The Towneley plays
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The Towneley plays
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Note: First published in 1897
About the print version
The Towneley plays
re-edited from the unique ms.: George England
with side-notes and introduction by: Alfred W. Pollard xxxiv, 418 p. ; 22 cm. : Published for the Early English Text Society by the Oxford University PressLondon ; New York [1966] Early English Text Society (Series). Extra series no. 71
Note: First published 1897
Note: Appendix: The Secunda pastorum of the Towneley plays and Archie Armstrang's aith / by E. Kolbing
Published: 1460
Middle English
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The Creatio
God
1: Ego sum alpha et o,
2: I am the first, the last also,
3: Oone god in mageste;
4: Meruelus, of myght most,
5: ffader, & son, & holy goost,
6: On god in trinyte.
7: I am without begynnyng,
8: My godhede hath none endyng,
9: I am god in trone;
10: Oone god in persons thre,
11: Which may neuer twynnyd be,
12: ffor I am god alone.
13: All maner thyng is in my thoght,
14: Withoutten me ther may be noght,
15: ffor all is in my sight ;
16: hit shall be done after my will,
17: that I haue thoght I shall fulfill
18: And manteyn with my myght.
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19: At the begynnyng of oure dede
20: make we heuen & erth, on brede,
21: and lyghtys fayre to se,
22: ffor it is good, to be so ;
23: darknes from light we parte on two,
24: In tyme to serue and be.
25: Darknes we call the nyght,
26: and lith also the bright,
27: It shall be as I say ;
28: after my will this is furth broght,
29: Euen and morne both ar thay wroght,
30: and thus is maid a day.
31: In medys the water, bi oure assent,
32: be now maide the firmament,
33: And parte ather from othere,
34: Water aboue, I-wis;
35: Euen and morne maide is this
36: A day, [so was] the tothere.
37: Waters, that so wyde ben spred,
38: be gedered to geder in to one stede,
39: that dry the erth may seym;
40: that at is dry the erth shall be,
41: the waters also I call the see;
42: this warke to me is queme.
43: Out of the erth herbys shal spryng,
44: Trees to florish and frute furth bryng,
45: thare kynde that it be kyd.
46: This is done after my will;
47: Even & morn maide is ther till
48: A day, this is the thryd,.
49: Son & moyne set in the heuen,
50: With starnes, & the planettys seuen,
51: To stand in thare degre;
-3-
52: The son to serue the day lyght,
53: The moyne also to serue the nyght;
54: The fourte day shall this be.
55: The water to norish the fysh swymand,
56: The erth to norish bestys crepeand,
57: That fly or go may.
58: Multiplye in erth, and be
59: In my blyssyng, wax now ye;
60: This is the fyft day. Cherubim
61: Oure lord god in trynyte,
62: Myrth and lovyng be to the,
63: Myrth and lovyng ouer al thyng;
64: ffor thou has made, with thi bidyng,
65: Heuen, & erth, and all that is,
66: and giffen vs Ioy that neuer shall mys.
67: Lord, thou art full mych of myght,
68: that has maide lucifer so bright;
69: we loue the, lord, bright ar we,
70: bot none of vs so bright as he:
71: He may well hight lucifere,
72: ffor lufly light that he doth bere.
73: He is so lufly and so bright
74: It is grete ioy to se that sight;
75: We lofe the, lord, with all oure thoght,
76: that sich thyng can make of noght. Lucifer
77: Certys, it is a semely sight,
78: Syn that we ar all angels bright,
79: and euer in blis to be;
80: If that ye will behold, me right,
81: this mastre longys to me.
82: I am so fare and bright,
83: of me commys all this light,
84: this gam and all this gle;
-4-
85: Agans my grete myght
86: may [no]thyng stand [ne] be.
87: And ye well me behold
88: I am a thowsand fold,
89: brighter then is the son;
90: my strengthe may not be told,
91: my myght may no thyng kon;
92: In heuen, therfor, wit I wold,
93: Above me who shuld won.
94: ffor I am lord of blis,
95: ouer all this warld,, I-wis,
96: My myrth is most of all;
97: the[r]for my will is this,
98: master ye shall me call.
99: And ye shall se, full sone onone,
100: How that me semys to sit in trone
101: as kyng of blis;
102: I am so semely, blode & bone,
103: my sete shall be ther as was his.
104: Say, felows, how semys now me
105: To sit in seyte of trynyte?
106: I am so bright of ich a lym
107: I trow me seme as well as hym. Angelus Malus 1
108: Thou art so fayre vnto my syght,
109: thou semys well to sytt on hight;
110: So thynke me that thou doyse. Angelus Bonus 1
111: I rede ye leyfe that vanys royse,
112: ffor that seyte may non angell seme
113: So well as hym that all shall deme. Angelus Bonus 2
114: I reyde ye sese of that ye sayn,
115: ffor well I wote ye carpe in vayne;
116: hit semyd hym neuer, ne neuer shall,
117: So well as hym that has maide all.
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Angelus Malus 2
118: Now, and bi oght that I can witt,
119: he semys full well theron to sytt;
120: He is so fayre, withoutten les,
121: he semys full well to sytt on des.
122: therfor, felow, hold thi peasse,
123: and vmbithynke the what thou saysse.
124: he semys as well to sytt there
125: as god hymself, if he were here. Lucifer
126: leyf felow, thynk the not so? Angelus Malus 1
127: Yee, god wote, so dos othere mo. Angelus Bonus 1
128: Nay, forsoth, so thynk not vs. Lucifer
129: Now, therof a leke what rekys vs?
130: Syn I my self am so bright
131: therfor will I take a flyght. Demon 1
132: Alas, alas, and wele-wo!
133: lucifer, whi fell thou so?
134: We, that were angels so fare,
135: and sat so hie aboue the ayere,
136: Now ar we waxen blak as any coyll,
137: and vgly, tatyrd as a foyll.
138: What alyd the, lucifer, to fall?
139: was thou not farist of angels all?
140: Brightist, and best, & most of luf
141: With god hym self, that syttys aboyf?
142: thou has maide [neyn,] there was [ten,]
143: thou art foull comyn from thi kyn;
144: thou art fallen, that was the teynd,
145: ffrom an angell to a feynd.
146: thou has vs doyn a vyle dispyte,
147: and broght thi self to sorow and sitt.
148: Alas, ther is noght els to say
149: bot we ar tynt for now and ay. Demon 2
150: Alas, the ioy that we were In
151: haue we lost, for oure syn.
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152: alas, that euer cam pride in thought,
153: ffor it has broght vs all to noght.
154: We were in myrth and Ioy enoghe
155: When lucifer to pride drogh.
156: Alas, we may warrie wikkyd pride,
157: so may ye all that standys be side;
158: We held, with hym ther he saide leasse,
159: and therfor haue we all vnpeasse.
160: Alas, alas, oure Ioye is tynt,
161: We mon haue payne that neuer shall stynt. God
162: Erthly bestys, that may crepe and go,
163: bryng ye furth and wax ye mo,
164: I se that it is good;
165: now make we man to oure liknes,
166: that shall be keper of more & les,
167: of fowles and fysh in flood,.
168: spreyte of life I in the blaw,
169: good and ill both shall thou knaw;
170: rise vp, and stand bi me.
171: All that is in water or land,
172: It shall bow vnto thi hand,
173: and sufferan shall thou be;
174: I gif the witt, I gif the strenght,
175: of all thou sees, of brede & lengthe;
176: thou shall be wonder wise.
177: Myrth and Ioy to haue at will,
178: All thi likyng to fulfill,
179: and dwell in paradise.
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180: This I make thi wonnyng playce,
181: ffull of myrth and of solace,
182: and I seasse the therin.
183: It is not good to be alone,
184: to walk here in this worthely wone,
185: In all this welthly wyn;
186: therfor, a rib I from the take,
187: therof shall be [maide] thi make,
188: And be to thi helpyng.
189: Ye both to gouerne that here is,
190: and euer more to be in blis,
191: ye wax in my blissyng.
192: ye shall have Ioye & blis therin,
193: whils ye will kepe you out of syn,
194: I say without[ten] lese.
195: Ryse vp, myn angell cherubyn,
196: Take and leyd theym both in,
197: And leyf them there in peasse.
198: Heris thou adam, and eue thi wife,
199: I forbede you the tre of life,
200: And I commaund, that it be gat,
201: Take which ye will, bot negh not that.
202: Adam, if thou breke my rede,
203: thou shall dye a dulfull dede. Cherubim
204: Oure lord, oure god, thi will be done;
205: I shall go with theym full sone.
206: ffor soth, my lord, I shall not sted
207: till I haue theym theder led.
208: we thank the, lord, with full good chere,
209: that has maide man to be oure feere.
210: Com furth, adam, I shall the leyd;
211: take tent to me, I shall the reyd,.
212: I rede the thynk how thou art wroght,
213: and luf my lord, in all thi thoght,
214: That has maide the thrugh his will,
215: angels ordir to fulfill.
216: Many thyngys he has the giffen,
217: and maide the master of all that liffen;
218: He has forbed, the bot a tre;
219: look that thou let it be,
-8-
220: ffor if thou breke his commaundment,
221: thou skapys not bot thou be shent.
222: Weynd here in to paradise,
223: and luke now that ye be wyse,
224: And kepe you well, for I must go
225: vnto my lord, ther I cam fro. Adam
226: Almyghty lord, I thank it the
227: that is, and was, and shall be,
228: Of thi luf and of thi grace,
229: ffor now is here a mery place;
230: Eue, my felow, how thynk the this? Eue
231: A stede me thynk of Ioye and blis,
232: That god has giffen to the and me;
233: Withoutten ende blissyd be he. Adam
234: Eue, felow, abide me thore,
235: ffor I will go to viset more,
236: To se what trees that here been;
237: here ar well moo then we have seen,
238: Gresys, and othere small floures,
239: that smell full swete, of seyr coloures. Eue
240: Gladly, sir, I will full fayne;
241: When ye haue sene theym, com agane. Adam
242: Bot luke well, eue, my wife,
243: that thou negh not the tree of life;
244: ffor if thou do he bese ill paide;
245: then be we tynt, as he has saide. Eue
246: Go furth and play the all aboute,
247: I shall not negh it while thou art oute;
248: ffor be thou sekyr I were full loth
249: ffor any thyng that he were wroth. Lucifer
250: Who wend euer this tyme haue seyn?
251: We, that in sich myrth haue beyn,
252: That we shuld suffre so mych wo?
253: Who wold euer trow it shuld be so?
254: [Ten] orders in heuen were
255: of angels, that had offyce sere;
256: Of ich order, in thare degre,
257: the [teynd] parte fell downe with me;
-9-
258: ffor thay held with me that tyde,
259: and mantenyd me in my pride;
260: Bot herkyns, felows, what I say-
261: the Ioy that we haue lost for ay,
262: God has maide man with his hend,
263: to haue that blis withoutten end,
264: The neyn ordre to fulfill,
265: that after vs left, sich is his will.
266: And now ar thay in paradise;
267: bot thens thay shall, if we be wise. The Killing of Abel
Garcio
1: All hayll, all hayll, both blithe and glad,
2: ffor here com I, a mery lad;
3: be peasse youre dyn, my master bad,
4: Or els the dwill you spede.
5: Wote ye not I com before?
6: Bot who that Ianglis any more
7: He must blaw my blak hoill bore',
8: both behynd, and before,
9: Till his tethe blede.
10: ffelows, here I you forbede
11: To make nother nose ne cry;
12: Who so is so hardy to do that dede
13: The dwill hang hym vp to dry.
-10-
14: Gedlyngis, I am a fulle grete wat,
15: A good yoman my master hat,
16: ffull well ye all hym ken;
17: Begyn he with you for to stryfe,
18: certis, then mon ye neuer thryfe;
19: Bot I trow, bi god on life,
20: Som of you ar his men.
