The Towneley plays

The Scourging

Pilate

Peasse at my bydyng, ye wyghtys in wold! Line 1 Looke none be so hardy to speke a word bot I, Line 2 Or by mahowne most myghty, maker on mold, Line 3 With this brande that I bere ye shall bytterly aby. Line 4 Say, wote ye not that I am pylate, perles to behold,? Line 5 Most doughty in dedys of dukys of the Iury; Line 6 In bradyng of batels I am the most bold,, Line 7 Therfor my name to you will I dyscry, Line 8 No mys. Line 9 I am full of sotelty, Line 10 ffalshed, gyll, and trechery; Line 11 Therfor am I namyd by clergy Line 12 As mali actoris. Line 13 ffor like as on both sydys the Iren the hamer makith playn, Line 14 So do I, that the law has here in my kepyng; Line 15 The right side to socoure, certys, I am full bayn, Line 16 If I may get therby a vantege or wynyng; Line 17 Then to the fals parte I turne me agayn, Line 18 ffor I se more Vayll will to me be risyng; Line 19 Thus euery man to drede me shalbe full fayn, Line 20 And all faynt of thare fayth to me be obeyng, Line 21

Line 21 Truly. Line 22 All fals endytars, Line 23 Quest-gangars, and Iurars, Line 24 And thise out-rydars Line 25 Ar welcom to me. Line 26 Bot this prophete, that has prechyd and puplyshed so playn Line 27 Cristen law, crist thay call hym in oure cuntre; Line 28 Bot oure prynces full prowdly this nyght haue hym tayn, Line 29 ffull tytt to be dampned he shall be hurlyd byfore me; Line 30 I shall fownde to be his freynd vtward, in certayn, Line 31 And shew hym fare cowntenance and wordys of vanyte; Line 32 Bot or this day at nyght on crosse shall he be slayn, Line 33 Thus agans hym in my hart I bere great enmyte Line 34 ffull sore. Line 35 ye men that vse bak-bytyngys, Line 36 and rasars of slanderyngys, Line 37 ye ar my dere darlyngys, Line 38 And mahowns for euermore. Line 39 ffor no thyng in this warld dos me more grefe Line 40 Then for to here of crist and of his new lawes; Line 41 To trow that he is godys son my hart wold all to clefe, Line 42 Though he be neuer so trew both in dedys and in sawes Line 43 Therfor shall he suffre mekill myschefe, Line 44 And all the dyscypyls that vnto hym drawes; Line 45 ffor ouer all solace to me it is most lefe, Line 46 The shedyng of cristen bloode, and that all Iury knawes, Line 47 I say you. Line 48 My knyghtys full swythe Line 49 Thare strengthes will thay kyth, Line 50 And bryng hym be-lyfe; Line 51 lo, where thay com now! Line 52

Primus Tortor

I haue ron that I swett / from sir herode oure kyng Line 53 With this man that will not lett / oure lawes to downe bryng; Line 54 he has done so mych forfett / of care may he syng; Line 55 Thrugh dom of sir pylate he gettys / an yll endyng Line 56

Line 56 And sore; Line 57 The great warkys he has wroght Line 58 Shall serue hym of noght, Line 59 And bot thay be dere boght Line 60 lefe me no more. Line 61 Bot make rowme in this rese / I byd you, belyfe, Line 62 And of youre noys that ye sesse / both man and wyfe; Line 63 To sir pylate on dese / this man will we dryfe, Line 64 his dede for to dres / and refe hym his lyfe Line 65 This day; Line 66 Do draw hym forward! Line 67 whi stand ye so bakward? Line 68 Com on sir, hyderward, Line 69 As fast as ye may! Line 70

Secundus Tortor

Do pull hym a-rase / whyls we be gangyng; Line 71 I shall spytt in his face / though it be fare shynyng; Line 72 Of vs thre gettys thou no grace / thi dedys ar so noyng, Line 73 Bot more sorow thou hase / oure myrth is incresyng, Line 74 No lak. Line 75 ffelows, all in hast, Line 76 with this band that will last Line 77 Let vs bynde fast Line 78 Both his handys on his bak. Line 79

