34. The Shearmen's Play: The Road to Calvary

1 SOLDIER: They said that they would be here this Peace, lads and gentlemen who in this morn place stand! This faker forth to bring. Stir not once in this place, but stand To nap now is no good- stone-still, Hey! How! High may he hang! Or, by the lord that I believe in, I shall make your neck bend. 2 SOLDIER: Unless you are silent when I speak, Peace, man, for Mahound's own blood, your speech I shall spill Why make you such a crying? Smartly, and soon. For I am sent from Sir Pilate, with pride 1 SOLDIER: To lead this lad our laws to abide. What? Don't you know as well as I, He gets no better boon. This fellow is going to Calvary, And there to be done on a cross? Therefore, I command you all, on every side, 2 SOLDIER: On pain of imprisonment, that no man Since judgement is given that he must appear die, To succor this traitor, by time nor by Let us call to us more company, tide, Or we'll be too few, to our loss. [Nor any come forward to amend his cheer]: 1 SOLDIER: Not one of this press! Our gear must all be well-arrayed, Nor not once be so hardy for to enquire, And our fellows assembled soon; But help me wholly, all who are here, For Sir Pilate had said This captive's care to increase. He must be dead by noon.

Therefore, make room, and rule Where is Sir Wymond, do you know yourselves right, ought? That we may with this new-condemned wight 2 SOLDIER: Easily go on our way. He went to see that a cross should be He napped not all last night, wrought And today his death is in sight. To carry this cursed knave. Let us see who shall dare say nay! Because tomorrow shall prove 1 SOLDIER: To be our dear Sabbath day, I wish it would be quickly here brought, We wish that no evil be moved, For afterwards, other gear must be But mirth, in every way. sought That we shall need to have. We have been busy, all this morn, To clothe him and also to crown him 2 SOLDIER: with thorn, We'll need to have ladders and ropes As befits a carnival king. To yank him until he rave, But now, I believe, our fellows show And nails, and other japes, scorn; If we ourselves will save.

1 SOLDIER: 3 SOLDIER: To wait too long I an but loth; Nay, I have arranged even more; Unless Wymond comes, I take an oath Yea, these thieves are sent before We'll all be blamed, all three. That beside him shall hang. Hey! How! Sir Wymond Full-of-Sloth! And ladders also are ordered there, With good stout rungs, as a craftsman's 2 SOLDIER: care Hey! How! Sir Wymond, how! Demands-some short, some long.

3 SOLDIER: 1 SOLDIER: I'm here! What say you both? For hammers and nails Why do you shout for me? Let's see who'll go along. I have been to see them make This cross, as you may see, 2 SOLDIER: From that place over the lake- Here are spikes that shall not fail; They call it the King's Tree. Of iron and steel strong.

1 SOLDIER: 3 SOLDIER: Now, certainly, I thought the same, Then all is as it needs to be. That piece of wood, none will us blame But which of you shall carry this tree, To cut it for the "king." Since I have brought it hither?

