The Masonns [and] Goldesmythis Masons:
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55	HERODES   The clowdes clapped in clerenes that ther clematis inclosis,1 Jubiter and Jovis, Martis and Mercurii emyde, Raykand overe my rialté on rawe me rejoyses, Blonderande ther blastis to blaw when I bidde. Saturne, my subgett, that sotilly is hidde, Listes at my likyng and laies hym full lowe. The rakke of the rede skye full rappely I ridde, Thondres full thrallye by thousandes I thrawe When me likis. Venus his voice to me awe That princes to play in hym pikis. The prince of planetis that proudely is pight Sall brace furth his bemes that oure belde blithes; The mone at my myght he mosteres his myght, And kayssaris in castellis grete kyndynes me kythes; Lordis and ladis loo luffely me lithes, For I am fairer of face and fressher on folde, The soth yf I saie sall, sevene and sexti sithis Than glorius gulles that gayer is than golde In price. How thynke ye ther tales that I talde, I am worthy, witty, and wyse. I MILES   All kynges to youre croune may clerly comende Youre lawe and youre lordshippe as lodsterne on hight. What traytoure untrewe that will not attende Ye sall lay thaim full lowe, fro leeme and fro light. II MILES   What faitoure, in faithe, that dose you offende, We sall sette hym full sore, that sotte, in youre sight. HERODES   In welthe sall I wisse you to wonne or I wende, For ye are wightis ful worthy, both witty and wighte. But ye knawe wele, ser knyghtis, in counsaill full conande, That my regioun so riall is ruled her be rest; For I wate of no wighte in this worlde that is wonnande That in forges any feloune, with force sall be fest; Arest ye tho rebaldes that unrewly are rownand, Be they kyngis or knyghtis, in care ye thaim cast. Yaa, and welde tham in woo to wonne, in the wanyand, What browle that is brawlyng his brayne loke ye brest, And dynge ye hym doune. I MILES   Sir, what foode in faith will you feese, That sott full sone myselfe sall hym sesse. II MILES   We sall noght here doute to do hym disesse, But with countenaunce full cruel we sall crake her his croune. HERODES   My sone that is semely, howe semes thee ther sawes? Howe comely ther knyghtis, thei carpe in this case. FILIUS   Fadir, if thai like noght to listyn youre lawes, As traytoures ontrewe ye sall teche them a trace, For, fadir, unkyndnes ye kythe them no cause. HERODES   Faire falle thee, my faire sone, so fettis of face, And knyghtis, I comaunde, who to dule drawes, Thas churles as cheveleres ye chastise and chase And drede ye no doute. FILIUS   Fadir, I sall fell tham in fight, What renke that reves you youre right. I MILES   With dyntes to dede bes he dight That liste not youre lawes for to lowte.	(see note); (t-note) Mars; amidst Rushing; row (in order) Whirling about; blow subject; subtly Attends to my desire; (t-note) rack [of clouds]; quickly I get rid of violently; throw owes picks (chooses) (i.e., the sun); adorned radiate; happiness gladdens moon; musters caesars; affords me courteously; attend on earth sixty-seven times red (heraldic color); (t-note) told (see note) guiding star in heavens brightness false person fool arrange for you to dwell; go men; strong clever royal; in peace living plans; crime; caught Arrest; rascals; unruly; speaking suffering; them live; waning [of the moon] wretch; rioting; smash strike immature person; punish fool; seize fear; discomfort handsome; sayings speak disloyal; lesson have given son; handsome dole (evil) knights fear man; robs strokes; death be; put respect; (t-note)
