YORK 35: PYNNERES AND PAYNTERS
The Pinners were makers of wire articles, pins and nails. Their craft is thus grimly suitable to nailing Christ to the cross. The Painters and the Latoners (workers in the mixed metal, laten) are added in Burton’s list. For all this, it is notable that the play has only five actors.
The detailed presentation of the cruelty of the Soldiers is very striking here. Each step in the process of nailing Christ to the cross is carefully enacted. This is made more terrifying because the Soldiers consult and compete to make their work more efficient. The comments on how much pain is caused by each action are matched by their occasional doubts as to whether they can achieve their objective. There is undoubted cruelty in the intentions of the Soldiers, but they show no real sense that Christ is a human being. It is notable that their speeches are short and colloquial, concentrated upon the technical problems of their task. They are concerned with their tools, and with estimating their physical effort. Nevertheless the dramatist takes opportunities of indicating the real truth which lies behind the actions, that this is the sacrifice which redeemed.
There is, as one would expect, considerable emphasis upon the Biblical narratives, but the author also draws upon contemporary traditions about the Crucifixion, especially the tendency to see it as a heartless game in which mockery and contempt played an important part.
The particular achievements of this play have led some critics to call the author ‘the York Realist’.
(1)
I MILES: Sir knyghtis, take heede hydir in hye;
This dede on-dergh we may noght drawe;
Yee wootte youre selffe als wele as I
Howe lordis and leders of owre lawe
Has geven dome that this doote schall dye.
II MIL: Sir, alle thare counsaile wele we knawe.
Sen we are comen to Calvarie,
Latte ilke man helpe nowe as hym awe.
III MIL: We are all redy, loo,
10 That forward to fullfille.
IV MIL: Late here howe we schall doo,
And go we tyte ther tille.
(2)
I MIL: It may noght helpe her for to hone,
If we schall any worshippe wynne.
II MIL: He muste be dede nedelyngis by none.
III MIL: Thanne is goode tyme that we begynne.
IV MIL: Late dynge hym doune, than is he done,
He schall nought dere us with his dynne.
I MIL: He schall be sette and lerned sone,
20 With care to hym and all his kynne.
II MIL: The foulest dede of all
Shalle he dye for his dedis.
III MIL: That menes crosse hym we schall.
IV MIL: Behalde so right he redis.
(3)
I MIL: Thanne to this werke us muste take heede,
So that oure wirkyng be noght wronge.
II MIL: None othir noote to neven is nede,
But latte us haste hym for to hange.
2 on-dergh without trouble 5 doote fool 8 awe ought 13 hone delay 15 nedelyngis necessarily 18 dere trouble 19 sette placed 23 crosse crucify 24 redis says 27 noote matter neven mention
III MIL: And I have gone for gere, goode speede,
30 Bothe hammeres and nayles large and lange.
IV MIL: Thanne may we boldely do this dede;
Commes on, late kille this traitoure strange.
I MIL: Faire myght ye falle in feere,
That has wrought on this wise.
II MIL: Us nedis nought for to lere
Suche faitoures to chastise.
(4)
III MIL: Sen ilke a thyng es right arrayed,
The wiselier nowe wirke may we.
IV MIL: The crosse on grounde is goodely graied,
40 And boorede even as it awith to be1.
I MIL: Lokis that the ladde on lengthe be layde,
And made me thane unto this tree.
II MIL: For alle his fare he schalle be flaied,
That one assaie sone schalle ye see.
III MIL: Come forthe, thou cursed knave,
Thy comforte sone schall kele,
IV MIL: Thyne hyre here schall thou have.
I MIL: Walkes oon, now wirke we wele.
(5)
JESUS: Almyghty God, my fadir free,
50 Late this materes be made in mynde,
Thou badde that I schulde buxsome be,
For Adam plyght for to be pyned.
Fro that synne for to save mankynde,
And soveraynely be-seke I the,
That thai for me may favoure fynde;
And fro the fende thame fende,
So that ther saules be saffe,
In welthe withouten ende;
60 I kepe nought ellis to crave.
33 in feere together 35 lere teach 39 graied prepared 40 boorede bored awith ought 42 thane then 43 flaied terrified 46 kele cool 47 hyre reward 52 Adam Adam’s pyned tormented 53 obblisshe compel
I MIL: We! herke, sir knyghtis, for Mahoundis bloode!
