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1us vexillat[or]
Now gracyous god groundyd of all goodnesse
as þi grete glorie nevyr be-gynning had
So þou socour and saue all þo þat sytt and sese
and lystenyth to oure talkyng with sylens stylle and sad
Ffor we purpose us pertly stylle in þis prese
þe pepyl to plese with pleys ful glad
now lystenyth us louely bothe more and lesse
Gentyllys and ȝemanry of goodly lyff lad
þis tyde
we xal ȝou shewe as þat we kan
how þat þis werd ffyrst be-gan
and how god made bothe molde and man
Iff þat ȝe wyl a[byde.]

2us vexilla[tor]
In þe ffyrst pagent we þenke to play
how god dede make þurowe his owyn myth
hevyn so clere upon þe fyrst day
and þer in he sett Angell fful bryth
Than Angell with songe þis is no nay
xal worchep god as it is ryth
but lucyfer þat Angell so gay
in suche pompe þan is he pyth
and set in so gret pride
þat goddys sete he gynnyth to take
hese lordys pere hym self to make
but þan he ffallyth a ffend ful blake
ffrom hevyn in helle to a[byde.]


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3us vexill[ator]
In þe secunde pagent by godys myth
we þenke to shewe and pley be-dene
in þe other sex days by opyn syth
what þenge was wrought þer xal be sene
How best was made and foule of flyth
and last was man made as I wene
Of mannys o ryb as I ȝow plyth
was woman wrought mannys make to bene
and put in paradyse
Ther were flourys bothe blewe and blake
of all frutys þei myth þer take
Saff frute of cunnyng þei xulde for-sake
And towche it no wyse.
The Serpent toke Eve an Appyl to byte
and Eve toke Adam a mursel of þe same
whan þei had do þus a-ȝens þe rewle of ryte
than was oure lord wroth and grevyd al with grame
Oure lord gan appose þem of þer gret debyte
both to Askuse hem of þat synful blame
and þan almythy god ffor þat gret dyspite
Assygned hem grevous peyn as ȝe xal se in game
In dede
Seraphyn An Angell gay
with brennyng swerd þis is verray
From paradise bete hem a-way
in bybyl as we rede.

1us vexillator
We purpose to shewe in þe thryd pagent
the story of Caym and of hese brother Abelle
of here tythyngys now be we bent
In þis pagent þe trewth to telle
How þe tythyng of Abel with feyr was brent
and accept to god yf ȝe wyl dwelle
We purpose to shewe as we haue ment
and how he was kyllyd of his brother so felle
And than
how Caym was cursyd in al degre

3

of godys owyn mowthe þer xal ȝe se
of trewe tythyng þis may wel be
exawple to every man.

2us vexilator
The iijd e pagent is now ȝow tolde
þe ffourte pagent of Noe xal be
how god was wroth with man on molde
because fro synne man dede not fle
He sent to Noe An Angel bolde
A shyp ffor to makyn and swymmen on þe se
vpon þe water both wood and coolde
And viij sowles þer savyd xulde be
And i peyre of everich bestys in brynge
whan xlt i days þe flode had fflowe
þan sente Noe out a crowe
and After hym he sent a dowe
þat brouth ryth good tydyng.

3us vexil[lator]
Of Abraham is þe fyfte pagent
and of ysaac his sone so fre
how þat he xulde with fere be brent
and slayn with swerd as ȝe xal se
Abraham toke with good A-tent
his sone ysaac and knelyd on kne
his suerd was than ful redy bent
and thouth his chylde þer offered xuld be
Vpon An hyll full Ryff
than god toke tent to his good wyl
and sent An Angel ryth sone hym tyl
and bad Abraham a shep to kyl
And sauyd his chyldys lyff.

1us vexil[lator]
The sexte pagent is of Moyses
and of tweyn tabelys þat god hym took
in þe which were wrete with-out les
þe lawes of god to lerne and lok
and how god charged hym be wordys these
þe lawes to lerne al of þat book
Moyses than doth nevyr more sese

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but prechyth duly bothe ȝere and woke
The lawes as I ȝow telle
þe ten comaundementys alle be-dene
In oure play ȝe xal hem sene
to alle þo þat þere wyl bene
If þat ȝe thenke to duelle.

