The Skynners
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 260 265 270 275 280 285 290 295 300 305 310 315 320 325 330 335 340 345 350 355 360 365 370 375 380 385 390 395 400 405 410 415 420 425 430 435 440 445 450 455 460 465 470 475 480 485 490 495 500 505 510 515 520 525 530 535 540	JESUS   To me takis tent and giffis gud hede, My dere discipulis that ben here, I schall you telle that shal be indede; My tyme to passe hense, it drawith nere, And by this skill Mannys sowle to save fro sorowes sere That loste was ill. From heven to erth whan I dyssende Rawnsom to make I made promys, The prophicie nowe drawes to ende; My Fadirs wille forsoth it is That sente me hedyr. Petir, Phelippe, I schall you blisse And go togedir Unto yone castell that is you agayne, Gois with gud harte and tarie noght, My comaundement to do be ye bayne. Also I you charge loke it be wrought That schal ye fynde An asse, this feste als ye had soght, Ye hir unbynde With hir foole, and to me hem bring That I on hir may sitte a space So the prophicy clere menyng May be fulfilled here in this place: “Doghtyr Syon, Loo, thi Lorde comys rydand on an asse, Thee to opon.” Yf any man will you gaynesaye, Say that youre Lorde has nede of tham And schall restore thame this same day Unto what man will tham clayme. Do thus this thyng, Go furthe ye both and be ay bayne In my blissyng. PETRUS   Jesu, maistir, evyn at thy wille And at thi liste us likis to doo, Yone beste whilke thou desires thee tille. Even at thi will schall come thee too Unto thin esse. Sertis, Lord, we will thedyre all go Thee for to plese. PHILIPPUS   Lord, thee to plese we are full bayne Bothe nyght and day to do thi will. Go we, brothere, with all oure mayne My Lordis desire for to fulfill, For prophycye Us bus it do to hym by skyll To do dewly. PETRUS   Ya, brodir Phelipp, behalde grathely, For als he saide we shulde sone fynde, Methinke yone bestis before myn eye, Thai are the same we schulde unbynde. Therfore frely Go we to hym that thame gan bynde And aske mekely. PHILIPPUS   The beestis are comen, wele I knawe; Therfore us nedis to aske lesse leve, And oure maistir kepis the lawe. We may thame take tyter, I preve, For noght we lett. For wele I watte oure tyme is breve, Go we tham fett. JANITOR   Saie, what are ye that makis here maistrie To loose thes bestis withoute leverie? Yow semes to bolde, sen noght that ye Hase here to do; therfore rede I Such thingis to sesse, Or ellis ye may falle in folye And grette diseasse. PETRUS   Sir, with thi leve hartely we praye This beste that we myght have. JANITOR   To what intente, firste shall ye saye, And than I graunte what ye will crave Be gode resoune? PHILIPPUS   Oure maistir, sir, that all may save, Aske by chesoune. JANITOR   What man is that ye maistir call Swilke privelege dare to hym clayme? PETRUS   Jesus of Jewes kyng, and ay be schall, Of Nazareth prophete the same, This same is he, Both God and man, withouten blame, This trist wele we. JANITOR   Sirs, of that prophette herde I have, But telle me firste playnly, wher is hee? PHILIPPUS   He comes at hande, so God me save. That Lorde we lefte at Bephage, He bidis us there. JANITOR   Sir, take this beste, with herte full free, And forthe ye fare. And if you thynke it be to don, I schall declare playnly his comyng To the chiffe of the Jewes that thei may sone Assemble same to his metyng. What is your rede? PETRUS   Thou sais full wele in thy menyng, Do forthe thi dede, And sone this beste we schall thee bring And it restore as resoune will. JANITOR   This tydyngis schall have no laynyng But to the citezens declare it till Of this cyté. I suppose fully that thei wolle Come mete that free. And sen I will thei warned be, Both yonge and olde, in ilke a state, For his comyng I will tham mete To late tham witte, withoute debate. Lo, wher thei stande, That citezens cheff, withoute debate, Of all this lande. He that is rewler of all right And freely schoppe both see and sande, He save you, lordyngis, gayly dight, And kepe you in youre semelyté And all honoure. I BURGENSIS   Welcome, porter, what novelté Telle us this owre? JANITOR   Sirs, novelté I can you tell And triste thame fully as for trewe; Her comes of kynde of Israell Att hande the prophette called Jesu, Lo, this same day, Rydand on an asse; this tydandis newe Consayve ye may. II BURGENSIS   And is