SHEPHERD 1 5 10 15 [fol. 38v] 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 SHEPHERD 2 80 [fol. 39r] 86 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 [fol. 39v] 151 155 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 160 SHEPHERD 1 165 SHEPHERD 2 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 SHEPHERD 3 171 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 216 [fol. 40r] 220 SHEPHERD 3 225 230 235 240 245 SHEPHERD 1 250 SHEPHERD 2 255 SHEPHERD 3 260 SHEPHERD 1 265 SHEPHERD 2 SHEPHERD 3 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 SHEPHERD 3 273 MAK 275 [fol. 40v] 280 SHEPHERD 1 MAK 285 SHEPHERD 2 SHEPHERD 3 290 MAK 295 SHEPHERD 1 301 SHEPHERD 2 SHEPHERD 3 305 MAK SHEPHERD 1 311 SHEPHERD 2 SHEPHERD 3 316 MAK 319 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 325 MAK 330 SHEPHERD 3 MAK 335 SHEPHERD 1 340 MAK [fol. 41r] 345 350 355 360 SHEPHERD 2 366 SHEPHERD 3 370 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 375 SHEPHERD 3 MAK 381 385 390 395 400 405 [fol. 41v] 410 415 420 425 WIFE 430 435 MAK 440 WIFE MAK WIFE 446 MAK 450 WIFE 455 MAK WIFE 460 MAK 465 WIFE 470 MAK [fol. 42r] WIFE 475 MAK WIFE 480 485 MAK WIFE 490 495 MAK 500 SHEPHERD 1 505 510 SHEPHERD 2 515 SHEPHERD 3 520 525 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 SHEPHERD 3 531 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 3 [fol. 42v] 536 SHEPHERD 2 540 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 MAK 546 550 555 560 565 570 SHEPHERD 3 576 SHEPHERD 1 580 SHEPHERD 2 SHEPHERD 3 MAK WIFE 585 MAK WIFE 590 MAK 596 WIFE 600 605 [fol. 43r] MAK 611 615 620 WIFE 625 MAK WIFE 630 MAK WIFE 635 640 645 SHEPHERD 3 SHEPHERD 1 650 SHEPHERD 3 SHEPHERD 2 SHEPHERD 1 656 SHEPHERD 3 661 SHEPHERD 1 665 SHEPHERD 2 670 SHEPHERD 3 675 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 680 685 SHEPHERD 3 SHEPHERD 1 690 SHEPHERD 2 MAK 695 SHEPHERD 3 MAK 700 WIFE 705 SHEPHERD 1 MAK 711 715 720 725 SHEPHERD 2 MAK SHEPHERD 3 731 MAK 735 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 SHEPHERD 3 741 MAK 745 750 [fol. 44r] SHEPHERD 1 756 WIFE 760 MAK WIFE 765 MAK 770 WIFE 775 MAK 780 SHEPHERD 2 SHEPHERD 3 785 790 WIFE 795 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 800 MAK SHEPHERD 3 806 MAK SHEPHERD 1 MAK 812 815 SHEPHERD 2 MAK 820 SHEPHERD 3 824 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 SHEPHERD 3 830 MAK SHEPHERD 3 835 MAK SHEPHERD 3 MAK 841 SHEPHERD 3 845 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 850 SHEPHERD 3 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 856 SHEPHERD 3 860 865 MAK 870 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 875 WIFE 880 SHEPHERD 3 MAK 885 SHEPHERD 1 WIFE 891 SHEPHERD 2 895 SHEPHERD 3 MAK 900 SHEPHERD 2 905 SHEPHERD 1 910 SHEPHERD 2 SHEPHERD 3 916 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 3 ANGEL 921 925 930 SHEPHERD 1 935 SHEPHERD 2 940 SHEPHERD 3 SHEPHERD 1 945 SHEPHERD 2 SHEPHERD 3 950 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 956 SHEPHERD 3 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 960 SHEPHERD 3 965 SHEPHERD 1 970 SHEPHERD 2 975 980 SHEPHERD 3 986 990 995 SHEPHERD 1 1000 [fol. 46r] 1005 1010 SHEPHERD 2 1016 SHEPHERD 3 1020 SHEPHERD 1 1025 1030 1035 SHEPHERD 2 1040 1045 SHEPHERD 3 1051 1055 1060 MARY 1065 1070 1075 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 1080 SHEPHERD 3 1084 SHEPHERD 1 SHEPHERD 2 SHEPHERD 3

Shepherd 1 (Coll) Shepherd 2 (Gib) Shepherd 3 (Daw) Mak His Wife (Gill) Angel Mary Incipit alia eorundem. 1 Lord, what these weders ar cold, And I am yll happyd. I am nerehande dold, So long have I nappyd. My legys thay fold; My fyngers ar chappyd. It is not as I wold, For I am al lappyd In sorow. In stormes and tempest, Now in the eest now in the west, Wo is hym has never rest Mydday nor morow. Bot we sely husbandys That walkys on the moore, In fayth we ar nerehandys Outt of the doore. No wonder as it standys If we be poore, For the tylthe of oure landys Lyys falow as the floore As ye ken. We ar so hamyd, Fortaxed and ramyd, We ar mayde hand-tamyd With thyse gentlery men. Thus thay refe us oure rest, Oure lady theym wary. These men that ar lord-fest Thay cause the ploghe tary, That men say is for the best; We fynde it contrary. Thus ar husbandys opprest In ponte to myscary On lyfe. 2 Thus hold thay us hunder; Thus thay bryng us in blonder. It were greatte wonder And ever shuld we thryfe. For may he gett a paynt slefe. Or a broche now on dayes; Wo is hym that