2 SOLDIER: 1 SOLDIER: This fellow's called himself "king" at By my faith, bear it shall he home, That thereupon soon hanged shall be, And since this tree has such a name And we shall teach him whither. It is a fitting thing That his back on it may rest, 2 SOLDIER: For scorn and for mocking. Upon his back it shall be laid, For soon must we come thither. 3 SOLDIER: I thought that it seemed best 3 SOLDIER: For our business, this to bring. Look that our gear be well-arrayed, And let us all go together. 1 SOLDIER: It is well-knotted, I say to you. JOHN: In length and breadth if it be true, Alas, for my master who most is of Then this time was well-planned. might! Whom yesterday evening, with lanterns 3 SOLDIER: alight, To worry on that there is no need; Before the bishop was brought. I took the measure myself, indeed, Both Peter and I, we saw that sight, For the foot and the hand. And then we went on our ways, took flight, 2 SOLDIER: When the Jews their horrors wrought. And look how it is bored: In the morning the trial sped; Evenly, at every end. Falsehoods and lies they sought, This work will well accord; And doomed him to be dead, There's no need to amend. That them offended not. JOHN: Alas, for sorrow, what shall I say? No, my lady, I said not so. My worldly wealth is gone away, But remember that he told us two, In woe forever shall I wend. And them that with us were, My master, who broke the law in no How he with pain one day must go, way, And afterwards shall come us to Is doomed to be dead today, To amend our sighing sore. Even in his enemy's hands. There is no use instead Alas, that my master mild, To worry yourself therefore- Who all men's misdeeds may amend, Should so falsely be defiled, MARY MAGD: With no friends him to defend. Alas this day! For dread, Good John, name this no more! Alas for his mother, and others more; My mother, and her sisters also, Speak to me privately, I you pray, Sit together with sighings sore. For I fear that if we too much say They know nothing of all this woe; She will but run and rave. Therefore to warn them will I go, Since I can do no more. JOHN: Since he so soon shall die, The truth I must indeed now say: And they unknowing were, He is doomed to die today; Then worthy of blame were I. No sorrow can him save. I will go fast, therefore. MARY JACOBI: But in my heart great dread have I Good John, tell unto us two That his mother for sorrow shall die, What you from her will crave, When once that sight she spies.. And we will gladly go But still, I must not fail, surely, And ensure that it you have. To warn that careworn company Before indeed he dies. JOHN: ______Sisters, your mourning may not amend. But if you wish, before his end, God save you, every sister here! To speak with my master free, Dear lady, if your will it were, Then you must arise and with me wend I must tell news of pain. And greet him when his path does bend Outside this same city. MARY: If you wish to come that near, Welcome, John, my cousin dear! Come fast and follow me! How fares my son since you were here? That would I know, and plain. MARY: Ah, help me, sisters dear, JOHN: That I my son may see. Ah, dear lady, by your leave, From truth I'll not refrain; MARY MAGD: Against God's will no man should Lady, lean upon me thus, grieve. And we shall go, our leave to take. ______MARY: Since your son must go from us, Why John-is my son slain? I shall never you forsake. Alas, the time and tide; I know well the day is come MARY SALOME: That once was specified Alas, this is a curséd case. By the prophet Simeon in prophecy: He that all healing in his hand has The sword of sorrow now should run Shall, blameless, here be slain. Throughout your heart, utterly. Ah, Lord, please let me clean your face- Behold how he has shown his grace; MARY JACOBI: He shows his might and main! Alas, this is a sorrowful sight: This sign shall bear witness He that ever was lovely and light Unto all the people plain, And lord of high and low, How God's son, here guiltless, Oh, doleful now is this his plight. Is put to peerless pain. In the world is not so woeful a sight, So sorrowful to know. 1 SOLDIER: They that he loved the most Hey, why do you stand hereabout? In word and also deed These birds with their whimpering and Now have they this great haste their shout To death him thus to lead. Refuse to keep it down!

JESUS: 2 SOLDIER: Daughters of Jerusalem city, Go home, you bitch, and take your See, and mourn no more for me. clout, But think about this thing: Or by this lord you love, this lout, For yourselves now mourn must ye, You'll pay for it full dear. And for the sons that born shall be To you, both old and young. MARY SALOME: For such a fate must fall, This sign shall vengeance call That you shall give blessing On you, all that are here! To barren bodies all, That no babes forth can bring. 3 SOLDIER: Go, get you home withal, For surely, you shall see such a day Or you'll pay for it here. That with sore sighing shall you say Unto the hills' great height, JOHN: "Fall on us, mountains, if you may! Lady, your weeping grieves me sore. And cover us from that fierce affray That on us soon shall alight!" MARY: Turn home, the town untill, John, help me now and evermore. Since you have seen this sight. It is my father's will; All that is done is right. Return to York Pageant List.

