EARLY ENGL ISH POEMS

L IVES OF SAINTS ,

O F T HE WICKED B IRDS PILATE AND JUDA S .)

C O P IED AND EDIT ED F ROM MANUS C R IPT S IN T HE L IB RARY

O F T HE B RIT IS H MUS EUM

FREDERICKJ. FURNIVALL , M.A . CAMBR ,

O N E O F T H E H ON OR AR Y S EC R ET AR I ES O E T H E P H IL OL OG I C A L S O C I ET Y ;EDI T OR O F L O N R L I C R

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S A N D D B R O R R O N’

S‘S E Y N T O RA A L

’

; R O B R RD

O F B R UN N R’

S‘R A NDL Y N O S Y N N E ’

,A N D WI L L I A M o r WADIN O I O N

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S

‘M A NU EL DE S P R C II I E z

’

.

PUBLISHED FOR THE PH ILOLOGICAL SOCIETY

B Y

A . A SHE R C O .,BERL IN .

1862 .

P R E F A C E .

T H E chief grievance of an H o no rary S ecretary i s , that certain“7 M embers of his S ociety will no t send him for p ress the Papers

they have read at the S ociety’s M eetings . B eg for them as he

Swim— by letter , word of mouth , through mutual friends , by

é smcial vi si ts,—out of some M embers , no Papers can be got .

5 What then is left for the unhappy O fficial , but to write Papers

himself , or copy M S S . to fill the volume that hi s refracto ry

friends have left vacant ? T he former branch of the alternative

was out o f my reach , so I grasped the latter , and the reader

must not blame me i f he thinks my basket of fruit a bad subQs titute for the second course of strong meat that he expected and

S ought to have had .

S ir Frederick M adden , the keeper of the M anuscrip ts at the

gB ritish M useum,kindly directed me to the earlies t unp rinted

E nglish M S S . under his charge. O f these R oberd of Braune’s

H andlyng S ynne was the most important , but it was too long foro ur S ociety

,and I have therefore edited i t for the R oxburghe

C lub . N ext came the short Poems that stand first in the p resent

before 1300 ; and then the L ives of the S aints (H ar

O . 2277,about 1305-10 A . D .) of which I took a few

or contents caught my fancy , including those of the

s I scariot. These not making

close p rint,I added

,1 . a few

dup licate of the noble Vernon

M S . in the Bodleian L ibrary,—having time to collate o ne only

with the earlier copy 2 . the fragment on the C orrup t s tate of

the N unneries (p . 138-148 ) from a C otton M S . temp . H en . VI ;

3. three Poems on O ld A ge , E arth , and the Faults of the M onks

and Peop le of Ki ldare (which I had , after copying , set as ide as

0

3?hF4

2 8 05 6 2

IV P RE FA C E .

hav ing been p rinted i n the R eliguice A ntiques ) , and lastly the

twice-p rinted ‘ L and of C okaygne’

,the airies t and cleverest p iece

of satire i n the whole range of E arly E nglish,i f not of E nglish

,

poetry. A short abstract of the Poem s the reader will find in‘the C ontents ’

,and he wi ll see that however uninteresting the

titles of ‘ S armun ’

,

‘M oral O de ‘ L ives o f S aints ’ may appear,i nformation and amusement are yet to be drawn from the p ieces

themselves . H e can get a lesson in the G eography and E cclesi

astical divi sions of E ngland (p . 48 hear about going to school

at O xford (p . and s tudying there art,Arsmetrike— ‘

a lore

pat of figo urs al i s,and of draugtes as me drawep in poudre and

i n numbre iwi s ’ and D ivinity (p . of the heri o t beas t being

p aid on a tenant’s death (p . of p reachers for the C rusades

(p . of the pomp,bell-ringing

,and show of horses and squires

at Bishop s’ p rogresses to consecrate new C hurches (p . 44,1. 43

and many an other scene of E ngli sh life . H e will find too the

O ld-E nglishman ’s S pecial s in of E nvy ‘ denounced (p . his

G reed,and Pride“

,and other faults ; w ill hear S unday-trad ing

co ndemned (p . and see the rough mason running from his

work to catch and kiss the country-girl s coming to market with

their eggs (p . which of course get broken in the struggle.

I f the reader should doubt whether the S aint mightier than‘ all the king’s horses and all the king

‘

s men’—‘

can set H ump ty

Dumpties together again’

,he wil l at leas t no t

'

object to the

poet’s reflection , that i f egg-mongers now could so get their

broken eggs made whole ,

‘ they might hO p over ditches where

they would , and both wres tle and fight’

(p . 45 , l . 69 , T he

treatment of the ‘ puir dei l ’ in those days too was hard ,— to

be talked to p leasantly by a blacksmith-saint till he had heated

his tongs redhot, and then to be treacherously caught and‘tuengde

and schok ’ by the nose till the trus tful being yelled and h0pped

And E nglys men namel yA re purghe kynde of herto by.

A forbyseyn ys toldé pys ,S eyde on Frenshe men and on Englys.

F renshe men synne yn lechery

A nd E nglys men yn enage.

Roberd of B runne’

s Handlyng S ynne, p . 131 1 4 150-5.

3cp. A nobur M on proudep. as (101) a poo . p . 12 9 , l . 18 .

PR E FACE .

and brayed,and had to fly home through the lift

,shouting in all

men ’s ears ‘ O ut" What hath the baldpate done " What bath the

baldprate done "’ —was manifes tly unfai r. T he p unishment of lustful

young women al so was j udicious (p . the Virgin had odd cases

brought before her for decis ion (p . and Judas murders his

fatherr—‘smot bym with a ston bihynde i n the pate’ —marries hi

mother,hangs himself , his womb bursts ami d atwo ,

‘ his gvttes’

fall to ground,and through the hole goes ou t his ‘ liper gos t

’.

But i t i s no t for the oddities of subject or phrase that one values

these poem s ; i t is for their language that the studen t , and fo r

their earnestness that the man ,holds them of worth . T he word s

firs t used in mos t of them were registered by our los t friend

H erbert C oleridge,in his G lossarial I ndex to the P rinted E nglish

L iterature of the T hirteenth Century, and most of the new word s

i n the remainder of them will be found at the end o f the p resent

S election . For the deeper feeling in some of the Poems,I need

only refer to the simp le and touching confes sion of shortcom ings

and sins i n the ‘ M oral O de ’,to the tru st and j oy of the S ongs

of ‘M erci’ and ‘D eo gracias’

(p . 1 18 the sel f-abasement shown

i n the ‘ S armun ’

(p . 1 the tender love of the ‘ C hrist on the

C ross ’ (p . 20 and the t riumphant faith of the M artyrs who

gave up thei r l ives for G o d (p . 101

O f R hyme ,the tex t contains o ne noteworthy specimen

,

‘the

R hyme-beginning Fragment ’ (p . 21 of which the man m ost

capable to speak i n E ngland—W hose hand we have,alas

,so long

mi ssed from our pages—writes as follows

Ed inburgh , Aug. 30, 1 860.

My dear Furn ival l ,

I am o n my rambles , and your letter of the 2oth has been fol lowing me.

T he rhyme which has attracted your attention belongs to the kind ,which is called “inverse rhyme "

. Y ou wi l l find something about i t inthe H is to ry of E nglish R hythms—in the chapter on rhyme.

I do no t however remember to have seen so ancient o r so elaborate aspecimen as the one you have sent me. It is very curious , and to meinteresting—With al l best wishes I am

Yours tru l y

E . Guest.

V I PR E FACE .

T he p roofs of the text ] have read with theM 85 and endeavoured

to make them accu rate cop ies of the originals,though with ex

pansions o f the ord inary contractions for er, ri &c.,and insertions

of commas occas ionally . S ome final es i n italics,to help out the

rhythm,I inserted in the firs t few pages

,as noticed in the note

to p . 1,but soon gave thi s up ; an d the later final es rep resent

the flourishes of the scribe at the end of certa in of his words

ending in i. In the l ines whose rhythm cannot be i n any waymade good W ithout the insertion of a final 6 at the end O f a

word , there the reader may i nsert i t (as erroneously omi tted by

the scribe) , but not otherwi se. T he doctrine of the cri tic of Dr .

P anli’

s edition o f Grower’s C onfessz‘

o Amantz’

s as to the final 6 in

E arly E ngli sh ‘

,i s not strictly borne o ut by any M S .

,or any nu

doctored edi tio n of o ne,that I have ever read ; and far more ex

perienced readers and better j udges than I , have condemned the

attemp t to impose on a language constantly changing in words,

inflexions , and spelling , wri tten often by half-lettered men,a

rigid rule applicable only to the well settled speech and li terature

of a cultivated nation .

3 O ld S quare , L incoln’s Inn

,

Dec. 17, 1 86 1 .

1 In the grammatical system of the 14th century , the final e invariably marked the objective case singular In adject ives , both the oh

jective in the singular , and all the cases in the plural , are marked bythe final e In verbs the final e marked invariably the infiniti ve mood,and the plurals of al l the tenses , when the final -eu was discontinued . .

T he final -e also marked the adverbial form of words , and distingu ishedthe adverb from the prepos ition . G entleman

’

s M agaz ine , Third S eries,vol. 2 , p. 6 47-9 , June , 1 857.

coursur s vn

C O N T E N T S .

I . A SARMUNThat we ought to fear

, fo r the Dead are loathl y to see ; to

dust we go , louse and flea are on our skin If we are 2

proud of o ur flesh , what is i t but worm’s meat ; and our skin

a sack of dirt and dung : of such the gentleman is too S ee

thy proud neighbour in his grave , he is stench and wormsand has no s i lk or purple. If we are pro ud of wealth , i tcomes , it goes , and is but gu ile spend it wel l whi lethou hast it S ome are bl inded by covelousness (16) and 3

become the devi l’s thral ls ; they shal l die and go to the dev i land the rich shal l die too ,

and we all shal l give ao

count If we have spent goods and t ime i l l , we shal lgo to hel l and see Christ’s wounds

,and the Cross and 4

the E lements shal l cry for vengeance on us (29 In hel lit wi l l be too late to cry for mercy ; here , then , bel ieve ; un 5

do thy heart or thou shalt rue it sore Man’s lifeis but a shadow What brought he here but a stinkingskin T he same wretched garb he shal l take awaywhen the soul is once out of it , no vi ler carrion is thereDon’t think to save for your heir he shal l waste your 6

hoard Keep G od in your thoughts help the needy,and gain heaven I ts joy no tongue can tel l the

soul shal l be brighter than the sun the body fair andstrong feel ing no hunger or thirst ; it is wel l merry todwel l there with many angels We shal l see our 7

friends and kin O ur Lady bright the Trinity, andChrist the s ight of Whom is o ur food and drinkPray we Him to give us joy everlasting Y ou who havecome to hear this ‘ sarmun ’

,have pardon for seven years .

l I . XV S IGNA ANTE IUDIC IUM .

‘(A fragment. S ee two other

vers ions , note , p . 16 2 7- 12

May the grace o f Jesu al ight among us Take heed of 7

1 After the text was printed I fo und that Mr. Wright had th is poem in hisnotes to the 2nd vo lume of the Chester Plays , fo r the S hakspere S ociety.

V I II C O N T E N T S . S IGN A . FAL L AND PA S S IO N .

Pagesthe wonders before the Judgment (5-8) wh ich Isaiah told by 8

the Holy Ghost A t these Tokens chi ldren unborn shal lshudder , and cry fo r mercy T he F i rst is : the stars shal lbecome as black as coal (42) and be cast down to earth 9

and terror shal l fal l on al l l iving (45-52 ) [T he S econd is , ]the dead too shal l arise, and for fear look l ike witless beasts(53 T he Thi rd : the sun shal l turn green and wan

and then coal-black T he F ourth : the sun shal l becomered T he F ifth : all beasts shal l quake and cry fo r mercy, 10

though they cannot speak T he S ix th : the mountainsand hi l ls shal l fil l up the dales (85 castles shal l fal l(89 and trees be torn up by the roots (93 T he

S eventh : the trees shal l grow again , with their roots in theair (97 iron shal l b leed and poor and rich al ikeshal l die (105 no castle or steed shal l save them (109T he E igh th : the sea shal l draw together , and stand up as a 1 1

wal l the rivers shal l cry to G od the fishes shal lthink H e is dead (12 1 and then the waters shal l return totheir own place (125 T he N inth : the skies shal l speakl ike a man (134 and pray that they shal l not be punishedfor man’s sin [ T he T enth] all saints in heaven , andcherubin and seraphin , shal l quake the angels shal lhold their peace and the fiends of hel l shal l moan with 12

great din (158 ) and pray for shel ter so , man , l ive agood l ife here T he E leventh : four winds shal l rise,the rainbow shal l fal l , and the fiends shal l be dri ven back tohel l . T he Twelfth : the four elements shal l cry for mercy toChrist [Incomplete ]T HE FAL L AND PAS S IO N 1 2 - 15

G od give us h is grace , me to speak and you to learn , thatI may show you His upris ing (1 Lucifer fel l seven days 1 3

and nights l ike snow,from heaven to hel l (9 and man

was created to fil l h is place G od made Adam masterof all Paradise but one tree and the devi l as a serpenttempted E ve with an apple to make herself as ‘witti

’ as G odWhen the apple was eaten , they were driven out into

the vale of E boir to work hard after 900 years Adamd ied and went to hel l and the devi l took all men, thoughG od sent prophets to them Then He took flesh ‘

of maid 14

mari’ and suffered for thirty years and more Judassold him for thirty pence , and he suffered death upon thetree Jo seph of Arimathea (71 ) buried Him in a fairplace His mother wept four bitter tears o f blood (82) 1 5

who speaks of sorrow against that sorrow?—T he third day Hearose bringing the patriarchs and prephets out of he l l

IV .

C O N T E N T S . S E V E N S IN S . IX

to heaven and sent His doctrine abroad (103 ) and Hisdisciples to preach H is lore and ascended into heaven .

T HE T EN CO MMANDMEN T S 15- 16

Jesu " give us thy grace. Men and women , leave off yourgreat oaths no l imb of Christ is there unforsworn by you 16

who are worse than any dog Beware of end less sorrowG od commanded Isaiah to teach folk the T en Command

ments . I . Honour our G od : those who make gods throughwitchcraft shal l al l go to the dev i l I I . Keep S undaywel l : but now men hold al l their market ing on S unday. I l l .

Honour your father and mother : but now it ’s as with bees ina hive ; when a father gives up his land to h is chi ldren , the

young drive out the o ld. IV. Ore. dcc.

V . FRAGMENT O N T HE S EVEN S IN S 1 7—20T he King of Heaven be with Us , and bless this preach ing tothe dev i l’s shame (1 We are all of o ne fou l earthand however rich we are , shal l ro t to ashes and dirtCleanse thee of thy misdeeds and amend thy sinfu l l ife

And pray a Pater Noster and Ave Mary that I may 18

break the devil’s staff and that God’s peace may be amongus and I wil l tel l you of the seven horrid s ins by wh ichmen lose heaven I . P r ide

,the head of al l s in . Lucifer

fel l by it to hel l fo r ever (3 Man,why art thou proud of

thy clothing— l inen , wool len , gloves, and shoes (16) nothing 1 9

but thy filthy skin (13) is thine own , so love G od and pleasehim at the Judgment I I . C o vetousnes s . T he covetousman never comes to God’s house and wishes that no one

al ive were so rich as he He wou ld sooner give any man

h is blood than his goods and s its abrood on his mucknot thinking of his end but the devil shal l take

away h is breath carry his sou l to hel l , and be his execator Trust not then to this world’s wealth ; it goesaway l ike mist B e you never so rich ,

when you die

you may be proud if you have an O ld clout to cover yournakedness I I I . E nvy. This sin is now much in the 20

land And I ’ll tel l you how. Worldl y weal th fal ls tomen unequall y some men work hard and are yet al

ways needy others have more ; and the desire fo r thisraises strife (6 1 ) [ends abruptly] .

V I . CHR IS T O N T HE CRO S S . (A fragment—Latin and E ngl ish) 20—2 1L ook at thy Lord , and weep tears of blood " His thornwounded head , h is bloody s ide , his pal ing face, his d immingsight

be-ginna at is heued . and loke to is to . (13)

pou no findest in is bodi . bot angu is and we .

X C O N T E N T S . A M O RAL O DE .

Y et he says , Man thou art full n igh to hell ; turn again , andcome to me

, and I W l ll receive thee S ee what I sniffered fo r thee and thou givest me no thanks That.is my greatest pain

V I I . A RHYME -BEGIN N ING FR AGMENT, o r S pecimen of In

verse Rhyme(O n the troubles of Love and S in.)

V I I I . A MO RAL ODE .

(About 1 250 A .D.—Another version from one of the D igby

M S S . was printed by Hickes in his Thesaurus, vol 1 , p . 22 2 .

l t omits n ine stanzas of this . Coleridge, G loss. p . vi .)O ld I am in

'

years , but useless has been my l ife —fol ly(4 ) and id le speech sin in work and word My o ld

l ikings I misl ike and now that I wo uld do better, I can’

t

age has stolen on me S low we are to good

yet we must do it whi le we l ive and trust not to wifeo r chi ld for one aims in l ife is better than five afterdeath and a sot is he who cares more for a friend thanh is own sou l N or may wife trust to husband no r

man to his kin ‘who wel l does no t whi le he may ,he

shal l no t when he wou ld’ S lack not in wel l-doingand do it while you may Trust not

,rich men, to wal l

and di tch , but send your goods to heaven There , isneither fire nor thief and there we send too seldom meatand bread Nothing shal l king or sheriff there take fromus and there shal l we find al l that we have given forGod ’s love here (26 Al l our works , good and ev il , shal lbe weighed before Heaven’s K ing ; He shal l give us our rs

ward (30 and the poor with h is penny may buy the K ingdom , as wel l as the rich with his pounds (33 F or al l God ’sworks are mercy He oversees the world and fromHis bri ght eye is no secret deed or dark thought hidden(39 Al l that is

,is in H is hand , and He shaped al l things

(4 1 E verywhere He is ; and they who do His wi l l , easi lyfind Him (43 B ut what shal l the breakers of His com

mands—who relings , the deceitfu l and forsworn (52 )—do atthe Great Doom where dev i ls shal l bring up al l our un

expiated sins (49 Each man shal l judge himself (54 )his own heart the best witness against him (57) -to death or

l ife B ut G od shal l j udge each according to his endtherefore do good

,and pray mercy

,before death is at the

door (6 2 If you don’t leave sin before you can’t do any

more of it, you

‘

re a fool to expect God’s mercy for this(64 Y et He has said ‘whenever a man repents , early or

late , mercy shall he flnd’

(66 Many say ‘who cares for

C O N T E N T S . A MO RAL O DE .

punishment ; i t shal l end’ L ittle know they its heat and

bitter blasts (6 9 Who would give ending pleasure fo rendless pain (71 T he bread of sin is sweet , and so iswi ld deer’s flesh ; but he buys it to o dear who gives his neckfor it A ful l bel l y talks l ightl y of hunger but ifa man had tried a l ittle hel l-fire , he

’

d think otherwise of it(75 no earthl y wealth cou ld get him end less joy O fthe Judgment . There may we dread for al l that wash idden here shal l be uncovered every man’s l ife shal l beknown T he penitent shal l not be ashamed , but othersshal l be lost (83 T he Doom shal l soon be over andhard men and makers of evi l laws shal l be punishedDoers o f good shal l go to heaven and of ev i l to hel l (90)where they shal l dwel l without end no rel ief wi l l therebe for not again wi l l Christ break hel l and noneelse can do it O ur Lord bought us with his bloodand we ’l l not give a bit of our bread fo r H is loveDeath came in through the o ld devil’s spite and for our

first father’s gu i lt have we fal len into misery (99 elsewe might have l ived in bl iss for ever Great was thusthe sin for wh ich al l d ied and if , for that , such ven

geance was taken , what shal l we do who s in so oft

F u l l long shal l we be in hel l , if Adam was there so manyhundred years for o ne bare s in (105 G od

’

s mercy is notless than his m ight and the devil himself m ight haveit if he wou ld seek it B ut Hel l ’s K ing is merciless

he who most does his wi l l gets worst reward—a bathof bo i l ing pitch G od keep us from it and I wil lwarn you as wise men and the Book say (1 13 O f the

P ains of Hell. T here is hunger and thirst for evil miserschange from chi l l to heat, and heat to chi l l with

no rel ief T he unsteadfast walk ever,seeking rest and

finding none, -wearil y up and down as water driven with thewind (120 and quarrel lers shal l bathe in ever-boil ing pitch

F ire is there that ever burns, unquenchable by sea, or

Avon stream ,or S tour (125 and in it shal l be those who

were ful l of fou l tricks who loved robbery ,whoredom

,

and drunkenness were l iars lovers o f others’ wivesand deserters O f their own hoarders of goods andstingy men those greedy of s ilver and gold doersof untrueness (134) and the evi l S pirit’s teach ings Ad

ders , snakes , efts , and toads , shal l tear and fret the ev i lspeakers and envious Never sun sh ines there , no r

moon, no r star but onl y fou l smoke and darknessThere lay loathl y fiends (141 ) and frightful wights dread

XI

XH C O N T E N T S . A MO RAL O DE .

S atanas and o ld B eelzebub N o heart can think , o r

tongue tel l , how great is the pain o f hel l but the greates tis , that the damned know it is endless Heathen men are

there and wicked Christ ians whom neither money ,prayers , no r alms , shal l help (149 L et each shield himself whi le he can

, and warn h is friend , as I have doneand leave what G od has forbidden, and do what He has commanded L ove G od and your fel low-Christian all

hangs on these two words B ut it is hard to stand , andeasy to fal l , unless Christ gives us strength (157 if weworked for G od as we do for goods and gain, we shou ld havemore o f heaven than earls or kings do (159 T here

,is

no thirst or hunger , death or age but of it we thinkto o seldom ,

and of this world too oft (163 though here weare a l ittle whi le , and long elsewhere L et us beware

,

o r the world wi l l drown us Most of us drink of one

dev i l ’s cup but let us guard against sin with fasting,alms , and prayers leaving the broad street (I70) , andgo ing the narrowway—green and fair it is

,though few tread

it I t is God’s command for which men leavetheir own wi l l and wil l bring us with the fair few mento heaven ’s king with Whom is mirth and angels’ song

and neither i l l nor wane S ome have less joy,and some more ,

according to their deeds here G od

alone is their food , their l ife, their bl iss their cloth ing,and their joy (18 2 their sun and n ightless day Inheaven is weal and rest bliss without sorrow , and l ifewithout death neither sorrow nor sore G od aloneis the bl iss o f angels and men but al l shal l not see

H is l ight al ike, only as they loved Him here (190 Christshal l be enough for al l his darl ings and of the sight o fHim is no satiety G od is so lovel y in His godship thatno man can tel l what mirth have those who are in His bl iss

(1 96 T o it may He bring us and Christ grant ushere to lead such l ife that we may thither come. Amen .

LIVE S O F SAIN TS .

S T . DUNS T AN (MS . ab . 1305 A . D )Whi le he was in his mother’s womb , her taper on Cand lemasday was miracu lous l y l ighted, and other folk lit their l ights at

hers , typifying the l ight he shou ld give to E ngland (1. 1He was born A .D. 925, the first year of King A thelstanand brought up at G lastonbury When grown up , he

C O N T E N T S . s'r . Do nsrau’

s L IFE . x II I

went to his uncle S t. A ldelm,Archbishop o f Canterbury

who took him to the king and A thelstan appointed himto the House of G lastonbury which was establ ished 453years before he was born and before S ts. Patrick and

Austin brought Christian ity to England O f G lastonbury, 36

Dunstan was made Abbo t and, when he was not at publ icprayers

,worked in his private sm ithy and was then in

three places at once fo r his hands were at work , hisheart with G od ,

and h is mouth praying prayers Thismade the devil spiteful , and he came as a fair woman to

tempt Dunstan T he saint chatted away , but quietl yheated his pincers , and when they were ‘al l afire’ seizedthe dev i l b y the nose who wriggled and yel led and hoppedabout ti l l he go t loose (82 and then flew off screaming“O ut, what hap pe calewe ido : what hap pe calewe ido

”37

Dunstan had great power with King E dmund but E dwinput him o ut o f h is abbey

,and drove him o ut of E ngland

(101 After E dwin ’s death , his brother E dgar had Dunstanhome again made him Bishop O f Worcester (1 19 ) andof London and then Archbishop of Canterbury 38

He upheld firml y the rights of hol y church,and made parsons

give up either their lechery o r their l ivings (138 WithS t. O sewold (Bishop of Worcester) and S t. A delwold (B ishopo f Ro chester), be cast out wicked parsons and founded4 8 Abbeys o f monks and nuns O ur Lord granted hima sight of his father and mother in heaven and of the

joy of heaven and let him hear the angels’ merry songo f “Lord have mercy upon us , Christ have mercy upon us” 39

He loved wel l the harp and after playing it o neday

,hung it on the wal l and the harp of itself sang

the merry anthem “Al l saints’ souls be glad that are in

heaven dzc. When he had l ived many a dayone Holy T hursday he fel l s ick, and had his special friendsand servants cal led to him and forgave them theirtrespasses , and absolved them and on S aturday bid goodday to h is friars and then died , A . D . 9 80. 40

X . AN OXFO RD S T UDEN T z—one of the M iracles of O ur Lady . 40—42A northern knight’s son goes to church with his mother, and

seeing a Crucifix asks his mother who the man on it andthe fair woman by his s ide, are She tells her boy ,

andhe o ft thinks of O ur L ady ’s sorrow at seeing her dear S ondie He is put to school at O xford does a deadl y 4 1

sin but is shriven and prays O ur L ady for forgiveness He d ies at O xford and two clerks , his friends,watch the bier but wi l l no t l ight the tapers til l some

XIV

X I .

XII.

C O N T E N T S . S T . se nrN’

s L IF E .

o f the Masters come (42 While the clerks sleep , theyboth th ink they see angels carry their dead friend’s soul toheaven O ur Lady going before , and open ing the dooro f heaven and asking her S on to take her friend intoHis joy Christ promises that He will , for the youth

’sprayers to Him by the V irgin’s sorrow when she saw Him

die O ur Lady then sends from heaven , and lights thetapers round the corpse the clerks awake ; the Masterscome and do the serv ice, and bury the body T he clerkstel l their own Master their vis ion and then the youth’sshriftfather is told and he says it is true that the boyhad ever in mind O ur Lady ’s grief when she saw her S on die

on the CrossT HE JEWS AND T HE CRO S S :—another of the M iracles ofO ur Lady

A s an Archbishop in Toledo was consecrating the Mass , heheard the V irgin

'

s voice from heaven cry‘ Allas , the Jews

’

treachery ’

, and lament their treatment of her S o n on the

C ross (4 After mass search is made , and the form of

our Lord is found , nailed through hands and feet to a Crossby the Jews , and pierced with five wounds (14 N ow,

L ady, give us grace that wemay come to theJoy that thou art in"L IFE O F S T . SWITH IN since printed by Mr. Earle in hisS t. S wib

’

unJHe was born in Winchester, in the t ime of king E gberd, the1 8th king after Kenewo ld whom S t. B eryn brought to Christianity (1 though S t. Austin had before converted Athelbright Swithin began to serve Christ when younghe was made priest by E lmeston , Bishop of Winchesterand the king made him his chief counsel lor and teacherof his son and heir A thulf After E gbert’s death , A thulfbecomes king fol lows Swithin’s counsel and makeshim Bishop of Winchester Through all the land men

pay their tithe wel l , and Swi thin uprears broken churches

(40 bui lds new ones , and displays no pomp at their consecration , no ringing, ‘bobance’

, or show of horses and squ ires(45 He also improves the town ofWinchester ; bu i lds thestrong bridge outside of the East gate 52 and performsthe miracle of making whole the broken eggs of a countrywoman that one of h is workmen has upset in trying to kissher (55 If egg-mongers now cou ld get their eggs so

treated , they m ight hop over d itches , and wrestle and fight

(6 9 After A thulf s death, his son Adelberd was kingand in h is third year (A . D . 8 16 ) Swithin d ied , bidd ing h ismen not to bury him in church with pride , but somewhere

42

42-43

43-47

45

CO N T E N T S . S T . R E N E L M’S L IF E . xv

without, in a place little thought of This they didand there he lay 109 years and more til l he was takenup by order of king Edgar , father of S t. E dward and

ninth king after Adel bert F or then the S aint appearsto a hol y man

,and bids him go to A thelwold , Bishop of

Winchester,and tel l him to move his corpse to a high place

and as a s ign the hol y man’s i l lness shal l leave himand the rings on the stone that covers the corpse, shal l

be taken off easil y by the bishop , and fastened on againT he good man arises , is cured of his i llness and Athelwold eas il y takes the ring off the grave-stone, and puts it onagain King E dgar appoints the 1 8th o f Ju l y for re

moving the corpse Bishops and Abbots are summoneda great process ion is made and the body dug

down to ; a wonderful sweetness comes from it—which , as

you know by other dead men , is much against right (145-9)-a blind woman has her sight , and more than 200 s ick are

cared (150 T he corpse is put in a fair and noble shrinein S t. Peter’s Church , and works many miracles (154

XIII. T HE L IFE OF S T . KENE LM, K ing o f the March o fWales 47—57Kenulf , who bui lt the Abbey o f Winchcombe (the greatestcity in the west half of E ngland , was h is father In

that time were five kings in E ngland who had their partsby themsel ves and E ngland is 800 m i les long , and 200broad and in it are three principal rivers , Humber,Thames , and S evern T he king of the March had Wor

cestershire Warwickshire ,G loucestersh ire , C hestershire,

Derbyshire, S tafl'

ordshire, half Shropshire, Herefordshire, some

o f G loucestershire , Northamptonsh ire ,Buckinghamshire , Ox

fo rdshire,Leicestersh ire ,

L incolnshire , and Nott inghamshireal l these were formerly cal led the March o fWales, and of all

was Kenelm king and Winchcombe was h is chief cityO f the other 4 kings , he of Wessex (47) had Wi ltshire,

Dorset and Berkshire , S ussex ,Ch ichester , S outhampteshire,

S urrey , Devonshire , and Cornwal l T he king of Kent

had Kent T he king of E as tland (63) had Norfolk, S uffolk ,

the Isle of E ly ,and Cambridge T he king of

N or thumberland had al l the land beyond the Humber intoS co tland [T he d iv isions o f the counties into Bishopricsare also stated in the text ] Kenulf died A D. 8 19 , and S t.Kenelm succeeded to the throne ,

though on ly seven yearso ld. O ne o f his s isters , W enylde , loved him but theother , Quendride , envied him and thought she shou ldhave his heritage if she co u ld kil l him so she gave himpoison, but it d id not hurt him,

as o ur Lord would not have

XV I CO N T E N T S . S T . II E N EL M’S L IF E .

him martyred so l ightly Then she promised h is guardian ,A skebert, money and herself if he would ki l l Kenelm (1 12And Kenelm had this dream ,

that before h is bed (1 17) wasa noble tree with wax l ights and lamps o n it , and when hehad cl imbed up to its highest bough , one of h is best friends‘ smot atuo his treo

’

,and then Kenelm became a l ittle b ird ,

and flew right into heaven N ot knowing what thedream means , S t. Kenelm tells his nurse Wolwenne

who explains that his s ister is plotting h is death andthat the little b ird was his sou l

,that should go to heaven

after his l ife’s end A skebert takes him to hunt in the

wood o f C lent and he l ies down to sleep Askebert d igs a pit for him , but the boy awakes and tel ls himthat he loses h is t ime

,as he (Kenelm ) wi l l not die till his

st ick gives a s ign that he is to be martyred They goon ; A skebert sticks the stick in the ground it beginsto put forth leaves

,and becomes a great ash A skebert

delays to do h is wicked deed but Kenelm says “thatthou doest , do soon and begins singing Te domineIaudamus at “the white Company of Martyrs , Lord ,praiseth thee”, Askebert smites off his head , under a hawthorn tree and a white dove fl ies o ut of him to heaven

A skebert buries the corpse and goes and tel lsQuendride S he seizes al l her brother’s land and manors

makes herself queen of the March, and becomes a shrewlady and forbids any one even to name her brother’sname (208) under pain of behead ing S o h is death wasforgotten by men that have wits but G od made a dumbbeast remember it Fo r a widow’s white cow, that wentwith other cows into the val ley where Kenelm was buried,would always leave them and lie about his hol y corpse (226)without feeding and yet she was always

‘fat and round’

and no other cow gave half as much milk (233) a manwho had cows l ike her need not care though his larder werebars and his pastures poor (236)—Folk watched the cow, andthought it was some token (T he val ley was namedC oubache O ne day as the Pope (251) was singing Massat S t. Peter’s in Rome , a dove whiter than any snow (253 )laid a writing with letters of gold in Engl ish on the altar,saying that Kenelm lay under a thorn in Gonbach , bereft ofh is head This writ was kept as a rel ick, as comingfrom heaven and our Lord’s band and S t. Kenelm'

s dayis kept as a feast day at Rome T he Pope sent toWolfred

,Archbishop of Canterbury , to have the body sought

out I t is sought fo r , and found , under the thorn o f

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

xvm C O N T E N T S . S T . CHR I S T O PHE R . T HE I I,000 vmcms .

Pagesthe Devil ; on wh ich Cristopher went to seek the Dev i l , andserved him,

ti l l they passed by a C ross , which the Dev i l ran 6 1

o ut o f the road fo r , into thorns and briars . C ristopher atonce left the Dev i l , and went to a hermit to ask about Christ.T he hermit ordered him , as penance ,

to l ive on the bank o f

a river,and carry people over it. This he does , t il l o ne n ight 02

a l ittle boy comes , who is very heavy , and nearly drowns him .

T he boy is Christ , weighted with the s ins of the world ; andafter making C ristopher

'

s staff leaf and fruit,Christ sends him

o ut to preach the gospel . Cristopher converts many people,and their king sends two success ive part ies o f 100 knights to 6 3

capture him ; they daren’t do it ; but he goes with the last

party, and converts them. T he king imprisons him,and sends 6 4

two women to seduce him ; but he converts them,and they

drag the king’s idols in the dust , for which they are martyred . 6 5

T he king then has Cristopher put on a grid iron to be roasted,but

the gridiron melts , and the fire goes out. He then has himshot at ; but the arrows stick in the air , and one goes intothe king’s eye. Cristopher tel ls the king to smear it with hisblood ; so the king martyrs him, is cured, and turns Christian .

XV I . T HE V IRG IN S 66 - 70

H ow O urse,the daughter of K ing Maur of B ritain , is asked

in marriage by another king for h is son. Her father is sorrowful at it ; an angel tel ls her that she may marry in 3 years 67

if they get her 1 0 maidens , and then 1000 for each of the 1 1 .

T his is done (p . O urse converts them,and the king bu i lds

them a ship in which they sai l about and have games (p .

A wind drives them to Cologne (p. and an angel tel ls 6 8

O urse that they shal l be martyred there. They go on to Bas il ie,and Rome, where the British pope C iriac welcomes them . A n

angel tel ls him he wi l l be martyred with the V irgins . He

resigns his d ignity . Maximinian and Africanus tel l the kingof Cologne to martyr the V irgins when they come there.

O urse’s sweetheart bapt ises his mother and h is s ister F lorentine 6 9

(p . goes with them to C o logne, and agrees to suffer deathwith O urse. T he prince of Cologne has them ki l led , but offers to marry O urse ; she refuses , and he has her shot . C iriac

and many others are kil led to o ; al l A . D . 2 38 (p Theyare buried in a nunnery (p . An abbot asks fo r a body 70

of one ,saying he wil l put it in gold ; he leaves it in wood

for a year , and so the body one n ight goes up to the altar.T he monks go to the tomb , and find the body j ust as it wasput there. T he abbess o f the convent wi l l not let the body

go , seeing it was God’s wil l that it shou ld stop there (p .

XVI I . S T . EDMUND T HE C ONFES S OR 7 1- 87

CO N T E N T S . S T . E DMUN D T H E C O N F E S S O R .

H ow he was born in Abingdon on S t Edmund ’s day . and

soiled no cloth when he came out o f his mother. ‘Mabille the

rich’ was his mother’s name ; Robert, Margery, and Al ice, herother chi ldren ’s . S he brings them up to eat bread and wateron Fridays , and sends the boys ‘

to scole to Parys’ with veryl ittle money (p . 71) and with hair shirts (p . S t. E dmundis good ; Christ comes to him as a fair wh ite chi ld

,and says

he is always by his side (p. S t. E dmund crosses his forehead thrice every night (p and never does lechery atParis o r O xfo rd , but weds O ur Lady with a ring , and keepsh is pledge . His land lady ’s daughter creeps into his bed naked(p so he gives her a sound flogging

,and makes her

bleed (p. wh ich takes away her lechery , and she d ies av irgin . H is mother d ies , charging him to put her daughtersin a nunnery . S he is buried at Abingdon

, with ‘Mabille,

flower o f widows ’ graven on her tomb (p . Edmund putshis s isters into the nunnery o f C ateby in N orthamptonsbire

(p T he horse-hair shirts he wore are described , and

the penances he d id . T he hair-sh irts wi l l neither burn no r

sink (p . How the devils , l ike a flock o f choughs andcrows , tossed about the sou l o f a dead s inner of S tafgrene(p . H ow S t. E dmund always sa id a prayer to Christ

,the

V irgin , and S t John O ne day he forgot it . S t. John camewith a staff

,and threatened to strike him ,

but forgave him(p. H ow S t. E dmund read Art for six years at O xford(p . and then ‘A rsmetrike ’

; but his mother tel ls him to

study better figures, and draws three C ircles, for the T rinity,in his hand . S o he studies D ivinity (l . and teaches so

as to turn men from the world , and make people weep . O ne

day in a doze he sees a dove bring him Christ ’s flesh (p . and

then d isputes wonderful l y concerning the Trinity . He forgetso ne n ight to think of Christ ’s passion ; the dev i l takes hold o f

his hand to stop him from crossing h imself,but he thinks o f

the Pass ion, catches the dev i l by the throat , and the dev i l confesses that the Passion is the best pro tector against him (p .

He arranges his time so as never to be idle , and becomes agreat preacher. T he Pope orders the Bishops to choose awise man to preach about the Crusade ,

and S t. E dmund ischosen . He wi l l take no money from poor persons ,—no t l ikethese Archdeacons who work them woe (l . A womantries to draw her lover back from taking the Cross (p .

her hand becomes crooked , but is made straight again on

her taking the Cross (p. Whi le S t. E dmund is preachingin All S aints Churchyard , O xford , bad weather comes o n, andthe people run for fear of spoil ing their clothes (I. but

X IX

XX CO N T E N T S . S T S . E DMUN D C O N F E S S O R AN D KIN G .

the saint tells them the storm is sent by the devil , and on

S t. E .

’

s prayer to G od , it removes to the half of the churchwhere he is not standing , so that those who went away gotwet , and those who stopt kept dry Another m iraclehe wrought at Worcester (l . He was made Canon secu laro f S al isbury , and Treasurer (l . gave much to the poor

(1 never eat h is fi l l and before E aster eat nothingthat had suffered death (1. He was elected Archbishopof Canterbury ; but when told of the election by his chamberlain , he said “B e st i l l , fool , go out , make fast the door , andlet no man d isturb me

”(I. N either to the messengers

(l . nor the Canons (l . 4 40) would he give way ; but theBishop ’s command he was obl iged to obey

, and so was co n

secrated Archbishop He was strong in penance andfasting , and had ever pity of poor men to whom high mend id

,al l day , woe (l . witness , h is giving back to a ten

ant’s widow the heriot beast she had brought him o n lier husband’s death (1. 464 S o good was he ,

that the dev i l raisedstrife between him and K ing Henry (John

’s son) who held theConvent of Canterbury against him (1. 488 Though theLegate was against him , S t. E dmund held o ut , d isregardedthe king’s threats , and cursed him and al l oppressors o f theChurch (1. S t. Thomas appeared to S t. E dmund , ex

ho rted him not to bend , and let him kiss his mouth (I.S t. E dmund , fo l lowing Becket

’s example , went to F rance, toFonteney ,

where he dwelt ti l l obliged to leave for better air

(1. 534-48) and go to S oycie (l . There he drew towardsdeath , asked for our Lord’s flesh , cal led Him to witness thatnothing but H im he had desired on earth (1. then hepartook of the flesh , said that j oy was in h is heart , and re

j oiced over where he was going (I. At sunrise he died ,A . D . 1242 ;

‘ his guttes ’ were buried in the town , in the‘Minstre of seint Jake ’

(l . but h is holy body was carriedto Fonteney ,

on S t. E dmund the K ing’s day, the day when

he had promised the monks to be with themXV I I I . S T . EDMUND T HE K ING 87-89

He was king o f S utfo lk and a hardy and courteous kni ghtT wo princes of another land , Hyngar and H ubba , in

vaded E ngland and conquered Northumberland (7 T henHyngar came to S t. Edmund ’s chief town made it bare,s lew his people tore chi ldren from their mothers’ breasts,ki l led them and burnt the town to dust bes iegedE glesdon where S t. E dmund was took the king , boundhim to a tree and shot at him with arrows ti l l his bodywas as ful l of them as a hedgehog is of prickles (47)—l ike

C O N T E N T S . L IF E O F S T . KAT HE R IN E . XX I

S t. Bastian was martyred B ut E dmund qu ietl y cal led on

G od, and so Hyngar had his head cut off and hidden in asecret place in the wood of Eglesdon (6 1 T here a wildwo lf finds it , and though his nature ‘were betere to swo lowe

hit ’,he l icks and kisses it l ike his own whelp A fter

wards Christian men look for it , and when they come near,

the head cal ls out “Here ; here ; here”

T hey take itup and carry it off with the body— the wolf yel l ing piteousl y

(86)—to S t. Edmundsbury where it was put in a nobleshrine and the torn flesh becam

'

e whole again andthe head joined on to the body , but a th in red l ine

,shining

like gold was where the head had been cut off. And afair pilgrimage it is , to go there and honour that hol y body

XIX. T HE L IFE O F S T . KATHER INE 90 - 9 8

When she was eighteen , Maxentins commanded al l h is officialsto come to Alexandria to sacrifice to their gods S t.

Katherine sees their ‘

giddyho od’

in worshipping ido ls , goes tothe Emperor and asks him why he is so proud of h isTemple of l ime and stone , and regards not the h igh Templeo f heaven , whose sun and moon and stars never weary (26)on that he should think, forsake his idols , and honour G od

T he Emperor bids her wait , and then questions her (39 ,S he says she is K ing Cost’s daughter that idols

are no help and that the Emperor’s sou l wil l go to hel lHe sends for great clerks fifty come and the

maid is sent for An angel comforts her and she

taunts the Emperor with hav ing so many Masters to d isputeagainst her onl y O ne tel ls her that the sou l cannot l iveafter death (100 and G od cannot give her the l ife he hadh imself lost ; but she says that G od was made of two things

,

godhead and manhood and arose from death to l ifeD id no t P lato the great ‘ philosophe ’ say that G od was to bescourged and drawn : and Balaam that a S tar should arise of

Jacob’s race B y this the masters are confuted, and say theywi l l be baptised T he Emperor orders them to be burnt

but the maiden comforts them and after they are

burnt , they lie al l whole , whiter and fairer in hue than everno hair o r clothes the worse. T he Emperor offers Ka

therine to be next to his Queen and have her image , overgilt , set up to be honoured l ike a god’s if she wi l l turn ;but she says she is God ’s spouse ,

and nothing shal l take herheart from Him S he is stript naked and scourgedcast into prison and starved twelve days but a whitedove brings her meat from heaven . Then the Empress, with

XXI I C O N T E N T S . S T S . KAT H E R IN E,AN DR E W

,L UCY.

her knight S ir Porphyry goes to the prison ,and finds

an angel anoint ing Katherine’s wounds T he S aint so 95

preaches to them that the E mpress , Porphyry , and 200 knightsare bapt ized and Christ appears to Katherine and com

forts her (19 2 T he Emperor has her out o f prison, is surprised to find her ‘ fair and round ’

, and torments his jai lersfo r feed ing her He offers to make her the Empress

’

speer but she rejects al l h is ad vances . S o he has four 96

iron wheels ful l of rasors made but when Katherine isto be tortured , an angel with a drawn sword hews the wheelsto pieces , and ki l ls 4000 men T he Empress then re

nounces her idolatry fo r which her husband has herflesh and her breasts torn with sharp hooks

,as men comb

wool and then has her head cut o ff. Porphyry buriesher body he and his brother-knights confess that theybel ieve in Christ (257 and the Emperor has them ki l led 97

as Mahoun’

s foes He then offers to make Katherine h isEmpress but she refuses to turn from Christ and

is ordered to be ki l led Christ appears to her her

head is smitten o ff, and there flows from the wound white 9 8

m i lk ,and not one drop of blood , in token of her maidenhoodA n angel buries her in the H i l l o f S inai, and hol y oil

to this day runs from her tomb , wherthrough s ick men are

brought to health and l ife Three hundred and twentyyears after G od was born , was th is holy maid martyred

XX. T HE L IFE O F S T . ANDREW 98- 10 1

He was S t. Peter’s brother , and a fisher ; but left his nets

when Chris t asked him to be a manfisher (1 In the lando f Patras he turned the folk, and the wife of Egeas , to Christ(1 2 for which Egeas seizes the people to torment them 99

Andrew rebukes him , and answers his arguments againstChrist’s death ; but Egeas casts him into prison and afterwards asks him to give up his faith Andrew refuses , 100

as his torment here can last for two or three days onl ywhi le E geas

’

s in hel l wi l l not end for years and moreS o Egeas has him scourged to the bone and then

bound to a cross from which he preaches to the peopletwo days and n ights refusing to be taken down t i l la great l i ght hides him from their s ight , and his sou l goes to 10 1

heaven’s bl iss His body is buried by Maximille, Egeas’

s

wife but is afterwards taken to Co nstantinopleE geas fal ls dead on his way home, and his sou l goes to hel l

XX I . T HE L IFE OF S T . LUCY 10 1 - 107

She was born in S icily , and served G od from her youth . Her

C O N T E N T S . S T S . L UCY AN D E D\VAR D . JUDAS .

agesmother Entice, hav ing had a bloody flux four years , L ucytakes her (2 4) to the shrine of S t. Agace , in A thens , where 102

they hear Mass , and the gospel o f the cure of the woman witha bloody flux T hey pray : S t. Agace appears to L ucy , andsays she has cured her mother. L ucy determines to l ivea V irgin’s life S he gives her dowry to the poor fo r 103

which her nurse excuses her to her betrothed (63 but hefinds she has turned Christian , and tel ls the Justice Pascasof it Before Pascas she is brought , and declares thatas she has given al l her goods for Christ, so she wil l give herbody Pascas reproaches her as a strong whore butshe says she was pledged to Christ in Bapt ism

,and that

pledge she wil l keep (87 O n this Pascas threatens to send 104

her to a common brothel but she answers,that un less

her heart consents to the deed , her maidenhood is the cleanerthe more her body is defouled Pascas then proclaimsthat any one may have her who l ikes , and orders h is mento take her to a brothel . B ut 1000 of them cannot move hera foot

,nor can teams of oxen (p . T hey light a fire round 105

her , and pour boi l ing pitch over her ; but neither hurts her,and she preaches of Jesu , heaven

’s king. Her neck is cutthrough with a sword

,but she sti l l preaches on, and says that

the wicked D iocletian is driven out of his kingdom (pS he takes the S acrament, and angels bear her sou l to heaven 106

(p.

