The York plays

Play 25

Jesus

To me takis tent and giffis gud hede Line 1 My dere discipulis that ben here, I schall yoou telle that shal be indede: My tyme to passe hense it drawith nere, And by this skill, Mannys sowle to saue fro sorowes sere THat loste was ill. From heuen to erth whan I dyssende Rawnsom to make I made promys, The prophicie nowe drawes to ende, My fadirs wille forsoth it is THat sente me hedyr. Petir, Phelippe, I schall yoou blisse, And go togedir Vnto yoone castell that is yoou agayne, Gois with gud harte and tarie noyot, My comaundement to do be yoe bayne.

Also I yoou charge loke it be wrought THat schal yoe fynde An asse this feste als yoe had soght. YOe hir vnbynde With hir foole, and to me hem bring, THat I on hir may sitte a space, So the prophicy clere menyng May be fulfillid here in this place: `Doghtyr Syon, Loo, thi lorde comys rydand an asse THe to opon'. Yf any man will yoou gaynesaye, Say that youre lorde has nede of tham And schall restore thame this same day Vnto what man will tham clayme; Do thus this thyng. Go furthe yoe both and be ay bayne In my blissyng.

Peter

Jesu, maistir evyn at thy wille Line 36 And at thi liste vs likis to doo. Yone beste whilke thou desires the tille Euen at thi will schall come the too, Vnto thin esse. Sertis lord, we will thedyre all go THe for to plese.

Philip

Lord, the to plese we are full bayne Line 43 Bothe nyght and day to do thi will. Go we brothere, with all oure mayne My lordis desire for to fulfill, For prophycye Vs bus it do to hym by skyll THarto dewly.

Peter

YOa, brodir Phelipp, behalde grathely, Line 50 For als he saide we schulde sone fynde, Methinke yoone bestis before myn eye THai are the same we schulde vnbynde. THerfore frely

Go we to hym that thame gan bynde, And aske mekely.

Philip

The beestis are comen, wele I knawe, Line 57 Therfore vs nedis to aske lesse leue; And oure maistir kepis the lawe We may thame take tyter, I preue. For noght we lett, For wele I watte oure tyme is breue, Go we tham fett.

Janitor

Saie, what are yoe that makis here maistrie, Line 64 To loose thes bestis withoute leverie? Yow semes to bolde, sen noght that yoe Hase here to do; therfore rede I Such thingis to sesse, Or ellis yoe may falle in folye And grette diseasse.

Peter

Sir, with thi leue, hartely we praye Line 71 THis beste that we myght haue.

Janitor

To what intente firste shall yoe saye, Line 73 And than I graunte what yoe will crave Be gode resoune.

Philip

Oure maistir sir, that all may saue, Line 76 Aske by chesoune.

Janitor

What man is that yoe maistir call Line 78 Swilke priuelege dare to hym clayme?

Peter

Jesus, of Jewes kyng and ay be schall, Line 80 Of Nazareth prophete the same. THis same is he, Both God and man withouten blame, THis trist wele we.

Janitor

Sirs, of that prophette herde I haue, Line 85 But telle me firste playnly, wher is hee?

Philip

He comes at hande so God me saue, Line 87 THat lorde we lefte at Bephagé, He bidis vs there.

Janitor

Sir, take this beste with herte full free, Line 90 And forthe yoe fare. And if yoou thynke it be to don, I schall declare playnly his comyng

To the chiffe of the Jewes, that thei may sone Assemble same to his metyng; What is your rede?

Peter

THou sais full wele in thy menyng. Line 97 Do forthe thi dede, And sone this beste we schall the bring And it restore as resoune will.

Janitor

This tydyngis schall haue no laynyng, Line 101 But be the citezens declared till Of this cyté. I suppose fully that thei wolle Come mete that free. And sen I will thei warned be, Both yoonge and olde in ilke a state, For his comyng I will tham mete To late tham witte, withoute debate. Lo, wher thei stande, The citezens cheff withoute debate Of all this lande. He that is rewler of all right And freely schoppe both sande and see, He saue yoou, lordyngis gayly dight, And kepe yoou in yooure semelyté And all honoure.