Tercius Tortor

I shall lede the a dawnce / Vnto sir pilate hall; Line 80 Thou betyd an yll chawnce / to com emangys vs all. Line 81 Sir pilate, with youre cheftance / to you we cry and call Line 82 That ye make som ordynance / with this brodell thrall, Line 83 By skyll; Line 84 This man that we led, Line 85 On crosse ye put to ded,. Line 86

Pilate

what! with outten any red? Line 87 That is not my wyll; Line 88 Bot ye, wysest of law / to me ye be tendand: Line 89 This man withoutten awe / which ye led in a band, Line 90 Nather in dede ne in saw / can I fynd with no wrang, Line 91 wherfor ye shuld, hym draw / or bere falsly on hand Line 92

Line 92 With ill. Line 93 ye say he turnes oure pepyll, Line 94 ye call hym fals and fekyll; Line 95 warldys shame is on you mekyll Line 96 This man if ye spyll. Line 97 Of all thise causes ilkon / which ye put on hym, Line 98 Herode, truly as stone / coud fynd with nokyns gyn Line 99 Nothyng herapon / that pent to any syn; Line 100 why shuld I then so soyn / to ded here deme hym? Line 101 Therfor Line 102 This is my counsell, Line 103 I will not with hym mell; Line 104 let hym go where he wyll Line 105 ffor now and euermore. Line 106

Primus Consultus

Sir, I say the oone thyng / without any mys, Line 107 he callys his self a kyng / ther he none is; Line 108 Thus he wold downe bryng / oure lawes, I-wys, Line 109 with his fals lesyng / and his quantys, Line 110 This tyde. Line 111

Pilate

herk, felow, com nere! Line 112 Thou knowes I haue powere Line 113 To excuse or to dampne here, Line 114 In bayll to abyde. Line 115

Jesus

Sich powere has thou noght / to wyrk thi will thus with me, Line 116 Bot from my fader that is broght / oone-fold god in persons thre. Line 117

Pilate

Certys, it is fallen well in my thoght / at this tyme, as well wote ye, Line 118 A thefe that any felony has wroght / to lett hym skap or go fre Line 119

Line 119 Away; Line 120 Therfor ye lett hym pas. Line 121

Primus Tortor

Nay, nay, bot barabas! Line 122 And ihesus in this case Line 123 To deth ye dam this day. Line 124

Pilate

Syrs, looke ye take good hede / his cloysse ye spoyll hym fro, Line 125 ye gar his body blede / and bett hym blak and bloo. Line 126

Secundus Tortor

This man, as myght I spede / that has wroght vs this wo, Line 127 how "[Iudicare"] comys in crede / shall we teche, or we go, Line 128 All soyne. Line 129 haue bynd to this pyllar. Line 130

Tercius Tortor

why standys thou so far? Line 131

Primus Tortor

To bett his body bar Line 132 I haste, withoutten hoyne. Line 133

Secundus Tortor

Now fall I the fyrst / to flap on hys hyde. Line 134

Tercius Tortor

My hartt wold all to-bryst / bot I myght tyll hym glyde. Line 135

Primus Tortor

A swap fayn, if I durst / wold I lene the this tyde. Line 136

Secundus Tortor

war! lett me rub on the rust / that the bloode downe glyde Line 137 As swythe. Line 138

Tercius Tortor

haue att! Line 139

Primus Tortor

Take thou that! Line 140

Secundus Tortor

I shall lene the a flap, Line 141 My strengthe for to kythe. Line 142

Tercius Tortor

Where on seruys thi prophecy / thou tell vs in this case, Line 143 And all thi warkys of greatt mastry / thou shewed in dyuers place? Line 144

Primus Tortor

Thyn apostels full radly / ar run from the a rase, Line 145 Thou art here in oure baly / withoutten any grace Line 146