XX I I . S T . EDWARD~ one of the M iracles of S t. John 106—107

K ing E dward loves S t. John , and when a poor man asks himfor something in John’s name , the king gives him a ring. In

the Holy L and , S t . John appears to a knight , gives him the

ring,and tel ls him to return it to K ing E dward. T he ring

is now shown at Westminster as a rel ic to pilgrims .XX I I I . T HE L IFE O F JUDAS IS CAR IOT 107- 1 1 1

H e was a wicked bird . O ne n ight his mother T hiborie dreamtthat she had borne a chi ld whom al l the world cursed . She findsherself with chi ld , and when her boy is born , her friends put himin a barrel and cast it out to sea (p . 107) He is thrown on the

Is land of C ario t (p . the queen of which is ch i ldless . S he 108

takes the baby , professes herself with chi ld,and in due t ime

shows the foundl ing as her own . T he king christens himJudas . After a time the queen real l y has a ch i ld of her own

by the king. Judas grows up a bad boy, breaks other ch ildren’s

arms and heads, and beats the queen’s son. S he tel ls him he is

a foundl ing ; so Judas ki lls her son, runs off to Jerusalem ,and

enters P i late’s service (p . P i late and Judas go to play in 109

an orchard next to Judas’s father’s (p . Judas breaks into

XX I V C O N T E N T S . JUDAS AN D P ILAT E .

Pageshis father's orchard to get some apples fo r P i late , and when 108

his father remonstrates , he smashes his pate with a stone.

P i late gives him all h is father's pro perty,and marries him

(Judas) to his own mo ther (p S he tel ls him o f her son. 109

He is sorry that he has s inned , and goes to Christ , becomesh is d isciple

,then Apostle

,and pursebearer, and steals the tenth

of all gifts . He grumbles that Mary’s precious ointment wasno t sold (p. F o r the thirty pence that his tenth of it wou ld 1 10

have been , he sold Christ (p . and then hung himself.His guts fel l out, his wicked spirit going o ut o f his bel l y , andnot by h is mouth with which he had kissed Christ .

XX IV. T HE L IFE O F P IL ATE 1 1 1 - 1 18

K ing Tirus begets him on P i la, the daughter o f a mealward

A tus , and cal ls him P ilatus He grows up a bad boy , and

kil ls the king’s son. S o the king sends him to the Emperoras a hostage

,and tel ls him to ki l l him if he (the king) does 1 1 2

no t perform h is truage (p . 1 1 2 ) H e does not. And P i lateki l ls the son of the king o f F rance. T he Emperor is adv isedto send him as Justice to the Isle o f Ponce whose people are

rebel lious . He does so , and P i late S peaks fair to the is landers(I. manages them wel l (p. and from the isle gets hisname of Ponce P i latus (l 6 1 , p . F o r his ski l l , Herod, 1 13

the king of Jerusalem,Gal ilee , and Ind ia (1. sends fo r

him, and puts more than half h is realm (Jerusalem and India)under h is charge (I. P i late gathers treasures , and givesthem to Caesar the Emperor , that he may hold h is kingdomdirect from him

,and no t from Herod (I. 75 A t this Herod

is very wrath , but can onl y curse and hate P i late,til l our

L ord ’s death , when they were agreed (I. Judas becomes 1 14

P i late’s steward, for two shrews wi l l become friends though

there were no other men al ive (1. 9 9) When P ilate has condemned G od to death

,he fears the Emperor wi l l kil l him

(L 109 ). Afterwards , the Emperor fal ls s ick ,and sends to

Jerusalem ‘after sum god Ieche

’

(l . T he messenger comesto Veronica

,who tel ls him that Christ would have cured his

master,and that she has a kerch ief with Christ’s ‘form’

on it,a sight o f wh ich wi l l heal the Emperor S he con 1 15

sents to take it to Rome ; the Emperor is cured on seeing i t(I. asks who Christ was ; says he wi l l hang o r quarterP i late fo r putt ing Christ to death (I. and sends for P i lateto come to him . N ow P i late had before sent a messenger tothe Emperor , saying that he was gu iltless o f Christ

’s death,but the messenger never arrived , hav ing been driven on shorein Gal i lee. S o P i late thinks the Emperor has forgiven him,

and therefore goes to Rome , in Christ’s cloak (l . wh ich

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XXV I C O N T E N T S . S O N G Sj— DE O GRAC IAS

,DE U S CAR IT AS .

PagesXXV I . A S ONGE O F DE O G RAC I AS 124- 12 6

I saw in a church a clerk bring forth a book ‘ that prikkedwas

‘

, and he and all the choristers sang Deo gracias . I asked

what i t meant ; and the comel y clerk leaned over a lectern ,and told me of the T rin ity , and how G od l ighted in a love 125

some ‘ buirde’

(l . and shed His blood for our s ins ; andthat in memory of this he sang Thanks to G od. I left thechurch , and twenty times said the words : in mischief and

bonch ief both are they good to say (I. in bale o r bl iss 1 26

(l . If G od gives thee virtues more than others , let nofi lth deface them (I. if than be made an O fficer , j udgerightly and rob no man (I. Dread thy G od day and night,then mayst thou sit among His S aints , and there sing Deo

grac ias .

XXVI I . DE US CAR ITAS 12 7- 128

G od is love , and I warn you to get it ; fo r at Doom’s day

the wicked shal l go to penance for ever , and the good to b liss(l. Whoso goes in Love , - behold and see , he dwel ls inG od. All L ove is in Christ , and if we seek love , He is inus . L et Love awake , and let us shrive us of our sin ,

as 128

d id Peter , John , and James , and dwel l in Christ (I.XXVI I I . AN OTHER S O NGE O F DEO GRAC IAS 128- 130

E ver my word is Deo grac ias ; in weal or woe riches o rpoverty (9 mirth or mourn ing when Fortune’s myfoe or s ickness nigh slays me or the friends of myprosperity forsake me sti l l I say Deo grac ias. My G od,and the m i ld Maid’s son ,

forgive us our trespass , that wemay enter heaven , and there s ing Deo gracias.

XX IX . A S ONG—KN OWE pI S E LF 130- 133

T o this Pou l exhorts us ‘ in a Pistel ’ that he wrote. O ur

good deeds are l ittle enough and though we came h itherwith care we may be lightl y lost O ur l ife may

not last ; it is l ike a blast, a gl ittering gleam,a fire o f heath ; 131

and th is world’s goods haste away S it down ; take someround counters , and put down one for every sin you havewrought (38 Then count your good deeds ; and if yo ufeel safe , th ink o n G od: if no t , ‘amende thee , and thi-selfknowe ’ Know how G od made thee and d ied for theeand how thou art worthy of hel l-fire (56 ) but for His grace.

Know that thou shal t die , in the twinkl ing of an eye. B e 132

ware of the fi re that ever shal l burn know that thy fleshwi l l rot , ‘ for eueri mok most into myre ’ pray then tohave heaven for your hire ere you be lodged low in earth

World ly honour soon passes away ; our boast, our brag,is soon overbid ; A rthur and Hector has Death laid low ; let

C O N T E N T S . S O N GS,— KN O W E pr S E L F , YE S T E R DAY. xxvu

Pagesus then amend forthwith T hy Conscience shal l savethee and j udge thee ask mercy and pray ‘

to god 133

that d ied on Roode ’ that Christ’s face may be our food ere

o ur breath be blown out

XXX . A S ON G O F YESTERDAY 133- 138

When men are merries t at their meal they have no taste fo rth ings devout (1 but th ink their worldly weal shal l neverfade. I would they’d think on Yesterday (7 T o -daywe may have mirths , and revel with bright girls ; then S leepcomes ; and when we wake , al l o ur joy is

‘ fantas ie ’

; whereit is gone no man can say (13 This world is but phan 1 34

tom and fairy , its joy and bl iss a fickle fantasy (2 8 to

day here , to-morrow away : think then on Yesterday . T here

is none so strong ,but that after he’s fu l l grown , loses his

strength ; and ‘no buyrde so briht in boure ’ but that after

thirty she shal l fade as a flower, and little by little her beautylose (37 None so fresh and fair , but that shal l be laidon bier none so bold in bind ing bears , that has notwarnings to be ware T he lame , the bedrid , and thebl ind , make you a M irror to see the shape cf YesterdayO ur l ife must end , and our carrion be changed under the 1 35

clay ; th is we shou ld fear an we’

d think on YesterdayS alomon says in his poesy that a ‘ Ioly

’ l iv ing dog isbetter than a dead lion (73 and the biggest fool al ive iswiser than a thousand-pound man buried S ocrates saysthat it is better to look at a man dying

,than at a feast , as

the death shows us what we shal l be B ut men wonderwhy G od lets people get crooked and old so that they cannothelp themselves ; and al lows beggars , who yield neither goodnor profit (97 I wi l l tel l you why it is. Christ lets 1 36

them l ive to show young men the shape of Yesterdayand that s infu l men may do among them the S even Deedsof Mercy and that proud men and lad ies gay may see

what hangs over their heads Just as chi ldren run

after their shadow on the wal l , and when they are catchingit , it goes from their s ight —so is this world and Yesterday

When here , you are tempted to covetousness, and

think to rise by riches ; but suddenly you die, and this worldbetrays you If your neighbour threatened to kill or 137

beat you, you would take good care always to be well guardedagainst him (145 then do the same with Death ; he mayattack and kill you at any moment : so t ake up the defenceof a pure and perfect life , and trust in God

’s mercySome say that Death is a thief, and wi l l steal on them un

warned ; but I say no ; he is stedfast , true, and leal

xxvur CO N T E N T S . wa y i CAN ’

T B E A N UN .

and warns every man that he wi l l o ne day deal with him,

and take h is l ife ,bold l y seizing the prey When men 1 38

are merriest at their meal , I rede them th ink on Yesterday .

XXX I . WHY I CAN ’

T BE A NUN 13 8—148

[Beginn ing lost .] When the Commissioners had received theircharge

,they rode al l over E ngland to seek out N unneries ,

and enqu ire into their state (1 And when they had comehome again , my Father asked how they had sped , and how 139

the Nuns fared .

‘Wel l , they answered ; and that the N unswou ld fu lfi l h is desire ’ ‘ Damsel ’, said my Father, ‘

you

said you would be a mm , but you must not carry your purpose into act ’. I said, ‘Father

,I wi l l be true to Christ , though

I am grieved that my wi l l may not be had ’ Then Ihad a V is ion one morning in May , as I walked in my gardento see

‘the swete effecte of Aprelle flowres

’

,the fair herbs , 1 40

and b irds with ‘ federys schene’

. In ‘a fayre herbere

’

I prayed

to G od,that I m ight l ive chaste from the corruption o f sin

n ing,and that ‘ swete Ihesu ’

(89 ) wou ld be my comfort andrefuge

S wete ihesu , m iserere mei"

I can no more , but trust in theAnd I fel l exhausted , leaned my head on a bench of Camomi le , and slept Then came a fair Lady

, and said‘ Katherine, awake

’

; and I beheld her figure—the most good l ythat ever I saw and I kneeled to her , and asked her 142

name S he answered ‘My name is EXPERI EN CE : and

thou shalt see to -day a house ‘of wommen regnler

’

. S o the

Lady Experience took me to a bu i lding fair without , but un 143

clean with sin with in —a house of Nuns of d ivers O rders but not wel l-governed , despite of Aristotle

’s warn ingo f the unreasonability that cometh of sensual ity and fol lowing one’s ‘bestely cond iciones ’ There I found damePR I DE dame HYPO CRI T E (223)—dame Devowte had been 144

vio lentl y put out by dame S loth and dame Vain-G lory (226 -9)—dame E N VY dame LO VE UN O RDI N A T E ‘ dameLU S T , dame WA N T OWN E ,

and dame N Y CE ’ DameChast ity ‘had lytylle chere ’ there Much more I saw,

but I must no t chatter like a pie , and tel l al l In everycorner was dame E nvy but dame Patience and dame 145

Charity were not in the Convent , an out chamber had beenmade fo r them Dame Disobed ient was there and‘ the wantyng of obedyence

’

was one of the greatest defau ltsthat grieved me ‘That couent was so fulle of syn ’

,

that E xperience and I went out of it , and I asked her ‘why 146

sche schewed me thys nunery’

She said , “Thy des ire

CO N T E N T S . O LD AG E . E AR T H .

“O F M E N L IF &C .

was to be a nun professed and because thy father wou ldnot consent, thy heart was sore oppressed . Now I have showedthee what, for the most part, is the nuns’ ru le : fo r the mostpart

, not al l , for some are devout and toward , and others lewdand froward” Then I thanked her , and resolved that‘nun wold I neuere be none ’ ‘ B ut here peradventure 147

some man would say that I forsook a perfect way fo r a fantasy or a dream ’

N o : dream was it none , no r fantasy,but a gracious warning S ee in G enesye ,

Chapytylle xxx iv,how D inah was defou led and thousands slain , because she

went out idly'

to see things A nd you Nuns , your barb ,wimple , vai l , and devout cloth ing , make men th ink yOu are

hol y in l iv ing : then , be within as you are without , my lad iesdear. T he garland of ivy green at a tavern door is a falses ign unless there be good wine within (358 T hen , do

you leave your v ices, and lewd customs , or you are the ch ildren 148

of false hypocrisy Take good heed to this exhortation ,and behold the good conversation of the hol y virgins herebefore , S t. Clare , S t. Ed ith , and many more , who fled fromsin on earth , and now are quit of all sorrow and woe

XXXI I . O LD AG E .

‘(A descript ion of the changes wrought by

it in man.) 1 48—150

XXXI I I . B ARTH .

I(A Poem in alternate Engl ish and Latin

stanzas ) 1 50 - 152

XXXIV.

“O F MEN L lF pAT WO N Ip IN 152—1 56A Sat ire on the Monks and People of K i ldare. S t. M ichael ,

1 Printed before in Rel iquiae A ntiquae, vol 2 . Nos. XXXIV and XXXVshould be read . O f the writer o f XXXIV, stanza 1 2 well says :

pe clerk pat p is baston wrow3te ,wel he woke , and slepe rijte now3ts ;

and stanza 15

pe best clark of al [i s touncraftfullich makid pis bastun.

Roberd of B ruune uses baslon for a kind of rhyme, putting baston and

cowee together, and as cowee is a stanza in wh ich the tails (or third l inetagged on to each of two rhyming couplets) rhyme - see Guest I I

, 2 86 ,

and specimens in The S armun, p . 1 , the F ragment o n the S even S ins,p . 17 dun) , so baslon may be the stanza in which the ta il cons ists of arhyming couplet put on to another rhymed and unrhymed o ne

,as in

the text. R . Braune’s passage about the ‘ryme’ of his C hron icle is,

If it were made in ryme couwee ,

O r in strangere , or enterlace ,

XXX CO N T E N T S . T H E LAN D O F C O KAY G N E . F IV E E V IL T H IN GS .

Pagesst . 1 , S t. Chris to pher, st. 2 .

‘ S eint Mari bastard pe Maudleinis 153

sone ’

, st . 3 . S t. Domin ick, st . 4 . S t . Francis , st. 5. T he

F r iars , with their ropery at Drogheda , st . 6 . T he

-M inors without , and Preachers within—st. 7. T he M onks , 1 54

st . 8 ; N uns, 9 ; Pr iests, I O ; M erchan ts, 1 1 ; Tailo rs, 12 ; S ul 155

lers , 13 ; S kinners , 1 4 ; Po tters , 15 ; B akers , 16 ; B rewster's,

17 ; H ucksters, 1 8 ; l‘Voo l-combers

, 19 z—drink deep, and make 156

merry, yo u have no other want .XXXV . T HE LAND O F C O KAY GN E 156 - 16 1

A S atire on Monks and Nuns , their Abbeys, N unneries , Waysand S ports .

Whose wl . com pat loud to .

F ul grete penance he mo t do .

S eue yere in swine-is dritte .

1 80 He mot wade ,wo l 3e i-witte .

A l anon up to be chyo us .

S o he schal pe lond i-winne .

XXXV I . F IVE EV IL TH INGS

N O T E to Poem II , p . 7 : XV S igna ante Indicium. (D ifferentE ngl ish and Latin versions o f the same S ubject , from E nglishM etr ica l H omi lies from M S S . of the F o ur teen th C entury , ed.

by the Rev. J . Smal l ) . 16 2 - 164

N OTE to Poem VII , p . 2 1-2 , and to Dr. Gues t’s Letter in the

Preface 164 - 1 65

INDEX 166 - 171

L IST O F WO RDS 172- 1 80

pat rede Inglis it ere Inowepat couthe not haf coppled a kowe ,p at outhere in couwee ,

o r in baston ,S om suld haf been fordon ,(extract in Handlyng Synne, p . xxxi i

,1. 85-90 , in Guest

’sE nglish R hythms , vol. 2 , p . 2 82 , and in H earne

‘ sL angtoft, vol .

O f the enter laee , alternate , or any kind of interlaced rhyme, examples

are , the S igns before the Judgment , p . 7-12 ; the Fal l and Passion,p . 12 -15, dw.

C O R R IGE N DA .

C O RRIGE NDA .

l . 3,fo r heuesip is, Mr. Wedgwo od suggests seue sipis , seven

p ._1 6 , fo r beminep we should no doubt read benimep.

p . 2 2 , V II , st . 5, fo r [cable read ha bbe.

p . 34 , IX,1. 10 , foi

' here,read here.

p . 39 , ne should doubtless be me.

p . 50 , l . 108 , pa t shou ld doub tless be pan .

p . 10 7, l . 5 , G i lbert’s L ife was no t printed by the Percy S ociety .

p . 135, l . 75, fo r likyng read lioyng.

p . 1 46 , for lee-ho lds read be-heldc.

‘ bean frere ’ is somewhere printed fo r ‘ beau frere ’

.

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E AR LY E N GL I S H PO E MS .

If pou ert p rate man of pi fieisse

opir of pi velle pat i s wip-oute

pi fleisse nis najte bot worme-i s meisse

o f such a ping whi ert pou p rate

W o rmis of pi fleisse schnl sp ringpi felle wip-onte nis bot a sakke

ipudrid fnl wip drit and ding

pat stinkip lo lich and is blakke

S ire whar of is, pe gentil man

of eni oper pan of pis :

him silf mei se i f gode he can

for he sal,find pat so hit is

pat hit be sop and nogt les

pou loke pi negbor whare and how

pou loke i n his biriles

he was prute as ert pou

Whate prnde saston se par

bot stench and wo rmis i-crop in dritte

of such a sigt we eat be ware

and in vre hert hi t hab i-writte

S i lk no sendale nis per none

no bise no no meniuer

per nis no ping a-boute pe bone

to 3eme pat was ihuddid here

pe wiked wede pat was abute

pe wo rmis pat hit habbip al for-so ;t

Alas W har of is man so prute

whan al i s p ri de sal turne to noite

If man i s prute of world-i s W elle

ihc hold a fole pat he be

hit commip . h it gop . hit nis bot dwelle

bot dritte gile and wanite

L o pat catel ni s bot gile

trewlich 3c mov isee

he nel be. felaw bot awhil

pou salt him leue oper he sal pe

H it i s mi rede while pou him has t

pou speu it wel pat helplich be

E A’R LY E N GL I S H PO E M S ;

N o upe oper m ister men per bep

pro; co ueitise hi bep iblend

pat wer lener wend to pere dep

pen spene pe gode pat god ham send

p 0 3 man hit hab hit nis no it his

h it nis ilend him bot alone

fort to libbe is lif i-wi sse

and help. pe nedful pat nap non

N on mani wrecche be-commip pralle

hi nnl no ;t spene bot 3ime in store

be-com hi bep pe deuil-is pralle

for nijt and dai is al har poyte

how hi hit mow hab and wi nne

fas t to hold and spene ri j t nogte

and ledip euer har lif in p inne

pe wrecchis wringit pe mok so fast

up ham silf h i nul noyt S pened

3it hi sul dei at pe las t

and to pe deuil h i sul wend

S ip such a. wringer gop to helle

for litil gode pat nis nogt his

whate mai ich bi pe riche man telle

pat ledip al i s lif in bli sse

a camel in to pe neld—i s ei.

as a rich man to bring

in to pe blis se pat i s an hei

p ei; man be rich of lond and lede

and ho ldip festis ofte and lome

hit nis no doute he sal be dede

to zelde reening at pe dome,

O f al pat we habbip ibe here

je : of a verping sop i-wisse

of al pi time fram ger to yere

E AR L Y E N GL I S H PO E MS .

25. And bot pou hi t hab iSpend arijte

pe gode pat god pe hap ilend

of ihsu lcriste pou lesist pe si3t

to helle pine pou wo rpe isen‘

d

26 . O f helle p ine we at be ware

and euer more hi t hab in po ;t

ac non nel be oper i-war’

e

for ham silf be i n i-br0 3t

27. pei; freri s p rech of heuen and helleof io i and p ine to mani man

al pat him penchit bot dwelle

as men tellip of wlo nchargan

28 . Ak j ite pat ilk dai sal be

per nis non pat nold him hide

so sore we su-l drede to se

pe wondis of ihsu cri st- i s side

29 . H is ho ndes i s fete sul ren of blode

pou wo ldist fie pou ne migt no ; pan

pe sper pe nailes an d pe rode

sal crie tak wrech of sinful man

30 . p e erpe pe watir pan sal sprede

route and drine al for-wode

no v ihsu cri s t we sul pe wrekke

of s inful man pat sadde pi hlo de

31 . Bope fire and wind lude sal crie

louerd nov let v s go to

for ich wl blow pe fire sal berne

vp sinful man pat hap mi sdo

heuen and erpe sal crie and grede

and helle sal berne pou salt ise

o : sinful man wo w o rp pi rede

whan al pis wrech sal be for pe

33. hit i s so grisfnl forto loke

and forto hir pe bittir dome

angles sul quake S O O S O II) pe boke

and pat pou hirist o fa and lome

T he MS . has always ihc or ihu with a mark o f contraction .

for ofte.

35.

E AR LY E N GL I S H PO E MS .

pat al ping sal com to hepe

we] sat pi lfert pro; u te cleue

H it is to late whan pou ert pare

vn-do pin hert and line i s lor‘

e

V n-do pin hert pat i s iloke

wip couetise and pry de per an

and peneh pos wo rdis her ispoke

and bot pou nslt pench her apan

fort vnderfonge gode lore

pou salt h it rew bitter and sore

M an-i s lif ni s bot a schad ‘

e

nov he is and nov he nis .

loke hon he mei be glade

p0 3 al pis’

world m igt be his

Wold he pench pe vns‘

eli man

i n to pis world whate he brbjte

a. stinkind felle i-lappid per an

wel litil bettir pan rij t nogt

What is pe gode pat he sal hab

oute of pis world whan he sal go

a wikid wede whi sold i gab

for he ne brogt wip him no m o

R i3t as he com he Sal wend

takip gode hede men to zur end

for as i sigge so hit Sal be

I note whar o f i s man so pruteof erpe axin fel and bonefor be pe sonle enis oute

a uilir caraingmis per non

mani man penchi t on is pogt

he nel noft leue his eir al bare

E AR L Y E N GL I S H PO E MS .

hi s eir sal f ail and'

her ri jt none

and wast pe gode wel wide whare

Ich warne pe for i-s'old h

'

it' S al

al pat pou wan here wip p inea bropin eir sal was t i t al

and be al operi s pat was pine

N oup sip pat pe world ni s no ;t

hane god iri ur pogt

and of pe catel be we fre

and helpip pai pat habip nede

so god-i s wil we sul wirch

pe io i of heuen hab to me‘de

What is pe io i pat man sal hab

if his lif he spenip wel

sop to sigge and n0 3t to gab

per nis no .tunge pat hit mai tel

i f i sal tel al pat i can

i n holi boke as we can rede

hi t i s a io i pat falli t to man

of hel pine he ne dar drede

De man pat mai to heuen com

pe swete solas forto se

heuesip i s brijtir pan" pe sun

in heuen sal man-is soule be

his bo di sal per be so

s o fair and strang ye mou wel leue

iuil i s euer fur him fro

per nis no ping pat him sal greue

to me'

t no drink per nis no nede

no for no hungir he no es] kar

pe sijte of god him sal fede

hi t i s wel m iri to woni par

p er bep woningis mani and fale

gode and beti r tak god hede

pe las t word bint pe tale

we bes t mai do : bes t is his mede

DO .

E AR L Y E N GL ISH PO E M S .

mani angles per bep an

a man sal know i s Owin frend

is wif is fade‘

r’ and al i's kin

of al pis io i'

per nis‘

non end

we sul se oure leuedi briyte

so fulle of loue ioi and blisse

pe mest ioi pat mai be-falle

pe hei; king aboue vs alle

pe si;t of him i s are vod’

e'

pe sigt of him is ure virst

al are iois bep ful gode

pe sigt of him i s alir‘bes t

B e-seche we him me‘

k of mode

pat soke pe m ilk Of maid- i s bréstpat bogt us wip i s: dere hlo de

gine us pe i oi pat euer sal lest

Alle pat bep ico r’

nmin here

fort to hire pis sarmun

loke pat ye nab no were

for seue yer ge habbip to pe‘

rdoam.

p e grace of ihsu fulle ofmigtepro; p rier of are swete leuedi

mote a-mang vs nupe aligte

E AR LY E N GL I S H PO E MS .

M an and woman pou aj tist tak gome

pis world-i s ending howhit ssal bepe wo ndres pat sal com be for pe dome

pat jung and old hit S al ise

pe xv tokingis'

ichnl 3ou tel-le

as us techip ysaie

pe holi gost him ta jt ful welle

d he hit prechid for pro fecie

hit i s iwrit in holi boke

as clerkis hit mow se and rede

pat no ping no man mai loke

pat i s so grisful fo rto drede

per ni s aline so sinful man

i f he per of wol d tak kepe

and he wold pench apa'n

pat nold wel sore in herte wepe

G odmen takip non gome

of tokninges pat commip bi for

pe children wip i n pe moder wome

wel sore sul dicce and drede per for

wip i n pe moder wom . h i sul grede

vp ihs u cris te euer to crie

louerde cris t pou red vs redeand of vs pou hab mercie

we wold louerd pat we ner

i n world icome forto bene

and vnbejet of are fader wer

pat al ping nou '

sel satfri tene

b e first tokning sal be pusse

al fo r sop we sul hi t see

and pat oper sal be wo rs

for sop 3c non wel line me

pe sterris pat pou ses t so brigte

i n heuen aboue pat sit s o fast

fo r man-is s in sal Qiue no li ;t

as fair and ibriite as pou seest ham

hi wo rp be-com as blak as cole

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10 E ARL Y ENGLISH P O E M S .

p0 3 pat hi ne m o u spek rigt neg;alas louerd wat sul we tak

we pat abbip sin i-Wregt

nigt and dai we at sore quake

whan we i t sold pench in ure pogt

p e sixte dai ne lef ibh no3t

wan pes montis and pes hille

al for sop hi t wurp ibrozt

pes depe‘ dalis for to fil le

per nis cas tel'no ture none

pat euer was no he salle

imakid was of lime and s ton

pat ne sal adun to -falle

no no tre in erp so fast

mid al har roti s so fas t ipigt

pat ne sal adun to-berst

pilk silue dai er hi t be nijt

pe sefpe dai hit sal grow age

har crop adun har rote an hei

such wondris we sul i-se

for god -i s wrep pat sit an hei

pe i ren sul blede . a Wonder ping

pe ping pat bodi no flesSe nap non

for dred of pe lienen king

vnkundlich ping ded sal don

pan sal dei bope poure and riche

ne sal pan per wip stond no"

pingal we su

’

l ben ilich

bope knigt and barun . erl . and . king

ne sal per help castel no ture

palfrei chasur no no stede

no for al is moch ho noure

pat he ne wo rp wel sone dede

b e eigt dai so i s doto s

and pat fu l wel pou salt se

ful of tene and angus

al pis dai so sal be

121

125

129

133

137

141

145

149

153

E AR L Y ENGLISH P O E M S .

as a ~walle to stond up rigt

and al pos watris pat bep h‘

ere

sal crie merci up god al mi3t

pe fissis pat bep per in iwrogt

pe see so hard sal ham to-driue

pat hi wo l wene i n her po3t

pat god of heuen ni s noj t aline

pan pe see sal draw age

in to pe s ti d per hit was

and such ue'

risse'

watir pan sa‘

l he

be coin to is owni p las

pe i x tokin -sa1 be pus

pe”

wonderis pat worp pilk dai

oue‘

r al pat oper sal de'

uers

wate hit is ich 30 W tel mai

pe holi nian tellip seint austin

pat pe skeis so sal spec‘

pan

wan al ping so sal hab fin e

i n stenen as hit wer man

hi sul grede ludewip, al

i n nois of man up god to cri

as lienen and erpe sold to fal

god and man noup mercr

louerd merci of migt

noup i s a] o r time ispend

for sinful man-i s ein sigt

ne let u s neuer ben ischend

per nis no seint in heuen abow

in al god-i s ferred

pat amone

and

pus vs tellip seint Ieromme

pat pan sal quake seraphi'

n

and cherubin . pat bep angles two

per ni s in heuen angil iwi s

pat to oper sal hab spech

l l '

12 -E AR L Y ENGLISH POEMS .

so sore i-wo rp adrad iwis

of ihsu crist-i s gremful wreche

al pe fendis pat bep i n hel

wip grete di n hi wo l com pan

har mone pou sal t hire ful wel

hou hi sul cri to god and man

0 : man and womman pou take hede

hou pe fentis sul men har mone

wel agtist pe fairs to ledewile pou art in pis wreche wone

vp ihsu cris t hi sulle cri

wip such a s tenen of p ine and welouerd iif v s ur herbegiage to helle . let us neuer go

be .xi . dai fure windis sul rise

and pe reinbow pan sal fal

pat al pe fenti'

s sal of agri s

and be ifesid i n to helle

for wolny nulni hi sul fie

and pat in to pe p ine of hellemaugrei ham per h i mo t be

wip duble p ine per i n to dwel

pe .xii . dai pe fure elemens sul

al in o ne hei; steuene

merci ih su fig mari

as pou ert god and king of benene.

(End of the fragment .)

I I I . THE FALL AND PAS S ION .

(Harl . MS . 9 13 , back o f p .

p e grace of god ful of migt pat i s king an cuer was

mote amang us ali3t an gine v s alle i s swet grace

me to spek an 3ou to lere pat hit be wo rsip lord to pe

me to teche an gou to here pat helplich to ure sowles be

1 For the a’ and) , an is printed here.

E ARL Y E N GL IS H POEMS . 13

pat ic mote wip moch wo rping pro; i s mi;t so hi t fu l fille

to ;ov schow i s vp -ris ing i f hit be his swet wille

al pat god sufl'

rid of p i ne hit nas no ;t for is owen gilt

ok bit was man for sin pine : pat wer for sin in helle ipilt .

po lucifer stei; i n p ride pat was angel in heuen so bri ;te

vte of heuen he gan glide an in to helle sone he li;t

an wip him mani an mo pat no tunge ne mi;t telle

wip him fi lle adunc al so : i n to pe derk p it o f helle

S eue daiss a seue ni;t as ;e seep pat fallip snowe

vte of heuen hi ali;t an in to helle wer iprow .

for pe prude of lucifer pe tepe angle fi lle in to helle

an al pat to him bo xum were euer in p ine hi mo t dwelle .

har stides for to ful fille pat wer i-falle for p ru de an hore

god makid adam to i s wille to fille har stides pat wer i lor

Skil resun an eke mi;t he ;ef adam i n his mode

to be stidfast wip al ri ;t an leue pe harme an do gode .

god ;af him a gret maistre of al pat was i n watir an londe

of paradis al pe balye whan him likid to i s honde .

foules . bestis an pe frute saf o tre he him fo rbede

of paradis pe grete dute an ;it he sinied pro; iuil red .

to him pe deuil had envie pat he in hi s stid scho ld be bro;te

a serpent he com pro; felonie an makid eue chonge hir po;t

whi com he raper to eue pan he com to adam

ichul ;ou telle sires be leue for womman i s lef euer to man

womman mai tu rne man-i s wille whare ;ho wo l p i lt hir topat is pe resun an skil le pat pe deuyl com hir first to .

E tte he seid of pis appil if pat pou wolt witti be :

pe wo rp as witti of mi;t an wille : as god him silf in trinite

hi nad bot pat appil i-;ette pat pe sin nas ido

glad was pe deuil wo l ;e i-wit for pe so row pat he sold to .

of paradis h i wer ute p ilt wip trauail har liuelode to winne

an vte fiemi d for har gilt an neuer efte paradis to com inne .

In pe vale of choir hi s liuelo d he mos t swink sore

wip so row an care an dreriwo n he liued .ix .c. ;sr an more .

aftir i s lif pat he had here nedis he most wend to helle

for pe trepas pat he did here pere he most bide an dwelle .

G o d makid‘

mankin more ok to helle pe deuil ham bro ;t

pat euir ham traiid pro; i s lore non fram him scapid no;t .

14 E AR L Y ENGL ISH POEMS .

god i s prophetis to ham send an seid hov hi sold be sauid

as bi M oyses pat am wend a-;e pe propheci ;it i-sinid .

god wis t wel bi pilk say pat bi no man pat was y-co r

whan bi prophetis no bi lai . pat communelich hine wer for-lor .

holi bok i s fort fulfil god i s angle anon fo rp send :as bi angle gabriel pat to pe maid was iwend .

flees he took of maid mari god an man-is kund to gadir

an pat was a gret maistri pat pe do ;tir ber pe fader .

mai d bere heuen king pat i s al ure creatoure

mai d ber pe swet ping per for sso ne les no;t hir fiure .

G o d him ;cd an erp here xxxti winter an somdel mo

as hol i wri t vs gan lere he suffrid bope pine an wo .

man a;cns god so gilt to heuen non sowle ne m i;te :

fort god- i s sone in rode was p ilt an wan v s heuen li;t .

Indas ne cupe i s lord no;t hold . his owen discip le ;it he wasfor xxx peniis be him sol d ynom an ibund he was .

he was ibo bid an i-smitte an hi spette i n i s face :

hi bede him rede if he cupe witte woch of ham al hi t was .

he was ibund to a tre an ibet wip scurges kene

pat ai pe hlode vt gan fle : ouer al i s bodi hi t was sene .

S ip h i nom him as a pef an lad him bi-for p ilate

for he nas no ;t‘

to ham lef hi had to him grete hate .

p ilat bed ham do har bes t a-;e pe law be he nold

for no gilt bi him he ni st war for dep sufl‘ri he sso ld .

hi nailed him i n b ond an fete as ;e mow al i-se

for pe appil pat adam ete : dep he po lid opon pe tre .

pe wikkid men nol leue no;t pat he wer fullich ded so

fort per wip a S per hi ad him so ;t . an clef i s swet hert atwo .

per was i n pe lond a kni;t pat het ;o sep of arimathie

pat louid ihsu wel ari;t an po;t i s wel to honuri .

he wend to p ilat swipe snel an be-so;t him mercy

if hit wer i s wil pe bodi grant biri .

po p ilat had igrant i s luue glade y-no; ho was

he nem pat swet bodi adun an biriid hit in a fair p las .

hi s moder s tode him be side an st' j on ek al so :

bitter teris vte gan gl ide hir po ;t hir hert wo l a two .

hit nas no wonder po ; ;0 wep for hir swet child al owe

wip nailes he was i-smit dep wip sper h i delet him in two .

E AR L Y ENGLISH POEMS . 15

al lair ioi was ago po ;0 him sei dei in rode

for to wep ;e nad no mo bot iii i bitter teris of blode .

who Spekip of deil a-;e pat del neuer such nas per none

as whan pat hi him be-held as ;ho makid an seint Jon .

sip hi sei d at onemoupe . pat hewolde destru temp le an chirche

an pat he was wel coupe pat al falsnis sebold wirche .

an vp pilat hi cried apan eu[ri]cho n at o ne vois :

pat he sebold hold barabam an do ihsu on pe crois .

In pis manere he was ipinsed as hi s swet wil hit was

an dep for mankyn suifred pe prid dai Vp he ros .

after pat he li;t in to helle per al pe sowles wer i-wis se

al his frendis he bro ;t vt alle in to ioi an heuen blis .

Whan in helle was seint ion patriarkes an oper m o

hit i sene per scapid non pro fetis pat god louid al so .

al i n helle were i-fas t fort ihsu cris t pro; i s m i;te

of pe p it vte he ham cas t an bro ;t ham to heuen ly;t .

pro; i s dep'he ouer cam as he i s manhed siwed

as pro fetis prechid in his name so pat he dep sufi'

rid .

po he rose fram dep to line as tellip daui pe king :

i s godhed he gan to kipe holy boke tellip i s up-rising .

ihsu was sikir ino ; pat seid erlich . ic wo l ri;t me

an asnward wip vt wo ; after pat dep ouercom be .

pe ii. i . dai he ro s to lius i s lore riuedlich he sen d

his deciplis he makid blipe . per after in pe world ham send .

of his lore forto preche hou hi lord sso ld siu pe z

an pe sinful folk to tech hou meri hit i s to wip pe be .

an after he stei; to heuen aboue per i oi is pat euer lest

an per he sal al vs loue i n his swet blisful fes t amen .

IV . T HE T EN C OMMANDMENT S : against swearing,S unday trading &c.

(Harl . M S . 9 1 3 , p . 3 1 back.)

1 N o n ihsu for pi derwo rp hlo de pat pou schaddist for mankyn

;if vs grace towirch wo rkisgode . to heuen pat we m o t enter inn .

M an and womman ic red be ware ;ure gret opis pat ;e be leue

and bot ;e nul go d nel ;ou S pare . bope lif and catel hewol ;on reue

16 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS .

5 hit nis nowonder for sop iwisse : patgretwreche ne fallipper fore

for we ne leuip of al i s limmes . patwe ne habbip ham for-sworeman i s wo rs pan eni hunde . oper he is to wi ld and wode :

pat we sso ld edwite i s wo rpiwound . pat he po lid for vre gode .

be a ware whose euer wo l al quelme and so row pat euir is :

10 at pen end so find we sulle pat for man-i s s in i t is

ic rede pat euch be ware i-wis in as moch as pe i s man

whan ;e swerip gret opis in rode pou piltist him apan .

G o d commandid to yeay pat he sso ld wend and p rechpat was in pe hil of syn a hou he sso ld pe folke tech .

15 and to ssow ham god-is defens hope to ;ung and to olde .

o f pe .x. commandemens whos wold be sauid ham sso ld hold .

I . b e first como ndement i s pi s 0 god we ssul honuri :

pe hei; king of heuen blis hi s name wip wirssip to wo rpi .

loue pou him as he dop pe wip al pi mi;t an pi po;t :

20 we au ;t ful wel for hit was he pat vs wrecchis so dere bo ;t .more harm is we dop no ;t s o we lo uid pe ful dr itte of grunde

alas wrecchis whi do we so hit mai no;t hold vre lif a stunde

ve bep hi pe deuil be tau;t pat liuip op goddis mo pan o ne

and makip goddis pro ; wichcraft pai ssul al to pe deuil goneII . 25 pe secunde so is pis sundai wel pat ;e holde :

to serue god pilk dai wis bope ;ung and eke olde .

and now pe sundai O punlich men holt al har chep ing

wonder pat gode ne sent wreech al an erpe vp mankyn .

III. pe prid i s . fader moder to honuri for euch man a; t ful wel

30 moch ten sufi‘

rid hi her hi mi;t bring pe wrecche to wel

hit fallip bi children pat bep quede as farip bi been in hiue

whan fader ;uief ham londe and leede : pe ;ungwo lpe old a t dri us

IV . pe verp l’

ouepi nei;bo re as pine owe bodi : non oper pou himwil

. VI . pe fift wit pc fram licheri pe sixt is no gode ofman pou ne stel .

VI I . 35 pe .v ii . mansla;t pou ne be : ne co ueit no;t neuer adel

III . IX . po ; pou be stuter pan is he no is wif no is catel .

X . fals witnes pou ne ber for to destrei p oner no riche

sore and bitter pe soule sal der for hi t beminep heuen-riche .

besech we him mil d of mode pat sok pe m ilk of maid-i s brest

40 pat bo;t vs wip is der blod ;ine vs euer i n heuen res t Amen .

[ L o llai .l . litil ch ild : whi wepistou so sore -wh ich has been printedelsewhere—fo l lows ]

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FRA GME 'N T O N“T H E SEV EN S INS .

in pe name of god . and S . marie

;oure s inful lif to amendj e

to-dai ic wo l ;ow teche .

7. And pat he me let so wel to spek

to dai pe deuil-is staf to brek

an wip him so to fi;te .

perto par charite ic ;ou crie

a pater noster and aue marie

i n pe name of god al-mi ;te .

8 . pat pees pat i s in god-is huse

to dai be a-mangis vse

pro; i s holi grace

pat me giue lif and gode ending

and to ;ou ;ine gode lusting

iri pis silne p lace9 . G od him s ilf seiip i n his gospel

mi leue frendis ic wo l ;ou tel

nimip to me gome :

o worde ic ;ou lie nelle

of heuen bli s no p ine of helle

no of riche dome .

10. and of pe herrid s innes senene

whar for men lesip benene

ic wo l ;ou nemeni alle

and bar nami s ic wo l ;ou teche

and hou hi wo l men bi-peche

and make ham to falle .

First at prude i wo l be-gin for hit i s heuid of al s inne .

ic hit wo l ;ou do to wit i n holi boke hit i s i writ .

3 Luci fer pat was so bri;te pat fairist was of al wi;te .

wip oute god in heuen nas non so fair al s he was .

5 nas neuer non so fule ifund as he in hel le lip abund .

nad he no more gilte whar for he was of heuen ipilte

7 a litil p ru de him was in-com per-for god him hauip be-nome

heuen blisse pat euer Sal l as t and in to helle he i s cast .

9 per he sal woni euer more and i s p rude abigge wel sore .

alas . man whi artu prute whannin commip pi fair S chru te

I .

one"

ise .]

11

13

15

17

19

21

23

25

27

29

31

33

35

37

39

41

43

45

47

FRAGM ENT ON T H E SEVEN S INS . 19

midwhats pou art ischrid aboute . no;te of pe man boute doute .

pine owen schond pou werist an pat belip pi fleis and pi bone

ic wo l pat pou iwit wel hit nis bote a hori felle

pat i s p ine owen -ri;t wede bepenche pe man and hab dreds .

man and wom an vndersto nd pis be-tak euch beste his .

pat ert so fair mid bi gon linin . wo lh'

n . glouis . and schone .

pat pou art in hit so prute ne s al pe leue neuer a cloute .

per-for man ic pe for-hede wo rldlich p rude i n hert and dede .

and lede pi lif bi godis rede to loui god and hab dredepat pou be gode- is sone and him to queme at pe dome .

C o ueitise i s pat oper herkne nov leue broper .

per i s mani man bi p ei;te s o pe fend him hauip itei;te .

pe man pat i s co ueituse me commip he neuer to god-i s huse .

suche per bep al to fele pat lo uip more pis world-i s welle

pango dpat hap ham O ferpe iwr o ;te . and so swithe dereham bo;te .

he nel i s catel speu i n wast ac euer he hi t witip fast .

he nold pat aliue nere none so riche as he were .

an d euer so he hauip more pe faster he gaderip to store .

and euer he wo l i s lif so lede in mochel so row and in dreds .

nel he neuer hab rest i s mo chil mukke to wi ti fas t .

pat ne mai in him slepe c’

um les t i s mukke be him be nome

lener him wer ;iue of i s blo de pan ani man of i s gode .

nel he of opir ping hede but i s ful e bodi fede .

mid i s siluir and i s gold no;t i s soule pat he sebold .

a-pan i s muk he sit a-brode he pat pus dop mid i s gode .

he ne penchith no;t in i s end pat he sal of pis world wend .

and vnderstonde no;t he nelle . what he i s no whoder he schel .

hi s catel he wenip witi wel o c i n his soule penche he nelle .

wi th i s siluir and is gold he wenip euer i s lif hold .

whan he wenip linie wel mid dep adun fal he schel .

pe deuil benimip him i s brep moch so row pan be him dep .

for is gode pe fend him deriip and is soul to helle he feriip .

pe deuil is hi s executur of is gold and is tresure .

pat he so m’

och tris t to loke nou hou he i s ago .

perfor man in alle wi se ic pe for-hede co ueitise .

to world-i s wel nab pou no triste . hit went awei S O dop pe m i steher i t i s and her hit nis al so farep pe world-i s bli s .

ne be he neuer so riche whan he lip a cold liche .

b ?

20 C HRIST ON T HE CR O S S .

if he hauip an O ld clute he mai be swipe prute

whar mid i-helid he sal be pat noman nakid him ise .

of what he gadred an i s was . nis pis rewp . alas . alas .

De prid s in so i s onde pat mo chil nupe’

i s in lond .

and euir hi quemip pe fend o fhelle i nwoch maner icwo l ;ou tel .

leue breperin herknip now . and ic wo l ;ou tell how .

world-i s wel fall ip vnliche . and no;t euch man ilich .

sum per bep pat cun no;t libbe . sum pat hauip frendis s ibbe .

and sum per bep pat swinkip sore . wi nne catel to hab more .

ham silf fair to susteni . and euer more h i bep nedi .

and sum per bep leue broper . pat more hap pan anoper .

and more loue of gode man anoper wo l after pan .

areri cuntake

[ends abruptly .]

V I . CHR IS T ON T HE CRO S S . (A fragment.)

(Harl . MS . 9 13 , f.

Resp ice in faciem christi tu i dtc. Augustinus .

pendens nudatum pectus rubet sanguineum latus regia

pallent o ra decora languent lumina . crura pendent marmorea .

rigat terre beatos pedes sangu in is unda . De istis auctoritatibus anglicum .

1 B e-hold to pi lord man . whare he hangip on rode .

and weep i f pou mi;t . teris al of blo de .

and loke to i s heued . wip po rnis al be-wonde .

and to i s felle so bi-spette . and to pe sper- i s wnde .

5 bi-hold to i s bres t nakid . and i s blodi s ide .

stiniith i s arm is . pat S prad bep so wide .

hi s fair lere falowip . and dimmip i s s i;te .

per-to i s hendi bodi . on rode so is y-ti ;te .

his lendin so hangip . as cold as marbre s tone .

fo r luste of lechuri . nas per neuer none .

be-hold to i s nailes . in bo nd and ek in fote .

and how pe stremis ernip . of i s swet hlode .

be-gin ns at is heued . and loke to i s to .

pou ne findest in is bodi . bot anguis and wo .

20

A RHYME -B EGIN N IN G FRAGME N T . 21

turne him uppe . turne him doune . pi swete lemman .

ouer al pou findist him . blodi oper wan .

Dilexit nos et lauit nos a peccatis nostris in sanguine suo cite.

