The Towneley plays

Thomas of India

Maria Magdalene

Hayll brethere! and god be here! Line 1 I bryng to amende youre chere, Line 2 Trist ye it and knawe; Line 3 he is rysen, the soth to say, Line 4 I met hym goyng bi the way, Line 5 he bad me tell it you. Line 6

Peter

Do way, woman, thou carpys wast! Line 7 It is som spirite, or els som gast; Line 8 Othere was it noght; Line 9

Line 9 we may trow on nokyns wyse Line 10 That ded man may to lyfe ryse; Line 11 This then is oure thoght. Line 12

Paul

It may be sothe for mans mede, Line 13 The Iues maide hym grymly blede Line 14 Thrugh feet, handys, and syde; Line 15 With nayles on rode thay dyd hym hang, Line 16 wherfor, woman, thou says wrang, Line 17 As myght I blys abide. Line 18

Maria Magdalene

Do way youre threpyng! ar ye wode? Line 19 I sagh hym that dyed on roode, Line 20 And with hym spake with mowth; Line 21 Therfor you both, red I, Line 22 putt away your heresy, Line 23 Tryst it stedfast and cowth. Line 24

Peter

Do way, woman! let be thi fare, Line 25 ffor shame and also syn! Line 26 If we make neuer sich care Line 27 his lyfe may we not wyn. Line 28

Paul

And it is wretyn in oure law Line 29 `Ther is no trust in womans saw, Line 30 No trust faith to belefe; Line 31 ffor with thare quayntyse and thare gyle Line 32 Can thay laghe and wepe som while, Line 33 And yit nothyng theym grefe.' Line 34 In oure bookes thus fynde we wretyn, Line 35 All manere of men well it wyttyn, Line 36 Of women on this wyse; Line 37 Till an appyll she is lyke- Line 38 Withoutten faill ther is none slyke- Line 39 In horde ther it lyse, Line 40 Bot if a man assay it wittely, Line 41 It is full roten inwardly Line 42 At the colke within; Line 43

Line 43 Wherfor in woman is no laghe, Line 44 ffor she is withoutten aghe, Line 45 As crist me lowse of syn. Line 46 Thefor trast we not trystely, Line 47 Bot if we sagh it witterly Line 48 Then wold we trastly trow; Line 49 In womans saw affy we noght, Line 50 ffor thay ar fekill in word and thoght, Line 51 This make I myne avowe. Line 52

Maria Magdalene

As be I lowsid of my care, Line 53 It is as trew as ye stand thare, Line 54 By hym that is my brothere. Line 55

Peter

I dar lay my heede to wed, Line 56 Or that we go vntill oure bed Line 57 That we shall here anothere. Line 58

Paul

If it be sothe that we here say, Line 59 Or this be the thrid day Line 60 The sothe then mon we se. Line 61

Maria Magdalene

Bot it be sothe to trow, Line 62 As ye mon here, els pray I you Line 63 ffor fals that ye hold me. Line 64

Peter

Waloway! my lefe deres / there I stand in this sted, Line 65 sich sorow my hart sheres / for rewth I can no red,; Line 66 sen that mawdleyn witnes beres / that ihesus rose from ded, Line 67 Myn ees has letten salt teres / on erthe to se ym trede. Line 68 Bot alas! that euer I woke / that carefull catyf nyght, Line 69 When I for care and cold, qwoke / by a fyre burnyng full bright, Line 70 When I my lord ihesu forsoke / for drede of womans myght; Line 71 A rightwys dome I will me loke / that I tyne not that semely sight, Line 72

Line 72 Bot euer alas! what was I wode! / myght noman be abarstir; Line 73 I saide if he nede be-stode / to hym shuld none be trastir; Line 74 I saide I knew not that good / creature my master. Line 75 Alas! that we fro the fled / that we ne had with the gane; Line 76 When thou with Iues was sted / with the was dwelland nane, Line 77 Bot forsoke the that vs fed / for we wold not be tayn; Line 78 we were as prysoners sore adred / with Iues forto be slayn. Line 79

