York Guides

XXXV

THE PINNERS’ AND PAINTERS’ PLAY

I SOLDIER

Sir knights, it will our wit defy
This death to work without some woe.
Ye know yourselves as well as I,
How lords and leaders of our law
Have given doom this dolt shall die.

2 SOLDIER

Sir, all their counsel well we know.
Since we are come to Calvary,
Let each man help as he does owe.

3 SOLDIER

We are all ready, lo!
That order to maintain.

4 SOLDIER

Let's hear what we shall do,
Then go to it amain.

I SOLDIER

To linger here will bring no boon,
If we would any worship win.

2 SOLDIER

Needs must, he should be dead by noon.

3 SOLDIER

So 'tis good time that we begin.

4 SOLDIER

Let's strike him down; 
then he is done,
And shall not harm us with his din.

I SOLDIER

He shall be set and learned soon
How grief waits him and all his kin.

2 SOLDIER

For his deeds shall he die
The foulest death of all.

3 SOLDIER

That is, to crucify.

4 SOLDIER

Right so it shall befall.

I SOLDIER

Then to this work we must take heed
So that our working be not wrong.

2 SOLDIER

To name ought else there is no need.

3 SOLDIER

And I have gone for gear full speed,
Both hammers and nails large and long.

4 SOLDIER

Then may we boldly do this deed.
Come on, and slay this traitor strong.

I SOLDIER

Fair fortune, all and each.
That have wrought on this wise.

2 SOLDIER

No need, sirs, us to teach
Such losels to chastise.

3 SOLDIER

Since everything is right arrayed,
With wiser skill to work go we.

4 SOLDIER

The cross on ground is well displayed,
And bored even as it ought to be.

I SOLDIER

Look now that he along be laid,
And equal made unto this tree.

2 SOLDIER

For all his feats he'll be afraid.
How we shall test him soon you'll see.

I SOLDIER

Come forth, thou cursed knave;
Thy comfort soon shall cool.

4 SOLDIER

 Thine hire soon shalt thou have.

I SOLDIER

Walk on, walk on, thou fool.

JESUS

Almighty God, my Father, hear.
Thy will I do with good intent;
Thou badest me in obedience bear
For Adam's fault the punishment.
So here to death I offer me,
From that sin for to save mankind.
And sovereignly beseech I thee,
That they through me may favour find.
From the foul fiend them defend.
So that their souls be safe
In weal without an end;
I have nought else to crave.

I SOLDIER

By Mahound's blood! 
What do I find?
For Adam's kind is all his thought.

2 SOLDIER

He waxes worse than mad or blind;
This doleful death he dreadeth nought.

3 SOLDIER

Thou should’st in earnest have in mind
The wicked works that thou hast wrought.

4 SOLDIER

I hoped that he had been inclined
To cease those sayings that he taught.

I SOLDIER

Those sayings shall cause him care.
For all his sauntering soon.

2 SOLDIER

Ill luck to those that spare,
Till he to death be done.

3 SOLDIER

Have done, boy; quickly get thee down,
And bend thy back unto this tree.

4 SOLDIER

Behold! himself has laid him down
In length and breadth as he should be.

I SOLDIER

This traitor attainted of treason,
Go fix and fasten him, ye three;
And since he claimeth realm and crown,
High as a king here shall he be.

2 SOLDIER

Now sure, I shall not feign,
Till his right hand be fast.

3 SOLDIER

The left hand then is mine;
Let's see who bears him best.

4 SOLDIER

His limbs at length then shall I lead,
And even to the bore-holes bring.

I SOLDIER

Unto his head I shall take heed,
And with my hands help him to swing.

2 SOLDIER

Now since we four shall do this deed,
And deal with this ill-thriving thing,
Let no man spare his special speed,
Till of it all is made ending.

I SOLDIER

Sir knights, say then, how work we now?

2 SOLDIER

Why, sure, I think I hold this hand.

3 SOLDIER

And to the bore-holes it is brought
Full easily without a band.

4 SOLDIER

Strike on then hard, and spare him nought.

I SOLDIER

Yes; here’s a stub will stiffly stand;
Through bones and sinews its way is sought.
This work is well now, I'll awand.

2 SOLDIER

Say, sir, how do we there? This work will nothing win.

3 SOLDIER

 It fails by a foot or more,
‘Sinews are so gone in.

4 SOLDIER

I think that mark amiss be bored.

2 SOLDIER

Then must he bide in bitter bale.
In faith, 'twas over scantly scored.

3 SOLDIER

Which makes it foully for to fail.

I SOLDIER

Why chatter so?  Fix on a cord,
And tug him to its top and tail.

3 SOLDIER

Yea, thou commands like any lord.
Come help to haul, with an ill hail.

I SOLDIER

Now sure that shall I do,
As swift as any snail.

