 

snyguer  snagoer  werwolfForwrn,  1 193 

standgardum  lamba  beffetton/ni, 

strowtuw  stardy  strangolcorww, 

rygor  dagor  flapporum, 

castratu/n  ratyrybaldorwm,  1197 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENE    27. 


101 


Howndes  and  hogges,  In  hegges  and  helles, 
snakes  and  toddes  inott  be  yower  belles ; 
ragnell  and  roffyn),  and  other,  In  pe  wavys, 
gravntt  yow  grace  to  dye  on)  pe  galows.' 

presbyter. 

Now,  lordes  and  ladyys,  lesse  and  more, 
knele  all  don)  wzt/z  good  devocyon)  3 
yonge  and  old1,  rych  and  pore, 
do  yower  oferyng1  to  sentt  mahowwde, 
&  ye  xall  have  grett  pardon), 
fat  longytt  to  pis  holy  place ; 
&  receyve  '  36  xall  my  benesown), 
and?  stond  In  mahowwdes  grace. 

rex  dicitt. 

mahownd,  pou  art  of*  mytes  most1, 
In  my  syth  a  glory usgost; 
pou  comfortyst  me  both  In  centre  and  cost1 
wztA  J»i  wesdowz  and  pi  wytr ; 
for  truly,  lord?,  In  J>e  is  my  trost*. 
good  lord,  lett  natt  my  sowle  be  lost ! 
all  my  cownsell  well  pou  wotst. 
Here  In  pi  presens  as  I  sett, 
thys  besawnt  of*  gold?,  rych  and  rownd?, 
I  ofer  ytt  for  my  lady  and  me, 
pat  pou  mayst  be  ower  covnfortw  In  pis  stowwd?. 
sweth  mahovno?,  reme/wbyr  me  ! 

"presbyter. 

now,  boy,  I  pray  pe  lett  vs  have  a  song* ! 
Ower  servyse  be  note,  lett  vs  syng1,  I  say. 
cowff  vp  pi  brest,  stond  natt  to  long1, 
be-gynne  pe  offyse  of1  pis  day. 

boy. 

I  home  and  I  hast,  I  do  pat  I  may, 
\vith  mery  tvne  pe  trebyll  to  syng*.     ' 
synge  both. 


1198 


1201 


May  snakes  and 
toads  be  your 
bells  ;  and  all 
the  lot  of  you 
die  on  the 
gallows ! 


1 2  O  2   The  Priest,  bids 
them  all  kneel, 


and  offer  to 
St  Mahomet, 
I2O6   and  get  pardon. 


I  209          [leaf  123] 


I  2  I O   The  King  pi-ays 
Mahomet 


1213 
1214 

not  to  let  his 
soul  be  lost. 


I2J7    He  offers  a  gold 
besant  for  him- 

1 2 1 8    self  and  his 
Queen. 


1221 


1222    The  Priest  bids 
his  Boy  sing 


1225 


1226  The  Boy  hums, 
and  then  they 
both  sing. 


103 


MART    MAGDALENE.        PART    II.        SCENES    27    AND    28. 


The  Priest 
slangs  his  Boy, 


and  shows  the 
King,  &c.,  his 
relics, 


Mahomet's 
neck-bone,  and 
[leaf  123,  back] 


eyelid 


that'll  blind  em, 


while  Qolias'U 
send  em  to 
Belial 


Pat-til. 

Jerusalem. 
Pilatt't  House. 

,  Pilate  asks  his 
servants  about 
the  death  of 
Jesus,  who  was 
killd  unjustly, 


[leaf  124] 


has  risen  again, 
and  taken  away 
Joseph  of 

Arimuthea. 


presby/er. 

Hold1  vp !  )>e  dyvll  mote  ]>e  a-fray, 
for  all  owjt  of1  rule  Jwu  dost1  me  bryng*!  1229 

butt  now,  ser  kyng*,  quene,  and  knyth, 
be  mery  In  hartt  everychon)j 
for  here  may  ye  se  relykes  brygth, 
mahowndes  own)  nekke  bon), —  i*33 

And  36  xall  se  er  ewer  ye  gon) 
whatt-so-mewer  yow  be-tyde ; 
&  ye  xall  kesse  all  )>is  holy  bon)j — 
Mahowndys  own)  yee-ly<J,  I237 

36  may  have  of1  ]?is  grett  store,  1238 

&  ye  knew  J?e  cavse  wherfor, 
ytt  woll  make  yow  blynd  for  ewer-more. 
)>is  same  holy  bede,  1241 

Lorddes  and  ladyys,  old  and  ynge,  1242 

mahowwd  J)e  body(?),  and  dragon)  fe  dere; 
golyas  so  good,  to  blysse  may  yow  bryng4,  1244 

with  belyall,  In  blysse  ewer-lastyng1, 
fat  ye  may  fer  In  loy  syng1 
be-fore  fat  comly  kyng1, 
J)at  is  ower  god  In  fere.  1248 

[PART  II.     Scene  28.] 

pylatt. 

Now,  36  serjaunt&y  semly,  qwat  sey  36  ?  1 249 

3e  be  full  wetty  men  In  fe  law  j 
of4  }e  dethe  of1  I«u  I  woll  awysyd?  be ; 
Ower  soferyn)  sesar  J>e  soth  mvst  nedes  know.  1252 

Thys  Imi  was  a  man  of1  grett  vertu,  1153 

And  many  wondyrs  In  his  tyme  he  wrowth ; 
He  was  put  to  dethe  be  cawsys  on)-tru, 
wheche  mater  stekytt  In  my  thowthj  125^ 

&  je  know  well  how  he  was  to  fe  erth  browth, 
wacchyd  wjtA  knygths  of  grett  aray. 
He  is  resyn)  agayn),  as  be -fore  he  tawth, 
&  Joseph  of  baramathye  he  hath  takyn)  awey.         1 260 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.        SCENES    28    AND    29. 


[Primes]  Sf/jantt. 

soferyri)  luge,  all  f  is  is  soth  fat  }e  sey  ; 
But  all  fis  mvst  be  curyd  be  sotylte, 
&  sey  how  hw  dysypylley  stollyn)  hym)  away  j 
And  fis  xall  be  fe  answer,  be  fe  asentt  of1  me. 

secuwdw*  serjantt. 
so  it  is  most  lylly  for  to  be  ; 
yower  covncell  is  good  and  co/wme«dabyll  -, 
so  wryte  hym)  a  pystyll  of1  specyallte, 
&  fat  for  vs  xall  be  most  prophytabyll. 

pylatt. 

now,  masengyr*,  In  hast  hether  J)ou  com)  ! 
on)  masage  fou  mvst,  wit  h  ower  wrytyng1, 
to  fe  soferyn)  emperower  of1  rome. 
but  fryst  fou  xall  go  to  herodw  f  e  kyng*, 
And  sey  how  fat  I  send  hym)  knowyng1 
of1  crystes  deth,  how  it  hath  byn)  wrowth. 
I  charge  f  d.  make  no  lettyng1 
tyll  J)is  letter  to  ])e  emperower  be  browth. 

Nvncyus  pylatw^. 

My  Lord!,  In  hast  yower  masage  to  spede 
O«-to  ]?at  \ordes  of1  ryali  renown), 
Dowth  ^e  nat,  my  lord,  it  xall  be  don)  In-dede  ; 
now  hens  woll  I  fast1  owl  of1  )?is  town). 
Her  goth.  j?e  masenger  to  Herodes. 

{PART  II.     Scene  29.] 


I26l    The  servants  tell 
Pilate  to  report, 
in  a  letter  to 
Caesar,  that 
Jesus's  disciples 
stole  his  body. 

1264 


1265 


1268 


1269    Pilate  bids  his 
messenger  bear 
his  letter  to  the 
Emperor,  but 
first  to  tell 
Herod  about  it. 

1272 


1276 

[leaf  124,  back] 

1277    The  Messenger 
promises  to 
make  haste. 


Part  II.  Seme  29. 

King  Herod's 

Palace. 


Heyll  !  soferyn)  kyng1  onder  crown)  !  1281   Pilate's  Mes 

senger  shows  his 
J>e  prynsys  of1  jje  law  recummende  to  yower  heynesse,       letter  to  Herod. 

&  sendytt  yow  tydynges  of1  cryste^  passon), 

As  In  ]?is  wrytyng1  doth  expresse.  1284 

Herodes. 

^[  A  !  be  my  trowth,  now  am)  I  full  of1  blys  !         1  285 
)>es  be  mery  tydynges  fat  fey  have  f  us  don)  ! 


io4 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENES    29    AND    30. 


Herod  is  glad  of  now  certes  I  am  glad  of1  bis; 

the  news,  and  ' 

£ith  Pilate8         for  now  ar  we  frend«,  bat  afore  wher  fori).  1288 

hold1  a  reward*,  masenger,  bat  thow  wer*  gon), 
&  recuwmewd  me  to  my  soferens  grace ; 
shew  hym)  I  woll  be  as  stedfasf  as  stoii), 
ferr  and  nere,  ana"  In  every  place.  1292 

Here  goth  >e  Mase/iger  to  )>e  emperower. 


Part//.  Sr«w30. 

.Rom*. 

TA«  Emperor' t 
Palace. 

The  Messenger 
greets  the 
Emperor  and 
gives  him 
Pilate's  letters. 


[leaf  125] 


The  Emperor 
orders  his 
Judges  to 
attend, 


and  explain 
Pilate's  letter. 


The  Provost 
says 


the  letter  i» 
about  the 
Prophet  Jesus, 


[P4RT  II.     Scene  30.] 

nvncyuy. 

Heyll !  be  yow  sofereyn),  settyng*  In  solas  !  1293 

Heyll !  worthy  wztA-owtyn)  pere  ! 
Heyll !  goodly  to  gravnttf  all  grace  ! 
Heyll !  emperower  of1  be  word  ferr  and  nere !          J  296 
soferyn),  and  it1  plese  yower  hye  empyre,  I297 

I  have  browth  yow  wrytyng1  of*  grett  a-prise, 
wyche  xall  be  pleseyng*  to  yower  desyre, 
from)  pylatt  yower  hye  lustyce.  Jjjoo 

He  sentt  yow  word  witA  lowly  In-tentt, 
In  ewery  place  he  kepytt  yower  cuwmavndement, 
as  he  is  bovrid1  be  his  ofyce.  1303 

CwiperOWer. 

A,  welcuwi  masenger  of  grett  ple^eavns!  '304 

bi  wrytyng1  a-non  lett  me  se ! 
my  lugger  anow  gyfFe  a-tendans, 

To  onderstond  whatt  bis  wrytyng*  may  be,  1307 

wethyr  it  be  good  ar1  ony  deversyte, 
Or  e\\es  natt  for  myn)  awayll  j 
Declare  me  bis  In  all  be  hast1.  13 10 

provosf. 

syr,  be  sentelles1  we  woll  dyscus,  131 1 

&  it  plese  yower  hye  exseleyns, 
the  In-tentt  of  bis  pystull  is  bus: 

pylatt  recummewdytt  to  yower  presens,  13  14 

And  of1  a  prophett  is  be  sentelU'*,1 
1  F  read  sentens. 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.        SCENES    30    AND    31.  105 

whos  name  was  callyd  lesus.  who  was 

.  crucified 

He  is  putt  to  dethe  with  vyolens,  because  he 

claimd  to  be 

for  he  chalyngyd  to  be  kyng1  of*  lewysj  13  1 8  King  of  the 

perfor  he  was  crucyfyed  to  ded?,  I3I9 

And  syn)  was  beryyd?,  as  pey  thowth  reson) ; 

also  he  cleymyd?  hym-sylf  son)  of1  pe  godhed!. 

pe  therd  nygth  he  was  stollyn)  away  with  treson),  1322    [leaf  125,  back] 

with  his  desypylle*  pat  to  hym  had  dyleccyon),  1323  wit  stoi^  bydy 

.,71,  v  j  his  Disciples. 

so  with  hym)  away  pey  3ode. 

I  merveyll  how  pey  ded  with  pe  bodyys  corupcyui) ; 

I  trow  pey  wer  fed  wz'tA  a  froward?  fode.  1326 

Imperator. 

crafty  was  per  coranyng*,  pe  soth  for  to  sejn).  1327  TheEmperor 

11  11  i  •   ?  e>  says  the  fact 

thys  pystyll  I  wyll  kepe  with  me  yir  I  can);  shall  be 

chronicled. 

also  I  wyll  have  cronekyllyd?  pe  ^er*  and  pe  reynne, 
pat  never  xall  be  for-gott,  who-so  loke  per-on).         1330 
masengyr*,  owt  of  pis  to\vu>  with  a  r_ige  ! 
Hold?  pis  gold?  to  pi  wage, 

mery  for  to  make.  1333 

nvncyos. 

fare-well,  my  lord?  of1  grett  renou  n), 

for  owt  of1  town)  my  way  I  take.  '335 

Here  entyr  mawdleyne  with  hyr  dysypyll,  )j«s 
seyynge. 

[PART  II.       Scene   31.]  Partll.  Scene 3l. 

Jerusalem. 

mavdly/?. 
A!  now  I  remembyr  my  lord  bat  put  was  to  ded?   1336  Mary  Magdalene 

speaks  of 

with  be  lewys,  wztA-owttyn)  gyltt  or  treson) :  Christ's  death 

3  J      6J  andresurrec- 

pe  therd  nygth  he  ros  be  pe  myth  of1  his  godhed'  j  tlon. 

vp-on)  pe  sonday  had  his  gloryu^  resurrexcyon)  -}       1339 
And  now  is  pe  tyme  past1  of1  his  gloryus  asencyon) ; 
He  steyyd!  to  hevyn),  and  ber  he  is  kyng* : 

and  the  Gift  of 

A  !  his  grett  kendnesse  may  natt  fro  my  mewcyon).  Tongues. 

°  His  disciples 

T!  of  Alle  maner  tongge^  he  aaf  vs  knowyng1,  1343  have  gone 

p  abroad  to 

for  to  vndyrstond?  every  langwage ;  T344  Preach  the 

Gospel. 

Now  have  be  dysyllpylle*  take  p  jr  passage  [leaf  126] 


M\KV    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENES    31    AND    32. 


to  dyvers  co«treys  her  and  jondyr, 

to  prech  and  teche  of  his  hye  damage  : 

full  ferr  ar  my  brothyrn)  de-partyd  asondyr. 


1.348 


Part  11.  Scene 32. 
Heu  ren. 


Jesus  says  he 
has  rested  in 
the  Moon, 


the  vessel  of 
Purity, 


his  Mother, 


Queen  of  Jeru 
salem  and 
Empress  of 
Hell. 


[PART  II.     Scene  32.] 
Her  xall  hevyne  opyne  and  lesuB  xall  shew  [hym- 


No  tougue  can 
express  her 
goodness. 


[leaf  120,  back] 
He  will  send 
Raphael  to  bid 
Mary  Magdalene 
go  to  Marcylle, 
and  convert  it. 


1352 

1356 
1357 

1360 


O,  fe  on)-clypsyd!  sonne,  tempyll  of1  salamon)!         *349 

In  fe  mone  I  restyd,  fat  never  chonggyd  goodnesse  ; 

In  J>e  shep  of*  noee,  fles  of1  ludeon); 

she  was  my  tapyrnakyll  of*  grett  nobyllnesse, 

she  was  Jje  paleys  of1  phebuj  brygthnesse, 

she  was  J)j  wessell  of1  puer*  clennesse, 

wher  my  godhed  3affl  my  manhod  myth, 

My  blyssyd  mother,  of1  demvre  ferny  nyte 

for  mankynd,  J>e  feynddes  defens, 

quewne  of*  Iherusalem),  fat  heuewly  cete, 

empresse  of1  hell,  to  make  resystens. 

slie  is  fa  precym  pyn)  full  of"  ensensj 

the  precyus  synamver,  ]»e  body  thorow  to  seche  ; 

s'le  is  J>e  mvske  a-jens  ]>e  hertw  of1  vyolens, 

Jje  lentyll  lelopher  a-3ens  ]>e  cardyakylle*  wrech  ;    1363 

The  goodnesse  of1  my  mother",  no  tong«  caw  expresse, 

mi*  no  clerke,  of1  hyr>,  hyr*  loyys  cara  wryth.  1365 

Butt  now  (f1  my  servantt  I  remembyr  J?e  kendnessej 

wit  A  heuewly  masage  I  cast  me  to  vesyte,  — 

Raphaell,  myw  angell,  In  my  syte;  —  I368 

to  mary  Mavdleyn)  decewde  In  a  whyle, 

Byd  her*  passe  |>e  se  be  my  myth, 

And  sey  she  xall  converte  Jje  land1  of1  marcyll.         1371 

angelwi. 

O  glorym  lord,  I  woll  resortt  13  7  2 

to  shew  your  servant  of1  yower  grace. 
she  xall  labor  for  fat  lender  comfortt, 
from)  heuynesse  fern)  to  porchasse, 
tune  deceridet  angelus. 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENES    33    AND    31. 


107 


[PART  II.     Scene  33.] 
1T  Abasse  fe  novtt,  mary,  In  J>is  place  j 
Ower  lordes  precept t  Jnu  rmvt1  full-fyll, 
to  passe  J)e  see  In  shortt  space 
On)-to  j?e  lond  of1  marcyll. 
Kyng*  and  quene  converts  xall  ^e, 
Ani  h\n)  a-myttyd  as  an  holy  apostylessej 
Alle  J)  -  lond  xall  be  techyd  alonly  be  the  j 
goddes  lawys  on)-to  hem)  je  xall  expresse. 
J)  r-foi*  ha^fr  yow  forth  with  gladnesse, 
goddes  coramavddement  for  to  fullfylle. 

mari  MawJ/ey?z. 

He  J>at  from)  my  person)  vij  dewlles  mad  to  fle, 
be  vertu  of1  hym)  alle  thyng1  was  wrowthj 
to  seke  thoys  pepyll  I  woll  rydy  be. 
as  Jjou  hast  co/wmavwddytt,  In  vertv  fey  xall  be  browth. 
^f  with  ]>i  grace,  good  lord,  In  deite, 
Now  to  J>e  see  I  wyll  me  hy, 
sum  sheppyng4  to  asspy. 
Now  spede  me,  lord,  In  eternall  glory ! 
now  be  my  spede,  allmyty  trenite  ! 

[PART  II.     Scene  34.] 
Here  xall  entyre  a  shyp  with  a  mery  song. 

shep-ma/?. 

stryke  !  skryke  !  lett  fall  an)  ankyr  to  grownd  ! 
Her  is  a  fayer  haven)  to  se ! 
cownyngly  In,  loke  J>at  ye  sownd? ; 
I  hope  good  harbarow  have  xal  wee  ! 
loke  J?at  we  have  drynke,  boy  )>ou. 

boy. 

I  may  natt  for  slep,  I  make  god  a  wow ; 
fou  xall  a-byde  ytte,  and  J)ou  wer*  my  syei*. 

stepma/;. 

why,  boy,  we  ar*  rydy  to  go  to  dyntr1. 
xall  we  no  mete  have  ? 


Part  II.  Scene  33. 
,-         Jerusalem. 
I37O  Mary 

Magdalene's 
House. 


The  Angel 
Raphael  tells 

1370    Mary  to  goto 

Marcyll,  convert 

I  3  80    the  land,  and  be 
3         an  Apostoless. 


1383 

1385 

[leaf  127] 

1386 

She  says  she  is 
ready  to  go, 


1 300  and  starts  to 
find  a  ship  to 
Siiil  in. 


Part  J I.  SceneSl. 
Coast  of  Judea. 


I3QC    TheShipman 
bids  his  men 


anchor, 


1398 


1401 


I4O2    and  asks  his  boy 
for  their  dinner. 


IO8  MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENE    34 

[leaf  127,  back]  boy . 

The  Boy  declares  Natt  for  me  be  of  good  chyer, 

he  can't  get  the 

dinner,  he's  «o     thowe  ye  be  sor  hongord  tyll  $e  rave,  '4°5 

ufld  with  tno 

cramp;  I  tell  yow  plenly  be- torn);  1406 

for  swyche  a  cramp  on)  me  sett  is, 
I  am)  a  poynt  to  fare  be  worse ; 
I  ly  and  wryng*  tyll  I  pysse, 
And  am)  a  poyntt  to  be  for-lorn).  1410 

be  mast.-/-. 
now,  boy,  whatt  woll  be  J)is  seyll  ?  1411 

boy. 

but  a  fair  Nothyng*  butt  a  fayer  damsell : 

damsel's  coming 

to  help  him.        she  shold1  help  me,  I  know  it  well, 

Ar  elles  I  may  rue  J>e  tyme  fat  I  was  born).  J4M 

be  master. 

Be  my  trowth,  syr  boye,  $e  xal  be  sped1;  1415 

I  wyll  hyr  bryng1  on)-to  yower  bed ; 
now  xall  bou  lern)  a  damsell  to  wed, 
she  wyll  nat  kysse  J>e  on)  skorn).  1418 

The  Sbipman  bete  hym. 

Jje  boy. 

A  skorn),  no,  no,  I  fynd  it  hernest !  1419 

the  dewlle  of*  hell  motte  J>e  bresfr, 
for  all  my  corage  is  now  cast* ; 
alasse !  I  am)  for-lorn) !  1422 

mav[d]leyn). 
Master  of1  J»e  shepe,  a  word  with  the.  1423 

[leaf  128]  master. 

The  Master  tell*   All  redy,  fayer  womaw,  whatt  wol  je  ? 

Mary  Magdalene 

mary  [maudleyn.] 
of1  whense  is  thys  shep  ?  tell  $e  me ; 
and  yf1  je  seyle  witA-in  a  whyle.  1426 

master, 
that  hi»  ship       We  woll  seyle  bis  same  day, 

sails  at  once  to 

Marcyiie.  yf  j:e  wynd1  be  to  ower  pay. 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENES    34    AND    35.  lop 

pis  shep  pat  I  of1  sey, 

is  of1  pe  lond?  of1  marcyll.  1430 

Mary  [maudleyn.] 

syr,  may  I  natt  with  yow  sayle  ?  I431 

&  }e  xall  have  for  yower  awayle. 

master. 

Of*  sheppyng1  pe  xall  natt  faylle  ;  They  sail, 

for  vs  pe  wynd  is  good  and  saffe.  *434 

yond  per  is  pe  lond  of1  torke,  see  Turkey 

I  wher  full  loth  for  to  lye. 

now  xall  j?e  shep-men  syng. 

of1  pis  cors  we  thar  nat  a-bafFe,  *437 

yender  is  pe  lond  of1  satyllye.  1438  andSatalye, 

U  stryk  !   be-ware  of*  sond?  ! 
cast  a  led,  &  In  vs  gyde  ! 
of  marcyll,  pis  is  J?e  kyngge,y  lond1.  1441  and  land  Mary 

,'••••  Magdalene  at 

go  a  lond,  pow  fayer  woma«,  pis  tyde,  Marcyiie. 

to  pe  kynggw  place  ;  yonder  may  je  se. 
sett  of1,  sett  of1  from)  lond'  ! 

p6  boy.  [leaf  128,  back] 

All  redy,  master,  at  thyn)  hand?.  1445 

Her  goth  \>e  shep  owrt  of  j?e  place. 

Mary  [Maudleyn.] 

0  Iesu  !  pi  mellyfluos  name  I44<5 
Mott  be  worcheppyd  with  reverens  ! 

lord  !  gravrat  me  vyctore  a-jens  be  fyndes  flame,  she  prays  Christ 

to  grant  her 

And  yn  pi  Jawys  gyr  pis  pepyll  credens.  J449  power  to  show 

lortii  liis 

1  wyll  resortt  be  grett  convenyens,  T45°  Godhead- 
On)  his  presens  I  wyll  draw  ner* 

of1  my  lordes  lawys  to  she[w]  pe  sentens, 
bothe  of1  his  godhed  and  of1  his  power1.  1453 

Here  xall  mary  entyr  be-fore  \>Q  kynge. 

[PART  II.       Scene   35.]  Partll.  Scene&S. 

ng1  cnst1,  mawne^  redempcyon 
mote  save  yow,  ser  kyng1,  regnyng1  In  eqnite, 


.  T 

Now,  pe  hye  kyng1  cnst1,  mawne^  redempcyon),        1454 

Palace. 


1IO          MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  II.   SCENE  36. 

Mary  Magdalene  &  mote  gydde  yow  yow  J>e  [way]  toward  sauasyon), 

SiS^'ue  to°lt°f  'ml>  ^e  son  °^  J*e  my*hiy  trenite, 

her  dwell  there.  That  was,  and  is,  and  ever  xall  be,  1458 

for  manner  sowle  fe  reformacyori) ; 

In  his  name,  lord,  I  be-seche  be, 

wuA-In  bi  lond  to  have  my  mancyon).  1461 

rex  [King  of  Marcylle.] 
[leaf  i2»]        Iwu  !  lesu  !  qw'at  deylle  is  hym)  ?  bat?  1462 

The  King  abuses    f    ,    ,.       . 

Jesus  and  her,      I  detye  pe  awe  ])yn)  a-penyon) ! 

thow  false  lordeyn),  I  xal  fell  J>e  flatt ! 

who  made  the  so  hardy  to  make  swych  rebon)  ?      1465 

mary. 

syr,  I  COOT  natt  to  )>e  for  no  decepcyon),  1466 

But  J>at  good  lord  crist1  hether  me  cowipassyd1 ; 
to  receyve  hys  name,  itti^  yower  refeccyon), 
and  J)i  forme  of*  mysbele[f]  be  hym)  may  be  losyrt.  1469 

rex. 

asks  who  Jeans    And  whatt  is  )>at  lord  \>at  thow  speke  of*  her1?        1470 

Mary. 

Id1  est1  salvator,  yf1  thow  wyll  ler1, 
]>e  secuwde  person)  fat  hell  ded  conquar", 
&  J>e  son)  of1  J>e  father  In  trenyte.  1473 

Rex. 

of  what  power,     And  of  whatt  power  is  J)at  god  J>at  je  reherse  to  me  r 

Mary 

He  mad  hevyn)  and  erth,  lond  and  see, 
1and  all  ))is  he  mad  of1  nowthe.  14/6 

Rex. 

woman,  I  p  ay  $:  answer  me.  1477 

and  how  he  was  whatt  mad  gcd!  at  be  fyrst  be-gynnyng*  ? 

made. 

thys  processe  ondyrstond  wol  we, 

that  \\old1  1  lernej  Iltw  my  plesyng*.  1480 

[i  MS.  &  and  all.] 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENE    35.  Ill 

mary. 

(Imi,  mercy ! l) 

syr,  I  wyll  declare  al  and  sum,  1482    [leaf  129,  back] 

Mary  tells  the 

wnat  from)  god  rryslr  ded  precede  :  King  how  God 

created  the 

He  seyd,  '  In  pnncipio  erat  verbum,'  world.   On 

J     '  Sunday  he 

&  with  bat  he  provyd?  his  grett  godhed?  :  148";  made  the 

T    r    Heavens, 

He  mad  heuen)  for  ower  spede, 

wher-as  he  sytth  In  trones  hyee. 

His  mynystyrs  next,  as  he  save  nede, 

Hi,?  angelus  and  archangylles  all  the  cowpeny.         1480  Angels  and 

T    *    Archangels. 

v^-cn)  be  fiyst  day  god  mad  all  pis,  T49° 

as  it  was  plejyng1  to  his  Intent. 

on  be  muwday  he  wold  natt  mys  H92  On  Monday, 

the  sun,  moon, 

To  make  so/me,  mone,  and  sterrys  &  pe  iyrmamewt j        stars  and  sky. 

The  so/me  to  be-gynne  his  cors  In  be  oryenfr,          J494 

&  ever  labor  wk/i-owt}n)  werynesse, 

8c  kepytt  his  covrs  In-to  be  occedentf. 

The  twysday,  as  I  ori)dyrstond  bis,  .    1497  On  Tuesday  he 

sat  on  the 

grett  grace  lor  vs  he  gan)  to  In-cresse  ;  waters,  and 

made  sea  and 

pat  day  he  satt  vp-on)  watens,  land. 

as  was  lykyng  to  his  goodnesse, 

As  holy  wrytt  berytt  wettnesse. 

bat  tyme  he  made  both  see  and  Ion<J, 

All  bat  werke  of1  grett  nobyll-nesse, 

as  it  was  pk^vng1  to  his  gracyus  sond1.  1504 

Oi))  be  weddysday,  ower  lord  of1  mythe  I5°,5        [leafiso] 

made  more  at  his  pk^yng1;  S^ISflS^ 

fysche  In  flod,  and  fowle  In  flyth  j 

And  all  bis  was  for  ower  hellpyng1.  1508 

On)  the  thorsday,  bat  nobyll  kyng*  On  Thursday 

mad  dy  verse  beste*  grett  and  sin  ale  ; 

He  yafF  hem)  erth  to  ther  fedyng1, 

and  bad  hem)  cressyn)  be  hylle  and  dale.  1512 

And  on)  be  fryday,  god  mad  man),  1513  On  Friday,  man, 

in  his  own 

as  it  ple3ett  his  hynesse  most1,  likeness. 

1  '  Ie*u  mercy '  is  at  the  bottom  of  the  page,  in  the  margin. 


112 


MARY     MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENES    36    AND    36. 


after  his  own)  semelytude  than, 
and  jaf  hem)  lyfe  of1  be  holy  gosf. 
On  Saturday,  he  Ofn]  be  satyrday,  as  I  tell  can), 

blest  his  works          L    J 

All  his  werkys  he  gan)  to  blysse ; 

He  bad  them)  multyply  and  Incresse  than), 

as  it  was  ple^yug1  to  his  worthynesse. 

And  on)  be  sonday,  he  gan)  rest  take, 

as  skryptur  declarytt  pleyn), 

bat  al  shold1  reverens  make 

to  hyr  makar  bat  hem)  doth  susteyn), 

vp-on)  be  sonday  to  leuen)  In  his  servyse, 

Sc  hym)  alonly  to  serve,  I  tell  yow  pleyn). 


and  bad  'em 
multiply ;  and 


on  Sunday  he 
rested. 


1516 


1520 
1521 


'5*4 
1526 


rex. 


The  King  says 
his  Gods  did 
these  things, 


[leaf  130,  back] 


Herke,  womaw,  thow  hast  many  resonnw  grett;      1527 
I  thyngk,  on)-to  my  goddes  aperteynyng1  bey  beth. 
but  bou  make  me  answer  son,  I  xall  be  frett, 
&  cut  be  tonge  owt  of1  bi  hed1.  1530 

Mary. 

syr,  yf1  I  seyd!  amys,  I  woll  retur[n]  agayn).  1531 

Jeve  yower  encowberowns  of1  perturbacyon), 
&  lett  me  know  what  yower  goddw  byn), 
And  how  bey  may  save  vs  from)  trevbelacyon. 


rex. 

and  orders  all  to  Hens  to  be  tewpyll  bat  we  war*, 

ffo  to  their 

Temple.  and  \er  xall  thow  se  a  solom)  syth. 


1534 


1535 


PaH  II.  Sc«»K36. 

Th*  Temple  at 

Mai ty  lie. 


The  King  of 
Marcylle  prays 
his  God  to  speak 
to  Mary 
Magdalene. 


Com  on)  all,  both  lesse  ana"  more, 

thys  day  to  se  my  goddes  myth.  1538 

Here  goth  \>e  Kynge  with  all  his  a-tendavnt  to 
be  tempyll. 

[PART  II.     Scene  36.] 

Loke  now,  qwatt  seyyst  thow  be  bis  syth  ?  1539 

How  plejeavnttly  bey  stond,  se  thow  how ! 
lord,  I  besech  bi  grett  myth, 

speke  to  bis  cArwetyn)  bat  here  sestt  b  »u.  1542 

H  speke,  god  lord!,  speke !  se  how  I  do  bow ! 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENE    36.  1  13 

Herke,  bou  prysfr  !  qwat  menytt  all  this  ? 

what  !  speke,  good  lord  !  speke  !  wAat  eylytt  be  now  ? 

speke,  as  thow  artt  bote  of1  all  blysse  !  1  546 

prysbiter. 
lord,  he  woll  natt  speke  whyle  cAmeten)  her1  is. 

_, 
Mary. 

syr  kyng1,  and  it  pleze  yower  gentyllnesse.  i  £48 

'  ,  J  J^ 

gyn  me  lycens  my  prayors  to  make 

on)-to  my  god  In  heven)  blysch, 

SUTO  merakyll  to  shewyn)  for  yower  sake. 

Rex. 

pray  bi  fylle,  tyll  fen)  knees  ake. 

mary. 

Doming,  illuminacio  mea,  quern  timebo  ! 
DominMj,  protecotor  vite  mee,  a  quo  trepedabo  ! 

Here  xal  ]pe  mament  tremyll  and  quake. 
Now,  lord  of1  lordes,  to  bi  blyssyd  name  sanctificatt, 

*         J     ] 

most  mekely  my  feyth  I  recuwmiewd.  1556 

pott  don)  J>e  pryd  of*  mamentes  violatt  ! 

lord,  to  \\  lover  bi  goodnesse  descend!  ;  I558  ' 

lett  natt  ber  pryd  to  bi  poste  pretend?, 

wher-as  is  rehersyd  bi  hye  name  Ihesus. 

good  lord,  my  preor  I  fey  thfully  send'  ; 

Lord,  bi  rythwysnesse  here  dyscw^  !  I5^2 

Here  xall  comme  a  clowd  frome  hevenc,  and  sett  The  Temple  is 
}>e  tempyl  One  a  fyer,  and  ^e  pryst  and  J>e  cler[k]  Sd'SfwMl 
xallsynke;  andfiekyngegothehoinp,  }msseyynge,  sinks. 


The  God  won't 

speak  while  a 

Christian's 

near. 

Mary  asks  leave 

to  try  her  God, 


to  show  a 

miracle  for  the 
King's  sake. 


she  prays, 
pe 


and  the  idol 

CJU£LKCS. 

She  prays  again 

to  God  to  show 

his  power. 


[Rex.] 

A  !  owjt  !  for  angur  t  am)  b«5  deludyd. 
I  wyll  be-  \vreke  my  cruell  tene. 
alas  !  wit/i-In  my-sylfe  I  am)  co?zcludytt. 
bou  womaw,  comme  hether  and  wete  whatt  I  mene; 
My  wyff  and  I  to-gether  many  ?ervs  have  byii), 
&  never  myth  be  cowceyvyd  wjt/t  chyl<V,  J 

DIGBY    MYST.  1 


1563    [leaf  isi,  back] 


The  Kingt«iis 

Mary  that  if 

she  can  make 

his  wife  with 

chud' 


MAHY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENES    36    AND    37. 


hell  obey  her 

god. 


Now  he  is  sick, 
and  will  go  to 
bed. 


Maty  prays  to 
Christ  to  send 
her  food  and 
drink. 


Part  II.  Scene  37. 
Heaven;  then, 
Of  I tide  Marcyllt 
Palace. 


Jesus  bids 
Angels  feed 
Mary,  and  take 
her  to  the 
King's  chamber. 


yf1  J>ou  for  )>is  canst  fynd  a  mene, 

I  wyll  a-bey  Jii  god,  and  to  hym)  be  meke  and  myltl.  1570 

Mary. 

Now,  syr,  syn)  ]>o\i  seyst  so,  1571 

to  my  lord  I  pr[a]ye  with  reythfull  bone ; 

be-leve  In  hym)  and  In  no  mo, 

&  I  hope  she  xall  be  conceyvyc?  sone.  J574 

Rex. 

A-woyd,  awoyd,  I  wax  all  seke,  1575 

I  wyll  to  bed  J»is  same  tyde. 

I  am)  so  wexyd  with  ^en)  sueke, 

fat  hath  nei*  to  deth  me  dyth.  i$-j8 

Here  be  Kynge  goth  to  bed  In  hast,  and  mary  goth 
In-to  an  olde  logge  wtt/j-owt  be  gate,  bus  seyynge. 

mary. 

Now,  cryst,  my  creatur,  me  conserve  and  kepe,       *579 

fat  I  be  natt  confunddyd  with  fis  reddure ! 

£>r  hunger*  and  thurst,  to  J>e  I  wepe  > 

lord,  demene  me  with  mesuer !  1582 

as  J>9U  savydysf  daniell  from  j>e  lyounej  rigur, 

Be  abacuk  )>i  masengyr*,  relevyd  witA  sustynovns, 

good  lord,  so  hellpe  me  and  sokore, 

lord,  as  \ttis  J>i  hye  ple^eawns.  1586 

[PART  II.     Scene  37.] 
lerat, 

My  grace  xall  grow,  and  don)  decend  J587 

to  mary  my  lover,  fat  to  me  doth  call, 

Hyr  assatt  f  *>r  to  a-mend  ; 

she  xall  be  relevyd  with  sustinons  corporall.  I59° 

now,  awngelM*,  dyssend  to  hyr  In  especyall, 

And  lede  hyr  to  )>e  prywssys  chawbyr  ryth. 

bed  hyr*  axke  of1  his  good  be  weyys  pacyfycal  j 

and  goo  yow  be-fore  hyr  witA  reverent*  lyth.  1594 


MARY     MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENES    37    AND    38. 


Primv.y  angels. 

Blyssyd  lord,  In  J)i  syth  1595 

we  dyssend  on)-to  mary. 

ij"*  angelwv. 

We  dyssend?  from)  yower  blysse  bryth ; 
On)-to  yower  cimmavndemewt  we  aplye.  159& 

Tune  dissenditt  angelw.s. 

primes  dyxit. 

mary,  ower  lord  wyll  comfortt  yow  send? :  1599 

he  bad,  to  J>e  kyng1  ye  xuld?  take  ])e  waye, 
hym)  to  a-say,  yf1  he  woll  cowdesend?; 
as  he  is  slepyng1,  hem)  to  a-saye.  1602 

ij"s  angels. 

Byd  hym)  releve  yow  to  godd&y  pay,  16°3 

And  we  xal  go  be-fore  yow  with  solem)  lyth ; 
In  a  mentyll  of1  whyte  xall  be  ower  araye  j 
The  dorey  xall  opyn)  a-jens  vs  be  ryth.  1606 

Mary. 

O,  gracyus  god,  now  f  vndyrstond? !  1607 

thys  clothyng'  of1  whyte  is  tokenyng1  of*  mt- kenesse. 
now,  gracyus  lord,  I  woll  natt  wondl, 
yower  preseptt  to  obbey  wftA  lowlynesse.  1610 

Here  goth  mary,  w/t/;  fre  angelus  be-fore  hyrs,  to 
j?e  Kyngges  bed,  with  lythys  berynge,  Ipus  seyyng 
mary. 

[Pyf/?r  //.     Scene  38.] 

[Mary.] 

thow  froward  Kyng1,  trobelows  awrf  wood1,  1611 

that  hast  at  J>i  wyll  all  wordd&y  wele, 
Departe  witA  me  wiih  sum  of1  fii  good!, 
that  am)  In  hongor,  threst,  and  cold? !  1614 

god1  hath  J>e  sent  warnywgys  felle ; 
I  rede  J>e  torne,  and  ame;zd(  fi  mood( ; 
Be-ware  of*  fi  lewdnesse,  for  J)i  own)  hele ! 
And?  thow  qwen),  tvrne  from)  J>i  good?.  1618 

Here  mari  woydyt ;  and  )?e  angyll  and  mary 
chong[e]  hyr  clotheynge,  \>us  seyynge  f?e  Kyngf. 

i  a 


The  Angels 
come  down 


to  Mary 
dalene, 


and  tell  her  that 
Jesus  bids  her 
go  to  the  King 
of  Marcylle, 


[leaf  132] 

while  they  walk 

before  her  with 

lights, 

clad  in  mantles 

of  white, 


tokens  of  meek 
ness. 


Mary  will  obey. 


Part II.  SceneSS. 
Marcylle.  The 
King's  Palace. 

Mary  bids  the 
King  share  some 
of  his  goods 
with  her, 
and  turn  from 
his  evil  ways. 


She  warns  the 
Queen  too, 
and  puta  on  the 
Angel's  garment. 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENES    38    AND    39. 


The  King  of 
Marcylle 
[leaf  132,  back] 

•ays  that  in  his 
sleep  a  fair 
Woman  in 
white. 


led  by  an  angel, 
appeard  to 
him, 


A  !  bis  day  is  com)  !  I  am)  mery  and  glad;  1619 

The  son)  is  vp,  and  shynyth  bryth. 

A  mervelows  shewyng*,  In  my  slep  I  had, 

That  sore  me  trobelyd,  bis  same  nyth  :  1622 

A  fayer  woman  I  saw  In  my  syth, 

All  In  whyte  was  she  cladd  ; 

Led  she  was  witA  an)  angyll  bryth, 

to  me  she  spake  witA  wordes  sad.  1626 

regina  [The  Queen  of  Marcylle.] 
I  trow,  from)  good  fat  fey  wer*  sentt  j  1627 

In)  ower  hartes  we  may  have  dowte  ; 
I  wentt  ower  chambyr  sholld  a  brentt, 
for  fe  lyth  bat  \>er  was  all  a-bowth.  1630 

and,  as  the         to  vs  she  spake  wordw  of*  dred, 

Queen  adds, 

bade  them  help    that  we  xuld  help  bem)  bat  haue  nede, 

the  needy  with 

their  goods.         witA  ower  godes,  so  god  ded  byd, 

I  tell  yow  witA-owtyn)  dowthe.  1634 

rex. 

Now,  semely  wyff,  36  sey  ryth  well.  1635 

The  King  sends    A  knyth  a-non)  witA-owtyn)  delay  ! 

a  knight  to  .    <  • 

now,  as  bou  hast  byn)  trew  as  stylle, 

goo  fett  bat  woman  be-fore  me  bis  daye.  1638 

Miles. 

my  sovereyn)  lord,  I  take  be  waye  ;  1639 

she  xall  com)  at  ower  pleseawns. 
yower  soveryn)  wyll  I  wyll  goo  saye, 
ittw  almesse  hyr  to  a-wawns.  1642 

thunc  tran»iuttt  miles  ad  mariam. 

IP  ART  II.     Scene  39.] 

sped  well,  good  woman  !  I  am)  to  be  sentt,  1643 

yow  for  to  speke  witA  be  Kyng*. 


fetch  the 


[leaf  133] 


Marcyll.     Out- 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  II.   SCENE  39. 


117 


Mary  cornea 
gladly. 


Mary  greets 
the  King, 


and  asks  what 
he  wants. 


to  give  her  food 
and  money. 


Mary  bids  him 
help  the  poor, 


Maria. 

gladly,  ser,  at  hys  Intenttf, 

I  corame  at  his  own)  ple^eyng1.  1646 

Tune  transytt  maria  ad  regem. 
The  my  the  and  J)e  powere  of*  )>e  heye  trenyte,        1647 
the  wysdom)  of1  ]?e  son),  mott  governe  yow  In  ryth  ! 
the  Holy  gost  mott  with  yow  be  ! 
what  is  yowre  wyll  ?  sey  me  In  sythe.  1 650 

Rex. 

thow  fayer  woman,  ittw  my  delyth,  1651  He  says, 

}>e  to  refresch  is  myn)  Intentt1, 

with  mete  and  mony,  and  clothys  for  J)e  nyth, 

And?  with  swych  grace  as  god  hathe  me  lentt.         1654 

Maria. 

Than)  fullfylle  36  goddes  cummavndemewt,  1655 

pore  folk  In  mysch[ef],  fern)  to  susteyn). 

Rex. 

Now,  blyssyd  woman,  reherse  here  presentt, 

the  loyys  of1  yower  lord?  In  heven).  ^5  8 

Mary. 

IT  A !  blyssyd?  Jje  ower,  and  blyssyd?  be  fe  tyme,     1659 

pat  to  goddey  lawys  je  wyll  gyff  credens, 

to  yower  selfe  36  make  a  glad?  pryme 

A-^ens  J>e  fenddes  Malycyows  violens.  1662 

from)  god?  a-bove,  corait  fe  In-fluens, 

Be  ]je  Holy  gost  In-to  fi  brest  sentt  down), 

for  to  restore  J>i  of1- fens;  166$ 

Y\  sowle  to  bryng*  to  ewerlastyng*  salvacyo«. 

Thy  wyffe,  she  is  grett  with  chyl$ ; 

Lyke  as  fou  desyerst,  JJQU  hast  ]>\  bone.  1668 

Regina. 

A  !  30  !  I  felytt  ster  In  my  wombe  vp  and  down) ;   1669 
I  am)  glad?  I  have  J>e  In  presens. 
O  blyssyd?  wommara,  rote  of1  ower  savacyon), 
Jji  god  woll  I  worshep  wit h  dew  reverens.  1672 


and  blesses  the 
time  in  which 
he  turnd  to 
God. 


