THE WAKEFIELD MIRACLE-PLAY OF THE CRUCIFIXION[From the Towneley Collection]CHARACTERSJesusMaryJohnJosephPilateLongeusNicodemusFour TorturersTHE CRUCIFIXIONPilate.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 bedene273On gallows ye be made full tame.Thieves and michers ken274Will ye not peace when I bid you?By Mahoun's blood! if ye me teyn,275I shall ordain soon for youPains 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;276Therefore keep your tongues, I warn you allAnd unto us take tent.2771st Torturer.All peace, all peace, among you all!And hearken now what shall befallTo this false chuffer278here.That with his false quantyse279Has made himself as God wiseAmong us many a year.He calls himself a prophet,And says that he can bales280beat281And make all things amend,But e'er long know we shall,Whether he can overcome his own bale,280Or 'scape out of our hand.Was not this a wonder thingThat he durst call himself a kingAnd 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 thoughtAnd 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 rede282we castTo bring this thief to dede.283Look that we have what we need tooFor 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 alsoFor to fasten fast our foeTo this tree full soon.4th Torturer.You are wise, withouten dread,That so can help yourself at needTo thing that should be done.1st Torturer.Now dare I say hardily,He shall with all his mawmentry284No longer us be-tell.2nd Torturer.Since Pilate has him to us gi'enHave done, quickly, let it be seen,How we can with him mell.2853rd Torturer.Now we are at the Mount of Calvary,Have done, fellows, and let now seeHow 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 thingThat falls into the weir.You must joust in tournament,But sit you fast, else you'll be shent,286Else 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 trowWhat thou has said, but make thee mowWhen thou sitt'st in that seat.3rd Torturer.If thou be king, we shall thanks adylle287For we shall set thee in thy sadylle288For falling be thou bold289I promise thee thou bidest a shaftIf thou sitt'st not well thou hadst better laft290The tales that thou hast told.4th Torturer.Stand near, fellows, and let us seeHow we can horse our king so freeBy 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 soonFor he is ready bowne:291If ye be bound to him be not wroth,For be ye secure we were full lothOn any wise that ye fell down.2nd Torturer.Knit thou a knot, with all thy strengthFor to draw this arm at lengthTill it come to the bore.3rd Torturer.Thou art mad, man, by this light!It wants, in each man's sightAnother 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 notbreste.2923rd Torturer.That shall I do, so might I thrive,For to hammer and to driveThereto 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 markI trow laymen nor clerkNothing better should!1st Torturer.Hold it now fast thereOne 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 speedHim to mickle bale.3rd Torturer.So, that is well, it will not brest,293But now, let see, who does the bestWith any sleight of hand.4th Torturer.Go we to the other endeFellows, fasten fast your hende,294And pull well at the band.1st Torturer.I counsel, fellows, by this weatherThat we draw now all together,And look how it will fare.2nd Torturer.Now let see, and leave your dinAnd draw we ilka syn from syn.295For nothing let us spare.3rd Torturer.Nay, fellows, this is no play,We no longer draw one way,So mickle have I espied.4th Torturer.No, for as I have blissSome can twig whoso it isSeeks his ease on his own side.1st Torturer.It is better, as I hopeEach by himself to draw this rope,And then may we seeWho it is that erewhileAll his fellows can beguileOf this company.2nd Torturer.Since thou wilt so have, here's for me!How draw I?--as might thou the!2963rd Torturer.Men drew right well!Have here for me, half a foot.4th Torturer.Wema,297man! thou came not to't.Men drew it never a dealBut have for me here that I may!1st Torturer.Well drawnën, son, by this day!Thou goes well to thy work.2nd Torturer.Yet after, whilst thy hand is inPull thereat with some engine.3rd Torturer.Yea, and bring it to the mark.4th Torturer.Pull, pull!1st Torturer.Have now!2nd Torturer.Let see!3rd Torturer.Aha!4th Torturer.Yet, a draught!1st Torturer.Thereto with all my might.2nd Torturer.Aha, hold still thore.2983rd Torturer.So, fellows, look now alive,Which of you can best drive,And I shall take the bore.4th Torturer.Let me go to it, if I shallI hope that I be the best marshal299For to clink300it right.Do raise him up now when we may,For I hope he and his palfreyShall not twine301this night.1st Torturer.Come hither, fellows, and have done,And help that this tree soonBe lift with all your sleight.2nd Torturer.Yet let us work awhile,And no man now the other beguileTill it be brought on height.3rd Torturer.Fellows, lay on all your hende302For to raise this tree on endeAnd lets see who is last.4th Torturer.I rede we do as he says,Set we the tree on the mortase,303And there, will it stand fast.1st Torturer.Up with the timber.2nd Torturer.Ah, it holds!For