The Towneley Cycle, Play 26 The Resurrection of the Lord Resurreccio Domini 001 Pilate. Peasse, I warne you, woldys in wytt! 002 And standys on syde or els go sytt, 003 ffor here ar men that go not yit, 004 And lordys of me[kill] myght; 005 We thynk to abyde, and not to flytt, 006 I tell you euery wight. 007 Spare youre spech, ye brodels bold, 008 And sesse youre cry till I haue told, 009 What that my worship wold, 010 here in thise wonys; 011 whoso that wyghtly nold, 012 ffull hy bese hanged his bonys. 013 wote ye not that I am pilate, 014 That satt apon the Iustyce late, 015 At caluarie where I was att 016 This day at morne? 017 I am he, that great state, 018 That lad has all to-torne. 019 Now sen that lothly losell is thus ded, 020 I haue great ioy in my manhede, 021 Therfor wold, I in ilk sted, 022 It were tayn hede, 023 If any felowse felow his red, 024 Or more his law wold lede. 025 ffor and I knew it, cruelly 026 his lyfe bees lost, and that shortly, 027 that he were better hyng ful hy 028 On galow tre; 029 Therfor ye prelatys shuld, aspy 030 If any sich be. 031 As I am man of myghtys most, 032 If ther be any that blow sich bost, 033 with tormentys keyn bese he indost 034 ffor euermore; 035 The devill to hell shall harry hys goost, 036 Bot I say nomore. 037 Caiaphas. Sir, ye thar nothyng be dredand, 038 ffor centurio, I vnderstand, 039 youre knyght is left abydand 040 Right ther behynde; 041 We left hym ther, for man most wyse, 042 If any rybaldys wold oght ryse, 043 To sesse theym to the next assyse, 044 And then forto make ende. 045 Centurion. A, blyssyd lord adonay, 046 what may this meruell sygnyfy 047 That here was shewyd so openly 048 vnto oure sight, 049 When the rightwys man can dy 050 that ihesus hight? 051 heuen it shoke abone, 052 Of shynyng blan both son and moyne, 053 And dede men also rose vp sone, 054 Outt of thare grafe; 055 And stones in wall anone 056 In sonder brast and clafe. 057 Ther was seen many a full sodan sight, 058 Oure prynces, for sothe, dyd nothyng right, 059 And so I saide to theym on hight, 060 As it is trew, 061 That he was most of myght, 062 The son of god, ihesu. 063 ffowlys in the ayer and fish in floode, 064 That day changid thare mode, 065 when that he was rent on rode, 066 That lord veray; 067 ffull well thay vnderstode 068 That he was slayn that day. 069 Therfor right as I meyn / to theym fast will I ryde, 070 To wyt withoutten weyn / what they will say this tyde 071 Of this enfray; 072 I will no longer abyde 073 bot fast ride on my way. 074 God saue you, syrs, on euery syde! 075 Worship and welth in warld so wyde! 076 Pilate. Centurio, welcom this tyde, 077 Oure comly knyght! 078 Centurion. God graunt you grace well forto gyde, 079 And rewll you right. 080 Pilate. Centurio, welcom, draw nere hand! 081 Tell vs son tythyngys here emang, 082 ffor ye haue gone thrughoutt oure land, 083 ye know ilk dele. 084 Centurion. Sir, I drede me ye haue done wrang 085 And wonder yll. 086 Caiaphas. wonder yll? I pray the why? 087 declare that to this company. 088 Centurion. So shall I, sir, full securly, 089 with all my mayn; 090 The rightwys man, I meyn, hym by 091 that ye haue slayn. 092 Pilate. Centurio, sese of sich saw; 093 ye ar a greatt man of oure law, 094 And if we shuld any wytnes draw, 095 To vs excuse, 096 To mayntene vs euermore ye aw, 097 And noght refuse. 098 Centurion. To mayntene trowth is well worthy; 099 I saide when I sagh hym dy, 100 That it was godys son almyghty, 101 That hang thore; 102 So say I yit and abydys therby, 103 ffor euermore. 104 Anna. yee, sir, sich resons may ye rew, 105 Thou shuld not neuen sich notes new, 106 Bot thou couth any tokyns trew, 107 vntill vs tell. 108 Centurion. Sich wonderfull case neuer ere ye knew 109 As then befell. 