[leaf  133,  back] 


She  tells  him  his 
wife  is  great 
with  child. 


The  Queen  feels 
the  child  quick 
within  her. 


u8 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.        SCENE    39. 


[leaf  134] 


Rex. 

The  King  asks      Now,  fayer  wowzman,  sey  me  be  sentens.  1673 

Mary  her  name, 

I  be-seche  be,  whatt  is  bi  name  ? 

Mary. 

ser,  a-^ens  bat  I  make  no  resystens, 
Mary  mavdleyn)  witA-owtyn)  blame.  1676 

rex. 

and  thanks  her,    Q  !  blyssyd!  mary,  ryth  well  is  me  1677 

bat  ewer  I  have  abedyn)  bis  daye. 
now  thanke  I  bi  god,  and  specyally  $e, 
And  so  xall  I  do  whyle  I  leve  may.  1680 

mary. 

}e  xall  thankytt  peter,  my  master,  witA-owt  delay.  1681 
He  is  bi  frend,  stedfast  and  cler ; 
To  allmythy  god1  he  halp  me  pray, 
and  he  xall  crestyri)  yow  from)  be  fyndde*  power,     1 684 
In  be  syth  of1  god!  an  hye. 

rex. 

now  suerly  36  answer  me  to  my  pay ; 
I  am)  ryth  glad1  of*  bis  tyddynges. 

Butt,  mary,  In  all  my  goode-r  I  sese  yow  bis  day,     1688 
for  to  byn)  at  yower  gydyng1, 

And  bem)  to  rewlyn)  at  yower  p^eyng1  1690 

Tyll  bat  I  coTwme  horn)  a-gayn). 
I  wyll  axke  of1  yow  neythyr  lond  nor*  rekynyng*, 
But  I  here  delever  yow  power*  pleyn).  J^93 

regina. 

Now,  worshepfull  lord,  of1  a  bone  I  yow  pray,        1694 
And  it  be  plejeyng*  to  yower  hye  dygnite. 

Rex. 

Madam),  yower  dysyer*  on)-to  me  say. 

what  bone  is  bat  $e  desyer1  of1  me  ?  1697 


and  gives  her 
possession  of 
all  his  goods, 

to  do  what  she 
likes  with  till 
he  conies  home 
from  being  bap- 
tizdbySt.  Peter. 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.        SCENES    39    AND    40. 


119 


I  608  The  Queen  begs 
that  she  may  go 
with  him. 


1701 


regina. 

Now,  worshepfull  sovereyn),  In  eche  degre, 
bat  I  may  wztA  yow  goo, 
A  crestyn)  wo/wma/i  made  to  be. 
gracyus  lord,  it  may  be  soo. 

Rex. 

A-las  !  be  wytttw  of*  wommen,  how  bey  byn  wylldf !         The  King  dis 
suades  his  wife 
And1  ber-of1  fallytt  many  a  chanse.  rieaf  134,  back] 

from  going. 

A  !  why  desyer  it  ?  and  yow  ar  wit  A  chyldL  1 704 

regina. 

A  !  my  sovereyn),  I  am)  knett  In  care,  i  705 

but  36  consedyr  now  bat  I -crave  j 
lor  all  be  lowys  bat  ever  ware, 
be-hynd  yow  bat  36  me  nat  leve. 

Rex. 

wyff,  syn)  bat  36  woll  take  bis  wey  of  pryse, 
berto  can)  I  no  more  seyn) ; 
now,  lesu  be  ower  gyd,  bat  is  hye  lustyce, 
And  bis  blyssyd*  womma«,  mary  mavglej  n) ! 

Mary. 

syth  36  ar  consentyd  to  bat  dede, 
the  blyssyng*  of*  god  gyff  to  yow  wyll  I ; 
He  xall  save  yow  from)  all  dred?, 

In  nomine  patrys,  et  filij,  et  spiritus  sancti.  amew !   i  / 16 
Ett  tune  navis  venit  In  placeam,  et  navta  (licit. 


She  begs  him 
not  to  leave  her 
1708    behind, 


I/OO   and  he  agrees  to 
'    take  her. 


1712 


1 7*3 


Mary  blesses 
them. 


{PART  II.     Scene  40.] 

[Navta.] 

Loke  forth,  grobbe,  my  knave, 
&  tell  me  qwat  tydynges  bou  have, 
&  yf1  bou  a-spye  ony  lond1. 

boy. 

Tn)-to  be  shrowd^  I  woll  me  hye. 
be  my  fythe,  a  castell  I  aspye, 
&  as  I  ondyrsto«d. 


Part  ft.  Scene  40. 
Marcylle  shore. 


1717 


1719 


The  Shipman's 
boy  Grobbe 
sees  a  Castle 


1722 


120 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       FART    II.        SCENE    40. 


navta. 

sett  bfr-witA,  yf1  we  mown),  1723 

Th?.8bip,.Rrrlve8  f°r  I  wott  'ttw  a  havyn)  town) 

at  Marcylle,  ' 

bat  stondyt  vp-on)  a  strond!.  1725 

Ett  tuncc  transitt  rez  ad  navem,  et  dicit  rex. 


and  the  King 


wants  to  sail 
off  in  her. 


[Eex.     The  King  of  Marcylle.] 

How,  good  man,  of1  whens  is  bat  shep  ?  1 726 

I  pray  je  ser,  tell  bou  me. 

navta. 

ser,  as  for  bat,  I  take  no  kepe  j 
for  qwat  cavse  enquire  36?  J729 

rtx. 

for  cavsys  of1  nede,  seyle  wold1  wej  J73° 

ryth  fayii)  we  woldf  ower  byn). 

navta. 

jee,  butt  me  thynkytt,  so  mote  I  the, 
so  hastely  to  passe,  yower  spendyng*  is  thyn).  1733 

I  trow,  be  my  lyfe,  1 734 

suggests  that 

hes  stolen  some  bou  hast  stollyn)  su?»  mannes  wyffej 

man's  wife, 

and  wants  to       bou  woldyst  lede  hyr  owt  of1  lond!.  173" 

carry  her  away  ;    ' 

nevei'-be-les,  so  god1  me  save, 

lett  se  whatt  I  xall1  have, 

or  ellw  I  woll  nat  wend1.  J739 

rex. 

but,for  10  marks,  Ten  marke  I  wyll  36  gyff, 

he  agrees  to  IP*. 

take  the  King      yf  bou  wylt  set  me  vp  at  be  cleytr 

and  Queen  to         '  / 

the  Holy  Land.     In  be  holy  lond1.  1 742 

navta. 

set  of1,  boy,  In-to  be  flod1 !  1743 

boy. 

I  xall,  master,  be  wynd1  is  good1  j 

Hens  bat  we  wei*.  1745 

lamentando  regina. 

[»MS.xallzalL] 


The  Shiptnan 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENB    41. 


121 


{PART  II.     Scene  41.] 
[Regina.] 

A  !  Lady  !  helpp  In  pis  nede.  1 746 

fat  In  pis  flod!  we  drench  natt. 

O  blyssyd?  lady  !  for-^ete  me  nowth  ! 

A  !  mary,  mary,  flower  of1  woramawned  J 

Rex. 

a  !  My  dere  wyffe  \  no  dred  36  have, 
butt  trost  In  mary  mavdleyn), 
And  she  from)  perelley  xall  vs  save; 
to  god  for  vs  she  woll  prayyn). 

regina. 

A  !  dere  hosbond1,  thynk  on)  me, 
&  save  yower  sylfe  as  long  as  36  may ; 
for  trewly  itt  wyll  no  other- wyse  be ; 
full  sor  my  hart  it  makytt  pis  day. 
A !  pe  chyld?  pat  be-twyx  my  sydey  lay, 
pe  wyche  was  cowseyvyd?  on)  me  be  ryth ! 
Alas  !  fat  wommanne^  help  is  away  ; 
an)  hevy  departyng1  is  be-twyx  vs  In  syth ; 
for*  now  departe  wee. 

for  de-fawte  of1  womme/z  here  In  my  nede, 
deth  my  body  makyth  to  sprede. 
now,  mary  mavdleyn),  my  sowle  lede  ! 
In  manus  tuas,  do/wine  ! 

Rex. 

li  Alas,  my  wyffis  ded! 

alas  !  fis  is  a  carefull  chans  ! 

so  xall  my  chyld1,  I  am)  a-dred?, 

&  for  defawth  of1  sustynowws.  J77° 

good  lord,  pi  grace  gravnte  to  me!  J77* 

A  chyld1  be-twen)  vs  of1  Increse, 

an  it  is  mother-les  ! 

Help  me,  my  sorow  for  to  release, 

yf1  pi  wyl  it  be  !  1775 


Part  II.   Scene  41. 
At  tea.     A  rock 
on  an  Hand.    The 
Holy  Land. 


1748   The  Queen  of 
Marcylle  calls 
on  Mary  to  help 
her. 

[leaf  135,  back] 


She  is  in  child 
birth, 


1755 
1754 

1757 
1761 


1 763    and  having  no 
woman's  help, 


commits  her 
soul  to  God, 
1766   and  dies. 


1767   The  King 
laments  his 
wife's  death, 


to  keep  his  child 

[leaf  136] 
alive. 


122 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.        SCENE    41. 


The  storm 
increases. 


The  men  want 
to  throw  the 
yiiuun'a  corpse 
overboard. 


The  King  begs 
them  to  put  it 
aud  his  child  on 
a  rock. 


The  corpse  and 
child  are  laid 
there, 


and  the  King 

k  I— <-S   111, -III 


[leaf  136,  back] 

The  ship  reaches 
the  Holy  Land. 


navta. 

benedicite,  benedicite !  1T]6 

<l/r,/t  vvethyr  may  Jjis  be  ? 
ower  mast  woll  all  a-sondyr.  '7/8 

boy. 

Master,  I  )w-to  ley  myn)  erej  1779 

it  is  for  pis  ded<  body  fat  we  bere  j 
cast  hyr  owt,  or  elles  we  synke  ond[yr.]  1781 

make  redy  for  to  cast  hyr  owt. 

Rex. 

nay,  for  goddw  sake,  do  natt  so  !  1782 

&  36  wyll  hyr  In-to  fe  se  cast, 
gyntyll  sere,?,  for  my  love  do. 

jendyr  is  a  roch  In  J>e  west :  17&5 

as  ley  hyr  j>er-on)  all  a-bove, 

and  my  chyld!  hyr  by.  17&7 

navta. 

as  hcr-to  I  a-sent  well.  1788 

&  she  were  owt  of*  Jje  wessell, 

all  we  xuldl  stond  J)e  more  In  hele, 

I  sey  yow  werely.  1 79 1 

Rex. 

ly  here,  wy  ff,  and  chyld1  }>e  by.  1 792 

blyssyd!  mavdleyn),  be  hyr  rede  ! 
wit  A  terys  wepyng1,  and  grett  cavse  why, 
I  kysse  yow  both  In  jjis  sted.  1795 

now  woll  I  pray  to  mary  myld? 

to  be  \er  gyde  hei\  1797 

tune  remigat  a  mortem,  et  navta  dicit. 

[Navta]. 

pay  uow,  ser,  and  goo  to  lond1,  1 798 

for  here  is  Jje  portt  3af  I  ondyrstond1, 
ley  down)  my  pay  In  my  hondl, 
&  be-lyve  go  me  fro.  1801 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.        SCENES    41    AND    42. 


123 


ex. 

I  gravnt  pe,  ser,  so  god  me  save. 

Jo,  here  is  all  pi  cownownf, 

all-redy  pou  xall  it  have, 

and  a  marke  more  fan)  Jji  gravnt. 

&  pou  page,  for  pi  good  obedyentt, 

I  gyffyow  be-syde  yower  styntt, 

Eche  of1  yow  a  marke  for  yower  wage. 

nawta. 

now  he  pat  mad1  bothe  day  and  nyth, 
He  sped  yow  In  yower  ryth, 
well  to  go  on)  yower  passage  ! 

[PART  II.     Scene  42.] 

peter. 

now  all  creaturs  vp-on)  mold!, 
pat  byn)  of1  crystes  creacyon), 
to  worchep  lesu  J>ey  ar*  be-hold*, 
nor*  never  a-^ens  hym)  to  make  waryacyon). 

rex  [The  King  of  Marcylle.] 
ser,  feythfully  I  be-seche  yow  pis  daye  j 
wher  peter  pe  apostull  is,  wete  wold*  I. 

peter. 

ittw  I,  syr,  wztA-owt  delay  5 
of1  yower  askyng*  tell  me  qwy. 

rex. 

ser,  pe  soth  I  xall  yow  seyn), 

and  tell  yow  myn)  Intentt  with-In  a  whyle. 

per  is  a  womaw  hyth  mary  mavdleyn), 

pat  hether  hath  laberyd  me  owt  of1  mercyll 

on)-to  pe  wyche  womaw  I  thynk  no  gyle, — 

and  pis  pylgramage  cavsyd  me  to  take. 

I  woll  tell  yow  more  of1  pe  stylle, 

for  to  crestyn)  me  from)  wo  and  wrake. 


1 8O2  The  King  of 
Marcylle  paya 
the  Shipman 
and  his  Boy, 
a  mark  each 
extra. 

1805 

1806 
1808 

1809 

i8u 


Part  J[.  Scene  42. 
Jerusal'm. 


1 8 1 2    St.  Peter  says 
that  all  folk  are 
bound  to  wor 
ship  Jesus. 


l8l6    The  King  of 
Marcylle  asks 
for  Peter, 


l8lp 


l820 


[leaf  137] 


and  says  that 
Mary  Magdalene 
1823    has  sent  him  to 


0    _    be  baptizd  by 
102/    peter. 


124  MAHY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENE  42. 

peter. 

O,  blyssyd  be  be  tyme  bat  36  ai*  falle  to  grace,        1828 
&  je  wyll  kepe  yower  be-leve  after  my  techeyng*, 
&  alle-only  for-sake  be  fynd  saternas, 
the  co7Hmavndme[n]ttes  of1  god  to  have  In  kepyng*. 

rex. 
TheKiugof        for-soth,  I  be-leve  In  be  father,  bat  is  of1  all  wvldyng1, 

Marcylle  de 
clares  his belief    And  In  be  son),  lesu  Cryst.  1833 

in  the  Trinity, 

also  In  be  holy  gost,  his  grace  to  vs  spredyng*. 
Christ's  death      I  be-leve  In  crystw  deth  and  hL>  vprysynK*.  1831 

and  uprising, 

Petyr. 

ser,  ban)  whatt  axke  $e  ?  1836 

Rex. 

and  prays  Peter   Holy  father,  baptym),  for  chary te, 

to  baptize  him.  * 

Me  to  save  In  eche  degre 

from)  be  fyndes  bond?.  1839 

petyr. 

In  be  name  of1  be  trenite,  1840 

Peter  does  so,      witA  bis  water  I  baptysse  je, 
bat  bou  mayst  strong*  be, 

A-jen)  be  fyndf  to  stond?.  1843 

Tune  aspargit  ilium  cum  aqua. 

[leaf  137,  back]  rex. 

A !  holy  fathyr,  how  my  hart  wyll  be  sor,  1 844 

of1  cummav[n]ddementt  and  je  declare  nat  be  sentens. 

petyr. 

syr,  dayly  je  xall  labor1  more  and  more, 
tyll  bat  }e  have  very  experyensj  !%47 

wit  A  me  xall  je  wall2  to  have  more  eloquens,          1848 
and  bids  the        &  goo  vesyte  be  stacyons  by  and  by ; 

King  visit  the  .   ,         . 

sudons  and  go    to  nawreth  ana  bedlem)  goo  witA  delygens, 

to  Na«areth  and 

Bethlehem.         &  be  yower  own)  In-speccyon)  yower  feyth  to  edyfy.  1851 
[>  MS.  lobor.]         [«  P  dwell :  wall  is  to  well,  flow.] 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENES    42    AND    43.  I2JJ 

Rex. 

now,  holy  father,  derevorthy  and  dere,  1852  The  King  of 

Marcylle  says 

myn)  Intent*  now  know  36, 

ittz'j  gon)  full  to  3ere, 

pat  I  cam  to  yow  ower*  pe  se,  "  1855 

crystes  servont  and  yower  to  be,  ^856 

&  pe  lave l  of1  hym)  ever  to  fulfyll.  [i  kwe] 

now  woll  I  honi)  In-to  my  cowtre.  he  will  go  home. 

yower  pver*  blyssynd,  gravnt  vs  tylle, 

pat,  feythfully  I  crave.  1860 

petrus. 
now  In  pe  name  of*  lesu,  Peter  gives  him 

his  blessing. 

Cum  patre  et  saracto  speritu, 

He  kepe  pe  and  save  !  1 863 

et  tune  rex  transit  ad  navem,  et  dicit  rex. 

[PART  II.       Scene   43.]  Partll.  SceneW. 

•  **  J  The  Holy  Land 

[Rex.]  s/lore 

Hold!  ner,  shepmaw,  hold,  hold? !  1864  The  King  of 

Marcylle  sees  his 

boy. 

ser,  3endyr  is  on)  callyd!  after  cold!. 

navta. 

A,  ser  !  I  ken  yow  of1  old!.  oldshipmau, 

be  my  trowth,  30  be  welcum  to  me.  1867 

ReX.  [leaf  138] 

now,  eentyll  marraner',  i  be  pray,  1868  and  asks  him  to 

take  him  back 

what-so-ewer  pat  I  pay,  to  Marcylle. 

In  all  pe  hast  pat  36  may, 

Help  me  ower  pe  se.  1871 

navta. 
In  good  soth  we  byn)  a-tenddawnttf ;  1872  The  shipman 

gladly  agrees, 

gladly  36  xall  have  yower  gravnt*. 

wk^-owtyn)  ony  co/mownt'. 

cowme  In,  In  goddes  name  !  1&J5 


126  MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCRNES    43    AND    44. 

and  tells  Orobbe  grobbe,  boy!  be  wynd  is  nor  west1!  1876 

to  haul  up  the 

••U-  fast  a-bowth  be  seyle  cast* ! 

rere  vp  be  seyll  In  all  be  hast, 

as  well  as  bou  can).  1879 

et  tune  navis  venit  ad-circa  placeam :  rex  dicit. 

rart/TtoHutt.  [PART  11.     Scene  44.] 

At  tea      Tht 

Rock.     Marcylle  I  "Rov  1 

ttratut.  L'aci-J 

master  of  be  shyp,  cast  forth  yower  yee  !  1 880 

Thoy  see  the        me  thynky t  be  rokke  I  gyn)  to  a-spye. 
gentyll  master,  Aether  vs  gye  j 
I  xall  qwyt  yower  mede.  1883 

navta. 

I  teyth  it  is  be  same  ston)  1884 

where  they  laid    bat  yower  wyff  lyeth  vp-on)j 
corpse,  with  her  ye  xall  be  ber  even)  a-no//, 

werely  Indede.         .  1887 

[leaf  138,  backj  Rex. 

The  King  sees      O  bou  niyly  lord1  of  heven)  region),  1888 

his  babe  all 

sound,  ^endyr  is  my  babe  of  myn)  own)  nature, 

preservyd1  and  keptt  from)  all  corrupcyon  ! 

blyssyd  be  bat  lord  bat  J>e  dothe  socur1,  1891 

and  his  wife  too.  And  my  wyff  lyeth  her1  fayer  and  puer  ! 

fayer*  and  cler1  is  hur  color  to  se  ! 

a  !  good  lord,  yower  grace  with  vs  Indure,  1894 

My  wyvys  lyfe  for  to  illumyn).  1895 

A,  blyssyd1  be  bat  puer  vergyn), 
She  awakes  from  from)  grevos  slepe  she  gynnyt  revyve  ! 

A !  be  sonne  of  grace  on)  vs  doth  shynne  ! 

now  blyssyd!  be  god,  I  se  my  wyff  a-lyve  !  1899 

regina. 
and  blesses          O  verero  salutata,  for  ower  savacyon) !  1000 

Mary  Magdalene 

for  saving  her,     O  pulcra  et  casta,  cum  of  nobyll  alyavns  ! 

O  almyty  maydyn),  ower  sowlys  confortacyon) ! 

O  demvr  mavdlyn),  my  bodyys  sustynavns !  1 903 


MARY    MAGDALENE.        PART    II.       SCENES    44    AND    45.  127 

bou  hast  wrfalppyd  vs  In  wele  from)  all  waryawws,  1904  and  for  taking 

1  Jt  VJ  y    ^   her  with  her 

&  led!  me  with  my  lord  Ifril-to  be  holy  lond!.  husband  into 

the  Holy  Land, 

I  am)  baptysyd!,  as  ye  ar1,  be  maryvs  gyddavns,  letting  her  be 

1    J    J  baptizd  by  St. 

of1  sent  peterys  holy  hand!.  J9O7  Peter> 

I  sve  be  blyssyd?  crosse  bat  cryst  shed?  on)  his  vrecyvs  see  Christ's 

1     J  J         Cross  and 

blod!;  iyo8    Sepulchre, 

His  blyssyd!  sepulcur  also  se  I  ; 

whe[r]for,  good?  hosbond?,  be  mery  In  mode, 

for  I  have  gon)  be  stacyounes  by  and  by.  19  n  and  go  the 

Stacions. 

Rex. 

I  thanke  it,  lesu,  with  hart  on)  hye  ;  1912  The  King 

thanks  Jesus, 

now  have  I  my  wyf  and  my  chyld?  both. 

I  thankytt,  mavdleyn)  and  ower  lady,  and  Mary 

Magdalene. 

&  ever  shall  do  wztA-owtyn)  othe.  I9I5 

et  tune  remigant  a  rnonte,  et  navta  (licit. 

[leaf  139] 


Now  ar  36  past  all  perelle  ;  1916 

Her  is  be  lond?  of  mercylle  !  The  King  and 

Queen  reach 

now  goo  a  lond1,  ser,  whan)  je  wyll,  Marcyiie, 

I  pr[a]ye  yow  for  my  sake.  J9J9 

rex. 
sodamercy,  lentyll  marraner  !  1920  paytheShip- 

J  man  £10,  and  go 

Her"  is  x  ti  of  nobylles  cler,  asllOTe- 

And  euer  bi  frynd?  both  ferre  and  ner1  ; 

cryst  save  be  fro/w  wo  and  wrake  !  I923 

Here  goth  the  shep  ow^t  ofe  the  place,  and  mavd- 
[leyn]  seyth. 

[PART  II.       Scene   45.]  PartiTTceneiS. 

[Mary  Maudleyn.] 
o,  dere  frynde^  !  be  In  hart  stabyll,  T924  Mary  Magdalene 

exhorts  the  folk 

&  [thynk]  how  dere,  cryst  hathe  yow  bowth  !  to  be  steadfast, 

A-jens  god  be  nothyng1  vereabyll  ; 
thynk  how  he  mad  all  thyng1  of1  nowth. 


thow  yow  In  poverte  suwztyme  be  browth,  and  bear  their 

J  troubles 

[y]itte  be  In  charyte  both  nyth  and  day,  patiently, 


128 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PAST    II.       SCENE    46. 


for  Poverty  is 
God's  houso. 


Bleaaodare  the 
meek, 


and  the  feeders 
of  the  hungry. 


They  who  de 
stroy  sin  are  the 
Children  of  Life. 

leaf  139,  back] 


The  King  and 
Queen  kneel 
down  before 


Mary  Magdalene 
and  hail  her  as 
their  help 


for  fey  byn)  blyssyd1  fat  so  byn)  sowth, 

for  pavpertas  est  domum  Dei ;  1931 

god  blyssyt  alle  fo  fat  byn)  meke  and  good1, 

&  he  blyssyd1  all  f  o  fat  wepe  for  synne. 

fey  be  blyssyd1  fat  f e  huwgor  and  f e  thorsty  gyfF  fode, 

fey  be  blessyd1  fat  byn)  mercyfull  a-^en)  wrecched1  men, 

fey  byn)  blyssyd?  fat  byn)  dysstroccyon)  of1  synne,     1936 

thes  byn)  callydf  fe  chyldyrm  of1  lyfe, 

On)-to  fe  wyche  blysse  bryng*  both  yow  and  me, 

that  for  vs  dyyd1  on)  fe  rode  tre.  amen.  1939 

Here  sail  ^e  kyng  and  ]pe  quvene  knele  dou;i :  rex 
dicit. 

[The  King  of  Marcylle.] 

Hey  11  be  fou,  mary  !  ower  lord  is  wit  A  the !  1940 

the  helth  of  ower  sow  lie.;  and  repast  cowtemplatyff! 
Heyll,  tabyrnakyll  of  f  e  blyssyd1  trenite ! 
Heyll,  covnfortabyll  sokor*  for  maw  and  wyff !         1943 


Regina. 

and  the  saver  of    Heyll  bou  chosyii)  and  chast  of1  wommen  alon)  ! 

the  Queen  and 

her  boy.  it  passyt  my  wett  to  tell  f  i  nobyllnesse  ! 


1944 


Mary  welcomes 
them, 


and  says  they 
have  become 
God's  own 
knights. 


She  gives  the 
King  back  his 
goods. 

[leaf  140] 


fou  relevyst  me  and  my  chyld!  on)  fe  rokke  of  ston), 
&  also  savyd1  vs  be  fi  hye  holynesse.  J947 

Mary. 

welcum  horn),  prynse  and  prynsses  bothe!  1948 

welcum  horn),  yong  prynsse  of1  dfew  and  ryth  ! 

welcu/n  horn)  to  your  own)  erytage  witA-owt  othe, 

and1  to  alle  yower  pepyll  present  In  syth  !  1951 

now  ar  je  be-cu/n  goddes  own)  knygth,  1952 

for  sowle  helih  salve  ded  je  seche, 

In  honi)  fe  holy  gost  hath  take  resedens, 

&  drevyn)  a-syde  all  fe  desepcyon)  of  wrechej          1955 

&  now  have  }e  a  knowle[ge]  of  fe  sentens, 

How  je  xall  com)  on)-to  grace. 

but  now  In  yower  godes  a-jen)  I  do  yow  sese; 

I  trost  I  have  govrrnyd1  fem)  to  yow<r  hertw  ese ;  1959 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENE    45.  1 29 

HOW  woll  I  labor  forth,  god1  to  plese,  1960    Mary  Magdalene 

more  gostly  strenkth  me  to  purchase. 

rex. 

O,  blyssyd1  mary,  to  comprehend,  1962  isasktbythe 

Ower  swete  sokor,  on)  vs  have  pete ! 

regina. 

To  departe  from)  vs  why  shovlc?  $e  pretende  ?  «otjx>  leave 

O  blyssyd  lady,  putt  vs  nat  to  fat  poverte  !  1965 

Mary. 

Of1  yow  and  yowers  I  wyll  have  rememberavns,      1966 

&  daylv  Mower  bede  womara  for  to  be,  She  promises  to 

11    u  J  pray  for  them ; 

fat  alle  wyckydnesse  from)  yow  may  have  deleverans, 
In  quiet  and  rest1  fat  leve  may  36.  1969 

rex. 

now  tnanne,  yower  puer*  blyssyng1  gravnt  vs  tylle ! 

mari. 

The  blyssyn)  of*  god?  mott  yow  fulfyll !  197 1  ete  blesses 

ille  vos  benedicatt,  qui  sene1  fine  vivif  et  regnat ! 

Her  goth  mary  In-to  ]?e  wyldyrnesse,  and  \>us  and  then  goes 
seyyngBex.  £S      W 

Rex. 
A  !  we  may  syyn)  and  wepyn)  also,  1973  The  King  and 

Queen  of 

Kwe  have  for-gon)  bis  lady  fre  :  Marcyiieweep 

at  Mary  s  going. 

it  brynggytt  my  hart  In  care  and  woo, 

J>e  whech  ower  gydde  and  governor  shovld1  a  be.     1976 

Regina. 

fat  doth  perswade  all  my  ble,  1977 

fat  swete  sypresse  fat  she  wold1  so ; 

In  me  restytt  neyther  game  nor  gle, 

that  she  wold1  from)  owere  presens  goo.  1980    Oaf  HO,  back] 

Rex. 

now  of*  hyr  goyng1  I  am)  nothyng1  glad1,  198 1  The  King 

resolves  to  guide 

But  my  londdw  to  gyddyn  I  mvst  a-plye :  MB  t°&- 

[*  for  sine.  ] 
DIGBY   MY8T.  K 


IJO  MARY    MAGDALENE.       FART    II.       SCENES    46    AND    47. 

Lyke  as  soncte  peter  me  badde, 
The  King  of        Chyrchys  In  cetyys  I  woll  edyfye,  1984 

Marcylle  will  ••_«•• 

build  churches,    &  who-so  a-jens  ower  feyth  woll  replye, 

punish  heretic*,  I  woll  ponysch  [sjwych  personnel  witA  perplyxcyon); 

MahoncJ  and  his  lawys  I  defye.  1987 

A  !  hys  pryde  owt  of1  my  love  xall  have  polucyon, 

&  holle  on)-to  lesu  I  me  be-take.  1989 


Jesus. 

PartiT&auU.  [Part  II.     Scene  46.] 

The  Wildtrnut. 

Mari  In  herimo. 

In  bis  deserte  abydyn)  wyll  wee  ;  '99° 

My  sowle  from)  synne  for  to  save, 
Mary  Magdalene  I  wyll  ever  abyte  me  -with  humelyte, 

resolves  to  live 


Put  me  In  pacyens,  my  lord1  for  to  lovej  1993 

and  abstinence,    In  charyte  my  \verkes  I  woll  grave, 

And?  In  abstynens  all  dayys  of1  my  lyfe. 

Thus  my  concyefis  of1  me  doth  crave;  1996 

than  why  shold!  I  witA  my  co/zsyens  st[r]yfFe?         1997 

&  ferdar-more  I  wyll  leven)  In  charyte, 

at  J>e  reverens  of<  ower  blyssyd?  lady, 

In  goodnesse  to  be  lyberall,  my  sowle  to  edyfye  j    2000 

of  wordly  fades  I  wyll  leve  all  refectyon)  : 

feeding  only  on 

food  from  Be  be  fode  bat  commyt  from)  heveri)  on)  hye, 

heaven. 

[leaf  Hi]        thatt  god  wyll  rne  send1,  be  contemplatyff.  2003 

Part//T&«w47.  [Part  II.     Scene  47.1! 

Heavf*. 

lesuB. 

O  !  be  swettnesse  of  prayors  sent  on)-to  me,  2004 

fro  my  wel-belovyd1  frynd  witA-owt  waryovfls  ! 
with  gostly  fode  relevyd  xall  she  be. 
Jesus  bids  angelles  !   In-to  be  clowdey  ye  do  hyr  havns  :  2007 

Angels  draw 

Mary  up  into       tier  fede  witA  manna  to  hyr  sysrynovns; 

the  clouds, 

and  there  feed     wjtA  loy  of  angyllw  bis  lett  hur  receyve; 

her  with  manna.  ' 

Byd  hur  In  loye  witA  all  hur  afyawns,  2010 

for  fynddes  frawd  xall  hur  now  deseyve.  2011 

1  The  upper  stage  of  the  Pageant-  Waggon.     No  doubt  a  cur 
tain  was  drawn  before  Mary  on  the  lower  stage. 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  II.   SCENE  48. 


]us  angelas. 

O  fou  redulent  rose  fat  of1  a  vergyri)  sprong ! l 
O  fou  precyus  palme  of1  wytory! 
O  fou  osanna,  angelles  song1 ! 
O  precyu^  gemme  born  of1  ower  lady  ! 
lord,  fi  co7wmav[n]ddemewt  we  obbey  lowly, 
to  f  i  servant  fat  fou  hast  gravntyd  blysse, 
we  angelks  all  obeyyn)  devowtly; 
we  woll  desend?  to  fen  wyldernesse. 


The  Angels 
praise  Mary 
Magdalene, 


2OI4 


and  say  they'll 
obey  Christ's 
2OI7    test. 


2019 


IP  ART  II.     Scene  48.] 

Here  xall  to  angylles  desend  In-to  wyldyrnesse  ; 
and  other  to  xall  bryng  an  oble,  opynly  aperyng 
a-loft  In  \sQ  clowddes  ;  be  to  be-nethyn  xall  bryng 
mari,  and  she  xall  receyve  \>Q  bred,  and  J^an  go 
a-jen  In-to  wyldyrnesse. 


2020 


2023 
2024 


2027 


Part  II.  Scene  48. 
The  Wilderness; 
then  the  Clouds. 


2O28 


Mari,  god  gretyt  f e  with  hevenly  Influens, 
He  hath  sent  f  e  grace  with  hevenly  synys  j 
fou  xall  byn)  onoryd  with  loye  and  reverens, 
In-hansyd  In  heven)  above  wergy  lines, 
fou  hast  byggyd'  fe  here  among*  spynys, 
god  woll  send'  f  e  fode  be  revelacyon) ; 
fou  xall  be  receyvyd1  In-to  fe  clowddes, 
gostly  fode  to  reseyve  to  f  i  savacyon). 

Mari. 

fiat  voluntas  tua  In  heven)  and  erth  ! 
now  am)  I  full  of1  loye  and  blysse ; 
lavd  and  preyse  to  fat  blyssyd  byrth ! 
I  am)  redy,  as  his  blyssyd'  wyll  isse.  2031 

Her  xall    she    be    halsyd    with    angelles    with 
reverent  song. 

Asumpta  est  maria  in  nubttus ;  cell  gavdewt, 
Angeli  lavdantes  feliuw*  Dei  ;  et  dicit  mari : 

O  fou  lord  of1  lorddes,  of*  hye  domenacyon) '  2032 

In  hewen)  and  erth  worsheppyd  be  fi  name. 

[l  MS.  sporng.] 

K   2 


An  angel  tella 
Mary  that 


[leaf  142,  back] 


she  shall  be 
taken  up  into 
the  clouds  and 
fed  there. 


The  angels  draw 
her  up  into  the 
clouds, 


and  she  praises 
and  thanks 
Jesus. 


MARY  MAGDALENE.   PART  II.   SCENE  49. 


Part  II.  Seme  40. 
The  Wildernett. 


A  Priest  begs 
Jesus,  by  hU 
7  names, 


[leaf  143] 

to  let  him  see 
Mary  Mag 
dalene. 


He 


her. 


tf-w  : 
I  her, 


and  asks  her 
about  her  Lord. 


Mary  says  she's 
livd  80  years  in 
her  coll, 

has  been  raisd 
up  to  heaven 
thrice  a  day, 


How  Jiou  devydyst  me  from)  hovngur1  and  wexacyow, 

O  gloryuy  lord,  In  J>e  is  no  fravddw  nor  no  defame ! 

but  I  xuld  serve  my  lord,  I  wer*  to  blame,  2036 

wych  fullfyllyt  me  with  so  gret  felicete, 

witA  melody  of  angylles  shewit  me  gle  and  game, 

&  have  fed  me  with  fode  of*  most  delycyte.  1039 

{PART  II.     Scene  49.] 

Her  xall  speke  an  holy  prest  in  be  same  wyldyr- 
nesse  \>u»  seyyng  be  prest. 


2040 


2043 


[The  holy  Prest.] 

0  lord  of1  lorddes !  what  may  )>is  be  ? 
so  gret  mesteryys  shewyd  from)  heveri), 
•with  grett  myrth  and  melody, 

with  angylles  brygth  as  J>e  lewyn). 
Lord  lesu,  for  )>i  namys  sewynne, 
as  gravnt *  me  grace  bat  person)  to  se.  2045 

Her  he  xal  go  in  be  wyldymesse  and  spye  rnari 
in  hyr  devocyon,  \>m  seyyng  be  prest. 

Heyl,  creature,  crystey  delecceon) !  2046 

Heyl,  swetter  fan  sugur  or  cypresse ! 

Mary  is  j)i  name  be  angylles  relacyon), 

grett  art  )>ou  with  god  for  |>i  perfythnesse.  2049 

J>e  loye  of1  lerasallem  shewyd  )je  expresse, 

J»e  wych  I  never  save  J>is  xxx  wynter  and  more ; 

wherfor  I  know  well  J>ou  art  of1  gret  perfy[t]nesse, 

1  woll  pray  yow  hartely  to  she[w]  me  of1  yower  lord. 

mari. 

Be  J>e  grace  c.f1  my  lord  icsus,  2054 

)>is  xxx  wynter  J>is  hath  byn)  my  selle,2 

&  thryys  on  J)e  day  enhansyd  \>us, 

•with  more  Toy  J>an)  ony  tong  can  telle.  2O57 

never  creature  cam)  \er  I  dwelle, 

P  MS.  grvant.] 

-  This  beats  Shakspere's  growing  babies  into  the  marriageable 
Marina  and  Perdita  in  the  course  of  Pericle*  and  Cymbeline. 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.        SCENE    60.  1J3 

tyme  nor  tyde,  day  nor1  nyth, 

bat  I  can)  with  spece  telle, 

But  a-lonly  with  goddes  angylles  brygth.  2061  and  held  cou- 

•  OJ  *  °  verse  with  none 

But  bou  art  wolcum  on)-to  my  syth  2062  ££*  <^od>s 

yf*  bou  be  of1  good  conversacyon)  ; 

as  I  thynk  In  my  delyth, 

Thow  sholddyst  be  a  mara  of1  devocyon).  2065    [leaf  143,  back] 

prest. 
In  crystys  lav.  I  am)  sacryed?  a  pryst,  2066  The  Priest  says 

*     *  r  '  that  he  conse- 

mynystryyo?  be  angels  at  my  masse.  hlad68  Christ  8 

I  sakor  be  body  of1  ower  lord  lesu  cryst, 

&  be  bat  holy  manna  I  leve  In  sowthfastnesse.        2069  and  lives  on  it. 

Mari. 

now  I  rejoyse  of1  yower  goodnesse,  20/0 

But  tyme  is  comme  fat  I  xall  asende. 

pryst. 
I  recuwmend?  me  with  all  vmbylnesse,  He  goes  back  to 

his  Cell. 

On)-to  my  sell  I  woll  pretend1.  2073 

Her  xall  )?e  prest  go  to  his  selle,  )?ws  seyyng 
lesus. 


[PART  II.      Scene    <O.] 

. 

lesuS. 
now  xall  mary  have  possession),  2074  Jesus  says  that 

Mary  shall  dwell 

be  ryth  enirytawws  a  crown)  to  berej  in  joy. 

she  xall  be  fett  to  everlastyng1  savacyow, 

In  loye  to  dwell  wztA-owtyn)  fere.  2077 

now,  angelas,  lythly  bat  ae  wer1  ther  !  2078  He  bids  the 

'    J       }    '  '       angels  tell  the 

On)-to  be  pryste^  sell  a-pere  bis  tyde  :  Priest  to  go  and 

housel  her. 

my  body  In  forme  of1  bred  bat  he  bere, 

Hur  for  to  hossell,  byd  hym)  provyde.  208  1 

j"*  angelw*. 

o  blyssyd?  lord  !  we  be  redy,  2082 

yower  massage  to  do  wztA-owtyn)  treson). 


to  hyr  I  wyll  goo  and  make  reportur, 

how  she  xall  com)  to  yower  habytacyon.  2085 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENES    61    AND    62. 


Part  IT.  Scene  51. 
Tin  Wilderntu; 
thi  friafi  Ceil. 


The  angels  bid 
the  Priest  take 
the  Last  Sacra 
ment  to  Mary, 
[leaf  144] 

They'll  bear 
lights  before  it 


Part  II.  Scene  62. 

The  Wilderneu: 

Mary't  Cell. 

Then,  Heaven. 


An  Angel  tells 
Mary  of  her 
coming  death. 


Another  appears 
with  the  Priest, 


and  the  Bread 
of  Life  for  Mary. 


She  takes  it, 
[leaf  144,  back] 


[PART  II.     Scene  51.] 

Here  xall  ij  angyllea  go  to  mary  and  to  J?e  prest, 
\>u»  seyyng  \>e  angellea  to  J>e  prest. 

[angels.] 

ser  pryst,  god  cummav[n]dytt  from)  heven)  region),  2086 
je  xall  go  hosyll  hw  servont  expresse, 
And  we  witA  yow  xall  take  mynystracyon), 
to  bere  lyth  be-fore  his  body  of1  worthynesse.          2089 

pryst. 

angyllw,  witA  all  vmbyllnesse,  2090 

In  a  westment  I  wyll  me  aray, 
to  mynystyr  my  lord!  of1  gret  hynesse, 
straytt  J?er-to  I  take  J>e  way.  .  2093 

[PART  II.     Scene  52.] 

iju'  angels  In  herimo. 

Mary,  be  glad,  and  In  hart  strong1,  2094 

to  reseyve  )>e  palme  of1  grett  wytory ; 
J>is  day  ^e  xall  be  reseyvyd  witA  angelic  song1 ; 
yower  sowle  xall  departe  from)  yower  body.  2O97 

marl 

A  !  good  lord,  I  thank  )>e  witA-owt  weryawns,        2098 
)>is  day  I  am)  grovndyd  all  In  goodnesse, 
witA  hart  and  body  conclvdyd  In  substawns  j 
I  thanke  fe  lord  witA  speryt  of1  perfythnesse.  aioi 

Hie    aparuit  angelws   et   presbiter   cum  corpw* 
doxnenicum. 

[Presbiter.'] 

J)ou  blyssyd  woman,  invre  In  mekenesse,  2102 

I  have  browth  )>e  J?e  bred  of*  lyf  to  )>i  syth, 
to  make  )>e  suer1  from)  all  dvstresse, 
J)i  sowle  to  bryng1  to  euerlastyng1  lyth.  2105 

Marl 

O  J>ou  mythty  lord  of*  hye  mageste,  2106 

J)is  celestyall  bred  for  to  determyn), 

thys  tyme  to  reseyve  it  In  me. 

Her  she  reseyvyt  it. 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENE    52.  135 

my  sowle  perwitA  to  illumyn),  2109 

I  thank  pe  lord  of1  ardent  love.  2110  and  thanks  God. 

now  I  know  well  I  xall  nat  opprese. 

Lord1,  left  me  se  pi  loyys  above ! 

I  recuwdmend  my  sowle  ori)-to  pi  blysse.  2113  She  commends 

her  soul  to  Him, 

Lord,  opyn)  pi  blyssyd1  gates  !  2114  prays  Him  to 

V]       '         J     J  h   open  heaven  to 

thys  erth  at  thys  tyme  ferven[t]ly  I  kysse.  her: 

In  manus  tuas,  Domine — 

Lord,  wztA  pi  grace  me  wysse  ! —  2117 

Co/remendo  spiritum  meum  !  redemisti  me,  He  has  redeemd 

_.  her. 

Domme  Devs  ventatzs  !  21 19 

j«*  angelws. 

now  resey ve  we  pis  sowle,  as  reson)  is,  2120  The  2  Angels 

In  heven)  to  dwelle  vs  a-mong1. 

ij"'  angels. 

wztA-owtyn)  end1  to  be  in  blysse,  and  the  folk  in 

heaven  sing  a 

now  lett  vs  syng1  a  mery  song*.  2123  e^  SOI»g  over 

J    Mary's  bliss. 

gavdent  In  cells.1 

pryst. 

O!  good  god  !  grett  is  pi  grace  j  2124  The  Priest 

rejoices  over 

O  lem  !  I  mi !  blessyo?  be  pi  name  j  Mary's  end, 

A  !  mary  !  mary  !  mych  is  pi  solas, 

In  heven)  blysse  wztA  gle  and  namej  2127 

pi  body  wyl  I  cure  from)  alle  maner  blame,  2128 

&  I  wyll  passe  to  pe  bosshop  of1  be  sete,  »nd  says  he'll 

get  the  Bishop 

thys  body  of1  mary  to  berye  be  name,  to  bury  her  body 

reverently. 

wztA  alle  reverens  and  solemnyte.  2131 

sufferens  of1  pis  processe,  thus  enddyt  pe  sentens      2132        [leaf  145] 

i  i         1,  Our  Play  is 

that  we  have  playyd?  In  yower  syth.  done. 

Alle-mythty  god,  most  of*  magnyfycens,  May  God  bring 

6/7  you  all  to  bliss  1 

mote  bryng*  yow  to  hw  blysse  so  brygth, 

In  presens  of1  pat  kyng1 ! —  2136 

now,  frendey,  thus  endyt  thys  matei0, —  2137 

1  P  Draw  the  curtain  from  the  upper  stage  of  the  Pageant- 
Waggon,  and  all  join  in  the  Finale  with  the  two  (or  three)  Angels 
and  Priest  helow.  Or,  ought  a  last  Scene  to  begin  with  1.  2120  ? 


MARY    MAGDALENE.       PART    II.       SCENE    62    AND    EPILOGUE. 


