 | The Betrothal of Mary |  |
Tunc venit Abysakar episcopus
Listenyth lordyngys bothe hye and lowe
And tendyrly takyth heyd on to my sawe
beth buxom and benyngne ȝour busshopp to knowe
Ffor I am þat lord þat made þis lawe
With hertys so hende herkyn nowe
Ȝoure damyselys to weddyng ȝa loke þat ȝe drawe
þat passyn xiiij ȝere for what þat ȝe owe
þe lawe of god byddyth þis sawe
þat at xiiij ȝere of age
Euery damesel what so sche be
to þe Encrese of more plente
xulde be browght in good degre
On to here spowsage.
Joachym
Herke now Anne my jentyl spowse
how þat þe buschop his lawe hath tolde
þat what man hath a dowtyr in his house
þat passyth xiiij ȝerys olde
He muste here brynge I herde hym Rowse
In to þe tempyl a spowse to wedde
wher for oure dowtyr ryth good and dowse
In to þe tempyl sche must be ledde
nd þat anoon ryght sone.
Anne
Sere I grawnt þat it be so
A-ȝen þe lawe may we not do
with here to-gedyr lete us now go
I hold it ryght weyl done.
Joachym
Sere busshopp here aftyr þin owyn hest
we haue here brought oure dowtyr dere
mary my swete childe she is ful prest
of Age she is ful xiiij ȝere.
Episcopus
Welcome joachym on to myn A-reste
bothe anne þi wyff and mary clere
now mary chylde to þe lawe þou leste
and chese þe a spowse to be þi ffere
þat lawe þou must fful-ffylle.
Maria
A-ȝens þe lawe wyl I nevyr be
but mannys ffelachep xal nevyr folwe me
I wyl levyn evyr in chastyte
be þe grace of goddys wylle.
Episcopus
A Ffayre mayde why seyst þou so
what menyth the for to levyn chast
why wylt þou not to weddyng go
þe cawse þou telle me and þat in hast.
Maria
Episcopus
Minister
To breke our lawe and custom it wore hard in dede
And on þat other syde to do a-ȝen scrypture
to ȝeve sentens in þis degre ȝe must take goo hede
ffor dowteles þis matere is dyffuse and obscure
Myn avyse here in þis I ȝow ensure
þat we prey all god to haue relacion
ffor be prayour grett knowlech men recure
and to þis I counsell ȝow to ȝeve assygnacion.
Episcopus
Trewly ȝour counsell is ryght good and eylsum
And as ȝe han seyd so xal it be
I charge ȝow bretheryn and systerys hedyr ȝe com
and to-gedyr to god now pray we
That it may plese his fynyte deyte
knowleche in þis to sendyn vs
Et hic cantent veni creator
Mekely eche man ffalle down on kne
And we xal be-gynne Veni creator Spiritus
and whan Veni creator is don þe buschop xal seyng
Now lord god of lordys whysest of alle et cetera.
I pray þe lorde knelynge on kne
with carefull herte I crye and calle
þis dowteful dowte enforme þou me.
Angelus
Episcopus
I thank þe lord with mylde chere
thi wurde xal I werkyn with-owtyn wrake
I xal send for hem bothyn fer and nere
to werke þi wyl I vndyr-take
A-non it xal be do
herk masangere þou wend þi way
Dauyd kynsmen as I þe say
byd hem come offyr þis same day
and brynge white ȝardys Also.
Nuncius
Oy al maner men takyth to me tent
that be owgth of kynrede to dauid þe kyng
my lord þe busshop hath for ȝow sent
to þe temple þat ȝe come with ȝour offryng.
Joseph
In gret labore my lyff I lede
myne ocupasyoun lyth in many place
ffor febylnesse of age my jorney I may not spede
I thank the gret god of thi grace.
1us generacionis dauid
what chere Joseph what ys the case
That ye lye here on this ground.
Joseph
age and febylnesse doth me enbrace
That I may nother well goo ne stound.
ijus generacion[is]
We be commandyd be the beschoppys sond
That euery man of Dauyd Kynrede
In the tempyll to offyr a wond
Therfor in this Jorney let vs procede.
Joseph
Me to traveyll yt is no nede
I prey you frendys go forth your wey.
iijus generacion[is]
yis com forth Joseph I you rede
and knowyth what the buschop woll sey.
iiijus gener[acionis]
Joseph
Episcopus
Serys ȝe xal vndyr-stande
þat þis is þe cawse of our comynge
and why þat ech of ȝow bryngyth a wande
ffor of god we haue knowynge
here is to be maryde a mayde ȝynge
all ȝour roddys ȝe xal brynge vp to me
and on hese rodde þat þe holy gost is syttynge
hic portent virgas
he xal þe husbond of þis may be.
Joseph
It xal not be I ley a grote
I xal a-byde be-hynde preuyly
now wolde god I were at hom in my cote
I am aschamyd to be seyn veryly.
Primus generacionis dauid
To wurchep my lord god hedyr am I come
here ffor to offyr my dewe offrynge
A fayr white ȝarde in hand haue I nome
my lord sere busshop at ȝour byddynge.
