Everyman and Other Old Religious Plays, with an Introduction
A >> Anonymous >> Everyman and Other Old Religious Plays, with an Introduction_Thomas._ O thou James, if he were alive
His servant I would be
Very joyfully.
But he is not alive, leave off thy noise;
The thorn even into his brain,
Went to his head.
_Simon._ Though the thorn went into his head,
And through his heart and side
The spear was seen,
Nevertheless need is to believe
Jesus Christ will rise again,
As he is true God.
_Thomas._ O Simon, do not speak a word;
Never, never, unhappily,
He has not risen again.
But if it were so,
Together we should all be
Exceedingly at ease.
_Judah._ Sir Thomas, it is so,
He has risen again to-day
Out of the tomb.
For if he should not rise again,
Never with us would there be
Joy without end.
_Thomas._ O Judah, Judah, leave thy belief;
His heart torn in pieces
I saw.
Notwithstanding what any man may say,
That same body will remain;
It has not risen.
_Andrew._ Peace, Thomas, and say not a word;
Very truly our dear Lord
Is risen again.
Surely too much thou hast disbelieved,
For Mary has spoken
With him to-day.
_Thomas._ Thou art a fool, Andrew;
The girl has told a lie,
Do not think otherwise.
That he ever rose again
I will not believe it.
As long as I am alive.
_Mary Magdalene._ I have not said an untrue word;
For to me all his wounds
He shewed.
And to that I will
Bear witness at all times,
That the tale is true.
[_Here let Thomas and Mary Magdalene go down._
_Thomas._ Notwithstanding vain words,
I do not believe thee; thou failest
To make me believe.
Though thou dost chatter so much,
Any thing from thee regards me not,
Though thou be busy.
_Mary Magdalene._ I tell thee the truth;
The angel said to us,
Surely at the tomb,
That he was risen up,
And was gone to the bright heaven,
With many angels.
_Thomas._ Peace, chattering woman, say no more;
I will not believe thee,
_That_ is gone to heaven.
The body, which I saw dead,--
Great are my anxieties
After it.
_Mary Magdalene._ Surely Mary, mother of James,
And Mary Salome,
Will witness to me;
Like as I saw,
So I tell the tale to thee;
Do believe it.
_Thomas._ Never can it go into my heart,
That the body dead before us
Should rise again;
When I think on his passion,
Grief takes me immediately
For him, woe is me!
_Mary Magdalene._ There is to me wonder of thee,
That thy heart is so hard,
Thou believest it not.
If thou doest not believe it,
Never shalt thou come to the joy
Surely which is in heaven.
_Thomas._ Silence thou, now, for shame;
With Jesus thou hast no secrets:
Surely not! I believe
Thou art a sinner, without a mistake;
The greatest that was in the country
By every body thou wast called.
_Mary Magdalene._ I have been a sinner;
I have sinned wondrous much;
On Jesus I cried,
That he would forgive me my trespass;
And he said to me,
Thy sin is forgiven to thee,
Through thy faith thou art saved:
Now no more, do not sin.
Thomas, thou art very stupid,
Because thou wilt not believe
The Lord to have risen
Easter-day morning.
Who believes not shall not be saved,
Nor with God shall he dwell,
And for that, I pray thee,
Believe in time.
* * * * *
_Thomas._ Hold thy prate, nor be busy,
For I will not believe thee;
The body was seen by me
Fastened on the cross with nails;
With a sharp spear they pierced him,
So that it passed through the heart;
To the earth the blood fell,
And made him soon dead.
That body cannot live,
Nor rise up again,
Surely, thou woman.
There is not any man of this world
Who shall make me now
Believe otherwise.
_Mary Magdalene._ Thomas, thou art mad,
And in madness lost;
Evil it is with me now.
I advise thee believe,
And if thou dost not, seriously,
Thou shalt have sharp repentance.
_Thomas._ With you since there is no peace,
From you I will go
My ways in the country.
