From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama
The York Cycle, Play 31 - Trial Before Herod
Lytsteres
001 Rex. Pes, ye brothellis and browlys in this broydenesse inbrased,
002 And freykis that are frendely your freykenesse to frayne,
003 Youre tounges fro tretyng of triffillis be trased,
004 Or this brande that is bright schall breste in youre brayne.
005 Plextis for no plasis but platte you to this playne,
006 And drawe to no drofyng but dresse you to drede,
007 With dasshis.
008 Traueylis noyot as traytours that tristis in trayne,
009 Or by the bloode that Mahounde bledde with this blad schal ye blede.
010 þus schall I brittyn all youre bones on brede,
011 3ae, and lusshe all youre lymmys with lasschis.
012 Dragons that are dredfull schall derke in ther dennes
013 In wrathe when we writhe, or in wrathenesse ar wapped.
014 Agaynste jeauntis ongentill haue we joined with ingendis,
015 And swannys that are swymmyng to oure swetnes schall be suapped,
016 And joged doune ther jolynes oure gentries engenderand.
017 Whoso repreue oure estate we schall choppe tham in cheynes,
018 All renkkis that are renand to vs schall be reuerande.
019 Therfore I bidde you sese or any bale be,
020 þat no brothell be so bolde boste for to blowes.
021 And yoe that luffis youre liffis, listen to me
022 As a lorde that is lerned to lede you be lawes.
023 And ye that are of my men and of my menyoe,
024 Sen we are comen fro oure kyth as yoe wele knawes,
025 And semlys all here same in this cyté
026 It sittis vs in sadnesse to sette all oure sawes.
027 Dux 1. My lorde, we schall take kepe to youre call
028 And stirre to no stede but yoe steuen vs,
029 No greuaunce to grete ne to small.
030 Rex. Ya, but loke that no fawtes befall.
031 Dux 2. Lely my lord so we shall,
032 Ye nede not no more for to nevyn vs.
033 Dux 1. Mounseniour, demene you to menske in mynde what I mene
034 And boune to youre bedward, for so holde I best,
035 For all the comons of this courte bene avoyde clene,
036 And ilke a renke, as resoune as, are gone to ther reste-
037 Wherfore I counsaile, my lorde, yoe comaunde you a drynke.
038 Rex. Nowe certis, I assente as thou sais.
039 Se ych a qwy is wente on his ways
040 Lightly withouten any delayes.
041 Giffe vs wyne wynly and late vs go wynke,
042 And se that no durdan be done.
043 Dux 1. My lorde, vnlase you to lye,
044 Here schall none come for to crye.
045 Rex. Nowe spedely loke that thou spie
046 þat no noyse be neghand this none.
