Ho so take away my staff, I say he were my fo,
ȝe be men that may wele ren go ȝe before;
I am old and also colde, walkyng doth me wo;
Therfor now wole I to my staff holde I, this jurny to wore.
Episcopus. Seres, ȝe xal undyrstande That this is the cawse of our comynge, And why that eche of ȝow bryngyth a wande, ffor of God we have knowynge. Here is to be maryde a mayde ȝynge, Alle ȝour roddys ȝe xal brynge up to me; And on hese rodde that the Holy Gost is syttynge, He xal the husband of this may be.
Hic portent virgas.
Joseph. It xal not be, I ley a grote, I xal abyde behynde prevyly; Now wolde God I were at hom in my cote, I am aschamyd to be seyn veryly.
Primus generacionis David.
To wurchep my lord God hedyr am I come,
Here ffor to offyr my dewe offrynge,
A fayr white ȝarde in hand have I nome,
My lord, sere busshop, at ȝour byddynge.
Secundus generacionis David.
Off Davythis kynred sertes am I com,
A ffayr white ȝarde in hand now I bryng;
My lord the busshop, after ȝour owym dom,
This ȝarde do I offre at ȝour chargyng,
Ryht here.
Tercius generacionis David.
And I a ȝarde have bothe fayr and whyght,
Here in myn hond it is redy dyght,
And here I offre it forth within syght,
Ryght in good manere.
Quartus generacionis David.
I am the fourte of Davidis kyn,
And with myn offrynge my God I honoure;