35. The Pinners' Play: The Crucifixion 1 SOLDIER: We will; so let's begin. Sir knights! Take heed, quickly draw nigh! 1 SOLDIER: We must not delay this deed to do. Then to this work we must take heed, You know yourselves, as well as I, So that our working be not wrong. How lords and leaders of our law Have judged, as one, this fool should 2 SOLDIER: die. To tell us this there is no need; But let us haste to make him hang. 2 SOLDIER: Sir, their judgement well we know. 3 SOLDIER: Since we have come to Calvary And I have gone for gear, with speed: Let each man help as he should now. Both nails and hammers, large and strong. 3 SOLDIER: We all are ready, lo, 4 SOLDIER: This duty to fulfil. Then we may boldly do this deed. Let's kill this traitor, then; come on! 4 SOLDIER: Let's hear what we must do, 1 SOLDIER: And then go straight theretill. Good luck to young and old Who've done in this man's wise! 1 SOLDIER: It may not help to take too long 2 SOLDIER: If we shall any honour win. We need not to be told Such liars to chastise. 2 SOLDIER: He must be dead, they said, by noon. 3 SOLDIER: Since everything is well arrayed, 3 SOLDIER: The wiselier now work may we. Well, then, it's time that we begin. 4 SOLDIER: 4 SOLDIER: The cross on ground is stoutly made, Let's ding him down, and then have And bored just as it ought to be. done, So he won't vex us with his din. 1 SOLDIER: Look the lad on length be laid, 1 SOLDIER: And fastened then upon this tree. He'll hang and learn his lesson soon, With grief for him and all his kin. 2 SOLDIER: For all his feats, he shall be flayed; 2 SOLDIER: The proof of that you soon shall see. The foulest death of all He'll die because of sin. 3 SOLDIER: Come forth, thou cursëd knave; 3 SOLDIER: Thy comfort soon shall cool. That means, "cross" him we shall? 4 SOLDIER: 4 SOLDIER: Thy wages thou shalt have. Behold! Himself has laid him down, 1 SOLDIER: In length and breadth as he should be! Go on! Now work we well! 1 SOLDIER: JESUS: This tainted traitor, make him bound, Almighty God, my Father free, Go fast and fetter him, you three. Let these things be called to mind: And since he thinks to wear a crown, Thou bade I should obedient be, Just like a king here hang shall he. For Adam's plight for to be pained. Here, I take death willingly, 2 SOLDIER: So that from sin I save mankind. I won't waste any time I thee beseech, especially, Before his right hand's fast. That with my death, your grace they find. 3 SOLDIER: From the devil them defend, The left hand, then, is mine; So that their souls be safe Let's see who bears him best. In bliss without an end. I have nought else to crave. 4 SOLDIER: Well, then, I'll take the traitor's feet; 1 SOLDIER: Down to the hole I'll stretch this "king." Well, hark, sir knights, for Mahound's blood; 1 SOLDIER: Of Adam's kind is all his thought! And to his head will I take heed, And with my hands I'll help him hang. 2 SOLDIER: This warlock's wits are warped as wood; 2 SOLDIER: This doleful death dismays him not! Now since we four must do this deed, Though there's no profit in the thing, 3 SOLDIER: Let no man spare with utmost speed Remember thou, with mind and mood, An ending to it soon to bring. The wicked works that thou hast wrought! 3 SOLDIER: We have no time to spare, 4 SOLDIER: But we are well arrayed. He might have done himself some good, Not to say the things he thought. 4 SOLDIER: This boy here in our care 1 SOLDIER: Will find his deeds repaid! Those sayings shall rue him sore, For all his yammering, soon. 1 SOLDIER: Tell me, sir knights, have we done 2 SOLDIER: aught? Bad luck to them that spare Till he to death be done! 2 SOLDIER: Well, I believe I've got this hand; 3 SOLDIER: Right to the hole I have it brought Have done at once, boy; on the ground! Obediently, without a band. Now bend thy back beneath this tree! 1 SOLDIER: 4 SOLDIER: Then strike on, hard, by him thee 2 SOLDIER: bought! Let's see what mirth may make pain sweet; 2 SOLDIER: For that, my back now I would bend. This nail, I think, will stoutly stand; Through bone and flesh it shall be 4 SOLDIER: caught. Ah, this work is all unmeet! My work is good, you understand. This drilling ill we must amend.

