Anonymous. The Towneley plays
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library
|
Table of Contents for this work | | All on-line databases | Etext Center Homepage |
The Scourging
Pilate
1: Peasse at my bydyng, ye wyghtys in wold!
2: Looke none be so hardy to speke a word bot I,
3: Or by mahowne most myghty, maker on mold,
4: With this brande that I bere ye shall bytterly aby.
5: Say, wote ye not that I am pylate, perles to behold,?
6: Most doughty in dedys of dukys of the Iury;
7: In bradyng of batels I am the most bold,,
8: Therfor my name to you will I dyscry,
9: No mys.
10: I am full of sotelty,
11: ffalshed, gyll, and trechery;
12: Therfor am I namyd by clergy
13: As mali actoris.
14: ffor like as on both sydys the Iren the hamer makith playn,
15: So do I, that the law has here in my kepyng;
16: The right side to socoure, certys, I am full bayn,
17: If I may get therby a vantege or wynyng;
18: Then to the fals parte I turne me agayn,
19: ffor I se more Vayll will to me be risyng;
20: Thus euery man to drede me shalbe full fayn,
21: And all faynt of thare fayth to me be obeyng,
-244-
22: Truly.
23: All fals endytars,
24: Quest-gangars, and Iurars,
25: And thise out-rydars
26: Ar welcom to me.
27: Bot this prophete, that has prechyd and puplyshed so playn
28: Cristen law, crist thay call hym in oure cuntre;
29: Bot oure prynces full prowdly this nyght haue hym tayn,
30: ffull tytt to be dampned he shall be hurlyd byfore me;
31: I shall fownde to be his freynd vtward, in certayn,
32: And shew hym fare cowntenance and wordys of vanyte;
33: Bot or this day at nyght on crosse shall he be slayn,
34: Thus agans hym in my hart I bere great enmyte
35: ffull sore.
36: ye men that vse bak-bytyngys,
37: and rasars of slanderyngys,
38: ye ar my dere darlyngys,
39: And mahowns for euermore.
40: ffor no thyng in this warld dos me more grefe
41: Then for to here of crist and of his new lawes;
42: To trow that he is godys son my hart wold all to clefe,
43: Though he be neuer so trew both in dedys and in sawes
44: Therfor shall he suffre mekill myschefe,
45: And all the dyscypyls that vnto hym drawes;
46: ffor ouer all solace to me it is most lefe,
47: The shedyng of cristen bloode, and that all Iury knawes,
48: I say you.
49: My knyghtys full swythe
50: Thare strengthes will thay kyth,
51: And bryng hym be-lyfe;
52: lo, where thay com now! Primus Tortor
53: I haue ron that I swett / from sir herode oure kyng
54: With this man that will not lett / oure lawes to downe bryng;
55: he has done so mych forfett / of care may he syng;
56: Thrugh dom of sir pylate he gettys / an yll endyng
-245-
57: And sore;
58: The great warkys he has wroght
59: Shall serue hym of noght,
60: And bot thay be dere boght
61: lefe me no more.
62: Bot make rowme in this rese / I byd you, belyfe,
63: And of youre noys that ye sesse / both man and wyfe;
64: To sir pylate on dese / this man will we dryfe,
65: his dede for to dres / and refe hym his lyfe
66: This day;
67: Do draw hym forward!
68: whi stand ye so bakward?
69: Com on sir, hyderward,
70: As fast as ye may! Secundus Tortor
71: Do pull hym a-rase / whyls we be gangyng;
72: I shall spytt in his face / though it be fare shynyng;
73: Of vs thre gettys thou no grace / thi dedys ar so noyng,
74: Bot more sorow thou hase / oure myrth is incresyng,
75: No lak.
76: ffelows, all in hast,
77: with this band that will last
78: Let vs bynde fast
79: Both his handys on his bak. Tercius Tortor
80: I shall lede the a dawnce / Vnto sir pilate hall;
81: Thou betyd an yll chawnce / to com emangys vs all.
82: Sir pilate, with youre cheftance / to you we cry and call
83: That ye make som ordynance / with this brodell thrall,
84: By skyll;
85: This man that we led,
86: On crosse ye put to ded,. Pilate
87: what! with outten any red?
88: That is not my wyll;
89: Bot ye, wysest of law / to me ye be tendand:
90: This man withoutten awe / which ye led in a band,
91: Nather in dede ne in saw / can I fynd with no wrang,
92: wherfor ye shuld, hym draw / or bere falsly on hand
-246-
93: With ill.
