now I give thee here,
To thee Noah, my servant dear;
For vengeance shall no more appear;
And now farewell, my darling dear!

THE CHESTER PAGEANT OF THE BARBERS AND WAX-CHANDLERS REPRESENTING
ABRAHAM, MELCHISEDEC, AND ISAAC

CHARACTERS

God
Abraham
Lot
Isaac
Melchisedec
A Knight
Expositor
A Messenger

THE CHESTER PAGEANT OF ABRAHAM, MELCHISEDEC, AND ISAAC

Abraham, _newly returned from the slaughter of the four kings, meets_
Melchisedec _riding_.

PRELUDE

_Messenger._ All peace, Lordings, that be present,
And hearken now with good intent,
How Noah away from us he went
With all his company;
And Abraham, through God's grace,
He is come forth into this place,
And you will give him room and space
To tell you his storye.
This play, forsooth, begin shall he,
In worship of the Trinity,
That you may all hear and see
What shall be done to-day.
My name is Gobbet-on-the-Green,
No longer here I may be seen,
Farewell, my Lordings, all by dene[52]
For letting[53] of your play.

[_Exit._

[_Enter Abraham._]

_Abraham._ Ah! thou high God, granter of grace
That ending nor beginning has,
I thank thee, Lord, that to me has
To-day given victory.
Lot, my brother, that taken was,
I have restored him in this case,
And brought him home into his place
Through thy might and mastery.
To worship thee I will not wond,[54]
That four kings of uncouth land
To-day hast sent into my hand,
And of riches great array.
Therefore of all that I can win
To give thee tithe I will begin,
When I the city soon come in,
And share with thee my prey.
Melchisedec, that here king is
And God's priest also, I wis,
The tithe I will give him of this,
As just is, what I do.
God who has sent me victory
O'er four kings graciously,
With him my spoil share will I,
The city, when I come to.

_Lot._ Abraham, brother, I thank it thee,
Who this day hast delivered me
From enemies' hands, and their postye,[55]
And saved me from woe!
Therefore I will give tithing
Of my goods while I am living,
And now also of his sending,
Tithe I will give also.

[_Then comes a knight to Melchisedec._

_Knight._ My lord, the king's tidings aright
Your heart for to gladden and light:
Abraham hath slain in fight
Four kings, since he went.
Here he will be this same night,
And riches with him enough dight.
I heard him thank God Almight
For grace he had him sent.

_Melchisedec_ (_stretching his ha