Let's  ring  the 
'  Te  Deum.' 


Tht  Play  end*. 
Spiloffue. 


to  blysse  bryng*  J»o  J>at  byn)  here ! 

now,  clerkys  -with  woycys  cler, 

Te  DCUTO  lavdamus  lett  vs  syng*.  2140 

Ezplycit  oreginale  de  aancta,  Maria  magdalena. 

yff  Ony  thyng*  Amysse  be,  2141 

blame  connyng*,  and  nat  me  : 

I  desyer  fe  redars  to  be  my  frynd, 

yff  J>er  be  ony  amysse,  pat  to  amend.  2144 


J37 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM, 
WHO    IS    CHRIST. 

(Imperfect ;  by  afresh  and  later  hand,  introducing  the  Holborn 
Quest,  and  having  no  East-Midland  xal,  £s*c.) 

How  Lucifer  tempts  the  Mind,  Will,  and  Understanding 
of  Man  to  sin. 

In  8-line  stanzas  :  Scene  I,  alab-bcbc;  Scenes  II,  III,  and  IV  (what's 
left  of  it),  aaab-aaab.  Some  stanzas  are  ryme-linkt  with  their 
followers,  as  alab-bcbc — cdcd-dede. 


138 


[THE  NAMES  OF  THE  PLAYERS.] 


[Wysdam  of  Christ,  p.  139. 
Anima,  or  the  Soul,  p.  140. 
Anima's  Five  Wyttes,  as  Five 

Vergynes,  p.  145. 
The  3  Powers  of  every  Christian 
Soul  :— 

Mynde,  p.  145,  181,  189. 
Wylle,  p.  145,  181,  190. 
Vnderstondyng,  p.  145,  181, 

189. 
Lucyfer,  p.  179. 


A  shrewed  Boy,  p.  189. 

Mind's  6  Retainers  :  Indignacion, 
Sturdynesse,  Malyce,  Hasty- 
nesse,Wreche,  Discorde,p.  197. 

Understanding's  6  Jurors :  Wrong, 
Sleight,  Doblenesse,  Falsehed, 
Ravyne,  Disceyte,  p.  199. 

Will's  6  Women :  3  disguisd  as 
Gallants,  and  3  as  Matrons, 
p.  200.] 

[The  rest,  wanting."] 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    1.  139 


[A   MORALITY   OF   WISDOM, 
WHO    IS    CHRIST.] 


[Scene  i.] 

M[yles]   B[lomefylde]. 


ffyrst  entreth1  Wysdam  in  a  ryche  pwrpyll  cloth  of  Scene  i. 
gold,  with  a  mantyll  of  the  same  ermyned  within, 
havyng  a-bought  his  nek  a  ryall  hood  furred 
with  ermyn.  vpon  his  hed  a  cheveler  with  browes, 
a  berd  of  gold  of  Sypres  curled.  A  ryche  Imperial! 
crowne  ther-vpon,  set  with  riche  Stonys  and 
perlys.  In  his  left  hand  a  ball  of  gold  with  a 
crosse  ^er-vpon,  And  in  his  right  hond  A  regall 
Sceptre,  }>u8  seyng. 

[  Wysdam  .]  Enter  WISDOM. 

If1  ye  wyH  wete  the  propyrte,  i 

And  the  resovm  of1  my  name  Imp[er]iaH, 

I  am  clepyct  of1  hem  that  in  erthe  be,  My  name  is 

Everlasting 

euerlastyng  wysdom)  to  my  nobley  egan,  4  Wisdom. 

Wiche  name  accorditli  best  in  especiaH, 

and  most  to  me  is  conuenyent. 

AH-thougfi.   eche   person)   of1   the   trinite   be   wysdam  Tho'  it  exists  in 

each  person  of 
eternal!,  the  Trinity, 

and  aH  thre  *  on  /  euerlastyng  wysdam  to-gedyr  present, 

Neuertheles,  for-Asmoche  as  wysdom  is  propyrly          9 

Applied!  to  the  son)  be  resori), 

And  also  it  fallitfe  to  hym  specially  yet  it's  specially 

applied  to  the 

be-cause  of1  his  highest  generacion  :  1  2  Son,  who  is 

both  God  and 

therfor  the  belouycJ  son)  hatfi  this  signyficacion,  13  Man. 

Customably  Wysdam)  /  now  god!,  now  man), 

1  The  crost  li  and  H,  and  tagd  ct,  f1,  n),  are  not  markt 
in  this  clarendon  type. 


140  A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    1. 

Spowse  of1  the  chirche  and  verray  patron), 

Wyfe  of  eche  chose  sowle  :  thus  wysdam  be-gan).      16 

Here  entreth '  Ani/na  as  a  mayde  in  a  whight 
cloth  of  gold,  gy[n]tely  purfyled  with  menyver, 
a  mantyll  of  blak,  ther-vpon  a  cheueler  lyke  to 
wysdam,  with  a  riche  chapetelet  lasyd  be-hynde, 
hangyng  down  with  .ij.  knottea  of  gold  and  syde 
tasselys,  knelyng  down  to  wysdam,  \>ua  seyng. 

The  Soul  kneels  [Anima.l 

to  Wisdom, 

Hanc  amaui  et  exquisiui,  17 

fro  my  yougthe  this  haue  I  sought, 
and  says  she's      To  haue  to  my  spouse  most  specially ; 

desird  him  for  J 

her  Lover,          for  a  louer  or  yowr  shappe  am  I  wrought,  20 

[leaf  158,  back]    A-bove  aH  hele  and  bewte  that  eu<rr  was  sought, 
and  lovd  him  as   I  haue  louycJ  wysdam  as  for  my  light, 

her  Light. 

for  aH  goodnesse  with  hym  he  brought, 
In  Wysdam  I  was  made  aH  bewte  bright ;  24 

Of1  your  name  the  hign  felicite,  25 

no  creature  knowith"  futt  exposicion). 

Wysdam. 
wisdom  says  he   Sapiencia  specialior  est  sole ; 

is  brighter  than     ,  ,  i  •    *-         •   i  r    i        •        \  o 

the  sun  and         I  am  founden)  lignt  wjtA-out  co[mjpanson),  20 

stars 

Of1  sterrys  a-bove  aH  the  disposicion, 
for-sothe  of1  light  the  very  brightnesse, 
Merour1  of  the  devyne  domynacion, 

and  is  the  image  And  the  Image  of  his  goodnesse.  32 

Wysdam  is  better  than  aH  wordly  precio[s]nesse  j       33 
And  aH  that  may  desyred  be 
Is  not  in  comparison)  to  my  lykenesse  : 

length  of  years     the  lengthe  of1  the  yeres  in  my  right  syde  be,  36 

is  on  his  right  .  ,  .. 

side ;  And  in  my  lefte  syde  •  nchesse,  loye,  and  prospente. 

and  011  his  left, 

riches  and  joy.     io  i  this  is  the  worthynesse  or  my  name. 

Anima. 

A  !  Souereyn)  Wysdam  !  if1  your  benygnyte 
wold!  Speke  of  love,  that  were  a  game.  40 

1  The  crost  n  and  H,  and  tagd  d1,  k*.  n),  are  not  markt 
in  this  clarendon  type. 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    1. 


Wysdam. 

Of1  my  love  to  Speke  it  is  myrable  : 
be-holde  now,  Sovle,  with  ioyfuH  mynde, 
how  louely  I  am,  how  amyable, 
to  be  halsyd!  and  kyssed*  of*  mankynde. 
To  all  clene  Sovles  I  am  full  hende, 
And  euer  present  wher1  that  thei  be. 
I  love  the  loueres  wztA-outyn)  ende, 
that  ther*  loue  have  stedfast  in  me. 
the  prerogatyve  of1  my  love  is  so  grett, 
that  who  tast  therof  the  lest  droppe,  sui° 
aH  luster  and  lykenges  wordely  shaH  lete ; 
thei  shaH  seme  tyH  hym  filthe  and  ordur1. 
thei  that  of1  the  hevy  burthen)  of1  Synne  hatri  cure, 
My  love  dischargeth"  and  purifieth"  clene; 
It  strengthetfi.  the  mende,  the  sovle  makith"  pure, 
and  yevytfr  wysdam  to  hem  that  perfight  bene. 
who  takitll  me  to  spowse,  may  veryly  wene, — 
if1  a-bove  aH  thyng  he1  loue  me  specially, — 
that  rest  and  tranquyllite  he  shall  sene, 
and  dey  in  Sekyrnesse  of1  ioye  perpetuaH. 
The  hey  loue  of1  my  worthynesse  of1  my  love, 
AngeH  nor  man)  can  tett  playnly ; 
it  may  be  felt  in  experience  from  a-bove, 
but  not  spoke  ne  told'  as  it  is  veryly, 
the  godly  love,  no  creature  can  specyfie. 
What  wrecfi  is,  that  louytri  not  this  love, 
that  louytfi  his  louers  euer  so  tenderlye, 
that  his  Sigfit  from  them  neuer  kan)  remove. 

Anima. 

O  Worthy  Spouse,  and  Souereyne  fayr1 ! 
O  swete  amyke,  our1  loye,  our*  blisse ! 
to  yowr  love  who  doth  repeyer1, 
AH  felicite  in  that  creatur*  is; 
What  may  I  yeve  you  a-geyn)  for  this, 
O  creatowr,  louer1  of*  your  creator*  ? 


4 1    Wisdom  speaks 
of  his  Love : 


44 

He  is  gracious  to 
all  pure  souls. 


48 

49   The  least  drop  of 
his  love  makes 
folk  quit  sin. 


[leaf  159] 


5  7  They  who  wed 
him  shall  have 
perpetual  joy. 

[i  MS.  yel 
60 


64 


68 


69 


What  wretch 
exists  that 
doesn't  love  this 
enduring  Love  ? 


What  return  can 
man  make  for 
this  love  ? 


A    MOKALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    1. 


Wisdom  asks 
for  Soul's  heart 
and  obedience, 


though  be  GUI'  freelte  we  do  a-mys, 
Your  gret  mercy  euer  sparitfi  reddui*,  76 

a!  Souereyn)  Wysdam !  sanctus  sanctorum  !  77 

What  I  may  I  yeve  to  your  most  plesaunce  ? 

Wysdam. 

ffili !  prebe  michi  cor  tuum  ! 

I  aske  not  ellys  of*  ati  this  Substaunce,  80 

thi  clene  hert,  thi  meke  obeisaunce  j 
yeve  me  that,  and  I  am  content. 

Anima. 

A !  Soueryen)  loy,  myn  hertes  arfiaunce  ! 
The  fervour*  of*  my  love  to  you  I  represente  5  84 

[leaf  159,  back]    that  mekitfc  my  herte,  your  loue  so  feruent :  85 

Teche  me  the  Scolys  of1  your  devenyte. 

Wysdam. 

desire  not  to  sauour  in  cunnynges  to  excellent, 
But  drede  and  conforme  your  witt  to  me,  88 

ffor  it  is  the  helefuH  discyplyne  that  in  wysdam  may  be  : 
The  drede  of1  god?,  that  is  begynnyng* ; 
the  Wedys  of1  Synne  it  makith  to  flee, 
And  swete  vertuose  herbis  in  the  Soule  spryng.  91 


conformity  of 
her  will  to  his. 


Anima. 

she  can  know      O  endelcs  wysdam  !  how  may  I  haue  knowyng 
of1  thi  godhedf  in-comprehensible? 


by  knowing 
herself. 


The  Soul  (of 
Man) 


asks  what  a 
soul  is. 


Wysdam. 

by  knowyng  of1  your-Selff1,  ye  may  haue  felyng, 
What  god?  is  in  your  Soule  Sensyble ; 
the  more  knowyng  of1  yowr-Selff1  passible, 
the  more  verily  ye  shati  god1  knowe. 

Anima. 

0  Souereyn)  Auctour1  most  credible ! 
your  lesson)  I  attende  as  I  owe, 

1  that  represent  her*  /  the  soule  of  man). 
What  is  a  soule,  wyH  ye  declare  ? 


93 


96 


100 

101 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    1. 


H3 


Wysdam). 

It  is  the  ymage  of*  goo?  that  aH  by-gan), 
And  not  only  ymage,  but  his  lykenesse  ye  Are. 
of*  AH  creature  the  fayrest  ye  ware, 
In-to  the  tyme  of*  Adamys  offence. 

Anima. 

lord,  sytfr  we,  thi  soules,  that  nought  were  thare, 
Why  of>  the  fyrst  man)  bey  we  the  violence  ? 

Wysdam. 

ffor  euery  creatur*  that  hatn  ben  or  shatt 
Was  in  nature  of1  the  first  man,  Adam. 
of1  hym  takyng  the  fylthe  of*  synne  orygynaH, 
for  of1  hym  aH  creatures  cam. 
than)  be  hym,  of1  reason)  ye  haue  blame, 
and  be  made  the  brondes  of  helle. 
when  ye  be  bore  first  of1  your*  dame  j 
ye  may  in  no  wyse  in  hevyn)  dwelle, 
for  ye  be  disfygured?  be  hys  synne, 
and  dampnyd?  to  derkenesse  from  goddey  sight. 

Anima. 

How  dotfi  grace  than)  A-geyn)  be-gynne  ? 
What  reformyth  the  sovle  to  his  first  light ' 

Wysdam. 

Wysdam,  that  was  god4  and  man  right, 
Made  a  fuH  Setfc  to  the  fader  of1  hevyn), 
by  the  dredfuH  detn  to  hym  was  dight, 
of1  wiche  detR  spronge  the  sacramentes  sevyn)  5 
Wiche  sacraments,  aH  synne  wasshe  a-wey. 
ffyrst,  baptem  clensytn  synne  orygynatt, 
And  reformetfi  the  soule  in  feiin  verray 
to  the  glorious  lykenesse  of*  goo?  eternal!, 
And  makiin  it  as  fayer  and  as  celestiati 
As  it  neuer  diffowleo?  had?  be, 


Man's  Soul  is 
the  Image  of 
104   God, 


and  inherits 
Adam's 
1 08    punishment 


I OQ   because  it's  of 
Adam's  nature, 


112 

a  brand  of  hell, 
[leaf  160] 

116 
"7 

and  damnd  to 
darkness. 


It's  re-formd 
by  Wisdom, 


120 


121  -who  made  full 
satisfaction  to 
God. 

From  his  death 
sprang  the  7 
I2A   Sacraments. 


1.  Baptism, 
which  cleanses 
the  soul. 

128 


144  A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    1. 

And  is  cristes  owne  speciaH, 

His  restyng  place,  his  plesaunt  see.  132 

Anima. 
in  a  Soul  In  A  soule,  what  thyngej  be,  i«a 

are  2  parts , 

By  wiche  he  hatrl  his  very  knowyng  ? 

Wysdam. 

1.  Sensuality  or   tweyn)  parties  :  the  on)  is  the  sensualite, 

fleshly  feeling,  .   ,       .       .         ^    ,       -       ,  .      .  . 

which  the  6         wiche  is  clepyof  the  flessnly  felyng  :  i  a6 

Wits  nerve.  \       3  .' 

The  .v.  outwara  wittys  to  hym  be  s^ruyng ; 

Whan  thei  be  not  rulycl  ordynatly, 

the  sensualite  than)  witA-out  lesyng 

is  made  the  ymage  of  synne,  then)  of*  his  foly.          140 

2.  Reason,          That  other  parte,  that  is  clepycfe  reson), 

the  image  of 

God,  And  that  is  the  ymage  of*  god1  propyrly, 

by  which  God      ffor  by  that  •  the  soule  of1  god  hatfi  cognycton, 

knows  who 

servo  him;          and  be  that  hym  smiytn  and  louytfi  duly  j  144 

Be  the  nether  parte  of*  reason  he  knowetfi  discretly, 
[leaf  100,  back]    AH  erthely  thyngej  how  thei  shalbe  vsytf, 

and  man  knows    -__,         _    „.    ...         ,  . 

what  things  to     What  Sunysitn  to  his  myghtys  bodyly, 

And  what  neditfi  not  to  be  refusyd1.  148 

These  2  parts       These  tweyne  do  signyfie  149 

of  the  Soul  ,. 

typify  black  and  Your  disgysyng  And  yowr  Araye, 

white  dress.  , 

Blak4  and  Whyte,  fowle  and  fayr  verylye  j 
Every  soul  is       euery  soule  here  /  this  is  no  nayej  152 

Black  from  sin, 

blak*,  by  steryng  or  synne  that  comytn  al  day, 
Wiche  felyng  comytfc  of1  sensualite  j 
and  white  by      And  White,  be  knowyng  of1  reson)  verray, 

reason  ;  ' 

of1  the  blissed1  infinite  deite.  156 

and  is  both  foul  Thus  a  soule  is  botfi  flbwle  and  fayr*j  157 

ffowle  as  a  best,  be  felyng  of1  synne, 
ffayr  as  aungeH  of*  hevyn)  the  hayr, 
by  kuowyng*  of1  god1,  by  hys  reson)  witAinne.  160 

Amma. 

Than  may  I  sey  thus,  and  begynne,  161 

with  .v.  prudent  virgynes  of1  my  Reme, 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    1. 


tho  be  the  .v.  wyttys  of1  my  soule  witA-inne, 
'  Nigra  sum,  et  formosa  filia  Jerusalem.' 


164 


Here  entreth  v.  virgynes  in  white  kertelys  and  Five  Virgins 
mantelys,  with  chevelers  and  chapelyttes,  and  in  white,  enter. 
Syng  '  Nigra  s\\m,  sed  formosa  filia  ierusalem,  sicut 
tabernacala  cedar,  et  sicut  pelles  salomonis.' 

Anima. 
The  doughters  of*  lerusalem  me  not  lak1,  165  The  Soul  says 

she's  dark  out- 

for  this  dyrke  shadowe  I  bere  or  humanyte,  side,  but 

beautiful 

That  as  the  tabernacle  of1  Cedar",  witA-out,  it  is  blak1,      within. 
and  witA-Inne,  as  the  skynne  of*  Salomon)  full  of1  bewte, 
'Quod  fusca  sum,  nolite  considerare  me,  169 

decolorauit  me  sol  louis.' 


Wisdom  exhorts 
the  Five  Wits 
172 

173 

to  keep  pure. 

[leaf  161] 

176    Every  Soul  has 
3  Powers : 


Wysdam. 

Thus  aH  the  soules  that  in  this  lyve  be, 
stondyng  in  grace  be  lyke  to  this. 
A,  quinqwe  prudentes  !  yowr  wittes  fyve, 
Kepe  you  clene,  and  ye  shall  neuer  deface, 
ye  goddes  ymage  [njeuer  shaH:  ryve, 
ffor  the  clene  soule  is  goddes  restyng  place  } 
Thre  myghtes,  euery  cristen)  soule  hase, 
Whiche  betfe  applyetfe  to  the  trynyte. 

Mynde. 

AH  thre  here  lo  •/  by-fore  yowr  face. 
Mynde. 

Wylle. 
Wylle. 

Vnderstondyng. 
and  vnderstondyng,  we  thre. 

Wysdam. 

ye  thre  declare  thanne  this, 
your*  signyficacion  and  yowr  propyrte. 

Mende. 

I  am  mende,  that  in  the  soule  is, 
the  very  figure  of1  the  deite. 

DIGBY   MYST. 


I.  Mind, 

II.  Will,  and 


1 80    HI.  Under 
standing. 


i8t 


1  84 


I.  Mind  is  the 
image  of  God. 


146 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    1. 


when  Mind         Whan)  in  my-selve  I  haue  mynde,  and  se 

think*  of  Ood'i 

gifutoUr,        the  benefetw  or  god  And  his  worthynesse, 
how  hole  I  was  made,  how  fayr,  how  fre, 
how  glorious,  and  how  gentyti  to  his  lyknesse, 
this  insight  bryngetfi  to  my  mynde 
What  grates  I  ougfc  to  god  a-geyn), 
that  thus  hath"  ordeyned  witA-outen)  ende 
Me  in  his  blisse  euer  for  to  reigne ; 

her  insuffidence  thanne  myn  insufficiens  is  to  me  peyn) 

that  I  haue  not  wher'-of1  to  yelde  my  dette, 

thynkyng  my-selff  creator*  most  veyne ; 

than)  for  sorowe  my  bren)  I  knette, 

Whan)  in  my  mynde  I  bryng  to-gedyr 

the  yeeres  and  dayes  of1  my  Synfulnesse, 

the  vnstabylnesse  of1  my  mynde  hedyr  and  thedyr, 


188 


makes  her  knit 
her  brows  for 
sorrow. 


Her  falls  and 
frailties  have 
been  no  horrible, 


[leaf  161,  back] 
that  in  God 
only  can  she 
find  comfort. 


II.  Will  is  the 
likeness  of  the 
Godhead. 


Myn)  horrible  fallyngw  and  freelnesse, 

my-selff1  right  nought  than  I  confesse, 

for  be  my-selff  I  may  not  ryse 

witA-out  speciaH  grace  of1  goddes  goodnesse. 

thus  mynde  makyth  me  my-self1  to  dispise ; 

I  seke,  and  fynde  no-where  comfort, 

but  only  in  god  my  creature ; 

than  vn-to  hym  I  do  resort, 

and  say  '  haue  mynde  of*  me  my  sauyoui* ! ' 

Thus  mynde  to  mynde  bryngett  that  fauour1 ; 

thus  be  mynde  of1  me,  god  I  can)  kuowe ; 

Good1  mynde  of1  god,  it  is  the  fygure ; 

and  this  mynde  to  haue,  ati  cristen)  owe. 

Wille. 

And  I  of*  the  soule  am  the  wyH ; 

of1  the  godhed,  lyknesse  and  a  fygui'j 

witA  good  wyH,  no  man  may  spyH, 

nor  witA-outen)  good  wyH,  of*  blis  be  sure. 

What  soule  wyH  gret  mede  recur1, 

he  must  gret  wyH  haue  in  thought  or  dede, 


I92 


196 

'97 


200 


204 
205 


208 


212 


213 


2l6 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    1. 


H7 


Vertuosly  sett  w ith  conscience  pur* ; 

fFor  in  wyH  onely,  stand}  tfi  mannys  dede. 

WyH  for  dede  oft  is  take, 

therfor  the  wiH  must  wele  be  disposed1, 

thanne  ther  be-gynnytfi.  aH  grace  to  wake, 

if1  it  with  synne  be  not  Anosed! ; 

Ther-for  the  wyH  must  be  wele  apposed1, 

or  that  it  to  the  mevyng&y  yeve  consent, 

the  lybrary  of1  reason)  must  be  vnclosed1, 

And  after  his  domys  to  take  entent. 

Oure  wyH  in  god1  must  be  only  sett*, 

And  for  goo?  to  do  wylfully ; 

Whan)  good1  wytt  reysytfi,  god1  is  in  vs  knett1, 

And  he  performetn  the  dede  veryly ; 

of1  hym  comytn  all  wyH  sett  perfightly, 

for  of1  our'-self1  we  haue  right  nought, 

but  synue,  wrechednesse,  and  foly ; 

he  is  begynner1  and  grounde  of1  WyH  and  thought. 

Than  this  good?  wyH  seid?  be-fore 

is  be-houefuH  to  eche  creatur1, 

if1  he  cast  hym  to  restore 

the  soule  that  hath  take  of1  Cure, 

Wiche  of1  god1  is  the  fygure, 

As  longe  as  the  figure  is  kept  fayr*, 

And  ordeigned!  euer  to  endure 

In  blisse,  of1  wiche  is  the  very  hayr. 


220 

221    Will  is  oft  taken 
for  the  deed,  and 
must  be  well- 
disposd. 


224 


Before  it  yields, 
the  Library  of 
Reason  must  be 
opend, 

228   and  its  Dooms 
acted  on. 

229 


232 


All  good  Will 
comes  from 
God. 


236         [leaf  162] 

23 J    Everyone 

should  have  it, 


240 

keep  it  fair, 
244   and  live  in  bliss. 


Vnderstondyng. 

The  .iij.de  parte  of1  the  Soule  is  vndyrstondyng, 

fFor  by  vnderstondyng  I  he-hold1  what  god1  is, 

In  hym-selff1  begynnyng  wztA-out  begyunyng; 

And  ende  wztA-outen)  ende,  that  shaH  neuer  mys. 

Incomprehensible  in  hym-selff1  he  is, 

his  werkes  in  me  I  can-not  comprehende. 

how  shuld*  I  holly  hym  than)  /  that  wrought  aH  this  ?  25 1  and  hallow  him. 

thus  by  knowyng  of1  me,  to  knowyng  of*  gcd1  I  ascende. 

L   2 


245    III.  Under 
standing 
enables  men  to 
see  God, 


248 


148 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    1. 


Understanding 
explains  God's 
attribute*. 


Thro  knowing 
Him,  and  His 
love,  Under 
standing  loves 
[leaf  1(52,  backj 
Him. 


The  understand 
ing  of  God, 
compels  men  to 
love  Him. 


Wisdom  shows 
how  the  Soul 
loves  God, 
by  its  Mind, 
Will,  and 
Understanding. 


From  these 
come  Faith, 
Hop*, 


I  know  in  Aungelys  he  is  desiderable,  253 

for  hym  to  be-hold?,  thei  desire  souereynly ; 

In  his  Seyntrc  most  deleitable, 

ffor  in  hym  thei  loye  assiduly ;  256 

In  creatur&s  /  his  Werkw  ben  most  wonderfully, 

ffor  aH  this  is  made  by  his  mygfit, 

bi  his  wysdam  gouernyd?  /  most  souereynly, 

and  be  his  benygnyte  inspired?  aft  soules  witA  light.  260 

of*  aH  creatures  he  is  louyd?  souereyne,  261 

for  he  is  god?  of1  eche  creature, 

and  thei  be  his  people  that  euer  shaH  reigne, 

In  whom  he  dwellyth"  as  in  his  temple  sure.  264 

When)  I  of*  this  kuowyng  make  reporture, 

And  se  the  loue  he  hath"  for  me  wrought, 

It  bryngeth  me  to  love  /  that  prince  most  pure, 

ffor :  for  loue  that  lorde  made  man)  of1  nought.         268 

This  is  that  loue  wiche  is  clepyd?  charite ;  269 

for  god  is  charite,  as  auctours  telles, 

and  who  is  in  charite,  in  god?  dwellitfi.  he, 

and  god  that  is  charite,  in  hym  dwelles.  272 

Thus  Vnderstondyng  of*  god?  compelles 

To  come  to  charite  *  than  haue  his  lyknesse,  lo. 

Blessed?  is  that  soule  that  this  speche  spelles, 

Et  qui  creauit  me,  requieuit  in  tabernaculo  meo.      276 

Wysdam. 

lo !  these  •  thre  myghtes  in  o  soule  be :  277 

Mynde  •  WyH  •  and  Vnderstondyng ; 

be  mynde  of1  god?  the  fadyr,  knowyng  haue  yej 

Be  Vnde[r]stondyng  of1  god?  the  sone,  ye  haue  knowyng  , 

by  wyH,  wiche  turnyth"  in-to  loue  brenuyng,  281 

god1  the  holy  gost  that  clepyd1  is  love : 

not  thre  godde.v,  but  on)  god?  in  beyng  j 

thus  eche  clene  soule  is  simylitude  of*  god?  A-bove.  284 

Be  mynde,  feitn"  in  the  ffader  haue  we  j  285 

hope  in  our5  lorde  i&yu,  by  Vnderstondyng ; 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    1.  149 

and  be  wyH  in  the  holy  gost,  charite.  287  Charity. 

lo!  these  .iij.  princyparl  vertues  of*  you  .iij.  sprynge ; 

thus  the  clene  soule  stand itli  as  a  kynge. 

And  a-bove  aH  this  ye  haue  fre  wyH  :  Free-will  is 

:  *  above  all. 

of1  that  be  Ware  by-fore  aH  thynge, 

tfbr  if*  that  peruert,  att  this  doth"  Spylle.  292 

ye  haue  .Hi.  enemyes, — of1  hem  be-ware  ! —  293   The  Soul's  3 

3  J  }  y      foes  are  the 

the  worlde,  the  fflessh",  and  the  fFende :  World,  the 

Flesh,  and  the 

yowr  .v.  wyttes,  from  hem  ye  spare,  Devil. 

From  them,  the 

that  the  sensualite  thei  bryng  not  to  mynde.  296  j^f*8  are  to  be 

Nothyng  shuld!  offende  god'  in  no  kynde  j  [leaf  163] 

And  if*  ther  do  /  se  that  the  nether  parte  of1  reason)          The  lower  part 

of  Reason  is  to 

In  no  wyse  ther-to  lende,  >>e  under  the 

rule  of  the 

than)  the  ouer  parte  shaft  haue  fre  domynaczon.        300  higher  part. 

Whan)  suggestion)  to  the  mynde  doth"  appere, 

Vnderstondyng,  delyte  not  the  ther'-Inne  ! 

Consent  not,  Wyll  /  ylle  lessons  to  lere  ! 

And  than)  suche  steryngw  be  no  synne,  304 

thei  do  but  purge  the  soule  wher*  is  suche  co«trauersie. 

Thus  in  me,  wysdam,  your  werke^  be-gynne  j  Begin  youi 

re     *-  >  i     11  i  works  in 

rrygnt,  and  ye  shaft  haue  the  crowne  or  glorye,  Wisdom, 

and  win  ever- 

that  is  eumastyng  ioye,  to  be  parteners  ther-Inne.    308  lasting  joy. 

Anima. 
Souereigne  lorde,  I  am  bounde  to  the ;  309  The  Soul 

„_.          _  .  recounts  God's 

Whan)  I  was  nougnt,  thu  made  me  thus  glorious  j  good  deeds  to 

ll6X*. 

Whan)  I  perisshed?  thurgfi  synne,  thu  sauyd*  me  j 

Whan  I  was  in  grett  pareH,  thu  kept  me,  Christus ;  312 

Whan  I  erryd?,  thu  reducyd?  me,  lesus ; 

Whan)  I  was  ignoraunt,  thu  taught  me  truthe ; 

Whan)  I  synnyd,  thu  correct  me  thus ; 

When)  I  was  hevy,  thu  conforted?  me  be  ruthe;        316 

Whan)  I  stonde  in  grace,  thu  boldest  me  that  tyde ;   317 

Whan)  I  falle,  thu  reisest  me  myghtilyj 

Whan)  I  go  wele,  thu  art  my  gydej 

When)  I  come,  thu  receyvist  me  most  louynglyj       320 


1JO  A    MORALITY    OP    WISDOM.       SCENE    2. 

thu  hast  anoynteo?  me  with  the  oyle  of*  mercy  ;         321 
thy  benefetys,  lord,  be  innumerable  ; 
The  Soul  praise*  Wherfor,  laude  endles  to  the  I  crye, 

God  for  hi*  -  .  , 

goodnew.  recommendyng  me  to  thi  end[ljes  powr  durable.      324 

Here,  in  be  goyng  out,  the  v.  wyttea  syng  '  tota  pul- 
cra  es'  &c.  thei  goyng  be-fore,  Anima  next  /and  hir 
folwyng,  wysdam  •  and  after  hym  Mynde,  wylle,  and 
vnderstondyng,  alle  .iij.  in  whit  clothe  of  golde, 
chevelerede  and  crestyde  in  on  sute.  And  after  be 
song  entreth  lucyfere  in  a  deuely  a-ray  wit  A  out, 
and  within  as  a  prowde  galaunt,  seyng  thus  on 
this  wyse. 

Seen*  ii-  [Scene  II.  (aaal,  aaaV).~\ 

Lucifer,  in  a 

Devil't  Drttt  over  r  ,  ,.„,/•._  n 

a  Dandy'i.  \_LuCltfer.] 

[leaf  163,  back]    Out  heiTOWe  I  rore,  325 

ffor  envy  I  lore  j 

My  place  to  restore, 

god  hath  made  man)j  328 


Mail  to  take  my 

place.  an  come  thei  not  more, 

Woode  and  thei  wore, 
But  m  tempt      I  shaH  tempt  hem  so  sore, 

ffor  I  am  he  that  synne  be-gannej  332 

i  was  an  Angel,    I  was  aungeH  of1  ligfit^  333 

lucifei'  I  higfct, 

presumyng  in  goddes1  sight, 
but  now  I'm        Wherfor  I  am  lowest  in  helle  :  336 

lowest  in  Hell. 

In  reformyng  of1  my  place,  is  dight 
I  hate  Man,         Man),  whan)  I  haue  in  most  dispight, 

and  '11  stop  his 

getting  to  Euer  castyng  me  witA  hem  for  to  fight, 

Heaven.  '     e 

In  that  heuynly  place  that  he  shuld1  not  dwelle.       340 
I  am  as  wyly  now  as  than);  341 

the  knowyng  that  I  had!,  yet  I  can); 
I  know  his          I  know  aH  compleccions  of1  man), 

weak  points, 

whereto  he  is  most  disposed1;  344 

And  ther-in  I  tempte  hym  ay  whan), 
and  in  mar  him  I  marre  his  myndes  to  thei.  wan), 

till  he's  woo 

that  God  made     that  wo  is  hym  god  hym  by-gan)  ; 

[l  MS.  gooddw.] 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    2. 


Many  an  holy  man)  with  me  is  mosed!.  348 

Of1  god1,  man)  is  the  figure,  349 

His  symylitude,  his  pitture, 

gloryosest  of1  ony  creature 

that  euer  was  wrought,  352 

wiche  I  wyli  disfygure 

be  my  false  coniecture  j 

if*  he  tende  my  reporture, 

I  shaft  bryng  hym  to  nought.  356 

In  the  soule  be  .iij.  parties  I-wys,  357 

Mynde  •  WyH  •  vnderstondyng  of1  blis, 

ffigur*  of*  the  godhedl ;  I  know  wele  this ; 

and  the  flessh"  of1  man)  that  is  so  chaungeable,  360 

that  will  I  tempte,  as  I  gesse. 

though"  that  I  peruert,  synne  noon)  is 

but  if1  the  soule  consent  vn-to  mys,  363 

for  in  the  wyH^f1  the  soule  ben)  the  dedes  dampnabyH. 

To  the  mynde  of1  the  soule  I  shaH  make  suggestion),  365 

&  bryng  his  vnderstondyng  to  delectacion, 

so  that  his  wiH  make  confirmadon ; 

than)  am  I  seker  I-noow  368 

That  dede  shaft  sew  of1  dampnacfon ;  369 

than)  of1  the  soule  the  devyH  hath"  dowzznaczon : 

I  wiH  go  make  this  examynacion, 

To  aH  the  develis  of1  helle  I  make  a  vowe.  372 

But  for  to  tempt  man)  in  my  likenesse,  373 

it  wold?  brynge  hym  to  gret  ferfulnesse ; 

I  wiH  chaunge  me  in-to  brightnesse, 

And  so  hym  to  be-gyle,  376 

Syn  I  shaH  shew  hym  perfightnesse, 

and  vertu  prove  it  wykednesse  : 

thus  vnder  colours  aH:  thynge  peruerse, 

I  shall  neuer  rest  tyH  the  soule  I  defyle.  380 

Here  lucyfere  devoydeth,  and  comxnyth  in  ageyne 
as  a  goodly  galaunt  / 


Man  is  God's 
likeness. 


Ill  disfigure 
him,  and  bring 
him  to  nought. 


The  Soul  has  3 
parte. 


Ill  tempt  man's 
flesh. 


But  as  the  Soul 
must  consent  to 
evil, 

111  tempt  that, 


[leaf  164] 
and  then 
damning  deeds 
11  follow. 


Ill  change  into 
a  bright  being, 


and  never  rest 
till  I  defile 
man's  soul. 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    3. 


Scent  III. 
Tht  Dtvil 
bambootltt 
Mind,  Will,  and 
Under  ttanding. 

Mind  declares 
he'll  follow 

Christ's 
teaching. 


Understanding 
•ays  that  is 


sweeter  than 
the  ruse. 


Will  says  his 
•will  is  one  with 
God's. 


Lucifer  talks  to 
Mind: 


Why  are  you  all 
idle  here? 
It's  the  Devil's 
doing. 


There's  a  time 
for  prayer,  and 
another  for 
work. 


Ought  a  man 
who  has  wife 
and  house, 

to  leave  work, 


[Scene  III.     (aaab,  aaab,  save  485-492.)] 

Myude. 

My  mynde  is  euer  on  Ies\i,  381 

that  endued  vs  with  vertu ; 
his  doctryne  to  sue, 
euer  I  purpose.  384 

Vnderstondyng. 

Myn)  vnderstondyng  is  in  trewe, 
that  witA  feitfi  vs  did*  renewe  j 
his  lawes  to  purse  we 
is  swetter  to  me  than)  the  sauowr  of*  the  rose.  388 

WiH. 

And  ray  wiH:  is  his  wyH  verily,  389 

that  made  vs  his  creatures  so  specialy, 
yeldyng  vn-to  hym  laude  and  glory 
for  his  goodnesse.  392 

lucyfer1. 

ye  fonny<J  ffaders,  founders  of1  foly, 
vt  quid  hie  statw  tota  die  ociosi  ? 
ye  wiH  perisshe  or  ye  it  aspy  j 

the  devytt  haifi  acco/wbred*  you  expresse,  396 

Mynde,  mynde,  sei* !  haue  mynde  of  this  !  397 

Mynde. 
He  is  not  idyll  that  witA  god1  is. 

Lucyfer. 

No,  Ser1,  I  prove  wele  J)is : 

lo,  this  is  my  suggestion) ;  400 

aH  thynge  hatfe  dew  tymes, 
prayer,  fastyng,  labour,  arl  thes  j 
whan)  tyme  is  not  kept,  that  dede  is  mys  j 
be  more  plenerly  lo  yowr  informaczon  :  404 

her*  is  a  man)  thet  levit&  wardly,  405 

hath"  wyfP,  children),  and  seruauntes  besy, 
And  other  charge?  that  I  not  specify : 
Is  it  leffuH  to  this  man)  408 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    3. 


'53 


To  leve  his  labour  vsyd?  truly  ? 

his  charge*  pariscfi.  that  god?  yave  duly, 

and  yeve  hym  to  prayer*  and  ese  of1  body ; 

who-so  do  thus,  with  god?  is  not  than);  412 

Martha  plesid?  god?  gretly  thore.  413 

Mynde. 
ye,  but  Maria  plesid!  hym  moche  more. 

lucyler*. 

yit  the  lest  had?  blisse  for  eumnore. 
is  not  that  I-now  ?  416 

Mynde. 
contemplatyfe  lyff1  is  sett  be-fore.  417 

lucyfer*. 

I  may  not  be-leve  that  in  my  lore, 
ffor  god?  hym-selff1,  whan)  he  was  man)  bore, 
what  lyff1  led?  he  ?  answere  thu  nowe  !  420 

was  he  euer  in  contemplacion  ? 

Mynde. 
I  suppose  not,  be  my  relacion. 

lucyfer. 

and  aH  his  lyff1  was  informadon 

&  example  to  man).  424 

Sumtyme  with  synners  he  had  conuersadon, 
sumtyme  with  holy  also  cowmunycadon, 
suwtyme  he  labored?,  prayd?  •  sumtyme  tribuladon  : 
this  was  vita  mixta,  that  god?  her1  be-gan)  j  428 

And  that  lyff1  shuld?  ye  her*  sewe.  429 

Mynde. 
I  can  be-leve  that  ye  say  is  trewe. 

lucyfer. 

contemplatyff1  lyff1  for  to  sewe, 

It  is  gret  dred?  j  and  se  cause  why  :  432 

thei  must  fast,  wake,  and  pray,  euer  newe, 
Vse  hard?  levynges,  and  goyng  with  disciplyne  dewe, 


[leaf  164,  back] 

and  give  himself 
up  to  prayer  1 


Did  Martha  do 
it? 


Did  Christ  live 
in  contempla 
tion? 


No  ;  but  with 
sinners,  with 
good  men,  in 
toil  and  suffer 
ing. 

And  hi*  life, 
men  should 
lead. 


Contemplative 
life  means 


fasting, 

watching, 

flogging, 


'54 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    3. 


•Hence,  t«u»,      kepe  Sylence,  wepe,  and  surfettes  eschewe ; 

And  if1  thei  faile  of1  this,  thei  offend  god!  highly.      436 
Whan)  thei  haue  wastyd1  be  feyntnesse,  437 

than)  febyH  ther1  wittw,  and  fallyn)  to  fondenesse, 

folly,  despair,      Summe  in-to  dispeyr,  and  suwime  in-to  madnesse  : 

m&dnoM. 

God  doesn't  like  wete  it  wele,  god1  is  not  plesid!  with  this.  440 

leve,  leve  '  suche  syugler*  besynesse ; 
Then,  be  in  the   be  in  the  world1,  vse  thyngey  necesse, 

world, 

the  comon)  is  best  expresse ; 
[leaf  165]        Who  clymytn"  high",  his  fFalle  grett  is.  444 

Mynde. 
truly  me  seme  ye  haue  reson).  445 

lucyfer. 
do  M  I  tell  you,    Apply  you  than  to  this  conclusion). 

Mynde.1 

I  can  make  no  repplycacion, 

your  resons  be  grete,  448 

I  can-not  for-yete  this  informacion. 

lucyfer. 

thynke  ther-vpon),  it  is  your  saluacion. 
now  and  vnderstondyng  wold1  haue  delectacfon, 
alle  syngler  deuodons  he  wold1  lete,  452, 

uae  your  wits,      your  .v.  witte*  a-brode  let  sprede,  453 

dresa  well,  Se  how  comly  to  man)  is  precious  wede, 

do  many  deeds,    what  worships  it  to  be  Manffutt  in  dede, 

J)at  bryngetfi  in  do?ninacion.  456 

Of*  the  Symple,  What  profile  it  to  take  hed!? 
get  riche^  be-hold!  how  richesse  distroyetfi  nede  ; 

feed  well,  It  makitfi  man)  fayr,  hym  wele  for  to  fede  j 

breed  children.    &  of1  lust  and  lykyng  comyifi  generacion.  460 

Vnderstondyng,  tendr*  ye  this  informacion.  461 

Vnderstondyng. 

In  this  I  fele  a  maner1  of1  delectaczon. 
[i  MS.  Make.] 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    3.  155 

lucyfer*. 

A !  ha!  SeiJ !  than)  ther5  make  a  pawsaczon, 

Se  and  be-hold?  the  world?  a-bought ;  464  See  the  world. 

lyteH  thyng  sufFysyth"  to  saluacion, 
AH  maner  synnys  distroyetfi  contricion), 
thei  that  despeyer*  mercy  haue  grett  conpu[n]cczon, 
god1  plesyd?  best  with  good?  wyH  no  dowte,  468 

therfor  WyH:,  I  rede  you  inclyne,  469 

leve  yowr  stodyes  tho  be  devyne,  JrtuXJand 

yowr  prayers,  your*  penawnce,  of1  Ipocryte^  the  signe,        penance ; 
and  lede  a  comown)  lyff1.  472  enjoy  your  life ! 

What  synne  is  in  mete,  in  ale,  in  wyne?  There's  no  sin 

in  wine  and 

What  synne  is  in  richesse,  in  clothyng  fyne  ?  money. 

AH  thyng  god?  ordeigned?  to  man)  to  inclyne. 

Leve  yowr  nyse  chastyte,  And  take  a  Wyff1;  4/6  Have  a  wife  too! 

better  is  fayr  frute  than)  foule  pollucz'on.  477    [leaf  165,  back] 

What  seyth"  sensualite  to  this  conclusion)  ? 

Witt. 

As  the  .v.  wyttys  yeve  informacz'on, 
It  semetfi.  your*  resons  be  good?.  480 

lucifei*. 

the  wiH  of1  the  soule  hatfi  fre  domznaczon ; 
Dispute  not  to  moche  in  this  with  reason) :  Don't  bother 

about  Reason. 

yitt  the  nether*  parte  to  this  takitri  summe  Instrucczon,    The  lower  part 

*  of  it  agrees ;  and 

And  so  shuld?  the  ouer  parte,  but  he  were  woode.    484  ^w*g£.tpper> 

Will. 

me  seme,  as  ye  sey,  in  body  and  soule1  485 

man)  may  be  in  the  world1,  and  be  right  good?. 

lucyfer. 

ya,  Ser*,  be  Seynt  Powle ! 
but  truste  not  these  prechours,  for  thei  be  not  good1,  488  Don't  trust 

Preachers ! 

ffor  thei  fflater'  and  lye  as  thei  wer5  wood* :  They  flatter  and 

*  he,  and  are 

thei?  is  a  wolfe  in  a  lombe  skynne.  SJ 

1  A  stanza  of  Scene  I  form,  abab,  bcbc,  is  here  put  into  the 
aaab,  aaab  of  Scenes  II,  and  III  and  IY. 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    3. 


