From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama
The Towneley Cycle, Play 23 - The Crucifixion (Processus Crucis - et Crucifixio)
001 Pilate. Peasse I byd euereich Wight!
002 Stand as styll as stone in Wall,
003 Whyls ye ar present in my sight,
004 That none of you clatter ne call;
005 Ffor if ye do, youre dede is dight,
006 I warne it you both greatt and small,
007 With this brand burnyshyd so bright,
008 Therfor in peasse loke ye be all.
009 What! peasse in the dwillys name!
010 Harlottys and dustardys all bedene!
011 On galus ye be maide full tame,
012 Thefys and mychers keyn!
013 Will ye not peasse when I bid you?
014 By mahownys bloode, if ye me teyn,
015 I shall ordan sone for you,
016 Paynes that neuer ere was seyn,
017 And that anone!
018 Be ye so bold, beggars, I warn you,
019 Ffull boldly shall I bett you,
020 To hell the dwill shall draw you,
021 Body, bak and bone.
022 I am a lord that mekill is of myght,
023 Prynce of all Iury, sir pilate I hight,
024 Next kyng herode grettyst of all;
025 Bowys to my byddyng both greatt and small,
026 Or els ye be shentt;
027 Therfor stere youre tonges, I warn you all,
028 And vnto vs take tent.
029 Primus Tortor. All peasse, all peasse, emang you all!
030 And herkyns now what shall befall
031 Of this fals chuffer here;
032 That with his fals quantyse,
033 Hase lett hymself as god wyse,
034 Emangys vs many a yere.
035 He cals hym self a prophett,
036 And says that he can bales bete,
037 And make all thyngys amende;
038 Bot or oght lang wytt we shall
039 Wheder he can bete his awne bale,
040 Or skapp out of oure hende.
041 Was not this a wonder thyng,
042 That he durst call hym self a kyng
043 And make so greatt a lee?
044 Bot, by mahowne! whils I may lyf,
045 Those prowde wordes shall I neuer forgyf,
046 Tyll he be hanged on he.
047 Secundus Tortor. Hys pride, fy, we sett at noght,
048 Bot ich man now kest in his thoght,
049 And looke that we noght wante;
050 Ffor I shall fownde, if that I may,
051 By the order of knyghtede, to day
052 To cause his hart pante.
053 Tercius Tortor. And so shall I with all my myght,
054 Abate his pride this ylk nyght,
055 And rekyn hym a crede;
056 Lo, he letys he cowde none yll,
057 Bot he can ay, when he wyll,
058 Do a full fowll dede.
059 Quartus Tortor. Yei felows, ye, as haue I rest!
060 Emangys vs all I red we kest
061 To bryng this thefe to dede;
062 Loke that we haue that we shuld, nate,
063 Ffor to hald, this shrew strate.
064 Primus Tortor. That was a nobyll red!
065 Lo, here I haue a bande,
066 If nede be to bynd his hande;
067 This thowng, I trow, will last.
068 Secundus Tortor. And here oone to the othere syde,
069 That shall abate his pride,
070 Be it be drawen fast.
071 Tercius Tortor. Lo, here a hamere and nales also,
072 Ffor to festen fast oure foo
073 To this tre, full soyn.
074 Quartus Tortor. Ye ar wise,withoutten drede,
075 That so can help youre self at nede,
076 Of thyng that shuld be done.
077 Primus Tortor. Now dar I say hardely,
078 He shall with all his mawmentry
079 No longere vs be tell.
080 Secundus Tortor. Syn pilate hase hym tyll vs geyn,
081 Haue done, belyfe! let it be seyn
082 How we can with hym mell.
083 Tercius Tortor. Now ar we at the monte of caluarye;
084 Haue done, folows, and let now se
085 How we can with hym lake.
086 Quartus Tortor. Yee, for as modee as he can loke,
087 He wold haue turnyd an othere croke
088 Myght he haue had the rake.
089 Primus Tortor. In fayth, syr, sen ye callyd you a kyng,
090 You must prufe a worthy thyng
091 That falles vnto the were;
092 Ye must Iust in tornamente;
093 Bot ye sytt fast els be ye shentt,
094 Els downe I shall you bere.
095 Secundus Tortor. If thou be godys son, as thou tellys,
096 Thou can the kepe; how shuld thou ellys?