Burger 1

Welcome porter, what novelté? Line 118 Telle vs this owre.

Janitor

Sirs, novelté I can yoou tell Line 120 And triste thame fully as for trewe: Her comes of kynde of Israell Att hande the prophette called Jesu, Lo, this same day, Rydand on an asse. THis tydandis newe Consayue yoe may.

Burger 2

And is that prophette Jesu nere? Line 127 Off hym I haue herde grete ferlis tolde. He dois grete wounderes in contrees seere, He helys the seke, both yoonge and olde, And the blynde giffis tham ther sight.

Both dome and deffe, as hymselffe wolde, He cures thame right.

Burger 3

YOa, v thowsand men with loves fyue Line 134 He fedde, and ilkone hadde inowe. Watir to wyne he turned ryue, He garte corne growe withouten plogh Wher are was none. To dede men als he gaffe liffe, Lazar was one.

Burger 4

In oure tempill if he prechid Line 141 Agaynste the pepull that leued wrong, And also new lawes if he teched Agaynste oure lawis we vsed so lang, And saide pleynlye The olde schall waste, the new schall gang, THat we schall see.

Burger 5

YOa, Moyses lawe he cowde ilke dele Line 148 And all the prophettis on a rowe, He telles tham so that ilke a man may fele And what thei say interly knowe Yf thei were dyme. What the prophettis saide in ther sawe, All longis to hym.

Burger 6

Emanuell also by right Line 155 THai calle that prophette by this skill, He is the same that are was hyght Be Ysaye befor vs till, THus saide full clere: Loo, a maydyn that knew neuere ille A childe schuld bere.

Burger 7

Dauid spake of hym I wene Line 162 And lefte witnesse yoe knowe ilkone, He saide the frute of his corse clene Shulde royally regne vpon his trone, And therfore he Of Dauid kyn and othir none Oure kyng schal be.

Burger 8

Sirs, methynketh yoe saie right wele Line 169 And gud ensampelys furth yoe bryng,

And sen we thus this mater fele Go we hym meete as oure owne kyng, And kyng hym call. What is youre counsaill in this thyng? Now say yoe all.

Burger 1

Agaynste resoune I will noyot plete Line 176 For wele I wote oure kyng he is. Whoso agaynst his kyng liste threte He is noyot wise, he dose amys. Porter, come nere. What knowlage hast thou of his comyng? Tels vs all here, And than we will go mete that free, And hym honnoure as we wele awe Worthely tyll oure citee, And for oure souerayne lord hym knawe, In whome we triste.

Janitor

Sirs, I schall telle yoou all on rowe Line 188 And yoe will lyste. Of his discipillis, ij this day Where that I stode thei faire me grette, And on ther maistir halfe gan praye Oure comon asse that thei myght gete Bot for a while, Wheron ther maistir softe myght sitte Space of a mile. And all this mater thai me tolde Right haly as I saie to yoou, And the asse thei haue right as thei wolde And sone will bringe agayne I trowe, So thai beheste. What yoe will doo avise yoou nowe, THus thinke me beste.

Burger 2

Trewlye as for me I say Line 204 I rede we make vs redy bowne, Hym to mete gudly this day And hym ressayue with grete rennowne As worthy is. And therfore sirs, in felde and towne YOe fulfille this.

Janitor

YOa, and yooure childer with yoou take, Line 211 THoff all in age that thei be yoonge, YOe may fare the bettir for ther sake Thurgh the blissing of so goode a kyng, THis is no dowte.

Burger 3

I kan the thanke for thy saying, Line 216 We will hym lowte. And hym to mete I am right bayne On the beste maner that I cane, For I desire to se hym fayne And hym honnoure as his awne man, Sen the soth I see. Kyng of Juuys we call hym than, Oure kyng is he.

