Altenglische legenden.

II. Einzellegenden.

I. St. Eustas.

[[The footnotes contain] Varianten des Ms. Ashm. 61, fol. 1.] Ms. Digby 86, fol. 122b. (c. 1290). Die folg. 2 Leg. des Ms. Digby 86 (c. 1290 geschrieben) gehören zu den ältesten Leg.; sie sind echt volksthümlich, Eustas zugleich echt episch in dem stäten Forttriebe der Handlung u. in der Fülle der Stimmung. Der Dialect ist südlich. Dieselbe Stropfen|form findet sich in anderen gleichzeitigen, legendarischen und moralischen, Gedichten wieder, sie unterscheidet diese Gruppe von den Gedichten in vierzeiligen Stropfen und Langversen, wie Gregorius, Mergrete, Katerine, die der Zeit nach noch vor jenen vorauszuliegen scheinen. Dieselbe Hs. enthält die Sprüche des h. Bernhard u. Sprüche des h. Beda ("þe sawe of seint Bede prest", in 372 V., nach dem älteren Ms. Jes. Coll. Oxf. edirt in Morris An old Engl. Miscellany p. 72 u. d. T. Sinners Beware, von ders. Stropfenform und wohl von dems. Dichter wie die Leg. vom Psalter), ein Ged. von den 11 Peinen der Hölle (aus Ms. Jes. Coll. ed. in Morris An old E. Misc. p. 147) und Maximian (od. Klagen eines Greises über das Alter, bisher ungedruckt). — Eine weit jüngere und schlechte Hs. des Eust. findet sich in Ms. Ashm. 61 fol. 1. — Andere Ver|sionen derselben Leg. sind enthalten in der südengl. Legenden- und nordengl. Homilien|sammlung. Eine spätere Leg. ist endlich: The worthie hystorie of the moste noble and valiaunt knight Placidas, otherwise called Eustas, who was martyred for the pro|fession of Jhesus Christ, gathered in Engl. verse by John Partridge, in the year of our lord 1566. Imprinted at London by Henrye Denham for Thomas Hacket: and are to be solde at his shoppe in Lumbarde streate, in 1380 V.; wiederabgedruckt für den Roxb. Cl. 1873 u. d. T.: The hystorie of the moste noble knight Plasidas and other rare pieces, collected into one Book by Samuel Pepys, and forming part of the Pepysian library at Magd. Coll. Cbr. (dies. Sammlung des Pepys enthält auch die Leg. von Sir John Oldcastle). Dieses Ged. des J. Partridge beginnt: Sometyme in Romane lande there was A king of noble fame, Who was full faine in martiall feates And Traian had to name. —

Ci comence la vie seint Eustace qui out noun Placidas.

Alle þat louieþ godes lore, [(A)l þat be on godys lore,] Olde and ȝonge, lasse and more, [Lytell, mykyll, lesse & more,] Lestneþ hone stounde [Lystyns to me a stounde.] Of a kniȝt of heþenesse, [knyght. hethenes.] Þat heuede muche in herþe blisse, [myche hade of werldys.] Line 5 Of gold and ponewes rounde. [penyes.]

He was .I.-hoten Placidas, [Hys name hyght.] Wiþ Troian þe enperour he was, [Tracyan. emperoure.] Riȝt wis mon of rede; [wyse mane.] Wiþ þe riche he was god, [pore. wele gode.] Line 10 And wiþ þe pouere milde mod, [ryche. of mode.] And riȝt-ful mon of dede. [And gode in euery dede.]

Of honting he couþe .I.-nou, [Of fre huntyng. Inouȝhe.] In heye wode and vnder bou [In holte & vnder þe wode-bouȝhe.] And in wilde felde. [in the.] Line 15 He rod on hunting on a day: [rode. dey.] On hert he founde, þer he lay [A. found. ley.] Wel faire ounder on helde. [Welle feyre vnder þe lynde.]

Þe hert wes muchel, of heie cinde, [Ms. tinde?] Þer he wes ounder wode linde, Line 20 Mest he wes of alle; [19—21) fehlen.] Oþere hertes and hindes mo, More and lasse, þer weren also, He stod stiuest of alle. [22—4) Of many hertys & bestys also, Of more & lesse þer wer moo, He was þe feyrest of alle.]

Þe muchele hert atorn away, [The gretyst hert fled hys wey.] Line 25 Þe kniȝt rod after niȝt and day [rode a. all a dey.] Bi him-self al-one, [selffe.] Oout in an oþer kinges londe: [In-tylle an odour kyngys.] Þer him gan þe hert astonde [There ganne. to withstonde.] Ovpon a roche of stone. [vpone.] Line 30

Þe hert bitur(n)de is hornes heye, [Ms. biturde.] [turned hys. hyȝe.] Þere he wes ounder wode-leye, [There he stode vnder þe wode lynde (!).] And seyde: "Placidas, [seyd sir.] Þou art a kniȝt of hounting fre — [Thow arte. huntyng.] Þou me driuest and .I. þe fle — [foloys.] Line 35 Rid nou þi softe pas! [Ryde softer thy pace.]

Bituene min hornes þou miȝt loke, [Betwene my h. þat are so hyȝe,] Þe feirest þing þat stont in boke [To me & þou wolde cast thyne eyȝe,] Wel sone þou salt ise: [Well sone thane myght þou see: Darauf folgt: The feyrest syght þat may be thouȝht Or yne þis werlde þat may be wroȝht Or euer in erthe may be: Jhesu Cryst onne crosse Iwys, That hath þe broght in all þis blys, Thou huntys after þis tyde. The truthe wele sone þou schall se, Iff þou wyll tourne thy face to me, Fore ferthere þou may not ryde (A. hat also eine Stropfe mehr).] Jhesu Cristes creis .I.-wis, Line 40 Þat sal þe bringen alle blis And hounteþ after þe".

Þe liȝt of heuene and þe glem, [in a leme.] Briȝttore þen þe sunne bem, [Bryȝter than is þe sone beme.] Ovpon þat hert aliȝtte. [gane lyght.] Line 45 Þe hert spak, alse a mon hit were, [spake as a man it.] Wiþ þat feire kniȝte þere — [So fayre to þe knyght ryght there,] Ich wot, hit wes oure driȝte. [And seyd to hym with ryght.]

"Placidas, ich seye hit þe, [I sey to.] Þi nome shal .I.-chaunged be, [That þi name changyd schalle be,] Line 50 Cristindom þou shat fonge. [And crystindome vnderfonge.] Ich am Jhesu Crist of heuene [It is.] Þat speke wiþ þe wiþ milde steuene. [spekys to.] Ne dwel þou nout to longe! [duell. not.]

Þou nim þine children and þi wif, [Thou take thi chylder. wyfe.] Line 55 And wendeþ al wiþ-oute strif [wend. withouten stryffe.] And cristineþ ou bitime! [& crystyne ȝou be tyme.] I-nou ȝe sulen .I.-fondet be Wiþ care and howe, þou and hoe, [58—9) Fore oftyne-tyme ȝou schall be lede, With sorow & care ȝe schall be fedde,] Al for loue of mine". [Fore loue of me & myne. Darauf hat A 2 Stropfen mehr: "Leue lord, seyd he, My crysten name thow gyffe to me, Or þat I hens wende". "Now þou hyght Placydas, Thow schall hyght sir Ewstas, In werld withouten ende". — Home-ward he went fast anone, And told it hys wyffe at home. They thankyd gode dey & nygh(t). "Syre, sche seyd, we wyll gone, And become cristynd anone, In þe name of god all-myght.] Line 60

He nom is children and is wif, [toke his chylder & his wyffe.] And wenten al wiþ-outen strif [folio 123] [& went forthe withoutyne stryffe]

To þat follovstone; [To þe fonte-stone.] Þere hy weren .I.-cristned bein, [There þⁱ wer cristyne tho.] His wif and hise children tweine — [his childer two.] Line 65 Þo nes he nout alone. [Ne was he not a.]

Wilen he heiȝte Placidas, [Some tyme.] And nou he is cristned Ewstas — [Now he hyght sir E.] ".I.-herd be god almiȝtte!" [Blyssed be. all-myght.] In-to þat heye wode anon Line 70 Al abouten hy weren agon And þonkeden oure driȝtte.

Þe kniȝt wiþ hise .I.-feren þre Ounder one linde-tre Reste him hone stounde. [70—5) Betwene þe vndrone & þe none, I wote, þis dede it was done, Ne was it not be nyght. — To þe wodde þⁱ wente anone, Als-so swyth as þⁱ myght gone, Ne restyd þei no stounde.] Line 75 Alse wes ounder wode-bowe, [As þⁱ went vnder þe wodde bowe,] Wel gode tidingges him come .I.-nowe [Of god t. þer come Inow.] From hevene to þe grounde: [Fro h. to them on g.]

On aungele seyde, þat wes briȝt: [An angelle seyd þat was fulle bryght.] "Sire Eustace, godes kniȝt, [Ewstas godys.] Line 80 .I.-blesced mote þou be! [Blyssyd. bene.] Þine children and þi wif [Thi-selue, þi chylder & þi wyfe] Sulen hauen þat eche lif [eche, ags. êce, eternal, wie 202.] [Schall in Ioy lede ȝour lyfe] And alle blisse .I.-se. [And heue(n)s blys schall sene.]

Þey þou lete lond and lede, [Thoffe þou les both.] Line 85 Halle and bour and heye stede, [bowre, palfray & st.] Ne be þou nout sori! [not sorye.] Þou art .I.-turnd to cristindome: Þe fend þe wille sechen .I.-lome And ofte þe fondi. [88—90) Now þou hast cristindome, vnderstond, The fend wyll ȝerne þe forto fonde, Now þou arte made holye.] Line 90

Wendeþ, quaþ þe aungele, godes way, [Wend ȝe forthe into ȝour waye] Wytieþ oure soule niȝt and day, [And kepe ȝour saulys, daye.] And doþ bi mine rede! [And do as I ȝou rede.] Alle ȝe sulen mid-.I.-wis [All ȝe schalle fore sothe Iwys.] For þe loue of swete Jhesus Line 95 Mid martirdom ben dede". [In. be.]

To his hous he wente anon, [Syre Eustas wente hym home] So swiþe so he miȝtte gon, [Also swyth as. gone.] Mid wif and children two. [With wyfe. childer.] Þo weren is seep afelde .I.-biten, Line 100 Þe þonre heuede his hors forsmiten — A fote he moste go. [100—2) He found his schepe in folde wer betyne, And thonder his hors to deth had smyten, On fote ne myght þⁱ gone (!).]

Al þat he louede, him wente fram, [All þat hym louyd wente hym fro.] Bote is wif and is children twam. [his. childer two.] Hof londe hy mosten wende. [Sone þⁱ must wende.] Line 105 Er hit dawede liȝt of day, [Erly or it was any daye.] Wel stilleliche hy wenten away [Stylly þⁱ stalkyd away (Ms. awas).] Bi one wodes ende. [a woddys.]

Toward Egipte hy gunnen fare, ffore .I.-bounden al wiþ kare, Line 110 And wiþ loue mourninge Of Crist þat alle þinge shop And þat on erþe rod and stop, Wiþ spere þat let him stinge. [109—114) fehlen.]

To one water hy comen gon: [a. þⁱ gane gone.] Line 115 A ship hy founden þer anon. [A schype þⁱ founde sone anone.] Þer houer hy mosten seyle. [Thei went þer-tylle.] In-to þat ship he dede him þo, [þe. þⁱ went tho.]

His wif, ise ȝonge children two. [& his chylder.] Þat water wes sturne and eille. [The w. was sterne & ylle.] Line 120

Þe shippesman bihoeld þat kniȝt [The schypmene byhold þat ilke k.] And seþþen þe leuedi, þat wes briȝt: [And þat lady þat was so bryght.] Hoe þouhte him feir and shene. [þi thought hyre fare.] To him he seyde after þan: "Wer hevedest þou þis fayre wimman? [Where hadyst. feyre womane.] Line 125 Hoe shal ben min, ich wene". [Sche. be. I. Darauf hat A. folg. 2 Stropfen: Out of þe schype he drew hym tho, And his ȝonge childer two — Full woo was hym þerfore! The lady cryed & mad gret dynne, And fro hyre lorde was loth to twyne, And weppyd & syȝede sore. — The knyght sette hym done apone a stone (= 127), And se hys wyfe was fro hym go, Takyne fro hym with wronge. He seyd alas þat he was borne! Hys wytte fro hym nyȝe-hond was lorne, Hym thouȝt hys lyfe to longe. Die 2 ersten V. der folg. Strophe: After þe schype his eye he caste: Out of his syght than was sche paste.] [. . . . .(Hier fehlen eine oder zwei Strophen.)]

A-doun he sette him on an ston And reste his werie bon, Bioeld hise children two: [He behelde hys.] "Me þinkeþ, min herte wile bleden. [thinke my. wylle all to-bled.] Line 130 Hou shal ich ou moderlese feden? [I ȝou moderles fede.] Ne wes me nevere þus wo". [Now was me neuer so wo.]

So longe forþ his wey he nom, [way. toke.] To one watere þat he com. [Tyll þat þⁱ come vnto a broke.] Þer ouer he moste fare. [þⁱ muste.] Line 135 Waden he moste — þe water wes cheld, [Wade þⁱ muste, þe water was scheld.] In eyþer side wilde feld: [By eþer. þe wylde.] Þe more wes his care. [Welle mekyll was hys care.]

He nom his on child on his arm — [toke. o. in. arme.] Ich wot, he ne dede him non harm — [The oþer he wende schuld haue no herme.] Line 140 And bar hit ouer to londe. [He bare hym. to þe.] Sone he seyd in his mod: [Doune he sette in hys mode (!).] "Godes help his euere god: [Godys grace, he seyd, is euermore gode.] Þat ich wel ounder-stonde. [I. wel fehlt.]

"Sitte nou stille, sone min, [styll. myne.] Line 145 Þe wyles ich fecche broþer þin, [Tyll þat I fette.] And tou shalt hauen þi mede. [þou schall haue.] Ich wille to þe comen anon, [I schalle come to þe anone,] So sone so ich hit may don; [Als-so sone as I may gone.] Ne þarf þe nout adrede". [Ne make þou no drede.] Line 150

In-to þat water he wente aȝeyn, [þe w. agayne.] Fort he com in þat depe strem, [Tyll þat he come to þe myddys streme.] And lokede in heyþer side: [lokyd hym bysyde.] A wilde lioun þer com gon [he saw þer gone.] And kipt his ȝonge sone anon, [He toke.] Line 155 On him he ȝenede wide. [gapyd.]

Þe lioun ber þe kniȝt child wiþ him, [That. bare þat child.] A-wey he wende wroþ and grim. [That was both grete, stoute & gryme.] Þe kniȝt wes ney .I.-swowe, [Ne was he neuer so wo. Dann folgt: Than was sir Eustas sorye, Fore both his childer wer borne awaye; He felle in swounyng tho. Die folg. Stropfe fehlt.] Wore he wes in þat water depe; Line 160 Hit nes no wonder þey he wepe, Of care he heuede .I.-nowe!

Þo he hof swoning aros, He lokede oup and him agros; To londe he moste te. Line 165 A wonder þing he sey him þar: A wolf his oþer child at-bar. .I.-swowen he fel on kne.

Þo he of swoning aros, [Bot whene he fro swonyng rose,] He lokede oup and him agros, [He lokyd vp & forth he gose,] Line 170 His wit wes ney forloren. [His wytte was neyȝe hym fro.] Euere he þouhte on Jhesu Crist, [Bot euer he thought onne.] On his deþ, on his ouprist, [& his vp-ryste.] Þat for ous wes .I.-boren. [fehlt.]

"God almiȝtten, þou hit wost, [Jhesu Cryste in trinyte,] Line 175 Fader and sone and holi gost! [All-myȝhty god, þou comforth me.] To þe ich mene mi mone, [I make.] Of mi spouse þat wes so trewe, Fayr and hende and briȝt of hewe — [178—9) umgestellt: So feyere a womane of hyde & hew, Of my wyfe þat was so trew.] Welle wo is me al-one! [So wo is me alone.] Line 180

For mine sones þat ben forloren, [Of my chyldren þat be forelorne.] Mid wilde bestes awey .I.-boren — [With. awaye borne.] Ne bide ich newer-eft none. [I may now sey alas!] To wecche lond ma ich toe? Hou longe sal ich liues boe? Line 185 Ne con ich me no wone. [184—6) Tyll vncouthes (!) londys I wylle go. How longe schall (I) lyue so? That euer I borne was!]

Of Iop ich wile biþenchen me, [On Iob I wylle bethinke me,] Þat longe hevede in blisse .I.-be [Þat euer had in blysse be.] And seþþen sel into care. [sethen. in.] Louerd, for þe loue of þe [lord.] Line 190 To sori nulle ich newer be, [Ne wylle I neuer to sory be,] Fare hou ich fare. [How so euer I fare.] [folio 124]

Ich habbe .I.-wopen al mine fille, [I. wepyne. my.] .I. nelle nammore, ich wile be stille: [Þer bade no-mane me ȝit be stylle,] Godes help is fulney". [Fore goddys helpe is nyȝe.] Line 195 Þo com þer on aungele of heuene [There comme an. fro.] And spek wiþ him wiþ milde steuene, [Þat spake to.] Of god, þat wes on hey: [Frome Cryst þat wonetht one hyȝe.]

"Be nou stille and glad, Eustace! [Blyssede be þou, sir Eustas.] In heuene is .I.-maked þi place, [made þi mery p.] Line 200 Þere þou shalt murie boen. [schall blythe bene.] Þine children and þi wif [Thi-selue, thy chylder & thi wyfe] Sulen haven þat eche lif [Schall þat merye lyfe] And alle blisse .I.-soen". [And alle þat Ioy sene.]

So longe forþ he wente his way, [he wente forth in. wey.] Line 205 Hise bedes biddinde niȝt and day, [His bedys bedand. dey.] To toune þat he com. [tylle þat he camme.] sswinken and sweten he moste þo, [Suynkyng & suetyng he muste tho (!),] Wor his spending wes al atgo: [Fore his spendyng was alle go;] Wel evene he hit ounder-nom, [To woche (!) he must thane.] Line 210

Wiþ bowe and arewen and wiþ horn [bow. arowys. horne.] Wor-to witien monne corn, [Forto kepe oþer mens corne.] Bi day and eke bi niȝtt, Weddes nimen and orf to puinde— [Weddys to take & bestys to pynde,] Þereto nes him nout .I.-cunde. [Þat was hym not commyne of kynde.] Line 215 He wes hayward and kniȝt! [fehlt.]

Fiftene ȝer he wonede þere, [Fyftyne wynter he was there.] Er men westen were he were. [Or. wyst whens.] .I.-sout he wes wel ȝerne: [His mete forto eyrene.] Þe enperour him sende to seche [The e. dyde hym to.] Line 220 Wiþ men, þat weren wise of speche, [ware mylde.] Kniȝttes starke and sterne. [bothe styffe st. starke.]

Ouer þat corn þer comen þre [corne. þer fehlt.] Ridinde men of one ble, [Ridinge.] And he hoem þere .I.-mette. [With hym þer they mette.] Line 225 Þe kniȝttes weren on horse heye, [rydyne on horsys hye.] Mid wordes milde, fayre and sleye [With wordys. feyre. sclyȝe.] Þene hayward .I.-grette. [Þat heyward fare þⁱ grette.]

Þe hayward nom and bleu his horn, For he wes wardein of þat corn; [229—30) umgesetzt: Fore he was wardane ouer þat corne, The heywerd stod & blow his horne.] Line 230 Here wed he bad hem ȝelde. [þer wedde he bade theme ȝelde.] He axede wat hy souhten þare, [askyde what þⁱ soughtyne þer.] And wy hy weren so .I.-fare [þⁱ went ouer so ferre.] Ouer þat heued felde. [heued = ags. eowde, herd?] , [hyȝe st. heued.]

"Sire, we ben kniȝttes, fer .I.-fare [Syre, þⁱ seyd, be not dysplesyde,] Line 235 For to sechen wide-ware [We knaw þat we haue ȝow dessesyde,] After one monne: [Fore we seke after a mane.] Þe enperoures cunsiler [We bene þe emperoures consylerys.] .I.-sout we awen fer and ner, [We haue hym souȝte bothe ferre & nere,] Ne con him ous noman kenne. [Bot fynd hym nought we canne.] Line 240

Wiseste kniȝt of alle he was, [A nobulle knyght fore-sothe he was.] His nome wes hoten Placidas. [name. was callyd sir.] On honting hout he ferde, [oute he farede.] Nevereft seþþen ne com he hom, [Neuer sethyne comme home.] Ne no tidinge from him ne com [ne fehlt vor come.] Line 245 Þat ani mon hy-herde. [Þat no-mane sethen of herde.]

Here we hauen .I.-founde þe, [haue foundyne.] We wenen wel þat þou hit be Bi þine fayre chere; [248—9) By a wounde þat I se On the þat stondys here.] Ovp-on þi neb is an wonde: [One thy nose þer is a wounde:] Line 250 Þere-bi we hauen wel .I.-founde [Werby we haue þe here founde,] Þat þou art oure .I.-fere". [And þou schall bene owre fere.]

"Nay, quaþ he, hou miȝtte hit be? [Nay, sires, so mote I thene,] Were suldich houre fere be? [I may not ȝour feloy bene.] Ne am ich a pouere mon?" [I ame a pore mane.] Line 255 "Þou most wiþ ous to þe enperour, [muste. vs.] For to fongen þat honour [haue thy.] Þat þou were erroure on". [Þat thou wer wonte to hanne.]

Þo nom sire Eustas his leue þare, Mid hise .I.-feren he is .I.-fare. [259) ff. Syre Eustas se þat he muste nedes Forto go forth with þes knyghtys Vnto þe kyngys courte. Darauf folgt: He toke hys leue at grete & smalle, At mane & wyfe & gentylles alle; þⁱ were lothe to departe. Forthe he wente with theme alle thre, With þe emperour forto be; T(o) þe kyngys courte he came. (A. hat eine Strophe mehr).] Line 260 To kingges court he com. Þere wes ioye and blisse .I.-nouh! [was ioy. Inouȝhe.] Þe enperour on him he louh, [onne hym lowȝhe.] And kniȝt and sweyn and grom. [And knyghtys, squyre & grome.]

He tolde his louerd of his care, [told. lord.] Line 265 His stronge lif, his harde fare, [In strange lyffe is herd.] Ord and eque þan ende, [eque = eke.] , [Fro begynning to þe ende.] Boþe of lere and of biȝete [Bothe of hys swynke & of hys suete,] And of soure and eke of swete, [Of his treuthe & of hys byhete,] Þat god him wolde sende. [Of all þat god hym sende.] Line 270

Line 270

Hit nes þer-after noþing long [It was. noþing fehlt.] Þat þere ne com a werre strong [ne fehlt.] Oup-on þe enpereour. Þidere wente monie a kniȝt, [Theder. many a.] Wel .I.-armet to þat fiȝt, [Wel Iarmede, I ȝou a plyȝht.] Line 275 To sawuen his honour. [saue.]

Þidere comen kniȝttes tweyne, [Theder went. two.] Wel gode in fiȝte hy weren beyne, [And þⁱ wer to fyght also.] Wiþ hors and armes gode. [hernes gode.] Þere nes non at þare plawe [Þer was none in all þat playe] Line 280 Wiþ sheld and spere out .I.-drawe [With spere & suerd þat ilke dey,] Þat hoere dunt atstode. [Þat there dynte ne withstode.]

Þo hy heueden wel .I.-fouhte — [When þⁱ hade fouutene alle þe deye] Þat hit wes wel, al so hem þouhte — [And scomfet þe oþer syde aweye,] Hy wenten to hoere inne. [Þⁱ went bothe to one inne.] Line 285 Wel gode .I.-feren hy bicomen, [There gode feloys þⁱ becomme,] At one house hoere in hy nomen, [As þⁱ hade bene queynted at home,] Wiþ-outen vuel enginne. [By grace of god, I wene.]

To-gadere hy eten of one disse, [To-geder þⁱ dyde syte at mete] Boþe of flesse and of ffisse, [And bothe of one dyssche þⁱ ete.] Line 290 And maden hem wel bliþe. [hem fehlt. fulle.] After mete hy tolden tales [met. þⁱ tolde talys.] Of hoere auentures fales [Of auentures & herd batayles] And of here liwes siþe. [And of all þer lyfe.]

Þe ȝongore broþer of hem twam [The ȝonge man of the two] Line 295 His broþer exede after þan [Son askyd þe oþer tho.] Of wat cunne he were. [kynne þat he.] He seet stille and sihtte sore, [satte. syȝede.] Litel he spak and þouhte more, [And seyd lytell & thouȝt more] Wiþ drowpninde chere. [With a wele sade chere.] Line 300

"Sire, wiltou mi cunsail hele, [Sir, wyll þou my counsylle hylle.] Ȝif hic þe telle of mi wele [Ife I. wylle.] And also of mi sore? [care.] A riche mannes sone ich was, [A riche man my fader was,] Mi fader heyȝtte Placidas, [His name hyght sir P.] Line 305 Þat wide heuede .I.-fare. [God gyffe hym wele to fare.]

Mi fader wes a wel fair kniȝt, [was a douȝty k.] And mi moder a leuedi briȝt, [lady.] And hadden riche .I.-won. [And ruddy of alle hew.] We weren ȝonge children two, [were ȝon sones.] Line 310 Mi litele broþer and ich also, [My ȝonger broder & I also.] In halle and bour of ston. [boure. stone.]

Mi fader nom ous alle þre, [toke vs.] Mi dame, mi broþer and me, [moder st. dame.] Þorou grace of oure driȝte, [Thorow þe grace of god all-myght.] Line 315 And ladd ous to þat fonston [& lede vs to a founte-stone] And lete ous cristni sone anon [And crystinde vs þer anone,] In þe name of god almiȝte. [Ne was it not by nyght.]

Seþþen, ich ounderstonde me, [Sethyne I vnderstode.] We fellen In-to pouerte [felle.] Line 320 And wenten ous out of londe. [wentene. ous fehlt. oute.] Ouer a water brod and dep [Ouer a water we schuld haue gone,] We seileden, and mi moder wep [Oure moder þer fro vs was tane,] And wrong hire honde. [With falsyde borne onne honde.]

Mi moder wes a fair wimmon, [was. woman.] Line 325 In al þat londe nes swich non [Lyke in þis werlde was none]

Of huide ne of hewe. [þat onne water fare.] Þe shipes man ire ous binom, [þe schypmane toke here vs frome,] Wiþ-oute tale, wiþ-houte dom. [Wiþouten law or oþer dome.] Þo wes oure care newe! [Than wexed new alle oure care.] Line 330

We wenten þorou þe wildernesse, [We went throghe a.] Mid weping and mid sorinesse, [with. soroufulnes.] And comen to one watere. [We comme to a streme.] Mi fader me nom and ouer ber, [toke. me bere.] And mi broþer lette ben þer [Ms. broþeþ.] , [broder he lefte there,] Line 335 To loken oure hatere. [Tyll þat he comme ageyne.]

A wilde lioun þer com gon [gane st. com.] And kipte me wel sone anon [And cauȝht me in his mouthe anone,] And bar me in his mouþe. [And bore me faste aweye.] And þe shepherdes þat .I.-seye, Line 340 And blewen out horn in þe leye Bi norþe and eke bi souþe. [340—2) The schypherdys schepe, When þⁱ hym se, þⁱ dyde hym mete And schrewydly dyde hym freye.]

Wel softeliche ich wes ared And brout in a softe bed, .I.-herd be god almiȝtte! [343—5) Thus fro þe lyone I was tane, And broȝht me vp with bourde & game; Thanke be gode all-myght!] Line 345 A riche man of þat ilke londe [ilke fehlt.] Al þat me ned wes, he me founde [All þat nedyde. fonde.] And dobede me to kniȝtte." [dubyde. a st. to.]

"A, broþer, let me tellen þe: [A broder late me telle þe.] A wolf þere com and kipte me [camme. cauȝht.] Line 350 And ber me in his mouþe. [bore. mothe.] Þe ploumen wel þat .I.-seye, [Plow|mene þat syght þⁱ se,] And blewen hout horn in þe leye, [And to hym fast þⁱ dyde hyȝe,] Stark men and couþe. [Stronge mene, & welle þⁱ cowthe.]

Wel softeliche hy me aredde. [The wolfe fore fere do (u)ne me leyde.] Line 355 And seþþen a levedi me fedde [lady me hath fedde.] And dobbede me to kniȝtte; [dubyde. a st. to.] Hoe fond me palefrey and stede, [Sche me fonde.] Helm and brunie and oþer wede, [Helme, habyrione & odour wede,] And swerd and spere wel briȝtte." [Spere & swerde full bryght.] Line 360

Here moder al þis .I.-herdde [There. herde.] Þere hoe wes in on orcherdde, [Þer as sche was in a ȝerde.] Wepinde al for blisse. [Sche wepe.] To hire bour hoe wende anon, [sche went.] So swiþe so hoe miȝtte gon, [Also swyth as sche couthe gone.] Line 365 Wiþ mikel gladnesse. [fulle mykille.]

Þer com ride sire Ewstas [camme rydinge.] Þer his wif at inne was, [There þat lady inne was.] Þe kniȝtes for to seche. [to sekyne swythe.] Hoe bihoeld þat fayre kniȝt, [Sche beheld þat sembly kn(y)ght.] Line 370 And he þat lewedi, þat wes briȝt, [lady. was so bryght] Mid chere wel loueliche. [With chere fayre & blythe.]

"Dame, quad he, sey þou me, [he seyd. tell.] Wat men her houte at inne be [here. houte fehlt.] At þisse nekste howse?" [þis nexte.] Line 375 "Sire, quad hoe, kniȝttes tweyne. [Syre, I knaw þer k. two.] Wel þou shalt .I.-cnowen beyne — [schall theme know also.] Welcome, mi leue spowse! [lefe.]

Mi louerd, ich .I.-cnowe þe [we(l) I knaw the.] Bi one wonde, þat ich .I.-se [a. I se.] Line 380 Oupon þi neb .I.-sene. [nose is sene.] Lemman, ich haue harde .I.-fare, [A, lord, I hade herde fare]

.I.-lad mi lif in mikel kare, [And lede my lyue in mykyll care,] Ich wot, and nouht ne wene. [I tell ȝou now by|dene. Darauf hat A. eine Strophe mehr: Fro the I was take with a schypman, And wened I schulde haue be his leman, He was not of my laye. A knyght þer was in þat schyppe, That fro þe schypmane he dyde me helpe And brouȝht me safe awaye.]

Mi lefman, wille we gon [Suete lord, wyll ȝe gone.] Line 385 To þis nekste house a-non, [nexte hous anone.] Þere hy ben hole and sounde! [Ȝour chylder þer they be] And make we Joye and mikel blis! [And make grete Joye in þat house] Þonked be swete Jhesus, [And thanke owre lorde, suete Jhe|sus,] Of kare we ben ounbounde." [And gode in trinyte.] Line 390

Boþe hy wenten þidere anon, [þⁱ went þeder.] So swiþe so hy miȝten gon. [Also swyth as þⁱ myȝht gone] Welcomed hy weren fayre. [And come into þe halle. Darauf hat A. folg. 6 Verse mehr: And when þat þⁱ there sonnes se, Þⁱ thankyd god in trinyte And also suet seynt Palle. The two knyȝhtys þer fader knew And sone onne kneys sone þⁱ flewe And thankyd god all|myght. Dann folgt: Fore joye þat they togeder wer mette All fowre full faste þⁱ dyde wepe, And so dyde many a wyght.] Men beden hem sitten and drinken vin Wiþ coupe and eke wiþ maselin, Line 395 And maden hem chere fayre.

Sire Ewstace tolde hem of his kare, His stronge lif, his harde fare. Þe kniȝttes wepen for blisse — [397—9) Syre Eustas ganne to telle tho Of his Joy & of hys wo Þat he hade bene inne.] Ne miȝtte here non wiþ oþer speke, Line 400 Ne no word out of hem atbreke, Bote wepe and cluppe and cusse. [Ms. þa.] , [400—2) Than þer was none at þat borde That fore wepynge myght speke a worde, Nor none in þat Inne. Darauf hat A. noch folg. Strophe: So glad of odour Ichone þⁱ were: Þⁱ kyssed & made gode chere And fyllede þe wyne anone, And tolde how þⁱ wer crystinde And thouȝht þer care was with-stond And sorow was fro theme gone.]

Þe enperovr .I.-herde þis [herd telle of þis] Þat hy maden ioye and blis, [How þⁱ wer in Joy & blysse.] And cristine þat hy were. [crystinde. þⁱ.] Line 405 He sente kniȝttes sone anon, For to fecchen euer-ich on [To seke theme vp euerych-one.] Þat hy founden þere. [þⁱ. were st. þere.]

He let hem don in prisoun strong, [Statt 409—14 hat A. folg. V.: When þⁱ wer before hym brouȝht, Them to scle it was his thouȝht: And so fore-sothe he dyde. Fore all-myȝhty godys sake The deth to þem þⁱ wolde take, What deth as he them bedde.] Liouns and leuparz hem among Line 410 And bestes suiþe fele. Þe bestes, þa(t) weren stronge and wilde, Þey weren of hem glade and milde: Ne miȝtten hoe hoem qvelle.

He let hem don in bolen of bras, Line 415 Euerich in his, wel soþ hit was, [415—6) He dyde them in a panne of brasse, Also hote as euer it was,] And beten fuir abouten. [And made fyere abowtyne.] Alle hy weren þere .I.-brende, [All fowre þerin he brente.] Þe soules in to heuene wende — [Þer saulys onto h. wente.] Of pine hy weren wiþhouten. [Of payne þⁱ wer w.] Line 420

Bidde we alle seint Eustace [Beseke. all.] Þat he do hous hauen grace, [graunte vs all g.] To heuene for to wende, And þat we moten þere wone Wiþ Jhesu, seinte Marie sone, Line 425 Euere wiþ-houten hende. Amen. [424—6) To Jhesu, seynt Mary sonne, And þer withouten ende to wonne. God þat grace vs sende. Amen. Explicit vita sci Eustachii.]

2. Coment le sauter noustre dame fu primes cuntroue. [Varianten des Ms. Auchinl:] Ms. Digby 86, fol. 130.

Dasselbe Gedicht findet sich in dem bekannten, etwas jüngern Ms. Auchinl fol. 259 (c. 1410) und ist hieraus edirt in David Laing's A Penniworth of Witte (für den Abbotsf. Club). In Ms. Dig. ist von fol. 131 unten ein Stück schräg abgeschnitten, wodurch mehrere Verse ganz oder theilweise zerstört sind. Das Fehlende ist aus Ms. Auch. ergänzt.

Leuedi swete and milde, For loue of þine childe Þat is foul of miȝtte, [Jhesu st. þat is. ful of miȝt.] Me, þat am to wilde, [so st. to.] From shome þou me shilde, [Fram schame. schylde.] Line 5 Bi day and eke bi niȝtte! [eke fehlt. niȝt.]

Ich wille biginnen here [Ichil bigennen.] And tellen þe manere Nou at þisse stounde [Now in þis.] Of þi sauter here, Line 10 Mid wel gode chere, [wiþ.] Ou hit wes .I.-founde. [Hou it was y-founde.]

Send me þine grace [Sende. þi.] Nou in þisse place, [Now. þis.] So wel for to done! [wele.] Line 15 Ich nou bidde þi grace, [Y bid þe þi.] And þerto lif and space. [And fehlt. liif.] Here nou mine bone! [y-here now mi.]

A riche man was wile, [while.] Þat nolde none gile; [þat loued no.] Line 20 He louede holi chirche. [loued.] Bi-sides him a mile [Bisiden.]

On abbey of seint Gile [An abbay. seyn.] His helderne gonne werche. [eldren. dede st. gonne. wirche.]

God lif þis man ladde. [Gode liif.] Line 25 One sone he hadde, [On.] Þat gode dedes dede. Wiþ cloþ and wiþ bedde His sone faire he sredde [fair. schredde.] In þat ilke stede. [In þilke.] Line 30

Monk he þere bicom, [Monke þerin he bicam. Hierauf sind 13 Zeilen ausgeschnitten.] Wiþ abit he þer nom, Bi his fader wille. Him louede god and mon — So feire he bigon, Line 35 Wor euere he wes stille.

His fader him bimenede Þat he þerinne wende So ȝong sholde, .I.-wis. He dede after him sende Line 40 "Þat is nou þat ende", And made him muchel blis.

A maister hadde his sone Þat wiþ him wef .I.-come,

Cointe .I.-nou and sley; [Queint man and sleiȝe.] Line 45 Hit wes his .I.-wone [For it was euer his wone,] To techen alle and some [To teche him bi costome.] Þe ordre, fer and ney. [order. neiȝe.] He hede ofte aboute [ȝede forþ about.] Wiþ-innen and wiþ-oute [inne. out.] Line 50 Wiþ þe louerd on day. [lord. a st. on.] Þe sone he lek(!) þer oute: [His sone he lete þer out.] He hede for to aloute — [ȝede fer to.] Tellen ich ou may — [ȝou.] Þe leuedi ful of miȝtte [miȝt.] Line 55 Þat bar oure driȝtte, [our driȝt.] In a chapele þere, [chapel.] Bi day and eke bi niȝtte [eke fehlt. niȝt.] Out wen he comen miȝtte, [When he þer-to com miȝt.] Were ware he were. [where st. ware.] Line 60 Ou alle ich telle may: [Ȝou al tellen y may.] On houndred ewche day [An hundred ich.] He gretingges seyde. [Greteinges he seyd.] Wel he held his lay [wele.] And þe ordre, bi mi fay! [order. par ma fay.] Line 65 For loue of þat meyde. [mayde.] Wel he hedde hi-wrout, [wele. hadde y-wrouȝt.] Wor god wes his þout: [For gode was. þouȝt.] Þat wes wel .I.-sene; [was wele y-sen.] He ne les hit nohut, [no lesse it nouȝt.] Line 70 Wor he hit hadde about [Heuen he hadde y-bouȝt.] Þorou his gode bene. [folio 131] [Þurgh. ben.] Ne let he none stounde [No lete. non.] Þat he ne fel to grounde [no.] And on knewes bat [And a knowes badde.] Line 75 And þoute of þe wonde [And þouȝt on þe fif wounde.] Þat god for al þe mounde [all.] On rode heuede .I.-sprad. [hadde. y.] On houndret to þe meyde [An hundred. maide.] Aue maries he seyde [Greteinges he seyd.] Line 80 Bi tale heche daye. [ich day.] He hit nout ne aleyde, [He nouȝt it no layd.] Ac so wel he pleyde — [wele. playd.] Riȝt soþ for to saye — [soþe. say.] Þat he sau wel briȝtte [seiȝe. briȝt.] Line 85 Oure leuedi foul of miȝtte [Our. ful. miȝt.] A settres-day, .I.-wis, [On a saterday ywis.] Were hoe sat wel riȝtte [Where sche. up st. wel. riȝt.] .I.-cloþed half bi siȝtte, [Half cloþed. siȝt.] And seyde to him þis: [seyd.] Line 90 "Mi monk, ne dred þe nout, [no drede. nauȝt.] For .I. þe haue .I.-bout [y-lauȝt.] And þe ich wille take. [y þe wil.] Þou hauest so goed fulwraut(!): [þou hast don a gode frauȝt,] Ne worst þou nout bikaut: [No bestow nouȝt bi-cauȝt.] Line 95 Goed ne shal þe lake. [God. schal.] Ich þonke þe her nouþe [y þanke. here.] Þat þou wiþ þine mouþe [For þatow. þi.] Me hauest .I.-paied wel; [hast paid so wel.] Bi norþe and eke bi (souþe) [norþ. eke fehlt.] Line 100 Hit shal ben w(el couþe) [It schal be wel couþe.] Þine dedes (euerich del). [eueridel.]

Ac þou m(ost more say) Wor (me now euche day) [For. ich day.] [100—104 Im Ms. ist ein Stück des Blattes schräg abgeschnitten. Das Fehlende ist aus Ms. Auch. ergänzt.] Fifti al bi score Line 105 Of aue maries, Fifti on day þries. [Fifti fehlt(!). Ich day þries.] Wite nou were-fore: [wharfore.]

Þat is riȝt mi sauter. And þou shalt witen her [it schalt y-wite here.] Line 110 Hou hit shal ben do: [it schal be.] Fifti seye bi-fore, [say.] Tene euere bi score, [And euer ten.] And on anteme þerto, [þe antemis.]

In tokning of þe blisse [tokne.] Line 115 Þat fel me midi-wisse [wiþ-y-wis.] Þo þe aungele to me com [angel. cam.] And seyde me tidinge [seyd. tiding.] Þat of me sholde springe [schuld spring.] He þat is god and mon. [God bicome a man.] Line 120

After sey wel sone [say þou sone.] Fifti mididone [middidone.] Al for þat ilke blisse [ich blis.] Þat he wiþ-outen (sore) Wolde of me ben (bore)— [wald. be.] Line 125 Þat þou þer-(of ne misse)! [Þerof þat þou no misse.]

Þer aft(er þou shalt say) [ich day.] Eft (fifti euche day) Bi (þine fingres ten) O(f aue maries) Line 130 (Euche day þries— Telle hit fele men!—

Fifti at þen ende, For I shulde wende To mi sone þo, Line 135 For blis, and for to amende, Þat he to me gan sende), [131—137) Die in D. fehlenden Verse lauten in A.: Ich day þries. Telle it fele men. Fifti at þe nende, For y schuld wende To my sone þo, For blis and forto amende Þat he to me gan sende.] To me comen and go: [124—138 Im Ms. ist ein Stück des Blattes schräg abgeschnitten. Das Fehlende ist aus Ms. Auch. ergänzt.]

He broute me to blisse, [brouȝt. to þe blis.] Þat neuere ne shal misse, [neuer no schal mis.] Line 140 In þat ilke stounde. [ich.] Blesced be þat time [Blisced. þe.] Þat alle brovte of pine [Þat he brouȝt out of pine] Þat weren þerinne .I.-bounde!" [þat fehlt. Þer-in were y bounde.]

"A, leuedi, .I. þe grete, [y.] Line 145 For þou art fair and swete And goed, to serui wel. [gode. serue.] Graunte me þin ore, [Graunt. þi nore.] Wor .I. shal euere-more [For y schal euer-more.] Don þis euerich del. [eueri.] Line 150

If ich dourste and couþe, [ȝif y durst.] Ich wolde .I.-witen nouþe, [wald wite.] Leuedi, here of þe: Wi þe failleþ gore, [whi. failes.] ssleue and nammore [Sleuen. no more.] Line 155 Of cloþ þat ich .I.-se?" [Of cloþ ich on þe se.]

"Þis cloþ þou me ȝeue [cloþe.] (On se)ttresday(!) aȝein eue, [On Friday at eue.] (Þorou) aue maries [þurch.] (Þo þou) me gvnne greten [gun grete.] Line 160 (And nold) to sugen leten [And no day nold lete] (Twies e)wche dayes. [Ac seidest fifti tviis.]

(For þou most say more Þries fifti bi score, Al-so .I. teld þe. Line 165 To day a seveniȝtte

.I.-cloþed al ariȝtte Þou shalt me fair .I.-se.

Be here of al scille, [l. stille?] And say wiþ gode wille) [163—170, in D. fehlend, lauten in A.: For þou most say more Þriies fifti bi score, Al so y teld þe. To day a seuenniȝt, Y-cloþed al ariȝt Þou schalt me fair y-se. — Be here of al scille And say wiþ gode wille.] [158—170 Im Ms. ist ein Stück des Blattes schräg abgeschnitten. Das Fehlende ist aus Ms. Auch. ergänzt.] Line 170 Alle þe gretinges! [Al þis greteinges.] And .I. shal þe bringe [y schal. bring.] From mi sone, þe kinge, [Fram. king.] Þanne gode tidinges." [þanne fehlt.]

Marie wente away. [Mari went þo oway.] Line 175 And þe monk euche day [monke ich.] ffeyde riȝt þre siþes [seyd.] Mid wel gode wille [wiþ.] Boþe loude and stille Þese aue maries. [His.] Line 180

Þat day a seveniȝtte [seuenniȝt.] Oure leuedi, foul of miȝtte, [Our. ful. miȝt.] To þat moneke com, [þe monk. cam.] .I.-cloþed swiþe briȝtte In þat wede alriȝtte, [184—5) In hir wede riȝt Y-cloþed swiþe briȝt.] Line 185 And þonkede þat mon. [þonked þe man.]

"Fair is, lo, mi wede, [now st. lo.] For bedes þat þou bede, [Ms. q¯met.] And þou hauest quemet me. [Þatow hast ȝeue me.] Mi sone þe wille rede, [wil.] Line 190 Þat noþing þe nadrede — [þat þou no þing no drede.] Here ich hit telle þe. [For-soþe y telle þe.]

Vuene þou art home .I. come, [When. hom y-nome.] Þou shalt Abbot bicome, [193—4) umgesetzt.] [abot.] For þin Abbot shal deye. [your. schal dye.] Line 195 Haue euere in þi wone [Haue þou euer in wone] To suggen bi coustome [Ms. mi st. bi.] [To sigge bi costome.] Þine aues euche daye! [ich day.]

Wend ouer-al aboute [Wende al about.] And preche inne and oute [preche it in. out.] Line 200 (Þat) þis is mi sauter! "(For al) þat euche daye [ich day.] (Wille þis) for me saye, [201—3. Im Ms. ist ein Stück des Blattes schräg abgeschnitten. Das Fehlende ist aus Ms. Auch. ergänzt.] [wil. for my fay.] .I. shal hem ben welner. [folio 132]

Monek, ich telle hit þe [Leue monke ich telle þe.] Line 205 Þat þou most al for me Wenden wide-wore [ner and wide.] And telle þis tidinge [And tellen of þis þing.] And mine sone bringe [And so my. bring.] Wel fele him bifore. [wel feht. biside.] Line 210

Wor þoru aue maries [For þurch.] Þat mon shal sayen þries [men. siggen.] In þe worshipe of me, [worþschippe.] I shal hem helpen alle [helpe.] Þat to me wilen kalle — [wille calle.] Line 215 For soþ ich telle hit þe. [For soþe y telle þe.]

Nis non þat shal deien, [day.] Þat wille þries seien [þries wil say.] Þese aue maries, [þis.] Wiþouten hosel and srifte, [housel. schrift.] Line 220 Bi daye ne bi niȝtte, [day no. niȝt.] Wor none folies; [For non.]

He shal in euche place [ich.] Wel finden mi grace [wele finde.]

At his liues ende, Line 225 And he shal hauen space [For st. and. finde.] And finden godes grace [haue gode.] Him alto amende. [al for to.]

Gon ich wille henne. [Gon Ichil hanne.] Sey hit to mani menne [Say it mani man.] Line 230 Þis and make hit couþ! [it couþe.] Wor seueȝer after þis [For seuen.] Þou shalt deye .I.-wis, [dien.] Ich telle hit þe wiþ mouþe. [y. hit fehlt.]

So longe is þi time [long.] Line 235 To holden þe and þine [hold.] And hem for to teche. After þat of pine Þou worst .I.-brout wiþ mine, [y-brouȝt to mine.] Wor .I. shal ben þi leche." [For y. be.] Line 240

Marie wente away. [went forþ hir way.] Þe monek rod niȝt and day [And þe monke ich day.] Folk to gode bringe, [god bring.] Þoru þis ilke þinge [Þurch. ich þing.] And þoru his prechinge [þoru fehlt. precheing.] — Line 245 Goed wes þe tidinge. [Gode was þis.]

Nou ich bidde here [Now.] Ou alle wiþ gode chere. [And on.] Þat ȝe suggen þries [sigge.] Wiþ wel gode wille Line 250 Boþe loude and stille [boþ.] Þese aue maries. [þis. A. hat darauf noch folg. Schlussstrophe: And god, our alder driȝt, So ȝiue ous strengþe and miȝt, So wele for to done, Þat at our ending He mot ous alle bring To blis swiþe sone. Amen.]

3. Seynt Mergrete. [Diese Hs. enthält: 1) vita Ricardi regis primi, 2) Ysumbra, 3) Katerine, 4) Matutinas de cruce, 5) King Athelstons deth, 6) Beffs de Hamptoun, 7) de spiritu Guidonis.] Ms. Auchinl. fol. 16b. (c. 1310).

Ms. Auchinl., aus dem Anfang des 14. Jhrhds., enthält folg. Legenden: 1) Grego|rius fol. 1, Anfang fehlt, im Ms. als 6. Stück bezeichnet (die ersten 5 sind ausgefallen), 2) Adam und Eva (2 Fragmente), 3) Mergrete, 4) Katherine, 5) eine Marienlegende, Anfang fehlt, (beginnt: An angel sche sent to him anon, He gret þe clerk wiþ milde steuen, Into þe chaumber when he gan gon, He was briȝter þan ani leuen), 6) Mag|dalene fol. 62—5, Anfang fehlt, 7) Geburt Marias und Christi (in Turnbull's Ausg. be|titelt Joachim & Anna), unvollendet, 8) die Entstehung des Psalters Mariä (auch in Ms. Digby 86). Hiervon sind N. 1, 3, 7, 4, 6 abgedruckt in (Turnbull's) "Legendae Catholicae, a lytle boke of Seyntlie Gestes", Edinb. 1840; N. 2 u. 8 in D. Laing's "A Penniworth of witte" 1857 (für den Abbotsford Club); Adam und Eva, und Magda|lene erschienen ausserdem in der "Sammlung altengl. Leg." Heilbronn 1878, p. 139 u. 163 ff. Das Gedicht von der Geburt Marias u. Christi ist ein Theil des längeren, das alte und neue Testament umfassenden Gedichtes in Langversen (diese sind im Ms. Auch. in Kurzzeilen aufgelöst), welches in mehreren Mss. der südengl. Legendensamm|lung erhalten ist; es beginnt mit den Uebergangsversen am Ende des 1. Theiles (alt|testamentliche Gedichte) und stimmt von V. 11 an grösstentheils überein mit dem in den "Altengl. Leg." Paderborn 1875 p. 65 ff. aus Ms. Ashm. 43 und Egert. 1993 ge|druckten Gedichte von V. 81 ab; andere Mss. sind Ms. Vernon fol. 6 b., Trin. Coll. Cbr. R. 3, 25 fol. 20, Lamb. 223 fol. 33, John's Coll. Cbr. B, 6 fol. 25; vgl. "Altengl. Leg." p. XIV Anm. 1. — Mergrete und Katherine sind im Ms. in Halbversen und acht|zeiligen Strophen geschrieben; das Original hatte offenbar Langverse und vierzeilige Strophen. Der älteste Text dieser Merg. hat in der That diese Strophenform, es ist das, nach einem leider! verloren gegangenen Cbr. Ms. in Hickes' Thesaurus I. p. 224 abgedruckte Gedicht (nach Hickes' Text wieder abgedruckt in O. Cockayn's S. Marh.); die 1. Strophe lautet:

Olde and yonge, i prei ou oure folies forto lete, Þenchet on god þat yef ou wit oure sunnes to bete! Here i mai tellen ou wiþ wordes feire ant swete Þe vie of one meidan, was hoten Maregrete.

Die Gedichte in dieser Strophenform gehören wohl noch in die erste Hälfte des 13. Jhrhds. und zu den ältesten Erzeugnissen der altengl. Litt. — Eine jüngere (schlechte) Nachbildung der Merg. enthält Ms. Ashm. 61 fol. 145 (c. 1450). — Eine zweite Hs. der Katherine fand ich in Ms. Caj. Coll. Cbr. 175 fol. 107 (14. Jhrht.), die besonders dadurch werthvoll ist, dass sie den im Ms. Auch. ausgefallenen Schluss (V. 661—794) enthält; hier sind die Hälften der im Ms. Auch. bereits aufgelösten Langverse wieder unter sich durch den Reim verbunden und dadurch in der That achtzeilige Strophen gebildet [E. Kölbing hatte die Güte, die Correctur der 2 folg. Legenden des Ms. Auch. nochmals mit dem Original zu vergleichen.]

