Processus Satanae: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Limebrook_1.jpg|thumb|Strip 1a (Private Collection, UK; reproduced by permission)]]
[[File:Limebrook_1.jpg|thumb|Strip 1a (Private Collection, UK; reproduced by permission)]]
'''Strip 1a'''
'''Strip 1a'''
<br>
<lpd-pre>
:::God the father speaketh
:::God the father speaketh
::The Aungell <sup>.</sup> In heauen our record
::The Aungell <sup>.</sup> In heauen our record
:::&nbsp;God<br>
::: God
Come my welbeloued mans only sauing hea<l.. <br>
Come my welbeloued mans only sauing hea<l..
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;for thou alone hast conquered hell synne & death<
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;for thou alone hast conquered hell synne & death<
:::Christ<sup>.</sup> Dyd hole spill<br><br>
:::Christ<sup>.</sup> Dyd hole spill
:::&nbsp;God
::: God
Sitt on my right hand after thy gret toile<br>
Sitt on my right hand after thy gret toille
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vntill I haue made thine enemies thy fotestole<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vntill I haue made thine enemies thy fotestole
:::Here Christ goeth vp to his throne<
:::Here Christ goeth vp to his throne<
::An Aungell <sup>.</sup> or open yt eu<..>
::An Aungell <sup>.</sup> or open yt eu''er''<sup>.</sup>
:::&nbsp;God
::: God
Behold this Lion of the stocke of Iuda<br>
Behold this Lion of the stocke of Iuda
:the rote of Dauid hais obteyned alwaye
:the rote of Dauid hais obteyned alwaye
:To open this boke and vnclaspe yt
:To open this boke and vnclaspe yt
:and to know all the secrete of yt
:and to know all the secrett''es'' of yt
:::Sathan <sup>.</sup> Villeny ad wronge <sup>.</sup>
:::Sathan <sup>.</sup> Villeny and wronge <sup>.</sup>
:::&nbsp;God<br>
::: God
Tary michaell a while yet
Tary michaell a while yet
:in so moche as he will reson yt
:in so moche as he will reson yt
:what wronge Sathan haue I done the
:what wronge Sathan haue I done the
:::Sathan <sup>.</sup> Robbed me
:::Sathan <sup>.</sup> Robbed me
:::&nbsp;God<br>
::: God
Nay Sathan when yt <sup>^is</sup> well knowen
Nay Sathan when yt <sup>^is</sup> well knowen
:I haue taken that wch was but myne owne<
:I haue taken that wch was but myne owne<
:::&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> of the and me /
::: Sathan <sup>.</sup> of the and me /
:::&nbsp;God <sup>.</sup><br>
::: God <sup>.</sup>
Why so Sathan let heare I &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; the
Why so Sathan let heare I       the
:::&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> ther to dwell <sup>.</sup>
::: Sathan <sup>.</sup> ther to dwell <sup>.</sup>
:::&nbsp;&nbsp;God<br>
::: God
But thos whom thou Sathan for syn dost blame
But thos whom thou Sathan for syn dost blame
:I haue sanctified & clensed with y<sup>e</sup> blod of y<sup>is</sup> <l
:I haue sanctified & clensed with y<sup>e</sup> blod of y<sup>is</sup> <l
:Thou apeachest them of synne to me night & <
:Thou apeachest them of synne to me night & <
:and the blod of this lambe hathe washt it <a
:and the blod of this lambe hathe washt it <a
:::&nbsp; Sathan <sup>.</sup> more busyness
::: Sathan <sup>.</sup> more busynes
:::God <sup>.</sup><br>
:::God <sup>.</sup>
I am the god wth whom dwelle no wickedness<
I am the god wth whom dwell''es'' no wickednes<
:my nature abhorreth then all wrongfulness
:my nature abhorreth then all wrongfulnes
:for Sathan yf in case of syn I. shuld wronge the
:for Sathan yf in case of syn I shuld wronge the
:I were falsely said to hate iniquite ~
:I were falsely said to hate iniquite ~
:::&nbsp; Sathan <sup>.</sup> yf thou deale Iustice
::: Sathan <sup>.</sup> yf thou deale Iustice
:::God<br>
:::God
But yet Sathan thou dost not reme< <br>
But yet Sathan thou dost not reme<  
thy spitefull malice against man ev<&nbsp;&nbsp;. <br>
thy spitefull malice against man ev< .  
for when I made man at furst in gret honour<br>
for when I made man at furst in gret honour
and planted him to liue in paradice of pleasure<br>
and planted him to liue in paradice of pleasure
Thou hockeredst so much ether his felicyte<br>
Thou hockeredst so much ther his felicyte
y<sup>t</sup> thou broughtst hym to disobedience evē through y<sup>y</sup> env<y <br>
y<sup>t</sup> thou broughtst hym to disobedience eve''n'' through y<sup>y</sup> env<y  
