Part 22

Heyl! moder Mary, maydyn perpetualle! _Maria._ A! welcome, mayde John, wyth alle myn herte in specyalle, ffor joye of youre presence myn herte gynnyth sweme; Thynke ye not, John, how my child eternalle, When he hynge on cros sayd us this teme, Lo! here thy sone, woman; so bad he me you calle, And you me moder eche othir to queme; He betok you the governayl there of my body terestyalle, On mayde to another at convenyens wold seme; And now that gracyows lord hath sent me yow sone. _Johannes._ Now, good fayr lady, what is ther to done? Tellyth the cause why I am heder sent. _Maria._ Swete sone, John, so wylle I anone; Owre lord God sent to me an aungyl that glent, And sayde I schulde passe hens where thre were in one, Tho I askyd the aungel to have you present. _Johannes._ A! holy moder, schul ye from us gone? My brether of this tydyngis sore wyl repent, That ȝe schuld ben absent. Ever trybulacyon, Lord, meche thou us sendyst, Thou oure mayster and oure comfort from us ascendist. And now oure joye, thy moder, to take thou pretendist, Thanne alle oure comfort is from us detent. But what seyde then aungyl, moder, onto you more? _Maria._ He brouth me this palme from my sone thore; Qwyche I beseke, as the aungyl me bad, That aforn my bere by you it be bore, Saynge my dirige devouthly and sad; ffor, John, I have herde the Jewys meche of me spelle. _Johannes._ A! good Lady, what likyth it you to telle? _Maria._ Secretly they ordeyne in here conseytis felle, When my sowle is paste where Godis sete is, To brenne my body and schamly it quelle, ffor Jhesu was of me born that they slew with here fistis; And therfore I beseke you, John, both fleche and felle Helpe I be beryed, for yn yow my tryst is. _Johannes._ ffere yow not, Lady, for I schal wyth you duelle: Wolde God my brether were here now and wyst this.

_Hic subito omnes apostoli congregentur ante portum mirantes_,

A! holy brether, wyth grace be ye met here now: Lord God, what menyth this sodeyne congregacyon? Now, swete brother Powle, wyl ye take this upon yow? Preye to God for us alle we may have relacyon. _Paulus._ Good brother Peter, how schuld I here pray now, That am lest and most unworthy of this congregacyon? I am not worthy to be clepyd apostle sothly I say yow, ffor as a wood man ageyn Holy Cherche I mad persecucyon, But nevertheles I am the grace of God in that that I am, lo! _Petrus._ A! gret is youre lownesse, Powle, brother evermo! _Paulus._ The keyes of hevene, Peter, God hath you betake, And also ye ben peler of lith and prynce of us alle; It is most sittyng to you this preyere to make, And I unworthy wyth yow preyen here schalle. _Petrus._ I take this upon me, Poule, for youre sake. Now, almythty God, that sittiste above cherubyn halle; In synge of thyn holy cros oure handis we make, Besekyng thy mercy may upon us falle, And why we ben thus met, yif it lyke, us lare. _Johannes._ A! holy brether, alle welcom ye are: Why ye be met here I schal you declare; ffor Mary, Goddys moder, by message is sent, That from this wrecchid world to blysse sche schal fare, And at here deying sche desyryth to have us present. _Petrus._ A! brother John, we may syhyn and care, Xif it displese not God for these tydyngis ment. _Paulus._ fforsothe so we may, Peter, hevyin evermore, That oure moder and oure comfort schuld ben us absent. But nevertheles the wyl of God fulfyllid mot be. _Johannes._ That is wel seyd, Poule, but herof bewar ye, That non of you for here deth schewe hevy speche, ffor anon to the Jewys it schuld than notyd be, That we were ferd of deth, and that is ageyn that we teche; ffor we seyn alle tho belevyn in the hol Trynyté, They schul ever leve and nouth deye, this truly we preche; And yif we make hevynesse for here, than wyl it seyd be, Lo! youe prechouris to deye they fere hem ful meche; And therfore in God now beth glad everychon! _Petrus._ We schal don as ye sey us, holy brother John: Now we beseke you, let us se oure moder Marie. _Johannes._ Now, in Goddys name, to here than alle let us gon; Sche wyl ben ful glad to se this holy companye. _Petrus._ Heyl! moder and maydyn, so was never non, But only the most blissid treulye. _Paulus._ Heyl! incomparabil quen Goddis holy tron! Of you spreng salvacyon and alle oure glorye; Heyl mene for mankynde and mendere of mys! _Maria._ A! wyth alle myn hol herte, brether, ye are welcom i-wys: I beseke you now to telle me of youre sodeyne metyng. _Petrus._ In dyveris contreys we prechid of youre sone and his blis, Diveris clowdys eche of us was sodeynely curyng; And in on were brouth before youre yate here i-wys, The cause why no man cowde telle of oure comyng. _Maria._ Now I thanke God of his mercy, an hy merakle is this; Now I wyl telle yow the cause of my sonys werkyng; I desyrid his bodily presence to se. _Johannes._ No wonder, Lady, thow so dede ye. _Maria._ Tho my sone Jhesu of his hye peté Sent to me an aungyl, and thus he sayd, That the thredde nyth I schuld assende to my sone in deité; Thanne to have youre presence, brether, hertly I prayed, And thus at my request God hath you sent me. _Petrus._ Wys gracyous Lady, we are ryth wel payed. _Maria._ Blissid brethere, I beseke you than tent me; Now wyl I rest me in this bed that for me is rayed; Wachith me besily wyth youre laumpys and lithtis. _Paulus._ We schal, Lady, redy alle thyng for you dith is. _Maria._ Now, sone, schul ye se what Godis myth is, My flech gynnyth feble be nature.

