<B CMYORK>
<Q M4 XX MYST YORK>
<N YORK PLAYS>
<A X>
<C M4>
<O 1420-1500>
<M 1420-1500>
<K CONTEMP>
<D NL>
<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>


[^THE YORK PLAYS.
ED. R. BEADLE.
LONDON: EDWARD ARNOLD LTD, 1982.
PP. 58.1  - 73.168  (SAMPLE 1)
PP. 117.1 - 124.305 (SAMPLE 2)^]

<S SAMPLE 1>
<P 58>
[} [\III THE CARDMAKERS\] }]

[} [\THE CREATION OF ADAM AND EVE\] }] 

(^ (\Deus\) ^)
   In heuyn and erthe duly bedene
Of v days werke, euyn onto ende,
I haue complete by curssis clene;
Methynke +te space of +tame well spende.

In heuyn er angels fayre and brighte,
Sternes and planetis +ter curssis to ga,
+Te mone seruis onto +te nyght
The son to lyghte +te day alswa.

In erthe is treys and gres to springe,
Bestis and foulys, bothe gret and smalle,
<P 59>
Fyschis in flode, all othyr thyng
Thryffe and haue my blyssyng all.

Thys werke is wroght now at my will,
But +get can I here no best see
+Tat acordys be kynde and skyll,
And for my werke myght worschippe me.

For perfytt werke ne ware it nane
But ought ware made +tat myght it +geme,
For loue mad I +tis warlde alane,
+Terfor my loffe sall in it seme.

To kepe +tis warlde, bothe mare and lesse,
A skylfull best +tane will I make
Eftyr my schape and my lyknes,
The wilke sall worschipe to me take.

Off +te symplest part of erthe +tat is here
I sall make man, and for +tis skylle:
For to abate hys hauttande chere,
Bothe his gret pride and o+ter 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 +tis reson and skyll alane
I sall make man lyke onto me.
Ryse vp, +tou erthe, in blode and bane,
In schape of man, I commaunde +te.

A female sall +tou haue to fere,
Her sall I make of +ti lyft rybe,
Alane so sall +tou nough be here
Withoutyn faythefull frende and sybe.

Takys now here +te gast of lyffe
And ressayue both +goure saules of me;
<P 60>
+Tis femall take +tou to +ti wyffe,
Adam and Eue +gour names sall be.

(^Adam^)
   A, lorde, full mekyll is +ti mighte
And +tat is sene in ilke a syde,
For now his here a ioyful syght
To se +tis worlde so lange and wyde.

Mony diueris thyngis now here es,
Off bestis and foulis bathe wylde and tame;
+Get is nan made to +ti liknes
But we alone - A, louyd by +ti name.

(^Eue^) 
   To swylke a lorde in all degre`
Be euirmore lastande louynge,
+Tat tyll vs swylke a dyngnite`
Has gyffyne before all othyr thynge;

And selcouth thyngis may we se here
Of +tis ilke warld so lange and brade,
With bestis and fowlis so many and sere;
Blessid be he +tat hase us made.
(^Adam^)
   A, blyssid lorde, now at +ti wille
Syne we er wroght, wochesaff to telle
And also say vs two vntyll
Qwate we sall do and whare to dewell?

(^ (\Deus\) ^)
   For +tis skyl made I +gow +tis day,
My name to worschip ay-whare;
Louys me, for+ti, and louys me ay
For my makyng, I axke no mare.

Bothe wys and witty sall +tou be,
Als man +tat I haue made of noght;
Lordschipe in erthe +tan graunt I +te,
All thynge to serue +te +tat I haue wroght.

<P 61>
In paradyse sall +ge same wone,
Of erthely thyng get +ge no nede,
Ille and gude both sall +ge kone,
I sall +gou lerne +goure lyue to lede.

(^Adam^)
   A, lorde, sene we sall do no thyng
But louffe +te for +ti gret gudnesse,
We sall ay bay to +ti biddyng
And fulfyll it, both more and less.

(^Eue^)
   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 and mayne.

(^ (\Deus\) ^)
   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 +tis is best.

My blyssyng haue +tai euer and ay.
The seueynt day sall my restyng be,
+Tus wille I sese, sothely to say,
Of my doying in +tis degre`.

