From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama
The York Cycle, Play 29 - Peter Denies Jesus: Jesus Examined by Caiaphas
Bowers and Flecchers
001 Caiphas. Pees bewshers, I bid no jangelyng yoe make,
002 And sese sone of youre sawes and se what I saye,
003 And trewe tente vnto me this tyme that yoe take,
004 For I am a lorde lerned lelly in youre lay.
005 By connyng of clergy and casting of witte
006 Full wisely my wordis I welde at my will,
007 So semely in seete me semys for to sitte
008 And the lawe for to lerne you and lede it by skill,
009 Right sone.
010 What wyte so will oght with me
011 Full frendly in feyth am I foune;
012 Come of, do tyte late me see
013 Howe graciously I shall graunte hym his bone.
014 Ther is nowder lorde ne lady lerned in the lawe,
015 Ne bisshoppe ne prelate that preued is for pris,
016 Nor clerke in the courte that connyng will knawe,
017 With wisdam may were hym in worlde is so wise.
018 I haue the renke and the rewle of all the ryall,
019 To rewle it by right als reasoune it is.
020 All domesmen on dese awe for to dowte me
021 That hase thaym in bandome in bale or in blis;
022 Wherfore takes tente to my tales, and lowtis vnto me.
023 And therfore sir knyghtis-. Tunc dicunt Lorde.
024 I charge you chalange youre rightis,
025 To wayte both be day and by nyghtis
026 Of the bringyng of a boy into bayle.
027 Miles 1. Yis lorde, we schall wayte if any wonderes walke,
028 And freyne howe youre folkis fare that are furth ronne.
029 Miles 2. We schall be bayne at youre bidding and it not to-balke
030 Yf thei presente you that boy in a bande boune.
031 Anna. Why syr, and is ther a boy that will noght lowte to youre biding?
032 Caiphas. Ya sir, and of the coriousenesse of that karle ther is carping,
033 But I haue sente for that segge halfe for hethyng.
034 Anna. What wondirfull werkis workis that wighte?
035 Caiphas. Seke men and sori he sendis siker helyng-
036 And to lame men-and blynde he sendis ther sight.
037 Of croked crepillis that we knawe
038 Itt is to here grete wondering,
039 How that he helis thame all on rawe,
040 And all thurgh his false happenyng.
041 I am sorie of a sight
042 þat egges me to ire,
043 Oure lawe he brekis with all his myght,
044 þat is moste his desire.
045 Oure Sabott day he will not safe
046 But is aboute to bringe it downe,
047 And therfore sorowe muste hym haue
048 May he be kacched in felde or towne,
049 For his false stevyn,
050 He defamys fowly the Godhed
051 And callis hymselffe God sone of hevene.
052 Anna. I haue goode knowlache of that knafe:
053 Marie me menys his modir highte,
054 And Joseph his fadir as God me safe
055 Was kidde and knowen wele for a wrighte.
056 But o thyng me mervayles mekill ouere all,
057 Of diuerse dedis that he has done-
058 Caiphas. With wicche-crafte he fares withall
059 Sir, that schall yoe se full sone.
060 Oure knyghtis thai are furth wente
061 To take hym with a traye,
062 By this I holde hym shente,
063 He can not wende away.
064 Anna. Wolde yoe, sir, take youre reste-
065 This day is comen on hande-
066 And with wyne slake youre thirste?
067 þan durste I wele warande
068 3e schulde haue tithandis sone
069 Of the knyghtis that are gone,
070 And howe that thei haue done
071 To take hym by a trayne.
072 And putte all thought away
073 And late youre materes reste.
074 Caiphas. I will do as yoe saie,
075 Do gette vs wyne of the best.
076 Miles 1. My lorde, here is wyne that will make you to wynke,
077 Itt is licoure full delicious my lorde, and you like.
078 Wherfore I rede drely a draughte that yoe drynke,
079 For in this contré that we knawe, iwisse ther is none slyke,
080 Wherfore we counsaile you this cuppe sauerly for to kisse.
081 Caiphas. Do on dayntely and dresse me on dees
082 And hendely hille on me happing,
083 And warne all wightis to be in pees
084 For I am late layde vnto napping.
085 Anna. My lorde, with youre leue, and it like you, I passe.
086 Caiphas. Adiew be unte, as the manere is.
087 Mulier. Sir knyghtys, do kepe this boy in bande,
088 For I will go witte what it may mene,
089 Why that yone wighte was hym folowand
090 Erly and late, morne and ene.
091 He will come nere, he will not lette,
092 He is a spie, I warand, full bolde.
093 Miles 3. It semes by his sembland he had leuere be sette
094 By the feruent fire to fleme hym fro colde.
095 Mulier. Ya, but and yoe wiste as wele as I
096 What wonders that this wight has wrought,
097 And thurgh his maistir sorssery,
098 Full derfely schulde his deth be bought.
099 Miles 4. Dame, we haue hym nowe at will
100 þat we haue longe tyme soughte,
101 Yf othir go by vs still
102 þerfore we haue no thought.
