The Towneley plays

The Resurrection of the Lord

Pilate

                     Peasse, I warne you, woldys in wytt!
                    Line 1 
                  
                    And standys on syde or els go sytt,
                    Line 2 
                  
                    ffor here ar men that go not yit,
                    Line 3 
                  
                    And lordys of me[kill] myght;
                    Line 4 
                  
                    We thynk to abyde, and not to flytt,
                    Line 5 
                  
                    I tell you euery wight.
                    Line 6 
                  
                    Spare youre spech, ye brodels bold,,
                    Line 7 
                  
                    And sesse youre cry till I haue told,
                    Line 8 
                  
                    What that my worship wold,,
                    Line 9 
                  
                    here in thise wonys;
                    Line 10 
                  
                    whoso that wyghtly nold,
                    Line 11 
                  
                    ffull hy bese hanged his bonys.
                    Line 12 
                  
                    wote ye not that I am pilate,
                    Line 13 
                  
                    That satt apon the Iustyce late,
                    Line 14 
                  
                    At caluarie where I was att
                    Line 15 
                  
                    This day at morne?
                    Line 16 
                  
                    I am he, that great state,
                    Line 17 
                  
                    That lad has all to-torne.
                    Line 18 
                  
                    Now sen that lothly losell is thus ded,
                    Line 19 
                  
                    I haue great ioy in my manhede,
                    Line 20 
                  
                    Therfor wold, I in ilk sted,
                    Line 21 
                  
                    It were tayn hede,
                    Line 22 
                  
                    If any felowse felow his red,
                    Line 23 
                  
                    Or more his law wold lede. 
                    Line 24 
                  

Page 307

                  
                    Line 24 
                  
                    ffor and I knew it, cruelly
                    Line 25 
                  
                    his lyfe bees lost, and that shortly,
                    Line 26 
                  
                    that he were better hyng ful hy
                    Line 27 
                  
                    On galow tre;
                    Line 28 
                  
                    Therfor ye prelatys shuld, aspy
                    Line 29 
                  
                    If any sich be.
                    Line 30 
                  
                    As I am man of myghtys most,
                    Line 31 
                  
                    If ther be any that blow sich bost,
                    Line 32 
                  
                    with tormentys keyn bese he indost
                    Line 33 
                  
                    ffor euermore;
                    Line 34 
                  
                    The devill to hell shall harry hys goost,
                    Line 35 
                  
                    Bot I say nomore.
                    Line 36

Caiaphas

                     Sir, ye thar nothyng be dredand,
                    Line 37 
                  
                    ffor centurio, I vnderstand,
                    Line 38 
                  
                    youre knyght is left abydand
                    Line 39 
                  
                    Right ther behynde;
                    Line 40 
                  
                    We left hym ther, for man most wyse,
                    Line 41 
                  
                    If any rybaldys wold oght ryse,
                    Line 42 
                  
                    To sesse theym to the next assyse,
                    Line 43 
                  
                    And then forto make ende.
                    Line 44 
                  

Centurion

                     A, blyssyd lord adonay,
                    Line 45 
                  
                    what may this meruell sygnyfy
                    Line 46 
                  
                    That here was shewyd so openly
                    Line 47 
                  
                    vnto oure sight,
                    Line 48 
                  
                    When the rightwys man can dy
                    Line 49 
                  
                    that ihesus hight?
                    Line 50 
                  
                    heuen it shoke abone,
                    Line 51 
                  
                    Of shynyng blan both son and moyne,
                    Line 52 
                  
                    And dede men also rose vp sone,
                    Line 53 
                  
                    Outt of thare grafe;
                    Line 54 
                  
                    And stones in wall anone
                    Line 55 
                  
                    In sonder brast and clafe. 
                    Line 56 
                  

Page 308

                  
                    Line 56 
                  
                    Ther was seen many a full sodan sight,
                    Line 57 
                  
                    Oure prynces, for sothe, dyd nothyng right,
                    Line 58 
                  
                    And so I saide to theym on hight,
                    Line 59 
                  
                    As it is trew,
                    Line 60 
                  
                    That he was most of myght,
                    Line 61 
                  
                    The son of god, ihesu.
                    Line 62 
                  
                    ffowlys in the ayer and fish in floode,
                    Line 63 
                  
                    That day changid thare mode,
                    Line 64 
                  
                    when that he was rent on rode,
                    Line 65 
                  
                    That lord veray;
                    Line 66 
                  
                    ffull well thay vnderstode
                    Line 67 
                  
                    That he was slayn that day.
                    Line 68 
                  
                    Therfor right as I meyn / to theym fast will I ryde,
                    Line 69 
                  
                    To wyt withoutten weyn / what they will say this tyde
                    Line 70 
                  
                    Of this enfray;
                    Line 71 
                  
                    I will no longer abyde
                    Line 72 
                  
                    bot fast ride on my way.
                    Line 73 
                  
                    God saue you, syrs, on euery syde!
                    Line 74 
                  
                    Worship and welth in warld so wyde!
                    Line 75

Pilate

Centurio, welcom this tyde, 76 Oure comly knyght! 77

Centurion

God graunt you grace well forto gyde, 78 And rewll you right. 79

Pilate

Centurio, welcom, draw nere hand! 80 Tell vs son tythyngys here emang, 81 ffor ye haue gone thrughoutt oure land, 82 ye know ilk dele. 83