_Hic erit decenter ornatus in lecto._

_Petrus._ Brether, eche of you a candele takyth nowe rithis, And lith hem in haste, whil oure moder doth dure, And bisyli let us wachyn in this virgyne sythis, That when oure Lord comyth in his sponsed pure, He may fynde us wakyng and redy wyth oure lithis, ffor we knowe not the hour of his comyng now sure, And yn clennesse alle loke ye be redy. _Maria._ A! swete sone Jhesu, now mercy I cry, Over alle synful thy mercy let sprede!

_Hic dissendet Dominus cum omni celeste curia, et dicet_,

_Dominus._ The voys of my moder me nyhith ful ny; I am dyssend on to here of whom I dede sede.

_Hic cantabunt org._

_Maria._ A! welcom, gracyous Lord Jhesu, sone and God of mercy! An aungyl wold a ssuffysed me, hye kyng, at this nede. _Dominus._ In propire persone, moder, I wyl ben here redy, Wyth the hefnely quer yowre dirige to rede. Veni tu, electa mea, et ponam in te thronum meum, Quia concupivit rex speciem tuam. _Maria._ Paratum cor meum, Deus, paratum cor meum, Cantabo, et psalmum dicam Domino. _Apostoli._ Hæc est quæ nescivit thorum in delictis, Habebit requiem in respectu animarum sanctarum. _Maria._ Beatam me dicent omnes generationes; Quia fecit michi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus. _Dominus._ Veni de Libano, sponsa mea, veni, coronaberis: Ecce, venio, quia in capite libri scriptum est de me. Ut facerem voluntatem tuam, Deus meus, Quia exultavit spes meus in Deo salutari mee.

_Hic exiet anima Mariæ de corpore in sinu Dei._

_Dominus._ Now come, my swete soule, in clennesse most pure, And reste in my bosom brithtest of ble. Alle ye myn apostelis of this body takyth cure: In the vallé of Josephat there fynde schul ye, A grave new mad for Maryes sepulture, There beryeth the body withe alle youre solempnité, And bydyth me there stylle thre dayes severe, And I schal pere ageyn to yow to comfort your advercyté: Wyth this swete soule now from you I assende. _Petrus._ In oure tribulacyons, Lord, thou us defende! We have no comfort on erthe but of the alon. O! swete soule of Mary, prey thy sone us defende, Have mynde of thy pore brether when thou comyst to thi tron! _Chorus Mart._ Quæ est ista quæ assendit de deserto, Deliciis affluens injunxa super dilectum suum? _Ordo Angelus._ Ista est speciosa inter filias Jherusalem sicut vidistis eam, Plenam caritate et dilectione sicque in cœlum gandeus suscipitur, Et a dextris filii in trono gloriæ collocatur.

