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page 96


1

CANDLEMES DAY AND THE KYLLYNG OF ÞE
2CHILDREN OF ISRAELLE


3
4

MDXIJ


5

ANNO DOMINI 1512
6THE VIJ BOOKE


7

8Poeta.

9This solenne fest to be had in remembraunce
10Of blissed Seynt Anne, modere to Oure lady,
11Whos right discent was fro kynges alyaunce -
12Of Dauyd and Salamon, winesseth the story.
13Hir blissid doughtere, that callid is Mary,
14By Goddes provision an husbond shuld haue,
15Callid Joseph, of nature old and drye,
16And she, moder vnto Crist, that alle the world shalle save.
17

18This glorious maiden doughter vnto Anna,
19In whos worshippe this fest we honoure,
20And by resemblaunce likenyd vnto manna,
21Wiche is in tast celestialle of savoure,
22And of Jerico the sote rose floure,
23Gold Ebryson callid in picture,
24Chosyn for to bere mankyndes Savyoure,
25With a prerogative aboue eche creature!
26

27These grett thynges remembred, after oure entent,
28Is for to worshippe Oure Ladye and Seynt Anne.
29We be comen hedere as seruauntes diligent,
30Oure processe to shewe you, as we can.
31Wherfor of benevolens we pray euery man
32To haue vs execused that we no better doo -
33Another tyme to emende it if we can,
34Be the grace of God, if oure cunnyng be thertoo.

35

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36The last yeere we shewid you in this place
37How the shepherdes of Cristes birthe made letificacion,
38And thre kynges that come fro þer cuntrees be grace
39To worshippe Jhesu with enteere deuocion.
40And now we purpose with hoolle affeccion
41To procede in oure matere as we can,
42And to shew you of Oure Ladies purificacion
43That she made in the temple, as the vsage was than.
44

45And after that shalle Herowde haue tydynges
46How the thre kynges be goon hoom another way,
47That were with Jhesu and made ther offrynges,
48And promysed Kyng Herowde without delay
49To come ageyn by hym - this is no nay;
50And whan he wist that thei were goon,
51Like as a wodman he gan to fray,
52And commaundid his knyghtes for to go anoon
53

54Into Israelle, to serche euery town and cite
55For alle the children that thei cowde ther fynde
56Of too yeeres age and within, sparyng neither bonde nor free,
57But sle them alle, either for foo or frende -
58Thus he commaundid in his furious wynde,
59Thought that Jhesu shuld haue be oon.
60And yitt he failed of his froward mynde,
61For by Goodes purviaunce, Oure Lady was into Egipte gon!
62

63Frendes, this processe we purpose to pley, as we can,
64Before you alle here in youre presens,
65To the honor of God, Oure Lady, and Seynt Anne,
66Besechyng you to geve vs peseable audiens!
67And ye menstrallis, doth youre diligens!
68And ye virgynes, shewe summe sport and plesure,
69These people to solas, and to do God reuerens!
70As ye be appoynted, doth your besy cure!
71

72    Et tripident.
73    

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74JERUSALEM - HEROD'S PALACE
75

76Herodes.

77Aboue alle kynges vnder the clowdys cristalle,
78Royally I reigne in welthe without woo!
79Of plesaunt prosperyte I lakke non at alle!
80Fortune, I fynde that she is not my foo!
81I am Kyng Herowdes! I wille it be knowen soo!
82Most strong and myghty in feld for to fyght,
83And to venquysshe my enemyes þat ageynst me do!
84I am most bedred, with my bronde bright!
85

86My grett goddes I gloryfye with gladnesse,
87And to honoure them I knele vpon my knee,
88For thei haue sett me in solas from alle sadnesse,
89That no conqueroure nor knyght is comparid to me!
90Alle tho that rebelle ageyns me, ther bane I wille be,
91Or grudge ageyns my goddes on hylle or hethe!
92Alle suche rebellers I shalle make for to flee,
93And with hard punysshementes putt them to dethe!
94

