From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama
The York Cycle, Play 16 - Coming of the Three Kings to Herod
The Masonns
001 Herod. The clowdes clapped in clerenes that ther clematis inclosis-
002 Jubiter and Jouis, Martis and Mercurij emyde-
003 Raykand ouere my rialtéon rawe me reioyses,
004 Blonderande ther blastis to blaw when I bidde.
005 Saturne my subgett, that sotilly is hidde,
006 Listes at my likyng and laies hym full lowe.
007 The rakke of the rede skye full rappely I ridde,
008 Thondres full thrallye by thousandes I thrawe
009 When me likis.
010 Venus his voice to me awe,
011 þat princes to play in hym pikis.
012 þe prince of planetis that proudely is pight
013 Sall brace furth his bemes that oure belde blithes,
014 þe mone at my myght he mosteres his myght,
015 And kayssaris in castellis grete kyndynes me kythes.
016 Lordis and ladis, loo, luffely me lithes,
017 For I am fairer of face and fressher on folde-
018 þe soth yf I saie sall-seuene and sexti sithis
019 þan glorius gulles that gayer is than golde
020 In price.
021 How thynke yoe ther tales that I talde?
022 I am worthy, witty, and wyse.
023 Miles 1. All kynges to youre croune may clerly comende
024 Youre lawe and youre lordshippe as lodsterne on hight;
025 What traytoure vntrewe that will not attende,
026 3e sall lay thaim full lowe, fro leeme and fro light.
027 Miles 2. What faitoure, in faithe, that dose yoou offende,
028 We sall sette hym full sore, that sotte, in youre sight.
029 Herod. In welthe sall I wisse yoou to wonne or I wende,
030 For yoe are wightis ful worthy, both witty and wighte.
031 But yoe knawe wele, ser knyghtis in counsaill full conande,
032 þat my regioun so riall is ruled her be rest,
033 For I wate of no wighte in this worlde that is wonnande
034 þat in forges any felouné with force sall be fest.
035 Arest yoe tho rebaldes that vnrewly are rownand,
036 Be they kyngis or knyghtis, in care yoe thaim cast,
037 3aa, and welde tham in woo to wonne, in the wanyand;
038 What browle that is brawlyng his brayne loke yoe brest,
039 And dynge yoe hym doune.
040 Miles 1. Sir, what foode in faith will yoou feese,
041 þat sott full sone myselfe sall hym sesse.
042 Miles 2. We sall noght here doute to do hym disesse,
043 But with countenaunce full cruell we sall crake her his croune.
044 Herod. My sone that is semely, howe semes the ther sawes?
045 Howe comely ther knyghtis thei carpe in this case.
046 Filius. Fadir, if thai like noght to listyn youre lawes,
047 As traytoures ontrewe ye sall teche them a trace,
048 For fadir, vnkyndnes yoe kythe them no cause.
049 Herod. Faire falle the my faire sone, so fettis of face.
050 And knyghtis, I comaunde, who to dule drawes,
051 þas churles as cheueleres ye chastise and chase,
052 And drede yoe no doute.
053 Filius. Fadir, I sall fell tham in fight,
054 What renke that reves you youre right.
055 Miles 1. With dyntes to dede bes he dight
056 þat liste not youre lawes for to lowte.
