Thi lufly chere makes my hert glad.
And many a tyme so has it gart.
Go home, son, com sone agane,
And telle thi moder I com ful fast ;
Hie transsiei Isaac « patre.
So now, God the saif and sayne,
Now welle is me that he is past.
Alone, ryght here in this playn.
Might I speke to myn hart brast,
I wold that alle were welle ful fayn,
Bot it must nedes be done at last ;
And it is good that I be war.
To be avised fulle good it ware.
Tlie land of Vision is ful far,
The tlirid day end must I be there ;
Myn ass shalle withe us, if it thar,
To here oure harnes les and more,
For my son may be slayn no nar,
A swerd must with us yit ther fore.
And I shalle found to mak me yare,
This nyglite wille I begyn my way,
Thof Isaac be never so favre,
c3
;^J^ TOWNELEV .MV8TEKIE9.
And nivn awn son, the sothe to say,
And thof lie be Tnyn righte haire,
And alle slnild weld after my day,
Goddcs bydyng shalle I not spare ;
Shuld I that ganstand ? we, nay, ma fay !
Isaac I
Isaac. — Sir I
Abraham. — Luke thou be bowne ;
For certan, son, thi self and I,
We two must now weynd furtlie of towne,
In far country to sacrifie.
For certan skyllys and encheson ;
Take wod and fyere with the, in hy,
Bi hillys and dayllys, bothe up and down.
Son, thou shal ride and I wille go bi.
Looke thou mys noghte that thou shuld nede,
Do make the redy, my darlyng !
Isaac. I am redy to do this dede,
And ever to fulfille youre bydyng.
Abraham. My dere son, look thou have no
drede.
We shal com home with grete lovyng ;
Bothe to and fro I shal us lede,
Com now, son, in my blyssyng.
Ye two here with this asse abide,
For Isaac and I wille to yond hille.
It is so hie we may not ride,
Therfor ye two shal abide here stille.
Primus Puer. Sir, ye ow not to be denyed ;
We ar redy youre bydyng to fulfille.
Secundus Puer. What so ever to us betide
To do youre bidyng ay we wille.
Abraham. Godes blyssyng have ye bothe in
fere ;
I shalle not tary long you fro.
Primus Puer. Sir, we shall abide you here,
Out of this stcde shalle we not go.
Abraham. Childre, ye ar ay to me fulle dere,
1 i)ray (Jod kepe ever fro wo.
Sccu/idus Purr. We wille do, sir, as ye us lere.
Abraham. Isaac, now ar we bot we two,
We nuist go a fulle good paase.
For it is farther then I wend ;
We shalle make myrthe and grete solace,
Bi this ihyng be broghl to end.
39
Lo, Tiiy son, here is the place.
Isaac. Wod and fyere ar in my hend ;
Telle me now, if ye have space.
Where is the beest that shuld be brend ?
Abraham. Now, son, I may no longer lay n,
Sich wille is into myne hart went ;
TtIiou was ever to me fiiUe bayn
Ever to fulfille myne entent.
Bot certanly thou must be slayn,
And it may be as I have ment.
Isaac. I am hevy and nothyng fayn.
Thus hastely that shalle be shent.
Abraham. Isaac!
Isaac. Sir ?
Abraham. Com heder bid I ;
Thou shalle be dede what so ever betide.
Isaac. A, fader, mercy ! mercy !
Abraham. That, I say, may not be denyde ;
Take thi dede therfor mekely.
Isaac. A, good sir, abide ;
Fader !
Abraham. "What, son ?
Isaac. To do youre wille I am redy,
Where so ever ye go or ride.
If I may oght overtake youre wille,
Syn I have trespast I wold be bet.
Abraham. Isaac !
Isaac. What, sir ?
Abraham. Good son, be stille.
Isaac. Fader 1
Abraharn. What, son ?
Isaac. Think on thi get,
Wliat have I done ?
Abraham. Truly, none ille.
Isaac. And shall be slayn ?
Abraham. So have I het«
Isaac. Sir, what may help ?
Abraham. Certes, no skille.