Al þat ben in dedly sinne | and þenk wiþ merci to mete, Leue in Crist þat ȝaue ȝou witt | ȝour sinnes forto bete. Listen, and ȝe schul here telle | wiþ wordes fair and swete Þe vie of on maiden, | men clepeþ seyn Mergre(te).

Hir fader was a patriarke, | as y ȝou telle may, Line 5 In Antiage he was born | opon þat false lay; Feble was his hert, | vnstable was his fay, Deue þinges and doumbe | he serued niȝt and day.

Teodosus was his name. | in god no leued he nouȝt: He leued opon his fals godes | wiþ hondes þat were wrouȝt; Line 10 Wicked weren his werkes | and feble was his þouȝt, And euer he þouȝt to bring | cristendom to nouȝt.

As þai liued togider, | þe king and þe quene, Maiden Mergrete | was geten hem bitvene, Þat seþþen leued on Jhesu Crist | and hadde michel tene, Line 15 And miche pine þoled seþþe | hir bodi, þat was so schene.

While þe quen ȝede wiþ child, . . . . . [Hier sind im Ms. 11 Halbzeilen mit der Illustration der Rückseite ausgeschnitten.] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 20

. . . . . . . . . . Þat it were to deþ brouȝt | wiþouten more striif. Þo hye herd þat tiding, | sche wex a careful wiif.

Anon so Mergrete was yborn, | hir moder was wel wo, Line 25 For hir fader hadde beden | to deþ þat sche schuld go. Sche þouȝt to saue þe childes liif | and bring hir out of wo: Ful priueliche and stille | to Azie sche sent hir þo.

Into Azies-ward | þe child was taken to loke. Anon as sche was of eld, | Mergrete was sett to boke. Line 30 Hir felawes þat hir lyen bi, | at ich time þat þei woke, Hou Mergrete was in hir bedes | gode hede þai toke.

Þe norice þat hir ȝemed, | sche ȝemed hir wiþ winne; Alle þai loued hir ful wele, | þe hous þer sche wond inne. Anon as sche couþe witt, | michel sche hated sinne; Line 35 Sche toke hir to Jhesu Crist, | hir form liif to biginne.

Anon as þe mayden was | o fiftene winter eld, Hir norice schepe | sche ȝemed on þe feld. Hir felawes þat hir wiþ were | ful ȝern þai hir biheld Hou sche maked hir praier | to Jhesus, þat al may weld. Line 40

Line 40

Olibrious was lord, | as we heren telle, Of Antiage and Azie, | to ȝeuen and to selle. He serued boþe niȝt and day | þe foule fendes of helle. Al þat leued on Jhesu Crist | Olibrious þouȝt to quelle.

Fram Antiage into Asie | er miles ten & fiue. [folio 17] [Ms. tene mit auspunkt. e.] Line 45 For to stru þe cristen folk | (he hiede him biliue). [Hick. he hiede him biliue; Ms. Auch. liest unrichtig: and bringen hem oliue.] Þai seyȝe maiden Mergrete | schepe biforn hir driue: Olibrious for hir fairnesse | ȝerned hir to wiue.

He seyd to his kniȝtes: | "a fair maiden y se; Kestes hir opon hors, | and sche schal wende wiþ me. Line 50 And ȝif ich may enquere | of kin þat sche be fre, Of alle þe wimen þat y wot | best hir schal be.

And for hir michel feirhed, | ȝif sche be born of þral. Hir mariage | no tineþ sche nouȝt al: Wele y schal hir cloþe | in sikelatoun and pal, Line 55 Sche schal be mi leman | and haue gold to wal.

Þe seriaunce went, as he hem bad, | to maiden Mergrete, Þer sche ȝemed hir norice schepe | o dayes bi þe strete. Michel it was þat þai hir bede, | and more þai hir bihete; Þe þouȝtes of hir hert | wald sche nouȝt forlete. Line 60

Þe seriaunce of her erand | wald hir nouȝt biswike: "Damisel, we say it þe | ful wele may þe like. Olibrious is louerd | of Antiage rike, He ȝerneþ þe to wiue, | he nil þe nouȝt biswike".

Þan maiden Mergrete, | briȝt so ani leuen, Line 65 Sche hem answerd | wiþ ful mild steuen: "Ichaue ȝeuen mi maidenhed | to Jhesus Crist of heuen, Ȝeme it, ȝif his willes is, | for his name seuen. [l. wille, namen.]

"Jhesu Crist mi lord, | to ȝou y me rend; In ȝou was no bigining, | no neuer schal ben ende; Line 70 Ȝif it be ȝour wille, | ȝour angel ȝe me sende! Fram þis foule Saraȝins | y may me nouȝt defende.

Al mi kin ichaue forsake | into mi neiȝd kne; Jhesu Crist, mi lord, | y toke me to þe; Bleþeliche wald y, for þi loue | martird to be. Line 75 Þis houndes me han bisett, | þat I no may nouȝt fle".

Þe seriaunce oȝain went | and told al her sawe. "Lord, of þi pouste | no ȝiueþ sche nouȝt an hawe; Sche takeþ hir to Jhesu Crist, | to warantise wil sche drawe. Of al þat ȝe may hir do, | no stont hir non awe". Line 80

Line 80

Þan it spac Olibrious — | weri him sonne and mone! — "Of al min seriance | gode haue y none. Bringeþ hir bifor me! | y turn hir mode ful sone, Y do hir leue opon mi god, | þriies ar it be none".

Þe seriaunce oȝain went, | sone þai gan hir mete; Line 85 Þai leyd hondes hir opon | and brouȝt hir to þe strete. Sche com bifor Olibrious. | sone he gan hir grete, He axed hir what sche hiȝt. | sche seyd: Mergrete.

"Maiden Mergrete, | mi leman schaltow be. Ichold þe for mi wiif, | ȝif þou be of kin fre; Line 90 Ȝif þow be of þraldam born, | y giue þe gold and fe. Þou schalt be mi leman, | so long so it be".

Þe maiden him answerd | sone opon on: "Cristen woman icham | and houen in fun-ston. [Ms. heuen?] Blisced be mi lord, | to wham ichaue me tan! Line 95 No wil y nouȝt leue is loue | for non oþer man".

"Trowestow þat Jhesu liues, | þat was don on rode? Ȝif þou trowest þat he liues, | ich hold þe for wode. Endelong his side | ran þe water and þe blod, Þe coroun was of þornes | þat on his heued stode". Line 100

Þe maiden him answerd, | so þe angel hir kende: "He dede him on þe rode, | al cristen folk to amende. And seþþen into helle | þe holy gost he sende, To del(i)uer ous of þe pine, | þat þou schalt in ende".

Wele þouȝt þat sarraȝin | it was him no bote Line 105 To striue wiþ þat maiden — | hir hert was so gode. He comand þat sche bounden ware, | boþe hond and fot, And seþþen into prisoun don, | to turnen hir mode.

Maiden Mergrete | o niȝt in prisoun lay. Sche was brouȝt biforn him | opon þat oþer day. Line 110 "Maiden Mergrete, he seyd, | þou trowe opon mi lay! Jhesu þatow leuest on, | þou do him al oway!

Trowe on me & be mi wiif: | wele þou schalt spede; Antioge and Azie | þou schalt haue to mede; Sikelatoun and purpel-pal | þat schal be þi wede, Line 115 Wiþ þe best metes in mi lond | wele y schal þe fede".

"Þine wicke redes, sche seyd, | y do out of mi þouȝt. Y take me to Jhesu Crist | þat wiþ hondes me wrouȝt; Al þis midlerd | maked he of nouȝt, And seþþen into helle | þe holy gost he brouȝt". Line 120

Þan it spac Olibrious: | "now it schal be sene. Hongeþ hir vp bi þe fete | for hir lordes tene,

On wham þat sche leues | and whi sche is so kene; And beteþ hir wiþ scourges, | til ȝe ded hir wene!"

Þe seriaunce dede as he hem bad, | wiþ þe may þai gan striue, Line 125 Wiþ swepes and wiþ scourges, | boþe man and wiue, — Þe blod ran of hir flesche, | as water doþ fram cliue, — Til þai wende al same | þe maiden were oliue.

Þan it spac Olibrious, | bi hir þer he stode, And seyd: "Maiden Mergrete, | þenke þe þis paines gode? Line 130 Trowe on min goddes | and wende þou þi mode! Haue merci on þi white flesche! | men spilleþ þi blod".

"Blisced be mi lord, | þat was born in Bedlem [folio 18] Of þat swete maiden, | briȝt so ani lem! Þou do as þe teches | Satanas, þi nem. Line 135 Me þenke þis paines swetter | þan ani milkes rem".

Þan it spac Olibrious: | "haþ sche non ahȝe? Alle þe paines ȝe hir do, | hir þenke it bot plawe. Wiþ ȝour croked nayles | þe hide of ȝe drawe, As clene fram þe bon | has houndes it hadde knawe!" [knawe st. gnawe.] Line 140

Alle þe curssed þeues | were ful glad in þouȝt; To do þe kinges hest | þai no targed nouȝt. Anon as þe turmentours | to Mergrete were ybrouȝt, Þai to-drowen hir white flesche | wiþ iren croke(d)ly wrouȝt. [Ms. crokekely.]

Sum þat bi hir stoden, | her hertes were wel sore Line 145 And seyd sore wepeand: | "Mergrete, þi nore! Do after Olibrious | and leue opon his lore! Haue merci on þi fair bodi | and þole þis paines no more!"

Mergrete answerd | to hem þat bi hir stode: "I do me out of ȝour conseyl: | ȝour redes be nouȝt gode; Line 150 Y take me to Jhesu Crist, | þat was don on þe rode. Al þe pine þat ich þole | it is þe soules fode".

Sche loked vp to Jhesu Crist, | Mergrete, and siȝed sore And seyd: "swete Jhesu Crist, | y leue opon þi lore. For þis men þat pin me þus, | y crie, lord, þi nore: Line 155 Forȝif hem and lete me suffre! | for me þou suffredest more",

Þan it spac Olibrious — | werri him sonne and mone! —: "Fórsoþe, wenche, þi god is nouȝt | to whom þou biddest þi bone. Bot þou leue on our godes | and forsake him sone, Y warn þe wele, for al his help | þine liif-days ben al don". Line 160

Mergrete answerd | Olibrious anon: "Þine godes þatow leuest on | er dom so þe ston. Þou hast pouer to reue me | mi flesche fram þe bon; To reue me mi soule | pouwer hastow non".

Þan seyd Olibrious: | "bot þou turn þi þouȝt Line 165 Smertliche and sone, | to deþ þou schalt be brouȝt. Bot first þou schalt to prisoun | and m(i)chel wo be wrouȝt. Þi god þat þou leuest on | he no schal help þe nouȝt".

Mergrete answerd þo | milde wordes and stille: "Certes, wreche, of al þi þret | þat þou may do me tille Line 170 Icham redi to suffre here | al mi lordes wille; And þou schalt to þe pine of helle | for þine werkes ille".

Of Olibrious lokeing | men miȝt ben agast. "Takeþ Mergrete, he seyd, | and fetereþ hir ful fast, And in þe deppest prisoun | þerin ȝe schullen hir cast, Line 175 And lete hir cole hir bodi þare, | for hir wordes vnwrast".

Þei Mergrette were to-drawe | þe flesche fram þe bon, [Ms. Mergretre.] Pite of þat maiden | Olibrious hadd non. Wel hard was Mergrete | biset among her fon — Saue þe help of Jhesu Crist | help no hadde sche non. Line 180

Into prisoun fetred | Mergrete was brouȝt. Jhesu Crist of heuen | was algat in hir þouȝt. And — yblisced mot he be! — | he ne forȝat hir nouȝt: Out of þe court of heuen | comfort hir was brouȝt.

Sone after þat Mergrete | was in prisoun done, Line 185 Þer com an angel fram heuen, | long er it war none, And brouȝt Margrete a staf | þat hye schuld vnder-fon, Fourmed after þe rode tre | þat god was on ydon.

Þan seyd þat angel | to Mergrete, þe briȝt: "Jhesu Crist mi lord, | þat is ful of miȝt, Line 190 To wite þe fram þine enemis | and to saue þi riȝt, He haþ sent þe þis staf, | oȝain þe fende to fiȝt.

Maiden Mergrete, he seyd, | drede þe no-wiȝt! Þi sete is made in heuen | bifor mi lord so briȝt. No is no tong in erþe | no non eiȝe-siȝt Line 195 Þat may telle þe ioie | was made of þe þis niȝt".

Þe angel into paradis | went oȝain ful heuen. [Ms. heuen = euen.] And maiden Mergrete | wiþ a milde steuen Þonked swete Jhesu Crist | and his names seuen, Þat hir hadde swiche confort sent | out of þe blisse of heuen. Line 200

Maiden Mergrete þo | loked hir biside: And seiȝe a loþlich dragoun | out of an hirn glide; His eiȝen wer ful griseliche, | his mouþe ȝened wide. And Mergrete miȝt nowhar fle, | þer sche most abide.

Maiden Mergrete | stod stille so ani ston. Line 205 And þat loþliche worm | to hir-ward gan gon,

He toke hir in his foule mouþe | and swalled hir, flesche and bon. Anon he to-brast — | damage no hadde sche non.

Maiden Mergrete | opon þe dragoun stode, Bliþe was hir hert | and ioieful was hir mode. Line 210 "Blisced worþ Jhesu Crist, | his vertus er wel gode: Slayn is þe d(r)agoun | þurch vertu of þe rode!"

Maiden Mergrete | went þe dragoun fro: Sche seiȝe a wele fouler þing | sitten in a wro: He hadde honden on his knes | and eiȝe on euerich to — Line 215 Miȝt þer neuer loþer þing | opon erþe go.

Sche ȝede to þat foule wiȝt, | wiþ þe croice in hir hond, And þurch þe miȝt of Jhesu Crist | wiþ hir wimpel sche him bond, Sche toke him bi þe temples, | about sche him swong, Sche set hir fot in his nek, | to þe erþe sche him þrong. Line 220

"Say me sone, þou foule wiȝt | and þou loþeliche þing, [folio 19] Who þan is þi lord | and who is þi king, And who þe hider sent | to make me sturbling? Seiȝe y neuer, seþþen y was born, | so loþeliche a þing."

"Leuedi, for þi lordes loue | þou may ful wele fond — Line 225 Left a litel þi fot | þat in mi nek stond! For michel haue y walked | bi water and bi lond, Nas y neuer are bounden | in so hard bond.

Ruffin was mi broþer, | þe dragoun þat þou slouȝ; Whiles he was on liue, | he wrouȝt wonder anouȝ: Line 230 He maked þeues to stele o niȝt, | o day to ligge and gouȝ, And ȝelt hem her seruise | wiþ wel michel wouȝ.

In a dragoun fourme | sent he was to þe, For to spille þi memorie | oþer to quelle þe. Broften is he of peces, | and bounden hastow me. Line 235 A maiden haþ ous ouercomen, | litel is our pouste!

Belgys is mi name — | nis no bot to lyȝe. [Ms. Belsys? Hick. Belsebug.] No may ich in non wise | þis pain long dreyȝe. Is nouȝt mi gat in erþe: | wiþ þe winde y fleye. Al y fond for to quelle | þat y see wiþ eiȝe. Line 240

Þer ich finde a wiif | þat liȝter is of barn, Y com þer also sone | as euer ani arn; Ȝif it be vnblisced, | y croke it fot or arm, Oþer þe wiif hir-seluen | of childebed be forfarn. [Ms. childehed.]

Ȝif þou wilt al wite, | astow may ful wel, Line 245 Loke in ich a strete: | þou findes it eueridel. Y pray þe for þi lordes loue, | þou binde me wiþ stiel, Þat y no may wiþ þine men | neuer striue adel.

Salamon þe wise, | til he was oliue, He dede ous in a bras fat | and delued ous vnder cliue. Line 250 When he was oliue farn, | þai lete ous out driue, Þe men out of Babiloine, | þe bras fat þai gun riue:

Þai wend to finde gold anouȝ | and lete ous alle go. Sum wer swifter þan þe winde, | and sum þan þe ro. Ȝete þer er in erþe | ten þousend and mo. Line 255 Al þat trowe on Jhesu Crist | þai fond at wirche ful wo."

"Be stille, þou foule gost, | and decende into helle! Be þou neuer so hardi | more man to quelle! Y pray mi lord Jhesu Crist | þi pouste þat he felle." He sank into erþe, | so ston in drauȝt-welle. Line 260

On þat oþer day | after it was non, [Ms. is st. it.] Olibrious comand | sche were of prisoun don. Þe holy gost of heuen | he com to hir ful sone, Þe rode token in hir hond | þat Crist was on don.

Þan it spac Olibrious — | Crist ȝiue him iuel dede! —: Line 265 "Maiden Mergrete, he seyd, | hastow taken þi rede? Wiltow be mi leman, | y finde þe cloþ and mete. Trowe on mi godes anon, | or þi liif þou schalt forlete."

"Þine godes þai be doumbe | þat þou trouwest inne; Þai er ich a dele | ful of sake and sinne; Line 270 Þai er comen out of helle, | of Satanas kinne. Þan þou wenes best to liue, | Þou schalt to helle winne. [þan = when.]

Y rede þou leue on Jhesu Crist | þat al þe world haþ wrouȝt, Fader and sone and holy gost, | þat al þing made of nouȝt, And wiþ his swete blod | he haþ ous alle bouȝt. Line 275 Leue on him and be cristen man, | and lete þi wicke þouȝt!"

Þan spac Olibrious, | þer he sat on his des: "Ichil bileue on mi godes | þat y formast ches; For min godes be trewe, | and þine er fals and les — While þou leuest on him, | þou schalt haue no pes." Line 280

Maiden Mergrete | answerd, þer sche stode: "Yblisced be Jhesu Crist, | his help it is ful gode. Y no doute þe noþing, | be þou neuer so wode, Mi trust is al on Jhesu Crist | þat for ous schadde his blod."

Olibrious on Mergrete | anon he gan to grenne, Line 285 And seyd to his turmentours: | "a pine y wil ȝou kenne. Takeþ and walleþ oyle | and lete opon hir renne! And bot þe wiche turn hir mode, | to deþ ȝe schul hir brenne."

Forþ went þo turmentours — | sorwe hem mot bitide! — And setten oyle opon þe fer, | þai nold no lenger abide. Line 290 Opon hir fair bodi | adoun þai lete it glide. Jhesu sent his angels doun | to stond bi hir side.

Þe angels stode hir so neiȝe | þat noþing miȝt hir greue, And hir hert was ful gode | to godes owhen biheue. Olibrious was abouten | to turn hir bileue, Line 295 And euer sche held to Jhesu Crist, | þat made Adam and Eue.

"Maiden, quaþ Olibrious, | is þi rede ytake? Wiltow leue on Mahoun | and þi god forsake? Ywis, bot þou turn þi mode, | þi sorwe biginneþ to wake, Þou schalt þole deþ to-day | for þi lordes sake." Line 300

Mergrete him answerd | mildeliche and stille: "Ȝif y schal dye for his loue, | icham at his wille. Þei þou reue me mi liif, | y nil nouȝt turn þe tille; Þou schal nouȝt mi soule greue | for al þine pines ille."

Olibrious was neiȝe wode | for wretþe of þat wenche. Line 305 Opon a grete wickednisse | he gan him biþenche: In a fat ful of water | he bad men schuld hir sinche, And bot sche wald turn hir mode, | þerin men schuld hir drenche.

Alle þe wicke turmentours — | hong mot þay heiȝe! — [folio 20] Fast þai were about | þat Mergrete schuld dye: Line 310 Þai fild a fat ful of water | fast bi þe eiȝe; To drenche Mergrete þerinne | fast þai gun heye.

Þan spac þat maiden, | Mergrete, þat was so fre: "Jhesu Crist mi louerd — | yblisced mot þou be! — Ȝif it be þi wille, | þe water þat y se, Line 315 Lete me cristen þerinne | in þe name of þe!"

Þe turmentours token hir, | boþe bon and fel, And wold drenche hir þerinne — | þai wende do ful wel. To confort þat maiden, | an angel was ful snel, Þat swete Jhesus Crist hir sent | to confort hir ful wel. Line 320

Alle þe pople seiȝe þere | an angel com fle And toke Mergrete of þe water, | þat þai al miȝt se. Þe fat brast on peces, | þe folk bigan to fle. Olibrious þat was king | a sori man was he! [Die letzte Halbzeile ist im Ms. unten nachge|tragen.]

Þo þe popel seiȝen | al þe fat to-driue, Line 325 To forsake Mahoun | þai heyed hem biliue And leued opon Jhesu Crist, | fif þousend and fiue. Olibrious lete slen hem alle | and bringen hem oliue.

Anon bifor Olibrious | þe turmentours ronne And seyd: "sir, it is for nouȝt | al þat we han bigonne. Line 330 Þer com fleyand bestes, | as briȝt as ani sonne, And sauen hir fram harm | for al þat euer we conne." [sauen st. saued.]

Olibrious was neiȝe wode, | ailed him no game. He cleped forþ a turmentour: | was he noþing lame, A strong manqueller, | Malcous was his name. Line 335 Olibrious biþouȝt him | to do Mergrete schame.

"Malcous, quaþ Olibrius, | go and heiȝe þe swiþe! Lade þis wiche out of toun | and bring hir oliue, Wiþ þi swerd smite of hir hed | and lat þe blod out driue! No schal sche neuer after þis day | more oȝains me striue." Line 340

Malcous tok Mergrete | and ladde hir out of toun — Þer was þe stede to heued men, | a litel biside adoun. And seyd: "maiden, stoupe here, | þer whiles y schaue þi croun, And y schal maken al blodi | þine lockes þat ben broun."

Þer suwed Mergrete to þe deþ | al þat miȝten go; Line 345 Mani was þat moder child | þat for hir deþ was wo. Þe þonder gan to brest, | þe sonne wex al blo: Þe pople fel adoun to grounde, | þai nist of wele no wo.

Þer com an angel fram heuen, | þat was briȝt of ble, And seyd: "Mergrete, | yblisced mot þou be! Line 350 Jhesus Crist of heuen | sent þe word bi me: In þe blisse of heuen | coround schaltow be."

Milde Mergrete, | þat was so gode a mayde, Þo sche herd þe angel voice, | sche bigan to abrayd. Þe tidinges þat he brouȝt hir | neiȝe hir hert sche leyd, Line 355 And sett hir doun opon hir kne | and þis wordes sche seyd:

"Blisced be Jhesu Crist | þat haþ me sent þat sond, And dyed on þe rode tre | to bring ous out of bond. Lord, ich biseke þe, | lete mi biding stond Of þat ichil biseke þe | for sinful men in lond!"— Line 360

Mergrete þe milde, | þat was godes mayde, Þouȝt opon þe wordes | þe dragoun in prisoun seyd: Þat deuels ȝede in erþe | women for to breyd [Ms. vp breyd, mit auspunkt. vp.] Þat were traueland of child | or doun in childe-bed leyd. —

Þan bad Mergrete | to Jhesu, þat was so fre: Line 365 "Ȝif ani woman trauayl | and hard clepeþ to me, Deliuer hir, lord, wiþ ioie | þurch vertu of þe tre Þat þou dest þi body on | to make ous al fre!

Alle þat mi passioun | heren oþer rede Oþer þat in mi name | don ani almos-dede, Line 370 Jhesu Crist, mi lord, | wiþ honour þou hem fede, Þe swete blis of heuen | grant hem, lord, to mede!"

Þer com a voice fram Jhesu Crist, | þat sitt in trinite, And seyd to maiden Mergrete: | "yblisced mot þou be!

Of þatow hast me bisouȝt | þi bone graunt y the. Line 375 & in þe blisse of heuen | þou schalt won wiþ me."

Þo þat maiden Mergrete | hadde herd þat miri steuen Þat com fram swete Jhesu Crist | out of þe blis of heuen: Bifor Malcous sche kneled | opon hir knes ful euen And bad him smite of hir heued, | mo times þan seuen. Line 380

Sche crid opon Malcous — | nold sche neuer blinne: "Malcous, smite of mi heued! | forȝiue y þe þe sinne". "Þat nold y do, he seyd, | for al þis warld to winne: Þi louerd haþ wiþ þe speke | in wham þou leuest inne."

"Malcous, quaþ Mergrete, | forsoþe y telle þe: Line 385 Bot þou smite of min heued, | þou miȝt nouȝt saued be. Haue ydon and smite it of! | and y wil bid for þe Þat þou schalt haue þe blis | þat Jhesu haþ graunted me."

Malcous had turned his þouȝt | to Jhesu Crist biheue: For þe miracle þat he seiȝe | he turned to gode bileue. Line 390 And sori he was in hert | þat he schuld hir greue, And ȝete he smot of hir heued, | ar þat it was eue.

Anon as he had ydon, | he kneled opon þe grounde And bisouȝt him merci | þat for ous þoled wounde. Þe angels cam from heuen | wiþ-in a litel stounde Line 395 And bar Mergrete soule, | þer al mirþe is founde.

Teodosious, a kniȝt | þat leued on godes lay, [folio 21] And þe norice of Asie | þat loked þat fair may, Þai tok vp hir swete bodi, | slawe þer it lay, And bir(i)d it wiþ miche anour | opon þat oþer day. Line 400

Þo Mergrete was bir(i)d, | as beþ oþer mo, And Teodosious þe kniȝt | was ywent hir fro: Alle þat were seke, | þat þ(i)der wald go, Jhesu þurch his vertu | deliuerd hem of wo.

Teodosious þe kniȝt | he lete writen hir liif, Line 405 Þat is now ouer al þe world | name-couþe and riif: Hou sche þoled hir passioun | stille wiþouten striif, Þat mirþe is of to here | to maiden and to wiif.

Jhesu, þat on þe rode was don | our soules forto borwe, Scheld ous fram þe pine of helle | and bring ous out of sorwe, Line 410 And grace forto ȝeme ous | out of dedli sinne, And grant ous þe miche ioie | þer seynt Mergrete is inne!

Amen.

Explicit.

Beilage. Mergarete, aus Ms. Ashm. 61, fol. 145.

Old & ȝonge, þat here be, Lystyns a whyle vnto me, What I schall ȝou sey: How it befell vpone a dey Off a virgyn, feyre & suete, Line 5 Whos name was Mergarete. Hyr fadere was a nobull clerke And a mane þat couth mych werke, Also a prince of hy degre — There myȝht no-where a better be — Line 10 In Antyche. he had a wyffe: Both wer heythen of þer lyffe. He was a man offe grete powere: Off all þe cuntre gouernere; False he was offe hys ley, Line 15 Both be nyȝht & be dey. Theodosyas was hys name, A nobulle man of grete fame. He hade vnderstondyng longe beforne He schuld haue a douȝture borne, Line 20 As þe scryptoure hym tolde, And when sche wex olde That sche schuld crystyne be And beleue of þe trinyte, [of st. on.] All-myȝhty god þat vs dere bouȝht Line 25 And all þis werld made of nouȝht. Hyre fader comandyd longe beforne That, none as sche was borne, [none = anone.] To þe deth sche schuld be brouȝht, In what wyse, he ne rouȝht. Line 30 Bot hyre modor, þat hyre bore, Made fore hyre full grete care And bethouȝt hyre beforne, That, a-none as sche was borne, In-to Aȝy sche hyre sente. Line 35 The messanger forth wente, To a norys þat wonyd þere, Forto putte hyre to lere; He toke with hym grete spendynge Forto kepe þat meyden ȝenge. Line 40 And sche (he)re kepte þer in dede [Ms. schere st. sche here.] And norysschyd here in þat nede. Sche was feyre & comly off chere And off hyre bewty feyre & clere; All hyre louyd in þat cuntre, Line 45 Olde & ȝonge, þat hyre myȝht se. When sche wax more in age And hade vnderstondynge & knawelege, Sche toke hyre to Crystys lore And beleuyd In hym euer-more. Line 50 The norys þat kepte hyre fro dispare, Had VII chylder, þat wer fare, And welle sche kepte þis chylder VII, The VIII was Crystys meyden of heuyne. Both of heuen & off helle Line 55 Full gode tayles sche cuthe telle, And what þei schuld haue to mede As þei deferuyd in dede, And how þei sofferd merterdome euyne Both seynte Laurance & seynte Steuyne, Line 60 Off many oþer seyntys mo, How þei sufferd peyne & wo And how þei merterdome gane take All fore Jhesu Crystys sake; Off many seyntys sche told þe lyffe Line 65 Both to man & to wyffe. And when sche was XV ȝerys olde, Sche was feyre woman & bold. Hyre norys sette hyre to kepe In þe feld to fede hyre schepe. Line 70 Hyre felowys gane hyre behold, When sche hyre prayers make wold. Than was in þat cuntre a kynge, A nobull man of grete cunnynge, He was a kyng of grete myȝht: Line 75 Olybrius fore-soth he hyȝht; All Aȝy, as I ȝou telle, Was hys awne, to gyff or selle. Also he seruyd dey & nyȝht Hys fals godys, I ȝou behyȝht; Line 80 He seruyd euer þe deuyll of helle And crystine pepull he dyde quelle. Fro Antyoch to Aȝye Be myles mo þan fyfte. Euer to strew þe crysten mene, Line 85 He dyde hys powere euer then; What with werre & with stryffe He left bote few pepull of lyue. Tyll it befelle on a dey, As he rode by þe wey, Line 90 He saw þat louely meydene Kepynge schepe vpon þe grene. Anone he commandyd a knyȝht To brynge hyre to hym anone ryȝht.

The knyȝht wente anone hyre to Line 95 And seyd þat sche must with hym go. The meydene, was so myld of chere, Ansuerd hym, as ȝe schall here, And seyd: sche hade no-thinge to do Oute of þat ground with hym to go; Line 100 Sche prayde hym off hys curtassye To pase hys wey & late hyre be. And, schortly þis tale to telle, He wente awey fro þat damselle And come to Olybryus, þe kynge, Line 105 And told hym all þat tydinge: That sche wold fore no thinge, Cum to hym sche ne wold, Bot þei with hyre stryue schuld. To Jhesu Cryst gane sche calle Line 110 That sofyrd deth fore vs alle, That he wold hyre defend That no saryȝen schuld hyre schend, And besouȝt hym of hys grace Hyre to socore in euery place, Line 115 And seyd: "fore þi luffe, lord, wyll I dyȝe And foresake all werdly compenye". [Ms. fore soke.] Than spake Olibryus, To hys men he seyd þus: "Off all þe men þat I haue here Line 120 Cane none of hem brynge hyre nere? And I had hyre to me brouȝt, Full sone I schuld change hyre thouȝt. Sche schall vpone my godys beleue, Or els sore I schall hyre greue" Line 125 They wente aȝen vnto þat meyd And onto hyre þus þei seyd: "Thou must cum one with vs To oure kynge, sir Olibryus. Bot iff þou come with-outyne stryffe, Line 130 Or we schall reffe þe thy lyffe". With þem sche wente meke & styll Vnto þe kynge aȝen hyre wyll, And fulle feyre sche hym grete. He askyd hyre name. sche seyd: Mergrete. Line 135 He seyd: "iff þou be borne fre, Fore-soth my lemane schall þou be; I wyll haue þe to my wyfe, To lyue in Joy all þi lyue. Gold & ryches I wylle þe gyffe, Line 140 All þe whyll þat þou dost lyue". Sche seyd to hym anone þane: "I wyll haue none erthly mane. Bot for þe loue of Cryst alone I wyll be baptyst at þe fonte-stone. Line 145 Fore-soth, I wyll hym neuer foresake Fore none erthly mane to take". Than anone to hyre he seyd: "We dyde Jhesu Cryst to dede And dyde hym streyne vpon þe rode, Line 150 Tyll he suet water & blode, And crownyd with a croune of thorne. And þou leue on hym, þou arte lorne". To hym sche seyd anone ryȝt: "He is a lord of mykyll myȝht Line 155 And dyȝed one þe crose fore all man-kynd, Fore we schuld haue hym in mynde; He ros fro deth & to helle wente, The fendys powere forto schente, And many saulys he fette oute þer Line 160 That in grete peyne wer". To stryue with hyre he fond no bote, Bot dyde hyre bynd hand & fote And cast hyre in-to prisone stronge, Fore-to ouercome hyr with wronge. Line 165 Meyd Mergarete all þat nyȝht In prison ley with grete vnryȝht. And on þe morow wen it was dey, He sente fore hyre, þe soth to sey. They brouȝt hyre to sir Olybryus. Line 170 Sone to hyre he seyd þus: "Mergaret, beleue vpone my lore, Or I schall greue þe full sore — Thy god þat þou doyst on beleue [Ms. þat that.] Schall not saue þe fro my greue. Line 175 And trow on me & be my wyue And lyue in Joy all þi lyue! Antyoche & all Aȝye After my deth I gyue to þe; Sylke & gold & purpull paule, Line 180 I wyll þe wede, were þou schalle, Welle furryd with ryche ermyne — In all þis werld is none so fyne; And with þe beste metys þat is in lond I schall þe fede, I vnderstond. Line 185 And Jhesu Criste pute oute off þi thouȝt!" "Nay, sche seyd, þat wyll I nouȝht. Jhesu wyll I neuer foresake Fore all þat is on erth to take". He seyd: "it schall be sene full sone Line 190 What þi god wyll fore þe done". He bade hys sergeantys euerychon Bynd hyre fote & hond anone. The sergeantys dyde as he heme bade, They turment hyre, as þei wer made; Line 195 They bete hyre with scow(r)gys stronge And turment hyre with grete wronge; They bete hyre, both man & wyffe, And fast with hyre þei gane stryffe: Tyll þe rede blod felle adounne Line 200 To hyre fete fro hyre crounne, Tyll þei wend sche hade be dede: So fast on hyre þei hade leyde. Than seyd Olybryus, þer he stode: "Mergaret, thinkys þou þis werkys gode? Line 205 Beleue onne my lord & be my wyue,

And I wylle no more with þe stryue. Haue mersy on þi feyre fleche And onne þi skyne þat is so nessche!" To Jhesu Cryst sche cryed þane Line 210 That dyȝed fore þe loue off mane And off a virgyne was borne, Fore man-kynd schuld not be lorne. "Thys peynes þat I soffere & synke (!) They be full suete, as me thinke; Line 215 All þe peynes þat I here dryue Be sueter to me þan thynge off lyue". Olybrius seyd to hys sergeantys þo: "Sche felys no-thynge off alle þis wo. Fore all þe peynes we to hyre gyue Line 220 Sche wyll not on oure godys beleue". He bad hys sergeantys euerychone They schuld turment hyre anone. The sergeantys dyde as he heme bade — Lytell mersy on hyre þei hade: Line 225 With þer nayles þei dude hyre flessch drawe Lyke as hundys had hyre gnawe, And hyre eyȝen þat wer so bryȝht They pute hem oute & merede hyre syȝht; They dud hyre both peyne & wo Line 230 And rent hyre lyere fro þe flessch tho. Mych off þe pepull þat wer þere In þer hertys wer full sore, And sey(d) to hyre stondyng þere, When þei se hyre þus I-tore, Line 235 And seyd: "feyre meyden Mergarete, Thou þat arte so feyre & suete, Turne to hym & be hys wyue And no more with hym stryue! Fore þe, Mergaret, we haue care Line 240 And wold þat þou sauyd were". "After ȝou, sche seyd, I wyll not do, Bot go ȝour wey, sche seyd, me fro! Alle þat fore me repente And se me haue þis turment, Line 245 As þei thinke both gode & euylle, They schall be quyte after þer wylle. The angell of Cryst come me to, Als fast as he may come & go". Than be-seyd Olybryus Line 250 With wyked wordys seynge þus: "Mergaret, I haue sych poste That blynd I haue made the; Fore before þou had þi syȝht, No hast þou none thorow my myȝht. Line 255 Beleue on my god, þou mayd!" "Nay, fore-soth, sir, sche seyd, Fore þi godys þat þou beleuys onne The are dome as any stone. My lord to me he is full kynd, Line 260 He schall neuer out of my mynd. Iff þe hope wer of my flessche To do þi wyll both herd & nessche, To-rente þe flessch fro þe bone! Powere of my saule getys þou none". Line 265 To hyre anone þan he seyd: "In depe prisone þou schall be leyd, In prison schall þi body lye, Thy feyre flessch forto dystreye; Thou schall be bounde fote & hond Line 270 With bondys off Iren gret & stronge". "Jhesu Crist, sche seyd (him) vn-tylle, May delyuer me, when he wylle". In prison fast þei gane hyre done. The angell come to hyre full sone Line 275 With þe grace of god all-myȝht, As þe sone schynes bryȝht; With parte of þe crose, god was on done, To þe virgyne he come full sone And seyd to hyre with myld steuyne: Line 280 "Blyssed þou arte with all in heuyne. Fader & sone & holy goste, Lord & kynge of myȝtys moste, Thys crosse to þe hath send, Thy enmys þer-with to defend". Line 285 Sche seyd: "lord, blyssed þou be, That þis ȝyffte hath send me! All-myȝty god, I þe praye, A bone grante me to-deye: That I may with syȝht þem se Line 290 What þei be, þat þus hath turment me". The angell bade hyre doute nouȝt, For to heuyne sche schuld be brouȝt: "There is no tonge þat telle myȝt The Joy was made of þe þis nyȝht, Line 295 With all þe melody þat is in heuyne, Meyd Mergaret, þe forto neuyne". And be þe grace of god all-myȝht There anone sche hade a syȝht. Then þe holy angell wente hyre fro — Line 300 Of hym sche saw no more tho. Sche lokyd a lytell be hyre syde: And saw a dragone be hyre glyde That was of colour as grasse grene, [Nach 304 hat das Ms. folg. Vers: Mergaret hyre forto neuin(!), offenbar eine Wiederholung von v. 297.] With fyre flawmyng, foule to fene, [Ms. seme st. sene.] Line 305 Out off hys mouth, fyre brynning bryȝt. Sche was agrysed off þat syȝht, Sche fell done vnto þe grounde, Fore fere sche tremblyd in þat stonde. He toke hyre in hys mowth anone, Line 310 He sualowyd vp hyre body & bone. And when he had so I-done, Than he myȝht no ferþer gone, Bot he byrst vpone þe ground: The mayden come forth saue and sound, Line 315 As it was Cristys wylle, [Ms. And st. as.] With-in hym sche had none ylle. Bot vpone þe dragone sche stode

With glade herte & mylde mode, And thankyde Jhesu off hys myȝht Line 320 That sche hade ouercome þat foule wyȝht, And vnderstode welle þat it was Thorow þe vertu of þe croysse That foule dragone was sleyne þere, Thorow godys myȝt & hyre prayere. Line 325 Anon sche wente þe dragone fro And sey a fowlere come hyre to. A grysly syȝht fore-soþe was he, A foulere best neuer mane se. To hym sche wente, I vnderstond, Line 330 With þe holy crosse in hyre hond, And smote hym so vpone þe fynnes That he myȝht not abyde hyre dynnes; That staff þat was so longe, That thorow Criste myȝt so stronge Line 335 Downe to þe grond sche hym caste, And with hyre wy(m)ple bond hym faste, In hys neke sche sette hyre fote — To stryue with hyre it was no bote. To hym sche seyd: "I coniure þe, Line 340 What þou arte þou telle me! Fore þou arte so lothly a thynge, What þou arte I wyll haue knowynge; Fore best saw I neuer nonne So lothly forto loke vpone." Line 345 He seyd: "fore my lordys sake Fro my neke þi fote þou take! I haue gon wyde be water & londe, Ȝit was I neuer so sore I-bonde. My ryȝht name hyȝht Belgys — Line 350 To lyȝe to þe none aveyll ys — Geffron is my broþer, þat thou slewe; In þe werld we dyd sorow I-nowe. Dede & borston is my broþer, And þou hast ouercome me, I se non oþer. Line 355 When we wer boþe togeder, We made þe sone to sle þe fader, We stroyd pepull dey & nyht, We dyd all þe sorow þat we myȝht. In dragons wyse we come to þe Line 360 To spyll þi wytte & make þe wode to be; The kynge sir Olybryus In þis lyknes sent vs þus Forto strey þi fare body, With hys craft & nygramansy. Line 365 Thy hede peyne þat is so stronge, I may not suffyre þis full longe. My wey is not In erth: by þe wynd I fle; All þat I se I wyll dystroye. Where I wyst a woman with chyld, Line 370 Theþer I went wode & wyld; And yff þe child vn-crystynd wer, Lege & arme I made crokyd þer. I wrouȝt mykyll sorow & wo: I made þe one neybour þe oþer slo, Line 375 I wente to þe feld vnto þe plouȝe And þe bestys all to-drewȝe; Where-euer I went, I dyde grete care — There was my Joy aboute to fare. Whe(n) þat Salomon þe wyse was alyue, Line 380 In-to a tunne of bras he dyd vs dryue He dyde vs bery in an hylle Sone anone aȝenst our wylle. Men of Babylone come vs to, They dyged vs oute & lete vs go; Line 385 When þei mynede in þe gronde, They wenyd gold & syluer to hafe fonde. There be in þe erth of vs fleynge Mo þan XV M, in þe wynd beynge; Som are swyfter þan a do, Line 390 And some are suyfter þan a ro, Som are suyfter þan a sualow, And some are suyfter þan an arow. And all þat on Cryst beleue, We dyde them vex & sore greue. Line 395 Both in towne & in feld We streyd many wyff & chyld, We streyd fruyt on þe erth growynge, And dronyd schypes in þe se seylinge. Thys was oure labour & delyte, Line 400 To do crysten pepull dyspyte. Now I pray ȝou late me go! I haue told ȝou euery dele also." Margaret seyd to þat foule wyȝht: "I coniure þe by Cristys myȝht Line 405 And in godys holy name That þou do neuer more schame, Bot synke doune in-to helle Fore euer-more þer to duelle. Synke doune, þou foulle fend, Line 410 There-in to be with-outyne ende!" He sanke adoune by godys myȝt Thorow þe prayere of þat virgyne bryȝht. — All þis trobull had þis holy meyd In þe stronge castell where sche was leyd, Line 415 In a dey & in a nyȝht All þis hade þat meydene bryȝht, And thankyd god of hys grace That sche ouercome þem in þat place. The secund dey at þe after-none Line 420 Olybryus sente fore hyre full sone. The sergeantys wer redy to go And oute off prison fette hyre tho, With þe holy crosse in hyre hond Wer-with sche dyde þe fendys schond. Line 425 He saw hyre come in als feyre case Of flesch & blode as euer sche was. Than bespake sir Olybryus And to þat meyd he seyd þus: "Meyd Mergaret, I pray þe Line 430 That þou wyll turne vnto me." Sche seyd: "cursyd mote þi godys be,

To beleue on þou woldys haue me! Fore þi godys þat thou beleuyst In, The be cursyd & full of syne, Line 435 Fore þei bene of Sathanas kynd; I wyll neuer haue them in mynde. When þou thinkys best to thy lykyng, On-to myscheff þei wyll þe brynge. Therefore I rede & counsyll þe: Line 440 Beleue on my lord þat is so fre, That made þe & me & euery mane, That most of wytte & vertu cane! Therefore beleue hym vpon A(nd) be baptyst at þe fonte-stone!" Line 445 He seyd to hyre in þat stound: "A crounne of gold I wyll found: My godys are trew & thyne are lesse. Therefore I byde þe hold þi pes." He seyd to hys seruantys thane. Line 450 "I charge ȝou euery mane That ȝe poure vpone hyre hede Sethinge oyle & boylinge lede; Schald hyre fro þe hede vnto þe fote, To sche turne and ax bote." Line 455 The turmente hyre þan full sore With oyle & hote lede ouer-more, Tyll sche suete, flessch & fell, As it wer water oute of a well. Than seyd þei to þat holy meyd: Line 460 "Beleue vppon oure godys! "þei seyd. Sche seyd: "fro them I me defend And beleue on Cryst with-outen end. Cursyd be þei þat on þi godys thinke Or on hem wryte with pauper & ynke!" Line 465 They had no powere hyre to quelle: The holy crosse kepte hyre welle. He comandyd hyre anon tho In a fate of water to be do, There anone to be sente, Line 470 All hyre hete to be queynte. Anone as sche þe water gane se, Sche thouȝt þer-in crystynd to be And seyd: "in Crystys holy name Here I take baptym & defy þer blame." Line 475 Anon þe thonder began to berst — The pepull fled awey full fast. The angell toke hyre out of þe water than. They myȝht it se euery mane, And turnyd anone to hyre beleue. Line 480 Many a M, or it wer eve, Both old pepull & ȝonge Turnyd to hyre & of hyre songe; On Jhesu Cryst þei dyde beleue Both meyd, chyld, & wyue. Line 485 The kynge saw anone ryȝht That herme to hyre do none he myȝht: He callyd to Malcus, þat was Hys man-quellere in euery place, And bad hym þat he schold Line 490 Take hyre fast into hys hold And lede hyre with-oute þe towne than And in a fyere he schuld hyre bryn And brynge hyre oute of hyre lyue, That sche no-more with hym stryue. Line 495 And when sche come vnto þat sted Þer sche schuld be pute to dede, Mych pepull folowyd hyre tho, Also fast as sche myȝht go. Anon þe sone wexyd blake, Line 500 And þe thunder gane to crake. The folke wer ferd in þat stound, That fore fere þei fell to grond; They wer so afreyd tho, That þei knew noþer wele ne wo. Line 505 Anon oure lord an angell sente In-to þe place sche schuld be brente, And seyd so hyre with myld steuen: "Blyssed þou arte to-dey in heuen: Thys dey in heuyn þou schall crounned be Line 510 Before Crystys maieste." Malcus herd þe wordys þat sche speke, And thouȝt he wold not do hyre wreke; He knelyd doune vpon þe grounde And axyd mersy in þat stonde. Line 515 And þan he saw in þat place Multytude of angellus þer sche was. He leyd done hys suerd hym by And seyd: "maden, I ax mersy." Than bespake þe vergyne bryȝht Line 520 And seyd to hym anone ryȝht: "Broder, iff þi wyll it be, A lytell whyle abyde þou me And late me make my prayere To Jhesu Cryst þat bouȝt me dere. Line 525 And anon in þis tyde Awey þou schall me ryde. "The fader & son & þe holy goste, Lord & kynge of myȝtys moste, That all þis werld made of nouȝt Line 530 And man-kynd þou hast dere bouȝt, Off a floure þou wer forth brouȝt, Fore we schuld not be lorne: Jhesu Cryst, I beseche þe, Thys dey a bone þou grante me Line 535 Thys pepull here beforne: All þat in þe wyrschype of þe And in mynde do honore me, Thou late hem neuer in peynes be bound Ne in dedly synne be fond! Line 540 All þat my turmente here or rede Or in my name do almus-dede, Jhesu Cryst, ȝyff them to mede The blyss of heuyn fore þer gode dede! Iff any woman be with chyld, Line 545 I praye to oure lady meke & myld Off hyre peynes þat sche be vnbond And be lyuerd saue & sond;

Jhesu Cryst, I besech þe That, when sche callys vpone þe, Line 550 That þou wold be þer socure! That þe crosse doth honore, And all þat worschyp my dey Or honore me as þei may Or here my memory dey or nyȝht Line 555 With gode hert or candell-lyȝht, I beseke þe fore þi glory Late þem neuer in syne dyȝe! Where-some-euer þat body be, On þat saule haue mersye! Line 560 And þat þe fend do þem no skathe, Neþer late neþer rathe, That berythe on þem my lyffe, Noþer man, chyld, ne wyffe." Oure lord herde hyre prayere sone Line 565 And grantyd hyr all hyre bone. Anone sche seyd þus And spake onto Malcus, Sche bad hym þat he schuld fullfylle And do all hys lordys wyll. Line 570 "That wyll I not, he seyd, fore all þe erth to wyne, Fore I haue se þe lord þat thou beleuys In." Sche seyd: "sir, do as I þe byde, Take & smyte off myne hede! Fore god hath foregyffe þe Line 575 That I byde þe do to me, Fore it is aȝenst þi wylle Tha(t) commandment to fullfylle; Into paradyse þou schall wend, There-in to be with-outen ende." Line 580 Malcus herd hyre sey þis sawe: And hys suerd he gane draw And hyre hede he smote offe, As þe law þer-to hym droffe. Michaell, Gabryell, & Raphaell infere Line 585 Saw þis don all in sych manere, With Joy & blysse & melody The bare hyre saule to heuyne on hye; Before oure lord þei gane hyre bere: To hym sche was leffe and dere. Line 590 Thyopy, þe grete clerke, Remembyrd all hyre lyff & werke And made hyre lyue in memory, And (s)he hyre norysschyd in Aȝy, [Ms. he st. sche.] In Antyoche þei hyre brouȝt, Line 595 And in gode intente þer þen wrouȝt A chapell in hyre name. And all þat wer seke & lame, Theþer fast gane þei gone: Hole & soūnd home þei come Line 600 Thorow grace off god all-myȝt And be prayere of þat meidyne bryȝt. Jhesu, gyfe vs grace, we may lyfe so: Vnto þi blyss we myȝt come to. The lyue of þis vergyne I haue rede. Line 605 On a tewysdey sche was quyke & dede. — Jhesu Cryst, heuyn kynge, Grant them all hys blyssinge That þis story wyll haue in mynd With clene thouȝht & hert kynd. Line 610 Thorow prayere of seynte Mergarete That in heuen we may mete, By þe prayere of þat meyden hend To þe Joy þat we mey wend, There to duell & se þi face, [Ms. þe st. þi.] Line 615 Lord god þerto gyffe vs grace! Pray we all, yt may so be, Amen, amen, fore charyte!

Amen quod Rate.

4. Seynt Katerine.

a) Ms. Auchinl. fol. 21.

He þat made heuen & erþe & sonne & mone for to schine, Bring ous into his riche & scheld ous fram helle pine! Herken, & y ȝou wil telle Line 5 Þe liif of an holy virgine, Þat treuli trowed in Jhesu Crist: Hir name was hoten Katerine.

Whilom it bitid so: In Grece it was an emperour; Line 10 He was king of mani palays, Castels gret & mani a tour. Þe riche men of þat lond Serued him wiþ gret honour. Maxens was his riȝt name, Line 15 Man he was of gret fauour.

Mahoun he held for his god: He trowed in þat fals lay; On Jhesu Crist no leued he nouȝt, Þat lord is & god verray. Line 20 Sarraȝin he was ful strong, Wiþ cristendom he seyd nay, For alle þat leued on Jhesu Crist He stroyd hem boþe niȝt & day.

When he hadde. XXXV. & þritti ȝer Line 25 (Ben) emperour & born þe croun, Ouer alle þe lond he sent his sond Wiþ messangers fram toun to toun; To þe borwe of Alisander He bad þe folk schuld be boun, Line 30 Riche & pouer, heiȝe & lowe, Wiþ her offrend to seke Mahoun.

He bad þat riche men schuld bring Schepe & nete to her offrinde, Þe pouer men he bad come Line 35 Wiþ quic foules on her honde; &, as þai wald her liues haue, For no þing no schuld þai wond. It was þe kinges comandment Þat he hadde comand in þat lond. Line 40

Þe folk com alle on þis maner — To wretþe þe king þai were fordred. Bifor his godes himseluen he stode, In riche cloþes was he cled. Glewemen were þer fele & gode, Line 45 He bad hem be bliþe & glad; Noise þai made swiþe miche, So þemperour hem badde.

Anoþer king was in þat lond: Costus his name was told. Line 50 A douhter he had, & no mo, XV. winter was sche old: Katerine was hir riȝt name, Of witt & wisdome was sche bold; Jhesu sche loued aldermest — Line 55 For his loue was hir liif sold.