him, that all this world wields,Put from thee, with thy hand.3rd Torturer.Hold even! amongst us all.4th Torturer.Yea, and let it into the mortise fall,For then will it best stand.1st Torturer.Go we to it, and be we strong,And raise it, be it never so long,Since that it is fast bound.2nd Torturer.Up with the timber fast on ende.3rd Torturer.Ah fellows, fair fall now your hende.4th Torturer.So, sir, gape against the sun![To Christ.1st Torturer.Ah, fellow, wear thy crown!2nd Torturer.Trowest thou this timber will come down?3rd Torturer.Yet help, to make it fast.4th Torturer.Bind him well, and let us lift.1st Torturer.Full short shall be his thrift.2nd Torturer.Ah, it stands up like a mast.Jesus.I pray you, people, that pass me by,That lead your life so lykandly304Raise up your heart on high;Behold if ever ye saw bodyBuffet305and beaten thus bloody,Or dight thus dolefully;In this world was never no wightThat suffered half so sair.My mayn,306my mode,307my mightIs naught but sorrow to sight,And comfort--none but care!My folk, what have I done to theeThat thou all thus shall torment me?Thy sin bear I full soon.How have I grieved thee? answer me.That thou thus nailest me to a tree,And all for thine error.Where shalt thou seek succour?This fault how shalt thou amendeWhen that thou thy saviourDrivest to this dishonourAnd nail'st through feet and hende.308All creatures whose kinds may be trest,309Beasts and birds, they all have restWhen they are woe begone.But God's own son, that should be best,Has not whereon his head to rest,But on his shoulder bone:To whom now may I make my moanWhen they thus martyr me?And sackless310will me slone,311And beat me blood and bone,That should my brethren be?What kindness should I kythe312them to?Have I not done what I ought to do,Made thee in my likeness?And thou thus rives my rest and ro313And thinkest lightly on me, lo,Such is thy caitifness.I have shown thee kindness, unkindly thou me 'quitest,314See thus thy wickedness, look how thou me despitest.Guiltless thus am I put to pine,Not for my sin, man, but for thine.Thus am I rent on rood;For I that treasure would not tyne315That I marked and made for mine.Thus buy I Adam's blood,That sunken was in sin,With none earthly good,But with my flesh and bloodThat loath was for to wyn.316My brother, that I came for to buy,Has hanged me here, thus hideously,Friends find I few or none;Thus have they dight me drearily,And all be-spit me piteously,A helpless man in wone.317But, Father, that sittest on throne,Forgive thou them this guilt.I pray to thee this boon--They know not what they doon,Nor whom they thus have spoilt!3181st Torturer.Yes, what we do full well we know.2nd Torturer.Yes, that shall he find within a throw.3rd Torturer.Now, with a mischance to his corse!Wenys319he that we give any force320What evil so ever he ail?4th Torturer.For he would tarry us all day,Of his death to make delay,I tell you sans fail.1st Torturer.Lift we this tree amongst us all.2nd Torturer.Yea, and let it into the mortise fallAnd that shall make him brest.3213rd Torturer.Yea, and all to rive him, limb from limb.4th Torturer.And it will break each joint in him;Let see now, who does best?Mary.Alas, the dole I dree!322I droop, I go in dread.Why hang'st thou, son, so high? my woe begins to breed,All blemished is thy ble,323I see thy body bleed,In the world, my son, we were never so woe, as now in weed.324My food325that I have fed,In life--longing thee led!Full straight art thou besteadAmong these foemen fell:Such sorrow for to see.My dearest child, on thee,Is more mourning to meThan any tongue may tell.Alas! thy holy headHas not whereon to held326Thy face with blood is red,Was fair as flower in fieldHow should I stand in stead!327To see my bairn thus bleed,Beaten as blo328as lead.And has no limb to wield?Fastened both hands and feet,With nalys329full unmeet,His wounds all wringing wet.Alas, my child, for care!For all rent is thy hide,I see on either sideTears of blood down glideOver all thy body bare.Alas that ever I should bide, and see my feyr330thus fare!John.Alas, for dule, my lady dear!All for changèd is thy cheer,To see this prince without a peer,Thus lappéd all in woe;He was thy food, thy fairest foine,331Thy love, thy like,332thy lovesome son,That high on tree thus hangs aloneWith body black and blo,333alas!To me and many mo,334A good master he was.But, lady, since it is his willThe prophecy to fulfil,That mankind in sin not spill,335For them to thole336the pain;And with his death ransom to make,As prophets before of him spake.I counsel thee, thy grief to slake,Thy weeping may not gainIn sorrow;Our boot337he buys full bayne,338Us all from bale to borrow.Mary.Alas, thine eyes as crystal clear,That shone as sun in sight,That lovely were in lyere339Lost they have their light,And wax all fa'ed340in fear,All dim then are they dight;In pain thou hast no peer,That is withouten pight.341Sweet son, say me thy thought;What wonders hast thou wroughtTo be in pain thus broughtThy blessed blood to blend?Ah, son, think on my woe,Why will thou from me go?On earth is no man mo342That may my mirth