English Mystery Plays

2 werd world 3 clepyd called 4 spelle relate 5 norsshere nourisher 6 dongeon dungeon 8 felle many 10 kend nature 16 lyth light 17 drowe drew

I lefte but tweyn a-gens on to abyde there in lyth,

20 But the iij^de part come with me: this may not be seyd nay.

(6)

Takyth hed to your prince than, my pepyl every-chon,

And seyth what maystryes in hefne I gan ther do play.

To gete a thowsand sowlys in an houre me thynkyth it but skorn

Syth I wan Adam and Eve on the fyrst day.

(7)

But now mervelous mendys rennyn in myn rememberawns

Of on Cryst wiche is clepyd Joseph and Maryes sone.

Thryes I tempte hym be ryth sotylle instawnce:

Aftyr he fast fourty days ageyns sensual myth or reson

For of the stonys to a mad bred, but sone I had conclusyon;

30 Than upon a pynnacle but angelys were to hym assystent;

His answerys were mervelous, I knew not his intencion;

And at the last to veyn glory, but nevyr I had myn intent.

(8)

And now hath he xij dysypulys to his attendauns;

To eche town and cety he sendyth hem as bedellys,

In dyverce place to make for hym purvyauns.

The pepyl of hese werkys ful grettly merveyllys:

To the crokyd, blynd and dowm his werkys provaylys;

Lazare that foure days lay ded his lyff recuryd.

And where I purpose me to tempt anon he me asaylys –

40 Mawdelyn playne remyssyon also he hath ensuryd ³.

(9)

Goddys son he pretendyth, and to be born of a mayde,

And seyth he xal dey for mannys salvacion.

Than xal the trewth be tryed and no fordere be delayd

22 maystryes dominion, power do play bring about 24 wan conquered 25 mendys thoughts rennyn run 27 ryth right, very 28 myth power 34 bedellys messengers 36 merveyllys (v) wonder 37 crokyd lame dowm dumb provaylys (v) benefit 42 dey die

Whan the soule fro the body xal make separacion.

And as for hem that be undre my grett domynacion,

He xal fayle of hese intent and purpose also;

Be this tyxt of holde remembryd to myn intencion,

Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio⁴.

(10)

But whan the tyme xal neyth of his persecucion,

50 I xal arere new engynes of malycious conspiracy;

Plente of reprevys I xal provide to his confusyon.

Thus xal I false the wordys that his pepyl doth testefy;

His discipulis xal for-sake hym and here mayster denye;

In-noumberabyl xal his woundys be of woful grevauns;

A tretowre xal countyrfe his deth to fortyfye;

The rebukys that he gyf me xal turne to his displesauns.

(11)

Some of hese dyscypulys xal be chef of this ordenawns,

That xal fortefye this term that in trost is treson.

Thus xal I venge be sotylte al my malycious grevauns

60 For no thyng may excede my prudens and dyscrecion.

(12)

Gyff me your love, grawnt me myn affeccion,

And I wyl inclose the tresour of lovys alyawns ⁵

And gyff yow youre desyrys aftere youre intencion;

No poverte xal aproche yow fro plenteuous abundauns.

(13)

By-holde the dyvercyte of my dysgysyd varyauns ⁶,

Eche thyng sett of dewe naterall dysposycion,

And eche parte acordynge to his resemblauns

Fro the sool of the foot to the hyest asencion:

47 tyxt text holde old 49 neyth approach 50 arere raise 51 reprevys charges, reproofs 55 tretowre traitor countyrfe contrive fortyfye ensure 59 sotylte subtlety 62 alyawns bond 65 varyauns divergence, variety 66 dewe due, proper

(14)

Off fyne cordewan ⁷ a goodly peyre of long pekyd schon,

70 Hosyn enclosyd of the most costyous cloth of crenseyn –

Thus a bey to a jentylman to make comparycion –

With two doseyn poyntys of cheverelle, the aglottys of sylver feyn ⁸,

(15)

A shert of feyn holond ⁹, but care not for the payment,

A stomachere of clere reynes ¹⁰, the best may be bowth –

Thow poverte be chef lete pride ther be present,

And all tho that repreff pride thou sett hem at nowth ¹¹;

(16)

Cadace wolle ¹² or flokkys where it may be sowth

To stuffe with-al thi dobbelet and make the of proporcyon,

Two smale legges and a gret body thow it ryme nowth –

80 Yet loke that thou desyre to an the newe faccion –

(17)

A gowne of thre yerdys loke thou make comparison

Un-to all degrees dayly that passe thin astat,

A purse with-outyn mony, a daggere for devoscyon,

And there repref is of synne loke thu make debat ¹³.