Ther thou deceyvedst him first of his place<br>
Ther thou deceyvedst him first of his place
and broughtst hym throw y<sup>y</sup> subtlety to y<sup>is</sup> sinfull cas<br>
and broughtst hym throw y<sup>y</sup> subtelty to y<sup>is</sup> sinfull ca<s
for I made hym always to haue byn Innocent< <br>
for I made hym always to haue byn Innocent<  
Yf he had neu broken my Commaundement<br>
Yf he had neu''er'' broken my Commaundement
And thou wroughtst all this then canst y<sup>u</sup> be<br>
And thou wroughtst all this then canst y<sup>u</sup> be
yf for like malice I worke like pollicye / &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; |<u>angry</u><br>
yf for like malice I worke like pollicye / &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; |<u>angry</u>
</lpd-pre>
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[[File:Processus Satanae strip 2a.jpg|thumb|Strip 2a (Private Collection, UK; reproduced by permission)]]
'''Strip 2a'''
'''Strip 2a'''
::::&nbsp; Sathan <sup>.</sup> suche pollicye in god
<lpd-pre>
:::God<br>
:::: Sathan <sup>.</sup> suche pollicye in god
:::God
Why not Sathan in all thinges wch be good <sup>.</sup>
Why not Sathan in all thinges wch be good <sup>.</sup>
:::&nbsp; Sathan <sup>.</sup> of preventing mischefe
::::    Sathan <sup>.</sup> of preventing mischefe
:::God <sup>.</sup>
:::God <sup>.</sup>
Yet the same may be to good mens relefe /<br>
Yet the same may be to good mens relefe /
yt folowes not that he is a mischievous pson<br>
yt folowes not that he is a mischievous p''er''son
Wch wth pollycie prevente all evell in ych<sub>^</sub><sup>Season</sup><e <br>
Wch wth pollycie prevent''es'' all evell in ych<sub>^</sub><sup>Season</sup><e  
nor policye here cannot be take in evell meaning<br>
nor policye here cannot be take''n'' in evell meaning
That I have prevented thy malicious workinge<br>
That I have prevented thy malicious workinge
But subtill falshod and craftye policy<br>
But subtill falshod and craftye pollicy
are always concurrant in thy nature wholy<br>
are always concurrant in thy nature wholy
:::&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> I am right sure /
:::    Sathan <sup>.</sup> I am right sure /
:::God
Why because, &nbsp;&nbsp; I placed here in thy sight
Theise two whom thou saiest I haue no right<
Thou calledst them synners I say they be non
for that they be sanctyfied from syn eu''er''y one<
Then I do not wrong the Sathan in this case<
:::    Sathan <sup>.</sup> Trye that –
:::God
:::God
Why because, &nbsp;&nbsp; I placed here in thy sight<br>
Then take the comissioners whom thou willt chose<
Theise two whom thou saiest I haue no right< <br>
I will abyde the iudgement of those <sup>.</sup>
Thou calledst them synners I say they be non <br>
Y<sup>t</sup> yf it be iudged by the commissyoners
for that they be sanctified from syn eu’y one< <br>
That I haue done the wrong take them y<sup>er</sup> p<sup>i</sup>soners<
Then I do not wrong the Sathan in this case< <br>
Whom wilt y<sup>u</sup> take or chose let heare <sup>.</sup>  
:::&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> Trye that –
:::   Sathan <sup>.</sup> I cannot tell where
:::God
:::God
Then take the comissioners whom thou wilt chose< <br>
I will abyde the iudgement of those <sup>.</sup> <br>
Y<sup>t</sup> yf it be iudged by the commissyoners <br>
That I haue done the wronge take them y<sup>er</sup> p<sup>i</sup>soners< <br>
Whom wilt y<sup>u</sup> take or chose let heare <sup>.</sup> <br>
:::&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> I cannot tell where
:::God <br>
Here is Abraham wilt thou haue hym <sup>.</sup>
Here is Abraham wilt thou haue hym <sup>.</sup>
:::&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> not dyshonest you
:::   Sathan <sup>.</sup> not dyshonest you
:::God <br>
:::God  
Wilt thou haue Moses for he make muche for the<br>
Wilt thou haue Moses for he mak''es'' muche for the
wch brought the Lawe to man an enemy<br>
wch brought the Lawe to man an enemy
And my gret curse therwth dyd bringe<br>
And my gret curse therwth dyd bringe
Vpon mankind even whole for synne<br>
Vpon mankinde even whole for synne
Afore the lawe was synne was not imputed<br>
Afore the lawe was synne was not imputed
By occasion wherof synne only encresed <br>
By occasion wherof synne only encresed  
And yet for all this the lawe had no power<br>
