Part 15
His place is now filled by a messenger, who announces the next play. The stage direction is--
_Here the messenger maketh an ende._
Make rombe, lordinges, and give us waye, And let Balacke come in and plaie, And Balame that well can saie To tell you of prophescie. That Lord that died on Good Frydaie, He save you all bouth nighte and daie! Fare well, my lordinges; I goe my waie, I may no longer abyde.
The ordinary reader has little or no idea of the literary and dramatic value of the plays, owing to the fact that printed copies are not easily accessible.
I have thought it well, therefore, to print (in a slightly shortened form) and to explain the following play.
It embodies most of the points mentioned in this article, it has distinct literary and artistic value, and, above all, the character of Herod made it the most popular play of the cycle, and is often alluded to.
Shakespeare uses the phrase “out-Heroding Herod.” Chaucer says of Joly Absalon:--
Sometyme to shewe his lightness and maistrye He pleyeth Herodes on a scaffold hye.
In the Paston letters we find Sir John Paston’s agent, in describing the high-handed proceedings of the Duke of Norfolk in 1478, saying, “There was no man that played Herod in _Corpus Christi_ play better and more agreeable to his pageant than _he_ did.”
It will be seen, I think, that the verdict of the general public was a sound and good one.
THE EIGHTH PAGEANT--“THE THREE KINGS.”
_Presented by the Vintners._
This must have been a striking sight, for the Three Kings, richly apparelled, accompanied the pageant-carriage on horseback through the city, and the First King tells how they are looking for the fulfilment of Balaam’s prophecy and seeking a sign.
FIRST KING.
Mighty God in majesty, That ruleth the people of Judye, When thou on man wilt have pity And his sins for-bye,
Send some tokening, Lord, to me, That ylke star that we may see That Balaam said should rise and be In his prophecy.
For well I wot, forsooth, I wis, That his prophecy sooth is, A star should rise betokening bliss When God’s son is born.
Therefore, these lords and I in fere (company) In this mount make our prayer Devoutly once in the year, For thereto we be sworn.
Then they dismount, and the Third King hands his horse to attendants:--
“Say, fellows, take this courser And abyde me right here, Go we, sirs, to our prayer I rede now in good faye; I have done this many a year, And my ancestors that before me were. High God, prince of power, Thou comfort us this day.”
Then they proceed on to the pageant-carriage which represented the “mountain” they had to ascend. On reaching the top, an angel appears carrying a star, and now the Kings burst forth into French:--
FIRST KING.
A, Sir Roy, si vous plaist Gardez sus sur votre test.
SECOND KING.
Une Esteile issi est Que sir, vous repleist.
THIRD KING.
A loys soyt luy une semblant De une virgin portant Comme le semble de une Infant Embrace apportement.
Then they fall on their knees, and the angel says:--
A! rise up, ye Kings three, And come along after me Unto the land of Judye As fast as you may hie; The child ye seek there shall ye see, Borne all of a maiden free, That King of heaven and earth shall be, And all mankind for-bye.
Then followed an incident which must have given great pleasure to the sightseers, for the Kings descended into the street[42] and mounted imitation dromedaries! The Second King says:--
Yea, sirs, I rede us every one Dromodaryes to ride upon, For swifter beasts be there none. One I have, you shall see.
[42] In the Coventry plays Herod “rages in the pagond and in the streete also.”
To which the Third King replies:--
A dromodary in good faye Will go lightly on his way A hundred miles upon a day, Such coursers now take we.
And then one MS. has the stage direction:--
“_Then the Kinges go doune to the beasts and ride about._”[43]
[43] Chester was accustomed to produce beasts of this sort. In 1564 an agreement between the mayor and two citizens shows that the latter undertook to provide yearly for 40s. “4 gyants, 1 unikorne, 1 dromodarye, 1 Luce, 1 Camel, 1 Dragon,” &c. These were for the midsummer play. Each beast required two men to work it.
After circling round the pageant-carriage they ascend it again, and then, the star having disappeared, they are in doubt as to the right way, but fortunately meet with a messenger or “explorator.”
FIRST KING.
Can thou say ought what place and where A child is born that crown shall bear And of the Jews be king?
SECOND KING.
We saw a star shine verily In the East in noble array, Therefore we come now this way To worship him with win.
MESSENGER.
Hold your peace, sir, I you pray For if King Herod heard you so say He would go mad, by my fay And fly out of his skin.
THIRD KING.
And sith a king is so near Go we to him in all manner.
MESSENGER.
You may well see he wounes here (lives here) A palace in to dwell. But moy he wot, withouten were, That any is born of more power, You bring yourselves in great danger Such tydinges for to tell.
“_Here the messenger goeth to the King and the mynstrilles must play_,” and the Kings are then introduced to Herod, and Court language again is spoken.