Line 146 Of skap. Line 147

Secundus Tortor

Do, rug him. Line 148

Tercius Tortor

Do, dyng hym. Line 149

Primus Tortor

Nay, I myself shuld kyll hym Line 150 Bot for sir pilate. Line 151 Syrs, at the ffeste of architreclyn / this prophete he was; Line 152 Ther turnyd he water into wyn / that day he had sich grace, Line 153 his apostels to hym can enclyn / and other that ther was; Line 154 The see he past bot few yeres syn / it lete hym walk theron apase Line 155 At wyll; Line 156 The elementys all bydeyn, Line 157 And wyndes that ar so keyn, Line 158 The firmamente, as I weyn, Line 159 Ar hym obeyng tyll. Line 160

Secundus Tortor

A lepir cam full fast / to this man that here standys, Line 161 And prayed hym, in all hast / of bayll to lowse his bandys; Line 162 his trauell was not wast / though he cam from far landys; Line 163 This prophete tyll hym past / and helyd hym with his handys, Line 164 ffull blythe. Line 165 The son of Centuryon, Line 166 ffor whom his fader made greatt mone, Line 167 Of the palsy he helyd anone, Line 168 Thay lowfyd hym oft sythe. Line 169

Tercius Tortor

Sirs, as he cam from iherico / a blynde man satt by the way; Line 170 To hym walkand with many mo / cryand to hym thus can he say, Line 171 "[Thou son of dauid, or thou go / of blyndnes hele thou me this day."] Line 172 Ther was he helyd of all his wo / sich wonders can he wyrk all way Line 173

Line 173 At wyll; Line 174 he rasys men from deth to lyfe, Line 175 And castys out devyls from thame oft sythe, Line 176 seke men cam to hym full ryfe, Line 177 He helys thaym of all yll. Line 178

Primus Tortor

ffor all thise dedys of great louyng / fower thyngys I haue fond certanly, Line 179 ffor which he is worthy to hyng: / oone is oure kyng that he wold be; Line 180 Oure sabbot day in his wyrkyng / he lettys not to hele the seke truly; Line 181 he says oure temple he shall downe bryng / and in thre daies byg it in hy Line 182 All hole agane; Line 183 Syr pilate, as ye sytt, Line 184 looke wysely in youre wytt; Line 185 Dam ihesu or ye flytt Line 186 On crosse to suffre his payne. Line 187

Pilate

Thou man that suffurs all this yll / Why Wyll thou Vs no mercy cry? Line 188 Slake thy hart and thi greatt wyll / whyls on the we haue mastry; Line 189 Of thy greatt warkes shew vs som skyll; / men call the kyng, thou tell vs why; Line 190 wherfor the Iues seke the to spyll / the cause I wold, knowe wytterly, Line 191 perdee; Line 192 Say what is thy name, Line 193 Thou lett for no shame, Line 194 Thay putt on the greatt blame, Line 195 Els myght [thou] skap for me. Line 196

Secundus Consultus

Syr pilate, prynce peerles / this is my red, Line 197 That he skap not harmeles / bot do hym to ded: Line 198 he cals hym a kyng in euery place / thus wold he ouer led Line 199 Oure people in his trace / and oure lawes downe tred Line 200

Line 200 By skyll; Line 201 Syr, youre knyghtes of good lose, Line 202 and the pepyll with oone voce, Line 203 To hyng hym hy on a crosse Line 204 Thay cry and call you vntyll. Line 205

Pilate

Now certys, this is a wonder thyng / that ye wold bryng to noght Line 206 hym that is youre lege lordyng / In faith this was far soght; Line 207 Bot say, why make ye none obeyng / to hym that all has wroght? Line 208

Tercius Tortor

Sir, he is oure chefe lordyng / sir Cesar so worthyly wroght Line 209 On mold. Line 210 pylate, do after vs, Line 211 And dam to deth ihesus Line 212 Or to sir Cesar we trus, Line 213 And make thy frenship cold,. Line 214

Pilate

Now that I am sakles / of this bloode shall ye see; Line 215 Both my handys in expres / weshen sall be; Line 216 This bloode bees dere boght I ges / that ye spill so frele. Line 217