3 SOLDIER

And I shall tack him, too,
Full nimbly with a nail.
This work will hold, that dare I vow,
For now are fixed fast both his hands.

4 SOLDIER

All four then to his feet go now;
So shall our space swiftly avail;

2 SOLDIER

Let's see what jest might mend his pain;
Thereto my back now would I bend.

4 SOLDIER

Out, out!
This work is all to do again.
And all this boring we must mend.

I SOLDIER

Ah, peace, man, by Mahoun!
Let no man know that wonder.
A rope shall rig him down,
Though sinews go asunder.

2 SOLDIER

That cord full cunning can I knit,
The comfort of this churl to cool.

I SOLDIER

Fix on then fast, that all be fit.
Who cares what he may feel, the fool?

2 SOLDIER

Lug on, ye both, a little yet.

3 SOLDIER

I shall not cease, as I have skill.

4 SOLDIER
And I shall try him for to hit.

2 SOLDIER

Heave, haul!

4 SOLDIER

How now?   I hold it well.

I SOLDIER

Have done! Drive In that nail,
So that no fault be found.

4 SOLDIER

This working would not fail,
If four bulls here were bound.

I SOLDIER

These cords have all increased his pains,
Till he was to the bore holes brought.

2 SOLDIER

Yea, sundered are sinews and veins
On every side, so have we wrought.

3 SOLDIER

Now all his gauds give him no gains;
His sauntering shall with bale be bought.

4 SOLDIER

I will go tell our sovereigns,
In all these works how we have wrought.

I SOLDIER

Nay, sirs, another thing
Falls first for you and me.

2 SOLDIER

I bid that we should sling
Him high for men to see.
We know well that these words were so.

4 SOLDIER

Now raise him nimbly. Heave and ho!
And set him by this mortice here,
And let him fall down at one blow—
For sure that pain will have no peer.
Heave up—let down!   All his bones so
     Are sundered every where.

I SOLDIER

This falling was more fell
Than all the harms he's had,
Now any man may tell
The least bone of this lad.

3 SOLDIER

Methinks this cross will not abide,
Nor stand still in this mortice set.

4 SOLDIER

At first it was made over wide;
That makes it wave, unfirmly set.

I SOLDIER

It shall be set on every side,
So that it shall no further flit;
Good wedges shall we take this tide,
And fix the foot. Then all is fit.

2 SOLDIER

Here wedges are arrayed
For that, both great and small.

3 SOLDIER

Where are our hammers laid,
That we should work withal?

4 SOLDIER

We have them here, even at our hand.

3 SOLDIER

Give me that wedge; I'll drive it in.

4 SOLDIER

Here, then; quick give it me.

I SOLDIER

Lay on then fast.

I SOLDIER

            I warrant ye,
I’ll pack them tight, good luck to me.
Now will this cross full steady stand;
Rave as he will, he'll shake it not.

I SOLDIER

This work, how like you now.
That we have wrought? Sir, speak.

4 SOLDIER

We pray you, tell us how
You feel—not faint, or weak?

JESUS

All men that walk by way or street,
Take heed ye shall no travail miss.
Behold my head, my hands, my feet,
And fully feel before the end
If any mourning may be meet,
Or mischief measured unto this.
My Father, that all pains may mend,
Forgive these men who do amiss.
They know not what they do.
Therefore, Father, I crave,
Have not their sins in view,
But seek their souls to save.

I SOLDIER

Ho, hark!   He jangles like a jay.

2 SOLDIER

Methinks he patters like magpie.

3 SOLDIER

He has been moaning all this day,
And made great moving of mercy.

4 SOLDIER

Is this the same that bid us say
That he was God's Son Almighty?

I SOLDIER

Therefore he feels great fear to-day,
And is condemned this day to die.

2 SOLDIER

Vah!   qui destruis templum.

3 SOLDIER

So said he, 'tis certain.

4 SOLDIER

And, sirs, he said to some.
He'd raise it up again.

I SOLDIER

To compass that he had no might,
For all the tricks that he could cast.
Although in words a witty wight,
For all his force now is he fast.
As Pilate deemed, all's done aright.
Therefore I move we take our rest.

2 SOLDIER

This tale must be rehearsed aright,
Through all the world both East and West.

3 SOLDIER

Yea, let him hang there still.
And make mows at the moon.

4 SOLDIER

Then may we wend at will.

I SOLDIER

Nay, good sirs, not so soon;
For, sure, we need another note,
This kirtle of you would I crave.

2 SOLDIER

Nay, nay, sir; that must be by lot,
Which of us four the thing shall have.

3 SOLDIER

I vote we draw cuts for this coat;
That’s best, all sharp disputes to save.
The short cut wins, as well ye wot,
Whether it falls to knight or knave.

I SOLDIER

Fellows, ye need not prate;
This mantle is for me.

2 SOLDIER

Then may we go hence straight;
We waste time here, I see.