<B CMLUDUS>
<Q M4 XX MYST LUDUS>
<N LUDUS COV>
<A X>
<C M4>
<O 1420-1500>
<M 1420-1500>
<K CONTEMP>
<D EML>
<V VERSE>
<T DRAMA MYST>
<G X>
<F X>
<W SCRIPT>
<X X>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U X>
<E X>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I X>
<Z X>
<S SAMPLE X>


[^LUDUS COVENTRIAE OR THE PLAIE CALLED
CORPUS CHRISTI. COTTON MS. VESPASIAN D. VIII.
EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, E.S. 120.
ED. K. S. BLOCK. 
LONDON, 1960 (1922). 
PP. 173.129 - 177.284    (SAMPLE 1)
PP. 200.1   - 209.296    (SAMPLE 2)^]

<S SAMPLE 1>
<P 173>
(^herodes (\rex\) ^)
[^EIGHT LINES OMITTED^]

   In sete now am I sett as kynge of myghtys most
All this werd ffor loue to me xul +tei lowt
both of hevyn and of erth and of helle cost
Ffor dygne of my dygnyte +tei haue of me dowt
+ter is no lord on lyve to me wurth a toost
nother kyng nor kayser in all +tis worlde abought
If any brybour do bragge or blowe a-+gens my bost
I xal rappe +to rebawdys and rake +tem on rought
With my bryght bronde
+Ter xal be neythey kayser nere knyge
But +tat I xal hem down dynge
lesse +tan he at my byddynge
be buxum to myn honde.

Now my jentyll and curteys knyghtys herke to me +tis stownde
Good tyme sone me thynkygh at dyner +tat we were
Smertly +terfore sett a tabyll a-non here fful sownde
Couerid with a coryous cloth and with rych wurthy fare
Servyse ffor +te lovelyest lorde +tat levynge is on grownde
Beste metys and wurthyest wynes loke +tat +ge non spare
+tow +tat a lytyl pynt xulde coste a Ml. pownde
brynge alweye of +te beste for coste take +ge no care
Anon +tat it be done.

(^Senescallus^)
   My lorde +te tabyl is redy dyght
here is watyr now wasch forthryght
<P 174>
now blowe up mynstrall with all +gour myght
+te servyse comyth in sone.

(^herodes (\rex\) ^)
   Now am I sett at mete
and wurthely servyd at my degre
Com forth knyghtys sytt down and ete
and be as mery as +ge kan be. 

(^ (\i=us= miles\) ^)
   Lord at +gowre byddynge we take oure sete
with herty wyl obey we the
+ter is no lorde of myght so grett
thorwe all +tis werde in no countre
In Wurchepp to a-byde.

(^Herodes^)
   I was nevyr meryer here be-forn
Sythe +tat I was fyrst born
than I am now ryght in +tis morn
in joy I gynne to glyde.

(^ (\Mors\) ^)
   Ow I herde a page make preysyng of pride
all prynces he passyth he wenyth of powste
he wenyth to be +te wurthyest of all +tis werde wyde
kynge ovyr All kyngys +tat page wenyth to be
He sent into bedlem to seke on every syde
Cryst for to qwelle yf +tei myght hym se
but of his wykkyd wyl lurdeyn +gitt he lyede
goddys sone doth lyve +ter is no lorde but he
Ouer all lordys he is kynge
I am deth goddys masangere
All myghty god hath sent me here
+gon lordeyn to Sle with-owtyn dwere
ffor his wykkyd werkynge.

I am sent fro god deth is my name
All thynge +tat is on grownd I welde at my wylle
both man and beste and byrdys wylde and tame
Whan +tat I come them to . with deth I do them kylle
Erbe gres and tres stronge . take hem all in same
+ga +te grete myghty Okys . with my dent I spylle
what man +tat I wrastele with he xal ryght sone haue schame
I +geve hym such a trepett . he xal evyr more ly stylle
<P 175>
Ffor deth kan no sporte
wher I smyte +ter is no grace
Ffor aftere my strook man hath no space
to make amendys ffor his trespace
but god hym graunt comforte

Ow se how prowdely +gon kaytyff sytt at mete
of deth hath he no dowte he wenyth to leve evyr-more
to hym wyl I go and +geve hym such An hete
+tat all +te lechis of +te londe his lyf xul nevyr restore
A-+gens my dredful dentys it vaylyth nevyr to plete
or I hym part fro I xal hym make ful pore
All +te blood of his body I xal hym owt swete
Ffor now I go to sle hym with strokys sad and sore
+tis tyde
Bothe hym and his knyghtys all
I xal hem make to me but thrall
with my spere sle hem I xall
and so cast down his pride.

