Anonymous: Ludus Coventriae (3 440 words)

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page 173


1herodes rex
2EIGHT LINES OMITTED
3

4In sete now am I sett as kynge of myghtys most
5All this werd ffor loue to me xul þei lowt
6both of hevyn and of erth and of helle cost
7Ffor dygne of my dygnyte þei haue of me dowt
8þer is no lord on lyve to me wurth a toost
9nother kyng nor kayser in all þis worlde abought
10If any brybour do bragge or blowe a-ȝens my bost
11I xal rappe þo rebawdys and rake þem on rought
12With my bryght bronde
13Þer xal be neythey kayser nere knyge
14But þat I xal hem down dynge
15lesse þan he at my byddynge
16be buxum to myn honde.
17

18Now my jentyll and curteys knyghtys herke to me þis stownde
19Good tyme sone me thynkygh at dyner þat we were
20Smertly þerfore sett a tabyll a-non here fful sownde
21Couerid with a coryous cloth and with rych wurthy fare
22Servyse ffor þe lovelyest lorde þat levynge is on grownde
23Beste metys and wurthyest wynes loke þat ȝe non spare
24þow þat a lytyl pynt xulde coste a Ml. pownde
25brynge alweye of þe beste for coste take ȝe no care
26Anon þat it be done.
27

28Senescallus

29My lorde þe tabyl is redy dyght
30here is watyr now wasch forthryght

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31now blowe up mynstrall with all ȝour myght
32þe servyse comyth in sone.
33

34herodes rex

35Now am I sett at mete
36and wurthely servyd at my degre
37Com forth knyghtys sytt down and ete
38and be as mery as ȝe kan be.
39

40ius miles

41Lord at ȝowre byddynge we take oure sete
42with herty wyl obey we the
43þer is no lorde of myght so grett
44thorwe all þis werde in no countre
45In Wurchepp to a-byde.
46

47Herodes

48I was nevyr meryer here be-forn
49Sythe þat I was fyrst born
50than I am now ryght in þis morn
51in joy I gynne to glyde.
52

53Mors

54Ow I herde a page make preysyng of pride
55all prynces he passyth he wenyth of powste
56he wenyth to be þe wurthyest of all þis werde wyde
57kynge ovyr All kyngys þat page wenyth to be
58He sent into bedlem to seke on every syde
59Cryst for to qwelle yf þei myght hym se
60but of his wykkyd wyl lurdeyn ȝitt he lyede
61goddys sone doth lyve þer is no lorde but he
62Ouer all lordys he is kynge
63I am deth goddys masangere
64All myghty god hath sent me here
65ȝon lordeyn to Sle with-owtyn dwere
66ffor his wykkyd werkynge.
67

68I am sent fro god deth is my name
69All thynge þat is on grownd I welde at my wylle
70both man and beste and byrdys wylde and tame
71Whan þat I come them to . with deth I do them kylle
72Erbe gres and tres stronge . take hem all in same
73ȝa þe grete myghty Okys . with my dent I spylle
74what man þat I wrastele with he xal ryght sone haue schame
75I ȝeve hym such a trepett . he xal evyr more ly stylle

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76Ffor deth kan no sporte
77wher I smyte þer is no grace
78Ffor aftere my strook man hath no space
79to make amendys ffor his trespace
80but god hym graunt comforte
81

82Ow se how prowdely ȝon kaytyff sytt at mete
83of deth hath he no dowte he wenyth to leve evyr-more
84to hym wyl I go and ȝeve hym such An hete
85þat all þe lechis of þe londe his lyf xul nevyr restore
86A-ȝens my dredful dentys it vaylyth nevyr to plete
87or I hym part fro I xal hym make ful pore
88All þe blood of his body I xal hym owt swete
89Ffor now I go to sle hym with strokys sad and sore
90þis tyde
91Bothe hym and his knyghtys all
92I xal hem make to me but thrall
93with my spere sle hem I xall
94and so cast down his pride.
95

96herodes rex

97Now kende knyghtys be mery and glad
98With all good diligens shewe now sum myrth
99Ffor be gracyous mahound more myrth never I had
100ne nevyr more joye was inne from tyme of my byrth
101Ffor now my fo is ded and prendyd as a padde
102aboue me is no kynge . on grownd nere on gerth
103merthis þerfore make ȝe and be ryght no thynge sadde
104spare nother mete nor drynke and spare for no dyrthe
105of wyne nor of brede
106Ffor now am I a kynge alone
107So wurthy as I . may þer be none
108þerfore knyghtys be mery echone
109ffor now my ffo is dede.
110