hym grefe Or onys agane-says. Dar no man hym reprefe, What mastry he mays, And yit may no man lefe Oone word that he says, No letter. He can make purveance With boste and bragance, And all is thrugh mantenance Of men that are gretter. Ther shall com a swane As prowde as a po, He must borow my wane, My ploghe also; Then I am full fane To graunt or he go. Thus lyf we in payne, Anger and wo, By nyght and day. He must have if he langyd If I shuld forgang it; 3 I were better be hangyd Then oones say hym nay. It dos me good as I walk Thus by myn oone Of this warld for to talk In maner of mone. To my shepe wyll I stalk And herkyn anone, Ther abyde on a balk Or sytt on a stone Full soyne. For I trowe, perdé, Trew men if thay be, We gett more compané Or it be noyne. Bensté and Dominus, What may this bemeyne? Why fares this warld thus? Oft have we not sene. Lord, thyse weders ar spytus And the wyndys full kene, And the frostys so hydus Thay water myn eeyne, No ly. Now in dry, now in wete, Now in snaw, now in slete, When my shone freys to my fete It is not all esy. Bot as far as I ken Or yit as I go, We sely wedmen Dre mekyll wo. We have sorow then and then; It fallys oft so. Sely Copyle oure hen Both to and fro She kakyls, Bot begyn she to crok, To groyne or to clok, Wo is hym is oure cok, For he is in the shakyls. These men that ar wed Have not all thare wyll; When they ar full hard sted Thay sygh full styll. God wayte thay ar led Full hard and full yll; In bower nor in bed Thay say noght thertyll This tyde. My parte have I fun; I know my lesson. Wo is hym that is bun For he must abyde. Bot now late in oure lyfys A mervell to me, That I thynk my hart ryfys Sich wonders to see, What that destany dryfys It shuld so be: Som men wyll have two wyfys, And som men thre In store; Som ar wo that has any. Bot so far can I: Wo is hym that has many For he felys sore. Bot yong men of wowyng, For God that you boght, Be well war of wedyng And thynk in youre thoght, “Had I wyst” is a thyng That servys of noght. Mekyll styll mowrnyng Has wedyng home broght, And grefys With many a sharp showre, For thou may cach in an owre That shall sow thee fulle sowre As long as thou lyffys. 4 For as ever rede I pystyll I have oone to my fere: As sharp as thystyll, As rugh as a brere, She is browyd lyke a brystyll With a sowre-loten chere. Had she oones wett hyr whystyll, She couth syng full clere Hyr Paternoster. She is as greatt as a whall; She has a galon of gall. By hym that dyed for us all I wald I had ryn to I had lost hir. God looke over the raw! Full defly ye stand. Yee, the dewill in thi maw, So tariand. 5 Sagh thou awre of Daw? Yee, on a leyland Hard I hym blaw; He commys here at hand, Not far. Stand styll.                  Qwhy? For he commys, hope I. He wyll make us both a ly Bot if we be war. Crystys crosse me spede, And Sant Nycholas! Therof had I nede. It is wars then it was: Whoso couthe take hede And lett the warld pas, It is ever in drede And brekyll as glas, And slythys. This warld fowre never so, With mervels mo and mo, Now in weyll, now in wo, And all thyng wrythys. Was never syn Noe floode Sich floodys seyn, Wyndys and ranys so rude And stormes so keyn. Som stamerd, som stod In dowte, as I weyn. Now God turne all to good. I say as I mene, For ponder: These floodys so thay drowne Both in feyldys and in towne And berys all downe, And that is a wonder. We that walk on the nyghtys Oure catell to kepe, We se sodan syghtys When othere men slepe. Yit me thynk my hart lyghtys; I se shrewys pepe. Ye ar two allwyghtys; I wyll gyf my shepe A turne. Bot full yll have I ment; As I walk on this bent I may lyghtly repent, My toes if I spurne. A, syr, God you save, And master myne. A drynk fayn wold I have And somwhat to dyne. Crystys curs, my knave, Thou art a ledyr hyne. What, the boy lyst rave. Abyde unto syne We have mayde it, Yll thryft on thy pate. Though the shrew cam late, Yit is he in state To dyne, if he had it. Sich servandys as I That swettys and swynkys Etys oure brede full dry, And that me forthynkys. We ar oft weytt and wery When master men wynkys, Yit commys full lately Both dyners and drynkys; Bot nately Both oure dame and oure syre, When we have ryn in the myre, Thay can nyp at oure hyre And pay us full lately. Bot here my trouth, master: For the fayr that ye make I shall do therafter, Wyrk as I take. I shall do a lytyll, syr, And emang ever lake, For yit lay my soper Never on my stomake In feyldys. Wherto shuld I threpe? With my