Secundus generacionis dauid
Off dauythis kynred sertys am I com
a ffayr white ȝarde in hand now I bryng
my lord þe busshop after ȝour owyn dom
þis ȝarde do I offre at ȝour chargyng
Ryht here.
Tercius generacionis dauid
And I a ȝarde haue both fayr and whyght
here in myn hond it is redy dyght
And here I offre it forth within syght
Ryght in good manere.
Quartus generacionis dauid
I am þe fourte of Dauid is kyn
and with myn offrynge my god I honoure
þis fayr whyte ȝarde is offryng myn
I trost in god of sum socoure
Com on Joseph with offrynge þin
and brynge up þin as we han oure
þou taryst ryth longe be-hynde certeyn
why comyst not fforth to goddys toure
Com on man for shame.
Joseph
Com ȝa ȝa god help full fayn I wolde
but I am so Agyd and so olde
þat both myn leggys gyn to folde
I am ny Almost lame.
Episcopus
A mercy lord I kan no sygne a-spy
It is best we go a-geyn to prayr.
Vox
he brought not up his rodde ȝet trewly
to whom þe mayd howyth to be maryed her.
Episcopus
Whath joseph why stande ȝe there by-hynde
I-wys sere ȝe be to blame.
Joseph
Sere I kan not my rodde ffynde
to come þer in trowth me thynkyht shame.
Episcopus Comyth thens
Joseph
Sere he may Euyl go þat is ner lame
in soth I com as fast as I may
Episcopus
offyr up ȝour rodde sere in goddys name
why do ȝe not as men ȝow pray.
Joseph
Episcopus
Joseph
What xuld I wedde god for-bede
I am an old man so god me spede
and with a wyff now to levyn in drede
It wore neyther sport nere game.
Episcopus
A-ȝens god joseph þou mayst not stryve
god wyl þat þou a wyff haue
þis fayr mayde xal be þi wyve
she is buxum and whyte as laue.
Joseph
A shuld I haue here ȝe lese my lyff
Alas dere god xuld I now rave
An old man may nevyr thryff
With a ȝonge wyff so god me saue
nay nay sere lett bene
xuld I now in age begynne to dote
If I here chyde she wolde clowte my cote
blere myn ey and pyke out a mote
and þus oftyn tymes it is sene.
Episcopus
Joseph now as I þe saye
God hath assygnyd here to þe
þat god wol haue do sey þou not nay
oure lord god wyl þat it be so.
Joseph
A-ȝens my God not do I may
here wardeyn and kepere wyl I evyr be
But fayr maydon I þe pray
Kepe þe clene as I xal me
I am a man of age
therfore sere busshop I wyl þat ȝe wete
þat in bedde we xul nevyr mete
Ffor i-wys mayden suete
An Old man may not rage.
Episcopus
Joseph
nay sere so mote I thryff
I haue ryght no nede þer-to.
Episcopus
Joseph it is goddys wyl it xuld be so
sey aftyr me as it is skyl.
Joseph
Sere and to performe his wyl I bow þer-to
Ffor all thynge owyght to ben at his wyl.
Episcopus
et idem joseph
Sey þan after me? here I take þe Mary to wyff
to hauyn to holdyn? as god his wyll with us wyl make
and as longe as be-thwen us? lestyght oure lyff
to loue ȝow as my selff? my trewth I ȝow take.
nunc ad mariam sic dicens Episcopus
Mary wole ȝe haue þis man
And hym to kepyn as ȝour lyff.
Maria
In þe tenderest wyse fadyr as I kan
and with all my wyttys ffyff.
Episcopus
Joseph with þis ryng now wedde þi wyff
and be here hand now þou here take.
Joseph
Sere with þis Rynge I wedde here Ryff
and take here now here ffor my make.
Episcopus
Mary mayd with-outyn more stryff
On to þi spowse þou hast hym take.
Maria
In chastyte to ledyn my lyff
I xal hym nevyr for-sake
but evyr with hym a-byde
And jentyll spowse as ȝe An seyd
lete me levyn as a clene mayd
I xal be trewe be not dysmayd
both terme tyme and tyde.
Episcopus
Maria
To haue ȝour blyssyng ffadyr I falle ȝow be-fore.
Episcopus
he blysse ȝow þat hath non hendyng
In nomine patris et filij et spiritus sancti.
Episcopus
Joseph þi selph art old of Age
And þi wyff of Age is ȝonge
and as we redyn in old sage
many man is sclepyr of tonge
Þer fore Euyl langage for to swage
þat ȝour good fame may leste longe
iij damysellys xul dwelle with ȝow in stage
With þi wyff to be evyr more a-monge
I xal these iij here take
Susanne þe fyrst xal be
Rebecca þe secunde xal go with the
Sephore þe thrydde loke þat ȝe thre
þis maydon nevyr ȝe for-sake.
Susanne
Sere I am redy Att ȝour wyll
with þis maydon for to wende.
Rebecca
ȝour byddyng sere xall fful-ffyl
and ffolwe þis maydon ffayr and hende.