amend.John.Comely lady, good and couth,343Fain would I comfort thee;Me mynnys344my master with mouthTold unto his menyee.345That he should suffer many a pain,And die upon a tree,And to the life rise up again,Upon the third day should it beFull right;For thee, my lady sweet,Stint awhile to greet,346Our bale then will be beat,347As he before has bight.348Mary.My sorrow it is so sad,No solace may me save:Mourning makes me mad,No hope of help I have.I am redeless349and afraidFor fear that I should rave,Nought may make me glad,Till I be in my grave.To death my dear is driven,His robe is all to-riven,350That by me was him givenAnd shapen with my sides.These Jews and he have strivenThat all the bale he bides.Alas! my lamb so mild,Why wilt thou from me goAmong these wolvés wild,That work on thee this woe?For shame, who may thee shield,For friends now hast thou foe.Alas, my comely child,Why will thou from me go?Maidens, make your moan,And weep, ye wives, every oneWith me, most sad, in wone351The child that born was best:My heart is stiff as stoneThat for no bale will brest.352John.Ah, lady, well wot I,Thy heart is full of care,When thou thus openlySeest thy child thus fare;Love drives him rathly.Himself he will not spare,Us all from bale to buy,Of bliss that are full bareFor sin;My dear lady, therefore of mourning look thou blyn.353Mary."Alas!" may ever be my song,While I may live in leyd,354Methinks now that I live too long,To see my bairn thus bleed.Jews work with him all wrong,Wherefore do they this deed?Lo, so high have they him hung,They let355for no dread;Why so?His foeman he is among.No friend he has, but foe,My frely food356from me must goWhat shall become of me?Thou art warpyd357all in woe,And spread here on a treeFull hie;358I mourn, and so may mo359That see this pain on thee.John.Dear lady, well for meIf that I might comfort thee,For the sorrow that I seeShears my heart in sunder;When that I see my master hangWith bitter pains and strong;Was never wight with360wrongWrought so mickle wonder.Mary.Alas, death, thou dwellest too long,Why art thou hid from me?Who bid thee to my child to gang?361All black thou mak'st his ble;362Now witterly,363thou workest wrongThe more I will wyte364thee.But if thou wilt my heart now stingThat I may with him dee,365And bide.Sore sighing is my song. For pierced is his side!Ah, death, what hast thou done?With thee will I fare soon,Since I had children none but one,Best under sun or moon.Friends I had full foyn366That gars me greet367and groanFull sore.Good Lord, grant me my boon,And let me live no more!Gabriel! that art so goodSometime thou did me greet,And then I understoodThy words that were so sweet.But now they vex my mood,For grace thou canst me hete,368To bear all of my bloodA child our bale should beat369With right.Now hangs he here on rood,Where is that thou me hight.370All that thou of blissHight me in that stede371From mirth is far amiss.And yet I trow thy rede372Counsel me now of this,My life how shall I leadWhen from me gone isHe that was my headOn high?My death, now, come it is:My dear son, have mercy!Jesus.My mother mild, change thou thy cheer,Cease from thy sorrow and sighing sere,It syttes373unto my heart full sore;The sorrow is sharp, I suffer here;But the dole thou drees,374my mother dear,Me martyrs mickle more.Thus wills my father I fareTo loose mankind from bandsHis son will he not spare,To loose that bond was e'erFull fast in fiends' hands.The first cause, mother, of my comingWas for mankind miscarrying,To save them sore I sought;Therefore, mother make no mourningSince mankind, through my dying,May thus to bliss be brought.Woman, weep thou right nought,Take there, John, unto thy child,Mankind must needs be bought;And thou cast, cousin, in thy thought.375John, lo, there, thy mother mild!Blue and bloody thus am I beat,Swongen with swepys376and all a-sweat,Mankind, for thy misdeed.For my love's sake when wouldst thou let,377And thy heart sadly set,Since I thus for thee have bled?Such life for sooth, I lead,That nothing may I more.This I suffer for thy need,To mark thee, man, thy meed!Now thirst I wonder sore.1st Torturer.Nought but hold thy peace,Thou shalt have drink within a resse,378Myself shall be thy knave;Have here the draught that I thee hete,379And I shall warrant it is not sweetBy all the good I have.2nd Torturer.So, sir, say now all your will,For if ye could have holden you stillYe had not had this brade.3803rd Torturer.Thou would'st all gate381be King of Jews,But by this I trow thou ruesAll that thou has said.4th Torturer.He has him rused of great prophës382That he should make us tempyllësAnd make it clean fall down;And yet he said he should it raiseAs well as it was within three days,He lies, that wot we all;And for his lies in great despiteWe will divide his clothing tyte383Save he can more of art.3841st Torturer.Yes, as ever might I thrive,Soon will we this mantle rive,And each man take his part.2nd Torturer.How, wouldst thou we share this cloth?3rd Torturer.Nay, forsooth, that were I loth,For then it were all gate385spoilt.But assent thou to my saw,386And let us all cut