1 SOLDIER: 1 SOLDIER: Sir, what is your report? Ah, peace, man, by Mahoun; The sun has nearly sunk. Let's waste no time on wonder. A rope shall tug him down 3 SOLDIER: Though all his sinews go asunder. His arm's a foot too short; The sinews must have shrunk. 2 SOLDIER: I know well how this cord to knit 4 SOLDIER: To cool the comfort of this sot. Perhaps the holes were bored too wide. 1 SOLDIER: 2 SOLDIER: Well, bind him hard, and get him set; Then he'll feel some bitter pain! How much it hurts him, matters not.

3 SOLDIER: 2 SOLDIER: Indeed, the drill was misapplied; Tug on, you both, a little yet. That makes this work a bad bargain. 3 SOLDIER: 1 SOLDIER: I shall not shirk, no matter what. Why chatter so? Let's get him tied, And stretch him; we'll not work in vain. 4 SOLDIER: And I'll be ready here, to hit. 3 SOLDIER: You boss us like an overlord; 2 SOLDIER: Come help to haul, you son of Cain. Now pull!

1 SOLDIER: 4 SOLDIER: Indeed, that shall I do Whoa! Far enough (As quickly as a snail). we've got!

3 SOLDIER: And I'll attach him to, 1 SOLDIER: With skill and with a nail. All right, drive in that nail, So no fault may be found. This work will hold; it won't be beat. His hands are fastened end to end. 4 SOLDIER: This effort would not fail 4 SOLDIER: If four bulls here were bound! Go we all four, then, to his feet; Our time efficiently we'll spend. 1 SOLDIER:

These cords had much increased his 3 SOLDIER: pains Now surely, I think we will not need Before he to the drillings got. To call to us more company. I think we four can do this deed, 2 SOLDIER: And haul him up that hill we see. Yea, burst apart are bones and veins On every side, as I had thought. 1 SOLDIER: It must be done by us, indeed. 3 SOLDIER: No more; let's do this speedily. Well, now his magic nothing gains; I'll lift this part and take the lead; His chattering shall with pain be On ground he must no longer be. bought. Therefore to work we bend, And bear him to that hill. 4 SOLDIER: I'll go and tell our sovereigns 4 SOLDIER: Of all our works and how we've Well, I'll bear up this end, wrought. And attend his toes un-till.

1 SOLDIER: 2 SOLDIER: No, sirs, another thing We two shall see to either side, Falls first to you and me. Or else this work will go all wrong. They said we should him hang On high, that men might see. 3 SOLDIER: We are ready. 2 SOLDIER: That deed will make us all too sore; 4 SOLDIER: We know that we commanded were-- Sirs, abide, And let me get a grip that's strong. 1 SOLDIER: No use is it to argue more; 2 SOLDIER: This villain must be hanged right here. Why spend your time on talk this tide?

2 SOLDIER: 1 SOLDIER: The mortice is prepared therefore... Lift up!

3 SOLDIER: 4 SOLDIER: So fasten your fingers on, all here. Let see!

4 SOLDIER: 2 SOLDIER: Upon that hill, and just us four? Oh! Lift along! We'll never raise this in a year! 3 SOLDIER: 1 SOLDIER: From all this harm he'd surely hide Now, man, why say you so? If he were God. You only lift things light? 4 SOLDIER: 2 SOLDIER: The devil him hang! He means, there must be more To lift him up on height. 1 SOLDIER: My shoulder's out of joint; My pain is far too great. And stop!

2 SOLDIER: 1 SOLDIER: Well, I am nearly spent And now? With bearing up this weight. 2 SOLDIER: 3 SOLDIER: The worst is past. This cross and I must separate Or else my back will splinter soon. 3 SOLDIER: He weighs a wicked weight. 4 SOLDIER: Stop the din; put down the freight. 2 SOLDIER: This deed by us can not be done. So did we all four say Ere he was heaved on height 1 SOLDIER: And raised in this array. Let's see if we may now abate Our work by thinking, everyone. 4 SOLDIER: For sturdy men should honour get, He made us slow as any stones, Not waste the day with jests alone. So awkward was he for to bear.

