f 38r

Explicit Vna pagina pastorum

Incipit Alia eorundem

[Personae:
Primus Pastor: Coll
Secundus Pastor: Gyb
Tercius Pastor: Daw
Mak
Vxor ejus: Gyll
Angelus
Maria
Christ Child]


P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Lord, what these weders are cold!
And I am yll happyd;
I am nerehande dold,
So long haue I nappyd;

5

My legys thay fold,
My fyngers ar chappyd,
It is not as I wold,
For I am al lappyd
In sorow.

10

In stormes and tempest,
Now in the eest, now in the west,
Wo is hym has neuer rest
Mydday nor morow!

Bot we sely husbandys

15

That walkys on the moore,
In fayth we ar nerehandys
Outt of the doore.

f 38v

No wonder, as it standys,
If we be poore,

20

For the tylthe of oure landys
Lyys falow as the floore,
As ye ken.
We ar so hamyd,
Fortaxed and ramyd,

25

We ar mayde handtamyd,
With thyse gentlery-men.

Thus thay refe vs oure rest
Oure Lady theym wary!
These men that ar lord-fest

30

Thay cause the ploghe tary;
That, men say, is for the best -
We fynde it contrary.
Thus ar husbandys opprest,
In ponte to myscary

35

On lyfe.
Thus hold, thay vs hunder,
Thus thay bryng vs in blonder;
It were greatte wonder
And euer shuld we thryfe.

40

For may he gett a paynt slefe
Or a broche now-on-dayes,
Wo is hym that hym grefe
Or onys agane-says!
Dar noman hym reprefe

45

What mastry he mays;
And yit may noman lefe
Oone word that he says -
No letter.
He can make purveance

50

With boste and bragance,
And all is thrugh mantenance
Of men that are gretter.

Ther shall com a swane
As prowde as a po;

55

He must borow my wane,
My ploghe also;
Then I am full fane
To graunt or he go.
Thus lyf we in payne

60

Anger, and wo,
By nyght and day.
He must haue if he langyd,
If I shuld, forgang it;
I were better be hangyd

65

Then oones say hym nay.

It dos me good, as I walk
Thus by myn oone,
Of this warld for to talk
In maner of mone.

70

To my shepe wyll I stalk
And herkyn anone,
Ther abyde on a balk
Or sytt on a stone
Full soyne;

75

For I trowe, perdé,
Trew men if thay be,
We gett more compané
Or it be noyne.

S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Bensté and Dominus,

80

What may this bemeyne?
Why fares this warld thus?
Oft haue we not sene.
Lord, thyse weders ar spytus
And the wyndys full kene.

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And the frostys so hydus
Thay water myn eeyne,
No ly.
Now in dry, now in wete,
Now in snaw, now in slete,

90

When my shone freys to my fete,
It is not all esy.

Bot as far as I ken
Or yit as I go,
We sely wedmen

95

Dre mekyll wo:
We haue sorow then and then;
It fallys oft so.
Sely Copyle, oure hen,
Both to and fro

100

She kakyls;
Bot begyn she to crok,
To groyne or to clok,
Wo is hym is of oure cok,
For he is in the shakyls.

105

These men that ar wed
Haue not all thare wyll;
When they ar full hard sted,
Thay sygh full styll.
God wayte thay ar led

110

Full hard and full yll;
In bowere nor in bed
Thay say noght thertyll
This tyde.
My parte haue I fun,

115

I know my lesson:
Wo is hym that is bun,
For he must abyde.

Bot now late in oure lyfys
A meruell to me,

120

That I thynk my hart ryfys
Sich wonders to see;
What that destany dryfys
It shuld so be -
Som men wyll haue two wyfys

125

And som men thre
In store;
Som ar wo that has any.
Bot so far can I:
Wo is hym that has many,

130

For he felys sore.

Bot, yong men, of wowyng,
For God that you boght,
Be well war of wedyng,
And thynk in youre thoght,

135

«Had-I-wyst» is a thyng
It seruys of noght.
Mekyll styll mowrnyng
Has wedyng home broght,
And grefys,

140

With many a sharp showre;
For thou may cach in an owre
That shall sow the full sowre
As long as thou lyffys.