And yet for all this the lawe had no power
to take away synne or make iuste a sinner<br>
to take away synne or make iuste a synner
Consideringe this yf ther be any chose<br>
Consideringe this yf ther be any chose
one wold thinke that moses were for thy pur<sub>^</sub><sup>pose</sup><br>
one wold thinke that moses were for thy pur<sub>^</sub><sup>pose</sup>
:::&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> Iuggell in my matte<
:::   Sathan <sup>.</sup> Iuggell in my matte<  
:::God<br>
:::God
Wilt thou haue Isay or Dauid let heare
Wilt thou haue Isay or Dauid let heare
:::&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> an adultére<
:::   Sathan <sup>.</sup> an adultere<  
:::God<br>
:::God
Yet Iohn Baptiste he must nedes plese th
Yet Iohn Baptiste he must nedes plese the
:::&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> to ly in the diche<
:::   Sathan <sup>.</sup> to ly in the diche<  
:::God<br>
:::God
What sayest thou then vnto the theif<br>
What sayest thou then vnto the theif
Wch was so gret a worker of mischief< <br>
Wch was so gret a worker of mischef<
:::&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> and worse also <sup>.</sup><br>
:::   Sathan <sup>.</sup> and worse also <sup>.</sup>
</lpd-pre>
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[[File:Processus Satanae strip 3a.jpg|thumb|Strip 3a (Private Collection, UK; reproduced by permission)]]
'''Strip 3a'''
'''Strip 3a'''
:::God<br>
<lpd-pre>
Then seing my mocyon herin cannot please the<br>
:::God
Chose them thy self and I will agree /<br>
Then seing my mocyon herin cannot please the
:::&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> the diuell were a knave
Chose them thy self and I will agree /
:::God<br>
::: Sathan <sup>.</sup> the diuell were a knave
:::God
Then whom wilt thou chose Sathan let heare <sup>.</sup>
Then whom wilt thou chose Sathan let heare <sup>.</sup>
:::&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> in any wise
::: Sathan <sup>.</sup> in any wise
:::God<br>
:::God
And I am content with thy eleccõn sathan <sup>.</sup><br>
And I am content wth thy elecc''i''on sathan <sup>.</sup>
Come further Verite and Iustice bothe twaine<br>
Come further Verite and Iustice bothe twaine
Here Sathan dothe thinke that I do him wronge<br>
Here Sathan dothe thinke that I do him wronge
in sauing of man from his pryson strong<br>
in sauing of man from his pryson strong
and hathe chosen comission’s yo<sup>u</sup> too on my ptie<br>
and hathe chosen comission''er''s yo<sup>u</sup> too on my p''ar''tie
to trye the matter & to ende the controuersie /<br>
to trye the matter & to ende the controuersie /
:::&nbsp;Verite <sup>.</sup> wch in god was neu spied
::: Verite <sup>.</sup> wch in god was neu''er'' spied
:::God<br>
:::God
Yet must you abate it againe here wth Sathan <sup>.</sup><br>
Yet must you abate it againe here wth Sathan <sup>.</sup>
Wch claimes through synne the best title to man<br>
Wch claimes through synne the best title to man
Wylt thou be content now Sathan that I<br>
Wylt thou be content now Sathan that I
Do chose now likewise wch make for my ptie<br>
Do chose now likewise wch make for my p''ar''tie
:::&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> yt shalbe so
:::       Sathan <sup>.</sup> yt shalbe so
:::God<br>
:::God
I will[&nbsp;&nbsp;ser&nbsp;&nbsp;]chose but soche as shalbe indifferent<br>
I will[ ser ]chose but soche as shalbe indifferent
as Sathan thou hast chosen for thine entent<br>
as Sathan thou hast chosen for thine entent
Come furthe mercie and peace here quickly<br>
Come furthe mercie and peace here quickly
You most help to finishe wth yo<sup>ur</sup> sisters a cõtrou’sy< <br>
You most help to finishe wth yo<sup>ur</sup> sisters a co''n''trou''er''sy<  
Sathan sais / that I wrong hym herin <br>
Sathan sais / that I wrong hym herin  
to saue man wch was once condemned for synne< <br>
to saue man wch was once condempned for synne<  
and yt is brought vnto this conclusyon <br>
and yt is brought vnto this conclusyon  
That yt must be tryed even by y<sup>is</sup> comission <br>
That yt must be tryed even by y<sup>is</sup> comission  
for him self he hathe chosen Iustice & verite<br>
for him self he hathe chosen Iustice & verite
and I haue chosen yo<sup>u</sup> to be on my ptie
and I haue chosen yo<sup>u</sup> to be on my p''ar''tie
