#  Herod the Great 

 



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\[*The text is lightly glossed; see the glossary in the Riverside Chaucer for words not glossed here.*\]

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**Moste mighty Mahowne**  
**meng you with mirth!**  
**Both of burgh and of towne,**   
**by felles and by firth,**  
**Both king with crowne,**   
**and barons of birth,**   
**That radly will rowne,**  
**many great girth**  
**Shall be happ.**   
**Take tenderly intent**  
**What sondes are sent,**  
**Else harmes shall ye hent,**  
**And lothes you to lap.**  
  
**Herode, the hend,**  
**king by grace of Mahowne,**  
**Of Jewry, surmounting**   
**sternly with crowne,**   
**On life that are living**   
**in towre and in towne,**   
**Gracius you greting,**   
**commaundes you be bowne**  
**At his bidding;**   
**Luf him with lewte,**  
**Drede him, that doughty!**   
**He charges you be redy**   
**Lowly at his liking.**  
  
**What man upon mold,**  
**menes him agane,**  
**Tit teen shall be told,**  
**knight, squiere, or swain;**  
**Be he never so bold,**   
**byes he that bargan,**  
**Twelf thowsand fold,**   
**more than I sayn**   
**May ye trast;**  
**He is worthy wonderly,**   
**Selcouthly sory;**  
**For a boy that is borne her by**   
**Standes he abast.**  
  
**A king thay him call,**   
**and that we deny;**   
**How shuld it so fall,**   
**great mervell have I;**   
**Therfor over all shall**   
**I make a cry,**   
**That ye busk not to brall,**  
**nor like not to ly**   
**This tide;**  
**Carpes of no king**  
**Bot Herode, that lording,**   
**Or busk to youre beylding,**  
**Youre heedes for to hide.**   
  
**He is King of Kinges,**   
**kindly I knowe,**  
**Chefe lord of lordinges**   
**chefe leder of law,**   
**Ther wates on his winges,**  
**that bold bost will blow,**   
**Great dukes downe dinges**  
**for his great awe,**   
**And him lowtes.**  
**Tuskane and Turky,**   
**All Inde and Italy,**   
**Cecyll and Surry,**  
**Drede him and doutes.**  
  
**From Paradise to Padwa,**   
**to Mownt Flascon;**  
**From Egypt to Mantua,**   
**unto Kemp Towne;**   
**From Sarceny to Susa,**   
**to Grece it abowne;**  
**Both Normondy and Norway**   
**loutes to his crowne;**  
**His renowne**   
**Can no tong tell,**   
**From heven unto hell;**   
**Of him can none spell**  
**Bot his cosyn Mahowne.**   
  
**He is the worthyest of all**   
**barnes that are borne;**  
**Free men are his thrall,**   
**full teenfully torne;**  
**Begin he to brall,**   
**many men cach skorne;**  
**Obey must we all,**   
**or els be ye lorne**   
**At ones.**   
**Downe ding of youre knees,**  
**All that him sees,**   
**Displesed he bees,**   
**And byrken many bones.**  
  
**Here he commes now, I cry,**   
**that lord I of spake;**   
**Fast afore will I hy,**  
**radly on a rake,**  
**And welcom him worshipfully,**   
**laghing with lake,**  
**As he is most worthy,**   
**and knele for his sake**   
**So low;**   
**Downe dernly to fall,**  
**As renk most ryall:**  
**Hail, the worthyest of all!**   
**To thee must I bow!**   
  
**Hail, luf lord! lo,**   
**thy letters have I layde;**  
**I have done I couth do,**   
**and peasse have I prayd,**   
**Mekill more therto**   
**openly desplayd;**  
**Bot romoure is rased so,**   
**that boldly thay brade**  
**Amanges thame;**   
**Thay carp of a king,**  
**Thay seasse not sich chatering.**   
**Bot I shall tame thare talking,**   
**And let thame go hang thame:**   
  
**Stint, brodels, youre din,**   
**yee, everychon!**   
**I red that ye harken**   
**to I be gone, advise**  
**For if I begin,**   
**I breke ilka bone,**  
**And pull fro the skin**   
**the carcass anone,**   
**Yee, perde!**  
**Sesse all this wonder,**  
**And make us no blonder,**  
**For I rife you in sonder,**  
**Be ye so hardy.**   
  