111ius miles

112Whan þe boys sprawlyd at my sperys hende
113by sathanas oure syre it was a goodly syght
114A good game it was þat boy for to shende
115þat wolde abene oure kynge and put ȝow from ȝour ryght

116

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117ijus miles

118Now trewly my lorde þe kynge we had ben vn-hende
119and nevyr non of us Able for to be a knyght
120If þat Any of us to hem had ben a frende
121and asavyd Any lyff a-ȝen þi mekyl myght
122Ffrom deth hem to flytt.
123

124herodes rex

125Amonges all þat grett rowthte
126he is ded I haue no dowte
127þerfore menstrell rownd a-bowte
128blowe up a mery fytt.
129

130    Hic dum buccinant mors interficiat herodem et duos milites subito
131et diabolus recipiat eos.
132

133Diabolus

134All oure all oure þis catel is myn
135I xall hem brynge on to my celle
136I xal hem teche pleys fyn
137and showe such myrthe as is in helle
138It were more bettyr Amonges swyn
139þat evyr more stynkyn þer be to dwelle
140ffor in oure logge is so gret peyn
141þat non erthely tonge can telle
142with ȝow I go my way
143I xal ȝow bere forth with me
144and shewe ȝow sportys of oure gle
145of oure myrthis now xal ȝe se
146and evyr synge welawey.
147

148Mors

149Off kynge herowde all men beware
150þat hath rejoycyd in pompe and pryde
151Ffor all his boste of blysse ful bare
152he lyth now ded here on his syde
153Ffor whan I come I can not spare
154Fro me no whyht may hym hyde
155now is he ded and cast in care
156In helle pytt evyr to A-byde
157his lordchep is al lorn

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158Now is he as pore as I
159wormys mete is his body
160his sowle in helle ful peynfully
161of develis is al to-torn.
162

163All men dwellyng upon þe grownde
164Be-ware of me be myn councel
165Ffor feynt felachep in me is fownde
166I kan no curtesy as I ȝow tel
167Ffor be a man nevyr so sownde
168of helth in herte nevyr so wel
169I come sodeynly with-in a stownde
170me with-stande may no castel
171my jurnay wyl I spede.
172of my comyng no man is ware
173Ffor when men make most mery fare
174þan sodeynly I cast hem in care
175and sle hem evyn in dede.
176

177Thow I be nakyd and pore of array
178and wurmys knawe me al a-bowte
179ȝit loke ȝe drede me nyth and day
180Ffor whan deth comyth ȝe stande in dowte
181Evyn lyke to me as I ȝow say
182shull all ȝe be here in þis rowte
183Whan I ȝow chalange at my day
184I xal ȝow make ryght lowe to lowth
185and nakyd for to be
186Amonges wormys as I ȝow telle
187Vndyr þe erth xul ȝe dwelle
188and thei xul Etyn both flesch and felle
189As þei haue don me.

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190

HIC DE MULIERE IN ADULTERIO DEPREHENSA. NOLO MORTEM
191PECCATORIS.


192

193Jhesus

194Man for þi synne take repentaunce
195If þou amende þat is amys
196Than hevyn xal be þin herytaunce
197Thow þou haue don Aȝens god grevauns
198ȝett mercy to haske loke þou be bolde
199his mercy doth passe in trewe balauns
200All cruel jugement be many folde.

201

page 201


202thow þat ȝour synnys be nevyr so grett
203Ffor hem be sad and aske mercy
204sone of my ffadyr grace ȝe may gett
205with þe leste teer wepynge owte of ȝour ey
206My ffadyr me sent the man to bye
207All þi Raunsom my-sylfe must pay
208Ffor loue of þe my-sylfe wyl dye
209Iff þou aske mercy I sey nevyr nay.
210

211In to þe erth ffrom hevyn A-bove
212þi sorwe to sese and joye to restore
213man I cam down all ffor þi loue
214Loue me ageyn I aske no more
215þow þou mys-happe and synne ful sore
216ȝit turne Aȝen and mercy craue
217it is þi fawte and þou be lore
218haske þou mercy and þou xalt haue.
219