94: ye say he turnes oure pepyll,
95: ye call hym fals and fekyll;
96: warldys shame is on you mekyll
97: This man if ye spyll.
98: Of all thise causes ilkon / which ye put on hym,
99: Herode, truly as stone / coud fynd with nokyns gyn
100: Nothyng herapon / that pent to any syn;
101: why shuld I then so soyn / to ded here deme hym?
102: Therfor
103: This is my counsell,
104: I will not with hym mell;
105: let hym go where he wyll
106: ffor now and euermore. Primus Consultus
107: Sir, I say the oone thyng / without any mys,
108: he callys his self a kyng / ther he none is;
109: Thus he wold downe bryng / oure lawes, I-wys,
110: with his fals lesyng / and his quantys,
111: This tyde. Pilate
112: herk, felow, com nere!
113: Thou knowes I haue powere
114: To excuse or to dampne here,
115: In bayll to abyde. Jesus
116: Sich powere has thou noght / to wyrk thi will thus with me,
117: Bot from my fader that is broght / oone-fold god in persons thre. Pilate
118: Certys, it is fallen well in my thoght / at this tyme, as well wote ye,
119: A thefe that any felony has wroght / to lett hym skap or go fre
-247-
120: Away;
121: Therfor ye lett hym pas. Primus Tortor
122: Nay, nay, bot barabas!
123: And ihesus in this case
124: To deth ye dam this day. Pilate
125: Syrs, looke ye take good hede / his cloysse ye spoyll hym fro,
126: ye gar his body blede / and bett hym blak and bloo. Secundus Tortor
127: This man, as myght I spede / that has wroght vs this wo,
128: how "[Iudicare"] comys in crede / shall we teche, or we go,
129: All soyne.
130: haue bynd to this pyllar. Tercius Tortor
131: why standys thou so far? Primus Tortor
132: To bett his body bar
133: I haste, withoutten hoyne. Secundus Tortor
134: Now fall I the fyrst / to flap on hys hyde. Tercius Tortor
135: My hartt wold all to-bryst / bot I myght tyll hym glyde. Primus Tortor
136: A swap fayn, if I durst / wold I lene the this tyde. Secundus Tortor
137: war! lett me rub on the rust / that the bloode downe glyde
138: As swythe. Tercius Tortor
139: haue att! Primus Tortor
140: Take thou that! Secundus Tortor
141: I shall lene the a flap,
142: My strengthe for to kythe. Tercius Tortor
143: Where on seruys thi prophecy / thou tell vs in this case,
144: And all thi warkys of greatt mastry / thou shewed in dyuers place? Primus Tortor
145: Thyn apostels full radly / ar run from the a rase,
146: Thou art here in oure baly / withoutten any grace
-248-
147: Of skap. Secundus Tortor
148: Do, rug him. Tercius Tortor
149: Do, dyng hym. Primus Tortor
150: Nay, I myself shuld kyll hym
151: Bot for sir pilate.
152: Syrs, at the ffeste of architreclyn / this prophete he was;
153: Ther turnyd he water into wyn / that day he had sich grace,
154: his apostels to hym can enclyn / and other that ther was;
155: The see he past bot few yeres syn / it lete hym walk theron apase
156: At wyll;
157: The elementys all bydeyn,
158: And wyndes that ar so keyn,
159: The firmamente, as I weyn,
160: Ar hym obeyng tyll. Secundus Tortor
161: A lepir cam full fast / to this man that here standys,
162: And prayed hym, in all hast / of bayll to lowse his bandys;
163: his trauell was not wast / though he cam from far landys;
164: This prophete tyll hym past / and helyd hym with his handys,
165: ffull blythe.
166: The son of Centuryon,
167: ffor whom his fader made greatt mone,
168: Of the palsy he helyd anone,
169: Thay lowfyd hym oft sythe. Tercius Tortor
170: Sirs, as he cam from iherico / a blynde man satt by the way;
171: To hym walkand with many mo / cryand to hym thus can he say,
172: "[Thou son of dauid, or thou go / of blyndnes hele thou me this day."]