For, as euer red I pystyll,

145

I haue oone to my fere
As sharp as a thystyll
As rugh as a brere;
She is browyd lyke a brystyll,
With a sowre-loten chere;

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Had she oones wett hyr whystyll,
She couth syng full clere
Hyr Paternoster.
She is as greatt as a whall,
She has a galon of gall;

155

By hym that dyed for vs all,
I wald I had ryn to I had lost hir!

P r i m u s  P a s t o r
God looke ouer the raw,
Full defly ye stand!
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Yee, the dewill in thi maw,

160

So tariand!
Sagh thou awre of Daw?
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Yee, on a ley-land
Hard I hym blaw.
He commys here at hand,

165

Not far.
Stand styll.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
    Qwhy?
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
For he commys, hope I.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
He wyll make vs both a ly
Bot if we be war.

T e r c i u s  P a s t o r

170

Crystys crosse me spede,
And Sant Nycholas!
Therof had I nede;
It is wars then it was.
Whoso couthe take hede

175

And lett the warld pas,
It is euer in drede
And brekyll as glas,
And slythys.
This warld fowre neuer so,

180

With meruels mo and mo:
Now in weyll, now in wo,
And all thyng wrythys.

Was neuer syn Noe floode
Sich floodys seyn,

185

Wyndys and ranys so rude,
And stormes so keyn
Som stamerd, som stod
In dowte, as I weyn.
Now God turne all to good!

190

I say as I mene,
For ponder:
These floodys so thay drowne,
Both in feyldys and in towne,
And berys all downe;

195

And that is a wonder.

We that walk on the nyghtys,
Oure catell to kepe,
We se sodan syghtys
When othere men slepe.

200

Yit me thynk my hart lyghtys;
I se shrewys pepe.
Ye ar two all-wyghtys -
I wyll gyf my shepe
A turne.

205

Bot full yll haue I ment,
As I walk on this bent;
I may lyghtly repent,
My toes if I spurne.

A, syr, God you saue,

210

And master myne!
A drynk fayn wold I haue,
And somwhat to dyne.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Crystys curs, my knaue
Thou art a ledyr hyne!
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r

215

What, the boy lyst raue!
Abyde vnto syne;
We haue mayde it,

f 40r

Yll thryft on thy pate!
Though the shrew cam late,

220

Yit is he in state
To dyne - if he had it.

T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Sich seruandys as I,
That swettys and swynkys,
Etys oure brede full dry,

225

And that me forthynkys.
We ar oft weytt and wery
When master-men wynkys,
Yit commys full lately
Both dyners and drynkys;

230

Bot nately
Both oure dame and oure syre,
When we haue ryn in the myre,
Thay can nyp at oure hyre,
And pay vs full lately.

235

Bot here my trouth, master:
For the fayr that ye make,
I shall do therafter -
Wyrk as I take.
I shall do a lytyll, syr,

240

And emang euer lake,
For yit lay my soper
Neuer on my stomake
In feyldys.
Wherto shuld I threpe?

245

With my staf can I lepe;
And men say «Lyght chepe
Letherly foryeldys.»

P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Thou were an yll lad
To ryde on wowyng

250

With a man that had
Bot lytyll of spendyng.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Peasse, boy, I bad.
No more ianglyng,
Or I shall make the full rad,

255

By the heuens kyng!
With thy gawdys -
Where ar oure shepe, boy? - we skorne.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Sir, this same day at morne
I thaym left in the corne,

260

When thay rang lawdys.

They haue pasture good,
Thay can not go wrong.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
That is right. By the roode,
Thyse nyghtys ar long!

265

Yit I wold, or we yode,
Oone gaf vs a song.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
So I thoght as I stode,
To myrth vs emong.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
I grauntt.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r

270

Lett me syng the tenory.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
And I the tryble so hye.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Then the meyne fallys to me.
Lett se how ye chauntt.

Tunc intrat Mak in clamide se super togam vestitus.

M a k
Now lord, for thy naymes sevyn,

275

That made both moyn and starnes
Well mo then I can neuen,
Thi will, Lorde, of me tharnys.