047 Dux 1. My lorde, youre bedde is new made, you nedis noyot for to bide it.
048 Rex. Ya, but as thou luffes me hartely, laye me doune softely,
049 For thou wotte full wele that I am full tendirly hydid.
050 Dux 1. Howe lye yoe my goode lorde?
051 Rex. Right wele, be this light,
052 All hole at my desire.
053 Wherfore I praye ser Satan oure sire,
054 And Lucifer moste luffely of lyre,
055 He sauffe you all sirs, and giffe you goode nyght.
056 Miles 1. Sir knyght, ye wote we ar warned to wende
057 To witte of this warlowe what is the kyngis will.
058 Miles 2. Sir, here is Herowde all even here at oure hende,
059 And all oure entente tyte schall we tell hym vntill.
060 Miles 1. Who is here?
061 Dux 1. Who is there?
062 Miles 1. Sir, we are knyghtis kende
063 Is comen to youre counsaill this carle for to kill.
064 Dux 1. Sirs, but youre message may myrthis amende,
065 Stalkis furthe be yone stretis or stande stone still.
066 Miles 2. Yis certis ser, of myrthis we mene,
067 The kyng schall haue matteres to melle hym.
068 The kyng schall haue matteres to melle hym.
069 We brynge here a boy vs betwene,
070 Wherefore to haue worschippe we wene.
071 Dux 1. Wele sirs, so that it turne to no tene,
072 Tentis hym and we schall go telle hym.
073 My lorde, yondir is a boy boune that brought is in blame,
074 Haste you in hye, thei houe at youre yoate.
075 Rex. What, and schall I rise nowe, in the deuyllis name,
076 To stighill amang straungeres in stales of astate?
077 But haue here my hande, halde nowe,
078 And se that my sloppe be wele sittande.
079 Dux 1. My lorde, with a goode will Y wolde youe,
080 No wrange will I witte at my wittande.
081 But my lorde, we can tell yoou of vncouthe tythande.
082 Rex. 3a, but loke ye telle vs no tales but trewe.
083 Dux 2. My lorde, thei bryng you yondir a boy boune in a bande
084 þat bodus outhir bourdyng or bales to brewe.
085 Rex. þanne gete we some harrowe full hastely at hande.
086 Dux 1. My lorde, ther is some note that is nedfull to neven you of new.
087 Rex. Why, hoppis thou thei haste hym to hyng?
088 Dux 2. We wotte noght ther will nor ther wenyng,
089 But boodword full blithely thei bryng.
090 Rex. Nowe do than and late vs se of there sayng.
091 Dux 2. Lo sirs, ye schall carpe with the kyng,
092 And telles to hym manly youre menyng.
093 Miles 1. Lorde, welthis and worschippis be with you alway.
094 Rex. What wolde you?
095 Miles 2. A worde, lorde, and youre willes were.
096 Rex. Well, saye on than.
097 Miles 1. My lorde, we fare foolys to flay
098 þat to you wolde forfette.
099 Rex. We, faire falle you therfore.
100 Miles 1. My lorde, fro yoe here what we saie
101 Itt will heffe vppe youre hertis.
102 Rex. 3a, but saie what heynde haue yoe thore?
103 Miles 2. A presente fro Pilate, lorde, the prince of oure lay.
104 Rex. Pese in my presence, and nemys hym no more.
105 Miles 1. My lorde, he woll worschippe you faine.
106 Rex. I consayue yoe are ful foes of hym.
107 Miles 2. My lorde, he wolde menske you with mayne,
108 And therfore he sendis you this swayne.
109 Rex. Gose tyte with that gedlyng agayne,
110 And saie hym a borowed bene sette I noght be hym.
111 Dux 1. A, my lorde, with youre leve, thei haue faren ferre,
112 And for to fraiste of youre fare was no folye.
113 Dux 2. My lorde, and this gedlyng go thus it will greue werre,
114 For he gares growe on this grounde grete velanye.
115 Rex. Why, menys thou that that myghtyng schulde my myghtes marre?
116 Dux 1. Nay lorde, but he makis on this molde mekill maystrie.
117 Rex. Go ynne, and late vs see of the sawes ere,
118 And but yf thei be to oure bordyng, thai both schalle abye.
119 Miles 2. My lorde, we were worthy to blame
120 To brynge you any message of mysse.
121 Rex. Why than, can ye nemyn vs his name?
122 Miles 1. Sir, Criste haue we called hym at hame.
123 Rex. O, this is the ilke selue and the same-
124 Nowe sirs, ye be welcome ywisse.
125 And in faith I am fayne he is fonne,
126 His farles to frayne and to fele;
127 Nowe thes games was grathely begonne.
128 Miles 2. Lorde, lely that likis vs wele.
129 Rex. Ya, but dar yoe hete hartely that harlott is he?
130 Miles 1. My lorde, takis hede and in haste ye schall here howe.
131 Rex. Ya, but what menys that this message was made vnto me?
132 Miles 2. My lorde, for it touches to tresoune I trowe.
133 Miles 1. My lorde, he is culpabill kende in oure contré
134 Of many perillus poyntis, as Pilate preves nowe.
135 Miles 2. My lorde, when Pilate herde he had gone thurgh Galylé
136 He lerned vs that that lordschippe longed to yoou,
137 And or he wiste what youre willis were,
138 No ferther wolde he speke for to spille hym.
139 Rex. þanne knawes he that oure myghtis are the more?
140 Miles 1. 3a, certis sir, so saie we thore.
141 Rex. Nowe sertis, and oure frenschippe therfore
142 We graunte hym, and no greuaunce we will hym.
143 And sirs, ye are welcome ywisse as ye wele awe,
144 And for to wende at youre wille Y you warande,
145 For I haue coveite kyndely that comely to knawe,
146 For men carpis that the carle schulde be konnand.
147 Miles 2. My lorde, wolde he saie you soth of his sawe,
148 3e saugh nevir slik selcouth, be see nor be sande.