Lens for pe mi brest nakid . schinip glisminge .

mi si de dep istunge . mi hondes sore bleding .

Qu id misericord ias nalet intelligi ips i peccatori eternis tormentis

dampnato et vnde se redimat non habenti quam ut dicat deus ipsepeccatori D icit vero deus pater Accipe unigenitum meum et da

pro to et il le filius tolle me et red ime te . Anglicum expone .

M an pou has t pe for-lor . and ful neip to helle ibor .

wend a-

;e and com to me . and ic wo l underfang pe .

for firs t ic makid pe of . no;t . and S ip dere pe i-bo;t .

whan ic mi lif ;ef for pe . and i-hang was on tre . &c.

0 homo ; vide qu id pro te patior sicut est dolor sicut dolor quocrucior . ad te clamo qu i pro te morior . n ides penas qu ibus afiicior .

uide'

clauos qu ibus confodior . si est tantus dolor exterior . interiusest planctus grauior .

M an bi-hold what ic for pe . po lid up pe rode tre

ne mai no kinnes wo be mare . pan min was po ic heng pare .

hire me man to pe gredind . for loue of pe biter deiend .

loke ‘mi p inis biter and strang wan icwas nailed pro; fot and bond

for pe ic had hard stundes . dintes grete and sore woudes .

for pe biter drink ic dronk . and pou cunnest me no ponk .

ic was ipinid sore . wip-in ic was mo chil more .

30 for pou nslt ponk me . pe loue pat ich schowid pe &c.

[end ]

VI l. A RHYME -BE GINNING FRAGMENT.

(Harl . M S . 9 13 ,

L oue hauip me bro;t i n lipir po;t .

po;t ic ab to blinne :

hlinne to peneh hit is for no;t ;N o ;t i s loue O f sinne .

S i nne me hauip in care ibro ;t .

bro;t in mo chil vn-winne

22 A MORAL O DE .

winne to weld ic had i-po ;t ;po;t i s pat ic am inne

In me i s care . how i ssal fare .

fare ic wo l and funde .

fare ic wip outen are

ar i be bro;t to grunde .

VI I I . A MORAL ODE .

(Egerton MS . 6 13 , fol . 7- 12 ; later copy, fol. 64

1 . Ic ‘aem aelder paenne ic

*waes ’ . a winter 3 and a lore

ic wzelde more panne ic dude . mi wit ah to ben more

2 . We] lange ic habbe child iben ‘ . a worde ec”a dede

pech 6 ic beo a wintre eald . to (j ung ic’eom at

8 rede

3 . V nnt 9 lyf ic habbe tie-laid Guet me pinh ic lede

panne ic me bi-panche ‘2. wel sore ic me adrede

4 . M est al past ic habbe ydon . ys idelnesse and chiloe

we] late ic habbe me‘3 bi-poht . bute me god do mi lce

5. Fele ydele word ic hable i-quepen . syden ic speke cupe

fele fininge deden15 i-do . pat 16 me of pinchet nupe

6 . Al to lome ic habbe a-gult . a werche ‘7cc a worde

al to muchel ic habbe i-spend . to Iitel y-lei d an horde

7. M est al pat me likede aer . nu it me mys l iked”1 8

pe muchel fo lfiep his y-wil . him sulfne he bi-swikeO‘

8. I 0 myhte1 9 habbe bet i-don . badde ic per

2° y sclpe

nu ic wolde , ac ic ne mai . for elde ne for nu-helpe

9 . E lde " l me i s bi-s tolen on . aer ic hit a-wuste

ne myht ic i sen be-fore me for smeke ne for mysts

10. Artie9”we beop to done god . to vuele 23 al to pri ste

more eie sto nt2“man of manne . panne him det 25 of criste

T he w is theAnglo-S axon p, the dc the 7 . T he hyphens and commasare not in theM S . S ome of themetrical points are inserted from the later MS .

1 Ich .

9 pen ich -wes .

3awintre.

4 ibeon . a weorde.

5ech.

peh .

7 tu ; yng.

8 a.

9 Vn-nut 1° habb ilaed.

1 ‘pincp.

’3 penche.

‘3 me.

1‘ iqueden . syd‘

d‘

en.

15; unge dede.

‘6pe.

17 weorche.

‘9 mis-lichet. 19 Ich mihte.

2°po .

3‘ Y lde.

3“sam e.

23yfele.

2‘ stent . 25 do .

A MORAL O DE . 23

11 . pe wel ne dep pe bwile he mei . wel oft hit bym scael ruwen

penne hy mowen sculen ripen . per pe hi fer seowen

12 . Don ec to gode wet 6s muéje . pa bwile 6S bud a life

ne hop is no man to muchel . to childe ne to wyfe

13. b e him selue for-(int for wife . oper 1 for childe

he sael comen ’ on vuele stede . bute bym god be8 mi lde

14. S ende ec‘sum god be-foren bym . pe hwyle Ge ben aliue 5

fo r betere his on almesse before . paune ben after vyue6

15. N e beo pe leure pan pi self7

. pi mei ne pi mo fje8

9“for sot ys pat ys oper mannes frond . betre panne his o tje16 . N e hopie wif to hyre were . us were to his wife

bue ‘° for him selue aefrech”man . pe whyle he bo alife

17. Wis is pe him sulf be-pcmp‘2

. pa bwi le pe he mo t‘3 libbe

for sone wi llet him for-fiyten pe fraemden po sibbe

18. De wel ne dep pe wi le he mai . ne scal he wanne 15 he wolde

mani 16 mannes sor (5s swynch . habbet ofte alle vn holde ‘7

19 . N e solde no man don a ferst . ne sclakien 1 8 wel to done

for mani man bi-ho ted 19 wel . be 20 i t fo rqytet some

20 . pe man pe wule siker ben . to habbe godes bli sse

do wel him silf pe wile he mai panne haued be i t mid 2 ‘ ywisse

21 . 130 82 2 riche men wened bensikere 23 . purh walles

”4&purh dichehe ded his eitte on 35 sikere s tede . pe hi send

2“to benene-riche

22 . For per me parf he ben O f drad 97 . of fure ne of peve”8

per ne mai i t bym bi-mimen 29 . pe lope ne pe lene3°

23 . p er ne perf he habbe kare . of wine me of childe

pider we sended sunel bred“. to litel 3“ to selde

24 . p ider we solden drawen don . wel o ft wel fie-lome

forper ne scal me us nontbinim en3“midwro nge ne midwofie

3‘

25. p ider we sco lde (j erne drawen don 35 . wolde fie me ilene

for per no mai hi t o n bi-nimen 36. pe king ne pe scirreve 3 1

1over. 2

sceal cume.

3 beo . aech.

5 bwile he mei to heuene.

6seouene.

7 pene pe sulf. 8 maei ne Ui mage.

9sot is be is ob‘res .

1° beo . aeurich.

1’sulfne bi 13 hwile he mote.

1“wulleb‘

hine for-; ite.

15 hwenne.

1“man ies . 17 sare iswinch habbez)‘

oft

unholde.

‘9 slawen .

‘9 bi-hateO‘

.

2°pe.

2 1 Sen hauet)‘

he mid.

22pes.

23 wened beo siker. 24 wal le.

”5 h is a.

26pe sent . 97 dierf

been of dred . 2“peone.

29 mei hi bi~nime.

3° lab‘e ne O‘

e leoue.

3 ‘ sendet sulf 3”lite.

33 naht b i n ime.

34 mid wrancwise

dome.

35 Oz don omitted.35 bi-nimen eow.

37ne se ireue.

24 A MORAL O DE .

26 . Al pat beste pat ge we habbet‘. pider we sco lde sende

for per we i t muwen 2 finden eft . habben ahnten ’ ends

27. De pe her det ani god . for to habben ‘ go ddes o re

al be i t scal finden per . hundred felde more

28 . b e pe ehte wi le healden wel . pe wile he mai his wel den

(iiue his for godes luue . eft heo hi t scul len a-finden s

29. V re iswinch ure tilpe . i s efte iwuned to swinden

ac pat we dot for godes luue . eft we i t scullen afinden

30. N e scal non vuel 6 ben vn-bou t . nc non god vn-for-(io lde

vuel we dO O'

al to muchel god las se panne we sco lde

31. pe pe mest ded nu to gode . pe pe lest to lads

ayper to late] to muchel . scal pinchen eft bym bade

32. p er me seal vre werkes wefien . bi-foren pen heuene kinge

fiiuen us vre swinches lyen . after vre erninge

33 . E ure ilc man mid pan pe he’ baned . mai biggen heueriche

pe pe more baned pe pe lasse . bope mai iliche

34 . H e alse mid hi s penie . pe pe8 oper mid hi s punde

pat i s pe wunder-likeste 6are9

. pat ein man eure funde

35. And pe pe more ne mai don . bute w mid hi s gode panke

al se wel se pe baned . goldes feale manke

36. And god 1 2 can more panc . dan pe him (j iued les se

al hi s werkes his weies . i s mi lce ritGifnesse1 3

37. L utel lo c 1‘ i s gode lef . pat co rned of gode wil le

eO-lete muchel Gyne . denne de heo rte i s ille

38. H euene erpe he ouer-sihd'

. his efien bed so bri tte

sunne . mone . dai . fur . bud pustre to-(j enes his lithte

39. N is him nout for-hole ni hud . so muchel bet 15 his mihte

nis i t no so derne idon ne a swa pustre nihte

40. H e wo t wat deht 1 6 penchet . alle quike wihte

nis no lo uerd swile se i s cris t . na king swilc vre drihte

41 . B enene herpe al pat i s . be loken in his honde

he ded al pat his willes i s . a watere a londe

42 . H e makede fisses inne pe see . fufieles inne pe lofte

he wit walt ‘7 alle ping . he scop alle scefte“

pet betste per we hedde.

2 mihte.

3 habbe bute. for habbe .

5 penne deo‘ he his wel ihealden.

6 nan nuel . 7 he om i tted.

3se Ge.

9 wunder-lukeste ware.

1° bute omitted. marke.

1”And oft god.

‘3 rihtwisnesse. lac.

“5 biO‘. 1° deb’

.

‘7wealdeIT. 1° salle ; e sceafte.

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26

59.

60 .

6 1 .

62 .

63.

64 .

65.

66 .

67.

68 .

69 .

70.

71 .

72 .

73 .

75.

A MORAL O DE . REPEN T IN T IME .

E al pat eure ilc man baned i-do . sutpe be com to manne

swi le hit seie on bo c ‘ i-writen . he seal i t penche panne 7

A c drithte ne demed nanne man . after his bi-ginninge

ac his 3 lib seal beo swile . se bued his endinge

A c fiif pe ende i s euel,al i t i s uuel . al god ‘

,(j if god i s ende

"

god (inne pat ure end beo god . wite pet he us lende 6

pe men pe nele do no god . ne neure god li f ledenaer ded ’ dom come to 8 his dure . he mai sore a-dreden

pat he ne muwe penne bid de o re . for it i ti t ilome

pi he i s wis pe bit be-(j it9

. bet be-fore dome

penne ded i s ate1° dure wel late he biddet o re

wel l ate he leted vuel weo rc pe hit ne mai do na marel ‘ S unne let pe, pu naht hire

,panne pus ne miht do no more

for-pi he i s set, pe swa abi t

,to habbe go ddes hore

peh hweder we i t iluuet wel . for drihte 8q hit sede

a wulehe time so eure pe man . O f-pinchet his mis-dede

O per later oper raper . m ilce he seal i-meten

ac pe pe nout naued‘7 ibet . wel muchel he seal beten

M ani man sei d wo reeks of p ine . pe seal habben ende

ne bid de ie no bet beo a-lused ’z. a domesdai of bende

L utel wat he hwat i s p ine . lutel he i t iewoweO‘ “

wile hete i s per soule wunet . hu biter win d per blouwet

H adde he ibeon per anne dai oper twa bare ti de

nolde he for al middan eard . pe pridde per abide

pat habbet i sed pat comen panne . pit wuste mid iwisse

uuel i s p ine seone tier . for seoue nihtes blis se

And ure blisse pe ende hafh . for endeliese p ine

hetre i s wori water to drinke ‘5. penne atter i-menge mid wine

Swanes brede i s swupe swete . so i s of wi lde dere

ac al to duere he i-butj ed16

. pat Giued pere-fore his swere

Ful wombe mai liht-liche speken . of hunger of fasten

swa mai of p ine pe naht not . hu hi scullen ilesten"

B adde he ifonded sume hwile 1 8. he wolde al seggen oper

cd-lete him were . wif . child . su s ter . fader . broper

s i aboc 2 iO‘

enche O‘

enne.

3ao al his . 4

god.

5 penne.

5 lenne.

7 died.

9set. 9 be beet 62 heat. 1° dead is set his . st. 65 is om i tted.

abit abides,wa i ts.

1’nafd naht. 13 ilusd.

1‘ icnawee‘

.

15 weter idrunke.

1“hi him“. ‘7 hu p ine sceal alesten.

1° B edde his a-fanded sume stunde.

A MORA I. O DE . O F T H E LA ST JUDGME N T . 27

76 .

1A l he wolde operluker den . operluker penche

fianne he bi-pouhte on helle fur . pe nowiht ne mai aquenehe

77. E ure he wolde inne wa her . inne p ine 7 wunien

wid pan pe mihte helle p ine . bi-fiuen bi-scunien

78 . E d—lete him were al woruldes 3 wele . al eordliche ‘

fo r to pe muchele murcd cume . pat i s heuenriehe 5

79 . I“wulle nu comen eft to pe dome . pat 7 ic cow er of sede

on pat dai,at pe dome . us helpe cri st rede

80 . pper we mafien been ede of drad a . harde us adrede

per ele sceal i-seo bi-foren him . his wo rd ee his dede

81 . B a] seal ben panne 9 cud . pat man lufien her stelen

al seal ben per vnwrien . pat men wrucj en her helen

82. We scullen alre manne lif . icnawe per al so vre owe

per sculle heueninges ben . pe heifie pe loufie

83 . N e seal pei noman scamien per . ne perf he him adrede

(j if him here O f-pinched his gult . beted his misdede

84 . For heom ne seamet ne ne gramet . pe sculle been ibo ruwene

ac pe opre habbet scame grame . pat sculle been fo rlo rene

85. pe dom seal sone ben i don . ne las t he nowit longe

ne seal him noman mene per . of strengpe ne of wrange

86 . Do scullen habben hardne dom pe here weren herde

pa pe cuele heo lden wreche men . vuele lafies rerde ‘7

87. A c ’3 after pan pe‘4 he baned idon . he seal per been idemed

blipe mai he panne buen . pe god baned‘5 iquemed

88 . Alle poi

pat isprunge bed . of adam of eue

salle he scu lle puder come . for sope we i t ileued

89 . p p pe habbed wel i don . after heo re mihte

to heuenriche l 6he scullen . ford mid vre drihte

90. pe pe nabbed god idon . per-i nne bed ifunde

he scullen falle swipe rape . i n to helle grunde

Deer" inne he scullen wunis . buten o re ende

ne breed neuereuft cri st helle dure . to lese hem " 3 of bende

S tanza 76 is emitted.

2 wawe.

3ea] weruld.

4eordliche blisse.

5eume . dis murhde mid iwisse.

5 Ich.

7pe. dredde.

9 den

denne.

1° iberege. Gt Oder fele serge.

1"arerde.

13 and.14

omit pe and he.

‘5 hafe'”

wel. 1 6scale faren .

‘7 h i wunie sculen

a 62 buten ende.

‘9 for lese hi .

28 A MORAL O DE . O F DE AT H AND S IN .

92 . N is no sel lie pei heom beo wo . hem bee 1vnepe

2 nele neureit cri s t polie ded . for lesen heom of diepe

93 . E nes drihte helle brac . hi s frend he ut broutte

him self he pelede died for hem . wel dere he us bouhte

94 . N olde it mo uwe den for mey a. ne su ster for broper

nolde i t sune don for fader . ne noman for oper

95. U re‘ lauerd fo r his preles . ipined was on ro de

ure bendes he unbo nd . bo uht us mid his blode

96 . We (j ieued vnepe for his louue . a sticche of vre brede

ne penche we nout pat he seal deme . pos

quike to 5 dede97. M uchele luue he us cudde . wolde we i t understondepat vre eldrene mis-duden . we habbet vuele an honde

98 . D ied com i n pis middenerd . purh pe ealde deofies ondesynne sortie 6e-swineh . a watere cc

5 aloude99 . V res formes faderes gult . we abigget alle

al his O f-sprunge after bym . i n herme i s bi-falle

100. Durst . hunger . chule . hete . eehe al unelpe6

purh died com i n pis middenerd . oper vnisalpe’

101. N iere no 5 man elles d ied . me sic . ne non8vn-

ysele

ac mihten libbe eure mo a bli sse on hele

102 . L utel ipenehd mani man . hu muchel wes pe synne

for 9 pan po lied alle died . pe comen O f here cunne

103 . H ere sunne ec vre owen . sore us mai of pinche

for i n 5 synne we libbet al le in serewen in swinehe

104 . S udpe go d nam swa muchele wreche . for ane misdede

pe pat s o muchel swa 5 oft mis ded . mufien us sore adrede

105. Adam his o f-spring . fo r one bare sunne

was fele hundr ed wintre i n hel le . in p ine in vnwunne

106 . And po pe leded here lif mid vnriht mid " wronge

bute i t go des milce do scul le beo per wel longe

G odes wi sdom i s wel muchel . al swa i s his mihte

ni s his m ilce nawiht las se . ac b i des ilke wihte

108 . M ore he o ne mai fer-6iuen penne alfo lc gul te cunne

deo fel suelf s mihte habbe milce . (j if he i t17bid de gunne

nu iee‘e.

9 sceal neure.

3 mei. 4 Vre ealre.

5 omits these.5unhelde.

7uniselde.

9an sele.

9 whan ealle polied died.1° alle

her. eaO‘

e.

‘7 bigunne.

A MORAL O DE . O F T H E PAINS O F HE L L . 29

b e de godes milce sechd . iwis he mai i s finde

ac helle kinge is lo reles wid pa pe he mai binde

b e de dep his wille mest . he hauep wurs t mede

his bead seal beo wallinde p ich . his bed berninde glede

Wurs he ded his gode wines 7 . pene his fulle feo nde

god seulde alle godes frend I a wihd seuehe 3 freo nde

N eure on helle ic ne com I me comen ic per ne reche

deh ich elches wurldes wele . per inne mihte fecche

peh ie wo l le seggen eow . pat wi se men ut‘ sede

and aboke sit i s i-wri te . per me mai i t rede

Ie i t wulle segge heom pe hem self it nusten

warnen heom wit heore hearme“. (j if hi me wulled lusten

Y uder-stondet nu to me . aeidi 7 men earme

I o wulle telle of helle p ine . warnie ow wid herme

O n helle i s vnger perst . vuele tuo ifere

pes pine po lied pe . pe were mete nipinges here

per i s woninge8 wep . after eche strete

hi fared fram hete to pe chele . fram chele to pe hete

panne hi beod i n pe hete . pe chele 9 dinchet blisse

penne hi comed eft to chele . of hete hi habbed m is se

A iper hem ded wa i neu . mahbet hi none lisse

nuten hi weper ded wurs t . mid neure non ‘0 iwisse

H i walked eure sechet reste . ac hi ne mufien imeten“

for pi hi nolden pO‘7 wile hi mithten here sunne beten 1 3

H i seehed reste per no n nis . ae‘4 pi ne muwen ifinde ‘5

ac walked '

weri up dun . al 14 se water ded mid winde

pis beed po pe weren her . on penke vn-stedefaste

po god bi-heten auht . nolden it ilaste

be de god weere bigunne . ful enden hi t nolden

pe1 6 weren her . nupe per . nusten wet he ‘7 welden

pere i s p ich pat eure weald . pat sculle bapien inne

pe pe ladde vuel lif . i n feeh 18end in iginne

5 wines . 3swiehe.

4 us . 5 h i hit write.

5unfreme.

7 wanunge.

9chelechee

‘ blisse.

5° wheder him ded wurs mid

nane. mugen imete.

1”p i 151 nolden .

13 bete.

‘4ac and al

omitted.

15 hi finds.

15 nu. ‘7 hi . 1° feoht.

30 A MORAL O DE . o r T H E PAINS O F HE L L .

125.

1

per i s fur pat eure barnd . ne mai hit nawiht quenche

her-i nne beed pe wes to lef . wrecche men to swenche

126 . per i s fur pat i s vndredfelde hatere panne beo vre’

ne mai i t quenchen salt water . nauene s tr ien 3 ne sture ‘

127. DO pe were swikele men . fulle O f vuele wrenche

po pe ne mihte euel don . lef was i t to 5 penche

128. Do pe luueden rening stale . bordem . drunke

pe‘ on pes deofies weo rkes blipeliche swunke

129 . DO pe were so lease . pat me h i ne mihte ileuen

med Geo rne domes men . wranewise reuen ’

130. De epre mannes wif wes lef . his awene ed-lete

po pe sunegede muchel . on drunke onaete

131. De wreechen bi-nemen hure ehte leiden huere on horde ’

pe lutel leten O f godes bode O f godes worde

132 . And O f his owen nolde 6iuen . per he sei pe nede

ne nolde ihuren godes sende . per pe'l sette his beode

133 . Do‘7pe weren operes marines p ine 54 . leure panne ic sco lde

weren al to gredi . of suelfer of golde

134. And po12

pe vntreunesse deden . (5am16 hi ahte ben holde

leten pat hi scolds don . duden pet hi wolde

135. Do pe (iysceres17 weren of pis weruldes ehte

du de pat pe lope gost . hem tibte cc‘ 8tauhte

136 . And alle po1 2 den eni wi se . deofien her iquemde

pO beo d nu mid him an helle for-don fer-dempde

137. Bute pe1 2pe o fpouhte sore . her here ‘9 mis-deden

gunnen here gultes beten . betere li f leden

138. peer bed naddren snaken . eueten frude 7°

pa tered freted pe uuele speken . pe nihtfull e'“

pe prute

139 . N eure sunne per ne scind . ne mone ne steo rre

per i s muchel godes hete . muchel godes fieo rre

140. E ure per i s vuel smech . pusternesse eie

nis per neure oper liht panne pe swarte leie

T he later MS . transposes the stanzas 1 25 and 126 , and begins 1 25with : p is is pe .

7 hundred fealde battre den vre.

5striem . i . e.

nor Avon stream nor S to ur . 5 wes to .

5 a.

7 irene.

5 a drunkendz en.

9De wrecche be-nam his ehte leide hes en herde.

1° bibede.

he.

‘5 pa. ‘5 wes.

‘4 d ing.

‘5end.

‘5 dude . pam Ge .

‘7 witteres

and omits weren .

‘5 to .

‘ 9 of dufte sare heore.

7° fruto .

7 ‘ niU fulle.

A MORAL O DE ; LOVE GO D AN D Y OU R N E IGHB O UR . 3 1

141. per ligget ladliche fend . in stronge raketeie

pat bud pe pe were mid gode . on heuene wel heie

142 . per bud ateliche fend . eisliche wihte

pes sculle pa wreechen i-S o n‘

. pe sunege purd5sihte

143. per i s pe lope sathanas . belsebuc pe3ealde

Iepe he ‘ muwen ben of drard . pe hine sculled bi-helde5

144 . N e mai non heerte i t penche ne no 5 tunge ne can telle

hu muchele p ine . & 7 hu vele . senden 5 i nne helle

145. O f 9 po p ine pe p ere nell e ie hou nout leioGen

Dis it bute gamen glee . al pat man mai here dreofien

146 . A c 1 2 Get ne ded heom nout so wo .

’

in po lope biende‘3

bute pat hi wited pat heore p ine . ne seal neure habben ends

147. per bud pO hepenemen . pe were lawe lesepe heom nas nout of godes bode

14. ne of godes hese

148 . V uele cristenemen . hi bud here i-vere

pO pe heo re cristen-dom . vuele heelden here

149 . (jut hi bud a wurse s tede . on pere helle grunde

ne sculle hi neure comen vp‘s

. for marke ne for punde

150 . N e mai heom noper helpen per . i-bede me almesse

for nis noper inne helle . ere ne fo rfiiuenesse

151 . S calde him ele ‘5 man pe wile he mai”. of pes helle p ine

and warnie aec‘5 his fi en d per wid . s o ie habbe m ine

152 . Do pe seilden heom ne eunnen . ic heom wulle teache

ich kan beo fiif il s seal . lichame soule liache 19

L ete we pat god for-bet . alle maneunne 7°

do pe pat he us hat . scilde we us wid sunne

154 . L uuie we god m id vre heerte . mid al vre mihte

vre emeristene alse 7“us suelf . swa us lerde drihte

155. Al pat me rat singd”

. be-fore godes borde

al i t hanged bi-halt . bi pisse twam werde

156 . All e godes lawe he fuld . pe newe pe75

ealde

he pe pes twa luue baned wel hi wule healde

1 i-fen.

2sunegede durb .

5 belzebud se.

4eae

‘

e h i . 5 scale bihealde.

5 idenehe . ne.

7 na.

5 sunden.

9 1° heed .

1‘eow

.naht. ‘7 E nd.

15(Ta lade bende and omi ts bute fo llowing .

‘4pe nes

naht o f godes bi-bode.

‘5vt .

‘5ech.

‘7 mu te.

‘5 ich.

‘9 leche.

5° manne cunne.

7“ea] . 27 raet eal pat me s inge'. 53 da.

5“hafd.

32 A M O R . O DE . WORK FOR GO D’S LOV E T HE N ARROW WAY .

157. A c hi bud wunder erned helde swa ofte we gulted alle

for i t is strong to sto nde longe . liht it 1 i s to falle

158. A c drihte cri st he Gine u s strenepe . stonde pat we mote

of alle vre gultes , unne us come 2 bote

159 . We wilnied efter wo rldes 5 wele . pe longe ne mai ileste

legged al ure iswinch . on pinge un-stede-faste ‘

160. Swunehe we for godes luue . half pat we do d fo r ehte

ne were 5 we nout swa bi-cherd . ne swa vuele bi-eauhte 5

161 . (j if we serueden god . so we do d erninges

more we haueden of 7 heuene . panne eerles oper 5 h inges

162. N e muwen hi her 9 werien heom wid chele wid parst . ne wid

hunger

ne wid elde ne wid ded . pe eldre 10 ne pe fieonger163. A c per nis hunger ne purst ne dep . ne vnhelpe ne elde

of pisse riche we penehet oft . o f pere to selde

164 . We sco lden alle us bi-penche o ft wel il ome

bwet we bed . to pan " we sculle . of wan we come

165. H e lutel wi le we bed her . hu longe ell es ware

hwat we mufien habben her . whet elles hware

166 . 6if we were wise men . pis we sco lden ipenehe

bute we wurpe us iwar . pes worlds us wule for-drenche

167. M es t alle men he Giued drinke . of one deofies seenche

he sceal him onh ne seulde wel . 6if he him1 5 nele screnehe

168 . Mid ealm[i]hties‘5 godes luue . vte pe us bi-werien

wid pes‘ 5 wrecches wo rldes luue . pat he me ‘5 mawe us derien

169 . M id fasten . almesse . ibede . werie we u s wid sunne

M id pO wepnen pe god haued (j iuen alle ‘7 maneunne

170. Laete we pe brede18 stret . pe

1 9 wei bene

pe lat pe nifiede del to helle O f manne . me ie wene

171. G O we pene narewe 7° wei. pene wei grene

per ford-fared lutel fo lc . ac it is feir scene

172 . De brede1 8 s tret i s vre iwi l . de is us led for to lete "

pe de al felewed 77 his wil . fared bi pusse strete

omits we and it . 5 cume to .

5 weruld.

5unstedefeste.

5 beo .

5 bi-kehte.

7 hedden en. .

5 her dz.

5omits her.

1° ulde uldre.

beet)“to whan .

1’ finde pere.

‘5 hine.

‘4ealmihti3es.

15 discs .‘5

omit no .

‘7 bigiten.

”5 brade.

‘9 done.

55 naerewne.

5‘ to

ferlaete.

77eal felsed.

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34 A MORAL O DE . T HE LIFE O F S T . DUN S T AN .

And deh ne beod heo re eGe naht . alle iliche brihte

di nabbed hi nouht iliche . alle of godes lihteO n pisse line h i neren nout . alle of o ne mihte

ne per ne scullen hi habben god . alle bi o ne (j ihte

p o scullen more of him seen . pe luuede him her more

more icnawen iwiten . h is mihte his o re

O n him hi scullen finden al pat man mai to lesten

hal i bo c hi sculle iseon . al pat hi her nusten

C ris t seal o ne been inou . alle h is dur linges

be one i s muchele mare betere . panne alle opere pinges

Inoh he haued pe hi ne baned . pe alle ping wealded

of him to sene ni s no sed . wel hem i s pe hine bi-healded

G od i s so mere swa muchel . in his gedcunnesse

pat al pat i s . al pat wes . i s wo rse penne he lesse

N e mai i t neur e no man oper segge mid iwisse

hu muchele murhde habbet pe . pe beo d inne godes blisse

To pere bli sse us bringe god . pe rixlet ahnten ende

penne he vre soule vn-bint . of licames bende

C ri s t Gyne u s leden her swile lif . habben her swile ende

pat we meten puder come . wanne we henne wende . Amen .

L IVE S O F SAIN TS .

IX. S T . DUNSTAN .

(Harl . MS . 2277 , fol .

S eint Dunstan was of E ngelond : ieome of gode more

M iracle oure louerd dude for him : er he were ibore

For po he was i n his moder wombe : a eandelmasse day

per fele was at churche ynou; : as to pe tyme lay

As hi stode mid here li;t : as me dep ;ut nou

H ere li;t aqueyn te eueral : here non nuste hou

H er li;t hi t brende s uype wel : and her li;t hit was oute

pat fe le s to d in gret wonder : and also in grete doute

And hi speke ech tO oper : i n whiehe manere hit were

H ou hit queynte S O sodeynliehe : pe li;t pat hi here

As hi stode and speke perof : i n gret wounder eeho n

S eint Dunstanes moder taper : afure worp anon

T H E LIFE O F S T . DUN S T AN . 35

pat hee huld on hire hend : heo nuste whannes hit com

14 pat fe le s tod and bihuld : and gret wonder perof nem

N e non nus te wannes hi t com : bote purf our louerdes grace

16 perof hi tende here li;t : alle i n pe p laceWhat was pat oure lo uerd cri st : pe li ;t fram benene sende

18 And pat fo lc pat stod aboute : here taperes perof tendeBote of pat holi child : pat was in hire wombe pere

20 A l E ngelo nde schelde pe bet beo ili;t : pat hit ibore were

pis child was ibore neo ;e hendred ;er z and fyue an d tuenti ari;t

22 After pat oure suete louerd : in his moder was ali;t

p e furste ;er of pe cro uning : of pe king A delston

24 H is moder het kenedride : his fader H erston

11 b e pis child was an vrpe ibore : his freend nome perto hede26 H i lete hit do to G lastnebury : to no risehi and to fete

To teche him eke his bileue : pater noster and erede28 pe child wax and wel ipe; : for hit moste nede

L ute ;eme he nem to pe wordle : to alle godnisse he dreu ;30 E ch man pat hurde O f him speke : badde of him ioye ynou;b e he was of manes wit : to his vncle he gan go

32 pe archebischep O f C anterbury : seint A ldelm pat was po

pat makede wip him ioye ynou; : and euere pe lengere pe more

34 b e he se; of his godnisse : and of his wyse lere

For deynte pat he badde of him : he let him sene bringe

36 Bifore pe prince of E ngelond : A delstan pe kynge

p e kyng him makede ioye ynou; : and grantede al his bone

38 O f what pinge so he wolde bidde : if h it were to done

b e bad he him an abbei : pat he was ferp on ibro ;t

40 pi*

pe toun of G lastnebure : pat he ne wo rnde him no;t

be king grantede his bone : and after him also

42 E dmun d his broper pat was king : i n his peer i do

To G lastnebury wende sene : pis gode man seint Dunstan

44 pe beye pe kynges him ;eue leue : E dmund and A delstan

11 O f pe ho us O f G lastnebure : a gret o rdeyno ur he was

46 And makede meche of gode reule : pat neuer er am ong hem nas

A c pat hous pat furs t bigonne : four hendred ;er bifore

48 And eke preo and vyfti: er seint Duns tan were ibore

For per was ordre of mo nekes : er seint patrik com

50 And er seint A ustyn to E ngelende : brou ;te cristendem .

C 2

36

64

88

T H E LIFE O F S T . DUN S T AN .

And seint patr ick deide tuo hendred : and tuo and vyfti ;er

After pat oure suete leuedi: oure lo uerd here ber

A c nene menekes per nere furst : he te as in hudinge echen

A nd as men pat drowe to wyldernisse : fo r dreds of godes fen .

S eint Dunstan and seint A delwo ld : as oure lo uerd hi t bisay

I -O rdeyned to preo stes were : al i n o ne day

per after sene to G lastnebury : seint Dunstan anon wende

H e was abbod per ymaked : his lyf to amende

And for he nolde bi hi s wille : no tyme idel beo

A priuei smyppe bi his celle : he gan him biseo

For whan he moste of o reiseuns : res te for werinisse

To werke he wolde his honden do : to flee idelnisse

S eruie he wolde poure men : pe wyle he m i;te deore

Al pe dai for pe loue of god : he ne kipte of hem non hure

And whan he sat at his were per : his honden at hi s dede

And his hi s hu rte mid ihesu crist : hi s moup his bedes bede

S O pat al at one tyme : he was at preo stedes

H is honden per , his hu rte at god : his moup to bidde his bedes

p erfore pe deuel badde of him : gret enuye and onde

O tyms he cam to his smyppe : alone him to fonde

R i;t as pe sonne wende adoun : ri;t as he womman were

And spae wip him of his were : wip la;inge chere

A nd sei de pat heo badde wip him : gret were to done

T reo fiinge heo smot her and per : i n anoper tale sene

pat holi man hadde gret wonder : pat heo was and pere

H e sat longe and bipo ;te him : longe hou hit were

H e bipo ;te him he hit was : he dro; fo rp his tonge

And leide i n pe hete fur : and spae faire longe

Forte pe tonge was ai afure : and sippe stille ynou;

pe deuel he bente bi pe nose : and wel faste drou ;H e tuengde and sohok hire bi pe nose : pat pe fur out blaste

p e deuel wrickede her and per : and he huld euere faste

H e ;al and hup te and drou ; a;e z and makede grislish here

H e nolde for al his bi ;ete : pat he badde icome pere

M id hi s tonge he snytte hire nose : and tuengde hire sore

For hit was wipinne pe ny;te : he nemi;te i seo nomore

p e schrewewas glad and blipe ynou; : po he was out O fhis honde

H e fie; and gradde bi pe lifte : pat me hurde in-to al pe londe

92

94

96

98

100

102

104

106

108

1 10

1 12

1 14

1 16

T H E L IF E O F S T . DUN S T AN . 37

O ut what hap pe calewe i do : what hap pe calewe ido

In pe contrai me hurde wide : hou pe schrewe gradde so

As god pe schrewe badde ibeo : atom ysnyt hi s nose

H e ne hi;ede no more piderward : to hele him of pe pose

pe holi abbot seint Dunstan : badde gret peer

Wip king E dmund pat was pe : and was al hi s eonsailler

After king E dmundes dep : a good while was a gen

pat E dwyne his sene was ymaked king : and no;t after anon

pis E dwyne badde vuel red : and perafter drou ;Wip seint Dunstan he was wrep : siker wip gret wou ;O f his abbey he dude him o ut : and dude him schame yno u;

b e more schame pat he him dude : pe more pe gode man lou ;H e drof him out of E ngelo nd : and let him grede deme

pis gode man wende ferp wel glad : ne nam he neuere ;eme

To pe abbey of seint Am and : bi;nnde see he drou;And so io um ede per longe : and ladde god lyf ynou;After kyng E dwynes lyue : E dgar pat was his broper

Was king ymaked : for he was nher pan enie oper

S uype god man he bieem : and louede wel holi churche

And ech man pat him perto radde : after him he gan wirche

M e tolde. him of seint Dunstan : pat hi s broper drof of londe

M id vnri;t for his go dnisse : and gan him vnderstonde

After him he sende anon : pat he come a;e sene

And bileue his eonsailler : of pat he hadde to done

S eint Dunstan com hem a;en : and faire was vnderfonge

Ladde his Abbey al i n pees : fram whan he was so longe

Wip pe king he was S uype wel : and was al hi s eo nsailler

M oche me spae of his go dnisse : bope fur and nher

Hit hifnl pat pe bischep : of wircetre was ded

1 18 b e king and pe arehebisch op O de : perof nome here red

T b e pe holi abbot seint Dun stan : bisehep h i makede pere

120 TO makie him he;ere i n godes lawe : his w ille pe; hit nere

122

124

126

S omme eschte pe arehebischop : of C anterbury sire O de

Wherfere hi him bischop makede : and his grace were so gode

For he schal, quap pis gode man : after me her beo

Archebisehop of C anterbu ry : pat me schal i see

What saisto u,pis oper seide : pu spext fo lliche iwi s

N esteu nemore pan pi fet : vppe god al hit i s

38 T HE LIF E OF S T . DUN S T AN .

L eone freond, quap pis gode man : me pore ;e ne blamie no ;t

W el ic wo t what mie lo uerd cri st : i n mie moup hap ibro u;t

As he saip of pulke pinge : pat he hap in me i sed

Telle ic mai what schal bifalle : afte r pat ich am ded

B ischop he was of L ondone and Wircetre : and hulp bope two

O f L ondone and of W ircetre : and bisehop was of hope also

H it biful pat pe arehebischop : of C anterbury was ded

p e pO pe and pe kyng E dgar : perof nome here red

A nd makede pe gode seint Dunstan : arehebischop pere

G ode men pat him iknewe : wel glad perof were

C ristendem i n E ngelond : to god stat he drou;And ri;te s of holi churche : he hul d vp faste ynou ;H e fondede purf al E ngelond : pat ech persoun schulde cheese

To witien him fram lecherie : oper his churche leese

S eint O sewo ld was pulke tyme : bisehop of wyrcestre

And seint A delwo ld als o : bisehop of R o ucestre

pis tuei bisehopes and seint Dunstan : were al at one rede

And E dgar pe gode king : to do pis gode dede

pis preo bisehops wende ferp : purf al E ngelonde

And eche liper persoun caste out : pat per h emi;te non atsto nde

H ere ehurchen and here oper gode : clanliehe hi byneme

And bi sette hit in pore men : purf pe pepes grant of R ome

B i;te and fourti A bbeyes : of M onekes and of nonne

O f pe treseur hi arerde i n E ngelo nd : of perso nes s o iwenne

S o hi t was wel bet biset : pan bit was er in schrewe

For whanne gode maistres beop : som god hi wellep schewe

G ode were pis preo bisehops : pat O tyme were po

pe betere i s E ngelond for hem : and werp euere mo

O ure louerd ;af an vrpe : seint Dun stan faire grace

pat o tyme as he was : in a priueie p lace

H is fader an d his moder ek : i n pe i oye o f heuene anhe;After pat h i dede were : aperteliche he se;

Wel gret loue oure louerd him cudde : whan he schewede pere

S O moche of his priueite : pe while he alyne were

As he lay anoper tyme : in his reste any;t

H e se; pe ioye of heuene : and pe p lace perinne wel bri;t

Angles he hurde also singe : a murie song per i nne

pat me singep ;ut i n hol i churche : whan me dep pe masse singe

T HE LIFE OF S T . DUN S T AN . 39

Kirieleysen . christeleyso n : was pe murie no te and song

pis holi man pat pis ihurde : ne po;te hit him no;t longe

Wel au ;te he to heuene come : after his ende day

Whan he pe wh ile he was alyu e : so moche O f heuene isay

H arpe he louede suype wel : peron he coupe yuon;A day he he sat in sola; : and a lay peron drou;

pe harpe he heng bi pe wewe : po bit was tyme to ete

b e hit was ;are perto ibrou;t : he sat adoun at hi s mete

O f heuene he gan penche sene : O f pe ioye pat was pere

O f pe ioyfulle blisse pat per was : o f-halewen pat per were

H e sat as he were ynome : so moche peron he po;te

H is harpe he heng bi pe wewe : of wham he lute ro;te

Bigan to cupe his holi po ;t : ded tree pe; hit were

As oure lo uerdes wille was : as hi hurde alle pat per were pere

Al bi him silne he gan to harpe : a murie steuene iwis

pat ne singep ;ut in holi churche : pat an englisch is pis

Alle halewene soule glade beep : pat in heuene beep ido

pat suyep oure louerdes way : an d for him schadde also

H ere blod for his suete loue : perfore hi S chulle wene

And kynges beo bouten ende : wip cris t godes sene

pis anteyn pat murie is : pat fe le ihurde alle

H eu pe harpe song al bi him s ilf : per he heng bi pe walle

Fair grace O ure louerd him schewede pere : whan pe dede tree

S o schulde singe of pulke ioye : pat he schelde inne beo

L o uerd ihered beo pi grace : and pi m i;te als o

pat pu wo ldest her alyne for him : such miracle do

Do pis hol i man badde ylyued : an vrpe menie a daie

And his endedai was ne; icome : as be him silue i ss ie

A holi pursday he werp S ik : as hi t ful in pe ;er

H e let o fsende his freo nd : pat specials to him were

H is men pat him seruede eke : he let hem clipie also

And fo r;af hem al here trespas : pat hi him hadde mis do

And asso illede hem of here sinne : and in godes hendes lay

And so he lay al pulke tyme : and also pane friday

H e let clipie pe saterday : pe freres bifore him alle

And bed all e go dneday : and seide hem what seho lde bifal le

And let him do alle hi s ri;tes : and cure louerdes fiesch nem

71 H is soule wende out of pe wordle : and sene to heuene com

40 M IRAG L E S .- AN OXFORD S T UDE N T .

N eo ;e hend red ;er and fourscore : in pe ei;teteope ;ere

H e deide after pat oure leuedi : ou re lo uerd an vrpe bere

N ou suete louerd seint Dunstan : pat oure arehebischop were

206 Bring ous to pe i oye of benene : as angles pi soule bere .

[S eint Aldelm the Confessour fellows ;then , S eint Austyn pat cristendom : brou ;te in-to Engelonde ;

then , S eint barnabe p’

apostle ; dz S eint T eefie ,

for whom ,

‘ A fair miracle oure leuedi dude : pat brou ; te him out of pulke weA s heo menie opere dude : ic mot ;ut tel le mo

’

.

O n p . 6 1 back, is

O n marie pat i s so moche : pi milce and pyu o re

so mum'

s hit is to tolle of pa : pat ;ut we mote more.

T he fifth miracle is that of]

X . AN OXFORD STUDENT.

(Miracles , Harl . MS . 2277 , fol.

A kni ;t per was in E ngelond : by no rpe her biside

A ;ung child he hadde bi hiswyf : as godwolde hit sche lde bitide

p e moder adai while bit was ;ung : to churche hit bro;te

p e child bihuld pe rode in churche : and stod in grete po;te

5 M oder, he sei de ,what i s pe man : pat ;und anhengo d i s

S one , quap pe leuedi, hit i s : ours lo uerd iwi s

For o ne he was so anhenge : and to depe ibro ;t

To bringe eus to pe i oye of heuene : he hap o us deore ibo;t

Wel au;te we panne , quap pe child : sernic him wip wille

And what i s pulke faire womman : pat stent b i him SO sti lle

H it i s hi s moder quap pe leuedi : pat oure suete leuedi i s

O n ma dame, quap pe child : wounder me pin;p hi t iwi s

S te d heo bi him po me him slou; : pe leuedi S'

eide ;e

Awey ma dame , quap pis chil d : mi;testo u so bi me

H eu m i;te heo i see quelle hire child : pat hire hurte ne brac atuo

M oche del was on hire hurte : and serinysche also

b e; pis child were ;ung : of pis deol ofte sipe hit po;te

S clpe wher he euere were : out of his hurte he hit brou;te

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42 M IRACL E S .—OXF O RD S T UDE N T ; JEW S AND T H E CR O S S .

For an vrpe he had mie m ilce ofte : for pe deel pat pu ise;e

And pat sor i n pin hurte : pO pu me se;e deye

W el fawe ie him wele afo nge : as ri;t i s pat ich do

And among myn halewen him o noury : and pu schalt also

b e sende oure leuedi fram heuene : to pe tapres li;t anon

p at aboute pe bedi s tede : and tende hem echo n

p e clerkes awoke anon : as hi slepe bope per

And fende pe tapres alle itend : as hem po;te i n slepe er

b e come pe maistres as ri;t was : pe seruise for to do

A nd po hit was to ende ibrou;t : and pe bed i ibured also

b e clerkes to here p ri ne maistre : tolde al pat hi se;e

pat oure leuedi to oure louerd seide : in pe i oye of benene he;e

And hou hi oneurede him for pe munde : pat he badde her i n mode

O f pe deel pat oure leuedi hadde : of hi re sene i n pe rode

Hi ;eede fo rp te pe frere : pat his schriftfader was

S omme of pe mai stres priueiliche : and tolde him of pat eas

pe frere seide pat bit was sop : pat he hadde er i n mode

p e deel pat oure leuedi badde : po hi re sene deide on pe R ode

pe miracle was po iho lde sop : of pis holi childeWip eche ping al day we seep : oure leuedi suete and mylde

X I . THE JEWS AND T HE CRO S S .

(Harl . MS . 2 277 , fol .

1 G ywes hatiep oure leuedi moche : and hire suete sene al so

b at is i sene i n manic dede : pat pe schrewen habbep i do

3 O ure leuedi day i n barnest : pat so holi i s and suete

An arehebischop song his masse : i n pe cite of Tolete

5 R i;t atte sacring of pe masse : atte pulke holi dede

A voi; he hurde of benene : pat puse wordes sede

7 Allas pe gywes trecherie : Al las pe lipere vode

pat among mie sones chil dren : pat he bou ;te mid his blede

9 pc schrewen S chul le s o vylliche : eftsone do him on pe R ode

And so schendfulliche auyli : wip so lipere mode

pe arehebischop po he badde : hi s masse ibro ;t to ende

H e nem wip him fele ynou; : and to pe gywene gan wende

T H E LIF E OF S T . SW IT H IN . 43

And let o fseche oneral : atte las te hi fonde

pe forme of eure louerd in a R ode : ibeten and ibo unde

Inailled purf fet and honde : as O ure louerd wip vyf wo unde

pat badde pe gywes i do : god ;yue hem harde stounde

And alle pat hem louye wel : for moche i s pe vylte

And schams pat hi ofte dep : oure louerd in priueite

;ut oure leuedi ali;te : and warnede pe bischep fore

M oche go dnisse heo hap ido : sippe heo wa s ibore

N on,leuedi , for pe mylce : pat euere hap mid pe ibeo

And for pe grete serwe pat pu haddest : po pi sene deide on pe tree

;eue. eus grace pat We mete : such m i lce her iwynne

pat we me te to pe ioye : come. pat pu ert i nne .

[S eia t A lbon's l ife follows .)

X I I . S T . SWITH IN .