As sche stode in hir fader court, Glewemen herd sche miri sing, Wiþ pipes & wiþ trompes boþe, Belles herd sche fast ring. Line 60 Sche axed at hir fader men What was þat noise & þat pipeing. Þai told hir of þat riche offring Þat Maxens dede his men to bring.

Sche heue vp hir holy hond Line 65 & blisced hir ful witterly, First hir brest & seþþen hir tonge — So seyt þe boke of hir stori. Sche seyd sche wald þider wende For to se þat melodye. Line 70 Wiþouten fere ȝede sche nouȝt: Þai ȝede hir wiþ þat stode hir bi.

When sche com to þat palays, Miche sche seyȝe of gamen & gle.

& al þat trowed on Jhesu Crist, Line 75 Wel sori men sche seiȝe hem be: Or þai schuld make sacrifise To his maumet, was maked of tre & of ston & of bras, Oþer elles schuld þai marterd be. Line 80

Sche com bifor þat emperour, Þer he made his sacrifise, & gret him on þis maner, Wordes had sche bold & wise: "Jhesus Crist be wiþ þe, Line 85 Riȝtwise king & heye Justise, Þat þoled ded opon þe tre & seþþen hadde pouwer forto rise.

Y speke of Jhesu, Marie sone, Of alle kinges he is flour; Line 90 Þat suffred deþ for al man kin, He is our alder creatour. Y hold þe ful wise of witt, Sir Maxens, our emperour, Ȝif þou makest alle þis folk Line 95 Him to seche wiþ swiche honour.

Bot now me þenke þou dost nouȝt so, Þou werchest on a wers wise: Þe folk, þat þou hast hider brouȝt, Þou dost hem do þe fende seruise. Line 100 Ȝif þai do more after þe, Forsoþe it is a cowardise; For þat þou hast ymaked here, Fikel it is & al feyntise."

Þis emperour forwonderd was Line 105 Of þat maidens fair vise, & of hir bold wordes also. "Maiden, he seyd, þou art vnwise. Whi mispraises þou our god & holdest hem of so litel prise? Line 110 So no sestow ous nouȝt do, Þat wereþ boþe fowe & grise.

Ȝif þou were lered on our lore & to our scole entendaunt, Þou wost say we dede ful wel, Line 115 & wiþ þi tonge þou wost it graunt; Jhesus Crist þou wost forsake Þat þou drawest to þi waraunt,

& our godes wostow seke, Boþe Mahoun & Teruagaunt. Line 120

Bot for we han bigonne here [Nach 121 sind 11 Verse mit der Initiale der Rückseite ausgeschnitten.] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 125 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . Line 130 . . . . . . . . . . "Þise ben quic deuelen alle [folio 22] Þat þis folk han here ysouȝt; It is no god bot on y-wis, Line 135 Þat me & te & alle haþ wrouȝt".

Þis emperour ful wiley was & ȝete he couþe anoþer croke: Letters dede he swiþe make Priueli, so seyt þe boke, Line 140 How þat a maiden was þer com "Þat our godes al forsoke". He seld it wiþ his owen ring Þat he of his finger tok.

He toke þe messanger þe letter Line 145 Þat seled was wiþ his ring, To þe wisest men of þat lond He bad hem go wiþouten duelleing. He hiȝt to don hem gret anour, As he was trewe kniȝt & king, Line 150 Ȝif þai miȝt wiþ her wisdom Ouercom þat may, þat was so ȝing.

Þe maiden was in prisoun don, Son þe messangers were went. An angel com to hir ful sone Line 155 Þat Jhesu Crist hir hadde ysent. He seyd: "mi lord greteþ þe wele Þat witt & wisdom haþ þe lent, & biddes þe be of hert strong & trow on him wiþ gode entent. Line 160

Line 160

Maxens haþ now sent his sond Ouer-al into þis cuntre After men þat ben ful wise, Wiþ þe to striue, astow schalt se. Bot bi þai han þi wordes herd Line 165 As Jhesus Crist schal wisse þe, Her trouþe worþ in god ful gode, & for his loue þai schal marterd be".

Ouer al þe lond, þat was so wide, His messanger(s) went ful ȝare. [Ms. messangers mit auspunkt. s.] Line 170 Fifti men wiþ hem þai brouȝt, [Ms. him he corr. in hem þai.] Grete clerkes & wise of lare. Of al þe wisdom of þe lond Men seyd þat þai redi ware Forto despute wiþ Katerine, Line 175 Þat Maxens hadde in prisoun pare.

Among hem was þe maiden brouȝt. Wroþly þai gun to hir bere, Her resouns þai seyden on & on, Euerich on his best maner. Line 180 Þis mayden, þat ich of told, Stode euer wiþ simple chere & herd her resouns euerichon— Godes angel was hir fere.

When þai hadde her ressouns seyd, Line 185 Euerichon more & lesse, Sche answerd hem at eueri point Wiþ ful michel mildenis, & seþþen seyd hir aviis Of god þat louerd was & euer isse, [Ms. loured, r ist überschr.] Line 190 Þat euer was & ay schal be— Þe godspelle sche tok to witnisse.

Sche schewed hem wiþ holy writ Of Jhesus incarnacioun, Hou he was of a maiden born, Line 195 & hou he suffred passioun, & hou he sent his apostles wide For our alder sauacioun— & alle þe bileue of cristen man Sche schewed hem wiþ gode resoun. Line 200

When þe maiden hadde seyd Hir resouns, þat wer gode,

Ful redi were þe maisters alle Forto chaungen her mode. Bot, þer Maxens himseluen sat, Line 205 For wretþe he wax wel ney wode & asked ȝif þai couþe ouȝt sain Oȝain þe maiden, þer sche stode.

Þan spac a maister sone, Of heiȝe kin he was born: Line 210 "Sir, he seyd, we han gon mis, Sche haþ a resoun ous biforn. We wil trowe on Jhesu Crist, Þat bar þe croun was made of þorn, & do, so Katerine haþ ous told— Line 215 Loþ ous is to be forlorn".

Sone anon he axed hem Ȝif þai wald her mode amend. Þai seyd: "we trowe on Jhesu Crist, So Katerine ous haþ kende". Line 220 He bad make a gre(te) fer & bind hem fot & hende, & swore amidward þe borwe Ich a fot schuld þai be brende.

When men kest hem in fer, Line 225 Fair miracle men miȝt se: [Ms. mirache.] Her flesche, her cloþes & her here Of wem were quite & fre. For him þai suffred passioun Þat for hem dyed on tre; Line 230 To heuen were her soules born, In godes frari to be.

Þan bad þemperour his men Bring forþ þat fair may. & when sche was biforn him com, Line 235 He seyd: "welcom, parmafay! Hastow ȝete þi conseyl take For to trowe opon mi lay? Haue merci on þi feirhed! Y schal þe worþschip ich day. Line 240

Þou schalt be worþschiped as þe quen, Boþe in bour & halle; & in þi name schal be wrouȝt An ymage fair wiþ-alle, & in þis borwe it schal be sett, Line 245 Heiȝe & lowe to louten alle.

Of alle þe nedes of þis lond To þe we schal conseyl calle. [l. þe we schal to.]

Heiȝe & lowe worþschipe þe. [schal fehlt.] Katerine, do as y þe bede! Line 250 & ȝete we schal þe more do, Ȝif þou wilt wirche after mi red: [Ms. þif.] A temple in þi worþschip make Of marble ston, when þou art ded; Among our godes þou schalt be sett Line 255 In siluer & in gold rede".

"Be stille, fole! whi seystow so? Þou redest me to do gret sinne. What man wald ydampned be For ani maner warldes winne? Line 260 Ich haue me taken to Jhesus Crist, Him to serue & trowen inne; Ich hope to com to his riche, Þer ioie & blis schal neuer blinne.

Min hope is in him aldermost, Line 265 Lord abouen in trinite, He is mi loue, he is mi spouse: To swiche a leman take y me. & ȝif it were ani bot, At þat conseyl wald y be Line 270 Þine maumettes to breke & brenne — Þou made hem, & þai nouȝt þe".

When þat Katerine hadde yseyd, Him þouȝt he schuld brest in fiue. Wiþ ire & wreþe he bad his men: Line 275 "Do as y ȝou bid swiþe! Wiþ schourges swiþe gret & scharp Beteþ hir al out oliue, & doþ hir seþþen in prisoun strong! Wat bote is it al day to striue?" Line 280

Þai made hir body blo & blac, [blo steht auf der Rasur eines längeren Wortes, welches auf te endete.] Þat er was white so alpes bon. [alpes = elpes; elp — elephant.] Seþþen seyd he to his men: "Prisouns hir swiþe anon! Honger schal sche han ynouȝ, Line 285 Mete no drink gif hir non,

Litel no miche — þat loke wel! — Til þis tvelue days be comen & gon.

Y mot fare out of þis lond — Bot y no schal nouȝt long duelle: Line 290 To heiȝe men & wise boþe Of þis auentour y schal hem telle; Conseyl y schal haue ful gode Hou y schal þat maiden quelle; Bot ȝiue sche take anoþer rede. Line 295 Sche mai be siker & wo to welle". [Dieser Vers ist unten nachgetragen. & = an = on.]

When þis emperour was went, Þe quen hir seyd to a kniȝt — Of alle kniȝtes he was chef: Porfir seyt þe bok he hiȝt: Line 300 "Þou do me speke wiþ Katerine, And, if þou may, þis ich niȝt! Longing haue y swiþe miche To speke wiþ hir, ȝif þat y miȝt".

Wiþin niȝt forȝat he nouȝt Line 305 To do þe quenes comandment: Vnto þe prisoun, as he hir hiȝt, Priueliche he wiþ hir went. Þai seiȝe þerin so michel liȝt, [folio 23] & god his angels þider sent, Line 310 Þat sete about þat swete wiȝt And anoint hir wiþ oinement.

Þei seiȝen angels anoinen hir cors, Ich wem & ich a wounde, & þurch þe miȝt of Jhesu Crist Line 315 Þan þai were boþe hole & sounde. No hadde þai stonden at þe prisoun Bot a litel wiȝtine(!) stounde, Of þat liȝt þai weren adrad: Aswon þai fel adoun to grounde. Line 320

Þe maiden aros & com to hem & spac to hem wiþ mild mode: "Ariseþ vp in godes name, & loke ȝe ben of confort gode!" Sche bad hem leue on Jhesu Crist, Line 325 Þat for mankin schadde his blod. And when þai herd þat maiden speke, Vp þai risen & bi hir stode.

Þan seyd þe quen ful sone: "A, Keterine, wele is þe! Line 330 Miche þou miȝt do wiþ Jhesu Crist, We han sen of þi priuete". Þan sche seyd: "ȝe; trowe on him Þat is lord of swiche pouste! His seriaunce no forȝet he nouȝt Line 335 Þat him serue wiþ hert fre.

Certes, dame, y rede þe wel: Forsake Maxens & al his miȝt For þat ich kinges loue Þat made þe day & eke þe niȝt, Line 340 Heuen & erþe, man & best, Sonne & mone to schine briȝt. Þe ioie of heuen schaltow haue. And al-so y say to þe, sir kniȝt".

Þan spak þe kniȝt to Katerine: Line 345 "What maner ioie may þis be?" Katerine seyd also sone: "Porfir, y wil telle þe: Þat is þe ioie wiþouten enden Þat ere no may here, no eiȝe se, Line 350 No tong speke, no hert þink— Lord it sende ȝou & me!

Þer nis non in þat riche Þat honger haþ, cold no þrest; Þer is liif wiþouten ende, Line 355 Þer is stede of ro & rest". Þurch þe wordes þat sche spac Er midniȝt þai weren al prest To suffre deþ for godes loue; Her hope was in his merci best. [l. fest st. best?] Line 360

Sche bitauȝt hem Jhesu Crist, & seþþen went boþe oway. To hundred kniȝtes serued hir: Sche told hem þat oþer day Hou godes angels sat abouten hir Line 365 In þe prisoun, þer sche lay. Þai trowed on god, as sche hem radde, & forsoken al her fals lay.

Þe maiden no most haue mete no dri(n)k [369 ff.) Die Stropfe ist in Auch. verderbt.] Þourch comandment of þat king, Line 370 Tvelue days þurch & þurch Sche no most haue mete no dring. Angels com fram heuen to erþe Ich day to þat swete þing, Mete & drink ynouȝ plente Line 375 Þai brouȝten, of alle gode tiding.

& when þe tvelue dayes were gon, Þan com Jhesu, heuen king, Wiþ angels & maidens boþe, For to speke wiþ his derling. Line 380 He seyd: "þou hast ben for me ladde In miche striif & gret fonding: [Ms. fonging.] Loke, þou hert þe ful wele! Y ȝiue þe, douhter, mi bliscing.

Oft ichaue þi praiers herd, Line 385 When þat þou me bisouȝt; Þerfore schal y þe nouȝt fayl When þou art to iugement brouȝt. Loke, þou be stedefast & trewe! Of al her paines ȝiue þou nouȝt! Line 390 Of þe blis þou miȝt be siker Þat ichaue to min hondewerk wrouȝt".

& when he hadde þis wordes seyd, Out of prisoun he gan glide To heuen blis, þer he com fro, Line 395 & angels on ich a side.— When Maxens hadde his wil do, Hom he com wiþ michel prede, Wiþ erles & wiþ kniȝtes fele, And knaues ernand bi her side. Line 400

Opon þat oþer day ful sone He asked after þe maidens astat: "Ȝif sche be oliue ȝete, Sche is ful feble, wele y wat. Fet hir forþ, mi jaioler! Line 405 For hunger & þrost sche is wel mate". [V. 406 ist in 2 Zeilen geschr.] He ȝede anon & brouȝt hir forþ Bifor þe king, þer he sat.

When sche was biforn him come, He seyd: "welcom, damisele! [Ms. urspr. Sche.] Line 410 Þou hast ben strongliche ygreued In iren bounden & in stiel; Bot ȝete me þenkeþ þou miȝt liue— & þat likeþ me ful wel. Jhesu, þat þou of speke, Line 415 Him forsake þou euerichadel!

For y nold nouȝt þi liif spille, To prisoun y dede þe do. Bot, certes, þou most now nede Chesen on of þis þinges tvo: Line 420 Oþer trowe opon mi godes & cristendom þou do þe fro, Oþer we schal ous biþenke Wiþ strong paines þe to slo".

Þan spac þe maiden, þer sche stode Line 425 Among þe sarraȝins so blake— Jhesus Crist hir haþ ytauȝt, Hir wordes were wiþouten lake: "Þei ine may liue, wite þou wel God schal y neuer forsake; Line 430 For his loue am y ful prest Wiþ wille mi deþ for to take.

Þei þat ȝe alle biþenke ȝou Of pines hard & sore, Þerto icham now ful prest, Line 435 Hem to suffre icham al yare. Neuer-more, while y liue, Mi flesche no blod wil y spare To spende for mi lordes loue— For me he suffred wele mare. Line 440

Bleþeliche wil y martird be Wiþ gret pines & wiþ smale: He haþ me to his frari cald, Þat schal be bot of mi bale". Sche stode euer wiþ mild mode Line 445 Bifor Maxens, to telle hir tale. Bot, þer he sete opon his des, For tene he grent & wex al pale.

As he sat & couped hir, Þer com a Sarraȝin gon: Line 450

Line 450 Cursates, seyt þe boke, he hiȝt. "King, he seyd, icham þi man. Ȝete y can a turnament make: Swiche no herdestow neuer nan; Bi þan it be wrouȝt & sche it se, Line 455 Anoþer þouȝt sche schal þenke on.

Four wheles schal y make, Þe to schal turn oȝain to, Ful þicke þai schal be driuen Wiþ wiþerhokes mo & mo. Line 460 Among þe four sche schal be don, Hir bodi forto wirche wo: To smale peces sche schal be rent, On erþe schal sche neuer go".

Þan bad Maxens his iayoler Line 465 Þat he schuld þat maiden take Into prisoun forto lede, Þerwhile he schul þe wheles make. & er þe þridde day at ende Þai were wrouȝt for hir sake; Line 470 So grisely were þai on to se: Mani a man þai maden quake.

When þo wheles weren prest, Amid þe borwe þai were sett Wiþ sarraȝins bifor þe king— Line 475 Hard was þe maiden þrett. Þan bad þemperour his men Þat sche were out of prisoun fett. Wele he wend wiþouten faile Þat his tene schuld be bett. Line 480

Þai ladden hir to þat stede Þer sche schuld on hem be don. Mani a moder child þer was, For to loke þe maiden opon. [loke aus leke corr.] Sche sett hir doun opon hir knes, [folio 24] Line 485 To god of heuen sche bad a bon. Bot herkneþ now wat bitid! Godes help þer com ful sone.

Þe wheles for to brese & breke Our louerd bad an angel gon. Line 490 Of þe wicked sarraȝins Veniaunce he tok anon.

Among þe folk þai gun driue: Four þousend þer wer slawe Line 495 Of heþen men þat þider wer come — Bot iuel had þat maiden non.

Cristenmen þat þer weren For þis miracle were wel glad. Þe king no wist wat he dede: Line 500 So sori he was & so madde. Þe sarraȝins þat miȝt aschape Wel sori þai were & adrad For þe periil þat þai seyȝen; [Ms. scheinbar periis.] Of sorwe were þai neuer (so) sad. [im Ms. fehlt so.] Line 505

When þat alle þis folk was slawe, To him seyd his wiif, þe quen: "Waileway, þou wreche man! Wherof makestow þe so kene? He kiþes wele þat he is king, Line 510 Þat born was of þe maiden schene. Y sorsake þe to day And þine werkes al bidene.

Oȝein þe lord þat ous schope No helpeþ þe nouȝt to chide; Line 515 Þat cristen men leueþ on, His miȝtes haþ he ful wide. Do cri him merci of þi gilt! Ȝif þou wilt long abide, On of þis days when þou art dede [507—520) Die Versanfänge sind verwischt.] Line 520 Helle pine schal þe bitide".

He wex swiþe wroþ & wode, To þe quen he seyd anon: "Now y wot, þou art desceyued Þurch wichecraft of þat woman. Line 525 Y þe swere bi min godes & bi al þat y swere can: Bot þou raþer wende þi mode, To wicked ded þou schalt be don.

Bot þou forsake Jhesu Crist, Line 530 Þis schal be þi iugement: First þine pappes of þi brest Wiþ iren hokes schal be rent; [Die letzte Silbe von tates ist verwischt.]

Biheueded schaltow þan be, Þi bodi on þe feld ysent, Wiþ houndes & wiþ foules to-drawe. Line 535 And þis schal be mi comandment".

When þis emperour was war Þat sche nold wenden hir þouȝt, Þan bad he on þis maner Þat sche were out of toun ybrouȝt. Line 540 Sche loked opon Katerine, & mildeliche sche hir bisouȝt Þat sche schuld hir erande bere To Jhesu Crist, þat ous haþ bouȝt.

Þan spac þe maiden, þer sche stode: Line 545 "Forsoþe, dame, y telle it þe: Of þe ioie wiþouten ende Trust & siker may þou be. In his name þou take þe ded Þat sprad his bodi on þe tre, Line 550 As his swete wille was, For to maken ous alle fre".

Men drouȝ hir tates of hir brest & heueded hir, as y ȝou told. & seþþen hete þat emperour Line 555 Þat noman schuld be so bold Hir bodi to hilen in erþe: Houndes schulc han it in wold. Þe soule com bifor Jhesu, Er þe bodi were cold. Line 560

After þat he hadde hir slawe Wiþ þis strong passioun, Þan com Porfir, þe gode kniȝt, Þer sche lay, wiþ wel gode deuocioun & brouȝt hir to cristen biriel, Line 565 Þer sche lay wiþouten þe toun, Oȝain þe kinges comandment — To suffre deþ he was al boun.

Sone opon þat oþer day Men told þemperour ful ȝare Line 570 Þat sche was to erþe brouȝt. Þan spac he wordes wraþe: "Enquere now who haþ þis don Of min men þat y fede & cloþe!"

Mani man wiþouten gilt Line 575 Þerfore was slawe & prisound boþe.

Bifor þis crowel emperour Ful baldelich com sir Porfir & seyd to him, þer he sete Ful of felonie & ire: Line 580 "Icham godes comfessour, & ich haue birid þat martir; Y wil wele þat þou it wite, Seþþen þou hast so gret desir.

Þou were ful wode & out of witt, Line 585 & litel þouȝtes of þi dede, When þat þou haddest hir slawe Þe erþe when þou hir forbede. In helle pine beþ þi play [Ms. þine st. pine.] Wiþouten ende wiþ þe quede. Line 590 Y take me to Jhesu Crist & do þe al out of mi rede."

Þan he gan forto crie & cleped him-selue caitif, As þei he hadde wounded be Line 595 Wiþ swerd, wiþ spere oþer kniif. "Now haþ Porfir me forsake, Þat was wardain of al mi liif!" Oft he seyd allas allas Þat euer was he born o wiif! Line 600

He haþ so michel care & diole: Men þouȝt þat he wald wede. He seyd: "now ichaue forelorn Þe best kniȝt of al mi þede! He was min help & mi rede, Line 605 Ouer-al at al mi nede. Þe wiche schal it abigge de(re) [Ms. abiggede.] Þurch whom he haþ don þis dede!"

Þe king tok his kniȝtes anon, To asken hem in priuete Line 610 Þurch whom it was & was conseyl Þat he wald cristned be. Þai said sone at a voice: "Þurch godes miȝt. & so be we: We take ous to cristendom, Line 615 For drede of deþ wil we nouȝt fle.

Oft he was wroþ & wode, Bot neuer ȝete as he was þo! Her heuedes he dede of smite — Þer-of ȝaf he nouȝt a slo. Line 620 Þe bodis on þe feld wer cast, Wiþ houndes & wiþ bestes also. Her soules come sone þider Þer ioie & blis is euer & oo. [oo = ever.]

Þerafter on þat oþer day Line 625 Þe king was sett in his chayer; Þe sarraȝins þat wiþ him held On ich half þai sete him ner. Katerine he hete forþ bring. To fechen hir went his iayoler. Line 630 Bifor him com sche swiþe sone Wiþ bliþe mode & glad chere.

Ful sternliche loked he hir on And spac to hir wiþ gret enuie: "Miche wo þou hast ous wrouȝt, Line 635 Þou wiche ful of felonie, Þou hast me don mi folk forlese. Þat þou schalt ful dere abie! No schaltow neuer, ȝif y may, Bitray ous wiþ þi sorcerye. Line 640

Bot þou trowe on mi godes, Þat al þis warld schal wake & weld, And to hem make sacrifise, Fram wicked deþ þou miȝt þe schilde; Oþer men schal þine heued of smite Line 645 Wiþouten toun in þe feld Þis ich day, ar euen com — So men schal þi seruise ȝeld."

Þis maiden no forbar him nouȝt, Sche said: "þou tirant, nay. Line 650 Schalt þou neuer þe day abide Þat y schal leue opon þi lay. Graced be þe king of heuen, Þat me haþ lent so stable fay!

Bleþelich wil y for his loue Line 655 Þoly deþ þis ich day.

Do now forþ, þou fendes lim! Of þe no am y nouȝt agast. For al þat þou canst biþinke, Y will suffre al in hast. Line 660 — — — — — So weit Ms. Auchinl.

Ms. Caj. Coll. enthält folgenden Schluss:

For Jhesu loue, my spouse gay, Line 665 Þat born was off a maydyn chast. My soule to hym beteche I ay, For I haue louyd hym alþer-mast."

Þanne þat sareȝyn bad hys men Þat þey scholden lede þat maydyn gent Line 670 Out off þe burghe-ȝates þen And geuen here þere here jugement. Ful blyþe & glad þat fayre may Out off þe tounward sche went. Wiþ many a man þat ylke day Line 675 In þe toun sche was be-ment.

Whan sche was led to þe place for soþe Þere sche scholde I-hedyd be, Wyues fele & maydenys boþe Folewyd here off þat cyte, Line 680 Makyng sorewe & wepynge harde For þat maydyn ffayr & ffree. Sche turnyd anon vnto hem-warde And sayde, as I schal telle þe:

"I pray ȝow alle þat ȝe gon hom, Line 685 Ȝe wyuys & ȝe maydenys bryȝt! Dystourbles nouȝt my martyrdom! But bes fful glad: ffor he me hyȝt, Þat lord þat is ouer alle þynge, Soone afftyr when I martyryd be, Line 690 To heuene blysse he schal me brynge." Sche knelyd doun & vp gan see,

To heueneward, þere sche hadde tyȝt, Sche sayde: "Jhesu, my loue ffre, Off al þat I leue in þe ryȝt, Line 695 Lord, þis day I þanke þe.

A voys fro heuene oure lord dede sende, Þat alle it herde þat þer werej: Line 730 "My ȝatys ben open, my leue ffrende, Come to me, my douȝtyr dere!

To suffre þe deþ in þe name off me, Douȝtyr, drede þou no-wyȝt! Be-ffor me schalt þou corownyd be: Line 735 For hedyr hast þou longe I-tyȝt. Þe cumpany off aungelys schene Schal come agayn þy soule bryȝt And brynge þe to þis place clene, Þer euere is day & neuere nyȝt. Line 740

Come, my douȝtyr! come now smerte! For herd is now þyn orysoun. For alle þat þe haue in here herte And blely here þy passyoun, And alle þat on þe calle in nede Line 745 Wiþ hertely deuocyoun, Off here prayer schole þey spede And þer-to haue my benysoun."

Off þis answere, when it was herd, I-wundryd was many a man. Line 750 Sche stoupyd doun vndyr þe swerd — Here swyre was whyt as ony swan. Swyþe he smot here hed off þere — But for þe blood þe mylk out ran. Aboue here stood þat manquellere, Line 755 He was ful blak, he was ful wan.

Anon come aungelys from þe ayr And flowe awey wiþ here body, And beryyd it, þat swyþe was fayr, In þe mount off Synay, Line 760 Þere gaff þe lawe god off heuene Vnto þe prophete Moysy.

b) Ms. Cajus Coll. 175, p. 107.

Incipit vita s. Katerine virginis.

He þat made boþe sunne & mone In heuene & erþe for to schyne, Brynge vs to heuene, wiþ hym to wone, And schylde vs from helle pyne! Lystnys, & I schal ȝow telle Line 5 Þe lyff off an holy virgyne, Þat trewely Jhesu louede wel: Here name was callyd Katerine.

I vndyrstonde, it be-tydde soo: In Grece þer was an emperour; Line 10 He was kyng off landes moo, Off casteles grete & many a tour. Þe ryche men off þat land Þey seruyd hym wiþ mekyl honour. Maxenceus was his name hotand, Line 15 A man he was ful sterne & stour.

Mahoun heeld he for hys god: He trowyd in þe false lay; On Jhesu Cryst leuede he not, Þat lord is & god verray. Line 20 He was a sareȝyn ful tryst, Wiþ crystyndom he werrede ay, For alle þat trowyd on Jhesu Cryst He stroyyd boþe be nyȝt & day.

Whenne (he) hadde fyue & fyffty ȝer Line 25 Ben emperour & born þe corown, Þorwȝ al þe land hys messanger He sente aboute, fro toun to toun; To Alisaundyr, he sente hys sawe And bad, þo folk scholde come wel sone, Line 30 Ryche & pore, heyȝe & lawe, Wiþ here offryng to seke Mahone.

He bad þe ryche men scholde brynge Neet & scheep to here offerande, And pore men vp alle þynge Line 35 Quyke foulys in here hande; And, as þey wolde here lyuys hente, For noþyng ne scholde þey wonde. Þis was þe kyngys comaundement Þat he sente þorwȝ al hys londe. Line 40

Þe folk vp-on þis manere ȝood — To wraþþe þe kyng þey weren adrad. Beforn hys goddys hym-seluen stood, In ryche cloþyng was he clad. Alle(!) men were þere, boþe false & fykil, Line 45 He bad þat þey scholde be ful glad; Noyse þey maden wundyr mekyl, As here emperour hem bad.

Anoþer kyng in þat lande was þoo: Costus was hys name calde. Line 50 A douȝtyr he hadde — chyldryn no moo — Off XVIII^e wyntyr was sche alde: Kateryne was here ryȝte name, Off wyt & wysdom was sche bolde; Sche louyd Jhesu, þouȝ sche bar blame — Line 55 For hys loue was here lyff solde.

As sche stood in here fadyr coort, Gle-men herde sche lowde synge, Wiþ pypys & trumpys þey maden de|spo(rt), & bellys herde sche lowde rynge. Line 60 Sche fraynyd of here fadir men What was þat noyse & þat pypyng. Þey tolde here of þat offryng þen Þat Maxcens garte his folk to bryng.

Sche hooff vp here hand, þat mayden ȝungge, Line 65 & blyssyd here fol wyttyrly, Ferst here brest & þanne here tungge — So says þe book off here story. Þedyr, sche sayde, alone sche þouȝte, For to se þat melody. Line 70 But al alone wente sche nouȝte: Þey wente wiþ here þat stood here by.

Whenne sche com to hys palayse, Sum sche sawȝ make game & glee.

Þat leuyd on Jhesu, weren euele at ayse, Line 75 Sory men sche dede hem see: For eyþir þey scholde don sacrefyse To hys mawmettys I-maad off tree, Off ston & bras, on alle wyse, Eyþir þey scholde Imartyryd be. Line 80

Sche com before þe emperour þere, Þere as he made hys sacrefyȝe, And grette hym al on þis manere, Wordys sche spak boþe bolde & wyse: "Jhesu Cryst be wiþ þe þen, Line 85 Ryȝtwyse kyng & heyȝe iustyse, Þat þolyd deþ ffor synful men And hadde pousty for to ryse.

I speke off Jhesu of heuene wiþ-In; Off alle kyngys he is fflour; Line 90 Þat suffryd deþ for alle man kyn, He is oure alle creatour. Behold Jhesu, þe welle off wyt, Sere Maxence, kyng & emperour! Þis sacrefyse to hym doo it Line 95 And seke hym wiþ þus mekyl honour!

But now me þynkiþ doost þou so nouȝt, Þou wyrkyst on a werse wyse: Þis folk, þat þou hast hedyr brouȝt, Þou doost hem make þe deuyl seruyse. Line 100 Al þat þey doo, wiþ-outen were, To þese mawmettys vpon þis gyse, A dysseyuaunce is to hem here, Fykyl & fals & al fayntyse."

Þis emperour awondryd was Line 105 Off þis maydyn, fayr off vyse: Here stedefastnesse in herte he has, And sayde to here wurdys ful nyse: "Why dyspraysyst þou oure goddys so And holdyst hem off so lytyl pryse? Line 110 Iwis, so scholdyst þou nouȝt doo, Me þynkiþ þou art no-þyng wyse.

Ȝyff þou were leryd off oure lay lel And to oure scoles were entendaunte, Þou woldyst saye we deden ful wel, Line 115 And wiþ þy tungge þou woldist it graunte. To myȝteful goddes þou þe take, Swylk as Mahoun & Termagaunt,

And Jhesu Cryst look þou forsake Þe whylke þou holdyst þy waraunt! Line 120

And for we haue now on hande Þis ryche feste, as þou mayst see, Come now forþ wiþ þyn offerande, And holde it for no vanyte! For to oure goddes, so good at nede, Line 125 Ȝiff þat þou wylt buxum be, Ryche gyfftys schal be þy mede And þat þou sayde forgeue I þe."

Þenne bespak here Kateryne — God off heuene forgat sche nouȝt; Line 130 Þat schoop here wymman & virgyne, Sente grace in-tyl here þouȝt —: "Þese aren quyke deuelys to calle Þat þis peple haue here souȝt; Þer is no god but on off alle, Line 135 Þat þe & me & al haþ wrouȝt."

Þis emperour wiþ woo gan wake, And þouȝte on wylys & queynte crokes. Lettres gart he swyþe make And preuyly, as saiþ þe bookes, Line 140 Ou a maydyn was come ful ȝyng, [Ms. On st. ou = hou.] Þat here goddys alle forsook. He selyd hem wiþ hys owne ryng Þat he off hys ffyngyr took.

He took þe messanger in hande Line 145 Þe lettrys selyd for gret tokenyng To alle þe wyse men of hys lande, And bad hem come wiþ-outen dwellyng. Ful gret honour he hyȝte hem ȝyt, As he was trewe knyȝt & kyng, Line 150 Ȝyff (þey) wiþ here wysdam & here wyt Myȝten ouyrcome þat maydyn ȝyng.

Þat maydyn was in presoun done, Soone as þe messanger was went. An aungyl com to here fol sone Line 155 Þat Jhesu Cryst here hadde Isent. He sayde: "my lord gretes þe weel Þat wyt & wysdam has þe lent — And þat þyn herte be strong as steel And þynk on hym wiþ good entent! Line 160

Line 160

Maxence haþ Isent hys sonde Ouyr-al aboute in þis cuntree Afftyr men wysest in londe, Wiþ þe (to) stryue, as þou schalt see. Be þat þy wurdys þey haue herd tel Line 165 As Jhesu Cryst schal wysse þe, Here trowþe schal ben in god ful wel, And for hym schole þey martyryd be."

Ouer al þe world, þat was so wyde, Hys messanger wente ful ȝare. Line 170 Fyffty men he brouȝte þat tyde, Grettest clerkys & wys of lare. In al wysdom & eke latyne Men sayde þat þey ryȝt redy wore For to dysspute wiþ Kateryne, Line 175 Þat Maxcense hadde wiþ-holden þore.

Amonges hem was þat mayden anon. Þey desputyd wiþ here of many matere, Here resouns sayde þey on be on, Ylkon on hys beste manere. Line 180 Þis maydyn, þat I haue off tolde, Sche stood wiþ a stedefast chere, In herte here resouns gan beholde— Goddys aungyl was here fere.

Whenne þey hadden here resouns sayde, Line 185 Euerylkone boþe more & lesse, To ylke a poynt wiþ-Inne a brayde Sche answerde wiþ wol gret mekenesse; Al here deuys þenne sayde sche Off god off heuene, þat oure lord ysse, Line 190 Is & was & euere schal be— Þe gospel took sche to wytnysse.

Of holy wryt sche tauȝte hem þore And off Crystys Incarnacyoun, And off a maydyn hou he was bore, Line 195 And hou he suffrede passyoun, And hou he sente hys postelys wyde To brynge men to saluacyoun— And crystene trowþe sche tolde þat tyde And preuyd it hem wiþ pure resoun. Line 200

Whenne þis mayden hadde Isayde Alle here resouns, þat were so goode,

Fol weel were þese maystrys payde & þey begunne to chaunge here moode. But, þere Maxcence sat, in fay, Line 205 For yre off herte he wax nyȝ wood & askyd: or þey cowde ouȝt say Agayn þat maydyn, þat þere stood.

Þenne bespak a maystyr anon, Off ryche kynrede was he bore: Line 210 "Sere kyng, I wene we haue mysgon, Oþere resouns beþ betere vs fore. For we schole trowe on Jhesu Cryst Þat bar þe corowne maad off þorn, As Kateryne haþ Itold fol tryst— Line 215 Ful loþ vs were to be fore-lorn."

Alle to-gedere hem askyd he Wheþer þey wolde here þouȝt ouȝt wende. Þey sayden, on Jhesu þat deyde on tree Þey wolde beleue wiþouten ende. Line 220 He wax agreuyd, þat stoute syre, He bad hem bynden feet & hande; He swoor he scholde quyte here hyre, Þey scholde(be) brend as brennyng brande. [Ms. brend.]

He garte hem caste al in gret feer. Line 225 Gret myracle men myȝt þer see; Here fax(!), here cloþis & here her [Ms. fax od. fay? st. face.] Off wem were þey quyt & ffree. Martyrdom þey suffryd þore For hym þat deyde vpon þe tree; Line 230 To heuene were here soulys bore, In goddys frayry forto be.

Þoo bad þe emperour hys men: "Bryngys forþ þat fayre may!" And whanne sche com beforn hym þen, Line 235 "Welcome, he sayde, par ma fay! Hast þou ȝit þy counseyl tan For to turne vpon my lay? Haue mercy on þy fayre pan! Me longis nouȝt don it away. Line 240

Þou schalt be menskyd as a qwene, Boþe in boure & eke in halle; And in þy name I schal do clene An ymage make, ryȝt fayr wiþ-alle, And in þis burgh þenne schal it stande, Line 245 And heyȝe & lowe schole loute it alle.

Off alle þe nedys of þis land We schole þe vn-to counseyl calle.

Heyȝe & lowe schal serue þe soo. Kateryne, doo as I þe bede! Line 250 And ȝit (I) wole þe more doo, Ȝyff þou wylt doo afftyr my rede: Off marbylston schal I do make A ryche temple, whenne þou art ded; Among oure goddys þou schalt be take Line 255 And layde in syluyr & gold so red."

"Be stylle, þou fool! I saye to þe, Þou redes me to ful mekyl synne. What man wolde I-dampnyd be In helle, for ony worldys wynne? Line 260 I haue to Ihesu Cryst my loue: He is my spouse, boþe oute & Inne; I hope to come to his heuene aboue, [Im Ms. steht hier doppelter Vers: In heuene he schal me wedde aboue, u.: I hope to come to his heuene aboue, u. a. R. steht Elige] Þere ioye & blysse schal neuere blynne.

He is myn hope, my ioye mest, Line 265 My lord, my god in trynyte, My leeff, my lyff, my loue best: [Ms. my my lyff.] To swylke a lemman take I me. And ȝyff me were boote to speke, Off þy(s) counseyl now wolde I be [þy st. þys.] Line 270 Þy goddys for to brenne & breke— For þou madyst hem, & þey nouȝt þe."

Be þat sche hadde here wurdys sayde, Hym þouȝte hys herte scholde breke on fyue; For yre & wraþþe he styrte & brayde Line 275 And bad hys men hastely & blyue: "Wiþ whyppys & scourgys doþ here sterte, Byndiþ & betiþ, whyl sche is on lyue! And in presoun þen doþ here smerte! What boote is þus-gate for to stryue?" Line 280

Þey maden here body al red blood ren Þat fyrst was whyt as whales bon. And afftyr sayde he to hys men: "Prysouns here now swyþe anon! Hungyr schal sche hastely ffeel, Line 285 Mete ne drynk ne geuiþ here non,

Lytyl ne mekyl — now wete þou weel — Tyl twelue dayes be comen & gon!

Out off þis land I wole forsoþe — Me be-houes nouȝt longe dwelle: Line 290 To grete men & wyse boþe Off þese auntrys forto telle; Counseyl I haue wiþ-outen dred Hou I schal þis maydyn quelle; But sche take anoþer red, Line 295 Sche schal wete off woo ful welle."

Whenne þe emperour was Iwent, Þe qwene sayde vntyl a knyȝte — Off knyȝtys he was cheeff & gent: Porphurye, seys þe book, he hyȝte — Line 300 Þe qwene sayde: "wiþ Kateryne Doo me speke, ȝyff þat þou myȝt! Longyng I haue in herte myne To speke wiþ here þis ylke nyȝt."

Þat ylke nyȝt forgat he nouȝt Line 305 To doo þe qwenys comaundemente: Vnto presoun þo he here brouȝt And preuyly wiþ here he wente. Þey sawȝ þer-Inne ful mekyl lyȝt: Goddys aungelys þedyr were sent, Line 310 Þat seten aboute þat swete wyȝt, Anoyntyd here wiþ oynement.

Aungelys þey seen here cors anoynte, Ylke a wem & ylke a wounde, Þorwȝ Jhesu myȝt in euery ioynte Line 315 Þey maden here boþe heyl & sounde. Þey hadde nouȝt at þe presoun dore Istonden but a lytyl stounde, Off þe lyȝt þey were adred so sore: In swownyng fel þey to þe grounde. Line 320

Þe maydyn ros & to hem came And spak to hem wiþ mylde mood: "Rysys vp in goddys name, And loke ȝe ben off counfort good!" On Jhesu Cryst sche bad hem leue, Line 325 Þat for man-kynde schedde hys blood. And whanne sche hadde þis counseyl geue, Vp þey resen & by here stood.

Þenne bespak þe qwene sone anon: "Kateryne, fol weel is þe! Line 330 Wiþ Jhesu Cryst meche mayst þou don, We haue seen al þy preuyte." "Looke þou, sche sayde, vpon hym trowe Þat lord is off swylke pouste! He nele forgete, he wole hem knowe Line 335 Þat serue hym wiþ herte ffree.

I rede þe, dame, for þy behoue, Forsake Maxence & al hys myȝt For þat ylke kyngys loue Þat made boþe day & nyȝt, Line 340 Heuene & erþe, beste & man, Sunne & mone þat schynys bryȝt. Þe ioye off heuene schalt þou han, And þou al-soo, I say, sere knyȝt!" [þou u. I überschr, I þe nach say aus|gestrichen.]

Þenne spak þat knyȝt to Kateryne: Line 345 "What-kyn ioye may þat be?" Kateryne sayde weel & fyne: "Porphyrye, I wole telle it þe: It is þe ioye wiþ-outen ende Þat eeren ne eyȝen may here ne see, Line 350 No tungge off speke, herte þynke in mende; Þat louiþ god lel, þis ordeyniþ he.

Þer is non in þat ryche empere Þat hungyr has, cold ne þreste; Drede ne wraþþe is þer non þere, Line 355 But loue & lykyng, ioye & reste." Þorwȝ þe wurdys þat sche spake Or mydnyȝt þey were ful preste To suffre deþ for goddys sake; Þey leuyd in Jhesu al-þer beste. Line 360

Þey here betauȝte Jhesu, oure lord, And siþþen wenten boþe away. Two hundryd knyȝtys seruyd hym at bord. [Ms. hym st. here.] Whan sche tolde hym þat oþir day [hym plur.] Hou goddys aungelys here seruyd had Line 365 In presoun, þat fayre may, Þey leuyd on Jhesu, as sche hem bad, And forsoken here false lay.

For sche ne moste haue neyþer mete ne drynk Þorwȝ comaundement of þe emperour, Line 370 Twelue dayes, neuere a pynk, Sche hadde a betere vyaundour: Cryst sente to here goostly foode Fro heuene, þat is oure saueour, Aungelys, þat brouȝten here lyfflode Line 375 Þer sche sat presounnyd in a tour.

And whenne þe twelue dayes were gon, Þenne com Jhesu, heuene kyng, Wiþ aungelys & maydenys manyon, For to speke wiþ hys derelyng. Line 380 He sayde: "ffor me þou hast ben led In ful gret stryff & gret fandyng: Looke þat þou be nouȝt adred: I geue þe, douȝtyr, my blessyng.

Offten I haue þy prayers herde, Line 385 Whenne þat þou hast me besouȝt; I schal nouȝt fayle þe — be nouȝt aferde— To iugement whenne þou art brouȝt. Looke, þou be stedefast, trewe & sekyr! Off alle here peynys geue þou nouȝt! Line 390 For off þe blysse þou may be sekyr Þat I haue to myn handwerk wrouȝt."

Whenne he hadde sayde þese wurdis þoo, Out off þe presoun gan he glyde To heuene blysse, þer he com froo, Line 395 Hys aungelys vpon ylke a syde.— Whenne Maxcense hadde Idon his dede, Hom he come wiþ mekyl pryde; Wiþ dukes, eerlys & knyȝtys he ȝede, And pagys rennyng be here syde, Line 400

Vpon þat oþer day ful sone He askyd off þe maydenys staat, Ȝiff þat sche were on lyue or none: "Sche is ful feble, weel I waat. Fette here forþ now, my gayler! Line 405 For hungyr & þyrst sche is ful mate." Þe gayler brouȝte here to hym þer, Þer as he sat in ryal sate.

Whenne sche was before hym led, He sayde: "welcome, damyseel! Line 410 Þou hast ben ful harde Isted Boþe in yryn & in steel; But ȝit me þynkiþ þat þou leue may— And þat me lykiþ swyþe wel. Jhesu, þat þou hast spoken off ay, Line 415 Þe behouiþ forsaken euery del.

For I wolde nouȝt do þe to dede, To my presoun I dede þe goo. But sertys now þou mostyst nede To chese þe on off þyngys twoo: Line 420 Oyþer vpon my goddys leue And Cryst forsake for euere-moo, Or we schal þynke boþe morwe & eue Wiþ stronge paynys þe to sloo".

Þenne spak þe maydyn, þere sche stood Line 425 Among þe sareȝynys so blak, As Jhesu here tauȝte, þat is so good, Wiþ mylde wurdys wiþ-outen lak: "Þouȝ I schole deye, þou may me trest Jhesu ne schal I neuere forsake; Line 430 For Jhesu loue I am ful prest Gladly here my deþ to take.

For þouȝ þat þou beþynke þe Afftyr peynys grete & sare And doo hem alle to pyne me, Line 435 To suffre hem I wil be ȝare. Neuere in my lyff, be god aboue! My flesch, my blood ne wole I spare To spende hem for þat lordys loue— For me he suffryd mekyl mare. Line 440

Blely wole I martyryd be For hym wiþ peynys grete & smale: He has me callyd to hys ffrayre, Þat schal be boote off al my bale." Sche stood wiþ a ful blyþe mood Line 445 Before Maxence, to tellen here tale. But, þere he sat, he wex nyȝ wood, For tene & angyr he was al pale.

He skypte & styrte & sore gan grame. Þer com a sareȝyn forþ anon: Line 450

Line 450 Cursates, þe book saiþ, was his name. "Sere kyng, he sayde, I am þy mon. Ȝit I can a turnement make: Off swylke on herdyst þou neuere er telle; Whanne sche it seeþ, I vndyrtake, [sche it seeþ überschr, it is wrouȝt auspunctirt.] Line 455 Anoþer lessoun sche wole spelle.

Foure wheles make schal I, Þe twoo schole turne agayn þe twoo, Ful þykke I-dreuen by & by Wiþ wyþir-hokes, here to sloo. Line 460 Among þe foure sche schal be went, Here body schal haue meche woo: In smale peses sche schal be rent, On erþe schal sche neuere efft goo."

Þenne bad Maxcence hys gayler Line 465 Þat he scholde þe mayden take And leden here in-to presoun þer, Þe whyles he scholde þe wheles make. And or þe þrydde day were gon, Þey weren Iwrouȝt al for here sake; Line 470 So grym þey were to loke vpon, Þat many a man þey garte quake.

Whenne þe wheles weren al ȝare, In þe cyte were þey set. Many sareȝyn before hem ware, Line 475 Þe maydyn was ful gretly þret. Þanne bad þe emperour hys men Þat sche were out off presoun ffet. To ben awreke weel wende he þen Off þat maydyn wiþ-outen let. Line 480

Þey ledde here to þat ylke stede Þere sche scholde in hem gon. Many a modyr chyld þer ȝede For to loken here vpon. Sche knelyd adoun þat place amydde, Line 485 To god off heuene sche bad here bone. But lystnes now what hap betydde! Goddys help here com ful sone.

Þe whelys for to breke asundyr, Aungelys were sent fro god anon. Line 490 On sareȝynys þat were þer vndyr Veniaunse took he sone vpon. [skypte aus stypte corr.]

Among þe folk þey gunne to dryue, Foure þousand þere dede þey slon. Line 495 Off heþene men were ded ful ryue — But euyl hadde þe maydyn non.

Þe crystene men þat þere were Off þis myracle þey were ful glad. Þe kyng ne wyste what he dede þere: Line 500 So sorweful was he & so mad. Þe sareȝynys þat askape myȝte Hyyd hem faste — þey weren adrad For þat ylke perylous syȝte; Off sorewe were þey neuere so sad. [we in sorewe überschr.] Line 505

Soone afftyr þis folk was flowe þan, Vntyl hym sayde hys wyff, þe qwene: "Weylaway, þou wrehche man! Wher-off makys þou þe so kene? He haþ weel kyd þat god is he, Line 510 Þat born was off þe maydyn schene. I forsake alle þyne & þee And al þy myȝt for euere clene.

Agayn þe lord þat þou woldyst greue Þy stryuyng is nouȝt wurþ a schyde; Line 515 Þat þese crystene men on leue, Hys myȝtynesse it goþ ful wyde. Crye hym mercy off þy gylt! For, ȝyff þat þou to longe abyde, When þou art ded, þou schalt be pylt Line 520 In helle pyne for al þy pryde."

He wex for wroþ boþe wood & wylde Ande to þe qwene he sayde þen: "Þou art dysseyuyd — þe deuyl þe hylde — Þorwȝ wyhche-crafft off crystene men. Line 525 I swere þe be my goddys goode And be al þat I can sayn: But þou þe sunnere chaunge þy moode, Wiþ wykkyd deþ þou schalt be slayn.

But þou forsake Jhesu ful prest, Line 530 Þis schal be þy Iugement: Fyrst þy pappys off þy brest Wiþ yrene hookes schole be rent;

And afftyrward wiþ-Inne a þrawe Þou schalt be heuedyd, ar euere I stent, Wiþ houndys & foules al to-drawe, Line 535 Þorwȝ myn owne comaundement."

Whenne þis emperour was war Þat sche nolde nouȝt turne here þouȝt, On alle maner þan bad he þar Þat sche schoolde out off towne be brouȝt. Line 540 Þenne lokyd sche to Kateryne, And myldely sche here besouȝt To don here erende in þat pyne To god off heuene, þat al haþ wrouȝt.

Þenne sayde Kateryne, here trewe ffrende: Line 545 "For soþe, dame, I telle it þe: Off þe ioye wiþ-outen ende Trust & sekyr may þou be, Ȝiff þou þy deþ in hys name has Þat spredde hys body vpon þe tree, Line 550 As hys swete wylle was, Forto maken oure soules ffree."

Men drowen here pappys off here brest And hedyd here, as I haue told. Þan bad þe emperour ful feste Line 555 Þat noman scholde be so bold For to beryyn here body — For houndes scholde haue it at wolde. Þe soule com ful hastyly Before Jhesu, þat it fore was solde. Line 560

Þenne afftyrward, whenne it was nyȝt, Afftyr þys stronge passyoun, Com Purphurye, þe goode knyȝt, And ffond here lye wiþ-outen þe toun; In crystene beryeles wiþ good entent Line 565 He beryyd here wiþ deuocyoun, Agayn þe kyngys comaundement — To suffre deþ he was ful boun.

Þenne afftyr on þat oþir day Men tolden þe emperour ful raþe Line 570 Þat sche was beryyd, soþ to say. Þan spak he wurdys grymme & wraþe: "Enserches faste who þis haþ don, My seriauntys þat I cloþe & fede!"

Many a man þat gylt hadde non Line 575 Was flemyd & prysounnyd for þat dede.

Before þis cruel emperour Ful boldely com sere Purphury And seyde hym, þere he sat ful sour, Ryȝt ful off yre & felony: Line 580 "I wole þe telle who dede þis dede, Siþþe þou hast so gret desyr: I, goddys seruaunt, wiþ-outen drede, I haue beryyd hys martyr.

Þou was ful wood, wytles, sertayn, Line 585 And lytyl þouȝtyst þou on þy dede, Afftyr þat þou haddyst here slayn Þe erþe whan þou here forbede. In helle pyne schal be þy play Wiþ-outen ende for þy qwed. Line 590 To Jhesu Cryst I take me ay And I forsake þy false red."

Þanne he began to crye & rore And offten he callyd hym-selff caytyff, As he hadde be woundyd þore Line 595 Wiþ swerd, wiþ spere, or wiþ knyff. Offten he sayde: "allas, allas, Þat euere I was born off wyff! Now Purphurye forsake me has Wardayn off myn owne lyff." Line 600

He hadde sorwe & care most, Wundyr woo he was in wede. He sayde: "now I haue hym Ilost, Þe beste knyȝt off al my lede, My beste help boþe fer & nere: Line 605 Ouer-al he was at my moste nede. Þe wyhche schal it abye ful dere Þorwȝ whom he haþ don þis dede!"