Isaac. I aske mercy.
Abraham. That may not let.
Isaac. When I am dede, and closed in clay.
Who shalle then be youre son ?
Abraham. A, Lord, that I shuld abide this
day.
Isaac. Sir, who shalle do that I was won ?
10
TOWNKI-K^ M\ .sTKIllK)?.
Ahi'uhavi. Speke no jilchc wordes, son, I the
pray.
Isaac. Slialle ye me slo ?
Abraham. I trow I mon ;
Lyg stille, I smyte.
Isaac. Sir, let me say.
Abraham. Now, my dere child, thou may not
shon.
Isaac. The shynyng of youre bright blayde
It gars me quake for fcrd to dee.
Abraham. Therfor groflynges thou shalle be layde.
Then when 1 stryke thou shalle not se.
Isaac. What have I done, fader, what]_have I
saide ?
Abraham. Truly, no kyns ille to mc.
Isaac. And thus gyltles shalle be arayde.
Abraham. Now, good son, let siche wordes be.
Isaac. I luf you ay.
Abraham. So do 1 tiiee.
Isaac. Fader I
Abraham. What, son ?
Isaac. Let now I)c sevn
For Uiv moder luf.
Abraham. Let be, let be !
It wille not holj) that thou wold mevn ;
Bot ly stylle lille I com to the, "
I mys a lytylle thyng I weyn.
He spckes so rufully to me
That water shotes in both myn ccyn,
1 were lever than alle warldly wyn,
That I had fon hym onys unkynde,
Uut no defawt I faund hym in ;
I wold be dede for hym or |)ynde,
To slo iiym thus I thynk grete sy u
So rnlulle wordes I with hym lynd ;
I am I'ullc wo that we shuld twyn,
For he wille never oute of my mynd.
What sjial 1 to hys moder say ?
I'or wher is he tyte wille she spyr;
If 1 telle hir, ron away,
Ilir answere i)ese l)elife — " nay, sir!"
And I am ferd hir for to flay, *
I ne wote what I shalle saytille hir.
He lyys fulle stille there as he lav.
For to I com dar he not stvr.
ii
Dens. Aiigelle hy with alle thi inajn,
To Abraham thou shalle be sent ;
Say, Isaac shalle not be slayn,
He shalle lif and not be brent.
My bydyng standes he not agane,
Go, put hym out of liis intent ;
Byd hym go home agane,
1 know welle how he ment.
Angelus. Gladly, Lord, I am red}',
Thi bidyng shalle be magnyfyed ;
I shalle me spede ful hastely,
The to obeye at every tyde ;
Thy wille, Thy name, to glorifye.
Over alle this warld so wide,
And to Thi servand now in hy.
Good; trew, Abraham, wille 1 glyde.
Abraham. Bot myght I yit of wepyng sese,
Tille I had done this sacrifice ;
It must nedes be, withoutten lesse,
Thof alle I carpe on this kyn wise.
The more my sorow it wille incres ;
When 1 look to hym I gryse ;
I wille ryn on a res,
And slo hym here, right as he lyse.
Angelus. Abraham ! Abraham !
Abraham. Who is ther now ?
War, let the go.
Angelus. Stand up, now, stand ;
Thi good wille com I to alow,
Therfor I byd the hold thi hand.
Abraham. Say, who bad so ? any bot thou ?
Angelus. Yei, God ; and sendes this beest to
thyn offerand.
Abraham. I speke with God latter, 1 trow,
And doyng he me commaund.
Angelus. He has persavyd thy mekenes
And thi good wille also, iwis ;
He wille thou do thi son no distres.
For he has graunt to thee his blys.
Abraham. Bot wote thou welle that it is
As thou has sayd ?
Angelus. I say the yis.
Abraham. I thank Thee, Lord, welle of good-
nes,
That alle thus has relest me this ;
4.<2 TO\VNEI-EY MYSTERIES.
To speke with the have 1 no space
Withe my dere son tille I have spokyn ;
My good son, thou shal have grace,
On the now wille I not be wrokyn,
Ilyse up now, with thi frely face.
