MESSENGER 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 [fol. 55v] 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 HEROD 120 [fol. 56r] 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 [fol. 56v] 195 200 205 SOLDIER 1 210 HEROD 216 220 225 SOLDIER 2 SOLDIER 3 230 HEROD 236 240 245 250 255 260 SOLDIER 1 SOLDIER 2 266 SOLDIER 3 271 275 SOLDIER 1 HEROD 280 285 290 295 300 COUNSELOR 1 305 310 COUNSELOR 2 316 320 HEROD 325 [fol. 57v] 331 335 340 345 350 COUNSELOR 1 356 360 COUNSELOR 2 366 370 375 HEROD 380 385 390 395 MESSENGER [fol. 58r] 401 405 SOLDIER 1 SOLDIER 2 SOLDIER 3 411 MESSENGER 414 SOLDIER 1 MESSENGER SOLDIER 2 SOLDIER 3 420 MESSENGER 425 SOLDIER 1 HEROD 431 435 440 445 450 455 SOLDIER 2 SOLDIER 3 461 SOLDIER 1 465 HEROD SOLDIER 2 470 SOLDIER 3 SOLDIER 1 475 WOMAN 1 481 SOLDIER 1 WOMAN 1 485 SOLDIER 1 WOMAN 1 490 SOLDIER 1 WOMAN 1 495 500 SOLDIER 2 505 WOMAN 2 SOLDIER 2 WOMAN 2 511 SOLDIER 2 WOMAN 2 515 520 525 530 SOLDIER 3 535 WOMAN 3 SOLDIER 3 541 WOMAN 3 545 [fol. 59r] SOLDIER 3 550 WOMAN 3 555 SOLDIER 3 WOMAN 3 560 565 SOLDIER 1 570 SOLDIER 2 576 SOLDIER 3 580 585 SOLDIER 1 590 SOLDIER 2 595 SOLDIER 1 SOLDIER 3 SOLDIER 1 600 605 SOLDIER 2 610 SOLDIER 3 615 [fol. 59v] 620 HEROD 625 SOLDIER 1 SOLDIER 2 630 SOLDIER 3 635 HEROD 640 645 650 SOLDIER 1 SOLDIER 2 656 SOLDIER 3 660 HEROD 665 670 675 680 685 [fol. 60r] 691 695 700 705 710 715 720 725 730 735 740

Messenger Herod Soldier 1 Soldier 2 Soldier 3 Counselor 1 Counselor 2 Woman 1 Woman 2 Woman 3 Incipit magnus Herodes 1 Moste myghty Mahowne Meng you with myrth. Both of burgh and of towne, By fellys and by fyrth, Both kyng with crowne And barons of brith That radly wyll rowne, Many greatt grith Shall behapp. Take tenderly intent What sondys ar sent, Els harmes shall ye hent And lothes you to lap. Herode the heynd kyng, By grace of Mahowne, Of Jury, sourmontyng Sternly with crowne, On lyfe that ar lyfyng In towre and in towne, Gracyus you gretyng, Commaundys you be bowne At his bydyng. Luf hym with lewté, Drede hym, that doughty; He chargys you be redy Lowly at his lykyng. What man apon mold Menys hym agane Tytt teyn shall be told; Knyght, sqwyere, or swayn, Be he never so bold, Byes he that bargan Twelf thowsandfold More then I sayn, May ye trast. 2 He is worthy wonderly, Selcouthly sory; For a boy that is borne her by Standys he abast. A kyng thay hym call, And that we deny. How shuld it so fall Greatt mervell have I; Therfor over all Shall I make a cry That ye busk not to brall, Nor lyke not to ly This tyde. Carpys of no kyng Bot Herode that lordyng, Or busk to youre beyldyng, Youre heedys for to hyde. He is kyng of kyngys, Kyndly I knowe, Chefe lord of lordyngys, Chefe leder of law. Ther watys on his wyngys That bold bost wyll blaw; 3 Greatt dukys downe dyngys For his greatt aw And hym lowtys; Tuskane and Turky All Inde and Italy Cecyll and Surry Drede hym and dowtys. From Paradyse to Padwa To Mownt Flascon, From Egyp to Mantua Unto Kemptowne, From Sarceny to Susa To Grece it abowne, Both Normondy and Norwa Lowtys to his crowne. His renowne Can no tong tell, From heven unto hell; Of hym can none spell Bot his cosyn Mahowne. He is the worthyest of all Barnes that ar borne; Fre men ar his thrall, Full teynfully torne. Begyn he to brall, Many men cach skorne. Obey must we all Or els be ye lorne Att onys. Downe dyng of youre knees All that hym seys; Dysplesyd he beys, And byrkyn many bonys. Here he commys now, I cry, That lord I of spake. Fast afore wyll I hy, Radly on a rake, And welcom hym worshipfully, Laghyng with lake, As he is most worthy, And knele for his sake So low, Downe dervly to fall, As renk most ryall. Hayll, the worthyest of all! To thee must I bow. Hayll, luf lord! Lo, Thi letters have I layde. I have done I couth do, And peasse have I prayd, Mekyll more therto Opynly dysplayd. Bot romoure is