The York plays

Play 37

Jesus

Manne on molde, be meke to me, Line 1 And haue thy maker in thi mynde, And thynke howe I haue tholid for the With pereles paynes for to be pyned. The forward of my fadir free Haue I fulfillid, as folke may fynde, THerfore aboute nowe woll I bee THat I haue bought for to vnbynde. THe feende thame wanne with trayne Thurgh frewte of erthely foode; I haue thame getyn agayne Thurgh bying with my bloode.

And so I schall that steede restore For whilke the feende fell for synne, THare schalle mankynde wonne euermore In blisse that schall neuere blynne. All that in werke my werkemen were, Owte of thare woo I wol thame wynne, And some signe schall I sende before Of grace, to garre ther gamys begynne. A light I woll thei haue To schewe thame I schall come sone. My bodie bidis in graue Tille alle thes dedis be done. My fadir ordand on this wise Aftir his will that I schulde wende, For to fulfille the prophicyes, And als I spake my solace to spende. My frendis that in me faith affies, Nowe fro ther fois I schall thame fende, And on the thirde day ryght vprise, And so tille heuen I schall assende. Sithen schall I come agayne To deme bothe goode and ill Tille endles joie or peyne; THus is my fadris will.

Adam

Mi bretheren, harkens to me here, Line 37 Swilke hope of heele neuere are we hadde; Foure thowsande and sex hundereth yoere Haue we bene heere in this stedde. Nowe see I signe of solace seere, A glorious gleme to make vs gladde, Wherfore I hope oure helpe is nere And sone schall sesse oure sorowes sadde.

Eue

Adame, my husband hende, Line 45 THis menys solas certayne. Such light gune on vs lende In paradise full playne.

Isaiah

Adame, we schall wele vndirstande- Line 49 I, Ysaias, as God me kende,

I prechid in Neptalym, that lande, And Zabulon, even vntill ende. I spake of folke in mirke walkand And saide a light schulde on thame lende. This lered I whils I was leuand, Nowe se I God this same hath sende. THis light comes all of Criste, THat seede to saue vs nowe. THus is my poynte puplisshid- But Symeon, what sais thou?

Symeon

THhis, my tale of farleis feele, Line 61 For in the temple his frendis me fande. I hadde delite with hym to dele And halsed homely with my hande. I saide, `Lorde, late thy seruaunt lele Passe nowe in pesse to liffe lastand, For nowe myselfe has sene thy hele Me liste no lengar to liffe in landé. THis light thou hast purueyed To folkes that liffis in leede, THe same that I thame saide I see fulfillid in dede.

John the Baptist

Als voyce criand to folke I kende Line 73 THe weyes of Criste als I wele kanne. I baptiste hym with bothe my hende Euen in the floode of flume Jordanne. THe holy goste fro heuene discende Als a white dowue doune on hym thanne; The fadir voice, my mirthe to mende, Was made to me euen als manne: `This is my soné, he saide, `In whome me paies full welé. His light is on vs laide, He comes oure cares to kele.

Moyses

Of that same light lernyng haue I: Line 85 To me, Moyses, he mustered his myght, And also vnto anodir, Hely, Wher we were on an hille on hight. Whyte as snowe was his body, And his face like to the sonne to sight;

No man on molde was so myghty Grathely to loke agaynste that light. THat same light se I nowe Shynyng on vs sarteyne, Wherfore trewly I trowe We schalle sone passe fro payne.

Diabolus 1

Helpe, Belsabub, to bynde ther boyes- Line 97 Such harrowe was neuer are herde in helle.

Diabolus 2

Why rooris thou soo, Rebalde? THou royis- Line 99 What is betidde, canne thou ought telle?

Diabolus 1

What, heris thou noyot this vggely noyse? Line 101 THes lurdans that in Lymbo dwelle, THei make menyng of many joies And musteres grete mirthe thame emell.

Diabolus 2

Mirthe? Nay, nay, that poynte is paste, Line 105 More hele schall thei neuer haue.

