Part 8

_1st King._ Now blessed be God, of his sweet sonde[242] For yonder a bright star I do see! Now is he come us among As the prophets said that it should be. He said there should a babe be born Coming of the root of Jesse, To save mankind that was forlorn, And truly come now is he. Reverence and worship to him will I do As God and man, that all made of nought. All the prophets accorded and said even so, That with his precious blood mankind should be bought. He grant me grace by yonder star that I see, And into that place bring me, That I may him worship with humility And see his glorious face.

_2nd King._ Out of my way I deem that I am For tokens of this country can I none see; Now God that on earth madest man, Send me some knowledge where that I be. Yonder me thinks a fair bright star I see, The which betokeneth the birth of a child, That hither is come to make man free, He, born of a maid, and she nothing defiled, To worship that child is mine intent. Forth now will I take my way: I trust some company God hath me sent, For yonder I see a king labour on the way, Toward him now will I ride. Hark, comely king, I you pray, Into what coast will ye this tide, Or whither lies your journey?

_1st King._ To seek a child is mine intent, Of whom the prophets have meant. The time is come now is he sent, By yonder star here may you see.

_2nd King._ Sir, I pray you with your licence, To ride with you into his presence; To him will I offer frankincence For the head of the whole church shall he be.

_3rd King._ I ride wandering in ways wide Over mountains and dales, I wot not where I am, Now king of all kings send me such guide, That I may have knowledge of this country's name. Ah, yonder I see a sight be seeming all afar, The which betokens some news as I trow, As me thinks a child appearing in a star; I trust he be come that shall defend us from woe. Two kings yonder I see, and to them will I ride, For to have their company: I trust they will me abide.[243] Hail, comely kings augent![244] Good sirs, I pray you whither are ye meant?

_1st King._ To seek a child is our intent, Which betokens yonder star as ye may see.

_2nd King._ To him I purpose this present.

_3rd King._ Sirs, I pray you, and that right humbly With you that I may ride in company; To Almighty God now pray we, That his precious person we may see.

[_Here Herod cometh in again, and the messenger saith:_

_Herald._ Hail, Lord! most of might! Thy commandment is right. Into thy land is come this night Three kings, and with them a great company.

_Herod._ What make those kings in this country?

_Herald._ To seek a king and a child, they say.

_Herod._ Of what age should he be?

_Herald._ Scant twelve days old fully.

_Herod._ And was he so late born?

_Herald._ Eh! sir, so they show'd me this same day in the morn.

_Herod._ Now, in pain of death, bring them me beforn And, therefore, herald, hie thee now, in haste, In all speed that thou were dight,[245] Or that those kings the country be past,-- Look thou bring them all three before my sight. And in Jerusalem enquire more of that child? But I warn thee that thy words be mild, For there take thou heed, and craft thereto His power to foredo,[246] That those three kings shall be beguiled.

_Herald._ Lord, I am ready at your bidding, To serve thee as my lord and king, For joy thereof, lo, how I spring, With light heart and fresh gambolling, Aloft here on this mould.

_Herod._ Then speed thee forth hastily, And look that thou bear thee evenly And also I pray thee heartily, That thou do commend me Both to young and old.

_Herald_ (_returning to the Three Kings_). Hail, sir kings, in your degree! Herod; king of these countries wide Desireth to speak with you all three, And for your coming he doth abide.

_1st King._ Sir, at his will we be right bane[247] Hie us, brother, unto that lord's place; To speak with him we would be fain That child that we seek, he grant us of his grace.

_Herald_ (_bringing in the Kings_). Hail, Lord, without peer! These three kings have we brought.

_Herod._ Now welcome, sir kings, all in fere;[248] But of my bright ble,[249] sirs, abash ye nought. Sir kings, as I understand, A star hath guided you into my land; Wherein great harie[250] ye have found, By reason of her beams bright; Wherefore I pray you heartily, The very truth that you would certify; How long it is surely, Since of that star you had first sight?