21: Bot let youre lippis couer youre ten,
22: harlottis, euerichon!
23: ffor if my master com, welcom hym then.
24: ffarewell, for I am gone. Cain
25: Io furth, greyn-horne! and war oute, gryme!
26: Drawes on! god gif you ill to tyme!
27: Ye stand as ye were fallen in swyme;
28: What! will ye no forther, mare?
29: War! let me se how down will draw;
30: Yit, shrew, yit, pull on a thraw!
31: What! it semys for me ye stand none aw!
32: I say, donnyng, go fare!
33: A, ha! god gif the soro & care!
34: lo! now hard she what I saide;
35: now yit art thou the warst mare
36: In plogh that euer I haide.
37: How! pike-harnes, how! com heder belife! Garcio
38: I fend, godis forbot, that euer thou thrife! Cain
39: What, boy, shal I both hold and drife?
40: heris thou not how I cry? Garcio
41: Say, mall and stott, will ye not go?
42: Lemyng, morell, white-horne, Io!
43: now will ye not se how thay hy? Cain
44: Gog gif the sorow, boy; want of mete it gars. Garcio
45: thare prouand, sir, for thi, I lay behynd thare ars,
46: And tyes them fast bi the nekis,
47: With many stanys in thare hekis. Cain
48: That shall bi thi fals chekis.
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Garcio
49: And haue agane as right. Cain
50: I am thi master, wilt thou fight? Garcio
51: Yai, with the same mesure and weght
52: That I boro will I qwite. Cain
53: We! now, no thyng, bot call on tyte,
54: that we had ployde this land.
55: harrer, morell, iofurth, hyte!
56: and let the plogh stand. Abel
57: God, as he both may and can,
58: Spede the, brother, & thi man. Cain
59: Com kis myne ars, me list not ban,
60: As welcom standis ther oute.
61: Thou shuld haue bide til thou were cald;
62: Com nar, & other drife or hald,
63: and kys the dwillis toute.
64: Go grese thi shepe vnder the toute,
65: ffor that is the moste lefe. Abel
66: broder, ther is none here aboute
67: that wold the any grefe;
68: bot, leif brother, here my sawe-
69: It is the custom of oure law,
70: All that wyrk as the wise
71: shall worship god with sacrifice.
72: Oure fader vs bad, oure fader vs kend,
73: that oure tend shuld be brend.
74: Com furth, brothere, and let vs gang
75: To worship god; we dwell full lang;
76: Gif we hym parte of oure fee,
77: Corne or catall, wheder it be.
78: And therfor, brother, let vs weynd,
79: And first clens vs from the feynd
80: or we make sacrifice;
81: Then blis withoutten end
82: get we for oure seruyce,
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83: Of hym that is oure saulis leche. Cain
84: How! let furth youre geyse, the fox will preche;
85: How long wilt thou me appech
86: With thi sermonyng?
87: Hold thi tong, yit I say,
88: Euen ther the good wife strokid the hay;
89: Or sit downe in the dwill way,
90: With thi vayn carpyng.
91: Shuld I leife my plogh & all thyng
92: And go with the to make offeryng?
93: Nay! thou fyndys me not so mad!
94: Go to the dwill, and say I bad!
95: What gifys god the to rose hym so?
96: me gifys he noght bot soro and wo. Abel
97: Caym, leife this vayn carpyng,
98: ffor god giffys the all thi lifyng. Cain
99: Yit boroed I neuer a farthyng
100: of hym, here my hend. Abel
101: Brother, as elders haue vs kend,
102: ffirst shuld, we tend with oure hend,,
103: and to his lofyng sithen be brend. Cain
104: My farthyng is in the preest hand
105: syn last tyme I offyrd. Abel
106: leif brother, let vs be walkand;
107: I wold oure tend were profyrd. Cain
108: We! wherof shuld I tend, leif brothere?
109: ffor I am ich yere wars then othere,
110: here my trouth it is none othere;
111: My wynnyngis ar bot meyn,
112: No wonder if that I be leyn;
113: ffull long till hym I may me meyn,
114: ffor bi hym that me dere boght,
115: I traw that he will leyn me noght.
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Abel
116: Yis, all the good thou has in wone
117: Of godis grace is bot a lone. Cain
118: Lenys he me, as come thrift apon the so?
119: ffor he has euer yit beyn my fo;
120: ffor had he my freynd, beyn,
121: Other gatis it had beyn seyn.
122: When all mens corn was fayre in feld,
123: Then was myne not worth a neld;
124: When I shuld saw, & wantyd seyde,
125: And of corn had full grete neyde,
126: Then gaf he me none of his,
127: No more will I gif hym of this.
128: hardely hold me to blame
129: bot if I serue hym of the same. Abel
130: Leif brother, say not so,
131: bot let vs furth togeder go;
132: Good brother, let vs weynd sone,
133: no longer here I rede we hone. Cain
134: Yei, yei, thou Iangyls waste;
135: the dwill me spede if I haue hast,
136: As long as I may lif,
137: to dele my good or gif
138: Ather to god or yit to man,
139: of any good that euer I wan;
140: ffor had I giffen away my goode,
141: then myght I go with a ryffen hood,
142: And it is better hold that I haue
143: then go from doore to doore & craue. Abel
144: Brother, com furth, in godis name,
145: I am full ferd, that we get blame;
146: Hy we fast that we were thore. Cain
147: We! ryn on, in the dwills nayme Before!
148: Wemay, man, I hold the mad!
149: wenys thou now that I list gad
150: To gif away my warldis aght?
151: the dwill hym spede that me so taght!
152: what nede had I my trauell to lose,
153: to were my shoyn & ryfe my hose?
-14-
Abel
154: Dere brother, hit were grete wonder
155: that I & thou shuld go in sonder,
156: Then wold oure fader haue grete ferly;
157: Ar we not brether, thou & I? Cain
158: No, bot cry on, cry, whyls the thynk good;
159: Here my trowth, I hold the woode;
160: Wheder that he be blithe or wroth
161: to dele my good is me full lothe.
162: I haue gone oft on softer wise
163: ther I trowed som prow wold rise.
164: Bot well I se go must I nede;
165: now weynd before, ill myght thou spede!
166: syn that we shall algatis go. Abel
167: leif brother, whi sais thou so?
168: Bot go we furth both togeder;
169: blissid, be god we haue fare weder. Cain
170: lay downe thi trussell apon this hill. Abel
171: fforsoth broder, so I will:
172: Gog of heuen, take it to good,. Cain
173: Thou shall tend first if thou were wood. Abel
174: God that shope both erth and heuen,
175: I pray to the thou here my steven,
176: And take in thank, if thi will be,
177: the tend that I offre here to the;
178: ffor I gif it in good entent
179: to the, my lord, that all has sent.
180: I bren it now, with stedfast thoght,
181: In worship of hym that all has wroght. Cain
182: Ryse! let me now, syn thou has done;
183: lord of heuen, thou here my boyne!
184: And ouer, godis forbot, be to the
185: thank or thew to kun me;
186: ffor, as browke I thise two shankys,
187: It is full sore, myne vnthankys,
188: The teynd that I here gif to the,
189: of corn, or thyng, that newys me;
190: Bot now begyn will I then,
191: syn I must nede my tend to bren.
192: Oone shefe, oone, and this makys two,
193: bot nawder of thise may I forgo:
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194: Two, two, now this is thre,
195: yei, this also shall leif with me:
196: ffor I will chose and best haue,
197: this hold I thrift of all this thrafe;
198: Wemo, wemo, foure, lo, here!
199: better groved, me no this yere.
200: At yere tyme I sew fayre corn,
201: yit was it sich when it was shorne,
202: Thystyls & brerys, yei grete plente,
203: And all kyn wedis that myght be.
204: ffoure shefis, foure, lo, this makis fyfe-
205: deyll I fast thus long or I thrife-
206: ffyfe and sex, now this is sevyn,
207: bot this gettis neuer god of heuen;
208: Nor none of thise foure, at my myght,
209: shall neuer com in godis sight.
210: Sevyn, sevyn, now this is aght, Abel
211: Cain, brother, thou art not god betaght. Cain
212: We! therfor is it that I say,
213: ffor I will not deyle my good away:
214: Bot had I gyffen hym this to teynd
215: Then wold thou say he were my Freynd;
216: Bot I thynk not, bi my hode,
217: To departe so lightly fro my goode.
218: we! aght, aght, & neyn, & ten is this,
219: we! this may we best mys.
220: Gif hym that that ligis thore?
221: It goyse agans myn hart full sore. Abel
222: Cam! teynd right of all bedeyn. Cain
223: we! lo twelve, fyfteyn, sexteyn Abel
224: Caym, thou tendis wrang, and of the warst. Cain
225: we! com nar, and hide myne een;
226: In the wenyand wist ye now at last,
227: Or els will thou that I wynk?
228: then shall I doy no wrong, me thynk.
229: let me se now how it is-
230: lo, yit I hold me paide;
231: I teyndyd wonder well bi ges,
232: And so euen I laide.
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Abel
233: Came, of god me thynke thou has no drede. Cain
234: Now and he get more, the dwill me spede!
235: As mych as oone reepe,
236: ffor that cam hym full light chepe;
237: Not as mekill, grete ne small,
238: as he myght wipe his ars with all.
239: ffor that, and this that lyys here,
240: haue cost me full dere;
241: Or it was shorne, and broght in stak,
242: had I many a wery bak;
243: Therfor aske me no more of this,
244: ffor I haue giffen that my will is. Abel
245: Cam, I rede thou tend right
246: ffor drede of hym that sittis on hight. Cain
247: How that I tend, rek the neuer a deill,
248: bot tend thi skabbid shepe wele;
249: ffor if thou to my teynd tent take,
250: It bese the wars for thi sake.
251: Thou wold I gaf hym this shefe, or this sheyfe;
252: na, nawder of thise [two] wil I leife;
253: Bot take this, now has he two,
254: and for my saull now mot it go,
255: Bot it gos sore agans my will,
256: and shal he like full ill. Abel
257: Cam, I reyde thou so teynd
258: that god of heuen be thi freynd. Cain
259: My freynd? na, not bot if he will!
260: I did hym neuer yit bot skill.
261: If he be neuer so my fo,
262: I am avisid, gif hym no mo;
263: Bot chaunge thi conscience, as I do myn,
264: yit teynd thou not thi mesel swyne? Abel
265: If thou teynd right thou mon it fynde. Cain
266: Yei, kys the dwills ars behynde;
267: The dwill hang the bi the nek!
268: how that I teynd, neuer thou rek.
269: Will thou not yit hold thi peasse?
270: of this Ianglyng I reyde thou seasse.
271: And teynd I well, or tend I ill,
272: bere the euen & speke bot skill.
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273: Bot now syn thou has teyndid thyne,
274: Now will I set fyr on myne.
275: We! out! haro! help to blaw!
276: It will not bren for me, I traw;
277: Puf! this smoke dos me mych shame-
278: now bren, in the dwillys name!
279: A! what dwill of hell is it?
280: Almost had myne breth beyn dit.
281: had I blawen oone blast more
282: I had beyn choked right thore;
283: It stank like the dwill in hell,
284: that longer ther myght I not dwell. Abel
285: Cam, this is not worth oone leke;
286: thy tend shuld bren withoutten smeke. Cain
287: Com kys the dwill right in the ars,
288: for the it brens bot the wars;
289: I wold that it were in thi throte,
290: ffyr, & shefe, and ich a sprote. God
291: Cam, whi art thou so rebell
292: Agans thi brother abell?
293: Thar thou nowther flyte ne chyde,
294: if thou tend right thou gettis thi mede;
295: And be thou sekir, if thou teynd fals,
296: thou bese alowed ther after als. Cain
297: Whi, who is that hob-ouer-the-wall?
298: we! who was that that piped so small?
299: Com go we hens, for perels all;
300: God is out of hys wit.
