5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105	DEN Avoyd, serys, and lete my lorde the buschop come And syt in the courte, the lawes for to doo! And I shal gon in this place, them for to somowne! Tho that ben in my book, the court ye must com too! I warne yow here all abowte That I somown yow all the rowte! Loke ye fayl for no dowte At the court to pere: Both Johan Jurdon and Geffrey Gyle, Malkyn Mylkedoke and fayr Mabyle, Stevyn Sturdy and Jak-at-the-Style And Sawdyr Sadelere, Thom Tyndere and Betrys Belle, Peyrs Pottere and Whatt-at-the-Welle, Symme Smalfeyth and Kate Kelle, And Bertylmew the bochere, Kytt Cakelere and Colett Crane, Gylle Fetyse and Fayr Jane, Powle Pewterere and Pernel Prane, And Phelypp the good flecchere. Cok Crane and Davy Drydust, Luce Lyere and Letyce Lytyl Trust, Miles the myllere and Colle Crake Crust, Both Bette the bakere and Robyn Rede. And loke ye rynge wele in youre purs, For ellys youre cawse may spede the wurs, Thow that ye slynge Goddys curs Evyn at myn hede! Fast com away, Bothe Boutyng the browstere and Sybyly Slynge, Megge Merywedyr and Sabyn Sprynge, Tyffany Twynkelere, fayle for nothynge! The courte shal be this day! [Hic intrabit pagentum de purgacione Marie et Joseph. Hic dicit Primus Detractor:1 DETRACTOR 1 A, a, serys! God save yow all! Here is a fayr pepyl, in good fay! Good serys, telle me what men me calle — I trowe ye kannot be this day, Yitt I walke wyde and many way, But yet ther I come I do no good: To reyse slawndyr is al my lay — Bakbytere is my brother of blood. Dede he ought come hedyr in al this day; Now wolde God that he wore here! And be my trewth, I dare wel say That yf we tweyn togedyr apere, More slawndyr we to shal arere Within an howre thorweouth this town Than evyr ther was this thowand yere, And ellys I shrewe yow bothe up and down! Now, be my trewth, I have a syght Evyn of my brother — lo, where he is. Welcom, dere brother, my trowth I plyght, Yowre jentyl mowth, let me now kys. DETRACTOR 2 Gramercy, brother, so have I blys! I am ful glad we met this day! DETRACTOR 1 Ryght so am I, brothyr, iwys! Mech gladdere than I kan say. But yitt, good brother, I yow pray — Telle all these pepyl what is youre name, For yf thei knew it, my lyf I lay, They wole yow wurchep and speke gret fame! DETRACTOR 2 I am Bakbytere, that spyllyth all game, Bothe kyd and knowyn in many a place. DETRACTOR 1 Be my trowth, I seyd the same, And yet sum seyden thu shulde have evyl grace. DETRACTOR 2 Herk, Reysesclaundyr! Canst thu owth telle Of any newe thynge that wrought was late? DETRACTOR 1 Within a short whyle, a thynge befelle. I trow thu wylt lawgh ryght wel therate, For be trowth ryght mekyl hate, If it be wyst, therof wyl growe. DETRACTOR 2 If I may reyse therwith debate, I shal not spare thee seyd to sowe. DETRACTOR 1 Syr, in the tempyl a mayd ther was Calde Mayd Mary, the trewth to tell. Sche semyd so holy withinne that plas. Men seyd sche was fedde with holy aungell. Sche made a vow with man nevyr to melle, But to leve chast and clene virgine. Howevyr it be, her wombe doth swelle And is as gret as thinne or myne! DETRACTOR 2 Ya, that old shrewe Joseph — my trowth I plyght — Was so anameryd upon that mayd That of hyr bewté whan he had syght, He sesyd nat tyll he had her asayd! DETRACTOR 1 A, nay, nay, wel wers she hath hym payd! Sum fresch yonge galaunt she loveth wel more That his leggys to her hath leyd. And that doth greve the old man sore! DETRACTOR 2 Be my trewth, al may wel be, For fresch and fayr she is to syght, And such a mursel — as semyth me — Wolde cause a yonge man to have delyght! DETRACTOR 1 Such a yonge damesel of bewté bryght And of schap so comely also Of hir tayle ofte tyme be light And rygh tekyl undyr thee, too! DETRACTOR 2 That olde cokolde was evyl begylyd To that fresche wench whan he was wedde! Now muste he faderyn anothyr mannys chylde And with his swynke, he shal be fedde. DETRACTOR 1 A yonge man may do more chere in bedde To a yonge wench than may an olde. That is the cawse such a lawe is ledde, That many a man is a kokewolde.	