Are ye not now fools?
So God help me,
I love not lies.
[_Then Jesus comes to the apostles, and says (in Galilee, the doors
being closed, he kisses them_):
_Jesus._ The peace of God, O apostles!
I, Christ, to rise from the tomb,
Believe well;
For certainly as many as believe it,
And are faithfully baptized,
Shall be saved.
_Peter._ O dear Lord, happy is my lot
To see thee risen again,
Jesus, though I denied thee.
Abundant mercy, I pray,
As the Jews are always
Here laying snares for us.
Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth,
And Saviour to us also,
Pardon me my trespass,
For great are my sorrows.
For sharp repentance falls on me
For denying thee: now
Mercy I pray at all times,
Certainly, with full heart.
_Jesus._ Peter, pardon thou shalt get,
For thy repentance is perfect,
Through the Holy Ghost.
Like as I redeemed thee dearly,
Strengthen also thy brethren
In full belief.
_John._ O Lord, I am glad
That thou wouldst come with us
Hither, for our joy;
That I will say likewise,
We are, through great longing,
After thee pining.
_Jesus._ From you I go to my country;
At the right side of God the Father,
I shall sit.
To strengthen you in belief,
To you the comfort of the Holy Ghost
I shall send.
_James the Greater._ Lord, it is wonderful;
When thou comest, Jesus powerful,
To look at us,
And to speak peace to us,
Though they were fast, thou didst open
Our doors.
[_Here Jesus goes away from the apostles._
He is the Lord of power,
And he has purchased with his blood
The people of the world;
That Jesus Christ is risen again,--
A day is coming that shall tell
All them that do believe it not!
THE WAKEFIELD PAGEANT OF THE HARROWING OF HELL
OR
EXTRACTION OF SOULS FROM HELL
CHARACTERS
Jesus
Adam
Eve
Simeon
John the Baptist
Moses
Esaias
David
Ribald
Beelzebub
Sathanas
THE HARROWING OF HELL
EXTRACTIO ANIMARUM
AB INFERNO
[_The Extraction of Souls from Hell._]
_Jesus._ My fader[414] me from blys has send
Till's erthe for mankynde sake,
Adam mys[415] for to amend,
My deth nede must I take:
I dwellyd ther thyrty yeres and two,
And som dele more, the sothe to say,[416]
In anger, pyne, and mekylle wo,
I dyde on cros this day.
Therefor tille helle now wille I go,
To chalange[417] that is myne,
Adam, Eve, and othere mo,
Thay shalle no longer dwelle in pyne;
The feynde[418] theym wan withe trayn,[419]
Thrughe fraude of earthly fode,[420]
I have theym boght agan
With shedyng of my blode.
And now I wille that stede[421] restore,
Whiche the feynde felle from for syn,
Som tokyn wille I send before,
Withe myrthe to gar[422] thare gammes begyn.
A light I wille thay have,
To know I wille com sone;
My body shalle abyde in grave
Tille alle this dede be done.
_Adam._ My brether, herkyn unto me here,
More hope of helth never we had,
Four thousand and six hundred yere
Have we bene in darknes stad;[423]
Now se I tokyns of solace sere,[424]
A gloryous gleme to make us glad,
Wherthrughe I hope that help is nere,
That sone shalle slake[425] oure sorrowes sad.
_Eve._ Adam, my husband heynd,[426]
This menys solace certan,
Siche lighte can on us leynd[427]
In paradyse fulle playn.
_Isaias._ Adam, thrugh thi syn
Here were we put to dwelle,
This wykyd place within,
The name of it is helle;
Here paynes shalle never blyn[428]
That wykyd ar and felle,
Love, that lord, withe wyn
His lyfe for us wold selle.