301: Com furth, abell, & let vs weynd;
302: Me thynk that god is not my freynd,
303: on land then will I flyt. Abel
304: A, Caym, brother, that is ill done. Cain
305: No, bot go we hens sone;
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306: And if I may, I shall be
307: ther as god shall not me see. Abel
308: Dere brother, I will fayre
309: on feld ther oure bestis ar,
310: To looke if thay be holgh or full. Cain
311: Na, na, abide, we haue a craw to pull;
312: Hark, speke with me or thou go;
313: what! wenys thou to skape so?
314: we! na! I aght the a fowll dispyte,
315: and now is tyme that I hit qwite. Abel
316: Brother, whi art thou so to me in Ire? Cain
317: we! theyf, whi brend thi tend so shyre?
318: Ther myne did bot smoked
319: right as it wold vs both haue choked. Abel
320: Godis will I trow it were
321: that myn brened so clere;
322: If thyne smoked am I to wite? Cain
323: we! yei! that shal thou sore abite;
324: with cheke bon, or that I blyn,
325: shal I the & thi life twyn;
326: So lig down ther and take thi rest,
327: thus shall shrewes be chastysed best. Abel
328: Veniance, veniance, lord, I cry!
329: for I am slayn, & not gilty. Cain
330: Yei, ly ther old shrew, ly ther, ly!
331: And if any of you thynk I did amys
332: I shal it amend wars then it is,
333: that all men may it se:
334: well wars then it is
335: right so shall it be.
336: Bot now, syn he is Broght on Slepe,
337: Into Som hole fayn wold I crepe;
338: ffor ferd I qwake and can no rede,
339: ffor be I taken, I be bot dede;
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340: here will I lig thise fourty dayes,
341: And I shrew hym that me fyrst rayse. God
Caym, Caym! Cain
who is that that callis me?
343: I am yonder, may thou not se? God
344: Caym, where is thi brother abell? Cain
345: what askis thou me? I trow at hell:
346: At hell I trow he be-
347: who so were ther then myght he se-
348: Or somwhere fallen on slepyng;
349: when was he in my kepyng? God
350: Caym, Caym, thou was wode;
351: The voyce of thi brotheris blode
352: That thou has slayn, on fals wise,
353: from erth to heuen venyance cryse.
354: And, for thou has broght thi brother downe,
355: here I gif the my malison. Cain
356: Yei, dele aboute the, for I will none,
357: or take it the when I am gone.
358: Syn I haue done so mekill syn,
359: that I may not thi mercy wyn,
360: And thou thus dos me from thi grace,
361: I shall hyde me fro thi face;
362: And where so any man may fynd me,
363: Let hym slo me hardely;
364: And where so any man may me meyte,
365: Ayther bi sty, or yit bi strete;
366: And hardely, when I am dede,
367: bery me in gudeboure at the quarell hede,
368: ffor, may I pas this place in quarte,
369: bi all men set I not a fart. God
370: Nay, caym, it bese not so;
371: I will that no man other slo,
372: ffor he that sloys yong or old
373: It shall be punyshid sevenfold,. Cain
374: No force, I wote wheder I shall;
375: In hell I wote mon be my stall.
376: It is no boyte mercy to craue,
377: ffor if I do I mon none haue;
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378: Bot this cors I wold were hid,
379: ffor som man myght com at vngayn,
380: `ffle fals shrew,' wold he bid,
381: And weyn I had my brother slayn.
382: Bot were pike-harnes, my knafe, here,
383: we shuld bery hym both in fere.
384: How, pyke-harnes, scape-thryft! how, pike-harnes, how! Garcio
385: Master, master! Cain
386: harstow, boy? ther is a podyng in the pot;
387: take the that, boy, tak the that! Garcio
388: I shrew thi ball vnder thi hode,
389: If thou were my syre of flesh & blode;
390: All the day to ryn and trott,
391: And euer amang thou strykeand,
392: Thus am I comen bofettis to fott. Cain
393: Peas, man, I did it bot to vse my hand;
394: Bot Harke, boy, I haue a counsell to the to Say-
395: I slogh my brother this same day;
396: I pray the, good boy, and thou may,
397: to ryn away with the bayn. Garcio
398: We! out apon the, thefe!
399: has thou thi brother slayn? Cain
400: Peasse, man, for godis payn!
401: I saide it for a skaunce. Garcio
402: Yey, bot for ferde of grevance
403: here I the forsake;
404: we mon haue a mekill myschaunce
405: and the bayles vs take. Cain
406: A, sir, I cry you mercy; seasse!
407: and I shall make you a releasse. Garcio
408: what, wilt thou cry my peasse
thrughout this land,? Cain
Yey, that I gif god a vow, belife. Garcio
410: how will thou do long or thou thrife? Cain
411: Stand vp, my good boy, belife,
412: and thaym peasse both man & [w]ife;
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413: And who so will do after me
414: ffull slape of thrift then shal he be.
415: Bot thou must be my good boy,
416: and cry oyes, oyes, oy! Garcio
417: Browes, browes, to thi boy. Cain
418: I commaund, you in the kyngis nayme, Garcio
419: And in my masteres, fals Cayme, Cain
420: That no man at thame fynd fawt ne blame. Garcio
421: Yey, cold rost is at my masteres hame. Cain
422: Nowther with hym nor with his knafe, Garcio
423: What, I hope my master rafe. Cain
424: ffor thay ar trew, full many fold,; Garcio
425: My master suppys no coyle bot cold,. Cain
426: The kyng wrytis you vntill. Garcio
427: Yit ete I neuer half my fill. Cain
428: The kyng will that thay be safe, Garcio
429: Yey, a draght of drynke fayne wold I hayfe. Cain
430: At thare awne will let tham wafe; Garcio
431: My stomak is redy to receyfe. Cain
432: Loke no man say to theym, on nor other; Garcio
433: This same is he that slo his brother. Cain
434: Byd euery man thaym luf and lowt, Garcio
435: Yey, ill spon weft ay comes foule out. Cain
436: long or thou get thi hoyse and thou go thus aboute.
437: Byd euery man theym pleasse to pay. Garcio
438: Yey, gif don, thyne hors, a wisp of hay. Cain
439: we! com downe in twenty dwill way,
440: The dwill I the betake;
441: ffor bot it were abell, my brothere,
442: yit knew I neuer thi make.
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Garcio
443: Now old and yong, or that ye weynd,
444: The same blissyng withoutten end,,
445: All sam then' shall ye haue,
446: That god of heuen my master has giffen;
447: Browke it well, whils that ye liffen,
448: he vowche it full well safe. Cain
449: Com downe yit in the dwillis way,
450: And angre me no more;
451: And take yond plogh, I say,
452: And weynd the furth fast before;
453: And I shall, if I may,
454: Tech the another lore;
455: I warn the lad, for ay,
456: ffro now furth, euermore,
457: That thou greue me noght;
458: ffor, bi Godis sydis, if thou do,
459: I shall hang the apon this plo,
460: with this rope, lo, lad, lo!
461: By hym that me dere boght.
462: Now fayre well, felows all,
463: ffor I must nedis weynd,
464: And to the dwill be thrall,
465: warld, withoutten end,.
466: Ordand ther is my stall,
467: with sathanas the feynd,
468: Euer ill myght hym befall
469: that theder me commend,,
470: This tyde.
471: ffare well les, & fare well more,
472: ffor now and euer more,
473: I will go me to hyde.
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Noah and the Ark
Noah
1: Myghtfull god veray / Maker of all that is,
2: Thre persons withoutten nay / oone god in endles blis,
3: Thou maide both nyght & day / beest, fowle, & fysh,
4: All creatures that lif may / wroght thou at thi wish,
5: As thou wel myght;
6: The son, the moyne, verament,
7: Thou maide; the firmament,
8: The sternes also full feruent,
9: To shyne thou maide ful bright.
10: Angels thou maide ful euen / all orders that is,
11: To haue the blis in heuen / this did thou more & les,
12: ffull mervelus to neuen / yit was ther vnkyndnes,
13: More bi foldis seuen / then I can well expres;
14: ffor whi?
15: Of all angels in brightnes
16: God gaf lucifer most lightnes,
17: Yit prowdly he flyt his des,
18: And set hym euen hym by.
19: He thoght hymself as worthi / as hym that hym made,
20: In brightnes, in bewty / therfor he hym degrade;
21: put hym in a low degre / soyn after, in a brade,
22: hym and all his menye / wher he may be vnglad,
23: ffor euer.
24: shall thay neuer wyn away
25: hence vnto domysday,
26: Bot burne in bayle for ay,
27: shall thay neuer dysseuer.
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28: Soyne after that gracyous lord / to his liknes maide man,
29: That place to be restord / euen as he began,
30: Of the trinite bi accord, / Adam & eue that woman,
31: To multiplie without discord, / In paradise put he thaym,
32: And sithen to both
33: Gaf in commaundement,
34: On the tre of life to lay no hend;
35: Bot yit the fals feynd,
36: Made hym with man wroth,
37: Entysyd man to glotony / styrd him to syn in pride;
38: Bot in paradise securly / myght no syn abide,
39: And therfor man full hastely / was put out, in that tyde,
40: In wo & wandreth for to be / In paynes full vnrid,
41: To knawe,
42: ffyrst in erth, in sythen in hell
43: with feyndis for to dwell,
44: Bot he his mercy mell
45: To those that will hym trawe.
46: Oyle of mercy he Hus hight / As I haue Hard red,,
47: To euery lifyng wight / that wold luf hym and dred,;
48: Bot now before his sight / euery liffyng leyde,
49: Most party day and nyght / syn in word and dede
50: ffull bold,;
51: Som in pride, Ire and enuy,
52: Som in Couet[yse] & glotyny,
53: Som in sloth and lechery,
54: And other wise many fold,.
55: Therfor I drede lest god / on vs will take veniance,
56: ffor syn is now alod / without any repentance;
57: Sex hundreth yeris & od / haue I, without distance,
58: In erth, as any sod, / liffyd with grete grevance
59: All way;
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60: And now I wax old,
61: seke, sory, and cold,,
62: As muk apon mold
63: I widder away;
64: Bot yit will I cry / for mercy and call;
65: Noe thi seruant, am I / lord ouer all!
66: Therfor me and my fry / shal with me fall;
67: saue from velany / and bryng to thi hall
68: In heuen;
69: And kepe me from syn,
70: This warld, within;
71: Comly kyng of mankyn,
72: I pray the here my stevyn! God
73: Syn I haue maide all thyng / that is liffand,
74: Duke, emperour, and kyng / with myne awne hand,
75: ffor to haue thare likyng / bi see & bi sand,
76: Euery man to my bydyng / shuld, be bowand
77: ffull feruent;
78: That maide man sich a creatoure,
79: ffarest of favoure,
80: Man must luf me paramoure,
81: by reson, and repent.
82: Me thoght I shewed man luf / when I made hym to be
83: All angels abuf / like to the trynyte;
84: And now in grete reprufe / full low ligis he,
85: In erth hymself to stuf / with syn that displeasse me
86: Most of all;
87: Veniance will I take,
88: In erth for syn sake,
89: My grame thus will I wake,
90: both of grete and small.
91: I repente full sore / that euer maide I man,
92: Bi me he settis no store / and I am his soferan;
93: I will distroy therfor / Both beest, man, and woman,
94: All shall perish les and more / that bargan may thay ban,
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95: That ill has done.
96: In erth I se right noght
97: Bot syn that is vnsoght;
98: Of those that well has wroght
99: ffynd, I bot a fone.
100: Therfor shall I fordo / All this medill-erd
101: with floodis that shall flo / & ryn with hidous rerd,;
102: I haue good cause therto / ffor me no man is ferd,,
103: As I say shal I do / of veniance draw my swerd,,
104: And make end,
105: of all that beris life,
106: Sayf noe and his wife,
107: ffor that wold neuer stryfe
108: With me [ne] me offend,.