2us vexillator
Off þe gentyl Jesse rote
þe sefnt pagent for sothe xal ben
out of þe which doth sprynge oure bote
as in prophecye we redyn and sen
Kyngys and prophetys with wordys fful sote
Schull prophesye al of a qwen
Þe which xal staunch oure stryff and moote
And wynnen us welthe with-outyn wen
In hevyn to Abyde
they xal prophecye of a mayde
All ffendys of here xal be Affrayde
here sone xal saue us be not dismayde
With hese woundys wyde.

3us vexillator
Of þe grete bushop Abyacar
þe tende pagent xal be with-out lesyng
þe which comaundyth men to be war
and brynge here douterys to dew weddyng
All þat ben xiiij ȝere and more
to Maryage he byddyth hem bryng
wher evyr þei be he chargyth sore
Þat þei not ffayle for no lettyng
Þe lawe byddyth so than
Than Joachym and anne so mylde
Þei brynge forthe mary þat blyssyd chylde
but she wold not be de-fylyde
with spot nor wem of man.
I chastyte þat blysful mayde
A-vowyd there here lyff to lede

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þan is þe busshop sore dysmayde
And wonderyth sore al of þis dede
he knelyd to god as it is sayde
and prayth than for help and rede
þan seyth an Angel be not a-frayde
of þis dowte take þou no drede
but for þe kynrede of dauyd þou sende
lete hem come with here offryng
And in here handys white ȝerdys brynge
loke whose ȝerde doth ffloure and sprynge
And he xal wedde þat mayden hende.

1us vexillator
In þe xt e pagent sothe to say
A masangere fforthe is sent
Dauyd is kynrede with-out de-lay
they come fful sone with good Entent
Whan joseph offeryd his ȝerde þat day
Anon ryth fforth in present
þe ded styk do floure fful gay
and þan joseph to wedlok went
Ryth as þe Angel bad
Than he plyth to his wyff
In chastyte to ledyn here lyff
þe busshop toke here iij maydonys ryff
Som comforte þere she had.

2us vexillator
In þe xid e pagent goth Gabryell
And doth salute oure lady ffre
Than grett with chylde as I ȝow tell
þat blyssyd mayde for sothe is she
þo iij maydenys þat with here dwelle
here gret spech but noon þei se
than they suppose þat sum Angell
goddys masangere þat it xuld be
And thus
Þe holy gost in here is lyth

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and goddys sone in here is pygth
þe Aungell doth telle what he xal hyght
And namyth þe chylde jhesus.

3us vexillator
In þe xij pagent as I ȝow telle
Joseph comyth hom fro fer countre
Oure ladyes wombe with chylde doth swelle
and þan joseph ful hevy is he
He doth forsake here with hert ful felle
out of countre he gynnyth to fle
he nevyr more thenkyth with here to dwelle
and than oure lady ryth sore wepyth she
An Angell seyd hym ryf
god is with þi wyff sertayn
þerfore Joseph turne hom a-gayn
þan is Joseph in herte ful fayn
And goth a-geyn onto his wyff.

1us vexillator
The xiiijt e pagent I sey ȝow be-dene
xal be of joseph and mylde mary
how they were sclawndryd with trey and tene
and to here purgacion þei must hem hy.

2us vexillator
In þe xv pagent shewe we xal
how joseph went with-oute varyauns
for mydwyuys to helpe oure lady at all
of childe that she had delyuerauns.

3us vexillator
In þe xvj pagent Cryst xal be born
of þat joy Aungelys xul synge
and telle þe shepherdys in þat morn
the blysseful byrth of þat kyng

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The shepherdys xal come hym be-fforn
with reuerens and with worchepyng
ffor he xal sauyn þat was for-lorn
and graunt us lyf evyr more lestyng
i-wys
þis gle in gryth
is mater of myrth
now crystys byrth
Bryng us to his blys.

1us vexillator
The xvt e pagent come kyngys iii
with gold myrre and ffrankynsens
kyng herowdys styward hem doth se
And bryngyth all to his presens
The kyngys of Coleyn with hert ful ffre
tolde kyng herownde here dylygens
that þei south in þat countre
A kyng of kyngys ffrom fere thens
A sterre led hem þe way
The Chylde is ȝoung and lyth in stall
he xal be kyng of kyngys all
beffore hym we thynk on kne to fall
And worchep hym þis day.

