PUBLICATIONS
SURTEES SOCIETY
ESTABLISHED IN THE YEAR
MDCCCXXXIV.
MDCCCXXXVI.
^^/3/
Nr.wc.vsTi.i: : riiiNTi:i) at nrii: : i ini:i:s j-nnss,
UY J. MI.ACKW 111. ANJi lO.
TOWNELEY
M Y S T E R I E S.
LONDOX : J. II. NICHOLS AXD SON, PARLIAIMEXT STHEET UlLLIAM PICKi::;IXG, CIIANCEIIY LANE.
At a Meeting of the Council of the Surtees Society, on the third of November, 1835, it was
RESOLVKD—That five hundred copies of The Towkeley Mysteries be printed by the Society.
JAMES RAINE,
Secretary.
PREFACE.
The Manuscript Volume in which these Mysteries have been preserved formed part of the hbrary at Towneley Hall, in Lancashire, collected by the family of Towne- ley ; a family which, in the two last centuries, produced several remarkable men, through whom it becomes con- nected with the arts, with literature, and with science. The library was dispersed in two sales by auction, at Evans' Rooms, in Pall Mall, the first in 1814, when there were seven days* sale; the second in 1815, when the sale lasted ten days.
This manuscript, as well as the famous Towneley Homer, was in the first sale. It was bought by John Louis Goldsmid, Esq. From his possession it very soon passed to Mr. North, but before 1822 it had returned to the family in whose library it had for so many years found protection.
By what means the Towneley family became possessed of it, or at what period, is not known. There is nothing known with certainty respecting any previous owner- ship. iWhen, however, the catalogue of the Towneley books and manuscripts was prepared for the sale in 1814, Mr. Douce was requested to write a short notice for insertion in it. In this notice, after assigning the com- position of the Mysteries to the reign of Henry VI. or
Viil PIIEFACE.
Edward IV.,*: lie says of the volume itself, that it is. supposed to liave forinerly " belonged to the Abbey of Widkirk, near Wakefield, in the County of York."
This supposition, however, he appears to have subse- (juently considered as not worthy of much regard : for when Mr. Peregrine Edward Towneley, in 1822, printed, from this manuscript, the Judicium, as his contribution to the Roxburgh Club, an introduction was written by Mr. Douce, in which he says that the volume is *' sup- posed to have belonged to the Abbey of Whalley," and to have passed at the dissolution into the library of the neighbouring family of Towneley.
On what foundation either of these suppositions rests we are not informed. The first, however, is that which has been most generally accepted, and the three principal collections of Mysteries now known have been usually quoted or referred to as those of Chester, Coventry, and Widkirk.
In the absence of precise information, we may assume that the supposition of its having formerly belonged to " the Abbey of Widkirk" was the Towneley tradition respecting it : and previously to any investigation it may be assumed, that if we are to trace the possession of such
â– * Tliere is a passage in iho Ji diciim which may assist in determin- ing tlie periotl at whicti it was written. Tutivillus, in describing a fashionable female, tells his brother daemons "she is hornyd like a kowe" (p. 312). He appears to allude to the same description of head dress which Stowe thus records : " 1388. King Richard (the second) married Anne, daughter of Vcselaus, King of Bohcm. In her <l:iyes, nol.le women use<l liigli attire on their heads, piked like homo, with long trained gownes."
TREFACE. IX
n volume as tnis in a period before the reformation, next perhaps to the archives of some guild or other corpora- tion in one of the cities or towns of England, we may expect to find it in the possession of some Conventual society. The question of that early possession is, in fact, the question of the composition of these Mysteries, as to the place and people. We shall now endeavour to determine it.
The supposition that this book belonged to *' the Abbey of Widkirk, near Wakefield," has upon it remark- ably the characteristics of a genuine tradition. There is no distinct enunciation of the fact which the tradition proposes to exhibit, and yet out of the words of the sup- position we may decisively and easily extract what the fact in it originally was. There is no place called Wid- kirk in the neighbourhood of Wakefield, and neither there nor in any part of England was there ever an Abbey of Widkirk. But there is a place called Woodkirk in that neighbourhood, and at Woodkirk there was a cell of Augustinian or Black Canons, a dependance on the great house of St. Oswald, at Nostel. Whatever weight there may be attached to the supposition or tradition respecting the original possession, must, therefore, be given to the claim of this Cell of Canons at Woodkirk.
Woodkirk is about four miles to the north of Wake- field. A small religious Community was established there in the first half century after the Conquest, by the Earls Warren, to whom the great Lordship of Wakefield belonged, and they were placed in subjection to the house of Nostel. King Henry I. granted to the Canons of Nostel, a charter, for two fairs to be held at Woodkirk,
X niElACE.
one nt llio Feast ol" the Assumption, tlie otlier at tlie Feast of tlie Nativity of the Blessed Mary. This grant was eonlirmed by King Stephen. These fairs, in a rural district, continued to attract a concourse of people to the time of the Reformation. In the Valor of King Henry \'III. the profit of the tolls and stallage was returned at £13 Gs. Sd., which was more than one-fourth of the yearly revenue of the house. The buildings in which the few Canons resided have gradually disappeared. Some portions of the cloisters were remaining not long ago. The church still exists, on a retired and elevated site, and remains of large reservoirs for the Canons' fish in the vale below are still very conspicuous.*
f In the language as well as the style of these Mysteries, a diversity may be perceived, arising in part, perhaps, from the greater elevation of the characters or the subjects in one than in another ; and in part also, perhaps, from their not having proceeded from one hand, and from the col- lection having been made up partly of compositions strictly original, and partly of compositions obtained from other similar collections.j In some of them, however,
' LoiDis AND Elmete, p. 240. 8 The language of the Processus Poetarum seems (o be more modern than that of the other pieces. It is also of an entirely diftor- ent structure. PriARAO seems also to be by a diflercnt hand. CtSAit Ai'GUSTL's is plainly by the same hand as Pharao. The heroes in both swear l)y " Mahowne." There are no Yorkshireisms in cither, nor can any l>e traced in the Annunciatio. 1'he two Pagea.nts of llie SiiEi'iuiRns are among the most remarkable. Disputes about Common-right might be illustrated from the topography of almost fvcry sheep-feeding parish in the kingdom. The Shepherds dinners, SI hool-learning, Cato, are all interesting points. The shepherds were
PREFACE. Xi
the language is that of common life and of country clowns. In these there are traces which cannot be mistaken of a northern, and it may be said of a Yorkshire origin. Few persons who have had any opportunities of hearing the language of the rural population of the West Riding of Yorkshire, can fail to trace it in such pieces as the Mac- TATio Abel and the Prima, but especially the Secunda Pastorum.
A few particular words and phrases may here be added ; not that it can be safely affirmed that they are peculiar to the West Riding of Yorkshire, but of which it would not perhaps be over-stating to say, that they are more frequently to be heard there than in any other district ; and that they are all still existing in the vernacular of that district, in the senses in which they are here used, and often in the very connections in which they occur. " Umbithynke thee what thou saysse" — *' Ather" — ** Let it be" — " be pease your dyn" — *' hoille" — " go furth,
<;reat astronomers. The best illustration of this would be found in " The Shepherds Calendar/' of which there were several black letter editions, with cuts, of the shepherds feeding their flocks and observing the heavens. The first chapter is entitled " A great question asked between the shepheards touching the stars, and an answer made to the same question." The twenty-second " How shepheards by cal- culation and speculation know the xii signes, &c." The notion was not entirely lost in the time of Shakespear.
" Nine changes of the watery star have been The Shepherds' note."— Winter's Tale, I. 2 Pol The two alterations in the Johannes Baptista, p. 169 and 171, seem intended to accommodate this piece to the new order of things after the Reformation. The Mactatio Abel is one of the most interesting of the set. We have in it an imitation of the vulgarest language of the vulgarest clowns of the period.
XII I'UEKACE.
frreyn liornu"— ♦' Leining" as tlie name of a cow occurs in a Will of a West Riding yeoman,—** here my hencl," liand— •♦ other-gates"— " a craw to pluck"—** lig," lie— *'mon" must— ** fun," found— ** pik," pitch— *' sam"— ** dedir"— ** skelp"— ** bir"— ** mydyng"— ** chyldre"— »* barme" bosom—'* kyn"— ** kythe and kyn"— ** near- hand"--** balk"--** Whet hir whystyll"— "lake"--*' threpe" — *' eaten out of house and harbour" — *' what alys thee" — These are a selection ; many others, perhaps some more striking, might be found ; but these words and phrases are still to be iieard in the language of the com- mon people in the district in which Woodkirk was situ- ated.
It may be said that such words and phrases are not peculiar to that district. No — few words or phrases can be declared to be peculiar to any circumscribed tract. But the question here really is, whether tliey may not be said to belong rather to that district than to any other ; and it is presumed, tliat comparing the language of the Mysteries with the Glossaries of the provincial terms of various counties, the Yorkshire Glossary would supply more illustrations or parallelisms than that of any other county, not excepting even the Glossary of Lancashire. It is a remarkable fact, indeed, that there is so strongly marked a diversity between the language of the people inhabiting the plains which extend at the feet of the English Appennines on the East and West sides, from Northumberland and Cumberkuul, till the ridge disap- pears in Stairordshire.
Perhaps the supposition in the Towneley family, on whatever it niav have been founded, and the striking
PREFACE. XUl
resemblance which there is between the language of seve- ral of these pieces, and the language of the same class of society as it may still be heard on the hills and in the plains of Yorkshire, may be sufficient to render it at least a point of probability that the composition of these Mysteries, and the original possession of this volume, are to be attributed to the Canons of Woodkirk ; or that the possession is to be traced to them, and the compo- sition, perhaps, to some one of the Canons in the far larger fraternity at Nostel. But the manuscript itself contains that which connects it with Wakefield ; and there are topographical allusions in one of the pieces, the Secunda Pastorum, which belong to the country near Wakefield and Woodkirk.
Thus, at the beginning of the first is written in a large hand " Wakefelde" and " Berkers," the mean- ing of which seems to be, that on some occasion this Mystery was represented at the town of Wakefield by the company or fellowship of the Barkers or Tanners. To the second is prefixed " Glover Pag..." without the word Wakefield. The imperfect word is *' Pagina," which appears to have been used as the Latin term for these kinds of exhibitions or pageants. The meaning appears to be that this was exhibited by the Glovers. At the head of the third, however, we find ** Wakefeld" again, without the name of any trade. These are the only notices of the kind, except that at the head of the *' Peregrini" the words " Fysher Pageant" occur.*
* The words Lytster Play occur at the head of the Pharao. They were oTerlooked by the copyist, but the mistake is noticed in the Errata.
XVI PREFACE.
and frequent intercourse between them. Waketield liad acquired the association with its name of " Merr}-" at an early period, and it may be that the exliibition of these very Pageantries may have liad much to do with the origin of the expression which is put by Fuller among the provincial expressions of Yorkshire, " Merry Wake- field." But it may also be surmised that the good Canons of Woodkirk would draw upon the store of hu- mour in this volume, and upon the more striking and solemn and serious scenes which occur in it, to attract the multitude to their Fairs, and thus increase the re- venues of their house. A rural Fair has always been a scene quite as much of amusement as of business. Oc- casionally of strife, too, as was the case with the Wood- kirk Nativity Fair, in the 9th of Edward II., at which John de Heton, and Amabil, his wife, with another per- son, perhaps their servant, appear to have made a gene- ral assault on the persons there and then assembled.' But in general they would be peaceable and festive assemblies ; and as we peruse these dramatic pieces we cannot but perceive that in the representation of them there would be much not only to entertain, but to aflect seriously and serviceably the minds of the simple rustics who, on these occasions, were wont here to congregate, as well as to give them, hi the way in which they could best receive it, information concerning the principal events of sacred history.
I Dramatic representations of this nature are sometimes j'lcalled Miracle Inlays, and sometimes Mysteries. Not-
' South YoRKsmnr, Vol. II., p. 207.
PREFACE. XVII
withstanding the authority of the Wife of Bath (Chaucer, The Wife of Bath's Prologue, 1. 558). We have given a preference to the latter appellation, as more strictly in accordance with the general character of these pieces. On the general question of these Mysteries, and the impor- tant link which they constitute between the theatrical representations of antient and modern times, and the light which they throw upon the manners and customs and religious opinions of their period, the reader is re- ferred to the publications of Mr. Sharp, Mr. Markland, and Mr. Collier. It is enough for a Society of this na- ture to lay bare the mine, and leave the skilful to extract its ore. One thing, however, has been deemed essen- tially requisite, a brief but comprehensive Glossary for the benefit of the general reader. It js only by such publi- cations as this that correct notions can be formed of the progressive state of the Enghsh language, and in such cases a good glossary concentrates their very spirit and utility.
The manuscript is of the folio size, written in a bold hand upon strong parchment, and containing initial letters highly ornamented with the pen. Fac-similes of the hand-writing of a portion of the Flagellacio (p. 205), and of an initial letter, are subjoined to these prefatorial remarks and notices.
The lines which rhyme with each other are in general connected by ligatures. The speeches are separated from each other by lines of red ink, which is still fresh and brilliant.
This manuscript was recommended to the notice of he Society, by William Bentham, of Upper Gower
will I'RLI'ACE.
SircM'l, Ldiidoii, K<(j., F. S. A., &c., and next to tin- (continuation of Wills and Inventories it received tin* Ln'ontest ininihcr of votes in conformity with the seventh Rule.
The thanks of the Society are especially due to Pere- jLjrine Edward Towneley, of Towneley, Esq., the owner of the manuscript, for his courtesy in permitting it to be transcribed for the press. This permission was obtained by the Reverend Dr. Lingard, to whom the Society is under great obligations for this and other manifestations of his anxiety for its welfare.
It may be almost needless to remark, that great care was taken in obtaining a correct copy of the Townelej^ Manuscript. And yet, notwithstanding caution, ther' were mistakes in the transcript, and their number wa not diminished by the press. The printed sheets, how ever, have themselves been carefully compared with tin original manuscript by Joseph Stevenson, Esq. to who the institution is under great obligations ; and the follow ing Errata have been discovered, which, as extrem accuracy in its transcripts and publications is deeme essentially requisite by the Society, it points out her m limine that the reader may correct them with h j)en before he becomes involved in the dilliciiltie- of coiriipt reading.
ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA.
p. 4, I. 15, add ? at the end of the line. ... 5, second indent, (orfu'lcs, read foivles. ... 8,1. 8, add ? at the end of the line. ... 10, 1. 10, from bottom, for neyn, read 7nei/?i.
6, , for atone, read a lone.
5, , add comma after we.
... 1 1, 1. 1, for a}i eld, read a neld.
27, for loe may, read wemay. ... 13, 1. 4, dele the second comma, and for? read ; ... 14, 1. 10, for neveryit, read never yit. ... 15, 1. 9, for Cayin, read Caym. ... 16, 1. 2, for shren, read shrew. ... 22, 1. 8, for an, read Alan.
sixth indent, for afone, read afone. ... 26, 1. 5, dele comma. ... â– 1. 8, for threfor, read threfor. ... 27, fourth indent, for On one, read onone. ... 28, fifth indent, for Sent, read sam, ... 30, 20 from bottom, for thase, read thare.
13 , for luedmen, read wed men.
... 31, 1. 9, after fhise, insert [wederes,]
... 32, 1. 18, for hufe, read lufe.
... 33, 1. 20, for befon, read be fan.
... 40, 1. 16, add ? after arayde.
... 41, 11 from bottom after And, insert [this.]
... 46, 1. 16, for inqnarte, read in quarte.
... 46, 1. 5 from bottom for barne to me, read barneteme.
... 48. 1. 5, for alle — to, read alle-to.
... 51, ninth indent for bonden, read bondon.
... 55, after Pharao, insert Lytster play in the margin.
... 58, 7 from botcom, for never, veaAncven.
... 59, 1. 15, for or seasse, read or I seasse.
... 61,4 from bottom for vere, read ivore.
... 62, 1. 1, for yflt, read Jyt.
... 65, 1. 8, for ferstley, read fejsley.
1. 22, for Naiv, read mom;. ... 66, 1. 2, for ^ow, read yoiv. ... 67, fifth indent, after hastely place a comma. ... — , 8 from bottom, for She, read The. ... 68, 1. 8, for youot, read you not. ... 1. 18, for best, read bost. ... 69, 1. 5 from bottom, for stille, read fnllc. ... 71, 1. 18, for luelldand, read weldand. ... 76, 3 from bottom, dele the comma after woman. ... 81 1. 2, for eee, read ec.
1 6 from bottom, insert a comma after ashyng. . last line but one, dele comma after blys. ... 82, 1. 2 from bottom for sayd, read seyd. ... 83, 1. 5. for hend, read //e?;^. ... 85, 1. 13, for over twharf, read overtwhari.
23, for avd, read awrf. ... 88, 1. 7 from bottom, after gj// insert yoz/, ... 89, 1. 19, for To, read TViow. ... 90, 1. 16, for kely, read /fe/j/.
P, 90, 1. 22, for haJtom read hoUom.
91, !• 9. de'e the first comma, and instead of the second insert !
20, for you, read ye.
92, 1. 19, for leinyd, read lemyd.
seventh indent, for rccoide, read recorde. ... 95, 21, insert; at the end of the line.
95 16 from bottom, for /jyc/i, read li/g/it,and insert a comma after monc. I.. Ijj after /ct, insert la.
96, 5, insert comma after than.
99, 9, fo"" '"■^» '■^^'^ '"■''•
... 101, 1. 23, for rant/c, read rani/s. ... 104, 1. 17, for devylle, read dewijlk.
105, 1. 18 from bottom, for connselle, read countcllc. ... 106, 1. l» /"Von should perhaps be read Frou.
I. 20, ioTjek, read reA-. ...107, 7, for /ar, read /or, ... 109, 22, for nocht, for noght. ... 110, 16, for an, read oh. ...Ill, 17 from bottom, for //orfe, read /rc^«/r. 7, for if rtA07i, read i«on.
last line but one, (or yadc, read yodc. ... 112, I. 1, for menys, read mendijs. ... 1 14, 1. 18, for devillc, read deivillc.
21, for / wys, read iu'w. 28, for qwant, read qwanite.
52, for Ainrf, read 6ym/.
53, for fois, read fals.
last line but one, for deville, read dcteille.
last line, for wza/rw ay/r, read Mak's ai/rc. ... 115, 5, from bottom, insert ? after tene, and for So, as I say you f
read Do as I say you. ...116, 1 5, dele comma after fcryn.
24, for This, read thre. ... 1 17, 5, for Ac, read he.
11, from bottom, for So, read Go, and insert comma after now. ... lis, 2, for warle, read ivarlo, ... 119, in running title, for Prima, read Secunda.
... 121, 1, for aUcdos, read aUc dos. ... 124, 9, from bottom, for Ballaam, read Balaam. ... 131, Primus Rex, for Allercdy, read /!//<• rc(/y.
... 136, lines 1 and 2, insert comma after way, and ? after wcynde. ... 137, lines 6 and 7, for; read , and for Me, read AV.
line 16 from bottom, for Were, read here. ... 141,5, dele comma after uyugcs. ... 142, line 10 from bottom, for dw'dlc, read dcwUk. ... 164, line !», for eeyllc, read ccylle. ... 168, 7 from bottom, for herehis, read //ere- his. ... 175, 21 from bottom, cantelys. Sec Glossary. ... 209, 10, for wes hen, read wcshen, ... 233, 21, for athrugate, read /l/Ziu* gfl^<'. ... 836, cifihth indent, for todcdir, read togedir. ... 266, 85, for nornc, read viorne. ... 277, 5 from bottom, for und, read <jwd. ... 283, 16, for wounded, read woundct. ... 299, 10 from bottom, for he, read A(r. ... 302, 1 7, for itevyud, read stevynd. ... 309» 26, for icu'v*, read scmys. . . 3 1 1, 20, for Air, read Ai*.
CONTENTS.
Creatio ... ... ... ... ... p. 1.
Mactatio Abel ... ... ... ... ... 8.
Processus NoE CUM FitiiB ... ... ... 20.
Abraham ... ... ... ... .>. 35.
Isaac ... ... ... ... ... 43.
Jacob ... ... ... ... ... ... 45.
Processus Prophetarum ... ... ... 49.
Pharao ... .•. ... ... ... 55.
CiESAR Augustus ... ... ... ... 66.
Annunciatio ... ... ... ... ... 72.
Salutacio Elizabeth ... ... ... 81.
"Prima Pagina Pastorum ... ... ... 84.
-Secunda Pagina Pastorum ... ... ... 98.
Oblacio Magorum ... ... ... ... 120.
FuGACio Joseph et Maria in ^gyptum ... 135.
Magnus Herodes ... ... ... ... 140.
purificagio mariie ... ... ... ... 154.
Pagina Doctorum ... ... ... ... 158.
Johannes Baptista ... ... ... ... 165.
CONSPIRACIO ET CaPCIO ... ... ... .-.. 172.
Coliphizatio ... ... ... ... 190.
Flagellacio ... ... ... ... ... 203.
Processus Crucis. Crucifixio ... ... 216.
Processus Talentorum ... ... ... ... 233.
ExTRACTio Animarum ab Inferno ... ... 244.
Resurrectio Domini ... ... ... ... 254.
Peregrini ... ... ... ... ... 270
Thomas Indite ... ... ... ... 280.
Ascencio Domini ... ... ... ... 294.
juditium ... ... ... ... ... 303.
Lazarus ... ... ... ... ... 322.
suspentio jvvje .. ... ... ... 328,
err f^till
TOWNELEY MYSTERIES.
IN DEI NOMINE AMEN. ASSIT PRINCIPIO, SANCTA MARIA, MEO.
WAKEFELDE. BARKERS.
Deus. Ego sum Alpha et O, 1 am the first and last also,
Oone God m mageste ; Marvelose, of myght most. Fader, and Sone, and Holy Goost,
One God in Trinyte. I am without begynnynge, My godhede hath none endynge,
I am God in trone ; Oone God in persons thre, Which may never twynnyd be,
For I ame God alone. Alle maner thynge is in my thoght, Withhoutehe me ther may be noght.
For alle is in my sight ; Hit shalle be done after my wille. That I have thoght I shalle fulfille
And manteyne with my myght. At the begynnyng of oure dede Make we hevene and erlh, on brede.
And lyghtes fayre to se ; For it is good to be so, Darknes from light we parte on two,
In tyme to serve and be. Darknes we calle the nyght, And lith also the bright,
It shalle be as I say ; After my wille this is furth broght,
icnVM-.LKY MVSTERlESi
Even an niorne both ar tliay wroght.