Burger 4

Oure kyng is he-that is no lesse- Line 225 Oure awne lawe to it cordis will, THe prophettis all bare full witnesse Qwilke of hym secrete gone telle, And thus wolde say: `Emang youreselff schall come grete seele Thurgh God verray'.

Burger 5

THis same is he, ther is non othir, Line 232 Was vs beheest full lange before, For Moyses saide als oure owne brothir A newe prophette God schulde restore. THerfore loke yoe What yoe will do, withouten more, Oure kyng is he.

Burger 6

Of Juda come owre kyng so gent, Line 239 Of Jesse, Dauid, Salamon; Also by his modir kynne take tente, THe genolagye beres witnesse on, This is right playne. Hym to honnoure right as I can I am full bayne.

Burger 7

Of youre clene witte and youre consayte Line 246 I am full gladde in harte and thought, And hym to mete withouten latt I am redy, and feyne will noght, Bot with yoou same

Go hym agayne vs blisse hath brought, With myrthe and game.

Burger 8

YOoure argumentis thai are so clere Line 253 I can noyot saie but graunte you till, For whanne I of that counsaille here I coveyte hym with feruent wille Onys for to see, I trowe fro thens I schall Bettir man be.

Burger 1

Go we than with processioun Line 260 To mete that comely as vs awe, With braunches, floures and vnysoune. With myghtfull songes her on a rawe Our childir schall Go synge before, that men may knawe.

Burger 2

To this graunte we all. Line 266

Peter

Jesu, lord and maistir free, Line 267 Als thou comaunde so haue we done. THis asse here we haue brought to the, What is thi wille thou schewe vs sone And tarie noyot, And than schall we withouten hune Fulfill thi thouyot.

Jesus

I thanke yoou brethere mylde of mode. Line 274 Do on this asse youre clothis yoe laye, And lifte me vppe with hertis gud THat I on hir may sitte this daye In my blissing.

Philip

Lord, thi will to do allway Line 279 We graunte this thing.

Jesus

Now my brethere with gud chere Line 281 Gyues gode entente, for ryde I will Vnto yoone cyté yoe se so nere. YOe shall me folowe sam and still Als I are sayde.

Philip

Lord, as the lyst we graunte the till, Line 286 And halde vs payde.

Cecus

A, lorde, that all this world has made, Line 288 Bothe sonne and mone, nyght and day, What noyse is this that makis me gladde? Fro whens it schulde come I can noyot saye, Or what it mene. Yf any man walke in this way Telle hym me bedene.

Pauper

Man, what ayles the to crye? Line 295 Where wolde thou be? THou say me here.

Cecus

A, sir, a blynde man am I Line 297 And ay has bene of tendyr yoere Sen I was borne. I harde a voyce with nobill chere Here me beforne.

Pauper

Man, will thou oght that I can do? Line 302

Cecus

YOa sir, gladly wolde I witte Line 303 Yf thou couthe oght declare me to This myrthe I herde, what mene may it Or vndirstande?

Pauper

Jesu the prophite full of grace Line 307 Comys here at hande, And all the cetezens thay are bowne Gose hym to mete with melodye, With the fayrest processioun That euere was sene in this Jury; He is right nere.

Cecus

Sir, helpe me to the strete hastely, Line 314 THat I may here THat noyse, and also that I myght thurgh grace My syght of hym to craue I wolde.

Pauper

Loo, he is here at this same place. Line 318 Crye faste on hym, loke thou be bolde, With voyce right high.

Cecus

Jesu the sone of Dauid calde, Line 321 THou haue mercy.

Allas, I crye, he heris me noyot, He has no ruthe of my mysfare. He turnes his herre, where is his thought?

Pauper

Cry somwhat lowdar, loke thou noyot spare, Line 326 So may thou spye.

Cecus

Jesu the saluer of all sare, Line 328 To me giffis gode hye.