that prophette Jesu nere? Off hym I have herde grete ferlis tolde: He dois grete wounderes in contrees seere. He helys the seke, both yonge and olde, And the blynde giffis tham ther sight; Both dome and deffe, as hymselffe wolde, He cures thame right. III BURGENSIS   Ya, five thowsand men with loves fyve He fedde, and ilkone hadde inowe. Watir to wyne he turned ryve, He garte corne growe withouten plogh Wher are was none; To dede men als he gaffe liffe, Lazar was one. IV BURGENSIS   In oure Tempill if he prechid Agaynste the pepull that leved wrong, And also new lawes if he teched Agaynste oure lawis we used so lang, And saide pleynlye The olde schall waste, the new schall gang, That we schall see. V BURGENSIS   Ya, Moyses lawe he cowde ilke dele, And all the prophettis on a rowe, He telles tham so that ilke a man may fele And what thei may interly knowe Yf thei were dyme, What the prophettis saide in ther sawe, All longis to hym. VI BURGENSIS   Emanuell also by right Thai calle that prophette, by this skill, He is the same that are was hyght Be Ysaye befor us till, Thus saide full clere: Loo, a maydyn that knew nevere ille A childe schuld bere. VII BURGENSIS   David spake of him I wene And lefte witnesse ye knowe ilkone; He saide the frute of his corse clene Shulde royally regne upon his trone, And therfore he Of David kyn, and othir none, Oure kyng schal be. VIII BURGENSIS   Sirs, methynketh ye saie right wele, And gud ensampelys furth ye bryng; And sen we thus this mater fele, Go we hym meete as oure owne kyng, And kyng hym call. What is youre counsaill in this thyng, Now say ye all? I BURGENSIS   Agaynste resoune I will noght plete, For wele I wote oure kyng he is. Whoso agaynst his kyng liste threte, He is noght wise, he dose amys. Porter, come nere, What knowlage hast thou of his comyng, Tels us all here? And than we will go mete that free And hym honnoure as we wele awe Worthely tyll oure citee, And for oure soverayne Lord hym knawe In whome we triste. JANITOR   Sirs, I schall telle you all on rowe And ye will lyste. Of his discipillis two this day, Where that I stode, thei faire me grette And on ther maistir halfe gan praye Oure comon asse that thei myght gete Bot for a while Wheron ther maistir softe myght sitte Space of a mile. And all this mater thai me tolde Right haly as I saie to you, And the asse thei have right as thei wolde, And sone will bringe agayne, I trowe, So thai beheste. What ye will doo avise you nowe, Thus thinke me beste. II BURGENSIS   Trewlye as for me, I say, I rede we make us redy bowne Hym to mete gudly this day And hym ressayve with grete rennowne, As worthy is. And therfore, sirs, in felde and towne Ye fulfille this. JANITOR   Ya, and youre childer with you take, Thoff all in age that thei be yonge; Ye may fare the better for ther sake Thurgh the blissing of so goode a kyng, This is no dowte. III BURGENSIS   I kan thee thanke for thy saying, We will hym lowte; And hym to mete I am right bayne On the beste maner that I cane, For I desire to se hym fayne And hym honnoure as his awne man Sen the soth I see: Kyng of Juuys we call hym than, Oure kyng is he. IV BURGENSIS   Oure kyng is he, that is no lesse, Oure awne lawe to it cordis will, The prophettis all bare full witnesse Qwilke full of hym secrete gone telle, And thus wolde say, “Emang youreselff schall come grete seele Thurgh God verray.” V BURGENSIS   This same is he, ther is non othir, Was us beheest full lange before, For Moyses saide, als oure owne brothir A newe prophette God schulde restore. Therfore loke ye What ye will do, withouten more: Oure kyng is he. VI BURGENSIS   Of Juda come owre kyng so gent, Of Jesse, David, Salamon, Also by his modir kynne take tente, The genolagye beres witnesse on, This is right playne. Hym to honnoure right as I can I am full bayne. VII BURGENSIS   Of youre clene witte and youre consayte I am full gladde in harte and thought, And hym to mete withouten latt I am redy and feyne will noght Bot with you same To hym agayne us blisse hath brought With myrthe and game. VIII BURGENSIS   Youre argumentis thai are so clere I can noght saie but graunte you till, For whanne I of that counsaille here, I coveyte hym with fervent wille Onys for to see; I trowe fro thens I schall Bettir man be. I BURGENSIS   Go we than with processioun To mete that comely as us awe With