 | The Trial of Joseph and Mary |  |
hic intrabit pagetum de purgacione Marie et joseph hic dicit
primus detractor
Secundus detractor
Gramercy brother so haue I blys
I am ful glad we met þis day.
1us detractor
ijus detractor
I am bakbytere þat spyllyth all game
bothe kyd and knowyn in many a place.
1us detractor
be my trowth I seyd þe same
and ȝet sum seyden þou xulde haue evyl grace.
ijus detract[or]
Herk reyse sclaundyr canst þou owth telle
of Any newe thynge þat wrought was late.
1us detract[or]
With-in a short whyle a thynge be-felle
I trowe þou wylt lawhȝ ryght wel þer Ate
Ffor be trowth ryght mekyl hate
If it be wyst þer of wyl growe.
ijus detractor
If I may reyse þer with de-bate
I xal not spare þe seyd to sowe.
1us detractor
Syr in þe tempyl a mayd þer was
calde mayd mary þe trewth to tell
Sche semyd so holy withinne þat plas
men seyd sche was ffedde with holy Aungell
Sche made A vow with man nevyr to melle
but to leve chast and clene virgine
How evyr it be here wombe doth swelle
and is as gret as þinne or myne.
ijus detractor
Ȝa þat old shrewe joseph my trowth I plyght
was so Anameryd upon þat mayd
þat of hyre bewte whan he had syght
He sesyd nat tyll had here a-sayd.
1us detractor
A nay nay wel wers she hath hym payd
Sum fresch ȝonge galaunt she loveth wel more
þat his leggys to here hath leyd
and þat doth greve þe old man sore.
ijus detractor
be my trewth al may wel be
ffor fresch and fayr she is to syght
And such a mursel as semyth me
Wolde cause A ȝonge man to haue delyght.
1us detractor
Such a ȝonge damesel of bewte bryght
And of schap so comely Also
Of hire tayle ofte tyme be lyght
and rygh tekyl vndyr þe too.
ijus detractor
that olde cokolde was evyl be-gylyd
to þat fresche wench whan he was wedde
now muste he faderyn A-nothyr mannys chylde
and with his swynke he xal be fedde.
1us detractor
A ȝonge man may do more chere in bedde
to A ȝonge wench þan may An olde
þat is þe cawse such lawe is ledde
þat many a man is a kokewolde.
hic sedet episcopus Abiȝachar inter duos legis doctores et audientes hanc de-famocionem vocat ad se detractores dicens.
Episcopus
Herke ȝe felawys why speke ȝe such schame
of þat good virgyn ffayr mayd mary
ȝe be a-cursyd so hire for to defame
She þat is of lyff so good and holy
Of hire to speke suche velany
Ȝe make myn hert ful hevy of mood
I charge ȝow sese of ȝoure fals cry
Ffor sche is sybbe of myn owyn blood.
ijus detractor
Syb of þi kyn þow þat she be
all gret with chylde hire wombe doth swelle
Do calle here hedyr þi-self xal se
þat it is trewthe þat I þe telle.
1us detractor
Sere ffor ȝour sake I xal kepe cowncelle
Ȝow for to greve I am ryght loth
But lest syrys lyst what seyth þe belle
Oure fayr mayd now gret with childe goth.
primus doctor legis
Take good heed serys what ȝe doth say
A-vyse ȝow wele what ȝe present
ȝyf þis be fownd fals a-nothyr day
Ful sore ȝe xal ȝour tale repent.
ijus detractor
Sere þe mayd for sothe is good and gent
bothe comely and gay and a fayr wench
And feetly with help sche can consent
to set A cokewolde on þe hye benche.
ijus doctor legis
Ȝe be to besy of ȝour langage
I hope to god ȝow fals to preve
It were gret rewthe she xulde so outrage
or with such synne to myscheve.
Episcopus
Den
Maria
Of god in hevyn I take wyttnes
þat synful werk was nevyr my thought
I am a mayd ȝit of pure clennes
lyke as I was in to þis werd brought.
Den
Othyr wyttnes xal non be sought
þou art with childe eche man may se
I charge ȝow bothe ȝe tary nought
but to þe buschop com forth with me.