And thus is maid a day. In mcdys the water, bi oure assent, Be now maide the firmament,
And parte ather from othere, Water above, i-wis, Even and morne maide is this
A day, so was the tothere. Waters, that so wyde ben spred, Be gedered to geder in to one stede,
That dry the erth may seym ; That at is dry tlie erth shalle be, The waters also I calle the see ;
This warke to me is quenie. Out of the erth herbys shal spryng, Trees to florish and friite furth bryng, Thare kynde that it be kyd. This is done after my wille, Even and morne maide is ther tille A day, this is the thryd. Son and moyne set in the heven, W'lth starnes, and the phinettes seven.
To stand in thare degre ; The son to serve the day lyght, The moyne also to serve tlie nyght,
The fourte day shalle this be. The water to norish the fysh swymand, The erth to norish bestes crepeand,
That fly or go may. Multiplye in erth, and be In my blyssyng, wax now yc, This is the fyft day. Cheruhym. Oure Lord God in trynyte, Myrth and lovyng be to the, Myrth and lovyng over al thyng ; For thou has made, with tlii bidyng, Ileven, and erth, and alle that is, And gillen us joy that never shalle mys. Lord, thou art lulle mychof myght, 'I'hat has maide Lucifer so l)right. We love the Lord, bright are we, lint none t)f us so l)right as he. He may well hight Luc-ifere, For luflv light that he doth here. He is s(') hiflv and so briirht
It is grete joy to se that sight ;
We lole the, Lord, with all cure thoght,
That sich thyng can make of nocht.
Hie Deus recedit a suo solio, et Lucifer sedebit in eodem solio.
Lucifer. Certes, it is a semely sight, Syn that we ar alle angels bright,
And ever in blis to be ; ^ If that ye wille behold me right,
This mastre longes to me. I am so fare and bright, X
Of me commys alle this light, /
This gam and alle this gle ; Agans my grete myght
May thing stand then be. And ye welle me behold I am a thowsand fold
Brighter then is the son, My strengthe may not be told.
My myght may no thing kon ; In heven, therfor, wit I wold
Above me who should won. For I am lord of blis, Over alle this warld, i-wis.
My myrth is most of alle ; Therfor my wille is this,
Master ye shalle me calle. And ye shalle se, fulle sone anone, How that me semys to sit in trone
As king of blis ; I am so semely, blode and bone.
My sete shalle be there as was his. Say, felows, how semys now me To sit in seyte of trynyty ? I am so bright of ich a lym I trow me seme as welle as hym.
Primus Angelus mabis. Thou art so fayre unto my sight, Thou semys welle to sytt on hight ; So thynke me that thou doyse. Primus bonus Angelus. I rede ye leyfe that vanys royse. For that seyte may non angelle seme So welle as hym that alle shalle deme. A 2
TOWNKI.F.V MY8TI:KU;8
Secundus bonus Angelus. I reyde ye sese of tiiat ye sayn, For welle I wote ye carpe in va}aie ; Hit scinyd hyni never, ne never shalle, So welle as hym that has maide alle.
Secundus vialus Anyelus. Now, and bi oght that I can witt, Ho senns fulle welle theron to sytt, He is so fayre, with outten les, He semys fulle welle to sytt on des. Therfor, felow, hold thi peasse, And unibithynke the what thou saysse. He semys as welle to sytt there As God hymself, if he were here.
Lucifer. Leyf felow, thynk the not so.
Primus malus Augelus. Yee, God wote, so dos othcre mo.
Primus bonus Angelus. Nay, forsoth, so thynk not us.
Lucifer. Now, therof a leke what rekes us ? Syn I myself am so bright Therfor wille I take a flyght.
Tunc exibunt demones clamando, et dicit primus.
Primus demon. Alas, alas, and wole-wo I Lucifer, why felle thou so ? We, that were angels so fare. And sat so hie above the ayere, Now ar we waxen blak as any coylle. And ngly, tatyrd as a foylle. What alyd the, Lucifer, to falle, Was thou not farist of angels alle ? Brightest, and best, and most of luf. With God hym self, that syttes aboyf ? Thou has maide ix, there was x. Thou art foulle commyn from thi kyn. Thou art fallen, that was the teynd, From an angelic to a feynd. Thou hast us doyn a vyle dispyte, And broght thi self to sorow and sitt. Alas, ther is nocht els to say Bot we ar tynt for now and ay.
Secundus demon Alas, the joy that we were in
Have we lost, for on re syu.
Alas, that ever cam pride in thoght,
For it has broght us alle to noght.
We were in myrth and joy enoghe
When Lucifer to pride drogh.
Alas, we may warrie wikyd pride,
So may ye alle that standes beside,
We held with hym ther he saide leasse,
And therfor have we alle unpeasse.
Alas, alas, oure joy is tynt,
We mon have payne that never shalle stynt.
Deus Erthly bestes, that may crepe and go,
Bryng ye furth and wax ye mo,
I see that it is good ; Now make we man to our liknes, That shalle be keper of more and les, Of fwles, and fysh in flood.
Et tanget eum. Spreyte of life I in the blaw. Good and ille both shalle thou knaw ;
Rise up, and stand bi me. Alle that is in water or land, It shalle bow unto thi hand,
And sufFeran shalle thou be ; I gif the witt, I gif the strenght. Of alle thou sees, of brede and lengthe j
Thou shalle be wonder wise. Myrth and joy to have at wille, Alle thi likyng to fulfill e.
And dwelle in paradise. This I make thi wonnyng playce, Fulle of myrth and of solace,
And I seasse the therin. It is not good to be alone, To walk here in this worthely wone,
In alle this welthly wyn ; Therfor, a rib I from the take, Therof shalle be thi make.
And be to thi helpyng. Ye both to governe that here is, And ever more to be in blis.
Ye wax in my blissyng. Ye shalle have joye and blis therin, While ye wille kepe you out of syn,
I say without lese. Rj'se up, myn angelle Cherubyn, A 3
lOWNKLtV MYSTtKltS.
Take and leyd theym both in,
And leyt" them there in peasse. Ttinc capit Cherubyn Adam per manum, et dicet eis Dominus, Here thou Adam, and Eve thi wife, 1 forbede you the tre of hfe, And 1 commaund, that it begat. Take which ye wiile, bot negh not that. Adam, if thou breke my rede, Thou shalle dye a dnlfuUe dede.
CItcrubtjn. Cure Lord, our God, thi wille be done ; I shalle go with theym fulle sone. For soth, my Lord, I shalle not sted Tille I have' theym thedcr led. ^Ve thank the Lord, with fulle good chere, That has maide man to be cure feere, Com furth Adam, I shalle the leyd. Take tent to me, I shalle the reyd. I rede the thynk how thou art wroght. And luf my Lord in alle thi thoght, That has maide the thrugh his wille, Angels ordir to fulfiUo. Many thynges he has the giffen. And made the master of alle that lyft'en, He has forbed the bot a tre ; Look that thou let it be, For if thou breke his commaundment, Thou skapys not bot thou be shent. Weynd here in to paradise, And hike now that ye be wyse. And kepe you welle, for I must go Unto my Lord, there I cam fro.
Adam. Almyghty Lord, I thank it the That is, and was, and shalle be, Of thy luf and of tlii grace, For now is here a mery place ; Eve, my felow, how thynk the tjiis?
Fa'c. a stede me thynk of joye and biis, That God has gilll-n to the Jiiid me, ^Vilholl(tel1 en(le ; blissyd be he.
Adfu/i. Eve, felow, abide me thorc, For I wille go to visct more, To se what trees that here been ;
Here are welle moo then we have seen,
Greses, and othere smalle floures,
That smelle fulle swete, of seyre colours.
Eve. Gladly, sir, I wille fulle fayne ; When ye have sene theym com agane.
Adam. Bot luke welle, Eve, my wife. That thou negh not the tree of life ; For if thou do he bese ille paide, Then be we tynt, as he has saide.
Eve. Go furth and play the alle aboute, I shalle not negh it whiles thou art oute. For be thou sekyr I were fulle loth For any thyng that He were wroth.
Lucifer. Who wend ever this tyme have seyn ? We, that in sich m^'rth have beyn, Tliat we shuld suffre so mych wo ? Wlio wold ever trow it shuld be so ? Ten orders in heven were Of angels, that had offyce sei'e ; Of ich order, in thare degre, The ten parte felle downe with me ; For they held with me that tyde, And mantenyd me in my pride, Bot herkyns, felows, what I say, The joy that we have lost for ay, — God has maide man with his hend, To have that blis withoutten end, The nine ordre to fulfille. That after us left, sich is his wille. And now ar thay in paradise Bot thens thay shalle if we be wise.
The MS. has apparently here lost four leaves.
(k
.MACTACIO ABEL, SECUNDA PAGINA.
GLOrER PAG...
Garcio. Alle liaylle, alle haylle, bothe blithe and glad, For here com I, a mery lad, Be peasse your dyn, my master bad.
Or els the deville you spede. Wote ye not I com before, Bot who that janglis any more He must blaw my blak hoille bore, Both behynd and before,
Tille his tethe bledef Felowes, here I you forbede To make nother nose ne cry ; Who so is so hardy to do that dede The deville hang hym up to dry. Gedlynges, I am a fulle grete wat, A good yonian my master hat,
Fulle wclle ye alle hym ken ; Begyn he with you for to stryfe, Certes, then mon ye never thryfe, Bot I trew, be God on life,
Soni of you ave his men. Bot let youre lippis cover yourc ten, Harlottes, everichon. For if my master com, welcom hym then. Fare welle, for I am gone.
Cayn. Go furth, Greyn home ! and war oute Gryme ! Drawes on, God gif you illc to tyme I Ye stand as ye were i'allen in swyme.
What ! wille ye no forthcr mare ? War, let me se how Down wille draw, Yit, shrew, yit, puUe on a thraw ! '^What, it semys for me ye stand none aw,
I say Doimyng, go fare ! A, ha ! God gif the soro and care I Lo I now hard she w hat I saide ; Now yit art thou the warst marc . Inj)logh that ever I haide.
MACTACK) ABKL.
//
How ! Plke-hanies, how I com heder belife ! Garcio. I fend, Godes forbot, that ever thou
thrife ! Cayn. What, boy, shal I bothe hold and drife ?
Heris thou not how I cry ? Garcio. Say Malle and Stott, wille ye not go ? Lemyng, Morelle, White-horne, io,
Now wille ye not se how thay hy ? Cayn. Gog gif the sorow, boy, want of mete
it gars. ^
Garcio. Thare provand, sir, for thi, I lay
behynd thare ars, ' j ^
And tyes them fast bi the nekes 1 I ^1/
With many stanys in thare hekes. \ { Jy
GCayn. That shalie bi thi fals chekes. Garcio. And have agane as right. Cayn. I am the master, wilt thou fight ?
Garcio. Yai, with tlie same mesure and weght'. That I boro wille I qwite.
Cayn. We, now, no thyng, bot calle on tyte That we had ployde this land.
Garcio. Harrer, INIorelle, iofurthe, hyte, And let the ploghe stand.
Ahelle. God as he bothe may and can Spede the, brothere, and thi man.
Cayn. Com kis myn ars, me list not ban, As welcom standes ther oute. Thou shuld have bide til thou were cald, Com nar, and other drife or hald.
And kys the devillis toute. Go grese thi shepe under the toute, For that is the most lefe.
Ahelle. Broder, ther is none here aboute That wold the any grefe ; Bot, leif brother, here my sawe, It is the custom of oure law, Alle that wyrk as the wise Shalie worship God with sacrifice. Oure fader us bad, oure fader us kend, That oure tend shuld be brend. Com furthe, brothere, and let us gang To worship God ; we dwelle fulle lang ; Gif Ave hy m parte of oure fee, Corne or catalle, wheder it be. And therfor, brother, let us weynd,
10 TOWNEI.EY MYSTERIES.
And first clens us from the feynd
Or we make sacrifice ; Then blis withoutten end
Get we for oure servyce, Of liym tliat is oure saulis leche.
Cayn. How, let furtli youre geyse, the fox wille
preche ; How long wilt thou nie appech
Even there the good wife strokid the hay ; Or sit downe in the dewilie way, With thi vayn carpyng. Shuld I Icife my plogh and alle thyng And go with the to make offeryng ? Nay ! thou fyndes me not so mad ! Go to the deville, and say I bad ! What gifys God the to rose hym so ? Me gefys he nocht bot soro and wo.
Ahelle. Cayn, leife this vayn carpyng, For God gifys the alle thi lifyng.
Cayn. Yit boroed I never a farthyng Of hym, here my hend.
Ahelle. Brother, as elders have us kend. First shuld we tend with oure hend ^nd to his lofyng sithen be brend.
Cayn. My farthyng is in the preest hand -Syn last tyme I offyrd.
Abelle. Leif brother, let us be walkand, I wold oure tend were profyrd.
Cayn. We, wherof shuld I tend, leif brothere ? For I am iche yere wars then othere. Here my trouthe it is none othere. My wynnyngs ar bot meyn. No wonder if that I be leyn, Fulle long tille hym I may menieyn. I'or bi hym that me dere boglit I traw that he wille leyn me noght.
Ahelle. Yis, alle the good thou has in wone Of Godes grace is bot 4<>ne.
Cfiyn. Lenys he me^as com thrift apon the !^o ? For he has ever yit beyn my fo, For had he my freynd beyn' Other gales it had beyn seyn. Wlieii alle luenN eoine wasfavre in feld
M ACTA (10 AHEU H
„Then was myne not wovthe an eld ; When I shuld saw, and vvantyd seyde, And of corne had fulle grete neyde, Then gaf he me none of his, No more wille I gif hym of this. Hardely hold me to blame Bot if I serve hym of the same.
Abelle. Leif brother, say not so, Bot let us furth togeder go ; Good brother, let us weynd sone, No longer here I rede we hone.
Cayn. Yei, yei, thou jangyls waste ; The deville me spede if I have hast, As long as I may lif, To dele my good or gif Aj'ther to God or yit to man, Of any good that ever I wan ; For had I giffen away my goode Then myghte I go with a ryffen hood. And it is better hold that I have Then go from doore to doore and crave.
Abelle. Brother, com furthe, in Godes name, I am fulle ferd that we get blame ; Hy we fast that we were thore.
Cayn. We, ryn on, in the devill's nayme be- fore. We may, man, I hold the mad, Wenys thou now that I list gad To gif away my warldes aght ? The deville hym spede that me so taghte ! What nede had I my travelle to lose To were my shoyn and ryfe my hose ?
Abelle. Dere brother, hit were grete wonder That I and thou shuld go in sonder. Then wold oure fader have grete ferly ; Ar we not brether, thou and 1 ?
Cayn. No, bot cry on, cry, whyles the thynk good ; Here my trowthe, I hold the woode ; Wheder that he be blithe or wrothe To dele my good is me fulle Idthe, I have gone oft on softer wise There I trowed some prow wold rise. Bot welle I se go must I nede. Now weynd before, ille myght thou spede !
JiJ rOWNEI.EY MVSrEKll>.
Svn that we shalle algates go.
' Abelle. Leif brother, wlii sais thou so ? Bot go we turthe both togeder, Bhssid be God we have fare weder.
Cayn. Lay down thi trusselle apon tliis hille.
Abelle. Forsothe broder, so I wille ; Gog of heven, take it to good.
Cayn. Thou shalie tend first if thou were wood.
Abelle. God that shope both erth and heven, I pray to thee thou here my steven, And take in thank, if thi wille be, The tend that I offre here to the ; For 1 gif it in good entent To thee, my Lord, that alle has sent. I bren it now, withe stedfast thoghte, In worship of hym that alle has wroghte.
Cayn. Kyse let me now, syn thou has done ; Lord of lieven, thou here my bovue ! And, over Godes forbot, be to the Thank or thew to kun me ; For, as browke I thise two shankys, It is fulle sore myne unthankys Tlie teynd that I here gif to the, Of corn, or thyng, that nedeys me : Bot now begyn wille I then, Syn I must nede my tend to bren. Gone shefe, oonc, and this makes two, Bot nawder of thise may I forgo ; Two, two, now this is thre, Yei, this also shalle leif withe me ; For I wille chose and best have, This hold I thrift of alle this thrafe j Wemo, wemo, foure, lo, liere ! Better groved me no this yere. At yere tyme I sew fare corn, Yit was it siche when it was shorne, Thystyls and breyrs, yei grete iilente, And alle kyn wedes that myght be. Foure shefes, foure ; lo, this makes iyicy Dry lie I fast thus long or I thrife, Fyte and sex, now this is seven, — Bot this gettes never God of heven. Nor none of thise foure, at my myghle, Shalle never com in Godes sight.
MACTACIO ABEL. 13
Seven, seven, now this is aglit, —
Abelle. Cain, brother, thou art not God be- taght.
Cayn. We therfor, is it that I say ? For I wille not deyle my good away ; Bot had I gyffen him this to teynd Then wold thou say he were my freynd, But I thynk not, bi my hode. To departe so hghtly fro my goode. We, acht, acht, and neyn, and ten is this. We, this may we best mys. Gif Him that that hghes thore ; It goyse agans myn hart fulle sore.
Abelle. Cain, teynd right of alle bedeyn.
Cayn. We, lo xij, xv, and xvj.
Abelle. Cayn, thou tendes wrang, and of the warst.
Cayn. We, com nar, and hide myne een ; In the wenyand wist ye now at last, Or els wille thou that I wynk ? Then shalle I doy no wrong, me thynk. Let me se now how it is ;
Lo, yit I hold me paide, I teyndyd wonder welle bi ges.
And so even I laide.
Abelle. Caine, of God me thynke thou has no drede.
Caine. Now and He get more, the deville me spede, As mych as oone reepe. For that cam hym fulle light cheap ; Not as mekille, grete ne smalle, »
As He myght wipe his ars with alle. For that, and this that lyys here, Have cost me fulle dere ; Or it was shorne, and broght in stak, Had I many a wery bak ; Therfor aske me no more of this. For I have giifen that my wille is.
Abelle. Cain, I rede thou tend right For drede of hym that sittes on hight.
Cayn. How that I tend, rek the never a deille, Bot tend thi skabbid shepe wele ; For if thou to my teynd tent take It bese the wars for thi sake.
14. TOWXELEV MYSTERIES.
Thou wold I gaf liym this shefe, or this sheyle,
Na nawder of thise two wil I leife ;
Bot take this now, has he two,
And for my saulle now mot it go,
Bot it gos sore agans my wille,
And slial he like tulle ille.
Abelle. Cain, I reyde thou so teynd
Tliat God of heven be thi freynd.
Cayn. My freynd ? na, not bot if lie wille !
I did hym neveryit bot skille.
If he be never so my fo
I am avisid gif hym no mo ;
Bot chaunge thi conscience, as I do myn, Yit teynd thou not thi mesel swyne ?
Abelle. If thou teynd right thou mon it fynde. Cayn. Yei, kys the devills ars behynde ; The deville hang the bi the nek ; How that I teynd never thou rek. Wille thou not yit hold thi peasse? Of this janglyng I reyde thou seasse. And teynd I welle, or tend I ille, Bere the even and speke bot skille. Bot now syn thou has teyndid thyne, _Now wille I set fyr on myne. ' We, out, haro, help to blaw ! It wille not bren for me, I traw ; Puf, this smoke dos me myche shame, Now bren, in the devillys name. A, what deville of helle is it? Almost had myne brethe beyn dit. Had I blawen oone blast more Uiad beyn choked right thore ; It stank like the deville in helle That longer tlier myghte I not dwelle.
Abelle. Cain, this is not worthe oone leke ; Thy tend shuld bren with outten smeke.
Cayn. Com kys the deville right in the ars ; For the it brens but the wars, I wold that it were in thi throte, Fyre, and shefe, and iche a sprote.
Dens. Cain, why art thou so rebeile Agans thi brother 'Abelle ? Thar thou nowther ilyte ne chyde, If thou tend righte thou gettes thi mede ; And be ihou sekir, if thou teynd fals,
h^.
MACTACIO ABEL.
Thou bese alovved ther-after als.
Cayn. Win, who is that Hob over the walle ? We, who was that that piped so smalle ? Com go we hens, for pcrels alle ; God is out of hys wit. Com furth, Abelle, and let us weynd, Me thynk that God is not my freynd, Ou land then wille I flyt.
Abelle. O, Cayin, brother, that is ille done.
Cayn. No, bot go we hens sone ; And if I may, I shalle be Ther as God shalle not me see.
Abelle. Dere brother, I wille fayre On feld ther oure bestes ar. To looke if thay be holgh or fulle.
Cayn. Na, na, abide, we have a craw to pulle ; Hark, speke with me or thou go, What wenys thou to skape so? We, na, 1 aght the a fowlle dispyte, And now is tyme that I hit qwite.
Abel. Brother, whi art thou so to me in ire ?
Cayin. We, theyf, whi brend thi tend so shyre ? Ther myne did bot smoked Right as it wold us bothe have choked.
Abel. Godes wille I trow it were That myn brened so clere ; If thyne smoked am I to wite ?
Cayin. We, yei, that shal thou sore abite ; Withe cheke bon, or that I blyn, Shal I the and thi life twyn. So lig down ther and take thi rest. Thus shalle shrewes be chastysed best.
Abel. Venjance, Venjance, Lord, I cry ; For I am slayne, and not gilty.
Cayn. Yei, ly there old shrew ly there, ly ! And if any of you thynk I did amys I shalle it amend wars then it is. That all men may it se ; Welle wars then it is
Right so shalle it be. Bot now, syn he is broght on slepe. Into yond hole fayn wold I crepe ; For ferd I qwake and can no rede, For be I taken, I be bot dede ;
1()
i(j\vsi:i.i:v MV.siLiiiKs
Mere wille I lig this foiirty dayes And I sliren hyin that nie fyrst rayse.
Detis. Cay in, Caym ! Caym. Who is that that caUis me ? I am yonder, may thou not se ?
Deus. Caym, where is thi brother Abelle ?
Caym. What askes thou me ? I trow at helle ; At helle I trow he be, Who so were ther then myght he se, Or som where fallen on slepyng ; When was he in my kepyng ?
Deus. Caym, Caym, thou was wode ; The voyce of thi brotheres blode That thou has slayn, on fals wise, From crthe to heven vengance cryse. And, for thou has broght thi brother down, Here I gif the my malison.
Caym. Yei, dele aboute the, for I wille none, Or take it the when I am gone. Syn I have done so mekille syn, That I may not thi mercy wyn, And thou thus dos me from thi grace, I shalle hyde me fro thi face ; And where so any man may fynd me, Let hym slo me hardely, And where so any man may me meyte, Ayther bi sty, or yit be strete ; And hardely, when I am dede, Bery me in Gudeboure at the Quarelle hede, For, may I pas this place in quarte, Bi alle men set I not a farte.
Deus. Nay, Caym, it bese not so ; I wille that no man other slo,* For he that sloys yong or old It shalle be punyshid sevenfold.
Caym. No force, I wotc wheder I shalle ; In helle I wote mon be my stalle. It is no boyte mercy to crave, For if I do I mon none have ; But this cors I wold were hid, For som man myght com at ungayn, ' Fie fals slu-ew,' wold he bid,
" Opposite this line in the margin a more recent hand has added, " And that ihalle do thy boddy dere."