2us vexillator
In þe xvi pagent as wroth as wynde
is kyng herownde þe soth to say
And cruel knytys and vn-kende
to sle male chylderyn he sendyth þat day
But cryst jhesu þei may not ffynde
Ffor joseph hath led þat childe away
Vnto Egypth as we haue mende
As Angel to joseph dyd byd and say
In hyȝht
þo chylderyn þat syt in here moderys lap
to sowkyn ful swetly here moderys pap
þe knythtys do sle hem euyn at A swap
þis is a rewly syth.


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3us vexillator
In þe xvii pagent þe knythtys be-dene
Shull brynge dede childeryn be-for þe kyng
whan kyng herownde þat syth hath sene
fful glad he is of here kyllyng
Than kyng herownde with-owtyn wene
is sett to mete at his lykyng
in his most pride xal come gret tene
As ȝe xal se at oure pleyng
his sorwe xal a-wake
whan he is sett at hese most pryde
Sodeyn deth xal thrylle his syde
and kylle his knyttys þat with hym byde
þe devyl þer soulys xal take.

1us vexillator
In þe xviii pagent we must purpose
to shewe whan cryst was xij ȝer of Age
how in þe temple he dede appose
and answerd doctoris ryth wyse and sage
The blyssyd babe with-owte glose
ouer cam olde clerkys with suych langage
þat þei meveylyd ȝe xal suppose
how þat he cam to suche knowlage
and in þis whyle
thre days he was oute
ffro his modyr with-out doute
wepyng she sowth hym rownde aboute
jherusalem many a myle.

2us vexillator
in þe xix pagent xal seynt jhon
baptyse cryst as I ȝow say
in þe watyr of flom jordon
with which devys as we best may
The holy gost xal ouyr hym on
þe ffaderys voys xal be herd þat day
out of hevyn þat blisful tron
þe fadyr xal be herd þis is no nay
and forth with pleyn
þe holy gost xal be his gyde
in to desert þer-in to A-byde

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xlt i days A terme ful wyde
and xlt i nygthtys to faste sarteyn.

3us vexillator
in þe xxt i pagent all þe deuelys of helle
they gadere a parlement as ȝe xal se
they haue gret doute þe trewth to telle
Of cryst jhesu whath he xulde be
They Sende Ssathan þat Ffynde so Ffelle
Cryst for to tempte in fele degre
We xal ȝow shewe if ȝe wyl dwelle
How cryst was temptyd in synnys thre
Of þe devyl sathan
And how cryst Answeryd on to Alle
and made þe fende awey to falle
As we best may þis shewe we xalle
Thorwe grace of god and man

1us vexillator
The xxit i pagent of a woman xal be
þe which was take in Adultrye
The pharysewys ffalsed þer ȝe xal se
Cryst to convycte how they were slye
they conseyvyd þis sotylte
yf cryst þis woman dede dampne trewly
A-geyn his prechyng than dede he
Which was of pete and of mercy
And yf he dede here save
þan were he A-ȝens moyses lawe
þat byddyth with stonys she xulde be slawe
þus they thowth vndyr þer Awe
Cryst jhesu for to haue.

2us vexillator
The grettest meracle þat evyr jhesus
In erthe wrouth be-forn his passyon
In xxiit i pagent we purpose vs
to shewe in dede þe declaracion
þat pagent xal be of lazarus
In whos place and habytacion
Cryst was logyd þe gospel seyth thus

10

and ofte tyme toke þer consolacion
but ȝyt
Lazarus As I ȝow say
was iiij days ded and beryed in clay
ffrom deth to lyve þe iiijt e day
Cryst reysed hym ffrom þat pyt.

3us vexillator
In þe xxiijt i pagent palme sunday
in pley we purpose ffor to shewe
how chylderyn of Ebrew with flowrys ful gay
þe wey þat cryst went þei gun to strewe

1us vexillator
In þe xxiiijt i pagent as þat we may
cryst and his apostelys alle on rewe
the mawnde of god þer xal they play
and sone declare it with wordys ffewe
And than
Judas þat fals traytour
ffor xxxt i platys of werdly tresour
xal be-tray oure savyour
to þe jewys certan.

