# York Mystery Plays

The forty-eight York Mystery Plays, or York Miracle Plays, cover sacred history from the Creation to the Last Judgement. The York cycle was written in Middle English by a number of anonymous writers, reaching its final state around 1440. It was performed annually in the streets of York by the city guilds until the 16th century.

## Quotes

The translations used here are by Chester N. Scoville and Kimberley M. Yates.
* I am gracyus and grete, God withoutyn begynnyng, I am maker unmade, all mighte es in me; I am lyfe and way unto welth-wynnyng, I am formaste and fyrste, als I byd sall it be.
** I am gracious and great God without beginning. I am maker unmade; all might is in me. I am life and way, unto weal winning. I am foremost and first; as I bid, shall it be.
** God, in The Barkers' Play: The Fall of the Angels, line 1.
* O, what I am fetys and fayre and fygured full fytt! The forme of all fayrehede apon me es feste, All welth in my weelde es, I wote be my wytte; The bemes of my brighthede are bygged with the beste. My schewyng es schemerande and schynande, So bygly to blys am I broghte; Me nedes for to noy me righte noghte, Here sall never payne me be pynande.
** Oh, how I am handsome and fair, with figure well fit! The form of all fairness upon me holds fast. All this wealth's for my wielding, I know by my wit; The beams of my brightness compare with the best. My appearance is shimmering and shining, So securely in bliss I am brought. To concern myself, that I need not; For no pain here shall bring me to pining.
** Bad Angel, in The Barkers' Play: The Fall of the Angels, line 65.
* Owe, certes, what I am worthely wroghte with wyrschip, iwys! For in a glorius gle my gleteryng it glemes; I am so mightyly made my mirth may noghte mys- Ay sall I byde in this blys thorowe brightnes of bemes. Me nedes noghte of noy for to neven, All welth in my welde have I weledande; Abowne yohit sall I be beeldand, On heghte in the hyeste of hewuen.
** Oh, what, how I am worthily wrought with worship like this! In a glorious glow, my glittering gleams. I am so mightily made that my mirth may not miss; I shall abide in this bliss, through my brightness of beams. By concern I need never be driven; All might in my hand I am wielding; Above I shall always be dwelling, On high, in the highest of Heaven.
** Lucifer, in The Barkers' Play: The Fall of the Angels, line 81.
* I sall be lyke unto hym that es hyeste on heghte. Owe, what I am derworth and defte-Owe! Dewes! All goes downe! My mighte and my mayne es all marrande- Helpe, felawes! In faythe I am fallande.
** I shall be like the One who is highest on height; Oh, how I am worthy and deft – Oh, Deus! All goes down! My might and my mirth are unsound; I am falling, in faith! Help me, friends!
** Lucifer, in The Barkers' Play: The Fall of the Angels, line 91.
* Nowe in my sawle grete joie have I, I am all cladde in comforte clere, Now will be borne of my body Both God and man togedir in feere.
** Now in my soul great joy have I; I am all clad in comfort clear. Now will be born of my body Both God and man together here.
** Mary, in The Tile Thatchers' Play: The Nativity, line 50.
* Hayle my lord God, hayle prince of pees, Hayle my fadir, and hayle my sone; Hayle sovereyne sege all synnes to sesse, Hayle God and man in erth to wonne. Hayle, thurgh whos myht All this worlde was first begonne, Merknes and light.
** Hail, my lord God, hail prince of peace; Hail, my father, and hail, my son; Hail, sovereign Lord, all sins to cease; Hail, God and man on earth to run; Hail, through whose might All this world was first begun: Darkness and light.
** Mary, in The Tile Thatchers' Play: The Nativity, line 57.
* Thus schall the sothe be bought and solde And treasoune schall for trewthe be tolde.
** Thus shall the truth be bought and sold, And treason shall as truth be told.
** Pilate, in The Winedrawers' Play: The Resurrection, line 449.
* This woffull worlde is brought till ende, Mi fadir of heuene he woll it be; Therfore till erthe nowe will I wende Miselve to sitte in magesté. To deme my domes I woll descende; This body will I bere with me – Howe it was dight, mannes mys to mende, All mankynde there schall it see.
** This woeful world is brought to end, My Father in Heaven so wills it be Therefore to earth now I will wend, To seat myself in majesty. To deem my dooms I will descend; This body I will bear with me. How it was hurt, man's sins to mend, All mankind there shall clearly see.
** Jesus, in The Mercers' Play: The Last Judgement, line 177.