149 Rex. Nowe gois abakke both and late the boy blowe,
150 For I hope we gete some harre hastely at hande.
151 Miles 1. Jerusalem and the Jewes may haue joie
152 And hele in ther herte for to here hym.
153 Rex. Saie, beene-venew in bone fay,
154 Ne plesew a parle remoy?
155 Miles 2. Nay my lorde, he can of no bourdyng, this boy.
156 Rex. No sir? With thi leue we schall lere hym.
157 Filius 1. Mi lorde, se ther knyghtis that knawe and are kene,
158 How thai come to youre courte withoutyn any call.
159 Rex. 3a sone, and musteris grete maistries, what may this bymene?
160 Dux 1. My lorde, for youre myghtis are more than thei all
161 They seke you as souerayne, and sertis that is sene.
162 Rex. Nowe certis, sen yoe saie so, assaie hym I schall,
163 For I am fayner of that freyke then othir fiftene,
164 3ae, and hym that firste fande, faire myght hym fall.
165 Miles 1. Lorde, lely we lereth you no legh,
166 þis liffe that he ledis will lose hym.
167 Rex. Wele sirs, drawes you adrygh,
168 And bewscheris, bryngis yoe hym nygh,
169 For yif all that his sleghtis be slye
170 3itte or he passe we schalle appose hym.
171 O, my harte hoppis for joie
172 To se nowe this prophette appere.
173 We schall haue goode game with this boy-
174 Takis hede, for in haste yoe schall here.
175 I leve we schall laugh and haue likyng
176 To se nowe this lidderon her he leggis oure lawis.
177 Dux 2. Harke cosyne, thou comys to karpe with a kyng,
178 Take tente and be conande, and carpe as thou knowis.
179 Dux 1. Ya, and loke that thou be not a sotte of thy saying,
180 But sadly and sone thou sette all thi sawes.
181 Rex. Hym semys full boudisch, that boy that thei bryng.
182 Dux 2. Mi lorde, and of his bordyng grete bostyng men blawes.
183 Rex. Whi, therfore haue I soughte hym to see.
184 Loke, bewsheris, ye be to oure bodis boune.
185 Dux 1. Knele doune here to the kyng on thy knee.
186 Dux 2. Naye, nedelyngis yt will not be.
187 Rex. Loo sirs, he mekis hym no more vnto me
188 þanne it were to a man of ther awne toune.
