User:RHaworth/mystery/src/The Barbers and the Waxe Chaundlers Playe

Messenger All peace, lordings that been present, and harken to me with good intent, how Noah away from us he went and all his company. And Abraham, through God&rsquo;s grace he is come into this place, if ye will give him room and space to tell you this story. This play, truly, begin shall he in worship of the Trinity that ye may all hear and see that shall be done today. My name is Gobbet-on-the-Green With you I may no longer be. Farewell, my lordings, quickly, so as not to hinder your play.

Abraham having restored his brother [nephew] Lot into his own place, doth first of all begin the play, and saith:

Abraham Ah, thou high God, granter of grace, that ending nor beginning has, I thank thee, Lord, that thou has today given me the victory. Lot, my brother that taken was, I have rescued him in this case and brought him home to this place through thy might and mastery.

To worship thee I will not wond, four kings of foreign land today delivered into my hand riches with great array. Therefore, of all that I did win to give the tenth part I will begin, when soon to the city I come in, and share with thee my prey.

Melchysedeck, that here king is and God&rsquo;s priest also, iwiss, the tithe I will give him of this, as wisdom says that I do. God that has sent me the victory over four kings graciously, with him my spoils share will I, when the city I come to

Here Lot, turning to his brother Abraham, doth say:

Lot Abraham, brother, I thank thee who this day hast delivered me from enemies hands and their posty; and saved me from woe. Therefore I will give thee tithing of my goods while I am living; and now also of God&rsquo;s sending the tithe I will give also.

Here the Knight doth come to Melchysedeck, King of Salem, and rejoicing greatly doth say:

Knight My lord the king, tidings on right your heart to gladden and to light! Abraham hath slain in fight four kings since he went. Here he will be this same night and riches enough with him dight. I heard him thank God Almight for grace he hath him sent.

Here Mechysedeck, looking up to Heaven, doth thank God for Abraham&rsquo;s victory, and doth prepare himself to go present Abraham.

Melchysedeck Ah, blessed be God, that is but one! Towards Abraham will I go to honour him, and that at once mine office to fulfill, and present him with bread and wine, for the grace of God is him within. Make haste, for love mine, for this is God&rsquo;s will.

Here the Knight, offering to Melchysedeck a standing-cup (goblet) and bread also doth say:

Knight Sir, here is wine, without were and with it bread both white and clear to give him with good cheer, that us so helped has.

Here Melchysedeck answering saith:

Melchysedeck To God I know he is most dear, for of all things in his power he has without danger, and specially great grace.

Melchysedeck, coming unto Abraham, doth offer to him a cup full of wine and bread and saith unto him:

Abraham, welcome may thou be – God&rsquo;s grace is fully in thee. Blessed ever must thou be who victory so can wreak. Here is bread and wine for thy degree I have brought, as thou may see. Receive this present now from me, and that I thee beseech.

Here Abraham, receiving the offering of Melchysedeck, doth say:

Abraham Sir king, welcome, truly; thy present is welcome to my pay. God hath helped me today, unworthy though I were. Ye shall have part of my prey that I won since I went away. Therefore to thee that I take it may the tithe I offer here.

<d>Here Abraham offereth to Melchysedeck a horse that is laden.

<c>Melchysedeck And your present sir, take I and honour it devoutly, for much good it may signify in time that is coming. Therefore horse, harness and perry, as befits your dignity, the tithe of it take from me and receive here my offering.

<d>Then shall Abraham receive the bread and wine, and Melchysedeck the laden horse by way of tithe. Here Lot doth offer to Makchysedeck a goodly cup and saith:

<c>Lot And I will offer with good intent of such goods as God hath me lent to Melshysedeck here present, as God&rsquo;s will is to be. Abraham my brother offered has, and so will I through God&rsquo;s grace. This royal cup before your face, receive it now of me.

<d>Here Melchysedeck receiveth the cup from Lot.

<c>Melchysedeck Sir, your offering welcome is; and well I know, truly iwiss, that fully God&rsquo;s will it is that is now done today. Go we together to my city; and God now heartily thank we that helps us always through his posty power for so we full well may.

<d>Here they go together, and Abraham doth take the bread and wine, and Melchysedeck the laden horse

<c>Expositor <d>Riding on horseback Lordings, what this may signify I will expound clearly, that the unlearned standing hereby may know what this may be. This present, I say verament, signifieth the New Testament that now is used with good intent throughout all Christianity.

In the Old Law, without lying, when these two good men were living of beasts were all their offering and also their sacrament. But since Christ died on rood-tree, in bread and wine his death remember we; and at his last supper, our Maundy was his commandment. But before this thing practised should be afterwards, as now do we in signification – believe you me – Melchysedeck did so.

And tithe-making, as you have seen here, by Abraham begun were. Therefore to God he was full dear, and so were both two.

By Abraham understand I may the Father of Heaven, in good fay Melchysedeck, a priest to his pay to administer that sacrament that Christ ordained the foresaid day – in bread and wine to honour him ay. This signifieth, the truth to say, Melchysedeck&rsquo;s his present.

<d>Here God appeareth to Abraham and saith:

<c>God Abraham, my servant, I say to thee, thy help and succour I will be For thy good deed much pleaseth me I tell thee truly

<d>Here Abraham, turning to God, saith:

<c>Abraham Lord, one thing that thou wouldest see that I pray for with heart full free! Grant me, Lord, through thy power some fruit of my body.

I have no child, foul nor fair, save my foster child to be my heir that makes me greatly to apair. On me, Lord, have mercy.

<c>God Nay, Abraham, friend, believe thou me – thy foster child thine heir shall not be; but one son I shall send thee, begotten of thy body.

Abraham, do as I thee say – look and count, if thou may, stars standing on the milky way; that impossible were. No more shalt thou, for any need, number of thy body the seed that thou shalt have, withouten dread; thou art to me so dear.

Therefore, Abraham, servant free look that thou be true to me; and here an agreement I make with thee thy seed to multiply. To a great people father thou shalt be. Kings of this seed men shall see; and one child of great degree all Mankind shall redeem.

I will henceforth forward alway each man-child on the eighth day be circumcised, as I thee say, and thou thyself full soon. Who circumcised not is forsaken shall be with me, iwiss, for disobedient that man is. Look that this is done.

<c>Abraham Lord, all ready, in good fay, Blessed be thou ever and ay, for thereby know thou may thy folk from other men. Circumcised they shall be all at once, for ought that may befall, I thank thee, Lord, thine own thrall kneeling on my knees.

<c>Expositor Lordings all, take this intent the meaning of this commandment: this was sometimes a sacrament in the Old Law, truly known. As followeth now verament, so was this in the Old Testament But when Christ died, away it went, and then began baptism.

Also God a promise pledged us here to Abraham, his servant dear: so much seed, that in no manner numbered it might be; and one seed Mankind for to buy. That was Christ Jesus, certainly, For of his kind was Our Lady, and so also was he.