staf can I lepe, And men say lyght chepe Letherly foryeldys. Thou were an yll lad To ryde on wowyng With a man that had Bot lytyll of spendyng. Peasse, boy, I bad. No more janglyng Or I shall make thee full rad, By the hevens kyng, With thy gawdys. Where ar oure shepe, boy? Wé, skorne! Sir, this same day at morne I thaym left in the corne When thay rang lawdys. Thay have pasture good; Thay cannot go wrong. That is right, by the roode; Thyse nyghtys ar long, Yit I wold or we yode Oone gaf us a song. So I thoght, as I stode, To myrth us emong. I grauntt. Lett me syng the tenory. And I the tryble so hye. Then the meyne fallys to me. Lett se how ye chauntt. Tunc intrat Mak in clamide se super logam vestitus. 6 Now, Lord, for thy naymes sevyn, That made both moyn and starnes Well mo then I can neven, Thi will, Lorde, of me tharnys. I am all uneven; That moves oft my harnes. Now wold God I were in heven, For ther wepe no barnes So styll. Who is that pypys so poore? Wold God ye wyst how I foore. Lo, a man that walkys on the moore And has not all his wyll. Mak, where has thou gone? Tell us tythyng. Is he commen? then ylkon Take hede to his thyng. Et accipite clamidem ab ipso. 7 What? Ich be a yoman, I tell you, of the kyng, The self and the same, Sond from a greatt lordyng And sich. Fy on you! Goyth hence. Out of my presence; I must have reverence. Why, who be ich? Why make ye it so qwaynt? Mak, ye do wrang. Bot Mak, lyst ye saynt? I trow that ye lang. I trow the shrew can paynt; The dewyll myght hym hang. Ich shall make complaynt And make you all to thwang At a worde. And tell evyn how ye doth? Bot Mak, is that sothe? Now take outt that sothren tothe And sett in a torde. Mak, the dewill in youre ee, A stroke wold I leyne you. Mak, know ye not me? By God, I couthe teyn you. God looke you all thre; Me thoght I had sene you. Ye ar a fare compané. Can ye now mene you? Shrew, pepe! Thus late as thou goys, What wyll men suppos? And thou has an yll noys Of stelyng of shepe. And I am trew as steyll, All men waytt, Bot a sekenes I feyll That haldys me full haytt. My belly farys not weyll; It is out of astate. Seldom lyys the dewyll Dede by the gate. Therfor Full sore am I, and yll. If I stande stone styll, I ete not an nedyll Thys moneth and more. How farys thi wyff, by thi hoode? How farys sho? Lyys walteryng, by the roode, By the fyere, lo, And a howse full of brude. She drynkys well, to; Yll spede othere good That she wyll do. Bot sho Etys as fast as she can, And ilk yere that commys to man She bryngys furth a lakan, And som yeres two. Bot were I now more gracyus And rychere be far, I were eten outt of howse And of harbar. Yit is she a fowll dowse, If ye com nar. Ther is none that trowse Nor knowys a war Then ken I. Now wyll ye se what I profer: To gyf all in my cofer To-morne at next to offer Hyr hed mas penny. I wote so forwakyd Is none in this shyre; I wold slepe if I takyd Les to my hyere. I am cold and nakyd And wold have a fyere. I am wery, forrakyd, And run in the myre; Wake thou. Nay, I wyll lyg downe by For I must slepe, truly. As good a mans son was I As any of you. Bot Mak, com heder; betwene Shall thou lyg downe. Then myght I lett you bedene Of that ye wold rowne, No drede. Fro my top to my too, Manus tuas commendo Poncio Pilato; 8 Cryst crosse me spede. Tunc surgit pastoribus dormientibus et dicit, 9 Now were tyme for a man That lakkys what he wold To stalk prevely than Unto a fold, And neemly to wyrk than, And be not to bold For he myght aby the bargan, If it were told, At the endyng. Now were tyme for to reyll, Bot he nedys good counsell That fayn wold fare weyll And has bot lytyll spendyng. Bot abowte you a serkyll As rownde as a moyn To I have done that I wyll, Tyll that it be noyn, That ye lyg stone styll To that I have doyne, And I shall say thertyll Of good wordys a foyne On hight: Over youre heydys my hand I lyft; Outt go youre een, fordo your syght Bot yit I must make better shyft And it be right. Lord, what thay slepe hard That may ye all here. Was I never a shepard Bot now wyll I lere; If the flok be skard Yit shall I nyp nere. How, drawes hederward! Now mendys oure chere From sorow. A fatt shepe, I dar say, A good flese, dar I lay, Eft whyte when I may Bot this will I borow. 10 How, Gyll, art thou in? Gett us som lyght. Who makys sich dyn This tyme of the nyght? I am sett for to spyn. I hope not I myght Ryse a penny to wyn. I shrew them on hight; So farys A huswyff that has bene To be rasyd thus betwene. Here may no note be sene For sich small charys. Good wyff, open the hek. Seys thou not what I bryng? I may thole thee dray the snek. A, com in my swetyng. Yee, thou thar not rek Of my long standyng. 