Hys knyȝtys drowȝ þe knyȝt saunfayle To & ffrom in preuyte: Line 610 Þorwȝ whom it was & whos counsayle Þat he wolde I-crystenyd be. When þey hadde counsayllyd to & fram Þe knyȝtys sayden: "now so wil we: We take vs vnto crystyndam, Line 615 For drede off deþ wole we nouȝt fle."

Offten he was in ful wroþ plyte, But neuere so wroþ as he was þoo! Here hedes he bad anon off smyte — But þer-off gaff þey nouȝt a sloo. Line 620 Here bodyys he bad in feeld be caste Wiþ houndys to gnawe & bestys þoo. Here soules come ful swyþe in haste Þere ioye & blysse is euere-moo. — Pray we now boþe fyrst & laste, Line 625 Lytyl & mochyl, I rede þer-too, Þat, whanne þat we be hens I-paste, [Ms. be be.] Þat oure soules mowe do soo. —

Þenne afftyr on þat oþir day Þe kyng was set in hys chayere; Line 630 Sareȝynys þat heelden here lay On ylke a syde þey sat hym nere. Kateryne he bad forþ brynge. To fetten here wente hys iayler. Beforn hym com þat holy þynge Line 635 Wiþ blyþe mood & gladful cheer.

Wroþly on here þan lokyd he And spak to here wiþ gret enuye: "Mekyl woo hast þou do me, Þou wyhche ful off ffelounnye, Line 640 Þou hast maad my folk forlorne. And þat þou schalt ful dere abye! Ne schalt þou neuere efft me scorne, Betraye me wiþ þy sorserye.

But þou wylt leue on alle wyse Line 645 Vpon my goddys þat al may weelde, And mekely don hem sacrefyȝe, Knele & vp þyn handes helde, Þis ylke day, & þat als tyte, Wiþ-owten þe toun ryȝt in þe ffelde Line 650 My men schole þere þyn hed off-smyte, And so schole we þy seruyse ȝelde."

Þis mayde forbar hym nouȝt þat tyde, Sche sayde: "nay, þou teraunt, nay! Þat day ne schalt þou neuere abyde Line 655 Þat I schal leue vpon þy lay. Blessyd be heuene kyng aboue, He haþ me lent fful stable fay.

Blely wole I for hys loue Þole deþ þis ylke day. Line 660

Doo fforþ faste as þou began, Þou fendes leme, þou ffendes gaste! For al þat euere þou þynke kan, I wole hem(!) suffre al in haste,

Ms. Caj. Coll. enthält folgenden Schluss:

I þanke þe, lord, now, ful off myȝt, For þou hast maad me on off þyne, To wone among þy maydenys bryȝt, In heuene þer neuere schal be no pyne. Line 700

Heuene & erþe, boþe lyȝt & derk, Watyr & land, sunne & mone, And al þis world þis was þy werk Þat heyȝe syttyst in holy trone. I beseke þe to-day Line 705 Þat þou graunte me a bone, Out of þis world ar I go away — For þat I wot schal be ful soone:

Alle þat in þe name off my My passyoun wole here or rede Line 710 Or haue me in good memory, In ony lond or ony lede: Lord, ȝyff þey praye in ryȝtful case, In poynt off deþ or oþer nede, [Ms. or or.] Þou graunte hem for þyn holy grace Line 715 Off here prayer weel to spede.

To suffre deþ I am here, loo, Ful prest, lord, for loue off þe; Þis mace-greff is here al-soo Wiþ drawen swerd, to hede me — Line 720 My soule greue he ne may For þer-off haþ he no pouste: Tak it to þe now, I þe pray, In-to þe blysse þat euere schal be!"

Soone as sche hadde maad an ende Line 725 Off here orysoun & here prayer For alle þat here hadde in mende And ffor here-self in þis maner,

Þe soule com to Jhesu euene Wiþ moche merthe & melody.

Þat day sche deyde — wetiþ weel it! — Line 765 Syxe aungelys deden here body lende In-to þe mount, þere it is ȝit And schal be to þe worldes ende. Off syke folk were þer neuere so fele: Alle þat euere wolde þedyr wende, Line 770 Oure lord sente hem boote & hele, Þat alle bales may amende.

Þe toumbe þat sche was layd in þer, It was al maade off marbyl-ston. A strem off oyle fayr & cler Line 775 Sprong þer-off ryȝt ful good won — And so it haþ don seþþyn euere, Euere siþþe þat sche was slawe. Alle crystene folk þat þedyr keuere Here body wurschepiþ wundyr fawe. Line 780

Here day it falliþ in Nouembre, In world as sche was martyryd here, On þe seuynþe kalendes of Decembre, As wreten is in kalendere. He þat wrot here lyff þus, Line 785 And alle þat it rede & here, Þe ioye off heuene hem ȝeue Jhesus, For Maryes loue, hys modyr dere!

Þe heyȝe kyng off alle men kynne, Þat spredde hys body vp-on tree, Line 790 Brynge vs out off dedly synne And sende vs loue & charyte, Þat we mowe to þat stede wynne, Wiþouten ende in ioye to be, Þat seynt Kateryne is Inne, Line 795 Amen, amen, pur charyte!

Explicit.

5. S. Kateryne, aus Ms. Cbr. Ff. II, 38, N. 24 (c. 1420).

Diese Leg. ist bereits abgedruckt in Halliwell's Contributions to early English Literature, London 1844 (for private circulation). Sie scheint aus einer älteren Ver|sion in sechszeil. Strophen aufgelöst.

Here foloweþ þe lyfe of seynt Kateryn.

All tho that be crystenyd & dere, Lystenyth, and ye may here The lyfe of a swete vyrgyne: Hur name ys clepydde Kateryne, The kyngys doghtur of Costentyne, Line 5 Of Alysaundur, as seythe the latyne. Yonge to Cryste sche can to fonge, Wolde sche not dwelle to longe: XVIII yere whan sche was oolde, Os hyt ys in boke tolde, Line 10 To Jhesu Cryste sche hur be-toke And worldely blys sche for-soke. In Alysaundur was a kynge, Crystendome louydde he nothynge: Maxent was hys name; Line 15 He dud þem to deþe & to schame [þem u. of ist zu tilgen.] Of all tho þat he wete myghte That be-leuydde on owre lorde bryȝt. He made a ryghte grete feste And sende ouer all hys londe, at hys heste Line 20 That þey schulde come in all wyse, For to do ther sacryfyse; And tho þat come ne wolde, He bad þat men þem take schulde And be-fore hym bryng þem ȝare — Line 25 That noon schulde they spare. The ryche come certeynleche And broghte wyth þem ryches moche, And the pore come also And aftur there ese broght tho. Line 30 In that londe was a mayde That the sacryfyse wyth-sayde; Sche wolde not come to hys seruyce Nor to do hym sacryfyse. He badde, to hym schulde come þe mayde. Line 35 "On whom be-leuyste þou? he sayde. "But thou leue on lay myne, On Tarmagaunt and Apolyne, Thou schalt be schent anon ryȝt". Than answeryd þe mayde bryȝt: Line 40 "Kyng, sche sayde, þou art on-ryghte. [Ms. on-ryghte st. onlede.] I woll not do be thy redde: Thy goddys be doome and dethe; [dethe st. defe, wie 436.] But on hym 'y be-leue That ys of heuyn & erþe kynge Line 45 And of noghte made all thynge. I drede me noght, wyth-owt blame, Thowe þou do me peyne & schame: Of my soule þou haste power noon To dethe hyt for to doone. Line 50 I be-leue in hys name That schall kepe my soule fro shame, That ys Jhesu, heuyn kynge And of noght made all thynge". Maxent was þan full woo, Line 55 Whan sche spake of Jhesu soo. Hys turmentourys he clepyd anone And bad in pryson sche schulde be done, In-to the darkest place. But Cryste Jhesu sente hur grace — Line 60 Blessyd be hys swete myghte! — He sente hur sone moche lyghte, That all þe prysone þere sche lay Was bryghter þen þe somers day; Aungels come to hur adowne Line 65 And soche yoye made in prysone, Bothe be day and be nyghte, That all þe men y-borne ne myȝt That yoye telle nor that blys That was ther-yn, wyth-owt mys. Line 70 The aungell to hur seyde: "Mayde, haue thou no drede! I-made ys thy wonnyng Before Jhesu, heuyne kynge".

The kyng Maxent anone than Line 75 Dud assembull all hys mene And can them aske os ȝerne: How þey myght the mayde turne To make hur to leue on hys lay. Some conne to hym say: Line 80 And he anone sende hys sonde [and = if, od. es fehlen Verse.] Aftur the wyseste of hys londe, That moche cowde of clargy: For they schulde þe mayde turne. The maysters were sone come Line 85 Before the kynge, all and some. And the kynge tolde þem thoo How he was in moche woo And how he had angur & payne Thorow the mayde Kateryne, Line 90 That he myȝt not hur to hys lay brynge; But yf they myght wyth ony thynge Turne hur owt of eresye And forsake the sone of Mary: "Gyftys y hur ȝyf wolde [l. ȝou st. hur.] Line 95 Of syluyr & of ryche golde". The fyrste maystyr to hur sayde: "On whom be-leuyste þou, feyre mayde? And why for-sakest thou owre lay?" Tho answeryd the feyre may: Line 100 "I be-leue on hym That ȝaf me lyfe and lyme, Maryes sone, heuyn kynge, That made of noghte all thynge And of seynt Mary was bore Line 105 Wyth-owt weme or ony sore. On that lorde ys all my thoghte, And noon odur kepe y noghte". He seyde: "thou spekyst grete folye Of Jhesu, þat was þe sone of Mary, Line 110 That he was of a vyrgyne bore Wyth-owt weme or ony sore. That ys not so, wele y wete, For in nature hyt ys wrete That no mayde chylde bere myghte Line 115 Ne forme noon be no ryghte But sche wyste of mannys moone — Soche sawe y neuyr noone. Thou schewyst here a false resone; Woman wyth-owt corrupcyone Line 120 Neuyr ȝyt chylde ne bare. Ryghte be-leue þou faylest thare". Sche sayde: "thou sayste not soþe of me, For ryght be-leue faylyth the. The holy-goste in Mary lyghte Line 125 And flesche and blode toke of hur in hys myȝt, And became man, thorow hys dyinge Owt of helle vs for to brynge, Thorow hys dethe and hys payne. Thou lyest, wrecche, in resone thyne Line 130 That hyt were aȝenste ryghte A mayde a chylde bere myghte. Cryste, that made all wyth oon thoghte, All þat here ys, of ryghte noghte, And may all do, that heuyn kynge, Line 135 Myght he not do soche a thynge, Whan he may all thynge doo? Fals maystyr, answere ther-too!" The fyrste maystyr fell a-downe. "I forsake, he seyde, Mahowne Line 140 And y be-leue on heuyn kynge, That lorde ys ouyr all thynge". The todur maystyrs ylke-oone On kneys þey felle downe anone And be-leuydde on Jhesu also. Line 145 Maxent hyght þem to be brent þo. But Jhesu sende hys sonde þat day, That none of þem, there they lay, Wyth the fyre ne persydde was, Nor no herre in that place Line 150 Nor ther cloþys neuyr-the-moo. Aungels come fro heuyn þo [Ms. An aungel.] And þer sowlys vp they bare; Before god they wonne there. Tho seyde Maxent to Kateryne: Line 155 "Wolt þou be-leue on goddys myne, To wyfe y wole haue the. In Alysaundyr, that feyre cete, An ymage y wole do make of golde, The feyrest that ys on molde, Line 160 That schall be the lyche; All that goon, pore and ryche, All they schall alowt to thee, Yf þou wylt alowte to me". Anone Kateryn to hym sayde: Line 165 "I woll note do be thy rede, I wole not for no erthely thynge

Leue Jhesu, heuyn kynge; He ys my lorde, that syttythe in blys. I kepe none of thy ryches". Line 170 Maxent tho wyth grete boste Made hur to be bownde to a poste, And let þem wyth ȝerdys kene Bete hur, tyll sche nye dedde (had) bene. The turmentours can hur smyte Line 175 Wyth scorges on hur body whyte, That hur body, there sche stode, Coueryd was wyth redde bloode, And rane downe on hur lyche Os watur dothe on the dyche. Line 180 Tho sayde Maxent to Kateryne: "Leue thy god and leue on myne! Or ellys, sekyr, y telle the, That thou schalt dedde bee". Sche seyde: "blessyd be heuyn kynge! Line 185 All my sorow & my peynynge Me thynkyth hyt softer þan ony sylke And swettur than ony mylke". To hys turmentours he can grete: "In-to prysone ye hur lede! Line 190 That mete nor drynke haue sche noone, Tyll thys weke be all goone!" Sche ne dranke nor sche ne ȝete. But Jhesu Cryste hur noght for-ȝate: Hys aungels he sente a-downe, Line 195 And soche yoye made in presone, Bothe be day and be nyghte, That noman hyt telle myghte. Of the lyght & of the melody Full sone harde Parforye. Line 200 That he had harde in presone, To the quene he went sone And tolde hur ther-of anone. Preuely thedur can þey gone. The preson-hows was full lyghte, Line 205 And fayre was to see þat syghte; Aungels song þey harde than — Ther myȝt neuer on erthe man Telle the yoye that þere was, That they harde in that place. Line 210 They spokyn in that hows: "Kateryn, they seyde, speke wyth vs That be-leuyn on Jhesus That dyedde for the loue of vs, And on hys swete pascione! Line 215 And we forsake false Mahowne And Maxent & hys felowe-rede". "Worschyppyd be Jhesu! þe mayde seyde, Be in beleue stedfaste, And be ye not agaste, Line 220 And wyth me ye schall martyrde bee And aftur heuyne ye schall see". Jhesu Cryste þey thanked moche And wente ageyne full stylleche. On morowe the mayde gente Line 225 Was broghte before Maxent. In newe peyne he had hur doo. The quene seyde Maxent vn-too: "Thou false, cursyde sarasyne, Thou schalt haue an euyll synne. [synne st. fyne.] Line 230 Helle hounde, þou fowle wyghte, Thou peynyste þat mayde wyth onryghte For sche beleueth on Jhesus That became man for þe loue of vs. Mahounde and the y forsake, Line 235 And to Jhesu y me be-take That swett for vs hys swete bloode". Tho Maxent was nere woode And bad anon hys turmentours: "Do hange hur be hur tresourys, [tresourys-tresses.] Line 240 And hur brestys drawe away! For sche sakyth owre lay. [sakyth st. forsakyth.] And when ye haue so seruydde hyr, Ye schall hur owt of towne bere, And let no-man hur body berye Line 245 But let howndys hur wery!" Whan Parfory harde that, Hym thoght hys herte brake. "Hounde, he seyde, god ys þe schame! [yf=ȝyf, giue, wie 322.] Why thretyst thou hur and mee(!) Line 250 That we may not in erthe be doo?" Hys turmentours he clepydde thoo And badde anone Parforye nyme And do hym lose lyfe and lyme. Parfory a schylde and a spere nam Line 255 And sone aȝenst them ranne: Of IIII thousande of hys mene He lefte alyue neuyr oone. Maxent quakyd, there he stode, For drede he wexyd nere wode. Line 260 Kateryn can to Parfory grete: [grete st. grede, wie 189.]

"Parfory, let be þy fyghtyng! sche seyde, Yf þou wylt wyth me martyrd be, Fyghtynge þou muste leue, y telle the, And take lyghtly thy payne Line 265 For goddys loue, os y do myne". He threwe the schylde owt of hys honde, That all on pecys hyt wonde, And besoght hur, to prey hur lord vnto To forgyf hym that he had mysdoo. Line 270 And on kneys he felle downe, And there he forsoke Mahowne And beleuyd on Crystys lawe. Maxent comawndyd wyth horsys hym to drawe And hys quene also. Line 275 Aungels come fro heuyn thoo And ther soulys to heuyn bere; Before god tronyd they were. Kateryn þerof was full blythe And thankyd god fele sythe. Line 280 Ȝyt seyde Maxent to Kateryne: "Forsake thy god and leue on myne! And yf thou wylt soo, Of peynes schalt þou haue no moo, But all y wyll foryeue thee Line 285 That thou haste seyde and do to mee". Than answeryd Kateryne: "No-thyng helpyth the nor thyne. My maydenhode & my loue I haue geuyn hyt to god aboue; Line 290 To forsake hym, hyt were grete schame, For thy malys or for thy blame. But yf thou wylt well doo, In my god thou leue alsoo, And forsake thy mawmentys, Line 295 That fro þe blys of heuyn þe lettys! And do, as y schall teche the: Beleue vpon the trynyte, Fadur and sone and holy goste, That ar of all myghtys moost Line 300 And made all thynge of noghte, And wyth hys blode vs dere haþ boghte; And beleue ryghte wyttyrly That he toke flesche of Mary And on þe crosse loste hys brethe Line 305 And for vs suffurde dethe, The þrydde day he rose fro deþe to lyfe And aftur steyede to heuyn blyue, And thens schall come aȝeyne, The qwyck & the dedde to deme. Line 310 And yf thou wylt beleue soo, I telle the wyth-owt moo We schall ȝylde to god owre loue, To Jhesu Cryste, þat syttyth aboue". Maxent sawe sone well Line 315 That sche wolde not chaunge neuer a delle Neythur turne hur beleue, For noþyng þat he myȝt hur greue. In hys court was a false traytoure, That was a grete yngynore: Line 320 Curfatys hys name was bowne — Cryste yf hym hys malysone! He seyde to the kynge than: "An yngyne y make cane, [And st. An.] And whan sche ys lokkyd therone, Line 325 I trowe sche schall chaunge anone". He made IIII whelys thoo, Eche contrary fro odur can goo; Hyt was made full weywarde Full of crokys of stele harde. Line 330 Therwyth þey þoght þe mayde to sloo, Betwene þe whelys þey set hur thoo. Sche lokyd vp to heuyn lyghte: "Jhesu, sche seyde, full of myghte, Haue mercy on me, Line 335 For here y schall marturde bee! For thys turnament ys so deuysyd: I schall be in my blode baptysyd". The cursyd folke, that there were, The whelys can þey turne there. Line 340 But Jhesu Cryste, heuyn kynge, That mayde forgate he nothynge: Aungels downe to hur he sente, And the whelys all to-rente; The pecys that abowte wonde Line 345 Smote the folke down to þe grownde: XL thousande there were yslawe That had thoght þe mayde to drawe. The folke that the myracull sye Turnyd anone to Jhesu in hye. — Line 350 And were slayne be Maxent; Hur soulys anon to heuyn wente. Maxent anon was full woo For hys men were slawe soo.

Ȝyt he thoght wyth false tresone Line 355 How he myght hur brynge to dominacione. "Wolt thou, my doghtyr Kateryne, Forsake goddys thyne And beleue on hym þat y beleue, And thy lyfe y wole the yeue; Line 360 For me thynkyth, be my lewte! Hyt were grete rewthe to sle the. And yf thou wylt not assent þerto, Anon þou schalt to dethe be doo". Than answeryd that blessyd mayde Line 365 And to Maxent sone sche sayde: "Hyt greuyth me not of þy peyne Nor to be dedde, certeyne, For y am sekure, in haste To come to þe blys þat euer schall laste. Line 370 Y see that swete companye That schall me brynge to heuyn in hye Before my lorde, Jhesu Cryste. All thy doynge ys but a myste". The teraunt to hys folke can say: Line 375 "Ye that me loue be ony way How myghte y beste vengeaunce take On thys deuyll, þat hath me forsake And my goddys also? What ys me beste to do hur to?" Line 380 Than the cursyd pepull in hye Wyth lowde voyce can to hym crye: "Do hur owt of towne lede And do smyte of hur hede!" The mayde was owt of þe towne ladde, Line 385 As the kynge them badde, And anon can hur tryppe — [tryppe = to trip.] Many for hur there can wepe. And oon of the caytyveys Drowe hys swerde blyuys Line 390 And badde hur stowpe adowne — To smyte of hur hedde, he was bowne. And as he wolde haue do þat dede, "Abyde a lytyll whyle, sche sayde, Whyll y make a lytyll prayere Line 395 To Jhesus, that boght me dere! "Hye kynge in trynyte, Haue now mercy on mee! And all þat haue in the creauns Thou haue þem fro þe fendys comberauns, [haue st. saue.] Line 400 And all that haue goode deuocyone And rewyth on thy pascyone, Fro the fende thou them were, That no deuyll them ne dere! Also, lorde, y prey the eke: Line 405 Tho that my body seke In thy name, lorde, so mylde, Fro all euyll þou þem schylde! Also, lorde, y prey the dere: Of these caytyfys that be here, Line 410 That for thy loue & for thy name Haue do me peyne and schame: For they wot not what þey doone, Lorde, forgyf them anone! And y forgeue them aȝenste me. Line 415 In manus tuas, domine, My soule to the y comawnde". [Ms. comawnde st. comende.] Jhesu an aungell downe can sende, And seyde: "Kateryne, Jhesus hath herde prayere thyne Line 420 And the hath grauntyd sekyrly All that of hym þou doyst asky. Owt of peyne anone þou hye — Thy yoye ys dyght rychely". Kateryn, that swete flowre, Line 425 Clepyd anon the turmentoure And bad hym hur hedde of to smyte Wyth hys swerde, that wolde byte. Hur hedde he smote to the grounde. Mylke there os blode owt wonde. Line 430 Aungels owt of heuyn ther come And the sowle to heuyn þey nome, And aftur beryed hur body In the mounte of Synay In a well feyre tombe. Line 435 There ys made hole dethe & dombe. Fowre stremys, sothe hyt ys, Renne owt of the tombe, ywys, Of oyle fro the maydenys breste. There hath be botyde moost and leste; Line 440 Many haue there kaght ther heele — No tonge may telle how fele. Cryste thorow preying of þat vyrgyne Schylde vs fro helle pyne And brynge vs to that blys Line 445 There that mayde dwellyng ys! Amen.

6. De Erkenwalde. (S. Erkenwald tauft einen Leichnam). aus Ms. Harl. 2250, fol. 72b. (Westnördl. Dialect.)

In halt. Bald nach der Bekehrung der Sachsen durch S. Augustin wird beim Neubau des "S. Paul's Münsters", des alten Heidentempels "Triapolitan", in London, dem "neuen Troja" der Heidenzeit, ein wunderschönes steinernes Grab gefunden, mit seltsamen goldenen Zeichen geziert, die Niemand lesen kann. Auf die Kunde hiervon strömt ganz London herbei. Der Maire befiehlt das Grab zu öffnen: da findet man einen Leichnam, königlich geschmückt, in reichem goldumsäumten Gewande, mit Krone und Scepter, und, seltsam, alles unversehrt, den Leichnam noch rosig und frisch wie schlafend. Aber Niemand kennt ihn, der doch erst vor kurzem gestorben scheint. Der Fund wird dem Bischofe Londons, S. Erkenwald, der gerade zur Visi|tation einer Abtei in Essex weilt, gemeldet. Er eilt herbei, schliesst das Grab ab und verbringt die Nacht im Gebet zu Gott, das Geheimniss zu lösen. Am andern Morgen singt er das Hochamt vor allem Volke und geht dann zum Grabe. Der Dechant berichtet wie man vergeblich 7 Tage lang die Todtenregister durchsucht, um ūber den Todten Auskunft zu finden; aber Erkenwald weist auf die Allmacht Gottes, der die Räthsel lösen könne, tritt dann an den Leichnam und heisst ihn in Christi Namen sagen, wer er sei. Dieser antwortet, dass er kein Kaiser oder König, sondern ein Richter im "neuen Troja" gewesen, vor vielen vielen Jahren, 1033 Jahre vor Chr. G., 482 Jahre nach Brutus' Erbauung der Stadt, unter der Regierung des Bretonenkönigs Belin. Auf die Frage, warum er denn Krone und Scepter trage, antwortet er: weil er ein gerechter Richter gewesen, der nicht nach dem Ansehen der Person, nicht um Lohn oder Lob gerichtet, darum habe ihn das "neue Troja" königlich geehrt, als den König der Richter. Der Bischof fragt ihn dann, warum sein Gewand, seine Farbe so frisch und unversehrt geblieben; er erwiedert, der himmlische König der Gerech|tigkeit habe ihn so auszeichnen wollen, weil er Gerechtigkeit geübt. "Aber wo ist deine Seele, wenn du so gerecht warst?" Da stöhnt der Todte und spricht zu Gott: "O mächtiger Schöpfer, wie konntest du deine Gnade mir zuwenden, da ich ein Heide, unkundig deines Gesetzes? Ach, ich gehörte nicht zur Schaar der Erlösten, da du zur Hölle fuhrst und sie befreitest! Da wohne ich noch, im Dunkel des Todes, weil die Taufe und der Glaube mich nicht geheiligt. Ach, was helfen mir nun meine guten Werke?" Alle weinen, die das hören; der Bischof schluchzt lange, wortlos; endlich spricht er unter strömenden Thränen: "Wollte Gott, dass du lebtest bis ich Wasser geholt und es auf dich aufgegossen mit den Worten: Ich taufe dich im Namen des Vaters, Sohnes und heil. Geistes!" Während er so spricht, siehe da tropfen die Thränen auf das Grab und eine fällt auf des Todten Antlitz. "Nun preise ich Gott", so spricht er, "und danke dir, o Bischof, da die Worte, die du gesprochen, und die Thräne, die du vergossen, meine Taufe geworden; ein himmlischer Lichtstrahl hat in den Abgrund geschienen und meine Seele emporgehoben, dass ich nun sitze am himmlischen Mahle". Und plötzlich verstummt er, der Leichnam verweste, das eitle sterbliche Theil zerfiel.

Diese Legende gehört zu der Gruppe der westnördlichen alliterirenden (grossen|theils ungereimten) Dichtungen der 2. Hälfte des 14. Jhdts, wie Troy Book, Morte Arthur, Gawayne, Alliter. Poems ed. Morris, Susanne u. a., denen von anderer Seite schottischer Ursprung (als Werke des schottischen Dichters Huchowne) vindicirt wird. Skeat in seinem Verzeichniss der alliterirenden Dichtungen führt diese Legende nicht auf und scheint sie also nicht gekannt zu haben; vgl. An Essay on Allit. Poetry, by W. Skeat. Der Stil hat den Character des Grossartigen und Erhabenen, in den Formen und im Geiste der angelsächsischen Poesie, deren künstliche Wiederbelebung die spätern alliterirenden Dichtungen erzeugt hat.

At Londone in Englonde, noȝt fulle longe sythene Sythene Crist suffride one crosse & cristendome stablyde, Ther was a byschop in þat burghe, blessyd & sacryd: Saynt Erkenwolde, as I hope, þat holy mon hatte. In his tyme in þat tone þe temple aldergrattyst [Ms. ton,] Line 5 Was drawene done, þat one dole to dedifie new, [Ms. don mit Abbr. für e, = toun doun.] [dole = dale part. dedifie = edifie, zur Allitter., wie v. 23 u. daungerde = angerde 320.] For hit hethene had bene in Hengyst dawes, Þat þe Saxones vnsaȝt hadene sende hyder. [vnsaȝt dissatisfied.] Þai bete oute þe Bretons & broȝt hom in-to Wales, & peruertyd alle þe pepul þat in þat place dwellide. Line 10 Þene wos this reame renaide mony ronke ȝeres, Til saynt Austyne in-to Sandewiche was sende fro þe pope: [renaide = renegade, disbelieving, so M. Arth. 2913, 3572, 3892.] Þen prechyd he here þe pure faythe & plantyd þe trouthe & conuertyd alle þe communnates to cristendame newe. He turnyd temples þat tyme þat temyd to þe deuelle, Line 15 & clansyd hom in Cristes nome & kyrkes home callid, He hurlyd owt hor ydols & hade hym in sayntes, [hym acc. pl. (sonst hom).] & chaungit cheuely hor nomes & chargit home better: Þat ere was of Appolyne, is now of saynt Petre, Mahone to saynt Margrete oþer to Maudelayne, Line 20 Þe Synagoge of þe sonne was sett to oure lady, Jubiter & Jono to Jhesu oþer to James. So he home dedifiet & dyght alle to dere halowes, Þat ere wos sett of Sathanas in Saxones tyme. Now þat Londone is neuenyd, hatte "þe new Troie" — Line 25 Þe metropol & þe mayster-tone hit euermore has bene. Þe mecul mynster þerinne a maghty deuel aght, & þe title of þe temple bitan was his name, For he was dryghtyne derrest of ydols praysid; And þe solempnest of his sacrifices in Saxone londes, Line 30 Þe thrid temple hit wos tolde of Triapolitanes — By alle Bretaynes bonkes were bot othire twayne. — Now of þis Augustynes art is Erkenwolde bischop At loue Londone tone, & the laghe teches, [loue great, immense, vgl. lawe Troy B. 2441 (leue ib. 12555).]

Syttes semely in þe sege of saynt Paule mynster, Line 35 Þat was þe temple Triapolitan, as I tolde are. Þene was hit abatyd & beten done, & buggyd efte new, A noble note for þe nones, & new werke hit hatte. Mony a mery masone was made þer to wyrke, Harde stones for to hewe w^t eggit toles; Line 40 Mony grubber in grete þe grounde for to seche, Þat þe fundement one fyrst shuld þe fote halde. & as þai makkyde & mynyde, a meruayle þai foundene, As ȝet in crafty cronecles is kydde þe memorie: For as þai dyȝt & dalfe so depe in-to þe erthe, Line 45 Þai foundene fourmyt one a flore a ferly faire toumbe. Hit was a throghe of thykke stone, thryuandly hewene, W^t gargeles garnysht aboute, alle of gray marbre; Thre sperlis of þe spelunke þat spradde hit o lofte [Ms. sperlis od. spertis?] Was metely made of þe marbre & menskefully planede; Line 50 & þe bordure enbelicit w^t bryȝt golde lettres — Bot roynyshe were þe resones þat þer one row stodene. Fulle verray were þe vigures. þer auisyde hom mony, Bot alle muset hit to mouthe & quat hit mene shulde. [to mouthe to speak.] Mony clerke in þat clos, w^t crownes ful brode, [Ms. clerkis?] Line 55 Þer besiet hom aboute noȝt, to brynge home in wordes. Quen tithynges tokene to þe tone of þe toumbe-wonder, Mony hundrid hende mene highide þider sone. Burgeys boghit þer-to, bedels ande othire, [boghit went v. boȝen.] & mony a mesters mon of maners dyuerse; Line 60 Laddes laftene hor werke & lepene þiderwardes, Ronnen radly in route w^t ryngande noyce. Þer commene þider of alle kynnes so kenely mony, Þat as alle þe worlde were þider walon w^t-in a honde-quile. Quen þe maire w^t his meynye þat meruaile aspied, Line 65 By assent of þe sextene þe sayntuare þai keptene, Bede vnlouke þe lidde & lay hit byside: Þai wolde loke one þat lome quat lengyd w^t-Inne. Wyȝt werke-men w^t þat wenten þer-tille, Putten prises þer-to, pinchid one vnder, Line 70 Kaghtene by þe corners w^t crowes of yrne, And, were þe lydde neuer so large, þai laide hit by sone. Bot þen wos wonder to wale one wehes þat stodene [wehe,] That myȝt not come to to knowe a quontyse strange— So was þe glode w^t-in gay, al w^t golde payntyde. [glode = clyde plaister?] Line 75 & a blisfulle body opone þe bothum lyggid, Araide one a riche wise in rialle wedes: Al w^t glisnande golde his gowne wos hemmyd,

W^t mony a precious perle picchit þer-one; & a gurdille of golde bigripide his mydelle; Line 80 A meche mantel one lofte w^t menyuer furrit, Þe clothe of camelyne ful clene, w^t cumly bordures; & one his coyfe wos kest a coroun ful riche, [coyfe hier = Kopf.] & a semely septure sett in his honde. Als wemles were his wedes w^t-outen any teiche, [teiche, sranz. tache = fault, wie teche Allit. P. B 1230, teccheles Troy B. 917.] Line 85 Oþer of moulynge oþer of motes oþir moght fretene, & als bryȝt of hor blee in blysnande hewes, [Ms. hȳ = hyn, in.] As þai hade ȝepely in þat ȝorde bene ȝisturday shapene; & als freshe hyn þe face & the ffleshe nakyde — Bi his eres & bi his hondes þat openly shewid, Line 90 W^t ronke rode as þe rose, & two rede lippes, [rode, rubor.] As he in sounde sodanly were slippide opone slepe. [sounde, sanitas, so Gaw. 2488.] Þer was spedeles space to spyr vsch one oþer [Ms. vschon st. vch on.] Quat body hit myȝt be þat buried wos ther; How longe had he þer layne, his lere so vnchaungit Line 95 & al his wede vnwemmyd, þus ylka weghe askyd. [weghe, man, person (ags. wiga warrier).] "Hit myȝt not be bot suche a mone in myde stode longe; He has bene kynge of þis kithe, as couthely hit semes. He lyes doluene þus depe, hit is a derfe wonder." Bot summe segge couthe say þat he hym sene hade — Line 100 Bot þat ilke note wos noght, for nourne none couthe, Noþer by title ne tokene ne by tale noþer Þat euer wos breuyt in burghe ne in boke notyde, [Ms. boko st. bokis?] Þat euer mynnyd suche a mone, more ne lasse. [Ms. more st. mone?] Þe bodeworde to þe byschop was broght one a quile, Line 105 Of þat buriede body al þe bolde wonder. Þe primate w^t his prelacie was partyd fro home: In Esex was ser Erkenwolde, ane abbay to visite. Tulkes toldene hyme þe tale w^t troubulle in þe pepul, And suche a cry aboute a cors crakit euer more. Line 110 The bischop sende hit to blynne, by bedels & lettres, Ande buskyd þiderwarde by tyme one his blonke after. [blonke = (white)horse; dass. bez. meere 114.] By þat he come to þe kyrke kydde of saynt Paule, Mony hym mettene on þat meere, þe meruayle to telle. He passyd in-to his palais & pes he comaundit, Line 115 & deuoydit fro þe dede & ditte þe durre after. — Þe derke nyȝt one drofe & day-belle ronge: And ser Erkenwolde was vp in þe vghtene ere þene, [vghten morning.] Þat welneghe al þe nyȝt hade naityd his houres, [Ms. nattyd st. naityd, isl. njota, to use, ply.] To biseche his souerayne of his swete grace Line 120

Line 120 To vouche safe, to reuele hym hit by a vis(i)one or elles: "Þaghe I be vnworthi", al wepande he sayde, Thurghe his deere debonerte, "digne hit, my lorde, In confirmynge þi cristen faithe fulsene me to kenne [fulsene = filsyn fulsten to aid.] Þe mysterie of þis meruaile þat mene opone wondres!" Line 125 & so longe he grette after grace, þat he graunte hade: Ane ansuare of þe holy goste. & afterwarde hit dawid. Mynster-dores were makyd opone, quene matens were songene: Þe byschop hym shope solemply to synge þe heghe-masse. Þe prelate in pontificals was prestly atyride, Line 130 Manerly w^t his ministres þe masse he begynnes Of sp(iritu)s d(o)m(ini) for his spede one sutile wise, W^t queme questis of þe quere, w^t ful quaynt notes. Mony a gay grete lorde was gedrid to herkene hit, As þe rekenest of þe reame repairene þider ofte. [reken noble, worthy.] Line 135 Tille cessyd was þe seruice & sayde þe later ende: Þene heldyt fro þe autere alle þe heghe gynge. [heldyt v. helden to bend to, to go. gyng company (so in Troy B., Allit. P.).] Þe prelate passide one þe playne — þer plied to hym lordes — As riche reuestid as he was, he rayked to þe toumbe. Mene vnclosid hym þe cloyster w^t clustrede keies— Line 140 Bot pyne wos w^t þe grete prece þat passyd hyme after. The byschop come to þe burynes, him barones besyde, Þe maire w^t mony maȝti mene & macers before hyme. Þe dene of þe dere place deuysit al one fyrst Þe fyndynge of þat ferly, w^t fynger he mynte: Line 145 "Lo, lordes", quaþ þat lede, "suche a lyche here is, Has layne lokene here one loghe, how longe, is vnknawene, [loghe altnord. lagr = pit, deep, so All. P. B. 366.] & ȝet his colour & his clothe has caȝt no defaute Ne his lire, ne þe lome þat he is layde Inne. Þer is no lede opone lyfe of so longe age Line 150 Þat may mene in his mynde þat suche a mone regnyd, Ne noþer his nome ne his note nourne of one speche; Queþer mony porer in þis place is putte into graue [queþer tamen.] Þat merkid is in oure martilage his mynde for euer. & we haue oure librarie laitid þes longe seuene dayes, Line 155 Bot one clucle of þis kynge cone we neuer fynde. [clucle = clutch (l. cluche?).] He has non layne here so longe, to loke hit by kynde, To malte so out of memorie, bot meruayle hit were." "Þou says soþe", quaþ þe segge þat sacrid was byschop; "Hit is meruaile to mene, þat mountes to litelle Line 160 Towarde þe prouidens of þe prince þat paradis weldes, Quene hym luste to vnlouke þe lefte of his myȝtes. Bot quene matyd is monnes myȝt & his mynde passyde

And al his resons are to-rent & redeles he stondes, Þene lettis hit hym ful litelle to louse wyt a fynger Line 165 Þat alle þe hondes vnder heuen halde myȝt neuer; Þere as creatures crafte of counselle oute swarues, Þe comforthe of þe creatore byhoues þe cure take. & so do we now oure dede, deuyne we no fyrre — To seche þe sothe at oure-selfe, ȝee se þer no bote — Line 170 Bot glow we alle opone godde & his grace aske, [glow, T. B. glogh = to gaze, blicken.] Þat careles is of counselle & comforthe to sende. & þat in fastynge of ȝour faithe & of fyne bileue I shal auay ȝow so verrayly of vertues his, [auaye frz. avoier, to show, so in All. P. B. 1311, 1358.] Þat ȝe may leue vpone longe þat he is lord myȝty Line 175 & fayne ȝour talent to fulfille, if ȝe hym frende leues". Thene he turnes to þe toumbe & talkes to þe corce, Lyftande vp his eghe-lyddes he loused suche wordes: "Now, lykhame, þat þou lies layne þou no lenger! Sythene Jhesus has iuggit to-day his ioy to be schewyde, Line 180 Be þou bone to his bode, I bydde in his behalue; As he was bende one a beme, quene he his blode schedde, As þou hit wost wyterly & we hit wele leuene, Ansuare here to my sawe, councele no trouthe! Sithene we wot not qwo þou art, witere vs þi-selwene, Line 185 In worlde quat weghe þou was & quy þow þus ligges, How longe þou has layne here & quat laghe þou vsyt, Queþer art þou ioyned to ioy oþer iuggid to pyne?" Quene þe segge hade þus sayde & syked þer-after, Þe bryȝt body in þe burynes brayed a litelle, Line 190 & w^t a drery dreme he dryues owte wordes Þurghe sum lant goste, lyfe of hyme þat al redes: [lant, auch 272, = lent, vgl. lanteȝ All. P. B. 348.] "Bisshop", quaþ þis ilke body, "þi boode is me dere, I may not bot boghe to þi bone for bothe myne eghene: To þe name þat þou neuenyd has & nournet me after Line 195 Al heuene & helle heldes to & erthe bitwene. Fyrst to say the þe sothe quo my-selfe were: One þe vnhapnest hathel þat euer one erthe ȝode, [vnhapnest v. vnhappen unfortunate All. P. B. 573. hathel a noble, man.] Neuer kynge ne cayser ne ȝet no knyȝt nothyre, Bot a lede of þe laghe þat þene þis londe vsit. [lede ags leód = man, person.] Line 200 I was committid & made a mayster-mone here To sytte vpone sayd causes; þis cite I ȝemyd, Vnder a prince of parage of paynymes laghe, & vche segge þat him sewide, þe same faythe trowid. Þe lengthe of my lyuing here þat is a lewid date, [Ms. nōmbre, wie 289.] Line 205 Hit (is) to meche to any mone to make of a noumbre: [is fehlt im Ms.]

After þat Brutus þis burghe had buggid one fyrste Noȝt bot fife hundred ȝere þer aghtene wontyd, Before þat kynned ȝour Criste by cristene acounte A þousande ȝere & þritty mo & ȝet threnene aght. [þrenene 3, vgl. þrynne All. P. B. 606, 1727.] Line 210 I was ane heire of anoye in þe new Troie [heire = here, a man, person T. B.; heire of anoye, ein gefürchteter Herr; vgl. noye T. B. 3701.] In þe regne of þe riche kynge þat rewlit vs þene, The bolde Bretone ser Belyne, ser Berynge was his brothire — Mony one was þe busmare bodene home bitwene For hor wrakeful werre, quil hor wrathe lastyd. Line 215 Þene was I iuge here enioynyd in gentil lawe". Quil he in spelunke þus spake, þer sprange in þe pepulle In al þis worlde no worde, ne wakenyd no noice, Bot al as stille as þe stone stodene & listonde, With meche wonder forwrast, & wepid ful mony. Line 220 The bisshop biddes þat body: "biknowe þe cause, Sithene þou was kidde for no kynge, quy þou þe croun weres? Quy haldes þou so heghe in honde þe septre & hades no londe of lege men, ne life ne lyme aghtes?" "Dere ser", quaþ þe dede body, "deuyse þe I thenke. [deuyse hier = describe, wie All. P. A. 99, 984.] Line 225 Al was hit neuer my wille þat wroght þus hit were. I wos deputate & domesmane vnder a duke noble, & in my power þis place was putte al-to-geder: I iustifiet þis ioly toun one gentil wise & euer in fourme of gode faithe, more þene fourty wynter. Line 230 Þe folke was felouse & fals & frowarde to reule — I hent harmes ful ofte, to holde home to riȝt; Bot for wothe ne wele ne wrathe ne drede Ne for maystrie ne for mede ne for no monnes aghe I remewit neuer fro þe riȝt by resone myne awene Line 235 For to dresse a wrange dome, no day of my lyue, Declynet neuer my consciens for couetise one erthe In no gynful iugement no iapes to make; Were a renke neuer so riche, for reuerens sake, Ne for no monnes manas ne meschefe ne routhe, Line 240 None gete me fro þe heghe gate to glent out of ryȝt, [glent = glide, slip, fall, wie All. P. A. 631. sonst = gleam, glitter (Sk. glent glint).] Als ferforthe as my faithe confourmyd myn hert. Þaghe had bene my fader bone, I bede hym no wranges, [bone = bane murderer.] Ne fals fauour to my fader, þaghe felle hyme be hongyt. & for I was ryȝtwis & rekene & redy of þe laghe: Line 245 Quene I deghed, for dul denyed alle Troye, [denyed = dinned resounded.] Alle menyd my dethe, þe more & the lasse. & þus to bounty my body þai buriet in golde,

Claddene me for þe curtest þat courte couthe þen holde, In mantel for þe mekest & monlokest one benche, Line 250 Gurdene me for þe gouernour & graythist of Troie, Furrid me for þe fynest of faithe me w^t-inne, For þe honour of myne honeste of heghest enprise Þai coronyd me þe kidde kynge of kene iustises Þat euer wos tronyd in Troye oþer trowid euer shulde, [Ms. þer st. þat.] Line 255 And for I rewardid euer riȝt, þai raght me the septre". Þe bisshop baythes hym ȝet w^t bale at his hert: [baythes = asks? Gaw. baythe = consent, grant 1404, 1840, 327.] Þaghe men menskid him so, how hit myȝt worthe Þat his clothes were so clene. "In cloutes, me thynkes, Hom burde haue rotid & bene rent in rattis longe sythene. [rattes = rags.] Line 260 Þi body may be enbawmyd, hit bashis me noght, Þat hit thar ryue ne rote ne no ronke wormes(!); [ryue od. ryne? vor no fehlt fede?] Bot þi coloure ne þi clothe I know in no wise How hit myȝt lye by monnes lore & last so longe". "Nay, bisshop", quaþ þat body, "enbawmyd wos I neuer, Line 265 Ne no monnes counselle my clothe has kepyd vnwemmyd, Bot þe riche kynge of resone, þat riȝt euer alowes [alow reward.] & loues al þe lawes lely þat longene to trouthe, & more he menskes mene for mynnynge of riȝtes [Ms. moste st. more.] Þen for al þe meritorie medes þat men one molde vsene. Line 270 & if renkes for riȝt þus me arayed has, He has lant me to last, þat loues ryȝt best". "Ȝea, bot sayes þou of þi saule", þen sayd þe bisshop, "Quere is ho stablid & stadde, if þou so streȝt wroghtes? He þat rewardes vche a renke as he has riȝt seruyd Line 275 Myȝt euel forgo the to gyfe of his grace summe brawnche, For as he says in his sothe psalmyde writtes: [skelton v. skelt = hasten run, so in Allit. P. B. 1554.] Þe skilfulle & þe vnskathely skeltone ay to me. Forþi say me of þi soule, in sele quere ho wonnes, And of þe riche restorment þat raȝt hyr oure lorde". Line 280 Þen hummyd he þat þer lay, & his hedde waggyd, & gefe a gronynge ful grete, & to godde sayde: "Maȝty maker of mene, thi myghtes are grete! How myȝt þi mercy to me amounte any tyme? Nas I a paynym vnpreste þat neuer thi plite knewe Line 285 Ne þi mesure of þi mercy ne þi mecul vertue? Bot ay a freke faitheles þat faylid þi laghes, [freke man, ags. freca warrior.] Þat euer þou, lord, wos louyd in? Allas, þe harde stoundes! I was none of þe noumbre þat þou w^t noy boghtes, W^t þe blode of thi body vpone þe blo rode; Line 290 Quene þou herghedes helle-hole & hentes hom þer-oute, Þi loffynge, oute of limbo, þou laftes me þer. [Ms. ne st. me.]

& þer sittes my soule þat se may no fyrre, Dwynande in þe derke dethe, þat dyȝt vs oure fader, Adam, oure alder, þat ete of þat appulle Line 295 Þat mony a plyȝtles pepul has poysned for euer. [plyȝtles = faultles.] Ȝe were entouchid w^t his tethe & take in þe glotte, [glotte st. glette?] Bot, mendyd w^t a medecyne, ȝe are made for to lyuye: Þat is fulloght in fonte, w^t faitheful bileue, & þat hane we myste alle merciles, myselfe & my soule. Line 300 Quat wane we w^t oure wele-dede, þat wroghtyne ay riȝt, Quene we are dampnyd dulfully into þe depe lake & exilid fro þat soper so, þat solempne fest Þer richely hit arne refetyd þat after right hungride? My soule may sitte þer in sorow & sike, ful colde, Line 305 Dymly in þat derke dethe, þer dawes neuer morowene, [Ms. dynly st. dimly.] Hungre in-w^t helle-hole & herkene after meeles, Longe er ho þat soper se, oþer segge hyr to lathe". Þus dulfully þis dede body deuisyt hit sorowe, Þat alle wepyd for woo, þe wordes þat herdene. Line 310 & þe bysshop balefully bere done his eghene, Þat hade no space to speke so spakly — he ȝoskyd. [spakly quickly.] Til he toke hyme a tome & to þe toumbe lokyd, To þe liche þer hit lay w^t lauande teres: [lauande pouring, flowing, so All. P. B. 366.] "Oure lord lene, quaþ þat lede, þat þou lyfe hades Line 315 By goddis leue, as longe as I myȝt lacche water & cast vpone þi faire cors & carpe þes wordes: I folwe þe in þe fader nome & his fre childes & of þe gracious holy goste — & not one grue lenger. [grue? Ms. undeutlich. grue = gre? wie Gaw. 2251 I schal gruch þe no grwe.] Þene þof þou droppyd doun dede, hit daungerde me lasse!" [daungerde = angerd.] Line 320 W^t þat worde þat he warpyd þe wete of eghene & teres trillyd adoun & one þe toumbe lightene: & one felle one his face: & þe freke syked. Þene sayd he w^t a sadde soun: "oure sauyoure be louyd! Now herid be þou, heghe god, & þi hende moder, Line 325 & blissid be þat blisful houre þat ho the bere in! & also be þou, bysshop, þe bote of my sorowe & þe relefe of þe lodely lures þat my soule has leuyd in! For þe wordes þat þou werpe, & þe water þat þou sheddes, Þe bryȝt bourne of þin eghene, my bapteme is worthyne; Line 330 Þe fyrst slent þat one me slode, slekkyd al my tene. [slent Sw. slinta to slip, Gaw. 1260 slenting = shooting, glansing.] Ryȝt now to soper my soule is sette at þe table, For w^t þe wordes & þe water þat weshe vs of payne Liȝtly lasshit þer a leme loghe in þe abyme, Þat spakly sprent my spyrit w^t vnsparid murthe Line 335

Line 335 In-to þe cenacle, solemply þer soupene alle trew; & þer a marcialle hyr mette w^t menske alder-grattest [marciall = marshal.] & w^t reuerence a rowme he raȝt hyr for euer. I heere þerof my heghe god & also þe, bysshop, Fro bale has broȝt vs to blis! blessid þou worth!" Line 340 Wyt this cessyd his sowne, sayd he no more. Bot sodenly his swete chere swyndid & faylide And alle the blee of his body wos blakke, as þe moldes, As rotene as þe rottok þat rises in powdere. For assone as þe soule was sesyd in blisse, Line 345 Corrupt was þat oþer crafte þat couert þe bones — For þe ay-lastande life, þat lethe shalle neuer, Deuoydes vche a vayne glorie, þat vayles so litelle. [loves = hands, so K. Alexand. p. 71 u. Allit. P. B. 987 (Altnord. lofi).] Þene wos louynge oure lorde w^t loves vp haldene, Meche mournynge & myrthe was mellyd to-geder. Line 350 Þai passyd forthe in processione, & alle þe pepulle folowid, And alle þe belles in þe burghe beryd at ones.

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, [am Rande steht: Fuit homo missus a deo cui nomen erat.] Many marwylles þer af bene falle: [af = haf, von derselben Hand nebengeschr. [ist af bene falle in af befalle zu bessern (Ms. af bene falle) --Corrigenda.]] Þe qwylk, if þai were alle throgh-soght, [q ist vor wylk vorgeschr.] 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 [a. R.: Veritas corruit inplateis. wyt = wyth.] Sothefastnes es alle falne downe.

Bot þat god of hys specyalte Schewes on herthe emang vs here, [herthe, wie 31, = erthe.] 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 [þe = þo?] Line 25 Of þe precius blode þat in Hayles is, [is aus es corr.] To knaw how it was broght abowte, Take hede & rede owre þis, [Ms. hete st. hede. owre = over, wie 35.]

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, [Dieser Vers ist durchstrichen v. a. H.] 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. — [l. reclesnes.]

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, [Dieser Jude ist Joseph v. Arimathia, dessen Namen der Dichter verschweigt]

Bot of þer perfyte he was not so, [Ms. perfyte = perfidy od. st. perversite verschr.] 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, [a. R.: In omni gente quicunque fecerit voluntatem dei e. c.] 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, [toght = thoght.] 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 [a. R.: Sanguinem sensim et guttatim hauriet de fontibus e. c.] 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. [þai fehlt im Ms.] 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. [euere = euery (vgl. Herre 185).]

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 — [Ms. stregh.]

As god prophesyd in hys gospell: "Þi enmys sal a-bowte þe gone [a. R.: Circumdabunt te inimici tui vallo et coangustabunt te.] & sal dystroy bothe flesche & fell Line 95 & leue no howse nor stone opo stone". [opo st. opon.]

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. [Iwen = iwin, ivy.]

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, [Ms. scheinbar berende.]

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, [Ms. whe.] To þe howse þi heed þam onone [þi = þai. heed = hiȝed,] And brake þe stones grete & smale, Line 115 & so þai lefte no hole stone.

Þer þai fond þis Iue wyt fres chere [Ms. freschere; l. fresch ere (= aire)?] 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. [Ms. þis od. þat?]