:::&nbsp;Peace&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;now lord be devided  
:::     Peace   now lord be devided  
:::God<br>
:::God
Yet must Sathans cause here be decised<br>
Yet must Sathans cause here be decised
and by this comission right must be tried<br>
and by this comission right must be tried
for yf in me ther shuld be found iniquite<br>
for yf in me ther shuld be found iniquite
I am wrongfully called the god of equite<br>
I am wrongfully called the god of equite
now Sathan <sup>.</sup>
now Sathan <sup>.</sup>
:::&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> what than <sup>.</sup>
:::       Sathan <sup>.</sup> what than <sup>.</sup>
:::God<br>
:::God
Here are the comissioners redy for vs bothe
Here are the comissioners redy for vs bothe
:::&nbsp;&nbsp;an houre space
::: an houre space
:::&nbsp;&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> may cry fy on y<
::: Sathan <sup>.</sup> may cry fy on y<
:::God<br>
:::God
Arte thou contented now sathan tell m<e
Arte thou contented now sathan tell m<e
:::&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> ther to f<.<br>
::: Sathan <sup>.</sup> ther to f<.
<lpd-pre>
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'''Strip 3b'''
[[File:Processus Satanae strip 3b.jpg|thumb|Strip 3b (Private Collection, UK; reproduced by permission)]]
:::God<br>
'''Strip 3b'''<lpd-pre>
They shall not abide then in this Courte celestiall<br>
:::God
:::&nbsp; Christ <sup>.</sup> Accused to my father
They shall not abide then in this Courte celestiall
:::God<br>
:::   Christ <sup>.</sup> Accused to my father
This is Sathan whom from the begynnyng<e <br>
:::God
I promised the world for m<an>s transgressing <br>
This is Sathan whom from the begynnyng<e
This is the true Isac the son of promise <br>
I promised the world for m<an>s transgressing
to Abraham wth the sede of <………… <br>
This is the true Isac the son of promisse
This is that true Ioseph wch <in dang.. <br>
to Abraham wth the sede of <…………  
loded his bretherne with cor<ne> to the<e>r fath< <br>
This is that true Ioseph wch <in dang..  
This is that stronge Sampson & mighty <Ius.. <br>
loded his bretherne with cor<ne> to th<e>r fath<  
wch caryed to the hill toppe the gate of gaz<a <br>
This is that stronge Sampson & mighty <Ius..  
This <sub>^</sub><sup>is</sup> the true salamon I promised t<o> David <br>
wch caryed to the hill toppe the gat''es'' of gaz<a  
shuld florishe in his seate not to be removed<br>
This <sub>^</sub><sup>is</sup> the true salamon I promised t<o> David  
And to conclude sathan this is mans redeem<br>
shuld florishe in his seate not to be removed
I promised to the s3pent shuld dash all y<sup>y</sup> po<w<sup>r</sup> <br>
And to conclude sathan this is mans redem''er''
Making therof to the worlde eu mentio<n <br>
I promised to the s3pent shuld dash all y<sup>y</sup> po<w<sup>r</sup>  
by all my prophete in euery gen’ation<br>
Making therof to the worlde eu''er'' mentio<n  
:::&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> of this misterye
by all my prophet''es'' in euery gen''er''ation
:::God<br>
::: Sathan <sup>.</sup> of this misterye
Yeuen so thou dydst thou canst not denye<br>
:::God
When he cast out thy foule spirite out of men <br>
Yeuen so thou dydst thou canst not denye
Dyd not they acknowlege him y<sup>e</sup> son of god then< <br>
When he cast out thy foule spirit''es'' out of men  
they wch dyd call Iesus so playnlye <br>
Dyd not they acknowlege him y<sup>e</sup> son of god then<
Dyd they not meane how he was vndoubtedly <br>
they wch dyd call Iesus so playnlye
The Sauio<sup>r</sup> promised to the world therby <br>
Dyd they not meane how he was vndoubtedly
:::&nbsp;Sathan <sup>.</sup> so strange a man <sup>.</sup>
The Sauio<sup>r</sup> promised to the world therby
:::God<br>
::: Sathan <sup>.</sup> so strange a man <sup>.</sup>
Yea saye they were forced to confes his pow<sup>r</sup> <br>
:::God
Wch wth all thy malice thou coldst withstand neu<br>
Yea saye they were forced to confes his pow<sup>r</sup>  
◇--------------------------------------------<br>
Wch wth all thy malice thou coldst withstand neu''er''
◇--------------------------------------------
:::G
:::G
::::finis
::::         ''finis''
:::::::Iiggons
:::::::         ''Jiggons''
</lpd-pre>
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==Theatrical Provenance==
==Theatrical Provenance==