(Harl . MS . 2277 , fol.

S eint swippin pe cenfessour : was her O f E ngelonde

2 B iside wynchestre he was ibore : as ic vnderstonde

Bi pe kinges day E gberd : pis gode man was ibore

4 pat po was king O f E ngelond : and somwhat ek bifore

p e ei;teteope king he was pat com : after kenewo ld pe kynge

pat seint beryn dude to cristendom : i n E ngelonde furst bringe

A c seint Austi n hadde bifore : to cristendom ibro ;t

A pelbri;t pe gode king : ac al pe londe no;t

A c sippe bit was pat seint berin : her bi weste wende

And tarnde pe king kenewo ld : as oure louerd him grace sende

S o pat seint E gberd pat was kyng : pe seint swithin was ibore

pe ei;teteope he was : after kenewo ld : pat so longe was bifore

S eint swythin pe ;unge man : swipe ;ung bigan

F o rte seruie ihesu crist : and bicom cristene man

E lmeston pe bischep ek : of wynchestre pat was po

S eint swi thi n he makede preo st : as he dude opere me

S o pat fram on ordre to oper : seint swipin preo st bicom

C lene lyf he ladde and god : and to gret penance him nem

44

38

40

T HE L IF E O F S T . SW IT HIN .

H is go dnisse was wide icud : aboute i n eche side

p o pat hi t com pe king to ere : hi t sp rong aboute wide

b e king him o neurede swipe wel : and leuede him yuon;And makedehim his chiefe eonsailler : andmest to his co nsail drou ;A pulf his sene and eke h is hei r : he tok hem to leke

To norissie and to wardie wel : pat hi to gode toke

pat he tei ;te him such po rto ure : pat to a such child bicome

W el him wiste pis holi man : and god warde to him nem

p o kyng E gberd was ded : pis chil d A pulf his sene

A fi er him was kyng ymaked : as lawe was and wene

p is ;unge king was god ynou; : as seint swith in him gan rede

After his co nsail al he drou ; : and dude bi him his dede

E ngelond was po wel iwist : for pe king was god ynou;And swith in his eo nsailler : after wham he drou;E lmeston pe bischep sippe : of wynchestre was ded

pe king and oper he;e men : perof neme here red

pis hol i man seint swipin : bischep hi makede pere

Alle men pat him iknewe : ioyous perof were

B ischO p he was god ynou; : and al le gode he wro;te

b e king also to alle gode : holi churche brou ;te

S O pat purf pe heste of pe king : . and purf his wissinge also

E ch man wolde purf pe lend : his teeping wel do

B rokene churchen oueral : seint swithin let Vp rere

And nue churchen i n menie stede : per neuerer none nere

Whan he halewede enie churche : best ne kipte he no n

Bi ny;te afe te myldeliche : he wolde pider gen

A ;en him ne kipte he no ringinge : bobance ne prute

b e best of he rs ne of squiers : for he tolde perof lute

H e po;te on pat pe godspel . saip : pat me takp of late hede

pat he so dep his dede mid bobance : him ne tyt non oper mede

For he afongep his mede her : mid pe dede ano n

pat werp habbep nou for;ute : pis he;e meny on

S eint swithin his bisehopriche : to alle gode drou;

p e toun al so of wynchestre : he amendede ynou;

p er he let pe s trenge brugge : wipo ute pe est ;ate arere

And fend perto lym and ston : to wo rcmen pat per were

Adai as pis worcmen : aboute here werke stode

And ce ntrai men to chepinge : come mid moche go de

H OW H E MADE T H E BROKEN E GGS WHO L E . 45

Mid a baggeful O f eiren : a womman per com

A masoum sene pis womman : to his folie nem

And, biclipte hire i n ribaudie : as foles dep ;ut ofte

A nd brak hire eiren ne; eehone : he ne handlede hire no;t softe

p o’

pe womman hire harm ise; : ruliche heo gan bigynne

62 For heo hem badde igadered longe : sum siluer forto wynne

H eo makede dee l yn ou; : and cride also anhe;S eint swythin com po perfo rp : and pe deel ise;O f pis womman he badde reupe : he nom vp his hond anon

66 A nd blessede pe c iren to-broke : and hi biceme hole anon

A nd‘

soun d as hi euere were : hi bicome atte laste

68 G lad was po pis seli womman : and ponkede gost fas te

Mi;te eirm ongers nou fare so : pe baldelikere hi mi;te

H up pe ouer diebes wher hi wolde : bope wraxli and fi;te

be king Apulf deide sippe : pe kynges sene E gberd

A nd his sene was kyng after him : kyng A delberd

H it nas no;t longe afterward : pat he was ymaked kyng

pat pis hol i man seint swithin : drou ; to endyng

For he deide pe pridde ;er z pat he was kyng ymad

And po he schulde hunne wende : his men fas te he bad

pat hi ne scho lde him burie no;t : in churche wip prute

A c sum war wipoute i n a stede : pat me tolde of lute

In a stede pat me tolde of lest : and les t ;eme me tok

80 In alle manere pis holi man : bobance and prute fo rsokH e deide ei;te ho ndred ;er : and in pe sixteope ;ere

After pat oure lo uerd ali;t : i n his moder wombe here

In a stede wipoute pe churche : pis holi bed i hi leide

84 pat me tolde of lute ynou ; : as he him silue seide

per he lai an hendred ;er : and nco;e ;er also

86 And almest fourtene ny;t : er he were panne ido

Bi pe kinges day E dgar : pat god was ynou;88 pat seint E dwardes fader was : pat hi s stipmoder a-slou ;

pis holi man seint swippin : schewede bitokeninge

90 pat me scho lde of pulke p lace : in he;ere stede him bringe

pis E gdgar was pe noe;pe kyng : pat after Adelbert com

pat kyng was pulke tym e : pat seint swippin dep nem

pe bischep pat was at wynchestre : po king E dgar was kyng

94 pat was seint A thelweld : god and holi purf alle ping

46 T H E L IFE O F S T . SW IT HIN .

S eih t swithin pe holi man : a god tyme him gan biseo

Whan god kyng was and god bischep : ischryned for to beo

A ni;t he cam to an holi man : i n his bedes as he lay

In siknisse and so rwe yno u; : as he badde ido meny a dayArys

,he sei de , to morwe anon : and ne lef pu no ;t bihynde

To wynchestre pe elde Mynstre : and pere pu schalt fynde

De gode bischep A thelweld : pat pe teope i s after me

And saye pat ich him grett wel : and sende him word bi pe

pat oure louerd hit hap bise;e : pat mie bedi schal beo ido

In churche in an he; stede : and nemore ligge so

And if pu deutes t in enie p oynt : pat pis beo duelsinge

An d no;t sop pat ich telle neu : ic wele sende to pe kynge

For al so sene as pu welt arise : forto do myn heste

pat vucl pat pu has t so longe ihad : ne schal no leng ileste

A c pu worst perof hel and sound : wordle wipeuten endeIf pe bischep ne leouep hit no;t : oper signe ic wele him sende

For whan ;e comep to pulke s tede : per ie ligge ;ute

A no neward per lip a ston : wip oper prute wel lute

R inges of yre per beop on : ynailled perto fas te

A c per nis non so strong of hem : pat a;en ;eu schullep ilaste

pat ;e ne schullep ri;t li;tliche : drawe vp pe ston

Wipeute wem fas te a;en : fast sette hem on

pis gode man of pi s tokning : io lyf was ynou;Wel bityme he ares : and toward pane wey drou;And anon so he dude him on pe wei: hel and sound he was

O f pe vuel pat he bar so longe : neuereft igreued he nas

To pe bischep he wende A pelweld : and tolde him O f pis cas

De bisehop pe he hurde pis : wel was him pas

pe ring pat was on pe ston : faste as he sei de er

L i;tliche h i of nome wipeute wem : and as faste sette hit per

Wele pe ioye pat he makede pe : pe bischep A pelwo ld

pis m iracle was some icud : and wi de aboute ito ld

S eint A pelwo ld wende sene : to E dgar pe gode king

And tolde him as wel was ri;t : pis ho li teping

pis gode king was glad ynou ; : hi nomen hem to rede

H ou hi mi;te mid mest honer : do pis holi dede

H i assignede a dai perto : as here censayl bisay

Bifore haruest i n pe meanp of Juli : pe ei;teteope day

S T . SW IT HIN . S T . KE N E L M . 47

H i sumnede a;e pis holi day : he;e men ynowe perto

B ischopes and A bbo tes : pe holi dede to do

Do hi come to wynchestre : per pis bodie lay

In fasting and o reiseuns : hi were ni;t and day

pat oure louerd hem ;eue grace : pis holi dede wel ende

p o pe dai him was icome : to pe mynstre hi gonne wend e

I reuested faire yn o u; : wip gret deuo cioun

Wip tapres itend and pe croi; : wip gret pro cessio un

To pe tumbe hi wende sene : as pe bedi lay

A s hit ful in .pe mo unp of Juli : pe vyfteope day

pis holi bischep A pelweld : as ri;t was to do

L et delue to pis holi bedie : and po h i come perto

per com smyte out a suete brep : among pis gode men echou

pat so gret suetnisse as hem po;te : ne smylde hi neuere non

L o uerd moche is p i m i ;te : sop hit is'

ised

pat a bedi scho lde so suete smylle : pat so longe badde ibee ded

;e witep bi oper dede men : pat hit was moche a;e ri;te

A blynd womman anon mid pe dede : in pe p lace badde hire S i ;te

A nd menie opere per betnede ek : O f vuel and of we

And wip-inne pe tuey dayes : two hendred and me

pis holi. be di was vp ynome : wip gret honour iwi s

And into scinte peteres churche ibore : per pe he;e mynstre i s

And ido in a fair schrin and noble : as hit l ip ;ute

pe m iracles pat of him comep : for sope ne beop no;t lute

Ischryned he was neo ;ene and tuenti ;ere : in pen and tuenteope

;ere

After pat oure louerd an vrpe ali;te : i n his moder here

N o u seint swithin pat was bischep : her i n E ngelonde

Bringe o ne to pe ioye of heuene : purf oure lo uerdes sende.

(S t. Kenelm fel lows ]

XIII . S T . KENELM .

(Harl . MS . 2 277 , fol. so.)

1 S eint kenelm pe ;unge kyng : purf oure lo uerdes sende

Kyng he was i n E ngelo nd : of pe M arch of Wali s

48 T HE L IFE O F S T . KE N E L M .

3 be kyng kenulf hi s fader was : pat kyng was per also

pat rerde abbai of wynchecumbe : let per monekes do

5 After hi s dep he was per ibured : ;ut he lyp pere

In pe abbay pat ;ut stent : pat he him silue let rere

7 G ret C ite was po wynchecumbe : mes t of yno u;In al pulke half of E ngelond : as fur as hi s lend drou ; .

Vyf kynges per were bi pulke tyme : in E ngelo nde ido

For E ngelond was god long : bred ynou perto

Aboute ei;te hendred m ile : E ngelond long i s

Fram pe soup in to pe no rp : two ho ndred brod iwis

Fram pe est i n to pe west : also pere-inne beopM anye wateres goode ynowe : as ;e alday iseopA c preo wateres p rincipales : of alle opere beo iwi sH umber temese : seuerne pe pridde i s

To pe no rp see humber gep : pat i s on of pe beste

temese into pe est see : seuerne bi weste

pis vyf kynges of engelonde : pat were bi elde dawe

H adde here part bi hem silue : as ri;t was lawe

pe kyng pat was of pe M arche : hadde pe pe bes te

M oche del he badde of E ngelond : pat on half al bi wes te

11 Wircestreschire warewykschire : also G loucestre

b at i s us; al 0 bischepriche : pe bisehopes of Wircestre

H e hadde also perto shestreschire : Derbischire also

staffo rdsehire pat beop alle : in o bischepriche ido

In pe bischepriche of C hestre : ;ut he badde perto

S chropschyre sum haluendel : warewykschire also

pis kyng hadde also hereferdschire : pat o bischepriche i s

S chI'O pschire haluendel : pat falp to pulke bischepriche iwi s

sum of warewykschire : of G loucestreschire also

;ut badde pe king of pe marche : more lend perto

N erhampte sehire bokingham schire : pe sehire O fO xenfo rd

L eicestreschire L inco lneschire : pe sehire of hereford

pat i s O bischepriche : pat of L inco lne i s

pat while was at Derkcestre biside O xenford iwi s

;ut badde pe kyng of pe marche : N o tingham sehire perto

In pe bischepriche of O uerwyke : ac po nas hit no ;t so

Al pe lond was while icliped : pe march of Wales

of al was seint kenelm : his fader kyng iwi s

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50 LIFE O F S T . KE N E L M . H IS S IS T E R ’

S T R E ACHE R Y .

In pe four tuenti ;er z o f hi s kynedom

Kenul f wende ou t O f pis wordle : to pe ioye O f heuene com

H it was after pat oure lo uerd : in his moder ali ;te

B i ;te hendred ;er neo ;entene : bi acountes ri ;te

S eint Kenelm his ;unge sene : i n his souepe ;ere

Kyng was ymaked after him : pe; he ;ung were

H is 0 se ster bur wenylde : leuede him ynou ;

i n eche manere to holi lyfe : to alle go dnisse drou ;A c quendride poper soster : O f hi re manere nas no;t

For heo turnede to folie to liperhede : al hire po ;t

H eo se; pat hire ;unge broper : nas no;t of seue ;er

pat kyng was ymaked of al pat lend : pat hire fader badde er

To him heo badde gret enuye : pat he scho lde so riche beo

eir of hire fader lend : ricchere pane heo

H eo po ;te i f heo m i;te bringe : pat child of lyfdawe

pat heo were of pe heritage : quene bi ri;te l awe

Al hire po ;t was ny;t day : to bipenche sum outrage

pat pis child were ibro ;t of dawe : heo badde pe heritage

H eo purueide hire felonye : po iso un streng yno u ;For to ;yue pe ;unge child : slen him so wip wo u;

DO pi s po isoun was i;eue : al for no ;t hit was

For po pe child hi t badde idr onke : no pe wo rs him nas

For oure lo uerdnold no ;tpathe scho lde : so li;tlicheymartredbeo

If pe quene wolde spede : oper heo moste biseo

For perof heo caste an ambesas : heo po ;te anoper po;t

pe heo se; hi t was for no;t : pat pe po isoun was iwro ;t

pis ;unge ch ild a maister hadde : pat his wardey n was

A skebert he was icliped : strong traiteur allas

For noman nemai pan oper : bet trecherie do

pat pulke pat i s him next : he tri s t mest to

pis lipere q uene bipo ;te hire : O f alle liper wrenche

For me saip pere ni s no felo nye : patwomman ne can bipenche

M id pis A skebert heo spae : pat child forto aspille

And bibl

et him mede god yno u; : O f hire al his wille

S o pat pis tuo lipere pinges : were at o ne rede

bispeke hou h i m i ;te best : do pis lipere dede

De wh ile hi S poke bope : pis ;unge chi ld to quelle

A sweueninge pat pe child mette : ich ;O u wele nou telle

LIFE O F S T . KE N E L M . H I S DREAM O F H IS MURDE R . 51

H im po;te pat per stod a tree : ri;t tofore his bedde

1 18 pat anon to pe sterren tilde : wel wi de sp redde

p is t ree was fair noble : schynde bri;te ynou ;120 Ful O f blesmes of frut : O f menie a riche beu;

B renninge wex lampen ek : wel pikke brende li ;te

122 S O noble frut nas neuere non : ne pat schynde so bri;te

H im po;te he clemde vpen pis tree : to pe hexte bou ; an he;124 bihuld aboute in to al pe wordle : prute ynou; ise;

pe while he sto d VpO n pe tree : bihuld aboute S O

126 H im po ;te pat on O f his beste freond : pat he mes t triste to

In pe grounde stod bynepe : smot atuo pis treo

128 pat hit fil to gro unde anon : pat dee l h it was to see

To a litel fo ;el he bicom : non fairere ne mi;te beo

130 bi—gan wip i oye ynou; : ri;t into heuene fieo

H e aweek was in po ;te : her-o f ny;t day

132 Do pis child mette pus : at wynchecumbe he lay

H e nuste what hit bitoknede : pe more was hi s po ;t

134 E r he sumping perof w i ste : he nemi;te beo blipe no;t

H is norice pat him badde ifed : mid hire mul e fo rp ibro ;t

136 Tendre was of pis ch ild : for heo him badde deerest ibe;t

To hire pat child triste mes t : wo lwenne h ire name was

138 pat chil d hire tolde priueite : of pis sweuening al pat cas

p o pe norice badde ihurd : pat sweuening pat was so god

140 H eo bigan to S ike sore : in po ;te sto d

Allas heo seide pat ich scho lde : pisne day euere abide

142 pat mie child mie swete hurte : scho lde such ping bitide

Allas mie chil d mie suete fede : pat ich habbe ferp ibro ;t

144 p i soster bispekep pi dep : quelle pe hap ipo;t

A c pe fowel pat pu bicome to : pat to heuene gan wende

146 pat was pi soule pat pider schal : after p i lyues ende

pis sueuene bicom sop yno u; : pat he fond atte laste

148 For his soster A skebert : biSpeke his dep wel fas te

pis Askebert seide adai : pat pis child scho lde wende

150 An hunting forto pleyen him : bi pe wedes ende

he wip him to wardi him : as bit was ri;t bi weye

152 H e wende to pe we de of C lent : as hit were to pleye

As hi wende bi pe wede : as god ;af pe grace

154 A god will e pe child com on : to slepe in a p lace

(12

52 L IF E O F S T . KE N E L M . H IS MURDE R .

Adoun he lay al softe pere : bigan to slepe anon

Askebert ne po ;te no ;t : pat he scho lde panne gen

B iside i n a durne stede : he bigan to delue fas te

A ne pu t forto sle pis child : sippe peron hi t caste

pis chi ld bigan to awake sene : as hit were bi eas

After his mais ter he bihuld : ne se; no ;t W har he was

A c oure louerd him ;af pe grace : pe; he nuste no ;t of his dede

pat he S pac to his maister : puse wordes sede

Du trauaillest pere aboute no ;t : pi while pu dost sp illeFor in an noper stede ic schal deye : whar so is godes wi lle

purf pis ;urd pat her i s : tokning pu schalt iseeWhan pi lipere w ille hit mai do : pat ich ymartred beo

For wende pis lipere maister : pis child also

Forte hi come to anoper stede : pat pis dede were ido

A skebert pis ;urd nem : sette hi t on pe grounde

H it bigan to leuy sene : wexe i n a stounde

a gret asch bicom sippe : s tent i n pulke p lace

To schewi pe m i;te of seint kenelm : oure lo uerdes grace

p is lipere man nem pis child : i n pe we de of C lent

ladde him as me dep ane peo f : to afo nge h is iugement

H e ladde him i n a priuei s tede : al out of pe weye

B itwene tue i h ill es he;e : i n a dupe valeye

pis ch ild purf pe holi gost : pe; poper him nolde telle

Wiste wel his lipere po;t : pat he po;te him aquelle

po he targede a lute while : pis lipere dede to done

pat chil d seide wel myldeliche : pat pu dost , do sene

H e bigan a song pat me singep : i n holi churche a day

pat was te dom ine laudamus : er he adoun lay

po he cam to an holi vers : pat perinne was i s

A latyn iwrite as al pat oper : pat an engli sche i s p is

b e white cumpaignye of martirs : louerd heriep pe : T e mar

tiram candidates laudat exercite s

R i;t as he badde pe vers iseid : as pe bee tell ep me

p is lipere man smot of hi s heued : vnder an ha;pern tree

As hit godes wi lle was : pat he ymartrid scho lde beo

A whit co luere as eni snow : ou t of him gan fieo teo

ri;t cuene was i se;e : i nto heuene fieo

V nepe he was seue ;er O ld : er he ymartrid were

Al to sop his sueuene was : as me mi ;te i see pere

LIF E O F S T . KE N E L M . T H E WH IT E C O W . 53

b is lipere man pat him a-slou ; : bigan to delue fas te

And makede a put deope yno u; : perinne pe child caste

And burede hit faste ynou ; : pat hit ifo nde nere

And wende ;e ferp his wei : let hi t ligge pere

To quendride his lipere soster : anon he gan wende

And tolde hi re al pe lipere cas : fram bigynninge to pan ende

pis quene was po glad yno u; : aboute heo wende anon

F o rte seisi al pe lend : pe maners echon

And makede hir queue of al pe M arch : as hire broper was kyng

schrewe leuedi bicom yno u; : liper purf all e ping

wende aboute i nto al pe lend : to fenge here manreds

bieom sturne huld hire men : i n so rewe wrechede

N o u in pe quedes part mete heo ride : fram toune to toune

206 A nd falsliche as heo com anhe; : also heo ful perdeune

H eo let hete in to al pat lend : pat no man so wed were

208 To nemne enes hi re broper name : for loue ne for fere

if me m i;te of enie wite : pat hit nere no;t bileued

pat he nere anon ynome : ismyte of his heued

pus furde pe lipere queme z stirede hire wel faste

pat noman neperste hire bropere nempne so s orehiwere efgaste

E uere lai pi s holi bedi : ibured swipe s ti lle

pat noman ne perste him enes nemne : a;en pe quenes w ille

S o longe pat hit was al for;ute : whan me nemi;te of him speke

A c hit nas no;t so pat cure louerd : atte laste him nolde awreke

Whan no man nolde pat wi ttie was : of him penche ene

N elde oure louerd pat he were : allinge fo r;ute so clene

Whan no man nolde pat witti was : O f him habbe munde

A dombe best wipeute witte : hadde a;s cunde

For a widue badde a whit co u : pat wonede pere biside

pat ;eode adai to fecche hire mete : i n pe wede wi de

per seint kenelm lai ibured : in pe valey perdeune

E che dai wolde pis white cow : whan heo com fram toune

Fecche hire mete mid operkyn :*renneheo wolde alone [5 MS JI]

In to valeye al bynepe : lete hire felawes echene

s itte aboute pi s holi bedi : forte eue al longe day

As hit were to honury him : for he al one lay

so heo sat wipeute mete : alday to pan ende

whan pat hit eue was : hemward he wolde wende

54 LIFE O F S T . RE N E L M . T H E ‘HEAV E N LY W R IT .

an eue whan heo hom com : fat round heo was

232 so ful of mule heo was : pat me wo ndrede of pe cas

For per nas non of alle pe kyn : pat half so moche mule ;eue

234 As ful heo wolde a morwe beo : pe; heo were ymelked an eue

H O so badde suche kyn ynowe : he nere no ;t to bymene

236 b e; his larder were ne; ido : his somer lese lene

pat fele pat pe wonder i se;e : gret gome mid alle hi nome

238 awaitede wel adai : whar pis co u bicome

hi se;e hire stitte adai : i n pe valeye perdeune

240 M eteles s tille in o ne stede : forte heo ;code an cue to toune

whi heo leye per so : h i me mi ;te w ite for nopingA c in here hurte him po;te wel : pat hit was sum tokning

For pis co u wo nede per so : ech dai drou; perto

C oubache me clipede pis valeye : ;ut me dep also

In co ubache pis hol i bedi : lay wel menie a ;er

246 p ere me nuste no;t of him : as ic ;O u seide er

For his soster was so fers : i n so gret prute ibro ;t

248 suchpretninge forhimmakede : patme neperstehimnemne no;t

p o pis holi bedi no moste : beo ieud in E ngelonde

250 O ure louerd pat wo t alle ping : perto sende his sende

For as pe pepe s tod at R ome : song hi s mas se aday

252 At seint peteres wened i n pe churche : as al pat fo lc i say

A co luere whittere pan enie snow : com adoun fram benene fleo

254 leide vpe pe weued a litel wr i t : sippe gan to heuene tee

fie; vp an he; a;e : as oure lo uerd hi t wolde

256 De wr i t was wh it schynde bri;te : pe lettres were of golde

pe pepe ponkede ihesu crist : al pat folk also

258 b e pepe nam pis holi wri t : pO pe mas se was i do

H e nuste W hat bit was to sigge : ne non ne coupe wite

260 For he ne coupe englisch non : an englisch hit was iwrite

H e let clipie ech maner diuerse men : of eche diuerse londe

262 If enie coupe of pis holi writ : eni ping vndersto nde

p o were per men of E ngelo nde : pat wi ste what hi t sede

264 vnderstode wel pat wri t : po hi h it ihurde rede

pe writ was iwrite an engliseh : as me radde hi t pere

266 to telle hi t wipeute rym : puse wordes ri;t hi t were

In C lent i n C o ubache kenelm kinges bern lip vnder a porn

heuede bireued

306

L IF E O F S T . KE N E L M . H IS B O DY I S F O UN D .

pis wri t was no bliche : iwist vp ido

iho lde gret relik : for ;ut hit is also

b e no bleste relik hit i s : on perof of al R ome

As hit au;te wel ho vndersto de : ri;t wel whannes hit come

For W han hit out of heuene com : of cure louerdes honde

What no blerere relik m i ;te per beo : y ne mai non vnderstonde

perfore seint kenelmes day : as pe p ope makede his besteAt H ome hi ho ldep he;liche : makep suype gret feste

po pe pope to sope w i ste : what was pe tokningeH is messager into E ngelo nde : he sente wip pis tipinge

T O pe arehebischop of C anterbury : wolfred pat was po

L ettres he sende pat he scho lde : such ping vndergo

s iche out of pe wede O f C lent : if enia man m i;te w ite‘At such an ha; porn in C o ubache : as hi t was i n pe wri te

And siche out pe holi bedi : pat durneliehe lai pere

And do pat wip gret nobley : pat hi ischryned were

DO pis lettre fram pe pope : to pe arehebischop com

O f bisehops O f C lerkes : his consail perof he nem

S O pat i n pe wede of C lent : pat in Wircestresehire i s

H i lete siche pis holi bedi : fonde hit out iwi s

V nder pe porn O f C oubage : as pe wri t seide at R ome

for pe ere re miracle of pe toun : pe whatlokere perto hi come

For pe contrai men per-biside : pat y uder-;ete pat cas

O uertrowede wel whar hi t lay : for pe m iracle so fair was

Anon S O hi holi bodi vp nome : a wil sp ring vp pere stod

O f pe stede per he lai on : pat ;ut i s cler god

For per i s a wi lle fair yno u ; : euere eft hap ibeo

In pe s tede as he lai on : as me ma; per i see

pat me clepep seint kenelmes welle : pat menie men hap iso;t

A nd menie hap of gret siknisse : purf pat water ibee ibro ;t

O f pe C ite of Wynchecumbe : O f pe contrai per biside

De men were mes t pat so ;te so : to make pe bedi abide

For pe bischep hadde iloked : pat hi t scho lde pider beo ibore

ischryned per hi s fader lay : pat arerde pe hons bifore

p is men pis holi bedi : pat O f G lo ucestreschire were

no bliche toward wynchecumbe : w ith pro cessio un bere

pat fele of wircestre schire : pat wenede per biside

N ome hem to rede menie on : to make pe bedi abide

L I F E U I“ E T . K E N E L M . D I S P U T E F U R H I S B O D Y .

H isuore pat hi hitwoldehabbe pat noman nescho lde hi them reue

For in pe sehire pat bit was ifo nde : pat hit sche lde bileue 1

Bi pe watere of perscho re : pis two schires hem mette

co nteckede for pis holi bedi : faste to gadere sette

S o pat hi nome a ferme of pees : to do godes grace

III god wolde hi s wille schewe : er hi wende o ut of pe place

F o rtrauailled hy were sore : pat hi moste slepe echon

H i makede a forme pat hi scho lde : ligge slepe anon

wheper of puse tuei schires : whatlokest mi;te awake

Al sauf scho lde wende fo rp : pe bedi mid hem take

S til le hi leye slepe faste : pi s schiren bope tuo

reste for here wirynisse : oure lo uerd hit wolde so

S O pat hi of G lo ucestre schir e : bigonne to awaki echo n

Al O tyme as god hi t wolde : O f wircestre sehire no;t on

In pais h i wende fo rp here wey : pe bedi wip hem toke

Vyf myle wei hi were awend : er peperc awoke

pis opere i se;e hem bigyled : anon so hi gonne awake

H i bigonne to suy pis opere faste : ac hi nemi;te hem no;t O ftake

pis men toward wynchecumbe : pis holi bedi bere

E r hi hit m i;te pider bri nge : suype werie hi were

S O pat hi come in a wede : a lu te bi es te pe toune

reste po hi were so ne; : vp an he; doune

Apurst hi were for werinisse : so sore pat hit nas ende

For seint Kenelmes leue hi bede : som drinke oure louerd hem

sende

A cold welle fair per sp rong : ano ueward pis doune

pat ;ut i s per fair cold : a myle fram pe toune

Wel faire hit i s iheled nou; : wip fair ston as ri;t i s

And redi ech man to dr inke perof : pat comep perfo rp iwi s

pe mo nekes sippe of wynchecumbe : arerd habbep perbiside

A fair chapel of seint kenelm : pat men sichep wi de

Quendride pe lipere quene : at wynchecumbe pO was

H e nuste hire broper no;t so ne; z ne no;t of pat cas

H eo sat in seint peteres churche : biside pe abbey ;ate

In a soler i n po

e est s ide : lokede out perate

p o se; heo al pis grete fele : anoueward pe doune anhe;T e -ward wynchecumbe come : ri;t vnder soup le;H eo of eschte what men hit were : what h i po;te pere

M e seide hire pat hi to churche wolde : hire broper bere

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58 A M IRACL E O F S T . JAME S . T H E GE LDE D M AN .

A ;en him hi com in pe wei : swipe mylde softe

R i;t as he seint Jame were : as he bigylep men ofte

We ston euere ho ic am he seide : poper seide nai

Ich am pulke he seide pat pu hast : isued manie O dai

S eint Jame toward wam pu ert : y ne makie of pe no mone

pat pu nedo st swip wel : of eche ping be te of o ne

pat pu dudest pe lecherie : er pu wendes t to me

Among alle men if pat nere : mes t ic preisi pe

S eint Jame merci quath pis oper : ic crie me m ilce o re

F o r;if me pulke lipere sinne : y nele do so no more

A bean frere quap pis oper : s trong is pi misdede

pu ne mi;t me neuere paye wel : bete pu do as ic’

rede

p e membre pu most kerne of : wherwip pu isynewed has t

De synne ic wele fo r;yue pe panne : whan he i s fram pe icast

And ne; me pu scheldest beo : i n ioye in heuene aboue

pu weldest beo ymartird : pe silne mati r for mie loue

A lo uerd, quap pis man

, seint Jame : haue merci of me

ic wele me martir for mi synne : fo r pe leue of pe

pis wrecche man carf of hi s membres awei fram him cas te

s ippe purf his false red : him asleu; atte laste

Iredi was pe schrewe pere : pe soule he nom anon

wel glad bigan in his manere : toward helle gen

N e forget no;t seint Jame his pelegrim : for cas pat hi gan bitide

A ;en pe deuel be com adoun : bad pe schrewe abi de

Du beres t he seide more pan pin owe : pat ich wole cupe pe

H asto u bitrayd mie pelgrim : moche schame dosten me

;e al for no;t quap pe schrewe : pu ert hider icome

In his synne him silf he sleu ; : perwip ic him habbe ynome

N e mai no marine i n dedlich synne : to pe ioye of heuene wende

As wel pu mi;t go a;en : he i s myn wipeute ende

pu lipere ping quap seint Jame : pu bitraidest him wip falshede

wip trecherie to him come : pu let him go ic rede

Ich habbe leue quap pe schrewe : to bigyli bitraye also

In eche quyntise pat mai : whi wolde he m i sdo

pis strif ilaste bituene hem longe : ac po seih t Jame ne m i;te

W ipinne pe schrewe wip resoun : come ne wip ri;te

pu schal t he seide wip me come : to an he;ere Justise

44 pat pe schal pe trecherie ;ulde : for W han pe schal agrise

A M IR AC LE O F S T . JAME S . LIFE O F S T . CR I S T O PHE R . 59

T O -fore oure leuedie swete mylde : pane schrewe he gan lede

46 H e ;al quakede dulfulliche : po he ise; hire for drede

;e ;ulle moten hi euere m o : wo ;ou mote bitide

pe schrewe fond his macche po : ic wet he sche lde abide

pu lipere ping quap oure leuedi po : whi fondestou i n alle wise

50 To bynyme ous bitraye hem : pat beop i n oure seruise

Du ne schalt neuere pis soule broke : for pi trecherie

L eone leu edi quap pe schrewe : merci ic pe crie

V nderstond pat ich habbe leue : to bigyli men ynou;54 pat ich him fond in dedlich synne : perinne him silne a-slou ;

pat neuere noman in such cas : to heuene come ne m i;te

As he myn mid alle lawe : hold me ic bidde to ri;te

pu lipere best oure leuedi seide : to moche ;O ure peer i s

Allas pat man nele beo war : er he do ami s

A S pu mid trecherie : hi s lyf him byn eme

60 Al so ic wele him ;yue a;e : his lyf bi ri ;te dome

panne he mai chee se as he wele : god man oper vucl beo

O ure leuedi makede pe soule a;e : to pe bedi fieo

Fram depe to lyne he ares : purf oure leuedi lore

god lyf ladde afterward : pe deuel doutede pe more

H is membres pat . he of carf : euere he dude m i sse

Bete a lute wharpurf he mi;te : whan he wolde p is se

pe deuel ;eede awey : huld him a-

gyled sore

N edde pe schrewe neuere so moche schame : pat he nere werpe

more

For he dep men euere schame : sorewe him mote bifalle

And liper prift vpo n his heued : amen siggep alle

N ou seint Jame for pe holi stede : pat pu hast in C ali;

H el alle pi pelegrims ous : bring ous to heuene blis . Amen .

XV . S T . CR ISTOPHER .

(Harl . MS . 2277 , fol . 101 b .)

S eint C ristefre was sara; in : in pe lend of C anaan

2 In no Stede bi hi s daye : ne fond me so s trong a man

Four tuentie fet he was long : picke bred yuon;4 S uch man bete he were strong : me pin;p h it were wou;

60 LIFE O F S T . CR IS T O PHE R . HE S E EKS T H E DE V IL .

A I R contrai where he were : for him wolde fieo

6 perfore him po ;te pat noman : a;en him scho lde beo

Wip no man he seide he nolde beo : bote wip on pat were

8 H exist lo uerd of alle men : vnder non oper nere

H e wende to siche such a man : so pat me him tolde

O f pe hexiste pat an vrpe was : mest peer dude wolde

S eint C risto fre him so ;te fur : atte las te be com him to

De kyng him eschte what he were : W hat he wolde also

pis oper seide what he was : pat he seruise wolde

p e hexte man pat owbar were : to noman abowe ne scho lde

If he enie such fond : pe king a; e sede

pat be me huld of no man : ne nescho lde of noman beo in drede

H ere aiper was of oper glad : C risto fre him seruede longe

b e kyng leuede melodie : of harpe of songe

S o pat his iugelo ur adai : to -fore him pleide faste

20 anemnede i n his rym : pe deuel atte las te

p o pe kyng ihurde pat : he blescede him anon

S eint C risto fre nem gode ;eme : ane fet he nolde gen

E r he wi ste whi h it were : pc kyng was lop to telle

poper sei de bete pu telle me : no lenger bileue y nelle

p o pe kyng ne se; no n oper : leone C risto fre he sede

H it was for he nemnede pane : deuel : for ic haue O f him dreds

E ke he i s quap C risto fre : he;ere maistre pan pu

pat ne mai ic no ;t quap pe kyng : wel wipsigge no n

H aue god dai ek quap pis oper : y nele neuere wip pe bee

Ich wele siche pane deuel sern ic him : i f ic him mai i see

pe kyng was sorie alle his : fo r he nolde abide

To siche pe deuel he wende fo rp : ac napeles no;t wel wide

F o r pe schrewe i s euere p res t : pat to him habbep ynome

p o C risto fre com wipeute pe toun : gret fo lc he se; come

Wip grete noblei wel anho rse : swise firse pronte

C risto fre hem mette baldeliche : of noman he nadde doute

pe maistre pat was firs ynou; : com ymette him anon

Beau sire he sei de what erto u : whoder wo stou gon

Ich am he seide i n mie seruise : noman sernic y nelle

40 Be te mie louerd pat ic siche : pane he;e deuel of helle

Beau frere quap pis oper ic hit am : welcome erteu to me

pe beste seruise pat pu welt cheese : ie wele delyurie pe

LIFE O F S T . CR I S T O PHE R . T H E CR O S S AN D T H E DE V IL . 6 1

44

46

48

50

52

62

64

66

70

72

74

76

78

80

C risto fre ise; his grete fele : pat he was of gret peer

O f such a louerd he was glad : of such a mestier

De maister het alle his men : awei be te hem tueye

To teche hi s mester priueiliche : as hi ;eo de bi pe weye

As hi ;eede tellinge fo rp : of pis lipere seruise

A croi; per stod in pe wei : pe deuel him gan agrise

Fur in breres in po rnes : al aboute he drou;

;e me come he neuere in betere stede : for pulke was god ynou;

perinne were he alto-drawe : forte ic wolde him bymene

pO he pe cro ice ipassed was : he tournde a;e to pe clene

C risto fre eschte whi hit were : him was lop to telle

C ertes he seide be te pu me telle : neuere seru i ic pe nelle

C risto fre quap pe deuel : ie we le pe sernic vayn

Wip pat pu sernic me pe bet : afterward wip al pi mayn

Wip a suche cro ice as pu i se;e : pe he;e god pat was here

O uercom in so rwe brou ;te : me alle myne fere

E k he i s be;ire pan pu quap C risto fre : hap peer more

I ne mai hi t no;t O fsake quap poper : pat me ruep sore

S ai pat panne quap C risto fre beo leng in pi seruise

If ic of pulke he;e manne ou ;t iwite eny W ise

P erp he wende to s iche oure louerd : wi de he gan gen

Atte laste he fond an hermyte : puder he wende anon

H e tolde him clanliche hou bit was : hou he such man so ;te

I -hered beo he quap pe heremyte : pat in such W it pe brou;te

For he i s pi louerd leo ue sene : to man he pe wrou;te

mid his ewe fiesch blod : in pe croi; pe bou ;te

pu most sumwhat for him polie : faste eche friday

I ne faste neuere quap pis oper : ne ;ut y ne may

pu mos t quap,pis oper to churche go : pi beden bidde also

I not quap C risto fre what hit i s : ne y ne mai hit no ;t do

N O quap pis hermyte pu ert s trong : her i s a water biside

pat noman ne mai pero uer come : bote he pe he;ire ride

pu most in lisnisse of pi synne : per habbe pi woninge

whan enie man hap t o pe need : pu most him ouer bringe

In fo r;yu enisse of his misdede : he grantede pis anon

pe ermyte him ;af cristendom : let him pider gen

C risto fre biside pulke watere : lute heus makede pere

In his heng [sic] he bar a long perche : his staf as pe; hit were .

62 LIFE O F S T . CR IS T O PHE R . T H E HE AV Y R O Y ,-CHR I S T .

Whan enieman wolde ouer patwater : vpe his rug be him cas te

82 nem his parche bar him ouer : s tep hardeliehe fas te

For he was so long so strong : pat per ne com so heuy non

84 pat he nolde wip him wel baldeliche : ouer pe deope gen‘ll A ni;t in pat oper half of pe water : a voi; come gradde

86 C risto fre hale hale : pat he him ouer ladde

C risto fre anon vp ares : his p arche an honde he nem

W ed fo rp ne fend no man : po he to londe com

H e nas bote vnepe atom : pat he ne gradde also per

90 H e wed ferp ne m i;te fynde : namore pan he dude er

;ut he gradde pe pridde tyme : po he com hom to londe

92 Wip his red he wed o ;e z a lute chi ld he fond sto nde

pat chi ld him had par charite : pat he him ouer here

94 ;e com herfo rp quap C risto fre : y nuste wher pu were

Wel li;tliche pis chil d he nem : in his armes him caste

96 E ucree as he bar pis child : hit gan to benye faste

pat water him wax also : C risto fre him sore agaste

98 To adr enche so heuy pat childwas : pat vnepe he sto d atte las te

H e nas neuere so ne; o uercome : at eche tyme hegrunte&blaste

100 leste pat child were adreynt : he ne perste hi t adoun cas te

ii 13 0 he was to londe icome : as him po;te longe er

102 pat child he sette adoun to gro unde : forto kele him per

What erton he seide so lute : S O beny bicome

104 S O beny pat ic was vpe pe poynte : to adrenche ilome

pe; al pe wordle badde ileye vpe me : me pin;p so heuy nere

106 N O wonder C risto fre quap pat child : pe; ic heuyere were

pan al pe wordle for ic am more : pan al pe wordle iwis

108 al pe wordle ic makede of no;t : al ping pat i s

pat pu pat sope i see : p iche pi staf on pe grounde

110 leuy he schal bere frut : blowe i n a stounde

p o nu ste he whar pat child bieem : C risto fre his staf nem

112 p i;te i n pe gro unde : also hi t bicom

b e was he sikerere pan he was : oure lo uerd leuede more

1 14 F o rp he wende tO schewi him : to prechi godes lore

H e ihurde sigge wher cristene men : i n tou rment were ibro ;t

1 16 To confo rtie hem he wende pider : pat hi ne ficcchede no ;t

Beep hardi he sei de stedefast : dop as ic ;ou lere

.1 18 b e iustise sturte Vp anon : smot him vnder pe ere

LIFE O F S T . CR I S T O PHE R . H E I s R O UN D . 63

S itte wel s tille quap C risto fr e : ic rede ne smyt no more

E rtou he seide of pulke : pu hit schalt acore sore

For if ic nere cristene man : ic wolde me awreke anon

;e bileo uep on pis M aumet; : ymaked of tree ston

p at no m iracle ne mowe do : namere pan so moche tree

O f mie lo uerdes M iracles some : bi mie staf pu schalt iseo

H is rod he p i;te i n pe gro unde : he gan anon

L euie blowe bere frut : bifore hem echen

O n such god he seide ;e schulde bileoue : pat S uch V irtu mai do

H ine perste for he was so moche : O bo ld word speke him toFor his faire m i racle O f his staf : for

,bis preching also

To god tournde in pe p lace : seue po usend m o

To-ward a maner wyldernisse : seint C risto fre wende

In G odes seruise to lede his lyf : as oure louerd him grace sende

De Justise tolde pe kinge fore : pat such a man he se;

Tourne pat fO lc he ne perste : fo r his stren;p come him ne;

De kyng het tuo hendred kny;tes : s iche forto hi him fonde

pat hi him nome sene ladde : to him faste ibo unde

F o rp wende pis tuo hendred kny;tes : wel yarmed anon

Toward C risto fre his come a lute : h i bihul de him echo n

H i alle ne perste come him ne; : ac hanward gonne fieo

to lde po hi come hem : pat hi ne m i;te him no;t i see

What ;e coward ; quap pe kyng : nabbe ;e him no ;t ifeunde

Ich we le if he i s alyue : habbe him faste ibounde

H e sende oper tuo hendred kny;tes : pat hi him wi de sou ;te

pat hi me come neuere a;e : bote h i him wip hem brou ;te

Wel yarmed hi wende fo rp : po hi C risto fre i se;e

H i ste de ne perste come no ner : ne vnepe him loke wip e;e

For he was so gastliche so moche : pathi perstevnepe him i see

H e m i;te wip a lute lupe : wel sene habbe ymaked hem fieo

p is gode man hadd god game of hem : eschte what hi wolde

We ne pere no;t pis kny;tes seide : do bi pe as we wolde

For pe kyng ous het pe bringe him : pyn honde faste ibounde

If pu wolt we wellep him sigge : pat we nabbep pe no ;t ifeunde

N ai for gode quap C risto fre : ;e ne schulle no;t beo iblamed so

I ch we le go wip ;O u to loke fawe : what he wele habbe ido

H e makede hem al a;en hire wille : his honden faste bynde

ladde him fo rp harde yno u ; : his honden faste bihynde

64 L IF E O F S T . CR IS T O PHE R . H IS CO N V E R T S .

Bi pe wei as hi him ladde : he gan hem so lere

pat er hi come hem te pe kyng : alle icristncd hiwereA c napeles h i ladde him fo rp : to pe king fas te ibo unde

L O sire he seide godes kni;t : nou we him habbep ifeunde

p e kyng sat an he; Vpe his sige : anon po he him ise;

For fere he ful to grounde anon : pat his necke tO -berste ne;

p is kni;tes anon to him come : po his wit a;e com

C risto fre he sei de tourn pi po;t : bilef cristendom

G ode man pu mi;t quap pis oper : as wel beo s tille

M i bedi pu hast faste ibo unde : do bi me pie wille

C ertes sire quap pis kny;tes : pat him badde pider ibro ;t

We habbep i take cristendom : we nulle bilene hi t no ;t

b e king let po i n grete wrappe : pis C risto fre i n prisoun do

pis kni;tes bynde faste : smyte of here heuedes also

b e pe kni;tes biheueded were : pe kyng him bipo ;te

t uo faire wymmen mid alle : seint C risto fre he bro;te

N ite het pat on poper Aquiline : forto tourne his mod

p o pis wymen i se;e C risto fre : as he i n prisoun stod

H em po ;te his face bri;tere was : pan sonne oper mone

M erci C risto fre lou de hi gradde : cristendom ;ef ou s sene

C risto fre tei;te here bileue : cristnede hem pere

p e king hem let amo rwe fecche : loke hou hit were

wende hi hadde pane gode man : i n lecherie ibro ;t

p is wimmen ;eue him li;t ansuere : as hi ne ;eue of him no;t

What,hou gop pis

, quap pe king : habbe ;e itournd ;O ure po;t

H oneure oure godes ich ;eu rede : W hile ;O u i s wel ido ;t

;oure godes beop wo rpie quap pis wimmen : i n faire s tede

honoured beo

p erfore SW O pep pe stretes : pat alle men hit mowe i see

we hem wellep o neure iwis : as ri;t is lawe

b e king let do al as hi sede : sene wel fawe

p o pis maumet; were ibro ;t : i n pe stret atte laste

piswymmen nome here gurdles bope : tei de to hemwel fas te

And drewe hem into al pe stret : hewe hem to deusto pere

C rop hi sei de fecche hem leches : pat.

hi iheled were

b e king was po fo r wrappe wed : pat o womman he let honge

H euye rekkes hynde to hire fet : pat hire dep prowes were

strenge

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6 6 T H E V IR G IN S .

the H o ly Reed and its miracles , S t. Matthew,S eint Michel

parcangle ; then the pit of hel l G m, printed at the end (p . 132 - 140)of Mr. Wright’s edition of Popular T reatises on S cience writtenduring the M iddle Ages , L ondon 18 4 1 ; then S t. Jerome , S t.Den is , and S t. Luke ]

XVI. T HE V IRG IN S .

(Harl . MS . 2277, fol.