(^herodes (\rex\) ^)
   Now kende knyghtys be mery and glad
With all good diligens shewe now sum myrth
Ffor be gracyous mahound more myrth never I had
ne nevyr more joye was inne from tyme of my byrth
Ffor now my fo is ded and prendyd as a padde
aboue me is no kynge . on grownd nere on gerth
merthis +terfore make +ge and be ryght no thynge sadde
spare nother mete nor drynke and spare for no dyrthe
of wyne nor of brede 
Ffor now am I a kynge alone
So wurthy as I . may +ter be none
+terfore knyghtys be mery echone
ffor now my ffo is dede.

(^ (\i=us= miles\) ^)
   Whan +te boys sprawlyd at my sperys hende
by sathanas oure syre it was a goodly syght
A good game it was +tat boy for to shende
+tat wolde abene oure kynge and put +gow from +gour ryght

<P 176>
(^ (\ij=us= miles\) ^)
   Now trewly my lorde +te kynge we had ben vn-hende
and nevyr non of us Able for to be a knyght 
If +tat Any of us to hem had ben a frende
and asavyd Any lyff a-+gen +ti mekyl myght
Ffrom deth hem to flytt.

(^herodes (\rex\) ^)
   Amonges all +tat grett rowthte
he is ded I haue no dowte
+terfore menstrell rownd a-bowte
blowe up a mery fytt.

(^ (\Hic dum buccinant mors interficiat herodem et duos         #
milites subito
et diabolus recipiat eos.\) ^)

(^ (\Diabolus\) ^)
   All oure all oure +tis catel is myn
I xall hem brynge on to my celle
I xal hem teche pleys fyn
and showe such myrthe as is in helle
It were more bettyr Amonges swyn
+tat evyr more stynkyn +ter be to dwelle
ffor in oure logge is so gret peyn
+tat non erthely tonge can telle
with +gow I go my way
I xal +gow bere forth with me
and shewe +gow sportys of oure gle
of oure myrthis now xal +ge se
and evyr synge welawey.

(^ (\Mors\) ^)
   Off kynge herowde all men beware
+tat hath rejoycyd in pompe and pryde
Ffor all his boste of blysse ful bare
he lyth now ded here on his syde
Ffor whan I come I can not spare
Fro me no whyht may hym hyde
now is he ded and cast in care
In helle pytt evyr to A-byde
his lordchep is al lorn
<P 177>
Now is he as pore as I
wormys mete is his body
his sowle in helle ful peynfully
of develis is al to-torn.

All men dwellyng upon +te grownde
Be-ware of me be myn councel
Ffor feynt felachep in me is fownde
I kan no curtesy as I +gow tel
Ffor be a man nevyr so sownde
of helth in herte nevyr so wel
I come sodeynly with-in a stownde
me with-stande may no castel
my jurnay wyl I spede.
of my comyng no man is ware
Ffor when men make most mery fare
+tan sodeynly I cast hem in care
and sle hem evyn in dede.

Thow I be nakyd and pore of array
and wurmys knawe me al a-bowte
+git loke +ge drede me nyth and day
Ffor whan deth comyth +ge stande in dowte
Evyn lyke to me as I +gow say
shull all +ge be here in +tis rowte
Whan I +gow chalange at my day
I xal +gow make ryght lowe to lowth
and nakyd for to be
Amonges wormys as I +gow telle
Vndyr +te erth xul +ge dwelle
and thei xul Etyn both flesch and felle
As +tei haue don me.



<S SAMPLE 2>
<P 200>
[} (\HIC DE MULIERE IN ADULTERIO DEPREHENSA. NOLO MORTEM
PECCATORIS.\) }]

(^Jhesus^)
   Man for +ti synne take repentaunce
If +tou amende +tat is amys
Than hevyn xal be +tin herytaunce
Thow +tou haue don A+gens god grevauns
+gett mercy to haske loke +tou be bolde
his mercy doth passe in trewe balauns
All cruel jugement be many folde.

<P 201>
thow +tat +gour synnys be nevyr so grett
Ffor hem be sad and aske mercy
sone of my ffadyr grace +ge may gett
with +te leste teer wepynge owte of +gour ey
My ffadyr me sent the man to bye
All +ti Raunsom my-sylfe must pay
Ffor loue of +te my-sylfe wyl dye
Iff +tou aske mercy I sey nevyr nay.