MACTACIO AB-EL, jy
And weyn I had my brother slayn, Bot were Pike-harnes, my knafe, here. We shuld bery hym both in fere. How, Pyke-harnes, scape thryft ; how, Pyke- harnes, how !
Garcio. Master, master !
Caym. Harstow, boy ? ther is a podyng in the pot; Take the that, boy, tak the that !
Garcio, I shrew thi balle under thi hode, If thou were my syre of fleshe and blode ; Alle the day to ryn and trott. And ever amang thou strykeand. Thus am I comen bofettes to fott.
Caym. Peas, man, I did it bot to use my^ . -^ hand; \^f '
But harke, boy, I have a eounselle to the to say,' I sloghe my brother this same day ; I pray the, good boy, and thou may, To ryn away with the bayn.
Garcio. We, out apon the, thefe ! Has thou thi brother slayn ?
Caym. Peasse, man, for Godes payn ! I saide it for a skaunce.
Garcio. Yey, bot for ferde of grevance Here I the forsake. We mon have a mekille myschaunce And the bayles us take.
Caym. A, sir, I cry you mercy, seasse ! And I shalle make you a releasse.
Garcio. What, wilt thou cry my peasse Thrugheout this land ?
Caym. Yey, that I gif God a vow, belife.
Garcio. How, wilt thou do long or thou thrife ?
Caym. Stand up, my good boy, belife, And thaym peasse both man and wife, And who so wille do after me Fulle slape of thrift then shal he be. But thou must be my good boy. And cry oyes, oyes, oy !
(Garcio. Browes, browes, to thi boy.)
Caym. I command you in the kynges nayme,
(Garcio. And in my masteres, fals Ca^^me.)
If^ rii\VM;i,KV MV>TEUII>.
Cat/Ill. Tliat no man at tliame fynd awt ne
blame, (Garcio. Yey, cold rost is at my mastcrcs
hame.) Caym. Nowther with hym nor with his knafe, (Garcio. \Miat, I hope my master rafe.) Caym. For thay are trew, fulle many fold, (Garcio. My master suppys no coyle bot cold.) Caym. The kyng wrytes you untille, (Garcio. Yit ete I never half my fille.) Caym. The kyng wille that thay be safe, (Garcio. Yev, a draght of drynke favne wold
Ihayfe.) ^ Caym. At thare awne wille let them wafe ; (Garcio. My stomak is redy to receyfe) Caym. Loke no man say to them, on nor
other ; (Garcic. This same is he tliat slo his brother.) Caym. Byd every man thaym luf and lowt, (Garcio. Yey, ille s})on weft ay comes foule
out) Caym.* Long or thou get thi lioysc and thou go thus aboute. Byd every nian theym pleasse to pay. (Garcio. Yey gif Don, thvne hors, a wisp of
l^ hay.)
Caym. We, com downe in twenty deville way, The deville I the betake ; For bot it were Abelle, my brothere, Yit knew I never thi make. Garcio. Now old and yong, or that ye weynd, Tlie same blissyng withoutlen end,
Alle sam then shalJe ye have. That God of heven my master has giffen, Browke it welle, while that ye lifl'en,
He vowche it fulle welle safe. Caym. Com downe, yit in the devilles wav. And angrc me no more ; And take yotid ploghe, I say. And weynd the furthe fast before ; And I shalle, if I may, Tech the another lore,
• It is probable that Cain's speech coinmenocs witii the next line.
MACTATIO ABEL. 19
I warn the lad, for ay, Fro now furthe, evermore.
That thou greve me noghte ; For, bi Godes sydes, if thou do, I shall hang the apon this plo, Withe this rope, lo, lad, lo !
By hym that me dere boghte. Now fayre welle, felowes alle.
For I must nedes weynd, And to the deville be thralle,
Warle withoutten end. Ordand ther is my stalle,
Withe Sathanas the feynd, Ever ille myght hym befalle That theder me commend,
This tyde. Fare welle les, and fare welle more For now and ever more,
I wille go me to hyde.
EXPLICIT MACTACIO ABELLE.
SEQUITUR NOE.
b2
20
PROCESSUS NOE CUM FILIIS.
Noe. MyghtfuUe God veray, maker of all
that is, Thre persons withoutten nay, oone God in endless
blis, Thon maide bothe nyght and day, beest, fowle,
and fysh, Alle creatures that lif may broght thou at thi wish,
As thou wel myght ; The son, the moyne, verament, Thou maide ; the firmament, The sternes also fulle fervent,
To shyne thou maide ful bright. Angels thou maide ful even, alle orders that is. To liave the blis in lieven ; this did thou more and
les, Fulle merveliis to neven ; yit was ther unkyndnes More bi foldes seven than I can welle expres.
For whi ? Of alle angels in brightncs God gaf Lucifer most lightnes, Yit prowdly he flyt his dcs,
And set hym even hym by- He thoght hymself as worthi as hym that hym made, lu brightness, in bewty ; therfor he hym degrade ; Put hym in a low degre soyn after, in a brade, Hym and alle his menye, wher he may be unglad
For ever. Simile thay never wyn away, Hence unto domys day, 1^)1 burnt' ill buyle for ay,
Shalle thay never dyssever. Soyne after that gracyous Lord to his liknes
maide man, That place to be restord even as he l)egan. Of the trinite bi accord, Adam and Eve thai
woman,
PROCESSUS \OE. *21
To multiplie without discord in paradise put he thaym,
And sithen to both Gaf in commaundement, On the tre of hfe to lay no hend, Bot yit the fals feynd
Made hym with man wroth. Entysyd man to glotony, styrd him to syn in pride, Bot in paradise securly myght no syn abide, And therfor man fulle hastely was put out, in that
tyde, In wo and wandreth for to be, in paynes fulle unrid
To knowe, Fyrst in erth, in sythen in helle With feyndes for to dwelle, Bot he his mercy melle
To those that wille hym trawe. Oyle of mercy he hus hight, as I have hard red, To every lifyng wight that wold luf hym and dred ; Bot now before his sight every lifFyng leyde, Most party day and nyght, syn in word and dede
Fulle bold ; Som in pride, ire, and envy, Som in covetous and glotyny, Som in sloth and lechery.
And other wise many fold. Therfor I drede lest God on us will take venjance, For syn is now alod without any repentance. Sex hundreth yere and od have I, without distance, In erth, as any sod, lifFyd with grete grevance
Alle way ; And now I wax old, Seke, sory, and cold. As muk apon mold
I widder aw^ay ; Bot yit wille I cry for mercy and calle, Noe, thi servant, am I, lord over alle ! Therfor me and my fry shal with me falle, Save from velany, and bryng to thi halle
In heven ; And kepe me fi-om syn, This warld within ; Comly kyng of mankyn
I pray the here my stevvn ' b3
OO TOWNELEV MVSTEnrES.
Deus. Syn I have malde all thyng that is liffand, Duke, emperour, and kyng, with myne awne liand. For to liave thare likyng, bi see and bi sand, Every man to my bydying should be bowand
FuUe fervent ; Tliat maide man sich a creatoure,
arest of favoure, pan must luf me paramoure,
By reson and repent. Me thoght I showed man luf when I made hvm to
be Alle angels abuf, like to the trynyte, And now in grete reprufe fulle low liges he, In erth hym self to stuf with syn that displeesse me
Most of alle ; Venjance wille I take, In erth for syn sake, My grame thus wille I wake.
Both of grete and smalle. I repente fulle sore that ever made I man, Bi me he settes no store, and I am his soferan ; I wille distroy therfor both beest, man, and woman, Alle shalle perish les and more, that bargan may they ban.
That ille has done. In erth I se right noght Bot syn that is unsoght. Of those that welle has wroght
Fynd I bot afone. Tlierfor shall I fordo alJe this medille-erd With floodes that shalle flo and ryn with hidous
rerd, I have good cause therto, for me no man is ferd. As I say shall I do, of venjance draw my swerd
And make end Of all that beris life. Safe Noe and his wife, For thay wold never stryfe
With me then me offend. Hym to mekillc wyn hastly wille I go, To Noe my servand, or I blyn, to warn him of
his woe. In erth I see bot syn rcynand to and fro, Emang both more and niyn, ichon other fo ;
With alle thare enleut ;
^3
Alle shall I fordo
With floodes that shall floo,
Wirk shall I thaym wo,
That wille not repent. Noe, my freend, I thee command from cares the
to keyle, A ship that thou ordand of nayle and bord ful
well, Thou was alway welle wirkand, to me trew as
stele. To my bydyng obediance, frendship shalle thou
fele
To mede ; Of lennthe thi ship be Thre hundreth cubetts warn I the, Of lieght even thirte.
Of fyfty als in brede. Anoynt thi ship with pik and tar without and als
within. The water out to spar, this is a noble gyn ; Look no man the mar, thre chefe chambers
begyn, Thou must spend many a spar this wark or thou
wyn
To end fully. Make in thi ship also, Parloures oone or two. And houses of offyce mo,
For beestes that ther must be. Oone cubite on hight a wyndo shal thou make, On the syde a doore Avith slyght be-neyth shal
thou take, With the shal no man fyght nor do the no kyn
wrake, When all is doyne thus right thi wife, that is thy
make,
Take in to the, Thi sonnes of good fame, Sem, Japhet, and Came, Take in also hame
Thare wifes also thre. For all shal be fordone that lif in land bot ye, With floodes that from abone shal falle, and tliat
plente ; It shalle begvn fulle sone to rayn uncessanlle,
g4i TcrSVXELEV MYSTERIES.
After dayes seven be done and induyr tUiyes- fourty,
Without ten faylh?. Take to thi ship also Of ich kynd beestes two, Mavlle and femaylle, bot no mo.
Or thou pulle up thi saylle. For thay may the avaylle when al this thyng is
wroght ; Stuf thi ship with vitaylle, for hungre that ye
perish noght, Of beestes, fouUe, and cataylle, for thaym have
thou in thoght, For thaym is my counsaylle that som socour be soght.
In hast ; Thay must have corn and hay^. And oder mete alway, Do now as I the say,
In the name of the Holy Gast.
'Noe. A, benedicite ! what art t'hou that thus
Tellys afore that shalle be ? thou art fulle mar-
velus. Telle me, for charitie, thi name so graeius.
Deus. My name is of dignyte, and also fulle glorius To knowe. I am God most myghty, Oone God in trynyty, Made the and ich man to be ;
To luf me welle thou awe. Noe. I thank the. Lord, so dere, that wold vowch sayf Tluis low to appere to a symple knafe ; Blis us, Lord, here, for charite I hit crafe. The better may we stere the ship that we shalle hafe,
Certayn. Dem. Noe, to the and to thi fry My blyssyng ^raunt I ; Ye shalle wax and nuiltiply.
And fille the erth agane, When alle thise floodes ar past and fully gone away. Noe. Lord, honi ward wille I hast as fast as that I may ;
PROCESSUS NOE. 25
My [wife] wille I frast what she wille say, And I am agast that we get som fray ^ Betwixt lis both ;
1^3} For she is fulle tethde,
-^ For htllle oft angre,
If any thyng wrang be
Soyne is she wroth.
Tunc perget ad uxorem. God spede, dere wife, how fare ye ?
Uxor. Now, as ever myght I tliryfe, the wars I thee see ; Do telle me behfe where has thou thus long be ? To dede may we dryfe or lif for the I — ^ For want.
I When we swete or swynk : \-, I Thou dos what thou thynk, ' 1 Yet of mete and of dry nk
\ Have we veray skanf.
Noe. Wife, we are hard sted with tythynges
new. Uxor. Bot thou were worthi be cled in Stafford blew ; For thou art alway adred be it fals or trew ; Bot God knowes I am led, and that may I rew,
Fulle ille. For I dar be thi borow, From even unto morow, Thou spekes ever of sorow,
(. — ^ ^ , God send the onys thi fille !
y:^. I We women may wary alle ille husbandes, ' -]^V i._I have oone, bi Mary! that lowsyd me of my bandes; If he teyn I must tary how so ever it standes, With seymland fulle sory, wryngand both my hands
For drede. Bot yit other while, What with game and with gyle, I shall smy te and smyle
And qwite hym his me^e. Noe. We, hold thi tong, Ram-skyt, or I shalle
the stille. Uxor. By my thryft, if thou smyte I shal turne
the untille. Noe. We shalle assay as tyte, have at the Gille, Apon the bone shal it byte.
gg TOWNRI.KV MVSTERIF.S.
Uxor. A, so iiiarv, tliou sniytes ille ; Bot I suppose J shal not in thi det, Flyt of this flett! Take the ther a langett
To tye up thi liosc !
CNoe. A, wilt tliou so ? niary, that is myne. Uxor. Thou shal threfor two, I swere bi Godes pyne. Noe. And I shallc qvvite the tlio in fayth or
syne. Uxor. Out upon the, ho !
Noe. Thou can both byte and whyne
With a rei'd ; For alle if she stryke, Yit fast wille she shryke, In fayth I hold none slyke
In alle medille-crd ; Bot I wille kepe charyte for I have at do.
Uxor. Here shal no man tary the, I pray the go to, Fulle wcUe may we niys the, as ever have I ro ; To spyn wille I dres me. Noe. We, fare welle, lo ; Bot wife, Pray for me besele. To eft I com unto the.
Uxor. Even as thou prays for me,
As ever myght I thrife. Noe. I tary fulle lang fro my warke, I (raw, Now my gere wille I fang and thcder \\ ard draw, I may fulle ille gang the soth for to kuaw, Bot if God help amang I may sit downe daw
To ken ; Naw assay wille I How I can of wrightry. In nomine Patris et Filii
Kt SpiritCis Sancti, Amen. To begyn of this tree my bonys wille I bend, I traw from the trynyle socaure wille be send ; It fayres fulle fayre thynke me (his wark to my
hend. Now blissid be he that this can amend :
Lo, here the lenght, Thre lumdreth cubettes evenly, Of breed lo is it fyfty,
PROCESSUS XOE.
Tlie heght is even thyrty
Cubettes fulle streght. Now my gowne wille I cast and wyrk in my coate, Make wille I the mast or I flyt oone foote, A, my bak, I traw, wille brast ! this is a sory
note, Hit is wonder that I last sich an old dote
Alle dold. To begyn sich a wark ! My bonys are so stark, No wonder if thay wark.
For I am fulle old. The top and the saylle both wille I make, The helme and the castelle also wille I take, To drife ich a naylle wille I not forsake, This gere may never faylle, that dar I undertake
On one. This is a nobulle gyn, Thise nayles so thay ryn, Thoro more and myn,
Thise hordes ichon. Window and doore even as he saide, Tln-e ches chambre, thay ar welle maide, Pyk and tar fulle sure ther apon laide, This wille ever endure, therof am I paide ;
For why ? It is better wroght Then I coude haif thoght, Hym that maide all of noght
I thank oonly. Now wille I hy me and no thyng be leder, My wife and my neeveye to bryng even heder. Tent hedir tydely, wife, and consider. Hens must us fle alle sam togeder
In hast. Uxor. Whi, syr, what alis you ? Who is that asalis you ? To fle it avails you
And ye be agast. Noe. Ther is game on the reylle other, my
dame. Uxor. Telle me that ich-adeylle, els get ye
blame. Noe. He that cares may keille, blissid be his name,
27
i>}^ ToWNKI.LV MYSTERIES.
He has for oure seylle to sheld us fro shame.
And sayd Alio tlie warld aboiite With flodes so stoute, That shall ryn on a route,
Shall be overlaide. He saide alle shalle be slayn bot oonely we, Oure barnes that ar bayn, and thare wifes thre ; A ship he bad nie ordayn to safe us and oure fee, 'llierfor with alle oure niayn thank we that fre
Beytter of baylle ; Hy us fast, go we thedir.
Uxor. I wote never whedir, I dase and I dedir
For ferd of that taylle. Noe. Be not aferd, have done, trus sam oure gere. That we be ther or none without more dere. Primus Jilius. It shalle be done fulle sone,
brether, help to here. Secundus Jilius. Fulle long shalle I not hoyne to do my devere, Brether Sem. Tercius Jilius. Without any yelp. At my myght shalle I help. Uxor. Yit for drede of a skelp
Help welle thi dam. Noe. Now ar we there as we shuld be. Do get in oure gere, oure catalle and fe. In to this vesselle here, my chylder fre.
Uxor. I was never bard ere, as ever nn^glit I the,
In sich an oostre as this. In fayth I can not fynd Which is before, which is behynd, Bot shalle we here be pynd,
Noe, as have thou blis ? Noe. Dame, as it is skille, here must us abide grace ; Therforc, wife, with good wille com into this place. Uxor. Sir, for Jak nor lor Gille willel turne my iace Tille I have on this hille spon a space On mv rok :
pnocEii.sv.s Noi:. 29
Welle were he myght get me, Now wille I downe set me, Yit reede I no man let me,
For drede of a knok. 2Voe. Behold to the heven the cateractes alle. That ar open fuUe even, grete and smalle, And the pianettes seven left has thare stalle, Thise thoners and levyn downe gar falle
Fulle stout, Both halles and bowers, Castels and towers, Fulle sharp ar thise showers. That renys aboute ; Therfor, wife, have done, com into ship fast. r^Uxor. Yei, Noe, go cloute thi shone, the bet- ' — ^ ter wille thai last.
Prima Mulier. Good mother, com in sone, for alle is over cast. Both the son and the mone. Secunda Mulier. And many wynd
blast
Fulle sharp ; Thise flodes so thay ryn, Therfor moder come in.
Uxor. In fayth yit wille I spyn,
Alle in vayn ye carp. Tercia Mulier. If ye like ye may spyn, moder, in the ship. f^oe. Now is this twyys com in, dame, on my ! frenship. â– N (p ; ' Uxor. Wheder I lose or I wyn, in fayth, thi felowship, jSet I not at a pyn ; this spyndille wille I slip ; Apon this hille,
LOr I styr oone fote.
'Noe. Peter, I traw we dote. Without any more note
Come in if ye wille. Uxor. Thei water nyghys so nere that I sit not dry. Into ship with a byr therfor wille I hy For drede that I drone here.
Noe. Dame, securly.
It bees boght fulle dere ye abode so long by Out of shyp.
V
30
TuWNtLEV MVbTEHlE.-.
Uxor. I wille not, for tlii bydyng, Go from doore to inydyng. Noe. In fayth and for youre long taryyng
Ye shal lik on the whyp. Uxor. Spare me not, I pray the, bot even as thou thynk, Thise grete wordes shalle not flay me.
Noe. Abide, dame, and drynk,
For betyn shalle thou be with this staf to thou
stynk ; Ar strokes good ? say me.
Uxor. Wliat say ye, Wat Wynk ?
Noe. Speke,
Cry me mercy, I say ! Uxor. Therto say I nay. Noe. Bot thou do, bi this day, Thi hede shalle I breke. Uxor. Lord, I were at ese and hertely fulle hoylle, Might I onys have a measse of wedows coylle ; For thi sauUe, without lese, shuld I dele penny — ■doylle, .-^r So wold mo, no frese, that I se on this sole Of wifes that ar here. For the life that thay leyd, Wold thase husbandes were dede,
V for, as ever ete I brede,
So wold I oure syre weie,
Noe. Ye men that has wifes, whyies they arc yong, If ye luf youre lifes, chastice thare tong : Me thynk my hert ryfes, both levyr and long, To se sich stryfes wedmen emong ; Bot as have I blys, [I] shalle chastyse this. Uxor. Yit may ye mys, Nicholle Nedy ! Noe. I shalle make ye stille-as stone, begynnar of blunder ! I shalle bete the bak and bone, and breke alle in sunder. Uxor. Out, alas, I am gone ! oute apon the,
mans wonder I Noe. Se how she can gronc and I lig luider; Bot, wife,
\ w
0
G)
SI
In this last let ns ho, For my bak is nere in two. Uxor. And I am bet so bio,
That I may not thryfe. Primus Jilius. A, whi fare ye thus ? fader and
moder both ! Secundus Jiliits. Ye shuld not be so^ spltiis,
standyng in sich a woth. Tercius Jilius. Thise ar so hidus with many
a cold coth. Noe. We wille do as ye bid us, we wille no more be Avroth, Dere barnes ! Now to the helme wille I hent, And to my ship tent.
Uxor. I se on the firmament,
Me thynk the seven starnes. Noe. This is a grete flood, wife, take hede. Uxor. So me thoght, as I stode, we ar in grete drede ; Thise v/awghes ar so wode.
Noe. Help, God, in this nede ! As thou art stere-man good, and best, as I rede,
Ofalle; Thou rewle us in this rase. As thou me behete base.
Uxor, This is a perlous case,
Help, God, when we calle ! Noe. Wife, tent the stere-tre and I shalle asay The depnes of the see that we here, if I may. Uxor. That shalle I do fulle wysely, now go thi way. For apon this flood have we flett many day, With pyne. Noe. Now the water M'ille I sownd, A, it is far to the grownd ; This travelle I expownd Had I to 4;yne. Above alle hillys bedeyn the water is rysen late Cubettes fifteen, bot in a highter state It may not be I weyn, for this welle I wate This fourty dayes has rayn beyn, it wille therfor abate
Fulle lele. This water in hast,
32 TOWNELKV MVSTEUIES.
Eft wille I last, Now am I a^ast,
It IS wanyd a grete dele. Now ar tlie weders cest and cateractes knyt, Both the most and the leest.
Uxor. Me thynk, bi my wit, The son shynes in the eest, lo, is not yond it ? We shuld have a good feest were thise flodes flyt So spytus. Noe. We have been here, alle we, ccc dayes and fyfty.
Uxor. Yei, now wanys the see,
Lord, welle is us ! Noe. The thyrd tyme wille I prufe what depnes
we here. Uxor. Now long shalle thou hufe, lay in thy
lyne there. Noe. I may towch with my hufe the grownd
evyn here. Uxor. Then begynnys to grufe to us mery chere ;
Bot, husband, What grownd may this be ? Noe. The hyllys of Armonye. Uxor. Now blissid be he
That thus for us can ordand. Noe. I see toppys of hyllys he, many at a syght. No thyng to let me, the wedir is so bright. Uxor. Thise ar of mercy tokyns fulle right. Noe. Dame, thi counselle me, what fowlle best myght,
And cowth. With flight of wyng Bryng, without taryying. Of mercy som tokynyng
Aytiier bi north or southe ? For this is the fyrst day of the tent moyne. Uxor. The ravyn, durst I lay, wille com agane sone. As fast as thou may cast hym fui'th, have done, He may liappvn to day com agane or none With grath. Noe. I wille cast out also Dowfes oone or two, Go youre way, go.
PROCESSUS NOE.