Centurion

Sir, I drede me ye haue done wrang 84 And wonder yll. 85

Caiaphas

wonder yll? I pray the why? 86 declare that to this company. 87

Centurion

So shall I, sir, full securly, 88 with all my mayn; 89 The rightwys man, I meyn, hym by 90 that ye haue slayn. 91

Page 309

Pilate

                     Centurio, sese of sich saw;
                    Line 92 
                  
                    ye ar a greatt man of oure law,
                    Line 93 
                  
                    And if we shuld any wytnes draw,
                    Line 94 
                  
                    To vs excuse,
                    Line 95 
                  
                    To mayntene vs euermore ye aw,
                    Line 96 
                  
                    And noght refuse.
                    Line 97 
                  

Centurion

                     To mayntene trowth is well worthy;
                    Line 98 
                  
                    I saide when I sagh hym dy,
                    Line 99 
                  
                    That it was godys son almyghty,
                    Line 100 
                  
                    That hang thore;
                    Line 101 
                  
                    So say I yit and abydys therby,
                    Line 102 
                  
                    ffor euermore.
                    Line 103 
                  

Anna

yee, sir, sich resons may ye rew, 104 Thou shuld not neuen sich notes new, 105 Bot thou couth any tokyns trew, 106 vntill vs tell. 107

Centurion

Sich wonderfull case neuer ere ye knew 108 As then befell. 109

Caiaphas

we pray the tell vs, of what thyng? 110

Centurion

                     Of elymentys, both old, and ying,
                    Line 111 
                  
                    In thare manere maide greatt mowrnyng,
                    Line 112 
                  
                    In ilka stede;
                    Line 113 
                  
                    Thay knew by contenaunce that thare kyng
                    Line 114 
                  
                    was done to dede.
                    Line 115 
                  
                    The son for wo it waxed all wan,
                    Line 116 
                  
                    The moyn and starnes of shynyng blan,
                    Line 117 
                  
                    And erth it tremlyd as a man
                    Line 118 
                  
                    Began to speke;
                    Line 119 
                  
                    The stone, that neuer was styrryd or than,
                    Line 120 
                  
                    In sonder brast and breke;
                    Line 121 
                  
                    And dede men rose vp bodely, both greatt and small.
                    Line 122 
                  

Pilate

Centurio, bewar with all! 123 ye wote the clerkys the clyppys it call 124

Page 310

                  
                    Line 124 
                  
                    Sich sodan sight;
                    Line 125 
                  
                    That son and moyne a seson shall
                    Line 126 
                  
                    lak of thare light.
                    Line 127

Caiaphas

Sir, and if that dede men ryse vp bodely, 128 That may be done thrugh socery, 129 Therfor nothyng we sett therby, 130 that be thou bast. 131

Centurion

                     Sir, that I saw truly,
                    Line 132 
                  
                    That shall I euermore trast.
                    Line 133 
                  
                    Not for that ilk warke that ye dyd wyrke,
                    Line 134 
                  
                    Not oonly for the son wex myrke,
                    Line 135 
                  
                    Bot how the vayll rofe in the kyrke,
                    Line 136 
                  
                    ffayn wyt I wold.
                    Line 137 
                  

Pilate

                     A, sich tayles full sone wold make vs yrke,
                    Line 138 
                  
                    if thay were told.
                    Line 139 
                  
                    harlot! wherto commys thou vs emang
                    Line 140 
                  
                    with sich lesyngys vs to fang?
                    Line 141 
                  
                    Weynd furth! hy myght thou hang,
                    Line 142 
                  
                    Vyle fatur!
                    Line 143 
                  

Caiaphas

Weynd furth in the Wenyande, 144 And hold styll thy clattur. 145

Centurion

Sirs, sen ye set not by my saw, / haues now good day! 146 God lene you grace to knaw / the sothe all way. 147

Anna

with draw the fast, sen thou the dredys, 148 ffor we shall well mayntene oure dedys. 149