To blys I sall +gow bryng,
Comys forth, +ge tow, with me;
+Ge sall lyffe in lykyng - 
My blyssyng with +gow be. Amen.

<P 62>
[} [\IV THE FULLERS\] }]

[} [\ADAM AND EVE IN EDEN\] }]


(^ (\Deus\) ^)
   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 +gem 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^)
   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,

<P 63>
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.

(^Eve^)
   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,
[\LINE MISSING; NO GAP IN MS\]
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.

(^ (\Deus\) ^)
   Love my name with good entent
And harken to my comaundement,
And do my byddyng buxomly:
Of all the frute in parradyce,
Tayke ye thereof 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 we 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^)
   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.
<P 64>
(^Eve^)
   We shall do thy byddyng,
We haue none other neyd;
Thys frute full styll shall hyng,
Lorde, that thowe hays forbyd.

(^ (\Deus\) ^)
   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.


[} [\V THE COOPERS\] }]
[} [\THE FALL OF MAN\] }]

(^ (\Satanas incipit dicens:\) ^)

   For woo my witte es in a were
That moffes me mykill in my mynde;
The Godhede +tat I sawe so cleere,
<P 65>
And parsayued +tat he shuld take kynde
Of a degree
That he had wrought, and I dedyned
+Tat aungell kynde shuld it no+gt be;
And we wer faire and bright,
+Terfore me thoght +tat he
The kynde of vs tane myght,
And +terat 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 +tat 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^)
   Wha es +tare?
(^ (\Satanas\) ^) 
   I, a frende.
And for thy gude es +te comynge
I hydir sought.
Of all +te fruyt that ye se hynge
In paradise, why ete ye noght?
(^Eua^) 
   We may of tham ilkane
Take al +tat vs goode +tought,
Save a tree outt is tane,
Wolde do harme to neyghe it ought.

(^ (\Satanas\) ^)
   And why +tat tree, +tat wold I witte,
Any more +tan all othir by?
(^Eua^)
   For oure lord God forbeedis vs itt,
The frute +terof, Adam nor I
To neghe it nere;
And yf we dide we both shuld dye,
He saide, and sese our solace sere.
(^ (\Satanas\) ^)
   Yha, Eue, to me take tente;
Take hede and +tou shalte here
<P 66>
What +tat the matere mente
He moved on +tat manere.

To ete +terof he you defende
I knawe it wele, +tis was his skylle;
Bycause he wolde non othir kende
Thes grete vertues +tat longes +tertill.
For will +tou see,
Who etis the frute of good and ille
Shalle haue knowyng as wele as hee.
(^Eua^)
   Why, what-kynne thyng art +tou
+Tat telles +tis tale to me?
(^ (\Satanas\) ^)
   A worme, +tat wotith wele how
+Tat yhe may wirshipped be.

(^Eue^)
   What wirshippe shulde we wynne therby?
To ete +terof vs nedith it nought,
We have lordshippe to make maistrie
Of alle +tynge +tat in erthe is wrought.
(^ (\Satanas\) ^)
   Woman, do way!
To gretter state ye may be broughte
And ye will do as I schall saye.
(^Eue^) To do is vs full lothe
   +Tat shuld oure God myspaye.
(^ (\Satanas\) ^)
   Nay, certis it is no wathe,
ete it saffley ye maye.

For perille ryght +ter 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^)
   Is +tis soth +tat +tou sais?
(^ (\Satanas\) ^)
   Yhe, why trowes +tou no+gt me?
I wolde be no-kynnes wayes
Telle no+gt but trouthe to +te.

(^Eua^)
   Than wille I to thy techyng traste
And fange +tis frute vnto oure foode.

(^ (\Et tunc debet accipere pomum.\) ^)

(^ (\Satanas\) ^)
   Byte on bodly, be nought abasshed,
And bere Adam to amende his mode
And eke his blisse.

(^ (\Tunc Satanas recedet.\) ^)

<P 67> 
(^Eua^)
   Adam, have here of frute full goode.
(^Adam^)
   Alas woman, why toke +tou +tis?
Owre lorde comaunded vs bothe
To tente +te tree of his.
Thy werke wille make hym wrothe - 
Allas, +tou hast done amys.

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

(^Adam^)
   To ete it wolde Y nought eschewe
Myght I me sure in thy saying.
(^Eue^)
   Byte on boldely, for it is trewe,
We shalle be goddis and knawe al thyng.
(^Adam^)
   To wynne +tat name
I schalle it taste at thy techyng.

