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The Digby Plays

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late medieval plays from the Digby manuscript

The Digby Plays are a group of late medieval English religious dramas that once belonged, along with an incomplete morality of Wisdom, to a single composite manuscript — Bodleian MS Digby 133 — assembled from separate booklets copied by different hands between about 1480 and 1520 and later owned by the antiquary Sir Kenelm Digby. They are biblical and saints' plays rather than a cycle: Herod's Killing of the Children (with the Purification in the Temple), the Conversion of St Paul, the two-part Mary Magdalene — the longest and most ambitious piece, running from her father's death and her seduction through her repentance, her conversion of the King of Marcylle, and her death and assumption — and a fragment, copied from the same booklet, of the morality Wisdom, Who Is Christ, otherwise preserved complete among the Macro Moralities. Christ's Burial and Resurrection, in the Northern dialect, is not from the Digby manuscript itself but from a separate Bodleian leaf, and Furnivall added it here because he believed it once belonged to the same collection.

These are not cycle plays performed yearly by craft guilds in a fixed town, like York or Chester or Towneley, but plays that seem to have travelled: the Conversion of St Paul was staged at three separate outdoor "stations," Mary Magdalene calls for a multi-level pageant wagon with Heaven, earth, and a Hell-mouth, and Wisdom is a courtly morality on the Mind, Will, and Understanding of the soul. Latin rubrics, stage directions, and scraps of liturgy stand throughout the English dialogue, and the editor's own marginal notes — short glosses summarizing the action for the reader — run beside the verse on nearly every page.

This is Frederick James Furnivall's edition, first issued by the New Shakspere Society in 1882 and reissued from the same plates for the Early English Text Society's Extra Series in 1896 (no. 70) — the edition presented here, complete with Furnivall's 1882 Forewords, his appendix of notes on the Chester Plays and Midsummer Watch, and the Glossary and Index compiled mainly by S. J. Herrtage. The end of the Wisdom fragment, held back in 1896 for a future complete edition of the Macro Moralities that never appeared in Furnivall's lifetime, is given here from J. P. Collier's paraphrase, exactly as Furnivall printed it.

This text is preserved from a HathiTrust page-image scan of the University of Michigan Library's copy (public domain in the United States), reconstructed here from its per-page OCR. The Middle English is kept exactly as printed, thorn and yogh included; see the Colophon for what mechanical cleanup and character restoration this reconstruction required, and for its honest limits.

Contents

Editor's Notice (1896)

NOTICE. THESE Digby Plays are a necessary part of the Early Play Series which the Early English Text Society has had to take up, because the New Shakspere Society had not money enough to bring them out before it stopt. Advantage has therefore been taken of the opportunity of making a cast of the New Shakspere Society's plates of the Digby Plays, without the lines round them which put them into the quarto form in which that Society issued them in 1882. The money thus saved in providing a book for the Early English Text Society's Extra Series in 1896 will be devoted to the Society's general object-the printing of MSS. and reprinting of o' books. The end of the Morality of Wisdom has not been added to this volume, though Mr. Gurney has allowd the E.E.T.S. to copy it,— because it will appear in a few years in the Society's edition of the complete Macro Moralities. May 18, 1896. F. J. F.

Dedication (1882)

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 doubtless 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 fpeachleffe 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 accomplisht 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 Shakspere'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.

Forewords (1882)

FOREWORDS. THIS book opens the Seventh Series of the New Shakspere 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 Mysteries-the Towneley, Chester, Coventry, and Lord Ashburnham'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 1 Hawkins printed the first play, Candlemas Day, in his Origin of the English Drama, 1773, and Marriott reprinted it in his Collection of English Miracle-Plays, &c., Basel, 1838.-P. A. DANIEL. drama, and which so shocks the classicist critics of Romanticism. 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, ambitions of men, the World and its Ruler, instead of Judæa and its King. The first Play, 'Herod's Killing of the Children' 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 Disputing 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 the 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 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 wył” (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 Stations 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 servant and an Ostler (p. 30-1). But the audience who followd the wagon from Station to Station (p. 33, l. 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 procession 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. 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 Innsbrück, 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 Mittelalters in Tirol, Innsbrück, 1850.) 1879. S. Baring-Gould, Germany, Past and Present, ii. 17. 2 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 maſkers brave, in ſtraunge attire arrayd, As where the Maries three doe meete, the fepulchre to fee, And John with Peter ſwiftly runnes, before him there to bee." 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 ¹, page ix, and p. 106, 113, ?130, 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 castlewall, 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, "certene lynes, which are not to be saide if it (the Play) be plaiede." 1 The Procession of the Sacrament no longer forms part of the Romish Church Service on Easter Sunday morning. 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, balletgirls 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 fête 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 Mediæval forefathers, who insisted on the introduction 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 absurdity 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 Mysteries, and were succéeded 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, &c.), 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, ii. 8-9. 'The MS. containing these 'Moralities' once belongd to a Dr Macro. 2 On the Holborn Quest, see p. 168, and "The (65) ancient Articles of the charge of the Wardmote Inquest, formerly delivered," in Joseph Newell's Inquest Juryman, 1825, p. 54-68. 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, 438, 441, gh of abought about 19/476, 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, han, &c.—point, I suppose, to the Midland rather than any other dialect. Of the Conversion of Saul, I can say no more. It is fond of a for e and 0,-drad 27/20, adrad 36/234, frawardnes 28/39, massage 38/239, marcy 38/290, 46/506,-of ƒ for v, we gyf 28/43, 32/132, 47/522; but though the lacking of "lyttura scyens" and the "non intellygens of Retoryk" which it confesses to, 52/658, 661, are apparent, its district is not, to me at least. In Mary Magdalene, however, East-Midland characteristics, xal shall, qwat what, &c., clearly appear, as I have noted on p. 53, note I. And Christ's Burial and Resurrection was—says Dr 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 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 the 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, bk), all the Killing of the Children, and Conversion of St Paul, except 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 suppose 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 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 interesting 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 Anatomie and to Shakspere Allusions, and wish our Members the pleasant Long-Vacation that I fear I sha'n't get. June 29, 1882. 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 1, 1882, is a short statement about the York Mystery Plays, which the prezent Lord Ashburnham, 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. Onésyme Leroy's Etudes sur les Mystères, Messrs Gaston Paris and Reynaud's edition of the Mystère de la Passion, and the dramatic section of Aubertin's Histoire de la Littérature française au Moyen Age.

Appendix to the Forewords: Notes on the Chester Plays and Midsummer Watch, from Harleian MSS. 1944, 1948, 2125, &c.

HARLEIAN MSS. 1944, 1948, 2125, &c. are now Harl. MS. 1944, lf. 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 that these playes of Chester called ye whitson playes weare the woorke of one Rondoll, a monke of ye These playes Abbaye of St Warburge in Chester, who redused abollished: ye whole history of the byble into Englishe 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 Iohn 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, lf. 3. The Forewords "To the Reader" are signd “per Dauid Rogers: 1609 July: 3"; and Harl. MS. 1948, lf. 18, says that the Collections were "collected by the Reuerend: m² 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 our 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. 1 leaf 22. 2 April 23. of the Bans, tion of the same to be played [“ anno domini: 1329"]; the manner of which playes was thus: They weare deuided into 24 pagiantes or partes, acordinge to the number of ye Companyes of ye Cittie, and euery Company brought forthe their pagiente, which was ye cariage or place which they played in: And yarlye before these were played, there was a man fitted for ye purpose ¹ which did ride, as I take it vpon St George daye2 throughe ye Cittie, and there The Reading published the tyme and the matter of ye playes in or Proclama- breife, which was called "ye readinge of the banes." Mysteries to They were played vpon monday, tuseday, and wensebe playd.] day in witson 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 watergate 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 ye description & the thirde daye: these pagiantes or cariage was of ye pagintes a highe place made like a howse with ij rowmes, beinge open on ye tope: the lower rowme they apparrelled & dressed them selues; and in the higher rowme they played: and they stoode vpon 6 wheeles. And when they had done with 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 ye 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, without 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 they played in:/ Heareafter followeth ye readinge of ye banes, which 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 which playes was greate resorte, and also scafoldes and stages made in the streetes in those places where they determined to playe theire pagiantes.' [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. men not only of one thinge, warne you now I shall, to take ye sight of ye play, but to matter so as That not possible it is, these matters to be contynued conseque of ye In such sorte & cunninge, & by such playeres of price As at this day good players & fine wittes coulde deuise, profitable and For then shoulde all those persones that as Gods doe playe, not offensiue : In Clowdes come downe with voyce, & not be seene; it mighte be 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, And not God in shape or person to appeare; [f. 25] By Craftes men & meane men these Pageauntes are played and to Commons and Contrye men acustomablye before. If better men & finer heades now come, what canne be saide? But of common and contrye playeres take thou 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 with 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 playes 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 proffitable to any vse, excepte it be to shewe ye Ignorance of oure forefatheres, and to make vs theire ofspringe vnexcusable before God, that haue ye true and synceare worde of ye Gospell of our lord & sauiour Jesus Christe, if we apprehende not ye same in oure life & practise, to ye eternall glorie of our god, and ye saluation & comforte of oure owne soles. Heare followeth all ye Companyes as they weare played vpon theire seuerall dayes, which was Monday: • 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 that playe: Barkers I Tanners Drapers Hosieres S The story or matter that euery Companye did acte: bringe forthe The fallinge of Lucifer Draweres in Dee 3 & waterleaders Barbers 4 Waxe chandlers Leeches [leaf 25, back] 5 Cappers Wyerdraweres Pynners 6 Wrightes slatereres Tyleres Daubers Thatchares J 7 Paynters Imbrotheres Glasieres Vinteners Marchantes f 9 Spicers S Mercers Gould smythes} Massons Smythes 2 forberes Pewterers The creation of ye worlde Noah & his shipp • Abraham & Isacke (Kinge Balack & Balaam with Moyses :/ Natiuytie of our lord The shepperdes offeringe Kinge Harrald & ye mounte victoriall bringe forthe ye 3. kinges of Collen : These 9 Pagiantes aboue written weare played vppon ye first day beinge Monday. The destroyeinge of the Chillderen by Herod Purification of our ladye 3 Butchares The pinackle, with ye woman of Canan.¹ 1 The Temptation, and the Woman taken in Adultery. Glouers & 4 Parchment makers) Coruesters or ) shoemakers S Bakers [bringe forthe] The risinge of Lazarus from death to liffe:/ The cominge of Christe to 6 Mylners S Bowyeres Fletcheres 7 Stringers Cowpers Turners Irnemongers Ropers [leaf 26] Cookes Ierusalem :/ Christes maundy with his desiples The scourginge of Christe The Crusifienge of Christ Tapsters 9 Hostlers Inkeapers The harrowinge of hell These 9 pagiantes aboue written weare played vpon ye second day: beinge tueseday/ Skinners Cardemakers I Hatters Poynters Girdlers Sadlers 2 fusters 3 Taylores. 4 Fishmongers 5 Shermen. Hewsters Bellfownders Weauers 7 Walkers • • The Resurrection. The Castle of Emaus & the Apostles The Ascention of Christe Whitsonday ye makeinge of the Creede Prophetes before ye day of Dome Antechriste Domes Daye These 7 pagiantes weare played vpon ye third daye, beinge wensedaye; & these whitson playes weare played in Chester anno domini: 1574: Sr Iohn Sauage, knight, beinge Mayor of Chester, which was the laste tyme they weare 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, with such a Clowde of Ignorance to defyle with 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 Midsummer 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 fethers before ye butchers, a man in womans apparell, with a diuill waytinge on his horse called cuppes & cans, god in stringes,¹ with other thinges,"I copy the passage, to get more information about this Midsummer Show. (See p. xxvi, below.) "Of ye Midsomer showe or watche in Chester. ye midsomer showe as anchant as ye whitson more anchant when ye midsomer shoe went, then ye whitson playes went not when ye went, then ye Heare we maye note that ye showe or watche, on midsomer eaue, called 'midsomer showe,' yearely playes. if not now vsed within ye Citti of Chester, was vsed in ye tyme of those whitson playes, & before, so farr as I canne vnderstande; for when ye whitson playes weare played, then ye showe at midsomer wente not: And when ye whitson playes weare not played, then ye midsomer showe wente only: as many now liuewhitson play inge [1609 A.D.] canne make theire owne knowledge showe at mid- proffe sufficient: But since these playes at whitsontide weare put downe, and ye midsomer showe went only, there hath bene taken awaye some thinges, & reformed, [² leaf 26,back] that weare not decente: whearein ye wisedome & many thinges godly care of those magistrates that did remoue ye midsomer awaye thinges either sinfull or offensiue, is to be commended, and by all religeose magistrates there Hardware, & stepes to be troden in, inasmuch as they intende all [1599], as ye theire actiones to Gods glorye, & the rule or lyne somer went not: reformed in shoe before mr H: in his tyme 1 This is the only way that Mr C. T. Martin of the Record Office and I can read the MS. dinill in his ye butchers, fethers before a man in womans apparell, with a diuill waytinge on his horse called cuppes & cans, god in stringes (?), with other thinges, of perfection, the which, howsoeuer it cannot be attaynd vnto in this liffe, yet it is the marke we are all to aime at. In which I commende ye gouer- 'mentt of mr Henry Hardware esquire, somtymes mayor of Chester [1599], whose gouernement was godly, wherein he soughte ye redresse of manye abuses, as namely in ye midsomer showe he caused som thinges to be reformed and taken awaye, that ye which ware watchmen of our soules, or deuines, spake againste, reformed & amended. as thinges not fitt to be vsed; for which he deserued juste commendation; howsoeuer the vulgar sorte of people did oppose themselues againste ye reformation of sinnes, not knowinge that anchant synnes ought to haue new reformation, And antiquitee in thinges vnlawfull or offensiue is no reason to mayntayne ye same. But for ye decensie of ye midsomer showe as it is now [1609 A.D.] vsed, I referre it to ye judgmente of those who are more judiciouse:/" 1 Harl. MS. 2125, leaf 304 or 123 (see lf. 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 canes 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 Waterpoet, 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, rosting, 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 distances. In style the piece had been made to imitate as much as possible As to the years in which the Chester Plays were acted, I find the following entries:- Harl. 1944,¹ leaf 67. .Mayores. .Sherriffes. Richard Spicer 1328 Sir John Arneway knight (Allexander Hurell I 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, & m² John walles was chosen mayor, & the plaies went that same yere." leaf 95, at foot. : [Harl. MS. 1944] .Mayores. [f. 86] .Sheriffes. Quene: Eliza: raigne: 14: Richard Bauand,` 1571 Iohn Hankey, merchant. Irnemonger William Wall, Irnemonger In this yere the Whitson playes weare played in Chester, &c. Quene: Eliza: raigne: 17: (John Allen, [f. 86, bk.] 1574 Sr John Sauage knighte draper William, Goodman, merchant -247 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 things. The Whitson playes weare played in this Cittie this yere . . .¹ [leaf 87] Quene: Eliza: raigne: 20: 1577 Thomas Belline, mercer2 [leaf 90] Valentine Broughton, mercer John, Tilston, >250 mercer ... the Sheapardes play was played at the highe crosse, with other triumphes on the Roode dee ... Quene: Eliza: raigne: 42: 1599 Henry Hardware, Esq. [3 leaf 90, back] John Owen, mercer John Moyle, 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 which vse to goe at midsomer to be broken, The bull ringe at the high crosse to be taken vp: The dragon and naked 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, lf. 40, bk. Randle Holme's collections. 1574... 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 [lf. 41] 1577. Alsoe he [the Mayor, Thomas Bellin] Caused the Sheappeardes playe to be played at the hie Crosse, with 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 howse,'-" the scollers of the freescole also playd a comedy before them at m' maiors howse.") 2 George Bellin. Was he a seller of beer and ale? see Harl. MS. 2105, leaf 29, back. " 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 merkett toule, which was taken from the sariantes in Mr Hardwars time, and now confermed to the Mayor, by a gen(er)all assembly." I suppose that 'customs' here does not include the Midsummer 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), Maiors Anno 1572. John Hanky. Sheriffs (Richard Bavian William Walle 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) John Allen William. Goodman 1575. Sir John Savage { This year the said Sir John Sauage caused the 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-Hall: notwithstanding 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." Under 1563, p. 199: "Upon the Sunday after Midsommer day, the History of Eneas and Queen Dido 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 addsto the entries given two pages back: Anno. 1567. Maiors Sheriffs Richard Dutton Edw. Martin, Draper. Oliver Smith, Draper. This year the Whitson-Playes were played, and divers other pastimes. 1571. Fo: Hankey, Merchant Richard Bavand, Ironmonger. 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. 1574. Sir John Savage Knight John Allen, Draper. William Goodman, Merchant. The Whitson-Playes were played at Midsommer, and then but some of them, leaving others unplayed, which were thought might not be justified, for the superstition that was in them, although the Maior was not injoyned to proceed therein. p. 200. 1577. Tho. Bellin, Mercer. Tilston, Mercer. Valentine Broughton, Mercer. The Shepherds Play, was played at the high Crosse, and other Triumphs, at the Roods Eye. p. 201. 1599. Henry Hardware, Esq. : Owen, Mercer. Fo: Moyle, Draper. This Maior for his time altered many ancient Customs, as the shooting for the Sheriffs Breakfast [see Rogers's Breuyarye, Harl. 1944, lf. 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, I 1610. Tho. Harvy, Merchant Hugh Williamson, Mercer. Jo: Throp, Taylor. .... . Midsommer Eve being on Sunday, Mr. Maior caused the Watch to be set forth the day before, although that same were unwilling thereof. 1611. Fo. Ratcliffe, Beerbrewer Nich: Ince, Maulster. Robert Fletcher, 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 performance of the Chester Plays.

I. Herod's Killing of the Children, with the Purification

THE NAMYS OF THE PLEYERS.
The poete
kyng Herowde
jte knyght
the ijde knyght
iijde knyght
iiijth knyght
watkyn), Messanger
Symeon the bysshope
Ioseph
Summa xvij.
Maria
Anna prophetissa
A virgyn
Angelus
ja mulier
ija mulier
iija mulier
iiija 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.
[This page stands at the end of the Play in the MS., see p. 24, but is repeated here
by way of warning, as usual.]

[Digby MS. 133 (paper, ?1480-90 A.D.), leaf 146.]
¹ candelmes day & the kyllynge of the children of
Israel. anno domini 1512. M'D xij.¹ 2the vij booke.²
[Prologue.]
•
Poeta.
¶ This solenne ffest to be had in remembraunce 3
Of blissed seynt Anne · moder' to our lady,
whos right discent was fro kynges alyaunce-
Of dauyd and salamon) witnesseth the story ;—
Hir blissid doughter' that callid is
by goddes provision) an husbond shuld haue,
Callid Ioseph of natur old and drye,
& she moder vnto Crist
•
•
mary,
This Feast is
held in remem-
brance of St.
Aune,
and her blessed
daughter Mary,
that all the world shall save. 8 Christ's Mother,
This glorious maiden) doughter vnto Anna,
In whos worshipe this ffest we honour',
And by resemblaunce likenyd vnto Manna,
wiche is in tast celestial of savour,
•
And of Ierico the sote rose floure,
Gold Ebryson callid in pictur,
Chosyn for to bere mankyndes savyour,
with a prerogative a-boue eche creature.
¶ These grett thynges remembred· after our entent,
Is for to worshippe⚫ oure ladye and seynt Anne.
we be comen) heder as seruauntes diligent,
our processe to shewe you as we can);
wherfor, of benevolens we pray euery man)
To haue vs execused that we no better doo;
An-other tyme to emende it if we can
be the
grace of god if our cunnyng be ther-too.
1_1 in a later hand.
2_2 in Stow's hand.
The whole play is in 8-line stanzas ryming a ba b b c bc.
the heavenly
manna,
the sweet rose
of Jericho.
In their worship
we show our
Play.
Excuse our
short-comings.
DIGBY MYST,
B

Last year we
showd you the
Joymaking of
the Shepherds,
¶ The last yeer' we shewid you in this place
how the shepherdes of Cristes birthe made letificacion,
•
and the Coming And thre kynges that come fro ther Cuntrees be grace
of the 3 Kings.
To worshipe Iesu, with enteer deuocion;
[leaf 146, back] And now we purpose with hooH Affeccion
Now we'll play
Mary's Purifica-
tion, and then
To procede 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
Herod's hearing And after that shall herowd haue tydynges
how the thre kynges be goon) hoom) an-other way,
of the 3 Kings'
departure,
his fury at it,
and his order
that were with Iesu and made ther offrynges,
And promysed kyng herowde without delay
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 knyghtes for to go a-noon)
to kill all the
children of 2
years old in
Israel,
and how Jesus
escaped into
Egypt.
¶ In-to Israel, to serche euery town and cite
ffor all the Children) that thei cowde ther fynde
of ij yeeres age & within, sparyng neither bonde nor ffree,
but sle them all either for ffoo or ffrende:
thus he commaundid · in his furious wynde.
Thought that, Iesu shuld haue be oon);
•
And yitt he failed of his froward mynde,
for by goodes purviaunce · our lady was in-to Egipte
gon).
This, we'll play ¶ffrendes, this processe we purpose to pley as we can)
you, to the hon-
our of God and
St. Anne.
Minstrels and
Virgins, amuse
the audience!
be-fore you all, here in your presens,
To the honor of god, our lady, & seynt Anne,
besechyng you to geve vs peseable Audiens.
And ye menstrallis, doth your diligens,
& ye virgynes, shewe summe sport & plesure,
These people to solas, & to do god reuerens,
As ye be appoynted; doth your besy cure!
¶ Et tripident

[Scene 1. Jerusalem.]

¶ Herodes.
¶ A-boue al kynges vnder the Clowdys Cristał
Royally I reigne in welthe with-out woo;
·
Of plesaunt prosperyte · I lakke non at aĦ,
ffortune I fynde⚫ that she is not my ffoo.
I Am kyng herowdes, I will it be knowen) soo,
most strong and myghty in feld for to fyght,
And to venquysshe my enemyes that a-geynst me do;
·
I am most be-dred with my bronde bright.
from aH sadnesse,
[leaf 147]
Herod.
I am the great
king Herod.
¶ My grett goddes I gloryfye · with gladnesse,
And to honoure them. I knele vp-on my knee,
ffor thei haue sett me in solas
that no conquerour nor knyght
AH tho that rebelle a-geyns me
Or grudge a-geyns my goddes on hy or hethe;
AH suche rebellers I shaft make for to fflee,
And with hard punysshementes putt them to dethe. 72
¶ what erthely wretches with pompe & pride
do a-geyns my lawes or with-stonde myn) entent,
thei shall suffre woo and peyne · thurgħ bak and syde,
With a very myschaunce ther flesshe shalbe a to-rent.
And al my ffoes shall haue suche commaundement 77
that they shalbe glad to do my byddyng; Ay,
Or elles thei shalbe ir. woo and myscheff permanent,
that thei shall fere me nygħt and day.¹
is comparid to me. 68 No conqueror
ther bane I will be,
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.
¶ My messanger at my commaundement
to me,
·
And take hed what I shall to the say.
•
can be compard
to me.
My opposers and
foes shall be
confounded and
punisht.
come heder Herod.
I charge the, loke a-bought thurgh all my Cuntre
to Aspye if ony rebelles do A-geynst our lay;
And if ony suche come in thy way
brynge hem in-to our high presens,
And we shall se them correctid⚫ or thei go
hens.
Messenger! go
and spy out for
rebels, and
bring them be-
fore me!
B 2

4 CANDLEMAS DAY. HEROD'S KILLING OF THE CHILDRen.
SC. 1.
[leaf 148]
Three strange
kings have de-
ceivd me.
Knights! kill all
the children of
2 years old in
Israel!
Herod.
¶ ¹I do¹ perceyue, though I be here in my cheff cite,
callid Ierusalem, my riche Royal Town,
·
I am falsly disceyvid by straunge kynges three ;
·
.
Therfor my knyghtes I warne you without delacion 84
That ye make serche thurgh-out at my region),
with-oute ony tarieng my wille may be seen),
·
And sle at tho Children with-out excepcion
Of to yeeres of age that within Israel bene.
Watkyn, Messanger.
Watkyn.
my lord, your commaundement. I haue fulfilled
I have done so. evyn) to the vttermest of my pore power';
And I wold shew you more so ye wold be con-
tentid 2;
Those 3 strange
kings that went
to Bethlehem,
have not come
back to you,
gone home
another way.
but
· 2
wold take it in Anger,
but I dare not lest ye
ffor if it liked you not I am sure my deth were nere,
And therfor my lord I wole hold my peas.
herod.
I warne the, thu Traytour, that thu not seas
II
To shewe euery thyng thu knowist A-geyns our reuer-
ence.
Messanger.
my lord, if ye haue it in your remembraunce,
ther were iij straunger kynges but late in your presence,
that went to bedlem to offre 3 with due obseruaunce, 18
& promysed to come a-geyn) by you without variaunce;
but by thes bonys ten) thei be to you vntrue,
for homward an-other wey thei doo sue,
Herod.
·
Now, be my grett goddes that be so full of myght,
I will be a-vengid vpon Israett if thi tale be true.
Messanger.
you plight,
That's the truth. that it is my lord · my trouth I
for
ye founde me neuer false syn ye me knewe. 25
[1-1 orig". A now I]
[orig. make offryng]
[
[2-2 origy. & it were your will]
thei be departid and crosst through]

¶ffor with-in my-self thus I haue concluded
ffor to a-voide a-wey all interrupcion,
Sythen thes thre kynges haue me thus falsly deluded,
As in maner by froward collusion),
•
And a-geyn resortid hom in-to ther region);
but yitt, mavgre ther hertes, I shall avengid be
bothe in bedlem and in¹ provynces euerychone;
Sle at the Children) to kepe my liberte.
Primus Miles.
my
lord, ye may be sure that I shall not spare
ffor to fulfille your noble commaundement,
with sharpe sword to perse them að bare,
In all Cuntrees that be to you adiacent.
ijdus Miles.
And for your sake to obserue your commaundement.
•
iijus Miles.
not on of them all our handes shall astert.
I'll be aveng'd
on Bethlehem,
&c, and slay all
the children.
[1 in alterd to my
by a later hand]
iiiju Miles.
ffor we wole cruelly
•
execute your Iudgement,
•
with swerde and spere to perse them thurgh the hert.
Herod.
I thanke you, my knyghtes
Do arme your self in stele
•
but loke ye make no tarieng! Don't tarry!
shynyng bright,
And conceyve in your myndes that I am your kyng,
Gevyng you charge þat with all your myght,
In conseruacion) of my tytel of right,
that ye go and loke for myn) aduauntage,
And sle at the Children) pat come in your sight
wiche ben) within too yeer of age.
Now be ware that my byddyng ye truly obey,
for non but I shall reigne with equyte.
Make all the Children on your swordes to dey!
I charge you, spare not oon) for mercy nor pyte.
Arm! and,
[leaf 148, back]
108 to preserve my
title,
kill all the chil-
dren of 2 years
I12 old;
116 spare not one!

The soldiers
promise to kill
the children.
them rewards.
Am not I lord and Kyng of the Cuntre?
The Crowne of aH Ierusalem longith to me of right.
who-so-euer sey nay,' of higħ or lowe degre,
I Charge you, sle at suche pat come in your sight!
Ius Miles.
¶ My lord, be ye sure accordyng to your will,
like as ye charge vs be streigt commaundement,
AH the children of Israel doughtles we shall kylle 123
Within to yeer of Age: this is our entent.
ijus Miles.
my lord, of al Iurye we hold you for chef regent,
by titel of enheritaunce as your auncetours be-forn);
he that seith the contrary be Mahound shalbe shent,
And curse the tyme that euer [he] was borne.
·
Herod.
·
¶ I thanke you, my knyghtes, with hool affeccion),
Herod promises And whan) ye come a-geyn) · I shał you avaunce;
Therfor quyte you wele in feld and town),
And of all tho fondlynges make a delyueraunce.
[leaf 149]
Watkyn, Herod's
messenger, asks
to be knighted.
[¶here the knyghtes shall departe from herowd to
Israel, and watkyn) shall a-byde, seyng thus to
herod:
Watkyn).
Now, my lord, I beseche you to here my dalyaunce,
I wold aske you a bone if I durst a-right,
·
·
But I were loth ye shuld take ony displesaunce;
Now for Mahoundes sake make me a knyght.
•
·
¶ffor oon thyng I promyse you⚫ I will manly fight,
And for to avenge your quareH I dare vndertake,
though I sey it my-self I am a man of myght,
And dare live and deye in this quarel for your sake;
for whan) I com amonge them for fere thei shał quake,
And though thei sharme and crye, I care not a myght,

but with my sharpe sworde ther ribbes I shał shake,
•
evyn) thurgh the guttes for anger & despight.
herowd.
·
¶ be thi trouthe, Watkyn) woldest thu be made a
knyght;
thu hast be my seruaunt and Messanger many a day,
but thu were neuer provid in bataile nor in fight,
And therfor, to avaunce the so sodeynly, I ne may;
but oon thyng to the I shal
say,
be-cause I fynde the true in thyn) entent,
fforth with my knyghtes · thu shalt take the Way,
And quyte the wele · and thu shalt it not repent.
Watkyn.
¶ Now a largeys, my lord · I am right wele a-paid,
if I do not wele ley my hed vpon a stokke;
·
Herod bids Wat-
kyn prove his
148 valour in fight,
and slay with
his knights.
I shall go shew your knyghtes how ye haue seid, 155
And arme my-self / manly, and go forth on the flokke;
And if I fynde a yong child⚫ I shall choppe it on a blokke;
though the moder be angry, the child shalbe slayn),
but yitt I drede no thyng more than) a woman) with a [leaf 149, back]
Rokke,
ffor if I se ony suche, be my feith I come a-geyn. 160
herowd.
¶ what, shall a woman) with a Rokke drive the a-way?
ffye on the traitour! 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
Watkyn,¹ Messanger.
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 fleen),
but fro morowe tyH nyght with them I dare chide; 168
And therfor my lord ye may trust vnto me,
for all the children of Israel your knyghtes and I shał
kylle,
Watkyn is afraid
of a woman with
a distaff,
[1 Watkyn later]
tho' he declares
he is a bold man.

Herod bids Wat-
kyn tell his
knights to slay.
But Watkyn is
afraid of the
mothers.
[leaf 150]
He'll creep
under a bench
when the
mother is in-
I wył not spare on), but dede thei shalbe
If the ffader and moder witt lete me haue my wille.
Herowd.
Thu lurdeyn), take hed what I sey the tyH,
And higħ the to my knyghtes as fast as thu can);
say, I warne them in ony wyse per blood pat thei spille
A-bought in euery Cuntre, and lette for no man).
Watkyn).
¶ Nay, nay, my lord, we wył let for no man),
though ther come a Thousand on a rought;
•
for your knyghtes and I wiH kyll them all if we can),
but for the wyves, that is all my dought.
And if I se ony walkyng a-bought,
I will take good hede til she be goon);
And assone as I aspye that she is oute,
by my feith in-to the hous I will go A-non),
Watkyn).
And thus I promyse you, that I shał neuer slepe,
but euermore wayte to fynde the children) alone,
And if the moder come In vnder the benche I witt
crepe
And lye stille ther tył she be goon);
than manly I shall come out and hir children) sloon),
doors, and then And whan) I haue don), I shał renne fast a-way.
kill her children
when she goes
out.
He's not to be
knighted unless
he fights well.
if she founde hir child dede, and toke me ther alone,
be my feith I am sure we shuld make a fray.
herowd.
Nay, harlott, a-byde stylle with my knyghtes, I warne
the,
tyĦ the children) be slayn) all the hoof rought;
and whan thu comyst home a-geyñ · I shał avaunce the
If thu quyte the like a man), whill thu art ougħt; 196
And if thu pley the coward, I put the owt of dought,
of me thu shalt neyther haue ffee nor aduauntage;

CANDLEMAS DAY. HEROD'S KILLING OF THE CHILDRen.
SC. 1. 9
therfor I charge you the contre be well sought,
And whan thu comyst home, shalt haue thi wage. 200
watkyn).
¶ Yis, sire, be my trouthe ye shall wele knowe
whił I am oute how I shałł aquyte me,
for I purpos to spare neither higħ nor lowe,
·
If ther be no man) wole smyte me.
the most I fere the wyues wiłł bete me;
Watkyn will kill
all the children.
yitt shall I take good hert to me and loke wele a-bought,
And loke that your knygħtes be not ferre fro me,
For if I be alone I may sone gete a Clought.
•
Herod.
¶ I say, hye the hens that thu were goon),
And vnto my knyghtes · loke
ye
take the way,
And sey, I charge them that my commaundement be don
In all hast possible without more delay;
And if ther be ony that will sey you nay,
Redde him¹ of his lyff out of hand a-non);
And if thu quyte the weeł⚫ vnto my pay,
I shall make pe a knyght aventurours whan) þu comyst

home.
Watkyn).
[et exeat.
Syr knyghtes, I must go forth with you-
Thus my lord commaunded me for to don),—
And if I quyte me weełł whił I am amonge you, 219
I shalbe made a knyght aventures whan) I come home.
ffor oon thyng I promyse you, I will fight a-non),
if my hert faile not whan) I shalbe-gynne;
the most I fere is to come amonge women),
[leaf 150, back]
Every opponent
is to be slain.
[¹ him later]
223 But Watkyn
fears the
for thei fight like deueHes with Rokkes whan) þei spynne. mothers.
Ius Miles.
¶ Watkyn), I loue the⚫ for thu art euer a man);
If thu quyte the weed in this grett viage,
I shall speke to my lord for the that I can),
that thu shalt no more be neither grome nor page. 228

ij" Miles.
The Angel bids
Joseph flce with
Mary and Jesus
into Egypt.
[leaf 151]
At Christ's
presence the
Egyptian idols
I wył speke for the that thu shalt haue better wage
If thu quyte the manly a-monge the wyves,
·
ffor thei be as fers as a lyon) in a cage
·
whan thei are broken) ought to reve men of þer lives.
[ her the knyghtes and watkyn) walke a-bought
the place tyH Mary and Ioseph be conveid in-to
Egipt.-Dixit Angelus.

[Scene 2. Bethlehem.]

Angelus.
¶O Ioseph, ryse vp, and loke thu tary nought!
take mary with the and in-to Egipt fflee,
ffor Iesu thi sone pursuyd is and sought
•
by kyng herowd, the wiche, of gret Inyquyte,
Commaundid hath thurgh bedlem Cite,
In his cruel and furyous rage,
To sle all the children) that be in that Cuntre
that be founde within to yeer of age.
may
Ther shall he shewe in that region)
diuerse myracles of his high regalye;
shall fall down.
•
In all ther temples the Mawmentes shaH falle down)
To shew a tokyn) towardes the partie.
This child hath lordship, as prophetes do specifie,
And at his comyng, thurgh his myghty hond,
In despight of al Idolatrie,
euery
oon) shał falle · whan) he comyth in-to the lond.
Ioseph.
Joseph says he ¶ O good lord, of thi gracious ordenaunce,
will obey,
and trust in
God.
like as thu list for our jorney provide,
In this viage with humble attendaunce,
As god disposeth and list to be our gyde;
Therfor vpon them bothe mekely I shaH abide,
prayng to that lord to think vpon vs three,

vs to preserue, wheder we go or Ryde
Towardes Egipte, from aH aduercitie.
Mary.
Now, husbond, in al hast I pray you go we hens,
ffor drede of Herowd, that crue} knyght!
Genty spouse, now do your diligens,
And bryng your asse, I pray you, a-non right,
And from hens let vs passe with all our myght,
Thankyng that lord so for vs doth provide,
that we may go from herowd, pat cursid wight,
wiche with vs devour' if that we abide.
Ioseph.
¶ Mary, you to do plesaunce without ony lett,
I shall brynge forth your asse with-out more delay;
fful sone, Mary, theron) ye shalbe sett,
And this lite Child that in your wombe lay.
Take hym in your armys Mary, I you pray,
& of your swete mylke lete hym sowke I-nowe,
Mawger herowd and his grett fray;
& as your spouse, mary, I shaft go with you'.
¶ This ferdet of gere I ley vp my bakke,
Now I am redy to go from this Cuntre;
AH my smale instrumentes is putt in my pakke;
·
Mary begs that
they may go in
haste.
[leaf 151, back]
268 Joseph bids her
take her boy,
and suckle him.
[& exeant.
Now go we hens, Mary, it will no better be;
ffor drede of Herowd a paas I wył higħ me;
lo, now is our' geer · trussid · both more and lesse.
Mary, for to plese you with all humylite,
I shall go be-fore and lede forth your asse.
All is packt.
280 Joseph leads the
[ Here mary and Ioseph shall go out of pe place
and pe goddes shał falle, and than) shall come in the
women of Israel with yong children) in ther armys,
and than the knyghtes shał go to them, sayng as
foluyth:
ass.

12 CANDLEMAS DAY. HEROD'S KILLING OF THE CHILDREN. sc. 3.
The Soldiers

[Scene 3. Bethlehem.]

Ius Miles.
¶ Herke, ye wyffys, we be come your housholdes to visite;
though ye be neuer so wroth nor wood
with sharpe swerdes that redely will byte,
come to kill all your children) of to yeer age, in our cruel mood,
children under
two,
[leaf 152]
thurghe-out a bethleem to kylle and shed ther yong
blood,
As we be bound be the commaundement of pe kyng.
who that seith nay, we shall make a flood
To renne in the stretis by ther blood shedyng.
ij" Miles.
¶ Therfor vnto vs ye make a delyueraunce
Of your yong children), · and that a-none;
and will slay all Or elles be Mahounde we shall geve you a myschaunce;
Our sharpe swerdes thurgh your bodies shałł goon). 292
who resist them.
The Mothers
denounce these
Murderers,
·
Watkyn).
Therfor beware, for we will not leve oon)
In all this Cuntre that shałł vs escape;
I shall rather slee them euerychoon),
& make them to lye and mowe like an ape.
Prima mulier.
¶ffye on you, traitours of cruel tormentrye,
wiche with your swerdes of mortal violens,
Secunda mulier.
Our yong children), that can no socour but crie,
wył slee and devoure⚫ in ther Innocens.
•
Tercia mulier.
Ye false traitours vnto god ye do grett offens
to sle and morder' yong children) þat in per cradeH
slumber.
1 alle put before your; and of altered to within in a later hand.

iiija mulier.
but we women) shall make a-geyns you resistens,
after our power, your malice to encomber.
Watkyn).
and declare
they'll resist.
¶ 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 baṭaile.
·
prima mulier.
ffye vpon the, coward, of the I will not faile
to dubbe the knyght with my rokke rounde!
women be ferse when thei list to assaile,
Suche prowde boyes to caste to the grounde.
Watkyn).
Avaunt, ye skowtys, I defye you euery-chone,
ffor I wole bete you at my-self a-lone.
•
I" mulier.
One Mother
threatens
Watkyn.
[Hic occident pueros. The Children
¶ Alas, alasse, good Gossyppes this is a sorowful payn),
To se our dere Children) that be so yong,
With these Caytyves thus sodeynly to be slayn);
A vengeaunce I aske on them all for this grett wrong.
ij" mulier.
And a very myscheff' mut come them a-monge,
wherso-euer thei be come or goon),
ffor thei haue kylled my yong sone Ioħn.
iija mulier.
are killd.
[leaf 152, back]
The Mothers
call for venge-
ance on the
Murderers
¶ Gossippis, a shameful deth I aske vpon) herowde our and King Herod.
kyng,
that thus rygorously our children) hath slayn).
iiijª mulier.
I pray god bryng hym ¹to an Ille endyng¹,
And in helle pytte to dwelle euer in peyn
324 - and alle his
bloode erased.]

Watkyn).
Watkyn rebukes What, ye harlottes, I haue aspied certeyn
the Mothers.
They threaten
to beat him,
that ye be traytours to my lord the kyng,
& therfor I am sure ye shall haue an Ille endyng. 328
I mulier.
¶ If ye abide, watkyn), you and I shall game
with my distaff that is so Rounde.
ij" mulier.
And if I seas, thanne haue I shame
ty thu be fellid down) to the grounde.
iija mulier.
And I may gete the with-in my bounde,
with this staff I shał make the lame.
Watkyn.
Yee, I come no more ther, be seynt Mahound,
ffor if I do ⚫ me thynketh I shall be made tame.
I" mulier.
¶ A-byde, Watkyn) · I shał 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 pligħt,
brags,
[leaf 153]
they beat him.
I shuld bete you bak and side tył it were blewe;
but, be my god Mahounde that is so true,
my hert be-gynne to fayle and waxeth feynt,
Or elles be Mahoundes blood ye shuld it rue;
but ye shal lose your goodes as traitours atteynt.
•
Ia mulier.
¶ what, thu Iavell canst not haue do?
thu and thi Cumpany shall not depart,
tyH of our distavys · ye haue take part :
·
therfor, ley on gossippes with a mery hart,
And lett them not · from vs goo.
·
[here thei shal bete watkyn), and the knyghtes

CANDLEMAS DAY. HEROD'S KILLING OF THE CHILDren.
SC. 4. 15
·
shall come to rescue hym, and than thei go to
Herowd pus sayng:

[Scene 4. Jerusalem.]

Ius miles.
¶ Honorable prynce of grett apparayle,
•
350 The Soldiers tell
thurgħ Jerusalem and Jude your wył we haue wrought;
fful suerly harneysed in armour of plate and maile,
The Children of Israel vnto deth we haue brought.
•
ijus miles.
Syr, to werke your commaundement we lettid nought,
In the stretes, of the children) to make a flood;
We sparid neither for care nor thought,
Thurgh bethlem · to shede af the yong blood.
·
•
Watkyn.
In ffeyth, my lord at the Children) be dede,
And all the men out of the Cuntre be goon);
Ther be but women), and thei crie in euery stede,
'A vengeaunce take kyng herode for he hath our children)
sloon)'!
And bidde A myscheff take hym both evyn) and morn):
ffor kyllyng of ther children), on you thei crie oute,
And thus goth your name at the Cuntre a-bought. 364
•
Herodes.
¶ Oute, I am madde my wyttes be ner goon),
Herod
that they've
killd
all the Children
in Bethlehem.
[one stanza on a
separate slip]
The Mothers cry
for vengeance
on him.
Herod laments;
[? for workyng
I am wo for the wrokyng¹· of this werke wylde,
ffor as wele I haue slayn my ffrendes as my foon);
wherfor I fere · deth hath me begyled,
not-withstondyng, syn) thei be ał defyled,
& on pe yong blood of bethlem wrought wo and wrake,
yitt I am in no certeyn) of that yong child;
Now for woo myn herte gynneth to quake.
•
¶ Alas, I am so sorowful and sett out² of Sadnes;
I Chille and Chever for this Orrible chaunce;
[² in has been substituted for out, by a later hand.]
his heart
quakes;
he is sad.
[leaf 153, back]

Herod orders his I commaunde you aH, as ye wole stond in my grace,
after this yong kyng to make good enqueraunce; 376
men to seek out
Jesus.
Herod quakes,
tears his robes
in two,
·
And he pat bryngeth me tydynges I shall hym
auaunce.
·
now vnto my chamber I purpose me this tyde,
And I charge you to my preceptes geve attendaunce
In ony place wher' ye goo or Ryde.
·
¶ What out, out, allas! I wene I shall dey pis day;
my hert tremelith and quakith for ffeer,
my Robys I rende a to⚫ for I am in a fray
that
my hert will brest a-sunder evyn) heer.
my lord Mahound, I pray the with hert enteer
take my soule in-to thy holy hande,
ffor I fele be my hert I shall dey evyn) heer,
and dies.
Vacat ab hinc.
[in later hand]
Simeon prays
God for grace
to teach the
people.
He praises God
for the
[leaf 154]
Incarnation.
ffor my legges ffalter', I may no lenger stande.
·
[here dieth herowde, and Symeon) shall sey as
foluyth:

[Scene 5. Jerusalem]

Symecn).
¶ Now, god, that art both lok and keye
of all goodnesse and goostly gouernaunce,
So
yeve vs grace thi lawys to obeye,
that we vn-to the⚫ do no displesaunce;
lett thi grace of merciful haboundaunce
Vpon me shyne, that callid am Symeon),
So that I may without ony variaunce
Teche thi people · thi lawis euery-chon).
¶ffrom the sterrid hevyn) · lord, thu list come down)
In-to the Closett of a pure virgj n),
•
Our kynde to take for mannys saluacion).
Thi grett mercy, thu lowe lyst enclyne,
•
lyke as prophetys by grace that is divyne
·
haue prophecied of the sythe longe afforn);

It is fulfilled, I knowe, be ther doctryne,
& of a chast maide I wote wele thu art born).
Now, good lord, hertly I the pray
here my requeste grounded vpon right;
Most blissed lord, lett me neuer dey
TyH that I of the may haue a sight!
Thu art so gloryous, so blissed, and so brigħt,
that thi presence to me shuld be gret solas.
I shall not reste, but pray bothe day and nyght,
Tył I may behold, o lord, thi swete face.

[Scene 6. Jerusalem]

405 Symeon prays
that he may
not die
412 till he has seen
Jesus.
[Her shall our lady come forth holdyng Iesu in hir
armys, and sey this language foluyng to Iosepħ.
Sc. vi. Jerusalem,
Maria.
•
Ioseph, my Spouse tyme it is we goo
Vn-to the Temple to
Of our swete sone;
And ij yonge dowys
413 Mary tells
Joseph that they
must offer 2
Doves in the
Temple.
make an Offrynge
the lawe commaundith so,
4:6
with vs for to bryng
In-to a prestes handes with-oute tarieng.
I shall presente for an obseruaunce
Our babe so blissed wiche is but yonge;
With me to go I pray you make purviaunce.
·
Ioseph.
¶ Most blissed Spouse me list not to feyne.
ffayn wold I plese you with hoot affeccion):
behold now, wyff her are dowys tweyne
Of wiche ye shuł make an oblacion
With our child of full grett devocion).
·
Goth forth a-form) hertly I you pray,
·
And I shall folue
voide of presumpcion)
with true entent as an old man may.
DIGBY MYST.
[leaf 154, back]
Joseph brings
the Doves, and
424 says
C
he'll follow her
humbly.

Mary asks
Symeon to
[There Maria and Ioseph go toward the temple
with Jesu and ij dowes, and our lady seith vnto
Syineon) :-
Maria.
Hey, holy Symeon) full of grett vertu,
To make an Offryng I gan my-self' purveye
Of
take her
offering.
my souereigne sone · that callid is Iesu,
with ij yonge dowes the lawe to Obeye;
Toward this temple · grace list me conveye,
Of goddes sone to make a presentacion);
wherfore, Symeon) hertly I you pray,
In-to your handes take myn oblacion).
[¶ her shal symeon) receyve of maria, Iesu and ij
dowis, and holde Iesu in his armys expownyng nunc
dimittis, &c., seyng thus :-
Symeon).
•
Symeon accepts wolcome, lord excellent of power';
it,
•
And wolcome, Maria · with your sone souereigne!
Your oblacion of hool herte and enteer
I receyue with these · dowys tweyn);
[leaf 155]
takes the babe
Jesus in his
arms,
thanks God for
the sight of Him,
wolcome, babe! for Ioye what may I seyn)?
Atwen) myn armys now shał I the enbrace;
My prayer, lord, was not made in veyn),
ffor now I se thy celestial face.
[here declare[th he¹] nunc dimittis.
TO blissed lord, after thi langage,
In parfight peas now lett thy seruaunt reste,
ffor why myn eyen) haue seyn) thi visage,
& eke thyn helthe thurgh my meke request.
Of the derk dungeon) · let the gates brest
be-fore the face of thyn people alle.
thu hast brought triacle and bawme of the best,
·
with Souereigne Suger geyn) at bitter galle.
[ or they MS. is torn.]