Clear the court; bish­op; (see note); (t-note) enforce; (t-note) to summon Those who are; to (t-note) summon; crowd do not fail to appear (see note) Stile butcher; (see note) (see note) (see note) dig into your purses Or else; worse Though you; God’s curse my head (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) sirs; (t-note) fair company; faith think; by; (t-note) yet raise slander; practice; (see note); (t-note) Backbiter; (see note) I wish he would; hither were troth we two; appear two; raise throughout else I curse you by my troth I swear to you gentle mouth indeed More glad I bet my life speak of your fame ruins all joy recognized By my troth have said; bad luck Raiseslande­r; aught; (t-note) done lately (t-note) laugh; thereat by the truth; great hate be known raise seed to sow (t-note) place fed by have intercourse live as a (t-note) yours or mine rascal; I swear enamored of her beauty when ceased not; had intercourse with her; (t-note) worse than that lain upon grieves By my troth morsel such beauty shape pudendum; lascivious titillating badly deluded when father; man’s child his toil give more pleasure; (t-note) reason; practice occurs cuckold
	[Hic sedet Episcopus Abizachar inter duos legis doctores et, audientes hanc defama­ci­onem, vocat ad se detractores dicens:2; (see note); (t-note)
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	EPISCOPUS Herke ye, felawys! Why speke ye such schame Of that good virgyn, fayr Mayd Mary? Ye be acursyd, so hir for to defame! She that is of lyff so good and holy Of hir to speke suche velany, Ye make myn hert ful hevy of mood. I charge yow sese of youre fals cry, For sche is sybbe of myn owyn blood. DETRACTOR 2 Syb of thi kyn thow that she be, All gret with chylde hir wombe doth swelle! Do calle her hedyr — thiself shal se That it is trewthe that I thee telle! DETRACTOR 1 Sere, for youre sake I shal kepe cowncelle Yow for to greve, I am ryght loth, But lest, syrys, lyst what seyth the belle — Oure fayr mayd, now gret with childe goth. DOCTOR LEGIS 1 Take good heed, serys, what ye doth say. Avyse yow wele what ye present. Gyf this be fownd fals anothyr day, Ful sore ye shal youre tale repent. DETRACTOR 2 Sere, the mayd, forsothe, is good and gent, Bothe comely and gay and a fayr wench, And feetly with help, sche can consent To set a cokewolde on the hye benche. DOCTOR LEGIS 2 Ye be to besy of youre langage! I hope to God yow fals to preve! It were gret rewthe she shulde so outrage Or with such synne to myscheve. EPISCOPUS This evy talys, my hert doth greve Of hir to here such fowle dalyawnce. If she be fowndyn in such repreve, She shal sore rewe her governawns! Sym Somnore, in hast wend thu thi way! Byd Joseph and his wyff be name At the coorte to appere this day, Here hem to pourge of her defame. Sey that I here of hem grett schame, And that doth me gret hevynes. If thei be clene withowtyn blame, Byd hem come hedyr and shew wyttnes. DEN All redy, sere, I shal hem calle. Here at youre courte for to appere, And yf I may hem mete withall, I hope ryght sone thei shal ben here. Awey, serys, lete me come nere! A man of wurchep here comyth to place. Of curtesy, me semyth ye be to lere! Do of your hodys, with an evyl grace! Do me sum wurchep befor my face, Or, be my trowth, I shal yow make If that I rolle yow up in my race, For fere I shal do your ars qwake! But yit sum mede, and ye me take, I wyl withdrawe my gret rough toth. Gold or sylvyr, I wol not forsake, But evyn as all somnorys doth. A, Joseph, good day with thi fayr spowse! My lorde, the buschop, hath for yow sent. It is hym tolde that in thin house A cockoldeis bowe is ech nyght bent. He that shett the bolt is lyke to be schent — Fayre mayde, that tale ye kan best telle. Now, be youre trowth, telle youre entent — Dede not the archere plese yow ryght well? MARIA Of God in hevyn I take wyttnes: That synful werk was nevyr my thought! I am a mayd yit of pure clennes, Lyke as I was into this werd brought! DEN Othyr wyttnes shal non be sought. Thu art with childe, eche man may se! I charge yow, bothe, ye tary nought, But to the buschop com forth with me! JOSEPH To the buschop with yow we wende — Of oure purgacyon hawe we no dowth. MARIA Almyghty God shal be oure frende Whan the trewthe is tryed