The York plays

Play 36

Pilate

Sees, seniours, and see what I saie, Line 1 Takis tente to my talkyng enteere. Devoyde all this dynne here this day, And fallis to my frenschippe in feere. Sir Pilate, a prince withowten pere, My name is full neuenly to neuen, And domisman full derworth in dere Of gentillest Jewry full euen Am I. Who makis oppressioun Or dose transgressioun, Be my discressioun Shall be demed dewly to dy. To dye schall I deme thame, to dede, THo rebelles that rewles thame vnright. Who that to yoone hill wille take heede May se ther the soth in his sight, Howe doulfull to dede thei are dight That liste noyot owre lawes for to lere. Lo, thus be my mayne and my myght Tho churles schalle I chasteise and cheere, Be lawe.

Ilke feloune false Shall hynge be the halse. Transgressours als On the crosse schalle be knytte for to knawe. To knawe schall I knytte thame on crosse, To schende thame with schame schall I shappe. Ther liffis for to leese is no losse, Suche tirrauntis with teene for to trappe. THus leelly the lawe I vnlappe And punyssh thame pitously. Of Jesu I holde it vnhappe THat he on yone hill hyng so hye For gilte. His bloode to spille Toke ye you tille, THus was youre wille Full spitously to spede he were spilte.

Caiphas

To spille hym we spake in a speede, Line 40 For falsed he folowde in faie. With fraudes oure folke gan he feede And laboured to lere thame his laye.

Anna

Sir Pilate, of pees we youe praye- Line 44 Oure lawe was full lyke to be lorne. He saued noyot oure dere Sabott daye, And that-for to scape it-were a scorne, By lawe.

Pilate

Sirs, before youre sight, Line 49 With all my myght I examynde hym right, And cause non in hym cowthe I knawe.

Caiphas

YOe knawe wele the cause sir, in cace; Line 53 It touched treasoune vntrewe. THe tribute to take or to trace Forbadde he, oure bale for to brewe.

Anna

Of japes yoitt jangelid yone Jewe, Line 57 And cursedly he called hym a kyng. To deme hym to dede it is diewe, For treasoune it touches, that thyng, Indede.

Caiphas

YOitt principall, Line 62 And worste of all, He garte hym call Goddes sonne-that foulle motte hyme speede.

Pilate

He spedis for to spille in space, Line 66 So wondirly wrought is youre will. His bloode schall youre bodis enbrace, For that haue yoe taken you till.

Anna

THat forwarde ful fayne to fulfille Line 70 Indede schall we dresse vs bedene. YOone losell hym likis full ille, For turned is his trantis all to teene, I trowe.

Caiphas

He called hym kyng, Line 75 Ille joie hym wring. YOa, late hym hyng Full madly on the mone for to mowe.

Anna

To mowe on the moone has he mente. Line 79 We, fye on the, faitour, in faye! Who, trowes thou, to thi tales toke tente? THou saggard, thiselffe gan thou saie, THe tempill distroie the todaye, Be the thirde day ware done ilka dele To rayse it thou schulde the arraye. Loo, howe was thi falsed to feele, Foule falle the. For thy presumpcyoune THou haste thy warisoune. Do faste come doune, And a comely kyng schalle I calle thee.

Caiphas

I calle the a coward to kenne, Line 92 THat meruaylles and mirakills made. THou mustered emange many menne; But, brothell, thou bourded to brade. THou saued thame fro sorowes, thai saide- To saue nowe thiselffe late vs see. God sonne if thou grathely be grayde, Delyuere the doune of that tree Anone. If thou be funne To be Goddis sonne, We schalle be bonne To trowe on the trewlye ilkone.

Anna

Sir Pilate, youre pleasaunce we praye, Line 105 Takis tente to oure talkyng this tide, And wipe yoe yone writyng away, It is not beste it abide. It sittis youe to sette it aside And sette that he saide in his sawe,

As he that was prente full of pride: `Jewes kyng am I', comely to knawe, Full playne.

Pilate

Quod scripci, scripci. Line 114 YOone same wrotte I; I bide therby, What gedlyng will grucche thereagayne.

Jesus

THou man that of mys here has mente, Line 118 To me tente enteerly thou take. On roode am I ragged and rente, THou synfull sawle, for thy sake; For thy misse amendis wille I make. My bakke for to bende here I bide, THis teene for thi trespase I take. Who couthe the more kyndynes haue kydde Than I? THus for thy goode I schedde my bloode. Manne, mende thy moode, For full bittir thi blisse mon I by.

Mary

Allas for my swete sonne I saie, Line 131 THat doulfully to dede thus is diyot. Allas, for full louely he laye In my wombe, this worthely wight. Allas that I schulde see this sight Of my sone so semely to see. Allas, that this blossome so bright Vntrewly is tugged to this tree. Allas, My lorde, my leyffe, With full grete greffe Hyngis as a theffe. Allas, he did neuer trespasse.