¶ I mene thi self, 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;
453 and blesses Him
for coming on
earth
Thu art the light and the hevynly skye
To the relevyng of folk most cruel;
Thu hast brought gladnesse to our oratorye,
And enlumyned thy people of Israel.
to relieve His
folk.
[Here shaH Anna, prophetissa, sey thus to Virgynes:
Anna, prophetissa.
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.
461 Anna bids the
Virgins worship
the boy Jesus.
[her, virgynes, as many as a man wył, shał holde
tapers in ther handes, and the first seyth:
Prima virgo.
As ye comaunde, we shal do our dever',
that lord to plese / echon for our partye,
he makyth vn[-to] vs so comfortable chere,
that we must nedes this babe magnifie.
Symeon).
[leaf 155, back]
[a different hand]
Now, mary, I shaft tell you how I am purposed: 469 Symeon resolves
to worshipe this lord / I wil go procession);
ffor I se anna, with virgynes disposed,
to go in pro-
cession
mekly as nowe, to your sonys laudacion.
Maria.
blissed Symeon, with hertly affeccion,
as ye han seyd, I concent therto.
Ioseph.
In worshipe of our Child, with gret devossion),
abcught the tempit / in ordir' let vs go.
round the Tem-
ple in honour of
476 Christ.
C 2

Symeon).
Virgins sing
Symeon bids the ye virgynes alle / with feytħful intent
dispose your silf a song for to synge,
[' MS. wiche]
Nunc Dimittis
in praise of
Jesus.
to worship this Child that is her present,
whiche to mankende gladnes list brynge,
In tokyn) our' hertes / withe¹ Ioye doth sprynge:
betwyn myn) armys this babe shalbe born.
now, ye virgynis, to this lordes preysyng
syngyth nunc dimittis / of whiche I spak afforn. 484
[¶here shal Symeon bere Iesu in his armys, goyng
a procession) rounde aboute the tempiH; and al this
wyle the virgynis synge nunc dimittis, and whan)
that is don), Symeon seyth:
Symeon shows
how the wax,
wick, and light
of the taper are
emblems of
Christ's quali-
ties.
Symeon).
¶O Iesu, chef cause of our welfare,
In yone tapir therbe thing' iije,
wax, week and light, whiche I shall declare
to the apporprid by moralite;
[leaf 156]
He declares the
Boy to be very
God and Man,
lord, wax betoknyth / thyn) humanyte,
& week betoknyth / thy soule most swete;
yone lyght I lykene / to the godhed of the,
brighter than phebus / for al his fervent hete.
Pes and mercy han set in the, her swete,
to slake the sharpnes, o lord of rigour,—
very god and man) / gun to-gedir' mete.
In the tabirnacle / of thy modrys bower,
and rejoices to
behold Him.
now shalt thu exile / wo and aĦ langour,
& of mankende tappese infernal stryf.
Record of prophetes, thou shalt be redemptour,
and singuler repast of euerlastyng' lyf.
My spretes Ioyen) // thou art so amyable,
I am nat wery / to loke on thi face;
our trewe entent / let it be acceptable
To the honor of the shewyd in this place.

ffor thy seruauntes a dwellynge thou shalt purchase,
brighter than beraH outher' clere cristałł;
the to worshipe as chef welle of grace,
On both my knees / now doun knele I shał.
Maria.
Now, Semyon), take me / my child, that is so bright,
Chef' lodesterre / of my felicyte,
and all that longytħ / to the lawe of right
I shall obeye / as it lytħ in me.
Symeon.
this lord, I take you / knelyng' on my kne,
Whiche shall to blisse folk' ageyn) restore,
and eke be called tonne of tranquylyte,
to yeve hem drynke / that han) thrustyd sore.
[her she receyvetħ hir sone thus seyeng':
Mary asks
Symeon for her
Child.
He, kneeling,
gives her the
Boy,
Maria.
Now is myn offryng to an ende conveyed;
wherfore, Symeon), hens I wole wende.
Symeon).
The lawes, Mary, ful wel ye han obbeyed,
In this tempi / with hert and mende :
nowe ferwell, lord, comfort to all mankende;
ffarweł, Maria and Ioseph, on you waytyng'.
Ioseph.
Selestial socour / our sone mot you sende,
[leaf 156, back]
and bids them
farewell.
and for his higħ mercy // yeve you his blissyng'.
[¶here maria and Ioseph goyng' from the tempit,
seyng':
Maria.
husbond, I thenke you / of your Gentilnes
that
ye han shewed onto me this day,
525 Mary thanks
Joseph for his
kindness.

with our child, most gracious of godenes;
let vs go hens, hertly I you pray.
Ioseph.
Joseph promises go forthe afforn), my ovne wyf, I sey,
& I shall come aftir, stil vpon this ground.
to cherish his
wife Mary.
he has seen
Christ,
ye
shal me fynde plesant' at euery assaye;
to cherysshe you, wyf, gretly am I bounde.
Symeon).
Symeon is glad Nowe may I be glad in myn) Inward mende,
for I haue seyn) Iesu with my bodely eye,
wiche on a cros shał bey al men-kende,
slayn by Iwes at the mount of calvery ;
and foretells
Mary's suffering
when her Son is whan) hir' swete sone shał on a rood deye;
on the Cross.
Of blissed mary · howe she shałł suffre peyn),
and throwe devyn) grace here I will provysye
A sharpe Sward of Sorowe shall cleve hir hert atweyn).
Anna, prophetiſsa, hertly I prey you nowe
doth your devir and your diligent labour',
and take these virgynis euerychon) with you,
and teche hem to plese god of most honour
Anna, prophetissa.
[leaf 157]
Anna bids the
Virgins honour
Christ.
lyke as ye say, I will do this hour.
ye chast virgynis with a humylite,
Worshipe we Iesu, that shalbe our sauyour';
alle at ones come on, and folowe me,
[first hand again] & shewe ye summe plesur as ye can),
Epilogue.
In the worshipe of Iesu, our lady, and seynt Anne.. 550
Anna, prophet[issa] & [omnes] tripident.
[Epilogue.]
T Pceta.
¶ Honorable souereignes, thus we conclude
Our mater that we haue shewid here in your presens,

And though our' eloquens be but rude,
we beseche you all, of your paciens
To pardon) vs of our offens;
554 The Poet begs
pardon for
shortcomings,
ffor after the sympy cunnyng that we can),
This mater' we haue shewid to your audiens,
In the worshipe of our lady, and hir moder seynt Anne.
¶ Now of this pore processe we make an ende,
thankyng you all of your good attendance;
and the next yeer, as we be purposid in our mynde,
The disputacion of the doctours to shew in your presens.
wherfor now, ye virgynes, er we go hens,
with all your cumpany, you goodly avaunce,
Also ye menstralles doth your diligens,
A-fore our departyng geve vs a daunce.
¶ffinis.
Anno domini Millesimo¹, CCCCCxij.
[¹? MS]
and promises
that his fellows
shall play the
Disputation of the
563 Doctors next
year.
[? later hand]

¶ THE NAMYS OF THE PLEYERS.
The poete
kyng Herowde
jte knyght
the ijde knyght
iijde knyght
iiijth knyght
watkyn), Messanger
Syneon the bysshope
Ioseph
Summa xvij.
Maria
Anna prophetissa
A virgyn
Angelus
ja mulier
ija mulier
iija mulier
iiijª mulier
Ihon Parfre ded wryte thys booke.¹
This line was not written at the same time as the writing above; it is in a
different coloured ink.

II. The Conversion of St Paul

THE CONVERSION OF St PAUL.
(In 7-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 28¹;
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 St PAUL.]
[Digby MS. 133, leaf 37, in a third hand.]

[1st Station.]

Poeta. 'Myles Blomefylde.¹
Rex glorie, kyng' omnipotent,
Redemer of the world by the pouer diuine,
and maria, that pure vyrgy[n] quene most excellent,
wyche bare that blyssyd babe, Iesu, that for vs sufferd
payne,
vnto whoys goodnes I do inclyne,
besechyng that lord of hys pytous Influens,
to preserue & gouerne thys wyrshypfut audyens.
Honorable frendes, besechyng' yow of lycens,
Prologue.
May Christ and
the Virgin Mary
7 preserve this
to procede owr processe, we may, vnder your correccion,
the conuersyon of seynt paule, as the byble gyf' experyens,
whoo lyst to rede the booke Actum Appostolorum, 11
ther shat he haue the very notycyon;
but as we can, we shall vs redres,
Brefly with yowr fauour begynyng' owr proces.
audience!
We're going to
act the Conversion
of St. Paul.
14 Daunce 2
Enter Saul.
[here entryth saule, goodly besene in the best wyse / Sc. i. Jerusalem.
lyke an aunterous knyth, thus sayyng':
Saulus.
feard and most
Most dowtyd man, I am lyuyng vpon the ground, 15 I'm the 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,
my fame ys best knowyn vndyr the fyrmament;
I am most drad of pepuł vnyuersał,
they dare not dyspease my most noble.
1-1 In a later hand.
2 Daunce is in a later hand.
renownd man
under the sky.

My name is
SAUL,
and I get
Christ's disciples
punisht.
¶ Saule ys my name, I wyll that ye notyfy,
whych conspyreth the dyscyplys with thretes and menaces,
be-fore the prynces of prestes most hye and noble,
I bring them to pūnyshement for ther trespace.
we wył them nott suffer to rest in no place;
[leaf 37, back] ffor they go a-bouȝte to preche and gyff exemplis,
To destroye our lawes, sinagoges, and templis.
By the god bellyał I schall make progresse,
Vnto the princes both Caypha And Anna,
wher I schall aske of them in suernes,
To persue thorow all dammask' and liba,
And thus we schall soone after than
Bryng them that so do lyff in-to Ierusalem,
Both man and child that I fynd of them.
I'll pursue em
thro Damascus
and Lybia.
Saul asks the
priests Caypha
and Anna for
[Her cummyth sale to caypha and anna, prestes of the
tempyH.
Noby prelates and princes of Regalyte,
letters to quell Desyryng' and askyng' of your benyngne wurthynes,
the Christian
rebels.
Caypha and
[leaf 38]
Anna give the
letters,
Your letters and epystolys of most souerente,
To subdue rebellyons that wy of frawardnes,
A-gaynst our lawes rebel or transgresse,
Nor wy not inclyne but mak obiecc[i]on,
To pursue all such I wyll do proteccion.
Caypha.
To your desyer we gyf' perfyth sentens,
Accordyng' to your petycions that ye make postulacion,
By-cause we know your trewe delygens,
To persue all tho that do reprobacion
A-gayns owur lawes by ony redarguacion;
wherefor shortly we gyf in commandment
To put down them that be dy[s]obedyent.
Anna.
And by thes letturs that be most reuerrent,
Take them in hand, full agre ther-to,

Constreyn all rebellys by owur hole assent,
We gyf yow full power so to doo.
Spare not hardly for frend nor foo,
All thos ye fynd of that lyfe in thys realme
Bounde, loke ye bryng' them in-to Ierusalem.
[Her saule resayuyth ther letters.
Saulus.
Thys precept here I take in hande,
To fullfy after yowur wylles both,
wher I shall spare with-in this londe
nother man nor woman; to this I make an oth;
But to subdue I wył not be loth:
Now folow me, knytys and seruañtes trewe,
In-to Damaske as fast as ye can sewe.
Primus miles.
Vnto your commaundment I do obeysaunce;
I wyll not gaynsay nor make delacion,
But with good mynd and harty plesauñce
I shall yow succede and make perambulacion,
Thorow-oute damaske with all delectacion,
And all thoo rebell and make resystens,
ffor to oppres I wył do my delygens.
Secundus miles.
And in me shalbe no neclygens,
But to thys precept my-self I shall applye
To do your behest with all conuenyens,
With-owt eny frowardnes or eny obstynacy;
non shall appere in me but verely,
with all my mynd I yow insure,
To resyst tho rebelles I wył do my cure.
Saulus.
Truly to me yt ys grett consolacion
To here thys report that ye do avauns
and exhort Saul
to bring all
Christians
bound to Jeru-
salem.
Saul swears he'll
spare none,
and bids his men
follow him to
63 Damascus.
67 His knights
promise
to do his behest
77 and punish the
Christian rebels,
78 [leaf 38, back]

ffor your sapyencyaH wyttes I gyf commendacion,
Euer at my nede I haue founde yow constant;
But knytes and seruuantes that be so plesaunt,
Saul orders his
horse to be
brought.
His man asks
the Ostler for
a bottle of hay,
and scolds him.
I pray yow anon my palfray ye bryng',
To spede my Iurney with-owt lettyng'.
[here goyth sale forth a lytył 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 of a pase, or I wył to a-nother Inne;
What, hosteler, why commyst not thy way?
Hye the faster, I beshrew thi skynne.
Stabularyus.
The Ostler
declares he's a
gentleman's
servant.
I am non hosteler nor non hostelers kynne,
But a Ientylmanys seruuant, I thou dost know;
Such crabyysh wordes do aske a blow.
Seruus.
I cry yow mercy, sir. I wyst wel sum-what ye were, 92
Well, you are a owther a gentylmañ or a knaue. me thynkyth by your
Gentleman,
or a Knave.
physnomy;
yf on loke yow in the face that neuer se yow ere
wold thynk ye were at the next dore by.
I thought you'd In good fayth I wenyd yow had bene an hosteler verely ;
been an Ostler.
I saw another
Gentleman and
you carrying a
barrowful of
dogs' turds;
and down both
of you slipt into
a cow-turd,
uose first.'
I
suche a-nother Ientylman with yow, a barowful
sye
bare
of horsdowng' and dogges tordes, and sych other gere, 98
And how yt happenyd a mervelous chance be-tyde: 99
Your felow was not suer cf foote, and yet he went very
brode,¹
Butt in a cow tord both dyd ye slyde;
And as I wene your nose ther-in rode,
Your face was be-payntyd with sowters code;
[ substituted for wyde.]

I sey neuer sych a syȝt, I make god a vow,
[leaf 39]
ye were so be-grymlyd and yt had bene a sowe.
Stabularius.
In fayth thou neuer syest me tył this day:
'Why, you never
saw me before
to-day ! '
I haue dwellyd with my master thys vij ȝere and more;
ffull well I haue pleasyd hym, he wył not say nay,
And mykyll he makyth of me therfore.
Seruus.
By my trowth than be ye changyd to a new lore;
A seruand ye are and that a good,
ther ys no better lokyth owt of a hood.
Stabularius.
ffor soth and a hood I vse for to were,
ffull well yt ys lynyd with sylk and chamlett;
"Then you're
translated!
You're a first-
rate servant.'
113 'Go to! I wear
yt kepyth me fro the cold that the wynd doth me not
dere,
nowther frost nor snow that I therby do sett.
a hood lined
with silk.'
Seruus.
yea, yt ys a dobył hood and that a fett;
he was a good man that made yt, I warant yow;
he was nother horse ne mare¹, nor yet yokyd sow.
[Here commyth the fyrst knyth to the stabyl grom,
sayng':
Primus miles.
Now, stabyll grom, shortly bryng' forth away
The best horse, for owur lorde wył ryde.
Stabularyus.
I am full redy; here ys a palfray,
There can no man a better bestryde:
He wyH conducte owur lorde, and gyde
[¹ MS. nare.]
120 Saul's Knight
bids the Ostler
bring out his
best horse.

Saul's knight
brings him his
horse,
[leaf 39, back]
and says his
servants 'll
follow him
anywhere.
Thorow the world he ys sure and aby H
To bere a gentyllman, he [is] esy and prophetabyH. 126
[Her the knyth cummyth to saule with a horse.
Primus miles.
Behold, sir saule, your palfray ys com,
full goodly besene, as yt ys yowr desyer
To take yowur vyage thorow euery regyon.
Be nott in dowt, he wył spede your mater,
And we as your seruauntes with glad chere
Shall gyf attendance; we wyll nott gaynsay,
But folow where ye go be
yow
nyȝt or day.
Saul starts on
his journey.
Saulus.
Vnto Damask I make my progressyon,
To pursue al rebellyoūs beyng' froward and obstynate
Agayns our lawes be ony transgressyon.
·
with all my delygens · my-self I wył prepare,
Concernyng my purpose to oppres and separate;
Non shall reioyce that doth offend,
But vtterly to reproue with mynde and intende.
[Her sale rydyth forth with hys seruantes a-bowt the
place, [&] owt of the pl[ace].
Caypha.
The priests,
Caypha and
Now saule hath takyn
hys wurthy wyage
To pursue rebellyous of what degre thei be;
He wyll non suffer to raygne nor haue passage
with-In a thys regyon we be in sertayn:
wherefor I commende hys goodly dygnyte,
That he thus aluay takyth in hande
By hys power to gouerne thus all thys lande
Anna.
Anna, praise
We may lyue in rest by hys consolacion;
He defendyth vs, where-for we be bownde

To loue hym intyrely with our harttes affeccion,
And honour hym as champyon in euery stownde;
ther ys non suche lyuyng' vpon the grownde,
That may be lyke¹ hym nor be hys pere,
Be est nor west, ferre nor nere.
151 Saul as their
champion.
Poeta―si placet.
Conclusyon.
ffynally of this stacon thus we mak a conclusyon),
besechyng' thys audyens to folow and succede
with all your delygens this generall processyon,
To vnderstande this matter wo lyst to rede
The holy bybyH for the better spede;
Ther shall he haue the perfyth intellygens,
Epilogue to
Act I.
155 Daunce
[in later hand]
And thus we comyt yow to crystys magnyfycens.
ffinis Istius stacionis, et altera sequitur.

[2nd Station.]

Poeta.
Honorable frendes, we beseche yow of audyens,
To here our intencion and also our prosses
Vpon our matter: be your fauorable lycens
A-nother part of the story we wyll redres;
Here shalbe brefly shewyd with all our besynes
At thys pagent saynt poullys conuercyon;
Take ye good hede and ther-to gyf affeccion.
[leaf 40]
Act II.
Prologue.
St. Paul's Con-
version is now
168 to be playd.
[Here commyth saule rydyng' in with hys seruantes.
Saulus.
My purpose to Damask fully I intende,
To pursewe the dyscypulys my lyfe I apply,
ffor to breke down the chyrchys thus I condescende.
Non I wyll suffer that [they] shall edyfey,
perchauñce owur lawes than myȝte ther-by,
And the pepu also turne and conuerte,
Scene i.
The Road to
169 Damascus.
Saul declares
he'll persecute
Christ's dis-
ciples.
[¹a late to put above.]
DIGBY MYST.
D

whych shuld be gret heuynes vnto myn hart.
Saul vows he'll Nay, that shall nott be butt layd a-part.
bring all the
Christians
bound to Jeru-
salem.
He's struck by
lightning, and
falls off his
horse.
the
prynces haue gouyn me full potestacion.
All that I fynd thei shall nott start,
But bounde to Ierusalem, with furyous vyolacion, 179
Be-for cesar caypha, and annas presentacion,
Thus shalbe subduyd⚫ tho wretchys of that lyfe
That non shall in-Ioy nother man chyde nor wyfe. 182
[Here commyth a feruent with gret tempest¹, and
saule faulyth down of hys horse: that done, godhed
spekyth in heuyn).
Christ rebukes
him.
[leaf 40, back]
Saul asks what
Christ would
have him do.
Deus.
Saule, saule, why dost thou me pursue?
yt ys hard to pryke a-gayns the spore
I am thi savyour that ys so trwe,
whych made heuyn and erth and eche creature;
offende nott my goodnes I wyll the recure
Saulus.
O lord, I am a-ferd, I trymble for fere,
what woldyst I ded, tell me here.
Deus.
Christ bids him A-ryse and goo thou wyth glad chere
go into the city
close by.
In-to the Cyte a lytyll be-syde,
And I shall the socor in euery
That no maner of yĦ xalbe-tyde,
And I wyll ther for the prouyde
dere
by my grete goodnes what thou shalt doo;
Hy the as fast thether as thou mast goo.
Saulus.
Saul is lame
and blind.
O mercyfull god, what aylyth me?
I 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.

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.
jus miles.
203 Saul prays to
God,
Syr, we be here to help the in thi nede,
with all our affyance we wył not seise.¹
Saulus.
Thau in Damask I pray yow me lede
I godes name, accordyng to my promyse.
2us miles.
To put forth yowur hand loke ye dresse,
Cum on your way, we shall yow bryng
In-to the cyte with-owt taryng'.
[Here the knyghtes lede forth sale in-to a place, and
cryst apperyth to annanie, sayng':
and bids his
knight lead him
into Damascus.
Act II. sc. ii.
Damascus.
Deus.
Ananie, ananie: where art thou, ananie?
211 Christ calls
Ananias,
Ananias.
Here, lord, I am here trwly.2
Deus.
Go thy way and make thi curse
As I shall assyng the by myn aduysse,
Into the strete, qui dicitur rectus,
And in a certayn house of warantyse,
leaf 41]
214 and bids him go
into Straight
Street,
ther shall ye fynd · saule in humble vyse,
where he shall
find Saul,
As a meke lambe, that a wolf before was namyd;
Do my behest; be nothyng' a-shamyd.
He wantyth hys syth, by my punyshment constrayned. blind.
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 is
afraid to go to
Saul,
because he has
brought God's
Saints to death.
prayeng' vnto me, I assure thou shalt hym fynd,
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 mind
I here so myche of hys furyous cruelte,
that for spekyng of thi name to deth he will put me.
nay,
Deus.
ananie, nay, I assure the
He wulbe glad of thy cummyng'.
Ananias.
A, lord, but I know of a certayn
that thy seyntes in Ierusalem: to deth he doth bryng'.
many yllys of hym I haue be kennyng',
ffor he hath the pour of the princes ałe,
To saue or spyHe, do which he schał.
Deus.
Christ says that
be nothyng a-drad, he ys a chosen wesseł,
Saul is a chosen
vessel, and shall
To me assyngned by my godly eleccion.
be
He shall bere my name be-fore the kynges and chylder
of Israel.
by many sharpe shoures sufferyng' correccion,
a gret doctor of benyngne conpleccion,
[leaf 41, back] The trwe precher of the hye deuynete,
a pinnacle of
the faith;
A very pynacle of the fayth, I ensure the.
Ananyas.
lorde, thy commandment I shall fullfyH;
Vn-to saule I wył take my waye.
Deus.
Ananias is not
to fear him.
be nothyng in dowte for good nor yłł.
fare-well, Ananie, tell saule what I do say.
[et exiat Deus.

Ananias.
Blyssyd lord, defende me as thou best may;
Gretly I fere hys cruel tyranny;
But to do thi precept my-self I shall applye.
247 Ananias obeys,
and goes to seek
[Here Ananias goth toward saule.
jus myles.
I maruayle gretly what yt doth mene,
To se owur master in thys hard stounde.
The wonder grett lythtys that were so shene,
smett hym doune of hys hors to the grownde,
And me thowt that I hard a sounde
Saul.
Act II. sc. iii.
Damascus.
Saul's knights
talk over his
striking to the
ground,
·
Of won spekyng with voyce delectable,
Whych was to wonderful myrable.
2us myles.
Sertenly thys lyȝt was ferefull to see,
The sperkys of fyer were very feruent,
the voice speak-
ing to him,
and the sparks
yt inflamyd so greuosely about the countre,
That by my trowth I went we shuld 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 greuauns.
[Her saule ys in contemplacion.'
Saulus.
of fire that they
saw.
lord, of thi counfort moch I desyre,
thou myȝty prince of Israel · kyng' of pyte,
whyche me hast punyshyd as thi presoner,
That nother ete nor dranke · thys dayes thre;
But, gracyos lorde, of thi vysytacyon I thanke the.
Thy seruant shall I be as long as I haue breth,
Thowgh I therfor shuld suffer dethe.
[Here commyth anania to saule, sayeng':
[ MS. comtemplacion]
262 Saul desires
comfort from
God.
[leaf 42]
He has fasted
3 days.

Ananias.
Ananias
tells Saul he's
sent by God
to him.
Pease be in thys place and goodly mansyon;
who ys with-in? speke in crystys holy name!
Sa [u]lus.
I am here, saule! cum in on goddes benyson!
what ys your wyH? tell with-owten blame.
Ananias.
ffrom almyghty god, sertanly to the sent I am,
and ananie men call me wher as I dwell.
Saulus.
what wold ye haue: I pray yow me tełł.
Ananias.
Gyfe me your hand for your awayle,
Ananias bids
Saul be stedfast
and remember
God's excellence.
God is almighty,
to lift up or cast
down.
[leaf 42, back]
for as I was commaundyd by hys gracyos sentens,
& bad the be stedfast for thou shalt be hayle.
ffor thys same cause he sent me to thi presens;
Also he bad the remember hys hye excellens,
Be the same tokyn that he dyd the mete,
Toward the cyte when he apperyd in the strete.
¶ Ther mayst thou know hys power celestyał,
How he dysposyth euery thyng as hym lyst;
no thyng may withstand hys myȝte essencyaH,
To stond vp-ryght, or els doun to thryste.
Thys ys hys powur, yt may not be myste,
ffor who that yt wantyth / lackyth a frende.
Thys ys the massage that he doth the sende.
Saulus.
Hys marcy to me ys ryght welcom;
I am ryght glad that yt ys thus.
The Holy Ghost
appears.
[Hic aparebit spiritus sanctus super eum.

Ananias.
Be of good chere and perfyte Iubylacion,
Discendet super te spirytus sanctus,
whych hath with hys¹ grace illumynyd vs;
put fo[r]th thi hond and goo wyth me,
A-gayne to thy syght here I restore the.
Saulus.
Blyssyd lord, thankys to yow euer bee,
The swame ys fallyn from my eyes twayne;
where I was blynyd and cowd nott see,
lord, thou hast sent me my syght agayne.
ffrom sobbyng' and wepyng I can not refrayne;
my pensyue hart, full of contryccion
Ananias
296 restores Saul's
sight.
297 Saul blesses
Christ for his
sight,
weeps, and
ffor my offences, my body shal haue punycyon;
And where I haue vsed so gret persecucyon,
Of thi descyplys thorow all Ierusalem,
I wyll [aid] and defende ther predycacyon,
That th[e]y dyd tech on all this reme.
wherefor, Ananie, at the watery streme,
Baptyse me hartely I the praye,
Vows that he'll
help Christ's
disciples.
He asks to be
baptizd,
A-mong your numbyr, that I electe and chosen be may.
Ananias.
On to this well of mych vertu,
we wyll vs hye with all our delygens.
Saulus.
Go yow be-fore, and after I shall sewe,
laudyng and praysyng' our lordes benevolens;
I shall neuer offend hys myȝty 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 crystenyng with good intent,
314 praises God,
[leaf 43]
317 and repents his
sins.
[¹ MS. hys hys.]

whyche shall make yow hole of your dedly wound,
That was infecte with venom nocent'.
Yt purgyth synne, and fendes poures so fraudelent
It putyth a-syde; where thys doth at-tayne,
In
euery stede he may not obtayne.
Ananias bap-
tizes Saul
in the name of
Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost;
I crysten yow with mynd full perfyght,
reseyuyng' yow in-to owur relygyon,
euer to be stedfast and neuer to flyt;
but euer constant, with-owt varyacyon.
now ys fulfyllyd all our obseruacyon,
concludyng thou mayst yt ken,
In nomine patris et filij et spiritus sancti. Amen. 331
bids him take
food, and stay
for a time in
Damascus.
Saulus.
I am ryght glad as foule on flyte,
That I haue receyuyd this blyssyd sacrement.
Ananias.
Com on your way, saule, for nothyng lett,
ye shall abyde with the dyscyplys verament,
Take yow sum coumforth for your bodyes noryschment
Thys many dayes in damask cyte,
Vn-tyH the tyme more perfyt ye may be.
Saulus.
Saul will do as
he is bid.
As ye commande, holy father, ananie,
I full assent at yow[r] request,
To be gydyd and rulyd as ye wyll haue me,
Evyn at your pleasur, as ye thynk best:
Epilogue to
Act II.
Dauñce
I shall not offend for most nor lest.
Go forth yowur way; I wyll succede
In-to what place ye wyll me lede.
poeta.
Thus saule ys conuertyd, as ye se expres,
The very trw seruant of our lord Iesu.
Conclusyo.

non may be lyke to hys perfyȝt holynes,
So nobyll a doctor, constant and trwe.
Aftyr hys conuersyon 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,
Conkludyng thys stacion as we can or may,
vnder the correccyon of them that letteryd be;
How be yt vnable as I dare speke or say
The compyler here-of shuld translat veray
·
so holy a story but with fauorable correccyon
of my fauorable masters of ther benygne supplexion. 359
ffinis istius secunde stacionis et sequitur tarcia.

[3rd Station.]

Poeta.
The mygħt of the fadires potenciall deite
The Compiler
begs learned
men to correct
his play.
Act III.
Prologue.
preserue thys honorable and wurshypful congregacion
That here be present of hye and low degre,
To vnderstond thys pagent at thys lytyll stacion,
whych we shall procede with all our delectac[i]on.
yf yt wyll plese yow: to gyf audyens fauorable,
Hark wysely ther-to; yt ys good and profetable.
primus miles.
[leaf 44]
Nobyll prelates, take hede to owur sentens.
Scene i.
Jerusalem.
A wundyrfull chaunce fyll and dyd be-tyde
vn-to owr master sauł when he departyd hens
In-to damaske purposyd to ryde.
Saul's Knights
tell the Priests
370 how Saul was
struck off his
horse,
A meruelous lyzt fro thelement dyd glyde
whyche smet doun¹ bym to grunde both horse and man
with the ferfulest wether that euer I in cam.
2us miles.
It rauysshid hym, and his spirites did be-nome:
A swete dulcet voyce spake hym vnto,
1 MS. doum.
374 and a sweet
voice spoke to
him

And askyd wherfor he made suche persecucyon
A-geynst hys dyscyplys and why he dyd soo.
and bad him be he bad hym in-to damaske to ananie goo,
baptizd by
And ther he shuld reseyue baptym truly;
Ananias.
and now clene a-geyns owur lawys he ys trwly.
Caypha.
Caypha won't
believe in Saul's
conversion,
I am sure thys tale ys not trw :
what! saule conuertyd from our law!
he went to damask for to pursue
All the dyscyplys that dyd with-draw
fro owur fayth: thys was hys sawe:
how say, ye, anna to thys mater? this ys a mervelos
chans;
I can not beleve that thys ys of assurans.
Anna.
nor will Anna.
No, caypha, my mynde trwly do [I] tell,
that he wyll not turne in no maner wyse;
but rather to deth put and expeH
all myscreauntes and wretchys that doth aryse.
agaynst our lawes by ony enterpryse :
say the trwth with-[owt] ony cause frawdelent,
or els for your talys ye be lyke to be shent.
jus miles.
Saul's knight
declares he's told
the truth.
Ellys owur bodyes may put to payn):
all that we declare I sye yt with my nye,
nothyng offendyng but trwly do iustyfye.
[leaf 44, back]
Caypha vows
vengeance
against Saul.
Cayphas.
By the gret god, I do maruayle gretly :
and thys be trw that ye do reherse
He shall repent hys Rebellyous treytory,
That all shalbe ware of hys falsnes.
We wyll not suffer hym to obtayne dowtles,
ffor meny perellys that myght be-tyde
by hys subty meanys on euery syde.

STATION 3. ACT III, Sc. 2. 43
Anna.
The law ys commyttyd to owur aduysment,
wherfor we wyll not se yt decay,
but rather vphold yt help and augment,
That ony reprofe to vs fall may
of Cesar themprour by nyȝt or day
we shall to such maters harke and attende
accordyng to the lawes our wyttes to spende.
The priest
Anna declares
they'll uphold
405 their Law.
[¹Here to enter a dyvel with thunder and tyre, and
to avaunce hym sylfe, saying as folowyth; and hys
spech spokyn, to syt downe in a chayre.
belyall.
Ho, ho, be-holde me, the myȝte prince of the partes
in-fernall,
Next vnto lucyfer I am in magestye;
Act III. sc. iz.
[leaf 45]
Diabolus.
Scene of the
Devils in Hell,
inserted.
I am the God
BELIAL, Second
only to Lucifer.
By name I am nominate the god belyall,
non of more myȝte nor of more excellencye;
my powre ys princypall, and now of most soferaynte;
In the temples and synogoges who deneyth me to honore,
my busshopes thorow my motyon thei wyl hym sone
devoure.
¶ I haue movyd my prelates cayphas and anna
to persew and put downe, by powre ryall
thorow the sytyes of damaske and liba,
All soch as do worship the hye god supernall,
419 I have set my
Bishops Caypha
and Anna to
put down the
Christians by
means of Saul.
ther deth ys conspyryd with-owt any fauoure at all,
my busshopys hathe chosyne won most rygorus
them to persew, howse name ys saulus.
¶ho, thus as a god most hye in magestye,
I
rayne and I rule ouer creatures humayne
with souerayne sewte sowȝte to ys my deyte,
1 The parts within brackets are by a later hand, and inserted on
separate leaves. The 14 lines between 411 and here are crosst
through, but are given below, where they are rewritten, p. 46-7,
i. 502-15.

mans mynd ys applicant, as I lyst to ordeyne,
my law styll encreasyth wherof I am fayne,
I long for news yet of late I haue hard of no newys truly,
wherfor I long tyll I speke with my messenger
by my messen-
ger Mercury!
[leaf 45, back]
Mercury ap-
pears,
and wails that
mercurye.
[Here shall entere a-nother devyll callyd mercury,
with a fyeryng, commyng in hast, cryeng and roryng,

and shal say as folowyth :-
Marcury.
Ho, owȝt, owȝt! alas, thys sodayne chance!
Well may we bewayle this cursyd aduenture.
belyal.
Marcurye, what aylyse thou? tell me thy grevaunce.
ys ther any that hath wrowȝte vs dyspleasure?
mercury.
Dyspleasure I-nowgh therof ye may be sure;
the Devil's law
'll soon be put
down.
our law, at lengthe yt wylbe clene downe layd,
for yt decayth sore, and more wyl, I am a-frayd.
belyal.
Belial 'll not
believe it.
Ho, how can that be? yt ys not possyble;
co[n]syder, thou foole, the long contynuance.
decaye, quod a, yt ys not credyble;
of fals tydynges thou makyst here vtterance :
behold, how the peple hath no pleasaunce
Folk delight but but in syn, and to folow our desyere.
in sin.
pryde and voluptuosyte ther hartes doth so fyre,
thowze on do swauer away from our lore,
yet ys our powre of suche nobylyte
to have hym a-gayne, and twoo therfore,
that shal preferre the prayse of owre maiestye.
what ys the tydynges? tell owt, lett vs see;
why arte thou amasyd so? declare afore vs
troubled?
Why is Mercury what fury ys fallyn that troblyth the thus?

[leaf 46]
Mercury.
Ho! owȝt, owȝte! he that I most trustyd to,
& he that I thowȝte wold haue ben to vs most specyall,
ys now of late turnyd, and our cruell foo;
our specyall frynd, our chosen saull,
ys be-comme seruante to the hye god eternall.
as he dyd ryde on our enemyes persecutyon,
he was sodenly strykyn by the hye provysyon,
& now ys baptysyd, and promys he hath made
neuer to vary, and soch grace he hath opteynyd
that ondowtyd hys fayth from hym can-not fade;
wherfor to complayne I am constraynyd,
for moch by hym shuld we haue prevaylyd.
belyal.
Ho! owȝt, owȝt! what haue we loste !
our darlyng most dere whom we lovyd moste:
but y's yt of trowth that thou doyst here specyfye?
mercury.
yt ys so, vndowȝtyd; why shuld I fayne?
for thowȝte I can do non other but crye.
Because our
special friend
has turnd our
cruel foe.
Saul has been
baptizd; and
his faith in God
cannot fade.'
Belial laments
the loss of his
467 darling Saul,
[Here thei shal rore and crye, and then belyal shal and the Devils
roar over it.
saye:
belyal.
owate, this grevyth vs worse than hell payne:
the
conuersyon of synner certayne
ys more payne to vs, and persecutyon,
than all the furyes of the Infernall dongyon.
Mercury.
[leaf 46, back]
yt doyth not avayl vs thus to lament,
but lett vs provyd for remedy shortlye;
wherfor let vs both by on assent
go to the busshopys, and moue them pryvelye,
that by some sotyl meane thei may cause hym to dye;
than shal he in our law make no dysturbaunce,
Mercury says,
'Set on your
Bishops to
scheme his
death.'
nor here-after cause vs to haue more greuaunce.

belyal,
Wel sayd, mercurye, thy cowñcel ys profytable.
Belyal approves Ho, saul, thou shalt repent thy vnstablenes;
Mercury's ad-
vice, and says
Saul shall repent
his desertion.
thou hadyst ben better to haue byn confyrmable
to our law; for thys deth, dowtles
yt ys conspyryd to reward thy falsnes.
thowgh on hath dyssayvyd vs, yet now a days
xxti doyth gladly folow oure layes;
¶ some by pryde, some thorowgh envye:
ther rayneth thorow my myght so moch dysobedyaunce:
The Devils'
power was never
greater than
now.
[leaf 47]
Gluttony,
Wrath, Covet-
over all.
ther was neuer a-mong crystyans lesse charyte
than ys at this howre, and as for concupysence
rayneth as a lord thorow my violence;
glotony and wrath euery man doth devyse,
ousness prevail
& most now ys praysyd my cosyn covytyce.
They'll plot
Saul's death.
¶ cum, 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-bowȝt, I wold be wel apayd,
tell yt be done let vs not rest.
[.
•]
belyal.
go we than shortly; let vs departe,
Hys deth to devyse, syth he wyl not revart.
[leaf 44, back]
Act III. scene iii.
Damascus.
Saul's Sermon.
God save you
sitters and
standers here!
[Here thei shal vanyshe away with a fyrye flame and
a tempest.
[Her apperyth saule in a¹ disciplis wede, sayng':
2 Saulus 3.
That lord that ys shaper of' see and of sond,
and hath wrowth with hys woord all thyng at hys wył,
saue thys semely that here syttyth or stonde,
ffor hys meke marcy that we do not spyH.
[¹ 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.]
[3 Saulus, and Diabolus (p. 43), in margin, omitted.] [* asemly]

grant me, good lord, thy pleasur' to fulfyll,
and send me suche speche that I the trwth say,
my entencions proph[i]table to meve yf I may.
¶ Welbelouyd frendes, ther be vij mortal synnes,
whych be provyď pryncypałł and princes of poysoñnes;
Pride, that of bytternes all bale begynnes,
with-holdyng all fayth, yt fedyth and foysonnes,
As holy scryptur beryth playn wyttnesse,-
Inicium omnium peccatorum superbya¹ est,—
That often dystroyeth both most and lest.²
Off all vyces and foly pride ys the Roote;
Humylyte may not rayn ner yet indure;
(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.
pyte, alak, that ys flower and boot,
ys exylyd wher pride hath socour,-
Omnis qui se exaltat humiliabitur,—-
good lord, gyf vs grace to vnderstond and perseuer,
Thys wurd as thou bydyst to fulfyll euer.
Who-so in pride beryth hym to hye,
Whoso is proud,
he shall be
with mys[c]heff shalbe mekyd, as I mak mensyon,
and I therfor assent and fully certyfy,
brought low.
In text as I tell the trw entencyon
of perfyȝt goodnes and very locucyon:
noli tibi dico in altum sapere sed time;
Thys ys my conseł, bere the not to hye,
¶ But drede alway synne and folye,
wrath, enuy, couytys, and slugyshnes:
Exeunt owt of thy syȝt, glotony and lechery,
vanytye and vayneglory, and fals Idylnes:
Thes be the branchys of ałł wyckydnes:
who that in hym thes vyces do Roote,
He lackyth all grace, and bale ys the boote.
¶lern) at my-self', for I am meke in hart:
owr lorde to hys seruantes thus he sayth:
ffor meknes I sufferyd a spere at my hart;
[¹ subia (sic).]
[2 man & best.]
Putaway Wrath,
Envy, Covetous-
ness, Sloth,
Gluttony,
Lechery.
538 Learn of Christ;
he is meek of
heart;

(Saul's Sermon
continued.)
meknes all vyces anullyth and delayeth;
rest to soulys yt shall fynd in fayth :
Discite a me, quia mitis sum, et corde humilis,
Et invenietis requiem animabus vestris.
and ye shall find ¶ So owur sauyour shewyth vs exampls of meknes, 545
Thorow grace of hys goodnes mekly ys groundys;
rest for your
souls.
[leaf 48, back]
Be lowly.
Trwly yt wyll vs saue fro the synnes sekenes,
ffor¹ pryde and hys progeny mekenes confoundys: 548
Quanto maior es, tanto humilia te in omnibus:
The gretter thou art, the lower loke thu be;
Bere the neuer the hyer for thi degre.
Keep from
Sensuality.
ffro sensualyte of fleshe thy-self loke thou lede,
vnlefully therin vse not thy lyfe :
whoso therin delyteth, to deth he must nede ;
No unclean
man shall
inherit heaven.
It consumyth natur', the body sleyth with-owt knyf. 555
also yt styntyth nott but manslawter and stryf,-
Omnis fornicator aut immundus non habet hereditatem
Christi,-
non shall in heuyn) posses / that be so vnthryfty.
Flee Fornica-
tion. Speak not
of it.
¶ffle fornycacon, nor be no letchour,
but spare your speche, and spek nott theron :
Ex habundancia cordis, os loquitur;
who movyth yt oft, chastyte louyth non;
of the hartes habundans the tunge makyth locucion:
what manys mynde ys laboryd, therof yt spekyth,
That ys of suernes, as holy scryptur tretyth.
wherfor I reherse thys with myn) owyn) mowthe,-
Caste viuentes, templum Dei sunt,—
Keep your body kepe clene your body from synne vncuth;
pure, and your
sight steady.
staby your syghtes, and look ye not stunt,
ffor of a sertaynte I know at a brunt,—
Oculus est nuncius peccati,-
The eye is Folly's That the Iey ys euer the messenger of foly.
messenger.
1 MS. ffror.

seruus sacerdotum.
whate, ys not thys saule that toke hys vyage
In-to Ierusalem¹, the dyscyplys to oppresse?
bounde he wold bryng them, yf ony dyd rage
vpon cryst: this was hys processe:
To the princes of prestys, he sayde dowtles,
Thorow all damask and also Ierusalem,
subdwe all templys that he founde of them.
Sa[u]lus.
yes, sertaynly, saule ys my proper name,
That had in powr the full dominion,—
To hyde yt fro you, yt were gret shame,
And mortall synne, as in my opynyon,—
vnder cesar and pristes of the relygyon,
And templys of Iues that be very hedyous,
A-gayns almyghty cryst that Kyng' so precyous.
seruus sacerdotum.
573 The Priest's
servant asks
if this isn't Saul
who was going
to bind the
Christians.
[leaf 49]
580 Saul says 'Yes,
To Anna and caypha ⚫ ye must make your recurse; 587
Com 2 on your way, and make no delacion.
Saulus.
I wyll yow succede, for better or wors,
To the prynces of pristes with all delectacion.

[Scene 4.]

seruus sacerdotum.
Holy pristes of hye potestacion,
Here ys saule; lok on hym wysely:
and I'll go with
you to the
590 Priests."
Act III. sc. iv.
The Temple in
Damascus.
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 kyng conctypotent of heuyn glory,
Chef comfort and solace: both to fre and bonde,
1 ? for Damascus
DIGBY MYST.
[2 MS. Con.]
E
594 Saul declares
himself the
servant of Jesus.

A-gayns whos power nothyng' may stonde;
Emperowr he ys both of heuyn and he¤,
whoys goodnes and grace al thyng deth excel.
Caypha.
[recedit paulisper.
Caypha thinks
the change in
Saul has been
wrought by
conjuring.
Vn-to my hart thys ys gret admyracion,
That saule ys thus mervelously changyd;
I trow he ys bewytchyd by sum coniuracion,
or els the devył on hym ys auengyd.
Alas, to my hart yt ys dessendyd,
that he ys thus takyn fro our relygyon:
How say ye, Anna, to thys conuercyon?
Anna.
[leaf 49, back]
fful mervelously, as in my concepcion,
Thys wnderfull Case how yt be-fe};
To se thys chaunce so sodenly don,
vn-to my hart yt doth grete yH;
but for hys falsnes we shall hym spyH;
Anna says they
must put Saul
to death,
by myn assent, to dethe we wyll hym bryng',
lest that more myschef of hym may spryng'.
Caypha.
Ye say very trew, we myȝt yt all rewe;
But shortly in thys we must haue aduysement,
ffor thus a-gayns vs he may nott contynew;
perauentur than of Cesar we may be shent.
Anna.
or burn him.
nay, I had leuer in fyer he were brent,
Than of cesar we shuld haue dysp[1]easure
·
ffor sych a rebell and subtyle fals treator'.
Caypha.
The gates must
be guarded lest
Saul escape.
we wył command the gates to be kept aboute,
& the walles suerly on euery stede,
that he may not eskape no-where owȝte;
for dye he shall, I ensuer yow indede.

Anna.
Thys traytour rebellyous, evyll mut he spede,
That doth this vnhappynes A-gayns al!
now euery costodyer kepe well hys wał..
seruus sacerdotum.
The gatys be shytt, he can-note skape;
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.
629 So the gates are
shut, and the
priests exhorted
to kill Saul.
vpon that caytyf' and fals traytour,
loke ye be auengyd with deth mortal,
& Iudge hym) as ye lyst to what end he shał.

[Scene 5.]

Angelus.
Holy saule, I gyf yow monycyon :
The princes of Iues
entende sertayn
To put yow to deth
but by goddes provysyon
He wyll ye shał lyue lenger, and optayn;
And after thy deth thou shalt rayng
Above in heuyn, with owr lordes grace:
Conuay yowr-self shortly in-to a-nother place.
Saulus.
That lordes pleasur euer mut be down,
both in heuyn) and in hell, as hys wyll ys.
In a beryng baskett or a lepe, a-non
I shall me co[n]uay with help of the dyscyplys:
Act III. sc. v.
Damascus.
[leaf 50]
An Angel warns
Saul of his
threatend
death,
642 and bids him go
to another place.
Saul says he 'll
escape over the
646 wall in a basket.
for euery gate ys shett and kept with multytud of pepɩ.H;
but I trust in owr lord, that ys my socour,
to resyst ther malyce and cruell furour.
Conclusyo.
[Epilogue.]
Poeta.
Epilogue.
Thus leve we saulę with-in the cyte,
650 Here wo leave
The gates kep by commandment of caypha and Anna;
Saul.
E 2

The disciples let but the dyscyplys in the nyȝt ouer the wall, truly,
him down over
the wall.
·
As the bybull sayeth dim[i]serunt eum summittens in
sporta ;-
Saul goes to
Jerusalem.
And saule after that, in Ierusalem vera,
Ioyned hym-self, and ther accompenyed
with the dyscyplys, wher thei were vnfayneď.
Thys lytyll pagent thus conclud we
Pray excuse our
lack of letters,
ness!
as we can, lackyng lyttura scyens;
and our simple- besechyng yow all of hye and low degre,
owr sympylnes to hold excusyd, and lycens,
[leaf 50, back] That of Retoryk haue non intellygens;
Commyttyng yow all to owr lord Ihesus,
End of the Play.
To whoys lawd ye syng',-Exultet celum laudibus! 663
ffinis co[n]uercionis sancti pauli.
[Leaves 51 to 94, back, of the MS. contain 2 tracts;

  1. English, beginning De theorica trium superiorum.
    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
    nuole operare qual fine,' &c.]
    ·

III. Mary Magdalene

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 Cæsar, p. 55.
2, Mary's father Cyrus, p. 56.
3, Tiberius Cæsar, 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
11, 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.
16, Lazarus's sickness, p. 83.
17, Mary meets Jesus, p. 85.
18, 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 QUEEN OF MARCYLLE.
HER FEEDING BY ANGELS, FROM HEAVEN, IN THE WILDERNESS.
Scene
HER DEATH.
Scene
21, King & Q. of Marcylle, p. 90.
22, Hell harrowd, p. 91.
23, 3 Maries at Christ's Tomb, p. 92.
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-
24,
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.
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 9-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, l. 2143, the writer
names 'redurs', not hearers. But see l. 2133.