Paul

Now, ihesu, for thi lyfe swete / who hath thus mastryd the? Line 80 That in the breede that we eytt / thi self gyffen wold be; Line 81 And sythen thrugh handys and feytt / be nalyd on a tre; Line 82 Grauntt vs grace that we may yit / thi light in manhede se. Line 83

Tercius Apostolus

This is the day that god maide / all be we glad and blythe, Line 84 The holy gost before vs glad / full softly on his sithe; Line 85 Red clothyng apon he had / and blys to vs can kith; Line 86 softly on the erthe he trade / ffulle myldly [he did] lythe. Line 87

Quartus Apostolus

This dede thrugh god is done / thus in all oure sighte. Line 88 Mighty god, true kyng in trone / Whose son in marye light, Line 89 send vs, lord, thi blissid bone / As thou art god of myght, Line 90 Sothly to se hym sone / and haue of hym a sight. Line 91

Quintus Apostolus

Who so commys in goddis name / ay blissid mot he be! Line 92 Mightfull god shelde vs fro shame / In thi moder name marie; Line 93 Thise wykid Iues will vs blame / Thou grauntt vs for to se Line 94 The self body and the same / the which that died on tre. Line 95

Jesus

peasse emangys you euer ichon! / it is I, drede you noght, Line 96 That was wonte with you to gone / and dere with ded you boght. Line 97 Grope and fele flesh and bone / and fourme of man well wroght; Line 98 Sich thyng has goost none / loke wheder ye knawe me oght. Line 99 My rysyng fro dede to lyfe / shall no man agane moytt; Line 100 Behold my woundes fyfe / thrugh handys, syde, and foytt; Line 101 To ded can luf me dryfe / and styrryd my hart roytt. Line 102 Of syn who will hym shryfe / thyes woundys shalbe his boytt. Line 103 ffor oon so swete a thyng / my self so lefe had wroght, Line 104 Man sawll, my dere derlyng / to batell was I broght; Line 105 ffor it thay can me dyng / to bryng out of my thoght, Line 106 On roode can thay me hyng / yit luf forgate I noght. Line 107 luf makys me, as ye may se / strenkyllid, with blood so red; Line 108 luf gars me haue hart so fre / it opyns euery sted; Line 109 luf so fre so dampnyd me / it drofe me to the ded; Line 110 luf rasid, me thrug his pauste / it is swetter then med. Line 111 wytterly, man, to the I cry / thou yeme my fader fere, Line 112 Thyn awne sawll kepe cleynly / whyls thou art wardan here; Line 113 slo it not with thi body / synnyng in synnes sere, Line 114 On me and it thou haue mercy / for I haue boght it dere. Line 115

Line 115 Mi dere freyndys, now may ye se / for soth that [it] is I Line 116 That dyed apon the roode tre / and sythen rose bodely; Line 117 That it all-gatys sothfast be / ye shall se hastely; Line 118 Of youre mett gif ye me / sich as ye haue redy. Line 119

Sextus Apostolus

lord, lo her a rostid fish / and a comb of hony Line 120 laide full fare in a dish / and full honestly; Line 121 here is none othere mett bot this / in all oure company, Line 122 Bot well is vs that we haue this / to thi lykyng only. Line 123

Jesus

Mi dere fader of heuen / that maide me borne to be Line 124 Of a madyn withoutten steven / and sithen to die on tre, Line 125 ffrom ded to lif at set stevyn / rasid me thrugh thi paustee, Line 126 with the wordys that I shall neven / this mette thou blis thrugh me. Line 127 In the fader name and the son / and the holy gast, Line 128 Thre persons to knaw and com / in oone godhede stedfast; Line 129 I gif this mett my benyson / thrugh wordys of myghtys mast; Line 130 Now will I ette, as I was won / my manhede eft to tast Line 131 My dere freyndys lay hand till / eyttys for charite; Line 132 I ette at my fader will / at my will ette now ye. Line 133 That I ette is to fulfill / that writen is of me Line 134 In moyses law, for it is skyll / ffulfillyd that it be. Line 135 Myn ye noght that I you told, / in certan tyme and sted,, Line 136 When I gaf myself to wold, / to you in fourme of bred,, Line 137 That my body shuld be sold, / my bloode be spylt so red; Line 138 This [co]rs gravyn ded, and cold, / the thrid day ryse fro ded? Line 139