(18)

With syde lokkys I schrewe thin here to thi colere hangyng down

To herborwe qweke bestys that tekele men onyth;

An hey smal bonet for curyng of the crowne.

And all beggerys and pore pepyll have hem on dyspyte.

On to the grete othys and lycherye gyf thi delyte.

90 To maynteyn thin astate lete brybory be present,

And yf the lawe repreve the say thou wylt ffyth,

And gadere the a felachep after thin entent ¹⁴.

69 pekyd pointed 70 crenseyn crimson 71 bey boy 74 bowth bought 76 nowth nought 79 ryme match 80 an have 84 there where 85 schrewe curse 86 herborwe shelter qweke live bestys creatures (?fleas) tekele tickle onyth at night 87 hey high 91 ffyth fight

(19)

Loke thou sett not be precept nor be comawndement,

Both sevyle and canone sett thou at nowth ¹⁵.

Lette no membre of God but with othys be rent.

Lo thus this werd at this tyme to myn intent is browth!

I, Sathan, with my felawus this werd hath sowth.

And now we han it at houre plesawns,

For synne is not shamfast but boldnes hath bowth

100 That xal cause hem in helle to han inerytawns.

(20)

A beggerys dowtere to make gret purvyauns

To cownterfete a jentyl woman dysgeysyd as she can;

And yf mony lakke this is the newe chevesauns,

With here prevy plesawns to gett it of sum man.

Here colere splayed and furryd with ermyn calabere or satan ¹⁶,

A seyn to selle lechory to hem that wyl bey.

And thei that wyl not by it yet i-now xal thei han,

And telle hem it is for love she may it not deney.

(21)

I have browth yow newe namys ¹⁷, and wyl ye se why,

110 For synne is so plesaunt to ech mannys intent:

Ye xal kalle Pride Oneste, and Naterall Kend Lechory,

And Covetyse Wysdam – there tresure is present –

(22)

Wreth Manhod, and Envye callyd Chastement;

Seyse nere sessyon lete Perjery be chef ¹⁸;

Glotonye rest, let Abstynawnce beyn absent,

And he that wole exorte the to vertu put hem to repreff.

95 membre limb 98 han have 99 shamfast shy 100 inerytawns inheritance 103 chevesauns trick 106 seyn sign 108 deney deny 111 Naterall Kend natural love 113 Wreth anger Chastement chastisement

(23)

To rehers al my servauntys my matere is to breff

But all these xal eneryth the dyvicion eternal.

Thow Cryst be his sotylte many materys meef,

120 In evyr-lastynge peyne with me dwellyn thei xal.

(24)

Remembre oure servauntys whoys sowlys ben mortall,

For I must remeffe for more materys to provyde.

I am with yow at all tymes whan ye to councel me call,

But for a short tyme my-self I devoyde.

[Exit Demon. Enter John the Baptist.]

(25)

JOHANNES BAPTISTA: I, Johan Baptyst, to yow thus prophesye

That on xal come aftyr me and not tary longe,

In many folde more strengere than I,

Of whose shon I am not worthy to lose the thonge ¹⁹;

Where-fore I councel the ye reforme all wronge

130 In your concyens of the mortall dedys sevyn,

And for to do penawns loke that ye ffonge,

For now xal come the kyngdham of hevyn.