_Hic cantabit omnis celestis curia._

_Prima virgo._ Now, suster, I beseke you let us do oure attendaunce, And wasche this glorious body that here in oure sith is, As is the use among us wythoutyn ony varyaunce: Now blessid be this persone that bar God of mythtis. _Secunda virgo._ I am redy, suster, wyth alle myn hol affyaunce, To wesche and worschepe this body that so brith is; Alle creaturys therto owyn dew obeschaunce, ffor this body resseyvid the holy gostis flithtis.

_Et osculabunt corpus Mariæ._

_Johannes._ Now, holy brother Peter, I hertely you pray To bere this holy palme before this gloryous body, ffor ye ben Prince of Apostelis and hed of oure fay, Therfore it semyth you best to do this offis treuly. _Petrus._ Sere, and ye slept on Cristis brest seyng alle celestly, Ye are Goddis clene mayde wythoutyn any nay; This observaunce is most like you to do dewly, Wherfore tak it upon you, brother, we pray; And I schal helpe for to bere the bere. _Paulus._ And I, Peter, wyth oure brether in fere, This blessid body schal helpe to the ground; This holy cors now take we up here, Seyng oure observaunce wyth devouth sound.

_Hic portabunt corpus versus sepulturam, cum eorum luminibus._

_Petrus._ Exiit Israel de Egipto, domus Jacob de populo barbaro! Allelujah! _Apostoli._ Facta est Judea sanctificatio ejus, Israel potestas ejus! allelujah!

_Hic angeli dulciter cantabunt in cœlo “allelujah!”_

_Episcopus._ Herke, sere princys, what noyse is alle this? The erthe and the eyer is ful of melodye; I herde never er sweche a noyse now i-wys: Con ye outh say what they signefye? _Primus Princeps._ I not be my God that of myht meche is; Whatsumever they be hougely they crye: I am aferd there wylle be sumthyng amys, It is good prevely among us we spye Wythowte. _Secundus Princeps._ Now I have levyd this thre skore yer, But sweche another noyse herd I never er; Myn herte gynnyth ogyl and quake for fer, There is sum newe sorwe sprongyn I dowte. _Tertius Princeps._ Ya that there is, sothly, I say yow, The prophetis moder Mary is ded; The disciplis here beryn in gret aray now, And makyn alle this merthe in spyth of oure hed. _Episcopus._ ffy on you, lousy doggys, they were better nay; Outh, harrow! the devyl is in myn hed. Ye dodemusyd prynces faste yow aray, Or I make avow to Mahound youre bodyes schul blede. Now that quene is ded, The coward knytis in plate, And the tormentours thryfe schul ye late, ffaste, harlotys, go youre gate, And brynge me that bychyd body, I red. _Primus Princeps._ Dowte you not, sere byschop, in peyne of repref, Ded schal don schame to that body to tho prechours. _Secundus Princeps._ Sere, I schal geyne tho glaberis or gramly hem gref, Tho teynt tretouris schul tene yif my loke on hem louris. _Tertius Princeps._ To hurle wyth the harlotys me is ful lef, I schal snarle tho sneveleris wyth rith scharp schouris. _Episcopus._ Hens than, a develys name! and take me that thef, And bringe me that bygyd body evyn to-fore thes touris, And here disciplis ye slo. Hye you hens, harlotis, at onys, The devyl, boyes, mot breke youre bonys, Go stent me yone body wyth youre stonys: Outh, harrow! al wod now I go!

_Hic discendunt Principes cum suis ministris, ut feroci pecucienter petras cum eorum capitibus._

_Secundus Princeps._ What, devyl, where is this mené? I here here noyse but I se ryth nouth; Allas! I have clene lost my posté, I am ful wo, mad is my thowth. _Tertius Princeps._ I am so ferd I would fayn fle, The devyl hym spede hedyr me brouth; I renne, I rappe, so wo is me, Wynd and wod wo hath me wrouth! To deye I ne routh. _Primus Princeps._ A! cowardis, upon you now fy, Are ye ferd of a ded body? I schal sterte therto manly, Alle that company fere I ryth nouth.