Line 139 youre hartes was fulfillyd with drede / whyls I haue fro you bene; Line 140 The rysyng of my manhede / vnethes wold, ye weyn; Line 141 Of trouth now may ye spede / thorow stedfast wordys and cleyn. Line 142 leyf freyndys, trow now the dede / that ye with ees haue sene. Line 143 ye haue forthynkyng and shame / for youre dysseferance, Line 144 I forgif you the blame / in me now haue affyance; Line 145 The folk that ar with syn lame / preche theym to repentance, Line 146 fforgif syn in my name / enioyne theym to penance. Line 147 The grace of the holy gost to wyn / resaue here at me; Line 148 The which shall neuer blyn. / I gif you here pauste; Line 149 whom in erth ye lowse of syn / in heuen lowsyd shall be, Line 150 And whom in erthe ye bynd ther-in / In heuen bonden be he. Line 151

Septimus Apostolus

Ihesu crist in trynyte / Ihesu to cry and call, Line 152 That borne was of a madyn fre / thou saue vs synfull all! Line 153 ffor vs hanged apon a tre / drank asell and gall, Line 154 Thi seruandys saue fro vanyte / In wanhope that we not fall. Line 155

Octavus Apostolus

Brethere, be we stabyll of thoght / wanhope put we away, Line 156 Of mysbelefe that we be noght / for we may safly say Line 157 he that mankynde on rood boght / fro dede rose the thryd day; Line 158 we se the woundys in hym was wroght / all blody yit were thay. Line 159

Novenus Apostolus

he told vs fyrst he shuld, be tayn / And for mans syn shuld dy, Line 160 Be ded and beryd vnder a stayn / and after ryse vp bodely; Line 161 Now is he quyk fro grafe gan / he cam and stode vs by, Line 162 And lete vs se ilkan / the Woundys of his body. Line 163

Decimus Apostolus

Deth that is so kene / ihesu ouer comen has, Line 164 As he vs told, yit may we mene / from ded how he shuld, pas; Line 165 Ihesu stode witnes betwene / that with hym dwelland, was, Line 166 All his dyscyples has hym sene / safe oonly thomas. Line 167

Thomas

If that I prowde as pacok go,/ my hart is full of care; Line 168 If any sorow myght a man slo / my hart in sonder it share; Line 169 Mi life wyrkys me all this wo / of blys I am full bare, Line 170 yit wold I nawthere freynd ne fo / wyst how wo me ware. Line 171 Ihesu, my lyfe so good / ther none myght better be, Line 172 None wysere man then better food / nor none kyndere then he; Line 173 The Iues haue nalyd his cors on rood / nalyd with nales thre, Line 174 And, with a spere thay spylt his blood / great sorow it was to se. Line 175 To se the stremes of blood ryn / well more then doyll it was, Line 176 sich great payn for mans syn / sich doyllfull ded, he has; Line 177 I haue lyfid withoutten wyn / sen he to ded can pas, Line 178 ffor he was fare of cheke and chyn / for doyll of ded, alas! Line 179

Line 179 Myghty god for to dyscryfe / that neuer dyed,, ne shall, Line 180 wo and wandreth from you dryfe / that ye not therin fall. Line 181

Peter

he the saue with woundys fyfe / his son ihesu to call, Line 182 That rose from deth to lyfe / and shewyd, hym till vs all. Line 183

Thomas

whannow, peter! art thou mad,? / on lyfe who was hym lyke! Line 184 ffor his deth I am not glad / for sorow my hart will breke, Line 185 That with the Iues he was so stad / to ded they can hym wreke; Line 186 Thou hym forsoke, so was thou rad, / when they to the can speke. Line 187

Paul

let be, leyf brothere thomas / and turne thi thoght belyfe, Line 188 ffor the thryd day ihesus rase / fleshly fro ded to lyfe; Line 189 Till vs all he cam a pase / and shewyd his woundys fyfe, Line 190 And lyfyng man, and etten hase / hony takyn of a hyfe. Line 191