(26)

The weys of oure Lord cast yow to aray ²⁰,

And ther-in to walk loke ye be applyande,

And make his pathys as ryth as ye may,

Kepyng ryth forth and be not declinande,

Neyther to fele on ryth nor on lefte hande,

But in the myddys purpose yow to holde;

For that in all wyse is most plesande,

140 As ye xal here whan I have tolde.

(27)

Of this wey for to make moralysacyon:

Be the ryth syde ye xal undyrstonde mercy,

118 eneryth inherit 119 meef move 124 devoyde take away 128 shon shoes 131 ffonge begin 133 aray ?follow, ?prepare for (cf. l. 163)

And on the lefte syde lykkenyd dysperacion,

And the patthe be-twyn bothyn that may not wry

Schal be hope and drede to walke in perfectly,

Declynyng not to fele for no maner nede.

Grete cawsys I xal shoue yow why

That ye xal sewe the patthe of hope and drede.

(28)

On the mercy of God to meche ye xal not holde,

150 As in this wyse behold what I mene:

For to do synne be thou no more bolde

In trost that God wole mercyful bene,

And yf be sensualyte as it is ofte sene

Synnyst dedly thou xalt not therfore dyspeyre,

But therfore do penawns and confesse the clene

And of hevyn thou mayst trost to ben eyre.

(29)

The pathe that lyth to this blyssyd enherytawns

Is hope and drede copelyd be conjunccyon.

Be-twyx these tweyn may be no dysseverawns,

160 For hope with-outyn drede is maner of presumpcion,

And drede with-owtyn hope is maner of dysperacion;

So these tweyn must be knyt be on acorde.

How ye xal aray the wey I have made declararacion,

Also the ryth patthis agens the comyng of oure Lord.

[Exit John the Baptist.

With the Prologues completed, the action begins.]

Here xal Annas shewyn hym-self in his stage²¹, be-seyn after a busshop of the hoold lawe in a skarlet gowne and over that a blew tabbard furryd with whyte, and a mytere on his hed after the hoold lawe: ij Doctorys stondyng by hym in furryd hodys, and on be-forn hem with his staff of a-stat, and eche of hem on here hedys a furryd cappe with a gret knop in the

144 wry twist 147 shoue show 148 sewe follow 149 meche much 156 eyre heir

crowne, and on stondyng be-forn as a Sarazyn²², the wich xal be his Masangere: Annas thus seyng

(30)

ANNAS: As a prelat am I properyd, to provyde pes

And of Jewys jewge, the lawe to fortefye.

I, Annas, be my powere xal comawnde dowteles

The lawys of Moyses no man xal denye.

Hoo excede my comawndement anon ye certefye;

170 Yf any eretyk here reyn to me ye compleyn;

For in me lyth the powere all trewthis to trye,

And pryncypaly oure lawys tho must I susteyn.

(31)

Yef I may aspey the contrary no wheyle xal thei reyn,

But a-non to me be browth and stonde present,

Be-fore here jewge wich xal not feyn

But aftere here trespace to gef hem jugement.

Now, serys, for a prose heryth myn intent,

There is on Jhesus of Nazareth that oure lawys doth excede.

Yf he procede thus we xal us all repent,

180 For oure lawys he dystroyt dayly with his dede.

(32)

There-fore be your cowncel we must take hede

What is be[st] to provyde or do in this case.

For yf we let hym thus go and ferdere prosede,

Ageyn Sesare and oure lawe we do trespace.

(33)

I DOCTOR: Sere, this is myn avyse that ye xal do:

Send to Cayphas for cowncel, knowe his intent

For yf Jhesu proce[de] and thus forth go,

Oure lawys xal be dystroyd, thes se we present

165 properyd empowered 173 Yef if aspey perceive 175 feyn hesitate 177 prose story

(34)

II DOCTOR: Sere, remembre the gret charge that on yow is leyd

190 The lawe to ke[pe] which may not fayle.

Yf any defawth prevyd of yow be seyd,

The Jewys with trewth wyl yow a-sayl.

Tak hed whath cownsayl may best provayl.

After Rewfyn and Leyon I rede that ye sende;

They arn temperal jewgys, that knowyth the parayl

With youre cosyn Cayphas this matere to amende.

(35)

ANNAS: Now surely this cowncel revyfe myn herte.

Youre cowncel is best as I can se.

Arfexe, in hast loke that thou styrte,

200 And pray Cayphas my cosyn come speke with me.

(36)

To Rewfyn and Leon thu go also

And pray hem thei speke with me in hast,

For a pryncipal matere that have to do,

Wich must be knowe or this day be past.