Will  agree*  to 
go  in  for  lark*. 


WyH. 

ya,  I  wyH  no  more  row  a-geyn)  the  fflode, 
I  wyH  sett  my  soule  on  a  mery  pynne. 


lucyfer*. 

be  my  treuthe,  that  do  ye  wysely, 
god1  louytfe  a  clene  soule  and  a  mery, 
Accorde  ye  .iij.  to-geder  by, 
&  ye  may  not  mysfare. 

Mynde. 
So  do  Mind  and    to  this  suggestion)  agre  me. 

Vnderstondywg. 
Understanding.    Delight  ther-In  I  haue  truly. 

WyH. 
And  I  consent  ther-to  frely. 


Lucifer  backs 
them  up ; 


tells  em  to  get 
money,  and  be 
jolly. 


[leaf  166] 
They  all  say 

they  will. 


lucifer*. 

A  !  ha  !  ser* !  aH  mery  than),  and  a-wey  car1 ! 
go  in  the  world!,  se  that  a-bought, 
gete  good1  ffrely,  caste  no  dought ; 
to  the  riche,  ye  se  men)  lowly  lought ; 
yeve  to  your  body  that  is  nede, 
&  euer  be  mery ;  lett  reueH  rought ! 

Mynde. 
ya !  ellys  I  be-shrewe  my  snowte. 

Vnderstondywg. 
and  if*  I  care,  catche  me  the  gowte. 

WjH. 
And  if1  I  spare,  the  deuyH  rre  spcde. 

lucifer. 

Go  your  wey  than),  And  do  wysely ; 
chaunge  that  syde  aray. 

Mynde. 
I  it  defye. 


492 
49.3 

496 


500 


5°4 


508 


5°9 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    3. 


'57 


Vnderstondyng. 

we  will  be  fressfi,  and  it  hape  la  plu  loly. 
ffare-wele,  penaun.ce ! 

Mynde. 
to  worshippys  I  wyft  my  mynde  applie. 

Vnderstondy/zg. 
Myn)  Vnderstondynge  in  worshepys  and  glorye. 

WyH. 

And  I  in  lustes  of1  lechory, 
As  was  sumtyme  gyse  of*  fraunce, 
with"  why  whyppe. 
ffareweH,  qwod  I ;  the  deuyH  is  vp. 


513 


They'll  have 
girls, 


honour, 


Exeww/ia. 


lucifei*. 

Of1  my  desyre  now  haue  I  summe 
wer1  onys  brought  in-to  Custumme, 
than)  farewele,  consciens,  he  were  clumme, 
I  shuld!  haue  aH  my  wyH. 
Reson),  I  haue  made  botfi  deff1  and  dumme, 
grace  is  out,  and  putt  a  rome, 
whedyr  I  WiH  haue,  he  shaH  cuwzme; 
So  at  the  last  I  shaH  hym  spille. 
I  shaH  now  stere  his  mynde 
to  that  synne  made  me  a  fende, 
Pryde,  wiche  is  a-geyn)  kynde, 
and  of1  aH  synnes  heo?  ; 
So  to  couetyse  he  shaH  wende, 
for  that  enduryth"  to  the  last  ende ; 
and  vn-to  lechery,  and  I  may  hym  rende, 
than)  am  I  seker1  the  soule  is  ded*. 
that  soule,  god!  made  incomparable, 
to  his  lykenesse  most  amyable  j 
I  shaH  make  it  most  reprouable, 
Evyn  lyke  to  a  ffende  of  helle. 
At  his  detR  I  shaH  appere  informable, 


and  lechery, 

n  Frenc 

'.•ushicm. 


e  I  7    in  French 
J    '    fi 


Lucifer  chuckles 
over  his 
success : 


I've  made  Man's 
Reason  deaf  and 
dumb; 


I'll  now  stir  him 
to  Pride, 


531 


Covetousness, 
and  Lechery. 


535 


I'll  make  his 
Soul,  God's 
likeness, 


539  [leaf  166,  back] 
like  a  Fiend  of 
Hell. 


1^8  A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    4. 

Shewyng  hym  aH  hys  synnys  ab-homynable, 
Prevyng  his  soule  dampnable, 
m  kill  the  Soul   So  witA  dispeyr  I  shati  hym  quelle.  <43 

with  Despair;  *^J  J        ^  *P|T 

Whyn  clennesse  is  man  kyn),  544 

Verely  the  soule,  god"  is  witA-in  ; 
And  whan)  it  is  in  dedly  synne, 

It  is  veryly  the  deuelys  place  :  547 

*nd  by  craft  win  thus  by  colours  and  false  gynne, 

ninny  from 

heaven.  many  a  soule  fro  hevyn)  I  wynne. 

Wyde  to  go  I  may  not  blynne, 
witfi  this  false  boy  god1  geve  hym  ille  grace  !  55  1 

Here  he  takith  a  shrewede  boy  wit  h  hym,  and  goth 
his  way  cryeng. 

Scene  iv.  [Scene  IF.     (aaab,  aaab.)~\ 

Mind,  Will,  and 

Undtrttanding,  Mvnde 

glory  in  their  iViynae. 


Mind  is  proud  of    L  ..........  J 

his  new  dress.       ,,,.,  ,  , 

Whyppe,  whyrre,  care  a-  way  ! 

fare-wele,  perfeccion)  !  555 

Me  semett  my-self1  most  lykly  ay, 

It  is  but  honest,  no  pride,  no  nay, 

I  wyH  be  ffresshest  be  my  fay, 

ffor  that  accorditfi  with  my  complexion).  559 

Vnderstondyng. 
Understanding    And  haue  here  one  as  ffressfi  as  you,  560 

is  so  of  his 

dress,  An  mery,  mery,  and  glad  now  ! 

and  money  got     I  haue  gete  good1,  god1  wote  howe  ; 

anyhow.  . 

for  loye  I  spryng,  I  skyppe  j  5"3 

good1  mnkith  on)  mery,  to  god1  a  vowe. 
He  bids  Con-       ffareweti,  conscience,  I  knowe  not  yowe  ! 

science  farewell. 

I  am  at  ease,  had  I  Inowe  ; 

truthe,  on  syde  I  lete  hym  slippe.  567 

WiH. 

wui  is  jolly  too    Jo  !  her*  on)  as  lolye  as  ye  ;  $68 

I  am  so  lykyng,  me  seme  I  fle  ; 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    4. 


'59 


I  haue  a-tastid!  lust ;  farewele,  chastite ! 

Myn)  hert  is  euer-more  light. 

I  am  fuH  of1  felicite, 

My  delyte  is  aH  in  bevte, 

ther*  is  no  loye  but  that  in  rne ; 

A  Woman)  me  semetfi  an  hevynly  sight. 

Mynde. 

And  these  ben)  my  syngler*  solace  : 
kynde  fortune  and  grace, 
kynde  nobley  of1  kynred?  me  yovyn)  base, 
and  that  makytfc  me  soleyne ; 
fFortune  in  worlds  worshepe  me  dotfi.  lace, 
grace  yevitB.  coryous  elequence,  and  that  mase, 
that  aH  vnkuwnynge  I  disdeyne. 

Vnderstondyng. 
and  my  loye  is  especiaB 
to  hurde  vp  rychesse  for  fere  to  falle, 
to  se  it,  to  handele  it,  to  telle  it  alle, 
&  streightly  to  spare, 
to  be-hold?  ryche  and  ryatt. 
I  bost,  I  avaunt  whei*  I  shaft, 
Riches  makytfi.  a  man)  equaH 
to  hem  sumtyme  his  souereignes  were. 

WyH. 

to  me  is  loye  most  laudable, 
ffresshe  disgysynge  to  seme  amyable, 
Spekyng  wordys  delectable, 
Perteynyng  vn-to  loue ; 
It  is  loy  of1  loyes  inestimable, 
to  halse,  to  kysse  the  affiablej 
A  louer  is  sone  perceyvable 
be  the  smylyng  on  me  whan)  it  dotfi  remove. 

Mynde. 

to  a-vaunte  thus,  me  semetfe  no  shame, 
for  galauntey  now  be  in  most  fame  j 


He's  tried 
pleasure, 

571       [leafier] 


and  thinks 
Woman  a. 
heavenly  sight. 


15*76   Mind  has  got 
noble  kin, 

579 


58* 


honour  and 
eloquence. 


1583    Understanding 
has  hoarded  up 
riches,  and 
delights  in 
handling  it. 

586 


Money  makes  a 
man  equal  to 
kings. 


591    Will  likes 

dalliance,  and 
words  and 

.594 

kisses  of  love. 
598 

599 


i6o 

Mind  is  proud  of 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOll.       SCENE    4 

Courtly  persones,  men  hem  proclame ; 
moche  we  be  sett  bye. 


602 


Men  now  call 

falseness 

'  Wisdom,'  and 


think  no  more 
of  Lechery  than 
a  drink. 


Vnderstondyn^. 
[leaf  i«r,  back]    The  riche  covetouse,  who  dare  blame, 

Of*  govele  and  symonye  though  he  bere  the  name  ? 

to  be  false,  men  reportith  it  game, 

It  is  clepydf  wysdam  :  "  whar*  that !  quod  Wyly."     606 

WyH. 

And  of1  lechory  to  make  a-vaunt,  607 

men)  forse  it  no  more  than)  drynke  a-taunt : 
these  thyngw  be  now  so  conuersaunt, 
we  seme  it  no  shame  610 

Mynde. 
Coryous  aray  1  wyH  euer  haunt.  61  r 

Vnderstondywg. 
And  I,  ffal[s]nesse,  to  be  passaunt. 

WyH. 
will  fornicate ;     And  I,  in  lust  my  fflesfc  to  daunt ; 

no  man)  dispise  these ;  thei  be  but  game.  614 

Mynde. 
I  reioyse  of1  thes  :  now  let  vs  synge.  615 

Wnderstondyw^. 
And  if1  I  spare  euyH,  loye  me  wrynge. 

WyH. 

haue  at,  qwod  I :  lo !  howe  I  sprynge. 
lust  makitfe  me  wondyr  wylde.  618 


Mind  will 
dress  grandly, 


Understanding 
be  false, 


and  they'll  all 
•ing  a  song. 


Mynde. 
A  tenor  to  you  botfe  I  brynge. 

Vnderstondyn^. 
And  I  a  mene  for  ony  k)  nge. 


A    MORALITY     OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    4. 


161 


Wytt. 

And  but  a  trebyH  I  out-wrynge, 

the  deuyti  hym  spede  that  myrtli  exyled!.  622 

&  cautent. 

Mynde. 
how  be  this,  trowe  ye  nowe  ?  623 

Vnderstond(y?/g. 
at  the  best,  to  goo?  a  vowe. 

WyH. 

as  mery  as  the  byrd?  on  bowe, 
I  take  no  thougfit.  626 

Mynde. 
the  welefare  of1  this  world?  is  in  vs,  I  a-vowe. 

Vnderstondywg-. 
let  eche  man)  telle  his  condicions  how. 

WyH. 

be-gynne  ye,  and  haue  at  yowe, 
for  I  am  a-shamyd?  of1  right  noug&t.  ^30 

Mynde. 

this  is  cause  of*  my  worshippe : 
I  serue  myghty  lorshipe, 
And  am  in  grete  tendreshippe, 
Therfor  moche  folke  me  dredys ; 
men  sewe  to  my  f rends  hipe, 
for  meyntenawnce  of1  her1  shenshipe ; 
I  support  hem  by  lordshipe ; 
for  to  gete  good1,  this  a  grete  spede  is.  638 

Vnderstondyrcg. 

And  I  vse  lorourry,  639 

En  brace  questes  of1  periury, 
choppe  and  chaunge  witA  symonye, 
&  take  large  yiftes;  642 

DIGBY    MYST.  M 


They  sing  their 
song, 


and  are  as  merry 
as  birds. 


They  say  how 
they  live. 


63  I    Mind  serves  a 
great  lord, 


634          [leaf  168] 


and  gets  money 
for  protecting 
evil  doers. 


Understanding 
lives  by  prying 
and  simony. 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    4. 


Understanding 

CWl.Ml» 

Quest. 


Will  spends 
three  times 
what  he  gets, 


and  lives  in 
lust. 


be  the  case  never  so  try, 

I  preve  it  false,  I  swere,  I  lye, 

with  a  quest  of*  myn)  affye : 

the  redy  wey,  this  now  to  thrift  is.  646 

WyH. 

and  what  trowe  ye  be  me  ?  647 

More  than)  I  take,  spende  I  thries  threj 
Sumtyme  I  geve,  sumtyme  thei  me, 
And  am  euer  ffresshe  and  gaye ;  650 

ffewe  place?  now  thei*  be, 
But  vnclennesse  ye  shall  ther  se, 
It  is  holde  but  a  nysetej 
lust  is  now  comon)  as  thei  waye.  654 

Mynde. 
lawe  proceditlx  not  for  mayntenazmce.  655 

Vnderstondywg. 
Trouthe  recuryth  not  for  abundaunce. 

WyH. 

and  lust  is  in  so  grete  vsaunce, 
we  forse  it  nought.  658 

Mynde. 
In  vs  the  worlde  hatfi  most  affiaunce. 

Vnderstondyng. 
Nori)  thre  be  in  so  grett  a-queyntaunce. 

W}H. 

ffewe  ther  be  out  of*  our*  all  \aunce; 
While  the  worlde  is  thus,  take  we  no  thought.          662 

Mynde. 
thought !  nay,  ther  geyne  stryve  I.  663 

they  hare  all  Vndentondyj|£. 

s,  back]    We  haue  that  neditfi  vs,  so  thryve  I. 


Their  sins  are 
not  heeded  ; 


the  world  trusts 
em; 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    4.  163 

WyH. 

And  gyve  that  I  care,  neuer  wyve  1 5 
let  hem  care  that  hatfi  for  to  sewe.  666 

Mynde. 
Who  lordship  shaH  sue,  must  it  by.  Lordship  and 

Vnderstowcfo/wg. 
who  wyH  haue  law^  must  haue  mony.  law  can  only  be 

got  for  money. 

WyH. 
thei*  pouert  is  the  male  wry,  Poverty  never 

gets  its  rights. 

though"  right  be,  he  shaH  neuer  renewe.  670 

Mynde. 
wronge  is  born)  vp  boldly,  671  Wrong  is 

upheld. 

though"  att  the  world?  know  it  opynly  j 

mayntenazmce  is  now  so  myghty, 

And  aH  Is  for  mede.  674 

Vnderstondyng. 
the  lawe  is  so  coloured?  falsly 
by  sleightej  and  by  periury  ; 
brybes  be  so  gredy, 
that  to  the  pore  '  trowthe  is  take  right  non)  hede.    678  TO  the  poor, 

Truth  isn't 
_,T   11  heeded. 

WyH. 

wno  gete  or  lese,  ye  be  ay  wynnand? ;  679 

mayntenawnce  and  periury  now  stand!:  Maintenance 

(support  of 

ther1  wer*  neuer  so  moche  reynand?  wrong),  Perjury' 

seth"  god  was  bore.  682 

Mynde. 
And  lechory  was  neuer  more  vsande,  and  Lechery 

J  prevail 

of*  lernyd?  and  lewyd*  in  this  lande. 

Vnderstondyng. 
so  we  thre  be  now  in  hande. 


ya,  ana  most  vsyd!  euery-v^-hei5.1  686  everywhere. 

1  The  ryme  needs  '  whore.' 


M   2 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    4. 


Mind,  WiU, 
and  Under 
standing  agree 
to  got  up  a 
Dance. 


Mind  or 

Maintenance 

(backing  of 

wrong) 

calls  In  his  crew 

of  7: 


[leaf  169] 
Indignacion, 
Sturdineua, 
Malice, 
Hastiness, 
Vengeance, 
Discord, 
Maintenance, — 


the  Devil's 
Dance,— 


and  Trumpets 
to  fit  em. 


Dance  away, 
lads  I  Tour 
hearts  are  light. 


Mynde. 

now  wyH  we  thre  do  make  a  daunci1, 
of1  tho  that  longe  to  GUI'  retenawnce, 
comyng  in  be  countenawnce, 
this  wer1  a  disporte. 

VndeKtondyng. 
therto  I  geve  accordaunce, 
of  tho  that  ben)  of1  myn  atfyaunce. 

WyH. 

let  se  be  tyme,  ye  nieyntenawnce, 
clepe  in  first  yowr  resort. 


687 


690 


694 


Here  entre  vj  disgysed  in  the  sute  of  mynde, 
vrith  red  berdes  and  lyons  rampaunt  on  her« 
crests,  and  iche  a  wardere  in  his  hande  ;  hir  men- 
stralle,  trumpes.  eche  answere  for  his  name. 

Mynde. 

let  se,  com  In,  Indignac/on  and  sturdynesse,  695 

Malyce  also  and  hastynesse, 
wreche  and  discorde  expresse, 

And  the  .vijth.  am  I,  mayntenawnce.  698 

Vij.  is  a  nombyr  of1  discorde  and  inperfightnesse. 
lo,  her*  is  a  yomanry  with  loveday  to  dresse,  700 

And  the  deuytt  had  swore  it,  thei  wold1  here  vp  falsnesse, 
And  mayntyn)  it  at  the  best  ;  this  is  the  develys  daunce  j 
and  here  menstrellys  be  conuenyent,  703 

flfor  trompys  shuHd1  blowe  to  the  lugement  ; 
of1  batayle  also  it  is  one  instrument, 
yevyng  comfort  to  fight  j  706 

thcrfor  thei  be  expedient 
to  these  meny  of<  mayntement, 
blow  1sett,  se  madame  regent, 

and  daunce,  ye  ladder,  your  hertes  ben)  ligfit  !  7  10 

lo  !  that  other*  spare,  this  meny  wiB  spende.  711 


ye  !  who  is  hym  shall  hem  offende  ? 

1  s  altered  to  1,  or  viee-veria. 


A    MORALITY    OF    WISDOM.       SCENE    4. 


who  wyB  not  to  hem  condescende, 

he  shaH  haue  thretys.  7J4 

Mynde. 
thei  spille,  that  lawe  wolde  amende. 

Vnderstondyng. 
yit  mayntenflzmce,  no  man)  dare  reprehende. 

WyH. 

these  meny,  thre  synnys  comprehende 
pryde,  Invy,  and  wrathe  in  his  hestys.  JiS 

Vnderstondyng. 

now  wyH  I  than  be-gynne  my  traces  :  719 

lorour'  in  one  hood?  beritfi  to  •  ffaces, 
fayre  speche  and  falsehed?  in  oi])  space  is, 
is  it  not  rathe  ?  722 

the  queste  of1  hoi  born)  come  in-to  this  places, 
a-geyne  the  right  euer  thei  rechases, 
of1  whom  thei  hold1  not  hard1  his  grace  is, 
many  a  tyme  haue  dampnyd?  truthe.  726 

Here  entrithe  vj.  lor  ours  in  a  sute  gownyde  -with 
hoodea  a-bowte  her  nec[kes],  hattes  of  maynten- 
aunce  ther-vpone  vyserede  diuersly,  here  myn- 
stralle  a  bagpy[pe]. 


Law-Reformers 
shall  be  smasbt. 


Understanding 
then  calls  oil  his 
crew. 


the  Holborn 
Quest. 


[leaf  169,  back] 
6  Perjurers 
come  iii : 


Mynde. 

let  se  first  wronge  and  sleight, 
doblenesse  and  falsehed!  shew  yo«r  myg&t, 
now  ravyne  and  disceyte. 
now  holde  you  here  to-gedyr, 
this  menyes  conscyens  is  so  streyte, 
that  report  as  mede  yevith  beyte. 
her*  is  the  quest  of1  holborn),  an  euyH  endyrecte, 
thei  daunce  aH  this  londe  hyder  and  thedyr, 
and  I,  periury,  yowr  foundour* ; 


727    Wrong,  Sleight, 

Doubleness, 
Falsehood, 
Ravine,  Deceit, 

730 


734 
735 


making  up  the 
Holborn  Quest, 


Now  daunce  on  vs  aH,  the  world1  dolfr  on  vs  wonder, 
lo  !  here  is  a  meyne  loue  welefare.  737 


with  Perjury, 
the  7th. 


1 66 


A    MORALITY    OP    WISDOM.       SCENE    4. 


Mynde. 
ye,  thei  spende,  that  true  men  spare. 

WyH. 
Thi«  Hoibom      haue  thei  a  brybe,  thei  haue  no  care 

Quest  11  give 

Wronge  or  r'ght. 


Mynde. 
thei  forse  not  to  swere  and  stare. 

WyH. 
thougfi  aH  be  false,  lesse  and  mare. 


They're  sons  of 

Covetousness. 


Will  says  hell 
bring  in  nis 
crew  of  Lechers. 


740 


wiche  wey  to  the  wode  wyH  the  hare, 
thei  knewe,  and  thei  at  rest  sett  als  tight  ; 
some  seme  hem  wyse 
ffor  the  ffader  of1  vs,  covetyse. 

WyH. 

now,  mayntena«nce  and  penury 
hatfi  shewed!  the  trace  of1  her  company  j 
ye  shaH  se  a  spryng  of1  lechery, 
fat  to  me  attende. 

her*  forme  is  of*  the  stewys  clene  rybaldry, 
thei  wene  sey  sotn  whan)  that  thei  lye  j 
of1  the  comon)  thei  synge  eche  weke  by  and  by  ; 
thei  may  sey  with  tynker1,  '  I  trowe  late  amende.' 


744 
745 


747 


750 


754 


So  his,  or 
Lechery's,  6 
Retainers  come 
in. 


Here  entre  vj  womane  in  sute,  [thre]  disgysede 
as  galauntes.  and  thre  as  matrones,  with  wonder- 
fulle  vysers,  conregent  ;  here  mynstrallys,  an 
nornpype. 


rest  is  wanting.] 


[End  of  the  Digby  MS.  But  as  a  stray  Play,  which  no 
j.  wbt  once  formd  part  of  this  MS,  has  been  found  in 
another  MS,  it  is  added  here."] 


MR.  COLLIER'S  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  REST  OF  WISDOM.         167 

[The  following  sketch  of  the  rest  of  the  play  is  from  Mr.  J.  P. 
Collier's  account  of  the  Macro  MS.  (after,  the  late  Hudson  Gurney's, 
and  just  promist  me  on  loan  by  the  Trustees  of  his  Will  (9  March, 
1880)  in  his  Hist,  of  English  Dramatic  Poetry,  (1833  and)  1879,  u- 
210-12  : — 

"  They  [Will's  6  Retainers]  are  called  Recklesshood,  Idleness, 
Surfeit,  Greediness,  Spouse-breach,  and  Fornication.  The  minstrels 
play  '  a  hornepype ',  and  they  all  dance  until  they  quarrel,  when 
Mynde  exclaims  in  a  rage  : — 

'  Hurle  hens  these  harlotts,  here  gyse  ys  of  France  ! ' 
and  the  eighteen  mutes  being  driven  oft',  Mind,  Will,  and  Under 
standing  remain  on  the  stage.     Mind  says  to  his  two  companions : 

'  Leve  then  thys  dalyance, 
Ande  set  we  ordenance 
Off"  better  chevesaunce  [enterprise — J.  P.  C.] 
How  we  may  thryve. 

Undyrstondyng. — At  Westmynster,  with  out  varyance, 
The  nex  terme  shall  me  sore  avaunce 
For  retornys,  for  enbraces,  for  recordaunce ; 
Lythlyer  to  get  goode,  kan  no  man  on  lyve. 
(p.  an)  Mynde. — And  at  the  parvyse1- 1  wyll  be 

A'  Powlys,  be-twyn  two  and  three 
With  a  menye  folowynge  me  .  . 
Wyll. — Ande  ever  the  latter,  the  lever  me  : 
Wen  I  come  lat  to  the  cyte, 
I  walke  all  lanys  and  weys  to  myne  affynyte ; 
And  I  spede  not  ther,  to  the  stewys  I  resort.' 

They  continue  to  converse  in  this  strain  for  some  time,  Understand 
ing  dwelling,  especially,  on  the  tricks  of  the  law.  Just  as  they  are 
about  to  make  their  exit,  in  order  to  eat  and  drink  together,  Wisdom 
unexpectedly  enters ;  while  Anima,  having  been  disfigured  and  cor 
rupted  by  Mind,  Will,  and  Understanding,  '  apperythe  in  the  most 
horrybull  wyse,  fowlere  than  a  fend.'  She  afterwards  gives  birth  to 
six  of  the  deadly  sins,  and  the  operation  is  thus  described  : — '  Here 
rennyt  out  from  undyr  the  horrybull  mantyll  of  the  Soule,  six  small 
boys  in  the  lyknes  of  devyllys,  and  so  retorne  ageyn.'  Anima  be 
comes  sensible  of  her  dreadful  transformation,  and  Mind,  Will,  and 
Understanding  find  that  they  are  the  cause  of  it.  It  is  added : — 
'  Here  they  go  out,  and  in  the  goynge  the  Soule  syngyth  in  the  most 
lamentabull  wyse,  with  drawte  notes,  as  yt  ys  songyn  in  the  passyon 
wyke ' ;  in  allusion  probably  to  the  prolonged  manner  of  drawling 
out  the  notes  of  psalms  at  that  season. 

1  Parvyse  means  the  Portico.  This  passage  settles  the  doubt  (see  Glos 
sary  to  Tyrwhitt's  Chaucer,  <uoc.  ( Parvis ')  as  to  where  the  Parvis  at  London 
was  situated  :  it  was  where  lawyers  met  for  consultation — viz.  the  portico  of 
St.  Paul's  Cathedral.  .  .  .—J.  P.  C. 


l68  THE    END    OF    WISDOM.       THE    CITY    QUEST. 

"  Wisdom  makes  a  long  speech,  in  order  to  give  the  characters  time 
to  dress  themselves ;  after  which,  '  here  entrethe  Anima,  with  the  five 
wytts  goynge  before ;  Mynde  on  the  on  syde,  and  Undyrstondynge 
on  the  other  syde,  and  Wyll  folowyng,  all  in  (p.  212)  here  fyrst 
clothynge,  her  chappeletts  and  crests,  and  all  havyng  on  crownys, 
syngynge  in  here  commynge '.  Mind,  Will,  and  Understanding  re 
nounce  their  evil  courses,  and  Anima  rejoices  in  the  change.  The 
conclusion  or  epilogue,  not  assigned  to  any  character,  is  as  follows : — 

'  Volis  qui  timetis  Deum 

Orietur  sol.  rusticum.  • 

The  tru  son  of  ryghtusnes. 
Wyche  that  ys  our  lorde  Jfiu, 
Shall  sprynge  in  hem  that  drede  hys  meknes. 
Nowe  ye  must  evyry  soule  renewe 
In  grace,  and  vyces  to  eschew, 
And  so  to  ende  with  perfection, 
That  the  doctryne  of  wysdom  we  may  sew. 
Sapientia  patris  graunt  that,  for  hys  passyon.     Amen.' 

At  the  end  is  a  list  of  the  characters,  but  it  does  not  include  Will,  nor 
any  of  the  persons  who  have  entered  to  dance."] 


NOTE  ON  THE  HOLBORN  QUEST,  p.  165,  1.  773. 

The  William  Smith,  Rouge  Dragon,  whose  plans  of  Cambridge 
and  Canterbury  are  given  in  my  Harrison  II  (see  p.  16*  there), 
wrote  also  "  A  Breeff  Description  of  the  Famovs  Cittie  of  London, 
Capitall  Cittie  of  this  Realme  of  England.  &c.  Ann0.  1588."  Harleian 
MS.  6363  ;  and  from  it,  leaf  13,  I  take  his  account  of  the  City  Quest, 
which  shows  what  the  Holborn  one  ought  to  have  done  and  been  : — 

"Wardmote  Enquest. 

"  There  is  also  The  Wardmote  Enquest,  Chosen  euery  St.  Thomas 
day,  in  euery  ward  a  quest.  And  are  chosen  after  this  maner. 
The  Aldermen  of  euery  ward,  causeth  all  ye  Inhabitants  thereof,  to 
assemble  at  a  Church,  or  some  other  place  wit/tin  the  said  ward, 
where  is  chosen  out  amongst  them  about  24  parsons,  which  are  called 
The  Wardmot  Enquest.  And  these  do  sitt  all  ye  Christmas  Holly- 
daies  till  Twelfft  Day.  And  call  beffore  them  all  such  parsons  (in 
their  ward)  as  be  noted  (yea,  or  suspected)  of  any  notable  cryme, 
which  if  they  fynd  culpable :  They  present  them  in  wryting,  vnder 
their  handes  &  Stalls,  into  the  guildhall.  Also  they  go  into  every 
mans  howse  wilAin  the  said  ward,  &  peruse  their  weights  &  measures, 
which,  if  they  flynd  not  lust :  they  breake  them  in  peeces. 

"  Also  they  present  euery  man,  at  whose  dore  the  Street  is  not 
well  paved :  also  all  Strumpetts,  Baudes,  Raylers,  Skolders,  &  such 
Lyke,  which  being  found  faulty,  are  punished  accordingly.  And 
therfore  euery  baudy  bacheler  had  nead  to  looke  to  hym  selff." 


CHRIST'S 
BURIAL  AND    RESURRECTION 

&  JUgsterg, 

IN  TWO  PARTS,  IN  THE  NORTHERN  DIALECT.1 

FROM  THE  BODLEIAN  MS.  -E  Af«*?o  160. 

PART    I    TO    BE    PLAYD    ON    GOOD    FRIDAY    AFTERNOON, 
PART    2    ON    EASTER-DAY    IN    THE    MORNING. 


PART    I. 

(At  Christ's  Cross  and  Sepulchre.} 

Joseph  and  the  Three  Maries  lament  Christ's  Death. — With  Nicodemus 
they  take  his  body  from  the  Cross. — His  Mother  utters  her  Complaint 
over  him  (p.  188,  189,  191 — 197).  — He  is  buried. 

PART  II. 

(In  Jerusalem  and  at  Christ's  Tomb.) 

The  Three  Maries  go  to  Christ's  Sepulchre. — Peter  laments  his  treachery 
(p.  210);  Andrew  and  John  comfort  him. — Christ  appears,  to  Mary 
Magdalene  (p.  219),  and  then  to  the  3  Maries  (p.  222). — The  Apostles 
go  to  the  Sepulchre  (p.  225). — All  sing. 

1  Originally  :  See  the  awe,  a',  all  (1.  4,  7,  653,  &c.)  ;  awn,  own  (p.  i8c, 
1.  401);  ////,  to  (1.  402,  428,  528);  haves  thou  (1.  403);  kna--w,  know  (p.  188, 
1  496;  p.  189,  1.  514,  &c.);  <wald,  would  (p.  189,!.  531  ;  p.  190,  1.  564,  &c.); 
la-wly,  lowly  (p.  226,  1.  1715);  j,  verbal  plural;  whiklye,  quickly  (p.  186, 
1.  444;  iiuhantite,  quantite  (p.  192,  1.  621;  p.  196,  1.  737);  WaH,  quick, 
living  (p.  198,  1.  814);  <whtt}  quite,  requite  (p.  199,  1.  850),  &c.  See  more 
overleaf. 


[THE  NAMES  OF  THE  PLAYERS.] 

PART  I. 


Josephe  of  Aramathye. 
The  Three  Maries. 

i.  Mary  Salome  (see  note  3, 
p.  ^4  above). 


2.  Mary,  the  Mother  of  James. 

3.  Mary  Magdalene. 
Nicodemus  (p.  184). 

The  Virgin  Mary  (p.  186). 


St.  John  the  Evangelist  (p.  187). 
Besides  these,  in  Part  II  (except  Joseph  and  Nicodemus). 


The  Angel  (p.  205). 
St.  Peter  (p.  209). 


St.     Andrew,     Peter's      Brother 
(p.  213). 


Jesus  (p.  219,  222). 


Dr.  Richard  Morris  kindly  sends  me  the  following  note  on  the 
Dialect  of  this  Mystery  : — 

"I've  look'd  over  the  'Mystery'  and  find  that  it  was  originally 
in  the  Northumbrian  dialect  (has  2  and  3  sing,  in  -s,  1.  1469,  1543 
(is  thou,  184/293)  j  pi.  in  s,  see  1.  1426  ;  till,  sign  of  infinitive,  11.  992, 
1335,  1345,  1580;  sho,  she,  &c),  but  that  it  has  been  greatly  alter'd 
and  modernized  (see  footnote  on  p.  184,  good  Northumbrian). 

"  Northumbrian  and  Midland  forms  are  mixed  together  (cp.  sho 
and  shee;  3rd  pers.  sing,  in  s  and  th,  see  p.  182),  and  whole  lines 
have  been  alter'd  to  get  a  Midland  ryme  (cp.  1.  203-4,  original  end 
ings  wo  and  sho;  for  hee  =  she,  and  not  he ;  p.  202,  1.  918-19,  sho 
and  go,  original  rymes). 

"  The  Midland  element  is  easily  recognized  to  be  of  the  West 
Midland  type. 

"  i .  The  text  contains  a  large  number  of  Northern  terms. 

"  2.  pt.  tense  and  pp.  in  -t,  '  wipet,  blessit,  wrappit,'  &c.,  &c. 

"3.  Os,  as  :  This  word  occurs  about  30  times,  and  as  it  is  common 
in  West  Midland  work,  I  take  the  frequent  occurrence  of  it  to  be 
proof  positive  of  Midland  influence.  The  poem  is  still  Northern,  as 
distinct  from  Southern." 

1  Cp.  pres.  particip.es  in  -ing,  not  Northern ;  the  dropping  of  n  in  past 
paiticiples  of  strong  verbs  not  Northern  (p.  194). 


THE  BURIAL  OF  CHRIST. 

\_MS.  E  Museo  160  [once  226],  (Bodl.  Libr.),  leaf  I4O.1] 


8  [This  is  a  play  to  be  playede,  on  part  on  gud- 
friday  after-none,  &  J?e  other  part  opon  Ester- 
day  after  the  resurrectione,  In  the  morowe.  but 
at  [the]  begynnynge  ar  certene  lynes  which 
[must]  not  be  saide  if  it  be  plaiede,  which 
(.  .  .  another  line  cut  ojf).] 

The  prologe  of  this  treyte  or  meditation^  off  the 
buryalle  of  Criste  &  mowrnynge 


ASoule  that  list  to  singe  of  loue 
Of  Crist,  that  com  tiii  vs  so  lawe, 
Rede  this  treyte,  it  may  hymm  moue, 
And  may  hym  tecne  lightly  with  awe,3 
Off  the  sorow  of  Mary  sumwhat  to  knawe, 
Opon  gudfriday  after-none  j 
Also  of  theappostiles  awe,  the  Apostles, 

And  how  mawdleyn)  sorowe  cessit  not  son)  j  8  Mary  Mag 

dalene, 
And  also 

How  losephe  of  Aramathye  Joseph  of  Ari- 

A      i      .1  ,     .  mathea, 

And  othere  persons  holye  ; 

With  Nichodeyme  worthely,  Nicodemus, 

How  in  thair  harte  had  wo.  13 

Fyrst  lat  vs  mynde  how  gud  losepne,  and  Joseph. 

On  this  wise  wepite  Cristes  dethe  :  —  15 

1  The  MS.  is  letterd  on  the  back  :—  "Cronol.  Papish  Play." 
The  stanzas  are  almost  all  6  lines,  aab,  ecb  ;  some  8,  aaab,  cccb. 
The  Virgin's  Complaint,  p.  191-3,  is  mainly  in  eights,  abab,  bcbe, 
with  some  sixes  and  sevens.  Some  couplets  follow  it.  Parts  of  it 
(p.  194-5)  have  the  same  burden  '  Who  can  not  wepe,  com  lerne  of 
me,'  as  the  earlier  poem  in  my  Hymns  to  the  Virgin  and  Christ, 
E.  E.  T.  Soc.  1867,  p.  126-7. 

8  In  margin  of  leaf  140  back,  at  foot.  3  withal. 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


Great  wrong  baa 
been  wrought 
to-day. 


Christ's  blood 
has  ttowd,  and 


turnd  Calvary's 
green  to  red. 


[leaf  140,  back] 


What  creature 
but  Ood  could 
raise  a  dead 
man, 


or  give  sight  to 
the  blind? 


losephe. 

ALesse  !  that  euer  I  levit  thus  longe  ' 
This  day  to  se  so  grete  wronge  ! 
So  feH  Cruellitee  &  paynes  stronge 
Were  neuer  seyn)  or  this  !  19 

Such  envy,  such  rancor,  such  malesse  ! 
Of  crueH  tormentes  such  excesse  ! 
O  pilate,  pilate !  in  thy  palesse, 

He  that  neuer  did  amysse,  23 

This  day  was  darapnyt !  o  Innocent  bloode,  24 

Most  of  vertue,  most  graciose  &  gude, 
This  day  stremyt  owt  lik  a  floode 
And  lyk  a  ryvere  grete  j  27 

On  caluery  mownt,  on  lenghe  &  brede ! 
O  caluery !  thy  greyn  colore  is  turnyd  to  rede 
By  a  blessit  lammes  bloode  which  now  is  dede. 
Alese  !  for  faynt  I  swete,  3 1 

Remembringe  that  so  cleyne  on  Innocent  shuld  dye,  32 
Which  ledd  his  life  the  most  perfitlye, 
And  wrought  sich  warkey  wonderoslye, 
Ose  ludea  can  recorde.  35 

What  mortaH  creature,  that  powre  myght  haue 
To  make  a  dede  man  rise  owt  of  his  graue, 
Lyinge  ther-in  iiij  dayes  tayve, 

But  god,  the  gretihf  lorde  ?  39 

A  man  to  haue  his  sight,  born)  starke  blinde,  40 

From  Adams  Creation)  where  shaH  we  fynde  ? 
Or  what  prophettes  can  ye  caH  to  mynde, 
Of  whom  maybe  verryfyedf  43 

So  grete  a  miracte  aboue  naturs  rigfite  ? 
To  many  othere  blind  men  lie  gaue  the  sighte, 
And  wrought  many  wounders  by  godly  myghte, 
As  it  is  weH  certitiede.  47 

From  the  hyH  I  com  bot  now  down),  48 

Wher  I  left  the  holy  women  in  dedly  swoun). 
O  ye  pepuH  of  this  cetye  &  of  this  town), 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


173 


Herd  ye  not  the  Exclamation) 
And  the  grete  brunte  which  was  on  the  h[i]H, 
"  Crucyfy  hym  !  Crucify  hy/«  !  slo  hym  &  kili  ! 
Peace  !  now  harkyn  !   I  pray  you  stand  stiH  ; 
Methink  I  here  lamentation).1 

thre  mariye  sais  arl  to-gider  in  a  voce. 

Kiunt  iij  marie 
O  most  dolorose  day  !  O  tym  of  gretist  sorowe  ' 


51 


0  sisters,2  stand  stirl  vn-tyH  to-morowe  ! 

1  trow  I  may  not  leue.3 

Joseph. 

I  here  the  mawdleyn)  /  bitterly  compleyn). 
What  gud  creature  /  may  hym-self  refrayn) 
In  this  piteose  myscheffe.4 


O  day  of  lamentation)  ! 

ij*  morza. 
O  day  of  exclamatione  ! 

Thrid  mary. 
O  day  off  suspiratione  ! 
Which  lewes  sharl  repent1  ! 

Mavdle?/w. 
O  day  most  dolor  use  ! 

ija  mark. 
O  day  paynfuH  &  tediose  ! 

1  Off  the  wepinge  of  the  iij  Maries. 

~lf"[An,  harkyn  how  mavdleyn  wit  A  the  marls  ij° 
1YJL  "Wepis  &  wringes  thair  handes  os  thay  goo.] 
These  two  lines  crosst  through  with  red  ink. 

2  saide  mawdleyne  crosst  through. 
:)  This  line  is  crosst  through  : 

This  hard  holy  Joseph  standinge  ryght  gayn 
4  The  MS.  adds  :  —  [The  maries  in  that  statione 
Then  saide  on  this  fascione] 
Lines  crosst  through. 


55 


The  Jews  cried, 
"Crucify  him!" 


[leaf  141] 


0   The  3  Maries 
lament. 


Joseph  sympa 
thises. 


61 

62 


65 


The  Maries 
lament  again. 


174 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


iij*    ma  ria. 

O  pepuH  most  crueB  &  furiose, 
Thus  to  slo  an  Innocent1 !  69 

ija  maria 
Christ  hangs       O  mawdleyn),  your   master  dere,  ?o 

on  the  Crow,  3     '  J  ' 

How  rewfully  he  hinge.?  here, 

That  set  you  first  in  ceile  !  7* 

Mawdleyn) 

H  A  !  cesse,  sisters  !  it  sloes  my  chere  ! 
His  dulfuB  deth  I  may  not  here  ! 
Devowt  losepfee,  I  se  hym  here, 

Our  cares  forto  keyle.  76 

O  gud  losepfce,  approche  to  vs  nere  j 
wounded  with  a  Behold  hyrn  wowndit  with  a  spere, 

spear; 

That  louede  yow  so  weyH  !  79 

losephe 

H  O1  mawdleyn),  said  Joseph,2  I  pray  you  here; 
&  yowr  susters  als  to  be  of  gud  chere. 

Magdal[eyn 

II  O  frende  Joseph !  this  prince  had  neuer  pere ! 
pea!  MI,  back]    The  weti  of  mercy  /  that  made  me  clere  j 

And  that  wist  ye  weile.  /  84 

Nay,  gude  losepfie,  com  nere  &  behold !  85 

This  bludy  lawzmes  body  is  starke  &  cold. 

O  !  hadde  ye  seyn)  his  paynes  many-fold, 

Ye  waldf  haue  beyne  right  sory.  88 

losepfie  !  luk  bettere,  behold  &  see, 

In  how  litiH  space  how  many  woundej  bee  ! 

Here  was  no  mercee,3  her  was  no  pitee, 

But  Crueti  delinge  paynfully.  92 

O  goode  losepfie,  I  am  aH  dysmayede  93 

1  gud  crosst  through,  instead  of  said  Joseph. 

•  The  poetaster  has  again  forgotten  that  he's  writing  a  play. 

•  mercye  alterd. 


His  bodv  stark 
and  cold. 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


'75 


Christ's  blessed 
feet  are  bloody. 


IOO 
101 


1 04  The  Lord  of  all 
has  sufferd  for 
man's  Iniquity. 


108 


To  see  his  tendere  fleshe  thus  rewfully  arayed?, 

On  this  wise  so  wofully  displayed1, 

Woundit  witfce  nayti  &  spere  !  96 

O  dere  losepfie  /  I  feyH  my  harte  wex  cold?, 

Thes  blessite  fete  /  thus  bludy  to  be-hold?, 

Whom  I  weshid?  with  teres  manyfold?, 

And  wyped?  with  my  heare. 

O  how  rewfuH  /  a  spectakiH  itf  is  ! 

Neuer  hast  bee  seyn)  /  ne  shaft  be  after  this, 

Such  crueH  rigore  to  the  kinge  of  blissej 

The  lord  that  made  all, 

Thus  to  suffere  in  his  humanitee, 

And  that  only  for  our  iniquitee ! 

O  makere  of  man  !  what  loue  &  pitee 

Had  thou  for  vs  so  thratt ! 

O  gude  losephe,  was  ye  not  present  here  ?  109 

loseph. 

U  Yis,  moder  mawdleyn),  it  changid?  my  chere. 

The  wounder  was  so  grete,  I  yrkit  to  com  nere. 

But  I  was  not  farre  hence.  112        [leaf  142] 

Magdalena. 

IT  O  losepne,  If  I  told  you  euery  circumstaunce 

Of  the  moste  merite  &  perseueraunce 

Of  hym  fat  neuer  did  offence, 

Thys  higne  kinge  pat  hinges  befor  our  face, 

Displayede  on  Crosse  in  this  piteos  place, 

And  teH  you  of  his  pacience  ;  1 18 

Frende  losepne,  this  day  am  I  sure,  119 

Scantly  wztA  force  ye  myght  it  indure, 

But  your  hart  shuld  tendere  121 

How  he  sufFerte  to  be  takid?, 

Sore  scourgit  &  nakit 

On  all  his  body  sclender  !  124 

And  not-witA-stondinge  your  manly  hart1,  1 25 

Frome  your  Ees  the  teres  wald  starte, 


5    He  never  did 
offence,  and  yet 


was  taken  and 
scourgd. 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


The  Lamb  shed 
his  blood. 


Hi*  pain  jmssea 
all  other. 


Who  can  but 
•orrow  for  it  ? 


To  shew  your  hevynesse.  127 

Com  hi  there,  losephe,  &  stande  ner  this  rood ! 