220Vppon þi neybore be not vengabyl
221Ageyn þe lawe if he offende
222lyke as he is þou art vnstabyl
223thyn owyn frelte evyr þou attende
224Euer more þi neybore helpe to Amende
225evyn as þou woldyst he xulde þe
226Ageyn hym wrath if þou accende
227the same in happ wyll falle on the.
228

229Eche man to othyr be mercyable
230And mercy he xal haue at nede
231What man of mercy is not tretable
232Whan he askyth mercy he xal not spede
233Mercy to graunt I com in dede
234Who so Aske mercy he xal haue grace
235Lett no man dowte for his mysdede
236But evyr Aske mercy whyl he hath space.
237

238Scriba

239Alas Alas oure Lawe is lorn
240A fals Ypocryte jhesu be name
241þat of a sheppherdis dowtyr was born
242Wyl breke oure lawe and make it lame
243he wyl us werke ryght mekyl shame

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244his fals purpos if he up-holde
245all oure lawys he doth defame
246þat Stynkynge beggere is woundyr bolde.
247

248Phariseus

249Sere scrybe in feyth þat ypocryte
250wyl turne þis londe al to his lore
251þerfore I councell . hym to indyte
252And chastyse hym ryght wel þerfore.
253

254Scriba

255On hym be-leve many A score
256In his prechynge he is so gay
257Ech man hym ffolwygh ever more and more
258Aȝens þat he seyth no man seyth nay.
259

260Phariseus

261A Ffals qwarel if we cowde feyne
262þat ypocrite to puttyn in blame
263All his prechynge xulde sone disteyne
264and than his wurchepp xuld turne to shame
265with sum falshede to spyllyn his name
266lett vs assay his lore to spylle
267þe pepyl with hym yff we cowde grame
268than xulde we sone haue al oure wyll.
269

270Accusator

271Herke sere pharysew and sere scrybe
272A ryght good sporte I kan ȝow telle
273I vndyr-take þat ryght a good brybe
274We all xul haue to kepe councell
275A fayre ȝonge qwene here-by doth dwelle
276both ffresch and gay upon to loke
277And a tall man with here doth melle
278the wey in to hyre chawmere ryght evyn he toke.
279

280lett us thre now go streyte thedyr
281the wey fful evyn I xall ȝow lede
282and we xul take them both to-gedyr
283Whyll þat þei do þat synful dede.
284

285Scriba

286Art þou sekyr þat we xal spede
287Shall we hym fynde whan we cum there.
288

289Accusator

290be my trowth I haue no drede
291þe hare fro þe fforme we xal a-rere.

292

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293Phariseus

294We xal haue game and þis be trewe
295lete us thre werke by on Assent
296We wyl here brynge evyn be-forn jhesu
297and of here lyff þe truth present
298How in advowtrye hyre lyff is lent
299Than hym be-forn whan she is browth
300We xul hym Aske þe trew jugement
301What lawfull deth to here is wrouth.
302

303Of grace and mercy hevyr he doth preche
304And þat no man xulde be vengeable
305Ageyn þe woman if he sey wrech
306Than of his prechynge he is vnstable
307And if we fynde hym varyable
308of his prechynge þat he hath tawth
309than haue we cawse bothe juste and Able
310Ffor a fals man þat he be cawth.
311

312Scriba

313Now be grete god ȝe sey fful well
314If we hym fyndyn in varyaunce
315We haue good reson as ȝe do tell
316Hym for to brynge to foule myschauns
317If he holde stylle his dalyauns
318and preche of mercy hire for to saue
319than haue we mater of gret substauns
320hym for to kylle and putt in graue.
321

322Grett reson why I xal ȝow telle
323Ffor moyses doth bydde in oure lawe
324that Euery Advowterere we xuld qwelle
325and ȝitt with stonys thei xulde be slawe
326Ageyn moyses if þat he drawe
327þat Synful woman with grace to helpe
328he xal nevyr skape out of oure Awe
329but he xal dye lyke a dogge whelpe.
330

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331Accusator

332ȝe tary ovyr longe serys I sey ȝow
333they wyl sone parte as þat I gesse
334þerfore if ȝe wyl haue ȝour pray now
335lete us go take them in here whantownnesse.
336

337Phariseus

338Goo þou be-forn þe wey to dresse
339We xal þe ffolwe with-in short whyle
340Iff þat we may þat quene dystresse
341I hope we xal jhesu be-gyle.
342

