From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama

The Digby Play of Mary Magdalene

[Rome]

1 INPERATOR. I command sylyns, in þe peyn of forfetur,
2 To all myn avdyeans present general!
3 Of my most hyest and mytyest wolunte,
4 I woll it be knowyn to al þe word vnyversal
5 That of heven and hell chyff rewlar am I,
6 To wos magnyfycens non stondyt egall!
7 For I am soveren of al soverens subjugal
8 Onto myn empere, beyng incomparable
9 Tyberyus Sesar, wos power is potencyall!
10 I am þe blod ryall most of soverente--
11 Of all emperowers and kyngys my byrth is best,
12 And all regeouns obey my myty volunte!
13 Lyfe and lem and goodys all be at my request!
14 So, of all soverens, my magnyfycens most mytyest
15 May nat be agaynsayd of frend nor of foo,
16 But all abydyn jvgment and rewle of my lyst.
17 All grace vpon erth from my goodnes commyt fro,
18 And þat bryngis all pepell in blysse so!
19 For þe most worthyest, woll I rest in my sete!

20 SERYBYL. Syr, from your person growyt moch grace!
21 INPERATOR. Now, for þin answer, Belyall blysse &þi face!
22 Mykyl presporyte I gyn to porchase--
23 I am wonddyn in welth from all woo!

24 Herke þou, provost, I gyff þe in commandment
25 All your pepull preserve in pesabyl possessyon.
26 Yff ony þer be to my goddys [dys]obedyent,
27 Dyssevyr tho harlottys and make to me declaracyon.
28 And I xall make all swych to dye,
29 Thos precharsse of Crystys incarnacyon!
30 PROVOST. Lord of all lorddys, I xall gyff yow informacyon.
31 INPERATOR. Lo, how all þe word obeyit my domynacyon!
32 That person is nat bom þat dare me dysseobey!

33 Syrybbe, I warne yow, se þat my lawys
34 In all your partyys have dew obeysavns!
35 Inquere and aske, eche day þat davnnys
36 Yf in my pepul be fovnd ony weryouns
37 Contrary to me in ony chansse,
38 Or wyth my goldyn goddys grocth or grone!
39 I woll marre swych harlottys wyth mordor and myschanse!

40 Yff ony swyche remayn, put hem in repreffe,
41 And I xall yow releff!

42 SERYBB. Yt xall be don, lord, wythowtyn ony lett or wythowt doth!
43 INPERATOR. Lord and lad to my law doth lowte!
44 Is it nat so? Sey yow all wyth on showte!

Here answerryt all þe pepul at onys: '3a, my lord, 3a!'

45 INPERATOR. So ye froward folkys, now am [I] plesyd!
46 Sett wyn and spycys to my consell full cler.
47 Now have I told yow my hart, I am wyll plesyd.
48 Now lett vs sett don alle, and make good chyr!

[The Castle of Magdalen]

Her entyr Syrux, þe fader of Mary Mavdleyn.

49 SYRUS. Emperor and ky[n]ggys and conquerors kene,
50 Erlys and borons and knytys þat byn bold,
51 Berdys in my bower so semely to senne,
52 I commav[n]d yow at onys my hestys to hold!
53 Behold my person, glysteryng in gold,
54 Semely besyn of all other men!
55 Cyrus is my name, be cleffs so cold!
56 I coramand yow all obedyent to beyn!

57 Woso woll nat, in bale I hem bryng,
58 And knett swyche caytyfys in knottys of care!
59 Thys castell of Mavdleyn is at my wylddyng,
60 Wyth all þe contre, bothe lesse and more,
61 And lord of Jherusalem! Who agens me don dare?
62 Alle Beteny at my beddyng be;
63 I am sett in solas from al syyng sore,
64 And so xall all my posteryte
65 Thus for to leuen in rest and ryalte.

66 I have her a sone þat is ful trew to me--
67 No comlyar creatur of Goddys creacyon;
68 To amyabyll dovctors full brygth of ble;
69 Ful gloryos to my syth, an ful of delectacyon;
70 Lazarus my son, in my resspeccyon,
71 Here is Mary, ful fayur and ful of femynyte,
72 And Martha, ful [of] bevte and of delycyte,
73 Ful of womanly merrorys and of benygnyte.
74 &þey haue fulfyllyd my hart wyth consolacyon.

75 Here is a coleccyon of cyrcumstance--
76 To my cognysshon nevyr swych anothyr,
77 As be demonstracyon knett in contynens,
78 Saves alonly my lady þat was þer mother!
79 Now, Lazarus my sonne, whech art þer brothyr,
80 The lordshep of Jherusalem I gyff þe aftyr my dysses,
81 And Mary, thys castell alonly, an non othyr;
82 And Martha xall haue Beteny, I sey exprese.
83 Thes gyftys I gravnt yow wythowtyn les,
84 Whyll þat I am in good mynd!

85 LAZARUS. Most reuerent father, I thank yow hartely
86 Of yower grett kyndnes shuyd onto me!
87 Ye haue gravntyd swych a lyfelod worthy
88 Me to restreyn from all nessesyte.
89 Now, good Lord, and hys wyll it be,
90 Gravnt me grace to lyue to thy plesowans,
91 And a3ens hem so to rewle me,
92 Thatt we may haue joye wythowtyn weryauns.

93 MARY MAV[DLEYN]. Thou God of pes and pryncypall covnsell,
94 More swetter is þi name þan hony be kynd!
95 We thank yow, fathyr, for your gyftys ryall,
96 Owt of peynys of poverte vs to onbynd.
97 Thys is a preseruatyff from streytnes we fynd,
98 From wordly labors to my covmfortyng,
99 For thys lyfflod is abyll for þe dowtter of a kyng,

100 Thys place of plesavns, þe soth to seye!
101 MARTHA. O, ye good fathyr of grete degre,
102 Thus to departe wyth your ryches,
103 Consederyng ower lowlynes and humylyte,
104 Vs to save from wordly dessetres!
105 3e shew vs poyntys of grete jentylnes,
106 So mekly to meyntyn vs to your grace.
107 Hey in heuen awansyd mot yow be
108 In blysse, to se þat Lordys face
109 Whan ye xal hens passe!
110 CYRUS. Now I reioyse wyth all my mygthtys!
111 To enhanse my chyldryn, it was my delyte!
112 Now, wyn and spycys, 3e jentyll knyttys,
113 Onto þes ladys of jentylnes.

Here xal þey be servyd wyth wyn and spycys.

[Rome]

114 INPERATOR. Syr provost, and skrybe, juggys of my rem,
115 My massengyr I woll send into ferre cuntre,
116 Onto my sete of Jherusalem
117 Onto Herowdes, þat regent þer ondyr me,
118 And onto Pylat, juggys of þe covntre--
119 Myn entent I woll hem teche.
120 Take hed, þou provost, my precept wretyn be,
121 And sey, I cummavnd hem as þey woll be [wyth]owt wrech,
122 Yf þer be ony in þe cuntre ageyn my law doth prech,

123 Or ageyn my goddys ony trobyll tellys,
124 That thus agens my lawys rebellys,
125 As he is regent and in þat reme dwellys,
126 And holdyth hys crovn of me be ryth,
127 Yff þer be ony harlettys þat agens me make replycacyon,
128 Or ony moteryng a3ens me make wyth malynacyon.
129 PROVOST. Syr, of all thys they xall have informacyon,
130 So to vphold 3ower renovn and ryte!

131 [INPERATOR). Now, massengyr, wythowtyn taryyng,
132 Have here gold onto þi fe.
133 So bere thes lettyrs to Herowdes þe kyng,
134 And byd hem make inquyrans in euery cuntre,
135 As he is jugge in þat cuntre beyng!
136 NVNCYUS. Soueren, your arend it xall be don ful redy
137 In alle þe hast þat I may.
138 For to fullfyll your byddyng
139 I woll nat spare, nother be nyth nor be day!

Here goth þe masengyr toward Herowdes.

[Jerusalem-Herod's Palace]

140 HEROWDES. In þe wyld, wanyng word, pes all at onys!
141 No noyse, I warne yow, for greveyng of me!
142 Yff yow do, I xal hovrle of yower hedys, be Mahondys bonys,
143 As I am trew kyng to Mahond so fre!
144 Help! Help, þat I had a swerd!
145 Fall don, ye faytours, flatt to þe grovnd!
146 Heve of your hodys and hattys, I cummavnd yow alle!
147 Stond bare hed, ye beggars! Wo made yow so bold?
148 I xall make yow know your kyng ryall!
149 Thus woll I be obeyyd thorow al the word,
150 And whoso wol nat, he xal be had in hold,
151 And so to be cast in carys cold,
152 That werkyn ony wondyr a3ens my magnyfycens!
153 Behold these ryche rubyys, red as ony fyr,
154 Wyth þe goodly grene perle full sett abowgth!
155 What kyng is worthy, or egall to my power?
156 Or in thys word who is more had in dowt
157 Than is þe hey name of Herowdes, Kyng of Jherusalem,
158 Lord of Alapye, Assye, and Tyr,
159 Of Abyron, Ber3aby, and Bedlem?
160 All thes byn ondyr my governouns!
161 Lo, all þes I hold wythowtyn reprobacyon!
162 No man is to me egall, save alonly þe emperower
163 Tyberyus, as I have in provostycacyon!
164 How sey þe phylyssoverys be my ryche reyne?
165 Am nat I þe grettest governowur?
166 Lett me ondyrstond whatt can ye seyn!

167 PHELYSOFYR. Soueren, and it piece yow, I woll expresse!
168 Ye be þe rewlar of þis regyon,
169 And most worthy sovereyn of nobylnes
170 That euyr in Jude barre domynacyon!
171 Bott, syr, skreptour gevytt informacyon,
172 And doth rehersse it werely,
173 That chyld xal remayn of grete renovn,
174 And all the word of hem shold magnyfy:

175 'Et ambulabunt gentes in lumine [tuo] et reges
176 In splendore ortus tui.'

177 HEROWDES. And whatt seyst thow?
178 SECUNDUS PHY[LOSOFYR]. The same weryfyyt my bok as how,

179 As þe skryptour doth me tell
180 Of a myty duke xal rese and reyn,
181 Whych xall reyn and rewle all Israell.
182 No kyng a3ens hys worthynes xall opteyn,
183 The whech in profesy bath grett eloquence:

184 'Non avferetur s[c]eptrum [de] Juda, et dux de
185 Femore eius, donec veniet [qui] mitendus est.'

186 HEROWDES. A! Owt! Owt! Now am [I] grevyd all wythpe worst!
187 3e dastardys! Ye doggys! þe dylfe mote yow draw!
188 Wyth fleyyng flappys I byd yow to a fest!
189 A swerd! A swerd! þes lordeynnys wer slaw!
190 Ye langbaynnys! Losellys! Forsake þe þat word!
191 þat caytyff xall be cawth, and suer I xall hem flaw!
192 For hym many mo xal be marry[d] wyth mordor!

193 PRIMUS MILIS. My sovereyn lord, dyssemay yow ryth nowt!
194 They ar but folys, þer eloquens wantyng;
195 For in sorow and care sone þey xall be cawt.
196 A3ens vs þey can mak no dysstondyng
197 SECUNDUS MILES. My lord, all swych xall be browte before your avdyens
198 And leuyn ondyr your domynacyon,
199 Or ellys dammyd to deth wyth mortal sentense,
200 Yf we hem gett ondyr ower gubernacyon!

201 HEROWDES. Now thys is to me a gracyows exsortacyon,
202 And grettly reioysyth to my sprytys indede!
203 Thow þes sottys a3ens me make replycacyon,
204 I woll suffer non to spryng of þat kenred;
205 Some woys in my lond shall sprede,
206 Prevely or pertely in my lond abowth.
207 Whyle I haue swych men, I nede nat to drede
208 But þat he xal be browt ondyr, wythowtyn doth!

Her commyt þe Emperowers [masengyr], þus sayyng to Herowdes:

209 MASENGYR. Heyll, prynse of bovntyowsnesse!
210 Heyll, myty lord of to magnyfy!
211 Heyll, most of worchep of to expresse!
212 Heyll, reytyus rewlar in þi regensy!
213 My sofereyn Tyberyus, chyff of chyfalry,
214 Hys soveren sond hath sent to yow here:
215 He desyrth 3ow and preyyt on eche party
216 To fulfyll hys commavndment and desyre.

Here he xall take þe lettyrs onto þe kyng.

217 HERAWDES. Be he sekyr I woll natt spare
218 For [to] complyshe hys cummavnddment,
219 Wyth sharp swerddys to perce þe[m] bare
220 In all covntres wythin thys regent,
221 For hys love to fulfyll hys intentt.
222 Non swych xall from ower handys stertt,
223 For we woll fulfyll hys ryall juggement
224 Wyth swerd and spere to perce [þem] thorow þe hartt!

225 But, masengyr, reseyve thys lettyr wyth,
226 And ber ytt onto Pylattys syth!
227 MESENGYR. My lord, it xall be don ful wygth.
228 In hast I woll me spede!

[Jerusalem-Pilate's palace]

229 PYLATT. Now ryally I reyne in robys of rych[e]sse,
230 Kyd and knowyn both ny and ferre
231 For juge of Jherusalem, þe trewth to expresse,
232 Ondyr the Emperower Tyberius Cesar!
233 þerfor I rede yow all bewarre
234 Ye do no pregedyse a3en þe law!
235 For and 3e do, I wyll yow natt spare
236 Tyl ye haue jugment to be hangyd and draw!

237 For I am Pylat, pr[o]mmyssary and pres[e]dent!
238 Alle renogat robber inperrowpent,
239 To put hem to peyn, I spare for no pete!
240 My serjauntys semle, qwat s[e]ye ye?
241 Of þis rehersyd I wyll natt spare!
242 Plesauntly, syrrys, avnswer to me,
243 For in my herte I xall haue þe lesse care.

244 PRIMUS SERIUNT. As ye haue seyd, I hold it for þe best,
245 Yf ony swych among vs may we know!
246 SECUNDUS SERJAWNT. For to gyff hem jugment I holdd yt best,
247 And so xall ye be dred of hye and low!

248 PYLAT. A, now I am restoryd to felycyte!

Her comyt þe Emprorys masengyr to Pylat.

249 MASENGYR. Heyll, ryall in rem, in robis of rychesse!
250 Heyl, present þou prynsys pere!
251 Heyl, jugge of Iherusalem, þe trewth to expresse!
252 Tyberyus þe Emprower sendyt wrytyng herre,
253 And prayyt yow, as yow be hys lovyr dere,
254 Of þis wrytyng to take avysement
255 In strenthyng of hys lawys cleyr,
256 As he hath set yow in þe state of jugment.

Her Pylat takyt þe lettyrs wyth grete reverens.

257 PYLAT. Now, be Martys so mythy, I xal sett many a snare,
258 Hys lawys to strenth in al þat I may.
259 I rejoyse of hys renown and of hys wylfare,
260 And for þi tydynggys I geyff þe þis gold today.
261 MASENGYR. A largeys, 3e, lord, I crye þis day,
262 For þis is a 3eft of grete degre!
263 PYLAT. Masengyr, onto my sovereyn þou sey,
264 On þe most specyall wyse recummend me!

Her avoydyt þe masengyr, and Syrus takyt hys deth.

[The Castle of Magdalen]

265 SYRUS. A, help, help! I stond in drede!
266 Syknes is sett ondyr my syde!
267 A, help! Deth wyll aquyte me my mede!
268 A, gret God, þou be my gyde!
269 How I am trobyllyd, both bak and syde!
270 Now, wythly help me to my bede.

271 A! This rendyt my rybbys! I xall nevyr goo nor ryde!
272 The dent of deth is hevyar þan led!
273 A, lord, lord, what xal I doo þis tyde?
274 A, gracyows God, have ruth on me,
275 In thys word no lengar to abyde!
276 I blys yow, my chyldyrn, God mot wyth vs be!