057 Rex 1. A, lorde that levis, euerelastande light,
058 I loue the evir with harte and hande,
059 That me has made to se this sight
060 Whilke my kynrede was coveytande.
061 Thay saide a sterne with lemys bright
062 Owte of the eest shulde stabely stande,
063 And that it shulde meffe mekill myght
064 Of one that shulde be lorde in lande,
065 That men of synne shulde saff.
066 And certis I sall saye,
067 God graunte me happe to haue
068 Wissyng of redy waye.
069 Rex 2. All-weldand God that all has wroght,
070 I worshippe the als is worthye,
071 That with thy brightnes has me broght
072 Owte of my reame, riche Arabie.
073 I shall noght seys tille I haue sought
074 What selcouth thyng it sall syngnyfie,
075 God graunte me happe so that I myght
076 Haue grace to gete goode companye,
077 And my comforte encrese
078 With thy sterne schynyng shene;
079 For certis, I sall noght cesse
080 Tille I witte what it mene.
081 Rex 3. Lorde God that all goode has bygonne
082 And all may ende, both goode and euyll,
083 That made for man both mone and sonne,
084 And stedde yone sterne to stande stone stille,
085 Tille I the cause may clerly conne,
086 God wisse me with his worthy wille.
087 I hope I haue her felaws fonne
088 My yarnyng fathfully to fullfille.
089 Sirs, God yowe saffe ande see,
090 And were yoow euere fro woo.
091 Rex 1. Amen, so myght it bee,
092 And saffe yow sir, also.
093 Rex 3. Sirs, with youre wille, I wolde yow praye
094 To telle me some of youre entent,
095 Whedir ye wende forthe in this way,
096 And fro what contréyoe are wente?
097 Rex 2. Full gladly sir I shall yoou say.
098 A sodayne sight was till vs sente,
099 A royall sterne that rose or day
100 Before vs on the firmament,
101 þat garte vs fare fro home
102 Som poynte therof to preffe.
103 Rex 3. Sertis syrs, I sawe the same
104 þat makis vs thus to moyfe;
105 For sirs, I haue herde saye sertayne
106 Itt shulde be seyne of selcowthe seere,
107 And ferther therof I wolde freyne;
108 That makis me moffe in this manere.
109 Rex 1. Sir, of felashippe are we fayne,
110 Now sall we wende forth all in feere,
111 God graunte vs or we come agayne
112 Som gode hartyng therof to here.
113 Sir, here is Jerusalem
114 To wisse vs als we goo,
115 And beyonde is Bedleem,
116 þer schall we seke alsoo.
117 Rex 3. Sirs, yoe schall wele vndirstande,
118 For to be wise nowe were it nede;
119 Sir Herowde is kyng of this lande
120 And has his lawes her for to leede.
121 Rex 1. Sir, sen we neghe now thus nerhand,
122 Vntill his helpe vs muste take heede,
123 For haue we his wille and his warande
124 þan may we wende withouten drede.
125 Rex 2. To haue leve of the lorde,
126 þat is resoune and skyll.
127 Rex 3. And therto we all accorde,
128 Wende we and witte his wille.
129 Nuncius. My lorde ser Herowde, kyng with croune!
130 Herod. Pees dastarde, in the deueles dispite.
131 Nuncius. My lorde, now note is nere this towne.
132 Herod. What, false harlott, liste the flight?
133 Go betis yone boy and dyngis hym downe.
134 Miles 2. Lorde, messengeres shulde no man wyte,
135 It may be for youre awne renoune.
136 Herod. þat wolde I here, do telle on tyte.
137 Nuncius. My lorde, I mette at morne
138 Thre kyngis carpand togedir
139 Of a barne that is borne,
140 And thei hight to come hiddir.
141 Herod. Thre kyngis, forsoth?
142 Nuncius. Sir, so I say,
143 For I saw thaim myselffe all fere.
144 Consolator 1. My lorde, appose hym I you pray.
145 Herod. Say felowe, are they ferre or nere?
146 Nuncius. Mi lorde, thei will be here this day,
147 þat wote I wele, withouten were.