Sephor
To ffolwe hyre it is good skyl
And to ȝour byddynge wole I bende.
Joseph
Now sere buschop hens go I wyl
for now comyth on to my mende
A matere þat nedful is.
Episcopus
Ffare wel joseph and mary clere
I pray god kepe ȝow all in fere
and sende ȝow grace in good manere
to serve þe kynge of blysse.
Maria
Ffadyr and modyr ȝe knowe þis cas
how þat it now doth stonde with me
with myn spowse I must forth passe
and wott nevyr whan I xal ȝow se
Therfore I pray ȝow here in þis plas
of ȝour blyssynge for charyte
and I xal spede þe betyr and haue more gras
In what place þat evyr I be
On knes to ȝow I falle
I pray ȝow fadyr and modyr dere
to blysse ȝour owyn dere dowtere
and pray ffor me in all manere
and I ffor ȝow all.
Joachym
Almyghty god he mote þe blysse
and my blyssynge þou haue Also
In all godnesse god þe wysse
on londe or on watyr wher evyr þou go.
Anna
Now god þe kepe from every mysse
and saue þe sownd in welth from wo
I pray þe dowtyr þou onys me kys
or þat þi modyr parte þe fro
I pray to god þe saue
I pray þe mary my swete chylde
be lowe and buxhum meke and mylde
Sad and sobyr and no thyng wylde
and goddys blyssyng þou haue.
Joachym
Ffor wel joseph and god ȝow spede
wher so ȝe be in halle or boure.
Joseph
Almyghty god ȝour weys lede
and saue ȝow sownd from all doloure.
Anna
Goddys grace on ȝow sprede
Ffare wel mary my swete fflowre
Fare weyl joseph and god ȝow rede
Ffare weyl my chylde and my tresowre
Ffare wel my dowtere ȝyng.
Maria
Ffare wel fadyr and modyr dere
at ȝow I take my leve ryght here
god þat sytt in hevyn so clere
haue ȝow in his kepyng.
Joseph
Maria
Joseph
Mary wyff and mayd most gracyous
displese ȝow not I pray ȝow so long I haue be
I haue hyryd for us a lytyl praty hous
and þer-in ryght hesely levyn wole we
Come forth mary and folwe me
to Nazareth now wele we go
And all þe maydonys bothe ffayr and fre
with my wyff comyth forth also
Now lystenyth well wyff what I tell þe
I must gon owth hens fer þe fro
I wyll go laboryn in fer countre
with trewth to maynteyn oure housholde so
þis ix monthis þou seyst me nowth
Kepe þe clene my jentyl spowse
and all þin maydenys in þin howse
þat evyl langage I here not rowse
Ffor hese love þat all hath wrought.
Maria
I pray to god he spede ȝour way
and in sowle helth he mote ȝow kepe
and sende ȝow helth bothe nyth and day
he shylde and saue ȝow from al shenschepe
Now lord of grace to þe I pray
with morny mood on kne I krepe
me saue from synne from tene and tray
with hert I mourne with eye I wepe
lord god of pete
Whan I sytt in my conclaue
all myn hert on þe I haue
Gracyous god my mayden-hed saue
Euyr clene in chastyte.
Listenyth lordyngys bothe hye and lowe
And tendyrly takyth heyd on to my sawe
beth buxom and benyngne ȝour busshopp to knowe
Ffor I am þat lord þat made þis lawe
With hertys so hende herkyn nowe
Ȝoure damyselys to weddyng ȝa loke þat ȝe drawe
þat passyn xiiij ȝere for what þat ȝe owe
þe lawe of god byddyth þis sawe
þat at xiiij ȝere of age
Euery damesel what so sche be
to þe Encrese of more plente
xulde be browght in good degre
On to here spowsage.
Joachym
Herke now Anne my jentyl spowse
how þat þe buschop his lawe hath tolde
þat what man hath a dowtyr in his house
þat passyth xiiij ȝerys olde
He muste here brynge I herde hym Rowse
In to þe tempyl a spowse to wedde
wher for oure dowtyr ryth good and dowse
In to þe tempyl sche must be ledde
nd þat anoon ryght sone.
Anne
Sere I grawnt þat it be so
A-ȝen þe lawe may we not do
with here to-gedyr lete us now go
I hold it ryght weyl done.
Joachym
Sere busshopp here aftyr þin owyn hest
we haue here brought oure dowtyr dere
mary my swete childe she is ful prest
of Age she is ful xiiij ȝere.
84
Welcome joachym on to myn A-reste
bothe anne þi wyff and mary clere
now mary chylde to þe lawe þou leste
and chese þe a spowse to be þi ffere
þat lawe þou must fful-ffylle.
Maria
A-ȝens þe lawe wyl I nevyr be
but mannys ffelachep xal nevyr folwe me
I wyl levyn evyr in chastyte
be þe grace of goddys wylle.
Episcopus
A Ffayre mayde why seyst þou so
what menyth the for to levyn chast
why wylt þou not to weddyng go
þe cawse þou telle me and þat in hast.