Joseph
To þe buschop with ȝow we wende
of oure purgacion hawe we no dowth.
Maria
Almyghty god xal be oure frende
Whan þe trewthe is tryed owth.
Den
1us detractor
To here a credyl and ȝe wolde brynge
Ȝe myght saue mony in here purse
be-cawse she is ȝour cosyn ȝynge
I pray ȝow sere lete here nevyr fare þe wers.
Episcopus
Alas mary what hast þou wrought
I am a schamyd evyn for þi sake
how hast þou chaungyd þin holy thought
dude old joseph with strenght þe take
Or hast þou chosyn a-nother make
by whom þou art þus brought in schame
telle me who hath wrought þis wrake
how hast þou lost þin holy name.
Maria
My name I hope is saff and sownde
god to wyttnes I am a mayd
of ffleschly lust and gostly wownde
In dede nere thought I nevyr a-sayd.
1us doctor legis
how xulde þi wombe þus be arayd
So grettly swollyn as þat it is
but if sum man þe had ovyr-layd
þi wombe xulde never be so gret i-wys.
ijus doctor legis
Herke þou joseph I am afrayd
þat þou hast wrought þis opyn synne
þis woman þou hast þus be-trayd
with gret flaterynge or sum fals gynne.
ijus detractor
Now be myn trowth ȝe hytte þe pynne
with þat purpose in feyth I holde
telle now how þou þus hire dudyst wynne
Ore knowlych þi self ffor a cockewold.
Joseph
Sche is for me a trewe clene mayde
And I for hire am clene Also
of ffleschly synne I nevyr a-sayde
Sythyn þat sch was weddyd me to.
Episcopus
Joseph
I am not gylty as I fyrst tolde
All myghty god I take wytnes.
Episcopus
than þis drynke in hast þou holde
and on processyon anon þe dresse.
hic joseph bibit et sepcies circuiuit altare dicens
Joseph
This drynk I take with meke entent
as I am gyltles to god I pray
Lord as þou art omnypotente
on me þou shewe þe trowth þis day.
modo bibit.
About þis Awtere I take þe way
O gracyous god help þi servaunt
As I am gyltles A-ȝen ȝon may
þin hand of mercy þis tyme me graunt.
Den
This olde shrewe may not wele gon
longe he taryeth to go A-bowth
lyfte up þi feet sett forth þi ton
or be my trewth þou getyst a clowte.
ijus detractor
now sere evyl Thedom com to þi snowte
What heylyght þi leggys now to be lame
þou dedyst hem put ryght freschly owte
Whan þou dedyst pley with ȝon ȝonge dame.
1 detractor
I pray to god gyf hym myschawns
hese leggys here do folde for Age
but with þis damysel whan he dede dawns
þe olde charle had ryght gret corage.
Den
The shrewe was þan sett in a dotage
and had good lust þat tyme to pleyn
ȝaff sche not ȝow cawdel to potage
whan ȝe had don to comforte ȝour brayn.
Joseph
A gracyous god help me þis tyde
ageyn þis pepyl þat me doth fame
as I nevyr more dede towch here syde
þis day help me fro werdly schame
A-bowte þis awtere to kepe my fame
vij tymes I haue gon rownd abowte
If I be wurthy to suffyr blame
O ryghtful god my synne shewe owughte.
Episcopus
Joseph with hert thank god þi lorde
Whos heyȝ mercy doth the excuse
Ffor þi purgacion we xal recorde
With hyre of synne þou dedyst never muse
But Mary þi-self mayst not refuse
All grett with chylde we se þe stonde
What mystyr man dede þe mys-vse
Why hast þou synned Ageyn þin husbonde.
Maria
I trespacyd nevyr with erthely wyght
Þer of I hope þurowe goddys sonde
Here to be purgyd be-fore ȝour syght
Ffrom all synne clene lyke as myn husbonde
Take me þe botel out of ȝour honde
Here xal I drynke be-forn ȝour face
A-bowth þis Awtere than xal I fonde
Vij tymes to go by godys grace.
1us doctor legis
Se þis bolde bysmare wolde presume
Ageyn god to preve his myght
þow goddys vengeauns hyre xuld consume
Sche wyl not telle hyre fals delyght
þou art with chylde we se in syght
to us þi wombe þe doth accuse
þer was nevyr woman ȝitt in such plyght
þat ffrom mankynde hyre kowde excuse.
