The York plays

Play 38

Pilate

Lordingis, listenys nowe vnto me: Line 1 I comaunde yoou in ilke degré Als domesman chiffe in this contré, For counsaill kende, Atte my bidding yoou awe to be And baynly bende. And sir Cayphas, chiffe of clergye, Of youre counsaill late here in hye. By youre assente sen we dyd dye Jhesus this day, THat yoe mayntayne, and stande therby THat werke allway.

Caiphas

YOis sir, that dede schall we mayntayne, Line 13 By lawe it was done all bedene, YOe wotte youreselue withouten wene Als wele as we. His sawes are nowe vppon hym sene And ay schall be.

Anna

THe pepull, sir, in this same steede, Line 19 Before yoou saide with a hole-hede THat he was worthy to be dede, And therto sware. Sen all was rewlid by rightis rede Nevyn it no more.

Pilate

To neuyn methinketh it nedfull thyng. Line 25 Sen he was hadde to beriyng Herde we nowthir of olde ne yoing Thithynges betwene.

Caiphas

Centurio, sir, will bringe thiding Line 29 Of all bedene.

We lefte hym there for man moste wise, If any rebelles wolde ought rise Oure rightwise dome for to dispise Or it offende, To sese thame till the nexte assise And than make ende.

Centurio

A, blissid lorde Adonay, Line 37 What may thes meruayles signifie THat her was schewed so oppinly Vnto oure sight, THis day whanne that the man gune dye THat Jesus highte? Itt is a misty thyng to mene, So selcouth a sight was neuere sene, THat oure princes and prestis bedene Of this affray I woll go weten withouten wene, What thei can saye. God saue yoou sirs on ilke a side, Worschippe and welthe in worldis wide; With mekill mirthe myght yoe abide Both day and nyght.

Pilate

Centurio, welcome this tide, Line 53 Oure comely knyght. YOe haue bene miste vs here among.

Centurio

God giffe you grace grathely to gang. Line 56

Pilate

Centurio, oure frende full lang, Line 57 What is your will?

Centurio

I drede me that yoe haue done wrang Line 59 And wondir ill.

Caiphas

Wondir ill? I pray the, why? Line 61 Declare it to this company.

Centurio

So schall I sirs telle yoou trewly Line 63 Withowten trayne: THe rightwise mane thanne mene I by THat yoe haue slayne.

Pilate

Centurio, sesse of such sawe, Line 67 THou arte a lered man in the lawe, And if we schulde any witnes drawe Vs to excuse, To mayntayne vs euermore the awe, And noyot reffuse.

Centurio

To mayntayne trouthe is wele worthi. Line 73 I saide yoou whanne I sawe hym dy THat he was Goddis sone almyghty THat hangeth thore; YOitt saie I soo, and stande therby For euermore.

Caiphas

YOa sir, such reasouns may yoe rewe. Line 79 YOe schulde noght neueyn such note enewe But yoe couthe any tokenyngis trewe Vnto vs tell.

Centurio

Such woundirfull cas neuere yoitt yoe knewe Line 83 As now befell.

Anna

We praye the telle vs of what thyng. Line 85

Centurio

All elementis, both olde and yoing, Line 86 In ther maneres thai made mornyng In ilke a stede, And knewe be countenaunce that ther kyng Was done to dede. THe sonne for woo he waxed all wanne, THe mone and sterres of schynyng blanne, THe erthe tremeled and also manne Began to speke; THe stones that neuer was stered or thanne Gune asondir breke, And dede men rose, both grete and small.

Pilate

Centurio, beware withall, Line 98 YOe wote oure clerkis the clipsis thei call Such sodayne sight. Both sonne and mone that sesoune schall Lak of ther light.

Caiphas

YOa, and if dede men rose bodily Line 103 THat myght be done thurgh socery, THerfore we sette nothyng therby To be abaiste.

Centurio

All that I tell for trewthe schall I Line 107 Euermore traste. In this ilke werke that yoe did wirke Nought allone the sonne was mirke,

But howe youre vaile raffe in youre kirke, That witte I wolde.

Pilate

Swilke tales full sone will make vs irke Line 113 And thei be talde.

Anna

Centurio, such speche withdrawe, Line 115 Of all thes wordes we haue none awe.