braunches, floures, and unysoune, With myghtfull songes her on a rawe. Our childir schall Go synge before that men may knawe. To this graunte we all. PETRUS   Jesu, Lord and maistir free, Als thou comaunde so have we done: This asse here we have brought to thee. What is thi wille thou schewe us sone And tarie noght, And than schall we, withouten hune, Fulfill thi thought. JESUS   I thanke you, brethere, mylde of mode. Do on this asse youre clothis ye laye And lifte me uppe with hertis gud That I on hir may sitte this daye In my blissing. PHILIPPUS   Lord, thi will to do allway, We graunte this thing. JESUS   Now my brethere with gud chere, Gyves gode entente, for ryde I will Unto yone cyté ye se so nere. Ye shall me folowe, sam and still Als I are sayde. PHILIPPUS   Lord, as thee lyst we graunte thee till, And halde us payde.      Tunc cantant. CECUS   A, Lorde, that all this world has made, Bothe sonne and mone, nyght and day, What noyse is this that makis me gladde? Fro whens it schulde come I can noght saye Or what it mene. Yf any man walke in this way, Telle hym me bedene. PAUPER   Man, what ayles thee to crye? Where wolde thou be, thou say me here? CECUS   A, sir, a blynde man am I, And ay has bene of tendyr yere Sen I was borne; I harde a voyce with nobill chere Here me beforne. PAUPER   Man, will thou oght that I can do? CECUS   Ya, sir, gladly wolde I witte Yf thou couthe oght declare me to; This myrthe I herde, what mene may it Or undirstande? PAUPER   Jesu, the prophite full of grace, Comys here at hande, And all the cetezens thay are bowne Gose hym to mete with melodye, With the fayrest processioun That evere was sene in this Jury. He is right nere. CECUS   Sir, helpe me to the strete hastely That I may here That noyse, and also that I myght thurgh grace My syght of hym, to crave I wolde. PAUPER   Loo, he is here at this same place. Crye faste on hym, loke thou be bolde With voyce right high. CECUS   Jesu, the Sone of David calde, Thou have mercy! Allas, I crye, he heris me noght. He has no ruthe of my mysfare, He turnes his herre, where is his thought? PAUPER   Cry somwhat lowdar, loke thou noght spare, So may thou spye. CECUS   Jesu, the salver of all sare, To me giffis gode hye! PHELIPPUS   Cesse, man, and crye noght soo. The voyce of the pepill gose thee by Thee aghe sette still and tente giffe to, Here passez the prophite of mercye. Thou doys amys. CECUS   A, David Sone, to thee I crye, The kyng of blisse! PETRUS   Lorde, have mercy and late hym goo. He can noght cesse of his crying; He folowes us both to and froo. Graunte hym his boone and his askyng, And late hym wende. We gette no reste or that this thyng Be broght to ende. JESUS   What wolde thou man I to thee dede? In this present, telle oppynly. CECUS   Lorde, my syght is fro me hydde, Thou graunte me it, I crye mercy; This wolde I have. JESUS   Loke uppe nowe with chere blythely: Thi faith shall thee save. CECUS   Wirschippe and honnoure ay to thee With all the service that can be done. The kyng of blisse loved mote he be That thus my sight hath sente so sone And by grete skill. I was are blynde as any stone, I se at wille. CLAUDUS   A, wele wer tham that evere had liffe, Olde or yonge whedir it were, Might welde ther lymmes withouten striffe; Go with this mirthe that I see here And contynewe, For I am sette in sorowes sere That ay ar newe. Thou, Lord, that schope both nyght and day, For thy mercy have mynde on me And helpe me, Lorde, as thou wele may. . . . I may noght gang, For I am lame, as men may se, And has ben lang. For wele I wote, as knowyn is ryffe, Bothe dome and deffe thou grauntist tham grace, And also the dede that thou havyst geven liff; Therfore graunte me, Lord, in this place My lymbis to welde. JESUS   My man, ryse and caste the crucchys gode space Her in the felde, And loke in trouthe thou stedfast be And folow me furth with gode menyng. CLAUDUS   Lorde, lo, my crouchis whare thei flee Als ferre as I may late tham flenge With bothe myn hende; That evere we have metyng Now I defende. For I was halte both lyme and lame, And I suffered tene and sorowes inowe. Aylastand Lord, loved be thi name, I am als light as birde on bowe. Ay be thou blist, Such grace hast thou schewed to me, Lorde, as thee list. ZACHÉ   Sen firste this worlde was made of noght And all thyng sette in equité, Such ferly thyng was nevere