Diabolus 1

THei crie on Criste full faste Line 107 And sais he schal thame saue.

Belsabub

YOa, if he saue thame noght, we schall, Line 109 For they are sperde in speciall space. Whils I am prince and principall Schall thei neuer passe oute of this place. Calle vppe Astrotte and Anaball To giffe ther counsaille in this case, Bele-Berit and Belial, To marre thame that swilke maistries mase. Say to Satan oure sire, And bidde thame bringe also Lucifer, louely of lyre.

Diabolus 1

Al redy, lorde, I goo. Line 120

Jesus

Attollite portas, principes, Line 121 Oppen vppe, yoe princes of paynes sere, Et eleuamini eternales, Youre yendles yoatis that yoe haue here.

Satan

What page is there that makes prees Line 125 And callis hym kyng of vs in fere?

David

I lered leuand, withouten lees, Line 127 He is a kyng of vertues clere, A lorde mekill of myght And stronge in ilke a stoure, In batailes ferse to fight And worthy to wynne honnoure.

Satan

Honnoure? In the deuel way! For what dede? Line 133 All erthely men to me are thrall. THe lady that calles hym lorde in leede Hadde neuer yoitt herberowe, house, ne halle.

Diabolus 1

Harke Belsabub, I haue grete drede, Line 137 For hydously I herde hym calle.

Belial

We, spere oure yoates, all ill mot thou spede, Line 139 And sette furthe watches on the wall- And if he calle or crie To make vs more debate, Lay on hym than hardely And garre hym gange his gate.

Satan

Telle me what boyes dare be so bolde Line 145 For drede to make so mekill draye.

Diabolus 1

Itt is the Jewe that Judas solde Line 147 For to be dede this othir daye.

Satan

Owe, this tale in tyme is tolde, Line 149 THis traytoure traueses vs alway. He schall be here full harde in holde, Loke that he passe noght, I the praye.

Diabolus 2

Nay, nay, he will noyot wende Line 153 Away or I be ware, He shappis hym for to schende Alle helle or he go ferre.

Satan

Nay faitour, therof schall he faile, Line 157 For alle his fare I hym deffie. I knowe his trantis fro toppe to taile, He leuys with gaudis and with gilery. THerby he brought oute of oure bale Nowe late Lazar of Betannye; THerfore I gaffe to the Jewes counsaille THat thei schulde alway garre hym dye. I entered in Judas THat forwarde to fulfille, THerfore his hire he has Allway to wonne here stille.

Belsabub

Sir Sattanne, sen we here the saie Line 169 THat thou and the Jewes wer same assente, And wotte he wanne Lazar awaye THat tille vs was tane for to tente, Trowe thou that thou marre hym maye, To mustir mightis what he has mente?

If he nowe depriue vs of oure praye, We will yoe witte whanne thei are wente.

Satan

I bidde yoou be noyot abasshed, Line 177 But boldely make youe boune With toles that yoe on traste, And dynge that dastard doune.

Jesus

Principes, portas tollite, Line 181 Vndo youre yoatis, yoe princis of pryde, Et introibit rex glorie, THe kyng of blisse comes in this tyde.

Satan

Owte, harrowe! What harlot is hee Line 185 THat sais his kyngdome schall be cryed?

David

THat may thou in my Sawter see, Line 187 For that poynte I prophicied. I saide that he schuld breke Youre barres and bandis by name, And on youre werkis take wreke- Nowe schalle yoe see the same.

Jesus

THis steede schall stonde no lenger stoken: Line 193 Opynne vppe, and latte my pepul passe.

Diabolus 1

Owte! Beholdes, oure baill is brokynne, Line 195 And brosten are alle oure bandis of bras- Telle Lucifer alle is vnlokynne.

Belsabub

What thanne, is Lymbus lorne? Allas, Line 198 Garre Satan helpe that we wer wroken; THis werke is werse thanne euere it was.

Satan

I badde yoe schulde be boune Line 201 If he made maistries more. Do dynge that dastard doune And sette hym sadde and sore.