owth! DEN Ya, on this wyse excusyth here every scowte Whan here owyn synne hem doth defame. But lowly than they gyn to lowth Whan thei be gylty and fowndyn in blame. Therfore, com forth, cokewolde be name — The busschop shal your lyff appose. Com forth, also ye goodly dame — A clene huswyff, as I suppose. I shal yow tellyn, withowtyn glose: And ye were myn, withowtyn lak, I wolde ech day beschrewe youre nose And ye dede brynge me such a pak. My lord the buschop, here have I brought This goodly copyl at youre byddyng And as mesemyth, as be her fraught, “Fayr chylde, lullay” sone must she syng! DETRACTOR 1 To her a credyl, and ye wolde brynge, Ye myght save mony in her purse Becawse she is youre cosyn yynge. I pray yow, sere, lete her nevyr fare the wers! EPISCOPUS Alas, Mary! What hast thu wrought? I am aschamyd evyn for thi sake! How hast thu chaungyd thin holy thought? Dude old Joseph with strenght thee take, Or hast thu chosyn another make By whom thu art thus brought in schame? Telle me, who hath wrought this wrake? How hast thu lost thin holy name? MARIA My name, I hope, is saff and sownde. God to wyttnes, I am a mayd! Of fleschly lust and gostly wownde In dede nere thought I nevyr asayd. DOCTOR LEGIS 1 How shulde thi wombe thus be arayd — So grettly swollyn as that it is — But if sum man thee had ovyrlayd? Thi wombe shulde never be so gret, iwys! DOCTOR LEGIS 2 Herke, thu Joseph! I am afrayd That thu hast wrought this opyn synne! This woman thu hast thus betrayd With gret flaterynge or sum fals gynne. DETRACTOR 2 Now, be myn trowth, ye hytte the pynne! With that purpose, in feyth, I holde! Telle now how thu thus hir dudyst wynne Ore knowlych thiself for a cockewolde! JOSEPH Sche is, for me, a trewe clene mayde, And I, for hir, am clene also Of fleschly synne I nevyr asayde Sythyn that sche was weddyd me to. EPISCOPUS Thu shalt not schape from us yitt so: Fyrst, thu shalte tellyn us another lay. Streyt to the awter thu shalt go, The drynge of vengeawns ther to asay. Here is the botel of Goddys vengeauns — This drynk shal be now thi purgacyon. This hath suche vertu by Goddys ordenauns That what man drynk of this potacyon And goth serteyn in processyon — Here in this place, this awtere abowth — If he be gylty sum maculacion, Pleyn in his face shal shewe it owth. Iff thu be gylty, telle us — lete se — Ouyr Godys myght be not to bolde — If thu presume and gylty be, God thu dost greve many afolde. JOSEPH I am not gylty as I fyrst tolde, Allmyghty God I take wytnes. EPISCOPUS Than this drynke in hast thu holde, And on processyon anon thee dresse. [Hic Joseph bibit et sepcies circuivit altare, dicens:3 JOSEPH This drynk I take with meke entent As I am gyltles to God, I pray. Lord, as thu art omnypotente, On me thu shewe the trowth this day. [Modo bibit. About this awtere I take the way. O gracyous God, help thi servaunt As I am gyltles agen yon may Thin hand of mercy, this tyme me graunt. DEN This olde shrewe may not wele gon! Longe he taryeth to go abowth. Lyfte up thi feet! Sett forth thi ton, Or, be my trewth, thu getyst a clowte! DETRACTOR 2 Now, sere, evyl thedom come to thi snowte! What heylyght thi leggys now to be lame? Thu dedyst hem put ryght freschly owte Whan thu dedyst pley with yon yonge dame! DETRACTOR 1 I pray to God, gyf hym myschawns! Hese leggys here do folde for age! But with this damysel, whan he ded dawns The olde charle had ryght gret corage. DEN The shrewe was than sett in a dotage And had good lust that tyme to pleyn. Gaff sche not yow cawdel to potage Whan ye had don to comforte youre brayn? JOSEPH A, gracyous God! Help me this tyde Ageyn this pepyl that me doth fame As I nevyrmore ded towch her syde This day help me fro werdly schame Abowte this awtere to kepe my fame. Sefne tymes I have gon rownd abowte! If I be wurthy to suffyr blame, O, ryghtful God, my synne shewe owughte! EPISCOPUS Joseph, with hert, thank God thi Lorde Who heygh mercy doth thee excuse. For thi purgacyon we shal recorde: With hyr of synne thu dedyst never muse. But Mary, thiself mayst not refuse — All grett with chylde we se thee stonde. What mystyr man ded thee mysuse? Why hast thu synned ageyn thin