The York Mysteries

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Play 1

God:
Ego sum Alpha et nouissimus. 
I am gracyus and grete, God withoutyn begynnyng, 
I am maker vnmade, all mighte es in me; 
I am lyfe and way vnto welth-wynnyng, 
I am formaste and fyrste, als I byd sall it be. 
My blyssyng o ble sall be blendyng, 
And heldand, fro harme to be hydande, 
My body in blys ay abydande, 
Vnendande, withoutyn any endyng. 
Sen I am maker vnmade and most es of mighte, 
And ay sall be endeles and noghte es but I, 
Vnto my dygnyté dere sall diewly be dyghte 
A place full of plenté to my plesyng at ply; 
And therewith als wyll I haue wroght 
Many dyuers doynges bedene, 
Whilke warke sall mekely contene, 
And all sall be made euen of noghte. 
But onely the worthely warke of my wyll 
In my sprete sall enspyre the mighte of me; 
And in the fyrste, faythely, my thoghte to fullfyll, 
Baynely in my blyssyng I byd at here be 
A blys al-beledande abowte me, 
In the whilke blys I byde at be here 
Nyen ordres of aungels full clere, 
In louyng ay-lastande at lowte me. 
Here vndernethe me nowe a nexile I neuen, 
Whilke ile sall be erthe. Now all be at ones 
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Erthe haly, and helle, this hegheste be heuen, 
And that welth sall welde sall won in this wones. 
This graunte I yoowe, mynysters myne, 
To-whils yohe ar stabill in thoghte- 
And also to thaime that ar noghte 
Be put to my presone at pyne. 
Of all the mightes I haue made, moste nexte after me 
I make the als master and merour of my mighte; 
I beelde the here baynely in blys for to be, 
I name the for Lucifer, als berar of lyghte. 
Nothyng here sall the be derand; 
In this blis sall be yohour beeldyng, 
And haue all welth in yooure weledyng, 
Ay-whils yohe ar buxumly berande. 


Angel 1
41 A, mercyfull maker, full mekill es thi mighte, 
That all this warke at a worde worthely has wroghte. 
Ay loued be that lufly lorde of his lighte, 
That vs thus mighty has made that nowe was righte noghte, 
In blys for to byde in his blyssyng. 
Ay-lastande in luf lat vs lowte hym, 
At beelde vs thus baynely abowete hym, 
Of myrthe neuermore to haue myssyng. 


Lucifer
49 All the myrth that es made es markide in me! 
THe bemes of my brighthode ar byrnande so bryghte, 
And I so semely in syghte myselfe now I se, 
For lyke a lorde am I lefte to lende in this lighte. 
More fayrear be far than my feres, 
In me is no poynte that may payre; 
I fele me fetys and fayre, 
My powar es passande my peres. 


Cherabyn
57 Lorde, wyth a lastande luf we loue the allone, 
THou mightefull maker that markid vs and made vs, 
And wroghte us thus worthely to wone in this wone, 
Ther neuer felyng of fylth may full vs nor fade vs. 
All blys es here beeldande aboute vs; 
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To-whyls we are stabyll in thoughte 
In the worschipp of hym that us wroght, 
Of dere neuer thar vs more dowte vs. 


Angel 2
65 O, what I am fetys and fayre and fygured full fytt! 
THe forme of all fayrehede apon me es feste, 
All welth in my weelde es, I wote be my wytte; 
THe bemes of my brighthede are bygged with the beste. 
My schewyng es schemerande and schynande, 
So bygly to blys am I broghte; 
Me nedes for to noy me righte noghte, 
Here sall neuer payne me be pynande. 


Angel 1
73 With all the wytt at we welde we woyrschip thi wyll, 
THou gloryus God that es grunde of all grace; 
Ay with stedefaste steuen lat vs stande styll, 
Lorde, to be fede with the fode of thi fayre face. 
In lyfe that es lely ay-lastande, 
Thi dale, lorde, es ay daynetethly delande, 
And whoso that fode may be felande- 
To se thi fayre face-es noght fastande. 


Lucifer
81 Owe, certes, what I am worthely wroghte with wyrschip, iwys! 
For in a glorius gle my gleteryng it glemes; 
I am so mightyly made my mirth may noghte mys- 
Ay sall I byde in this blys thorowe brightnes of bemes. 
Me nedes noghte of noy for to neuen, 
All welth in my welde haue I weledande; 
Abowne yohit sall I be beeldand, 
On heghte in the hyeste of hewuen. 
Ther sall I set myselfe full semely to seyghte, 
To ressayue my reuerence thorowe righte o renowne; 
I sall be lyke vnto hym that es hyeste on heghte. 
Owe, what I am derworth and defte-Owe! Dewes! All goes downe! 
My mighte and my mayne es all marrande- 
Helpe, felawes! In faythe I am fallande. 


Angel 2
95 Fra heuen are we heledande on all hande, 
To wo are we weendande, I warande. 
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Lucifer
97 Owte! Owte! Harrowe! Helples, slyke hote at es here; 
This es a dongon of dole that I am to dyghte. 
Whare es my kynde become, so cumly and clere? 
Nowe am I laytheste, allas, that are was lighte. 
My bryghtnes es blakkeste and blo nowe, 
My bale es ay betande and brynande- 
That gares ane go gowlande and gyrnande. 
Owte! Ay walaway! I well euen in wo nowe. 


Diabolus
105 Owte! Owte! I go wode for wo, my wytte es all wente nowe, 
All oure fode es but filth we fynde vs beforn. 
We that ware beelded in blys, in bale are we brent nowe- 
Owte on the Lucifer, lurdan, oure lyghte has thou lorne. 
THi dedes to this dole nowe has dyghte us, 
To spill vs thou was oure spedar, 
For thow was oure lyghte and oure ledar, 
THe hegheste of heuen hade thou hyght vs. 


Lucifer
113 Walaway! Wa es me now, nowe es it war thane it was. 
Vnthryuandely threpe yohe-I sayde but a thoghte. 


Diabolus
115 We, lurdane, thou lost vs. 


Lucifer
115 YOhe ly! Owte, allas! 
I wyste noghte this wo sculde be wroghte. 
Owte on yohow, lurdans, yohe smore me in smoke. 


Diabolus
118 This wo has thou wroghte vs. 


Lucifer
118 YOhe ly, yohe ly! 


Diabolus
119 Thou lyes, and that sall thou by: 
We, lurdane, haue at yoowe, lat loke! 


Cherabyn
121 A, lorde, louid be thi name that vs this lyghte lente, 
Sen Lucifer oure ledar es lighted so lawe, 
For hys vnbuxumnes in bale to be brente- 
Thi rightewysnes to rewarde on rowe 
Ilke warke eftyr is wroghte- 
Thorowe grace of thi mercyfull myghte 
The cause I se itt in syghte, 
Wharefore to bale he es broghte. 
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God
129 Those foles for thaire fayrehede in fantasyes fell, 
And hade mayne of mi mighte that marked tham and made tham. 
Forthi efter thaire warkes were, in wo sall thai well, 
For sum ar fallen into fylthe that euermore sall fade tham, 
And neuer sall haue grace for to gyrth tham. 
So passande of power tham thoght tham, 
Thai wolde noght me worschip that wroghte tham; 
Forthi sall my wreth euer go with tham. 
Ande all that me wyrschippe sall wone here, iwys; 
Forthi more forthe of my warke, wyrke nowe I will. 
Syn than ther mighte es for-marryde that mente all omys, 
Euen to myne awne fygure this blys to fulfyll, 
Mankynde of moulde will I make. 
But fyrste wille I fourme hym before 
All thyng that sall hym restore, 
To whilke that his talente will take. 
Ande in my fyrste makyng, to mustyr my mighte, 
Sen erthe es vayne and voyde and myrknes emel, 
I byd in my blyssyng yohe aungels gyf lyghte 
To the erthe, for it faded when the fendes fell. 
In hell sall neuer myrknes be myssande, 
THe myrknes thus name I for nighte; 
The day, that call I this lyghte- 
My after-warkes sall thai be wyssande. 
Ande nowe in my blyssyng I twyne tham in two, 
The nighte euen fro the day, so that thai mete neuer, 
But ather in a kynde courese thaire gates for to go. 
Bothe the nighte and the day, does dewly yohour deyuer, 
To all I sall wirke be yohe wysshyng. 
This day warke es done ilke a dele, 
And all this warke lykes me ryght wele, 
And baynely I gyf it my blyssyng. 
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Play 2


God
1 In altissimis habito, 
In the heghest heuyn my hame haue I; 
Eterne mentis et ego, 
Withoutyn ende ay-lastandly. 
Sen I haue wroght thire worldys wyde, 
Heuyn and ayre and erthe also, 
My hegh Godhede I will noght hyde 
All-yf sume foles be fallyn me fro. 
When thai assent with syn of pride 
Vp for to trine my trone vnto, 
In heuyn thai myght no lengger byde 
But wyghtly went to wone in wo; 
And sen thai wrange haue wroght 
My lyk ys to lat tham go, 
To suffir sorowe onsoght, 
Syne thai haue seruid so. 
THare mys may neuer be amende 
Sen thai asent me to forsake, 
For all there force non sall thame fende 
For to be fendys foule and blake. 
And tho that lykys with me to lende, 
And trewly tent to me will take, 
Sall wonne in welth withoutyn ende 
And allway wynly with me wake; 
THai sall haue for thare sele 
Solace that neuer sall sclake. 
THis warke me thynkys full wele 
And more now will I make. 
Syne that this world es ordand euyn, 
Furth well I publysch my power: 
Noght by my strenkyth, but by my steuyn 
A firmament I byd apere, 
Emange the waterris, lyght so leuyn, 
THere cursis lely for to lere, 
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And that same sall be namyd hewuyn, 
With planitys and with clowdis clere. 
THe water I will be sent 
To flowe bothe fare and nere, 
And than the firmament 
In mydis to set thame sere. 
THe firmament sal nough moue, 
But be a mene, thus will I mene, 
Ouir all the worlde to halde and houe, 
And be tho tow wateris betwyne. 
Vndir the heuyn and als aboue 
THe wateris serly sall be sene, 
And so I wille my post proue 
By creaturis of kyndis clene. 
THis warke his to my pay 
Righit will, withoutyn wyne; 
THus sese the secunde day 
Of my doyingys bydene. 
Moo sutyll werkys assesay I sall, 
For to be set in seruice sere: 
All the waterris grete and smalle 
THat vndir heuyne er ordande here, 
Gose togedir and holde yow all, 
And be a flode festynde in fere, 
So that the erthe, both downe and dale, 
In drynesch playnly may apere. 
THe drynes `landé sall be 
Namyd bothe ferre and nere, 
And then I name the `sé, 
Geddryng of wateris clere. 
THe erthe sall fostyr and furthe bryng 
Buxsumly, as I wyle byde, 
Erbys and also othir thyng, 
Well for to wax and worthe to wede; 
Treys also tharon sall spryng 
With braunchis and with bowis on brede, 
With flouris fayr on heght to hyng 
And fruth also to fylle and fede. 
And thane I will that thay 
Of themselfe haue the sede 
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And mater, that thay may 
Be lastande furth in lede. 
And all ther materis es in mynde 
For to be made of mekyl might, 
And to be kest in dyueris kynde 
So for to bere sere burgvns bright. 
And when ther frutys is fully fynde 
And fayrest semande vnto syght, 
THane the wedris wete and wynde 
Oway I will it wende full wyght; 
And of there sede full sone 
New rotys sall ryse vpright. 
THe third day thus is done, 
THire dedis er dewly dyght. 
Now sene the erthe thus ordand es, 
Mesurid and made by myn assent- 
Grathely for to growe with gres 
And wedis that sone away bese went- 
Of my gudnes now will I ges, 
So that my werkis no harmes hent, 
Two lyghtis, one more and one lesse, 
To be fest in the firmament. 
The more light to the day 
Fully suthely sall be sent, 
THe lesse lyght allway 
To the nyght sall take entent. 
THir figuris fayre that furth er fun 
THus on sere sydys serue thai sall: 
The more lyght sall be namid the son, 
Dymnes to wast be downe and be dale. 
Erbis and treys that er bygune 
All sall he gouerne, gret and smale; 
With cald yf thai be closid or bun 
Thurgh hete of the sun thai sal be hale. 
Als thei haue honours 
In alkyn welth to wale, 
So sall my creaturis 
Euir byde withoutyn bale. 
THe son and the mone on fayre manere 
Now grathly gange in yoour degré, 
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Als ye haue tane yooure curses clere 
To serue furth loke ye be fre, 
For ye sall set the sesons sere, 
Kyndely to knowe in ilke cuntré, 
Day fro day and yere fro yere 
By sertayne signes suthly to se. 
THe heuyn sall be ouerhyld 
With sternys to stand plenté. 
THe furth day his fulfillid, 
THis werke well lykys me. 
Now sen thir werkis er wroght with wyne 
And fundyn furth be firth and fell, 
THe see now will I set within 
Whallis whikly for to dewell, 
And othir fysch to flet with fyne- 
Sum with skale and sum with skell, 
Of diueris materis more and myn- 
In sere maner to make and mell; 
Sum sall be milde and meke, 
And sum both fers and fell. 
THis world thus will I eke, 
Syn I am witt of well. 
Also vp in the ayre on hyght 
I byd now that thore be ordande 
For to be foulis fayre and bright, 
Dewly in thare degré dewlland, 
With fedrys fayre to frast ther flight 
For stede to stede whore thai will stande, 
And also leythly for to lyght 
Whoreso tham lykis in ilke a londe. 
THane fysch and foulis sere, 
Kyndely I yoow commande 
To meng on yooure manere, 
Both be se and sande. 
THis materis more yoitt will I mende, 
So for to fulfill my forthoght, 
With diueris bestis in lande to lende 
To brede and be with balé furth brught. 
And with bestis I wille be blende 
Serpentis to be sene vnsoght, 
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And wormis vpon thaire wombis sall wende 
To won in erth and worth to noght. 
And so it sall be kende 
How all that eme is oght, 
Begynnyng, mydes and ende 
I with my worde hase wrothe. 
For als I byde bus all thyng be 
And dewly done als I will dresse, 
Now bestys ar sett in sere degré 
On molde to moue, both more and lesse; 
THane foulis in ayre and fische in see 
And bestis on erthe of bone and flesch, 
I byde yoe wax furth fayre plenté 
And grathly growes, als I yoow gesse. 
So multiply yoe sall 
Ay furth in fayre processe, 
My blyssyng haue yoe all; 
The fift day endyd es. 