2 SOLDIER: 1 SOLDIER: Well, sturdier men than we Let's raise him nimbly, and at once, I think you will not find. And set him in this mortice here, And let him fall in all at once. 3 SOLDIER: For surely, that pain has no peer! This work is not for me; I have no second wind. 3 SOLDIER: Heave up! 4 SOLDIER: At such a loss we never were. 4 SOLDIER: I guess this churl some spells has cast. And drop! And all his bones 2 SOLDIER: Have shattered into pieces here. My burden made me very sore; Upon that hill? I shall not last! 1 SOLDIER: This falling felt more ill 1 SOLDIER: Than all the hurts he had. Lift up, and soon we'll get him there. Now every man can tell So, clamp on your fingers, fast. The least bone in this lad.

3 SOLDIER: 3 SOLDIER: And, lift! I think this cross will not abide Nor stand still in this mortice yet. 1 SOLDIER: Good, ho! 4 SOLDIER: The mortice-hole is over-wide; 4 SOLDIER: That makes it wave instead of set. A little more. 1 SOLDIER: 2 SOLDIER: It must be fixed on either side So that it shall no further flit. Forgive these men who these things do. Let's take these wedges for this tide What they do, know they not. And fix the base; then all is fit. Therefore, father, I crave Their sins be punished naught. 2 SOLDIER: But see their souls to save. Here are wedges arrayed For that, both great and small. 1 SOLDIER: Well, hark! He chatters like a jay. 3 SOLDIER: Where are our hammers laid 2 SOLDIER: That we should work withal? I think he patters like a pie.

4 SOLDIER: 3 SOLDIER: We have them even here, at hand. Well, he's been doing this all day, Discussing mercy; who knows why? 2 SOLDIER: Give me this wedge; I'll hammer it. 4 SOLDIER: Is this the same that did us say 4 SOLDIER: That he was son of God on high? Here is another ready, then. 1 SOLDIER: 2 SOLDIER: He was; that's why this price he'll pay; Bring it here; I'll make this fit. That's why he's ordered thus to die.

1 SOLDIER: 2 SOLDIER: Lay on then, hard. Va, qui destruis templum!

2 3 SOLDIER: SOLDIER; His words were thus, certain. I know that, man! I'll drive both with one sturdy hit. 4 SOLDIER: Now, this cross will stably stand. And, sirs, he said to some Although he squirm, they will not split. He might raise it again.

1 SOLDIER: 1 SOLDIER: Well, sir, how like you now To manage that he has no might, This work that we have wrought? For all the spells that he could cast. For though he thought his words were 4 SOLDIER: bright, We pray you, tell us how Despite his cunning, he's nailed fast. You feel. Or faint you ought? What Pilate judged is done this night, Therefore I think that we should rest. JESUS: All men that walk by path or street, 2 SOLDIER: My sufferings take heed unto. This thing must be reported right Behold my head, my hands, my feet, Throughout the world, both east and And fully feel, before you go, west. If any mourning may be fit, Or torment, equal this unto. 3 SOLDIER: My father that all pain may quit, Let him hang there still And make moues at the moon. Come, gather round--all sides to save.

4 SOLDIER: 4 SOLDIER: Then we can go at will. The short straw wins, just as it ought, Whether it fall to knight or knave. 1 SOLDIER: No, good sirs, not so soon. 1 SOLDIER: Fellows, you must not fight; For here's another thing to note: This mantle here is mine. This garment would I from you crave. 2 SOLDIER: 2 SOLDIER: Let's go then, and good night. No, no, sir, we will cast by lot This is a waste of time! To see which man this thing shall have. Return to York Pageant List. 3 SOLDIER: Then let's draw straws to win this coat.