2us vexillator
ffor grevous peyn þis is no les
in þe xxvt i pagent cryst xal pray
to þe fadyr of hevyn þat peyn for to ses
his shamful deth to put Away
Judas þat traytour be-for gret pres
xal kys his mouth and hym be-tray
All his dyscyples than do dyscres
and forsake cryst þe soth to say
ffor doute þei do hem hede
hese dyscyplys all every-chon
do renne awey and leve hym alon
they lete hym stondyn amonge his ffon
And ronne Away ffor drede.

3us vex[illator]
Than in þe xxvjt i pagent
to Cayphas cryst xal be brouth

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þo jewys fful redy þer xul be bent
Cryst to Acuse with worde and thouth
Seynt petyr doth folwe with good intent
to se with cryst what xuld be wrouth
Ffor crystys dyscyple whan he is hent
thryes he doth swere he knew hym nowth
A kok xal crowe and crye
Than doth petyr gret sorwe make
Ffor he his lord þus dede for-sake
But god to grace hym sone doth take
Whan he doth aske mercye.

1us vexillator
In þe xxvij pagent sere Pylat
Is sett in sete as hy justyce
Whan he is set in his astat
thre thevys be brout of synful gyse
And cryst þat louyd nevyr stryff nor bat
but trewth and goodnesse on every wyse
as for a thef with ryth gret hat
is browth to stondyn at þat same syse
And þan as I ȝow say
coveryd with clothis al of þe best
the Wyff of Pylat goth to rest
Than for to slepe she is ful prest
All þis we thenke to play.

2us vexillator
in þe xxviijt i pagent xal judas
þat was to cryst a ffals traytour
with wepyng sore evyr crye Alas
þat evyr he solde oure savyour
He xal be sory ffor his trespas
And brynge a-ȝen all his tresour
all xxx pens to sere Cayphas
he xal them brynge with gret dolowre
Ffor þe which cryst was bowth
Ffor gret whanhope as ȝe xal se
he hangyth hym self vpon a tre
Ffor he noth trostyth in godys pete
to helle his sowle is browth.


12

3us vexillator
In þe xxix pagent to Pylatus Wyff
in slepe aperyth þe devyl of helle
ffor to savyn crystys lyff
The devyl here temptyth as I ȝow telle
Sche sendyth to pylat a-non ful ryff
And prayth þat cryst he xuld not qwelle
þan pylat is besy and ryth blyff
cryst for to savyn he ȝevyth councelle
ffor he dede neuyr trespas
The jewys do crye fast ffor to kylle
the rythful man þei aske to spylle
A thef þei saue with herty wylle
þat Callyd is barrabas.

1us vexillator
In þe xxxt i pagent þei bete out crystys blood
And nayle hym al nakyd upon a rode tre
betwen ij thevys i-wys they were to wood
they hyng cryst jhesu gret shame it is to se
vii wurdyes cryst spekyth hangyng upon þe rode
þe weche ȝe xal here all þo þat wyl þer be
þan doth he dye ffor oure allether good
his modyr doth se þat syth gret mornyng makyth she
Ffor sorwe she gynneth to swowne
Seynt johan Evyn þer as I ȝow plyth
doth chere oure lady with al his myth
And to þe temple anon forth ryth
he ledyth here in þat stownde.

2us vexillator
we purpose to shewe in oure pleyn place
in þe xxxjt i pagent þorwe godys myth
how to crystys herte a spere gan pace
and rent oure lordys bryst in ruly plyth
Ffor longeus þat olde knyth blynd as he was
A ryth sharpe spere to cristys herte xal pyth

13

þe blod of his wounde to his eyn xal tras
and þorwe gret meracle þer hath he syth
Than in þat morn
crystys soule goth down to helle
and þer ovyr comyth þe fende so felle
comfortyth þe soulys þat þer in dwelle
and savyth þat was fforlorn.

3us vexillator
Joseph and nycodemus to cryst trew servaunt
in þe xxxij page þe body þei Aske to haue
Pylat ful redyly þe body doth hem graunt
þan þei with reverens do put it in grave
þe jewys more wyckyd þan ony geawnt
Ffor crystys ded body kepers do þei craue
pylat sendyth iiij knytys þat be ryth hardaunt
to kepe þe blody body in his dede conclaue
And ȝit be his owyn myth
The body þat was hevy as led
be þe jewys nevyr so qwed
A-ryseth from grave þat þer lay ded
And ffrayth than every knyth.