Play 3A


God
1 In heuyn and erthe duly bedene 
Of v days werke, euyn onto ende, 
I haue complete by curssis clene; 
Methynke the space of thame well spende. 
In heuyn er angels fayre and brighte, 
Sternes and planetis ther curssis to ga, 
THe mone seruis onto the nyght 
The son to lyghte the day alswa. 
In erthe is treys and gres to springe, 
Bestis and foulys, bothe gret and smalle, 
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Fyschis in flode, all othyr thyng 
Thryffe and haue my blyssyng all. 
Thys werke is wroght now at my will, 
But yoet can I here no best see 
THat acordys be kynde and skyll, 
And for my werke myght worschippe me. 
For perfytt werke ne ware it nane 
But ought ware made that myght it yoeme, 
For loue mad I this warlde alane, 
THerfor my loffe sall in it seme. 
To kepe this warlde, bothe mare and lesse, 
A skylfull best thane will I make 
Eftyr my schape and my lyknes, 
The wilke sall worschipe to me take. 
Off the symplest part of erthe that is here 
I sall make man, and for this skylle: 
For to abate hys hauttande chere, 
Bothe his gret pride and other ille; 
And also for to haue in mynde 
How simpyll he is at hys makyng, 
For als febyll I sall hym fynde 
Qwen he is dede at his endyng. 
For this reson and skyll alane 
I sall make man lyke onto me. 
Ryse vp, thou erthe, in blode and bane, 
In schape of man, I commaunde the. 
A female sall thou haue to fere, 
Her sall I make of thi lyft rybe, 
Alane so sall thou nough be here 
Withoutyn faythefull frende and sybe. 
Takys now here the gast of lyffe 
And ressayue bothe yooure saules of me; 
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THis femall take thou to thi wyffe, 
Adam and Eue yoour names sall be. 


Adam
45 A, lorde, full mekyll is thi mighte 
And that is sene in ilke a syde, 
For now his here a ioyfull syght 
To se this worlde so lange and wyde. 
Mony diueris thyngis now here es, 
Off bestis and foulis bathe wylde and tame; 
YOet is nan made to thi liknes 
But we alone-A, louyd by thi name. 


Eue
53 To swylke a lorde in all degré 
Be euirmore lastande louynge, 
THat tyll vs swylke a dyngnité 
Has gyffyne before all othyr thynge; 
And selcouth thyngis may we se here 
Of this ilke warld so lange and brade, 
With bestis and fowlis so many and sere; 
Blessid be he that hase us made. 


Adam
61 A, blyssid lorde, now at thi wille 
Syne we er wroght, wochesaff to telle 
And also say vs two vntyll 
Qwate we sall do and whare to dewell? 


God
65 For this skyl made I yoow this day, 
My name to worschip ay-whare; 
Louys me, forthi, and louys me ay 
For my makyng, I axke no mare. 
Bothe wys and witty sall thou be, 
Als man that I haue made of noght; 
Lordschipe in erthe than graunt I the, 
All thynge to serue the that I haue wroght. 
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In paradyse sall yoe same wone, 
Of erthely thyng get yoe no nede, 
Ille and gude both sall yoe kone, 
I sall yoou lerne yooure lyue to lede. 


Adam
77 A, lorde, sene we sall do no thyng 
But louffe the for thi gret gudnesse, 
We sall ay bay to thi biddyng 
And fulfyll it, both more and less. 


Eue
81 His syng sene he has on vs sett 
Beforne all othir thyng certayne, 
Hym for to loue we sall noght lett 
And worschip hym with myght and mayne. 


God
85 At heuyne and erth first I begane 
And vj days wroght or I walde ryst; 
My warke is endyde now at mane, 
All lykes me will, but this is best. 
My blyssyng haue thai ever and ay. 
The seueynt day sall my restyng be, 
THus wille I sese, sothely to say, 
Of my doying in this degré. 
To blys I sall yoow bryng, 
Comys forth, yoe tow, with me; 
YOe sall lyffe in lykyng- 
My blyssyng wyth yoow be. Amen. 
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Play 3B


God
1 In heuyn and erthe duly bedene 
Of v daies werke evyn vnto the ende, 
I haue complete by courssis clene- 
Methynketh the space of tham wele spende. 
In heuen ar aungels faire and bright, 
Sternes and planetis ther courses to goo, 
THe mone serues vnto the nyghte, 
The sonne to lighte the day also. 
In erthe is trees and gresse to springe, 
Beestes and foules bothe grete and smale, 
Fisshys in flode, all othir thynge, 
Thryffe and haue my blissynge alle. 
This werke is wrought nowe at my wille, 
But yitte can I here no beste see 
That accordes by kyndly skylle, 
And for my werke myght worshippe me. 
For parfite werke ne wer it none 
But oughte wer made that myghte it yoeme, 
For loue made I this worlde alone, 
Therfore my loue shalle in it seme. 
To kepe this worlde bothe more and lesse 
A skylfull beeste than will Y make 
Aftir my shappe and my liknesse, 
The whilke shalle wirshippe to me take. 
Of the sympylest parte of erthe that is here 
I schalle make man, and for this skylle, 
For to abate his hauttande cheere, 
Bothe his grete pride and othir ille; 
And also for to haue in mynde 
Howe symple he is at his makynge, 
For als febill I shalle hym fynde 
Qwen he is dede at his endynge. 
For this reasonne and skille allone 
I schalle make man like vnto me. 
Rise vppe, thou erthe, in bloode and bone, 
In shappe of man, I comaunde the. 
A female shalte thou haue to feere, 
Here schalle Y make of thy lefte rybbe, 
Allone so shalle thou nought be heere, 
Withoutyn faithfull freende and sibbe. 
Takis nowe here the goste of liffe, 
And ressayue bothe youre soules of me, 
THis femalle take thou to thi wiffe- 
Adam and Eue youre names schalle bee. 


Adam
45 A, lord, ful mekill is thi myght, 
And that is seene in ilke a side, 
For nowe is here a joifull sighte, 
To see this worlde so longe and wide. 
Many dyuerse thynges nowe here is, 
Of beestis and foules bothe wilde and tame, 
YOitte is non made to thi liknesse 
But we allone-a, loued be thy name. 


Eue
53 To swilke a lorde in alle degree 
Be euermore lastand louynge, 
THat to vs such a dyngnyté 
Has geffynne before all othir thynge. 
And selcouthe thynges may we see heere 
Of this ilke worlde so longe and broode, 
With beestes and foules so many and seere, 
Blyssed be hee that hase vs made. 


Adam
61 A, blissed lorde, nowe at thi wille 
Sethen we are wrought, wouchesaffe to telle 
And also saie vs two vntille 
Whatte we schalle do and where to dwelle. 


God
65 For this skille made Y you this daye, 
My name to worschippe ay-where. 
Lovis me forthy, and loues me aye 
For my makyng-I aske no more. 
Bothe wyse and witty shalle thou bee 
Als man, that Y haue made of nought, 
Lordshippe in erthe than graunte Y the, 
Alle thynge to serue the that is wrought. 
In pardise shalle ye same wonne, 
Of erthely thyng gete yoe no nede, 
Ille and goode bothe shalle yoe konne, 
I shalle you lerne youre lyffe to leede. 


Adam
77 A, lord, sene we shalle do no thynge 
But loue the for thy grette goodnesse, 
We shalle abeye to thi biddyng, 
And fulfille it, bothe more and lees. 


Eue
81 Hys syngne sen he has on vs sette 
Before al othir thyng certayne, 
Hym for to loue we schal not lette, 
And worshippe hym with myghte and mayne. 


God
85 At heuene and erthe firste I beganne, 
And vj daies wroughte or Y wolde reste, 
My werke is endid nowe at mane; 
Alle likes me wele, but this the beste. 
My blissynge haue they euer and ay. 
THe seuynte day shal my restyng be, 
THus wille I sese, sothly to say, 
Of my doyng in this degree. 
To blisse I schal you brynge, 
Comes forthe yoe two with me. 
YOe shalle lyff in likyng: 
My blissyng with you be. Amen. 

Play 4


God
1 Adam and Eve, this is the place 
That I haue graunte you of my grace 
To haue your wonnyng in. 
Erbes, spyce, frute on tree, 
Beastes, fewles, all that ye see 
Shall bowe to you, more and myn. 
This place hight paradyce, 
Here shall your joys begynne; 
And yf that ye be wyse, 
Frome thys tharr ye never twyn. 
All your wyll here shall ye haue, 
Lykyng for to eate or sayff 
Fyshe, fewle or fee; 
And for to take at your owen wyll 
All other creatours also theretyll, 
Your suggettes shall they bee. 
Adam, of more and lesse, 
Lordeship in erthe here graunte I the; 
Thys place that worthy is, 
Kepe it in honestye. 
Looke that ye yoem ytt wetterly; 
All other creatours shall multeply, 
Ylke one in tender hower. 
Looke that ye bothe saue and sett 
Erbes and treys; for nothyng lett, 
So that ye may endower 
To susteyn beast and man, 
And fewll of ylke stature. 
Dwell here yf that ye cann, 
This shall be your endowre. 


Adam
31 O lorde, lovyd be thy name, 
For nowe is this a joyfull hame 
That thowe hais brought vs to, 
Full of myrthe and solys faughe, 
Erbes and trees, frute on haugh, 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Wyth spysys many one hoo. 
Loo, Eve, nowe ar we brought 
Bothe vnto rest and rowe, 
We neyd to tayke no thought, 
But loke ay well to doo. 


Eue
41 Lovyng be ay to suche a lord, 
To vs hais geven so great reward 
To governe bothe great and small, 
And mayd vs after his owen read, 
44 [... ...] 
Emonges these myrthes all. 
Here is a joyfull sight 
Where that wee wonn in shall; 
We love the, mooste of myght, 
Great God, that we on call. 


God
50 Love my name with good entent 
And harken to my comaundement, 
And do my byddyng buxomly: 
Of all the frute in parradyce, 
Tayke ye therof of your best wyse 
And mayke you right merry. 
The tree of good and yll, 
What tyme you eates of thys 
Thowe speydes thyself to spyll, 
And be brought owte of blysse. 
All thynges is mayd, man, for thy prowe, 
All creatours shall to the bowe 
That here is mayd erthly; 
In erthe I mayke the lord of all, 
And beast vnto the shall be thrall, 
Thy kynd shall multeply. 
Therefore this tree alone, 
Adam, this owte-take I; 
The frute of it negh none, 
For an ye do, then shall ye dye. 


Adam
70 Alas lorde, that we shuld do so yll, 
Thy blyssed byddyng we shall fulfyll 
Bothe in thought and deyd; 
We shall no negh thys tre nor the bugh, 
Nor yit the fruyte that thereon groweth 
Therewith oure fleshe to feyd. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Eue
76 We shall do thy byddyng, 
We haue none other neyd; 
Thys frute full styll shall hyng, 
Lorde, that thowe hays forbyd. 