11 By the nakyd nek Art thou lyke for to hyng. Do way, I am worthy my mete, For in a strate can I gett More then thay that swynke and swette All the long day. Thus it fell to my lott. Gyll, I had sich grace. It were a fowll blott To be hanged for the case. I have skapyd, Jelott, Oft as hard a glase. Bot so long goys the pott To the water, men says, At last Comys it home broken. Well knowe I the token, Bot let it never be spoken. Bot com and help fast. I wold he were flayn; I lyst well ete. This twelmothe was I not so fayn Of oone shepe mete. Com thay or he be slayn And here the shepe blete — Then myght I be tane. That were a cold swette. Go spar The gaytt doore.                              Yis, Mak, For and thay com at thy bak — Then myght I by, for all the pak, The dewill of the war. A good bowrde have I spied, Syn thou can none: Here shall we hym hyde To thay be gone, In my credyll abyde; Lett me alone And I shall lyg besyde In chylbed and grone. Thou red, And I shall say thou was lyght Of a knave childe this nyght. Now well is me day bright That ever was I bred. This is a good gyse And a far cast; Yit a woman avyse Helpys at the last. I wote never who spyse; Agane go thou fast. Bot I com or thay ryse Els blawes a cold blast. I wyll go slepe, Yit slepys all this meneye, And I shall go stalk prevely As it had never bene I That caryed thare shepe. Resurrex a mortruis, Have hald my hand. Judas carnas dominus, I may not well stand; My foytt slepys, by Jesus, And I walter fastand. I thoght that we layd us Full nere Yngland. A, ye! Lord, what I have slept weyll. As fresh as an eyll, As lyght I me feyll As leyfe on a tre. Bensté be herein! So me qwakys; My hart is outt of skyn, Whatso it makys. Who makys all this dyn? So my browes blakys To the dowore wyll I wyn. Harke, felows, wakys! We were fowre; Se ye awre of Mak now? We were up or thou. Man, I gyf God a vowe, Yit yede he nawre. Me thoght he was lapt In a wolfe skyn. So are many hapt, Now namely within. When we had long napt Me thoght with a gyn A fatt shepe he trapt Bot he mayde no dyn. Be styll, Thi dreme makys thee woode. It is bot fantom, by the roode. Now God turne all to good, If it be his wyll. Ryse, Mak, for shame; Thou lygys right lang. Now Crystys holy name Be us emang. What is this? For Sant Jame, I may not well gang. I trow I be the same. A, my nek has lygen wrang Enoghe. Mekill thank. Syn yister-even, Now by Sant Stevyn, I was flayd with a swevyn; My hart out of sloghe. I thoght Gyll began to crok And travell full sad Welner at the fyrst cok Of a yong lad For to mend oure flok. Then be I never glad; I have tow on my rok More then ever I had. A, my heede. A house full of yong tharmes; The dewill knok outt thare harnes. Wo is hym has many barnes And therto lytyll brede. I must go home, by youre lefe, To Gyll, as I thoght. I pray you looke my slefe That I steyll noght; I am loth you to grefe Or from you take oght. Go furth, yll myght thou chefe. Now wold I we soght This morne That we had all oure store. Bot I will go before; Let us mete.                      Whore? At the crokyd thorne. Undo this doore; who is here? How long shall I stand? Who makys sich a bere? Now walk in the wenyand. A, Gyll, what chere? It is I, Mak, youre husbande. Then may we be here, The dewill in a bande. Syr Gyle, Lo, he commys with a lote As he were holden in the throte. I may not syt at my note A handlang while. Wyll ye here what fare she makys To gett hir a glose, And dos noght bot lakys And clowse hir toose. Why, who wanders, who wakys? Who commys, who gose? Who brewys, who bakys? What makys me thus hose? And than It is rewthe to beholde, Now in hote, now in colde, Full wofull is the householde That wantys a woman. Bot what ende has thou mayde With the hyrdys, Mak? The last worde that thay sayde When I turnyd my bak, Thay wold looke that thay hade Thare shepe, all the pak. I hope thay wyll nott be well payde When thay thare shepe lak, Perdé. Bot how so the gam gose To me thay wyll suppose, And make a fowll noyse And cry outt apon me. Bot thou must do as thou hyght. I accorde me thertyll. I shall swedyll hym right In my credyll. If it were a gretter slyght Yit couthe I help tyll. I wyll lyg downe stright; Com hap me.                        