______ Goldsmiths:
60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125	I REX   A, Lorde, that levis, everelastande lyff, I love thee evir with harte and hande, That me has made to se this sight Whilke my kynrede was coveytande. Thay saide a sterne with lemys bright Owte of the eest shulde stabely stande, And that it shulde meffe mekill myght Of one that shulde be Lorde in lande, That men of synne shulde saff be; And certis I sall saye, God graunte me happe to have Wissyng of redy waye. II REX   All weldand God, that all has wroght, I worshippe thee als is worthye That with thy brightnes has me broght Owte of my reame, riche Arabie. I shall noght seys tille I have sought What selcouth thyng it sall syngnyfie, God graunte me happe so that I myght Have grace to gete goode companye And my comforte encrese With thy sterne schynyng schene. For certis, I sall noght cesse Tille I witte what it mene. III REX   Lorde God, that all goode has bygonne And all may ende, both goode and evyll, That made for man both mone and sonne And stedde yone sterne to stande stone stille. Tille I the cause may clerly knowe, God wisse me with his worthy wille. I hope I have her felaws fonde, My yarnyng fathfully to fullfille. Sirs, God yowe saffe ande see, And were yow evere fro woo. I REX   Amen, so myght it bee, And saffe yow, sir, also. III REX   Sirs, with youre wille, I wolde yow praye To telle me some of youre entent, Whedir ye wende forthe in this way And fro what contré ye are wente. II REX   Full gladly, sir, I shall you say, A sodayne sight was till us sente, A royall sterne that rose or day Before us on the firmament That garte us fare fro home Som poynte therof to preffe. III REX   Sertis, syrs, I saw the same That makis us thus to moyfe. For sirs, I have herde saye sertayne Itt shulde be seyne of selcowthe seere And ferther therof I wolde freyne; That makis me moffe in this manere. I REX   Sir, of felashippe are we fayne, Now sall we wende forth all in feere, God graunte us or we come agayne Som gode hartyng therof to here. Sir, here is Jerusalem, To wisse us als we goo, And beyonde is Bedleem; Ther schall we seke alsoo. III REX   Sirs, ye schall wele undirstande For to be wise nowe were it nede, Sir Herowde is kyng of this lande And has his lawes her for to leede. I REX   Sir, sen we neghe now thus nerhand, Untill his helpe us muste take heede, For have we his wille and his warande Than may we wende withouten drede. II REX   To have leve of the lorde, That is resoune and skyll. III REX   And therto we all accorde; Wende we and witte his wille.	lives; (see note) praise kinfolk were desiring star; beams stand still move (indicate) (t-note) sin; saved luck Knowledge All powerful praise realm cease; (t-note) wonderful; signify brightly cease means created positioned yon star guide found yearning faithfully save defend; from woe permission intent Whether country sudden before caused; to travel from prove move certain sign of many wonders ask move desirous; (see note) together ere encouragement; hear direct Bethlehem (see note) here; lead come near; nearby warrant sensible know
______ Masons and Goldsmiths:
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	NUNCIUS   My lorde, ser Herowde, kyng with croune. HERODES   Pees, dastarde, in the develes dispite. NUNCIUS   My lorde, now note is nere this towne. HERODES   What, false harlott, liste thee flight? Go betis yone boy and dyngis hym downe. II MILES   Lorde, messengeres shulde no man wyte, It may be for youre awne renoune. HERODES   That wolde I here, do telle on tyte. NUNCIUS   My lorde, I mette at morne Thre kyngis carpand togedir Of a barne that is borne, And thei hight to come hiddir. HERODES   Thre kyngis, forsoth? NUNCIUS                                     Sir, so I say, For I saw thaim myselffe all fere. I CONSOLATOR   My lorde, appose hym, I you pray. HERODES   Say, felowe, are they ferre or nere? NUNCIUS   Mi lorde, thei will be here this day, That wote I wele, withouten were. HERODES   Do rewle us than in riche array, And ilke man make tham mery chere That no sembelant be sene But frendshippe faire and still Till we witte what thei mene, Whedir it be gud or ill. I REX   The lorde that lenes aylastand light Whilke has us ledde owte of oure londe, Kepe thee, ser kynge and comely knyght And all thy folke that we her fynde. HERODES   Mahounde, my god