189 Dux 1. Whe! Go, lawmere, and lerne the to lowte
190 Or thai more blame the to-bring.
191 Rex. Nay, dredeles withouten any doute
192 He knawes noyot the course of a kyng.
193 And her beeis in oure bale, bourde or we blynne-
194 Saie firste at the begynnyng withall, where was thou borne?
195 Do felawe, for thy faith, latte vs falle ynne.
196 Firste of thi ferleis, who fedde the beforne?
197 What, deynes thou not? Lo sirs, he deffis vs with dynne.
198 Say, whare ledde yoe this lidrone? His langage is lorne.
199 Miles 1. My lorde, his mervaylis to more and to myne
200 Or musteres emange vs both mydday and morne.
201 Miles 2. Mi lorde, it were to fele
202 Of wonderes, he workith tham so wightely.
203 Miles 1. Whe man, momelyng may nothyng avayle,
204 Go to the kyng and tell hyme fro toppe vnto tayle.
205 Rex. Do bringe vs that boy vnto bale,
206 For lely we leffe hym noyot lightly.
207 Dux 1. This mop mennes that he may marke men to ther mede;
208 He makes many maistries and mervayles emange.
209 Dux 2. V ml. folke faire gon he feede
210 With fyve looffis and two fisshis to fange.
211 Rex. Howe fele folke sais thou he fedde?
212 Dux 2. V ml. lorde, that come to his call.
213 Rex. 3a boye? Howe mekill brede he them bedde?
214 Dux 1. But v looffis dare I wele wedde.
215 Rex. Nowe be the bloode that Mahounde bledde,
216 What, this was a wondir at all.
217 Dux 2. Nowe lorde, ij fisshis blissid he efte
218 And gaffe thame, and ther none was forgetyn.
219 Dux 1. 3a lorde, and xij lepfull ther lefte
220 Of releue whan all men had eten.
221 Rex. Of such anodir mangery no man mene may.
222 Dux 2. Mi lorde, but his maistries that musteris his myght.
223 Rex. But saie sirs, ar ther sawis soth that thei saie?
224 Miles 2. 3a lorde, and more selcouth were schewed to oure sight.
225 One Lazar, a ladde that in oure lande lay,
226 Lay loken vndir layre fro lymme and fro light,
227 And his sistir come rakand in rewfull arraye.
228 And lorde, for ther raryng he raysed hym full right,
229 And fro his grath garte hym gang
230 Euere forthe, withouten any evill.
231 Rex. We, such lesyngis lastis to lange.
232 Miles 1. Why lorde, wene yoe that wordis be wronge?
233 þis same ladde leuys vs emang.
234 Rex. Why, there hope Y be dedis of the deuyll.
235 Why schulde yoe haste hym to hyng
236 That sought not newly youre newys?
237 Miles 2. My lorde, for he callis hym a kyng
238 And claymes to be a kyng of Jewis.
239 Rex. But saie, is he kyng in his kyth wher he come froo?
240 Miles 1. Nay lorde, but he callis hym a kyng his caris to kele.
241 Rex. Thanne is it litill wondir yf that he be woo,
242 For to be weried with wrang sen he wirkis wele;
243 But he schalle sitte be myselfe sen yoe saie soo.
244 Comes nerre, kyng, into courte. Saie, can yoe not knele?
245 We schalle haue gaudis full goode and games or we goo.
246 Howe likis tha, wele lorde? Saie. What, deuyll, neuere a dele?
247 I faute in my reuerant in otill moy,
248 I am of fauour, loo, fairer be ferre.
249 Kyte oute yugilment. Vta! Oy! Oy!
250 Be any witte that Y watte it will waxe werre.
251 Seruicia primet,
252 Such losellis and lurdaynes as thou, loo,
253 Respicias timet.
254 What the deuyll and his dame schall Y now doo?
255 Do carpe on, carle, for Y can the cure.
256 Say, may thou not here me? Oy man, arte thou woode?
257 Nowe telle me faithfully before howe thou fore.
258 Forthe, frende. Be my faith, thou arte a fonde foode.
259 Dux 1. My lorde, it astonys hym, youre steuen is so store
260 Hym had leuere haue stande stone still ther he stode.
261 Rex. And whedir the boy be abasshid of Herrowde byg blure
262 That were a bourde of the beste, be Mahoundes bloode.
263 Dux 2. My lorde, Y trowe youre fauchone hym flaies
264 And lettis hym.
265 Rex. Nowe lely I leue the,
266 And therfore schall Y waffe it away
267 And softely with a septoure assaie.
268 Nowe sir, be perte Y the pray,
269 For none of my gromys schall greue the.
270 Si loqueris tibi laus,
271 Pariter quoque prospera dantur;
272 Si loqueris tibi fraus,
273 Fell fex et bella parantur.
274 Mi menne, yoe go menske hym with mayne,
275 And loke yhow that it wolde seme.
276 Dux 1. Dewcus fayff ser and sofferayne.
277 Dux 2. Sir vdins amangidre demayne.
278 Rex. Go aunswer thaym grathely agayne.
279 What, deuyll, whedir dote we or dreme?
280 Miles 1. Naye we gete noyot o worde, dare Y wele wedde,
281 For he is wraiste of his witte or will of his wone.
282 Rex. 3e saie he lakkid youre lawis as yoe that ladde ledde?
283 Miles 2. 3a lorde, and made many gaudis as we haue gone.
284 Rex. Nowe sen he comes as a knave and as a knave cledde,
285 Wherto calle ye hym a kyng?
286 Dux 1. Nay lorde, he is none,
287 But an harlotte is hee.
288 Rex. What, deuyll, Y ame harde stedde,
289 A man myght as wele stere a stokke as a stone.
290 Filius 1. My lorde, this faitour so fouly is affrayde,
291 He loked neuere of lorde so langly allone.
292 Rex. No sone, the rebalde seis vs so richely arayed
293 He wenys we be aungelis euere-ilkone.
294 Dux 2. My lorde, Y holde hym agaste of youre gaye gere.
295 Rex. Grete lordis augh to be gay.
296 Here schall no man do to the dere,
297 And therfore yit nemyne in my nere-
298 For by the grete god, and thou garre me swere
299 þou had neuere dole or this day.
