Altenglische legenden.

7. Legende vom h. Blute zu Hayles, aus Ms. Royal 17, C XVII, pag. 147. (Dialect von Cornwallis?)

Diese Legende ist eine Lokallegende. Sie hat 2 Theile: 1) die Geschichte des h. Blutes nach einer Schrift des Pabstes Urban IV: Das h. Blut wird von einem Judcn (dessen Name, Joseph von Arimathia, ungenannt bleibt) in einer Schüssel (dem heil. Graal) aufgefangen; desshalb wird er von den Juden in einem eigens gebauten Hause gefangen gehalten, 42 Jahre lang, vom h. Blute wunderbar ernährt; die Zerstörer Jerusalems, Titus und Vespasian, finden ihn und nehmen ihm seinen Schatz, worauf er todt zusammenbricht; sie bringen das h. Blut nach Rom in den Tempel des Frie|dens; Carl der Grosse theilt es und führt die Hälfte nach Deutschland, nach "Castell Trivelense". v. 37—180. 2) Die Ueberführung eines Theils des h. Blutes aus "Castell Trivelense" nach der Abtei Hailes durch Edmund, Sohn Richard's von Cornwallis, damaligen deutschen Kaisers, im J. 1276. v. 183—370. — Ueber die Sage von Joseph v. Arimathia vgl. W. Skeat "Joseph of Arimathie" (für die Early E. Text Soc. 1871) Preface p. XXVIII ff. Eine Lokallegende vom h. Joseph von Arimathia, der nach der Ueberlieferung von Glastonbury in Somerset (vgl. Johannis Glastoniensis Chronica ed. Hearne), vom Apostel Philipp ausgesandt in England das Christenthum einführt und in Glastonbury die erste Kirche baut, ist The lyfe of Joseph of Arma|thia in achtzeiligen Strophen, 1520 von Pynson gedruckt, wieder abgedruckt bei Skeat l. c. p. 35 ff. Mehr romantischen Inhalts, durch den Einfluss der Graalssage, ist das alliter. Ged. des Ms. Vernon fol. 403, gedr. bei Skeat l. c. p. 1 ff. Ein pro|saisches "lyfe of Joseph of Armathy" druckte Wynkyn de Worde, nach Capgrave's Nova Legenda Angliae (bei Skeat l. c. p. 33 ff.). — Chaucer erwähnt das h. Blut von Hales in Pardoner's Tale: "And by the blood of Christ that is in Hayles"; vgl. die Note v. Tyrwhitt a. l. u. Skeat's Note zu Chaucer's Man of law's Tale (Clar. Pr.).

(S)en-tyme þat alle þis warlde was wroght, Many marwylles þer af bene falle: Þe qwylk, if þai were alle throgh-soght, Þe pepulle wylde not lewe þam alle.

For mankynd es so to synne ensured: Line 5 Of stedfastenes he takes no trest; And in harte so harde indurede: He wylle not lewe bot qwatt hym lyst —

And so says Salamon, þat wysse clark, Þat in þe stretys of þe towne Line 10 Wyt alle þe pepulle in worde & wark Sothefastnes es alle falne downe.

Bot þat god of hys specyalte Schewes on herthe emang vs here, We suld not dowte hyt in no degre Line 15 Bot lewe on it wyt stedfast chere.

Qwy es it more agayns mans wytte To lewe þat Crystis blode es in Hayle, Þan on þe circumsicione þat at Rome ȝytte Blode & water wyt-owtyn fayle, Line 20

Þat ran owte of oure lorde syde, Wen he hang opone þe tre? Who-so wylle þedyre go or ryde, Þis day þer he may it se.

Bot for mekylle of þe here ofte in dowte Line 25 Of þe precius blode þat in Hayles is, To knaw how it was broght abowte, Take hede & rede owre þis,

Þat owre holy fadyr, pope Vrbane þe ferth, Made & ordan to af in mynde Line 30 For þis holy blode þat here es in herth — How? ȝe salle þe trewthe þere fynde.