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, [thyng = thynk.] 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 [Ms. esterte = aetsterte etsterte.] Line 145 Þat in hys gospell wrytyn is: "Were es þi tresure, þer es þi harte". And þat was prowyd þer, I-wys: [a. R.: Vbi thesaurus, ibi cor tuum erit.]

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 [wyttyns v. witnen, altisl. vitna, testify.] In þe exposicione of þe prophete Johell — And he þat will not trow on þis, Seke þe bok, & þer he may fynd hym well. [Ms. hym st. hyt.] 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 [here = ere.] 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. [made durch einen Fleck nicht leserlich. wyt ist zu tilgen?] 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 [Ms. Ric….] 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 = regnyd.] & 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. [I fehlt im Ms.] 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, [wone = wound.] Edmunde gan Rodiger besyly affrayn [Ms. affrayn, a. R. refrene(?) von ders. Hand als Correctur.] 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, [Ms. es in is corr.] For it es all cristyn mens fode: Of oure lorde Cristys blode it (es), iwys, [es fehlt.] Þat he chedde o-pone þe holy rode,

Þat was schedde on gode-frayday [Ms. frayday st. fryday.] 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 [as = has.] Alle tymes kepyd in grete honour.

And wen ȝe wyll, ȝe sall it se, For þe precyoust thyng wyt-in þis tourre." [Ms. toure nebst Abbrev. für ur.] 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 [Ms. als od. also? corr. aus all.] 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, [rede = redy.] 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. [worchefully st. worschepfully.]

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, [heloed = hallowed.] And also gret (pardon) he grawnte þere: [pardon? Das Wort ist absichtlich durchstrichen, wie pope u. Urban an and. Stellen.] 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. [Ms. tw.] Wylk day for oure saluacione All cristyn pepull heloy(n), as I wene. [Ms. heloy.]

Wen god dos merakylles fro day to day

Thro wertu of hys blode precyous — [vor blode ist precyos auspunktirt.] 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, [hee = eye.]

& not onely syght of bodyly, [Ms. body ly st. bodyly sc. eyes.] Bot of þe saule also þat in synne. [es fehlt.] 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 [mas = makes.] 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

8. Vita S. Etheldredae Eliensis, aus Ms. Cotton. Faustina B. III, fol. 260 (c. 1420). (Dialect von Wiltshire.)

Ms. Cotton. Faust. B. III, fol., perg., 280 foll., aus verschiedenen Mss. zusammen|gesetzt, enthält in der letzten Hälfte:

1) Cantariae et prioratus Wiltoniensis fundatio et incrimentum rithmis angli|canis, res ab Egberto Rege suo more conectit autor, sed demum in s. Edithae vitam et miracula se totum mutat (so der Titel im Index des Ms.), fol. 194—259. Es ist die Legende der h. Editha, deren erster Theil die Chronik von Wilton Priory, beginnend mit der Geschichte der westsächs. Könige von Egbert ab, umfasst. Nach fol. 205 fehlen leider 12 foll., die die Geburt und Erziehung Editha's ent|hielten. Am Schlusse ist ein lat. Appendix angefügt mit dem Namen der Funda|toren und Donatoren der königlichen Abtei in Wilton, der mit "Henricus (V) nobilissi|mus rex, filius Henrici IV", dem mit der Abfassung des Gedichtes gleichzeitigen Könige schliesst; und eine lat. Liste der Quellen des Dichters. Diese Leg. ist edirt von H. Black u. d. T.: Chronicon Vilodunense sive de vita et miraculis s. Edi|thae, regis Edgari filiae, 1830.

2) Die hier zum ersten Male gedruckte Legende von S. Etheldreda Eliensis, fol. 260—280; der Schluss ist leider im Ms. ausgefallen. Auch diese Leg. beginnt der Dichter "suo more" mit einer geschichtlichen Einleitung. — Beide Legenden sind Werke desselben Dichters, in demselben Dialecte, in demselben Metrum und der|selben Strophenform geschrieben. Der Dichter war ohne Zweifel einer der Geist|lichen der Abtei von Wilton, der während der Regierung Heinrich's V. lebte und schrieb (c. 1420). Der Dialect ist der westsächsische von Wiltshire, der die vollen Endungen des Angelsächsischen (d. i. der westsächs. Schriftsprache) noch theilweise bewahrte. Das Ms. ist wahrscheinlich die Originalschrift des Dichters selber, der auch die nicht seltenen Correcturen zu verschiedenen Zeiten eingetragen zu haben scheint; in Etheldrede scheint jedoch auf dem letzten fol. mit v. 1111 eine andere Hand zu beginnen, die den Schluss später nachgetragen. Seine Quelle fügt der gelehrte Dichter am Rande bei; so steht neben v. 117 in S. Etheldrede die Notiz: Cron. ecclesiastic. sanct Bede libro li cap. 17, neben v. 161: Beda libro et capitulo predictis; in S. Editha sind die Quellen nicht allein am Rande angemerkt, sondern am Ende nochmals in einer Liste zusammengestellt u. d. T.: Ista autorum sunt nomina de quorum libris et autoritatibus exilis materia istius libelli est extracta & compilata. — Beide Legenden sind höchst wichtige Denkmäler des westsächs. Dialectes. Die lange Legende der Editha, die ich nochmals nach der Hs. copirt habe, werde ich an einem anderen Orte mittheilen, da der Raum nicht erlaubt, sie hier aufzunehmen.

(S)euene kyndamus with-inne þis lond somme-tyme þer were And seuene kyngys with-inne hem þere regnede also: Þe wheche strevyn & werryde euer y-ffere, Til þe sixe kyndamus to þe kyndam of Westsexe weron knytto.

Þe kyndam of Kent first conquered hit was Line 5 By Hengestis and Orsus, his brother dere; [Orsus v. ders. H. überschr.] And so of Kent none other kyng bot Hengestys þer nas Þe mountenesse of two and thretty full ȝere. And with-inne þat kyndam twey bisshoperiche þere were, Who-so wolle in story rede or se hit: Line 10 Þe archebisshoperyche of Canterbury & Rouchestre y-fere — And ryȝt in þe same manere þey ben þer ȝytte. After þe Incarnacyon forsothe hit was Foure hondrethe ȝere fyfty & fyue weren went, Or duke Hengestys hadde myȝt or grace Line 15 To ben made þe kyng of Kent. & thre hondreth & ayȝty & sixsty ȝere Hit stode euer stylle in his prosperite, Till kyng Egbert of Westsex hadde wonnon hit with were: For bothe kyng of Kent & Westsex þe first was he. Line 20 And fyftene kyngus regnede after þere From Hengestis to kyng Egberde, as ychaue redde, [kyng v. ders. H. überschr.] Þe wheche kepton hit euer alle holle y-ffere, Tille kyng Aldrede was by Egberde put ouȝt & dedde. Sowthesex þe secund kyndam hit was: Line 25 Þe wheche dured bot a litylle while y-wys; And Elle þe first kyng of Sowthesex was by grace & regnyd þere, he & his thre sonys. Þe threttythe ȝere after þe comyng in of Hengestys Þe kyndam of Sowthsex toke his bygynnynge, as ychaue redde, Line 30 And fyue kyngys þere regnede after y-wys, & þe sexsth kyng was putte ouȝt & dedde. Þe kyngdam of Estsex þe thrydde was þo. In þe whyche regnede ten kyngus y-wys, From þe first kyng þat regnede þere, his name was Segeberto, Line 35 In-to þe commyng inne of þe Denmarkys. Vpon þe est-syde þis kyndam hadde þe see, Vpon þe west-syde þe contrey of London y-wys, Vpon þe sowthe-syde þe water of Temse hadde he, Vpon þe northe-syde Sowthefolke, þe story saythe þis. Line 40 Þe fourthe kyndam Westsexe was y-clepte þo. Þe whyche nas neuer ȝet y-wonne y-wys, Till Willyham Conquerour þis lond come to; And ȝet in gret asperite stondyng hit is. Vpon þe est-side Sowthesex he hadde y-wys, Line 45 And vpone þe northe-syde þe water of Temse hadde he, Bot vpon þe sowthe-side & þe west-syde, as hit y-writon ys, Forsothe hit hadde þe grette sowthe-see. In þe whyche kyndam first regnede kyng

Þe gode duke Cerdyke, as ychaue redde, Line 50 With his owne sone, syre Kynerynge: Þuse tweyne kepton þat kyndam, tylle þey were dedde. In þe fyuethhondreth & þe ayȝtethe ȝere after þat goddus sone was bore Þis kyndam of Westsex toke furst his bygynnynge, & seyȝth wonne þe toþer sexe kyndamus to hym with strong werre & sore Line 55 By grace of þe kyngys þere so welle gouernynge. Þe kyndam of þe Marche þe fyuethe was. Þe whiche was þe greste kyndam of hem alle y-fere, Þe greste kyndam of alle hit was in space. Kyng Penda was þe first kynge þat regnede þere. Line 60 Þe lymytys of þis kyndam þey streyȝthen y-wys From þe water of Dee on þe west-syde Cheyster, þat fayre cyte, Douneby þe water of Seuerne, þe whiche by Shrewysbury rennyng is, And euene to Brystowe in-to þe sowthe-see, And othe sowthe-syde euene by Temse to Londone rauȝte he, Line 65 And on þe northe-syde by þe water of Humbre hit come with-ouȝt fayle, & streyȝth so forthe sowthewarde to þe water of Mercie Euene in-to þe west-see, fast by Corunwayle. In þe sixehundryd ȝere & sixe & twenty forsothe hit was After þat Jhesu of his modur Marie was bore, Line 70 Þat kyng Penda wonne þat kyndam to hym by case Of þe Britones, þe wheche weron kyngus þer byfore. Abouȝt two hundreth ȝere sixsty and thre Þat kyndam stode in grete prosperite, as ichaue redde, Vndere þe gouerneylle of ayȝthetene kyngus fre, Line 75 In-to þe tyme þat kyng Colwolfe by þe Danys was put ouȝt & dedde. Bot kyng Egbert wonne þat kyndam at þe last And to his kyndam of Westsex he hit knytte And ouȝt of þat kyndam þe Danys ouȝt thraste. [folio 261] And so to þe kyndom of Westsex y-knytte hit is ȝette. Line 80 Þe kyndam of Northumbrelonde þe sixste kyndam was. Þe whiche vpon þe est-syde & also vpon þe west-syde had þe sowthe-se, & vpon þe sowth-syde of Humbre hit last doune a gret space By þe hendys of Derbyshyre & Notynghamshyre to þe water of Mercye, & vpon þe north-syde þe mere þer-of ystreyȝt ys Line 85 Euene in-to þe scottysshe grete se. Þe prouynce of Deyre & of Beruice with-inne þat kyndam þey ben y-wys, In þe whyche þe Pictis weron y-wonte to be. Þe Danys also dwelton þere long, with-ouȝte ony douȝte, Tylle kyng Athelstone, þat douȝty knyȝt, Line 90 Draffe all þe enmyus þat weron in þat contrey, ouȝte, With strong batelle & with gret myȝt. Bot þe seuethe kyndam of Estenglonde was y-wys, Þe whiche conteynede Northfolk & Sowthefolke botwo. Þe whiche hathe on þe est-syde & on þe north-syde, as hit ywriton is, Line 95 Þe see o compas euene, Cambrygeshire to,

& on þe westsyde Edmundus-borwe forsothe hit is, & on þe sowthesyde Hertfordeshire & Essex also. Þis was þe compas of þat litulle kyndam y-wys Inne þe tyme when Englonde was dypartyd so. Line 100 Ten englysshe kyngus regnedyne ychone after other in þat londe, Bot euery kyng werred with other fulle fast. Bot when þe Danys hadden y-slawe seynt Edmunde, Þey dwelleden þer hem-self þo a-last. Tille Edwarde senior, þat worthy knyȝt, Line 105 Draffe þe Denmarkys ouȝt of þat londe & wonne hit to þe kyndam of Westsex with strenght & myȝt, And alle his lyue-dayes hult hit in his honde. Bot of þuse seuene kyndamus now wolle y nomore ȝow telle, [Ms. kymdamus.] By-cause þat þe processe is of gret lengeþ. Line 110 Bot of a kyng þat þerinne somme-tyme dude dwelle Somme-what to ȝow of hym to speke we thengeþ. — In þe sixsthe hondryde & sixste ȝere þat goddus sone was bore A worthy childe was y-bore in Estenglonde þanne, Þe whiche was kyng afterwarde euene þore: Line 115 & þat childus name was y-clepte þo Anne. Bot afterwarde when he was y-growe to monnus age, [a. R. steht Hic incipit vita s. Etheldrede. Cron. ecclesiast. sancti Bede l. li, cap. 17 (Quelle des Dichters).] Of Estenglonde he was y-cronyd þere kynge, & a wiff he weddede of hye lynage: A gode woman he was & off gode leuynge. Line 120 And bi hurre he hadde þre deuȝtre, & nomo, Þe whiche weren wemmen after of gret honour: Etheldrede men clepten þe ton of þo, Þe whiche was y-clepte afterwarde þe shynynge flour; Sexburga þe tothere men clepte also, Line 125 Þe whiche quene of Kent afterwarde wase — Bot blessude virgyns þey weron in ȝouthe boto, & in hurre age fullyche forthe-fult þorow goddus grace; Bot Adelburga þe thred was clepte þo y-wys: A full blessude virgyn he was also, Line 130 For ouȝt ofe a blessude rote þis mayden y-sprongone ys: For þis blessud mon kyng Anne was fadur off alle þo. Þe whiche kynge Pende, þat heretyke, slow with falsnesse, & so he slow his brother, Adelhere, with wrong also: & so bothe þey weron marters in þat case; Line 135 & þat holy mon, kyng Ine, sones þey weren bothe to. Bot Etheldrede, his douȝter, he maryed, or he were dedde, & his douȝter Sexburwe he maryede hym-self also; Bot whethere his douȝter Adelburwe were mariede, yna not redde, For y myȝt not come hurre story in no plase to. Line 140

Line 140 Bot anone after þat þis mayde Etheldrede was of age, Hurre fadur and hurre modur gouernede hurre fulle wysly, & ȝeuen herre anone after þat in-to a heyȝe mariage To a worthy prynce, þe whiche dwelt in þe contreuy nyȝe hym by. [Ms. contreny?] Men clepten þat prince Tonbert þo; Line 145 At þe toune of Peturborwe was his dwellynge, & of alle Gyrwy ys londe he was prince þo, Þat now is clepte þe valey of Petursborwe, with-ouȝt lesynge. Þis prince Tonbert was a mone of gret honour, & lord & syre of mony a gret toune, Line 150 & rychelyche endowyd with castelle & toure, & a worshipfulle prince & a lorde of gret renoune; & a fulle vertwys mon in leuyng forsothe he was, Meke, trewe, and chast, & no-thyng in hert prouȝt, & a monfulle inou in tyme of nede in euery place: Line 155 For non enmy abouȝt hym þat tyme durst rouȝt. [Petur aus Petus corr.] Þis mayde þat prince weddede in-to his wyff, & dwelt alyue with hurre nyȝe ȝeres thre, And louede hurre as durelyche as his owne lyff, And kepte fulle clene hurre virgynyte. [folio 262] Line 160 Bot somme-what byfore þre ȝere þis prince Tonbart, [a. R. Beda li. & cap. predictis.] As þe story dothe vs bothe wryte & mene, Dyede & his soule from his body dude departe, & lafte his wyff alyue here, as he was bore, a mayde clene. Þen was he wedow, & also clene mayde y-wys, Line 165 & long hadde be wyff also byfore þat. Hurre fadur, þe kynge, fulle welle þo conseyuede þys & þo a nother gret mariage to hurre he gate: For he ȝaff hurre sone after to a fulle worthy kynge, Þe whiche to monfulnesse hadde fulle gret delyde. [dely de aus delite corr.] Line 170 He weddede þo þat mayde, þat semely thyng, & his name was clepte þo syre Egfryde. He was bothe sone & heyre to þis worthy kyng Oswy, & kyng of Northumbrelonde he was also; A fulle worthy knyȝt he was, & a fulle douȝty, Line 175 & a ful semely mon of persone he was þerto, & a fulle holi mon in leuynge also sothelyche he was & louede ryȝt welle to serue his god, bothe day & nyȝt. Bot with a fulle gode wylle þat mayde to his wyff he chas, & louede hurre ryȝt welle with alle his myȝt. Line 180 & so he dwelt with his wyff ȝerys XII. Bot for alle þat he was euer a clene mayde. & þerof he was witnesse hym-self, For to seynt Wilfride þus he þo sayde: "Syre Wylfride, quad þe kyng, on thynge now hertly prey y þe — Line 185

Line 185 For y knowe well þat ȝe mow do þat of ony mon best: Conselle my wyff þat he wolde be here-after to me Bothe meke & myelde & eke honeste! For he hath ben XII ȝere now with me A full clene mayden, as ȝe fulle welle done knowe; Line 190 Bot ryȝt gret ȝyftus, Wylfride, ychulle ȝeue þe To turne hurre hert otherweys, ȝif þat ȝe mowe. For an heyre y cholde fayne haue bytwenes vs two, To enheyrydde owre heye heritage, A childe or tweyn, ȝif god wolde þat hit shulde be so, Line 195 Now in owre bothe ȝonge freysshe age". Bot þen seynt Wylfryde, þat worthy mon, Of þuse wordus he toke ryȝt gode hede & full sone þo lokede þis holy mayde vpone. Forto speke þuse wordus to hurre he hadde grette drede: Line 200 For he knew þat maydyns hert ryȝt welle And alle hurre purpose he knew welle also: Þat he nolde not abeye to suche werkus neuer a delle, [abeye = obey.] For no conselle þat he couthe or myȝt ȝeue herre to; For he knew ryȝt welle þat þat holy blessede mayde Line 205 Was euer full stidfast both in hert & þouȝt. Bot þen anone to hem bothe he vnswerede þus & to hem sayde: "Syrus, se ȝe not ryȝt welle þat þis worlde nys nouȝt, Bot euer fals and fyculle & ryȝt vnsadde To alle hem þe whiche trustone þerto? Line 210 Wherfore let vs here serue clene þat god þat vs hath made, Styll in clannasse, as we herebyfore algatus han do, And purchese we to owre soule þat heyȝe heritage Þat we myȝten in heuene clene maydenus y-cronyd be — For, forsothe, þat is to vs most a-vantetage Line 215 To haue owre heritage in heuene with god in trinite. Wherfore ordeyne we þer in heuene owre dwellyng, & þat owre soule may be þere owre heyre In þat blessud ioy þe whiche hath non endynge, And dwelle among þe angelis, þe whiche ben þere so bryȝte & feyre; Line 220 And, gode syre, lette vs kepus here maydenus clene & serue here owre god euer in clannasse: For mayden-hode is a ryȝt gode mene To bryng vs vp to þat blessude place. A full feyre abbay of maydenus, my lord so dere, Line 225 Is here-nyȝe byside vs, as ȝe welle knowe, And ȝour owne aunte, my lorde, is abbas þere And seruyd god bothe nyȝt & day with hert fulle lowe. Bot wolde ȝe, my lorde, now ȝeue me leue To dwelle þere in þat abbay & serue god þer for aye, Line 230

Line 230 My maydenhode, syre, y shulde nowe ȝeue To hym þat made bothe nyȝt & eke day. [bothe überschr.] For he is welle & founder of alle godenesse, & of mayden-hode & of clene virginite, And euer with-ouȝt bygynnyng with hym hit was Line 235 And with his blessud angels fayre and fre: For of a mayde Jhesu for vs was y-bore And toke monkynde in vrthe here alowe — And ellus owre soules hade ben forlore. Wherfore to ȝeue hit to hym, hit were ryȝt welle by-towe. Line 240 And for by-cause þat he louythe so well þate order y-wys Of clene mayden-hode, as y chaue ȝow now y-sayde, A feyrore lyf, forsothe, my lord, non þer nys: Wherfore, gode sire,graunt me to don as ychan ȝow sayde." Þe kyng stode stylle þo & spake ryȝt nouȝt, Line 245 Bot thonk god heylyche of his gret grace, And conseyuede hit ryȝt well þo in his þouȝt And know hit ryȝt welle also þat no better lyf þer nas, Ny no-thyng more plesyngur to goddus wylle Non to kepe hem-self for goddus sake maydenus clene. [Ms. non = nen 909 = than.] Line 250 And in his hert anone þo consendyd þere-tylle To ȝeue suche leue to Etheldrede, þe quene. And anon to seynt Wylfride þis worthy kyng sayde þo: "Take þou my wyff, syre Wylfride, þis mayde clene, And professe hur to religiose: for I graunt ryȝt welle þer-to, Line 255 Seyȝth hit wolle by no wey non other weys bene." And Wilfride was in his hert þo ryȝt well a-payde And þongede god þer-of ofte & fele sythe, And professede he in-to þe abbay of Colndy þo þat holy mayde — [he aus hurre corr.] Bot he þerof þo was full gladde & eke fulle blythe. Line 260 And mynchyn he was made at Colndy þo anon y-wys — Bot he dwelt þer litull more þen on ȝere. And he encressede euery day in so grete godenesse, In gode leuyng, as ȝe shulle here-after well here. — A vertwys leuer he was euer byfore þat tyme y-wys Line 265 And gode werchus he wolde euer hurre-thongus werche, And, as ferforthelyche as he couthe, he nolde neuer do amys, Bot he louede euer ryȝt welle god & holy chirche; Pore men he louede also euer ryȝt welle And wolde fulle feyne hem bothe clothe & fede, Line 270 And to alle gode werkus he was fulle swefte & snelle, And also seyntus lyues in boke he wolde fayne rede. [vor seyntus ist holy ausradirt.] Fulle gladsom he was, & neuer was he wrouȝt, Among lordus in dalyans he was of fulle myelde chere;

Bot, what mater þat he spake of, he nold swere non othe Line 275 And iche mon towarde godenesse he wolde fayne lere. Ny in hurre aray he nas neuer prouȝt, Bot clanliche in hurre clothyng, as a quene ouȝt to be; Ny of wordeliche dyseyse he nadde neuer douȝt, Bot, what þat euer god hurre sende, mekeliche god þerof thonged he. — Line 280 Bot when he in þe abbay of Colndy mynchyn made was, By þe gouerneylle of seynt Wilfride, as y sayde ere, Þere as hurre sustre(!), dame Hebbe, was þo abbas — Bot þere he abode not lytull more þen on ȝere —: Bot alle-bette þaw he had ben quene of þat lond a litille byfore, [alle-bette, auch 287, auch 287, = all-be-it.] Line 285 Folle mekeliche he wolde abyde in þe quere at euery tyde; And alle-bette he were a kyngus douȝter, of quene y-bore, Ȝet hadde he neuer-þe-rathere no pore creature in dispitte; As trewe he was euermore as ony stele, And meke & myelde, with-ouȝten ony pride; Line 290 Þe seruyse of almyȝty god he louede so welle Þat he wolde þer-inne euer hurre-thongus abyde. He leuede þere as clene as angell bryȝt, With ryȝt gode louyng hert to euery mon; He sessede neuer, nowther day ny nyȝt, Line 295 To serue well god & to plese hurre sustren euerich-one. Bot hurre godenesse encresede euery day: Hurre gode leuyng was spoken of in londe full wyde. & for hurre vertwys leuyng, þat he vsede in þat abbay, Seynt Wilfride nolde not let hurre þer no lengur abyde. Line 300 Bot anone he was choson & made abbas þo In-to (þe) abbay of Hely — for in þat contrey he was ybore, [þe fehlt.] And þat abbay was made for hurre loue also. & seuene ȝere after þat hit was bulte, he dwelte þore, In muche worshippe and grete prosperite. Line 305 Bot after þat tyme þat he had vpon hurre take Þat worshippefull state of abbas dignite, All wordelyche lustes full clene he dude forsake. Bot after þat he was made abbas þere Wyth-inne þe yle of Hely in þat fayre abbay, Line 310 Lynyn clothus werede he þere neuer, [folio 264] Bot wollen clothus, both nyȝt & day; Bot an here he werede euer hurre body nexst Vndur hurre worshipfull clothus of herre honeste, With gret knottus of here hurre fleysshe was fexst, [fexst = vexed.] Line 315 & thus he kepte hurre fleysshe so freyle from Jolyte. Ny hote bathis, for-sothe, he nolde take none In hote water, of fleysshelyche lustynasse —

Bot thre tymes in a ȝere hit was hurre wone To wasshe hurre body þen for clannasse: Line 320 Aȝeyne þe heyȝe worshipfull fest of Pasce & aȝeyne þe fest of Pentecost & of þe Epiphanye, Euery ȝere hurre wonne hit was Thus to ben y-wasshe thrye, In presence of hurre sustren alle, Line 325 For euer to mekenesse he was prest; Bot when hurre sustren hadden y-wasshede hem alle, Þen wolde he hurre-self be wasshe lest. So meke and myelde forsothe he euere was, & euer so clene, in worde and dede, Line 330 Þat he ȝaff gode ensampull to more & lasse In gode leuyng hem-self euere to lede. By full pore meytus he lyuede y-wys, & no day forsothe he neytte bot ene: Bredde & ale & fulle seylden feysshe; Line 335 And þus he kepte hurre body fulle lene. And euery nyȝt sothely in hurre owne stalle First at mayteynys he wolde þere be And mekeliche clepe vp hurre sustren alle — Þus meke & þus myelde, forsothe, was he. Line 340 To bedde forsothe he nolde go after mayteynys nomore, Bot in hurre preyours he wolde abyde þere fulle stylle — Bot ȝif gret heuynasse of sekenesse sore Gretlyche constreynede hurre þer-tylle. And so in gret abstinaunce forsothe he leuede, Line 345 Off meyte and drynke and eke off clothynge; For all hurre lust to god he ȝeuede; He seruede hym euer with all hurre myȝt to his plesynge. [Dieser Vers ist unten nachgetragen, ohne Zeichen im Texte, und stand ausserdem nach 380, wo er durchstrichen.] Bot as þis blessude virgyn satte thus in hurre preyours vpone a nyȝt Alle hurre-self in hurre stalle full preuely — Line 350 And in a sconsce he hadde hurre candelle with hurre lyȝt: Bot þe cursede feynde come þedur þo & blew hit ouȝt sodenly. And when hurre lyȝt was þus sodenlylyche from hurre agone, Ȝet satte he stylle ryȝt þere, ful sore afreyȝt; Bot þen, to help hurre-self, he couthe non other won Line 355 Bot preyede to god, of his grace to send herre somme leyȝt. And anon as he hadde to god hurre preyours þus sayde, To hurre þere þo apparede fulle sodenliche an angelle bryȝt To help and comforde þer þo þat blessud mayde, And anon aȝeynne hurre candelle dude he þo lyȝt, Line 360 And sayde: "Maydyn, haue ȝe no drede of þis foule creature! For god hathe ordeynede me, mayden, keper of the to be

And to be þy help, þy keper & þi gouernoure: Wherfore from alle his weketnesse ychulle, mayden, kepe þe." And when seynt Auudre had herd þis angelle þus speke þore [Ms. Aūdre.] Line 365 And also hadde y-seye with hurre ynon þat gret lyȝt, And hadde in þouȝt þe gret derkenesse þat he had y-seye byfore: He thongud god & þat angelle with alle hurre myȝt: — Þen knew he in herre hert þo ryȝt welle Þat hit was a feynde þat blew so sodenlyche ouȝt hurre lyȝt, Line 370 And also þat þere was y-sende from god a bryȝt angelle Þat sone tende hurre candell aȝeyne by goddus myȝt; He þongede god þo mekeliche of his benigne grace And hertlyche he blessede his powere & eke his myȝt. And euer after þe better wommon, forsothe, he was, Line 375 By-cause þat he hadde y-seyȝe so þere þat merueylle syȝt, & he louede god in hurre hert euer full welle & mekeliche seruede hym with gode werkus day & nyȝt, And ȝaff to pore pepulle for his loue mony a meylle & fulle warme clothynge also fulle oft for his loue hem dyȝt. [Ms. lond st. loue.] Line 380 Forsothe, so well belouyd was he with god Þat an angelle come to hurre vpone a nyȝt, þer as he lay, & tolde hurre what tyme he shulde be dodde And pas ouȝt of þis worlde away. And afterwarde vpon a day fulle stille he stodde [folio 265] Line 385 Among hurre sustren euerychone, And wyth semely chere & myelde mode Þus to hem þo he made hurre mone: "My dure sustren," quad he þenne, "my deuȝtren alle, To ȝowe þe sothe y telle now y-wys: Line 390 A pestelens, sustren, wolle hastely among vs falle And take away he wolle a certeyn of vs: [part fehlt?] Þen shall y dye & ouȝt of þis worlde pas, And mony a nother also shall passe forthe of ȝow. And ȝe shalle haue after me to ȝour abbas Line 395 Sexburwe, my sustre, for þat ryȝt welle y know. And sixstene wynter my body shulle lye In þe vrthe, þere as ȝe shull leyge hit full stylle — Bot what men wolle do þen þere-by, Y nyll ȝow no-thyng now þerof telle; Line 400 Bot Wylfryde shalle passe ouȝt of þis worde sone after y-wys, & Sexburwe shalle lyue ȝet lengurre here; Bot Wylfride soule shalle come vp to heuene blys With-inne þe fourtythe day after þe sixstenethe ȝere. Bot when syxstene ȝere ben fullyche y-past, & no lasse, Line 405 My body y-translatudde sone after þat shalle be, & Wylfride shalle sone after of þis worlde passe & come vp to heuene þen & dwelle with me." [406—8 sind unten nachgetragen.]

And ryȝt as he sayde, hit was afterwarde y-donne. Þat tyme hyede þo sone after þat fulle fast, Line 410 And a moreyn come in-to þat abbay after þat welle sonne, And sixe wekes forsothe hit þere last. And nyenne(!) maydenus þat tyme forthe past, As þis blessude virgyn, seynt Awdre, hadde y-tolde hem byfore, & of alle þe maydenus he hurre-self was þe last— Line 415 For after þat þat he was dedde, at þat tyme þey dyeden nomore. Bot byfore hurre deythe þe fyuethe day He toke hurre leue at hurre sustren on this monere And sayde: "my sustren, haue ȝe gode day! For ychall not leue longe after þis here." Line 420 In þe last ende of þe fyueth & bygynnyng of þe syxte Among hurre sustren full styll he stode And sayde: "forsothe, y shalle be þe nexst Þat shalle now passe forthe to god, And at þis tyme shull dye nomo Line 425 Bot y my-selfen now at þis tyme, y-wys. For god hym-self hathe grauntede me so Þat þey shull come euene wyth me in-to his blysse: For by þat tyme hurre penance shalle alle ben y-donne And clene ouȝt of Purgatory þey shulle be brouȝt also, Line 430 And mete with me after my deyth þey shulle anon And vp to þe blysse þey shulle with me þen alle go:— Þuse bysilyche to god for hem preyede haue y Þat þey myȝtyn euene come vp to blys with me & dwell with other coronyde maydenus in heuene an hyȝe Line 435 In presence of þe blessude trinyte. Bot on thyng, my dure sustren, y ȝow prye: Þat ȝe wolde bury me ryȝt as my ordre ys, & amonge my sustren let me lye— For trewliche so my hole wylle hit ys— Line 440 And let make a litulle chest of tre And put ȝe my body þere-with-inne: And, dure sustren, so bury ȝe me Among my sustren here a-reynne! And settuth no cost abouȝt me for a tombe, Line 445 Bot gode preyours & almys-dede— Bot alle þat ȝe wolden spende abouȝt my tombe, Y prey ȝow þat ȝe wolden pore men clothe & fede". [vor clothe fehlt with.] And þen in-to hurre chambre with þat he went, With myelde chere & hert fulle meke. Line 450 & after seynt Wilfride fulle sone he sent, And after meyster Cynfrey he sende þo eke. And when þe messengerus comen & hurre hernede sayde, Þey heyden hem fulle faste & comen hurre to,

And in hurre chambre þey founde þat blessude mayde. Line 455 Þe whyche with myelde chere welcomede hem þo & sayde: "syres, ȝe ben ryȝt welcome to me! For now my lyff, dure syres, is brouȝt nye to anende: For y shull leue no lengur bot dayes thre, And þen ouȝt of þis wrochede worlde my soule shulle wende. [Ms. wrochede.] Line 460 Cynfrey, a gret swellyng abouȝt my throte þer is, Þe whiche dothe my body now at þis tyme grette wo; Were hit ybroke & þe mater ouȝt y-renne, y-wys, To my body, as me þenguþ, myche eysse hit wolde do". Þuse wordus he spake forsothe to mayster Cinfrey, þe thridde day [folio 266] Line 465 Byfore þat hurre soule ouȝt of þis worldde passte. Bot þo hurre leche, þe whyche was clept meister Cinfrey, Þen in his hert full sone after þat he hym cast To aperce þe skynne þo with a launset And lette þat fole humour ouȝt of hurre body passe, Line 470 In hope þat he shulde þen fare þe bet And haue penaunce myche þe lasse. And þen a wel grete yssu he made þer y-wys, To let þe foule humour ouȝt of hurre boyche renne— In hope þat he shulde a farede þe better, he dude þis, [de in farede ist nachträglich hinzugeschr. a=haue.] Line 475 And made þat yssu gret & hoge þere þen. And when þat humour was ouȝt of hurre boiche ronne, Þo myche þe leyȝt-somere, forsothe, was he. Bot sone after þat in litulle slombryng of slepe he felle þenne. And a graciose sweuene mette þo þat mayde fre: Line 480 A semeliche mayde hurre semede þat he dude þere se Stondyng ryȝt at hurre beddus fete, Þe whiche sayde: "Etheldrede, how is hit with ȝou now? slepe ȝe?" "Nay, sothely, ma dame, quad he, y nam not a-slepe ȝet". "Hedur now goddus sonne of heuene to ȝow sende me Line 485 To tell þe þat þis swellyng, þe whiche is þy nek abouȝt, For penaunce of synne was now y-sende to þe, For þe synne of þi ȝonge age when þou were wylde & prouȝt. For when þou were a childe of ȝong age, Forsothe, in þyne hert þou were somdelle prouȝt Line 490 Bothe of þy bewte and of þy worthy lynage, And ryall colers of golde þou wereduste þy nek abouȝt— For gaynes & pryde, forsothe, hit was Þat þou weredust suche ryalle colers þo. Bot almyȝty god knowyþ ryȝt welle of þat cas, Line 495 &, forto quenche þe synne of þat, þis penaunce he sende þe to; For goddus sonne, þe whiche was of Mary y-bore, Takuþ now ryȝt gode hede þerto & suche gret penance he sendyþ þe þerfore, Hennus ouȝt of þis worlde or þat þou go, Line 500

Line 500 For þou shuldust byfore þy deyth ryȝt so clene here be Þat þow shuldust haue no nede to go þorwe þe fyre of Purgatory, Bot come to heuene anon with þuse maydenes ffre, Þe whiche shull come with þe vp to heuene an heyȝe". And when þat mayde þus hadde sayde þo, sodenly he vanysshede a-way, Line 505 And þis blessud virgyn Awdre a-woke þo of hurre slepe. And anon he tolde þis sweuene to Wylfride & Cynfrey. Bot when Wylfride hadde hit herde, for very Joy anon he wepe. Þo þis blessude virgyn heyede to hurre deyth fulle fast, And Wylfride seruede hurre of hurre sacramentys alle. Line 510 And he anon þen hurre yenon vp caste And by name he clepte forthe hurre sustren alle, And toke hurre leue at hurre sustren þer euerychone, And at seynt Wilfride & at Cynfrey he toke hurre leue also. Bot all þey full sore þen wepton & made gret mone, Line 515 For mony a sorwefull hert was þer among hem þo. Bot when þis blessude virgyn seynt Awdre dude dye & hurre soule past vp to þe blysse of heuene, Abouȝt hurre þen gret leyȝt þer þey sye, And angels þey herde syng with mylde steuene; Line 520 A fulle sote flauour þey feltone þere þo, Alle þat weren þer þo in þat place, And a full gret leyȝt þey sey þere þo also, And gret melodye also of angels also(!) þer þo was. Bot when þis blessude virgyn was þus forth paste Line 525 Hurre blessude soule vp to god in trinite, And in a trene chest þen was y-cast Hurre semelyche body, so fayre & so fre, And þey buryedone hurre in þat same place Ryȝt as hurre owne wyll westo. Line 530 & sixstene wynter þer-inne he was— Þe story of hurre spekuth of nomo. Bot hurre soule from hurre body past furthe y-wys Þe thre and twenty day of þe moneth of Juny, And at Hely þe first abbas he forsothe was, Line 535 In þe ȝere þat god was bore sixe hundryd & sixty. And after herre þat abbay stode stylle in grete prosperite, And a gret noumbre of holy maydens dwelton þer-inne, A hundryd ȝere & foure & fyfty, as ȝe mow rede in store, Tyll þe Danys come hedur wyth gret host, þis lond to wynne. [folio 267] Line 540 Bot þe Danys distreydone þat abbay full clene ywys & drevyn away þuse maydenus þenne euerychon. Tylle Edward seniour, kyng of Englonde, y-coronyd was: [Edward ist über einem and. Namen corr.] For he reparede þat abbay aȝeynne in his tyme euery stone, And chanonys he stallede in-to þat abbay þo. Line 545 Þe whiche dwelton þere, tylle kyng Edgar was bore:

Bot blake monkus he put in-to þat abbay þo, Þe whiche han dwelt þere styll seythe euer-more. And when þis blessude virgyn was thus forthe y-past Hurre soule to heuene blys, as y sayde ȝow ere, Line 550 Þen was hurre sustre Sexburwe y-made abbas in gret hast, And thre and twenty ȝere was þer gouernere. Þis Sexburwe was kyng Annys douȝter, þat holy marter, And kyng Herconbertys wyff he was also, Þe whiche was kyng of Canterbury & dwelt þo þere. Line 555 And abbas of Hely he was made, when deythe had take Herconbertys hurre fro. Bot twey deuȝtren he hadde by kyng Herconbertys, ywys: Ercongote & Hermendylda þuse maydenus weren yclepte þo. Bot Ercongote with hurre modur to Hely ygon ys And after Sexburwe hurre modur nexst abbas he was also, Line 560 And thredtene ȝere gouernede þat abbay in gode prosperite— A holy blessud virgyn, forsothe, þis Ercongote was! And þere ȝet fulle worshipfullyche y-shrynyd ȝet ys he Fast by hurre modur at Hely in þat holy plase. Bot Hermendilda, þe whiche Ercongotys sustre was, Line 565 To Wulfery, þe whiche was kyng of þe Merche, was mariede anone; Þe whiche was abbas nexst hurre sustre in þat same plase, When Welfry, hurre hosebonde, was vp to heuene agone. Þis Wlfry was kynge Penda, þe heretykys, sone, And þe first criston kynge of þe Merche he was also, Line 570 And by Hermendilda, his wyff, he hadde twey deuȝtren, & a sonne: Merburwe & Milgnyde weren þe namys of þe madenus two. Bot Merburwe nexst after hurre modur Hermendildde In þe abbay of Hely was y-made abbas; Bot Hermendilda, hurre modur, byfore herre þere dwellede Line 575 Sixstene wynter & abbas was þere in þat same plase. Bot Merburwe nas not abbas þer bot litull space: For at Chester somme cronyculle sayn þat he ȝet ys. Bot hurre sustre Mylgnyde twenty wynter was þer abbas, And in þat plase hurre bones ȝet ben y-wys. Line 580 Bot þus foure ladyes ben y-shrynede ȝet forsothe þere: Etheldrede, & hurre sustre Sexburwe, & Ercongote, hurre sustre douȝter, also, And Hermendilde hurre sustre is y-schryned also þere;— And of seynt Albons relekes þer is a shryne ȝet mo. Now wolly stynt of Sexburwe here more to wryte or rede, Line 585 & heyȝe me to my mater y-touchyd here byfore: Of þis blessude virgyn seynt Etheldrede; And of Selburwe(!) as at þis tyme nylle y speke nomore.— Abouȝt þe tombe of seynt Awdre oftymes, forsothe, þer was Mony gret leyȝtys ofte-tymes þer weren(!) y-seye, Line 590 And meche swetnesse of swete sauour was oft felde in þat plase, To what mon þat to þat plase come, other by nyȝt or by day.

Mony sekemen hadden þere hurre hele & restorynge of hurre lemys þey hadden þer also, And blynde men & crokyd mony & fele, Line 595 Þe whiche þedur come, holle & sounde þey went þerfro. And mony a meracle byforen hurre tombe þer weren y-donne, And sekemen weron þer y-helyd monyonne; Mony þat came þedur, bothe deyffe & doume, Holle & sounde þey wenton home þonne. Line 600 What ryȝtwys bone, forsothe, þat ony mone badde Of þat blessude virgyn Etheldrede: His wille, forsothe, after anone he hadde, Or of what-monere sekenesse þat he of hurre his hele bede. So mony meracles god þer þo wrouȝt Line 605 By-cause of þis blessude virgyn seynt Awdre, Þat to seynt Wylfride & to Sexburwe hit come in þouȝt To make a tombe of ston, to ley in hurre body fre. Bot þat contrey was lowe & mersshy, watery londe, And with watrys & marrys y-closot all-abouȝt, Line 610 And gret sca(r)senesse of stonys þer was, yche vnderstonde. Wherfore, to seche a ston, in ferne contrey þey senden men ouȝt. Bot þen when þuse men hadden ryȝt wyde y-gone, Þorow-ouȝt alle þe contrey in yche syde, Ȝet myȝt þey not fynde non sufficiant stone, Line 615 Bot comen hom aȝeyn & tolden so seynt Wilfride. [folio 272] [Die folg. Blätter sind im Ms. unrichtig gebunden, die Fortsetzung folgt erst auf fol. 272.] Bot seynt Wylfride bare hit still in his mynde And preyede to god, somme grace of hym to wynne Suche a ston in þat contrey sum-where to fynde, Þis blessude body to leyge with-inne. Line 620 And anon after, as seynt Wylfride ley in his bed vpone a nyȝt— Bot he nas not fulliche ȝet a-slepe: Hym þouȝt þat he sey an angel fulle bryȝt Stondynge at his beddus fete, And þat with hym come a ryȝt gret lyȝt. Line 625 And holy Sexburwe forsothe also he hurre-self sayde Þat þe same tyme he sawe þylke same syȝt— Bot Sexburwe thouȝt hit was a semely mayde— And also þat he come þedur with gret leyȝt [V. 629 ist zu tilgen.] Bot he spake on worde to hem bothe. Line 630 Bot Sexburwe, when he hit seye, was sore agast; & hurre þouȝt þat he sayde: "y nyll, Sexburwe, do þe no lothe. Bot knowe ȝe welle þat sixstene ȝere ben fully past, And god wolde my body were vp of þe vrthe y-take And y-putte in-to gretter worshippe, y-wys. Line 635 And, also, Wylfride, þou shalt hastely þe worde forsake & come vp to me in-to heuene blys.

Bot ȝif ȝe spare for þe defauuȝt of a stone To take vp my body, þat hathe ley in þe vrthe sixstene ȝere, Y chulle tell ȝow redily where ȝe shulle fynde one, Line 640 And also ychull help ȝow þat hit were here: For þer is a litulle toun in þis contrey neyȝe here byside, Þe whiche somme-tyme a fulle fayre cite hit was, Of þe whiche þe walles ben broke, þe ȝatys ben wyde, Bot þe compas of þat toune is full gret space; Line 645 And byside þat wall þere leyth a fulle fayre stone Of gode marbull, þe whiche is whyȝt and clene, Sufficiant y-now to reseyue my body, euery bone. Ryȝt þus hit is as y ȝow say — ȝe witte welle what y mene." And with þat þis blessud lady fanysshede from seynt Sexburwe away, Line 650 And þe angel from seynt Wylfride wanyssede away also. Þey reson vp þo anon after, for hit was þen nyȝe day. And Wylfride come to Sexburwe anon after þat þo And tolde hurre his vision þo þere euerydelle. How þer come & spake with hym an angelle bryȝt. Line 655 "Forsothe, quad Sexburwe, to me þer come a mayde, & þe same wordus he dude me telle, & abouȝt hurre in my chambre was gret lyȝt." "Forsothe, quad Wilfride, now y chotte welle and am ryȝt sure Þat hit was seynt Awdre þe whiche come to þe: For he sayde, while he lyuede, þat anon after sixstene ȝere Line 660 Þat hurre Translacione sone after þen shulde be." Bot þen seynt Wylfride send forth after þat ryȝt anon Meyster Cynfrey, þe whiche was seynt Awdre leche, And preyȝede hym þat he shulde hym-self forthe gone Þe litull toune þat þe mayde spake of, forto seche— Line 665 And þey tolden meyster Cynfrey þo anone Þe vision þe whiche þe sey, riȝt as hit was, [þe = þey.] And preyeden him þat he shulde fast gone [hem st. him.] And seche þat toune tyll he hit hadde, from place to plase, [nach hadde fehlt founde?] And ȝerne walke abouȝt þat litull space Line 670 Euermore tylle he hadde þat ston y-founde, Of þe whiche, ȝif god wolde ȝeue hym suche grace, To make þerof to þat mayden a tombe. Bot Cynfrey went forth þo anone vpone his way, And other thre wisemen with hym went mo. Line 675 Till hit was vpone þe secunde day: Þis litull toune þey come þo by goddus grace to, A litull byfore þe merke euenynge; Wherfore þey þouȝt þey wolden dwell þer alle nyȝt, Ȝyff þey myȝten here þere ony tithynge Line 680 Of þis ston, þorwe goddus grace & myȝt.

Bot on þe morwe, when hit was clere day, Þey reson vp full smertlyche þo euerychon, And þouȝten þat þey wolden passe forth vpon hurre way Abouȝt all þat contrey, to seche þat stone. Line 685 Bot Cynfrey past forthe þo by an olde walle, And ȝerne he souȝt abouȝt þere in þat mortyde: Bot at þe last he saye where a ston lay as whytte as whall, [folio 273] Leygynge þer a litull hem all bysyde. "A, brethren, quad Cynfrey þo, me thenguþ y now ȝonde se [Ms. brothren in brethren corr.] Line 690 A fayre stone, y-shape ryȝt welle þerfore. Comethe hedur, y ȝow prey, all now with me! For þis ston was y-shewyd to me here byfore: For, treweliche, by visione to-nyȝt þer come to me A semely man, þe whiche was of gret age, Line 695 His berde was feyre & whyte, his body was fre, Forsothe he hadde a ryȝt fayre vyȝage; A kyng me þouȝt hit hadde y-be, Or ellus a mon of fulle heyȝe parage; And þuse wordus he sayde þo to me Line 700 Opynliche in oure owne langage: "'Cynfrey, quad he, þou hast ferre & wyde y-gone Alle þis contrey wyde all-a-bouȝt, Forto seche a fayre marbull-stone: Lowe where a fulle fayre stone leythe with-ouȝt douȝt. Line 705 Loke vp, he sayde, & se hit with þyn ynon ryȝt welle: For lowe where hit leythe by-side þe ȝondere walle, Kyndliche y-wrouȝt for hurre euery-delle, Redy, to resayue hurre clene body now alle'". And with þat worde anone he past forthe away Line 710 Clene ouȝt of my seyȝt þethon anone. & y loked hym þo after: & me þouȝt þo þat y seye Leygynge ryȝt here þis same stone". And þey kneledone a-doune þo þere euerichon And thongude god þo with alle hurre myȝt, Line 715 Þat ȝaff hem grace to fynde suche a stone, For hure body so mete & so clene y-dyȝt; For þat ston was well ygraue euery geyntte Þat holy body to close alle holle with-inne, With ryȝt curiose crafte eueryche a neynche; [a neynche = an inch.] Line 720 Þer myȝt no fauȝt be founden þer-inne. Þey weron þo fulle gladde & þongeden god fulle fast Of þat gret grace, þat hadde hem y-sende. Bot of cariage þey were þo full sore agast, And prayede to god with hert fulle hende Line 725 To ȝeue to hem bothe grace and myȝt Þat ston to carie to Hely bothe sounde & saue,

Þat was so follych and so redy y-dyȝt To resayue þat body þat ley þere in graue. Bot anone by grace þer come a mone Line 730 Þat dwelt neyȝe þer-byside in þat contrey, And sayde: "sires, what do ȝe to þat fayre stone? For hit motte to þe abbay of Hely. For to me to-nyȝt þer come a fayre semely lady in gode aray & he hathe y-bouȝt þis marbull-stone of me, Line 735 And ychaue y-seuryd hurre by my fay To carie hit to þe fayre abbay of Hele". Bot Cynfrey stode styll þo & speke ryȝt nouȝt, And in his hert he was bothe gladde & blythe, And for þis meracle, þat was þer þus y-wrouȝt, [Ms. sithes mit durchstr. s.] Line 740 He þongede god oft & fele sithe; And sayde: "sire, what lady was þat Þe whiche hathe y-bouȝt þis fayre stone of þe?" "Trewliche, sire, he sayde, y not. Bot a fulle semely lady, forsothe, was he, Line 745 A mantyll of sable þat lady werede vpone; And a religiose womon, forsothe, me þouȝt, was he. And with full gret lyȝt he come to me þon, And þuse wordus forsothe he sayde to me And he askede me: wherre þat iche wolde sylle Line 750 Þis marbull-stone so fayre & so fre, And sayde þat hurre sustre hadde gret nede þer-tylle, Þe whiche was, as he sayde, þe abbas of Hely. And y sayde anon: " "ȝe, my lady so dure" " — For y durst not to hurre say nay: Line 755 So semely he was & so gladde of chure. And anon after to me thus dudde he say: "'And also þou most carie hit þedur now anone— & hye blyue þou most, þat hit were y-do! And other thre men, þat han ferre y-gone, Line 760 Wollen come þedur & help welle þerto. [folio 268] And haue here, he sayde, þy heyre þer-fore, A ryng of golde, bothe riche and gay!'" And of hurre seythe y saw nomore, Bot thus he past forth from me a-way". Line 765 "Now treweliche, felowys, quad mayster Cynfrey, Þis lady þat hath y-bouȝt here þis stone Hit was myn owne lady, seynt Awdrey— For treweliche other womon was hit none. Bot heye ȝow fast now & haue y-donne, Line 770 Þat þis fayre ston were caryede from þis plase away! For iche wold be gladde, were hit fayre brouȝt home þonne, Þat blessude fayre body þerinne to lay".