Isaac. Sir, shalle I Hf ?
Abraham. Yei, this to tokyn.
Et osculatur eum.
Son thou has scapid a fulle hard grace,
Thou shuld have beyn bothe brent and brokyn.
Isaac. Bot, fader, shalle I not be slayn ?
Abraham. No, certes, son.
Isaac. 'Dien am I glad ;
Good sir, put up your sword agayn.
Abraham. Nay, hardely, son be thou not adrad.
Isaac. Is alle forgeyn ?
Abraham. yei, son, certan.
Isaac. For ferd, sir, was I nere hand mad.
43
Isaac. Com nere son and kys me,
That I may feyle the smelle of the ;
The smelle of my son is lyke
To a feld with flouris, or liony bike.
Where art thou, Esaw, my son ?
Jacob. Here, fader, and askes you re benyson.
Isaac. The blyssyng my fader gaf to me,
God of heven and I gif the ;
God gif the plente grete,
Of wyne, of oylle, and of whete ;
And graunt tlii childre alle
To worshipe the, bothe grete and smalle ;
Who so the blyssys blyssed be he,
Who so the waris wared be he.
Now has thou my grete blyssyng,
Love the shalle alle thyne ofspryng,
Go now wheder thou has to go.
Decedet Jacob.
Jacob. Graunt mercy, sir, I wille do so.
Esaw. Have, ete, fader, of myn huntyng ;
And gif me sythen your blyssyng.
Isaac. Who is that ?
Esaw. I, youre son ;
Esaw brynges you venyson.
Isaac. Who was that was right now here,
And broght me bruet of a dere ?
I ete welle, and blyssyd hym.
And he is blyssyd iche a lym.
Esaw. Alas ! 1 may grete and sob.
Isaac, Thou art begylyd thrughe Jacob,
That is thyne awne german brother.
Esaw. Have ye kepyd me none other
Blyssyng then ye set hym one ?
Isaac. Sich an other have I none ;
Bot God gif the to thvn handband
J.], lOVVNELEV MYSTEKIES.
The dew of licvcn and fiute of land :
Other then tliis can I not say.
Esaw. Now, alas, and walo-way !
May I witli that tratoure mete
My' fader's dayes shalle com witli grete,
And my moder's also.
May 1 hyni mete I shalle hym slo.
Rebecca. Isaac, it were my deth
If Jacob weddeth in kynd of Hethc ;
I wllle send him to Aran,
Theie my brothere dwellys, Laban ;
And there may he serve in peasse
Tille his brother's wrath wille seasse.
Why shuld I apon a day
Loyse bothe my sonnes ? better nay.
Isaac. Thon says soth, wife, calle hym heder,
And let ns telle hym where and wheder ;
That he may fle Esaw,
That us bothe hetes bale to brew.
Rebecca. Jacob, son, thi fader and I
Wold speke with the ; com, stand us by.
Out of contry must thou fle
That Esaw slo not the.
Jacob. Wheder ward shuld I go, dame ?
Rebecca. To Mesopotameam ;
To my brothere, and thyn eme,
That dv\ellys besyde Jordan streme ;
And ther may thou with liym won,
To Esaw, myne other son,
Forget, and alle his wrath be dede.
Jacob. I wille go, fader, at youre rede.
Isaac. Yei, son, do as thi modcr says.
Com kys us bothe, and weynd thi ways.
Et osctilatur.
Jacob, Have good day, sir and dame.
Isaac. Ciod sheld the, son, from syn and shame.
Rebecca. And gif the grace good man to be,
And send me glad tytliynges to tiie.
i;xiM.icri' ISAAC.
45
SEQUITUR JACOB.
Jacob. Help me Lord, Adonay,
And hald me in the right way
To Mesopotameam,
For I cam never or now where I am,
I cam never here in this centre,
Lord of heven thou help me,
For I have maide me, in this strete,
Sore boiiys and warkand teete.
The son is downe, what is best ?