Her avoydyt Syrus sodenly, and than sayyng Lazarus:

277 LAZARUS. Alas! I am sett in grete hevynesse!
278 þer is no tong my sorow may tell,
279 So sore I am browth in dystresse!
280 In feyntnes I falter for [þ]is fray fell!
281 Thys dewresse wyl lett me no longar dwelle,
282 But God of grace sone me redresse!
283 A, how my peynys don me repelle!
284 Lord, wythstond þis duresse!

285 MARY MAGLEYN. The inwyttyssymus God þat euyr xal reyne,
286 Be hys help an sowlys sokor!
287 To whom it is most nedfull to cumplayn,
288 He to bry[n]g vs owt of ower dolor;
289 He is most mytyest governowre,
290 From soroyng vs to restryne.

291 MARTHA. A, how I am sett in sorowys sad,
292 That long my lyf Y may nat indevre!
293 Thes grawous peynys make me ner mad!
294 Vnder clowyr is now my fathyris cure,
295 þat sumtyme was here ful mery and glad.
296 Ower Lordys mercy be hys mesure,
297 And defeynd hym from peynys sad.

298 LAZARUS. Now, systyrs, ower fatherys wyll we woll exprese;
299 Thys castell is owerys wyth all þe fee!
300 MARTHA. As hed and governower, as reson is,
301 And on þis wyse abydyn wyth yow wyll wee.
302 We wyll natt desevyr, whattso befalle!
303 MARIA. Now, brothyr and systyr, welcum 3e be,
304 And therof specyally I pray 3ow all!

[Stages of the World, Flesh and Devil, consecutively]

Her xal entyr þe Kyng of the Word, þe Flesch, and þe Dylfe, wyth þe Seuen Dedly Synnys, a Bad Angyll, an an Good Angyl, þus seyyng þe Word:

305 [WORD.] I am þe Word, worthyest þat euyr God wrowth,
306 And also I am þe prymatt portature
307 Next heueyn, yf þe trewth be sowth,
308 And that I jugge me to skryptur;
309 And I am he þat lengest xal induere,
310 And also most of domynacyon!
311 Yf I be hys foo, woo is abyll to recure?
312 For þe whele of fortune wyth me hath sett hys senture.

313 In me restyt þe ordor of þe metellys seuyn,
314 þe whych to þe seuen planyttys ar knett ful sure:
315 Gold perteynyng to þe sonne, as astronemere nevyn;
316 Sylvyr to þe mone, whyte and pure;
317 Iryn onto þe Maris þat long may endure;
318 þe fegetyff mercury onto Mercuryns;
319 Copyr onto Venus, red in hys merrour;
320 The frangabyll tyn to Jubyter, yf 3e can dyscus;

321 On þis planyt Saturne, ful of rancure,
322 þis soft metell led, nat of so gret puernesse;
323 Lo, alle þis rych tresor wyth þe Word doth indure--
324 The seuyn prynsys of hell, of gret bowntosnesse!
325 Now, who may presume to com to my honour?
326 PRYDE. 3e, worthy Word, 3e be gronddar of gladnesse

327 To þem þat dwellyn ondyr yower domynacyon!
328 COVETYSE. And whoso wol nat, he is sone set asyde
329 Wheras I, Couetyse, take mynystracyon!
330 MUNDUS. Of þat I pray yow, make no declareracyon!
331 Make swych to know my soverreynte,
332 And than þey xal be fayn to make supplycacyon,
333 Yf þat þey stond in ony nesessyte.

Her xal entyr þe Kynge of Flesch, wyth Stowth, Gloteny, Lechery.

334 FLESCH. I, Kyng of Flesch, florychyd in my flowers,
335 Of deyntys delycyows I have grett domynacyon!
336 So ryal a kyng was neuyr borne in bowrys,
337 Nor hath more delyth, ne more delectacyon!
338 For I haue comfortatywys to my comfortacyon:
339 Dya galonga, ambra, and also margaretton--
340 Alle þis is at my lyst, a3ens alle vexacyon!

341 All wykkyt thyngys I woll sett asyde.
342 Clary, pepur long, wyth granorum paradysy,
343 Zenzybyr and synamom at euery tyde--
344 Lo, alle swych deyntyys delycyas vse I!

345 Wyth swyche deyntyys I have my blysse!
346 Who woll covett more game and gle,
347 My fayere spowse Lechery to halse and kysse?
348 Here ys my knyth Gloteny, as good reson is,
349 Wyth þis plesavnt lady to rest be my syde.
350 Here is Slowth, anothyr goodly of to expresse!
351 A more plesavnt compeny doth nowher abyde!

352 LUXURIA. O ye prynse, how I am ful of ardent lowe,
353 Wyth sparkyllys ful of amerowsnesse!
354 Wyth yow to rest fayn wold I aprowe,
355 To shew plesavns to your jentylnesse!
356 þE FLESCH. O 3e bewtews byrd, I must yow kysse!
357 I am ful of lost to halse yow þis tyde!

Her xal entyr þe prynse of dyllys in a stage, and helle ondyrneth þat stage, þus seyying þe Dylfe:

358 DYLFE. Now I, prynse pyrles, prykkyd in pryde,
359 Satan, [3]ower sovereyn, set wyth euery cyrcumstanse,
360 For I am atyred in my towyr to tempt yow þis tyde!
361 As a kyng ryall I sette at my plesavns,
362 Wyth Wroth [and] Invy at my ryall retynawns!
363 The bolddest in bowyr I bryng to abaye,
364 Mannis sowle to besegyn and bryng to obeysavns!
365 3a, [wyth] tyde and tyme I do þat I may!
366 For at hem I haue dysspyte þat he xold haue þe joye
367 That Lycyfer with many a legyown lost for þer pryde.
368 þe snarys þat I xal set wher nevyr set at Troye!
369 So I thynk to besegyn hem be every waye wyde--
370 I xal getyn hem from grace whersoeuyr he abyde--
371 That body and sowle xal com to my hold,
372 Hym for to take!
373 Now, my knythtys so stowth,
374 Wyth me ye xall ron in rowte,
375 My consell to take for a skowte,
376 Whytly þat we were went for my sake!
377 WRATH. Wyth wrath or wyhyllys we xal hyrre wynne!
378 ENVY. Or wyth sum sotyllte sett hur in synne!
379 DYLFE. Com of, þan, let vs begynne
380 To werkyn hure sum wrake!

Her xal þe Deywl go to þe Word wyth hys compeny.

381 SATAN. Heyle, Word, worthyest of abowndans!
382 In hast we must a conseyll take!
383 Ye must aply yow wyth all your afyavns,
384 A woman of whorshep ower servant to make.

385 MUNDUS. Satan, wyth my consell I wyll þe awansse!
386 I pray þe, cum vp onto my tent.
387 Were þe Kyng of Flesch her wyth hys asemlaunvs!
388 Masengyr! Anon, þat þou werre went
389 Thys tyde!
390 Sey þe Kyng of Flesch wyth grete renown,
391 Wyth hys consell þat to hym be bown,
392 In alle þe hast þat euyr they mown,
393 Com as fast as he may ryde!

394 MASENGYR. My lord, I am your servant, Sensvalyte!
395 Your masege to don, I am of glad chyr!
396 Ryth sone in presens 3e xal hym se,
397 Your wyl for to fulfylle her!

Her he goth to þe Flesch, thus seyyng:

398 [MASENGYR]. Heyl, lord in lond, led wyth lykyng!
399 Heyl, Flesch in lust, fayyrest to behold!
400 Heyl, lord and ledar of emprore and kyng!
401 þe worthy Word, be wey and wold,
402 Hath sent for yow and your consell!
403 Satan is sembled wyth hys howshold,
404 Your cov[n]seyl to haue, most fo[r] aweyle.

405 FLESCH. Hens in hast, þat we þer wh[e]re!
406 Lett vs make no lengar delay.
407 SENSWALITE. Gret myrth to þer hertys shold yow arere,
408 Be my trowth I dare safly saye!

Her comyt þe Kyng of Flesch to þe Word, þus seyyng:

409 [FLESCH]. Heyl be yow, soverens lefe and dere!
410 Why so hastely do 3e for me send?
411 MUNDUS. A! We are ryth glad we haue yow here,
412 Ower covnsell togethyr to comprehend!
413 Now, Satan, sey your devyse!
414 SATAN. Serys, now ye be set, I xal yow say:
415 Syrus dyyd þis odyr day--
416 Now Mary, hys dowctor, þat may,
417 Of þat castel beryt þe pryse.

418 MUNDUS. Sertenly, serys, I yow telle,
419 Yf she in vertu stylle may dwelle,
420 She xal byn abyll to dystroye helle,
421 But yf your cov[n]seyll may othyrwyse devyse!

422 FLESCH. Now ye, Lady Lechery, yow must don your attendans,
423 For yow be flowyr fayrest of femynyte!
424 Yow xal go desyyr servyse, and byn at hure atendavns,
425 For 3e xal sonest entyr, 3e beral of bewte!

426 LECHERY. Serys, I abey your covnsell in eche degre--
427 Stryttwaye þethyr woll I passe!
428 SATAN. Spiritus malyngny xal com to þe,
429 Hyre to tempt in euery plase.
430 Now alle þe six þat here be,

431 Wysely to werke, hyr fawor to wynne,
432 To entyr hyr person be þe labor of lechery,
433 þat she at þe last may com to helle.

434 How, how, spiritus malyng-þou wottyst what I mene?
435 Cum owt, I sey! Heryst nat what I seye?

436 BAD ANGYLL. Syrrys, I obey your covnsell in eche degree;
437 Stryttwaye þethyr woll I passe!
438 Speke soft, speke soft, I trotte hyr to tene!
439 I prey þe pertly, make no more noyse!

[The Castle of Magdalen]

Her xal alle þe Seuyn Dedly Synnys besege þe castell tyll [Mary] agre to go to Jherusalem. Lechery xall entyr þe castell wyth þe Bad Angyl, þus seyyng Lechery:

440 [LECHERY]. Heyl, lady most lavdabyll of alyauvns!
441 Heyl, oryent as þe sonne in hys reflexite!
442 Myche pepul be comfortyd be your benyng afyavuns.
443 Bryter þan þe bornyd is your bemys of bewte,
444 Most debonarius wyth your aungelly delycyte!
445 MARYA. Qwat personne be 3e, þat þus me comende?
446 LUXURYA. Your servant to be, I wold comprehende!

447 MARY. Your debonarius obedyauns ravyssyt me to trankquelyte!
448 Now, syth ye desyre in eche degree,
449 To receyve yow I have grett delectacyon!
450 3e be hartely welcum onto me--
451 Your tong is so amyabyll, devydyd wyth reson.

452 LUXURYA. Now, good lady, wyll 3e me expresse
453 Why may þer no gladdnes to yow resort?
454 MARY. For my father I haue had grett heuynesse--
455 Whan I remembyr, my mynd waxit mort.
456 LUXSURYA. 3a, lady, for all þat, be of good comfort,
457 For swych obusyouns may brede myche dysese.
458 Swych desepcyouns potyt peynys to exsport;
459 Prynt yow in sportys whych best doth yow plese!

460 MARY. Forsothe, ye be welcum to myn hawdyens!
461 Ye be my hartys leche!
462 Brother Lazarus, and it be yower plesauns,
463 And 3e, systyr Martha, also, in substawns
464 Thys place I commend onto your governons,
465 And onto God I yow beteche!

466 LAZARUS. Now, systyr, we xal do your intente,
467 In thys place to be resydent,
468 Whyle þat 3e be absent,
469 To kepe þis place from wreche!

470 [Jerusalem--a Tavern]

Here takyt Mary hur wey to Jherusalem wyth Luxsurya, and þey xal resort to a tavernere. þus seyy[n]g þe tavernere:

471 TAVERNER. I am a taverner, wytty and wyse,
472 That wynys haue to sell gret plente!
473 Of all þe taverners, I bere þe pryse,
474 That be dwellyng wythinne þe cete!
475 Of wynys I haue grete plente,
476 Both whyte wynne and red þat [is] so cleyre.

477 Here ys wynne of Mawt and malmeseyn,
478 Clary wynne, and claret, and other moo;
479 Wyn of Gyldyr, and of Gallys, þat made at þe Groine,
480 Wyn of Wyan and Vernage, I seye also--
481 Ther be no bettyr as ferre as 3e can goo!

482 LUXSU[R]YA. Lo, lady, þe comfort and þe sokower
483 Go we ner and take a tast--
484 Thys xal bryng your sprytys to fawor!
485 Tavernere, bryng vs of þe fynnest þou hast!
486 TAVERNERE. Here, lady, is wyn, a repast,
487 To man and woman a good restoratyff.
488 3e xal nat thynk your mony spent in wast--
489 From stodyys and hevynes it woll yow relyff!

490 MARY. Ywys, 3e seye soth, 3e grom of blysse!
491 To me 3e be covrtes and kynde.

Her xal entyr a galavnt, þus seyyng:

492 GALAVNT. Hof, hof, hof! A frysch new galavnt!
493 Ware of thryst, ley þat adoune!
494 What? Wene 3e, syrrys, þat I were a marchant,
495 Becavse þat I am new com to town?
496 Wyth sum praty tasppysstere wold I fayne rownd!
497 I haue a shert of reynnys wyth slevys peneawnt,
498 A lase of sylke for my lady constant!
499 A, how she is bewtefull and ressplendant!

500 Whan I am from hyre presens, Lord, how I syhe!
501 I wol awye sovereyns, and sojettys I dysdeyne!
502 In wyntyr a stomachyr, in somyr non att al;
503 My dobelet and my hossys euyr together abyde.
504 I woll, or euen, be shavyn for to seme 3yng!
505 Wyth here a3en þe her I love mych pleyyng--
506 That makyt me ile3ant and lusty in lykyng.
507 Thus I lefe in þis word, I do it for no pryde!

508 LUXSURYA. Lady, þis man is for 3ow, as I se can,
509 To sett yow i[n] sporttys and talkyng þis tyde!
510 MARY. Cal hym in, tavernere, as 3e my loue wyll han,
511 And we xall make ful mery yf he wolle abyde!
512 TAVERNERE. How, how, my mastyre Coryossyte!
513 CORYOSTE. What is your wyll, syr? What wyl 3e wyth me?
514 TAVERNERE. Here ar jentyll women dysyore your presens to se,
515 And for to drynk wyth yow thys tyde.

516 CORYOSTE. A, dere dewchesse, my daysyys iee!
517 Splendavnt of colour, most of femynyte,
518 Your sofreyn colourrys set wyth synseryte!
519 Consedere my loue into yower alye,
520 Or ellys I am smet wyth peynnys of perplexite!
521 MARI. Why, syr, wene 3e þat I were a kelle?
522 CORIOSTE. Nay, prensses, parde, 3e be my hertys hele,
523 So wold to God 3e wold my loue fele!

524 MARI. Qwat cavse þat 3e love me so sodenly?
525 CORIOSTE. O nedys I mvst, myn own lady!
526 Your person, itt is so womanly,
527 I can not refreyn me, swete lelly!

528 MARI. Syr, curtesy doth it yow lere!
529 CORIOSTE. Now, gracyns gost wythowtyn pere,
530 Mych nortur is þat 3e conne.
531 But wol yow dawns, my own dere?
532 MARY. Syr, I asent in good maner.
533 Go 3e before, I sue yow nere,
534 For a man at alle tymys beryt reverens.

535 CORIOSTE. Now, be my trowth, 3e be wyth other ten.
536 Felle a pese, tavernere, let vs sen--
537 Soppys in wynne, how love 3e [þos]?
538 MARI. As 3e don, so doth me.
539 I am ryth glad þat met be we--
540 My loue in yow gynnyt to close!