God send you som watlic ! Now ar thise tbwles floiie into seyr counti-e, Pray we fast icli-on, kneland on our kne, To hym that is alone worthiest of degre, Tliat he wold send anone oure fowles soni fee To glad us. Uxor. Thai may not faylle of land, The water is so wanand.
Noe. Thank we God alle weldand, That Lord that made us. It is a wonder thyng, me thynk sothle, Thai ar so long taryyng the fowles that we Cast out in the mornyng.
(Zror. Syr, it may be
Thai tary to thay bryng.
Noe. The ravyn is ahungrye
Alle way ; He is without any reson, And he fynd any caryon, As peraventure may befon,
He wille not away ; The dowfe is more gentille, her trust I untew, Like unto the turtille for she is ay trew.
Uxor. Hence bot a litille she comys, lew^, lew ! She brynges in her bille som novels new ;
Behald ! It is of an oHf tre A branch thynkes me, Noe. It is soth, perde,
Right so is it cald. Doufe, byrd fulle blist, fayre myght the befalle ! Thou art trew for to trist as ston in the walle ; Fulle welle I it wist thou wold com to thi halle, Uxor. A trew tokj'n ist we shalle be savyd alle, For whi ? The water syn she com, Of depnes plom, Is fallen a fathom.
And more hardeh'. Primus JiUus. These fioodes ar gone, fader,
behold. Secundiis Jilhis. Ther is left right none, and
that be ye bold. Terciiis filius. As stille as a stone oure ship is stold.
e
iH
TOW S F. LEY M YST I; K I KS.
Noe. Apon laud here anonc that we were fayn I wold,
My childer dere,
Prm .Tnpbrt and Cam.
';Vc \v...i. i.«.i lOi'ger abide here. TJxar. Here have we beyn noy long enoghe, .Vith tray and with teyn, and dreed mekille woghe. A'oc. Behald on this greyn nowder cart ne ploghe Is left, as I weyn, nowder tre then boghe
Ne other thyng, Bot alle is away. Many castels I say, Grete townes of aray,
Flitt has this flowing. Uxor. These floodes not afright alle this warki so wide Has mevid with myght on se and bi side.
Noe. To dede ar thai dyght prowdist of pryde. Ever ich a wyght that ever was spyde
With syn, Alle ar thai slayn. And put unto payn.
Uxor. From thens agayn
May thai never wyn ? Noe. Wyn ? no, i-wis ; bot he that myght hase Wold myn of thare mys and admytte thaym to
grace, As he in baylle is blis I pray hym in this space. In heven hye -with his to purvaye us a place,
That we. With his sanies in sight, And his angels bright. May com to his light,
Amen, for charite.
EXPLICIT PROCESSUS NOE, SEQVITVR ABRAUAM.
a5
SEQUITUR ABRAHAM.
Abraham. Adonay, thou God veray. Thou here us when we to the calle, As thou art he that best may, Thou art most socoure and help of alle ;, Mightful Lord I to thee 1 pray, Let onys the oyle of mercy falle, Shalle I never abide that day, Truly yit I liope I shalle. Mercy, Lord omnipotent !. Long since He this warld has wroght^ Wheder ar alle oure elders went ? This musys mekille in my thoght. From Adam unto Eve assent, Ete of that appylle sparid he noght. For alle the wisdom that he ment Fulle dere that bargan has he boght, From paradise that bad hym gang ; He went mowrnyng with symple chere,. And after liffyd he here fulle lang, More then ccc yere, In sorow and in travelle Strang, And every day he was in were. His childre angred hym amang, Caym slo Abelle was hym fulle dere. Sithen Noe, that was trew and good,. His and his chyldre three. Was saved when alle was flood ; That was a wonder thyng to se. And Lothe from Sodome when he yede^ Three cytees brent yit esehapyd he. Thus, for thai menged my Lordes mede,. He vengid syn thrugh his pauste. When I thynk of oure elders alle, And of the marvels that has been. No gladnes in my hart may falle, Mv comfort goys away fulle cleyn. c 2
36
TOWNEI-KY MYSTERIES.
Lord, when slialle dede make nie lils tliralU- ?
An c yeris, certes, have I seyn ;
Ma la ! sone I hope he slialle,
For it \vcre right hie tynie I weyn.
Yit Adam is to helle gone,
And ther has ligen many a day,
And alle oure elders, ever ychon,
Thay ar gone the same way ;
Unto Cnxl wille here thare mone,
Now help, Lord, Adonay !
For, certes, I can no better wone,
And ther is none that better may.
Deus. I wille help Adam and his kynde, Mighte I luf and lewte fynd ; Wold thuy to me be trew, and blyn Of thare pride and of thare syn : My servand I wille found and frast, Abraham, if he be trast, On certan wise I wille hym prove, If he to me be trew of louf. Abraham ! Abraham !
Abraham. Who is that ? war, let me se, I herd oone neven my name.
Deus. It is I, take tent to me, That fourmed thi fader Adam, And every tliyng in it degre.
Abraham. To here thi Aville redy I am. And to fiilfille what ever it be.
De7is. Of mercy have I herd thi cry, Till devoute prayers have me bun, If thou me luf look that thou hy Unto the land of Visyou ; And the tliyrd day be ther bid I, And take with the Isaac, thi son. As a beest to sacryly, To slo hym look thou not shon. And bren hym ther to thvn ofllerand.
Abraham. A, lovyd be thou Lord in throne ! Hold over me, Lord, thy holy hand : For certes thi bidyng slialle be done, HIissyd be that Lord in every land \\'ol(l viset his servand thus so soyn. I'ayn wold I this thyng ordand, For it pcrfettes noght to hoyne ; This comiuauiideMient nuist'l nodes fiilfille.
If that my liert wax hevy as leyde ;
JShuld I offend my Lordes wille
Xay yit were I leyffer my child were dede.
Wliat so he biddes me, good or llle,
Thiat slialle be done in every steede ;
Both wife and child, if he bid spille,
I wille not do agans his rede.
Wist Isaac where so he were,
He wold be abast now,
How that he is in dangere.
Isaac, son, wlier art thou ?
Isaac. Alle redy, fader, lo me here ; Now A\as I commyng unto you ; I luf you mekille, fader dere.
Abraham. And dos thou so ? I wold wit how Lutes thou me, son, as thou has saide.
Isaac. Yei, fader, withe alle myn hart. More then alle that ever was maide ; God hold me long your life in quart.
Abraliam. Now, who would not be glad that had A child so kifand as thou art ? Thi lufly chere makes my hert glad. And many a tyme so has it gart. Go home, son, com sone agane, And telle thi moder I com ful fast ;
Hie transsiei Isaac « patre.
So now, God the saif and sayne, Now welle is me that he is past. Alone, ryght here in this playn. Might I speke to myn hart brast, I wold that alle were welle ful fayn, Bot it must nedes be done at last ; And it is good that I be war. To be avised fulle good it ware. Tlie land of Vision is ful far, The tlirid day end must I be there ; Myn ass shalle withe us, if it thar, To here oure harnes les and more, For my son may be slayn no nar, A swerd must with us yit ther fore. And I shalle found to mak me yare, This nyglite wille I begyn my way, Thof Isaac be never so favre, c3
;^J^ TOWNELEV .MV8TEKIE9.
And nivn awn son, the sothe to say, And thof lie be Tnyn righte haire, And alle slnild weld after my day, Goddcs bydyng shalle I not spare ; Shuld I that ganstand ? we, nay, ma fay ! Isaac I
Isaac. — Sir I
Abraham. — Luke thou be bowne ; For certan, son, thi self and I, We two must now weynd furtlie of towne, In far country to sacrifie. For certan skyllys and encheson ; Take wod and fyere with the, in hy, Bi hillys and dayllys, bothe up and down. Son, thou shal ride and I wille go bi. Looke thou mys noghte that thou shuld nede, Do make the redy, my darlyng !
Isaac. I am redy to do this dede, And ever to fulfille youre bydyng.
Abraham. My dere son, look thou have no drede. We shal com home with grete lovyng ; Bothe to and fro I shal us lede, Com now, son, in my blyssyng. Ye two here with this asse abide, For Isaac and I wille to yond hille. It is so hie we may not ride, Therfor ye two shal abide here stille.
Primus Puer. Sir, ye ow not to be denyed ; We ar redy youre bydyng to fulfille.
Secundus Puer. What so ever to us betide To do youre bidyng ay we wille.
Abraham. Godes blyssyng have ye bothe in fere ; I shalle not tary long you fro.
Primus Puer. Sir, we shall abide you here, Out of this stcde shalle we not go.
Abraham. Childre, ye ar ay to me fulle dere, 1 i)ray (Jod kepe ever fro wo.
Sccu/idus Purr. We wille do, sir, as ye us lere.
Abraham. Isaac, now ar we bot we two, We nuist go a fulle good paase. For it is farther then I wend ; We shalle make myrthe and grete solace, Bi this ihyng be broghl to end.
39
Lo, Tiiy son, here is the place.
Isaac. Wod and fyere ar in my hend ; Telle me now, if ye have space. Where is the beest that shuld be brend ?
Abraham. Now, son, I may no longer lay n, Sich wille is into myne hart went ; TtIiou was ever to me fiiUe bayn Ever to fulfille myne entent. Bot certanly thou must be slayn, And it may be as I have ment.
Isaac. I am hevy and nothyng fayn. Thus hastely that shalle be shent.
Abraham. Isaac!
Isaac. Sir ?
Abraham. Com heder bid I ;
Thou shalle be dede what so ever betide.
Isaac. A, fader, mercy ! mercy !
Abraham. That, I say, may not be denyde ; Take thi dede therfor mekely.
Isaac. A, good sir, abide ; Fader !
Abraham. "What, son ?
Isaac. To do youre wille I am redy,
Where so ever ye go or ride. If I may oght overtake youre wille, Syn I have trespast I wold be bet.
Abraham. Isaac !
Isaac. What, sir ?
Abraham. Good son, be stille.
Isaac. Fader 1
Abraharn. What, son ?
Isaac. Think on thi get,
Wliat have I done ?
Abraham. Truly, none ille.
Isaac. And shall be slayn ?
Abraham. So have I het«
Isaac. Sir, what may help ?
Abraham. Certes, no skille.
Isaac. I aske mercy.
Abraham. That may not let.
Isaac. When I am dede, and closed in clay. Who shalle then be youre son ?
Abraham. A, Lord, that I shuld abide this day.
Isaac. Sir, who shalle do that I was won ?
10
TOWNKI-K^ M\ .sTKIllK)?.
Ahi'uhavi. Speke no jilchc wordes, son, I the pray.
Isaac. Slialle ye me slo ?
Abraham. I trow I mon ;
Lyg stille, I smyte.
Isaac. Sir, let me say.
Abraham. Now, my dere child, thou may not shon.
Isaac. The shynyng of youre bright blayde It gars me quake for fcrd to dee.
Abraham. Therfor groflynges thou shalle be layde. Then when 1 stryke thou shalle not se.
Isaac. What have I done, fader, what]_have I saide ?
Abraham. Truly, no kyns ille to mc.
Isaac. And thus gyltles shalle be arayde.
Abraham. Now, good son, let siche wordes be.
Isaac. I luf you ay.
Abraham. So do 1 tiiee.
Isaac. Fader I
Abraham. What, son ?
Isaac. Let now I)c sevn
For Uiv moder luf.
Abraham. Let be, let be !
It wille not holj) that thou wold mevn ; Bot ly stylle lille I com to the, " I mys a lytylle thyng I weyn. He spckes so rufully to me That water shotes in both myn ccyn, 1 were lever than alle warldly wyn, That I had fon hym onys unkynde, Uut no defawt I faund hym in ; I wold be dede for hym or |)ynde, To slo iiym thus I thynk grete sy u So rnlulle wordes I with hym lynd ; I am I'ullc wo that we shuld twyn, For he wille never oute of my mynd. What sjial 1 to hys moder say ? I'or wher is he tyte wille she spyr; If 1 telle hir, ron away, Ilir answere i)ese l)elife — " nay, sir!" And I am ferd hir for to flay, * I ne wote what I shalle saytille hir. He lyys fulle stille there as he lav. For to I com dar he not stvr.
ii
Dens. Aiigelle hy with alle thi inajn, To Abraham thou shalle be sent ; Say, Isaac shalle not be slayn, He shalle lif and not be brent. My bydyng standes he not agane, Go, put hym out of liis intent ; Byd hym go home agane, 1 know welle how he ment.
Angelus. Gladly, Lord, I am red}', Thi bidyng shalle be magnyfyed ; I shalle me spede ful hastely, The to obeye at every tyde ; Thy wille, Thy name, to glorifye. Over alle this warld so wide, And to Thi servand now in hy. Good; trew, Abraham, wille 1 glyde.
Abraham. Bot myght I yit of wepyng sese, Tille I had done this sacrifice ; It must nedes be, withoutten lesse, Thof alle I carpe on this kyn wise. The more my sorow it wille incres ; When 1 look to hym I gryse ; I wille ryn on a res, And slo hym here, right as he lyse.
Angelus. Abraham ! Abraham !
Abraham. Who is ther now ?
War, let the go.
Angelus. Stand up, now, stand ;
Thi good wille com I to alow, Therfor I byd the hold thi hand.
Abraham. Say, who bad so ? any bot thou ?
Angelus. Yei, God ; and sendes this beest to thyn offerand.
Abraham. I speke with God latter, 1 trow, And doyng he me commaund.
Angelus. He has persavyd thy mekenes And thi good wille also, iwis ; He wille thou do thi son no distres. For he has graunt to thee his blys.
Abraham. Bot wote thou welle that it is As thou has sayd ?
Angelus. I say the yis.
Abraham. I thank Thee, Lord, welle of good- nes, That alle thus has relest me this ;
4.<2 TO\VNEI-EY MYSTERIES.
To speke with the have 1 no space Withe my dere son tille I have spokyn ; My good son, thou shal have grace, On the now wille I not be wrokyn, Ilyse up now, with thi frely face.
Isaac. Sir, shalle I Hf ?
Abraham. Yei, this to tokyn.
Et osculatur eum.
Son thou has scapid a fulle hard grace,
Thou shuld have beyn bothe brent and brokyn.
Isaac. Bot, fader, shalle I not be slayn ?
Abraham. No, certes, son.
Isaac. 'Dien am I glad ;
Good sir, put up your sword agayn.
Abraham. Nay, hardely, son be thou not adrad.
Isaac. Is alle forgeyn ?
Abraham. yei, son, certan.
Isaac. For ferd, sir, was I nere hand mad.
43
Isaac. Com nere son and kys me, That I may feyle the smelle of the ; The smelle of my son is lyke To a feld with flouris, or liony bike. Where art thou, Esaw, my son ?
Jacob. Here, fader, and askes you re benyson.
Isaac. The blyssyng my fader gaf to me, God of heven and I gif the ; God gif the plente grete, Of wyne, of oylle, and of whete ; And graunt tlii childre alle To worshipe the, bothe grete and smalle ; Who so the blyssys blyssed be he, Who so the waris wared be he. Now has thou my grete blyssyng, Love the shalle alle thyne ofspryng, Go now wheder thou has to go. Decedet Jacob.
Jacob. Graunt mercy, sir, I wille do so.
Esaw. Have, ete, fader, of myn huntyng ; And gif me sythen your blyssyng.
Isaac. Who is that ?
Esaw. I, youre son ; Esaw brynges you venyson.
Isaac. Who was that was right now here, And broght me bruet of a dere ? I ete welle, and blyssyd hym. And he is blyssyd iche a lym.
Esaw. Alas ! 1 may grete and sob.
Isaac, Thou art begylyd thrughe Jacob, That is thyne awne german brother.
Esaw. Have ye kepyd me none other Blyssyng then ye set hym one ?
Isaac. Sich an other have I none ; Bot God gif the to thvn handband
J.], lOVVNELEV MYSTEKIES.
The dew of licvcn and fiute of land : Other then tliis can I not say.
Esaw. Now, alas, and walo-way ! May I witli that tratoure mete My' fader's dayes shalle com witli grete, And my moder's also. May 1 hyni mete I shalle hym slo.
Rebecca. Isaac, it were my deth If Jacob weddeth in kynd of Hethc ; I wllle send him to Aran, Theie my brothere dwellys, Laban ; And there may he serve in peasse Tille his brother's wrath wille seasse. Why shuld I apon a day Loyse bothe my sonnes ? better nay.
Isaac. Thon says soth, wife, calle hym heder, And let ns telle hym where and wheder ; That he may fle Esaw, That us bothe hetes bale to brew.
Rebecca. Jacob, son, thi fader and I Wold speke with the ; com, stand us by. Out of contry must thou fle That Esaw slo not the.
Jacob. Wheder ward shuld I go, dame ?
Rebecca. To Mesopotameam ; To my brothere, and thyn eme, That dv\ellys besyde Jordan streme ; And ther may thou with liym won, To Esaw, myne other son, Forget, and alle his wrath be dede.
Jacob. I wille go, fader, at youre rede.
Isaac. Yei, son, do as thi modcr says. Com kys us bothe, and weynd thi ways. Et osctilatur.
Jacob, Have good day, sir and dame.
Isaac. Ciod sheld the, son, from syn and shame.
Rebecca. And gif the grace good man to be, And send me glad tytliynges to tiie.
i;xiM.icri' ISAAC.
45
SEQUITUR JACOB.
Jacob. Help me Lord, Adonay, And hald me in the right way To Mesopotameam, For I cam never or now where I am, I cam never here in this centre, Lord of heven thou help me, For I have maide me, in this strete, Sore boiiys and warkand teete. The son is downe, what is best ? Her purpose I alle nyght to rest, Under my hede this ston shalle ly, A nyghtes rest take wille L
Deus. Jacob, Jacob, thi God I am ; Of thi forfader Abraham, And of thi fader Isaac ; I shall the blys for thare sake. This land that thou slepys in I shalle the gif, and thi kyn, I shalle thi seede multyply, As thyk as powder on erthe may ly. The kynd of the shalle sprede wide, From eest to west on every syde, From the southe unto the northe, Alle that I say I shalle forthe. And alle the folkes of thyne ofspryng, Shal be blyssyd of thi blyssyng. Jacob, have thou no kyns drede, I shalle the clethe, I shall the fede. WhartfuUe shalle I make thi gate, I shal the help erly and late, And alle in qwart shalle 1 bryng the Home agane to thi countre. I shalle not faylle, be thou bold, Bot I shalle do as I have told. Hie vigilet. Jacob. A Lord ! what mav this mene ?
4(5 TOWSELKV MYSTERIESi.
What have I herd in slepe and sene^
That God leynyd liini to a steghe, '^'^
And spake to me, it is no leghe ;-'>/
And now is here none othere gate,
15ot Godes howse and heven's yate.
Lord, how dredfuUe is this stede,
Ther I layde downe my hede.
In Godes lovyng I rayse tliis stone,
And oylle wille I putt theron ;
Lord of heven, that alJe wote,
Here to the I make a hote.
If thou gif me mete and foode,
And close to body, as I behoved,
And bryng me home to kythe and kyn,
By the way that I walk in.
Withe out skathe and inquarte,
I promyse to the, with stedfast hart,
As thou art Lord and God myne,
And I Jacob, thi trew hyne,
This stoyne I rayse in sygne to day
Shalle I hold holy kyrk for ay.
And of alle that newes me
Right wys tend shall I gif the.
Hie egrediatur Jacob de Aran in terram naiivitatis
suae, A, my fader, God of heven. That saide to me, thrughe thi sfeven, When 1 in Aran was dwelland, That I shuld turne agane to land Ther I was both fed and borne, Warnyd thou me lord beforne. As I went toward Aian Withe \w\ staff, and passyd Jordan, And now I com agane to kythe. Withe two ostes of men me withe. Thou hete me, Lord, to do welle with me. To multyplye my seede as sand of see ; Thou save me. Lord, thrughe vertew, From venjance of Esaw, Tliat he slo not, for old greme, These moders with thare barne to me.
Rachelle. Oure anguyshe, sir, is many fold, Syn that oure messyngers us told That Ksaw wold you slo, With fouif liundrt-th men and mo.
47
Jacob. For sothe, Rachelle, I have hym sent Of many beestes sere pi-esent, May tyde he wille our giftes take, And right so shalle his wrath slake ; Where ar oure thynges, ar thay past Jordan ?
Lya. Go and look, sir, as ye can.
Hie scnitatur superlectile^ et Inctetur angelus cum eo.
Deus. The day sprynges, now lett me go,
Jacob. Nay, nay, I wille not so. Bot thou blys me or thou gang ; If I may I shall hold the lang.
Deua. In tokynyng that thou spekes with me, I shalle toche now thi thee. That halt shalle thou ever more, Bot thou shalle fele no sore ; What is thy name thou me telle ?
Jacob. Jacob.
Deus. Nay, but Israelle ;
Syn thou to me siche strengthe may kytlie, To men of erth thou must be stythe.
Jacob. Ei ! what is thy name ?
Deus. Whi askes thou it ?
Wonderfulle, if thou wil wyt.
Jacob. A, blys me, Lord !
Deus. I shall the blys,
And be to the fulle pressyce, And gyf the my blyssyng for ay, As Lord and he that alle may. I shalle grayth thi gate, And fulle welle ordeyn thi state ; When thou has drede, thynk on me. And thou shal fulle welle saynyd be, And look thou trow welle my sayes ; And fare welle now, the day dayes.
Jacob. Now have I a new name, Israelle ; This place shalle Fanuelle, For I have seyn in this place, God of heven face to face.
Rachelle. Jacob, lo we have tythand That Esaw is here at hand.
Hie dividit tiirmas in tres partes.
Jacob. Rachelle, stand thou in the last eschelle,
48 TOWNKI.EY MYSTERIES.
P\)r I wold tlioii were savyd wolc- ;
Calle Joseph and Benjamin,
And let them not tVo the twyn.
If it be so that Esaw
I's before alle — to hew,
Ye that ar here the last
Ye may be savyd if ye fle fast.
Et vadat Jacob oscula7idus Esaw^ vcnit Jacobs flectit (jenua exorando Dcum at Itvando, occti?-- rit illi Esaw vi amplexibus.
Jacob. I pray the, Lord, as thou me het, That save me and my gete.
Esaw. Welcome, brother, to kyn and kythe, Till wife and childre that comes the with. How has thou faren in far land ? Telle me now som good tythand.
Jacob. Welle, my brother Esaw, If that tin men no bale me brew. Dicit servis suis.
Esaw. Wemo, felows, hold youre hend, Ye se that I and he ar I'rend, And frenship here wille we fnlfille, Syn that it is Godes wille.
Jacob. God veld you, brother, that it so is That thou thi hyne so wold kys.
Esaw. Nay, Jacob, my dere brothere, I shalle the telle alle anothere, Thou art my Lord thrugh destyny; Go we togeder both thou and I, To my fader and his wife. That lofys the, brother, as tharc lyio.
EXPLICIT JACOB.
49
TROCESSUS PROPHETARUM.