36. The Butchers' Play: The Death of Christ

PILATE: And laboured to learn them his lay. Cease, citizens; see what I say: Entirely to my talking attend. ANNAS: Devoid all this din here today, Sir Pilate, of peace we you pray; Follow me, as is befitting a friend. Our laws would have likely been lorn. Sir Pilate, a prince past compare. He would not save our dear Sabbath My name now full namely I name. day; As doomsman, dependably fair; And that - to escape it - was scorn, Full even with Jews, without blame By law. Am I. Who causes oppression, PILATE: Does any transgression, Sirs, before your sight, By my discretion, With all my might, Shall be deemed duly to die. I examined him right; And in him then no cause I saw. To die, I shall deem them to death: Those rebels that rule them unright. CAIAPHAS: Those now to yon hill who pay heed, You know well, the cause in this case: May see there the truth in their sight: It touched upon treason untrue. Their cruel execution this night, The tribute, to take or to trace, Who like not our laws now to hear. He forbade, our bale to brew. Lo, thus by my main and my might, These churls I shall chastise and cheer ANNAS: By laws. Of jests always jangled that Jew, Each felon false, And cursedly called himself King. So shall hang by the neck; To doom him to death was his due; Transgressors also, For treason it touches, that thing. Should know they'll be knit to the Indeed! cross. CAIAPHAS: To know I shall knit them on cross; Yet principal, I'll wreck them with shame as they hap. And worst of all, Their lives thus to lose it's no loss, He would be called, Such truants with troubles to trap. God's Son. For that, foul may he Thus loyally the laws I unwrap, speed! And punish them pitilessly. Of Jesus it is a mishap, PILATE: That hung on that hill should he be, He speeds now to spill in a space, For guilt. So wonderfully wrought is your will. His blood to spill: His blood shall your bodies embrace This was your will. To this end, you've taken yourselves. You've had your fill. To speed him, with spite he was spilt. ANNAS: From now on, we'll happily fulfill CAIAPHAS: This; to our credit we'll take it full fain. To spill him, we spoke in great speed, Yon loser now likes it full ill. For falsehoods he followed, in faith; We've turned all his tricks into pain, With frauds all our folks he did feed, I trow

CAIAPHAS: PILATE: He was called King. Quod scripsi, scripsi. Ill joy him wring; That same wrote I; Yeah, let him hang, I stand thereby. Full mad at the moon he'll moo now! What gadfly will grouch there against?

ANNAS: JESUS: To moo at the moon thus he meant: Mankind, that of miss here has meant, To hell with you, traitor, in faith! To me, all attention now take: Who trusts now your tales to attend? On rood I am ragged and rent, You saggard, yourself you did say, You sinful souls, for your sake. The temple you'd cast down today! For your miss, amends I will make. By the third day, though every stone My back, now to bend will obey; falls, This pain, for your trespass, I take. You'd raise it again, you did say. Who could you more kindness display, Look how it feels to be false. Than I? Foul fall! Thus, for your good, For presumption, I shed my blood. Reward you've won. Man, mend your mood. If you'll come down, Full bitter your bliss I must buy. I shall "a comely King" you call. MARY: CAIAPHAS: Alas, for my sweet son, I say, I call you a coward again, That doleful, to death is thus done. That marvels and miracles made; Alas, for full lovely he lay, Who mustered among many men, In my womb, this worthiest one. But wretch, you spoke there without Alas, that I should see my son, heed! My son, once so seemly to see. You saved them from sorrows, they Alas, that this bright blossom, said, Untruly is tugged to that tree. Now save yourself, let us see; Alas! If you're truly God's son, as you said, My lord, my lief, Deliver you down from that tree! With full great grief, Anon! Hangs like a thief. If you are found Alas, he did never trespass. To be God's son We shall be bound JESUS: To follow you truly, each one! Woman, away with your weeping. For me, you may nothing amend. ANNAS: My father's will I am working, Sir Pilate, your pleasure we pray; For mankind my body I bend. Attend to our talking this tide, And wipe yonder writing away; MARY: It's not for the best that it bide. Alas, that you don't wish to stay, It's more fitting, you set it aside, How can I but weep for my woe? And write what he said in his lies, My comfort, to care, turns today. When he was imprinted with pride: Alas, why should we twin thus in two, "Jews' King am I, recognize" Forever? Full plain. JESUS: Look on me now and cease not: Woman, instead of me, How, willing, my body I bend. John, your son shall be. No man in this world would have mind, John, to your mother see; The sorrow I suffer for your sake. For my sake make this your endeavor. Be taught now through kindness, mankind; MARY: True attention to me, now take, Alas son, sorrow and sight; And trust. I wish I were closed in clay. For foxes, their dens have they; A sword of sorrow me smites; Birds have their nests to pay; To death I have come this day. But the son of man this day, Has nowhere his head now to rest. JOHN: Oh mother, such things do not say, THIEF ON LEFT: If you are God's son so free, I pray, in this crowd, be at peace. Why do you hang on this hill? For with all the might that I may, Save yourself now, let us see, Your comfort I'll ever increase. And us too, that speed now to spill. Indeed, Your son am I. THIEF ON RIGHT: On me rely; Man, stop your speaking, be still! From this place by, Doubtless, your god you dread not. I pray that away you will speed. Deserving, we've come to this hill, For wrongs we have unwisely wrought. MARY: But this: My bidding - to stand or to steer - No ill did he, How can I, such sorrow to see? To die this way. My son that is worthy and dear, Remember me, Now so doleful a death here dies he. When you have come into your bliss.