148 Herod. Do rewle vs than in riche array,
149 And ilke man make tham mery chere,
150 þat no sembelant be sene
151 But frendshippe faire and still,
152 Till we witte what thei mene,
153 Whedir it be gud or ill.
154 Rex 1. The lorde that lenes ay-lastand light
155 Whilke has vs ledde owte of oure lande,
156 Kepe the, ser kynge and comely knyght
157 And all thy folke that we her fynde.
158 Herod. Mahounde, my god and most of myght,
159 þat has myn hele all in his hande,
160 He saffe you sirs, semely in sight;
161 And telle vs nowe som new tithand.
162 Rex 2. Some sall we saie yoou sir-
163 A sterne stode vs beforne,
164 That makis vs speke and spir
165 Of one that is new-borne.
166 Herod. New-borne? þat burden halde I bad;
167 And certis, vnwitty men ye wore
168 Nuncius. Mi lorde ser Herowde, kyng with croune!
169 Herod. Pees dastard, in the deueles dispite.
170 Nuncius. Sir, new nott is full nere this towne.
171 Herod. What, false losell, liste the flighte?
172 Go bette both and dyng tham downe.
173 Miles 2. Lorde, messengers shulde no man wyte,
174 It may be for youre awne rennowne.
175 Herod. That wolde I here, telle on tyte.
176 Nuncius. Mi lorde, I mette at morne
177 Iij kyngis carpand togedir
178 Of one that is nowe borne,
179 And thai hight to come hedir.
180 Herod. Thre kyngis, forsothe?
181 Nuncius. Sir, so I saie,
182 For I saughe them myself all feere.
183 Consolator 1. My lorde, appose hym we yow praye.
184 Herod. Say felowe, ar they ferre or nere?
185 Nuncius. Mi lorde, thei will be here this day,
186 þat wotte I wele, withouten were.
187 Herod. Haue done. Dresse vs in riche array,
188 And ilke man make tham mery chere,
189 That no sembland be seene
190 But frenshippe faire and stille,
191 Tille we wete what thei meene,
192 Whedir it be gud or ill.
193 Rex 1. The lorde that lenys this lastand light
194 Whilke has vs ledde oute of oure lande,
195 Kepe the, sir kyng and comly knyght,
196 And all thi folke that we here fande.
197 Herod. Mahounde, my god and most of myght,
198 þat has myn hele all in his hande,
199 He saffe you sirs, semely in sight;
200 And telle vs nowe som new tythande.
201 Rex 2. Sum shall we saie sir-
202 A sterne stud vs byforne,
203 That makis vs speke and spir
204 Of ane that is nowe-borne.
205 Herod. Nowe-borne? þat birthe halde I badde;
206 And certis, vnwitty men yoe werre
207 To leppe ouere lande to laite a ladde.
208 Say, whan loste yoe hym? Ought lange before?
209 All wise men will wene yoe madde
210 And therfore moves this neuer more.
211 Rex 3. 3is certis, swilke hertyng haue we hadde
212 We will not cesse or we come thore.
213 Herod. This were a wondir-thyng.
214 Saie, what barne shulde that be?
215 Rex 1. Forsoth, he sall be kynge
216 Of Jewes and of Judé
217 Herod. Kyng? In the deueles name, dogges, fye!
218 Nowe se I wele yoe roye and raue.
219 Be any skemeryng of the skye
220 When shulde ye knawe outhir kyng or knave?
221 Filius. Naye, he is kyng and non but he,
222 þat sall yoe kenne if that yoe craue,
223 And he is jugge of all Jurie,
224 To speke or spille, to saie or saffe.
225 Herod. Swilke gawdes may gretely greue,
226 To witnesse that nere was.
227 Rex 2. Nowe lorde, we axe but leve
228 Be youre poure to passe.
229 Herod. Whedirward, in the deuelis name?
230 To layte a ladde here in my lande?
231 Fals harlottis, bot yhe hye yoou hame
232 3e sall be bette and bune in bande.
233 Consolator 2. Mi lorde, to fell this foule defame,
234 Late alle there hye wordis falle on hande,
235 And spere thaim sadly of the same,
236 So sall yoe stabely vndirstande
237 þaire mynde and ther menyng,
238 And takes gud tente therto.
239 Herod. I thanke the of thys thing,
240 And certis so sall I doo.
241 Nowe kyngis, to cache all care awaye
242 Sen yoe are comen oute of youre kyth,
243 Loke noght ye legge agaynste oure laye,
244 Vppon payne to lose both lymme and lith.
245 To lepe ouere lande to late a ladde.
246 Say, when lost yoe hym? Ought lange before?
247 All wyse men will wene yoe madde
248 And therfore moffis it neuere more.
249 Rex 3. 3is certis, such hartyng haue we hadde
250 We schall noyot seys or we come thore.
251 Herod. This were a wondir-thyng.
252 Say, what barne shulde that be?
253 Rex 1. Sir, he shall be kyng
254 Of Jewes and of Judé
255 Herod. Kyng? In the deuyl way, dogges, fy!
256 Now I se wele yoe rothe and raue.
257 Be ony skymeryng of the skye
258 When shulde yoe knawe owthir kyng or knave?
259 Nay, I am kyng and non but I,
260 That shall yoe kenne yff that yoe craue,
261 And I am juge of all Jury,
262 To speke or spille, to saie or saffe.
263 Swilke gawdes may gretely greue,
264 To wittenesse that neuere was.
265 Rex 2. Lorde, we aske noght but leue
266 Be youre poure to passe.
267 Herod. Whedir, in the deuyls name?
268 To late a ladde here in my lande?
269 Fals harlottis, but yoe hye you hame
270 3e shall be bette and boune in bande.