Moyses. Prophetam excitabit Deus de fratribus vestris ; Omnis anima, quae non audierit prophetam ilium,
exterminabitur de populo suo ; Nemo propheta sine honoi'e nisi in patria sua. Alle ye folk of Israelle. Herkyn to me, I wille you telle
Tythynges farly goode ; Alle woteys how it be felle Wherfor Adam was dampnyd to helle,
He, and alle his blode. Therfor wille God styr and rayse A prophete, in som man dayes,
Of oure brethere kyn ; And alle trowes as he says. And wille walk in his ways.
From helle he wille them twyn. When his tyme begynnys to day, I rede no man from hym dray.
In way, ne stand on strut. For he that wille not here his saghe. He be shewed as an out-laghe,
And from his folkes be putt. I warne you welle that same prophete Shalle com here after ward, fulle swete,
And many mervels shew ; Man shalle falie tille his feete, For cause he can bales beete,
Thrughe his awn thew. Alle that wille in trowth ren Shalle he save, I warne you then,
Trust shalle his name be. Bot alle over wille man prophete ken With worshipe, amanges men,
Bot in his awne countre. Herkyns alle bothe yong and old, God that has alle in wold.
50
OW NKl.l.V Nn -TKKII
Gretys you bi me ; His commauncienientes ar ten, Behold ye that ar his men,
Here ye may them se. His commaundements, that I have broght, Looke that ye hold thaym noght
For tryfyls, ne for fables ; For ye shalle welle understand Tliat God wrote theym with his hand
In thyse same tables ; Ye that thyse in hart wille hald. Unto heven shalle ye be cald,
That is fyrst to com ; And ye that wille not do so, Tille helle pyne mon ye go,
And byde a bytter dome. Do now as I shalle you wys ; The fyrst commaundement is this,
That I shalle you say, Make no God of stok ne stone, And trow in none God bot oone,
That mayde bothe nyghte and day. Another bydes thou shall not swere. For no mede, no for no dere,
Falsly, bi Godes name ; If thou swere wrongwosly, Wit thou welle and wytterly,
Thou art worthi grete blame. The thyrd is thou shalle welle yheme Tlii holy day, and serve to wheme
God withe alle thi hart. Tlie fourt commaundement is bi taylle, Fader and moder worship thou shalle,
In povert and in qwartc. The fyft commaundes thou shalle forsake Fornycacyon, and take the a make. And lyf in rightewys slate. Ilie sext commaundes thou shal not be Man sloer, for gold ne fee,
Ne for luf, ne for hate. The seventhe commaundes that thou shalle leve, And nather go to stele ne reve. For more then for les. The aght bydes both old and vong, That thay be traw of thare tong,
PROCESSUS PROPHETARUM. 51
And here no fals witnes. The nenthe bydes the, bi thi lif, Thou desyre not thi neghbur's wife,
Ne rnayden that is his. The tent bides the, for no case, Desyre not wranwosly thyng thi neghbur has ;
Do thus and do no mys. I am the same man that God chase, And take the ten commaundements of peasse,
In the monte Synay ; Thise wordes, I say, ar no les, My name is callyd Moyses ;
And have now alle good day.
David. Omnes reges adorabiint eum, omnes gentes servient ei.
Herkyn, alle, that here may,
And perceyf welle what I shalle say,
Alle withe righwisnes. Loke ye put it not away, Bot thynk theron bothe nyghte and day,
For it is sothefastnes. Jesse son ye wot I am, David is my right name,
And I here crowne ; Bot ye me trow ye ar to blame, Of Israel, bothe wyld and tame,^
I have in my bonden. As God of heven has gyffen me wit, Shalle I now syng you a fytt.
Withe my mynstrelsy ; Loke ye do it welle in wrytt. And theron a knot knytt.
For it is prophecy. Myrthe I make tille alle men, Withe my harp, and fyngers ten.
And warn them that thay glad, For God wille that his son down send That wroght Adam with his hend
And heven and erth mayde. He wille lyght fro heven towre, For to be man's saveyoure.
And save that is forlorne ; For that I harp, and myrth make, Is for he wille manhede take,
I telle you thus beforne ;. d2
ry'-Z YoWSr.l.KX MVSTKRIKS
And thider shalle he ren agane. As gyant of mych mayne,
Unto the hyest sete ; Tlicr is nawthev kyng, ne swayn, Then no thyng that may hym layn,
Ne hyde from his hete. He shalle be Lord atid Kyng of alle^ Tylle hys feete shalle kynges falle,
To offer to hym wytterly ; Blyssyd be that swete blome, That shalle save us at his com,
JoyfuUe may we be. Riche gyftes thay shalle l}ym bryng. And tille liym make ofFeryng,
Kneland on thare kne ; Welle were hym that that lordyng. And that dere derlyng,
Myght bide on lyfe and se. Men may know hym bi his marke, Myrthc and lovyng is his warke,
That shalle he luf most. Lyght shalle be born that tyme in darke,. Both to lawd man and to dark,
The luf of rightewys Gost. Therfor bothe emperoure and kyng, Ryche and poore, bofhe old and yong.
Temper welle youre gle, Agans that kyng lyght downe. For to lowse us of pryson,
And make us alle free. Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam, et sa-
lutare tuuin da nobis. Thou shew thi mercy, Lord, tylle us. For to Thou com to helle we trus.
We may not go beside ; Lord, when thi wilje is for to dele Tylle us thi salve and thi hele,
Whom we alle abyde. Now have I songen you a fytt, Loke in mynd that ye liave it,
I rede with my myghte ; He tliat maide us alle with his wytt, Sheld us alle from hclle pytt.
And graunt us heven lyghte. Sibilla prophtta. Judicii signum telhis sudore madescit.
PROCESSUS PROPHETARUM. ^3
E caslo rex adveniet per secla futurus, Scilicet in carne praesens ut judicet orbem. Who so wylle here tythynges glad, Of hym that alle this warld made,
Here me wytterly ; Sibille sage is my name, Bot ye me here ye ar to blame.
My word is prophecy. Alle men was slayn thrughe Adam syn, And put to pyne that never shalle blyn,
Thrughe falsnes of the feyiid ; A new kyng comes from heven to fyght Agans the feynd, to wyn his right,
So is his mercy he3md. Alle the warld shalle he deme, And that have servyd hym to wheme
Myrthe thaym mon betyde ; Alle shalle se hjan withe thare ee, Kyche and poore, low and hye,
No man may hym hyde ; Bot thay shalle in thare fleshe ryse, That every man shalle whake and gryse,
Agans that ilk dome. Withe his santes, many oone. He shalle be sene in fleshe and bone,
That kyng that is to com. Alle that shalle stand hym before, Alle shalle be les and more,
Of oone eld icheon. Angels shalle qwake then for ferd, And fyre shalle bren this mydylle-erd,
Yei, erth and alle ther apon. Shalle nothyng here in erthe be kend, Bot it shalle be strewyd and brend,
Alle waters and the see. Sythen shalle bothe hille and dale Ryn togeder, grete and smale,
And alle shalle even be. At liys commyng shalle bemys blaw. That men may his commyng knaw,
Fulle sorowfulle shalle be that blast ; Ther is no man that herys it, Bot he shalle qwake for alle his witt,
Be he never so stedfast. Then shalle helle gape and gryn, D 3
54 TOWNELEY MVSTERIK*;.
That men may know thare dome tlier in,
Of that hye justyce ; That ille have done to helle mon go. And to hcven tlie other also,
That has been rightwys. Therfor, 1 rede ilk a man, Kepc as welle as he can,
Fro syn and fro mysdede. My prophecy now have I told, God yon save, botlie yong and old,
And help you at youre nede. Daniel. Cum venerit Sanctus Sanctorum ces- abit unctio vestra. God that maide Adam and Eve, Whils thay dyd welle, he gaf them leva
In paradise to dwelle ; Sone when thay that appylle ete, Thay were dampned, sone and skete,
Unto the pyne of helle, Thrughe sorow and paynes ever new ; Therfor wylle God apon us rew.
And his son downe send Into erthe, flesh to take, That is alle for oure sake,
Oure trespas to iuiiend. Flesh withe fleshe wille be boghte, That he lose not that he has wroghte
Withe hys awne hend ; Of a madyn shalie he be borne, To save alle that ar forlorne.
Ever more witheoutten end.*
• This Pageant is apparently vinfinished, a portion of the bottom of fol. If), fc and the whole of IbL 20, beiug letl blank.
55
INCIPIT PHARAO.
Vharao. Peas, of payn that no man pas ; But kepe the course that I commaunde, And take good hede of hym that has Youre helthe alle holy in hys hande ; For kyng Pharro my fader was. And led thys lordshyp of thys land, I am hys hayre as age wylle has, Ever in stede to styr or stand. Alle Egypt is myne awne To leede aftyr my law, I wold my myghte were knowne And honoryd, as hit awe. Fulle low he shalle be thrawne That harkyns not my sawe, Hanged hy and draAvne, Therfor no boste ye blaw ; Bot a» for kyng I commaund peasse, To alle the people of thys empyre. Looke no man put hym self in preasse, Bot that wylle do as I desyre. And of youre wordes look that ye seasse. Take tent to me, youre soferand syre, That may youre comfort most increasse. And to my lyst bowe lyfe and lyre.
Primus Miles. My Lord, if any here were, That wold not wyrk youre wylle. If we myghte com thaym nere, Fulle soyn we shuld theym spylle.
Pharao. Thrughe out my kyngdom wold I ken, And kun hym thank that wold me telle, If any were so waryd men That wold my fors down felle.
Secundus Miles. My Lord, ye have a manner of men That make great mastres us emelle ;
TOWNELEV MYSTERIES.
Tlie Jues that won in Gersen,
Thay ar callyd chyldyr of Israel.
Thay niultyplye fulle fast,
And sothly we suppose
That shalle ever last,
Oure lordshyp for to lose. ^'^
Pharao. Why, how have thay syche gawdes begun ? / • ... v -
Ar thay of myght to make sych frayes ?
Primus miles. Yei, Lord, fulle felle folk ther was fun^J ' In kyng Pharao, youre fader's, dayes. Thay cam of Josephe, was Jacob son, He was a prince worthy to prayse, In sythen in ryst have thay ay ron ; ., Thus ar thay lyke to lose youre laysev^*"^ Thay wylle confound you cleyn, Bot if thay soner seasse.
Pharao. What, devylle, is that thay meyn That thay so fast incresse ?
Secimdns Miles. How thay lucres fulle welle Ave ken. As oure faders dyd understand ; Thay were bot sexty and ten When thay fyrst cam in to thys land, Sythen have sojerned in Gersen Four hundred wynter, I dar warand ; Now ar thay nowmbred of myghty men Moo then ccc thousand, Wythe outen wyfe and chyld. Or hyrdes that kepc thare fee.
Pharao. How thus myghte we be begyled ? Bot shalle it not be ;
For wythe quantyse we shalle thaym quelle. So that thay shalle not far sprede.
Primus Miles. My Lord, we have hard oure faders telle. And clerkes that welle couthe rede, Ther shuld a man walk us aniclle ' '
That shuld fordo us and oure dedo.
Pharao. Fy on hym, to the dovyllc of hfllo, Sych destyny wylle we not drcde ; We shalle make mydwyfes to spylle them Where any Ebrew is borne, And alle menkyndc to kylle them.
57.
So shalie they soyn be lorne.
And as for elder have I none awe,
Syche bondage shalie I to theym beyde,
To dyke and delf, bere and draw,
And to do alle uuhonest deyde ;
So shalie these laddes be holden law,
In thraldom ever thare lyfe to leyde.
Secundus Miles. Now, certes, thys was a sotelle saw, Thus shalie these folk no farthere spi-ede.
Pharao. Now help to hald theym downe, Look I no fayntnes fynde.
Primus Miles. Alle redy, Lord, we shalie be bowne, In bondage thaym to bynde.
Tunc intrat Moyses cum virgd in manu, etc.
Moyses. Gret God, that alle thys war Id began, And growndyd it in good degre. Thou mayde me, Moyses, unto man. And sythen thou savyd me from the se, Kyng Pharao had commawndyd than, Ther shuld no man chyld savyd be ; Agans hys wylle away I wan ; Thus has God showed hys might for me. Now am I set to kepe. Under thys montayn syde, Byschope Jettyr shepe. To better may betyde ; A, Lord, grete is thy myght ! What man may of yond mervelle meyn ?, Yonder I se a selcowtlTsyghf,'^ ^ ' "* ' ' '^ ' j Syche on in warld was never seyn ; A bush I se burnand fuUe bryght, And ever elyke the leyfes ar greyn, If it be wark of warldely wyght, I wylle go wyt wythoutyn weyn.
Deus. Moyses, Moyses !
Hie properat ad rubum, et dicit ei Deusy Moyses com not to nere, Bot stylle in that stede thou dwelle, And harkyn unto me here ; Take tent what I the telle. Do of thy shoyes in fere, Wyth mowlh as I the melle,
58
roWNELEV MY.STKIUE!».
Tlie place thou standes in there
Forsoth, is halowd welle.
I am thy Lord, withouten lak,
To lengthe tlii lyfe even as I lyst,
1 am God tliat som tyme spake
To thyn elders, as thay wyst ;
To Abraham, and Isaac,
And Jacob, I sayde shulde be blyst,
And multytude of them to make.
So that thare seyde shuld not be myst.
Bot now thys kyng, Pharao,
He hurtys my folk so fast,
If that I suffre hym so,
Thare seyde shuld soyne be past ;
Bot I wylle not so do,
In me if thay wylle trast
Bondage to brynge thaym fro.
Therfor thou go in hast,
To do my message have in mynde
To hym, that me syche harme mase ; . f
Thou speke to hym wythe wordes heynde,
So that he let my people pas
To wyldernes, that thay may weynde
To worshyp me as I wylle asse.
Agans my wylle if that thay leynd,
Ful soyn hys song shalle be, alas.
Moyses. A, Lord ! pardon me, wyth thy leyf, That lynage luffes me noght, Gladly thay wold me greyf. If I syche bodworde broght. Good Lord, lette som othere frast. That has more fors the folke to fere.
Deus. Moyses, be thou nott abast, My bydyng shalle thou boldly here ; If thay with wrong away wold wrast, Outt of the way I shalle the were.
Mot/ses. Good Lord, thay wylle. not me trast For alle the othes that I can swere ; To never sych noytes new To folk of wykyd wylle, Wyth outen tokyn trew, Thay wyllu not tent ther-lyllc.
Dens. If that he wylle not understand Thys tokyn trew that I shalle sent. Afore the kyng cast down thy wand.
59
And it shalle turne to a serpent, Then take the taylle agane in hand, Boldly up look thou it hent, And in the state thou it fand Thou shal it turne by myne intent ; Sythen hald thy hand soyn in thy barme, And as a lepre it shal be lyke. And hole agane with outen harme ; Lo, my tokyns shal be slyke. And if he wylle not suiFre then My people for to pas in peasse, I shalle send venyance ix or ten, Shalle sowe fulle sore or seasse, Bot ye Ebrewes, won in Jessen, Shalle not be merkyd with that measse ; As long as thay my lawes wylle ken Thare comforthe shalle ever increasse.
Moyses. A, Lord, to luf the aght us welle That makes thi folk thus free, I shalle unto thayra telle As thou has told to me. Bot to the kyng. Lord, when I com. If he aske what is thy name. And I stand stylle, both deyf and doni, How shuld I skake withoutten blame ?
Dens. I say the thus, ' Ego sum qui sum,' I am he that is the same ; If thou can nother muf nor mom I shalle sheld the from shame.
Moyses. I understand fulle welle thys thyng, I go. Lord, with alle the myght in me.
Deus. Be bold in my blyssyng, Thi socoure shalle I be. -kk^^.. - ...v,^ C«
Moyses. A, Lord of luf, leyn me thy lare, <^
That I may truly talys telle ; To my freyndes now wylle I fare. The chosyn childre of Israelle, To telle theym comforthe of thare care, In dawngere ther as thay dwelle. God manteyn you evermare. And mekylle myrthe be you emelle.
Primus Puer. A, master Moyses, dere I Oure myrthe is alle mowrnyng ; Fulle hard halden ar we here, As carls under the kyng.
60
TOWNELEV MVSTEniI>.
Secundus Puer. We may mowrn, both more and myn, Ther is no man that oure myrth mase, Bot syn we ar alle of a kyn God send us comforth in thys case.
Moyses. Brethere, of you re mowrnyng blyn ; God wylle delyver you thrughe his grace, Out of this wo he wylle you wyn, And put you to youre pleassyng place. For I shalle carp unto the kyng, And fownd fulle soyn to make you free.
Primus Puer. God grant you good weyndyng, And evermore with you be.
Moyses. Kyng Pharao, to me take tent.
Pharao. Why, boy, what tythynges can thou telle?
Moyses. From God hym self hyder am I sent To foche the chyldre of Israelle ; To wjldernes he wold thay went.
Pharao. Yei, weynd the to the devylle of helle, I gyf no force what he has ment, In my dangere, herst thou, shalle thay dwelle ; And, fature, for thy sake, Thay shalbe pent to pyne.
Moyses. Then wylle God venyance take Of the, and of alle thyn.
Pharao. On me ? fy on the lad, out of my land! Wenys thou thus to loyse oure lay ? Say, whence is yond warlow with his wand lliat thus wold wyle oure folk away ?
Primiis Myles, Yond is Moyses, I dar warand, Agans alle Egypt has beyn ay, Greatt defawte with hym youre fader fand ; Now wylle he mar you if he may.
Pharao. Fy on hym ! nay, nay, that dawnce is done ; Lurdan, thou loryd to late.
Moyses. God bydes the graunt my bone, And let me go my gate.
Pharao. liydes God me? fals loselle, thou lyse ! What tokyn told ho? take thou tent.
Moyses. He sayd thou shuld dyspyse
Gl
Bothe me, and hys commaundement ;
Forthy, apon thys wyse,
My wand he bad, in thi present,
I shuld lay downe, and the avyse
How it shuld turne to oone serpent.
And in hys holy name
Here I lay it downe ;
Lo, syr, here may thou se the same.
Pharao. A, ha, dog ! the devylle the drowne !
Moyses. He bad me take it by the taylle, For to prefe hys powere playn, Then sayde, wythouten faylle, Hyt shuld turne to a wand agayn. Lo, sir, behold.
Pharao. Wyth yl a haylle !
Certes this is a sotelle swayn, Bot thyse boyes shalle abyde in baylle, AUe thi gawdes shaile thaym not gayn ; Bot wars, both morne and none, Shalle thay fare, for thi sake.
Moyses. I pray God send us venyange sone. And on thi warkes take wrake.
Primus Miles. Alas, alas ! this land is lorne ! On lyfe we may [no] longer leynd ; Syche myschefe is fallen syn morne, Ther may no medsyn it amend.
Pharao. Why ci'y ye so ? laddes, lyst ye skorne ?
Secundus Miles. Syr kyng, syche care was never kend, In no mans t^one that ever was borne.
Pharao. Telle on, belyfe, and make an end.
Primus Miles. Syr, the waters that were ordand For men and bestes foyde, Thrughe outt alle Egypt land, Ar turnyd into reede bloyde ; FuUe ugly and fulle ylle is hytt, That bothe freshe and fayre was before.
Pharao. O, ho ! this is a wonderfulle thyng to wytt. Of alle the warkes that ever were.
Secundus Miles. Nay, Lord, ther is anothere
ylt,
That sodanly sowys us fulle sore ;
(j>2 TOWNELEV MVSTKRlEs.
For todes and f'roskes may no man yflt, Thay venom us so, bothe les and more.
Primus Miles. Greatte mystes, sir, ther is bothe morne and noyn, Byte us fulle bytterly ; We trow that it be done Thrughe Moyses, oure greatte enmy.
Secundus Miles. My Lord, bot if this menye may remefe Mon never myrthe be us amang.
Pharao. Go, say to hym we wylle not grefe, Bot thay shalle never the tytter gayng.
Primus Miles. Moyses, my lord gyffys leyfe To leyd thi folk to lykyng lang. So that we mend of oure myschefe.
Moyses. Fulle vvelle, I wote, thyse wordes ar wrang ; Bot hardely alle that I heytt Fulle sodanly it shalle be seyn, Uncowth mervels shalbe meyt And he of malyce meyn.
Secundus Miles. A, Lord, alas, for doylle we dy We dar look oute at no dowre.
Pharao. What, ragyd the dwylle of helle, alys you so to cry ?
Primus Miles. For wc fare wars then ever we fowre ; Grete loppys over alle this land thay fly, And where thay byte tliay make grete blowre. And in every place oure bestes dede ly.
Secundus Miles. Hors, ox, and asse, Thay falle downe dede, syr, sodanly.
Pharao. We, lo, ther is no man tliat has Half as my(;he harme as I.
Primus Miles. Yis, sir, poore folk have mekylle wo. To se thare catalle thus out cast. The Jues in Gessen fayre not so, Thay have lykyng for to last.
Pharao. 'Fhen shalle we gyf thcym leyf to go To tyme this perelle be on past, Bot, or thay flytt oght far us fro. We shalle tlieni bond twyse as fast.
Secundus Miles. Moyses, my Lord gyfTes leyf Thi meneve to remevc.
63
Moyses. Ye mon hafe more myschefe Bot if thyse talys be trew.
Primus Miles. A, Lord, we may not leyde thyse
lyfys-
Pharao. What, dvvylle, is grevance grofen agayn ?
Secundus Miles. Ye, sir, sich powder apon us dryfys, Where it abides it makes a blayn j Meselle makes it man and wyfe, Thus ar we hurt with haylle and rayn. Syr, unys in montanse may not thryfe, So has frost and thoner thaym slayn.
Pharao. Yei, bot how do thay in Gessen, The Jues, can ye me say ?
Primus Miles. Of alle these cai'es no thyng thay ken, Thay feylle noghte of our afray.
Pharao. No? the ragyd, tlie dwylle, sytt thay in peasse ? And we every day in doute and drede ?
Secundus Miles. My lord, this care will ever en- crese, To Moyses have liis folk to leyd ; Els be we lorne, it is no lesse, Yit were it better that thai yede.
Pharao. Tlies folk shall flyt no far, If he go welland wode.
Primus Miles. Then wille it sone be war, It were better thay yode.
Secundus Miles. My lord, new harme is comyn in hand.
Pharao. Yei, dwille, wille it no better be ?
Primus Miles. W^yld wormes ar layd over all this land. Thai leyf no floure, nor leyf on tre.
Secundus Miles. Agans that storme may no man stand ; And mekylle more mervelle thynk me, That thise iij dayes has bene durand Siche myst, that no man may other se.
Primus Miles. A, my Lord !
Pharao. Haghe !
Secundus Miles, Grete pestilence is comyn ; It is like ful long to last.
(J.J, To\v^â– KLK^ Nn>TEniEs.
Pharao. Pestilence? in the chvilys name ! Then is onre pride over past.