1us detractor
in Ffeyth I suppose þat þis woman slepte
With-owtyn all coverte whyll þat it dede snowe
And a flake þer of in to hyre mowthe crepte
and þer of þe chylde in hyre wombe doth growe.
ijus detractor
Than be-ware dame for this is wel i-knowe
whan it is born yf þat þe sunne shyne
it wyl turne to watyr ageyn as I trowe
ffor snow on to watyr doth evyr more reclyne.
ijus doctor legis
with goddys hyȝ myght loke þou not jape
of þi purgacion wel þe Avyse
yf þou be gylty þou mayst not schape
be-ware evyr of god þat ryghtful justyce
if god with vengeauns set on þe his syse
not only þou but all þi kyn is schamyd
bettyr it is to telle þe trewth devyse
than god for to greve and of hym be gramyd.
Maria
I trostyn in his grace I xal hym nevyr greve
his servaunt I am in worde dede and thought
A mayd vndefyled I hope he xal me preve
I pray ȝow lett me nought.
Episcopus
Maria
to god in þis case my cawse I haue be-taught
lorde thorwe þin helpe I drynke of þis potacyon.
hic beata uirgo bibit de potacione et postea circuiuit altare dicens
Maria
Episcopus
Almyghty god what may þis mene
Ffor all þe drynke of goddys potacyon
þis woman with chylde is fayr and clene
with-owtyn fowle spotte or maculacion
I can nat be non ymagynacion
Preve hyre gylty and synful of lyff
it shewith opynly by here purgacion
Sche is clene mayde bothe modyr and wyff.
1us detracto[r]
Be my fadyr sowle here is gret gyle
be-cawse sche is syb of ȝour kynreed
þe drynk is chaungyd by sum fals wyle
þat sche no shame xuld haue þis steed.
Episcopus
Be-cawse þou demyst þat we do falshede
and for þou dedyst hem fyrst defame
þou xalt ryght here magre þin heed
beforn all þis pepyl drynk of þe same.
1us detractor
Syr in good ffeyth oo draught I pulle
If these to drynkerys haue not All spent.
hic bibit et scenciens dolorem in capite cadit et dicit
Out out Alas what heylith my sculle
A myn heed with ffyre me thynkyht is brent
Mercy good mary I do me repent
of my cursyd and ffals langage.
Maria
Now god lord in hevyn omnypotent
of his gret mercy ȝour seknes aswage.
Episcopus
We all on knes fall here on grownd
þou goddys hande-mayd prayng for grace
all cursyd langage and schame on sownd
good mary ffor-ȝeve us here in þis place.
Maria
Now god for-ȝeve ȝow all ȝowre trespace
and also for-ȝeve ȝow all defamacion
þat ȝe haue sayd both more and lesse
to myn hynderawnce and maculacion.
Episcopus
Now blyssyd virgyne we thank ȝow alle
of ȝoure good hert and gret pacyens
we wyl go with ȝow hom to ȝour halle
to do ȝow servys with hyȝ reverens
Maria
I thank ȝow hertyly of ȝoure benevolens
On to ȝour owyn hous I pray ȝow ȝe goo
and take þis pepyl hom with ȝow hens
I am not dysposyd to passyn hens froo.
Episcopus
Than ffare wel mayden and pure virgyne
fare wel trewe hand-mayd of god in blys
we all to ȝow lowly inclyne
and take oure leve of ȝow as wurthy is.
Maria
All myghty god ȝour weys wys se
Ffor þat hyȝ lord is most of myght
he mote ȝow spede þat ȝe not mys
In hevyn of hym to haue A syght.
Joseph
Honouryd in hevyn be þat hyȝ lord
whos endles grace is so habundaunt
þat he doth shewe þe trewe recorde
of iche wyhgte þat is his trewe servaunt
That lord to wurchepe with hert plesaunt
we bothe be bownd ryght on þis place
which oure purgacyon us dyde graunt
and prevyd us pure by hieȝ grace.