**Peasse both yong and old,**   
**at my bidding, I red,**   
**For I have all in wold;**   
**in me standes life and dede;**  
**Who that is so bold,**   
**I brane him thrugh the hede;**  
**Speke not or I have told,**   
**what I will in this stede;**  
**Ye wote not**   
**All that I will meve;**  
**Stir not bot ye have leve,**   
**For if ye do, I clefe**   
**You small as flesh to pot.**   
  
**My mirthes are turned to teen,**  
**my mekenes into ire,**  
**And all for oone I ween,**   
**with-in I fare as fire.**   
**May I se him with eyn,**   
**I shall gif him his hire;**   
**Bot I do as I meen,**   
**I were a full lewde sire**   
**In wones;**   
**Had I that lad in hand,**   
**As I am king in land,**   
**I shuld with this steell brand**   
**Byrken all his bones.**  
  
**My name springes far and nere;**   
**the doughtyest, men me call,**   
**That ever ran with spere,**   
**a lord and king 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 devil me ailes,**   
**Thay teen me so with tales,**  
**That by Goddes dere nailes,**   
**I will peasse no langer.**  
  
**What devil! me think I brast,**   
**for anger and for teen;**   
**I trow these kinges be past,**   
**that here with me has been;**   
**Thay promesed me full fast**   
**or now here to be seen,**  
**For els I shuld have cast**   
**an othere sleght, I ween;**   
**I tell you,**   
**A boy thay said thay soght,**   
**With offering that thay broght;**   
**It meves 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 king as I**   
**will suffre thaym to neven**  
**Any to have mastry,**   
**bot my self full even?**  
**Nay, leefe!**  
**The devil me hang and draw,**   
**If I that losell knaw,**  
**Bot I gif him a blaw,**   
**That life I shall him reve.**  
  
**For perils yit I wold wist**  
**if thay were gone;**   
**And ye therof her told,**   
**I pray you say anone,**   
**For and thay be so bold,**  
**by God that sittes in trone,**  
**The pain can not be told,**   
**that thay shall have ilkon,**  
**ffor ire;**   
**Sich paines hard never man tell,**  
**For ugly and for fell,**  
**That lucifere in hell**   
**Thare bones shall all to-tire.**  
  
**Lord, think not ill if I**   
**tell you how thay are past;**   
**I kepe not layn, truly,**  
**syn thay cam by you last,**   
**An othere way in hy thay soght,**  
**and that full fast.**   
**Why, and are thay past me by?**   
**Wee! Out! For teen I brast!**   
**Wee! Fy!**   
**Fy on the devil! where may I bide?**   
**Bot fight for teen and al to-chide!**  
**Thefes, I say ye shuld, have spide**  
**And told, when thay went by;**   
  
**Ye are knightes to trast!**  
**Nay, losels ye ar, and theves;**  
**I wote I yelde my gast,**   
**so sore my hart it greves.**  
**What nede you be abast?**   
**Ther are no great meschefes**  
**For these maters to gnast.**  
**Why put ye sich repreves**   
**Without cause?**   
**Thus shuld ye not thret us,**   
**Ungainly to bete us,**   
**Ye shuld not rehet us,**  
**Without othere sawes.**  
  
**Ffy, losels and liars!**   
**Lurdans ilkon!**  
**Traitoures and well wars!**   
**Knaves, bot knightes none!**   
**Had ye bene worth youre eres,**   
**thus had thay not gone;**   
**Get I those land lepars,**   
**I breke ilka bone;**   
**First vengeance**   
**Shall I se on thare bones;**   
**If ye bide in these wones**  
**I shall ding you with stones,**  
**Yee, diti zance doutance.**  
  
**I wote not where I may sit,**   
**for anger and for teen;**   
**We have not done all yit,**   
**if it be as I ween;**   
**Fy! devil! now how is it?**   
**As long as I have eyn**   
**I think not for to flit,**   
**bot king I will be seen**  
**For ever.**   
**Bot stand I to quart,**  
**I tell you my hart,**   
**I shall gar thaym start,**  
**Or els trust me never.**   
  