Pilate

Sich wonderfull resons as now redys 150 were neuer beforne, 151

Caiaphas

                     To neuen this note nomore vs nedys,
                    Line 152 
                  
                    nawder euen nor morne,
                    Line 153 
                  
                    Bot forto be war of more were
                    Line 154 
                  
                    That afterward myght do vs dere,
                    Line 155 
                  
                    Therfor, sir, whils ye ar here 
                    Line 156 
                  

Page 311

                  
                    Line 156 
                  
                    vs all emang,
                    Line 157 
                  
                    Avyse you of thise sawes sere
                    Line 158 
                  
                    how thay will stand.
                    Line 159 
                  
                    ffor ihesus saide full openly
                    Line 160 
                  
                    Vnto the men that yode hym by,
                    Line 161 
                  
                    A thyng that grevys all Iury,
                    Line 162 
                  
                    And right so may,
                    Line 163 
                  
                    That he shuld, ryse vp bodely
                    Line 164 
                  
                    within the thryde day.
                    Line 165 
                  
                    If it be so, as myght I spede,
                    Line 166 
                  
                    The latter dede is more to drede
                    Line 167 
                  
                    Then was the fyrst, if we take hede
                    Line 168 
                  
                    And tend therto;
                    Line 169 
                  
                    Avyse you, sir, for it is nede,
                    Line 170 
                  
                    the best to do.
                    Line 171

Anna

                     Sir, neuer the les if he saide so,
                    Line 172 
                  
                    he hase no myght to ryse and go,
                    Line 173 
                  
                    Bot his dyscypyls steyll his cors vs fro
                    Line 174 
                  
                    And bere away;
                    Line 175 
                  
                    That were till vs, and othere mo,
                    Line 176 
                  
                    A fowll enfray.
                    Line 177 
                  
                    Then wold the pepyll say euerilkon
                    Line 178 
                  
                    That he were rysen hym self alon,
                    Line 179 
                  
                    Therfor ordan to kepe that stone
                    Line 180 
                  
                    with knyghtys heynd,
                    Line 181 
                  
                    To thise thre dayes be commen and gone
                    Line 182 
                  
                    And broght till ende.
                    Line 183 
                  

Pilate

                     Now, certys sir, full well ye say,
                    Line 184 
                  
                    And for this ilk poynt to puruay
                    Line 185 
                  
                    I shall, if that I may;
                    Line 186 
                  
                    he shall not ryse,
                    Line 187 
                  
                    Nor none shall wyn hym thens away
                    Line 188 
                  
                    of nokyns wyse. 
                    Line 189 
                  

Page 312

                  
                    Line 189 
                  
                    Sir knyghtys, that ar of dedys dughty,
                    Line 190 
                  
                    And chosen for chefe of cheualry,
                    Line 191 
                  
                    As I may me in you affy,
                    Line 192 
                  
                    By day and nyght,
                    Line 193 
                  
                    ye go and kepe ihesu body
                    Line 194 
                  
                    with all youre myght;
                    Line 195 
                  
                    And for thyng that be may,
                    Line 196 
                  
                    kepe hym well vnto the thryd day,
                    Line 197 
                  
                    That no tratur steyll his cors you fray,
                    Line 198 
                  
                    Out of that sted;
                    Line 199 
                  
                    ffor if ther do, truly I say,
                    Line 200 
                  
                    ye shall be dede.
                    Line 201

Primus Miles

                     yis, sir pilate, in certan,
                    Line 202 
                  
                    we shall hym kepe with all oure mayn;
                    Line 203 
                  
                    Ther shall no tratur with no trayn
                    Line 204 
                  
                    Steyll hym vs fro;
                    Line 205 
                  
                    Sir knyghtys, take gere that best may gayn,
                    Line 206 
                  
                    And let vs go.
                    Line 207 
                  

Secundus Miles

                     yis, certys, we are all redy bowne,
                    Line 208 
                  
                    we shall hym kepe till youre renowne;
                    Line 209 
                  
                    On euery syde lett vs sytt downe,
                    Line 210 
                  
                    we all in fere;
                    Line 211 
                  
                    And I shall fownde to crak his crowne
                    Line 212 
                  
                    whoso commys here.
                    Line 213 
                  

Primus Miles

who shuld be where, fayn wold I wytt. 214

Secundus Miles

Euen on this syde wyll I sytt. 215

Tercius Miles

And I shall fownde his feete to flytt. 216

Quartus Miles

                     we ther shrew ther!
                    Line 217 
                  
                    Now by mahowne, fayn wold I wytt
                    Line 218 
                  
                    who durst com here
                    Line 219 
                  
                    This cors with treson forto take,
                    Line 220 
                  
                    ffor if it were the burnand drake
                    Line 221 
                  
                    Of me styfly he gatt a strake, 
                    Line 222 
                  

Page 313

                  
                    Line 222 
                  
                    haue here my hand;
                    Line 223 
                  
                    To thise thre dayes be past,
                    Line 224 
                  
                    This cors I dar warand.
                    Line 225

