From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama
The York Cycle, Play 34 - Christ Led to Calvary
Shermen
001 Miles 1. Pees, barnes and bachillers that beldis here aboute,
002 Stirre noyot ones in this stede but stonde stone stille,
003 Or be the lorde that I leue on I schall gar you lowte.
004 But yoe spare when I speke youre speche schall I spille
005 Smertely and sone,
006 For I am sente fro sir Pilate with pride
007 To lede this ladde oure lawes to abide,
008 He getis no bettir bone.
009 Therfore I comaunde you on euere ilke a side,
010 Vppon payne of enprisonment that no man appere
011 To suppowle this traytoure, be tyme ne be tyde,. [... ...]
012 Noght one of this prees,
013 Nor noght ones so hardy for to enquere,
014 But helpe me holly alle that are here
015 þis kaitiffe care to encrees.
016 Therfore make rome and rewle you nowe right,
017 That we may with this weried wight
018 Wightely wende on oure waye.
019 He napped noght of all this nyght,
020 And this daye schall his deth be dight-
021 Latte see who dare saie naye?
022 Because tomorne is prouyde
023 For oure dere Sabbott day,
024 We wille no mysse be moued,
025 But mirthe in all that euere men may.
026 We haue bene besie all this morne
027 To clothe hym and to croune with thorne,
028 As falles for a fole kyng,
029 And nowe methynkith oure felawes skorne,
030 They highte to haue ben here this morne
031 þis faitour forthe to bring.
032 To nappe nowe is noyot goode-
033 We, howe! High myght he hyng!
034 Miles 2. Pees man, for Mahoundes bloode,
035 Why make yoe such crying?
036 Miles 1. Why, wotte thou noght als wele as I,
037 þis carle burde vnto Caluery
038 And there on crosse be done?
039 Miles 2. Sen dome is geuen that he schall dy
040 Late calle to vs more companye,
041 And ellis we erre oure-fone.
042 Miles 1. Oure gere behoues to be grayde
043 And felawes sammed sone,
044 For sir Pilate has saide
045 Hym bus be dede be none.
046 Where is sir Wymond, wotte thou oght?
047 Miles 2. He wente to garre a crosse be wroght
048 To bere this cursed knave.
049 Miles 1. That wolde I sone wer hyder broght,
050 For sithen schall othir gere be soght
051 That vs behoues to haffe.
052 Miles 2. Vs bus haue sties and ropes
053 To rugge hym tille he raue,
054 And nayles and othir japes
055 If we oureselue wille saue.
056 Miles 1. To tarie longe vs were full lathe,
057 But Wymond come it is in wathe
058 But we be blamed all three.
059 We, howe, sir Wymond wayteskathe.
060 Miles 2. We, howe, sir Wymond, howe.
061 Miles 3. I am here-what saie yoe bathe?
062 Why crye yoe so on me?
063 I haue bene garre make
064 þis crosse, as yhe may see,
065 Of that laye ouere the lake-
066 Men called it the kyngis tree.
067 Miles 1. Nowe sekirly I thought the same,
068 For that balke will no man vs blame
069 To cutte it for the kyng.
070 Miles 2. This karle has called hym kyng at hame,
071 And sen this tre has such a name
072 It is accordyng thyng
073 þat his rigge on it may reste,
074 For skorne and for hethyng.
075 Miles 3. Methoughte it semyd beste
076 Tille this bargayne to bryng.
077 Miles 1. It is wele warred, so motte I spede,
078 And it be lele in lenghe and brede
079 þan is this space wele spende.
080 Miles 3. To loke theraftir it is no nede,
081 I toke the mesure or I yode,
082 Bothe for the fette and hende.
083 Miles 2. Beholde howe it is boorede
084 Full euen at ilke an ende.
085 This werke will wele accorde,
086 It may not be amende.
087 Miles 3. Nay, I haue ordande mekill more,
088 3aa, thes theues are sente before
089 þat beside hym schall hyng.
090 And sties also are ordande thore
091 With stalworthe steeles as mystir wore,
092 Bothe some schorte and some lang.
093 Miles 1. For hameres and nayles
094 Latte see sone who schall gang.
095 Miles 2. Here are bragges that will noght faile,
096 Of irnne and stele full strange.
097 Miles 3. þanne is it as it aweth to bee-
098 But whiche of yowe schall beere this tree,
099 Sen I haue broughte it hedir?
100 Miles 1. Be my feithe, bere it schall hee
101 þat theron hanged sone schall bee,
102 And we schall teeche hym whedir.
103 Miles 2. Vppon his bakke it schalle be laide,
104 For sone we schall come thedir.
105 Miles 3. Loke that oure gere be grayede
106 And go we all togedir.
107 John. Allas for my maistir that moste is of myght,
108 That yoister-even late, with lanternes light,
109 Before the busshoppe was brought.
110 Bothe Petir and I we saugh that sight
111 And sithen we wente oure wayes full wight,
112 When the Jewes wondirly wrought.
113 At morne thei toke to rede
114 And soteltes vpsoght,
115 And demed hym to be dede
116 þat to tham trespassed noght.