_Hic saltat insanus adferetrum Mariæ et pendet per manus._

Allas! my body is ful of peyne, I am fastened sore to this bere, Myn handys are ser bothe tweyne. O! Peter, now prey thi God for me here: In Cayfas halle when thou were seyne, And of the, Peter, a mayde acusid there, I halpe the tho; now helpe me ageyne; That I were hol outh of this fere, Sum medycyne me lere. _Petrus._ I may not tend to the, sere, at this hour, ffor ocupacyon of this body of honour; But nevertheles beleve in Jhesu Criste oure Saveyour, And that this was his moder that we bere on bere. _Primus Princeps._ I beleve in Jhesu, mannys salvacyon. _Petrus._ In Goddis name go doun than, and this body honure. _Primus Princeps._ Now mercy, God, and gromercy of this savacyon! In Jhesu and his moder to beleve ever I senere. _Petrus._ Than take youe holy palme, and go to thi nacyon, And bid hem beleve in God, yif they wyl be pure; And towche hem ther wyth, both hed, hand, and facyon, And of her sekenesse they schal have cure; And ellis in here peynys indure. _Primus Princeps._ Gromercy, holy fader Peter, I schal do as the me teche her, Thankyng God ever in my speche her, Wyth hye repentaunce and herte most mure.

_Hic portabunt feretrum ad locum sepulture._

_Petrus._ Now, holy brether, this body let us take, And, wyth alle the worschepe we may, ley it in the grave, Kyssyng it alle at onys for here sonys sake: Now insence ye, and we schal put here in this cave.

_Hic ponent corpus in sepulcrum, insensantes et cantantes._

_Johannes._ De terra plasmasti me et carne induisti me, Redemptor meus, Domine, resuscita me in novissimo die! Now God blysse this body and we oure synge make.

_Hic unanimiter benedicent corpus “In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritûs Sancti.”_

The fruth that it bar oure soules schal save. Now rest we us, brother, upon this pleyn lake, Tyl from oure God and oure lord tydyngis we have, Here must we belave. _Paulus._ So muste we, John, as ye say; Thanne byde we here and pray, Besekyng hym of comfort that best may, Restyng here abowtyn this grave.

_Hic vadit Princeps ad Judæos cum palma._

_Primus Princeps._ Ye Jewys that langour in this gret infyrmyté, Belevyth in Crist Jhesu, and ye schal have helthe, Throw vertu of this holy palme that com fro the Trinyté, Yowr sekenesse schal aswage and restore you to welthe. _Secundus Princeps._ I beleve in Crist Jhesu, Goddis sone in unyté, And forsake my maumentryes fals in here felthe.

_Hic tangat credentes cum palma, et sanati sunt._

A! I thanke the, gracyous Lord, and thy moder of peté, Now are we hol of oure seknesse and of oure foule belthe! _Tercius Princeps._ What, harlotys, forsake oure lawe? _Secundus Princeps._ So hald I best the do. _Tercius Princeps._ Hens fro me in the develis name ye go! I deye, outh, outh, harro! The wylde develys mot me to drawe!

_Primus Demon._ Herke, Belsabub and Belyal, sere Sathan in the herne, Us fettyn oure servauntis to this presone, Blow flamys of fer to make hem to brenne, Mak redy ageyn we com to this demon. _Secundus Demon._ ffaste for tho harlotis now let us renne, To cast hem in this pet here that depe is adon, They schul brenne and boyle and chille in oure denne; Gowe now, a dewelys name, as fast as we mone! Harrow! harrow! we com to town. _Primus demon._ Drag we these harlotis in hye, Into the pet of helle for to lye. _Secundus demon._ Gowe now, helle houndis, ye crye, Sere Sathan may heryn oure sone.

_Dominus._ Now, aungyl and alle this court celestyalle, Into herthe now discendith with me, To reyse the body of my moder terestyalle, And bryng we it to the blysse of my deyt Assent ye here to now the unyté? _Angeli._ Ya, for yowre hye mercy, Lord, al hefne makyth melodé.