Bot þis mon vnswered þen anon with þat And sayde: "syre, hit shalle ryȝt sone be þere: Line 775 For my waynne shalle be heddurre anon y-fatte, To þe abbay of Hely hit forto bere". Bot þat stone was fulle hoge & full heuy y-wys. Bot þey tokon hit vp ryȝt lyȝtliche by goddus grace þo, And in-to þe wayne full sone y-done hit is, Line 780 And fulle meriliche home þer-with þen dude þey go. Þen went þey hammarde a welle gode passe With hurre wayne & with hurre stone, With gret gladnesse, mirthe & grace. And by alle þe way lettyng nad þey none. Line 785 And when þey come home to þe abbay with þat ston And hadden y-told Wylfride & Sexburwe hurre gode spede, Þen were þey gladde and blythe euerichon: For of no masynry, to deyȝt þat ston, þey nadde no nede. Bot when Cynfrey hadde y-tolde Wilfride & Sexburwe of þe rynge Line 790 Þe wheche was y-ȝeue of þat lady to þe caryeng mone, Þen preyede þey þe mone þat he wolde hit to hem bryng. Þe whiche thyng he grauntede hem anone to done — For Sexburwe heyde hurre fulle fast Þat he myȝt by-tyme y-se þat holy thyng: Line 795 For in hurre hert anone forsothe he cast Þat hit was hurre professhennalle rynge Bot when he hit sawe, he knew hit full well, And þongede god heyliche of his grace & of his myȝt, And anon hit he bouȝt of þat mon fulle snelle. Line 800 And anon after to seynt Awdre is tombe þey hem dyȝt. Seynt Wilfride come þo anone þat tombe to With his ministris & with his clerkus alle, — And þis blessude abbas hyede hurre fulle fast also, And alle hurre couent also he dude forthe calle, — Line 805 With copus and teneclus of ryȝt gode aray, And torchus & sencerus, mony & fele. & other men vncloseden þe vrthe þer as he lay. [vor men ist C durchstr.] Bot mony a seke mon hadde þo his hele: Þe grace of almyȝty god was þer þo so prest; Line 810 & also so sote sauerus weren þer alle-abouȝt Þat euery creature hadde þer þo gretter left To knele to þat vrthe fulle lowe & to þat body lowete, And þongedone god with alle hurre hert & hurre myȝt Of his gret godenesse & of his heyȝe grace. Line 815 Þen nyene bleynde men hadden þer hurre syȝt Ryȝt anon þo in þat blessude place, And crokede maymot crepuls seuene Hadden herre lemys restoryd to hem anon ryȝt þere,

And cryeden & sayden wyth heye steuene Line 820 Þat þey weren holle & sounde þer þo ally-fere. Þere was gret solace, murthe & gret ioy, & mony a sekemon was made þer holle & sounde; And also bellus rongon & maden gret noy With-ouȝt ony touchyng of monnus honde. Line 825 And when þey knewen & herden þe bellus ryng & knylle So schryll with-ouȝt ony touche of monnus honde, Seynt Wilfride went anon þe tombe tylle, And Sexburwe went anon þo doune in-to þe grounde. Bot when seynt Wilfride hadde y-seye alle this, Line 830 In his hert forsothe he was wondre gladde, & doune in-to þe tombe with Sexburwe y-gon he is, And tweyn other bysshoppus with hym he ladde, And touchede þe chest þo he dude with his honde And þerof he toke away þe lede þo after anone: Line 835 And hurre blessude body as hole þer lygȳnge he fonde As euer hit was with-inne þat chest y-done; [folio 269] As whyte, as rody and as freysshe Hurre fayre body was þer as hit þo lay, And with-ouȝt ony corrupcione of hurre fleysshe, Line 840 Ryȝt as þaw hit hadde ben leyde with-in þe chest þat same day; Hurre lures weron white as ony lely floure, Y-meynde with rod ryȝt, as hit was best, And hurre body was of þe same coloure, Ryȝt semely and sote and eke full honest; Line 845 And þe grete suellyng þe whyche was her nekke abouȝt, Was vanysshede a-way and nothyng seuene, [Ms. seuene, wie sewen Genes. 1195, = sene.] And þe wonde was clene holle, with-ouȝt ony douȝt; And alle hurre body lay þer bothe streȝt & euene. Hurre body lay þer as semely in euerichemonnus syȝt, Line 850 Ryȝt a-lyue as þaw hit ȝet were, Þorwe þe grace of goddus holy myȝt. Suche gret myraclus were done þere. Bot when Sexburwe, þat holy blessude abbas, Saw how semelyche & how holle þat body ley þere, Line 855 In hurre hert for-sothe fulle gladde he was, And þongede god mekeliche with gode chere And sayde: "Jhesu, y-blessude mot þy nome be Euer, lorde god, with-ouȝten ony hende, For þou deydust for owre soule vpone þe tre Line 860 With fulle meke hert & fulle hende." Bot þey tokon vp þis fayre body anone þo, And with ryȝt mery song & melode, And to þe heyȝe auter þere-with þey duden go With fayre processione & ryȝt gret solemnite, Line 865

Line 865 And vpone þe heyȝe auter þey leydone hit done [Ms. doune in done corr.] Opynliche þere in eueriche monnus syȝt, Þat euery mon myȝt clereliche & welle loke þer-vpone, To merueylle vpone hurre colour so bryȝt. And when eueryche mon hadde rediliche y-sey þat fayre body, Line 870 Ryȝt at hurre owne plesauns & at hurre owne wylle, Þey token hit vpon herre armys fulle honestly And beron hit forthe þe marbulstone þo tylle, And leydone þat fayre body with-inne þe marbulle-stone Þe whiche was so welle & so heuene y-shape þer-fore Line 875 In þe toune of Grantechester byfore long a-gone — [a. R. nomen uille in qua fuerat s. Etheldreda nata. Grantchester ist ein altbekanntes Dorf bei Cambridge, unweit Ely. Vgl. 302 u. 642.] For þer was þat blessud mayde y-bore — And þat ston was y-shape as mete for hurre body y-wys, And bothe y-coruyn & y-grauyd so sotelly, Þat no geynte of hurre body lay þerinne amys, [geynte = joint.] Line 880 Bot euery lemme of hurre body ley þerinne bothe fayre & honestly. And byfore þe heyȝe auter þey satton þat tombe And leydone hurre fayre body with-inne ryȝt þere. And þedur come men þo bothe deff & dombe And hadden herre hele þer byfore þe tombe alle-y-ffere; Line 885 Bothe leprus and men in þe frensy mony on Hadden þere hurre hele byfore þat tombe y-wys, And men þat hadden þe hede-ache & eke þe stone, And mony men y-combryd with feyndis & euell spiritys. Ny þer nas nomone þat touchede þat chest Line 890 Þat hurre body byfore sexstene ȝere hadde ley Inne, Or touchud ony of hurre clothus, most or lest, Þat nas alle holle of his sekenesse, or he went þynne. — Forsothe, mony a pilgryme þedur dude come For diuerse sekenesse þat þey þo hadden. Line 895 And a childe of þe whiche watere his lyff hadde bynome: And þat dede child in a bere þedur þey ladden And setton hit a-doune byfore þat tombe And preyȝedone seynt Awdre of herre help & of hurre grace: And þe childe rose vp þo anone, bothe hole & sounde, Line 900 And stode byfore hem alle þer in þat place, And to alle þe pepull, þat byfore hym stode, ryȝt þus he sayde: "Y prey ȝow þat ȝe wolde knele adoune here euerychone, And for me þongeþ þis holy blessude mayde Of þe whyche þe body leyth y-closot here in þis stone! Line 905 For þorwe here preyere forsothe hit was Þat god hathe y-ȝeue to me my lyff aȝeyne — For, forsothe, murgure ny leyȝttur neuer y nas Nen ycham here now, as ȝe mow welle seynne.

For, forsothe, fulle of goddus grace he is, [folio 270] Line 910 Þis holy virgyne, y-blessude mot he be! For full mery is he now in heuene blys Among þe bryȝt angelus þer so feyre and fre. And þis worshipfull abbay by hurre ywys Here-after shalle haue ryȝt gret prosperite, Line 915 And also hit shall haue heyȝe encresse of honestnysse By þe heyȝe grace of god in trinite." Bot when þis gret meracle was þus y-donne And þis childe y-rerote þus from deythe to lyfe, Þey closedone vp þo þat marbull-stone Line 920 And set hit in þe same plase þere as hit ȝet lythe. And when Wylfryde & Sexburwe hadden closote þat stone, Þey paston forth þo vpon hurre way. Bot þe pilgrymys abydde stille þer euerychone And þongedone god mekelyche & seynt Awdrey: Line 925 For mony a gret miracle þer was y-donne, Bothe by nyȝt & also by day, And mony an holle mon home dude gone Þe whiche come þedur fulle seke & in fulle feble aray; For þer nas nomon þat þedur by-hette Line 930 For ony monere heuynasse þat he was Inne, Þat he his bote þer ne fette, And gladde & blythe he went home þynne. Thus was þis abbay encresset y-wys Þorwe goddus grace & þis blessude virgyn seynt Awdre, — Line 935 And ȝet continuallyche forsothe hit is Stylle in gret worshippe vnto þis day; Fulle gret grace & godenesse is ȝet in þat abbay By-causa of þat blessude virgyn & mayden clene, And meraclus y-done ȝet þere euery day, Line 940 For to euery nedefulle mon he is gode mene. By-cause of hurre þat abbay ȝet hit is In hiȝe encresse and ryȝt gode aray, And "þe lanterne of Englonde" clepte hit is Ȝet inne-to þis same day. Line 945 And þer is ȝet þe trenyn cheste In þe whiche seynt Awdre ys body lay inne, And also alle hurre clothus bothe most & lest, [lest aus last corr.] Fulle clene y-kepte þere with-ouȝt wynne, And þe ryng of golde is þere ȝet y-wys Line 950 Þe whiche was hurre professhynalle ryng — For vpone hurre shryne þat ryng ȝet hit is — A full holy releke & a full preciose thynge. Þuse relekus ben ȝet ryȝte folle of grace And ȝeuen hele & grace to mony a mone. Line 955

Line 955 And gret pilgremage is ȝet to þat place, In gret help and in grete hele to mony one, Þe whiche worshepen & thongone þis blessude virgyn seynt Awdre Of hurre grace and of herre gret myȝt. For to all þe contrey ferre & neyȝe Line 960 Gret help and gret grace to hem þorow hurre ys dyȝt, I-grauntede of goddus sone of heuene For þat blessude virgyn seynt Awdre To alle hem þe whyche ascone with myelde steuene Of hurre ony help or ony hele hertlye; Line 965 Þay han hit y-grauntyde to hem ryȝt anone Þorow grace and preyere of þat blessude virgyn seynt Awdrey, Þe whiche leythe þere with-in þat marbulle-stone In þat worshipfulle abbay of þe yle of Hely. Hurre body is þere, bot hurre soule is in blys, Line 970 And euer shall be with-ouȝt ony hende — For so to hurre of god y-grauntyde hit is, As to a blessude virgyn clene and hende. And mony a feyre miracull for hurre god hathe þer wrouȝt In Hely in þat worshipfull abbay. Line 975 Off þe whiche nowe on comethe in-to my þouȝt, Þe whiche y chull to ȝow now wryte and say. Þe whiche y founde in þe abbey of Godstow y-wys, In hurre legent as y dude þere þat tyme rede Howe þe abbay of Hely was distryed with þe Danys Line 980 Þe sixstythe ȝere after þat seynt Werburwe was dede, And þuse blessude virgynes weron clene put ouȝt And dweltone neuer seyȝthon forsothe þere: For þus cursede Danys weron so stouȝte & prouȝt Þat þey durst not dwelle þer for fere. Line 985 Bot in þe tyme of kyng Edwarde senioure [Ms. seniore.] Seculere chanouns weren put þer y-wys — Bot kyng Edgar & seynt Dunstone, þat confessour, Put þe chanouns ouȝt & set þere blake monkys. Bot þat tyme þat þe chanons dweltone þere, Line 990 As y sayde to ȝow now ryȝt here byfore, Won of hem þouȝt þat he nolde not spare for no fere [won = one.] To wete wherre þat maydenus body leyȝe hole ȝet þore: And to þat tombe he went þo ryȝt anone And with a chesell he made þere a gret hole, Line 995 And a leyȝt candelle brennyng he put in-to þat stone, And totede in hym-self at a nother hole. [totede = looked.] And with an hokude ȝerde he wolde han meuyd þe clothe away, Þat he myȝt han seyȝe ryȝt at his owne wylle

Þat blessude body veryliche ryȝt as hit lay, Line 1000 Wherre hit hadde yleyȝe þer ȝet alle hole stylle; And he hadde put a strong hoke of hiron in þe ȝerde ende, To han pulde þe clothe well from hurre body away; And a gret candell he let þo tende, Þat he myȝt han seyȝe herre body nakede þer as hit lay. Line 1005 And he put þe hoke of þe ȝerde þe clothes with-inne And bygon to drawe at hem þo ryȝt fast: Bot þe ȝerde stekede styll þere & nolde not passe þynne. And þen was þis wreche full sore þerof agast And drowe at þe ȝerde þo with alle his hole myȝt; Line 1010 Bot þat blessude virgyn nolde not let þe ȝerde go, Bot hulte hit stylle ryȝt þere, as hit was pyȝt, — And þe space of a noure hit stykkyd þer ryȝt so. And þe leyȝt of þe candelle went ouȝt also anone, Þat he hym-self sawe no-thyng y-wys. Line 1015 Þen stode he þere as stylle as ony stone, And in his hert knewe fulle well þat he hadde ydone amys. Bot þenne fulle fayne he wolde han y-gone, Ȝyf he hade hadde myȝt or grace þerto: Bot he was þo as blynde as ony stone, Line 1020 And also he myȝt not on fote þennys go, Bot stode styll þer with sorwefulle chere & drery mode And myȝt not on fote þennys passe; Bot cryede fast, as þaw he were wode, When he sye well & veriliche þat he clene blynde was. Line 1025 Bot þen come his felewys rennynge on euery syde And sayden: "alas, syre Cerdyke, what eylluthe þe?" [Ms. Cerdyks od. Cerdyke?] "I may not, quad he, gon henne, bot here y mot abyde, For iche haue gretliche offendyde þis holy virgyn Awdre. Ichaue offendyde, quad Cyrdyke, þis holy virgyn so Line 1030 Þat y hope after nomore hele of my body y-wys." "Whey, sire Cerdyke, quad þe deyn, what han ȝe do To þis virgyn so gretlyche amys? Why may not hit be amendyde by no way? Tell me alle-y-fere, ryȝt as þou duste, Line 1135 Þat we mow þat blessude virgyn for þe pray." "To han y-sye hurre body, quad he, y chad gret luste — For, treweliche, y tell ȝow þe sothe alle-y-fere, I nadde not fulle gret trust þerto Þat hurre body was alle holle now here, Line 1040 And þouȝt þat y shulde loke wherre hit were so: And y come to þis tombe þo after anone, And þis gret ȝerde in my honde y brouȝt with me, And made an hole with þis chesell in þe stone And put in a candell brennyng, þe better ȝyff y myȝt se, Line 1045

Line 1045 And þis gret ȝerde y put also inne þere-by With a gret hyrone hoke, þat vpon þe hende ys, To han y-drawe away þe clothus from hurre body, Þat y myȝt well þe trewthe han seye how hurre body wys; [wys = was.] And with þe hoke y cauȝt in hurre clothus gode holde at þe last [Ms. clethus?] Line 1050 And drow þe ȝerde to me with alle my maynne. Bot seynt Awdry hulte þe ȝerde so fast Þat y myȝt not drawe þe ȝerde to me aȝaynne; And ȝet þe ȝerde styketh ryȝt þere — Ȝyff hit plese ȝow, ȝe mow hit well se. Line 1055 Loke ȝe wherre ȝe mow þat ȝerde ouȝt tere, And wherre he wolle fauere ȝow more þen me! For y drowe þe ȝerd so fast þat y doune felle Euene vpone my bake here vpryȝt; And also y chaue y-lost my syȝt euery delle. Line 1060 So vengauncelyche ycham now y-dyȝt". Bote þe deyn went to þe tombe anone þo In syȝt of mony oþer grete men And drowe at þe ȝerde, as Cerdyke hadde byfore ydo; Bot alle þey myȝt not tere hit ȝet þen. Line 1065 Bot þen þey wentene o processione euerichone, And deden offe hurre hosen & hurre shone alle-y-ffere, And kneledone doune afterwarde byfore þat stone And mekeliche maden herre preyours þere, And mekelyche preyȝeden seynt Awdry of hurre grace: Line 1070 As he was wedow and mayden clene, Þat he wolde forȝeue Cerdyke his gret trespace, And also þat he myȝt haue his syȝt aȝene. Bot when þay hadden þus hurre preyours y-made, Þey reson hem vp þo from þe gronde euerichone. Line 1075 And to þat ȝerde aȝeyn þo anone he ȝade: And drowe hit þo leyȝtliche ynowe ouȝt of þe stone. Bot when he hadde drowyn ouȝt þat ȝerde, And stopudde feyre þat hole alle holle aȝeynne: An angels voys forsothe þer þey herde, Line 1080 Þe whiche sayde þat Cerdyke wrouȝt all þat werke in veynne. And gret lyȝt þey seye þere þo also, And full sote sauere þey feltone þo in euery syde, And also þey herdyn þe voys eft-sone speke þo, Þe whyche sayde þat hurre body was as hole as hit was þerinne lyde; Line 1085 "And, Cerdyke, he sayde, y warne þe now also Þat þou shalt neuer haue þy syȝt after þis, Bot alle þi lyff blynde þou shalt ryȝt so go, By-cause þat þou by-leueduste of þis mayden amys". [by vor leueduste überschr.]

Bot þo alle þey weron fulle sore agast Line 1090 Þe whiche herden þat voys speke on þis manere. [Ms. herdon od. herden?] And when þay hadde long yknelyde þo, at þe last Þo blynde Cerdyk & alle þey wenton forthe yffere. And in gret worshepe euer after þey hadden þat mayden y-wys, And nomone durst blaspheme herre þer-after more, Line 1095 Bot wyst ryȝt well þat hurre soule was in heuene blys, And þat hurre body was as hole as he was mayde y-bore, And þat hurre body euer in vrthe in gret worship euer shall be And ryȝt so hurre blessude soule shall be in heuene blys And in þe ioy þat euer shall last among þe coronede maydenus is he: [Ms. shalt.] Line 1100 For amonge hem forsothe hurre dwellynge-plase y-ordenyde hit is. [1110 ff.) Däs Folgende ist später nach|getragen.] And prey we now with alle owre myȝt To god, owre fader in trinite Þorow his gret mercy a place vs dyȝt To dwelle þere, with þat blessude mayde fre, Line 1105 And to haue herre euer in owre thouȝt, In þe ioy þat he is now inne, Þedur as god hathe vs so dure y-bouȝt. And þat hit be ryȝt so, say we amen. —

A noþur myracle y þenke here to pyte Line 1110 Ryȝte here yn þis same place, Þe whyche y say at Hely y-wrete, Whenne y on pylgrymage laste þer was, As y redde yn hure story boke By helpe of þe sexteyne þat was þer þat day, Line 1115 Whate sorwe kyng Egfryde yn hys herte toke Whenne seynt Awdre was ago to hure abbay. For whenne heo was gone fro hym, y-wys, And yn þe abbay of Colndy mynchyn furste y-made, Þe kyng þouȝte he had y-done al amys, Line 1120 & yn hys herte grete angur he hade Þat he had y-ȝeue hure þus leue to gone hym fro, Yn þe maner byfore wrete & sayde, And callyd hys cuncel ful ofte hym to And dysyryd of hem to haue aȝen þat mayde, Line 1125 And ful ofte yn herte he purposyd hym al-so Þat mayde to fache with strengþe aȝeyne. But hys cuncelle nolde not consente þerto: Wherefore hys labour was al yn-veyne. But whenne he say hys cuncel wuld not consente Line 1130 To fasche þat mayde aȝeyne fro hure abbay, . . . . .

(Ende fehlt.)

9. The Legend of St. Wolfade and Ruffyn, sons to Wolfere, king of Mercia, martyred by their father for embracing the Fayth of Christ, in memorie of whome the Monasterye of Stone, in the County of Stafford, was first founded. Ms. Cotton Nero CXII, fol. 181 ff. (c. 1450). (Dialect von Staffordshire.)

Diese Legende ist eine Locallegende, am Orte der Verehrung dieser Heiligen, von einem der Chorherrn des Augustinerklosters Stone gedichtet. Als Quelle wird "the cronakle" v. 155, und eine in der dortigen Kirche aufgehängte Tafel v. 318, 352, 379, 380 erwähnt. Das einzige Ms. ist sehr beschädigt. Der Anfang fehlt, von fol. 182 ist nur ein länglicher Streifen erhalten, fol. 183 hat unten eine Lücke. Der Titel steht auf besonderem Blatte, fol. 181. Die Schrift ist gross und fett.

. . . . . [folio 182a] The whiche . . . . . In the cetie of. . . . . And saynt Woldfa(de) . . . . . In this same pla(ce) . . . . . But now to the . . . . . Line 5 Rede over this w . . . . . When Wolfade and h . . . . . This wikide Werebolde . . . . . To wede seynt Werebero . . . . But hur brothere to conse(le) . . . Line 10 Thorowe councell of there . . . . The wolde not cons(ele) . . . . Therefore this stewarde t . . . . And caste in . . . . . That tyme of . . . . . Line 15 The whiche r . . . . . The whiche . . . . . Stowe chapel . . . . . There he ly. . . . . In preyer . . . . . Line 20 Seynt Ar . . . . . Lyvyde . . . . . And b . . . . . That. . . . . A. . . . . Line 25 T. . . . . A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 35 . . . . .ndes all [folio 182b] . . . . .befall . . . . . . . . . .n selffe alone . . . . .goddis grace Line 40 . . . . .was . . . . .hym by reuelacyone . . . es shulde cumme to saluacyone . . . . .his syght . . . . .ente anone right Line 45 . . . . .e hym in that wall . . . . .an oxe stall . . . . .as he hade bene . . . . .e that sight hade sene . . . . .grace Line 50 . . . . .lace . . . . . . . . . .ll . . . . .ne . . . . .acyone Line 55 . . . . . . . . . .cry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 65 . . . . .

His brothere Ruffyn of hym greate mar|vell hade. [folio 183] Line 70 And as he wente, hym for to seeke, He mett haystely the harte so meyke That his brothere to the feythe lade And browght also to holy saynt Chade. There he founde his brothere, saynt Wolfade — Line 75 Therof his harte then was full glade. The tolde hym all then of that casse, What-wisse saynt Wolfade cristened was. And, or he wente, god sende hym suche grace, That, or he wente, he was cristened in that place: Line 80 Saynt Chade christenede hym hys owne hande, And hys brothere was hys godfathere, thus I vnderstonde. Saynt Chade went to masse then at hys awtere And howeslede them bothe there infere, And sett them bothe the feythe so sted|fastlye, Line 85 That the were redy there-for to dye. So ferventhly in Criste there hartys were pyght, That no erthly thyng turne them myght; All worldely thyng the hade in despyte, And to be withe saynt Chade the hade gr(ea)te delyte. Line 90 But he dwellyd so fare frome there fa|there place, That to cumme ofte to hym the myght ha(ue no) space. Therefore the besowght hym bothe infere There fathere castell he wolde dwell nere, That the myght haue withe hym ofte comunycacyone, Line 95 So that there (fathe)re one them hade no suspecyone And speçyall(y Wer)ebolde, that was there enmy, Whiche to t(hem hade) full greate envye And was ev (er busy), bothe dey and nyght, Howe he in (his dawn) gere bryng them myght. Line 100 That tyme f(rom) . . . . .to Lyche|felde, I-wis, Was no tow(ne, but a)ll (w)yldenes. Saynt Chade (leyde his) Oratory then truwly Even into this countre here faste-by, Thre mylle the kyngys place fro, Line 105 That the to hym myght ofte cumme and goe. In the whiche place, there as he made his dwellynge, Was greate plenty of trees then growyng, And of the burgenyng of the trees, the whiche there was, "Borgen towne" men callyde that place, Line 110 And Borstone nowe hit callyde ys, There as saynt Wolfade was martyrede, I-wis. Saynt Wolfade and his brothere Ruffyn also Yche daye one huntyng feyned them to goe; To se saynt Chade, the were so fervente, Line 115 That every dey ons to hym the wente. The kyng supposed, and his men ychone, That the every dey one huntyng had gone — But trewely ever-more there huntyng Was to serche for a more godly thyng: Line 120 Yt was all to visett saynt Chade, I-wis, To brynge there sowllys to heven blysse. But this wickide Werebolde hade greate marvelynge For what casse the wente so ofte one huntynge. To them he hade full great envye Line 125 And thowght he wolde them trewly espye, And tell there fathere, kyng Wolfere, Yf he myght owght cache them in his dawngere. So it befell vppon a daye, As the to saynt Chade shulde take the wey, Line 130 As the were wonte ofte to do so: The falsse stewarde aftur them s. . . (ca)n goe, And as a pecoke wente a pre(ye?). . . . . [l. preye?]

Till he came there, as saynt C(hade). . . . All that the dyde there, he can (espye) Line 135 At an holle of the chapell. . . In his hart then was he (full feyne) That he hade bothe them (cawght in s) uche a trowne. [Ms. trowne st. traine.] He hyede hym faste to (king Wolfere) And tolde to hym howe his sonnes criste|nede were, [folio 184] Line 140 And falssly one them there can he lye And seyde howe they the kyng dyde defye And howe the dyd reuerrance to the roode: And mayde the kynge for wrothe ny woode. So sore he hym sett his sonnes agayne, Line 145 That he swore strongly the shulde be slayne. Werebolde sayde vnto the kynge: "Syr, I tell you no lesynge. For, syr, yf thowe not beleve me, Cume thy-selfe, and thowe may se Line 150 Howe thy sonnes ageynste the will [the st. thi.] A newe faythe haue taken them tyll, Whiche shall destroe the and all thy londe But if thow there malyce manfully with|stonde." The kyng, as the cronakle makythe men|cyone, [Ms. By the.] Line 155 By kynde hade this dysposyscyone: That he was full of wrothe and anger also And cowlde not be satefyede, tyll it were ouer-go. The kyng toke his sworde and faste hym can hye, And swore a greate othe his sonnes shulde bothe dye. Line 160 Werebolde there-of then was full feyne And stered hym thereto withe all his mayne, And browght hym then that chapell vnto And showyde hym at an hoole all that the can do. The kyng for wrothe then cowlde not stonde Line 165 But hastely toke his swerde in honde And in-to the chapell then can he goo, And cursede Werebolde withe hym also. Saynt Chade w(as gone t)hen owt of that place To Lychefelde a(morwe), as goddis will was. Line 170 The kyng hym t(howg)ht then for to wreke, And to his sonnes (thus) can he speke: "Falsse tretors, he seyde, (e)xcepte you doe sone Forsake youre god, to (wh)ome ye doe retorne, I shall you here kyll bothe in this place — Line 175 For youe shall haue o(þer)e-wisse no grace." Saynt Wolfade was enspyrede gostely And answeryde his fathere reverently: "Yt was never owre will, fathere, youe to forsake, Thowght we to Jhesu vs haue betake; Line 180 For the same feythe, that we haue take vs to, Ye yowre-selffe were sworne to doe. The whiche feythe, fathere, stedfastly We will kepe, thowght we shulde dye; For no malyce nor threyt that you can make, Line 185 Owre cristendome will we never forsake". Werebolde to the kyng then seyde, I-wis: "Alas, syr, howe mey youe suffer this? But yf youe wreeke you here anone, Youre wurshipe for ever shall be gone". Line 190 The kyng for woode was nye owt of mynde And dyde forgett all nature and kynde: And withe his swerde smote of saynt Wolfade heede, And lefte hym lyeng there all for dede. The yonger brothere then began to flee, Line 195 And his fathere lepte to hym withe greate crueltye And withe his swerde he rawght hym thorowe-owt

And slee hym there withe-owetyn dowte. And so for the feythe these good marters twayne Of there owne fathere thus were the slayne. Line 200 And when the kyng this cruell dyde hade done, Home to hys castell he hyede hym full sone. Then Werebolde to hym can saye: "A manfull dyde, syr, ye haue done to|daye". A gloryous myracle then there (bef)ell, Line 205 As the story of them can vs ri(ght te)ll: (F)or, when there fathere homew(ard) was gone, The body of saynt Wolfade (rose) vp anone And toke hys owne hede in h(is) armys two And lyke a queke man began to goe Line 210 And browght that hede throwght goddis grace Frome Borostone here, in-to this same place [folio 185] Where as he nowe shrynede ys; There he offeryde vp hys owne hede, I-wis. But when the kyng to hys castell was cummynge, Line 215 There befell a wonderfull thynge: Right in the kyngys owne sight Vengaunce toke Werebolde anone right: He waxed woode and wolde not blyne, For the devyll trewly was hym within: Line 220 His legges and armys then can he gnave And hym-selffe there all to-drawe, And seyde: "alas, that ever I was borne! For bodye and sowle I am no forlorne! [Ms. no st. now.] For vengaūnce of this dyde that I haue done Line 225 My sowle to hell it muste full sone". And thus in presence of the kynge This traytore made a wrechyde endynge. But when kyng Wolfere hade seyne all this, Then wyste he well he hade done amys, Line 230 And begane hys conscyence to remore, And for this dyde then sikyde full sore And in hys harte he was so woo, That for sorow he wyste not what to doe. He wente to hys wiffe withe a sory chere Line 235 And tolde her off that case infere. Then was she sory that the were slayne, But of there marterdome she was full feyne, And comfortede the kyng all that she myght And concellyde hym to go to saynt Chade full right Line 240 And off all hys synnes hym for to shryve And there to forsake his wikede lyve, And throwght-owt all his realme to destroe mawmentry And full to crye for grace and marcy. And she wolde then goe bury her sonnes twayne, Line 245 She hyed her to the place where the were slayne. And when she to Borstone dyde cumme, There she founde the body of Ruffyn, her sone, All wrappyde in blode one the gronde there he laye; But Wolfade that she most lovyd, frome thens was awey. Line 250 For sorowe of saynt Wolfade almoste she can dye And supposyde that wylde bestes hade etyn hys bodye; She myght not stonde for woo, but fell downe on the gronde And, as the story tellythe, right there anone she swonede. Owre lorde god then frome heven sent her good confortynge: Line 255 A greate compenny of angellys withe melodye syngyng, The sweteste nose that a man myght here, Frome heven to erthe the came, syngyng full clere. She was so reiosyde withe that melodye and syght, That hur greate hevenes was gone anone right. Line 260 The angels toke vp the body of Ruffyn, her sone,

And bare it vp in the eyre, and bade her aftur cumme; The browht the bode emonge them withe ioye and blysse Right in this place, wheras it shrinede ys. There knewlede saynt Wolfade, as I vnderstonde, Line 265 All lyke a queke man, withe hys hede in his honde. The angellys toke Ruffyn and sett hym besyde hys brothere, And sed that god hade chosen this place, that nother shuld part fro other(e); The bade hur in this place that she shulde them bury, The wente then to heven agayne, withe a note full mery. Line 270 When seynt Ermenylde hade sene that syght, She knelyde one her knees and thankede god almyght. She wente then anone withowt tarieng And all that she hade sene she tolde the kyng. The kyng withe greate contrecyone wente to seynt Chade, Line 275 For to amende hym of hys lyffe, that he evyll hade lade. When he camme to the chapell, theras seynt Chade was, There he founde hym devowtly stondyng at masse. A full fewre myrachle he sae throwe goddis grace: — [Ms fewre = feire.] The sone hit shone throwe an hoole in the same place; Line 280 Sente Chade, or he wente to masse, he leyde hys clothes hym froo: The sone-beyme trewly helde them frome the gronde tho. The kyng then was full glade, when he hade sene þat syght, And vnderstode sone that it was god almyght. He saye þer the hart, that browght hys sonnes to cristenyng, [folio 186] Line 285 Withe a rope a-bowte hys nek as a tame beste stondyng, An oxe withe the hart stondynge, and etyng there meyte infere. The kyng wiste that saynt Chade to god then was full dere. As sone as masse was done, the kyng fell downe And besowght saynt Chade of absolu|cyone; Line 290 He shrove hym there to sente Chade withe good devocyone And askede marcy for hys synne withe hartely contrycyone. Seynt Chade toke hym to grace and gaue hym absolucyone And restoryde hym to the faithe, vnder this condycyone: That he shulde for hys sonnes sake, whiche he hade sleyne, Line 295 Belde vp an abbey. there-to he grantede feyne. He wente anone and destroyde all maw|mentry throe hys londe And fowndyde the abbey of Peterboro, as I vnderstonde. He belde vp churches and mayntenede Christes lawe And to greate perfectyone frome thens furthe cane he drawe. Line 300 Seynt Ermenylde, hys wyffe, wente then anone And buryede þer her sonnes in a tombe of stone; Bothe Wolfade and Ruffyn she buryede in this place — Wheras the showde many myracles throwe goddys grace. That tyme men vsed, to onor dede mennes bonnes, Line 305 Theras the were buryede forto caste stonnes. So many men for deuocyone (caste) stones theder then, [im Ms. fehlt browghte od. caste.] That þus þe name of Stone of stones furste begane.

Seynt Ermenylde then for memorall of her sonnes two, The whiche dyde marters and virgyns also, Line 310 She fowndyde here a monastery of vir|gyns clere And ordenede theryn nonnes and preestes infere. This begane the fowndacyone of this place sekerly Thore Ermenylde, that fowndyde here a place of nonry. And thus it was a nonry, as I vnder|stonde, Line 315 Tyll that Willam Bastarde conquerede this londe, Whiche camme frome Normandy, withe many lordys infere, Whos names be writyn in a tabull on the right syde the qweer. To them he gaue greate lordshipes that to hym was sure: And so one, Enfame, was made master here. [319 ff.) Ms. Ensame od. Eusame?] Line 320 And when he se that þis lordshipe longed to a nonry, He thowght hym-selfe it forto haue and the abbey to destroye; He went and destroyede all that he fownde there, And slewe the preestes and the nonnes all infere. God sende hym suche sekenes for that he had done, Line 325 That he shulde never haue recouerance, but he repentyde sone. He wyste well he hade done amys, and was sory therefore And thowght: if he mywght leve, he wolde do so no more. That tyme the abbey of Kenelworthe was in byldyng By one Jeffray Glentone, cha(m)berleyne to the kyng. Line 330 This Jeffray was nye cosyn to Ensame, lorde of Stone: Therfore Ensam to hym wente, to make hys mone. He tolde hym of that myscheffe that was hym befall, And howe he hade sleyne the preestes and the nonnes all. Geffrey Glentam concelyde hym, marcy forto crye Line 335 And to restore the howse ageyne, that dyde it so destroe; In as myche as the ordere of chanons that tyme was more sade Then was the ordere of nonnes, therefore he hym rade To fownde a howse of chanons in wor|shipe of sent Wolfade. As sone as he hade grantyde thereto, hys heele he hade. Line 340 He gave the howse of Stone to Kenelworthe abbey anone And made the chanons of Kenelworthe to Stone withe hym to go(ne). Thus was this abbey fowndyde furst a nonry By seynt Wolfade mother, sent Ermenylde, trewly, And after a howse of chanons by Ensam it was made Line 345 And thus was edefyede in worshipe of seynt Wolfade. And when this fownder Ensam was dede and leyd on bere, After hym hys (sone) Arnolde was fownder here. [im Ms. fehlt sone?] This Arnolde dyde a forfet, wherefore he loste hys londe. And then it fell by right to the Baron of Stafforde honde. Line 350 How the lordes of Stafforde fowndyd þis place, þe sothe if ye will here, Here-by in a tabull is writtyn all the processe infere. A chanond went after of this place to the corwte of Rome, He toke seynt Wolfade hede wiht hym, and to þe pope he come; [folio 187]

He tolde hym of hys myracles and of hys lyffe also Line 355 And besowght hym that he wolde do canonyse hym tho. He proferede, in the popes presens in-to a fyre to goe, To prove whethere sent Wolfade wolde kepe hym frome woe. The pope wolde not suffre hym to tempte in suche manere, But grantyde hys petycyone withe-owt any were. Line 360 Anone he lett canonyse this martyr, seynt Wolfade, And wrote hym in hys martelege and a saynt hym made. The chanond came howmwarde, and full glade was he, And browght withe hym seynt Wolfade hede into Vytherb citie. When he came in the toune, into a churche can he goe: Line 365 Seynt Wolfade hede wolde not remove, for no thyng he cowld doe. The chanond vnderstode well that it was goddys wyll That seynt Wolfade hede shulde abyde there styll. The chanond lefte the hede there, as I vnderstonde, In sygne that god wolde haue it worshipe in a strang londe. [Ms. that that.] Line 370 He came home to Stene agayne and browght þe popes by(ll). Thus was seynt Wolfade canonysed, as was goddys wyl. Then was hys body put in shryne, and hys broder hym (by): Where many myracles god haue wrowht by them sekerl(y). [haue st. has.] Who-so with good (wyl) and hart meke [im Ms. fehlt wyll?] Line 375 Will make hys petycyone and here seynt Wolfade seeke, He may be seker of hys boone, here socure to haue; [ethere = hethere.] And that ever ethere do cumme, seynt Wolfade dothe them saue, And hys broder Ruffyn, þat withe hym is shrynede infere, As thys tabull maket mensyon that ys wryttyn here. Line 380 And all that on this tabull redes, god grante them hys grace, Throe the meyne of these marters in heven to haue a place.

Amen abc deus e f g h

10. The Child of Bristowe, aus Ms. Harl. 2382, fol. 118b.

Dasselbe Ms. enthält im Anfang Lydgate's Marienleben, in 6 Büchern (das 5. de purificatione Mariae fol. 86b, und das 6. de assumptione Mariae fol. 74b—letzteres das bekannte, von Lumby in s. Ausg. des King Horn edirte Gedicht — sind willkühr|lich angehängt), dann The testament of Lydgate, Chaucer's Prioresses tale und Cae|cilia, darauf Erasmus (ed. in der "Sammlung altengl. Leg." Heilbronn 1878 p. 199, ein and. Ms. ist Cbr. Dd 1, 1), Testamentum Christi, und The Child of Bristowe fol. 118b. Diese Legende, in 12 zeil. Stropfen, scheint in der 2. Hälfte des 14. Jhdts., ursprünglich in einem nördlicheren Dialecte, verfasst. Sie ist bereits gedruckt in der Retrosp. Review, New Series, Part VI (v. Thom. Wright), und in Hazlitt's Remains of the early pop. poetry of Engl. I, p. 111—131.

He that made bothe helle & heuene, [Ms. heuene & helle st. helle & heuene, vgl. 555.] Man & womman, in dayes VII, And alle shal fede and fille, He graunte vs alle his blessyng, [["e nach g in blessynge V. 4 ... u.s.w. ist zu tilgen, da der Strich an g nicht der Abkürzungsstrick ist" --Corrigenda]] More & lasse, bothe olde & yong, Line 5 That herkeneth & hold hem stille. The beste song that euer was made Ys not worth a lekys blade, But men wol tende þer-tille. Therfor y pray yow in þis place, Line 10 Of your talkynge þat ye be pes, Yf it be youre wille.

I found it writen in olde hand That som-tyme dwellid in Englond A squyer mykel of myght; Line 15 He had castels, tounes & toures, Feyre forestis & feldes with floures, Beestis wilde and wight. To lawe he went a gret while, Pore men he lerned to begile Line 20 Alle agayns the right; Mykel good he gadred to-gedir Alle with treson & dedis lither; He drad not god almyght.

The good he gadred to-geder than, Line 25 He had it of many a pore man, The most partye with wrong. He had a sone; shuld be his heyre, Of shap he was semely & feyre, Of lymes large & long. Line 30 So moche his mynde was on þat childe: He rought not whom (he) begiled [he fehlt im Ms.] Worly good to fong, [worly = worldly.] And al to make his sone so riche That none other myght hym be liche— Line 35 So ment he euer among.

When the child was XII yere & more, His fader put hym vnto lore, To lerne to be a clerke. So longe he lernyd in clergie Line 40 Til he was wise and wittye, And drad al dedis derke. The fader seid to his sone dere: "To lawe thu shalt go a yere, And coste me XX marke; Line 45 For euer the better thu shalt be: Ther shal no-man begile the, Neyther in word ne werke"

The child answerd with a softe sawe: "They fare ful wel þat lerne no lawe, Line 50 And so y hope to do; That lyue wil y neuer lede To put my soule in so gret drede To make god my foo.

To sle my soule, it were routhe. Line 55 Any science that is trouthe Y shal amytte me ther-to; For to forsake my soule helthe, For any wynnyng of worldes welthe, [Ms. wordldes.] That wille y neuer do. Line 60

Hit hath euer be myn avise To lede my lyf by marchandise, To lerne to bye and selle; That good getyne by marchancye [Ms. marchantye.] It is trouthe, as thenketh me; Line 65 Ther-with wille y melle. Here at Bristow dwellith on, Is hold right a iuste, trew man, As y here now telle: His prentys wille y be VII yere, Line 70 His science truly for to lere, And with hym wille y dwelle."

The squyer vnto Bristow rode And with the marchand cownant made VII yere to haue his sone; Line 75 He gaf hym gold gret plente, The child his prentys shuld be His science for to conne. The child toke ful wel to lore; His loue was in god euer-more, Line 80 As it was his wone. He wax so curteise & bolde: Al merrchauntȝ loued hym, yong & olde, Þat in þat contre gan wone. —

Leue we now that child thore, Line 85 And of his fader speke we more, That was so stoute & bolde. He was avaunced so hye: Ther was no-man in þat contre Durst done but as he wolde. Line 90 And euer he vsid vsery, He wold not lene but he wyst why Avauntage dobelle tolde; Tethynges he liste neuer to pay; Yf parsones & vicares wold oght say, Line 95 He newid hem cares colde.

Alle thyng wol ende atte last. God on hym soche sekenes cast: He myght no lenger abide, But on his ded-bed he lay Line 100 And drow toward his endyng day, For al his power & pride. Then he sent for knyghtes & squyers, Whiche were his comperys, In that contre besyde. Line 105 He seid emonges hem euerychon: "Sires, my lyf is nere gone, Hit may not be denyede."

Ther was no-man in þat contre That his excutour wold be, Line 110 Nor for no good ne ille; [Der Reim ist verdorben.] They seid his good was geten so: They wold not haue þer-with to do, For drede of god in heuen. He prayed hem, & they seid nay. Line 115 Allas he seid and welaway, With a rufulle stevyne. After his sone son he sent Evyn to Bristow verrament — Was thens but myles VII. Line 120

The child to chamber toke his way There his fader on ded-bed lay, And asked hym of his chere. "Sone, he seid, wel-come to me! Y ly here now as þ^u may se, Line 125 My endyng day negheth nere. But, sone, thu most be myn heyre Of al my londes, good & faire, And my lordships fere & nere. Therfor, sone, now y pray the Line 130 Myn attourney that thu be, When y am broght to bere."

The child answerd with wordes mylde: "Ye se, fader, y am but a childe, Discrecion haue y none; Line 135 To take soche a charge on me, By my faith! that shal not be, Y can no skyle ther-on. Here ben knyghtes & squyers Whiche were your compers, Line 140 And many a worthy man; Yf y shuld soche on me take [nach soche fehlt charge.] That alle thes worthi men forsake, A fole then were y one!"

He seid: "y haue no sone but the, Line 145 And myn heire þ^u most nedis be — Ther may no-man sey nay. Moche good haue I gadred to-geder With extorcion & dedis lither — Alas and welaway! Line 150 Alle this, sone, y gadred for the: And thu so sone failest me At my nedeful day! Frendship, sone, is ylle to triste, Eche man be ware of "had y wiste", Line 155 God wote, so may y say.

Sone, he seid, thu scapest not so — That shalt þ^u weten, or thu go — Hethen charge y the: To-fore god thu mothe answere, Line 160 And as thu wilt my blessyng bere, Myn attourney that thu be." "A, fader, ye bynde me with a charge, And y shal bynde yow with as large As ye bynde now me: Line 165 The same day fortenyght þat ye passe Y charge yow appere in this place, Your spiret lat me se!

For ye haue bound me so sare, Now y most nedis, how-euer y fare, Line 170 Do youre commaundement. Therfor y charge yow þat ye appere, That y may se your soule here, Whethir it be saued or shent, — And that ye do no scathe to me, Line 175 Ne none that shal come with the!" "Sone, he seid, y assent. But allas that y was borne, Þat man is soule shuld be lorne For my golde or rent." Line 180

Al thyng most ende atte last. God soche sekenys on hym cast, That he most nedis go. The parishe prest vp was soght, The gloriose sacrament with hym he broght Line 185 That dyed for mannys woo; There he shrow hym with hert sore, And cryed god mercy euer-more, As it was tyme to do. When god wold, he went his way. Line 190 His sones song was welaway, Fo(r) hym his hert was wo.

His sone sought fro toune to toune For prestis & men of religione, The dirige for to say. Line 195 An C prestis he had & mo; Gret yeftys he gaf hem tho, Chargyng hem for his fader to pray. Yonge children had gret hole [had st. mad.] And pore wymmen had gret dole — Line 200 That holpe hym not a day. And sitthe broght hym in his pytt — As al men muste, thei may not flyt, Whethir thei be wel or nay.

When thei had broght hym in his graue, Line 205 His sone, þat thoght his soule to saue Yf god wold gef hym leue, Al the catel his fader hade He sold it vp & money made, And labored morow & eve: Line 210 He sought aboute in þat contre tho Where any almes myght be do, And largely he dud hem yeue, Wayes & brugges for to make, And pore men for goddis sake Line 215 He yeaf them gret releve.

Who-so axed oght, he made here pay, And XXX^ti trental of masses he let say For his fadres sake. He let neuer til he had bewared Line 220 Alle the tresour his fader spared, Aseth to god forto make. By þat day fortenyghtis ende was come, His gold was gone, alle & some — Many one of hym spake; Line 225 And al thynges that were meuable He gaf aboute with-outen fable To pore men that wold take.

By than þe fourtenyght was broght to ende, The child to the chamber gan wende Line 230 Where his fader dyed.

Adoune he knelid half a day, Al the good prayers þat he couthe say (!) His fader forto abide. Betwene mydday and vnder Line 235 Þer cam a blast of lightnynge & dunder Thurgh the walles wide, As al þe place on fire had be. The child seid benedicite And fast on god he cryde. Line 240

And as he sate on his prayere, Sone before hym gan appere Foule tydynges betwene: His faders soule brennynge as glede, The deuel bi þe nekke gan hym lede Line 245 In a brennynge cheyne. This child seid: "y coniure the, What-so-euer þ^u be, speke to me!" That other answerd ageyne: "Y am thi fader that þe begate. Line 250 Now thu may se of myn astate: Lo, how y dwelle in peyne."

The child seid: "ful woo is me In this plite that (y) yow se; [y fehlt.] Hit persheth myn hert sore." Line 255 "Sone, he seid, thus am y led, For be-cause of my falshed That y vsed euer-more, Mi good was getyn wrongfully. But it myght restored be Line 260 And aseth be made ther-fore, An C yere thus shal y do. Gef me my trouthe y were ago! For til than my soule is lore."

"Nay, fader, that shal not be, Line 265 In better plite y wol yow se, Yf god wol gef me grace. But ye shal me your trouthe plighte: This same day fourtenyght Ye shal appere in this place. Line 270 And y shal laboure, yf y may, To bryng your soule in better way, Yf y haue lyf and space." He graunted hym in gret hast. With that ther cam a donder-blast, Line 275 And bothe ther way gan passe.

The child had neuer so gret sorwe. He rose vp apone the morwe, To Bristow gan he wende. To his mayster he gan say: Line 280 "Y haue serued yow many a day: For goddis loue be my frend! My fader out of this world is past. Y am come to yow in hast, Y haue euer founde yow kynde: Line 285 Me nedith a litel somme of gold: Myn heritage shal be sold, Croppe, rote and rynde."

His maister seid: "what nede were the To selle thi thrift so hastely? Line 290 It were not for thy prow. Yf thu any bargeyn haue boght, For gold ne siluer care þ^u noght: Y shal lene the right ynow. An C mark yf thu wilt haue, Line 295 This VII yere I wil none craue. Wherfor avise the now! For yf thu selle thyn heritage That shuld þe helpe in thi yonge age, An vnwise man art thow." Line 300

"Gramercy, he seid, maister hende, This was a proffer of a frende. But truly, it shal be sold. Better chepe ye shal it haue Then any man, so god me saue! Line 305 For nedys y must haue gold." He seid: "what is it worth by yere?" "An C marke of money clere: [Ms. and st. an.] The stuward this me tolde". "Then shal y gef the III C pound, Line 310 Euery peny hole and round". The yonge seid: "y holde.

Dere mayster, y yow pray, Haue here dedis, fech me my pay! [sech st. fech,] For y most home agayne. [[home ist zweifelhaft, Ms. eher hone oder hene --Corrigenda]] Line 315 Y haue to do in soundre place, Y pray yow of fourtenyght space,

Y shal yow quytte, certayne". His mayster loued hym so welle: He fette hym gold euery delle. Line 320 Than was þe child ful fayne, He toke his good & gan to go — & for his fader his hert was woo That bode in so mykel payne.

His sone lete crie alaboute Line 325 In churches & markettis with-oute doute Wher his fader dud wone, Where his fader dud destritione To man or womman in any toune, They shuld come to his sone, Line 330 "And he shal make aseth þer-fore And his good ayen restore, Eche man his porcione". Euer as they come, he made here pay, And charged hem for his fader pray Line 335 In blisse that he myght wone.

By that the fourtenyght was come, His gold was gon, al & some, Then had he no more. In-to the chamber he went þat tide, Line 340 The same that his fader in dyde, And knelid as he dud ore. And as he sate in his prayere, The spiret before hym gan appere, Right as he dud before, Line 345 Saue þe cheyn away was caught; Blak he was, but he brent noght; But yet he was in care.

"Welcome, fader! seid the childe, Y pray yow with wordes mylde, Line 350 Tel me of youre astate!" "Sone, he seid, the better for the. Y-blessid mote the tyme be That euer y the begate! Thou hast releuyd me of moche wo, Line 355 My bitter chayne is fal me fro And the fire so hote. But yet dwel y stille in peyn, And euer must, in certeyne, Tyl y haue fulfilled my day". [Der Reim ist verdorben, st. day l. date.] Line 360

"Fader, he seid, y charge yow tel me: What is moste ayens the And doth yow most disese?" "Tethynges & offrynges, sone, he sayd, For y them neuer truly payd. Line 365 Wherfor my peynes may not cesse But it be restored agayne To as many churches, in certayne, And also mykel encresse. Alle that for me thu dos pray, Line 370 Helpeth me not to the vttermost day The valure of a pese.

Therfor, sone, y pray the, Gef me my trouthe y left wit h the, And let me wynde my way!" Line 375 "Nay, fader, he seid, ye gete it noght. Another craft ther shal be soght, Yet efte y wille assay. But your trouthe ye shal me plight: This same day a fourtenyght Line 380 Ye shal come ageyn to your day, Ye shalle appere here in this place; And y shal loke with goddis grace To amende yow, yf y may".

The spiret went forth in his way. Line 385 The childe rose vp that other day, For no-thynge wold he lette, Even to Bristow gan he wynde. There he mette with his maister hynde, Wel goodly he hym grette. Line 390 "When y haue nede, y come to yow. Mayster, but ye help me now, In sorwe my herte is sette; Me nedith a litel summe of gold, Another bargeyn make y wold" Line 395 And with that word he wepte. [l. grette st. wepte?]

Hys maister seid: "þ^u art a fole, Thu has bene at som bad scole; By my feith! y hold the mad. For thu has played atte dice Line 400 Or at som other games nyce And loft vp sone þat thu had. Thu hast right noght þat þ^u may selle:

Alle is gone, as y here telle. Thi gouernaunce, sone, is bad". Line 405 Then he seid vntil his maister fre: "Myn owne body y wil selle to the, For euer to be thy lad.

Bonde to the y wille me bynde, Me & alle myne to þe worldis ende, Line 410 To helpe me in this nede". He seid: "how mykel woldest þ^u haue?" "XL mark, and ye wold foche-saue, For that shuld do my dede. I hope that shal my cares kele". Line 415 The burges louyd þe child so wele, That to his chamber he yede; XL pound he gan hym brynge: "Sone, here is more than thyn askynge. Almyghti god the spede!" Line 420

"Gramercy, sire! gan he say, God yow quiytte, that best may! And trewe ye shal me fynde. Y haue to do a thynge or two, A fourtenyght gef me lef to go! Line 425 Y haue euer founde yow kynde". He gaf hym leue. he went his way, But on his fader he thoght ay — He goth not out of mynde. He sought alle þe churches in þat contre Line 430 Where his fader had dwellid by, He left not one behynde.

He made aseth with hem echon. By þat tyme his gold was gone, They couthe aske hym no mare. Line 435 Saue as he went by þe strete, With a pore man gan he mete, Almost naked and bare. "Your fader oweth me for a ȝeme of corn" — Doun he knelid hym beforne — Line 440 "And y hym drad ful sare. For your fader soules sake, Som amendes to me ye make, For hym that Marie bare!"