097 Els were it meruell greatt;
098 And bot if thou can, we will not trow
099 That thou hase saide, bot make the mow
100 When thou syttys in yond sett.
101 Tercius Tortor. If thou be kyng we shall thank adyll,
102 Ffor we shall sett the in thy sadyll,
103 Ffor fallyng be thou bold.
104 I hete the well tho bydys a shaft;
105 Bot if thou sytt well thou had better laft
106 The tales that thou has told.
107 Quartus Tortor. Stand, nere, felows, and let se
108 How we can hors oure kyng so fre,
109 By any craft;
110 Stand thou yonder on yond syde,
111 And we shall se how he can ryde,
112 And how to weld, a shaft.
113 Primus Tortor. Sir, commys heder and haue done,
114 And wyn apon youre palfray sone,
115 Ffor he [is] redy bowne.
116 If ye be bond till hym, be not wrothe,
117 Ffor be ye secure we were full lothe
118 On any wyse that ye fell downe.
119 Secundus Tortor. Knyt thou a knott, with all thi strenght,
120 Ffor to draw this arme on lengthe. Tyll it com to the bore.
121 Tercius Tortor. Thou maddys, man, bi this light!
122 It wantys, tyll ich mans sight,
123 Othere half span and more.
124 Quartus Tortor. Yit drawe owt this arme and fest it fast,
125 With this rope that well will last,
126 And ilk man lay hand to.
127 Primus Tortor. Yee, and bynd thou fast that band;
128 We shall go to that othere hand
129 And loke what we can do.
130 Secundus Tortor. Do dryfe a nayll ther thrugh outt,
131 And then thar vs nothyng doutt,
132 Ffor it will not brest.
133 Tercius Tortor. That shall I do, as myght I thryfe!
134 Ffor to clynke and for to dryfe,
135 Therto I am full prest;
136 So lett it styk, for it is wele.
137 Quartus Tortor. Thou says sothe, as haue I cele!
138 Ther can no man it mende.
139 Primus Tortor. Hald downe his knees.
140 Secundus Tortor. That shall I do
141 His norysh yede neuer better to;
142 Lay on all your hende.
143 Tercius Tortor. Draw out hys lymmes, let se, haue at!
144 Quartus Tortor. That was well drawen that that;
145 Ffare fall hym that so puld!
146 Ffor to haue getten it to the marke,
147 I trow lewde man ne clerk
148 Nothyng better shuld.
149 Primus Tortor. Hald, it now fast thor,
150 And oone of you take the bore,
151 And then may it not fayll.
152 Secundus Tortor. That shall I do withoutten drede,
153 As euer myght I well spede,
154 Hym to mekyll bayll.. Tercius Tortor. So, that is well, it will not brest,
155 Bot let now se who dos the best
156 With any slegthe of hande.
157 Quartus Tortor. Go we now vnto the othere ende;
158 Ffelowse, fest on fast youre hende,
159 And pull well at this band.
160 Primus Tortor. I red, felowse, by this wedyr,
161 That we draw all ons togedir,
162 And loke how it wyll fare.
163 Secundus Tortor. Let now se and lefe youre dyn!
164 And draw we ilka syn from syn;
165 Ffor nothyng let vs spare.
166 Tercius Tortor. Nay, felowse, this is no gam!
167 We will no longere draw all sam,
168 So mekill haue I asspyed.
169 Quartus Tortor. No, for as haue I blys!
170 Som can twyk, who so it is,
171 Sekys easse on som kyn syde.
172 Primus Tortor. It is better, as I hope,
173 On by his self to draw this rope,
174 And then may we se
175 Who it is that ere while
176 All his felows can begyle,
177 Of this companye.
178 Secundus Tortor. Sen thou will so haue, here for me!
179 How draw I, as myght thou the?
180 Tercius Tortor. Thou drew right wele.
181 Haue here for me half a foyte!
182 Quartus Tortor. Wema, man! I trow thou doyte!
183 Thou flyt it neuer a dele;
184 Bot haue for me here that I may!
185 Primus Tortor. Well drawen, son, bi this day!
186 Thou gose well to thi warke!
187 Secundus Tortor. Yit efte, whils thi hande is in,
188 Pull therat with som kyn gyn.
189 Tercius Tortor. Yee, & bryng it to the marke.
190 Quartus Tortor. Pull, pull!
191 Primus Tortor. Haue now!