Maria
My ffadyr and my modyr sertys also
Er I was born ȝe may me trast
thei were bothe bareyn here frute was do
they come to þe tempyl at þe last
to do here sacryfice
By-cause they hadde nothyr frute nere chylde
reprevyd þei wore of wykkyd and wyllde
with grett shame þei were revylyd
Al men dede them dyspyce.
Er I was born ȝe may me trast
thei were bothe bareyn here frute was do
they come to þe tempyl at þe last
to do here sacryfice
By-cause they hadde nothyr frute nere chylde
reprevyd þei wore of wykkyd and wyllde
with grett shame þei were revylyd
Al men dede them dyspyce.
My Ffadyr and my modyr thei wepte full sore
fful hevy here hertys wern of þis dede
with wepynge eyn þei preyd þerfore
þat god wolde socowre hem and sende hem sede
Iff god wold graunt hem a childe be bore
They be-hest þe chylde here lyff xulde lede
In goddys temple to serve evyr-more
and wurchep god in loue and drede
Than god fful of grace
he herd here longe prayour
and þan sent hem both seed and flowre
whan I was born in here bowre
to þe temple offryd I was.
fful hevy here hertys wern of þis dede
with wepynge eyn þei preyd þerfore
þat god wolde socowre hem and sende hem sede
Iff god wold graunt hem a childe be bore
They be-hest þe chylde here lyff xulde lede
In goddys temple to serve evyr-more
and wurchep god in loue and drede
Than god fful of grace
he herd here longe prayour
and þan sent hem both seed and flowre
whan I was born in here bowre
to þe temple offryd I was.
85
Whan þat I was to þe temple brought
and offerde up to god Above
ther hestyd I as myn hert thought
to serve my god with hertyly love
Clennesse and chastyte myn hert owth
Erthely creature nevyr may shoue
Such clene lyff xuld ȝe nouht
In no maner wyse reprove
to þis clennesse I me take
this is þe cawse as I ȝow tell
Þat I with man wyll nevyr mell
in þe servyse of god wyl I evyr dwell
I wyl nevyr haue other make.
and offerde up to god Above
ther hestyd I as myn hert thought
to serve my god with hertyly love
Clennesse and chastyte myn hert owth
Erthely creature nevyr may shoue
Such clene lyff xuld ȝe nouht
In no maner wyse reprove
to þis clennesse I me take
this is þe cawse as I ȝow tell
Þat I with man wyll nevyr mell
in þe servyse of god wyl I evyr dwell
I wyl nevyr haue other make.
Episcopus
A mercy god þese wordys wyse
of þis fayr mayde clene
thei trobyl myn hert in many wyse
her wytt is grett and þat is sene
In clennes to levyn in godys servise
no man here blame non here tene
And ȝit in lawe þus it lyce
þat such weddyd xulde bene
who xal expownd þis oute
þe lawe doth after lyff of clennes
þe lawe doth bydde such maydenes expres
þat to spowsyng they xulde hem dres
God help us in þis dowhte.
of þis fayr mayde clene
thei trobyl myn hert in many wyse
her wytt is grett and þat is sene
In clennes to levyn in godys servise
no man here blame non here tene
And ȝit in lawe þus it lyce
þat such weddyd xulde bene
who xal expownd þis oute
þe lawe doth after lyff of clennes
þe lawe doth bydde such maydenes expres
þat to spowsyng they xulde hem dres
God help us in þis dowhte.
This Ansuere grettly trobelyth me
to mak a vow to creaturys it is lefful
Vovete et reddite in scripture haue we
and to observe oure lawe also it is nedful
In þis to dyscerne to me it is dredful
þerfore to cowcell me in þis cas I calle
þe holde and þe wyse and swiche as ben spedful
In þis sey ȝour a-vyse I be-sech ȝow Alle.
to mak a vow to creaturys it is lefful
Vovete et reddite in scripture haue we
and to observe oure lawe also it is nedful
In þis to dyscerne to me it is dredful
þerfore to cowcell me in þis cas I calle
þe holde and þe wyse and swiche as ben spedful
In þis sey ȝour a-vyse I be-sech ȝow Alle.
Minister
To breke our lawe and custom it wore hard in dede
And on þat other syde to do a-ȝen scrypture
to ȝeve sentens in þis degre ȝe must take goo hede
ffor dowteles þis matere is dyffuse and obscure
Myn avyse here in þis I ȝow ensure
þat we prey all god to haue relacion
ffor be prayour grett knowlech men recure
and to þis I counsell ȝow to ȝeve assygnacion.
Episcopus
Trewly ȝour counsell is ryght good and eylsum
And as ȝe han seyd so xal it be
I charge ȝow bretheryn and systerys hedyr ȝe com
and to-gedyr to god now pray we
That it may plese his fynyte deyte
knowleche in þis to sendyn vs
Et hic cantent veni creator
Mekely eche man ffalle down on kne
And we xal be-gynne Veni creator Spiritus
and whan Veni creator is don þe buschop xal seyng
Now lord god of lordys whysest of alle et cetera.
I pray þe lorde knelynge on kne
with carefull herte I crye and calle
þis dowteful dowte enforme þou me.
