Joseph. _A Gods sake, is she with child, sche? Than will her husband Zachary be mery. In Montana they dwelle, fer hence, so mot y[87] the, In the city of Juda, I know it verily; It is hence, I trowe, myles two a fifty, We ar like to be wery, or we come at that same, I wole with a good will, blessyd wyff Mary; Now go we forth then in Goddys name_, &c. A little before the Resurrection:--_Nunc dormient milites, et veniet anima Christi de inferno, cum_ Adam _et_ Eva, Abraham, John Baptist, _et aliis._ Anima Christi. _Come forth, Adam, and Eve with the, And all my fryndes that herein be, In paradys come forth with me In blysse for to dwelle. The fende of hell that is your foo He shall be wrappyd and woundyn in woo: Fro wo to welth now shall ye go, With myrth evyrmore to melle._ Adam. _I thank the, Lord, of thy grete grace That now is forgiven my gret trespace, Now shall we dwellyn in blyssful place, &c._ The last scene or pageant, which represents the day of judgment, begins thus:[88] _Michael._ Surgite, _All men aryse_, Venite ad judicium, _For now is set the High Justice, And hath assignyd the day of dome: Rape you redyly to this grett assyse. Both gret and small, all and sum, And of yowr answer you now avise, What you shall say, when that yow com, &c._ These and such like were the plays, which in former ages were presented publicly. Whether they had any settled and constant houses for that purpose, does not appear; I suppose not. But it is notorious that in former times there was hardly ever any solemn reception of princes or noble persons, but pageants, that is, stages erected in the open street, were part of the entertainment: on which there were speeches by one or more persons, in the nature of scenes; and be sure one of the speakers must be some saint of the same name with the party to whom the honour is intended. For instance, there is an ancient manuscript at Coventry, called the "Old Leet Book," wherein is set down in a very particular manner, p. 168, the reception of Queen Margaret, wife of Henry VI. who came to Coventry; and, I think, with her young son, Prince Edward, on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 35 Hen. VI. 1456. Many pageants and speeches were made for her welcome; out of all which I shall observe but two or three in the old English, as it is recorded:-- St. Edward. _Moder of mekenes, dame Margarete, princes most excellent, I king Edward wellcome you with affection cordial, Testefying to your highnes mekely myn entent. For the wele of the king and you hertily pray I shall, And for prince Edward my gostly chylde, who I love principal, Praying the, John Evangelist, my help therein to be, On that condition right humbly I give this ring to the._