192 Secundus Tortor. Let se!
193 Tercius Tortor. A ha!
194 Quartus Tortor. Yit a draght!
195 Primus Tortor. Therto with all my maght.
196 Secundus Tortor. A, ha! hold still thore!
197 Tercius Tortor. So felowse! looke now belyfe,
198 Which of you can best dryfe,
199 And I shall take the bore.
200 Quartus Tortor. Let me go therto, if I shall;
201 I hope that I be the best mershall
202 Ffor [to] clynke it right.
203 Do rase hym vp now when we may,
204 Ffor I hope he & his palfray
205 Shall not twyn this nyght.
206 Primus Tortor. Com hedir, felowse, & haue done!
207 And help that this tre sone
208 To lyft with all youre sleght.
209 Secundus Tortor
210 Yit let vs wyrke a whyle,
211 And noman now othere begyle
212 To it be broght on heght.
213 Tercius Tortor. Ffelowse, fest on all youre hende,
214 Ffor to rase this tre on ende,
215 And let se who is last.
216 Quartus Tortor. I red we do as that he says;
217 Set we the tre in the mortase,
218 And ther will it stand fast.
219 Primus Tortor. Vp with the tymbre.
220 Secundus Tortor. A, it heldys!
221 Ffor hym that all this warld weldys. Put fro the with thi hande!
222 Tercius Tortor. Hald, euen emangys vs all.
223 Quartus Tortor. Yee, and, let it into the mortase fall,
224 Ffor then will it best stande.
225 Primus Tortor. Go we to it and be we strong,
226 And rase it, be it neuer so long,
227 Sen that it is fast bon.
228 Secundus Tortor. Vp with the tymbre fast on ende!
229 Tercius Tortor. A felowse, fayr fall youre hende!
230 Quartus Tortor. So sir, gape agans the son!
231 Primus Tortor. A felow, war thi crowne!
232 Secundus Tortor. Trowes thou this tymbre will oght downe?
233 Tercius Tortor
234 Yit help that it were fast.
235 Quartus Tortor. Shog hym well & let vs lyfte.
236 Primus Tortor. Ffull shorte shalbe his thryfte.
237 Secundus Tortor. A, it standys vp lyke a mast.
238 Jesus. I pray you pepyll that passe me by,
239 That lede youre lyfe so lykandly,
240 Heyfe vp youre hartys on hight!
241 Behold, if euer ye sagh body
242 Buffet & bett thus blody,
243 Or yit thus dulfully dight;
244 In warld was neuer no wight
245 That suffred half so sare.
246 My mayn, my mode, my myght,
247 Is noght bot sorow to sight,
248 And comforth none, bot care.
249 My folk, what haue I done to the,
250 That thou all thus shall tormente me?
251 Thy syn by I full sore.
252 What haue I greuyd the? answere me,
253 That thou thus nalys me to a tre,
254 And all for thyn erroure;
255 Where shall thou seke socoure?
256 This mys how shall thou amende?
257 When that thou thy saveoure
258 Dryfes to this dyshonoure,
259 And nalys thrugh feete and hende!
260 All creatoures that kynde may kest,
261 Beestys, byrdys, all haue thay rest,
262 When thay ar wo begon;
263 Bot godys son, that shuld, be best,
264 Hase not where apon his hede to rest,
265 Bot on his shuder bone.
266 To whome now may I make my mone?
267 When thay thus martyr me,
268 And sakles will me slone,
269 And beete me blode and bone,
270 That my brethere shuld, be!
271 What kyndnes shuld, I kythe theym to?
272 Haue I not done that I aght to do,
273 Maide the to my lyknes?
274 And thou thus refys me rest & ro,
275 And lettys thus lightly on me, lo!
276 Sich is thi catyfnes.
277 I haue the kyd kyndnes, / Vnkyndly thou me quytys;
278 Se thus thi wekydnes! / loke how thou me dyspytys!
279 Gyltles thus am I put to pyne,
280 Not for [my] mys, man, bot for thyne,
281 Thus am I rent on rode;
282 Ffor I that tresoure wold, not tyne,
283 That I markyd, & made for myne,
284 Thus by I adam blode,
285 That sonkyn was in syn,
286 With none erthly good;
287 Bot with my flesh and blode
288 That lothe was for to wyn.
289 My brethere that I com forto by,
290 Has hanged, me here thus hedusly,
291 And freyndys fynde I foyn;