_Hic discendit et venit ad apostolos, dicens_,

_Dominus._ Pes be to yow alle, my postelis so dere! Lo! me here, yowre Lord, and youre God now rythtis. _Petrus._ A! welcom, Criste, oure comfort, in thy manhed clere! Gret merveylous God, mekyl now thy myth is! _Dominus._ What worschepe and grace semyth you now here, That I do to this body, Mary that hythtis? _Johannes._ Lord, as thou rese from deth and requyst in thyn empere, So reyse thou this body to thy blysse that lyth is, Us semyth this ryth is. _Mychael._ Ya, gloryous God, lo! the sowle here prest, now, To this blissid body likyth you to fest, now, Hefne and erthe wold thynke this the best, now, In as myche as sche bare you, God, in youre mythtis.

_Hic vadit anima in corpus Mariæ._

_Dominus._ Go thanne, blyssid soule, to that body ageyn: Arys now, my dowe, my nehebour, and my swete frende, Tabernacle of joye, vessel of lyf, hefnely temple, to reyn, Ye schal have the blysse wyth me moder that hath non ende; ffor as ye were clene in erthe of alle synnys greyn, So schal ye reyne in hefne clennest in mend. _Maria._ A! endles worchepe be to you, Jhesu, relesere of peyn! I and alle erthe may blisse the, com of owre kend: Lo! me redy with you for to wend. _Dominus._ Aboven hefnys, moder, assende than we, In endles blysse for to be. _Michael._ Hefne and erthe now injoye may ye, ffor God throw Mary is mad mannys frend.

_Et hic assendent in cœlum cantantibus organis, Assumpta es Maria in cœlum!_

_Dominus._ Yow to worchepe, moder, it likyth the hol Trinyté, Wherfore I crowne you here in this kyndam of glorye: Of alle my chosyn thus schul ye clepyd be, Qwen of Hefne and Moder of Mercy! _Michael._ Now blissid be youre namys we cry! ffor this holy assumpcyon alle hefne makyth melody.

_Deo gracias._

XLII. DOOMSDAY.

_Hic incipit dies Judicii, et Jhesu descendente cum Michaele et Gabriele Archangeletis Michaelus dicet, etc._

_Michael._ Surgite! alle men aryse, Venite ad judicium! ffor now is sett the hyȝ justyce, And hath assygnyd the day of dome. Rape ȝow redyly to this grett assyse, Bothe grett and smalle, alle an sum, And of ȝour answere ȝow now avyse, What ȝe xal sey whan that ȝe cum, ȝowre ansuere ffor to telle; ffor whan that God xal ȝow appose, Ther is non helpe of no glose, The trewthe fful trewlye he wyl tose, And send ȝow to hevyn or helle.

_Gabryelle._ Bothe Pope, prynce, and prysste with crowne, Kynge and caysere, and knyhtes kene, Rapely ȝe renne ȝour resonys to rowne, ffor this xal be the day of tene. Nowther pore ne ryche of grett renowne, Ne alle the develys in helle that bene ffrom this day ȝow hyde not mowne, ffor alle ȝour dedys here xal be sene Opynly in syght. Who that is fowndyn in deedly gylte, He were bettyr to ben hylte, In endeles helle he xal be spylte, His dedys his deth xal dyght.

_Omnes resurgentes subtus terram clamavit “Ha! a! a! ha! a! a! ha! a! a!” Deinde surgentes dicat, “ha! a! a!” etc._

Ha! a! a! cleve asundyr ȝe clowdys of clay, Asundyr ȝe breke and lete us pas: Now may oure songe be, wele away, That evyr we synnyd in dedly trespas!

_Omnes demones clamant._

Harrow and owt! what xal we say? Harraw we crye, owt and alas! Alas! harrow! is this that day, To endles peyne that us must pas? Alas! harrow and owt! we crye.

_Omnes animæ resurgentes dicant, etc._

A! mercy, Lorde! ffor oure mysdede, And lett thi mercy sprynge and sprede! But, alas! we byden in drede, It is to late to aske mercye.