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I am all vneuen;
That moves oft my harnes.

280

Now wold God I were in heuen,
For the[r] wepe no barnes
So styll.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Who is that pypys so poore?
M a k
Wold God ye wyst how I foore!

285

Lo, a man that walkys on the moore
And has not all his wyll.

S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Mak, where has thou gone?
Tell vs tythyng.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Is he commen? then ylkon

290

Take hede to his thyng.
Et accipit clamidem ab ipso.
M a k
What! ich be a yoman,
I tell you, of the kyng,
The self and the some,
Sond from a greatt lordyng,

295

And sich.
Fy on you! Goyth hence
Out of my presence!
I must haue reuerence.
Why, who be ich?

P r i m u s  P a s t o r

300

Why make ye it so qwaynt?
Mak, ye do wrang.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Bot, Mak, lyst ye saynt?
I trow that ye lang.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
I trow the shrew can paynt,

305

The dewyll myght hym hang!
M a k
Ich shall make complaynt,
And make you all to thwang
At a worde,
And tell euyn how ye doth.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r

310

Bot, Mak, is that sothe?
Now take outt that Sothren tothe,
And sett in a torde!

S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Mak, the dewill in youre ee!
A stroke wold I leyne you.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r

315

Mak, know ye not me?
By God, I couthe teyn you.
M a k
God looke you all thre!
Me thoght I had sene you;
Ye ar a fare compané.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r

320

Can ye now mene you?
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Shrew, pepe!
Thus late as thou goys,
What wyll men suppos?
And thou has an yll noys

325

Of stelyng of shepe.

M a k
And I am trew as steyll,
All men waytt;
Bot a sekenes I feyll
That haldys me full haytt:

330

My belly farys not weyll;
It is out of astate.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Seldom lyys the dewyll
Dede by the gate.
M a k
Therfor

335

Full sore am I and yll.
If I stande stone-styll,
I ete not an nedyll
Thys moneth and more.

P r i m u s  P a s t o r
How farys thi wyff? By thi hoode,

340

How farys she?
M a k
Lyys walteryng - by the roode -
By the fyere, lo!

f 41r

And a howse full of brude.
She drynkys well, to;

345

Yll spede othere good
That she wyll do!
Bot s[h]o
Etys as fast as she can,
And ilk yere that commys to man

350

She bryngys furth a lakan -
And, som yeres, two.

Bot were I now more gracyus
And rychere be far,
I were eten outt of howse

355

And of harbar.
Yit is she a fowll dowse,
If ye com nar;
Ther is none that trowse
Nor knowys a war

360

Then ken I.
Now wyll ye se what I profer? -
To gyf all in my cofer
To-morne at next to offer
Hyr hed-maspenny.

S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r

365

I wote so forwakyd
Is none in this shyre;
I wold slepe, if I takyd
Les to my hyere.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
I am cold and nakyd,

370

And wold haue a fyere.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
I am wery, forrakyd,
And run in the myre -
Wake thou!
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Nay, I wyll lyg downe by,

375

For I must slepe truly.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
As good a mans son was I
As any of you.

Bot, Mak, com heder! Betwene
Shall thou lyg downe.
M a k

380

Then myght I lett you bedene
Of that ye wold rowne,
No drede.
Fro my top to my too,
Manus tuas commendo,

385

Poncio Pilato;
Cryst-crosse me spede!

Tunc surgit, pastoribus dormientibus, et dicit:

Now were tyme for a man
That lakkys what he wold
To stalk preuely than

390

Vnto a fold,
And neemly to wyrk than
And be not to bold,
For he myght aby the bargan,
If it were told

395

At the endyng.
Now were tyme for to reyll;
Bot he nedys good counsell
That fayn wold fare weyll,
And has bot lytyll spendyng.

400

Bot abowte you a serkyll
As rownde as a moyn,
To I haue done that I wyll,
Tyll that it be noyn,
That ye lyg stone-styll

405

To that I haue doyne;
And I shall say thertyll
Of good wordys a foyne:
«On hight,

f 41v

Ouer youre heydys, my hand I lyft.

410

Outt go youre een! Fordo your syght!»
Bot yit I must make better shyft
And it be right.