Bot for latyn endytyng cumburus is For dyuerce pylgrymes þat may not dwelle, Rede owre þat here in ynglys es, Line 35 For playnely þis þe trewthe wyll telle.

Fyrst at þe pope I wylle be-gynne, To schew hys story wyt-owtyn fayle, And aftyre how Erylle Edmunde gunne it wynne And broght it to þe abbay of Hayle; Line 40

Prayyng alle þe reders for godys sake Þat þis lettyre be not refusede, And, if any worde be mys-take, My reclenes ȝe af excusyde. —

Here begyns þe popes story. Line 45 In þe tyme of Cristes passyon Emong þe Iues þat were so sory Was a Iue as of þer nacyone,

Bot of þer perfyte he was not so, Wylk þe dede can aftyr schew; Line 50 He was enspyred wyt god also, And, thofe he spak bot wordys few,

Hys hart was on hym bothe day & nyght: And I sulde þe sothe telle, Þat sawyd hym fra þat fowle wyght Line 55 Þat men calles þe dewelle of helle —

For as saynt Paule in hys boke can telle: "Of all nacyons he þat werkys godys wylle, He es accepte wyt hym to dwelle In hewen & þer to abyde stylle". Line 60

Þis Iue, þat I spake of be-fore, Wyls oure lorde hang opon þe cros, To þe body he come rynnyg sore, Bot wyt þe mowthe he made no noys;

Sum of þat swete blode to af he toght, Line 65 Ware-fore he myght af hym in mynde: A wessyll þer-fore wyt hym he broght. Þer-in full fare he gane it wynde —

As Ysaie þe prophete says in hys spelle: How he sulde blode draw drope-mele Line 70 Rennyg owte of oure saueours welle, & kepe it for cristyn mennes hele.

Where-fore þe Iues of mys-beleue Wyt-outen þe cete made a howse of stone; For he sulde þam no more grewe, Line 75 To preson þer þai pute hym o-none,

Þer to abyde perpetually, And þis holy blode to be hys fode; Þe dore þai stoppyd full sekyrly, And went away, as (þai) were wode. Line 80

Þer-in he was two & fowrty ȝere Aftyr oure lorde dyed opon þe tre, Wyt þat blode fayre & clere, Þat hym sustened wele in euere degre.

To þe tyme þat god wyld wengement take Line 85 Opon þe Iues, þat were so proude: Where-fore þe Emperours of Rome gan wake, Þai seget Jehrusalem all-abowte:

Whylke were called Tytus and Vaspa|siane, Þat in þer tyme þai gouernyd þe empyre. Line 90 In þat sege þai slo many a mane And stroyd þe cete wyt stre(n)gh & yre —

As god prophesyd in hys gospell: "Þi enmys sal a-bowte þe gone & sal dystroy bothe flesche & fell Line 95 & leue no howse nor stone opo stone".

And so þai dyd, I telle ȝow trewly: Dystroyd þe cete wyt towres proude & solde XXX (thyrte) Iues for a peny And rode þe strete wyt-in & wyt-oute. Line 100

And when þis emperours had þus do, Þai turnyd hamwarde in þer way. Þan se þai a howse a lytyll þam fro Oure-growne wyt Iwen, þe sothe to say.

Onone þai askyde þe Ieues þer-fore Line 105 Why þat howse was ordande þere. And þai answerde bothe lesse & more Þai wyld tell as þai lerende wore,

And sayd: "in Cristys passyon tyme, For a Iue lewed on hys law, Line 110 Þai putte hym þer to preson-pyne; And þis was oure eldyrs saw".

Whe(n) þe emperours hard þis tale, To þe howse þi heed þam onone And brake þe stones grete & smale, Line 115 & so þai lefte no hole stone.