95What erthely wretches, with pompe and pride,
96Do ageyns my lawes, or withstonde myn entent,
97Thei shalle suffre woo and peyne thurgh bak and syde!
98with a very myschaunce ther flesshe shalbe alle torent,
99And alle my foes shalle haue suche commaundement,
100That they shalbe glad to do my byddyng ay!
101Or elles thei shalbe in woo and myscheff permanent,
102That thei shalle fere me nyght and day!
103

104THE FOLLOWING LINES ARE CANCELLED.
105My messangere, at my commaundement come heder to me,
106And take hed what I shalle to the say!
107I charge the loke abought thurgh alle my cuntre,
108To aspye if ony rebelles do ageynst oure lay,
109And if ony suche come in thy way,
110Brynge hem into oure high presens,
111And we shalle se them correctid or thei go hens!

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112Watkyn, messanger.

113My lord, your commaundement I haue fulfilled,
114Evyn to the vttermest of my pore powere,
115And I wold shew you more, so ye wold be contentid,
116But I dare not, lest ye wold take it in angere!
117For if it liked you not, I am sure my deth were nere,
118And therfor, my lord, I wole hold my peas!

119Herod.

120I warne the, thu traytour, that thu not seas
121

122To shewe euery thyng thu knowist ageyns oure reuerence!

123Messanger.

124My lord, if ye haue it in youre remembraunce,
125Ther were thre straungere kynges but late in your presence,
126That went to Bedlem to offre with due obseruaunce,
127And promysed to come ageyn by you, without variaunce;
128But by thes bonys ten, thei be to you vntrue,
129For homward another wey thei doo sue!
130

131Herod.

132Now, be my grett goddes that be so fulle of myght,
133I wille be avengid vpon Israelle if thi tale be true!

134Messanger.

135That it is, my lord, my trouth I you plight,
136For ye founde me neuer false syn ye me knewe!
137END OF CANCELLED PASSAGE
138

139Herod.

140I do perceyue, though I be here in my cheff cite,
141Callid Jerusalem, my riche royalle town,
142I am falsly disceyvid by straunge kynges three!
143Therfor, my knyghtes, I warne you, without delacion,
144That ye make serche thurghout alle my region -
145Withoute ony tarieng, my wille may be seen -
146And sle alle tho children, without excepcion,
147Of to yeeres of age þat within Israelle bene!
148

149For within myself thus I haue concluded,
150For to avoide awey alle interrupcion,
151Sythen theȝ thre kynges haue me thus falsly deluded,
152As in maner by froward collusion,

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153And ageyn resortid hom into ther region -
154But yitt, mavgre ther hertes, I shalle avengid be!
155Bothe in Bedlem and my provynces euerychone,
156Sle alle the children, to kepe my liberte!
157

158Primus miles.

159My lord, ye may be sure that I shalle not spare,
160For to fulfille your noble commaundement,
161With sharpe sword to perse them alle bare,
162In alle cuntrees that be to you adiacent!

163Secundus miles.

164And for your sake, to obserue your commaundement!

165Tercius miles.

166Not on of them alle oure handes shalle astert!

167Quartus miles.

168For we wole cruelly execute youre judgement,
169With swerde and spere to perse them thurgh the hert!
170

171Herod.

172I thanke you, my knyghtes, but loke ye make no tarieng!
173Do arme yourself in stele shynyng bright,
174And conceyve in your myndes that I am your kyng,
175Gevyng you charge þat with alle your myght,
176In conseruacion of my tytelle of right,
177That ye go and loke for myn aduauntage,
178And sle alle the children þat come in your sight,
179Wiche ben within too yeere of age!
180

181Now beware that my buddyng ye truly obey,
182For non but I shalle reigne with equyte!
183Make alle the children on your swordes to dey!
184I charge you, spare not oon for mercy nor pyte!
185Am not I lord and kyng of the cuntre?
186The crowne of alle Jerusalem longith to me of right!
187Whosoeuer sey nay, of high or lowe degre,
188I charge you sle alle suche þat come in your sight!
189

190Primus miles.