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==References to the Play==
==References to the Play==


<List any known or conjectured references to the lost play here.>
Information welcome.
 
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==Critical Commentary==
==Critical Commentary==


See Wiggins 382 ("Religious play").
'''Palfrey and Stern''' contextualise the manuscript alongside other actors' parts from England and the Continent, noting that the 'part of God' is "the first English part to survive with cues, generally of three or four words. Yet it differs in one significant aspect from the other rolls: in this part the speaker of the cue is named" (19).
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See '''Wiggins''' 382 ("Religious play").
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==For What It's Worth==
==For What It's Worth==


Line 261: Line 277:


<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">Chambers, E. K. "Processus Satanae" in ''Malone Society Collections'' 2.3, Gen. Ed. W. W. Greg (Oxford: OUP, 1931), 239-50.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">Chambers, E. K. "Processus Satanae" in ''Malone Society Collections'' 2.3, Gen. Ed. W. W. Greg (Oxford: OUP, 1931), 239-50.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">Palfrey, Simon and Tiffany Stern, ''Shakespeare in Parts'' (Oxford: OUP, 2007).</div>
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Site created and maintained by [[David McInnis]], University of Melbourne; updated 20 April 2018.
Site created and maintained by [[David McInnis]], University of Melbourne; updated 15 June 2018.
[[category:all]][[category:David McInnis]][[category:Private Collection]]
[[category:all]][[category:David McInnis]][[category:Private Collection]][[category:manuscript fragment]][[category:parts]][[category:untitled plays]][[category:biblical plays]]

Latest revision as of 23:15, 30 July 2020

Anon. (1575)


Historical Records

An actor's part exists for the role of 'God' in this play; it is currently held by a private collection in the United Kingdom. Although most of the lines belong to God, a partial list of other characters from the play can be reconstructed through references and cues:
Characters:

God the Father
Christ
Michael
An Angel
Verity
Justice
Mercy
Peace
Satan



"The Part of God", MS (transcription)

Strip 1a (Private Collection, UK; reproduced by permission)