Loo  !  this  lawime  spared  not  to  shedd1  his  blude 

WitA  most  paynfuH  distresse;  130 

Her  was  more  rancore  shewed1  than  equitee,  131 

Mich  more  malace  than  ony  pitee, 

I  reporte  me ;  yowr-self  behold  &  see  ! 

His  payn  passis  aH  othere  ;  134 

AH  if  he  were  the  prince  of  peace, 

Therfor  my  sorow  haves  no  releace. 

losephe 

1T  Gude  mawdleyn),  of  your  mowrnynge  cease  ; 
It  Ekes  my  doole,  dere  moder  : l  138 

Maria  lacobi  ij" 

Goode  frende  losephe,  what  creator  maye  139 

But  sorow  to  se  this  wofuH  daye, 
[leaf  142,  back]    The  day  of  gretist  payne  ?  141 

Maria  solamee 

H  2  Wo  &  sorow  must  nede$  synke 
Mor  in  our  hartes  than  met  &  drinke, 
To  se  our  saueyoure  slayne.  144 

losephe. 

H  Alese,  women  !  ye  mak  my  hart  to  relente,  145 

Beholdinge  his  body  thus  torne  &  rente, 
That  inwardly  I  wepe  ;  147 

But,  gude  Mawdleyn),  shew  vnto  me 
Where  is  mary  his  mothere  so  free. 
Who  haues  that  maide  to  kepe?  150 

Mavdleyn) 

losephe,  from  this  place  /  is  sho8  gone.  151 

To  haue  seyn)  hir,  a  harte  of  stone, 

1  MS.  has  this  line  cross!  through  : — 

The  secund  Mary  began  to  saye 

2  The  MS.  puta  before  Wo,  'The  thrid  mary  saide,'  but  it  is 
crosst  through. 

1  wente  ct'osst  through. 


The  Virgin 
Mary 


A 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


177 


For  ruthe  wald  haue  relente :  153 

Right  many  tymes  emanges  vs  here 

Sche  swownyd  \vith  most  dedly  chere, 

Ose  mothere  mekest  kente.  156 

With  furl  longe  prayere,  scant  we  mygfite  157 

Cause  hir  parte  from  this  peteose  sighte  ; 

Scho  made  many  compleynte  j  159 

Ye  saw  neuer  woman  )>is  wise  dismaide  j 

Zebedeus  &  lofin  hase  hir  cowvaid?e  j 

To  spek  of  hire  I  faynte.  162 

Many  men  spekes  of  lamentacion)  163 

Off  moders,  &  of  their  gret  desolation) 

Which  that  thay  did  in-dure  1 65 

When  that  their  childer  dy  &  passe  j 

But  of  his  peteose  tender  moder,  alasse, 

I  am  verray  sure  168 

the  wo  &  payn  passis  aH  other*:  169 

Was  ther  neuer  so  sorowfurl  a  mother* 

For  inward?  thojt  &  cure,  171 

When  sho  harde  hym  for  his  enmyse  praye, 

And  promesid  the  thefe  the  blissis  aye, 

And  to  hir-self  no  word  wald?  saye  j 

Sche  sighid?,  be  ye  sure.  175 

The  sonwe  hynge,  &  the  moder  stood2,  176 

And  euer  sho  kissid?  the  droppes  of  blood1 

That  so  fast  /  ran)  down) ;  178 

Sche  extendit  hir  Armes  hym  to  brace  ; 

But  sho  myght  not  towch  hym,  so  high  was  the  place, 

And  then  sho  fell  in  swoune.  181 

losepfie 

AGude  mawdleyn),  who  can  hir  blame,  182 

,  To  se  hir  awn)  son)  in  so  grete  shame, 
With-owt  ony  offence.  184 

But,   mavdleyn),    had    he  ony    mynd    on    hir    in    his 
passion)  ? 

DIGBY    MYST.  N 


swoond. 


Zebedee  and 
John  have  taken 
her  home. 


Never  was 
mother  so 
sorrowful  as  the 

[leaf  143] 


Virgin  when  her 
Son  didn't  speak 
to  her, 


and  she  could 
not  touch  Him. 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


Christ  lookt 
from  the  Cross 
on  HU  Mother, 


and  said  that 
John  should 
comfort  her. 


Mavdleyn) 

Jee,  yee,  losephe  !  of  hir  he  had  grete  compassion), 
Os  apperitf  by  evidence  j  187 

For,  hanginge  on  the  Crosse  most  petyfully,  188 

He  lukyd  on  that  maide,  his  moder,  rewfully, 
And  with  a  tender  cow[n]tenaunce,  190 

As  who  say,  "  modere  !  the  sorow  of  your  harte 
Make*  my  passion  mor  bitter  &  mor  smarte, 
Ye  ben)  euer  in  my  remembraunce.  193 

Dere  modere,  becawse  I  depart  os  nowe,  194 

lofin  my  Cosyn)  shaB  waite  on  yowe, 
Your  comforte  for  to  bee."  196 

Loo,  he  had  hyr  on  his  graciose  mynd, 
To  teche  aH  chi[l]deren)  to  be  kind 
To  fader  &  modere  of  dewtee.  199 

This  child  wald  not  lefe  his  moder  alone,  200 

peaf  143,  back]    Not-withstandinge  hir  lamentabitt  mone 

&  hevynesse.  202 

[Io]seph 

*A,  gud  lady,  futi  wo  was  shee  ! 

But  can  ye  terl  what  wordes  saide  hee 

There  in  that  grete  distresse  ? 


Mavdleyn 

And  in  His         H  2  0  losephe,  this  lame  most  meke, 

In  his  Cruett  tormewte^  &  paynfuH  eke, 
But  fewe  wordes  he  hadd1, 

agony,  He  said     Saue  that  in  grete  Agony  e 

He  saide  thes  wordes,  "  I  am  thrustye," 
With  chere  demure  &  sadd1. 


205 

206 
208 

211 


[I]hoseph 
IT  Mawdleyne  :  Suppose  ye  his  desire  was  to  drinke?  212 

1  In  the  MS.  the  line  before  is  crosst  throu-li  : — If  Than  saide 
losephe  right  peteoslee. 

*  H  Mawdleyn  saide  eroist  through. 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


217 
2l8 


for  the  health  of 
man's  soul, 


1T  Nay,  verrelye,  frende  Joseph,  I  thinke 

He  thrustide  no  lyquore ;  214 

His  thruste  was  of  charitee ;  Christ  thirsted 

For  our  faitfie  &  fidelitee, 

He  ponderite  the  rigore, 

Off  his  passion  done  so  cruellye ; 

For  the  helth  of  maranys  sauH:  cheflye 

He  thrustid1  &  desirede. 

And  then,  after  tormente  longe, 

&  after  paynes  feH  &  stronge, 

This  mekist  lam  expyredte  : 

For  wikkit  syfiners  fis  lamm  is  dede. 

Alese  !  my  hart  wex  hevy  os  lede, 

Myndinge  my  writchitnesse. 

Where  was  euer  a  mor  synfuH  creature 

Than  I  my-self?  nay,  nay;  I  am  sure 

Was  none  of  mor  offencesse. 

O !  what  displesur  is  in  my  mynd2, 

Rememberinge  that  I  was  so  vnkynd1 

To  hym  that  hinges  here, 

That  hinges  here  so  piteoslye 

For  my  synnes  done  owtragioslye  ! 

Mercy,  lorde,  I  requere  ! 

Not-withstondinge  the  gre[t]  enormitee 

Of  my  fowle  syranes,  &  of  his  humylitee, 

This  lambe,  this  Innocent1, 

For  my  Contrition)  he  forgaue  mee 

Only  of  his  fre  mercifutt  pitee; 

Neddes  must  my  harte  relente. 

This  is  the  sacrifice  of  remission)  j 

Crist,  aH;  synners  havinge  contrition), 

Callith  to  mercy  &  grace,  244 

Sayinge  thes  swete  wordes,  "  retorn)  to  mee, 

Leve  thy  syn),  &  I  shalbe  with  thee, 

Accepte  in  euery  place." 

Had  not  beyne  his  most  mercyfuH  cowsotatione,        248 

N    2 


220 


223    and  then  died. 
224 

226 


229 
230 

[leaf  144] 
How  unkind  was 
232    I  to  Him! 


236 

Yet  He  forgave 
me  all  my  foul 
238    sins. 


241 
242 


He  is  with  all 
who  turn  to 
Him. 


i8o 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


HU  mercy  ac 
cepted  my  con- 
trito  heart 


How  I  sorrow 
for  Him  I 


[leaf  144,  back] 
What  can  com 
fort  me  f 


His  feet  thai  I 
wiped  with  my 
hair 

are  pierct  with 
a  nail 


I,  wreche  of  aH  wretches,1  into  desperation) 

Had  fallen)  right  dangeroslye  j  250 

My  dedes  were  dampnabiH  of  righte, 

But  his  mercee  accepte  my  harte  cowtrighte, 

And  reconsiled1  me  gracioslye.  253 

O  mekeste  lambe,  hanginge  here  on  hye !  254 

Was  ther  none  othere  meyn)  but  J)ou  must  nede  dy, 

Synners  to  reconsyle  ?  256 

A,  Sisters,  sisters !  what  sorow  is  in  me, 

Beholdinge  my  master  on  this  peteose  tree  ! 

My  harte  fayntejj  I  may  no  longer  dree. 

Now  lat  me  pawse  a  whyle ;  260 

O,  where  shaH  ony  comfurth"  com  to  mee,  261 

And  to  his  modere,  that  Maid  so  free  ? 

Wald  god,  here  I  myght  dye !  263 

ij°  Maries. 
U  8  Gud  Mawdleyn),  mesure  youre  distillinge  teres ! 

Mawdlej/n 

U  O  sisters,3  who  may  hold  theire  cheres? 
Thes  are  the  swete  fete  I  wipet  with  heris  j 
And  kissid1  so  deuowtlye  j  267 

And  now  to  see  tham  thyrlite  with  a  nayle, 
How  shulde  my  sorow  fuH  harte  bot  fayle 
And  mowrn)  contynually  ?  270 

Cum  hithere,  Joseph,  beholde  &  looke  271 

How  many  bludy  letters  beyn)  writen  in  )>is  buke, 
Smart  margente  her  is.  273 

losephe 

51 4  Ye,  this  parchement  \s  stritchit  owt  of  syse. 
O  derest  lorde!  in  how  paynfuH  wise 

1  had  fallen  erostt  through. 

3  In  the  MS.  these  3  lines  are  crosst  through : — 
Ose  mawdle^n*  thus  sore  did  wepe 
The  othere  ijo  Maryes  tuk  gude  kepe 
And  saide  righte  sober!  ye 

1  saide  sho  croist  through. 

*  In  .the  MS.  the  line  before  is  crosst  through  : 

Than  said  losephe  a  nobill;  man  of  prise 


THE    BURIAL    Of    CHRIST. 


181 


Haue  ye  tholit  this  !  276 

O,  aH  the  pepiH  that  passis  here-by,  277 

Beholde  here  inwardlee  with  your  Ees  gostly, 

Consider  well  &  see,  279 

Yf  that  euer  ony  payn)  or  torment* 

Were  lik  vnto  this  which  this  Innocerat 

Haves  suffert  thus  meklee  !  282 

Remembere  man  !  remembere  weH,  &  see  283 

How  liberaH  a  man  this  lord  was  &  free, 

Which,  to  saue  mankincJ,  285 

On  droppe  of  blude  haues  not  kepit  ne  sparid! ! 

FuH  litiH  for  ease  or  plesure  he  carid1, 

By  reason  ye  may  finde,  288 

Which  on  dropp  of  blood  hase  not  resaruyd!.  289 

O  lord,  by  thy  deth  we  beyn)  preseruycfc ; 

By  deth  thou  hast  slayne  deth ;  291 

Was  neuer  no  love  lik  vnto  thyn), 

That  to  this  meknes  thy-selfe  wald  inclyn), 

&  for  vs  to  yelde  thy  bretfre.  294 

Thou  knew  ther*  were  no  remedy  to  redeym)  syn),    295 

But  a  bath  of  J?i  blude  to  bath"  mans  saule  in  j 

And  thou  were  weH a  assent  297 

To  let  it  ren)  owt  most  plenteosly. 

Where  wer  euer  sich  love  ?  neuer,  verrely, 

That  such  wise  wald  content1.  300 

To  his  fadere,  for  vs  he  made  a  sure  render1.  301 

Loo  !  euery  bone  ye  may  nowmbere  of  his  body  tender, 

For  vntollerabiti  paynes  303 

The  tormentours  sparede  no  Crueltee, 

With  sharp  scowrges  te-terre  his  flesfie,  ye  may  see. 

With  thorns  thrust  in  his  braynes ;  306 

Grete  nayles  dreVyn,  the  bones  aH  to  brake;  307 

Thus  in  Euery  parte  the  nayles  thay  did  wrake. 

O  crueli  wikkitnese,  309 

From  the  Crowne  of  the  hede  vnto  the  too, 


See,  ye  folk,  waa 
ever  Pain  like 
this  which 
Christ  has 
sufferd 


to  save  Man 
kind? 


[leaf  145] 


Never  was  Tx>ve 
like  His ! 


His  flesh  was 
torn  with 
scourges ; thorns 
were  thrust  into 
His  brains ; 
nails  were 
driven  into 
Him ;  His  bones 
were  broken  in 
pieces. 


1  content  croast  through. 


l8a  THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 

This  blessit  body  was  wrappit  ati  in  woo, 
In  payn)  &  distresse.  313 

Wounds  are  all     In  this  displaied  body,  whei*  may  it  be  found.  a  i  3 

over  Him,  in 

On  spotf,  or  a  place,  bet  thei*  is  a  wound, 

Owthei*  mor  or  lesse.  315 

[loaf  145,  back]    Se  his  side,  hede,  handes  &  fete  ! 
side,  hcftdL 
hands,  feet.         Lo !  AH  his  body  with  blude  is  wete, 

So  paynfuH  was  his  presse.  318 

On  yche  parte  he  is  paynede  sore,  3 19 
Saue  only  the  tunge,  which  euer-more 

For  syfiners  did  prayee.  321 

Mawdlen.1 

O  piteous  sight  i  Who  saw  euer  a  spektacte  more  pitevs, 
A  more  lamentabte  sight  &  dolorus  ? 
A  A  !  this  wofuH  daye !  324 

Alese,  this  sorow  that  I  endure  325 

Wit h  grete  inwarde  hevynes  &  cure  ! 
Alesse,  }>at  I  do  not  dye,  327 

To  see  hym  dede,  made  me  of  nogfite, 
And  with  his  deth  thus  haves  me  bougfite  j 

O  cruel  torment!  O  CrueH  tormentrye !  330 

O  dere  master,  be  ye  not  displeasidl  331 

Yf  I  myght  dy  with  yow  /  my  hart1  wer  wel  easid?  j 

0  !  ffayn)t,  &  faynt  it  is  333 

loseph.2 

What  meyri)  $e  women,  in  goddis  name  ? 

Moder !  to  mych  sorow  /  je  mak ;  ye  be  to  blame; 

1  pray  yow,  leve  alt  this !  336 
But  He  shall        He  that  hingeth  here  of  his  humilite,  337 

rise  again, 

From  deth  shaH  aryse,  for  right  so  saide  hee ; 

His  wordej  must  nedey  be  trewe :  339 

1  The  next  line  in  the  MS  is  crosst  through  : — 

H  To  that  word  mavdlene  awnswert  thus 

*  The  next  line  in  the  MS  is  crosst  through  :— 

II  Holy  losephe  awnswerit  to  this  same 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


i83 


to  subdue  Satan, 


[leaf  146] 


345 


to  slay  Death, 

2/1.8    an<i  restore  Man 
°*      to  Bliss. 

349 


This  is  the  finale  cavse  &  conclusion), 

To  bringe  our  mortali  enmy  to  confusion) 

And  his  powere  to  subdewe.  342 

For  this  cawse  he  descendit1  from  J)e  hevywly  place    343 

Born)  of  J»e  mekist  virgyra  all  fuH  of  grace, 

Which  now  most  sorowfuH  is. 

For  that  cawse  he  did  our  natur  take, 

Thus,  by  deth,  to  sloo  deth,  ffor  mannes  sake, 

And  to  restor  hym  to  blysse. 

Wherfor,  good  women,  yowr-self  com  forte  j 

Amongest  vs  agayn)  /  he  shall  resorte, 

I  trust  verrelye ;  35 1 

I  pray  yow,  compleyn)  not  thus  hevylee. 

Mavdle[yn.] 

1  Nedes  must  I  cowzpleyn),  &  that  most  bitterlee, 
&  I  shall  tett  yow  whye  : —  354 

In-sensibiH  Creaturs  /  beyn)  trovblid,  36  see  j  355 

The  son  had  lost  his  sight1;  Eclippid  was  heej 
Therth  tremmblide  ferfullye  ;  357 

The  hard  flynt  &  stone  /  is  brokyn  in  sundre ; 
Yf  resonabte  creaturs  /  be  trowblid  '  it  is  no  wonder; 
And  emange  aH  speciallye,  360 

I,  a  wrechit  woman)  /  a,  wrecn"  !  a,  wrecfie  !  361 

Behold  these  bludy  welles  /  her  may  )>ou  fech"e 
Balme  more  preciose  than  golde  !  363 

O  ye  welles  of  mercy  /  dyggide  so  depe, 
Who  may  refrayn)  /who  may  bot  wepe, 
These  bludy  streymys  to  be-holdte?  366 

O  fontains  flowinge  with  water  of  life,  367 

To  wash  away  corrupcion)  /  of  wowdes  infectyfe, 
By  dedly  syne  grevose  !  369 

AH  with  meknese  is  mesured  this  ground1,  with-out   [leaf  ue,  back] 
dowte, 


All  Nature  Is 
troubled. 
The  Sun  was 
eclipst ;  the 
Earth  trembled ; 

Rocks  rent. 


Who  can  refrain 
from  weeping  at 
these  streams  of 
Christ's  blood? 


1  The  line  before  in  the  MS.  is  crosst  through  : — 
IT  Than  said  Mawdleyne  A  losephe  free 


184 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


Wherin  so  many  springes  of  mercy  flowes  owte, 
Beholde,  how  so  plenteose  ! 


Mawdleyne,  yowr  mowrnynge  avaylis  nothiwge. 
Lat  vs  speke  to  losephe,  hym  hertely  desiringe 
But  let  us  find  a  for  To  finde  some  gude  wave, 

way  to  take  the  } 

Crucified  to  the    This  Crucified1  body  down)  to  take, 

Sepulchre.  J 

And  bringe  it  to  sepulcre,  &  so  lettt  make 
Ende  of  this  wofuB  daye. 


losepfe.2 

$e  shaft  vnderstand?  yit  more,  that  I 
Haue  beyne  with  the  luge  Pilat  instantlye 
For  this  same  requeste, 
To  berye  this  most  holy  bodyej 
Ande  he  grauntid1  me  fuH  tenderlye 
To  do  os  me  thought  beste. 
I  haue  spokene  with  Nichodemws  also ; — 


Pilate  has  con 
sented,  and 


Nicodemus  is 
coming  to  take 

the  body  down.    Ye  shaH  se  hyme  takyn  down),  or  ye  go  ; 


37* 

373 
375 

378 

379 
381 


384 
385 

387 


That  he  taryes  so  longe,  I  merveH. 

A !  I  se  hym  now  com  vpward1  the  hiH. 

Cesse  of  youre  wepinge,  I  pray  you,  be  stiH ; 

I  trust  aft  shalbe  weH.  390 

Nichodemwj,   come   nerre!    we   haue   longe   for  you 

thoz/jt.8  391 

Hicodemu£  venir. 

IT  O  worthy  lorde,  who  made  aH  thinge  of  noght, 
[leaf  147]       \VztA  the  most  bitter  payn)  to  deth  is  thou  broughtej 

Thy  name  blessit  bee  !  394 

1  The  next  line  and  a  quarter  are  crosst  through  in  the  MS  : — 
V  The  othere  Mary  myldly  gafe  awnsweringe 

And  saide 
*  The  next  line  is  crosst  through  in  the  MS  : — 

H  Then  saide  losephe  gude  women  &  worthye 
'  The  next  4  lines  are  crosbt  through  in  the  MS  : — 

When  that  Nichodeme  see  Crist,  J>«t  all  boght, 

Hinge  all  hide  in  his  blude, 

Than  knelide  he  down*  wi'tA  hartely  bevy  thoughte, 

And  saide  with  milde  mude. 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


'8.5 


O,  how  a  pitefutt  sight  is  this, 

To  se  the  prince  of  euerlastinge  btisse 

To  hinge  here  on  this  tree, 

To  hinge  here  thus  soo  piteoslye ! 

O  most  lovinge  lorde,  thy  gret  mercy, 

To  this  havese  the  cowstreynyd? ! 

Why  wold  thyn  awn  pepiH,  bi  awn)  flokke, 

Thus  crucyfy  the,  &  nayH  tiH  a  stokke  ? 

Why  haves  thou  not  refreynyd1  ? 

For  fourty  yere  in  wildernesse, 

Theire  olde  Faders  in  theire  progresse 

Thou  fed  with  angelles  foode, 

And  brought  tham  in-to  the  land1  of  promission, 

Wher  they  fand  lond  in  euery  condiscruon, 

And  aH;  thinge  that  was  good?e. 

A  !  A  !  Is  this  theire  gramercy  ?  is  this  theire  reward'  ? 

Thy  kindnesse,  thy  gudnese,  Can  they  regard? 

No  better  but  thus?  412 

Notwithstondinge  the  vesture  of  bi  hum  any  te, 

That  bou  were  the  verrey  son  of  god,  bay  my^t  see 

By  myractes  most  gloriose.  415 


Nicodemus  la 
ments  the  Jews' 


397 
398 

400 


403  cruel  return  to 
Jesus  for  His 

404  goodness  to  their 
ia' 


fathers, 


406 


409 


and  when  His 
miracles  showd 
them  that  He 
was  the  Son  of 
God. 


Joseph. 

H  l  gude  brothere,  2of  yOwr  COwpleinte  2  Cesse  !       416 

$e  renewe  agayne  grete  hevynesse, 

Now  in  thes  Women  here.  418 

Nicodeme.3 

Nay,4  gret  cowifurthe  we  may  haue  aH, 
For,  by  his  godly  powere,  arise  he  shall, 
And  the  thride  daye  apere.  421 

For  ons  he  gaue  me  leue  with  hym  to  reasone,         422 
And  he  shewet  of  this  deth,  &  of  this  treasone 
&  of  this  Crueltee,  424 

1  Then  saide  Joseph  erosst  through,       z-'t  added  above  the  line. 
3  The  next  line  is  erosst  through  in  the  MS  : 

1  Nay,  saide  Necodeme,  it  may  befall. 
*  That  crostt  thro,  Nay  added. 


[leaf  147,  back] 
But  still  He 
shall  arise  on  the 
3rd  Day. 


1 86 


THE    BUH1AL    OF    CHRIST. 


Christ  Himself 
told  me  this. 


And  how  for  ma;zkyn<J  be  com  to  dye, 

And.  that  he  shuld  arise  so  glorioslye 

By  his  myghtee  maiestee 

And  with  our  flesch  in  hevyn  tiH  ascend1 : 

Many  swete  wordw  it  plesit  hym  to  spend? 

Thus  speking  vnto  me, 

That  no  man  to  hevyn)  myght  clym), 

But  if  it  were  by  grace  of  hym) 

Which  com)  down)  to  make  vs  free : 

Nemo  ascendit  in  celu/re  nisi  qui  descendit  de  celo. 

Joseph,  redy  to  tak  crist  down),  sais. 
Let  us  then  take  To  tak  down  this  body,  lat  vs  assaye ! 

down  the  Body, 

Brother1  Nichodemzw,  help,  I  yow  praye ! 
On  Arme  1  wald!  ye  haddf, 
and  knock  these  To  knokk  out  thes  navies  so  sturdy  &  errete. 

big  Nails  out. 

O  safyoure !  they  sparid1  not  yowr  body  to  bete  j 
Thay  aught  now  to  be  sadd1. 

Mawdleyn). 
Gude  losepfee,  handiti  hym  tendt-rlye  ! 

losephe. 
Magdalen,  hold    Stonde  ner,  Nichodemia !  resaue  hywz  softlye ! 

His  feet  I  '  ' 

Mawdleyn),  hold?  ye  his  fete  ! 


[leaf  148] 

Make  haste. 

His  Mother  is 
coming. 


Mawdleyne. 

Haste  yow,  gude  losepfie,  hast1  yow  whiklye  ! 
For  Marye  his  moder  witi  com,  fer  I ; 
A  !  A !  that  virgyne  most  swete  ! 


427 
428 

430 


433 


435 


437 


440 


441 


443 


446 


Nichodemw^. 

I  saw  hir  benethe  on  the  othere  sid1 ;  447 

With  Io6n  I  am  sure  sbo  wiH  not  a-bid1 

longe  frome  this  place.  449 

Mary,  virgyn)  &  mother,  com  then  sayinge. 
1T  A,  A,  my  dere  sone  lesus '  A,  A,  my  dere  sone  lesus  I 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


i87 


lofin  euangeliste. 

Gude  Marye,  swete  cosyn) !  mowrn)  ye  not  thus, 
Ye  see  how  stondes  the  case.  452 

Mawdleyne. 

Allese,  scho  commys  !  A,  what  remedye ! 
Gud  Joseph,  comfurth  hire  stedfastlye,  4^4 

That  virgyne  so  fuH  of  woo  !  455 

Mary  virgyn)  sais,  falles  in  swown). 
Stonde  stiH,  frend&s  !  hast  ye  not  soo ! 
Haue  yee  no  fere  of  mee ;  457 

Lat  me  help  to  tak  my  dere  son  down) ! 

Mary  mawdleyri). 

Lo  !  I  was  sure  sho  walld*  faH  in  a  swown) ! 
Her,  on  euery  sid?,  is  pi  tee.  460 

losephe. 

Help,  Mawdleyn),  to  revyue  hir  agayn) !  461 

A.  a.  This  womans  harte  is  plungid?  wztA  payn) ! 
Hir  sorowe  sho  cane  not  cesse.  463 

Io6ne  euangelist1.1 

A,  A !  dere  Ladee,  wherfore  &  why 
Fare  ye  on  this  wise  ?  wiH  ye  here  dy  ? 
Leyf  of  this  hevynesse  !  466 

Ye  promesit  me  ye  wold  not  do  thus.  467 

Mawdleyn). 

Speke,  ladye !  speke  for  the  loue  of  lesus, 
Youre  swete  sone,  my  master  here  !  469 

Marye  virgyn). 
A,  A  !  Mawdleyn),  mawdleyn) !  yowr  master  so  dere  ! 

j°  Maries. 
Most  meke  modere,  be  now  of  gude  chere  !  471 

lofin  Euangeliste. 

Wipe  awaye  that  rywnys  owte  so  faste !  472 

From  your  remeTwbrazmce,  rayse  owt  at  J>e  last1 
Of  his  passione  the  Crueltee.  474 

1  repeated  over  leaf. 


The  Virgin  Mary 


asks  leave  to 
help, 


and  then 
swoons. 


They  revive 
her. 


[leaf  148,  back] 
St.  John  prays 
her  to  bear  up, 


and  forget  the 
cruelty  of  her 
Son's  sufferings. 


l88  THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 

losepfie. 

Tak  comfurthe,  marye  !  this  wailinge  helpes  nothiwge. 
Yowr  dere  sofi  we  wiH  to  his  sepulcre  bringe 
Als  it  is  aH  oure  dewtee.  477 

Mary  Virgyn). 
The  virgin  Mary  God  reward  vow  of  your  tendernesse  !  478 

laments  * 

I  shaH  assiste  you  with  aH  humytnesse  ; 

But  yit,  or  he  departe,  480 

Suffere  me  my  mynd  for  to  breke, 

How  be  it  fuH  scantly  may  I  speke 

For  faynte  &  febiH  harte  :  483 

[leaf  149]  A,  A,  Cosyn  lofeti !  what  shati  I  saye  ?  484 

Who  saw  euer  so  dolfuti  a  daye, 

So  sorowfuH  a  tym,  as  this  ?  486 

her  Son's  death,  This  wofuH  moders  sorow  /  who  cane  itt  expresse, 

To  se  hir  own)  chyhJ  sleyn)  with  cruelnesse  ? 

Yit  myn  own)  swet  son,  yowr  woundft?  wokl  I  kysse,  489 
and  calls  to  Q,  Gabrieti,  gabrieH !  400 

mind  the  Angel 

Gabriels  saiuta-    Of  gret  loy  did  ye  teH 

tion  of  her,  *  * 

In  your  first  Salutation) ;  492 

Ye  saide  the  holigost  shuld  co[?ra]  in  mee, 
And  I  shuld  consaue  a  child1  in  virginitee, 
For  mankind  saluatioo).  495 

That  ye  said  truthe,  right  weti  knaw  I ;  496 

But  ye  told1  me  not  my  son  shuldf  dye, 
Ne  yit  the  thought  &  care  498 

Of  his  bitter  passion),  which  he  suffert  nowe. 
and  Symeon's      O  !  old  Symeon  !  fuH  suthe  said  yowe  : 

•aylng  that  the  '  ' 

Sword  of  Sorrow  TO  spek  ye  wold1  not  spare.  <oi 

should  enter  her 

heart  Ye  saide  /  The  sword  of  sorow  suld  enter  my  hart*.  502 

Ye,  ye,  luste  Symeon  !  now  I  feti  it  smarte, 
With  most  dedly  payn) !  504 

Was  there  neuer  moder  that  felit  so  sore ! 
I-wise,  lofen,  I  feH  it  alway  more  &  more  ! 
Help !  help  now,  Mawdleyn) !  507 

She  swoon*  „          , .    .  r .   -, 

again.  &  cadit  m  extas[iaj. 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


189 


Mawdleyn). 

Mek  moder  &  mayde,  leve  your  lamentation)  ! 
Ye  swowri)  stiH:  on  pase  with  dedly  suspiration)  j 
Ye  mare  yowre-self  &  vs. 

lofin  Euangelisf. 

Ye  shuld!  lefe  of  your  paynfuH  afflictione, 
Callinge  to  yowr  mynd1  his  resurrection) 
Which  salbe  so  glorivsej 
This  knaw  ye,  &  J)at  beste 

Mary  virgyn). 

I  knaw  it  well,  or  ellis  in  reste 
My  harte  shuld?  neuer  bee  5 
I  myght  not  leve,  nore  endure 
On  mymiate,  bot  I  am  sure 
The  thrid  day  ryse  shaH:  hee  ; 
But  yit  havinge  reme/rabraunce 
The  gret  Cruelty  &  FeH  vengance 
Of  the  lues  so  vnkind?, 
Which  thus  wikkitly  has  betrayed! 
Goddes  son),  born)  of  me,  a  mayd?, 
Most  sorowfuH  in  my  mynd4. 
O  ludas  !  why  didist  thou  betraye 
My  son,  J?i  master?  what  can  fou  saye, 
Thy-self  for  tirl  excuse  ? 
Of*  his  tender  mercy  full  charite, 
Chase  he  not  the  on  his  xij  to  bee  ? 
He  wald?  not  fe  refuse. 

Callyt  not  he  J>e  to  his  swpere  &  last  refection)  ? 
Cowth  J?ou  not  put  owt  pi  pesyn)  &  infection 
Saue  thus  only, 

Vnto  thy  master  to  be  so  vn-kind?  ? 
Was  his  tender  gudnese  owt  of  thy  mynd! 
So  vn-naturallye  ? 

Gaue  he  not  to  the  his  body  in  memoriaH, 
A.nd  also  in  remembraunce  perpetual! 


508 

.510    [leaf  149,  back] 


St.  John  bids 
Mary  think  of 
Christ's  again- 
rising 


She  says,  that 
is  her  only  sup 
port. 


520 
522 


She  reproaches 
Judas  for  his 


528 


531 
532 


treachery  to  his 

[leaf  150] 
tender  Master. 


537 
538 


THB    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


How  could  he 
dare  to  cause 

Christ's  death  r 


Mary  is  askt  to 
go  away, 


At  his  suppere  there?  540 

He  that  was  so  comly  &  fayre  to  be-hold1, 

How  durst  thou,  CrueH  hert,  to  be  so  bold! 

To  cawse  hym  dy  thus  here  ?  543 

By  thy  treson,  my  son)  here  is  slayn) !  544 

My  swete,  swetist  son) !  how  suld  I  refreyn), 

This  bludy  body  to  be-holdl?  546 

losepfie. 

Gud  dere  Marye  !  git  you  hence ! 
We  shaH  bery  hym  with  ati  reuerence, 
&  ly  hym  in  the  mold1.  549 

Haue  hir  hence,  lofin,  now,  I  desire  !  550 

Ihoannes  Euangeliste. 
Com  on,  swete  lady,  I  jow  reqwire ; 
I  shaH  gife  yow  attendance.  553 

losephe. 
On  of  yow  women  ber  hir  Companye ! 

Altera  maria. 

I  shaH  wayte  on  hir.    Go  we  hence,  marye ! 
Put  aH  this  from  your  remembrance  !  555 

Marie  Virgyn). 
What  meyn  ye,  frende^  ?  what  is  your  mynd?  ?          55^ 

[leaf  160,  back]    Towardw  me  be  not  so  vn-kinde  ! 

His  moder,  am  not  I  ?  558 

Wold  ye  haue  the  rnoder  depart  hym  fro  ? 

but  she  says  she  To  lefe  hym  thus,  I  wiH  not  so, 

trill  stay  by  her 

Son.  But  bide,  &  sittf  hym  bye.  561 

Therfore,  gud  Joseph,  be  cowtenf.  562 

losephe. 

Aa  !  Marye,  for  a  gud  consent 
We  wald1  not  haue  you  here.  564 

Marie  Virgyn. 
Wold  ye.re-newe  mor  sorow  in  me  ? 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


losephe. 
Nay,  gud  lady,  that  were  pitee. 

Marye  Virgyne. 
Than  late  me  abide  hym  nere  ! 
lotLn !  why  spek  J?e  not  for  my  comforte  ? 
Mi  dere  sone  bad  me  to  you  resorte, 
And  allway  on  you  caH. 
Ye  knaw  weH,  her  is  my  tresure, 
Whom  I  loue  beste,  whom  aH  my  plesure 
is  &  euer  be  shaH ; 
Her  is  my  likinge  &  aH:  my  loue  j 
Why  wald  ye  than)  me  hens  rernoue ? 
I  pray  yow  hartly,  cesse  ! 
Departe  I  may  not,  bot  by  fors  co/zstreynyd!. 
Reme/wbringe  departinge,  ales,  my  hert  is  paynid? 
mor  then  I  may  expresse  ! 
Now,  dere  swete  coysyn) !  I  you  praye  ! 
Myn  awn)  dere  loue,  which  on  thursdaye, 
Of  his  grace  special!, 
Of  Ms  lovinge  mynd?  &  tendernesse, 
And  of  verrey  Inward?  kindnesse, 
At  suppere  emanges  you  aH, 
He  admyttid?  you  frendly  for  to  reste 
&  slepe  on  his  holye  godly  breste, 
For  a  speciaH  prerogatife, 
Because  of  your  virginite  &  clennesse, 
Der*  cosyn,  encrease  not  myn  hevynesse 
Yf  ye  desire  my  life  ! 
But,  gud  frendes,  here  in-treyt  not  ye, 
But  be  content1,  &  suffere  mee 
Ons  yit  for  to  hold1, 
For  to  holde  here  in  this  place, 
And  in  myn  armys  for  to  enbrace 
This  body  which  now  is  cold1, 
This  bludy  body  woundit  so  sore, 
Of  my  swet  son :  lofen,  I  aske  no  more  ! 


567    The  Virgin  Mary 

prays  them  to 
•tOo  let  her  stay  by 
J  the  Cross, 


57° 


573 
574 

576 


579          [leaf  151] 
580 

and,  in  remem 
brance  of 

£  8  2    Christ's  love  to 

••'         them, 


586 
588 


591 

592  to  let 


594 


ner  once  more 
hold  her  Son's 
body  in  her 
arms. 


597 


599 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


Saint  John 


John  Euangeliste. 
Lady,  if  ye  witi  haue  moderation) 
Of  youre  most  sorowfuti  lamentation), 
Do  as  ye  list,  in  this  case. 


Marie  virgyfle. 

loftn,  I  shaH  do  os  ye  thinke  gude. 

[leaf  151,  back]    Gentitt  losepfce,  lat  me  sit  vnder  yowr  rude, 
And  holde  my  son)  a  space. 

Nichodemzw. 
and  Nicodemus    Let  vs  suffere  the  modere  to  compleyn) 

consent 

Hir  sonnes  detfie  in  verrey  certeyn), 
Titt  ease  hir  &  content1. 

losepfie. 

Ye !  so  shaH  hir  sorowfuH  harte 
Alway  to  suffere  smarte, 
And  we  can)  hot  repente. 


The  Virgin  takes 
Christ '8  body  in 
her  arms, 


and  laments 
over  Him, 


[eight* :  abab, 
bcbc] 


recalling  His 
Birth  aud 


[leaf  152] 
Circumcision. 


Marie  Virgyn). 

O  sisters,  Mawdleyn,  Cleophe,  &  lacobye  ! 
Ye  see  how  pitefuH  my  son)  doth  lye 
Here  in  myn)  armys,  dede ! 
What  erthly  mother  may  refreyn), 
To  se  hir  son)  thus  Cruelly  sleyn), 
A  !  my  harte  is  hevy  os  lede  ! 
IT  Who  shaH  gife  me  water  sufficient*, 
And  of  distillinge  teris  habundance, 
That  I  may  wepe  my  fiti  witA  hart  relent* 
After  the  whantite  of  sorofuH  reme/wbrance  ? 
H  For  his  sak  that  made  vs  afi, 
Which  now  ded  lyes  in  my  lappe  j 
Of  me,  a  mayd,  by  grace  special}, 
He  pleside  to  be  born),  &  sowket  my  pape. 
He  shrank  not  for  to  shew  the  shape 
Of  verreye  man  at  his  circuwicision), 
And  J)er  shed  his  blude  for  mannys  hape. 


600 
6o» 

605 

606 
608 

611 

612 
614 


617 
618 


621 
622 


625 
626 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 

Al-so  at  my  purification), 

IT  Of  hym  I  made  a  fayre  oblation), 

Which  to  his  fader  was  most  plesinge. 

For  fere,  than,  of  herodes  persecution), 

In-tiH  egip[t]e  fast  I  fled  with  hym) — 

His  grace  me  gidid?  in  euery  thinge, — 

&  now  is  he  dede  !  that  changes  my  cher* ! 

Was  neuer  child!  to  moder  so  lovinge ! 

Who  pat  can  not  wepe,  at  me  may  lere. 

IT  Was  neuer  deth  so  CrueH  as  this», 

To  slo  the  gyvere  of  aH  grace. 

Son  !  suffer1  me  yowr  woundes  to  kisse, 

&  your  holy  blude  spilt  in  this  place  ! 

Dere  son  !  ye  haue  steynyd?  your  face, 

Yottr  face  so  frely  to  behold?. 

Thikk  bludy  droppes  rywnes  down  a-pace, 

Speciosus  forma,  the  prophet  told?. 

U  But  alese  !  yowr  tormentes  so  manyfold? 

Hase  abatid1  your  visage  so  gloriose  ! 

Cruell  lewes  !  what  mad  yow  so  bold 

To  cowmyt  J>is  Crym)  most  vngraciose, 

Which  to  yowr-self  is  most  noyose  ? 

Now  shaH  aH:  the  cursinges  of  your  lawe, 

Opon  yow  faH  most  myschevose, 

&  be  knawen  of  vagabundes  ouer  awe. 

U  He  &  I  com  both  of  your  kyn), 

And  that  ye  kithe  vn-curteslye  j 

He  com  for  to  fordoo  your  syn), 

But  ye  for-suke  hym)  frowardly. 

Who  can  not  wepe,  com  sit  me  bye, 

To  se  hym)  that  regnyd  in  blisse, 

In  hevyn)  with  his  fader  gloryoslye, 

Thus  to  be  slayn)  in  aH  giltlesse. 

U  Son  !  in  yowr  handes  ar  holes  wid?, 

And  in  yowr  fete  that  so  tender  were} 

A  gret  wounde  is  in  your  blessit  sid", 

DIGBY    MYST. 


193 

629   The  Virgin 

Mary's  Lament 

63  O   over  Christ's 
Corpse. 


633 


Now  is  my  dear 
child  dead. 


637 
638 


64.1 


Let  me  kiss  his 
wounds. 


645 
646 


Cruel  Jews, 


649 


you  shall  be 
cursed,  and 
[leaf  152,  back] 

6"J  3    vagabonds 
everywhere, 


657 


for  slaying  my 
Son,  the  King  of 
Heaven. 


661 
662 


i94 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


The  Virgin 

M  u-y't  l.:ini.>iit 
over  Christ's 
Corpse. 


My  dear  Son's 
bead  is  pierct 
with  thorns. 


He  hangs  on  the 
Rood. 

[leaf  163] 


He  is  all  blood, 
from  head  to 
foot. 


Let  me  ki»§ 
Him, 


liold  Him  in  my 
arms,  and  look 
on  II is  blessed 
face. 


FuH  deply  drevyn)  with  a  sharpe  sper1 ;  665 

"Your  body  is  bete  &  brussid1  here  j 

On  euery  sid1  no  place  is  free : 

Nedw  muste  I  wepe  with  hevy  chere. 

Who  can  not  wepe,  com  lern)  at  me,  669 

U  And  beholde  your  lorde,  myn)  awn)  der*  son),        670 

Thus  dolfulye  delt  with,  ose  ye  see. 

Se  how  his  hede  with  thornys  is  thronge ! 

Se  how  he  naylit  was  tiH  a  tree  !  673 

His  synows  &  vaynes,  drawne  so  straytlee, 

Ar  brokyn)  sonder  by  payns  vngude  ! 

Who  can)  not  wepe,  com)  lern)  at  me, 

And  be-holde  hym)  here  fat  hange  on  rude!  677 

U  Se  all  a-bowte  the  bludy  streynes !  678 

O  man  !  this  suffert  he  for  thee! 

Se  so  many  fell  &  bitter  peynes ! 

This  lamme  shed  his  blude  in  fuH  plentee :  68 1 

Who  can  not  wepe,  com  lern)  at  mee  ! 

Se  aB  his  frendes  is  from  hym  fled1 ! 

AH  is  but  blude,  so  bett  was  hee 

Fro  the  sole  of  his  fute  vnto  )>e  hed1 !  685 

11  O  swete  child1 !  it  was  nothinge  mete —  686 

Saue  your  sufferance,  ye  had  no  pere, — 

To  lat  ludas  kisse  thes  lippes  80  swete  j 

To  suffer  a  tray  tor  to  com  so  nere,  689 

To  be-tray  his  master  myldist  of  chere. 

0  my  swete  child1 !  now  suffer  yee 
Me  your  moder,  to  kisse  yow  here, — 

Who  can)  not  wepe,  com  lern)  at  me ! —  693 

11  To  kisse,  &  swetly  yow  imbrace  j  694 

Imbrace,  &  in  myn)  armes  hold1 ; 

To  hold,  &  luke  on  your  blessit  face ; 

Your  face,  most  graciose  to  behold1  j  697 

To  beholde  so  comly,  euer  I  wold1  j 

1  wold,  I  wold,  stitt  \vjtA  yow  bee  j 

StiH  witA  yow,  to  ly  in  mold1,  /  JO 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


'95 


Who  can  not  wepe,  com  lern)  at  me ! 

U  My  wiH  is  to  dy,  I  wald?  not  leve  $ 

Leve,  how  suld  I  ?  sithen  dede  ar  yee. 

My  lif  were  ye  /  noght  can  me  greve, 

So  J>at  I  may  in  your  presence  bee. 

Me,  your  wofurl  moder,  her*  may  ye  se  j 

Ye  see  my  dedly  sorow  &  payn), — 

Who  can  not  wepe,  com  lern)  at  mee  ! — 

To  see  so  meke  a  lambe  her  slayn) ; 

11  Slayn)  of  men  that  no  mercy  hadd  j 

Had  they  no  mercy,  I  reporte  me  seej 

To  se  this  bludy  body,  is  not  your  hart  sadd  ? 

Sad  &  sorowfuli,  haue  ye  no  pitee, 

Pite  &  compassion)  to  se  this  crueltee  ? 

Crueltee,  vnkindnese  !  O  men  most  vnkind? ! 

Ye  that  can  not  wepe,  com  lern)  at  mee  ! 

Kepinge  this  Crucifixe  stiH  in  yowr  mynd* ! 