"Welaway, seid þe yonge man, Line 445 For my gold & siluer is gan; Y haue not for to pay". Of his clothes he gan take And put hem on þe poreman is bake, Chargynge for his fader to pray; Line 450 Hosen & shon he gaue hym tho, In sherte and breche he gan go, He had no clothes gay. In-to the chamber he went þat tide, The same þat his fader on dyde, Line 455 And knelid half a day.

When he had knelid & prayed longe, Hym thoght he herd þe myriest songe Þat any erthely man myght here. After the song he saw a light, Line 460 As thow a thousant torches bright: It shone so faire and clere. In that light so faire lemand A naked child in angelis hand Before hym dud appere Line 465 And seid: "sone, blessid thu be, And alle þat euer shalle come of the, That euer thu goten were!"

"Fader, he seid, ful wel is me, In that plite that y yow se! Line 470 Y houe that ye be saue". [Ms. houe = howe oder st. hope.] "Sone, he seid, y go to blisse. God almyghti quyte the this Thi good ageyn to haue. Thu has made the ful bare, Line 475 To aqueynche me of mykel care. My trouthe, good sone, y craue". "Haue your trouthe, he seid, fre, And of thi blessynge y pray the, Yf that ye wold foche-saue". Line 480

"In that blessynge mote þ^u wone That oure lady gaf here sone, And myn on the y lay". Now that soule is gon to blisse, With moche ioye and angelis, Line 485 More then y can say. This child thanked god almyght

And his moder, Marye bright, When he sey that aray. Even to Bristow gan he gon, Line 490 In his sherte & breche allone — Had he no clothes gay.

When þis burges þe child gan se, He seid then "benedicite! Sone, what araye is this?" Line 495 "Truly, maister, seid þe childe, Y am come me to yelde As youre bonde-man". [Die Reime sind verdorben.] The burges seid anone right: Me mervayleth mykel of þis sight. Line 500 Tel me now, how it ys?" [499—501 sind umzustellen.] "What-som-euer ye put me to, After my power it shal be do, While my lyf wil laste". [502—4 sind umzustellen.] [Die Reime sind verdorben.]

"For þe loue be-twene vs hath be, Line 505 Telle me, sone, how it stant with the, Why thu gos in this aray?" "Sir, al my good y haue sold, ywys, To gete my fader to heuene blys, For-sothe, as y yow say. Line 510 For ther was no-man but y That wold be his attourny At his endynge day". Tho he told hym furthere How ofte he dud his fader appere Line 515 And eke in what aray.

"And now his soule into blisse Y sey hym led with angelis. Al-myghti god the yelde! For thurf youre good he is saue. Line 520 And his dere blessyng y haue, And al my cares be kelde". "Sone, he seid, blessid mote þ^u be That so pore woldest make the, Thi faders soule to saue! [Ms. saue st. belde?] Line 525 To speke þe honour may almankynde: Thu art a tristy, siker frende — Soche fynde y but sildene. [sildene st. selde.]

But fewe sones ben of tho That wol serue here fader so, Line 530 When he is hens gone. Sectours fynd y many on, But none soche as þ^u art on, By my feith! y leve not on". [Nach 534 fehlt eine halbe Stropfe.]

Hys maister seid: "y shal þe telle: Line 535 Thu canst bothe bye & selle: Here now make y the Myn owne felow in al wise Of worldly good & marchandise, For thy trouthe so fre. Line 540 Al-so, sone, y haue no childe, Myn heritage for to wilde, Goten of my body: Here y make the now myn heyre Of alle my landes, good & faire — Line 545 And myn attorney that þ^u be"!

His maister dud hym weddid be To a worthy man is doghter of þat contre, With ioye and grete solace. And when his mayster was ded, Line 550 In-to alle his good he entred, Londes, catelle and place. Thus hath þis yonge man keuered care, First was riche & sitthen bare, And sitthen riccher then euer he was. Line 555 Now he þat made bothe helle & heuene And alle the worlde in dayes seuene, Graunte vs alle his grace! Amen.

Explicit the Tale of the Childe of Bristow.

II. The Tale of the Smyth and his Dame. Aus einem alten Drucke in der Bodleiana zu Oxford (4^to, Seld. C. 39).

Dieses Gedicht, in demselben Dialect und Strop?enbau und wol von demselben Dichter wie die Disputisoun bytwene a cristenemon and a Jew (Sir Water of Berewyk's wunderbarer Sieg über einen Juden) gedruckt in der "Sammlung altengl. Leg." Heilbronn 1878, p. 204 ff., ist wol schon c. 1360 gedichtet, leider aber nur in einem späteren Druck des Will. Copland in Lothbury, ohne Angabe der Jahreszahl (Anfang des 16. Jhdts.) erhalten; das einzige Exemplar dieser Ausgabe ist in der Bodleiana zu Oxford, Seld. C 39, beschrieben in Dibdin's British Bibliographer 1810 I p. 61—5. Hieraus ist das Gedicht edirt von Halliwell in s. Contributions to early Engl. Litterature London 1849 (for private circulation). In dem Exemplar zu Oxford fehlt leider ein Blatt mit V. 114—180. Neuerdings hat sich im Cajus Coll. zu Cambridge ein Fragment in 2 Halbblättern aus einer anderen Ausg. dess. Gedichts, von Wynkyn de Worde London ab. 1505, gefunden, welches einen Theil des Fehlen|den ergänzt; von dem ersten Blatte ist die obere Hälfte wit je 19 V. auf der Vorder|und Rückseite, von dem zweiten die untere Hälfte mit je 12 V. erhalten, mit den Vv. 105—123, 135—154, 184—195, 214—225. — Der ursprüngliche, nördliche Dialect ist in der Ausg. zum Theil verderbt.

Here begynneth a plesaunt treatyse of the smyth that brent hys dame and after forged her agayne by the helpe of our blessed lorde.

Imprinted in London, Lothburi, over against Sainct Margarites Church, by Willyam Copland.

Here begynneth a treatyse of the smyth whych that forged hym a new dame.

God that dyed on a tree, He glad them al with his gle That wyll herken unto me And here what I wyll say: And ye shall here a marvel, Line 5 Of a tale I shall you tell, How in Egypt it befell. And in that same countraye Some tyme ther dwelled a smyth, That hath bothe lande and lyth, Line 10 Many a plowman hym wyth, By nyght and eke by day. The smyth was a subtyll syer, For well could he werke wyth the fyer What men of hym wolde desyer — Line 15 I tel you trouth, by my fay!

He coude werke wyth a mall Many maner of metall. Hymselfe mayster dyd he call Wythouten any pere. Line 20 Moche boste gan he blowe And sayd he had no felowe That coud worke worth a strawe To hym, ferre nor nere; He called hymselfe the kynge, Line 25 Wythout any leasynge, Of all maner of cunnynge, And of certes clere. [certes = desertes; od. l. artes?] Tyll it befell upon a day Our lorde came thereaway Line 30 And thought the smyth to assay, As ye shall after here.

For hys pompe and hys pryde That he blewe in eche syde, Our lorde thought at that tyde Line 35 His pryde should be layed.

As the smyth stode workynge, To hym came our heaven kynge, "Now he that made all thynge, Spede the!" he sayde, Line 40 He sayd: "I have a thyng to make; And thou wylt it undertake And do for my sake, Thou shalt be well payed." The smyth sayd: "So mote I the, Line 45 Tell on and let me se! It shal be done full wyghtely Wythin a lyttel brayed.

For I am mayster of all That smyteth wyth hamer or mall, Line 50 And so may thou me call, I tell the for veray: I sawe hym never wyth myne eye That could werke lyke I, I tell the full truely, Line 55 By nyght ne by day." "Can thou make a yerdè of stele, To lede a blynde man wele" — . . . . . [Nach 59 fehlt ein Vers.] Our lorde gan to say, Line 60 "And make it so wyth thy mall, That he shall never stomble ne fall? Than a mayster I wyll the call, Syr, by my fay!"

The smyth than in a stody stode, Line 65 Sayde: "I trowe thou be wode, Or els thou can but litle good, To talke of suche a thynge! And he be blynde, he must nede Have a felowe, hym to lede, Line 70 That may se well indede, To kepe hym fro fallynge. For, and two blynd men together go, Full oft they fall bothe two — It must nedes be so: Line 75 They have no maner of seynge. How should a blynde dotarde Walke wyth a blynd yarde, If it be stele never so harde? It is but a very leasynge. Line 80

It were a(s) lytell maystry [Copl. a st. as.] To make a blynde man to se As suche a yerde truely, Wythouten any layne." "Yes, sayde oure lorde, that I can: Line 85 Make suche yerde, certayne, Or he that is an olde man To make hym yonge agayne." The smyth sayd: "So mote I the, I have an olde quayne wyth me, Line 90 Myne olde beldame is she, I tell the, wythout any layne; It is forty wynter and mo Syth on fote she dyd go; And thou coud make her yonge so, Line 95 Than wolde I be fayne."

Our lorde sayd: "Where is she? Anone let me her se, And thou shalt se a maystre More than thou can." Line 100 The smyth sayd: "So mote I the, I shall her fetche unto the." Anone than full wyghtely After her the smyth ranne, And sayd: "Dame, slepest thou? [sayde.] Line 105 I am come for the: thou mayest me trowe, [com. mayste.] Thou shalt be made nowe [shalte.] Agayne a yonge woman." He hent her up than on hye: [hyr vp.] Than set she forth a loude cry [forthe. lowde crye.] Line 10 And sayd: "Stronge thefe, let me ly! [sayde. lye.] Thou art, I trowe, a madde man. [arte. mad.]

Lette me lye, thou unthryfty swayne!" [vnthryfty.]

Hier fehlt ein Blatt.

Das Fragment des Druckes Worde's fährt fort p. I: ["Nay, dame! withouten ony layne]

Line 115

Thou shalte be made yonge agayne — Line 115 Thou arte a very olde trote." To our lorde than he hyr bore And sayde: "syr, loo, I haue broughte hyr here. Thou maye se by hyr chere That she is chekmate." Line 120 Oure lorde sayde: "gode syre, Hye the faste and make a fyre, And blowe gladly for thy hyre!" [V. 105—123 finden sich auf der I. Seite des Fragmentes des Druckes von Wyn|kyn de Worde, London ab. 1505, in Caj. Coll. Cbr. Varianten dieses Druckes sind:] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (11 V. fehlen. p. 2 enthält V. 135—154.) Than began she to grone Line 135 And lowde out to crye, Sayde: "I forfende you to-daye Ony handes on me to ley. What, wyll ye bren me? Fye on you, fye! Line 140 Out, theues! wyll ye me kyll? Lete god on me worke his wyll! Ye shall be hanged on a hyll. . . . . . I am fyue-score yere olde, Line 145 Yet lyue lenger I wolde. Howe dare ye be so bolde With me thus for to fare?" "Howe, quod our lorde to the smyth, Thou canste beste dele her with: Line 150 Lay hyr vpon the styth Without ony more stryfe!" The smyth toke hyr vp tyte. Tho began she to byte] . . . . . Line 155 . . . . . . . . . . "She shall be made at a brayd Line 180 Yonge now agayne." The smyth blewe, as god bed, Tyll she was reed as a gled; Yet for all that dede Felt she no maner of payne. [Felte.] The smith said: "Now is she shent: [sayde. nowe. shente.] Line 185 Bothe her eyen are out brent; [hyr iyen.] They wyl never be ment, [wylI. neuer. amende.] Our workes are all in vayne. [werkes.] She hath had suche a hete: [has. an.] She wyll never eat mete; [That she. ete.] Line 190 I have blowen tyll I swete, [haue.] Withouten any layne." [ony.]

Our lorde sayd: "Let me alone! [sayde. lete.] Thou shalt se, and that anone, A full fayre woman [V. 184—195 stehen auf der 3. Seite des Fragments. Varianten:] Line 195 Of thys olde wyght". Our lord blessed her at a brayd And on the styth he her layd, "Take thy hamer, he sayd, And make her now ryght! Line 200 "Dame, I shall the wake". Wyth a hamer he her strake, No bone of her he brake: She was a byrd bryght. "Stand up now, lette me se!" Line 205 Than at that worde rose she, A fayre woman, truely, And semely unto syght.

Our lord sayd to the smyth: "She is sounde of lymme and lyth, Line 210 Nowe I have made her on the styth [nowe st. newe?] Wyth hamer and wyth mall". Than was she loveseme of chere, [C. loveseme.] Bright as blosome on brere — [bryght. blosom.] None in Egypt her pere, [egypte. hyr.] Line 215 So fayre and so tall; Her colour was clere, [Hyr coloure was full clere.] She semed but thyrty yere, She was whiter of lere [whyter.] Than bone is of whale. [bones is.] Line 220

Line 220 Than our lorde gan say: [oure. saye.] "Now is here a fayre may! [nowe.] Smyth, by night and by day [nyght.] Thy mayster thou me call! Now mayest thou se here in syght [nowe mayste.] [V. 214—225 sind auf der 4. Seite des Fragments erhalten. Varianten:] Line 225 Hole and of lym lyght That was before an olde wyght, Both croked fote and hande". "Gramercy, syr, sayd she, For thou hast wrought on me, Line 230 It was a full great maystry, As I understande. I was blynde, nowe may I se; Croked I was truely, Now may I walke wyghtly; Line 235 My bales are unbande. Suche a smyth as thou art one, I dare say, here is none, And a man shoulde gone Throughout thys land. Line 240 For I dare say that thou can, Yf here were a dead man, [C. wert.] Make hym on lyve anone With thy excelent maystry". Than the smyth gan say: Line 245 "Syr, what shall I to the pay, Or thou wende thy way, Thy craft to teche me?" Our lord sayd than to him againe: "That thou desyrest, is all in vayne; Line 250 Thought þou woldest never so faine, Yet wyl it never be; Thou shalt never, yf thou wolde, Make an yonge man of an olde. Therfore be not to bolde, Line 255 Leest it do disceyve thee! Yet thou toldest me longe ere Thou were wysest man of leere That was knowen any-where, Other farre or els nere! Line 260 Farewell now and have good day! I must forthe wende on my jorney Into another countrey Amonge many craftes there. And leve thy bostes, I rede the! Line 265 For I tell the now treuely: Is none so wyse ne to sle But ever ye may somwhat lere". — Now lysten, syrs, at asent, And ye wil nowe my tale tent, Line 270 How the smith hys dame brent In the next fyt ye shall here.

The seconde fytte.

Whan our lorde was gone, The smyth rathely and anone Called on hys dame Jone Line 275 And bad her com on fast. Anone she aunswered tho: "Thou wotest I may not go, Wherto cryest thou so? Is thy wytte past? Line 280 I am croked and also lame, And now to go, it is no shame(!), [now st. not?] Age doth me muche grame, Me thynketh my bones brast. Thou wotest well I may no(t) se, Line 285 Almost I am as blynde as a be; And yf I bye me, truely, To fall I am agast". The smyth hande on her layd: "Come forth, dame! he sayd, Line 290 Thou shalt be made at a brayd Younge and lusty agayne. Thy dame is yonge agayne, i-wys, She is mended of her mysse, Her rudde redder it is Line 295 Than the rose is in rayne". "That is a lye, quod she, I fayth, that wyl never be! She is blynde of that one eye, Her bones are unbayne". Line 300 The smyth sayd: "Lo! she is here, The swete dame that the bere: She is lovesome of chere, Wythouten any layne". "Art thou my mother?" sayd she. Line 305 "Ye", sayd she, "truely".

Than sayd she: "Benedicite! Who hath made the thus?" Anone to her gan she say: "I was made thus to-daye Line 310 Wyth one that came by the waye, Men call hys name Jesus". "Now truely, than, sayd she, He hath amended well thy ble; For yesterday, so mote I the, Line 315 Thou were a foule sose". "Dame, sayd the smyth tho, I can make the yonge so, [C. yonde st. yonge.] Had I a fyre brennynge blo. But now thou must helpe us". Line 320 Than the smyth at a brayed A quarter of coles on he layed: "Let us blowe nowe, he sayed, Tyl all be on glede! And thou shalt se, dame, in hy Line 325 A crafte for the maystry; Full fewe men can it but I, I tel the trouthe, indede". "Why, what wylt thou do with me?" "Dame, brenne the" sayd he. Line 330 "Nay, not so, sayd she, Chryst it forbede! To brenne me, were a shrewde game: Wottest not thou, knave, whome I am? Thefe, I am thyne owne dame! Line 335 Evyll mote thou spede! Traytour, and thou brenne me, Thou shalt be hanged on a tree. My malyson I gyve thee, Woldest thou me slo: Line 340 God let thee never eate brede, Woldest thou have thy dam dede. Touche me not, I thee rede, For bothe thyne eyen two! The fyrst tyme I thee see, Line 345 I wolde I had throtled thee, Now thou woldest brenne me And werke me thys wo! I tell thee, by sweete saynt John, Thou shalt have my malyson, Line 350 But thy hamer anone Thou cast thee fro. Moche wo hast thou wrought; I kept the when thou were nought, Fostred and forth the brought, Line 355 Full oft dyd I wake". [C. make st. wake.] "Dame, sayd the smyth, I trowe, Olde shrewe, it is for thy prowe That on thys wyse nowe Yonge I shall thee make. Line 360 Anone se that thou shall: Had I my hamer and mi mall, I wolde make the full tall And yonge, I undertake". He layed hande on her tho. Line 365 Than she spurned at hym so That hys shynnes bothe two In-sonder she there brake. Than the smyth began to stare And sayd: "Dame, God gyve the care! Line 370 What aylest thee thus to fare? [aylest st. ayles.] I trowe thou art wode! Yonge ful soone I can make thee, And that anone thou shalt se; I am waxen now full crafty, Line 375 I tell thee, by the rode! Thou spendest now and mai not pay, Thou hast lyen full many a day By the wall, for sothe I thee say, And can do no good". Line 380 Full fast the fyre gan he blow, And sayd: "Be thou never so throw, I shal amende the sonne, I trow, Of bone and eke of bloud". She sayde: "Syr, by saynt Jhone, Line 385 Of thy mendyng kepe I none. Therfore let me alone And touche me no more!" "Yes, sayde he, that I mote. Come forthe, olde dote!" Line 390 She catched hym by the throte, That bloud out gan fare. As he drew her nere, She set her fote agaynst a spere, And sayd: "Thefe, wylt thou me dere? Line 395 God gyve the care!" He cast her on the smythes stocke, And than she hent hym by the locke

And gave hym many a great knocke, She spared not the bare. Line 400 Ever she sporned wyth her fote; In hande a hamer she gate And knocked hym above the pate: The bloud gan out-brast. And she carped at hym then, Line 405 "Strong thefe, she sayd, I shall the ken Thyne owne dame for to brenne!" She bette upon him fast. There she had welny Stryken out his one eye — Line 410 Though the smyth bygge be, Of her he was abasshed. Stefly on her fete she stode And smote on him as she were wode; The smyth ranne on reed blode, Line 415 All to-rent and rasshed. The smyth at a brayd Wolde her in the fyre have layd. "Nay, thefe, tho she sayd, Yet wyl I not come there. Line 420 "Helpe, some good man, sayd she, Thys thefe wyl brenne me!" Anone than full myghtely She caught hym by the heer; Of his lockes gan she pull Line 425 Many great handfull, Rent the skyn from the skull, The pan gan appeare. She sayd: "Thefe, lette me go! Wylt thou thy dame slo?" Line 430 Loude out cryed she tho, That many a man myght here. The smyth than in hast Water on the coles cast, The fyre he blewe full fast Line 435 And made it brenne full bryght. The smyth, angred wyth that, Cast her in the fyre flat; All-way fast gan she scrat At hym wyth all her myght. Line 440 Into the fyre he her thrast And sayd: "I holde thy wytte past. Olde shrowe, at the last Thou shalt be newe dyght". Whan he had smored her in the smok, Line 445 Out of the fyre he her toke: She had none eyen for to loke, For lost was her syght. He laide her on the stythe alonge And wyth an hamer he on throng, Line 450 That both her armes of spronge. Than waxed he unfayne, And sayd: "So ever eate I meate, Thou shalt have a better heate". Mo coles gan he gete, Line 455 To blowe he was full fayne. The fyre sparkeled and spronge, He cast on water sometymes amonge, And sayd: "Yet I hope to make the yonge, Wythout any layne". Line 460 Than he hent her up on hy And layed her on the stethy And hamered her strongely With strokes that were ungayne. Fast on her he layed, Line 465 "Waxe yong, dame!" he sayd. Than bothe her legges at a brayd Fell sone her fro. "What, evyll hayle! sayd he, Wylt not thou yonge be? Line 470 Speke now, let me se, And say ones bo!" Than he toke her by the heed And sayd: "Dame, art thou deed? Speke now in thys steed Line 475 And say ye or els nay! Though both thy legges be awai, Yet speke, pardy, thou may. Say on, dame, I the pray, Felest thou any wo? Line 480 Dame, I have lost on the Moche labour truely; Now and thou deed be, So fayre must me befall". Loud on her he can cry Line 485 And sayde: "Dame, speke on hye, Or by my trouth, truely Brenne thee up I shall. What? canst thou nothyng say? I holde thee deed by this day". Line 490

Line 490 Her arme anone he thrēw away Even agaynst the wall. And lyghtly his way he went than, After Jesu fast he ran, As he had ben a madde man, Line 495 And full fast kan hym call, And sayd: "For saynt charyte, Abyde nowe and speke wyth me! But thou me helpe, truely, My cares are full colde. Line 500 My owne dame I have slayne, I wolde have made her yonge agayne — All my laboure was in vayne, Her legges wolde not holde". Our lorde sayd verament: Line 505 "Hast thou thy dame brent?" He sayd: "Lorde, she is shent, But yf thou helpe wolde". Our lorde sayd: "Go we full yare. Yet I bad the longe eare Line 510 Of suche craft to beware And be not to bolde!" "A, good lorde, sayd he, I crye the hartely mercy; I wolde have wrought after the Line 515 And learned of thy lore". Sayd our lorde: "Go thy way! Now thou doest me pray, I shall helpe that I maye Her for to restore". Line 520 Anone as he her se, He blessed her full fayrely And bad her stande upon hy: Anone she rose up there. She semed younge and not olde, Line 525 Bryght as blossome her to beholde, Fayrer by a thosand folde Than she was before; She was whyte as a bone of whale, Bryghter then berall. Line 530 Than to the earth gan she fall And thanked god intere. The smyth had good game And fetched forth hys beldame. Than they all thre in-same Line 535 Kneled there in-fere And helde up theyr hands on hy(ght) And thanked god wyth all theyr mygh(t) That he had them so dyght And mended theyr chere. Line 540 Our lorde sayd to the smyth tho: "Loke, thou brenne never mo! For this craft, I shal tel the, Can thou never lere. But here a poynt I gyve the: Line 545 The mayster shalt thou yet be Of all thy craft truely Wythout any delay; What man of craft soever be, And he have no helpe of the, Line 550 Thoughe he be never so sle, Warke not he may". Than our lorde forth went And bad the smyth take good tent That he no mo folke brent, Line 555 By nyght nor yet by day. Our lorde thus forth gan go And left them togyther so, And dyd many a mervayle mo In dyvers countreis. Line 560 He made many a croked ryght And gave blynd men agayne theyr syght, Dead men throughe hys myght He raysed full sone agayne, Leprous made he clere, Line 565 Defe men for to here, And other sycknesses in fere He heled them certayne: All sycke men that to hym sought And to hym that were brought, Line 570 And loved lely in theyr thought, [l. leved?] And were losed of theyr payne. Pray we all to hym thys That suche a lordy is: That he brynge us to blys Line 575 That never shall mys. Amen. Thus endeth the game How the smyth brent hys dame And after made her agayne By our blessed lord. Line 580

Finis.

Imprented at London in Lothburi, ouer agaynst Sainct Margarites church, by me Wyllyam Copland.

12. Marienlegende Vom guten Ritter und seinem eifersüchtigen Weibe. Aus Ms. Ashmol. 61, fol. 62.

Die zwei folg. Legenden, im Katalog der Ashm. Mss. fälschlich als ein Gedicht aufgeführt, gehören demselben Dichter an und sind ohne Zweifel bedeutend älter als die Hs. Die erste ist nur im Ms. Ashm. 61 erhalten und ohne den Schluss, da nach fol. 65 ein Blatt absichtlich ausgerissen ist; die zweite findet sich ganz in Ms. Cbr. Ff V, 48 fol. 44, und theilweise, von v. 118 an, in Ms. Ashm. 61 fol. 66 (der Anfang ist mit dem vorhergehenden Blatte ausgerissen). — Die altenglischen Marienlegenden sind in späterer "dunkler" Zeit absichtlich zerstört; von der Sammlung von 42 Marien|legenden des Ms. Vernon sind nur die ersten 9 erhalten (edirt in Herrig's Archiv Bd. LVI p. 221—236); die 66 Marienlegenden Barbour's, die derselbe im Eingange seiner Legendensammlung als sein Werk nennt, sind ganz verloren; 15 Marien|legenden in Prosa, kurz skizzirt, enthält noch Ms. Lamb. 432 fol. 85 (edirt in der Anglia, 1880); ein Fragment einer Marienlegende Ms. Auchinl., ein anderes, Ms. Thornton. Altfranzösische Sammlungen finden sich in Ms. Egert. 612 und Ms. Reg. 20 B XIV (beide ver|schieden).

Lordyngys curtase & hen(d)e, Lystyns how þis tale schall ende T(hat) I wyll ȝow seyne! And if ȝe wyll with gode wyll here, Gret gode ȝe may þer-in lere, Line 5 In hert iff ȝe (it) leyne.

I schall tell wyffe & mane How owre lady helpe cane That to hyre clepe at nede; Thare schall no-man sykerly Line 10 Do nouȝht fore owre dere lady Bot he schall haue his mede.

Thys schall I preue thorow a skyll. Herkyns, if it be ȝoure wyll Thys gest forto here, Line 15 A feyre merakyll of a knyȝht, And of hys lady feyre & bryȝht, That was hym leffe & dere.

A knyȝht wonyd here-besyde, That had I-noȝhe of gret pride Line 20 Vnto hys lyffys ende. A lady he had to hys wyffe, That he louyd as hys lyffe, Was come of nobulle kynde.

Syche a grace(!) god theme gafe, Line 25 That þei myȝht no chyld haue Off all a VII ȝere. Therefore þe knyȝht & hys lady Both þei were full sory And changyd oft þer chere. Line 30

Neuer-þe-les þe knyȝht & hys wyffe Both þei were of gowd lyffe. To god þei made a bone: That he schuld þem some chyld sende. Jhesu Cryst, þat is so hend, Line 35 God grantyd þem well sone.

So longe to-geþer þei gane praye, That he sent them childer tweye Off þer awne blode. The knyght & hys lady wer full blythe Line 40 And thankyd god many a sythe Off hys sonde gode.

Thus þe knyght & hys wyfe Lyued mery in clene lyffe With Joy & grete solas, Line 45 Tyll sche was with þe thyrd chylde; Welle oft þei thankyd Mary myld That sente þem þat grace.

Than þei wer both blyth & glad, Iche to oþer grete Joy made, Line 50 Both erly & late. The deuell þer-of had envy

And went aboute as a spy There trew lufe to abate.

Thus dyde þe fende, þe fowle wyght: Line 55 He was about dey & nyȝht In bale to brynge theme bothe. Bot he myght neuer be þe more In all þe tyme þer-before, Ons to make them wrothe. Line 60

Sych a maner had þe knyght In serteyne vsage, euery nyȝht Thorow þe longe ȝere In-to hys chapell forto wend, Before owre lady gode & hend Line 65 To make hys prayere.

Before oure lady suete & dere There he made hys prayere With full gode wyll. Hys lady neuer ondername Line 70 When he ȝede ne when he came, Bot ley & slepyd wyll stylle.

The fend of helle fondyd fast Iff þat he myȝht wordys cast Forto wrothe þem a-twyne. [Ms. tywyne.] Line 75 And fore hys wycked intysment Well nyȝe þei had both be schente: Herkyns, I schall ȝow seyne.

Vpon a dey, as ȝe may here, The knyȝht & his lady dere Line 80 Sate in solas, And þer feyre chylder twey Wente afore theme forto pley In þat Iche place.

The thyrd was in hyre wome I-wys. Line 85 The knyght þerof hade Joy & blysse. And hys lady þat stownd "Leff syre, seyd sche, Louyst þou any-thinge beter þan me, That owhere may be fonde?" Line 90

"Sertys, dame, he seyd, nay, In no-thinge, me neuyne may, Ine haue so grete lykynge, — Bot of a woman þat I wote I loue wele more, god it wote, Line 95 Than any erthly thynge."

"Ȝe, ȝe, þan seyd sche, Louyst þou an oþer better þan me?" And thought a lythere gyne And wend þat hyre lord thane Line 100 Had louyd some oþer womane In þe maner of synne.

Nay, be god! it was not so — It was an oþer, worth þe two, That he louyd in lede: Line 105 It was owre lady þat he mente — And els þei had both be schente At þer most nede.

The deuyll of hell wyst wele þis That hyre herte wrethyd is, Line 110 And thouȝht it schulde be more; To helle he wente with-outen feyle, At þe fendys to take coūnseylle What hym best do were. [Ms. de st. do.]

Thorow coūnsyll of þe fendys felle Line 115 The most schrewe þat wer in helle Went with-outen feylle, [Ms. schrewys.] To a wych in þe toūne he wente, [Ms. þei st. he.] That was out of þe ryȝht entente, And told hyre hys coūnsell. Line 120

"Sey, woman, þan seyd he, Wyll þou wynne gold & fe? Hast þou þer-to nede, Inowȝe I schall þe gyfe of tho, That þou of myne erande go [of st. on.] Line 125 And do als I þe rede.

To a castyll I wyll þe send, To þe lady gode & hende, Go þou now forth rathe! Sche is a party of my kyne, Line 130 Wherefore I wolde with some gynne Werne hyre of hyre skathe.

Sche is led with grete vnryght: Hyre lord aryseth euery nyght And fro hyre goth full stylle, Line 135 To an oþer woman wendys he, That he louys more than suche thre, And pleys with hyre hys fylle.

All cold he commys aȝen hyre to. Go to hyre & sey hyre so! Line 140

Line 140 No word þou schalt lye. The next nyȝht þat schall come He schall do þat he is wone: Loke þat sche aspye!

Sey hyre þat sche schew hym nouȝht — [schew = sew 178 = sue.] Line 145 So myght sche sone to deth be brouȝt; Byd hyre lye full styll! Iff þou do as I þe rede, Thow schalt haue rych mede, Of rede gold thy fylle." Line 150

"Ȝis, sche seyde, well glad am I Forto go to my lady; I schall be þer full rathe. Sche hath do me full mykyll gode; I ame full Joyfull in my mode Line 155 To werne hyre of hyre skathe."

Thorow þe deuyllus intysmente Te þe castell sche is wente, And salewyȝh þe lady þere. "Leffe madam, seyd sche, Line 160 I wolde speke a word with ȝow, Iff it ȝoure wyll were.

Comly lady gente & fre, I wold þe tell a priuyte, Iff þou me not bewrye. Line 165 Thow schall leue onne my lare; Thynge þat thow ne wyst are, Herkyns now, I schall þe sey.

Thy lord, þat thow louys so myche, He betrays þe sykerlych Line 170 And doyht þe vylony: He gose fro þe Iche nyȝht ons To a womane in hys wonys. Luke þat thow aspye!

The nex(t) nyght þat schall come Line 175 He schall do as he is wone, By hyre forto lye. Bot at þou sew hym nouȝht: So myght þou sone to deth be broȝht; Styll þat thow lye!" Line 180

The lady spake wordys no mo: "Womane, sche seyd, if it be so, Thow schall haue þi mede. Crystys cursse on þer hedys thane, The wych & hyre lorys-mane, Line 185 Fore þat ilke dede!"

The fyrst nyȝht þat after came The knyght wente to bede anone, And hys lady dere. Styll sche ley as sche slepe, Line 190 Fore þat sch(e) wolde take kepe The soth how it were.

Hyre lorde wend sche hade slepe tho, And ros vp & gane to go, Als he was bowne; Line 195 Into his chapell he gane wende, To pray to owre lady hende, That bare godys sone.

When the lady wyst þo That hyre lord was fro hyre go, Line 200 Sche seyd alas þat whyle: "Now I wote þat it is, The wydew seyd me I-wys [soth fehlt.] My lord had do me gyle.

He louys an oþer better thane me. Line 205 Alas, alas! þan seyd sche, Myne herte is full of care. The werke þat he wyrkys now It schall not fall fore hys prow, It schall hym rew full sore!" Line 210

Thus sche gane alone speke, And thouȝt how (sche) myȝht it wreke. To schend hyre-selue þat tyde, Sche drew a knyfe, soth to seyne, And slew hyre feyre chylder tweyne Line 215 That ley be hyre syde.

When sche had þis werke wroȝht, Sche seyd alas! & hyre bethouȝht, "Myne herte is full of sorow! Wyte my lorde what I haue done, Line 220 He wyll me scle ryȝht sone, That no-mane schall me borow.

Ney, þat schall not be so, Wers I schall my-selue do, What-euer þerof fall." Line 225 With a knyffe, was kene & scherpe, She smote hyre-selue to þe herte — That was werst of all!

Now was þis a rewfull syght In þat chamber þat same nyȝht, Line 230 The mane þat myȝht beholde: The lady & hyre chylder twey, In hyre wombe þe thyrd, I sey, All þei were wele colde.

The fend of hell was glad off þis, Line 235 Fore he wend wele I-wys Off theme he schuld not feyle. Bot ȝe schall here in a whyle How þat he was begyle And left all hys traueyle. Line 240

Fore þe knyȝht, as ȝe may here, Ley welle fast in hys prayere With full gode wylle. When hys prayers were a(l) done, [a st. all.] To hys chamber he went sone Line 245 Hym-selue a-lone wele stylle.

To þe bede þe knyght gane go: He fonde hys wyfe, hys chylder two, Ded þei ley there; The bede was spred with þer blode. Line 250 The knyȝht fore sorow wex ne wode And wonderyd on þat fare.

"Lady, mersy! seyd þe knyȝht, Who has ben here þis nyght And done þis rewfull dede? Line 255 Lady, helpe, I ame forelorne, Bot ȝe, þat I haue bene beforne, Helpe me at þis nede.

Thys womane hath hyre-selue schente Thorow þe fendys entysmente — Line 260 Lord, how may þis be? Iff I be takyne in þis lede, I schall be hangyd fore þis dede. Wheþer may I fle?

Thys castell is so stronge with-alle: Line 265 I ne mey owte at þe walle Nou-where a-boute Tyll to-morne, þat it be dey. Bot I may thane skape awey, Off my deth I doute." Line 270

Thus he wepyd & made wo. To owre lady he clepyd tho — In herte hade he no gamme: As he was gyltles of þat dede, He prayd here helpe hym in þat nede Line 275 And scheld hym fro schame.

To þe chapell he went in haste And prayd oure lady swyth faste Send hym of hyre grace. What fore sorow & fore wepe, Line 280 Sone he fell fast on sclepe In þat same plas.

Owre lady foregate hym no-thinge, Ne hyre sone, heuen kynge, To helpe at þat nede. — Line 285 There schall no-man sykerly [folio 65] [Ms. no no.] Do nouȝht fore owre dere lady, Bot he schall haue his mede. —

Herkyns how þe fendys felle, How þat they wente oute of hell. Line 290 So lothe þei were to tyne: A thousand wente on a raw, Fore þei wend in a throw The sawle haue to pyne.

Some were ragyd & longe-tayled, Line 295 Scharpe clawyde & longe nayled, The fendys euery-Ichon, Some had hornes grel & longe, [grel gril = sharp, horrible.] Oute of þer mouth þe fyre spronge — With-outene lake wer none. Line 300

Than þis was a grysly syght, Who-so hade sene þem þat nyȝht Come rakynge on a raw. Lystyns now & herkyns gamme, How all þer Joy was turned to schame Line 305 In a lytell throw,

Thorow þe myȝht of meyd Mary, That sche come doūne frome heuyne hy [sche ist zu tilgen.] Aȝene þe fendys felle. Sche seyd: "fendys, fle awey! Line 310 Fore here ȝe haue tyned ȝoure pray: The saule schall with me duelle."

"Ney, fore-soth, seyde Sathanas, Hyte hath hyre happyd a foule cas, Thou feylest of þi arte: Line 315 Sche slew hyre-selue with nyȝht & onde [Ms. myȝht st. nyþe.] And hyre chylder with hyre honde. Of them(!) þou hast no parte."

The quene of heuen stude full styll And sofyrd þem to sey þer wyll; Line 320 There-of sche gane smyle: "He þat lyȝht in my seruys, It schall be at hys asyse: He schall not tyne hys whyle."

The fendys cryed as þei wer wode: Line 325 "Go we hens with body & blode! No lenger wyll we duelle." Fowre thousand fendys & one [& one st. anone.] Wend to take hyre & gone With-oute lettynge to helle. Line 330

"Late be, fendys, ȝoure feleny! Wene ȝe fore-to haue mastry At ȝoure awne wyll? Fyrst we schall speke wordys mo, That schall ȝow lyke non of tho Line 335 Bot make ȝoure hertys gryll.

I congour þe, fend, þat thou me sey — That þou ne lete fore loue ne aye! — How camme þis sorow in place? And in what maner it fyrst begane; Line 340 Where that it were thorow fend or wo|mane? Tell me, or þou passe!"

"Fore-soth, lady, seyd he, It come thorow a wych & me — I may it not foresake; Line 345 Boldly I haue it wroȝht. Therefore þei schall to hell be brouȝt, [Ms. þu st. þei.] There pays forto make."

"Ney, þer me thinke þou doyst wronge, When ȝe hyre chermyd to ȝoure hond Line 350 That lyued in pese & gryȝht. Take ȝe, sche seyd, þat ȝe haue wrouȝt, And leue þat my sone hath bouȝht And delyth no-more þem wyth! [Nach 354 fehlt eine Stropfe.]

Nay, I ȝen-sey, sothly. Line 355 Whyll sche dyd þis foly, Hyre lord was my seruaunte; And thorow hyre lordys besekynge They schall haue lyfe & gode endynge Thorow my sones grante." Line 360

The fendys lowd þei gane crye And seyd: "late be þat, Mary! Hens I rede þou fle! Sche dyd it thorow a mys-chans, With-out schryft & repenta(n)s: Line 365 Oure sche schall be."

Than ansuerd þe quene Mary: "Late be þis noys & þis cry! It helpe ȝou ryȝht nouȝht. Hyre lord & sche be of a blode, Line 370 And thorow his werkys trew & gode To lyfe þei schall be brouȝht,

And ches þan at þer fre wyll, After þat they thinke skyll, To whome þei wyll þem holde: Line 375 With my sone sorto duell Or with ȝou, fendys of hell, That makys ȝou so bolde."

When þe angellus begane to se The bodys schuld on lyue be Line 380 Thorow oure ladys saw, Euery angell a deuyll hente And thyrst þem, þat there rybbys bente [thyrst = thryst.] Fore tene of þer plaw.

The fendys saw þat they hade lorne: Line 385 Euery fend had oþer torne With a mody chere. Neuer þei stynte ne blane To þei to þe wych came, And sette hyre house on fyre. Line 390

The fyre was blo as brymstone; They brake þe wychys bake-bone: Oneth on lyffe hyre lete. [oneth = vnneþe.] Hyre neyȝbors þer be-syde Dorste no lenger abyde, Line 395 Bot fled awey full sore. . . . . . [Ende fehlt.]

13. A Tale of an incestuous doughter, aus Ms. Cbr. Ff V, 48, fol. 44 (und Ashm. 61, fol. 66).

Herkyns now, bothe more and lasse: I wille yow telle of a heuy casse, Listyns, I wille yow telle. If ȝe þis tale wille here, Sum gode þer-in ȝe mow lere, Line 5 At home if ȝe wille dwelle.

Ther was a man of myculle mayne In þo bisshope-riche of Wyan, [Ms. þo st. þe, wie 225.] Riche of londe and ledis. He hade a wyfe gentille & fre, Line 10 The best woman þat myȝt be, And fulle of almys-dedis.

A douȝtur they had betwen hem twoo, The fayrest þat myȝt on erthe goo, Made of flesshe and blode. Line 15 A fulle harde grace was hir lentte, Er she owt of þis worde wentte; And alle hit turned to gode.

Seche dedis hade she wrouȝt: In dedly synne she was brouȝt, Line 20 In wanhope with-out bote; Suche a grace was hir lent: Þat she come to mendment — God graunte þat we so mowȝte!

The fende of helle agayn skylle Line 25 Put in hir a harde wille Hur fadur luf to wynne; And also temped was þat man His owne douȝtur for to tan, To do a dedly synne. Line 30

Þe fende tempted hym on a day: Þe mayden came, þe sothe to say, In a pryue stede; Hur fadur prayed hir of luf derne, And she wolde hym not werne Line 35 Thorow þe fendis rede.

The fadur with his douȝtur did his wille. They ȝede to-gedur priuely & stille, Þei were wondur wylde! In holy churche as clerkys fynde, Line 40 On his douȝtur agayne kynde Þer he gate a knave childe.

Ȝet þei wolde not of þat blynne, But lyved forthe in dedly synne, In romans as we rede. Line 45 Holy churche berys wytnesse sadde: Thre knaue childur be hym she hadde, And alle she putte to dede.

So priuely to-gedur þei wrouȝt, Þat noman perceyued hem nouȝt Line 50 Wher-aboute þei ȝede. Vpon a day hir modur con gon Fulle priuely hir-self allon, And fonde hem in þe dede.

"Alasse, she seid, þat ȝe were borne! Line 55 Fulle wele I wot ȝe ar forlorne, Ȝe ar þe deuels of helle." [Nach V. 57 fehlen 3 V.] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 60

"Alasse, he seyde, now am I woo! I wot she wille bewrye vs too", Gret sorow con he make. "Nay, seid his douȝtur, so mot I the, So shalle hit not be, Line 65 And I may hir ouretake."

Thorow þe deuels intisement Aftur hir modur she went Euen in-to þe halle, A knyfe in hir hande she hent ful smerte Line 70 And smote hir modur to þe herte, Þat ded down can she falle.

When þat synfulle dede was done, They toke þe body vp sone And leyde hit in a cheste, Line 75 And beryd þe cors with boþe her rede, As she sodenly hade be ded, Þat no-man odur wiste.

Ȝet wolde þei not lefe her foly, But lyued forthe in lechory, Line 80 Be day and eke be nyȝt. Alle on a day to churche he went [alle st. tille?] With goode wille and gode intent, Thorow þe grace of god almyȝt.

He bethouȝt hym & vndurstode Line 85 In how synfulle life he ȝede; His synnes he wolde forsake, And, if he myȝt haue legeans, For his synnes to do penans: Schrifte he thouȝt to take. Line 90

When folke out of þe kyrke wer gon, Þe man folowed þe preest anon Stille with-owte strife; He tolde þe preest his synnes ychon, How he and his douȝtur had don Line 95 And alle was holden her life.

Þe preest seid: "hast þou gode wille For þi synne, þou has don ille, Schrifte forto take: Þou shalt not be þi douȝtur lye Line 100 Nor touche hir with no vilany; Þi synnes þou most forsake.

If þou þi penance wilt vndurstonde, Þou most in-to þe holy londe Wher god was whik & dede." [whik st. quik.] Line 105 "Ȝis, forsothe, seid he, If my life wille laste me, I wille do aftur thy rede".

When he was schryven of his synnes, He went hom in-to his Innes Line 110 Wher his douȝtur was. His douȝtur hade his meyte made: [Ms. meyle od. meyte?] She bade hur fadur make hym glade, And made hym fayre solace.

"Do way, douȝtur, sich thynge! Line 115 I wille no-more of þi playnge, [Nach 116 fehlen 2 V.] . . . . . . . . . . [Bei V. 118 beginnt das Fragment dess. Gedichtes in Ms. Ashmol. 61, fol. 66 (bessere Hs.).] At mete nor at no mele — My synnes I haue forsake." [Varianten: 118—20) That I schall neuer with þe dele, At bede, at borde, mete ne mele; My synne I haue foresake.] Line 120

She seid: "fadur, wyckud man, [A, sche seyd, þou wyked mane,] Haste þou tolde þe prest oure synnes ychan, [Haste þou here-abowte gone,] Fulle ille þou shalt hit like. [Euyll it schall þe lyke.] Þou made me furst my thre childur to sloo And my dere modur also Line 125 To þe hert forto smyte. [124—6) Thow hast me made my moder sle, And my chyldere all thre, And wold me þus beswyke?]

Þou wotte welle þat hit is soo, [Now, sche seyd, seth it is so,] And oþur-gatis hit shalle goo [Oþer-weys it schall go,] Er to-morne at prime; [Or to-morow prime.] Þou hast me brouȝt in-to þis ille, [brouȝht me in all þe gyle,] Line 130 And I shalle ful wele haue my wille, [And euyll þou schall haue þe whyle] When I se my tyme." [When þat.]

When it was tyme of þe nyȝt, Þe godeman was to bed diȝt, [133—4) When þat þe nyȝht was Icome, The god mane gane to bede gone.] His rest forto take; [reste.] Line 135 The gode man thouȝt: when hit was day] In pilgremage to wende his wey [136—7) Fore erly he wold in þe dey On pylgrymage wend his wey.] For his synnes sake.

Thorow þe fendis intisynge [egynge.] Þe douȝtur þouȝt anodur thynge: [Hys. anoþer.] Line 140 Hir fadur for to sloo. [Wers forto do.] When hir fadur on slepe was, [hyre fader.]

She hyed to hym a gret pas [Hys douȝter wente a wele gode pace.] And karve his hart in-twoo. [kerue hys throte.]

Whan she hade don, as I yow telle, Line 145 Þer wolde she no longur dwelle But busket hir son to gon; She ȝede in-to a fer cuntre, Þer no-man knew hir pryuete Nor fro what stid she come. [145—150) fehlen.] Line 150

She toke tresur, as I yow swere, [And toke hyre tresoure þer.] Also myculle as she myȝt bere, [myche. sche myȝht.] And oþer felawes thre. [felos.] Þei went out of þat towne [They wente sone oute off þe t.] To a borow of gret renowne, [syte of grete.] Line 155 And þer wonned in þat cuntre. [þer fehlt. wonyd. syte st. cuntre.]

They spendit þer fulle fast, [Off þat tresowre þei spendyd faste,] Whil þat her gode wold last, [Whyles þat it myȝht laste,] In gret honoure and in pride. [With grete bobans of pride.] Men of þat cuntre, as I yow say, [Gentyll men of þat contrey] Line 160 Comyn thidur, with hir to play, [Come fast with hyre to pley] Aboute on ilke a side. [Ȝerne onne euery syde.]

She was faire woman in alle thynge, Sche gaf to lechory hir likynge, And of hir life not to mende: Line 165 She hopid neuer heuen to wynne For þe synne þat she was inne, But helle with-owt ende. [163—8) fehlen.]

Alle wyckud men þat were folis [men st. women.] [Ms. fals st. folis.] [All þe women þat wold be folys,] Þei came to hur scolis, [Fast þei come vnto hyre scolys,] Line 170 She helde mony & fell; [Fast many & fele.] She forsoke nouþer preest nor clerke [neyþer preste ne.] Nor non þat lechory wolde werke, [Ne none þat were(d) brech ne scherte,] Þat wolde with hur dwelle. [That with hyre wold dele.]

So befelle thorow goddis sonde: [Vpone a dey th(r)ouȝt godys sond] Line 175 Þe bisshop þat was of þat londe [An holy buschop of þat lond] Prechid in þat cite. [Preched. a st. þat.] Alle gode men of þat towne [And all þe. of þe.] Come to his predicacion, [Com forto here hys sermone,] Hym to herkyn and se. [Hym forto here & se.] Line 180

But þat synfulle woman [All bot þat woman alone,] With hir felows euerychon [And hyre feleys e.] Lafte stille in þat strete. [Duellyd at þer In.] Sory was she þat ilke day [Wo was þem þat ylke dey,] Þat noman with hir wold play: [There come noman with þem to pley;] Line 185 Siluer myȝt she non gete. [No syluer they myȝht wynne.]

Tille hur felowes she seide; [Sche seyd to hyre feleys anone,] "To þe churche go we, I rede, [I rede þat we to þe chyrche gone,] As swythe as we may! [And haste vs in þe wey.] Þer may we sum ȝonge man fynde, [we schall some.] Line 190 Þat is both curtesse and hynde, [both god and kynde] Þat wille with vs play." [And with vs wyll pley.]

Thorow þe grace of god almyȝt, Þat is mercifulle to euery wyȝt, [193—4) To þe chyrch þei forth wente Thourght þe grace of god omnipotente.] And thruȝ his modur Mary, [thruȝ fehlt. modor.] Line 195 The holy bisshop, þat þer stode, [þer he stode.] Prechid wordis bothe fayre & gode, [He preched w. well gode.] On hir he cast his ee. [hyre. ey.]

Foure fendis se he als [Fowre deuylles þat wer fals] Hongyng fast aboute hir hals, [He se hange aboute hyre h.] Line 200 And with chenys hir ledde, [by cheynes. lede.] In-to þe kyrke con þei gon. [Be euery cheyne lede hyre one.] Þe bisshope saw þo fendis ilkon — [The holy man sey them euery chone] Þer-of wondur he hade. [Grete wonder þerof.]

About her nek a coler stronge, [Abowte hyre neke. spronge.] Line 205 Fendis led hir with arrable songe, [Ms. arrable = horrible.] [The fendys lede þe cheynes longe.] Behynde & ȝeke before. [ȝeke fehlt.] Þe bisshop wist wel be þaim [Wele þe byschop wyst thane] Þat synfulle was þat woman — [That sche was a synfull w.] For hir he siked sore. [syȝed.] Line 210

She putte to a squyer & on hym looghe [Sche pukyd a squyre. lew.] And hym be þe slefe she drowghe, [And be þe sleue sche hym drew,] And oþer of his felaws also. [Ms. hir st. his.] [And oþer ȝonge men mo.] He bade hir go away: [They b. h. leue & go hyre wey,] Hit was apon a gode-friday, [Fore it was on god f.] Line 215 With hir þei wolde not goo. [wold. go.]

Þe bisshop lokid and saw all this: [When þe b. sey all þis,] Sore in hert he was Iwys, [In his hert was sory Iwys,] When he lokid hur vntille. [When he vpon hyre sey.] Þe fende he thouȝt to wreke: [Of þe fendys he wold be wreke.] Line 220 Off goddis mercy cowde he speke, [he gan.] Bothe lowde and stille. [Both lowd & hyȝe.]

Thorow þe grace of god almyȝt A worde in-to hir body liȝt [word in hyre herte.] Þat þo bisshop speke. [þe. spake.] Line 225 Terys felle hir een froo, [That a tere fell fro hyre eye,] Down on hir brest cowthe þei goo: [And be hyre lares it gane done fle.] Hur colars þei alto-breke. [And þe colere brake.] [Nach 228 hat A. eine Stropfe mehr: The fendys fley & wer adrad. The byschop þerof was full glad And thankyd god full styll. The holy mane prechyd of godys lore: The woman sate & syȝede sore And wepyd all hyre fylle. Die folg. Str. lautet: So bytterly sche wepyd with-all: Be hyre lyres þe terys gone fall Fast on ylke a syde. The byschop þerof was full glad, The fendys fley & wer adrad, No lenger þer durste byde.]

Fyndes þat be þe armus hur ladde, The chenys breke(!), away þei fledde, Line 230 They durst no longur abide. She hade gret sorow with-alle, Vpon hir brest terys cowth downe falle Faste on ilke a side.