and most of myght That has myn hele all in his hande, He saffe you, sirs, semely in sight, And telle us nowe som new tithand. II REX   Some sall we saie you, sir. A sterne stode us beforne That makis us speke and spir Of one that is new borne. HERODES   New borne? That burden halde I bad, And, certis, unwitty men ye wore To leppe overe lande to laite a ladde. Say, whan loste ye hym, ought lange before? All wise men will wene ye madde, And therfore moves this never more. III REX   Yis, certis, swilke hertyng have we hadde We will not cesse or we come thore. HERODES   This were a wondir thyng. Saie, what barne shulde that be? I REX   Forsoth, he sall be kynge Of Jewes and of Jude. HERODES   Kyng? In the develes name, dogges, fye! Nowe se I wele ye roye and rave. Be any skemeryng of the skye When shulde ye knawe outhir kyng or knave? FILIUS   Naye, he is kyng and non but he That sall ye kenne if that ye crave, And he is jugge of all Jurie To speke or spille, to saie or saffe. HERODES   Swilke gawdes may gretely greve To witnesse that nere was. II REX   Nowe, lorde, we axe but leve Be youre poure to passe. HERODES   Whedirward, in the develis name, To layte a ladde here in my lande? Fals harlottis, bot yhe hye you hame Ye sall be bette and bune in bande. II CONSOLATOR   Mi lorde, to fell this foule defame, Late alle there hye wordis falle on hande And spere thaim sadly of the same, So sall ye stabely undirstande Thaire mynde and ther menyng, And takes gud tente therto. HERODES   I thanke thee of thys thing, And certis so sall I doo. Nowe, kyngis, to cache all care awaye Sen ye are comen oute of youre kyth, Loke noght ye legge agaynste oure laye, Uppon payne to lose both lymme and lith. And so that ye the soth will saye To come and go I graunte you grith, And yf youre poyntes be to my paye May fall myselfe sall wende you with. I REX   Sir kyng, we all accorde And sais a barne is borne That sall be kyng and lorde, And leche tham that ar lorne. II REX   Sir, ye thar mervaylle nothynge Of this ilke noote that thusgattes newes, For Balaham saide a starne shulde sprynge Of Jacob kynde, and that is Jewes. III REX   Isaie sais a maiden yonge Sall bere a barne emange Ebrewes That of all contrees sal be kynge And governe all that on erthe grewes. Emanuell beiths his name, To say, Goddis Sone of hevene. And certis this is the same That we here to you neven. I REX   Sir, the proved prophete Ossee Full trewly tolde in towne and toure, A maiden of Israell, forsoth saide he, Sall bere oone like to lilly floure. He menes a childe consayved sall be Withouten seede of mannys socoure, And his modir a mayden free, And he both Sonne and Saveour. II REX   That fadres talde me beforne Has no man myght to marre. HERODES   Allas, than am I lorne, This wax ay werre and werre. I CONSOLATOR   My lorde, be ye nothyng abast, This brigge till ende sall wele be broght. Byde tham go furth and frendly frayste The soth of this that thei have soght, And telle it you, soo sall ye traste Whedir ther tales be trewe or noght. Than sall ye waite thaim with a wraste And make all waste that thei have wroght. HERODES   Nowe certis, this is wele saide, This matere makes me fayne. Sir kyngis, I halde me paied Off all youre purpose playne. Wende furth youre forward to fulfill, To Bedlem is but here at hande, And speris grathely both gud and ille Of hym that shulde be lorde in lande, And comes agayne than me untill And telle me trulye youre tithande. To worshippe hym than were my will, This sall ye stabely undirstande. II REX   Certis, ser, we sall you say The soth of that same childe, In all the haste we may. II CONSOLATOR   Fares wele. Ye be bygilyd. HERODES   Now, certis, this is a sotell trayne. Nowe sall thai truly take there trace And telle me of that swytteron swayne And all thare counsaille in this case. Giffe itt be soth thai shall be slayne, No golde shall gete them bettir grace. Bot go we tille they come agayne And playe us in som othir place. This holde I gude counsaill, Yitt wolde I na man wiste; For certis, we shall noght faile To lose tham as us liste.	