I wyll. Behynde. Com Coll and his maroo, Thay will nyp us full naroo. Bot I may cry “out, haroo” The shepe if thay fynde. Harken ay when thay call; Thay will com onone Com and make redy all And syng by thyn oone; Syng “lullay” thou shall For I must grone And cry outt by the wall On Mary and John For sore. Syng “lullay” on fast When thou heris at the last, And bot I play a fals cast Trust me no more. A, Coll, goode morne. Why slepys thou nott? Alas, that ever was I borne. We have a fowll blott: A fat wedir have we lorne. Mary, Godys forbott! Who shuld do us that skorne? That were a fowll spott. Som shrewe. I have soght with my dogys All horbery shrogys, And of fefteyn hogys Fond I bot oone ewe. Now trow me if ye will, By Sant Thomas of Kent, Ayther Mak or Gyll Was at that assent. Peasse, man, be still. I sagh when he went; Thou sklanders hym yll. Thou aght to repent, Goode spede. Now as ever myght I thé, If I shuld evyn here de I wold say it were he That dyd that same dede. Go we theder, I rede, And ryn on oure feete; Shall I never ete brede The sothe to I wytt. Nor drynk in my heede With hym tyll I mete. 12 I wyll rest in no stede Tyll that I hym grete, My brothere. Oone I will hight: Tyll I se hym in sight Shall I never slepe one nyght Ther I do anothere. Will ye here how thay hak? Oure syre lyst croyne. Hard I never none crak So clere out of toyne. Call on hym.                        Mak, Undo youre doore soyne. Who is that spak As it were noyne On loft? Who is that, I say? Goode felowse, were it day. As far as ye may, Good, spekys soft Over a seke womans heede That is at maylleasse. I had lever be dede Or she had any dyseasse. Go to anothere stede. I may not well qweasse; Ich fote that ye trede Goys thorow my nese So hee. Tell us, Mak, if ye may, How fare ye, I say? Bot ar ye in this towne today? Now how fare ye? Ye have ryn in the myre And ar weytt yit. I shall make you a fyre If ye will sytt. A nores wold I hyre. Thynk ye on yit? Well qwytt is my hyre; My dreme this is itt, A seson. I have barnes, if ye knew, Well mo then enewe, Bot we must drynk as we brew, And that is bot reson. I wold ye dynyd or ye yode; Me thynk that ye swette. Nay, nawther mendys oure mode Drynke nor mette. Why, syr, alys you oght bot goode? Yee, oure shepe that we gett Ar stollyn as thay yode; Oure los is grette. Syrs, drynkys. Had I bene thore Som shuld have boght it full sore. Mary, som men trowes that ye wore And that us forthynkys. Mak, som men trowys That it shuld be ye. Ayther ye or youre spouse, So say we. Now if ye have suspowse To Gill or to me, Com and rype oure howse And then may ye se Who had hir. If I any shepe fott, Aythor cow or stott, And Gyll my wyfe rose nott Here syn she lade hir, As I am true and lele To God here I pray That this be the fyrst mele That I shall ete this day. Mak, as have I ceyll, Avyse thee, I say. 13 He lernyd tymely to steyll That couth not say nay. I swelt! Outt, thefys, fro my wonys. Ye com to rob us for the nonys. Here ye not how she gronys? Youre hartys shuld melt. Outt, thefys, fro my barne; Negh hym not thor. Wyst ye how she had farne Youre hartys wold be sore. Ye do wrang, I you warne, That thus commys before To a woman that has farne, Bot I say no more. A, my medyll. I pray to God so mylde, If ever I you begyld, That I ete this chylde That lygys in this credyll. Peasse, woman, for Godys payn, And cry not so; Thou spyllys thy brane And makys me full wo. I trow oure shepe be slayn; What fynde ye two? All wyrk we in vayn; As well may we go. Bot hatters! I can fynde no flesh Hard nor nesh, Salt nor fresh, Bot two tome platers. Whik catell bot this, Tame nor wylde, None, as have I blys, As lowde as he smylde. No, so God me blys, And gyf me joy of my chylde. We have merkyd amys; I hold us begyld. Syr, don. Syr, oure lady hym save, Is youre chyld a knave? Any lord myght hym have This chyld to his son. 14 When he wakyns he kyppys, That joy is to se. In good tyme to hys hyppys And in celé. Bot who was his gossyppys So sone redé? So fare fall thare lyppys! Hark now, a le! So God thaym thank, Parkyn and Gybon Waller, I say, And gentill John Horne, in good fay, He made all the garray, With the greatt shank. Mak, freyndys will we be, For we ar all oone. Wé, now I hald for me, For mendys gett I none. Farewell all thre; All glad were ye gone. Fare wordys may ther be Bot luf is ther none This yere. Gaf ye the chyld any thyng? I trow not oone farthyng. Fast agane will I flyng; Abyde ye me there. Mak, take it to no grefe If I com to thi