Jesus

THou woman, do way of thy wepyng, Line 144 For me may thou nothyng amende. My fadirs wille to be wirkyng, For mankynde my body I bende.

Mary

Allas, that thou likes noght to lende, Line 148 Howe schulde I but wepe for thy woo? To care nowe my comforte is kende. Allas, why schulde we twynne thus in twoo Foreuere?

Jesus

Womanne, instede of me, Line 153

Line 153 Loo, John thi sone schall bee. John, see to thi modir free, For my sake do thou thi deuere.

Mary

Allas sone, sorowe and siyote, Line 157 THat me were closed in clay. A swerde of sorowe me smyte, To dede I were done this day.

John

A, modir, so schall yoe noght saie. Line 161 I praye youe be pees in this presse, For with all the myght that I maye Youre comforte I caste to encresse, Indede. Youre sone am I, Loo, here redy; And nowe forthy I praye yowe hense for to speede.

Mary

My steuen for to stede or to steere, Line 170 Howe schulde I, such sorowe to see, My sone that is dereworthy and dere Thus doulfull a dede for to dye?

John

A, dere modir, blynne of this blee, Line 174 Youre mournyng it may not amende.

Mary Cleophas

A, Marie, take triste vnto the, Line 176 For socoure to the will he sende THis tyde.

John

Fayre modir, faste Line 179 Hense latte vs caste.

Mary

To he be paste Line 181 Wille I buske here baynly to bide.

Jesus

With bittirfull bale haue I bought, Line 183 THus, man, all thi misse for te mende. On me for to looke lette thou noyot, Howe baynly my body I bende. No wighte in this worlde wolde haue wende What sorowe I suffre for thy sake. Manne, kaste the thy kyndynesse be kende, Trewe tente vnto me that thou take, And treste. For foxis ther dennys haue thei, Birdis hase ther nestis to paye, But the sone of man this daye Hase noyot on his heed for to reste.

Latro Sinister

If thou be Goddis sone so free, Line 196 Why hyng thou thus on this hille? To saffe nowe thyselffe late vs see, And vs now, that spedis for to spille.

Latro Dexter

Manne, stynte of thy steuen and be stille, Line 200 For douteles thy God dredis thou noyot. Full wele are we worthy thertill, Vnwisely wrange haue we wrought, Iwisse. Noon ille did hee THus for to dye. Lord, haue mynde of me Whan thou art come to thi blisse.

Jesus

Forsothe sonne, to the schall I saie, Line 209 Sen thou fro thy foly will falle, Sen thou fro thy foly will falle, With me schall dwelle nowe this daye, In paradise place principall. Heloy, heloy! My God, my God full free, Lama zabatanye, Wharto forsoke thou me In care? And I did neuere ille THis dede for to go tille, But be it at thi wille. A, me thristis sare.

Garcio

A drinke schalle I dresse the, indede, Line 222 A draughte that is full dayntely dight. Full faste schall I springe for to spede, I hope I schall holde that I haue hight.

Caiphas

Sir Pilate that moste is of myght, Line 226 Harke, `Heely' now harde I hym crye. He wenys that that worthely wight In haste for to helpe hym in hye In his nede.

Pilate

If he do soo Line 231 He schall haue woo.

Anna

He wer oure foo Line 233 If he dresse hym to do vs that dede.

Garcio

THat dede for to dresse yf he doo, Line 235 In sertis he schall rewe it full sore.

Neuerethelees, if he like it noght, loo, Full sone may he couere that care. Now swete sir, youre wille yf it ware, A draughte here of drinke haue I dreste, To spede for no spence that yoe spare, But baldely ye bib it for the beste. For-why Aysell and galle Is menged withalle; Drynke it yoe schalle- Youre lippis I halde thame fulle drye.

Jesus

THi drinke it schalle do me no deere, Line 248 Wete thou wele, therof will I none. Nowe fadir, that formed alle in fere, To thy moste myght make I my mone: THi wille haue I wrought in this wone, THus ragged and rente on this roode, THus doulffully to dede haue thei done. Forgiffe thame be grace that is goode, THai ne wote noyot what it was. My fadir, here my bone, For nowe all thyng is done. My spirite to thee right sone Comende I, in manus tuas.

Mary

Now dere sone, Jesus so jente, Line 261 Sen my harte is heuy as leede, O worde wolde I witte or thou wente. Allas, nowe my dere sone is dede, Full rewfully refte is my rede. Allas for my darlyng so dere.

John

A, modir, yoe halde vppe youre heede, Line 267 And sigh noyot with sorowes so seere I praye.

Mary Cleophas

It dose hir pyne Line 270 To see hym tyne. Lede we her heyne, THis mornyng helpe hir ne maye.

Caiphas

Sir Pilate, parceyue I you praye, Line 274 Oure costemes to kepe wele yoe canne. Tomorne is oure dere Sabott daye, Of mirthe muste vs meve ilke a man.