292 Thus haue thay dight me drerely,
293 And all by-spytt me spytusly,
294 As helples man in won.
295 Bot, fader, that syttys in trone,
296 Fforgyf thou them this gylt,
297 I pray to the this boyn,
298 Thay wote not what thay doyn,
299 Nor whom thay haue thus spylt.
300 Primus Tortor. Yis, what we do full well we knaw.
301 Secundus Tortor. Yee, that shall he fynde within a thraw.
302 Tercius Tortor. Now, with a myschaunce tyll his cors,
303 Wenys he that we gyf any force,
304 What dwill so euer he ayll?
305 Quartus Tortor. Ffor he wold tary vs all day,
306 Of his dede to make delay
307 I tell you, sansfayll.
308 Primus Tortor. Lyft vs this tre emanges vs all
309 Secundus Tortor. Yee, and let it into the mortase fall,
310 And that shall gar hym brest.
311 Tercius Tortor. Yee, and all to-ryfe hym lym from lym.
312 Quartus Tortor. And it will breke ilk ionte in hym.
313 Let se now who dos best.
314 Mary. Alas! the doyll I dre / I drowpe, I dare in drede!
315 Whi hyngys thou, son, so hee? / my bayll begynnes to brede.
316 All blemyshyd is thi ble / I se thi body blede!
317 In warld, son, were neuer we / so wo as I in wede.
318 My foode that I haue fed,
319 In lyf longyng the led,
320 Ffull stratly art thou sted
321 Emanges thi foo-men fell;
322 Sich sorow forto se,
323 My dere barn, on the,
324 Is more mowrnyng to me
325 Then any tong may tell.
326 Alas! thi holy hede
327 Hase not wheron to helde;
328 Thi face with blode is red,
329 Was fare as floure in feylde;
330 How shuld I stand, in sted
331 To se my barne thus blede?
332 Bett as blo as lede,
333 And has no lym to weylde!
334 Ffestynd both handys and feet
335 With nalys full vnmete,
336 His woundes wrynyng wete,
337 Alas, my childe, for care!
338 Ffor all rent is thi hyde;
339 I se on aythere syde
340 Teres of blode downe glide
341 Ouer all thi body bare.
342 Alas! that euer I shuld byde
343 And se my feyr thus fare!
344 John the Apostle. Alas, for doyll, my lady dere!
345 All for-changid is thi chere,
346 To see this prynce withoutten pere
347 Thus lappyd all in wo;
348 He was thi fode, thi faryst foine,
349 Thi luf, thi lake, thi lufsom son,
350 That high on tre thus hyngys alone
351 With body blak and blo;
352 Alas!
353 To me and many mo
354 A good master he was.
355 Bot, lady, sen it is his will
356 The prophecy to fulfyll,
357 That mankynde in sy[n] not spill
358 Ffor theym to thole this payn;
359 And with this dede raunson to make,
360 As prophetys beforn of hym spake,
361 Ffor-thi I red, thi sorowe thou slake,
362 Thi Wepyng may not gayn;
363 In sorowe
364 Oure boytt he byes full bayn,
365 Vs all from bale to borowe.
366 Mary. Alas! thyn een as cristall clere / that shoyn as son in sight,
367 That lufly were in lyere / lost thay haue thare light,
368 And wax all faed in fere / all dym then ar thay dight!
369 In payn has thou no pere / that is withoutten pight.
370 Swete son, say me thi thoght,
371 What wonders has thou wroght
372 To be in payn thus broght,
373 Thi blissed blode to blende?
374 A son, thynk on my wo!
375 Whi will thou fare me fro?
376 On mold, is noman mo
377 That may my myrthes amende.
378 John the Apostle. Comly lady, good and couth, / ffayn wold I comforth the;
379 Me mynnys my master with mowth, / told vnto his menyee
380 That he shuld, thole full mekill payn / and dy apon a tre,
381 And to the lyfe ryse vp agayn, / apon the thryd day shuld it be
382 Ffull right!
383 Ffor-thi, my lady swete,
384 Stynt a while of grete!
385 Oure bale then will he bete
386 As he befor has hight.
387 Mary. Mi sorow it is so sad / no solace may me safe;
388 Mowrnyng makys me mad / none hope of help I hafe;
389 I am redles and rad / ffor ferd that I mon rafe;
390 Noght may make me glad / to I be in my grafe.
391 To deth my dere is dryffen,