Lord! what thay slepe hard!
That may ye all here.

415

Was I neuer a shepard,
Bot now wyll I lere.
If the flok be skard,
Yit shall I nyp nere.
How! drawes hederward!

420

Now mendys oure chere
From sorow
A fatt shepe, I dar say,
A good flese, dar I lay.
Eft-whyte when I may,

425

Bot this will I borow.

How, Gyll, art thou in?
Gett vs som lyght.
V x o r  e i u s
Who makys sich dyn
This tyme of the nyght?

430

I am sett for to spyn;
I hope not I myght
Ryse a penny to wyn,
I shrew them on hight!
So farys

435

A huswyff that has bene
To be rasyd thus betwene.
Here may no note be sene
For sich small charys.

M a k
Good wyff, open the hek!

440

Seys thou not what I bryng?
V x o r
I may thole the dray the snek.
A, com in, my swetyng!
M a k
Yee, thou thar not rek
Of my long standyng.
V x o r

445

By the nakyd nek
Art thou lyke for to hyng!
M a k
Do way!
I am worthy my mete,
For in a strate can I gett

450

More then thay that swynke and swette
All the long day.

Thus it fell to my lott.
Gyll, I had sich grace.
V x o r
It were a fowll blott

455

To be hanged for the case.
M a k
I haue skapyd, Ielott,
Oft as hard a glase.
V x o r
«Bot so long goys the pott
To the water,» men says,

460

«At last
Comys it home broken.»
M a k
Well knowe I the token,
Bot let it neuer be spoken,
Bot com and help fast.

465

I wold, he were flayn;
I lyst well ete.
This twelmothe was I not so fayn
Of oone shepe-mete.
V x o r
Com thay or he be slayn,

470

And here the shepe blete -
M a k
Then myght I be tane.
That were a cold swette!
Go spar

f 42r

The gaytt-doore.
V x o r
    Yis, Mak,

475

For and thay com at thy bak -
M a k
Then myght I by, for all the pak,
The dewill of the war!

V x o r
A good bowrde haue I spied,
Syn thou can none:

480

Here shall we hym hyde,
To thay be gone,
In my credyll. Abyde!
Lett me alone,
And I shall lyg besyde

485

In chylbed, and grone.
M a k
Thou red,
And, I shall say thou was lyght
Of a knaue childe this nyght.
V x o r
Now well is me day bright

490

That euer was I bred!

This is a good gyse
And a far cast;
Yit a woman avyse
Helpys at the last.

495

I wote neuer who spyse;
Agane go thou fast.
M a k
Bot I com or thay ryse,
Els blawes a cold blast!
I wyll go slepe.

500

Yit slepys all this meneye,
And I shall go stalk preuely,
As it had neuer bene I
That caryed thare shepe.

P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Resurrex a mortruus!

505

Haue hold my hand.
Iudas carnas dominus!
I may not well stand;
My foytt slepys, by Iesus,
And I water fastand.

510

I thoght that we layd vs
Full nere Yngland.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
A ye!
Lord, what I haue slept weyll!
As fresh as an eyll,

515

As lyght I me feyll
As leyfe on a tre.

T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Bensté be herein!
So me qwakys,
My hart is outt of skyn,

520

Whatso it makys.
Who makys all this dyn?
So my browes blakys,
To the dowore wyll I wyn.
Harke, felows, wakys!

525

We were fowre -
Se ye awre of Mak now?
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
We were vp or thou.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Man, I gyf god avowe,
Yit yede he nawre.

T e r c i u s  P a s t o r

530

Me thoght he was lapt
In a wolfe-skyn.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
So ar many hapt
Now, namely within.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
When we had long napt,

535

Me thoght with a gyn

f 42v

A fatt shepe he trapt;
Bot he mayde no dyn.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Be styll!
Thi dreme makys the woode;

540

It is bot fantom, by the roode.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Now God turne all to good,
If it be his wyll.

S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Ryse, Mak, for shame!
Thou lygys right lang.
M a k

545

Now Crystys holy name
Be vs emang!
What is this? for Sant Iame,
I may not well gang!
I trow I be the same.