(^ (\Et accipit et comedit.\) ^)

   Allas, what haue I done, for shame!
Ille counsaille, woo worthe the!
A, Eue, +tou art to blame,
To +tis entysed +tou me - 
Me shames with my lyghame,

   For I am naked as methynke.
(^Eue^)
   Allas Adam, right so am I.
(^Adam^)
   And for sorowe sere why ne myght we synke,
For we haue greved God almyghty
+Tat made me man - 
Brokyn his bidyng bittirly.
Allas +tat euer we it began.
+Tis werke, Eue, hast +tou wrought,
And made +tis bad bargayne.
(^Eue^)
   Nay Adam, wite me nought.
(^Adam^)
   Do wey, lefe Eue, whame +tan?

(^Eue^)
   The worme to wite wele worthy were,
With tales vntrewe he me betrayed.
(^Adam^)
   Allas, +tat I lete at thy lare
Or trowed +te trufuls +tat +tou me saide.
<P 68>
So may I byde,
For I may banne +tat bittir brayde
And drery dede, +tat I it dyde.
Oure shappe for doole me defes,
Wherewith +tay shalle be hydde.
(^Eue^)
   Late vs take there fygge-leves,
Sythen it is +tus betydde.

(^Adam^)
   Ryght as +tou 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.
(^ (\Dominus\) ^)
   Adam, Adam.
(^Adam^)
   Lorde.
(^ (\Dominus\) ^)
   Where art thou, yhare?
(^Adam^)
   I here +te lorde and seys the no+gt.
(^ (\Dominus\) ^)
   Say, whereon is it longe,
+Tis werke why has +tou wrought?
(^Adam^)
   Lorde, Eue garte me do wronge
And to +tat bryg me brought.

(^ (\Dominus\) ^)
   Say, Eue, why hast +tou garte thy make
Ete frute I bad +te shuld hynge stille,
And comaunded none of it to take?
(^Eua^)
   A worme, lord, entysed me thertill;
So welaway,
That euer I did +tat dede so dill.
(^ (\Dominus\) ^)
   A, wikkid worme, woo worthe +te ay
For +tou on +tis maner
Hast made +tam swilke affraye;
My malysoune haue +tou here
With all +te myght Y may.

And on thy wombe +tan shall +tou glyde,
And be ay full of enmyte`
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 +tan shalle ye swete and swynke,
And trauayle for youre foode.
(^Adam^)
   Allas, whanne myght we synke,
We that haues alle worldis goode
Ful derfly may vs thynke.

<P 69>
(^ (\Dominus\) ^)
   Now Cherubyn, myn aungell bryght,
To middilerth tyte go dryve these twoo.
(^ (\Angelus\) ^)
   Alle redy lorde, as it is right,
Syn thy wille is +tat it be soo,
And thy lykyng.
Adam and Eue, do you to goo,
For here may +ge make no dwellyng;
Goo yhe forthe faste to fare,
Of sorowe may yhe synge.
(^Adam^)
   Allas, for sorowe and care
Oure handis may we wryng.


[} [\VI THE ARMOURERS\] }]

[} [\THE EXPULSION\] }]

(^ (\Angelus\) ^)
   Alle creatures to me take tent,
Fro God of heuen now am I sent
Vnto +te wrecchis +tat wronge has went
Thaymself to woo;
+Te joie of heuen +tat thaym was lent
Is lost thaym froo.

Fro thaym is loste bo+te game and glee;
He badde +tat +tei schuld maistirs be
Ouer alle-kynne thyng, oute-tane a tree
He taught +tem tille;
And +terto wente bothe she and he,
Agayne his wille.

Agaynst his wille +tus haue they wrought,
To greeffe grete God gaffe they right noght,
+Tat wele wytt ye;
And therfore syte is to +taym sought,
As ye shalle see.

The fooles +tat faithe is fallen fra
Take tente to me nowe, or ye ga;
<P 70>
Fro God of heuen vnto yow twa
Sente am I nowe,
For to warne you what-kynne wa
Is wrought for you.

(^Adam^)
   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 full wele we may
Euer mornyng ma.