271 Consolator 2. My lorde, to felle this foule deffame,
272 Lattis all such wondir falle on hande,
273 And speres thaim sadly of the same,
274 So shall yoe stabely vndirstande
275 þer mynde and ther menyng,
276 And takis gud tente tham too.
277 Herod. I thanke the of this thyng,
278 And certis so will I doo.
279 Nowe kyngis, to cache all care away
280 Sen yoe ar comen oute of youre kytht,
281 Loke noght ye legge agayne oure lay,
282 Uppon peyne to lose both lyme and litht.
283 And so that yoe the soth will saye
284 To come and go I graunte you grith,
285 And yf youre poyntes be to my paye
286 May fall myselfe sall wende yoou with.
287 Rex 1. Sir kyng, we all accorde,
288 And sais a barne is borne
289 þat sall be kyng and lorde,
290 And leche tham that ar lorne.
291 Rex 2. Sir, ye thar meruaylle nothynge
292 Of this ilke noote that thusgattes newes,
293 For Balaham saide a starne shulde sprynge
294 Of Jacob kynde, and that is Jewes.
295 Rex 3. Isaie sais a maiden yonge
296 Sall bere a barne emange Ebrewes,
297 þat of all contrees sal be kynge
298 And gouerne all that on erthe grewes;
299 Emanuell beiths his name,
300 To say, 'Goddis sone of heuené
301 And certis this is the same
302 þat we here to you neuen.
303 Rex 1. Sir, the proued prophete Ossee
304 Full trewly tolde in towne and toure,
305 A maiden of Israell, forsoth saide he,
306 Sall bere oone like to lilly floure.
307 He menes a childe consayued sall be
308 Withouten seede of mannys socoure,
309 And his modir a mayden free,
310 And he both sonne and saueour.
311 Rex 2. That fadres talde me beforne
312 Has no man myght to marre.
313 Herod. Allas, than am I lorne,
314 þis wax ay werre and werre.
315 Consolator 1. My lorde, be yoe nothyng abast,
316 þis brigge tille ende sall wele be broght.
317 Byde tham go furth and frendly frayste
318 þe soth of this that thei haue soght,
319 And telle it yoou-soo sall yoe traste
320 Whedir ther tales be trewe or noght.
321 And so that yoe the soth will saye
322 To come and goo I graunte yow grith,
323 And yf youre poynte be to my pay
324 May falle myselfe shall wende you with.
325 Rex 1. Sir kyng, we all accorde,
326 And says a barne is borne
327 þat shall be kyng and lorde,
328 And leche tham that ar lorne.
329 Rex 2. Sir, the thar meruayle nothyng
330 Of this ilke nott that thus-gate newes,
331 For Balaham saide a starne shulde spring
332 Of Jacobe kynde, and that is Jewes.
333 Rex 3. Sir, Isaie sais a mayden yoenge
334 Shall bere a sone amonge Ebrewes,
335 þat of all contrees shall be kyng
336 And gouerne all that on erthe grewes;
337 Emanuell shal be his name,
338 To saie, 'God sone of heuen',
339 And certis this is the same
340 þat we now to you neven.
341 Rex 1. Sirs, the proved prophete Osee
342 Full trulye talde in towne and toure,
343 þat a mayden of Israell, sais he,
344 Shall bere one like to the lely floure.
345 He menys a barne consayued shulde be
346 Withouten seede of man socour,
347 And is modir a mayden free,
348 And he both sone and saueour.
349 Rex 2. þat fadirs has talde beforne
350 Has no man myght to marre.
351 Herod. Allas, than am I lorne,
352 þis waxith ay werre and werre.
353 Consolator 1. My lorde, be yoe nothyng abast,
354 þis bryge shall well to ende be broght.