191My lord, be ye sure accordyng to your wille,
192Like as ye charge vs be streigt commaundement,
193Alle the children of Israelle doughtles we shalle kylle,
194Within to yeere of age - this is oure entent!
195

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196Secundus miles.

197My lord, of alle Jurerye we hold you for chef regent,
198By titelle of enheritaunce, as your auncetours beforn;
199He that seith the contrary, be Mahound, shalbe shent,
200And curse the tyme that euer he was borne!
201

202Herod.

203I thanke you, my knyghtes, with hoolle affeccion,
204And whan ye come ageyn I shalle you avaunce.
205Therfor, quyte you wele in feld and town,
206And of alle tho fondlynges make a delyueraunce!
207

208    Here the knyghtes shalle departe from Herowdes to Israelle,
209and Watkyn shalle abyde, seyng thus to Herodes:
210

211Watkyn.

212Now, my lord, I beseche you to here my dalyaunce!
213I wold aske you a bone, if I durst aright,
214But I were loth ye shuld take ony displesaunce -
215Now, for Mahoundes sake, make me a knyght!
216

217For oon thyng I promyse you: I wille manly fight,
218And for to avenge your quarelle I dare vndertake;
219Though I sey it myself, I am a man of myght,
220And dare live and deye in this quarelle for your sake!
221For whan I com amonge them, for fere thei shalle quake!
222And though thei sharme and crye, I care not a myght,
223But with my sharpe sworde ther ribbes I shalle shake,
224Evyn thurgh the guttes, for anger and despight!
225

226Herowdes.

227Be thi trouthe, Watkyn, woldest thu be made a knyght?
228Thu hast be my seruaunt and messangere many a day,
229But thu were neuer provid in bataile nor in fight,
230And therfor to avaunce the so sodeynly I ne may.
231But oon thyng to the I shalle say,
232Because I fynde the true in thyn entent:
233Forth with my knyghtes thu shalt take the way,
234And quyte the wele, and thu shalt it not repent!
235

236Watkyn.

237Now, a largeys, my lord! I am right wele apaid!
238If I do not wele, ley my hed vpon a stokke!
239I shalle go shew your knyghtes how ye haue seid,
240And arme myself manly, and go forth on the flokke

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241And if I fynde a yong child, I shalle choppe it on a blokke!
242Though the moder be angry, the child shalbe slayn!
243But yitt I drede no thyng more thanne a woman with a rokke!
244For if I se ony suche, be my feith, I come ageyn!
245

246Herowdes.

247What! Shalle a woman with a rokke drive the away?
248Fye on the, traitour! Now I tremble for tene!
249I have trosted the long and many a day -
250A bold man, and an hardy, I went thu haddist ben!

251Watkyn messanger.

252So am I, my lord, and that shalbe seen,
253That I am a bold man, and best dare abyde!
254And ther come an hundred women, I wole not fleen,
255But fro morowe tylle nyght, with them I dare chide!
256

257And therfor, my lord, ye may trust vnto me,
258For alle the children of Israelle your knyghtes and I shalle kylle!
259I wylle not spare on, but dede thei shalbe -
260If the fader and moder wille lete me haue my wille!

261Herowdes.

262Thu lurdeyn! Take hede what I sey the tylle,
263And high the to my knyghtes as fast as thu can!
264Say, I warne them in ony wyse þer blood þat thei spille,
265Abought in euery cuntre, and lette for no man!
266

267Watkyn.

268Nay, nay, my lord! We wylle let for no man,
269Though ther come a thousand on a rought,
270For your knyghtes and I wille kylle them alle, if we can!
271But for the wyves, that is alle my dought,
272And if I se ony walkyng abought,
273I wille take good hede tylle she be goon,
274And as sone as I aspye that she is oute,
275By my feith, into the hous I wille go anon!
276

277And this I promyse you, that I shalle neuer slepe,
278But euermore wayte to fynde the children alone,
279And if the moder come in, vnder the benche I wille crepe,
280And lye stille ther tylle she be goon!
281Than manly I shalle come out and hir children sloon!
282And whan I haue don, I shalle renne fast away!
283If she founde hir child dede, and toke me ther alone,
284Be my feith, I am sure we shuld make a fray!
285

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286Herowdes.