_1st King._ Sir king, the very truth we say. And to show you, as it is best, This same is even the twelfth day Since it appeared to us to be west.

_Herod._ Brother, then is there no more to say, But with heart and will keep ye your journey, And come home again this same way, Of your news that I may know. You shall triumph in this country, And with great concord banquet with me And that child myself then will I see, And honour him also.

_2nd King._ Sir, your commandment we will fulfil, And humbly obey ourselves theretyll, He that weldeth all things at will. The ready way us teach, Sir king, that we may pass your land in peace.

_Herod._ Yes! and walk softly even at your own ease. Your passport for a hundred days Here shall you have of clear command; Our realm to labour[251] any ways Here shall you have by special grant.

_3rd King._ Now farewell, king of high degree, Humbly of you our leave we take.

_Herod._ Then adieu, sir kings, all three, And while I live be bold of me; There is nothing in this country, But for your own ye shall it take.

[_Exeunt the Three Kings._

Now these three kings are gone on their way, Unwisely and unwittingly have they all wrought. When they come again, they shall die that same day, And thus these vile wretches to death shall be brought; Such is my liking. He that against my laws will hold, Be he king or kaiser, never so bold, I shall them cast into cares cold, And to death I shall them bring.

[_There Herod goeth his way, and the Three Kings come in again._

_1st King._ Oh, blessed God, much is thy might! Where is this star that gave us light?

_2nd King._ Now kneel we down here on this presence By seeking that Lord of high magnificence; That we may see his high excellence, If that his sweet will be.

_3rd King._ Yonder, brother, I see the star, Whereby I know he is not far; Therefore, lords, go we now, Into this poor place.

[_There the Three Kings go in to the jeseyne[252], Mary and her child._

_1st King._ Hail, Lord, that all this world hath wrought! Hail God and man together in fere.[253] For thou hast made all thing of nought Albeit that thou liest poorly here. A cup full of gold here I have thee brought In tokening thou art without peer.

_2nd King._ Hail be thou, Lord of high magnificence In tokening of priesthood, and dignity of office, To thee I offer a cup full of incense; For it behoveth thee to have such sacrifice.

_3rd King._ Hail be thou, Lord long looked for! I have brought thee myrrh for mortality; In tokening those shalt mankind restore To life by thy death upon a tree.

_Mary._ God have mercy, kings, of your goodness! By the guiding of the Godhead hither are ye sent; The provision of my sweet son, your ways home redress, And ghostly reward you for your present.

_1st King._ Sir kings, after our promise, Home by Herod, I must needs go.

_2nd King._ Now truly, brother, we can no less, But I am so far watched I wot not what to do.

_3rd King._ Right so am I, wherefore I you pray Let all us rest us awhile upon this ground.

_1st King._ Brother, your saying is right well unto my pay The grace of that sweet child save us all sound.

_Angel._ King of Taurus, Sir Jaspar! King of Araby, Sir Balthasar! Melchior, king of Aginara! To you now am I sent. For dread of Herod, go you west home In those parts when ye come down, Ye shall be burrid[254] with great renown: The Holy Ghost this knowledge hath sent.

_1st King._ Awake, sir kings, I you pray, For the voice of an angel I heard in my dream!

_2nd King._ That is full true that ye do say For he rehearsed our names plain.

_3rd King._ He bade that we should go down by west For dread of Herod's false betray.

_1st King._ So for to do it is the best, The child that we have sought, guide us the way!

[_Turning to the babe._

Now farewell, the fairest of shape so sweet, And thanked be Jesus of his sond.[255] That we three together so suddenly should meet That dwell so wide, and in a strange land; And here to make our presentation Unto this king's son cleansed so clean, And to his mother for our salvation; Of much mirth now may we mean, That we so well hath done this oblation.