Angelus
Thy prayour is herd to hyȝ hevyn halle
god hath me sent here down to the
to telle þe what þat þou do xalle
and how þou xalt be rewlyd in iche degre
take tent and vndyrstond
This is goddys owyn byddyng
þat all kynsmen of dauyd þe kyng
to þe temple xul brynge here du offryng
with whyte ȝardys in þer honde.
86
to telle þe what þat þou do xalle
and how þou xalt be rewlyd in iche degre
take tent and vndyrstond
This is goddys owyn byddyng
þat all kynsmen of dauyd þe kyng
to þe temple xul brynge here du offryng
with whyte ȝardys in þer honde.
loke wele what tyme þei offere there
all here ȝardys in þin hand þou take
take heed whose ȝerde doth blome and bere
and he xal be þe maydenys make.
all here ȝardys in þin hand þou take
take heed whose ȝerde doth blome and bere
and he xal be þe maydenys make.
Episcopus
I thank þe lord with mylde chere
thi wurde xal I werkyn with-owtyn wrake
I xal send for hem bothyn fer and nere
to werke þi wyl I vndyr-take
A-non it xal be do
herk masangere þou wend þi way
Dauyd kynsmen as I þe say
byd hem come offyr þis same day
and brynge white ȝardys Also.
Nuncius
Oy al maner men takyth to me tent
that be owgth of kynrede to dauid þe kyng
my lord þe busshop hath for ȝow sent
to þe temple þat ȝe come with ȝour offryng.
Joseph
In gret labore my lyff I lede
myne ocupasyoun lyth in many place
ffor febylnesse of age my jorney I may not spede
I thank the gret god of thi grace.
87
what chere Joseph what ys the case
That ye lye here on this ground.
Joseph
age and febylnesse doth me enbrace
That I may nother well goo ne stound.
ijus generacion[is]
We be commandyd be the beschoppys sond
That euery man of Dauyd Kynrede
In the tempyll to offyr a wond
Therfor in this Jorney let vs procede.
Joseph
Me to traveyll yt is no nede
I prey you frendys go forth your wey.
iijus generacion[is]
yis com forth Joseph I you rede
and knowyth what the buschop woll sey.
iiijus gener[acionis]
Ther ys a mayd whos name is clepyd mary
Doughter to joachym̄ as it is told
here to mary thei woll asay
To som̄ many dowty and bold
Doughter to joachym̄ as it is told
here to mary thei woll asay
To som̄ many dowty and bold
He chargight þat ȝe hast ȝow for he is redy bent
Ȝow to receyve at ȝour comyng
He byddyth ȝow fferthermore in handys þat ȝe hent
A fayre white ȝerde everych of ȝow ȝe bryng
In hyght
Tary not I pray ȝow
My lord as I say ȝow
now to receyve ȝow
is full redy dyght.
Ȝow to receyve at ȝour comyng
He byddyth ȝow fferthermore in handys þat ȝe hent
A fayre white ȝerde everych of ȝow ȝe bryng
In hyght
Tary not I pray ȝow
My lord as I say ȝow
now to receyve ȝow
is full redy dyght.
Joseph
Benedicite I can not vndyr stande
What oure prince of prestys doth men
þat every man xuld come and brynge with hym a whande
Abyl to be maryed þat is not I so mote I then
I haue be maydon evyr and evyr more wele ben
I chaungyd not ȝet of all my long lyff
and now to be maryed sum man wold wen
it is a straunge thynge An old man to take a ȝonge wyff.
What oure prince of prestys doth men
þat every man xuld come and brynge with hym a whande
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I haue be maydon evyr and evyr more wele ben
I chaungyd not ȝet of all my long lyff
and now to be maryed sum man wold wen
it is a straunge thynge An old man to take a ȝonge wyff.
but nevyr-þe-lesse no doute of we must forth to towne
now neyborys and kynnysmen lete us forth go
I xal take a wand in my hand and cast of my gowne
yf I falle þan I xalle gronyn for wo
Ho so take A-way my staff I say he were my fo
ȝe be men þat may wele ren go ȝe be-fore
I am old and also colde walkyng doth me wo
þerfore now wole I so my staff holde I þis jurny to wore.
now neyborys and kynnysmen lete us forth go
I xal take a wand in my hand and cast of my gowne
yf I falle þan I xalle gronyn for wo
Ho so take A-way my staff I say he were my fo
ȝe be men þat may wele ren go ȝe be-fore
I am old and also colde walkyng doth me wo
þerfore now wole I so my staff holde I þis jurny to wore.
Episcopus
Serys ȝe xal vndyr-stande
þat þis is þe cawse of our comynge
and why þat ech of ȝow bryngyth a wande
ffor of god we haue knowynge
here is to be maryde a mayde ȝynge
all ȝour roddys ȝe xal brynge vp to me
and on hese rodde þat þe holy gost is syttynge
hic portent virgas
he xal þe husbond of þis may be.
Joseph
It xal not be I ley a grote
I xal a-byde be-hynde preuyly
now wolde god I were at hom in my cote
I am aschamyd to be seyn veryly.