FIRST KING.
Sir Roy, royale et reverent, Dieu vous gardes Omnipotent.
HEROD.
Bien soies venues, rois gente; Me dites toute votre intent. (Welcome, stranger kings; Tell me what is your intent.)
THIRD KING.
Infant, queruns de grand parent Et roi de ciel et terre. (Seeking a child of great parentage And king of Heaven and Earth.)
Then Herod bursts forth in the following fine ranting speech:[44]--
[44] It compares very favourably with the “Coventry” play, where the ranting oversteps the mark and becomes balderdash.
HEROD.
Sirs, advise ye what you sayen; Such tidings make my heart unfayne; I rede you take these words again, For fear of villany.
There is none so great that me dare gain To take my realm, and to attain My power, but he shall have pain And be punished apertly.
I, king of kings, none so keen; I, soveraign sire, as well is seen; I, tyrant, that may both take and teen Castle, tower, and towne,
I wield this world withouten wene, I beat all those unbuxsome beene, I drive the devils all by deene Deep in hell adowne.
For I am king of all mankind; I bid--I beat--I loose--I bind, I master the moon: Take this in mind That I am most of might.
I am the greatest above degree That is, or was, or ever shall be. The sun it dare not shine on me If I bid him go down.
No rain to fall shall none be free Nor no Lord have that liberty That dare abide, and I bid flee, But I shall crack his crown.
Nor far nor near that doth me (an)noy Who wrathes me, I shall destroy; For every freak I dare defie That nill me pay ne please.
But you be bayne, I shall you beat, There is no man for you shall treat; [_Then aside_] All for wrath see how I sweat; My heart is not at ease.
And to carry out his pretence that he is not frightened but quite cool, he throws his sword up in the air and dexterously catches it while he continues:--
For all men may witte and see, Both he and you all three, That I am King of Galilee Whatsoever he saith or does. What the devil should this be! A boy--a groom of low degree Should reign above my Royalty And make me but a goose!
The Kings then answer:--
By prophecy well wotten we That a childe born should be To rule the people of Judye As was said many a year.
Herod says:--
Other kings shall none here be . . . . . But seeing you speak of prophecy Whether ye speak sooth or lye My clarke soon shall see.
He then bids his “chief of clergy” to look up the books of prophecy and tell him what they say.
Then the doctor reads the scriptures, and amongst other prophecies says:--
DOCTOR.
Daniel, fulfilled with heavenly grace, Prophesied also by divine inspiration, That when he was came, that all holy was, The most holiest in earth, to take his habitation In the womb of a virgin, and by his blessed incarnation Out of Satan’s band to deliver mankind, Whom sin original piteously did bind, Then both unctions, sacrifices and rites ceremonial Of the Old Testament with legal observation, Shall utterly cease and take their end final, Through Christ’s coming which for man’s salvation A New Testament shall ordain by divine operation Offering himself in Sacrifice for mankind’s offence, Which from Heaven was exiled through his great negligence.
HEROD.
Fie on that dream, reader! such dotards never shall Nor no sleeping sluggard make my right title cease But I shall knightly keep it, whatsoever befall, Against that young godling, and if he once do press This kingdom to claim, or put me to distress His head off shall I hew.... Yet look if thou find there Where this boy is born for whom these kings enquire.
DOCTOR.
Micheias, enflamed with ghostly inspiration, Prophesied that Bethlehem should a prince forth bring Ruler of God’s people and of the Jew’s nation Should he be born of Israel to be king.
. . . . .
Esay, unto whom the spirit of prophecy Was singularly given through the Holy Ghost In this time prophesied that kings witterly, And folk of strange nations from many a sundry coast, That prince’s birth to magnify which of might is most Should walk in great light, and brightness should appear As did unto these kings in a bright star shining clear.
HEROD (_throwing his sword down_).
Alas, what presumption should move that peevish page Or any elfish godling to take from me my crown? But by Mahomet! that boy for all his great outrage Shall die under my hand, that elfe and vile congeon! And all his partakers I shall slay and beat down, And both of him and his final destruction make Such vengeance, and such cruelty on them all will I take, That none such a slaughter was seen or heard beforne Sith Athalia here reigned.... Yet look and search again If these kings shall find him and his presence attain.
DOCTOR.
David of all prophets called most prepotent Prophesied that kings from Tharsis and Araby With mystical gifts shall come and present That lord, that king, and high Messie (Messiah), That in Bethlehem shall be borne, A child to save that was forlorne, And rule all Israel.
HEROD (_breaking his sword in his rage_).