[_Et cantent omnes "Salvator mundi" primum versum._[429]
Adam, thou welle understand,
I am Isaias, so Crist me kende,[430]
I spake of folk in darknes walkand,[431]
I saide a light shuld on them lende;
This light is alle from Crist commande,
That he tille us has hethir sende,
Thus is my poynt proved in hand,
As I before to fold[432] it kende.
_Simeon._ So may I telle of farlys feylle,[433]
For in the tempylle his freyndes me fande,
Me thoght dayntethe[434] with hym to deylle,
I halsyd[435] hym homely with my hand,
I saide, Lord, let thi servandes leylle[436]
Pas in peasse to lyf lastande,[437]
Now that myn eeyn has sene thyn hele[438]
No longer lyst[439] I lyf in lande.
This light thou has purvayde
For theym that lyf in lede,[440]
That I before of the have saide
I se it is fulfillyd in dede.
_Johannes Baptista._ As a voice cryand I kend[441]
The wayes of Crist, as I welle can,
I baptisid hym with bothe myn hende
In the water of flume[442] Jordan;
The Holy Gost from heven discende
As a white dowfe downe on me than,
The Fader voyce, oure myrthes to amende,
Was made to me lyke as a man;[443]
"Yond is my son," he saide,
"And whiche pleasses me fulle welle,"
His light is on us layde,
And commys oure karys to kele.[444]
_Moyses._ Now this same nyght lernyng have I,
To me, Moyses, he shewid his myght,
And also to another one, Hely,[445]
Where we stud on a hille on hyght,
As whyte as snaw was his body,
His face was like the son for bright,
No man on mold[446] was so mighty
Grathly[447] durst loke agans[448] that light,
And that same lighte here se I now
Shynyng on us, certayn,
Wherethrughe truly I trow
That we shalle sone pas fro this payn.
_Rybald._ Sen fyrst that helle was mayde and I was put therin
Siche sorow never ere I had, nor hard I siche a dyn,[449]
My hart begynnys to brade,[450] my wytt waxys thyn,[451]
I drede we can not be glad, thise saules mon fro us twyn;[452]
How, Belsabub! bynde thise boys, siche "Harow"[453]
was never hard in helle.
_Belzabub._ Out, Rybald! thou rorest what is betyd? can thou oght telle?
_Rybald._ Whi, herys[454] thou not this ugly noyse?
Thise lurdans[455] that in lymbo dwelle,
They make menyng[456] of many joyse,
And muster myrthes theym emelle.[457]
_Belzabub._ Myrth? nay, nay! that poynt is past,
More hope of helthe shalle they never have.
_Rybald._ They cry on Crist fulle fast,
And says he shalle thaym save.
_Belzabub._ Yee, though he do not, I shalle,
For thay ar sparyd[458] in specyalle space,
Whils I am prynce and pryncypalle,
Thay shalle never pas out of this place;
Calle up Astarot[459] and Anaballe,
To gyf us counselle in this case;
Belle, Berith and Bellyalle[460]
To mar theym that siche mastry mase;[461]
Say to sir Satan oure syre,
And byd hym bryng also
Sir Lucyfer lufly of lyre.[462]
_Rybald._ Alle redy, lord, I go.
_Jesus._ _Attolite portas, principes vestras, et elevamini portoe aeternales,
et introibit rex gloriae._[463]
_Rybald._ Out, harro,[464] out!--what deville is he
That callys hym kyng over us alle?
Hark Belzabub, com ne,[465]
For hedusly[466] I hard hym calle.
_Belzabub._ Go spar the yates,[467] ylle mot thou the![468]
And set the waches[469] on the walle,
If that brodelle[470] come ne
With us ay won[471] he shalle:
And if he more calle or cry,
To make us more debate,
Lay on hym hardlly,
And make hym go his gate.[472]
_David._ Nay, withe hym may ye not fyght,
For he is king and conqueroure,
And of so mekille myght,
And styf in every stoure;[473]
Of hym commys alle this light
That shynys in this bowre;
He is fulle fers in fight,
Worthi to wyn honoure.