Primus Tortor

we pray it fall endles / on vs and oure meneye, Line 218 with wrake. Line 219

Pilate

Now youre desyre fulfyll I shall; Line 220 Take hym emangs you all, Line 221 On crosse ye put that thrall, Line 222 his endyng ther to take. Line 223

Primus Tortor

Com on! tryp on thi tose / without any fenyng; Line 224 Thou has made many glose / with thy fals talkyng. Line 225

Secundus Tortor

we ar worthy greatte lose / that thus has broght a kyng Line 226 ffrom sir pilate and othere fose thus into oure ryng, Line 227

Line 227 withoutt any hoyne. Line 228 Sirs, a kyng he hym cals, Line 229 Therfor a crowne hym befals. Line 230

Tercius Tortor

I swere by all myn elder sauls, Line 231 I shall it ordan soyne. Line 232

Primus Tortor

Lo! here a crowne of thorne / to perch his brane within, Line 233 putt on his hede with skorne / and gar thyrll the skyn. Line 234

Secundus Tortor

hayll kyng! where was thou borne / sich worship for to wyn? Line 235 we knele all the beforne / and the to grefe will we not blyn, Line 236 That be thou bold,; Line 237 Now by mahownes bloode! Line 238 Ther will no mete do me goode Line 239 To he be hanged on a roode, Line 240 And his bones be cold,. Line 241

Primus Tortor

Syrs, we may be fayn / ffor I haue fon a tree, Line 242 I tell you in certan / it is of greatt bewtee, Line 243 On the which he shall suffre payn / be feste with nales thre, Line 244 Ther shall nothyng hym gayn / ther on to he dede be, Line 245 I insure it; Line 246 Do, bryng hym hence. Line 247

Secundus Tortor

Take vp oure gere and defence. Line 248

Tercius Tortor

I wold spende all my spence Line 249 To se hym ones skelpt. Line 250

Primus Tortor

This cros vp thou take / and make the redy bowne; Line 251 Withoutt gruchyng thou rake / and bere it thrugh the towne; Line 252 Mary, thi moder, I wote will make / great mowrnyng and mone, Line 253 But for thy fals dedys sake / shortly thou salbe slone, Line 254

Line 254 No nay; Line 255 The pepyll of bedlem, Line 256 and gentyls of Ierusalem, Line 257 All the comoners of this reme, Line 258 shall wonder on the this day. Line 259

John the Apostle

Alas! for my master moste of myght, Line 260 That yester euen with lanterne bright Line 261 before Caiphas was broght; Line 262 Both peter and I sagh that sight, Line 263 And sithen we fled away full wight, Line 264 when Iues so wonderly wroght; Line 265 At morne thay toke to red, And fals witnes furth soght, Line 266 And demyd hym to be dede, That to thaym trespaste noght, Line 267 Alas! for his modere and othere moo, Line 268 My moder and hir syster also, Line 269 Sat sam with syghyng sore; Line 270 Thay Wote nothyng of all this wo, Line 271 Therfor to tell thaym will I go, Line 272 Sen I may mend no more. Line 273 If he shuld dy thus tyte And thay vnwarned wore, Line 274 I were Worthy to wyte; I will go fast therfor. Line 275 God saue you, systers all in fere! Line 276 Dere lady, if thi will were, Line 277 I must tell tythyngys playn. Line 278

Mary

Welcom, Iohn, my cosyn dere! Line 279 how farys my son sen thou was here? Line 280 That wold I wyt full fayn. Line 281

John the Apostle

A, dere lady with youre leyff, The trouth shuld no man layn, Line 282 Ne with godys will thaym grefe. Line 283

Mary

whi, Iohn, is my son slayn?