God
80 Looke that ye doe as ye haue sayd, 
Of all that there is hold you apayd, 
For here is welthe at wyll. 
Thys tre that beres the fruyte of lyfe, 
Luke nother thowe nor Eve thy wyf 
Lay ye no handes theretyll. 
For-why it is knowyng 
Bothe of good and yll, 
This frute but ye lett hyng 
Ye speyd yourself to spyll. 
Forthy this tree that I owt-tayke, 
Nowe kepe it grathly for my sayke, 
That nothyng negh it neyre; 
All other at your wyll shall be, 
I owte-take nothyng but this tree, 
To feyd you with in feare. 
Here shall ye leyd your lyffe 
With dayntys that is deare; 
Adam, and Eve thy wyfe, 
My blyssyng haue ye here. 

Play 5


Satan
1 For woo my witte es in a were 
That moffes me mykill in my mynde; 
The Godhede that I sawe so cleere, 
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Page 65

And parsayued that he shuld take kynde 
Of a degree 
That he had wrought, and I dedyned 
THat aungell kynde shuld it noyot be; 
And we wer faire and bright, 
THerfore me thoght that he 
The kynde of vs tane myght, 
And therat dedeyned me. 
The kynde of man he thoght to take 
And theratt hadde I grete envye, 
But he has made to hym a make, 
And harde to her I wol me hye 
That redy way, 
That purpose proue to putte it by, 
And fande to pike fro hym that pray. 
My trauayle were wele sette 
Myght Y hym so betraye, 
His likyng for to lette, 
And sone I schalle assaye. 
In a worme liknes wille Y wende, 
And founde to feyne a lowde lesynge. 
Eue, Eue. 


Eue
25 What es thare? 


Satan
25 I, a frende. 
And for thy gude es the comynge 
I hydir sought. 
Of all the fruyt that ye se hynge 
In paradise, why ete yoe noght? 


Eue
30 We may of tham ilkane 
Take al that vs goode thought, 
Save a tree outt is tane, 
Wolde do harme to neyghe it ought. 


Satan
34 And why that tree, that wolde I witte, 
Any more than all othir by? 


Eue
36 For oure lord God forbeedis vs itt, 
The frute therof, Adam nor I 
To neghe it nere; 
And yf we dide we both shuld dye, 
He saide, and sese our solace sere. 


Satan
41 Yha, Eue, to me take tente; 
Take hede and thou shalte here 
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What that the matere mente 
He moved on that manere. 
To ete therof he you defende 
I knawe it wele, this was his skylle: 
Bycause he wolde non othir kende 
Thes grete vertues that longes thertill. 
For will thou see, 
Who etis the frute of goode and ille 
Shalle haue knowyng as wele as hee. 


Eue
52 Why, what-kynne thyng art thou 
THat telles this tale to me? 


Satan
54 A worme, that wotith wele how 
THat yhe may wirshipped be. 


Eue
56 What wirshippe shulde we wynne therby? 
To ete therof vs nedith it nought, 
We have lordshippe to make maistrie 
Of alle thynge that in erthe is wrought. 


Satan
60 Woman, do way! 
To gretter state ye may be broughte 
And ye will do as I schall saye. 


Eue
63 To do is vs full lothe 
THat shuld oure God myspaye. 


Satan
65 Nay, certis it is no wathe, 
Ete it saffely ye maye. 
For perille ryght ther none in lyes, 
Bot worshippe and a grete wynnynge, 
For right als God yhe shalle be wyse 
And pere to hym in all-kyn thynge. 
Ay, goddis shalle ye be, 
Of ille and gode to haue knawyng, 
For to be als wise as he. 


Eue
74 Is this soth that thou sais? 


Satan
75 Yhe, why trowes thou noyot me? 
I wolde be no-kynnes wayes 
Telle noyot but trouthe to the. 


Eue
78 Than wille I to thy techyng traste 
And fange this frute vnto oure foode. 


Satan
80 Byte on boldly, be nought abasshed, 
And bere Adam to amende his mode 
And eke his blisse. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Eue
83 Adam, have here of frute full goode. 


Adam
84 Alas woman, why toke thou this? 
Owre lorde comaunded vs bothe 
To tente the tree of his. 
Thy werke wille make hym wrothe- 
Allas, thou hast don amys. 


Eue
89 Nay Adam, greve the nought at it, 
And I shal saie the reasonne why. 
A worme has done me for to witte 
We shalle be as goddis, thou and I, 
Yf that we ete 
Here of this tree; Adam, forthy 
Lette noght that worshippe for to gete. 
For we shalle be als wise 
Als God that is so grete, 
And als mekill of prise; 
Forthy ete of this mete. 


Adam
100 To ete it wolde Y nought eschewe 
Myght I me sure in thy saying. 


Eue
102 Byte on boldely, for it is trewe, 
We shalle be goddis and knawe al thyng. 


Adam
104 To wynne that name 
I schalle it taste at thy techyng. 
Allas, what haue I done, for shame! 
Ille counsaille, woo worthe the! 
A, Eue, thou art to blame, 
To this entysed thou me- 
Me shames with my lyghame, 
For I am naked as methynke. 


Eue
112 Allas Adam, right so am I. 


Adam
113 And for sorowe sere why ne myght we synke, 
For we haue greved God almyghty 
THat made me man- 
Brokyn his bidyng bittirly. 
Allas that euer we it began. 
THis werke, Eue, hast thou wrought, 
And made this bad bargayne. 


Eue
120 Nay Adam, wite me nought. 


Adam
121 Do wey, lefe Eue, whame than? 


Eue
122 The worme to wite wele worthy were, 
With tales vntrewe he me betrayed. 


Adam
124 Allas, that I lete at thy lare 
Or trowed the trufuls that thou me saide. 
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So may I byde, 
For I may banne that bittir brayde 
And drery dede, that I it dyde. 
Oure shappe for doole me defes, 
Wherewith thay shalle be hydde. 


Eue
131 Late vs take there fygge-leves, 
Sythen it is thus betydde. 


Adam
133 Ryght as thou sais so shalle it bee, 
For we are naked and all bare; 
Full wondyr fayne I wolde hyde me 
Fro my lordis sight, and I wiste whare, 
Where I ne roght. 


God
138 Adam, Adam. 


Adam
138 Lorde. 


God
138 Where art thou, yhare? 


Adam
139 I here the lorde and seys the noyot. 


God
140 Say, wheron is it longe, 
THis werke why hast thou wrought? 


Adam
142 Lorde, Eue garte me do wronge 
And to that bryg me brought. 


God
144 Say, Eue, why hast thou garte thy make 
Ete frute I bad the shuld hynge stille, 
And comaunded none of it to take? 


Eue
147 A worme, lorde, entysed me thertill; 
So welaway, 
That euer I did that dede so dill. 


God
150 A, wikkid worme, woo worthe the ay 
For thou on this maner 
Hast made tham swilke affraye; 
My malysoune haue thou here 
With all the myght Y may. 
And on thy wombe than shall thou glyde, 
And be ay full of enmyté 
To al mankynde on ilke a side, 
And erthe it shalle thy sustynaunce be 
To ete and drynke. 
Adam and Eue alsoo, yhe 
In erthe than shalle ye swete and swynke, 
And trauayle for youre foode. 


Adam
163 Allas, whanne myght we synke, 
We that haues alle worldis goode 
Ful derfly may vs thynke. 
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God
166 Now Cherubyn, myn aungell bryght, 
To middilerth tyte go dryve there twoo. 


Angel
168 Alle redy lorde, as it is right, 
Syn thy wille is that it be soo, 
And thy lykyng. 
Adam and Eue, do you to goo, 
For here may yoe make no dwellyng; 
Goo yhe forthe faste to fare, 
Of sorowe may yhe synge. 


Adam
175 Allas, for sorowe and care 
Oure handis may we wryng. 

Play 6


Angel
1 Alle creatures to me take tent, 
Fro God of heuen now am I sent 
Vnto the wrecchis that wronge has went 
Thaymself to woo; 
THe joie of heuen that thaym was lent 
Is lost thaym froo. 
Fro thaym is loste bothe game and glee; 
He badde that thei schuld maistirs be 
Ouer alle-kynne thyng, oute-tane a tree 
He taught them tille; 
And therto wente bothe she and he, 
Agayne his wille. 
Agaynst his wille thus haue they wrought, 
To greeffe grete God gaffe they right noght, 
THat wele wytt ye; 
And therfore syte is to thaym sought, 
As ye shalle see. 
The fooles that faithe is fallen fra 
Take tente to me nowe, or ye ga; 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 70

Fro God of heuen vnto yow twa 
Sente am I nowe, 
For to warne you what-kynne wa 
Is wrought for you. 


Adam
24 For vs is wrought, so welaway, 
Doole endurand nyghte and day; 
The welthe we wende haue wonnyd in ay 
Is loste vs fra. 
For this myscheffe ful wele we may 
euer mornyng ma. 


Angel
30 Adam, thyselffe made al this syte, 
For to the tree thou wente full tyte 
And boldely on the frute gan byte 
My lord forbed. 


Adam
34 Yaa, allas, my wiffe that may I wite, 
For scho me red. 


Angel
36 Adam, for thou trowyd hir tale, 
He sendis the worde and sais thou shale 
Lyffe ay in sorowe, 
Abide and be in bittir bale 
Tille he the borowe. 


Adam
41 Allas, wrecchis, what haue we wrought? 
To byggly blys we bothe wer brought; 
Whillis we wer thare 
We hadde inowe, nowe haue we noghte- 
Allas, for care. 


Eue
46 Oure cares ar comen bothe kyne and colde, 
With fele fandyngis manyfolde; 
Allas, that tyraunte to me tolde, 
Thurghoute his gyle, 
That we shulde haue alle welthis in walde, 
Wa worthe the whyle. 


Angel
52 That while yee wrought vnwittely, 
Soo for to greue God almyghty, 
And that mon ye full dere abye 
Or that ye go; 
And to lyffe, as is worthy, 
In were and wo. 
Adam, haue this, luke howe ye thynke, 
And tille withalle thi meete and drynke 
For euermore. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Adam
61 Allas, for syte why ne myght Y synke, 
So shames me sore. 


Eue
63 Soore may we shame with sorowes seere, 
And felly fare we bothe in feere; 
Alas, that euyr we neghed it nere, 
THat tree vntill. 
With dole now mon we bye full dere 
Oure dedis ille. 


Angel
69 Giffe for thou beswyked hym swa, 
Trauell herto shalle thou ta, 
Thy barnes to bere with mekill wa- 
THis warne I the. 
Buxom shalle thou and othir ma 
To man ay be. 


Eue
75 Allas for doole, what shall Y doo, 
Now mon I neuer haue rest ne roo. 


Adam
77 Nay, lo, swilke a tole is taken me too 
To trauaylle tyte; 
Nowe is shente both I and shoo, 
Allas, for syte. 
Allas, for syte and sorowe sadde, 
Mournynge makis me mased and madde, 
To thynke in herte what helpe Y hadde 
And nowe has none. 
On grounde mon I neuyr goo gladde, 
My gamys ere gane. 
Gone ar my games withowten glee; 
Allas, in blisse kouthe we noyot bee, 
For putte we were to grete plenté 
At prime of the day; 
Be tyme of none alle lost had wee, 
Sa welawaye. 
Sa welaway, for harde peyne, 
Alle bestis were to my biddyng bayne, 
Fisshe and fowle, they were fulle fayne 
With me to founde. 
And nowe is alle thynge me agayne 
THat gois on grounde. 
On grounde ongaynely may Y gange, 
To suffre syte and peynes strange, 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 72

Alle is for dede I haue done wrange 
Thurgh wykkid wyle. 
On lyve methynkith I lyffe to lange, 
Allas the whille. 
A, lord, I thynke what thynge is this 
That me is ordayned for my mysse; 
Gyffe I wirke wronge, who shulde me wys 
Be any waye? 
How beste wille be, so haue Y blisse, 
I shalle assaye. 
Allas, for bale, what may this bee? 
In worlde vnwisely wrought haue wee, 
This erthe it trembelys for this tree 
And dyns ilke dele! 
Alle this worlde is wrothe with mee, 
THis wote I wele. 
Full wele Y wote my welthe is gone, 
Erthe, elementis, euerilkane 
For my synne has sorowe tane, 
THis wele I see. 
Was neuere wrecchis so wylle of wane 
As nowe ar wee. 


Eue
123 We are fulle wele worthy iwis 
To haue this myscheffe for oure mys, 
For broght we were to byggely blys, 
Euer in to be. 
Now my sadde sorowe certis is this 
Mysilfe to see. 


Adam
129 To see it is a sytfull syghte, 
We bothe that were in blis so brighte, 
We mon go nakid euery ilke a nyghte 
And dayes bydene, 
Allas, what womans witte was light! 
THat was wele sene. 


Eue
135 Sethyn it was so me knyth it sore, 
Bot sethyn that woman witteles ware 
Mans maistrie shulde haue bene more 
Agayns the gilte. 


Adam
139 Nay, at my speche wolde thou never spare, 
THat has vs spilte. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 73



Eue
141 Iff I hadde spoken youe oughte to spill 
Ye shulde haue taken gode tent theretyll, 
And turnyd my thought. 