barne. Nay, thou dos me greatt reprefe, And fowll has thou farne. The child will it not grefe, That lytyll day starne. Mak, with youre leyfe, Let me gyf youre barne Bot sex pence. Nay, do way, he slepys. Me thynk he pepys. When he wakyns he wepys; I pray you go hence. Gyf me lefe hym to kys And lyft up the clowtt. What the dewill is this? He has a long snowte. He is merkyd amys; We wate ill abowte. Ill spon weft, iwys, Ay commys foull owte. Ay, so, He is lyke to oure shepe. How, Gyb, may I pepe? I trow kynde will crepe Where it may not go. This was a qwantt gawde And a far-cast; It was a hee frawde. Yee, syrs, wast. Lett bren this bawde, And bynd hir fast. A fals skawde Hang at the last. So shall thou! Wyll ye se how thay swedyll His foure feytt in the medyll? Sagh I never in a credyll A hornyd lad or now. Peasse, byd I. What! Lett be youre fare. I am he that hym gatt And yond woman hym bare. What, dewill, shall he hatt, Mak? Lo, God, Makys ayre. Lett be all that, Now God gyf hym care, I sagh! A pratty child is he As syttys on a wamans kne, A dyllydowne, perdé, To gar a man laghe. I know hym by the eere marke; That is a good tokyn. I tell you, syrs, hark, Hys noyse was brokyn. Sythen told me a clerk That he was forspokyn. This is a fals wark. I wold fayn be wrokyn; Gett wepyn. He was takyn with an elfe; I saw it myself. When the clok stroke twelf Was he forshapyn. Ye two ar well feft, Sam in a stede. Syn thay manteyn thare theft Let do thaym to dede. If I trespas eft Gyrd of my heede; With you will I be left. Syrs, do my reede: For this trespas We will nawther ban ne flyte, Fyght nor chyte, Bot have done as tyte And cast hym in canvas. Lord, what I am sore, In poynt for to bryst; In fayth I may no more, Therfor wyll I ryst. As a shepe of sevyn skore He weyd in my fyst. For to slepe aywhore Me thynk that I lyst. Now, I pray you, Lyg downe on this grene. On these thefys yit I mene. Wherto shuld ye tene? Do as I say you. Angelus cantat “gloria in excelsis,” postea dicat, 15 Ryse, hyrd men heynd, For now is he borne That shall take fro the feynd That Adam had lorne, That warloo to sheynd. This nyght is he borne; God is made youre freynd Now at this morne, He behestys. At Bedlem go se Ther lygys that fre In a cryb full poorely Betwyx two bestys. This was a qwant stevyn That ever yit I hard. It is a mervell to nevyn Thus to be skard. Of Godys son of hevyn He spak upward; All the wod on a levyn Me thoght that he gard Appere. He spake of a barne In Bedlem, I you warne. That betokyns yond starne; Let us seke hym there. Say, what was his song? Hard ye not how he crakyd it, Thre brefes to a long? Yee, mary, he hakt it; Was no crochett wrong, Nor nothyng that lakt it. For to syng us emong Right as he knakt it I can. Let se how ye croyne; Can ye bark at the mone? Hold youre tonges, have done. Hark after than. To Bedlem he bad That we shuld gang; I am full fard That we tary to lang. Be mery and not sad; Of myrth is oure sang. Ever lastyng glad To mede may we fang Withoutt noyse. Hy we theder forthy, If we be wete and wery, To that chyld and that lady; We have it not to lose. We fynde by the prophecy — Let be youre dyn — Of David and Isay, And mo then I myn, Thay prophecyed by clergy That in a vyrgyn Shuld he lyght and ly To slokyn oure syn, And slake it Oure kynde from wo; For Isay sayd so: Ecce virgo Concipiet a chylde that is nakyd. 16 Full glad may we be And abyde that day That lufly to se, That all myghtys may. Lord, well were me For ones and for ay Myght I knele on my kne Som word for to say To that chylde. Bot the angell sayd In a cryb was he layde; He was poorly arayd, Both mener and mylde. Patryarkes that has bene, And prophetys beforne, Thay desyryd to have sene This chylde that is borne. Thay ar gone full clene; That have thay lorne. We shall se hym, I weyn, Or it be morne To tokyn. When I se hym and fele Then wote I full weyll It is true as steyll That prophetys have spokyn, To so poore as we ar That he wold appere, Fyrst fynd and declare By his messyngere. Go we now, let us fare. The place is us nere. I am redy and yare; Go we in fere To that bright. Lord, if thi wylles be — We ar lewde all thre — Thou grauntt us somkyns gle To comforth thi wight. Hayll, comly and clene; Hayll, yong child! Hayll, maker, as I meyne, Of a madyn so mylde. Thou has waryd, I weyne, The warlo so wylde; The fals gyler of teyn Now goys he begylde. Lo, he merys. Lo, he laghys, my swetyng. A welfare metyng; I have holden my hetyng. Have a bob of