JOHN: JESUS: Dear mother, let go of this grief; In truth son, to you I say: Your mourning may not this amend. Because from your folly you'll fall, With me you'll dwell this very day, MARY CLEOPHAS: In paradise, placed principal. Dear mother, have faith now and see; Eloy, eloy, For succour to you he will send, My God, my God full free, This tide. Lamma sabbacthane? Why have you forsaken me, JOHN: In care? Fair mother, fast When I did never ill, Away let us cast. This death to so fulfill; But be it as you will. MARY: Ah, I thirst sore. Until he has passed, I shall willingly stay at his side. SERVANT: A drink I'll prepare you, indeed; JESUS: A draft that is daintily done. With bitterest bale I have bought Full fast I shall spring for to speed, Mankind. Thus your misses I mend. I hope I shall hold for that one. Please say something to me ere you CAIAPHAS: wend - Sir Pilate, that most is in might, Alas, now my dear son is dead! Hark - "Healing" I heard that one cry. Full ruefully rent is my head! He's going to that worthy wight, Alas, for my darling so dear! In haste now to help him on high, In his need. JOHN: Ah mother, now hold up your head. PILATE: Sigh not here with these sorrows If he does so, severe, He shall have woe. I pray.

ANNAS: MARY CLEOPHAS: He is our foe, It gives her pain, Who would dress him to do such a To see his pain. deed! Lead her away; This morning, no one comfort may. SERVANT: That deed, if he dress him to do, CAIAPHAS: For certain, he'll rue it full sore; Sir Pilate, perceive, I now pray, Nonetheless, if he likes it not - lo - That to keep well our customs you can. Pretty soon he'll recover that care. Tomorrow's our dear Sabbath day; Now sweet sir, if your will it were, To mirth, now must move every man. A draft of a drink I have dressed; Yon warlocks now all wax full wan, To suffer expense you may spare, And must quickly buried all be. To imbibe it now boldly is best. Deliver them dead sir, and then, But why? We'll issue to said solemnity, Vinegar and gall, Indeed. Are mixed in with all. Drink it you shall - PILATE: Your lips, I can see, are full dry. It shall be done, In words but one. JESUS: Sir knights, go yon, Your drink will not harm me up here. To those harlots, handily take heed: Understand that of this I'll have none. Now father, who formed all men here, Kill all those crooks with your knife; To your might most, I make moan; Deliver them when they are dead. In this place, all your will I have done. Thus ragged, and rent on this rood, SOLDIER: With cruelty to death I am done. My lord, I shall cut off their life, Forgive them, by grace that is good, Those wretches shall never bite bread. For they do not know what it was. My father, here are my bones; PILATE: Now are all things done. Longinus, step forth in this stead; To you, my spirit soon, This spear, now take hold in your hand. I commend: in manus tuas. To Jesus, go forth where you're led; You'll stray not; but stiffly will stand, MARY: A space. Now dear son, Jesus so gentle, In Jesus' side, Since my heart is as heavy as lead, Shove it this tide. No longer bide, On high, give me But promptly now go to that place. Jesus' body. I'd give it a grave all alone. LONGINUS: Oh, maker unmade, full of might, PILATE: Oh Jesus, so noble and gentle, Sir Joseph, I grant your request; You've suddenly sent me my sight! I will not begrudge him his grave. Lord, loving to thee must