husbonde? MARIA I trespacyd nevyr with erthely wyght; Therof I hope thurowe Goddys sonde Here to be purgyd before youre syght, From all synne clene, lyke as myn husbonde. Take me the botel out of youre honde. Here shal I drynke beforn youre face Abowth this awtere than shal I fonde, Sefne tymes to go, by Godys grace! DOCTOR LEGIS 1 Se, this bolde bysmare wolde presume Ageyn God to preve his myght! Thow Goddys vengeauns hyr shuld consume, Sche wyl not telle hyr fals delyght! Thu art with chylde, we se in syght! To us thi wombe thee doth accuse! Ther was nevyr woman yitt in such plyght That from mankynde hyr kowde excuse. DETRACTOR 1 In feyth, I suppose that this woman slepte Withowtyn all coverte whyll that it ded snowe And a flake therof into hyr mowthe crepte, And therof the chylde in hyr wombe doth growe! DETRACTOR 2 Than beware, dame, for this is wel iknowe: Whan it is born, yf that the sunne shyne, It wyl turne to watyr ageyn, as I trowe, For snow onto watyr doth evyr more reclyne. DOCTOR LEGIS 2 With Goddys hygh myght loke thu not jape Of thi purgacyon, wel thee avyse! Yf thu be gylty, thu mayst not schape! Beware evyr of God, that ryghtful justyce! If God with vengeauns set on thee his syse, Not only thu, but all thi kyn is schamyd! Bettyr it is to tell the trewth devyse Than God for to greve and of hym be gramyd! MARIA I trostyn in his grace: I shal hym nevyr greve. His servaunt I am in worde, dede, and thought. A mayd undefyled I hope he shal me preve. I pray yow, lett me nought. EPISCOPUS Now be that good Lord that all this werd hath wrought, If God on thee shewe ony manyr tokyn, Purgacyon, I trowe, was nevyr so dere bowth If I may, on thee, in any wyse be wrokyn. Holde here the botel and take a large draught And abowth the awtere go thi processyon. MARIA To God, in this case, my cawse I have betaught. Lorde, thorwe thin helpe I drynke of this potacyon.	fellows her life villainy heart; heavy cease; outcry kinswoman; (see note) Kinswoman though her hither Sir; keep your secret to grieve you; loath listen sirs, what is rumored sirs If Completely Sir; attractive handsome; beautiful craftily To toast a cuckold; (see note) too loose; talk to prove you pity; sin so to do wrong Such heavy tales her to hear; foul talk found; reproof regret her behavior Summoner; go; your way by name Here them to purge hear of them them; hither; bear witness sir; them them meet soon sirs to need instruction Take off (i.e., bow); curse you! Give me a tip; (see note) I’ll force you summon you; my haste fear; shall make reward retract my fangs (i.e., let you off) silver summoners; (t-note) bishop; you told to him; your; (see note) cuckold’s bow; each shot; to be ruined troth; version (t-note) yet; virginity world witnesses; none bishop we go exculpation have; doubt When; determined in this way; slut When their own; them then; begin to bow When by name bishop; examine housewife truly If; without fail each; curse If; package (baby) couple judging by her freight (a lullaby) soon; (see note) cradle, if young; (see note) sir; worse done ashamed your Did; overtake mate harm safe spiritual wound; (see note) deed nor thought; experienced be that way; (t-note) Unless; lain with indeed plainly evident sin ploy you’ve got it idea; I agree did win her Or acknowledge; cuckold (see note) for her have never tried Since; (t-note) escape; yet; (see note) tale altar drink of vengeance; to try; (see note) God’s; (see note) God’s ordinance; (t-note) potion (t-note) altar sin openly Our God’s; too (t-note) grieve many times over Then; in haste soon prepare (see note) the truth Now he drinks altar against; maiden Your rascal; can’t move tarries; about Move it! (set forth your toes) by my troth; beating sir; bad luck; snout ails your legs used them eagerly did play (i.e., have sex) give; bad luck (t-note) when; did dance (have sex) churl; spirit rascal (Joseph) to play Gave; warm drink; meal When; mind company; defame did touch worldly altar; reputation Seven openly; (t-note) heartily high her; consider stand kind of man did against your earthly creature through God’s dispensation Give altar then; submit Seven; God’s wretch Against; test Though God’s; her; (t-note) her yet her human nature (see note) cover; while it did her mouth her Then; known When I believe return; (t-note) God’s high; joke I advise thee escape his judgment tell the truth completely grieve; be punished grieve deed prove do not hinder me b­y; world any manner of sign I believe; dearly bought be avenged swallow around the altar have entrusted throu­gh; potion