117 Allas for syte what schall I saie?
118 My worldly welthe is wente for ay,
119 In woo euere may I wende.
120 My maistir that neuere lakke in lay
121 Is demed to be dede this day,
122 Ewen in hys elmys hende.
123 Allas for my maistir mylde
124 That all mennys mysse may mende,
125 Shulde so falsely be filed
126 And no frendis hym to fende.
127 Allas for his modir and othir moo,
128 Mi modir and hir sisteres alsoo,
129 Sittes samen with sighyngis sore.
130 þai wate nothyng of all this woo,
131 Forthy to warne tham will I goo
132 Sen I may mende no more.
133 Sen he schall dye as tyte
134 And thei vnwarned wore,
135 I ware worthy to wite-
136 I will go faste therfore.
137 But in myn herte grete drede haue I
138 þat his modir for dole schall dye,
139 When she see ones that sight.
140 But certis I schal not wande forthy
141 To warne that carefull company
142 Or he to dede be dight. . [... ...]
143 Sen he fro vs will twynne
144 I schall the neuere forsake.
145 Allas the tyme and tyde,
146 I watte wele the day is come
147 þat are was specified
148 Of prophete Symeoun in prophicie:
149 The swerde of sorowe schulde renne
150 Thurghoute the herte, sotelly.
151 Maria 2. Allas this is a sithfull sight,
152 He that was euere luffely and light
153 And lorde of high and lawe,
154 Oo, doulfully nowe is he dight.
155 In worlde is none so wofull a wighte
156 Ne so carefull to knawe.
157 þei that he mended moste
158 In dede and als in sawe,
159 Now haue they full grete haste
160 To dede hym for to drawe.
161 Jesus. Doughteres of Jerusalem cytté
162 Sees, and mournes no more for me,
163 But thynkes vppon this thyng:
164 For youreselfe mourne schall yoee,
165 And for the sonnes that borne schal be
166 Of yowe, bothe olde and yonge.
167 For such fare schall befalle,
168 That yoe schall giffe blissyng
169 To barayne bodies all,
170 That no barnes forthe may brynge.
171 For certis yoe schall see suche a day,
172 That with sore sighyng schall yoe saye
173 Vnto the hillis on highte,
174 'Falle on vs mountaynes, and yoe may,
175 And couere vs fro that felle affraye
176 That on vs sone schall light'.
177 Turnes home the toune vntill,
178 Sen yoe haue seen this sight.
179 It is my fadirs will,
180 Alle that is done and dighte.
181 Maria 3. Allas, this is a cursed cas.
182 He that alle hele in his hande has
183 Shall here be sakles slayne.
184 A, lorde, beleue lete clense thy face-
185 Behalde howe he hath schewed his grace,
186 Howe he is moste of mayne!
187 This signe schalle bere witnesse
188 Vnto all pepull playne,
189 Howe Goddes sone here gilteles
190 Is putte to pereles payne.
191 Miles 1. Saie, wherto bide yoe here aboute?
192 Thare quenys with ther skymeryng and ther schoute
193 Wille noght ther stevenis steere.
194 Miles 2. Go home casbalde, with thi clowte,
195 Or be that lorde we loue and loute,
196 þou schall abye full dere.
197 Maria 3. This signe schall vengeaunce calle
198 On yowe holly in feere.
199 Miles 3. Go, hye the hense withalle,
200 Or ille hayle come thou here.
201 John. Lady, youre gretyng greues me sore.
202 Mary. John, helpe me nowe and eueremore,
203 That I myght come hym tille.
204 John. My lady, wende we forthe before,
205 To Caluery when yoe come thore
206 þan schall yoe saie what yoe will.
207 Miles 1. What a deuyll is this to saye,
208 How longe schall we stande stille?
209 Go, hye you hens awaye,
210 In the deuylis name, doune the hill.
211 Miles 2. Ther quenes vs comeres with ther clakke.
212 He schall be serued for ther sake,
213 With sorowe and with sore.
214 Miles 3. And thei come more such noyse to make,
215 We schall garre lygge thame in the lake
216 Yf thei were halfe a skore.
217 Miles 1. Latis nowe such bourdyng be.
218 Sen oure tooles are before,
219 þis traitoure and this tree
220 Wolde I full fayne were thore.
221 Miles 2. We schall no more so stille be stedde,
222 For nowe ther quenes are fro vs fledde
223 þat falsely wolde vs feere.
224 Miles 3. Methynkith this boy is so forbledde
225 With this ladde may he noght be ledde;
226 He swounes, that dare I swere.
227 Miles 1. It nedis noyot harde to harle
228 Sen it dose hym slike dere.
229 Miles 2. I se here comes a karle
230 Shall helpe hym for to bere.
231 Miles 3. þat schall yoe see sone one assaye.
232 Goode man, whedir is thou away?
233 þou walkis as thou were wrothe.