109: hym to mekill wyn / hastly will I go,
110: To noe my seruand, or I blyn / to warn hym of his wo.
111: In erth I se bot syn / reynand to and fro,
112: Emang both more & myn / ichon other fo;
113: With all thare entent;
114: All shall I fordo
115: with floodis that shall floo,
116: wirk shall I thaym wo,
117: That will not repent.
118: Noe, my freend, I thee commaund / from cares the to keyle,
119: A ship that thou ordand / of nayle and bord, ful wele.
120: Thou was alway well wirkand / to me trew as stele,
121: To my bydyng obediand / frendship shal thou fele
122: To mede;
123: of lennthe thi ship be
124: Thre hundreth cubettis, warn I the,
125: Of heght euen thrirte,
126: of fyfty als in brede.
127: Anoynt thi ship with pik and tar / without & als within,
128: The water out to spar / this is a noble gyn;
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129: look no man the mar / thre chese chambres begyn,
130: Thou must spend many a spar / this wark or thou wyn
131: To end fully.
132: Make in thi ship also,
133: parloures oone or two,
134: And houses of offyce mo,
135: ffor beestis that ther must be.
136: Oone cubite on hight / A wyndo shal thou make;
137: on the syde a doore with slyght / be-neyth shal thou take;
138: With the shal no man fyght / nor do the no kyn wrake.
139: When all is doyne thus right / thi wife, that is thi make,
140: Take in to the;
141: Thi sonnes of good fame,
142: Sem, Iaphet, and Came,
143: Take in also hame,
144: Thare wifis also thre.
145: ffor all shal be fordone / that lif in land bot ye,
146: with floodis that from abone / shal fall, & that plente;
147: It shall begyn full sone / to rayn vncessantle,
148: After dayes seuen be done / and induyr dayes fourty,
149: withoutten fayll.
150: Take to thi ship also
151: of ich kynd beestis two,
152: Mayll & femayll, bot no mo,
153: Or thou pull vp thi sayll.
154: ffor thay may the avayll / when al this thyng is wroght;
155: Stuf thi ship with vitayll, / ffor hungre that ye perish noght;
156: Of beestis, foull, and catayll / ffor thaym haue thou in thoght,
157: ffor thaym is my counsayll / that som socour be soght,
158: In hast;
159: Thay must haue corn and hay,
160: And oder mete alway;
161: Do now as I the say,
162: In the name of the holy gast.
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Noah
163: A! benedicite! / what art thou that thus
164: Tellys afore that shall be? / thou art full mervelus!
165: Tell me, for charite / thi name so gracius. God
166: My name is of dignyte / and also full glorius
167: To knawe.
168: I am god most myghty,
169: Oone god in trynyty,
170: Made the and ich man to be;
171: To luf me well thou awe. Noah
172: I thank the, lord, so dere / that wold, vowch sayf
173: Thus low to appere / to a symple knafe;
174: Blis vs, lord, here / for charite I hit crafe,
175: The better may we stere / the ship that we shall hafe,
176: Certayn. God
177: Noe, to the and to thi fry
178: My blyssyng graunt I;
179: Ye shall wax and multiply,
180: And fill the erth agane,
181: When all thise floodis ar past / and fully gone away. Noah
182: lord, homward will I hast / as fast as that I may;
183: My [wife] will I frast / what she will say,
184: And I am agast / that we get som fray
185: Betwixt vs both;
186: ffor she is full tethee,
187: ffor litill oft angre,
188: If any thyng wrang be,
189: Soyne is she wroth.
190: God spede, dere wife / how fayre ye? Uxor
191: Now, as euer myght I thryfe / the wars
192: I thee see;
193: Do tell me belife / where has thou thus long be?
194: To dede may we dryfe / or lif for the, ffor want.
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195: When we swete or swynk,
196: thou dos what thou thynk,
197: Yit of mete and of drynk
198: haue we veray skant. Noah
199: Wife, we ar hard, sted / with tythyngis new. Uxor
200: Bot thou were worthi be cled / In stafford blew;
201: ffor thou art alway adred / be it fals or trew;
202: Bot god knowes I am led / and that may I rew,
203: ffull ill;
204: ffor I dar be thi borow,
205: ffrom euen vnto morow,
206: Thou spekis euer of sorow;
207: God send the onys thi fill!
208: We women may wary / all ill husbandis;
209: I haue oone, bi mary! / that lowsyd me of my bandis;
210: If he teyn I must tary / how so euer it standis,
211: With seymland full sory, / wryngand both my handis
212: ffor drede.
213: Bot yit other while,
214: What with gam & with gyle,
215: I shall smyte and smyle,
216: And qwite hym his mede. Noah
217: We! hold, thi tong, ram-skyt / or I shall the still. Uxor
218: By my thryft, if thou smyte / I shal turne the vntill. Noah
219: We shall assay as tyte / haue at the, gill!
220: Apon the bone shal it byte. / Uxor
A, so, mary! thou smytis ill!
221: Bot I suppose
222: I shal not in thi det,
223: fflyt of this flett!
224: Take the ther a langett
225: To tye vp thi hose! Noah
226: A! wilt thou so? / mary, that is myne. Uxor
227: Thou shal thre for two / I swere bi godis pyne.
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Noah
228: And I shall qwyte the tho / In fayth or syne. Uxor
229: Out apon the, ho! / Noah
Thou can both byte and whyne,
230: with a rerd,;
231: ffor all if she stryke,
232: yit fast will she skryke,
233: In fayth I hold, none slyke
234: In all medill-erd,;
235: Bot I will kepe charyte / ffor I haue at do. Uxor
236: Here shal no man tary the / I pray the go to!
237: ffull well may we mys the / as euer haue I ro;
238: To spyn will I dres me. / Noah
We! fare well, lo;
239: Bot wife,
240: Pray for me besele,
241: To eft I com vnto the. Uxor
242: Euen as thou prays for me,
243: As euer myght I thrife. Noah
244: I tary full Lang / Fro my warke, I traw;
245: Now my gere will I fang / and thederward draw;
246: I may full ill gang / the soth for to knaw,
247: Bot if god help amang / I may sit downe daw
248: To ken;
249: Now assay will I
250: how I can of wrightry,
251: In nomine patris, & filii,
252: Et spiritus sanncti, Amen.
253: To begyn of this tree / my bonys will I bend,
254: I traw from the trynyte / socoure will be send,;
255: It fayres full fayre, thynk me / this wark to my hend;
256: Now blissid be he / that this can amend,.
257: lo, here the lenght,
258: Thre hundreth cubettis euenly,
259: of breed lo is it fyfty,
260: The heght is euen thyrty
261: Cubettis full strenght.
-31-
262: Now my gowne will I cast / and wyrk in my cote,
263: Make will I the mast / or I flyt oone foote,
264: A! my bak, I traw, will brast! / this is a sory note!
265: hit is wonder that I last / sich an old, dote
266: All dold,
267: To begyn sich a wark!
268: My bonys ar so stark,
269: No wonder if thay wark,
270: ffor I am full old,.
271: The top and the sayll / both will I make,
272: The helme and the castell / also will I take,
273: To drife ich a nayll / will I not forsake,
274: This gere may neuer fayll / that dar I vndertake
275: Onone.
276: This is a nobull gyn,
277: Thise nayles so thay ryn,
278: Thoro more and myn,
279: Thise bordis ichon;
280: wyndow and doore / euen as he saide,
281: Thre ches chambre / thay ar well maide,
282: Pyk & tar full sure / ther apon laide,
283: This will euer endure / therof am I paide;
284: ffor why?
285: It is better wroght
286: Then I coude haif thoght;
287: hym that maide all of noght
288: I thank oonly.
289: Now will I hy me / and no thyng be leder,
290: My wife and my meneye / to bryng euen heder.
291: Tent hedir tydely / wife, and consider,
292: hens must vs fle / All sam togeder
293: In hast. Uxor
294: Whi, syr, what alis you?
295: Who is that asalis you?
296: To fle it avalis you,
297: And ye be agast.
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Noah
298: Ther is garn on the reyll / other, my dame. Uxor
299: Tell me that ich a deyll / els get ye blame. Noah
300: He that cares may keill / blissid be his name!
301: he has for oure seyll / to sheld vs fro shame,
302: And sayd,,
303: All this warld aboute
304: With floodis so stoute,
305: That shall ryn on a route,
306: Shall be ouerlaide.
307: he saide all shall be slayn / bot oonely we,
308: Oure barnes that ar bayn / and thare wifis thre;
309: A ship he bad me ordayn / to safe vs & oure fee,
310: Therfor with all oure mayn / thank we that fre
311: Beytter of bayll;
312: hy vs fast, go we thedir. Uxor
313: I wote neuer whedir,
314: I dase and I dedir
315: ffor ferd of that tayll. Noah
316: Be not aferd,, haue done / trus sam oure gere,
317: That we be ther or none / without more dere. Primus Filius
318: It shall be done full sone / brether, help to bere. Secundus Filius
319: ffull long shall I not hoyne / to do my devere,
320: Brether sam. Tertius Filius
321: without any yelp,
322: At my myght shall I help. Uxor
323: Yit for drede of a skelp
324: help well thi dam. Noah
325: Now ar we there / as we shuld be;
326: Do get in oure gere / oure catall and fe,
327: In to this vessell here / my chylder fre. Uxor
328: I was neuer bard ere / As euer myght I the,
329: In sich an oostre as this.
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330: In fath I can not fynd
331: which is before, which is behynd;
332: Bot shall we here be pynd,
333: Noe, as haue thou blis? Noah
334: Dame, as it is skill / here must vs abide grace;
335: Therfor, wife, with good will / com into this place. Uxor
336: Sir, for Iak nor for gill / will I turne my face
337: Till I haue on this hill / spon a space
338: on my rok;
339: Well were he, myght get me,
340: Now will I downe set me,
341: Yit reede I no man let me,
342: ffor drede of a knok. Noah
343: Behold to the heuen / the cateractes all,
344: That are open full euen / grete and small,
345: And the planettis seuen / left has thare stall,
346: Thise thoners and levyn / downe gar fall
347: ffull stout,
348: Both halles and bowers,
349: Castels and towres;
350: ffull sharp ar thise showers,
351: that renys aboute;
352: Therfor, wife, haue done / com into ship fast. Uxor
353: Yei, noe, go cloute thi shone / the better will thai last. Prima Mulier
354: Good moder, com in sone / ffor all is ouer cast,
355: Both the son and the mone. / Secunda Mulier
and many wynd blast
356: ffull sharp;
357: Thise floodis so thay ryn,
358: Therfor moder come in. Uxor
359: In fayth yit will I spyn;
360: All in vayn ye carp. Tercius Mulier
361: If ye like ye may spyn / Moder, in the ship.
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Noah
362: Now is this twyys com in / dame, on my frenship. Uxor
363: Wheder I lose or I wyn / In fayth, thi felowship,
364: set I not a pyn / this spyndill will I slip
365: Apon this hill,
366: Or I styr oone fote. Noah
367: Peter! I traw we dote;
368: without any more note
369: Come in if ye will. Uxor
370: Yei, water nyghys so nere / that I sit not dry,
371: Into ship with a byr / therfor will I hy
372: ffor drede that I drone here. / Noah
dame, securly,
373: It bees boght full dere / ye abode so long by
374: out of ship. Uxor
375: I will not, for thi bydyng,
376: go from doore to mydyng. Noah
377: In fayth, and for youre long taryyng
378: Ye shal lik on the whyp. Uxor
379: Spare me not, I pray the / bot euen as thou thynk,
380: Thise grete wordis shall not flay me. / Noah
Abide, dame, and drynk
381: ffor betyn shall thou be / with this staf to thou stynk;
382: Ar strokis good? say me. / Uxor
what say ye, wat wynk? Noah
383: speke!
