The York plays

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Title
The York plays
Author
Anonymous
Publication
London: E. Arnold
1982
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Oxford Text Archive number: U-1392-B

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http://name.umdl.umich.edu/York
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"The York plays." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/York. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 16, 2025.

Pages

Play 32

Pilate
Pees, bewscheres, I bidde you, that beldis here aboute me, Line 1 And loke that yoe stirre with no striffe but stande stone still, Or by the lorde that me liffe lente I schall garre you lowte me, And all schall byde in my bale that wirkis noyot my will. Ye rebaldis that regnys in this rowte, YOe stynte of youre steuenyng so stowte, Or with this brande that dere is to doute All to dede I schall dryue you this day. For sir Pilate of Pounce as prince am Y preued, As renke moste royall in richeste array, THer is no berne in this burgh has me aboute heuyd, But he sekis me for souereyne, in certayne Y saie, To knawe. Therfore take hede to youre lordis estate, THat none jangill nor jolle at my yoate, Nor no man to grath hym no gate Tille I haue seggid and saide all my sawe. For I ame the luffeliest lappid and laide, With feetour full faire in my face, My forhed both brente is and brade And myne eyne thei glittir like the gleme in the glasse. And the hore that hillis my heed Is even like to the golde wyre, My chekis are bothe ruddy and reede And my coloure as cristall is cleere. Ther is no prince preuyd vndir palle But I ame moste myghty of all to behold, Nor no kyng but he schall come to my call, Nor grome that dare greue me for golde. Sir Kayphas, thurgh counsaill thi clergy is kid, For thy counsaille is knowyn for connand and clere;

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And sir Anna, thyn aunswer aught not to be hidde, For thou is one and is abill and aught to be nere In parlament playne. And I am prince pereles youre poyntis to enquere: How saie yoe Jues of Jesus, that swayne? Haue done sirs, sais on youre sawis, What tytill nowe haue yoe vntill hym And lely yoe loke vppon youre lawes? Saye, why sente yoe so sone for to spille hym?
Anna
Sir, that is prince and lorde of oure laye, Line 41 That traitour vntrewe that ye of telle vs, Nowe certayne and sone the soth schall I saie It is Jesus that japer that Judas ganne selle vs. He marres oure men in all that he may, His merueylis full mekill is mustered emelle vs, That faitoure so false. He dois many derffe dedis on oure Sabotte day, THat vnconnand conjeon he castis hym to quelle vs, Fro man onto man he will compelle vs And vndo you and ourselffe als. Youreselffe he will fordo And he halde furth this space, And all this Jurie to Yf that ye graunte hym grace.
Pilate
Sir Anna, this aunswere allow I no thyng, Line 56 I halde it but hatereden, this artikill hale; And therfore ser busshoppe, at my biddyng, Do telle me nowe trewly the texte of this tale. Do termyne it trewly and tyte And lely yoe lede it by the lawe; Felonye or falsed euyn here I defie it- Saie me sadly the soth, for loue or for awe.
Caiphas
Sir Pilate, the talis the traitoure has tolde, Line 64 It heuys vs in harte full haly to here tham. THe warlowe with his wilis he wenys tham to wolde, THe ladde with his lesyngis full lightly gan lere tham. Full tyte will he take tham vntill hym And he thus forth go with his gaudis, Or speche ouersprede-yoa, bettir is to spille hym, The faitoure is so felle with his false fraudis.
Pilate
Youre aunsweres is hedouse and hatefull to here. Line 72 Hadde I not herde hym and myselfe had hym sene

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Yitt yoe myght haue made me to trowe you intere; But faute in hym I fynde none, but conande and clene. For conande and clene can I clere hym, No faute can I fynde to reffuse hym, I hope yitt in haste yoe schall here hym Whanne he comys to racleyme-than may yoe cuse hym.
Miles 1
Lorde, fele of his ferles in faith haue we fonne, Line 80 Yone harlotte heuys oure hartis full of hate ire. He sais hymselffe that he is Goddis sone And schall sitte on the right hande beside his awne sire.
Miles 2
THer talis is full trewe that we telle. Line 84 On the raynebowe the rebalde it redis, He sais he schall haue vs to heuene or to hell To deme vs aday aftir oure dedis.
Pilate
To deme vs, in the deuyll name? Say whedir? Saie whedir, to the deuyll? Line 88 What, dastardis, wene ye be wiser than we?
Miles 1
Mi lorde, with youre leue, we neuen it for non ill, Line 90 He has mustered his mervayles to mo than to me. Mi souerayne lorde, yone sauterell he sais He schall caste doune oure tempill, noyot for to layne, And dresse it vppe dewly within thre daies Als wele as it was, full goodely agayne.
Anna
YOa sir, and on oure awne Sabott day Line 96 THanne werkis he werkis full wele.
Pilate
We, fye on hym, faitour, for ay, Line 98 For thei are darke dedis of the deuyll.
Caiphas
Sir, a noysomemare note newly is noysed Line 100 THat greuis me more than any kynne thyng, He claymes hym clerly till a kyngdome of Jewes And callis hymselffe oure comeliest kyng.
Pilate
Kyng, in the deuillis name? We, fye on hym, dastard. Line 104 What, wenys that woode warlowe ouere-wyn vs thus wightly? A begger of Bedlem, borne as a bastard? Nowe by Lucifer, lach I that ladde I leue hym not lightly.
Anna
Sir, the harlotte is at Heroudes hall euyn her at your hande. Line 108
Pilate
I sente to hym that warlowe, the deuyll myght hym wery. Line 109