110 Caiaphas. we pray the tell vs, of what thyng? 111 Centurion. Of elymentys, both old, and ying, 112 In thare manere maide greatt mowrnyng, 113 In ilka stede; 114 Thay knew by contenaunce that thare kyng 115 was done to dede. 116 The son for wo it waxed all wan, 117 The moyn and starnes of shynyng blan, 118 And erth it tremlyd as a man 119 Began to speke; 120 The stone, that neuer was styrryd or than, 121 In sonder brast and breke; 122 And dede men rose vp bodely, both greatt and small. 123 Pilate. Centurio, bewar with all! 124 ye wote the clerkys the clyppys it call 125 Sich sodan sight; 126 That son and moyne a seson shall 127 lak of thare light. 128 Caiaphas. Sir, and if that dede men ryse vp bodely, 129 That may be done thrugh socery, 130 Therfor nothyng we sett therby, 131 that be thou bast. 132 Centurion. Sir, that I saw truly, 133 That shall I euermore trast. 134 Not for that ilk warke that ye dyd wyrke, 135 Not oonly for the son wex myrke, 136 Bot how the vayll rofe in the kyrke, 137 ffayn wyt I wold. 138 Pilate. A, sich tayles full sone wold make vs yrke, 139 if thay were told. 140 harlot! wherto commys thou vs emang 141 with sich lesyngys vs to fang? 142 Weynd furth! hy myght thou hang, 143 Vyle fatur! 144 Caiaphas. Weynd furth in the Wenyande, 145 And hold styll thy clattur. 146 Centurion. Sirs, sen ye set not by my saw, / haues now good day! 147 God lene you grace to knaw / the sothe all way. 148 Anna. with draw the fast, sen thou the dredys, 149 ffor we shall well mayntene oure dedys. 150 Pilate. Sich wonderfull resons as now redys 151 were neuer beforne, 152 Caiaphas. To neuen this note nomore vs nedys, 153 nawder euen nor morne, 154 Bot forto be war of more were 155 That afterward myght do vs dere, 156 Therfor, sir, whils ye ar here 157 vs all emang, 158 Avyse you of thise sawes sere 159 how thay will stand. 160 ffor ihesus saide full openly 161 Vnto the men that yode hym by, 162 A thyng that grevys all Iury, 163 And right so may, 164 That he shuld, ryse vp bodely 165 within the thryde day. 166 If it be so, as myght I spede, 167 The latter dede is more to drede 168 Then was the fyrst, if we take hede 169 And tend therto; 170 Avyse you, sir, for it is nede, 171 the best to do. 172 Anna. Sir, neuer the les if he saide so, 173 he hase no myght to ryse and go, 174 Bot his dyscypyls steyll his cors vs fro 175 And bere away; 176 That were till vs, and othere mo, 177 A fowll enfray. 178 Then wold the pepyll say euerilkon 179 That he were rysen hym self alon, 180 Therfor ordan to kepe that stone 181 with knyghtys heynd, 182 To thise thre dayes be commen and gone 183 And broght till ende. 184 Pilate. Now, certys sir, full well ye say, 185 And for this ilk poynt to puruay 186 I shall, if that I may; 187 he shall not ryse, 188 Nor none shall wyn hym thens away 189 of nokyns wyse. 190 Sir knyghtys, that ar of dedys dughty, 191 And chosen for chefe of cheualry, 192 As I may me in you affy, 193 By day and nyght, 194 ye go and kepe ihesu body 195 with all youre myght; 196 And for thyng that be may, 197 kepe hym well vnto the thryd day, 198 That no tratur steyll his cors you fray, 199 Out of that sted; 200 ffor if ther do, truly I say, 201 ye shall be dede. 202 Primus Miles. yis, sir pilate, in certan, 203 we shall hym kepe with all oure mayn; 204 Ther shall no tratur with no trayn 205 Steyll hym vs fro; 206 Sir knyghtys, take gere that best may gayn, 207 And let vs go. 208 Secundus Miles. yis, certys, we are all redy bowne, 209 we shall hym kepe till youre renowne; 210 On euery syde lett vs sytt downe, 211 we all in fere; 212 And I shall fownde to crak his crowne 213 whoso commys here. 214 Primus Miles. who shuld be where, fayn wold I wytt. 215 Secundus Miles. Euen on this syde wyll I sytt. 216 Tercius Miles. And I shall fownde his feete to flytt. 