541 CORYOSTE. Now, derlyng dere, wol yow do be my rede?
542 We haue dronkyn and ete lytyl brede--
543 Wyll we walk to another stede?
544 MARI. Ewyn at your wyl, my dere derlyng!
545 Thowe 3e wyl go to þe wordys eynd,
546 I wol neuyr from yow wynd,
547 To dye for your sake!

Here xal Mary and þe galont awoyd, and þe Bad Angyll goth to þe Word, þe Flych, and þe Dylfe, þus sayyng þe Bad Angyl:

548 [BAD ANGYL]. A lorges, a lorges, lorddys alle at onys!
549 3e haue a servant fayur and afyabylle,
550 For she is fallyn in ower grogly gromys!
551 3a, Pryde, callyd Corioste, to hure is ful lavdabyll,
552 And to hure he is most preysseabyll,
553 For she hath gravnttyd hym all hys bonys!
554 She thynkyt hys person so amyabyll,
555 To here syte, he is semelyare þan ony kyng in tronys

556 DIAB[O]LUS. A, how I tremyl and trott for þese tydyngys!
557 She is a soveryn servant þat hath hure fet in synne!
558 Go thow agayn and ewyr be hur gyde!
559 þe lavdabyll lyfe of lecherry let hur neuyr lynne,
560 For of hure al helle xall make reioysseyng!

Here goth þe bad angyl to Mari agayn.

561 REX DIABOLUS. Farewell, farewell, 3e to nobyl kyngys þis tyde,
562 For hom in hast I wol me dresse!
563 MUNDUS. Farewell, Satan, prynsse of pryde!
564 FLESCH. Farewell, sem[l]yest alle sorowys to sesse!

Here xal Satan go hom to hys stage, and Mari xal entyr into þe place alone, save þe Bad Angyl, and al þe Seuen Dedly Synnys xal be conveyyd into þe howse of Symont Leprovs, þey xal be arayyd lyke seuen dylf, þus kept closse; Mari xal be in an erbyr, þus seyyng:

565 MARI. A, God be wyth my valentynys,
566 My byrd swetyng, my lovys so dere!
567 For þey be bote for a blossum of blysse!
568 Me mervellyt sore þey be nat here,
569 But I woll restyn in þis erbyre,
570 Amons thes bamys precyus of prysse,
571 Tyll som lovyr wol apere
572 That me is wont to halse and kysse.

Her xal Mary lye doun and slepe in þe erbyre.

573 SYMOND LEPRUS. Thys day holly I pot in rememberowns,
574 To solas my gestys to my power;
575 I haue ordeynnyd a dynere of substawns,
576 My chyff freyndys þerwyth to chyre.
577 Into þe sete I woll apere,
578 For my gestys to make porvyawns,
579 For tyme drayt ny to go to dyner,
580 And my offycyrs be redy wyth þer ordynowns.

581 So wold to God I myte have aqueyntowns
582 Of þe Profyth of trew perfytnesse,
583 To com to my place and porvyowns;
584 It wold rejoyse my hert in gret gladnesse,
585 For þe report of hys hye nobyllnesse
586 Rennyt in contreys fer and nere--
587 Hys precheyng is of gret perfythnes,
588 Of rythwysnesse, and mercy cleyre.

Here entyr Symont into þe place, þe Good Angyll þus seyyng to Mary:

589 [GOOD ANGYLL]. Woman, woman, why art þou so onstabyll?
590 Ful bytterly thys blysse it wol be bowth!
591 Why art þou a3ens God so veryabyll?
592 Wy, thynkys þou nat God made þe of nowth?
593 In syn and sorow þou art browth,
594 Fleschly lust is to þe full delectabyll;
595 Salue for þi sowle must be sowth,
596 And leve þi werkys wayn and veryabyll!

597 Remembyr, woman, for þi pore pryde,
598 How þi sowle xal lyyn in helle fyre!
599 A, remembyr how sorowful itt is to abyde,
600 Wythowtyn eynd in angure and ir!
601 Remembyr þe on mercy, make þi sowle clyre!
602 I am þe gost of goodnesse þat so wold þe gydde.

603 MARY. A, how þe speryt of goodnesse hat promtyt me þis tyde,
604 And temtyd me wyth tytyll of trew perfythnesse!
605 Alas, how betternesse in my hert doth abyde!
606 I am wonddyd wyth werkys of gret dystresse.
607 A, how pynsynesse potyt me to oppresse,
608 That I haue synnyd on euery syde!
609 O Lord, wo xall put me from þis peynfulnesse?
610 A, woo xal to mercy be my gostly gyde?

611 I xal porsue þe Prophett wherso he be,
612 For he is þe welle of perfyth charyte.
613 Be þe oyle of mercy he xal me relyff.
614 Wyth swete bawmys, I wyl sekyn hym þis syth,
615 And sadly folow hys lordshep in eche degre.

Here xal entyr þe Prophet wyth hys desyplys, þus seyyng Symont Leprus:

616 [SYMONT LEPRUS]. Now ye be welcom, mastyr, most of magnyfycens!
617 I beseche yow benyngly 3e wol be so gracyows
618 Yf þat it be lekyng onto yower hye presens,
619 Thys daye to com dyne at my hows!

620 JHESUS. Godamercy, Symont, þat þou wylt me knowe!
621 I woll entyr þi hows wyth pes and vnyte.
622 I am glad for to rest þer grace gynnyt grow.
623 For wythinne þi hows xal rest charyte,
624 And þe bemys of grace xal byn illumynows.
625 But syth þou wytystsaff a dynere on me,
626 Wyth pes and grace I entyr þi hows.
627 SYMOND. I thank yow, mastyr most benyng and gracyns,
628 That yow wol, of your hye soverente.
629 To me itt is a joye most speceows,
630 Wythinne my hows þat I may yow se.

631 Now syt to þe bord, mastyrs alle!

Her xal Mary folow alonge, wyth þis lamentacyon:

632 MARY. O I, cursyd cayftyff, þat myche wo hath wrowth
633 A3ens my makar, of mytys most!
634 I have offendyd hym wyth dede and thowth,
635 But in hys grace is all my trost,
636 Or ellys I know well I am but lost,

637 Body and sowle damdpnyd perpetuall!
638 3et, good Lord of lorddys, my hope [is] perhenuall
639 Wyth þe to stond in grace and fawour to se;
640 Thow knowyst my hart and thowt in especyal--
641 Therfor, good Lord, aftyr my hart reward me!

Her xal Mary wasche þe felt of þe prophet wyth þe terrys of hur yys, whypyng hem wyth hur herre, and þan anoynt hym wyth a precyus noyttment. Jhesus dicit :

[Symond looks on, doubtfully.]

642 [JHESUS]. Symond, I thank þe speceally
643 For þis grett r[e]past þat here hath be.
644 But Symond, I telle þe fectually,
645 I have thyngys to seyn to þe.
646 SYMOND. Mastyr, qwat your wyll be,
647 And it plese yow, I well yow here;
648 Seyth your lykyng onto me,
649 And al þe plesawnt of your mynd and desyyr.

650 JHESUS. Symond, þer was a man in þis present lyf,
651 The wyche had to dectours well suere,
652 þe whych wher pore, and myth make no restoratyf,
653 But stylle in þer dett ded induour.
654 þe on owt hym an hondyrd pense ful suere,
655 And þe other, fefty, so befell þe chanse;
656 And becawse he cowd nat hys mony recure,
657 They askyd hym for3ewnesse, and he for3af in substans.

658 But, Symont, I pray pe, answer me to þis sentens:
659 Whych of þes to personnys was most beholddyn to þat man?
660 SYMOND. Mastyr, and it plese your hey presens,
661 He þat most owt hym, as my reson 3ef can.
662 JHESUS. Recte ivdicaxti! þou art a wyse man,
663 And þis quessyon hast dempte trewly.
664 Yff þou in þi concyens remembyr can,
665 3e to be þe dectours þat I of specefy.

666 But, Symond, behold þis woman in all wyse,
667 How she wyth terys of hyr bettyr wepyng
668 She wassheth my fete and dothe me servyse,
669 And anoytyt hem wyth onymentys, lowly knelyng
670 And wyth hur her, fayur and brygth shynnyng,
671 She wypeth hem agayn wyth good entent.z

672 But, Symont, syth that I entyrd þi hows,
673 To wasshe my fete þou dedyst nat aplye,
674 Nor to wype my fete þou were nat so faworus;
675 Wherfor, in þi conscyens, þou owttyst nat to replye!
676 But, woman, I sey to þe, werely,
677 I forgeyffe þe þi wrecchednesse,
678 And hol in sowle be þou made þerby!

679 MARIA. O, blessyd be þou, Lord of euyrlastyng lyfe,
680 And blyssyd be þi berth of þat puer vergynne!
681 Blyssyd be þou, repast contemplatyf,
682 A3ens my seknes, helth and medsyn!

683 And for þat I haue synnyd in þe synne of pryde,
684 I wol enabyte me wyth humelyte.
685 A3ens wrath and envy, I wyll devyde
686 Thes fayur vertuys, pacyens and charyte.

687 JHESUS. Woman, in contryssyon þou art expert,
688 And in þi sowle hast inward mythe,
689 That sumtyme were in desert,
690 And from therknesse hast porchasyd lyth.
691 Thy feyth hath savyt pe, and made þe bryth!
692 Wherfor I sey to þe, 'Vade in pace'.

Wyth þis word seuyn dyllys xall dewoyde from þe woman, and the Bad Angyll entyr into hell wyth thondyr.

693 [MARIA]. O þou, gloryns Lord, þis rehersyd for my sped,
694 Sowle heith attys tyme for to recure.
695 Lord, for þat I was in whanhope, now stond I in dred,
696 But þat þi gret mercy wyth me may endure.
697 My thowth þou knewyst wythowttyn ony dowth.
698 Now may I trost þe techeyng of Isaye in scryptur,
699 Wos report of þi nobyllnesse rennyt fere abowt!

700 JHESUS. Blyssyd be þey at alle tyme
701 That sen me nat, and have me in credens.
702 Wyth contryssyon þou hast mad a recumpens
703 þi sowle to save from all dystresse.
704 Beware, and kepe þe from alle neclygens,
705 And aftyr, þou xal be partenyr of my blysse!

Here devodyt Jhesus wyth hys desipyllys, þe Good Angyll reioysyng of Mawdleyn:

706 BONUS ANGELUS. Holy God, hyest of omnipotency,
707 The astat of good governouns to þe I recummend,
708 Humbylly besecheyng þyn inperall glorye
709 In þi devyn vertu vs to comprehend.

710 And, delectabyll Jhesu, soverreyn sapyens,
711 Ower feyth we recummend onto your pur pete,
712 Most mekely prayyng to your holy aparens,
713 Illumyn ower ygnorans wyth your devynyte!

714 Ye be clepyd Redempcyon of sowlys defens,
715 Whyche shal ben obscuryd be þi blessyd mortalyte.
716 O Lux Vera, gravnt vs 3ower lucense,
717 That wyth þe spryte of errour I nat seduet be!

718 And, Sperytus Alme, to yow most benyne,
719 Thre persons in Trenyte, and on God eterne,
720 Most lowly ower feyth we consyngne,
721 þat we may com to your blysse gloryfyed from malyngne,
722 And wyth your gostely bred to fede vs, we desyern.

[Hell Stage]

723 REX DEABOLUS. A! Owt, owt, and harrow! I am hampord wyth hate!
724 In hast wyl I set our jugment to se
725 Wyth thes betyll-browyd bycheys I am at debate!
726 How, Belfagour and Belzabub! Com vp here to me!

Here aperytt to dyvilys before þe mastyr.

727 SECUNDUS DIABOLUS. Here, lord, here! Qwat wol 3e?
728 REX DIABOLUS. The jugment of harlottys here to se,
729 Settyng in judycyal-lyke astate.

730 How, thow bad angyll! Apere before my grace!
731 SPIRITUS MALIGNI. As flat as fox, I falle before your face!
732 REX DIABOLUS. Thow theffe! Wy hast þou don all þis trespas,
733 To lett yen woman þi bondys breke?
734 MALINUS SPIRITUS. The Speryt of grace sore ded hyr smyth,
735 And temptyd so sore þat ipocryte!
736 REX DIABOLUS. 3a, thys hard balys on þi bottokkys xall byte!
737 In hast, on þe I wol be wreke!

738 Cum vp, 3e horsons, and skore awey þe yche,
739 And wyth thys panne, 3e do hym pycche!
740 Cum of, 3e harlottys, þat yt wer don!

Here xall þey serva all þe seuyn as þey do þe frest.

741 REX DIABOLUS. Now have I a part of my desyere!
742 Goo into þis howsse, 3e lordeynnys here,
743 And loke ye set yt on afeyere--
744 And þat xall hem awake!

Here xall þe tother deyllys seit þe howse on afyere, and make a sowth, and Mari xall go to Lazar and to Martha.

745 REX DIABOLUS. So! Now have we well afrayyd þese felons fals!
746 They be blasyd, both body and hals!
747 Now to hell lett vs synkyn als,
748 To ower felaws blake!

[The Castle of Magdalen]

749 MARI MAVGLEYN. O brother, my hartys consolacyown!
750 O blessyd in lyff, and solytary!
751 The blyssyd Prophet, my comfortacyown,
752 He hathe made me clene and delectary,
753 The wyche was to synne a subiectary.
754 Thys Kyng, Cryste, consedyryd hys creacyown;
755 I was drynchyn in synne deversarye
756 Tyll þat Lord relevyd me be hys domynacyon.

757 Grace to me he wold nevyr denye;
758 Thowe I were nevyr so synful, he seyd, 'Revertere'!
759 O, I, synful creature, to grace I woll aplye;
760 The oyle of mercy hath helyd myn infyrmyte.

761 MARTHA. Now worchepyd be þat hey name Jhesu,
762 The wyche in Latyn is callyd Savyower!
763 Fulfyllyng þat word ewyn of dewe,
764 To alle synfull and seke, he is sokour.
765 LAZARE. Systyr, 3e be welcum onto yower towyre!
766 Glad in hart of yower obessyawnse,
767 Wheyl þat I leffe, I wyl serve hym wyth honour,
768 That 3e have forsakyn synne and varyawns.

769 MARY MAGDALEN. Cryst, þat is þe lyth and þe cler daye,
770 He hath oncuryd þe therknesse of þe dowdy nyth,
771 Of lyth þe lucens and lyth veray,
772 Wos prechyng to vs is a gracyows lyth,
773 Lord, we beseche þe, as þou art most of myth,
774 Owt of þe ded slep of therknesse, defend vs aye!
775 Gyff vs grace ewyr to rest in lyth,
776 In quyet and in pes to serve þe, nyth and day.

Here xall Lazar take hys deth, þus seyyng:

777 [LAZAR]. A! Help, help, systyrs, for charyte!
778 Alas! Dethe is sett at my hart!
779 A! Ley on handys! Wher are 3e?
780 A, I faltyr and falle! I wax alle onquarte!
781 A, I bome above, I wax alle swertt!
782 A, good Jhesu, thow be my gyde!
783 A, no lengar now I reverte!
784 I yeld vp þe gost, I may natt abyde!

785 MARY MAGDALEN. O, good brother! Take covmforth and myth,
786 And lett non heuynes in 3ower hart abyde!
787 Lett away alle þis feyntnesse and fretth,
788 And we xal gete yow leches, 3ower peynys to devyde.