Of Adam-kynde is all his thoght.
II MIL: The warlowe waxis werre than woode;
This doulfull dede ne dredith he noght.
III MIL: Thou schulde have mynde, with mayne and moode,
Of wikkid werkis that thou haste wrought.
IV MIL: I hope that he had bene as goode
Have sesed of sawes that he uppe sought.
I MIL: Thoo sawes schall rewe hym sore
70 For all his saunteryng sone.
II MIL: Ille spede thame that hym spare
Tille he to dede be done!
(7)
III MIL: Have done belyve, boy, and make the boune,
And bende thi bakke un-to this tree.
[Jesus lies on the cross.]
IV MIL: Byhalde, hym-selffe has laide hym doune2,
In lenghe and breede as he schulde bee.
I MIL: This traitoure here teynted of treasoune,
Gose faste and fette hym than, ye thre.
And sen he claymeth kyngdome with croune,
80 Even as a kyng here have schall hee.
II MIL: Nowe, certis, I schall noght feyne
Or his right hande be feste3.
III MIL: The lefte hande thanne is myne,
Late see who beres hym beste.
(8)
IV MIL: Hys lymmys on lenghe than schalle I lede,
And even unto the bore thame bringe.
I MIL: Unto his heede I schall take hede,
And with myne hande helpe hym to hyng.
63 werre worse woode mad 68 sesed stopped sawes sayings uppe sought made use of 73 belyve quickly 76 lenghe length breede breadth 78 fette fetch, pull 81 feyne hold back 82 feste fixed 88 hyng hang
II MIL: Nowe sen we foure schall do this dede,
90 And medill with this unthrifty thyng,
Late no man spare for speciall speede,
Tille that we have made endyng.
III MIL: This forward may not faile,
Nowe are we right arraiede.
IV MIL: This boy here in oure baile
Shall bide full bittir brayde.
(9)
I MIL: Sir knyghtis, saie, howe wirke we nowe?
II MIL: Yis, certis, I hope I holde this hande.
III MIL: And to the boore I have it brought
100 Full boxumly with-outen bande.
[IV] mil4: Strike on than harde, for hym the boght5.
[I] MIL: Yis, here is a stubbe will stiffely stande;
Thurgh bones and senous it schall be soght.
This werke is well, I will warande.
[II] MIL: Saie, sir, howe do we thore?
III MIL: It failis a foote and more,
The senous are so gone ynne6.
(10)
IV MIL: I hope that marke a-misse be bored.
110 II MIL: Than muste he bide in bittir bale.
III MIL: In faith, it was overe skantely scored;
That makis it fouly for to faile.
I MIL: Why carpe ye so? Faste on a corde
And tugge hym to, by toppe and taile.
III MIL: Ya, thou comaundis lightly as a lorde.
Come helpe to haale, with ille haile.
I MIL: Nowe certis that schall I doo,
Full suerly as a snayle.
96 brayde blows 100 bande rope 102 stubbe peg 103 senous sinews 106 blynne be held up 109 hope think 110 bale pain III overe skantely too short
III MIL: And I schall tacche hym too,
(11)
This werke will holde, that dar I heete,
For nowe are feste faste both his handis.
IV MIL: Go we all foure thanne to his feete7;
So schall oure space be spedely spende.
II MIL: Latte see, what bourde his bale myght beete;
Tharto my bakke nowe wolde I bende.
IV MIL: Owe! This werke is all unmeete;
This boring muste all be amende.
I MIL: A! Pees, man, for Mahounde,
130 Latte noman wotte that wondir.
A roope schall rugge hym doune,
Yf all his synnous go a-soundre.
(12)
II MIL: That corde full kyndely can I knytte,
The comforte of this karle to kele.
I MIL: Feste on thanne faste, that all be fytte;
It is no force howe felle he feele.
II MIL: Lugge on ye both a litill yitt.
III MIL: I schalle nought sese, as I have seele.