Her purpose I alle nyght to rest,
Under my hede this ston shalle ly,
A nyghtes rest take wille L
Deus. Jacob, Jacob, thi God I am ;
Of thi forfader Abraham,
And of thi fader Isaac ;
I shall the blys for thare sake.
This land that thou slepys in
I shalle the gif, and thi kyn,
I shalle thi seede multyply,
As thyk as powder on erthe may ly.
The kynd of the shalle sprede wide,
From eest to west on every syde,
From the southe unto the northe,
Alle that I say I shalle forthe.
And alle the folkes of thyne ofspryng,
Shal be blyssyd of thi blyssyng.
Jacob, have thou no kyns drede,
I shalle the clethe, I shall the fede.
WhartfuUe shalle I make thi gate,
I shal the help erly and late,
And alle in qwart shalle 1 bryng the
Home agane to thi countre.
I shalle not faylle, be thou bold,
Bot I shalle do as I have told.
Hie vigilet.
Jacob. A Lord ! what mav this mene ?
4(5 TOWSELKV MYSTERIESi.
What have I herd in slepe and sene^
That God leynyd liini to a steghe, '^'^
And spake to me, it is no leghe ;-'>/
And now is here none othere gate,
15ot Godes howse and heven's yate.
Lord, how dredfuUe is this stede,
Ther I layde downe my hede.
In Godes lovyng I rayse tliis stone,
And oylle wille I putt theron ;
Lord of heven, that alJe wote,
Here to the I make a hote.
If thou gif me mete and foode,
And close to body, as I behoved,
And bryng me home to kythe and kyn,
By the way that I walk in.
Withe out skathe and inquarte,
I promyse to the, with stedfast hart,
As thou art Lord and God myne,
And I Jacob, thi trew hyne,
This stoyne I rayse in sygne to day
Shalle I hold holy kyrk for ay.
And of alle that newes me
Right wys tend shall I gif the.
Hie egrediatur Jacob de Aran in terram naiivitatis
suae,
A, my fader, God of heven.
That saide to me, thrughe thi sfeven,
When 1 in Aran was dwelland,
That I shuld turne agane to land
Ther I was both fed and borne,
Warnyd thou me lord beforne.
As I went toward Aian
Withe \w\ staff, and passyd Jordan,
And now I com agane to kythe.
Withe two ostes of men me withe.
Thou hete me, Lord, to do welle with me.
To multyplye my seede as sand of see ;
Thou save me. Lord, thrughe vertew,
From venjance of Esaw,
Tliat he slo not, for old greme,
These moders with thare barne to me.
Rachelle. Oure anguyshe, sir, is many fold,
Syn that oure messyngers us told
That Ksaw wold you slo,
With fouif liundrt-th men and mo.
47
Jacob. For sothe, Rachelle, I have hym sent
Of many beestes sere pi-esent,
May tyde he wille our giftes take,
And right so shalle his wrath slake ;
Where ar oure thynges, ar thay past Jordan ?
Lya. Go and look, sir, as ye can.
Hie scnitatur superlectile^ et Inctetur angelus cum
eo.
Deus. The day sprynges, now lett me go,
Jacob. Nay, nay, I wille not so.
Bot thou blys me or thou gang ;
If I may I shall hold the lang.
Deua. In tokynyng that thou spekes with me,
I shalle toche now thi thee.
That halt shalle thou ever more,
Bot thou shalle fele no sore ;
What is thy name thou me telle ?
Jacob. Jacob.
Deus. Nay, but Israelle ;
Syn thou to me siche strengthe may kytlie,
To men of erth thou must be stythe.
Jacob. Ei ! what is thy name ?
Deus. Whi askes thou it ?
Wonderfulle, if thou wil wyt.
Jacob. A, blys me, Lord !
Deus. I shall the blys,
And be to the fulle pressyce,
And gyf the my blyssyng for ay,
As Lord and he that alle may.
I shalle grayth thi gate,
And fulle welle ordeyn thi state ;
When thou has drede, thynk on me.
And thou shal fulle welle saynyd be,
And look thou trow welle my sayes ;
And fare welle now, the day dayes.