(^ (\Angelus\) ^)
   Adam, thyselffe made al +tis syte,
For to the tree +tou wente full tyte
And boldely on the frute gan byte
My lord forbed.
(^Adam^)
   Yaa, allas, my wiffe +tat may I wite,
For scho me red.

(^ (\Angelus\) ^)
   Adam, for +tou trowyd hir tale,
He sendis +te worde and sais +tou shale
Lyffe ay in sorowe,
Abide and be in bittir bale
Tille he +te borowe.

(^Adam^)
   Allas, wrecchis, what haue we wrought?
To byggly blys we bothe wer brought;
Whillis we wer +tare
We hadde inowe, nowe haue we noghte - 
Allas, for care.

(^Eua^)
   Oure cares ar comen bothe kyne and colde,
With fele fandyngis manyfolde;
Allas, +tat tyraunte to me tolde,
Thurghoute his gyle,
That we shulde haue alle welthis in walde,
Wa worthe +te whyle.

(^ (\Angelus\) ^)
   That while yee wrought vnwittely,
Soo for to greue God almyghty,
And +tat mon ye full dere abye
Or +tat ye go;
And to lyffe, as is worthy,
In were and wo.

Adam, haue +tis, luke howe ye thynke,
And tille withalle +ti meete and drynke
For euermore.
<P 71>
(^Adam^)
   Allas, for syte why ne myght Y synke,
So shames me sore.

(^Eue^)
   Soore may we shame with sorowes seere,
And felly fare we bothe in feere;
Allas, +tat euyr we neghed it nere,
+Tat tree vntill.
With dole now mon we bye full dere
Oure dedis ille.

(^ (\Angelus\) ^)
   Giffe for +tou beswyked hym swa,
Trauell herto shalle +tou ta,
Thy barnes to bere with mekill wa - 
+Tis warne I +te.
Buxom shalle +tou and othir ma
To man ay be.

(^Eue^)
   Allas for doole, what shall Y doo,
Now mon I neuer haue rest ne roo.
(^Adam^)
   Nay, lo, swilke a tale 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 no+gt bee,
For putte we were to grete plente`
At prime of +te 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
+Tat gois on grounde.

On grounde ongaynely may Y gange,
To suffre syte and peynes strange,
<P 72>
Alle is for dede I haue done wrange
Thurgh wykkid wyle.
On lyve methynkith I lyffe to lange,
Allas +te whille.

A, lord, I thynke what thynge is +tis
That me is ordayned for my mysse;
Gyffe I wirke wronge, who shulde me wys
Be any waye?
How beste will be, so haue Y blisse,
I shalle assaye.

Allas, for bale, what may +tis bee?
In worlde vnwisely wrought haue wee,
This erthe it trembelys for this tree
And dyns ilke dele!
Alle +tis worlde is wrothe with mee,
+Tis wote I wele.

Full wele Y wote my welthe is gone,
Erthe, elementis, euerilkane
For my synne has sorowe tane,
+Tis wele I see.
Was neuere wrecchis so wylle of wane
As nowe ar wee.

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

(^Adam^)
   To see it is a sytful syghte,
We bothe +tat were in blis so brighte,
We mon go nakid euery ilke a nyghte
And dayes bydene.
Allas, what womans witte was light!
+Tat was wele sene.

(^Eue^)
   Sethyn it was so me knyth it sore,
Bot sethyn that woman witteles ware
Mans maistrie shulde haue bene more
Agayns +te gilte.
(^Adam^)
   Nay, at my speche wolde +tou never spare,
+Tat has vs spilte.

<P 73>
(^Eue^)
   Iff I hadde spoken youe oughte to spill
Ye shulde haue taken gode tent +teretyll,
And turnyd my +tought.
(^Adam^)
   Do way, woman, and neme it noght,

For at my biddyng wolde +tou not be
And therfore my woo wyte Y thee;
thurgh ille counsaille +tus casten ar we
In bittir bale.
Nowe God late never man aftir me
Triste woman tale.

For certis me rewes fulle sare
That euere I shulde lerne at +ti lare,
Thy counsaille has casten me in care,
+Tat +tou me kende.
(^Eue^)
   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^)
   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
+Tat me is sende.
He +tat vs wrought wisse vs fro wa,
Whare-som we wende.
 