287Nay, harlott! Abyde stylle with my knyghtes, I warne the,
288Tylle the children be slayn, alle the hoolle rought!
289And whan thu comyst home ageyn, I shalle avaunce the,
290If thu quyte the like a man whille thu art ought!
291And if thu pley the coward, I put the owt of dought,
292Of me thu shalt neyther haue fee nor aduauntage!
293Therfor, I charge you, the contre be weelle sought,
294And whan thu comyst home, shalt haue thi wage!
295

296Watkyn.

297Yis, syre, be my trouthe, ye shalle wele knowe
298Whille I am oute, how I shalle aguyte me,
299For I purpos to spare neither high nor lowe -
300If ther be no man wole smyte me!
301The most I fere, the wyues wille bete me!
302Yitt shalle I take good hert to me, and loke wele abought,
303And loke that your knyghtes be not ferre fro me,
304For if I be alone, I may sone get a clought!
305

306Herod.

307I say, hye the hens! That thu were goon!
308And vnto my knyghtes, loke ye, take the way,
309And sey, I charge them that my commaundement be don
310In alle hast possible, without more delay!
311And if ther be ony that wille sey you nay,
312Redde hym of his lyff out of hand, anon!
313And if thu quyte the weelle vnto my pay,
314I shalle make þe a knyght aventururos whan þu comyst home!
315

316    Et exeat.
317

318Watkyn.

319Syr knyghtes, I must go forth with you!
320Thus my lord commaunded me for to don,
321And if I quyte me weelle whille I am amonge you,
322I shalbe made a knyght aventures whan I come home!
323For oon thyng I promyse you, I wille fight anon -
324If my hert faile not whan I shal begynne!
325The most I fere is to come amonge women,
326For thei fight like deuelles with ther rokkes whan þei spynne!
327

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328Primus miles.

329Watkyn, I loue the, for thu art euer a man!
330If thu quyte the weelle in this grett viage,
331I shalle speke to my lord for the that I can,
332That thu shalt no more be neither grome nor page!

333Secundus miles.

334I wylle speke for the, that thu shalt haue better wage,
335If thu guyte the manly amonge the wyves,
336For thei be as fers as a lyon in a cage,
337Whan thei are broken ought, to reve men of þer lives!
338

339    Here the knyghtes and Watkyn walke abought the place tylle
340Mary and Joseph be conveid into Egipt.
341    Dixit angelus:

342Angelus.

343O Joseph, ryse vp, and loke thu tary nought!
344Take Mary with the, and into Egipt flee!
345For Jhesu, thi sone, pursuyd is and sought,
346By Kyng Herowdes, the wiche of gret inyquyte
347Commaundid hath thurgh Bedlem cite,
348In his cruelle and furyous rage,
349To sle alle ther children that be in that cuntre
350That may be founde within to yeere of age!
351

352Ther shalle he shewe in that region
353Diuerse myracles of his high regalye -
354In alle ther temples the mawmentes shalle falle down,
355To shew a tokyn towardes the partie!
356This child hath lordship, as prophetes do specifie,
357And at his comyng, thurgh his myghty hond,
358In despight of alle idolatrie,
359Euery oon shalle falle, whan he comyth into the lond!
360

361Joseph.

362O good Lord, of thi gracious ordenaunce,
363Like as thu list for oure jorney provide
364In this viage with humble attendaunce,
365As God disposeth, and list to be oure gyde.
366Therfor, vpon them bothe mekely I shalle abide,
367Praying to that Lord to thynk vpon vs three,
368Vs to preserue, wheder we go or ryde
369Towardes Egipte, from alle aduercite.
370

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371Mary.

