YORK 16: MASONS (later MINSTRELS)
The lines printed here are the beginning of a play assigned to the Masons in the York manuscript. The rest of the Masons’ play is identical with ll.73–216 of the following play, the Adoration (Goldsmiths). Burton’s list shows that in 1415 the Goldsmiths performed the incident here, followed by the incident which begins at l.73 of their own play, but, alterations to the list indicate that the Masons were afterwards allocated the episode. Perhaps for a time the versions were alternatives. Eventually, by 1561, the Musicians took over the play about Herod’s inquiry; it appears that the Masons had some difficulty in preparation. It is also noticeable that the episode which is peculiarly theirs is alliterative, a possible indication that it is the work of a late alliterative reviser.
[Scene: Herod’s court.]
(1)
HEROD: The clowdes clapped in clerenes that ther clematis in-closis,
Jubiter and Jovis, Martis and Mercury emyde,
Raykand overe my rialte on rawe me reioyses,
Blonderande ther blastis, to blaw when I bidde.
Saturne my subgett, that sotilly is hidde,
I list at my likyng and laies hym full lowe;
The rakke of the rede skye full rappely I ridde;
1 clapped surrounded clematis climates in-closis encloses 2 emyde amidst 3 Raykand wandering rialte royalty on rawe together 4 Blonderande stirring up 7 rakke clouds rede red rappely quickly ridde ride
Thondres full thrallye by thousandes I thrawe
When me likis;
That princes to play in hym pikis1.
(2)
The prince of planetis that proudely is pight
Sall brace furth his bemes that oure belde blithes;
The mone at my myght he mosteres his myght;
And kayssaris in castellis grete kyndynes me kythes;
Lordis and ladis loo luffely me lithes,
For I am fairer of face and fressher on folde –
The soth yf I saie sall – sevene and sexti sithis
Than glorius gulles that gayer is than golde
20 In price2;
How thynke ye ther tales that I talde,
I am worthy, witty, and wyse.
(3)
I MILES: All kynges to youre croune may clerly comende
Youre lawe and youre lordshippe as lodsterne on hight;
What traytoure un-trewe that will not attende,
Ye sall lay thaim full lowe, fro leeme and fro light.
II MILES: What faitoure, in faithe, that dose you offende,
We sall sette hym full sore, that sotte, in youre sight.
HERODES: In welthe sall I wisse you to wonne or I wende,
30 For ye are wightis ful worthy, both witty and wighte.
But ye knawe wele, ser knyghtis, in counsaill full conande,
That my regioun so riall is ruled her be rest;
For I wate of no wighte in this worlde that is wonnande
That in forges any feloune, with force sall be fest;
Arest ye tho rebaldes that unrewly are rownand;
8 thrallye eagerly 10 awe owes 11 pikis chooses 12 pight set 13 brace press belde comfort blithes cheers 15 kayssaris emperors kythes show 16 lithes listen 17 folde land 18 sithis times 19 gulles heraldic red 23 comende praise 24 lodsterne guiding star 26 leeme beam 28 sotte fool 29 wisse lead 31 conande learned 32 rest quietness 33 wate know wonnande dwelling 34 forges counterfeits fest fast, bound 35 rownand whispering
Be they kyngis or knyghtis, in care ye thaim cast;
Yaa, and welde tham in woo to wonne, in the wanyand;
What browle that is brawlyng his brayne loke ye brest,
And dynge ye hym doune.
40 I MILES: Sir, what foode in faith will you feese,
That sott full sone my-selfe sall hym sesse.
II MILES: We sall noght here doute to do hym disesse,
But with countenaunce full cruell
We sall crake her his croune.
(4)
HEROD: My sone that is semely, howe semes the ther sawes?
Howe comely ther knyghtis, thei carpe in this case.
FILIUS: Fadir, if thai like noght to listyn youre lawes
As traytoures on-trewe the sall teche them a trace,
For, fadir, unkyndnes ye kythe them no cause.
50 HEROD: Faire falle the, my faire sone, so fettis of face!
And knyghtis, I comaunde, who to dule drawes,
Thas churles as cheveleres ye chastise and chase,
FILIUS: Fadir, I sall fell tham in fight,
What renke that reves you youre right.
I MILES: With dyntes to dede bes he dight
That liste not youre lawes for to lowte
His wille.
[Enter Nuntius.]
NUNCIUS: My lorde, ser Herowde, king with croune!3
37 welde force wanyand vengeance 38 browle brat brest burst 40 foode person feese punish 46 carpe speak 48 the they trace way 50 fettis fair 51 dule grief 52 Thas those cheveleres knights 53 doute fear 55 renke man reves takes 56 dyntes blows 57 lowte revere