cherys. Hayll, sufferan savyoure, For thou has us soght. Hayll, frely foyde and floure That all thyng has wroght. Hayll, full of favoure That made all of noght. Hayll! I kneyll and I cowre. A byrd have I broght To my barne. Hayll, lytyll tyné mop. Of oure crede thou art crop. I wold drynk on thy cop, Lytyll day starne. Hayll, derlyng dere, Full of godhede. I pray thee be nere When that I have nede. Hayll, swete is thy chere. My hart wold blede To se thee sytt here In so poore wede With no pennys. Hayll, put furth thy dall; I bryng thee bot a ball. Have and play thee withall And go to the tenys. The Fader of heven, God omnypotent, That sett all on seven, His Son has he sent. My name couth he neven And lyght or he went. I conceyvyd hym full even Thrugh myght as he ment, And now is he borne. He kepe you fro wo; I shall pray hym so. Tell furth as ye go And myn on this morne. Farewell, lady, So fare to beholde With thy child on thi kne. Bot he lygys full cold. Lord, well is me. Now we go, thou behold. Forsothe, all redy It semys to be told Full oft. What grace we have fun. Com furth, now ar we won. To syng ar we bun; Let take on loft. Explicit pagina pastorum. 17

(see note) storms; (see note) covered almost inert wrapped; (t-note) simple; (see note); (t-note) nearly irrelevant our arable land; (see note) know restrained Overtaxed; beaten down submissive gentry deprive us of curse bound to a lord point under If painted sleeve; (see note) broach; nowadays grieve once no one; reprove Whatever neglect purveyance; (see note) bragging swain peacock wagon obliged before once by myself complaint ridge; (see note) soon by God Before; noon (see note) signify spiteful (t-note) hideous; (t-note) eyes shoes freeze married men Endure much Silly Copple; (see note) croak; (see note); (t-note) groan; cluck; (t-note) cock; (t-note) ill served sigh quietly knows found bound breaks destiny drives (see note) wooing wary; wedding known (t-note) misfortune hour epistle; (see note) one for my companion (see note) briar; (see note) bristle sour-looking demeanor once; whistle; (see note) “Our Father” whale run until; (see note) crowd; (see note) deafly mouth tarrying Saw; anywhere; (see note) fallow land heard; blow lie to us both Unless; wary assist could; heed brittle slips never fared so before everything changes since Noah’s flood rains keen staggered suppose bears at night livestock see unexpected sights is cheered rascals peep monsters (see note) spoken heath do light penance stub (see note) something to eat lazy servant wishes to Wait until after eaten luck; head sweat; toil Eat displeases me wet; weary sleep very slowly dines quickly run reduce our wages promise fare (see note) receive (see note) play argue a cheap bargain Poorly repays (see note) wealth bade idle chatter afraid For your tricks (see note) Lauds before we go agree tenor; (see note) treble mean (see note); (t-note) moon; stars more; name Your will, Lord, is unclear to me (t-note) brains children; (t-note) pipes; (see note) knew; fared tidings each one heed; things I am a yeoman; (see note) (t-note) Messenger such (t-note) strange; (see note) do you wish to play the saint yearn [to] counterfeit be flogged southern tooth turd eye could harm; (t-note) be earnest Rascal, look reputation steel know sickness; (see note) hot order; (t-note) (see note) (see note) needle month (t-note) she; (t-note) [She] lies sprawling; cross brood (see note) (t-note) each year baby Even if I were; (t-note) would be shelter sweetheart vouch for worse know (see note) Tomorrow directly funeral mass know; tired; (see note) even if; took hire fire overly tired lie; beside hinder; together; (see note) whisper fear head; toe (see note) Christ’s; assist lacks; wants secretly then sheepfold nimbly pay the consequences rush wealth circle; (see note) moon Until; what noon lie Until; finished few Aloud eyes; destroy effort If how hear learn scared seize [a sheep] tightly come here (t-note) fleece; wager such din; (t-note) (see note) to earn curse them aloud housewife Continually interrupted profit chores hatch; (see note) allow; draw the latch sweetheart need; consider (see note) hang food; (see note) bind toil; sweat lot fortune disgrace escaped; (see note) blow (see note) omen skinned wish to year; glad they; before hear; bleat taken sweat lock entry if; behind you suffer; (see note) worse jest know hide until cradle lie childbed get ready delivered; (see note) boy happy to me is the day conceived disguise