crown; (see note); (t-note) Peace; malice news; (t-note) argue; (t-note) beat; strike; (t-note) blame own reputation hear; quickly; (t-note) talking (t-note) called (designated) (t-note) all together interrogate far or near without question dress; then; (t-note) each outward sign; seen know; intend; (t-note) lends everlasting Which; land here Mohammed; (see note) my well-being save tidings star ask birth hold were hurry; seek (i.e., was it long before) consider you to be refer to this encouragement cease until; (t-note) child (t-note) Judea (t-note) well you talk nonsense (boast); (t-note) glimmering in either; (t-note) (t-note) know; desire judge; Jewry; (t-note) defend; condemn; save tricks; grieve (offend) never ask; permission; (t-note) power (authority) (see note); (t-note) seek go; home beaten; bound put down; disgrace Let; their hasty; be put aside; (t-note) inquire; soberly meaning careful attention (t-note) take (drive) (i.e., native land); (t-note) allege; law (i.e., life and limb) (t-note) protection advantage It may fall out that (t-note) Child heal; lost (t-note) note (matter); in this manner is news; (t-note) Balaam; star; (see note) Jacob’s kin Isaiah; young; (t-note) among Hebrews; (t-note) (t-note) grows shall be; (t-note) certainly name (identify); (t-note) Hosea; (t-note) tower (t-note) conceived; (t-note) assistance of a man’s seed mother (i.e., forefathers); (t-note) spoil worse and worse afraid conflict (situation); (t-note) inquire test wait for them; trick destroy (t-note) happy rewarded Go; undertaking (t-note) ask plainly; (t-note) then tidings (t-note) firmly (t-note) (t-note) Farewell; beguiled; (see note) subtle trick make their way doubtful (of no account) boy; (t-note) their; (t-note) If favor until (see note) no; knew lose (kill); we please; (t-note)
______ Goldsmiths: Nota: The Harrode passeth and the three kynges commyth agayn to make there offerynges. (see note)
275 280 285 290 295 300 305 310 315 320 325 330 335 340 345 350 355 360 365 370 375 380 385 390	I REX   A, sirs, for sight what shall I say, Whare is oure syne? I se it noth. II REX   No more do I; nowe dar I lay In oure wendyng som wrange is wroght. III REX   Unto that prince I rede we praye That till us sente his syngne unsoght, That he wysse us in redy way So frendly that we fynde hym moght. I REX   A, siris, I se it stande Aboven where he is borne; Lo, here is the house at hande. We have noght myste this morne. ANCILLA   Whame seke ye, syrs, be wayes wilde With talkyng, travelyng to and froo? Her wonnes a woman with hir childe, And hir husband; her ar no moo. II REX   We seke a barne that all shall bylde; His sartayne syngne hath saide us soo, And his modir, a mayden mylde, Her hope we to fynde tham twoo. ANCILLA   Come nere, gud syirs, and see: Youre way to ende is broght. III REX   Behalde here, syirs, her and se The same that ye have soght. I REX   Loved be that Lorde that lastis aye, That us has kydde thus curtaysely To wende by many a wilsom way And come to this clene companye. II REX   Late us make nowe no more delay But tyte take furth oure tresurry And ordand giftis of gud aray To worshippe hym als is worthy. III REX   He is worthy to welde All worshippe, welthe, and wynne; And for honnoure and elde, Brother, ye shall begynne. I REX   Hayle, the fairest of felde, folke for to fynde, Fro the fende and his feeres faithefully us fende; Hayll, the best that shall be borne to unbynde All the barnes that are borne and in bale boune. Hayll, thou marc us thi men and make us in mynde Sen thi myght is on molde misseis to amende. Hayll, clene that is comen of a kynges kynde And shall be kyng of this kyth, all clergy has kende. And sith it shall worthe on this wise, Thyselffe have I soght sone, I say thee, With golde that is grettest of price. Be paied of this present, I pray thee. II REX   