<S SAMPLE 2> 
<P 117>
[} [\XIII THE PEWTERERS AND FOUNDERS\] }]

[} [\JOSEPH'S TROUBLE ABOUT MARY\] }]

(^Joseph^)
   Of grete mornyng may I me mene
And walke full werily be +tis way,
For nowe +tan wende I best hafe bene
Att ease and reste by reasoune ay.
For I am of grete elde,
Wayke and al vnwelde,
Als ilke man se it maye;
I may nowder buske ne belde
But owther in frith or felde;
For shame what sall I saie,

That +tus-gates nowe on myne alde dase
Has wedded a yonge wenche to my wiff,
And may no+gt wele tryne over two strase?
Nowe lorde, how lange sall I lede +tis liff?
My banes er heuy als lede
And may no+gt stande in stede,
Als kende it is full ryfe.
Now lorde, +tou me wisse and rede
Or sone me dryue to dede,
+Tou may best stynte +tis striffe.

For bittirly +tan may I banne
The way I in +te temple wente,
<P 118>
Itt was to me a bad barganne,
For reuthe I may it ay repente.
For +tarein was ordande
Vnwedded men sulde stande,
Al sembled at asent,
And ilke ane a drye wande
On heght helde in his hand,
And I ne wist what it ment.

In-mange al othir ane bare I;
Itt florisshed faire, and floures on sprede,
And thay saide to me forthy
+Tat with a wiffe I sulde be wedde.
+Te bargayne I made +tare,
+Tat rewes me nowe full sare,
So am I straytely sted.
Now castes itt me in care,
For wele I myght eueremare
Anlepy life haue led.

Hir werkis me wyrkis my wonges to wete;
I am begiled - how, wate I no+gt.
My +gonge wiffe is with childe full grete,
+Tat makes me nowe sorowe vnsoght.
+Tat reproffe nere has slayne me,
Forthy giff any man frayne me
How +tis +ting mi+gt be wroght,
To gabbe yf I wolde payne me,
+Te lawe standis harde agayne me;
To dede I mon be broght.

And lathe methinke+t, on +te todir syde,
My wiff with any man to defame,
And whethir of there twa +tat I bide
I mon no+gt scape withouten schame.
+Te childe certis is noght myne;
+Tat reproffe dose me pyne
And gars me fle fra hame.
My liff gif I shuld tyne,
Sho is a clene virgine
For me, withouten blame.

But wele I wate thurgh prophicie
A maiden clene suld bere a childe,
But it is nought sho, sekirly,
Forthy I wate I am begiled.
<P 119>
And why ne walde som yonge man ta her?
For certis I thynke ouer-ga hir
Into som wodes wilde,
Thus thynke I to stele fra hir.
God childe ther wilde bestes sla hir,
She is so meke and mylde.

Of my wendyng wil I non warne,
Neuere +te lees it is myne entente
To aske hir who gate hir +tat barne,
+Gitt wolde I witte fayne or I wente.

All hayle, God be hereinne.
(^ (\I Puella\) ^) 
   Welcome, by Goddis dere myght.
(^Joseph^)
   Whare is +tat +gonge virgine
Marie, my berde so bright?

(^ (\I Puella\) ^)
   Certis Joseph, +ge sall vndirstande
+Tat sho is not full farre you fra,
Sho sittis at hir boke full faste prayand
For +gou and vs, and for all +ta
+Tat oght has nede.
But for to telle hir will I ga
Of youre comyng, withouten drede.
Haue done and rise vppe, dame,
And to me take gud hede - 
Joseph, he is comen hame.
(^Maria^)
   Welcome, als God me spede. 

Dredles to me he is full dere;
Joseph my spouse, welcome er yhe.
(^Joseph^)
   Gramercy Marie, saie what chere,
Telle me +te soth, how est with +te?
Wha has ben there?
Thy wombe is waxen grete, thynke me,
+Tou arte with barne, allas for care.
A, maidens, wa worthe +gou,
+Tat lete hir lere swilke lare.
(^ (\II Puella\) ^)
   Joseph, +ge sall no+gt trowe
In hir no febill fare.