clever trick woman’s advice spies Back again Unless; before; (see note) crowd walk stealthily As if took their sheep (see note) foot sleeps stumble with hunger; (t-note) eel; (see note) feel leaf Blessed I quake; (t-note) [my] skin Whatever the cause noise brows; pale; (see note) door; go wake up four anywhere before went; nowhere wrapped dressed especially (t-note) trick noise (t-note) mad illusion; cross long Saint James walk will recover lain wrong; (see note) Since last evening; (see note) Saint Stephen; (t-note) frightened by; vision; (see note) labor; hard Well-nigh; cock-crow (see note) add to our flock (see note) bellies brains children bread leave examine my sleeve steal nothing anything fare livestock; (see note) ahead Where thorn tree; (see note) (t-note) noise; (t-note) waning [moon]; (see note) (see note); (t-note) Guile sound held by work brief moment fuss comment plays scratches; toes hoarse (t-note) shepherds expect; well-pleased By God game suspect; (t-note) promised swaddle cradle greater trick could immediately cover; (see note) companion (see note) help Listen soon (see note) quickly hear unless; trick disgrace ram; lost; (see note) God forbid; (see note) rascal searched sheltering brushwood; (see note) young sheep; (see note); (t-note) (see note) Either Was involved saw slanders ought thrive die thither run bread Until I know the truth meet [fol. 43v] accost promise (see note) Where warble; (see note) likes to croon Heard tune soon spoke noon aloud (see note) sick unwell rather; dead Before; annoyance breathe Each footstep Goes; nose high run wet nurse; hire Do you still remember; (see note) paid; wages children more; enough dined before you went sweat (work hard); (see note) neither ails; (see note) tend stolen drink [this] paid dearly (see note) displeases Either suspicion search took her; (see note) obtained steer since; (see note) loyal meal; (see note) happiness quickly; steal could faint home purposely child Do not go near him there Knew; fared given birth; (see note) middle lies; cradle destroy; brain woeful by the holy garments; (see note) soft empty plates Livestock; (see note) strong; smelled been mistaken beguiled thoroughly (t-note) boy grabs (see note) happy godparents; (see note) soon ready fair; (see note) lie [fol. 44v]; (see note); (t-note) He who; disturbance long leg united look after myself amends love farthing; (see note) rush Wait for child disgrace fared grieve day star; (see note) leave (permission) sixpence; (t-note) peeps (is awake) leave cloth deformed (see note) (see note) nature; crawl walk clever trick shrewd scheme high fraud it was burn; slut false scold Will hang swaddle middle before; (see note) (t-note) fuss; [fol. 45r] begat be named Mak’s heir saw pretty woman’s knee darling, by God make; laugh ear mark proof nose Afterwards bewitched avenged weapon attacked by (t-note) clock transformed (see note) Same; place affirm Let them be put to death again Cut off I am at your mercy take my advice; (t-note) curse; argue chide immediately (see note) (t-note) burst rest score (group of 20); (see note); (t-note) weighed anywhere desire think be angry virtuous shepherds from the fiend Those that; lost; (see note) devil; destroy friend promises Bethlehem lies; noble one Between; beasts; (see note) the most marvelous voice; [fol. 45v] (t-note) mention scared aloft woods; flash of light; (see note) made child Bethlehem So signifies that star seek Heard (see note) warbled quick note meanwhile trilled croon moon Listen; (see note) afraid tarry too long reward; receive fuss therefore Even if; wet; weary must not lose [this opportunity]; (t-note) noise Isaiah more; remember alight suppress relieve (t-note) lovable one is almighty once and forever clothed lowly; gracious Patriarchs; (see note) completely lost suppose Before As a sign touch steel That which eager together bright one (see note) unlearned some kind of merriment comfort; creature fair; pure; (see note) maiden; gracious cursed; suppose devil beguiler; harm; (see note) plays merrily laughs; sweet one fortunate encounter kept my promise cherries sovereign savior noble child; flower; (see note) made out of nothing cower bird child baby creed; top from your cup; (see note) day star divinity countenance such poor clothing pennies hand; (see note) tennis; (see note) created all in seven [days] could; name; (see note) alighted before intended remember [fol. 46v] fair lies Truly found saved bound; (see note) Begin loudly