Þer þai fond þis Iue wyt fres chere Haldyng þe blode in hys lappe all rede. Þan were þai in dowte bothe in-fere, Wondyryng þat he was not dede. Line 120

Þai askyd hym wyt wordys bolde Of hys lynage & wat he was, And wat thyng in hys lappe he dyd holde, And wy þat he was putte in þat place.

Þe Iue þam tolde bothe worde & ende Line 125 As it es declared a lytyll be-fore, And prayd þam forthe forto wende & sofur hym to hawe hys tresore:

"My luf, my lyst, my lyfe here-on es, I tell ȝow, syrs, wyt grete chere. Line 130 Me thyng bot few days, I-wys, Sen þe tyme þat I af kepyd it here".

Þai ansuerd & sayd: "nay, Þis blode we wyll bere wyt vs And ordan nyt in a better aray, Line 135 For þe lufe of suete Jhesus".

To þe Iue þai gan forthe reche, Þe holy blode þai tok fro hym onone. Þan lost he bothe syght & speche & fel downe to powdyre, dede as a stone, Line 140

As he had bene dede a hundered ȝere before — No noþer thyng of hym left þer was. Þan dyd þis Emperours sygh reght sore, For a grete merwell to þam it was,

And so godys worde may not esterte Line 145 Þat in hys gospell wrytyn is: "Were es þi tresure, þer es þi harte". And þat was prowyd þer, I-wys:

For alle hys tresure was in þat holy blode allone Þat he had kepyd for hys solace; Line 150 Nedys most hym dy, wen it was gone. & so god toke hym to a noþer place.

Thys blode þai toke, þis Emperours, Wyt þe vernakylle and oþer relykys þat in þe tempul were, And broght þam to Rome wyt gret honours Line 155 To þe tempull of pes, & sette þam þere —

As saynt Jerom wyttyns wele Iwys In þe exposicione of þe prophete Johell — And he þat will not trow on þis, Seke þe bok, & þer he may fynd hym well. Line 160

Þis holy blode, þe vernakylle & þe cir|cumsicione In þe tempul of pes were done at Rome, And þer here haldyn wyt grete deuocione To Charls, þe grete Emperour, come.

Þis Charles partyd þis holy blode in|two: Line 165 To Almayne wyt hym a part he brogh In-to þe castell Triuelence, he ordand it so, In grete worchep, as hym gode thogh.

And þer it was many a ȝere in þat castell, In grete worchep & hee deuocione, Line 170

Line 170 Wyt oþer relykys fayre & well, Tyll Frederyk þe Emperours dere sone.

Wylke onone aftyre hys coronacione Wold not aftyre godys lawes wyrk, Bot wyt Romanes de-batyd vppe & downe Line 175 And wered agane þe popes holy kyrk.

And so þe Empyre woyde stode Many ȝeres, I say certayne. To Rycherd, kyng Jone sone, of ryall blode, Was chosyn to be kynge of Almayne.— Line 180

Þus endys pope Vrbane story, Wyt þat he made bothe fare & gode. Now most vs hawe to memory How kyng Rychere sone comme to þis holy blode.

Þis Ric(herd) þe thyrd, kyng Herres brothere he was Line 185 And in hys tyme Eryll of Cornewayle, Þe abbay of Hayles he fownded in þat place, And þer he es beryd wyt-outyn fayle.

Edmunde, hys sone be ryght herethage, Wyt hys fadyre wyt-outyn fayle Line 190 In-to Almane he tok þe passage And þedyre-warde faste gane he sayle.

Now wen þis Rychard was crowned kyng & renyd in Almane wyt ryalte, Edmunde was in þe castyll duellyng Line 195 And luffed wyt al men of euery degre,

And specyally wyt þe steuerd, syre Warynere, Þat lufed hym for hys amabully porte; He sofurd hym in þe castell bothe fere & nere To walke were he wolde for hys dysporte. Line 200

Þis Warynere was keper of Tryuelence castelle, Stwarde & gouernour of þe Emperours fee. He had a sone þat he luffed welle, Þat hyght Rodyger, & suld hys ayre be.