1us vexillator
in þe xxiij pagent þe soule of cryst jhesu
xal brynge all his ffrendys ffrom helle to paradyse
þe soule goth þan to þe graue and be ryth gret vertu
þat body þat longe ded hath loyn to lyf aȝen doth ryse
Than doth cryst jhesu on to his modyr sew
and comfortyth all here care in temple þer she lyse
with suche cher and comforth his modyr he doth indew
Þat joy it is to here þer spech for to devyse
and than
oure lady of hefne so cler
In herte sche hath ryth glad chere
whan here sone þus doth apere
here care awey is tan.

2us vexillator
in þe xxxiiiit i pagent xal maryes thre

14

seke cryst jhesu in his grave so coolde
An Aungel hem tellyth þat aresyn is he
and whan þat þis tale to them is tolde
To crystys dyscyplis with wurdys fful fre
they telle these tydyngys with brest ful bolde
than petyr and johan as ȝe xal se
down rennyn in hast ouer lond and wolde
The trewth of þis to haue
whan þei þer comyn as I ȝow say
he is gon ffrom vndyr clay
þan þai wytnesse a-noon þat day
he lyth not in his grave.

3us vexillator
On to Mary Mawdelyn as we haue bent
Cryst jhesu xal than Apere
In þe xxxvt i pagent
and she wenyth he be A gardenere
Mary be name verament
Whan cryst here callyth with spech ful clere
She ffallyth to ground with good entent
to kys his fete with gladsom chere
but cryst byddyth here do way
he byddyth his feet þat sche not kys
tyl he haue styed to hefne blys
to crystys dyscyplys mary i-wys
than goth þe trewth to say.

1us vexillator
In þe xxxvjt i pagent xal cleophas
And sent luke to a castel go
Of crystys deth as þei fforth pas
they make gret mornyng and be ful wo
Than cryst þem ovyr-tok as his wyl was
and walkyd in felachep fforth with hem too
to them he doth expowne bothe more and las
all þat prophetys spak ad of hym self Also
that nyth in fay
whan þei be set with-in þe castell

15

In brekyng of bred þei know cryst well
Than sodeynly as I ȝow tell
Cryste is gon his way.

2us vexillator
In þe xxxvijt i pagent þan purpos we
to Thomas of ynde cryst xal apere
And thomas euyn þer as ȝe xal se
xal put his hand in his woundys dere.

3us vexillator
In þe xxxviijt i pagent up stye xal he
in to hefne þat is so clere
All hese Apostele þer xul be
And woundere sore and haue gret dwere
Of þat fferly syth
Þer xal come Aungell tweyn
and comfforte hem þis is certeyn
and tellyn þat he xal comyn ageyn
Evyn by his owyn myth.

1us vexillator
Than ffolwyth next sekyrly
of Wyttsunday þat solempne ffest
whych pagent xal be ix and thretty
to þe apostelys to apere be crystys hest
In hierusalem were gaderyd xij opynly
to þe Cenacle comyng ffrom west and Est
þe holy gost apperyd fful veruently
with brennyng ffere thyrlyng here brest
procedyng from hevyn trone
All maner langage hem spak with tung
latyn grek and Ebrew among
And Affter þei departyd and taryed not long
here deth to take ful sone.

2us vexillator
The xlt i pagent xal be þe last
and domysday þat pagent xal hyth
who se þat pagent may be agast
to grevyn his lord god eyther day or nyth
The erth xal qwake bothe breke and brast

16

beryelys and gravys xul ope ful tyth
ded men xul rysyn and þat þer in hast
And ffast to here ansuere þei xul hem dyth
Beffore godys fface
but prente wyl þis in ȝour mende
Who so to god hath be vnkende
Ffrenchep þer xal he non ffynde
ne þer get he no grace.

3us vexillator
Now haue we told ȝow all be-dene
the hool mater þat we thynke to play
whan þat ȝe come þer xal ȝe sene
this game wel pleyd in good a-ray
Of holy wrytte þis game xal bene
and of no fablys be no way
now god þem save from trey and tene
ffor us þat prayth upon þat day
And qwyte them wel þer mede
A sunday next yf þat we may
At vj of þe belle we gynne oure play
In N. town wherfore we pray
That god now be ȝoure Spede.