From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama
The York Cycle, Play 28 - The Agony and Betrayal
Cordewaners
001 Jesus. Beholde, my discipulis that deyne is and dere,
002 My flesshe dyderis and daris for doute of my dede.
003 Myne enemyes will newly be neghand full nere
004 With all the myght if thei may to marre my manhede.
005 But sen yoe are forwakid and wanderede in were,
006 Loke yoe sette yoou doune rathely and reste yooue, I reede.
007 Beis noyot heuy in yooure hertis, but holde yow even here
008 And bidis me a stounde stille in this same steede.
009 Beeis witty and wyse in youre wandyng
010 So that yoe be wakand alway,
011 And lokis nowe prestely yoe pray
012 To my fadir, that yoe falle in no fandyng.
013 Peter. 3is lorde, at thy bidding full baynly schall we abide,
014 For thou arte boote of oure bale and bidis for the best.
015 John. Lorde, all oure helpe and oure hele, that is noght to hyde,
016 In the-oure faythe and oure foode-all hollye is feste.
017 Jacobus. Qwat way is he willid in this worlde wyde,
018 Whedir is he walked, estewarde or weste?
019 Peter. 3aa sirs, I schall saye yoou, sittis vs doune on euery ilka side,
020 And late vs nowe rathely here take oure reste;
021 My lymmys are heuy as any leede.
022 John. And I muste slepe, doune muste I lye.
023 Jacobus. In faithe felawes, right so fare I,
024 I may no lenger holde vppe my hede.
025 Peter. Oure liffe of his lyolty his liffe schall he lose,
026 Vnkyndely be crucified and naylyd to a tree.
027 Jesus. Baynly of my blissing youre eghen yoe vnclose,
028 So that yoe falle in no fandyng for noght that may be,
029 But prayes fast.
030 John. Lorde, som prayer thou kende vs,
031 That somwhat myght mirthe vs or mende vs.
032 Jacobus. Fro all fandyng vnfaythfull thou fende vs
033 Here in this worlde of liffe whille we laste.
034 Jesus. I schall kenne yoou and comforte yoou and kepe yoou from care.
035 3e schall be broughte, wete yoe wele, fro bale vnto blisse.
036 Peter. 3aa, but lorde, and youre willis were witte wolde we more,
037 Of this prayer so precious late vs noyot mys
038 We beseke the.
039 John. For my felows and me alle in feere,
040 Some prayer that is precious to lere.
041 Jacobus. Vnto thy fadir that moste is of poure
042 Som solace of socoure to sende the
[... ...]
043 Jesus. þe nowys that me neghed hase it nedis not to neuen,
044 For all wate yoe full wele what wayes I haue wente.
045 Instore me and strenghe with a stille steuen,
046 I pray the interly thou take entent
047 þou menske my manhed with mode.
048 My flessh is full dredand for drede,
049 For my jorneys of my manhed
050 I swete now both watir and bloode.
051 þes Jewes hase mente in ther mynde full of malice
052 And pretende me to take withouten any trespasse.
053 But fadir, as thou wate wele, I mente neuere amys,
054 In worde nor in werk I neuer worthy was.
055 Als thou arte bote of all bale and belder of blisse
056 And all helpe and hele in thy hande hase,
057 þou mensk thy manhede, thou mendar of mysse,
058 And if it possible be this payne myght I ouerpasse.
059 And fadir, if thou se it may noght,
060 Be it worthely wrought
061 Euen at thyne awne will,
062 Euermore both myldely and still,
063 With worschippe allway be it wroght.
064 Vnto my discipillis will I go agayne,
065 Kyndely to comforte tham that kacchid are in care.
066 What, are yoe fallen on slepe now euerilkone
067 And the passioun of me in mynde hase no more?
068 What, wille yoe leue me thus lightly and latte me allone
069 In sorowe and in sighyng that sattillis full sore?
070 To whome may I meue me and make nowe my mone?
071 I wolde that yoe wakened, and your will wore.
072 Do Petir sitte vppe nowe, late se,
073 þou arte strongly stedde in this stoure.