E lleue pousend virgines : pat fair cumpaignie was

2 Imartred were for godes loue : ie wele telle pat cas

A king per was i n B ritaigne : M aur was h is name

4 A deu ;ter he badde O urse : a mai o f noble fame

S O fair womman me niste non : ne so god in none poynte6 C ri stine heo was al hire cun : swipe noble queynte

O f hire fairhede go dnisse me tolde i n eche side

8 pat pe word cam in—te E ngelo nd : elleswhoder wide

A king per was i n E ngelo nd : a man of gret peer

O f pis maide he hurde telle : gret noblei fur nher

To spouse hire his sene : to-gadere he badde ipo;t

A c per nas pe ;ut i n E ngelond : no cristendom ibro ;t

TOpeking of britaigne he sende werp : his deu ;ter patwas so fair

pat he hire lete marie : to his sene pat was his heir

If he were per a;en : pat pe dede were i do

Destruye he wolde al his lend : him silue also

b e pis message was : to pe king ised

S orie dreo rie he was : he ne coupe perof no red

For pe king O f E ngelo nd : was hepene alle his

he wiste wel his deu;ter nolde : been iwedded iwis

fo r pe kyng O f E ngelonde : was man of grete mi;te

pat he nadde peer non : a;en him forto fi ;te

napeles trues of answers : a;e pe message he nom

Deol so rwe lute ioye : i n his hu rte per com

H e ne tolde no;t his deu ;ter fore : of pis reuful cas

A c napeles heo hit vnder;et : for he so sorie was

;urne heo bad god day a ni;t : pat he scho lde hire rede

A angel per com to hire a ny;t : puse wordes sede

N e beo pu no;t a;s pis sende : ac p i fader forto paye

30 G rante iwedded forto bee : at a certeyn daye

T HE V IRG IN S . T HE IR S H IP AN D T HE IR GAME S . 67

Wipinne preo ;sr pat pu mowe : pi maidenhed honours

32 per wonye mid pe z elene maidenes in pi boure

pat pe kynge sene pi fader : beo at o ne rede

34 To chee se pe ten maidenes : wipeute enie wikhede

Whan ;e to-gadere beop : pat hi fynde ;O u ek perto

36 A pousend maidenes to ech of ;ou : to seruie ;ou also

pat W han alle ;s tO -gadere beop : pat ech mowe in his side

38 H onours here maidenhed pyn : pat hit beo coup wide

S O pat me nuts maide non : alised a;s pe

40 pat he wele cri stens beo : pi louerd pat schal bee

In pisse foreward grants him : in pe pridde ;ere

42 Iwedded to bee i n godes lawe : naue perof no fere

po pis maide ihurde pis : heo was glad of pis lore

44 pat heo wi ste wherwip hire fader : brings out of sore

To hire fader heo wende anon : bad pat hire tells scho lde

46 Whi he mournynge ;eo de so : he seide he nolde

Ich wo t wel pi po;t quap pi s mai de : pe; pu hit helde s ti lle

48 O f pi message naue pu no doute : ic wele don al pi wille

Do gan heo sigge in whichs manere : as p’

angsl hadde i sed

50 H eo wolde habbe pis he;e man : if hi t were hi s red

Wele pat pe king was glad : pO he hurde pis

52 pe message he ;af an answars : mid gode hurte iwis

p o ps tepinge to him com : wel he him p aide

54 S ons he let.him cristinie : for loue of pis maide

purf his fader red : purf popsr kynge

56 E lleus pousend maidenes clene : to pis maide hi lete bringe

Wh er me m i;te fynde nou as sene : as me m i;te pO

58 I ne wene no; t wher me scho lde : i n al pis toun fynde mo

pis maide was glad of pe cumpaignye : pat to hire com

60 S ons heo gan in priueite : teche hem of cristendom

b at for hire loue hire prechinge : all e cri stens hi were

62 L ouerd which a cumpaignye : of clene maidenes was pere

S o glad was pe king of his deu ;ter : of hire faire ferede

64 pat he hem let makie a schip : O f gret lengpe brede

pat hi scho lde abeude i n ps see : pleye wher hi wolde66 pat ech man a lo nde a watere : here maidenhed preisi scho lde

H i songe ofte a londe a watere : tresches gonne lede

68 oper maner faire pleyes : alle o f faire dede

e2

68 T HE V IR G IN S . T HE Y G O T o C O L O GN E R O ME .

M ete drinke stilleliche : to schipe h i gonne bringe

To preo ;eres sustenance : wipeute lens of pe kynge

A day hi fu rde to pe see : pleide vp doun

For ioye per bihulden hem : men of menie o toun

As hi were i n mest pleye : o urs louerd a wynd sende

p at drof hem fur in-to pe see : me nuste whoder hi wende

W el glade weren hi pe : pe wynd hem drof wel blyue

Atte C ite O f C o lo igne : hi gonne furst aryns

To damaisele O urse : an angel per com pere

And hire maidenes bad lede wel : forte hi ymartred were

seide hi schul de furpere fare : alle a;s wende

i n pulke toun ymartred beo : for godes loue attan ends

G lad was pis maide purf pis word : fo rp hi wende anon

Atte C ite of Basilie : hi aryuede po echon

Fram pulket euerechone : afete hi wende to R ome

De pepe hem makede i oye yn o u : po hi pi der come

For meniee of hem him were isibbe : for he was of britaigne

C iriac his name was : h i were wip him wel fawe

To pe pop s an angel per com a ni;t : sei de pat he scho lde

88 M id pis maidenes ymartred beo : for o urs louerd hit wolde

A fter pis tym s pis holi man : ho no urede hem ps more

90 prechede hem O f clanniesse : of o urs lo uerdes lere

T uelmo np elleue wyke : alle pis maidenes were

A t R ome wip pis holi pope : pat he dude we} lere

A c pe pope po seint C iriak : his censail clipie bigan

H is clerkes his C ardynals : menie anoper man

Tofore hem al hi s dignete : he tok vp attan ende

seide he wolde i nto anoper lend : mid pis maidenes wende

H is C ardynals were pera;en : pat he h is diguete gan reue

Wip wenclen forto go : his diguete bilene

N apeles he wende fo rp wip hem : al a;en here rede

H is C ardi nals hi s clerkes : gret schams perof him sede

Tuei lipere p rinces : M axim i n Afi'

rican

p o;te pat pis maidenes wolde : tourne menie man

To here p ri nce of C o lo igne : hi sende for pan o ne

pat he whan hi pider come : hem martreds echo ne

Dis Child pat scho ld pis maide wedds : as hi hadde i sed

King was ymaked i n E ngelond : po his fader was ded

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70 T HE V IR G IN S . T H E C O R F S E O F O N E R I S E S .

O u ,louerd

, pe grete i oye : of pis swete ferrede

pat martirdom for pi loue z afonge wipeute dreds

In pe tuo hondred : ei;te prittie ;ere

After pat god an vrpe com : pis maidenes ymartred were

pis elleue po usend maidenes : al pe cumpaignye

Ibured were sippe i n C o lo igne : i n a no nnerie

An abbed per was per biside : pat hurde O f pis cas

ofte of pi s clene maidenes : gret miracle per was

H e bad p’

abbet of C o lo igne : pat he him granti scho lde

A body of pis elene maidenes : he hit wolde do in golde

po pis bodie him was bitake : tuelfmonp he let hi t beo

Wipoute siluer oper go ld : i n a chi ste of treo

13 0 pe tuelf menpes were ido : as ps monekes echo ne

At matyus were a ni;t : pe bodie ares vp aloneenclynede hire to pe he;e weued : wende myldeliche

O ut purf al ps co uent : faire stilleliche

pis monekes po hi pis ise;e : adrad sorie were

To pe tumbe h i wende per heo was : ne fonde hire no;t pere

pis quap p’

abbo t i s our s wreche : fo r we nadde hire id o

In golde ri ;t as hi t badde ibeo : fo r we bihete hire S O

To p’

abbesse of C o lo igne : p’

abbet wende anon

tolde pe cas hou bit was : of pe mai de agon

H i wende to pulke stede : per as heo was ileid er

heuede Vp pe lid of pe prou ; : fonde h ire l igge per

F airs euene as heo dude er : so lute lyme per nas

pat ne lai as he furs t dude : fair m iracle per was

p’

abbasse was po glad ynou; : pe nonnen echo n

fer ps miracle songe an he; : po nkede god anon

p’

abbo t bad pat he moste habbe : po holi bedi eftsone

he hit wolde honoury fawe : as ri; t was to do ne

A c p’

abbesse hit nolde granti no;t : no pe co uent noper

pat he h it scho lde eft lede aweio : pe; hit were here broper

For hi se;e hi t was godes wil le : pat hit scho lde bileue pere

pis abbot wende hem a;s : wip wel dreo rie chere

N eu god ous grantie fo r his grace : pat we mowe iwinne

p e he;e ioye of heuene : pat pis maidenes beop inne : Amen

[ S eint S imon S eint Jude fellow; then S t. Quintin the Martyr,All S aints Day, All Souls Day , S t. Leonard the Confessor,S t. Martin ]

2

4

S T . E DMUN D T HE CO N F E S S O R . 71

XVI I . S T . EDMUN D T HE CON FES S OR .

(Harl . MS . 2 277, fo l .

S eint E dmund pe cenfessour : pat lip at P o nteneye

O f gode men true he cam : pe; hi nere no;t wel heye

Ibore he was in E ngelo nd : in pe to un of A byndo ne

G lad f mi;te pe mo der bee : pat bar such a so ns

M abille pe riche hi s moder het : pat god womman was ynou;

For bop wyf widne : to holi lyf heo drou;A seint E dmundes day ps king : pe gode child was ibore

S O clene he cam fram his moder : wipeute enie here

so drie pat no clop : pat ne; pe mo der was

N e ne; pis ;unge ch ild ibore : noping iso illed nas

A seint E dmundes dai he was ibore : po hit was furs t dai

Fram pe morwe forte hi t was ne; ni;t : as ded ping he lay

R i;t as he were ded bo re : fo r no lyf on him us say

A ;en sue he cudde fur s t his lyf: to churche he was ibore

for seynt E dmundes day bit was : E dmund icleped perfore

Dis Child wax wel ipe; : elles wonder hit were

b e bit was of enie el de : pe mo der hit let lere

R o bert ek hire oper sons : fo r sones heo hadde hem two

tu ei maidenes clene yu on : hire deu ;tren were also

20 Dame M argerie dams Alice : pat at Kattesby were ido

pat in ordre nonnes were : liggep per bope tuo

Dame M abill e pe gode moder : pis children leuede yno u

wissede hem to clene lyus : to go dnisse drou;

pe W ile children ;unge were : ofte heo ;af hem mede

For to faste pane fridai : to watere to brede

purf mede purf faire biheste : hi wer so per-o n ibro ;t

p o hi were in grettere elde : hi t ne greusds hem ri;t no;t

p e moder werede harde here :' for ours louerdes loue

28 Fram pe schuldre to pe hele : bards hauberk aboue

In suche penance heo ladde hire lyf : pis widue pat was so wys

30 Wel ;ung heo sende bope here senes : to sco le to Parysbitok hem spense lute ynou; : as heo m i;te biseo

32 Hi sei de a;s pat hi ne m i; te no;t : bi so lu te beo

L eoue sones , quap pis m oder : ic mai bee ;ut wel hende

34 If ;e wellep don after m e : ic can ;O u more sende

72 S T . E DMUND T HE C O NFE S S O R . CHRI S T Is HI S .

hit schal ;ut likie wel : bi pan ;e wite pan ends

36 If ;e pore mid so lute : out of londe wende

L eoue moder , quap pe sense : we schulle den after pi lore

A c pu west we ne mowe no;t libbe : bots pu ous sende more

b e moder tOk wel stilleliche : ech of hem an here

40 pat hi werede hem eche wike : tueye oper prie pere

heo wolde hem sende spense yno u : pe while h i at scele were

pis chil dren ;eode to scole pe : dude hers moder hestewerede here here prie a wyke : oper tueye atte leste

44 S o longe hi hem vsede perto : pat hi hem neme o ftere me

S o longe pat noper dai ns ni;t : hi nolde hem no;t forgo

H i vseden hem s o wel perto : pat hi werede hem dai ni ;t

pis was 10 a god moder : pat tei;te hire childrens ari;t

And euere as heo hem sende clopes : as heo hem m i;te iwynne

p erwip heo wolde beren sende : isued stille wip-inne

S eint E dmun d pe go ds clerc : to eche godnisse drou ;

pat euerech C lerc pat him iknew : badde of him ioye ynou;F or ours louerd his holi grace : mid him was wel ryue

pat ours louerd cudde him wel : in his ;unge lyue

For as he ;eode a dai : i n a mede for to pleye

H is felawes he bileuede echon : ;eo de biside pe weys

alone ;eode vp doun : his beden sede

per cam go a fair whi t child : to him in pis mede

P elawe, he seide, hail pu beo : pat gost pe s ilne alone

S eint E dmund stod in gret[e] po;t : wann es pis child cone

N e kneustou me no;t , quap pis child : seint E dmund seide no

N am ic pi felawe , quap pi s child : whoder pu euere go

At scole ie sitte ek bi pe z euere bi pi ri;t s ide

wip pe ie go in sche stede : us go pu no;t so wide

64 pi pleyfere ic am : i f pu nest no; he ic beo

In mio foreheuede iwrite : mio name pu schalt i seo

S igns perwip pi fo rsheued : p i brees t al so

An eue whan pu to bidde gost : aday whan pu rises t perto

E uerech ni;t er pu slepe z as in munde of me

pe deuel ne tit peer non : forto greuy pe

S eint E dmund nus te mid pis word : whoder pis chi ld bicom

H e knsu wel pat hi t was ours louerd : gret ioye to him he nem

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74 S T . E DMUN D T HE C O N F E S S O R . H IS MO T HER ’S DE AT H .

For seint E dmu nd badde a smeert ;erd : pis womman adoun he

reddeleide vp hire nakede rug : pat heo ne; awedde

H e ne sparede rug ne si de noper : er heo to grounds bledde

Quenche m i;te hire fele po;t : mid blo d pat heo schadde

euere seide pi s holi man : as he leide on hire fas te

M aids pu schalt lurny pus : awei forto caste

pi fe le wil of pi fiesch : wip suche discip li neH eo po ;te lute O f fo l po;t : er pis gode man wele fyne

pis wenchs wende softe s;e : hire rug smu rte sore

H eo bi;at so lute pe : pat hire ne lengede puder no more

C lene wommen heo bieem : wipeute fiesches dede

clene maide sippe dei ds : as hire schrifiadsr sede

pis maidenes pat beop wi lful : folie to do

I ch wolde hi fonde such a lemman : hem to chas te so

b e M abille his swete moder schelde : of pi s wordle go

S eint E dmund hire holi sene : ne; hire was po

p e mo der him ;af hire blescing : po heo schul de hunne fare

B lesce ek mio broper , quap popsr : pe; he beo elleswhare

L eo ue sene , quap pe moder : bope ;e come of me

he i s whan pe beop o bled : iblesced fo rp wip ps‘ll A c ie bidde pe for pe lens of god : of scinte M arie

pat pu somwhar pi so stren do : in a nonnerie

pat hi mowe lede clsne lyf : i n godes seruise

pat pu ne sufi rie pat hi beo : iwedded in none wyse

pis catel pat ich biquepe : pis dede forto do

Al ic bitake in pyne wards : hem perwip also

pis gode womman deids pe : of widuen was flour

in seint N icholas churche at A byndo ne : iburedwas wip gret

honour

V nder a ston bifore pe R eds : i n pe soup side iwis

A lute wipeute pe abbay ;ate : pe chapel arered i s

Aboue hire hit i s iwrite : her lyp on pe ston

M abille flour of widuen : les ing niS hit no n

For heo was womman of gods lyue : as me mi;te bi hire i seo

menie miracle sippe at A byndone : for hire hap ibee

N eu ne for;et no;t seintE dm und : pat hi s moder him hadde ibede

b e hi s peer was iwexe : he peurueide him a stede

H OW H IS HO R S E -HAIR S H IR T S C U T IN T O H IM . 75

his so stren were ido : in a no nnerie

A c wel vnepe he mi ;te hi t do : wipeute symo nys

Atte las te be com to C atchy : i n N erthamte sehire

Igranted him was per anon : al pat he wolde desire

Bope hi s so stren a godes name : nonnen he makede pere

lynede per al here lyf ho lie wymmen were

De vlpere was sippe prio rasse : of pe leuedies echo n

For hem hap sippe god ido : m iracles msnie on

bifore pe wcued an he; : ibured hi beep pere

In a chapel O f seint E dmund : pat hi lete arere

pis holi man seint E dmund : werede strenge here

In strengere manere he was ymaked : pan oper manes were

H e nas isponne ne iweue : ac ibre ide of strenges longe

sippe as me knyt a net : iknyt harde s trenge

O f hard hers-her ymaked : pe kno ttes deep s wede

pat moche del his bedi em : in quiteure i n blede

H ero f he badde brech scherte : fram necks to pe hele

V neseliche he m i;te ligge : lutel sse ifele

A strong rep per was sippe aboue : fram pe schuldre ido

To his buttok of hers her : to he lde hit fas ts to

s ippe he was bynepe his brech : igurd fasts ynou;Wip a stro ng cords aboue pe here : pat faste tO

-dreu;

S o fas ts was in eche side : pe here to him ibo unde

pat vnepe he m i;te bye his rug : oper lokis to pe grounds

whan he byde him enie pyng : his fiesch was so ignawe

pat wonder hou he po lede hi t : to beo so tO -drawe

F et honde pat nere no;t : ito urmented wip pe here

N ecks bsued al hi s face : pat wipeute were

H e ruddede a ni;t wip his here : whan no man ne mi;t hit isee

For he nolde pat no lyme : vnypyned scho lde beo

A dai he tec al priueiliche : his man his elde here

pat he hem fo rbrende still eliche : for hi fo ro lped were

H e cast hem in gret fur : ac hit us com no; per ne;

A c euere hi were iliche sounds : as pis man ise;

b e he se; hit us brende no;t : he bend perto fasts

H euye stones to draws hit adoun : pe water hit vp caste

N adde pat fo r peer non : to tuo chi pe holi here

A c napeles he tolde his leuerdz-pat hi fo rbrende were

[M argeria

76 S T . E DMU N D T H E CO N F E S S O R . HI S PRAYE RS .

If S eint E dmund his felawe : as hi t was ofte here wene

In a day fram L enkenere : wende to A byndone

A s hi come in a gret faleye : blake mo nekes he se;

As hit crowen cho;s n were : fieo bi p’

eir anhe;A lute blac sac as pe; hi t were : among hem pis foweles bere

cas te hi t Vp fram on to oper : as hi hit to-ters

pat was a soule for his wickednisse : pat hi to helle bere

H is felawe s tod bihuld : was ne; wed for fers

S eint E dmun d ;af him god cenfert : tolde what hi were

Deuelen of helle he sei de hit beep : pat hi berep iwi s

A manes soul s of stafgrene : her bifore hi t i s

pat nou ri;t deids late : he ne comep neuere i n bli s

H e mai sings welewei : pat euere he dude am i s

F o rp hi wende to staf-grene : pat sope hi fonds pere

pe man ded a lute bifore : ligge hot i n a here

N o pe gladdere ne mi;t he beo : pat pe deueleS him so tO -tere

S eint E dmund pis holi man : leuede wel hi s lere

For his loue he leuede ;ut : godes seruise pe more

M est he leuede an o reiseun : pat was of ihesu crist

of o urs leuedi his swete moder : of seint Johan p’

ewangelist

pat . O . i ntemerata : bigynnep a latyn

ps bigynnyng i s wel god : also pe fyn

E che dai bi custume : he sei de pis o reiso un

H e nolde hit bileue for no seele : ne fo r no lesso un

Ans dai he hit for;et : he badde so moche to do ne

S eint John p’

ewangelist : com to him wel sene

A pameri he brou;te on his hend : gret s trong yno u;S eint E dmund he nem bi pe hond : his pamerie drou;S e he;e wip so gret eir : as he him wolde altodryue

S eint E dmund lay quakede : dradde of lyue

For if be him badde ismyte : as he drou; : he badde ibee ded anon

H e quakede cride dulfulliche : lo uerd merci seint JO hn

Ich wele for-;eue pe , quap seint Johan : pu criest so so re

peneh bet on oure o reiseun : ne for;et hi t nemore

H e ns for-;at after pulke tyme : nemere pis o reisoun

For no studie me for no needs : us fo r po;t O f lessoun

S O wel lurnede pis holi man : suche grace badde

pat he bigan at O xenford : of art per radde

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258

260

262

264

268

270

272

276

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S T . E DMUN D T H E C O N F E S S O R . B E AT S T H E DE V IL .

po po;te him in his swondringe : pat a whit co luere com

Fram benene mid ours lo uerdes fiesch : pe wei to him nem

pat swete flesch pulte i n his moup : s ippe fle; vp anhe;H euene epenede hire a;en : as pis gode man ise;De sauour of o urs lo uerdes flesch : him po ;te was i n h is moups

And al pe clergie him po;te of god : pO he awok he coupe

O f pe pure s tat of cri st : of his mageste

As angel him po;te he coupe : of his priueite

H e bigan so deep s desputie : of pe trinite

pat gret wonder me badde : pnrf al pe vniuersite

pat pe gretteste clerkes pat were : i n O xenfo rde pO

N e po;te pat enis vrplich man : so furfo rp mi;te go

N e wits so moche of godes s tat : bete hi t angel were

per nere nonemaystres inO xenfo rd : pat in gretwonder perof nere

A c he m i;te of ihesu cris t iwite : more pan was i n bee

Whan he vsede eure louerdes fiesch : i n his moupe to e

N e po;te no;t pi s holi man : so moche i n his lessoun

pat euere among his po;t nas mes t : i n godes passioun

O tyms he was i n grete studie : O f his lesso un a ny;t

pat longe he sat per aboute : forte hit was ne; daili;t

[30 hit was toward pe dai : anapped he was sore

H e lynede adoun vpo n his bo c : po he ne mi ;te studie nomo re

280 S O pat he ful asleps : vnywar also

ne po;te no ;t on pe passio un : as he was iwoned to do

282 pe deuel com to him wel sene : noping to siche he nas

S eint E dmund of him was iwar : i n swondring as he was

284 H ewolde him blesciwippe deuel : his ri;t hondhegan ferpdraws

pe deuel him nem perhi anon : he ne m i;te him no;t wawe

286 Do nem he fo rp his lift bo nd : to blesci him wip also

De deuel him nem perhi fas ts : pat he ne m i;te noping do

288 V pe him he laie as a sak : pat he was al ouercome

H e ne mi;te him wawe fet ne hond : his peer him was binome

290 A c dslyure he badde al hi s po;t : so pat he po;te sene

O f o urs lo uerdes passioun : as he was wened to done

b e deuel ne m i;te po bilene : vpe him none prows

For dreds he ful sons adoun : bituene him pe wowe

S eint E dmund ares vp anon : pe deuel o uercom

S trangliche harde ynou : bi pe prote he him nem

H E I S CHO S E N T O PR E ACH F O R T HE CR U SADE .

purf ours lo uerdes passio un : tel non he seide ms

Ich axis pe hou cri stens man : mai bes t him witie fram pe

M e ne schal wip noping quap pe deuel : schulde fram mie peer

S O wel as purf his passio un : pat pu nemnedest er

per lurnede pis holi man : as we mowe ek echo n

In whichs manere we mowe best : pe deueles peer forgo n

For he hatiep godes passio un : as man dep his fen

whan a man hit hap in munde : he wele him flee anon

E che tym s O f ps dai O f pe ni;te : seint E dm und him gan biseo

b et he di;te him wel to godes wille : pat he nolde i del beo

O per he was i n o reiseuns : oper at his bo c

O per he st oper he slep : oper to oper ping he tec

p reo tym es him po;te he fo rlss : whan he com perto

Whan he ro d whan he slep : whan he et also

For he nas panne in studie : ne in beds no ps mo

E ch oper tyms him po;te : to som p rou scho lde go

S O longe pis gode man : to eche godnisse drou ;

pat hi s go dnisse was wi de conp : me S pac perof yno u;De bes te precho ur he was iho lde : pat me owar vnderstode

Fer be -se hapwiphim godes grace : his dedes mote nedebeo gode

p o pat of pe cro serie : pe pope sende fram R ome

To bisehops of E ngelo nd : pat hi a wysman neme

To prechi of pe cro serie : aboute in pe londe

pat me wende to iherusal em : sends here sende

Procuracies hi ;eue hem ek : per hi wende aboute

O f perso nss to nyms largeliche : pat non nere wipeute

S eint E dmund was perto ichese : pis prechinge forto do

For he was precho ur god ynou : hol i man perto

H e nolde of perseus s nyms noping : ne no spense take

A c whan personss him bode ou;t : he hit wolde forsake

For whan he seruede ihesu cris t : of his owe spense he to e

of perso nss of oper men : ;iftes he forsee

H e ne furde no ;t as pis A rcsdeknes : ne pis opere no pe mo

pat personss pousre preo stes : o ueral dop wel wo

As he prechede a dai : of pe croi; wel longe

A ;ung man wende among pepers : pe croi ; to afo nge

A wom an pat him leuede : anon pO heo ise; pis

H ents him bihynde hasteliche : a;en him drou; iwis

80 S T . E DMUN D T HE C O N F E S S O R . H I S M IRACL E S .

As stif as enie bord : hire honden bicome anon

pat heo nemi;te hem awo lde no;t : noper synnes ne ben

pat pe bond was ek fo rcroked : heo makede reuliche bere

S eint E dm und bihuld aboute : eschte what hit WereS ire merci quap pis womman : wrecchede ic am yno u;

As pis man wolde afonge ps croi; : a lute ic him wipdreu;myn bo nd i s al-fo rcrokcd : wharwip ic him nom

In ale wrecchede ic am ibro ;t : allas pat ich euere her com

W omman quap pis holi man : welton pe croies take

If ic m i;te louerd quap pis oper : y nolde hire no ;t forsake

pis womman sat adoun a knee : O f him pe croies nem

pe crokede hond strei;te fo rp : anenri;t hel bicom

H eo crids herede ihesu cris t : pis was coup anon

For pis m iracle per teke pe croi; : men menie on

In 0 tym s of pe ro usisouns : p is holi man also

Frechede a dai at O xenford : as he hadde ofte ido

In alle halswe church;erd : i n pe no rp side

M id pe baners at vnderne : as men dep a londe wide

As pe holi man amidde al pe fo lc : in his preching was bes t

p e grislikeste weder pat m i;te beo : com fram pe west

Swart dure grislich : euercaste al pan toun

De wyn d bleu ek so grisliehe : as al pe wordle scho lde adoun

S o durk hit Was ek perto : pat vnepe me m i;te i seo

G rislikere weder pan hi t was : me mi;te an vrpe beo

pat fe le for dreds of here clopes : fasts gonne to flee

A bidep quap pis holi man : o urs lo uerd is god free

pis weper pe deuel brin ;p : to desturbie godes lore

O ure lo uerd i s s trengere pan he : ne dreds ;e no;t so sore

H e bihuld to god an he; : cri de milce o re

To schulde hem fram pe deueles mi;te : pat he ne greuede hem

nemere

b e he badde iseid his o reiseun : pat weper bigan to glide

In anoper half of pe churche : al in poper s ide

per hi t gan dasche adoun : hit nolde no leng[er] abide

pat vnepe purf pe he;e strete : me m i;te go oper ride

A c i n pe no rp half of pe churche : per pis gode man stod

per ne ful no;t a reynes drops : to destnrbi a manes med

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82

408

410

4 12

4 14

416

418

420

422

424

426

428

430

432

434

if

436

438

q;

440

442

444

S T . E DMUN D T HE C O N F E S S O R . H IS M E E KN E S S .

H e wende toward salesbury : ac per nas he no;t

H e fond him in pe toun of C alne : po he was al i so ;t

In his chambre he was priueiliche : at his bo c wel stills

N e perste noman to him go : forto w ite his wille

A c napeles on pat was him next : as hit were his Chamberlayn

G od tepinge wende to him bringe : perto he was fayu

H e tolde him pat he was icho se : arehebisch0p to beo

pis holi man him chidde anon : het him panne fleo

B eo stille ,fol

,he sei de

,ich ho ts pe z go out hunne anon

M ake faste pe dere after pe : ne let no man in gen

To desturbi me of mie studie : ac let me i n pays beo

O f pis tepinge he told lute : perhi me mi ;te i see

S O farep ;ut pis clerkes : hi ne wilnyep no maistrie

N e beo icho se to he;e men : for gode ich wene ic lie

pis messagers bileuede wipeute : carefulle were O f po;t

For pe dai wende fo rp : here mes sage ne dude h i no ;t

H i wende for here gode tepinge : to beo nobliche vnderfo ngs

S o murie hem po;te here semblant : pat he po ;te per wel longe

H ere ;iftes hi m i;te epe bere : pat seint E dmun d hem caste

H i bimende o fpe;te sore : pat hi h i;ede pider so fasts

H e n’ares ane fet fram his bee : er god pane tyms sende

As he was iwoned anoper dai : ac so fo rp wel softe wende

b e he cam out of his chambre : pe mes sagers come

seide here erande hou bit was : he to e perof lute genie

p o pe lettres were irad : beau freres he sede

Ich wele leke what mie felawes : of pis ping wellep rede

In pe chap itre of salesbury : as ri ;t i s pat ich doH i nadde of him non oper ansuere : po hi t alles com perto

p s chap itre of salesbu ry : amo rwe was plener

Alle pe C ancuns of pe queer : per come fur ner

To censailli him of pisse pinge : pe red was sens ido

For gladliche at one wo rds : hi radde him alle perto

Beep stille , quap pis holi man : what schal pis ised

Wo rpi nam y no;t perto : nymep anoper red

C ertes, quap pe bischep , pe : pe C anouns alle also

N eu pu ne mi;t no;t per a;en beo : pu most hit nede do

pe bisehop al wepinge : cride on him fastsAnd in obed ience : him het atte laste

HE G IVE S BACK T o A POOR W IDOW T H E HE R IO T -E E A S T . 83

pat he ne scho lde no;t bileue : godes wi lle to do

To buxom to holi churchs : to al ps lend also

b e bigan pis holi man : to wepe S ike sore

448 N ou god he seide ous ;eue his grace : his mi lce his o re

ic take god to witnisse : scinte M arie also

pat if y ne wende synewi dedliche : y nolde neuere h it do

b e hi ihurde pis word : ioyful ynou hi were

452 H i neme him Vp wip ioye ynou : to pe he;e wened him here

te dom ine laudamus : songe murie he;e

454 E uere wep pis holi man : as p is C anouns i se;e

S O pat hi come to C anterbury : dude as ri;t was pere

456 A rchebischop was ymaked : vnponkes pe; hit were

N e per no man eschte per : whar he toke on wel ynou;458 wel wissede holi churche : to alle go dnisse drou ;

If his lyf was holi er : wel betere hit was po

460 In penance he was strong ynou ; : i n fastings oper we

H e badde euere of seli men : pits deol yno u;462 For him po ;te pat he;e men : dude hem al dai wo n;

0 tyms on of his po re men : wende O f lyfdawe

H is beste best to heriet : me brou ;te as hit [was] lawe

p o cam pi s seli manes wyf : pat careful wides was

466 mette wip pis holi man ; as ours lo uerd ;af pat cas

H eo cride on him deo lful liche : merci his o re

468 seide bete pat 0 best : lute go d heo badde more

N e heo nuste in whichs manere : for meseise lyus

470 H eo bad him for godes loue : pat he pe bes t a;en hire ;yue

G ode womman, quap pis holi man : pu west wel lawe hit i s

b e chief louerd to habbe pe beste ei;te : whan a man ded i s

T O his clerkes he seide a latyn : pat heo hit no;t ne vndersto d

474 M e pin;p hi t is a liper lawe : noper ri;t ne god

pis gode wyf hap forlore hire louerd : pat hire god fo rp drou ;476 to leese after hire bes te best : me pim;p hit were won;

N is pat on liper ynou; : pe; heo ne lore pat oper also

purf pe deuel o f helle hit is : purf god no;t i do

G o ds wyf , he seide ,if ic take pe : a;s pi best to lone

480 W o ltou hit witie to myne biheue : of ic hit esche eftsone

A ;s sire , quap pis widue : god ;ulde ps pyn o re

482 pis widue nem hem“hire bes t : ne ;uld hit no mo re

f ?

84 E DMU N D T HE C O N F E S S O R AND KIN G HE N R Y .

11, pis cas hifnl menie o tyme : whan men beds him ou;t

484 H eriet of pore men : ne wilnede he ri;t nou ;t

W e ne mowe nowbar ne; z rekene al his gode dede

486 For in penance strong yno u; : his lyf he gan lede

truliche huld vp holi churchs : schulde hire fram wo u;

488 perfore badde pe deuel of hells : enuie gret yno u;H e bigan to rere contek : bitusne hem anon

490 kyng H enrie pat was : ps kynges sene Johan

pe kyng moche del of ps lend : a; en hol i churchs was

492 As pe kyng er his grandsire : was a;e seint Thomas

pe C ouent ek o f C anterbury : a;en seint E dmund hulde fasts

494 O fte h i neme a louedai : ac pe C ontek euere ilaste

A L egat was po i n engelonde : pat a;en him was also

496 S tedefast was pis holi man : pe; he lute help hadde perto

H i ne m i;te acerdi for noping : ac pe leng pe wo rs bit was

498 A c pis holi man euere nam : hi s ensamp le bi seint Thomas

Wel ofte he bad pe king hi s co nsail : i f hi t were here wille

H eli churchs werris no ;t : ac i n pees lste hire beo s tille

H ire franchise as hit was : as hit hadde ibee ;are

b e king him pretnede fasts anon : bete he bileuede h is fare

Tl O f pi pretnynge ic dreds lute : sei de pis holi man

For if pu me dryuest out of londe : anoper red ic can

F o r ic can go to p arys : as ic habbe er i do

wynns me per mete yno u : clopinge perto

If pu letest me to depe bringe : pu payest me we] yuon;

pu ne mi;test do me nemore honour : pan quelle me wip wou;

;ut eft as he dude O fte : to pe king he sende510 H e answerede him pe leng pe wo rs : nolde noping amende

p o pis holi man ise; : pat h it non oper nolde beo

512 purf holi churchs he gan to fi;te : amansede alle pee

pat werrede pe churchs of C anterbure : eke dude schams

514 somme pat he gulti wi ste : he amansede bi name

To ps king his co nsail : ps werp wel sene drou ;516 N e per noman esche pe : whar hi were wrep ynou ;

pretinge per was best ynou; : seint E dmund him huld stille518 fas t hnld Vp pe sentence : let hem S peke hers wille

S eint Thomas com spae wip him : fram heuene ali;te

520 bad him helde vp stabliche : holi churche ri ;te

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86 S T . E DMU N D T HE CO N F E S S O R . H IS DEAT H .

per heo ;eode so longe as bit was : i n siknisse ynou;S e longe pat he lai adoun : to pe depe drou ;S o pat he eschte ours louerdes fiesch : bit was him ibrou;t

H e sat bihuld hit faste yno u; : i n studie in po;t

L ongs hi t was er he Spac enie ping : po he seide myldeliche

L ouerd, he seide, pu hit ert : pat ich habbe ileued truliche

truliche on ps bileoued : ipreched of pe also

And pu truliche at myn endedai : ert icome me to

Ich take pe louerd to witnisse : pe while ic haueher an vrpeibee

N eping elles y ne wilnede : lo uerd bete pe

L ouerd pat pis was an he; word : he pat pus sede

G od hol i moste he beo : holi lyf lede

b e he badde ynome oure louerdes flesch : he sat longe in po;te

al la;inge an engliseh : puse wordes fo rp bro;te

M e saip game gep a wombe : ic sigge game gep an hurte

i n his bed per he lai : Vpri;t he s tu rte

In oure louerd pat he had ynome : wel ioyful he was po

al his game was i n hurte : fo r his bedi was wel we

b e more hi s bedi pynede :pe nher he was his snde

whan he were of pisse lyue : he wiste who der wende

perfore pe more he was : i n siknisse in we

b e gladdere he was for he wiste : whoder he scho lde go

pe more he 10 ; i n ioye yno u; : pe muriere him gan like

M e nuste him no;t enes ligge adoun : ne gronye ne S ike

sat suers glad yno u; : lynede wel ofte

Vpe clopes oper vpe his b ond : as pe; he deids softe

S o fair semblant ne makede he no n : as po he was at an ends

Inpemerweningeaspesonneares zeut o fpiswerdleheganwcnde

H e deids tuelf hendred ;er z two fourti ri;t

After pat oure suete louerd : in his moder was ali;t

M e let him openie anon : hi s guttes take

burie per as he was ded : i n pe M instre O f seint Jake

his holi bedi me nam : fai re let hi t lede

To pe abbai of Fonteney : as he him silf sede

A seint E dmundes dai pe king : pider he was ibro ;t

Foreward he huld pis monekes : ne faillede hem no;t

For po he ne com no;t a;e alyue : ded he com iwi s

per he was ibro ;t an vrpe : also ischryned i s

S T . E DMUN D T H E KIN G. 87

lyp per faire yno u : wip gret honour also

596 M enie i s pe fai re miracle : pat god hap fo r him per ido

N o n for his loue we biddep god : pat ous deore bou ;te

598 Bringe ous to ps he; blis : pat he his souls to brou;te : Amen

XVIII . S T . EDMUND THE KIN G .

(Harl . MS . 2277 , fol. l 62 b .)

S eint E dmund pe holi king : of W ham we makiep gret feste

2 O f pat on ends of E ngelond : kyng he was her bi este

For of soupfo lc he was kyng : of pe contray wide

4 For per were in E ngelond : kynges in eche S ide

Swipe fair kny;t he was strong : hardie i n eche poynte

6 M eek mylpe ful of miles : swipe curtsys queynte

Tuei princes of anoper lend : pat were of liper po;t

8 P aste here red tO -gadere neme : to bringe E ngelond to no;t

H ubba was poper ihete : popsr hct Hyngar

10 Wip grete furde hi come to E ngelonde : er enieman were iwar

In no rphumberland hi bigo nne : per hi slo;e to grounds

12 R obbede also brende to no;t : destruyde al pat hi founds

1T p o hi hadde no rphumberland : clenliche to no;t ibro ;t

14 Also hi po;te al E ngelo nd : hi ne po;te raper bileue no;t

Hyngar pat o maister was : his felawe bileuede pere

16 her bi este wende him silf : to sle pat per were

O f pe godnisse of seint E dmund : he hurde moche telle

18 In to his lend he wende anon : to fendie him to quelle

In to hi s hexte toun he com : er enis man were iwar

20 robbede al pat he fond : makede pane toun bar

pat fo lc he sle; al to grounde : al pat he mi;te o fgon

22 ;ung O ld wyf ne maide : he ne sparede non

C hildren fram here moder breo st : he drou ; let hem quelle

24 alto-draws tofore here moder : pat reupe hit is to tells

pe medres he let sippe quelle : pat reupe hi t was ynou;26 pe toun he brende al to do uste : pat felc aslon;

H e o f-eschte of pat fele z where here kyng were

28 hi him tei;te wher he was : hi ne perste non oper for fers

88

30

34

60

S T . E DMUN D T HE KIN G. H I S MAR T YRD O M .

For in pe toun of E glesdo ne : a god wei pannes hi t was

be pe lipere p rince pis ihurde : he ne makede no ;t softe pas

A c wende pider hasteliche : wip his men echone

H i come &mette wip seint E dmund : wipeute pe toun alone

b e H yngarwiste pat he bit was : he nem him anon pere

bisigede alle pe men : pat wipinne pe toun were

S eint E dmund was fasts ynome : i n a lute stoun dsi lad tO -fore pe prince naked : hi s honden fasts ibounde

A s me ladde oure louerd tofore Pilatu s : forto afonge his dom

b e h is dom was i;yue : fasts me him nem

ladde him to a picke wede : makede him menie wounds

beets him sore wip harde scourgen : to a tree him bounds

S o pat pis lipere tourmenteurs : pat beets him S O sore

po;te pat pe; hi him schams dude : pat h i him wolde do more

H i stede afur bende here bowes : here arewes ri;te

And as to a merke schote to him : as euene as hi mi ;te

pe arewes stede on him picke : al hi s bodie tO -drowe

euere sto d pis holi man : sti lle as pe; he lewe

A s ful as an ill espyl i s : O f p ikes al aboute

A s ful he stikede of arewen : wip-inne wipeute

S e ful pat in none stede : ne mi;te an arewe in wendeFor oper bete he his bedi corue : him dude to rende

A S pe holi man imartred was : pe holi seint Bastian

Also hi rende his holi bodie : schote pis holi man

pat eche pece ful fram oper : wonder hit was of hi s lyue

E uere he stod as him ne ro;te : cride on go d wel blyue

pe Hyngar ise; pat he ne mi;te : him ouercome no;t

H e let smyte of his heued : pat he were of lyue ibro ;tA S pis holi man hi s bedes bad : me smot of his heued

A c his bedi was er alto-rend : pat noping n’as bileued

for bit was alto-draws : hi lete hit ligge pere

Achieheuedfor me ne scho ldehi t no ;tfynde : fo rpmidhemhihere

In pe wede of E glesdone : a durne stede h i fonde

Among picke pernes hi caste hit : hudds hit i n pe grounds

[30 hi badde of pis holi kyng : al here welle pere

G lade blips h i wende forp : lipere men as hit were

pat heued hi hudds durneliehe : pat noman perto us come

If enie were bileued alyne : pat heued wip hem neme

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S T . KAT HERIN E .

XIX. S T . KATHE RINE .

(Harl . M S . 2277, fo l. [T he dz of the MS . is p rinted and.)