Hayll, foode that thy folke fully may fede; Hayll, floure fairest that never shall fade; Hayll, Sone that is sente of this same sede That shall save us of synne that oure syris had; Hayll, mylde, for thou mett to marke us to mede, Off a may makeles thi modir thou made. In that gude thurgh grace of thy Godhede, Als the gleme in the glasse gladly thow glade And sythyn thow shall sitte to be demand, To helle or to heven for to have us, Insens to thi servis is semand. Sone, se to thi suggettis and save us. III REX   Hayll, barne that is best oure balys to bete, For our boote shall thou be bounden and bett; Hayll, frende faithtfull, we fall to thy feete, Thy fadiris folke fro the fende to thee fette. Hayll, man that is made to thi men mette Sen thou and thy modir with mirthis ar mette; Hayll, duke that dryves dede undir fete, But whan thy dedys ar done to dye is thi dette. And sen thy body beryed shal be, This mirre will I giffe to thi gravyng. The gifte is noght grete of degree, Ressayve it, and se to oure savyng. MARIA   Sir kyngis, ye travel not in vayne, Als ye have ment, hyr may ye fynde, For I consayved my Sone sartayne Withouten misse of man in mynde, And bare hym here withouten payne Where women ar wonte to be pynyd. Goddis aungell in his gretyng playne Saide he shulde comforte al mankynde; Tharfore doute yow no dele Here for to have youre bone; I shall witnesse full wele All that is saide and done. I REX   For solas ser now may we synge, All is parformed that we for prayde. But gud barne, giffe us thy blissing, For faire happe is before thee laide. II REX   Wende we nowe to Herowde the kyng, For of this poynte he will be paied And come hymselffe and make offeryng Unto this same, for so he saide. III REX   I rede we reste a thrawe For to maynteyne our myght, And than do as we awe Both unto kyng and knyght. ANGELUS   Nowe curtayse kynges, to me take tent, And turne betyme or ye be tenyd, Fro God hymselfe thus am I sent To warne yow als youre faithfull frende. Herowde the kyng has malise ment And shappis with shame yow for to shende, And for that ye non harmes shulde hente Be othir waies God will ye wende Even to youre awne contré. And yf ye aske hym bone, Youre beelde ay will he be For this that ye have done. I REX   A, Lorde, I love thee inwardly. Sirs, God has gudly warned us thre. His anungell her now herde have I, And how he saide. II REX                 Sir, so did we, He saide Herowde is oure enmye And makis hym bowne oure bale to be With feyned falsed, and forthy Farre fro his force I rede we flee. III REX   Syrs, faste I rede we flitte Ilkone till oure contré. He that is welle of witte Us wisse, and with yow be.	sorrow sign; not wrong advise sign direct So that lovingly; might missed (failed) Whom; (see note) Here dwells here are protect infallible sign; informed us thus a conclusion hear and see; (t-note) Praised; exists forever shown lonely (dangerous) way undefiled Let quickly; treasure intended gifts [for the Child]; (see note) enjoy felicity age; (see note) (i.e., in the world); (see note) fiend; companions; defend bound mark; keep; (see note) earth sins undefiled one; lineage people; revealed since; happen this way soon; (t-note) (see note) Accept child; may nourish; (see note) flower seed ancestors mild one; chose; reward maid matchless (without sin) good [maid] gleam through; glided; (see note) then; judging; (t-note) Incense; appropriate; (see note) subjects sorrows to overcome assistance; beaten; (see note) fetch; (t-note) fitting Since; joys death under [his] feet debt buried; (see note) myrrh; give; burial conceived; certainly sin to feel pain doubt; entirely wish (desire) special; (see note) give good fortune matter; pleased advise; awhile stamina ought courteous; pay attention; (see note) without delay; hurt (killed) (t-note) shapes (schemes); destroy suffer By own country a favor support praise enemy bound feigned falsehood power; advise Each one the source of knowledge direct