In to +te erth ffrom hevyn A-bove
+ti sorwe to sese and joye to restore
man I cam down all ffor +ti loue
Loue me ageyn I aske no more
+tow +tou mys-happe and synne ful sore
+git turne A+gen and mercy craue
it is +ti fawte and +tou be lore
haske +tou mercy and +tou xalt haue.

Vppon +ti neybore be not vengabyl
Ageyn +te lawe if he offende
lyke as he is +tou art vnstabyl
thyn owyn frelte evyr +tou attende
Euer more +ti neybore helpe to Amende
evyn as +tou woldyst he xulde +te
Ageyn hym wrath if +tou accende
the same in happ wyll falle on the.

Eche man to othyr be mercyable
And mercy he xal haue at nede
What man of mercy is not tretable
Whan he askyth mercy he xal not spede
Mercy to graunt I com in dede
Who so Aske mercy he xal haue grace
Lett no man dowte for his mysdede
But evyr Aske mercy whyl he hath space.

(^ (\Scriba\) ^)
   Alas Alas oure Lawe is lorn
A fals Ypocryte jhesu be name
+tat of a sheppherdis dowtyr was born
Wyl breke oure lawe and make it lame
he wyl us werke ryght mekyl shame
<P 202>
his fals purpos if he up-holde
all oure lawys he doth defame
+tat Stynkynge beggere is woundyr bolde.

(^Phariseus^)
   Sere scrybe in feyth +tat ypocryte
wyl turne +tis londe al to his lore
+terfore I councell . hym to indyte
And chastyse hym ryght wel +terfore.

(^ (\Scriba\) ^)
   On hym be-leve many A score
In his prechynge he is so gay
Ech man hym ffolwygh ever more and more
A+gens +tat he seyth no man seyth nay.

(^Phariseus^)
   A Ffals qwarel if we cowde feyne
+tat ypocrite to puttyn in blame
All his prechynge xulde sone disteyne
and than his wurchepp xuld turne to shame
with sum falshede to spyllyn his name
lett vs assay his lore to spylle
+te pepyl with hym yff we cowde grame
than xulde we sone haue al oure wyll.

(^ (\Accusator\) ^)
   Herke sere pharysew and sere scrybe
A ryght good sporte I kan +gow telle
I vndyr-take +tat ryght a good brybe
We all xul haue to kepe councell
A fayre +gonge qwene here-by doth dwelle
both ffresch and gay upon to loke
And a tall man with here doth melle
the wey in to hyre chawmere ryght evyn he toke.

lett us thre now go streyte thedyr
the wey fful evyn I xall +gow lede
and we xul take them both to-gedyr
Whyll +tat +tei do +tat synful dede.

(^ (\Scriba\) ^)
   Art +tou sekyr +tat we xal spede
Shall we hym fynde whan we cum there.

(^ (\Accusator\) ^)
   be my trowth I haue no drede
+te hare fro +te fforme we xal a-rere.

<P 203>
(^Phariseus^)
   We xal haue game and +tis be trewe
lete us thre werke by on Assent
We wyl here brynge evyn be-forn jhesu
and of here lyff +te truth present
How in advowtrye hyre lyff is lent
Than hym be-forn whan she is browth
We xul hym Aske +te trew jugement
What lawfull deth to here is wrouth.

Of grace and mercy hevyr he doth preche
And +tat no man xulde be vengeable
Ageyn +te woman if he sey wrech
Than of his prechynge he is vnstable
And if we fynde hym varyable
of his prechynge +tat he hath tawth
than haue we cawse bothe juste and Able
Ffor a fals man +tat he be cawth.

(^ (\Scriba\) ^)
   Now be grete god +ge sey fful well
If we hym fyndyn in varyaunce
We haue good reson as +ge do tell
Hym for to brynge to foule myschauns
If he holde stylle his dalyauns
and preche of mercy hire for to saue
than haue we mater of gret substauns
hym for to kylle and putt in graue.

Grett reson why I xal +gow telle
Ffor moyses doth bydde in oure lawe
that Euery Advowterere we xuld qwelle
and +gitt with stonys thei xulde be slawe
Ageyn moyses if +tat he drawe
+tat Synful woman with grace to helpe
he xal nevyr skape out of oure Awe
but he xal dye lyke a dogge whelpe.

<P 204>
(^ (\Accusator\) ^)
   +ge tary ovyr longe serys I sey +gow
they wyl sone parte as +tat I gesse
+terfore if +ge wyl haue +gour pray now
lete us go take them in here whantownnesse.

(^Phariseus^)
   Goo +tou be-forn +te wey to dresse
We xal +te ffolwe with-in short whyle
Iff +tat we may +tat quene dystresse
I hope we xal jhesu be-gyle.