Primus generacionis dauid
To wurchep my lord god hedyr am I come
here ffor to offyr my dewe offrynge
A fayr white ȝarde in hand haue I nome
my lord sere busshop at ȝour byddynge.
Secundus generacionis dauid
Off dauythis kynred sertys am I com
89
my lord þe busshop after ȝour owyn dom
þis ȝarde do I offre at ȝour chargyng
Ryht here.
Tercius generacionis dauid
And I a ȝarde haue both fayr and whyght
here in myn hond it is redy dyght
And here I offre it forth within syght
Ryght in good manere.
Quartus generacionis dauid
I am þe fourte of Dauid is kyn
and with myn offrynge my god I honoure
þis fayr whyte ȝarde is offryng myn
I trost in god of sum socoure
Com on Joseph with offrynge þin
and brynge up þin as we han oure
þou taryst ryth longe be-hynde certeyn
why comyst not fforth to goddys toure
Com on man for shame.
Joseph
Com ȝa ȝa god help full fayn I wolde
but I am so Agyd and so olde
þat both myn leggys gyn to folde
I am ny Almost lame.
Episcopus
A mercy lord I kan no sygne a-spy
It is best we go a-geyn to prayr.
Vox
he brought not up his rodde ȝet trewly
to whom þe mayd howyth to be maryed her.
Episcopus
Whath joseph why stande ȝe there by-hynde
I-wys sere ȝe be to blame.
Joseph
Sere I kan not my rodde ffynde
to come þer in trowth me thynkyht shame.
Episcopus Comyth thens
90
Sere he may Euyl go þat is ner lame
in soth I com as fast as I may
Episcopus
offyr up ȝour rodde sere in goddys name
why do ȝe not as men ȝow pray.
Joseph
Now in þe wurchep of god of hevyn
I offyr þis ȝerde as lely whyte
prayng þat lord of gracyous stewyn
With hert with wytt with mayn with myght
And as he made þe sterrys seven
þis sympyl offrynge þat is so lyght
to his wurchep he weldygh evyn
Ffor to his wurchep þis ȝerd is dyght
lord god I þe pray
to my herte þou take good hede
and no thynge to my synful dede
Aftyr my wyl þou qwyte my mede
As plesyth to þi pay.
I offyr þis ȝerde as lely whyte
prayng þat lord of gracyous stewyn
With hert with wytt with mayn with myght
And as he made þe sterrys seven
þis sympyl offrynge þat is so lyght
to his wurchep he weldygh evyn
Ffor to his wurchep þis ȝerd is dyght
lord god I þe pray
to my herte þou take good hede
and no thynge to my synful dede
Aftyr my wyl þou qwyte my mede
As plesyth to þi pay.
I may not lyfte myn handys heye
Lo Lo Lo What se ȝe now.
Lo Lo Lo What se ȝe now.
Episcopus
A mercy mercy mercy lord we crye
þe blyssyd of god we se Art thou.
et clamant omnes Mercy mercy.þe blyssyd of god we se Art thou.
A gracyous god in hevyn trone
ryht wundyrful þi werkys be
here may we se A merveyl one
A ded stok beryth flourys ffre
Joseph in hert with-outyn mone
þou mayst be blyth with game and gle
A mayd to wedde þou must gone
be þis meracle I do wel se
Mary is here name.
ryht wundyrful þi werkys be
here may we se A merveyl one
A ded stok beryth flourys ffre
Joseph in hert with-outyn mone
þou mayst be blyth with game and gle
A mayd to wedde þou must gone
be þis meracle I do wel se
Mary is here name.
Joseph
What xuld I wedde god for-bede
I am an old man so god me spede
91
It wore neyther sport nere game.
Episcopus
A-ȝens god joseph þou mayst not stryve
god wyl þat þou a wyff haue
þis fayr mayde xal be þi wyve
she is buxum and whyte as laue.
Joseph
A shuld I haue here ȝe lese my lyff
Alas dere god xuld I now rave
An old man may nevyr thryff
With a ȝonge wyff so god me saue
nay nay sere lett bene
xuld I now in age begynne to dote
If I here chyde she wolde clowte my cote
blere myn ey and pyke out a mote
and þus oftyn tymes it is sene.
Episcopus
Joseph now as I þe saye
God hath assygnyd here to þe
þat god wol haue do sey þou not nay
oure lord god wyl þat it be so.
Joseph
A-ȝens my God not do I may
here wardeyn and kepere wyl I evyr be
But fayr maydon I þe pray
Kepe þe clene as I xal me
I am a man of age
therfore sere busshop I wyl þat ȝe wete
þat in bedde we xul nevyr mete
Ffor i-wys mayden suete
An Old man may not rage.
Episcopus
This holyest virgyn xalt þou maryn now
Ȝour rodde floreschyth fayrest þat man may se
Þe holy gost we se syttyht on a bow
Et hic cantent. Benedicta
sit beata trinitas.Ȝour rodde floreschyth fayrest þat man may se
Þe holy gost we se syttyht on a bow
now ȝelde we all preysyng to þe trenyte.