550

A! my nek has lygen wrang
Enoghe.
Mekill thank! syn yister-euen,
Now by Sant Strevyn,
I was flayd with a swevyn -

555

My hart out of sloghe.

I thoght Gyll began to crok
And trauell full sad,
Wel-ner at the fyrst cok,
Of a yong lad

560

For to mend oure flok.
Then be I neuer glad;
I haue tow on my rok
More then euer I had.
A, my heede!

565

A house full of yong tharmes,
The dewill knok outt thare harnes!
Wo is hym has many barnes,
And therto lytyll brede.

I must go home, by youre lefe,

570

To Gyll, as I thoght.
I pray you looke my slefe,
That I steyll noght;
I am loth you to grefe,
Or from you take oght.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r

575

Go furth, yll myght thou chefe!
Now wold I we soght,
This morne,
That we had all oure store.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Bot I will go before;

580

Let vs mete.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
    Whore?
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
At the crokyd thorne.

M a k
Vndo this doore!
[V x o r]
    Who is here?
M a k
How long shall I stand?
V x o r
Who makys sich a bere?

585

Now walk in the wenyand!
M a k
A, Gyll, what chere?
It is I, Mak, youre husbande.
V x o r
Then may we se here
The dewill in a bande,

590

Syr Gyle!
Lo, he commys with a lote,
As he were holden in the throte.
I may not syt at my note
A handlang while.

M a k

595

Wyll ye here what fare she makys
To gett hir a glose?
And dos noght bot lakys
And clowse hir toose.
V x o r
Why, who wanders, who wakys?

600

Who commys, who gose?
Who brewys, who bakys?
What makys me thus hose?
And than -
It is rewthe to beholde -

605

Now in hote, now in colde,
Full wofull is the householde
That wantys a woman.

f 43r

Bot what ende has thou mayde
With the hyrdys, Mak?
M a k

610

The last worde that thay sayde
When I turnyd my bak,
Thay wold looke that thay hade
Thare shepe, all the pak.
I hope thay wyll nott be well payde

615

When thay thare shepe lak,
Perdé!
Bot howso the gam gose,
To me thay wyll suppose,
And make a fowll noyse,

620

And cry outt apon me.

Bot thou must do as thou hyght.
V x o r
I accorde me thertyll;
I shall swedyll hym right
In my credyll.

625

If it were a gretter slyght,
Yit couthe I help tyll.
I wyll lyg downe stright.
Com hap me.
M a k
    I wyll.
V x o r
Behynde!

630

Com Coll and his maroo,
Thay will nyp vs full naroo.
M a k
Bot I may cry out, «haroo!»,
The shepe if thay fynde.

V x o r
Harken ay when thay call;

635

Thay will com onone.
Com and make redy all,
And syng by thyn oone;
Syng «lullay» thou shall,
For I must grone,

640

And cry outt by the wall
On Mary and Iohn
For sore.
Syng «lullay» on fast
When thou heris at the last,

645

And bot I play a fals cast
Trust me no more.

T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
A, Coll, goode morne!
Why slepys thou nott?
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Alas, that euer was I borne!

650

We haue a fowll blott -
A fat wedir haue we lorne.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Mary, Godys forbott!
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Who shuld do vs that skorne?
That were a fowll spott.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r

655

Som shrewe.
I haue soght with my dogys
All Horbery shrogys,
And of fefteyn hogys
Fond I bot oone ewe.

T e r c i u s  P a s t o r

660

Now trow me, if ye will -
By Sant Thomas of Kent,
Ayther Mak or Gyll
Was at that assent.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Peasse, man, be still!

665

I sagh when he went.
Thou sklanders hym yll;
Thou aght to repent
Goode spede.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Now as euer myght I the,

670

If I shuld euyn here de,
I wold say it were he
That dyd that same dede.

T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Go we theder, I rede,
And ryn on oure feete;

675

Shall I neuer ete brede,
The sothe to I wytt.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Nor drynk in my heede,
With hym tyll I mete.

f 43v

S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
I wyll rest in no stede

680

Tyll that I hym grete,
My brothere.
Oone I will hight:
Tyll I se hym in sight,
Shall I neuer slepe one nyght

685

Ther I do anothere.