Jesus

                     Erthly man, that I haue wroght,
                    Line 226 
                  
                    wightly wake, and slepe thou noght!
                    Line 227 
                  
                    with bytter bayll I haue the boght,
                    Line 228 
                  
                    To make the fre;
                    Line 229 
                  
                    Into this dongeon depe I soght
                    Line 230 
                  
                    And all for luf of the.
                    Line 231 
                  
                    Behold how dere I wold the by!
                    Line 232 
                  
                    My woundys ar weytt and all blody;
                    Line 233 
                  
                    The, synfull man, full dere boght I
                    Line 234 
                  
                    With tray and teyn;
                    Line 235 
                  
                    Thou fyle the noght eft for-thy,
                    Line 236 
                  
                    Now art thou cleyn.
                    Line 237 
                  
                    Clene haue I mayde the, synfull man,
                    Line 238 
                  
                    With wo and wandreth I the wan,
                    Line 239 
                  
                    ffrom harte and syde the blood out ran,
                    Line 240 
                  
                    Sich was my pyne;
                    Line 241 
                  
                    Thou must me luf that thus gaf than
                    Line 242 
                  
                    My lyfe for thyne.
                    Line 243 
                  
                    Thou synfull man that by me gase,
                    Line 244 
                  
                    Tytt vnto me thou turne thi face;
                    Line 245 
                  
                    Behold, my body, in ilka place
                    Line 246 
                  
                    how it was dight;
                    Line 247 
                  
                    All to-rent and all to-shentt,
                    Line 248 
                  
                    Man, for thy plight.
                    Line 249 
                  
                    With cordes enewe and ropys toghe
                    Line 250 
                  
                    The Iues fell my lymmes out-drogh,
                    Line 251 
                  
                    ffor that I was not mete enoghe
                    Line 252 
                  
                    vnto the bore;
                    Line 253 
                  
                    with hard stowndys thise depe woundys
                    Line 254 
                  
                    Tholyd I thefore. 
                    Line 255 
                  

Page 314

                  
                    Line 255 
                  
                    A crowne of thorne, that is so kene,
                    Line 256 
                  
                    Thay set apon my hede for tene,
                    Line 257 
                  
                    Two thefys hang thai me betwene,
                    Line 258 
                  
                    All for dyspyte;
                    Line 259 
                  
                    This payn ilk dele thou shall wyt wele,
                    Line 260 
                  
                    May I the wyte.
                    Line 261 
                  
                    Behald my shankes and my knees,
                    Line 262 
                  
                    Myn armes and my thees;
                    Line 263 
                  
                    Behold me well, looke what thou sees,
                    Line 264 
                  
                    Bot sorow and pyne;
                    Line 265 
                  
                    Thus was I spylt, man, for thi gylt,
                    Line 266 
                  
                    And not for myne.
                    Line 267 
                  
                    And yit more vnderstand thou shall;
                    Line 268 
                  
                    In stede of drynk thay gaf me gall,
                    Line 269 
                  
                    Asell thay menged it withall,
                    Line 270 
                  
                    The Iues fell;
                    Line 271 
                  
                    The payn I haue, tholyd I to saue
                    Line 272 
                  
                    Mans saull from hell.
                    Line 273 
                  
                    Behold, my body how Iues it dang
                    Line 274 
                  
                    with knottys of whyppys and scorges strang;
                    Line 275 
                  
                    As stremes of well the bloode out sprang
                    Line 276 
                  
                    On euery syde;
                    Line 277 
                  
                    knottes where thay hyt, well may thou wytt,
                    Line 278 
                  
                    Maide woundys wyde.
                    Line 279 
                  
                    And therfor thou shall vnderstand
                    Line 280 
                  
                    In body, heed, feete, and hand,
                    Line 281 
                  
                    ffour hundreth woundys and fyue thowsand
                    Line 282 
                  
                    here may thou se;
                    Line 283 
                  
                    And therto neyn were delt full euen
                    Line 284 
                  
                    ffor luf of the.
                    Line 285 
                  
                    Behold, on me noght els is lefte,
                    Line 286 
                  
                    And or that thou were fro me refte,
                    Line 287 
                  
                    All thise paynes wold I thole efte 
                    Line 288

Page 315

                  
                    Line 288 
                  
                    And for the dy;
                    Line 289 
                  
                    here may thou se that I luf the,
                    Line 290 
                  
                    Man, faythfully.
                    Line 291 
                  
                    Sen I for luf, man, boght the dere,
                    Line 292 
                  
                    As thou thi self the sothe sees here,
                    Line 293 
                  
                    I pray the hartely, with good chere,
                    Line 294 
                  
                    luf me agane;
                    Line 295 
                  
                    That it lyked me that I for the
                    Line 296 
                  
                    tholyd all this payn.
                    Line 297 
                  
                    If thou thy lyfe in syn haue led,
                    Line 298 
                  
                    Mercy to ask be not adred;