(37)

ARFEXE: My sovereyn, at your intent I xal gon,

In al the hast that I kan hy,

On to Cayphas, Rewfyn, and Lyon,

And charge youre intent that thei xal ply.

Here goth the Masangere forth, and in the mene tyme Cayphas shewyth him-self in his skaf hald arayd lych to Annas savyng his tabbard xal be red furryd with white; ij Doctorys with hym arayd with pellys ²³ aftyr the old gyse and furryd cappys on here hedys: Cayphas thus seyng

191 defawth fault 195 parayl way 197 revyfe revives 199 styrte go

(38)

CAYPHAS: As a primat most preudent, I present here sensyble

210 Buschopys of the lawe with al the cyrcumstawns.

I, Cayphas, am jewge with powerys possyble

To distroye all errouris that in oure lawys make varyawns.

All thyngys I convey be reson and temperawnce,

And all materis possyble to me ben palpable.

Of the lawe of Moyses I have a chef governawns;

To severe ryth and wrong in me is termynable ²⁴.

(39)

But ther is on Cryst that oure lawys is varyable;

He perverte the pepyl with his prechyng ill.

We must seke a mene on to hym reprevable ²⁵,

220 For yf he procede oure lawys he wyl spyll.

(40)

We must take good cowncel in this case

Of the wysest of the lawe that kan the trewthe telle,

Of the jewgys ²⁶ of Pharasy, and of my cosyn Annas,

For yf he procede be prossesse, oure lawys he wyl felle.

(41)

I DOCT[OR]: Myn lord, plesyt yow to pardon me for to say

The blame in yow is as we fynde,

To lete Cryst contenue thus day be day

With his fals wichcraft the pepyl to blynde.

(42)

He werkyth fals meraclis ageyns all kende,

230 And makyth oure pepyl to leve hem in.

It is your part to take hym and do hym bynde

And gyf hym jugement for his gret syn.

(43)

II DOCTOR: For-sothe, sere, of trewth this is the case;

On to our lawe ye don oppressyon

209 sensyble to be seen 214 palpable apparent, obvious

That ye let Cryst from you pace

And wyl not don on hym correxion.

Let Annas knowe your intencion,

With prestys and jewgys of the lawe,

And do Cryst forsake his fals oppynyon

240 Or in-to a preson lete hem be thrawe.

(44)

CAYPHAS: Wel, serys, ye xal se with-inne short whyle

I xal correcte hym for his trespas.

He xal no lenger oure pepyl be-gyle;

Out of myn dawngere he xal not pas.

Here comyth the Masangere to Cayphas; and in the mene tyme Rewfyn and Lyon schewyn hem in the place in ray tabardys furryd and ray hodys a-bouth here neckys furryd, the Masangere seyng

(45)

MASANGERE: Myn reverent sovereyn, and it do yow plese,

Sere Annas, my lord, hath to you sent.

He prayt you that ye xal not sese

Tyl that ye ben with hym present.

(46)

CAYPHAS: Sere, telle myn cosyn I xal not fayl.

250 It was my purpose hym for to se,

For serteyn materys that wyl provayle,

Thow he had notwth a sent to me.

(47)

MASA[N]GER: I recomende me to your hey degre,

On more massagys I must wende.

CAYPHAS: Fare wel, sere, and wel ye be!

Gret wel my cosyn and my fre[n]de.

239 do cause to 244 dawngere power 244 (SD) ray striped 252 a have

(48)

Here the Masager metyth with the Jewgys, sayng

MASA[N]GER: Heyl, jewgys of Jewry, of reson most prudent:

Of my massage to you I make relacion.

My lord, sere Annas, hath for you sent

260 To se his presens with-owth delacion.

(49)

REWFYN: Sere, we are redy at his comawndement

To se sere Annas in his place.

It was oure purpose and oure intent

To a be with hym with-inne short space.

(50)

LEYON: We are ful glad his presence to se,

Sere, telle hym we xal come in hast;

No declaracion ther-in xal be

But to his presens hye us fast.

(51)

MASA[N]GER: I xal telle my lord, seris, as ye say,

270 Ye wyl ful-fylle al his plesawns.

REWFYN: Sere, telle hym we xal make no delay

But come in hast at his instawns.