_Belzabub._ Honoure! harsto,[474] harlot, for what dede
Alle erthly men to me ar thralle,[475]
That lad that thou callys lord in lede[476]
He had never harbor, house, ne halle;
How, sir Sathanas, com nar
And hark this cursid rowte!
_Sathanas._ The dewille you alle to har![477]
What ales the so to showte?[478]
And see, if I com nar,
Thy brayn bot I bryst owte.[479]
_Belzabub._ Thou must com help to spar,[480]
We ar beseged abowte.
_Sathanas._ Besegyd aboute! whi, who durst be so bold
For drede to make on us a fray?
_Belzabub._ It is the Jew that Judas sold
For to be dede this othere day.
_Sathanas._ How, in tyme that tale was told,
That trature travesses[481] us alle way;
He shalle be here fulle hard in hold,
Bot loke he pas not I the pray.
_Belzabub._ Pas! nay, nay, he wille not weynde[482]
From hens or it be war,[483]
He shapys hym for to sheynd[484]
Alle helle e'er he go far.
_Sathanas._ Fy, faturs,[485] therof shalle he faylle,
For alle his fare[486] I hym defy;
I know his trantes[487] fro top to taylle,[488]
He lyffes by gawdes[489] and glory.
Therby he broght furthe of oure baylle[490]
The lathe[491] Lazare of Betany,
Bot to the Jues I gaf counsaylle
That thay shuld cause hym dy:
I entered there into Judas
That forward[492] to fulfylle,
Therfor his hyere[493] he has
Alle wayes to won here stylle.[494]
_Rybald._ Sir Sathan, sen we here the say[495]
Thou and the Jues were at assent,
And wote,[496] he wan the Lazare away
That unto us was taken to tent,[497]
Hopys thou that thou mar hym may
To muster[498] the malyce that he has ment?
For and he refe[499] us now oure pray
We wille ye witt e'er he is went.
_Sathanas._ I byd the noght abaste[500]
Bot boldly make you bowne,[501]
Withe toyles that ye intraste,[502]
And dyng[503] that dastard downe.
_Jesus. Attolite portas, principes vestras, et elevamini portae
aeternales, et introibit rex gloriae._[504]
_Rybald._ Outt, harro![505] what harlot is he
That says his kyngdom shal be cryde?
_David._ That may thou in sawter se,[506]
For of this prynce thus err I saide;[507]
I saide that he shuld breke
Youre barres and bandes by name,[508]
And of youre wareks take wreke;[509]
Now shall thou se the same.
_Jesus._ Ye prynces of helle open youre yate,
And let my folk furthe gone,
A prynce of peasse shalle enter therat
Wheder ye wille or none.
_Rybald._ What art thou that spekys so?
_Jesus._ A kyng of blys that hight Jesus.
_Rybald._ Yee hens fast I red[510] thou go,
And melle[511] the not with us.
_Belzabub._ Oure yates[512] I trow wille last,
Thay ar so strong I weyn,[513]
Bot if oure barres brast,
For the, thay shalle not twyn.[514]
_Jesus._ This stede[515] shalle stande no longer stokyn;[516]
Open up and let my pepille pas.
_Rybald._ Out, harro![517] oure baylle is brokyn,[518]
And brusten ar alle oure bandes of bras.
_Belzabub._ Harro! oure yates begyn to crak,
In sonder, I trow, thay go,
And helle, I trow, wille all to-shak;
Alas, what I am wo![519]
_Rybald._ Lymbo is lorn, alas!
Sir Sathanas, com up!
This wark is wars[520] than it was.
_Sathanas._ Yee, hangyd be thou on a cruke;[521]
Thefys, I bad ye shuld be bowne[522]
If he maide mastres[523] more
To dyng[524] that dastard downe,
Sett[525] hym bothe sad and sore.
_Belzabub._ "So sett hym sore" that is sone saide.