Maria
Ffor sothe good spowse I thank hym hyȝly
Of his good grace for oure purgacion
oure clennesse is knowyn ful opynly
be vertu of his grett consolacion
exxplicit cum gaudio amen.
Aa
serys god saue ȝow all
here is a fayr pepyl in good ffay
Good serys telle me what men me calle
I trowe ȝe kan not be þis day
ȝitt I walke wyde and many way
but ȝet þer I come I do no good
to reyse slawdyr is al my lay
bakbytere is my brother of blood.
here is a fayr pepyl in good ffay
Good serys telle me what men me calle
I trowe ȝe kan not be þis day
ȝitt I walke wyde and many way
but ȝet þer I come I do no good
to reyse slawdyr is al my lay
bakbytere is my brother of blood.
Dede he ought come hedyr in al þis day
now wolde god þat he wore here
and be my trewth I dare wel say
þat Yf we tweyn to-gedyr a-pere
More slawndyr we to xal a-rere
with-in an howre thorwe-outh this town
than evyr þer was þis thowsand ȝere
and ellys I shrewe ȝow bothe vp and down.
now wolde god þat he wore here
and be my trewth I dare wel say
þat Yf we tweyn to-gedyr a-pere
More slawndyr we to xal a-rere
with-in an howre thorwe-outh this town
than evyr þer was þis thowsand ȝere
and ellys I shrewe ȝow bothe vp and down.
Now be my trewth I haue a syght
Evyn of my brother lo where he is
Welcom dere brother my trowth I plyght
Ȝowre jentyl mowth let me now kys.
Evyn of my brother lo where he is
Welcom dere brother my trowth I plyght
Ȝowre jentyl mowth let me now kys.
Secundus detractor
Gramercy brother so haue I blys
I am ful glad we met þis day.
1us detractor
Ryght so am I brothyr i-wys
mech gladdere than I kan say.
mech gladdere than I kan say.
but ȝitt good brother I ȝow pray
telle all þese pepyl what is ȝour name.
Ffor yf þei Knew it my lyf I lay
they wole ȝow wurchep and speke gret fame.
telle all þese pepyl what is ȝour name.
Ffor yf þei Knew it my lyf I lay
they wole ȝow wurchep and speke gret fame.
125
I am bakbytere þat spyllyth all game
bothe kyd and knowyn in many a place.
1us detractor
be my trowth I seyd þe same
and ȝet sum seyden þou xulde haue evyl grace.
ijus detract[or]
Herk reyse sclaundyr canst þou owth telle
of Any newe thynge þat wrought was late.
1us detract[or]
With-in a short whyle a thynge be-felle
I trowe þou wylt lawhȝ ryght wel þer Ate
Ffor be trowth ryght mekyl hate
If it be wyst þer of wyl growe.
ijus detractor
If I may reyse þer with de-bate
I xal not spare þe seyd to sowe.
1us detractor
Syr in þe tempyl a mayd þer was
calde mayd mary þe trewth to tell
Sche semyd so holy withinne þat plas
men seyd sche was ffedde with holy Aungell
Sche made A vow with man nevyr to melle
but to leve chast and clene virgine
How evyr it be here wombe doth swelle
and is as gret as þinne or myne.
ijus detractor
Ȝa þat old shrewe joseph my trowth I plyght
was so Anameryd upon þat mayd
þat of hyre bewte whan he had syght
He sesyd nat tyll had here a-sayd.
1us detractor
A nay nay wel wers she hath hym payd
Sum fresch ȝonge galaunt she loveth wel more
þat his leggys to here hath leyd
and þat doth greve þe old man sore.
ijus detractor
be my trewth al may wel be
ffor fresch and fayr she is to syght
126
Wolde cause A ȝonge man to haue delyght.
1us detractor
Such a ȝonge damesel of bewte bryght
And of schap so comely Also
Of hire tayle ofte tyme be lyght
and rygh tekyl vndyr þe too.
ijus detractor
that olde cokolde was evyl be-gylyd
to þat fresche wench whan he was wedde
now muste he faderyn A-nothyr mannys chylde
and with his swynke he xal be fedde.