(^ (\Scriba\) ^)
   Breke up +te dore and go we inne
Sett to +te shuldyr with all +ti myght
We xal hem take evyn in here synne
here owyn trespas shal +tem indite.

(^ (\hic juuenis quidam extra currit indeploydo calligis non    #
ligatis et
braccas in manu tenens et dicit accusator\) ^)

(^ (\Accusator\) ^)
   Stow +tat harlot sum erthely wyght
that in advowtrye here is ffownde.

(^ (\Juuenis\) ^)
   +giff Any man stow me +tis nyth
I xal +geve a dedly wownde.

[{If{] Any man my wey doth stoppe
or we departe ded xal I be
I xal +tis daggare putt in his croppe
I xal hym kylle or he xal me.

(^Phariseus^)
   Grett goddys curse mut go with the
With suche a shrewe wyll I not melle.

(^ (\Juuenes\) ^)
   That same blyssynge I +gyff +gow thre
And qwheth +gow alle to +te devyl of helle.

In feyth I was so sore affrayd
Of +gone thre shrewys +te sothe to say
my breche be nott +gett well up-teyd
I had such hast to renne A-way
<P 205>
Thei xal nevyr cacche me in such affray
I am full glad +tat I am gon
Adewe Adewe a xx=ti= devyl way
and goddys curse haue +ge every-chon.

(^ (\Scriba\) ^)
   Come forth +tou stotte com forth +tou scowte
com forth +tou bysmare and brothel bolde
com forth +tou hore and stynkynge bych clowte
how longe hast +tou such harlotry holde.

(^Phariseus^)
   Com forth +tou quene com forth +tou scolde
com forth +tou sloveyn com forth +tou slutte
we xal the tecche with carys colde
A lytyl bettyr to kepe +ti kutte.

(^ (\Mulyer\) ^)
   A mercy mercy serys I +gow pray
Ffor goddys loue haue mercy on me
of my mys-levynge me not be-wray
haue mercy on me for charyte.

(^ (\Accusator\) ^)
   Aske us no mercy it xal not be
We xul so ordeyn ffor +ti lott
+tat +tou xalt dye for +tin Advowtrye
+Terfore com forth +tou stynkynge stott.

(^ (\Mulier\) ^)
   Serys my wurchepp if +ge wyl saue
And helpe I haue non opyn shame
bothe gold and sylvyr +ge xul haue
So +tat in clennes +ge kepe my name.

(^ (\Scriba\) ^)
   Mede ffor to take we were to blame
to save suche stottys it xal not be
We xal brynge the to suche a game
+tat all advowtererys xul lern be the.

(^ (\Mulier\) ^)
   Stondynge +ge wyl not graunt me grace
but for my synne +tat I xal dye
I pray +gow kylle me here in +tis place
and lete not +te pepyl up-on me crye
If I be sclaundryd opynly
<P 206>
to all my frendys it xul be shame
I pray +gow kylle me prevyly
lete not +te pepyl know my defame.

(^Phariseus^)
   Ffy on +te scowte +te devyl +te qwelle
Ageyn +te lawe xul we +te kyll
Ffyrst xal hange +te . +te devyl of helle
or we such folyes xulde ffulfyll
thow it lyke +te nevyr so ill
be-fforn +te prophete +tou xalt haue lawe
lyke as moyse doth charge ut tyll
With grett stonys +tou xalt be slawe.

(^ (\Accusator\) ^)
   Com forth a-pase +tou stynkynge scowte
be-fore +te prophete +tou were +tis day
or I xal +geue +te such a clowte
+tat +tou xalt fall down evyn in +te way.

(^ (\Scriba\) ^)
   now be grett god and I +te pay
Such a buffett I xal +te take
+tat all +te teth I dare wel say
with-inne +tin heed ffor who xul shake.

(^Phariseus^)
   Herke sere prophete we all +gow pray
to gyff trewe dom and just sentence
Vpon +tis woman which +tis same day
In synfull advowtery hath don offense.

(^ (\hic ihesus dum isti accusant mulierem continue debet       #
digito suo
scribere in terra.\) ^)

(^ (\Accusator\) ^)
   Se we haue brought here to +gour presens
be-cawse +ge ben a wyse prophete
+tat +ge xal telle be consyens
What deth to hyre +ge thynke most mete.

(^ (\Scriba\) ^)
   In moyses lawe ryght +tus we fynde
+tat such fals louers xul be slayn
streyte to a stake we xul hem bynde
and with grett stonys brest out +ter brayn
<P 207>
Of +gour concyens telle us +te playn
with +tis woman what xal be wrought
Shall we lete here go qwyte agayn
or to hire deth xal she be brought.

