Page:Ludus Coventriae (1841).djvu/108

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
X. MARY'S BETROTHMENT.

Tunc venit ab Ysakar espiscopus.

Lystenyth lordynges, both hye and lowe,
  And tendyrly takyth heyd onto my sawe,
Beth buxom and benygne ȝour busshopp to knowe,
  ffor I am that lord that made this lawe.
With hertys so hende herkyn nowe,
  ȝoure damyselys to weddying ȝa loke that ȝe drawe,
That passyn xiiij. ȝere, ffor what that ȝe owe,
  The lawe of God byddyth this sawe,
          That at xiiij. ȝere of age
Every damesel, what so sche be,
To the encrese of more plenté,
Xulde be browght in good degré,
          Onto here spowsage.

Joachym. Herke now, Anne, my jentyl spowse,
  How that the buschop his lawe hath tolde,
That what man hath a dowtyr in his house,
  That passyth xiiij. ȝeres olde,
He muste here brynge, I herde hym kowse,
  Into the tempyl a spowse to wedde,
Wherfore oure dowtyr ryth good and dowse,
  Into the tempyl sche must be ledde,
          And that anoon ryght sone.

Anne. Sere, I grawnt that it be so,
Aȝen the lawe may we not do,
With here togedyr lete us now go,
          I hold it ryght weyl done.