By Mahoun! thou art foresworn. Have done; these books were best rent and torn. [_Throws the book on the floor._ For he shall be no king in crown But I fully in my weal. And mauger David, that shepherd with his sling Esay, Jeremy with all their offspring Here get no other Messiah nor king From my right title to expel, . . . . . This realm is mine and shall be aye Manfully to maintain it while I may. Tho’ he bring with him to-day The devil and all his host.
Then, concealing his anger, he turns to the Kings and suavely says:--
But go ye forth ye kings three And enquire if it so be But always come again to me, For you I think to feed. And if he be of such degree Him will I honour as do ye, As falls for his dignity, In word, thought and deed.
FIRST KING.
By leave, sir, and have good day Till we come again this way.
SECOND KING.
Sir, as soon as ever we may And as we see so shall we say.
THIRD KING.
And of his riches and his array From you we shall not leave.
HEROD.
Farewell Lords, in good faye But hye you fast again.
Immediately the Kings retire, Herod breaks forth again:--
Out alas! what the devil is this? For shame almost I fare amiss For was I never so cool, I wyss For wrath I am near woode (mad)! For every man may well say this That I maintain my realm amiss To let a boy inherit my bliss That never was of my blood.
But to-morrow he will--
Raise the country on every side, All that may ever go or ride; So shall this boy lose his pride For all his greatest boast.
Now he can do no more, and he sinks back, exhausted, into a chair:--
This boast doth me so great annoy That I wax dull and clean dry. Have done!--and fill the wine in high, I die but I have drink. Fill fast and let the cups fly And go we hither hastily; For I must ordain curiously Against these Kings coming.
Such is the play of _The Three Kings_, and there can be no doubt whatever of its fine dramatic effect. We cannot wonder that this character of Herod is mentioned by old writers more than other characters of the plays. Imperious and proud, firmly believing in his own kingly right, but, like most ignorant people, profoundly impressed by prophecies and vaticinations which he did not understand, Herod is now impelled forward by swaggering pride and now dragged back by craven fear and subtle influences.
The part gives the actor every opportunity to show forth his art, and the calm, clear tones of the doctor quietly reading the scriptures give the required dramatic contrast. The speeches show the traces of late literary labour, and that we had got within measurable distance of blank verse when the play received its last polish, though the original play was probably founded on an early Latin one called _Herodes, sive magorum adoratio_.[45]
“Postea Herodes interroget Scribas, dicens: O vos scribae Interrogati dicite Si quid de hoc puero Scriptum videritis in libro.
Tunc Scribae diu revolvant librum, et tandem inventa quasi prophetica dicant....
Vidimus, Domine, in prophetarum Lineis, nasci Christum In Bethleem Iudae civitate David propheta sic vaticinante.
Tunc Herodes, visa prophetica, furore accensus, _projiciat librum_,” &c.
[45] See Wright’s _Early Mysteries_, p. 26.
This play, together with the play of _The Salutation and the Nativity_ and _The Shepherds’ Play_, was acted at Chester in 1906 by Mr. Nugent Monck and his “English Drama Company” under the auspices of the Chester and North Wales Archæological Society, and with success, but the expense was too great to admit of the whole cycle being performed. The same plays have also been performed in London by Mr. Monck’s company, and by Mr. Benson’s company at Stratford-on-Avon during the Shakespeare Commemoration week.
In conclusion, I would point out that the motto of the city of Chester is curious and indeed unique:--
“Antiqui colant Antiquum Dierum.”
“_Let the ancient people worship the Ancient of Days._”
I cannot help thinking that this contains an occult reference to the Chester Mystery Plays.
THE SIEGE OF CHESTER
By the Archdeacon of Chester[46]
[46] The writer has got most of the information in this paper from _The History of the Siege of Chester_, published by Broster in 1790.
The city of Chester, with its ancient walls and ramparts, erected as they were for the protection of the inhabitants, must have experienced many an onslaught, and again and again its citizens must have known what it was to be besieged for a shorter or a longer period. But _the_ Siege of Chester--the one, that is, which stands out in history so that it deserves this definite title--is the one that occurred in the time of the Civil War, and which lasted practically for three years, and for one year at least was very close.