103 Mulier. Itt were grete skorne that he schulde skape
104 Withoute he hadde resoune and skill,
105 He lokis lurkand like an nape,
106 I hope I schall haste me hym tille.
107 Thou caytiffe, what meves the stande
108 So stabill and stille in thi thoght?
109 þou hast wrought mekill wronge in londe
110 And wondirfull werkis haste thou wroght.
111 A lorell, a leder of lawe,
112 To sette hym and suye has thou soght.
113 Stande furth and threste in yone thrawe,
114 Thy maistry thou bryng vnto noght.
115 Wayte nowe, he lokis like a brokke
116 Were he in a bande for to bayte,
117 Or ellis like an nowele in a stok
118 Full preualy his pray for to wayte.
119 Peter. Woman, thy wordis and thy wynde thou not waste,
120 Of his company never are I was kende.
121 þou haste the mismarkid, trewly be traste,
122 Wherfore of thi misse thou the amende.
123 Mulier. þan gaynesaies thou here the sawes that thou saide,
124 How he schulde clayme to be callid God sonne,
125 And with the werkis that he wrought whils he walked
126 Baynly at oure bydding alway to be bonne.
127 Peter. I will consente to youre sawes, what schulde I saye more?
128 For women are crabbed-that comes them of kynde.
129 But I saye as I firste saide, I sawe hym neuere are,
130 But as a frende of youre felawschippe shall ye me aye fynde.
131 Malchus. Herke, knyghtis that are knawen in this contréas we kenne,
132 Howe yone boy with his boste has brewed mekill bale.
133 He has forsaken his maistir before yoone womenne,
134 But I schall preue to yoou pertly and telle you my tale.
135 I was presente with pepull whenne prese was full prest
136 To mete with his maistir with mayne and with myght,
137 And hurled hym hardely and hastely hym arreste,
138 And in bandis full bittirly bande hym sore all that nyght.
139 And of tokenyng of trouth schall I telle yowe
140 Howe yone boy with a brande brayede me full nere-
141 Do move of thez materes emelle yowe-
142 For swiftely he swapped of my nere.
143 His maistir with his myght helyd me all hole,
144 That by no syne I cowthe see no man cowthe it witten,
145 And than badde hym bere pees in euery-ilke bale,
146 For he that strikis with a swerd with a swerde schall be smitten.
147 Late se whedir grauntest thou gilte:
148 Do speke oon and spare not to telle vs
149 Or full faste I schall fonde the flitte,
150 The soth but thou saie here emelle vs.
151 Come of, do tyte late me see nowe,
152 In sauyng of thyselffe fro schame
[... ...]
153 3a, and also for beryng of blame.