_Deus._ Venite benedicti, My bretheryn alle, Patris mei ȝe childeryn dere; Come hedyr to me to myn hyȝ halle, Alle tho myn suterys and servauntes be; Alle tho ffowle wyrmys ffrom ȝow falle, With my ryght hand I blysse ȝow here. My blyssynge burnyschith ȝow as bryght as beralle, As crystalle clene it clensyth ȝow clere, Alle ffylth ffrom ȝow ffade. Petyr, to hevyn ȝatys thou wende and goo, The lokkys thou losyn and hem undo, My blyssyd childeryn thou brynge me to, Here hertys for to glade. _Petrus._ The ȝatys of hevyn I opyn this tyde: Now welcome, dere bretheryn, to hevyn i-wys; Com on, and sytt on Goddys ryght syde, Where myrthe and melody nevyr may mys. _Omnes Salvati._ On kne we crepe, we gon, we glyde, To wurchepp oure Lorde that mercyful is; ffor thorwe his woundys that be so wyde, He hath brought us to his blys. Holy Lorde, we wurcheppe the! _Deus._ Welcome ȝe be in hevyn to sitt, Welcum, fro me xul ȝe nevyr flitt, So sekyr of blys ȝe xul be ȝitt, To myrthe and joye welcum ȝe be! _Animæ dampnandum._ Ha! ha! mercy, mercy, we crye and crave, A! mercy, Lorde, for oure mysdede! A! mercy, mercy, we rubbe! we rave! A! help us, good Lord, in this nede! _Deus._ How wolde ȝe, wrecchis, any mercy have? Why aske ȝe mercy now in this nede? What have ȝe wrought ȝour sowle to save? To whom have ȝe don any mercyful dede, Mercy for to wynne? _Primus diabolus._ Mercy? nay, nay, they xul have wrake, And that on here fforehed wyttnes I take, ffor ther is wretyn with letteris blake, Opynly alle here synne. _Deus._ To hungry and thrusty that askyd in my name, Mete and drynke wolde ȝe ȝeve non; Of nakyd men had ȝe no shame, ȝe wold nott vesyte men in no preson; ȝe had no peté on seke nor lame, Dede of mercy wold ȝe nevyr don; Un herborwed men ȝe servyd the same, To bery the deed pore man wold ȝe not gon; These dedys doth ȝow spylle. ffor ȝoure love was I rent on rode, And for ȝour sake I shed my blode: Whan I was so mercyfulle and so gode, Why have ȝe wrought aȝens my wylle? _Secundus Diabolus._ I fynde here wretyn in thin fforheed, Thou were so stowte and sett in pryde, Thou woldyst nott ȝeve a pore man breed, But ffrom thi dore thou woldyst hym chyde. _Tertius diabolus._ And in thi face here do I rede, That if a thryfty man com any tyde, ffor thrust thow he xulde be deed, Drynk from hym thou woldyst evyr hyde; On covetyse was alle thy thought. _Primus diabolus._ In wratthe thi neybore to bakbyte, Them for to hangere was thi delyte, Thou were evyr redy them to endyte; On the seke man rewyst thou nought. _Secundus diabolus._ Evyr more on envye was alle thi mende, Thou woldyst nevyr vesyte no presoner; To alle thi neybores thou were unkende, Thou woldyst nevyr helpe man in daunger. _Tertius diabolus._ The synne of slauthe thi sowle xal shende, Masse nore mateynes woldyst thou non here, To bery the deed, man, thou woldyst not wende, Therfore thou xalt to endles ffere; To slowthe thou were ful prest. _Primus diabolus._ Thou haddyst rejoyse in glotonye, In dronkesheppe and in rebawdye, Unherborwyd with velonye Thou puttyst from here rest.

_Secundus diabolus._ Sybile Sclutte, thou ssalte sewe, Alle ȝour lyff was leccherous lay; To alle ȝour neybores ȝe wore a shrewe, Alle ȝour plesauns was leccherous play. Goddys men ȝe lovyd but fewe; Nakyd men and ffebyl of array ȝe wolde nott socowre with a lytel drewe, Nott with a thred, the sothe to say, Whan they askyd in Godys name. _Omnes dampnandi._ A, mercy, Lord! mekyl of myght, We aske thi mercy and not thi ryght, Not after oure dede so us quyth, We have synnyd, we be to blame.