                    Line 299 
                  
                    The leste drope I for the bled
                    Line 300 
                  
                    Myght clens the soyn,
                    Line 301 
                  
                    All the syn the warld with in
                    Line 302 
                  
                    If thou had done.
                    Line 303 
                  
                    I was well wrother with Iudas
                    Line 304 
                  
                    ffor that he wold not ask me no grace,
                    Line 305 
                  
                    Then I was for his trespas
                    Line 306 
                  
                    That he me sold;
                    Line 307 
                  
                    I was redy to shew mercy,
                    Line 308 
                  
                    Aske none he wold,.
                    Line 309 
                  
                    lo how I hold myn armes on brede,
                    Line 310 
                  
                    The to saue ay redy mayde;
                    Line 311 
                  
                    That I great luf ay to the had,
                    Line 312 
                  
                    well may thou knaw!
                    Line 313 
                  
                    Som luf agane I wold, full fayn
                    Line 314 
                  
                    Thou wold me shaw.
                    Line 315 
                  
                    Bot luf noght els aske I of the,
                    Line 316 
                  
                    And that thou fownde fast syn to fle;
                    Line 317 
                  
                    pyne the to lyf in charyte
                    Line 318 
                  
                    Both nyght and day;
                    Line 319 
                  
                    Then in my blys that neuer shall mys
                    Line 320 
                  
                    Thou shall dwell ay. 
                    Line 321

Page 316

                  
                    Line 321 
                  
                    ffor I am veray prynce of peasse,
                    Line 322 
                  
                    And synnes seyr I may releasse,
                    Line 323 
                  
                    And whoso will of synnes seasse
                    Line 324 
                  
                    And mercy cry,
                    Line 325 
                  
                    I grauntt theym here a measse
                    Line 326 
                  
                    In brede, myn awne body.
                    Line 327 
                  
                    [That ilk veray brede of lyfe
                    Line 328 
                  
                    Becommys my fleshe in wordys fyfe;
                    Line 329 
                  
                    who so it resaues in syn or stryfe
                    Line 330 
                  
                    Bese dede for euer;
                    Line 331 
                  
                    And whoso it takys in rightwys lyfe
                    Line 332 
                  
                    Dy shall he neuer.]
                    Line 333

Maria Magdalene

                     Alas! to dy with doyll am I dyght!
                    Line 334 
                  
                    In warld was neuer a wofuller wight,
                    Line 335 
                  
                    I drope, I dare, for seyng of sight
                    Line 336 
                  
                    That I can se;
                    Line 337 
                  
                    My lord, that mekill was of myght,
                    Line 338 
                  
                    Is ded, fro me.
                    Line 339 
                  
                    Alas! that I shuld se hys pyne,
                    Line 340 
                  
                    Or that I shuld, his lyfe tyne,
                    Line 341 
                  
                    ffor to ich sore he was medecyne
                    Line 342 
                  
                    And boytte of all;
                    Line 343 
                  
                    help and hold, to euer ilk hyne
                    Line 344 
                  
                    To hym wold call.
                    Line 345 
                  

Maria Jacobi

                     Alas! how stand I on my feete
                    Line 346 
                  
                    when I thynk on his woundys wete!
                    Line 347 
                  
                    Ihesus, that was on luf so swete,
                    Line 348 
                  
                    And neuer dyd yll,
                    Line 349 
                  
                    Is dede and grafen vnder the grete,
                    Line 350 
                  
                    withoutten skyll.
                    Line 351 
                  

Maria Salome

withoutten skyll thise Iues ilkon 352 That lufly lord thay haue hym slone, 353 And trespas dyd he neuer none, 354

Page 317

                  
                    Line 354 
                  
                    In nokyn sted,;
                    Line 355 
                  
                    To whom shall we now make oure mone?
                    Line 356 
                  
                    Oure lord is ded.
                    Line 357

Maria Magdalene

                     Sen he is ded, my systers dere,
                    Line 358 
                  
                    weynd we will with full good chere.
                    Line 359 
                  
                    with oure anoyntmentys fare and clere
                    Line 360 
                  
                    That we haue broght,
                    Line 361 
                  
                    ffor to anoyntt his woundys sere,
                    Line 362 
                  
                    That Iues hym wroght.
                    Line 363 
                  

Maria Jacobus

                     Go we then, my systers fre,
                    Line 364 
                  
                    ffor sore me longis his cors to see,
                    Line 365 
                  
                    Bot I wote neuer how best may be;
                    Line 366 
                  
                    help haue we none,
                    Line 367 
                  
                    And which shall of vs systers thre
                    Line 368 
                  
                    remefe the stone?
                    Line 369 
                  

Maria Salome

That do we not bot we were mo, 370 ffor it is hogh and heuy also. 371

Maria Magdalene

Systers, we thar no farther go 372 Ne make mowrnyng; 373 I se two syt where we weynd to, 374 In whyte clothyng. 375

Maria Jacobi

Certys, the sothe is not to hyde, 376 The graue stone is put besyde. 377

Maria Salome

Certys, for thyng that may betyde, 378 Now will we weynde 379 To late the luf, and with hym byde, 380 that was oure freynde. 381

Primus Angelus

ye mowrnyng women in youre thoght, 382 here in this place whome haue ye soght? 383