392 His robe is all to-ryffen,
393 That of me was hym gyffen,
394 And shapen with my sydys;
395 Thise Iues and he has stryffen / That all the bale he bydys.
396 Alas, my lam so mylde / whi will thou fare me fro
397 Emang thise wulfe's wylde / that wyrke on the this wo?
398 Ffor shame who may the shelde / ffor freyndys has thou fo!
399 Alas, my comly childe / whi will thou fare me fro?
400 Madyns, make youre mone!
401 And wepe ye, wyfe's, euerichon,
402 With me, most wrich, in wone,
403 The childe that borne was best!
404 My harte is styf as stone / That for no bayll will brest.
405 John the Apostle. A, lady, well wote I / thi hart is full of care
406 When thou thus openly / sees thi childe thus fare;
407 Luf gars hym rathly / hym-self will he not spare,
408 Vs all fro baill to by / of blis thar ar full bare
409 Ffor syn.
410 My lefe lady, for-thy / Of mowrnyng loke thou blyn.
411 Mary. Alas! may euer be my sang / Whyls I may lyf in leyd;
412 Me thynk now that I lyf to lang / to se my barne thus blede;
413 Iue's wyrke with hym all wrang / wherfor do thay this dede?
414 Lo, so hy thay haue hym hang / thay let for no drede:
415 Whi so
416 His fomen is he emang? / No freynde he has, bot fo.
417 My frely foode now farys me fro / what shall worth on me?
418 Thou art warpyd all in wo / and spred here on a tre
419 Ffull hee /
420 I mowrne, and so may mo / That sees this payn on the.
421 John the Apostle. Dere lady, well were me
422 If that I myght comforth the;
423 Ffor the sorow that I see
424 Sherys myn harte in sondere;
425 When that I se my master hang
426 With bytter paynes and strang,
427 Was neuer wight with wrang
428 Wroght so mekill wonder.
429 Mary. Alas, dede, thou dwellys to lang! / whi art thou hid fro me?
430 Who kend, the to my childe to gang? / all blak thou makys his ble;
431 Now witterly thou wyrkys wrang / the more I will wyte the,
432 Bot if thou will my harte' stang / that I myght with hym dee
433 And byde;
434 Sore syghyng is my sang, / ffor thyrlyd, is his hyde!
435 A, dede, what has thou done? / with the will I moytt sone,
436 Sen I had childer none bot oone / best vnder son or moyn;
437 Ffreyndys I had full foyn / that gars me grete and grone
438 Ffull sore.
439 Good lord, graunte me my boyn / and let me lyf no more!
440 Gabriell, that good / som tyme thou can me grete,
441 And then I vnderstud / thi wordys that were so swete;
442 Bot now thay meng my moode / ffor grace thou can me hete,
443 To bere all of my blode / a childe oure baill shuld, bete
444 With right;
445 Now hyngys he here on rude / Where is that thou me hight?
446 All that thou of blys / hight me in that stede,
447 Ffrom myrth is faren omys / and yit I trow thi red;
448 Thi councell now of this / my lyfe how shall I lede
449 When fro me gone is / he that was my hede
450 In hy?
451 My dede now comen it is / My dere son, haue mercy!
452 Jesus. My moder mylde, thou chaunge thi chere!
453 Sease of thi sorow and sighyng sere,
454 It syttys vnto my hart full sare;
455 The sorow is sharp I suffre here,
456 Bot doyll thou drees, my moder dere,
457 Me marters mekill mare.
458 Thus will my fader I fare,
459 To lowse mankynde of bandys;
460 His son Will he not spare,
461 To lowse that bon was are
462 Ffull fast in feyndys handys.
463 The fyrst cause, moder, of my commyng
464 Was for mankynde myscarying,
465 To salf thare sore I soght;
466 Therfor, moder, make none mowrnyng,
467 Sen mankynde thrugh my dyyng
468 May thus to blis be boght.
469 Woman, wepe thou right noght!
470 Take ther Iohn vnto thi chylde!
471 Mankynde must nedys be boght,
472 And thou kest, cosyn, in thi thoght;
473 Iohn, lo ther thi moder mylde!
474 Blo and blody thus am I bett,
475 Swongen with swepys & all to-swett,
476 Mankynde, for thi mysdede!
477 Ffor my luf lust when Wold thou lett,