384: Cry me mercy, I say! Uxor
385: Therto say I nay. Noah
386: Bot thou do, bi this day,
387: Thi hede shall I breke. Uxor
388: Lord, I were at ese / and hertely full hoylle,
389: Might I onys haue a measse / of wedows coyll;
390: ffor thi saull, without lese / shuld I dele penny doyll,
391: so wold mo, no frese / that I se on this sole
392: of wifis that ar here,
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393: ffor the life that thay leyd,
394: Wold thare husbandis were dede,
395: ffor, as euer ete I brede,
396: So wold I oure syre were. Noah
397: Yee men that has wifis / whyls they ar yong,
398: If ye luf youre lifis / chastice thare tong:
399: Me thynk my hert ryfis / both levyr and long,
400: To se sich stryfis / wedmen emong;
401: Bot I,
402: As haue I blys,
403: shall chastyse this. Uxor
404: Yit may ye mys,
405: Nicholl nedy! Noah
406: I shall make the still as stone / begynnar of blunder!
407: I shall bete the bak and bone / and breke all in sonder. Uxor
408: Out, alas, I am gone! / oute apon the, mans wonder! Noah
409: Se how she can grone / and I lig vnder;
410: Bot, wife,
411: In this hast let vs ho,
412: ffor my bak is nere in two. Uxor
413: And I am bet so blo
414: That I may not thryfe. Primus Filius
415: A! whi fare ye thus? / ffader and moder both! Secundus Filius
416: Ye shuld not be so spitus / standyng in sich a woth. Tertius Filius
417: Thise ar so hidus / with many a cold coth. Noah
418: we will do as ye bid vs / we will no more be wroth,
419: Dere barnes!
420: Now to the helme will I hent,
421: And to my ship tent. Uxor
422: I se on the firmament,
423: Me thynk, the seven starnes.
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Noah
424: This is a grete flood / wife, take hede. Uxor
425: So me thoght, as I stode / we ar in grete drede;
426: Thise wawghes ar so wode. / Noah
help, god, in this nede!
427: As thou art stere-man good / and best, as I rede,
428: Of all;
429: Thou rewle vs in this rase,
430: As thou me behete hase. Uxor
431: This is a perlous case:
432: help, god, when we call! Noah
433: Wife, tent the stere-tre / and I shall asay
434: The depnes of the see / that we bere, if I may. Uxor
435: That shall I do ful wysely / now go thi way,
436: ffor apon this flood haue we / flett many day,
437: with pyne. Noah
438: Now the water will I sownd:
439: A! it is far to the grownd;
440: This trauell I expownd
441: had I to tyne.
442: Aboue all hillys bedeyn / the water is rysen late
443: Cubettis fyfteyn, / bot in a highter state
444: It may not be, I weyn / for this well I wate,
445: This forty dayes has rayn beyn / It will therfor abate
446: Full lele.
447: This water in hast,
448: eft will I tast;
449: Now am I agast,
450: It is wanyd a grete dele.
451: Now are the weders cest / and cateractes knyt,
452: Both the most and the leest. / Uxor
Me thynk, bi my wit,
453: The son shynes in the eest / lo is not yond it?
454: we shuld haue a good feest / were thise floodis flyt
455: So spytus.
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Noah
456: we haue been here, all we,
457: thre hundreth dayes and fyfty. Uxor
458: Yei, now wanys the see;
459: lord, well is vs! Noah
460: The thryd tyme will I prufe / what depnes we bere. Uxor
461: Now long shall thou hufe / lay in thy lyne there. Noah
462: I may towch with my lufe / the grownd evyn here. Uxor
463: Then begynnys to grufe / to vs mery chere;
464: Bot, husband,
465: What grownd may this be? Noah
466: The hyllys of armonye. Uxor
467: Now blissid be he
468: That thus for vs can ordand! Noah
469: I see toppys of hyllys he / many at a syght,
470: No thyng to let me / the wedir is so bright. Uxor
471: Thise ar of mercy / tokyns full right. Noah
472: Dame, thi counsell me / what fowll best myght,
473: And Cowth,
474: with flight of wyng
475: bryng, without taryying,
476: Of mercy som tokynyng
477: Ayther bi north or southe?
478: ffor this is the fyrst day / of the tent moyne. Uxor
479: The ravyn, durst I lay / will com agane sone;
480: As fast as thou may / cast hym furth, haue done,
481: He may happyn to day / com agane or none
482: With grath. Noah
483: I will cast out also
484: Dowfys oone or two:
485: Go youre way, go,
486: God send, you som wathe!
487: Now ar thise fowles flone / Into seyr countre;
488: Pray we fast ichon / kneland on our kne,
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489: To hym that is alone / worthiest of degre,
490: That he wold send anone / oure fowles som fee
491: To glad vs. Uxor
492: Thai may not fayll of land,
493: The water is so wanand. Noah
494: Thank we god all weldand,
495: That lord that made vs.
496: It is a wonder thyng / me thynk sothle,
497: Thai ar so long taryyng / the fowles that we
498: Cast out in the mornyng. / Uxor
Syr, it may be
499: Thai tary to thay bryng. / Noah
The ravyn is a hungrye
500: All way;
501: He is without any reson,
502: And he fynd any caryon,
503: As peraventure may befon,
504: he will not away;
505: The dowfe is more gentill / her trust I vntew,
506: like vnto the turtill / for she is ay trew. Uxor
507: hence bot a litill / she commys, lew, lew!
508: she bryngys in her bill / som novels new;
509: Behald,!
510: It is of an olif tre
511: A branch, thynkys me. Noah
512: It is soth, perde,
513: right so is it cald,.
514: Doufe, byrd, full blist / ffayre myght the befall !
515: Thou art trew for to trist / as ston in the wall;
516: Full well I it wist / thou wold com to thi hall, Uxor
517: A trew tokyn ist / we shall be sauyd all:
518: ffor whi?
519: The water, syn she com,
520: Of depnes plom,
521: Is fallen a fathom,
522: And more hardely.
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Primus Filius
523: Thise floodis ar gone / fader, behold,. Secundus Filius
524: Ther is left right none / and that be ye bold,. Tercius Filius
525: As still as a stone / oure ship is stold. Noah
526: Apon land here anone / that we were, fayn I wold;
527: My childer dere,
528: Sem, Japhet and Cam,
529: with gle and with gam,
530: Com go we all sam,
531: we will no longer abide here. Uxor
532: here haue we beyn / noy long enogh,
533: with tray and with teyn / and dreed mekill wogh. Noah
534: behald, on this greyn / nowder cart ne plogh
535: Is left, as I weyn / nowder tre then bogh,
536: Ne other thyng,
537: Bot all is away;
538: Many castels, I say,
539: Grete townes of aray,
540: fflitt has this flowyng. Uxor
541: Thise floodis not afright / all this warld, so wide
542: has mevid with myght / on se and bi side. Noah
543: To dede ar thai dyght / prowdist of pryde,
544: Euer ich a wyght / that euer was spyde,
545: With syn,
546: All ar thai slayn,
547: And put vnto payn. Uxor
548: ffrom thens agayn
549: May thai neuer wyn? Noah
550: wyn? no, I-wis / bot he that myght hase
551: Wold myn of thare mys / & admytte thaym to grace;
552: As he in bayll is blis / I pray hym in this space,
553: In heven hye with his / to purvaye vs a place,
554: That we,
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555: with his santis in sight,
556: And his angels bright,
557: May com to his light:
558: Amen, for charite. Abraha
Abraham
1: Adonay, thou god veray,
2: Thou here vs when we to the call,
3: As thou art he that best may,
4: Thou art most socoure and help of all;
5: Mightfull lord! to the I pray,
6: Let onys the oyle of mercy fall,
7: Shall I neuer abide that day,
8: Truly yit I hope I shall.
9: Mercy, lord omnipotent!
10: long syn he this warld has wroght;
11: Wheder ar all oure elders went?
12: This musys mekill in my thoght.
13: ffrom adam, vnto eue assent,
14: Ete of that appyll sparid he noght,
15: ffor all the wisdom that he ment
16: ffull dere that bargan has he boght,
17: ffrom paradise thai bad hym gang;
18: He went mowrnyng with symple chere,
19: And after liffyd he here full lang,
20: More then thre hundreth yere,
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21: In sorow and in trauell strang,
22: And euery day he was in were;
23: his childre angred, hym amang;
24: Caym slo abell, was hym full dere.
25: Sithen Noe, that was trew and good,
26: his and his chyldre thre,
27: was saued when all was flood:
28: That was a wonder thyng to se.
29: And loth fro sodome when he yode,
30: Thre cytees brent, yit eschapyd, he;
31: Thus, for thai menged my lordis mode,
32: he vengid syn thrugh his pauste`.
33: when I thynk of oure elders all,
34: And of the mervels that has been,
35: No gladnes in my hart may fall,
36: M[y] comfort goys away full cleyn.
37: lord, when shall dede make me his thrall?
38: An hundreth yeris, certis, haue I seyn;
39: Ma fa! sone I hope he shall,
40: ffor it were right hie tyme I weyn.
41: Yit adam is to hell gone,
42: And ther has ligen many a day,
43: And all oure elders, euerychon,
44: Thay ar gone the same way,
45: Vnto god will here thare mone;
46: Now help, lord,, adonay!
47: ffor, certis, I can no better wone,
48: And ther is none that better may. God
49: I will help adam and his kynde,
50: Might I luf and lewte fynd;
51: Wold thay to me be trew, and blyn
52: Of thare pride and of thare syn:
53: My seruand I will found & frast,
54: Abraham, if he be trast;
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55: On certan wise I will hym proue,
56: If he to me be trew of louf.
57: Abraham! Abraham! Abraham
58: Who is that? war! let me se!
59: I herd oone neven my name. God
60: It is I, take tent to me,
61: That fourmed thi fader adam,
62: And euery thyng in it degre. Abraham
63: To here thi will, redy I am,
64: And to fulfill, what euer it be. God
65: Of mercy haue I herd thi cry,
66: Thi devoute prayers haue me bun;
67: If thou me luf, look that thou hy
68: Vnto the land of Visyon;
69: And the thryd day be ther, bid, I,
70: And take with the, Isaac, thi son,
71: As a beest to sacryfy,
72: To slo hym look thou not shon,
73: And bren hym ther to thyn offerand. Abraham
74: A, lovyd be thou, lord in throne!
75: hold ouer me, lord, thy holy hand,
76: ffor certis thi bidyng shall be done.
77: Blissyd be that lord in euery land
78: wold viset his seruand thus so soyn.
79: ffayn wold I this thyng ordand,
80: ffor it profettis noght to hoyne;
81: This commaundement must I nedis fulfill,
82: If that my hert wax hevy as leyde;
83: Shuld I offend my lordis will?
84: Nay, yit were I leyffer my child were dede.
85: What so he biddis me, good or ill,
86: That shall be done in euery steede;
87: Both wife and child,, if he bid spill;
88: I wille not do agans his rede.
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89: wist Isaac, wher so he were,
90: he wold be abast now,
91: how that he is in dangere.
92: Isaac, son, wher art thou? Isaac
93: All redy, fader, Lo me here;
94: Now was I commyng vnto you;
95: I luf you mekill, fader dere. Abraham
96: And dos thou so? I wold wit how
97: lufis thou me, son, as thou has saide. Isaac
98: Yei, fader, with all myn hart,
99: More then all that euer was maide;
100: God hold, me long youre life in quart! Abraham
101: Now, who would not be glad that had
102: A child so lufand as thou art?
103: Thi lufly chere makis my hert glad,
104: And many a tyme so has it gart.
105: Go home, son; com sone agane,
106: And tell thi moder I com ful fast;
107: So now god the saif and sayne!
108: Now well is me that he is past!
109: Alone, right here in this playn,
110: Might I speke to myn hart brast,
111: I wold, that all were well ful fayn,
112: Bot it must nedis be done at last;
113: And it is good that I be war,
114: To be avised full good it were.