154 Peter. I was neuere with hym in werke that he wroght,
155 In worde nor in werke, in will nor in dede.
156 I knawe no corse that yoe haue hidir brought,
157 In no courte of this kith, yf I schulde right rede.
158 Malchus. Here sirs howe he sais, and has forsaken
159 His maistir to this woman here twyes,
160 And newly oure lawe has he taken-
161 Thus hath he denyed hym thryes.
162 Jesus. Petir, Petir, thus saide I are
163 When thou saide thou wolde abide with me
164 In wele and woo, in sorowe and care,
165 Whillis I schulde thries forsaken be.
166 Peter. Alas the while that I come here,
167 That euere I denyed my lorde in quarte,
168 The loke of his faire face so clere
169 With full sadde sorrowe sheris my harte.
170 Miles 3. Sir knyghtis, take kepe of this karll and be konnand
171 Because of sir Cayphas, we knowe wele his thoght.
172 He will rewarde vs full wele, that dare I wele warand,
173 Whan he wete of oure werkis how wele we haue wroght.
174 Miles 4. Sir, this is Cayphas halle here at hande,
175 Go we boldly with this boy that we haue here broght.
176 Miles 3. Nay sirs, vs muste stalke to that stede and full still stande,
177 For itt is nowe of the nyght, yf thei nappe oght.
178 Say, who is here?
179 Miles 1. Say who is here?
180 Miles 3. I, a frende,
181 Well knawyn in this contréfor a knyght.
182 Miles 2. Gose furthe, on youre wayes may yee wende,
183 For we haue herbered enowe for tonyght.
184 Miles 1. Gose abakke bewscheres, yoe bothe are to blame
185 To bourde whenne oure busshopp is boune to his bedde.
186 Miles 4. Why sir, it were worthy to welcome vs home,
187 We haue gone for this warlowe and we haue wele spedde.
188 Miles 2. Why, who is that?
189 Miles 3. The Jewes kyng, Jesus by name.
190 Miles 1. A, yee be welcome, that dare I wele wedde,
191 My lorde has sente for to seke hym.
192 Miles 4. Loo, se here the same.
193 Miles 2. Abidde as I bidde and be noght adreed.
194 My lorde, my lorde, my lorde, here is layke and yoou list.
195 Caiphas. Pees, loselles. Leste yoe be nyse?
196 Miles 1. My lorde, it is wele and ye wiste.
197 Caiphas. What, nemen vs no more, for it is twyes.
198 þou takist non hede to the haste that we haue here on honde,
199 Go frayne howe oure folke faris that are furth ronne.
200 Miles 2. My lorde, youre knyghtis has kared as ye thame commaunde
201 And thei haue fallen full faire.
202 Caiphas. Why, and is the foole fonne?
203 Miles 1. Ya lorde, thei haue brought a boy in a bande boune.
204 Caiphas. Where nowe sir Anna, that is one and able to be nere?
205 Anna. My lorde, with youre leue me behoues to be here.
206 Caiphas. A, sir, come nere and sitte we both in fere.
207 Anna. Do sir bidde tham bring in that boy that is bune.
208 Caiphas. Pese now sir Anna, be stille and late hym stande,
209 And late vs grope yf this gome be grathly begune.
210 Anna. Sir, this game is begune of the best,
211 Nowe hadde he no force for to flee thame.
212 Caiphas. Nowe in faithe I am fayne he is fast,
213 Do lede in that ladde, late me se than.
214 Miles 2. Lo sir, we haue saide to oure souereyne,
215 Gose nowe and suye to hymselfe for the same thyng.
216 Miles 3. Mi lorde, to youre bidding we haue ben buxom and bayne,
217 Lo, here is the belschere broght that ye bad bring.
218 Miles 4. My lorde, fandis now to fere hym.
219 Caiphas. Nowe I am fayne,
220 And felawes, faire mott ye fall for youre fynding.
221 Anna. Sir, and ye trowe thei be trewe withowten any trayne,
222 Bidde thayme telle you the tyme of the takyng.
223 Caiphas. Say felawes, howe wente ye so nemely by nyyot?
224 Miles 3. My lorde, was there no man to marre vs ne mende vs.
225 Miles 4. My lorde, we had lanternes and light
226 And some of his company kende vs.
227 Anna. But saie, howe did he, Judas?
228 Miles 3. A, sir, full wisely and wele,
229 He markid vs his maistir emang all his men
230 And kyssid hym full kyndely his comforte to kele,
231 By cause of a countenaunce that karll for to kenne.
232 Caiphas. And thus did he his deuere?
233 Miles 4. Ya lorde, euere-ilke a dele,
234 He taughte vs to take hym the tyme aftir tenne.
235 Anna. Nowe be my feith a faynte frende myght he ther fele.
236 Miles 3. Sire, ye myght so haue saide hadde ye hym sene thenne.
237 Miles 4. He sette vs to the same that he solde vs
238 And feyned to be his frende as a faytour,
239 This was the tokenyng before that he tolde vs.
240 Caiphas. Nowe trewly, this was a trante of a traytour.
241 Anna. 3a, be he traytour or trewe geue we neuer tale,
242 But takes tente at this tyme and here what he telles.
243 Caiphas. Now sees that oure howsolde be holden here hole,
244 So that none carpe in case but that in court dwellis.