355 Bidde tham go furthe and frendly frast
356 þe soth of this that thei haue soght,
357 And telle it yoou-so shall yoe trast
358 Whedir ther tales be trew or noght.
359 þan sall yoe waite thaim with a wraste
360 And make all waste that thei haue wroght.
361 Herod. Nowe certis, this is wele saide,
362 This matere makes me fayne.
363 Sir kyngis, I halde me paied
364 Off all youre purpose playne.
365 Wende furth youre forward to fulfill,
366 To Bedlem is but here at hande;
367 And speris grathely both gud and ille
368 Of hym that shulde be lorde in lande;
369 And comes agayne than me vntill
370 And telle me trulye youre tithande-
371 To worshippe hym than were my will,
372 þis sall ye stabely vndirstande.
373 Rex 2. Certis ser, we sall you say
374 þe soth of that same childe,
375 In all the haste we may.
376 Consolator 2. Fares wele-ye be bygilyd.
377 Herod. Now certis, this is a sotell trayne.
378 Nowe sall thai trulye take there trace,
379 And telle me of that swytteron swayne,
380 And all thare counsaille in this case.
381 Giffe itt be soth thai shall be slayne,
382 No golde shall gete them bettir grace;
383 Bot go we tille they come agayne
384 And playe vs in som othir place.
385 This holde I gude counsaill,
386 Yitt wolde I na man wiste;
387 For certis, we shall noght faile
388 To lose tham as vs liste.
389 Than shall we wayte tham with a wrest
390 And make all wast that thei haue wroght.
391 Herod. Nowe certis, this was wele saide,
392 þis matere makes me fayne.
393 Sir kyngis, I halde me paide
394 Of all youre purpose playne.
395 Wendis furth youre forward to fulfill,
396 To Bedlem, it is but here at hande;
397 And speris grathe bothe goode and ill
398 Of hym that shulde be lorde in lande;
399 And comes agayne than me vntill
400 And telle me trulye youre tythande-
401 To worshippe hym, that is my will,
402 þus shall yoe stabely vndirstande.
403 Rex 2. Sertis syr, we sall you say
404 Alle the soth of that childe,
405 In alle the hast that we may.
406 Consolator 2. Fares wele-yoe be bygilid.
407 Herod. Nowe certis, this is a sotille trayne.
408 Nowe shall thei trewly take ther trace,
409 And telle me of that littil swayne,
410 And ther counsaill in this case.
411 If it be soth thei shall be slayne,
412 No golde shall gete tham bettir grace.
413 Go we nowe till thei come agayne
414 To playe vs in som othir place.
415 This halde I gud counsaill,
416 Yitt wolde I no man wist;
417 For sertis, we shall not faill
418 To loyse tham as vs list.
419 Rex 1. A, sirs, for sight what shall I say?
420 Whare is oure syne? I se it noth.
421 Rex 2. No more do I. Nowe dar I lay
422 In oure wendyng som wrange is wroght.
423 Rex 3. Vnto that prince I rede we praye,
424 That till vs sente his syngne vnsoght,
425 þat he wysse vs in redy way
426 So frendly that we fynde hym moght.
427 Rex 1. A, siris, I se it stande
428 Aboven where he is borne,
429 Lo, here is the house at hande,
430 We haue noyot myste this morne.
431 Ancilla. Whame seke yoe syrs, be wayes wilde,
432 With talkyng, trauelyng to and froo?
433 Her wonnes a woman with hir childe
434 And hir husband, her ar no moo.
435 Rex 2. We seke a barne that all shall bylde,
436 His sartayne syngne hath saide vs soo,
437 And his modir, a mayden mylde,
438 Her hope we to fynde tham twoo.
439 Ancilla. Come nere gud syirs and see,
440 Youre way to ende is broght.
441 Rex 3. Behalde here syirs, her and se
442 þe same that yoe haue soght.
