<d>And first in some high place – or in the clouds, if it may be – God speaketh unto Noah standing without the ark with all his family.
<c>God I, God, that all this world hath wrought, Heaven and Earth, and all of nought, I see my people in deed and thought are set foul in sin. My ghost shall now dwell in man that through fleshly lust is my foe – but till six score years be come and gone to look if they will cease.
Man that I made I will destroy, beast, worm, and fowl to fly, for on Earth they do me harm, the folk that are thereon. It harms me so hurtfully, the malice that doth now multiply, that sore it grieves me inwardly that ever I made man.
Therefore, Noah, my servant free, that righteous man art as I see, a ship soon thou shalt make thee of trees dry and light. Little chambers therein thou make and binding mud also thou take; within and without. Thou not shirk to anoint it through all thy might.
Three hundred cubits it shall be long and fifty broad to make it strong; the mast of height sixty, measure not wrong, thus measure thou it about. One window work through thy wit; a cubit of length and breadth make it. Upon the side a door shall sit, for coming in and out.
Eating places thou make also, rounded chambers one or two; for with water I think to flow Over man that I have made. Destroyed all the world shall be – save thou, thy wife, thy sons three, and their wives also with thee – all shall fall before thy face.
<c>Noah Ah, Lord, I thank thee aloud and still that to me art in such good will and spares me and my household to spill, as I now truly find. Thy bidding, Lord, I shall fulfill and nevermore thee grieve nor grill, that such grace hath sent me till amongst all Mankind.
Have done, you men and women all. Hurry, lest this water fall, to build this ship, chamber and hall, as God hath bidden us do.
<c>Shem Father, I am already bound; an axe I have, by my crown, as sharp as any in all this town for to go thereto.
<c>Ham I have an hatchet wonder keen to bite well, as may be seen; a better ground one, as I ween, is not in all this town.
<c>Japhet And I can well make a pin and with this hammer knock it in. Go we work, without more din, and I am ready bound.
<c>Noah’s Wife And we shall bring timber to, for we may nothing else do. Women been weak to undergo any great travail.
<c>Shem’s Wife Here is a good chopping block; on this you may hammer and knock. Shall none be idle in this flock, nor now may no man fail.
<c>Ham’s Wife And I will go gather slitch, the ship for to smear with pitch. Anoint it must be, every stitch, board, ribs, and pin.
<c>Japhet’s Wife And I will gather chips here to make a fire for you together and for to make your dinner against you come in.
<d>Then Noah beginneth to build the ark.
<c>Noah Now in the name of God I begin to make the ship that we shall in, that we may be ready for to sail at the coming of the flood. These boards I pin here together to bear us safe from the weather, that we may row both hither and thither and safe be from this flood.
<d>Then Noah with all his family shall make a sign as though they wrought upon the ship with diverse instruments.
Of this tree will I make the mast tied with cables that will last, and with a sail-yard for each blast, and each thing in their kind. With topcastle and bowsprit, both cords and ropes I have all meet to sail forth at the next downpour. This ship is at an end.
Wife, in this vessel we shall be kept, my children and thou I would in ye leapt.
<c>Noah’s Wife In faith, Noah, I would rather thou slept. For all thy Frenchish fare, I will not do after thy rede.
<c>Noah Good wife, do now as I bid.
<c>Noah’s Wife By Christ, not before I see more need, though thou stand all day and stare.
<c>Noah Lord, that women be crabbed ay, and none are meek, I dare well say. That is well seen by me today in witness of you each one. Good wife, let be all this bere, that thou makest in this place here, for all they know that thou art master – and so thou art, by St. John!
<d>And after that God shall speak to Noah as followeth:
<c>God Noah, take thou thy family and into the ship hasten that ye be; for none so righteous man to me is now on Earth living. Of clean beasts with thee thou take seven and seven before thou cease; he and she, mate to mate, quickly into that thou bring.
Of beasts unclean two and two, male and female, and no more; of clean fowls seven also, the he and she together; of fowls unclean, two, and no more, as I of beasts said before, that must be savèd through my lore, for the time when I send this weather.
Of all meats that may be eaten into the ship look they be gotten, for that may be no way forgotten. And do all this bedene to sustain Man and beasts therein until the water cease and stop. This world is fillèd full of sin, and that is now well seen.
Seven days are yet coming, you shall have space them in to bring. After that, it is my liking Mankind for to annoy. Forty days and forty nights rain shall fall for their unrights. And what I have made through my mights now think I to destroy.