Thomas

Let be for shame! apartly / ffantom dyssauys the! Line 192 ye sagh hym not bodely / his gost it myght well be, Line 193 fforto glad youre hartes sory / in youre aduersyte; Line 194 he luffyd vs well and faythfully / therfor sloes sorow me. Line 195

Tercius Apostolus

Thou wote, thomas / and sothe it was, and oft has thou hard say, Line 196 how a fysh swalod, ionas / thre dayes therin he lay; Line 197 yit gaf god hym myght to pas / whyk man to wyn away; Line 198 Myght not god sich myght has / rase his son apon the thryd day? Line 199

Thomas

Man, if thou can vnderstand / cryst saide his self, mynnys me, Line 200 That all lokyn was in his hande / all oone was god and he! Line 201

Line 201 The son wax marke, all men seand / when he died, on the tre, Line 202 Therfor am I full sore dredand, / that who myght his boote be. Line 203

Quartus Apostolus

the holy gost in marye light / and in hir madynhede Line 204 Goddis son she held, and dight / and cled hym in manhede; Line 205 ffor luf he wentt as he had hight / to fight withoutten drede; Line 206 when he had termynd that fight / he skypt outt of his wede. Line 207

Thomas

If he skypt outt of his clethyng / yit thou grauntys his cors was ded,; Line 208 It was his cors that maide shewyng / vnto you in his sted; Line 209 fforto trow in youre carpyng / my hart is hevy as led; Line 210 his dede me bryngys in great mowrneyng / and I withoutten red. Line 211

Quintus Apostolus

The gost went to hell a pase / whils the cors lay slayn, Line 212 And broght the sawles from sathanas / for which he suffred, payn; Line 213 The thryd day right he gase / right vnto the cors agayn, Line 214 Mighty god and man he rase / and therfor ar we fayn. Line 215

Thomas

All sam to me ye flyte / youre resons fast ye shawe, Line 216 Bot tell me a skyll perfyte / any of you on raw; Line 217 when cryst cam you to vysyte / as ye tell me with saw, Line 218 A whyk man from spyryte / wherby couth ye hym knaw? Line 219

Sextus Apostolus

Thomas, vnto the anone / herto answere I will; Line 220 Man has both flesh and bone / hu, hyde, and hore thertill; Line 221 sich thyng has goost none / thomas, lo, here thi skyll; Line 222 Goddis son toke of mary flesh and bone / what nede were els thertill? Line 223

Thomas

Thou has answered me ffull Wele / and, full skylfully, Line 224 Bot my hart is harde as stele / to trow in sich mastry; Line 225 Say, bad he any of you fele / the woundys of his body, Line 226 fflesh or bone or ilka dele / to assay his body? Line 227

Septimus Apostolus

yis, thomas, he bad vs se / and handill hym with hande, Line 228 To loke wheder it were he / ihesu, man lyfand, Line 229 That dyed apon a tre / flesh and bone we fand, Line 230 his woundes had bene pyte / to towch that were bledand. Line 231

Thomas

Waloway! ye can no good / youre resons ar defaced, Line 232 ye ar as women rad for blood, / and lightly oft solaced; Line 233 It was a goost before you stod / lyke hym in blood betraced, Line 234 his cors that dyed on rood / for euer hath deth embraced. Line 235

Octavus Apostolus

Certys, thomas, gretter care / myght no synfull wight haue Line 236 Then she had, that wepyd so sare / the mawdleyn at his graue; Line 237 ffor sorow and doyll hir awne hare / of hir hede she rent and rafe, Line 238 Ihesu shewid hym till hir thare / hir sorow of syn to safe. Line 239

Thomas

lo, sich foly with you is / wysemen that shuld be, Line 240 That thus a womans witnes trowys / better than that ye se! Line 241 In all youre skylles more and les / for mysfowndyng fayll ye; Line 242 Might I se ihesu gost and flesh / gropyng shuld not gab me. Line 243

Novenus Apostolus

lefe thomas, flyte no more / bot trow and turne thi red, Line 244 Or els say vs when and whore / crist gabbyd in any sted; Line 245 ffor he saide vs when thou was thore / when he hym gaf in bred,, Line 246 That he shuld, salfe all oure sore / quyk rysand fro ded,. Line 247