Þe trew tale (I) telle & none nothyre. Line 205 Rodeger luffed Edmunde so welle: He had hym abowte ryght as hys brothere, To se alle þat was in þat ryche castelle.

Þer he saw relykes & Juels many one And þe Emperours apparell, þe sothe forto say. Line 210 Bot emang þam all þer was one, Closyd wyt pure golde in ryche aray,

Wyt chenes of golde wone a-bowte, Wyt lokys set on euere syde. Wat þat myght be, he hade gret doute, Line 215 Bot þat fro Rodiger he wold not hyde.

& has þay ware on a day walkynge, Edmunde gan Rodiger besyly affrayn To telle hym wate maner of thynge Was lokyd so fast wyt þe golde chene. Line 220

"Syre, he sayd, a precious thyng it is, For it es all cristyn mens fode: Of oure lorde Cristys blode it (es), iwys, Þat he chedde o-pone þe holy rode,

Þat was schedde on gode-frayday Line 225 In saluacyon of all man-kynde; & þer-for it passe all oþer in aray, & þus we af it in mynde.

Wylk kyng Cherlys, þe grete con|querour, Ordand hedyre be grete maystry, Line 230 Wyles he was hee Emperour And chewef cheftayne of chewalry.

And wen þe Emperour crowned is, Aboute hys nek it sall be done, For it passe all oþer I-wys Line 235 Þat bene wyt-in crystyndome.

And sen hys tyme here as it be Alle tymes kepyd in grete honour.

And wen ȝe wyll, ȝe sall it se, For þe precyoust thyng wyt-in þis tourre." Line 240

Þan was Edmunde full glad & blythe, Of hys purpos he hopyd to spede. He thankyd hym full fele sythe And sayd he wyld quyte hym is mede,

Wyt þat he wolde to hys fadyre spek, Line 245 & hys frende faythefully for to be, A porcyon of it hym to gete, If-all it were bot lytyll in quantyte.

Rodiger answered and sayd: "in fay, For þat ȝe be so gentyll & fre, Line 250 At my fadyre sone I sall a-say; I hope wyt hym to make ȝour gre."

Þan wolde not Edmunde no langare abyde And tendyrely prayd to þis knyght, And Rodeger also opon hys syde Line 255 Halpe wele aftyre, bothe day & nyght.

So at reuerance of hys fadyre, þe kyng, & for Eryll Edmunde was so gentylle & gode, Þe knygh hym grawnte hys askyng And gafe hym a porcyon of þe holy blode. Line 260

Þer-wyt he toke hym a story gode Þat pope Vrbane þe ferthe made In worscepe of þat oly blode, To make alle cristyn pepull glade —

Wylke story es be-fore tolde, Line 265 For ȝe suld not trowe a-mys. Bot euere man in hart be bolde Þe trewthe to telle after þis.

Onone þan Edmunde in a wesyll honest, Þat he had ordan rede þer-fore, Line 270 A-bowte hys necke before on hys brest A-rayde it, in-to Yngland to be bore.

Þan Edmunde hym thanked, as he wele cowthe, For þat tresure & þat ryches, Bothe wyt hart & also wyt mowthe, Line 275 As he þat cowthe of Jentyllnes.

Of þe kyng, hys fadyre, hys lewe he toke, Of þe knyght and oþer lordes also, As it es wrytyn in hys boke, And heed hym in-to Inglande for-to go. Line 280

Wen he was commen in-to Inglande fayre & welle, He heed hym blythe bothe day & nyght To he come to Wallyngford castelle, Wylke was hys awne duellyng-place be ryght.

Þere he kepyd hyt in grete honour, Line 285 To-tyme he had takyn hys a-wyce Wedyre he myght gyf þat grete tresour To grete encres of godys serwyce.