789 MARTHA. A, I syth and sorow, and sey, 'Alas'!
790 Thys sorow ys apoynt to be my confusyon!
791 Jentyl systyr, hye we from þis place,
792 For þe Prophe[t] to hym hatt grett delectacyon.
793 Good brothere, take somme comfortacyon

794 For we woll go to seke yow[er] cure.

Here goth Mary and Martha, and mett wyth Jhesus, þus seyyng:

795 [MARY AND MARTHA]. O, Lord Jhesu, ower melleflueus swettnesse,
796 Thowe art grettest Lord in glorie!
797 Lovyr to þe, Lord, in all lowlynesse,
798 Comfort þi creatur þat to þe crye!
799 Behold yower lovyr, good Lord, specyally,
800 How Lazare lyth seke in grett dystresse.
801 He ys þi lovyr, Lord, suerly!
802 Onbynd hym, good Lord, of hys heuynesse!
803 JHESUS. Of all infyrmyte, þer is non to deth.
804 For of all peynnys, þat is impossyble

805 To vndyrestond be reson; to know þe werke,
806 The joye þat is in Iherusallem heuenly,
807 Can nevyr be compylyd be covnnyng of clerke--
808 To se þe joyys of þe Fathyr in glory,
809 The joyys of þe Sonne whych owth to be magnyfyed,
810 And of þe Therd Person, þe Holy Gost, truly,
811 And alle thre but on in heuen gloryfyed!

812 Now, women þat am in my presens here,
813 Of my wordys take awysement.
814 Go hom a3en to yower brothyr Lazere--
815 My grace to hym xall be sent.

816 MARY MAGDALEN. O, thow gloryus Lordz here present,
817 We yeld to þe salutacyon!
818 In ower weyys we be expedyent.
819 Now, Lord, vs defend from trybulacyon!

Here goth Mary and Martha homvard, and Jhesus devodyt.

[Castle of Magdalen]

820 LAZARUS. A! In woo I waltyr as wawys in þe wynd!
821 Awey ys went all my sokour!
822 A, Deth, Deth, þou art onkynd!
823 A! A, now brystyt myn hartt! þis is a sharp showyr!
824 Farewell, my systyrs, my bodely helth!

Mortuus est.

825 MARY MAGDALEN. Jhesu, my Lord, be yower sokowre,
826 And he mott be yower gostys welth!

827 PRIMUS MILES. Goddys grace mott be hys governour,
828 In joy euyrlastyng fore to be!
829 SECUNDUS MILES. Amonge alle good sowlys, send hym favour,
830 As þi powere ys most of dygnyte!

831 MARTHA. Now, syn þe chans is fallyn soo,
832 That deth hath drewyn hym don þis day,
833 We must nedys ower devyrs doo,
834 To þe erth to bryng hym wythowt delay.
835 MARY MAGDALEN. As þe vse is now, and hath byn aye,
836 Wyth wepers to þe erth yow hym bryng.
837 Alle þis must be donne as I yow saye,
838 Clad in blake, wythowtyn lesyng.

839 PRIMUS MILES. Gracyows ladvys of grett honour,
840 Thys pepull is com here in yower syth,
841 Wepyng and weylyng wyth gret dolour,
842 Becavse of my lordys dethe.

Here þe on knygth make redy þe ston, and other bryng in þe wepars, arayyd in blak.

843 PRIMUS MILES. Now, good fryndys þat here be,
844 Take vp thys body wyth good wyll,
845 And ley it in hys sepoltur, semely to se;
846 Good Lord hym save from alle manyr ille!

Lay hym in. Here al þe pepyll resort to þe castell, þus seyyng Jhesus [in the place]:

847 [JHESUS]. Tyme ys comyn of very cognyssyon.
848 My dyssyplys, goth wyth me

849 For to fulfyll possybyll peticion;
850 Go we together into Jude,
851 There Lazar, my frynd, is he.
852 Gow we together as chyldyurn of lyth,
853 And, from grevos slepe, sawen heym wyll we!

854 DISSIPULYS. Lord, it plese yower myty volunte,
855 Thow he slepe, he may be savyd be skyll.
856 JHESUS. That is trew, and be possybilyte;
857 Therfor, of my deth shew yow I wyll.

858 My Fathyr, of nemyows charyte,
859 Sent me, hys Son, to make redemcyon,
860 Wyche was conseyvyd be puer verginyte,
861 And so in my mother had cler incarnacyon;
862 And þerfore must I suflyre grewos passyon
863 Ondyre Povnse Pylat, wyth grett perplexite,
864 Betyn, bobbyd, skoernyd, crownnyd wyth thorne--
865 Alle þis xall be þe soferons of my deite.

866 I, therfor, hastely folow me now,
867 For Lazar is ded, verely to preve;
868 whe[r]for I am joyfull, I sey onto yow,
869 That I knowlege yow þerwyth, þat ye may it beleve.

Here xal Jhesus com wyth hys dissipulys, and on Jew tellyt Martha:

870 [JEW]. A, Martha, Martha! Be full of gladnesse!
871 For þe Prophett ys comyng, I sey trewly,
872 Wyth hys dyssypyllys in grett lowlynesse;
873 He shall yow comfortt wyth hys mercy.

Here Martha xall ronne a3en Jhesus, þus seyyng:

874 [MARTHA]. A, Lord! Me, sympyl creatur, nat denye,
875 Thow I be wrappyd in wrecchydnesse!
876 Lord, and þou haddyst byn here, werely,

877 My brother had natt a byn ded-I know well thysse
878 JHESUS DICIT. Martha, docctor, onto þe I sey,
879 Thy brother xall reyse agayn!
880 MARTHA. Yee, Lord, ar þe last day,
881 That I beleve ful pleyn.

882 JHESUS. I am þe resurreccyon of lyfe, þat euyr xall reynne,
883 And whoso belevyt verely in me
884 Xall have lyfe euyrlastyng, þe soth to seyn.
885 Martha, belevyst thow þis?
886 MARTHA. 3e, forsoth, þe Prynsse of blysch!
887 I beleve in Cryst þe Son of Sapyens,
888 Whyche wythowt eynd ryngne xall he,
889 To redemyn vs freell from ower iniquite!

Here Mary xall falle to Jhesus, þus seyyng Mary:

890 MARY MAGDALEN. O, þou rythewys regent, reynyng in equite,
891 þou gracyows Lord, þou swete Jhesus!
892 And þou haddyst byn here, my brothyr alyfe had be!
893 Good Lord, myn hertt doth þis dyscus!

894 JHESUS. Wher have 3e put hym? Sey me thys.
895 MARY MAGDALEN. In hys mo[nv]ment, Lord, is he.
896 JHESUS. To that place 3e me wys.
897 Thatt grave I desyre to se.

898 Take of þe ston of þis monvment!
899 The agrement of grace here shewyn I wyll.

900 MARTHA. A, Lord, yower preseptt fulfyllyd xall be.
901 Thys ston I remeve wyth glad chyr.
902 Gracyows Lord, I aske þe mercy!
903 Thy wyll mott be fuilfyllyd here!

Here xall Martha put of þe grave ston.

904 JHESUS. Now, Father, I beseche thyn hey paternyte,
905 That my prayour be resowndable to þi Fathyrod in glory,
906 To opyn þeyn erys to þi Son in humanyte.
907 Nat only for me, but for þi pepyll, verely,
908 That þey may beleue, and betake to þi mercy.
909 Fathyr, fore þem I make supplycacyon!
910 Gracyows Father, gravnt me my bone!

911 Lazer, Lazer! Com hethyr to me!

Here xall Lazar aryse, trossyd wyth towellys, in a shete.

912 LAZAR. A, my Makar, my Savyowr! Blyssyd mott þou be!
913 Here men may know þi werkys of wondyre!
914 Lord, nothy[n]g ys onpossybyll to the,
915 For my body and my sowle was departyd asondyr!
916 I xuld a rottytt, as doth þe tondyre,
917 Fleysch from þe bonys a-consumyd away!
918 Now is aloft þat late was ondyr!

919 The goodnesse of God hath don for me here,
920 For he is bote of all balys to onbynd,
921 That blyssyd Lord þat here ded apere!

Here all þe pepull and þe Jewys, Mari and Martha, wyth on woys sey þes wordys: 'We beleve in yow, Savyowr, Jhesus, Jhesus, Jhesus!'

922 [JHESUS]. Of yower good hertys I have advertacyounys,
923 Wherethorow in sowle, holl made 3e be.
924 Betwyx yow and me be nevyr varyacyounys,
925 Wherfor I sey, 'Vade in pace'.

Here devoydyt Jhesus wyth hys desypyllys; Mary and Martha and Lazare gon horn to þe castell, and here begynnyt [pe Kyng of Marcylle] hys bost:

[Marcylle]

926 [KYNG OF MARCYLLE]. Awantt! Awant þe, onworthy wrecchesse!
927 Why lowtt 3e nat low to my lawdabyll presens,
928 Ye brawlyng breellys and blabyr-lyppyd bycchys,
929 Obedyenly to obbey me wythowt offense?

930 I am a sofereyn semely þat ye se butt seyld!
931 Non swyche ondyr sonne, þe sothe for to say!
932 Whanne I fare fresly and fers to þe feld,
933 My fomen fle for fer of my fray!
934 Ewen as an enperower I am onored ay,

935 Wanne baner gyn to blasse and bemmys gyn to blow!
936 Hed am I heyest of all hethennesse holld!
937 Both kynggys and cayserys I woll þey xall me know,
938 Or ellys þey beys the bargayn, þat ewyr þey were so bold!
939 I am Kyng of Marcylle, talys to be told--
940 Thus I wold it were knowyn ferre and nere!
941 Ho sey contraly, I cast heym in carys cold,
942 And he xall bey the bargayn wondyr dere!

943 I have a favorows fode and fresse as the fakown,
944 She is full fayur in hyr femynyte;
945 Whan I loke on þis lady, I am losty as the lyon
946 In my syth;
947 Of delycyte most delycyows,
948 Of felachyp most felecyows,
949 Of alle fodys most favarows--
950 O, my blysse in bevteus brygth!

951 REGINA. O of condycyons, and most onorabyll!
952 Lowly I thank yow for þis recummendacyon--
953 The bovnteest and the boldest ondyr baner bryth,
954 No creatur so coroscant to my consolacyon!
955 Whan the regent be resydent, itt is my refeccyon.
956 Yower dilectabyll dedys devydytt me from dyversyte.
957 In my person I privyde to put me from polucyon--
958 To be plesant to yower person, itt is my prosperyte!

959 REX. Now, Godamercy, berel brytest of bewte!
960 Godamercy, ruby rody as þe rose!
961 Ye be so ple[s]avnt to my pay, 3e put me from peyn.
962 Now, comly knygthys, loke þat 3e forth dresse
963 Both spycys and wyn here in hast!

Here xall þe knygtys gete spycys and wynne, and here xall entyr a dylle in orebyll aray, þus seyyng:

[Hell Stage]

964 [DYLLE]. Owt, owt, harrow! I may crye and yelle,
965 For lost is all ower labor, wherfor I sey alas!
966 For of all holddys þat evyr hort, non so as hell!
967 Owur barrys of iron ar all to-brost, stronge gatys of brasse!
968 The Kyng of Joy entyryd in þerat, as bryth as fyrys blase!
969 For fray of hys ferfull banere, ower felashep fled asondyr!
970 Whan he towcheyd it wyth hys toukkyng, þey brast as ony glase,
971 And rofe asondyr, as it byn wyth thondore!

972 Now ar we thrall þat frest wher fre,
973 Be þe passyon of hys manhede.
974 O[n] a crosce on hye hangyd was he,
975 Whych hath dystroyd ower labor and alle ower dede!
976 He hath lytynnyd lymbo, and to paradyse 3ede!
977 þat wondyrfull worke werkytt vs wrake!
978 Adam and Abram and alle hyre kynred,
979 Owt of ower preson to joy were þey take!

980 All þis hath byn wrowth syn Freyday at none!
981 Brostyn don ower gatys þat hangyd were full hye!
982 Now is he resyn, hys resurreccyon is don,
983 And is procedyd into Galelye!
984 Wyth many a temtacyon we tochyd hym to atrey,
985 To know whether he was God ore non.
986 3e[t] for all ower besynes, bleryd is ower eye,
987 For wyth hys wyld werke he hath wonne hem everychon!
988 Now for þe tyme to come,
989 þer xall non falle to ower chanse,
990 But at hys deleverans,
991 And weyyd be rythfull balans,
992 And 3owyn be rythfull domme.
993 I telle yow alle in sum, to helle wyll I gonne!

Here xall entyr þe thre Mariis arayyd as chast women, wyth sygnis of þe passyon pryntyd ypon þer brest, þus seyyng Mawdleyn:

[Place of Cruxifixion, and the Sepulchre.]

994 [MAWDLEYN]. Alas, alas, for þat ryall bem!
995 A, þis percytt my hartt worst of all!
996 For here he turnyd a3en to þe woman of Jerusalem,
997 And for wherynesse lett þe crosse falle!
998 MARY JACOBE. Thys sorow is beytterare þan ony galle,
999 For here þe Jevys spornyd hym to make hym goo,
1000 And þey dysspyttyd þer Kyng ryall.
1001 That clyvytt myn hart, and makett me woo.

1002 MARY SALOME. Yt ys intollerabyll to se or to tell,
1003 For ony creature, þat stronkg tormentry!
1004 O Lord, þou haddyst a mervelows mell!
1005 Yt is to hedyows to dyscry!

Al þe Maryys wyth on woyce sey þis folowyng:

1006 [THE THRE MARYYS]. Heylle, gloryows crosse! þou baryst þat Lord on hye,
1007 Whych be þi mygth deddyst lowly bowe doun,
1008 Mannys sowle from all thraldam to bye,
1009 That euyrmore in peyne shold a be [boun],
1010 Be record of Davyt, wyth myld stevyn:

1011 'Domine inclina celos tuos, et dessende!'

1012 MARY MAGDLEYN. Now to þe monument lett vs gon,
1013 Wheras ower Lord and Savyower layd was,
1014 To anoynt hym, body and bone,
1015 To make amendys for ower trespas.

1016 [MARY JACOBE]. Ho xall putt doun þe led of þe monvment,
1017 Thatt we may anoytt hys gracyus wovndys,
1018 Wyth hart and my[n]d to do ower intentt,
1019 Wyth precyus bamys, þis same stovnddys?
1020 MARY SALOME. Thatt blyssyd body wythin þis bovndys.
1021 Here was layd wyth rvfull monys.
1022 Nevyr creature was borne vpon gronddys
1023 þat mygth sofere so hediows a peyne at onys!

Here xall apere to angelys in whyte at þe grave.

1024 [PRIMUS] ANGELUS. 3e women presentt, dredytt yow ryth nowth!
1025 Jhesus is resun, and is natt here!
1026 Loo, here is þe place þat he was in browth!
1027 Go, sey to hys dysypyllys and to Petur he xall apere.

1028 SECUNDUS ANGELUS. In Galelye, wythowtyn ony wyre,
1029 þer xall ye se hym, lyke as he sayd.
1030 Goo yower way, and take comfortt and chyr,
1031 For þat he sayd xall natt be delayyd.

Here xall þe Maryys mete wyth Petyr and Jhon.

1032 MARY MAVDLEYN. O, Petyr and Jhon! We be begylyd!
1033 Ower Lordys body is borne away!
1034 I am aferd itt is dyffylyd!
1035 I am so carefull, I wott natt whatt to saye.
1036 PETYR. Of þes tydynggys gretly I dysmay!
1037 I woil me thethere hye wyth all my myth!
1038 Now, Lord defend vs as he best may!
1039 Of þe sepulture we woll have a syth.

1040 JHON. A, myn invard sowle stondyng in dystresse--
1041 þe weche of my body xuld have a gyde--
1042 For my Lord stondyng in hevynesse,
1043 Whan I remembyr hys wovndys wyde!

1044 PETYR. The sorow and peyne þat he ded drye
1045 For ower offens and abomynacyon!
1046 And also I forsoke hym in hys turmentry--
1047 I toke no hede to hys techeyng and exortacyon!

Here Petyr and Jhon go to þe sepulcur and þe Maryys folowyng.

1048 [PETYR]. A, now I se and know þe sothe!
1049 But, gracyus Lord, be ower protexcyon!--
1050 Here is nothyng left butt a sudare cloth,
1051 þat of þi beryyng xuld make mencyon!
1052 JHON. I am aferd of wykkytt opressyon!
1053 Where he is becum, it can natt be devysyd,
1054 But he seyd aftyr þe thrid day he xuld have resurrexyon.
1055 Long beforn, thys was promysyd.

