Page:Ludus Coventriae (1841).djvu/26

Primus vexillator.

The xv.^{te} pagent come kynges iij.,
  With gold, myrre, and ffrankynsens,
Kyng Herowdys styward hem doth se,
  And bryngyth alle to his presens.
The Kynges of Coleyn with hert ful ffre,
  Tolde kyng Herownde here dylygens,
That thei south in that countré
  A kyng of kynges, ffrom fere thens
          A sterre led hem the way.
The chylde is ȝoung and lyth in stalle.
He xal be kyng of kynges alle,
Beffore hym we thynk on kne to ffalle,
          And worchep hym this day.

Secundus vexillator.

In the xvj. pagent as wroth as wynde
  Is kyng Herownde, the sothe to say,
And cruel knytes and unkende
  To sle male chylderyn he sendyth that day.
But Cryst Jhesu thei may not ffynde,
  For Joseph hath led that childe away
Unto Egypth, as we have mende,
  As angele to Joseph dyd byd and say
          In hyȝht.
Tho chylderyn that syt in here moderes lap,
To sowkyn ful swetly here moderes pap,
The knythtes do sle hem evyn at a swap,
          This is a rewly syth.

Tertius vexillator.

In the xvij. pagent the knythtes, be-dene,
  Shulle brynge dede childeryn befor the kyng;
Whan kyng Herownde that syth hath sene,
  fful glad he is of here kyllyng.