Of þe abbay of Hayles grete was hys thoght, Ware-of (hys) fadyre fownder was, Line 290 And þedyre hys body soulde be broght, To be beryed in þat fayre place;

And dame Senche, þe quene so bryght, Þat was Edmundes modyre welle dere, Sulde be beryed þare be ryght, Line 295 Hys fadyre & scho bothe in-fere.

Þedyre-warde he made hys ordynaunce, Wyt hys menȝe bothe more & lasse: Þer-wyt he wylde þe abbay a-waunce, Are þat he wolde þenes passe. Line 300

Wen he was nere þat abbay, so wele dyght, In Wynchecombe abbay, þat was þer ney, Þare he logede hym all þat nyght, As þe boke vs telles full truly.

On þe morne þe abbot & couent wyt|outyn drede Line 305 Oute of þe abbay wyt grete deuocyone Wente wyt þe Eryle to Rowlay mede Full honestly wyt þer processyone,

And þedyre come þe abbot & þe couent of Hayle Wyt þare processyon ful honestly, Line 310 And þare resaywed hym wyt-outyn fayle Full fayre & also full worchefully.

Þare was onone a tente vppe-pyght, In lordys maner, full ryall & gay, And a fayre auter þer-wyt-in was dyght Line 315 Wyt clothes of golde & oþer ryche aray.

Tythynges were sprong þe contre all a-bowte, In-to dyuerse place, bothe fare & wyde. Þedyre come pepull a full grete rowte, Rennyg forthe be euere syde. Line 320

Onone a sermone was sayd þere, Þat dyde þe pepull full mekyll gode: Þare he exponyde all þe matere How Eryll Edmunde gate þis precyus blode.

And þe pepull kneled all downe Line 325 And hally thankyd god all-myght. Onone þe Erylle wyt grete dewocyone Lete schew þe blode in all mens syght.

Þare þai myght se men bothe lagh & wepe — Þai ware so ioyfull of þat syght; Line 330 Sum on þer knes þan gan crepe To do it worchep, at it was ryght.

And wen all þis was þus-gate do, Bothe abbotes & couentes wyt-owtyn fayle, And þe blyssyd Erylle wyt þam also, Line 335 Went wyt processyon ewen forthe to Hayle.

Ayþer couent toke a syde of þe quere, Wyt melody, Joy and syngyng. Þe abbottes went wyt Eryll to þe hee|autere: Þat bare þat swete blode for hys offerryng. Line 340

On holy-rode-day in herwest, þe sothe to say, Was done all þis solempnyte. Þe abbot of Wynchecombe toke home hys way And hys couent wyt hym, fayre fre.

Þe ȝere of oure lordes in-carnacyone Line 345 A thowsant two hundered thre score & tenne. Bot aftyre þat Eryll Edmundes dewo|cyone Was more to þe abbay of Hayles þenne:

For þe holy blode dyd slyke reuerance: He bygyd a chapelle þer fayre, wyt fywe auteres abowte; Line 350 Opon þam he spared no spence, — For þai be ryall enoght wyt-in & wyt|owte.

A schryne he made also, a nobull & a ryche, Of golde & syluur & precyous stones — In Yngland þer were bot few hym lyche, Line 355 For it was ordand for þe nones.

And syr Godfray Gyfford, byschope of Wyrceterre, At þat Eryll Instance and hys prayere He heloed þat place, to be þe better, And also gret (pardon) he grawnte þere: Line 360

Þe thursday aftere þe trinite, verament, Þat holy es & haldyn fra ȝere to ȝere At reuerance of þat holy sacramente Wyt all cristyn pepull, bothe fere & nere,

Þe ȝere of oure lordes Incarnacyone Line 365 A thowsand tw(o) honderyd thre score & sewentene. Wylk day for oure saluacione All cristyn pepull heloy(n), as I wene.