217 Quartus Miles. we ther shrew ther! 218 Now by mahowne, fayn wold I wytt 219 who durst com here 220 This cors with treson forto take, 221 ffor if it were the burnand drake 222 Of me styfly he gatt a strake, 223 haue here my hand; 224 To thise thre dayes be past, 225 This cors I dar warand. 226 Jesus. Erthly man, that I haue wroght, 227 wightly wake, and slepe thou noght! 228 with bytter bayll I haue the boght, 229 To make the fre; 230 Into this dongeon depe I soght 231 And all for luf of the. 232 Behold how dere I wold the by! 233 My woundys ar weytt and all blody; 234 The, synfull man, full dere boght I 235 With tray and teyn; 236 Thou fyle the noght eft for-thy, 237 Now art thou cleyn. 238 Clene haue I mayde the, synfull man, 239 With wo and wandreth I the wan, 240 ffrom harte and syde the blood out ran, 241 Sich was my pyne; 242 Thou must me luf that thus gaf than 243 My lyfe for thyne. 244 Thou synfull man that by me gase, 245 Tytt vnto me thou turne thi face; 246 Behold, my body, in ilka place 247 how it was dight; 248 All to-rent and all to-shentt, 249 Man, for thy plight. 250 With cordes enewe and ropys toghe 251 The Iues fell my lymmes out-drogh, 252 ffor that I was not mete enoghe 253 vnto the bore; 254 with hard stowndys thise depe woundys 255 Tholyd I thefore. 256 A crowne of thorne, that is so kene, 257 Thay set apon my hede for tene, 258 Two thefys hang thai me betwene, 259 All for dyspyte; 260 This payn ilk dele thou shall wyt wele, 261 May I the wyte. 262 Behald my shankes and my knees, 263 Myn armes and my thees; 264 Behold me well, looke what thou sees, 265 Bot sorow and pyne; 266 Thus was I spylt, man, for thi gylt, 267 And not for myne. 268 And yit more vnderstand thou shall; 269 In stede of drynk thay gaf me gall, 270 Asell thay menged it withall, 271 The Iues fell; 272 The payn I haue, tholyd I to saue 273 Mans saull from hell. 274 Behold, my body how Iues it dang 275 with knottys of whyppys and scorges strang; 276 As stremes of well the bloode out sprang 277 On euery syde; 278 knottes where thay hyt, well may thou wytt, 279 Maide woundys wyde. 280 And therfor thou shall vnderstand 281 In body, heed, feete, and hand, 282 ffour hundreth woundys and fyue thowsand 283 here may thou se; 284 And therto neyn were delt full euen 285 ffor luf of the. 286 Behold, on me noght els is lefte, 287 And or that thou were fro me refte, 288 All thise paynes wold I thole efte 289 And for the dy; 290 here may thou se that I luf the, 291 Man, faythfully. 292 Sen I for luf, man, boght the dere, 293 As thou thi self the sothe sees here, 294 I pray the hartely, with good chere, 295 luf me agane; 296 That it lyked me that I for the 297 tholyd all this payn. 298 If thou thy lyfe in syn haue led, 299 Mercy to ask be not adred; 300 The leste drope I for the bled 301 Myght clens the soyn, 302 All the syn the warld with in 303 If thou had done. 304 I was well wrother with Iudas 305 ffor that he wold not ask me no grace, 306 Then I was for his trespas 307 That he me sold; 308 I was redy to shew mercy, 309 Aske none he wold. 310 lo how I hold myn armes on brede, 311 The to saue ay redy mayde; 312 That I great luf ay to the had, 313 well may thou knaw! 314 Som luf agane I wold, full fayn 315 Thou wold me shaw. 316 Bot luf noght els aske I of the, 317 And that thou fownde fast syn to fle; 318 pyne the to lyf in charyte 319 Both nyght and day; 320 Then in my blys that neuer shall mys 321 Thou shall dwell ay. 322 ffor I am veray prynce of peasse, 323 And synnes seyr I may releasse, 324 And whoso will of synnes seasse 325 And mercy cry, 326 I grauntt theym here a measse 327 In brede, myn awne body. 328 [That ilk veray brede of lyfe 329 Becommys my fleshe in wordys fyfe; 330 who so it resaues in syn or stryfe 331 Bese dede for euer; 332 And whoso it takys in rightwys lyfe 333 Dy shall he neuer.] 