Here the Masangere comyth to Annas seyng

(52)

MASAN[GER]: My lord, and it plese you to have intellygens,

Ser Cayphas comyth to you in hast;

Rewfyn and Lyon wyl se your presens,

And se yow here or this day be past

(53)

ANNAS: Sere, I kan the thank of thi dyligens ²⁷.

Now ageyn my cosyn I wole walk.

260 delacion delay

Serys, folwyth me on to his presens,

280 For of these materys we must talk.

Here Annas goth down to mete with Cayphas, and in the mene tyme thus seyng

(54)

CAYPHAS: Now on to Annas let us wende

Ech of us to knowe otherys intent.

Many materys I have in mende

The wich to hym I xal present.

(55)

I DOCTOR: Sere, of all othere thyng remembre this case:

Loke that Ihesus be put to schame.

II DOCTOR: Whan we come present beforn Annas

Whe xal rehers all his gret blame.

Here the Buschopys with here Clerkys and the Pharaseus mett [at] the myd place, and ther xal be a lytil oratory with stolys and cusshonys clenly be-seyn lych as it were a cownsel hous; Annas thus seyng

(56)

ANNAS: Wel-come, ser Cayphas, and ye Jewgys alle!

290 Now xal ye knowe all myn entent.

A wondyr case, serys, here is be-falle

On wich we must gyf jewgement

Lyst that we aftyre the case repent

Of on Cryst that Goddys sone som doth hym calle.

He shewyth meraclys and sythe present ²⁸

That he is prynce of pryncys alle.

(57)

The pepyl so fast to hym doth falle,

Be prevy menys as we a-spye;

Gyf he procede son sen ye xalle

300 That oure lawys he wyl dystrye.

293 Lyst lest 295 sythe says present here 299 sen see

(58)

It is oure part thus to deny.

What is your cowncell in this cas?

CAYPHAS: Be reson the trewth here may we try.

I cannot dem hym with-outh trespace,

Be-cause he seyth in every a place

That he Kyng of Jewys in every degre,

Therfore he is fals, knowe wel the case:

Sesar is kyng and non but he.

(59)

REWFYN: He is an eretyk and a tretour bolde

310 To Sesare and to oure lawe sertayn,

Bothe in word and in werke and ye be-holde;

He is worthy to dey with mekyl peyn.

(60)

LEON: The cawse that we been here present

To fortefye the lawe and trewth to say.

Jhesus ful nere oure lawys hath shent,

Therfore he is worthy for to day.

(61)

I DOCTOR AN[NAS]: Serys, ye that ben rewelerys of the lawe,

On Jhesu ye must gyf jugement.

Let hym fyrst be hangyn and drawe,

320 And thanne his body in fyre be brent.

(62)

II DOCTOR AN[NAS]: Now xal ye here the intent of me:

Take Jhesu that werke us all gret schame,

Put hym to deth – let hym not fle –

For than the Comownys thei wyl yow blame.

(63)

I DOCTOR CAYP[HAS]: He werke with weche-crafte in eche place,

304 dem judge 312, 316 dey, day die 317 rewelerys rulers 324 Comownys common people

And drawyth the pepyl to hese intent.

Be whare, ye jewgys, let hym not passe,

Than be my trewthe ye xal repent.

(64)

II DOCTOR CAYPHAS: Serys, takyth hede on to this case

330 And in your jewgement be not slawe.

Ther was nevyr man dyd so gret trespace

As Jhesu hath don ageyn oure lawe.

(65)

ANNAS: Now, bretheryn, than wyl ye here myn intent.

These ix days let us a-byde,

We may not gyf so hasty jugement,

But eche man inqwere on his syde,

Send spyes a-bouth the countre wyde

To se and recorde and testymonye;

And than hese werkys he xal not hyde

340 Nor have no power hem to denye.

(66)

CAYPHAS: This cowncell a-cordyth to my reson.

ANNAS: And we all to the same ²⁹.

. . . . . . . .

(67)

JHESUS: Frendys, be-holde the tyme of mercy

The whiche is come now with-owt dowth.