IV MIL: And I schall fonde hym for to hitte.
II MIL: Owe, haylle!
140 IV MIL: Hoo nowe, I halde it wele.
I MIL: Have done, dryve in that nayle,
So that no faute be foune.
IV MIL: This wirkyng wolde noght faile
Yf foure bullis here were boune.
(13)
I MIL: Ther cordis have evill encressed his paynes,
Or he wer tille the booryngis brought.
119 tacche fasten 120 nemely quickly 121 heete promise 125 bourde jest beete remedy 138 seele joy 139 fonde try 144 bullis bulls
II MIL: Yaa, assoundir are both synnous and veynis,
On ilke a side, so have we soughte.
III MIL: Nowe all his gaudis no thyng hym gaynes;
150 His sauntering schall with bale be bought.
IV MIL: I wille goo saie to oure soveraynes
Of all this werkis howe we have wrought.
I MIL: Nay, sirs, a-nothir thyng
Fallis firste to youe [and] me:
I badde we schulde hym hyng
On heghte that men myght see.
(14)
II MIL: We woote wele so ther wordes wore,
But, sir, that dede will do us dere.
I MIL: It may not mende for to moote more,
160 This harlotte muste be hanged here.
II MIL: The mortaise is made fitte therfore.
III MIL: Feste on youre fyngeres than in feere.
IV MIL: I wene it wolle nevere come thore.
We foure rayse it noght right, to yere.
I MIL: Say, man, whi carpis thou soo?
Thy liftyng was but light.
II MIL: He menes ther muste be moo
To heve hym uppe on hight.
(15)
III MIL: Now certis, I hope it schall noght nede
170 To calle to us more companye.
Me thynke we foure schulde do this dede,
And bere hym to yone hille on high.
I MIL: It muste be done, with-outen drede.
Nomore, but loke ye be redy;
And this parte schall I lifte and leede.
On lenghe he schall no lenger lie.
Therfore nowe makis you boune:
Late bere hym to yone hill8.
159 moote argue 164 to yere now 165 carpis talks 175 leede (v) lead
IV MIL: Thanne will I bere here doune:
180 And tente his tase untill.
(16)
II MIL: We twoo schall see tille aythir side,
For ellis this werke will wrie all wrang.
III MIL: We are redy, in Gode, sirs, abide,
And late me first his fete up fang.
II MIL: Why tente ye so to tales this tyde?9
I MIL: Lifte uppe!
[They attempt to raise the cross.]
IV MIL: Latte see!
II MIL: Owe! Lifte a-lang.
III MIL: Fro all this harme he schulde hym hyde,
And he war God.
IV MIL: The deuill hym hang!
I MIL: For grete harme have I hente;
190 My schuldir is in soundre.
II MIL: And sertis I am nere schente;
So lange have I borne undir.
(17)
III MIL: This crosse and I in twoo muste twynne,
Ellis brekis my bakke in sondre sone.
IV MIL: Laye doune agayne and leve youre dynne,
This dede for us will nevere be done.
[They lay down the cross.]
I MIL: Assaie, sirs, latte se yf any gynne
May helpe hym uppe, with-outen hone;
For here schulde wight men worschippe wynne,
200 And noght with gaudis al day to gone.
II MIL: More wighter men than we
Full fewe I hope ye fynde.
III MIL: This bargayne will noght bee,
For certis me wantis wynde.
180 tente attend tase toes 182 wrie turn 184 fang take hold of 193 twynne separate 197 gynne machine, device 198 hone delay 199 wight strong
IV MIL: SO wille of werke nevere we wore;
I hope this carle some cautellis caste.
II MIL: My bourdeyne satte me wondir soore;
Unto the hill I myght noght laste.
I MIL: Lifte uppe, and sone he schall be thore,
210 Therfore feste on youre fyngeres faste.
III MIL: Owe, lifte!
[They raise the cross again.]
I MIL: We, loo!
IV MIL: A litill more.
II MIL: Holde thanne!
I MIL: Howe nowe!
II MIL: The werste is paste.
III MIL: He weyes a wikkid weght.
II MIL: So may we all foure saie,
Or he was heved on heght,
And raysed in this array.