Jacob. Now have I a new name, Israelle ;
This place shalle Fanuelle,
For I have seyn in this place,
God of heven face to face.
Rachelle. Jacob, lo we have tythand
That Esaw is here at hand.
Hie dividit tiirmas in tres partes.
Jacob. Rachelle, stand thou in the last
eschelle,
48 TOWNKI.EY MYSTERIES.
P\)r I wold tlioii were savyd wolc- ;
Calle Joseph and Benjamin,
And let them not tVo the twyn.
If it be so that Esaw
I's before alle — to hew,
Ye that ar here the last
Ye may be savyd if ye fle fast.
Et vadat Jacob oscula7idus Esaw^ vcnit Jacobs
flectit (jenua exorando Dcum at Itvando, occti? -
rit illi Esaw vi amplexibus.
Jacob. I pray the, Lord, as thou me het,
That save me and my gete.
Esaw. Welcome, brother, to kyn and kythe,
Till wife and childre that comes the with.
How has thou faren in far land ?
Telle me now som good tythand.
Jacob. Welle, my brother Esaw,
If that tin men no bale me brew.
Dicit servis suis.
Esaw. Wemo, felows, hold youre hend,
Ye se that I and he ar I'rend,
And frenship here wille we fnlfille,
Syn that it is Godes wille.
Jacob. God veld you, brother, that it so is
That thou thi hyne so wold kys.
Esaw. Nay, Jacob, my dere brothere,
I shalle the telle alle anothere,
Thou art my Lord thrugh destyny;
Go we togeder both thou and I,
To my fader and his wife.
That lofys the, brother, as tharc lyio.
EXPLICIT JACOB.
49
TROCESSUS PROPHETARUM.
Moyses. Prophetam excitabit Deus de fratribus
vestris ;
Omnis anima, quae non audierit prophetam ilium,
exterminabitur de populo suo ;
Nemo propheta sine honoi'e nisi in patria sua.
Alle ye folk of Israelle.
Herkyn to me, I wille you telle
Tythynges farly goode ;
Alle woteys how it be felle
Wherfor Adam was dampnyd to helle,
He, and alle his blode.
Therfor wille God styr and rayse
A prophete, in som man dayes,
Of oure brethere kyn ;
And alle trowes as he says.
And wille walk in his ways.
From helle he wille them twyn.
When his tyme begynnys to day,
I rede no man from hym dray.
In way, ne stand on strut.
For he that wille not here his saghe.
He be shewed as an out-laghe,
And from his folkes be putt.
I warne you welle that same prophete
Shalle com here after ward, fulle swete,
And many mervels shew ;
Man shalle falie tille his feete,
For cause he can bales beete,
Thrughe his awn thew.
Alle that wille in trowth ren
Shalle he save, I warne you then,
Trust shalle his name be.
Bot alle over wille man prophete ken
With worshipe, amanges men,
Bot in his awne countre.
Herkyns alle bothe yong and old,
God that has alle in wold.
50
OW NKl.l.V Nn -TKKII
Gretys you bi me ;
His commauncienientes ar ten,
Behold ye that ar his men,
Here ye may them se.
His commaundements, that I have broght,
Looke that ye hold thaym noght
For tryfyls, ne for fables ;
For ye shalle welle understand
Tliat God wrote theym with his hand
In thyse same tables ;
Ye that thyse in hart wille hald.
Unto heven shalle ye be cald,
That is fyrst to com ;
And ye that wille not do so,
Tille helle pyne mon ye go,
And byde a bytter dome.
Do now as I shalle you wys ;
The fyrst commaundement is this,
That I shalle you say,
Make no God of stok ne stone,
And trow in none God bot oone,
That mayde bothe nyghte and day.
Another bydes thou shall not swere.
For no mede, no for no dere,
Falsly, bi Godes name ;
If thou swere wrongwosly,
Wit thou welle and wytterly,
Thou art worthi grete blame.
The thyrd is thou shalle welle yheme
Tlii holy day, and serve to wheme
God withe alle thi hart.
Tlie fourt commaundement is bi taylle,
Fader and moder worship thou shalle,
In povert and in qwartc.