draw387And then is none begylt.3882nd Torturer.Howe'er befall, now I draw,This is mine by common law,Say not there again.1st Torturer.Now since it may no better be,Chevithe thee with it for me;Methinks thou art full fain.2nd Torturer.How, fellows, see ye not yon scraw?389It is written yonder within a thraw,Now since that we drew lot.3rd Torturer.There is no man that is alive,Unless Pilate, as I might thriveThat durst it there have put.4th Torturer.Go we fast, and let us lookWhat is written on yon bookAnd what it may be, mean.1st Torturer.All the more I look thereon,All the more I think I fon;390All is not worth a bean.2nd Torturer.Yes for sooth, methinks I seeThereon written language threeHebrew and LatýnAnd Greek methinks written thereon,For it is hard for to expoun.3rd Torturer.Thou read, by Apollyon!4th Torturer.Yea, as I am a true knight.I am the best Latin wrightOf this company;I will go withouten delayAnd tell you what it is to say.Behold, sirs, verily,Yonder is written--Jesus of NazareneHe is King of Jews, I ween.1st Torturer.Ah, that is written wrong.2nd Torturer.He calls himself so, but he is none.3rd Torturer.Go we to Pilate and make our moan,Have done, and dwell not long.[They go to Pilate.Pilate, yonder is a false table,Thereon is written naught but fable,Of Jews he is not king,He calls him so, but he not is,It is falsely written, I wis,This is a wrong-wise thing.Pilate.Boys, I say, what melle ye yon?391As it is written shall it be now,I say certainQuod scriptum scripsi,392That same wrote I,What gadlyng393grumbles there again.4th Torturer.Since that he is a man of lawHe must needs have his will;I trow he had not written that sawWithout some proper skill.1st Torturer.Yea, let it hang above his headIt shall not save him from the deadNaught that he can write.2nd Torturer.Now ill a hale394was he born!3rd Torturer.My faith, I tell his life is lornHe shall be slain as tyte.395If thou be Christ, as men thee callCome down now among us allAnd thole396not these missays.3974th Torturer.Yea, and help myself that we may seeAnd we shall all believe in thee,Whatsoever thou says.1st Torturer.He calls himself good of might,But I would see him be so wight398To do such a deed.He raised Lazare out of his delf399But he cannot help himselfNow in his great need.Jesus.Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani!My God, my God! wherefor and whyHast thou forsaken me?2nd Torturer.How, hear ye not as well as IHow he can upon Eli cryUpon this wise?3rd Torturer.Yea, there is no Eli in this countryShall deliver him from this meneye400No, in no wise.4th Torturer.I warrant you now at the lastThat he shall soon yield the ghostFor bursten is his gall.Jesus.Now is my passion brought to end,Father of heaven, into thy hende401I do commend my soul.1st Torturer.Let one prick him with a spear,And if it should do him no dere402Then is his life near past.2nd Torturer.This blind knight may best do that.Longeus.Gar me not do, save I wit what.3rd Torturer.Naught, but strike up fast.Longeus.Ah! Lord, what may this be?Once I was blind, now I can see;Gode's son, hear me, Jesu!For this trespass on me thou rue403For, Lord, other men me gart404That I thee struck unto the heart,I see thou hangest here on high,And dies to fulfil the prophecy.4th Torturer.Go we hence, and leave him hereFor I shall be his bail, this yearHe feels now no more pain;For Eli, ne for none other manAll the good that ever he wonGets not his life again.[Exeunt Torturers.Joseph.Alas, alas, and well a way!That ever I should abide this dayTo see my master dead;Thus wickedly as he is shent,With so bitter tornament405Thro' the false Jews' red.406Nicodeme, I would we yede407To Sir Pilate, if we might spedeHis body for to crave;I will strive with all my mightFor my service to ask that knight,His body for to grave.408Nicodemus.Joseph, I will wend with theeFor to do what is in meFor that body to pray;For our good-will and our travailI hope that it may us availHereafterward some day.Joseph.Sir Pilate, God thee save!Grant me what I craveIf that it be thy will.Pilate.Welcome, Joseph, might thou be,What so thou askest, I grant it theeSo that it be skill.409Joseph.For my long service, I thee pray,Grant me the body, say me not nayOf Jesus dead on rood.Pilate.I grant it well if he dead be,Good leave shalt thou have of me.Do with him what thou think good.Joseph.Gramercy, sir, of your good graceThat you did grant me in this place.Go we our way:Nicodeme, come me forth with,For I myself shall be the smithThe nails out for to dray.410Nicodemus.Joseph, I am ready hereTo go with thee with full good cheerTo help with all my might.Pull forth the nails on either sideAnd I shall hold him up this tide;Ah, Lord, how art thou dight![They take down the body.Joseph.Help now, fellow, with all thy might,That he be wounden411and well dight,And lay him on this bier:Bear we him forth into the kirkTo the tomb that I gar'd412workSince full many a year.Nicodemus.It shall be so, withouten nay,He that died on Good Friday,And crownèd was with thorn;Save you all that now here beThat Lord that thus would dee,And rose on Paschë413morn.