(^Joseph^)
   Trowe it noght arme? Lefe wenche, do way!
Hir sidis shewes she is with childe.
Whose ist Marie?
(^Maria^)
   Sir, Goddis and youres.
(^Joseph^)
   Nay, nay.
<P 120>
Now wate I wele I am begiled,
And reasoune why?
With me flesshely was +tou neuere fylid,
And I forsake it here forthy.
Say maidens, how es +tis?
Tels me +te so+te, rede I;
And but +ge do, iwisse,
+Te bargayne sall +ge aby.

(^ (\II Puella\) ^)
   If +ge threte als faste as yhe can
+Tare is noght to saie +teretill,
For trulye her come neuer no man
To waite +te body with non ill
Of this swete wight,
For we haue dwelt ay with hir still
And was neuere fro hir day nor nyght.
Hir kepars haue we bene
And sho ay in oure sight,
Come here no man bytwene
To touche +tat berde so bright.

(^ (\I Puella\) ^)
   Na, here come no man in +tere wanes
And +tat euere witnesse will we,
Saue an aungell ilke a day anes
With bodily foode hir fedde has he,
Othir come nane.
Wharfore we ne wate how it shulde be
But thurgh +te haly gaste allane.
For trewly we trowe +tis,
Is grace with hir is gane,
For sho wroght neuere no mys,
We witnesse euere ilkane.

(^Joseph^)
   +Tanne se I wele youre menyng is
+Te aungell has made hir with childe.
Nay, som man in aungellis liknesse
With somkyn gawde has hir begiled,
And +tat trow I.
Forthy nedes noght swilke wordis wilde
At carpe to me dissayuandly.
We, why gab ye me swa
And feynes swilk fantassy?
Allas, me is full wa,
For dule why ne myght I dy.
<P 121>
To me +tis is a carefull cas;
Rekkeles I raffe, refte is my rede.
I dare loke no man in +te face,
Derfely for dole why ne were I dede;
Me lathis my liff.
In temple and in othir stede
Ilke man till hethyng will me dryff.
Was neuer wight sa wa,
For ruthe I all to-ryff;
Allas, why wroght +tou swa
Marie, my weddid wiffe?

(^Maria^)
   To my witnesse grete God I call,
+Tat in mynde wroght neuere na mysse.
(^Joseph^)
   Whose is +te childe +tou arte withall?
(^Maria^)
   Youres sir, and +te kyngis of blisse.
(^Joseph^)
   Ye, and hoo +tan?
Na, selcouthe tythandis than is +tis,
Excuse +tam wele there women can.
But Marie, all +tat sese +te
May witte +ti werkis ere wan,
Thy wombe allway it wreyes +te
+Tat +tou has mette with man.

Whose is it, als faire mot +te befall?
(^Maria^)
   Sir, it is youres and Goddis will.
(^Joseph^)
   Nay, I ne haue noght ado withall - 
Neme it na more to me, be still!
+Tou wate als wele as I,
+Tat we two same flesshly
Wroght neuer swilk werkis with ill.
Loke +tou dide no folye
Before me preuely
Thy faire maydenhede to spill.

But who is +te fader? Telle me his name.
(^Maria^)
   None but youreselfe.
(^Joseph^)
   Late be, for shame.
I did it neuere; +tou dotist dame, by bukes and belles!
Full sakles shulde I bere +tis blame aftir +tou telles,
For I wroght neuere in worde nor dede
Thyng +tat shulde marre thy maydenhede,
To touche me till.
For of slyk note war litill nede,
Yhitt for myn awne I wolde it fede,
Might all be still;
<P 122>
+Tarfore +te fadir tell me, Marie.
(^Maria^)
   But God and yhow, I knawe right nane.
(^Joseph^)
   A, slike sawes mase me full sarye,
With grete mornyng to make my mane.
Therfore be no+gt so balde,
+Tat no slike tales be talde,
But halde +te stille als stane.
+Tou art yonge and I am alde,
Slike werkis yf I do walde,
+Tase games fra me are gane.

Therfore, telle me in priuite`,
Whos is +te childe +tou is with nowe?
Sertis, +ter sall non witte but we,
I drede +te law als wele as +tou.
(^Maria^)
Nowe grete God of hys myght
+Tat all may dresse and dight,
Mekely to +te I bowe.
Rewe on +tis wery wight,
+Tat in his herte myght light
+Te soth to ken and trowe.