343Scriba

344Breke up þe dore and go we inne
345Sett to þe shuldyr with all þi myght
346We xal hem take evyn in here synne
347here owyn trespas shal þem indite.
348

349    hic juuenis quidam extra currit indeploydo calligis non ligatis et
350braccas in manu tenens et dicit accusator
351

352Accusator

353Stow þat harlot sum erthely wyght
354that in advowtrye here is ffownde.
355

356Juuenis

357ȝiff Any man stow me þis nyth
358I xal ȝeve a dedly wownde.
359

360If Any man my wey doth stoppe
361or we departe ded xal I be
362I xal þis daggare putt in his croppe
363I xal hym kylle or he xal me.
364

365Phariseus

366Grett goddys curse mut go with the
367With suche a shrewe wyll I not melle.
368

369Juuenes

370That same blyssynge I ȝyff ȝow thre
371And qwheth ȝow alle to þe devyl of helle.
372

373In feyth I was so sore affrayd
374Of ȝone thre shrewys þe sothe to say
375my breche be nott ȝett well up-teyd
376I had such hast to renne A-way

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377Thei xal nevyr cacche me in such affray
378I am full glad þat I am gon
379Adewe Adewe a xxti devyl way
380and goddys curse haue ȝe every-chon.
381

382Scriba

383Come forth þou stotte com forth þou scowte
384com forth þou bysmare and brothel bolde
385com forth þou hore and stynkynge bych clowte
386how longe hast þou such harlotry holde.
387

388Phariseus

389Com forth þou quene com forth þou scolde
390com forth þou sloveyn com forth þou slutte
391we xal the tecche with carys colde
392A lytyl bettyr to kepe þi kutte.
393

394Mulyer

395A mercy mercy serys I ȝow pray
396Ffor goddys loue haue mercy on me
397of my mys-levynge me not be-wray
398haue mercy on me for charyte.
399

400Accusator

401Aske us no mercy it xal not be
402We xul so ordeyn ffor þi lott
403þat þou xalt dye for þin Advowtrye
404Þerfore com forth þou stynkynge stott.
405

406Mulier

407Serys my wurchepp if ȝe wyl saue
408And helpe I haue non opyn shame
409bothe gold and sylvyr ȝe xul haue
410So þat in clennes ȝe kepe my name.
411

412Scriba

413Mede ffor to take we were to blame
414to save suche stottys it xal not be
415We xal brynge the to suche a game
416þat all advowtererys xul lern be the.
417

418Mulier

419Stondynge ȝe wyl not graunt me grace
420but for my synne þat I xal dye
421I pray ȝow kylle me here in þis place
422and lete not þe pepyl up-on me crye
423If I be sclaundryd opynly

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424to all my frendys it xul be shame
425I pray ȝow kylle me prevyly
426lete not þe pepyl know my defame.
427

428Phariseus

429Ffy on þe scowte þe devyl þe qwelle
430Ageyn þe lawe xul we þe kyll
431Ffyrst xal hange þe . þe devyl of helle
432or we such folyes xulde ffulfyll
433thow it lyke þe nevyr so ill
434be-fforn þe prophete þou xalt haue lawe
435lyke as moyse doth charge ut tyll
436With grett stonys þou xalt be slawe.
437

438Accusator

439Com forth a-pase þou stynkynge scowte
440be-fore þe prophete þou were þis day
441or I xal ȝeue þe such a clowte
442þat þou xalt fall down evyn in þe way.
443

444Scriba

445now be grett god and I þe pay
446Such a buffett I xal þe take
447þat all þe teth I dare wel say
448with-inne þin heed ffor who xul shake.
449

450Phariseus

451Herke sere prophete we all ȝow pray
452to gyff trewe dom and just sentence
453Vpon þis woman which þis same day
454In synfull advowtery hath don offense.
455

456    hic ihesus dum isti accusant mulierem continue debet digito suo
457scribere in terra.
458

459Accusator

460Se we haue brought here to ȝour presens
461be-cawse ȝe ben a wyse prophete
462þat ȝe xal telle be consyens
463What deth to hyre ȝe thynke most mete.
464

465Scriba

466In moyses lawe ryght þus we fynde
467þat such fals louers xul be slayn
468streyte to a stake we xul hem bynde
469and with grett stonys brest out þer brayn

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470Of ȝour concyens telle us þe playn
471with þis woman what xal be wrought
472Shall we lete here go qwyte agayn
473or to hire deth xal she be brought.
474