Adam
144 Do way, woman, and neme it noght, 
For at my biddyng wolde thou not be 
And therfore my woo wyte Y thee; 
Thurgh ille counsaille thus casten ar we 
In bitter bale. 
Nowe God late never man aftir me 
Triste woman tale. 
For certis me rewes fulle sare 
That euere I shulde lerne at thi lare, 
Thy counsaille has casten me in care, 
THat thou me kende. 


Eue
155 Be stille Adam, and nemen it na mare, 
It may not mende. 
For wele I wate I haue done wrange, 
And therfore euere I morne emange, 
Allas the whille I leue so lange, 
Dede wolde I be. 


Adam
161 On grounde mon I never gladde gange, 
Withowten glee. 
Withowten glee I ga, 
This sorowe wille me sla, 
This tree vnto me wille I ta 
THat me is sende. 
He that vs wrought wisse vs fro wa, 
Whare-som we wende. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 74


Play 7


Angel
1 That lord of lyffe lele ay-lastand 
Whos myght vnmesured is to meyne, 
He shoppe the sonne, bothe see and sande, 
And wroughte this worlde with worde, I wene. 
His aungell cleere as cristall clene, 
Here vnto you thus am I sente 
THis tide. 
Abell and Cayme, yei, both bydeyne 
To me enteerly takis entent; 
To meve my message haue I ment 
If that ye bide. 
Allemyghty God of myghtes moste, 
When he had wrought this world so wide, 
No thynge hym thoughte was wroughte in waste, 
But in his blissyng boune to bide 
Neyne ordurs for to telle, that tyde, 
Of aungeles bryght he bad ther be. 
For pride 
And sone the tente part it was tried, 
And wente awaye as was worthye; 
They heild to helle alle that meyné 
THerin to bide. 
THanne made he manne to his liknes 
That place of price for to restore, 
And sithen he kyd hym such kyndnes 
Somwhat wille he wirke therfore: 
The tente to tyne he askis, no more, 
Of alle the goodes he haues you sent. 
Full trew 
To offyr loke that ye be yore, 
And to my tale yhe take entent, 
For ilke a lede that liffe has lente 
So shalle you sewe. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 75



Abel
34 Gramercy God, of thy goodnes 
That me on molde has marked thi man, 
I worshippe the with worthynes, 
With alle the comforte that I can. 
Me for to were fro warkes wanne, 
For to fulfille thy comaundement, 
THe teynd 
Of alle the gode sen I beganne 
Thow shalle it haue, sen thou it sent. 
Come, brothir Cayme, I wolde we wente 
With hert ful hende. 


Cain
45 We! Whythir now, in wilde waneand? 
Trowes thou I thynke to trusse of towne? 
Goo, jape the, robard jangillande, 
Me liste noyot nowe to rouk nor rowne. 


Abel
49 A, dere brothir, late vs be bowne 
Goddis biddyng blithe to fulfille, 
I tell the. 


Cain
52 Ya, daunce in the devil way, dresse the downe, 
For I wille wyrke euen as I will. 
What mystris the, in gode or ille, 
Of me to melle the? 


Abel
56 To melle of the myldely I may. 
Bote goode brothir, go we in haste, 
Gyffe God oure teynde dulye this day- 
He byddis vs thus, be nouyot abassed. 


Cain
60 Ya, deuell, methynketh that werke were waste, 
That he vs gaffe geffe hym agayne 
To se. 
Nowe fekyll frenshippe for to fraste 
Methynkith ther is in hym sarteyne. 
If he be moste in myghte and mayne 
What nede has he? 


Abel
67 He has non nede vnto thi goode, 
But it wille please hym principall 
If thou, myldly in mayne and moode, 
70 Grouche noyot geue hym tente parte of all. 
[... ...] 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 76



Angel
71 It shall be done evyn as ye bydd, 
And that anone. 


Brewbarret
73 Lo, maister Cayme, what shaves bryng I, 
Evyn of the best for to bere seyd, 
And to the feylde I wyll me hye 
To fetch you moo, if ye haue neyd. 


Cain
76 Cume vp, sir knave, the devyll the speyd, 
Ye will not come but ye be prayd. 


Brewbarret
79 O, maister Caym, I haue broken my to! 


Cain
80 Come vp syr, for by my thryft, 
Ye shall drynke or ye goo. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 77



Angel
82 Thowe cursyd Came, where is Abell? 
Where hais thowe done thy broder dere? 


Cain
84 What askes thowe me that taill to tell, 
For yit his keper was I never? 


Angel
86 God hais sent the his curse downe, 
Fro hevyn to hell, maladictio dei. 


Cain
88 Take that thyself, evyn on thy crowne, 
Quia non sum custos fratris mei, 
To tyne. 


Angel
91 God hais sent the his malyson, 
And inwardly I geve the myne. 


Cain
93 The same curse light on thy crowne, 
And right so myght it worth and be 
For he that sent that gretyng downe, 
The devyll myght speyd both hym and the. 
Fowll myght thowe fall! 
Here is a cankerd company, 
Therefore Goddes curse light on you all. 


Angel
100 What hast thou done? Beholde and heere, 
THe voice of his bloode cryeth vengeaunce 
Fro erthe to heuen, with voice entere 
THis tyde. 
That God is greved with thy greuaunce 
Take hede, I schalle telle the tydandis, 
THerfore abide. 
THou shall be curssed vppon the grounde, 
God has geffyn the his malisonne; 
Yff thou wolde tyll the erthe so rounde 
No frute to the ther shalle be fonne. 
Of wikkidnesse sen thou arte sonne, 
Thou shalle be waferyng here and there 
THis day. 
In bittir bale nowe art thou boune, 
Out-castyn shal thou be for care; 
No man shal rewe of thy misfare 
For this affraie. 


Cain
118 Allas for syte, so may I saye, 
My synne it passis al mercie, 
For ask it the lord I ne maye, 
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To haue it am I nouyot worthy. 
Fro the shalle I be hidde in hye, 
THou castis me, lorde, oute of my kyth 
In lande. 
Both here and there oute-caste am I, 
For ilke a man that metis me with 
They wille slee me, be fenne or frith, 
With dynte of hande. 


Angel
129 Nay Cayme, nouyot soo, haue thou no drede; 
Who that the slees shalle ponnysshed be 
Sevene sithis for doyng of that dede. 
Forthy a token shal thou see, 
It shalle be prentyd so in the 
That ilke a man shalle the knowe full wele. 


Cain
135 Thanne wolle I fardir flee 
For shame. 
Sethen I am sette thus out of seill, 
That curse that I haue for to feill, 
I giffe you the same. 

Play 8


God
1 Fyrst qwen I wrought this world so wyde, 
Wode and wynde and watters wane, 
Heuyn and helle was noght to hyde, 
Wyth herbys and gyrse thus I begane. 
In endles blysse to be and byde. 
And to my liknes made I man, 
Lorde and syre on ilke a side 
Of all medillerthe I made hym than. 
A woman also with hym wroght I, 
Alle in lawe to lede ther lyffe, 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 79

I badde thame waxe and multiplye, 
To fulfille this worlde, withowtyn striffe. 
Sythn hays men wroght so wofully 
And synne is nowe reynand so ryffe, 
THat me repentys and rewys forthi 
THat ever I made outhir man or wiffe. 
Bot sen they make me to repente 
My werke I wroght so wele and trewe, 
Wythowtyn seys will noght assente, 
Bot euer is bowne more bale to brewe. 
Bot for ther synnes thai shall be shente 
And fordone hoyly, hyde and hewe; 
Of tham shal no more be mente, 
Bot wirke this werke I wille al newe. 
Al newe I will this worlde be wroght 
And waste away that wonnys therin, 
A flowyd above thame shall be broght 
To stroye medilerthe, both more and myn. 
Bot Noe alon, lefe shal it noght 
To all be sownkyn for ther synne; 
He and his sones, thus is my thoght, 
And with ther wyffes away sall wynne. 
Nooe, my seruand sad an cleyn, 
For thou art stabill in stede and stalle, 
I wyll thou wyrke withowten weyn 
A warke to saffe thiselfe wythall. 


Noah
37 O, mercy lorde, qwat may this meyne? 


God
38 I am thi Gode of grete and small 
Is comyn to telle the of thy teyn, 
And qwat ferly sall eftir fall. 


Noah
41 A, lorde, I lowe the lowde and still 
THat vnto me-wretche vnworthye- 
THus with thy worde, as is thi will, 
Lykis to appere thus propyrly. 


God
45 Nooe, as I byd the, doo fulfill: 
A shippe I will haue wroght in hye; 
All-yf thou can litill skyll, 
Take it in hande, for helpe sall I. 


Noah
49 A, worthy lorde, wolde thou take heede, 
I am full olde and oute of qwarte, 
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THat me liste do no daies dede 
Bot yf gret mystir me garte. 


God
53 Begynne my werke behoves the nede 
And thou wyll passe from peynes smerte, 
I sall the sokoure and the spede 
And giffe the hele in hede and hert. 
I se such ire emonge mankynde 
THat of thare werkis I will take wreke; 
THay shall be sownkyn for thare synne, 
THerfore a shippe I wille thou make. 
THou and thi sonnes shall be therin, 
They sall be sauyd for thy sake. 
Therfore go bowdly and begynne 
Thy mesures and thy markis to take. 


Noah
65 A, lorde, thi wille sall euer be wroght 
Os counsill gyfys of ilka clerk, 
Bot first, of shippe-craft can I right noght; 
Of ther makyng haue I no merke. 


God
69 Noe, I byd the hartely haue no thought, 
I sall the wysshe in all thi werke, 
And even to itt till ende be wroght; 
Therfore to me take hede and herke. 
Take high trees and hewe thame cleyne, 
All be sware and noght of skwyn, 
Make of thame burdes and wandes betwene 
THus thrivandly, and noght ouer-thyn. 
Luke that thi semes be suttilly seyn 
And naylid wele that thei noght twyne; 
THus I deuyse ilk dele bedeyne, 
THerfore do furthe, and leue thy dyne. 
iij C cubyttis it sall be lang, 
And fyfty brode, all for thy blys; 
THe highte, of thyrty cubittis strang, 
Lok lely that thou thynke on this. 
THus gyffe I the grathly or I gang 
THi mesures, that thou do not mysse. 
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Luk nowe that thou wirke noght wrang 
THus wittely sen I the wyshe. 


Noah
89 A, blistfull lord, that al may beylde, 
I thanke the hartely both euer and ay; 
Fyfe hundreth wyntres I am of elde- 
Methynk ther yoeris as yestirday. 
Ful wayke I was and all vnwelde, 
My werynes is wente away, 
To wyrk this werke here in this feylde 
Al be myselfe I will assaye. 
To hewe this burde I wyll begynne, 
But firste I wille lygge on my lyne; 
Now bud it be alle inlike thynne, 
So that it nowthyr twynne nor twyne. 
THus sall I june it with a gynn 
And sadly sett it with symonde fyne: 
THus schall I wyrke it both more and mynne 
Thurgh techyng of God, maistir myne. 
104 [... ...] 
More suttelly kan no man sewe; 
It sall be cleyngked euerilka dele 
With nayles that are both noble and newe, 
THus sall I feste it fast to feele. 
Take here a revette, and there a rewe, 
With ther the bowe nowe wyrke I wele; 
THis werke I warand both gud and trewe. 
Full trewe it is who will take tente, 
Bot faste my force begynnes to fawlde. 
A hundereth wyntres away is wente 
Sen I began this werk, full grathely talde, 
And in slyke trauayle for to be bente 
Is harde to hym that is thus olde. 
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But he that to me this messages sent 
He wille be my beylde, thus am I bowde. 


God
120 Nooe, this werke is nere an ende 
And wrought right as I warned the. 
Bot yit in maner it must be mende, 
THerfore this lessoun lerne at me: 
For dyuerse beestis therin must lende, 
And fewles also in there degree, 
And for that thay sall not sam blende 
Dyuerse stages must ther be. 
And qwen that it is ordand soo 
With dyuerse stawllys and stagis seere, 
Of ilka kynde thou sall take twoo, 
Bothe male and femalle fare in fere. 
Thy wyffe, thy sonnes, with the sall goo 
And thare thre wyffes, withowten were; 
THere viij bodies withowten moo 
Sall thus be saued on this manere. 
Therfore to my biddyng be bayne, 
Tille all be herberd haste the faste; 
Eftir the vij day sall it rayne 
Tille fowrty dayes be fully paste. 
Take with the geere sclyk os may gayne 
To man and beeste thare lyffes to laste. 
I sall the socoure for certeyne 
Tille alle thi care awey be kaste. 