**Sir, thay went sodanly,**   
**or any man west,**  
**Els had met we, yee, perdy,**   
**and may ye trest.**  
**So bold, nor so hardy**   
**agans oure lest,**  
**Was none of that company**   
**durst mete me with fest**  
**For ferd.**   
**Ill durst thay abide,**   
**Bot ran thame to hide;**   
**Might I thaym have spide,**   
**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 will,**   
**go by towne and by towre,**   
**Goes hens!**   
**I have maters to mell**  
**With my prevey counsell;**   
**Clerkes, ye bere the bell,**   
**Ye must me encense.**   
  
**Oone spake in mine eere**   
**a wonderfull talking,**   
**And saide a maiden shuld bere**   
**anothere to be king;**   
**Sirs, I pray you inquere**   
**in all writing,**   
**In Virgill, in Homere,**   
**And all other thing**   
**Bot legende;**  
**Sekes poece-tales;**  
**Lefe pestyls and grales;**  
**Mes, matins, noght avales,**  
**All these I defende;**  
  
**I pray you tell hendely**   
**now what ye finde.**   
**Truly, sir, prophecy,**   
**it is not blind;**   
**We rede thus by Isay,**   
**he shal be so kinde,**   
**That a maiden, sothely,**   
**which never sinde,**  
**Shall him bere:**   
**"Virgo concipiet,**   
**Natumque pariet;"**   
**"Emanuell" is hete,**  
**His name for to lere,**  
  
**"God is with us,"**   
**that is forto say.**   
**And othere sayes thus,**   
**trest me ye may:**  
**"Of Bedlem a gracius**   
**lord shall spray,**  
**That of Jewry mightius**   
**king shal be ay,**  
**Lord mighty;**   
**And him shall honoure**   
**both king and emperoure."**   
**Why, and shuld I to him cowre?**   
**Nay, ther thou lyes lightly!**   
  
**Fy! the devil thee speede,**   
**and me, bot I drink ones!**   
**This has thou done in dede,**   
**to anger me for the nones:**   
**And thou, knave, thou thy mede**   
**shall have, by cokes dere bones!**  
**Thou can not half thy crede!**   
**Out, theves, fro my wones!**  
**Fy, knaves!**   
**Fy, dotty-pols, with youre bookes!**  
**Go kast thaym in the brookes!**   
**With sich wiles and crokes**  
**My wit away raves!**   
  
**Hard I never sich a trant,**  
**that a knave so sleght**   
**Shuld com like a sant**   
**and reve me my right;**  
**Nay, he shall on slant;**  
**I shall kill him downe stright;**   
**War! I say, let me pant;**   
**now think I to fight**   
**For anger;**   
**My guttes will out thring**  
**Bot I this lad hing;**  
**Without I have a venging,**  
**I may lif no langer.**   
  
**Shuld a carll in a kave,**   
**bot of oone yere age,**   
**Thus make me to rave?**   
**Sir, peasse this outrage!**  
**A-way let ye wave**   
**all such langage,**   
**Youre worship to save,**   
**is he oght bot a page**   
**Of a yere?**   
**We two shall him teen**   
**With oure wittes between,**   
**That, if ye do as I meen,**   
**He shall dy on a spere.**   
  
**For drede that he reign,**   
**do as we red;**   
**Thrughout Bedlem,**  
**and ilk othere stede,**   
**Make knightes ordein,**   
**and put unto dede**  
**All knave children**   
**of two yeres brede,**  
**And with-in;**  
**This child, may ye spill**   
**Thus at youre awne will.**   
**Now thou says here til**  
**A right nobill gin!**  
  
**If I live in land,**   
**good life, as I hope,**   
**This dar I thee warand**   
**to make thee Pope. guarantee**   
**O, my hart is resand**  
**now in a glope!**  
**For this nobill tithand**  
**thou shall have a drope**   
**Of my good grace;**   
**Markes, rentes, and poundes,**   
**Great castels and groundes;**   
**Thrugh all sees and sandes**   
**I gif thee the chace.**  
  
