115

Elizabeth : Marye, now redd I that wee gone

to Joseph, thy husband, anon,
leste hee to misse thee make mone,

for now that is most neede.
(34b] Maria: Elizabeth, nece, to doe so good is

leste hee suppose one mee amysse;
but good lord, that hath ordayned this,

wyll witnes of my deede.

120

125

130

[Scene 3]
Elizabeth : Joseph, god the save and see !

thy wife here I (have) brought to thee.
Joseph : Alas, alas! and woe is mee!

whoe hathe made her with chyld ?
well I wist an ould man and a maye
might not accord by noe waye,
for many yeares might I not playe,

ne worke noe workes wild.
Three monethes shee hath bene from mee,
now hathe shee gotten her, as I see,
a great bellye, like to thee,

syth shee went away.
and myne yt is not, bee thow bould,
for I am both ould and could,
these XXXtie winters, though I would,

I might not playe noe playe.
113 now redd I] I rede nowe W now) omit h 115 make
makes H, make great B 117 nece ) nice Wr. 119 good ] the

135

140

145

alas! where might I lenge or lende?
for loth is me my wife to shende;
therefore from her will I wende

into some other place.
ffor to dyscreeve (her) will I nought,
feeblye though shee have wrought;
to leave her privelye is my thought,

that noe man knowe this case.
God lett never an ould man
take to wife a yonge woman,
ney seet his harte her upon,

lest hee beguyled bee.
ffor accorde ther maye be none,
ney the(y) may never bee at one,
and that is seene in manye one

as well as one mee.
Therfore have I slept awhile,
my wife that mee can thus beguyle,
I will gone from her, (for) yt to fyle

mee is loth, in good faye.
This case makes mee so heavye
that needes sleepe nowe muste I;
lord, one hir thow have mercye

for her misdeede to-daye.
Angelus : Joseph, lett bee thy feeble thought,

take Marye, thy wife, and dred thee nought,

150

155

160

(35 a)

165

for wickedly shee hath not wrought,

but this is gode will.
The child that shee shall beare, Iwys,
of the holy ghost begotten yt is,
to save mankynd that did amisse,

and prophecye to fulfill.
Joseph: A! nowe I wott, lord, yt is soe,

I will noe man bee her foe,
but while I may one yearth goe

with her I will bee.
Nowe Christe is in our kynde light,
as the prophete before hight;
lord god, most of might,

with weale I worshipp thee.

[Scene 4] Nuntius : Make rowme, lordinges, and give us waye,

and lett Octavian come and playe,
and Sybell, the sage, that well fayr maye.
to tell you of prophecye.

.
That lord that dyed on good fryday,
hee have you all, both night and daye.
farewell, lordinges, I goe my waye,

I may not lenger [abye.]

185

190

195

200

Octavianus : I, preeved prince, most of powere,

under heaven highest am I here,
fayrest food to fight in fere ;

no freake my face may flee.
all this world, withowten were,
king, prynce, baron, batchlere,
I may destroy in great dangere,

through vertu of my degree.
My name Octavian called is,
all me about full in my blys,
for wholey all this world, Iwys,

is readye at my owne will.
Noe man one mould darre doe amisse
agaynst mee, I tell you this;
May no man saye that ought is his,

but my leave be thertyll.
ffor I halfe multiplyed more
the Cittye of Rome, sythe I was bore,
then ever did any (me) before,

syth I had this kingdome.
ffor what with streng(th) and strokes sore,
leadinge lordshipp, lovely lore,
all this world has bine yore

tributarye unto Rome.
Segneurs tous si assembles

(35 b] A mes probes estates, 185 powere ) postie W 186 here ) omit W 187 fayrest] the fayrest B foot ) stoode B to fight ] faightest W, to fraught B in ) with B, omit W 194 all me about] at my aboue H 196 owne) omit B 197 mould ] liue W 199 may] ne H, nay B 203 me ) omit D 205 strength ) strenght D strength and strokes ] inverted in W 206 lordshipp lordshippes Wr. 207 has) nowe hase H BWh 209 segneurs ] seguirs Wr. assembles ) asmeles Wr., arneles Dm. 210 ) omit h, combined with 212 W probes ] proles HB

205

210