Noah
144 A, lorde, that ilka mys may mende, 
I lowe thi lare both lowde and stille, 
I thanke the both with herte and hende, 
That me wille helpe fro angrys hill. 
Abowte this werke now bus me wende 
With beestys and fewlys my shippe to fill. 
He that to me this Crafte has kende, 
He wysshe vs with his worthy wille. 
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Play 9


Noah
1 That lord that leves ay-lastand lyff, 
I loue the euer with hart and hande, 
That me wolde rewle be reasoune ryffe, 
Sex hundereth yere to lyffe in lande. 
Thre semely sonnes and a worthy wiffe 
I haue euer at my steven to stande; 
Bot nowe my cares aren keene as knyffe, 
Bycause I kenne what is commannde. 
Thare comes to ilke contré, 
YOa, cares bothe kene and calde. 
For God has warned me 
THis worlde wastyd shalle be, 
And certis the sothe I see, 
As forme-fadres has tald. 
My fadir Lamech who, likes to neven, 
Heere in this worlde thus lange gon lende, 
Seuene hundereth yere seuenty and seuene, 
In swilke a space his tyme he spende. 
He prayed to god with stabill steuene 
THat he to hym a sone shuld sende, 
And at the laste ther come from heuen 
Slyke hettyng that hym mekill amende, 
And made hym grubbe and graue 
As ordand faste beforne, 
For he a sone shulde haue, 
As he gon aftir crave; 
And as God vouchydsaue 
In worlde than was I borne. 
When I was borne Noye named he me, 
And saide thees wordes with mekill wynne: 
`Loo', he saide, `this ilke is he 
That shalle be comforte to mankynné. 
Syrs, by this wele witte may ye, 
My fadir knewe both more and mynne 
By sarteyne signes he couthe wele see, 
That al this worlde shuld synke for synne; 
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Howe God shulde vengeaunce take, 
As nowe is sene sertayne, 
And hende of mankynde make 
That synne wold nouyot forsake; 
And howe that it shuld slake, 
And a worlde waxe agayne. 
I wolde God itt wasted were, 
Sa that I shuld nott tente thertille. 
My semely sonnes and doughteres dere, 
Takis yoe entent vnto my skylle. 


Filius 1
47 Fader we are all redy heere, 
Youre biddyng baynly to fulfille. 


Noah
49 Goos calle youre modir, and comes nere, 
And spede vs faste that we nouyot spille. 


Filius 1
51 Fadir, we shal nouyot fyne 
To youre biddyng be done. 


Noah
53 Alle that leues vndir lyne 
Sall, sone, soner passe to pyne. 


Filius 1
55 Where are ye, modir myne? 
Come to my fadir sone. 


Uxor
57 What sais thou sone? 


Filius 1
57 Moder, certeyne 
My fadir thynkis to flitte full ferre. 
He biddis you haste with al youre mayne 
Vnto hym, that no thyng you marre. 


Uxor
61 YOa, goode sone, hy the faste agayne 
And telle hym I wol come no narre. 


Filius 1
63 Dame, I wolde do youre biddyng fayne, 
But yow bus wende, els bese it warre. 


Uxor
65 Werre? THat wolde I witte. 
We bowrde al wrange, I wene. 


Filius 1
67 Modir, I saie you yitte, 
My fadir is bowne to flitte. 


Uxor
69 Now certis, I sall nouyot sitte 
Or I se what he mene. 


Filius 1
71 Fadir, I haue done nowe as ye comaunde, 
My modir comes to you this daye. 


Noah
73 Scho is welcome, I wele warrande; 
This worlde sall sone be waste awaye. 


Uxor
75 Wher arte thou Noye? 


Noah
75 Loo, here at hande, 
Come hedir faste dame, I the praye. 


Uxor
77 Trowes thou that I wol leue the harde lande 
And tourne vp here on toure deraye? 
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Nay Noye, I am nouyot bowne 
To fonde nowe ouer there fellis. 
Doo barnes, goo we and trusse to towne. 


Noah
82 Nay, certis, sothly than mon ye drowne. 


Uxor
83 In faythe thou were als goode come downe 
And go do somwhat ellis. 


Noah
85 Dame, fowrty dayes are nerhand past 
And gone sen it began to rayne, 
On lyffe sall no man lenger laste 
Bot we allane, is nought to layne. 


Uxor
89 Now Noye, in faythe the fonnes full faste, 
This fare wille I no lenger frayne; 
THou arte nere woode, I am agaste, 
Farewele, I wille go home agayne. 


Noah
93 O woman, arte thou woode? 
Of my werkis thou not wotte; 
All that has ban or bloode 
Sall be ouere flowed with the floode. 


Uxor
97 In faithe, the were als goode 
To late me go my gatte. 
We! Owte! Herrowe! 


Noah
99 What now, what cheere? 


Uxor
100 I will no nare for no-kynnes nede. 


Noah
101 Helpe, my sonnes, to holde her here, 
For tille hir harmes she takes no heede. 


Filius 2
103 Beis mery modir, and mende youre chere; 
This worlde beis drowned, withouten drede. 


Uxor
105 Allas, that I this lare shuld lere. 


Noah
106 THou spilles vs alle, ill myght thou speede. 


Filius 3
107 Dere modir, wonne with vs, 
THer shal no thyng you greve. 


Uxor
109 Nay, nedlyngis home me bus, 
For I haue tolis to trusse. 


Noah
111 Woman, why dois thou thus? 
To make vs more myscheue? 


Uxor
113 Noye, thou myght haue leteyn me wete; 
Erly and late thou wente theroutte, 
And ay at home thou lete me sytte 
To loke that nowhere were wele aboutte. 


Noah
117 Dame, thou holde me excused of itt, 
It was Goddis wille withowten doutte. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Uxor
119 What, wenys thou so for to go qwitte? 
Nay, be my trouthe, thou getis a clowte. 


Noah
121 I pray the dame, be stille. 
Thus God wolde haue it wrought. 


Uxor
123 Thow shulde haue witte my wille, 
Yf I wolde sente thertille, 
And Noye, for that same skylle, 
THis bargan sall be bought. 
Nowe at firste I fynde and feele 
Wher thou hast to the forest soght, 
THou shuld haue tolde me for oure seele 
Whan we were to slyke bargane broght. 


Noah
131 Now dame, the thar noyot drede a dele, 
For till accounte it cost the noght. 
A hundereth wyntyr, I watte wele, 
Is wente sen I this werke had wrought. 
And when I made endyng, 
God gaffe me mesore fayre 
Of euery ilke a thyng; 
He bad that I shuld bryng 
Of beestis and foules yoynge, 
Of ilke a kynde a peyre. 


Uxor
141 Nowe certis, and we shulde skape fro skathe 
And so be saffyd as ye saye here, 
My commodrys and my cosynes bathe, 
THam wolde I wente with vs in feere. 


Noah
145 To wende in the watir it were wathe, 
Loke in and loke withouten were. 


Uxor
147 Allas, my lyff me is full lath, 
I lyffe ouere-lange this lare to lere. 


Filia 1
149 Dere modir, mende youre moode, 
For we sall wende you with. 


Uxor
151 My frendis that I fra yoode 
Are ouere flowen with floode. 


Filia 2
153 Nowe thanke we God al goode 
That vs has grauntid grith. 


Filia 3
155 Modir, of this werke nowe wolde ye noyot wene, 
That alle shuld worthe to watres wan. 


Filius 2
157 Fadir, what may this meruaylle mene? 
Wherto made God medilerth and man? 


Filia 1
159 So selcouthe sight was never non seene, 
Sen firste that God this worlde began. 


Noah
161 Wendes and spers youre dores bedene, 
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Page 87

For bettyr counsell none I can. 
THis sorowe is sente for synne, 
Therfore to God we pray 
THat he oure bale wolde blynne. 


Filius 3
166 The kyng of al mankynne 
Owte of this woo vs wynne, 
Als thou arte lorde, that maye. 


Filius 1
169 YOa, lorde, as thou late vs be borne 
In this grete bale, som bote vs bede. 


Noah
171 My sonnes, se yoe mydday and morne 
To thes catelles takes goode heede; 
Keppes tham wele with haye and corne; 
And women, fanges thes foules and feede, 
So that they be noyot lightly lorne 
Als longe as we this liffe sall lede. 


Filius 2
177 Fadir, we ar full fayne 
Youre biddyng to fulfille. 
ix monethes paste er playne 
Sen we wer putte to peyne. 


Filius 3
181 He that is most of mayne 
May mende it qwen he wyll. 


Noah
183 O barnes, itt waxes clere aboute, 
THat may yoe see ther wher yoe sitte. 


Filius 1
185 I, leffe fadir, ye loke thareowte, 
Yf that the water wane ought yoitt. 


Noah
187 That sall I do withowten dowte, 
THorbe the wanyng may we witte. 
A, lorde, to the I love and lowte. 
The catteraks I trowe be knytte. 
Beholde, my sonnes al three 
THe clowdes are waxen clere. 


Filius 2
193 A, lorde of mercy free, 
Ay louyd myght thou be. 


Noah
195 I sall assaye the see, 
How depe that it is here. 


Uxor
197 Loved be that lord that giffes all grace, 
THat kyndly thus oure care wolde kele. 


Noah
199 I sall caste leede and loke the space, 
Howe depe the watir is ilke a dele. 
Fyftene cobittis of highte itt hase 
Ouere ilke a hille fully to feylle; 
Butte beese wel comforte in this casse, 
It is wanand, this wate I wele. 
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Page 88

Therfore a fowle of flight 
Full sone sall I forthe sende 
To seke if he haue sight, 
Som lande vppon to light; 
THanne may we witte full right 
When oure mornyng sall mende. 
Of al the fowles that men may fynde 
The raven is wighte, and wyse is hee. 
THou arte full crabbed and al thy kynde, 
Wende forthe thi course I comaunde the, 
And werly watte, and yther the wynd 
Yf thou fynde awdir lande or tree. 
ix monethes here haue we bene pyned, 
But when God wyll, better mon bee. 


Filia 1
219 THat lorde that lennes vs lyffe 
To lere his lawes in lande, 
He mayd bothe man and wyffe, 
He helpe to stynte oure striffe. 


Filia 3
223 Oure cares are kene as knyffe, 
God graunte vs goode tydand. 


Filius 1
225 Fadir, this foule is forthe full lange; 
Vppon sum lande I trowe he lende, 
His foode ther fore to fynde and fange- 
That makis hym be a fayland frende. 


Noah
229 Nowe sonne, and yf he so forthe gange, 
Sen he for all oure welthe gon wende, 
Then be he for his werkis wrange 
Euermore weried withowten ende. 
And sertis for to see 
Whan oure sorowe sall sesse, 
Anodyr foule full free 
Owre messenger sall be; 
THou doufe, I comaunde the, 
Owre comforte to encresse. 
A faithfull fewle to sende art thow 
Of alle within there wanys wyde; 
Wende forthe I pray the, for owre prowe, 
And sadly seke on ilke a side 
Yf the floodes be falland nowe, 
THat thou on the erthe may belde and byde; 
Bryng vs som tokenyng that we may trowe 
What tydandes sall of vs betyde. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Filia 2
247 Goode lorde, on vs thou luke, 
And sesse oure sorow seere, 
Sen we al synne forsoke 
And to thy lare vs toke. 


Filia 3
251 A twelmothe bott xij weke 
Have we be houerand here. 


Noah
253 Now barnes, we may be blithe and gladde 
And lowe oure lord of heuenes kyng; 
My birde has done as I hym badde, 
An olyue braunche I se hym brynge. 
Blyste be thou fewle that neuere was fayd, 
That in thy force makis no faylyng; 
Mare joie in herte never are I hadde, 
We mone be saued, now may we synge. 
Come hedir my sonnes in hye, 
Oure woo away is wente, 
I se here certaynely 
THe hillis of Hermonye. 


Filius 1
265 Lovyd be that lord forthy 
That vs oure lyffes hase lente. 


Uxor
267 For wrekis nowe that we may wynne 
Oute of this woo that we in wore; 
But Noye, wher are nowe all oure kynne 
And companye we knwe before? 


Noah
271 Dame, all ar drowned, late be thy dyne, 
And sone thei boughte ther synnes sore. 
Gud lewyn latte vs begynne, 
So that we greue oure God no more; 
He was greved in degré 
And gretely moved in mynde 
For synne, as men may see: 
Dum dixit `Penitet me`. 
Full sore forthynkyng was he 
That euere he made mankynde. 
That makis vs nowe to tole and trusse; 
But sonnes, he saide-I watte wele when- 
`Arcum ponam in nubibus`, 
He sette his bowe clerly to kenne 
As a tokenyng bytwene hym and vs, 
In knawlage tille all cristen men 
That fro this worlde were fynyd thus, 
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With wattir wolde he neuere wast yt then. 
THus has God most of myght 
Sette his senge full clere 
Vppe in the ayre of heght; 
The raynebowe it is right, 
As men may se in sight 
In seasons of the yere. 


Filius 2
295 Sir, nowe sen God oure souerand syre 
Has sette his syne thus in certayne, 
Than may we wytte this worldis empire 
Shall euermore laste, is noyot to layne. 