U  When  ye  war  born),  of  me,  a  mayde  myld?, 

I  sange  lullay  to  bringe  you  on  slepe  : 

Now  is  my  songe,  alese,  ales,  my  child*! 

Now  may  I  wayle,  wringe  my  hande^,  &  wepe ! 

Who  shalbe  my  comforth  ?  who  shaH:  me  kepe, 

Save  at  your  departinge  ye  segnyte  to  mee 

John,  yottr  cosyn),1  most  virtue  &  jepe, 

Who  that  can  not  wepe,  com  &  lern)  at  mee  ! 

U  O  derest  childe  !  what  fait  haf  ye  done  ? 

What  was  your  trispace, — I  wald  knav  it  fayn), — 

Wherfor  yowr  blessid  blude  is  forsid?  forth  to  rone  ? 

Haue  murtherid?  any  person)  or  ony  mara  slayn), 

That  yowr  avn)  pepiH  }us  to  yow  dose  endeyn)  ? 

Nay  /  nay  /  nay  /  ye  neuer  did  2  offence  ! 

Was  neuer  spote  of  syn)  in  your  cler*  conscience  ! 

U  And  not-withstandinge  their  fett  indignation), 

Only  of  gudwiH  &  inward?  charitee, 

Also  for  loue,  &  mannes  saluation), 


The  Virgin 
Mary's  Lament 
over  Christ's 
Corpse. 


[leaf  153.  back! 


7OQ   My  meek  Lamb 

'    '   is  slain  by 

y  I  o   merciless  men, 


713 


717 


When  He  was 
born,  I  sang 
Him  lullaby ; 

now  is  my  song, 
Alas  !  Alas  1 


721 


724 


720  [7«:  a6a6,  bee.] 
What  was  His 
fault,  that  He 
was  slain  ? 


729 


[leaf  154J 


732  None.     No  spot 
of  Sin  was  in 

733  Him. 


'  standings  iu  this  place '  crosst  through. 


MS.  did  of. 
o  2 


li/>  THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 

The  virgin          Je  haue  suffert  all  this  of  your  humylitee  !  736 

Mary's  Lament 

over  Christ's        Of  your  large  mercee,  gret  was  be  whantite  } 

" 


Grete  was  be  multitude  of  your  merited  an, 
Thus  for  mannes  sake  to  tast  be  bitter  gaH.  739 

^[  Sofi  !  helpe,  help  yowr  moder  in  this  wofuH  smarte  ! 
Son,  comfort       Comfurth  yowr  wofuH  moder,  bat  neuer  was  vnkind1  ! 

£>ur  woeful 
other!  In  yo«r  Conception),  ye  reyoyet  my  harte  5 

But  now  of  dedly  woo  /  so  gret  cawse  I  find1,  743 

That  b.i  loy  of  my  haylsinge  is  passif  fro  my  my/idf. 
Let  me  hold  you  Yit  suffer  me  to  hold?  yow  her*  on  my  lape, 

on  my  lap! 

Which  sumtym  gafe  you  my  Ik  of  my  pape.  740 

11  O  swete,  swetist  child1  !  woo  be  vn-to  me  !  747 

O  most  wofuH  woman)  /  your  awn  moder,  loo  ! 
Who  shall  graunt1  it  me  /  with  you  for*  to  dee  ? 

What  can  I  do?    The  son  is  dede  /  what  shall  the  moder  doo  ?  750 

Where  shaH  sho  resorte  ?  whider  shall  sho  goo  ? 
Yit  suffere  me  to  hold  yow  a  while  in  my  lap, 
Which  sum-tym  gafe  yow  my  Ik  of  my  pap  ! 

Death,  take  me  i  O  creweH  deth  !  no  lenger  thou  me  spare  !  754 

To  me  thou  wer  welcom),  &  also  acceptabiH  ;  755 

[leaf  154,  back]    Oppresse  me  down  at  ons  /  of  the  I  haue  no  care. 

O  my  son,  my  saueyowr  /  &  loye  most  comfortabirl, 
Suffere  me  to  dy  /  with  yow  most  merciabiH  !  758 

Or  at  lest  lat  me  hold1  you  /  a  while  in  my  lape, 
Which  sum-tym)  gaue  yowe  be  milk  of  my  pape  !     760 

[i  «*.]  HO  ye  wikkit  pepiH,  witA-out  mercy  or  pitee  !        761 

Wicked  Jews,  . 

hang  me  too  on    Why  do  ye  not  crucyfye  &  hinge  me  on  be  crosse? 

the  Cross  I 

Spare  not  your  nayles  /  spare  not  your  crueltee  ! 

Ye  can  not  make  me  to  ron)  in  greter  losse  764 

Than  to  lesse  my  son  fat  to  me  was  so  dere  ! 

Why  si  oo  ye  not  J>e  moder  /  which  is  present  her*  ?  766 
Dear  son,  II  Dere  sone  !  if  the  Iwes  /  yit  wiH  not  sloo  me,      767 

Yowr  gudnes,  yowr  grace,  I  besech  &  praye, 
call  me  to  Thee  !  So  caH  me  to  your  mercy,  of  your  benignitee  ! 

To  youre  mek  suters  ye  neuer  saide  yit  naye  j          770 

Then  may  ye  not  your  moder,  in  this  cavse  delaye. 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST.  197 

The  modere.  with  the  child  desires  for  to  reste  ;  The  Virgin 

Mary's  Lament 

Remembere  myn)  awn)  son)  /  bat  je  sowket1  my  breste  !    over  Christ's 

U  Remember  when  yowr  fleshe  was  soft  os  tender  silke, 

With  the  grosse  metes  then  yow  I  wold  not  fede,     77$ 

But  gaue  yow  the  licowr/  of  a  maydyns  mylke; 

Till  Egip[t]e  in  myne1  Armes  /  softly  I  did  you  lede  j 

But  your  smylinge  contenazince  I  askit  non  other*  medic, 

Then  be  content1  /  that  I  with  yow  may  riste, 

Remembere  my  der*  son)  /  bat  2e  sowkit  my  briste  !  780  My  dear  Son,  at 

your  birth  I  fed 

11  At  your  natiuitee,  remember,  my  dere  son),  781  y°auid^|1t,hMi]k 

What  vessel!  I  brochif  to  your  nobiH  grace  ! 

Was  ber  neuer  moder  that  brochif  sich  a  ton) !  [leaf  155] 

From  my  virgyne  pappes  /  mylk  ran  owt  a-passe  j     784 

To  your  godly  power1  /  natur  gaf  a  place  j 

Ye  sowkit  maydens  milke  /  &  so  did?  neuer  non)e, 

Nore  her-after  shaH  /  saue  yowr-self  alone  /  787 

U  When  ve  sowkid?  my  brest  /  yowr  body  was  hole  &  Then  were  you 

whole  and 
SOUnd*.  788   sound. 

Alese  !  in  euery  place  Now  se  I  many  wound? !  hui^f  wounds  i 

Now,  help   me,   swet   mawdleyn    /    for   I  faH   to   be 
ground? !  79° 

And  me,  wofutt  mary,  help  now,  gud  lomi !  [Coupiett.] 

lohn)  Euangeliste 
Than,  gude  swete  lady,  lef  yo«r  gret  mon) !  792 

Mary  Virgyn) 
A.  A.  Mawdleyn) !  why  devise  ye  nothinge,  Magdalene,  sing 

and  praise  iny 

To  this  blessid  body  for  to  gif  praysinge  ?  794  Son's  blessed 

Sum  dolorose  ditee  Express  now  yee, 

In  be  dew  honowr  of  bis  ymage  of  pitee,  796 

Mawdleyn) 

To  do  yowr  biddyn)ge,  ladye,  [I]  be  rightt  fayn), 
But  yit,  gud  lady,  yowr  teres  }e  refreyn) !  798 

losephe 

Now,  mary !  deliuer  that  blessit  body  tiH  vs  ! 
1  MS.  mvns. 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 


[leaf  155,  buck] 
Dear  Friends, 


bury  me  with 
my  Son  I 


Can  I  not  keep 
Him,  alive  or 
dead? 


Let  me  look  on 
His  face  once 
morel 


Tills  parting 
kills  my  heart 


Mary  Virgyn) 
WiH  je  tak  from  me  /  myn)  own)  son)  lesus  ?  800 

Nichodemwj 
Gud  lady,  suffer*  vs  to  bringe  \\yrn  to  his  grave ! 

Mary  Virgyn) 

Swete  frendw  !  suffer*  me  mor  respit  to  haue  !  802 

Haue  compassion)  of  me,  frendes,  I  jou  praye ! 

So  hastely,  fro  me  tak  hym  not  a-waye  ! 

Yf  to  his  seputcre  nedey  ye  wiB  hym  here, 

Bery  me,  his  moder,  with  myn)  awn)  son  here  !         806 

When  he  was  lyvynge,  to  leve  I  desirid? ; 

Now  sithen  he  is  ded1,  aH  my  loye  is  expirid?} 

There-for  lay  the  moder  /  in  grave  -with  the  child? ! 

Johannes  euangelista. 

0  mary,  modere,  &  maiden  most  myld1 !  810 
Ordere  your-selfe,  os  reson)  doth  requere. 

losepfie 
Com  on !  lat  vs  bery  this  body  that  is  here !  812 

Mary  Virgyn) 

O,  now  myn)  harte  is  in  a  mortarl  dred1 !  813 

Alias  !  shall  I  not  kep  hym  nothire  whik  ne  ded1  ? 
Is  ther  no  remedye  ?  815 

Yit,  losephe,  agayn)  the  cloth  ye  vnfold1, 
that  his  graciose  visage  I  may  ons  behold?, 

1  pray  yow  interlye  !  818 

losepfee 

Pece,  gude  marye  !  ye  haue  had  aH  your  wiH. 

Mary  virgyn) 

Ales  !  this  departinge  /  my  tender  hartf  doth  kiH  !    820 
Gud  Coysyn)  lofen,  yit  spek  a  word?  for  mee  ! 

lotme  Euangelisf 
Be  content,  swet  mary,  for  it  may  notf  bee  /  822 


THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST.  199 

Mary  Virgyn)  fi«»f  15«] 

A.  A.  toward?  me  ye  be  verreye  CrueH  !  823 

Yit  lat  me  bid  ons  myn)  own)  son)  far-weii  !  Let  me  bid  my 

Son  farewell  I 

Ye  may  it  not  denye.  825 

Now,  fare- wen",  only  loye  of  aH;  my  harte  &  mynd? ! 
FareweH  the  derest  /  redemption)  of  mankind? ! 
Suffert  most  bitterlye.  828 

lomie  Euangelist 
Com  one,  gud  Mary,  com) ! 

Nichodemws 
Some  of  you  women  ber1  hir  companye.  830 

ij°  Maries 

We  shall  gife  hire  attendance 
Faithfully  with  humble  reuerance.     Exeunt  832 

losep&e 
Now  in  his  grave  lat  vs  ly  hym  down),  833   Christ  is  laid  in 

.  _     n         Hii  grave. 

And  then  resorte  we  agayn)  to  the  town),   sepellt[urj 
To  her*  what  men  wiH  saye.  835 

Mawdleyn,  ye  must  hense  departe. 

Mawdlen) 

Ye,  &  that  with  a  sorowfuH  harte, 
Mowrnynge  nyght  &  daye.  838 

Fare-wen,  swete  lambe !  far-weft,  most  innocent1 !   839 
Wrichit  mawdleyn)  /  with  most  hartly  intent1  Mary  Magdalene 

resolves 

Commendes  hir  to  yowr  grace.  841 

Far-weli,  del*  master  !  far-weH,  derest  lord? ! 

Off  yowr  gret  mercye  /  30  shaH  J>e  warld?  record? 

Her-after  in  ylk  place  /  844 

Summe  preciose  balmes  I  witi  go  bye,  845    [leaf  ise,  back] 

to  buy  precious 

Tin  anoynt  &  honour  this  blessit  body,  balms  to  anoint 

'  His  body. 

Os  it  my  dewty  is.  847 

Fayre  losepfie  &  gude  Nichodemw^, 

f  cowzmend  $ou  to  the  kepinge  of  lesus  ! 

He  wiH  whit  jou  aH  this.  850 


200  THE    BURIAL    OF    CHRIST. 

losepfie 

Fare-weH,  mawdleyn  !  to  yowr-self  comfurth  take  ! 
Of  this  blessit  beriaH  /  lat  vs  ane  end  make  !  852 

Here  now  is  he  gravid,  &  her*  lyes  hee,  853 

Which  for  loue  of  man),  of  his  charite 
Suffert  bitter  passion).  855 

Joseph  ukes       Gret  comfortfie  it  is  vnto  vs  aH, 

WBUort,  because 

Chrut  will  rise    That  the  thride  day  aryse  he  shaH 

again  on  the  *        * 

third  ***•  In  the  most  gloriose  fassion).  858 

The  tyme  drawethe  fast,  &  approchis  nei> ; 
Schortly  I  truste  sum  gud  tiding*?*  to  her*.  860 

Devowte  Nichodemw*,  departe  we  as  nowe. 

Nicodemzw. 
Gladly,  frende  Joseph,  I  wiH  go  with  jowe.  862 

Thus  her*  endes  the  most  holy 
End  of  ran  I.  BeriaH  of  J>e  body  of  Crist  lem.1  864 

1  The  second  part,  The  Resurrection,  runs  on  without  a  break 
in  the  MS. 


PART  it.     CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.     SCENE  l. 


101 


[Part  II.      Christ's  Resurrection."] 

[Mainly  in  Sixes,  aab  ccl.    Note  the  long  Sevens  (alallcc) 
and  short  Sixes  after  I.  1133,  p.  209-] 


Her  begynnes  his  resurrection) 
on  pas[c]he  daye  at  Morn). 

[Scene  i.] 


865     [leaf  156,  back] 


Part  II.   Scene  1. 


Mawdleyne  begynnes,  sayinge 

OThis  grete  hevynese  &  payn) ! 
Alese!  how  longe  shaH  it  remayn)? 
How  longe  shatt  it  endure 
And  rist  wztA-in  my  most  carfuH  hart1  ? 
How  longe  shaH  I  feyle  this  dedly  smarte  ? 
Who  shaH  my  sorowe  cure  ? 
How  longe  shaH  I  lef  in  desolation)  ? 
When  shatt  fe  houre  com  of  consolation), 
That  my  master  I  maye  see, 
Which  opon  the  friday  laste, 
Was  Crucified?  &  nailit  fast*, 
Peteosly  till  a  tree  ? 
So  pyteose  a  sight  &  lame/ztabitt, 
So  dolorose  &  miserabiH, 
I  hop  ye  shaH  neuer  fynd?. 
Cursid  kayn)  was  verrey  CrueH, 
And  slew  his  awn)  brothere  AbtH 
Of  a  maliciose  mynd?  j 
Yit  was  he  not  so  maliciose 
Ose  the  crueH  lewes  most  owtragiose, 
Which  her*  has  slayn)  my  lord! ! 
The  sonnes  of  lacob,  gret  envy  had! 
Agayns  \er  brother*  Joseph  •  ^onge,  wise  &  sa<J, 
Os  scriptur  doth  record? ; 


Pascha. 


867    How  long  shall 
my  sorrow  last  ? 


[leaf  15Tj 


869 


872 
873 


8  /  C    My  Master  was 

'  J    crucified  last 

Friday, 


878 
879 

88l 


884 

885 


887 


890 


by  Jews  crueller 
than  Cain, 


202 


PART  ii.    CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.     SCENE  i. 


crueller  than 
Jacob's  eons, 


or  Herod  who 
•lew  the 
Innocents. 


[leaf  157,  back] 


Christ  was  more 
glorious  than 
Abel  and  Joseph, 


and  yet  was 
cruelly  slain. 


I  have  precious 
ointments  for 
His  body. 


[leaf  168] 

I  will  go  to  His 
grave  alone. 


Thay  intendit  to  slo  hym  malishosly,  891 

And  yit  J»ay  did  not  soo  Cruelly 

Os  wrought  thes  lewes  wild1 !  893 

Few  jeres  past,  herod  the  kinge 

Put  to  deth  many  ^onglinge, 

&  many  moders  child1  896 

Here  in  the  land1  off  IsraeH  ;  897 

But  of  such  Cruelte  harde  ye  neuer  tett 

Ose  done  was  one  Fridaye,  899 

When  so  grete  rigore  &  tyrawnye 

Was  in  theire  hartes,  to  garre  hym  dye 

Which  was  so  graciose  aye  !  902 

AbeH  &  losepfie  wer  gude  &  graciose,  903 

But  theire  dedes  wer  not  so  gloriose 

Nor  of  so  vertuose  kynot,  905 

Ose  of  hym)  which  in  his  humanitee 

Wrought  grete  myracles  in  his  diuinitee, 

Als  ye  may  caH  to  mynd.  908 

For  aH  his  \verkes  so  weH  devyside,  909 

Emange  them  thus  to  be  dispised1, 

And  with  Cruellty  slayn) !  911 

Ales !  when  I  remembere  his  woo, 

Scantly  may  I  spek  or  goo, 

In  harte  I  haue  sucrl  payn).  914 

I  haue  bought  here  oyntmente.?  preciouse  915 

To  ensalue  his  body  most  graciose, 

To  doo  it  reuerence.  917 

My  sister  Cleophe  saide  that  shee 

To  the  seputcre  wald!  goo  with  mee, 

And  doo  hir  diligence.  920 

Of  the  thridday  this  is  J>e  mornynge,  921 

And  of  my  dere  master  yit  herd1  I  nothinge, 

Wherfor  I  am  moste  hevee.  923 

Alese  !  felishipe  her  is  noon) ! 

Rathere  then  I  faile,  I  wiH  go  Alone. 

A,  dere  lorde  !  your  mercee !  926 


PART  ii.     CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.     SCENE  i. 


203 


Secunde  Marye  coramys  in,  &  sais, 
A,  my  harte  !  what  J>ou  art  faynt ! 
How  longe  shall  we  thus  mak  complaywt1  ? 
So  sorowfuH  tym  neuer  was  ! 
When  shall  comforth  com  of  our  desire  ? 
What  womara  is  this  J?at  lyes  here? 
It  is  mawdleyn),  alese  ! 

Sister  mawdleyn) !  why  waile  ye  on  this  wise  ? 
Gud  sister !  we  pray  3011  stand?  vp,  a-rise  ! 
Comforth  your-self  wyslye ! 

Mawdleyn) 

Off  yowr  commynge,  sister,  I  am  glade  ; 
I-wise  I  knaw  weH  fat  36  be  sadd!  j 
Ye  haue  cawse,  os  weH  os  I. 

Secund?  Marye 

Ther  is  no  gud  Creatur,  dar  I  saye, 
But  inwardly  sorowe  he  may, 
And  compleyn)  bitterlye, 
To  remembere  the  fell  torment1 
A.nd  CrueH  payne  of  this  Innocent1 
Which  levit  so  vertuoslye. 
Of  his  meknese  hymself  he  offred1, 
What-soeuer  payn  to  hym  was  profred?, 
This  lambe,1  god[ys]  son  SO  free; 
Nothinge  ragid  he,  ne  was  vnpaciente, 
But  euer  most  mekly  tiH  his  payn)  he  went1, 
With  bayne  benignitee. 
From  the  tym  of  Abrahame, 
&  pat  our  faders  from  Egip[t]  cam), 
Or  when  sorow  was  maste, 
I  am  suere  was  neuer  day  so  piteouse, 
So  doolfuH,  &  so  dangerouse, 
Ose  friday  that  is  paste, 
When  aft  the  crueltye  was  owt  sougfit, 


927 
929 

93  2 

933    Magdalene,  rise 
up  t 

935 


938 


939   Every  one 
sorrows  for 


941 


944 

945 


947 


this  Iamb's 
suffering. 

[leaf  158,  back] 


95° 
951 

953 


Never  was  day 
so  piteous  as 
last  Friday, 


957 


jj«t  or  ys  blotted. 


204  PART    "•      CHRISES   RESURRECTION.       SCENE    1. 


To  distroy  hym  made  aH  thing  of  nogfit, 
To  sloo  hym  that  gyves  life  !  pjp 

Owt  of  my  myndf  this  neuer  goo  shatt 
when  the  Maker  That  for  man,  diete  the  maker  of  aft, 

of  all,  died  for 

Mau.  By  his  manned  passyve.  962 

Mawdleyn) 

So  doolfuH  a  day  was  neutr  befor  this  !  963 

But  go  we  to  the  Monyment  wlier*  his  sepulcre  is, 
To  anoynte  his  body  there.  965 

Secund  Marye 

Sister,  I  com  for  that  sam  Intent1  j 
Ther  is  nothinge  can  me  better  content1  ; 
To  go,  I  haue  no  fere.  968 

Mawdleyn) 
Then,  gude  sister,  lat  vs  goo  devowtlee.  969 

Secuwde  marye 
The  Three  Abide!  yonder  comities  Marye  lacobee: 

Maries,  7 

[leaf  159]        I  trow,  witA  vs  sho  WITT  goo.  97  1-2 

Thride  Marye  commys  in 
O  gude  sisters,  how  is  it  with  $owe  ? 

Mawdleyn) 
A,  dere  sister  !  neuer  soo  eviH  os  nowe  ! 

Thrid  Marye 

Gud  mawdleyn),  say  not  soo  !  975 

on  thto  8rd  day,    This  is  the  third1  day,  je  remewzber1  weH.  976 

Mawdleyn) 

Ye  ;  bot  of  my  master  &  lorde,  I  her*  not  teH, 
Ther  fore  I  can  not  cease.  978 

will  go  to  their    We  were  goynge  to  [the]  Monymenf 

Lords 

Sepulchre.          Wher*-os  lyeth  that  swete  Innocent*. 

Loo,  here,  Oyntmentes  of  swetnese  !  98  1 

Thrid  marye 
Gude  sisters,  on  yow  shaH  I  wayte. 


PART  ii.     CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.     SCENE  i.  205 

Secunde  Marye 
Then  let  vs  tak  ]>e  way  furth  strayte.  983 

Mawdle)  n) 

Sisters,  I  perceyve  the  place  is  her-bye  ;  984 

Lat  vs  ordeyri)  our  oyntmente*  accordinglye 
With  ati  humylite.  98<5 

Here  lyes  he  fat  was  merciful!  to  synners  aH  !  The  3  Maries^ 

Here  lyese  he,  most  piteose  when  we  did  carl !  Tomb- 

Com  nerr  sisters,  &  see !  989 

Lo,  here  is  the  place  wher  J)e  body  was  laid*,  990 

Which  born)  was  of  a  virgyn  &  a  cleyn)  maid'. 

TiH;  honour  it,  grete  caw se  haue  wee.  992    [leaf  159,  back] 

Gud  sisters,  be  we  not  affrayd* 

To  do  hym  reuerence  &  dewtee  !  994 

Here  he  lyeth,  whose1  lif  surmouwtes  aH:  ofer,  995 

Which  raysed  from  deth  to  lyve,  Lazarus  my  broker, 
Now  a  levinge  man) !  997 

He  lyese  her',  which  by  his  powre  devyn), 
In  chana  Galilee  turnyde  water  to  wyn), 
Ose  many  testyfy  Can).  1000 

The  angerl  speke$  : 
Whom  seke  ye,  women  sanctifiede?  1001 

Three  maryes  to-gider  sais  : 
lesus  of  nazareth  crucified*, 
The  redemer  of  mankind1 !  1003 

AngeH. 

He  is  resyne !  he  is  not  here  ! 
To  his  disci  ptes  he  shaH  apere  j 

In  galilee  thay  shaH  hym  fynd«.  1006 

Mulier,  quid  ploras  //  Woman,  why  wepis  fou  soo  ? 

Mawdlen) 

For  myn  harte  is  futt  of  sorow  &  woo.  1008 

My  lorde,  fat  was  the  kinge  of  blisse, 
Is  takyn)  away  5  i  wat  not  wher'  he  is.  1010 

1  MS.  whose  whose. 


206  PART  ii.     CBRIST'S  RESURRECTION.     SCENB  i. 

AngeH 
The  An«ei again  Com  bidder,  women  !  approc&e  mor  nere  !  ion 

tells  them 

Be  of  gude  comfurth&  of  gud  cher1, 
For  so  gret  cawse  ye  haue  :  1013 

He  that  ye  seke  so  beselye, 
With  gude  mynd  so  faythfullye, 
[leaf  i#n       Is  resyn)  here  from  his  grave  !  1016 

that  Christ  has 

risen,  and          The  son  of  gode,  in  his  humanite  1017 

Sufferde  deth  /  &  by  his  diuinitee 

Is  resyn  the  thrid  daye.  1019 

For  redemption  of  man  was  he  born), 

Displayede  on  the  crose,  &  ali  to-torn) 

In  right  piteose  araye.  1022 

has  won  the        The  bateH  is  done,  &  victorye  renuyd1 !  1023 

victory. 

The  grete  enmy  of  man  berby  is  subduyd1, 
That  most  hatid1  mankyiDd1.  1025 

Ho  shows  them    Com  bidder,  &  behold1  -with  your  Eye 

whore  the  Body 

lay.  and  bids       The  place  where  be  body  did  lye  ! 

Be  loyeos  now  of  myndf !  1028 

them  take  the      Loo  !  here  is  the  cloth  droppid!  bludf,  1020 

bloody  cloth  that 

was  put  on  Him   Which  was  put  on  hym)  takyn)  of  be  rud?, 

on  the  Cross. 

Ose  your-self  did  see.  1031 

For  a  remembrance,  tak  it  yee, 

And  hy  yow  fast  to  Galilee  ; 

For  ther*,  apper1  shaH  hee.  1034 

Mawdleyn) 

Yit  must  myn  herte  wepe  Inwerdlye,  1035 

Yit  must  I  mowrn)  contynuallye, 

Myndinge  my  master  dere.  i°37 

Mary  Magdalene  O  !  what  myn)  harte  is  hevy  &  lotfie, 

still  mourns. 

When  I  beholde  this  piteose  clotne 
Which  in  my  hande  is  here ;  1040 

This  cloth  with  blude  bat  is  so  stayned,  1041 

Of  a  maydens  child1  so  sor  cowstraynid1, 
[leaf  100,  back]    On  Cross  when  he  was  done  !  1043 


PART    II.       CHRISTS   RESURRECTION.       SCENE    I. 

O  rygore  vnright !  O  crueltee  ! 

O  wikkit  wylfuHnese  !  O  peruersitee  i 

O  liart.es  harde  os  stone,  1046 

to  Put  to  deth  a  lamb  so  meke  !  1047 

WeH  may  the  teres  ron)  down)  yowr  cheke  ! 

WeH:  may  yowr  hertes  relent*,  1049 

Myndinge  the  payn)  my  lord4  &  master  felte ! 

O !  in  my  body  my  herte  now  dottle  melte  ! 

To  dy,  I  were  content1 ! 


207 


Secund?  Marye 

Sister  Mawdlen),  to  blame  ye  are, 
With  this  dedly  sorow  yowr-self  to  marre, 
Yowr-self  thus  to  torment*. 
Ye  torment  yowr-selfe,  &  crucifye  ; 
Ye  haue  cawse  to  tak  gladnes,  &  whye, 
Ye  haue  proue  evident1, 

That  your  master  &  oures,  by  his  godly  myght 
Is  resen  from  deth  /  to  lyfe  !  an  angeH  bright 
Schewes  thes  tidinge^  tiH  vs, 
And  shewed?  vs  the  place  /  wher  his  body  laye, 
Which  is  not  ther1  /  for-fi  let  passe  a-waye 
Our  sorow  most  grevouse. 

Thride  marye 

Sister  Mawdleyn),  in  your  hart  be  stabiH  ! 
We  shaH  here  tidinges  right  comfortabiH, 
And  fat  I  trust  shortlye ; 
For  that  is  suth  veritabitt. 
Saide  so  afore  suthlye. 


She'd  be  content 
to  die. 


1052 


1053 


l°55 


The  other 
Maries  assure 
I O  <J  8    her  that  Christ 
is  risen, 

I059 


1061 


1064 


1065 
1067 
1069 


Mawdleyn) 

A.  A.  Sisters  /  my  slewth  /  &  my  necligence !          1070 
I  haue  not  don  my  dewty  ne  my  diligence, 
Ose  vnto  me  did  fatt !  1072 

At  my  masters  sepulcre,  if  I  hade  gifen  attew  'ance, 
And  waytid?  wisely  wztA  humbte  affiance 
Os  I  was  bound1  most  of  aH,  1O75 


and  good  tidings 
'11  soon  come. 


[leaf  161] 


208 


PART  ii.     CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.     SCENE  1. 


Mary  Magdalene 
laments  that  she 
didn't  come 
earlier  to  see 
Christ's  arising. 


1076 


He,  by  His 
mercy,  had 
calld  her,  the 
greatest  of 
sinners,  had  let 


[leaf  161,  back] 
her,  at  Simon's 
dinner, 


wash  His  feet 
with  her  tears, 


1078 

1080 
1081 

1083 


1086 


I  sliuld  haue  seyn)  his  vprisinge  gloriose 

Of  my  swete  lorde  /  of  J>e  which  desirose 

I  am,  &  nedes  must  bee. 

1  Alese,  sisters  !   I  was  to  tidiose, 

That  holy  sight  to  see.1 

Than  I  shuld  haue  had1  comforth  vncoTwpcwabiTr, 

Of  the  which  loye  /  to  speke  I  am  not  abiH  ; 

Than  I  hade  seyn)  my  lorde 

To  haue  resyn)  from  his  sepulture, 

WitA  his  bludy  wounded,  of  hyra  I  had  ben)  sure. 

Ales  !  when  I  record1 

How  I  myghte  haue  had  a  sight  of  your  presence,  1087 

Who  then  aught  of  verrey  congruence 

To  be  mor  glad  than  I,  1089 

Which  ye  haue  callirt  by  yowr  grace  on  lee, 

Beynge  gretist  synner  /  viito  yowr  large  mercee, 

And  that  most2  curtesly  ?  1092 

Whoso  wiH  not  wayte  when  fat  tym  is,  JQ93 

When  faynest  he  wold1  therof,  shaH  he  mysse  j 

So  it  faris  by  mee.  1095 

O,  wold  to  god  I  had  made  more  haste  ! 

My  slewthfuH  werke  is  now  in  wast  ! 

3it,  gud  lord1,  haue  bou  pitee  !  1098 

When  Symon  to  dyner  did  hym  caH,  IO99 

Amongey  the  gestw  &  straungers  all, 

WitA  meknese  soberlye  1101 

I  com  in  wit  A  mynde  contrite, 

For  I  hade  levid1  in  fowH  delite, 

In  syn)  of  licherye.  1104 

Not-wztA-standinge  the  gret  abhomynation)  1105 

Of  my  grete  synnes  fuH  of  execration) 

Yit  of  his  benignite  —  1107 

As  wit  A  aH  mercy  he  was  replete  — 

He  sufferte  me  witA  teris  to  wesh  his  fete  ! 

Loo,  his  mercyfuH  pitee  !  .1110 

1  —  l  These  2  lines  are  at  the  bottom  of  the  page. 
1  '  gracioslye  or  '  erottt  thro. 


PART  it.     CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.     SCENES  i  &  2. 


209 


My  synfuli  lippes,  which  I  did  abuse, 

To  towch"  his  blessit  fleshe  he  wald?  not  refuse ; 

And  ther  right  oppenlye, 

Off  his  most  piteouse  tendernese, 

The  pardoura  of  my  synnes  &  gret  excesse, 

He  gaue  to  me  hoolye  ! 

Now  may  I  wringe,  both  wepe  &  wayle, 

Myndinge  on  friday  his  gret  bataile 

He  had  on  crosse  of  tree, 

And  tuk  op  on)  hym)  for  vs  aH: 

To  ouer-com  the  fend  bat  made  vs  faH. 

A,  Sisters  !  weEt  mowrn)  may  wee ! 

Secund?  marye : 

Sister  Mawdleyn) !  it  is  bot  in  vayn) 
Thus  remedilesse  to  mak  compleyn) ; 
Ther-for  it  is  the  best1, 
Ych  on  of  vs  a  diuerse  way  to  take. 
His  apperinge,  loyfuH  may  vs  make, 
And  set  ouir  harte*  in  reste. 

The  thride  marye : 

Ye,  to  sek  &  inquere,  let  vs  faste  hye  ; 
Sister  mawdlen),  this  is  next  remedye ; 
And  berfore  departe  wee. 

1  Mawdleyn): 

O  lorde  &  master !  help  vs  in  hye 
To  haue  a  sight  of  thee !  x 

Tuwc  exeunt1  hee  tres  Marie. 


1 1 1 1  and  touch  His 
flesh  with  her 
sinful  lips. 

III3 


He  pardond  all 
her  sins. 


1 116 
1117 

1119 

JI22 

1123 

1125 

1128 

1129 
II3I 


that  they  may 
the  sooner  see 
1133    Christ. 


[leaf  162] 
The  3  Maries 
agree  to 


[Scene  2.] 
Petrus  intrat,  flens  amare  2 

OAllmyghty  god,  which  with  thyra  inward*  Ee  1134 
Seest  the  depest  place  of  mawnys  conscience, 
And  knowest  euery  thinge  most  cler  &  perfitlee, 

i — i  These  3  lines  are  at  the  foot  of  the  page. 
8  Some  stanzas  of  long  sevens,  ababbcc,  now  alternate  with  the 
old  sixes,  aab  aab,  shortend. 

DIGBY    MYST.  V 


Part  II.    Scetiti. 


210 


PART    II.       CII HINT'S   RESURRECTION.       SCENE    2. 


8t  Poter, 
weeping,  asks 
Christ's  morcy 


[leaf  162,  back] 
for  his  Denial 
of  Him, 


Who  calld  him, 
from  a  poor 
fisher,  to  be  II U 
Disciple,  and 


uam'd  him 
Peter,  a  rock 
of  stability. 


Haue  mercy,  haue  pi  tee ;  haue  )>ou  compatience! 

I  confess  &  knowlege  my  most  gret  offence,  1138 

My  fowle  presumption)  &  vnstabilnesse  ! 

Let  )>i  mekiH  mercy  ouerflowe  my  synfulnesse  !       1140 

And  yit  I  knaw  weH,  nar 

No  erthly  thinge  caw  teH, 

Nor  3it  it  expresse,  j  143 

My  fawte-s  &  gret  syn) 

Which  I  am  wrappid!  in 

WitA1  dedly  hevinesse.  1146 

Ther  may  not  be  lightly  /  a  greter  trispesse,  1 147 

Then  the  seniawnt  /  the  master  to  denye  j 

His  owne  master  /  his  own)  kind  master :  alesse ! 

I  mak  confession)  /  here  most  sorowfullye,  1150 

That  I  denyedf  mayster  /  &  )>at  most  vnkindlye  ! 

For  when  thay  did  enquere  /  if  )>at  I  did  hym  knoo, 

I  saide  I  neuer  sawe  hym  !  a-lesse  !  why  did  I  soo  ?   1 153 

With  teres  of  contrition),  1 154 

With  teres  of  compassion), 

WeH  may  I  mowrnynge  make!  H56 

What  a  fawte  it  was, 

The  serua /nte,  alas, 

His  master  to  forsake  !  1 1 59 

When  his  grace  callid  me  /  fro  warldly  besines,       1160 

And  of  a  poore  fishere  /  his  disciple  !  alas,  mee  ! 

I  was  callit  Symon  Bariona,  playnly  to  expresse  j 

But  he  namid  me  "  petrus  "  /  '  petra  '  was  hee '       1163 

Petra  is  a  stou)  /  fuH  of  stabilitee, 

Alway  stedfaste  /  alase  !  wherfor  was  I 

Not  stabiH  accordinge  /  to  my  nam  stedfastlye  ?       j  166 

O  my  febiH  promesse  !  1167 

O  my  gret  vnkindnesse, 

To  my  shame  resaruyd1 !  1 169 

O  mynde  so  vnstabiH, 

Thou  hast  made  me  culpabitt ! 

1  mo  crosst  through. 


PART  ii.     CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.     SCENE  2.  211 

Deth  I  haue  deseruycJ  !  1172  St.  Peter's 

Lament  over  his 

It  plesid!  thy  gudnese,  gret  kindnese  to  shew  mee,  1173  Faithlessness. 

Callinge  me  to  bi  grace  /  &  gudly  omuersation)  ; 

And  when  it  pleasid!  thi  godhed?  /  to  tak  but  three 

To  beholde  &  see  the  highe  speculation)  1176 

Of  thy  godly  maiestye  in  thy  transfiguration),  Christ  let  mo 

see  His 

Thy  special!  grace  did  abiH  me  for  on),  Transfiguration. 

With  the  gud  blessid?  lames  /  &  bi  cosyn)  lofin.        1179 

Alese!  fat  I  was  so  vnkind?  1180       deaf  163] 

To  hym,  so  tender  of  mynd? 

To  me  most  vn  worthy  e  !  1  182 

Ales  !  the  paynes  ar  smarte 

Which  I  fele  at  my  harte, 

And  that  so  bitterlye  !  IJ8^ 

0  lorde  !  what  exampte  /  of  meknesse  shewed!  yee  !  1  186 
On  thursday  after  supere,  it  pleasid*  your  grace 

To  wesh  yoMr  seruauntes  fete  /  who  euer  are  did  see        He  washt  his 

Servants'  feet 

More  perfite  meknese  /  shewet  in  any  case  ?  1  189 

1  my  -self  was  present  /  in  the  same  place. 
Alese  !  of  my-self  /  why  presumyd*  I, 
Consideringe  your  meknese  /  don  so  stedfastlye  ?     1  192 
A  !  myn  vnkinde  chaunce  ! 

When  it  commys  to  remembrance, 

In  my  mynde  it  is  euer.  1  195 

I  fele  OWt  of  mesure  (I  feel  deadly 

pain.) 

Dedly  payn)  &  displesure, 

That  I  can  not  desseuere.  1  198 

O  mercyfuH  redemer  /  who  may  yit  recownte         1  199 

The  paynes  which  bi-self  /  for*  vs  did  endure  ! 

Vnworthy  if  I  were  /  I  was  -with  be  in  be  mount1  I  ^^  with  Him 

during  his 


Where  bou  swet  bludy  droppes  /  man  saule  to  recure. 

3  Mount  of  Olives. 

In  that  gret  agonye  /  I  am  right*  verrey  sure,  1203 

Stony  harte*  of  flint1  /  bou  wald  bam  haue  mevid?, 

Seynge  thy  tendernese  /  to  man  by  be  relevid1.         1205 

O,  that  passion  was  grete,  1206 

When  blud  droppes  of  swet  [leaf  163,  back] 

P   2 


211  PAHT    II.      CHRIST S   RESURRECTION.      SCENE    2. 

st  Peter's          ran)  down)  a-pace !  1208 

Lament  over  hi* 

Faithlessness.      That  was  excedigne  payne 
In  euery  membere  &  vayn), 

As  apperit  by  his  face !  1211 

Of  ludas,  thow  were  /  betray ede  by  &  bye,  1212 

Which  was  thy  disciputt,  &  familiere  witA  the  j 
It  grevid  the  more,  I  knew  it  certanlye. 
He  was  fede  at  ]>\  burde  /  of  bi  benignitee,  Iai5 

HO  was  betrayd    And  ait  [thow]  were  betrayed1  by  his  iniquitee  ! 

by  Judas,  His  * 

Diacipie,  Yf  a  straunger  had  don  /  bat  dede  so  trayterouse, 

It  had  beyn  mor  /  tolerabiti  /  &  not  so  greuowse.   1218 
Dauid  did  say  in  prophecye,  1219 

*  Homo  pacw  mee,  in  quo  speraui., 
Supplantauit1  me  !  '  1221 

0  lord  !  yowr  '  pacieuce  may  be  perceyvid, 
Which  suffert  so  to  be  betrayed 

Of  ludas  !  woo  is  hee !  1224 

and  i  forsook       Futt  of  wo  may  I  bee.  sorowfuH  &  pensyve,  1225 

Him,  tho'  I  said 

I  wouldn't  leave  Complenynge  &  wepinge  witA  sorow  inwertlee, 
And  wep  bitter  teres  /  arl  J>e  days  of  my  life  j 
Myn  vnstabiH  delinge  /  is  euer  in  myn  Ee.  1228 

1  saide  I  wald  not  leve  my  master  for  to  dee  j 

He  said  I  shuld  for-sak  hym  /  or  J>e  cok  crow  /  thris.8 
Oh,  when  He      Afterwerd1,  when  hee  1^31 

lookt  on  me 

Lokid  opon)  mee 

WitA  a  mylcJ  cowntenawnce,8  1*33 

peat  iM]        Ose  he  stude  on  the  ground 
from  among        Emange  his  enmyse  bowndf, 

HU  enemies, 

O,  I  wepit  abundaunce  !  1230 

how  my  tears      Then  my  teres  continuelly  1237 

randovrul  . 

Ran  down  most  sorowtully, 
And  yit  thay  can  not  cesse. 
How  may  I  cesse  or  stynte  ? 
Yf  my  harte  wer  of  flinte, 

1  mwcy  erased.  *  ?  read  '  thrie '  =:  thries,  thrice. 

3  CatclrworcU : — '  AB  he  stod  on  J>e  ground*.' 


PART    II.       CHRIST S   RESURRECTION.       SCENE    2. 


213 


1245 


I  haue  caus  to  wepe  dowtlese.  1242 

O  caytife,  O  wofuH  wreche  ! 

from  thy  harte  J>ou  may  feche 

Sore  &  sigfies  depe  ! 

O  most  vnkind?  man), 

What  creatur  may  or  can), 

The  from  sclaunder  kepe,  1248 

To  forsake  J>i  master  so  tender  &  soo  guo?,  I249 

Which  gaue  to  fe  fe  keyes  /  of  aH  holy  kirke, 

And  mor-ouer  for  thy  sake  /  shed  his  own)  blud?  ! 

0  synfuli  caytyfe  /  now  aught  I  sore  tilt  irke  !        1252 
Ales,  lofin  !  why  did  not1  I 

Folow  my  master  so  tenderlye 

Os  36  did  to  the  ende  ? 

But  for  ye  delft  soo  stedfastlye, 

My  master  gaue  you  marye 

To  kep  in  your  commend?. 

Yf  this  dedly  woo  &  sorowe 

Endure  with  me  vnto  to-morowe, 

Myn  hart1  in  sunder  wiH  breke. 

Now,  lorde,  for  fi  tender  mercyes  aH, 

Reconcyle  me  to  grace,  &  to  |>i  mercy  carl  ! 

Ales,  I  may  not  speke  ! 

et  sic  cadit  in  terram,  flens  amare. 
Andreas,  frater  petri,  diczt. 

A.  Brothere  peter,  what  nedes  all  Jjis  ? 

1  se  weH,  good  cownceH  wiH  yow  mysse. 
Dry  vp  your  teres  &  rise! 

Comforth  yowr-selfe,  I  require  yow,  &  praye  ! 
We  shaH  haue  gud  tidinges  !  this  is  J>e  thrid  day  / 
Sorow  not  in  this  wise  !  1270 

lohawnes  Euangelista  : 

Stand  vp,  gud  brother*,  &  mesur  your  hevynese  !     1271 

This  gret  contrition)  of  yowr  hart,  dowtlese 

To  god  is  plesant  sacrifice.  I273 


St.  Peter's 
Lament  over  his 
Faithlessness. 


I  unnaturally 


forsook  my  so 
good  Master 


who  shed  His 
blood  for  me. 


1253 

1255 

I258 
1259 

1261 
1264 

1265 
1267 


My  heart  will 
break. 


[leaf  164,  back] 
Oh  Lord, 
call  me  to  thy 
mercy  I 


Andrew  com 
forts  his  brother 
Peter. 


St.  John  bids 
Peter  moderate 
his  grief. 


a  14 


PART  ii.     CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.     SCENE  2. 


Peter  still 
lament*  hi* 
cruelty. 


[in  7*] 

Andrew  begs 
him  to  take 
comfort,  as 

[leaf  165] 


Christ  will  rise 
this  third  day, 


and  He  foretold 
that  His 
disciples  should 
forsake  Him. 


He  knew  their 
weakness. 