rasyd so That boldly thay brade Emangys thame. Thay carp of a kyng; Thay seasse not sich chateryng. Bot I shall tame thare talkyng, And let thame go hang thame. Stynt, brodels, youre dyn — Yei, everychon. I red that ye harkyn To I be gone, For if I begyn I breke ilka bone, And pull fro the skyn The carcas anone. Yei, perdé, Sesse all this wonder And make us no blonder, For I ryfe you in sonder, Be ye so hardy. Peasse, both yong and old At my bydyng I red, For I have all in wold. In me standys lyfe and dede. Who that is so bold, I brane hym thrugh the hede. Speke not or I have told What I will in this stede. Ye wote nott All that I will mefe. Styr not bot ye have lefe, For if ye do I clefe You small as flesh to pott. My myrthes ar turned to teyn, My mekenes into ire; And all for oone, I weyn, Within I fare as fyre. May I se hym with eyn, I shall gyf hym his hyre. Bot I do as I meyn I were a full lewde syre In wonys. Had I that lad in hand, As I am kyng in land I shuld with this steyll brand Byrkyn all his bonys. My name spryngys far and nere: The doughtyest, men me call, That ever ran with spere, A lord and kyng ryall. What joy is me to here A lad to sesse my stall. If I this crowne may bere That boy shall by for all. I anger; I wote not what dewill me alys. Thay teyn me so with talys That by Gottys dere nalys I wyll peasse no langer. What dewill! me thynk I brast For anger and for teyn. I trow thyse kyngys be past That here with me has beyn; Thay promysed me full fast Or now here to be seyn, For els I shuld have cast Anothere sleght I weyn. I tell you, A boy thay sayd thay soght With offeryng that thay broght; It mefys my hart right noght To breke his nek in two. Bot be thay past me by, By Mahowne in heven, I shall and that in hy Set all on sex and seven. Trow ye a kyng as I Will suffre thaym to neven Any to have mastry Bot myself full even? Nay, leyfe The dewill me hang and draw. If I that losell knaw, Bot I gyf hym a blaw That lyfe I shall hym reyfe. For parels yit I wold Wyst if thay were gone. And ye therof her told I pray you, say anone, For and thay be so bold, By God that syttys in trone, The payn can not be told That thay shall have ilkon For ire. Sich panys hard never man tell, For-ugly and for-fell, That Lucyfere in hell Thare bonys shall all to-tyre. Lord, thynk not ill if I Tell you how thay ar past; I kepe not layn, truly. Syn thay cam by you last, Anothere way in hy Thay soght, and that full fast. Why and ar thay past me by? Wé, outt, for teyn I brast! Wé, fy! Fy on thee dewill! where may I byde, Bot fyght for teyn and al to-chyde. Thefys, I say ye shuld have spyde And told when thay went by. Ye ar knyghtys to trast. Nay, losels ye ar, and thefys! I wote I yelde my gast, So sore my hart it grefys. What nede you be abast? Ther ar no greatt myschefys For these maters to gnast. Why put ye sich reprefys Withoutt cause? Thus shuld ye not thrett us Ungaynly to bete us; Ye shuld not rehett us Withoutt othere sawes. Fy, losels and lyars, Lurdans ilkon! Tratoures and well wars, Knafys, bot knyghtys none! Had ye bene woth youre eres Thus had thay not gone. Gett I those land-lepars, I breke ilka bone. Fyrst vengeance Shall I se on thare bonys. If ye byde in these wonys I shall dyng you with stonys – Yei, ditizance doutance! I wote not where I may sytt For anger and for teyn. We have not done all yit, If it be as I weyn. Fy, dewill! now how is it? As long as I have eyn I thynk not for to flytt, Bot kyng I will be seyn Forever. Bot stand I to quart, I tell you my hart, I shall gar thaym start, Or els trust me never. Syr, thay went sodanly, Or any man wyst, Els had mett we — yei, perdy, And may ye tryst. So bold nor so hardy Agans oure lyst Was none of that company Durst mete me with fyst For ferd. Ill durst thay abyde Bot ran thame to hyde; Might I thaym have spyde, I had made thaym a