Com thou thi self and serve hym so;
We may not abyde his bytter bradye,[526]
He wold us mar and we were mo.[527]
_Sathanas._ Fy, fature![528] wherfore were ye flayd?[529]
Have ye no force to flyt hym fro?
Loke in haste my gere be grayd,[530]
My self shalle to that gadlyng go.[531]
How, thou belamy, abyde,[532]
Withe alle thi boste and beyr,[533]
And telle me in this tyde
What mastres[523] thou makes here.
_Jesus._ I make no mastry bot for myne,
I wille theym save, that shalle the sow,
Thou has no powere theym to pyne,[534]
Bot in my pryson for thare prow[535]
Here have thay sojornyd,--not as thyne,
Bot in thi wayrd,[536] thou wote as how.
_Sathanas._ Why, where has thou hene ay syn[537]
That never wold neghe[538] theym nere e'er now?
_Jesus._ Now is the tyme certan
My Fader ordand herfor,[539]
That they shuld pas fro payn
In blys to dwelle for ever more.
_Sathanas._ Thy fader knew I welle by syght,
He was a wright his meett to wyn,[540]
Mary, me mynnys,[541] thi moder hight,
The utmast ende of alle thy kyn:
Say who made the so mekille[542] of myght?
_Jesus._ Thou wykyd feynde lett be thi dy[n],
My Fader wonnes[543] in heven on hight,
In blys that never more shalle blyn:[544]
I am his oonly son his forward[545] to fulfylle,
Togeder wille we won, in sonder when we wylle.
_Sathanas._ Goddes son! nay, then myght thou be glad
For no catelle thurt the crave;[546]
Bot thou has lyffed ay lyke a lad,
In sorow, and as a sympille[547] knave.
_Jesus._ That was for the hartly[548] luf I had
Unto man's saulle, it for to save,
And for to make thee masyd[549] and mad,
And for that reson rufully to rafe.[550]
My Godhede here I hyd
In Mary, moder myne,
Where it shalle never be kyd[551]
To the, ne none of thyne.[552]
_Sathanas._ How now? this wold I were told in towne,
Thou says God is thi syre;
I shalle the prove by good reson
Thou moyttes[553] as man dos into myre.
To breke thi byddyng they were fulle bowne,[554]
And soon they wroght at my desyre,
From paradise thou putt thym downe,
In helle here to have thare hyre;[555]
And thou thi self, by day and nyght,
Taght[556] ever alle men emang,
Ever to do reson and right,
And here thou wyrkys[557] alle wrang.
_Jesus._ I wyrk no wrang, that shalle thou wytt.[558]
If I my men fro wo wille wyn;[559]
My prophettes playnly prechyd it,
Alle the noytys[560] that I begyn;
They saide that I shud be that ilke
In helle where I shud entre in,
To save my servandes fro that pytt
Where dampynyd saullys[561] shalle syt for syn.
And ilke true prophete taylle[562]
Shalle be fulfillid in me;
I have thaym boght fro baylle,[563]
In blis now shalle thay be.
_Sathanas._ Now since thou list to legge the lawes[564]
Thou shalbe tenyd or we twyn,[565]
For those that thou to witnes drawes
Fulle even agans the shalle begyn;
As Salaman saide in his sawes,[566]
Who that ones commys helle within
He shalle never owte, as clerkes knawes
Therfor, belamy, let be thy dyn.[567]
Job thi servande also
In his tyme can telle
That nawder freynde nor fo
Shalle fynde relese in helle.[568]
_Jesus._ He sayde fulle soythe, that shalle thou se,
In helle shalbe no relese,
Bot of that place then ment he
Where synfulle care shalle ever encrese.
In that baylle ay shalle thou be,
Where sorrowes seyr shalle never sesse[569]
And my folk that wer most fre[570]
Shalle pas unto the place of peasse;
For thay were here with my wille,
And so thay shalle furthe weynde,[571]
Thou shalle thi self fulfylle,
Ever wo withoutten ende.