173: Ther was he helyd of all his wo / sich wonders can he wyrk all way
-249-
174: At wyll;
175: he rasys men from deth to lyfe,
176: And castys out devyls from thame oft sythe,
177: seke men cam to hym full ryfe,
178: He helys thaym of all yll. Primus Tortor
179: ffor all thise dedys of great louyng / fower thyngys I haue fond certanly,
180: ffor which he is worthy to hyng: / oone is oure kyng that he wold be;
181: Oure sabbot day in his wyrkyng / he lettys not to hele the seke truly;
182: he says oure temple he shall downe bryng / and in thre daies byg it in hy
183: All hole agane;
184: Syr pilate, as ye sytt,
185: looke wysely in youre wytt;
186: Dam ihesu or ye flytt
187: On crosse to suffre his payne. Pilate
188: Thou man that suffurs all this yll / Why Wyll thou Vs no mercy cry?
189: Slake thy hart and thi greatt wyll / whyls on the we haue mastry;
190: Of thy greatt warkes shew vs som skyll; / men call the kyng, thou tell vs why;
191: wherfor the Iues seke the to spyll / the cause I wold, knowe wytterly,
192: perdee;
193: Say what is thy name,
194: Thou lett for no shame,
195: Thay putt on the greatt blame,
196: Els myght [thou] skap for me. Secundus Consultus
197: Syr pilate, prynce peerles / this is my red,
198: That he skap not harmeles / bot do hym to ded:
199: he cals hym a kyng in euery place / thus wold he ouer led
200: Oure people in his trace / and oure lawes downe tred
-250-
201: By skyll;
202: Syr, youre knyghtes of good lose,
203: and the pepyll with oone voce,
204: To hyng hym hy on a crosse
205: Thay cry and call you vntyll. Pilate
206: Now certys, this is a wonder thyng / that ye wold bryng to noght
207: hym that is youre lege lordyng / In faith this was far soght;
208: Bot say, why make ye none obeyng / to hym that all has wroght? Tercius Tortor
209: Sir, he is oure chefe lordyng / sir Cesar so worthyly wroght
210: On mold.
211: pylate, do after vs,
212: And dam to deth ihesus
213: Or to sir Cesar we trus,
214: And make thy frenship cold,. Pilate
215: Now that I am sakles / of this bloode shall ye see;
216: Both my handys in expres / weshen sall be;
217: This bloode bees dere boght I ges / that ye spill so frele. Primus Tortor
218: we pray it fall endles / on vs and oure meneye,
219: with wrake. Pilate
220: Now youre desyre fulfyll I shall;
221: Take hym emangs you all,
222: On crosse ye put that thrall,
223: his endyng ther to take. Primus Tortor
224: Com on! tryp on thi tose / without any fenyng;
225: Thou has made many glose / with thy fals talkyng. Secundus Tortor
226: we ar worthy greatte lose / that thus has broght a kyng
227: ffrom sir pilate and othere fose thus into oure ryng,
-251-
228: withoutt any hoyne.
229: Sirs, a kyng he hym cals,
230: Therfor a crowne hym befals. Tercius Tortor
231: I swere by all myn elder sauls,
232: I shall it ordan soyne. Primus Tortor
233: Lo! here a crowne of thorne / to perch his brane within,
234: putt on his hede with skorne / and gar thyrll the skyn. Secundus Tortor
235: hayll kyng! where was thou borne / sich worship for to wyn?
236: we knele all the beforne / and the to grefe will we not blyn,
237: That be thou bold,;
238: Now by mahownes bloode!
239: Ther will no mete do me goode
240: To he be hanged on a roode,
241: And his bones be cold,. Primus Tortor
242: Syrs, we may be fayn / ffor I haue fon a tree,
243: I tell you in certan / it is of greatt bewtee,
244: On the which he shall suffre payn / be feste with nales thre,
245: Ther shall nothyng hym gayn / ther on to he dede be,
246: I insure it;
247: Do, bryng hym hence. Secundus Tortor
248: Take vp oure gere and defence. Tercius Tortor
249: I wold spende all my spence
250: To se hym ones skelpt. Primus Tortor
251: This cros vp thou take / and make the redy bowne;
252: Withoutt gruchyng thou rake / and bere it thrugh the towne;
253: Mary, thi moder, I wote will make / great mowrnyng and mone,
254: But for thy fals dedys sake / shortly thou salbe slone,
-252-
255: No nay;
256: The pepyll of bedlem,
257: and gentyls of Ierusalem,
258: All the comoners of this reme,
259: shall wonder on the this day. John the Apostle
260: Alas! for my master moste of myght,
261: That yester euen with lanterne bright
262: before Caiphas was broght;
263: Both peter and I sagh that sight,
264: And sithen we fled away full wight,
265: when Iues so wonderly wroght;
266: At morne thay toke to red, And fals witnes furth soght,
267: And demyd hym to be dede, That to thaym trespaste noght,
268: Alas! for his modere and othere moo,
269: My moder and hir syster also,
270: Sat sam with syghyng sore;
271: Thay Wote nothyng of all this wo,
272: Therfor to tell thaym will I go,
273: Sen I may mend no more.