1us detractor
A ȝonge man may do more chere in bedde
to A ȝonge wench þan may An olde
þat is þe cawse such lawe is ledde
þat many a man is a kokewolde.
hic sedet episcopus Abiȝachar inter duos legis doctores et audientes hanc de-famocionem vocat ad se detractores dicens.
Episcopus
Herke ȝe felawys why speke ȝe such schame
of þat good virgyn ffayr mayd mary
ȝe be a-cursyd so hire for to defame
She þat is of lyff so good and holy
Of hire to speke suche velany
Ȝe make myn hert ful hevy of mood
I charge ȝow sese of ȝoure fals cry
Ffor sche is sybbe of myn owyn blood.
ijus detractor
Syb of þi kyn þow þat she be
all gret with chylde hire wombe doth swelle
Do calle here hedyr þi-self xal se
þat it is trewthe þat I þe telle.
1us detractor
Sere ffor ȝour sake I xal kepe cowncelle
Ȝow for to greve I am ryght loth
But lest syrys lyst what seyth þe belle
Oure fayr mayd now gret with childe goth.
127
Take good heed serys what ȝe doth say
A-vyse ȝow wele what ȝe present
ȝyf þis be fownd fals a-nothyr day
Ful sore ȝe xal ȝour tale repent.
ijus detractor
Sere þe mayd for sothe is good and gent
bothe comely and gay and a fayr wench
And feetly with help sche can consent
to set A cokewolde on þe hye benche.
ijus doctor legis
Ȝe be to besy of ȝour langage
I hope to god ȝow fals to preve
It were gret rewthe she xulde so outrage
or with such synne to myscheve.
Episcopus
This evy talys my hert doth greve
of hire to here such fowle dalyawnce
If she be fowndyn in suche repreve
she xal sore rew here governawns.
of hire to here such fowle dalyawnce
If she be fowndyn in suche repreve
she xal sore rew here governawns.
Sym somnore in hast wend þou þi way
byd Joseph and his wyff be name
At þe coorte to Appere þis day
here hem to pourge of here defame
Sey þat I here of hem grett schame
and þat doth me gret hevynes
if þei be clene with-owtyn blame
byd hem come hedyr and shew wyttnes.
byd Joseph and his wyff be name
At þe coorte to Appere þis day
here hem to pourge of here defame
Sey þat I here of hem grett schame
and þat doth me gret hevynes
if þei be clene with-owtyn blame
byd hem come hedyr and shew wyttnes.
Den
All redy sere I xal hem calle
here at ȝour courte for to appere
And yf I may hem mete with all
I hope ryght sone þei xal ben here
A-wey serys lete me com nere
A man of wurchep here comyth to place
of curtesy me semyth ȝe be to lere
Do of ȝour hodys with an evyl grace.
here at ȝour courte for to appere
And yf I may hem mete with all
I hope ryght sone þei xal ben here
A-wey serys lete me com nere
A man of wurchep here comyth to place
of curtesy me semyth ȝe be to lere
Do of ȝour hodys with an evyl grace.
Do me sum wurchep be-for my face
or be my trowth I xal ȝow make
If þat I rolle ȝow up in my race
Ffor fere I xal do ȝour ars qwake
But ȝit sum mede and ȝe me take
I wyl with-drawe my gret rough toth
gold or sylvyr I wol not for-sake
but evyn as all somnorys doth.
or be my trowth I xal ȝow make
If þat I rolle ȝow up in my race
Ffor fere I xal do ȝour ars qwake
128
I wyl with-drawe my gret rough toth
gold or sylvyr I wol not for-sake
but evyn as all somnorys doth.
A Joseph good day with þi ffayr spowse
my lorde þe buschop hath for ȝow sent
it is hym tolde þat in þin house
A cuckolde is bowe is ech nyght bent
he þat shett þe bolt is lyke to be schent
Ffayre mayde þat tale ȝe kan best telle
now be ȝoure trowth telle ȝour entent
dede not þe Archere plese ȝow ryght well.
my lorde þe buschop hath for ȝow sent
it is hym tolde þat in þin house
A cuckolde is bowe is ech nyght bent
he þat shett þe bolt is lyke to be schent
Ffayre mayde þat tale ȝe kan best telle
now be ȝoure trowth telle ȝour entent
dede not þe Archere plese ȝow ryght well.