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 bedene273On gallows ye be made full tame.Thieves and michers ken274Will ye not peace when I bid you?By Mahoun's blood! if ye me teyn,275I shall ordain soon for youPains 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;276Therefore keep your tongues, I warn you allAnd unto us take tent.277
1st Torturer.All peace, all peace, among you all!And hearken now what shall befallTo this false chuffer278here.That with his false quantyse279Has made himself as God wiseAmong us many a year.He calls himself a prophet,And says that he can bales280beat281And make all things amend,But e'er long know we shall,Whether he can overcome his own bale,280Or 'scape out of our hand.
Was not this a wonder thingThat he durst call himself a kingAnd 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 thoughtAnd 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 rede282we castTo bring this thief to dede.283Look that we have what we need tooFor 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 alsoFor to fasten fast our foeTo this tree full soon.
4th Torturer.You are wise, withouten dread,That so can help yourself at needTo thing that should be done.
1st Torturer.Now dare I say hardily,He shall with all his mawmentry284No longer us be-tell.
2nd Torturer.Since Pilate has him to us gi'enHave 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 seeHow 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 thingThat falls into the weir.You must joust in tournament,But sit you fast, else you'll be shent,286Else 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 trowWhat thou has said, but make thee mowWhen thou sitt'st in that seat.
3rd Torturer.If thou be king, we shall thanks adylle287For we shall set thee in thy sadylle288For falling be thou bold289I promise thee thou bidest a shaftIf thou sitt'st not well thou hadst better laft290The tales that thou hast told.
4th Torturer.Stand near, fellows, and let us seeHow we can horse our king so freeBy 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 soonFor he is ready bowne:291If ye be bound to him be not wroth,For be ye secure we were full lothOn any wise that ye fell down.
2nd Torturer.Knit thou a knot, with all thy strengthFor to draw this arm at lengthTill it come to the bore.
3rd Torturer.Thou art mad, man, by this light!It wants, in each man's sightAnother 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 notbreste.292
3rd Torturer.That shall I do, so might I thrive,For to hammer and to driveThereto 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 markI trow laymen nor clerkNothing better should!
1st Torturer.Hold it now fast thereOne 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 speedHim to mickle bale.
3rd Torturer.So, that is well, it will not brest,293But now, let see, who does the bestWith any sleight of hand.
4th Torturer.Go we to the other endeFellows, fasten fast your hende,294And pull well at the band.
1st Torturer.I counsel, fellows, by this weatherThat we draw now all together,And look how it will fare.
2nd Torturer.Now let see, and leave your dinAnd draw we ilka syn from syn.295For nothing let us spare.
3rd Torturer.Nay, fellows, this is no play,We no longer draw one way,So mickle have I espied.
4th Torturer.No, for as I have blissSome can twig whoso it isSeeks his ease on his own side.
1st Torturer.It is better, as I hopeEach by himself to draw this rope,And then may we seeWho it is that erewhileAll his fellows can beguileOf this company.
2nd Torturer.Since thou wilt so have, here's for me!How draw I?--as might thou the!296
3rd Torturer.Men drew right well!Have here for me, half a foot.
4th Torturer.Wema,297man! thou came not to't.Men drew it never a dealBut have for me here that I may!
1st Torturer.Well drawnën, son, by this day!Thou goes well to thy work.
2nd Torturer.Yet after, whilst thy hand is inPull thereat with some engine.
3rd Torturer.Yea, and bring it to the mark.
4th Torturer.Pull, pull!
1st Torturer.Have now!
2nd Torturer.Let see!
3rd Torturer.Aha!
4th Torturer.Yet, a draught!
1st Torturer.Thereto with all my might.
2nd Torturer.Aha, hold still thore.298
3rd Torturer.So, fellows, look now alive,Which of you can best drive,And I shall take the bore.
4th Torturer.Let me go to it, if I shallI hope that I be the best marshal299For to clink300it right.Do raise him up now when we may,For I hope he and his palfreyShall not twine301this night.
1st Torturer.Come hither, fellows, and have done,And help that this tree soonBe lift with all your sleight.
2nd Torturer.Yet let us work awhile,And no man now the other beguileTill it be brought on height.
3rd Torturer.Fellows, lay on all your hende302For to raise this tree on endeAnd lets see who is last.
4th Torturer.I rede we do as he says,Set we the tree on the mortase,303And there, will it stand fast.
1st Torturer.Up with the timber.
2nd Torturer.Ah, it holds!For him, that all this world wields,Put from thee, with thy hand.
3rd Torturer.Hold even! amongst us all.
4th Torturer.Yea, and let it into the mortise fall,For then will it best stand.
1st Torturer.Go we to it, and be we strong,And raise it, be it never so long,Since that it is fast bound.
2nd Torturer.Up with the timber fast on ende.
3rd Torturer.Ah fellows, fair fall now your hende.
4th Torturer.So, sir, gape against the sun!
[To Christ.