John the Apostle

Nay lady, I saide not so, Line 284 Bot ye me myn he told vs two Line 285 And thaym that with vs wore, Line 286 how he with pyne shuld pas vs fro, Line 287 And efte shuld com vs to, Line 288 To amende oure syghyng sore; Line 289 It may not stand in stede To sheynd youre self therfore. Line 290

Mary Magdalene

Alas! this day for drede! Good Iohn, neven this no more! Line 291 Speke preualy I the pray, Line 292 ffor I am ferde, if we hir flay, Line 293 That she will ryn and rafe. Line 294

John the Apostle

The sothe behowys me nede to say, Line 295 he is damyd to dede this day, Line 296 Ther may no sorow hym safe. Line 297

Maria Jacobi

Good Iohn, tell vnto vs two What thou of hir will crafe, Line 298 And we will gladly go And help that thou it haue. Line 299

John the Apostle

Systers, youre mowrnyng may not amende; Line 300 And ye will ever, or he take ende, Line 301 Speke with my master free, Line 302 Then must ye ryse and with me weynd,, Line 303 And kepe hym as he shall be kend Line 304 Withoutt yond same cyte; Line 305 If ye will nygh me nere, Com fast and felowe me. Line 306

Mary

A, help me, systers dere! That I my son may see. Line 307

Mary Magdalene

Lady, we wold weynd full fayn, Line 308 Hertely With all oure myght and mayn, Line 309 youre comforth to encrese. Line 310

Mary

Good Iohn, go before and frayn. Line 311

John the Apostle

Lo, where he commes vs euen agayn Line 312 with all yond mekyll prese! Line 313 All youre mowrnyng in feyr / may not his sorow sese. Line 314

Mary

Alas, for my son dere, / that me to moder chese! Line 315

Line 315 Alas, dere son for care / I se thi body blede; Line 316 My self I will for-fare / for the in this great drede, Line 317 This cros on thi shulder bare / to help the in this nede, Line 318 I will it bere with greatt hart sare / wheder thay will the lede. Line 319

Jesus

This cros is large in lengthe / and also bustus with all; Line 320 If thou put to thi strengthe / to the erthe thou mon downe fall. Line 321

Mary

A dere son, thou let me / help the in this case! Line 322

Jesus

lo, moder, I tell it the / to bere no myght thou hase. Line 323

Mary

I pray the, dere son, it may so be / to man thou gif thi grace, Line 324 On thi self thou haue pyte / and kepe the from thi foyse. Line 325

Jesus

ffor sothe, moder, this is no nay / on cros I must dede dre, Line 326 And, from deth ryse on the thryd day / thus prophecy says by me; Line 327 Mans saull that I luffyd ay / I shall redeme securly, Line 328 Into blis of heuen for ay / I shall it bryng to me, Line 329

Mary Magdalene

It is greatt sorow to any wyght / Ihesus, to se with Iues keyn, Line 330 How he in dyuerse payns is dight / ffor sorow I water both myn eeyn. Line 331

Maria Jacobi

This lord that is of myght / dyd neuer yll truly, Line 332 Thise Iues thay do not right / if thay deme hym to dy. Line 333

Mary Magdalene

Alas! what shall we say! / ihesus that is so leyfe, Line 334 To deth thise Iues this day / thay lede with paynes full grefe. Line 335

Line 335

Maria Jacobi

He was full true, I say / though thay dam hym as thefe, Line 336 Mankynde he lufed all way / for sorow my hart will clefe. Line 337

Jesus

ye doghters of Ierusalem / I byd you wepe nothyng for me, Line 338 Bot for youre self and youre barn-teme / behald I tell you securle, Line 339 Sore paynes ar ordand for this reme / in dayes herafter for to be; Line 340 youre myrth to bayll it shall downe streme / in euery place of this cyte. Line 341 Childer, certys, thay shall blys / women baren that neuer child bare, Line 342 And pappes that neuer gaf sowke, Iwys / thus shall thare hartys for sorow be sare; Line 343 The montayns hy and thise greatt hyllys / thay shall byd fall apon them thare, Line 344 ffor my bloode that sakles is / to shede and spyll thay will not spare. Line 345

Secundus Tortor

walk on, and lefe thi vayn carpyng / it shall not saue the fro thy dede, Line 346 wheder thise women cry or syng / for any red, that thay can red,. Line 347