1056 MARY MAGDLEYN. Alas, I may no lengar abyde,
1057 For dolour and dyssese þat in my hartt doth dwell.
1058 [Mary goes aside.]
1059 PRIMUS ANGELUS. Woman, woman, wy wepest þou?
1060 Wom sekest þou wyth dolare thus?
1061 MARY MAGDLEYN. A, Fayn wold I wete, and I wyst how,
1062 Wo hath born away my Lord Jhesus!

Hic aparuit Jhesus.

1063 [JHESUS]. Woman, woman, wy syest thow?
1064 Wom sekest þou? Tell me þis.
1065 MARY MAGDLEYN. A, good syr, tell me now
1066 Yf þou have born awey my Lord Jhesus,

1067 For I have porposyd in eche degre
1068 To have hym wyth me, werely,
1069 The wyche my specyall Lord hath be,
1070 And I hys lovyr and cavse wyll phy.

1071 JHESUS. O, O, Mari!
1072 MARY MAGDLEYN. A! Gracyus Mastyr and Lord, yow it is þat I seke!
1073 Lett me anoynt yow wyth þis bamys sote!
1074 Lord, long hast þou hyd þe from my spece,
1075 Butt now wyil I kesse þou for my hartys bote!

1076 JHESUS. Towche me natt, Mary! I ded natt asend
1077 To my Father in Deyyte, and onto yowers!
1078 Butt go sey to my brotheryn I wyll pretende
1079 To stey to my Father in heu[n]ly towyrs.

1080 MARY MAGDLEYN. Whan I sye yow fyrst, Lord, verely
1081 I wentt ye had byn Symov[n]d þe gardener.
1082 JHESUS. So I am, forsothe, Mary!
1083 Mannys hartt is my gardyn here.
1084 þerin I sow sedys of vertu all þe 3ere.
1085 þe fowle wedys and wycys I reynd vp be þe rote!
1086 Whan þat gardyn is watteryd wyth terys clere,
1087 Than spryng vertuus, and smelle full sote.

1088 MARY MAGDLEYN. O, þou dereworthy Emperowere, þou hye devyne!
1089 To me þis is a joytull tydyng,
1090 And onto all pepull þat aftyr vs xall reyngne,
1091 Thys knowlege of þi devyte,
1092 To all pepull þat xall obteyne,
1093 And know þis be posybyl[t]e.
1094 JHESUS.I woll shew to synnars as I do to þe,
1095 Yf þey woll wyth veruens of love me seke.
1096 Be stedfast, and I xall evyr wyth þe be,
1097 And wyth all tho þat to me byn meke!

Here avoydyt Jhesus sodenly, þus seyyng Mary Magdleyu:

1098 [MARY MAGDLEYN]. O, systyrs, þus þe hey and nobyll infLventt grace
1099 Of my most blessyd Lord Jhesus, Jhesus, Jhesus!
1100 He aperyd onto me at þe sepulcur þer I was!
1101 þat hath relevyed my woo, and moryd my blysche!
1102 Itt is innvmerabyll to expresse,
1103 Or for ony tong for to tell,
1104 Of my joye how myche itt is,
1105 So myche my peynnys itt doth excelle!

1106 MARY SALOME. Now lett vs go to þe sette, to ower Lady dere,
1107 Hyr to shew of hys weilfare,
1108 And also to dy sypyllys, þat we have syn here--
1109 þe more yt xall rejoyse þem from care!

1110 MARY JACOB. Now, systyr Magdleyn, wyth glad chyr!
1111 So wold þat good Lord we myth wyth hym mete!

[Jhesus appears again.]

1112 JHESUS. To shew desyrows hartys I am full nere,
1113 Women, I apere to yow and sey, 'Awete!'

1114 SALOME. Now, gracyus Lord, of yowur nymyos charyte--
1115 Wyth hombyll hartys to þi presens complayne--
1116 Gravntt vs þi blyssyng of þi hye deyte,
1117 Gostly ower sowlys for to sosteynne.

1118 JHESUS. Alle tho byn blyssyd þat sore refreynne.
1119 We blysch yow-Father, and Son, and Holy Gost--
1120 All sorow and care to constryne,
1121 Be ower powyr of mytys most,

1122 In nomine Patrys ett Felii et Spiritus Sancti, amen!

1123 Goo ye to my brethryn, and sey to hem þer,
1124 þat þey procede and go into Gallelye,
1125 And þer xall þey se me, as I seyd before,
1126 Bodyly, wyth here carnall yye.

Here Jhesus devoydytt a3en.

1127 MAGDLEYN. O þou gloryus Lord of heuen regyon,
1128 Now blyssyd be þi hye devynyte,
1129 Thatt evyr thow tokest incarnacyon,
1130 Thus for to vesyte þi pore servantys thre.
1131 þi wyll, gracyows Lord, fulfyllyd xall be
1132 As þou commavndyst vs in all thyng.
1133 Ower gracyows brethryn we woll go se,
1134 Wyth hem to seyn all ower lekeyng.

Here devoyd all þe thre Maryys, and þe Kyng of Marcyll xall begynne a sacryfyce.

1135 REX MARCYLL. Now, lorddys and ladvys of grett aprise,
1136 A mater to meve yow is in my memoryall,
1137 þis day to do a sacryfyce
1138 Wyth multetude of myrth before ower goddys all,

1139 Wyth preors in aspecyall before hys presens,
1140 Eche creature wyth hartt demvre.

1141 REGINA. To þat lord curteys and keynd,
1142 Mahond, þat is so mykyll of myth,
1143 Wyth mynstrelly and myrth in mynd,
1144 Lett vs gon ofer in þat hye kyngis syth.

Here xall entyr an hethen Prest and hys boye.

1145 PRYSBY[TYR]. Now, my clerke Hawkyn, for loue of me,
1146 Loke fast myn awter were arayd!
1147 Goo ryng a bell, to or thre!
1148 Lythly, chyld, it be natt delayd,
1149 For here xall be a grett solemnyte.
1150 Loke, boy, þou do it wyth a brayd!
1151 CLERICUS. Whatt, mastyr! Woldyst þou have þi lemman to þi beddys syde?
1152 Thow xall abyde tyll my servyse is sayd!

1153 PRYSBY[TYR]. Boy! I sey, be Sentt Coppyn,
1154 No swyche wordys to þe I spake!
1155 BOY. Wether þou ded or natt, þe fryst jorny xall be myn,
1156 For, be my feyth, þou beryst Wattys pakke!

1157 But syr, my mastyr, grett Morell,
1158 Ye have so fellyd yower bylly wyth growell,
1159 þat it growit grett as þe dywll of hell!
1160 Onshaply þou art to see!
1161 Whan woman comme to here þi sermon,
1162 Pratyly wyth hem I can houkkyn,
1163 Wyth Kyrchon and fayer Maryon--
1164 þey love me bettyr þan þe!

1165 I dare sey, and þou xulddys ryde,
1166 þi body is so grett and wyde,
1167 þat nevyr horse may þe abyde,
1168 Exseptt þou breke hys bakk asovndyre!
1169 PRYSBY[TYR]. A, þou lyyst, boy, be þe dyvll of hell!
1170 I pray God, Mahond mott þe quell!
1171 I xall whyp þe tyll þi ars xall belle!
1172 On þi ars com mych wondyre!

1173 BOY. A fartt, mastyr, and kysse my grenne!
1174 þe dyvll of hell was þi emme!
1175 Loo, mastyrs, of swyche a stokke he cam!
1176 þis kenred is asprongyn late!
1177 PRYSBY[TYR]. Mahovndys blod, precyows knave!
1178 Stryppys on þi ars þou xall have,
1179 And rappys on þi pate!

Bete hym.

1180 REX dicitt. Now, prystys and clerkys, of þis tempyll cler,
1181 Yower servyse to sey, lett me se.

1182 PRYSBY[TYR]. A, soveryn lord, we shall don ower devyr.
1183 Boy, a boke anon þou bryng me!

1184 Now, boy, to my awter I wyll me dresse--
1185 On xall my Westment and myn aray.
1186 BOY. Now þan, þe lesson I woll expresse,
1187 Lyke as longytt for þe servyse of þis day:

1188 Leccyo mahowndys, viri fortissimi sarasenorum:
1189 Glabriosum ad glvmandum glvmardinorum,
1190 Gormonoorum alocorum, stampatinantum cursorum,
1191 Cownthtys fulcatum, congrvryandum tersorum,
1192 Mursum malgorum, marara3orum,
1193 Skartum sialporum, fartum cardicutorum,
1194 Slavndri strovmppum, corbolcorum,
1195 Snyguer snagoer werwoliforum
1196 Standgardum lamba beffettorum,
1197 Strowtum stardy strangolcorum,
1198 Rygour dagour flapporum,
1199 Castratum raty rybaldorum,
1200 Howndys and hoggys, in heggys and hellys,
1201 Snakys and toddys mott be yower bellys!
1202 Ragnell and Roflyn, and other in þe wavys,
1203 Gravntt yow grace to dye on þe galows!

1204 PRYSBY[TYR]. Now, lordys and ladyys, lesse and more,
1205 Knele all don wyth good devocyon.
1206 Yonge and old, rych and pore,
1207 Do yower oferyng to Sentt Mahownde,
1208 And ye xall have grett pardon,
1209 þat longytt to þis holy place,
1210 And receyve 3e xall my benesown,
1211 And stond in Mahowndys grace.

1212 REX dicitt. Mahownd, þou art of mytys most,
1213 In my syth a gloryus gost--
1214 þou comfortyst me both in contre and cost,
1215 Wyth þi wesdom and þi wytt,
1216 For truly, lord, in þe is my trost.
1217 Good lord, lett natt my sowle be lost!
1218 All my cownsell well þou wotst,
1219 Here in þi presens as I sett.

1220 Thys besawnt of gold, rych and rownd,
1221 I ofer ytt for my lady and me,
1222 þat þou mayst be ower covnfortys in þis stownd.
1223 Sweth Mahovnd, remembyr me!

1224 PRYSBY[TYR]. Now, boy, I pray þe, lett vs have a song!
1225 Ower servyse be note, lett vs syng, I say!
1226 Cowff vp þi brest, stond natt to long,
1227 Begynne þe ofyse of þis day.
1228 BOY. I home and I hast, I do þat I may,
1229 Wyth mery tvne þe trebyll to syng.

Syng both.

1230 PRYSBY[TYR]. Hold vp! þe dyvill mote þe afray,
1231 For all owt of rule þou dost me bryng!

1232 Butt now, syr kyng, quene, and knyth,
1233 Be mery in hartt everychon!
1234 For here may ye se relykys brygth--
1235 Mahowndys own nekke bon!
1236 And 3e xall se or ewer ye gon,
1237 Whattsomewer yow betyde,
1238 And ye xall kesse all þis holy bon,
1239 Mahowndys own yeelyd!
1240 3e may have of þis grett store;
1241 And ye knew þe cavse wherfor,
1242 Ytt woll make yow blynd for ewyrmore,
1243 þis same holy bede!

1244 Lorddys and ladyys, old and ynge,
1245 Golyas so good, to blysse may yow bryng,
1246 Mahownd þe [holy] and Dragon þe dere,
1247 Wyth Belyall in blysse ewyrlastyng,
1248 þat ye may þer in joy syng
1249 Before þat comly kyng
1250 þat is ower god in fere.

[Jerusalem--Pilate's Stage]

1251 PYLATT. Now, 3e serjauntys semly, qwat sey 3e?
1252 3e be full wetty men in þe law.
1253 Of þe dethe of Jhesu I woll awysyd be--
1254 Ower soferyn Sesar þe soth mvst nedys know.

1255 Thys Jhesu was a man of grett vertu,
1256 And many wondyrs in hys tyme he wrowth;
1257 He was put to dethe be cawsys ontru,
1258 Wheche matyr stekytt in my thowth;
1259 And 3e know well how he was to þe erth browth,
1260 Wacchyd wyth knygths of grett aray.
1261 He is resyn agayn, as before he tawth,
1262 And Joseph of Baramathye he hath takyn awey.

1263 [PRIMUS] SERJANTT. Soferyn juge, all þis is soth þat 3e sey,
1264 But all þis mvst be curyd be sotylte,
1265 And sey how hys dysypyllys stollyn hym away--
1266 And þis xall be þe answer, be þe asentt of me!
1267 SECUNDUS SERJANTT. So it is most lylly for to be!
1268 Yower covncell is good and commendabyll;
1269 So wryte hym a pystyll of specyalite,
1270 And þat for vs xall be most prophytabyll.

1271 PYLATT. Now, masengyr, in hast hether þou com!
1272 On masage þou mvst, wyth ower wrytyng,
1273 To þe soferyn emperower of Rome.
1274 But fryst þou xall go to Herodes þe kyng,
1275 And sey how þat I send hym knowyng
1276 Of Crystys deth, how it hath byn wrowth.
1277 I charge þe make no lettyng,
1278 Tyll þis lettyr to þe emperower be browth!

1279 NVNCYUS PYLATUS. My lord, in hast yower masage to spede
1280 Onto þo lordys of ryall renown,
1281 Dowth 3e nat, my lord, it xall be don indede!
1282 Now hens woll I fast owt of þis town!

Her goth þe masengyr to Herodes.

[Jerusalem--Herod's Palace]

1283 NVNCYUS. Heyll, soferyn kyng ondyr crown!
1284 þe prynsys of þe law recummende to yower heynesse,
1285 And sendytt yow tydyngys of Crystys passyon,
1286 As in þis wrytyng doth expresse.

1287 HERODES. A, be my trowth, now am I full of blys!
1288 þes be mery tydvngys þat þey have þus don!
1289 Now certys I am glad of þis,
1290 For now ar we frendys þat afore wher fon.
1291 Hold a reward, masengyr, þat thow were gon,
1292 And recummend me to my soferens grace.
1293 Shew hym I woll be as stedfast as ston,
1294 Ferr and nere, and in every place!

Here goth þe masengyr to þe emperower.

[Rome]

1295 NVNCYUS. Heyll be yow, sofereyn, settyng in solas!
1296 Heyll, worthy wythowtyn pere!
1297 Heyll, goodly to gravntt all grace!
1298 Heyll, emperower of þe word, ferr and nere!

1299 Soferyn, and it plese yower hye empyre,
1300 I have browth yow wrytyng of grett aprise,
1301 Wyche xall be pleseyng to yower desyre,
1302 From Pylatt, yower hye justyce.
1303 He sentt yow word wyth lowly intentt;
1304 In ewery place he kepytt yower cummavndement,
1305 As he is bovnd be hys ofyce.

1306 EMPEROWER. A, welcum, masengyr of grett pleseavns!
1307 þe wrytyng anon lett me se!
1308 My juggys, anon gyffe atendans,
1309 To ondyrstond whatt þis wrytyng may be,
1310 Wethyr it be good, are ony deversyte,
1311 Or ellys natt for myn awayll--
1312 Declare me þis in all þe hast!

1313 PROVOST. Syr, þe sentens we woll dyscus,
1314 And it plese yower hye exseleyns;
1315 The intentt of þis pystull is þus:
1316 Pylatt recummendytt to yower presens,
1317 And of a prophett is þe sentens,
1318 Whos name was callyd Jhesus.
1319 He is putt to dethe wyth vyolens,
1320 For he chalyngyd to be kyng of Jewys.

1321 þerfor he was crucyfyed to ded,
1322 And syn was bervyd, as þey thowth reson.
1323 Also, he cleymyd hymsylf Son of þe Godhed!
1324 þe therd nygth he was stollyn away wyth treson,
1325 Wyth hys desypyllys þat to hym had dyleccyon,
1326 So wyth hym away þey 3ode.
1327 I merveyll how þey ded wyth þe bodvys corupcyon--
1328 I trow þey wer fed wyth a froward fode!