274: If he shuld dy thus tyte And thay vnwarned wore,
275: I were Worthy to wyte; I will go fast therfor.
276: God saue you, systers all in fere!
277: Dere lady, if thi will were,
278: I must tell tythyngys playn. Mary
279: Welcom, Iohn, my cosyn dere!
280: how farys my son sen thou was here?
281: That wold I wyt full fayn. John the Apostle
282: A, dere lady with youre leyff, The trouth shuld no man layn,
283" part="I: Ne with godys will thaym grefe. Mary
whi, Iohn, is my son slayn?
-253-
John the Apostle
284: Nay lady, I saide not so,
285: Bot ye me myn he told vs two
286: And thaym that with vs wore,
287: how he with pyne shuld pas vs fro,
288: And efte shuld com vs to,
289: To amende oure syghyng sore;
290: It may not stand in stede To sheynd youre self therfore. Mary Magdalene
291: Alas! this day for drede! Good Iohn, neven this no more!
292: Speke preualy I the pray,
293: ffor I am ferde, if we hir flay,
294: That she will ryn and rafe. John the Apostle
295: The sothe behowys me nede to say,
296: he is damyd to dede this day,
297: Ther may no sorow hym safe. Maria Jacobi
298: Good Iohn, tell vnto vs two What thou of hir will crafe,
299: And we will gladly go And help that thou it haue. John the Apostle
300: Systers, youre mowrnyng may not amende;
301: And ye will ever, or he take ende,
302: Speke with my master free,
303: Then must ye ryse and with me weynd,,
304: And kepe hym as he shall be kend
305: Withoutt yond same cyte;
306: If ye will nygh me nere, Com fast and felowe me. Mary
307: A, help me, systers dere! That I my son may see. Mary Magdalene
308: Lady, we wold weynd full fayn,
309: Hertely With all oure myght and mayn,
310: youre comforth to encrese. Mary
311: Good Iohn, go before and frayn. John the Apostle
312: Lo, where he commes vs euen agayn
313: with all yond mekyll prese!
314: All youre mowrnyng in feyr / may not his sorow sese. Mary
315: Alas, for my son dere, / that me to moder chese!
-254-
316: Alas, dere son for care / I se thi body blede;
317: My self I will for-fare / for the in this great drede,
318: This cros on thi shulder bare / to help the in this nede,
319: I will it bere with greatt hart sare / wheder thay will the lede. Jesus
320: This cros is large in lengthe / and also bustus with all;
321: If thou put to thi strengthe / to the erthe thou mon downe fall. Mary
322: A dere son, thou let me / help the in this case! Jesus
323: lo, moder, I tell it the / to bere no myght thou hase. Mary
324: I pray the, dere son, it may so be / to man thou gif thi grace,
325: On thi self thou haue pyte / and kepe the from thi foyse. Jesus
326: ffor sothe, moder, this is no nay / on cros I must dede dre,
327: And, from deth ryse on the thryd day / thus prophecy says by me;
328: Mans saull that I luffyd ay / I shall redeme securly,
329: Into blis of heuen for ay / I shall it bryng to me, Mary Magdalene
330: It is greatt sorow to any wyght / Ihesus, to se with Iues keyn,
331: How he in dyuerse payns is dight / ffor sorow I water both myn eeyn. Maria Jacobi
332: This lord that is of myght / dyd neuer yll truly,
333: Thise Iues thay do not right / if thay deme hym to dy. Mary Magdalene
334: Alas! what shall we say! / ihesus that is so leyfe,
335: To deth thise Iues this day / thay lede with paynes full grefe.