300 Do carpe on tyte, karle, of thy kynne.
301 Dux 1. Nay, nedelyngis he neuyns you with none.
302 Rex. þat schalle he bye or he blynne-
303 Dux 2. A, leves lorde.
304 Rex. Lattis me allone.
305 Dux 1. Nowe goode lorde, and ye may, meue you no more,
306 Itt is not faire to feght with a fonned foode,
307 But gose to youre counsaille and comforte you there.
308 Rex. Thou sais soth. We schall see yf so will be goode,
309 For certis oure sorowes are sadde.
310 Filius 2. What a deuyll ayles hym?
311 Mi lorde, I can garre you be gladde,
312 For in tyme oure maistir is madde.
313 He lurkis, loo, and lokis like a ladde,
314 He is wode lorde, or ellis his witte faylis hym.
315 Filius 3. Mi lorde, yoe haue mefte you as mekill as yoe may,
316 For yhe myght menske hym no more were he Mahounde;
317 And sen it semys to be soo, latte vs nowe assaie.
318 Rex. Loke, bewscheris, yoe be to oure bodis boune.
319 Dux.1. Mi lorde, howe schulde he dowte vs? He dredis not youre dray.
320 Rex. Nowe do fourthe, the deuyll myght hym droune!
321 And sen he freyms falsed and makis foule fraye,
322 Raris on hym rudely, and loke yoe not roune.
323 Filius 1. Mi lorde, I schall enforce myselffe sen yoe saie soo.
324 Felawe, be noyot afferde nor feyne not therfore,
325 But telle vs nowe some truffillis betwene vs twoo,
326 And none of oure men schall medill tham more.
327 And therfore by resoune array the,
328 Do telle vs some poynte for thy prowe.
329 Heris thou not what Y saie the?
330 þou mummeland myghtyng, I may the
331 Helpe, and turne the fro tene as Y trowe.
332 Filius 2. Loke vppe ladde, lightly, and loute to my lorde here,
333 For fro bale vnto blisse he may nowe the borowe.
334 Carpe on, knave, kantely, and caste the to corde here,
335 And saie me nowe somwhat, thou sauterell, with sorowe.
336 Why standis thou as stille as a stone here?
337 Spare not, but speke in this place here
338 þou gedlyng, it may gayne the some grace here.
339 Filius 3. My lorde, this faitour is so ferde in youre face here
340 None aunswere in this nede he nevyns you with none here.
341 Do bewsher, for Beliall bloode and his bonys,
342 Say somwhat-or it will waxe werre.
343 Filius 1. Nay, we gete nouyot one worde in this wonys.
344 Filius 2. Do crie we all on hym at onys.
345 All Chylder. Oyoez! Oyoez! Oyoez!
346 Rex. O, yoe make a foule noyse for the nonys.
347 Filius 3. Nedlyng my lorde, it is neuere the nerre.
348 Filius 1. Mi lorde, all youre mutyng amendis not a myte,
349 To medill with a madman is meruaille to me.
350 Comaunde youre knyghtis to clothe hym in white
351 And late hym carre as he come to youre contré
352 Rex. Lo sirs, we lede you no lenger a lite,
353 Mi sone has saide sadly how that it schuld be-
354 But such a poynte for a
355 Dux 1. Mi lorde, fooles that are fonde thei falle such a fee.
356 Rex. What, in a white garmente to goo,
357 þus gayly girde in a gowne?