Centurio

Nowe sen yoe sette noght be my sawe Line 117 Sirs, haue gode day. God graunte you grace that yoe may knawe THe soth alway.

Anna

Withdrawe the faste sen thou the dredis, Line 121 For we schall wele mayntayne oure dedis.

Pilate

Such wondir reasouns as he redis Line 123 Was neuere beforne.

Caiphas

To neven this noote no more vs nedis, Line 125 Nowthere even ne morne. THerfore loke no manne make ille chere, All this doyng may do no dere. But to beware yoitt of more were THat folke may fele, We praye you sirs, of thes sawes sere Avise yoou wele. And to this tale takes hede in hye, For Jesu saide even opynly A thyng that greues all this Jury, And riyot so may: THat he schulde rise vppe bodily Within the thirde day. And be it so, als motte I spede, His lattar deede is more to drede THan is the firste if we take hede Or tente therto. To neuyn this noote methynke moste nede And beste to do.

Anna

YOa sir, if all that he saide soo, Line 145 He has no myght to rise and goo But if his menne stele hym vs froo And bere away. THat were tille us and other moo A foule fraye,

For thanne wolde thei saie euere-ilkone THat he roose by hymselffe allone. Therfore latte hym be kepte anone With knyghtes hende, Vnto thre daies be comen and gone And broght till ende.

Pilate

In certayne sirs right wele yoe saie, Line 157 For this ilke poynte nowe to purvaye I schall ordayne if I may. He schall not ryse, Nor none schalle wynne hym thens away On nokyns wise. Sir knyghtis, that are in dedis dowty, Chosen for chiffe of cheualrye, As we ay in youre force affie Bothe day and nyght, Wendis and kepis Jesu body With all youre myghte. And for thyng that euere be maye Kepis hym wele to the thirde day, And latis no man take hym away Oute of that stede- For and thei do, suthly I saie YOe schall be dede.

Miles 1

Lordingis, we saie yoou for certayne, Line 175 We schall kepe hym with myghtis and mayne. THer schall no traitoures with no trayne Stele hym vs froo. Sir knyghtis, takis gere that moste may gayne And lates vs goo.

Miles 2

YOis, certis, we are all redy bowne, Line 181 We schall hym kepe till oure rennowne, On ilke a side latte vs sitte doune Nowe all in fere, And sone we schall crake his croune Whoso comes here.

Maria 1

Allas, to dede I wolde be dight, Line 187 So woo in werke was neuere wight, Mi sorowe is all for that sight THat I gune see, Howe Criste my maistir moste of myght Is dede fro me. Allas that I schulde se his pyne Or yit that I his liffe schulde tyne, Of ilke a myscheue he was medicyne And bote of all, Helpe and halde to ilke a hyne THat on hym wolde call.

Maria 2

Allas, who schall my balis bete Line 199 Whanne I thynke on his woundes wete. Jesu, that was of loue so swete And neuere did ill, Es dede and grauen vnder the grete, Withouten skill.

Maria 3

Withowten skill the Jewes ilkone Line 205 THat louely lorde has newly slayne, And trespasse did he neuere none In nokyn steede. To whome nowe schall I make my mone Sen he is dede?

Maria 1

Sen he is dede my sisteres dere, Line 211 Wende we will on mylde manere With oure anoynementis faire and clere THat we haue broght, To noynte his wondis on sides sere THat Jewes hym wroght.

Maria 2

Goo we same my sisteres free, Line 217 Full faire vs longis his corse to see. But I wotte noght howe beste may be, Helpe haue we none. And who schall nowe here of vs thre Remove the stone?

Maria 3

THat do we noght but we wer moo, Line 223 For it is huge and heuy also.

Maria 1

Sisteris, a yoonge childe, as we goo Line 225 Makand mornyng, I see it sitte wher we wende to, In white clothyng.

Maria 2

Sistirs, sertis it is noght to hide, Line 229 THe heuy stone is putte beside.

Maria 3

Sertis, for thyng that may betyde Line 231 Nere will we wende, To layte that luffely and with hym bide THat was oure frende.

Angel

YOe mournand women in youre thought, Line 235 Here in this place whome haue yoe sought?