074 Might thou noght the space of an owre
075 Haue wakid nowe mildely with me?
076 Peter. 3is lorde, with youre leue nowe wille we lere
077 Full warely to were yoou fro alle wandynge.
078 Jesus. Beeis wakand and prayes faste all in fere
079 To my fadir, that yoe falle in no fanding,
080 For the euelle spirit is neghand full nere
081 That will yoou tarie at this tyme with his tentyng.
082 And I will wende ther I was withouten any were,
083 But bidis me here baynly in my blissing.
084 Agayne to the mounte I will gang
085 3itt eftesones where I was ere,
086 But loke that yoe cacche yoow no care,
087 For lely I schall noyot dwelle lange.
088 þou fadir that all formed hase with fode for to fill,
089 I fele by my ferdnes my flessh wolde full fayne
090 Be torned fro this turnement and takyn the vntill,
091 For mased is manhed in mode and in mayne.
092 But if thou se sothly that thi sone sill
093 Withouten surffette of synne thus sakles be slayne,
094 Be it worthly wroght even at thyne awne will,
095 For fadir, att thi bidding am I buxum and bayne.
096 Now wightely agayne will I wende
097 Vnto my discipilis so dere.
098 What, slepe yoe so faste all in fere?
099 I am ferde yoe mon faile of youre frende.
100 But yoitt will I leue yoou and late you allone
101 And eftesones there I was agayne will I wende.
102 Vnto my fadir of myght now make I my mone,
103 As thou arte saluer of all sore som socoure me sende.
104 þe passioun they purpose to putte me vppon,
105 My flesshe is full ferde and fayne wolde defende.
106 At thi wille be itt wrought worthely in wone;
107 Haue mynde of my manhed my mode for to mende,
108 Some comforte me kythe in this case.
109 And fadir, I schall dede taste, I will it noyot deffende-
110 3itt yf thy willis be, spare me a space.
111 [And seis... ...yght
112 With rappes full rudely... ...the rode rente]
113 Angel. Vnto the maker vnmade that moste is of myght
114 Be louyng ay-lastand in light that is lente.
115 Thy fadir that in heuen is moste he vppon highte,
116 Thy sorowes for to sobir to the he hase me sente.
117 For dedis that man done has thy dede schall be dight,
118 And thou with turmentis be tulyd-but take nowe entente,
119 Thy bale schall be for the beste,
120 Thurgh that mannys mys schall be mende.
121 þan schall thou withouten any ende
122 Rengne in thy rialtéfull of reste.
123 Jesus. Now if my flessh ferde be, fadir I am fayne
124 þat myne angwisshe and my noyes are nere at an ende.
125 Vnto my discipilis go will I agayne,
126 Kyndely to comforte tham that mased is in ther mynde.
127 Do slepe yoe nowe sauely, and I schall yoou sayne.
128 Wakyns vppe wightely and late vs hens wende,
129 For als tyte mon I be taken with tresoune and with trayne;
130 My flesshe is full ferde and fayne wolde deffende.
131 Full derfely my dede schall be dight,
132 And als sone as I am tane
133 þan schall yoe forsake me ilkone,
134 And saie neuere yoe sawe me with sight.
135 Peter. Nay sothely, I schall neuere my souereyne forsake,
136 If I schulde for the dede darfely here dye.
137 John. Nay, such mobardis schall neuere man vs make,
138 Erste schulde we dye all at onys.
139 Jacobus. Nowe in faith felows, so shulde I.
140 Jesus. 3a, but when tyme is betydde thanne men schalle me take,
141 For all yooure hartely hetyng yoe schall hyde yoou in hy.
142 Lyke schepe that were scharid away schall yoe schake,
143 þer schall none of yoou be balde to byde me than by.
144 Peter. Nay sothely, whils I may vayle the
145 I schall were the and wake the,
146 And if all othir forsake the
147 I schall neuere fayntely defayle the.
148 Jesus. A, Petir, of swilke bostyng I rede thou late bee,
149 For all thy kene carpyng full kenely I knawe.
150 For ferde of myne enmyse thou schalte sone denye me
151 Thries yoitt full thraly or the cokkes crowe;
152 For ferde of my fomen full fayne be for to flee,
153 And for grete doute of thi dede the to withdrawe.
154 Anna. Sir Cayphas, of youre counsaille do sone late vs now see,
155 For lely it langes vs to luke vnto oure lawe.
156 And therfore sir prestely I pray yoou,
157 Sen that we are of counsaille ilkone,
158 That Jesus that traytoure wer tane;
159 Do sone late se sir I pray yoou.
160 Caiphas. In certayne sir, and sone schall I saye yoou,
161 I wolde wene by my witte this werke wolde be wele.
162 Late vs justely vs june tille Judas the gente,
163 For he kennes his dygnites full duly ilke a dele,
164 3a, and beste wote I warande what wayes that he is wente.