	[Hic Beata Virgo bibit de potacione et postea circuivit altare, dicens:4
335 340 345 350 355 360 365 370 375 380 385 390 395 400 405	God, as I nevyr knew of mannys maculacyon But evyr have lyved in trew virginité, Send me this day thin holy consolacyon That all this fayr peple my clennes may se! O gracyous God, as thu hast chose me For to be thi modyr of me to be born, Save thi tabernacle that clene is kepte for thee, Which now am put at repref and skorn. Gabryel me tolde with wordys, he beforn, That ye, of youre goodnes, wold become my chylde. Help me now of youre hyghness my wurchep be not lorn.5 A, dere sone, I pray yow, help youre modyr mylde! EPISCOPUS Almyghty God, what may this mene? For all the drynke of Goddys potacyon, This woman with chylde is fayr and clene Withowtyn fowle spotte or maculacyon! I cannat be non ymagynacyon Preve hyr gylty and synful of lyff! It shewith opynly by her purgacyon: Sche is clene mayde, bothe modyr and wyff! DETRACTOR 1 Be my fadyr sowle, here is gret gyle! Becawse sche is syb of your kynreed, The drynk is chaungyd by sum fals wyle That sche no shame shulde have this steed. EPISCOPUS Becawse thu demyst that we do falshede, And for thu dedyst hem fyrst defame, Thu shalt ryght here, magré thin heed, Beforn all this pepyl drynk of the same! DETRACTOR 1 Syr, in good feyth, oo draught I pulle, If these to drynkerys have not all spent. [Hic bibit et scenciens dolorem in capite, cadit et dicet:6 Out, out! Alas, what heylith my sculle? A! Myn heed with fyre me thynkyht is brent! Mercy, good Mary! I do me repent Of my cursyd and fals langage! MARIA Now, god Lord in hevyn omnypotent, Of his gret mercy youre seknes aswage. EPISCOPUS We all on knes fall here on grownd! Thu, Goddys handemayd prayng for grace, All cursyd langage and schame onsownd, Good Mary, forgeve us here in this place! MARIA Now God forgeve yow all yowre trespace And also forgeve yow all defamacyon That ye have sayd, both more and lesse, To myn hynderawnce and maculacyon. EPISCOPUS Now, blyssyd virgyne, we thank yow all Of youre good hert and gret pacyens. We wyl go with yow hom to youre halle To do yow servys with hygh reverens. MARIA I thank yow hertyly of youre benevolens. Onto youre owyn hous I pray yow ye goo And take this pepyl hom with yow hens. I am not dysposyd to passyn hens froo. EPISCOPUS Than farewel, mayden and pure virgyne. Farewel, trewe handmayd of God in blys. We all to yow lowly incline And take oure leve of yow as wurthy is. MARIA Allmyghty God, youre weys wysse, For that hygh Lord is most of myght. He mote yow spede that ye not mys In hevyn of hym to have a syght. JOSEPH Honouryd in hevyn be that hygh Lord Whos endles grace is so habundaunt. That he doth shewe the trewe recorde Of iche wyhgt that is his trewe servaunt. That Lord to wurchepe with hert plesaunt We bothe be bownd ryght on this place Which oure purgacyon us dyde graunt And prevyd us pure by hiegh grace. MARIA Forsothe, good spowse, I thank hym highly Of his good grace for oure purgacyon. Oure clennesse is knowyn ful opynly Be vertu of his grett consolacyon. [Explicit cum gaudio.	defilement; (see note) your (see note) reproof before; (t-note) God’s potion stain by any act of the Prove her; life exculpation mother; wife; (see note) By my father’s soul; guile; (t-note) a relative trick this time are judging; falsehoods did defame them in spite of all you do I’ll take a swig two drinkers; drained it (t-note) aileth; skull; (t-note) head; I think is burning good sickness assuage God’s unwholesome (see note) hindrance; defilement heart; patience (see note) service; high go from here Then; (t-note) bow wise ways; (t-note) may help you abundant show each creature heart exculpation; did high; (t-note) Truly exculpation By virtue; (t-note) It ends here with joy