Wen god dos merakylles fro day to day

Thro wertu of hys blode precyous — Line 370 Þer may no-man þere-of say nay, For þai bene all day so plentwous.

Dede bodys be þere raysyd to lywe, Þe defe þare take þer heryng a-ryght, Þe lame men go þens full blythe, Line 375 Þe blynd takyn þare þer hee-syght,

& not onely syght of bodyly, Bot of þe saule also þat in synne. Þer be few days, sartanly, Bot sum slyke folke af bote þer-inne. Line 380

Saynt Paule says in hys sentence, And in hys pystyll ȝe may it rede: Þat Cristes blode mas clene þe concyence Fro all warkes þat here dede.

Here-of we af prowes fulle gode Line 385 Þat ere prowyd all day be experyence: For þer be many þat mow not se þat holy blode To þai af puryd þer concyance.

Ware-for, all pyllgryms, I ȝow rede Clene schrywyn þat ȝe be, Line 390 Off worde, of thoght, & also of dede, Or ȝe presume it for-to se.

And yf ȝe be grewyd wyt any doyng, A penytancere es all-way redy þare. And þer-fore, spare ȝe for nothyng Line 395 To clens ȝowre sawle wyt gode chere!

Þus endys þe story wyt-outyn fayle Of Erylle Edmunde, þat knyght so gode, How he broght to þe abbay of Hayle Þe swete & þe holy precyous blode. Line 400

Notes

• am Rande steht: Fuit homo missus a deo cui nomen erat.
• af = haf, von derselben Hand nebengeschr. [ist af bene falle in af befalle zu bessern (Ms. af bene falle) --Corrigenda.]
• q ist vor wylk vorgeschr.
• a. R.: Veritas corruit inplateis. wyt = wyth.
• herthe, wie 31, = erthe.
• þe = þo?
• is aus es corr.
• Ms. hete st. hede. owre = over, wie 35.
• Dieser Vers ist durchstrichen v. a. H.
• l. reclesnes.
• Dieser Jude ist Joseph v. Arimathia, dessen Namen der Dichter verschweigt
• Ms. perfyte = perfidy od. st. perversite verschr.
• a. R.: In omni gente quicunque fecerit voluntatem dei e. c.
• toght = thoght.
• a. R.: Sanguinem sensim et guttatim hauriet de fontibus e. c.
• þai fehlt im Ms.
• euere = euery (vgl. Herre 185).
• Ms. stregh.
• a. R.: Circumdabunt te inimici tui vallo et coangustabunt te.
• opo st. opon.
• Iwen = iwin, ivy.
• Ms. scheinbar berende.
• Ms. whe.
• þi = þai. heed = hiȝed,
• Ms. freschere; l. fresch ere (= aire)?
• Ms. þis od. þat?
• thyng = thynk.
• Ms. esterte = aetsterte etsterte.
• a. R.: Vbi thesaurus, ibi cor tuum erit.
• wyttyns v. witnen, altisl. vitna, testify.
• Ms. hym st. hyt.
• here = ere.
• made durch einen Fleck nicht leserlich. wyt ist zu tilgen?
• Ms. Ric….
• renyd = regnyd.
• I fehlt im Ms.
• wone = wound.
• Ms. affrayn, a. R. refrene(?) von ders. Hand als Correctur.
• Ms. es in is corr.
• es fehlt.
• Ms. frayday st. fryday.
• as = has.
• Ms. toure nebst Abbrev. für ur.
• Ms. als od. also? corr. aus all.
• rede = redy.
• worchefully st. worschepfully.
• heloed = hallowed.
• pardon? Das Wort ist absichtlich durchstrichen, wie pope u. Urban an and. Stellen.
• Ms. tw.
• Ms. heloy.
• vor blode ist precyos auspunktirt.
• hee = eye.
• Ms. body ly st. bodyly sc. eyes.
• es fehlt.
• mas = makes.