Maria Magdalene

Ihesu that vnto ded was broght, 384 Oure lord so fre. 385

Secundus angelus

Certys, women, here is he noght; 386 Com nere and se. 387

Page 318

Primus Angelus

                     he is not here, the sothe to say,
                    Line 388 
                  
                    The place is voyde ther in he lay;
                    Line 389 
                  
                    The sudary here se ye may
                    Line 390 
                  
                    was on hym layde;
                    Line 391 
                  
                    he is rysen and gone his way,
                    Line 392 
                  
                    As he you sayde.
                    Line 393 
                  

Secundus angelus

                     Euen as he saide so done has he,
                    Line 394 
                  
                    he is rysen thrugh his pauste;
                    Line 395 
                  
                    he shalbe fon in galale,
                    Line 396 
                  
                    In fleshe and fell;
                    Line 397 
                  
                    To his dyscypyls now weynd ye,
                    Line 398 
                  
                    And thus thaym tell.
                    Line 399 
                  

Maria Magdalene

                     My systers fre, sen it is so,
                    Line 400 
                  
                    That he is resyn the deth thus fro,
                    Line 401 
                  
                    As saide till vs thise angels two,
                    Line 402 
                  
                    Oure lord and leche,
                    Line 403 
                  
                    As ye haue hard, where that ye go
                    Line 404 
                  
                    Loke that ye preche.
                    Line 405 
                  

Maria Jacobi

As we haue hard so shall we say; 406 Mare, oure syster, haue good day! 407

Maria Magdalene

                     Now veray god, as he well may,
                    Line 408 
                  
                    Man most of myght,
                    Line 409 
                  
                    he wysh you, systers, well in youre way,
                    Line 410 
                  
                    And rewle you right.
                    Line 411 
                  
                    Alas, what shall now worth on me?
                    Line 412 
                  
                    My catyf hart wyll breke in thre
                    Line 413 
                  
                    when that I thynk on that ilk bodye
                    Line 414 
                  
                    how it was spylt;
                    Line 415 
                  
                    Thrugh feete and handys nalyd was he
                    Line 416 
                  
                    Withoutten gylt.
                    Line 417 
                  
                    withoutten gylt then was he tayn,
                    Line 418 
                  
                    That lufly lord, thay haue hym slayn,
                    Line 419 
                  
                    And tryspas dyd he neuer nane, 
                    Line 420 
                  

Page 319

                  
                    Line 420 
                  
                    Ne yit no mys
                    Line 421 
                  
                    It was my gylt he was fortayn,
                    Line 422 
                  
                    And nothing his.
                    Line 423 
                  
                    how myght I, bot I lufyd that swete
                    Line 424 
                  
                    That for me suffred woundys wete,
                    Line 425 
                  
                    Sythen to be grafen vnder the grete,
                    Line 426 
                  
                    Sich kyndnes kythe;
                    Line 427 
                  
                    Ther is nothyng till that we mete
                    Line 428 
                  
                    may make me blythe.
                    Line 429

Primus Miles

Outt, alas! what shall I say? 430 where is the cors that here in lay? 431

Secundus Miles

what alys the man? he is away 432 That we shuld tent! 433

Primus Miles

Ryse vp and se. 434

Secundus Miles

harrow! thefe! for ay I cownte vs shent! 435

Tercius Miles

what devyll alys you two 436 sich nose and cry thus forto may? 437

Secundus Miles

ffor he is gone. 438

Tercius Miles

Alas, wha? 439

Secundus Miles

he that here lay. 440

Tercius Miles

harrow! devill! how swa gat he away? 441

Quartus Miles

                     what, is he thus-gatys from vs went,
                    Line 442 
                  
                    The fals tratur that here was lentt,
                    Line 443 
                  
                    That we truly to tent
                    Line 444 
                  
                    had vndertane?
                    Line 445 
                  
                    Certanly I tell vs shent
                    Line 446 
                  
                    holly ilkane.
                    Line 447 
                  

Primus Miles

Alas, what shall I do this day 448 Sen this tratur is won away? 449 And safely, syrs, I dar well say 450 he rose alon. 451

Secundus Miles

wytt sir pilate of this enfray 452 we mon be slone. 453

Page 320

Quartus Miles

wote ye well he rose in dede? 454

Secundus Miles

I sagh myself when that he yede. 455

Primus Miles

when that he styrryd out of the steed 456 None couth it ken. 457

Quartus Miles

Alas, hard hap was on my hede 458 emang all men. 459

Tercius Miles

ye, bot wyt sir pilate of this dede, 460 That we were slepand when he yede, 461 we mon forfett, withoutten drede, 462 All that we haue. 463

Quartus Miles

we must make lees, for that is nede, 464 Oure self to saue. 465

Primus Miles

That red I well, so myght I go. 466

Secundus Miles

And I assent therto also. 467

Tercius Miles

A thowsand shall I assay, and mo, 468 well armed ilkon, 469 Com and toke his cors vs fro, 470 had vs here slone. 471

Quartus Miles

                     Nay, certys, I hold ther none so good
                    Line 472 
                  
                    As say the sothe right as it stude,
                    Line 473 
                  
                    how that he rose with mayn and mode,
                    Line 474 
                  
                    And went his way;
                    Line 475 
                  
                    To sir pilate, if he be wode,
                    Line 476 
                  
                    Thus dar I say.
                    Line 477 
                  

Primus Miles

why, and dar thou to sir pilate go 478 with thise tythyngys, and tell hym so? 479

Secundus Miles

So red I that we do also, 480 we dy bot oones. 481

Tercius Miles

Now he that wroght vs all this wo 482 wo worth his bones! 483

Quartus Miles

Go we sam, sir knyghtys heynd,, 484 Sen we shall to sir pilate weynd, 485 I trow that we shall parte no freynd, 486