S cinte katerine of noble cunne : com bi e lde daweH i re fader kyng hire moder quene : hope of elde laweKing C os t hire fader het : gret clerc pat maide was

per nas non of pe so us art; : pat heo gret clerk of nas

pulke tyms heo was O ld : ei;tens ;sr vnepe

And ic wene i n pulke vlpe : heo was ibro ;t to depeM axent pemperour : meche londe let crie

pat eche kinriche vnder him : come to A lisandris

And of hem pat bileuede : to do strenge gywiseE ch man to do fo r his s tat : to here god sacrefise

p o al le pe men were pi der icome : to don here lawe

S cinte katerine baldeliche : piderward gan draws

H eo sto d bihalues and bihuld : here gydihede

H eo se; honoure pe maumet; : menie cri stens men for dreds

p o badde heo gret deol in hurte : heo blescede hire anon

And fo rp anon to pemperour : baldeliche gan gen

S ire riche E mpereur heo sei de : pu ert noble and hende

pu scheldest pi peer and pi wit : to som wysdom wende

For pe folie ic sigge pat : pat ich i see her do

S O moche fo lc O f furrene londe : pat pu clipest herte

In gret i oye and wonder in ;O ure hurte : of pis temple ;e dep so

bat i s ymaked O f lym and ston : and of ;O ure maumet; also

Whi ne biho lde ;e pe he;e temple : perof ;ou wo ndri maie

O f benene pat gep aboute : aboue ;eu ni ;t and daie

O f sonne and mone and of pe steires : pat fram pe est to pe west

Wendep and neuer werie beop : and neuer hi nabbep res t

B ipeneh pe bet and turn pi po;t : to som wysdom ic rede

And whan pyn owene i nwi t pe saip : pat no W har nis Such adede

Al -mi;tis god pu him holde : pat s uch wonder can make

To fore alle opre ho noure him : and ;eure maumet; pu forsake

M id oper reisouns of clergie : pat mai de preouede also

pat here godes noping nere : pat hi aourede hem to

p empero ur sto d and ne coupe : answerie i n none wise

H im wondrede o f hire fairhede : and of hire queyntise

45

S HE I S T AKE N B E F O R E T HE E MPE R O R . 9 1

M aids he seide abyd her wip : forto ours sacrefise

And we S chul le anoper wip pe speke : ie oper mie Justise

pis he;e man after his sacrefise : ;eo de and sat in his trone

And al his fo lc aboute him : me brou;te pis mai de sene

M aids, quap pis E mperour : pu penchest gent and free

O f what kyn ertou icome : wonder me pin;p of pe

S ire E mpereur, quap pis maide : ic wilnis swipe lute

O f mis kyn to tells pe z for hi t were sinne and prute

For in his bee pe wi se man : C atoun saip also

pat man ne schal him silne p reise : ne blame no pe me

For so dep feles pat beop idrei;t : wip veyne glorie and prute

A c napeles ic wele wip oute prute : of mi kyn tells a lute

I ch am pe kinges deu ;ter C ost : pat pu west wel which he i s

H ider ic com to speke wip ;ou : pat ;e bileouep ami s

For me clepep him godes wip wrong : pat ane fet ne mowe go

N e noman helps i n none wi se : ne hem silne no pe me

M aids seide pemperour : i f pat pis sop were

AI pe men of pe wordle were i n gydihede : and pn one hem

scho ldest lere

And me schal leoue alle men : and more hit wele beo note

ban a fol womman as pu ert : ;oure belt i s sene ischete

S ire , quep pis maide po : pe; pu lute tells of me

As god mai pe resoun beo : of me as of pe

For E mpereur me saip pn ert : and ech man i s also

pat mai hete and his men mote : nede his heste do

O f bedi and souls pu ert ymaked : as pu mi;t pe S ilf i see

M id ri;te pi soule maister i s : and p i bedi hire hyne schal beo

If panne pi bedi maister is : and pi soule his hyne

A ;s cunde panne hit i s and pu worst : perfore i n helle pyne

purf clergie pis holi maide : resouns makede so queynte

pat pemperour ne non of his me coupe : answerie hire in none

poynte

M aids he seide pu schalt abide : i n wards her mid me

And bityme ic wele fynde : pat seha answerie to pe

pis empereur sende anon : wel wide aboute hi s sende

To pe he;ists clerkes : pat were i n enie londe

And bihet hem mede gret : to do a lute maistrie

T O sustenie vp here lawe : purf stren;pe of clergie

92 S T . KAT HE R IN E . SH E D I S PUT E S W IT H T HE DO CT O R S

S o pat vyftie maistres come : pe grettes te pat me fend

As wide as me mi;te siche : o whar in enie lend

pempero ur he seide anon : whi be after hem sende

A ;en a womman to desputi : pat al here lawe S ehende

N eu i s pis seide pat on : gret schams ic vnderstonde

An E mpereur to s iche aboute : so wi de in eche londe

After maistres to plaidi : a;en a ;ung wenchs

Whan on of o ur s knauss mi;te : hire resenns sene aquenche

N ai seide pemperour : heo i s wisere pan ;e wene

80 If ;e mowe O ;t a;en hire do : hit werp sene i sene

F or ich wele bet pat ;e hire ouercome : mid resouns a somme

R etores

W i se

pan we hire mid stren;pe makede : to do sacrefise

L et bringe hire ferp , quap pat on : and heo schal sigge anon

pat heo ne spae neuere wip wisere men : er heo fram ous gen

An angel to pis maide com : and bad hire noping dreds

For heo scho lde hem alle ouercome : and to cristendom lede

pat purf hire resouns hi scho lde alle : afo nge martirdom

p o pis maide ihurde pis : gret ioye to hire heo nem

Wel baldeliche heo wende fo rp : po meste hi re to com

90 S ire heo seide tO pemperour : ;yfstou a wys dom

pus fele maistres of clergie : bringest and settes t a bencheTo desputie a;s me one : pat nam bete a fol wenchs

And if hi o uercomep ms : pu bihetest hem grete prute

Andmidstren;pemakes t mewiphem speke : and bihetestme lute

A nd pin;p Ins vnri;t whan ic am : one a;en hem alle

A C is wele whan god is myn help : afonge whatmewele bifalle

S ai me quene what ertou : pat 0 maister seide [ p rimu s reter

A ;en oure clergie pen;pstou speke : turn p i po;t ic rede

pu sais t pat god almi;tie : dep an vrpe po lede here

Ich wele preouie pat hit ne m i;te : bee sop in none manere

H O S O deyep he no maie : neuere to lyue come

Whan al pe vertu of his bedi : purf dep him i s byneme

If pu sais t pat god is ded : pu ne mi;t libbe no;t

If he pat lyf pe scho lde ;eue : i s to depe ibro ;t

N ai seide pis holi maide : pu faill est of pyn art [Katerina

pe ne ti t bete pu speke bet : of pe maistere no part

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94 S T . KAT HE R IN E . T H E E MPE R O R O F F E R S T O MAR R Y H E R .

pis ma istres were igladed po z gladliche fo rp hi ;eode

146 And neme pane dep for godes loue : pat me wolde hem beode

H i makede pe signs of pe croi; : and in pe fur me hem caste

Do hi hadde longe ibrend : and ded were atte laste

And pat fur was aqueynt : al hel hi leye pere

150 Whyttere and fairere i n heu : pan hi euere were

per nas non so lute wem : no;t pe les te of bare hers

O per of clop apeired were : h i leye wip faire chere

pemperour let fecche anon : pat maide katerine

H aue reupe ,he seide

,O f pe s ilne : and schulde fram pyne

155 H aue reup of pi ;unge bed i : pat so fair i s and hends

Du schalt libbe i n gret noblei : if pu wel t pi po;t wende

In mie palsys ic wele pe make he;is t after mis queue

And after p i fo rms lets make : an ymage bri;t and schene

O uergult and hire sette : amidde pe C ite

160 And ech man him schal ho no ure : for honour O f pe

A S me schal a god do : pu ne schal t mid al pi lore

S O moche noblei bipenche : pat y pe nele do m ore

S ire E mpereur, quap pis maide : bilef pi fe le po;t

pu nas t no more while to spills : pan to speke S O embe no;t

165 G o d almi;tie-es spouse ic am : and al pi blandisinge

N e pi tourmentz ne S chulle ene : fram him myn hurte bringe

pemperour hire let s tripe al naked : to a p iler fasts ibounde

And bete hire sore wip s tronge scourges : and make hire harde

wounds

po h i se;e pat hi ne mi ;te : permid t urne hire po;t

170 In durke prisoun and in deope : sene heo was ibro ;t

pat noman ne ;af hire mete ne drinks : for heo scho lde for

hunger deye

O per turns hire po;t to here laws : and bee ibro ;t out of treys

In prisoun pis maide lai : tuelf dayes and tuel ni;t

pat heo noper ne et ne dronk : ne se; non vrplich li ;t

A whyt celure fram heuene : com to hire eche dai

176 And bro ;te hire fram heuene mete : as heo i n priseun lai

A dai as pemperour : fram home was afars

pemperice po;te on hire : and badde of hire grete care

O f h ire bed wel priueiliche : heo ares at midni;t

A nd nem wip hire S i re po rphirie : pat was hire p rinc i kni;t

180

185

190

195

S H E C O N V E R T S T HE E MPR E S S . 95

Do hi to prisoun come : hi se;e per gret li;t

H em wondrede wharo f hi t were : pat pulke s tede was so bri ;t

p o se;en hi katerine : in pe prisones grounds

A nd an angel of heuene : smyrie hire wounds

pemperice cri de anon : katerine pyu o re

Mi ri;te bilene tech pu me : y nele beo fol namore

De kni;t als god S ire porphirie : loude cride also

pat moche felc pat per aboute was : sene com perto

S ire po rfirie ful adoun to hire fet : and loude he gan to crie

Anon pis maide hem prechede of god : and of scinte M arie

S O pat porphirie and pemperice : purf pis maide pere

And tuo hendred kny;tes ek : ibapti;ed were

O ure lo uerd him s ilf com adoun sippe : to scinte katerine

L O here he sei de ic hit am : for W ham pu ert i n pyne

B ee stedeuast i n p i tourmentz : and ic we le beo mid pe

pi S ige is ym aked i n heuene : per pu schalt wene wip me

A noper dai pis Emperour : after pis maide sende

pat heo were for hunger ded : swipe wel he wende

pis maide was tofore him ibro ;t : swipe fair and round

What he seide hou gep pis : i s heo ;ut hol and sound

Wha'r beop pis traiteurs : pat hi re in priseun wi ste

H i habbep ifed hire stilleliche : pat noman hit m i ste

Bi pe fei ic owe M ahonn : hi ne schulle nemore

H e let nyms hi s G ailers : and turmenti sore

S ire E mpereur, quap pis maide : i s p is go d iugement

G ultelese men for mie gult : to brings in such tourment

H O pat me hap per ifed : he ne dredep pe no;t

For an angel of benene hit i s : pat mete me hap ibro ;t

Do me what to urmentz so pu welt : and let hem quite gen

For certes O f pat pu hem saist : gult nabbep hi non

H ei,hende maide katerine : sei de pemperour

211 pench on pi noble gentrise : for of maidenes pu ert flour

Turn pi po;t and pu schalt bee : pempereSse peer

H eo ne schal habbe no;t tofore pe z bete pat heo i s mic fer

G o ds man, quap pis holi maide : pu Spext al embe no;t

2 15 M id al pi peer pu ne schalt : fram ihesu wende mis po;t

A lle pe tourment; pat pu mi;t penche : of pynes swipe s trenge

p u mi;t do me i f pu welt : iredi ie am to afonge

96 S T . KAT HE R INE . T H E E MPR E S S I S T O R T UR E D .

F o r noping ne wilny ic so meche : as mie flesch and blod iwi s

To ;yue fo r mis lordes lone : pat for me ;af h is

b e was pempero ur so wrep : pat he was ne; iswewe

Four wheles of ire he let fulle : of raseurs kene ynowe

Andmakede hem midgynne turns aboute : pe tueiwhelesv ard

And oper tueie euene hem a;ens : i n popsr si de do neward

b et he pat bituene were : i n poper half ne scho lde wende

pat pe raseurs nolde al his fiesch : to drawe and to rende

p o pis maide was : i do peron to sehende

O ure lo uerd crist fram heuene : an angel gan pider sende

pis angel wip a draws swerd : pis wheles alto-hen

And pe peces flows aboute : as corn whan me hit seu

And smyte on pis lipere men : wel harde to pe grounds

pat four pousend per were aslawe : i n a lute s tounds

;e for gode pat was wel : per hi mi ;te lurne

To fi ;te a;e ihesu cri s t : mid here false querne

To wende aboute here raseurs : pe holis maide to draws

H i nemi;te hit no;t wel bili;e : pat were ibro ;t of dawe

p o nuste pempero ur no; what do : fo r deel ne fo r sore

pemperesse nolde po : hire stat hele nemore

S ire heo seide hen gep pis : for godes loue pyu o re

Ich i see pis maide i s god : and of holi lore

;oure maumet; ie forsake : y ne bilene fo r no fers

p o gan pemperour for wrappe : loude ;ulle and rere

H im po;te he ne mi ;te for noping : fram ihesu hire po wende

H e het pat me scho lde hire lede : to pe tonnes ends

And hire breesten fram hire bodie: wip kene hokes rende

And after smyte of hire heued : hire pe more to sehende

Wip gode hurte pemperesss : pane dep gan afonge

pe quellers heo bad hi;ie fasts : and n’

abide no ;t to longe

H i neme kene hokes of ire : and hire fiesche to-gnows

A s me drawep wip combes well e : here breestes hi todrowe

Fram hire bedi mossel mele : and sippe smyte of hire heued

De bod ie fo r heundes hi t scho lde ete : vnbured bit was bileued

A c po rfirie burede a ni;t : pis holi bedi and god

po pemperour pat bedi m i ste : he was W rap and wed

H e turmende menie men : pat nemi;te hem no;t Skere

b e seide po rfirie anon : lo sire whar ic am here

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98 S T . KAT HE R IN E . S T . AN DR EW .

p e quellers smot O f hire heued : as pe men aboute s tede

Whit mule per em out o fpe wounds : and no ;t 0 drops o fblo de

pat was signs of maidenhed : pat pe mule out com

pat clene was wipeute synne : and wipeute swikedom

An angel com and nem pe bedi : among all e pe manne

And bar hit to pe hul of synay : tuentie io urneyes panneA nd burede hi t per nobliche : and fairs yno u also

per ;ut to pis dai : pe bones beop id o

O f hire tumbe per vrnep ;u t z holi oylle wel blyue

Wher-purf menie S ik men i s ibro; t : to hele and to lyue

Wide a londe hit i s ilad : he so hi t habbe mote

N oble relik hit i s : S ikemen to habbe o f bets

p reo ho ndred ;sr and twentie : after pat god was ibore

Imartredwas pis hol i maide : of W ham we tolde bifore

N oon ihesu cris t for pe suete lens : of scinte katerine

;yue o us pe i oye O f heuene : and schulde ous fram helle p ine .

XX. S T . ANDREW (fol lows S t. Katherine ).

(Hal 2277 , fol . 1 74 h.)

S eint Andreu p’

apo stle : was seint peteres breper

2 O ure louerd silf to cristendom : him brou ;te and non oper

For fischeres hi were hope : and as hi fischede aday

4 B i pe se oure lo uerd com : and here fisschin i say

C ome,he seide

,after me : and ic wele. ;ou make

6 M anfi schers,and pis opere : here nettes gonne forsake

And suede him mid pis ,

wo rd : and ne chose no ;t ami s .

8 H em was so betere pan to p asken : i n . ps water iwis

While o urs louerd an vrpe was : mid him bope, hi were .

And sippe hi wende wi de aboute : cristendom to lere

In pe lond of patras : seint Andreu sippe com

H e to urnde per wel fasts : pat fo lc to cristendom

C hurchen he rerde al aboute : and tei ;te me perto

E geas wyf pe Iustjse : he, makede cris tens also

p erfore he iustise was, wrep : and wende to patras

To pe cite i n gret wrappe : as seint andreu was

ITHE JU S T ICE IMPR I S O N S H IM F O R C O N V E R T IN G M E N . 99

C ris tens men pat he per fond : sene he let take

18 To make hem wip his tourment; : cristendom forsake

S eint Andreu sene to him com : S ire he seide nym ;eme

20 Du pat ert so gret iustise : seli men to deme

p e he;e Iustise of benene : pu baddest needs to knows

22 pat in-to pe put of helle : pe schal deme wel lows

IT What erto u Andreu, quap pe Iustise : pat menie dai hap igo

24 And idrawe men to p i false god : pu ne schalt neuereft mo

Ich draws men, quap seint A ndreu : to god pat sop i s

26 A c wrecches and false ;oure beop : and deue and dombe iwi s

Whi saistou S O , quap pe iustise : pu west wel mid alle

28 pat pu perof loude lixt : hou m i;te hit so fal ls

For pe god pat pu of telst : pe gywes while neme

30 And S lowe him as he wo rpie was : bi pur ri;t of dome

N ai certes, quap seint Andreu : ri;t nas hi t no ;t

32 A c purf godes wille ous to bugge : he was to depe ibro ;t

H ou m i;te hit beo , quap pe Iustise : pat his wille were perto

34 For pe gywes him wip stren;pe neme : and him slowe al so

Tl Ich wet to sope, quap Andreu : a;en his wille hit nas

36 For ic was wip him pulke tyme : and ise; hou hit was

For er wel longe he tolde ous fore : hou hit scho lde beo

38 Tyms and stede and euerech poynt : as we mi;te sippe iseO

If pu weldest pat sope ihurs : an d i f pu ri;t vndersto de

40 G ret vertu ic wele pe tells : of pe suete holi rode

Ich wele herkny , quap pis oper : and bete pu do after me

42 In pe R ode as pi'

lo uerd deide : ic we le sette ps

If is doutede, quap pis oper : y ne prechede perof no;t

44 A c peron is al myn hepe : mie i oye and al mie po ;t

pis pu mi;t tells , quap pe Iustise : men pat luuep pe

46 And for y nelle hit ileoue no ;t : oper ping pu schalt tells me

Be te pu bileOue on o urs godes : mi;tie O f alle pinge

48 In pe R ode pat pu of Spext : to depe me schal pe bringe

Al m i;tis god , quap pis oper : ich herie ni;t and day

50 I ch bileo us on him and herie wele : pe while ic S peke may

T be Iustise was po wrep ynou ; : seint Andreu he let cas te

52 In strong priso un and he lai per : pe while hit ilasteAs pe iustise sat amo rwe in his S ige : to him he was ibro ;t

54 Andreu,he seide

,ic hepie wel : pat pn bco bet bipo ;t

g 2

100 S T . AN DR E W . H E I S R EAT E N AN D R O UN D T o T H E CR O S S .

56

And pat pou habbe fram folie : pi po ;t ito urnd to ni ;t

To libbe wip ous in ioye gret : and lens p in vnri;t

‘ll pu lipere bern , quap seint Andreu : pu huntes t aboute no ;t

58 b e more tourment pu me dost : pe gladdere i s mie po ;t

60

62

64

66

68

70

72

74

76

78

80

82

84

86

88

90

For pe mo tourm ent; pat ichpo lic for mie lo uerd : er pat ich deye

b e more wo rp mi ioye wip him : i n pe ioye of heuene heye

Ich doutie more of pe pan of me : for mie pyne nele ilesteB ets 0 dai oper tueye her : oper preo atte meste

A c pe tourment pat pu schalt habbe : wharto pu schalt wende

In tuenti po usend ;sr no me : ne werp ibro ;t to ende

b e was pe Iustise swipe wrep : he het h is men anon

S eint Andreu sco urgi S O : pO pat him O ke ech ben

And sippe bynde him honde and fet : to pe R ode fas ts

W ip strenge corden for hi s lyf : scho lde pe lengers ilaste

A nd he pe more in pyne beo : and pe more schede O f his ble ds

pe tourmenteurs wel yno u ; : his heste vnderstede

Anon to pe ben hi beo ten him furst : wip strenge S courges gode

In to pe vrpe hi pulte fas ts : pe tuei endes O f pe R ode

Do seint Andreu ise; pe R ode : adoun he sat a knee

H ail beo pu swete R ode he sei de : swettest of alle treo

pat pu wip mis lo uerdes lymes : ihalewed mostest beo

And of ;ymmes p reciou ses : wel glad ic pe i see

A nd wel glad ic come to pe z wel glad afong pu me

For euere sippe mie lo uerdes dep : ic habbe pe

N ym me nou al fram pis men : to mie lo uerd pu most me sende

For al myn hope and mi wil i s : purf pe to him wende

b e he strupte of him S ilf hi s clopes : atte bigynnynge

And bito c pe to nrm entours : pat scho lde him to depe bringe

Faste bope fet and bo nds : to pe croi; hi bounds

De honden bope aboue pe heued : pe fet toward to grounds

pat fo lc com picke aboute him : he gan to prechi fasts

Tuei dayes and tuei ni ;t : pe while his ly ilaste

pat fele pretnede pe iustise : and picks aboute him come

And wolde him alto-draws anon : be te he him adou n neme

pe Iustise him wolde nyms adoun : seint Andrew him fo rbed

I nele no;t he seide come adoun : er pan ic beo ded

For ic i seo mie swete lo uerd : and erwhile ic ise;

92 pat abydep me ti l ic come : he i s her wel ne;

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102 S T . L UCY. H OW H E R M O T HE R I s CUR E D O F A F L U x.

Bi menie po usend to-gadere : of eche lend aboute

11 Do S cinte L ucie ise; al dai : O f fele so gret route

15 M oder, heo seide, pu hauest an vuel : swipe grenons mid alle

And we hurep aldai miracles : O f sein t Agace falls

G o we fo rp pider mid opere : to pe holi seint AgaceAnd pu schalt per

'

to hele come : purf ours louerdes grace

N ou was Lucie stilleliche : itournd to cristendom

20 A c hire moder hepene was : and al pat fele pat heo of comTo an bepene man Lucie was : iwedded i n ;unghcde

A c napeles clene maide he wa : wipeute ech fo ldede

H ire moder heo nem stilleliche : mid opere fo rp wende

To pe tumbe of seint Agace : hire m'

oder lyf to amende

25 b e hi were pider icome : h i leuede a stounds pere

And hurde pe mas se per adai : wip opere pat per wereS o pat pe godspel : was adai as L ucie vnderstod

O f a womman pat while badde : pe meneiso un of blod

And come tuo chede pe lappe : of o urs lo uerdes clep ene

30 As he wende i n grete p resse : and was hol anon and clene

L eoue moder, quap L ucie : if pu leouest i n hol i churchs

And pe wordes of pe go dspel : wold perafter wurche

purf tuo chinge O f seint Agace Tumbe : pu worst hel anon

As pe womman was purf ours lo uerd : pat after him gan gen

35 Do pat fo lc was al iwend : seinte L ucie com

To seinte Agace ho lie Tumbe : hire moder wip hire nem

per hi leye i n hi re bedes : hi nolde panne gen

S O pat L ucie pis maide : werp aslepe anon

pat holi maide seint Agace : fram heuene to hire ali;te

40 Wip gret cumpaignie of angles : hire cronus schynde bri ;te

L ucie heo seide leoue soster : whi trauaillesto u S O

Whi biddes ton me S O ;urne ping : pat pu pe silne mi;t do

pi bilene pat i s so god : helpep pi moder iwi s

Anon purf pe and pi go dnisse : p i moder iheled i s

45 And also as pisC ite : is moche ihered purf me

A l so schal pi contrai : beo ihered purf ps

p o seinte L ucie awok : heo gan tOQ quake sore

M oder heo seide pu ert hel : pe neper dreds namere

For pe lens of pe holi maide : pat ps hap to hele ibro ;t50 N e fonde pn neuere to brings me : O f mis clene po;t

80

85

H ER L O V E R ASKS T H E JUS T ICE T O P U N I S II H ER. 103

N e let neuere mie Spo'use in folie : m

'

iemaidenhed aSpilleN e let me no;t lee se pe longs lyf : for at him fol wills

A c al pat pu igranted has t : to mie Spouse ;yue mid me

L et me hit ;yue por’

e men : moder ic bidde pe

p e moder po heo hOl was : god wOmman heo bicom

A nd pe deu ;ter purf pe m'

oder wi lle : al hire god nem

And delde ‘am’

ong pore men : While hit ilaste o ;t

To him pat hire spouse Was : pe tepinge was ibro ;t

To scint ‘e Lucie norice he wende : and eschte hire fasts

What L II cie Were so o nbicome : hire god awei to caste

And Whi heo dude hit so awei : an'

d who der heo dude hit here

[be nO rice ;af perof anSWereAnd seide

‘

to some heo hap ifeunde : dureWorpe ping iwi s

pat i s such a pofisénd Wo rp : as al hire ping i s

b e bests cheffare hit i s ibou;t : pat eiiere man to,

drou ;W eldestou enter perinne in per : pu were richeynou;

p e chefi'

are Was heueneriche : pat pis maide badde ibo u;t

p opsr wo ndrede of panswere : and stod in gret po ;tS O pat popsr vnder;at : pat heo cristine was

In grete Wra'

p‘

pe he tol de fore : pe IiI StiSe pat het pasca'

s

Lu cie was wel sene ifet : and tofore pe iuStise ibro ;tM aids seide pc in

’

stise : what hasten ipo;t

B ilef he sei de pi folie: ic rede i n Aue wi se

Ari‘

d to o urs godes as ri;t i s :'

pu do sacrefise

Ich haue, q1iap pis holi maide : al pis preo ;sr ido

Mi sacrefise to ihesu crist : and ;ut ie W ele also

Al pat ic hadde ic haue iso l'

d : and itake amto his lereAnd nou ic

'

welemisbod'

iperto take : whan p'

er nisbileuednemere

Ich ;ulde him vp ai mie bedi : S i re Iustise atfere lie

To spene ech lyme i n his seruise : do what pu welt bi me

N ou ic wo t, quap pe iustise : Whai

'

te pu tourneSt pi med

For In h‘ o rdom and In lecheurs : pu has t ispend pi godAnd whan pu I

i

s st nemore to spene : pu saist in pi speche

pero n pu welt spene al pi be di : and perof pu dost prec'

he

For pu Sp

'

ext as anho rezstro ng : whan pu

‘

wo ld forsake

pi lo uerde to Wham pu ert iwedded'

: to lecheurs take

Iwedded 1c Was tb ihesu crist : pis holi maide tO‘

lde

p o ic ifull ed was : pulke weddin ic wolde helde

104 S T . L UCY. 1000 M E N CAN N O T MO V E H E R,N O R

A c to bordem pu wo ldest me bringe : whan puwo ldestme make

Mi swete S pouse ihesu cris t : for enis oper forsake

p u him schalt forsake, quap pe iustise : haddesto u h it iswo re

O per to comu n bordel : beo ilad oper ibore

A nd per schal menie a moder child : go to licame

And ligge bi pe ech pat wele : i n ho rdom in schams

N e mai no womman, quap pi s maide : o fhire maidenhedbee ide

For no dede pat me do pat bedi : bo ts h ire hurte beo perto

For pe more a;e mis wille : mie bedi defouled is

b e clennere i s mie maidenhed : pe more mie mede iwi s

p s Iustise let aboute wi de : into al pe con trai crie

pat alle pat wolde bi such a fai r womman : do enie folie

T O hire come alle pat wolde : for alle heo scho lde take

For in bordel heo scho lde beo i do : non of hem forsake

H e het his men hire nyms fasts : to bordel hire lede anon

Alle pat mi ;te ne; hire come : hi dro;e fasts echo n

H i schoue dro;e al pat hi m i;te : hi nemi;te hire a fet awinne

N e make hire icche anne fet : O f ps stede pat heo was inne

p o neme hi repes strenge ynou : to fet honden tyde

And alle pat mi;te per ne; come : fasts hi drowe breids

A po usend men mid al here mayn : hi re one gonne draws

And euere heo lai s tille as ston : h i nemi;te hire enes wawe

What,hou gep pis , quap pis Iustise : what reisoun mai pis beo

p at a pousend men nemowe hire enes : of pe stede teO

S ire Iustise , quap pis maids : pu huntest aboute no ;t

For pe; pu baddest ;ut to hem : ten pousend ibro ;t

;ut ic wolde beo for ;ou alle : ic fele bi me her

p e holi vers pat seint Dauid : saip in pe santer

pat a peusend men scho lde i n mie side falls : to grounds beo

ibro ;t

And ten pousend In mie ri ;t half : and me apro chi no;t

perfore hit i s al for most : pat pu huntes t abouteG od i s strengere pan pu beo : perfore nahbi no doute

pu ert wieche , quap pe Iustise : perof ms mo t pe bringe

M i clerkes myne enchantours : bynym e schulle p i wicehinge

H is clerkes he let bringe fo rp : and hi s enchantours echo ne

And hi dude here enchantementz : aboute hire alone

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10 6 S T . L UCY. S T . E DWAR D,KIN G O F E NGLAN D.

And also M axim ian : pat S O liper hap ibee

R i;t nou deids in lipere depe : ;e ne scholle hem nemere isee

pis glade tepinge ie ;eu bringe : pe; hi fur hunne beoIhered beo god pat ic moste pis dai alyne i see

Ich we le ;ou non bitake ihesu cri s t : for ic wele fram ;euwendeB ringep me o nre lo uerdes fiesch : for pat schal beo myn endeP reo stes wende fo rp anon : and pat fele pat per s tod

And fette to pis holi maide : godes fiesch and his blod

p o heo hi t hadde vnderfo nge : and hire ri;tes also

And pe o reiseuns were alle iseid : pat bifulle perto

Wip pe las te word heo ;af pe gos t : as hi amen sede

Angles al ;are were : hire souls to heuene lede

p er heo i s wip ihesu cris t : i n ioye wipeuten ends

N ou god fo r pe lens of hi re : o ne lete pider wende : Amen .

[ S eint Thomas fel lows ; then S einte A nastace , S eint S tephens,Lucian , and S eint Iehan p

’

ewangelist and his M iracles ]

XXI I . S T . EDWARD—A Miracle of S t. John’s .

(Harl. MS . 2277 , fol. 195b.)

S eint E dward pat was nou la te : in E ngelond ontre kyngS eint I ehan p

’

ewangelist : leuede pnrf alle“ ping

M e ne scho lde him noping bidde : for lo ue'

O f- S eint Io han

pat he mi ;te do'

wipeute blame : pat he‘

nS‘

gran tede1 anon

A dai per com a pore'mam: wip wel dreo ris mo d

And had him: fo r seint . Iohnes leue : pat he him ;eue som god

S eint E dward bipo ;te him pe :: he' nadd ne; him noping

F o r tea;yue-pis p

’ore man :'

wip a geldene ring

pis ring he leuede wel yno u; : and fo r pe lens of seint Iehan

H e ;af.him | ;ut'

pe p ore man : he ;eode fo rp anon

per after ward sippe seint Iehan : com to a kni;t O fE ngelo nd

A S he was bi;nnde see : auento ures to afonde

Wend,he seide, whan pu hem comest : to E dward ;oure kyng

And sai him pat be for was 1 loue : he ;af p‘

isne ring [‘whose

H im S ende here his: ring a;en : and p‘

onkede him also

b e pi s kni;t com to E ngelonde : his erande he gan do

JUDAS I S CAR IO T . H E I S P U T T O S E A I N A BAR R E L . 107

S eint E dward ikneu pane ring : and vnderstod anon

pat pe pouere man pat he him ;af : was pc lo uerd seint Iehn

p ulke ring i s ;ut at Westmynstre : for relik i do

20 A S me schewep pelegrims : per O fte comep perto

N o u seint I ohn p’

ewangelist : i f p i wille i s

Bidde for ous pat we mote : come to heuene blis .

[ Gilbert’s and B eket’s lives (Percy S ociety.) fel low]

XX III . JUDAS IS CAR IOT.

(Harl . M S .

Incipit V ita lude carieto

Indas was a liper bri d : pat ihesu selde to B eds

2 S um-what me mate of him tell s : ac lute O f enie gode

F orme Ire schal no whar : O f him wits be te he so we le lie

4 R uben was his fader icliped : hi s moder T hibo rie

p is w hen i n ierusalem : wenede mid his wyue

6 b e; here sene a schrewe were : hiwere of gods lyue

As pis R uben bi his wyf : ani;t ileye haddeHarde metinge his wyf mette : wha r of he sore adradde

H ire po;te heo badde ibore a‘

child : pat al pe wordle was lopAnd al pe wordle him a-cursede : and was wip him wrep

And pat apursed he schulde euere beo : while pe wordl e stede

And al -his cun me cursis wolde : for such a liper vode

pis wyf was wel sore adrad : to hire lo uerd heo tolde anon

;e, he sei de, hit is pe mass : and als o hit wele gen

Wel is wet, quap pis gode wyf : if ic am mid childe

pat hit is tokning of a bern : liper and vnmylde

pis wyf rekenede pe tyme : and swipe heo gan iwiteAnd yfele pat he was mid childe : and pulke tym s bi;ite

S erie heo ,was and sore of drad : h

i

re freo ndes heo tolde fore

20 H i nuste what hem was to done : pO pat child was ibore

L gp hem,was to murprieahere fiesch and here blod

A-nd lop a bern to no rischie : S O lipen and vnged

S o pat he se;e : a barayl atte lasts24 per inne hi dude p

l

is2liper, qhild : ,and amidde,pe,

ses hit: caste

108 JUDAS I S CAR IO T . nE E N T E R S P IL A'rE

’

S S E R V ICE .

b e see him hurlede vp and doun : as a liper clo t

S ippe hi t caste him alo nd : vpe pe yle o f C ario t

p erfore Iudas cario t : euere icleped he was

For in pe yle of C ario t : ifo nde he was bi cas

b e king and pe quene of pe 10 nd : togadere were l onge

A c hi no child for no ping : bitush e hem nemi3te afo nge

S o pat pe quene 3eo de adai : and pleide bi pe stro nde

In pe yle o f C ario t : pe lipere bern heo fonde

p o heo se; bit was a child : nianlich and fair

G lad heo was and hopede : of him to habbe an beire

H eo let hit witie in preuite : mid chi lde heo hire makede

b e king and al pe lond also : perof were we] glade

S one pe tyme heo nom fo rp : pat pe chil d scho lde beon ibore

M e schowede fo rp pe lipere bern : glad was pe king perfore

Do he seg hit fair an d hende : he let hit nemne Iudas

H it nis no ;t al god pat is fair : i sene per bit was

pat child was i do i n gode warde : as kinges sone scho lde

S one hit fu l perafterward : as oure louerd hi t wolde

pat pe quene mid childe was : of hir lo uerd bizite

G lad were bope king and quene : po hi hit m i;te wi te

S o pat heo badde a knane child : pat fair and gentyl was

b e quene vpe him hire hurte dude : and pe lasse Vpe Iudas

pe children waxe swipe wel : Indas bigan sone

To do lipere and qued ouer al z as him was to done

C hild ren pat he com to : he wolde smyte and bete

And breke here armes and here heued : and pat god lete

To pe kinges some he badde enuie : for he was iloued more

O f pe quene pan he were : hit of po;te him sore

p erfore he alto-beo t pat child : whan he m iite hi t o ne wite

A c pe quene him beo t sore a;en : whan heo hit m i;te vnder3ite

A c perfore nolde he neuere bileue : for neuere ichasted he nas

S o pat pe quene vpbreid adai : pat he fyndling was

After pulke tyms pis lipere ping : pat child hatede yno u;H e awaitede his tyme wel : and priueliche hit slou ;

13 0 no perste he no leng abi de : leste he badde his dom

S tilleliche he wende to ierusalem : me nuste whar he bicom

per was p ilatus : of pe 10 nd Iustise

pis Iudas anon vnder him : leuede i n seruise

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1 10 JUDAS 1scAR io r ;— B E C O ME S cuR isr ’s P ER SEE

’EARER

‘

.

100

102

104

106

108

1 10

112

1 14

116

1 18

120

122

‘H

124

126

128

Gl ad ne blipe ne wo rpe ic neuer : whan ic me bipenche

For ic madde neuere sone bote on : and him ic let adrenche

S ippe ic fond mie lo uerd aslawe : y not in whiche wise

And myn vnponkes ic am iwedded : wip strengpe o f pe iustise

p o Iudas ihurde pis : sorie he was yuon ;C ertes

,he seide

,ic am p i sone : and mi fader ic aslon ;

Do was pis gode wyf so riere : pan heo euere were

S one,heo seide

,what mowe we do : pat we ischryue nere

‘

I udas ihurde of oure lo uerd telle : pat he an vrpe 3eode

pat he halp menie man : i n siknesse and‘

i n neode

purf his moder red to schrifte : to oure lo uerd he wende

R epentant he was and wilnede : his lyf to amende

S o pat he suede oure louerd longe : to w i te of his manere

O ure louerd him makede his discip le : to beo ap ostles ifere'

S ippe oure louerd him makede apostle : to fondi hi s m o d

And sippe pursberer of his pans : to spene al his god

For meni men gyue oure lo uerd god : pat were of gode po ;t

To susteynie his apostles : oper nadde he no;t

A c po Iu das wipinne was : and his m i;te fo unde

O f oure lo uerdes god pat he wi ste : he s tal al to grounde

Whan he m izte of eche ping : pe teoping he wolde stele

A schrewe he was al his lyf : y ne maie no leng hele

W el wi ste oure louerd pas : an d al his liper dede

A c napeles he moste fulfille : pat pe prophetes sede

S cinte M arie M agdaleyne : to cure louerd com

To-fore his swete passio un : andmoche o ignementwiphire nomH is fet heo wo sch wip hire teres : and wipede wip hire her

Wip pis swete o ignement : heo smired oure louerd per

Iudas of pogte pis ille : for hi t moche wo rp was

And seide pat hi t was vuele ido : pat hit iso ld nas

preo hondred pans bit was wo rp : and permide me mi;te fille

130 M enie pore man afingred : ho so hit moste sille

pat he seide for he wolde : if pe boxes hadde ibeon i solde

132 H abbe ispend and to him : pe teoping iho lde

p e teoping perof was prettie p ans : sore him o f-p0 3te perfore

134 pat so menie pans of his peo fpo : scho lde fram him beo ilo re

p erfore oure lo uerd for prettie pans : he solde mid vnri;te

136 pat he pe teoping of pulke boxes : to him keo uerie mi ;te

138

140 .

142

144

146

JUDAS I S CAR IO T . P ILAT E . 1 1 1

H im suede eche liperi pewe : for he lo uede baret and stryf

H ewas stnongpeo f andman quell ere : an d also he endedehis lyfe

A nd suche men schu l de anhonge beo : andpo noman hit nolde do

H im silf he heng vp a treo : for such dep he scho lde to

H is wombe to -berste amidde atuo : po he schulde deye

H is gvttes fulle to gro unde : menie m en hit iseye

p er wende out a liper gost : atte moup hit nemifte

For he custe er oure louerd : perwip mid vnri;te

N o u swete lo uerd pat purf Iudas : iso ld wer to pe treo

S chuld ous frampe lipere s tede : pe rweweneppathe beo : Amen .

XX IV . P ILATE .

(Harl .MS .

Pilatus was a liper man : and com of liper more

B ituene a king and .a fol wo mman : i n spo usbreche ibore

b e king Tirus was an he; man : an d of grete fame

Bi av m elewardes dou3ter he lai : Pila was hire nameA nd bi3at on hine vnder pe quem e-z pe lipere bern bi cas

p e ;meleward pat hire fader was : atq iho te was

For pe(do u;ter pat het Pile : and pe fader A tus ‘

O f here be ire name me makede anne : and clipede him p ilatus

p e child wax and wel ipeg: and po hit was o f preo 3ere

pe moder, hit sende to his fader : fo r he was of gret poer

b e king hit louede swipe wel : and let hit we'l lere

Bi pe quene he badde anoper child : bope i n o ne zere

pat child pat was ri;t bigute : and p ilatus alsoTo n o risschi and to lere wel : to -gadere were i do

As hi wexe hi toppede ofte : per nas bituene hem no loue

A c pat" chil d ri3t bi ;ute : euer was aboue

P ilatus awaitede his poyn t : and po ;te to ;ulde his while

H e stal adai stilleliche : and slou ; pat chil d wip gyle

p p peo king pi s ihurde : he was sorie ynou}H e nuste what do wip pe schrewe : pat his ri;t sone so slou ;He po ;te if he, hit slowe : pat hit were doble wo

A nd pat he nemi;te blipe beo : whan be him isege owbar go

1 12 P I LAT E . H E KIL L S T H E KIN G o r F RAN CE ’

S s0 N .

p’

emperour to him sende : after truage of his londe

b e king him bipo ;te hou he m i;te best : p aye him of his sonde25 Pilatus he sende pider : as hit were i n o stage

For p’

empero ur him scho lde sle : whan him faillede of his truage

H e sende him word pat he nadde : children bote him on

And for al pe god alyne : he nolde his lyf fo rgo n

A nd bote he at his daye : sende his truage

30 H i hi s sone do what he wolde : as ri ;t i s bi o stage

pempero ur him lo uede moche : ac o f his schreuhede nustehe no ;t

p e kinges sone of france ek : was i n hostage pider ibro ;t

H e was bet bilo ued pan p i latus : pe; hi felawes were

A n d for pat on was god and pat oper schrewe : gode felawes

neuere h i nere

35 p e schrewe awaitede wel his tyme : for he was fel yno u;B ituene hem sil uo stilleliche : his felawe he slou ;

pempero ur him nom anon : he nu ste what wip him do

H e wolde him sle,ac his co nsail : ne ;af him no3t perto

And seide he was toward : swipe hardie man mid alle

40 O f a such man mi3te moche god : i n to al pe contray bifalle

S chulle we lete quap p’empero ur : a manquellere alyne go

S ire s ire quap pi s oper : pu has t menie a fo

And such man i f he bileuep fo rp : gret go d maie pe do

A nd i f lawe of londe nele : pat pu him lete so go

45 Wel pu wost pat in pe yle of Ponce : schrewen per beop ynowe

per com neuere Iustise : pat hi sone ne slowe

perfore pu mi;t him sende pider : to beo Iustise of pulke yle

And bote he beo queyntere pan enia oper : he ne scapep no gt a

gyle

And if he pat lond chastep wel : and bringep vnder fote

50 H e wo rp man wipo ute peer : if he duri mote

1T p o p ilatu s was pider isend : he wi ste wel pe gyle

And pe maner enquerede of pe lond : po he cam in to pe yle

H e spae faire and mylde : and was euere stille

Wip fair speche and q uentise : he bad de of hem his wi lle

55 H i dude al after his wills : and hulde him euere I ustise

per nemi;te so neuere non : beo i n none wise‘U DO p

’

empero ur ihurde pat he mi;te : pat lipere fo lc so pewe

H e me hu-ld non so queynte man : as he huld pe schrewe

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1 14 L I F E O F P ILAT E . nE AN D JUDAS B E CO ME F R IE N DS .

100

105

1 10

1 15

120

130

De while p ilatu s in his lond : lo uerd and sire was

Iudas pat oure lo uerd solde : to him corn bi eas

H is s teward he him makede anon : gode freo nd hi were

For tuei schrewen wo llep freo nd beo : pe ; no mo men nere

Iudas was per his steward : forte be hi s fader aslon;And forte he wedde his owe m oder : wip grete stren;pe and wo u;

S uppe god was ynome : and schulde beo to depe i do

P il atus purf pe gywene w ille : him demde perto

For pe gywes i n ierusalem : i n here p oer him nome

p erfore hi ne m i;te him quelle no;t : bote purf his dome

L onge after pat he was ded : he repentede him ilome

H e ne perste no;t for pempero ur : perfore come at R ome

A c suere him huld at Ierusalem : among pe gywes faste

A c sore he dradde pemperour : pat he him slowe atte laste

L onge hi t fu l perafterward : pat pempero ur was sek

In strong vuele and wel long : pat he nas noman ilek

L eches he let fecche wi de : ac him ne m i;te hele non

S O pat h is 0 mes sager : to ierusalem com gon

L onge an d wide he eschte per : after sum god leche

To a womman be com pat het veronike : pat heo scho lde him to

sum on teche

Allas, quap pe womman : i f pu baddest hider igon

De while pe p rophete her was : p i wille badde beo idon

A whar, quap pe messager po : pe p rophete beo bicome

C ertes,quep veroni'ke : pe gywes him habbep ynome

To depe him hi brou;te on pe rode : purf p ilatus dome

perfore he ne perste neuer eft : bifore 3ou come at R ome

De while pe p rophete her was : gret ioye ic badde midde alle

H im to ne; beo : if hit mi;te so bifalle

And I n y ne mi ;te neg him beo : ic him had a bone

pat ich m i;te O fte his forme i seo : he me grantede so ne

M i keuerchief ic him bitok : and he wo nd hi t aboute hi s face

pat ech man mi ;te wel i seo : his mizte and hi s grace

For per he leuede his owe forme : pat in his face was

In ech p oynt pO he hit me tOk : pat no defaute per nas

p ulke forme i s me bileued : pat ich m i3te igladed beo

purf pe S i;t pat i s him s o iliche : whan y ne mai him silue i seo

H adde pi louerd pemperour : pe forme i se;e ene

Ich wo t he were hol anon : and o f his vuel clene

135

141

150

155

160

165

V E R O N IO A’S KE R CH IE F O UR E S T H E E MPE R O R . 1 15

Dame, mercie, quap pe messager : maie pulke ymage o gt

For enie gold oper siluer 1: to pemperour beo ibro it

pat Dis no gt , quap pi s wyf : for al his gold iwi s

Bugge ne mi;te pe leste hurne : pat peron is

A c ic wole, quap pe wyfe : wip pe to him wende

If O ure lo uerd him wole bote : purf his forme him sende

H eo wende fo rp wip pi s messager : and po heo com to R ome

pemperour hi tolde al pis : po hi to him come

An on pO he pe ymage ise; : he was 0 1 anon

H e honourede wel veronike : heo ne moste fram him gon

De ymage he athnld pat hit ne com : neuereft out O f R ome

In seint peteres churche hit i s : as men iseop i lome

p o eschte he whar oure lo uerd were : and whar he sippe bicome

Veronike him seide hou pe gywes : to s tronge depe him nome

A nd hou p ilatus his Iustise : pe dom ;af perto

O u lipere man, quap pempero ur : hap he i take on so

A ssentede he to pe gywes : and nas n O 3t O f here lawe

Ich wole if ic maie to him come : anho nge him oper todrawe

Allas pulke holi man : pat he let bringe O f dawe

Ich wo t pe gywes beop wel liper : h i wolde beo perof fawe

In faire manere he let sende : after p ilatus sone

pat he come to him as to his lo uerd : as ri;t was to done

A c p ilatus sende ane lettre : to his louerd er

pat he for;eue him his wrappe : pat he to him her

And pat he was gulteles O f pe dep : pat me vp e him sede

And pat pe gywes him slowe : al wipo ute his rede

A c a strong tempes t in pe see : his messager gan dryue

In-to pe 10 nd O f galilee : and per he gan arine

A c vasPasian pat was per maister : pe messager faste nom

S O pat neg pemperour : pe messager neuere ne com

po pempero ures mes sager : to p ilatu s was icome

And p ilatu s badde of him : his erande ynome

H e wende pat his owe messager : to pempero ur badde iwend

And pat he badde fo r3eue him his wrappe : and after him isend

O ure lo uerdes curtel he dude on : pat he wi ste euer wel

pat vnsued was O f pred : as hit saip in pe go dspel

1siluer : is repeated in the MS .

L IF E O F P ILAT E . R I S E XCU S E S F O R C HR IS T ’

S DEAT H.

Wip we] glade chere : he wende to pempero ur

And grette him pO he com him to : wip wel gret honours

S o wrop wip noman vnder sonne : pempero ur nas bifore

A s he wip p ilatu s was : for his dep he badde iswo re

A nd for he hadde oure lo rdes curtel : onwhan he bifo rehim com

H is hurte was al swaged : wip grete io ie he him nom

H e makede mid him al pe ioye : pat man miite mid oper do

For V i rtu O f pe holi curtel : and his men also

A non so he was out O f his S i;t : his op he swor anon

p at to stronge depe he wolde him bringe : i f he m i ;te him o fgon

A c gret ioye he makede mid alle : whan he to him com

And euere whan he fram him was : he iuggede him stronge dom

p is maner ileste longe : pat alle pat ihurde pis cas

W o ndrede moche of pemperour : pat he vnstable was

S O atte laste pis p ilatu s : as oure lo uerde hit wolde

H is curtel he stripte of bi eas : as he neuere ne scho lde

A nd com so bifore pemperour : and he anon him nom

H e swor his more op anon : pat he to wropere hele per com

S ai,he seide

, pu wrecche man : sai what hastou ido

S lowe pu pe holi prO phete : to wropere hele dudesto u so

C ertes sire, quap p ilatus : y ne dude him no;t to depe

B eo iknowe, quap pempero ur : for pu migt as epe

Bote pe lipere gywes , quap p ilatu s : to pe depe him bro ;te

Wipo ute pe , quap pempero ur : neuere such ping h i ne wro;te

C ertes sire, quap p ilatus : y ne maie no;t O fsake pis

pat y me demde him to depe : ac ic moste nede iwi s

For penqueste vpe him seide : pat he destruyde oure lawe

And lawe ;ifp pat alle suche : me scho lde bringe O f dawe

And is per pat p i iustise was : purf pin beste and pi rede

M oste nede ;yue pe dom : whan penqueste sede

Whan pu vnder3ete , quap pempero ur : pe gywene falshede

Whi naddesto u ispeke per a3e : and desturbed pe lipere dede

G od hit wo t, quap p ilatus : and ierusalem als o

p at ic was per agen bi mie m i ;te : pat he nere to depe ido

A c h i were Vpe him alle so faste : pat me ne mi;t mid no lawe

Whan penqueste passede : bote he were ibro gt O f dawe

If pu ne mi;test mid ri;te him saune z pempero ur pO sede

H o u perstesto u wipo ute mie red : do such a lipere (lede

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1 18 P I LAT E ’

S B O DY B UR IE D I N A R O CK . A S O N G o r ME R CY.

p o com per a gret tempes t : pat per abouts wel wide

pat schipes adreynte pere menie on : per aboute in eche side

Al ps contray per abouts hem dradde : and nom hem to reds

And in-to a watere fur fram men : pis licame gonne lede

Bitaene hulles and wyldernisse : and perinne hi him casts

pe pundre smot per anon : and pe li;tinge wel fasts

pat bodis flet vp and doun : ioast her and pere

M id weder and tempe s t O f water : pat ech man badde fers

Amidde pe water per stod a roche : pO pe licame was per ne;

pe roche clef amidde atuo : as al pat fole ise;And as an arewe sebet O f a bws : pat bodie sebet perinne

pe roche schet to-gaders anon : pO pat bodie was wip-i nns

A nd pe wrecche bodie per lyp : ;ut to pis day

M oche wo ;ut per is per aboute : as me iseo maie

pus p ilatu s endede his lyf : as he wel wel wo rpe was

G o d schulde sch cristenens man : fram so dulful cas . Amen .

hic finiuntur gesta . Maledictorum . Iude et Pilati .

[End of the MS . Harl.

XXV . A S ONG O F MERC I .

(Duplicate of theVernonMS ., Brit . Mus . AdditionalMS . fo l . 1 28, back,

col .

Bi wes t . vnder a wi lde. " wode syde .

2 In a launde . per i . was lent .

W lanke deor . on grounds gan glide .

4 And lyouns raunpyng . vppon hente .

Beores . wo luus . with moupes wide .

6 pe smale bes tes‘

. pei al to-rent .

per haukes vnto pare9

pray pei hyde .

8 O f whuchs . to on . i . toke go odea tent .

T he Bodleian copy generally has y. where the Brit . Mus. one has i,-as in wylde and gl yde , l ine 3 , and ; t for the B r. Mus . ht ; also a

final e after the t o f‘rent, tent , hent , ment, 1. 6 , 7, 9 , 1 1 . It has also more

capitals for the nouns ; and more metrical points, which are printed here.

B eestes.

2 beers .

3 tok god.

A S O N G O F M E R CY. 1 19

A merlyo n . a brid hedde 1 bent .

H it coupe not speke . but pus hi t ment .

12 H ow merci passep alle pings

14 But perof knsu ; . p’

e hank non .

For in hire foot . he“gan hit bynde .

And heo lde hit stille . as eni ston .

H eo dud after . pe cou'

rs of kynde .

p o rw kyn de . pe brid gan M erci fynde .

20 For on pe morwe . heo let hit gon .

F ul s tills .i. s tod . my self al on .

22 T O herken . how pat bryd gan Synge

A -wey Wo l wende . bope murthe and moon .

24 And M erci passep . strengpe and riht .

M ony a wyse . Seo we may .

