York Guides

XXI
THE BARBERS’ PLAY

JOHN BAPTIST

All mighty God, true Lord on high,
How wonderful is man's deceit;
For though here constantly I preach,
And bid them haste their Lord to meet
Who all has wrought,
Men are so dull that what I teach
Serves all for nought.
When I have. Lord, in name of thee,
Baptised the folk in water clear,
Then have I said that after me
Shall he come that has greater power
             Than I at most;
He shall give baptism more entire
             In fire and Holy Ghost.

ANGEL

Thou, John, take heed what I shall say.
I bring thee tidings wondrous good.
My Lord Jesus shall come this day,
From Galilee unto this flood
            Ye Jordan call.
Baptism to take all mild of mood,
              This day he shall.
John, of his message now be glad
With hearty thanks and right good will.

JOHN

I thank him even, yet I dread.
I am not able to fulfil
            This deed certain.

ANGEL

John, you ought now with heart and will
           To be full fain
To do all that he does ordain.

JOHN

In words full few
I will be subject night and day.
As well I ought,
To serve my Lord Jesus alway
            In deed and thought.
But well I know, baptism is done
To wash and cleanse a man of sin,
And well I wit that sin is none
In him, without nor yet within.
            What needs he then
To be baptized for any sin,
             Like sinful men?

JESUS

John, all mankind is frail,
To which myself I have knit;
But I shall reasons to thee show,
That you may know by natural wit
The cause why I have ordained so,
        And one is this –
Mankind may not unbaptized go
        To endless bliss
And since myself have ta'en mankind,
That men should me their mirror make,
I have their doing in my mind,
And so I do this baptism take.
        Therefore will I
Myself be baptized for their sake
         Full openly.
Another reason shall I tell.
My will is this, that from this day
The virtues of my baptism dwell
In baptism water ever and aye,
          And so mankind,
          Baptized the Holy Ghost alway
                        By grace shall find.

JOHN

All mighty Lord, great is thy grace.
Great thanks for what thou didst prepare.

JESUS

Come, baptize me, John, in this place.

JOHN

Forgive me, Lord ; I do not dare
           That it so be.
For, Lord, I think there is more need
           Thou baptize me.
That place I yearn for most of all,
Thence comest thou, Lord, as I guess.
How should I then, that am a thrall,
Give thee baptism, that righteous is
          And hast been ever?
For thou art root of righteousness,
          That sinnest never.

JESUS

Thou savest well, John, certainly.
But suffer now, for heavenly meed,
That righteousness be not only
Fulfilled in word, but also in deed,
          Through baptism clear.
Come, baptize me in my manhood
          Openly here.
First shall I take, then shall I do.
For so ought mankind to fulfil
All righteousness, as healer true.

JOHN

Lord, I am ready at thy will,
             And will be aye,
Thy subject, Lord, speaking or still,
             As best I may.
Ah, Lord!   I tremble where I stand,
So do I fear to do that deed.
But save me. Lord that all ordained,
For thee to touch I have great dread,
           For doings dark.
Now help me, Lord, through thy Godhead,
           To do this work.
Jesu, my Lord whose might is most,
I baptize thee here in the name
Of the Father and of the Son and Holy Ghost
But in this deed, Lord, set no blame
            This day on me;
And bring all those unto thy home
            That trust in thee.

........
Veni Creator