**Now will I procede,**   
**and take vengeance;**   
**All the flowre of knighthede**   
**call to legeance;**   
**Bewshere, I thee bid,**  
**it may thee avance.**   
**Lord, I shall me spede,**   
**and bring, perchaunce,**   
**To thy sight.**   
**Hark, knightes, I you bring**   
**Here new tything;**  
**Unto Herode king**   
**Hast with all youre might!**   
  
**In all the hast that ye may,**   
**in armoure full bright,**   
**In youre best aray**   
**looke that ye be dight.**  
**Why shuld we fray?**   
**This is not all right.**   
**Sirs, withouten delay**   
**I drede that we fight.**   
**I pray you,**   
**As fast as ye may,**   
**Com to him this day.**   
**What, in oure best aray?**   
**Yee, sirs, I say you.**   
  
**Somwhat is in hand,**   
**what ever it meen.**   
**Tarry not for to stand**   
**ther or we have been.**  
**King Herode, all weldand,**   
**well be ye seen! all ruling**   
**Youre knightes are comand**  
**in armoure full sheen,**   
**At youre will.**   
**Hail, doughtiest of all!**   
**We are comen at youre call**   
**For to do what we shall,**  
**Youre lust to fullfil.**   
  
**Welcom, lordinges,**   
**Jewes both great and small!**   
**The cause now is this**   
**that I send for you all:**   
**A lad, a knave, borne is**   
**that shuld be king ryall;**   
**Bot I kill him and his,**   
**I wote I brast my gall;**  
**Therfor, Sirs,**   
**Vengeance shall ye take,**   
**All for that lad sake,**   
**And men I shall you make**   
**Where ye com ay where, sirs.**   
  
**To Bedlem loke ye go,**   
**and all the coste aboute,**   
**All knave children ye slo,**   
**and, lordes, ye shal be stoute;**   
**Of yeres if they be two**   
**and within, of all that route**  
**On life lieve none of tho**   
**that lyges in swedyll clowte,**  
**I red you;**   
**Spare no kins bloode,**  
**Let all run on floode,**  
**If women wax woode;**   
**I warn you, sirs, to spede you;**   
  
**Hens! Now go youre way.**   
**That ye were thore.**  
**I wote we make a fray;**   
**bot I will go before.**   
**A, think, sirs; I say**   
**I mon whet like a bore.**  
**Set me before ay**   
**good enogh for a skore;**   
**Hail hendely!**   
**We shall for youre sake**   
**Make a dulfull lake.**  
**Now if ye me well wrake**  
**Ye shall find me freindly.**   
  
**Go ye now til oure note,**   
**and handell thaim weell.**   
**I shall pay thaym on the cote,**   
**begin I to reel.**   
**Hark, felowse, ye dote;**   
**yonder commes unseel;**  
**I hold here a grote**   
**she likes me not weell**   
**Be we parte;**  
**Dame, think it not ill,**   
**thy knave if I kill.**   
**What, thefe! Agans my will?**   
**Lord, kepe him in qwarte!**  
  
**Abide now, abide!**   
**No farther thou gose.**   
**Peasse, thefe! Shall I chide**   
**and make here a noise?**   
**I shall reve thee thy pride;**  
**kill we these boyse!**   
**Tid may betide;**   
**kepe well thy nose,**   
**Fals thefe!**   
**Have on loft on thy hode.**   
**What, hoore, art thou woode?**  
**Out, alas, my childes bloode!**   
**Out, for repreve!**   
  
**Alas, for shame and sin!**   
**Alas that I was borne!**   
**Of weping who may blin**  
**to see hir childe forlorne?**  
**My comforth and my kin,**   
**my son thus al to-torne!**  
**Vengeance for this syn**   
**I cry both even and morne.**   
**Well done!**   
**Com hedir, thou old stry!**  
**That lad of thine shall dy.**   
**Mercy, lord, I cry!**   
**It is min awne dere son.**  
  
**No mercy thou meve;**   
**it mendes thee not, Maud!**   
**Then thy skalp shall I cleve!**   
**Lest thou be clawd?**  
**Lefe, lefe, now by lefe!**  
**peasse, bid I, bawd!**   
**Fy, fy, for reprefe!**   
**Fy, full of fraude!**   
**No man!**   
**Have at thy tabard,**   
**Harlot and holard!**  
**Thou shall not be sparde!**   
**I cry and I ban!**  
  