115: The land of vision is ful far,
116: The thrid day end must I be there;
117: Myn ase shall with vs, if it thar,
118: To bere oure harnes les & more,
119: ffor my son may be slayn no nar;
120: A swerd must with vs yit therfore,
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121: And I shall found, to make me yare;
122: This nyght will I begyn my way,
123: THof Isaac be neuer so fayre,
124: And myn awn son, the soth to say,
125: And, thof he be myn right haire,
126: And all shuld, weld, after my day,
127: Godis bydyng shall I not spare;
128: shuld I that ganstand,? we, nay, ma fay!
Isaac! Isaac
-sir! Abraham
-luke thou be bowne;
130: ffor certan, son, thi self and I,
131: we two must now weynd, furth of towne,
132: In far country to sacrifie,
133: ffor certan skyllys and encheson.
134: Take wod and fyere with the, in hy;
135: Bi hillys and, dayllys, both vp & downe,
136: son, thou shal ride and, I will go bi.
137: looke thou mys noght that thou shuld, nede;
138: Do make the redy, my darlyng! Isaac
139: I am redy to do this dede,
140: And euer to fulfill youre bydyng. Abraham
141: My dere son, look thou haue no drede,
142: We shal com home with grete lovyng;
143: Both to & fro I shal vs lede;
144: Com now, son, in my blyssyng.
145: Ye two here with this asse abide,
146: ffor Isaac & I will to yond hill;
147: It is so hie we may not ride,
148: therfor ye two shal abide here still. Primus Puer
149: sir, ye ow not to be denyed,:
150: we ar redy youre bydyng to fulfill. Secundus Puer
151: What so euer to vs betide
152: To do youre bidyng ay we will.
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Abraham
153: Godis blyssyng haue ye both in fere;
154: I shall not tary long you fro. Primus Puer
155: Sir, we shal abide you here,
156: Oute of this stede shall we not go. Abraham
157: Childre, ye ar ay to me full dere,
158: I pray god kepe [you] euer fro wo. Secundus Puer
159: we will do, sir, as ye vs lere. Abraham
160: Isaac, now ar we bot we two,
161: we must go a full good paase,
162: ffor it is farther than I wend,;
163: we shall make myrth & grete solace,
164: Bi this thyng be broght to end,.
165: lo, my son, here is the place. Isaac
166: wod and fyere ar in my hend;
167: Tell me now, if ye haue space,
168: where is the beest that shuld, be brend? Abraham
169: Now, son, I may no longer layn.
170: sich will is into myne hart went;
171: Thou was euer to me full bayn
172: Euer to fulfill myn entent.
173: Bot certanly thou must be slayn,
174: And it may be as I haue ment. Isaac
175: I am hevy and nothyng fayn,
176: Thus hastely that shall be shent. Abraham
Isaac! Isaac
sir? Abraham
Com heder, bid I;
178: Thou shal be dede what so euer betide. Isaac
179: A, fader, mercy! mercy! Abraham
180: That I say may not be denyde;
181: Take thi dede therfor mekely. Isaac
182: A, good sir, abide;
ffader! Abraham
What son? Isaac
to do youre will I am redy,
184: where so euer ye go or ride,
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185: If I may oght ouertake youre will,
186: syn I haue trepa[s]t I wold be bet. Abraham
Isaac! Isaac
What, sir? Abraham
good son, be still. Isaac
ffader! Abraham
what, son! Isaac
think on thi get!
what haue I done? Abraham
truly, none ill. Isaac
And shall be slayn? Abraham
so haue I het. Isaac
sir, what may help? Abraham
certis, no skill. Isaac
I ask mercy. Abraham
that may not let. Isaac
193: when I am dede, and closed, in clay,
194: who shall then be youre son? Abraham
195: A, lord, that I shuld abide this day! Isaac
196: sir, who shall do that I was won? Abraham
197: speke no sich wordis, son, I the pray. Isaac
shall ye me slo? Abraham
I trow I mon;
lyg still! I smyte! Isaac
sir, let me say. Abraham
200: Now, my dere child,, thou may not shon. Isaac
201: The shynyng of youre bright blayde
202: It gars me quake for ferde to dee. Abraham
203: Therfor groflyngis thou shall be layde,
204: Then when I stryke thou shal not se. Isaac
205: What haue I done, fader, what haue I saide? Abraham
206: Truly, no kyns ill to me. Isaac
207: And thus gyltles shall be arayde. Abraham
208: Now, good son, let sich wordis be. Isaac
I luf you ay. Abraham
so do I the.
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Isaac
ffader! Abraham
what, son? Isaac
let now be seyn.
ffor my moder luf. Abraham
let be, let be!
212: It will not help that thou wold, meyn;
213: Bot ly styll till I com to the,
214: I mys a lytyll thyng, I weyn.
215: he spekis so rufully to me
216: That water shotis in both myn eeyn,
217: I were leuer than all wardly wyn,
218: That I had fon hym onys vnkynde,
219: Bot no defawt I faund, hym in:
220: I wold be dede for hym, or pynde;
221: To slo hym thus, I thynk grete syn,
222: So rufull wordis I with hym fynd;
223: I am full wo that we shuld, twyn,
224: ffor he will neuer oute of my mynd.
225: What shal I to his moder say?
226: ffor "[where is he,"] tyte will she spyr;
227: If I tell hir, "[ron away,"]
228: hir answere bese belife-"[nay, sir!"]
229: And I am ferd, hir for to slay;
230: I ne wote what I shal say till hir.
231: he lyys full still ther as he lay,
232: ffor to I com, dar he not styr. God
233: Angell, hy with all thi mayn!
234: To abraham thou shall be sent;
235: say, Isaac shall not be slayn;
236: he shall lif, and not be brent.
237: My bydyng standis he not agane,
238: Go, put hym out of his intent;
239: Byd, hym go home agane,
240: I know well how he ment.
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Angel
241: Gladly, Lord, I am redy:
242: thi bidyng shall be magnyfyed;
243: I shall me spede ful hastely,
244: the to obeye at euery tyde;
245: Thi will, Thi name, to glorifye,
246: Ouer all this warld so wide;
247: And to thi seruand now in hy,
248: good, trew, abraham, will I glyde. Abraham
249: Bot myght I yit of wepyng sese,
250: till I had done this sacrifice;
251: It must nedis be, withoutten lesse,
252: thof all I carpe on this kyn wise,
253: The more my sorow it will incres;
254: when I look to hym, I gryse;
255: I will ryn on a res,
256: And slo hym here, right as he lyse. Angel
Abraham! Abraham! Abraham
Who is ther now?
War! let the go. Angel
stand vp, now, stand;
259: Thi good will com I to alow,
260: Therfor I byd the hold thi hand. Abraham
261: say, who bad, so? any bot thou? Angel
262: Yei, god; & sendis this beest to thyn offerand,. Abraham
263: I speke with god latter, I trow,
264: And doyng he me commaund. Angel
265: He has persauyd thy mekenes
266: And thi good will also, Iwis;
267: he will thou do thi son no distres,
268: ffor he has graunt to the his blys. Abraham
269: Bot wote thou well that it is
As thou has sayd? Angel
I say the yis. Abraham
271: I thank the, lord,, well of goodnes,
272: That all thus has relest me this;
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273: To speke with the haue I no space,
274: with my dere son till I haue spokyn.
275: My good son, thou shal haue grace,
276: On the now will I not be wrokyn;
277: Ryse vp now, with thi frely face. Isaac
sir, shall I lif? Abraham
yei, this to tokyn.
279: son thou has skapid a full hard, grace,
280: Thou shuld, haue beyn both brent & brokyn. Isaac
281: Bot, fader, shall I not be slayn? Abraham
No, certis, son. Isaac
then am I glad,;
283: Good sir, put vp youre sword agayn. Abraham
284: Nay hardely, son, be thou not adrad,. Isaac
Is all for geyn? Abraham
yei, son, certan. Isaac
286: ffor ferd,, sir, was I nere-hand, mad,. Isaac
Isaac
1: Com nere son and kys me,
2: that I may feyle the smell of the.
3: The smell of my son is lyke
4: to a feld with flouris, or hony bike.
5: where art thou, Esaw, my son? Jacob
6: here, fader, and askis youre benyson.
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Isaac
7: The blyssyng my fader gaf to me,
8: god of heuen & I gif the;
9: God gif the plente grete,
10: of wyne, of oyll, and of whete;
11: And graunt thi childre all
12: to worship the, both grete and small;
13: who so the blyssys, blyssed be he;
14: who so the waris, wared be he.
15: Now has thou my grete blyssyng,
16: loue the shall all thyne ofspryng;
17: Go now wheder thou has to go. Jacob
18: Graunt mercy, sir, I will do so. Esau
19: haue, ete, fader, of myn huntyng,
20: And gif me sythen your blyssyng. Isaac
Who is that? Esau
I, youre son
22: Esaw, bryngis you venyson. Isaac
23: Who was that was right now here,
24: And broght me bruet of a dere?
25: I ete well, and blyssyd hym;
26: And he is blyssyd, ich a lym. Esau
27: Alas! I may grete and sob. Isaac
28: Thou art begylyd thrugh iacob,
29: That is thyne awne german brother. Esau
30: haue ye kepyd me none other
31: Blyssyng then ye set hym one? Isaac
32: sich another haue I none;
33: Bot god gif the to thyn handband,
34: the dew of heuen & frute of land,;
35: Other then this can I not say. Esau
36: Now, alas, and walo-way!
37: May I with that tratoure mete,
38: my faders dayes shall com with grete,
39: And my moders also;
40: may I hym mete, I shall hym slo. Rebecca
41: Isaac it were my deth
42: If Iacob weddeth in kynd of heth;
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43: I will send hym to aran,
44: there my brothere dwellys, laban;
45: And there may he serue in peasse
46: till his brother's wrath will seasse.
47: why shuld, I apon a day
48: loyse both my sonnes? better nay. Isaac
49: Thou says soth, wife; call hym heder,
50: And let vs tell hym where & wheder
51: That he may fle esaw,
52: that vs both hetis bale to brew. Rebecca
53: Iacob, son! thi fader & I
54: wold, speke with the; com, stand, vs by!
55: Out of contry must thou fle,
56: that Esaw slo not the. Jacob
57: Whederward, shuld, I go, dame? Rebecca
58: To mesopotameam;
59: To my brothere, and thyn eme,
60: that dwellys besyde Iordan streme;
61: And ther may thou with hym won,
62: to Esaw, myne other son,
63: fforget, and all his wrath be dede. Jacob
64: I will go, fader, at youre rede. Isaac
65: Yei, son, do as thi moder says;
66: Com kys vs both, & weynd thi ways. Jacob
67: Haue good day, sir and dame! Isaac
68: God sheld, the, son, from syn and shame! Rebecca
69: And gif the grace, good man to be,
70: And send me glad tythygis to the.
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Jacob
Jacob
1: Help me, lord,,adonay,
2: And hald, me in the right way
3: To mesopotameam;
4: ffor I cam neuer or now where I am;
5: I cam neuer here in this contre;
6: lord, of heuen, thou help me!
7: ffor I haue maide me, in this strete,
8: sore bonys & warkand feete.
9: The son is downe, what is best?
10: her purpose I all nyght to rest;
11: Vnder my hede this ston shal ly;
12: A nyghtis rest take will I. God
13: Iacob, iacob, thi god I am;
14: Of thi forfader abraham,
15: And of thi fader, Isaac;
16: I shall the blys for thare sake.
17: This land, that thou slepys in,
18: I shall the gif, and thi kyn;
19: I shall thi seede multyply,
20: As thyk as powder on erth may ly.
21: The kynd of the shall sprede wide,
22: ffrom eest to west on euery syde,
23: ffrom the south vnto the north;
24: All that I say, I shall forth;
25: And all the folkis of thyne ofspryng,
26: shal be blyssyd of thy blyssyng.