Page 321

486 Or that we pas. 487

Primus Miles

                     Now and I shall tell ilka word till ende,
                    Line 488 
                  
                    right as it was.
                    Line 489 
                  
                    Sir pilate, prynce withoutten peyr,
                    Line 490 
                  
                    Sir Cayphas and Anna both in fere,
                    Line 491 
                  
                    And all the lordys aboute you there,
                    Line 492 
                  
                    To neuen by name;
                    Line 493 
                  
                    Mahowne you saue on sydys sere
                    Line 494 
                  
                    ffro syn and shame.
                    Line 495 
                  

Pilate

ye ar welcom, oure knyghtys so keyn, 496 A mekill myrth now may we meyn, 497 Bot tell vs som talkyng vs betwene, 498 How ye haue wroght. 499

Primus Miles

Oure walkyng, lord, withoutten wene, 500 Is worth to noght. 501

Caiaphas

To noght? alas, seasse of sich saw. 502

Secundus Miles

The prophete ihesu, that ye well knaw, 503 Is rysen, and went fro vs on raw, 504 with mayn and myght. 505

Pilate

Therfor the devill the all to-draw, 506 vyle recrayd knyght! 507 what! combred cowardys I you call! 508 lett ye hym pas fro you all? 509

Tercius Miles

Sir, ther was none that durst do bot small 510 when that he yede. 511

Quartus Miles

we were so ferde we can d,owne fall, 512 And qwoke for drede. 513

Primus Miles

we were so rad, euerilkon, 514 when that he put besyde the stone, 515 we quoke for ferd, and durst styr none, 516 And sore we were abast. 517

Pilate

whi, bot rose he bi hym self alone? 518

Secundus Miles

ye, lord, that be ye trast, 519

Page 322

                  
                    Line 519 
                  
                    we hard neuer on euyn ne morne,
                    Line 520 
                  
                    Nor yit oure faders vs beforne,
                    Line 521 
                  
                    Sich melody, myd-day ne morne,
                    Line 522 
                  
                    As was maide thore.
                    Line 523

Pilate

                     Alas, then ar oure lawes forlorne
                    Line 524 
                  
                    ffor euer more!
                    Line 525 
                  
                    A, devill! what shall now worth of this?
                    Line 526 
                  
                    This warld farys with quantys;
                    Line 527 
                  
                    I pray you, Cayphas, ye vs wys
                    Line 528 
                  
                    Of this enfray.
                    Line 529 
                  

Caiaphas

Sir, and I couth oght by my clergys, 530 ffayn wold I say. 531

Anna

                     To say the best for sothe I shall;
                    Line 532 
                  
                    It shalbe profett for vs all,
                    Line 533 
                  
                    yond knyghtys behovys thare wordys agane call,
                    Line 534 
                  
                    how he is myst;
                    Line 535 
                  
                    we wold not, for thyng that myght befall,
                    Line 536 
                  
                    That no man wyst:
                    Line 537 
                  
                    And therfor of youre curtessie
                    Line 538 
                  
                    Gyf theym a rewarde for-thy.
                    Line 539 
                  

Pilate

                     Of this counsell well paide am I,
                    Line 540 
                  
                    It shalbe thus.
                    Line 541 
                  
                    Sir knyghtys, that ar of dedys doghty,
                    Line 542 
                  
                    Take tent till vs;
                    Line 543 
                  
                    herkyns now how ye shall say,
                    Line 544 
                  
                    where so ye go by nyght or day;
                    Line 545 
                  
                    Ten thowsand men of good aray
                    Line 546 
                  
                    Cam you vntill,
                    Line 547 
                  
                    And thefyshly toke his cors you fray
                    Line 548 
                  
                    Agans youre will.
                    Line 549 
                  
                    loke ye say thus in euery land,
                    Line 550 
                  
                    And therto on this couande
                    Line 551 
                  
                    Ten thowsand pounds haue in youre hande 
                    Line 552 
                  

Page 323

                  
                    Line 552 
                  
                    To youre rewarde;
                    Line 553 
                  
                    And my frenship, I vnderstande,
                    Line 554 
                  
                    Shall not be sparde;
                    Line 555 
                  
                    Bot loke ye say as we haue kende.
                    Line 556

Primus Miles

                     yis, sir, as mahowne me mende,
                    Line 557 
                  
                    In ilk contree where so we lende
                    Line 558 
                  
                    By nyght or day,
                    Line 559 
                  
                    where so we go, where so we weynd,
                    Line 560 
                  
                    Thus shall we say.
                    Line 561 
                  

Pilate

The blyssyng of mahowne be with you nyght and day! 562

Maria Magdalene

                     Say me, garthymere, I the pray,
                    Line 563 
                  
                    If thou bare oght my lord away;
                    Line 564 
                  
                    Tell me the sothe, say me not nay,
                    Line 565 
                  
                    where that he lyys,
                    Line 566 
                  
                    And I shall remeue hym if I may,
                    Line 567 
                  
                    On any kyn wyse.
                    Line 568 
                  

Jesus

woman, why wepys thou? be styll! 569 whome sekys thou? say me thy wyll, 570 And nyk me not with nay. 571