26 G od o rdeyn et‘ M erci . mos t O f miht,

To beo a-boue . his werkes ay .

28 Whon deore Ihesu . schal beo 5 di ht .

T O demen vs . at domes day .

30 V r sunne wo l beo . s o muchs in siht .

W e schul not wits . what we schul say .

32 Ful fresliche“. riht wo l vs atfrayAnd blame vs for . vr mislyuyng

34 pen dar non psrsone’

. for MS to p ray .

But M erci . passep alle pinges

.

it R iht wolde sle vs . for vr sunne " .

M iht wo l don . execucion .

38 And rihtwis god penne 1° wo l bigynne .

40 I made pé M o n : ;if pat pou mynns

O f feture liche . myn owns fasoun .

42 And after crepte . in-to p i kynne .

And for pe, sufl'

red passioun .

hire.3 Briddes.

a heo .

4«ordeyned.

5 be. fersliche.

3 ping.

9 synne.

1° Rihtwyse god . pen. Forte.

120

B .M . hert. ping.

2 B .M. feondes bolde.

3Whet weore.

eige.

A S O N G O F ME R CY.

44 O f po rnes kene . pen was pe cronn .

Ful scharpe . Vppo n . myn hed standyng .

46 Myn herte‘9 b

'

lood . ran from me doun .

A nd i . fo r;a.f pe . alle pings ’.

48 M yn herte‘2 blood . for ps gan bleds .

50

52

54

56

58

60

62

64

66

68

70

74

76

To buys pe . from pe fendes blaks2

.

And i . fo r;af pe . pi mySdede .

What hast pou s'

utfred . for my sake .

M e hungred . pou wo ldest not me fede .

N e neuer my furst . ne wo ldesto u slake .

Whon .i. O f herbo rws . bedde gret ‘

nsde .

p ou wo ldest not . to p in hous me take .

p ou se;e me .a. mongs to des blaks .

Ful longs . i n harde prisoun lyng .

L et seo what vnswere . constou make .

Where were 3 pou kynds . in eny ping .

And hou .i. whenched ‘. al p i care .

L yft vp pin s ;s5

. and pou mai;t se .

My woundes wste . blodi al bare .

A s i . was rauht“. O n rO O de tre .

p ou se;e ms . for defants fo rfars .

In sekenss . and i n ponerte .

;rt"O f pi good . wo ldesto u not spare .

N e ones come . to visits me .

Al eorply pinge’. i . ;af to pe .

Bope bees t and fyschss

. and foul flsoyng .

And tolde pe . hou pat chari te .

And M erci . passep alle ping .

H ou myhtou . eny M erci haue

pat neuer desirsdest . non to do

pou se;e me naked . and clopes craus .

B arehsd . and B arefo t . gan I : g'

o .

O n ms pou vochsdest no ping saue .

3 rau ; t. 7; it.

9 fisch.

The next four l ines are from .the Bodleian copy, and are not in the

Brit. Mus : one.

4 quenched .

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122

4 .? quommed. wt . and. 3 kynds. whonne.

A S O N G O F ME R CY.

1 12 For beo vr moups . crommed“wi th ’ clay .

W o rmes blake . wo l vs enbrace .

1 14 penne i s too late . M on . in go ods fay .

To seehe to amends . of pi tresPacs .

1 16 With 1 mekenes pou may . benene purchase :

O per meeds . par pe non bryng .

118 But knows pi god . in .vche a case .

And loue bym best . of eny ping .

To god a”mon . were holden mes te .

T O loue . and his wrappe sschuwe .

122 N ow i s non . so vnkuynds a besets .

pat lasse dop .rpat weo rs bym duwe .

124 For besstes and foules . more and leests .

p e cours O f kuynde3

. alle pei suwe .

126 And whon“we breken . godes heste .

A ;eynss kuynde . we ben vn-trews .

128 For kuynde wo‘lds . pat we bym knewe .

And dradde bym moste”. in w e doings 5

130 H it i s no rikt . pat he vs rewe .

But M erci passep . a lle pings .

7T N ow harlotrie s . fo r ma r'

pe i s holde .

And vertues tu rnen '. inb to vice .

134 And symonys . hap chirchss solde .

And laws i s waxen . co uetise .

136 V r feip is frels . to flecehe and fo lds .

For treups is put . to luytel p rise .

138 V r 8 god . i s glo to nye . and golde .

Dro nkenss . lecherie s and dyss .

140 L O here 9 vr lust . and vr8 likyng .

;et ;if we wo l'

s . repent and rise .

142 M erci passep . alls' pings .

II a ustily . vr lyf w'

s lede .

144 M onh o d . and we . twynne i n two‘

.

To benene ne helle . take we non hede .

146 But 'on day come . a noper go .

b most .5 doing.

6y fon ts.

7'

t0rnen. V re.

9 beer. 1° repente.

I A S O N G o r M E R CY. 12

Who is a M aister . now but meeds .

148 And pruude . pat wakened al vr we .

W e stunt noper ‘. for schame ne dreds .

150 To teren vr god . from top to to

F er-swers his so uls . his hert al-so”.And alle ps M embres 3 . pat we co n

‘ mynge .

F ul harde vengsauncs . wo l falls 05

po .

154 But M erci passep alle pings

.

And certsis knihthod . and clergys .

156 pat went were vices . to forsake

A re new so roted ’ . i n rybaudys .

158 pat oper murthes . lu st hem not make .

A wey i s gentel . curtesyes

.

160 And lustines . his lsus hap take .

W e loue so sloupe . and harlo trie .

162 We slepe . a9 swells swyn in lake .

per wo l no werschups with vs wake .

164 Til pat charyts be made 1° a kyng .

And penne schal . alle vrs synnes slake .

166

I . M unge no more . O f pis to ;eu .

168 Al pau; .i. koupe . yf1 2 pat .i. welds .

For ;e han herds‘3

. whi. and hou .

170 B igon pis tale . pat .i. haue tolde .

And pis men knowsn . wel i.-neuh

172 For M erliens . fest ben colds .

H it i s heo re kuynde . on bank and beuh .

174 A quik brid ‘ to haue ‘5 and ho lds .

From fee t to foot . to flytte 1“and fe lde .

176 To kepe hire . from clomesyng .

A S i . an haupern . gan bi ho lds .

178 I . sau ; my self . pe same ping .

When heo bedde ho lden . S O al niht .

180 O n morwe heo 1st hit gen a way

1 stunts neiper. 2 herte also. 3 menbres .

4cun.

5 on.

6 pinge.

7 Ro’

oted .

9gentyll certesye.

9 as . 1° bee mad: pen schal . al

124 A S O NG o r DE O G RAT IA S .

Wheper gentsril tau ;t hire . s o or no uht

1 . co n not tells ;eu . i n goods 2 fay .

But god . as pu art ful of my;t ;

p o u; we plese pe . no t to pay .

G raunt v s repentauncs . and respi;t .

And schrift an d hose] . or we day .

As pou art god . and M en verray .

p o u beo vr help . at vr a endyng .

B yfo re‘ p i face . pat we may

‘ say

N ew M erci passep alle ping5

Explicit a songe of Motor.

XXV I . A S ON GE or DEO GRAC IAS?

(Dupl icate of Vernon M S , , Brit. Mus , fol. 1 29 , col.

In a ch irche . pere i . co n knel .

2 Dis endsr day . In on M o rwenynge .

M e liked pe seruise . wendur wel .

4 F er-pi pe lengers . con .i. lyngs .

I S si; a clerk a boks forthe brynge .

6 pat prikked was . i n M eny a p las .

Fast he seuht what be schulde synge .

8 And al was . Dee gracias .

Alle pe queristrs'

s in pat qwer .

10 O n pat word . fas t gen pei cri

pe noyes was.geeds . and .i. drou; nssr .

12 And ealde a p res t ful priuely .

A nd seide syre for ;er curtesy .

14 Telle me ;if ;e haue S p as .

What hi t menep . and for whi .

16 ;s singe . Dee gracias .

In silks pat comely clerk . was clad .

18 And ouer a let terns leensd he

l ‘

gentrie. good .

3 we.

4 t for y.

5 p inge. This and .the

following S ongs , I had not time to compare with the Bodleian copy.

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126 A S O N G O F DE O G RAT IAS .

A -M snde pat pu has t done ami s .

58 And do wel penne and haue no dreds .

Wheper so pou bsO . i n bale or blis .

60 p i goode suffraunce.. schal gets ps mede

;if pou p i lyf i n likyng lede .

62 L eke pou be kinds in vche a caa s

p onks .pi god ;if pou wel spede .

64

;if god hap ;iue pe vertues me .

66 pen he hap oper two or pre .

p enne i . rede pou rule pe so

68 pat M en may S peke wo rschupe bi pe .

B e ferd O f pruyde and best peu He .

70 pi vertues let no fulpe defaas .

But kepe pe elene c o rtsis and frs .

72 And penk on . Dee graci as .

11 ;if pou be made an O fficer .

74 And art a M en o f M uche miht .

What cause pou dsmsst . leke hit be cler .

76 And reue no M en from bym his riht

;if pou be s trong and fers te fiht

78 For envys neuer men pou Chas

But dreds pi god . bope day and niht .

80 And penke on . Dee gracias .

;if we pis wo rd in herte W el haue .

82 And ay in lens and leu te leende .

O f cri st bi cousnaunt . we mews craue .

84 pat ioye pat schal neuer haue ends .

O ut o f pis world . when we schul wende .

86 In-to his palsys fo rte paas .

And sitte A -M enge his seyntes hsnde .

88 And pere synge . Dee gracias .

Explicit a songs of Dec gracias .

[A songs of " I ' take my leue’ fol lows ]

A S O N G O F DEUS CARITAS . 1N)

04

XXVI I . DEUS CARITAS .

(Dupl icate of Vernon MS , Brit. Mus fol . 129 , col.

2 A deore god omnipotent :

Lord pen madest . bope foul and best

4 O n eo rpe to M on . pou here hit sent .

I . warns ;ow alle hope more and leste .

6 C hari te .i. reds pat ;e hent .

For hit i s cristes heste .

8 pat sc'

hal come to pe iugement

For when he comep . at domes day

pat al pis world . hit schal wel se .

De wikked he biddep to gen heo re way .

In bittre penaunce for euere to be .

And to pe goode wel pat lord say

;s schul alle wende wip Ins .

In-te ps blysss for euer and ay .

E t qu i manet in caritate .

G od pat made .bope heuene and helle .

V r swete lord of N az areth

felle .

For his felyss

In god for sope . he schal dwelle .

In charite he so geth .

H it i s sop . pat .i. o n tells .

deo manet .

i. -do .

pe fends pat was . S O derke and dym .

To ps crO is he com pe .

here he o uercome vr fO .

C harite i . rede pat pou myn .

And penne . Deus est i n se

L et C harite . nou a-wake .

And do hit . per needs is .

AN O T HE R S O N G O F DEO GRAT IA S .

H euene fersope . penne mai;t pou take .

36 And come to riche

N o n cri st for

38 L et vs neuer pis place mys .

And schilde vs from . ps feendes blaks .

40 And sit deu s in nebis

And chari te .i. rede pat we‘bygynne .

42 As bifore aller eper games .

A nd schruyus vs clene O f vr synne .

44 For so dud petur Ion and Iams s .

And perfore god . hem dwelled withinne .

For psi weere alle, wi thouten oper blames .

C rist let v s benene wynns .

48 E t nos in ip se mansamus .

G od pat dwellsp in gret solas .

50 In heuene pat riche regnyng .

A nd fo r vs poled gret trespas .

W o ndur muchs at vre muntyng .

O n pe R eeds don he was .

54 In gret dispit icleped a kyng .

penkep noupe. on deus caritas .

56 A nd brynge vs alle to go ods endyng .

Expl icit Deus cari tas .

xxvnr. ANOTHER S ON GE O F DE O GRACIAS .

(Dupl icate ofVernonMS . Brit. Mus . fo l. 1 29 , col.

M i . word lis Dee gracias

2 In world wheper me .be wel or we .

H o u scho ld . i . lau ;we er sigge allas .

4 For lesus me wel . hit lastep 0

And pou ; hit greue . hit wel ouer go .

6 As peuht chaungep . for s uche is gras .

perfore wheper me be we ] or we .

8 I . sei not but Dee gratias '.

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130 A S O N G—KN O W T HYS E L F .

And after ward . in-to benene go .

48 here to synge . Dee gracias .

Expl icit . A noper songs of Dee gracias .

m m. A S O NG—KNOwE pl S ELF .

(Addit ional MS . Brit. Mus. fol. 129 , back, co l

In a Fistel pat P o ul wrouht .

2 I . founds hit writen . and seide riht pis .

V che cri sten creatu re knowen bym self o uht .

4 H is oune vessel . and sope hit i s .

N sre help O f bym . pat vs deore beuht .

6 We were beren tO luytel bli s .

When alle pi goode dedu s . beep perw sou ;t .

S S eche and pou schalt . fynden a-mys .

B ueri men schuld knowen hi s .

And pat i s luytel . as .i. trewe .

To teche vr self . crist v s wis .

For vche men ou ;t bym sel f tO knows .

Knewe pi self . what pou ware .

When pou were . o f pi M oder bern .

H e was pi moder . pat pe bare .

And he was pi fader . per bifern .

Knows hou pei beep . fo rpe i-fare .

S O schalten . psi; pou bedde sworn .

Knows pou come h ider . wip care .

pou nest neuer . ;if pou bids til mo rn .

H o u lihtly . pou mai;t be forlorn .

But pou pi synne schryue and schewe .

For lend or kip catel o r corn .

V che M en ou ;t hym self to knows .

Knows pi lyf . hit may not las t .

But as a blas t . bleuh out pi breth .

T o te and by a nopur men tast .

28 R iht as a gleirtand glem . hit geth .

A S O N G—KN O W T HYS E L F . 131

What is al . pat fo rp is pas t .

30 H it farep as fuir of heth .

pis wo rldes goods . a way wo l has t .

32 For synnes seekenes . pi soule slep .

And pat is . a ful deo lful dep .

34 G O , saue pi soul s and pou be slowe .

With pi M aistrie . medel p i mep .

36 For vche men ou;t . bym self to knows .

;if pou pi self . knows cen .

38 S i tte doun . and take ceunturss rounds .

S ippe furst . pou m onnes wit bigen .

40 H o u O fte synne . ps hap ibo unde .

And for vche a synne . lay pou deun on .

42 Til pou pi synnes . haue sou;t vp . and founds .

C ounts . pi goode dedes curichon .

44 A -bids pere a while . and s tunt a s tounds .

And ;if pou fele ps syker and sounds .

46 p enke on pi god . as pe wel ewe .

And ;if pou art'. in synne ibo unde .

48 Amends pe . and pi self knows .

Knows what god . hap fo r pe do .

50 M ade pe aftur . his eune liknes .

S eips he come . from benene also .

52 And di ;ed for pe . i n gret distrss .

F o r pe he suffrsd . bope pyne and we .

54 Knewe pou bym . and alle his .

Whoso greuep bym . i s werpi to go .

56 To helle fuyr . but he hit rsdres

And he bee demed . be rihtwisnes .

58 But hi s grace is . s o wide isewe .

From his wraps .i. rede vs bles .

60 For vche men ou;t . bym self tO knows .

Knows pi self . pat pou schalt dye .

62 But what tyms pou nest neuer ne whenne .

With an twynklyng O f an ei;s .

64 E ueriday pou hi;est pe henns .

pi fleschs foods . ps wermes wel fye .

66 V che cristen men . ou ;t pis to kenne .

.1 32

92

A S O N G KN O W T H Y S E IF .

L eke aboute . and wel aspye .

pis world dep but bitraye menns .

And be war of pe fuir . pat euer schal brenne .

And penk pou regnest here . but a prowe .

H euene blisse . pou sehat haue penne

F o r vche men ou;t . bym self to knows .

Knows pi flesche . pat wel ro te .

For certes pou mai;t not longe endure .

And nsdss die . hennes pou mete .

pan; pou haue kyngdam and empyrs .

A nd sene pou schalt . be forge ts .

S O schal seuereyn ,so schal syre .

H o se lesuep not pis .i. trews he do ts .

For eueri mO -k . mes t in-te myre .

P reye we to god . vr seules snspire .

O r we bene logged . in eo rpe lowe .

H euene to haue . to vr huire .

For vche men ou ;t him self to knows .

Knows pi kuynde C reateure .

Knows what he . for pe dide .

Knows pis worldly . honours .

H o u sene pat hit i s fo rp islyds .

E nds of ioye . i s her dolours .

S trengpe stent v s i n no stide .

But longyng . and hse ing in labours .

V r best vr brag . i s s ons ouerbide .

Arthur . and E cter . pat we dredde .

Dethe* hap leide hem . wonderly lows .

Amends pe men . euene ferp mydds .

For vchemen ou ;ts . bym self to know

pi C oncience schal pe sane and dems .

Wheper pat pou . be i lls or good .

G rope abouts and take good ;eme .

per mai ;t pou wite . but pou be weed .

per schalt pou pe same scene .

A sks M erci . wip mylde mood .

A mends pe . pou wet what .i. mene .

V che creatu re pat berep . ben and blood .

MS . Aethe]

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134 A S O N G O F YE S T E RDAY.

To preue pis world . al wey inwis .

28 H it ni s bu t fantum . and feiri .

pis eerpeli ieie pis worldly blis .

30 Is but a fyksl fantasy .

For nou hi t i s . and no n hit ni s .

32 per may no men perinne afl'

y .

H it schaungep so oft and so so dsynly

34 To day is here . to morwe a way .

A syker ground who wel him gy .

36 I . reds he penke on ;usterday .

F o r per ni s non . so strong in stour .

38 Fro tyme pat he . ful waxen be .

From pat day fo rp . suerichs an hour .

40 O f his strengpe he leest a quantite .

N e no buyrde so briht in hours .

O f pritti wyntur . i . enssurs pe .

pat heo me schal fade as a flour .

44 L uyte . and luyte . leesen hir bsute .

pe sope ;s may . ;er self ise .

46 B ee ;er eldres . in goods fay .

When ;s bene grettest i n ;eur degrs .

48 I . rede ;s penke on ;usturday .

N is non so fresch . on fete to fare .

50 N e non so feir . on folds to fynde .

pat pei ns schal on here. be brou;t ful bare .

pis wrecched world nis but a wynds .

N e non S O styf . to stunt ne stars .

54 N e non s o bold . Beores to bynde .

pat he nap warnynges to be ware .

56 For god i s so co rtsis and so kynds .

B ihelde ps lame . ps bedrsde . ps blynde .

58 pat bit ;ou be war . whil pat ;e may .

psi make a M ireur . to ;er wynds .

60 To see pe schap . of ;usterday .

pe lyf pat eny men schal lede .

B sp certeyn dayes atte last .

p en most vr terms . schort nede

64 B e 0 day comen . a nopur is past .

A S O N G O F YE S T E R DAY.

H ers-o f and we we lds . take good hede .

66 And in vr hertes aco untes cast .

Day bi day'. withouts d reds .

68 To-ward vr ends . we draws ful fas t

p enne schal vr bodies in eo rpe be prast .

70 V r C areyns chaunged . vndur clay .

H ere of we ou;te be sore agast .

72 And we wolde penke en ;usterday .

S alomon seide in his poysi.

74 H e heldsp wel bettrs . wi th an hounds .

b at i s likyng . and I o ly.

76 And O f ssksnssss . hel and sounds .

p en be a leen . pou ; he ly .

78 C old . and ded . Vppen pe grounds .

Wher of seruep his victori .

80 pat was so styf . in vche a stounds .

be most feel . i . herds respeunds .

82 Is wysere . whil he lyue may .

p en he pat bedde . a pousend pounds .

84 And was buried . ;usterday .

‘ll S ocrates seip . a word ful wys .

86 H it were wel bettre forto se .

A men pat nou partep . and dis .

88 p en a fest . O f R ialts .

p s .fes t wo l make . his fiesche to ris .

90 And draws his herte . tO vanits .

p s body pat on ps bere lis .

92 S chewep ps same pat we schal be .

pat ferful fit . may no men fls .

94 N e with no whiles . wynns hit a way .

perfore among al I o lyts .

96 S umtyms penke on ;usterday .

But ;it me msruaylss . euer al .

98 pat god let mo nymen creks and elde .

When miht and strengpe is from hem fal .

100 pat pei may not . hem self awolde

And new piss beggers mes t principal .

102 pat go od ne p rofit . may non ;elde .

1-36 A S O N G o r YE S T E RDAY.

T o pi purpes vnswere . i . schal .

Whi god sent suche men . bo o ts and belde .

C ris t pat made bope flour and felde .

L et suche men lyue . fersope to say .

When a ;ongs men . On hem bihelds .

S eho lde see pe schap . of ;usterday .

A nopur skil . per i s for whi .

pat go d 1st suche men lyus so longe .

For pei beep triacle . and remedi .

For syn ful men . pat han don wrongs .

In hem . pe seuen dedes of M erci .

A M on may . fulfills amo ngs .

And also pis prouds men may perhi

A feir M ireur vndurfengs .

For per nis non . so atif ne strenge .

N e no lady . stout ne gay .

B ihelde what euer her bed co n ho nge .

And sumtyms penke on ;usterday .

I . haue wust . S in . i . coupe meen .

pat children hap . bi candsl liht .

H eo re schadews on pe walls isen .

And ronne per aftur . al pe niht .

:

Bisi aboute . psi han ben .

To cacchsn hit with al heore miht .

And when pei cacchsn hit . best weld wen .

S annest hi t sebet o ut . O f heo re siht .

pe schadews caochen . pei ne myht .

For no lynss . pat pei coupe lay .

pis schadews . i . may likns a riht .

To pi s world . and ;usterday .

In-te pis world . when we bep brou;t .

We schul be temp ted . to couetyse .

And al pi wit . schal be perw sou ;t .

T o more'

good . pen pou may suffise .

When pou penkest bes t . i n pi pouht .

O n riches se . forte regne and ri se .

Al pi trauayle. turnep to nou ;t .

For sedsyn ly on dep pou dyess .

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138'

180

2

4

6

20

22

24

26

WHY I CAN’

T B E A N UN .

When men beop murgsst . at heo r male .

I . rede ;e penke on ;usterday .

Explicit . A song . of ; usterday.

XXX I . WHY I CAN ’T BE A NUN .

(Bibl . C otton , Vesp . D . IX , fo l.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

And whan they had rsscsyvede her charge,

They spared nether mud ne myer,

But roden ever Inglende bre de and large ,

To seke ewts nunryes in euery schyrs :

H er hertys were alwsy on her hyre ,

And that sehende they wel in her wo rkyng ,For they were as fsrfsnt as eny fyre

TO excecute her lo rdys byddyng.

And scho rtly to sey ,no

’

man abode

That on thys eran d schulde be sent .

In-to dyuers schyres dyuers men reds ,

And o ne O f hem be-gan in kent.

They token her lens and forthe they went ;And to eche of hem was ;even grete hyre ,

And there fore they were so fsrusnt

To seke ewt s vnunryes in euery schyre.

But the townes names I ouyr pas ,F o r and I schul de tells alle in fers ,H yt were a l ong tale for to here.

But on a boke I dare well swsrs ,In gode feythe and on womanhede ,N o ne was fo r;ete , fer ne nere ,

Thorow; ynglo nd lo ng and brede.

[B]ut when they were com home a;ens

That reden ewts message to here ,

And callsde hem to bym alle in fers

32

36

46

54

56

W H Y I CAN ’

T B E A N UN .

And seyde ,

“how sped ;s there ;e were ,

H ow faren the nunnes that ;e cam tylle? ”

“Wells, syr,”qued they

,

“and made v s gods chere ,A nd yowre desyre they we lle fulfylle.

”“I thanks hem seres Iwys ,

”qued he“N ew am I glade

,so go d me S peds

And than my fader loksd on me,

qued he,

“now take gode hede ,

For yowre entent god do yew msde

;e seyde ;s welds be a nuns

But ;s may no t fulfylle in dede

T he purp ose that ;s haue be-gun .

“Fadsr,qued I

,and so re I wep t,

Wells ;s w e here wythe wordy-s few ;I trew my wylle schalle be accep t

Before owrs seuereyne lerde ihesu ,

A nd to him I am , and we lle be,trew

Wythe alle my wylle and O bcervauncs ,

And I we lle not chongs bym for no new,

For I leue bym wythe owten variauncs ;

And trewly me repenteth fulle soreThat my wylle my not be had .

”

Than my fader low; and seyde no more ,

But went hi s way and was fulle glade ;But than morned I

,and was ry;t sad ,

And in my hert I was fulle we :

‘Alas ’,I thow;t ,

‘my chawnce ys bad ,I trew that fortune be my fo .

’

Than byt befell in a mo rnyng of may ,

In the same ;ere as I seyde be-fore ,

58 My pencyfnes wolde no t a-wayBut euer waxed mo re and mo re

,

60 I walked a-lons and wepte so re

Wythe syhyngys and mo rnyng chere ,

I seyde but lytylle and thow;t the more ,

For what I thow;t no man my;t here ,

64 And in a gardyns I spo rtyd me

E uery day at dyuers howres’

,

139

140

66

68

86

88

94

96

W H Y I CAN ’

T B E A N U N .

To beholds and for to see

T he swete effects o f aprelle flewres,

T he fayrs herbys and gentyl flewrys

And birds syngyng on euery S p ray,

But my lengyng and my delewrys

F o r al le thys spo rt wolde not away .

T he byrdys sate on the bewes grene

And syngyng f ulle meryly m ade gode chere

H er federys were fulle fayre and schene

And alle they maden mery in her manere .

Than went I in-to a fayre herbsre,

And set me on my kneys allene ,

T O god I made my prayewre ,And on thys Wyse I made my mene“L orde god that alle vertu has t

And haddyst wythe-owten bsgynnyng ,Kepe me that I may lyue chaste

F o r the cerupcien O f synnyng ;

For thew; my fadyr and alle my kyn

For-sake m e thu s in necess ite,

;yt I hope suche grace to wyn

That owre lord ihesu we lle resceyue me .

S eusreyne lord omnipotent ,N ow be my comfort

,swete Ihesu .

Before the alle thyng ys p resent ,Alle that evyr was , and alle pat ys ,Alle that schalle be aftyr thys

Thew knewsst alle thyng be the mos t

N ew ihesu kyng O f bevyn blys ,Wysse me thy seruant what ys bes t ,For new I am alle desolate

,

And of gods cewnesayle destitu te.

L ord to my mo rnyng be mediate,

F o r thew are oonly my refute ,To the for comfort I make my sute

T O haue that iey that lastythe ay ,

F o r her lens that bars that frute ,

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142 W H Y I CAN ’

T B E A N U N .

S che was S O fayre Wythe-Owten lesyngB ethe of clo thyng and o f bewte ,Thys that was so godsly arrayed .

S che comfo rtythe me i n dyuers wyse,And sp ake to me in dyuers wyse ,And bad me anene I schulde aryse.

And me thow;t I rose and knelyd thryes ,And seyde to her wythe grete reuerence

‘

,

“What ys yowr name,dame empryse ?

”

S che seyde “my name ys experience ;And

,dow;ter , my techyng may not fayle ;

For what so I teche,byt ys fulle trew ,

And new at thys tyms for thyne avayle

I am com hsdyr on the tO rew ;

And wythe the help O f cryste ibsen

I hope byt schalle be for the best ,For suche thynges as I schalle the sche

I tre byt schalle set thyne hert i n rest.”“Thanks yew ,

lady,

”qued I than,

“And there-O f hertely I yew p ray ;A nd I

,as lowly as I can

,

Wells do yew servyse ny;t and day ;And what ;e byd me do or say

To yew I promyt obedyence ,

‘

And bryng me ewts O f thys carefulle way ,

My gode dere lady experience .

”

Than me thow;t sche tOks me by the honde

As I knelyd vp-en my kne

And Vp a-none sche had me ryse,

And on thys wyse seyde to me,

“Kateryne , thys day schalt thew see

And howse of wom en reguler ,

And diligent leke that thew be ,

And note ry;t welle what pew sees t there .

”

Than me thou;t sche led me forthe a p ace

Thorow; a medow fayre and grene ,

And some sch-s brow;t ms to a p lace ,

In erthe ys nene so fayre I wene ,

208

W H Y I CAN ’

T B E A N UN .

O f ryalle byldyng so I mens,

H yt schyned wythe-Owte so fayre and clere

But syn had made byt fulle vnclene

Wythe—in,as ;s schalle aftyr here.

“What p lace yS thys pat stondythe hyre”

,

Quod I to hyre pat dyd Ins lyde.

“Kateryne , sche sayd , we wyl go nere ,

And what you seyst , take good hede.

”

Than at the ;ates in we ;sde ,

Boldly as thew; we had be at home,

And I thow;t ,‘now cryst v s speds ’

Than to the cleyster sons we com ,

For byt was a hewse O f nunes in trswthe ,

O f dyuers o rderys bethe O ld and yong ,But not wells geuernede , and pat was rowths ,A ftyr the rewle of sad levyng.

For where that selfs-wylle ys reygnyng ,

T he whyche causethe dyscerd and debate ,

And resun bathe none enteryng ,

That hewse may no t be fortunate .

For arystetelle , who so redythe

In the fyrs t b Oke of hys moralits,

P laynely sayethe that euery man nedethe

To be wars of the vnresonabylite

That cemethe of the sensualite,

And not hys bestely condiciones sews ,

But let resun haue the seueraynte ,

And so he schalle purches vertu .

’

But what in that place I sawThat to religion schulde not long ,P sraventure ;e wolde desyre to know

And who was dwellyng hem a-meng.

S um what schalle I tells yew wyth tong ,

And sum what cewnseyle kepe I schalle ,And so I was taw;t whan I was yong ,To here and se

,and sey not alle.

But there was a lady , that by; dame p ride

.In grete reputacion the'y her toke

143

144

248

W H Y I CAN ’T B E A N U N .

And pere dame mekenes sate be syde,

T O her vnnethys eny wolde leke ,

But al le as who seythe I her ferseke ,

And set not by her nether me st ns les t ;Dams ypo cryts leke Vp

-O n a boke

And bete her selfs vp on the bres t.

O n euery syds than lokeda vp I ,And fas t I cas t myne ye a-bewte ;

Y f I cowde se be-he lds or a-spy ,

I wolde haue sens dams devewte.

And sche was but wythe few of that row;t ;For dams sclewthe and dams veyne glory

By vyo lens had put her ewts ;A nd than in my hert I was fulle sery .

But dame envy was there dwellyngT he whyche can sethe stryfe i n euery state.

And a ne ther lady was there wo nnyng

That by;t dame leue vn-O rdynate ,

In that place be the erly and late

Dame lust,dame wantewne , and dams

They ware so there enhabyted , I wate ,That few token hede to go ddys servyse .

Dame chastyte , I dare welle say,In that co uent had lytylle chere

,

But oft in poynts to go her way,S che was S O lytelle beloved there ;But sum her loved in hert fulle dere ,And there weren that dyd not so ,And sum set nO thyng by her ,But ;afs her gods lens for to go .

And at that place I saw muche more,But alle I thenk not to dyscrye ,

But I we lle sey as I seyde be-fere.

And yt ys a p oynts of curtesy ;For who se chateryt lyke a pyAnd tellethe alle that he herethe and seethe

H e schalle be put ewts O f company,And sche the gese , thus wysdum vs lerethe.

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146 WH Y I CAN ’

T B E A N UN .

A nd than experience dyd me lede

O wts at the ;ates there we com In .

And when we were bo th wyth-ewte ,

V p on the gras we setten v s downs ,And then we he-helde the place abewte ,

And there we talkeden as v s lest.And than I p rayed experience fo r to haue wyst

Why sche schewed me thys nunery ,S che seyde “now we bene here in res t ,

302 I thenk for to tsllen the why.

Thy fyr s t desyre and thyne entent

Was to bene a nuns pro fesssde ,And fo r thy fader wolde not consent ,

306 Thyne hert wyth mo rnyng was sore O ppressede ,

And thew wyst not what to do was best ;And I seyde

,I wolde cese thy grevawnce ,

And new for the most part in euery cos t

I haue schewed the nunnes geuernawnce .

For as thew sees t wyth-in yonder walle

S uche bene the nunnes in euery wards ,

A s for the most part,I say not alle

,

G od fo rbede , for than byt were harde ,For sum bene devowte , holy , an d towards ,And holden the ry;t way to blysss ;And sum bene feble

,lewde , and frowards,

N ew god amend that ye amys l

And new kateryne , I haue alle do

For thy comfort that longeth to me,

And now let vs aryse and go

V n-to the herber there I com tO the .

”

Than in thys herber S che let be me.

I thanked her wyth grete reuerence,

I pray to go d I -blessyd be sche ,

Thys fayrs lady experience.

And whan sche was gone , I wakede anene.

And I thew; how I may geuerned be ,

For nun wold I neuere be none ,

For suche defawtes that I haue see .

WH Y I 'C AN’

T B E A“

N UN 147

But ;yf they my;t amendyd be ,

332 And forsake her syn both day and ny;t ,G od ;yf me grace that day to se ,

334 And ellys byt welle no t be a ry;t.

But here perausnture sum man wolde say ,336. And to hys cenceyte so byt schulde seme ,

That I fersoke sens a perfyt e way338 For a fantssy or fo r a dreme.

For dreme was byt none ,ne fantasys ,

H yt was vn-te me a gratins mene ,

[A piece of the MS . co ntain ing the whole of the first 4 l ines , and partof the next four , is torn off here.]

That

342 H o ly wryt w

P leynsly go rede byt wh

And byt ys wretyn in G enssye ,In the fowrs and thyrty C hapytylle ,

346 H ow dyn a, for sche bode not stylle

But went owte to see thynges in veyne,

S che was defowled a-

;enst her wylle,

And there-fore thowsandys O f peple were sclayn .

Y ewrs barbs , your wymppylle and your vayle ,Y ewrs mante lle and yowre devewte clo thyng ,

To wene'

;e be holy in levyng.

354 And so byt ys an holy thyng

T0 bene in habyte reguler ;

356 Than,as by owtewarde aray in semyng ,

Beth so wyth-in my ladyes dere.

358 A fayrs garlo nd of yve grene

Whyche hang’

eth at a taverns dere ,H yt ys .a false token as I wene ,But yf there be wyne gods and sewer ;

362 B y;t so but ;e your vyces for-here,And let alle lewde custom be broken

,

S o god me speds,I yew ensewer

E llys yowre habyte ys no trew token

byng

148 WHY I CAN ’T B E A N U N . O LD AG E .

yng nde gode lsvyng ,

yf they be wyth-in the contrary ,In holy schrypture wyth

-ewts lesyngThey bene cal led the chyldryn of false ypo crasy.

N ew,ladyes, taketh gode beds to thys exho rtacio n

That I haue taw;t yew in thys lere ,

And beholds the gods conuersacien

O f gode women hers be-fore,

F ulle holy vyrgynes many a store ,T he whyche levedyn here rslygyiusly ,

And new in iey and blysss therefore

They haue possession enlesly ,

S eynte Clare and seynte edyth al so,

S eynte scolas tica and seynte B rigytte ,

S eynte R adegnnde , and many me

That weren l

profes sed in nunnes habyte.

They fulle besy were wyth alle her wytte

T O be wars of syn,and tie there free

,

And new fo r evyr they bene q ts

388 From all e maner screw and wo e ,

S eynte audre, seynte freswyth, seynte E merlde

S eynte wythbuge seynte Myldrede ,

S eynte sexburge seynte E rmsnylde ,

O f alle these holy women we rede.

Incomplete ]

XXXI I . O LD AGE .

(Harl . 9 13 , p . 54 back ; printed Rel. Ant . I I ., p .

1 . E lds makip me geld . anzgrewen al grai .

when eld me wel feld . nykkest"

per no nai .

eld nu l meld no murpes of mai

when eld me wold aweld . mi wele is a wai

1 MS . wersten .

9 T he ands are written a’

MS . blotched .

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O LD AG E . EAR T H .

i was heo rdm en nov am hells

al folk of me bep wel fe lle

1 1. eld ms hap so hard ihent

see wouw spakliyl he me spent arerid ig of rote

vch tep fram oper i s trent .

pe tunge wlasep wend perwiplestles lowtep i n uch a lip he fin t ms vnder fete . Amen .

i met be pat eld bep

such willing is after elde .

XXXI II . E ARTH .

“

(Harl . 9 13 , p . 62 ; R e] . Ant . H , p .

1 . Whan erp hap erp iwenne wip wow

pan erp mai of erp nim hir i now

erp vp erp fallip fol frow2

erp toward erp delful him drew .

O f erp pou were makid . and men pou art i lich

in on erp awaked ps pore and pe riche

2 . T erram per inuri luer

tune de terra cep i

subite frustr

se traxit

De tsrra

vna terra dites sunt p r

3 . E rp gep on erp . wrikkend i n weden .

erp toward erp . wermes to fedeu

erp berip to erp . al i s lif deden

when erp is in erpe . heo muntid 3 pi meden .

When'

erp i s in erpe . ps ref i s on ps chynns

pan sche llen an hundred wo rmes . wroten on pe

4 . Vesta pergit ues ti super ves tem

artatur st uermi vesta pastum

T he Rel .Ant . reads ‘spakky

’

, but the true word is evidently- ‘ spakly’

quickl y or certainly . H . C .

3 G lossed ‘ festine ’

.

3 metitur.

4vars , to deck it out with var

,

fur. Bond.

E AR T H . 151

as cum gestis omnI usstam migr

cum uesta si t scrobi i s vult suspir

C um S it nesta ponit dema tangit m

tune i n cuts candi d verruntluermes c

sntum

E rp askip erp . and erp hir answerid

whi erp hatid erp . and erp erp verrid

erp hap erp . and erp erp terip

erp geep on erp . and erp erp berrip .

O f erp pew were bi-gun . on erp pou schalt end

al pat pou in erp wonne . to erp schal hi t wend

respons umhum o fru

st O per

hum o sic incip

qued humo qus

E rp get hit on erp maistrie and m i;te

al we bep erp . to erp we bep id i;te .

erp askep carayne . of king and of kni;t .

whan erp i s i n erp . so low; he be li; t .

Whan pi ri;t and pi wow; . wendip pe bi-for

be pou pre ni;t in a prou ; . pi frendschip i s ilor .

8 . Terra vincit branite tus cetus homin

O ps cadauer milit

cum detur in tumul

C um i us

E rp i s a palfrei . to king and to quene

erp i s at lang wei . pouw we lutil wene

pat werip greuer and grey . and schrud so schene

whan erp makip i s liuerei . he grauip v s in grene .

Whan erp hap erp wip streinp pus geten .

alast he hap is lsinp . miseislich i-msten .

Dic usstam 2 dextrar regi

i ter longum mar t sine fi

Glossed ‘tralrunt

’

.

7 est tam.

152 EAR T H .

in dumentum uar dans cedi t scutiIum .

emne dat corred nes tradIt ru i

C um per fo rtitudinem

cap it lo ngitudi

E rp gette on erp . gsrsem and gold

erp is p i moder . in erp is pi mold

erp uppon erp . be pi soule hold

er erpe go to erpe . bil d pi long held

E rp bil d cas tles . and erpe bilt toures .

whan erp is on erpe . blak bep ps bourse .

humus est mater tu

anims sis famul

domum dei perpetr co re

or quando.

p enk man in lend . on pi las t ends

whar-O f pou com . and whoder schalten wend .

make ps wel at on . wip him pat i s S O bend .

and dred pe O f ps dome . lest sin pe sehend .

For he i s king of blis . and men of moche mede

pat delip pe dai fr am ni;t . and leuip lif and dede .

De fine nouissim medite

huc que veneri s u im iti prudentissim

hesites iudic

Quia rex est gloriat . Amen .

mutat no ctem de di

XXXIV .

“OF MEN L IF pAT WONIp IN LOND ’

A S atire on the Monks and People of K ildare.

(Harl. M S . 9 13 , p .

1 . Hail seint michel wip pe langs sperfai r bep pi winges vp pi schelder

Printed Rel . Ant . I I , p . 174 . Mr. Wright says , ‘see an account

MS . in Mr. Crofton C roker’s Popular Songs of Ireland , pp . 282

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154 ‘o r M E N L IF pAT W o N Ip IN L O ND ’

M enur wip-oute . and p rechur wip-inne

;ur abite i s of gadering pat is mo chil schams

sleilich i s pi s ners iseid

hit wer harme adun ileiid

8 . H ail ;e holi menkes wip ;ur corri n

late and rape ifillid of ale and wine

depe cun ;e beuse pat i s al ;ure care

wip seint benet-i s scurge lome ;e d-isciplineptakep hed al to me

pat pis is slsche ;e mew wel es

9 . H ail be ;e nonnes of seint mari hou se

geddes bourmaidnes and his owen spouseO fte mistredip ;e ;ur schone . ;ur fete bep ful tendredapsit ps setter pat tawip ;ure lepir

swipe wel ;e vnder-s tede

pat makid pi s d ites so gode

10. H ail be ;e prestis wip ;ur brede bekes

pe; ;ur crune be ischaus . fair bep ;ur crokes

;ew and oper lewidmen delep bet a heuue

whan ;e delip helibrede . ;iue me botts a litil

S ikirlich he was a clerk

pat wrechete pis craftilich werke

11 . H ail be ;e marehans wip ;ur gret paskes

O f draperie aueir-depeise an d ;ur we l sackes

geld siluer stones riche markes and ek pundes

litil ;ius ;e per-O f to pe wrech poner

slei; he was and ful of witte

pat pis lore put i n writte

12 . H ail be ;e tailurswip ;ure echarpe Sheres

to mak wrongs hedes ;e kittip lome geres

a -

;ens m i dwinter ho ts bep ;ur neldes

pe; ;ur semes semip fair . hi lestip litil while

ps clerk pat pis basten wrow;te

wel he woke and slepe ri;te now;te

13 . H ail be ;e sutlers wip ;our mani les tes

wip ;ou r blots-l hides of selcup besti s

May be r , blotched.

‘O F ME N L I F pAT W o N Ip IN L O N D ’

.

and trobles and treisuses bechevanpe and all es

blak and loplich bep ;ur tep hori was pat route

nis pis bastun wel ipi;te

e

14 . H ail be ;s Skinners wip ;ure drenchs kiue

who so smillip per-to . we i s him alius

whan pat hit ponnerip . ;s mote per-in schite

dapsit ;ur curteisie . ;s stinksp al pe strete

werp hit wer pat he wer king

pat ditid pis trie ping

15. H ail be ;e potters wip ;ur bo le

fair bep ;ur barmhatres , ;elow bep ;ur fax

;s sto ndip at pe schamil . bred ferlich bernss

fieiis ;ow fo lewipe , ;s swo lewipe y-now

pe bes t clark of al pis tun

craftful lich makid pis bastun

16 . H ail be ;s bakers wip ;ur -louis smale

of white bred and of blaks . ful mani and fals

;e pinchep on pe ri ;t white a;en geddes lawto pe fair p illori ich rede ;e tak hedepis uers is i-wr ow;te so welle

pat no tung i-wis mai tells

17. H ail be ;e brewestsrs wip ;ur galuns

po tels and quarters euer al pe tounes

;ur thewm es herip mech awai,schams hab pe gyle

bep i-war O f ps coking-stole

, ps lak is dep and hori

sikerlich he was a clerk

pat so sleilich wro;te pis werk

18 . H ail be ;e hokesters dun bi pe lake

wip candl es and go lokss and pe pettes blak

trip i s and kins fete . and schepen heuedes

W ip ps hori tromcheri hori i‘s ;ure inne

he i s S O ri of his li f

pat i s fast to such a wif

19 . F i a dehles kaitse pat kemip ps welle

al pe'schindes O f pe trenn an hei; open ;ur S culls

;s makid me sech a gesho rne euer al pe wowee

per-fer

'

ich makid on of ;Ousi‘

t' O pen a hschil

15

156 T HE L AN D o r C OKA Y G N E .

he was noble clerk and gode

pat pis dep lere vndersto de

20 . M akip glad mi frendis ;e sittip to long stille

Spekip new and gladiep an d drinkep al ;ur fills

;e habbep ihird O f men li f pat wonip in lend

drinkip dep and makip glade, ne hab ;e non operpis song is y-ssid of me

euer i-blessid mote ;e be.

XXXV. THE LAND OF COKAYGNE .

(Harl . MS . 9 18 , fol .

(Printed in Hiekes’

s Thesaurus part 1 , p . 231 ; and (modernised) in E llis’s

S pecimens , vol . 1 . In the MS . , onl y the first l ines of the di vis ionsof the poem begin with capital letters , and there are no commas .)

1 Fur in S ee bi wes t spayngne .

Is a lend iho te cokaygne .

per nis lend under heuen-riche .

4 O f wel O f gednis hit iliche .

pe; paradi s be miri and bri ;t .

C ekaygn i s of fairir S i;t .

What is per i n paradis .

8 B o t grasse and flure and grene-ris .

b e; per be i o i and grete dute .

p er nis mete bete frute .

per n’i s hall s

,burs

,no benche .

12 Bot watir,man-i s pureto quenche .

B ep per no man but two .

H ely and enek also .

C linglich may hi go .

16 Whar per wonip men no me .

In cokaygne i s met and drink .

Wip vte care . how and swink .

b e met i s trie . pe drink is clers .

20 T e none . russin , and sopper .

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158 T H E LAND O F C oxAY G N E .

ps p innes bep fat podinges .

60 R ich met to prince; and kinges

M an mai per-O f et ino ; .

Al wip ri ;t , and no ;t wip wo ; .

Al is commune to ;ung and O ld .

64 To stoute and s terne, mek and bold .

p en is a Cloi ster fair and li;t .Brod and lang

,of sembli S i;t .

pe p ilers of pat clo istrs alle

68 B ep i-turned of cristale .

Wip har-las and cap itals

O f grene Jaspe and reds corals .

In pe praer i s a tre .

72 Swipe likful for to se .

pe rote i s gingeuir and galingale .

b e S Iouns bep al sedwale .

T ris maces bep pe flure .

76 De rind , cans] of ewet odur .

pe frute gilofre O f gods smakke .

O f encubes per n’i s no lakke .

per bep rosis of reds .ble .

80 And lilie likful for to se .

pai falowep neuer day no ni;t .

pis a;t be a swet[e] S i;t .

per bep .iiij . W illi s i n pe abbei .

84 O f triacle and halwei .

E uer ernend to ri;t rent .

O f pai stremis al pe mo lds .

88 S tenis p recinse and golde .

per i s saphi r and vniune .

C arbuncle and astiune .

Smaragde . lugre a nd prassiune .

92 Beril . enix . topasiune .

per bep briddes mani and fals .

T HE L AN D O F C OKAY G N E .

C halandre and wodwale

100 M iri to s ing dai and ni;t .

[Here a few lines seem to be lost .]11 ;ite I dO ;ew me to witte .

p e G ees irostid on pe sp itte .

Flee; to pat abbai , god hit wo t .

104 And gredip‘

gses al hete,al het .

’

H i bringep garlek gret plente .

b e bes t idi;t pat man mai se .

pe leuerokes pat bep cup .

108 L i;tip adun te ‘

man-i s mup .