Primus Miles. My lord, this care lastes lang, And wille to Moyses have his bone ; Let hyni go, els wyrk we wrang, It may not help to hover ne hone.
Pharao. Then wille we gif theym leyf to gang ; Syn it must nedes be doyn ; Perchauns we salle thaym fang And mar them or to morne at none.
Secundus Miles. Moyses, my lord he says Thou shalle have passage playn.
Moyses. Now have we lefe to pas, My freyndes, now be ye fayn ; Com furthe, now salle ye weynd To land oflykyng you to pay.
Primus Puer. Bot kyng Pharao, that tals feynd, He will us eft betray ; Fulle soyn he wille shape us to sheynd, And after us send his garray.
Moyses. Be not abast, God is cure frejTid, And alle oure foes wille slay; Therfor com on with me, Have done and drede you noght.
Secundus Puer. That Lord blyst might he be. That us from baylle has broght.
Primus Puer. Slche frenship never we fand ; Bot yit I drede for perels alle, The Reede See is here at hand, Ther shal we byde to we be thralle.
Moyses. I shalle make way ther with my wand, As God has sayde, to sayf us alle ; On ayther syde the see mon stand, To we be gone, right as a walle. Com on wyth me, leyf none behynde, Lo fownd ye now youre God to pleasse.
Hie pertransient mare. Secundus Puer. O, Lord ! this way is heynd ; Now woynd us all at easse. Primus 3Iiles. Kyng Pharao I thyse folk ai* gone. Pharao. Say, ar ther any noyes new ? Secundus Miles. Thise Ebrcws ar gone, lord, ever-ichon.
()d
Pharao. How says thou that ?
Primus Miles. Lord, that taylle is trew.
Pharao. We, out tyte, that they were tayn ; That ryett radly shall thay rew, We shalle not seasse to thay be slayn, For to the see we shall thaym sew ; So charge youre charlottes swythe, And ferstly look ye folow me.
Secundus Miles. Alle redy, lord, we ar fulle blythe At youre byddyng to be.
Primus Miles. Lord, at youre byddyng ar we bowne Oure bodys boldly for to beyd, We shalle not seasse, bot dyng alle downe, To alle be dede withouten drede.
Pharao. Heyf up youre hertes unto Mahowne, He wille be nere us in oure nede ; Help, the raggyd dwylle, we drowne ! Now mon we dy for alle oure dede. Tunc merget eos mare.
Moyses. Naw ar we won from alle oure wo, And savyd out of the see ; Lovyng gyf we God unto. Go we to land now merely.
Primus Puer. Lofe we may that Lord on hyght, And ever telle on this mervelle ; Drownyd he has Kyng Pharao myght, Lovyd be that Lord Emanuelle.
Moyses. Heven, thou attend, I say in syght. And erthe my wordy s ; here what I telle. As rayn or dew on erthe doys lyght And waters herbys and trees fulle welle, Gyf lovyng to Goddes mageste, Hys dedys ar done, hys ways ar trew, Honowred be he in trynyte, To hym be honowre and verteu.
Amen.
EXPLICIT PHARAO.
(>(>
( l\\
INCTPIT C/ESAR AUGUSTl'S.
linperator. Be stylle, beshers, 1 conimawnd you, That' no man speke a word here now
Bot I my self alon ; And if ye do, I make a vow, Thys brand abowte youre nekys shalle bow,
For-tliy be stylle as slon : And looke ye grefe me noght. For if ye do it shalle be boght,
I swere you by Mahowne; / I wote welle if ye knew me oght,- ^^ To slo you alle how lytylle I roght,
Ston stylle ye wold syt downe.
For alle is myn that up standys, Castels, towers, townys, and landys.
To me homage thay bryng ; For I may bynd and lowse of band. Every thyng bowys unto my hand, I want none erthly thyng. I am lord and syr over alle, Alle bowys to me, both grete and smalle.
As lord of every land ; Is none so comly on to calle. Who so this agan says, fowUe shaUe he fallo,
And therto here my hand. For I am he that myghty is, And hardely alle hathennes
Is rcdy at my wylle ; Both ryche, and poore, more and Ics, At my lykyng for to rcdrcs,
Whether I wylle save or spylle. Csrsar August I am cald, A fayrer cors for to beliald,
Is not of bloodc and bone, Ryche ne poore, young ne old, Syche an othore as I am told.
In alio llivs warld is none.
C-*:SAR AUGUSTUS.
But oone thyng doys me fulle myche care, I trow my land wylle sone mysfare
For defawte of counselle lele ; My counsellars so wyse of lare, Help to comforthe me of care,
No wyt from me ye fele. As I am man moost of renowne, I shalle you gyf youre waryson To help me if ye may. Primus Consultus. To counselle you, lord, we ar bowne, And for no man that lyfys in towne Wylle we not let, perfay ; Youre messyngere I reede ye calle, For any thyng that may befalle,
Byd hym go hastely. Thrugh out youre landys over alle, Amang youre folk, bothe grete and old,
Youre gyrthe and peasse to cry ; For to commaunde bothe yong and old. None be so hardy ne so bold.
To hold of none bot you ; And who so dothe, put them in hold, And loke ye payn theym many fold.
Imperator. I shalle, I make a vowe ; Of thys counselle welle payde am I, It shalle be done fulle hastely,
Wythe outen any respytt. Secundus Consultus. My lord abyde awhyle, for why, A word to you I wold cleryfy.
Imperator. Go on, then, telle me tytt. Secundus Consultus. Alle I'edy, lord, now per- mafay, Thys have I herd syn many a day. Folk in the contre telle ; That in this land shuld dwelle a may, She whiche salle here a chylde, thay say.
That shalle youre force downe felle. Imperator. Downe felle ? dwylle ! what may this be ? Out, harow, fulle wo is me !
I am fulle wylle of reede ! A, fy, and dewyls ! whens cam he. That thus shuld reyfe me mv pawste ? E 2
(J7
(33 HOWNKI.F.V M^ SmtlKS.
Ere shuld I be his dede. For, certys, then were my worshyp lorne, If syche a swayn, a snoke home,
Shuld tlius be my suffrane ; May 1 wyt when that boy is borne, In certan, had the dwylle hit sworne,
That gadlyng shuld agane. Primus Consultiis. Do way, lord, grey f you ot so, Youre messyngere ye cause furth go
Aftyr youre cosyn dere, To speke with you a word or two, The best counselle that lad to slo,
F'ulle soyn he can you lere ; For a wyse man that knyght men know. Imperator. Now I assent unto thi saw,
Of witt art thou the welle ; For alle the best men of hym blowys, He shalle never dystroy nn' lawes,
Were he the dwylle of helle. Com Lyghtfote, lad, loke thou be yare On my message furth to fai'e,
Go tytt to sir Syryn ; Say sorow takys me fulle sare, Pray hym to comforth me of care,
As myn awne dere cosyn ; And bot if thou com agane to nyght. Look I se the never in syght.
Never where in my land. Nuncius. Yis, certes, lord, I am fulle lygiit, Or noyn of the day, I dar you hyght.
To bryng hym by the hand. Imperator. Yai, boy, and as thou luffes me dere, Luke that thou spy, bothc far and nere,
Ever alle in yche place, If thou here any saghes sere, Of any carpyng, far and nere.
Of that lad where that thou gasc. Nuncius. Alle redy, lord, I am fulle bowne, To spyr and s|)y iu every towno,
After that wykkyd queyd ; If I here any nink or rowne, I shalle fdwnd to nak thare crowne,
Over allr, in vik a siede ;
C,«SAR AUGUSTUS.
69
And therfor, lord, have now good day.
Imperator. Mahowne he wyse the on thi way. That weldes water and wynde ; And specyally, here I the pray, To spede the as fast as thou may.
ISuncius. Yis, lord, that shalle ye fynde. Mahowne the sane and se, sir Syryne, Caesar, my lord, and youre cosyn,
He gretes you welle by me. Sirinus. Thou art welcom to me and myn, Com nere and telle me tythandes thyn, Tyte, what thay may be. Nuncius. My lord prays you, as you luf hym dere, To com to hym, if youre wylle were, To speke with hym a whyle. Sirinus. Go grete hym welle, thou messyngere, Say hym I com, and that right nere, Beliynd the not a myle. Nuncius. Alle redy, lord, at youre byddyng, Mahowne the menske, my lord kyng,
And save the by see and sand. Imperator. Welcom, bawshere, say wliat
t.ytiiyng.
Do telle me tyte, for any thyng,
What herd thou in my land ? Nuncius. I herd no thyng, lord, but goode ; Syr Syryn, that I after yode,
He wylle be here this n3'ght. Imperator. I thank the by Mahownes bloode ; Thise tythynges mekylle amendes my mode, Go rest, thou worthy wyght. Sirinus. Mahowne so semely on to calle. He save the, lord of lordes alle,
Syttyng with thi meneye. Imperator. Welcom, sir Syrynne, to this halle, Be syde my self here sytt thou shalle, Com up belyf to me. Si?'inus. Yis, lord, I am at youre talent. Imperator. Wherfor, sir, I after the sent, I shalle the say stille right ; And therfor take to me intent, I am in poynt for to be shent.
Sirinus. How so, for Mahownes myght ? Imperator. Syr, I am done to understand, E 3
70
ToWNFM.EV MVSTEniK.--
Tliat a qweyn here, in this land,
Shalle here a chyld I wene, That shall be crowned kyng lyfand, And alle shalle bow unto his hand ;
Thise tythynges dothe me teyne. He shalle commaunde bothe ying and old, None be so hardy ne so bold
To gyi" servyce to me; Then wold my hart be cold If siche a beggere shold
My kyngdom thus reyf me ; And therfor, sir, I wold the pray, Thy best counselle thou wold me say.
To do what I am best ; For securly, if that I may, If he be fonden 1 shalle hym slay,
Aythere by eest or west. Syrinus. Now wot ye, lord, wliat that I reede, I counselle you, as ete I brede,
What best therof may be ; Gar serche youre land in every stede, And byd that boy be done to dede,
Who the fyrst may hym see ; And also I reede that ye gar cry. To fleme wyth alle that Belamy,
That shuld be kyng with crowne, Byd ych man com to you holly, And bryng to you a heede penny.
That dwellys in towere or towne ; That this be done by the thyrde day, Then may none of his freyndes say,
Bot he has mayde homage. If ye do thus, sir, permafay, Youre worship shalle ye wyn for ay.
If thay make you trowage. Imperator. I thank you, sir, as myght I the. For thyse tythynges that thou tellys me,
Thy counselle shalle avaylle ; Lord and syre of this cowntre, Withoutcn ende here make I the,
For thy good counselle ; My messy ngere, Ickc thou be bowne. And weynd belyf from towne to towne,
And he my nobylle swane, I pray the, as thou luftos "Mahowne,
l\*:SAR AUGUSTUS.
71
And also for thy waryson,
That thou com tytt agane. Commaunde the folk, holly, ichon, Ryche ne poore forgett thou none.
To hold holly on me, And lowtt me as thare lord alone ; And who wylle not thay shalle be slone,
This brand thare baylle shalle be. Therfor thou byd both old and ying, That ich man know me for his kyng.
For drede that I thaym spylle. That I am lord, and in tokynyng, Byd ich man a penny bryng,
And make homage me tylle. To my statutes who wylle not stand, Fast for to fle outt of my land,
Byd thaym, withoutten lyte ; Now by Mahowne, God alle welldand, Thow shalle be mayde knyghte with my hand,
And therfor hye the tyte. Nuncius. Alle redy, lord, it shalle be done ; Bot I wote welle I com not sone.
And therfor be not wroth ; I swere you, sir, by son and moyne, I com not here by fore eft none,
Wheder ye be leyfe or lothe ; Bot hafe good day, now wylle I wynd, For longer here may I not leynd,
Bot grathe me furth my gate. Imperatoj'. Mahowne that is curtes and heynd, He bryng thi jornay welle to eynd,
And wysh the that alle wate.
EXPLICIT C^SAR AUGUSTUS.
72
INCIPJT ANNUNCIACIO.
Deus. Sythen I have mayde alle thyng of noght, And Adam with my handes hath wroght, Lyke to myn ymage, att my devyse, And gyffen hym joy in paradyse, To won ther in, as that I wend, To that he dyd that I defend ; Then I hyme put out of that place, Bot yit, I myn, I hight hym grace ; Oylle of mercy I can hym hey t. And tyme also his baylle to beytt. For he has boght his syn fulle sore, Thise V thowsand yeris and more, Fyrst in erth, and sythen in helle ; Bot long therin shalle he not dwelle. Outt of payn he shalle be boght, I wylle not tyne that I have wroght. I wylle make redempcyon. As I hyght for my peison, Alle wythe reson and with right. Both thrugh mercy and thrugh myght. He shalle not, ihcrfor, ay be spylt. For he was wrangwysly begylt ; He shalle out of preson pas. For that he begyled was Thrugh the edder, and his wyfe, Thay gart hym towche the tree of lyfe, And ete the frute that I forbed. And he was dampned for that dcde. Byghtwysnes wille we make ; I wylle that my son manhede lake, For reson wylle that ther be thre, A man, a madyn, and a tre ; Man for man, tre for tre, Madyn for madyn ; thus shalle it be. Mv son shalle in a madvn li}rht.
ANKUNCIACIO.
A gens the feynd of helle to fight ;
Wythouten weni, as sou thrugh glas,
And she madyn as she was.
Both God and man shalle he be.
And she moder and madyn fre.
To Abraham I am in dett
To safe hym and his gett ;
And 1 wylle that alle prophecye
Be fulfyllyd here by me.
For I am Lord and lech of heyle,
My prophecys shalle be funden leyle ;
As Moyses sayd, and Isay,
Kyng David, and Jeromy,
Abacuk, and Danielle,
Sybylls sage, that sayde ay welle,
And myne othere prophetes alle,
As thay have said it shalle befalle.
Ryse up, Gabrielle, and weynd
Unto a madyn that is heynd,
To Nazareth in Galilee,
Ther she dwellys in that cytee.
To that vyrgyn and to that spouse,
To a man of David house,
Josephe also he is namyd by,
And the madyn name Mary.
Angelle must to Mary go,
For the feynd was Eve fo ;
He was foule and layth to syght,
And thou art angelle fayr and bright.
And hayls that madyn, my lemman.
As heyndly as thou can ;
Of my behalf thou shalle hyr grete,
I have hyr chosen, that madyn swete.
She shalle conceyf my derlyng,
Thrughe thy word and hyr heryng.
In her body wylle I lyghte,
Tliat is to me clenly dyght ;
She shalle of hyr body here
God and man wythouten dere.
She shalle be blyssyd withouten ende ;
Graythe the Gabrielle, and weynd.
Gabrielle. Haylle Mary, gracyouse, Haylle madyn and Godes spouse,
Unto thee I lowte ; Of alle vyrgyns thou art qwene,
--.J, TOWNELEY MVSTEIUES.
Tliat ever was, or slialle be seyn,
Wytliouten dowte. llaylle, Mary, and vvelle thou be. My lord of heven is wyth the,
Wythouten end ; Haylle, woman most of mede. Goodly lady, have thou no drede.
That I commend. For thou has fonden alle thyn oone, The grace of God, that was out gone,
For Adam plyght. This is the grace that the betydys, Thou shalle conceyve within thy sydys
A chyld of myghte ; When he is comen, that thi son. He shalle take cyrcumsycyon,
Calle hym Jesum ; Myghtfulle man shalle he be that, And Godes son shalle he hat.
By his day com. My Lord, also, shalle gyf hym tylle Hys fader sete David, at wylle,
Therin to sytte ; He shalle be kyng in Jacob kyn, Hys kyngdom shalle never blyn.
Lady, welle thou wytt. Maria. What is thi name ? Gabriel. Gabrielle ;
Godes strengthe and his angelle,
That corny s to the. Maria. Ferly gretyng thou me gretys A child to bere thou me hetys,
How shuld it be ? 1 cam never by man's syde, Bot has avowed my madyn hedc.
From fleshly gett. Therfor I wote not how That tliis be brokyn as a vow
That I have hett ; Never the les, welle I wote, To wyrk thi word and hold thi liote
Migiitfullt>. God is. Rot I ne wot(> of what manerc, 'J'herfor I pray the, mcssyngere,
That thou mo wvshe.
ANNUXCIACIO. <^,5
Gabrielle. Lady, this is the prevato ; The Holy Gost shalle light in the,
And his vertue. He shalle umshade and fulfylle That thi madynhede shalle never spylle,
Bot ay be new ; The child that thou shalle here, madame, Shalle Godes son be callid by name ;
And se, Mary, Elesabeth, thi cosyn, that is cald geld, She has conceyfFed a son in elde,
Of Zacary j And this is, who wylle late, The sext monethe of hyr conceytate.
That geld is cald. No word, lady, that I the bryng, Is unmyghtfuUe to heven kyng,
Bot alle shalle hald. Maria. I lofe my Lord alle weldand, I am his madyn at his hand,
And in his wold ; I trow bodword, that thou me bryng. Be done to me in alle thyng.
As thou has told. Gabrielle. Mary, madyn heynd, Me behovys to weynd,
My leyf at the I take. Maria. Far to my freynd, Who the can send,
For mankynde sake. Josephe. Alle myghty God, what may this be ! Of Mary my wyfe mervels me,
Alas, what has she wroght ? A, hyr body is grete and she with childe, For me was she never fylyd,
Therfor myn is it noght. I irke fulle sore with my lyfe, That ever I wed so yong a wyfe,
That bargan may I ban. To me it was a carefulle dede, I myght welle wyt that yowthede
Wold have lykyng of man. I am old, sothly to say. Passed I am alle pervay play,
The gams fro me ar gone.
7(>
TOWN'ELEV MVSTEIUES,
It is illc cowpled ofyoutli and elde, I wote welle, for I am nnwelde,
Sorn othere has she tane. She is with chyld, I wote never how, Now, who wold any woman trow ?
Certes, no man that can any goode ; I wote not in the warld what I shald do, Bot now then wylle I weynd hyr to,
And wytt who owe that foode. Haylle, Mary, and welle ye be. Why, bot woman, what chere with the ? Maria. The better, sir, for you. Josephe. So wold I, woman, that ye wore ; Bot certes, Mary, I rew fulle sore
It standes so with the now. Bot of a thyng frayn the I shalle, Who owe this child thou gose with alle ?
Maria. Syr, ye, and God of heven.
Josephe. Myne, Mary ? do way thi dyn ; That I shuld oght have parte therin
Thou nedes it not to neven ; Wherto nevyns thou me therto ? I had never with the to do,
How shuld it then be myne ? Whos is that chyld, so God the spede ?
Maria. Syr, Godes and yowrs, with outen
drede. Josephe. That word had you to tyne. For it is right fulle far me fro. And I forthynkes thou has done so Thise ille dedes bedene ; And if thou speke thi self to spylle, It is fulle sore agans my wylle.
If better myght have bene. Maria. At Godes wylle, Josephe, must it be, For certanly bot God and ye
I know none othere man ; For fleshly was I never fylyd.
Josephe. How shuld thou thus then be with chyld ?
Excuse the welle thou can ; I blame the not, so (lod me save. Woman, maners if that thou have, Bot certes I say the this, Welle wote thou, and so do I,
ANN UNCI ALIO.
Till body fames the openl}',
That thou has done amys. Maria. Yee, God he knowys alle my doyng, Josephe. We, now, this is a wonder thyng,
I can noght say therto ; Bot in my hart I have greatt care, And ay the longer mare and mare,
For doylle what shalle I do ? Godes and myn she says it is, I wylle not fader it, she says amys,
For shame yit shuld she let, To excuse her velany by me ; With hir I thynk no longer be,
I rew that ever we met. And how we met ye shalle wyt sone. Men use yong chyldren for to done
In temple for to lere ; Soo dyd thay hir, to she w^ex more Then othere madyns wyse of lore,
Then byshopes sayd to hir " Mary, the behowfys to take Som yong man to be thi make,
As thou seys other have. In the temple which thou wylle neven ;" And she sayd, none, bot God of heven.
To hym she had hir tane. She wold none othere for any saghe ; Thay sayd she must, it was the lagh,
She was of age thertille. To the temple thay somond old and ying, Alle of Juda ofspryng.
The law for to fulfille. Thay gaf iche man a white wand, And bad us here them in oure hande,
To offre with good intent ; Thay ofFerd thare yerdes up in that tyde. For I was old I stode be syde,
I wyst not what thay ment, Thay lakyd oone thay sayde in hy, Alle had offerd thay sayd bot I,
For I ay withdroghe me. Furthe with my wande thay mayd me com, In my hand it floryshed with blome ;
Then sayde thay all to me, " If thou be old mervelle not the,
78
lOWNELEY MYSTERIES.
For God of heveu thus ordans he,
Thl wand shewys openly ; It florishes so, withouten nay, That the behovys wed Mary the May ;"
A sory man then was I, I was fulle sory in my thoght, I sayde for old I myght noght
Hir have never the wheder ; I was unlykely to hir so yong, Thay sayde ther helpyd none exeusyng,
And wed us thus togeder. When I alle thus had wed hir thare, We and my madyns home can fare,
That kynges doghters were ; Alle wroght thay sylk to fynd them on, Mary wroght purpylle, the oder none,
Bot othere colers sere ; I left thaym in good peasse wenyd I, Into the contre I went on hy,
My craft to use with mayn ; To gett oure lyfyng I must nede. On Marie I prayd them take good hede,
To that I cam agane. Nine monethes was I fro that my Id, When I cam home she was with chyld,
Alas, I sayd for shame ! I askyd ther women who that had done. And thay me sayde an angelle sone,
Syn that I went from hame ; An angelle spake with that wyght, And no man els, bi day nor nyght,
" Sir, therof be ye bald." Thay excusyd hir thus sothly. To make hir clene of hir foly,
And babyshed me that was old. Shuld an angelle this dcde have wroght, Siche exeusyng helpys noght.
For no crait liiat thay can ; A hevenly thyng, ibr sothc, is he, And she is erihly, this may not be.
It is som othere man. Certes, I forthynk sore of hir dede, Bot it is long of yowth-hede,
Alle siclie wanton playes ; For yong women wylle nedes play tliem,
ANXUNCIACIO.
With 3'ong men it' old forsake them,
Thus it is sene always. Bot Marie and I playd never so sam, Never togeder we used that gam,
I cam hir never so nere ; She is as clene as eristalle elyfe For me, and shalbe whyls I lyf,
The law wylle it be so. And then am I cause of hir dede, For-thi then can I now no rede,
Alas, what I am wo ! And sothly, if it so befalle, Godes son that she be with alle.