Tercius Tortor

Say wherto abyde we here abowte, Line 348 Thise qwenes with scremyng and with showte? Line 349 May no man thare wordys stere? Line 350

Primus Tortor

Go home, thou casbald,, with that clowte! Line 351 Or, by that lord I leyfe and lowte, Line 352 Thou shall by it full dere! Line 353

Mary Magdalene

This thyng shall venyance call / on you holly in fere. Line 354

Secundus Tortor

Go, hy the hens with all / or yll hayll cam thou here! Line 355

Tercius Tortor

let all this bargan be / syn all oure toyles ar before; Line 356 This tratoure and this tre / I wold, full fayn were thore. Line 357

Primus Tortor

It nedys not hym to harll / this cros dos hym greatt dere, Line 358 Bot yonder commys a carll / shall help hym for to bere. Line 359

Secundus Tortor

That shall we soyn se on assay. Line 360 herk, good, man, wheder art thou on away? Line 361 Thou walkes as thou were wrath. Line 362

Symon

Syrs, I haue a greatt Iornay Line 363 That must be done this same day, Line 364 Or els it will me skathe. Line 365

Tercius Tortor

Thou may with lytyll payn / easse hym and thi self both. Line 366

Symon

Good syrs, that wold I fayn / bot for to tary were full loth. Line 367

Primus Tortor

Nay, nay! thou shall full soyn be sped,; Line 368 lo here a lad, that must be led, Line 369 ffor his yll dedys to dy, Line 370 And he is bressed and all for bled, Line 371 That makys vs here thus stratly sted; Line 372 we pray the, sir, for-thi, Line 373 That thou will take this tre / bere it to caluary. Line 374

Symon

Good sirs, that may not be / ffor full greatt haste haue I, Line 375 No longere may I hoyn. Line 376

Secundus Tortor

In fayth thou shall not go so soyn Line 377 ffor noght that thou can say Line 378 This dede must nedys be done, Line 379 And this carll be dede or noyn, Line 380 And now is nere myd day; Line 381 And therfor help vs at this nede / and make vs here no more delay. Line 382

Symon

I pray you do youre dede / and let me go my way; Line 383 And I shall com full soyn agane, Line 384 To help this man with all my mayn, Line 385 At youre awne wyll. Line 386

Tercius Tortor

what and wold, thou trus with sich a trane? Line 387 Nay fatur, thou shall be full fayn, Line 388 This forward to fulfyll; Line 389 Or, by the myght of mahowne! / thou shall lyke it full yll. Line 390

Primus Tortor

Tytt, let dyng this dastard downe / bot he lay hand ther tyll. Line 391

Symon

Certys, that were vnwysely wroght, Line 392 To beytt me bot if I trespast oght Line 393 Aythere in worde or dede. Line 394

Secundus Tortor

Apon thi bak it shall be broght, Line 395 Thou berys it wheder thou will or noght! Line 396 Dewyll! whom shuld we drede? Line 397 And therfor take it here belyfe / And bere it furth, good spede. Line 398

Symon

It helpys not here to strife / bere it behoues me nede; Line 399 And therfor, syrs, as ye haue sayde, Line 400 To help this man I am well payde, Line 401 As ye wold that it were. Line 402

Tercius Tortor

A, ha! now ar we right arayde, Line 403 bot loke oure gere be redy grade, Line 404 To wyrk when we com there. Line 405

Primus Tortor

I warand all redy / oure toyles both moore and les, Line 406 And sir symon truly / gose on before with cros. Line 407

Tercius Tortor

Now by mahowne, oure heuen kyng, Line 408 I wold that we were in that stede Line 409 where we myght hym on cros bryng. Line 410 Step on before, and furth hym lede Line 411 A trace. Line 412

Primus Tortor

Com on thou! Line 413

Secundus Tortor

Put on thou! Line 414

Tercius Tortor

I com fast after you, Line 415 And folowse on the chace. Line 416