Thomas

he was full sothfast in his sawes / that dar I hertly say, Line 248 And rightwys in all his lawes / whils that he lyfyd ay; Line 249 Bot sen he shuld thole hard thrawes / on tre whils that he lay, Line 250 Dede has determyd his dayes / his lyfe noght trow I may. Line 251

Decimus Apostolus

Thyne hard hart thi saull will dwyrd / Thomas, bot if thou blyn; Line 252 he has ded conquerd, / and weshen vs all fro syn. Line 253 May nawder knyfe ne swerde / hym eft to ded wyn; Line 254 Goddys myght in hym apperd, / that neuer more shall blyn. Line 255

Thomas

That god I trow full Wele / goostly to you light, Line 256 Bot bodely neuer a dele / ihesu that woundid wyght. Line 257 My hart is harde as stele / to trow in sich a myght, Line 258 Bot if I that wounde myght fele / that hym gaf longeus the knyght. Line 259

Peter

That wounde haue we sene, thomas / and so has mo then we; Line 260 With lucas and with cleophas / he welke a day Iurnee; Line 261 Thare hartes that for hym sory was / with prophecy comforted he, Line 262 To Emaus castell can thai pas / ther hostyld thai all thre. Line 263 Ihesu, goddis son of heuen / at sopere satt betweyn; Line 264 Ther bred he brake as euen / as it cutt had beyn. Line 265

Thomas

Nothyng that ye may neuen / his rysyng gars me weyn, Line 266 If ye me told, sich seuen / the more ye myght me teyn. Line 267

Paul

Thomas, brothere, turne thi thoght / and trust that I say the; Line 268 Ihesu so dere has boght / oure synnes apon a tree, Line 269 which rysyng hath broght / adam and his meneyee. Line 270

Thomas

lett be youre fayr! shew it noght/ that he efte quyk shuld be. Line 271

Line 271

Tercius Apostolus

That must thou nedelyngys trow / if thou thi saull will saue, Line 272 ffor that we sa we dar avowe / ihesu rose quyk from graue. Line 273

Thomas

I haue you saide, and yit dos now / thise wordes to wast ye haue; Line 274 he shewid hym not to you / for mysfoundyng ye rafe. Line 275

Quartus Apostolus

ffor we say that we haue sene / thou hold,ys vs wars then woode; Line 276 Ihesu lyfyng stod vs betwene / oure lord that with vs yode. Line 277

Thomas

I say ye wote neuer what ye mene / a goost before you stode; Line 278 ye wenyd that it had bene / the cors that died on roode. Line 279

Quintus Apostolus

The cors that dyed on tre / was berid in a stone, Line 280 The thurgh beside fande we / and in that graue cors was none; Line 281 his sudary ther myght we se / and he thens whik was gone. Line 282

Thomas

Noght, bot stolne is he / with Iues that hym haue slone. Line 283

Sextus Apostolus

Certys, thomas, thou sais not right / thay wold, hym not stele, Line 284 ffor thay gart kepe hym day and nyght / with knyghtys that they held lele; Line 285 he rose has we haue sene in sight / fro all the Iues fele. Line 286

Thomas

I lefe not bot if I myght / myself with hym dele. Line 287

Septimus Apostolus

He told vs tythyngys, thomas / yit mynnys me, Line 288 That as Ionas thre dayes was / In a fysh in the see, Line 289 so shuld he be, and bene has / in erth by dayes thre, Line 290 pas fro ded, ryse, and rase / as he saide done has he. Line 291

Thomas

Certys, that worde I harde hym say / and so harde ye hym all, Line 292 Bot for nothyng trow I may / that it so shuld befall, Line 293 That he shuld ryse the thrid day / that dranke asell and gall: Line 294 sen he was god and ded lay / from ded, who myght hym call? Line 295

Octavus Apostolus

The fader that hym sent / rasid hym that was ded, Line 296 he comforth vs in mowrnyng lent / and counseld vs in red; Line 297 he bad vs trow with good intent / his rysyng in euery sted; Line 298 Thyne absens gars thi saull be shent / and makys the heuy as led. Line 299