372Now, husbond, in alle hast I pray you, go we hens
373For drede of Herowdes, that cruelle knyght.
374Gentylle spouse, now do youre diligens,
375And bryng your asse, I pray you, anon right,
376And from hens let vs passe with alle oure myght,
377Thankyng that Lord so for vs doth provide
378That we may go from Herowdes, þat cursid wight,
379Wiche wille vs devoure if that we abide!
380

381Joseph.

382Mary, you to do plesaunce without ony lett,
383I shalle brynge forth your asse without more delay.
384Ful sone, Mary, theron ye shalbe sett,
385And this litelle child that in your wombe lay;
386Take hym in your armys, Mary, I you pray,
387And of your swete mylke lete hym sowke inowe,
388Mawgere Herowdes and his grett fray,
389And as your spouse, Mary, I shalle go with you.

390This ferdelle of gere I ley vp my bakke -
391Now I am redy to go from this cuntre.
392Alle my smale instrumentes is putt in my pakke;
393Now go we hens, Mary, it wille no better be!
394

395    Et exeant.
396

397For drede of Herowdes apaas I wylle high me!
398Lo, now is oure geere trussid, both more and lesse.
399Mary, for to plese you, with alle humylite,
400I shalle go before, and lede forth youre asse.
401

402    Here Mary and Joseph shalle go out of þe place, and þe
403goddes shalle falle, and than shalle come in the women of
404Israel, with yong children in ther armys, and than the knyghtes
405shalle go to them, sayng as foluyth:
406

407Primus miles.

408Herke ye, wyffys! We be come your housholdes to visite,
409Though ye be neuer so wroth nor wood,
410With sharpe swerdes that redely wille byte,
411Alle your children within to yeere age in oure cruelle mood,
412Thurgheout alle Bethleem to kylle and shed þer yong blood,

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413As we be bound be the commaundement of þe kyng!
414Who that seith nay, we shalle make a flood
415To renne in the stretis, by ther blood shedyng!
416

417Secundus miles.

418Therfor, vnto vs ye make a delyueraunce
419Of youre yong children, and that anone!
420Or elles, be Mahounde, we shalle geve you a myschaunce!
421Oure sharpe swerdes thurgh your bodies shalle goon!

422Watkyn.

423Therfor beware, for we wille not leve oon
424In alle this cuntre that shalle vs escape!
425I shalle rather slee them euerychoon,
426And make them to lye and mowe like an ape!
427

428Prima mulier.

429Fye on you traitours of cruelle tormentrye,
430Wiche with your swerdes of mortalle violens

431Secunda mulier.

432Oure yong children, that can no socoure but crie,
433Wylle slee and devoure in ther innocens!

434Tercia mulier.

435Ye false traitours! Vnto God ye do grett offens,
436To sle and mordere yong children þat in þer cradelle slumber!

437Quarta mulier.

438But we women shalle make ageyns you resistens,
439After oure powere, youre malice to encomber!
440

441Watkyn.

442Peas, you folysshe quenys! Wha shuld you defende
443Ageyns vs armyd men in this apparaile?
444We be bold men, and the kyng vs ded sende
445Hedyr into this cuntre to hold with you bataile!

446Prima mulier.

447Fye vpon the, coward! Of the I wille not faile
448To dubbe the knyght with my rokke rounde!
449Women be ferse when thei list to assaile
450Suche prowde boyes, to caste to the grounde!
451

452Watkyn.

453Avaunt ye, skowtys! I defye you euerychone!
454For I wole bete you alle, myself alone!
455

456    Hic occident pueros.
457

458Prima mulier.

459Alas, alasse, good gossyppes! This is a sorowfulle peyn,
460To se oure dere children that be so yong
461With these caytyves thus sodeynly to be slayn!
462A vengeaunce I aske on them alle for this grett wrong!

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463Secunda mulier.

464And a very myscheff mut come them amonge,
465Whersoeuer thei be come or goon,
466For thei haue kylled my yong sone John!
467

468Tercia mulier.