Petrus 

A,  gud  brethere,  Andrewe  &  lofin, 
Was  neuer  creatur  so  wo-begon) 

Os  I,  wrech  most  vnwyse !  1276 

For  remember inge  the  infinite  gudnese  Ia77 

Of  my  lorde  /  &  my  most  Vnkyndnese 
Don  so  Writchitlye,  12/9 

At  my  hart,  sorow  sittes  so  sore, 
That  my  dedly  payn)  encresis  mor  &  more ! 
Alese,  my  gret  folye  !  1282 

Andreas 

Gud  brothere  peter,  yowr-self  36  comfort1 ;  1 283 

Ther  is  none  of  aft,  bot  comi urth  may  he  hafe  j 
For  emonge  vs  a-gayn)  our  lorde  shaH  resorte.  1285 

By  his  passion)  /  his  purpasse  /  was,  maw-kind  to  saue  j 
This  is  the  thrid  daye  /  in  which  from  his  graue 
He  shaH  arise  /  fro  deth,  I  haue  no  dowte  j 
Therfor  lettf  comfurth  /  put  this  sorowe  owf !          1289 
U  Brothere  peter  /  be  verrey  truth  to  saye,  1 290 

Few  of  vs  ati  /  hade  perfit  stedfastnesse, 
But  sumwhat  dowtid1  /  &  wer  owt  of  the  waye  j 
Not-witAstandinge  /  of  his  godhed1  the  clernesse      1293 
Schewedl  by  his  miracles  /  with  ati  perfitnese  j 
And  yf  ye  remember*,  brothere  /  in  his  last  oblation) 
He  spak  of  our  vnstabilnesse  /  &  of  his  desolation),  1296 
U  Saynge  "  Omnes  vos  scandalum  patiemini,"    •     1297 
AH  ye  shaft  suffer  sclawnder  /  for  me,1 
8Os  who  say  •  ye  shaH  /  forsak  me  a-lonly  j 
The  hird-man  shalbe  strikyn)  /  &  be  flokk,  which  we 
bee,  1.300 

Schalbe  disperbilit1  /  &  away  shaH  flee. 
Loo,  gud  brother*  peter  /  he  knew  our  frealtes  att  j  1302 
Our  gude  master  is  mercifuB  /  &  graciose  witA-aH  j  2 

1  onlee  (*i'c)  erostt  through. 

* — a  These  five  lines  are  in  the  margin  at  bottom  of  leaf  164, 
back. 


PART  ii.     CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.     SCENE  2.  215 

1T  And  yow,  brother  peter  /  the  most  specialli          1304 

Hase  cause  of  co?nfurth  /  for  of  his  church  be  hed? 

He  chace  you  by  order  /  by  his  grace  frelye ; 

For-bi,  from  yowr  harte  /  put  bis  fere  &  dred?.  i3°7  Andrew  shows 

*  Peter  that  he 

Yf  ye  remember,  he  said1  to  vow  in  dede,  should  have 

good  hope,  as 

Thy  faith  shall  neuer  faile  /  what-so-euer  befall ;  Ctoto*toldldm 

J  his  faith  should 

Therfor  haue  gud  hope  /  &  comforth  spiritual.       1310  never  fail. 
Ye  askit   hym   ons   a   whestion)   /   wherwztA   he   was 

content*,  1 3 J  J 

'  How  oft  to  yowr  brother  /  synn)  ye  shuld  relese  :  ' 
Ye  thought  vij  ty  wines  /  were  verrey  sufficient1 ; 
But  he  said  sevynty  tymes  &  vij  :  ye  suld  forgif  dowtles ; 
A  gret  nowfjnjber"  it  plesit  /  hym  titt  expresse  ;      1315 
The  gret  frelty  of  man  /  he  saw  in  his  godly  myno?.          [leaf  165,  back] 
For-thy,  for  yowr  trispace  /  pardon  may  ye  find1 ;     1317 
How-be-it,  of  yowr-self  /  to  presume,  to  blame  ye  were  j 
Man  bat  is  freale,  of  hym)-self  suld  haue  fere.  1319 

U  Your   pennance   [£]    contrition)  /  acceptabiH  must 

bee  5 

Therfor  in  yowr  harte  reloye  /  ye  may  be  fayn), 
Rememberinge  he  has  put1  [yow]  in  gret  auctoritee.        Christ  also  put 

w         •  him  in 

That  he  has  saide  ons  /  he  will  neuer  carl  agayn),    1323  authority, 

"  Quodcuwqwe  ligaueris  "  /  he  said ;  bes  worde*  ar  playn) ; 

And  gaue  vow  be  keyes  /  of  hevyn)  &  of  heH,  giving  him  the 

°  '  /        I  Keys  of  Heaven 

So  to  lowse  &•  to  bynd?  /  this  can  we  aH  teH.  1326  and  Keii. 

Johannes  euangelista. 

Gude  brother  peter  /  marke  ye  weH,  &  note  :  t327 

The  worde*  of  Andrewe  beyn  sadd!  &  ponderose ; 
In  yowr  conscience,  I  knaw  weft  /  is  no?t  so  great  mot1,  St.  John  is  sure 

*  that  Mercy  can 

But  that  mercy  may  clere  it1  /  of  hy m  that  is  so  graciose.  clear  Peter's  sin. 

Perauenter  it  was  be  wiH  /  of  our  master  lesus         133  * 

That  36  shuld1  not  be  present1  /  his  passion)  to  see, 

Which  he  hade  on  the  hiH  /  in  be  most  Crueltee.  1333 

1T  Peter,  if  ye  had  seyn)  /  yowr  mastere  at  bat  poynfr, 

I  trov  bat  sy^t  had  beyn)  to  hevy  /  to  yow  tiH  endure : 

He  had  torment  opon  torment  /  in  euery  vayn  &  loynt  -} 


2l6 


PART  ii.     CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.     SCENE  2. 


St.  John  tells 
F«ter  how 


Christ's  body 
was  torn  and 
naild  ;  how  HU 

[leaf  166] 


blood  was  shed  : 


nnd 

how  He  was 

betrayd, 


scorud,  and 


crucified. 


But  now  the 
time  of 
Desolation  is 
ended :  that  of 


Grace  la  come ; 


[leaf  166,  hack] 

Christ  will  rise 
and  live  for 
ever. 


He  was  so  harde  nailet  /  to  fat  paynfuH  lurej         1337 
His  flesh  fat  was  so  tender  /  born)  of  a  mayden)  pure, 
And  was  wont  to  be  towchidf  /  witA  virgyns  handes  swete, 
Was  altotorn)  most  piteosly  /  from  hede  to  fe  fef!  1340 
U  When  his  body  was  halid1  /  &  stritchid!  wftA  ropes, 
To  caws  his  armes  &  fet  /  to  f  e  holes  extend1, 
Then  fe  nayles  dreffyn  in ;  &  of  fe  blude,  dropes 
Ran  owl  so  plentuosly  /  his  wiH  it  was  to  spend!     1344 
AH  his  pn'cios  blude  /  mannes  sor  tiH  amend1. 
WitA-owt  cowzpleint  he  sufferf  the  nayles  &  fe  spere; 
But  gretist  payn)  fat  he  had  /  was  for  his  moder  dere. 
He  sufferd1  patiently,  1348 

To  be  betrayed1  vn kindly, 
To  be  accusid1  falsly, 

To  be  intreytid  Cruelly,  I351 

To  be  scornyd!  most  dedenynglye, 
To  be  luged1  wrangfully, 
To  be  dampnyt  to  deth  dolfully, 

Wit  A  other  paynes  sere  j  '355 

To  be  crucified1  piteosly, 
To  be  woundid  vniuersally, 

Wit  A  scowrges,  nayles,  &  spere.  *35& 

For  thes  causes,  he  wald!  be  born)  /  of  a  maid1  most 
obedient1.  J359 

Now  the  gret  rawnson  is  paied1  /  which  was  requirid1 
For  redemption)  of  man,  of  the  fader  omnipotent; 
The  tyme  of  desolation  /  is  now  expirid1 ;  1362 

The  tyme  of  grace  is  commen,  so  longe  of  vs  desirid1 ! 
Hevyn  3eate*  so  longe  /  closid1  for  gret  syn), 
Our  saueyour  gafe  yow  the  keyes  /  to  open,  &  to  lat  in. 
He  knew  wett,  for  his  deth  /  we  shuld  be  afrayed! :  1366 
And  ferfor,  ose  36  remembere  /  he  told1  vs  afore. 
His  godhed  saw  weH  /  fat  we  shuld1  be  dismaid1 
Of  his  resurrection)  /  he  comfortidf  vs  therfore  j        1369 
He  saide  he  shuld!  arise  /  &  live  euere-more. 
This  is  the  thride  daye  /  therfor  dowt  nothinge, 


PART    II.       CHRIST  S   RESURRECTION.       SCENE    2.  2 

But  shortly  we  shaft  here  /  of  his  gloriose  vprisinge. 
Brether,  I  wolde  tarrye  wztA  yow  longer  here,          1373 
But  necks  I  must  go  to  the  virgyn)  mylde. 
Most  sorowfuH  is  hir  hart1  /  most  hevy  is  hir  chere  j  St.  John 

•     •  ^   describes  the 

An  loye  &  comfurthe  /  from  hir  is  exildte  ;  I37<5  virgin  Mary's 

sorrow: 

An  hir  remeTraberance  /  is  of  hir  dere  childe. 

My  master  assignyt  me  /  to  gyve  hir  attendance, 

And  that  is  my  dewtye  /  with  aH  humbtye  obseruance. 

Hir  sorow  increacyse  aye,  1380 

As  weH  nyght  os  daye, 

In  most  piteose  araye  j 

For  I  darsay  suerlye,  1383 

Sen  hir  son  was  betrayed?, 

&  in  his  grave  layde, 

The  maid?  hase  me  dismaid? 

For  sorow  inwerdlye, 


That  sho  nowther  tuk  rist  ne  slepe,  1388  She  takes  nor 

rest  nor  sleep, 

Ne  from  hevynese  hir-self  cowtn  kepe  ; 

But  euer-more  stiH  dose  sho  wepe, 

That  I  am  verrey  sure,  1391 

Hartes  harder  then  stone 

Wold  be  mollyfyed  anone, 

&  melte  to  see  hire  mone, 

That  sho  dose  endure.  !395 

To  here  hir  mourn)  so  moderlye,  Peaf  167] 

To  se  hir  wep  so  tenderlye,  but  weeping, 

AH  myn  hert  it  fayles.  1398 

NOW  sho  Spekes  of  the  SCOrnes  :  speaks  of  her 

Son  s  suffering, 

&  ow  sho  remembers  fe  thornes 

And  the  grete  sturdy  nayles  j  1401 

Now  sho  spekes  of  his  pacience  j  1402  and  patience 

Now  sho  myndes  his  obedience, 

That  vnto  deth  was.  H°4  unto  death. 

Now  of  his  visage  spekes  shee, 

Defilid?  wz'tA  deformyte, 

Of  fowH  spittinge,  a-lasse  !  14°7 


218 


PART  ii.     CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.     SCENES  2  &  8. 


She  la  com  fort- 


Mid  John  will 
go  to  her. 


He  bids  Peter 
trust  in  faith, 
[leaf  167,  back] 


Peter  thanks  his 
brothers. 


He  is  now 

happy, 
trusting  his 
Lord's  mercy. 


Part  II.   Scene  8. 


Now  of  his  woundes  dos  sho  speke,  1408 

&  of  the  sper1  which  did  breke 

Hir  sonnes  blessid1  sid1.  1410 

Thus  is  sho  aH  comfurthlesse, 

Replet  with  aH  dulfulnessej 

Therfor  I  may  not  bide.  1413 

As  for  this  tym)  I  wiH  departe.  J4H 

Brother1  peter,  be  of  gud  harte, 

For  other1  cause  haue  ye  none.  1416 

Now  farweH,  for  a  starte, 

I  shaH  3ow  mete  anon).  1418 

Peter 
Praye  fore  me,  brother1,  for  goddes  sake !  J4J9 

loha/mes  euongelista 
Brothere,  to  yow  no  discomfurth  take, 
But  truste  euer  faithfullye  !  1421 

We  shaH  haue  comforth,  }oure  sorowe  to  slake, 
And  that  I  trust1  shortlye.  1423 

Tune  exit  loha/mes ;  et  dicit  Petrus  : 
Brothere  Andrewe  /  god  reward1  joue  euer  speciallye ! 
For  lofin  &  ye,  with  youre  swete  wordes  of  consolation), 
Hase  easic?  my  mynd1  /  with  comforte  stedfastlye. 
I  am  in  trewe  faith  &  hope  /  witA-out  desperation),  1427 
In  my  saule  now  havynge  /  spiri/uaH  Jubilation), 
Trustinge  on  the  mercy  /  of  my  master  &  lord1, 
Of  whose  infinite  gudnese  /  I  shaH  euer  record1.       1430 
Let  the  dew  of  mercy  f aH  opon)  vs  ! 
'  Ostende  facie/«  tua/»  /  &  salui  erinms ! '  H32 

Schewe  thy  powere,  gud  lord1  /  &  to  vs  appere !      1433 
Let  beames  of  thi  grace  approche  to  vs  nere, 
Super  nos,  writchit  synners  ! 

[Scene  3.] 

Intrat  maria  Magdalena. 
0,  I  writchit  creature  /  what  shaH  I  doo  ? 
O,  1  a  wofuB  womau)  /"whidcre  satt  I  goo  ? 


PART  ii.     CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.  SCENE  3.              219 

My  lorde,  wher  shaH  I  find1?  1438  Mary 

1  Magdalene  8 

When  shaH  I  se  that  desirid?  face,  Lament. 

Which  was  so  full  of  beuty  &  grace 

To  me,  the  most  vnkind?  ?  I44I 

I  haue  sought.  &  besely  inquerid?  H42  sbe  has  sought 

Him  in  whom 

Hym  whom  my  harte  aH-way  has  desired1,  her  heart 

J  delighted, 


And  so  desiries  stiH.  1444 

Quew  diligit  anima  mea',  quesiui  ; 

Quesiui  ilium,  et  nora  inueni  ! 

When  shaH:  I  haue  my  wiH  ?  1447       [leaf  ics] 

I  haue  sought  hym  desirusly,  *448 

I  haue  sought  hym  afFectuosly, 

WitA  besines  of  my  mynd1.  145° 

I  haue  sought  hym  wztA  mynd?  hartely, 

The  tresure  wher-in  my  hart  dose  lye. 

O  deth,  thou  arte  vnkind?  !  1453  why  wuinot 

_.  ^10-  Death  take 

On  me,  vse  thou  &  exercise  J454  her? 

The  auctorite  of  thyn)  office  ! 

My  bales  thou  may  vnbind?.  145& 

What  offence,  deth,  haue  I  don  to  the,  1457 

Which  art  so  ouer  vnkind?  to  mee  ? 

Nay,  Nay,  deth  !  be  not  soo  !  1459 

Filie  Jerusalem,  Wher-os  ye  goo,  Daughters  of 

Jerusalem  1 

Nuwciate  dilecto  meo, 

Quia  amore  langueo  :  1462 

Of  Jerusalem,  ye  virgyns  clere,  1463 

Schew  my  best  loue  that  I  was  here  !  Tell  my  love 

that  I  am  deadly 

TeH  hym,  os  he  may  prove,  1465  sick  for  His 

That  I  am  dedly  seke  / 
And  att  is  for  his  loue. 


lesus  intrat,  in  specie  ortulani,  dicens, 
Mulier,  ploras  ?  quern  queris  ?  Jesus  asks  her 

whom  she 

Woman,  why  wepis  thou  ?  whom  sekes  thou  thus  ?  1469  would  have, 
TeH  me  whome  thou  wald?  haue  ! 


22O  PART  ii.     CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.     SCENE  3. 

Mawdlen) : 

I  sek  my  master  &  swete  lorde  lesus, 
Which  her  was  layd  in  grave.  1472 

pe»f  168,  back]  .lesus. 

Woman,  thou  mournest  to  piteoslye,  1473 

And  compleynist1  the  most  hevilye, 
as  her  heart        Thy  mynd  is  not  content* :  J47'5 

seems  troubled.  3       }  ^'J 

Thyn  hart1  is  trowblit,  weft  I  see, 
AH  full  doloruse,  os  thinks  mee, 
Thou  has  not  thyn)  intente.  1478 

Maudleyn) 
Mary  Magdalene  Mvti  intent !  that  knawes  hee  1470 

thinks  He  is  the         * 

gardener.  On  whom  my  hart  is  set,  &  ay  shalbee. 

Gardener,  I  yowe  praye,  1481 

Schew  vnto  mee,  if  ye  can), 

Yf  that  ye  did  see  here  ony  man) 

Tak  his  body.awaye.  1484 

lesus  dicit.     "  Maria  !  " 
Mawdfeyn)  awnswers,  "  Raboni !  " 

lesus 
He  bids  her  not   Noli  me  tangere  ! 

touch  Him, 

Mary,  towche  me  not  now  ! 
But  in-to  Galilee  go  thowe, 
but  tell  His         And  to  my  brether?  saye,  1488 

Disciples  that 

He  is  risen  and     And  to  peter  which  sorowfun  is, 

That  I  am  resen)  from  del  he,  to  lif  ay  in  blisse. 

Renynge  perpetuallye  ! 

Exhort*  tham  to  be  of  gud  chere, 

win  soon  appear  And  hastelv  wyH  I  to  tham  apere, 

to  them. 

To  comfurth  loefullye.  exit  lesus     1494 

Mawdleyn) 

O  myri)  harte !  wher  hast  thou  bee  ? 
[leaf  U9}       Com  horn)  agayn),  &  leve  with  mee  !  1496 


PART  ii.     CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.     SCENE  3. 


221 


My  gret  sorow  is  past  !  1497 

Now  may  thou  entone  a  mery  songe, 

For  he  whom)  thou  desirid?  so  longe, 

I  haue  fon)  now  at  laste ! 

1  thanke  your  grace  with  hert  intere, 

That  of  yowre  gudnese  to  me  wald!  apere, 

And  make  my  hertt  thus  light1. 

Secund  marye  intrat,  cuw  mark. 

Soror,  nurecia  nobw : 

Gud  mawdleyn),  sister  !  how  standee  with  yow  ? 

Mawdleyn) 

Dere  sisters  !  neuer  so  weH  os  nowe ! 

For  I  haue  hade  a  sight1 

Of  my  lorde  &  master,  to  my  cowfurth  special!. 

To  his  godhed?  I  render  thankee  immortarr, 

Os  I  am  bound?  of  dewtee.  1510 

Thrid  marye : 

It  Apperis,  suster,  by  yowr  cowntenawnce, 

That  the  gret  sorow  is  owt1  of  remembraunce ; 

And  so,  by  your  sawe,  gret  cause  haue  yee.  r5J3 

Mawdleyn) : 

I  haue  gret  cause,  sisters,  I  knaw  it  wtH  j 

For  of  my  loye  he  is  the  springe  &  weH, 

And  of  my  lyfe  sustenamice.  I5l^> 

Secunde  rnarye : 
Haue  ye  seyn)  our  lord1,  sister  ?  ar  ye  sure  ? 

Mawdlen) 

Sister,  I  haue  seyne  my  gretist  tresure, 

My  hartly  loye  &  plesaunce  !  J5  X9 

Thride  mary 
A.  Sister!  gret  cowfert  may  your  hart  inftame.        1520 


Mary  Magdalene 
rejoices ; 


I50J 


I  "JO 3    her  heart  is 
°    J    light; 


she  has  seen  her 
Lord  and 
Master, 


the  Spring  and 
Well  of  her  joy, 


[leaf  169,  back] 

her  greatest 
Treasure. 


222  PART  n.     CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.     SCENE  3. 

Mawdlen) 
He  spoke  to  her,  }e,  gude  sister  !  he  callit  me  'mary '  by  my  name, 

And  spak  wit  A  me  homlye. 

I  saw  hym  bodely,  in  flesh  &  bloode, 

Oure  redemere,  which  for  vs  hang  on  the  roode ! 

He  shewed1  hyme  gratioslye,  J525 

&nd  bade  her       And  bade  me  go  to  his  disciples  sone,  1526 

tell  His  Disciples 

of  His  Thai  me  to  certifye  of  his  resurrectiorite : 

Resurrection. 

&  so  wiH  I  shortly  doo.  1528 

Secunde  Marie 

A.  A!  Mawdleyn) !  right  happee  ye  were!  J529 

Ye  spente  not  in  vayn)  so  many  bitter  tere  ! 

Gret  grace  is  lent  yow  too !  1531 

Jesus  appears  Tune  venit  lesus,  &  salutat  mulieres  istas  iij". 

to  the  Three 

Maries,  Tamew  mulieres  nil  dicurct  ei,  sea  prociduwt  ad  pedes 

eius. 
blesses  and         Auete !  Hayle,  blessit  women  leve !  1532 

comfort*  them,      .,,,.,  . 

My  blessinge  here  I  youe  geve ! 
Let  sorow  no  more  youre  harte  meve, 
But  haue  comfort  all  way  e  !  1535 

I  am  resene  fro  deth,  so  may  ye  teH  j 
and  says  He  has  I  haue  deliuert  my  presoners  frome  heH, 

deliverdHis  *   * 

prisoners  from     And  made  tham  sure  for  aye  !  [exit  lesus]     1538 

Utill. 

Mawdleyn) 

Now,  gud  sisters,  be  no  more  sadd1  j  1539 

[leaf  170]       Ye  haue  cause,  os  weH  os  I,  to  be  gladd! ; 
Mary  Magdalene  Oure  lorde,  loo,  of  his  gudnese,  1541 

rejoices  with 

the  other  Of  his  heghe  &  godly  excellence, 

Haves  shewede  vs  here  his  loyefuH  presence 

WitA  worde*  of  swetnese !  1544 

My  wordes  wer  not  fantastical!,  sisters,  yee  see  j      1545 

J  told  youe  no  lesinge,  Sisters,  report1  mee  j 

Ye  haue  seyn  witA  your/  eye.  1547 


PART  ii.     CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.     SCENE  3.  223 

Thrid  mary 


Oure  spirits  ben)  revividj  our  hartes  beyn 

O  mawdleyn)  !  this  was  a  gloriose  sight, 

Schewed  to  vs  gracioslye  !  J55° 

Secund  marye 
Blessid*  be  that  lorde  /  blessit  be  that  kinge  ISO   The  other  Maries 

JJ      bless  their  Lord. 

That  haues  comfurth  vs  thus  with  his  vprisinge 

So  sone  &  glorioslye  !  1553 

Mawdlen) 

Susters,  in  loye  of  this  loyfuHnese, 

A  songe  of  comforte  lete  vs  expresse 

Wit  A  notes  of  Armonye  !  I55<5 

"  Victime  paschali  laudes  immolent1  Christian!".  Tune  The  Three 

tptum  vaque  ad  Di[o  nobis]    ^^n  Smg  * 

hee  tres  cantant  idem,  Id  est,  "Victiwze  pascha[li]  "*     yml 
in  cantifracto  vel  saltum  in  pallinodio 

Tuwc    occurewt    eis    apostoll.    scilicet.       Petrus.  Peter,  Andrew 

and  John  sing 

Andreas  et  Ioha;/n[es],  ca^tantes  hoc.  Scilicet.  to°- 
"Die  nobis  maria.  qwid*  vidisti  in  vi[a?]"3  re 
spondent  mulieres  cawtantes.  "Sepulcrum  Christl 
viuefVztis]"  et  cetera,  vsqwe  ad  "Credendz/wz  e^  /" 
A$ostoli  respondewtes  cawta//t.  "  Credewdum  est 
magw  soli  marie  veraci,  quam  ludeorum  turbe  fal- 
laci."  Mulieres  iterum  cawtant  "  Scim[us]  Chris 
tum  surrexisse  vere  /"  Apostoli  et  mulieres  [tres] 
cantawt  quasi  cowcredentes.  "Tu  nobis  Christe  rex 
misere[re].  Amen)."  Post  cantum  dicit  petrus. 
(U  Sufficit  si  ca?ztet«r  eisdc///  notw  et  cant[ibus] 
vt  ha^etur  in  sequewtia  predicta) 

1  MS.  immolant.  This  Sequence  is  from  the  Easter  Sunday 
Mass,  held  at  Tierce,  9  a.ra.  See  Note,  p.  227-8. 

3  Some  of  the  writing  in  the  Margin  is  cut  off. 

3  The  Sequence  of  which  this  and  the  following  quotations  form 
part,  is  both  in  the  Easter  Sunday  Matins  (held  before  Dawn),  and 
in  the  9  o'clock  Mass.  See  p.  227. 


224 


FART    II.      CHRIST'S   RESURRECTION.      SCENE    3. 


[leaf  170,  back] 

Then  Peter  aaks 
Mary  Magdalene 
for  newt. 


Msrv  M  ,_;.!. ilene 
tells  Peter 


that  Christ  Is 
risen,  and  has 


restord  Adam 
and  his  mates 
to  Paradise. 


The  other  Maries 
confirm  these 
glad  tidings. 


[leaf  171J 


Petrus  dicit  post  cantum  : 

How  is  it  now,  marye  ?     Can  ye  teH  1557 

Any  newes  which  may  lik  vs  weH  ? 
Blithe  is  youre  Countena&nce.  1559 

Mawdleyn) 

Peter,  in  youre  mynde  be  fast  &  stabiH  ; 
I  can  shew  youe  tydinges  most  co/wfortabiH ; 
Trust  it  of  assurance  !  1562 

Petere 
Gude  marye,  of  hym  I  wold1  knawlege  haue.          1563 

Mawdleyn) 

Peter  !  oure  master  is  resyn)  from  his  grave  !  • 
He  apperit  vnto  vs  three  I5^5 

In  fleshe  &  bone,  in  a  gloriose  wise  ! 
He  base  restorid?  adam  &  his  in-to  paradise, 
Which  were  in  helles  captiuitee  !  1568 

Peter 
God  graunte  youre  wordes  war  not  i«  vayn) ! 

Mawdlen) 

Peter,  That1  I  saye  is  trew  &  certayn), 
And  therfor  dowt  no  more  !  1571 

Secund  marye 

Brother,  we  saughe  our  lord1  face  to  face  j 
He  Apperit  to  vs  in  this  same  place. 
And  bad  vs  mowrne  not  so  sore !  15  7^ 

Thride  mar[y]e 
He  bade  vs  testify  &  tett 
That  he  was  resyn)  in  flesh  &  ferr, 
And  dy  he  shaH  no  more.  1577 

Petere 

A,  mary!  gret  grace  to  youe  is  lenf,  1578 

To  whom  our  lord!  was  so  content1, 
Befor  other*  tiH  apere.  1580 

1  which  erotit  through. 


PART  ii.     CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.     SCENE  3. 


22 


Mawdlen) 

He  said,  ye  ali  shuld  see  hym  in  Galilee  j 
And  peter,  youre  selfe  expresly  namyd?  hee  ; 
Therfore  be  of  gud  chere !  1583 

Andrewe 

Yit  to  his  sepulcre  lat  vs  go,  &  see,  : 

To  satisfye  our  myndes  from  ali  perplexitee. 

Peter 
So  cownseH  I  we  doo.  1586 

Tune  ibunt.  precurrens  Johannes  dicif 
Brothere  peter,  com  hither*  &  behold! ! 
It  is  no  f  abiH  that  marye  vs  hase  told? ; 
This  thinge  is  certen),  loo  !  ^89 

How  say  ye,  brother*,  be  ye  satisfied1  ? 


Christ  will  soon 
be  in  Galilee. 


The  3  Apostles 
go  to  the 
Sepulchre, 


John  first. 

He  sees  that 
Christ  is  risen. 


Petrus 

Brothere  lofen,  I  am  fully  certifyed? 
To  gife  credens  her-too.  ijjp.2 

Now  shall  the  suth  be  verefied? 

Of  hym)  that  most  may  doo  /  J594 

O,  mycfie  ar  we  bound?,  gud  lord?,  to  yowr  highnes ! 
For  vs  wer  ye  born),  &  also  circumcised?  j 
For  vs  were  ye  termp[t]id*  in  the  wildernese; 
Now  Crucyfied?  to  deth,  most  shamfully  dispised? !  1598 
Yit  aH  this,  gude  lorde,  had  vs  not  sufficyed? 
But  ye  had  resen)  fro  deth  /  by  yowr  godhed'  gloriuse; 
Yowr  resurrection)  was  most  /  necessarye  for  vs.       1601 
Youre  meknese  sufFert  derh  for  our  saluation),         1602 
And  now  are  ye  resen  for  oure  Justification) ; 
Youre  name  euer  blessit  bee  ! 


Peter  sees  it  too, 


and  praises 
Christ. 


[leaf  171,  back] 
He  died  for  our 
Salvation,  and  is 
risen  for  our 
1 604.   Justification. 


Andrewe 

This  resurrection),  to  aH  Jje  warld?  is  consolation, 

For  of  oure  fayth  it  is  trew  consolation), 

Approvid?  by  his  diuinitee.  1607 


DIGBY    MY  ST. 


126 


PART    II.       CHRIsfs   RESURRECTION.       SCENE    3. 


St.  John  bids 
them  all 


lohannes  Euangelista 

Brether* !  loy,  &  comfurth,  &  Inward  iubilation),    1608 
And  gostly  gladnese,  in  vs  ati  Encrease  may. 
We  haue  passidf  the  tym)  /  of  dole  &  desolation), 
And  also  I  am  sure  /  &  right  well  dare  I  saye,         161 1 
The  loyfuH  tresure  of  our  hart4  /  we  sari  se  |>is  daye ! 
Honour,  loy  &  glory  /  be  to  hym  wit/t-out  end, 
Which  after  sich  sorow,  comfurte  can  send?!  1614 

laud  and  praise    To  laude  &  prayse  hym,  lat  vs  be  abowfr  j 

To  loue  hym),  &  lofe  hym),  &  lawly  hym  lowtf, 

With  mynd?  &  mowtn"  devowtlye.  1617 

Ther,  brether*  wit  A  loyfuH  harte, 

And  devowt1  sisters  on  your  parte, 

Entone  sum  ermonye  !  1620 


They  all  sing  a 
Song  of  Praise. 


Their  Sorrow  is 
turnd  to  Joy. 


[leaf  172] 
They  depart,  in 
hope  of  seeing 
Christ  this 
night 


To  Him  they 
commend  their 
hearers. 


tune  Cantant  omnes  simul  "  Scinmy  Christum," 
veH  aliaTO  sequentiam  aut  ympnuwi  de  resurrectiowe. 
Post  cantum,  dicitf  Ioh[aujnes,  finem  faciens  / 

Loo,  down)  fro  hevyn)  /  euer-mor  grace  dos  springe  ! 

The  gudnese  of  god  is  incowparabirl,  yee  see  : 

Her  was  sorow  &  mournyng*  /  lamentacion  &  wepiwge ; 

Now  is  loy  &  gladnese  /  &  of  comfurth  plentee,1  1624 

Joyfully  depart  wee  /  now  owt1  of  this  place,  1625 

Mekly  abidinge  the  inspiration)  of  grace, 

Which  we  belefe  1627 

SchaH  com  to  vs  this  nyght ! 

Now,  far-werl  euery  wighte  ! 

We  commend1  yow  all  to  his  myghf, 

Which  for  vs  suffert  grefe.  1631 


Explicit* 


1  Written  at  the  bottom  of  the  page  ;  in  a  later  hand  : — written 
hy  me  .  .  .  (torn  off). 


NOTE.  227 

Note.  To  explain  the  parts  of  the  Romanist  Service  referrd  to  on 
pages  223,  226,  Miss  Mary  Lambert,  of  Milford  House,  Elms  Road, 
Clapham  Common,  S.W.,  who  took  so  much  interest  in  Canon  Simmons's 
edition  of  The  Lay  Folks'  Mass  Book  (E.  E.  T.  Soc.,  1879),  has  been 
good  enough  to  send  me  the  Paschal  Time,  vol.  i,  of  "  The  Liturgical 
Year,  by  the  Very  Rev.  Dom  Prosper  Gue"renger,  translated  from  the 
French  by  the  Rev.  Dom  Laurence  Shepherd,  Dublin,  and  J.  Duffy, 
1871."  And  as  most  of  our  members  probably  know  nothing  (like  I  do) 
about  Papal  services,  I  make  full  extracts  for  them. 

(p.  125.)  The  Office  of  Matins  [in  the  Morning  before  Dawn]. 

The  Night  Office  of  every  Sunday  .  .  consists  of  3  portions  called  Nocturns. 
Each  Nocturn  is  composed  of  3  Psalms  with  their  Antiphons,  followed  by  3 
Lessons  and  Responsories.  These  Nocturns  .  .  end  with  the  Ambrosian  Hymn, 
the  Te  Deum  ;  they  begin  after  midnight,  and  are  over  by  the  aurora,  when  the 
still  more  solemn  office  of  Lauds  is  chanted.  But  this  Night  [t.i.  Easter  Sunday 
after  12  a.m.]  has  been  almost  wholly  spent  in  the  administration  of  Baptism  .  .  . 
This  is  the  reason  of  there  being  only  one  Nocturn  for  the  Night  Office  [now 
calld  Matins  because  it's  performd  in  the  morning]  of  Easter  Sunday. 

(p.  138.)  In  most  of  the  Churches  in  the  West,  during  the  Middle-Ages,  as 
soon  as  the  Third  Lesson  was  read,  and  before  the  Te  Deum,  the  Clergy  went  in 
procession,  singing  a  Responsory,  to  the  Altar,  where  the  Blessed  Sacrament 
had  been  kept  since  Maundy  Thursday,  and  which  was  called  the  Chapel  of  the 
Sepulchre.  Three  Clerics  were  vested  in  Albs,  and  represented  Magdalene  and 
her  two  companions.  When  the  procession  reached  the  Chapel  "and  the  3 
Clerics  had  gone  to  the  Altar,  and  sung  a  verse  "  Two  Chanters  [—  the  Peter, 
Andrew  and  John  of  the  Play]  stepped  forward  towards  the  Altar  steps,  on 
which  the  Clerics  were  standing,  and  addressed  them  in  these  words  of  the 
Sequence : 

Tell  us,  O  Mary,  what  sawest  thou     Die  nobis,  Maria, 
on  the  way  ?  Quid  vidisti  in  via  ? 

The  first  Cleric,  who  represented  Magdalene,  answered  : 

I  saw  the  Sepulchre  of  the  living  Sepulchrum  Christi  viventis, 
Christ:  I  saw  the  glory  of  him  that  Et  gloriam  vidi  resurgentis. 
had  risen. 

The  second  Cleric,  who  represented  Mary,  the  mother  of  James,  added  : 

I  saw  the  Angels  that  were  the  wit-      Angelicas  testes 

nesses  : 
I  saw  the  winding-sheet  and  the  cloths.          Sudarium  et  vestes. 

The  third  Cleric,  who  represented  Salome,  completed  the  reply,  thus : 
Christ,  my  hope,  hath  risen  !  Surrexit  Christus,  spes  mea. 

He  shall  go  before  you  into  Galilee.  Precedet  vos  in  Galilaan. 

The  two  Chanters  [=  the  3  Apostles  of  the  Play]  answered  with  this  protest 
of  faith  : 

It  behoves  us  to  believe  the  single      Credendum  est  magis  soli 
testimony  of  the  truthful  Mary,  rather     Maries  veraci, 
than  the  whole  wicked  host  of  Jews.          Quam  Judaorum 

Prava  cohorti. 


228  NOTE. 

Then  the  whole  of  the  Clergy1  joined  in  this  acclamation  : 

We  know  that  Christ  hath   truly      Seimus  Christum  surrexisse 
risen  from  the  dead.    Do  thou,  O  Con-     A  mortuis  vere  : 
queror  and  King,  have  mercy  upon  us  !      Tu  nobis,  victor  Rex,  miserere  I  " 

After  the  Matins,  comes  at  dawn,  Lauds,  so  called  "because  it  is 
mainly  composed  of  Psalms  of  Praise."  This  is  followd  at  9  a.m.,  the 
hour  of  Tierce,  by  Mass,  in  which,  after  the  Antiphon,  Prayer,  Easter 
Song,  Introit,  Collect,  Epistle,  Gradual,  and  Alleluia-verse  (p.  158 — 164) 
have  been  sung, 

"the  Church  adds  to  her  ordinary  chants,  a  hymn  full  of  enthusiastic  ad 
miration  for  her  Risen  Jesus.  It  is  called  a  Sequence,  because  it  is  a  continuation 
of  the  Alleluia. 

Let  Christians  offer  to  the  Paschal  a  Victima  paschali  laudes 

Victim  the  sacrifice  of  praise.  Immolent  christiani. 

The  Lamb  hath  redeemed  the  sheep :         Agnus  redemit  oves : 

the  innocent  Jesus  hath  reconciled  sin-  Christus  innoceiis  Patri 

ners  to  his  Father.  Reconciliavit  peccatores. 

Death  and  Life  fought  against  each         Mors  et  vita  duello 

other,  and  wondrous  was  the  duel :  Conflixere  mirando : 

The  King  of  Life  was  put  to  death ;  Dux  vita  mortuus 

yet  now  he  lives  and  reigns.  Regnat  vivus. 

Tell  us,  O  Mary,  &c.  Die  nobis,  Maria  [<5rY.,  as  a6ove]." 

It  is  clear,  then,  that  the  Play  was  only  a  better  and  more  realistic 
performance  of  part  of  the  Romish  Church  service.  This  quasi-acting 
of  Easter  Mysteries  in  church  is  new  to  me.3  It  is  not  done  now,  Miss 
Lambert  says. 

1  The  play  gives  the  first  a  lines  to  the  3  women,  and  the  last  line  only  to  the 
women  and  apostles  conjoind. 

*  Sequences.     "The  first,  or  the  '  Victima  Paschali,'  is,  we  believe,  by  the  vast 
majority  of  critics  accredited  to  a  monk,  Notker  by  name,  of  the  celebrated  monastery 
of  St.  Gall,  in  Switzerland,  who  flourished  in  the  ninth  century,  and  attained  to  much 
renown  by  his  talent  for  writing  sacred  poetry.     According  to  some,  he  is  said  to  have 
been  the  first  who  caused  this  species  of  composition  to  be  introduced  into  the  Mass  ; 
and,  if  we  are  to  believe  Durandus,  he  was  encouraged  in  this  by  Pope  Nicholas  the 
Great  (858 — 867).     Others  ascribe  its  introduction  to  Alcuin,  the  preceptor  of  Charle 
magne.     The  '  Victims  Paschali '  is  also  sometimes  attributed  to  Robert,  King  of 
the  Franks." 

p.  224  of  "  A  History  of  the  Mass  and  its  Ceremonies  in  the  Eastern  and  Western 
Church."  By  Rev.  J.  O'Brien,  A.M.  .  .  3rd  Edition,  Revised,  New  York,  1879. 
— M.  LAMBERT. 

*  I  have  since  seen,  in  a  review  of  the  englisht  Hase's  book  on  Mysteries  and  Mi 
racle  Plays,  1880,  that  Prof.  Ward  has  noted  the  fact  in  his  History  of  the  Drama, 
from  the  Germans,  who've  taught  us  so  much. 


229 


GLOSSARY  AND  INDEX. 


MAINLY    BY 


S.  J.  HERRTAGE,  B.A. 


A  (often),  89/915,  have 
Abacuk,  114/1584,  Habakkuk 
Abasse,  107/1376,  vb.  be  abashed, 

fear 

A-baye,  68/363,  sb.  bay,  surrender 
Abey,  114/1570,  obey 
Abill,  211/1178,  vb.  fit,  make  fit 
A-bought,    3/3,    adv.    about ;     a- 

bowght,  60/154,  around,  about 
Abuse,   209/1111,  vb.  misuse,  use 

improperly 

Abyll,  58/99,  adj.  fit,  becoming 
Abyron,  60/159,  Hebron  (?) 
Advertacyounes,  90/921,  warnings, 

information,  knowledge 
Aferd,  94/1033,  adj.  afraid 
Afyabylle,  75/548,  affable 
Agayn-sayd,  55/15,  vb.  contradicted, 

opposed 

A^en,  1 2 8/1 93 5,  prep,  towards 
Ajens,    58/91,    towards,   prep,    to 
wards 
A^ens,  115/1606,  prep,  in  front  of, 

beforq 
Al  and  Sum,  111/1482,  altogether, 

completely 

Alapye,  60/158,  (?)  what  country 
Alme,  82/717,  a.  kind,  gentle.    Lat. 

almus 
Almesse,  116/1642,  sb.  lit.:   alms, 

hence,  an  act  of  kindness 
Alonly,  57/78 ;  107/1382,  adv.  only ; 

112/1526,      adv.     only,     alone. 

"Allonely,   Tantummodo,  solum 

solummodo"     Cath.  Anglicum. 
Ambra,  67/339,  &•  amber 
A-mons,  76/569,  prep,  amongst 
Amyke,    141/70,    sb.    friend,    Lat. 

amicus 
A-myttyd,  107/1381,  pp.  admitted, 

ranked 


Ananias,  p.  35 

Angell    Raphael,    p.     107  ;     other 

angels,  p.  10,  51,  53,  205- 
Anima  or  the  Soul,  p.   140 ;  her 

Five  Wits,  p.  145 
Anna  the  Prophetess,  p.  19,  261 
Anosed,  147/2  24,  pp.  H  alii  well  says, 
"acknowledged, "but  the  context 
seems  rather  to  require  hindered, 
or  opposed.     Is  it  harmed,  spoilt, 
from  the  Fr.  nuire,  to  hurt(?) 
A-penyon,  110/1463,  sb.  opinion 
A-plye,  129/1982,  vb.  apply  myself, 

set  myself  to 

Apposed,  147/225,  pp.  questioned, 
examined.  "Examyn,orapposyn, 
ora-sayyn.  Examine"  Prompt. 
Parv. 

\  A-queyntowns,  77/580,  .$•£.  acquaint 
ance,  intimacy 
Arend,  59/136,  sb.  errand 
Arere,  69/407,  vb.  raise 
Arimathea,  Joseph  of,  p.  172 
Aspecyall,  98/1137,  especial 
Asprongyn,   100/1173,   sprung  up, 

risen 
Assatt,  114/1589,  sb.  (?)  distress,  or 

astate  =  estate,  state 
Assye,  60/158,  Asia 
At,  194/669,  prep,  of,  from 
A-taunt,  160/608,  adv.  (d-tanf)  so 
much.     "A  dronken   foole  that 
sparith  for  no  dispence,  To  drynk 
ataunt  til   he    slepe    at   table." 
Lydgate,  in  Halliwell. 
A-trey,  92/983,  vb.  Fr.  '  attraire,  to 
allure,  intice,  inueagle,  toll  on  ; 
attraiement,  an  illuring,  inticing, 
inueagling. ' — Cotgrave. 
Attes,  80/693,  at  his,  at  its 
i  Aunterous,  27/1415,  adventurous 


GLOSSARY    AND    INDEX. 


Avdyeans,  55/2,  sb.  audience,  hearers 
Avoydyt,  64/264-5,  vb.  goes  out 
Awansyd,    58/107,  pp.    advanced, 

promoted 
A-wantt,   A-want,    90/928,    interj. 

get  out,  avaunt 
Awawns,    116/1642,    vb.   advance, 

assist 
Awayll,    104/1309,  vb.  profit,   ad 

vantage 

Awe,  171/4,  7,  adj.  all 
Awete,  97/j  1  1  1,  vb.     Latin  avete, 

hail! 

A-weyle,  69/404,  vl>,  avail,  profit 
Ay-whan,     150/345,    adv.     every- 

when,  at  all  times,  ever 

Babbyd,  87/863,^.  smitten,  struck 
B  iles,  219/1456,  sb.  pi.  griefs,  pains 
Balys,  90/919,  sb.  troubles,  mis 

fortunes.    A.S.  bealu 
Balys,  82/735,  sb.  rod 
Bamys,  93/1018,  balms 
Baramathye,  102/1260,  Arimathea 
Bayne,  203/950,  adj.  ready,  willing. 

"  Beyn  01    plyaunt     Flexibilis." 

Prompt.  Pant. 
Be,  101/1223,  prep,  by 
Be-cum,  95/1052,  pp.  'where  he  is 

be-cum  '  =  what  has  become  of 

him,  where  he  has  gone  to 
Bede-  woman,  1  29/  1  967,  sb.  a  woman 

bound  to  pray  for  another 
Bedlem,  10/237;  60/1  59>  Bethlehem 
Be-dred,  3/64,  dreaded 
Beelzebub,  82/725 
Be-hold,   123/1814,  pp.  beholden, 

bound 
Be-holddyn,   80/658,  adj.  obliged, 

bound  in  gratitude.     The  cor 

rupted   form  beholding    is   very 

common  in  the  writers   of  the 

1  7th  cent. 
Belfagour,    82/725,  pr.   nn.    Bel- 

phagor,  a  devil 
Belial,  p.  43 
Belle,  99/1169,  vb.  roar,   as   deer 

'  bell  ' 
Be-lyve,    122/1801,  adv.  at  once, 

quickly,  hastily 
Bemmys,  90/934,  sb.  trumpets.  A.S. 