Philip

Cesse man and crye noyot soo, Line 330 The voyce of the pepill gose the by. THe aghe sette still and tente giffe to, Here passez the prophite of mercye- THou doys amys.

Cecus

A, Dauid sone, to the I crye, Line 335 THe kyng of blisse.

Peter

Lorde, haue mercy and late hym goo, Line 337 He can noyot cesse of his crying. He folows vs both to and froo, Graunte hym his boone and his askyng And late hym wende. We gette no reste or that this thyng Be broyot to ende.

Jesus

What wolde thou man I to the dede Line 344 In this present? Telle oppynly.

Cecus

Lorde, my syght is fro me hydde, Line 346 THou graunte me it, I crye mercy, THis wolde I haue.

Jesus

Loke vppe nowe with chere blythely, Line 349 THi faith shall the saue.

Cecus

Wirschippe and honnoure ay to the Line 351 With all the seruice that can be done, The kyng of blisse loued mote he be THat thus my sight hath sente so sone, And by grete skill. I was are blynde as any stone: I se at wille.

Claudus

A, wele wer tham that euere had liffe, Line 358 Olde or yonge whedir it were, Might welde ther lymmes withouten striffe, Go with this mirthe that I see here And contynewe;

For I am sette in sorowes sere THat ay ar newe. THou lord that schope both nyght and day, For thy mercy haue mynde on me And helpe me lorde, as thou wele may [... ...] Line 367 i may noyot gang. Line 368 For I am lame as men may se And has ben lang. For wele I wote, as knowyn is ryffe, Bothe dome and deffe thou grauntist tham grace, And also the dede that thou hauyst geuen liff; Therfore graunte me lord in this place My lymbis to welde.

Jesus

My man, ryse and caste the crucchys gode space Line 376 Her in the felde, And loke in trouthe thou stedfast be, And folow me furth with gode menyng.

Claudus

Lorde, lo my crouchis whare thei flee Line 380 Als ferre as I may late tham flenge With bothe my hende. THat euere we haue metyng Now I defende, For I was halte of lyme and lame And I suffered tene and sorowes inowe. Ay-lastand lord, loued be thi name, I am als light as birde on bowe. Ay be thou blist, Such grace hast thou schewed to me Lorde, as the list.

Zaché

Sen firste this worlde was made of noyot Line 392 And all thyng sette in equité, Such ferly thyng was neuere non wroght As men this tyme may see with eye. What it may mene- I can noyot saye what it may be, Comforte or tene.

And cheffely of a prophete new THat mekill is profite, and that of latte Both day and nyght thai hym assewe, Oure pepill same thurgh strete and gatte [... ...] Line 402 Oure olde lawes as nowe thei hatte And his kepis yoare. Men fro deth to liffe he rayse, The blynde and dome geve speche and sight, Gretely therfor oure folke hym prayse And folowis hym both day and nyght Fro towne to towne. Thay calle hym prophite be right As of renowne. And yoit I meruayle of that thyng, Of puplicans sen prince am I Of hym I cowthe haue no knowyng, Yf all I wolde haue comen hym neyoe, Arly and late. For I am lawe, and of men high Full is the gate. Bot sen no bettir may befalle I thynke what beste is for to doo, I am schorte yoe knawe wele all, THerfore yoone tre I will go too And in it clyme. Whedir he come or passe me fro I schall se hym. A, nobill tree thou secomoure, I blisse hym that the on the erthe broght. Now may I see both here and thore That vndir me hid may be noyot. THerfore in the Wille I bidde in herte and thought Till I hym se. Vnto the prophete come to towne Her will I bide what so befalle.

Jesus

Do Zaché, do faste come downe. Line 435

Zaché

Lorde, even at thi wille hastely I schall, Line 436 And tarie noght.

To the on knes lord here I fall For synne I wroght; And welcome, prophete trast and trewe, With all the pepull that to the lange.