27: Iacob, haue thou no kyns drede!
28: I shall the clethe, I shall the fede.
29: Whartfull shall I make thi gate;
30: I shal the help erly and, late;
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31: And all in qwart shall I bryng the
32: home agane to thi countre.
33: I shall not fayll, be thou bold,,
34: Bot I shall do as I haue told,. Jacob
35: A! lord! what may this mene?
36: what haue I herd, in slepe, and sene?
37: That god leynyd hym to a stegh,
38: And spake to me, it is no leghe;
39: And now is here none othere gate,
40: bot godis howse and heuens yate.
41: lord, how dredfull is this stede!
42: ther I layde downe my hede,
43: In godis lovyng I rayse this stone,
44: And, oyll will I putt theron.
45: lord, of heuen, that all wote,
46: here to the I make a hote:
47: If thou gif me mete and foode,
48: And close to body, as I behoued,,
49: And bryng me home to kyth and kyn,
50: by the way that I walk in,
51: without skathe and in quarte,
52: I promyse to the, with stedfast hart,
53: As thou art lord, and god myne,
54: And I Iacob, thi trew hyne,
55: This stone I rayse in sygne to day
56: shall I hold, holy kyrk for ay;
57: And of all that newes me
58: rightwys tend, shall I gif the.
59: A, my fader, god of heuen,
60: that saide to me, thrugh thi steven,
61: when I in aran was dwelland,,
62: that I shuld turne agane to land,
63: Ther I was both fed and borne,
64: warnyd thou me, lord, beforne,
65: As I went toward aran
66: with my staff, and passyd, Iordan:
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67: And now I come agane to kyth,
68: with two ostes of men me with.
69: Thou hete me, lord, to do well with me,
70: to multyplye my seede as sand of see;
71: Thou saue me, lord,, thrugh vertew,
72: ffrom veniance of Esaw,
73: That he slo not, for old, greme,
74: these moders with thare barne teme. Rachel
75: Oure anguysh, sir, is many fold,,
76: syn that oure messyngere vs told,
77: That Esaw wold, you slo,
78: with foure hundreth men and mo. Jacob
79: ffor soth, rachell, I haue hym sent
80: of many beestis sere present.
81: May tyde he will oure giftis take,
82: And right so shall his wrath slake.
83: where ar oure thyngis, ar thay past Iordan? Leah
84: Go and look, sir, as ye can. God
85: The day spryngis; now lett me go. Jacob
86: Nay, nay, I will not so,
87: Bot thou blys me or thou gang:
88: If I may, I shall hold, the lang. God
89: In tokynyng that thou spekis with me,
90: I shall toche now thi thee,
91: That halt shall thou euermore,
92: bot thou shall fele no sore;
93: What is thy name, thou me tell? Jacob
Iacob. God
nay, bot Israell;
95: syn thou to me sich strengthe may kythe,
96: to men of erth thou must be stythe. Jacob
what is thy name? God
whi askis thou it?
98: `wonderfull,' if thou wil wyt. Jacob
A, blys me, lord,! God
I shall the blys,
100: And be to the full propyce,
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101: And gyf the my blyssyng for ay,
102: As lord and he that all may.
103: I shall grayth thi gate,
104: And full well ordeyn thi state;
105: when thou has drede, thynk on me,
106: And thou shal full well saynyd be,
107: And look thou trow well my sayes;
108: And farewell now, the day dayes. Jacob
109: Now haue I a new name, israell;
110: this place shall [hight] fanuell,
111: ffor I haue seyn in this place,
112: god of heuen face to face. Rachel
113: Iacob, lo we haue tythand,
114: that Esaw is here at hand. Jacob
115: Rachell, stand thou in the last eschele,
116: ffor I wold, thou were sauyd wele;
117: Call Ioseph and beniamin,
118: And let theym not fro the twyn.
119: If it be so that Esaw
120: vs before all-to-hew,
121: Ye that ar here the last
122: Ye may be sauyd if ye fle fast. Jacob
123: I pray the, lord, as thou me het,
124: thou saue me and, my gete. Esau
125: welcom brother, to kyn and kyth,
126: thi wife and childre that comes the with.
127: how has thou faren in far land,?
128: tell me now som good tythand,. Jacob
129: Well, my brother Esaw,
130: If that thi men no bale me brew. Esau
131: wemo! felows, hold youre hend,
132: ye se that I and he ar frend,,
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133: And frenship here will we fulfill,
134: syn that it is godis will. Jacob
135: God yeld, you, brothere, that it so is
136: that thou thi hyne so wold, kys. Esau
137: Nay, Iacob, my dere brothere,
138: I shall the tell all anothere;
139: Thou art my lord, thrugh destyny;
140: go we togeder both thou and I,
141: To my fader and, his wife,
142: that lofys the, brother, as thare lyfe. The Prophets
Moyses
Prophetam excitabit deus de fratribus vestris;
Omnis anima, que non audierit prophetam illum,
exterminabitur de populo suo;
Nemo propheta sine honore nisi in patriâ suâ.
1: All ye folk of israell,
2: herkyn to me! I will you tell
3: Tythyngis farly goode;
4: All wote ys how it be fell
5: wherfor Adam was dampnyd, to hell,
6: he, and all his blode.
7: Therfor will god, styr and rayse
8: A prophete, in som man dayes,
9: Of oure brethere kyn;
10: And all trowes as he says,
11: And will walk in his ways,
12: ffrom hell he will theym twyn.
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13: when his tyme begynnys to day,
14: I rede no man fro hym dray,
15: In way, ne stand on strut;
16: ffor he that will not here his sagh,
17: he be shewed, as an out-lagh,
18: And from his folkis be putt.
19: I warne you well that same prophete
20: shall com hereafterward,, full swete,
21: And many meruels shew;
22: Man shall fall till his feete,
23: ffor cause he can bales beete,
24: Thrugh his awn thew.
25: All that will in trowth ren
26: shall he saue, I warne you then,
27: Trust shall his name be.
28: Bot all ouer will man prophete ken
29: with worship, amangis men,
30: Bot in his awne countre.
31: herkyns all, both yong and old,!
32: God that has all in wold,,
33: Gretys you bi me;
34: his commaundementis ar ten;
35: Behold,, ye that ar his men,
36: here ye may theym se.
37: his commaundementis that I haue broght,
38: looke that ye hold, thaym noght
39: ffor tryfyls, ne for fables;
40: ffor ye shall well vnderstand,
41: That god wrote theym with his hand,
42: In thyse same tables.
43: Ye that thyse in hart will hald,,
44: vnto heuen shall ye be cald,,
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45: That is fyrst to com;
46: And ye that will not do so,
47: Till hell pyne mon ye go,
48: And byde a bytter dome.
49: Do now as I shall you wys;
50: The fyrst commaundement is this
51: That I shall you say;
52: Make no god of stok ne stone,
53: And, trow in none god, bot oone,
54: That mayde both nyght and day.
55: Anothere bydis thou shall not swere,
56: ffor no mede, ne for no dere,
57: ffalsly, bi godis name;
58: If thou swere wrongwosly,
59: Wit thou well and wytterly,
60: Thou art worthi grete blame.
61: The thyrd, is, thou shall well yheme
62: Thi holy day, and serue to wheme
63: God with all thi hart.
64: The fourt commaundement is bi tayll,
65: ffader and moder worship thou shall,
66: In pouert and in qwarte.
67: The fyft commaundis thou shall forsake
68: ffornycacyon, and take the a make,
69: And lyf in rightwys state.
70: The sext commaundis thou shal not be
71: Man sloer, for gold, ne fee,
72: Ne for luf, ne for hate.
73: The seuenth commaundis that thou shall leue,
74: And nather go to stele ne reue,
75: ffor more then for les.
76: The aght bydis both old, and yong,
77: That thay be traw of thare tong,
78: And bere no fals witnes.
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79: The nenth bydis the, bi thi lif,
80: Thou desyre not thi neghbur's wife,
81: Ne mayden that is his.
82: The tent bidis the, for no case,
83: Desyre not wranwosly thyng thi neghbur has;
84: Do thus, and do no mys.
85: I am the same man that god chase,
86: And toke the ten commaundementis of peasse
87: In the monte synay;
88: Thise wordis, I say, ar no les;
89: My name is callyd moyses;
90: And haue now all good day! david
a Omnes reges adorabunt eum, omnes gentes seruient ei.
91: herkyn, all, that here may,
92: And perceyf well what I shall say,
93: All with righ[t]wisnes.
94: loke ye put it not away,
95: Bot thynk theron both nyght and day,
96: ffor it is sothfastnes.
97: Iesse son, ye wote I am;
98: Dauid is my right name,
99: And I bere crowne;
100: Bot ye me trow, ye ar to blame;
101: Of Israel, both wyld, and tame,
102: I haue in my bondon.
103: As god of heuen has gyffyn me wit,
104: shall I now syng you a fytt,
105: With my mynstrelsy;
106: loke ye do it well in wrytt,
107: And theron a knot knytt,
108: ffor it is prophecy.
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109: Myrth I make till all men,
110: with my harp and fyngers ten,
111: And warn theym that thay glad,;
112: ffor god will that his son down send,,
113: That wroght adam with his hend,,
114: And heuen and erth mayde.
115: He will lyght fro heuen towre,
116: ffor to be mans saueyoure,
117: And saue that is forlorne;
118: ffor that I harp, and myrth make,
119: Is for he will manhede take,
120: I tell you thus beforne;
121: And thider shall he ren agane,
122: As gyant of mych mayne,
123: Vnto the hyest sete;
124: Ther is nawther kyng, ne swayn,
125: Then no thyng that may hym layn,
126: Ne hyde from his hete.
127: he shall be lord, and kyng of all,
128: Tyll hys feete shall kyngis fall,
129: To offre to hym wytterly.
130: Blyssyd, be that swete blome,
131: That shall saue vs at his com!
132: Ioyfull may we be.
133: Riche gyftis thay shall hym bryng,
134: And till hym make offeryng,
135: kneland on thare kne;
136: well were hym that that lordyng,
137: And that dere derlyng,
138: Myght bide on lyfe and se.
139: Men may know hym bi his marke,
140: Myrth and lovyng is his warke,
141: that shall he luf most.
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142: lyght shall be born that tyme in darke,
143: Both to lawd, man and to clark,
144: the luf of rightwys gost.
145: Therfor, both emperoure and kyng,
146: Ryche and poore, both old, and ying,
147: temper well youre gle,
148: Agans that kyng lyght downe,
149: ffor to lowse vs of pryson,
150: And make vs all free.
151: Thou shew thi mercy, lord, tyll vs,
152: ffor to thou com, to hell we trus,
153: we may not go beside;
154: lord, when thi will is for to dele
155: Tyll us thi salue and thi hele,
156: whom we all abyde.
157: Now haue I songen you a fytt;
158: loke in mynd that ye haue it,
159: I rede with my myght;
160: he that maide vs all with his wytt,
161: sheld, vs all from hell pytt,
162: And graunt vs heuen lyght! sybilla Propheta
Iudicii signum tellus sudore madescit,
E celo rex adueniet per secla futurus,
Scilicet in carne presens vt iudicet orbem.
163: Who so wyll here tythyngis glad,,
164: of hym that all this warld, made,
165: here me wytterly!
166: sibill sage is my name;
167: Bot ye me here, ye ar to blame,
168: My word, is prophecy.
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169: All men was slayn thrugh adam syn,
170: And put to pyne that neuer shall blyn,
171: thrugh falsnes of the feynd,;
172: A new kyng comes from heuen to fyght
173: Agans the feynd, to wyn his right,
174: so is his mercy heynd,.
175: All the warld, shall he deme,
176: And that haue seruyd hym to wheme,
177: Myrth thaym mon betyde;
178: All shall se hym with thare ee,
179: Ryche and poore, low and hye,
180: No man may hym hyde;
181: Bot thay shall in thare flesh ryse,
182: That euery man shall whake and gryse,
183: Agans that ilk dome.