Bishop Creighton has told us that “the Civil War wrought greater havoc in Cheshire than in any other part of the country”; and the city of Chester suffered, we may say, more severely than any other place in the county. The city, as Lord Clarendon tells us, “was firm to the King, by the virtue of its inhabitants.” Not that quite all were of the same mind, for on August 8, 1642, a determined attempt was made to rouse the disaffected within the city and induce them to enlist themselves on the side of the Parliament. The vigorous action of the Mayor, Thomas Cowper, repressed the movement, and, in fact, gave rise to a vigorous counter-movement and to the raising and equipment of 300 men in the following October in addition to the ordinary _trained band_. A regular and continuous watch was appointed for each of the four city gates, and a levy or assessment made for its maintenance. A little more than three months later, on February 3, 1643, a further assessment of £500 was made and forthwith collected for the making of fortifications, and for defraying divers charges incident thereunto. When these loyal proceedings were reported to his Majesty, he thought it necessary to send to his faithful citizens at Chester an officer of skill and experience to direct their courage, and appointed Sir Nicholas Byron, a soldier of very good command, as Colonel General of Cheshire and Shropshire and Governor of Chester. He inspired great enthusiasm, and was able, with the encouragement of some gentlemen in North Wales, to raise a considerable body of horse and foot. He also directed the operations with such vigour that the outworks and entrenchments were completed in the summer, giving a further protection outside the walls from Pemberton’s Parlour right round to the river. Meanwhile Sir William Brereton, a gentleman of competent fortune in the county, had taken command of the Parliamentary forces, and established himself at Nantwich, which he fortified. From that place he made an attack upon Chester on July 20th, but was driven back with some loss, and proceeded to Flint, joining in the siege of that castle till its surrender upon honourable terms, owing to lack of provisions, was effected. Whilst this siege was proceeding the houses and buildings just outside the entrenchments were cleared away. The King thought it desirable to visit Chester in person; the city being of the greatest importance as the key to Ireland. Accordingly he despatched a courier from Stafford on September 18, 1643, and announced his intention; and five days later, attended by many of the nobility and gentry, approached the city and was received by the civic authorities and the citizens with all loyal devotion. The Mayor delivered the city sword to the King, who graciously returned it, when the Mayor, bare-headed, carried it before his Majesty to the Pentice, where the King was entertained and presented with £200 in gold, and £100 was given to the Prince of Wales. The King’s stay in the city was very brief, and after a few days he departed, having heard from Prince Rupert of the advantage gained by his forces before Worcester. Shortly afterwards Sir William Brereton occupied Hawarden Castle, and from there demanded the surrender of the city of Chester. As a matter of precaution the houses in the intervening suburb of Handbridge and the neighbourhood were destroyed by the authorities of Chester; and eventually Hawarden Castle, which had been invested by the King’s forces from Ireland, aided by reinforcements from Chester, capitulated on honourable terms. Meanwhile Beeston Castle, on a commanding position a few miles from the city, had been occupied by the Parliamentarians; but on December 13, 1643, it fell into the hands of the Royalists, who were led by Captain Thomas Sandford, “Captain of Firelocks.” A few weeks later the head of the surrendered garrison, Captain Steel, was condemned at Nantwich by his own party and shot as a traitor.
It will be readily understood that the citizens had to put forth supreme efforts to maintain their troops and defend their position. Accordingly we find various resolutions passed at their assemblies with these objects in view. At one of them the Mayor was desired to repair with all speed to Oxford to present a petition to his Majesty in answer to a gracious letter received by him. Payments were ordered and levies made for the reparation of the mud walls as outworks, and for the repair of the city walls and cleaning out of the city ditch, &c. In January 1644 one hundred pounds’ worth of the city plate was converted into coin to be used for the defence of the city, whilst a further assessment was levied for the perfecting of the works, and for provisioning the garrison. It was also ordered that £300 should be presented to the King and a like amount to the Prince of Wales. Lord Byron, nephew of the governor, was in command of the Royalist forces; and although he had gained a signal victory near Middlewich in December 1643, he failed a month later in his siege of Nantwich, and had to make good his retreat to Chester. Early in 1644 the Parliamentarians advanced close to the city and effected a lodgment at Christleton. They were forced to retire; but to prevent danger in the future the suburb of Great Boughton was burnt down by the citizens, so that the enemy might not harbour there.
In March 1644, Prince Maurice arrived in the city, and a form of loyal protestation was drawn up, which was to be submitted “to all the nobility, gentry, divines, citizens, and all other inhabitants of the city.” In the summer and autumn of this year the city was more closely surrounded by troops under the command first of Colonel Jones and subsequently of Sir William Brereton himself. Various communications passed between the besiegers and the besieged, in which the former were urged to submit, a course they strenuously refused to adopt. They were, however, in a very confused situation, having nothing but the city wall for their defence. The frequent assessments which had become necessary also caused a good deal of discontent, and it was found expedient to nominate a number of soldiers to collect them. On November 18th, Sir William Brereton demanded the surrender of the city “by trumpet,” and to this, after a second letter on the following day, an indignant refusal was rendered. The confusion occasioned by the war led to no Mayor being elected this year. A “faithful well-wisher,” by a letter tied to an arrow and shot into the city, endeavoured by insinuating methods to induce the citizens to betray their trust, but without success; though the constant levying of assessments showed strongly the state to which the garrison must have been reduced, and the heavy demands which were made on the loyalty and patriotism of the besieged.