**Out! morder! Man, I say,**   
**strong tratoure and thefe!**  
**Out! alas! and waloway!**   
**My child that was me lefe!**  
**My luf, my blood, my play,**   
**that never did man grefe!**   
**Alas, alas, this day!**   
**I wold, my hart shuld clefe**  
**In sonder!**   
**Vengeance I cry and call,**   
**On Herode and his knightes all!**   
**Vengeance, lord, upon thaym fall,**   
**And mekill worldes wonder!**  
  
**This is well wroght gere**   
**that ever may be;**   
**Comes hederward here!**   
**Ye nede not to fle!**   
**Will ye do any dere**  
**to my child, and me?**   
**He shall dy, I thee swere**   
**his hart blood shall thou see.**   
**God for-bede!**   
**Thefe! thou shedes my childes blood!**   
**Out, I cry! I go near wood!**   
**Alas! my hart is all on flood,**   
**To see my child thus blede!**   
  
**By God, thou shall aby**  
**this dede that thou has done.**   
**I red thee not stry**   
**by sun and by moon.**   
**Have at thee, say I!**   
**Take the ther a foin!**  
**Out on thee I cry**   
**have at thy groin**   
**An othere!**   
**This kepe I in store.**   
**Peasse now, no more!**   
**I cry and I rore,**   
**Out on thee, mans mordere!**   
  
**Alas! my babe, min 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,**   
**Vengeance for thy blod, thus spent**   
**out! I cry, and horow!**   
**Go lightly!**   
**Get out of thise wones,**   
**Ye trattes, all at ones,**  
**Or by cokes dere bones**  
**I make you go wightly!**   
  
**Thay are flayd now, I wote,**   
**thay will not abide.**   
**Let us run fote hote;**   
**now wold I we hide,**   
**And tell of this lot,**   
**how we have betide.**   
**Thou can do thy note;**   
**that have I aspide;**   
**Go furth now,**   
**Tell thou Herode oure tail!**  
**For all oure avail,**   
**I tell you, saunce fail,**   
**He will us alow.**  
  
**I am best of you all**   
**and ever has bene;**   
**The devil have my soul**   
**bot I be first sene;**   
**It fittes me to call**   
**my lord, as I wene.**   
**What nedes thee to brall?**   
**Be not so kene**   
**In this anger;**   
**I shall say thou did best,**   
**Save meself, as I gest.**  
**Wee! That is most honest.**   
**Go; tary no langer!**   
  
**Hail Herode, oure king**   
**full glad may ye be!**   
**Good tithing we bring;**   
**harken now to me;**   
**We have made riding**   
**thrugh out Jure:**  
**Well wit ye one thing,**   
**that morderd have we**  
**Many thousandes.**   
**I held, thaym full hote,**   
**I paid them on the cote;**   
**Thare dammes, I wote,**   
**Never binde them in bandes.**   
  
**Had ye sene how I fard**   
**when I cam amang them!**   
**Ther was none that I spard**   
**bot lade on and dang them.**  
**I am worthy a rewarde**   
**where I was amanges them.**   
**I stud and I stard**   
**no pitee to hang them**  
**Had I.**   
**Now, by mighty Mahowne,**   
**That is good of renowne!**   
**If I bere this crowne**   
**Ye shall have a lady**   
  
**Ilkon to him laid,**   
**and wed at his will.**   
**So have ye lang saide**   
**do somwhat thertil!**   
**And I was never flayde**   
**for good ne for ill.**   
**Ye might hold you well paide**   
**oure lust to fulfil,**   
**Thus think me,**   
**With tresure untold,**   
**If it like that ye wold,**   
**Both silver and gold,**   
**To gif us great plentee.**   
  
**As I am king crownde**   
**I think it good right!**   
**Ther goes none on grounde**   
**that has sich a wight;**   
**A hundreth thousand pounde**   
**is good wage for a knight,**   
**Of pennes good and rounde**   
**now may ye go light**   
**With store;**   
**And ye knightes of oures**   
**Shall have castels and towres,**   
**Both to you and to youres,**   
**For now and ever more.**   
  