Benevolens,     1/21,    sb.    good-will, 
kindness 


Benyng,  71/442,  adj.  benign 

Beral,  70/425,  sb.  (?)  beryl:  as  we 
should  say  "  the  pearl  of  beauty" 

Berdes,  57/51,  sb.  maidens 

Berzaby,  60/159,  Beersheba 

Besawnt,  101/1218,  sb.  besant,  a 
golden  coin  so  called  from  having 
been  first  coined  at  Byzantium, 
or  Constantinople 

Besene,  27/16,  drest,  adornd 

Be-shrewe,  1 56/506,  i  pr.  s.  curse 

Be-take,  72/465,  vb.  commend , 
130/1989,  I  pr.  s.  commit,  com 
mend 

Beth,  112/1528,  pr.  pi.  are 

Bethany,  57/82 

Betyll  browyd,  82/724,  adj.  with 
overhanging  brows.  Compare/1. 
Ploivman,  B.  v.  190 

Bey,  143/108,  i  pr.  pi.  buy,  pay  or 
suffer  for 

Bey  the  bargayn,  90/937,  941,  pay 
the  penalty,  pay  the  price  for 

Blabyr-lyppyd,  90/927,  adj.  thick- 
lipped.  Cf.  P.  Plowman,  B.  v. 
190:  "Blabyr-lyppyd:  broccus, 
labrosits."  Cat  A.  Angl. 

Blasse,  90/934,  vb.  wave 

Blasyd,  83/745,  pp.  on  fire,  in 
flames 

Ble,  57/68;  129/1977,  sb.  counten 
ance,  complexion,  colour.  A.S. 
bleo 

Bleryd  is  ower  eye,  92/985,  a  phrase 
signifying,  "  we  have  been  de 
ceived  or  mocked."  The  expres 
sion  is  common:  see,  for  instance, 
Sir  Ferumbras,  ed.  Herrtage, 
391  ;  Romaunt  of  the  Rose, 
3912,  &c. 

Blomefylde,  Myles,  poet,  p.  27,  41 

Blysch,  88/885  ;  97/I"7>  sb.  bliss, 
joy 

Blyssynd,  125/1859,  sb.  blessing 

Borne,  84/780,  i  pr.  s.  bum,  am 
confused  with  a  noise  in  my 
head  and  ears  ;  '  bombon  as  been 
(bummyn  or  bumbyn)  Bombizo.' 
Pr.  Parv.  '  To  bomme  as  a  fly 
doth,  or  husse,  bruire'.  .  Pals 
grave,  ib. 

Bone,  117/1668,  sb.  prayer.  O.  Icel. 
bon 

Bord,  79/630,  sb.  table 


GLOSSARY    AND    INDEX. 


231 


Bornyd,  71/443,^'.  (?)  burnished 
Borons,  56/50,  sb.  barons 
Bote,  90/919,  sb.  cure,  healer 
Botell  (truss)  of  haye,  30/85 
Bovnteest,  91/952,  most  bountiful 
Bowth,    127/1925,  pp.  bought,  re 
deemed 

Brace,  177/179,  i>b.  embrace,  clasp 
Brayd,  99/1148,  sb.  haste,  hurry 
Breelles,     90/927,     sb.     worthless 
rascals.   "  Breyel,  Brollus,  brolla, 
miserculus."    Prompt.  Parv. 
Bren,  146/196,  sb.  brows 
Brentt,  116/1629,^.  been  burnt 
Brochit,   197/782,   I  pt.  s.  tapped, 
opened,  broached.    "  Brochyn, or 
settyn  avesselle  broche  (abroche), 
attamino,    clipsidro"      Prompt. 
Parv.;  brocbit, pt.  s.  197/783 
Bronde,  3/64,  sb.  sword 
Brystyt,  86/822,  vb.  bursts 
Burde,  212/1215,  sb.  board,  table 
By,  2/37,  prep-  by  hym,  by  his  way 
Byggyd,     130/2024,    pp.    settled, 

placed 

Byn,   56/50,  vb.;  70/420,  vb.  be; 
1 12/1533,  pr.  pi.  be,  are 

Caiphas,  p.  28,  42 

Cardyakylles,  106/1363,  sb.  a  pain 

of  the  heart.     "A  cardiakylle  or 

cardiake :      cardia,      cardiaca." 

Cath.  Angl. 
Carefull,  94/1034;    121/1768,   adj. 

anxious,  full  of  care,  sad 
Castell,  87/845,  sb.  village 
Cawth,  61/191,  pp.  caught 
Cayftyff,  79/631,  sb.  wretch 
Cayseres,    90/936,    sb.    Emperors, 

Caesars 
Caystyys,     57/58,     sb.    (?)  caitiffs, 

wretches 
Ceile,   174/72,  sb.  happiness.     "  It 

turned    him    to    sele."       Cursor 

Mundi,  4432,  A.S.  seel. 
Chalyngyd,    105/1318,    vb.     claim. 

"Tochalange;  vindicare."  Cath. 

Angl. 

Ghana,  205/999,  Cana 
Chapetelet,  140/16,  sb.  chaplet 
Cheveler,  139/1,  sb.  a  wig 
Children,  the  Killing  of  the,  p.  i,  13 
Choppe,  160/641,   I  pr.  s.  bargain, 

barter.     A.  S.  ceapian 


Christ,  his  7  Names,  132/2044 
or  Wisdom,  a   Morality  of, 

P-  137 

Chyldyurn,  87/851,  sb.  children 
Chyr,  56/48,  sb.  cheer 
Chyr,  77/575,  vb.  cheer,  please 
Clary,  67/342  ;  72/477,  sb.  a  kind  of 

sweet  wine 

Cleffys,  57/55,  j*.  (?)  cliffs 
Clennesse,    191/589,  sb.  purity   of 
life.      "A    clennes.       Honestas, 
mundicia,    puritas,    sinceritas." 
Cat  hoi.  Anglicum. 
Cler,    113/15623,    sb.    clerk,    Lat. 

clerus 

Cleyff,  120/1741,  sb.  cliffs  (?) 
Glower,  65/294,  sb.  clover 
Clumme,    157/522,    adj.    lit.    be 
numbed,  hence,  rendered  useless. 
Compare    "  Clumsyd,  eneruatus 
eviratus,"     Cathol.     Anglicum, 
and  Cotgrave  "Entombi,  stonied, 
benuovned,  clumpse,  asleep." 
Clyvytt,  93/1000,  clave,  split 
Cognysshon,  57/76,  sb.  knowledge 
Comic  scenes,  p.  30,  99,  108 
Compylyd,  85/806,  pp.  written   as 

in  a  book 

Conctypotent,  49/596,  all-powerful 
Connownt,  123/1803,  sb.  covenant, 

sum  bargained  for 
Conre^ent,  p.  166,  at  foot :  (?) 
Contraly,  90/940,  contrarily 
Conversion  of  St.  Paul,  p.  27 
Coroscant,    91/953,    adj.    shining, 

bright.     Lat.  coruscantem 
Coryo5syte,      74/511,      smartness, 

finery;  a  dandy,  75/550 
Coryous,     189/581,    adj.     curious, 

strange 

Costodyer,  51/628,  custodian,  guard 
Covnnyng,     85/806,     sb.     science, 

knowledge 

Cowff,  101/1224,  vb.  cough 
Crabby sh,  30/91,  uncivil,  rude 
Cressyn,    111/1512,    vb.    increase, 

multiply 

Cunnyng,  1/24,  skill,  science 
Cyrus,  Lazarus's  father,  p.  56,  64 

Dandy  Curiosity,  in  a  play,  p.  73,  74 
Daysyys  lee,  74/515.  daisy 
Deadly  Sins,  the  Seven,  p.  75 
Debonarius,  71/444,  adj.  courteous 


3J3 


GLOSSARY    AND    INDEX. 


Dectours,  79/650,  sb.  debtors 
Dedenynglye,   216/1352,   adv.  un 
deservedly,  unworthily 
Dee,  212/1229,  vb.  die 
Defame,  132/2035,  sb.  villainy 
Defye,   156/511,  i  pr.  s.  despise. 
"  To  defye  :  despicere."     Cathol. 
Anglicum. 

Delacion,  49/588,  delay 
Delectary,  83/751,  delightful 
Delycyte,    91/946;    132/2039,    de- 

liciousness,  delightfulness 
Demene,  114/1582,  rule,  manage 
Dempte,  80/662,  deemd,  judgd 
Dent,  64/272,  sb.  stroke 
Departe,    58/102,    vb. ;    115/1613, 

imp.  s.  share 

Derevorthy,    125/1852,    adj.    pre 
cious,  dear.     A.S.  deorwyrfte 
Dessetres,  58/104,  sb,  distress 
Desyern,  82/721,  vb.  desire,  pray 
Deuely,  150/324,  adj.  deuilish,  re 
sembling  a  devil 
Deversarye,  83/754,  adj.  diverse 
Devils,  8  beaten,  p.  82  ;  see  p.  53 
Devyrs,  86/832,  sb.  duty 
Dewresse,  65/281,  sb.  hardship. 
Diete,  204/961,  ^/.  s.  died 
Discent,  1/3,  sb.  descent 
Disperbilit,  214/1301,^.  scattered 
abroad.  "  S  par  pe  here  and  there, 
segrego,spargo."    Huloet.  "Dis- 
parplyn.       Dissipo,    dispergo." 
Prompt.  Parv. 
Docctor,  88/877,  sb.  daughter 
Dog  Latin,  100/1187 
Dolar,  95/1058;    Dolour,  95/1056, 

sb.  grief 

Don,  63/227,  pp.  done 
Done,  206/1043,  PP-  placed,  put. 
"  To  do  on  Crosse.   Crucifigere." 
Cath.  Anglicum. 
Doole,   176/138,  sb.  sorrow,  grief. 

O.Fr.  doe  I 

Doth,  56/42,  sb.  doubt 
Dovctors,  57/68,  sb.  daughters 
Dowt,  60/1 56,  sb.  fear 
Dowt,  216/1371,  imp.  s.  fear 
Dowth,  103/1279,  doubt 
Dree,   180/259,  v&-  suffer,  endure. 

A.S.  dreogan 

Drench,  121/1747,  subj.  drown 
Drye,  911/1043,  vb.  suffer.     A.S. 
dreogan 


Drynchyn,   83/754,  pp.   drowned, 

overwhelmed 

Dya,  67/339,  s°-  Dyachylon  (?) 
Dylf,  76/563-4,  sb.  devils 
Dylfe,  61/187,  sb.  devil 
Dylle,  a  Devil,  p.  91 
Dyscus,    113/1562,    imp.   s.   show 

abroad,  spread,  prove 
Dysmay,  94/1035,  am  troubled,  dis- 

mayd 

Dysses,  57/80,  sb.  decease 
Dyssese,  95/1056,  sb.  pain,  grief 
Dyssever,  56/27,  vb.  separate,  pick 

out 

Dysspyttyd,  93/999,  did  despite  to 
Dysyer,  74/513,  desire 

Eclippid,  183/356,^.  eclipsed 

Ee,  209/1134,  sb.;  212/1228,  eye 

Egall,  55/6,  adj.  equal 

Ekes,  176/138,  pr.  s.  increases. 
A.S.  ecan 

Emende,  1/23,  vb.  amend,  correct 

Emme,  100/1172,  sb.  uncle.  A.S. 
earn 

En-abyte,  80/683,  vb.  dress,  array 

Enhanse,  58/111,  vb.  raise,  ad 
vance;  'enhansyd,'  132/2056 

Enrytawns,  133/2075,  sb.  inherit 
ance 

Ensalue,  202/916,  vb.  embalm 

Entone,  221/1498,  vb.  intone,  sing 

Erber,  76,  sb.  garden 

Ermonye,  226/1620,  sb.  harmony, 
melody 

Ewyr,  83/774,  adv.  ever 

Exsport,  72/458,  vb.  expel,  drive 
out 

Eylytt,  U3/I545,  ails,  troubles 

Fakown,  90/942,  sb.  falcon 
Fantasticall,  222/1545,  adj.  fanci 
ful,  "  fancy-bred  " 
Fathyrod,  89/904,  sb.  Fatherhood 
Favorows,    90/942,    91/9481,    adj. 

well-favoured,  handsome 
Faworus,  80/673,  desirous 
Fay  tors,  60/145,  sb.  wretches,  ras 
cals 

Fectually,  79/643,  adv.  in  truth 
Fegetyff,  66/318,  adj.  fugitive,  slip 
pery 

Felishipe,  202/924,  sb.  company. 
"A  Felischippe.  Consortium, 


GLOSSARY    AND    INDEX. 


2.33 


societas,   et  cetera:  vbi  a  com 
pany."     Cat  ho  I.  Anglicum. 
Fell,  172/18,  adj.  cruel,  furious 
Felle,  75/535,  vt.  fell 
Felle,  115/1615,  adj.  many.     A.S. 

feol 
Femynyte,    57/71,    sb.    the    good 

qualities  of  a  woman 
Fles,  106/1351,  sb.  fleece 
Flyth,  LI  1/1507,  z/3.  flight 
Fode,  90/942,  ,y£.  lit.  woman,  hence 

wife.     Fodys,  91/948,  pi, 
Fon,  221/1500,^.  found 
For,  2/44,  prep,  in  spite  of 
For,  60/141,  prep,  to  prevent 
For-gon,  129/1974,^.  lost 
Forse,    160/608,  pr.  pi.   make   or 

think  of  importance,  regard 
For-thy,  215/1317,  conj.  therefore 
Founyd,  152/393,  adj.  foolish 
Frangabyll,  66/320,  brittle 
Fray,  2/39,  vb.  storm,  rage 
Fray,  91/968,  sb.  fear,  terror 
Freell,  88/888,  adj.  frail,  sinful,  weak 

[persons] 
Freelnesse,     146/200,    sb.     frailty, 

weakness 

Frelty,  215/1316,  sb.  frailty,  weak 
ness 

Fresse,  90/942,  adj.  fresh,  fair 
Frest,  91/971,   adv.    at    first,   be 
fore 
Frett,   112/1529,  vb.   grieve,  pain, 

torture,  tear  to  pieces 
Fretth,  84/786,  sb.  fretting,  grief 
Fryst,  103/1272,  adv.  first 
Fulfyllyd,  57/74,  vb.  filled 

Galonga,  67/339,  sb-  (?)  galingale 
Garlement,  27/16,  ornament 
Garre,  202/901,  vb.  cause.  "To  gar. 

Compescere,    cogere,    et   cetera" 

Cat  ho  I.  Anglicum. 
a  Gentleman's  servant,  30/90 
Govele,  160/604,  .$•£.  usury.   "Gowle 

orvsury.  Usura,femts."  Prompt. 

Parv. 
Gramercy,  1 85/410,^.  great  thanks, 

gratitude.     Fr.  grand  merci 
Grates,    146/190,    sb.    pi.    than'cs, 

gratitude 
Gravid,  200/853, //.  buried.     "To 

Graue  :   vbi.   to  Bery."     Cathol. 

Anglicum. 


Gravnt,  123/1805,  agreement ;  I25/ 

1873,  desire,  pleasure  (?) 
Grawous,    65/293,    adj.    grievous, 

heavy 
Grobbe,  a  ship's   boy,   107,   125  ; 

119/1717 

Grogly,  75/549,  «•  (?)ugly 
Grom,  73/489,  sb.  person,  man 
Grome,  72/478,  sb.  Pname  of  a  place 
Gromys,  75/549,  sb.  men,  persons 
Gronddar,  66/326,  sb.  foundation 
Grooth,    56/38,    vb.    (?)   grow,    or 

'  grooch ',  grumble,  murmur 
Growell,  99/1155,  sb.  gruel 
Grudge,   3/70,   vb.   grumble,  mur 
mur 

Gyddyn,  129/1982,^.  guide,  govern 
Gyldyr,  72/47.8,  sb.  guelder 
Gyn,  90/934,  vb.  begin 
Gynnyt,  126/1897,^.  s.  begins 
Gyntely,  140/16,  adv.  finely,  grandly 

Hals,  83/745,  sb-  neck.     A.S.  heals 

Halse,  67/347,  vb.  embrace 

Halsyd,  131/2031,^.^  1 41/44,  sa 
luted,  greeted,  welcomed 

Rape,  192/628,  sb.  happiness,  good 

Harbarow,  107/1398,  sb.  shelter, 
refuge 

Harlettes,  59/127  ;  Harlottes,  56/ 
27,  sb.  low  wretches,  villains 

Harrow,  91/963,  interj.  the  »old 
Norman  exclamation  calling  for 
assistance 

Havns,  130/2007,^.  raise,  carry  up 
(see  '  m-hansyd",'  '  enhanse ') 

Hawkyn,  Acolyte  of  the  priest  of 
Maryll,  99/1143 

Haylsinge,  196/744,  sb.  salutation, 
greeting 

Hayr,  144/159,  sb.  heir 

Hegges,  101/1198,  sb.  hedges 

Hele,  122/1790,  sb.  safety 

Helefull,  142/89,  adj.  wholesome 

Hell  harrowd,  p.  91 

Her,  80/669,  sb.  hair 

Here,  98/1 124,  pron.  their 

Herod,  King,  p.  3,  &c.  ;  his  death, 
p.  16  ;  p.  59,  103 

Herod's  Philosopher,  p.  60 

Herrowe,  150/325,  int.  haro  !  a  cry 
for  help 

Hestes,  57/52,  sb.  behests,  com 
mands 


»34 


GLOSSARY    AND    INDEX. 


Hight,  150/334,  i  pr.  s.  am  named 

Ho,  93/ioi5,/>r<?«.  who 

Hof  !  73/491.  ho  ! 

Holborn  Quest,  the,  165/773,  p.  16° 

Holy  Ghost,  the,  p.  38 

Holy  Land,  p.  119 

Home,  101/1226,  vb.  hum 

Hort,  91/965,  pt.pl.  (?)hurt 

Hossell,    133/2081,  vb,  administer 

the   holy  communion  to.     A.S. 

huslian,  134/2087 
Hosteler,  p.  30,  ostler 
Houkkyn,  99/1 1 60,  vb.  toy,  copulate 
Hurde,  159/584,  vb.  hoard 
Hye,  209/1132,  sb.  haste 
Hyr,  1 12/1524,  pron.  their 
Hyrre,  68/377,  Pron.  her 
Hyth,  123/1822,  pp.  named,  called. 

A.S.  hatan 

Idols  burnt  at  Marcylle,  p.  113 
a  Jew,  p.  88 

I  levant,  73/505,  adj.  elegant 
Illumynows,  78/623,  light-giving 
In-devre,  64/292,  vb.  endure 
Indeyn,  195/730,  adv.  unworthily, 

undeservedly.     Lat.  indigne 
Inflventt,  97/1096,  inflowing 
Inhansyd,  131/2023,  raisd  up 
Innumerabyll,  97/1100,  impossible 
Inspeccyon,  124/1851,  inspection 
I  ntere,     221/1501,     adj.     earnest, 

hearty 

Interlye,  198/828,  adv.  heartily, 
earnestly.  "  Enteyrly.  Intime." 
Cathol.  Anglicum.  "  He  praythe 
the  enterly.  Gesta  Romanorum, 

P-  171- 

Invre,  134/2102,  adj.  practised 
Irke,  213/1252,  vb.  to  be  grieved  or 

weary.      "  To    Irke.      fiastidire, 

tedere,    pigere."      Cathol.    An- 

glicum. 
I-wise,    203/937,    adv.    assuredly, 

certainly.     A.S.  geuris 
lelopher,  106/1363,  sb.  gillyflower 
Jesus  prophesies  his  sufferings  and 

death,  87 ;    raises   Lazarus,   89 ; 

appears  to  the  Maries  after  his 

resurrection,  95.     See  p.  54,  219, 

222 

lorourry,  161/939,  sb.  (P)swearing, 
or  jurying,  serving  on  juries  (to 
give  false  verdicts)  - 


Joseph,  Christ's  reputed  father,  p. 

10,  17 

Joseph  of  Arimathea,  p.  172 
ludeon,  106/1351,  Gideon 

Kelle,    74/520,    sb.    (?)  prostitute : 

compare  'collet' 
Kente,  177/156,^.  known 
Kepe,  120/1728,  sb.  care,  thought 
Kepit,  181/286,  pp.  cared,  thought 
Kertelys,    145/164,  sb.  pi.   kirtles, 

gowns 
Keyle,    174/76,  vb.  cool,   assuage. 

A.S.  celan 
Kings  of  the  Flesh,  the  World  and 

the  Devils,  p.  66 
Knett,  57/58,  vb.  knit,  involve 
Knett,  57/77,  pt.  s.  joined,  united 
Knette,    146/196,    i    pr.   s.    knit, 

crinkle,  my  brows 
Knowledge,  87/868,  vb.  acquiint, 

tell 
Kyd,  63/230,  pp.  known 

Laberyd,  123/1823,  pp.  workt, 
causd  to  go  or  wander  (labour) 

Lace,  159/580,  vb.  entangle,  in 
volve 

Lad,  56/43,  sb.  common  men 

Lak,  145/165,  imp.pl.  blame 

Langbaynnes,  61/190,  sb.  (?)  long- 
bones 

Lase,  73/497,  sb.  binding,  ornament 

Lasyd,  140/16,  pp.  laced,  fastened 

Lave,  125/1857,  sb.  law 

Lawly,  226/1616,  adv.  lowly,  hum 
bly 

Lazarus,  his  Death  and    Raising, 

P-  53,  54 

Lechery,  a  character,  p.  71 
Led,  93/1015,  sb.  lid,  cover 
Lef,  201/873,  7'^-  l've 
Lena,  55/13,  sb.  limb 
Lere,  74/527,  vb.  teach 
Lesinge,   222/1546,   sb.  lie.      A.S. 

leasung 

Letificacion,  2/26,  joy,  rejoicing 
Lewyn,  132/2043,  sb.  lightning 
Locucion  .  .  .  speech 
Lordeynnes,   61/189 »    83/741,   sb. 

wretches,  rascals.     "A  lurdane, 

vbi.  a  thefe."     Cath.  Anglicuin. 

See  Loselles. 
Lore,  150/326,  i  pr.  s.  am  lost 


GLOSSARY    AND    INDEX. 


235 


Losslles,  61/190,  sb.  lazy,  rascally 
fellows.  "  Lorel,  or  losel,  or  lu- 
dene  (lordayne  S.  lurdeyn  P.). 
Lurco."  Prompt.  Parv. 

Loue,  226/1616,  vb.  praise,  worship 

Lowt,  226/1616,  vb.  bow  to,  worship 

Lowte,  56/43  ;  90/926,  vb.  bow 

Lucense,  82/715,  sb.  light 

Lucifer,  p.  179 

Lure,  216/1337,  sb.  decoy,  trap,  the 
Cross 

Lyfeloll,  58/87,  sb.  livelihood 

Lylly,  103/1265,  likely 

Lynne,  76/558,  vb.  cease  [to  lead] 

Lyth,  84/768,  774,  sb.  light 

Lytturall,  52/658,  of  letters,  of 
literature 

Lytynnyd,  92/975,  pp.  lightened, 
emptied 

Lyve,  58/91,  vb.  live 

Mahondes,  60/142,  sb.   Mahound, 

Mahomet 

Malesse,  172/20,  sb.  malice 
Malyng,  70/434,  Malyngny,  70/428, 

adj.  evil,  malign 
Mament,  113/1554,  sb.  idol 
Mancyon,  110/1461,  stay,  dwelling 
Marcylle,  the  King  and  Queen  of, 

Idols  of,  p.  54 
Mare,  189/510,  2  pr.  pi.  destroy, 

upset.     A.S.  merran 
Margaretton,  67/339,  s&-  pearls 
Margente,  180/273,  sb.  margin,  va 
cant  space 

Maries,  the  three  at  the  tomb  of 
Jesus,  93 ;  Jesus  appears  to  them, 

95 

Marre,  56/39,  vb.  destroy 
Marry,  61/192,^.  destroyed 
Martes,  64/257,  (?)Mars 
Martha,  p.  58,  65,  83,  86,  88 
Mary,  Christ's  reputed  Mother,  p. 

n,  17,  186 
Mary  Magdalene,  a  Play  in  2  Parts, 

P-  53 

Mary  Salome,  p.  93,  97,  173 
Mary  the  mother  of  James,  p.  92, 

97,  173 

Mase,  1 59/581,  pr.  s.  makes,  causes 
Mawt,  72/476,  sb.  (?)  Malta 
May,  170/416,  sb.  maid 
Mell,  93/1003,  strife,  trouble 
Melleflueus,  85/794,  mellifluous 


Memoryall,  98/1134,  memory,  re 
membrance 

Mene,  160/620,  sb.  a  contralto,  or 
counter-tenor  voice 

Menyver,  140/16,  sb.  fur  of  the 
ermine  mixed  with  that  of  the 
weasel 

Mercury,  another  Devil,  p.  44 

Merrorys,  57/73,  sb.  (?)shinings, 
graces,  beauties 

Messenger,  p.  59,  62,  63 

Mesure,  114/1582,  moderation 

Metyest,  53/3,  adj.  most  meet, 
fitting 

Meyn,  180/255,  sb.  means,  way 

Midland  Dialect,  p.  53,  170 

Mind,  a  character,  and  her  6  Re 
tainers,  p.  138 

Mo,  57/80,  adj.  my 

Mold,  123/1812,  sb.  earth 

Monument,  89/894,  sb.  tomb,  sepul 
chre 

Monyment,  204/964,  sb.  tomb, 
grave 

A  Morality  of  Wisdom  or  Christ, 

P-  137 

Morell,  99/1155,  (?)  a  man's  name 
Moryd,  97/1099,  pp.  rooted,  firmly 

fixed 

Mosed,  151/348,  pp.  mased,  be 
witched 

Mot,  215/1329,  sb.  a  spot,  fault 
Moteryng,    59/128,  sb.    muttering, 

grumbling 

Mown,  69/392,  vb.  may,  can 
Mundus,  King  of  the  World,  p.  66, 

76 

Mynnate,  189/518,  sb.  minute 
Mynstrelly,  98/1141,  minstrelsy 
Myscheffe,  173/61,  sb.  misfortune 

Netnyows,  87/857,  adj.  exceeding 
Nevyn,  66/315,  vb.   mention,   de 
clare 

Nicodemus,  p.  184 
Noe,  106/1351,  Noah 
Non,  passim,  none,  no  one 
Northumbrian   and   Midland   dia 
lects,  p.  170 
Noyose,     193/650,     adj.    hurtful, 

harmful 

Noyttment,  79/640-1,  ointment 
Nymyos,  97/1112,  adj.  exceeding. 
Lat.  nimium 


GLOSSARY    AND    INDEX. 


Nysete,  162/653,  sb.  folly,  foolish 
ness 

Oble,  131/2019,  sb.  a  kind  of  wafer- 
cake,  sweetened  with  honey.  It 
was  the  usual  name  for  the  con 
secrated  wafer  in  the  Mass 

On,  82/718,  a.  one 

On-clypsyd,  106/1349,  adj.  un- 
eclip;ed 

Oncuryd,  84/769,  pp.  uncovered, 
taken  away  the  covering  of 

On-quarte,  84/779,  adj-  unhearted, 
dismayd,  troubled,  in  pain 

Onymentes,  80/668,  sb.  ointments 

Oppresse,  135/2111,  (?)  suffer,  be 
cast  away 

Opteyn,  61/182,  vb.  hold  a  place, 
prevail 

Ore,  56/38,  conj,  or 

Os,  as,  p.  170 

Ouer-awe,  193/653,  adv.  =  overal, 
everywhere.  "  Uveralle :  passim, 
vbicunque,  est  genus  loquendi 
vbique."  Cat  ho  1.  Anglicum. 

Ough,  146/190,  I  pr.  s.  owe 

Owjt,  80/660,  pt.  s.  owed 

Pacyfycal,  114/1593,  peaceable 
Pageant  -  waggon,  its  2  stages,  p. 

130,  135 

Pakke,  99/1154,  sb.  pack 
Panne,     83/738,    sb.     (?)  pan    (of 

pitch) 

Par f re,  John,  p.  24 
Passyve,  204/962,  adj.  suffering 
Paul,  the  Conversion  of,  p.  27 
Pay,  91/960,  sb.  pleasure,  pleasing 
Peneawnt,   73/49^    <*<!/•    hanging, 

loose 

Perhennuall,  79/637,  perennial,  con 
stant 

Perplyxcyon,  130/1986 
Perswade,  129/1977,  take  away(?) 
Pertely,  62/206,  adv.  openly,  pub 
licly 

Pese,  75/535,  J*.  cup 
Pesyn,  189/533,  sb.  poison 
Phy,  95/1068,  vb.  (?)fie,  trust 
Pilate,  p.  63,  87 

Pitture,  151/350,  vb.  picture,  image 
Players,  names  of  the,  p.  23,  26,  54, 

138,  170 
Plejeavns,  104/1304,  j&  pleasure 


the  Poet  who  speaks  the  Prologue 

and  Epilogue,  p.  I,  22,  26 
Ponderite,  1 79/2 1 7,  pt.  s.  (?)  weighed 

pondered 

Porchase,  55/22,  vb.  obtain,  gain 
Porchasyd,  81/689,  pp.   obtained, 

gained 

Porvyowns,  77/582,  sb.  providing 
Poste,  113/1559,  sb.  power 
Potyt,    72/458,    vb.    put ;    78/606, 

(?)  strive 
Povnse     Pylat,    87/862,     Pontius 

Pilate 

Pregedyse,  63/234,  sb.  violence 
Preors,  98/1137,  sb.  prayers 
Pretende,  96/1076 ;    133/2073,  vb. 

go  before,  proceed 
Priest,  a  heathen,  p.  99,  113 
Prommyssary,  63/237,  sb.  deputy 
Provost,  in  a  play,  p.  59,  104 
Provostycacyon,6o/i63,  sb.  regency, 

vice-gerency 
Pryse,  70/417,  sb.  prize:  beryt  ]>e 

pryse,    bere    f>e    pryse,    72/472, 

take  first  place 
Pver,  125/1859,  adj.  pure 
Purfyled,    140/16,    adj.    trimmed, 

edged  or  embroidered 
Purpete,  81/710,  sb.  (?)  special  care, 

or  pure  pity 

Pynsynesse,  78/606,  sb.  pensiveness 
Pyrked,  68/358,  adj.  proud,  elated. 

See  Halliwell,  s.  v.  Perk. 
Pystull,  104/1313,  sb.  epistle,  letter 

Quell,    99/1168,    vb.    kill.       A.S. 

cwellan 

Quesson,  80/662,  sb.  question 
Qwat,  102/1249,  what 

Rage,  105/1331,  sb.  haste,  hurry 
Ragnell  and  roffyn,  101/1200 
Raphael  the  Angel  bids  many  go 
and  convert  the  land  of  Marcyll, 
p.  107 
Readers  of  an  acted  Play,  136/2143, 

P-  170 
Rebon,   110/1465,   sb.  (?)  rebound, 

answer,  insolence 
Recure,    66/311;     79/6251;     21 1/ 

1 202,  vb.  recover,  redeem 
Reddure,  114/1580,  sb.  violence 
Rede,   122/1793,  sb.   guide,  coun 
sellor 


GLOSSARY    AND    INDEX. 


237 


Rede,  115/1616,  i  pr.  s.  advise 
Refreynne,  97/1116,  vb.  (?)  restrain 

themselves 
Releff,  56/41,  vb.  free  (from  harm 

or  responsibility) 
Rem,   59/114;    Reme,   59/125,  sb. 

realm 
Reporte,    176/133*    *  Pr>  s.   urge, 

argue,  declare 

Reportur,  133/2084,  sb.  report 
Repreffe,  56/40,  sb.  punishment 
Rese,  61/180,  vb.  rise 
Resowndable,  89/904,  able   to  be 

heard 
Restoratyf,  79/651,  sb.  restoration, 

repayment 

Resun,  93/1024,  pp.  risen 
Reynd,  96/1083,  pull,  pluck 
Rofe,  91/970,  vb.  were  riven,  split 
Rome,  the  Emperor  of,  p.  55,  59, 

104 

Rownd,  73/495,  vb.  whisper,  chat 
Rud,  206/1030,  sb.  rood,  cross 
Rvfull,  93/1 020,  adj.  rueful,  sad 
Ruthe,  149/316,  sb.  pity 
Ryte,    59/130;    Ryth,    59/126,   sb. 

right 

Rythewys,  88/889,  a^J-  righteous 
Ryve,  145/175,  ^lb.  rive,  destroy 

-s,  2  &  3  sing,  in,  p.  170 

Sadd,  215/1328,  adj.  weighty,  of 
weight.  "  Sadde.  Solidus,  fir- 
mus."  Cathol.  Anglicum. 

St.  Andrew,  p.  213 

St.  John,  p.  94,  187  ;  and  St.  Peter, 
p.  94,  123,  209 

Sakor,  133/2068,  I  pr.  s.  conse 
crate 

Satan,  Prince  of  the  Devils,  p.  66, 
68,76 

Saul,  after  Paul,  p.  27,  33,  46 

Save,  132/2051,  i  pt.  s.  saw,  have 
seen 

Sawen,  87/852,  vb.  save 

Seduet,  82/716,  pp.  seduced,  led 
away 

Segnyte,  195/723,  ipt.pl.  assigned, 
committed 

Sembled,  69/403,  pp.  met,  assem 
bled 

Semle,  63/240,  adj.  seemly,  hand 
some 

Sensuality,  a  character,  p.  80 


Sentelles,    104/1311,    1315,    (?for) 

sentence,  intelligence 
Sepoltur,  87/844,  sepulchre,  tomb 
Serybyl  or  Serybb,  p.  55 
Sese,  118/1688;   128/1958,  endow, 

put  in  possession,  give  seisin 
Seth,  143/122,  sb.  a  full  seth  =  full 

aseth,  full  satisfaction 
Sette,  97/1 104,  sb.  city 
Seyld,  99/929,  adv.  seldom 
Shep,  106/1351,  sb.  ship 
Sheppyng,  107/1392,  sb.  ship 
Shewyng,  116/1621,  vision 
Shipman  or  Captain  in  a  play,  p.  54 
Sho,  she,  p.  170 

Shower,  86/822,  sb.  struggle,  pain 
Shuyd,  58/86,  pp.  showed 
Simeon  the  priest,  p.  16 
Simon  the  Leper,  p.  77 
Skreptour,  61/171  ;  Skryptour,  6l/ 

179,  sb.  Scripture 
Soferous,  87/864,  sb.  suffering 
Sokor,  65/286,  sb.  succour,  help 
Soleyne,  159/579,  adj.  (?)alone,  sin 
gular,  unique 

Sond,  62/214,  sb.  message.  "  Sond 
or  sendynge.  Missio."  Prompt. 
Parv. 

Sond,  111/1504,  sb.  word,  order 
Sond,  109/1439,  sb.  land,  shore 
Sops  in  wine,  75/536 
Sote,  1/13;  90/1071,  adj.  sweet 
Sottes,  62/203,  sb-  fools 
Sowket,  192/625,  pt.  s.  sucked 
Sowth,  83/743-4,  sb.  (?)  sawt  =  as 
sault,  attack 

Sowth,  66/307,  pp.  sought 
Spece,  132/2060,  sb.  speech,  words 
Spece,  96/1072,  sb.   (?)  view,  from 

Lat.  aspido($) 

Speceows,  78/628,  special,  particular 
Spyll,  146/215,  vb.  be  ruined,  fail 
Spynys,    131/2024,  sb.  pi.  thorns, 

thickets 

Stableman  or  Ostler,  p.  30 
Stanzas,  two  plays  in  8-line,  p.  I, 
137;  a  play  in  7-line,  p.  25 ;  a 
play  mainly  in  8-line,  p.  171 :  see 
too,  p.  53,  at  foot. 

I  Starte,  218/1417,  sb.  time.    "Styrt, 
I      or  lytyl  whyle  (lytyl  qwyle,  A.). 

Momentum.'"     Prompt.  Parv. 
Steryng,   144/153,  sb.  stirring,   in 
citement 


238 


GLOSSARY    AND    INDEX. 


Stey,  96/1077,  vb.  ascend 
Steyyd,  105/1341,  vb.  ascended 

Stoonddes,  93/1018,  sb.  moment, 
time.  A.S.  stand 

Streytness,  58/97,  sb.  hardship 

Stronkg,  93/1002,  adj.  strong,  vio 
lent 

Strytt,  70/426,  adj.  straight 

Styffe,  130/1997,  vb.  (?)  stryffe  = 
strive 

Stylle,  116/1637,  sb.  steel.  A.S 
style 

Stynte,  212/1240,  i  pr.  s.  stop, 
cease 

Styntt,  123/1807,  sb.  allowance, 
bargain,  agreement 

Subjectary,  83/752,  subject,  thrall 

Subjugal,  55/7,  adj.  subject 

Sudare,  95/1049,  sb.  napkin,  ker 
chief.  It  occurs  in  exactly  the 
same  meaning  in  Wyclif  s  version 
of  John  xx.  7 

Sue,  75/532,  vb.  follow 

Suspiratione,  173/64,  sb.  sighing. 
Lat.  suspirationem 

Suthe,  188/500,  adv.  truly,  with 
truth 

Swertt,  84/780,  adj.  black 

Syest,  95/1061,  sighest 

Syn,  86/830,  conj.  since 

Synamver,  106/1361,  sb.  (?)Fr. 
'  Cinnabre  :  m.  Cynoper,  Ver- 
million,  Sanguinarie  .  .  a  soft  red 
and  heauie  stone  found  in  Mines.' 
Cotgrave. 

Sypresse,  139/1978,  sb.  Fr.  '  Cy- 
pere :  m.  Cyperus,  or  Cypresse, 
Galingale  (a  kind  of  reed).' — Cot- 
grave.  A  sweet  herb,  a  sweet 
person 

Syrus,  Lazarus's  father,  p.  56,  64 

Syyn,  129/1973,  vb.  sigh 

Syyng,  57/63,  sighing 

Tapyrnakyll,  106/1352,  sb.  taber 
nacle,  vessel 

Tasppysster,  73/495,  sb.  barmaid 
Taverner,  in  a  Play,  p.  72 
Tawth,  102/1259,  taught 
Tayve,  172/38,  adj.  (?)  decaying 
Tene,  7 1  /438,  vb.  injure,  annoy 
— th  constantly  used  for  — ght,  as 
lyth)   light,   nyth,   night,    myth, 
might,  &c. 


Thar,  139/1437,  impers.  vb.  need. 

AS.  \>earf 

pen,  82/732,  pron.  that 
Therknesse,  81/689,  ^-  darkness. 

"  Therkenesse     or    derkenesse. 

Tenebre,  Caligo."  Prompt.  Parv. 
Tholit,   181/276,  pp.  suffered,  en 
dured.     A.S.  \poiian 
Thrall,     175/108,    adj.    miserable, 

mean 

Threst,  115/1614,^.  thirst 
Thruste,  179/215,  sb.  thirst,  desire 
Thrustide.  179/214,  pt.  s.  thirsted 

for.     A.S.  tyrstan 
Thrustye,    178/210,    adj.    thirsty. 

A.S.  fyurstig,  %>rystig 
Thryst,  73/492,  sb.  thirst 
Thyrlite,  i8o/268,/>/>.  pierced.  A.S. 

\yrliant  Eng.  drill 
Tiberius  Caesar,  p.  55,  59 
Tidiose,    208/1079,    °4j'   anxious, 

impatient 

Till,  to,  with  the  infinitive,  p.  170 
To-brost,   91/966,  pp.    broken    to 

pieces 

Ton,  197/783,  sb.  tun,  vessel 
Toukkyng,    91/969,   sb.    touching, 

touch 
Treyte,    171/3,   sb.   treatise,   little 

piece 
Tripident,   2,  stage   direction,    let 

them  dance 
Trossyd,    89/910-11     adj.    bound, 

wrapped  * 

Trott,  76/555,  vb.  (?)  shake 
Trotte,  71/438,  vb.   hasten,  hurry 

off 
Tyr,  60/158,  Tyre 

Understanding,   a    character,  and 
her  6  Jurors,  p.  138 

Verueqs,  96/1093,  sb.  fervency 
Very,  3/76,  adj.  true,  real 
Virginite,     191/589,    sb.    chastity, 

purity  of  life.     Often  applied,  as 

here,  to  males  as  well  as  females 
Vysered,  165/726,  adj.  wearing  a 

visor  or  mask 
Vysers,    166/754,    sb.   pi.    visors, 

masks 

Wall,  124/1848,  vb.  (?)  dwell 
Wardly,  152/405,  adv.  carefully 


GLOSSARY    AND    INDEX. 


239 


Waryacyon,  123/1815,  sb.  variation, 
or  (?)  opposition 

Waryovns,  130/2005,  sb.  variance, 
disagreement 

Watkyn,  a  Messenger,  p.  4,  6,  &c. 

Wawys,  89/829,  sb.  waves 

Weepers  in  black  at  a  burying, 
86/835-7 

Went,  68/376,  pp.  gone 

Wentt,  96/1079;  116/1629,  vb. 
thought,  weened 

Werely,  80/675 ;  122/1791,  adv. 
verily,  assuredly 

Weryauns,  58/92,  sb.  variance, 
change 

Weryfyyt,  61/178,  vb.  verifies,  con 
firms 

Weryous,  56/36,  adj.  troublesome 

Wete,  95/1059 ;   123/1817,  vb.  know 

Wetty,  102/1250,  adj.  learned 

Whan,  150/346,  adv.  ay  whan  = 
every  when,  ever,  always 

Whanhope,  81/694,  sb.  despair 

Whantite,  192/621,  sb.  quantity 

Whatt-so-mewer,  102/1235,  what 
soever,  whatever  :  the  pronun 
ciation  tuhatsumever  is  not  un 
common  amongst  the  lower 
classes 

Wher,  68/368;  104/1288,  vb.  were 

Whit,  199/850,  vb.  requite,  repay 

Whytly,  68/376,  adv. ;  wygth,  68/ 
227,  quickly,  speedily 

Will,  a  character,  p.  138;  her  6 
Women  or  Retainers,  p.  161-7 

Wisdom  or  Christ,  a  Morality  of, 

P-  137 

Wod,  2/39,  Gdj-  niad,  furious 
Wolunte,  55/3,  sb.  will 
Wonddyn,    55/23,  adj.   enveloped, 

wrapped,  and  so,  protected 
Wonde,  115/1609,  turn,  refuse 
Woo,  66/31 1,  pron.  who 
Word,  56/31,  sb.  world 
Wordely,     141/51,     adj.    worldly, 

earthly 
Wos,  pron.  whose 


Woydyt,  115/1618,  pr.  s.  goes  out 

Wrake,  68/380,  sb.  harm,  injury 

Wreche,  72/469,  sb.  harm 

Wrowth,  79/631,  pp.  wrought,  done 

Wry,  163/669:  (?)  read  '  malewry ', 
mishap,  misfortune  :  Fr.  malheur 

Wryng,  108/1409,  vb.  turn  and 
twist  about  in  pain 

Wyan,  72/479,  sb.  Guienne 

Wycys,  90/1083,  sb.  vices 

Wyhylles,  68/377,  sb.  wiles 

Wylddyng,  57/59,  sb.  wielding,  com 
mand 

Wyldyng,  124/1832,  sb.  power, 
wielder 

Wyre,  94/1027,  sb.  doubt.  "Awere 
or  dowte.  Dubiurn,  ambiguum, 
perplexus."  Prompt.  Parv. 

Wys,  89/895,  guide,  show 

Wytory,  134/2095,  victory 

Wytyst  saff,  78/624,  vb.  vouch 
safes! 

Xall,   56/41,  &c.,  shall;   J>ou  xall, 

100/1176 

Xuld,  132/2036,  &c.,  should 
Xulddes,  99/1163,  vb.  shouldst 

Yee-lyd,  102/1237,  sb.  eye-lid 
Ynge,  102/1242,  adj.  young 
Yrkit,  175/111,  impers.pt.  grieved 
Ywys,  67/338,  adv.  assuredly 
Yye,  98/1124,  sb.  eye 
Yys,  79/640-1,  sb.  eyes 

}af,  122/1799,  conj.  if 

jaf,  135/1343,  v6.  gave 

}ede,  92/975,  pp.  gone.    A.S.  code 

jen,  114/1577,  sb.  pi.  of  eyes,  yn 

sucke  =  yearning  (?) 
3en3ybyr,  67/343,  sb.  ginger 
jepe,  165/724,  adj.  active,  careful. 

A.S.  geap 

jode,  105/1324,  vb.  went 
jonglinge,  202/895,  sb.  young  child, 

infant 
jyng,  73/503,  a 


BtlNOAY  : 

CLAY    AND  TAYLOR,    PRINTERS, 
THE   CHAUCER    PRESS. 


r  *o 


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2888 
L6 

ser.7 
no.  1 


New  Shakspere  Society, 
London 

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