Noah
299 Nay sonne, that sall we nouyot desire, 
For and we do we wirke in wane; 
For it sall ones be waste with fyre, 
And never worthe to worlde agayne. 


Uxor
303 A, syre, owre hertis are soore 
For thes sawes that yoe saye here, 
That myscheffe mon be more. 


Noah
306 Beis noyot aferde therfore, 
YOe sall noght lyffe than yore 
Be many hundereth yhere. 


Filius 1
309 Fadir, howe sall this lyffe be ledde 
Sen non are in this worlde but we? 


Noah
311 Sones, with youre wiffes yoe sall be stedde, 
And multyplye youre seede sall yoe. 
YOoure barnes sall ilkon othir wedde 
And worshippe God in gud degré; 
Beestes and foules sall forthe be bredde, 
And so a worlde begynne to bee. 
Nowe travaylle sall yoe taste 
To wynne you brede and wyne, 
For alle this worlde is waste; 
Thez beestes muste be vnbraste, 
And wende we hense in haste, 
In Goddis blissyng and myne. 
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Page 91


Play 10


Abraham
1 Grett God that alle this world has wrought, 
And wisely wote both gud and ille, 
I thanke hym thraly in my thoght 
Of alle his laue he lens me tille, 
That thus fro barenhede has me broghte 
A hundereth wynter to fulfille, 
Thou graunte me myght so that I mowght 
Ordan my werkis aftir thi wille. 
For in this erthely lyffe 
Ar non to God more boune 
Then is I and my wyffe, 
For frenshippe we haue foune. 
Vnto me tolde God on a tyde, 
Wher I was telde vnder a tree, 
He saide my seede shulde be multyplyed 
Lyke to the gravell of the see, 
And als the sternes wer strewed wyde, 
So saide he that my seede schuld be; 
And bad I shulde be circumcicyd 
To fulfille the lawe-thus lernynde he me. 
In worlde wherso we wonne 
He sendes vs richeys ryve; 
Als ferre as schynes the sonne, 
He is stynter of stryve. 
Abram first named was I, 
And sythen he sette a sylypp ma; 
And my wiffe hyght Sarae 
And sythen was scho named Sara. 
But Sara was vncertan thanne 
That euere oure seede shulde sagates yoelde, 
Because hirselfe sho was barrane 
And we wer bothe gone in grete eelde. 
But scho wroght as a wyse woman: 
To haue a barne vs for to beelde, 
Hir seruand prevely sho wan 
Vnto my bede my wille to welde. 
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Sone aftir than befelle 
When God oure dede wolde dight, 
Sho broght forthe Esmaell, 
A sone semely to sight. 
Than aftirward when we waxed alde, 
My wyffe scho felle in feere for same; 
Oure God nedes tythynges tyll vs talde 
Wher we wer in oure house at hame, 
Tille haue a sone we shulde be balde, 
And Isaak shulde be his name, 
And his seede shulde springe manyfalde. 
Gyff I were blythe, who wolde me blame? 
And for I trowed this tythynge, 
That God talde to me thanne, 
The grounde and the begynnyng 
Of trowthe that tyme beganne. 
Nowe awe I gretely God to yeelde, 
That so walde telle me his entente, 
And noght gaynestandyng oure grete eelde 
A semely sone he has vs sente. 
Now he is wight hymselfe to welde 
And fra me is all wightnes wente, 
Therfore sall he be my beelde. 
I lowe hym that this lane has lente, 
For he may stynte oure stryve 
And fende vs fro alle ill; 
I love hym as my liff, 
With all myn herte and will. 


Angel
65 Abraham, Abraham. 


Abraham
65 Loo, I am here. 


Angel
66 Nowe bodeword vnto the I brynge: 
God wille assaye thi wille and cheere, 
Giffe thou wille bowe tylle his byddyng; 
Isaak thi sone that is the dere, 
Whom thou loues our alle thyng, 
To the lande of vyssyon wende in feere 
And there of hym thou make offering. 
I sall the shewe full sone 
The stede of sacrifice. 
God wille this dede be done, 
And therfore the avise. 


Abraham
77 Lord God that lens ay-lastand light, 
This is a ferly fare to feele. 
Tille haue a sone semely to sight, 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 93

Isaak, that I loue full wele- 
He is of eelde to reken right 
Thyrty yoere and more sumdele- 
And vnto dede hym buse be dight. 
God has saide me so for my seele, 
And biddis me wende on all wise 
To the lande of vysioune, 
Ther to make sacryfice 
Of Isaak that is my sone. 
And that is hythyn thre daies jornay 
The ganeste gate that I cane goo; 
And sertis, I sall noght say hym nay 
If God commaunde myself to sloo. 
Bot to my sone I will noght saye, 
Bot take hym and my seruantis twoo, 
And with our asse wende forthe our waye; 
As God has saide, it sall be soo. 
Isaak, sone, I vndirstande 
To wildirnesse now wende will we, 
Thare fore to make oure offerand, 
For so has God comaunded me. 


Isaac
101 Fadir, I am euere at youre wille, 
As worthy is withowten trayne; 
Goddis comaundement to fulfille 
Awe all folke for to be fayne. 


Abraham
105 Sone, thou sais me full gode skille, 
Bott alle the soth is noyot to sayne. 
Go we sen we sall thertille- 
I praye God sand vs wele agayne. 


Isaac
109 Childir, lede forthe oure asse 
With wode that we sall bryne. 
Euen as God ordand has, 
To wyrke we will begynne. 


Famulus 1
113 Att youre biddyng we wille be bowne 
What way in worlde that yoe wille wende. 


Famulus 2
115 Why, sall we trusse ought forthe a towne 
In any vncouthe lande to lende? 


Famulus 1
117 I hope tha haue in this sessoune 
Fro God of heuyn sum solayce sende. 


Famulus 2
119 To fulfille yt is goode reasoune, 
And kyndely kepe that he has kende. 
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Famulus 1
121 Bott what thei mene certayne 
Haue I na knowlage clere. 


Famulus 2
123 It may noght gretely gayne 
To move of swilke matere. 


Abraham
125 No, noye you noght in no degré 
So for to deme here of oure dede, 
For als God comaunded so wirke will we, 
Vntill his tales vs bus take hede. 


Famulus 1
129 All thos that wille his seruandis be 
Ful specially he wille thaym spede. 


Isaac
131 Childir, with all the myght in me 
I lowe that lorde of ilke a lede, 
And wirshippe hym certayne 
My will is euere vnto. 


Famulus 2
135 God giffe you myght and mayne 
Right here so for to doo. 


Abraham
137 Sone, yf oure lord God almyghty 
Of myselfe walde haue his offerande, 
I wolde be glade for hym to dye, 
For all oure heele hyngis in his hande. 


Isaac
141 Fadir, forsuth, ryght so walde I, 
Leuer than lange to leue in lande. 


Abraham
143 A, sone, thu sais full wele, forthy 
God geue the grace gratthely to stande. 
Childir, bide yoe here still, 
No ferther sall yoe goo, 
For yoondir I se the hill 
That we sall wende vntoo. 


Isaac
149 Kepe wele oure asse and all oure gere 
To tyme we come agayne you till. 


Abraham
151 My sone, this wode behoues the bere 
Till thou come high vppon yone hill. 


Isaac
153 Fadir, that may do no dere, 
Goddis comaundement to fullfyll, 
For fra all wathes he will vs were 
Wharso we wende to wirke his wille. 


Abraham
157 A, sone, that was wele saide. 
Lay doune that woode euen here 
Tille oure auter be grathide- 
And, my sone, make goode cheere. 


Isaac
161 Fadir, I see here woode and fyre, 
Bot wherof sall oure offerand be? 
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Abraham
163 Sertis son, gude God oure suffraynd syre 
Sall ordayne it in goode degré. 
For sone, and we do his dessyre, 
Full gud rewarde tharfore gette wee. 
In heuyn ther mon we haue oure hyre, 
For vnto vs so hight has hee. 
Therfore sone, lete vs praye 
To God, bothe thou and I, 
That we may make this daye 
Oure offerand here dewly. 
Grete God that all this worlde has wrought 
And grathely gouernes goode and ill, 
Thu graunte me myght so that I mowght 
Thy comaundementis to fullfill. 
And gyffe my flessche groche or greue oght, 
Or sertis my saule assentte thertill, 
To byrne all that I hydir broght 
I sall noght spare yf I shulde spille. 


Isaac
181 Lorde God of grete pousté 
To wham all pepull prayes, 
Graunte bothe my fadir and me 
To wirke thi wille allweyes. 
But fadir, nowe wolde I frayne full fayne 
Wharof oure offerand shulde be grathid? 


Abraham
187 Sertis sone, I may no lengar layne: 
Thyselfe shulde bide that bittir brayde. 


Isaac
189 Why fadir, will God that I be slayne? 


Abraham
190 YOa, suthly sone, so has he saide. 


Isaac
191 And I sall noght grouche theragayne, 
To wirke his wille I am wele payed; 
Sen it is his desire, 
I sall be bayne to be 
Brittynd and brent in fyre, 
And therfore morne noght for me. 


Abraham
197 Nay sone, this gatis most nedis be gone, 
My lord God will I noght gaynesaye, 
Nor neuer make mornys nor mone 
To make offerand of the this day. 


Isaac
201 Fadir, sen God oure lorde allane 
Vowchesaffe to sende when yoe gon praye 
A sone to you, whan ye had nane, 
And nowe will that he wende his waye, 
Therfore faynde me to fell 
Tille offerand in this place; 
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But firste I sall you telle 
My counsaille in this case. 
I knaw myselfe be course of kynde, 
My flessche for dede will be dredande. 
I am ferde that yoe sall fynde 
My force youre forward to withstande. 
Therfore is beste that ye me bynde 
In bandis faste, boothe fute and hande. 
Nowe whillis I am in myght and mynde 
So sall yoe saffely make offerrande, 
For fadir, when I am boune 
My myght may noght avayle. 
Here sall no fawte be foune 
To make youre forward faylle. 
For yoe are alde and alle vnwelde, 
And I am wighte and wilde of thoght. 


Abraham
223 To bynde hym that shuld be my beelde! 
Outtane Goddis will, that wolde I noght. 
Bot loo, her sall no force be felde, 
So sall God haue that he has soght. 
Farewele my sone, I sall the yoelde 
Tylle hym that all this world has wroght. 
Nowe kysse me hartely I the pray. 
Isaak, I take my leue for ay- 
Me bus the mys. 
My blissyng haue thou enterly, 
And I beseke God allmyghty 
He giffe the his. 
Thus aren we samyn assent 
Eftir thy wordis wise. 
Lorde God, to this take tente, 
Ressayue thy sacrifice. 
This is to me a perles pyne, 
To se myn nawe dere childe thus boune. 
Me had wele leuer my lyf to tyne 
Than see this sight thus of my sone. 
It is Goddis will, it sall be myne, 
Agaynste his saande sall I neuer schone, 
To Goddis cummaundement I sall enclyne, 
That in me fawte non be foune. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Therfore my sone so dere, 
If thou will anythyng saye, 
Thy dede it drawes nere, 
Farewele, for anes and ay. 


Isaac
251 Now my dere fadir, I wolde you praye, 
Here me thre wordes, graunte me my bone 
Sen I fro this sall passe for ay; 
I see myn houre is comen full sone. 
In worde, in werke, or any waye 
That I haue trespassed or oght mysdone, 
Forgiffe me fadir or I dye this daye, 
For his luffe that made bothe sonne and mone. 
Here sen we two sall twynne 
Firste God I aske mercy, 
And you in more and myne, 
This day or euere I dy. 


Abraham
263 Now my grete God Adonay 
That all this worlde has worthely wroght, 
Forgyffe the sone for his mercye, 
In worde, in worke, in dede and thoght. 
Nowe sone, as we ar leryd 
Our tyme may noyot myscarie. 


Isaac
269 Nowe farewele all medilerth, 
My flesshe waxis faynte for ferde; 
Nowe fadir, take youre swerde, 
Methynke full lange yoe tarie. 


Abraham
273 Nay, nay sone, nay, I the behete, 
That do I noght, withouten were. 
Thy wordis makis me my wangges to wete 
And chaunges, childe, ful often my cheere. 
Therfore lye downe, hande and feete, 
Nowe may thou witte thyn oure is nere. 


Isaac
279 A, dere fadir, lyff is full swete, 
The drede of dede dose all my dere. 
As I am here youre sone 
To God I take me till, 
Nowe am I laide here bone, 
Do with me what yoe will. 
For fadir, I aske no more respete, 
Bot here a worde what I wolde mene: 
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I beseke yoou or that yoe smyte 
Lay doune this kyrcheffe on myn eghne, 
Than may yooure offerand be parfite 
If yoe wille wirke thus as I wene. 
And here to God my saule I wite 
And all my body to brenne bydene. 
Now fadir be noght myssyng, 
But smyte fast as yoe may. 