478 And thi harte sadly sett,
479 Sen I thus for the haue blede?
480 Sich lyf, for sothe, I led,
481 That vnothes may I more;
482 This suffre I for thi nede,
483 To marke the, man, thi mede:
484 Now thryst I, wonder sore.
485 Primus Tortor. Noght bot hold, thi peasse!
486 Thou shall haue drynke within a resse,
487 My self shalbe thy knaue;
488 Haue here the draght that I the hete,
489 And I shall warand it is not swete,
490 On all the good I haue.
491 Secundus Tortor. So syr, say now all youre will!
492 Ffor if ye couth haue holden you styll
493 Ye had not had this brade.
494 Tercius Tortor. Thou wold all gaytt be kyng of Iues,
495 Bot by this I trow thou rues
496 All that thou has sayde.
497 Quartus Tortor. He has hym rused, of great prophes,
498 That he shuld make vs tempylle's,
499 And gar it cleyn downe fall;
500 And yit he sayde he shuld, it rase
501 As well as it was, within thre dayes!
502 He lyes, that wote we all;
503 And for his lyes, in great dispyte
504 We will departe his clothyng tyte,
505 Bot he can more of arte.
506 Primus Tortor. Yee, as euer myght I thryfe,
507 Soyn will we this mantyll ryfe,
508 And ich man take his parte.
509 Secundus Tortor. How wold, thou we share this clothe?
510 Tercius Tortor. Nay forsothe, that were I lothe,
511 Then were it all-gate spylt;
512 Bot assent thou to my saw,
513 Lett vs all cutt draw,
514 And then is none begylt.. Quartus Tortor. How so befallys now wyll I draw!
515 This is myn by comon law,
516 Say not ther agayn.
517 Primus Tortor. Now sen it may no better be,
518 Chevich the with it for me,
519 Me thynk thou art ful fayn.
520 Secundus Tortor. How felowse, se ye not yond skraw?
521 It is writen yonder within a thraw,
522 Now sen that we drew cut.
523 Tercius Tortor. Ther is noman that is on lyfe
524 Bot it were pilate, as myght I thrife,
525 That durst it ther haue putt.
526 Quartus Tortor. Go we fast and let vs loke
527 What is wretyn on yond boke,
528 And what it may bemeyn.
529 Primus Tortor. A the more I loke theron
530 A the more I thynke I fon;
531 All is not worth a beyn.
532 Secundus Tortor. Yis, for sothe, me thynk I se
533 Theron writen langage thre,
534 Ebrew and latyn
535 And grew, me thynk, writen theron,
536 Ffor it is hard for to expowne.
537 Tercius Tortor. Thou red, by appolyn!
538 Quartus Tortor. Yee, as I am a trew knyght,
539 I am the best latyn wright
540 Of this company;
541 I will go withoutten delay
542 And tell you what it is to say;
543 Behald, syrs, witterly!
544 Yonder is wretyn "[ihesu of nazareyn
545 He is kyng of Iues,"] I weyn.
546 Primus Tortor. A! that is writen wrang.
547 Secundus Tortor. He callys hym so, bot he is none.
548 Tercius Tortor. Go we to pilate and make oure mone;
549 Haue done, and dwell not lang.
550 Pilate, yonder is a fals tabyll,
551 Theron is wryten noght bot fabyll;
552 Of Iues he is not kyng!
553 He callys hym so, bot he not is:
554 It is falsly writen, Iwys,
555 This is a wrangwys thyng.
556 Pilate. Boys, I say, what mell ye you?
557 As it is writen shall it be now,
558 I say certane;
559 Quod scriptum scripsi,
560 That same wrote I,
561 What gadlyng gruches ther agane?
562 Quartus Tortor. Sen that he is man of law / he must nedys haue his will;
563 I trow he had not writen that saw / without som propre skyll.
564 Primus Tortor. Yee, let it hyng aboue his hede,
565 It shall not saue hym fro the dede,
566 Noght that he can write.
567 Secundus Tortor. Now ylla hale was he borne.
568 Tercius Tortor. Ma-fay, I tell his lyfe is lorne,
569 He shalbe slayn as tyte.
570 If thou be crist, as men the call,
571 Com downe emangys vs all,
572 And thole not thies myssaes.
573 Quartus Tortor. Yee, and help thi self that we may se,
574 And we shall all trow in the,
575 What soeuer thou says.