Joseph wole ȝe haue þis maydon to ȝour wyff
And here honour and kepe as ȝe howe to do.
And here honour and kepe as ȝe howe to do.
92
nay sere so mote I thryff
I haue ryght no nede þer-to.
Episcopus
Joseph it is goddys wyl it xuld be so
sey aftyr me as it is skyl.
Joseph
Sere and to performe his wyl I bow þer-to
Ffor all thynge owyght to ben at his wyl.
Episcopus
et idem joseph
Sey þan after me? here I take þe Mary to wyff
to hauyn to holdyn? as god his wyll with us wyl make
and as longe as be-thwen us? lestyght oure lyff
to loue ȝow as my selff? my trewth I ȝow take.
nunc ad mariam sic dicens Episcopus
Mary wole ȝe haue þis man
And hym to kepyn as ȝour lyff.
Maria
In þe tenderest wyse fadyr as I kan
and with all my wyttys ffyff.
Episcopus
Joseph with þis ryng now wedde þi wyff
and be here hand now þou here take.
Joseph
Sere with þis Rynge I wedde here Ryff
and take here now here ffor my make.
Episcopus
Mary mayd with-outyn more stryff
On to þi spowse þou hast hym take.
Maria
In chastyte to ledyn my lyff
I xal hym nevyr for-sake
but evyr with hym a-byde
And jentyll spowse as ȝe An seyd
lete me levyn as a clene mayd
I xal be trewe be not dysmayd
both terme tyme and tyde.
Episcopus
Here is þe holyest matremony þat evyr was in þis werd
þe hyȝ names of oure lord we wole now syng hy
we all wole þis solempn dede record
devowtly Alma chorus domini nunc pangat nomina summi.
þe hyȝ names of oure lord we wole now syng hy
93
devowtly Alma chorus domini nunc pangat nomina summi.
Now goth hom all in godys name
Where as ȝour wonyng was be-fore
Maydenys to lete here go alone it wore shame
It wold hevy ȝour hertys sore
ȝe xal blysse þe tyme þat sche was bore
now loke ȝe at hom here brynge.
Where as ȝour wonyng was be-fore
Maydenys to lete here go alone it wore shame
It wold hevy ȝour hertys sore
ȝe xal blysse þe tyme þat sche was bore
now loke ȝe at hom here brynge.
Maria
To haue ȝour blyssyng ffadyr I falle ȝow be-fore.
Episcopus
he blysse ȝow þat hath non hendyng
In nomine patris et filij et spiritus sancti.
Episcopus
Joseph þi selph art old of Age
And þi wyff of Age is ȝonge
and as we redyn in old sage
many man is sclepyr of tonge
Þer fore Euyl langage for to swage
þat ȝour good fame may leste longe
iij damysellys xul dwelle with ȝow in stage
With þi wyff to be evyr more a-monge
I xal these iij here take
Susanne þe fyrst xal be
Rebecca þe secunde xal go with the
Sephore þe thrydde loke þat ȝe thre
þis maydon nevyr ȝe for-sake.
Susanne
Sere I am redy Att ȝour wyll
with þis maydon for to wende.
Rebecca
ȝour byddyng sere xall fful-ffyl
and ffolwe þis maydon ffayr and hende.
Sephor
To ffolwe hyre it is good skyl
And to ȝour byddynge wole I bende.
Joseph
Now sere buschop hens go I wyl
for now comyth on to my mende
A matere þat nedful is.
94
Ffare wel joseph and mary clere
I pray god kepe ȝow all in fere
and sende ȝow grace in good manere
to serve þe kynge of blysse.
Maria
Ffadyr and modyr ȝe knowe þis cas
how þat it now doth stonde with me
with myn spowse I must forth passe
and wott nevyr whan I xal ȝow se
Therfore I pray ȝow here in þis plas
of ȝour blyssynge for charyte
and I xal spede þe betyr and haue more gras
In what place þat evyr I be
On knes to ȝow I falle
I pray ȝow fadyr and modyr dere
to blysse ȝour owyn dere dowtere
and pray ffor me in all manere
and I ffor ȝow all.
Joachym
Almyghty god he mote þe blysse
and my blyssynge þou haue Also
In all godnesse god þe wysse
on londe or on watyr wher evyr þou go.
Anna
Now god þe kepe from every mysse
and saue þe sownd in welth from wo
I pray þe dowtyr þou onys me kys
or þat þi modyr parte þe fro
I pray to god þe saue
I pray þe mary my swete chylde
be lowe and buxhum meke and mylde
Sad and sobyr and no thyng wylde
and goddys blyssyng þou haue.
Joachym
Ffor wel joseph and god ȝow spede
wher so ȝe be in halle or boure.
Joseph
Almyghty god ȝour weys lede
and saue ȝow sownd from all doloure.
95
Goddys grace on ȝow sprede
Ffare wel mary my swete fflowre
Fare weyl joseph and god ȝow rede
Ffare weyl my chylde and my tresowre
Ffare wel my dowtere ȝyng.