(^ (\Jhesus nichil respondit sed semper scrybyt in terra.\) ^)

(^ (\Mulier\) ^)
   Now holy prophete be mercyable
vpon me wrecch take no vengeaunce
Ffor my synnys Abhomynable
In hert I haue grett repentaunce
I am wel wurthy to haue myschaunce
Both bodyly deth and werdly shame
but gracyous prophete of socurraunce
+tis tyme pray +gow for goddys name.

(^Phariseus^)
   Ageyn +te lawe +tou dedyst offens
+terfore of grace speke +tou no more
As moyses gevyth in law sentens
+tou xalt be stonyd to deth +ter-fore.

(^ (\Accusator\) ^)
   Ha don sere prophete telle us +goure lore
xul we +tis woman with stonys kyll
or to hire hous hire home restore
In +tis mater tell us +gour wyll.

(^ (\Scriba\) ^)
   In a colde stodye me thynkyth +ge sytt
good sere awake telle us +gour thought
xal she be stonyd telle us +gour wytt
or in what rewle xal sche be brought.

(^Jhesus^)
   Loke which of +gow +tat nevyr synne wrought
but is of lyff clennere +tan she
Cast at here stonys and spare here nowght
Clene out of synne if +tat +ge be.

(^ (\hic ihesus iterum se inclinans scribet in terra et omnes   #
accusatores
quasi confusi separatim in tribus locis se disiungent;\) ^)

<P 208>
(^Phariseus^)
   Alas Alas I am ashamyd
I am a-fferde +tat I xal deye
all myn synnys evyn propyrly namyd
+gon prophyte dede wryte be-for myn eye
Iff +tat my felawys +tat dude Aspye
they wyll telle it bothe ffer and wyde
my synfyll levynge if +tei out crye
I wot nevyr wher myn heed to hyde.

(^ (\Accusator\) ^)
   Alas for sorwe myn herte doth blede
All my synnes +gon man dude wryte
If +tat my felawys to them toke hede
I kan not me ffrom deth Acquyte
I wolde I wore hyd sum-where out of syght
+tat men xuld me no-where se ne knowe
Iff I be take I am afflyght
In mekyl shame I xal be throwe.

(^ (\Scriba\) ^)
   Alas +te tyme +tat +tis be-tyd
Ryght byttyr care doth me enbrace
All my synnys be now vnhyd
+gon man be-for me hem all doth trace
If I were onys out of +tis place
to suffyr deth gret and vengeauns Able
I wyl nevyr come be-for his face
+tow I xuld dye in a stable.

(^ (\Mulier\) ^)
   Thow I be wurthy ffor my trespas
to suffyr deth ab-homynable
+gitt holy prophete of +gour hy+g grace
In +gour jugement be mercyable
I wyl nevyr more be so vnstable
O holy prophete graunt me mercy
of myn synnys vnresonable
With all myn hert I am sory.

(^Jhesus^)
   Where be +ti fomen +tat dude +te Accuse
Why haue +tei left us to Alone.

<P 209>
(^ (\Mulier\) ^)
   By-cawse they cowde nat hemself excuse
With shame they ffled hens Euery-chone
But gracyous prophete lyst to my mone
of my sorwe take compassyon
now all myn enmyes hens be gone
Sey me sum wurde of consolacion.

(^Jhesus^)
   Ffor +to synnys +tat +tou hast wrought
hath Any man condempnyd the.

(^ (\Mulier\) ^)
   Nay for-soth +tat hath +ter nought
but in +gour grace I putt me.

(^Jhesus^)
   Ffor me +tou xalt nat condempnyd be
go hom A-geyn and walk at large
loke +tat +tou leve in honeste
and wyl no more to synne I +te charge.

(^ (\Mulier\) ^)
   I thanke +gow hy+gly holy prophete
Of +tis grett grace +ge haue me graunt
all my lewde lyff I xal doun lete
and ffonde to be goddys trewe servaunt.

(^Jhesus^)
   What man of synne be repentaunt
of god if he wyl mercy craue
God of mercy is so habundawnt
+tat what man haske it he xal it haue.

Whan man is contrite and hath wonne grace
God wele not kepe olde wreth in mynde
but bettyr loue to hem he has
Very contryte whan he them fynde 
Now god +tat dyed ffor all mankende
saue all +tese pepyl both nyght and day
and of oure synnys he us vnbynde
hy+ge lorde of hevyn +tat best may. 