_Sathanas._ Whi, and wille thou take theym alle me fro?[572]
Then thynk me[573] thou ar unkynde;
Nay, I pray the do not so,
Umthynke[574] the better in thy mynde,
Or els let me with the go;
I pray the leyfe me not behynde.
_Jesus._ Nay, tratur, thou shalle won in wo,[575]
And tille a stake[576] I shalle the bynde.
_Sathanas._ Now here I how thou menys[577] emang
With mesure and malyce for to melle,[578]
Bot sen thou says it shalbe lang,
Yit som let alle wayes with us dwelle.
_Jesus._ Yis, witt thou welle, els were greatt wrang,
Thou shalle have Caym[579] that slo Abelle,
And alle that hastes theym self to hang,
As dyd Judas and Architophelle;
And Daton and Abaron and alle of thare assent,[580]
Cursyd tyranttes ever ilkon[581] that me and myn tormente.
And alle that wille not lere[582] my law
That I have left in land for new[583]
That makes my commyng knaw,[584]
And alle my sacramentes persew;
My deth, my rysyng, red by raw,[585]
Who trow thaym not thay ar untrewe,
Unto my dome[586] I shalle theym draw,
And juge thaym wars[587] then any Jew.
And thay that lyst to lere my law and lyf therby
Shalle never have harmes here, bot welth as is worthy.
_Sathanas._ Now here my hand, I hold me payde,
Thise poyntes ar playnly for my prow,[588]
If this be trew as thou has saide
We shalle have mo then we have now;
Thise lawes that thou has late here laide
I shalle thym lere not to alow,[589]
If thay myn take[590] thay ar betraide,
And I shalle turne thym tytte I trow.[591]
I shalle walk eest, I shalle walk west,
And gar theym wyrk welle war.[592]
_Jesus._ Nay feynde, thou shalbe feste,[593]
That thou shalle flyt no far.[594]
_Sathanas._ Feste? fy! that were a wykyd treson!
Belamy, thou shalle be smytt.[595]
_Jesus._ Deville, I commaunde the to go downe
Into thi sete where thou shalle syt.
_Sathanas._ Alas! for doylle[596] and care,
I synk into helle pyt.
_Rybald._ Sir Sathanas, so saide I are,[597]
Now shalle thou have a fytt.
_Jesus._ Com now furthe, my childer alle,
I forgyf you youre mys;[598]
Withe me now go ye shalle
To joy and endles blys.
_Adam._ Lord, thou art fulle mekylle of myght,[599]
That mekys thi self on this manere,
To help us alle as thou had us hight,
When bothe frofett I and my fere;[600]
Here have we dwelt withoutten light
Four thousand and six hundreth yere,
Now se we by this solempne sight
How that mercy makes us dere.
_Eva._ Lord, we were worthy more tornamentes[601] to tast,[602]
Thou help us lord of thy mercy, as thou of myght is mast.[603]
_Johannes._ Lord, I love the inwardly,
That me wold make thi messyngere,
Thi commyng in erthe to cry,
And teche thi fayth to folk in fere;[604]
Sythen before the forto dy,[605]
To bryng theym bodword[606] that be here,
How thay shuld have thi help in hy,
Now se I alle those poyntes appere.
_Moyses._ David, thi prophette trew,
Of tymes told unto us;
Of thi commyng he knew,
And saide it shuld be thus.
_David._ As I said ere yit say I so,
_Ne derelinquas, domine,
Animam meam in inferno_;[607]
Leyfe never my saulle, Lord, after the,
In depe helle whedur[608] dampned shalle go
Suffre thou never thi sayntes to se
The sorrow of thaym that won in wo,[609]
Ay, fulle of fylthe, and may not fle.[610]
_Moyses._ Make myrthe bothe more and les,
And love oure lord we may,
That has broght us fro bytternes
In blys to abyde for ay.