**Was never none borne**   
**by downes ne by dales,**   
**Nor yit us beforne**   
**that had sich avales.**  
**We have castels and corne**   
**mych gold in oure males.**  
**It will never be worne**   
**without any tales;**   
**Hail hendely!**   
**Hail lord! Hail king!**   
**We are furth founding!**  
**Now Mahowne he you bring**   
**Where he is lord freendly;**   
  
**Now in peasse may I stand**   
**I thank thee, Mahowne!**   
**And gif of my lande**   
**that longes to my crowne;**   
**Draw therfor nerehande**   
**both of burgh and of towne;**   
**Markes ilkon a thowsande**   
**when I am bowne,**  
**Shall ye have.**   
**I shal be full fayn**   
**To gif that I sayn!**   
**Wate when I com again,**  
**And then may ye crave.**   
  
**I set by no good,**   
**now my hart is at ease,**   
**That I shed so mekill blode**   
**pes all my ryches!**   
**For to see this flode**   
**from the fote to the nese**  
**Meves nothing my mode**   
**I lagh that I whese;**  
**A, Mahowne!**   
**So light is my soul,**   
**That all of sugar is my gall;**   
**I may do what I shall,**   
**And bere up my crowne.**   
  
**I was casten in care**   
**so frightly afraid,**   
**Bot I thar not despare**  
**for low is he layd**   
**That I most dred are**  
**so have I him flayd;**   
**And els wonder ware**   
**and so many strayd**  
**In the strete,**   
**That oone shuld be harmeles,**   
**and skape away hafles,**  
**Where so many childes**   
**Thare bales can not bete.**   
  
**A hundreth thowsand, I wat,**  
**and fourty are slayn,**   
**And four thowsand; ther-at**   
**me aght to be fain;**  
**Sich a morder on a flat**   
**shall never be again.**  
**Had I had bot oone bat**   
**at that lurdan**  
**So yong,**   
**It shuld have bene spoken**   
**How I had me wroken,**   
**Were I dede and rotten,**   
**With many a tong.**   
  
**Thus shall I tech knaves**   
**ensampyll to take,**  
**In thare wittes that raves**   
**sich mastre to make;**  
**All wantoness wafes**  
**no langage ye crak!**   
**No sufferan you saves**   
**youre nekkes shall I shak**   
**In sonder;**   
**No king ye on call**   
**Bot on Herode the ryall,**   
**Or els many oone shall**   
**Upon youre bodes wonder.**  
  
**For if I here it spoken**   
**when I com again,**   
**Youre branes bese broken**   
**therfor be ye bayn;**  
**Nothing bese unloken**   
**it shal be so plain;**   
**Begin I to reken**   
**I think all desdain**  
**For-daunche.**  
**Sirs, this is my counsell --**   
**Bese not too cruell,**   
**Bot adew! -- to the devil!**   
**I can nomore Fraunch!** 

Mahowne = a pagan deity   
make you merry   
  
woods. . . forest   
  
  
quickly; whisper;   
protection   
  
notice   
messages   
take   
hatreds   
  
courteous   
Mahowne = a pagan deity   
  
  
  
  
  
ready   
  
love. . . loyalty   
  
  
pleasure   
  
man on earth   
speaks against him   
quickly sorrow   
quickly harm   
  
buys (i.e., pays for)   
  
  
trust   
  
unusually sad   
  
abashed   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
hasten. . . brawl   
  
at this time   
speak   
  
rush. . . dwelling   
  
  
  
by nature   
  
  
are at his bidding   
  
beats, strikes   
  
bows to him   
  
  
Sicily and Syria   
fear   
  
  
  
  
  
  
above   
  
bow   
  
  
  
speak   
  
  
  
boys   
  
painfully   
  
if he begins to fight   
  
  
  
kneel   
  
  
break   
  
  
  
hasten   
quickly on my way   
  
pleasure   
  
  
  
quietly   
royal   
  
  
  
  
beloved   
  
  
  
much   
  
boast   
  
speak   
  
  
  
  
wretches   
  
  
to = until   
  
each   
  
  
by God   
Cease   
trouble   
tear you apart   
  
  
  
  
  
in my power   
  
brain   
  
or = ere   
  
move, do   
  
  
  
  
sorrow   
wrath   
  
  
  
  
say, intend   
  
  
  