Mannys sowle in blys now xal edyfy,

And the prynce of the werd is cast owth.

(68)

Go to yon castel that standyth yow ageyn,

Sum of myn dyscyplis go forth ye to;

There xul ye fyndyn bestys tweyn,

330 slawe slow

350 An asse tyed and here fole also.

Un-losne that asse and brynge it to me pleyn.

If any ma[n] aske why that ye do so,

Sey that I have nede to this best certeyn,

And he xal not lett yow your weys for to go;

That best brynge ye to me.

I APOSTOLUS ³⁰: Holy prophete, we gon oure way –

We wyl not youre wourd de-lay –

Also sone as that we may,

We xal it brynge to the.

Here thei fecch the asse with the fole and the Burgeys³¹ seyth

(69)

360 BURGENSIS: Herke, ye men, who gaf yow leve

Thus this best for to take away?

But only for pore men to releve

This asse is ordayned as I yow say.

PHILIPPUS: Good sere, take this at no greff;

Oure mayster us sent hedyr this day.

He hath grett nede with-owt repreff;

Therfore not lett us, I the pray,

This best for to lede.

BURGENSIS: Sethyn that it is so, that he hath yow sent,

370 Werkyth his wyll and his intent,

Take the beste as ye be bent,

And evyr wel mote ye spede.

(70)

JACOBUS MINOR: This best is brought ryght now here, lo,

Holy prophete, at thin owyn wylle,

And with this cloth anon also

This bestys bak we xal sone hylle.

PHILIPPUS: Now mayst thou ryde whedyr thou wylt go,

Thyn holy purpos to fulfylle.

Thy best ful redy is dyth the to;

350 fole foal 351 Un-losne untie 353 best beast 371 bent decided, intent upon 376 hylle cover 379 dyth prepared

380 Bothe meke and tame the best is stylle,

And we be redy also.

If it be plesynge to thi syght,

The to helpe a-non forth ryght,

Upon this best that thou were dyght

Thi jurney for to do.

Here Cryst rydyth out of the place and he wyl, and Petyr and Johan abydyn stylle, and at the last whan thei have don ther prechyng thei mete with Jhesu.

(71)

PETRUS: O ye pepyl dyspeyryng, be glad!

A grett cawse ye have and ye kan se;

The Lord that all thynge of nought mad

Is comynge your comfort to be.

390 All your langoris salvyn xal he;

Your helthe is more than ye kan wete;

He xal cawse the blynde ³² that thei xal se,

The def to here, the dome for to speke.

(72)

Thei that be crokyd, he xal cause hem to goo,

In the way that Johan Baptyst of prophecyed.

Sweche a leche kam yow nevyr non too.

Wher-fore what he comawndyth loke ye applyed.

That som of yow be blynd it may not be denyid,

For hym that is your makere with your gostly ey ye xal not knowe,

400 Of his comaundementys in yow gret necglygens is aspyed,

Where-fore def fro gostly heryng clepe yow I howe.

(73)

And some of yow may not go, ye be so crokyd,

For of good werkyng in yow is lytyl habundawns.

Tweyn fete hevery man xuld have and it were lokyd,

Wyche xuld bere the body gostly most of substawns:

390 langoris diseases 391 wete know 393 dome dumb 399 ey eye 401 clepe call howe ought

Fyrst is to love God above all other plesawns;

The secunde is to love thi neybore as thin owyn persone;

And yf these tweyn be kepte in perseverawns

Into the celestyal habytacion ye arn habyl to gone.

(74)

410 Many of yow be dome, why, for ye wole not redresse

Be mowthe your dedys mortal, but ther-in don perdure;

Of the wych but ye have contrycyon and yow confesse

Ye may not in-heryte hevyn – this I yow ensure.

And of all these maladyes ye may have gostly cure,

For the hevynly leche is comyng yow for to vicyte,

And as for payment he wole shewe yow no redrure,

For with the love of yowre hertys he wole be aqwhyte.

(75)

APOSTOLUS JOHANNES: On to my brotherys for-seyd rehersall,

That ye xuld geve the more veray confydens,

420 I come with hym as testymonyall,

For to conferme and fortefye his sentens.