358 Dux 2. Nay lorde, but as a foole forcid hym froo.
359 Rex. How saie yoe sirs, schulde it be soo?
360 All Chylder. 3a lord.
361 Rex. We, than is ther no more,
362 But boldely bidde tham be boune.
363 Sir knyghtis, we caste to garre you be gladde,
364 Oure counsaile has warned vs wisely and wele.
365 White clothis we saie fallis for a fonned ladde,
366 And all his foly in faith fully we feele.
367 Dux 1. We will with a goode will for his wedis wende,
368 For we wotte wele anowe what wedis he schall were.
369 Dux 2. Loo, here is an haterell here at youre hende
370 Alle faciound therfore foolis to feere.
371 Miles 1. Loo here a joppon of joie,
372 All such schulde be gode for a boy.
373 Dux 1. He schalle be rayed like a roye,
374 And schall be fonne in his folie.
375 Dux 2. We, thanke tham, euyll motte thou the.
376 Miles 1. Nay, we gete noyot a worde wele Y warand.
377 Miles 2. Man, mustir some meruaile to me.
378 Dux 1. What, wene yoe he be wiser than we?
379 Leffe we and late the kyng see
380 Howe it is forcyd and farand.
381 Mi lorde, loke yf yoe be paied,
382 For we haue getyn hym his gere.
383 Rex. Why, and is this rebalde arayed?
384 My blissing, bewscheris, yoe bere.
385 Gose, garre crye in my courte and grathely garre write
386 All the dedis that we haue done in this same degré
387 And who fyndis hym greued late hym telle tyte,
388 And yf we fynde no defaute hym fallis to go free.
389 Dux 1. Oyoes! Yf any wight with this wriche any werse wate
390 Werkis beris wittenesse who so wirkis wrang,
391 Buske boldely to the barre his balis to abate,
392 For my lorde, be my lewté will not be deland lang.
393 My lorde, here apperes none to appeyre his estate.
394 Rex. Wele thanne, fallis hym goo free.
395 Sir knyghtis, thanne grathis you goodly to gange,
396 And repaire with youre present and saie to Pilate
397 We graunte hym oure frenschippe all fully to fang.
398 Miles 1. My lorde, with youre leue this way schall we lere,
399 Vs likis no lenger here to abide.
400 Miles 2. Mi lorde, and he worthe ought in were,
401 We come agayne with goode chere.
402 Rex. Nay bewscheris, yoe fynde vs not here,
403 Oure leue will we take at this tyde
404 And rathely araye vs to reste,
405 For such notis has noyed vs or nowe.
406 Dux 1. 3a, certis lorde, so holde Y beste,
407 For this gedlyng vngoodly has greued you.
408 Dux 2. Loke yoe bere worde as ye wotte,
409 Howe wele we haue quitte vs this while.
410 Miles 1. We, wise men will deme it we dote
411 But if we make ende of oure note.
412 Rex. Wendis fourth, the deuyll in thi throte,
413 We fynde no defaute hym to file.
414 Wherfore schulde we flaye hym or fleme hym
415 We fynde noyot in rollis of recorde;
416 And sen that he is dome, for to deme hym,
417 Ware this a goode lawe for a lorde?
418 Nay losellis, vnlely yoe lerned all to late,
419 Go lere thus lordingis of youre londe such lessons to lere.
420 Repaire with youre present and saie to Pilate
421 We graunte hym oure poure all playne to appere,
422 And also oure greuaunce forgeue we algate
423 And we graunte hym oure grace with a goode chere.
424 As touchyng this brothell that brawlis or debate,
425 Bidde hym wirke as he will, and wirke noght in were.
426 Go telle hym this message fro me,
427 And lede fourth that mytyng, euyll motte he the.
428 Miles 1. Mi lorde, with youre leue, late hym be,
429 For all to longe ledde hym haue we.
430 Miles 2. What, yoe sirs, my lorde, will yoe see?
431 Rex. What, felawes? Take yoe no tente what I telle you
432 And bid you? þat yoman ye yoeme.
433 Miles 2. Mi lorde, we schall wage hym an ill way.
434 Rex. Nay bewscheris, be not so bryme.
435 Fare softely, for so will it seme.
436 Miles 1. Nowe sen we schall do as ye deme,
437 Adewe sir.
438 Rex. Daunce on, in the deuyll way.
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Proper Citation: NeCastro, Gerard. The York Cycle, Play 31 - Trial Before Herod. From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama. http:www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/necastro/drama. Date Visited.