334 Maria Magdalene. Alas! to dy with doyll am I dyght! 335 In warld was neuer a wofuller wight, 336 I drope, I dare, for seyng of sight 337 That I can se; 338 My lord, that mekill was of myght, 339 Is ded, fro me. 340 Alas! that I shuld se hys pyne, 341 Or that I shuld, his lyfe tyne, 342 ffor to ich sore he was medecyne 343 And boytte of all; 344 help and hold, to euer ilk hyne 345 To hym wold call. 346 Maria Jacobi. Alas! how stand I on my feete 347 when I thynk on his woundys wete! 348 Ihesus, that was on luf so swete, 349 And neuer dyd yll, 350 Is dede and grafen vnder the grete, 351 withoutten skyll. 352 Maria Salome. withoutten skyll thise Iues ilkon 353 That lufly lord thay haue hym slone, 354 And trespas dyd he neuer none, 355 In nokyn sted; 356 To whom shall we now make oure mone? 357 Oure lord is ded. 358 Maria Magdalene. Sen he is ded, my systers dere, 359 weynd we will with full good chere. 360 with oure anoyntmentys fare and clere 361 That we haue broght, 362 ffor to anoyntt his woundys sere, 363 That Iues hym wroght. 364 Maria Jacobus. Go we then, my systers fre, 365 ffor sore me longis his cors to see, 366 Bot I wote neuer how best may be; 367 help haue we none, 368 And which shall of vs systers thre 369 remefe the stone? 370 Maria Salome. That do we not bot we were mo, 371 ffor it is hogh and heuy also. 372 Maria Magdalene. Systers, we thar no farther go 373 Ne make mowrnyng; 374 I se two syt where we weynd to, 375 In whyte clothyng. 376 Maria Jacobi. Certys, the sothe is not to hyde, 377 The graue stone is put besyde. 378 Maria Salome. Certys, for thyng that may betyde, 379 Now will we weynde 380 To late the luf, and with hym byde, 381 that was oure freynde. 382 Primus Angelus. ye mowrnyng women in youre thoght, 383 here in this place whome haue ye soght? 384 Maria Magdalene. Ihesu that vnto ded was broght, 385 Oure lord so fre. 386 Secundus angelus. Certys, women, here is he noght; 387 Com nere and se.. Primus Angelus. he is not here, the sothe to say, 388 The place is voyde ther in he lay; 389 The sudary here se ye may 390 was on hym layde; 391 he is rysen and gone his way, 392 As he you sayde. 393 Secundus angelus. Euen as he saide so done has he, 394 he is rysen thrugh his pauste; 395 he shalbe fon in galale, 396 In fleshe and fell; 397 To his dyscypyls now weynd ye, 398 And thus thaym tell. 399 Maria Magdalene. My systers fre, sen it is so, 400 That he is resyn the deth thus fro, 401 As saide till vs thise angels two, 402 Oure lord and leche, 403 As ye haue hard, where that ye go 404 Loke that ye preche. 405 Maria Jacobi. As we haue hard so shall we say; 406 Mare, oure syster, haue good day! 407 Maria Magdalene. Now veray god, as he well may, 408 Man most of myght, 409 he wysh you, systers, well in youre way, 410 And rewle you right. 411 Alas, what shall now worth on me? 412 My catyf hart wyll breke in thre 413 when that I thynk on that ilk bodye 414 how it was spylt; 415 Thrugh feete and handys nalyd was he 416 Withoutten gylt. 417 withoutten gylt then was he tayn, 418 That lufly lord, thay haue hym slayn, 419 And tryspas dyd he neuer nane, 420 Ne yit no mys 421 It was my gylt he was fortayn, 422 And nothing his. 423 how myght I, bot I lufyd that swete 424 That for me suffred woundys wete, 425 Sythen to be grafen vnder the grete, 426 Sich kyndnes kythe; 427 Ther is nothyng till that we mete 428 may make me blythe. 