This Lord xal come with-out resystens;

On to the cety-ward ³³ he is now comyng,

Where-fore dresse yow with all dew dylygens

To honowre hym as your makere and kyng.

(76)

And to fulfylle the prophetys prophese ³⁴,

Up-on an asse he wole hedyr ryde,

Shewyng yow exawmple of humylyte,

Devoydyng the abhomynable synne of pryde,

430 Whech hath ny conqweryd all the werd wyde,

Grettest cause of all your trybulacyon.

Use it ho so wole, for it is the best gyde

That ye may have to the place of dampnacyon.

411 don perdure continue in 415 vicyte visit 416 redrure harshness 417 aqwhyte repaid

(77)

Now, brothyr in God, syth we have intellygens

That oure Lord is ny come to this cete,

To attend up-on his precyous presens

It syttyth to us, as semyth me;

Wherfore to mete whit hym now go we.

I wold fore no thyng we where to late;

440 To the cete-ward fast drawyth he,

Me semyth he is ny at the gate.

Here spekyth the iiij ceteseynys, the Fyrst thus seyng

(78)

I CIVES DE IHERUSALEM: Neyborys, gret joye in oure herte we may make

That this hef[n]ly kyng wole vycyte this cyte.

II CIVES: Yf oure eerly kyng swech a jorne xuld take,

To don hym honour and worchepe besy xuld we be.

III CIVES: Meche more than to the hevynly kyng bownd are we

For to do that xuld be to his persone reverens.

IIII CIVES: Late us than welcome hym with flowrys and brawnchis of the tre,

For he wole take that to plesawns becawse of redolens.

Here the iiij ceteseynys makyn hem redy for to mete with oure Lord goyng barfot and barelegged and in here shyrtys savyng thei xal have here gownys cast a-bouth theme, and qwan thei seen oure Lorde thei xal sprede ther clothis be-forn hyme, and he xal lyth and go ther upone, and thei xal falle downe up-on ther knes alle atonys, the Fyrst thus seyng

(79)

450 I CIVES: Now blyssyd he be that in oure Lordys name

To us in any wyse wole resorte,

And we be-leve veryly that thou dost the same,

For be thi marcy xal spryng mannys comforte.

438 whit with 444 eerly earthly 449 redolens sweet perfume

Here Cryst passyth forth: ther metyth with hym a serteyn of chylderyn with flowrys, and cast be-forn hyme, and they synggyn Gloria Laus, and be-forn on seyt

[CHILD:]

Thow sone of Davyd, thou be oure supporte

At oure last day whan we xal dye,

Where-fore we all atonys to the exorte,

Cryeng mercy, mercy, mercye.

(80)

JHESU: Frendys be-holde the tyme of mercy

The wich is come now with-owtyn dowth.

460 Mannys sowle in blysse now xal edyfy,

And the prynce of the werd is cast owth ³⁵.

As I have prechyd in placys a-bowth,

And shewyd experyence to man and wyf,

In-to this werd Goddys sone hath sowth

For veray love man to revyfe.

(81)

The trewthe of trewthis xal now be tryede,

And a perfyth of corde ³⁶ be-twyx God and man,

Wich trewth xal nevyr be dyvide,

Confusyon on to the fynd Sathan.

(82)

470 I PAUPER HOMO: Thou sone of Davyd, on us have mercye!

As we must stedfast be-levyn in the,

Thi goodnesse, Lord, lete us be nye,

Whech lyth blynd here and may not se.

(83)

II PAUPER HOMO: Lord, lete thi mercy to us be sewre,

And restore to us oure bodyly syth.

We know thou may us wel recure

With the lest poynt of thi gret myth.

453 (SD) serteyn number, group 474 sewre sure

(84)

JHESU: Yowre be-leve hath mad you for to se,

And delyveryd you fro all mortal peyn.

480 Blyssyd be all tho that be-leve on me,

And se me not with here bodyly eyn.

Here Cryst blyssyth here eyn, and thei may se, the Fyrst seyng

(85)

I PAUPER HOMO: Gromercy, Lord, of thi gret grace:

I that was blynd now may se.

II PAUPER HOMO: Here I for-sake al my trespace,

And stedfastly wyl be-levyn on the.

481 eyn eyes