1329 IMPERATOR. Crafty was þer connyng, þe soth for to seyn!
1330 Thys pystyll I wyll kepe wyth me yff I can,
1331 Also I wyll have cronekyllyd þe 3ere and þe reynne,
1332 þat nevyr xall be forgott, whoso loke þeron.

1333 Masengyre, owt of þis town wyth a rage!
1334 Hold þis gold to þi wage,
1335 Mery for to make!
1336 NVNCYUS. Farewell, my lord of grett renown,
1337 For owt of town my way I take.

Her entyr Mawdleyn wyth hyr dysypyll, þus seyyng:

[Jerusalem]

1338 MAVDLYN. A, now I remembyr my Lord þat put was to ded
1339 Wyth þe Jewys, wythowttyn gyltt or treson!
1340 þe therd nygth he ros be þe myth of hys Godhed;
1341 Vpon þe Sonday had hys gloryus resurrexcyon,
1342 And now is þe tyme past of hys gloryus asencyon;
1343 He steyyd to hevyn, and þer he is kyng.
1344 A! Hys grett kendnesse may natt fro my mencyon!
1345 Of alle manes tonggys he 3af vs knowyng,

1346 For to vndyrstond every langwage.
1347 Now have þe dysypyllysl take þer passage
1348 To dyvers contreys her and 3ondyr,
1349 To prech and teche of hys hye damage--
1350 Full ferr ar my brothyrn departyd asondyr.

Her xall hevyn opyn, and Jhesus xall shew [hymself].

[Heaven Stage]

1351 JHESUS. O, þe onclypsyd sonne, tempyll of Salamon!
1352 In þe mone I restyd, þat nevyr chonggyd goodnesse!
1353 In þe shep of Noee, fles of Judeon,
1354 She was my tapyrnakyll of grett nobylinesse,
1355 She was þe paleys of Phebus brygthnesse,
1356 She was þe wessell of puere clennesse,
1357 Wher my Godhed 3aff my manhod myth;

1358 My blyssyd mother, of demvre femynyte,
1359 For mankynd, þe feynddys defens,
1360 Quewne of Jherusalem, þat heuenly cete,
1361 Empresse of hell, to make resystens.
1362 She is þe precyus pyn, full of ensens,
1363 The precyus synamvyr, þe body thorow to seche.
1364 She is þe mvske a3ens þe hertys of vyolens,
1365 þe jentyll jelopher a3ens þe cardyakyllys wrech.

1366 The goodnesse of my mothere no tong can expresse,
1367 Nere no clerke of hyre, hyre jovys can wryth.
1368 Butt now of my servantt I remembyr þe kendnesse;
1369 Wyth heuenly masage I cast me to vesyte;
1370 Raphaell, myn angell in my syte,
1371 To Mary Mavdleyn decende in a whyle,
1372 Byd here passe þe se be my myth,
1373 And sey she xall converte þe land of Marcyll.

1374 ANGELUS. O gloryus Lord, I woll resortt
1375 To shew your servant of yower grace.
1376 She xall labor for þat londys comfortt,
1377 From heuynesse þem to porchasse.

Tunc decendet angelus.

1378 [ANGELUS]. Abasse þe novtt, Mary, in þis place!
1379 Ower Lordys preceptt þou must fullfyll.
1380 To passe þe see in shortt space,
1381 Onto þe lond of Marcyll.

1382 Kyng and quene converte xall 3e,
1383 And byn amyttyd as an holy apostylesse.
1384 Alle þe lond xall be techyd alonly be the,
1385 Goddys lawys onto hem 3e xall expresse.
1386 þerfore hast yow forth wyth gladnesse,
1387 Goddys commav[n]ddement for to fullfylle.

1388 MARI MAWDLEYN. He þat from my person seuen dewilys mad to fle,
1389 Be vertu of hym alle thyng was wrowth;
1390 To seke thoys pepyll I woll rydy be.
1391 As þou hast commavnddytt, in vertv þey xall be browth.

1392 Wyth þi grace, good Lord in Deite,
1393 Now to þe see I wyll me hy,
1394 Sum sheppyng to asspy.
1395 Now spede me, Lord in eternall glory!
1396 Now be my spede, allmyty Trenite!

Here xall entyre a shyp wyth a mery song.

[The Place--near the 'Coast']

1397 SHEPMAN. Stryke! Stryke! Lett fall an ankyr to grownd!
1398 Her is a fayer haven to se!
1399 Connyngly in, loke þat ye sownd!
1400 I hope good harbarow have xal wee!

1401 Loke þat we have drynke, boy þou!
1402 BOY. I may natt, for slep, I make God a wow!

1403 þou xall abyde ytte, and þou were my syere!
1404 SHEPMAN. Why, boy, we are rydy to go to dynere!
1405 Xall we no mete have?
1406 BOY. Natt for me, be of good chyr,
1407 Thowe ye be forhongord tyll 3e rave,
1408 I tell yow plenly beforn!
1409 For swyche a cramp on me sett is,
1410 I am a poynt to fare þe worse.
1411 I ly and wryng tyll I pysse,
1412 And am a poyntt to be forlorn!

1413 þE MASTYR. Now, boy, whatt woll þe þis seyll?
1414 BOY. Nothyng butt a fayer damsell.!
1415 She shold help me, I know it well,
1416 Ar ellys I may rue þe tyme þat I was born!
1417 þE MASTYR. Be my trowth, syr boye, 3e Xal be sped!
1418 I wyll hyr bryng onto yower bed!
1419 Now xall þou lern a damsell to wed--
1420 She wyll nat kysse þe on skorn!

Bete hym.

1421 þE BOY. A skorn! No, no, I fynd it hernest!
1422 The dewile of hell motte þe brest,
1423 For all my corage is now cast!
1424 Alasse! I am forlorn!

1425 MAV[D]LEYN. Mastyr of þe shepe, a word wyth the!
1426 MASTYR. All redy, fayer woman! Whatt wol 3e?
1427 MARY. Of whense is thys shep? Tell 3e me,
1428 And yf 3e seyle wythin a whyle.
1429 MASTYR. We woll seyle þis same day,
1430 Yf þe wynd be to ower pay.
1431 þis shep þat I of sey,
1432 Is of þe lond of Marcyll.

1433 MARY. Syr, may I natt wyth yow sayle?
1434 And 3e xall have for yower awayle.
1435 MASTYR. Of sheppyng ye xall natt faylle,
1436 For vs þe wynd is good and saffe.

[Ship sails.]

1437 Yond þer is þe lond of Tork[y]e
1438 I wher full loth for to lye!
1439 Yendyr is þe lond of Satyllye--
1440 Of þis cors we thar nat abaffe.

1441 Now xall þe shepmen syng.

1442 SHEPMEN. Stryk! Beware of sond!
1443 Cast a led and in vs gyde!
1444 Of Marcyll þis is þe kynggys lond.
1445 Go a lond, þow fayer woman, þis tyde,
1446 To þe kynggys place. Yondyr may 3e se.

[Mary goes ashore.]

1447 BOY. Sett of! Sett of from lond!
1448 All redy, mastyr, at thyn hand!

1449 Her goth þe shep owt of þe place.

1450 MARY. O Jhesu, þi mellyfluos name
1451 Mott be worcheppyd wyth reverens!
1452 Lord, gravnt me vyctore a3ens þe fyndys flame,
1453 And yn þi lawys gyf þis pepyll credens!
1454 I wyll resortt be grett convenyens;
1455 On hys presens I wyll draw nere,
1456 Of my Lordys lawys to she[w] þe sentens,
1457 Bothe of hys Godhed and of hys powere.

1458 Here xall Mary entyr before þe kyng.

1459 [MARY]. Now, þe hye Kyng Crist, mannys redempcyon,
1460 Mote save yow, syr kyng, regnyng in equite,
1461 And mote gydde yow þe [way] toward sauasyon.
1462 Jhesu, þe Son of þe mythty Trenite,
1463 That was, and is, and evyr xall be,
1464 For mannys sowle þe reformacyon,
1465 In hys name, lord, I beseche þe,
1466 Wythin þi lond to have my mancyon.

1467 REX. Jhesu? Jhesu? Qwat deylle is hym þat?
1468 I defye þe and þyn apenyon!
1469 Thow false lordeyn, I xal fell þe flatt!
1470 Who made the so hardy to make swych rebon?
1471 MARY. Syr, I com natt to þe for no decepcyon,
1472 But þat good Lord Crist hether me compassyd.
1473 To receyve hys name, itt is yower refeccyon,
1474 And þi forme of mysbele[f] be hym may be losyd!

1475 REX. And whatt is þat lord þat thow speke of her?
1476 MARY. Id est Salvator, yf thow wyll lere,
1477 þe Secunde Person, þat hell ded conquare,

1478 And þe Son of þe Father in Trenyte!
1479 REX. And of whatt powyr is þat God þat 3e reherse to me?
1480 MARY. He mad hevyn and erth, lond and see,
1481 And all þis he mad of nowthe!
1482 REX. Woman, I pray þe, answer me!
1483 Whatt mad God at þe fyrst begynnyng?
1484 Thys processe ondyrstond wol
1485 That wold I lerne; itt is my plesyng!

1486 MARY. Syr, I wyll declare al and sum,
1487 What from God fryst ded procede.
1488 He seyd, 'In principio erat verbum',
1489 And wyth þat he provyd hys grett Godhed!
1490 He mad heuen for ower spede,
1491 Wheras he sytth in tronys hyee;
1492 Hys mynystyrs next, as he save nede,
1493 Hys angelus and archangyllys all the compeny.

1494 Vpon þe fryst day God mad all þis,
1495 As it was plesyng to hys intent.
1496 On þe Munday, he wold natt mys
1497 To make sonne, mone, and sterrys, and þe fyrmament,
1498 The sonne to begynne hys cors in þe oryent,
1499 And evyr labor wythowtyn werynesse,
1500 And kepytt hys covrs into þe occedentt.

1501 The Twysday, as I ondyrstond þis,
1502 Grett grace for vs he gan to incresse.
1503 þat day he satt vpon watyris,
1504 As was lykyng to hys goodnesse,
1505 As holy wrytt berytt wettnesse.
1506 þat tyme he made both see and lond,
1507 All þat werke of grett nobyilnesse,
1508 As it was plesyng to hys gracyus sond.

1509 On þe Weddysday, ower Lord of mythe
1510 Made more at hys plesyng:
1511 Fysche in flod, and fowle in flyth--
1512 And all þis was for ower helipyng.
1513 On the Thorsday, þat nobyll Kyng
1514 Mad dyverse bestys, grett and smale.
1515 He yaff hem erth to ther fedyng,
1516 And bad hem cressyn be hylle and dale.

1517 And on þe Fryday God mad man,
1518 As it plesett hys hynesse most,
1519 Aftyr hys own semelytude than,
1520 And 3af hem lyfe of þe Holy Gost.

1521 O[n] þe Satyrday, as I tell can,
1522 All hys werkys he gan to blysse.
1523 He bad them multyply and incresse than,
1524 As it was plesyng to hys worthynesse.

1525 And on þe Sonday, he gan rest take,
1526 As skryptur declarytt pleyn,
1527 þat al shold reverens make
1528 To hyr Makar þat hem doth susteyn
1529 Vpon þe Sonday to leuen in hys servyse,
1530 And hym alonly to serve, I tell yow pleyn.

1531 REX. Herke, woman, thow hast many resonnys grett!
1532 I thyngk, onto my goddys aperteynyng þey beth!
1533 But þou make me answer son, I xall þe frett,
1534 And cut þe tong owt of þi hed!

1535 MARY. Syr, yf I seyd amys, I woll retur[n] agayn.
1536 Leve yower encomberowns of perturbacyon,
1537 And lett me know what yower goddys byn,
1538 And how þey may save vs from trevbelacyon.

1539 REX. Hens to þe tempyll þat we ware,
1540 And þer xall thow se a solom syth.
1541 Com on all, both lesse and more,
1542 Thys day to se my goddys myth!

Here goth þe kyng wyth all hys atendavnt to þe tempyll.

1543 [REX]. Loke now, qwatt seyyst thow be þis syth?
1544 How pleseavnttly þey stond, se thow how?
1545 Lord, I besech þi grett myth,
1546 Speke to þis Chrisetyn þat here sestt þou!
1547 Speke, god lord, speke! Se how I do bow!
1548 Herke, þou pryst! Qwat menytt all this?
1549 What? Speke, good lord, speke! What eylytt þe now?
1550 Speke, as thow artt bote of all blysse!

1551 PRYSBITYR. Lord, he woll natt speke whyle Chriseten here is!
1552 MARY. Syr kyng, and it plese yower gentylinesse,
1553 Gyff me lycens my prayors to make
1554 Onto my God in heven blysch,
1555 Sum merakyll to shewyn for yower sake!
1556 REX. Pray þi fylle tyll þen knees ake!

1557 MARY. Dominur, illuminacio mea, quem timebo?
1558 Dominus, protecctor vite mee, a quo trepedabo?

Here xal þe mament tremyll and quake.

1559 [MARY]. Now, Lord of lordys, to þi blyssyd name sanctificatt,
1560 Most mekely my feyth I recummend.
1561 Pott don þe pryd of mamentys violatt!
1562 Lord, to þi lovyr þi goodnesse descend!
1563 Lett natt þer pryd to þi poste pretend,
1564 Wheras is rehersyd þi hye name Jhesus!
1565 Good Lord, my preor I feythfully send!
1566 Lord, þi rythwysnesse here dyscus!

Here xall comme a clowd from heven, and sett þe tempyl on afyer, and þe pryst and þe cler[k] xall synke, and þe kyng gothe hom, þus seyyng:

1567 [REX]. A! Owt! For angur I am þus deludyd!
1568 I wyll bewreke my cruell tene!
1569 Alas, wythin mysylfe I am concludytt!
1570 þou woman, comme hether and wete whatt I mene!
1571 My wyff and I together many 3erys have byn,
1572 And nevyr myth be conceyvyd wyth chyld;
1573 Yf þou for þis canst fynd a mene,
1574 I wyll abey þi God, and to hym be meke and myld.

1575 MARY. Now, syr, syn þou seyst so,
1576 To my Lord I prye wyth reythfull bone.
1577 Beleve in hym, and in no mo,
1578 And I hope she xall be conceyvyd sone.

1579 REX. Awoyd, awoyd! I wax all seke!
1580 I wyll to bed þis same tyde!
1581 I am so wexyd wyth 3en sueke,
1582 þat heth nere to deth me dyth!

Here þe kyng goth to bed in hast, and Mary goth into an old logge wythowt þe gate, þus seyyng:

1583 MARY. Now, Cryst, my creatur, me conserve and kepe,
1584 þat I be natt confunddyd wyth þis reddure!
1585 For hungore and thurst, to þe I wepe!
1586 Lord, demene me wyth mesuer!
1587 As þou savydyst Daniell from þe lyounys rigur,
1588 Be Abacuk þi masengyre, relevyd wyth sustynovns,
1589 Good Lord, so helipe me and sokore,
1590 Lord, as itt is þi hye pleseawns!

[Heaven Stage]

1591 JHESUS. My grace xall grow, and don decend
1592 To Mary my lovyr, þat to me doth call,
1593 Hyr ass[t]att for to amend.
1594 She xall be relevyd wyth sustinons corporall.
1595 Now, awngelys, dyssend to hyr in especyall,
1596 And lede hyr to þe prynssys chambyr ryth.
1597 Bed hyre axke of hys good be weyys pacyfycal.
1598 And goo yow before hyr wyth reverent lyth!

1599 FRIMUS ANGELUS. Blyssyd Lord, in þi syth
1600 We dyssend onto Mary.
1601 SECUNDUS ANGELUS. We dyssend from yower blysse bryth--
1602 Onto yower cummavndement we aplye.

