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Narrator
It was early spring, and Pierre the Ploughman went out into the fields to plough. Now was the time to make straight the furrow and sow the good seed.
(enter Pierre )
The villagers came forth to help Pierre to till his vergee. Some dig ditches, while others are hoeing up the weeds.
(enter villagers with farming implements. They pretend to dig etc. )
They are all eager to work, and everyone finds something to do.
But - later in the day - Pierre had other work, and must leave the labourers to their toil.
(Pierre bows to us, and leaves)
After he was gone, a man called Waster came forward, and took charge.
(Waster comes forward, motions folk to sit. )
He stopped the work, and told the men to sit down and drink ale and sing songs.
(Waster gets out bottle [may hold cue lines])
(Tune: If I were a rich man, few bars )
Narrator
Then Pierre returned, talking with a knight that he had met upon the road.
(enter Pierre and Knight)
He saw the land was empty, and the men idle. Angry, he said:
Pierre
Get up and go back to your work at once - or you'll get no bread to sing about when famine comes. You will starve to death!
Waster
We're sorry master, but we've no limbs to work with. Our joints is twisted up with pain. But we'll pray for you, Pierre, God bless you sir, and may God multiply your grain and reward you for the charity you give us. For we're so racked with pain, we can't lift a finger.
Pierre
If anyone is really blind or crippled, he shall eat bread and drink at my table, till God in his goodness sends him better days.
But as for you: you could work well enough if you wanted; you could earn your food by herding my cattle, or helping me sow my seeds. The fact is that you would rather lead a life of lying and sloth.
Waster
Go and stuff your plough, you stingy old scoundrel! We'll do as we please - you can take it or leave it. We shall fetch as much of your crop as we want, and make a feast with it - so you go and hang yourself!
Pierre
(turns to appeal to knight)
Sir Knight, I beg you to protect me from these villains. They are wolves who rob the world of its food. For while they devour it all and produce nothing themselves, there will never be plenty for the people. And, meanwhile, my plough lies idle.
Knight
(raises sword, shouts in loud, commanding, voice)
Mend your ways. Waster, or by the Order of Knighthood, I shall bring you to justice.
Waster
I have never worked yet. And I don't intend to start now!
Narrator
Then the knight leapt at Waster and the rogue fled in terror.
(exit Waster, pursued by knight)
When he was gone, Pierre turned to his people and said:
Pierre
Those who help me to plough and sow shall have leave to glean here in harvest time, and make merry. And I will provide food for men of all trades, so long as they are faithful and honest and true.
(enter Priest)
Narrator
Then the village priest came forward, and he gave a blessing, saying:
Priest
May the Lord grant you a blessing in your granaries and in all your labours; may the Lord your God bless you in the land which he has given you.
Narrator
So they set to work, with good heart and in high spirits. As they worked, they sang a song. Let us join their glad singing, as they till the good earth.
(villagers start to "work", then stop to join in singing. )
(Song: We Plough the Fields and Scatter )
Narrator
Now it is late summer. Look around you, look at the fields. Already they are white, ready for harvest.
Villager
The land has yielded its harvest; God, our God, has blessed us.
Pierre
Now it is common sense that every man must work, either by farming the fields, or by the labouring in prayer.
As the scripture says: "He who tills the land has enough to eat, but to follow idle pursuits is foolishness." (Prov. 12:11)
So let us set to work, and let help each other in the common task.
And let us rejoice in honest work, well done.
Villager
The land has yielded its harvest; God, our God, has blessed us.
Narrator
When they heard all this, the labourers went out, and gathered in the harvest, singing as they worked, a song of thanksgiving:
(Song: Let us with a gladsome mind )
(this leads up to collection of harvest gifts from back of church to front [and church collection) - i.e. processional. Poss. plate at back for church collection earlier. )
(Blessing of the gifts)
Priest
Almighty and everlasting God, we offer you our heartfelt thanks for your fatherly goodness and care in giving us the fruits of the earth in their seasons.
Give us the grace to use them rightly to your glory for our own well being and for the relief of those in need
Pierre
A season has passed by: a time to sow, and a time to reap.
As autumn's chill approaches, I gaze at the fair beauty of our land, and my heart is full of praise to God.
Come, let us sing our praise!
(Song: Now we sing a harvest song)
Narrator
Our tale began when the year was young, but a year runs quickly by, from outset to the ending. Now harvest hurries in, and our tale is done.
Here ends the tale of Pierre, the Ploughman. To those who have listened, I say this: "If you have a spade to dig, then dig deep!"
(Mediaeval Tune, narrator bows and leaves )
(short piece to end)
1. Costume to suggest rural setting
2. Tools: hoe, spade, rake, trowel, etc. Anything remotely connected with manual gardening (no Black & Decker!)
3. Text : The text has been adapted from various parts of "Piers the Ploughman" and "Gawain and the Green Knight"; other sources include the ASB harvest readings and collect.