If siche grace myght betyde, I wote welle that I am not he, Whiche that is worthi to be
That blyssed body besyde, Nor yit to be in company ; To wyldernes I wille for-thi
Enfors me for to fare, And never longer with hir dele, Bot stylly shalle from hir stele,
That mete shalle we no mare. Angelns. Do wa, Joseph, and mend thy thoght, I warne the welle, and weynd thou uoght,
To wyldernes so wylde ; Turne home to thi spouse agane, Look thou deme in hir no trane,
For she was never fylde. Wyte thou no wyrkyng of workes wast, She has consavyd the Holy Gast,
And she shalle bere Godes son, For-thi with hir, in thi degre. Meek and buxom looke thou be.
And with hir dwell e and wone. Josephe. A, Lord, I lof the alle alon, That vowches safe that I be oone
To tent that chyld so ying, I that thus have ungrathly gone, And untruly taken apon
Mary, that dere darlyng. I rewe fulle sore that I have sayde, And of hir byrdyng hir upbrade,
And she not gylty is ; For-thi to hir now wylle I weynde,
79
gQ TOWNEI.EY MYSTERIES.
And pray hir for to be my freynde,
And aske hir forgyfnes. A, Mary, wyfe, what chere ?
Maria. The better, sir, that ye ar here ;
Thus longe where have ye lent ? Josephe. Certes, walkyd aboute, lyke a fon, That wrangwysley base taken apon ;
I wyst never what I ment ; Bot I wote welle, my leman fre, I have trespast to God and the,
Forgyf me, I the pray. Maria. Now alle that ever ye sayde me to God forgyf you, and I do,
Withe alle the myght I may ; Josephe. Gramercy, Mary, thi good wylle ; So kyndly forgyfes that I sayde ylle,
When I can the upbrade ; Bot welle is hym base siche a fode, A, meke wyf, with-outen goode,
He may welle hold hym payde. A, what 1 am light as lynde ! He that may bothe lowse and bynde.
And every mys amend, Leyn me grace, powere, and myght, My wyfe and hir swete yong wight
To kepe, to my lyfes ende.
EXPLICIT ANUNCIACIO BEAT.* MARIjE.
8L
INCIPIT SALUTACIO ELIZABETH.
Maria. My lord of heven, that syttys he, And alle thyng seys withe eee, The safe, Elezabethe. Elezabethe. Welcom, Mary, blyssed blome, Joyfulle am I of thi com
To me, from Nazarethe. Maria. How staiides it with you, dame, of
quart ? Elezabethe. Welle, my doghter and dere hart,
As can for myn elde. Maria. To speke with you me thoght fulle
lang, For ye with childe in elde gang,
And ye be cald geld. Elezabethe. Fulle lang shalle I the better be, That I may speke my fylle with the,
My dere kyns woman ; To wytt how thi freyndes fare. In thi countre where thay ar,
Therof telle me thou can, And how thou faiys, my dere derlyng.
Maria. Welle, dame, gramercy youre askyng
For good I wote ye spyr. Elezabethe. And Joachym, thy fader, at hame, And Anna, my nese, and thi dame.
How standes it with hym and hir ? Maria. Dame, yit ar thay bothe on lyfe, Bothe Joachym and Anna his wyfe,
Elezabethe. Els were my hart fulle sare.
Maria. Dame, God that alle may, Yeld you that you say.
And blys you therfore. Elezabethe. Blyssed be thou of alle women, And the fruyte that I welle ken,
Within the wombe of the ; And this tyme may I blys, That mv lordes moder is
g2 TOWNELF.Y MYSTERIES.
Comen thus unto me. For syn that tyme fuUe welle I wote, The stevyn of angelle voce it smote,
And rang now in myne ere ; A selcouthe thyng is me betyde, The chyld makys joy, as any byrd.
That I in body bere. And als, Mary, blyssed be thou, That stedfastly wold trow,
The wordes of our heven kyng ; Therfor alle thyng now shalle be kend. That unto the were sayd or send,
By the angelle gretyng. Maria. Magnificat anima mea Dominum ; My saulle lufes my lord abuf. And my gost glades with luf.
In God, that is my hele ; For he has bene sene agane, The buxumnes of his bane,
And kept me madyn lele. Lo, therof what me shalle betyde, Alle nacyons on every syde,
Blyssyd shalle me calle ; For he that is fulle of myght, Mekylle thyng to me has dyght,
His name be blyssed over alle ; And his mercy is also. From kynde to kynde tylle alle tho
That ar hym dredand. Myght in his arnies he wroght, And dystroed in his thoght,
Prowde men and hyghe berand. Myglity men furthe of sete he dyd, And he hyghtyned in that stede
The meke men of hart ; The hungre withe alle good he fyld, And left the rich outt shyld,
Thaym to unquart. Israelle has under law, His awiu' son in his awe,
By menys of liis mercy ; As lie told before by name, 'i'o onre lader, Abraham,
And sayd of his body. Elezabcthc, myn awiit (krc.
SALUTACIO ELEZABETII. 83
My lefe I take at you here,
For I dwelle now fuUe lang. Elezabethe. Wylle thou now go, Godes fere ? Com kys me, doghter, with good chere,
Or thou hend gang ; Fare welle now, thou frely foode, I pray the be of comfurthe goode,
For thou art fulle of grace ; Grete welle alle oure kyn of bloode. That lord, that the with grace infude,
He save alle in this place.
EXPLICIT SALUTACIO ELEZABETH.
/v^''op Tx;:r-^%.
f2
84
INCIPIT PAGINA PASTORUM.
Primus Pastor. Lord, what thay ar weylle that hens ar past, For thay noght feylle theym to downe cast ; Here is mekylle unceylle, and long has it last, Now in hart, now in heylle, now in weytt, now in blast.
Now in care, Now in comfurthe agane, Now in fayre, now in rane, Now in hart fulle fane,
And after fulle sare. Thus this warld, as I say, farys on ylk syde, For after oure play com sorovvs unryde. For he that most may, when he syttes in pryde, When it comys on assay is kesten downe wyde,
This is seyn ; When ryches is he, Then comys poverte, Hors man Jak cope
Walkys then, I weyn : I thank it God, hark ye what I mene, For even or for od I have mekylle tene, As hevy as a sod I grete with myn eene, When I nap on my cod for care that lias bene, r- - And sorow.
Alle my shepe ar gone, I am not left oone, The rot has theym slone,
Now beg 1 and bojow.
My handes may 1 vvryng and mowrnyng make,
Bot if good wille spryng, the coiuitre forsake,
LJCermcs ihyk ar comyng, my purs is bot wake, •
I have nerehand nothyng to pay nor to take ;
I may syng Wifjie purs pi-uneles, That makes this iievyncs ; ^V() is me ihis dvstrcs.
ri
PRIMA PASTORUM. gj
And has no helpyng. Thus sett I my mynde truly to neven, By my wytt to fynde to cast the warld in seven ; My shepe have I tynde by the moren fulle even ; Now if hap wille grynde, God from his heven
Send grace. To the fare wille I me, To by shepe, perde. And yit may I multyple,
For alle this hard case. Secundus Pastor. Benste, benste, be us emang, And save alle that I se here in this thrang. He save you and me over twhart and endlang, That hang on a tre, I say you no wrang, ^-^ Cry St save us
/ From alle myschefys.
From robers and thefys, 1 From those mens grefys, \ Tliat oft ar agans us,
I Both bosters and bragers God kepe us fro, I That with thare long dagers dos mekylle wo, / From alle bylle hagers with colknyfes that go, I Siche wryers avd wragers gose to and fro For to crak. Who so says hym agane, Were better be slane ; Bothe ploghe and wane ^ — ^ Amendys wille not make.
He wille make it as prowde a lord as he were 1 With a hede lyke a clowde felterd his here, /"?"^. I He spekys on lowde with a grym here, y' j\ I wold not have trowde so galy in gere As he glydys. I wote not the better, Nor whedder is gretter. The lad or the master, ^ So stowtly he strydys.
Tf he hask me oght that he wold to his pay, Fulle dere bese it boght if I say nay ; Bot God that alle wroght, to the now I say. Help that thay were broght to a better way
For thare sawlys, And send theym good mendyng With a short endyng. And with the to be lendyng F 3
(§.
St) TOWNELEV MYSTERIKx
When that thou callys. How, Gyb, good niorne ; wheder goys tliou ? Thou goys over the corne, Gyb, I say, how ! Primus Pastor. Who is that ? Johne HorneJ I make God a vowe ; I say not in skorne, Thorn, how farys thou ?
Secvndns Pastor. Hay, ha ! Ar ye in this towne ? Primus Pastor. Ycy, by my crowne. Secundus Pastor. 1 thoght by your gowne This was youre aray.
Grimus Pastor. I am ever elyke, wote I never what it gars, ane in this ryke a shephard farys wars. \ kjtcundus Pastor. Poore men ar in the dyke, and
oft tyme mars. The warld is slyke, also helpars Is none here. Primus Pastor. It is sayde fuUe ryfe, A man may not wyfe And also thryfe.
And alle in a yere." Secundus Pastor. Fyi-st must us crepe and sy-
then go. Primus Pastor. I go to by shepe. Secundus Pastor. Nay, not so ;
What, dreme ye or slepe ? where shuld thay go ? Here shalle thou none kepe.
Primus Pastor. A, good sir, ho !
Who am I ? I wylle pasture my fe Where so ever lykes me, Here shalle thou theym se.
Secundus Pastor. Not so hardy ; Not oone shepe taylle shalle thou bryng hedyr. Primus Pastor. I shalle bryng, no fayllc, a
huudrethe togedyr. Secundus Pastor. What, art thou in aylle ?
lougos thou (^ght wliedir ? Primus Pastor. Thay shalle go, sauuco faylle ;
go now, belle weder ! Secundus J'astor. I say, tyr ! Primus Pastor. I say, tyr, now agano ! I say skyp over the plane. Secundus Pastor. Wold ihou never so lane.
I'RIMA PASTORUM.
Tup, I say, wliyr ! Primus Pastor. What, wylle thou not yit, I say, let the shepe go ? Whap ! Secundus Pastor. Abyde yit. Primus Pastor. Wilt thou, hot so ?
Knafe, hens I byd flytt, as good that thou do, Or I shalle the hytt on thi pate, lo,
Shalle thou reylle ; 1 say, gyf the shepe space.
Secundus Pastor. Syr, a letter of youre grace, Here comys Slaw-pase
Fro the mylne vvhele. Tercius Pastor. What a do, what a do is this you betweyn ? A, good day, thou, and thou. Primus Pastor. Hark what I meyn
You to say ; I was bowne to by store, Drofe my shepe me before, He says not oone hore
Shalle pas by this way ; Bot and he were wood this way shalle tbay go. Tercius Pastor. Yey, bot telle me, good, where
ar youre shepe, lo ? Secundus Pastor. Now, sir, by my hode, yet se I no mo. Not syn I here stode.
Tercius Pastor. God gyf you wo
And sorow, Ye fyshe before the nett. And stryfe on this bett, Siche folys never I mett
Evyn or at morow. \ It is wonder to wyt where wytt shuld be fownde, [Hei-e ar old knafys yit standys on this grownde ; I'hese wold by thare wytt make a shyp be
drownde. He were welle qwytt had sold for a pownde
Siche two. Thay fyght and thay flyte For that at comys not tyte ; It is far to byd hyte
To an eg or it go. Tytter want ye sowlle then sorow I pray ;
87
V^J^ T0\VM:LK\ M\^rKl!IK>.
Ye brayde of Mowlle that went by tlie way. Many shepe can she polle bot oone had she ay, Bot she happynyd fulle fowlle, hyr pycher, I say.
Was broken ; *' Ho, God," she sayde, Bot oone shepe yit she hade, The mylk pycher was layde,
The skarthis was the tokyn. Bot syn ye ar bare of wysdom to knawe. Take hede how I fare, and lere at my lawe ; Ye nede not to care if ye folow my sawe. Hold ye my mare, this sek thou thrawe
On my bak ; Whylst I, with my hand, Lawse the sek band. Com nar and by stand
Both Gyg and Jak ; Is not alle shakyn owte and no meylle is therin ? Primus Pastor. Y'ey, that is no dowte. Tercius Pastor. So is youre wyttes thyn.
And ye look welle abowte, nawther more nor myn. So gase your wyttes owte evyn as com in ;
Geder up And seke it agane.
Secundus Pastor. May we not be fane ! He has told us fulle plane Wysdom to sup. Jak Garcio. Now God gyf you care, folys all sam; Saghe I never none so fare but the foles of Go- tham. Wo is hir that you bare, youre syre and youre
dam, Had she broght furthe an hare, a shepe, or a lam.
Had bene welle. Of alle the foles I can telle, From heven unto helle, Y''e thre here the belle ;
God gyf unceylle. Primus Pastor. How pastures oure fee ? say me,
good Pen. Garcio. Thay ar gryssed to the kne. Secumlus Pastor. Fare falle the !
Garcio. Amen !
If ye wille ye may se, youre bestcs ye ken.
89
Primus Pastor. Sytt we downe alle tlire, and
drynk shalle we then. Tercius Pastor. Yey, torde, I am lever ete ;
What is drynk with oute mete ? Gett mete, gett,
And sett us a horde, Then may we go dyne our bellys to fylle. Secimdus Pastor. Abyde unto syne. Tercius Pastor. Be God, sir, I nylle !
Secimdus Pastor. I am worthy the wyne, me thynk it good skylle. My servyse I tyne, 1 fare fulle ylle. At youre mangere. Primus Pastor. Thus go we to mete, It is best that we trete, I lyst not to plete
To stand in thi dangere ; To hast ever been curst syn we met togeder. Tercius Pastor. Now in faythe, if I durst, ye ar
even my broder. Secundus Pastor. Syrs, let us cryb furst for oone thyng or oder. That thise wordes be purst, and let us go foder
Our mompyns ; Lay furthe of cure store, Lo here browne of a bore.
Primus Pastor. Set mustard afore, Oure mete now begyns ; Here a foote of a cowe welle sawsed, I wene. The pestelle of a sowe that powderd has bene, Two blodynges, I trow, a leveryng betwene ; Do gladly, syrs, now, my breder bedene,
With more. Both befe, and moton Of an ewe that was roton ; Good mete for a gloton,
Ete of this store. Secundus Pastor. I have here in my maylle sothen and rost Even of an ox taylle, that wold not be lost ; Ha, ha, goderhaylle ! I let for no cost, A good py or we faylle, this is good for the frost
In a mornyng. And two swyne gronys,
[)0
TOWNELKV .MV.">TEUIES.
Alle a liare hot the lonys, We myster no sponys
Here, at oure niangyng. Tercius Pastor. Here is to recorde tlie leg of a
"With chekyns endorde, pork, partryk, to roys ; A tart for a lorde, how thynk ye this doys? A calf lyver skorde with the veryose.
Good savvse, This is a restorete To make a good appete.
Primus Pastor. Yee speke alle by clerge, I here by your clause ; Cowthe ye by youre gramery reche us a drynk I shuld be more mery, ye wote wliat I thynk. Secundus Pastor. Have good aylle of kely, be^ war now, I wynk, For and thou drynk drely in thy polle wylle it synk. Primus Pastor. A, so ; This is boy te of oure baylle, Good halsom aylle.
Tercius Pastor. Ye hold long the skaylle,
Now lett me go to. Secundus Pastor. I shrew those lyppys bot thou
leyff me som parte. Primus Pastor. Be God, he bot syppys, be- gylde thou art; Behold how he kyppys.
Secundus Pastor. I shrew you so smart, And me on my hyppys, bot if I gart
Abate. Be thou wyne, be thou aylle, Bot if my brethe faylle, I shalle sett the on say lie ;
God send tlie good gate. Tercius Pastor. Be my dam saulle, Alycc, it
was sadly dronken. Primus Pastor. Now, as ever have I blys, to
the botham is it sonken. Secundus Pastor. Yit a botcUe here is. Tercius Pastor. That is welle spoken !
By my thryft wo nuisl kys.
Secundus Pastor. That had I forgoteti.
Bot hark !
PRIMA PASTORLM. ()\
Who SO can best syng Shalle have the begynnyng.
Primus Pastor. Now prays at the partyng I shalle set you on warke ; We have done oure parte and songyn riglite
weylle, I drynk for my parte.
Secundus Pastor. Abyde, lett cop reylle. Primus Pastor. Godes forbot, thou spart, and
thou drynk every deylle. Tercius Pastor. Thou has dronken a quart,
therfor choke the the deylle. Primus Pastor. Thou rafys ; And it were for a soghe Ther is drynk enoghe.
Tercius Pastor. I shrew the handes it droghe.
Ye be bothe knafys. Primus Pastor. Nay we knaves alle, thus thynk me best, So, sir, shuld you calle.
Secundus Pastor. Furth let it rest;
We wille not bralle.
Primus Pastor. Then wold I we fest
This mete who shalle into panyere kest.
Tercius Pastor. Syrs, herys, For oure saules let us do Poore men gyf it to.
Primus Pastor. Geder up, lo, lo,
Ye hungre begers frerys. Secundus Pastor. It draes nere nyght, trus, go we to rest ; I am even redy dyght, I thynk it the best.
Tercius Pastor. For ferde we be fryght a crosse let us kest, Cryst crosse, benedyght, eest and west,
For dreede. Jesus o'Nazorus, Crucyefixus, Marcus, Andreas,
God be our spede ! Angelus. Herkyn, hyrdes, awake, gyf lovyng ye shalle. He is borne for youre sake, lorde perpetualle ; He is comen to take and rawnson you alle, Youre sorowe to slake, kyiig emperialle,
[)0
TUWNELKV M\»TERIE!>.
Alle a hare bot the lonys, We myster no sponys
Here, at cure mangyng. Terciiis Pastor. Here is to recorde tlie leg of a
With chekyns endorde, pork, partryk, to roys ; A tart for a lorde, how thynk ye this doys ? A calf lyver skorde with the veryose,
Good sawse, This is a restorete To make a good appete.
Primus Pastor. Yee speke alle by clerge, I here by your clause ; Cowthe ye by youre gramery reche us a drynk I shuld be more mery, ye wote what I thynk. Secundus Pastor. Have good aylle of kely, be- war now, I wynk, For and thou drynk drely in thy polle wylle it synk. Primus Pastor. A, so ; This is boyte of oure baylle, Good halsom aylle.
Tercius Pastor. Ye hold long the skaylle,
Now lett me go to. Secundus Pastor. I shrew those lyppys bot thou
leyff me som parte. Primus Pastor. Be God, he bot syppys, be- gylde thou art; Behold how he kyppys.
Secundus Pastor. I shrew you so smart. And me on my hyppys, bot if I gart
Abate. Be thou wyne, be thou aylle, Bot if my brethe faylle, I shalle sett the on saylle ;
God send the good gate. Tercius Pastor. Be my dam sauUe, Alyce, it
was sadly dronken. Primus Pastor. Now, as ever have I blys, to
the bothani is it sonken, Secundus Pastor. Yit a botelle here is. Tercius Pastor. That is welle spoken !
By my thryft we must kys.
Secwulus Pastor. That had I forgoten.
Bot hark !
I
PRIMA HASTOKCM.
91
?oh
It, be. Tlkit
I
I
Who so can best syng Shalle have the begynnyng.
Primus Pastor. Now prays at the partyiig 1 shalle set you on warke ; We have done oure parte and songyn righte
weylle, I drynk for my parte.
Secundus Pastor. Abyde, lett cop reylle. Primus Pastor. Godes forbot, thou spart, and
thou drynk every deylle. Tercius Pastor. Thou has dronken a quart,
therfor choke the the deylle. Primus Pastor. Thou rafys ; And it were for a soghe Ther is drynk enoghe.
Tercius Pastor. I shrew the handes it droghe,
Ye be bothe knafys. Primus Pastor. Nay we knaves alle, thus thynk me best, So, sir, shuld you calle.
Secundus Pastor. Furth let it rest;
We wille not bralle.
Primus Pastor. Then wold I we fest
This mete who shalle into panyere kest.
Tercius Pastor. Syrs, herys, For oure saules let us do Poore men gyf it to.
Primus Pastor. Geder up, lo, lo,
Ye hungre begers frerys. Secundus Pastor. It draes nere nyght, trus, go we to rest ; I am even redy dyght, I thynk it the best.
Tercius Pastor. For ferde we be fryght a crosse let us kest, Cryst crosse, benedyght, eest and west,
For dreede. Jesus o'Nazorus, Crucyefixus, Marcus, Andreas,
God be our spede ! Angelus. Herkyn, hyrdes, awake, gyf lovyng ye shalle. He is borne for youre sake, lorde perpetualle ; He is comen to take and rawnson you alle, Youre sorowe to slake, kyng emperialle.
9^2
TO W N E 1, E \ M \ S T t lU F. >
He behestys ; That chyld Is borne At Bethelem this morne, Ye shalle f'ynde hym beforne Betwix two bestys. Primus Pastor. A, Godys dere dominus, what was that sang ? It was wonder curiose witli smalle notes emang ; I pray to God save us now in this thrang, I am ferd by Jesus somewhat be wrang ;
Me thoght, Gone scremyd on lowde, I suppose it was a clowde, In myn erys it sowde,
13y hym that me boght ! Secundus Pastor. Nay, tliat may not be, I say you certan, For he spake to us thre as he had been a man ; When he leinyd on this lee my liart shakyd than, An angelle was he telle you I can.
No dowte. He spake of a barne, We must seke hym, I you warne, That betokyns yond starne,
That standes yonder owte. Tercius Pastor. It was marvelle to se, so bright as it shone, I wold have trowyd, veraly, it had bene thoner
flone ; Bot I saghe with myn ee, as I lenyd to this
stone, It was a mery gle, siche hard I never none,
I recolde. As he sayde in a skreme, Or els that I dreme, We shuld go to Bedleme,
To worship that lorde. Primus Pastor. That same ciiilde is he that prophetes of told, Shuld make them fre that Adam had sold. Secundus Pastor, 'i^ake tent unto me, this is in- rold, By the wordes of Isae, a prynce most bold
Shalle he be. And kyng with c-rowiic.
PRIMA I'ASTOnUM. 93
Set on David trone, Sich was never none,
Seyn with oure ee. Tercius Pastor. Also Isay says, oure faders us told That a vyrgyn shuld pas of Jesse, that wold Bryng furthe, by grace, a floure so bold ; That vyrgyn now has these wordes uphold
As ye se ; Trust it now we may He is borne this day, Exiet virga ^ De radice Jesse.
Primus Pastor. Of hym spake more Sybylle as I weyn, And Nabugodhonsor, from oure fa3'the alyene, In the fornace where thay wore thre childre sene. The fourt stode before, Godes son lyke to bene.
Secundus Pastor. That fygure Was gyffen by revelacyon That God wold have a son This is a good lesson,
Us to consydure. Tercius Pastor. Of hym spake Jeromy, and Moyses also, Where he saghe hym by a bushe burnand, lo, When he cam to espy if it were so, Unburnyd was it truly at commyng therto, A wonder. Primus Pastor. That was for to se Hir holy vyrgynyte, That she unfylyd shuld be.