Tunc dissenditt angelur. Primus dyxit.

1603 [PRIMUS ANGELUS]. Mary, ower Lord wyll comfortt yow send!
1604 He bad, to þe kyng ye xuld take þe waye,
1605 Hym to asay, yf he woll condesend,
1606 As he is slepyng, hem to asaye.
1607 SECUNDUS ANGELUS. Byd hym releve yow, to Goddys pay,
1608 And we xal go before yow wyth solem lyth;
1609 In a mentyll of whyte xall be ower araye.
1610 The dorys xall opyn a3ens vs be ryth.

1611 MARY. O gracyus God, now I vndyrstond!
1612 Thys clothyng of whyte is tokenyng of mekenesse.
1613 Now, gracyus Lord, I woll natt wond,
1614 Yower preseptt to obbey wyth lowlynesse.

Here goth Mary, wyth þe angelys before hyre, to þe kynggys bed, wyth lythys beryng, þus seyyng Mary:

1615 [MARY]. Thow froward kyng, trobelows and wood,
1616 That hast at þi wyll all worddys wele,
1617 Departe wyth me wyth sum of þi good,
1618 That am in hongor, threst, and chelle;
1619 God hath þe sent warnyngys felle!
1620 I rede þe, tome, and amend þi mood!
1621 Beware of þi lewdnesse, for þi own hele!
1622 And thow, qwen, tvrne from þi good!

Here Mari woydyt, and þe angyll and Mary chongg hyr clotheyng, þus seyyng þe kyng:

1623 [REX]. A, þis day is com! I am mery and glad!
1624 The son is vp and shynyth bryth!
1625 A mervelows shewyng in my slep I had,
1626 That sore me trobelyd þis same nyth--
1627 A fayer woman I saw in my syth,
1628 All in whyte was she cladd;
1629 Led she was wyth an angyll bryth,
1630 To me she spake wyth wordys sad.

1631 REGINA. I trow from Good þat þey were sentt!
1632 In ower hartys we may have dowte.
1633 I wentt ower chambyr sholld a brentt,
1634 For þe lyth þat þer was all abowth!
1635 To vs she spake wordys of dred,
1636 That we xuld help þem þat haue nede,
1637 Wyth ower godys, so God ded byd,
1638 I tell yow wythowtyn dowthe.

1639 REX. Now, semely wyff, 3e sey ryth well.
1640 A knyth, anon, wythowtyn delay!
1641 Now, as þou hast byn trew as stylle,
1642 Goo fett þat woman before me þis daye!
1643 MILES. My sovereyn lord, I take þe waye!
1644 She xall com at [y]ower pleseawns.
1645 Yower soveryn wyll I wyll goo saye--
1646 Itt is almesse hyr to awawns!

Tunc transit miles ad Mariam.

1647 [MILES]. Sped well, good woman! I am to þe sentt,
1648 Yow for to speke wyth þe kyng.
1649 MARIA. Gladly, syr, at hys intentt,
1650 I comme at hys own pleseyng!

Tunc transytt Maria ad regem.

1651 [MARY]. The mythe and þe powyre of þe heye Trenyte,
1652 The wysdom of þe Son, mott governe yow in ryth!
1653 The Holy Gost mott wyths yow be!
1654 What is yowre wyll? Sey me in sythe!
1655 REX. Thow fayer woman, itt is my delyth,
1656 þe to refresch is myn intentt,
1657 Wyth mete and mony, and clothys for þe nyth,
1658 And wyth swych grace as God hathe me lentt.

1659 MARIA. Than fullfylle þe Goddys cummayndement,
1660 Pore folk in mysch[ef] þem to susteyn!
1661 REX. Now, blyssyd woman, reherse here presentt,
1662 The joyys of yower Lord in heven.

1663 MARY. A, blyssyd þe ower, and blyssyd be þe tyme,
1664 þat to Goddys lawys 3e wyll gyff credens!
1665 To yowerselfe 3e make a glad pryme
1666 A3ens þe fenddys malycyows violens!
1667 From God above comit þe influens,
1668 Be þe Holy Gost into þi brest sentt down,
1669 For to restore þi offens,
1670 þi sowle to bryng to ewyrlastyng salvacyon.
1671 Thy wyffe, she is grett wyth chyld!
1672 Lyke as þou desyerst, þou hast þi bone!

1673 REGINA. A, 3e! I fel ytt ster in my wombe vp and down!
1674 I am glad I have þe in presens!
1675 O blyssyd womman, rote of ower savacyon,
1676 þi God woll I worshep wyth dew reverens!

1677 REX. Now, fayer womman, sey me þe sentens,
1678 I beseche þe, whatt is þi name?
1679 MARY. Syr, a3ens þat I make no resystens!
1680 Mary Mavdleyn, wythowtyn blame.

1681 REX. O blyssyd Mary, ryth well is me,
1682 þat ewer I have abedyn þis daye!
1683 Now thanke I þi God, and specyally þe,
1684 And so xall I do whyle I leve may.
1685 MARY. 3e xall thankytt Petyr, my mastyr, wythowt delay!
1686 He is þi frend, stedfast and cler.
1687 To allmythy God he halp me pray,
1688 And he xall crestyn yow from þe fynddys powyr,
1689 In þe syth of God an hye!

1690 REX. Now, suerly 3e answer me to my pay.
1691 I am ryth glad of þis tyddyngys!
1692 Butt, Mary, in all my goodys I sese yow þis day,
1693 For to byn at yower gydyng,
1694 And þem to rewlyn at yower pleseyng
1695 Tyll þat I comme hom agayn!
1696 I wyll axke of yow neythyr lond nore rekynyng,
1697 But I here delevyr yow powere pleyn!

1698 REGINA. Now, worshepfull lord, of a bone I yow pray,
1699 And it be pleseyng to yower hye dygnite.
1700 REX. Madam, yower dysyere onto me say.
1701 What bone is þat 3e desyere of me?
1702 REGINA. Now, worshepfull sovereyn, in eche degre,
1703 þat I may wyth yow goo,
1704 A Crestyn womman made to be.
1705 Gracyus lord, it may be soo.

1706 REX. Alas! þe wyttys of worumen, how þey byn wylld!
1707 And þerof fallytt many a chanse!
1708 A! Why desyer it yow, and ar wyth chyld?

1709 REGINA. A, my sovereyn, I am knett in care,
1710 But 3e consedyr now þat I crave,
1711 For all þe lowys þat ever ware,
1712 Behynd yow þat 3e me nat leve!

1713 REX. Wyff, syn þat 3e woll take þis wey of pryse,
1714 þerto can I no more seyn.
1715 Now Jhesu be ower gyd, þat is hye justyce,
1716 And þis blyssyd womman, Mary Mavgleyn!

1717 MARY. Syth 3e ar consentyd to þat dede,
1718 The blyssyng of God gyff to yow wyll I.
1719 He xall save yow from all dred,
1720 In nomine Patrys, et Filij et Spiritus Sancti. Amen!

Ett tunc navis venit in placeam, et navta dicit:

[The 'Coast']

1721 [NAVTA]. Loke forth, Grobbe, my knave,
1722 And tell me qwat tydyngys þou have,
1723 And yf þou aspye ony lond.
1724 BOY. Into þe shrowdys I woll me hye!
1725 Be my fythe, a castell I aspye,
1726 And as I ondyrstond!
1727 NAVTA. Sett þerwyth, yf we mown,
1728 For I wott itt is a havyn town
1729 þat stondyt vpon a strond.

Et tunc transitt rex ad navem, et dicit rex:

1730 [REX]. How, good man, of whens is þat shep?
1731 I pray þe syr, tell þou me.
1732 NAVTA. Syr, as for þat, I take no kepe!
1733 For qwat cavse enquire 3e?
1734 REX. For cavsys of nede, seyle wold we,
1735 Ryth fayn we wold owyr byn!
1736 NAVTA. 3ee, butt me thynkytt, so mote I the,
1737 So hastely to passe, yower spendyng is thyn!

1738 I trow, be my lyfe,
1739 þou hast stollyn sum mannys wyffe!
1740 þou woldyst lede hyr owt of lond!
1741 Nevereþeles, so God me save,
1742 Lett se whatt I xall have,
1743 Or ellys I woll nat wend!

1744 REX. Ten marke I wyll þe gyff,
1745 Yf þou wylt set me vp at þe cleyff
1746 In þe Holy Lond!
1747 NAVTA. Set of, boy, into þe flod!
1748 BOY. I xall, mastyr! þe wynd is good--
1749 Hens þat we were!

Lamentando regina.

1750 [REGINA]. A, lady, hellp in þis nede,
1751 þat in þis fiod we drench natt!
1752 A, Mary, Mary, flowyr of wommanned!
1753 O blyssyd lady, for3ete me nowth!

1754 REX. A, my dere wyffe, no dred 3e have,
1755 Butt trost in Mary Mavdleyn,
1756 And she from perellys xall vs save!
1757 To God for vs she woll pravyn.

1758 REGINA. A, dere hosbond, thynk on me,
1759 And save yowersylfe as long as 3e may,
1760 For trewly itt wyll no otherwyse be!
1761 Full sor my hart it makytt þis day.
1762 A, þe chyld þat betwyx my sydys lay,
1763 þe wyche was conseyvyd on me be ryth--
1764 Alas, þat wommannys help is away!
1765 An hevy departyng is betwyx vs in syth,
1766 Fore now departe wee!
1767 For defawte of wommen here in my nede,
1768 Deth my body makyth to sprede.
1769 Now, Mary Mavdleyn, my sowle lede!
1770 In manus tuas; Domine!

1771 REX. Alas, my wyff is ded!
1772 Alas, þis is a carefull chans!
1773 So xall my chyld, I am adred,
1774 And for defawth of sustynons.
1775 Good Lord, þi grace gravnte to me!
1776 A chyld betwen vs of increse,
1777 An it is motherles!
1778 Help me, my sorow for to relesse,
1779 Yf þi wyl it be!

1780 NAVTA. Benedicite, benedicite!
1781 Qwat wethyr may þis be?
1782 Ower mast woll all asondyr!
1783 BOY. Mastyr, I þerto ley myn ere,
1784 It is for þis ded body þat we bere!
1785 Cast hyr owt, or ellys we synke ond(yr)!

Make redy for to cast hyr owt.

1786 REX. Nay, for Goddys sake, do natt so!
1787 And 3e wyll hyr into þe se cast,
1788 Gyntyll serys, for my love, do--
1789 3endyr is a roch in the west--
1790 As ley hyr þeron all above,
1791 And my chyld hyr by.
1792 NAVTA. As þerto I asent well.
1793 And she were owt of þe wessell,
1794 All we xuld stond þe more in hele,
1795 I sey yow, werely!

Tunc remiga[n]t ad montem et dicit rex:

1796 REX. Ly here, wyff, and chyld þe by.
1797 Blyssyd Mavdleyn be hyr rede!
1798 Wyth terys wepyng, and grett cavse why,
1799 I kysse yow both in þis sted.
1800 Now woll I pray to Mary myld
1801 To be þer gyde here.

Tunc remiga[n]t a monte, et navta dicit:

1802 [NAVTA]. Pay now, syr, and goo to lond,
1803 For here is þe portt 3af, I ondyrstond;
1804 Ley down my pay in my hond,
1805 And belyve go me fro!

1806 REX. I gravnt þe, syr, so God me save!
1807 Lo, here is all þi connownt,
1808 All redy þou xall it have,
1809 And a marke more þan þi gravnt!

1810 And þou, page, for þi good obedyentt,
1811 I gyff yow, besyde yower styntt,
1812 Eche of yow a marke for yower wage!
1813 NAWTA. Now he þat mad bothe day and nyth,
1814 He sped yow in yower ryth,
1815 Well to go on yower passage!

[Jerusalem. The ship stays at the 'coast'.]

1816 PETYR. Now all creaturs vpon mold,
1817 þat byn of Crystys creacyon,
1818 To worchep Jhesu þey are behold,
1819 Nore nevyr a3ens hym to make waryacyon.

1820 REX. Syr, feythfully I beseche yow þis daye:
1821 Wher Petyr þe apostull is, wete wold I!
1822 PETYR. Itt is I, syr, wythowt delay!
1823 Of yower askyng, tell me qwy.

1824 REX. Syr, þe soth I xall yow seyn,
1825 And tell yow myn intentt wythin a whyle.
1826 þer is a woman, hyth Mary Mavdleyn,
1827 þat hether hath laberyd me owt of Marcyll--
1828 Onto þe wyche woman I thynk no gyle--
1829 And þis pylgramage cavsyd me to take.
1830 I woll tel yow more of þe stylle,
1831 For to crestyn me from wo and wrake.

1832 PETYR. O, blyssyd be þet tyme þat 3e are falle to grace,
1833 And 3e wyll kepe yower beleve aftyr my techeyng,
1834 And alle-only forsake þe fynd Saternas,
1835 The commavndme[n]ttys of God to have in kepyng!
1836 REX. Forsoth, I beleve in þe Father, þat is of all wyldyng,
1837 And in þe Son, Jhesu Cryst,
1838 Also in þe Holy Gost, hys grace to vs spredyng!
1839 I beleve in Crystys deth, and hys vprysyng!

1840 PETYR. Syr, þan whatt axke 3e?
1841 REX. Holy father, baptym, for charyte,
1842 Me to save in eche degre
1843 From þe fyndys bond!
1844 PETYR. In þe name of þe Trenite,
1845 Wyth þis watyr I baptysse þe,
1846 þat þou mayst strong be,
1847 A3en þe fynd to stond.

Tunc aspargit ilium cum aqua.

1848 REX. A, holy fathyr, how my hart wyll be sor
1849 Of cummav[n]ddementt, and 3e declare nat þe sentens!
1850 PETYR. Syr, dayly 3e xall lobor more and more,
1851 Tyll þat 3e have very experyens.
1852 Wyth me xall 3e wall to have more eloquens,
1853 And goo vesyte þe stacyons, by and by;
1854 To Nazareth and Bedlem, goo wyth delygens,
1855 And be yower own inspeccyon, yower feyth to edyfy.

1856 REX. Now, holy father, derevorthy and dere,
1857 Myn intent now know 3e.
1858 Itt is gon full to 3ere
1859 þat I cam to yow owere þe se,
1860 Crystys servont, and yower to be,
1861 And þe lave of hym evyr to fulfyll.
1862 Now woll I hom into my contre.
1863 Yower pvere blyssynd gravnt vs tylle
1864 þat, feythfully, I crave!
1865 PETRUS. Now in þe name of Jhesu,
1866 Cum patre et Sancto Speritu,
1867 He kepe þe and save!

Et tunc rex transit ad navem, et dicit rex:

1868 [REX]. Hold ner, shepman, hold, hold!
1869 BOY. Syr, 3endyr is on callyd aftyr cold!
1870 NAVTA. A, syr! I ken yow of old!
1871 Be my trowth, 3e be welcum to me!

1872 REX. Now, gentyll marranere, I þe þray,
1873 Whatsoewer þat I þay,
1874 In all þe hast þat 3e may,
1875 Help me owyr þe se!

1876 NAVTA. In good soth we byn atenddawntt!
1877 Gladly 3e xall have yower gravnt,
1878 Wythowtyn ony connownt.
1879 Comme in, in Goddys name!
1880 Grobbe, boy! þe wynd is nor-west!
1881 Fast abowth þe seyle cast!
1882 Rere vp þe seyll in all þe hast,
1883 As well as þou can!

Et tunc navis venit adcirca placeam. Rex dicit:

1884 [REX]. Mastyr of þe shyp, cast forth yower yee!
1885 Me thynkyt þe rokke I gyn to aspye!
1886 Gentyll mastyr þether vs gye--
1887 I xall qwyt yower mede.
1888 NAVTA. I[n] feyth, it is þe same ston
1889 þat yower wyff lyeth vpon!
1890 Ye xall be þer even anon,
1891 Werely, indede!