Maria
Ffare wel fadyr and modyr dere
at ȝow I take my leve ryght here
god þat sytt in hevyn so clere
haue ȝow in his kepyng.
Joseph
Wyff it is ful necessary þis ȝe knowe
þat I And my kyn-rede go hom be-fore
for in soth we haue non hous of oure owe
þer fore I xal gon ordeyn and thanne come ȝow fore
We Ar not ryche of werdly thynge
and ȝet of oure sustenauns we xal not mys
therfore A-bydyth here stylle to ȝour plesynge
to worchep ȝour god is all ȝour blysse.
þat I And my kyn-rede go hom be-fore
for in soth we haue non hous of oure owe
þer fore I xal gon ordeyn and thanne come ȝow fore
We Ar not ryche of werdly thynge
and ȝet of oure sustenauns we xal not mys
therfore A-bydyth here stylle to ȝour plesynge
to worchep ȝour god is all ȝour blysse.
he þat is and evyr xal be
Of hefne and helle Ryche kynge
in erth hath chosyn poverte
and all Ryches and welthis refusynge.
Of hefne and helle Ryche kynge
in erth hath chosyn poverte
and all Ryches and welthis refusynge.
Maria
Goth husbond in oure lordys blyssynge
he mote ȝow spede in all ȝour nede
and I xal here a-byde ȝour A-ȝen comynge
and on my sawtere book I xal rede
Now blyssyd be oure lord ffor this
of hefne and erthe and all þat beryth lyff
I am most bound to ȝow lord i-wys
ffor now I am bothe mayde and wyff.
he mote ȝow spede in all ȝour nede
and I xal here a-byde ȝour A-ȝen comynge
and on my sawtere book I xal rede
Now blyssyd be oure lord ffor this
of hefne and erthe and all þat beryth lyff
I am most bound to ȝow lord i-wys
ffor now I am bothe mayde and wyff.
Now lord god dyspose me to prayour
þat I may sey þe holy psalmes of dauyth
wheche book is clepyd þe sawtere
þat I may preyse the my god þer with
Of þe vertuys þer of þis is þe pygth
It makyht sowles fayr þat doth it say
Angelys be steryd to help us þer with
it lytenyth therkeness and puttyth develys Away.
þat I may sey þe holy psalmes of dauyth
wheche book is clepyd þe sawtere
þat I may preyse the my god þer with
96
It makyht sowles fayr þat doth it say
Angelys be steryd to help us þer with
it lytenyth therkeness and puttyth develys Away.
þe song of psalmus is goddys dete
synne is put A-wey þer by
It lernyth A man vertuysful to be
It feryth mannys herte gostly
who þat it vsyth custommably
it claryfieth þe herte and charyte makyth cowthe
he may not faylen of goddys mercy
þat hath þe preysenge of god evyr in his mowthe.
synne is put A-wey þer by
It lernyth A man vertuysful to be
It feryth mannys herte gostly
who þat it vsyth custommably
it claryfieth þe herte and charyte makyth cowthe
he may not faylen of goddys mercy
þat hath þe preysenge of god evyr in his mowthe.
O holy psalmys O holy book
Swetter to say than Any ony
þou lernyst hem love lord þat on þe look
and makyst hem desyre thyngys celestly
With these halwyd psalmys lord I pray the specyaly
ffor all þe creatures qwyke and dede
þat þou wylt shewe to hem þi mercy
and to me specyaly þat do it rede.
Swetter to say than Any ony
þou lernyst hem love lord þat on þe look
and makyst hem desyre thyngys celestly
With these halwyd psalmys lord I pray the specyaly
ffor all þe creatures qwyke and dede
þat þou wylt shewe to hem þi mercy
and to me specyaly þat do it rede.
I haue seyd sum of my sawtere and here I am
at þis holy psalme in dede
Benedixisti domine terram tuam
In this holy labore lord me spede.
at þis holy psalme in dede
Benedixisti domine terram tuam
In this holy labore lord me spede.
Joseph
Mary wyff and mayd most gracyous
displese ȝow not I pray ȝow so long I haue be
I haue hyryd for us a lytyl praty hous
and þer-in ryght hesely levyn wole we
Come forth mary and folwe me
to Nazareth now wele we go
And all þe maydonys bothe ffayr and fre
with my wyff comyth forth also
Now lystenyth well wyff what I tell þe
I must gon owth hens fer þe fro
I wyll go laboryn in fer countre
97
þis ix monthis þou seyst me nowth
Kepe þe clene my jentyl spowse
and all þin maydenys in þin howse
þat evyl langage I here not rowse
Ffor hese love þat all hath wrought.
Maria
I pray to god he spede ȝour way
and in sowle helth he mote ȝow kepe
and sende ȝow helth bothe nyth and day
he shylde and saue ȝow from al shenschepe
Now lord of grace to þe I pray
with morny mood on kne I krepe
me saue from synne from tene and tray
with hert I mourne with eye I wepe
lord god of pete
Whan I sytt in my conclaue
all myn hert on þe I haue
Gracyous god my mayden-hed saue
Euyr clene in chastyte.
| The Betrothal of Mary | |