184: with his santis, many oone,
185: he shall be sene in flesh and, bone,
186: that kyng that is to com.
187: All that shall stand hym before,
188: All shal be les and more,
189: Of oone eld, ichon.
190: Angels shall qwake then for ferd,
191: And fyre shall bren this mydyll-erd,,
192: yei, erth and, all ther apon.
193: shall nothyng here in erth be kend,
194: Bot it shall be strewyd, and brend,,
195: All waters and the see.
196: sythen shall both hill and dale
197: Ryn togeder, grete and smale,
198: And all shall euen be.
199: At hys commyng shall bemys blaw,
200: That men may his commyng knaw;
201: ffull sorowfull shall be that blast;
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202: Ther is no man that herys it,
203: Bot he shall qwake for all his witt,
204: Be he neuer so stedfast.
205: Then shall hell gape and gryn,
206: That men may know thare dome therin,
207: Of that hye iustyce;
208: That ill have done, to hell mon go;
209: And to heuen the other also,
210: that has been rightwys.
211: Therfor, I rede ilk a man,
212: kepe, as well as he can,
213: ffro syn and fro mysdede.
214: My prophecy now haue I told;
215: God, you saue, both yong and old,
216: And help you at youre nede! daniel
Cum venerit sanctus sanctorum cessabit vncio vestra.
217: God that maide adam and eue,
218: whils thay dyd well, he gaf thaym leue
219: In paradise to dwell;
220: Sone when thay that appyll ete,
221: Thay were dampned,, sone and skete,
222: Vnto the pyne of hell,
223: Thrugh sorow and paynes euer new;
224: Therfor wyll god apon vs rew,
225: And his son downe send,
226: Into erth, flesh to take,
227: That is all for oure sake,
228: oure trespas to amend,.
229: fflesh with fleshe will be boght,
230: That he lose not that he has wroght
231: wyth hys awne hend,;
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232: Of a madyn shal he be borne,
233: To saue all that ar forlorne,
234: Euermore withoutten end. Pharaoh
Pharao
1: Peas, of payn that no man pas;
2: bot kepe the course that I commaunde,
3: And take good hede of hym that has
4: youre helth all holy in hys hande;
5: ffor kyng pharro my fader Was,
6: And led thys lordshyp of thys land;
7: I am hys hayre as age Wyll has,
8: Euer in stede to styr or stand.
9: All Egypt is myne awne
10: To leede aftyr my law;
11: I Wold my myght Were knawne
12: And honoryd, as hyt awe.
13: ffull low he shall be thrawne
14: That harkyns not my sawe,
15: hanged hy and drawne,
16: Therfor no boste ye blaw;
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17: Bot as for kyng I commaund peasse,
18: To all the people of thys empyre.
19: looke no man put hym self in preaase,
20: Bot that Wyll do as I desyre,
21: And of youre Wordis look that ye seasse.
22: Take tent to me, youre soferand syre,
23: That may youre comfort most increasse,
24: And to my lyst bowe lyfe and lyre. Primus Miles
25: My lord, if any here Were,
26: That Wold not wyrk youre Wyll,
27: If We myght com thaym nere,
28: ffull soyn we shuld theym spyll. Pharao
29: Thrugh out my kyngdom Wold I ken,
30: And kun hym thank that Wold me tell,
31: If any Were so Waryd men
32: That wold my fors downe fell. Secundus Miles
33: My lord, ye haue a maner of men
34: that make great mastres vs emell;
35: The Iues that Won in gersen,
36: thay ar callyd chyldyr of Israel.
37: Thay multyplye full fast,
38: and sothly We suppose
39: That shall euer last,
40: oure lordshyp for to lose. Pharao
41: Why, how haue thay sych gawdis begun?
42: ar thay of myght to make sych frayes? Primus Miles
43: Yei, lord, full fell folk ther Was fun
44: In kyng pharao, youre fader dayes.
45: Thay cam of Ioseph, Was iacob son-
46: he Was a prince Worthy to prayse-
47: In sythen in ryst haue thay ay ron;
48: thus ar thay lyke to lose youre layse,
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49: Thay Wyll confound you cleyn,
50: bot if thay soner sesse. Pharao
51: What deuyll is that thay meyn
52: that thay so fast incresse? Secundus Miles
53: How thay incres full well we ken,
54: as oure faders dyd vnderstand;
55: Thay Were bot sexty and ten
56: when thay fyrst cam in to thys land;
57: Sythen haue soierned in gersen
58: [Fower hundreth] Wynter, I dar warand;
59: Now ar thay nowmbred of myghty men
60: moo then [thre hundreth] thousand,
61: Wyth outen Wyfe and chyld,
62: or hyrdis that kepe thare fee. Pharao
63: How thus myght we be begyld?
64: bot shall it not be;
65: ffor wyth quantyse we shall thaym quell,
66: so that thay shall not far sprede. Primus Miles
67: My lord, we haue hard oure faders tell,
68: and clerkis that well couth rede,
69: Ther shuld a man walk vs amell
70: that shuld fordo vs and oure dede. Pharao
71: ffy on hym, to the deuyll of hell!
72: sych destyny wyll we not drede;
73: We shal make mydwyfis to spyll them
74: where any ebrew is borne,
75: And all menkynde to kyll them,
76: so shall thay soyn be lorne.
77: And as for elder haue I none awe,
78: sych bondage shall I to thaym beyde,
79: To dyke and delf, bere and draw,
80: and to do all vnhonest deyde;
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81: So shall these laddis be halden law,
82: In thraldom euer thare lyfe to leyde. Secundus Miles
83: Now, certis, thys was a sotell saw,
84: thus shall these folk no farthere sprede. Pharao
85: Now help to hald theym downe,
86: look I no fayntnes fynde. Primus Miles
87: All redy, lord, We shall be bowne,
88: in bondage thaym to bynde. Moyses
89: Gret god, that all thys Warld began,
90: and growndyd it in good degre,
91: Thou mayde me, moyses, vnto man,
92: and sythen thou sauyd me from the se;
93: kyng Pharao had commawndyd, than,
94: ther shuld no man chyld sauyd be;
95: Agans hys Wyll away I wan;
96: thus has god, shewed hys myght for me.
97: Now am I sett to kepe,
98: vnder thys montayn syde,
99: Byshope Iettyr shepe,
100: to better may be tyde;
101: A, lord, grete is thy myght!
102: What man may of yond meruell meyn?
103: Yonder I se a selcowth syght,
104: sych on in Warld Was neuer seyn;
105: A bush I se burnand full bryght,
106: and euer elyke the leyfes are greyn;
107: If it be wark of Warldly Wyght,
108: I Wyll go wyt wythoutyn Weyn. God
109: Moyses, Moyses!
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110: Moyses, com not to nere,
111: bot styll in that stede thou dwell,
112: And harkyn vnto me here;
113: take tent What I the tell.
114: do of thy shoyes in fere,
115: wyth mowth as I the mell,
116: the place thou standis in there
117: forsothe, is halowd Well.
118: I am thy lord, Wythouten lak,
119: to lengthe thi lyfe euen as I lyst;
120: I am god that som tyme spake
121: to thyn elders, as thay Wyst;
122: To abraam, and Isaac,
123: and iacob, I sayde shuld be blyst,
124: And multytude of them to make,
125: so that thare seyde shuld not be myst.
126: Bot now thys kyng, pharao,
127: he hurtys my folk so fast,
128: If that I suffre hym so,
129: thare seyde shuld, soyne be past;
130: Bot I Wyll not so do,
131: in me if thay Wyll trast,
132: Bondage to bryng thaym fro.
133: therfor thou go in hast
134: To do my message, haue in mynde,
135: to hym that me sych harme mase;
136: Thou speke to hym Wyth wordis heynde,
137: so that he let my people pas,
138: To Wyldernes that thay may Weynde,
139: to Worshyp me as I wyll asse.
140: Agans my wyll if that thay leynd,
141: ful soyn hys song shall be `alas.'
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Moyses
142: A, lord! pardon me, Wyth thy leyf,
143: that lynage luffis me noght;
144: Gladly thay Wold me greyf,
145: if I sych bodworde broght.
146: Good lord, lett som othere frast,
147: that has more fors the folke to fere. God
148: Moyses, be thou nott abast,
149: my bydyng shall thou boldly bere;
150: If thay with wrong away Wold Wrast,
151: outt of the way I shall the Were. Moyses
152: Good lord, thay Wyll not me trast
153: for all the othes that I can swere;
154: To neuen sych noytis newe
155: to folk of Wykyd Wyll,
156: Wyth outen tokyn trew,
157: thay wyll not tent ther tyll. God
158: If that he wyll not vnderstand
159: thys tokyn trew that I shall sent,
160: Afore the kyng cast downe thy Wand,
161: and it shall turne to a serpent;
162: Then take the tayll agane in hand-
163: boldly vp look thou it hent-
164: And in the state that thou it fand,
165: then shal it turne by myne intent.
166: Sythen hald thy hand soyn in thy barme,
167: and as a lepre it shal be lyke,
168: And hole agane with outen harme;
169: lo, my tokyns shal be slyke.
170: And if he wyll not suffre then
171: my people for to pas in peasse,
172: I shall send venyance [neyn] or ten,
173: shall sowe full sore or I seasse.
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174: Bot the ebrewes, won in Iessen,
175: shall not be merkyd with that measse;
176: As long as thay my lawes Wyll ken
177: thare comforth shall euer increasse Moyses
178: A, lord, to luf the aght vs well,
179: that makis thy folk thus free;
180: I shall vnto thaym tell
181: as thou has told to me.
182: Bot to the kyng, lord, when I com,
183: if he aske what is thy name,
184: And I stand styll, both deyf & dom,
185: how shuld, I [skape] withoutten blame? God
186: I say the thus, `Ego sum qui sum,'
187: I am he that is the same;
188: If thou can nother muf nor mom,
189: I shall sheld, the from shame. Moyses
190: I vnderstand full well thys thyng,
191: I go, lord, with all the myght in me. God
192: Be bold in my blyssyng,
193: thi socoure shall I be. Moyses
194: A, lord of luf, leyn me thy lare,
195: that I may truly talys tell;
196: To my freyndis now wyll I fare,
197: the chosyn childre of Israell,
198: To tell theym comforth of thare care,
199: in dawngere ther as thay dwell.
200: God manteyn you euermare,
201: And mekyll myrth be you emell. Primus Puer
202: A, master moyses, dere!
203: oure myrth is all mowrnyng;
204: ffull hard halden ar we here
205: as carls vnder the kyng.
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Secundus Puer
206: We may mowrn, both more and myn,
207: ther is no man that oure myrth mase;
208: Bot syn we ar all of a kyn,
209: god send vs comforth in thys case. Moyses
210: Brethere, of youre mowrnyng blyn;
211: god Wyll delyuer you thrugh his grace,
212: Out of this wo he wyll you wyn,
213: and put you to youre pleassyng place;
214: ffor I shall carp vnto the kyng,
215: and fownd full soyn to make you free. Primus Puer
216: God graunt you good Weyndyng,
217: and euermore with you be. Moyses
218: kyng pharao, to me take tent. Pharao
219: Why, boy, what tythyngis can thou tell? Moyses
220: ffrom god hym self hydder am I sent
221: to foche the chyldre of Israell;
222: To Wyldernes he wold thay went. Pharao
223: yei, weynd the to the devyll of hell!
224: I gyf no force What he has ment,
225: In my dangere, herst thou, shall thay dwell;
226: And, fature, for thy sake,
227: thay shalbe put to pyne. Moyses
228: Then wyll god venyance take
229: of the, and of all thyn. Pharao
230: On me? fy on the lad, out of my land!
231: wenys thou thus to loyse oure lay?
232: Say, whence is yond warlow with his wand
233: that thus wold wyle oure folk away? Primus