<c>Noah Lord, at your bidding I am bound. Since no other grace will gain. it will I fulfill fain, for gracious I thee find. An hundred winters and twenty this ship-making tarried have I, to see if through amendment thy mercy would fall to Mankind.
Have done, ye men and women all, hurry you lest this water fall, that each beast were in stall and into the ship brought. Of clean beasts seven shall be, of unclean, two, thus God bade me. The flood is nigh, you may well see; therefore tarry you not.
<d>Then Noah shall go into the ark with all his family, his wife excepted, and the ark must be boarded around about. And on the boards all the beasts and fowls hereafter rehearsed must be painted, so that their words may agree with the pictures.
<c>Shem Sir, here are lion, leopards in; horses, mares, oxen and swine, goat and calf and sheep and kine here sitten, thou may see.
<c>Ham Camels, asses, man may find, buck and doe and hart and hind. And beasts of all manner kind here been, as thinketh me.
<c>Japhet Take here cats and dogges, too, otters and foxes, polecats also; hares hopping gaily can go – here, have kale to eat!
<c>Noah’s Wife And here are bears, wolves set; apes, owls, marmoset, weasels, squirrels and ferret, here they eat their meat.
<c>Shem’s Wife Here are beasts in this house; here cats making it crouse; here a rat, here a mouse that stand nigh together.
<c>Ham’s Wife And here are fowls less and more – herons, cranes and bittore, swans, peacocks – and them before meat for this weather.
<c>Japhet’s Wife Here are cocks, kites, crows rooks, ravens, many rows, ducks, curlews. Whoever knows each one in his kind? And here are doves, ducks and drakes, redshanks running through the lakes – and each fowl that sound makes in this ship man may find.
<c>Noah Wife, come in. Why stands thou there? Thou art ever froward, I dare well swear. Come in, in God’s name! half, time it were – for fear lest that we drown.
<c>Noah’s Wife Yea, sir, set up your sail and row forth with evil hail; for without any fail doubt I will not out of this town.
But I have my gossips every one, one foot further I will not go. They shall not drown, by Saint John, if I may save their life. They loved me full well, by Christ. But thou will let them into thy craft, else row thou forth, Noah, when thou list, and get thee a new wife.
<c>Noah Shem, son, lo! Thy mother is wroth; by God, such another I do not know.
<c>Shem Father, I shall fetch her in, I trow, without any fail. Mother, my father after thee sends and bids thee into yonder ship wend. Look up and see the wind, for we are ready to sail.
<c>Noah’ Wife Son, go again to him and say I will not come therein today.
<c>Noah Come in, wife, in twenty devils’ way! or else stand there without.
<c>Ham Shall we all fetch her in?
<c>Noah Yea, sons, in Christ’s blessing and mine! I would ye haste you now betime for of this flood I stand in fear.
<c>Good Gossip 1 The flood comes flowing in full fast on every side that spreads full far. For fear of drowning I am aghast, good gossip, let us draw near.
<c>Good Gossip 2 And let us drink ere we depart, for oft-times we have done so. For at one draught thou drinks a quart, and so will I do before I go.
<c>Good Gossip 1 Here is a tankard full of Malmsey good and strong; it will rejoice both heart and tongue. Though Noah thinks we take too long, yet we will drink our fill.
<c>Japhet Mother, we pray you all together – for we are here, your own children – come into the ship for fear of the weather, for his love that you bought.
<c>Noah’s Wife That will I not for all your call, unless I have my gossips all.
<c>Shem In faith, Mother, yet thou shall whether thou will or not.
<d>Then shall Shem drag his mother into the ark
<c>Noah Welcome, wife, into this boat.
<c>Noah’s Wife Have thou that for thy note!
<d>She gives him a blow.
<c>Noah Ah, marry, this is hot! It is good to be still. Ah, children, methink my boat removes, Our tarrying here me deeply grieves. Over the land the water spreads. May God do as he will.
<d>Then they sing
Ah, great God, that art so good, that works not thy will is wood. Now all this world is on a flood, as I see well in sight. This window I will shut anon, and into my chamber I will go till this water, so great won, be diminished through thy might.
<d>Then shall Noah shut the window of the ark and for a little space within the boards they shall sing the psalm “Save me, O God” and afterward opening the window and looking round about, saying:
Now forty days are fully gone. Send a raven I will anon, if anywhere on earth, tree or stone be dry in any place. And if this fowl come not again, it is a sign, sooth to say that dry it is on hill or plain, and God hath done some grace.