Thomas

Thou says soth, harde and heuy / am I to traw that ye me say; Line 300 Mi hardnes I trow skilfully / for he told vs thus ay, Line 301 That his fader was euer hym by / for all bot oon were thay; Line 302 That he rose bodely / for nothyng trow I may. Line 303

Novenus Apostolus

May thou not trow withoutten mo / for sothe, that it was he? Line 304 Thomas wherto shuld we say so? / then wenys thou fals we be. Line 305

Thomas

I wote youre hartes was full wo / and fownd with vanyte; Line 306 If ye swere all and ye were mo / I trow it not or that I se. Line 307

Decimus Apostolus

Thomas, of errowre thou blyn / and till vs turne thi mode; Line 308 Trow his rysyng by dayes threyn / sen he died on the rode. Line 309

Thomas

Noght bot I myght my fynger wyn / in sted as nayle stode, Line 310 And his syde my hande put in / ther he shed his hart bloode. Line 311

Jesus

Brethere all, be with you peasse! / leaffe stryfe that now is here! Line 312 Thomas, of thyn errowre seasse / of sothe Witnes thou bere; Line 313 putt thi hande in my syde, no fres / ther longeus put his spere; Line 314 loke my rysyng be no les / let no wan-hope the dere. Line 315

Thomas

Mercy, ihesu, rew on me / my hande is blody of thi blode! Line 316 Mercy ihesu, for I se / thi myght that I not vnderstode! Line 317 Mercy, ihesu, I pray the / that for all synfull died on roode! Line 318 Mercy, ihesu, of mercy fre / for thi goodnes that is so goode! Line 319 kest away my staf will I / and with no wepyn gang; Line 320 Mercy will I call and cry / ihesu that on roode hang; Line 321 Rew on me, kyng of mercy / let me not cry thus lang! Line 322 Mercy, for the velany / thou tholyd on Iues with wrang. Line 323 Mi hat will I kest away / my mantill sone onone, Line 324 vnto the poore help it may / for richere knawe I none. Line 325 Mercy will I abyde, and pray / to the ihesu, alone; Line 326 My synfull dede I rew ay / to the make I my mone. Line 327 Mercy, ihesu, lorde swete / for thi fyfe woundys so sare, Line 328 Thou suffred thrugh handys and feete / thi semely side a spere it share; Line 329 Mercy, ihesu, lord, yit / for thi moder that the bare! Line 330 Mercy, for the teres thou grett / when thou rasid lazare! Line 331 Mi gyrdill gay and purs of sylk / and cote away thou shall; Line 332 whils I am werere of swylke / the longere mercy may I call. Line 333 Ihesu, that soke the madyns mylk / ware noght bot clothes of pall, Line 334 Thi close so can thai fro the pyke / on roode thay left the small. Line 335

Line 335 Mercy, ihesu, honoure of man / mercy, ihesu, mans socoure! Line 336 Mercy, ihesu, rew thi leman / mans saull, thou boght full soure! Line 337 Mercy, ihesu, that may and can / forgif syn and be socoure! Line 338 Mercy, ihesu, as thou vs wan / forgif and gif thi man honoure. Line 339

Jesus

None myght bryng the in that wytt / for oght that thay myght say, Line 340 To trow that I myght flytt / fro ded to lyfe to wyn away; Line 341 My saull and my cors haue knytt / a knott that last shall ay; Line 342 Thus shall I rase, well thou wytt / ilk man on domesday. Line 343 Who so hath not trowid right / to hell I shall theym lede, Line 344 Ther euer more is dark as nyght / and greatt paynes to drede; Line 345 Those that trow in my myght / and luf well almus dede, Line 346 Thai shall shyne as son bright / and heuen haue to thare mede. Line 347 That blys, thomas, I the hete / that is in heuen cytee, Line 348 ffor I se the sore grete / of the I haue pytee; Line 349 Thomas, for thi teres wete / thi syn forgiffen be, Line 350 Thus shall synfull thare synnes bete / that sore haue grefyd me. Line 351 Thomas, for thou felys me / and my woundes bare, Line 352 Mi risyng is trowed in the / and so was it not are; Line 353 All that it trowes and not se / and dos after my lare, Line 354 Euer blissid mot thay be / and heuen be theym yare! Line 355