berd. What couth we more do To save youre honoure? We were redy therto, And shal be ilk howre. Now syn it is so, Ye shall have favoure. Go where ye wyll go, By towne and by towre; Goys hens. I have maters to mell With my prevey counsell. Clerkys, ye bere the bell; Ye must me encense. Oone spake in myne eere A wonderfull talkyng, And sayde a madyn shuld bere Anothere to be kyng. Syrs, I pray you inquere In all wrytyng, In Vyrgyll, in Homere, And all other thyng Bot legende; Sekys poecé tayllys. Lefe pystyls and grales; Mes, matyns noght avalys. All these I defende. I pray you tell heyndly Now what ye fynde. Truly, syr, prophecy It is not blynd. We rede thus by Isay: He shal be so kynde That a madyn sothely Which never synde Shall hym bere Virgo concipiet Natumque pariet, 4 “Emanuell” is hete, His name for to lere: “God is with us” That is for to say. And othere says thus, Tryst me ye may, Of Bedlem a gracyus Lord shall spray That of Jury myghtyus Kyng shal be ay, Lord myghty; And hym shall honoure Both kyng and emperoure. Why and shuld I to hym cowre? Nay, ther thou lyys lyghtly. Fy, the dewill thee spede! And me, bot I drynk onys. This has thou done indede To anger me for the nonys; And thou, knafe, thou thy mede Shall have, by Cokys dere bonys. Thou can not half thi crede. Outt, thefys, fro my wonys. Fy, knafys! Fy, dottypols with youre bookys; Go kast thaym in the brookys. With sich wylys and crokys My wytt away rafys. Hard I never sich a trant That a knafe so sleght Shuld com lyke a sant And refe me my right. Nay, he shall on-slant; I shall kyll hym downe stryght. 5 War, I say, lett me pant. Now thynk I to fyght For anger. My guttys will outt thryng Bot I this lad hyng. Withoutt I have a vengyng I may lyf no langer. Shuld a carll in a kafe Bot of oone yere age Thus make me to rafe? Syr, peasse this outrage. Away let ye wafe All sich langage, Youre worship to safe. Is he oght bot a page Of a yere? We two shall hym teyn With oure wyttys betweyn; That if ye do as I meyn, He shall dy on a spere. For drede that he reyn, Do as we red: Thrugoutt Bedlem And ilk othere stede Make knyghtys ordeyn And put unto dede All knave chyldren Of two yerys brede And within; This chyld may ye spyll Thus at youre awne will. Now thou says heretyll A right nobyll gyn. If I lyf in land Good lyfe, as I hope, This dar I thee warand: To make thee a pope. O, my hart is rysand Now in a glope. For this nobyll tythand Thou shall have a drope Of my good grace: Markys, rentys, and powndys, Greatt castels and groundys Thrugh all sees and soundys, I gyf thee the chace. Now wyll I procede And take veniance. All the flowre of knyghthede Call to legeance, Bewshere, I thee byd; It may thee avance. Lord, I shall me spede And bryng perchaunce To thy syght. Hark, knyghtys, I you bryng Here new tythyng: Unto Herode kyng Hast with all youre myght, In all the hast that ye may, In armowre full bright; In youre best aray Looke that ye be dight. Why shuld we fray? This is not all right. Syrs, withoutten delay I drede that we fight. I pray you, As fast as ye may Com to hym this day. What, in oure best aray? Yei, syrs, I say you. Somwhat is in hand, Whatever it meyn. Tarry not for to stand Ther or we have beyn. Kyng Herode, all-weldand, Well be ye seyn; Youre knyghtys ar comand In armoure full sheyn At youre wyll. Hayll, dughtyest of all. We are comen at youre call For to do what we shall, Youre lust to fullfyll. Welcom, lordyngys, iwys, Both greatt and small. The cause now is this That I send for you all: A lad, a knafe borne is That shuld be kyng ryall; Bot I kyll hym and his I wote I brast my gall. Therfor, syrs, Veniance shall ye take, All for that lad sake, And men I shall you make, Where ye com aywhere, syrs. To Bedlem loke ye go, And all the coste aboute. All knave chyldren ye slo — And lordys, ye shal be stoute — Of yeres if they be