Add MS 89066/1

The manuscript contains the first volume of the Mystère de la Vengeance de Nostre Seigneur Ihesu Crist by Eustache Marcadé (the second volume is Add MS 89066/2). Scene-openings and main stage directions, translated from rubrics, are as follows:

- ff. 2r-3v: List of 108 characters and their titles (‘…les noms des personnages contenus en ce livre nomme et intitule…’), organized by scene: prologue (Premierement), Paradise (Paradis), Jerusalem (Jherusalem), Spain (Espaigne), Aramathia (Arimathie), Rome (Romme), Armenia (Hermenie), Jaffa (Japhe), Hell (Enfer).

- f. 4r: 'Here begins The Vengeance of Our Lord Jesus Christ' ('Cy commence la vengance de nostre seigneur iehsu crist'): opening sermon by the Preacher (le prescheur), narrating the celebration in Jerusalem following Christ’s Crucifixion; a debate in Paradise (Paradis) between the four virtues, Justice and Truth proposing that God should avenge Christ’s death, Mercy and Peace interceding and convincing God to give warnings before enacting any retribution. An address from the Leader of the Play (le meneur de Jeu), preceding the opening of the performance;

- f. 10v: 'How Pilate, Provost of Jerusalem, laments pitifully that he has condemned and judged Our Lord to death' ('Comment pylate prevost de Jherusalem se complaint piteusement de ce quil a condempne et iugie nostre seigneur a mort'); Pilate conversing with his wife and courtiers, and writing to Emperor Tiberius in Rome in an attempt to exculpate himself and implicate others in Christ's execution;

- f. 28v: 'Here they [Gamaliel and Zorobabel] go to Arimathea' ('Ycy sen vont en Arimathie');

- f. 29r: 'How Joseph of Arimathea replies to Gamaliel and Zorobabel, who are envoys to him from the princes of the law' ('Comment Joseph darimathie chevalier Juif respond a Gamaliel et Zorobabel qui sont envoyes devers lui depar les princes de la loy'); Caiaphas denouncing Pilate for his role in Christ's execution and sending letters to Rome in his own defence;

- f. 38v: 'How, as soon as the two brothers are dressed, Joseph speaks to the princes of the law concerning their complaint against the letters' ('Comment incontinent que les deux freres sont vestus Joseph parle aux princes de la loy en leur remonstrant les escripteaux');

- f. 48v: 'How Vespasian, duke of Spain, because he has been so seriously ill, had bade Titus his son come in order to complain to him of his sickness, and said to him that he ordered him to search everywhere for a remedy for him' ('Comment Vaspasien duc despaigne pour cause quil estoit si griefment malade envoya querir Titus son filz pour soy complaindre a lui de sa doleur et lui dist quil envoyast par tout pour lui querir remede');

- f. 61r: 'How Polifer and his companion Gadifer, who have been sent by Vespasian to search out everywhere for him doctors who know how to cure him of his illness, bring and present to him two well-renowned and wise ones. And how Vespasian promises them great gifts if they are able to cure him of his illness' ('Comment Polifer et Gadifer son compaignon qui avoient este envoyes par Vaspasien pour lui cerchier par tout medecins qui le sceussent guarir de sa maladie lui amenerent deux moult renommes et saiges et lui presenterent. Et comment Vaspasien leur promet grans dons silz le pevent guarir de sa maladie');

- f. 77v: 'He [Piccauet] enters Rome and kneels before Valerius, saying...' ('Il entre en Romme et sagenouille devant Valere en disant...');

- ff. 85v-88r: closing sermon by the Preacher, marking the end of the first day of the play;

- ff. 88r-92r: opening sermon by the Preacher, marking the beginning of the second day of the play; address by the Leader of the Play;

- f. 93r: 'Centurion places himself on his knees before Tiberius and says...' ('Centurion se met a genoulz devant Tybere et dit...'): Tiberius listening to the letter sent to him by Pilate (derived from apocryphal fourth-century Greek pseudo-gospel The Acts of Pilate); Tiberius, impressed with the stories of Jesus's miracles, asking the Senate to recognise Jesus's divinity;

- f. 111r: 'How the angel Gabriel, by the Lord's commandment, appeared at night through a vision to Veronica and commanded her that she should go tomorrow to the golden door to speak to three knightly messengers who are searching for a remedy to cure their lord Vespasian' ('Comment lange Gabriel par le commandement de Dieu apparut de nuit par vision a Veronne et lui commanda quelle alast lendemain a la porte doree parler a troys messaigiers chevaliers qui queroient remede pour guairir Vaspasien leur seigneur'): Veronica travelling to Spain; the Devil failing in his attempts to stop her; Veronica arriving safely and curing Vespasian instantaneously by showing him the Veil; Tiberius hearing of Vespasian's recovery, recognising Jesus's sanctity, and ordering Pilate to Rome to explain his actions;