_2nd King._ Now farewell, Sir Jaspar, brother to you, King of Taurus, the most worth; Sir Balthasar, also to you I bow And I thank you both of your good company, While we together have been. He that made us to meet on hill, I thank him now, and ever I will; For now may we go without ill; And of our offering be full fain.

_3rd King._ Now sith that we must needly go For dread of Herod, that is so wroth, Now farewell brother, and brother also; I take my leave here of you both, This day on foot. Now he that made us to meet on plain. And offered to Mary in her jeseyne,[256] He give us grace in heaven again, Altogether to meet.

[_Exeunt the Three Kings: Enter the Herald and King Herod._

_Herald._ Hail, King most worthiest in wede![257] Hail, maintainer of courtesy through all this world wide! Hail, the most mightiest that ever bestrode a steed! Hail, most manfullest man in armour man to abide! Hail in thine honour! These three kings that forth were sent And should have come again before thee here present, Another way, Lord, home they went Contrary to thine honour.

_Herod._ Another way!--out! out!--out! Hath those foul traitors done me this deed? I stamp, I stare, I look all about; Might them I take I should them burn at a glede.[258] I rend, I roar, and now run I wood;[259] Ah! that these villain traitors hath marred this my mood! They shall be hanged if I come them to.

[_Here Herod rages in the pageant, and in the street also._

Eh! and that kerne[260] of Bethlehem, he shall be dead, And thus shall I do for his prophecy. How say you, sir knights, is not this the best red,[261] That all young children for this should be dead With sword to be slain? Then shall I, Herod, live in lede,[262] And all folk me doubt and dread, And offer to me both gold, riches, and mede,[263] Thereto will they be full fain.

_1st Soldier._ My Lord, King Herod by name, Thy words against my will shall be To see so many young children die, is shame; Therefore counsel thereto gettest thou none of me.

_2nd Soldier._ Well said, fellow, my troth I plight; Sir king! perceive right well you may So great a murder to see of young fruit, Will make a rising in thine own countrey.

_Herod._ A rising!--out! out! out!

[_There Herod rages again, and then saith thus:_

Out villain wretches, hereupon you I cry, My will utterly, look that it be wrought, Or upon a gallows both you shall die, By Mahound, most mightiest, that me dear hath bought!

_1st Soldier._ Now, cruel Herod, sith we shall do this deed, Your will needfully in this must be wrought. All the children of that age, die they must need, Now with all my might they shall be upsought.

_2nd Soldier._ And I will swear here upon your bright sword, All the children that I find, slain they shall be; That make many a mother to weep, and be full sore afeard, In our armour bright, when they us see.

_Herod._ Now you have sworn, forth that ye go And my will that ye work both by day and night, And then will I for fain trip like a doe; But when they be dead, I warn you, bring them before my sight.

_Angel._ Mary and Joseph, to you I say, Sweet word from the Father I bring you full right; Out of Bethlehem into Egypt forth go ye the way And with you take the king, full of might, For dread of Herod's red.[264]

_Joseph._ Arise up, Mary, hastily and soon! Our Lord's will needs must be done, Like as the angel bade.

_Mary._ Meekly, Joseph, mine own spouse, Toward that country let us repair, In Egypt,--some token of house,-- God grant us grace safe to come there!

[_Here the women come in with their children, singing them, and Mary and Joseph goeth clean away._

Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child; By, by, lullay, lullay, thou little tiny child; By, by, lully, lullay.

O sisters too! how may we do, For to preserve this day This poor youngling, for whom we do sing By, by, lully, lullay.

Herod, the king, in his raging, Charged he hath this day His men of might, in his own sight, All young children to slay.

That woe is me, poor child for thee! And ever morn and day, For thy parting neither say nor sing, By, by, lully, lallay.

_1st Woman._ I lull my child wondrously sweet, And in my arms I do it keep, Because that it should not cry.

_2nd Woman._ That Babe that is born, in Bethlehem so meek, He save my child and me from villainy!