two And within; of all that rowte On lyfe lyefe none of tho That lygys in swedyll clowte, I red you. Spare no kyns bloode; Lett all ryn on floode. If women wax woode, I warn you, syrs, to spede you. Hens now, go youre way That ye were thore. I wote we make a fray, Bot I wyll go before. A, thynk syrs, I say: I mon whett lyke a bore. Sett me before ay, Good enogh for a skore. Hayll, heyndly! We shall for youre sake Make a dulfull lake. Now if ye me well wrake, Ye shall fynd me freyndly. Go ye now tyll oure noytt And handyll thaym weyll. I shall pay thaym on the cote Begyn I to reyll. 6 Hark, felose, ye dote. Yonder commys unceyll I hold here a grote She lykys me not weyll Be we parte. Dame, thynk it not yll Thy knafe if I kyll. What, thefe, agans my wyll? Lord kepe hym in qwarte. Abyde now, abyde. No farther thou gose. Peasse, thefe, shall I chyde And make here a nose? I shall reyfe thee thy pryde. Kyll we these boyse. Tyd may betyde. Kepe well thy nose, Fals thefe. Have on loft on thy hode! What, hoore, art thou woode? Outt, alas, my chyldys bloode! Outt, for reprefe! Alas, for shame and syn. Alas, that I was borne. Of wepyng who may blyn To se hir chylde forlorne? My comforth and my kyn, My son thus al to-torne. Veniance for this syn I cry both evyn and morne! Well done. Com hedyr, thou old stry; That lad of thyne shall dy. Mercy, lord, I cry. It is myn awne dere son. No mercy thou mefe; It mendys thee not, Mawd. Then thi skalp shall I clefe! Lyst thou be clawd? Lefe, lefe now, bylefe! Peasse, byd I, bawd. Fy, fy, for reprefe! Fy, full of frawde, No man! Have at thy tabard, Harlot and holard, Thou shall not be sparde! I cry and I ban. Outt! morder-man, I say, Strang tratoure and thefe! Out, alas, and waloway! My chyld that was me lefe, My luf, my blood, my play, That never dyd man grefe! Alas, alas, this day; I wold my hart shuld clefe In sonder. Veniance I cry and call On Herode and his knyghtys all: Veniance, Lord, apon thaym fall, And mekyll warldys wonder! This is well wroght gere That ever may be. Comys hederward here, Ye nede not to fle. Wyll ye do any dere To my chyld and me? He shall dy, I thee swere; His hart blood shall thou se. God forbede. Thefe, thou shedys my chyldys blood! Out, I cry! I go nere wood Alas, my hart is all on flood To se my chyld thus blede. By God, thou shall aby This dede that thou has done. I red thee not, stry, By son and by moyn. Have at thee, say I! Take thee ther a foyn. Out on thee, I cry! Have at thi groyn Anothere! This kepe I in store. Peasse now, no more! I cry and I rore! Out on thee, mans mordere! Alas, my bab, myn innocent, My fleshly get! For sorow That God me derly sent, Of bales who may me borow? Thy body is all to-rent. I cry both even and morow Veniance for thi blod thus spent: Out, I cry, and horow! Go lightly. Gett out of thise wonys Ye trattys, all at onys, Or by Cokys dere bonys I make you go wyghtly. Thay ar flayd now, I wote; Thay will not abyde. Lett us ryn fote-hote — Now wold I we hyde — And tell of this lott How we have betyde. Thou can do thi note; That have I aspyde. Go furth now, Tell thou Herode oure tayll. For all oure avayll, I tell you, saunce fayll He wyll us alow. I am best of you all, And ever has bene. The devyll have my saull Bot I be fyrst sene. It syttys me to call My lord, as I wene. What nedys thee to brall? Be not so kene In this anger. I shall say thou dyd best, Save myself as I gest. Wé, that is most honest. Go, tary no langer. Hayll, Herode oure kyng! Full glad may ye be; Good tythyng we bryng. Harkyn now to me: We have mayde rydyng Thrughoutt Juré; Well wyt ye oone thyng, That morderd have we Many thowsandys. I held thaym full hote; I payd them on the cote. Thare dammys, I wote, Never byndys them in bandys. 