- f. 128v: 'How Despert and his men enter Pilate's house and all together loudly cry "Kill him! Kill him!" and strike Pilate with their unsheathed swords. And they make a lot of noise. And then Despert says...' ('Comment Despert et ses gens entrent en la maison de Pylate et tout haultement ensemble dient tues a mort a mort et fierent sur Pylate de leurs espees toutes mies. Et font moult grant noise. Et puis Despert dit');

- f. 137v: 'How the Emperor Tiberius, after Pilate had had the robe of Our Lord taken off, gathered together his senior counsellors and in their presence spoke most vehemently to Pilate, remonstrating against him for his false judgment of Jesus and many other great cases as you will hear hereafter' ('Comment lempereur Tybere apres que Pylate fut despouille de la robe de nostre seigneur fist assembler ses grans conseilliers et en leur presence parle moult rigoreusement audit Pylate en lui remonstrant le faulx iugement quil avoit fait de iehsus et plusieurs aultres cas Innormes comme vous orrez cy aprs').

Decoration:

Nine large half-page miniatures in colours and gold, in arch-topped (ff. 4r, 29r, 39r, 49r, 61v, 93r, 111r) or rectangular/square compartments (ff. 10r, 128v).

Eleven three- or four-line foliate initials in colours and gold (ff. 4r, 10v, 29r, 39r, 39v, 49r, 61v, 78r, 93r, 111r, 129r).

Cadels in red or black ink at frequent intervals throughout.

Capitals marked with yellow wash.

The miniatures were executed by the artist Loyset Liédet (b. 1420, d. 1479).

The subjects of the miniatures are:

- f. 4r: Judas and Caiaphas meeting other Jewish leaders in a dome-topped building to plot the betrayal of Christ; another is entering through the door while outside two other conspirators are walking to the meeting. In the background, Christ is being crucified with Mary Magdalene, St John and the Virgin Mary looking on at the left and a group of foot-soldiers and horsemen gather at the right.

- f. 10r: Pontius Pilate conversing with his wife, staring upwards and ignoring her pleas, holding his mace of office; a devil standing behind Pilate, gesturing as if to lay his paws upon Pilate; the interior is furnished with a settle and a bed in the foreground and another bed through a door in the background; a rug is laid over the woven rush flooring; a concave mirror is hanging on the wall, and other details include oranges resting on shelves and a side-stool, and cobwebs around the door-jambs.

- f. 29r: at the left, Gamaliel and Zorobabel hailing Joseph of Arimathea as he opens his door to them; at the right, in the foreground, two men are sitting in judgment as Joseph, Gamaliel, Zorobabel and others make their request for Christ's body; a dog is lying on the floor; the opening to the scene is bordered by ornamental stonework or metal tracery. Outside, in the background, a landscape with trees and towers atop a hill.

- f. 39r: Joseph of Arimathea and Jewish dignitaries standing in a courtyard, presenting letters to Lancius and Carius. In the background, a hilly landscape with trees and cart-tracks.

- f. 49r: Vespasian lying in bed, greeting his son Titus, who is standing before him and recently arrived from the imperial court in Rome; a courtier is waiting beside a bench seat; two doctors are conversing, examining a flask of urine that one of them is holding. Vespasian's bed is ornamented with draperies and a concave mirror; the bed rests on woven rush matting that partly covers the tiled floor.

- f. 61v: Vespasian lying in bed, greeting a new doctor, who is holding Vespasian's hand (perhaps to take his pulse) and, as the stage directions note, examining his face; a second doctor ('Maistre Alphons') is studying a urine flask; Titus is standing in the foreground, greeting his father; two courtiers are waiting to the side. The room is furnished with a dressing table, upon which stand a gold ewer and beaker and silver platters; a concave mirror is hanging on the wall.

- f. 93r: Tiberius, enthroned and holding the imperial sceptre, surrounded by Roman courtiers, receiving a centurion; the centurion is kneeling, doffing his hat, and presenting Tiberius with a letter from Pilate; other envoys approach, the first carrying gifts, the second bearing a pack on his shoulder.

- f. 111r: in the background, the angel Uriel is appearing to Veronica in her sleep, bidding her to go to Spain to see Vespasian; in the foreground, Veronica is showing Vespasian the Holy Veil, upon which Christ's face is imprinted, and he is cured instantaneously.

- f. 128v: in the foreground, three soldiers are arresting Pilate, brandishing their swords, grabbing and kicking him; a stool and cushion are being upset in the commotion; outside, two soldiers are guarding the door, another is looking through the window, and another two are waiting in the street in the background.