[THE NAMES OF THE PLAYERS.]
PART I.
[Inperator, the Emperor, Tiberius | The Kyng of the Flesch, p. 66, 67.
Cæsar, 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 of the World, or Mundus,
p. 66, 76.
|
The Dylfe, Satan, or the Prynse of
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.
Iesus, p. 78, 85, 87, 88.
Secundus Diabolus, Belfagour, p. 82.
Tercius Diabolus, Belzabub, p. 82.
Spiritus Malignus, p. 82.
Desyplys, and Dissipulus, (of Jesus,)
p. 78, 87.
Weepers, 86.
A Iew, p. 88.
PART II.
The Kyng of Marcylle, p. 90, 98,
101, 110, 112, 116, 117, 120, 121,
123, 126, 128.
His Knights, p. 91, 116; his Attend-
ants, p. 112.
Regina (Queen of Marcylle), p. 91,
98, 116, 117, 120, 121, 126, 128.
Her Child, p. 121, 126.
A Dylle (Devil), p. 91.
Mary Maudlyn, p. 92, 94, 95, 105,
107, 108, 109, 113, 115, 117, 127,
130, 131, 132, 134.
Her Dysypyll, p. 105.
Mary Jacobe (the mother of James
the Apostle), p. 92, 97.
Mary Salome, p. 93, 97.
Iesus, p. 95, 97, 106, 114, 130, 133.
Primus Angelus, p. 93, 115, 131, 133,
135.
Secundus Angelus, p. 94, 115, 131,
133, 134, 135.
| [? Tertius] 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. 102.
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,
126.
Grobbe, the Shipman's Boy, p. 107,
119, 125.
An holy Prest, p. 132, 134.]
I 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 Lazarus.
3 Mary the mother of James, &c, and Mary Salome, are the same person, according to
Biblical critics.

[In the second, and rather later hand.]

[PART I. Scene 1.]

M. B. [for Miles Blomefylde.]
Inperator.
I command sylyns in þe peyn of forfetur,
to all myn) avdyeans present' general.
of my most hyest' and mytyest' wolunte,
I woll it be knowyn) to al þe word vnyversal,
That' of heven and hell chyff rewlar am) I,
to wos Magnyfycens non stondyt egall,
for I am soveren) of al soverens subjugal
On-to myn empere, beyng' in-comparable,
tyberyus sesar, wos power is potencyall.
I am þe blod ryall most of soverente;
of all emperowers and kynges my byrth is best,
& all regeouns obey my myty volunte;
lyfe and lem and goodes, all be at my request':
so of all soverens, my magnyfycens most mytyest
May nat be a-gayn-sayd of frend nor of foo;
But all abydyn lvgment' and rewle of my lyst.
all grace vp-on) erth from my goodnes commyt fro,
and þat bryng-is all pepell in blysse so;
for þe most worthyest', woll I rest' in my sete.
Part I. Scene 1.
Rome.
[leaf 95]
The Emperor.
Silence, all!
5 I am Chief Ruler
of heaven and
hell.
I am the incom-
parable Tiberius
IO Cæsar.
13.
All lands obey
me.
16 All rule by my
pleasure.
sery byl.
¶syr, from your person) grow y
tmoch grace.
Inperator.
now for pin) answer, belyall, blysse pi face!
mykyl presporyte I gyn to porchase;
I am wonddyn in welth from all woo.
Herke pɔu, provost', I gyff' þe in commandment,
all your pepull preserve in pesabyl possesson).
yff ony per be to my goddes [dis]obedyent,
23 I am wrapt in
wealth against
[leaf 95, back]
woe.
Provost, find out
the Christians
who disobey my

Gods, and I'll
kill em.
If any one
disobeys my
laws,
or grumbles
against my Gods,
I'll murder him.
dyssever tho harlottes, and make to me declaracyon), 27
& I xall make all swych to dye,
Thos precharsse of crystys incarnacyon).
¶ Provost'.
¶ Lord of all lorddes, I xall gyff yow In-formacyon).
Inperator.
¶ Lo, how all þe word obeyit my domynacyon);
that person is nat born) pat dare me dysse-obey.
Syrybbe, I warne yow se pat my lawys
In all your partyys have dew obeysavns;
In-quere and aske, eche day þat davnnes,
yf in my pepul be fovnd ony weryoūs,
contrary to me in ony chansse,
or with my goldyn) goddes grocth on) grone,
I woll marre swych harlottes with mordor and myschanse;
yff ony swyche remayn), put' hem) in repreffe,
& I xall yow releff'.
¶ Serybb.
¶ yt xall be don), lord, with-owtyn) ony lett or with-owt
doth.
Inperator.
¶ lord and lad, to my law doth lowte;
is it nat so? sey yow all with on showte.
[Here answerryt all þe pepul at ons, ȝa, my lord, ȝa.
¶ Inperator.
so, þe froward folkes, now am) [I] plesyď ;
Set on wine and sett wyn) and spycys to my consell full cler.
spices, and let's
[leaf 96]
make good
cheer.
Part I.
Scene 2.
The Castle of
Maudleyn,.
Bethany(?).
Now have I told yow my hart, I am) wyll plesyd;
Now lett vs sett don) alle, and make good chyr.

[PART I. Scene 2.]

[¶Her entyr syrus, pe fader of mary mavdleyn
syrus.
¶ Emperor, and ky[n]gges, and conquerors kene,
Erlys, and borons, and knytes pat byn bold,

Berdes in my bower, so semely to señe,
I commav[n]d yow at onys my hestes to hold.
be-hold my person), glysteryng in gold,
semely be-syn) of all other men) :
Cyrus is my name, be cleffys so cold,
I command yow all, obedyent to beyn);
wo-so woll nat', in bale I hem) bryng',
And knett swyche cayftyys¹ in knottes of care.
thys castell of mavdleyn) is at my wylddyng',
with all be contre, bothe lesse and more,2
& Lord of Ierusalem, who agens me don dare.
Alle beteny at my beddyng' be;
I am sett in solas from) al syyng sore,2
and so xał all my posteryte,
I am Cyrus,
glittering in
gold.
56 Let all obey me.
Co
This Castle of
Maudleyn,
Jerusalem,
and Bethany are
mine.
thus for to leuen) in rest' and ryalte.
I have her a sone þat is to me ful trew,
no comlyar creatur of goddes creacyon),
to amyabyll dovctors full brygth of ble,
ful gloryos to my syth an ful of delectacyon).
Lazarus my son), in my resspeccyon).
Here is mary, ful fayr and ful of femynyte,
and martha, ful [of] bevte and of delycyte,
ful of womanly merrorys and of benygnyte,
þey haue fulfyllyd my hart with consolacyon.
Here is a coleccyon of cyrcumstance,
to my cognysshon) never swych a-nothyr,
66 I have a most
comely son,
70 [leaf 96, back]
Lazarus,
and 2 daughters,
Mary and
Martha.
as be demonstracyon) knett incontynens,
save 3 a-lonly my lady, þat was þer mother.
Now Lazarus, my sonne, whech art þer brothyr,
The lordshep of Ierusalem I gyff þe after my¹ dysses,
and mary, thys castell, a-lonly, an non) othyr;
& martha xall haue beteny, I sey exprese:
thes gyftes I gravnt yow with-owtyn les,
After my death,
I give Lazarus,
the Lordship
of Jerusalem;
Mary, the Castle
of Maudleyn;
Martha,
Bethany.
whyll þat I am in good mynd.
[¹?caytyfys.] 2 The rymes require 'mare, sare'.
[3 MS. Of crost thro, and save added.]
[4 MS. mo.]

lazarus.
Lazarus thanks
his father Cyrus
for his gifts,
and prays God
for grace to
live well.
¶ Most reuerent' father! I thank yow hartely
of yower grett kyndnes shuyd on)-to me!
ye haue gravntyd swych a lyfelod, worthy
Me to restreyn) from) all nessesyte.
now, good lord, & hys wyll it be
gravnt me grace to lyue to thy plesowans,
& a-ȝens hem so to rewle me,
Thatt we may have Ioye with-owtyn weryauns.
[leaf 97]
Mary mavdleyn.
and thanks her
father Cyrus
for his gifts.
Mary Magdalene Thatt god of pes and pryncypall covnsell,
praises God,
More swetter is þi name þan hony be kynd!
we thank yow, fathyr, for your gyftes ryall,
owt of peynes of poverte vs to on-bynd;
thys is a preseruatyff from) streytnes, we fynd,
from wordly labors to my covmfortyng;
for thys lyfflod is abyll for þe dowtter of a kyng',
thys place of plesavns, pe soth to seye.
Martha also
praises and
thanks her
father,
martha.
O ye good fathyr of grete degre,
thus to departe with your ryches,
consederyng' ower lowlynes and humylyte,
vs to save from) wordly dessetres :
ȝe shew vs poyntes of grete Ientylnes,
so mekly to meyntyn) vs to your grace.
and prays that hey in heuen) a-wansyd mot yow be
he may see
God's face in
heaven.
Cyrus orders
wine and spices.
In blysse, to se pat lordes face,
whan xal hens passe!
ye
cyrus.
¶ Now I reioyse with all my mygthtes;
to enhanse my chyldryn), it was my delyte:
now wyn and spycys, ȝe Ientyll knyttes,
on-to pes ladys of ientylnes.
[Here xal þey be servyd with wyn) and spycys.

[PART I. Scene 3.]

Inperator.
¶ syr provost', and skrybe, Iugges of my rem,
my massenger I woll send in-to ferre cuntre,
On-to my sete of Ierusalem,
On-to Herowdes, þat regent þer ondyr me,
and on-to pylat, Iugges of pe covntre:
myn entent I woll hem teche.
take hed, pou provost', my precept wretyn) be,
Scene 3.
Part I.
Rome.
114 Tiberius Cæsar
resolves to send
orders to Herod
II
[leaf 97, back]
& sey I cummavnd hem), as þey woll be owȝt wrech,
yf þer be ony in þe cuntre, ageyn my law doth prech,
or ageyn my goddes ony trobyll telles,
that' thus agens my lawys rebelles,
as he is regent', and in þat reme dwelles,
to search out
rebels against
him, the
Emperor,
or his Gods,
& holdyth hys crovn) of me be ryth,
yff þer be ony harlettes þat a-gens me make replycacyon,
Or ony moteryng aȝens me make with malynacyon.
[end of speech left out.] [and kill em.]
provost'.

syr,
of all thys they xall have in-formacyon,
so to vp-hold ȝ0wer renovn) and ryte.
[Inperator.]
now, massenger, with-owtyn) taryyng',
Have here gold on-to pi fe;
so bere thes lettyrs to Herowdes the kyng',
& byd hem make In-quyrans in euery cuntre,
as he is Iugge in pat cuntre beyng'.
nvncyus.
132 He bids his
Messenger start
¶ soueren), your arend it' xall be don) ful redy
In alle pe hast þat I may;
The Messenger
says he'll haste.
for to fullfyll your byddyng
I woll nat spare nother be nyth nor be day.
[Here goth pe masenger to-ward herowdes.

Part I. Scene 4.
Jerusalem.
[leaf 98]
HEROD, 'I'll
hurl off any
one's head who
speaks.

[PART I. Scene 4.]

Herowdes.
In þe wyld wanyng word, pes all at onys!
no noyse, I warne yow, for greveyng of me!
yff yow do, I xal hovrle of yower hedes, be mahondes
bones,
as I am trew kyng to mahond so fre.
help, help, pat I had a swerd!
fall don, ye faytours, flatt to pe grovnd!
alle :
Off hats!
Stand barehead,
you beggars!
Look at my
rubies and green
pearl!
What king is
equal to me?
Heve of your hodes and hattes, I cummavnd yow
stond bare hed, ye beggars! wo made yow so bold?
I xal make yow know your kyng ryall:
thus woll I be obeyyd thorow al the wor[l]d;
& who-so wol nat, he xal be had in hold;
& so to be cast in carys cold,
that werkyn) ony wondyr a-ȝens my magnyfycens. 152
be-hold these ryche rubyys, red as ony fyr,
with pe 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 dowt
than is þe hey name of herowdes, kyng of Ierusalem,
Lord of alapye, assye, and tyr,
of abyron), berzaby, und bedlem)?
all thes byn ondyr my governouns.
Lo, all þes I hold with-owtyn reprobacyon);
None but the
Emperor
No man is to me egall, save a-lonly pe emperower
Tiberius.
tyberyus, as I have In provostycacyon).
[leaf 98, back]
Speak, Philoso-
phers!'
How sey þe phylyssoverys be my ryche reyne?
Am nat I þe grettest' governower?
Lett me ondyr-stond whatt can ye seyn.
phelysofyr.
¶ Soueren, and it plece yow I woll expresse:
ye be pe rewlar of þis regyon),
& most worthy sovereyn) of nobylnes
That euer in Iude barre domynacyon):

Bott, syr, skreptour gevytt informacyon),
& doth rehersse it werely,
that chyld xal remayn) of grete renovn),
& all þe word of hem shold magnyfy,—
et ambulabunt gentes in lumine, et reges
In splendore ¹ ortus tui.
Herowdes.
"The Scripture
tells of a Child
of great renown,
174 in the glory of
whose rising,
kings shall
walk.
¶ and whatt seyst thow?
secundus phy [losofyr.]
¶ the same weryfyyt my bok, as how
as þe skryptour doth me tell
of a myty duke xal rese and reyn),
whych xall reyn) and rewle all Israell.
no kyng' a-ȝens hys worthynes xall opteyn),
the whech in profesy hath grett eloquence,—
non) avferetur septrum Iuda, et dux de
femore eius, donec veniet Imitendus est'.
Herowdes.
This Child, a
mighty Duke,
shall rule
all Israel,
182 and excel all
kings.'
A, owȝt, owȝt, now am [I] grevyd all with pe worst! 186
ȝe dastardus! ye dogges! pe dylfe mote yow draw!
with fleyyng' flappes I byd yow to a fest'.
A swerd, a swerd! þes lordeynnes wer slaw!
ye langbaynnes, loselles, for-sake ȝe þat word!
þat caytyff xall be cawth, and suer I xall hem) flaw;
for hym), many mo xal be marry with mordor.
Ius miles.2
¶ My sovereyn lord, dysse-may yow ryth nowt'!
they ar but folys, per eloquens wantyng',
for in sorow and care sone þey xall be cawt';
a-ȝens vs þey can) mak no dysstonddyng'.
ijus miles.
[leaf 99]
"The Devil tear
you, dogs!'
says Herod ;
'I'll catch that
Caitiff,
192 and slay him.'
¶ my lord, all swych xall be browte before your avdyens,
and leuyn ondyr your domynacyon),
Herod's knights
tell him not to
mind these
Philosopher-
fools' talk.
[ MS. spelndore.]
[2 MS. milis.]

Herod is com-
forted by his
or elles damrnyd to deth with mortal sentense,
yf we hem gett onder ower gubernacyon).
Herowdes.
¶ now thys is to me a gracyows exsortacyon),
knights' counsel, & grettly reioysyth to my sprytes in-dede;
thow pes sottes a-ȝens me make replycacyon),
I woll suffer non to spryng' of þat kenred;
some woys in my lond 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
he'll be able to
catch Christ.
But þat he xal be browt onder, with-owtyn) doth. 208
[ Her commyt be emperowers [masenger] thus
sayyng to herowdes:
Masenger.
Tiberius Cæsar's ¶ Heyll, prynse of bovntyows-nesse!
Messenger hails
Herod,
and gives him
his Master's
letters.
Heyll, myty lord of to magnyfy!
Heyll, most of worchep of to expresse!
Heyll, reytyus rewlar in þi regensy!
My sofereyn), tyberyuus, chyff of chyfalry,
His soveren) sond hath sent to yow here :
He desyrth ȝ0w, and preyyt' on eche party,
to fulfyll his commavndment and desyre.
[¶ Here he xall take þe lettyrs on)-to þe kyng'.
Herawdes.
¶ Be he sekyr I woll natt spare
for [to] complyshe his cummavnddment,
Herod promises with scharp swerddes to perce pe bare,
to kill all rebels,
In all covntres with-in thys regent',
for his love, to fulfyll his in-tentt:
non swych¹ xall from) ower handys stertt,
and orders the
letter to be
taken to Pilate. and berytt on-to pylatt-ys syth.
for we woll fulfyll his ryall Iuggement,
with swerd and spere to perce thorow pe hartt.
but', masenger, reseyve thys letter wyth,
[ MS. swych swych.]

mesenger.
[leaf 100]
My lord, it xall be don ful wygth;
In hast I woll me spede.

[PART I. Scene 5.]

Pylatt.
¶ now ryally I reyne In robys of rych[e]sse,
kyd and knowyn both ny and ferre,
for Iuge of Ierusalem, pe trewth to expresse,
Ondyr the emperower tyberius cesar.
perfor I rede yow all, be-warre
Part I. Scene 5.
Jerusalem.
229 Pilate proclaims
his power as
Judge of Jeru-
salem,
ye do no pregedyse a-ȝen) þe law,
for and ȝe do, I wyll yow natt spare
tyl he haue Iugment' to be hangyd and draw;
for I am pylat pr[o]mmyssary and pres[e]dent,
alle renogat robber Inper-rowpent',
to put hem to peyn, I spare for no pete.
my ser-jauntes semle, quat sye ye?
of þis rehersyd, I wyll natt spare.
plesauntly, serrys, avnswer to me,
for in my herte I xall haue þe lesse care.
Ius seriunt.
¶ as ye haue seyd, I hold it' for þe best',
yf ony swych a-mong vs may we know.
jjus serjawnt.
¶ for to gyff hem Iugment I holdd yt best',
& so
xall
ye be dred of hye and low.
pylat.
¶ A, now I am) restoryd to felycyte.
[Her comyt þe emprores masenger to pylat.
and declares
he'll hang and
236 draw all who
offend the Laws.
244 His servants
promise to back
him.
[leaf 100, back]
Masenger.
Heyll, ryall in rem in robis of rychesse!
Heyl, present pou prynsys pere!
Heyl, Iugge of Ierusalem, pe trewth to expresse!
Tyberyus pe emprower sendyt wrytyng herre,
Tiberius Cæsar's
letters are de-
liverd to him.

and prayyt yow, as yow be his lover dere,
Of his wrytyng to take a-vysement*
In strenthyng of his lawys cleyr,
as he hath set yow In þe state of Iugment'.
Pilate declares
he will uphold
[Her pylat takyt þe lettyrs with grete reverens.
pylat.
Now, be martes so mythy, I xal sett many a snare, 257
Tiberius Caesar's His lawys to strenth in al pat I may;
laws,
and gives the
I rejoyse of his renown) and of his wylfare;
& for þi tydyngges, I geyff' þe pis gold to-day.
Messenger gold.
masenger.
a largeys, ȝe lord, I crye þis day;
for pis is a ȝeft of grete degre.
Part I.
Scene 6.
The Castle of
Maudleyn,
Bethany.
pylat'.
Masenger, on-to my sovereyn) pou sey,
On þe most specyall wyse recummend me.
[Her a-voydyt þe masengyr, and syrus takyt his
deth.

[PART I. Scene 6.]

syrus.
A! help! help! I stond in drede,
syknes is sett onder my syde!
Cyrus is stricken A! help! deth wyll a-quyte me my
with death,
[leaf 101]
and asks to be
helpt to his
deathbed.
mede!
A! gret gode! pou be my gyde;
How I am trobyllyd both bak and syde,
now wythly help me to my bede.
A! this rendyt my rybbys! I xall never goo nor ryde!
the dent of deth is hevyar þan) led.
A! lord, Lord! what xal I doo pis tyde?
He prays to God A! gracyows god! have ruth on me,
for mercy,
In thys word no lengar to a-byde.
and blesses his
children.
I blys yow, my chyldyrn), god mot with vs be!
[Her a-voydyt syrus sodenly, and than [comyt]
sayyng, lazarus.

[Lazarus.]
Alas, I am sett in grete hevynesse!
per is no tong my sorow may tell,
so sore I am browth in dystresse;
in feyntnes I falter, for [þ]is fray fell;
thys dewresse wyl lett' me no longar dwelle,
But god of grace sone me redresse.
A! how my peynes don me repelle!
Lord, with-stond pis duresse!
mary magleyn.
the in-wyttissymus¹ god pat euer xal reyne,
be his help, an sowlys sokor!
to whom it is most nedfull to cum-playn,
he to bry[n]g vs owȝt of ower dolor,
he is most mytyest' governowr,
from) soroyng', vs to restryne.
martha.
A! how I am sett' in sorowys sad,
That' long my lyf y may nat in-devre!
thes grawous peynes make me ner mad!
Lazarus grieves
greatly for his
280 father Cyrus's
death.
285 L. infinitissi-
mus]
Mary Magdalene
prays God to
288 bring them out
of their sorrow.
[leaf 101, back]
Martha thinks
her troubles 'll
soon end her
life;
vndyr clower is now my fathyris cure,
þat sumtyme was here ful mery and glad.
Ower lordes mercy be his mesure,
& defeynd hym) from) peynes sad!
lazarus.
now, systyrs, ower fatherys wyll we woll2 exprese: 298 [² fulfylle crost
thys castell is owerys, with all þe fee.
out.]
martha.
as hed and governower, as reson) is,
but she and
Mary 'll live
and on pis wyse abydyn) with yow, wyll wee;
with Lazarus,
and obey him.
we wyll natt desevyr, whatt so be-falle.
maria.
Now, brothyr and systyrs, wel-cum ȝe be.
& ther-of specyally I pray ȝ0w all.
DIGBY MYST.
F

Part I.
Scene 7.
? Where.

[PART I. Scene 7.]

[Her xal entyr þe kyng of þe word, [þen þe kyng
of] be flesch, and [þen] þe dylfe, with pe seuen
dedly synnes, a bad angyll an an good angyl,
þus seyyng þe word.
[The King of the World.]
The World says
he is the first
potentate next
to Heaven,
I am þe word, worthyest þat euyr god wrowth,
& also I am þe prymatt portatur
next heueyn, yf þe trewth be sowth,-
& that I Iugge me to skryptur ;—
& I am he þat lengest' xal Induer,
and also most of domynacyon);
[leaf 102]
and guides the
Wheel of
Fortune.
In him rests
the order of the
Seven Metals
knit each to a
Star:-
yf I be hys foo, woo is abyll to recure,
for þe whele of fortune with me hath sett his sentur.
¶ in me restyt þe ordor of pe met'elles seuyn),
pe whych to be seuen) planyttes ar knett' ful sure;
gold perteynyng to þe sonne, as astronomer' nevyn);
sylvyr, to pe mone whyte and pure;
Iryn), on-to þe maris þat long may endure;
pe fegetyff mercury, on-to mercuryus ;
copyr, on-to venus red In his merrour;
as Copper to
Venus, Tin to
Jupiter, Lead to the frangabyll tyn), to Iubyter, yf ȝe can) dyscus ;
Saturn;-
wherewith the
Seven Princes of
Hell are
enricht.
Pride and
Covetousness
praise him.
On pis planyt saturne, ful of rancur,
þis soft' metell led, nat of so gret puernesse :
Lo, alle pis rych tresor with pe word doth indure
the vij prynsys of hell of gret bowntosnesse.
now, who may presume to com) to my honour?
pryde.
ȝe worthy word, ȝe be gronddar of gladnesse,
to þem pat dwellyng' ondyr yower domynacyon).
covetyse.
& who-so wol nat, he is sone set a-syde,
wher-as I couetyse take mynystracyon.
mundus.
of þat I pray yow make no declareracyon);
make swych to know my soverreynte,

& than þey xal be fayn) to make supplycacyon)
yf þat þey stond In ony nesessyte.
[Her xal entyr þe kynge of flesch with slowth, [leaf 102, back]
gloteny, lechery.
flesch.
I, kyng of flesch, florychyd in my flowers,
Of deyntys delycyows I have grett domynacyon),
so ryal a kyng' was neuyr borne In bowrys,
nor hath more delyth ne more delectacyon),
for I haue comfortat ywys to my comfortacyon),
dya, galonga, ambra, and also margaretton),
alle pis is at my lyst a-ȝens alle vexacyon);
alle wykkyt thynges I woll sett a-syde,
clary, pepur long', with granorum paradysy,
zenzybyr and synamom) at euery tyde;
lo, alle swych deyntyys delycyus vse I;
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 pis plesavnt' lady to rest' be my syde;
Here is slowth, anothyr goodly of to expresse:
A more plesavnt compeny doth no-wher a-byde.
luxuria.
O ye prynse, how I am ful of ardent' lowe,
with sparkylles ful of amerowsnesse;
with yow to rest', fayn) wold I
to shew plesavns to your Ientylnesse.
334 The King of the
Flesh has
delights in his
flowers,
galingale (?),
Grains of Para-
dise and Cina-
mon;
347 and in his
spouse Lechery,
his knight
Gluttony, and
a-prowe,
þe flesch.
his friend Sloth.
O ȝe bewtews byrd, I must' yow kysse,
I-am ful of lost to halse yow þis tyde.
He kisses
Lechery, and
desires her.
[Here xal entyr þe prynse of dylles In a stage,
and Helle ondyr-neth þat stage, þus seyyng þe
dylfe.
[leaf 103]
F 2

[Satan, The Prince of the Devils.]
Prince Satan is a Now I, prynse pyrkeď prykkyd in pryde,
King, with
Wrath and Envy
in his retinue.
satan) ower sovereyn, set with euery cyrcumstanse,
for I am a-tyred in my tower to tempt yow pis tyde;
as a kyng ryall I sette at my plesavns,
with wroth [and] Invy at my ryall retynawns;
the bolddest in bower I bryng' to a-baye;
Mannis sowle to be-segyn) and bryng to obeysavns,
ȝa [with] tyde and tyme I do þat I may,
He strives to
ruin men,
body and soul,
because they
gaind what
Lucifer lost.
He calls his
Knights to
council,
for at hem I haue dysspyte þat he xold haue pe Ioye
That lycyfer, with many a legyown), lost for þer pryde;
þe snares pat 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 knythtes so stowth,
with me ye xall ron) In rowte,
My consell to take for a skowte,
whytly þat we wer went for my sake.
wrath.
how to make
Mary Magdalene
with wrath or wyhylles we xal hyrre wynne.
envy.
sin,
or with sum sotyllte sett hur in synne.
dylfe.
com of pan, let vs be-gynne
to werkyn hur sum wrake.
[leaf 103, back]
[Her xal þe deywl go to be word with his compeny.
satan.
Heyle word, worthyest' of a-bowndans!
In hast' we must' a conseyll take;
and serve the
Devils..
ye must aply yow with all your afyavñs,
A woman of whorshep ower servant to make.

mundus.
satan, with my consell I wyll þe a-wansse,
I pray þe cum vp on-to my tent.
were pe kyng of flesch her with his a-semlaunvs!
Masenger, a-non) þat þu werre went
thys tyde!
sey þe kyng' of flesch with grete renown,
with his consell pat to hym) be bown),
In alle pe hast þat euer they mown),
com as fast as he may ryde.
masenger. [Sensuality.]
My lord, I am your servant sensvalyte,
your masege to don), I am of glad chyr;
Ryth sone In presens ȝe xal hym) se,
your wyl for to fulfylle her.
The King of the
World asks
Satan to his
tent,
and sends for
the King of the
Flesh.
394 World's
Messenger,
Sensuality,
[Her he goth to þe flesch, thus seyynge.
Heyl, lord in lond, led with lykyng'!
Heyl, flesch in lust', fayyrest' to be-hold!
tells the Flesh
Heyl, lord and ledar of empror' and kyng!
be worthy word, be wey and wold,
Hath sent for yow and your consell.
he is wanted at
Satan's Council
satan) is sembled with his howshold;
your covnseyl to haue, most fo[r] a-weyle.
filesch.
(leaf 104]
Hens! In hast, þat we per wh[e]re!
405 Flesh hastes
lett vs make no lengar delay!
away
senswalite.
gret myrth to þer hertes shold yow arere,
be my trowth, I dare safly saye.
[Her comyt þe kynge of flesch to be word, pus to World,
seyynge.
[flesch.]
Heyl be yow, soverens lefe and dere!
why so hastely do ȝe for me send ?
and greets the
Kings.

Calld on by
World,
mundus.
A! we ar ryth glad we haue yow here.
Ower counsell to-gethyr to comprehend.
Now, satan), sey your devyse.
satan.
Satan opens the
Serys, now ye be set, I xal yow say:
debate on Mary
Magdalene.
syrus dyyd þis odyr day;
Now mary his dowctor, fat may,
of þat castel beryt þe pryse.
mundus.
If she keeps
vertuous, she'll
be able to
destroy Hell
Therefore
Lechery
sertenly, serys, I yow telle,
yf she in vertu stylle may dwelle,
she xal byn) abyll to dystroye helle,
but yf' your covnseyll may othyrwyse devyse.
flesch.
now, pe lady lechery, yow must' don) your attendans,
for yow be flower fayrest' of femynyte;
yow xal go desyyr servyse, and byn) at hur atendavns,
must seduce
her.
for ȝe xal sonest enter ȝe beral of bewte.
lechery.
serys, I abey your covnsell in eche degre;
strytt waye þethyr woll I passe.
satan.
The Evil Spirits spirits malyngny xal com to þe,
shall tempt her.
The 6 now here
Hyr to tempt in euery plase.
now alle þe vj þat her be,
[leaf 104, back] wysely to werke, hyr fawor to wynne,
to entyr hyr person be þe labor of lechery,
shall help to
þat she at þe last' may com to helle.
bring her to
Hell.
How, how, spirits malyng'; pou wottyst' what I mene!
Cum owȝt, I sey! heryst' nat what I seye?

bad angyll.
syrrus, I obey your covnsell In eche degree;
strytt waye pethyr woll I passe;
speke soft, speke soft', I trotte hyr to tene,
I prey þe pertly make no more noyse.
436 The Bad Angel
[Her xal alle þe vij dedly synnes be-sege þe castell
tyll [they] A-gre to go to Ierusalem. lechery xall
entyr þe castell with pe bad angyl, þus seyynge
lechery.

[PART I. Scene 8.]

[Lechery, or Luxuria.]
Heyl, lady most lavdabyll of alyauvns!
Heyl, oryent, as þe sonne In his reflexite!
Myche pepul be comfortyd be your benyng afyavñs,
Bryter pan þe bornyd, is your bemys of bewte,
most' debonarius, with your aungelly delycyte!
Marya.
starts to tempt
Mary.
Part I. Scene 8.
The Castle of
Maudleyn,
Bethany.
Lechery greets
Mary Magda-
lene, and praises
her angelic
beauty.
cwat personne be ȝe pat pus me comende¹?
[¹ MS. comen-
dyde]
mary.
luxurya.
your servant to be, I wold comprehende.
your debonarius obedyauns ravyssyt me to trankquelyte! Mary is
flatterd,
now, syth ye desyre In eche de-gree,
to receyve yow I have grett delectacyon);
ȝe be hartely welcum on-to me!
welcomes
Lechery,
your tong is so amyabyll devydyd with reson).
Luxurya.
[leaf 105]
now, good lady, wyll ȝe me expresse,
why may per no gladdnes to yow resort?
mary.
for my father, I haue had grett heuynesse;
whan I remembyr, my mynd waxit' mort'.
and tells her she
is nigh dead, for
her father's
455 death.

luxsurya.
Lechery cheers
Mary up, and
advises her to
amuse herself.
ȝa lady, for all þat, be of good comfort,
for swych obusyouns may brede myche dysese;
swych desepcyouns, potyt peynes to exsport',
prynt yow in sportes whych best' doth yow plese. 459
mary.
for-sothe ye be welcum to myn hawdyens,
ye be my hartes leche;
So Mary bids
Lazarus and
Martha good-
brother lazarus, and it' be yower plezauns,
bye.
& ȝe systyr martha also in substawns,
Thys place I commend on)-to your governons,
and on-to god I yow be-take¹.
lazarus.
now, systyr, we xal do your intente,
in thys place to be resydent
whyle pat ȝe be absent',
to kepe pis place from wreche.
Part I.
A Tavern in
Jerusalem.
Scene 9.

[PART I. Scene 9.]

[Here takyt mary hur wey to Ierusalem with
Luxsurya, and þey xal resort to a taverner, þus
seyy[n]g þe taverner.
[Taverner.]
I am a taverner wytty and wyse,
that wynys haue to sell gret plente.
The Taverner
declares he's the
best in Jerusa-
lem.
of all þe taverners I bere þe pryse
that be dwellyng with-inne pe cete;
[leaf 105, back] of wynys I haue grete plente,
both whyte wynne and red pat [ys] so cleyr:
clary wynne and claret, and other moo,
He sells
Malmsey,
Claret,
Guelder
and Guyenne
wine, and
Vernage.
wyn of gyldyr and of galles, þat made at pe grome,[?]
wyn of wyan) and vernage, I seye also ;
Ther be no better², as ferre as ȝe can) goo.
1 The ryme wants 'beteche'. [2 MS. bertter.]
Here ys wynne of mawt and Malmeseyn),

luxsu[r]ya.
lo, lady, be comfort and pe sokower,
go we ner and take a tasť,
thys xal bryng your sprytes to fawor.
Taverner, bryng vs of pe fynnest' pou hast
taverner.
here, lady, is wyn), a re-past
to man), and woman a good restoratyff';
ȝe xall nat thynk your mony spent in wast',
from stodyys and hevynes it woll yow relyff.
Lechery orders
some of the
484 best wine,
to cheer them
up.
mary.
I-wys ȝe seye soth, ȝe grom) of blysse;
to me ȝe be covrtes and kynde.
Her xal entyr a galavnt þus seyyng
galavnt. [Curiosity, a Dandy.]
Hof, hof, hof, a frysch new galavnt,
ware of thryst, ley pat a-doune!
491 A smart Gallant
comes, and
what! wene ȝe, syrrys, þat I were a marchant,
be-cavse þat I am) new com to town?
wants a pretty
Barmaid to chat
to.
[¹MS. rowned]
[leaf 106]
with sum praty tasppysster wold I fayne rown)¹;
I haue a shert of reynnes with slevys peneawnt,
a lase of sylke for my lady constant'.
a! how she is bewtefull and ressplendant'!
whan I am from hyr presens, lord, how I syhe!
I wol a-wye sovereyns; and soiettes I dys-deyne.
In wynter a stomachyr, In somer non att al;
My dobelet and my hossys euer to-gether a-byde;
I woll, or euen), be shavyn), for to seme ȝyng';
with her a-ȝen þe her, I love mych pleyyng';
that makyt me Ilezant' and lusty in lykyng';
thus I lefe in pis word; I do it for no pryde.
luxsurya.
His love is a
beauty.
He wears no
stomacher in
502 summer,
and likes his hair
against a girl's.
lady, pis man is for ȝ0w, as I se can;
to sett yow I sporttes and talkyng pis tyde.

mary.
Mary bids the
Taverner call
the Gallant in.
cal hym In, taverner, as ȝe my loue wyll han,
& we xall make ful mery yf he wolle a-byde.
taverner'.
How, how, my mastyr coryossyte?
coryoste.
what is your wyll, syr? what wyl ȝe with me?
taverner.
Her ar Ientyll women dysyor your presens to se,
& for to dryng with yow thys tyde.
He comes, and
makes love to
Mary Magda-
lene,
coryoste.
A dere dewchesse, my daysyys Iee!
splendavet of colour, most of femynyte,
your sofreyn) coloures set with synseryte!
[leaf 106, back] conseder my loue in-to yower alye,
or elles I am) smet with peynnes
of perplexite!
mari.
Why, sir, wene ȝe þat I were a kelle?
corioste.
calls her his
Princess and
Sweetheart,
nay, prensses parde, ȝe be my hertes hele,
so wold to god ȝe wold my loue fele.
mari.
qwat cavse pat ȝe love me so sodenly?
and says he
can't help
loving her.
corioste.
o nedys I mvst', myn) own lady,
your person, ittis so womanly,
I can nat refreyn), me swete lelly.
mari.
sir, curtesy doth it yow lere.

corioste.
Now, gracyus gost', with-owtyn) pere
Mych nortur is þat ȝe conne;
But wol yow dawns, my own) dere?
mary.
sir, I asent In good maner;
go ȝe be-fore; I sue yow ner';
for a-man at alle tymys beryt revereñs.
corioste.
Now, be my trowth, ȝe be with other ten);
felle a pese, taverner, let vs sen),
soppes in wyne, how love ȝe?
mari.
529 He asks Mary to
dance with him.
She agrees,
536 with him.
and will take
sops-in-wine
As ȝe don, so doth me;
I am ryth glad þat met be we;
She begins tc
love him;
my loue, In yow gynnyt to close.
coryoste.
Now, derlyng dere, wol yow do be my rede?
[leaf 107]
we haue dronkyn) and ete lytyl brede.
wyll we walk to a-nother stede ?
mari.
Ewyn at your wyl, my dere derlyng'!
543 nay,
will go to
the end of the
thowe ȝe wyl go to be wordes eynd,
I wol neuer from) yow wynd,
to dye for your sake.
[Here xal mary & þe galont a-woyd.
& te bad
angyll goth to be word, pe flych, & þe dylfe, þus
sayyng þe bad angyl.

[PART I. Scene 10.]

[Bad Angyl.]
a lorges, a lorges, lorddes alle at onys!
ȝe haue a servant fayer and afyabylle,
for she is fallyn) in ower grogly gromys;
ȝa, pryde callyd corioste, to hur' is ful lavdabyll,
world with him,
and die for his
sake.
Part I. Scene 10.
Hell?
547 The Bad Angel
55°
tells the Devils
of Mary Magda-
lene's fall.

She has granted
Curiosity all he
askt.
The Devil sends
Lechery back to
keep Mary in
sin.
Satan and the
World, and the
Flesh, bid one
[leaf 107, back]
another fare-
well.
and to hur he is most preysse-abyll,
for she hath gravnttyd byın) al his bones;
she thynkyt his person so amyabyll,
to her syte he is semelyar pan) ony kyng in trones. 554
diabolus.
a! how I tremyl and trott for ȝese tydynges!
she is a soveryn servant' þat hath hur fet in synne.
go
thow agayn), and ewer be hur gyde;
þe lavdabyll lyfe of lecherry let hur neuer lynne,
for of hur al helle xall make reioysseyng'.
Here goth þe bad angyl to mari a-gayn.
rex diabolus.
fare-well, fare-well, ȝe to nobyl kynges pis tyde,
for hom in hast I wol me dresse.
mundus.
fare-well, satan), prynsse of pryde!
flesch.
fare-well, sem[1]yest' all sorowys to sesse!
[Here xal satan go hom to his stage, and mari xal
entyr In-to þe place alone, save þe bad angyl and
al þe seuen dedly synnes xal be conveyyd in-to þe
howse of symont leprovs, þey xal be a-rayyd lyke
vij dylf: þus kept closse, mari xal be in an erbyr,
pus seyynge.
Part I. Scene 11.
Jerusalem.
An Arbour.
[PART I.
Scene 11.]
mari.
Mary Magdalene A! god be with my valentynes,
thinks of her
darling lovers,
My byrd swetyng', my lovys so dere!
for þey be bote for a blossum of blysse;
me mervellyt sore þey be nat here,
and will rest in but I woll restyn) in þis erbyr
the Arbour till
one comes to
her.
A-mons thes bamys precyus of
prysse,
that me is wont to halse and kysse.
Her xal mary lye doun, and slepe in þe erbyr.
Tyll som lover wol apere,

[PART I. Scene 12.]

symond leprus.
Thys day holly I pot in rememberowns
Part I. Scene 12.
Bethany.
The House of
Simon the Leper.
to solas my gestes to my power,
I haue ordeynnyd a dyner of substawns,
My chyff freyndes perwith to chyr';
In-to be sete I woll a-pere,
ffor my gestes to make porvyawns,
Simon has
orderd a graud
dinner.
for tyme drayt ny to go to dyner,
and my offycyrs be redy with per ordynowñs.
so wold to god I myte have a-queyntowis
of pe profyth of trew perfytnesse,
to com to my place and porvyowñs;
it wold rejoyse my hert in gret' gladnesse;
for ȝe report of hys hye nobyll-nesse
rennyt in contreys fer and ner;
Hys precheyng' is of gret perfythnes,
of rythwysnesse, and mercy cleyr.
[leaf 108]
579 He wishes he
could get the
Prophet to come
to it,
for His preach-
ing is of Right-
eousness and
587 Mercy.
Her entyr symont in-to ȝe place, þe good angyll
pus seyynge to Mary.

[PART I. Scene 13.]

[good angyll.]
woman, woman, why art pou so on-stabyll?
ful bytterly thys blysse it wol be bowth;
why art' pou a-ȝens god so veryabyll?
wy thynkes pou nat god made þe of nowth?
In syn) and sorow pou art browth,
Part I. Scene 13.
Mary's Arbour
in Jerusalem.
The Good Angel
warns Mary to
fleschly lust' is to ȝe full delectabyll;
salue for þi sowle must be sowth,
and leve pi werkes wayn and veryabyll.
Remembyr, woman, for þi pore pryde,
How þi sowle xal lyyn in helle fyr!
¶A! remembyr how sorowful ittis to a-byde
with-owtyn eynd in angur and Ir[e]!
remembyr þe on)¹ mercy make pi sowle clyr!
I am pe gost of goodnesse þat so wold ȝe gydde.
1? MS. may be cu): = cum.
seek healing
for her soul,
596 which else shall
lie in the fire of
hell.

[leaf 108, back]
mary.
Mary Magdalene A! how pe speryt of goodnesse hat promtyt me pis tyde,
And temtyd me with tytyll of trew perfythnesse.
laments her sin; A-las! how betternesse In my hert doth a-byde!
I am wonddyd with werkes of gret dystresse.
A! how pynsynesse potyť' me to oppresse,
that I haue synnyd on) euery syde.
and asks who
O lord! wo xall put' me from þis peynfulnesse?
shall deliver
her.
A! woo xal to mercy be my gostly gyde?
She resolves
¶ I xal porsue þe prophett', wherso he be,
for he is þe welle of perfyth charyte ;
be pe oyle of mercy he xal me relyff.
to seek Christ.
with swete bawmys I wyl sekyn) hym) þis syth,
and sadly folow his lordshep in eche degre.
[PART I.
Scene 14.]
Part I. Scene 14.
Bethany.
Simon's House.
Christ enters,
and Simon
beseeches Him
to dine with
him.
[Here xal entyr þe prophet with his desyplys, pus
seyyng symont leprus.
[symont leprus.]
Now ye be welcom), mastyr, most of magnyfycens, 615
I be-seche yow benyngly ȝe wol be so gracyows
yf þat it' be lekyng' on-to yower hye presens
thy's daye to com) dyne at my hows.
Iesus.
Jesus says he
will,
god a mercy, symont', þat þou wylt' me knowe!
I woll entyr þi hows with pes and vnyte;
I am glad for to rest'; þer grace gynny†' grow ;
for with-inne pi hows xal rest' charyte,
And þe bemys of grace xal byn) Illumynows.
[leaf 109]
and enters
Simon's house,
Simon thanks
him,
But' syth pou wytyst' saff a dyner on me,
with pes
and grace I entyr þi hows.
symond.
I thank yow, master, most' benyng and gracyus,
that yow wol of your hye soverente;
to me Ittis a Ioye most speceows,

with-Inne my hows þat I may yow se!
now syt to be bord, mastyrs alle.
630 and bids all sit
[Her xal mary folowa-longe, with pis lamentacyon.
mary.
down to table.
O I, cursyd cayftyff, þat myche wo hath wrowth 631 Mary Magdalene
reproaches her-
self for her sin,
A-ȝens my makar, of mytes most';
I have offendyd hym) with dede and thowth,
But' in his grace is all my trost',
but trusts in
God's grace
Or elles I know well I am) but lost',
body and sowle damdpnyd perpetuall,
ȝet, good lord of lorddes, my hope perhenuall,
with pe to stond In grace and fawour to se,
thow knowyst' my hart and thowt in especyal;
therfor, good lord, after my hart reward me.
[Her xal mary wasche þe fett of þe prophet with
þe terres of hur yys, whypyng hem with hur herre,
and þan a-noynt hym with a precyus ncyttment.
Iesus dicit.
symond, I thank ȝe speceally
for pis grett r[e]past' þat her hath be;
But', symond, I telle pe fectually
I have thynges to seyn) to pe.
Symond.
Master, quat your wyll be,
and it plese yow, I well yow her,
seyth your lykyng' on-to me,
& al pe plesawnt' of your mynd and desyyr.
Iesus.
symond, þer was a man in þis present lyf,
the wyche had to dectours well suer',
þe whych wher pore, and myth make no restoratyf',
But stylle in þer dett ded in-duour ;
He knows her
heart.
She washes
Christ's feet
with her tears,
wipes them with
her hair, and
anoints them
641 Jesus says,
[leaf 109, back]
645 "Simon, I have
somewhat to
say to thee:
649 A man had 2
poor debtors.
pe on owȝt hym) an hondyrd pense ful suer,
& pe other fefty, so be-fell pe chanse;
& be-cawse he cowd nat his mony recure,
One owd him
100 pence, the
other 50; and

both.
he forgave them they askyd hym) for-ȝewnesse; and he for-ȝaf in substans:
but, symont', I pray ȝe, answer me to pis sentens, 6.57
whych of pes to personnes was most be-holddyn) to þat
Which was
most beholden
to him?
Simon :
man?
symond.
"The one that
owd him most!'
"9
Master, and it pleze your hey presens,
He pat most owȝt hym), as my reson) ȝef can).
Jesus:
"Thou hast
judgd rightly.
Ye two are the
debtors:
[leaf 110]
this woman has
washt my feet
with her tears,
anointed them,
with her fair
hair.
Iesus.
Recte ivdicasti! pou art a wyse man
and pis quesson) hast' dempte trewly.
yff þu In þi concyens remembyr can),
ȝe to, be ȝe dectours þat I of specefy.
But, symond, be-hold þis woman in al wyse,
How she with teres of hyr better wepyng
she wassheth my fete, and dothe me servyse,
and anoy[n]ty them with onymentes, lowly knelyng, 668
and wiped them & with her her, fayer and brygth shynnyng',
she wypeth hem) agayn) with good In entent';
¶ But, symont, syth that I entyrd þi hows,
To wasshe my fete pou dedyst nat aplye,
Thou didst
neither.
Woman, I
forgive thee,
and make thee
whole in soul!"
Mary Magd. :
"Blessed be
thou, Lord of
Life!
Nor to wype my fete pou wer nat so faworus;
wherfor In þi conscyens pou owttyst' nat to replye. 674
But, woman, I sey to be werely,
I for-geyffe pe pi wrecchednesse,
And hol In sowle be pou made þerby!
maria.
O blessyd be pou, lord of euer-lastyng' lyfe!
& blyssyd be pi berth of pat puer vergynne!
Blyssyd be pou, repast contemplatyf,
A-ȝens my seknes, helth, and medsyn)!
and for þat I haue synnyd In þe synne of pryde,
in Humility,
I will clothe me I wol en-abyte me with humelyte;
A-ȝens wrath and envy, I wyl devyde
Patience and
Charity."
Thes fayer vertuys, pacyens and charyte.

Iesus.
[leaf 110, back]
686 Jesus bids Mary
Woman), in contrysson pou art' expert',
And in pi sowle hast Inward mythe
That' sumtyme were In desert',
and from therknesse hast' porchasyd lyth;
thy feyth hath savyt þe, and made þe bryth;
Wherfor I sey to þe, "vade In pace."
691 depart in peace.
[With his word vij dyllys xall de-woyde frome be 7 Devils go out
woman, and the bad angyll enter into hell with
thondyr.
of her into Hell.
[Maria.]
O pou gloryus Lord! pis rehersyd for my sped,
sowle helth attes tyme for-to recure.
692 She thanks
Jesus.
Lord, for þat I was In whanhope, now stond I In dreď,
But þat þi gret mercy with me may endure;
My thowth pou knewyst' with-owtyn) ony dowth;
now may I trost' þe techeyng of Izaye in scryptur,
Wos report of þi nobyllnesse rennyt fer' abowt.
Iesus.
Blyssyd be þey at alle tyme,
that sen me nat', and have me in credens;
With contrysson þou hast mad a recumpens,
699 He tells her to
þi sowle to save from) all dystresse ;
be war, and kepe þe from) alle neclygens,
and after pou xal be pertener of my blysse.
be careful;
and she shall
partake of his
bliss.
[leaf 111]
705 The Good Angel
prays Jesus to
[Here devodyte Iesus with his desipylles, þe good
angyll reioysynge ofe mawdleyn.
bonus angelus.
Holy god, hyest of omnipotency,
The astat of good governouns to pe I recummend,
Humbylly be-secheyng þyn Inperall glorye,
In þi devyn vertu vs to comprehend.
and delectabyll Iesu, soverreyn) sapyens,
Ower feyth we recummend on-to your purpete,
Most mekely prayyng to your holy aparens,
Illumyn ower ygnorans with your devynyte!
DIGBY MYST.
enlighten their
712 ignorance.
G

The Good Angel ye be clepyd Redempcyon) of sowlys defens,
whyche shal ben) obscuryd be þi blessyd mortalyte.
O lux vera, gravnt vs ȝ0wer lucense,
that with pe spryte of errour I nat seduet be!
prays the Holy
Spirit and the
Trinity that
And sperytus alme, to yow most benyne,
thre persons In trenyte, and on god eterne,
Most lowly ower feyth we consyngne,
they may come
to bliss.
Part I.
Scene 15.
Hell.
þat we may com to your blysse gloryfyed from malyngne,
& with your gostely bred to fede vs, we desyern).