7 Had ye sene how I fard When I cam emang them! Ther was none that I spard, Bot lade on and dang them. I am worthy a rewarde. Where I was emang them, I stud and I stard; No pyté to hang them Had I. Now by myghty Mahowne That is good of renowne, If I bere this crowne, Ye shall have a lady Ilkon to hym layd And wed at his wyll. So have ye lang sayde; Do somwhat thertyll. And I was never flayde, For good ne for yll. Ye myght hold you well payde Oure lust to fulfyll, Thus thynk me, With tresure untold, If it lyke that ye wold Both sylver and gold To gyf us greatt plenté. As I am kyng crownde, I thynk it good right; Ther goys none on grownde That has sich a wyght. A hundreth thowsand pownde Is good wage for a knyght; Of pennys good and rownde Now may ye go light With store. And ye knyghtys of oures Shall have castels and towres, Both to you and to youres, For now and evermore. Was never none borne, By downes ne by dalys, Nor yit us beforne That had sich avalys. We have castels and corne; Mych gold in oure malys. It wyll never be worne, Withoutt any talys. Hayll, heyndly! Hayll, lord! Hayll, kyng! We ar furth foundyng. Now Mahowne he you bryng Where he is lord freyndly! Now in peasse may I stand. I thank thee, Mahowne, And gyf of my lande That longys to my crowne. Draw therfor nerehande, Both of burgh and of towne: Markys ilkon a thowsande When I am bowne Shall ye have; I shal be full fayn To gyf that I sayn. Wate when I com agayn And then may ye crave. I sett by no good, Now my hart is at easse, That I shed so mekyll blode. Pes, all my ryches. For to se this flode From the fote to the nese Mefys nothyng my mode; I lagh that I whese. A, Mahowne, So light is my saull That all of sugar is my gall. I may do what I shall And bere up my crowne. I was castyn in care, So frightly afrayd, Bot I thar not dyspare, For low is he layd That I most dred are; So have I hym flayd. And els wonder ware, And so many strayd In the strete, That oone shuld be harmeles And skape away hafles Whereso many chyldes Thare balys cannot bete. A hundreth thowsand, I watt, And fourty ar slayn, And four thowsand. Therat Me aght to be fayn, Sich a morder on a flat Shall never be agayn. Had I had bot oone bat At that lurdan So yong, It shuld have bene spokyn How I had me wrokyn, Were I dede and rotyn, With many a tong. Thus shall I tech knavys Ensampyll to take, In thare wyttys that ravys Sich mastré to make. All wantones wafys; No langage ye crak. No sufferan you savys; Youre nekkys shall I shak In sonder. No kyng ye on call Bot on Herode the ryall, Or els many oone shall Apon youre bodys wonder. For if I here it spokyn When I com agayn, Youre branys bese brokyn; Therfor be ye bayn. Nothyng bese unlokyn; It shal be so playn. Begyn I to rokyn, I thynk all dysdayn For-daunche. Syrs, this is my counsell: Bese not to cruell. Bot adew, to the devyll! I can no more Fraunch. Explicit Magnus Herodes. 8

(see note) make you merry borough; (see note) hills; forest birth promptly; whisper; (see note) protection Take heed messages seize you injuries will enfold you gracious Jewry, surmounting; (t-note) Alive Greeting you graciously ready Love; loyalty valiant Humbly; pleasure on earth Threatens him Shall quickly suffer harm servant (see note) trust Wonderfully sad here dismayed (t-note) prepare; brawl Nor are inclined to lie Talk hurry; shelter heads (see note) (see note) strikes reverence bow to him Tuscany; (see note) India Sicily; Syria Fear Padua Montefiascone (see note) Normandy; Norway Bow tongue speak Children slaves grievously injured catch lost At once Fall down on he is breaks; bones in front Promptly in a rush glee promptly; (see note); (t-note) rank presented all I could do peace Much rumor outcry Among themselves tame Cease, scoundrels everyone advise; listen Until (t-note) each soon by God error [will] tear you asunder say under [my] control strike before place know not provoke unless; permission cleave stewing meat; (see