576 Primus Tortor. He cals hym self good of myght,
577 Bot I wold, se hym be so wight
578 To do sich a dede
579 He rasyd lazare out of his delfe,
580 Bot he can not help hym self,
581 Now in his greatt nede.
582 Jesus. Hely, hely, lamazabatany!
583 My god, my god, wherfor and why
584 Has thou forsakyn me?
585 Secundus Tortor. How! here ye not, as well as I,
586 How he can now on hely cry
587 Apon his wyse?
588 Tercius Tortor. Yee, ther is none hely in this countre
589 Shall delyuer hym from this meneyoe,
590 On nokyns wyse.
591 Quartus Tortor. I warand you now at the last
592 That he shall soyn yelde the gast,
593 Ffor brestyn is his gall.
594 Jesus. Now is my passyon broght tyll ende!
595 Ffader of heuen, in to thy hende
596 I betake my saull!
597 Primus Tortor. Let one pryk hym with a spere,
598 And if that it do hym no dere
599 Then is his lyfe nere past.
600 Secundus Tortor. This blynde knyght may best do that.
601 Longeus. Gar me not do bot I wote what.
602 Tercius Tortor. Not bot put vp fast.
603 Longeus. A, lord, what may this be?
604 Ere was I blynde, now may I se;
605 Godys son, here me, ihesu!
606 Ffor this trespas on me thou rew.
607 Ffor, lord, othere men me gart,
608 That I the stroke vnto the hart:
609 I se thou hyngys here on hy,
610 And dyse to fulfyll the prophecy.
611 Quartus Tortor. Go we hence and leyfe hym here,
612 Ffor I shall be his borghe to-yere
613 He felys no more payn;
614 Ffor hely ne for none othere man
615 All the good tha euer he wan
616 Gettys not his lyfe agayn.
617 Josephus. Alas, alas, and walaway!
618 That euer shuld I abyde this day,
619 To se my master dede;
620 Thus wykydly as he is shent,
621 With so bytter tornamente,
622 Thrugh fals Iues red.
623 Nychodeme, I wold we yede
624 To sir pilate, if we myght spede,
625 His body for to craue;
626 I will fownde with all my myght,
627 Ffor my seruyce to aske that knyght
628 His body for to graue.
629 Nichodemus. Ioseph, I will weynde with the
630 Ffor to do that is in me,
631 Ffor that body to pray;
632 Ffor oure good will and oure trauale
633 I hope that it mon vs avayll
634 Here afterward som day.
635 Josephus. Syr pylate, god the saue!
636 Graunte me that I craue,
637 If that it be thi will.
638 Pilate. Welcom, Ioseph, myght thou be!
639 What so thou askys I graunte it the,
640 So that it be skyll.
641 Josephus. Ffor my long seruyce I the pray
642 Graunte me the body-say me not nay-
643 Of ihesu, dede on rud.
644 Pilate. I graunte well if he ded be,
645 Good leyfe shall thou haue of me,
646 Do with hym what thou thynk gud.
647 Josephus. Grammercy, syr, of youre good grace,
648 That ye haue graunte me in this place;
649 Go we oure way:
650 Nychodeme, com me furth with,
651 Ffor I my self shall be the smyth
652 The nales out for to dray.
653 Nichodemus. Ioseph, I am redy here
654 To go with the with full good chere,
655 To help the at my myght;
656 Pull furth the nales on aythere syde,
657 And I shall hald, hym vp this tyde;
658 A, lord, so thou is dight!
659 Josephus. Help now, felow, with all thi myght,
660 That he were wonden and well dight,
661 And lay hym on this bere;
662 Bere we hym furth vnto the kyrke,
663 To the tombe that I gard wyrk,
664 Sen full many a yere.
665 Nichodemus. It shall be so with outten nay.
666 He that dyed on gud fryday
667 And crownyd was with thorne,
668 Saue you all that now here be!
669 That lord that thus wold, dee
670 And rose on pasche morne.
671
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Proper Citation: NeCastro, Gerard. The Towneley Cycle, Play 23 - The Crucifixion (Processus Crucis - et Crucifixio). From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama. http://www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/necastro/drama. Date Visited.