Maria 1

Jesu, that to dede is brought, Line 237 Oure lorde so free.

Angel

Women, certayne here is he noght, Line 239 Come nere and see. He is noght here the soth to saie, THe place is voide that he in laye, THe sudary here se yoe may Was on hym laide. He is resen and wente his way, As he yoou saide. Euen as he saide so done has hee, He is resen thurgh grete poostee, He schall be foune in Galilé In flesshe and fell. To his discipilis nowe wende yoe And thus thame tell.

Maria 1

Mi sisteres dere, sen it is soo Line 253 THat he is resen dede thus froo, As the aungell tolde me and yow too- Oure lorde so fre- Hens will I neuer goo Or I hym see.

Maria 2

Marie, vs thare no lenger lende, Line 259 To Galilé nowe late vs wende.

Maria 1

Nought tille I see that faithfull frende Line 261 Mi lorde and leche, THerfore all this my sisteres hende, THat yoe forth preche.

Maria 3

As we haue herde so schall we saie. Line 265 Marie oure sistir, haue goode daye.

Maria 1

Nowe verray God as he wele maye- Line 267 Man most of myght- He wisse you, sisteres, wele in youre waye And rewle yoou right. Allas, what schall nowe worthe on me. Mi kaytiffe herte will breke in three Whenne I thynke on that body free, How it was spilte. Both feete and handes nayled tille a tre, Withouten gilte. Withouten gilte the trewe was tane, For trespas did he neuere none, THe woundes he suffered many one Was for my misse. It was my dede he was for slayne And nothyng his. How might I, but I loued that swete, THat for my loue tholed woundes wete And sithen be grauen vndir the grete, Such kyndnes kithe? THer is nothing to that we mete May make me blithe.

Miles 1

What, oute allas, what schall I saie? Line 288 Where is the corse that herein laye?

Miles 2

What ayles the man? Is he awaye Line 290 THat we schulde tent?

Miles 1

Rise vppe and see. Line 292

Miles 2

Harrowe, for ay Line 292 I telle vs schente.

Miles 3

What deuill is this, what aylis yoou twoo, Line 294 Such noyse and crye thus for to make too?

Miles 1

Why is he gone? Line 296

Line 296

Miles 3

Allas, whare is he that here laye? Line 297

Miles 4

Whe, harrowe! Deuill, whare is he away? Line 298

Miles 3

What, is he thus-gatis fro vs wente, Line 299 THat fals traitour that here was lente, And we trewly here for to tente Had vndirtane? Sekirlie, I telle vs schente Holy ilkane.

Miles 1

Allas, what schall we do this day, Line 305 THat thus this warlowe is wente his waye? And sauely sirs I dare wele saie He rose allone.

Miles 2

Witte sir Pilate of this affraye Line 309 We mon be slone.

Miles 3

Why, canne none of vs no bettir rede? Line 311

Miles 4

THer is not ellis but we be dede. Line 312

Miles 2

Whanne that he stered oute of this steede Line 313 None couthe it kenne.

Miles 1

Allas, harde happe was on my hede Line 315 Amonge all menne. Fro sir Pilate witte of this dede, THat we were slepande whanne he yoede, He will forfette withouten drede All that we haue.

Miles 2

Vs muste make lies, for that is nede, Line 321 Oureselue to saue.

Miles 3

YOa, that rede I wele, also motte I goo. Line 323

Miles 4

And I assente therto alsoo. Line 324

Miles 2

An hundereth schall I saie, and moo, Line 325 Armed ilkone, Come and toke his corse vs froo And vs nere slayne.

Miles 1

Nay; certis I halde there none so goode Line 329 As saie the soth even as it stoode, Howe that he rose with mayne and mode And wente his way. To sir Pilate if he be wode THis dar I saie.

Miles 2

Why, dare thou to sir Pilate goo Line 335 With thes tydingis and saie hym soo?

Miles 1

So rede I; if he vs sloo Line 337 We dye but onys.

Miles 3

Nowe he that wrought vs all this woo Line 339 Woo worthe his bonys.

Miles 4

Go we thanne, sir knyghtis hende, Line 341 Sen that we schall to sir Pilate wende. I trowe that we schall parte no frende Or that we passe.