443 Rex 1. Loved be that lorde that lastis aye,
444 þat vs has kydde thus curtaysely
445 To wende by many a wilsom way,
446 And come to this clene companye.
447 Rex 2. Late vs make nowe no more delay,
448 But tyte take furth oure tresurry
449 And ordand giftis of gud aray,
450 To worshippe hym als is worthy.
451 Rex 3. He is worthy to welde
452 All worshippe, welthe, and wynne;
453 And for honnoure and elde
454 Brother, yoe shall begynne.
455 Rex 1. Hayle, the fairest of felde, folke for to fynde,
456 Fro the fende and his feeres faithefully vs fende;
457 Hayll, the best that shall be borne to vnbynde
458 All the barnes that are borne and in bale bende.
459 Hayll, thou marc us thi men and make vs in mynde,
460 Sen thi myght is on molde misseis to amende.
461 Hayll, clene that is comen of a kynges kynde,
462 And shall be kyng of this kyth, all clergy has kende.
463 And sith it shall worthe on this wise,
464 Thyselffe haue I soght sone, I say the,
465 With golde that is grettest of price;
466 Be paied of this present I pray the.
467 Rex 2. Hayll, foode that thy folke fully may fede,
468 Hayll floure fairest, that neuer shall fade,
469 Hayll, sone that is sente of this same sede
470 þat shall saue vs of synne that oure syris had.
471 Hayll mylde, for thou mett to marke vs to mede,
472 Off a may makeles thi modir thou made;
473 In that gude thurgh grace of thy Godhede
474 Als the gleme in the glasse gladly thow glade.
475 And sythyn thow shall sitte to be demand,
476 To helle or to heuen for to haue vs,
477 Insens to thi seruis is semand.
478 Sone, se to thi suggettis and saue vs.
479 Rex 3. Hayll barne that is best oure balys to bete,
480 For our boote shall thou be bounden and bett;
481 Hayll frende faithtfull, we fall to thy feete,
482 Thy fadiris folke fro the fende to the fette.
483 Hayll, man that is made to thi men mette,
484 Sen thou and thy modir with mirthis ar mette;
485 Hayll duke that dryues dede vndir fete,
486 But whan thy dedys ar done to dye is thi dette.
487 And sen thy body beryed shal be,
488 This mirre will I giffe to thi grauyng.
489 The gifte is noght grete of degree,
490 Ressayue it, and se to oure sauyng.
491 Mary. Sir kyngis, yoe trauel not in vayne.
492 Als yoe haue ment, hyr may yoe fynde,
493 For I consayued my sone sartayne
494 Withouten misse of man in mynde,
495 And bare hym here withouten payne,
496 Where women ar wonte to be pynyd.
497 Goddis aungell in his gretyng playne
498 Saide he shulde comforte al mankynde,
499 Tharfore doute yow no dele
500 Here for to haue youre bone,
501 I shall witnesse full wele
502 All that is saide and done.
503 Rex 1. For solas ser now may we synge,
504 All is parformed that we for prayde;
505 But gud barne, giffe vs thy blissing,
506 For faire happe is before the laide.
507 Rex 2. Wende we nowe to Herowde the kyng
508 For of this poynte he will be paied,
509 And come hymselffe and make offeryng
510 Vnto this same, for so he saide.
511 Rex 3. I rede we reste a thrawe,
512 For to maynteyne our myght,
513 And than do as we awe,
514 Both vnto kyng and knyght.
515 Angel. Nowe curtayse kynges, to me take tent
516 And turne betyme or yoe be tenyd,
517 Fro God hymselfe thus am I sent
518 To warne yow als youre faithfull frende.
519 Herowde the kyng has malise ment
520 And shappis with shame yow for to shende,
521 And for that yoe non harmes shulde hente,
522 Be othir waies God will ye wende
523 Euen to youre awne contré
524 And yf yoe aske hym bone,
525 Youre beelde ay will he be
526 For this that yoe haue done.
527 Rex 1. A, lorde, I loue the inwardly.
528 Sirs, God has gudly warned vs thre,
529 His aungell her now herde haue I,
530 And how he saide.
531 Rex 2. Sir, so did we.
532 He saide Herowde is oure enmye,
533 And makis hym bowne oure bale to be
534 With feyned falsed, and forthy
535 Farre fro his force I rede we flee.
536 Rex 3. Syrs, faste I rede we flitte,
537 Ilkone till oure contré
538 He that is welle of witte
539 Vs wisse, and with yow be.
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Proper Citation: NeCastro, Gerard. The York Cycle, Play 16 - Coming of the Three Kings to Herod. From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama. http:www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/necastro/drama. Date Visited.