Maria
Of god in hevyn I take wyttnes
þat synful werk was nevyr my thought
I am a mayd ȝit of pure clennes
lyke as I was in to þis werd brought.
Den
Othyr wyttnes xal non be sought
þou art with childe eche man may se
I charge ȝow bothe ȝe tary nought
but to þe buschop com forth with me.
Joseph
To þe buschop with ȝow we wende
of oure purgacion hawe we no dowth.
Maria
Almyghty god xal be oure frende
Whan þe trewthe is tryed owth.
Den
Ȝa on þis wyse excusyth here every scowte
Whan here owyn synne hem doth defame
but lowly þan þei gyn to lowth
Whan þei be gylty and fowndyn in blame.
Whan here owyn synne hem doth defame
but lowly þan þei gyn to lowth
Whan þei be gylty and fowndyn in blame.
Ther-fore com forth cokewolde be name
þe busschop xal ȝour lyff appose
Com forth Also ȝe goodly dame
A clene huswyff as I suppose
I xal ȝow tellyn with-owtyn glose.
and ȝe were myn with owtyn lak
I wolde ech day be-schrewe ȝour nose
and ȝe dede brynge me such a pak.
þe busschop xal ȝour lyff appose
Com forth Also ȝe goodly dame
A clene huswyff as I suppose
I xal ȝow tellyn with-owtyn glose.
129
I wolde ech day be-schrewe ȝour nose
and ȝe dede brynge me such a pak.
My lord þe buschop here haue I brought
þis goodly copyl at ȝour byddyng
and as me semyth as be here fraught
Ffayr chylde lullay sone must she syng.
þis goodly copyl at ȝour byddyng
and as me semyth as be here fraught
Ffayr chylde lullay sone must she syng.
1us detractor
To here a credyl and ȝe wolde brynge
Ȝe myght saue mony in here purse
be-cawse she is ȝour cosyn ȝynge
I pray ȝow sere lete here nevyr fare þe wers.
Episcopus
Alas mary what hast þou wrought
I am a schamyd evyn for þi sake
how hast þou chaungyd þin holy thought
dude old joseph with strenght þe take
Or hast þou chosyn a-nother make
by whom þou art þus brought in schame
telle me who hath wrought þis wrake
how hast þou lost þin holy name.
Maria
My name I hope is saff and sownde
god to wyttnes I am a mayd
of ffleschly lust and gostly wownde
In dede nere thought I nevyr a-sayd.
1us doctor legis
how xulde þi wombe þus be arayd
So grettly swollyn as þat it is
but if sum man þe had ovyr-layd
þi wombe xulde never be so gret i-wys.
ijus doctor legis
Herke þou joseph I am afrayd
þat þou hast wrought þis opyn synne
þis woman þou hast þus be-trayd
with gret flaterynge or sum fals gynne.
ijus detractor
Now be myn trowth ȝe hytte þe pynne
with þat purpose in feyth I holde
130
Ore knowlych þi self ffor a cockewold.
Joseph
Sche is for me a trewe clene mayde
And I for hire am clene Also
of ffleschly synne I nevyr a-sayde
Sythyn þat sch was weddyd me to.
Episcopus
Thu xalt not schape from vs ȝitt so
Ffyrst þou xalte tellyn us a-nother lay
Streyt to þe Awter þou xalt go
þe drynge of vengeawns þer to a-say.
Ffyrst þou xalte tellyn us a-nother lay
Streyt to þe Awter þou xalt go
þe drynge of vengeawns þer to a-say.
here is þe botel of goddys vengeauns
this drynk xal be now þi purgacion
þis [hath] suche vertu by goddys ordenauns
þat what man drynk of þis potacion
And goth serteyn in processyon
here in þis place þis Awtere abowth
If he be gylty sum maculacion
Pleyn in his face xal shewe it owth.
this drynk xal be now þi purgacion
þis [hath] suche vertu by goddys ordenauns
þat what man drynk of þis potacion
And goth serteyn in processyon
here in þis place þis Awtere abowth
If he be gylty sum maculacion
Pleyn in his face xal shewe it owth.
Iff þou be gylty telle us lete se
Ouer godys myght be not to bolde
If þou presume and gylty be
god þou dost greve many afolde.