245 Miles 3. A, lorde, this brethell hath brewed moche bale.
246 Caiphas. Therfore schall we spede vs to spere of his spellis.
247 Sir Anna, takis hede nowe and here hym.
248 Anna. Say ladde, liste the noght lowte to a lorde?
249 Miles 4. No sir, with youre leue we schall lere hym.
250 Caiphas. Nay sir, noght so, no haste,
251 Itt is no burde to bete bestis that are bune.
252 And therfore with fayrenes firste we vill hym fraste
253 And sithen forther hym furth as we haue fune.
254 And telle vs som tales truly to traste.
255 Anna. Sir, we myght als wele talke tille a tome tonne.
256 I warande hym witteles, or ellis he is wrang wrayste,
257 Or ellis he waitis to wirke als he was are wonne.
258 Miles 3. His wonne was to wirke mekill woo
259 And make many maystries emelle vs.
260 Caiphas. And some schall he graunte or he goo,
261 Or muste yowe tente hym and telle vs.
262 Miles 4. Mi lorde, to witte the wonderes that he has wroght,
263 For to telle you the tente it wolde oure tonges tere.
264 Caiphas. Sen the boy for his boste is into bale broght
265 We will witte or he wende how his werkis were.
266
267 Miles 3. Oure Sabott day we saye saves he right noght,
268 That he schulde halowe and holde full dingne and full dere.
269 Miles 4. No sir, in the same feste als we the sotte soughte
270 He salued thame of sikenesse on many sidis seere.
271 Caiphas. What than, makes he thame grathely to gange?
272 Miles 3. 3a lorde, even forthe in euery-ilke a toune
273 He thame lechis to liffe aftir lange.
274 Caiphas. A, this makes he by the myghtis of Mahounde.
275 Miles 4. Sir, oure stiffe tempill that made is of stone,
276 That passes any paleys of price for to preyse,
277 And it were doune to the erth and to the gronde gone
278 This rebalde he rowses hym it rathely to rayse.
279 Miles 3. 3a lorde, and othir wonderis he workis grete wone,
280 And with his lowde lesyngis he losis oure layes.
281 Caiphas. Go lowse hym, and levis than and late me allone,
282 For myselfe schall serche hym and here what he saies.
283 Anna. Herke, Jesus of Jewes, we will haue joie
284 To spille all thy sporte for thy spellis.
285 Caiphas. Do meve, felawe, of thy frendis that fedde the beforne,
286 And sithen, felowe, of thi fare forther will I freyne;
287 Do neven vs lightly. His langage is lorne!
288 Miles 3. My lorde, with youre leve, hym likis for to layne,
289 But and he schulde scape skatheles it wer a full skorne,
290 For he has mustered emonge vs full mekil of his mayne.
291 Miles 4. Malkus youre man, lord, that had his ere schorne,
292 This harlotte full hastely helid it agayne.
293 Caiphas. What, and liste hym be nyse for the nonys,
294 And heres howe we haste to rehete hym.
295 Anna. Nowe by Beliall bloode and his bonys,
296 I holde it beste to go bete hym.
297 Caiphas. Nay sir, none haste, we schall haue game or we goo.
298 Boy, be not agaste if we seme gaye.
299 I coniure the kyndely and comaunde the also,
300 By grete God that is liffand and laste schall ay,
301 Yf thou be Criste, Goddis sonne, telle till vs two.
302 Jesus. Sir, thou says it thiselffe, and sothly I saye
303 þat I schall go to my fadir that I come froo
304 And dwelle with hym wynly in welthe allway.
305 Caiphas. Why, fie on the faitoure vntrewe,
306 Thy fadir haste thou fowly defamed.
307 Now nedis vs no notes of newe,
308 Hymselfe with his sawes has he schamed.
309 Anna. Nowe nedis nowdir wittenesse ne counsaille to call,
310 But take his sawes as he saieth in the same stede.
311 He sclaunderes the Godhed and greues vs all,
312 Wherfore he is wele worthy to be dede-
313 And therfore sir, saies hym the sothe.
314 Caiphas. Sertis so I schall.
315 Heres thou not, harlott? Ille happe on thy hede!
316 Aunswere here grathely to grete and to small
317 And reche vs oute rathely som resoune, I rede.
318 Jesus. My reasouns are not to reherse,
319 Nor they that myght helpe me are noyot here nowe.
320 Anna. Say ladde, liste the make verse?
321 Do telle on belyffe, late vs here nowe.
322 Jesus. Sir, if I saie the sothe thou schall not assente,
323 But hyndir, or haste me to hynge.
324 I prechid wher pepull was moste in present,
325 And no poynte in priuitéto olde ne yoonge.
326 And also in youre tempill I tolde myne entente;
327 Ye myght haue tane me that tyme for my tellyng
328 Wele bettir than bringe me with brondis vnbrente,
329 And thus to noye me be nyght, and also for nothyng.
330 Caiphas. For nothyng, losell? þou lies!
331 Thy wordis and werkis will haue a wrekyng.
332 Jesus. Sire, sen thou with wrong so me wreyes,
333 Go spere thame that herde of my spekyng.
334 Caiphas. A, this traitoure has tened me with tales that he has tolde,
335 3itt hadde I neuere such hething of a harlott as hee.