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Line 109
Caiphas
It langis to youre lordschippe be lawe of this land Line 110 As souerayne youreselffe to sitte of enquery.
Anna
Sir, the traitoure has tolde vs mo trufullis truly Line 112 Wolde tene you full tyte and we you tham tolde.
Pilate
Nowe be Beliall bonis that boy schall abie Line 114 And bring on his bak a burdeyne of golde.
Filius 1
Mi lorde that is ledar of lawis of this lande, Line 116 YOe sente hym yourselfe to Herowde the kyng And sais, `THe dome of that doge lies holy in your hande, To deme hym or lose hym at youre likyng'. And thus yoe comaunded youre knyghtis for to saie; For sir Heroude will serche hym full sore, So that he wende with no wilis away- And therfore, my goode lorde, moue you no more.
Caiphas
Nowe certis this was wele saide. Line 124 But sir, wille yoe sese nowe and we schall se syne?
Pilate
Sir Kayphas and Anna, right so nowe I thynke. Line 126 Sittis, in Mahoundis blissing, and aske vs the wyne- YOe knyghtis of my courte, comaundis vs to drynke.
Judas
Allas for woo that I was wrought Line 129 Or euere I come be kynde or kynne, I banne the bonys that me furth brought, Woo worthe the wombe that I bredde ynne. So may I bidde, For I so falsely did to hym THat vnto me grete kyndnesse kidde. THe purse with his spens aboute I bare, THer was none trowed so wele as I. Of me he triste, no man mare, And I betrayed hym traytourly With a false trayne. Sakles I solde his blessid body Vnto Jues for to be slayne. To slaa my souereyne assente I And tolde them the tyme of his takyng,

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Shamously myselfe thus schente I So sone for to sente to his slayng. Nowe wiste I howe he myght passe that payne; To loke that howe beste bote myght be Vnto the Jues I will agayne To saue hym-he myght passe free, THis ware my will. Lorde, welthe and worschippe mot with yow be.
Pilate
What tythandis, Judas, tellis thou vs till? Line 153
Judas
My tydyngis are tenefull, I telle yoou Line 154 Sir Pilate, therfore I you praye, My maistir that I gune selle yoou, Gode lorde, late hym wende on his way.
Caiphas
Nay, nedelyngis Judas, that we denye. Line 158 What mynde or mater has moued the thus?
Judas
Sir, I haue synned full greuously, Line 160 Betraied that rightwisse bloode, Jesus And maistir myne.
Caiphas
Bewscher, what is that till vs? Line 163 THe perill and the plight is thyne. Thyne is the wronge, thou wroughte it. THou hight vs full trulye to take hym, And oures is the bargayne, we boughte it- Loo, we are alle sente for to slee hym.
Judas
Allas, that may me rewe full ill Line 169 Giffe yoe assente hym for to slaa.
Pilate
Why, what wolde thou that we did thertill? Line 171
Judas
I praie you goode lorde, late hym gaa, Line 172 And here is of me youre paymente playne.
Caiphas
Naie, we will noght so, Line 174 We bought hym for he schulde be slayne. To slee hym thiselffe thou assentit, THis wate thou wondirly wele. What right is nowe to repente it? THou schapist thiselffe vnseele.
Anna
Do waie Judas, thou dose for noght, Line 180 Thy wordis I warne the are in waste.