  
  
break   
  
  
  
  
  
  
sieze my place   
  
pay for all   
  
  
pain   
  
hold my peace   
  
  
  
  
  
  
or = ere   
  
  
  
  
  
moves   
  
  
  
  
haste   
  
  
name   
  
mastery   
believe (it)   
  
scamp   
  
take away   
  
know   
  
  
  
and=if   
throne   
  
each one   
  
heard   
fierce (one)   
  
tear in pieces   
  
  
  
care not to conceal   
  
in haste   
  
  
  
  
  
sorrow. . . argue   
thieves   
  
  
trust   
scamps   
  
know   
  
mischiefs   
be troubled   
  
  
  
  
rebuke   
more talk   
  
  
louts each one   
  
  
  
  
land-leapers   
  
  
  
dwelling places   
beat   
I speak truly (fractured French)   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
flee   
  
in safety   
  
make them jump   
  
  
  
west = wist, knew it   
  
trust   
  
desire   
  
fist   
  
  
  
  
I.e., I'd have tricked them   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
deal with   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
except ecclesiastical texts   
poetic narratives   
leave aside Epistles and Graduals   
mass-books, service-books do not avail   
forbid   
  
  
  
  
  
Isaiah   
  
  
sinned   
  
  
  
called   
learn   
  
  
  
  
trust   
  
spring forth   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
cock's (God's)   
  
dwelling places   
  
crazy-heads   
  
crooked tricks   
  
  
trick   
  
saint   
take away   
come to grief   
  
  
  
  
thrust   
hang   
vengeance   
  
  
  
  
  
cease (peace)   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Bethelhem   
  
  
death   
  
growth   
and under (two years)   
  
  
here-to   
device   
  
  
  
  
  
racing   
palpitation   
tiding   
  
  
  
  
  
choice   
  
  
  
  
  
Fair Sir   
  
  
  
  
  
tiding   
  
  
  
  
  
  
ready   
be afraid   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
where previously   
  
  
coming   
  
  
  
  
shall = must   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
burst   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
company   
  
lie in swaddling cloths   
  
kind of   
run   
  
  
  
  
(I would that) you   
  
  
  
whet (tusks); boar   
  
  
  
  
doleful amusement   
avenge   
  
  
business   
  
  
  
  
unhappiness   
bet here a groat   
  
(when) we part   
  
  
  
safety   
  
  
  
  
  
take away   
  
  
  
  
  
whore . . . crazy   
  
  
  
  
  
cease   
lost   
  
torn apart   
  
  
  
hither. . . hag   
  
  
own   
  
  
  
  
Do you want to be   
Leave it, dear, by my life   
  
  
  
  
  
debauchee   
  
curse   
  
  
flagrant   
  
dear   
  
  
  
cleave   
  
  
  
  
great   
  
  
  
  
  
harm   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
pay for   
  
  
  
  
stab   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
offspring   
  
evils. . . redeem   
  
  
  
  
  
  
trots, old women   
cock's (God's)   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
tale   
  
  
praise   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
brawl   
  
  
  
supposed   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Jewry   
  
murdered   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
beat   
  
  
  
stood   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
assistance   
  
much. . . purses   
worn out, used up   
  
  
  
forth hastening   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
ready   
  
  
  
know   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
nose   
  
breathe   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
need not   
  
ere, previously   
  
  
were, would be   
  
  
unhurt   
  
  
  
know   
  
  
ought to be happy   
  
field   
  
lout   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
example   
  
mastery   
waive, put aside   
  
sovereign   
  
  
  
  
  
message   
  
  
  
brains are   
ready   
is to be revealed   
  
  
squeamishness   
overnice, too squeamish   
  
  
  
  







Spelling lightly regularized and glossed, from the edition by George England and Alfred W. Pollard, EETS, e.s. 71. London, 1897 [Widener 11473.71]. A newer and better edition is ed. by Martin Stevens and A.C. Cawley, EETS 1994. Note that this new edition has lineation that differs from that in the old EETS edition and that in the version printed above. This form of lineation as been adopted in this text, but note the line numbers of the old EETS edition are used (since this text is based on that edition).