429 Primus Miles. Outt, alas! what shall I say? 430 where is the cors that here in lay? 431 Secundus Miles. what alys the man? he is away 432 That we shuld tent! 433 Primus Miles. Ryse vp and se. 434 Secundus Miles. harrow! thefe! for ay 435 I cownte vs shent! 436 Tercius Miles. what devyll alys you two 437 sich nose and cry thus forto may? 438 Secundus Miles. ffor he is gone. 439 Tercius Miles. Alas, wha? 440 Secundus Miles. he that here lay. 441 Tercius Miles. harrow! devill! how swa gat he away? 442 Quartus Miles. what, is he thus-gatys from vs went, 443 The fals tratur that here was lentt, 444 That we truly to tent 445 had vndertane? 446 Certanly I tell vs shent 447 holly ilkane. 448 Primus Miles. Alas, what shall I do this day 449 Sen this tratur is won away? 450 And safely, syrs, I dar well say 451 he rose alon. 452 Secundus Miles. wytt sir pilate of this enfray 453 we mon be slone.. Quartus Miles. wote ye well he rose in dede? 454 Secundus Miles. I sagh myself when that he yede. 455 Primus Miles. when that he styrryd out of the steed 456 None couth it ken. 457 Quartus Miles. Alas, hard hap was on my hede 458 emang all men. 459 Tercius Miles. ye, bot wyt sir pilate of this dede, 460 That we were slepand when he yede, 461 we mon forfett, withoutten drede, 462 All that we haue. 463 Quartus Miles 464 we must make lees, for that is nede, 465 Oure self to saue. 466 Primus Miles. That red I well, so myght I go. 467 Secundus Miles. And I assent therto also. 468 Tercius Miles. A thowsand shall I assay, and mo, 469 well armed ilkon, 470 Com and toke his cors vs fro, 471 had vs here slone. 472 Quartus Miles. Nay, certys, I hold ther none so good 473 As say the sothe right as it stude, 474 how that he rose with mayn and mode, 475 And went his way; 476 To sir pilate, if he be wode, 477 Thus dar I say. 478 Primus Miles 479 why, and dar thou to sir pilate go 480 with thise tythyngys, and tell hym so? 481 Secundus Miles. So red I that we do also, 482 we dy bot oones. 483 Tercius Miles. Now he that wroght vs all this wo 484 wo worth his bones! 485 Quartus Miles. Go we sam, sir knyghtys heynd, 486 Sen we shall to sir pilate weynd, 487 I trow that we shall parte no freynd. Or that we pas. 488 Primus Miles. Now and I shall tell ilka word till ende, 489 right as it was. 490 Sir pilate, prynce withoutten peyr, 491 Sir Cayphas and Anna both in fere, 492 And all the lordys aboute you there, 493 To neuen by name; 494 Mahowne you saue on sydys sere 495 ffro syn and shame. 496 Pilate. ye ar welcom, oure knyghtys so keyn, 497 A mekill myrth now may we meyn, 498 Bot tell vs som talkyng vs betwene, 499 How ye haue wroght. 500 Primus Miles. Oure walkyng, lord, withoutten wene, 501 Is worth to noght. 502 Caiaphas. To noght? alas, seasse of sich saw. 503 Secundus Miles. The prophete ihesu, that ye well knaw, 504 Is rysen, and went fro vs on raw, 505 with mayn and myght. 506 Pilate. Therfor the devill the all to-draw, 507 vyle recrayd knyght! 508 what! combred cowardys I you call! 509 lett ye hym pas fro you all? 510 Tercius Miles. Sir, ther was none that durst do bot small 511 when that he yede. 512 Quartus Miles. we were so ferde we can d,owne fall, 513 And qwoke for drede. 514 Primus Miles. we were so rad, euerilkon, 515 when that he put besyde the stone, 516 we quoke for ferd, and durst styr none, 517 And sore we were abast. 518 Pilate. whi, bot rose he bi hym self alone? 519 Secundus Miles. ye, lord, that be ye trast, 520 we hard neuer on euyn ne morne, 521 Nor yit oure faders vs beforne, 522 Sich melody, myd-day ne morne, 523 As was maide thore. 524 Pilate. Alas, then ar oure lawes forlorne 525 ffor euer more! 526 A, devill! what shall now worth of this? 527 This warld farys with quantys; 528 I pray you, Cayphas, ye vs wys 529 Of this enfray. 