non wroght, As men this tyme may see with eye. What it may mene? I can noght saye what it may be, Comforte or tene. And cheffely of a prophete new That mekill is profite, and that of latte, Both day and nyght thai hym assewe, Oure pepill same thurgh strete and gatte, . . . Oure olde lawes as nowe thei hatte And his kepis yare. Men fro deth to liffe he rayse, The blynde and dome geve speche and sight, Gretely therfore oure folke hym prayse And folowis hym both day and nyght Fro towne to towne. Thay calle hym prophite be right, As of renowne. And yit I mervayle of that thyng, Of puplicans sen prince am I Of hym I cowthe have no knowyng. Yf all I wolde have comen hym nere, Arly and late, For I am lawe, and of myne hight Full is the gate. Bot sen no bettir may befalle, I thynke what beste is for to doo. I am schorte, ye knawe wele all; Therfore yone tre I will go too And in it clyme. Whedir he come or passe me fro, I schall se hym. A nobill tree, thou secomoure, I blisse hym that thee on the erthe broght. Now may I see both here and thore That undir me hid may be noght; Therfore in thee Wille I bidde in herte and thought Till I hym se. Unto the prophete come to towne, Her will I bide whatso befalle. JESUS   Do, Zaché, do fast come downe. ZACHÉ   Lorde, even at thi wille hastely I schall, And tarie noght. To thee on knes, Lord, here I shall For synne I wroght And welcome, prophete, trast and trewe, With all the pepull that to thee langis. JESUS   Zaché, thi service new Schall make thee clene Of all the wrong that thou haste done. ZACHÉ   Lorde, I lette noght for this thrang Her to say sone, Me schamys with synne, but noght to mende; I synne forsake: therfore I will Halve my gud I have unspendid Poure folke to geve it till, This will I fayne; Whom I begylyd to hym will I Make asith agayne. JESUS   Thy clere confessioun schall thee clense: Thou may be sure of lastand lyffe. Unto thi house, withouten offense, Is graunted pees withouten striffe. Farewele, Zaché. ZACHÉ   Lord, thee lowte ay man and wiffe, Blist myght thou be. JESUS   My dere discipulis, beholde and see, Unto Jerusalem we schall assende. Man Sone schall ther betrayed be And gevyn into his enmys hande With grete dispitte. Ther spitting on hym ther schall thei spende And smertly smyte. Petir, take this asse me fro And lede it where thou are it toke. I murne, I sigh, I wepe also Jerusalem on thee to loke; And so may thou That evere thou thi kyng forsuke And was untrewe. For stone on stone schall none be lefte But doune to the grounde all schal be caste; Thy game, thi gle, al fro thee refte, And all for synne that thou done hast, Thou arte unkynde. Agayne thi kyng thou hast trespast, Have this in mynde. PETRUS   Porter, take here thyn asse agayne; At hande my Lorde comys on his fette. JANITOR   Behalde, where all thi burgeis bayne Comes with wirschippe hym to mete. Therfore I will Late hym abide here in this strete And lowte hym till. I BURGENSIS   Hayll, prophette, preved withouten pere, Hayll, prince of pees schall evere endure, Hayll, kyng comely, curteyse and clere, Hayll, soverayne semely, to synfull sure, To thee all bowes. Hayll, Lorde lovely, oure cares may cure, Hayll, kyng of Jewes. II BURGENSIS   Hayll, florisshand floure that nevere shall fade, Hayll, vyolett vernand with swete odoure, Hayll, marke of myrthe, oure medecyne made, Hayll, blossome bright, hayll, oure socoure. Hayll, kyng comely. Hayll, menskfull man, we thee honnoure With herte frely. III BURGENSIS   Hayll, David sone, doughty in dede, Hayll, rose ruddy, hayll birrall clere, Hayll, welle of welthe may make us mede; Hayll, salver of oure sores sere, We wirschippe thee. Hayll, hendfull, with solas sere, Welcome thou be. IV BURGENSIS   Hayll, blisfull babe, in Bedleme borne, Hayll, boote of all oure bittir balis, Hayll, sege that schoppe bothe even and morne, Hayll, talker trystefull of trew tales. Hayll, comely knyght, Hayll, of mode that most prevayles To save the tyght. V BURGENSIS   Hayll, dyamaunde with drewry dight, Hayll, jasper gentill of Jury, Hayll, lylly lufsome lemyd with lyght, Hayll, balme of boote, moyste and drye, To all has nede. Hayll, barne most blist of mylde Marie, Hayll, all oure mede. VI BURGENSIS   Hayll, conquerour, hayll, most of myght, Hayll, rawnsoner of synfull all, Hayll, pytefull, hayll, lovely light, Hayll to us welcome be schall. Hayll, kyng of Jues, Hayll, comely corse that we thee call With mirthe that newes. VII BURGENSIS   Hayll, sonne ay schynand with bright bemes, Hayll, lampe of liff schall nevere waste, Hayll, lykand lanterne luffely lemys, Hayll, texte of trewthe the trew to taste. Hayll, kyng and sire, Hayll, maydens chylde that menskid hir most, We thee desire. VIII BURGENSIS   Hayll, domysman dredful, that all schall deme, Hayll, quyk and dede that all schall lowte, Hayll, whom worschippe moste will seme, Hayll, whom all thyng schall drede and dowte. We welcome thee, Hayll, and welcome of all abowte To owre cité.      