336 Miles 1. What, fye on the, beggar, who made the so bolde
337 To bourde with oure busshoppe? Thy bane schalle I bee.
338 Jesus. Sir, if my wordis be wrange or werse than thou wolde,
339 A wronge wittenesse I wotte nowe ar yoe;
340 And if my sawes be soth thei mon be sore solde,
341 Wherfore thou bourdes to brode for to bete me.
342 Miles 2. My lorde, will yoe here? For Mahounde,
343 No more now for to neven that it nedis.
344 Caiphas. Gose dresse you and dyng yoe hym doune,
345 And deffe vs no more with his dedis.
346 Anna. Nay sir, than blemysshe yee prelatis estate,
347 3e awe to deme no man to dede for to dynge.
348 Caiphas. Why sir? So were bettir than be in debate,
349 Ye see the boy will noyot bowe for oure bidding.
350 Anna. Nowe sir, ye muste presente this boy vnto sir Pilate
351 For he is domysman nere and nexte to the king,
352 And late hym here alle the hole, how ye hym hate,
353 And whedir he will helpe hym or haste hym to hyng.
354 Miles 1. My lorde, late men lede hym by nyght,
355 So schall ye beste skape oute o skornyng.
356 Miles 2. My lorde, it is nowe in the nyght,
357 I rede yoe abide tille the mornyng.
358 Caiphas. Bewschere, thou sais the beste and so schall it be-
359 But lerne yone boy bettir to bende and bowe.
360 Miles 1. We schall lerne yone ladde, be my lewté
361 For to loute vnto ilke lorde like vnto yowe.
362 Caiphas. 3a, and felawes, wayte that he be ay wakand.
363 Miles 2. 3is lorde, that warant will wee,
364 Itt were a full nedles note to bidde vs nappe nowe.
365 Miles 3. Sertis, will ye sitte and sone schall ye see
366 Howe we schall play popse for the
367 Miles 4. Late see, who stertis for a stole?
368 For I haue here a hatir to hyde hym.
369 Miles 1. Lo, here is one full fitte for a foole,
370 Go gete it and sette the beside hym.
371 Miles 2. Nay, I schall sette it myselffe and frusshe hym also.
372 Lo here a shrowde for a shrewe, and of shene shappe.
373 Miles 3. Playes faire in feere, and ther is one and ther is-ij;
374 I schall fande to feste it with a faire flappe-
375 And ther is-iij; and there is-iiij.
376 Say nowe with an nevill happe,
377 Who negheth the nowe? Not o worde, no!
378 Miles 4. Dose noddill on hym with neffes that he noght nappe.
379 Miles 1. Nay, nowe to nappe is no nede,
380 Wassaille! Wassaylle! I warande hym wakande.
381 Miles 2. 3a, and bot he bettir bourdis can byde
382 Such buffettis schall he be takande.
383 Miles 3. Prophete, Y saie, to be oute of debate,
384 Quis te percussit, man? Rede, giffe thou may.
385 Miles 4. Those wordes are in waste, what wenes thou he wate?
386 It semys be his wirkyng his wittes were awaye.
387 Miles 1. Now late hym stande as he stode in a foles state,
388 For he likis noyot this layke my liffe dare I laye.
389 Miles 2. Sirs, vs muste presente this But go we firste to oure souerayne and see what he saie.
390 Miles 3. My lorde, we haue bourded with this boy
391 And holden hym full hote emelle vs.
392 Caiphas. Thanne herde ye some japes of joye?
393 Miles 4. The devell haue the worde, lorde, he wolde telle vs.
394 Anna. Sir, bidde belyue thei goo and bynde hym agayne,
395 So that he skape noght, for that were a skorne.
396 Caiphas. Do telle to sir Pilate oure pleyntes all pleyne,
397 And saie this ladde with his lesyngis has oure lawes lorne.
398 And saie this same day muste he be slayne
399 Because of Sabott day that schal be tomorne,
400 And saie that we come ourselffe for certayne,
401 And for to fortheren this fare, fare yee beforne.
402 Miles 1. Mi lorde, with youre leve, vs muste wende,
403 Oure message to make as we maye.
404 Caiphas. Sir, youre faire felawschippe we betake to the fende,
405 Goose onne nowe, and daunce forth in the deuyll way.
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Proper Citation: NeCastro, Gerard. The York Cycle, Play 29 - Peter Denies Jesus: Jesus Examined by Caiaphas. From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama. http:www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/necastro/drama. Date Visited.