Strip 1a

               God the father speaketh
          The Aungell . In heauen our record
                God
Come my welbeloued mans only sauing hea<l..
   for thou alone hast conquered hell synne & death<
               Christ. Dyd hole spill
                God
Sitt on my right hand after thy gret toille
   Vntill I haue made thine enemies thy fotestole
               Here Christ goeth vp to his throne<
          An Aungell . or open yt euer.
                God
Behold this Lion of the stocke of Iuda
     the rote of Dauid hais obteyned alwaye
     To open this boke and vnclaspe yt
     and to know all the secrettes of yt
               Sathan . Villeny and wronge .
                God
Tary michaell a while yet
     in so moche as he will reson yt
     what wronge Sathan haue I done the
               Sathan . Robbed me
                God
Nay Sathan when yt ^is well knowen
     I haue taken that wch was but myne owne<
                Sathan . of the and me /
                God .
Why so Sathan let heare I       the
                Sathan . ther to dwell .
                 God
But thos whom thou Sathan for syn dost blame
     I haue sanctified & clensed with ye blod of yis <l
     Thou apeachest them of synne to me night & <
     and the blod of this lambe hathe washt it <a
                 Sathan . more busynes
               God .
I am the god wth whom dwelles no wickednes<
     my nature abhorreth then all wrongfulnes
     for Sathan yf in case of syn I shuld wronge the
     I were falsely said to hate iniquite ~
                 Sathan . yf thou deale Iustice
               God
But yet Sathan thou dost not reme< 
thy spitefull malice against man ev<  . 
for when I made man at furst in gret honour
and planted him to liue in paradice of pleasure
Thou hockeredst so much ther his felicyte
yt thou broughtst hym to disobedience even through yy env<y 
Ther thou deceyvedst him first of his place
and broughtst hym throw yy subtelty to yis sinfull ca<s
for I made hym always to haue byn Innocent< 
Yf he had neuer broken my Commaundement
And thou wroughtst all this then canst yu be
yf for like malice I worke like pollicye /     |angry



Strip 2a (Private Collection, UK; reproduced by permission)

Strip 2a

                      Sathan . suche pollicye in god
               God
Why not Sathan in all thinges wch be good .
                        Sathan . of preventing mischefe
               God .
Yet the same may be to good mens relefe /
yt folowes not that he is a mischievous person
Wch wth pollycie preventes all evell in ych^Season<e 
nor policye here cannot be taken in evell meaning
That I have prevented thy malicious workinge
But subtill falshod and craftye pollicy
are always concurrant in thy nature wholy
                   Sathan . I am right sure /
               God
Why because,    I placed here in thy sight
Theise two whom thou saiest I haue no right< 
Thou calledst them synners I say they be non 
for that they be sanctyfied from syn euery one< 
Then I do not wrong the Sathan in this case< 
                   Sathan . Trye that –
               God
Then take the comissioners whom thou willt chose< 
I will abyde the iudgement of those . 
Yt yf it be iudged by the commissyoners 
That I haue done the wrong take them yer pisoners< 
Whom wilt yu take or chose let heare . 
                   Sathan . I cannot tell where
               God
Here is Abraham wilt thou haue hym .
                   Sathan . not dyshonest you
               God 
Wilt thou haue Moses for he makes muche for the
wch brought the Lawe to man an enemy
And my gret curse therwth dyd bringe
Vpon mankinde even whole for synne
Afore the lawe was synne was not imputed
By occasion wherof synne only encresed 
And yet for all this the lawe had no power
to take away synne or make iuste a synner
Consideringe this yf ther be any chose
one wold thinke that moses were for thy pur^pose
                   Sathan . Iuggell in my matte< 
               God
Wilt thou haue Isay or Dauid let heare
                   Sathan . an adultere< 
               God
Yet Iohn Baptiste he must nedes plese the
                   Sathan . to ly in the diche< 
               God
What sayest thou then vnto the theif
Wch was so gret a worker of mischef<
                   Sathan . and worse also .