(19)
IV MIL: He made us stande as any stones,
So boustous was he for to bere.
I MIL: Nowe raise hym nemely for the nonys,
220 And sette hym be this mortas heere.
And latte hym falle in alle at ones,
For certis that payne schall have no pere.
III MIL: Heve uppe!
IV MIL: Latte doune, so all his bones
Are a-soundre nowe on sides seere.
I MIL: This fallyng10 was more felle
Than all the harmes he hadde,
Nowe may a man wele telle
205 wille bewildered 206 cautellis tricks 207 bourdeyne burden 218 boustous huge 220 mortas mortice 224 seere several 228 leste least lith joint
III MIL: Me thynkith this crosse will noght abide
230 Ne stande stille in this mo[r]teyse yitt.
IV MIL: Att the firste tyme was it made overe wyde:
That makis it wave, thou may wele witte.
I MIL: Itt schall be sette on ilke a side,
So that it schall no forther flitte;
Goode wegges schall we take this tyde,
And feste the foote, thanne is all fitte11,
II MIL: Here are wegges arraied
For that, bothe grete and smale.
III MIL: Where are oure hameres laide
240 That we schulde wirke with all?
(21)
IV MIL: We have them here even atte oure hande.
II MIL: Gyffe me this wegge; I schall it in dryve.
IV MIL: Here is anodir yitt ordande.
III MIL: DO take it me hidir belyve.
I MIL: Laye on thanne faste.
III MIL: Yis, I warrande.
I thryng thame same, so motte I thryve.
Nowe will this crosse full stabely stande;
All yf he rave thei will noght ryve.
I MIL: Say, sir, howe likis thou nowe
250 This werke that we have wrought?
IV MIL: We praye youe sais us howe
Ye fele, or faynte ye ought?
(22)
JESUS: Al men that walkis by waye or strete,
Takes tente ye schalle no travayle tyne,
By-holdes myn heede, myn handis, and my feete,
And fully feele nowe, or ye fyne,
Yf any mournyng may be meete
Or myscheve mesured unto myne.
243 ordande needed 246 thryng strike 254 tyne lose 256 fyne finish
My Fadir, that alle bales may bete,
260 For-giffis thes men that dois me pyne.
What thai wirke wotte thai noght;
Therfore, my Fadir, I crave,
Latte nevere ther synnys be sought,
But see ther saules to save.
(23)
I MIL: We! Harke! He jangelis like a jay.
II MIL: My thynke he patris like a py.
III MIL: He has ben doand all this day,
And made grete mevyng of mercy.
IV MIL: Es this the same that gune us say
270 That he was Goddis sone almyghty?
I MIL: Therfore he felis full felle affraye,
And demyd this day for to dye.
II MIL: Vah! Qui destruis templum12.
III MIL: His sawes wer so, certayne.
IV MIL: And, sirs, he saide to some
He myght rayse it agayne.
(24)
I MIL: To mustir that he hadde no myght,
For all the kautelles that he couthe kaste;
All yf he wer in worde so wight,
280 For all his force nowe he is feste.
Als Pilate demed is done and dight,
Therfore I rede that we go reste.
II MIL: This race mon be rehersed right,
Thurgh the worlde both este and weste.
III MIL: Yaa, late hym hynge here stille,
IV MIL: Thanne may we wende at wille.
I MIL: Nay, goode sirs, noght so sone,
266 patris patters py magpie 277 mustir show 278 kautelles tricks 279 wight strong 286 mowes faces
For certis us nedis anodir note:
290 This kirtill wolde I of you crave.
II MIL: Nay, nay, sir, we will loke be lotte
Whilke of us foure fallis to have.
III MIL: I rede we drawe cutte for this coote,
Loo, se howe sone all sidis to save.
IV MIL: The schorte cutte schall wynne, that wele ye woote,
Whedir itt falle to knyght or knave.
I MIL: Felowes, ye thar noght flyte
For this mantell is myne.
II MIL: Goo we thanne hense tyte,
300 This travayle here we tyne.
290 kirtill tunic 291 lotte lot 293 cutte lot 297 flyte scold