475    Jhesus nichil respondit sed semper scrybyt in terra.
476

477Mulier

478Now holy prophete be mercyable
479vpon me wrecch take no vengeaunce
480Ffor my synnys Abhomynable
481In hert I haue grett repentaunce
482I am wel wurthy to haue myschaunce
483Both bodyly deth and werdly shame
484but gracyous prophete of socurraunce
485þis tyme pray ȝow for goddys name.
486

487Phariseus

488Ageyn þe lawe þou dedyst offens
489þerfore of grace speke þou no more
490As moyses gevyth in law sentens
491þou xalt be stonyd to deth þer-fore.
492

493Accusator

494Ha don sere prophete telle us ȝoure lore
495xul we þis woman with stonys kyll
496or to hire hous hire home restore
497In þis mater tell us ȝour wyll.
498

499Scriba

500In a colde stodye me thynkyth ȝe sytt
501good sere awake telle us ȝour thought
502xal she be stonyd telle us ȝour wytt
503or in what rewle xal sche be brought.
504

505Jhesus

506Loke which of ȝow þat nevyr synne wrought
507but is of lyff clennere þan she
508Cast at here stonys and spare here nowght
509Clene out of synne if þat ȝe be.
510

511    hic ihesus iterum se inclinans scribet in terra et omnes accusatores
512quasi confusi separatim in tribus locis se disiungent;

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513Phariseus

514Alas Alas I am ashamyd
515I am a-fferde þat I xal deye
516all myn synnys evyn propyrly namyd
517ȝon prophyte dede wryte be-for myn eye
518Iff þat my felawys þat dude Aspye
519they wyll telle it bothe ffer and wyde
520my synfyll levynge if þei out crye
521I wot nevyr wher myn heed to hyde.
522

523Accusator

524Alas for sorwe myn herte doth blede
525All my synnes ȝon man dude wryte
526If þat my felawys to them toke hede
527I kan not me ffrom deth Acquyte
528I wolde I wore hyd sum-where out of syght
529þat men xuld me no-where se ne knowe
530Iff I be take I am afflyght
531In mekyl shame I xal be throwe.
532

533Scriba

534Alas þe tyme þat þis be-tyd
535Ryght byttyr care doth me enbrace
536All my synnys be now vnhyd
537ȝon man be-for me hem all doth trace
538If I were onys out of þis place
539to suffyr deth gret and vengeauns Able
540I wyl nevyr come be-for his face
541þow I xuld dye in a stable.
542

543Mulier

544Thow I be wurthy ffor my trespas
545to suffyr deth ab-homynable
546ȝitt holy prophete of ȝour hyȝ grace
547In ȝour jugement be mercyable
548I wyl nevyr more be so vnstable
549O holy prophete graunt me mercy
550of myn synnys vnresonable
551With all myn hert I am sory.
552

553Jhesus

554Where be þi fomen þat dude þe Accuse
555Why haue þei left us to Alone.

556

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557Mulier

558By-cawse they cowde nat hemself excuse
559With shame they ffled hens Euery-chone
560But gracyous prophete lyst to my mone
561of my sorwe take compassyon
562now all myn enmyes hens be gone
563Sey me sum wurde of consolacion.
564

565Jhesus

566Ffor þo synnys þat þou hast wrought
567hath Any man condempnyd the.
568

569Mulier

570Nay for-soth þat hath þer nought
571but in ȝour grace I putt me.
572

573Jhesus

574Ffor me þou xalt nat condempnyd be
575go hom A-geyn and walk at large
576loke þat þou leve in honeste
577and wyl no more to synne I þe charge.
578

579Mulier

580I thanke ȝow hyȝly holy prophete
581Of þis grett grace ȝe haue me graunt
582all my lewde lyff I xal doun lete
583and ffonde to be goddys trewe servaunt.
584

585Jhesus

586What man of synne be repentaunt
587of god if he wyl mercy craue
588God of mercy is so habundawnt
589þat what man haske it he xal it haue.
590

591Whan man is contrite and hath wonne grace
592God wele not kepe olde wreth in mynde
593but bettyr loue to hem he has
594Very contryte whan he them fynde
595Now god þat dyed ffor all mankende
596saue all þese pepyl both nyght and day
597and of oure synnys he us vnbynde
598hyȝe lorde of hevyn þat best may.