be lent! Deliver, have done, get him dressed, On rood, you are ragged and rent; And be sure, sir, our Sabbath to save. Mankind you now mend of his miss. Spitefully spilled and now spent; JOSEPH: This blood, lord, will bring us to bliss, With heart and both hands that I have, Full free. I thank you in faith, for my friend. Ah, mercy, my succour, God keep, may you no comfort crave Mercy, my treasure, Now swift on my way I will wend. Mercy, my Saviour; On high. Your mercy's remembered in me. To do that deed, May he give speed, CENTURION: Who these arms spread, What wonderful working is this? So man with his blood he might buy. The weather is waxing full wan. I trust, a true token it is, NICODEMUS: That mercy's extended to man. Well met sir. In mind I was grieved Conceive this full clearly, I can. For Jesus, who was judged so unjust. No crime in this corpse could they You laboured for licence and leave, know; To return his dead body to dust? Yet doleful, they still doomed the man, To lose thus his life by their law: JOSEPH: Not right. Full mildly I meant, since I must, I say truly, And to do so, I now must address. God's son was he, This man I see, NICODEMUS: Who was done to the death here I would that together we went; tonight. And nothing at all will stop us. Here's why: JOSEPH: Our friend was he, May that loyal lord, ever-lasting in land, Faithful and free. Sir Pilate, full pressed in this place, Save you, sir, by the sea and by sand, JOSEPH: And these worthy men on this dais. Therfore, go we To bury that body on high. PILATE: Joseph the Loyal, no less; All mankind may mark in their mind, You are welcome to me in this space. To see here this sorrowful sight. Tell truly, before you decease, No falseness in him could they find, Your worthy will here, what it is? Who was done to a death so unright. Anon! NICODEMUS: JOSEPH: He was a full worthy wight, I pray to thee: Now blemished and battered with Now, saviour of me and of more, blood. Do keep us in cleanness each one.

JOSEPH: JOSEPH: Yes, and because he had mustered his To your mercy, now I make my moan: might, As Saviour, by sea and by sand. Full falsely they felled this fair food. Guide me out of temptation alone, I've seen - To lead loyal life in this land, His back and sides, With ease. Have great wounds wide. Now forth this tide, NICODEMUS: We'll take him down us between. I've ointments - see? For this body. NICODEMUS: I anoint thee, Between us, we take him down, With the myrrh and with aloe of these. And lay him at length on the land. JOSEPH: JOSEPH: This deed is now done and complete; This reverent one, rich in renown; Well-wrought is the work of all this. Let us hold him and wash him by hand. My King, on my knees here I kneel, A grave here, I've recently ordered, That I might behold you in bliss. Which never held none; it is new. NICODEMUS: NICODEMUS: He told me with love to be his, To this corpse it's most comely One night when I came very near. accorded; Have mind Lord, and mend me of miss. To dress him with all the deeds due We've done all our deeds now, full dear, This land. This tide.

JOSEPH: JOSEPH: A sudary, May this lord good, I've brought with me. Who shed his blood, Wind him, shall we, Now mend your mood, And soon we shall set him in sand. And bring me to his bliss to abide.

NICODEMUS: In sand let us set him and go. Return to York Pageant List. Quickly, let's lay him alone.