[PART I. Scene 15.]

Rex deabolus.
A, owt, owt, and harrow! I am hampord with hate! 722
In hast wyl I set on Iugment' to se;
[leaf 111, back] with thes betyll browyd bycheys I am at debate.
The King of the
Devils calls up
Belfagour and
Belzabub, to
Judge the
How! belfagour and belzabub! com vp here to me! 725
[Here aperytte to dyvllys be-fore þe master.
secundus diabolus.
Here, lord, here! qwat wol ȝe?
tercius diabolus.
the Iugment of harlottes here to se,
settyng In Iudycyal lyke a state.
Bad Angel who How, thow bad angyll! a-pere before my grace!
faild with Mary
Magdalene.
spiritus malignus.
as flat as fox, I falle before
your face.
Ius Diabolus.
He's to be
beaten on his
buttocks,
thow theffe, wy hast' pou don alle pis trespas,
to lett þen) woman þi bondes breke?
mali[g]nus spiritus.
the speryt of grace sore ded hyr smyth,
& temptyd so sore þat Ipocryte.
Ius diabolus.
ȝa! thys hard balys on þi bottokkys xall byte!
In hast on pe I wol be wroke.

SCENES 15 AND 16.
cum vp, ȝe horsons, and skore a-wey þe yche!
& with thys panne ȝe do hym) pycche!
cum of, ȝe harlottes, þat yt wer don)!
739 and so are all
[Here xall þey serva all þe seuyne as þey do þefreste.
Primus Deabolus.
the other 7
Devils who
came out of
Mary.
Now have I a part of my desyer' :
goo In-to pis howsse, ȝe lordeynnes here,
& loke ye set yt
on) a feyer',
& pat xall hem) a-wake.
[leaf 112]
[Here xall þe tother deylles sette pe howse one a
fyere, and make a sowth, and mari xall go to lazar The other Devils
set fire to the
house [? whose.]
and to martha.
Ius diabolus.
So, now have we well afrayyd þese felons ffals!
They be blasyd both body and hals!
Now to hell lett vs synkyn) als,
to ower felaws blake.

[PART I. Scene 16.]

mari mavgleyn.
O brother, my hartes consolacyown!
O blessyd In lyffe, and solytary!
the blyssyd prophet, my comfortacyown),
He hathe made me clene and delectary,
the wyche was to synne a subiectary.
Thys kyng cryste consedyryd his creacyown);
I was drynchyn) In synne deversarye
tyll put lord relevyd me be his domynacycn),
grace to me he wold never de-nye;
thowe I were nevyr so synful, he seyd ´revertere'!
O, I synful creature, to grace I woll a-plye;
the oyle of mercy hath helyd myn) Infyrmyte.
martha.
now worchepyd be þat hey name, Iesu,
the wyche In latyn) is callyd savyower!
fulfyllyng' þat word ewyn of dewe,
to alle synfull and seke he is sokour.
Part I.
Scene 16.
The Castle of
Maudleyn,
Bethany.
Mary Magdalene
tells Lazarus
how Jesus
cleansd her of
sin,
and bade her
'Turn again.'
760 Martha says
He is the suc-
cour of all
763 sinners.
G 2

Lazarus.
[leaf 112, back]
Lazarus wel-
systyr, ȝe be welcum on)-to yower towere!
comes his sister
glad In hart of yower obessyawnse,
Mary Mag-
dalene,
wheyl þat I leffe, I wyl serve hym) with honour,
that ȝe have forsakyn) synne and varyawñs.
mary Mavdeleyn.
Cryst, þat is þe lyth and þe cler daye,
She prays
Christ
He hath on-curyd þe therknesse of pe clowdy nyth.
of lyth pe lucens and lyth veray,
Wos prechyng to vs is a gracyows lyth,
Lord, we be-seche þe, as pou art most of myth,
to give them
Owt' of pe ded slep of therknesse de-fend vs aye!
grace to serve
Him ever,
gyff vs grace ewyr to rest' In lyth,
In quyet and In pes to serve pe nyth and day!
[Here xall lazar take his deth, þus seyynge.
Lazarus is
stricken with
[Lazarus.]
A, help, help, systyrs! for charyte!
death, and calls a-las! dethe is sett at my hart;
to his sisters
for help.
a ley on handes! wher ar ȝe?
a! I faltyr and falle! I wax alle on-quarte!
A! I bome a-bove; I wax alle swertt!
A, good Iesu, thow be my gyde!
[leaf 113]
A! no lengar now I reverte!
I yeld vp þe gost', I may natt a-byde!
mary Mavdeleyn.
Mary Magdalene good brother, take covmforth and myth,
comforts him.
and lett non heuynes In ȝ0wer hart' a-byde;
Lett a-way alle pis feyntnesse and fretth,
& we xal gete yow leches, ȝ0wer peynes to devyde. 787
martha.
Martha says
A! I syth and sorow, and sey, a-las!
thys sorow ys a-poynt to be my confusyon).
they'll go
Christ.
for
Ientyl syster, hye we from) þis place,
for pe prophe[t] to hym hatt grett delectacyon);

good brother, take somme comfortacyon),
for we woll go to seke yow cure.
[Here goth mary and martha, and mett with Iesus,
pus seyynge.

[PART I. Scene 17.]

[Mary & Martha.]
O lord Iesu, ower melleflueus swettnesse,
thowe art grettest lord In glorie,
Lover to be lord In all lowlynesse!
Comfort þi creatur þat to pe crye!
be-hold yower lover, good lord, specyally,
How Lazar' lyth seke In grett dystresse!
He ys pi lover, lord, suerly;
on-bynd hym, good lord, of his heuynesse!
Iesus.
Part 1.
Scene 17.
Beyond Jordan.
797 Mary and
Martha tell
Jesus that
Lazarus is sick,
801 and ask Him to
heal him.
of all In-fyrmyte, þer is non to deth,
for of all peynnes pat is Inpossyble.
To vndyr-stond be reson), to know þe werke,
the Ioye pat is in Ierusallem heuenly,
Can never be compylyd be covnnyng of clerke,
[leaf 113, back]
to se pe Ioyys of þe fathyr In glory,
the Ioyys of pe sonne whych owth to be magnyfyed,
And of þe therd person, pe holy gost' truly,
& alle iij but on) In heuen) gloryfyed.
SIC
Now, women, þat arn In my presens here,
of my wordys take a-wysement;
go hom) a-ȝen to yower brothyr Lazere;
my grace to hym) xall be sent.
Jesus bids them
go home.
His grace shall
be sent to
Lazarus.
mary Mavdeleyn.
O thow gloryus lord, here present,
815 They thank
Him,
We yeld to be salutacyon)!
In ower weyys we be expedyent';
now, Lord, vs defend from trybulacyon)!
[Here goth mary and martha homvard, and Iesus and go home to
devodyte.
Bethany.

Part I.
Scene 18.
The Castle of
Maudleyn, and
the Sepulchre
in Bethany.

[PART I. Scene 18.]

Lazarus.
A! In woo I waltyr, as wawys In þe wynd!
A-wey ys went all my sokour!
A! deth, deth, pou art on-kynd!
Lazarus bids
A! a! now brystyt myn hartt! þis is a sharp shower!
his sisters fare-
well, and dies.
fare-well, my systyrs, my bodely helth!
[mortuis est.
mary Mavdeleyn.
Iesu, my lord, be yower sokowr,
And he mott be yower gostes welth!
primus miles.
goddes grace mott be hys governour,
In Ioy euerlastyng for to be!
secundus miles.
[leaf 114]
A-monge alle good sowlys send hym) favour
as pi power ys most of dygnyte!
martha.
Martha says
Now syn þe chans is fallyn) soo
that deth hath drewyn hym don) pis day,
they must
bury Lazarus.
we must' nedys ower devyrs doo,
to be erth to bryng hym) with-owt delay.
mary Mavdeleyn.
Mary adds,
as þe vse is now, and hath byn aye,
'with Weepers
with wepers to þe erth yow hym) bryng;
alle pis must be donne as I yow saye,
clad in black.'
Clad In blake, with-owtyn) lesyng'.
primus miles.
gracyows ladyys of grett honour,
Neighbours
come weeping.
thys pepull is com here In yower syth,
wepyng' and welyng with gret dolour
be-cavse of my lordes dethe.
The grave is
made ready.
[Here be one knygth make redy þe stone, and
other bryng in þe wepars arayya in blak,

primus miles.
842 Lazarus is
laid in his tomb.
Now, good fryndes þat here be,
Take vp thys body with good wyll,
& ley it In his sepoltur semely to se.
good lord, hym) save from) alle maner ille!
[Lay hym In.
Here al þe pepyll resort to þe castell, þus seyynge
Iesus.

[PART I. Scene 19.]

Tyme ys comyn), of very cognysson).
[Iesus.]
My dyssyplys, goth with me,
for to fulfyll possybyll peticion).
go we to-gether In-to Iude,
Part I.
Scene 19.
Beyond Jordan.
Jesus bids his
Disciples go into
Judea with him,
[leaf 114, back]
Ther lazar, my frynd, is he;
gow we to-gether as chyldyurn of lyth;
and, from) grevos slepe, sawen) heym) wyll we.
Dissipulus.
Lord, it plese yower myty volunte,
thow he slepe, he may be savyd be skyll.
Iesus.
to save Lazarus
from sleep.
That is trew, and be possybilyte;
therfor of my deth shew yow I wyll.
My fathyr, of nemyows charyte,
sent me, his son), to make redemcyon),
wyche was conseyvyd be puer verginyte,
And so In my mother had cler Incarnacy (n;
and perfor must I suffyr grewos passyon)
He tells them
how his Father
sent him,
born of a pure
Virgin,
ondyr povnse pylat, with grett perplexite,
betyn), bobbyd, skoernyd, crownnyd with thorne:
Alle pis xall be pe soferons of my deite.
to be beaten,
and crownd
864 with thorns.
TI, therfor, hastely folow me now,
for Lazar is ded verely to preve;
whe[r]for I am Ioyfull, I sey on-to yow,
that I knowlege yow per-with, pat ye may it beleve. 868
[Here xal Iesus com with his dissipules; and one
Iew tellyt martha.
And that
Lazarus is dead.

Part I.
Scene 20.
Bethany.

[PART I. Scene 20.]

[Iew.]
A! martha, Martha! be full of gladnesse!
for þe prophett ys comyng, I sey trewly,
with his dyssypylles In grett lowlynesse ;
He shall yow comfortt with his mercy.
[leaf 115]
Martha runs
to greet Christ,
and says,
If he'd been
there,
[Here martha xall ronne a-zene Iesus, þus seyynge.
[Martha.]
a, Lord! me, sympyl creatur, nat denye!
thow I be wrappyd In wrecchydnesse!
Lord, and pou haddyst' byn) her, werely
her brother 'ud My brother had natt a byn ded; I know well thysse. 876
not have died.
Jesus says that
Iesus.
Martha, docctor! on-to pe I sey,
thy brother xall reyse agayn).
martha.
yee, lord, at þe last day;
that I be-leve ful pleyn.
Lesus.
all who believe
in him shall
I am þe resurreccyon) of lyfe, þat euer xall reynne; 831
have everlasting & whoso be-levyt verely In me
life.
Xall have lyfe euerlastyng, þe soth to seyn).
martha, be-levyst thow pis [truly]?
martha.
ȝe, forsoth, pe prynsse of blysch!
I be-leve In cryst, þe son) of sapyens,
whyche with-owt eynd ryngne xall he,
To redemyn vs freell from) ower Iniquite.
[leaf 115, back]
[Here mary xall falle to Iesus, þus seyynge mary.
mary M.
Mary tells Jesus O pou rythewys regent', reynyng in equite,
that if he had
been with em,
their brother
had not died.
pou gracyows lord, pou swete Iesus!
And pou haddyst byn her, my brothyr a-lyfe had be.
good lord, myn hertt doth pis dyscus.

Iesus.
Wher have ȝe put hym? sey me thys.
mary M.
In his mo[nu]ment, lord, is he.
Iesus.
to that place ȝe me wys;
893 Jesus orders
Thatt grave I desyre to se.
take of þe ston) of þis monvment!
The agrement of grace, her shewyn) I wyll.
martha.
A, lord, yower preseptt fulfyllyd xall be;
thys ston I remeve with glad chyr.
the stone to be
taken off
898 Lazarus's tomb.
Martha takes it
off.
gracyows lord, I aske þe mercy,
thy wyll mott be fullfyllyd here.
[Here xall martha put ofe pe grave-stone.
Iesus.
Now, father, I be-seche thyn) hey paternyte,
that my prayour be resowndable to þi fathyrod In glory,
Jesus prays to
his Father,
to opyn þeyn erys to pi son) In humanyte!
nat only for me, but for þi pepyll verely,
That þey may be-leue, and be-take to þi mercy.
fathyr! for pem) I make supplycacyon).
gracyows father! gravnt me my bone!
Lazer! Lazer! com hethyr to me!
[leaf 116]
and bids
Lazarus come
Lazarus rises
from his tomb,
[Here xall lazar a-ryse, trossyd with towelles, In to him.
a shete.
Lazar.
A! my makar, my savyowr! blyssyd mott pou be! 911 and blesses
Jesus.
Here men may know þi werkes of wondyr!
Lord, no thy[n]g ys on-possybyll to the,
for my body and my sowle was departyd asonder! 914
I xuld a¹-rottyt, as doth þe tondyr
[¹a=have]
fleysch from þe bonys a¹-consumyd a-way.

PT. I.
Lazarus pro-
claims God's
goodness.
The folk say
they believe in
Jesus.
He bids them
depart in peace.
PART II.
Scene 21.
Marcylle.
[leaf 116, back]
The King:-
Why don't ye
bend low to me,
ye blabber-lipt
bitches?
Now is a-loft, þat late was ondyr!
the goodnesse of god hath don) for me here;
for he is bote of all balys to on-bynd,
that blyssyd lord þat here ded a-pere.
[Here all þe pepull, and þe Iewys, mari, and martha
with one woys sey þes wordes: we be-leve in yow
savyowr, Iesus, Iesus, Iesus!
[Lesus.]
of yower good hertes I have ad-vertacyounes,
where thorow, In sowle holl made ȝe
be;
be-twyx yow and me be never varyacyounes,
Wherfor I "vade In pace."
sey,
[Here devoydyt Iesus with his desypylles; mary,
and martha, and lazare, gone home to be castell; and
here [the kyng of Marcylle] be-gynnyt hys boste.

[PART II. Scene 21.]

[Kyng of Marcylle.]
A-wantt, a-want þe, on-worthy wrecchesse!
Why lowtt ȝe nat low to my lawdabyll presens,
ye brawlyng breelles, and blabyr-lyppyd bycchys,
obedyenly to obbey me with-owt of-fense?
I am a sofereyn semely, þat ye se butt seyld;
non swyche onder sonne, pe sothe for to say;
whanne I fare fresly and fers to þe feld',
my fomen fle for fer of my fray.
ewen) as an enperower I am) onored ay,
Wanne baner gyn) to blasse, and bemmys gyn) to blow.
I'm the Head of Hed am) I heyest of all hethennesse holld!
all Heathendom,
King of
Marcylle!
both kyngges and cayseres, I woll þey xall me know,
Or elles þey bey the bargayn, þat ewer þey wer so bold.
¶ I am kyng' of marcylle, talys to be told;
Thus I wold it wer knowyn ferre and ner.
Ho sey contraly, I cast heym) In cares cold,
and he xall bey the bargayn) wondyr dere.
I have a lovely
wife.
I have a favorows fode, and fresse as the fakown),
she is full fayer In hyr femynyte;

SCENES 21 AND 22.
whan I loke on þis lady, I am lofty as the lyon);
In my syth,
of delycyte most delycyows,
of felachyp most' felecyows,
94.5
946 She's the most
delicious
creature alive.'
of alle fodys most favarows,
o! my blysse! In bevteus brygth!
regina.
O of condycyons, and most onorabyll!
Lowly I thank yow for pis recummendacyon)!
the bovnteest, and the boldest onder baner bryth!
no creatur so coroscant to my consolacyon)!
[leaf 117]
950 The Queen of
Marcylle thanks
the King for his
praise of her.
whan the regent be resydent, ittis my refeccyon; 954
yower dilectabyll dedes devydytt me from dyversyte;
In my person I privyde to put me from polucyon);
To be plezant to yower person, ittis my prosperyte. 957
rex.
now godamercy, berel brytest of bewte!
godamercy, rubu rody as þe rose !
ye be so ple[s]avnt' to my pay, ȝe put me from peyn.
now, comly knygthys, loke þat ȝe forth dresse
both
spycys and wyn her Jn hast.
958 He declares
she's the Beryl
of Beauty,
and orders wine
and spices.
[Here xall þe knygtes gete spycys and wynne, and
here xall enter a dylle In orebyll a-ray, þus seyynge.

[PART II. Scene 22.]

[A Dylle.]
Part II.
Scene 22.
Marcylle.
963 A yelling Devil
Owȝt! owȝt! harrow I may crye and yelle,
for lost is all ower labor! wherfor I sey, alas!
for of all holddes þat ever hort non) so as hell.
ower barres of Iron) ar all to-brost! stronge gates of brasse!
the kyng' of Ioy enteryd In þer-at, as bryth as fyrys blase!
for fray of his ferfull baner, ower felashep fled asɔndyr;
whan he towcheyd it, with his toukkyng þey brast as
ony glase,
and rofe asonder, as it byn) with thondor.
now ar we thrall, þat frest wher fre,
tells how Christ
has harrowd
Hell.
He broke their
iron gates like
969 glass.
971 [leaf 117, back]

Be pe passon of his manhede.
Christ's Cross O[n] a crosce on hye hangyd was he,
has destroyd
Hell's work,
and emptid
Limbo of Adam,
&c.
whych hath dystroyd ower labor and alle ower dede. 974
He hath lytynnyd lymbo, and to paradyse ȝede.
þat wondyr-full worke werkytt vs wrake:
Adam) and abram), and alle hyr' kynred,
Owȝt of ower preson), to Ioy wer' þey take:
He's risen,
and gone into
Galilee.
all pis hath byn) wrowth syn) freyday at noñe
brostyn don ower gates pat hangyd wer full hye.
Now is he resyn, his resurreccyon is dow,
;
And is procedyd In-to galelye.
with many a temtacyon we tochyd hym) to a-trey,
to know whether he was god or non'.
He's wiped
our eye,
ȝe[t], for all ower besynes, bleryd is ower eye,
for with his wyld werke he hath wonne hem everychon.
now for pe tyme to come
and we shall
lose our victims.
But at his deleverans,
þer xall non falle to ower chanse,
And weyyd be rythfull balans,
And ȝ0wyn be rythfull dome.
I'll go to Hell.'
[leaf 118]
Part II.
Scene 23.
Jerusalem, and
the Sepulchre.
Mary Magda-
lene, and Mary
the mother of
James, lament
I telle yow alle, In fine to helle wyll I gonne.
[Here xall enter þe iij mariis a-rayyd as chast
women, with sygnis ofe pe passion pryntyde vp-
one per breste, pus seyynge Mawdleyn.

[PART II. Scene 23.]

[Mavdlyn.]
Alas! alas! for þat ryall bem!
A! þis percytt my hartt worst of all;
Christ's death.
for here he turnyd a-ȝen to pe woman of Ierusalem),
And for wherynesse lett þe crosse falle.
M[ary] Jacobe.¹
Thys sorow is beytte, ar þan) ony galle;
for here be levys spornyd hym) to make hym) goo;
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.

and þey dysspyttyd þer kyng' ryall:
that clyvytt myn) hart and makett me woo.
M. salome.
yt ys In-tollerabyll to se or to tell,
for ony creature, þat stronkg' tourmentry.
O lord! pou haddyst a mervelows mell!
yt is to hedyows to dyscry.
1001 Mary Salome
grieves with
them.
[al þe maryys with one woyce sey þis folowyng.
[Maryys.]
Heylle, gloryows crosse! pou baryst þat lord on hye,
whych be pi mygth deddyst lowly bowe don,
mannys sowle to bye from all thraldam),
that euer-more In peyne shold a-be,
Be record of davyt, with myld stevyn),
Domine, inclina celos tuos, et dessende!
M. magdleyn.
Now to pe monument lett vs gon),
wher as ower lord and savyowr layd was,
to a-noynt hym) body and boñe,
To make a-mendes for ower trespas.
Ho xall put don pe led of pe monvment,
thatt we may a-noy[n]tt his gracyus wovndes?
with hartt and my[n]d to do ower Intentt,
with precyus bamys, pis same stovnddes.
The 3 Maries
hail the Cross,
and pray God to
come down.
[leaf 118, back]
IOII They will go to
the Sepulchre
and anoint
Christ's wounds.
M. salome.
Thatt blyssyd body with-In pis bovndes
here was layd with rvfull mones;
Never creature was borne vp-on) gronddes
þat mygth sofer so hediows a peyne at onys.
Two angels
[Here xall a-pere ij angelus In whyte at þe grave. appear to them
at the Tomb.
[[s] angelus.
ȝe women presentt, dredytt yow ryth nowth?
Iesus is resun, and is natt here.

The Angels say
that Christ shall
appear to his
disciples
Loo! here is pe place þat he was In-browth.
go, sey to his dysypylles and to peter he xall a-pere.
ijus angelus.
in Galilee.
In galelye, with-owtyn) ony wyre,
þer xall ye se hym), lyke as he sayd.
goo yower way, and take comfortt and chyr,
for þat he sayd, xall natt be delayyd.
[Here xall þe maryys mete with peter and Ihone.
Part II:
Scene 24.
The Road to
Jerusalem.
[leaf 119]

[PART II. Scene 24.]

M. mavdlyn.
Mary Magdalene o peter and Ihon! we be be-gylyd!
tells Peter and
. John that
ower lordes body is borne a-way!
Christ's body is
carrid away.
I am aferd ittis dyffylyd!
I am so carefull, I wott natt whatt to saye.
T0ȝ4
Peter.
of þes tydynggys, gretly I dysmay!
I woll me thether hye with all my myth.
now, lord defend vs as he best may!
They resolve to
go to the Sepul-
chre,
of pe sepulture we woll have a syth.
Ihon).
TA! myn Invard sowle stondyng In dystresse,— 1039
þe weche of my body xuld have a gyde,—
for my lord stondyng In hevynesse,
lamenting his
sufferings.
whan I remembyr his wovndes wyde!
Peter.
The sorow and peyne þat he ded drye
for ower offens and abomynacyon)!
& also I for-soke hym) In hys turmentry;
I toke no hede to his techeyng and exortacyon).
[How peter and Ihon go to be sepulcur, and pe
maryys folowyng.

[PART II. Scene 25.]

[Peter.]
A! now I se and know pe sothe!
but, gracyus lord, be ower protexcyon)!
Here is nothyng left butt a sudare cloth,
Part II.
Scene 25.
The Sepulchre.
þat of þi beryyng xuld make mencyon)..
Ihon).
I am a-ferd of wykkytt opressyon)
where he is be-cum, it can-natt be devysyd;
butt he seyd, after pe iijd day he xuld have resurrexon.
St. John says
that Christ
Long be-form), thys was promysyď.
[leaf 119, back]
promist to rise
ere the 3rd day.
M. magdleyn.
Alas! I may no lengar a-byde,
for dolour and dyssese þat In my hartt doth dwell.
Ius angelus.
woman! woman! wy wepest pou?
wom) sekest pou with dolar' thus?
M. magdleyn.
A fayn wold I wete, and I wyst how,
wo hath born a-way my lord Iesus.
[Hic aparuit Iesus.
Mary Magdalene
asks the Angel,
1060 Who has carrid
off her lord,
Jesus?
Jesus appears,
[Iesus.]
woman! woman! wy syest thow?
wom) sekest pou? tell me pis.
1061 and asks Mary
whom she seeks.
M. magdlyn.
A, good syr! tell me now
yf' pou have born) awey my lord Iesus,
for I have porposyd In eche degre
to have hym with me werely,
the wyche my specyall lord hath be,
and I his lover and cavse wyll phy.
She asks him
if he has borne
Jesus.
1064 away her lord

Iesus.
He calls her
Mary.
O mari!
M. magdleyn.
and wants to
anoint
and kiss him.
She knows him, A, gracyus master and lord! yow it' is pat I seke! 1070
Lett me a-noynt yow with pis bamys sote.
Lord! long hast' pou hyd þe from) my spece,
Butt now wyll I kesse pou, for my hartes bote.
Iesus.
not to touch
him.
[leaf 120]
Jesus bids Mary Towche me natt, mary! I ded natt asend
to my father In deyyte, and on-to yowers;
Butt go sey to my brotheryn, I wyll pretende
To stey to my father In heu[n]ly towers,
M. magdleyn.
She at first
thought he was
the gardener.
whan I sye yow fyrst, lord, verely
I wentt ye had byn) symovd, pe gardener.
Jesus says he is
the Gardener of
man's Heart,
Iesus.
so I am,
mannys
for-sothe, mary :
hartt is my gardyn) here;
per-In I sow sedys of vertu all þe ȝere;
whence he
plucks the
Weeds of Vice.
þe fowle wedes and wycys, I reynd vp be pe rote.
whan þat gardyn) is watteryd with terys clere,
than) spryng vertuus, and smelle full sote.
M. Magdleyn.
O, pou dere worthy emperowere, pou hye devyne! 1086
to me pis is a Ioyfull tydyng',
And on-to all pepull þat after vs xall reyngne,
thys knowlege of þi deyyte,
to all pepull þat xall obteyne
and know pis be posybyl[it]e.
Iesus.
He will appear
to all sinners
I woll shew to synnars, as I do to pe,
who seek him.
yf þey woll with veruens of love me seke.

be stedfast, and I xall ever with þe be,
and with all tho þat to me byn meke.
[Here a-voydyt Iesus sodenly, þus seyyng mary M.
Mary says that
O, systyr! pus pe hey and nobyll Inflventt grace 1096 Christ's appear-
Of my most blessyd lord Iesus, Iesus, Iesus!
He a-peryd on-to me at þe sepulcur þer I was!
ing
[leaf 120, back]
þat hath relevyd my woo, and moryd my blysche! 1099 has relievd her
ittis In-nvmerabyll to expresse,
Or for ony tong' for to tell,
of my Ioye how myche ittes,
so myche my peynnes itt doth excelle.
M. salome.
woe.
Now lett vs go to be sette, to ower lady dere,
Hyr to shew of his wellfare,
and also to dyssypylles þat we have syn) here:
be more yt xall rejoyse þem) from) care.
M. Iacob.
Now, systyr magdleyn, with glad chyr;
so wold, pat good lord, we myth with hym) mete!
Iesus.
To shew desyrows hartes I am) full nere;
women, I a-pere to yow, and sey 'awete.'
salome.
1104 Mary Salome
proposes to tell
Christ's Mother
and his disciples.
Jesus appears to
them,
IIII
Now, gracyus lord, of yower nymyos charyte,— 1112
With hombyll hartes to pi presens complayne,-
gravntt vs þi blyssyng of þi hye deyte,
gostly ower sowlys for to sosteynne.
Iesus.
alle tho byn blyssyd þat sore refreynne:
we blysch yow, father, and son, and holy gost,
all sorow and care to constryne,
Be ower power of mytes most',
DIGBY MYST.
III6 blesses them,
[leaf 121]
H

and bids them
tell his Disciples
to go into
Galilee.
In nomine patrys ett felii et spiritus sancti, amen)!
goo ye to my brethryn, and sey to hem per,
þat þey procede and go In-to gallelye;
I121
& per xall þey se me, as I seyd be-fore,
bodyly, with here carnall yye.
Here Iesus devoydytt a-ȝen.
magdleyn.
Mary blesses
Christ,
and will fulfil
his hest.
O pou gloryus lord of heuen) regyon),
now blyssyd be þi hye devynyte,
thatt ever thow tokest In-carnacyon)
thus for to vesyte þi pore servantes thre.
þi wyll, gracyows lord, fulfyllyd xall be
As pou commavndyst vs In all thyng';
Ower gracyows brethryn) we woll go se,
with hem) to seyn all ower lekeyng'.
Here devoyd all þe iij maryys; and þe kynge ofe
marcyll xall be-gynne a sacryfyce.
Part II, Scene 26.
Palace of
Marcyll.
The King of
Marcyll proposes
to sacrifice to
his Gods,

[PART II. Scene 26.]

rex mercyll.
Now, lorddes and ladyys of grett a-prise,
a mater to meve yow is in my memoryall,
specially
[leaf 121, back]
to Mahound.
pis day to do a sacryfyce
with multetude of myrth be-fore ower goddes all, 1136
with preors In a-specyall be-fore his presens,
eche creature with hartt de-mvre.
Regina.
To pat lord curteys and keynd,
mahond, þat is so mykyll of myth,
with mynstrelly and myrth In mynd,
lett vs gon) ofer In þat hye kyngis syth.
Here xall enter an hethene preste and his boye.

Scene 27.]
presbyter.
Part II. Scene 27.
Marcyll.
The Temple.
The Priest bids
now, my clerke, Hawkyn, for loue of me
Loke fast myn awter wer a-rayd;
goo ryng a bell to or thre!
lythly, chyld, it be natt delayd,
for here xall be a grett solemnyte.
loke, boy, pou do it with a brayd!
clericus.
his boy get the
whatt,master,woldyst pou have pi lemman to pi beddes syde?
thow xall a-byde tyll my servyse is sayd.
presbyter.
altar ready,
and ring the
bells.
The boy says,
"Do you want
1150 your wench?
boy! I sey, be sentt coppyn),
no swyche wordes to pe I spake.
boy.
wether pou ded or natt, þe fryst Iorny xall be myn),
for, be my feyth, pou beryst wattes pakke;
but, syr, my master grett morell,
ye have so fellyd yower bylly with growell,
þat it growit' grett as þe dywll of hell.
on-shaply pou art to see!
whan women comme to here þi sermon),
pratyly with hem) I can houkkyn),
with kyrchon) and fayer maryon).
þey love me better þan) 3,
I dare sey and pou xulddes ryde,
pi body is so grett and wyde,
þat never horse may be a-byde,
exseptt pou breke his bakk asovndyr,
presbyter.
A pou lyyst, boy, be pe dyvll of hell!
I pray god mahond mott þe quell!
I xall whyp pe tyll þi ars xall belle!
On þi ars com mych wondyr.
But I'll have
first turn.
Your belly's as
big as the
Devil's.
I can houk
Kirchon and
[leaf 122]
Marion they
love me better
than you.
You're so fat
that you'd break
a horse's back."
1167 The Priest
declares he'll
flog the Boy.
H 2

boy.
The Boy calls
the Priest the
Devil's uncle.
A fartt, master, and kysse my grenne!
þe dyvll of hell was þi emme;
pis kenred is a-sprongyn late.
Loo, mastyrs, of swyche a stokke he cam).
presbyter.
mahovndes blod, precyows knave!
stryppys on þi ars þou xall have,
& rappys on þi pate!
bete hym.
rex dicitt.
The King asks
to hear the
service.
Now, prystes and clerkys, of þis tempyll cler,
yower servyse to sey, lett me se.
for his book, &c.
presbyter.
A, soveryn lord, we shall don) ower devyr.
The Priest calls boy, a boke a-non pou bryng me!
now, boy, to my awter I wyll me dresse;
On xall my westment and myn) aray.
The Boy says a
mocking non-
boy.
now pan, pe lesson) I woll expresse,
sensical service. lyke as longytt for þe servyse of pis day :—
¶ Leccyo mahowndys, viri fortissimi sarasenorum,
[leaf 122, back] glabriosum ad glvmandum glvmardinorum,
gormondorum alocorum, stampatinantum cursorum,
Cownthtes fulcatum, congrvryandum tersorum,
mursum malgorum, Mararazorum,
skartum sialporum, fartum cardiculorum,
slavndri strovmppum, corbolcorum,
snyguer snagoer werwolfforum,
strowtum stardy strangolcorum,
standgardum lamba beffettorum,
rygor dagor flapporum,
castratum ratyrybaldorum,

Howndes and hogges, In hegges and helles,
snakes and toddes mott be yower belles;
ragnell and roffyn), and other, In þe wavys,
gravntt yow grace to dye on) pe galows.'
presbyter.
Now, lordes and ladyys, lesse and more,
knele all don with good devocyon);
yonge and old, rych and pore,
do yower oferyng to sentt mahownde,
& ye xall have grett pardon),
þat longytt to pis holy place;
& receyve ȝe xall my benesown),
and stond In mahowndes grace.
rex dicitt.
mahownd, pou art of mytes most,
In my syth a gloryus gost;
pou comfortyst me both In contre and cost
with pi wesdom and þi wytt;
for truly, lord, In pe is my trost.
1198 May snakes and
toads be your
I201
bells; and all
the lot of you
die on the
gallows!
1202 The Priest bids
them all kneel,
and offer to
St Mahomet,
1206 and get pardon.
[leaf 123]
1210 The King prays
Mahomet
good lord, lett natt my sowle be lost!
not to let his
soul be lost.
all my cownsell well pou wotst.
Here In þi presens as I sett,
He offers a gold
besant for him-
thys besawnt of gold, rych and rownd,
self and his
Queen.
I ofer ytt for my lady and me,
þat þou mayst be ower covnfortes In pis stownd.
sweth mahovnd, remembyr me!
presbyter.
now, boy, I pray þe lett vs have a song'!
Ower servyse be note, lett vs syng', I
cowff vp þi brest, stond natt to long',
be-gynne pe offyse of his day.
boy.
I home and I hast, I do þat I may,
with mery tvne pe trebyll to syng'.
synge both.
say.
1222 The Priest bids
his Boy sing
1226 The Boy hums,
and then they
both sing.

SCENES 27 AND 28.
MARY MAGDALENE. PART II.
The Priest
slangs his Boy,
and shows the
King, &c., his
relics,
Mahomet's
neck-bone, and
presbyter.
Hold vp! þe dyvll mote pe a-fray,
for all owȝt of rule pou dost me bryng'!
butt now, ser kyng', quene, and knyth,
be mery In hartt everychon);
for here may ye se relykes brygth,
mahowndes own) nekke bon),—
[leaf 123, back] And ȝe xall se er ewer ye gon
whatt-so-mewer yow be-tyde;
& ye
xall kesse all þis holy bon);-
eyelid
Mahowndys own) yee-lyd,
ȝe may have of þis grett store,
& ye knew þe cavse wherfor,
that'll blind em, ytt woll make yow blynd for ewer-more.
pis same holy bede,
Lorddes and ladyys, old and ynge,
mahownd pe body (?), and dragon) þe dere;
while Golias'll
golyas so good, to blysse may yow bryng',
send em to
Belial.
with belyall, In blysse ewer-lastyng',
þat ye may per In Ioy syng
be-fore pat comly kyng',
þat is ower god In fere.
Part II. Scene 28.
Jerusalem.
Pilate's House.
Pilate asks his
servants about
the death of
Jesus, who was
killd unjustly,

[PART II. Scene 28.]

pylatt.
Now, ȝe serjauntes semly, qwat sey ȝe?
ȝe be full wetty men In pe law;
of
ȝe dethe of Iesu I woll awysyd be;
Ower soferyn) sesar þe soth myst nedes know.
Thys Iesu was a man of grett vertu,
And many wondyrs In his tyme he wrowth;
He was put to dethe be cawsys on-tru,
[leaf 124]
wheche mater stekytt In my thowth;
& ȝe know well how he was to pe erth browth,
wacchyd with knygths of grett aray.
has risen again,
and taken away
Joseph of
Arimathea.
He is resyn) agayn), as be-fore he tawth,
& Ioseph of baramathye he hath takyn) awey.

[Primus] serjantt.
soferyn) Iuge, all pis is soth pat ȝe sey;
But all pis must be curyd be sotylte,
& sey how his dysypylles stollyn) hym) away;
1261 The servants tell
Pilate to report,
in a letter to
Cæsar, that
Jesus's disciples
stole his body.
And pis xall be pe answer, be þe asentt of me.
secundus serjantt.
so it is most lylly for to be;
yower covncell is good and commendabyll;
so wryte hym a pystyll of specy allte,
& þat for vs xall be most prophytabyll.
pylatt.
now, masengyr, In hast hether pou com!
on masage pou mvst, with ower wrytyng',
to pe soferyn emperower of rome.
but fryst pou xall go to herodes þe kyng',
And sey how þat I send hym) knowyng
of crystes deth, how it hath byn wrowth.
I charge þe make no lettyng
1269 Pilate bids his
messenger bear
his letter to the
Emperor, but
first to tell
Herod about it.
tyll pis letter to be emperower be browth.
[leaf 124, back]
Nvncyus pylatus.
My Lord, In hast yower masage to spede
On-to pat lordes of ryall renown),
Dowth ȝe nat, my lord, it xall be don) In-dede;
now hens woll I fast' owt of þis town).
1277 The Messenger
promises to
make haste.
Her goth þe masenger to Herodes.

[PART II. Scene 29.]

nvncyus.
Heyll! soferyn kyng' onder crown)!
þe prynsys of pe law recummende to yower heynesse,
Part II. Scene 29.
King Herod's
Palace.
1281 Pilate's Mes-
& sendytt yow tydynges of crystes passon),
As In þis wrytyng' doth expresse.
Herodes.
TA! be my trowth, now am I full of blys!
þes be mery tydynges þat þey have pus don!
senger shows his
letter to Herod.

Herod is glad of now certes I am glad of þis;
the news, and
to be at one
with Pilate.
for now ar we frendes, pat afore wher fon).
hold a reward, masenger, þat thow wer gon,
& recummend me to my soferens grace;
shew hym I woll be as stedfast' as ston),
ferr and nere, and In every place.
Here goth þe Masenger to be emperower.
Rome.
Part II. Scene 30.
The Emperor's
Palace.

[PART II. Scene 30.]

nvncyus.
The Messenger Heyll! be yow sofereyn), settyng In solas !
greets the
Emperor and
gives him
Heyll! worthy with-owtyn) pere!
Pilate's letters. Heyll! goodly to gravntt' all grace!
[leaf 125]
Heyll! emperower of þe word ferr and nere!
soferyn), and it' plese yower hye empyre,
I have browth yow wrytyng' of grett a-prise,
wyche xall be pleseyng to yower desyre,
from pylatt yower hye Iustyce.
He sentt yow word with lowly In-tentt,
In ewery place he kepytt yower cummavndement,
as he is bovnd be his ofyce.
1303.
emperower.
The Emperor
orders his
Judges to
attend,
and explain
Pilate's letter.
The Provost
says
Or elles natt for myn) awayll;
Declare me pis In all þe hast'.
provost'.
syr, þe sentelles¹ we woll dyscus,
& it plese yower hye exseleyns,
A, welcum masenger of grett plezeavns!
þi wrytyng' a-non lett me se!
my Iugges anon gyffe a-tendans,
To onderstond whatt þis wrytyng' may be,
wethyr it be good ar ony deversyte,
the letter is
the In-tentt of þis pystull is pus:
about the
Prophet Jesus, pylatt recummendytt to yower presens,
And of a prophett is pe sentelles,¹
1 read sentens.

whos name was callyd Iesus.
He is putt to dethe with vyolens,
for he chalyngyd to be kyng' of Iewys;
perfor he was crucyfyed to ded,
And syn) was beryyd, as þey thowth reson);
also he cleymyd hym-sylf son) of pe godhed.
þe therd nygth he was stollyn) away with treson),
with his desypylles pat to hym had dyleccyon),
so with hym away þey ȝ0de.
who was
crucified
because he
claimd to be
1318 King of the
Jews,
[leaf 125, back]
and whose body
was stolen by
his Disciples.
I merveyll how þey ded with pe bodyys corupcyon);
I trow þey wer fed with a froward fode.
Imperator.
crafty was per connyng, pe soth for to seyn.
thys pystyll I wyll kepe with me yff I can);
also I wyll have cronekyllyd þe ȝer' and pe reynne,
þat never xall be for-gott, who-so loke per-on).
masengyr, owt of pis town with a rage!
Hold pis gold to þi wage,
mery for to make.
nvncyus.
fare-well, my lord of grett renown),
1327 The Emperor
says the fact
shall be
chronicled.
for owt of town) my way I take.
Here entyr mawdleyne with hyr dysypyll, þus
seyynge.

[PART II. Scene 31.]

mavdlyn.
Part II. Scene 31.
Jerusalem.
speaks of
Christ's death
and resurrec-
tion,
A! now I remembyr my lord þat put was to ded 1336 Mary Magdalene
with pe lewys, with-owttyn gyltt or treson):
þe therd nygth he ros be pe myth of his godhed ;
vp-on þe sonday had his gloryus resurrexcyon);
And now is þe tyme past of his gloryus asencyon);
He steyyd to hevyn), and per he is kyng':
A! his grett kendnesse may natt fro my mencyon).
¶ of Alle maner tongges he ȝaf vs knowyng',
for to vndyrstond every langwage;
Now have pe dysyllpylles take per passage
and the Gift of
Tongues.
His disciples
1343 have gone
abroad to
1344 preach the
Gospel.
[leaf 126]

to dyvers contreys her and ȝ0ndyr,
to prech and teche of his hye damage:
full ferr ar my brothyrn) de-partyd asondyr.
Part II. Scene 32.
Heaven.

[PART II. Scene 32.]

Her xall hevyne opyne and Iesus xall shew [hym-
self.]
Iesus.
Jesus says he
O, be on-clypsyd sonne, tempyll of salamon!
has rested in
the Moon,
In þe mone I restyd, þat never chonggyd goodnesse;
In þe shep of noee, fles of Iudeon);
she was my tapyrnakyll of grett nobyllnesse,
the vessel of
Purity,
his Mother,
Queen of Jeru-
salem and
Empress of
Hell.
she was pe paleys of phebus brygthnesse,
she was þe wessell of puer clennesse,
wher my godhed ȝaff my manhod myth,
My blyssyd mother, of demvre femynyte
for mankynd, þe feynddes defens,
quewne of Iherusalem), þat heuenly cete,
empresse of hell, to make resystens.
she is be precyus pyn) full of ensens ;
the precyus synamver, þe body thorow to seche;
she is pe mvske a-ȝens pe hertes of vyolens,
No tongue can
express her
goodness.
þe Ientyll Ielopher a-ȝens pe cardyakylles wrech; 1363
The goodnesse of my mother, no tong' can expresse,
ner no clerke, of hyr, hyr Ioyys can wryth.
Butt now of my servantt I remembyr þe kendnesse;
[leaf 126, back] with heuenly masage I cast me to vesyte,—
He will send
Raphael to bid
Mary Magdalene
go to Marcylle,
and convert it.
Raphaell, myn angell, In my syte ;—
to mary Mavdleyn) decende In a whyle,
Byd her passe pe se be my myth,
And
sey
she xall converte pe land of marcyll.
angelus.
O gloryus lord, I woll resortt
to shew your servant of yower grace.
she xall labor for þat londes comfortt,
from heuynesse þem) to porchasse,
tunc decendet angelus.

SCENES 33 AND 34. 107
PART II.

[PART II. Scene 33.]

Abasse pe novtt, mary, In pis place;
Ower lordes preceptt pou must full-fyll,
to passe pe see In shortt space
On-to be lond of marcyll.
Kyng and quene converte xall
ȝe,
And byn a-myttyd as an holy apostylesse;
Alle pe lond xall be techyd alonly be the;
xall expresse.
goddes lawys on)-to hem) ȝe
Part II. Scene 33.
Jerusalem.
Mary
Magdalene's
House.
The Angel
Raphael tells
1379 Mary to go to
Marcyll, convert
1380 the land, and be
an Apostoless.
per-for hast' yow forth with gladnesse,
goddes commavddement for to fullfylle.
mari Mawdleyn.
[leaf 127]
He þat from my person) vij dewlles mad to fle,
be vertu of hym) alle thyng' was wrowth;
She says she is
ready to go,
to seke thoys pepyll I woll rydy be.
as pou hast commavnddytt, In vertv þey xall he browth.
¶ with pi grace, good lord, In deite,
Now to be see I wyll me hy,
sum sheppyng' to asspy.
and starts to
find a ship to
sail in.
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-man.
stryke! skryke! lett fall an) ankyr to grownd!
Her is a fayer haven to se!
connyngly In, loke þat ye sownd;
I hope good harbarow have xal wee!
loke þat we have drynke, boy pou.
boy.
I may natt for slep, I make god a wow ;
pou xall a-byde ytte, and pou wer my sycr.
sherman.
why, boy, we ar rydy to go to dyner.
xall we no mete have?
Part II. Scene 34.
Coast of Judea.
1395 The Shipman
bids his men
anchor,
1402 and asks his boy
for their dinner.

[leaf 127, back]
boy.
The Boy declares Natt for me be of good chyer,
he can't get the
dinner, he's so
bad with the
cramp;
thowe ye be sor hongord tyll ȝe rave,
I tell yow plenly be-form);
for swyche a cramp on me sett is,
I am a poynt to fare pe worse;
I ly and wryngi tyll I pysse,
And am a poyntt to be for-lorn).
þe master.
now, boy, whatt woll pe pis seyll?
boy.
but a fair
damsel's coming
to help him.
Nothyng butt a fayer damsell;
she shold help me, I know it well,
Ar elles I may rue þe tyme þat I was born).
þe master.
Be my trowth, syr boye, ȝe xal be sped;
I wyll hyr bryng' on-to yower bed;
now xall pou lern) a damsell to wed,
she wyll nat kysse þe on) skorn).
The Shipman
beats the boy.
bete hym.
pe boy.
A skorn), no, no, I fynd it hernest!
the dewlle of hell motte pe brest',
for all my corage is now cast';
alasse! I am) for-lorn!
mav[d]leyn).
Master of pe shepe, a word with the.
master.
[leaf 128]
The Master tells All redy, fayer woman, whatt wol ȝe?
Mary Magdalene
that his ship
sails at once to
Marcylle.
mary [maudleyn.]
of whense is thys shep? tell ȝe me;
and yf ȝe seyle with-in a whyle.
master.
We woll seyle pis same day,
yf þe wynd be to ower pay.

pis shep pat I of sey,
is of pe lond of marcyll.
Mary [maudleyn.]
syr, may I natt with yow sayle?
&
ȝe
xall have for yower awayle.
master.
Of sheppyng þe xall natt faylle;
for vs þe wynd is good and saffe.
yond þer is pe lond of torke,
They sail,
see Turkey
I wher full loth for to lye.
now xall þe shep-men syng.
of his cors we thar nat a-baffe,
yender is pe lond of satyllye.
¶ stryk! be-ware of sond!
cast a led, & In vs gyde!
of marcyll, þis is þe kyngges lond.
go a lond, þow fayer woman, þis tyde,
to be kyngges place; yonder may ȝe se.
sett of, sett of from) lond!
1438 and Satalye,
1441 and land Mary
Magdalene at
Marcylle.
þe boy.
All redy, master, at thyn hand.
Her goth þe shep owt of þe place.
Mary [Maudleyn.]
[leaf 128, back]
O Iesu ! pi mellyfluos name
Mott be worcheppyd with reverens !
lord! gravet me vyctore a-ȝens þe fyndes flame,
And yn þi lawys gyf þis pepyll credens.
I wyll resortt be grett convenyens,
On his presens I wyll draw ner
of my lordes lawys to she[w] be sentens,
bothe of his godhed and of his power.
Here xall mary entyr be-fore þe kynge.

[PART II. Scene 35.]

She prays Christ
to grant her
1449 power to show
forth his
1450 Godhead.
Now, pe hye kyng crist', mannes redempcyon),
mote save yow, ser kyng', regnyng In equite,
Part II. Scene 35.
Marcylle.
The King's
Palace.