Ouer godys myght be not to bolde
If þou presume and gylty be
god þou dost greve many afolde.
Joseph
I am not gylty as I fyrst tolde
All myghty god I take wytnes.
Episcopus
than þis drynke in hast þou holde
and on processyon anon þe dresse.
hic joseph bibit et sepcies circuiuit altare dicens
Joseph
This drynk I take with meke entent
as I am gyltles to god I pray
Lord as þou art omnypotente
on me þou shewe þe trowth þis day.
modo bibit.
About þis Awtere I take þe way
131
As I am gyltles A-ȝen ȝon may
þin hand of mercy þis tyme me graunt.
Den
This olde shrewe may not wele gon
longe he taryeth to go A-bowth
lyfte up þi feet sett forth þi ton
or be my trewth þou getyst a clowte.
ijus detractor
now sere evyl Thedom com to þi snowte
What heylyght þi leggys now to be lame
þou dedyst hem put ryght freschly owte
Whan þou dedyst pley with ȝon ȝonge dame.
1 detractor
I pray to god gyf hym myschawns
hese leggys here do folde for Age
but with þis damysel whan he dede dawns
þe olde charle had ryght gret corage.
Den
The shrewe was þan sett in a dotage
and had good lust þat tyme to pleyn
ȝaff sche not ȝow cawdel to potage
whan ȝe had don to comforte ȝour brayn.
Joseph
A gracyous god help me þis tyde
ageyn þis pepyl þat me doth fame
as I nevyr more dede towch here syde
þis day help me fro werdly schame
A-bowte þis awtere to kepe my fame
vij tymes I haue gon rownd abowte
If I be wurthy to suffyr blame
O ryghtful god my synne shewe owughte.
Episcopus
Joseph with hert thank god þi lorde
Whos heyȝ mercy doth the excuse
Ffor þi purgacion we xal recorde
With hyre of synne þou dedyst never muse
But Mary þi-self mayst not refuse
All grett with chylde we se þe stonde
132
Why hast þou synned Ageyn þin husbonde.
Maria
I trespacyd nevyr with erthely wyght
Þer of I hope þurowe goddys sonde
Here to be purgyd be-fore ȝour syght
Ffrom all synne clene lyke as myn husbonde
Take me þe botel out of ȝour honde
Here xal I drynke be-forn ȝour face
A-bowth þis Awtere than xal I fonde
Vij tymes to go by godys grace.
1us doctor legis
Se þis bolde bysmare wolde presume
Ageyn god to preve his myght
þow goddys vengeauns hyre xuld consume
Sche wyl not telle hyre fals delyght
þou art with chylde we se in syght
to us þi wombe þe doth accuse
þer was nevyr woman ȝitt in such plyght
þat ffrom mankynde hyre kowde excuse.
1us detractor
in Ffeyth I suppose þat þis woman slepte
With-owtyn all coverte whyll þat it dede snowe
And a flake þer of in to hyre mowthe crepte
and þer of þe chylde in hyre wombe doth growe.
ijus detractor
Than be-ware dame for this is wel i-knowe
whan it is born yf þat þe sunne shyne
it wyl turne to watyr ageyn as I trowe
ffor snow on to watyr doth evyr more reclyne.
ijus doctor legis
with goddys hyȝ myght loke þou not jape
of þi purgacion wel þe Avyse
yf þou be gylty þou mayst not schape
be-ware evyr of god þat ryghtful justyce
if god with vengeauns set on þe his syse
not only þou but all þi kyn is schamyd
bettyr it is to telle þe trewth devyse
133
Maria
I trostyn in his grace I xal hym nevyr greve
his servaunt I am in worde dede and thought
A mayd vndefyled I hope he xal me preve
I pray ȝow lett me nought.
Episcopus
Now be þat good lord þat all þis werd hath wrought
If god on þe shewe ony manyr tokyn
purgacion I trowe was nevyr so dere bowth
If I may on the in Any wyse be wrokyn.
If god on þe shewe ony manyr tokyn
purgacion I trowe was nevyr so dere bowth
If I may on the in Any wyse be wrokyn.
holde here þe botel and take a large draught
and abowth the Awtere go þi processyon.
and abowth the Awtere go þi processyon.