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Thyselffe to selle hym whanne thou vs sought, THou was agaynste hym thanne the moste Of vs ilkan.
Caiphas
We schall be venged on hym in haste, Line 185 Whedir that euere he wille or none.
Pilate
THer wordis that thou nenys noght nedis it, Line 187 THou onhanged harlott, harke what I saie; Spare of thy spekyng, noght spedis it, Or walke oute at the dore in the deuill way.
Judas
Why will ye thanne noyot latte hym passe Line 191 And haue of me agayne youre paie?
Pilate
I telle the traytoure, I wille it noght. Line 193
Judas
Allas, thanne am I lorne Line 194 Bothe bone and bloode. Allas the while so may I saie, That euere I sente to spille his bloode. To saue his bloode sirs, I saie youe, And takes you thare youre payment hole. Spare for to spille hym I praye youe, Ellis brewe yoe me full mekill bale.
Pilate
Nay, heriste thou Judas, thou schall agayne, Line 202 We will it nouyot. What deuyll art thou? When thou vs sought thou was full fayne Of this money. What aylis the nowe For to repente?
Judas
Agayne sirs here I giffe it you, Line 207 And saue hym that he be noyot schent.
Pilate
To schende hym thyselfe has the schamed, Line 209 THou may lathe with thi liffe that thou ledis, Fondely as a false foole thiselffe has famed, Therfore the deuyll the droune for thy darfe dedis.
Judas
I knawe my trespasse and my gilte, Line 213 It is so grete it garres me grise; Me is full woo he schulde be spilte, Might I hym saue of any wise Wele were me than. Saue hym sirs-to youre seruise I will me bynde to be your man. Youre bondeman, lorde, to be Nowe euere will I bynde me.

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Sir Pilate, ye may trowe me, Full faithfull schall yoe fynde me.
Pilate
Fynde the faithfull? A, foule mot the falle Line 224 Or thou come in oure companye, For by Mahoundes bloode thou wolde selle vs all. Thi seruice will we noght, forthy THou art vnknowen. Fals tiraunte, for thi traitoury THou art worthi to be hanged and drawen. Hanged and drawen schulde thou be, knave, And thou had right, by all goode reasoune. Thi maistirs bloode thou biddist vs saue And thou was firste that did hym treasoune.
Judas
I cry yoou mercy lorde, on me rewe, Line 235 THis werryd wight that wronge has wrought. Haue mercy on my maistir trewe THat I haue in youre bandome brought [... ...] Line 238
Pilate
Goo jape the Judas, and neuen it noght, Line 239 Nor move vs of this matere more.
Anna
No more of this matere thou move the, Line 241 THou momeland mytyng emell, Oure poynte expresse her reproues the Of felonye falsely and felle.
Caiphas
He grucchis noyot to graunte his gilte, Line 245 Why schonnys thou noyot to shewe thi schame? We bought hym for he schulde be spilte, All same we were consente to the same And thiselffe als. THou feyned noyot for to defame, THou saide he was a traytoure fals.
Pilate
YOaa, and for a false faitoure Line 252 Thyselffe full fully gon file hym- O that was a trante of a traytour, So sone thou schulde goo to begile hym.
Miles 1
What, wolde thou that we lete hym ga, Line 256 Yone weried wight that wrought such wronge? We will noght lose oure bargayne swaa, So lightely for to late hym gang. And reson why?

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Latte we that lotterell liffe ought long It will be fonde, in faith, foly.
Miles 2
Yone folte, for no fooles schall he fynde vs. Line 263 We wotte all full wele howe it was His maistir whanne he gune bringe vs, He praied yow my goode lord late hym not passe.
Pilate
Nay, sertis, he schalle noyot passe free Line 267 THat we for oure mony has paied.
Judas
Take it agayne that yoe toke me Line 269 And saue hym fro that bittir braide, THan were I fayne.
Anna
Itt serues of noght that thou has saide, Line 272 And therfore takis it tyte agayne.
Pilate
Tyte agayne, traytoure, thou take it, Line 274 We wille it noght welde within oure wolde. YOitt schalte thou noyot, sawterell, thus sune forsake it, For I schall sers hym myselffe sen thou has hym solde.
Caiphas
Forsake it in faith, that he ne schall, Line 278 For we will halde hym that we haue. The payment chenys the withall, The thar no nodir comenaunte craue [... ...] Line 281
Judas
Sen yoe assente hym for to slaa, Line 282 Vengeaunce I crie on you ilkone. Ilkane I crie, the deuill fordo youe, And that myghte I both here and see. Herde heuenyng here I wnto youe, For sorowe onsought ye on me se.
Caiphas
Whe, fye on the, traytoure attaynte, at this tyde, Line 288 Of treasoune thou tyxste hym that triste the for trewe. Do buske the henne, brothell, no lenger thou abide, For if thou do, all thi respouns sare schall the rewe. Say, wote thou noght who is I? Nowe be my nociens, myght I negh nere the, In certayne, ladde, yitt schulde I lere the To lordis to speke curtaisely.
Pilate
Go thy gatis, geddlyng, and greue vs no more. Line 296 Leffe of thi talke, the deuill mot the hange.