1892 REX. O þou myty Lord of heven region,
1893 3endyr is my babe of myn own nature,
1894 Preservyd and keptt from all corrtipcyon!
1895 Blyssyd be þat Lords þat þe dothe socure,
1896 And my wyff lyeth here, fayer and puer!
1897 Fayere and clere is hur colour to se!
1898 A, good Lord, yower grace wyth vs indure,

1899 My wyvys lyfe for to illumyn.
1900 A, blyssyd be þat puer vergyn!
1901 From grevos slepe she gynnyt revyve!
1902 A, þe sonne of grace on vs doth shynne!
1903 Now blyssyd be God, I se my wyff alyve!

1904 REGINA. O virgo salutata, for ower savacyon!
1905 O pulcra et casta, cum of nobyll alyavns!
1906 O almyty Maydyn, ower sowlys confortacyon!
1907 O demvr Mavdlyn, my bodyys sustynavns!
1908 þou hast wr[a]ppyd vs in wele from all waryawns,
1909 And led me wyth my lord i[n]to þe Holy Lond!
1910 I am baptysyd, as ye are, be Maryvs gyddavns,
1911 Of Sent Petyrys holy hand.

1912 I sye þe blyssyd crosse þat Cryst shed on hys precyvs blod;
1913 Hys blyssyd sepulcur also se I.
1914 Whe[r]for, good hosbond, be mery in mode,
1915 For I have gon þe stacyounys, by and by!
1916 REX. I thanke it Jhesu, wyth hart on hye!
1917 Now have I my wyf and my chyld both!
1918 I thank ytt Mavdleyn and Ower Lady, --
1919 And evyr shall do, wythowtyn othe.

Et tunc rernigant a monte, et navta dicit:

1920 [NAVTA]. Now ar ye past all perelle--
1921 Her is þe lond of Marcylle!
1922 Now goo a lond, syr, whan 3e wyll,

1923 I prye yow for my sake!
1924 REX. Godamercy, jentyll marraner!
1925 Here is ten poundys of nobyllys cler,
1926 And euer þe frynd both ferre and nere,
1927 Cryst save þe from wo and wrake!

Here goth þe shep owt of þe place, and Mavd[leyn] seyth:

[Marcylle.]

1928 [MARY MAVDLEYN]. O dere fryndys, be in hart stabyll!
1929 And [thynk] how dere Cryst hathe yow bowth!
1930 A3ens God, be nothyng vereabyll--
1931 Thynk how he mad all thyng of nowth!
1932 Thow yow in poverte sumtyme be browth,
1933 [3]itte be in charyte both nyth and day,
1934 For þey byn blyssyd þat so byn sowth,
1935 For 'pavpertas est donum Dei'.

1936 God blyssyt alle þo þat byn meke and good,
1937 And he blyssyd all þo þat wepe for synne.
1938 þey be blyssyd þat þe hungor and þe thorsty gyff fode;
1939 þey be blyssyd þat byn mercyfull a3en wrecched men;
1940 þey byn blyssyd þat byn dysstroccyon of synne--
1941 Thes byn callyd þe chyldyren of lyfe,
1942 Onto þe wyche blysse bryng both yow and me
1943 That for vs dyyd on þe rode tre! Amen.

Here xall þe kyng and þe quvene knele doun. Rex dicit:

1944 [REX]. Heyll be þou, Mary! Ower Lord is wyth the!
1945 The helth of ower sowllys, and repast contemplatyff!
1946 Heyll, tabyrnakyll of þe blyssyd Trenite!
1947 Heyll, covnfortabyll sokore for man and wyff!

1948 REGINA. Heyll, þou chosyn and chast of wommen alon!
1949 It passyt my wett to tell þi nobyllnesse!
1950 þou relevyst me and my chyld on þe rokke of ston,
1951 And also savyd vs be þis hye holynesse.

1952 MARY. Welcum hom, prynse and prynsses bothe!
1953 Welcum hom, yong prynsse of dew and ryth!
1954 Welcum hom to your own erytage wythowt othe,
1955 And to alle yower pepyll present in syth!
1956 Now ar 3e becum Goddys own knygth,

1957 For sowle helth salve ded 3e seche,
1958 In hom þe Holy Gost hath take resedens,
1959 And drevyn asyde all þe desepcyon of wrech.
1960 And now have 3e a knowle[ge] of þe sentens,
1961 How 3e xall com onto grace!
1962 But now in yower godys a3en I do yow sese.
1963 I trost I have governyd þem to yower hertys ese.
1964 Now woll I labor forth, God to plese,
1965 More gostly strenkth me to purchase!

1966 REX. O blyssyd Mary, to comprehend
1967 Ower swete sokor, on vs have pete!
1968 REGINA. To departe from vs, why shovid 3e pretende?
1969 O blyssyd lady, putt vs nat to þat poverte!

1970 MARY. Of yow and yowers I wyll have rememberavns,
1971 And dayly [y]ower bede woman for to be,
1972 þat alle wyckydnesse from yow may have deleverans,
1973 In quiet and rest þat leve may 3e!

1974 REX. Now thanne, yower puere blyssyng gravnt vs tylle.
1975 MARI. The blyssyn of God mott yow fulfyll.

1976 Ille vos benedicatt, qui sene fine vivit et regnat!

Her goth Mary into þe wyldyrnesse, þus seyyng Rex:

1977 REX. A! We may syyn and wepyn also,
1978 þat we have forgon þis lady fre--
1979 It brynggytt my hart in care and woo--
1980 þe whech ower gydde and governor shovld a be!
1981 REGINA. þat doth perswade all my ble,
1982 þat swete sypresse, þat she wold so.
1983 In me restytt neyther game nor gle
1984 That she wold from owere presens goo.

1985 REX. Now of hyr goyng I am nothyng glad!
1986 But my londdys to gyddyn I mvst aplye,
1987 Lyke as Sancte Peter me badde,
1988 Chyrchys in cetyys I woll edyfye;
1989 And whoso a3ens ower feyth woll replye,

1990 I woll ponysch [s]wych personnys wyth perplyxcyon!
1991 Mahond and hys lawys I defye!
1992 A, hys pryde owt of my love xall have polucyon,
1993 And holle onto Jhesu I me betake!

Mari in herimo.

1994 [MARI]. In þis deserte abydyn wyll wee,
1995 My sowle from synne for to save;
1996 I wyll evyr abyte me wyth humelyte,
1997 And put me in pacyens, my Lord for to love.
1998 In charyte my werkys I woll grave,
1999 And in abstynens, all davys of my lyfe.
2000 Thus my concyens of me doth crave;
2001 Than why shold I wyth my consyens st[r]yffe?
2002 And ferdarmore, I wyll leven in charyte,
2003 At þe reverens of Ower Blyssyd Lady,
2004 In goodnesse to be lyberall, my sowle to edyfye.
2005 Of wordly fodys I wyll leve all refeccyon;
2006 Be þe fode þat commyt from heven on hye,
2007 Thatt God wyll me send, be contemplatyff.

[Heaven Stage]

2008 JHESUS. O, þe swettnesse of prayors sent onto me
2009 Fro my wel-belovyd frynd wythowt waryovns!
2010 Wyth gostly fode relevyd xall she be.
2011 Angellys! Into þe clowdys ye do hyr havns,
2012 þer fede wyth manna to hyr systynovns.
2013 Wyth joy of angyllys, þis lett hur receyve.
2014 Byd hur injoye wyth all hur afyawns,
2015 For fynddys frawd xall hur non deseyve.

2016 PRIMUS ANGELUS. O þou redulent rose, þat of a vergyn sprong
2017 O þou precyus palme of wytory!
2018 O þou osanna, angellys song!
2019 O precyus gemme, born of Ower Lady!
2020 Lord, þi commav[n]ddement we obbey lowly!
2021 To þi servant þat þou hast gravntyd blysse,
2022 We angellys all obeyyn devowtly.
2023 We woll desend to yen wyldyrnesse.

Here xall to angyllys desend into wyldyrnesse, and other to xall bryng an oble, opynly aperyng aloft in þe clowddys; þe to benethyn xall bryng Mari, and she xall receyve þe bred, and þan go a3en into wyldyrnesse.

2024 SECUNDUS ANGELUS. Mari, God gretyt þe wyth hevenly influens!
2025 He hath sent þe grace wyth hevenly synys.
2026 þou xall byn onoryd wyth joye and reverens,
2027 Inhansyd in heven above wergynnys!
2028 þou hast byggyd þe here among spynys--
2029 God woll send þe fode be revelacyon.
2030 þou xall be receyvyd into þe clowddys,
2031 Gostly fode to reseyve to þi savacyon.

2032 MARI. Fiat voluntas tua in heven and erth!
2033 Now am I full of joye and blysse!
2034 Lavd and preyse to þat blyssyd byrth!
2035 I am redy, as hys blyssyd wyll isse.

Her xall she be halsyd wyth angellys wyth reverent song. Asumpta est Maria in nubibus. Celi gavdent, angeli lavdantes felium Dei, et dicit Mari:

2036 [MARI]. O þou Lord of lorddys, of hye domenacyon!
2037 In hewen and erth worsheppyd be þi name.
2038 How þou devydyst me from hovngure and wexacyon!
2039 O gloryus Lord, in þe is no fravddys nor no defame!
2040 But I xuld serve my Lord, I were to blame,
2041 Wych fulIfyllyt me wyth so gret felicete,
2042 Wyth melody of angyllys shewit me gle and game,
2043 And have fed me wyth fode of most delycyte!

Her xall speke an holy prest in þe same wyldyrnesse, þus seyyng þe prest:

2044 [PREST]. O Lord of lorddys! What may þis be?
2045 So gret mesteryys shewyd from heven,
2046 Wyth grett myrth and melody
2047 Wyth angyllys brygth as þe lewyn!
2048 Lord Jhesu, for þi namys sewynne,
2049 As gravnt me grace þat person to se!

Her he xal go in þe wyldyrnesse and spye Mari in hyr devocyon, þus seyyng þe prest:

2050 [PREST]. Heyl, creature, Crystys delecceon!
2051 Heyl, swetter þan sugur or cypresse!
2052 Mary is þi name be angyllys relacyon;
2053 Grett art þou wyth God for þi perfythnesse!
2054 þe joye of Jherusallem shewyd þe expresse,
2055 þe wych I nevyr save þis thirty wyntyr and more!
2056 Wherfor I know well þou art of gret perfy[t]nesse,
2057 I woll pray yow hartely to she[w] me of yower Lord!

2058 MARI. Be þe grace of my Lord Ihesus
2059 þis thirty wyntyr þis hath byn my selle,
2060 And thryys on þe day enhansyd þus
2061 Wyth more joy þan ony tong can telle
2062 Nevyr creature cam þer I dwelle,
2063 Tyme nor tyde, day nore nyth,
2064 þat I can wyth spece telle,
2065 But alonly wyth Goddys angyllys brygth.
2066 But þou art wolcum onto my syth,
2067 Yf þou be of good conversacyon.
2068 As I thynk in my delyth,
2069 Thow sholddyst be a man of devocyon.

2070 PREST. In Crystys lav I am sacryed a pryst,
2071 Mynystryyd be angelys at my masse.
2072 I sakor þe body of ower Lord Jhesu Cryst,
2073 And be þat holy manna I leve in sowthfastnesse.
2074 MARI. Now I rejoyse of yower goodnesse,
2075 But tyme is comme þat I xall asende.
2076 PRYST. I recummend me wyth all vmbylnesse;
2077 Onto my sell I woll pretend.

Her xall þe prest go to hys selle, þus seyyng Jhesus:

[Heaven Stage]

2078 JHESUS. Now xall Mary have possessyon,
2079 Be ryth enirytawns a crown to bere.
2080 She xall be fett to evyrlastyng savacyon,
2081 In joye to dwell wythowtyn fere.
2082 Now, angelys, lythly þat 3e were ther!
2083 Onto þe prystys sell apere þis tyde.
2084 My body in forme of bred þat he bere,
2085 Hur for to hossell, byd hym provyde.

2086 PRIMUS ANGELUS. O blyssyd Lord, we be redy,
2087 Yower massage to do wythowtyn treson!
2088 SECUNDUS ANGELUS. To hyr I wyll goo and make reportur,
2089 How she xall com to yower habytacyon.

Here xall to angellys go to Mary and to þe prest, þus seyyng þe angellys to þe prest:

2090 ANGELLYS. Syr pryst, God cummav[n]dytt from heven region
2091 3e xall go hosyll hys servont expresse,
2092 And we wyth yow xall take mynystracyon
2093 To bere lyth before hys body of worthynesse.
2094 PRYST. Angyllys, wyth all vmbyllnesse,
2095 In a westment I wyll me aray,
2096 To mynystyr my Lord of gret hynesse;
2097 Straytts þerto I take þe way!

In herimo.

2098 SECUNDUS ANGELUS. Mary, be glad, and in hart strong
2099 To reseyve þe palme of grett wytory!
2100 þis day 3e xall be reseyvyd wyth angellys song!
2101 Yower sowle xal I departe from yower body.

2102 MARI. A, good Lord, I thank þe wythowt weryawns!
2103 þis day I am grovndyd all in goodnesse,
2104 Wyth hart and body conclvdyd in substawns.
2105 I thanke þe, Lord, wyth speryt of perfythnesse!

Hic aparuit angelus et presbiter cum corpus domenicum.

2106 [PRESBITYR]. þou blyssyd woman, invre in mekenesse,
2107 I have browth þe þe bred of lyf to þi syth,
2108 To make þe suere from all dystresse,
2109 þi sowle to bryng to euerlastyng lyth.

2110 MARI. O þou mythty Lord of hye mageste,
2111 þis celestyall bred for to determyn,
2112 Thys tyme to reseyve it in me,
2113 My sowle þerwyth to illumyn.

Her she reseyvyt it.

2114 I thank þe, Lord of ardent love!
2115 Now I know well I xall nat opprese.
2116 Lord, lett me se þi joyys above!
2117 I recummend my sowle onto þi blysse!
2118 Lord, opyn þi blyssyd gatys!
2119 Thys erth at thys tyme fervenly I kysse!
2120 In manus tuas, Domine!
2121 Lord, wyth þi grace me wysse!
2122 Commendo spiritum meum! Redomisti me,
2123 Domine Devs veritatis!

2124 PRIMUS ANGELUS. Now reseyves we þis sowle, as reson is,
2125 In heven to dwelle vs among.
2126 SECUNDUS ANGELUS. Wythowtyn end to be in blysse!
2127 Now lett vs syng a mery song!

Gavdent in celis.

2128 PRYST. O good God, grett is þi grace!
2129 O Jhesu, Jhesu! Blessyd be þi name!
2130 A, Mary, Mary! Mych is þi solas,
2131 In heven blysse wyth gle and game!
2132 þi body wyl I cure from alle manyr blame,
2133 And I wyll passe to þe bosshop of þe sete
2134 Thys body of Mary to berye be name,
2135 Wyth alle reverens and solemnyte.
2136 Sufferens of þis processe, thus enddyt þe sentens
2137 That we have plavyd in yower syth.
2138 Allemythty God, most of magnyfycens,
2139 Mote bryng yow to hys blysse so brygth,
2140 In presens of þat Kyng!
2141 Now, frendys, thus endyt thys mater--
2142 To blysse bryng þo þat byn here!
2143 Now, clerkys, wyth woycys cler,
2144 'Te Deum lavdamus' lett vs syng!

Explycit oreginale de Sancta Maria Magdalena.

2145 Yff ony thyng amysse be,
2146 Blame connyng, and nat me!
2147 I desyer þe redars to be my frynd,
2148 Yff þer be ony amysse, þat to amend.

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Proper Citation: The Digby Play of Mary Magdalene. At From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama. NeCastro, Gerard, ed. http://www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/necastro/drama. Date Visited.

Updated June 15, 2011