Abraham
295 Farewele, in Goddis dere blissyng 
And myn, for euer and ay. 
That pereles prince I praye 
Myn offerand heretill haue it, 
My sacryfice this day 
I praye the lorde ressayue it. 


Angel
301 Abraham, Abraham. 


Abraham
301 Loo, here iwys. 


Angel
302 Abraham, abide, and halde the stille. 
Sla noght thy sone, do hym no mysse, 
Take here a schepe thy offerrand tyll, 
Is sente the fro the kyng of blisse 
That faythfull ay to the is fone; 
He biddis the make offerrand of this 
Here at this tyme, and saffe thy sone. 


Abraham
309 I lowe that lord with herte entier 
That of his luffe this lane me lente, 
To saffe my sone, my darlyng dere, 
And sente this schepe to this entente, 
That we sall offir it to the here- 
So sall it be as thou has mente. 
My sone, be gladde and make goode cheere, 
God has till vs goode comforte sente. 
He will noght thou be dede, 
But tille his lawes take kepe; 
And se son, in thy stede 
God has sente vs a schepe. 


Isaac
321 To make oure offerand at his wille 
All for oure sake he has it sente. 
To lowe that lorde I halde grete skyll 
That tylle his menyoe thus has mente. 
This dede I wolde haue tane me till 
Full gladly lorde, to thyn entent. 


Abraham
327 A, sone, thy bloode wolde he noght spill, 
Forthy this shepe thus has he sente; 
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And sone, I am full fayne 
Of oure spede in this place- 
Bot go we home agayne 
And lowe God of his grace. 


Angel
333 Abraham, Abraham. 


Abraham
333 Loo, here indede. 
Harke sone, sum saluyng of our sare. 


Angel
335 God sais thou sall haue mekill mede 
For thys goode will that thou in ware. 
Sen thou for hym wolde do this dede- 
To spille thy sone and noght to spare- 
He menes to multiplie youre seede 
On sides seere, as he saide are; 
And yit he hight you this, 
That of youre seede sall ryse, 
Thurgh helpe of hym and his, 
Ouere-hande of all enmys. 
Luk yoe hym loue, this is his liste, 
And lelly lyff eftir his laye, 
For in youre seede all mon be bliste 
That ther bese borne be nyght or day. 
If yoe will in hym trowe or triste 
He will be with yoou euere and aye. 


Abraham
351 Full wele wer vs and we it wiste, 
Howe we shulde wirke his will alwaye. 


Isaac
353 Fadir, that sall we frayne 
At wyser men than wee, 
And fulfille it ful fayne 
Indede eftir oure degree. 


Abraham
357 Nowe sone, sen we thus wele hase spede, 
That God has graunted me thy liffe, 
It is my wille that thou be wedde 
And welde a woman to thy wyffe; 
So sall thy sede springe and be spredde 
In the lawez of God be reasoune ryffe. 
I wate in what steede sho is stede 
That thou sall wedde, withowten stryffe: 
Rabek that damysell, 
Hir fayrer is none fone, 
The doughter of Batwell 
THat was my brothir sone. 


Isaac
369 Fadir, as you likes my lyffe to spende 
I sall assente vnto the same. 
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Abraham
371 One of my seruandis sone sall I sende 
Vnto that birde to brynge hir hame. 
The gaynest gates now will we wende. 
My barnes, yee ar noght to blame 
YOeff yoe thynke lang that we her lende; 
Gedir same oure gere, in Goddis name, 
And go we hame agayne 
Euyn vnto Barsabé. 
God that is most of mayne 
Vs wisse and with yoou be. 

Play 11


Rex Pharao
1 O pees, I bidde that no man passe, 
But kepe the cours that I comaunde, 
And takes gud heede to hym that hasse 
Youre liff all haly in his hande. 
Kyng Pharo my fadir was, 
And led the lordshippe of this lande, 
I am his hayre as elde will asse, 
Euere in his steede to styrre and stande. 
All Egippe is myne awne 
To lede aftir my lawe, 
I will my myght be knawen 
And honnoured as it awe. 
Therfore als kyng I commaunde pees 
To all the pepill of this empire, 
That no man putte hym fourthe in prees 
But that will do als we desire. 
And of youre sawes I rede you sees, 
And sesse to me, youre sufferayne sire, 
That most youre comforte may encrese 
And at my liste lose liffe and lyre. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Consolator 1
21 My lorde, yf any were 
THat walde not wirke youre will, 
And we wist whilke thay were 
Ful sone we suld thaym spill. 


Rex Pharao
25 Thurghoute my kyngdome wolde I kenn, 
And konne tham thanke that couthe me telle, 
If any wer so weryd then 
That wolde aught fande owre forse to fell. 


Consolator 2
29 My lorde, thar are a maner of men 
That mustirs grete maistris tham emell, 
The Jewes that wonnes here in Jessen 
And er named the childir of Israell. 
They multyplye so faste 
THat suthly we suppose 
Thay are like, and they laste, 
Yowre lordshippe for to lose. 


Rex Pharao
37 Why, devill, what gawdes haue they begonne? 
Er thai of myght to make afrayse? 


Consolator 1
39 Tho felons folke, sir, first was fonn 
In kyng Pharo yooure fadyr dayse. 
Thay come of Joseph, Jacob sonn, 
That was a prince worthy to prayse, 
And sithen in ryste furthe are they run, 
Now ar they like to lose our layse. 
Thay sall confounde vs clene 
Bot if thai sonner sese. 


Rex Pharao
47 What devill ever may it mene 
THat they so fast encrese? 


Consolator 2
49 Howe they encrese full wele we kenn, 
Als oure elders before vs fande, 
Thay were talde but sexty and ten 
Whan thei enterd into this lande. 
Sithen haue they soionerd here in Jessen 
Foure houndereth yoere, this we warande, 
Now are they noumbered of myghty men 
Wele more than thre hundereth thowsande, 
Withowten wiffe and childe 
And herdes that kepes ther fee. 


Rex Pharao
59 So myght we be bygillid; 
Bot certis that sall noght be, 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 102

For with qwantise we sall tham qwelle, 
THat thei sall no farrar sprede. 


Consolator 1
63 Lorde, we have herde oure fadres telle 
Howe clerkis, that ful wele couthe rede, 
Saide a man shulde wax tham emell 
That suld fordo vs and owre dede. 


Rex Pharao
67 Fy on tham, to the devell of helle! 
Swilke destanye sall we noght drede. 
We sall make mydwayes to spille tham, 
Whenne oure Ebrewes are borne, 
All that are mankynde to kille tham, 
So sall they sone by lorne. 
For of the other haue I non awe. 
Swilke bondage sall we to tham bede: 
To dyke and delfe, beere and drawe, 
And do all swilke vnhonest dede. 
THus sall the laddis beholden lawe, 
Als losellis ever thaire lyff to leede. 


Consolator 2
79 Certis lorde, this is a sotell sawe, 
So sall the folke no farrar sprede. 


Rex Pharao
81 Yaa, helpes to halde tham doune, 
THat we no fantyse fynde. 


Consolator 1
83 Lorde, we sall ever be bowne 
In bondage tham to bynde. 


Moyses
85 Grete God that all this grounde began 
And governes euere in gud degree, 
That made me Moyses vnto man 
And saued me sythen out of the see- 
Kyng Pharo he comaunded than 
So that no sonnes shulde saued be, 
Agayns his wille away I wan- 
Thus has God shewed his myght in me. 
Nowe am I here to kepe, 
Sett vndir Synay syde, 
The bisshoppe Jetro schepe, 
So bettir bute to bide. 
A, mercy God, mekill is thy myght, 
What man may of thy meruayles mene! 
I se yoondyr a ful selcouth syght 
Wherof befor no synge was seene. 
A busk I se yondir brennand bright 
And the leues last ay inlike grene; 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 103

If it be werke of worldly wight 
I will go witte withowten wene. 


God
105 Moyses, come noght to nere 
Bot stille in that stede dwelle, 
And take hede to me here, 
And tente what I the telle. 
I am thy lorde, withoutyn lak, 
To lengh thi liffe euen as me list, 
And the same God that somtyme spak 
Vnto thyne elders als thei wiste; 
Both Abraham and Ysaac 
And Jacob, saide I, suld be bliste 
And multyplyeand, tham to mak, 
So that ther seede shulde noght be myste. 
And nowe kyng Pharo 
Fuls thare childir ful faste. 
If I suffir hym soo 
THare seede shulde sone be past. 
To make the message haue I mende 
To hym that tham so harmed hase, 
To warne hym with wordes hende 
So that he lette my pepull passe, 
That they to wildirnesse may wende 
And wirshippe me als whilom was. 
And yf he lenger gar them lende 
His sange ful sone sall be `alas'. 


Moyses
129 A, lord, syth, with thy leue, 
THat lynage loves me noght, 
Gladly they walde me greve 
And I slyke boodword brought. 
Therfore lord, late sum othir fraste 
THat hase more forse tham for to feere. 


God
135 Moyses, be noght abaste 
My bidding baldely to bere. 
If thai with wrang ought walde the wrayste, 
Owte of all wothis I sall the were. 


Moyses
139 We, lord, thai wil noght to me trayste 
For al the othes that I may swere. 
To neven slyke note of newe 
To folke of wykkyd will, 
Withouten taken trewe, 
They will noght take tente thertill. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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God
145 And if they will noght vndirstande 
Ne take heede how I haue the sente, 
Before the kyng cast downe thy wande 
And it sall seme as a serpent. 
Sithen take the tayle in thy hande 
And hardely vppe thou itt hente, 
In the firste state als thou it fande- 
So sall it turne be myn entent. 
Hyde thy hande in thy barme 
And as a lepre it sall be like, 
Sithen hale withouten harme; 
THi syngnes sall be slyke. 
And if he wil not suffre than 
My pepull for to passe in pees, 
I sall send vengeaunce ix or x 
To sewe hym sararre, or I sesse. 
Bot the Jewes that wonnes in Jessen 
Sall noyot be merked with that messe, 
Als lange als thai my lawes will kenne 
THer comfort sal I euere encresse. 


Moyses
165 A, lorde, lovyd be thy wille 
THat makes thy folke so free, 
I sall tell tham vntill 
Als thou telles vnto me. 
But to the kyng, lorde, whan I come 
And he ask me what is thy name, 
And I stande stille than, defe and dum, 
How sal I be withouten blame? 


God
173 I saie thus ego sum qui sum, 
I am he that I am the same, 
And if thou myght not meve ne mum 
I sall the saffe fro synne and shame. 


Moyses
177 I vndirstande this thyng 
With al the myght in me. 


God
179 Be bolde in my blissyng, 
Thy belde ay sall I be. 


Moyses
181 A, lorde of lyffe, lere me my layre 
THat I there tales may trewly tell. 
Vnto my frendis nowe will I fare, 
THe chosen childre of Israell, 
To telle tham comforte of ther care, 
And of there daunger that thei in dwell. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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God mayntayne you and me euermare, 
And mekill myrthe be you emell. 


Puer 1
189 A, Moyses, maistir dere, 
Oure myrthe is al mornyng, 
We are harde halden here 
Als carls vndir the kyng. 


Puer 2
193 Moyses, we may mourne and myne, 
THer is no man vs myrthes mase; 
And sen we come al of a kynne, 
Ken vs som comforte in this case. 


Moyses
197 Beith of youre mornyng blyne, 
God wil defende you of your fays. 
Oute of this woo he will you wynne 
To plese hym in more plener place. 
I sall carpe to the kyng 
And fande to make you free. 


Puer 3
203 God sende vs gud tythynge, 
And allway with you be. 


Moyses
205 Kyng Pharo, to me take tent. 


Rex Pharao
206 Why, what tydyngis can thou tell? 


Moyses
207 Fro God of heuen thus am I sente 
To fecche his folke of Israell; 
To wildirnesse he walde thei wente. 


Rex Pharao
210 YOaa, wende thou to the devell of hell. 
I make no force howe thou has mente, 
For in my daunger sall thei dwelle. 
And faytour, for thy sake, 
THei sall be putte to pyne. 


Moyses
215 THanne will God vengeaunce take 
On the and on al thyne. 


Rex Pharao
217 Fy on the ladde, oute of my lande! 
Wenes thou with wiles to lose oure laye? 
When is this warlowe with his wande 
THat wolde thus wynne oure folke away? 


Consolator 2
221 It is Moyses, we wele warrand, 
Agayne al Egipte is he ay. 
Youre fadir grete faute in hym fande, 
Nowe will he marre you if he may. 


Rex Pharao
225 Nay, nay, that daunce is done, 
THat lordan leryd ouere-late. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Moyses
227 God biddis the graunte my bone, 
And late me go my gate. 


Rex Pharao
229 Biddis God me? Fals lurdayne, thou lyes! 
What takyn talde he, toke thou tent? 