469Gossippis, a shamefulle deth I aske vpon Herowde oure kyng,
470That thus rygorously oure children hath slayn!

471Quarta mulier.

472I pray God bryng hym to an ille endyng,
473And in helle pytte to dwelle euer in peyn!

474Watkyn.

475What, ye harlottes! I haue aspied certeyn
476That ye be traytours to my lord the kyng,
477And therfor I am sure ye shalle haue an ille endyng!
478

479Prima mulier.

480If ye abide, Watkyn, you and I shalle game
481With my distaff that is so rounde!

482Secunda mulier.

483And if I seas, thanne haue I shame,
484Tylle thu be fellid down to the grounde!

485Tercia mulier.

486And I may gete the within my bounde,
487With this staff I shalle make the lame!

488Watkyn.

489Yee, I come no more ther, be Seynt Mahounde!
490For if I do, me thynketh I shalle be made tame!
491

492Prima mulier.

493Abyde, Watkyn! I shalle make the a knyght!

494Watkyn.

495Thu make me a knyght? That were on the newe!
496But for shame - my trouthe I you plight -
497I shuld bete you bak and side tylle it were blewe!
498But be my god Mahounde that is so true,
499My hert begynne to fayle and waxeth feynt,
500Or elles, be Mahoundes blood, ye shuld it rue!
501But ye shalle lose your goodes as traitours atteynt!
502

503Prima mulier.

504What, thu javelle! Canst not haue do?
505Thu and thi cumpany shalle not depart
506Tylle of oure distavys ye haue take part!
507Therfor, ley on, gossippes, with a mery hart,
508And lett them not from vs goo!

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509

510    Here thei shalle bete Watkyn, and the knyghtes shalle come
511to rescue hym, and thei go to Herowdes, þus sayng:
512

513Primus miles.

514Honorable prynce of grett apparayle,
515Thurgh Jerusalem and Jude your wylle we haue wrought;
516Fulle suerly harneysed in armour of plate and maile,
517The children of Israelle vnto deth we haue brought!

518Secundus miles.

519Syr, to werke your commaundement we lettid nought,
520In the stretes of the children to make a flood!
521We sparid neithere for care nor thought
522Thurgh Bethlem to shede alle the yong blood!
523

524Watkyn.

525In feyth, my lord, alle the children be dede,
526And alle the men out of the cuntre be goon!
527Ther be but women, and thei crie in euery stede:
528'A vengeaunce take Kyng Herode, for he hath our children sloon!'
529And bidde 'A myscheff take hym!' both evyn and morn;
530For kyllyng of ther children on you thei crie oute,
531And thus goth your name alle the cuntre abought!
532

533Herodes.

534Oute! I am madde! My wyttes be ner goon!
535I am wo for the wrokyng of this werke wylde!
536For as wele I haue slayn my frendes as my foon!
537Wherfor, I fere, deth hath me begyled!
538Notwithstondyng synt thei be alle defyled!
539And on þe yong blood of Bethlem wrought wo and wrake,
540Yitt I am in no certeyn of that yong child!
541Now for woo myn herte gynneth to quake!
542

543Alas! I am so sorowfulle and sett in sadnes!
544I chille and chevere for this orrible chaunce!
545I commaunde you alle, as ye wole stond in my grace,
546After this yong kyng to make good enqueraunce!
547And he þat bryngeth me tydynges, I shalle hym auaunce.
548Now, vnto my chambere I purpose me this tyde,
549And I charge you to my preceptes geve attendaunce,
550In ony place where ye goo or ryde!

551

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552What! Out, out! Allas! I wene I shalle dey þis day!
553My hert tremelith and quakith for feere!
554My robys I rende ato, for I am in a fray,
555That my hert wille brest asundere evyn heere!
556My lord Mahound, I pray the with hert enteere,
557Take my soule into thy holy hande,
558For I fele be my hert I shalle dey evyn heere,
559For my legges faltere, I may no lengere stande!