(^Joseph^)
   Who had thy maydenhede Marie? Has +tou oght mynde?
(^Maria^)
   Forsuth, I am a mayden clene.
(^Joseph^)
   Nay, +tou spekis now agayne kynde,
Slike +ting myght neuere na man of mene.
A maiden to be with childe?
+Tase werkis fra +te ar wilde,
Sho is not borne I wene.
(^Maria^)
   Joseph, yhe ar begiled,
With synne was I neuer filid,
Goddis sande is on me sene.

(^Joseph^)
   Goddis sande? Yha Marie, God helpe!
Bot certis +tat childe was neuere oures twa.
But woman-kynde gif +tam list yhelpe,
Yhitt walde +tei na man wiste +ter wa.
(^Maria^)
   Sertis it is Goddis sande
[\LINE MISSING.\]
+Tat sall I neuer ga fra.
(^Joseph^)
   Yha, marie, drawe thyn hande,
For forther +gitt will I fande,
I trowe not it be swa.
<P 123>
+Te soth fra me gif +tat +tou layne,
+Te childe-bering may +tou no+gt hyde;
But sitte stille here tille I come agayne,
Me bus an erand here beside.
(^Maria^)
   Now grete God he you wisse,
And mende you of your mysse
Of me, what so betyde.
Als he is kyng of blisse,
Sende yhou som seand of +tis,
In truth +tat ye might bide.

(^Joseph^)
   Nowe lord God +tat all +ting may
At thyne awne will bothe do and dresse,
Wisse me now som redy way
To walke here in +tis wildirnesse.
Bot or I passe +tis hill,
Do with me what God will,
Owther more or lesse,
Here bus me bide full stille
Till I haue slepid my fille,
Myn hert so heuy it is.

(^ (\Angelus\) ^)
   Waken, Joseph, and take bettir kepe
To marie, +tat is +ti felawe fest.
(^Joseph^)
   A, I am full werie, lefe, late me slepe,
Forwandered and walked in +tis forest.
(^ (\Angelus\) ^)
   Rise vppe, and slepe na mare,
+Tou makist her herte full sare
+Tat loues +te alther best.
(^Joseph^)
   We, now es +tis a farly fare
For to be cached bathe here and +tare,
And nowhere may haue rest.

Say, what arte +tou? Telle me this thyng.
(^ (\Angelus\) ^)
   I, Gabriell, Goddis aungell full euen
+Tat has tane Marie to my kepyng,
And sente es +te to say with steuen
In lele wedlak +tou lede +te.
Leffe hir no+gt, I forbid +te,
Na syn of hir +tou neuen,
But tille hir fast +tou spede +te
And of hir noght +tou drede +te,
It is Goddis sande of heuen.

The childe +tat sall be borne of her,
Itt is consayued of +te haly gast.
<P 124>
Alle joie and blisse +tan sall be aftir,
And to al mankynde nowe althir mast.
Jesus his name +tou calle,
For slike happe sall hym fall
Als +tou sall se in haste.
His pepull saffe he sall
Of euyllis and angris all,
+Tat tei ar nowe enbraste.

(^Joseph^)
   And is this soth, aungell, +tou saise?
(^ (\Angelus\) ^)
   Yha, and +tis to taken right:
Wende forthe to Marie thy wiffe alwayse,
Brynge hir to Bedlem +tis ilke nyght.
Ther sall a childe borne be,
Goddis sone of heuen is hee
And man ay mast of myght.
(^Joseph^)
   Nowe lorde God full wele is me
That euyr +tat I +tis sight suld see,
I was neuer ar so light.

For for I walde haue hir +tus refused,
And sakles blame +tat ay was clere,
Me bus pray hir halde me excused,
Als som men dose with full gud chere.
Saie marie, wiffe, how fares +tou?
(^Maria^)
   +Te bettir sir, for yhou.
Why stande yhe +tare? Come nere.
(^Joseph^)
   My bakke fayne wolde I bowe
And aske forgifnesse nowe,
Wiste I +tou wolde me here.

(^Maria^)
   Forgiffnesse sir? Late be, for shame,
Slike wordis suld all gud women lakke.
(^Joseph^)
   Yha, marie, I am to blame
For wordis lang-are I to +te spak.
But gadir same nowe all oure gere,
Slike poure wede as we were,
And prike +tam in a pak.
Till Bedlem bus me it bere,
For litill thyng will women dere;
Helpe vp nowe on my bak. 