1st Torturer.Ah, fellow, wear thy crown!
2nd Torturer.Trowest thou this timber will come down?
3rd Torturer.Yet help, to make it fast.
4th Torturer.Bind him well, and let us lift.
1st Torturer.Full short shall be his thrift.
2nd Torturer.Ah, it stands up like a mast.
Jesus.I pray you, people, that pass me by,That lead your life so lykandly304Raise up your heart on high;Behold if ever ye saw bodyBuffet305and beaten thus bloody,Or dight thus dolefully;In this world was never no wightThat suffered half so sair.My mayn,306my mode,307my mightIs naught but sorrow to sight,And comfort--none but care!My folk, what have I done to theeThat thou all thus shall torment me?Thy sin bear I full soon.How have I grieved thee? answer me.That thou thus nailest me to a tree,And all for thine error.Where shalt thou seek succour?This fault how shalt thou amendeWhen that thou thy saviourDrivest to this dishonourAnd nail'st through feet and hende.308All creatures whose kinds may be trest,309Beasts and birds, they all have restWhen they are woe begone.But God's own son, that should be best,Has not whereon his head to rest,But on his shoulder bone:To whom now may I make my moanWhen they thus martyr me?And sackless310will me slone,311And beat me blood and bone,That should my brethren be?What kindness should I kythe312them to?Have I not done what I ought to do,Made thee in my likeness?And thou thus rives my rest and ro313And thinkest lightly on me, lo,Such is thy caitifness.I have shown thee kindness, unkindly thou me 'quitest,314See thus thy wickedness, look how thou me despitest.Guiltless thus am I put to pine,Not for my sin, man, but for thine.Thus am I rent on rood;For I that treasure would not tyne315That I marked and made for mine.Thus buy I Adam's blood,That sunken was in sin,With none earthly good,But with my flesh and bloodThat loath was for to wyn.316My brother, that I came for to buy,Has hanged me here, thus hideously,Friends find I few or none;Thus have they dight me drearily,And all be-spit me piteously,A helpless man in wone.317But, Father, that sittest on throne,Forgive thou them this guilt.I pray to thee this boon--They know not what they doon,Nor whom they thus have spoilt!318
1st Torturer.Yes, what we do full well we know.
2nd Torturer.Yes, that shall he find within a throw.
3rd Torturer.Now, with a mischance to his corse!Wenys319he that we give any force320What evil so ever he ail?
4th Torturer.For he would tarry us all day,Of his death to make delay,I tell you sans fail.
1st Torturer.Lift we this tree amongst us all.
2nd Torturer.Yea, and let it into the mortise fallAnd that shall make him brest.321
3rd Torturer.Yea, and all to rive him, limb from limb.
4th Torturer.And it will break each joint in him;Let see now, who does best?
Mary.Alas, the dole I dree!322I droop, I go in dread.Why hang'st thou, son, so high? my woe begins to breed,All blemished is thy ble,323I see thy body bleed,In the world, my son, we were never so woe, as now in weed.324My food325that I have fed,In life--longing thee led!Full straight art thou besteadAmong these foemen fell:Such sorrow for to see.My dearest child, on thee,Is more mourning to meThan any tongue may tell.Alas! thy holy headHas not whereon to held326Thy face with blood is red,Was fair as flower in fieldHow should I stand in stead!327To see my bairn thus bleed,Beaten as blo328as lead.And has no limb to wield?Fastened both hands and feet,With nalys329full unmeet,His wounds all wringing wet.Alas, my child, for care!For all rent is thy hide,I see on either sideTears of blood down glideOver all thy body bare.Alas that ever I should bide, and see my feyr330thus fare!
John.Alas, for dule, my lady dear!All for changèd is thy cheer,To see this prince without a peer,Thus lappéd all in woe;He was thy food, thy fairest foine,331Thy love, thy like,332thy lovesome son,That high on tree thus hangs aloneWith body black and blo,333alas!To me and many mo,334A good master he was.
But, lady, since it is his willThe prophecy to fulfil,That mankind in sin not spill,335For them to thole336the pain;And with his death ransom to make,As prophets before of him spake.I counsel thee, thy grief to slake,Thy weeping may not gainIn sorrow;Our boot337he buys full bayne,338Us all from bale to borrow.
Mary.Alas, thine eyes as crystal clear,That shone as sun in sight,That lovely were in lyere339Lost they have their light,And wax all fa'ed340in fear,All dim then are they dight;In pain thou hast no peer,That is withouten pight.341Sweet son, say me thy thought;What wonders hast thou wroughtTo be in pain thus broughtThy blessed blood to blend?Ah, son, think on my woe,Why will thou from me go?On earth is no man mo342That may my mirth amend.