_3rd Woman._ Be still! be still! my little child! That Lord of lords save both thee and me; For Herod hath sworn with words wild That all young children slain they shall be.

_1st Soldier._ Say ye whither, ye wives, whither are ye away? What bear you in your arms needs must we see; If they be men children, die they must this day, For at Herod's will all things must be.

_2nd Soldier._ And I in hands once them hent,[265] Them for to slay nought will I spare; We must fulfil Herod's commandment; Else be we as traitors, and cast all in care.

_1st Woman._ Sir knights! of your courtesy This day shame not your chivalry, But on my child have pity, For my sake in this stead; For a simple slaughter it were to sloo[266] Or to work such a child woe That can neither speak nor go, Nor never harm did.

_2nd Woman._ He that slays my child in sight, If that my strokes on him may light, Be he squire or knight, I hold him but lost. See thou false losyngere[267] A stroke shalt thou bear me here And spare you no cost.

_3rd Woman._ Sit he never so high in saddle, But I shall make his brain addle, And here with my pot ladle, With him will I fight. I shall lay on him as though I wode[268] were, With this same womanly gear; There shall no man stir, Whether that he be king or knight.

[_The innocents are massacred._

_1st Soldier._ Who heard ever such a cry Of women, that their children have lost And greatly rebuking chivalry Throughout this realm in every coast Which many a man's life is like to cost; For this great revenge that here is done, I fear much vengeance thereof will come.

_2nd Soldier._ Eh! brother, such tales may we not tell, Wherefore to the king let us go, For he is like to bear the bell, Which was the cause that we did so; Yet must they all be brought him to With wains and waggons full freight. I trow there will be a careful sight.

[_They come before Herod._

_1st Soldier._ Lo! Herod, king! here must thou see How many thousands that we have slain.

_2nd Soldier._ And needs thy will fulfilled must be, There may no man say there again.[269]

_Herald._ Herod, king! I shall thee tell, All thy deeds is come to nought. This child is gone into Egypt to dwell, Lo! Sir, in thine own land what wonders byn[270] wrought.

_Herod._ Into Egypt? Alas! for woe, Longer in land here I cannot abide. Saddle my palfry, for in haste will I go After yon traitors now will I ride Them for to sloo.[271] Now all men hie fast Into Egypt in haste: All that country will I tast[272] Till I may come them to.

THE WAKEFIELD MIRACLE-PLAY OF THE CRUCIFIXION

[_From the Towneley Collection_]

CHARACTERS

Jesus Mary John Joseph Pilate Longeus Nicodemus Four Torturers

THE CRUCIFIXION

_Pilate._ Peace I bid every wight; Stand as still as stone in wall, Whiles ye are present in my sight, That none of ye clatter nor call; For if ye do, your death is dight. I warn it you both great and small, With this brand burnished so bright, Therefore in peace look ye be all.

What? peace, in the devil's name! Harlots and dastards all bedene[273] On gallows ye be made full tame. Thieves and michers ken[274] Will ye not peace when I bid you? By Mahoun's blood! if ye me teyn,[275] I shall ordain soon for you Pains that never e'er was seen, And that anon: Be ye so bold beggars, I warn you, Full boldly shall I beat you, To hell the de'il shall draw you, Body, back, and bone.

I am a lord that mickle is of might, Prince of all Jewry, Sir Pilate I hight. Next bring Herod, greatest of all, Bow to my bidding, both great and small, Or else be ye shent;[276] Therefore keep your tongues, I warn you all And unto us take tent.[277]

_1st Torturer._ All peace, all peace, among you all! And hearken now what shall befall To this false chuffer[278] here. That with his false quantyse[279] Has made himself as God wise Among us many a year. He calls himself a prophet, And says that he can bales[280] beat[281] And make all things amend, But e'er long know we shall, Whether he can overcome his own bale,[280] Or 'scape out of our hand.