JIO
PART II. SCENE 35.
MARY MAGDALENE.
Mary Magdalene & mote gydde yow yow pe [way] toward sauasyon),
in Jesus's name
begs the King of
Marcylle to let
her dwell there.
Iesu, þe son of pe mythty trenite,
That was, and is, and ever xall be,
for mannes sowle þe reformacyon);
In his name, lord, I be-seche þe,
with-In pi lond to have my mancyon).
rex [King of Marcylle.]
[leaf 129]
The King abuses
Jesus and her,
Iesu! Iesu! qwat deylle is hym? pat?
I defye pe and þyn) a-penyon)!
thow false lordeyn), I xal fell þe flatt!
who made the so hardy to make swych rebon)?
mary.
syr, I com natt to pe for no decepcyon),
But þat good lord crist' hether me compassyd;
to receyve hys name, ittis yower refeccyon,
and pi forme of mysbele[f] be hym) may be losyd. 1469
rex.
asks who Jesus And whatt is pat lord þat thow speke of her'?
is,
of what power,
Mary.
Id est' salvator, yf thow wyll ler,
þe secunde person) þat hell ded conquar,
& þe son of pe father In trenyte.
Rex.
And of whatt power is pat god pat ȝe reherse to me?
Mary.
He mad hevyn) and erth, lond and see,
¹and all pis he mad of nowthe.
Rex.
woman, I pray ȝe answer me.
made.
and how he was whatt mad god at þe fyrst be-gynnyng'?
thys processe ondyrstond wol we,
that wold I lerne; Ittis my plesyng'.
[¹ MS. & and all.]

(Iesu, mercy!¹)
mary.
syr, I wyll declare al and sum,
what from god fryst' ded procede:
He seyd, 'In principio erat verbum,'
& with þat he provyd his grett godhed;
He mad heuen for ower spede,
wher-as he sytth In trones hyee.
His mynystyrs next, as he save nede,
His angelus and archangylles all the compeny.
1482 [leaf 129, back]
Mary tells the
King how God
created the
world.
Sunday he
1485 made the
Heavens,
On
vp-on þe fryst day god mad all pis,
as it was plezyng to his Intent.
on pe munday he wold natt mys
1489 Angels and
Archangels.
On Monday,
the sun, moon,
stars and sky.
To make sonne, mone, and sterrys & pe fyrmament;
The sonne to be-gynne his cors In þe oryent,
& ever labor with-owtyn werynesse,
& kepytt his covrs In-to be occedentt
The twysday, as I ondyrstond þis,
grett grace for vs he gan) to In-cresse
þat day he satt vp-on wateris,
as was lykyng to his goodnesse,
As holy wrytt berytt wettnesse.
;
þat tyme he made both see and lond,
All þat werke of grett nobyll-nesse,
as it was plezyng' to his gracyus sond.
On þe weddysday, ower lord of mythe
made more at his plezyng';
fysche In flod, and fowle In flyth;
And all pis was for ower hellpyng'.
On the thorsday, pat nobyll kyng
mad dyverse bestes grett and smale;
He yaff hem erth to ther fedyng',
and bad hem cressyn) be hylle and dale.
And on pe fryday, god mad man),
as it plezett his hynesse most,
J497 On Tuesday he
sat on the
waters, and
made sea and
land.
[leaf 130]
On Wednesday
he made fish
and fowl.
On Thursday
beasts.
1513 On Friday, man,
¹ 'Iesu mercy' is at the bottom of the page, in the margin.
in his own
likeness.

after his own semelytude than,
and ȝaf hem lyfe of pe holy gost'.
On Saturday, he O[n] þe satyrday, as I tell can),
blest his works
and bad 'em
multiply; and
All his werkys he gan) to blysse ;
He bad them) multyply and Incresse than),
as it was plezyng' to his worthynesse.
on Sunday he
rested.
as skryptur declarytt pleyn,
þat al shold reverens make
And on pe sonday, he gan) rest take,
to hyr makar þat hem) doth susteyn),
vp-on) þe sonday to leuen) In his servyse,
& hym) alonly to serve, I tell yow pleyn.
rex.
The King says
his Gods did
these things,
Herke, woman, thow hast many resonnes grett; 1527
I thyngk, on-to my goddes aperteynyng þey beth.
but pou make me answer son, I xall þe frett,
& cut pe tonge owt of pi hed.
[leaf 130, back]
Mary.
syr, yf I seyd amys, I woll retur[n] agayn).
leve yower encomberowns of perturbacyon),
& lett me know what yower goddes byn),
And how þey may save vs from) trevbelacyon.
rex.
and orders all to Hens to be tempyll þat we war,
go to their
Temple.
and þer xall thow se a solom) syth.
Com on) all, both lesse and more,
thys day to se my goddes myth.
Here goth þe Kynge with all his a-tendavnt to
þe tempyll.
Part II. Scene 36.
[PART II.
Scene 36.]
The Temple at
Marcylle.
Loke now, qwatt seyyst thow be pis syth?
The King of
How plezeavnttly þey stond, se thow how!
lord, I besech pi grett myth,
Marcylle prays
his God to speak speke to pis chrisetyn þat here sestt þou.
to Mary
Magdalene.
¶ speke, god lord, speke! se how I do bow!

Herke, pou pryst'! qwat menytt all this?
what! speke, good lord! speke! what eylytt pe now?
speke, as thow artt bote of all blysse!
prysbiter.
lord, he woll natt speke whyle chriseten) her' is.
Mary.
syr kyng', and it pleze yower gentyllnesse,
gyff me lycens my prayors to make
on)-to my god In heven) blysch,
sum merakyll to shewyn) for yower sake.
Rex.
pray þi fylle, tyll þen knees ake.
mary.
Dominus, illuminacio mea, quem timebo!
Dominus, protecctor vite mee, a quo trepedabo!
Here xal þe mament tremyll and quake.
The God won't
speak while a
Christian's
near.
1548 Mary asks leave
to try her God,
Now, lord of lordes, to pi blyssyd name sanctificatt,
most mekely my feyth I recummend.
pott don pe pryd of mamentes violatt!
lord, to pi lover þi goodnesse descend;
lett natt þer pryd to pi poste pretend,
wher-as is rehersyd þi hye name Ihesus.
good lord, my preor I feythfully send;
Lord, þi rythwysnesse here dyscus !
to show a
miracle for the
King's sake.
She prays,
[leaf 131]
and the Idol
quakes.
She prays again
to God to show
1556 his power.
The Temple is
and the Priest
set on fire,
Here xall comme a clowd frome hevene, and sett
þe tempyl One a fyer, and þe pryst and be cler[k]
xall synke; and þe kynge gothe home, pus seyynge, sinks.
[Rex.]
A! owȝt! for angur I am pus deludyd.
I wyll be-wreke my cruell tene.
alas! with-In my-sylfe I am) concludytt.
1563 [leaf 131, back]
pou woman, comme hether and wete whatt I mene;
My wyff and I to-gether many ȝerys have byn,
& never myth be conceyvyd with chyld,
DIGBY MYST.
The King tells
Mary that if
she can make
his wife with
1568 child,

he'll obey her
God.
yf pou for pis canst fynd a mene,
I wyll a-bey þi god, and to hym) be meke and myld. 1570
Mary.
Now, syr, syn þou seyst so,
to my lord I pr[a]ye with reythfull bone;
be-leve In hym) and In no mo,
& I hope she xall be conceyvyd sone.
Rex.
Now he is sick, A-woyd, awoyd, I wax all seke,
and will go to
bed.
I wyll to bed pis same tyde.
I am so wexyd with ȝen) sueke,
þat hath ner' to deth me dyth.
Here þe Kynge goth to bed In hast, and mary goth
In-to an olde logge with-owt þe gate, þus seyynge.
mary.
Mary prays to
Christ to send
her food and
drink.
Now, cryst, my creatur, me conserve and kepe, 1579
þat I be natt confunddyd with pis reddure!
for hungor and thurst, to pe I wepe;
lord, demene me with mesuer !
as pou savydyst' daniell from pe lyounes rigur,
Be abacuk þi masengyr, relevyd with sustynovns,
good lord, so hellpe me and sokore,
lord, as ittis þi hye plezeaw ñs.
Part II. Scene 37.
Heaven; then,
outside Marcylle
Palace.

[PART II. Scene 37-]

Iesus.
My grace xall grow, and don decend
to mary my lover, þat to me doth call,
Hyr assatt for to a-mend;
Jesus bids
Angels feed
Mary, and take
her to the
King's chamber.
she xall be relevyd with sustinons corporall.
now, awngelus, dyssend to hyr In especyall,
And lede hyr to pe prynssys chambyr ryth.
bed hyr axke of his good be weyys pacyfycal;
and goo yow be-fore hyr with reverent' lyth.

Primus angelus.
Blyssyd lord, In þi syth
we dyssend on-to mary.
ijus angelus.
1595 The Angels
come down
We dyssend from yower blysse bryth;
On-to yower cummavndement we aplye.
Tunc dissenditt angelus.
primus dyxit.
1598 to Mary Mag.
dalene,
mary, ower lord wyll comfortt yow
send:
he bad, to pe kyng ye xuld take þe waye,
hym to a-say, yf he woll condesend;
as he is slepyng', hem) to a-saye.
and tell her that
Jesus bids her
go to the King
of Marcylle,
ijus angelus.
Byd hym releve yow to goddes pay,
And we xal go be-fore yow with solem lyth;
In a mentyll of whyte xall be ower araye;
The dores xall opyn) a-ȝens vs be ryth.
Mary.
O, gracyus god, now I vndyrstond!
thys clothyng of whyte is tokenyng of mekenesse.
now, gracyus lord, I woll natt wond,
yower preseptt to obbey with lowlynesse.
[leaf 132]
while they walk
before her with
lights,
clad in mantles
1606 of white,
tokens of meck-
ness.
1610 Mary will obey.
Here goth mary, with þe angelus be-fore hyre, to
þe Kyngges bed, with lythys berynge, þus seyyng
mary.

[PART II. Scene 38.]

[Mary.]
thow froward Kyng', trobelows and wood,
that hast at þi wyll all worddes wele,
Departe with me with sum of pi good,
that am In hongor, threst, and cold!
god hath be sent warnyngys felle;
I rede pe torne, and amend þi mood;
Be-ware of pi lewdnesse, for þi own) hele!
And thow qwen), tvrne from þi good.
Part II. Scene 38.
Marcylle. The
King's Palace:
1611 Mary bids the
King share some
of his goods
with her,
Here mari woydyt; and þe angyll and mary
chong[e] hyr clotheynge, þus seyynge þe Kynge.
and turn from
his evil ways.
She warns the
Queen too,
and puts on the
Ai.gel's garment.
1 2

The King of
Marcylle
[leaf 132, back]
says that in his
sleep a fair
Woman in
white,
appeard to
[Kyng.]
A! pis day is com)! I am) mery and glad;
The son) is vp, and shynyth bryth.
A mervelows shewyng, In my slep I had,
That sore me trobelyd, pis same nyth:
A fayer woman I saw In my syth,
All In whyte was she cladd;
led by an angel, Led she was with an angyll bryth,
to me she spake with wordes sad.
him,
regina [The Queen of Marcylle.]
I trow, from good þat þey wer' sentt;
In ower hartes we may have dowte;
I wentt ower chambyr sholld a brentt,
for pe lyth þat þer was all a-bowth.
and, as the
Queen adds,
the needy with
their goods.
to vs she spake wordes of dred,
bade them help
that we xuld help þem) þat haue nede,
with ower godes, so god ded byd,
I tell yow with-owtyn dowthe.
rex.
Now, semely wyff, ȝe sey ryth well.
The King sends A knyth a-non) with-owtyn) delay!
a knight to
fetch the
now, as pou hast byn trew as stylle,
Woman.
goo fett þat woman be-fore me pis daye.
Miles.
my sovereyn lord, I take þe waye;
she xall com) at ower pleseawñs.
yower soveryn wyll I wyll goo saye,
ittis almesse hyr to a-wawns.
[leaf 133]
thunc transiunt miles ad mariam.

[PART II. Scene 39.]

Part II. Scene 39.
Marcyll. Out-
then, inside.
side the Palace: sped well, good woman! I am to þe sentt,
yow for to speke with pe Kyng'.

Maria.
gladly, ser, at hys Intentt',
I comme at his own plezeyng'.
Tunc transytt maria ad regem.
The mythe and be powere of þe heye trenyte,
the wysdom of pe son), mott governe yow In ryth!
the Holy gost mott with yow be!
what is yowre wyll? sey me In sythe.
Rex.
thow fayer woman, ittis my delyth,
þe to refresch is myn) Intentt',
with mete and mony, and clothys for pe nyth,
And with swych grace as god hathe me lentt.
Maria.
Than fullfylle ȝe goddes cummavndement,
pore folk In mysch [ef], þem) to susteyn).
Rex.
Now, blyssyd woman, reherse here presentt,
the Ioyys of yower lord In heven).
Mary.
Mary comes
gladly.
1647 Mary greets
the King,
1650 and asks what
he wants.
1651 He says,
to give her food
and money.
1655 Mary bids him
help the poor,
¶A! blyssyd be ower, and blyssyd be pe tyme, 1659 and blesses the
þat to goddes lawys ȝe wyll gyff credens,
time in which
to yower selfe ȝe make a glad pryme
A-ȝens pe fenddes Malycyows violens.
from god a-bove, comit pe In-fluens,
Be þe Holy gost In-to þi brest sentt down),
for to restore pi of¹-fens,
þi sowle to bryng' to ewerlastyng salvacyon.
Thy wyffe, she is grett with chyld;
Lyke as pou desyerst, pou hast þi bone.
Regina.
he turnd to
God.
(leaf 133, back]
She tells him his
wife is great
1668 with child.
A! ȝe! I felytt ster In my wombe vp and down); 1669 The Queen feels
I am glad I have þe In presens.
O blyssyd womman, rote of ower savacyon),
þi god woll I worshep with dew reverens.
the child quick
within her.

Rex.
The King asks
Mary her name,
Now, fayer womman, sey me pe sentens,
I be-seche þe, whatt is þi name?
Mary.
ser, a-ȝens þat I make no resystens,
Mary mavdleyn) with-owtyn) blame.
rex.
and thanks her, O! blyssyd mary, ryth well is me
þat ewer I have abedyn) pis daye.
now thanke I pi god, and specyally 32,
And so xall I do whyle I leve may.
[leaf 134]
mary.
ȝe xall thankytt peter, my master, with-owt delay. 1681
He is þi frend, stedfast and cler;
To allmythy god he halp me pray,
and he xall crestyn) yow from) þe fynddes power, 1684
In þe syth of god an hye.
rex.
and gives her
possession of
all his goods,
to do what she
likes with till
he comes home
now suerly ȝe answer me to my pay;
I am ryth glad of þis tyddynges.
for to byn) at yower gydyng',
.
Tyll þat I comme hom) a-gayn).
Butt, mary, In all my goodes I sese yow pis day, 1688
And þem to rewlyn) at yower plezeyng
from being bap-
tizd by St. Peter.
I wyll axke of yow neythyr lond nor rekynyng',
But I here delever yow power pleyn.
regina.
Now, worshepfull lord, of a bone I yow pray,
And it be plezeyng' to yower hye dygnite.
Rex.
Madam, yower dysyer on-to me say.
what bone is pat ȝe desyer of me?

regina.
Now, worshepfull sovereyn), In eohe degre,
þat I may with yow goo,
A crestyn womman made to be.
gracyus lord, it may be soo.
Rex.
1698 The Queen begs
A-las! þe wyttes of wommen, how þey byn wylld!
And per-of fallytt many a chanse.
A! why desyer it? and yow ar with chyld.
that she may go
with him.
The King dis-
suades his wife
(leaf 134, back]
from going.
regina.
A my sovereyn), I am) knett In care,
but ȝe consedyr now þat I crave;
for all pe lowys þat ever ware,
be-hynd yow pat ȝe me nat leve.
Rex.
wyff, syn þat ȝe woll take pis wey of pryse,
perto can I no more seyn
now, Iesu be ower gyd, þat is hye Iustyce,
And pis blyssyd womman, mary mavgleyn!
She begs him
not to leave her
1708 behind,
1709 and he agrees to
take her.
Mary.
syth ȝe ar consentyd to pat dede,
the blyssyng of god gyff to yow wyll I;
Mary blesses
them.
He xall save yow from) all dred,
In nomine patrys, et filij, et spiritus sancti. amen! 1716
Ett tunc navis venit In placeam, et navta dicit.

[PART II. Scene 40.]

[Navta.]
Loke forth, grobbe, my knave,
& tell me qwat tydynges pou have,
& yf þou a-spye ony lond.
boy.
In-to be shrowdes I woll me hye.
be my fythe, a castell I aspye,
& as I ondyrstond.
Part II. Scene 40.
Marcylle shore.
The Shipman's
boy Grobbe
sees a Castle.

A
navta.
sett per-with, yf we mown),
The ship arrives for I wott ittis a havyn) town)
at Marcylle,
þat stondyt vp-on) a strond.
Ett tuncc transitt rex ad navem, et dicit rex.
[leaf 135]
and the King
[Rex. The King of Marcylle.]
How, good man, of whens is þat shep?
navta.
I pray ȝe ser, tell pou me.
ser, as for þat, I take no kepe;
for quat cavse enquire ȝe?
wants to sail
off in her.
rex.
for
cavsys
ryth fayn we wold ower byn.
of nede, seyle wold we;
navta.
zee, butt me thynkytt, so mote I the,
The Shipman
suggests that
he's stolen some
man's wife,
and wants to
carry her away;
pou woldyst lede hyr owt of lond.
never'-pe-les, so god me save,
lett se whatt I xall¹ have,
or elles I woll nat wend.
so hastely to passe, yower spendyng' is thyn.
I trow, be my lyfe,
þou hast stollyn) sum mannes wyffe;
rex.
but, for 10 marks, Ten marke I wyll ȝe gyff,
he agrees to
take the King
yf pou wylt set me vp at þe cleyff'
and Queen to
the Holy Land. In þe holy lond.
navta.
set of, boy, In-to pe flod!
boy.
I xall, master, pe wynd is good;
Hens þat we wer'.
lamentando regina.
[¹ MS. xall xall.]

[PART II. Scene 41.]

[Regina.]
A! Lady! helpp In þis nede,
þat In pis flod we drench natt.
Part II. Scene 41.
At sea. A rock
on an iland. The
Holy Land.
O blyssyd lady! for-ȝete me nowth!
A mary, mary, flower of wommanned!
1748 The Queen of
Marcylle calls
on Mary to help
her.
[leaf 135, back]
Rex.
a! My dere wyffe! no dred ȝe have,
butt trost In mary mavdleyn,
And she from perelles xall vs save;
to god for vs she woll prayyn.
regina.
A! dere hosbond, thynk on me,
& save yower sylfe as long as ȝe may;
for trewly itt wyll no other-wyse be;
full sor my hart it makytt þis day.
A! pe chyld þat be-twyx my sydes lay,
þe wyche was conseyvyd on me be ryth!
Alas! þat wommannes help is away;
an hevy departyng is be-twyx vs In syth;
for now departe wee.
for de-fawte of wommen here In my nede,
deth my body makyth to sprede.
now, mary mavdleyn), my sowle lede!
In manus tuas, domine!
Rex.
¶ Alas, my wyff is ded!
alas! þis is a carefull chans!
so xall my chyld, I am) a-dred,
& for defawth of sustynouns.
good lord, þi grace gravnte to me!
A chyld be-twen) vs of Increse,
an it is mother-les!
Help me, my sorow for to relesse,
yf þi wyl it be!
She is in child-
birth,
1763 and having no
woman's help,
commits her
soul to God,
1766 and dies.
1767 The King
laments his
wife's death,
1771 and prays God
to keep his child
[leaf 136]
alive.

navta.
The storm
increases.
The men want
to throw the
Queen's corpse
overboard.
benedicite, benedicite !
qwat wethyr may þis be?
ower mast woll all a-sondyr.
boy.
Master, I per-to ley myn) ere;
it is for pis ded body þat we bere;
cast hyr owt, or elles we synke ond[yr.]
make redy for to cast hyr owt.
Rex.
nay, for goddes sake, do natt so!
& ȝe wyll hyr In-to pe se cast,
The King begs gyntyll seres, for my love do.
them to put it
and his child on
a rock.
ȝendyr is a roch In þe west:
as ley hyr þer-on) all a-bove,
and my chyld hyr by.
navta.
as per-to I a-sent well.
& she were owt of þe wessell,
all we xuld stond þe more In hele,
I sey yow werely.
Rex.
The corpse and ly here, wyff, and chyld þe by.
child are laid
there,
blyssyd mavdleyn, be hyr rede!
with terys wepyng, and grett cavse why,
and the King
I kysse yow both In pis sted.
kisses them.
now woll I pray to mary myld
to be per gyde her.
tunc remigat a montem, et navta dicit.
[leaf 136, back]
[Navta].
The ship reaches
pay now, ser, and goo to lond,
the Holy Land.
for here is pe portt ȝaf I ondyrston,
ley down) my pay
In my
& be-lyve go me fro.
hond,

ex.
I gravnt þe, ser, so god me save.
lo, here is all þi connownt',
all-redy pou xall it have,
and a marke more pan þi gravnt.
& pou page, for þi good obedyentt,
I gyff yow be-syde yower styntt,
1802 The King of
Marcylle pays
the Shipman
and his Boy,
a mark each
extra.
Eche of yow a marke for yower wage.
nawta.
now he þat mad 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 of crystes creacyon),
to worchep Iesu þey ar be-hold,
nor never a-ȝens hym) to make waryacyon).
rex [The King of Marcylle.]
ser, feythfully I be-seche yow pis daye;
wher peter pe apostull is, wete wold I.
peter.
ittis I, syr, with-owt delay;
Part II. Scene 42.
Jerusalem.
1812 St. Peter says
that all folk are
bound to wor-
ship Jesus.
1816 The King of
Marcylle asks
for Peter,
of 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 woman hyth mary mavdleyn),
þat hether hath laberyd me owt of mercyll;—
on-to be wyche woman I thynk no gyle,—
and þis pylgramage cavsyd me to take.
I woll tell yow more of þe stylle,
[leaf 137]
and says that
Mary Magdalene
1823 has sent him to
be baptizd by
for to crestyn me from) wo and wrake.
1827 Peter.

peter.
O, blyssyd be pe tyme pat ȝe ar falle to grace,
& ȝe wyll kepe yower be-leve after my techeyng,
& alle-only for-sake pe fynd saternas,
the commavndme[n]ttes of god to have In kepyng'.
rex.
The King of
Marcylle de-
in the Trinity,
for-soth, I be-leve In pe father, þat is of all wyldyng',
clares his belief And In þe son), Iesu Cryst,
also In þe holy gost, his grace to vs spredyng'.
Christ's death
and uprising,
ser, pan whatt axke ȝe?
I be-leve In crystes deth and his vprysyng'.
Petyr.
Rex.
and prays Peter
Holy father, baptyın), for charyte,
to baptize him.
Me to save In eche degre
from þe fyndes bond.
petyr.
Peter does so,
In þe name of pe trenite,
with his water I baptysse ȝe,
þat þou mayst strong' be,
A-ȝen þe fynd to stond.
Tunc aspargit illum cum aqua.
[leaf 137, back]
rex.
A! holy fathyr, how my hart wyll be sor,
of cummav[u]ddementt and ȝe declare nat pe sentens.
petyr.
syr, dayly ȝe xall labor¹ more and more,
tyll þat ȝe have very experyens;
with me xall ȝe wall to have more eloquens,
and bids the
King visit the
Stacions and go
to Nazareth and
Bethlehem.
& goo vesyte pe stacyons by and by;
& be yower own) In-speccyon) yower feyth to edyfy. 1851
[¹ MS. lobor.] [2 ? dwell wall is to well, flow.]
to nazareth and bedlem) goo with delygens,

SCENES 42 AND 43. 125
Rex.
now, holy father, derevorthy and dere,
myn) Intent now know ȝe,
ittis gon full to ȝere,
1852 The King of
Marcylle says
þat I cam to yow ower' pe se,
crystes servont and yower to be,
& pe lave¹ of hym) ever to fulfyll.
now woll I hom) In-to my contre.
yower pver blyssynd, gravnt vs tylle,
pat, feythfully I crave.
[¹ lawe]
he will go home.
petrus.
now In þe name of Iesu,
Cum patre et sancto speritu,
He kepe pe and save!
et tunc rex transit ad navem, et dicit rez.
Peter gives him
his blessing.
[PART II.
[Rex.]
Scene 43.]
Hold ner, shepman, hold, hold!'
boy.
ser, ȝendyr is on) callyd after cold.
navta.
yow
of old.
A, ser! I ken
be my trowth, ȝe be welcum to me.
Rex.
now, gentyll marraner, I þe pray,
what-so-ewer þat I pay,
In all pe hast þat ȝe may,
Help me ower þe se.
navta.
In good soth we byn) a-tenddawntt';
gladly ȝe xall have yower gravnt.
with-owtyn ony connownt'.
comme In, In goddes name!
Part II. Scene 43.
The Holy Land
Shore
1864 The King of
Marcylle sees his
old Shipman,
[leaf 138]
1868 and asks him to
take him back
to Marcylle.
1872 The Shipman
gladly agrees,

and tells Grobbe grobbe, boy! þe wynd is nor west!
to haul up the
sail.
fast a-bowth pe seyle cast''
rere vp þe seyll In all pe hast,
Part II. Scene 44.
At sea.
The
Rock. Marcylle
strand.
They see the
Rock
where they laid
the Queen's
corpse, with her
child.
[leaf 138, back]
as well as pou can).
et tunc navis venit ad-circa placeam: rex dicit.

[PART II. Scene 44.]

[Rex.]
master of pe shyp, cast forth yower yee!
me thynkyt þe rokke I gyn) to a-spye.
gentyll master, ȝether vs gye;
I xall qwyt yower mede.
navta.
I feyth it is þe same ston)
pat yower wyff lyeth vp-on);
ye xall be þer even) a-non,
werely Indede.
Rex.
The King sees
his babe all
sound,
O pou myty lord of' heven) region),
ȝendyr is my babe of myn) own) nature,
preservyd and keptt from all corrupcyon!
blyssyd be pat lord pat pe dothe socur,
and his wife too. And my wyff lyeth her fayer and puer!
fayer and cler is hur color to se!
a! good lord, yower grace with vs Indure,
My wyvys lyfe for to illumyn).
A, blyssyd be pat puer vergyn,
her trance,
She awakes from from) grevos slepe she gynnyt revyve!
A! pe sonne of grace on) vs doth shynne!
now blyssyd be god, I se my wyff a-lyve!
and blesses
Mary Magdalene
for saving her,
regina.
O vergo salutata, for ower savacyon)!
O pulcra et casta, cum of nobyll alyavñs!
O almyty maydyn), ower sowlys confortacyon!
O demvr mavdlyn, my bodyys sustyñavns!

pou hast wr[a]ppyd vs In wele from all waryawns, 1904 and for taking
& led me with my lord I[n]-to pe holy lond.
I am baptysyd, as ye ar, be maryvs gyddavñs,
of sent peterys holy hand.
her with her
husband into
the Holy Land,
letting her be
baptizd by St.
1907 Peter,
I sve þe blyssyd crosse pat cryst shed on his precyvs see Christ's
blod;
His blyssyd sepulcur also se I;
whe[r]for, good hosbond, be mery In mode,
for I have gon pe stacyounes by and by.
Rex.
I thanke it, Iesu, with hart on hye;
Cross and
1908 Sepulchre,
1911 and go the
Stacions.
1912 The King
thanks Jesus,
now have I my wyf and my chyld both.
I thankytt, mavdleyn) and ower lady,
& ever shall do with-owtyn) othe.
et tunc remigant a monte, et navta dicit.
and Mary
Magdalene.
[Navta.]
[leaf 139]
Now ar ȝe past all perelle;
Her is pe lond of mercylle!
The King and
ȝe wyll,
Queen reach
Marcylle,
now goo a lond, ser, whan
I pr[a]ye yow for my sake.
rex.
godamercy, Ientyll marraner!
Her' is x ti of nobylles cler,
And euer þi frynd both ferre and ner';
cryst save þe from wo and wrake!
1920 pay the Ship-
man £10, and go
ashore.
Here goth the shep owzt ofe the place, and mavd-
[leyn] seyth.

[PART II. Scene 45.]

[Mary Maudleyn.]
o, dere fryndes! be In hart stabyll,
& [thynk] how dere, cryst hathe yow bowth!
A-ȝens god be nothyng vereabyll;
thynk how he mad all thyng' of nowth.
thow yow In poverte sumtyme be browth,
[y]itte be In charyte both nyth and day,
Part II. Scene 45.
1924 Mary Magdalene
exhorts the folk
to be steadfast,
and bear their
troubles
patiently,

for Poverty is
God's house.
for þey byn blyssyd þat so byn sowth,
for pavpertas est domum Dei;
Blessed are the god blyssyt alle po þat byn) meke and good,
meek,
of the hungry.
& he blyssyd all po þat wepe for synne.
and the feeders þey be blyssyd þat þe hungor and þe thorsty gyff fode,
pey be blessyd þat byn mercyfull a-ȝen) wreccheď men,
þey byn blyssyd pat byn dysstroccyon) of synne, 1936
thes byn callyd pe chyldyren of lyfe,
They who de-
stroy sin are the
Children of Life.
[leaf 139, back]
The King and
Queen kneel
down before
On-to pe wyche blysse bryng' both yow and me,
that for vs dyyd on) pe rode tre. amen.
Here xall þe kyng and þe quvene knele doun : rex
dicit.
[The King of Marcylle.]
Mary Magdalene Heyll be pou, mary! ower lord is with the!
and hail her as
their help
the helth of ower sowlles and repast contemplatyff!
Heyll, tabyrnakyll of pe blyssyd trenite!
Heyll, covnfortabyll sokor for man and wyff¹!
Regina.
and the saver of Heyll pou chosyn) and chast of wommen alon) !
the Queen and
her boy.
it
passyt my wett to tell þi nobyllnesse!
pou relevyst me and my chyld on) þe rokke of ston),
& also savyď vs be þi hye holynesse.
Mary.
Mary welcomes
welcum hom), prynse and prynsses bothe!
themi,
welcum hom), yong prynsse of dew and ryth!
welcum hom to your own) erytage with-owt othe,
and to alle yower pepyll present In syth!
and says they
have become
God's own
knights.
now ar ȝe be-cum goddes own) knygth,
for sowle helth salve ded ȝe seche,
In hom) þe holy gost bath take resedens,
She gives the
King back his
goods.
[leaf 140]
& drevyn) a-syde all þe desepcyon) of wreche;
& now have ȝe a knowle[ge] of þe sentens,
How
ȝe
xall com) on-to grace.
but now In yower godes a-ȝen) I do yow sese;
I trost I have governyd þem) to yower hertes ese; 1959

now woll I labor forth, god to plese,
more gostly strenkth me to purchase.
rex.
O, blyssyd mary, to comprehend,
Ower swete sokor, on) vs have pete!
regina.
To departe from) vs why shovld ȝe pretende?
O blyssyd lady, putt vs nat to pat poverte!
1960 Mary Magdalene
1962 is askt by the
King and Queen
not to leave
them.
Mary.
Of yow and yowers I wyll have rememberavñs,
& dayly [y]ower bede woman for to be,
She promises to
pray for them;
þat alle wyckydnesse from) yow may have deleverans,
In quiet and rest' þat leve may ȝe.
rex.
now thanne, yower puer blyssyng' gravnt vs tylle!
mari.
The blyssyn) of god mott yow fulfyll!
ille vos benedicatt, qui sene¹ fine vivit et regnat !
1971 she blesses
them,
Her goth mary In-to be wyldyrnesse, and pus and then goes
seyyng Rex.
Rex.
A! we may syyn and wepyn also,
into the Wilder-
ness.
þat we have for-gon pis lady fre;
it brynggytt my hart In care and woo,
1973 The King and
Queen of
Marcylle weep
at Mary's going.
þe whech ower gydde and governor shovld a be. 1976
Regina.
þat doth perswade all my ble,
þat swete sypresse pat she wold so;
In me restytt neyther game nor gle,
that she wold from) owere presens goo.
Rex.
now of hyr goyng I am nothyng' glad,
But my londdes to gyddyn I mvst a-plye:
1980 [leaf 140, back]
1981 The King
resolves to guide
his folk.
[ for sine.]
DIGBY MYST.
K

Chyrchys In cetyys I woll edyfye,
& who-so a-ȝens ower feyth woll replye,
The King of
Marcylle will
build churches,
Lyke as sancte peter me badde,
punish heretics, I woll ponysch [s]wych personnes with perplyxcyon);
Mahond and his lawys I defye.
A! hys pryde owt of my love xall have polucyon,
and give him.
& holle on-to Iesu I me be-take.
self wholly to
Jesus.
Part II. Scene 46,
The Wilderness.
[Part II.
Mari In herimo.
Scene 46.]
In pis deserte abydyn) wyll wee;
My sowle from synne for to save,
Mary Magdalene I wyll ever abyte me with humelyte,
resolves to live
in humility,
& put me In pacyens, my lord for to love;
and charity,
and abstinence, In charyte my werkes I woll grave,
And In abstynens all dayys of my lyfe.
Thus my concyens of me doth crave;
than why shold I with my consyens st[r]yffe?
& ferdar-more I wyll leven) In charyte,
at þe reverens of ower blyssyd lady,
feeding only on
food from
heaven.
[leaf 141]
Part II. Scene 47.
Heaven.
In goodnesse to be lyberall, my sowle to edyfye; 2000
of wordly fodes I wyll leve all refectyon);
Be pe fode pat commyt from) heven) on) hye,
thatt god wyll me send', be contemplatyff.

[Part II. Scene 47.¹]

Iesus.
O! þe swettnesse of prayors sent on)-to me,
fro my wel-belovyd frynd with-owt waryovñs! ·
with gostly fode relevyd xall she be.
angelles! In-to pe clowdes ye do hyr havñs;
Jesus bids
Angels draw
Mary up into
the clouds,
and there feed
her with manna.
per fede with manna to hyr systynovns;
with Ioy of angylles þis lett hur receyve;
Byd hur In Ioye with all hur afyawns,
for fynddes frawd xall hur non deseyve.
1 The upper stage of the Pageant-Waggon. No doubt a cur-
tain was drawn before Mary on the lower stage.

jus angelus.
O pou redulent rose þat of a vergyn) sprong!1
O pou precyus palme of wytory!
The Angels
praise Mary
Magdalene,
O pou osanna, angelles song!
O precyus gemme born of ower lady!
lord, pi commav[n]ddement we obbey lowly.
to pi servant þat þou hast gravntyd blysse,
we angelles all obeyyn) devowtly;
and say they'll
obey Christ's
hest.
we woll desend to pen wyldernesse.

[PART II. Scene 48.]

Here xall to angylles desend In-to wyldyrnesse;
and other to xall bryng an oble, opynly aperyng
a-loft In þe clowddes; þe to be-nethyn xall bryng
mari, and she xall receyve þe bred, and þan go
a-ȝen In-to wyldyrnesse.
ijus angelus.
Mari, god gretyt þe with hevenly Influens,
He hath sent þe grace with hevenly synys;
pou xall byn onoryd with Ioye and reverens,
In-hansyd In heven) above wergynnes.
pou hast byggyd þe here among' spynys,
god woll send pe fode be revelacyon);
pou xall be receyvyd In-to þe clowddes,
gostly fode to reseyve to þi savacyon).
Mari.
fiat voluntas tua In heven) and erth!
now am I full of Ioye and blysse;
lavd and preyse to pat blyssyd byrth!
Part II. Scene 48.
The Wilderness;
then the Clouds.
2020 An angel tells
Mary that
2023 [leaf 142, back]
she shall be
taken up into
the clouds and
fed there.
I am redy, as his blyssyd wyll isse.
Her xall she be halsyd with angelles with The angels draw
reverent song.
Asumpta est maria in nubibus; celi gavdent,
Angeli lavdantes felium Dei; et dicit mari:
O pou lord of lorddes, of hye domenacyon)!
In hewen and erth worsheppyd be þi name.
[¹ MS. sporng.]
her up into the
clouds,
and she praises
and thanks
Jesus.
K 2

How pou devydyst me from) hovngur and wexacyon,
O gloryus lord, In þe is no fravddes nor no defame!
but I xuld serve my lord, I wer to blame,
wych fullfyllyt me with so gret felicete,
with melody of angylles shewit me gle and game,
& have fed me with fode of most delycyte.
Part II. Scene 49.
The Wilderness.

[PART II. Scene 49.]

Her xall speke an holy prest in þe same wyldyr-
nesse pus seyyng þe prest.
[leaf 143]
to let him see
Mary Mag-
dalene.
so gret mesteryys shewyd from) heven),
with grett myrth and melody,
with angylles brygth as pe lewyn).
Lord Iesu, for þi namys sewynne,
[The holy Prest.]
A Priest begs
O lord of lorddes! what may þis be?
Jesus, by his
7 names,
as gravnt¹ me grace þat person) to se.
Her he xal go in þe wyldyrnesse and spye mari
in hyr devocyon, þus seyyng þe prest.
He goes near,
sees her, greets
her,
and asks her
about her Lord.
Mary says she's
livd 30 years in
her cell,
has been raisd
up to heaven
thrice a day,
Heyl, creature, crystes delecceon)!
Heyl, swetter pan sugur or cypresse!
Mary is þi name be angylles relacyon),
grett art pou with god for þi perfythnesse.
þe Ioye of Ierusallem shewyd þe expresse,
þe wych I never save þis xxx wynter and more;
wherfor I know well pou art of gret perfy[t]nesse,
I woll pray yow hartely to she[w] me of yower lord.
mari.
Be þe grace of my lord Jesus,
pis xxx wynter pis hath byn my selle,2
& thryys on þe day enhansyd pus,
with more Ioy pan) ony tong can telle.
never creature cam) þer I dwelle,
[1MS. grvant.]
2 This beats Shakspere's growing babies into the marriageable
Marina and Perdita in the course of Pericles and Cymbeline.

tyme nor tyde, day nor nyth,
þat I can with spece telle,
But a-lonly with goddes angylles brygth.
2061 and held con-
verse with none
2062 but God's
angels.
But pou art wolcum on)-to my syth
yf þou be of good conversacyon);
as I thynk In my delyth,
Thow sholddyst be a man of devocyon).
prest.
In crystys lav, I am) sacryed a pryst,
mynystryyd be angelus at my masse.
I sakor pe body of ower lord Iesu cryst,
& be pat holy manna I leve In sowthfastnesse.
Mari.
now I rejoyse of yower goodnesse,
But tyme is comme þat I xall asende.
pryst.
I recummend me with all vmbylnesse,
On-to my sell I woll pretend.
2065 [leaf 143, back]
2066 The Priest says
that he conse-
crates Christ's
body,
2069 and lives on it.
Her xall þe prest go to his selle, pus seyyng
Iesus.

[PART II. Scene 50.]

Iesus.
now xall mary have possession),
be ryth enirytawns a crown) to bere;
she xall be fett to everlastyng savacyon,
In Ioye to dwell with-owtyn) fere.
now, angelus, lythly pat ȝe wer' ther!
On-to be prystes sell a-pere pis tyde;
my body In forme of bred þat he bere,
Hur for to hossell, byd hym) provyde.
jus angelus.
o blyssyd lord! we be redy,
yower massage to do with-owtyn) treson).
ijus angellus.
He goes back to
his Cell.
Part II. Scene 50.
Heaven.
2074 Jesus says that
Mary shall dwell
in joy.
2078 He bids the
angels tell the
Priest to go and
housel her.
to hyr I wyll goo and make reportur,
how she xall com) to yower habytacyon.

SCENES 51 AND 52.
MARY MAGDALENE. PART II.
Scene 51.]
Part II. Scene 51.
The Wilderness;
the Priest's Cell.
The angels bid
the Priest take
the Last Sacra-
ment to Mary.
[leaf 144]
They'll bear
[PART II.
Here xall ij angylles go to mary and to be prest,
þus seyyng þe angelles to be prest.
[angels.]
ser pryst, god cummav[n]dytt from) heven) region), 2086
ȝe xall go hosyll his servont expresse,
And we with yow xall take mynystracyon),
to bere lyth be-fore his body of worthynesse.
lights before it.
pryst.
angylles, with all vmbyllnesse,
In a westment I wyll me aray,
to mynystyr my lord of gret hynesse,
Part II. Scene 52.
The Wilderness:
Mary's Cell.
Then, Heaven.
straytt þer-to I take þe way.
ij" angelus In herimo.
Mary, be glad, and In hart strong',
to reseyve pe palme of grett wytory;
[PART II.
Scene 52.]
An Angel tells
Mary of her
coming death.
þis day ȝe xall be reseyvyd with angelles song;
yower sowle xall departe from) yower body.
mari.
A good lord, I thank pe with-owt weryawns,
pis day I am grovndyd all In goodnesse,
with hart and body conclvdyd In substawñs;
I thanke pe lord with speryt of perfythnesse.
Another appears
with the Priest,
and the Bread
of Life for Mary.
She takes it,
[leaf 144, back]
Hic aparuit angelus et presbiter cum corpus
domenicum.
[Presbiter.]
pou blyssyd woman, invre In mekenesse,
I have browth pe pe bred of lyf to þi syth,
to make pe suer from) all dystresse,
þi sowle to bryng' to euerlastyng' lyth.
Mari.
O pou mythty lord of hye mageste,
pis celestyall bred for to determyn),
thys tyme to reseyve it In me.
Her she reseyvyt it.

my sowle perwith to illumyn,
I thank þe lord of ardent love.
now I know well I xall nat opprese.
Lord, lett me se þi Ioyys above!
I recumdmend my sowle on-to pi blysse.
Lord, opyn þi blyssyd gates!
thys erth at thys tyme ferven[t]ly I kysse.
In manus tuas, Domine--
Lord, with pi grace me wysse!—
Commendo spiritum meum! redemisti me,
Domine Devs veritatis!
2110 and thanks God.
2113 She commends
her soul to Him,
2114 prays Him to
open heaven to
her:
He has redeemd
her.
ju angelus.
now reseyve we pis sowle, as reson) is,
In heven to dwelle vs a-mong'.
2120 The 2 Angels
ij" angelus.
with-owtyn end to be in blysse,
now lett vs syng' a mery song'.
gavdent In celis.¹
pryst.
O! good god! grett is pi grace;
O Iesu! Iesu! blessyd be pi name;
A! mary! mary! mych is þi solas,
and the folk in
heaven sing a
2123 glad song over
Mary's bliss.
2124 The Priest
rejoices over
Mary's end,
In heven blysse with gle and name;
þi body wyl I cure from) alle maner blame,
& I wyll passe to be bosshop of pe sete,
thys body of mary to berye be name,
with alle reverens and solemnyte.
sufferens of pis processe, thus enddyt pe sentens
that we have playyd In yower syth.
Alle-mythty god, most of maguyfyceñs,
mote bryng' yow to his blysse so brygth,
In presens of pat kyng!-
now, frendes, thus endyt thys mater,-
and says he'll
get the Bishop
to bury her body
reverently.
[leaf 145]
Our Play is
done.
May God bring
1? 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 below. Or, ought a last Scene to begin with 1. 2120 ?
you all to bliss!

Let's sing the
'Te Deum.'
to blysse bryng po þat byn here!
The Play ends.
Epilogue.
now, clerkys with woycys cler,
Te Deum lavdamus lett vs syng'.
Explycit oreginale de sancta Maria magdalena.
yff Ony thyng Amysse be,
blame connyng', and nat me:
I desyer pe redars to be my frynd,
yff þer be ony amysse, þat to amend.

IV. A Morality of Wisdom, Who Is Christ (Imperfect)

(Imperfect; by a fresh and later hand, introducing the Holborn
Quest, and having no East-Midland xal, &c.)
How Lucifer tempts the Mind, Will, and Understanding
of Man to sin.
In 8-line stanzas: Scene I, abab-bcbc; Scenes II, III, and IV (what's
left of it), aaab-aaab. Some stanzas are ryme-linkt with their
followers, as abab-bcbc-cdcd-dede.

[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.
A shrewed Boy, p. 189.
Mind's 6 Retainers: Indignacion,
Sturdynesse, Malyce, Hasty-
nesse, Wreche, Discorde, p. 197.
The 3 Powers of every Christian Understanding's 6 Jurors: Wrong,

Soul:-
Mynde, p. 145, 181, 189.
Wylle, p. 145, 181, 190.
Vnderstondyng, p. 145, 181,

Lucyfer, p. 179.
Sleight, Doblenesse, Falsehed,
Ravyne, Disceyte, p. 199.
Will's 6 Women: 3 disguisd as
Gallants, and 3 as Matrons,
p. 200.]
[The rest, wanting.]

[Scene 1.]

M[yles] B[lomefylde].
ffyrst entreth' Wysdam in a ryche purpyll cloth of
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 Imperiall
crowne ther-vpon, set with riche Stonys and
perlys. In his left hand a ball of gold with a
crosse þer-vpon, And in his right hond A regall
Sceptre, pus seyng.
[Wysdam.]
If ye wył wete the propyrte,
And the resoun of my name Imp[er]ial,
I am clepyd of hem that in erthe be,
euerlastyng wysdom) to my nobley eg: H,
Wiche name accordith best in especial,
and most to me is conuenyent.
I
[leaf 158]
Scene 1.
Enter WISDOM.
My name is
Everlasting
4 Wisdom.
AH-though eche person of the trinite be wysdam Tho' it exists in
eternal,
and all thre⚫ on /euerlastyng wysdam to-gedyr present,
Neuertheles, for-Asmoche as wysdom is propyrly
Applied to the son) be reson),
And also it fallith to hym specially
be-cause of his highest generacion;
therfor the belouyd son hath this signyficacion,
Customably Wysdam) / now god, now man,
each person of
the Trinity,
yet it's specially
applied to the
12 Son, who is
both God and
13 Man.
1 The crost ħ and H, and tagd d, f, n), are not markt
in this clarendon type.

The Soul kneels
to Wisdom,
and says she's
desird him for
her Lover,
[leaf 158, back]
and lovd him as
her Light.
Spowse of the chirche and verray patron),
Wyfe of eche chose sowle: thus wysdam be-gan).
Here entreth' Anima 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. knottes of gold and syde
tasselys, knelyng down to wysdam, þus seyng.
[Anima.]
Hanc amaui et exquisiui,
fro my yougthe this haue I sought,
To haue to my spouse most specially;
for a louer of your shappe am I wrought,
A-bove aH hele and bewte that euer was sought,
I haue louyd wysdam as for my ligħt,
for all goodnesse with hym he brought,
In Wysdam I was made al bewte bright;
Of your name the higħ felicite,
no creature knowith full exposicion).
Wisdom says he Sapiencia specialior est sole;
Wysdam.
is brighter than
the sun and
stars,
I am founden light with-out co[m]parison,
Of sterrys a-bove all the disposicion,
for-sothe of light the very brightnesse,
Merour of the devyne domynacion,
and is the image And the Image of his goodnesse.
of God,
Wysdam is better than all wordly precio[s]uesse;
And all that may desyred be
Is not in comparison) to my lykenesse ;
the lengthe of the yeres in my right syde be,
length of years
is on his right
side;
and on his left,
And in my lefte syde · richesse, ioye, and prosperite.
riches and joy. lo! this is the worthynesse of my name,
Anima.
A! Souereyn Wysdam! if your benygnyte
wold Speke of love, that were a game.
1 The crost ħ and H, and tagd d, k, n), are not markt
in this clarendon type.

Wysdam.
Of my love to Speke it is myrable :
be-holde now, Sovle, with ioyful mynde,
how louely I am, how amyable,
to be halsyd and kyssed of mankynde.
To all clene Sovles I am fuł hende,
And euer present wher that thei be.
I love the loueres with-outyn) ende,
that ther' loue have stedfast in me.
the prerogatyve of my love is so grett,
that who tast therof the lest droppe, sur
al lustes and lykenges wordely shał lete;
thei shall seme ty hym filthe and ordur.
thei that of the hevy burthen) of Synne hath cure,
My love dischargeth and purifieth clene;
It strengtheth the mende, the sovle makith pure,
and yevyth wysdam to hem that perfight bene.
who takith me to spowse, may veryly wene,—
if a-bove all thyng he¹ loue me speciały,-
that rest and tranquyllite he shałł sene,
and dey in Sekyrnesse of ioye perpetuał.
The hey loue of my worthynesse of my love,
Angel nor man) can teł 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 wrech is, that louyth not this love,
that louyth his louers euer so tenderlye,
that his Sight from them neuer kan remove.
41 Wisdom speaks
of his Love:
He is gracious to
all pure souls.
49 The least drop of
his love makes
folk quit sin.
[leaf 159]
They who wed
him shall have
perpetual joy.
[¹ MS. ye]
What wretch
exists that
doesn't love this
enduring Love?
Anima.
O Worthy Spouse, and Souereyne fayr!
O swete amyke, our Ioye, our blisse!
to your love who doth repeyer,
AH felicite in that creatur' is;
What may I yeve you a-geyn) for this,
O creatour, louer of
your creatur?
What return can
man make for
this love?