John.Comely lady, good and couth,343Fain would I comfort thee;Me mynnys344my master with mouthTold unto his menyee.345That he should suffer many a pain,And die upon a tree,And to the life rise up again,Upon the third day should it beFull right;For thee, my lady sweet,Stint awhile to greet,346Our bale then will be beat,347As he before has bight.348
Mary.My sorrow it is so sad,No solace may me save:Mourning makes me mad,No hope of help I have.I am redeless349and afraidFor fear that I should rave,Nought may make me glad,Till I be in my grave.To death my dear is driven,His robe is all to-riven,350That by me was him givenAnd shapen with my sides.These Jews and he have strivenThat all the bale he bides.Alas! my lamb so mild,Why wilt thou from me goAmong these wolvés wild,That work on thee this woe?For shame, who may thee shield,For friends now hast thou foe.Alas, my comely child,Why will thou from me go?Maidens, make your moan,And weep, ye wives, every oneWith me, most sad, in wone351The child that born was best:My heart is stiff as stoneThat for no bale will brest.352
John.Ah, lady, well wot I,Thy heart is full of care,When thou thus openlySeest thy child thus fare;Love drives him rathly.Himself he will not spare,Us all from bale to buy,Of bliss that are full bareFor sin;My dear lady, therefore of mourning look thou blyn.353
Mary."Alas!" may ever be my song,While I may live in leyd,354Methinks now that I live too long,To see my bairn thus bleed.Jews work with him all wrong,Wherefore do they this deed?Lo, so high have they him hung,They let355for no dread;Why so?His foeman he is among.No friend he has, but foe,My frely food356from me must goWhat shall become of me?Thou art warpyd357all in woe,And spread here on a treeFull hie;358I mourn, and so may mo359That see this pain on thee.
John.Dear lady, well for meIf that I might comfort thee,For the sorrow that I seeShears my heart in sunder;When that I see my master hangWith bitter pains and strong;Was never wight with360wrongWrought so mickle wonder.
Mary.Alas, death, thou dwellest too long,Why art thou hid from me?Who bid thee to my child to gang?361All black thou mak'st his ble;362Now witterly,363thou workest wrongThe more I will wyte364thee.But if thou wilt my heart now stingThat I may with him dee,365And bide.Sore sighing is my song. For pierced is his side!Ah, death, what hast thou done?With thee will I fare soon,Since I had children none but one,Best under sun or moon.Friends I had full foyn366That gars me greet367and groanFull sore.Good Lord, grant me my boon,And let me live no more!Gabriel! that art so goodSometime thou did me greet,And then I understoodThy words that were so sweet.But now they vex my mood,For grace thou canst me hete,368To bear all of my bloodA child our bale should beat369With right.Now hangs he here on rood,Where is that thou me hight.370All that thou of blissHight me in that stede371From mirth is far amiss.And yet I trow thy rede372Counsel me now of this,My life how shall I leadWhen from me gone isHe that was my headOn high?My death, now, come it is:My dear son, have mercy!
Jesus.My mother mild, change thou thy cheer,Cease from thy sorrow and sighing sere,It syttes373unto my heart full sore;The sorrow is sharp, I suffer here;But the dole thou drees,374my mother dear,Me martyrs mickle more.Thus wills my father I fareTo loose mankind from bandsHis son will he not spare,To loose that bond was e'erFull fast in fiends' hands.The first cause, mother, of my comingWas for mankind miscarrying,To save them sore I sought;Therefore, mother make no mourningSince mankind, through my dying,May thus to bliss be brought.Woman, weep thou right nought,Take there, John, unto thy child,Mankind must needs be bought;And thou cast, cousin, in thy thought.375John, lo, there, thy mother mild!Blue and bloody thus am I beat,Swongen with swepys376and all a-sweat,Mankind, for thy misdeed.For my love's sake when wouldst thou let,377And thy heart sadly set,Since I thus for thee have bled?Such life for sooth, I lead,That nothing may I more.This I suffer for thy need,To mark thee, man, thy meed!Now thirst I wonder sore.
1st Torturer.Nought but hold thy peace,Thou shalt have drink within a resse,378Myself shall be thy knave;Have here the draught that I thee hete,379And I shall warrant it is not sweetBy all the good I have.
2nd Torturer.So, sir, say now all your will,For if ye could have holden you stillYe had not had this brade.380
3rd Torturer.Thou would'st all gate381be King of Jews,But by this I trow thou ruesAll that thou has said.
4th Torturer.He has him rused of great prophës382That he should make us tempyllësAnd make it clean fall down;And yet he said he should it raiseAs well as it was within three days,He lies, that wot we all;And for his lies in great despiteWe will divide his clothing tyte383Save he can more of art.384
1st Torturer.Yes, as ever might I thrive,Soon will we this mantle rive,And each man take his part.
2nd Torturer.How, wouldst thou we share this cloth?
3rd Torturer.Nay, forsooth, that were I loth,For then it were all gate385spoilt.But assent thou to my saw,386And let us all cut draw387And then is none begylt.388
2nd Torturer.Howe'er befall, now I draw,This is mine by common law,Say not there again.
1st Torturer.Now since it may no better be,Chevithe thee with it for me;Methinks thou art full fain.