T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Will ye here how thay hak?
Oure syre, lyst croyne.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Hard I neuer none crak
So clere out of toyne.

690

Call on hym.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Mak,
Vndo youre doore soyne!
M a k
Who is that spak,
As it were noyne,
On loft?

695

Who is that, I say?
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Goode felowse, were it day.
M a k
As far as ye may,
Good, spekys soft,

Ouer a seke woman's heede

700

That is at maylleasse;
I had leuer be dede
Or she had any dyseasse.
V x o r
Go to anothere stede!
I may not well qweasse;

705

Ich fote that ye trede
Goys thorow my nese
So hee.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Tell vs, Mak, if ye may,
How fare ye, I say?
M a k

710

Bot ar ye in this towne to-day?
Now how fare ye?

Ye haue ryn in the myre
And ar weytt yit;
I shall make you a fyre,

715

If ye will sytt.
A nores wold I hyre.
Thynk ye on yit?
Well qwytt is my hyre -
My dreme, this is itt -

720

A seson.
I haue barnes, if ye knew,
Well mo then enewe;
Bot we must drynk as we brew,
And that is bot reson.

725

I wold ye dynyd or ye yode.
Me thynk that ye swette.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Nay, nawther mendys oure mode
Drynke nor mette.
M a k
Why, syr, alys you oght bot goode?
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r

730

Yee, oure shepe that we gett
Ar stollyn as thay yode;
Oure los is grette.
M a k
Syrs, drynkys!
Had I bene thore,

735

Som shuld haue boght it full sore.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Mary, some men trowes that ye wore,
And that vs forthynkys.

S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Mak, som men trowys
That it shuld be ye.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r

740

Ayther ye or youre spouse,
So say we.
M a k
Now if ye haue suspowse
To Gill or to me,
Com and rype oure howse,

745

And then may ye se
Who had hir.
If I any shepe fott,
Ayther cow or stott -
And Gyll, my wyfe, rose nott

750

Here syn she lade hir -

f 44r

As I am true and lele,
To God here I pray
That this be the fyrst mele
That I shall ete this day.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r

755

Mak, as haue I ceyll,
Avyse the, I say:
He lernyd tymely to steyll
That couth not say nay.
V x o r
I swelt!

760

Outt, thefys, fro my wonys!
Ye com to rob vs for the nonys.
M a k
Here ye not how she gronys?
Youre hartys shuld melt.

V x o r
Outt, thefys, fro my barne!

765

Negh hym not thor!
M a k
Wyst ye how she had farne
Youre hartys wold be sore.
Ye do wrang, I you warne,
That thus commys before

770

To a woman that has farne -
Bot I say no more.
V x o r
A, my medyll!
I pray to God so mylde,
If euer I you begyld,

775

That I ete this chylde
That lygys in this credyll.

M a k
Peasse, woman, for Godys payn,
And cry not so!
Thou spyllys thy brane

780

And makys me full wo.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
I trow oure shepe be slayn.
What fynde ye two?
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
All wyrk we in vayn;
As well may we go.

785

Bot hatters!
I can fynde no flesh,
Hard nor nesh,
Salt nor fresh -
Bot two tome platers.

790

Whik catell bot this,
Tame nor wylde,
None, as haue I blys,
As lowde as he smylde.
V x o r
No, so God me blys

795

And gyf me ioy of my chylde!
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
We haue merkyd amys;
I hold vs begyld.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Syr, don.
Syr - oure lady hym saue! -

800

Is youre chyld a knaue?
M a k
Any lord myght hym haue,
This chyld, to his son.

When he wakyns he kyppys,
That ioy is to se.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r

805

In good tyme to hys hyppys,
And in celé!
Bot who was his gossyppys
So sone redé?
M a k
So fare fall thare lyppys!
P r i m u s  P a s t o r

810

Hark now, a le.
M a k
So God thaym thank,

f 44v

Parkyn, and Gybon Waller, I say,
And gentill Iohn Horne, in good fay -
He made all the garray -

815

With the greatt shank.