_Ysaias._ Therfor now let us syng
To love oure lord Jesus,
Unto his blys he wille us bryng,
_Te Deum laudamus._
THE INTERLUDE OF "GOD'S PROMISES"
BY JOHN BALE
CHARACTERS
Pater Coelestis _The Heavenly Father_
Adam Primus Homo _Adam, the First Man_
Justus Noah _Just Noah_
Abraham Fidelis _Faithful Abraham_
Moses Sanctus _Saint Moses_
David Rex Pius _The Pious King, David_
Esaias Propheta _The Prophet Isaiah_
Baleus Prolocutor _John Bale, who speaks the Prologue_
GOD'S PROMISES
_A Tragedy or interlude manifesting the chief promises of God unto man
by all ages in the old law, from the Fall of Adam to the Incarnation of
the Lord Jesus Christ. Compiled by John Bale, (Anno Domini MDXXXVIII.)._
_Baleus Prolocutor._ If profit may grow, most Christian audience,
By knowledge of things which are but transitory,
And here for a time, of much more congruence,
Advantage might spring, by the search of causes heavenly,
As those matters are that the gospel specify.
Without whose knowledge no man to the truth can fall,
Nor ever attain to the life perpetual,
For he that knoweth not the living God eternal
The Father, the Son and also the Holy Ghost,
And what Christ suffered for redemption of us all,
What he commanded, and taught in every coast,
And what he forbode, that man must needs be lost,
And clean secluded, from the faithful chosen sort,
In the Heavens above, to his most high discomfort.
You therefore, good friends, I lovingly exhort,
To weigh such matters as will be uttered here,
Of whom ye may look to have no trifling sport
In fantasies feigned, nor such-like gaudy gear,
But the things that shall your inward stomach cheer.
To rejoice in God for your justification,
And alone in Christ to hope for your salvation.
Yea first ye shall have the eternal generation
Of Christ, like as John in his first chapter write,
And consequently of man the first creation
The abuse and fall, through his first oversight,
And the rise-again through God's high grace and might;
By promises first which shall be declared all:
Then by his own Son, the worker principal.
After that, Adam bewaileth here his fall;
God will shew mercy to every generation,
And to his kingdom of his great goodness call
His elected spouse, or faithful congregation,
As shall appear by open protestation,
Which from Christ's birth shall to his death conclude:
They come, that thereof will shew the certitude.
ACT I
ADAM THE FIRST MAN
_Pater Coelestis._ In the beginning before the heavens were create,
In me and of me was my Son sempiternal
With the Holy Ghost, in one degree or estate
Of the high Godhead, to me the Father coequal
And this my Son was with me one God essential
Without separation at any time from me.
True God he is of equal dignity.
Since the beginning my Son hath ever been
Joined with his father in one essential being.
All things were create by him in each degree,
In heaven and earth and have their diverse working:
Without his power, was never made any thing
That was wrought; but through his ordinance
Each have his strength, and whole continuance.
In him is the life and the just recoverance
For Adam and his, which nought but death deserved.
And this life to men is an high perseverance
Or a light of faith, whereby they shall be saved.
And this light shall shine among the people darkened
With unfaithfulness. Yet shall they not with him take
But of wilful heart his liberal grace forsake.
Which will compel me against man for to make
In my displeasure, and send plagues of correction
Most grievous and sharp, his wanton lusts to slake,
By water and fire, by sickness and infection
Of pestilent sores, molesting his complexion;
By troublous war, by dearth and painful scarceness,
And after this life by an extreme heaviness.
I will first begin with Adam for his lewdness
Which for an apple neglected my commandment.
He shall continue in labour for his rashness,
His only sweat shall provide his food and raiment:
Yea, yet must he have a greater punishment,
Most terrible death shall bring him to his end
To teach him how he his Lord God shall offend.