YOone warlous nowe waxis full wan And nedis muste thei beried be. Delyuer ther dede sir, and thane Shall we sewe to oure saide solempnité Indede.

Pilate

It schalle be done Line 283 In wordis fone. Sir knyghtis, go sone, To yoone harlottis you hendely take heede. THo caytiffis thou kille with thi knyffe- Delyuere, haue done thei were dede.

Miles

Mi lorde, I schall lenghe so ther liffe Line 289 THat tho brothelles schall neuere bite brede.

Pilate

Ser Longeus, steppe forthe in this steede; Line 291 THis spere, loo, haue halde in thy hande. To Jesus thou rake fourthe I rede, And sted nouyot, but stiffely thou stande A stounde. In Jesu side Schoffe it this tyde. No lenger bide, But grathely thou go to the grounde.

Longeus Latus

O maker vnmade, full of myght, Line 300 O Jesu so jentill and jente THat sodenly has sente me my sight, Lorde, louyng to the be it lente. On rode arte thou ragged and rente, Mankynde for to mende of his mys. Full spitously spilte is and spente Thi bloode, lorde, to bringe vs to blis Full free. A, mercy my socoure, Mercy, my treasoure, Mercy, my sauioure, THi mercy be markid in me.

Centurio

O wondirfull werkar iwis, Line 313 THis weedir is waxen full wan. Trewe token I trowe that it is THat mercy is mente vnto man. Full clerly consayue thus I can No cause in this corse couthe thei knowe, YOitt doulfull thei demyd hym than

To lose thus his liffe be ther lawe, No riyote. Trewly I saie, Goddis sone verraye Was he this daye, THat doulfully to dede thus is diyot.

Joseph

THat lorde lele ay-lastyng in lande, Line 326 Sir Pilate, full preste in this presse, He saue the be see and be sande, And all that is derworth on deesse.

Pilate

Joseph, this is lely, no lesse, Line 330 To me arte thou welcome iwisse. Do saie me the soth or thou sesse, Thy worthyly wille what it is Anone.

Joseph

To the I praye, Line 335 Giffe me in hye Jesu bodye, In gree it for to graue al alone.

Pilate

Joseph sir, I graunte the that geste, Line 339 I grucche noyot to grath hym in grave. Delyuer, haue done he were dreste, And sewe, sir, oure Sabott to saffe.

Joseph

With handis and harte that I haue Line 343 I thanke the in faith for my frende. God kepe the thi comforte to craue, For wightely my way will I wende In hye. To do that dede He be my speede THat armys gun sprede, Mannekynde be his bloode for to bye.

Nicodemus

Weill mette, ser. In mynde gune I meffe Line 352 For Jesu that juged was vnjente. Ye laboured for license and leve To berye his body on bente?

Joseph

Full myldely that matere I mente, Line 356 And that for to do will I dresse.

Nicodemus

Both same I wolde that we wente Line 358 And lette not for more ne for lesse, For-why Oure frende was he, Faithfull and free.

Joseph

THerfore go we Line 363 To berie that body in hye. All mankynde may marke in his mynde To see here this sorowfull sight. No falsnesse in hym couthe thei fynde THat doulfully to dede thus is dight.

Nicodemus

He was a full worthy wight, Line 369 Nowe blemysght and bolned with bloode.

Joseph

YOa, for that he mustered his myght, Line 371 Full falsely thei fellid that foode I wyne. Bothe bakke and side Has woundes wide, Forthi this tyde Take we hym doune vs betwene.

Nicodemus

Betwene vs take we hym doune Line 378 And laie hym on lenthe on this lande.

Joseph

THis reuerent and riche of rennoune, Line 380 Late vs halde hym and halse hym with hande. A graue haue I garte here be ordande THat neuer was in noote, it is newe.

Nicodemus

To this corse it is comely accordande, Line 384 To dresse hym with dedis full dewe THis stounde.

Joseph

A sudarye, Line 387 Loo here, haue I. Wynde hym forthy, And sone schalle we graue hym in grounde.

Nicodemus

In grounde late vs graue hym and goo; Line 391 Do liffely latte vs laie hym allone. Nowe sauiour be see and be sande, THou kepe vs in clennesse ilkone.

Joseph

To thy mercy nowe make I my moone: Line 395 As sauiour be see and be sande, THou gyde me that my griffe be al gone, With lele liffe to lenge in this lande, And esse.

Nicodemus

Seere oynementis here haue I Line 400 Brought for this faire body. I anoynte the forthy With myrre and aloes.

Joseph

THis dede it is done ilke a dele, Line 404 And wroughte is this werke wele iwis. To the, kyng, on knes here I knele, THat baynly thou belde me in blisse.

Nicodemus

He highte me full hendely to be his Line 408 A nyght whan I neghed hym full nere. Haue mynde lorde, and mende me of mys, For done is oure dedis full dere THis tyde.

Joseph

THis lorde so goode Line 413 THat schedde his bloode, He mende youre moode, And buske on this blis for to bide.