S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Mak, freyndys will we be,
For we ar all oone.
M a k
We! Now I hald for me,
For mendys gett I none.

820

Fare well all thre! -
All glad were ye gone.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Fare wordys may ther be,
Bot luf is ther none
This yere.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r

825

Gaf ye the chyld, any thyng?
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
I trow not oone farthyng.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Fast agane will I flyng;
Abyde ye me there.

Mak, take it to no grefe

830

If I com to thi barne.
M a k
Nay, thou dos me greatt reprefe,
And fowll has thou farne.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
The child will it not grefe,
That lytyll day-starne.

835

Mak, with youre leyfe,
Let me gyf youre barne
Bot sex pence.
M a k
Nay do way! He slepys.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Me thynk he pepys.
M a k

840

When he wakyns he wepys.
I pray you go hence!

T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Gyf me lefe hym to kys
And lyft vp the clowtt.
What the dewill is this?

845

He has a long snowte!
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
He is markyd amys.
We wate ill abowte.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Ill-spon weft, iwys,
Ay commys foull owte.

850

Ay, so!
He is lyke to oure shepe!
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
How, Gyb, may I pepe?
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
I trow kynde will crepe
Where it may not go.

S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r

855

This was a qwantt gawde
And a far-cast:
It was a hee frawde.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Yee, syrs, wast.
Lett bren this bawde

860

And bynd hir fast.
A! fals skawde!
Hang at the last
So shall thou.
Wyll ye se how thay swedyll

865

His foure feytt in the medyll?
Sagh I neuer in a credyll
A hornyd lad or now.

f 45r

M a k
Peasse, byd I. What!
Lett be youre fare!

870

I am he that hym gatt,
And yond woman hym bare.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
What dewill shall he hatt? -
Mak? Lo, God, makys ayre!
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Lett be all that!

875

Now God gyf hym care,
I sagh.
V x o r
A pratty child is he
As syttys on a wamans kne;
A dyllydowne, perdé,

880

To gar a man laghe.

T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
I know hym by the eere-marke;
That is a good tokyn.
M a k
I tell you, syrs, hark!
Hys noyse was brokyn.

885

Sythen told me a clerk
That he was forspokyn.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
This is a fals wark;
I wold fayn be wrokyn.
Gett wepyn!
V x o r

890

He was takyn with an elfe,
I saw it myself;
When the clok stroke twelf
Was he forshapyn.

S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Ye two ar well feft

895

Sam in a stede.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Syn thay manteyn thare theft,
Let do thaym to dede.
M a k
If I trespas eft,
Gyrd of my heede.

900

With you will I be left.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Syrs, do my reede:
For this trespas
We will nawther ban ne flyte,
Fyght nor chyte,

905

Bot haue done as tyte,
And cast hym in canvas.

[ P r i m u s  P a s t o r ]
Lord! what I am sore,
In poynt for to bryst!
In fayth, I may no more;

910

Therfor wyll I ryst.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
As a shepe of sevyn skore
He weyd in my fyst.
For to slepe aywhore
Me thynk that I lyst.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r

915

Now, I pray you,
Lyg downe on this grene.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
On these thefys yit I mene.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Wherto shuld ye tene?
Do as I say you.

Angelus cantat «Gloria in excelsis»; postea dicat:

A n g e l u s

920

Ryse, hyrd-men heynd,
For now is he borne
That shall take fro the feynd
That Adam had lorne;
That warloo to sheynd,

925

This nyght is he borne.
God is made youre freynd
Now at this morne,
He behestys.
At Bedlem go se

930

Ther lygys that fre
In a cryb full poorely,
Betwyx two bestys.

f 45v

P r i m u s  P a s t o r
This was a qwant stevyn
That euer yit I hard.

935

It is a meruell to neuyn,
Thus to be skard.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Of Godys son of heuyn
He spak vpward.
All the wod on a leuyn

940

Me thoght that he gard
Appere.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
He spake of a barne
In Bedlem, I you warne.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
That betokyns yond starne;

945

Let vs seke hym there.