-255-
Maria Jacobi
336: He was full true, I say / though thay dam hym as thefe,
337: Mankynde he lufed all way / for sorow my hart will clefe. Jesus
338: ye doghters of Ierusalem / I byd you wepe nothyng for me,
339: Bot for youre self and youre barn-teme / behald I tell you securle,
340: Sore paynes ar ordand for this reme / in dayes herafter for to be;
341: youre myrth to bayll it shall downe streme / in euery place of this cyte.
342: Childer, certys, thay shall blys / women baren that neuer child bare,
343: And pappes that neuer gaf sowke, Iwys / thus shall thare hartys for sorow be sare;
344: The montayns hy and thise greatt hyllys / thay shall byd fall apon them thare,
345: ffor my bloode that sakles is / to shede and spyll thay will not spare. Secundus Tortor
346: walk on, and lefe thi vayn carpyng / it shall not saue the fro thy dede,
347: wheder thise women cry or syng / for any red, that thay can red,. Tercius Tortor
348: Say wherto abyde we here abowte,
349: Thise qwenes with scremyng and with showte?
350: May no man thare wordys stere? Primus Tortor
351: Go home, thou casbald,, with that clowte!
352: Or, by that lord I leyfe and lowte,
353: Thou shall by it full dere! Mary Magdalene
354: This thyng shall venyance call / on you holly in fere. Secundus Tortor
355: Go, hy the hens with all / or yll hayll cam thou here! Tercius Tortor
356: let all this bargan be / syn all oure toyles ar before;
357: This tratoure and this tre / I wold, full fayn were thore.
-256-
Primus Tortor
358: It nedys not hym to harll / this cros dos hym greatt dere,
359: Bot yonder commys a carll / shall help hym for to bere. Secundus Tortor
360: That shall we soyn se on assay.
361: herk, good, man, wheder art thou on away?
362: Thou walkes as thou were wrath. Symon
363: Syrs, I haue a greatt Iornay
364: That must be done this same day,
365: Or els it will me skathe. Tercius Tortor
366: Thou may with lytyll payn / easse hym and thi self both. Symon
367: Good syrs, that wold I fayn / bot for to tary were full loth. Primus Tortor
368: Nay, nay! thou shall full soyn be sped,;
369: lo here a lad, that must be led,
370: ffor his yll dedys to dy,
371: And he is bressed and all for bled,
372: That makys vs here thus stratly sted;
373: we pray the, sir, for-thi,
374: That thou will take this tre / bere it to caluary. Symon
375: Good sirs, that may not be / ffor full greatt haste haue I,
376: No longere may I hoyn. Secundus Tortor
377: In fayth thou shall not go so soyn
378: ffor noght that thou can say
379: This dede must nedys be done,
380: And this carll be dede or noyn,
381: And now is nere myd day;
382: And therfor help vs at this nede / and make vs here no more delay. Symon
383: I pray you do youre dede / and let me go my way;
384: And I shall com full soyn agane,
385: To help this man with all my mayn,
386: At youre awne wyll.
-257-
Tercius Tortor
387: what and wold, thou trus with sich a trane?
388: Nay fatur, thou shall be full fayn,
389: This forward to fulfyll;
390: Or, by the myght of mahowne! / thou shall lyke it full yll. Primus Tortor
391: Tytt, let dyng this dastard downe / bot he lay hand ther tyll. Symon
392: Certys, that were vnwysely wroght,
393: To beytt me bot if I trespast oght
394: Aythere in worde or dede. Secundus Tortor
395: Apon thi bak it shall be broght,
396: Thou berys it wheder thou will or noght!
397: Dewyll! whom shuld we drede?
398: And therfor take it here belyfe / And bere it furth, good spede. Symon
399: It helpys not here to strife / bere it behoues me nede;
400: And therfor, syrs, as ye haue sayde,
401: To help this man I am well payde,
402: As ye wold that it were. Tercius Tortor
403: A, ha! now ar we right arayde,
404: bot loke oure gere be redy grade,
405: To wyrk when we com there. Primus Tortor
406: I warand all redy / oure toyles both moore and les,
407: And sir symon truly / gose on before with cros. Tercius Tortor
408: Now by mahowne, oure heuen kyng,
409: I wold that we were in that stede
410: where we myght hym on cros bryng.
411: Step on before, and furth hym lede
412: A trace. Primus Tortor
413: Com on thou! Secundus Tortor
414: Put on thou! Tercius Tortor
415: I com fast after you,
416: And folowse on the chace.
-258-