The York Play of the Crucification

Persons of the Play
Jesus, Soldiers 1,2,3,4
[Scence, Golgotha, afterwards Mount Calvary]

  • 1st Soldier.
    Sir knights, take heed hither in haste
  • This death without trouble we cannot draw,
  • Ye know yourselves as well as I
  • How lords and leaders of our law
  • Have given doom that this dolt shall die.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Sir, all their counsel well we know,
  • Since we are come to Calvary,
  • Let every man help now as he ought.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    We are all ready lo ! that promise to fulfil.
  • 4th Soldier
    Let’s hear how we shall do, and go we quick thereto.
  • 1st Soldier.
    It may not help here for to wait,
  • 2nd Soldier.
    He must be dead, indeed, by noon.
  • 3rd Soldier.

    Then is good time that we begin.

  • 4th Soldier.
    Let’s strike him down, then is he done,
  • He shall not harm us with his din.
  • 1st Soldier.
    He shall be set and learned soon
  • With grief to him and all his kin.
  • 2nd Soldier.

    The foulest death of all shall he die for his

  • deeds.
  • 3rd Soldier.

    That means cross him we shall

  • 4th Soldier.
    Behold so right he redis
  • 1st Soldier.
    Then to this work we must take heed,
  • So that our working be not wrong.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    None other note to name we need.
  • But let us haste him for to hang.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    And I have gone for gear good speed.
  • Both hammers and nails large and long.
  • 4th Soldier.
    Then may be boldly do this deed.
  • Come on, let’s kill this traitor strong.
  • 1st Soldier.
    Ye might, mayhap, do in company,
  • That has wrought in this way.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    We need not for to learn
  • Such liars to chastise.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    Since such a thing is right arrayed
  • The wiselier now work may we.
  • 4th Soldier.
    The cross on ground is goodly placed,
  • And bored even as it ought to be.
  • 1st Soldier.
    Look that the lad on length be laid,
  • And made full fast unto this tree.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    For all his acts he shall be flayed
  • That one assay soon shall ye see.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    Come forth thou cursed knave,
  • Thy comfort soon shall cool.
  • 4th Soldier.
    Thy reward here shalt thou have.
  • 1st Soldier.
    Walk on, now work we will.
  • Jesus.
    Almighty God my Father free,
  • Let this matter be kept in mind,
  • Thou bid’st that I should obedient be,
  • For Adam’s guilt I should be pyned
  • Here to death I oblige me
  • From that sin to save mankind,
  • And sovereignly beseech I thee,
  • That they for me may favor find
  • And bored even as it ought to be.
  • And from the fiend them (de)fend,
  • arrayed, put in order.
  • So that their souls be saved
  • In weal withouten end.
  • I care naught else to crave.
  • 1st Soldier.
    We! hark, sir knights, for Mahomet’s blood!
  • Of Adam-kind is all his thought.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    The wizard waxeth worse than mad,
  • This doleful deed he dreadeth not.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    Thou shouldst have minde, with might and mood,
  • Of wicked works that thou hast wrought.
  • 4th Soldier.
    I think that he had been as good
  • To have ceased these sayings that he upbrought.
  • 1st Soldier.
    Those words shall rue him sore,
  • For all his sauntering, soon.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Ill speed them that him spare
  • Till he to death be done !
  • 3rd Soldier.
    Have done now, boy, and make thee boune
  • And bend thy back unto this tree. [Jesus lies down.
  • 4th Soldier.
    Behold, himself has laid him down,
  • In length and breadth as he should be.
  • 1st Soldier.
    This traitor here tainted of treason,
  • Go fast and fetch him then ye three,
  • And since he claimeth kingdom with crown,
  • Even as a king here have them shall he.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Now, certis, I shall not feign
  • Before his right hand be fast.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    The left hand then is mine,
  • Let’s see who bears him best.
  • 4th Soldier.
    His limbs on length then shall I lead,
  • And even unto the bore them bring
  • 1st Soldier.
    Unto his head I shall take heed,
  • And with mine hand help him to hang.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Now since we four shall do this deed,
  • And meddle with this unthrifty thing
  • Let no man spare for special speed
  • Till that we have made of this an end.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    This order may not fail,
  • Now we are right arrayed.
  • 4th Soldier.
    This boy here in our charge
  • Shall bide full bitter blows.
  • 1st Soldier.
    Sir Knights, how work we now !
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Certis, sir, I hope I hold this hand.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    And to the boreI have it brought.
  • Full easily withouten band.
  • 4th Soldier.
    Strike on them hard, help him ye ought.
  • 1st Soldier.
    Yes, here is a stub will stiffly stand.
  • Through bones and sinews it shall be sought.