234 Simon. Sir, I haue a grete journay
235 þat bus be done this same day,
236 Or ellis it may do skathe.
237 Miles 1. þou may with litill payne
238 Eease thyselffe and vs bathe.
239 Simon. Goode sirs, that wolde I fayne,
240 But to dwelle were me lathe.
241 Miles 2. Nay beuscher, thou schall sone be spedde,
242 Loo here a ladde that muste be ledde
243 For his ille dedis to dye.
244 Miles 3. And he is brosid and all forbledde,
245 That makis vs here thus stille be stedde.
246 We pray the sir, forthy,
247 That thou wilte take this tree
248 And bere it to Caluerye.
249 Simon. Goode sirs, that may nouyot be,
250 For full grete haste haue I.
251 My wayes are lang and wyde,
252 And I may noght abide
253 For drede I come to late,
254 For suretéhaue I hight
255 Muste be fulfillid this nyght,
256 Or it will paire my state.
257 Therfore sirs, by youre leue,
258 Methynkith I dwelle full lang.
259 Me were loth you for to greue-
260 Goode sirs, yoe late me gang,
261 No lenger here now may I wone.
262 Miles 1. Nay, certis, thou schalte noyot go so sone
263 For ought that thou can saye.
264 þis dede is moste haste to be done,
265 For this boy muste be dede by none
266 And nowe is nere myddaye.
267 Go helpe hym in this nede
268 And make no more delaye.
269 Simon. I praye yowe dose youre dede
270 And latis me wende my waye,
271 And sirs, I schall come sone agayne
272 To helpe this man with all my mayne,
273 And even at youre awne will.
274 Miles 2. What, wolde thou trusse with such a trayne?
275 Nay faitour, thou schalte be fayne
276 þis forwarde to fullfille,
277 Or be myghty Mahounde
278 þou schalte rewe it full ille.
279 Miles 3. Late dyng this dastarde doune
280 But he goo tyte thertill.
281 Simon. Sertis sir, that wer nought wisely wrought
282 To bete me but I trespassid ought,
283 Outhir in worde or dede.
284 Miles 1. Vppon his bakke it schall be brought
285 To bere it, whedir he wille or noght-
286 What, deuyll, whome schulde we drede?
287 Go, take it vppe belyve
288 And bere it forthe goode spede.
289 Simon. It helpis noyot here to striue,
290 Bere it behoues me nede,
291 And therfore sirs, as yoe haue saide,
292 To bere this crosse I holde me paied
293 Right as yoe wolde it wore.
294 Miles 2. 3aa, nowe are we right arraied.
295 Loke that oure gere be redy grayed
296 To wirke whanne we come thore.
297 Miles 3. I warand all redy,
298 Oure tooles bothe lesse and more.
299 Late hym goo hardely
300 Forthe with the crosse before.
301 Miles 1. Sen he has his lade nowe late hym gang,
302 For with this warlowe wirke we wrang
303 And we thus with hym yode.
304 Miles 2. And nowe is noght goode to tarie lang,
305 What schulde we done more vs emang?
306 Say sone, so motte thou spede.
307 Miles 3. Neuen vs no nodir noote
308 Tille we haue done this dede.
309 Miles 1. Weme, methynke we doote,
310 He muste be naked, nede.
311 All yf he called hymselffe a kyng
312 In his clothis he schall noyot hyng,
313 But naked as a stone be stedde.
314 Miles 2. That calle I accordand thyng-
315 But tille his sidis I trowe thei clyng
316 For bloode that he has bledde.
317 Miles 3. Wheder thei clynge or cleue
318 Naked he schalle be ledde,
319 And for the more myscheue
320 Buffettis hym schall be bedde.
321 Miles 1. Take of his clothis beliffe, latte see-
322 A ha, this garment will falle wele for mee
323 And so I hope it schall.
324 Miles 2. Nay sir, so may it noght be,
325 þame muste be parte amonge vs thre,
326 Take euen as will fall.
327 Miles 3. 3aa, and sir Pilate melle hym
328 Youre parte woll be but small.
329 Miles 1. Sir, and yoe liste go telle hym,
330 3itt schall he noght haue all,
331 Butte even his awne parte and no more.
332 Miles 2. 3aa, late thame ligge stille here in stoore
333 Vntill this dede be done.
334 Miles 3. Latte bynde hym as he was before
335 And harle on harde that he wer thore,
336 And hanged or it be none.
337 Miles 1. He schall be feste as fee,
338 And that right sore and sone.
339 Miles 2. So fallis hym for to be,
340 He gettis no bettir bone.
341 Miles 3. þis werke is wele nowe I warand,
342 For he is boune as beeste in bande
343 That is demed for to dye.
344 Miles 1. þanne rede I that we no lenger stande,
345 But ilke man feste on hym a hande
346 And harle hym hense in hye.
347 Miles 2. 3aa, nowe is tyme to trusse
348 To alle oure companye.
349 Miles 3. If anye aske aftir vs,
350 Kenne thame to Caluarie.
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Proper Citation: NeCastro, Gerard. The York Cycle, Play 34 - Christ Led to Calvary. From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama. http:www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/necastro/drama. Date Visited.