Moyses
231 YOaa sir, he saide thou suld despise 
Botht me and all his comaundement. 
In thy presence kast on this wise 
My wande he bad by his assent, 
And that thou shulde the wele avise 
Howe it shulde turne to a serpent. 
And in his haly name 
Here sal I ley it downe: 
Loo ser, se her the same. 


Rex Pharao
240 A! Dogg! THe deuyll the drowne! 


Moyses
241 He saide that I shulde take the tayle 
So for to proue his poure playne, 
And sone he saide it shuld not fayle 
For to turne a wande agayne. 
Loo sir, behalde. 


Rex Pharao
245 Hopp illa hayle! 
Now certis this is a sotill swayne, 
But this boyes sall byde here in oure bayle, 
For al thair gaudis sall noght tham gayne; 
Bot warse, both morne and none, 
Sall thei fare for thy sake. 


Moyses
251 God sende sum vengeaunce sone, 
And on thi werke take wrake. 


Egyptian 1
253 Allas, allas, this lande is lorne, 
On lif we may no lenger lende. 


Egyptian 2
255 So grete myscheffe is made sen morne 
THer may no medycyne vs amende. 


Consolator 1
257 Sir kyng, we banne that we wer borne, 
Oure blisse is all with bales blende. 


Rex Pharao
259 Why crys you swa, laddis? Liste you scorne? 


Egyptian 1
260 Sir kyng, slyk care was neuere kende. 
Oure watir that was ordand 
To men and beestis fudde, 
Thurghoute al Egipte lande 
Is turned to rede blude. 
Full vgly and ful ill is it 
THat was ful faire and fresshe before. 


Rex Pharao
267 This is grete wondir for to witt 
Of all the werkis that ever wore. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Egyptian 2
269 Nay lorde, ther is anothir yoitt 
That sodenly sewes vs ful sore, 
For tadys and frosshis we may not flitte, 
Thare venym loses lesse and more. 


Egyptian 1
273 Lorde, grete myses bothe morn and none 
Bytis vs full bittirlye, 
And we hope al by done 
By Moyses, oure enemye. 


Consolator 1
277 Lorde, whills ve with this menyhe meve 
Mon never myrthe be vs emange. 


Rex Pharao
279 Go saie we sall no lenger greve- 
But thai sall neuere the tytar gang. 


Egyptian 2
281 Moyses, my lord has grauntyd leve 
At lede thy folk to likyng lande, 
So that we mende of oure myscheue. 


Moyses
284 I wate ful wele thar wordes er wrange; 
That sall ful sone be sene, 
For hardely I hym heete, 
And he of malice mene 
Mo mervaylles mon he mett. 


Egyptian 1
289 Lorde, allas, for dule we dye, 
We dar not loke oute at no dore. 


Rex Pharao
291 What deuyll ayles yow so to crye? 


Egyptian 2
292 We fare nowe werre than euere we fure. 
Grete loppis ouere all this lande thei flye, 
That with bytyng makis mekill blure. 


Egyptian 1
295 Lorde, oure beestis lyes dede and dry 
Als wele on myddyng als on more- 
Both oxe, horse and asse 
Fallis dede doune sodanly. 


Rex Pharao
299 Therof no man harme has 
Halfe so mekil as I. 


Consolator 2
301 YOis lorde, poure men has mekill woo 
To see ther catell be out cast. 
The Jewes in Jessen faren noyot soo, 
They haue al likyng in to last. 


Rex Pharao
305 Go saie we giffe tham leue to goo 
To tyme there parellis be ouer-past- 
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But or thay flitte over-farre vs froo 
We sall garre feste tham foure so fast. 


Egyptian 2
309 Moyses, my lord giffis leue 
Thy men for to remewe. 


Moyses
311 He mon haue more mischeff 
But if his tales be trewe. 


Egyptian 1
313 We, lorde, we may not lede this liffe. 


Rex Pharao
314 Why, is ther greuaunce growen agayne? 


Egyptian 2
315 Swilke poudre, lord, apon vs dryffe 
That whare it bettis it makis a blayne. 


Egyptian 1
317 Like mesellis makis it man and wyffe. 
Sythen ar they hurte with hayle and rayne; 
Oure wynes in mountaynes may noyot thryve, 
So ar they threst and thondour-slayne. 


Rex Pharao
321 How do thay in Jessen, 
THe Jewes, can yoe aught say? 


Egyptian 2
323 THis care nothyng they ken, 
THay fele no such affray. 


Rex Pharao
325 No? Devill! And sitte they so in pees 
And we ilke day in doute and drede? 


Egyptian 1
327 My lorde, this care will euere encrese 
Tille Moyses have leve tham to lede. 


Consolator 1
329 Lorde, war thay wente than walde it sese, 
So shuld we save vs and oure seede, 
Ellis be we lorne-this is no lese. 


Rex Pharao
332 Late hym do fourth, the devill hym spede! 
For his folke sall no ferre 
Yf he go welland woode. 


Consolator 2
335 THan will itt sone be warre, 
YOit war bettir thai yooode. 


Egyptian 2
337 We, lorde, new harme is comon to hande. 


Rex Pharao
338 No! Devill! Will itt no bettir be? 


Egyptian 1
339 Wilde wormes is laide ouere al this lande, 
THai leve no frute ne floure on tree; 
Agayne that storme may nothyng stande. 


Egyptian 2
342 Lord, ther is more myscheff thynke me, 
And thre daies hase itt bene durand, 
So myrke that non myght othir see. 


Egyptian 1
345 My lorde, grete pestelence 
Is like ful lange to last. 


Rex Pharao
347 Owe, come that in oure presence? 
Than is oure pride al past. 
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Egyptian 2
349 My lorde, this vengeaunce lastis lange, 
And mon till Moyses haue his bone. 


Consolator 1
351 Lorde, late tham wende, els wirke we wrang, 
It may not helpe to hover na hone. 


Rex Pharao
353 Go saie we graunte tham leue to gange 
In the devill way, sen itt bus be done- 
For so may fall we sall tham fang 
And marre tham or tomorne at none. 


Egyptian 1
357 Moyses, my lorde has saide 
THou sall haue passage playne. 


Moyses
359 And to passe am I paied. 
My frendes, bees nowe fayne, 
For at oure will now sall we wende, 
In lande of lykyng for to lende. 


Puer 1
363 Kyng Pharo, that felowns fende, 
Will haue grete care fro this be kende, 
Than will he schappe hym vs to shende 
And sone his ooste aftir vs sende. 


Moyses
367 Beis noght aferde, God is youre frende, 
Fro alle oure fooes he will vs fende. 
THarfore comes furthe with me, 
Haves done and drede yow noght. 


Puer 2
371 My lorde, loved mott thou bee, 
THat us fro bale has brought. 


Puer 3
373 Swilke frenshippe never before we fande, 
But in this faire defautys may fall. 
THe Rede See is ryght nere at hande, 
THer bus vs bide to we be thrall. 


Moyses
377 I sall make vs way with my wande, 
For God hase sayde he saue vs sall; 
On aythir syde the see sall stande, 
Tille we be wente, right as a wall. 
Therfore have yoe no drede, 
But faynde ay God to plese. 


Puer 1
383 THat lorde to lande vs lede, 
Now wende we all at esse. 


Egyptian 1
385 Kyng Pharro, ther folke er gane. 


Rex Pharao
386 Howe nowe, es ther any noyes of newe? 


Egyptian 2
387 The Ebrowes er wente ilkone. 


Rex Pharao
388 How sais thou that? 


Egyptian 1
388 THer talis er trewe. 


Rex Pharao
389 Horse harneys tyte, that thei be tane, 
THis ryott radly sall tham rewe. 
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We sall not sese or they be slone, 
For to the se we sall tham sew. 
Do charge oure charyottis swithe 
And frekly folowes me. 


Egyptian 2
395 My lorde we are full blithe 
At youre biddyng to be. 


Consolator 2
397 Lorde, to youre biddyng we er boune 
Owre bodies baldely for to bede, 
We sall noght byde, but dyng tham doune 
Tylle all be dede, withouten drede. 


Rex Pharao
401 Hefe vppe youre hartis ay to Mahownde, 
He will be nere vs in oure nede. 
Owte! Ay herrowe! Devill, I drowne! 


Egyptian 1
404 Allas, we dye for alle our dede. 


Puer 1
405 Nowe ar we wonne fra waa 
And saued oute of the see, 
Cantemus domino, 
To God a sange synge wee. 

Play 12


Doctor
1 Lord God, grete meruell es to mene 
Howe man was made withouten mysse, 
And sette whare he sulde euer haue bene 
Withouten bale, bidand in blisse; 
And howe he lost that comforth clene 
And was putte oute fro paradys, 
And sithen what sorouse sor warr sene 
Sente vnto hym and to al his; 
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And howe they lay lange space 
In helle, lokyn fro lyght, 
Tille God graunted tham grace 
Of helpe, als he hadde hyght. 
THan is it nedfull for to neven 
How prophettis all Goddis counsailes kende, 
Als prophet Amos in his steuen 
Lered whils he in his liffe gun lende: 
16 Deus pater disposuit salutem fieri in medio terre, etc. 
He sais thus: God the fadir in heuen 
Ordand in erthe mankynde to mende; 
And to grayth it with Godhede euen, 
His sone he saide that he suld sende 
To take kynde of mankyn, 
In a mayden full mylde; 
So was many saued of syn 
And the foule fende begyled. 
And for the feende sulde so be fedd 
Be tyne, and to no treuth take tentt, 
God made that mayden to be wedde 
Or he his sone vnto hir sentte. 
So was the Godhede closed and cledde 
In wede of weddyng whare thy wente; 
And that oure blisse sulde so be bredde 
Ful many materes may be mente: 
32 Quoniam in semine tuo benedicentur omnes gentes, etc. 
God hymself sayde this thynge 
To Abraham als hym liste: 
Of thy sede sall vppe sprynge 
Wharein folke sall be bliste. 
To proue thes prophettes ordande er, 
Als Isay, vnto olde and yenge, 
He moued oure myscheues for to merr, 
For thus he prayed God for this thynge: 
Rorate, celi, desuper- 
Lord, late thou doune at thy likyng 
THe dewe to fall fro heuen so ferre, 
For than the erthe sall sprede and sprynge 
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A seede that vs sall saue, 
THat nowe in blisse are bente. 
Of clerkis whoso will craue 
THus may ther gatis be mente: 
THe dewe to the gode haly gaste 
May be remened in mannes mynde, 
The erthe vnto the mayden chaste, 
Bycause sho comes of erthely kynde. 
THir wise wordis ware noght wroght in waste, 
To waffe and wende away als wynde, 
For this same prophett sone in haste 
Saide forthermore, als folkes may fynde: 
56 Propter hoc dabit dominus ipse vobis signum, etc. 
Loo, he sais thus: God sall gyffe 
Hereof a syngne to see 
Tille all that lely lyffe, 
And this thare sygne sal be, 
60 Ecce uirgo concipiett, et pariet filium, etc. 
Loo, he sais a mayden mon 
Here on this molde mankynde omell, 
Full clere consayue and bere a sonne, 
And neven his name Emanuell. 
His kyngdom that euere is begonne 
Sall never sese, but dure and dwell; 
On Dauid sege thore sall he wonne, 
His domes to deme and trueth to telle. 
68 Zelus domini faciet hoc, etc. 
He says, luffe of oure lorde 
All this sall ordan thanne; 
That mennes pees and accorde 
To make with erthely manne. 
More of this maiden meves me; 
This prophett sais for oure socoure 
Egredietur virga de Jesse- 
A wande sall brede of Jesse boure, 
And of this same also sais hee: 
Vpponne that wande sall springe a floure 
Wheron the haly gast sall be, 
To governe it with grete honnoure. 
That wande meynes vntill vs 
THis mayden, even and morne, 
And the floure is Jesus, 
THat of that blyst bees borne. 
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THe prophet Johell, a gentill Jewe, 
Somtyme has saide of the same thyng, 
He likenes Criste euen als he knewe 
Like to the dewe in doune-commyng: 
88 Ero quasi ros; et virgo Israell germinabit sicut lilium. 
THe maiden of Israell al newe, 
He sais, sall bere one and forthe brynge 
Als the lelly floure, full faire of hewe. 
THis meynes sa to olde and yoenge, 
THat the hegh haly gaste 
Come oure myscheffe to mende 
In Marie, mayden chaste, 
When God his sone walde sende. 
THis lady is to the lilly lyke- 
THat is bycause of hir clene liffe, 
For in this worlde was never slyke 
One to be mayden, modir, and wyffe. 
And hir sonne, kyng in heuen-ryke, 
Als oft es red be reasoune ryfe, 
And hir husband, bath maistir and meke, 
In charité to stynte all striffe- 
THis passed all worldly witte, 
How God had ordand thaim thanne 
In hir one to be knytte, 
Godhed, maydenhed, and manne