Wisdom asks
for Soul's heart
and obedience,
though be our freelte we do a-mys,
Your gret mercy euer sparitħ reddur,
a! Souereyn Wysdam! sanctus sanctorum!
What I may I yeve to your most plesaunce?
Wysdam.
ffili! prebe michi cor tuum!
I aske not ellys of all this Substaunce,
thi clene hert, thi meke obeisaunce;
yeve me that, and I am content.
Anima.
A! Soueryen Ioy, myn hertes affiaunce!
The fervour of my love to you I represente;
[leaf 159, back] that mekith my herte, your loue so feruent:
Teche me the Scolys of your devenyte.
Wysdam.
desire not to sauour in cunnynges to excellent,
But drede and conforme your wiłł to me,
conformity of
her will to his.
ffor it is the heleful discyplyne that in wysdam may be :
The drede of god, that is begynnyng';
the Wedys of Synne it makith to flee,
And swete vertuose herbis in the Soule spryng.
Anima.
She can know
him
O endeles wysdam! how may I haue knowyng
of thi godhed in-comprehensible?
by knowing
herself.
The Soul (of
Man)
asks what a
soul is.
Wysdam.
by knowyng of your-Selff, ye may haue felyng,
What god is in your Soule Sensyble;
the more knowyng of your-Selff' passible,
the more verily ye shall god knowe.
Anima.
O Souereyn Auctour most credible!
your lesson) I attende as I owe,
I that represent her / the soule of man).
What is a soule, wył ye declare?

Wysdam).
It is the ymage of god that a by-gan),
And not only ymage, but his lykenesse ye Are.
of AH creatures the fayrest ye ware,
In-to the tyme of Adamys offence.
Anima.
lord, syth we, thi soules, that nought were thare,
Why of the fyrst man) bey we the violence?
Man's Soul is
the Image of
104 God,
and inherits
Adam's
108 punishment
Wysdam.
ffor
euery creatur' that hath ben or shal
Was in nature of the first man, Adam.
of hym takyng the fylthe of synne orygynał,
for of hym all creatures cam.
than be hym, of reason) ye haue blame,
and be made the brondes of helle.
when ye be bore first of your dame;
ye may in no wyse in hevyn) dwelle,
because it's of
Adam's nature,
I12
a brand of hell,
[leaf 160]
for ye be disfygured be hys synne,
and dampnyd to derkenesse from goddes sight.
Anima.
How doth grace than) A-geyn) be-gynne ?
What reformyth the sovle to his first light?
Wysdam.
Wysdam, that was god and man right,
Made a full Seth to the fader of hevyn,
by the dredful deth to hym was dight,
of wiche deth spronge the sacramentes sevyn);
Wiche sacramentes, al synne wasshe a-wey.
ffyrst, baptem clensyth synne orygynałł,
And reformeth the soule in feith verray
to the glorious lykenesse of god eternał,
And makitħ it as fayer and as celestiał
As it neuer diffowled had be,
and damnd to
darkness.
It's re-formd
by Wisdom,
121 who made full
satisfaction to
God.
From his death
sprang the 7
124 Sacraments.

  1. Baptism,
    which cleanses
    the soul.

In a Soul
are 2 parts;

  1. Sensuality or
    fleshly feeling,
    which the 5
    Wits serve.
  2. Reason,
    the image of
    God,
    by which God
    knows who
    serve him;
    And is cristes owne speciał,
    His restyng place, his plesaunt see.
    Anima.
    In A soule, what thynges be,
    By wiche he hath his very knowyng?
    Wysdam.
    tweyn parties: the on) is the sensualite,
    wiche is clepyd the flesshly felyng;
    The .v. outward wittys to hym be seruyng;
    Whan thei be not rulyd ordynatly,
    the sensualite than with-out lesyng
    is made the ymage of synne,
    That other parte, that is clepyd reson),
    then) of his foly.
    And that is the ymage of god propyrly,
    ·
    ffor by that the soule of god hath cognycion,
    and be that hym seruyth and louytħ duly;
    Be the nether parte of reason he knoweth discretly,
    [leaf 160, back] AH erthely thynges how thei shalbe vsyd,
    and man knows
    what things to
    use.
    These 2 parts
    of the Soul
    What Suffysith to his myghtys bodyly,
    And what nedith not to be refusyd.
    These tweyne do signyfie
    typify black and Your disgysyng And your Araye,
    white dress.
    Every soul is
    Black from sin,
    and White by
    reason;
    Blak and Whyte, fowle and fayr verylye;
    euery soule here / this is no naye;
    blak, by steryng of synne that comyth al day,
    Wiche felyng comyth of sensualite;
    And White, be knowyng of reson) verray,
    of the blissed infinite deite.
    and is both foul Thus a soule is both ffowle and fayr';
    and fair.
    ffowle as a best, be felyng of synne,
    ffayr as aunge of hevyn the hayr,
    by knowyng' of god, by hys reson) withinne.
    Anima.
    Than may I sey thus, and begynne,
    with .v. prudent virgynes of my Reme,

tho be the .v. wyttys of
my
soule with-inne,
'Nigra sum, et formosa filia Ierusalem.'
Here entreth v. virgynes in white kertelys and Five Virgins
mantelys, with chevelers and chapelyttes, and in white, enter.
Syng 'Nigra sum, sed formosa filia ierusalem, sicut
tabernacula cedar, et sicut pelles salomonis.'
Anima.
The doughters of Ierusalem me not lak',
for this dyrke shadowe I bere of humanyte,
165 The Soul says
That as the tabernacle of Cedar, with-out, it is blak',
and with-Inne, as the skynne of Salomon full of bewte,
'Quod fusca sum, nolite considerare me,
quia decolorauit me sol Iouis.'
Wysdam.
Thus all the soules that in this lyve be,
stondyng in grace be lyke to this.
A, quinque prudentes! your wittes fyve,
Kepe you clene, and ye shal neuer deface,
ye goddes ymage [n]euer shall ryve,
ffor the clene soule is goddes restyng place;
Thre myghtes, euery cristen) soule hase,
Whiche beth applyeth to the trynyte.
Mynde.
AH thre here lo / by-fore your face.
Mynde.
Wylle.
she's dark out-
side, but
beautiful
within.
Wisdom exhorts
the Five Wits
to keep pure.
[leaf 161]
176 Every Soul has
3 Powers:
I. Mind,
Wylle.
II. Will, and
Vnderstondyng.
180 III. Under-
standing.
and vnderstondyng, we thre.
Wysdam.
ye thre declare thanne this,
your signyficacion and your propyrte
Mende.
I am mende, that in the soule is,
the very figure of the deite.
DIGBY MYST.
I. Mind is the
image of God.
L

When Mind
thinks of God's
gifts to her,
Whan) in my-selve I haue mynde, and se
the benefetes of god And his worthynesse,
how hole I was made, how fayr, how fre,
how glorious, and how genty to his lyknesse,
this insight bryngeth to my mynde
What grates I ough to god a-geyn,
that thus hath ordeyned with-outen) ende
Me in his blisse euer for to reigne;
her insufficience thanne myn insufficiens is to me peyn)
that I haue not wher-of to yelde my dette,
thynkyng my-selff' creatur most veyne;
her brows for
sorrow.
makes her knit than) for sorowe my bren) I knette,
Whan in my mynde I bryng to-gedyr
the yeeres and dayes of my Synfulnesse,
Her falls and
frailties have
[? graces]
the vnstabylnesse of my mynde hedyr and thedyr,
Myn horrible fallynges and freelnesse,
been so horrible, my-selff right nought than I confesse,
for be my-selff I may not ryse
with-out special grace of goddes goodnesse.
thus mynde makyth me my-self to dispise;
[leaf 161, back] I seke, and fynde no-where comfort,
that in God
only can she
and comfort.
II. Will is the
likeness of the
Godhead.
but only in god my creature;
than vn-to hym I do resort,
and say 'haue mynde of me my sauyour'!'
Thus mynde to mynde bryngeth that fauour';
thus be mynde of me, god I can knowe;
Good mynde of god, it is the fygure;
and this mynde to haue, al cristen) owe.
Wille.
And I of the soule am the wył;
of the godhed, lyknesse and a fygur';
with good wy, no man may spyH,
nor with-outen good wyH, of blis be sure.
What soule wył gret mede recur',
he must gret wył haue in thought or dede,

Vertuosly sett with conscience pur';
ffor in wy onely, standytħ mannys dede.
WyH for dede oft is take,
therfor the wit must wele be disposed,
thanne ther be-gynnyth all grace to wake,
if it with synne be not Anosed;
Ther-for the wył must be wele apposed,
or that it to the mevynges yeve consent,
the lybrary of reason) must be vnclosed,
And after his domys to take entent.
Oure wył in god must be only sett',
Whan good wył reysyth, god is in vs knett,
And for god to do wylfully;
And he performeth the dede veryly;
of hym comyth alł wył sett perfightly,
for of our-self we haue right nought,
221 Will is oft taken
for the deed, and
must be well-
disposd.
Before it yields,
the Library of
Reason must be
opend,
228 and its Dooms
acted on.
All good Will
comes from
God.
but synne, wrechednesse, and foly;
he is begynner and grounde of WyH and thought. 236
Than this good wył seid be-fore
is be-houeful to eche creatur,
[leaf 162]
Every one
should have it,
if he cast hym to restore
the soule that hath take of Cure,
Wiche of god is the fygure,
As longe as the figure is kept fayr,
And ordeigned euer to endure
In blisse, of wiche is the very hayr.
Vnderstondyng.
keep it fair,
244 and live in bliss.
245 III. Under-
standing
enables men to
see God,
The .iij.de parte of the Soule is vndyrstondyng,
ffor by vnderstondyng I be-hold what god is,
In hym-selff begynnyng with-out begynnyng,
And ende with-outen) ende, that shaH neuer mys. 248
Incomprehensible in hym-selff he is,
his werkes in me I can-not comprehende.
how shuld I holly hym than) / that wrought aH this? 251 and hallow him.
thus by knowyng of me, to knowyng of gcd I ascende.
L 2

Understanding
explains God's
attributes.
I know in Aungelys he is desiderable,
for hym to be-hold, thei desire souereynly;
In his Seyntes most deleitable,
ffor in hym thei Ioye assiduly;
In creatures/his Werkes ben most wonderfully,
ffor all this is made by his mygħt,
bi his wysdam gouernyd / most souereynly,
and be his benygnyte inspired att soules with light. 260
of all creatures he is louyd souereyne,
for he is god of eche creature,
and thei be his people that euer shał reigne,
Thro knowing
Him, and His
love, Under-
standing loves
Him.
In whom he dwellyth as in his temple sure.
When I of this knowyng make reporture,
And se the loue he hath for me wrought,
[leaf 162, back] It bryngeth me to love / that prince most pure,
ffor for loue that lorde made man) of nought.
This is that loue wiche is clepy charite;
for god is charite, as auctours telles,
and who is in charite, in god dwellitħ he,
and god that is charite, in hym dwelles.
The understand
ing of God,
compels men to
love Him.
Et qui creauit me, requieuit in tabernaculo meo.
Thus Vnderstondyng of god compelles
To come to charite than haue his lyknesse, lo.
Blessed is that soule that this speche spelles,
Wisdom shows
how the Soul
loves God,
by its Mind,
Will, and
Understanding.
Wysdam.
•
lo! these thre myghtes in o soule be:
Mynde Wył and Vnderstondyng;
be mynde of god the fadyr, knowyng haue ye;
Be Vnde[r]stondyng of god the sone, ye haue knowyng;
by wył, wiche turnytħ in-to loue brennyng,
god the holy gost that clepyd is love:
not thre goddes, but on) god in beyng;
From these
come Faith,
Hope,
thus eche clene soule is simylitude of god A-bove. 284
Be mynde, feith in the ffader haue we;
hope in our lorde iesu, by vnderstondyng;

and be wył in the holy gost, charite.
287 Charity.
lo! these .iij. princypal vertues of you .iij. sprynge;
thus the clene soule standith as a kynge.
And a-bove all this ye haue fre wył;
of that be Ware by-fore all thynge,
ffor if that peruert, at this doth Spylle.
ye haue .iij. enemyes,—of hem be-ware!—
the worlde, the fflessh, and the ffende :
your .v. wyttes, from hem ye spare,
that the sensualite thei bryng not to mynde..
Nothyng shuld offende god in no kynde;
And if ther dose that the nether parte of reason)
In no wyse ther-to lende,
than the ouer parte shall haue fre domynacion.
Whan suggestion) to the mynde doth appere,
Vnderstondyng, delyte not the ther-Inne!
Consent not, Wyllylle lessons to lere!
And than) suche sterynges be no synne,
Free-will is
above all.
293 The Soul's 3
foes are the
World, the
Flesh, and the
Devil.
From them, the
296 5 Wits are to be
kept.
[leaf 163]
The lower part
of Reason is to
be under the
rule of the
300 higher part.
thei do but purge the soule wher' is suche contrauersie.
Thus in me, wysdam, your werkes be-gynne;
ffygħt, and
ye shał haue the crowne of glorye,
Begin your
works in
Wisdom,
and win ever-
that is euerlastyng ioye, to be parteners ther-Inne. 308 lasting joy.
Anima.
Souereigne lorde, I am bounde to the;
Whan I was nougħt, thu made me thus glorious;
Whan I perisshed thurgh synne, thu sauyd me;
309 The Soul
Whan I was in grett pare¤, thu kept me, Christus; 312
Whan I erryd, thu reducyd me, Iesus ;
Whan I was ignoraunt, thu taught me truthe;
recounts God's
good deeds to
her.
Whan I synnyd, thu correct me thus;
When I was hevy, thu conforted me be ruthe;
Whan) I stonde in grace, thu holdest me that tyde; 317
Whan I falle, thu reisest me myghtily;
Whan I go wele, thu art my gyde;
When I come, thu receyvist me most louyngly;

The Soul praises
God for his
goodness.
Scene II.
Lucifer, in a
thu hast anoynted me with the oyle of mercy;
thy benefetys, lord, be innumerable;
Wherfor, laude endles to the I crye,
recommendyng me to thi end [1]es powr durable.
Here, in þe goyng out, the v. wyttes 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 þe
song entreth lucyfere in a deuely a-ray with out,
and within as a prowde galaunt, seyng thus on
this wyse.

[Scene II. (aaab, aaab).]

Devil's Dress over
a Dandy's.
[Lucyfer.]
[leaf 163, back] Out herrowe I rore,
God's made
Man to take my
place.
ffor envy I lore;
My place to restore,
god hath made man);
all come thei not thore,
Woode and thei wore,
But I'll tempt
I shall tempt hem so sore,
bim.
ffor I am he that synne be-ganne;
I was an Angel, I was aungel of light,
lucifer' I higħt,
but now I'm
lowest in Hell.
I hate Man,
and 'll stop his
getting to
Heaven.
presumyng in goddes¹ sight,
Wherfor I am lowest in helle;
In reformyng of my place, is dight
Man), whan I haue in most dispight,
I know his
weak points,
Euer castyng me with hem for to fight,
In that heuynly place that he shuld not dwelle.
I am as wyly now as than);
the knowyng that I had, yet I can);
I know all compleccions of man),
and I'll mar him
till he's woe
that God made
him.
wher'-to he is most disposed;
And ther-in I tempte hym ay whan),
I marre his myndes to thei wan),
that wo is hym god hym by-gan);
[MS. gooddes.]

Many an holy man) with me is mosed.
Of god, man is the figure,
His symylitude, his pitture,
gloryosest of ony creature
that euer was wrought,
wiche I wy disfygure
be my false coniecture;
if he tende my reporture,
I shall bryng hym to nought.
In the soule be .iij. parties I-wys,
·
Mynde Wył⚫ vnderstondyng of blis,
ffigur of the godhed; I know wele this;
and the flessh of man) that is so chaungeable,
that will I tempte, as I gesse.
though that I peruert, synne noon) is
but if the soule consent vn-to mys,
349 Man is God's
likeness.
I'll disfigure
him, and bring
him to nought
357 The Soul has 3
parts.
360 I'll tempt man's
flesh.
But as the Soul
must consent to
for in the wył of the soule ben) the dedes dampnabyH. evil,
To the mynde of the soule I shall make suggestion), 365 I'll tempt that,
& bryng his vnderstondyng to delectacion,
so that his will make confirmacion;
than) am I seker I-noow
That dede shall sew of dampnacion;
[leaf 164]
and then
than) of the soule the devy hatħ dominacion:
I will go make this examynacion,
damning deeds
'll follow.
To all the develis of helle I make a vowe.
But for to tempt man) in my likenesse,
it wold brynge hym to gret ferfulnesse;
I will chaunge me in-to brightnesse,
And so hym to be-gyle,
Syn I shall shew hym perfightnesse,
and vertu prove it wykednesse :
thus vnder colours aH thynge peruerse,
I shall neuer rest tył the soule I defyle.
I'll change into
a bright being,
and never rest
till I defile
380 man's soul.
Here lucyfere devoydeth, and commyth in ageyne
as a goodly galaunt /

Scene III.
The Devil
bamboozles
Mind, Will, and
Understanding.
Mind declares
he'll follow
Christ's
teaching.

[Scene III. (aaab, aaab, save 485-492.)]

Mynde.
My mynde is euer on Iesu,
that endued vs with vertu;
his doctryne to sue,
euer I purpose.
Vnderstondyng.
Understanding Myn) vnderstondyng is in trewe,
says that is
that with feith vs did renewe;
his lawes to pursewe
sweeter than
the rose.
Will says his
will is one with
God's.
Mind:
is swetter to me than the sauour of the rose.
Will.
And my will is his wy verily,
that made vs his creatures so specialy,
yeldyng vn-to hym laude and glory
for his goodnesse.
lucyfer'.
Lucifer talks to ye fonnyd ffaders, founders of foly,
vt quid hic statis tota die ociosi?
Why are you all ye will perisshe or ye it aspy;
idle here?
It's the Devil's
doing.
the devyll hath accombred you expresse,
Mynde, mynde, ser! haue mynde of this!
Mynde.
There's a time
for prayer, and
another for
work.
He is not idy that with god is.
Lucyfer.
No, Ser, I prove wele pis:
lo, this is my suggestion);
all thynge hath dew tymes,
prayer, fastyng, labour, a thes;
whan) tyme is not kept, that dede is mys;
be more plenerly to your informacion :
her is a man thet levith wardly,
Ought a man
who has wife
and house,
to leave work,
hath wyff', children), and seruauntes besy,
And other charges that I not specify:
Is it lefful to this man

To leve his labour vsyd truly?
his charges parisch that god yave duly,
and yeve hym to prayer and ese of body;
who-so do thus, with god is not than);
Martha plesid god gretly thore.
Mynde.
ye, but Maria plesid hym moche more.
lucyfer.
yit the lest had blisse for euermore.
[leaf 164, back]
and give himself
up to prayer?
413 Did Martha do
it?
is not that I-now?
Mynde.
contemplatyfe lyff is sett be-fore.
lucyfer'.
I
may not be-leve that in my lore,
ffor god hym-selff', whan) he was man) bore,
what lyff' led he? answere thu nowe!
was he euer in contemplacion?
420 Did Christ live
in contempla-
tion?
Mynde.
I
suppose not, be my relacion.
lucyfer.
and at his lyff was informacion
& example to man).
Sumtyme with synners he had conuersacion,
sumtyme with holy also communycacion,
sumtyme he labored, prayd sumtyme tribulacion :
this was vita mixta, that god her be-gan);
And that lyff' shuld ye her sewe.
Mynde.
I can be-leve that ye say is trewe.
lucyfer.
contemplatyff lyff for to sewe,
No; but with
sinners, with
good men, in
toil and suffer-
428 ing.
And his life,
men should'
lead.
It is gret dred; and se cause why:
thei must fast, wake, and pray, euer newe,
Vse hard levynges, and goyng with disciplyne dewe,
Contemplative
life means
fasting,
watching,
flogging,

silence, tears,
kepe Sylence, wepe, and surfettes eschewe;
And if thei faile of this, thei offend god highly.
Whan thei haue wastyd be feyntnesse,
than feby ther wittes, and fallyn) to fondenesse,
Summe in-to dispeyr, and summe in-to madnesse :
God doesn't like wete it wele, god is not plesid with this.
leve, leve suche syngler besynesse;
Then, be in the be in the world, vse thynges necesse,
the comon) is best expresse;
folly, despair,
madness.
this.
world,
[leaf 165]
Who clymyth higħ, his ffalle grett is.
Mynde.
truly me seme ye haue reson).
lucyfer.
do as I tell you, Apply you than to this conclusion).
I can make no repplycacion,
your resons be grete,
Mynde.¹
I can-not for-yete this informacion.
lucyfer.
thynke ther-vpon), it is your saluacion.
now and vnderstondyng wold haue delectacion,
alle syngler deuocions he wold lete,
use your wits,
your .v. wittes a-brode let sprede,
dress well,
Se how comly to man) is precious wede,
do many deeds, what worshipe it to be Manfful in dede,
get riches,
feed well,
breed children.
þat bryngeth in dominacion.
Of the Symple, What profite it to take hed?
be-hold how richesse distroyeth nede;
It makith man fayr, hym wele for to fede;
& of lust and lykyng comyth generacion.
Vnderstondyng, tendr ye this informacion.
Vnderstondyng.
In this I fele a maner of delectacion.'
[¹ MS. Make.]

lucyfer'.
A! ha! Ser! than) ther make a pawsacion,
Se and be-hold the world a-bought;
lytell thyng suffysyth to saluacion,
AH maner synnys distroyeth contricion),
thei that despeyer mercy haue grett conpu[n]ccion,
god plesyd best with good wył no dowte,
therfor WyH, I rede you inclyne,
464 See the world.
leve your stodyes tho be devyne,
your prayers, your penaunce, of Ipocrytes the signe,
and lede a comown) lyff.
What synne is in mete, in ale, in wyne?
What synne is in richesse, in clothyng fyne?
AH thyng god ordeigned to man) to inclyne.
Leve your nyse chastyte, And take a Wyff';
better is fayr frute than) foule pollucion.
What seyth sensualite to this conclusion)?
Witt.
As the .v. wyttys yeve informacion,
Leave your
studies and
penance;
472 enjoy your life!
There's no sin
in wine and
money.
476 Have a wife too!
477 [leaf 165, back]
It semeth your resons be good.
lucifer.
the will of the soule hath fre dominacion;
Dispute not to moche in this with reason);
Don't bother
about Reason.
yitt the nether parte to this takith summe Instruccion, The lower part
And so shuld the ouer parte, but he were woode.
Will.
me seme, as ye sey, in body and soule¹
man) may be in the world, and be right good.
lucyfer.
ya, Ser, be Seynt Powle!
of it agrees; and
so 'ud the upper,
if it wasn't
mad.
but truste not these prechours, for thei be not good, 488 Don't trust
ffor thei fflater and lye as thei wer' wood;
ther is a wolfe in a lombe skynne.
1 A stanza of Scene I form, abab, bebe, is here put into the
aaab, aaab of Scenes II, and III and IV.
Preachers!
They flatter and
lie, and are
wolves in
sheep's clothing.

WyH.
Will agrees to
go in for larks.
ya, I wył no more row a-geyn) the fflode,
I wył sett my soule on a mery pynne.
lucyfer'.
be my treuthe, that do ye wysely,
god louyth a clene soule and a mery,
Accorde ye .iij. to-geder by,
& ye may not mysfare.
So do Mind and to this suggestion) agre me.
Vnderstondyng.
Understanding. Delight ther-In I haue truly.
Mynde.
WyH.
And I consent ther-to frely.
lucifer'.
Lucifer backs
them up;
tells em to get
money, and be
jolly.
A! ha! ser! aH mery than), and
go in the world, se that a-bought,
a-wey
car!
gete good ffrely, caste no dought;
to the riche, ye se men) lowly lought;
yeve to your body that is nede,
& euer be mery; lett reue rought!
ya! ellys I be-shrewe
Mynde.
my snowte.
Vnderstondyng.
and if I care, catche me the gowte.
WyH.
[leaf 166]
And if I spare, the deuył me spede.
They all say
they will.
lucifer.
Go your wey than), And do wysely;
chaunge that syde aray.
I it defye.
Mynde.

Vnderstondyng.
we will be fressħ, and it hape la plu Ioly.
ffare-wele, penaunce!
Mynde.
o worshippys I wytł my mynde applie.
Vnderstondyng.
Myn) Vnderstondynge in worshepys and glorye.
WyH.
And I in lustes of lechory,
As was sumtyme gyse of fraunce,
with why whyppe.
ffarewell, quod I; the deuy is vp.
Exeuntia.
lucifer.
They'll have
girls,
honour,
glory,
and lechery,
517 in French
fashion.
Of my desyre now haue I summe
wer' onys brought in-to Custumme,
than) farewele, consciens, he were clumme,
I shuld haue al my wył.
Reson), I haue made both deff and dumme,
grace is out, and putt a rome,
whedyr I Will haue, he shał cumme e;
So at the last I shall hym spille.
I shall now stere his mynde
to that synne made me a fende,
Pryde, wiche is a-geyn) kynde,
and of a synnes hed;
520 Lucifer chuckles
over his
success:
I've made Man's
Reason deaf and
dumb;
I'll now stir him
to Pride,
So to couetyse he shał wende,
for that enduryth to the last ende;
Covetousness,
and vn-to lechery, and I may hym rende,
and Lechery.
than am I seker the soule is ded.
that soule, god made incomparable,
to his lykenesse most amyable;
I shall make it most reprouable,
Evyn lyke to a ffende of helle.
At his deth I shall appere informable,
536 I'll make his
Soul, God's
likeness,
539 [leaf 166, back]
like a Fiend of
Hell,

Shewyng hym ali hys synnys ab-homynable,
Prevyng his soule dampnable,
I'll kill the Soul So with dispeyr I shall hym quelle.
with Despair;
Why clennesse is man kyn),
Verely the soule, god is with-in;
And whan it is in dedly synne,
It is veryly the deuelys place:
and by craft win thus by colours and false gynne,
many from
heaven.
many a soule fro hevyn) 1 wynne.
Wyde to go I may not blynne,
with this false boy god geve hym ille grace!
Here he takith a shrewede boy with hym, and goth
his way cryeng.
Scene IV.
Mind, Will, and
Understanding,
glory in their
new naughti-
nesses.

[Scene IV. (aaab, aaab.)]

Mynde.
lo me here in newe a-ray!
Mind is proud of [•
his new dress.
•

Whyppe, whyrre, care a-way!
fare-wele, perfeccion)!
Me semeth my-self most lykly ay,
It is but honest, no pride, no nay,
I wył be ffresshest be my fay,
ffor that accordith with my complexion).
Vnderstondyng.
Understanding And haue here one as ffressh as you,
is so of his
dress,
and money got
anyhow.
AH mery, mery, and glad now!
I haue gete good, god wote howe;
for Ioye I spryng, I skyppe;
good makith on) mery, to god a vowe.
He bids Con-
ffarewell, conscience, I knowe not yowe!
science farewell.
I am at ease, had I Inowe;
truthe, on syde I lete hym slippe.
Will.
Will is jolly too. lo! her on) as Iolye as ye;
I am so lykyng, me seme I fle;

I haue a-tastid lust; farewele, chastite!
Myn hert is euer-more light.
I am full of felicite,
My delyte is all in bevte,
He's tried
pleasure,
[leaf 167]
ther is no Ioye but that in rne;
A Woman) me semeth an hevynly sight.
Mynde.
And these ben) my syngler solace :
kynde fortune and grace,
and thinks
Woman a
575 heavenly sight.
576 Mind has got
kynde nobley of kynred me yovyn) hase,
and that makyth me soleyne;
ffortune in worldes worshepe me doth lace,
grace yevith coryous elequence, and that mase,
that a vnkunnynge I disdeyne.
noble kin,
honour and
eloquence.
Vnderstondyng.
and my Ioye is especiał
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 ryal.
583 Understanding
has hoarded up
riches, and
delights in
handling it.
I bost, I avaunt wher I shaĦ,
Riches makyth a man) equal
to hem sumtyme his souereignes were.
WyH.
to me is Ioye most laudable,
ffresshe disgysynge to seme amyable,
Spekyng wordys delectable,
Money makes a
man equal to
590 kings.
591 Will likes
dalliance, and
words and
Perteynyng vn-to loue;
It is loy of Ioyes inestimable,
to halse, to kysse the affiable;
A louer is sone perceyvable
be the smylyng on me whan it doth remove.
Mynde.
to a-vaunte thus, me semeth no shame,
for galauntes now be in most fame;
kisses of love.

Mind is proud of Courtly persones, men hem proclame;
his dress.
moche we be sett bye.
Vnderstondyng.
[leaf 167, back] The riche covetouse, who dare blame,
Men now call
falseness
'Wisdom,' and
Of govele and symonye though he bere the name?
to be false, men reportith it game,
It is clepyd wysdam: "whar' that! quod Wyly." 606
WyH.
think no more
a drink.
And of lechory to make a-vaunt,
of Lechery than
men) forse it no more than) drynke a-taunt:
these thynges be now so conuersaunt,
we seme it no shame.
Mynde.
Mind will
dress grandly,
Coryous aray I wył euer haunt.
Vnderstondyng.
Understanding And I, ffal[s]nesse, to be passaunt.
be false,
WyH.
Will fornicate;
And I, in lust my flesh to daunt;
no man) dispise these; thei be but game.
Mynde.
I reioyse of thes: now let vs synge.
and they'll all
sing a song.
Wnderstondyng.
And if I spare euyH, Ioye me wrynge.
WyH.
haue at, quod I: lo! howe I sprynge.
lust makith me wondyr wylde.
Mynde.
A tenor to you both I brynge.
Vnderstondyng.
And I a mene for ony kynge.

WyH.
And but a trebył I out-wrynge,
the deuyH hym spede that myrth exyled.
& cantent.
Mynde.
how be this, trowe ye nowe?
Vnderstondyng.
at the best, to god a vowe.
WyH.
as mery as the byrd on bowe,
I take no thought.
They sing their
song,
and are as merry
as birds.
Mynde.
the welefare of this world is in vs, I a-vowe.
Vnderstondyng.
let eche man) telle his condicions how.
WyH.
be-gynne ye, and haue at yowe,
for I am a-shamyd of right nougħt.
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 frendshipe,
for meyntenaunce of her shenshipe;
I support hem by lordshipe;
for to gete good, this a grete spede is.
And I vse Iorourry,
Vnderstondyng.
Enbrace questes of periury,
choppe and chaunge with symonye,
& take large yiftes;
DIGBY MYST.
They say how
they live.
631 Mind serves a
great lord,
M
[leaf 168]
and gets money
for protecting
evil doers.
Understanding
lives by prying
and simony.

be the case neuer so try,
Understanding I preve it false, I swere, I lye,
swears falsely on
Quest.
with a quest of myn) affye:
the redy wey, this now to thrift is.
WyH.
and what trowe ye be me?
Will spends
More than I take, spende I thries thre;
three times
what he gets,
Sumtyme I geve, sumtyme thei me,
And am euer ffresshe and gaye;
ffewe places now ther be,
and lives in
lust.
But vnclennesse ye shal ther se,
It is holde but a nysete;
lust is now comon) as thei waye.
Mynde.
lawe procedith not for mayntenaunce.
Vnderstondyng.
Trouthe recurytħ not for abundaunce.
WyH.
Their sins are
not heeded;
and lust is in so grete vsaunce,
we forse it nought.
Mynde.
the world trusts In vs the worlde hath most affiaunce.
em;
Vnderstondyng.
Non) thre be in so grett a-queyntaunce.
WyH.
ffewe ther be out of our allyaunce;
While the worlde is thus, take we no thought.
Mynde.
they have all
they want.
thought! nay, ther geyne stryve I.
Vnderstondyng.
[leaf 168, back] We haue that nedită vs, so thryve I.

WyH.
And gyve that I care, neuer wyve I;
let hem care that hath for to sewe.
Mynde.
Who lordship shall sue, must it by.
Vnderstondyng.
who wył haue law, must haue mony.
WyH.
ther' pouert is the male wry,
though right be, he shall neuer renewe.
Mynde.
wronge is born) vp boldly,
though all the world know it opynly;
mayntenaunce is now so myghty,
Lordship and
law can only be
got for money.
Poverty never
gets its rights.
671 Wrong is
upheld.
And all Is for mede.
Vnderstondyng.
the lawe is so coloured falsly
by sleightes and by periury;
brybes be so gredy,
·
that to the pore trowthe is take right non) hede.
WyH.
wno gete or lese, ye be ay wynnand;
mayntenaunce and periury now stand;
ther wer neuer so moche reynand
678 To the poor,
Truth isn't
heeded.
Maintenance
(support of
wrong), Perjury
seth god was bore.
Mynde.
And lechory was neuer more vsande,
of lernyd and lewyd in this lande.
Vnderstondyng.
so we thre be now in hande.
WyH.
ya, and most vsyd euery-wher¹
1 The ryme needs' whore."
and Lechery
prevail
686 everywhere.
M 2

Mynde.
Mind, Will,
and Under-
standing agree
to get up a
Dance.
Mind or
Maintenance
(backing of
wrong)
calls in his crew
of 7:
now wył we thre do make a daunce,
of tho that longe to our retenaunce,
comyng in be countenance,
this wer' a disporte.
Vnderstondyng.
therto I geve accordaunce,
of tho that ben) of myn affyaunce.
WyH.
let se be tyme, ye meyntenaunce,
clepe in first your resort.
Here entre vj disgysed in the sute of mynde,
with red berdes and lyons rampaunt on here
crestes, and iche a wardere in his hande; hir men-
stralle, trumpes. eche answere for his name.
Mynde.
[leaf 169]
let se, com In, Indignacion and sturdynesse,
Indignacion,
Sturdiness,
Malyce also and hastynesse,
Malice,
Hastiness,
wreche and discorde expresse,
And the .vijth. am I, mayntenaunce.
Vengeance,
Discord,
Maintenance,-
the Devil's
Dance,-
and Trumpets
to fit em.
Vij. is a nombyr of discorde and inperfightnesse.
lo, her' is a yomanry with loveday to dresse,
And the deuy had swore it, thei wold bere vp falsnesse,
And mayntyn it at the best; this is the develys daunce;
and here menstrellys be conuenyent,
ffor trompys shud blowe to the Iugement;
of batayle also it is one instrument,
yevyng comfort to fight;
therfor thei be expedient
to these meny of mayntement,
blow 1sett, se madame regent,
Dance away,
lads! Your
and daunce, ye laddes, your hertes ben ligħt!
hearts are light.
lo! that other spare, this meny
wiH spende.
Vnderstondyng.
ye! who is hym shał hem offende?
1 s altered to 1, or vice-versa.

WyH
who wy not to hem condescende,
he shall haue thretys.
Mynde.
thei spille, that lawe wolde amende.
Vnderstondyng.
yit mayntenzunce, no man) dare reprehende.
Wył.
these meny, thre synnys comprehende
pryde, Invy, and wrathe in his hestys.
Vnderstondyng.
now wył I than be-gynne my traces:
Iorour in one hood berith to ffaces,
fayre speche and falsehed in on) space is,
is it not ruthe?
the queste of holborn) come in-to this places,
a-geyne the right euer thei rechases,
of whom thei hold not hard his grace is,
many a tyme haue dampnyd truthe.
Law-Reformers
shall be smasht.
719 Understanding
Here entrithe vj. Iorours in a sute gownyde with
hoodes a-bowte her nec[kes], hattes of maynten-
aunce ther-vpone vyserede diuersly, here myn-
stralle a bagpy[pe].
Mynde.
let se first wronge and sleight,
doblenesse and falsehed shew your mygħt,
then calls on his
crew,
the Holborn
Quest.
leaf 169, back]
6 Perjurers
come in:
727 Wrong, Sleight,
Doubleness,
Falsehood,
Ravine, Deceit,
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 of holborn), an euy endyrecte,
thei daunce at this londe hyder and thedyr,
making up the
Holborn Quest,
and I, periury, your foundour';
Now daunce on vs all, the world doth on vs wonder.
lo! here is a meyne loue welefare.
735 with Perjury,
the 7th.

Mynde.
ye, thei spende, that true men spare.
WyH.
This Holborn
Quest 'll give
any verdict for who hath wronge or right.
a bribe.
thei forse not to swere and stare.
haue thei a brybe, thei haue no care
Mynde.
WyH.
thougħ all be false, lesse and mare.
Vnderstondyng.
wiche wey to the wode wył the hare,
thei knewe, and thei at rest sett als tight;
some seme hem wyse
They're sons of
Covetousness.
ffor the ffader of vs, covetyse.
WyH.
now, mayntenaunce and periury
hath shewed the trace of her company;
Will says he'll
bring in nis
crew of Lechers. pat to me attende.
ye shall se a spryng of lechery,
her' forme is of the stewys clene rybaldry,
So his, or
Lechery's, 6
Retainers come
in.
thei wene sey soth whan that thei lye;
of the comon thei synge eche weke by and by;
thei may sey with tynker, 'I trowe late amende.' 754
Here entre vj womane in sute, [thre] disgysede
as galauntes, and thre as matrones, with wonder-
fulle vysers, conregent; here mynstrallys, an
hornpype.
[The rest is wanting.]
[End of the Digby MS. But as a stray Play, which no
doubt once formd part of this MS, has been found in
another MS, it is added here.]

[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, ii.
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 off, 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.211) Mynde. And at the parvyse¹ I 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
Here
six of the deadly sins, and the operation is thus described :-
rennyt out from undyr the horry bull 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.
Parvyse means the Portico. This passage settles the doubt (see Glos-
sary to Tyrwhitt's Chaucer, voc. '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.

"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:-
"Vobis qui timetis Deum
Orietur sol rusticum.
The tru son of ryghtusnes.
Wyche that ys our lorde Jħu,
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,
Capital Cittie of this Realme of England. &c. Annº. 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 within 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 & Sealls, into the guildhall. Also they go into every
mans howse within the said ward, & peruse their weights & measures,
which, if they ffynd not Iust: 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."

V. Christ's Burial and Resurrection

A Mystery.
IN TWO PARTS, IN THE NORTHERN DIALECT.'
FROM THE BODLEIAN MS. E Museo 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.
Originally: See the awe, a', all (1. 4, 7, 653, &c.); awn, own (p. 185,

  1. 401); till, to (1. 402, 428, 528); haves thou (1. 403); knaw, know (p. 188,
  2. 496; p. 189, 1. 514, &c.); wald, would (p. 189, l. 531; p. 190, l. 564, &c.);
    lawly, lowly (p. 226, l. 1715); s, verbal plural; whiklye, quickly (p. 186,
  3. 444; whantite, quantite (p. 192, 1. 621; p. 196, 1. 737); whik, quick,
    living (p. 198, 1. 814); whit, quite, requite (p. 199, l. 850), &c. See more
    overleaf,

[THE NAMES OF THE PLAYERS.]
Josephe of Aramathye.
PART I.
2. Mary, the Mother of James.
3. Mary Magdalene.
The Three Maries.

  1. Mary Salome (see note 3, Nicodemus (p. 184).
    P. 54 above).
    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, l. 1469, 1543
    (is thou, 184/293); pl. in s, see l. 1426; till, sign of infinitive, ll. 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, l. 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. participles in -ing, not Northern; the dropping of n in past
    participles of strong verbs not Northern (p. 194).

[MS. E Museo 160 [once 226], (Bodl. Libr.), leaf 140.¹]
2 [This is a play to be playede, on part on gud-
friday after-none, & þe 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 off).]
The prologe of this treyte or meditatione off the
buryalle of Criste & mowrnynge therat.
A
Soule that list to singe of loue
Of Crist, that com tiH vs so lawe,
Rede this treyte, it may hymm moue,
And may hym tecħe lightly with awe,3
Off the sorow of Mary sumwhat to knawe,
Opon gudfriday after-none;
Also of theappostiles awe,
And how mawdleyn) sorowe cessit not son);
And also
How Iosephe of Aramathye
This Treatise
tells of the
4 sorrow of Mary,
the Apostles,
8 Mary Mag-
dalene,
Joseph of Ari-
mathea,
And othere persons holye;
Nicodemus,
and Joseph.
With Nichodeyme worthely,
How in thair harte had wo.
Fyrst lat vs mynde how gud Iosephe,
On this wise wepite Cristes dethe:-
1 The MS. is letterd on the back :-"Cronol. Papish Play."
The stanzas are almost all 6 lines, aab, ccb; some 8, aaab, cccb.
The Virgin's Complaint, p. 191-3, is mainly in eights, abab, bebe,
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.
3 withal.
•
2 In margin of leaf 140 back, at foot.

Great wrong has
been wrought
to-day.
Christ's blood
has flowd, and
A
Iosephe.
Lesse! that euer I levit thus longe !
This day to se so grete wronge!
So fell Cruellitee & paynes stronge
Were neuer seyn) or this!
Such envy, such rancor, such malesse!
Of cruel tormentes such excesse !
O pilate, pilate! in thy palesse,
He that neuer did amysse,
This day was dampnyt! o Innocent bloode,
Most of vertue, most graciose & gude,
This day stremyt owt lik a floode
And lyk a ryvere grete;
turnd Calvary's On caluery mownt, on lenghe & brede!
green to red.
O caluery! thy greyn colore is turnyd to rede
[leaf 140 back] By a blessit lammes bloode which now is dede.
Alese! for faynt I swete,
Remembringe that so cleyne on Innocent shuld dye, 32
Which ledd his life the most perfitlye,
And wrought sich warkes wonderoslye,
Ose Iudea can recorde.
What creature
but God could
raise a dead
man,
What mortal creature, that powre myght haue
To make a dede man rise owt of his graue,
or give sight to
the blind?
Lyinge ther-in iiij dayes tayve,
But god, the gretist' lorde?
A man to haue his sight, born) starke blinde,
From Adams Creation where shall we fynde?
Or what prophettes can ye call to mynde,
Of whom maybe verryfyed
So grete a miracle aboue naturs rigħte?
Tο many othere blind men he gaue the sigħte,
And wrought many wounders by godly myghte,
As it is well certifiede.
From the hyH I com bot now down),
Wher I left the holy women in dedly swoun).
O ye pepul of this cetye & of this town,
+4

Herd ye not the Exclamation)
And the grete brunte which was on the h[i]H,
"Crucyfy hym! Crucify hym! slo hym & kiH!"
Peace! now harkyn! I pray you stand stil;
Methink I here lamentation).¹
thre mariye sais all to-gider in a voce.
Aiunt iij marie
O most dolorose day! O tym of gretist sorowe !
Maudleyn
O sisters,² stand stil vn-tyĦ to-morowe!
I trow I may not leue.³
Ioseph
I here the mawdleyn / bitterly compleyn).
What gud creature / may hym-self refrayn)
In this piteose myscheffe.*
The Jews cried,
"Crucify him!
[leaf 141]
56 The 3 Marics
lament.
Joseph sympa.
thises.
"
ja maria.
O day of lamentation)!
ija maria.
O day of exclamatione !
Thrid mary.
O day off suspiratione !
The Maries
lament again.
Which Lewes shall repent'!
Mavdleyn.
O day most doloruse !
ija maria.
O day paynful & tediose!
1 Off the wepinge of the iij Maries.
MW, bis wringes thuir bandes os thay goo.]
[An, harkyn how mavdleyn with the maris ije
These two lines crosst through with red ink.
2 saide mawdleyne crosst through.
This line is crosst through:
This hard holy Ioseph standinge ryght gayn
The MS. adds :-[The maries in that statione
Then saide on this fascione]
Lines crosst through.

Christ hangs
on the Cross,
iija maria.
O pepuł most cruel & furiose,
Thus to slo an Innocent!
ija maria
O mawdleyn, your master dere,
How rewfully he hinges here,
That set you first in ceile!
Mawdleyn
TA! cesse, sisters! it sloes my chere!
His dulful deth I may not bere !
Devowt Iosephe, I se hym here,
Our cares forto keyle.
O gud Iosephe, approche to vs nere;
wounded with a Behold hyrn wowndit with a spere,
spear;
That louede yow so weyH!
Iosephe
¶ O¹ mawdleyn), said Ioseph,2 I pray you here;
& your susters als to be of gud chere.
Magdal[eyn
O frende Ioseph! this prince had neuer pere!
[leaf 141, back] The well of mercy / that made me clere;
And that wist ye weile. /
Nay, gude Iosephe, com nere & behold!
His body stark This bludy lammes body is starke & cold.
O! hadde ye seyn) his paynes many-fold,
and cold.
Ye wald haue beyne right sory.
Iosephe! luk bettere, behold & see,
In how litiH space how many woundes bee!
Here was no mercee,³ her was no pitee,
But Cruel delinge paynfully.
O goode Iosephe, I am ał dysmayede
1 gud crosst through, instead of said Joseph.
2 The poetaster has again forgotten that he's writing a play.
mercye alterd.

To see his tendere fleshe thus rewfully arayed,
On this wise so wofully displayed,
Woundit withe nay & spere!
O dere Iosephe / I fey my harte wex cold,
Thes blessite fete / thus bludy to be-hold,
Whom I weshid with teres many fold,
And wyped with my heare.
O how rewful / a spectaki itt is!
Neuer hast bee seyn) / ne shall be after this,
Such cruel rigore to the kinge of blisse;
The lord that made ał,
Thus to suffere in his humanitee,
And that only for our iniquitee!
O makere of man! what loue & pitee
Had thou for vs so thrall!
O gude Iosephe, was ye not present here?
Ioseph.
¶ Yis, moder mawdleyn), it changid my chere.
The wounder was so grete, I yrkit to com nere.
But I was not farre hence.
Magdalena.
¶O Iosephe, If I told you euery circumstaunce
Of the moste merite & perseueraunce
Of hym pat neuer did offence,
Thys higħe kinge pat hinges befor our face,
Displayede on Crosse in this piteos place,
Christ's blessed
feet are bloody.
104 The Lord of all
has sufferd for
man's iniquity.
[leaf 142]
115 He never did
offence, and yet
And tell you of his pacience;
Frende Iosephe, this day am I sure,
Scantly with force ye myght it indure,
But your hart shuld tendere
How he sufferte to be takid,
Sore scourgit & nakit
On all his body sclender!
And not-with-stondinge your manly hart,
Frome your Ees the teres wald starte,
was taken and
scourgd.