2nd Torturer.How, fellows, see ye not yon scraw?389It is written yonder within a thraw,Now since that we drew lot.
3rd Torturer.There is no man that is alive,Unless Pilate, as I might thriveThat durst it there have put.
4th Torturer.Go we fast, and let us lookWhat is written on yon bookAnd what it may be, mean.
1st Torturer.All the more I look thereon,All the more I think I fon;390All is not worth a bean.
2nd Torturer.Yes for sooth, methinks I seeThereon written language threeHebrew and LatýnAnd Greek methinks written thereon,For it is hard for to expoun.
3rd Torturer.Thou read, by Apollyon!
4th Torturer.Yea, as I am a true knight.I am the best Latin wrightOf this company;I will go withouten delayAnd tell you what it is to say.Behold, sirs, verily,Yonder is written--Jesus of NazareneHe is King of Jews, I ween.
1st Torturer.Ah, that is written wrong.
2nd Torturer.He calls himself so, but he is none.
3rd Torturer.Go we to Pilate and make our moan,Have done, and dwell not long.[They go to Pilate.Pilate, yonder is a false table,Thereon is written naught but fable,Of Jews he is not king,He calls him so, but he not is,It is falsely written, I wis,This is a wrong-wise thing.
Pilate.Boys, I say, what melle ye yon?391As it is written shall it be now,I say certainQuod scriptum scripsi,392That same wrote I,What gadlyng393grumbles there again.
4th Torturer.Since that he is a man of lawHe must needs have his will;I trow he had not written that sawWithout some proper skill.
1st Torturer.Yea, let it hang above his headIt shall not save him from the deadNaught that he can write.
2nd Torturer.Now ill a hale394was he born!
3rd Torturer.My faith, I tell his life is lornHe shall be slain as tyte.395If thou be Christ, as men thee callCome down now among us allAnd thole396not these missays.397
4th Torturer.Yea, and help myself that we may seeAnd we shall all believe in thee,Whatsoever thou says.
1st Torturer.He calls himself good of might,But I would see him be so wight398To do such a deed.He raised Lazare out of his delf399But he cannot help himselfNow in his great need.
Jesus.Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani!My God, my God! wherefor and whyHast thou forsaken me?
2nd Torturer.How, hear ye not as well as IHow he can upon Eli cryUpon this wise?
3rd Torturer.Yea, there is no Eli in this countryShall deliver him from this meneye400No, in no wise.
4th Torturer.I warrant you now at the lastThat he shall soon yield the ghostFor bursten is his gall.
Jesus.Now is my passion brought to end,Father of heaven, into thy hende401I do commend my soul.
1st Torturer.Let one prick him with a spear,And if it should do him no dere402Then is his life near past.
2nd Torturer.This blind knight may best do that.
Longeus.Gar me not do, save I wit what.
3rd Torturer.Naught, but strike up fast.
Longeus.Ah! Lord, what may this be?Once I was blind, now I can see;Gode's son, hear me, Jesu!For this trespass on me thou rue403For, Lord, other men me gart404That I thee struck unto the heart,I see thou hangest here on high,And dies to fulfil the prophecy.
4th Torturer.Go we hence, and leave him hereFor I shall be his bail, this yearHe feels now no more pain;For Eli, ne for none other manAll the good that ever he wonGets not his life again.[Exeunt Torturers.
Joseph.Alas, alas, and well a way!That ever I should abide this dayTo see my master dead;Thus wickedly as he is shent,With so bitter tornament405Thro' the false Jews' red.406Nicodeme, I would we yede407To Sir Pilate, if we might spedeHis body for to crave;I will strive with all my mightFor my service to ask that knight,His body for to grave.408
Nicodemus.Joseph, I will wend with theeFor to do what is in meFor that body to pray;For our good-will and our travailI hope that it may us availHereafterward some day.
Joseph.Sir Pilate, God thee save!Grant me what I craveIf that it be thy will.
Pilate.Welcome, Joseph, might thou be,What so thou askest, I grant it theeSo that it be skill.409
Joseph.For my long service, I thee pray,Grant me the body, say me not nayOf Jesus dead on rood.
Pilate.I grant it well if he dead be,Good leave shalt thou have of me.Do with him what thou think good.
Joseph.Gramercy, sir, of your good graceThat you did grant me in this place.Go we our way:Nicodeme, come me forth with,For I myself shall be the smithThe nails out for to dray.410
Nicodemus.Joseph, I am ready hereTo go with thee with full good cheerTo help with all my might.Pull forth the nails on either sideAnd I shall hold him up this tide;Ah, Lord, how art thou dight!
[They take down the body.
Joseph.Help now, fellow, with all thy might,That he be wounden411and well dight,And lay him on this bier:Bear we him forth into the kirkTo the tomb that I gar'd412workSince full many a year.
Nicodemus.It shall be so, withouten nay,He that died on Good Friday,And crownèd was with thorn;Save you all that now here beThat Lord that thus would dee,And rose on Paschë413morn.