165 Anna. Now this was wisely saide, als euer haue I seele;
166 And sir, to youre saiyng I saddely will assente,
167 Therfore take vs of oure knyghtis that is stedfast as stele
168 And late Judas go lede tham belyffe wher that he laste lente.
169 Caiphas. Full wele sir.
170 Nowe Judas dere neghbour, drawe nere vs.
171 Lo Judas, thus in mynd haue we ment:
172 To take Jesus is oure entent,
173 For thou muste lede vs and lere vs.
174 Judas. Sirs, I schall wisse you the way euen at youre awne will-
175 But loke that yoe haue many myghty men
176 That is both strang and sterand, and stedde hym stone stille.
177 Anna. 3is Judas, but be what knowlache shall we that corse kenne?
178 Judas. Sirs, a tokenyng in this tyme I schall telle yoou vntill,
179 But lokis by youre lewty no liffe yoe hym lenne:
180 Qwhat man som I kys that corse schall ye kyll,
181 And also beis ware that he will not away-I schrew you all thenne.
182 Caiphas. Why nay Judas,
183 We purpose the Sir knyghtis in hy.
184 Miles 1. Lorde, we are here.
185 Caiphas. Calles fourth youre felaws in feere
186 And gose justely with gentill Judas.
187 Miles 1. Come felaws, by youre faith, come forthe all faste
188 And carpis with sir Cayphas, he comaundis me to call.
189 Miles 2. I schrewe hym all his liffe that loues to be last.
190 Miles 3. Go we hens than in hy and haste vs to the halle.
191 Miles 4. Lorde, of youre will worthely wolde I witte what was't?
192 Caiphas. To take Jesus that sawntrelle all same, that yoe schall.
193 Miles 1. Lorde, to that purpose I wolde that we paste.
194 Anna. 3a, but loke that yoe be armed wele all,
195 The moste gentill of the Jury schalle gyde yoou.
196 Caiphas. 3a, and euery ilke a knyght in degré
197 Both armed and harneysed yoe be,
198 To belde yoou, and baynely go byde yoou.
199 Anna. 3a, and therfore sir Cayphas yoe hye yoou,
200 Youre wirschippe yoe wynne in this cas.
201 As yoe are a lorde most lofsom of lyre
202 Vndir sir Pilate that lyfis in this empire,
203 3one segger that callis hymselffe a sire
204 With tresoure and tene sall we taste hym.
205 Of yoone losell his bale schall he brewe,
206 Do trottes on for that traytoure apas
207 In hast.
208 Caiphas. Nowe sirs, sen yoe say my poure is most beste
209 And hase all this werke thus to wirke at my will,
210 Now certayne I thinke not to rest,
211 But solempnely youre will to fulfille
212 Riyot sone.
213 Full tyte the traytoure schall be tane-
214 Sirs, knyghtis, yoe hye yoou ilkone,
215 For in certayne the losell schall be slane.
216 Sir Anna, I praye yoou haue done.
217 Anna. Full redy tyte I schall be boune
218 þis journay for to go till.
219 Als yoe are a lorde of grete renoune
220 3e spare hym not to spill,
221 þe devill hym spede.