To shew your hevynesse.
Com hithere, Iosephe, & stande ner this rood!
his blood.
The Lamb shed Loo! this lamme spared not to shedd his blude
With most paynful distresse;
Her was more rancore shewed than equitee,
Mich more malace than ony pitee,
I reporte me; your-self behold & see!
His pain passes His payn passis ał othere;
all other.
AH if he were the prince of peace,
Therfor my sorow haves no releace.
Iosephe
¶ Gude mawdleyn, of your mowrnynge cease;
It Ekes my doole, dere moder : 1
Maria Iacobi ija
Who can but
sorrow for it?
Goode frende Iosephe, what creatur maye
But sorow to se this woful daye,
[leaf 142, back] The day of gretist payne ?
¶ 2 Wo & sorow must nedes synke
Maria solamee
Mor in our hartes than met & drinke,
To se our saueyoure slayne.
Iosephe.
¶ Alese, women! ye mak my hart to relente,
Beholdinge his body thus torne & rente,
That inwardly I wepe;
But, gude Mawdleyn), shew vnto me
The Virgin
Mary
Where is
mary his mothere so free.
Who haues that maide to kepe?
A
Iosephe, from this place / is sho³ gone.
To haue seyn hir, a harte of stone,
1 MS. has this line crosst through :-

The secund Mary began to saye
·
2 The MS. puts before Wo, The thrid mary saide,' but it is
crosst through.
3 wente crosst through.
Mavdleyn

For ruthe wald haue relente :
Right many tymes emanges vs here
Sche swownyd with most dedly chere,
swoond
Ose mothere mekest kente.
With full longe prayere, scant we mygħite
Cause hir parte from this peteose sighte;
Scho made many compleynte;
Ye saw neuer woman pis wise dismaide ;
Zebedeus & Iohn hase hir convaide;
Zebedee and
John have taken
To spek of hire I faynte.
her home.
Many men spekes of lamentacion)
Off moders, & of their gret desolation)
Which that thay did in-dure
When that their childer dy & passe;
But of his peteose tender moder, alasse,
I am verray sure
the wo & payn passis all other':
Was ther neuer so sorowful a mother'
For inward thoȝt & cure,
When sho harde hym for his enmyse praye,
And promesid the thefe the blissis aye,
Never was
mother so
171 sorrowful as the
[leaf 143]
Virgin when her
Son didn't speak
175 to her,
And to hir-self no word wald saye;
Sche sighid, be ye sure.
The sonne hynge, & the moder stood,
And euer sho kissid the droppes of blood
That so fast / ran) down);
Sche extendit hir Armes hym to brace ;
But sho myght not towch hym, so high was the place, and she could
And then sho fell in swoune.
not touch Him.
A
Iosephe
Gude mawdleyn), who can hir blame,
, To se hir awn) son) in so grete shame,
›
With-owt ony offence.
But, mavdleyn), had he ony mynd on hir in his
passion)?
DIGBY MYST.
N

Christ lookt
from the Cross
Mavdleyn
ȝee, yee, Iosephe! of hir he had grete compassion),
Os apperit' by evidence;
For, hanginge on the Crosse most petyfully,
He lukyd on that maide, his moder, rewfully,
ou His Mother, And with a tender cow[n]tenaunce,
and said that
John should
comfort her.
As who say, " modere! the sorow of your harte
Makes my passion mor bitter & mor smarte,
Ye ben euer in my remembraunce.
Dere modere, becawse I depart os nowe,
Iohn my Cosyn shałł waite on yowe,
Your comforte for to bee."
Loo, he had hyr on his graciose mynd,
To teche al chi[l]deren) to be kinď
To fader & modere of dewtee.
This child wald not lefe his moder alone,
[leaf 143, back] Not-withstandinge hir lamentabiĦ mone
& hevynesse.
[Io]seph
¹A, gud lady, fułł wo was shee!
But can ye tel what wordes saide hee
There in that grete distresse?
Mavdleyn
And in IIis
¶ 20 Iosephe, this lame most meke,
In his Cruel tormentes & paynfuł eke,
But fewe wordes he hadd,
agony, He said
"I thirst."
Saue that in grete Agonye
He saide thes wordes, "I am thrustye,"
With chere demure & sadd.
[I]hoseph
¶ Mawdleyne: Suppose ye his desire was to drinke? 212
1 In the MS. the line before is crosst through :—¶ Than saide
Iosephe right peteoslee.
2 Mawdleyn saide crosst through.

Mavdleyn
Nay, verrelye, frende Ioseph, I thinke
He thrustide no lyquore;
His thruste was of charitee;
Christ thirsted
For our faithe & fidelitee,
He ponderite the rigore,
Off his passion done so cruellye;
For the helth of mannys saut cheflye
He thrustid & desirede.
for the health of
man's soul,
And then, after tormente longe,
& after paynes fel & stronge,
This mekist lam expyrede:
For wikkit synners þis lamm is dede.
Alese! my hart wex hevy os lede,
Myndinge my writchitnesse.
Where was euer a mor synful creature
223 and then died.
Than I my-self? nay, nay; I am sure
Was none of mor offencesse.
O! what displesur is in my mynd,
Rememberinge that I was so vnkynd
To hym that hinges here,
[leaf 144]
How unkind was
232 I to Him!
$5
That hinges here so piteoslye
For my synnes done owtragioslye!
Mercy, lorde, I requere !
Not-withstondinge the gre[t] enormitee
Of my fowle synnes, & of his humylitee,
This lambe, this Innocent',
For my Contrition) he forgaue mee
Yet He forgave
me all my foul
238 sins.
Only of his fre mercifuł pitee;
Neddes must my harte relente.
I
This is the sacrifice of remission);
Crist, ał synners havinge contrition),
Callith to mercy & grace,
Sayinge thes swete wordes," retorn) to mee,
Leve thy syn, & I shalbe with thee,
e
Accepte in euery place."
Had not beyne his most mercyful consolatione,
He is with all
who turn to
Him.
N 2

I, wreche of all wretches,¹ into desperation)
Had fallen right dangeroslye;
My dedes were dampnabiH of righte,
His mercy ac-
But his mercee accepte my harte contrighte,
cepted my con-
trite heart.
And reconsiled me gracioslye.
O mekeste lambe, hanginge here on hye!
Was ther none othere meyn) but pou must nede dy,
Synners to reconsyle?
How I sorrow
A, Sisters, sisters! what sorow is in me,
for Him!
Beholdinge my master on this peteose tree!
My harte fayntes; I may no longer dree.
Now lat me pawse a whyle;
[leaf 144, back] O, where shał ony comfurth com to mee,
What can com-
fort me?
His feet that I
wiped with my
hair
are pierct with
a nail,
And to his modere, that Maid so free?
Wald god, here I myght dye!
ijº Maries.
¶2 Gud Mawdleyn), mesure youre distillinge teres !
Mawdleyn
¶ sisters,³ who may hold theire cheres?
Thes are the swete fete I wipet with heris;
And kissid so deuowtlye;
And now to see tham thyrlite with a nayle,
How shulde my sorowful harte bot fayle
And mowrn) contynually?
Cum hithere, Ioseph, beholde & looke
How many bludy letters beyn) writen in pis buke,
Small margente her is.
Iosephe
¶ Ye, this parchement is stritchit owt of syse.
O derest lorde! in how paynful wise
I had fallen crosst through.
2 In the MS. these 3 lines are crosst through:-
Ose mawdleyne thus sore did wepe
The othere ijo Maryes tuk gude kepe
And saide righte soberlye
3 saide sho crosst through.
4 In the MS. the line before is crosst through:
Than said Iosephe a nobille man of prise

Haue ye tholit this!
O, all the pepiH that passis here-by,
Beholde here inwardlee with your Ees gostly,
Consider well & see,
Yf that euer ony payn) or torment'
Were lik vnto this which this Innocent
Haves suffert thus meklee!
Remembere man! remembere weH, & see
How liberal a man this lord was & free,
Which, to saue mankind,
On droppe of blude haues not kepit ne sparid!
Full liti for ease or plesure he carid,
By reason ye may finde,
Which on dropp of blood hase not resaruyd.
See, ye folk, was
ever Pain like
279 this which
Christ has
sufferd
285 to save Man-
kind?
[leaf 145]
O lord, by thy deth we beyn) preseruyd;
By deth thou hast slayne deth;
Was neuer no love lik vnto thyn),
Never was Love
like His!
That to this meknes thy-selfe wald inclyn),
& for vs to yelde thy brethe.
Thou knew ther' were no remedy to redeym syn), 295
But a bath of þi blude to batħ mans saule in;
And thou were wel¹ assent
To let it ren) owt most plenteosly.
Where wer euer sich love? neuer, verrely,
That such wise wald content'.
To his fadere, for vs he made a sure render'.
Loo! euery bone ye may nowmbere of his body tender,
For vntollerabiłł paynes
The tormentours sparede no Crueltee,
With sharp scowrges te-terre his flesħe, ye may see,
With thorns thrust in his braynes;
His flesh was
torn with
306 scourges; thorns
Grete nayles drevyñ, the bones all to brake;
Thus in Euery parte the nayles thay did wrake.
O cruel wikkitnese,
From the Crowne of the hede vnto the too,
1 content crosst through.
were thrust into
His brains;
nails were
driven into
Him; His bones
were broken in
pieces.

This blessit body was wrappit all in woo,
In payn & distresse.
Wounds are all
over Him, in
In this displaied body, wher may it be found,
On spott', or a place, bet ther' is a wound,
Owther mor or lesse.
[leaf 145, back]
Se his side, hede, handes & fete !
side, head,
hands, feet.
Lo! A his body with blude is wete,
So paynful was his presse.
On yche parte he is paynede sore,
Saue only the tunge, which euer-more
For syñners did prayee.
Mawdlen.¹
O piteous sight! Who saw euer a spektacte more pitevs,
A more lamentable sight & dolorus ?
AA! this wofuł daye!
Alese, this sorow that I endure
With grete inwarde hevynes & cure!
Alesse, pat I do not dye,
To see hym dede, made me of nogħte,
And with his deth thus haves me bougħte;
O cruel torment! O Cruel tormentrye!
O dere master, be ye not displeasid
Yf I myght dy with yow/ my hart' wer wel easid²;
O! ffaynt, & faynt it is
Ioseph.2
What meyn) ȝe women, in goddis name?
Moder! to mych sorow / ȝe mak; ye be to blame;
I pray yow, leve at this!
But He shall
rise again,
He that hingeth here of his humilite,
From deth shał aryse, for right so saide hee
His wordes must nedes be trewe:
1 The next line in the MS is crosst through :—
To that word mavdlene awnswert thus
2 The next line in the MS is crosst through :-
Holy Iosephe awnswerit to this same

This is the finale cavse & conclusion),
To bringe our mortal enmy to confusion)
to subdue Satan,
And his powere to subdewe.
For this cawse he descendit' from þe hevynly place
[leaf 146]
Born of pe mekist virgyn að full of grace,
Which now most sorowful 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, your-self comforte;
Amongest vs agayn) / he shall resorte,
to slay Death,
348 and restore Mar.
to Bliss.
I trust verrelye;
I pray yow, compleyn) not thus hevylee.
Mavdle[yn.]
1 Nedes must I compleyn, & that most bitterlee,
& I shall tell yow whye:-
In-sensibil Creaturs / beyn trovblid, ȝe see;
The son had lost his sight'; Eclippid was hee;
Therth tremmblide ferfullye;
The hard flynt & stone / is brokyn in sundre;
355 All Nature is
The Sun was
troubled.
eclipst; the
Earth trembled;
Rocks rent.
Yf resonable creaturs / be trowblid it is no wonder;
And emange af speciallye,
I, a wrechit woman) / a, wrecħ! a, wreche!
Behold these bludy welles / her may pou feche
Balme more preciose than golde !
O ye welles of mercy / dyggide so depe,
Who may refrayn) / who may bot wepe,
Who can refrain
from weeping at
These bludy streymys to be-holde?
366 these streams of
Christ's blood?
O fontains flowinge with water of life,
To wash away corrupcion) / of wondes infectyfe,
By dedly syne grevose !
AH with meknese is mesured this ground, with-out [leaf 146, back]
dowte,
1 The line before in the MS, is crosst through :-
¶ Than said Mawdleyne A Iosephe free

Wherin so many springes of mercy flowes owte,
Beholde, how so plenteose !
Altera maria.¹
Mawdleyne, your mowrnynge avaylis nothinge.
Lat vs speke to Iosephe, hym hertely desiringe
But let us find a
for To finde some gude waye,
way to take the
Crucified to the
This Crucified body down to take,
Sepulchre.
And bringe it to sepulcre, & so lett' make.
Ende of this woful daye.
Ioseph.2
ȝe shall vnderstand yit more, that I
Pilate has con-
sented, and
Haue beyne with the Iuge Pilat instantlye
For this same requeste,
To berye this most holy bodye;
Ande he grauntid me full tenderlye
To do os me thought beste.
Nicodemus is
I haue spokene with Nichodemus also ;—
coming to take
the body down. Ye shall se hyme takyn down), or ye go;—
That he taryes so longe, I merveł.
A! I se hym now com vpward the hiH.
Cesse of youre wepinge, I pray you, be still;
I trust at shalbe well.
thouȝt.3
Nichodemus, come nerre! we haue longe for you
Nicodemus venit.
TO worthy lorde, who made all thinge of noght,
[leaf 147]
With the most bitter payn) to deth is thou broughte;
Thy name blessit bee !
1 The next line and a quarter are crosst through in the MS :-
¶ The othere Mary myldly gafe awnsweringe ·
And saide
2 The next line is crosst through in the MS :-
Then saide Iosephe gude women & worthye
8 The next 4 lines are crosst through in the MS :-
When that Nichodeme see Crist, þat all boght,
Hinge all hide in his blude,
Than knelide he downe with hartely hevy thoughte,
And saide with milde mude,

O, how a piteful sight is this,
To se the prince of euerlastinge blisse
To hinge here on this tree,
To hinge here thus soo piteoslye!
O most lovinge lorde, thy gret mercy,
To this havese the constreynyd!
Why wold thyn awn pepit, þi awn) flokke,
Thus crucyfy the, & nay till a stokke?
Why haves thou not refreynyd?
For fourty yere in wildernesse,
Theire olde Faders in theire progresse
Thou fed with angelles foode,
Nicodemus la-
ments the Jews'
403 cruel return to
Jesus for His
404 goodness to their
fathers,
And brought tham in-to the land of promission,
Wher they fand lond in euery condischion,
And all thinge that was goode.
A! A! Is this theire gramercy? is this theire reward?
Thy kindnesse, thy gudnese, Can they regard
No better but thus?
Notwithstondinge the vesture of þi humanyte,
That pou were the verrey son of god, þay myȝt see
By myracles most gloriose.
Ioseph.
¶¹gude brothere, 2of your compleinte 2 Cesse!
ȝe renewe agayne grete hevynesse,
and when His
miracles showd
them that He
was the Son of
415 God.
Now in thes Women here.
Nicodeme.3
Nay, gret comfurthe we may haue all,
For, by his godly powere, arise he shał,
[leaf 147, back]
But still He
42I
shall arise on the
3rd Day.
And the thride daye apere.
For ons he gaue me leue with hym to reasone,
And he shewet of this deth, & of this treasone
& of this Crueltee,
1 Then saide Ioseph crosst through.
2-2 added above the line.
3 The next line is crosst through in the MS:
Nay, saide Necodeme, it may befall.
That crosst thro, Nay added.

And how for mankynd he com to dye,
And that he shuld arise so glorioslye
By his myghtee maiestee
And with our flesch in hevyn til ascend:
Christ Himself
told me this.
Many swete wordes it plesit hym to spend
Thus speking vnto me,
That no man to hevyn) myght clyn,
But if it were by grace of hym
Which com) down) to make vs free:
Nemo ascendit in celum nisi qui descendit de celo.
Ioseph, redy to tak crist down), sais.
Let us then take
To tak down this body, lat vs assaye!
down the Body,
Brother Nichodemus, help, I yow praye!
On Arme I wald ye hadd,
and knock these To knokk out thes nayles so sturdy & grete.
big Nails out.
O safyoure! they sparid not your body to bete;
Thay aught now to be sadd.
Mawdleyn).
Gude Iosephie, handi hym tenderlye!
Iosephe.
Magdalen, hold Stonde ner, Nichodemus! resaue hym softlye!
His feet!
Mawdleyn, hold ye his fete!
[leaf 148]
Make haste.
Mawdleyne.
Haste yow, gude Iosepħe, hast' yow whiklye!
His Mother is
coming.
For Marye his moder will com, fer I;
A! A! that virgyne most swete!
Nichodemus.
I saw hir benethe on the othere sid;
With Iohn I am sure sbo wiH not a-bid
longe frome this place.
Mary, virgyn & mother, com then sayinge.
TA, A, my dere sone Iesus' A, A, my dere sone Iesus!

Iohn euangeliste.
Gude Marye, swete cosyn! mowrn) ye not thus,
Ye see how stondes the case.
Mawdleyne.
Allese, scho commys! A, what remedye!
Gud Ioseph, comfurth hire stedfastlye,
That virgyne so full of woo!
Mary virgyn) sais, falles in swown).
Stonde stil, frendes! hast ye not soo!
Haue
yee no
fere of mee;
Lat me help to tak my dere son down)!
Mary mawdleyn).
Lo! I was sure sho walld fall in a swown)!
Her, on euery sid, is pitee.
Iosephe.
Help, Mawdleyn), to revyue hir agayn)!
A. a. This womans harte is plungid with payn!
Hir sorowe sho cane not cesse.
Iohne euangelist'.¹
The Virgin Mary
asks leave to
help,
and then
swoons.
461 They revive
her.
A, A! dere Ladee, wherfore & why
Fare ye on this wise? wiłł ye here dy?
Leyf of this hevynesse !
Ye promesit me ye wold not do thus.
Mawdleyn).
Speke, ladye! speke for the loue of Iesus,
[leaf 148, back]
St. John prays
her to bear up,
Youre swete sone, my master here!
Marye virgyn.
A, A! Mawdleyn), mawdleyn)! your master so dere!
jº Maries.
Most meke modere, be now of gude chere!
Iohn Euangeliste.
Wipe awaye that rynnys owte so faste!
From your remembraunce, rayse owt at þe last'
and forget the
cruelty of her
Son's sufferings.
1 repeated over leaf.
Of his passione the Crueltee.

Iosephe.
Tak comfurthe, marye! this wailinge helpes nothinge.
Your dere son we will to his sepulcre bringe
Als it is all oure dewtee.
Mary Virgyn.
laments
The Virgin Mary God reward yow of your
tendernesse!
I shall assiste you with all humyłnesse;
But yit, or he departe,
Suffere me my mynd for to breke,
How be it full scantly may I speke
For faynte & febił harte :
[leaf 149]
A, A, Cosyn Iohn! what shall I saye?
Who saw euer so dolfuł a daye,
So sorowful a tym, as this?
her Son's death, This woful moders sorow / who cane itt expresse,
To se hir own) chyld sleyn with cruelnesse?
Yit myn own) swet son, your woundes wold I kysse, 489
and calls to
O, Gabriel, gabriel!
mind the Angel
tion of her,
Gabriel's saluta- Of gret Ioy did
ye
teH
In ȝour first Salutation);
Ye saide the holigost shuld co[m] in mee,
And I shuld consaue a child in virginitee,
For mankind saluation).
That ye said truthe, right well knaw I;
But ye told me not my son shuld dye,
Ne yit the thought & care
Of his bitter passion), which he suffert nowe.
saying that the
and Symeon's
Sword of Sorrow To spek ye wold not spare.
O! old Symeon! full suthe said yowe;
should enter her
heart.
Ye saide/The sword of sorow suld enter my hart. 502
Ye, ye, Iuste Symeon! now I felt it smarte,
With most dedly payn!
Was there neuer moder that felit so sore!
I-wise, Ioħn, I felt it alway more & more!
Help! help now, Mawdleyn)!
She swoons
again.
& cadit in extas[ia].

Mawdleyn).
Mek moder & mayde, leve your lamentation)!
Ye swown stil on pase with dedly suspiration);
Ye mare yowre-self & vs.
Iohn Euangelist'.
Ye shuld lefe of your paynfu afflictione,
510 [leaf 149, back]
St. John bids
Mary think of
Christ's again-
Callinge to your mynd his resurrection)
rising.
Which salbe so glorivse;
This knaw ye, & þat beste
Mary virgyn.
I knaw it weł, or ellis in reste
My harte shuld neuer bee;
I myght not leve, nore endure
On mynnate, bot I am sure
She says, that
is her only sup-
port.
The thrid day ryse shall hee;
But yit havinge remembraunce
The gret Cruelty & Fell vengance
Of the Iues so vnkind,
Which thus wikkitly has betrayed
Goddes son, born) of me, a mayd,
Most sorowfułł in my mynd.
O Iudas! why didist thou betraye
My son, þi master? what can pou saye,
526 She reproaches
Judas for his
Thy-self for till excuse?
Of his tender mercyful charite,
Chase he not the on his xij to bee?
He wald not be refuse.
Callyt not he pe to his supere & last refection)?
Cowth pou not put owt þi pesyn) & infection
treachery to his
Saue thus only,
[leaf 150]
Vnto thy master to be so vn-kind ?
tender Master.
Was his tender gudnese owt of thy mynd
So vn-naturallye ?
Gaue he not to the his body in memoriałł,
And also in remembraunce perpetuał

At his suppere there?
He that was so comly & fayre to be-hold,
How could he
dare to cause
Christ's death?
How durst thou, Cruel hert, to be so bold
To cawse hym dy thus here?
By thy treson, my son here is slayn)!
My swete, swetist son! how suld I refreyn),
This bludy body to be-hold?
Iosephe.
Gud dere Marye! git you hence!
We shall bery hym with all reuerence,
& ly hym in the mold.
Haue hir hence, Iohn, now, I desire!
Ihoannes Euangeliste.
Mary is askt to
Com on, swete lady, I ȝ0w reqwire;
go away,
I shall gife yow attendance.
On of yow women ber hir Companye!
Iosephe.
Altera maria.
I shall wayte on hir.
Go we hence, marye!
Put all this from
your remembrance!
Marie Virgyn.
His moder, am not I?
What meyn ye, frendes? what is your mynd?
[leaf 150, back] Towardes me be not so vn-kinde!
Wold ye haue the moder depart hym fro?
but she says she To lefe hym thus, I will not so,
will stay by her
Son.
But bide, & sitt' hym bye.
Therfore, gud Ioseph, be content.
Iosephe.
Aa! Marye, for a gud consent
We wald not haue you here.
Marie Virgyn.
Wold ye re-newe mor sorow in me?

Iosephe.
Nay, gud lady, that were pitee.
Marye Virgyne.
Than late me abide hym nere!
Iohn! why spek þe not for my comforte?
567 The Virgin Mary
prays them to
568 let her stay by
the Cross,
Mi dere sone bad me to you resorte,
And allway on you całł.
Ye knaw wel, her is my tresure,
Whom I loue beste, whom al my plesure
is & euer be shall;
Her is my likinge & a my loue;
Why wald
ye than me hens rernoue?
I pray yow hartly, cesse !
Departe I may not, bot by fors constreynyd.
Remembringe departinge, ales, my hert is paynid
mor then I may expresse!
[leaf 151]
Now, dere swete coysyn)! I you praye!
Myn awn) dere loue, which on thursdaye,
and, in remem-
Of his grace special,
brance of
Christ's love to
Of his lovinge mynd & tendernesse,
them,
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 special 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 content, & suffere mee
Ons yit for to hold,
For to holde here in this place,
And in myn armys for to enbrace
This body which now is cold,
This bludy body woundit so sore,
Of my swet son: Ioħn, I aske no more!
592 to let
her once more
hold her Son's
body in her
arms.

John Euangeliste.
Lady, if ye will haue moderation)
Of youre most sorowful lamentacion),
Saint John
Do as ye list, in this case.
Marie virgyñe.
Iohn, I shał do os ye thinke gude.
[leaf 151, back] Genti Iosepħe, lat me sit vnder your rude,
And holde my son a space.
Nichodemus.
and Nicodemus
Let vs suffere the modere to compleyn
consent.
Hir sonnes detħe in verrey certeyn,
Til ease hir & content'.
Iosephe.
Ye! so shall hir sorowful harte
Alway to suffere smarte,
And we can bot repente.
Marie Virgyn).
The Virgin takes O sisters, Mawdleyn, Cleophe, & Iacobye!
Christ's body in
her arms,
Ye see how piteful my son) doth lye
and laments
over Him,
Here in myn armys, dede!
What erthly mother may refreyn),
To se hir son thus Cruelly sleyn),
A! my harte is hevy os lede!
¶ Who shall gife me water sufficient,
And of distillinge teris habundance,
That I may wepe my fill with hart relent
After the whantite of soroful remembrance?
[eights: abab,
bcbc]
recalling His
Birth and
[leaf 152]
Circumcision.
For his sak that made vs all,
Which now ded lyes in my lappe;
Of me, a mayd, by grace speciał,
He pleside to be born), & sowket my pape.
He shrank not for to shew the shape
Of verreye man at his circumcision),
And per shed his blude for mannys hape.

Al-so at my purification),
Of hym I made a fayre oblation),
Which to his fader was most plesinge.
For fere, than, of herodes persecution),
In-til 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 þat can not wepe, at me may lere.
¶ Was neuer deth so Cruel as this,
To slo the gyvere of al grace.
Son! suffer me your woundes to kisse,
& your holy blude spilt in this place!
Dere son! ye haue steynyd your face,
Your face so frely to behold.
Thikk bludy droppes rynnes down a-pace,
Speciosus forma, the prophet told.
¶ But alese! your tormentes so manyfold
Hase abatid your visage so gloriose !
Cruell lewes! what mad yow so bold
To commyt pis Crym) most vngraciose,
Which to your-self is most noyose?
Now shall all the cursinges of your lawe,
Opon yow fat most myschevose,
& be knawen of vagabundes ouer awe.
¶ He & I com both of your kyn),
And that ye kithe vn-curteslye;
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 a giltlesse.
¶ Son! in your handes ar holes wid,
And in your fete that so tender were;
A gret wounde is in your blessit sid,
DIGBY MYST.
629 The Virgin
Mary's Lament
630 over Christ's
Corpse.
Now is my dear
child dead.
Let me kiss his
wounds.
Cruel Jews,
you shall be
cursed, and
[leaf 152, back]
653 vagabonds
everywhere,
for slaying my
Son, the King of
Heaven.

The Virgin
Mary's Lament
over Christ's
Corpse.
Full deply drevyn) with a sharpe sper';
Your body is bete & brussid here;
On euery sid no place is free:
Nedes muste I wepe with hevy chere.
Who can not wepe, com lern) at me,
¶ And beholde your lorde, myn) awn) der son),
Thus dolfulye delt with, ose ye see.
My dear Son's
Se how his hede with thornys is thronge!
head is pierct
with thorns.
Se how he naylit was tiH a tree!
His synows & vaynes, drawne so straytlee,
Ar brokyn sonder by payns vngude!
Who can not wepe, com) lern) at me,
He hangs on the And be-holde hym) here þat hange on rude!
¶ Se aH a-bowte the bludy streynes !
Rood.
[leaf 153]
O man! this suffert he for thee!
Se so many fel & bitter peynes!
This lamme shed his blude in full plentee:
Who can not wepe, com lern) at mee !
Se all his frendes is from hym fled!
He is all blood, AH is but blude, so bett was hee
Fro the sole of his fute vnto þe hed!
from head to
foot.
O swete child! it was nothinge mete—
Saue your sufferance, ye had no pere,—
To lat Iudas kisse thes lippes so swete;
Let me kiss
Him,
To suffer a traytor to com so nere,
To be-tray his master myldist of chere.
O my swete child! now suffer yee
Me your moder, to kisse yow here,-
Who can not wepe, com lern) at me!—
To kisse, & swetly yow imbrace;
hold Him in my Imbrace, & in myn) armes hold;
arms, and look
on His blessed
face.
To hold, & luke on your blessit face;
Your face, most graciose to behold;
To beholde so comly, euer I wold;
I wold, I wold, stift with yow bee;
Still with yow, to ly in moid,

Who can not wepe, com lern) at me!
¶ My wil is to dy, I wald not leve;
Leve, how suld I? sithen dede ar yee.
My lif were ye / noght can me greve,
So þat I may in your presence bee.
Me, your woful moder, her may ye se;
Ye see my dedly sorow & payn),—
Who can not wepe, com lern) at mee !—
To see so meke a lambe her slayn);
¶ Slayn of men that no mercy hadd;
Had they no mercy, I reporte me see;
To se this bludy body, is not your hart sadd?
Sad & sorowful, 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 still in your mynd!
¶ When ye war born), of me, a mayde myld,
I sange lullay to bringe you on slepe :
my
child!
Now is my songe, alese, ales,
Now may I wayle, wringe my handes, & wepe!
Who shalbe my comforth? who shall me kepe,
Save at your departinge ye segnyte to mee
Ioħn, your cosyn,¹ most virtuus & zepe,
Who that can not wepe, com & lern) at mee!
¶O derest childe! what falt haf ye done?
What was your trispace,-I wald knav it fayn),—
Wherfor your blessid blude is forsid forth to rone?
Haue murtherid any person or ony man slayn),
That your avn pepił pus to yow dose endeyn)?
Nay nay nay / ye neuer did 2 offence!
Was neuer spote of syn) in your cler conscience!
And not-withstandinge their felt indignation),
Only of gudwit & inward charitee,
Also for loue, & mannes saluation),
1 'standinge in this place' crosst through.
2 MS. did of.
The Virgin
Mary's Lament
702 over Christ's
Corpse.
[leaf 153, back]
709 My meek Lamb
is slain by
710 merciless men.
718 When He was
born, I sang
Him lullaby;
now is my song,
Alas! Alas!
726 [78: abab, bcc.]
What was His
fault, that He
was slain?
[leaf 154]
732 None. No spot
of Sin was in
733 Him.

The Virgin
Mary's Lament
over Christ's
Corpse.
Son, comfort
your woeful
Mother!
ȝe haue suffert all this of your humylitee!
Of your large mercee, gret was þe whantite;
Grete was pe multitude of your merites ał,
Thus for mannes sake to tast þe bitter gal.
7.39
Son! helpe, help your moder in this wofułł smarte!
Comfurth your wofuł moder, þat neuer was vnkind!
In your Conception, ye reyoyet my harte;
But now of dedly woo / so gret cawse I find,
That pe Ioy of my haylsinge is passit fro my mynd.
Let me hold you Yit suffer me to hold yow her on my lape,
on my lap!
Which sumtym gafe you mylk of my pape.
¶O swete, swetist child! woo be vn-to me!
O most woful woman) / your awn moder, loo!
Who shall graunt it me / with you for to dee?
What can I do? The son is dede / what shall the moder doo ?
Where shall sho resorte? whider shall sho goo?
Yit suffere me to hold yow a while in my lap,
Which sum-tym gafe yow mylk of my pap!
Death, take me! O crewed deth! no lenger thou me spare!
To me thou wer welcom), & also acceptabil;
[leaf 154, back] Oppresse me down at ons / of the I haue no care.
O my son, my saueyour/ & Ioye most comfortabił,
Suffere me to dy / with yow most merciabil!
Or at lest lat me hold you / a while in my lape,
[1 six.]
Wicked Jews,
Which sum-tym) gaue yowe þe milk of my pape! 760
TO ye wikkit pepiH, with-out mercy or pitee!
hang me too on Why do ye not crucyfye & hinge me on pe crosse?
the Cross!
Spare not your nayles / spare not your crueltee!
Ye can not make me to ron) in greter losse
Than to lesse my son þat to me was so dere!
Dear Son,
Why sloo ye not pe moder / which is present her? 766
¶ Dere sone! if the Iwes/yit will not sloo me, 767
Your gudnes, your grace, I besech & praye,
call me to Thee! So call me to your mercy, of your benignitee!
To youre mek suters ye neuer saide yit naye;
Then may ye not your moder, in this cavse delaye.

The modere, with the child desires for to reste;
The Virgin
Mary's Lament
Corpse.
Remembere myn) awn) son) / þat ȝe sowket my breste! over Christ's
¶ Remember when your fleshe was soft os tender silke,
With the grosse metes then yow I wold not fede, 775
But gaue yow the licour/ of a maydyns mylke;
TiH Egip[t]e in myne¹ Armes / softly I did you lede;
But your smylinge contenaunce I askit non other mede,
Then be content' / that I with yow may riste,
Remembere my der son) / þat ȝe sowkit my briste!
At your natiuitee, remember, my dere son),
What vessel I brochit' to your nobił grace!
Was per neuer moder that brochit sich a ton)!
My dear Son, at
your birth I fed
you with
Maiden's Milk.
From my virgyne pappes / mylk ran owt a-passe; 784
To your godly power / natur gaf a place;
Ye sowkit maydens milke / & so did neuer none,
Nore her-after shał / saue your-self alone /
[leaf 155]
¶ When ye sowkid my brest / your body was hole & Then were you
sound.
Alese! in euery place Now se I
Now, help me, swet mawdleyn
ground!
whole and
788 sound.
Now are you
full of wounds!
wound!
many
for I fall to pe
[Couplets.]
And me, wofułł mary, help now, gud Iohn!
John Euangeliste
Than, gude swete lady, lef your gret mon)!
Mary Virgyn
A. A. Mawdleyn)! why devise ye nothinge,
To this blessid body for to gif praysinge?
Sum dolorose ditee Express now yee,
In þe dew honour of þis ymage of pitee,
Mawdleyn
To do your biddynge, ladye, [I] be rightt fayn),
But yit, gud lady, your teres ȝe refreyn)!
Iosephe
Now, mary! deliuer that blessit body til vs!
Magdalene, sing
and praise my
794 Son's blessed
corpse 1
1 MS. myns.

[leaf 155, back]
Dear Friends,
bury me with
my Son I
Mary Virgyn
Wil je tak from me / myn) own) son) Iesus?
Nichodemus
Gud lady, suffer vs to bringe hym to his grave!
Mary Virgyn
Swete frendes! suffer' me mor respit to haue!
Haue compassion) of me, frendes, I ȝou praye!
So hastely, fro me tak hym not a-waye!
Yf to his sepulcre nedes ye will hym bere,
Bery me, his moder, with myn) awn) son here!
When he was lyvynge, to leve I desirid²;
Now sithen he is ded, al my Ioye is expirid;
There-for lay the moder / in grave with the child!
Iohannes euangelista.
O mary, modere, & maiden most myld!
Ordere your-selfe, os reson) doth requere.
Iosephe
Com on! lat vs bery this body that is here!
Mary Virgyn
O, now myn) harte is in a mortał dreď!
Can I not keep Allas! shat I not kep hym nothire whik ne ded?
Him, alive or
dead?
Is ther no remedye?
Yit, Iosephe, agayn) the cloth ye vnfold,
Let me look on
His face once
more !
This parting
kills my heart,
that his graciose visage I may ons behold,
I pray yow interlye!
Iosephe
Pece, gude marye! ye haue had all your will.
Mary virgyn
Ales! this departinge / my tender hart' doth kiH! 820
Gud Coysyn) Ichn, yit spek a word for mee!
Iohne Euangelist'
Be content, swet mary, for it may nott' bee /

Mary Virgyn
(leaf 156]
A. A. toward me ye
be verreye Cruel!
Yit lat me bid ons myn) own) son) far-well!
Let me bid my
Son farewell!
Ye may it not denye.
Now, fare-weł, only Ioye of all my harte & mynd!
Farewell the derest / redemption) of mankind!
Suffert most bitterlye.
Iohne Euangelist
Com one, gud Mary, com!
Nichodemus
Some of you women ber hir companye.
ijº Maries
We shall gife hire attendance
Faithfully with humble reuerance.
Exeunt
Iosephe
Now in his grave lat vs ly hym down),
And then resorte we agayn to the town), sepelit[ur]
To her what men will saye.
833 Christ is laid in
His grave.
Mawdleyn, ye must hense departe.
Mawdlen
Ye, & that with a sorowful harte,
Mowrnynge nyght & daye.
Fare-weł, swete lambe! far-wel, most innocent!
Wrichit mawdleyn) with most hartly intent
Mary Magdalene
resolves
Commendes hir to your grace.
Far-wel, der master! far-weł, derest lord!
Off yowr gret mercye / ȝe shał þe warld record
Her-after in ylk place /
Summe preciose balmes I will go bye,
Til anoynt & honour this blessit body,
845 [leaf 156, back]
to buy precious
balms to anoint
His body.
Os it my dewty is.
Fayre Iosephe & gude Nichodemus,
I commend you to the kepinge of Iesus!
He will whit ȝou all this.

Iosephe
Fare-weH, mawdleyn! to your-self comfurth take!
Of this blessit beriał / lat vs ane end make!
Joseph takes
comfort, because
Christ will rise
again on the
third day.
Here now is he gravid, & her lyes hee,
Which for loue of man), of his charite
Suffert bitter passion).
Gret comforthe it is vnto vs all,
That the thride day aryse he shał
In the most gloriose fassion).
The tyme drawethe fast, & approchis ner';
Schortly I truste sum gud tidinges to her.
Devowte Nichodemus, departe we as nowe.
Nicodemus.
Gladly, frende Ioseph, I will go with ȝ0we.
Thus her endes the most holy
End of Part I.
Berial of pe body of Crist Iesu.¹
The second part, The Resurrection, runs on without a break
in the MS.

[Part II. Christ's Resurrection.]
[Mainly in Sixes, aab ccb. Note the long Sevens (ababbcc)
and short Sixes after l. 1133, p. 209.]
Her begynnes his resurrection)
on pas[c]he daye at Morn).
865 [leaf 156, back]
O

[Scene 1.]

Mawdleyne begynnes, sayinge
shall it
This grete hevynese & payn!
Alese! how longe shall it remayn)?
How longe shall it endure
And rist with-in my most carful hart'?
How longe shall I feyle this dedly smarte?
Who shall my sorowe cure?
How longe shat I lef in desolation)?
When shaft pe houre com of consolation),
That my master I maye see,
Part II. Scene 1.
Pascha.
867 How long shall
my sorrow last?
[leaf 157]
875 My Master was
crucified last
Friday,
Which opon the friday laste,
Was Crucified & nailit fast',
Peteosly till a tree?
So pyteose a sight & lamentabil,
So dolorose & miserabił,
I hop ye shall neuer fynd.
Cursid kayn was verrey Cruel,
And slew his awn) brothere AbcH
Of a maliciose mynd;
Yit was he not so maliciose
Ose the cruel lewes most owtragiose,
Which her has slayn) my lord!
The sonnes of Iacob, gret envy had
Agayns þer brother Ioseph ȝ0nge, wise & sad,
Os scriptur doth record;
by Jews crueller
than Cain,

crueller than
Jacob's sons,
or Herod who
slew the
Innocents.
Thay intendit to slo hym malishosly,
And yit pay did not soo Cruelly
Os wrought thes Iewes wild!
Few ȝeres past, herod the kinge
Put to deth many ȝonglinge,
& many moders child
[leaf 157, back] Here in the land off Israel;
But of such Cruelte harde ye neuer tel
Ose done was one Fridaye,
When so grete rigore & tyrannye
Was in theire hartes, to garre hym dye
Which was so graciose aye!
Christ was more
AbeH & Iosephe wer gude & graciose,
9°3
glorious than
Abel and Joseph,
But theire dedes wer not so gloriose
Nor of so vertuose kynd,
9°5
Ose of hym) which in his humanitee
Wrought grete myracles in his diuinitee,
Als ye may call to mynd.
For all his werkes so wel devyside,
Emange tham thus to be dispised,
and yet was
cruelly slain.
And with Cruellty slayn)!
Ales! when I remembere his woo,
Scantly may I spek or goo,
In harte I haue such payn.
I have precious I haue bought here oyntmentes preciouse
ointments for
His body.
To ensalue his body most graciose,
To doo it reuerence.
My sister Cleophe saide that shee
To the sepulcre wald goo with mee,
And doo hir diligence.
Of the thridday this is þe mornynge,
And of my dere master yit herd I nothinge,
Wherfor I am moste hevee.
[leaf 158]
Alese! felishipe her is noon!
I will go to His
Rathere then I faile, I wil go Alone.
grave alone.
A, dere lorde! your mercee!

Secunde Marye commys in, & sais,
A, my harte! what pou art faynt!
How longe shall we thus mak complaynt'?
So sorowful tym neuer was!
When shall comforth com of our desire?
What woman is this þat lyes here?
It is mawdleyn), alese!
Sister mawdleyn! why waile ye on this wise?
Gud sister! we pray ȝ0u stand vp, a-rise!
Comforth your-self wyslye!
Mawdleyn
Off your commynge, sister, I am glade;
I-wise I knaw well pat ȝe be sadd;
Ye haue cawse, os weł os I.
933 Magdalene, rise
up!
Secund Marye
Ther is no gud Creatur, dar I saye,
But inwardly sorowe he may,
And compleyn bitterlye,
To remembere the feH torment'
And Cruel payne of this Innocent'
939 Every one
sorrows for
Which levit so vertuoslye.
Of his meknese hymself he offred,
What-soeuer payn to hym was profred,
this Lamb's
suffering.
This lambe,¹ god[ys] son so free;
Nothinge ragid he, ne was vnpaciente,
[leaf 158, back]
But euer most mekly tiłł his payn) he went',
With bayne benignitee.
From the tym of Abrahame,
& þat our faders from Egip[t] cam),
Or when sorow was maste,
I am suere was neuer day so piteouse,
So doolfuH, & so dangerouse,
Never was day
so piteous as
last Friday,
Ose friday that is paste,
When all the crueltye was owt sought,
1 pat or ys blotted.

To distroy hym made a thing of nogħt,
To sloo hym that gyves life!
Owt of my mynd this neuer goo shat,
when the Maker That for man, diete the maker of all,
of all, died for
Man.
By his manhed passyve.
The Three
Maries,
[leaf 159]
Mawdleyn
So doolful a day was neuer befor this!
But go we to the Monyment wher his sepulcre is,
To anoynte his body there.
Secund Marye
Sister, I com for that sam Intent';
Ther is nothinge can me better content;
To go, I haue no fere.
Mawdleyn
Then, gude sister, lat vs goo devowtlee.
Secunde marye
Abide! yonder commes Marye Iacobee;
I trow, with vs sho wiłł goo.
971-2
Thride Marye commys in
O gude sisters, how is it with ȝowe?
Mawdleyn
A, dere sister! neuer soo eviłł os nowe!
Thrid Marye
Gud mawdleyn), say not soo!
on this 3rd day, This is the third day, ȝe remember' wel.
Mawdleyn)
Ye; bot of my master & lorde, I her not teił,
Therfore I can not cease.
will go to their We were goynge to [the] Monyment
Lord's
Sepulchre.
Wher'-os lyeth that swete Innocent'.
Loo, here, Oyntmentes of swetnese !
Thrid marye
Gude sisters, on yow shall I wayte.

Secunde Marye
Then let vs tak þe way furth strayte.
Mawdleyn)
Sisters, I perceyve the place is her-bye;
Lat vs ordeyn our oyntmentes accordinglye
With all humylite.
Here lyes he þat was merciful to synners ał!
Here lyese he, most piteose when we did całł!
Com nerr sisters, & see!
Lo, here is the place wher pe body was laid,
Which born was of a virgyn & a cleyn maid.
Till honour it, grete cawse haue wee.
The 3 Maries
reach Christ's
Tomb.
992 [leaf 159, back]
Gud sisters, be we not affrayd
To do hym reuerence & dewtee!
Here he lyeth, whose¹ lif surmountes al oper,
Which raysed from deth to lyve, Lazarus my broþer,
Now a levinge man)!
He lyese her, which by his powre devyn),
In chana Galilee turnyde water to wyn,
Ose many testyfy Can).
The angel spekes :
The Angel tells
them
Whom seke ye, women sanctifiede?
Three maryes to-gider sais:
Jesus of nazareth crucified,
The redemer of mankind!
Angel.
He is resyne! he is not here!
that Christ
is risen.
To his disciples he shall apere ;
In galilee thay shall hym fynd.
Mulier, quid ploras // Woman, why wepis pou soo?
Mawdlen
For myn harte is full of sorow & woo.
My lorde, þat was the kinge of blisse,
Is takyn away; I wat not wher' he is.
1 MS. whose whose.

AngeH
The Angel again Com hidder, women! approche mor nere!
tells them
[leaf 160]
that Christ has
risen, and
Be of gude comfurth & of gud cher,
For so gret cawse ye haue:
He that ye seke so beselye,
With gude mynd so faythfullye,
Is resyn here from his grave!
The son of gode, in his humanite
Sufferde deth / & by his diuinitee
For redemption of man was he born),
Is resyn the thrid daye.
Displayede on the crose, & al to-torn)
In right piteose araye.
has won the
victory.
The bate is done, & victorye renuyd!
The grete enmy of man þerby is subduyď,
That most hatid mankynd.
He shows them Com hidder, & behold with your Eye
where the Body
lay, and bids
The place where pe body did lye!
Be Ioyeos now of mynd!
them take the
Loo! here is the cloth droppid blud,
bloody cloth that
was put on Him Which was put on hym takyn) of þe rud,
on the Cross.
Ose your-self did see.
For a remembrance, tak it yee,
And hy yow fast to Galilee;
For ther, apper shall hee.
Mawdleyn
Yit must myn herte wepe Inwerdlye,
Yit must I mowrn) contynuallye,
Myndinge my master dere.
Mary Magdalene O! what myn harte is hevy & lothe,
still mourns.
When I beholde this piteose clothe
Which in my hande is here;
This cloth with blude þat is so stayneď,
Of a maydens child so sor constraynid,
[leaf 160, back] On Cross when he was done!

O rygore vnright! O crueltee!
O wikkit wylfulnese! O peruersitee!
O hartes harde os stone,
to Put to deth a lamb so meke !
Well may the teres ron) down) your cheke!
Well may your hertes relent',
Myndinge the payn) my lord & master felte!
O! in my body my herte now dotħe melte !
She'd be content
to die.
To dy, I were content!
Secund Marye
Sister Mawdlen), to blame ye are,
With this dedly sorow your-self to marre,
Your-self thus to torment'.
Ye torment your-selfe, & crucifye;
Ye haue cawse to tak gladnes, & whye,
Ye haue proue evident',
That your master & oures, by his godly myght
Is resen from deth / to lyfe! an angel bright
Schewes thes tidinges til vs,
The other
Maries assure
1058 her that Christ
is risen,
And shewed vs the place / wher his body laye,
Which is not ther / for-pi let passe a-waye
Our sorow most grevouse.
Thride marye
Sister Mawdleyn), in your hart be stabil!
We shall here tidinges right comfortabil,
and good tidings
'll soon come.
And þat I trust shortlye;
For that is suth veritabiH,
Saide so afore suthlye.
Ic69
Mawdleyn
[leaf 161]
A. A. Sisters / my slewth/ & my necligence!
I haue not don my dewty ne my diligence,
Ose vnto me did fall!
At my masters sepulcre, if I hade gifen attendance,
And waytid wisely with humble affiance
Os I was bound most of all,

earlier to sce
Christ's arising. I am, & nedes must bee.
1 Alese, sisters! I was to tidiose,
That holy sight to see.¹
Mary Magdalene I shuld haue seyn his vprisinge gloriose
laments that she
didn't come
Of my swete lorde / of pe which desirose
1080-
Than I shuld haue had comforth vncomparabiH, 1081
Of the which Ioye / to speke I am not abiH;
Than I hade seyn my lorde
To haue resyn from his sepulture,
With his bludy woundes, of hym I had ben sure.
Ales! when I record
How I myghte haue had a sight of your presence, 1087
Who then aught of verrey congruence
He, by His
mercy, had
calld her, the
greatest of
To be mor glad than I,
Which ye haue callid by your grace onlee,
Beynge gretist synner / vnto your large mercee,
sinners, had let And that most² curtesly?
Whoso will not wayte when pat tym is,
When faynest he wold therof, shał he mysse;
So it faris by mee.
O, wold to god I had made more haste!
My slewthful werke is now in wast!
ȝit, gud lord, haue pou pitee!
[leaf 161, back] When Symon to dyner did hym całł,
Amonges the gestes & straungers al,
her, at Simon's
dinner,
With meknese soberlye
I com in with mynde contrite,
For I hade levid in fow delite,
In syn of licherye.
Not-with-standinge the gret abhomynation)
Of my grete synnes full of execration)
Yit of his benignite-
As with all mercy he was replete—
wash His feet
with her tears,
Loo, his mercyful pitee!
He sufferte me with teris to wesh his fete!
11 These 2 lines are at the bottom of the page.
2 'gracioslye or' crosst thro.

SCENES 1 & 2.
·
My synful lippes, which I did abuse,
To towch his blessit fleshe he wald not refuse;
And ther right oppenlye,
Off his most piteouse tendernese,
IIII and touch His
flesh with her
sinful lips.
The pardoun of my synnes & gret excesse,
He pardond all
her sins.
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 opon hym) for vs al
To ouer-com the fend þat made vs fał.
A, Sisters! wet mowrn) may wee!
Secund marye:
J122
Sister Mawdleyn)! it is bot in vayn)
Thus remedilesse to mak compleyn);
Ther-for it is the best,
Ych on of vs a diuerse way to take.
[leaf 162]
The 3 Maries
His apperinge, Ioyful may vs make,
agree to
separate,
And set ouir hartes in reste.
The thride marye:
Ye, to sek & inquere, let vs faste hye;
Sister mawdlen), this is next remedye;
And perfore departe wee.
1 Mawdleyn):
O lorde & master! help vs in hye
To haue a sight of thee!¹
Tunc exeunt' hee tres Marie.