The fyft commaundes thou shalle forsake
Fornycacyon, and take the a make.
And lyf in rightewys slate.
Ilie sext commaundes thou shal not be
Man sloer, for gold ne fee,
Ne for luf, ne for hate.
The seventhe commaundes that thou shalle leve,
And nather go to stele ne reve.
For more then for les.
The aght bydes both old and vong,
That thay be traw of thare tong,
PROCESSUS PROPHETARUM. 51
And here no fals witnes.
The nenthe bydes the, bi thi lif,
Thou desyre not thi neghbur's wife,
Ne rnayden that is his.
The tent bides the, for no case,
Desyre not wranwosly thyng thi neghbur has ;
Do thus and do no mys.
I am the same man that God chase,
And take the ten commaundements of peasse,
In the monte Synay ;
Thise wordes, I say, ar no les,
My name is callyd Moyses ;
And have now alle good day.
David. Omnes reges adorabiint eum, omnes
gentes servient ei.
Herkyn, alle, that here may,
And perceyf welle what I shalle say,
Alle withe righwisnes.
Loke ye put it not away,
Bot thynk theron bothe nyghte and day,
For it is sothefastnes.
Jesse son ye wot I am,
David is my right name,
And I here crowne ;
Bot ye me trow ye ar to blame,
Of Israel, bothe wyld and tame,^
I have in my bonden.
As God of heven has gyffen me wit,
Shalle I now syng you a fytt.
Withe my mynstrelsy ;
Loke ye do it welle in wrytt.
And theron a knot knytt.
For it is prophecy.
Myrthe I make tille alle men,
Withe my harp, and fyngers ten.
And warn them that thay glad,
For God wille that his son down send
That wroght Adam with his hend
And heven and erth mayde.
He wille lyght fro heven towre,
For to be man's saveyoure.
And save that is forlorne ;
For that I harp, and myrth make,
Is for he wille manhede take,
I telle you thus beforne ;.
d2
ry'-Z YoWSr.l.KX MVSTKRIKS
And thider shalle he ren agane.
As gyant of mych mayne,
Unto the hyest sete ;
Tlicr is nawthev kyng, ne swayn,
Then no thyng that may hym layn,
Ne hyde from his hete.
He shalle be Lord atid Kyng of alle^
Tylle hys feete shalle kynges falle,
To offer to hym wytterly ;
Blyssyd be that swete blome,
That shalle save us at his com,
JoyfuUe may we be.
Riche gyftes thay shalle l}ym bryng.
And tille liym make ofFeryng,
Kneland on thare kne ;
Welle were hym that that lordyng.
And that dere derlyng,
Myght bide on lyfe and se.
Men may know hym bi his marke,
Myrthc and lovyng is his warke,
That shalle he luf most.
Lyght shalle be born that tyme in darke,.
Both to lawd man and to dark,
The luf of rightewys Gost.
Therfor bothe emperoure and kyng,
Ryche and poore, bofhe old and yong.
Temper welle youre gle,
Agans that kyng lyght downe.
For to lowse us of pryson,
And make us alle free.
Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam, et sa-
lutare tuuin da nobis.
Thou shew thi mercy, Lord, tylle us.
For to Thou com to helle we trus.
We may not go beside ;
Lord, when thi wilje is for to dele
Tylle us thi salve and thi hele,
Whom we alle abyde.
Now have I songen you a fytt,
Loke in mynd that ye liave it,
I rede with my myghte ;
He tliat maide us alle with his wytt,
Sheld us alle from hclle pytt.
And graunt us heven lyghte.
Sibilla prophtta. Judicii signum telhis sudore
madescit.
PROCESSUS PROPHETARUM. ^3
E caslo rex adveniet per secla futurus,
Scilicet in carne praesens ut judicet orbem.
Who so wylle here tythynges glad,
Of hym that alle this warld made,
Here me wytterly ;
Sibille sage is my name,
Bot ye me here ye ar to blame.
My word is prophecy.