Maria Magdalene

                     ffor my lord I lyke full yll;
                    Line 572 
                  
                    The stede thou bare his body tyll
                    Line 573 
                  
                    Tell me I the pray;
                    Line 574 
                  
                    And I shall if I may / his body bere with me,
                    Line 575 
                  
                    Vnto myn endyng day / the better shuld I be.
                    Line 576 
                  

Jesus

woman, woman, turn thi thoght! 577 wyt thou well I hyd hym noght, 578 Then bare hym nawre with me; 579 Go seke, loke if thou fynde hym oght. 580

Maria Magdalene

In fayth I haue hym soght, 581 Bot nawre he will fond, be. 582

Jesus

why, what was he to the / In sothfastnes to say? 583

Maria Magdalene

A! he was to me / no longer dwell I may. 584

Jesus

Mary, thou sekys thy god, and that am I. 585

Page 324

Maria Magdalene

                     Rabony, my lord so dere!
                    Line 586 
                  
                    Now am I hole that thou art here,
                    Line 587 
                  
                    Suffer me to negh the nere,
                    Line 588 
                  
                    And kys thi feete;
                    Line 589 
                  
                    Myght I do so, so well me were,
                    Line 590 
                  
                    ffor thou art swete.
                    Line 591 
                  

Jesus

                     Nay, mary, neghe thou not me,
                    Line 592 
                  
                    ffor to my fader, tell I the,
                    Line 593 
                  
                    yit stevynd I noght;
                    Line 594 
                  
                    Tell my brethere I shall be
                    Line 595 
                  
                    Before theym all in trynyte
                    Line 596 
                  
                    whose will that I haue wroght.
                    Line 597 
                  
                    To peasse now ar thay boght / that prysond, were in pyne,
                    Line 598 
                  
                    wherfor thou thank in thoght / god, thi lord and myne
                    Line 599 
                  
                    Mary thou shall weynde me fro,
                    Line 600 
                  
                    Myn erand shall thou grathly go,
                    Line 601 
                  
                    In no fowndyng thou fall;
                    Line 602 
                  
                    To my dyscypyls say thou so,
                    Line 603 
                  
                    That wilsom ar and lappyd in wo,
                    Line 604 
                  
                    That I thaym socoure shall.
                    Line 605 
                  
                    By name peter thou call / and say that I shall be
                    Line 606 
                  
                    Before hym and theym all / my self in galyle.
                    Line 607 
                  

Maria Magdalene

                     lord, I shall make my vyage
                    Line 608 
                  
                    to tell theym hastely;
                    Line 609 
                  
                    ffro thay here that message
                    Line 610 
                  
                    thay will be all mery.
                    Line 611 
                  
                    This lord was slayn, alas for-thy,
                    Line 612 
                  
                    ffalsly spylt, noman wyst why,
                    Line 613 
                  
                    whore he dyd mys;
                    Line 614 
                  
                    Bot with hym spake I bodely,
                    Line 615 
                  
                    ffor-thi commen is my blys.
                    Line 616 
                  
                    Mi blys is commen, my care is gone,
                    Line 617 
                  
                    That lufly haue I mett alone;
                    Line 618 
                  
                    I am as blyth in bloode and bone 
                    Line 619 
                  

Page 325

                  
                    Line 619 
                  
                    As euer was wight;
                    Line 620 
                  
                    Now is he resyn that ere was slone,
                    Line 621 
                  
                    Mi hart is light.
                    Line 622 
                  
                    I am as light as leyfe on tre,
                    Line 623 
                  
                    ffor ioyfull sight that I can se,
                    Line 624 
                  
                    ffor well I wote that it was he
                    Line 625 
                  
                    My lord ihesu;
                    Line 626 
                  
                    he that betrayde that fre
                    Line 627 
                  
                    sore may he rew.
                    Line 628 
                  
                    To galyle now will I fare,
                    Line 629 
                  
                    And his dyscyples cach from care;
                    Line 630 
                  
                    I wote that thay will mowrne no mare,
                    Line 631 
                  
                    Commyn is thare blys;
                    Line 632 
                  
                    That worthi childe that mary bare
                    Line 633 
                  
                    he amende youre mys.
                    Line 634

About this Item

Pages

The Resurrection of the Lord

Page 307

Page 308

Page 309

Page 310

Page 311

Page 312

Page 313

Page 314

Page 315

Page 316

Page 317

Page 318

Page 319

Page 320

Page 321

Page 322

Page 323

Page 324

Page 325

The Towneley plays

About this Item

Pages

The Resurrection of the Lord

description Page 307

description Page 308

description Page 309

description Page 310

description Page 311

description Page 312

description Page 313

description Page 314

description Page 315

description Page 316

description Page 317

description Page 318

description Page 319

description Page 320

description Page 321

description Page 322

description Page 323

description Page 324

description Page 325

Page 307

Page 308

Page 309

Page 310

Page 311

Page 312

Page 313

Page 314

Page 315

Page 316

Page 317

Page 318

Page 319

Page 320

Page 321

Page 322

Page 323

Page 324

Page 325