222 Go we with oure knyghtis in fere,
223 Lo, thay are arrayed and armed clere.
224 Sir knyghtis, loke yoe be of full gud chere,
225 Where yoe hym see on hym take hede.
226 Judeus 1. Goode tente to hym lorde schall we take,
227 He schall banne the tyme that he was borne.
228 All his kynne schall come to late,
229 He schall noght skape withouten scorne
230 Fro vs in fere.
231 Judeus 2. We schall hym seke both even and morne,
232 Erly and late with full gode chere
233 Is oure entente.
234 Judeus 3. Stye nor strete we schall spare none,
235 Felde nor towne, thus haue we mente
236 And boune in corde.
237 Caiphas. Malcus!
238 Malcus. A, ay, and I schulde be rewarde,
239 And right als wele worthy were,
240 Loo, for I bere light for my lorde.
241 Caiphas. A, sir, of youre speche lette, and late vs spede
242 A space and of oure speche spare.
243 And Judas, go fande thou before
244 And wisely thou wisse tham the way,
245 For sothely sone schall we saye
246 To make hym to marre vs no more.
247 Jesus. Now will this oure be neghand full nere
248 That schall certefie all the soth that I haue saide.
249 Caiphas. Go, fecche forth the freyke for his forfette.
250 Judas. All hayll maistir, in faith, and felawes all in fere,
251 With grete gracious gretyng on grounde be yoe graied.
252 I wolde aske you a kysse maistir, and youre willes were,
253 For all my loue and my likyng is holy vppon yoou layde.
254 Jesus. Full hartely Judas, haue it even here,
255 For with this kissing is mans sone betrayed.
256 Miles 1. Whe, stande traytoure, I telle the for tane.
257 Caiphas. Whe, do knyghtis, go falle on before.
258 Miles 2. 3is maistir, moue thou no more,
259 But lightly late vs allone.
260 Miles 3. Allas, we are loste for leme of this light.
261 Jesus. Saye yoe here, whome seke yoe? Do saye me, late see.
262 Judeus 1. One Jesu of Nazareth I hope that he hight.
263 Jesus. Beholdis all hedirward, loo here, I am hee.
264 Miles 1. Stande dastarde, so darfely thy dede schall be dight,
265 I will no more be abasshed for blenke of thy blee.
266 Judeus 1. We, oute, I ame mased almost in mayne and in myght.
267 Judeus 2. And I am ferde be my feyth and fayne wolde I flee,
268 For such a siyot haue I not sene.
269 Judeus 3. þis leme it lemed so light,
270 I saugh neuer such a siyot,
271 Me meruayles what it may mene.
272 Jesus. Doo, whame seke yoe all same yoitt I saye?
273 Judeus 1. One Jesus of Nazareth, hym wolde we neghe nowe.
274 Jesus. And I am he sothly.
275 Malcus. And that schall I asaie,
276 For thou schalte dye, dastard, sen that it is thowe.
277 Peter. And I schall fande be my feythe the for to flaye,
278 Here with a lusshe, lordayne, I schalle the allowe.
279 Malcus. We! Oute! All my deueres are done.
280 Peter. Nay
281 Traytoure, but trewly I schall trappe the I trowe.
282 Jesus. Pees, Petir, I bidde the,
283 Melle the nor move the no more.
284 For witte thou wele, and my willis were,
285 I myght haue poure grete plenté
286 Of aungellis full many to mustir my myght.
287 Forthy putte vppe thi swerde full goodely agayne,
288 For he that takis vengeaunce all rewlid schall be right
289 With purgens and vengeaunce that voydes in vayne.
290 þou man that is thus derede and doulfully dyght,
291 Come hedir to me sauely and I schalle the sayne.
292 In the name of my fadir that in heuene is most vpon hight,
293 Of thy hurtis be thou hole in hyde and in hane,
294 Thurgh vertewe thi vaynes be at vayle.
295 Malcus. What, ille hayle, I hope that I be hole-
296 Nowe I schrewe hym this tyme that gyvis tale
297 To touche the for thi trauayle.
298 Judeus 1. Do felaws, be youre faithe, late vs fange on in fere,
299 For I haue on this hyne [... ...]
300 Miles 2. And I haue a loke on hym nowe-howe felawes, drawe nere.
301 Miles 3. 3is, by the bonys that this bare, this bourde schall he banne.
302 Jesus. Euen like a theffe heneusly hurle yoe me here;
303 I taught you in youre tempill, why toke yoe me noyot thanne?
304 Now haues merkenes on molde all his power.
305 Judeus 1. Do, do, laye youre handes belyue on this lourdayne.
306 Judeus 3. We, haue holde this hauk in thi hende.
307 Malcus. Whe, yois felawes, be my faith he is fast.
308 Judeus. Vnto sir Cayphas I wolde that he past.
309 Farewele, for, iwisse, we will wende.
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Proper Citation: NeCastro, Gerard. The York Cycle, Play 28 - The Agony and Betrayal. From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama. http:www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/necastro/drama. Date Visited.