  • This work is well done, I warrant.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Say, sir, how do we there? This affair may not hold.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    It fails a foot and more The sinews are so gone in.
  • 4th Soldier.
    I hope that mark amiss be bored.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Then must he bide in bitter pain.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    In faith it was o’er scantly scored;
  • That makes it greatly for to fail.
  • 1st Soldier.
    Why speak ye so? fasten a cord
  • And tug him to it, by head and tail
  • 3rd Soldier.
    Yea, thou command’st us lightly as a lord.
  • Come help to haul, with ille haile.
  • 1st Soldier.
    Now certis that shall I do,
  • Full surely as a snail. And
  • 3rd Soldier.
    And I shall fasten him, too,
  • Full nimbly with a nail.
  • This work will hold, that dare I promise
  • For now are bound fast both his hands
  • 4th Soldier.
    Go we all four then to his feet
  • So shall our space be speedily spent.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Let’s see what jest his grief might
  • (a)mend.
  • There to my back now would I bend.
  • 4th Soldier.
    Oh ! this work is all unfit
  • This boring must be all amend
  • 1st Soldier.
    Ah! peace man, for Mahomet,
  • Let no man know that wonder,
  • A rope shall pull him down
  • If all his sinews go asunder.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    That cord full kindly can I tie
  • The comfort of this carle to cool
  • 1st Soldier.
    Bind on then fast that all be fit.
  • It is no matter how cruel it feels.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Pull on ye both a little yet.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    I shall not cease, as I have bliss.
  • 4th Soldier.
    And I shall go forward, him to hit.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Ow! haul!
  • 4th Soldier.
    How now, I hauled it well.
  • 1st Soldier.
    Have done, drive in that nail.
  • So that no fault be found.
  • 4th Soldier.
    This working would not fail
  • If four bulls here were bound.
  • 1st Soldier.
    These cords have much increased his pains,
  • Before he was to the borings brought.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Yea, asunder are both sinews and veins
  • On either side, so have we sought.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    Now all his tricks no thing him gains.
  • His sauntering shall with grief be bought.
  • 4th Soldier.
    I will go say to our sovereigns
  • Of all this work how we have wrought.
  • 1st Soldier.
    Nay sirs, another thing
  • Falls first to you and me,
  • I was told we should him hang,
  • On high that men may see.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    We know well so their words were
  • But sir, that deed will do us harm.
  • 1st Soldier.
    It may not mend to argue more.
  • This caitiff must be hanged here.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    The mortice is made fit therefore
  • 3rd Soldier.
    Bind on your fingers then, in feere “
  • 4th Soldier.
    I think it will never come there.
  • We four raise it not right this year.
  • 1st Soldier.
    Say man, why carp’st thou so?
  • Thy lifting was but light.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    He means there must be more
  • To heave him up on high.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    Now, certis, I hope it shall not need
  • To call to us more company.
  • Methinks we four should do this deed
  • And bear him to yon hill on high.
  • 1st Soldier.
    It must be done withouten fear,
  • No more but look ye be ready ;
  • And this part shall I lift and lead,
  • On length he shall no longer lie.
  • Therefore now make you advance
  • Let’s bear him to yon hill.
  • 4th Soldier.
    Then will I bear here down
  • And tend his toes unto.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    We two shall see to either side,
  • For else this work will twist all wrong.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    We are ready, in God, sirs, abide
  • And let me first his feet up catch.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Why heed ye so to tales this tyde?
  • 1st Soldier.
    Lift up ! [All lift the cross together
  • 4th Soldier.
    Let’s see!
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Oh ! lift along.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    From all this harm he should him hide
  • If he were God.
  • 4th Soldier.
    The devil him hang!
  • 1st Soldier.
    For great harm have I taken,
  • My shoulder is in sunder.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    And certis, I am near ruined
  • So long have I borne under.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    This cross and I in two must divide
  • Else breaks my back in sunder soon.
  • 4th Soldier.
    Lay down again and leave your din.
  • This deed for us will never be done.
  • [They lay it down
  • 1st Soldier.
    Assay, sirs, let’s see if any thing
  • May help him up without delay;
  • For here should strong men honor win
  • And not with tricks all day to go on.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    But stronger men than we
  • Full few I hope ye find.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    This bargain will not be For certis I want wind.
  • 4th Soldier.
    So useless at work we never were.