S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Say, what was his song?
Hard ye not how he crakyd it,
Thre brefes to a long?
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Yee, Mary, he hakt it:

950

Was no crochett wrong,
Nor nothyng that lakt it.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
For to syng vs emong,
Right as he knakt it,
I can.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r

955

Let se how ye croyne!
Can ye bark at the mone?
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Hold youre tonges! Haue done!
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Hark after, than.

S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
To Bedlem he bad

960

That we shuld gang;
I am full fard
That we tary to lang.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Be mery and not sad -
Of myrth is oure sang!

965

Euerlastyng glad
To mede may we fang
Withoutt noyse.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Hy we theder forthy,
If we be wete and wery,

970

To that chyld and that lady!
We haue it not to lose.

S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
We fynde by the prophecy -
Let be youre dyn! -
Of Dauid and Isay

975

And mo then I myn -
Thay prophecyed by clergy -
That in a vyrgyn
Shuld he lyght and ly,
To slokyn oure syn

980

And slake it,
Oure kynde, from wo;
For Isay sayd so:
Ecce virgo
Concipiet a chylde that is nakyd.

T e r c i u s  P a s t o r

985

Full glad may we be,
And abyde that day
That lufly to se,
That all myghtys may.
Lord, well were me

990

For ones and for ay,
Myght I knele on my kne,
Som word for to say
To that chylde.
Bot the angell sayd

995

In a cryb was he layde;
He was poorly arayd,
Both mener and mylde.

P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Patryarkes that has bene,
And prophetys beforne,

1000

Thay desyryd to haue sene
This chylde that is borne.
Thay ar gone full clene;
That haue thay lorne.

f 46r

We shall se hym, I weyn,

1005

Or it be morne,
To tokyn.
When I se hym and fele,
Then wote I full weyll
It is true as steyll

1010

That prophetys haue spokyn:

To so poore as we ar
That he wold appere,
Fyrst fynd, and declare
By his messyngere.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r

1015

Go we now, let vs fare;
The place is vs nere.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
I am redy and yare;
Go we in fere
To that bright.

1020

Lord, if thi wylles be -
We ar lewde all thre -
Thou grauntt vs som kyns gle
To comforth thi wight.

P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Hayll, comly and clene!

1025

Hayll, yong child!
Hayll, maker, as I meyne,
Of a madyn so mylde!
Thou has waryd, I weyne
The warlo so wylde:

1030

The fals gyler of teyn,
Now goys he begylde.
Lo, he merys,
Lo, he laghys, my swetyng!
A wel fare metyng!

1035

I haue holden my hetyng;
Haue a bob of cherys.

S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Hayll, sufferan sauyoure,
For thou has vs soght!
Hayll, frely foyde and floure,

1040

That all thyng has wroght!
Hayll, full of fauoure,
That made all of noght!
Hayll! I kneyll and I cowre.
A byrd haue I broght

1045

To my barne.
Hayll, lytyll tyne mop!
Of oure crede thou art crop;
I wold drynk on thy cop,
Lytyll day-starne.

T e r c i u s  P a s t o r

1050

Hayll, derlyng dere,
Full of Godhede!
I pray the be nere
When that I haue nede.
Hayll, swete is thy chere!

1055

My hart wold blede
To se the sytt here
In so poore wede,
With no pennys.
Hayll! Put furth thy dall!

1060

I bryng the bot a ball:
Haue and play the withall,
And go to the tenys.

M a r i a
The fader of heuen,
God omnypotent,

1065

That sett all on seuen,
His son has he sent.
My name couth he neuen,
And lyght or he went.
I conceyuyd hym full euen

1070

Thrugh myght as he ment,
And now is he borne.
He kepe you fro wo!
I shall pray hym so.
Tell furth as ye go,

1075

And myn on this morne.

f 46v

P r i m u s  P a s t o r
Fare well, lady
So fare to beholde,
With thy childe on thi kne.
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Bot he lygys full cold.

1080

Lord, well is me!
Now we go, thou behold.
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
Forsothe, allredy
It semys to be told
Full oft.
P r i m u s  P a s t o r

1085

What grace we haue fun!
S e c u n d u s  P a s t o r
Com furth; now ar we won!
T e r c i u s  P a s t o r
To syng ar we bun -
Let take on loft!

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