Alle men was slayn thrughe Adam syn,
And put to pyne that never shalle blyn,
Thrughe falsnes of the feyiid ;
A new kyng comes from heven to fyght
Agans the feynd, to wyn his right,
So is his mercy he3md.
Alle the warld shalle he deme,
And that have servyd hym to wheme
Myrthe thaym mon betyde ;
Alle shalle se hjan withe thare ee,
Kyche and poore, low and hye,
No man may hym hyde ;
Bot thay shalle in thare fleshe ryse,
That every man shalle whake and gryse,
Agans that ilk dome.
Withe his santes, many oone.
He shalle be sene in fleshe and bone,
That kyng that is to com.
Alle that shalle stand hym before,
Alle shalle be les and more,
Of oone eld icheon.
Angels shalle qwake then for ferd,
And fyre shalle bren this mydylle-erd,
Yei, erth and alle ther apon.
Shalle nothyng here in erthe be kend,
Bot it shalle be strewyd and brend,
Alle waters and the see.
Sythen shalle bothe hille and dale
Ryn togeder, grete and smale,
And alle shalle even be.
At liys commyng shalle bemys blaw.
That men may his commyng knaw,
Fulle sorowfulle shalle be that blast ;
Ther is no man that herys it,
Bot he shalle qwake for alle his witt,
Be he never so stedfast.
Then shalle helle gape and gryn,
D 3
54 TOWNELEY MVSTERIK*;.
That men may know thare dome tlier in,
Of that hye justyce ;
That ille have done to helle mon go.
And to hcven tlie other also,
That has been rightwys.
Therfor, 1 rede ilk a man,
Kepc as welle as he can,
Fro syn and fro mysdede.
My prophecy now have I told,
God yon save, botlie yong and old,
And help you at youre nede.
Daniel. Cum venerit Sanctus Sanctorum ces-
abit unctio vestra.
God that maide Adam and Eve,
Whils thay dyd welle, he gaf them leva
In paradise to dwelle ;
Sone when thay that appylle ete,
Thay were dampned, sone and skete,
Unto the pyne of helle,
Thrughe sorow and paynes ever new ;
Therfor wylle God apon us rew.
And his son downe send
Into erthe, flesh to take,
That is alle for oure sake,
Oure trespas to iuiiend.
Flesh withe fleshe wille be boghte,
That he lose not that he has wroghte
Withe hys awne hend ;
Of a madyn shalie he be borne,
To save alle that ar forlorne.
Ever more witheoutten end.*
• This Pageant is apparently vinfinished, a portion of the bottom of fol. If), fc
and the whole of IbL 20, beiug letl blank.
55
INCIPIT PHARAO.
Vharao. Peas, of payn that no man pas ;
But kepe the course that I commaunde,
And take good hede of hym that has
Youre helthe alle holy in hys hande ;
For kyng Pharro my fader was.
And led thys lordshyp of thys land,
I am hys hayre as age wylle has,
Ever in stede to styr or stand.
Alle Egypt is myne awne
To leede aftyr my law,
I wold my myghte were knowne
And honoryd, as hit awe.
Fulle low he shalle be thrawne
That harkyns not my sawe,
Hanged hy and draAvne,
Therfor no boste ye blaw ;
Bot a» for kyng I commaund peasse,
To alle the people of thys empyre.
Looke no man put hym self in preasse,
Bot that wylle do as I desyre.
And of youre wordes look that ye seasse.
Take tent to me, youre soferand syre,
That may youre comfort most increasse.
And to my lyst bowe lyfe and lyre.
Primus Miles. My Lord, if any here were,
That wold not wyrk youre wylle.
If we myghte com thaym nere,
Fulle soyn we shuld theym spylle.
Pharao. Thrughe out my kyngdom wold I
ken,
And kun hym thank that wold me telle,
If any were so waryd men
That wold my fors down felle.
Secundus Miles. My Lord, ye have a manner
of men
That make great mastres us emelle ;
TOWNELEV MYSTERIES.
Tlie Jues that won in Gersen,
Thay ar callyd chyldyr of Israel.
Thay niultyplye fulle fast,