Jesus

Zaché, thi seruice new Line 442 Schall make the clene of all the wrong THat thou haste done.

Zaché

Lorde, I lette noyot for this thrang Line 445 Her to say sone Me schamys with synne but ouyot to mende. Mi synne forsake therfore I will, Halue my gud I haue vnspende Poure folke to geue it till, THis will I fayne. Whom I begylyd to hym I will Make asith agayne.

Jesus

Thy clere confessioun schall the clense, Line 454 THou may be sure of lastand lyffe. Vnto thi house withouten offense Is graunted pees withouten striffe. Farewele Zaché.

Zaché

Lord, the lowte ay man and wiffe, Line 459 Blist myght thou be.

Jesus

My dere discipulis, beholde and see, Line 461 Vnto Jerusalem we schall assende, Man sone schall ther betrayed be And gevyn into his enmys hende With grete dispitte. Ther spitting on hym ther schall thei spende And smertly smyte. Petir, take this asse me fro And lede it where thou are it toke. I murne, I sigh, I wepe also Jerusalem on the to loke. And so may thou rewe THat euere thou thi kyng forsuke And was vntrewe.

For stone on stone schall none be lefte But doune to the grounde all schal be caste, Thy game, thi gle, al fro the refte And all for synne that thou done hast. THou arte vnkynde; Agayne thi kyng thou hast trespast, Haue this in mynde.

Peter

Porter, take here thyn asse agayne, Line 482 At hande my lorde comys on his fette.

Janitor

Behalde where all the burgeis bayne Line 484 Comes with wirschippe hym to mete. THerfore I will Late hym abide here in this strete And lowte hym till.

Burger 1

Hayll prophette preued withouten pere, Line 489 Hayll prince of pees schall euere endure, Hayll kyng comely, curteyse and clere, Hayll souerayne semely, to synfull sure; To the all bowes. Hayll lord louely oure cares may cure, Hayll kyng of Jewes.

Burger 2

Hayll florisshand floure that neuere shall fade, Line 496 Hayll vyolett vernand with swete odoure, Hayll marke of myrthe oure medecyne made, Hayll blossome bright, hayll oure socoure, Hayll kyng comely. Hayll menskfull man, we the honnoure With herte frely.

Burger 3

Hayll Dauid sone, doughty in dede, Line 503 Hayll rose ruddy, hayll birrall clere, Hayll, welle of welthe may make vs mede, Hayll saluer of oure sores sere, We wirschippe the. Hayll hendfull, with solas sere Welcome thou be

Burger 4

Hayll blisfull babe, in Bedleme borne, Line 510 Hayll boote of all oure bittir balis, Hayll, sege that schoppe bothe even and morne, Hayll talker trystefull of trew tales, Hayll comely knyght,

Hayll of mode that moste preuayles To saue the tyght.

Burger 5

Hayll dyamaunde with drewry dight, Line 517 Hayll jasper gentill of Jury, Hayll lylly lufsome lemyd with lyght, Hayll balme of boote, moyste and drye To all has nede. Hayll barne most blist of mylde Marie, Hayll all oure mede.

Burger 6

Hayll conquerour, hayll most of myght, Line 524 Hayll rawnsoner of synfull all, Hayll pytefull, hayll louely light, Hayll to vs welcome be schall, Hayll kyng of Jues. Hayll comely corse that we the call With mirthe that newes.

Burger 7

Hayll sonne ay schynand with bright bemes, Line 531 Hayll lampe of liff schall neuere waste, Hayll lykand lanterne, luffely lemys, Hayll texte of trewthe the trew to taste. Hayll kyng and sire, Hayll maydens chylde that menskid hir most, We the desire.

Burger 8

Hayll domysman dredful, that all schall deme, Line 538 Hayll that all quyk and dede schall lowte, Hayll whom worschippe moste will seme, Hayll whom all thyng schall drede and dowte. We welcome the, Hayll and welcome of all abowte To owre ceté.