Was not this a wonder thing That he durst call himself a king And make so great a lie? But, by Mahoun! while I may live, Those proud words shall I never forgive, Till he be hanged on high.

_2nd Torturer._ His pride, fie, we set at nought, But each man reckon in his thought And look that we naught want; For I shall seek, if that I may, By the order of knighthood, to-day, To make his heart pant.

_3rd Torturer._ And so shall I, with all my might, Abate his pride this very night, And reckon him a crede. Lo! he lets on he could no ill, But he can aye, when he will, Do a full foul deed.

_4th Torturer._ Ye fellows, ye, as I, have rest, Among us all I rede[282] we cast To bring this thief to dede.[283] Look that we have what we need too For to hold strait this shrew.

_1st Torturer._ That was a noble rede; Lo, here I have a band, If need be, to bind his hand; This thong, I trow, will last.

_2nd Torturer._ And one to the other side, That shall abate his pride, If it be but drawn fast.

_3rd Torturer._ Lo, here a hammer and nails also For to fasten fast our foe To this tree full soon.

_4th Torturer._ You are wise, withouten dread, That so can help yourself at need To thing that should be done.

_1st Torturer._ Now dare I say hardily, He shall with all his mawmentry[284] No longer us be-tell.

_2nd Torturer._ Since Pilate has him to us gi'en Have done, quickly, let it be seen, How we can with him mell.[285]

_3rd Torturer._ Now we are at the Mount of Calvary, Have done, fellows, and let now see How we can with him play.

_4th Torturer._ Yes, for as proud as he can look, He would have turned another crook, Had he the rack to-day.

_1st Torturer._ In faith, sir, since ye called you a king, You must prove a worthy thing That falls into the weir. You must joust in tournament, But sit you fast, else you'll be shent,[286] Else down I shall you bear.

_2nd Torturer._ If thou be God's son, as thou tells, Thou canst save thyself--how shouldst thou else? Else were it marvel great; And canst thou not, we will not trow What thou has said, but make thee mow When thou sitt'st in that seat.

_3rd Torturer._ If thou be king, we shall thanks adylle[287] For we shall set thee in thy sadylle[288] For falling be thou bold[289] I promise thee thou bidest a shaft If thou sitt'st not well thou hadst better laft[290] The tales that thou hast told.

_4th Torturer._ Stand near, fellows, and let us see How we can horse our king so free By any craft; Stand thou yonder on yon side, And we shall see how he can ride. And how to wield a shaft.

_1st Torturer._ Sir, come ye hither, and have done, And get upon your palfrey soon For he is ready bowne:[291] If ye be bound to him be not wroth, For be ye secure we were full loth On any wise that ye fell down.

_2nd Torturer._ Knit thou a knot, with all thy strength For to draw this arm at length Till it come to the bore.

_3rd Torturer._ Thou art mad, man, by this light! It wants, in each man's sight Another half span, and more.

_4th Torturer._ Yet draw out this arm, and make it fast, With this rope, that well will last, And each man lay hand to.

_1st Torturer._ Yes, and bind thou fast that band, We shall go to that other hand, And look what we can do.

_2nd Torturer._ Do drive a nail there throughout, And then there shall nothing doubt, For it will not _breste_.[292]

_3rd Torturer._ That shall I do, so might I thrive, For to hammer and to drive Thereto I am full pressed; So let it stick, for it is well.

_4th Torturer._ Thou sayest sooth, There can no man mend.

_1st Torturer._ Hold down his knees.

_2nd Torturer._ That shall I do. His nurse did never better do; Lay on with each hand.

_3rd Torturer._ Draw out his limbs, let see, have at.

_4th Torturer._ That was well drawn out, that, Fair befall him that so pulled! For to have gotten it to the mark I trow laymen nor clerk Nothing better should!

_1st Torturer._ Hold it now fast there One of you the bore shall bear, And then it may not fail.

_2nd Torturer._ That shall I do withouten dread, As ever might I well speed Him to mickle bale.