note) pleasures; suffering meekness; anger one person; believe; (see note) I burn inside eyes wages Unless; intend utterly worthless Exceedingly; (see note) steel sword; (see note) Break most valiant royal hear seize; place pay ails annoy; tales God’s dear nails; (see note) remain peaceful burst annoyance believe Before played trick; think moves in haste (see note) name gladly (see note) scoundrel recognize rob perils (on account of the possible danger) Know If you; hear soon Even if each one pains; heard Overly ugly and savage; (see note) tear apart do not seek to conceal anything in haste anger stay; (see note) brawl violently told [me]; (t-note) trust spirit grieves dismayed (see note) gnash reproofs threaten Improperly rebuke speeches; (see note) Louts each one worse Knaves worth; ears vagabonds their; (t-note) places hit without a doubt; (see note) annoyance think eyes flight in health; (see note) cause [fol. 57r] Before; knew yes, by God trust desire [That] dared fear They dared not stay outwitted them could each since discuss privy; (see note) (see note) lead (see note) inquire (see note) holy texts; (see note) poetic tales epistles; graduals; (see note) Matins forbid graciously (see note) conceived sinned named (see note) From Bethlehem rise up Jewry cower lie readily assist unless; (see note) on purpose reward; (t-note) God’s know; creed; (see note) dwelling blockheads wiles; tricks wanders Heard; trick insignificant saint rob aslant Beware burst Unless; hang Unless; vengeance churl; cave; (see note) rave put aside child harm combined spear reign say every other place prepare male age kill scheme warrant (t-note) rising palpitation information small portion (see note) seas; inlets (straits); (t-note) hunting rights vengeance allegiance Fair sir advance perhaps tidings armor array equipped fight (t-note) Delay; (see note) before almighty coming bright fearless desire indeed burst; gallbladder; (see note) lad’s (see note) everywhere look countryside slay fierce crowd Alive leave; them swaddling clothes run in floods become mad hurry So that; there (see note) Put me in front score graciously dismal sport avenge to our business fellows; speak foolishly; [fol. 58v] misfortune wager; a silver coin; (see note) By the time that against health noise rob you of Come what may Protect aloft; head; (see note) whore; mad disgrace end slain; (t-note) sin evening and morning hag ask profits cleave Would you like to be clawed Leave; at once fraud coat; (see note) Scoundrel; libertine spared moan murderer Flagrant traitor dear to me love; joy grief should break Asunder great; earthly; (see note) business hitherward flee harm; (see note) heart’s overflowing pay for advise; hag sun; moon thrust groin (see note) roar murderer babe offspring griefs; save torn apart evening shout nimbly these places hags God’s quickly frightened run quickly; (see note) done duty observed efforts without fail praise soul Unless; seen befits suppose brawl thought Jewry know murdered violently beat their hides mothers fared spared attacked; beat (t-note) stood; stared Each one; presented frightened nor pleased desire ground creature (see note) pennies quickly abundance hills; valleys profits grain wallets wasted Truly graciously hurrying forth (see note) A thousand marks each ready glad what I say Wait [until] demand [it] deem it unimportant much kingdoms nose Moves laugh so hard that I wheeze (see note) I do what I must cast need not despair feared before tortured (see note) strewn escape; unhurt children suffering; relieve think; (see note) I ought; glad field blow; (see note) lout avenged myself rotten Example rave; (see note) wantonness put aside Do not speak loudly (boastfully) saves shake Asunder hear brains ready explained (see note); (t-note) disdain Overly fastidious Be adieu (goodbye) I can speak no more French; (see note)