Idi;t in s tu ful swipe wel

Pudri d wip gilefre and canel .

N ’is no spech O f no drink .

1 12 Ak take i no; wip-vte swink .

Whan ps menkes geep to mas se .

All pe fenestres pat bep of glas se .

Turnep in to cris tal bri;t .

1 16 To ;ius menkes more li;t .

When pe masses bep iseiid .

A nd ps bekes up ileiid .

pe cris tal turnip in to glasse .

120 In state pat hit raper wasse .

pe ;ung menkes such dai .

A ftir met gep to p lai .

N’is per hauk no ful s so swi fts .

124 B ettir flsing bi pe lifts .

pan pe menkes hei; O f mode .

Wip har slsuis and bar hede .

11 Whan pe abbot seep ham flee .

128 p m he belt for mech glee .

Ak napeles al par amang .

H e biddip ham li ;t to sue-sang .

p e menkes li;tip no ;t .adun .

132 A c furrs flsep i n O randun .

11 Whan pe abbot him iseep .

bat i s monkis fram him fleep .

159

160 T H E L AN D O F C O KA 'Y G N E .

H e takep maidin O f pe route .

136 And turnip vp her white touts .

And betip pe tahure wip'

is hend .

To make is menkes li;t to lend .

Whan is menkes pat iseep .

140 T O ps maid dun hi fieep .

And gep pe wench al abuts .

And pakksp al h ir whi te to uts .

And sip aftir her swinks .

144 Wendith meklich hem to d rinke .

A nd geth to bar cellaciene .

A wel fair pro cessions .

A noper abbei i s perbi .

148 For soth a gret fair nunnerie .

Up a riner O f swet milks .

Whar is p lente grete of s ilk

Whan pe somer-i s dai i s hete .

152 De ;ung nunnes takith a bo ts .

And doth ham forth in that riner .

B ethe with eris and wi th stere .

When hi beth fur from the abbei.

156 H i makith ham nakid fo r to p lei .

And lepith dune in-to the brimme .

And doth ham sleilich for to swimme .

p e ;ung menkes pat hi seeth .

160 Hi doth ham up , and fo rp hi fleep .

And commip to pe nunnes anon .

And such monks him taketh on .

A nd snellich beri th fo rth har prei .

164 To the mo chil grei abbei .

And techith the nunnes an oreisun .

W ith iambleue Vp and dun .

pe monks pat wo l be s talun gode .

168 And kan set a-ri;t is hede .

H e schal hab wipute danger .

.xii . wiues suche ;ere .

1 MS . monkep.

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162'

N O T E T o PO E M II .

N OTE to Poem II , p . 7 , X V S igna A nte Iudicium .

T he Rev. J . Smal l o f the Univers ity L ibrary,E d inburgh , has kindly

furn ished me (through our member , Mr. Mu ir) with another E ngl ish , and

a Latin , vers ion o f these S igns before the Judgment. They form pages25 - 2 8 o f a smal l volume that Mr. Smal l has new in the press , E nglishM etrica l Homi lies , from 1118 8 . of the F ourteenth C en tury.

And bides u s lek til grenand tres ;For quen men leues on thaim sees

,

M en wat that ful ner es somer comand,

And riht sua mai we understand

Quen we se thi r takenis cums,

That nerhand es the dai of dem .

B et for C ri s t spekes O f takeninge

That tithand of this dem sal bringe ,

F o rthi cs god that I you tells

S um th ing O f th ir takeninges snelle

S ain Jerem telles that fiften

F erli takeninges sal be sen

Bife r the day of dom ,and sal

I lkan O f thaim on ser‘ dai fal .

T he first dai sal al the se

B o ln and ris and heysr be

T han ani fel of al the land,

And als a felle up sal i t stand ,T he hsyt thar-O f sal passe the felles

Bi ssxti fet , als Jsrem telles ,And als m ikel the tether day

S al i t sattel and wit away ,And be lauer than i t n o u esse

,

For water sal i t haf wel lesse .

T he thrids dai , mersuine and qualle

And other gret fises alle

S al yel , and mak sa reuful her

That soru sal i t be to her.

seir several .

N O T E T o PO EM I I .

T he ferthe day frei s water and se

S al bren als fir and glo uand be.

T he fift day sal greses and tres

S uet blodi deu that grisli bes .

T he sex te day sal deun falls

W erdes Werks baths tours and halls .

T he seuend day s‘

al stanes gret

T ogidsr smi t and bremly bets .

And al the erthe the achtande day

S al stir and quac and al fo lc slay .

T he neynd day the fels alle

B e mad al eu‘

in wit erthe salle .

T he tend day sal fe le up crep ,

A IS wed men O f pittes dep .

T he elleft day sal banes rise

And stand on grauss thar men nou lies .

T he tuelft day sal sternes falls .

T he thretend day sal quek men dey alle

Wit other ded men to rise,

And com wit thaim to gret asise.

T he faurtend day at a schift

S al bathe brin bathe erthe and lift.

T he fifetende day thai bathe

S al be mad news and fair ful rathe ,

'

And al ded men’

sal rise,

And cum bifer C ris t our iustise .

Uncle Versus de ej usdem S igais.

S ignis ter quinis se predet ad ultima finis

M undani motus Domino sol i mode notus .

In signe prime surget mare stans quas i murus

E rigat , i n p rop rios post pauca sinus rediturus ,Atque quater denis ciibitis transcendere montes

C ernetur , paucique fluent in flumina'

fentes .

O eulet i n’

signe sic se maris unda secundo,U t vix aspectum capiat. Diuersa profundo

163

164 N O T E T O PO E M V II .

M onstra super fluctus pos t hec ubi Data patebunt

R ugitusque S ui celes horrors mo uebunt.

Quarto cum fiuuiis ardebunt equo ris unde ,

F o ntibus ut'latices efl

'

undant non srit unde.

R o rem sanguineum quinte deducet ab (herbis]H orror st arberibus lacrimis perfuses acerbis.

H ine turres st tecta cadent , que2 diruet edes

S exta d ies , emmi s que solo rus t ardua sedes ;A ugebit lap i dum co nfiictus i n o rbs timo rem

T erribilemque dabit co llisie seua fragerem .

C o ncuciet terram pos t hec motus generalis,

O nmia conturbans,ho rrendus

,et exitialis .

O mnibus equatis i n plane terra jacebit ,S trata superficies nichil aspsritatis habebit.

H ine vslud amentes exibunt ants latentes

In latebris homines st fari nulla valentes .

S icca super tumbis pest hec surgencia stabunt.

C asus stellarum signans discrimine finem

N esciet ulterius clarum deducere finem .

C orpore uiuentes simul absque mera merientur,

U t p ariter clangente tuba cuncti repetentur.

O p timus inde s tatu s celum terramqus nouabit ,

L uce s ub eterna,quem nulla dies uariabit ;

C o nuo cet ut cunctes cum bucci na pro tinus urgens

Indicis ante pedes ueniet p lebs tota resurgens.

NOTE to Poem V II, p . 2 1-2 , and to Dr. Guest’s Letter in the Preface, p . v .

T he fol lowing is the passage from the H istory of E nglish R hythms

(vo l. 1 , pp. 136-7) referred to by its author.

INVER S E RH IMEis that which ex ists between the last accented syl lable of the first sect ion ,and the first accented syl lable of the second It appears to have flourishedmost in the fifteenth and s ixteenth centuries . I do not remember anyinstance of it in the Anglo-S axon , but it is probably of nat ive growth .

1et. quia.

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166 IN DE X.

I N D E X.

Abingdon , E dmund the Confessorborn at, p . 71 , l . 3 ; p . 74 .

Adam and men made to supplythe place o f Lucifer and his fo llowers

,p . 1 3 , 1. 17-1 8 .

Adelberd, king (Egberd’

s grandson),p . 45, l . 72 .

A ffrican the wicked prince , p . 6 8 ,

l . 10 1 .

S t. Agace, p . 1 0 1 , l . 9 .

S t. A ldelm,Archbp . of Canterbury,

p . 35, l . 32 .

Alice , S t. Edmund’s s ister , p . 71 ,

l 20 .

S t. Amand , abbey o f, p . 37, l . 103 .

S t. Andrew,the l ife o f, p . 9 8-10 1 .

Aqu i l ine, the fair, tempts Christepher

,p . 64 , l . 1 73.

Archdeacons oppress poor parsonsand priests

,p 79 ,

A ristotle’s warning against sen

suality, p . 143 , l . 1 99 .

arsmetr ike defined , p . 77, l 224 .

A rthur even laid low by Death,p . 132 , l . 93 .

A skebert, the guard ian ofS t .Kenelm,

p . 50 , 1. 106 ; p. 51 -2 .

A thelstan , king, p . 35, l . 22 , 36 , 44 .

A thelweld , S t. , p . 36 , l . 55 ; B p.

of Rochester, p . 38 , l . 142 .

A thelweld, Bp. ofWinchester, thel oth after S t S within , is toldof S t. S .

’

s appearance in a vis ion,p . 46

,and has his cerpse dug

up and buried in S t. Peter’sChurch, p . 47.

A thens, city o f, p 10 1

,l . 1 1 .

A thulf, king Egberd’

s son,taught

by S t. S within , p . 44,l . 23 ; is

made king,1. 28 .

A tus, father of P i la, Pi late’s mother

,

p . 1 1 1,l . 6 .

A ustin ,

'

S t converts king Athelweld

, p . 43 , l . 7, 8 .

Christian ity brought toE ngland by , p . 35, l . 50 ; p . 43,

1. 7.

Avon stream, p . 30,st. 1 26 .

bakers , cheating, denounced , p . 155,

st . 16 .

Barabbas , referred to , p . 15, l . 88 .

B as i l ie, the C ite of, p . 6 8 ,

baston ; the S atirical Poem,p . 152 -6 ,

probabl y an example of th ismetre,p . 154 , st . 12 ; p 155, st .Beelzebub, p . 3 1 , st . 14 3 .

beggars ; why al lowed by G od,

p . 135-6 , 1. 10 1 &c.

Bernard , S t , referred to , p . 1 , st. 3 .

Beryu , S t converts king Kenewold , p . 43 , l . 5, 10 .

bishoprics of E ngland, contents of,

p . 4 8-9 .

brewsters to be wars of the cuckingsteel , p . 155, st . 1 7.

the broad street to Heaven, p . 32 ,

st. 172 .

IN DE X.

Canterbury,S t. E dmund elected

Archbp . of , p . 8 1 , 1. 404 ; other

Archbishops 0f, —A ldelm , p . 35,

l 32 ; O de, p. 37, Dunstan,

p . 38 , 1. 135 ; Wolfred , p . 55,

l . 279 ; E dmund, p . 8 1 , l . 403 .

C ariot, the is le of, p . 108 .

Catesby, convent at, p . 71 , l . 20 .

Cate quoted , against self-praise,p . 9 1 , l 44 .

Cezar th’

emperour, p . 1 13, l . 76 .

Chastity , Dame , turned out of

N unneries, p . 144 , l 239 .

chatterers, how to be treated , p . 144 ,

1. 251-4 .

chi ldren chasing their shadows onthe wal l : this world l ikened to ,p . 13-5, 1. 1 2 1-32 .

their ingratitude to theirparents, p . 1 6 , 1. 3 1-2 .

Christ on the Cross,p . 20-1 .

Christopher, S t., L ife of,p . 59-65 ;

p . 153 , st . 2 .

C iriac, the P ope, from Britain, p . 68,1. 85-6 .

Clement, B p. , p 6 9 ,Clent , the weed of, in Worcestersh ire, p . 51 , l. 152 ; p . 173 ;

C okaygne, the Land o f, p . 1 56 -1 6 1 .

Cologne, the C ity o f,p . 6 8 , l . 76 .

Commandments , the T en, p . 15-1 6 .

consecration of new Churches ; ringing and pomps at

, condemned,

p . 44,l . 45 etc.

Cost , king ; S t Katherine’s father

,

p . 90 , l . 3 .

C oubache , the val ley of , p . 54 ,

l . 244 .

the miracu lousl y -fed

cow of, p . 53-4 .

counters , sins to be reckoned by,p . 131 , l . 38 .

Covetousness denounced , p . 3 ;

p . 1 9 .

167

C ross , the devil's fear of the, p . 6 1 ,

I. 48-52 .

Crusades , the preach ing for, p . 79 ,

l . 3 16 dzc.

Death is no thief , but warns menwel l that he is coming , p . 137,

l . 169 .

Dec G ra tias, a S ong of, p . 1 24-126 .

another S ong of, p . 1 28

to 1 30 .

Deus C ar itas,a S ong, p . 1 27-8 .

dev i l,the , is covetous men

’s executor

,p . 1 9 , l . 43 .

has his nose pinchedand burnt by S t. Dunstan, p . 36 -7,

1. 80-9 .

Devout, Dame ; turned out of Nun

neries, p . 144, l . 226 .

D inah,her rape for going out to

see things in vain (G en . xxxiv),p . 147, 1. 346 .

D iocletian, the wicked, p . 105,

D isobed ient , Dame , in Nunneries ,p 145,

Dominic, S t. , p . 153 , st. 4 .

Drogheda , the friars’ ropery at,p . 1 53 , st. 6 .

Dunstan , S t ; the Life of, p . 344 0 .

Earth, a Poem,p . 150-2 .

Eastland (of England) , the king of,

p . 49 , 1. 63 .

E boir, the Vale of,p . 13 , l . 37.

E dgar, king (the n inth after Adelbert) , has S within

’s body takenup, p . 45, p .

E dmund , S t. , king of Eastland,p . 49 , l . 67.

king of E ngland,p . 35,

37.

E dmund the Confesser , Life of,

p . 71-87.

E dmund the King, Life of, p . 87-9 .

S t. Edmundsbury, p . 89, l. 89 .

168 I N DE x .

Edward , S t. , son of king Edgar,

p . 45, 1. 88 .

p . 106-7.

E dwin , king of E ngland , p 37,

1. 96-105.

E gberd, K ing, p . 43, l 3, and S aint,1 1 1 .

Egeas, the Justice ofPatras, p . 9 8,

1. 14 dtc.

eggs , a bagful o f smashed onesmade whole and sound by S t.

S within, p . 45, I 66

Eglesdon , town of,p . 88 ,

wood of, p . 6 8 , l . 6 1 .

E lmesto n,B p. ofWinchester, p . 43,

l . 15 (S t. S with in) ; is succeededby S t. S within , p . 44 ,

-5.

England , its size , rivers , 5 kingdoms , and bishoprics, described ,p . 48-9 .

mother,

p . l 3 .

envy denounced , p . 20 .

E nvy , Dame, in N unneries, p . 144 ,

l . 23 1 p . 145, l . 259 .

E ve’s temptation , p . 1 3 ,

E verwyk, er York, the Archbishopric of, p . 4 9

,l . 71 .

‘5 ev i l things ’ , p . 1 6 1 .

E xperience , discloses herself toKatherine

,and takes her to see

the real state o f Engl ish nunneries , p . 146 , l . 322 ; p. 152 ,

l . 150 .

the Fal l (of man) and Passion (ofChrist), p . 12-15

F lorentine , the S ister of O urse’sbetrothed , p . 6 9 , l . 12 1 , 142 .

F rance , the son of the K ing of,

in hostage with the Emperor,

F rancis, S t. , p . 1 53, st 5.

friars sat irized, p . 153, st 6 , 7.

Gal icia, S t. James's shrine in , p. 59 ,

l 71 .

garland o f I vy green , the sign ata tavern-door, p . 147

,1. 358-9 .

gilmins hermits) qu izzed , p . 153,

st . 7.

G lastonbury , p 35 , l . 26 , 40 , 45 ;

p . 36 , l . 56 .

hair clothing for penance , p . 71 ,

p. 75, l . 154-l 8 1 .

H eaven , the joys O f, p 6 , st 47-58 ;p . 33 .

Hector even laid low by Death,

p . 1 32 , l 93 .

H el l , the pains of, p . 29-31 , st. 1 15to 151 .

Henry 111,K ing John’s sen

,p . 84 ,

l . 4 90 .

heriet , —the custom o f giv ing thetenant ’s best property on deathto h is chief lord , p . 83

,l . 464 ,

472 ; is the devi l’s law

,and not

God ’s,l . 478 .

Herod, king of Jerusalem,Gal i lee.

and India, p . 1 13,

-3,&c.

Hubba and Hyngar , p . 87 ,

p 88 , l . 33, 55.

hucksters qu izzed , p . 1 55, st 18 .

H ypocrite , Dame ,in N unneries,

inquest or j ury on Christ,p . 1 16

,

Iscariot, Judas ; so cal led from the

isle of C ariot, p . 108,l . 27.

ivy green , a garland of, a tavernS ign , p . 1 47

, l . 358 .

James, S t ; a M iracle o f his , p 57-9 .

Jews ; Poem of their nai l ing the

image of Christ to a Cross inToledo, and being found out bythe V irgin speaking of it fromheaven , p . 42 -3 .

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IN DE X .

S t. O sewald , king of Northumberland

,p . 49 , l . 72 .

S t. O sewo ld , Bp . of Worcester,p . 38 , 1. 14 1 .

O urse,the head of the V ir

gins, p . 66 , p . 6 8 , l . 77.

Oxford S tudent , tale of an —a

M iracle of O ur Lady ’s p . 40-2 .

school at , p . 73 ,

course of stud ies at , p 77.

Paris, E nglish boys sent to schoolat, p . 71 , p . 73

,

Pascas , the Justice who torturesS t. L ucy, p . 103 , l . 70 .

Patras , the land o f,p 9 8 , l . 1 1 .

Pentarchy ef E ngland, p . 49 ,-6 ,

&c.

P ersohore,the water of , p . 56 ,

l . 309 (the v il lage of P . is 8 or

9 m i les from Worcester).S t. Peter’s Church at Winchester,S t. Swithin’s body depos ited in,

altar at Rome , p . 54 ,

l . 252.

church at Rome ; theVeronica placed there , p . 1 15,

l . 145.

Pilate, the L ife of,p . 1 1 1- 1 1 8 ; re

ferred to , p . 14 ,

p . 108, l . 6 1 ; p 109 .

Pilatus , derivation o f the name,p . 1 1 1 , 1. 7

-8 .

P lato’

s prophecy that G od wou ldbe scourged and torn , p . 93 ,

1. 1 17-1 8 .

Ponce, the is le o f, p . 1 12 .

P onteney in France ; E nglish exiledpriests at , p . 71 , l . 1 ; p . 85,

1. 535-8 &c.

Pont ius (Pi late), origin of the name,p. 1 13, 1. 60

-1 .

poor men ,oppress ion of by high

men, p . 8 3

,

poor men may buy Heaven withtheir pennies , p . 24 , st. 34 .

Porphyry , S t. , p . 94 , l . 179 ; p . 95,

l . 188 &c.

potters quizzed , p. 155, st. 15.

pride denounced , p . 1 -2 ; p . 18-19 .

Pride , Dame ; in great reputationin Nunneries

,p . 143,

priests qu izzed, p . 154,st . 10 .

Qnendride, king Kenulf s daughter,plots against her brother , kingKenelm , and brings about hisdeath, p . 50-57.

Reuben, Judas’s father, p . 107,

is ki lled by his son ,p . 109

1. 82 -4 .

Robert , E dmund the Confessor’sbrother, p. 71 , 1. 1 8 .

S ir Ronald , Pilate’s jai ler, p . 1 17

,

l . 229 .

S al isbury , S t. E dmund made CanonS ecular o f

,p . 8 1,

S atan, p . 3 1 , st. 143 .

S ermon against Pride dtc and on

the Grave , Hel l , and Heaven ,p . 1 -7.

shrews,two ,

sure to get together,p . 1 09 , 1. 6 5-8 ; p. 1 14 ,

S ici l y ; S t. L ucy born there, p . 10 1 ,

l . 1 .

S ins , the S even ; fragment on,

p . 17-20 .

the prevalent ones new,p. 1 22 , 1. 1 32 ac.

Skinners qu izzed, p . 155, st . 14 .

S ocrates says it is better to lookon a death-bed than a feast,p . 1 35, l . 85.

S olomon’s ‘poysi’

orProverbsquoted ,p . 135, 1. 73

-7.

S oycie , the town of in France,p . 85, l . 556 .

IN DE X .

S pain ,West ; C okaygne near there,p . 156 , 1. 2 .

S tafgreen , near Abingdon , p 76 ,

l . 1 95.

S tanleghe , abbey of , p . 8 1 , l . 387.

S tephen Langton , at Fonteney ,

stick, S t. Kenelm’s , miracle of its

bearing leaves, and becoming anash , p . 52 ,

l . 1 70 ; S t. Christo

pher’

s the same, p . 62 , 1. 109-1 12 .

a storm m iraculousl y removed forS t Edmund , p . 80-1 .

S tour, the river, p 30,st. 1 26 .

S unday-trading denounced , p 1 6 ,

sutlers qu izzed , p . 1 54 , st. 13 .

swearing denounced , p . 15 - 16 ,

1. 3-15.

Swithin, S t L ife of, p . 43-7.

ta ilors qu izzed,p . 154 , st . 1 2 .

T hiborie , Judas’s mother , p . 107

is married to her son, p . 109

1. 9 2-4 .

.th

‘ irty, the age when girls’ beauty

begins to fade, p . 1 34 , l . 42S t. T homas (a Beket), p . 84 , l . 4 92 ,

51 9 ; p . 85.

Tirus , king , the father of P i late,p . 1 1 1 ,

T oledo , the A rchbishop of , p . 42 ,

1. 4 .

V aspasian, lord of Gali lee, p 1 15,

1. 16 1 .

S t. Yeronica, p . 114 , l. 1 15 ; p . 1 15.

171

V irgin Mary ; her sorrow ,p . 15,

1. 83 ; two M iracles of hers, p . 40-3 ;

her j udgment on the dev i l andthe self-mutilated man

,p . 59 ,

1 57-6 1 .

V irgins, T he E leven Thousand, ofCologne

,p . 66 -70 .

Wales , the March of,p . 47 , l . 2 ;

i ts extent,p . 4 8 , 1. -39 .

Wanton,Dame, inNunneries, p . 144 ,

1. 236 .

Wenylde, S t. Kenelm ‘s s ister, p. 49 ,

l . 78 ; p . 50 .

Wessex , its extent , p . 49 , 1. 47-58 .

Westminster, rel ics at, p . 107, 1. 19 .

Winchcombe,Abbey of

,bui lt by

King Kenulf, p. 4 8 ,

the great City of, p . 48 ,

1. 7.

Winchester, Bishops of ; E lmestonp . 43 , x11. S t. Swithinp . 44 ,

l . 35 ; A thelwo ld , p . 45

1. 94 sq.

the bridge of, bu ilt byS t. S within , p . 44

,l . 53 .

Wolfred , Archbp . of Canterbury,p . 55, l . 279 .

Wolwenne ,S t. Kenelm’s nurse,

p . 5 l ,

women , hol y , names of , p . 148,

1. 381 -9 1

worldly bl iss,p . 1 9 , l 47 ; p . 134 ,

1. 29-34 .

Yesterday , 3 Song of, p . 133-8 .

172 L I S T o r W O RDS &0 .

L IS T O F WO RDS &c.

not in Coleridge’s G lossa rial Index , 1250-1300 , A .D.

a, prep ., in, a two , p . 14 , st . 77.

a, prep . , at o r with, p . 145, 1. 29 1 .

a,interj .

,ah, p . 1 , st. 2 b.

afonge, v. a . , take, p . 4 1 .

at, v. n. , ought , p . 8 , st . 5.

al ive, adj . , p . 6 3 , l . 142 .

al l, prom ,

p 146,l . 3 19 .

alone,adv.,

on l y , p . 3 , st. 17.

although , conj . ,p . 1 23, l . 1 68 .

amove, o . u . , p . 1 1 , l . 148 .

anap,o .u ., take with s leep, bedrowse,

p . 78 ,

anoveward , prep . , upon , p . 56 ,

1. 34 1 .

aoure , v. a. , honour , worship , Fr.

aourer,L . ado ra re

,p . 90 , 1. 32 .

apan, prep . , upon , p . 5, st. 36 .

arraign,o . u. , p . 1 2 1 , 1. 85.

array , v. n .,p . 133 , l . 10.

arsmetrike, geometry &c., p . 77,

l . 2 22 .

art, the l iberalArts, p . 77, 1. 220 .

as, conj . o r rel. pr on. ,that

, which,p . 77 , 1. 223 ; in wh ich , p 57,

l . 362 .

ash , sb., ash-tree, p . 52 ,

aslay , v. a . , p rei. asloug, p . 53,

l . 193 ; p . 58,1. 26 .

atom,adv. , at home, p . 62 ,

attain, v. a ., p . 1 2 1 ,

avai l , help , comfort , p. 142 ,

1. 153.

await,o . u.,

watch, p . 53,

awield, v. a . , rule, manage, p . 149 ,

st. 8 ; p . 135, l . 100 .

awinne, o a,win

, get, p . 73 ,

awolde , v a . , move ,wield , p . 80 ,

l . 336 .

barb , sb. , a nun’s face-veil or

mufi'

ler , p . 147, 1. 350 .

barehead,adj ., p . 1 20, 1. 75.

beastl y, adj ., p . 1 43 , l . 204 .

because, p . 1 25, 1. 37.

become (to), v. a .

,turn (into), p. 51 ,

l . 129.

become, t . u . , go to , p . 53,

bedrid, the bedridden , p . 134 ,

l . 57.

begin (o f), v.n ., spring (from), p . 151 ,

st . 5 .

begu i le, v. n ., p . 59 , 1. 39 .

behold after, v. n ., look after, p . 52 ,

1. 160.

bench, bank? p . 14 1 , 1. 1 14 .

bent,

a grassy plain, p . 1 18 , l . 4 .

bert, o . u ., breakwind, p . 145, st. 9 .

bespeak,v. a plan,plot, p . 144 .

bespit, n. u .,

spit on, p . 20 .

best, for the, p . 142 , l . 156 .

bet , adv.,cp . , better, p . 50, l . 107.

betake, o . u. ,p . 71

,l . 3 1.

bethink, v. a .

, think of purpose,plot, p . 50 , l . 1 10 .

betide, c . d .,p . 51 , l . 142 .

betray, o .u ., p . 59,

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1741 L I S T o r wo rm s &0 .

course, succession , p . 77,

cr0p , v. a .

,breed , produce , p . 2 ,

st . 10 .

crop ,top (of a tree ) , p . 1 0 ,

st 97.

cure, sb.,charge , p . 145, l . 258 .

dasher, p . 153 , st . 6 .

deadl y (s in), adj , p . 59 , 1. 54 .

deal , o . a . ,separate , p . 152 , st. 13 .

death , adj . (death throes ) , p . 6 4 ,

1. 1 9 1 .

debate, sb. ,p . 143, 1. 1 96 .

deep , sb. ,deep water , p. 62 , 1. 84 .

deface, v. a .,p . 1 26 , 1. 70 .

defence, forbiddance,prohibit ion,

p . 16 , 1. 15.

dei l or del, sorrow, p. 15,

delivre , adj . ,free , p . 78 , l. 290 ;

O .F r. delit rc , l ibre , afl'

ranchi,

R oq.

desire, p . 146 , 1. 303 .

destitute, adj . ,p . 140 , l . 97.

deverse ord iverse, v. n. , p . 1 1 , st. 129 .

(levo utly, adv.,p . 133 , 1. 6 .

difl'

ade, o . u . ,fade away , p . 1 33, 1. 8 .

d i l igent,adj . ,

p . 145, 1. 275.

d iscip l ine, sb. (of flogging) , p .

1. 1 14 .

d isobed ient, adj . as sb., p . 145, 1. 272 .

d ispute (in d ivinity ) , v. n. , p . 77,

1. 255.

disturb of for in or from , p . 82 ,

l . 338.

d iverse, adj ., d ifferent, p. 54 ,

divin ity , sb the study d ivinity,p . 77, 1. 238.

do , v. a. ,put , row, p . 1 60, l . 152 ;

get (up), rise, p. 160 ,

do , phr ., have done" p . 97, l. 279 .

doat, o .n .

,p . 132 , l . 79 .

doing,

p . 1 22 , 1. 129 .

dolour, p . 132, 1. 89 .

dotas, adj ., fearful, O .Fr. dams

draw, o . u. ,pul l (one

’s hair), p 97,1. 266 .

draw, o . a . , play (a lay on a harp),p . 39 , 1. 170 .

dread , o . u. , p . 8 , st. 1 3 .

drunkenness, p 1 22 , l . 139 .

due, adj , p. 1 22 , 1. 123 .

dunnir , sb. , thunder , p . 157, 1. 39 .

durne, adj .,dark

,p . 52 , 1. 157.

durneliche , adv. , secretl y ,p . 55,

1. 2 83 , A . S . dyrnan , to hide.

dute, treasure, prize, p . 13 ,

each, adj . , every, p. 50 , 1. 86 .

east, adj . , p . 4 8 ,

Eastland, Norfolk, S uffolk, E ly,and Cambridge, p . 49 , 1. 63 .

effect, p . 140 , l . 67.

eie, awe,p . 2 2 , st. 10 .

eirmonger , egg-monger, p . 45,

1. 69 .

either, adj ., both, p . 57, 1. 355.

election, 8 b.,p . 8 1 , 1. 32 6 .

embrace, v. a., p . 122 , 1. 1 13 .

empire, p . 132 , l . 76 .

endlessl y , adv.,p . 148 , 1. 380 .

endure, v. n ., p . 145, 1. 256 .

engl ish, p . 54, 1. 260 .

enhabit, o . u. , p . 144, 1. 237.

ensure, v. a.,assure, p . 145,

p. 147.

epistle—pistel p . 130 , l . 1 .

er , adv. , before , formerly , p . 50 ,

l . 90.

erne, v. 11. , run , p . 9 , st. 49 .

erere, adj . ,cp . , former, p. 55,

eschew,v. a . , p . 122 ,

even , adv., as far as, p . 52 ,

execution , behead ing , p . 1 19 ,

l . 37.exhortation, sb.

, p . 148 , 1. 373 .

experience, sb. , p . 142 , 1. 150 .

falc, a plant,p . 149 , st. 10 .

fantasy,

p . 134 , 1. 30 .

L IS T O F W O RDS doc .

fashion , fasoun, making,shape

,

fast to for on, p . 71 , 1. 24 .

fawe , adv. ,p . 63 , 1. 154 .

fearful , adj . , p . 135, 1. 9 3 .

fervent,adj ., eager, p . 1 38 , 1. 7.

fese, v. n .,drive, A . S . feaian, drive

away, p . 12 , st. 16 9 .

fiercely—fresliche ado .,

p . 1 19 ,

1. 32 .

figu re , geometrical f. , p . 77,

1. 223 .

file, adj . , foul (base o f filth) , p . 1 ,

fil l , sb. (eat one’s fil l), p . 8 1, 1. 39 1 .

fiz, sb, son, p . 1 2 , st. 1 79 .

fiecche,v. 11 . , bend , give way, p . 62 ,

1. 1 16 .

fieme , P sb. , outlaw , A . S . flyma ,one who flees; a runaway, p . 37,

1. 101 .

fiit,

v. a .

,change , shift , p . 123 ,

1. 175.

fo ld,

time, p. 24 , st. 2 7.

fol l y,

a sinful act, p . 57, 1. 3 .

forbear, v. n . , refrain from ,p . 147,

fo rcroked , adj . ,bent up , p . 80 ,

foreign—furrene adj . p . 20.

form,

treaty (by deed or articles), p . 56 , 1. 3 1 1 , 3 14 .

forolthed , pp. , befouled , p . 75,

1. 175.

for-rot i, v. n. , rot completel y away ,

forte, conj . ,unti l , p . 52 , l . 16 8 .

forth, jump , up , p. 51 , 1 135.

forth-mydde, adv. , forthwith , p. 132 ,

1. 95.

fortradailled, thoroughl y t iredwith travel

,

‘

p. 56 , 1. 3 13 .

frail,adi., p . 1 22 ,

fresh—uerisse adj . (of water),

p. 1 1 , st. 125.

175

frow, adv. , glossed festine , p . 150.

froward , adj . ,p . 146 ,

furst, abz, thirst, p . 1 20 , 1. 53 .

fye, v. a . ,? eat

,p . 13 1 , l. 65.

garden, p . 14 1 ,

gentise , birth,bearing

,p . 6 9 ,

1. 136 .

ghastl y, adj . , p . 63 ,

giddyho od , fo l ly , A . S . gydig,giddy

,p . 90 , 1. 13 .

gime, v. n . , keep , hoard, A . S . giman,

take care of,p . 3 , st. 1 8 .

glad with, pleased with

,p . 69 ,

1. 12 1 .

gleirtand , adj . , gl ittering , p . 130,

1. 2 8 .

glisminge, adv.,gleamingl y, p. 2 l .

glory, vain, p. 144 , 1. 22 8.

go , p .p . igo , p . 99 ,

go to , go at them , fal l on,begin , p . 4 , st. 31 .

G od forbid " p . 146 ,

goose, prov.

“shoethegoose p . 144 ,

1. 254 . Rabelais’ ferroyt les ci

ga lles (Garg. l iv. 1 , chap . x i ) istranslated ‘he shoed the geese ’

in ‘ S ir T . Urquart and Mr. Mott'

eux’

s translat ion ’

(18 18 . Repr intof O zell

’

s ed ition of 1737, M L ] ,

p.

Cotgrave has F errer lesc iga les.

‘ T o spend the time intrifling

, to undertake a foolishbusinesse ; to lose time altogether F errer les oyea as ,F en -

ar les c igales.

’

cp.

‘ It is as

much pity to see a woman weepe,as it is to see a goose goe barefooted .

’ Withal’

s D ict . ed. 1634 ,

p . 579 , in Nares.grace, sb.,

spirit,power

,p . 1 , st. 1 .

grave , v. a., engrave , cut ,' p . 73 ,

1. 9 1 .

gridiron,

p . 65, 1. 202 , 204 .

176 L IS T O F W O R D S &c .

harbour, 3 6 . (in a garden) , p . 140 ,

l . 76 .

harlotry, p . 12 2 , 1. 132 .

harm,sb., ev il , p . 13 , st. 19 .

harp , v. a ., play on the harp , p . 39 ,

1. 179 .

hawthorn , adj . , p . 52 , 1. 187 ; 3 6 ,

heath , p . 1 31 , 1. 30.

heavy, c . n .

, grow heavy, p . 62 ,

herdman , p. 150 .

hereforth, ado ., p . 6 2 ,

hexist. adj sp . , highest, p . 60, 1. 8 ,

10 .

h ighl y, adv., p. 55, 1. 276 .

hive, p . 1 6 ,

hold , o . u. , cons ider , p . 2 , st . 13give o r have (feasts), p . 3 , st. 23hore, sb. , 7 sin o r fi lth , p . 71 , 1. 8 ;

s in, p . 1 3 , st . 17.

horrid , adj . , p . 18 , st. 10.

horsehair, p . 75,

hostess—osteste 3 6, p . 73.

hypocrisy , p . 1 48 , l . 372 .

icche, v. n .,budge, stir, p . 104 , 1. 106 .

ido ;t, pp. of dow, to prosper, p . 64 .

1. 182 .

ifere, adv,together, p . 1 1 , st. 1 17.

illespyl, sb., hedgehog, A . S . il, igil,

a hedgehog , pylce, a garment ofskin with the hair.in , p rep ,

on, p . 99 ,

inspire,v. a .

, p . 1 32 , 1. 8 1 .

iredi, adj . , ready, p . 58,

is , adj his, p . 2 , st. 1 2 .

is, adj his, for its, p . 9 , st . 6 1 .

. is , gen. term. , p . 2 , st 13 ; p . 8 ,

st. 5, &c.

isee, o . u. , see, p . 2 , st. 14 .

ivy,sb A . S . ifig , p . 147,

ipeg, ? pp . of pe, do , p . 35, l . 28.

keld, v. n . , make cold,p . 149 , 1. 1 ;

become cold, p . 149 , st. 7.

kene, o . u . , p . 65, 1. 2 12 .

kil l,o . u .

,p . 6 2 , 1. 102 .

kind,adj .

, merciful , p . 132 , 1. 85.

kingdom , reign , p . 50 , 1. 79 .

kinriche , holder of a kingdomordomain, A . S . cynr ice,kingdom.

kith,

p . 130, 1. 23.

kithe , o . u . , make known , show,

p . 15, 1. 100 .

1angour, sb mourning,0 .F r. la igner

se plaindre , murmurer , p . 1 25

l . 53 .

lap, v. a . ,wrap, p . 5 , st. 39 .

larder, p . 54,l . 2 36 .

lasse, v. 11 . p . 14 9 , st. 8 .

lat in, p . 1 , st . 2 a.

leave, o . u . , p . 15, st. 5.

lectern, sb.,p . 1 24 , l . 1 8 .

leman, (of Christ), p . 2 1 , st. 15.

lest, v. imp . , it pleased, p . 146 , 1. 298 .

lewe , adj . , glossed debile , p . 149 ,

st . 6 .

l ifeday, l ife, p . 50, 1. 93 .

l ike, Proverb , ‘ech ping louep h is

iliche’

, p . 109 , 1. 66 .

l iking,adj . ,

pleasant ; but readlivyng, p . 135, 1. 75.

l ine, ab. (a red l ine), p . 89, 1. 9 8.

lisnisse , sb. , loosing,remiss ion

,

p . 6 1 , 1. 75.

liperhede , wickedness , p . 50 ,

1. 88 .

l ittle, adv., p . 144 , 1. 132 .

lolich, adv.

,loathsomel y, p . 2 , st . 7.

long, phr ., ever the longer the

more, p . 35, l . 33.

long,v. n., belong, p . 143 ,

losed, pp . , praised, p . 77, 1. 245.

lostles, adj . ,? listless, p. 150, st. 1 1 .

loud —1ude adv. , p . 4 , st. 31 .

lowly , adv., p . 142 , 1. 16 1 .

lust iness,sb valour, p . 1 23 , 1. 160 .

lusting , (good ) desire , p . 1 8 ,

st . 8 .

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178 L IS T O F W O RDS

plainl y, ado p . 143 , 1. 20 1 .

play , w. a . , amuse, p 51 ,plays , sb. pl. , games , p . 67, l . 6 8 .

plesaunce, mirth , p . 12 5, 1. 54.

poesy, p . 135, 1. 73 .

pofte, v. " puff, p . 149 , st. 7.

pose , 7 cold , running at thenose, p. 37,

poverty , sb., p . 5, st. 4 1.

powder, ? chalk powder, p . 77,

1. 223 .

preach , e . u. , preach to , teach , p. 68 ,

1. 90 .

present, adj . , p . 140, l. 90.

prioress, p . 75, l . 150 .

procuracy, p. 79 , 1. 320.

professed , p p .

, vowed , p . 146 ,

profound, adj ,wise, learned , p . 77,

l. 22 1 .

promit, e. u. , promise, p . 142 ,

proud , o . u . , become proud , showo ff

, p . 129 , l . 1 8 .

psalter, sb. (santere) , p . 57, l . 356 .

pudri, v. a . , stufi’

,fi l l , p . 2 , st. 7 ;

quantity, p . 134 , l . 40 .

quench , v. a . , p . 74 , l . 1 1 1 .

qu ittor, p . 75.

rather, adv. , formerl y, earlier, p . 159 ,

1. 1 20.

redress , e . u.,p . 13 1 , 1. 56 .

regular, adj .,under rel igious rule

,

reigning, ? sb.,kingdom, p . 12 8 ,

rel i gious l y, adv., p. 148 , 1. 378 .

remedy, p . 136 , l . 1 1 1 .

reputation,

sb. , repute , p . 143 ,

1. 2 16 .

respond, mm, p . 135, 1. 8 1 .

revel , v. n .

, p . 133, l . 1 5.

rifedly—riuedlich adv. , p. 15,

1. 103.

ro veiso un, p . 80

, F r. R o u

an isam,

r o ra isom : Rogat ionstemps de pi iéres ; do r oga re

Roquefort.royalty—rialte p. 135, l . 8 8 .

rudde , r . a . , redden with blood,

rue,r . a . , repent, p. 5, st. 37.

run of , for r un (o r stream) wi th,p . 4 , st. 29 .

sad , adj . , serious, rel igious , p . 143 ,

l . 1 94.

sautere, psalter, p . 57, 1. 356 .

say, phr . ,say at one month, p . 15,

l . 85.

sced , shed p . 33, st . 183 .

sceft, creature, p . 24 , st . 4 2 .

schindful , adj . , d isgraceful , p. 57,

1. 36 6 .

schindisse , disgrace , infa my,p. 57, l . 365, A . S . scendnya.

scholar,

p . 77, 1. 256 .

sed , satiety , A . S . seed, satis

fied, sated .

seeming , appearance , p . 147,

1. 356 .

self, adj ., himself, p . 97, l . 290 .

selfwi l l , p . 143 , 1. 1 95.

sembli, adj . , semely, p . 158, 1. 65.

sensual ity, p . 143, l . 203 .

seraphin , sa. pl ., p . 1 1 , st. 149 .

serve beofusefor, p . 157,

set, o . u . ,fight

,p . 56 , l . 3 10 .

set by, v. a ., value, care for, p. 144 ,

1 220 ;

sharp , v. n . , become sharp , p . 149 ,

st. 2 .

sh ingle—scingle ti le, p . 1 57,

1. 57.

shire , men of a shire , p . 56 ,

1. 309 .

showing, p . 145, 1. 280 .

sign, v. a .

, make a sign (of the cross)on, p. 72 , l . 66 .

L I S T O F W O RDS

s imony , p . 75 , p . 12 2,

1. 134 .

s it down a l, fo r to , p 39 , 1. 172 .

smite, v . a .

,cut

,p . 5 1 , l . 127.

soler , upper chamber , p . 56 ,

some, fo r

‘some part’, p. 48 , 1. 3 1 .

sooth , truth , true thing, p . 99 ,

sore, ada. , sorely, p . 5, st. 37 ; p. 4 ,

st. 2 8 .

sovereign, adj ., p . 140 , l 88 .

spene,m a

, (base of) spend , p . 6 ,

st. 47.

spil l,o . a . , lose, waste (time), p . 52 ,

1. 1 63 .

stead , help , p . 1 32, 1. 90 .

stepmother, p . 45, 1. 88 .

stinie, v. a ., look at

,p . 20

,st. 5.

stoney, o . u . , be aston ished , p . 1 2 1 ,

1. 86 .

stour, p . 134 ,

string,sb p . 75, l . 156 .

subject (o f a superior), sb.,p . 145,

1. 275.

sueven , dream , p . 51, 1. 147 ;

p . 52 ,

summer, adj p. 54 , 1. 236 .

sure, adj . , safe, sound (wine), p . 147,

1. 36 1 .

suuel , (sou1,) season ing, p . 23 ,

st. 23 .

sweetheart, p . 51 ,

swel l , v. n . , p . par l . swo lle ,p . 1 23

,

1. 16 2 .

swevening, sé dream, v ision, p. 50,

1. 1 16 .

swilc, conj . , such as , 1ike, p. 24, st . 4o.

swo ndrie, v. n ., doze ,p . 77

,l . 257.

talking, p . 14 1 , l . 1 25.

targe, v. a ., tarry, p. 52 , 1. 179 .

tent , attention , heed , p . 1 18 ,

1. 8 .

that there , prom, that, p. 89 ,

179

the r . a ., pp.,

ipe3, do , p . 35,

there,comp . pron . ,

where , in theplaces where, p. 139 , p 146 ,l . 294 .

theredown, adm, p . 53 , 1. 206 .

thick, adv p . 5 1 ,

thorn , tho rn-tree, p . 54, l . 2 67.threaten ing, p . 54 , 1. 248.

throug, coffin, A . S . pruh, p. 70 ,

l . 1 68 .

t it , tyt , happens to , p . 65,

p . 44,l . 58 .

to -geanes , prep . , against , p . 33 ,

1. 175.

torment, v. a . , p . 75, 1. 170 .

toward (and froward ) , adj .,good

,

travai l,v. n . ,

work,p . 52 ,

tray,v. a . , betray , p . 13 , st. 4 1 .

tree, 3 5 wood , p 6 3 ,tresche, ab. (Danae, bal, assemble

'

e ;

j enaz de baladins), p. 67, 1. 67.

trespass, outrage, p . 1 28 ,

trust—triste 8 5 , p . 17, st. 5.

tug out,v. a., p . 149 , st . 5.

nlthe , age , A . S . yldo , age,

p . 90 , 1. 6 .

underget , v. a .,undertake , p . 55,

l . 29 1 ; get at, find out,p . 66 .

undergo , a . a ., undertake , p . 55,

1. 2 80.

un ivers ity, p . 78 .

unl ike, adv. , unequal l y, p . 20,

unlusti ly, adm,in an unmanl y way,

p . 12 2, 1. 143.

unordinate, adj . , p . 144,l . 234 .

unreasonabil ity, p . 143 , l . 202 .

unwinne , distress , A . S . wyn,

joy, p . 2 1.

unypyned, adj . , unpunished, p . 75,

l. 173 .

vanity, sb.

, empty show, p. 2 , st. 13 .

vei l , p . 147.

180 L I S T O F W O RDS doc.

vessel,sb. ,

p . 1 30 , 1. 4 .

v ictory, p . 135,

virst , stu , ? drink ,sat isfaction of

th irst,p . 7, st. 57.

v irtue,

miracle, p . 63,

v ise, v.n . ,dev ise, p . 133 , 1. 14 .

Want ing,8 b. ,

p . 145,

ward,o . a ward

,take care o f, p 5 1 ,

l . 151 .

ward , place,p . 146

,1. 3 12 .

warning, p . 134 , 1. 55

weave, ma, pp . iweue

,p . 75,

wencle, sin, girl, A . S . wend e, maid,

p 4 8 .

were, care, 7

,st . 59 .

west,adj . ,

p . 49,l . 62 .

what,comp .pr on. ,

that which , p 14 1,1. 106 .

whatlokest, adv . ,(‘

p soonest, p 56 ,l . 3 15.

whi le, coni. ,

p . 2 , st. 15 .

wh i le,adv formerl y, p . 49,

B erlin , printed by U ng er B ro thers , Printers to the King.

why ,sb the reason why, p . 146 ,

1. 302 .

winter, year, p'

. 14 , st. 53 .

wiste , pr ei. , iwist , pp . ,watched ,

p . 4 1, 1.

W ithin, p rop ,

p . 128 , 1. 45.

witness , e a , p . 145 , 1. 2 84 .

witty, adj . , possess ing wits , hav inga mind

,p . 53 ,

u lauk ,adj , A . 8 . 101mm

,lofty

,

proud,p . 11 8 .

word, phr . , the last word b inds

the tale, p . 6 , st. 52 .

worthi, v . a, honour, p . 16 , 1. 18 .

wraxli, v . 1z.

,wrest le , p . 45 , 1. 70

(in Co leridge’s G loss . as wrayli).

wrekke o f,v . a ., revenge o n

,p . 4

,1

st. 30 .

wunienge , dwel l ing, p. 33 ,

yet, conj . , p . 1 22 ,

yield , 0 a . ,pay back

,p . 58 ,