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Judas
THat att yoe toke me, take it you there, Line 298 Ther with youre maistrie make yowe emange And clayme it you clene, Me lathes with my liff, so liffe I to lang, My traitourfull torne he turment my tene. Sen for my treasoune haue I tane vnto me, Me thare aske no mercy, for none mon Y gete. Therfore in haste myselffe schall fordo me, Allas the harde while that euere ete I meete. Thus schall I marke my mytyng meede And wirke me wreke with harte and will, To spille myselffe nowe wille I spede, For sadly haue I seruyd thertill. So walaway THat euere I was in witte or wille THat tristy trewe for to betraye. Allas, who may I meue to, Shall I me take non othir reede? Miselffe in haste I schall fordoo And take me nowe vnto my dede.
Caiphas
Haue done nowe sir Pilate, late se what yoe saie Line 318 As touchyng this money that we here haue, THat Judas in a wreth has wauyd away And keste vs crabbidly, that cursed knave. How saie yoe therby?
Anna
Sir, sen he it slang we schall it saue. Line 323
Caiphas
Tite truste it tille oure tresorie. Line 324
Pilate
Nay sir, noght soo. Line 325
Caiphas
Why sir, how than? Line 325
Pilate
Sir, it schall nouyot combre vs nor come in oure corbonan. Line 326
Caiphas
No, tille oure tresory certayne farther schall it nought. Line 327
Pilate
And se youreselffe soth certayne and skill Line 328 It is price of the bloode that we with it boght, Therfore some othir poynte I purpose it till, And thus I deuyse: A spotte of erthe for to by wayte nowe I will, To berie in pilgrimes that by the wey dies. Pilgrimes and palmeres to putte there- Sir Kaiphas and Anna, assente yoe therto?-

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And othere false felons that we forfare.
Anna
As yoe deme lorde, so wille we doo. Line 337
Armiger
Hayle sir Pilate perles, and prince of this empire, Line 338 Haile the gaiest on grounde in golde ther yoe glide, Haile the louffeliest lorde of lyme and of lyre, And all the soferans semely that sittith the beside.
Pilate
What wolde thou? Line 342
Armiger
A worde lorde, and wende. Line 342
Pilate
Nowe thou arte welcome iwisse. Line 343 But delyuere the lightly withouten any lette, We haue no tome all day to tente onto the.
Armiger
A place here-beside lorde wolde I wedde-sette. Line 346
Pilate
What title has thou therto? Is it thyne awne free? Line 347
Armiger
Lorde, fre be my fredome me fallis it, Line 348 THis tale is full trewe that I telle yoou, And Caluary-locus men callis it. I wolle it wedde-sette, but not for to selle yoou.
Pilate
What wolde thou borowe, bewshire? Belyve late me se. Line 352
Armiger
If it ware youre lekyng, my lorde, for to lene it, Line 353 xxxti pens I wolde yoe lente onto me.
Caiphas
Yis bewshire, that schall thou haue. Line 355
Pilate
Shewe vs thi dedis and haue here thi mony. Line 356
Armiger
Haue her gode lord, but loke yoe thame saue. Line 357
Pilate
YOis certis, we schall saue thame full soundely, Line 358 And ellis do we noght dewly oure deuere. Faste, freke, for thy faith, on thy fote fonde the, For fro this place, bewschere, I soile the foreuere.
Armiger
Now sorowe on such socoure as I haue soght, Line 362 For all my tresoure thurgh tresoune I tyne. I tyne it vntrewly by tresoune, THerfore nowe my way will I wende, For yoe do me no right nor no resoune I betake you all to the fende.
Pilate
Nowe certis we are serued att all, Line 368 THis place is purchesed full propirly. The Felde of Bloode loke yoe it call, I you comaunde ilkone forthy.
Caiphas
Sir, as yoe comaunde vs call it schall we soo. Line 372 But my lorde, with youre leue, we may lende her no lengar,

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But faste late vs founde to fang on oure foo, YOone gedlyng ongodly has brewed vs grete angir.
Anna
Do way sir busshoppe, and be not abaste, Line 376 For loste is all oure lekyng, lepe he so light.
Caiphas
Nay sir, he schall not trusse so tite, and that be yoe traste, Line 378 For it wynnes vs no worschippe the werkis of yone wight, But grete angir. Forthy late vs dresse vs his deth for to dite, And late we this lotterell leue her no lengar.
Pilate
Sir Kayphas, thurgh counsaile comaunde we our knyghtis Line 383 To wacche on yone warlowe what way that he wendis. Do dresse yoou nowe dewly, to yone doderon yoou dightis And lette noyot to laite hym in lande where he lendis, Nor leuys hym noyot lightly.
Miles 2
In faith we schall fette hym full farre fro his frendis. Line 388
Pilate
Nowe walkis on in the wanyand and wende youre way wightely. Line 389
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