  • I hope this wretch some cunning cast.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    My burden set me wondrous sore.
  • Unto the hill I might not last.
  • 1st Soldier.
    Lift up and soon he shall be there
  • Therefore fasten on your fingers fast.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    Oh, lift ! [They take up the cross again
  • 1st Soldier.
    We, lo !
  • 4th Soldier.
    A little more.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Hold then !
  • 1st Soldier.
    How now!
  • 2nd Soldier.
    The worst is past.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    He weighs a wicked weight.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    So may we all four say,
  • Ere he was heaved on high,
  • And raised in this array.
  • 4th Soldier.
    He made us stand as any stones,
  • So mighty-big was he for to bear.
  • 1st Soldier.
    Now raise him nimbly for the nonce.
  • And set him by this mortise here.
  • And let him fall in all at once
  • For certis that pain shall have no peer.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    Heave up!
  • 4th Soldier.
    Let down, so all his bones
  • Are asunder now on many sides.
  • 1st Soldier.
    His falling was more cruel
  • Than all the hurts he had.
  • Now may a man well count
  • The last joint of this lad.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    Me thinketh this cross will not abide
  • Nor stand still in this mortise yet.
  • 4th Soldier.
    At the first time was it made o’er wide
  • That makes it sway, thou may’st well see.
  • 1st Soldier.
    It shall be set on every side
  • So that it shall no further wave.
  • Good wedges shall we take this tide
  • And fasten the foot, then is all fit.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Here are wedges well made
  • For that, both large and small.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    Where are our hammers laid?
  • That we should work withal?
  • 4th Soldier.
    We have them here even at our hand.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Give me that wedge, I shall it drive.
  • 4th Soldier.
    Here is another yet prepared.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    Do bring it me hither at once.
  • 1st Soldier.
    Lay on then fast.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    Yes, I warrant.
  • I press them together, so may I thrive,
  • Now will this cross full stably stand
  • And if he tear they will not rive.
  • 1st Soldier,
    (to Jesus. Say, sir, how lik’st thou now
  • This work that we have wrought?
  • 4th Soldier.
    We pray you tell us how
  • Ye feel, or faint ye ought?
  • Jesus.
    All men that walk by path or street,
  • Take heed ye shall no labor lose,
  • Behold mine head, mine hands, mine feet,
  • And fully feel now ere ye stay,
  • If any mourning may be mete
  • Or mischief measured unto mine.
  • My Father that all grief may mend,
  • Forgive these men that do me pain.
  • What they do know they not,
  • Therefore, my Father I crave
  • Let never their sins be sought,
  • But see their souls to save.
  • 1st Soldier.
    We! hark! he prates like a jay.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Methinks he chatters like a pye.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    He has been talking all this day
  • And made great praying of mercy.
  • 4th Soldier.
    Is this the same that ‘gan us say,
  • That he was God’s son almighty?
  • 1st Soldier.
    Therefor he feels full sharp afraid,
  • And doomed this day for to die.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Vah ! ” whoso destroys this temple.”
  • 3rd Soldier.
    His sayings were so certain.
  • 4th Soldier.
    And, sirs, he said to some
  • He might raise it again.
  • 1st Soldier.
    To show that, he had no might,
  • For all the cunning that he could cause
  • And if he were in words so wight,
  • For all his force now he is fast.
  • As Pilate judged is done and dight,
  • Therefore I counsel that we go rest.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    This course must be rehearsed right
  • Through the world, both east and west.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    Yea, let him hang here still
  • And make mouths at the moon.
  • 4th Soldier.
    Then may we wend at will.
  • 1st Soldier.
    Nay, good sirs, not so soon.
  • For certis we need look to another note
  • This kirtle would I of you crave.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Nay, nay sir, we will try by lot.
  • Which of us four it falls to to have.
  • 3rd Soldier.
    I advise we draw cuts for this coat ;
  • Lo! see how soon all sides to save.
  • 4th Soldier.
    The short cut shall win, that well
  • ye know. Whether it fall to knight or knave.
  • 1st Soldier.
    Fellows, ye need not scold,
  • For this mantle is mine.
  • 2nd Soldier.
    Go we then hence at once,
  • This labor here we lose.
    •

    Source:

    “The Crucifixion of Christ.” A Rosary of Mystery Plays. Trans. Margaret S. Mooney. Albany: Frank H. Evory, 1915. HathiTrust. 99-108. Web. 12 Apr. 2016. <http://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044009972274>

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    Anthology of Medieval Literature Copyright © 2021 by Christian Beck is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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