Thus can I ponder, And shuld have a chyld sich was never sene. Secundus Pastor. Pese, man, thou art begyld ! thou shalle se hyr with eene. Of a madyn so myld greatt mervelle I mene ; Yee, and she unfyld, a vyrgyn clene, So soyne. Primus Pastor. Nothyng is inpossybylle Sothly that God wylle ; It shalbe stabylle
That God wylle have done. Secundus Pastor. Abacuc and Ely prophesyde
fj4 TOWNELEY MVSTERIES.
Elezabeth and Zachare, and many other mo, And David as veraly is witnes therto, Johne Baptyste sewrly, and Daniel also.
Terciiis Pastor. So sayng,
He is Godes son alon, Without hym shalbe none, His sete and his trone
Shalle ever be lastyng ; Virgille in his poetre sayde in his verse, /'''pv Even thus by gramere as I shalle reherse ; vC^HbiT Jam nova progenies coelo demittitur alto, \_^ LJam rediet virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna.
1 Secundus Pastor. Weme, tord, what speke ye
{n
Telle us no clerge, I hold you of the freres.
Ye preche ; [t semys by you re Laton Ve have lerd you re Caton. Primus Pastor. Herk, syrs, ye fon, I shalle you teche ; He sayde from heven a new kynde is send, Whom a vyrgyn to neven, oure mys to amend, Shalle conceyve fulle even, thus make I an end ; And yit more to neven, that samyne shalle bend
Unto us, With peasse and pknte, With ryches and menee. Good luf and charyte
Blendyd amanges us. Tercius Pastor. And I hold it trew, for ther shuld be. When that kyng commys new, peasse by land and se. Secundus Pastor. Now brethere, adew, tak tent unto me, I wold that we knew of this song so fre
Of the angelle ; 1 hard by hys steven, He was send downe fro heven.
Primus Pastor. It is truthe that ye neven,
1 hard hym wolle spelle. Secundus Pastor. Now, by CJod that me boght ' it was a wwvy song ; I (hir sjiy that he broght fonrc and twenty to a Icmg.
PRIMA PASTOaUM. 95
Tei'cius Pastor. I wold it were soght that same
us emong. Primus Pastor. In fayth I trow noglit so many he throng
On a heppe ; Thay were gentylle and smalle, And welle tonyd with alle.
Tercius Pastor. Yei, bot I can theym alle,
Now lyst, I lepe. a
Primus Pastor. Brek oiitt youre voce, let se as |
ye yelp. Tercius Pastor. 1 may not for the pose bot I
have help. Secundus Pastor. A, thy hert is in thy hose. Primus Pastor. Now, in payn of a skelp, â–
This sang thou not lose. •
Tercius Pastor. Thou art an ylle qwelp
For angre, Secundus Pastor. Go to now, tegyn. Primus Pastor. He lyst not welle ryn, Tercius Pastor. God lett us never blyn,
Take at my sangre. Primus Pastor. Now an ende have we doyn of
oure song this tyde. Secundus Pastor. Fayr falle thi growne, welle
has thou hyde. Tercius Pastor. Then furthe lett us ron, I wylle
not abyde. Primus Pastor. No sych makethe mone that have I aspyde ; Never the les Let hold oure beheste.
Secundus Paster. That hold I best. Tercius Pastor. Then must we go eest,
After my ges. Primus Pastor. ' Wold God that we myght this
yong bab see ! Secundus Pastor. Many prophetes that syght desyryd veralee To have seen that bright.
Tercius Pastor. And God so hee Wold shew us that vvyght, we myght say, perde.
We had sene That many sant desyryd,
Qg TOWNELKY MN>TEK1F..S.
With prophetys inspyryd, If thay hym requyryd,
Yit closyd ar thare eene. Secundus Pastor. God graunt us that grace, Tercius Pastor.. God so do.
Primus Pastor. Abyde, syrs, a space ; lo, yonder, lo ! It commys on a pase yond sterne us to. Secundus Pastor. It is a grete blase, oure gate let us go,
Here he is. Tercius Pastor. Who shalle go in before ? Primus Pastor. I ne rek, by my hore. Secundus Pastor. Ye ar of the old store.
It semys you, iwis. Primus Pastor. Haylle, kyng I the calle ! haylle, most of myght ! Haylle, the worthyst of alle ! haylle, duke !
haylle, knyght ! Of greatt and smalle thou art Lord by right, Haylle, perpetualle ! haylle, faryst wyght !
Here I offer ; I pray the to take If thou wold, for my sake, With this may thou lake.
This lytylle spruse cofer. Secundus Pastor. Haylle, lytylle tyne mop ! re warder of mede ! Haylle, bot oone drop of grace at my nede ; Haylle, lytylle mylk sop ! haylle, David sede ! Of oure crede thou art crop, haylle, in God hede !
This balle That thou wold resave, Lytylle is that I have. This wylle I vowche save,
To play the with alle. Tercius Pastor. Haylle, maker of man ! haylle, swetyng ! Haylle, so as I can, haylle, praty mytyng ! I cowche to the than for fayn nere gretyng, liaylle, Lord I here lordan now at ouro metyng.
This botolle. It is an old by-worde, It is a good bowrde,
PRIMA PASXORUM.
For to dryiik of a gowrde,
It holdes a mett potelle. Maria. He that alle myghtes may, the makere of heven, That is for to say my son that I neven, Rewarde you this day, as he sett alle on seven, He graunt you for ay his blys fulle even
Contynuyng ; He gyf you good gi-ace, Telle furth of this case, He spede youre pase,
And graunt you good endyng. -Primus Pastor. Fare welle, fare Lorde ! with
thy moder also. Secundus Pastor. We shale this recorde where
as we go. Tercius Pastor. We mon alle be restorde, God
graunt it be so ! Primus Pastor. Amen, to that worde s^oig we therto
On hight. To joy alle sam. With my r the and gam. To the lawde of this lam
Syng we in syght.
EXPLICIT UNA PAGINA PASTOHUM.
J^7
98
INCIPIT ALIA EOnUNDEM.
Primus Pastor. Lord, what these weders ar f cold, and I am ylle happyd ;
I I am nere hande dold, so long have I nappyd ; j My legys thay fold, my fyngers ar chappyd, \ It is not as I wold, for I am al lappyd In sorow. In~stormes and tempest, I Now in the eest, now in the west,
\ Wo is hym has never rest
Myd day nor morow. Bot we sely shepardes, that walkys on the
moore, In fayth we are nere handes outt of the doore ; No wonder as it standys if we be poore. For the tyJthe of oure landes lyys falow as the floore,
As ye ken. We ar so hamyd, For-taxed and ramyd, We ar mayde hand tamyd,
Withe thyse gentlery men. Thus thay refe us oure rest, Oure Lady theym
wary, These men that ar lord fest thay cause the
ploghe tary. That men say is for the best we fynde it contrary. Thus ar husbandes opprest, in point to myscary,
On lyfe. Thus hold thay us hunder. Thus thay bryng us in blonder. It were great te wonder,
And ever shuld we thryfe. For may he gett a paynt slefe or a broche now
on dayes, Wo is hym that hym grefe, or onys agane says, Dar no man hym reprefe, what mastry he mays, And yit may no man Icfe oone word tliat he says
SKfUNDA PAST0I5UM. i^(J
No letter. He can make purveance, With boste and bragance, And alle is thrughe mantenance
Of men that are gretter, Ther shalle com a swane as prowde as a po, He must borow my wane, my ploghe also, Then I am fulle fane to graunt or he go. Thus lyf we in payne, anger, and wo,
By nyght and day ; He must have if he langyd If I shuld forgang it, I were better be hangyd
Then oones say hym nay. It dos me good, as I walk thus by myn oone, Of this warld for to talk in maner of mone. To my shepe wylle I stalk and herkyn anone, Ther abyde on a balk, or sytt on a stone
Full soyne. For I trowe, parde, Trew men if thay be, "VVe gett more compane
Or it be noyne. Secundus Pastor. Benste and Dominus ! what may this bemeyne ? Why fares this warld thus oft have we not sene. Lord, thyse weders ar spytus, and the weders
fulle kene. And the frost so hydus thay water myn eeyne,
Moly. Now in dry, now in wete, Now in snaw, now in slete. When my shone frej'^s to my fete
It is not alle esy. Bot as far as I ken, or yit as I go, We sely wodmen are mekylle wo ; We have sorow then and then, it fallys oft so, Sely Capyll, oure hen, both to and fro
She kakyls, Bot begyn she to crok, To groyne or to clok, Wo is hym is of oin-e cok.
For he is in the shekyls. These men that ar wed have not ^Ue thare wylle, 2 G
lOU
ToWNtLEY MVSTERIE^.
When thev ar fulle hard sted thay svghe fuUe
stylle'; God wayte thay ar led fulle hard and fulle ylle, In boweV nor in bed thay say noght ther tyUe,
This tyde. My parte have I fun, I know my lessun, Wo is hym that is bun,
For he must abyde. Bot now late in oure lyfys, a marvel to me, That I thynk my hart ryfys siche wonders to see. What that destany dryfys it shuld so be, Som men wylle have two wyfys, and som men thre,
In store. Som ar wo that has any ; Bot so far can I, Wo is hym that has man^',
For he felys sore. Bot yong men of wowyng, for God that you
boght, Be welle war of wedyng, and thynk in youre
thoght ' Had I wyst' is a thyng it servys of noght ; Mekylle stylle mowrnyng has wedyng home broght
And grefys. With many a sharp showre, For thou may cache in an owre That shalle savour fulle sowre
As long as thovi lyffys. For, as ever red I pyslylle, I have oone to my
fere. As sharp as thystylle, as rugh as a brere, She is browyd lyke a brystylle, with a sowre, lo-
ten, chore ; Had she oones wett hyr whys ty 11 she couth syng fulle clere
Hyr pater noster. She is as greatt as a whalle, She has a galon of gallo, By hym that dy('(l lor us alle !
I wald I had ryn to I lost hir. rri/nits Pastor. God looke over the raw, fulle defiy ye stand.
SECUNDA PASTORUM. JQl
Secimdus Pastor. Yee, the deville in tlii maw, so tariand, Saghe thou awro of Daw ?
Primus Pastor. Yee, on a ley land Hard I hym blaw, he commys here at hand.
Not far ; Stand stylle.
Secundus Pastor. Qwhy ?
Primus Pastor. For he commys hope I.
Secundus Pastor. He wylle make us both a ly
Bot if we be war. Tercius Pastor. Crystes crosse me spede and Sant Nycholas, Ther of had I nede, it is wars then it w^as. Whoso eouthe take hede, and lett the warld pas, It is ever in drede and brekylle as glas.
And sly thy s. This w^arld fowre never so. With mervels mo and mo, Now in weylle, now in wo.
And alle thyng wry thy s. Was never syn Noe floode sich floodes seyn, Wyndes and ranye so rude, and stormes so keyn, Som stamerd, som stod in dowte, as I weyn. Now God turne alle to good, I say as I mene.
For ponder. These floodes so thay drowne, Both in feyldes and in towne. And berys alle downe.
And that is a wonder. We that walk on the nyghtys oure catelle to kepe, We se sodan syghtes when othere men slepe. Yet me thynk my hart lyghtes, I se shrewys pepe, Ye ar two alle wyghtes, 1 wylle gyf my shepe
A turne. Bot fulle ylle have I ment. As I walk on this bent, I may lyghtly repent,
My toes if I spurne. A, sir, God you save, and master myne ! A drynk fayn wold I have and somwhat to dyne. Primus Pastor. Crystes curs, my knave, thou
art a ledyr hyne. Secundus Pastor. What, the boy lyst rave, abyde unto syne
G 3
I()i2 TOWN'ELEY MVSTtRlEV
We have mayde it. Ylle thryfto on thy pate ! Thoughe the shrew cam late Yit is he in state
To dyne, if he had it. ^ - Tercius Pastor. Siche servandes as I, that j swettys and swynkys,
/ Etys oure brede tulle dry, and that me for- thynkys ; We ar oft weytt and wery when master-men
wynkys, Yit commys fiille lately both dyners and drynkys,
Bot nately. Bothe oure dame and oure syre. When we have ryn in the myre, Thay can nyp at oure hyre,
And pay us fulle lately. Bot here my trouthe, master, for the fayr that ye
make I shalle do therafter wyrk, as I take ; I shalle do a lytylle, sir, and emang ever lake, For yit lay my soper never on my stomake
In feyldys. Wherto shuld I threpe? With my staff can I lepe, And men say " lyght chepe
Letherly for-yeldys." Primus Pastor. Thou were an ylle lad, to ryde on wowyng With a man that liad bot lytylle of spendyng. Secundiis Pastor. Peasse boy I bad, no more jangling, Or I shall make the fulle rad, by the heven's kyng !
With thy gawdys ; Wher ar oure shepe, boy, we skorne ?
Tertius Pastor. Sir, this same day at morne I them left in the corne.
When thay rang lawdys ; Thay have pasture good, thay can not go wrong. Primus I'astor. That is right, by the roode, thyse nyghtes ar long ; Yit I wold, or we yode, oone gaf us a song, Stcii/i(ftis Pastor. So I thoght as I stode, to invrth u>> enioii«r.
SEIUNDA PASTOIU'M. 103
Tercius Pastor. I graunt. Primus Pastor. Lett me syng the tenory. Seciindiis Pastor. And I the tryble so hye. Tercius Pastor. Then the meyne fallys to me ; Lett se how ye chauntt. Tunc intrat Mak in clamide se super togam vestitus. Mak. Now Lord, for thy naymes seven, that made both moyn and starnes Welle mo then I can neven, thi wille, Lorde, of
me tharnys ; I am alle uneven, that moves oft my harnes, Now wold God I were in heven, for ther wepe no barnes
So sty lie. Pritnus Pastor. Who Is that pypys so poore ? Mak. Wold God ye wyst how I foore ! Lo a man that walkes on the moore. And has not alle his wylle. Secundus Pastor. Mak, where has thou gone ?
tell us tythyng. Tercius Pastor. Is he commen ? then ylkon take hede to his thing.
Et accipit clamidem ab ipso. Mak. What, ich be a wyoman, I telle you, of
the king ; '' m
The self and the same, sond from a greatt lordyng,.
And siche. Fy on you, goythe hence. Out of my presence, I must have reverence.
Why, who be iche ? Primus Pastor. Why make ye it so qwaynt ?
Mak, ye do wrang. Secundus Pastor. Bot, Mak, lyst ye saynt ? I
trow that ye lang ; Tercius Pastor. I trow the shrew can paynt,
the dewylle myght hym hang ! Mak. Ich shalle make complaynt, and make you alle to thwang At a worde. And tell evyn how ye doth.
Primus Pastor. Bot Mak, is that sothe ? Now take outt that sothren tothe And sett in a torde.
](J4 TOWNKLEV MVSTERIES.
SecwiJus Pastor. Mak, the dewille in your ee,
a stroke wold I leyne you. Tercius Pastor. Mak, know ye not me ? by
God I couthe teyle you. Mak. God looke you alle thre, me thought I had sene you, Ye ar a fare compane .
Primus Pastor. Can ye now mene you ? Secimdus Pastor. Shrew, jape ; Thus late as thou goys, What wylle men suppoys ? And thou has an ylle noys
Ofstelyng of shepe. Mak. And I am trew as sleylle alle men waytt, Bot a sekenes I fey lie that haldes me fuUe haytt. My belly farys not weylle, it is out of astate. Tercius Pastor. Seldom lyys the devylle dede
by the gate. Mak. Therfore
Fulle sore am I and ylle, If I stande stone stylle ; 1 ete not an nedylle
Thys moneth and more. Privnis Pastor. How farys thi wyff? by my
hoode, how farys sho ? Mak. Lyys walteryng, by the roode, by tiie fyere lo. And a howse fulle of brude, shedrynkys welleto, Ylle spede othere good that she wylle do ;
Bot so Etys as fast as she can, , r~And ilk yere that commys to man ^ I She brynges furthe a lakan, '•~-- And som yeres two.
Bot were I not more gracyus, and rychere befar, I were eten outt of howse, and of harbar, Yit is she a fowlle dowse, if ye com nar : Ther is none that trowse, nor knowys a war.
Then ken I. Now wylle ye se what I profer. To gyf alle in my cofer To morne at next to offer
Her hcd mas penny. Sraindus Pustur. I wote so forwakyd is none in this shvre : I wold Ao\)v if I lakyd Ics to my liveri'.
SECUNDA PASrORUM. 105
Tercius Pastor. I am cold and nakyd, and wold
have a fyere. Primus Pastor. I am wery for rakyd, and run in the myre.
Wake thou ! Secundus Pastor. Nay, I wylle lyg downe by, For I must slepe truly.
Tercius Pastor. As good a man's son was I As any of you. Bot, Mak, com heder, betwene shalle thou lyg downe. Mak. Then myght I lett you bedene : of that ye wold rowne, No drede. Fro my top to my too Manus tuas commendo Poncio Pilato,
Cryst crosse me spede.
Tunc surgit, pastoribus dormientihis, etdicit ; Now were tyme for a man, that lakkys what he
wold, To stalk prively than unto a fold, And neemly to wyrk than, and be not to bold, For he myght aby the bargan, if it were told
At the endyng. Now were tyme for to reylle ; Bot he nedes good connselle That fayn wold fare weylle.
And has bot lytylle spendyng, Bot abowte you a serkylle, as rownde as a moyn. To I have done that I wylle, tylle that it be
noyn, That ye lyg stone stylle, to that I have doyne, And I shall say thertylle of good wordes a foyne.
On hight Over youre heydes my hand I lyft, Outt go youre een, fordo your syght, Bot yit I must make better shyft.
And it be right. Lord, what thay slepe hard, that may ye alle
here. Was I never a shepard, bot now wylle I lere. If the flok be skard, yit shalle I nyp nere. How drawes hedervvard : now mendes oure chere
lOgl TOWNELEY MYSTERIES*
Fron sorovr r A fatt shepe I dar say, A good flese dar I lay, Eft whyte wlien I may,
Bot this wille I borow. How, Gylle, art thou in ? Gett us som lygbt. Uxor Ejus. \\'ho makys sich dyn this tyme of the nyght ? I am sett for to spyn : I hope not I myght Ryse a penny to wyn : I shrew them on hight.
So farys A huswyff that has bene To be rasyd thus betwene : There may no note be sene
For sich smalle cliarys. Mah. Good wyff', open the hek. Seys thou not
w hat I bryng ? Uxor. I may thole the dray the snek. A, com
in, my swetyng. Mak. Yee, thou thar not jek of my long
standyng. Uxor. By the nakyd nek art thou lyke for to
hyng. Mak. Do way : I am worthy my mete. For in a strate can I gett More then thay that swynke and swette
Alle the long day, Tl)us it felle to my lott, Gylle, I had sich grace. Uxor. It were a fowlle blott to be hanged for
the case. Mak. I have skapyd, Jelott, oft as hard a
glase. Uxor. Bot so long goys the pott to the water, men says, At last Comys it home broken.
Mak. Welle knowe I the token, Bot let it never be spoken ;
Bot com and help fast. I would he were flayn ; 1 lyst welle etc : Tliis twelmothe was I not so fayn of oone shepe mete. Uxor. Com thay or he be slayn, and here the shepe blete ?
SECUNDA PASTORLM.
Mak. Thenmyght I be tane: that were a cold swette.
Go spar The gaytt doore.
Uxor. Yis Mak,
For and thay com at thy bak.
Mak. Then myght I by far alle the pak
The dewille of the war. Uxor. A good bowrde have I spied, syn thou can none. Here shalle we hym hyde, to thay be gone ; In my credylle abyde. Lett me alone, And I shalle lyg besyde in chylbed and grone.
Mak. Thou red ; And I shalle say thou was lyght Of a knave childe this nyght.
Uxor. Now welle is me day bright, Tliat ever I was bred. This is a good gyse and a far cast ; Yit a woman avyse helpys at the last. I wote never who spyse : agane go thou fast. Mak. Bot I com or thay ryse, els blawes a cold blast.
I wylle go slepe. Yit slepys alle this meneye. And I shalle go stalk prevely, As it had never bene I
That caryed thare shepe. Primus Pastor. Resurrex a mortruis : have hald my hand. Judas carnas dominus, I may not welle stand : My foytt slepys, by Jesus, and I water fastand. I thoght that we layd us fuUe nere Yngland.
Secundus Pastor. A ye ! Lord, what I have slept weylle ; As fresh as an eylle : As lyght I me feylle
As leyfe on a tre. Tercius Pastor. Benste be here in. So my qwakys My hart is outt of skyn, what so it makys. Who makys alle this dyn? So my browes blakys. To the do wore wylle I wyn. Harke felows, wakys !
107
108 TOWNELEY iMYSTERIES.
We were fowre : Se ye awre of Mak now ?
Primus Pastor. We were uj) or tliou. Secundiis Pastor. Man, I gyf God a vowe,
Yit yede he nawre. Terciifs Pastor. Me thoglit he was lapl in a
wolfe skyn. Primus Pastor. So are manyhapt now namely
within. Secundus Pastor. When we had long napt, me thoght with a gyn A fatt shepe he trai)t, hot he mayde no dyn.
Tercius Pastor. Be sty lie : Thi drenie makes the woode : It is hot fantom, by the roode.
Primus Pastor. Now God turne alle to good,
If it be his wylle. Secundus Pastor. Ryse, Mak, for shame I thou
lyges right lang. * Mak. Now Crystes holy name be us emang, Wliat is this for? Sant Jame, I may not welle gang. I trow I be the same. A ! my nek has lygen wrang
Enoghe, Mekille thank, syn yister even Now, by Sant Strevyn I was flayd with a swevyn
My hart out of sloghe. I thoght Gylle began to crok, and travelle fulle
sad, Weluer at the fyrst cok, of a yong lad. For to mend oure flok : then be 1 never glad. I have tow on my rok, more then ever I had.
A, my heede I A house fiiUc of yong tharmes, The dewille knok outt thare' harnes. Wo is hym has many barnes,
And therto lytylle bredc. I must go home, by youre lefe, to Gylle as I
thoght. I pray you look my slefe, that I steylle noght : I am loth you to grefe, or from you take oght. Tercius Pastor. Oo furth, ylle myght thou chefe, now wold I we soght.
SEl'UNDA PASTOIIUM.
101)
r,
c^
This morne, That we had alle oure store.
Primus Pastor. Bot I wille go before, Let us mete.
Secimdus Pastor, ^\^lore ?
Tercms Pastor. At the crokyd thorne.
Mak. Undo this doore ! who is here ? how
long shalle I stand ? Uxor Ejus. Who makys sichahere? now walke
in the wenyand. Mak. A, Gylle, what chere ? it is I, Mak,
youre husbande. Uxor. Then may we be here, the dewille in a bande,
Syr Gyle. Lo, he commys with a lote As he were holden