Strip 3a (Private Collection, UK; reproduced by permission)

Strip 3a

               God
Then seing my mocyon herin cannot please the
Chose them thy self and I will agree /
                 Sathan . the diuell were a knave
               God
Then whom wilt thou chose Sathan let heare .
                 Sathan . in any wise
               God
And I am content wth thy eleccion sathan .
Come further Verite and Iustice bothe twaine
Here Sathan dothe thinke that I do him wronge
in sauing of man from his pryson strong
and hathe chosen comissioners you too on my partie
to trye the matter & to ende the controuersie /
                 Verite . wch in god was neuer spied
               God
Yet must you abate it againe here wth Sathan .
Wch claimes through synne the best title to man
Wylt thou be content now Sathan that I
Do chose now likewise wch make for my partie
                       Sathan . yt shalbe so
               God
I will[  ser  ]chose but soche as shalbe indifferent
as Sathan thou hast chosen for thine entent
Come furthe mercie and peace here quickly
You most help to finishe wth your sisters a controuersy< 
Sathan sais / that I wrong hym herin 
to saue man wch was once condempned for synne< 
and yt is brought vnto this conclusyon 
That yt must be tryed even by yis comission 
for him self he hathe chosen Iustice & verite
and I haue chosen you to be on my partie
                     Peace    now lord be devided 
               God
Yet must Sathans cause here be decised
and by this comission right must be tried
for yf in me ther shuld be found iniquite
I am wrongfully called the god of equite
now Sathan .
                      Sathan . what than .
               God
Here are the comissioners redy for vs bothe
                 an houre space
                 Sathan . may cry fy on y<
               God
Arte thou contented now sathan tell m<e
                 Sathan . ther to f<.
<lpd-pre>


Strip 3b (Private Collection, UK; reproduced by permission)
Strip 3b<lpd-pre> God They shall not abide then in this Courte celestiall Christ . Accused to my father God This is Sathan whom from the begynnyng<e I promised the world for m<an>s transgressing This is the true Isac the son of promisse to Abraham wth the sede of <………… This is that true Ioseph wch <in dang.. loded his bretherne with cor<ne> to th<e>r fath< This is that stronge Sampson & mighty <Ius.. wch caryed to the hill toppe the gates of gaz<a This ^is the true salamon I promised t<o> David shuld florishe in his seate not to be removed And to conclude sathan this is mans redemer I promised to the s3pent shuld dash all yy po<wr Making therof to the worlde euer mentio<n by all my prophetes in euery generation Sathan . of this misterye God Yeuen so thou dydst thou canst not denye When he cast out thy foule spirites out of men Dyd not they acknowlege him ye son of god then< they wch dyd call Iesus so playnlye Dyd they not meane how he was vndoubtedly The Sauior promised to the world therby Sathan . so strange a man . God Yea saye they were forced to confes his powr Wch wth all thy malice thou coldst withstand neuer ◇-------------------------------------------- G finis Jiggons





Theatrical Provenance

Noting the inscription “old verses | Frõ limebrook” on the outside of the role, and observing that the “Limebrook” meant must be the village two to three miles from Brampton Bryan, the Harleys’ home, Chambers concludes that “There seems little doubt, therefore, that this was a local product of north Herefordshire on the very border of Wales” (240). The competent but unidentified hand of the scribe leads Chambers to conjecture a date of c.1570-80. Harbage opts for a smaller range of c.1570-75 and assigns it to 1575; Wiggins prefers an earlier date of 1564 on the grounds that the 1570s are quite late for God to appear on the English stage.


Probable Genre(s)

Biblical.


Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

<Enter any information about possible or known sources. Summarise these sources where practical/possible, or provide an excerpt from another scholar's discussion of the subject if available.>


References to the Play

Information welcome.


Critical Commentary

Palfrey and Stern contextualise the manuscript alongside other actors' parts from England and the Continent, noting that the 'part of God' is "the first English part to survive with cues, generally of three or four words. Yet it differs in one significant aspect from the other rolls: in this part the speaker of the cue is named" (19).

See Wiggins 382 ("Religious play").


For What It's Worth

Among the curious features of the “part” is the stage direction “an houre space”, which Chambers takes to mean “that God here withdraws and that the play proceeds for an hour before his presence is again required” (241).


Works Cited

Chambers, E. K. "Processus Satanae" in Malone Society Collections 2.3, Gen. Ed. W. W. Greg (Oxford: OUP, 1931), 239-50.
Palfrey, Simon and Tiffany Stern, Shakespeare in Parts (Oxford: OUP, 2007).




Site created and maintained by David McInnis, University of Melbourne; updated 15 June 2018.