Tunc cantant.	pay attention; give good heed many evilly descend Ransom; (see note) (t-note) hither (see note) near (against); (see note) tarry obedient fast (tied up) foal; them meaning (see note) Upon [it] to you object (t-note) obedient as you desire we wish animal; [to be brought] to you to ease (convenience) thither; (t-note) strength reason duly plainly behold freely (willingly) did [held in] common; (see note) permission readily; (i.e., I say) refrain brief fetch act authoritatively livery (authority); (see note) too I command cease discomfort permission; (t-note) For a valid reason reason trust well (t-note) Bethpage; (see note) to be done (i.e., necessary) (see note) chief together to meet him advice intention to you shall not be hidden city will [good] person every condition (t-note) let them know ruler graciously shaped arrayed seemliness news hour true tribe Riding Comprehend wonders heals; sick gives dumb; deaf loaves; (see note) enough abundantly; (see note) made wheat ere gave life lived (see note) [old] laws; long plainly (i.e., fall . . . rise) knew intimately in order expounds; feel (understand) entirely (fully) difficult [to understand]; (see note) sayings applies ere was identified By Isaias evil (sin) know; (t-note) body examples matter understand [now] plead wishes to offend well ought to trust listen courteously greeted me behalf began [to] in comfort wholly soon; (see note) As; promised consider (t-note) advise; prepared (t-note) Though Through doubt do worship willing own Jews own; accords (agrees) well bore Which; (t-note) joy; (see note) promised Judah; gracious mother’s lineage pay attention bears conceit (intention) (t-note) delay; (t-note) together desire Once (see note); (t-note) gracious one; ought unison (singing); (see note) here (see note) (t-note) soon delay hearts good (t-note) Pay close attention see; near all together previously (t-note) well-rewarded; (see note) Then they sing; (t-note) music (singing) signifies Let him tell; quickly causes (t-note) (t-note) heard before me do [for you] know; (t-note) (i.e., explain) music en route Jewry loud; (t-note) called hears pity; misfortune ear healer; misery eye (i.e., heal my blindness) ought to sit; pay attention; (t-note) amiss (wrong); (see note) cease request go [on his way] unless for you did (performed) (t-note) gladly praised might (t-note) wield (move); limbs continue many formed [line missing, see textual note] walk (i.e., everywhere) dumb; deaf dead crutches a good distance Here; field intent fling hands; (t-note) forbid lame both limb and body torment; enough happy; bough (see note) wonderful misfortune chiefly put forward follow street [line missing, see textual note] hate readily raises publicans since I am near Early low (short); of my height street climb sycamore (t-note) abide; (t-note) Zacheus trusted belong (i.e., I’m not intimidated by); throng (i.e., I’m ashamed of my); (see note) (see note); (t-note) Half; goods; (t-note) Poor gladly cheated restitution everlasting peace worship go up Man’s Son enemy’s malevolence hit (see note) before; took (see note) taken away trespassed (sinned) (t-note) on foot [prominent] citizens venerate proven [to be]; peer; (see note) worthy; a sure help (t-note) flower blooming sign of joy (t-note) exalted; (t-note) strong; deeds beryl source of well-being; reward healer; many courteous [one]; special Bethlehem help; miseries man; formed teller reliable a disposition imprisoned ones diamond; ornamented Jewry lily worthy of love gleaming assistance all who are needy child reward ransomer the one who pities Jews body renews shining decline fair; lovely beams experience honored (n.) judge; (v.) judge reverence befit fear Then they sing; (see note); (t-note)