<d>Then he shall send a raven, and taking a dove in his hands, shall say:
Ah, Lord, where may this raven be? Somewhere is dry, well I see! But yet a dove, by my lewty, after I will send. Thou wilt turn again to me, for of all fowls that may fly thou art most meek and hend.
<d>Then he shall send forth a dove, and there shall be in the ship another dove carrying an olive-branch in its beak, which someone shall send from the mast by a rope into Noah’s hands.
Ah, Lord, blessed be thou ay, that me hast comforted thus today. By this sight I may well say this flood begins to cease. My sweet dove to me brought has a branch of olive from some place. This signifies God has done us some grace, and is a sign of peace.
Ah, Lord, honoured must thou be; all Earth dries now I see. But yet till thou command me, hence will I not hie. All this water is away. Therefore, as soon as I may, sacrifice I shall do in fay to thee devoutly.
<c>God Noah, take thy wife anon, and thy children every one; out of the ship thou shalt be gone, and they all with thee. Beasts and all that can fly, out quickly they shall hie, on Earth to grow and multiply. I will that it so be.
<c>Noah Lord, I thank thee through thy might; thy bidding shall be done in haste. And, as fast as I may dight, I will do thee honour and to thee offer sacrifice. Therefore come in all wise, for of these beasts that been his offer I will this hour.
<d>Then leading forth from the ark with his whole family, he shall take his animals and birds and offer them and slay them.
<c>Noah Lord God in majesty that such grace hast granted me where all was lost, safe to be! Therefore now I am bound – my wife, my children, and my family – with sacrifice to honour thee of beasts, fowls, as thou mayest see, and full devotion.
<c>God Noah, to me thou art full able and thy sacrifice acceptable; for I have found thee true and stable, on thee must I have mind. Afflict the Earth I will no more for Man’s sins that grieves me sore; for of youth Man full yore has been inclined to sin.
Ye shall now grow and multiply, and Earth again to edify. Each beast and fowl that may fly, shall be afraid of you. And fish in sea, all that may swim, shall sustain you, I thee promise, to eat of them ye not let that clean been, you may know.
Whereas ye have eaten before trees and roots, since ye were born, of clean beasts now, less and more, I give you leave to eat – save blood and flesh, both together of rotting carrion that is here. Eat not of that in no manner, for that always ye shall leave.
Manslaughter always ye shall flee, for that is not pleasant unto me. They that sheddeth blood, he or she, anywhere amongst mankind, that blood foully shed shall be and vengeance have, men shall see. Therefore beware now all ye, you fall not into that sin.
An agreement, Noah, with thee I make and all thy seed for thy sake, from such vengeance for to slake, for now I have my will. Here I now pledge thee in haste, that man, woman, fowl nor beast with water while this world shall last I will no more spill.
My bow between you and me in the firmament shall be, by true tokening that you may see that such vengeance shall cease, that man nor woman shall never more be destroyed by water as hath before; but for sin that grieveth me sore therefore this vengeance was.
Where clouds in the sky have been, that same bow shall be seen, in tokening that my wrath and teen shall never thus avenged be. The string is turned towards you and towards me is bent the bow, that such weather shall never show; and this I promise thee.
My blessing now I give thee here, to thee, Noah, my servant dear, for vengeance shall no more appear. And now farewell my darling dear.
<d>Here the ship will leave the playing place
<c>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’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.
<d>Abraham having restored his brother [nephew] Lot into his own place, doth first of all begin the play, and saith:
<c>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’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
<d>Here Lot, turning to his brother Abraham, doth say:
<c>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’s sending the tithe I will give also.
<d>Here the Knight doth come to Melchysedeck, King of Salem, and rejoicing greatly doth say:
<c>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.
<d>Here Mechysedeck, looking up to Heaven, doth thank God for Abraham’s victory, and doth prepare himself to go present Abraham.
<c>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’s will.
<d>Here the Knight, offering to Melchysedeck a standing-cup (goblet) and bread also doth say:
<c>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.
<d>Here Melchysedeck answering saith:
<c>Melchysedeck To God I know he is most dear, for of all things in his power he has without danger, and specially great grace.
<d>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’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.
<d>Here Abraham, receiving the offering of Melchysedeck, doth say:
<c>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.
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’s will is to be. Abraham my brother offered has, and so will I through God’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’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’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 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, truly! 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.