Belsabub

YOa, sette hym sore-that is sone saide, Line 205 But come thiselffe and serue hym soo. We may not bide his bittir braide, He wille vs marre and we wer moo.

Satan

What, faitours, wherfore are yoe flayd? Line 209 Haue yoe no force to flitte hym froo? Belyue loke that my gere be grathed, Miselffe schall to that gedlyng goo.

Howe, belamy, abide, With al thy booste and bere, And telle to me this tyde What maistries makes thou here?

Jesus

I make no maistries but for myne, Line 217 THame wolle I saue I telle the nowe. THou hadde no poure thame to pyne, But as my prisounes for ther prowe Here haue thei soiorned, noght as thyne, But in thy warde-thou wote wele howe.

Satan

And what deuel haste thou done ay syne Line 223 THat neuer wolde negh thame nere or nowe?

Jesus

Nowe is the tyme certayne Line 225 Mi fadir ordand before, THat they schulde passe fro payne And wonne in mirthe euer more.

Satan

Thy fadir knewe I wele be sight, Line 229 He was a write his mette to wynne, And Marie me menys thi modir hight- THe vttiremeste ende of all thi kynne. Who made the be so mekill of myght?

Jesus

THou wikid feende, latte be thy dynne. Line 234 Mi fadir wonnys in heuen on hight, With blisse that schall neuere blynne. I am his awne sone, His forward to fulfille, And same ay schall we wonne And sundir whan we wolle.

Satan

God sonne? THanne schulde thou be ful gladde, Line 241 Aftir no catel neyd thowe crave! But thou has leued ay like a ladde, And in sorowe as a symple knave.

Jesus

THat was for hartely loue I hadde Line 245 Vnto mannis soule, it for to saue; And for to make the mased and madde, And by that resoune thus dewly to haue Mi Godhede here, I hidde In Marie modir myne, For it schulde noyot be kidde To the nor to none of thyne.

Satan

A, this wolde I were tolde in ilke a toune. Line 253 So, sen thou sais God is thy sire, I schall the proue be right resoune THou motes his men into the myre. To breke his bidding were thei boune, And, for they did at my desire, Fro paradise he putte thame doune In helle here to haue ther hyre. And thyselfe, day and nyght, Has taught al men emang To do resoune and right, And here werkis thou all wrang.

Jesus

I wirke noght wrang, that schal thow witte, Line 265 If I my men fro woo will wynne. Mi prophetis playnly prechid it, All this note that nowe begynne. THai saide that I schulde be obitte, To helle that I schulde entre in, And saue my seruauntis fro that pitte Wher dampned saulis schall sitte for synne. And ilke trewe prophettis tale Muste be fulfillid in mee; I haue thame boughte with bale, And in blisse schal thei be.

Satan

Nowe sen the liste allegge the lawes, Line 277 THou schalte be atteynted or we twynne, For tho that thou to wittenesse drawes Full even agaynste the will begynne. Salamon saide in his sawes THat whoso enteres helle withynne Shall neuer come oute, thus clerkis knawes- And therfore felowe, leue thi dynne. Job, thi seruaunte, also THus in his tyme gune telle THat nowthir frende nor foo Shulde fynde reles in helle.

Jesus

He saide full soth, that schall thou see, Line 289 THat in helle may be no reles, But of that place than preched he Where synffull care schall euere encrees.

And in that bale ay schall thou be Whare sorowes sere schall neuer sesse, And for my folke therfro wer free, Nowe schall thei passe to the place of pees. THai were here with my wille, And so schall thei fourthe wende, And thiselue schall fulfille THer wooe withouten ende.

Satan

Owe, thanne se I howe thou menys emang Line 301 Some mesure with malice to melle, Sen thou sais all schall noyot gang, But some schalle alway with vs dwelle.