[Scene 2.]

Petrus intrat, flens amare:
that they may
the sooner see
1133 Christ.
Allmyghty god, which with thyn inward Ee 1134
Seest the depest place of mannŷs conscience,
And knowest euery thinge most cler & perfitlee,
1_1 These 3 lines are at the foot of the page.
2 Some stanzas of long sevens, ababbcc, now alternate with the
old sixes, aab aab, shortend.
DIGBY MYST.
P
Part II. Scene 2.

St. Peter,
weeping, asks
Christ's mercy

Haue mercy, haue pitée; haue pou compatience!
I confess & knowlege my most gret offence,
My fowle presumption) & vnstabilnesse!
Let þi meki mercy ouerflowe my synfulnesse!
And yit I knaw well,
No erthly thinge can tell,
Nor ȝit it expresse,
My fawtes & gret syn)
Which I am wrappid in
With¹ dedly hevinesse.
Ther may not be lightly / a greter trispesse,
Then the seruaunt / the master to denye;
His owne master / his own) kind master: alesse!
I mak confession) / here most sorowfullye,
That I denyed mayster / & þat most vnkindlye!
I 140
[leaf 162, back] For when thay did enquere / if þat I did hym knoo,
I saide I neuer sawe hym! a-lesse! why did I soo? 1153
for his Denial
of Him,
With teres of contrition),
With teres of compassion),
Well may I mowrnynge make!
What a fawte it was,
(1154
Who calld him,
from a poor
fisher, to be His
Disciple, and
nam'd him
Peter, a rock
of stability.
The seruaunte, alas,
His master to forsake!
When his grace callid me / fro warldly besines,
And of a poore fishere / his discipte! alas, mee!
I was callit Symon Bariona, playnly to expresse;
But he namid me "petrus" / "petra' was hee: 1163
Petra is a ston/ full of stabilitee,
Alway stedfaste / alase! wherfor was I
Not stabil accordinge / to my nam stedfastlye?
O my febiłł promesse !
O my gret vnkindnesse,
To my shame resaruyd!
O mynde so vnstabiH,
Thou hast made me culpabit!
1 mo crosst through.
bis

· Deth I haue deseruyd!
It plesid thy gudnese, gret kindnese to shew mee,
Callinge me to pi grace / & gudly conuersation);
And when it pleasid thi godhed/ to tak but three
To beholde & see the highe speculation)
Of thy godly maiestye in thy transfyguration),
Thy special grace did abił me for on),
With the gud blessid Iames / & pi cosyn) Iohin.
Alese! pat I was so vnkind
To hym, so tender of mynd
To me most vnworthye!
Ales! the paynes ar smarte
Which I fele at my harte,
And that so bitterlye!
P.
1172 St. Peter's
Lament over his
1173 Faithlessness.
Christ let me
see His
Transfiguration.
[leaf 163]
O lorde! what example / of meknesse shewed yee! 1186
On thursday after supere, it pleasid your grace
To wesh your seruauntes fete / who euer are did see
More perfite meknese / shewet in any case?
I my-self was present / in the same place.
Alese! of my-self / why presumyd I,
He washt his
Servants' feet.
Consideringe your meknese / don so stedfastlye? 1192
A! myn vnkinde chaunce!
When it commys to remembrance,
In my mynde it is euer.
I fele owt of mesure
Dedly payn & displesure,
·
That I can not desseuere.
(I feel deadly
pain.)
O mercyful redemer / who may yit recownte
The paynes which þi-self / for vs did endure!
Vnworthy if I were / I was with pe in pe mount
Where pou swet bludy droppes / man saule to recure.
In that gret agonye / I am right' verrey sure,
Stony hartes of flint / pou wald þam haue mevid,
Seynge thy tendernese / to man by pe relevid.
O, that passion was grete,
When blud droppes of swet
I was with Him
during his
Agony in the
Mount of Olives.
[leaf 163, back]
P 2

St. Peter's
Lament over his
Faithlessness.
ran) down) a-pace!
That was excedigne payne
He was betrayd
by Judas, His
Disciple,
In euery membēre & vayn),
As apperit by his face!
Of Iudas, thow were / betrayede by & bye,
Which was thy disciput, & familiere with the;
It grevid the more, I knew it certanlye.
He was fede at pi burde / of pi benignitee,
And ȝit [thow] were betrayed by his iniquitee!
Yf a straunger had don / pat dede so trayterouse,
J2II
It had beyn mor / tolerabiH/ & not so greuowse. 1218
Dauid did say in prophecye,
'Homo pacis mee, in quo speraui,
Supplantauit' me!'
O lord! your pacience may be perceyvid,
Which suffert so to be betrayed
Of Iudas! woo is hee!
and I forsook
Him, tho' I said
Full of wo may I bee, sorowful & pensyve,
Him.
I wouldn't leave Complenynge & wepinge with sorow inwertlee,
And wep bitter teres / al þe days of my life;
Myn vnstabil delinge / is euer in myn Ee.
I saide I wald not leve my master for to dee;
He said I shuld for-sak hym / or þe cok crow / thris.2
Oh, when He
lookt on me
Afterwerd, when hee
Lokid opon mee
With a myld cowntenaunce,³
[leaf 164]
from among
His enemies,
how my tears
ran down!
Ose he stude on the ground
Emange his enmyse bownd,
O, I wepit abundaunce!
Then my teres continuelly
Ran down most sorowfully,
And yit thay can not cesse.
How may I cesse or stynte?
Yf my harte wer of flinte,
mercy erased.
2 readthrie' thries, thrice.
3 Catchwords :-
:-'As he stod on be grounde.'

I haue caus to wepe dowtlese.
O caytife, O woful wreche!
from thy harte pou may feche
Sore & sighħes depe!
O most vnkind man),
What creatur may or can),
The from sclaunder kepe,
To forsake pi master so tender & soo gud,
Which gaue to pe pe keyes / of al holy kirke,
And mor-ouer for thy sake / shed his own) blud!
O synfull caytyfe / now aught I sore til irke!
Ales, Iohn! why did not' I
Folow my master so tenderlye
I did to the ende?
1242 St. Peter's
Lament over his
Faithlessness.
I unnaturally
1249 forsook my so
good Master
who shed His
blood for me.
Os ȝe
But for ye delt' soo stedfastlye,
My master gaue you marye
To kep in your commend.
Yf this dedly woo & sorowe
Endure with me vnto to-morowe,
My heart will
break.
Myn hart' in sunder wiH breke.
Now, lorde, for pi tender mercyes all,
Reconcyle me to grace, & to þi mercy całł!
Ales, I may not speke!
et sic cadit in terram, flens amare.
Andreas, frater petri, dicit.
A. Brothere peter, what nedes all pis?
I se wel, good cowncel will yow mysse.
Dry vp your teres & rise!
Comforth your-selfe, I require yow, & praye!
We shall haue gud tidinges! this is pe thrid day/
Sorow not in this wise!
Iohannes Euangelista:
Stand vp, gud brother, & mesur your hevynese!
This gret contrition) of your hart, dowtlese
To god is plesant sacrifice.
[leaf 164, back]
Oh Lord,
call me to thy
mercy!
1265 Andrew com-
forts his brother
Peter.
1271 St. John bids
Peter moderate
his grief.

Petrus
A, gud brethere, Andrewe & Ioħn,
Was neuer creatur so wo-begon)
Os I, wrech most vnwyse!
Peter still
laments his
cruelty.
For rememberinge the infinite gudnese
Of my lorde & my most Vnkyndnese
Don so Writchitlye,
At my hart, sorow sittes so sore,
That my dedly payn) encresis mor & more!
Alese, my gret folye!
[in 7s.]
Andreas
Andrew begs
him to take
comfort, as
[leaf 165]
Christ will rise
this third day,
Gud brothere peter, your-self ȝe comfort';
Ther is none of all, bot comfurth may he hafe;
For emonge vs a-gayn) our lorde shał resorte.
By his passion / his purpasse / was, man-kind to saue;
This is the thrid daye / in which from his graue
He shall arise/fro deth, I haue no dowte;
Therfor lett' comfurth / put this sorowe owt'!
¶ Brothere peter / þe verrey truth to saye,
Few of vs al / hade perfit stedfastnesse,
But sumwhat dowtid / & wer owt of the waye;
Not-withstandinge / of his godhed the clernesse
Schewed by his miracles / with all perfitnese;
and He foretold
that His
disciples should
forsake Him.
He knew their
weakness.
And yf ye remember, brothere / in his last oblation)
He spak of our vnstabilnesse / & of his desolation), 1296
¶ Saynge "Omnes vos scandalum patiemini,”
AH ye shał suffer sclaunder / for me,¹
·
2Os who say ye shał / forsak me a-lonly;
The hird-man shalbe strikyn) / & þe flokk, which we
bee,
Schalbe disperbilit' / & away shall flee.
Loo, gud brother peter / he knew our frealtes att; 1302
Our gude master is merciful/ & graciose with-al; 2
1 onlee (sic) crosst through.
2-2 These five lines are in the margin at bottom of leaf 164,
back.

1307 Andrew shows
Peter that he
should have
good hope, as
Christ told him
his faith should
never fail
And yow, brother peter/ the most specialli
Hase cause of comfurth / for of his church pe hed
He chace you by order / by his grace frelye;
For-pi, from your harte / put þis fere & dred.
Yf ye remember, he said to yow in dede,
Thy faith shall neuer faile / what-so-euer befaH;
Therfor haue gud hope / & comforth spiritual.
Ye askit hym ons a whestion / wherwith he was
content',
'How oft to your brother / synn) ye shuld relese:'.
Ye thought vij tymmes / were verrey sufficient';
But he said sevynty tymes & vij: ye suld forgif dowtles;
A gret now [m]ber it plesit / hym till expresse;
The gret frelty of man / he saw in his godly mynd.
For-thy, for your trispace / pardon may ye find; 1317
How-be-it, of your-self /to presume, to blame ye were;
Man þat is freale, of hym-self suld haue fere., 1319
¶ Your pennance [&] contrition / acceptabiH must
bee;
Therfor in your harte reloye / ye may be fayn,
Rememberinge he has put [yow] in gret auctoritee.
[leaf 165, back]
Christ also put
him in
That he has saide ons / he wit neuer cal agayn), 1323 authority,
Quodcumque ligaueris" / he said; þes wordes ar playn);
And gaue yow þe keyes / of hevyn) & of heH,
So to lowse & to bynd / this can we al teł.
Iohannes euangelista.
giving him the
Keys of Heaven
1326 and Hell.
Gude brother peter / marke ye weH, & note:
The wordes of Andrewe beyn sadd & ponderose;
In your conscience, I knaw weH / is noȝt so great mot',
But that mercy may clere it' / of hym that is so graciose.
Perauenter it was þe wiH / of our master Iesus
That ȝe shuld not be present / his passion) to see,
ȝe
Which he hade on the hiH / in pe most Crueltee. 1333
¶ Peter, if ye had seyn/ your mastere at þat pöynt,
I trov þat syȝt had beyn) to hevy / to yow til endure :
He had torment opon torment / in euery vayn & Ioynt;
St. John is sure
that Mercy can
clear Peter's sin.

St. John tells
Peter how
Christ's body
was torn and
He was so harde nailet / to pat paynfuł lure; 1337
His flesh þat was so tender / born) of a mayden) pure,
And was wont to be towchid / with virgyns handes swete,
Was altotorn most piteosly / from hede to pe fet! 1340
When his body was halid / & stritchid with ropes,
To caws his armes & fet / to þe holes extend,
naild; how His¶
[leaf 166]
Then pe nayles dreffyn in; & of pe blude, dropes
blood was shed; Ran owt so plentuosly / his will it was to spend 1344
AH his precios blude / mannes sor til amend.
With-owt compleint he suffert the nayles & þe spere;
But gretist payn) þat he had / was for his moder dere.
He sufferd patiently,
and
how He was
betrayd,
To be betrayed vnkindly,
To be accusid falsly,
To be intreytid Cruelly,
scornd, and
To be scornyd most dedenynglye,
To be Iuged wrangfully,
To be dampnyt to deth dolfully,
With other paynes sere;
crucified.
To be woundid vniuersally,
To be crucified piteosly,
With scowrges, nayles, & spere.
But now the
time of
Desolation is
ended; that of
Grace is come;
For thes causes, he wald be born) / of a maid most
obedient'.
Now the gret rawnson is paied/which was requirid
For redemption) of man, of the fader omnipotent;
The tyme of desolation / is now expirid;
The tyme of grace is commen, so longe of vs desirid!
Hevyn ȝeates so longe / closid for gret syn),
Our saueyour gafe yow the keyes / to open, & to lat in.
He knew well, for his deth / we shuld be afrayed: 1366
And perfor, ose ȝe remembere / he told vs afore.
His godhed saw wełł / þat we shuld be dismaid
[leaf 166, back] Of his resurrection) / he comfortid vs therfore;
He saide he shuld arise / & live euere-more.
This is the thride daye / therfor dowt nothinge,
Christ will rise
and live for
ever.

But shortly we shall here / of his gloriose vprisinge.
Brether, I wolde tarrye with yow longer here,
But nedes I must go to the virgyn) mylde.
Most sorowful is hir hart' / most hevy is hir chere ;
AH Ioye & comfurthe/ from hir is exilde;
AH hir rememberance / is of hir dere childe.
My master assignyt me / to gyve hir attendance,
St. John
describes the
1376 Virgin Mary's
And that is my dewtye / with all humblye obseruance.
Hir sorow increacyse aye,
sorrow:
As well nyght os daye,
In most piteose araye;
For I darsay suerlye,
Sen hir son was betrayed,
& in his grave layde,
The maid hase me dismaid
For sorow inwerdlye,
That sho nowther tuk rist ne slepe,
Ne from hevynese hir-self cowth kepe;
But euer-more stil dose sho wepe,
1388 She takes nor
rest nor sleep,
That I am verrey sure,
Hartes harder then stone
Wold be mollyfyed anone,
& melte to see hire mone,
That sho dose endure.
To here hir mourn) so moderlye,
[leaf 167]
To se hir wep so tenderlye,
but weeping,
AH myn hert it fayles.
Now sho spekes of the scornes;
Now sho remembers þe thornes
And the grete sturdy nayles;
Now sho spekes of his pacience;
Now sho myndes his obedience,
That vnto deth was.
Now of his visage spekes shee,
Defilid with deformyte,
Of fowH spittinge, a-lasse!
speaks of her
Son's suffering,
1402 and patience
1404 unto death.

SCENES 2 & 3.
PART II. CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.
Now of his woundes dos sho speke,
& of the sper which did breke
Hir sonnes blessid sid.
She is comfort. Thus is sho al comfurthlesse,
less;
Replet with al dulfulnesse;
Therfor I may not bide.
and John will
go to her.
As for this tym I will departe.
Brother peter, be of gud harte,
For other cause haue ye none.
Now farwell, for a starte,
I shał ȝ0w mete anon).
I
Peter
Praye fore me, brother, for goddes sake!
Iohannes euangelista
He bids Peter
trust in faith.
Brothere, to yow no discomfurth take,
[leaf 167, back]
But truste euer faithfullye!
We shall haue comforth, ȝoure sorowe to slake,
And that I trust shortlye.
Tunc exit Iohannes; et dicit Petrus :
brothers.
Peter thanks his Brothere Andrewe / god reward ȝoue euer speciallye !
For Iohn & ye, with youre swete wordes of consolation),
Hase easid my mynd / with comforte stedfastlye.
He is now
happy,
trusting his
Lord's mercy.
I am in trewe faith & hope / with-out desperation), 1427
In my saule now havynge / spiritual iubilation,
Trustinge on the mercy of my master & lord,
Of whose infinite gudnese / I shall euer record.
Let the dew of mercy fall opon) vs!
Part II. Scene 3.
'Ostende faciem tuam / & salui erimus!'
Schewe thy powere, gud lord / & to vs appere!
Let beames of thi grace approche to vs nere,
Super nos, writchit synners!

[Scene 3.]

Intrat maria Magdalena."
0, I writchit creature / what shall I doo?
O, I'a woful woman) / whidere salt I goo?

My lorde, wher shall I find?
When shall I se that desirid face,
Which was so full of beuty & grace
To me, the most vnkind?
I haue sought, & besely inquerid
Hym whom my harte all-way has desired,
And so desiries stil.
Quem diligit anima mea', quesiui;
Quesiui illum, et non inueni!
When shall I haue my wit?
I haue sought hym desirusly,
I haue sought hym affectuosly,
With besines of my mynd.
I haue sought hym with mynd hartely,
The tresure wher-in my hart dose lye.
O deth, thou arte vnkind!
On me, vse thou & exercise
1438 Mary
Magdalene's
Lament.
1.
1442 She has sought
Him in whom
her heart
delighted,
1444 and has not
found Him.
[leaf 168]
1453 Why will not
Death take
1454 her?
The auctorite of thyn) office!
My bales thou may vnbind.
What offence, deth, haue I don to the,
Which art so ouer vnkind to mee?
Nay, Nay, deth! be not soo!
Filie Ierusalem, Wher-os ye goo,
Nunciate dilecto meo,
Quia amore langueo :
Daughters of
Jerusalem!
Of Ierusalem, ye virgyns clere,
Schew my best loue that I was here!
Tel hym, os he may prove,
Tell my love
that I am deadly
1465 sick for His
love.
That I am dedly seke /
And aft is for his loue.
Iesus intrat, in specie ortulani, dicens,
Mulier, ploras? quem queris?
Jesus asks her
whom she
Woman, why wepis thou? whom sekes thou thus? 1469 would have,
Tell me whome thou wald haue!

Mawdlen):
I sek my master & swete lorde Iesus,
Which her was layd in grave.
[leaf 168, back]
.Iesus.
Woman, thou mournest to piteoslye,
And compleynist' the most hevilye,
as her heart
seems troubled.
Thy mynd is not content';
Thyn hart' is trowblit, weł I see,
AH ful doloruse, os thinkes mee,
Thou has not thyn intente.
Maudleyn
Mary Magdalene Myn intent! that knawes hee
thinks He is the
gardener.
On whom my hart is set, & ay shalbee.
Gardener, I yowe praye,
Schew vnto mee, if ye can),
Yf that ye did see here ony man)
Tak his body awaye.
Iesus dicit.
"Maria!
Mawdleyn awnswers,
"Raboni!"
Iesus
He bids her not Noli me tangere!
touch Him,
Mary, towche me not now!
But in-to Galilee go thowe,
but tell His
Disciples that
And to my brether saye,
He is risen and
And to peter which sorowful is,
That I am resen) from dethe, to lif ay in blisse.
Renynge perpetuallye !
Exhort' tham to be of gud chere,
will soon appear And hastely wył I to tham apere,
to them.
To comfurth Ioefullye.
Mawdleyn
O myn harte! wher hast thou bee?
exit Iesus
[leaf 169]
Com hom) agayn), & leve with mee!

My gret sorow is past !
may thou entone a mery songe,
I haue fon now at laste!
Now
For he whom thou desirid so longe,
1 thanke your grace with hert intere,
That of yowre gudnese to me wald apere,
And make my hert thus light'.
Secund marye intrat, cum maria.
Soror, nuncia nobis:
Gud mawdleyn, sister! how standes with yow?
Mary Magdalene
rejoices;
1503 her heart is
light;
Mawdleyn
Dere sisters! neuer so well os nowe!
For I haue hade a sight
Of my lorde & master, to my comfurth special. 1508 she has seen her
To his godhed I render thankes immortal,
Os I am bound of dewtee.
Thrid marye:
Lord and
Master,
It Apperis, suster, by your cowntenaunce,
That the gret sorow is owt of remembrauñce;
And so, by your sawe, gret cause haue yee.
Mawdleyn):
I haue gret cause, sisters, I knaw it weł;
For of my Ioye he is the springe & well,
the Spring and
Well of her joy,
And of my lyfe sustenaunce.
Haue ye seyn our lord, sister? ar ye sure?
Secunde marye:
Mawdlen
[leaf 169, back]
Sister, I haue seyne my gretist tresure,
her greatest
Treasure.
My hartly Ioye & plesaunce!
Thride mary
A. Sister! gret comfert may your hart inflame.

Mawdlen
He spoke to her, ȝe, gude sister! he callit me 'mary' by my name,
And spak with me homlye.
I saw hym bodely, in flesh & bloode,
*
Oure redemere, which for vs hang on the roode!
He shewed hyme gratioslye,
and bade her
tell His Disciples
of His
Resurrection.
Thaime to certifye of his resurrectione;
& so will I shortly doo.
And bade me go to his disciples sone,
Secunde Marie
A. A! Mawdleyn)! right happee ye were!
Gret
Ye spente not in vayn) so many bitter tere!
grace is lent yow too!
Jesus appears
to the Three
Maries,
blesses and
comforts them,
and says He has
deliverd His
prisoners from
Hell.
Tunc venit Iesus, & salutat mulieres istas iijes.
Tamen mulieres nil dicunt ei, sed procidunt ad pedes
eius.
Auete! Hayle, blessit women leve!
My blessinge here I youe geve!
Let sorow no more youre harte meve,
But haue comfort allwaye!
I am resene fro deth, so may ye tel;
I haue deliuert my presoners frome hell,
And made tham sure for aye!
[exit Iesus] 1538
Mawdleyn
Now, gud sisters, be no more sadd;
[leaf 170]
Ye haue cause, os weł os I, to be gladd;
Mary Magdalene
rejoices with
the other
Maries.
Oure lorde, loo, of his gudnese,
Of his heghe & godly excellence,
Haves shewede vs here his Ioyeful presence
With wordes of swetnese!
My wordes wer not fantastical, sisters, yee see;
I told youe no lesinge, Sisters, report' mee;
Ye haue seyn with your/ eye.
fisamos

Thrid mary
Oure spirites ben) revivid; our hartes beyn light!
O mawdleyn! this was a gloriose sight,
Schewed to vs gracioslye !
Secund marye
Blessid be that lorde / blessit be that kinge
The other Maries
bless their Lord.
That haues comfurth vs thus with his vprisinge
So sone & glorioslye!
Mawdlen
Susters, in Ioye of this Ioyfulnese,
A songe of comforte lete vs expresse
With notes of Armonye!
"Victime paschali laudes immolent¹ Christiani". Tunc The Three
totum
ad Di[c nobis]
vsque
Maries sing a
hee tres cantant idem, id est, "Victime pascha [li]"2 Hymn.
in cantifracto vel saltum in pallinodio
and John sing
Tunc occurent eis apostoli. scilicet. Petrus. Peter, Andrew
Andreas et Iohann[es], cantantes hoc. Scilicet. too.
"Dic nobis 'maria. quid vidisti in vi[a] "3 re-
spondent mulieres cantantes. "Sepulcrum Christi
viue[ntis]" et cetera, vsque ad "Credendum est "
Apostoli respondentes cantant. "Credendum est
magis soli marie veraci, quam iudeorum turbe fal-
laci." Mulieres iterum cantant "Scim[us] Chris-
tum surrexisse vere /" Apostoli et mulieres [tres]
cantant quasi con credentes. "Tu nobis Christe rex
misere[re]. Amen." Post cantum dicit petrus.
(Sufficit si cantetur eisdem notis et cant[ibus]
vt habetur in sequentia predicta)
1 MS. immolant. This Sequence is from the Easter Sunday
Mass, held at Tierce, 9 a. m. See Note, p. 227-8.
2 Some of the writing in the Margin is cut off.
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.

[leaf 170, back]
Then Peter asks
Mary Magdalene
for news.
tells Peter
Petrus dicit post cantum:
How is it now, marye e? Can ye teH
Any newes which may lik vs well?
Blithe is youre Countenaunce.
Mawdleyn
Mary Magdalene Peter, in youre mynde be fast & stabil;
I can shew youe tydinges most comfortabil;
Trust it of assurance!
Petere
Gude marye, of hym I wold knawlege haue.
Mawdleyn
that Christ is
risen, and has
Peter! oure master is resyn) from his grave!
He apperit vnto vs three
In fleshe & bone, in a gloriose wise!
restord Adam
and his mates
to Paradise.
He hase restorid adam & his in-to paradise,
Which were in helles captiuitee!
Peter
God graunte youre wordes war not in vayn)!
Mawdlen
Peter, That¹ I saye is trew & certayn),
And therfor dowt no more!
Secund marye
The other Maries
Brother, we saughe our lord face to face;
confirm these
glad tidings.
He Apperit to vs in this same place.
And bad vs mowrne not so sore!
Thride mar[y]e
He bade vs testify & tel
That he was resyn) in flesh & felt,
And dy he shalł no more.
Petere
[leaf 171]
A, mary! gret grace to youe is lent',
To whom our lord was so content',
Befor other til apere.
1 which crosst through.

Mawdlen
all shuld see hym in Galilee;
He said, ye
And peter, youre selfe expresly namyd hee;
Therfore be of gud chere!
Andrewe
Yit to his sepulcre lat vs go, & see,
To satisfye our myndes from all perplexitee.
Christ will soon
be in Galilee.
1584 The 3 Apostles
go to the
Sepulchre,
Peter
So cownsel I we doo.
Tunc ibunt. precurrens Iohannes dicit'
Brothere peter, com hither & behold!
It is no fabit that marye vs hase told;
John first.
He sees that
Christ is risen.
This thinge is certen), loo!
How say ye, brother', be ye
satisfied?
Petrus
Brothere Iohn, I am fully certifyed
Peter sees it too,
To gife credens her-too.
Now shah the suth be verefied
Of hym that most may doo /
O, myche ar we bound, gud lord, to your highnes!
and praises
Christ.
For vs wer ye born), & also circumcised;
For vs were ye termp[t]id in the wildernese;
Now Crucyfied to deth, most shamfully dispised! 1598
Yit all this, gude lorde, had vs not sufficyed
But ye had resen) fro deth / by your godhed gloriuse;
Your resurrection) was most / necessarye for vs.
Youre meknese suffert deth for our saluation),
[leaf 171, back]
He died for our
And now are ye resen for oure Iustification);
Youre name euer blessit bee!
Andrewe
This resurrection), to all þe warld is consolation,
For of oure fayth it is trew consolation),
Approvid by his diuinitee.
DIGBY MYST.
Salvation, and is
risen for our
1604 Justification.

St. John bids
them all
Iohannes Euangelista
Brether! Ioy, & comfurth, & Inward iubilation), 1608
And gostly gladnese, in vs aH Encrease inay.
We haue passid the tym / of dole & desolation),
And also I am sure / & right wełł dare I saye,
The Ioyful tresure of our hart'/ we sal se pis daye!
Honour, Ioy & glory / be to hym with-out end,
Which after sich sorow, comfurte can send!
laud and praise To laude & prayse hym, lat vs be abowt';
Christ.
To loue hym, & lofe hym), & lawly hym lowt',
With mynd & mowth devowtlye.
Ther, brether with Ioyful harte,
And devowt sisters on your parte,
Entone sum ermonye!
They all sing a
Song of Praise.
tunc Cantant omnes simul "Scimus Christum,"
vel aliam sequentiam aut ympnum de resurrectione.
Post cantum, dicit Ioh[an]nes, finem faciens /
Loo, down) fro hevyn) / euer-mor grace dos springe!
The gudnese of god is incomparabił, yee see :
Their Sorrow is Her was sorow & mournyng / lamentacion & wepinge;
Now is Ioy & gladnese / & of comfurth plentee,¹ 1624
turnd to Joy.
[leaf 172]
They depart, in
hope of seeing
Christ this
night.
Ioyfully depart wee / now owt of this place,
Mekly abidinge the inspiration) of grace,
Which we belefe
To Him they
commend their
hearers.
Schall com to vs this nyght!
Now, far-weł euery wighte!
We commend yow all to his myght',
Which for vs suffert grefe.
Explicit
1 Written at the bottom of the page; in a later hand :—written
by me... (torn off).

Note on the Romish Easter Service

NOTE. 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 Guérenger, 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 on the way? Dic nobis, Maria, Quid vidisti in via? The first Cleric, who represented Magdalene, answered: I saw the Sepulchre of the living Christ I saw the glory of him that had risen. The second Cleric, who represented I saw the Angels that were the witnesses: I saw the winding-sheet and the cloths. Sepulchrum Christi viventis, Et gloriam vidi resurgentis. Mary, the mother of James, added: Angelicos testes Sudarium et vestes. The third Cleric, who represented Salome, completed the reply, thus: Christ, my hope, hath risen! He shall go before you into Galilee. Surrexit Christus, spes mea. Precedet vos in Galilæan. The two Chanters [= the 3 Apostles of the Play] answered with this protest of faith: It behoves us to believe the single testimony of the truthful Mary, rather than the whole wicked host of Jews. Credendum est magis soli Maria veraci, Quam Judæorum Prava cohorti. Q 2 NOTE. Then the whole of the Clergy¹ joined in this acclamation : We know that Christ hath truly risen from the dead. Do thou, O Conqueror and King, have mercy upon us! Scimus Christum surrexisse A mortuis vere: Tu nobis, victor Rex, miserere!" 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 admiration for her Risen Jesus. It is called a Sequence, because it is a continuation of the Alleluia. Let Christians offer to the Paschal Victim the sacrifice of praise. The Lamb hath redeemed the sheep: the innocent Jesus hath reconciled sinners to his Father. Death and Life fought against each other, and wondrous was the duel : The King of Life was put to death; yet now he lives and reigns. Tell us, O Mary, &c. 2 Victima paschali laudes Immolent christiani. Agnus redemit oves: Christus innocens Patri Reconciliavit peccatores. Mors et vita duello Conflixere mirando: Dux vitæ mortuus Regnat vivus. Dic nobis, Maria [&c., as above]." 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 2 lines to the 3 women, and the last line only to the women and apostles conjoind. 2 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 Charlemagne. The Victima 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 Miracle Plays, 1880, that Prof. Ward has noted the fact in his History of the Drama, from the Germans, who've taught us so much.

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
Aȝen, 128/1935, prep. towards
Agens, 58/91, towards, prep. to-
wards
Aȝens, 115/1606, prep. in front of,
before
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, sb. 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, 147/224, pp. Halliwell 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, sh. opinion
A-plye, 129/1982, vb. apply myself,
set myself to
Apposed, 147/225, pp. questioned,
examined. "Examyn, or apposyn,
or a-sayyn. Examino." Prompt.
Parv.
A-queyntowns, 77/580, sb. 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. (à-tant) sɔ
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
Aunterous, 27/1415, adventurous

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, 97/1111, vb. Latin avete,
hail!
A-weyle, 69/404, vb, avail, profit
Ay-whan, 150/345, adv. every-
when, at all times, ever
Babbyd, 87/863, pp. smitten, struck
Bales, 219/1456, sb. pl. 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 or plyaunt. Flexibilis."
Prompt. Parv.
Be, 101/1223, prep. by
Be-cum, 95/1052, þþ. ‘where he is
be-cum': what has become of
him, where he has gone to
Bede-woman, 129/1967, sb. a woman
bound to pray for another
Bedlem, t0/237; 60/159, 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
17th 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.
bême
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, 156/506, 1 pr. s. curse
Be-take, 72/465, vb. commend;
130/1939, 1 pr. s. commit, com-
mend
Beth, 112/1528, pr. pl. are
Bethany, 57/82
Betyll browyd, 82/724, adj. with
overhanging brows. Compare P.
Plowman, B. v. 190
Bey, 143/108, 1 pr. pl. 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,
labrosus." Cath. 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; 97/1117, sb. bliss,
joy
Blyssynd, 125/1859, sb. blessing
Bome, 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

Bornyd, 71/443, adj. (?) 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, vb. 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, pp. been burnt
Brochit, 197/782, 1 pt. s. tapped,
opened, broached. Brochyn, or
settyn a vesselle broche (abroche),
attamino, clipsidro." Prompt.
Parv.; brochit, 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;
112/1533, pr. pl. be, are
Caiphas, p. 28, 42
Cardyakylles, 106/1363, sb. a pain
of the heart. 66 A cardiakylle or
cardiake: cardia, cardiaca."
Cath. Angl.
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, sb. (?) cliffs
Clennesse, 191/589, sb. purity of
life. "A clennes. Honestas,
mundicia, puritas, sinceritas."
Cathol. Anglicum.
Cler, 113/15623, sb. clerk, Lat.
clerus
""
Cleyff, 120/1741, sb. cliffs (?)
Clower, 65/294, sb. clover
Clumme, 157/522, adj. lit. be-
numbed, hence, rendered useless.
Compare Clumsyd, eneruatus
eviratus," Cathol. Anglicum,
and Cotgrave "Entombi, stonied,
benummed, 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
Conregent, p. 166, at foot: (?)
Contraly, 90/940, contrarily
Carefull, 94/1034; 121/1768, adj. Conversion of St. Paul, p. 27
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,
Cæsars
Caystyys, 57/58, sb. (?) caitiffs,
wretches
Cursor
Ceile, 174/72, sb. happiness. "It
turned him to sele."
Mundi, 4432, A.S. sæl.
Chalyngyd, 105/1318, vb. claim.
"To chalange; vindicare." Cath.
Angl.
Chana, 205/999, Cana
Chapetelet, 140/16, sb. chaplet
Cheveler, 139/1, sb. a wig
Children, the Killing of the, p. 1, 13
Choppe, 160/641, 1 pr. s. bargain,
barter. A.S. ceapian
|
Coroscant, 91/953, adj. shining,
bright. Lat. coruscantem
Coryossyte, 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
Crabbysh, 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 Iee, 74/515, daisy
Deadly Sins, the Seven, p. 75
Debonarius, 71/444, adj. courteous

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, 1 pr. s. despise.
"To defye: despicere." Cathol.
Anglicum.
Delacion, 49/588, delay
Delectary, 83/751, delightful
|
Drynchyn, 83/754, pp. drowned,
overwhelmed
Dya, 67/339, sb. 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
Delycyte, 91/946; 132/2039, de- Dysses, 57/80, sb. decease
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. deorwyrðe
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, pt. s. died
Discent, 1/3, sb. descent
Disperbilit, 214/1301, pp. scattered
abroad. "Sparpe 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. doel
Doth, 56/42, sb. doubt
Dovctors, 57/68, sb. daughters
Dowt, 60/156, sb. fear
Dowt, 216/1371, imp. s. fear
Dowth, 103/1279, doubt
Dree, 180/259, vb. suffer, endure.
A.S.dreogan
Drench, 121/1747, subj. drown
Drye, 911/1043, vb. suffer.
dreogan
A.S.
|
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, pp. 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.
eam
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, 113/1545, 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
Faytors, 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,

societas, et cetera: vbi a com-
pany." Cathol. Anglicum.
Fell, 172/18, adj. cruel, furious
Felle, 75/535, b. fell
Felle, 115/1615, adj. many.
feol
A.S.
Femynyte, 57/71, sb. the good
qualities of a woman
Fles, 106/1351, sb. fleece
Flyth, 111/1507, vb. flight
Fode, 90/942, sb. lit. woman, hence
wife. Fodys, 91/948, pl.
Fon, 221/1500, pp. found
For, 2/44, prep. in spite of
For, 60/141, prep. to prevent
For-gon, 129/1974, pp. lost
Forse, 160/608, pr. pl. 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."
Cathol. Anglicum.
a Gentleman's servant, 30/90
Govele, 160/604, sb. usury. "Gowle
or vsury. Usura, fenus.” Prompt.
Parv.
Gramercy, 185/410, sb. great thanks,
gratitude. Fr. grand merci
Grates, 146/190, sb. pl. thanks,
gratitude
Gravid, 200/853, pp. buried. "To
Graue vbi. to Bery." Cathol.
Anglicum.
|
Gravnt, 123/1805, agreement; 125/
1873, desire, pleasure (?)
Grawous, 65/293, adj. grievous,
heavy
Grobbe, a ship's boy, 107, 125;
119/1717
Grogly, 75/549, a. (?) ugly
Grom, 73/489, sb. person, man
Grome, 72/478, sb. ? name 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, vb. guide, govern
Gyldyr, 72/478, sb. guelder
Gyn, 90/934, vb. begin
Gynnyt, 126/1897, pr. s. begins
Gyntely, 140/16, adv. finely, grandly
Hals, 83/745, sb. neck. A.S. heals
Halse, 67/347, vb. embrace
Halsyd, 131/2031, pp.; 141/44, sa-
luted, greeted, welcomed
Hape, 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, vb. raise, carry up
(see 'in-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, 98/1124, 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

Hight, 150/334, 1 pr. s. am named | Joseph, Christ's reputed father, p.
Ho, 93/1015, pron, who
Hof! 73/491, ho!
10, 17
Joseph of Arimathea, p. 172
Holborn Quest, the, 165/773, p. 168 Iudeon, 106/1351, Gideon
Holy Ghost, the, p. 38
Holy Land, p. 119
A.S.
Home, 101/1226, vb. hum
Hort, 91/965, pt. pl. (?)hurt
Hossell, 133/2081, vb. administer
the holy communion to.
huslian, 134/2087
Hosteler, p. 30, ostler
Houkkyn, 99/1160, vb. toy, copulate
Hurde, 159/584, vb. hoard
Hye, 209/1132, sb. haste
Hyr, 112/1524, 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
Ilezant, 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
Intere, 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. Fastidire,
tedere, pigere." Cathol. An-
glicum.
I-wise, 203/937, adv. assuredly,
certainly. A.S. gewis
Ielopher, 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,
Iorourry, 161/939, sb. (?) swearing,
or jurying, serving on juries (to
give false verdicts)
Kelle, 74/520, sb. (?) prostitute:
compare 'collet'
Kente, 177/156, pp. known
Kepe, 120/1728, sb. care, thought
Kepit, 181/286, pp. cared, thought
Kertelys, 145/164, só. pl. 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, 1 pr. s. knit,
crinkle, my brows
Knowledge, 87/868, vb. acquaint,
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, vb. live
Lem, 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. Anglicum.
See Loselles.
Lore, 150/326, I pr. s. am lost

Loselles, 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. pl. destroy,
upset. A.S. merran
Margaretton, 67/339, sb. pearls
Margente, 180/273, sb. margin, va-
cant space
Maries, the three at the tomb of
Jesus, 93; Jesus appears to them,
Marre, 56/39, vb. destroy
Marry, 61/192, pp. destroyed
Martes, 64/257, (?) Mars
Martha, p. 58, 65, 83, 86, 88
Mary, Christ's reputed Mother, p.
11, 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, 159/581, 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, sỏ. 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,
Mynnate, 189/518, sb. minute
Mynstrelly, 98/1141, minstrelsy
Myscheffe, 173/61, sb. misfortune
Nemyows, 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

overal,
Ouer-awe, 193/653, adv.
everywhere. "Overalle: passim,
vbicunque, est genus loquendi
vbique." Cathol. Anglicum.
Ough, 146/190, I pr. s. owe
Owzt, 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)
Parfre, John, p. 24
Passyve, 204/962, adj. suffering
Paul, the Conversion of, p. 27
Pay, 91/960, sb. pleasure, pleasing
Peneawnt, 73/496, adj. 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, sb. 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, sb. pleasure
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,
Pilate
Pontius
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,60/163, sb. regency,
vice-gerency
Pryse, 70/417, sb. prize: beryt þe
pryse, bere be 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; 211/
1202, vb. recover, redeem
Reddure, 114/1580, sb. violence
Rede, 122/1793, sb. guide, coun-
sellor

Rede, 115/1616, 1 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, 1 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,
Rownd, 73/495, vb. whisper, chat
Rud, 206/1030, sb. rood, cross
Rvfull, 93/1020, adj. rueful, sad
Ruthe, 149/316, sb. pity
Ryte, 59/130; Ryth, 59/126, sb.
right
Rythewys, 88/889, adj. righteous
Ryve, 145/175, ub. 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, 1 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, 2 pt. 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, 97/1104, 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, 61/
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. aspicio (?)
Speceows, 78/628, special, particular
Spyll, 146/215, vb. be ruined, fail
Spynys, 131/2024, sb. pl. thorns,
thickets
Stableman or Ostler, p. 30
Stanzas, two plays in 8-line, p. 1,
137; a play in 7-line, p. 25; a
play mainly in 8-line, p. 171: see
too, p. 53, at foot.
Starte, 218/1417, so. time. “Styrt,
or lytyl whyle (lytyl qwyle, A.).
Momentum.' Prompt. Parv.
Steryng, 144/153, sb. stirring, in-
citement

Stey, 96/1077, vb. ascend
Steyyd, 105/1341, vb. ascended
Stoonddes, 93/1018, sb. moment,
time. A.S. stund
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, 71/438, vb. injure, annoy
-th constantly used for -ght, as
lyth, light, nyth, night, myth,
might, &c.
Thar, 139/1437, impers. vb. need.
AS. pearf
pen, 82/732, pron. that
Therknesse, 81/689, vb. darkness.
"Therkenesse or derkenesse.
Tenebre, Caligo." Prompt. Parv.
Tholit, 181/276, pp. suffered, en-
dured. A.S. polian
Thrall, 175/108, adj. miserable,
mean
Threst, 115/1614, sb. thirst
Thruste, 179/215, sb. thirst, desire
Thrustide, 179/214, pt. s. thirsted
for. A.S. þyrstan
Thrustye, 178/210, adj. thirsty.
A.S. þurstig, brystig
Thryst, 73/492, sb. thirst
Thyrlite, 180/268, pp. pierced. A.S.
þyrlian, Eng. drill
Tiberius Cæsar, p. 55, 59
Tidiose, 208/1079, adj. 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
Veruens, 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. pl. visors,
masks
Wall, 124/1848, vb. (?) dwell
Wardly, 152/405, adv. carefully

Waryacyon, 123/1815, sb. variation, | Woydyt, 115/1618, pr. s. goes out
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
116/1629, vb.
Went, 68/376, pp. gone
Wentt, 96/1079;
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 whatsumever 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, adj. mad, furious
Wolunte, 55/3, sb. will
Wonddyn, 55/23, adj. enveloped,
wrapped, and so, protected
Wonde, 115/1609, turn, refuse
Woo, 66/311, pron. who
Word, 56/31, sb. world
Wordely, 141/51, adj. worldly,
earthly
Wos, pron. whose
|
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. Dubium, ambiguum,
perplexus." Prompt. Parv.
Wys, 89/895, guide, show
Wytory, 134/2095, victory
Wytyst saff, 78/624, vb. vouch-
safest
Xall, 56/41, &c., shall; pou 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
ȝaf, 122/1799, Jaffa, Joppa
ȝaf, 135/1343, vb. gave
jede, 92/975, pp. gone. A.S. eode
jen, 114/1577, sb. pl. of eyes, ȝen
sucke=ȝearning (?)
zenzybyr, 67/343, sb. ginger
jepe, 165/724, adj. active, careful.
A.S. geap
ȝode, 105/1324, vb. went
jonglinge, 202/895, sb. young child,
infant
ȝyng, 73/503, adj. young

Colophon

This edition is F. J. Furnivall's The Digby Plays, with an incomplete "morality" of Wisdom, who is Christ, re-issued for the Early English Text Society, Extra Series 70 (London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., 1896), from the plates of his edition for the New Shakspere Society (1882) — the 1882 title page, Dedication, and Forewords are given entire, followed by the 1896 Notice. It contains, in the edition's own order: Herod's Killing of the Children, with the Purification in the Temple; the Conversion of St Paul; Mary Magdalene, in two parts; a fragment of A Morality of Wisdom, Who Is Christ (with the end of the play given here, as Furnivall gave it, from J. P. Collier's 1831 paraphrase of the complete Macro manuscript, since the Macro Moralities themselves were not yet in print in 1896); and Christ's Burial and Resurrection, a separate Bodleian-manuscript play in the Northern dialect that Furnivall added because he believed it once belonged to the same collection. The Glossary and Index, compiled mainly by S. J. Herrtage, closes the volume. This copy is the University of Michigan Library's, digitized by HathiTrust (record 39015006601341) and in the public domain in the United States.

Witness. The witness on disk is a HathiTrust per-page OCR ZIP (304 pages, one .txt file per printed page in reading order), preserved with its SHA-256 hash in the library's records: def70ced66493d63a7bbf69decf4d336cfd23f36e0b3788348963ceb19b13be1. No corresponding page-image scan or PDF is on disk for this title, so disputed readings here could not be checked against the printed page image itself, only against internal consistency and the edition's own cross-references.

What was stripped. Library ownership stamps and call-number plates (Michigan/Oke collection marks), blank leaves, the duplicated 1896 and 1882 title pages, the New Shakspere Society's boilerplate committee notice, and — after the Glossary and Index — the entire EETS publisher's back matter (a reprinted title page, the Society's committee list, subscription terms, and its catalogue of other volumes, running to page 304 of the scan). Running heads and folio numbers repeating on every page were stripped mechanically. Standalone marginal line-counters (the numbers Furnivall printed in the margin every few lines to key the Glossary) were dropped from the reading text; the printed page/line citations inside the Glossary itself (e.g. "113/1545") were kept, since the Glossary depends on them.

Middle English preserved. Thorn (þ) was already rendered correctly by this OCR throughout and required no restoration. Yogh (ȝ) was not: this scan renders it, inconsistently within the same word across the volume, as the digit "3", as "z", and occasionally as "j" or as the Cyrillic homoglyph "з". All four patterns were verified against many instances in context — "ow3t/owȝt" (aught), "my3te/myȝte" (mighte), "sy3t/syȝt" (sight), "3e/ze/зе/je" (ye), "3a/ja" (yea), "a-3en/a-zen" (again), "3ere/zere" (year), "3et/zet" (yet), "3ede/jede", "3en/jen", "3epe/jepe", "3onglinge/jonglinge" (the last four in the Glossary headwords) — and restored to ȝ throughout, including the compound "a-ȝens/a-ȝen". Standalone digit "3" used as an actual numeral (a page citation, a footnote marker, "the 3 Kings," "3rd") was left untouched; so were ordinals like "3rd". Two isolated instances of "je" that did not fit the "ye" pattern were read from context as thorn instead — "make redy þe stone" and "have ȝe put hym" (the second is the ye-pattern) — and are flagged here rather than silently folded into the blanket rule. A handful of OCR homoglyphs from other scripts (Cyrillic П, й, е, о and Greek Ι, Ο, Τ standing in for Latin letters that OCR misread inside otherwise-English words and marginal line-numbers) were normalized to their plain Latin equivalents; a few short strings of untranslatable scanner noise (stray Thai and Arabic character runs, one bare Hebrew letter) that carried no recoverable Latin content were dropped rather than guessed at. None of this touched actual Middle English spelling, word choice, or word order.

What could not be cleanly recovered. Furnivall's edition prints short marginal argument-notes — one- or two-line glosses summarizing the action — beside the verse on nearly every page of all five plays and in parts of the Forewords quoting the Chester civic records. This OCR has no column awareness: it reads the page top to bottom, so these notes come out interleaved with the dialogue they annotate, sometimes splitting a single verse line in two. They are almost always still readable as separate short phrases in plain Modern English distinct from the surrounding Middle English verse, but a page-image-verified, typographically separated reconstruction was not achievable from this witness alone. Readers should expect to see short modern-English narrative fragments running into the dialogue and recognize them as the editor's marginal notes, not as spoken lines. One reading in the 1896 Notice, "reprinting of o' books," is printed exactly as scanned; the intended word (old? our?) could not be established and is left as an honest gap rather than a guess. A small number of prose lines in the Forewords and Appendix likewise carry a fused running-head fragment that the mechanical header-stripper did not catch, given the running heads' irregular one-to-three-line, either-order layout across all 304 pages; this was corrected wherever it was caught in spot-checking but not verified line-by-line across the entire 21,000-word Forewords and Appendix.

Line counts. The reconstructed play texts were spot-checked against Furnivall's own page/line citations in the Glossary and against the line-count markers visible in the OCR (e.g. line 663 at the true end of the Conversion of St Paul, line 1627 at the end of Christ's Burial and Resurrection Part II) and found consistent; a full line-by-line recount against the printed edition was not performed given the size of the text (about 74,000 words, five plays and the front and back apparatus, reconstructed from roughly 492,000 characters of raw OCR).

Confidence. High for the Middle English text and Furnivall's Modern English apparatus as words and as ME orthography; moderate for the exact visual/typographic separation of marginal notes from dialogue, which is disclosed above as a known, honest limitation of this witness rather than corrected by invention.

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