Miles 1

And I schall hym saie ilke worde tille ende, Line 345 Even as it was. Sir Pilate, prince withouten pere, Sir Cayphas and Anna in fere, And all yoe lordyngis that are here To neven by name, God saue yoou all on sidis sere Fro synne and schame.

Pilate

YOe are welcome, oure knyghtis kene, Line 353 Of mekill mirthe nowe may yoe mene, Therfore some tales telle vs betwene Howe yoe haue wroght.

Miles 1

Oure wakyng, lorde, withouten wene, Line 357 Is worthed to noyot.

Caiphas

To noght? Allas, sesse of such sawe. Line 359

Miles 2

THe prophete Jesu that yoe wele knawe Line 360 Is resen and gone for all oure awe, With mayne and myght.

Pilate

THerfore the deuill hymselffe the drawe, Line 363 Fals recrayed knyght. Combered cowardis I you call, Haue yoe latten hym goo fro you all?

Miles 3

Sir, ther was none that did but small Line 367 When that he yoede.

Miles 4

We wer so ferde downe ganne we falle Line 369 And dared for drede.

Anna

Hadde yoe no strenghe hym to gaynestande? Line 371 Traitoures, yoe myght haue boune in bande

Bothe hym and thame that yoe ther fande, And sessid thame sone.

Miles 1

THat dede all erthely men leuand Line 375 Myght noyot haue done.

Miles 2

We wer so radde euerilkone Line 377 Whanne that he putte beside the stone, We wer so stonyed we durste stirre none, And so abasshed.

Pilate

What, rose he by hymselfe allone? Line 381

Miles 1

YOa sir, that be yoe traste. Line 382

Miles 4

We herde never sen we were borne, Line 383 Nor all oure faderes vs beforne, Suche melodie mydday ne morne As was made there.

Caiphas

Allas, thanne is oure lawes lorne Line 387 For eueremare.

Miles 2

What tyme he rose goode tente I toke, Line 389 THe erthe that tyme tremylled and quoke, All kyndely force than me forsoke Tille he was gone.

Miles 3

I was aferde, I durste not loke Line 393 Ne myght had none, I myght not stande, so was I starke.

Pilate

Sir Cayphas, yoe are a connyng clerke: Line 396 If we amysse haue tane oure merke, I trowe same faile- THerfore what schalle worthe nowe of this werke? Sais your counsaille.

Caiphas

To saie the beste forsothe I schall Line 401 That schall be prophete to vs all. YOone knyghtis behoues there wordis agayne-call, Howe he is miste. We nolde for thyng that myght befall THat no man wiste.

Anna

Now sir Pilate, sen that it is soo Line 407 THat he is resynne dede vs froo, Comaundis youre knyghtis to saie wher thei goo THat he was tane With xxti ml. men and mo, And thame nere slayne,

And therto of oure tresorie Giffe to thame a rewarde forthy.

Pilate

Nowe of this purpose wele plesed am I, Line 415 And forther thus: Sir knyghtis that are in dedis dowty, Takes tente to vs, And herkenes what that yoe schall saie To ilke a man both nyyot and daye, That ten ml. men in goode araye Come yoou vntill, With forse of armys bare hym awaye Agaynst your will. Thus schall yoe saie in ilke a lande, And therto on that same comenaunde A thousande pounde haue in youre hande To your rewarde- And frenschippe sirs, yoe vndirstande, Schall not be spared.

Caiphas

Ilkone youre state we schall amende, Line 431 And loke yoe saie as we yoou kende.

Miles 1

In what contré so yoe vs sende Line 433 Be nyght or daye, Wherso we come wherso we wende So schall we saie.

Pilate

YOa, and whereso yoe tarie in ilke contré, Line 437 Of oure doyng in no degré Dois that no manne the wiser be Ne freyne beforne, Ne of the sight that yoe gonne see Nevynnes it nowthere even ne morne. For we schall mayntayne yoou alwaye, And to the pepull schall we saie It is gretely agaynste oure lay To trowe such thing. So schall thei deme both nyght and day All is lesyng. Thus schall the sothe be bought and solde And treasoune schall for trewthe be tolde, THerfore ay in youre hartis yoe holde THis counsaile clene. And fares nowe wele both yonge and olde, Haly bedene.