Jesus

YOaa, witte thou wele, ellis were it wrang, Line 305 Als cursed Cayme that slewe Abell, And all that hastis hemselue to hange, Als Judas and Archedefell, Datan and Abiron, And alle of thare assente, Als tyrantis euerilkone THat me and myne turmente. And all that liste noght to lere my lawe THat I haue lefte in lande nowe newe- THat is my comyng for to knawe, And to my sacramente pursewe, Mi dede, my rysing, rede be rawe- Who will noght trowe, thei are noght trewe. Vnto my dome I schall thame drawe, And juge thame worse thanne any Jewe. And all that likis to leere My lawe and leue therbye, Shall neuere haue harmes heere, But welthe, as is worthy.

Satan

Nowe here my hande, I halde me paied, Line 325 THis poynte is playnly for oure prowe. If this be soth that thou hast saide We schall haue moo thanne we haue nowe. THis lawe that thou nowe late has laide I schall lere men noyot to allowe; Iff thei it take thei be betraied, For I schall turne thame tyte, I trowe. I schall walke este and weste, And garre thame werke wele werre.

Jesus

Naye, feende, thou schall be feste, Line 335 THat thou schalte flitte not ferre.

Satan

Feste? THat were a foule reasoune- Line 337 Nay bellamy, thou bus be smytte.

Jesus

Mighill myne aungell, make the boune Line 339 And feste yone fende that he noght flitte. And, Deuyll, I comaunde the go doune Into thy selle where thou schalte sitte.

Satan

Owt! Ay herrowe! Helpe, Mahounde! Line 343 Nowe wex I woode oute of my witte.

Belsabub

Sattan, this saide we are, Line 345 Nowe schall thou fele thi fitte.

Satan

Allas for dole and care, Line 347 I synke into helle pitte.

Adam

A, Jesu, lorde, mekill is thi myght, Line 349 That mekis thiselffe in this manere, Vs for to helpe as thou has hight, Whanne both forfette, I and my feere. Here haue we leuyd withouten light Four thousand and vi c yoere; Now se I be this solempne sight Howe thy mercy hath made vs clere.

Eue

A, lorde, we were worthy Line 357 Mo turmentis for to taste, But mende vs with mercye Als thou of myght is moste.

John the Baptist

A, lorde, I loue the inwardly, Line 361 That me wolde make thi messengere Thy comyng in erth for to crye, And teche thi faith to folke in feere; And sithen before the for to dye And bringe boodworde to thame here, How thai schulde haue thyne helpe in hye. Nowe se I all thi poyntis appere Als Dauid, prophete trewe, Ofte tymes tolde vntill vs; Of this comyng he knewe, And saide it schulde be thus.

David

Als I haue saide, yoitt saie I soo, Line 373 Ne derelinquas, domine, Animam meam in inferno, Leffe noght my saule, lorde, aftir the In depe helle where dampned schall goo; Ne suffre neuere saules fro the be,

The sorowe of thame that wonnes in woo Ay full of filthe, that may repleye.

Adam

We thanke his grete goodnesse Line 381 He fette vs fro this place. Makes joie nowe, more and lesse.

Omnis

We laude God of his grace. Line 384

Jesus

Adame, and my frendis in feere, Line 385 Fro all youre fooes come fourth with me. YOe schalle be sette in solas seere Wher yoe schall neuere of sorowes see. And Mighill, myn aungell clere, Ressayue thes saules all vnto the And lede thame als I schall the lere, To paradise with playe and plenté. Mi graue I woll go till, Redy to rise vpperight, And so I schall fulfille That I before haue highte.

Michill

Lorde, wende we schall aftir thi sawe, Line 397 To solace sere thai schall be sende. But that ther deuelis no draught vs drawe Lorde, blisse vs with thi holy hende.

Jesus

Mi blissing haue yoe all on rawe, Line 401 I schall be with youe wher yoe wende, And all that lelly luffes my lawe, THai schall be blissid withowten ende.

Adam

To the, lorde, be louyng, Line 405 THat vs has wonne fro waa. For solas will we syng Laus tibi cum gloria etc.