530 Caiaphas. Sir, and I couth oght by my clergys, 531 ffayn wold I say. 532 Anna. To say the best for sothe I shall; 533 It shalbe profett for vs all, 534 yond knyghtys behovys thare wordys agane call, 535 how he is myst; 536 we wold not, for thyng that myght befall, 537 That no man wyst: 538 And therfor of youre curtessie 539 Gyf theym a rewarde for-thy. 540 Pilate. Of this counsell well paide am I, 541 It shalbe thus. 542 Sir knyghtys, that ar of dedys doghty, 543 Take tent till vs; 544 herkyns now how ye shall say, 545 where so ye go by nyght or day; 546 Ten thowsand men of good aray 547 Cam you vntill, 548 And thefyshly toke his cors you fray 549 Agans youre will. 550 loke ye say thus in euery land, 551 And therto on this couande 552 Ten thowsand pounds haue in youre hande 553 To youre rewarde; 554 And my frenship, I vnderstande, 555 Shall not be sparde; 556 Bot loke ye say as we haue kende. 557 Primus Miles. yis, sir, as mahowne me mende, 558 In ilk contree where so we lende 559 By nyght or day, 560 where so we go, where so we weynd, 561 Thus shall we say. 562 Pilate. The blyssyng of mahowne be with you nyght and day! 563 Maria Magdalene. Say me, garthymere, I the pray, 564 If thou bare oght my lord away; 565 Tell me the sothe, say me not nay, 566 where that he lyys, 567 And I shall remeue hym if I may, 568 On any kyn wyse. 569 Jesus. woman, why wepys thou? be styll! 570 whome sekys thou? say me thy wyll, 571 And nyk me not with nay. 572 Maria Magdalene. ffor my lord I lyke full yll; 573 The stede thou bare his body tyll 574 Tell me I the pray; 575 And I shall if I may / his body bere with me, 576 Vnto myn endyng day / the better shuld I be. 577 Jesus. woman, woman, turn thi thoght! 578 wyt thou well I hyd hym noght, 579 Then bare hym nawre with me; 580 Go seke, loke if thou fynde hym oght. 581 Maria Magdalene. In fayth I haue hym soght, 582 Bot nawre he will fond, be. 583 Jesus. why, what was he to the / In sothfastnes to say? 584 Maria Magdalene. A! he was to me / no longer dwell I may. 585 Jesus. Mary, thou sekys thy god, and that am I.. Maria Magdalene. Rabony, my 586 lord so dere! 587 Now am I hole that thou art here, 588 Suffer me to negh the nere, 589 And kys thi feete; 590 Myght I do so, so well me were, 591 ffor thou art swete. 592 Jesus. Nay, mary, neghe thou not me, 593 ffor to my fader, tell I the, 594 yit stevynd I noght; 595 Tell my brethere I shall be 596 Before theym all in trynyte 597 whose will that I haue wroght. 598 To peasse now ar thay boght / that prysond, were in pyne, 599 wherfor thou thank in thoght / god, thi lord and myne 600 Mary thou shall weynde me fro, 601 Myn erand shall thou grathly go, 602 In no fowndyng thou fall; 603 To my dyscypyls say thou so, 604 That wilsom ar and lappyd in wo, 605 That I thaym socoure shall. 606 By name peter thou call / and say that I shall be 607 Before hym and theym all / my self in galyle. 608 Maria Magdalene. lord, I shall make my vyage 609 to tell theym hastely; 610 ffro thay here that message 611 thay will be all mery. 612 This lord was slayn, alas for-thy, 613 ffalsly spylt, noman wyst why, 614 whore he dyd mys; 615 Bot with hym spake I bodely, 616 ffor-thi commen is my blys. 617 Mi blys is commen, my care is gone, 618 That lufly haue I mett alone; 619 I am as blyth in bloode and bone 620 As euer was wight; 621 Now is he resyn that ere was slone, 622 Mi hart is light. 623 I am as light as leyfe on tre, 624 ffor ioyfull sight that I can se, 625 ffor well I wote that it was he 626 My lord ihesu; 627 he that betrayde that fre 628 sore may he rew. 629 To galyle now will I fare, 630 And his dyscyples cach from care; 631 I wote that thay will mowrne no mare, 632 Commyn is thare blys; 633 That worthi childe that mary bare 634 he amende youre mys. 635