Maria
to god in þis case my cawse I haue be-taught
lorde thorwe þin helpe I drynke of þis potacyon.
hic beata uirgo bibit de potacione et postea circuiuit altare dicens
Maria
God as I nevyr knew of mannys maculacion
but evyr haue lyued in trewe virginite
send me þis day þin holy consolacion
þat all þis fayr peple my clennes may se.
but evyr haue lyued in trewe virginite
send me þis day þin holy consolacion
þat all þis fayr peple my clennes may se.
O gracyous god as þou hast chose me
ffor to be þi modyr of me to be born
saue þi tabernacle þat clene is kepte for þe
which now am put at repref and skorn
Gabryel me tolde with wordys he be-forn
þat ȝe of ȝour goodnes wold be-come my chylde
help now of ȝour hyȝness my wurchep be not lorn
A dere sone I pray ȝow help ȝour modyr mylde.
ffor to be þi modyr of me to be born
saue þi tabernacle þat clene is kepte for þe
which now am put at repref and skorn
Gabryel me tolde with wordys he be-forn
þat ȝe of ȝour goodnes wold be-come my chylde
help now of ȝour hyȝness my wurchep be not lorn
A dere sone I pray ȝow help ȝour modyr mylde.
Episcopus
Almyghty god what may þis mene
Ffor all þe drynke of goddys potacyon
þis woman with chylde is fayr and clene
with-owtyn fowle spotte or maculacion
I can nat be non ymagynacion
Preve hyre gylty and synful of lyff
it shewith opynly by here purgacion
Sche is clene mayde bothe modyr and wyff.
134
Be my fadyr sowle here is gret gyle
be-cawse sche is syb of ȝour kynreed
þe drynk is chaungyd by sum fals wyle
þat sche no shame xuld haue þis steed.
Episcopus
Be-cawse þou demyst þat we do falshede
and for þou dedyst hem fyrst defame
þou xalt ryght here magre þin heed
beforn all þis pepyl drynk of þe same.
1us detractor
Syr in good ffeyth oo draught I pulle
If these to drynkerys haue not All spent.
hic bibit et scenciens dolorem in capite cadit et dicit
Out out Alas what heylith my sculle
A myn heed with ffyre me thynkyht is brent
Mercy good mary I do me repent
of my cursyd and ffals langage.
Maria
Now god lord in hevyn omnypotent
of his gret mercy ȝour seknes aswage.
Episcopus
We all on knes fall here on grownd
þou goddys hande-mayd prayng for grace
all cursyd langage and schame on sownd
good mary ffor-ȝeve us here in þis place.
Maria
Now god for-ȝeve ȝow all ȝowre trespace
and also for-ȝeve ȝow all defamacion
þat ȝe haue sayd both more and lesse
to myn hynderawnce and maculacion.
Episcopus
Now blyssyd virgyne we thank ȝow alle
of ȝoure good hert and gret pacyens
we wyl go with ȝow hom to ȝour halle
to do ȝow servys with hyȝ reverens
Maria
I thank ȝow hertyly of ȝoure benevolens
On to ȝour owyn hous I pray ȝow ȝe goo
135
I am not dysposyd to passyn hens froo.
Episcopus
Than ffare wel mayden and pure virgyne
fare wel trewe hand-mayd of god in blys
we all to ȝow lowly inclyne
and take oure leve of ȝow as wurthy is.
Maria
All myghty god ȝour weys wys se
Ffor þat hyȝ lord is most of myght
he mote ȝow spede þat ȝe not mys
In hevyn of hym to haue A syght.
Joseph
Honouryd in hevyn be þat hyȝ lord
whos endles grace is so habundaunt
þat he doth shewe þe trewe recorde
of iche wyhgte þat is his trewe servaunt
That lord to wurchepe with hert plesaunt
we bothe be bownd ryght on þis place
which oure purgacyon us dyde graunt
and prevyd us pure by hieȝ grace.
Maria
Ffor sothe good spowse I thank hym hyȝly
Of his good grace for oure purgacion
oure clennesse is knowyn ful opynly
be vertu of his grett consolacion
exxplicit cum gaudio amen.
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