She sette hir downe vpon hir kne [sett hyre. onne.] Line 235 And prayed to god in trinite, Grace she con hym craue. [Ms. Such grace.] [236—7) To god sche besouȝht in trinyte, Mersy gane sche craue.] "Bisshop, she seid, what may þis be? [Sche seyd: syr bysschop, I ame sche.] Alle day þou hast spoken of me, [All þis dey. spoke.] And here þou may me haue. [mayst.] Line 240

I haue done þe grettist synne [all dedly synne] Þat any woman may be inne [That euer myȝht womane begynne,] Agaynes god & his seyntys ychon: [Ageyne godys law.] With my fadur I haue done foly, [By my fader I dyde f.] Thre childur I had hym by, [knaue-chylder.] Line 245 And I haue hem alle sloon. [And all I haue þem slaw.]

My modur I slow with a knyf also, [I stykyd. knyffe. also fehlt.] And karve my fadur hert in-twoo. [My fader I reft hym hys lyffe,] For sorow alasse I crye. [Bysschop, I þe sey.]

Bisshop, she seid, if þi wil be, [Ms. if wil be st. I pray þe.] Line 250 Howsil and schrifte for charite! [250—1) And now in þis sted fore charyte Swythe of schryft I pray the.] For sorow now I dye." [or st. now. dyȝe.]

Te bisshop seyd anon ryȝt: "Abide, woman, in þat tiȝt [Woman, abyde a lytell wyght.] Tille my fermonde be done!" [sermone.] Line 255 She swonyd & fel downe there; So ful she was of sorow & care: [256—7) Sche was so full of sorow & care, She fell adoune before þem there.] To berst hir hert began. [Hyre hert braste in-two.]

Þe bisshop saw she likid ille: [When þe bysschop had seyd hys wyll.] He bade þe folke sitte stille [bad. sytte & be styll.] Line 260 And sone tille hir he start. [And to hyre he lepe,] Vpon hir fast con he calle — [And gane on hyre to clepe & call.] And she was ded amonge hem alle. [He fonde hyre. þem all.] Þe bisshop was sory in hert. [Full sore fore hyre he wepe.]

He bade þe folke þat þer ware [there wer all.] Line 265 Falle on knees with-owten mare, [On þer kneys þei schuld fall,] A prayer forto make, [A bede forto seyne,] Þat god graunte þe askynge of þis: [That god schuld þem wyte & wys] Whedur hir saule be in heuon blisse [Wheþer þe saule wer in blys,] Or to helle take. [Or in hell peyne.] Line 270

When þei hade made þeire oryson, [had. þer.] A voyce came fro heuon down, [come. heuyne done.] Þat alle men myȝt here, [That þei myght he(re).] And seid: "þe saule of þis synfulle wyȝt [of þat.] Is wonnen in-to heuon bright, [wonnen fehlt. in heuyne.] Line 275 To Jhesu lefe and dere." [Before Jhesu full dere.]

The voyce seid to þe bisshop right: "Asoyle þe body with alle þi myght And bery hit in a graue! Alle-if it did gret foly, Line 280 With rufulle hert hit cryed mercy; God graunt þat hit shuld haue." [277—82) fehlen.]

Gode men, I warne alle [Crystene men, I werne ȝou all,] Þat ȝe in no wanhope falle, [That none of ȝou in wanhop fall,] Ȝif ȝe haue don gret synne. [They ȝe be in synne.] Line 285 Forthynk hit sore and crye mercy, Were hit neuer so gret foly, And ȝet shalle ȝe heuon wynne. [

286—8) Who-so wyll of a preste be schryfe, And do penans by his lyfe, Heuyne he may wynne. Darauf hat A. noch 3 Stropfen:

Thoff a mane hade done alone All þe synnes euery-chone That euer ȝit wer wrouȝt: And he may in his last dey To a preste his lyue sey, God wyll foregete hym nought. And if a mane haue no preste, To a man þat sytte hym nexte Ȝerne to hym schryfe; And if he may do no more Bot fore hys synnes rew sore, God wyll hym foregyffe. Kynge þat is of myȝhtys moste, Fader & sone & holy goste, Ȝiff vs myȝht & space: When we haue do oure ende, Vnto Joy þat we may wende, Lord, for þi holy grace.

]

Finitur fabula.

14. Legende vom Crucifix, aus Ms. Ashmol. 61, fol. 26b.

By-twyx two knyghtys be-ȝond þe se Fell a gret conteke to be. By-twyx þem felle syche wreth & wo, That þe one weyted þe oþer to slo. This sleyne knyght hade a chyld, Line 5 A douȝhty bachyler & wylde. This chyld toke hym to rede Forto venge his fader dede. He gerte hym grete powere (&) myght, To besege þe oþer knyght. Line 10 The oþer knyght perseyued hym wele And droff hym to his best castelle. [droff = drew.] Than was he besegyd so streytly, That he durste come oute on no party Off all þe XII moneth, with no deseyte: Line 15 So was he beseged streyte. Messe ne matyns he ne herd Ne neuer to þe chirche he ferde. And it was in þe lentyne tyde, When men schuld leue wreth & pride. Line 20 Than felle it on þe gode-frydey: The knyght þat in þe castell ley Lukyd out & saw men go To þe chyrche to & fro; Barefote to þ^e chyrch (þei) ȝede, [Ms. he u. his st. þei u. þer.] Line 25 To aske mersy fore (þer) mysdede. [Ms. he u. his st. þei u. þer.] The knyght thouȝht: "it is longe gone That messe at þe chirche I herd none. What-so-euer god fore me wylle wyrche, I wylle ryse & go to þe chyrche". Line 30 He drew on his hose & schone, [folio 27] And dude þe ȝatys be vndone; Barefote he ȝede, as is þe gyse, To chirche, to here godys seruys. And as he þe wey to þe chirche name, Line 35 His enmy sone aȝens hym came, And seyd: "tratoure, now schall þou dyȝe And my faderes deth full dere abyȝe! No werldys gode þe schalle saue, Bot thou þi deth of me schall haue". Line 40 The knyght saw none oþer bote, Bot fell on kneys before his fote And seyd: "offe me þou haue mersy, Fore hym þat lyȝht in þe virgyne Mary And sofryd deth on þe rode tre [Ms. sofeyd.] Line 45 This dey, to saue both þe & me, And foregaffe hym þat his blode spylte: Right so þou foregyff me þat gylte! I ame as a presonere in þis place, I put me now all in þi grace, Line 50 That godys grace be on þe lente At the dey of Jugemente". This knyght þat was his enmy Herd hym praye so reufolly, And seyd: "seth þou haste me besouȝht Line 55 Fore Jhesu loue, þat dere vs bouȝht, And fore his moder loue so dere, Fore them I grante þe my powere". This Iche chyld sone doūne lyȝht And in gode loue kyssed þe knyȝht. Line 60 "We be now frendys, þat are wer wrothe. Go we now to þe chyrche bothe In gowd loue & parfyte charyte Fore his sake þat ordeynd þus to be!" The knyght was glade veraly, Line 65 And so wer all þat compeny, That he foregyffe (hym) þis mysdede. [foregyffe = forgaffe. Ms. them st. him.] And to þe chyrch than both þei ȝede.

Before þe cros þei knelyd doūne, In þe worschyppe off Jhesus passyoune Line 70 Forto kysse þe crosse þat dey, As custome is in crysten ley. The eldere knyght fore honour Ȝede fyrst & kyst hys creatour. After þan ȝede þe chyld, Line 75 That was becomme meke & mylde; With þe tokyne he ganne hym blysse And knelyd downe þe crosse to kys. The crusyfix, þat there was leyd, His arme fro þe crosse vppe breyd Line 80 And clyped þe chyld hym betwyx, And sethe hym kyssed þe crusyfix. [Ms. he st. hym,] All þe parysch, boþe olde & ȝenge, Perseyued & saw þat clyppenge, And how þe crucyfyx hym kyste; Line 85 The saw it alle & wele it wyste, And þei thankyd suete Jhesu Off þat merakyll & þat vertu. Off þis chylde was grete selcouthe [Off st. to?] That þe crucyfix kyste his mouthe; Line 90 Neuer-þe-les ȝit Iwys In his herte was myche blys, And all þe folke þat saw þat thinge Made to god grete thankynge. Of thes two knyghtys how it betyde Line 95 The merakylle spronge wele wyde, [Ms. strong st. sprong,] And euery mane þerof gane telle, Prestys in prechingys þerof cane spell, So þat euery man in þat contre Lyue(d) well þe more in charite [Ms. lyue.] Line 100 And all men þe sonere foregaue There wreth þat þei to oþer haue. Sykyre þou be he was ryȝht wele That gode fore hym dude sych merakell! A syngne it was of grete loue, Line 105 That god all-myȝhty of heuen aboue Prefer(d) hym to kys so lawly, [Ms. prefere.] Fore he mekyd his herte so hye. Now may ȝe se, god loues þem dere That foregyue þer wreth in þis werld here. Line 110 So schall his wreth on hym be sene [hym plur.?] That here wylle not foregyffe þer tene. Therefore prinsypally I hold it beste Forto loue pece & lyue in reste. And þat it myght so be, Line 115 Prey we all fore charite!

Amen quod Rate.

15. Ipotis, aus Ms. Vernon fol. 296.

Dieses Gedicht folgt hier in der ältesten erhaltenen Fassung, der des Ms. Vernon. Es findet sich, ausser in diesem und Ms. Addit. 22283 (einer wörtlichen Copie des Ms. Vern.), in mehreren jüngeren Hss., welche, unter sich verwandt, dem älteren Texte gegenüberstehen: Ms. Cotton. Calig. A II fol. 79b, Arundel 140 fol. 1, Ashmol. 750, Ashmol. 61, Douce 323 fol. 160 (bis V. 495, Schluss fehlt,) und Ms. Cotton. Tit. A XXVI fol. 163 (Anfang fehlt, es beg. mit V. 100, worauf wieder 101—114 fehlen). — Der Text des Ms. Vern. ist bereits vielfach verderbt; noch fehlerhafter sind die jüngeren Hss., so dass die Herstellung des urspr. Textes kaum möglich scheint.

Her biginneþ a tretys þat me clepeþ Ypotys.

Alle þat wolleþ of wisdom lere, Lustneþ nou, and ȝe may here Of a tale of holy writ — [Ms. Addit. 22283 l. in holy writ.] Seint Jon þe Ewangelist witnesseþ hit — Hou hit bifel in grete Rome, Line 5 Þe cheef cite of cristendome. A child was sent of miȝtes most Þorw vertue of þe holy gost. Þe Emperour of Rome þan His nome was hoten sire Adrian. Line 10 And whon þe child of gret honour Was come bifore þe Emperour, Vppon his kneos he him sette, Þe Emperour ful feire he grette. Þe Emperour wiþ mylde chere Line 15 Askede from wheþene he come were. Þe child onswerde al a-pliht: "From my mooder I com now riht And from my fader, þe heiȝe Justise, To techen men, þat beþ not wyse Line 20 Ne folfulleþ not godes lawe". Þenne seide þe Emperour in his sawe: "Þenne artou wys wisdam to teche?" [A. wisdom.] Þe child onswerde wiþ mylde speche: "He is wys þat heuene may wynne Line 25 And kepe him out of dedly synne". Þe Emperour wiþ-outen blame: "Child, he seide, what is þi name?" "My nome, he seide, is Ypotis, Þat muche con tellen of heuene blis". [A. telle.] Line 30 Þe Emperour seide: "what may heuene be?" "Sire, he seide, godes priuete". "What, he seide, is god almiht?" Þe child onswerde anon riht: "He is wiþ-outen beginnyng Line 35 And schal be wiþ-outen endyng". Þe Emperour seide: "þat is selcouþ. What com furst of godes mouþ?" Þe child onswerde and seide anon: "Þer-of spekeþ þe apostel seynt Jon Line 40 In his godspel al and sum: In principio erat verbum. Þis was þe furste bigynnyng Þat spak vre heuene kyng; At þat word was he sone, Line 45 Fader & þe holigost to-geder come, Þreo persones in trinite — Neuer on may from oþer be". Þenne seide þe Emperour ful euene: "Leue child, hastou ben in heuene, Line 50 Hou feole heuenes haþ god almiht?"

"Seuene, seide þe child a-pliht; Þe hexte heuene þat may be, Þat is þe holy trinite: Þer is þe fader and þe sone, Line 55 Þe holygost to-gedere wone, [A. And þe h.] Þreo persones in o godhede, As clerkes in heore bokes rede. Þe oþer heuene nis not lowe; [A. is.] Þe hexte þat eny mon of knowe Line 60 Is at a lowere degre, [A. lower,] As ȝe nou mowen I-se; Þulke Joye ne may telle no mon Til domes-day, whon we gon hom. Þe þridde heuene semeþ cristal, Line 65 Ful of Joye and swete smel; To mon and wommon þat place is diht [Die and. Mss. l. For confessours.] Þat serueþ god wiþ al heore miht. Þe feorþe heuene is gold iliche, Ful of precious stones riche; Line 70 To Innocens þat place is diht; Þer is day, and neuer niht. Þe fyfþe heuene is long and brod: Þat is þe folfullynge of godes monhod. [A. folfillyng.] Ȝif þat godes monhod nere, Line 75 Al þis world forlore were; Þorw þe passion of godes monhede Heuene blisse schal ben heore mede. Þe sixte heuene is holi chirche, Ful of angles, þer-inne worche; Line 80 Heo syngeþ of god boþe day and niht, Of his strengþe and of his miht. Þe seuenþe heuene, seiþ þe storie, Is paradys aftur purgatorie; Whon soules han don heore penaunce, Line 85 Þer þei schul resten, wiþ-oute distaunce. Heer beþ seuen heuenes, sir Emperour, a-pliht". "Hou feole ordres, seide þe Emperour, beþ angles briȝt?" Þe child onswerde him aȝen: "Niȝene ordres, sire, þer ben: [A. þen st. þer.] Line 90 Þe furste ordre is Cherubin, And þat oþer Seraphin, Þe þridde is cleped Trones, Þe feorþe Dominaciones, Þe fyfþe is Principatus, Line 95 Þe sixte is Potestates, Þe seuenþe Virtutes is, Þe eihteþe Angelica iwis, Þe niþe ordre is Archangeli: Eueri prince haþ his parti, Line 100 Mony þousend angles to heore baneere, To serue god boþe feor and neere. Þe tenþe ordre schal monkuynde ben, Forto fulle þe place aȝen [A. forte.] In heuene bi þat ilke syde Line 105 Þat Lucifer lees for his pruyde; Þer schal þe monhede of god almiht Ben vre prince, and þat is riht; Abouen alle oþure he schal be, [A. al.] Wiþ his fader, in trinite. Line 110 Of muche Joye he may telle Þat þere wiþ-outen enden may dwelle, Þat his oune broþer may se Wiþ his fader in maieste!" Þen seide þe Emperour: "þis leue I wel Line 115 Þat þis is soþ, eueridel. But tel me, child, I þe pray, What made god on þe furste day?" "On þe monenday, verreyment, God made þe firmament, Line 120 Sonne and mone schyne brihte, Mony sterres, þeron Idihte. On þe tewesday, Ich vnderstonde, God made þe see and þe londe, Welles feole and watres fresche, [A. fele, fresch.] Line 125 To tempre þe eorþe hard and nesche; [A. nesch.] Herbes he made, treo and gras, And oþer þing, what his wille was. Vppon þe wedenesday made god almiht [A. wednesday.] Fisch in flod and foul in fliht, Line 130 And bad hem aboute þe world wende, Forto helpen al monkynde. [A. forte.] On þe þoresday god made beestes fale, Monye diuerse, bi doune and dale, And ȝaf þe eorþe to heore foode, Line 135 And bad hem torne monkuynde to goode On þe fryday god made Adame,

And after his schap he ȝaf him name; Siþen his o rib he gan take [A. gon.] And maade Eue to his make; Line 140 He maade him mon of mihtes most And bleuȝ in him þe holigost, And paradys he gan him take, [A. gon.] And gret mayster he gon him make: He maade him maister of þat he hedde wrouȝt. Line 145 On þe seterday, god forȝat nouȝt, On þe saterday god blessed wiþ wille [A. seterday.] Alle his werkes, boþe loude & stille, And bad hem waxen and multiplye, Eueri beest on his partye. Line 150 On þe sonenday after god reste tok, As we fynden in holy book; He comaundede al monkuynde Þat day reste haue in muynde. On þat day scholde no-mon worche, [A. schal.] Line 155 But bidde his beodes and go to churche, And kepe him out of dedly synne, Þat he ne falle not þer-inne. Þerfore I rede þat ȝe me lustne, And helpeþ þat day oure euen-cristne". Line 160 Þen seide þe Emperour: "þis leue I wel Þat þis beo soþ, eueridel. But tel me, child, ȝif þat þou can, Os hou feole þinges god maade Adam?" Þe child seide: "of þinges seuene. Line 165 Whuche hit beþ, Ichul þe nempne: [A. ne nemene.] Erþe-slym was on of þo, Water of þe see he tok þerto, And of þe sonne and of þe wynde, And of þe cloudes, as we Ifynde, Line 170 And of þe stones bi þe see-cost, And also of þe holy gost. Of þe eorþe he made his flesch, And of þe water his blod so nesch, And of þe sonne his herte and his bowels, [A. boweles.] Line 175 His liknesse and his goode þewes, [A. lihtnesse.] Of þe wynt he made his breþ, And of þe cloudes his wittes beþ, Of þe ston he made his bon, And of þe holygost his soule anon. Line 180 Lo, Emperour, sire Adrian, Of þus feole þinges god maade Adam. — [A. fele.] Eueri mon, þat nou lyueþ heere, Is mad of diuerse manere. Whose of þe erþe haueþ most, [A. hose.] Line 185 He schal ben heuy, wel þou wost, Heuy in word and in dede And oþer þing, as I ow rede. Whose of þe see haþ most plente, [A. hose.] Leof to trauayle schal him be, Line 190 Muche to coueyten, lond and leode, And luyte may helpen him at neode: Hit fareþ bi þis worldes good As bi an ebbe and bi a flood: Now hit is, and nou hit nis — Line 195 Þenk no-mon þeron I-wis. Whose of þe cloudes haþ most foysun, He schal be wys, bi good reson, Wys in word and in dede And oþer þing, as I ow rede. Line 200 Whose of þe wynt haþ most miht, Bi god reson he schal be liht, Sauage in dede and in þouȝt, And speke muche þat helpeþ nouȝt. Whose of þe sonne haþ most plente, Line 205 Hot and hastyf he schal be, Stalworþe and of gret miht, And bi good reson feir of siht. Whose of þe ston is most I-wrouȝt, He schal beo studefast of þouȝt, Line 210 In his herte trusti and trewe, And bi good reson pale of hewe. Whose haþ of þe holigost, [A. hose.] He schal haue fyn herte most, Good word, good þouȝt, and good dede, Line 215 And oþer þing, as I ou rede, Loue wel god and holy churche, And oþer penaunce forto worche". [A. forte.] Þen seide þe Emperour: "þis leue I wel Þat þis beo soþ, eueridel. Line 220 Þou speke ȝarwhile of þe see; What þing may þat be?" Þe child seide: "wiþ-oute lesyng, A wylde wey in wendyng. [A, weendyng.] Such wei a mon may wende wiþ-inne Line 225

Line 225 Schal he neuere lond I-winne". Þenne seyde þe Emperour: "þat is meruayle. But tel me, child, wiþ-outen fayle, What tyme dude Adam þe dede amis Þat he foreode paradis?" Line 230 Þe child seide: "at midmorwe tyde, And ar midday he les his pruyde; An aungel him drof in-to decert Wiþ a briht brennynde swerd, [A. swert.] Him and his ofspring euermare Line 235 Heer to liuen in serwe and care". "Allas, seide þe Emperour, for deol, [l. dol.] Þat Adam was so gret a fol! Hou fele sunnes dude Adam, [) A. synnes.] Þat god on him so wreche nam?" Line 240 Þe child seide: "seuene, and mo. Sacrilegie was on of þo, [A. is st. was.] Fornicacion and envye, Auarice and couetyse, Gula and superbia — Line 245 Þus feole sunnes dude Adam þa. [A. synnes.] In pride dude Adam sungen ille, Whon he wrouȝte aftur his oune wille And held not after þe heste of gode, But al aȝeynes his forbode. [V. forbede, A. forbode.] Line 250 In sacrilegye he sungede sore, [A. sacrilege, sunged.] Whon he wrouȝte after þe fendes lore And folfulde his oune talent [A. fillede.] Bi þe fendes comaundement. [A. entisement.] Lecherye he hedde in muynde, Line 255 Whon he wrouȝte after þe fende And held þat godes lore was fals. In couetyse he sunged als, Whon þat he coueytede more [A. coueyted.] Þen he hedde neode fore; Line 260 He hedde paradys at his wille — No wonder þei god him liked ille. Ȝif he hedde beo mon of goode, He ne schulde ha stole þat him was forbode; Sikerliche, as I ow seye, Line 265 He was worþi forto dye. [A. forte.] Monsleere he was I-nouh, Whon he is owne soule slouh; Whon he was ded, to helle (he) nom, [Ms. þo him to telle nom.] And alle þat euere of him com. Line 270 In glotenye he sunged vyle, [A. glotonye.] Whon he him putte in þat perile Of þat treo þe appel to take Þat god forbed him, and his make. In sleuþe he sunged worst of alle: Line 275 Whon he was in sunne I-falle, He nedde no pouste forte aryse. Whon god spac to him on þis wyse And seide: "Adam, what dost þou nouþe?" Adam onswerde him wiþ mouþe: Line 280 "Lord, Ich here þe speke a-pliht, But of þe haue I no siht". — Þen vr lord to Adam sede: "Mon, whi dust þou wikked dede?" [A. dustou.] Adam onswerde wordes ille: Line 285 "Þe wommon, þat þou toke me tille, Made me forte don þat dede". Þenne vr lord to Eue sede: "Wommon, whi wrouȝtestou wikked wile?" [A. wrouhtust þou.] "Þe neddre, lord, me dude begyle". Line 290 Vre lord to þe neddre seide þo: "Fend, whi wrouȝtestou al þis wo?" Þe fend onswerde wiþ maistrie: "For to hem Ich hedde envye, Þat þei scholde wone in þat blis [A. schulde.] Line 295 Þat I for pruide dude amis"(!). [þat st. þer?] Þenne vre lord seide to Adam: "For þi gult, he seide, mon, [A. man.] Þou schalt in eorþe swynke & swete, [A. l. to helle he hom. on st. in.] Suffre penaunce in chele and hete". Line 300 To Eue seide vre heuene kyng: "For þi wikked entysyng [A. wikkede.] Þou schalt ben vnder monnes heste, In muche drede, wo and cheste, Bere þi fruit in gronyng and care, Line 305 Þou and þin ofspring euer-mare". Þenne vre lord seide to Sathan: "In fourme of worm þou entysest man:

I comaunde þe, þat þou on þy wombe glyde, And al þe harm bi þi syde; [A. be.] Line 310 Of þe schule men beo sore afert. [A. aferd.] Þen schal þer come into middel-ert A virgyne I-boren also blyue, Þat þi pouwer schal al to-dryue". — Adam wonede in eorþe heere [A. on st. in.] Line 315 Folle niȝene hondred ȝere [A. fulle.] And two and þritti, as I ow telle. Whon he was ded, he wente to helle. Foure þousend winter & seuen hondred & more Adam was in helle þore Line 320 Þreo ȝeer and tydes seuene, Til þe mihti kyng of heuene Kud he was of mihtes most [V A And, al. Kyde.] And sende adoun þe holygost, Was I-boren of þe virgyne Marie Line 325 Wiþ-oute wem of hire bodye. [A. wiþouten.] Þritti winter and þridde half ȝeer God wonede on eorþe heer. Fourti dawes for vs he faste. Þe Jewes token him atte laste [A. him token.] Line 330 And duden godes sone on þe rode; Þer he diȝede, for vre goode. Whon he was ded, he wente to helle, Þe fendes pouste forto quelle, [A. forte.] And fette out Adam and Eue, Line 335 And oþer mo þat weren him leue: Moyses, Dauid, and Abraham; Alle þe goode wiþ him he nam And ladde hem in-to paradis, Þer Joye & blisse euere is. Line 340 And siþen aftur his vp-rysing He steiȝ to heuene, þer he is kyng; On his fader riȝt hond he set him þon, Þer he is studefast god & mon. Þat ilke god omnipotent Line 345 Wol come to þe day of Jugement And demen men after heore dede — He is not wys þat hit nul drede — Þe goode to Joye, þe wikked to pyne. Þe godnes of Joye may nomon fyne; Line 350 Joye þei schulen han to heore seruyse [A. schul.] Þat seruen god in alle wyse." Þe Emperour seide: "bi heuene kyng! Child, þis was a feir endyng. And also þis I leeue wel [A. leeue I.] Line 355 Þat þis is soþ, eueridel. But tel me, child, ȝif þat þou con, Wherwiþ þe fend most tempteþ mon, [A. a mon.] And hou feole synnes, þow me telle, Bringeþ monnes soule to helle?" Line 360 Þe child seide: "sunnes fyue [A. synnes.] Beoþ among monkuynde ful ryue: Wikked þouȝt in monnes herte, Whil þat he is hol and qwerte; Mon-slauȝt is anoþer schame, Line 365 Bringeþ monnes soule in wikked fame; Pruide, forsoþe, is anoþer; Glotenye is þe þridde broþer; [A. glotonye.] Lecherye is þe feorþe, On þe worste abouen eorþe. Line 370 Couetyse, as I ow telle, Bringeþ monnes soule to helle. Seint Poul witnesseþ in his storie: Peyne for couetyse is purgatorie; Bi hem-seluen hit is diht Line 375 A welle of bras, brennynge briȝt, As ful of hokes abouen and vnder: Whon hit goþ, hit rot as þonder; [A. rut.] As ful of soules hit is hongynge As on may bi oþer hynge. Line 380 Couetyse endeþ neuer a del, For hit is liknet to a whel. [for st. forþi.] Ȝit þe pruide, þat is so bold, [A. is st. þe, in 384 fehlt is.] Is worse bi an hondred fold: For angles, þat weren in heuene liht, Line 385 Þat weoren so feire and so briht, [A. feir.] For pruide god wreche on hem dude take: And summe bicome fendes blake And fulle from heuene, as I ow telle, [A. fullen.] In-to þe neoþemaste put of helle. Line 390 Summe ben her among monkunne And tyse men al day to sunne. [A. tyseþ al day men.] Forþi, mon, schrif þe of þi pride!

Whon wormes han I-ȝete þi syde And þi bodi lihþ deope in grounde Line 395 And þi soule in wo I-bounde, Sore schal þi soule smerte Þat euer þou heddest pruide in herte. Glotenye, I wol now skriue, Is among monkunne ful ryue; Line 400 Þe fend takeþ of men wreches fale Whon heo beþ dronken of wyn and ale, [A. or st. and.] Sweren & cryȝen, as þei ben wode, Bi Cristes herte, bi Cristes blode, And vpbreydeþ his passioun. [A. vbbreydeþ.] Line 405 Þerfore þei han his malisoun; But þei schriuen hem of heore glotonye, In helle schal ben heore baylye; For heore fals oþes þat þei maken, Þe fend of helle schal hem taken. Line 410 Summe be slayȝen in þe weye, [A. slayn.] And summe in water þei schulen dye. Al þis betit of heore glotonye, Þorw false oþes and lecherie". [A. oþus.] Þen seide þe Emperour: "þis leue i wel Line 415 Þat þis is soþ, eueridel. But tel me, child, ȝif þat þou con, On how fele deþes may dye mon?" Þe child onswerde: "deþes þre. Ichulle ow telle, whuche þei be: Line 420 Þat o deþ is bodilich here: [A. bodi|liche.] And a mon be strong in strengþe & fere In his bodi wiþ-inne [A. here wiþinne.] Ar lyf and soule may parte a-twynne. Þat oþer deþ is deþ of schame, Line 425 Ȝif mon dye in dette or in wikked fame. Þe þridde deþ, as seyen þis clerkes, Ȝif a mon dye wiþoute goode werkes". Þen seide þe Emperour: "Tel me, child, paramour, Line 430 Hou fele sunnes beoþ vnschriuen Þat god of heuene nul not forȝiuen?" Þe child onswerde: "sunnes two. [A. seide.] Misbileeue is on of þo: Ȝif a mon for no resoun Line 435 Leeueþ not on godes passioun, Þat god knelede on þe Mount of Olyuete, For fere of deþ blod gon he swete, And was I-bounde to a piler, [A. Ibounden.] Beten wiþ scourges stronge and ster, Line 440 And was I-crouned wiþ þornes kene— Þe woundes on his bodi wer ful sene, Cristes bodi, þer hit stod, I-femed al in his oune blod; [A. Iwrapped.] And siþen a duden him vppon þe tre. [a = þei.] Line 445 But ȝif þei leeue þat hit so be, [ȝif fehlt in A.] [Ms. þou st. þei.] Sikerliche, as I ow telle, For þat sunne heo gon to helle. [A. he geþ.] Whonhope is þat oþer synne, [A. wonhope.] Regneþ in londe and nul not blynne: Line 450 Ȝif a mon haue so muche misgult, Þe fend in wonhope him haþ I-pult [A. pult.] Þat he nul no merci craue, [folio 297] For he weneþ no merci haue; For þis sunne, as we fynde, Line 455 Þei gon to helle wiþ-outen ende". Þen seide þe Emperour: "þis leue I wel Þat þis beo soþ, eueridel. But tel me, child, ȝif þat þow con, What dede payeþ best god of mon?" Line 460 Þe child onswerde him and sede: "Good word, good þouȝt, and good dede. A mon þat haþ feir speche, And his fo wole on him take wreche, He may wiþ his feir speche, ar he wende, [A. er.] Line 465 Of his fo maken his frende; Feir speche is more of miht Wiþ god þat is in heuene liht. A mon may wiþ good word, god þouȝt, & god dede Wynnen heuene blisse to his meede". Line 470 Þen seide þe Emperour: "whon hit is so Þat synne worcheþ mon so wo, Wher-wiþ schal a mon him were Þat þe fend ne schal him dere?" Þe child seide: "good deuocion, Line 475 Þenken on Cristes passion. Þenk on his woundes smerte And haue his passion in þin herte! Þerwiþ schal a mon him were Þat þe fend ne schal him dere". Line 480

Line 480 Þen seide þe Emperour: "þis leue I wel Þat þis beo soþ, eueridel. But tel me, child, ȝif þat þou con, Hou fele dedes payeþ best god of mon?" Þe child seide: "deedes þre. Line 485 Ichulle ou telle, whuche þei be. Ȝif a mon liueþ and haþ chaunce To leden his lyf in rihtful penaunce And kepen him from þe fendes fondynge And his herte out of wikked lykynge, Line 490 God is payed of þat enprise, [A. apaȝed.] He schal han heuene for his seruise. [A. haue.] Þat oþur payȝeþ god muche in herte: Ȝif a mon beo large in pouerte, Þonken god wiþ good wille Line 495 His pouerte, boþe loud and stille, Wolde bleoþelich helpen and keuere His euen-cristne þat beoþ pouere; Ȝif he mowe do no more But in his herte rewen hem sore, Line 500 He schal han heuene for his goode wille [A. haue, god.] At his endynge, and þat is skille. Þe þridde payeþ god ful muche: [A. miche.] Ȝif a mon beo in eorþe riche And beo I-come of riche kunne, [A. kynne.] Line 505 Forsakeþ richesse and worldes winne And takeþ his penaunce in pouerte: Þerfore in heuene he schal be". Þen seide þe Emperour: "þis I leeue. Leoue child, tak hit not a-greeue, Line 510 Whi fasteþ men friday so muche, More þen eny oþer day in þe wike?" Þe child onswerde him aȝeyn: "For þrettene resons, þat I con seyn. Þe furste reson, I ow telle con: Line 515 On a friday god made mon, In þe vale of Ebron, þorw his grace, And schop him aftur his oune face. Þat oþer is, woltou me leeue: Vppon a fridai god made Adam & Eue, Line 520 And loren paradis, as I ow telle, And siþen weore I-dampned to helle. Þe þridde reson, I wol ou telle: On a friday Caym slouh Abelle, Þe furste martir, for-soþe I-wis, Line 525 Þat euer dyede for Jhesus. [A. euere.] Þe feorþe reson is ful swete: Hou Gabriel vr ladi gon grete Vppon þe friday wiþ milde mood; Godes sone tok in hire flesch and blood, Line 530 In þat ilke holy virgyne Marie, Wiþ-outen wem of hire bodye. Þe fifþe reson, þat is bifore: On a friday godes sone was bore. Þe sixte reson is feir enprise: Line 535 How Jhesu Crist was circumcise. Þe seueþe reson, I telle con: [A. seuenþe.] How seynt Steuene, godes mon, Þorw Heroudes and his false red On a friday he was stened to ded. Line 540 Þe eiȝteþe reson, I wol ou telle, Ȝif ȝe wollen a stounde dwelle: Hou seynt Jon þe Baptist Was martred for þe loue of Jhesu Crist In þe heruest after þe Assumpcion: Line 545 Þat is I-cleped þe Decollacion. Þe niþe reson is ful good: Hou Jhesu Crist was don on rood For þe gult of Adam and Eue; Þe blod he bledde for vre bileue. Line 550 Þenne is þe tenþe reson Of vre ladi þe Assumpcion, Vppon a friday ȝeld vp þe gost To hire sone, þat heo louede most; Þerfore in heuene þe virgyne is Line 555 Bodi and soule, forsoþe I-wis; Jhesu is kyng, and heo is qween— I-blesset mote þe tyme ben! Þe elleueþe reson is ful trewe, Of þe apostel seint Andrewe, Line 560 Vppon a friday was don on crois And seide, "Jhesu", wiþ milde vois And, "Jhesu", clepede, "In trinite, Þis passion I suffre for þe". Þe twelfþe reson is ful good: Line 565 Hou seynt Eleyne fond þe rood Vppon þe Mount of Caluarie— Vppon þat crois Jhesu gon dye: Þer was þe holy crois I-founde, I-dolue deope vp of þe grounde. Line 570

Line 570 Þe þretteneþe reson, verreyment: Vppon a friday god wol ȝiue Jugement And deme men after heore dede — He is not wys þat hit nul drede! — Þe gode to Joye, þe wikked to pyne; Line 575 Þe godnesse of Joye may no-mon fyne: Heo schule haue Joye to heore seruise Þat seruen god in alle wyse. [573—8 = 347—52.] Forþi haue, mon, friday in mynde! Þeos þrettene resons þerfore we fynde. Line 580 Friday is day of chaunce Best to fasten and do penaunce. Þe seterday aftur, sikerly, Is good to fasten for vre ladi: Þorw hire we weoren al vnbounde [A. alle.] Line 585 And I-brouȝt out of helle grounde; Heo is ful of merci To alle þat to hire wol clepen and cri, To wasche and to make clene Alle þat euere in synne bene; Line 590 Þe blessed ledere I-cleped heo is — Þe wey to heuene heo vs wis. I-blesset mote þei alle be [A. Iblessed.] Þat seruen hire wiþ herte fre!" Þe Emperour wiþ wordes sterne Line 595 Þus seide to þe child ȝerne: "Child, he seide, I coniure þe In þe nome of þe trinite, Þorw þe passion of Jhesu Crist, Of his deþ and of his vprist, Line 600 Þat þou me þe soþe seye, Ar þou from me weende a-weye: Wheþur art þou a wikked angel, or a good?" Þe child onswerde wiþ milde mood: "I am he þat þe wrouhte, Line 605 And also þat þe deore abouȝte". Þe child wente to heuene þo, To þe stude þat he com fro. Þe Emperour kneled on þe grounde And þonked god þat blisful stounde. Line 610 He bicom good in alle wyse, Lyuede & diȝede in godes seruise. — Seynt Jon þe Ewangelist, Ede on eorþe wiþ Jhesu Crist: Þis tale he wrot in latin Line 615 In holi bok in parchemin, Bad and heet almonkynde Cristes passion hauen in mynde. [A. haue.] Þus endeþ þis spellyng Of Jhesu, vre heuene kyng. Line 620 God graunt vs alle his swete blessyng, Schrift & hosel, and good endyng!

Amen.

16. De Principio Creationis mundi, eine Allegorie, von Grosthed. Aus Ms. Ashm. 61, fol. 78b.

Der erste Theil des Gedichtes, — v. 222, handelt von der Schöpfung und dem Sündenfalle, definirt die Sünde und die Erlösung; der zweite Theil, V. 223—440, ist eine Allegorie der Erlösung: die 4 Cardinaltugenden Mercy, Sothnes, Rightfulnes und Pes, plädiren vor ihrem Vater, dem (himmlischen) Könige, für und wider den sündigen Knecht (den Menschen), bis des Königs Sohn, Wisdom, die Schuld des|selben auf sich nimmt. Die lateinischen Anweisungen vor V. 295 und am Schluss, weisen auf einen Einfluss der dramatischen Moralitäten. Doch finden sich ähnliche Allegorien schon weit früher; so enthält die Homilie Sawles warde in Morris' Old Engl. Homilies of the twelfth and thirteenth cent. First series, Part II, London 1868, p. 245 eine ähnliche Allegorie von den vier Cardinaltugenden in anderer Anwendung; eine ähnliche Homilie de Initio Creature s. ib. p. 217. — Nach V. 11 ff. ist das Ge|dicht von Grosthed, dem bekannten Bischof von Lincoln, aus dem lateinischen ins französische übersetzt, dann in das englische übertragen. Der franz. Text ist in Ms. Bodl. 4057 erhalten, u. d. T. Tractatus domini Roberti Grosete (in lingua) romana: de principio creationis mundi. Ms. Ashm. 61 ist eine spätere Copie des englischen Textes, der aus keiner andern Hs. bekannt ist.

Jhesu Cryst, heuyn kynge, Be at my begyninge! — There is no-man þat may ȝelpe, Bot he hath nede of godys helpe. Fader & sone and holy goste, Line 5 One god, of myȝhtys moste, He helpe vs at oure nede — Withoutene hym may we not spede. — I sate and lokyd on a romance, Was made in þe lond of France: Line 10 Grostyd it made oute of dyuine All in french out of latyne: He saw all men hade not vertu To know latyn, ebrew & grew, The(re)fore in french he mad it þere, [Ms. thefore; diese Verschreibung begegnet öfter in Ms. Ashm.] Line 15 That men myȝt wyte what it were. Ȝit may not all men frenche vnderstond, And namely men of Ingelond: Therefore, soth as I þe tolde, Ryme on Inglych make he wolde, [l. I st. he?] Line 20 That men myȝht haue þer-of solace. Now god þerto gyfe vs grace!

De principio creacionis mundi.

Now at þe fyrst begyninge I schall tell of þe werlde makynge, And how it was fyrste gyuen to Adam Line 25 Of whome oure fyrst synne camme, And also of paradys I-wys That was full of werldys blys; And of heuen þat is so hye, How it was lorne thorow folye, Line 30 How it come after to man-kynd, As ȝe may afterwerd fynde. With-in VI deys ryȝht All þe werld we(s) I-dyȝht; [Ms. we.]

All-myȝhty god þat is þe beste Line 35 The VII dey he gane reste. There-of ȝe haue herd telle — God kep vs fro þe peyne of helle! — When god all-myȝhty of nouȝht Heuyn and erth all hade wrought, Line 40 With all þe pourtynans small & grete, Lord, þat was feyre & swete! Now is þe sone clere & lyȝht: That tyme it was VII so bryȝht; The mone þat schynes no(w) by nyȝht, [Ms. no st. now.] Line 45 Than it schone also bryȝht As do þe sone now onne deye. [do st. dos.] And sey there-of no-mane naye: I tell ȝow now sothlye, [Ms. ȝew st. ȝow.] It witnes þe prophete Isaye, Line 50 And at hym I take wytnesse That euery thynge more & lesse In erth, in ayere, water & flode, Seth Adam synned, was not so gode Als it was fyrste beforne, Line 55 Or Adam & Eue wer forelorne. Lorne was Adam & all hys kynne Fore þat ilke foule synne, And all þer kynne, as I ȝow telle, Euerychon þei wente to helle. Line 60 Wronge was it not, bote skyll — So euery man may (se) þat wyll. [se fehlt im Ms.] Gode is to thinke þer-on aryȝht, Forto loue god all-myȝht.

De medio mundi et de fine.

When þat god þe werlde hade wrouȝt, Line 65 So þat there ne feyled nouȝht Neþer of more ne lesse, Bestys & treys, frute & graffe, Fowlys in þe eyere, fyffches in flode, Sterrys & mone, sone, feyre & gode: Line 70 At þe laste, after all thys, Thane made he Adam I-wys In þe veyll of Ebron of cley gente, Lyke hym-selue veramente; After he holy trinyte Line 75 He made hys saule, I telle þe, In þe body he dyde a lyuing goste, Of all bestys powere gafe hym moste. That was loue & grete grace To make hym lyke hys awne face! Line 80 He made hym wytty & wyse, And led hym in-to paradyse. Than thouȝht god all-myȝhty þere He wold not he alone were. When þat god thus thouȝt & seyd, Line 85 Clepyd Adam, þer he was leyd, Of hys lefte syde he toke a rybe-bone: There-of he made Eue anone. Eue before Adam he brouȝht, To wytte how he by hyre thouȝht. Line 90 Than seyd Adam, & thouȝt it gode: "Thys is my flesch & my blode". In paradys in that stounde There was wedloke fyrst I-fonde. — Fore þat skyll euery man of lyfe Line 95 Is holden to loue hys wyfe, After þat sche is worthey; That wyll god all-myȝhty. — God gaf þan Adam wytte & skylle, Grete powere & fre wylle: Line 100 Powere ouer all erthely thynge, And gaff hym lyfe with-outen endynge; Of paradys he made hym fre Ouer all thynge, saue a tre. He gafe hym tyme to be þer-Ine, Line 105 Iff þat he hade done no synne, With-outene hete, with-outen chele There to a lyffyd in longe wele, [a = have,] With-outene wo & seknes, With mekyll Joy & bryȝhtnes: Line 110 Seuyne so bryȝht he schuld hafe bene As is þe sone þat now is sene; Syche a blys god hade hym lente, And at þe last to heuyne haue wente. Now was þer a feyre franches, Line 115 Was ordenyd to Adam & all hys, Sych an herytage euer-mo To haue wonyd in with-outen wo! — In paradys Adam had two lawys, As we telle in owre sawys: Line 120 He schulde haue kepyd in hys lyfe The naturall & þe posytyfe.

The naturall law was skyll & ryȝht: To be buxsome to god all-myȝht That dyde hym þat grete curtasy, Line 125 Of paradys gaue hym þe masterry. A commandment onne hym he leyde And off all hys frute, he seyde, "Bot a tre I the forbyde. Ete þou not þer-of, fore non nede! Line 130 Iff þou ete þer-of, I þe sey, Sone þer-after þou schall dey. Iff þou my commaundment kepe, in pefe Than þou schall haue þat ilke grace: Paradyse & bestys, water & londe Line 135 Schall be obedyente to þi honde." Off all þe blys of paradys Adam hade seseyne I-wys. [Ms. seseyne = seizin.] Alas, sone it was ago All þe Joy þat he had tho! Line 140 Alas þerfore may we synge And sore wepe & handys wrynge! Oure herytage we schuld haue, And we hade not done þat skathe. The comandment we dyde nouȝht: Line 145 Therefore sore it was bouȝht, And fore þat trespas þat was done All we wer made thrall full sone. The naturall & þe posytyfe Adam breke fore lufe of hys wyfe; Line 150 Buxumere he was forto do The dede þat hys wyfe bad hym do, Than to god þat hym hade wrouȝht. Alas, þerfore, what was hys thouȝht! Than was he oute & hade lorne Line 155 The sesyn þat he hade beforne; Hys herytage was hym benome, And all theme þat after hym comme, Oute of Joy in-to grete care Hys-felue & hys kyne to fare; Line 160 With swynke & suete was he bonde — Where schall any hele be fonde? Alas þat synne, it was so stronge! Fore amonge all thinge it spronge: Both þe sterres, sone, & mone Line 165 Off þat synne þei hade to done; Foulys in þe eyere, bestys in londe, All þei had þer-of a onde, Fysschys, erbys, frute and tre, All þe wers forto be; Line 170 Euery thynge, both more & les, Fore þat synne lest there godnes. — Adam fore hys defaute I-wys Lost hys herytage, & all hys; Fore synne(e) is non oþer thynge Line 175 Before defaute of wele doynge. [Ms. Bo for st. before od. st. bot?] Fore defaute he leste þe Joys suete, And þat was skyll: so do mene ȝete: Fore defaute euery wyght Hys herytage may lese ryȝht; Line 180 At kyngys courte, in euery londe, Ȝit men haue sych lawys fonde. Fore defaute Adam les That he myȝht haue leuyd in pes. Alas, þat was grete pyte! Line 185 Now be we thrall þat are wer fre. — Thrall he is þat to hym longys What seruys he vnderfongys. [l. whas st. what?] He þat is so thrall become, Hys powere is hym benome. Line 190 When he seruys in seruage, He hade no franches of herytage: [Ms. hade st. has.] Than when he is all thrall become, His fre herytage is hym benome. He may not pleyne in non wys Line 195 With whome he is in sych seruys: He ne schuld no-thynge be herde, His wordys be all in sperd(!). [l. misferd?] His herytage if he wyll wynne, He behouys to do anoþer thynge: Line 200 He muste seke if he may fynd A man þat borne is of fre kynd, And þat he be of ryȝht lynage, Forto clame his herytage, And þat he may well & wele canne, Line 205 And þat he be a gode fre mane, That he not of þat appull ete That Adame thouȝt fyrst so suete. He behoueth to be with-outyne synne And all oure lawys hym with-Ine: [Ms. law ys.] Line 210 The II lawys of paradys sykerly, And þat of þe mounte of Synay

That was gyuen to Moyses, That he held neuer with-outene les In whom was se oure wekyd wrynke. Line 215 Off sych a mane who myȝht thinke That myȝht be with-outen synne, Hys herytage þus to wynne? [Ms. to st. myȝht he?] He(r)on schall my mater duelle, [Ms. he st. her.] Fore a tale I wyll ȝou telle Line 220 That acordys to sych a mane. Now wyll I tell ȝou, if I canne.

IT was a kynge nobull & riche, That had a sone þat was hym lyche: Off wytte & powere lyke hym he was, Line 225 Like þe fader, in all case. That þe fader wyst, þe sone thouȝt, All thorow þe sone þe fader wrouȝt: What þe fader wold haue wrouȝt, The sone it dyde, fore he knew his thought; Line 230 In his kyndome all nedys Wer fullfylled thorow hys dedys. Foure douȝteres hade þe kynge, And euerych of þem hade some-thynge Off hys wyte and hys powere, Line 235 Iche-one as þei hade mystere; And neuer-þe-les all was þe kyngys The IIII douȝtures with all þer thyngys: Fore with-outen þem euery dele Myȝht he not reule hys kyngdome wele. Line 240 Feyre names þei had euery-chone, I schall þem telle ryȝht anone: The fyrst douȝter hyght Mersy — That is a feyre name, sykerly! The secunde douter hyght Sothnes, Line 245 And þe thyrd Ryghtfullnes, The IIII douȝter hyght Pese — Feyre names, with-outene lese! With-oute þe foure þat I named May no-thinge ryght be demed. — Line 250 Thys ryche kynge hade a mane — Thorow whome mych wreche begane, — And hym louyd wele þe kynge And made hym mayster of mych thynge. Bot a comandment he hym toke Line 255 And seyd: when he þat foresoke, He schuld to turment, vnderstond þis, Oute of hys courte, & all hys. Thys seruant ȝede forth with þat, Hys commandment sone he brake. Line 260 Iugement on hym was leyd After þat þe kynge hade seyd; To IIII turmentowres he was take, Hys Jugement on hym to make. The turmentowres, as bad þe kynge, Line 265 They schuld hym do an euyll dubynge: The one schuld hym depriuene faste, The oþer hym fle whyll hys lyfe laste, [Ms. sle st. fle.] The oþer hym strangyll ryght also, The oþer hym fetyre. so dyde þei tho. Line 270 Mersy, þe douȝter, all þis sey & herd [Ms. ley st. sey.] How he was in presone sperd. To hyre fader sche come anone And askyd hym — what forto done? "Thy douȝter, fader, þou wote I ame, Line 275 Mersy I hyght, of þe I camme, Off þi ȝifte I vnderstode To haue mersy with myld mode. Therefore, fader, I pray þe here That þou herkyne my prayere: Line 280 Haue mersy of þat ilke wyght That in presone is euyll dyght! Hys enmyse dyd to hym trespas, Fader, of hym haue mersy & grace! Hys enmyse fore envye Line 285 They dyde hym þat trecherye. Do now, fader, þat I craue, Ȝiff þou wyll me þi douȝter haue! Mersy I ame: yff þou wyll me, Thou must haue mersy & pyte. Line 290 With gode skyll he muste be sauyd, Fore I, þe douȝter, haue þe crauyd. [M. þe st. þi.] Fore hym mersy schall be my crye, Whyll þat I may fynde mersy." — [whyll = till.]

Misericordia et veritas obuiauerunt sibi.

Sothnes, hyre syster, þis pleynt herd. Line 295 Sone sche come and ansuerd: "Fader, what may þis pleynte be That Mersy, my syster, makys to þe?

Wold sche fore hyre myld herte Brynge þis prisonere owte of smerte? Line 300 Sche wolde he wer fro peyne I-brouȝht, Bot I, Sothnes, wyll it nouȝht. A trew thynge, fader, I tell þe: Ȝiff all thynge myȝht sauyd be Fore whome my syster wyll praye, Line 305 Schall none of þe stond aye. I ame Sothnes, herkens to me! And þat name I hade of þe; Men callys me kynge in euery kythe; And ȝiff Sothnes wones þe wyth, Line 310 Mersy of hym may þou haue none, Bot I, Sothnes, fro þe gone. Pyte off hym may none be wroght, Fore hym-selue wyll it nouȝht. Kynge off Sothnes, do than ryght Line 315 And late avenge þe of þat wyght!" The syster, Ryght, þeder gane gone, Thys wordys sche herd euerychone. When sche þe pleynte onderstode, Sche ansuerd with mylde mode: Line 320 "Fader, my name is callyd Ryght, That name I hade of thy myght. Seth I ame Ryght & þou hast me, As Soth it seys, it muste be, Fore Ryght wyll in none wyse Line 325 That seruante were in vnyse. That Soth hath seyd, I, Ryȝht, it wyll, Fore it is resone & skyll. Late þou hym in preso(n) be, Tyll þou hym Juge before þe! Line 330 Fore Ryght wyll haue all onder honde, That he Soth do onderstond; Ryght gyffes Iche man be Sothe his rede, Be it to gode, be it to quede. Whyll þat he thyne hest held, Line 335 We wer with hym with spere & scheld, Both Mersy, Soth, & Ryght, And Pese, my syster, with all oure myȝt. Vs all IIII he hath foresake: Right wyll þerfore vengeans take." Line 340 Non gode word was þer speke, When þat Mersy was oute steke. — Than was þat wrech with peynes schente, Hys gode benome, hys clothes rente; In peyne was he many-folde, Line 345 As Soth & Ryght bothe it wolde. And also þat of hym come, All þei had þe same dōme. Soth & Ryght with-outen les Wente, with-oute Mersy and Pes, Line 350 And, be contre as þei wend, All þat wreches kynde þei schent; So fast þei gane þem done dryue, That þei left neuer one of lyue. A flode ouer all dyde go, Line 355 VIII þat left of lyue & nomo: [Ms. þat st. þer?] That was Noe & his thre sones — There wer no mo left in no wonys — In Noys schype with þer wyues, Where-in þei sauyd þer lyues. Line 360 That was þan a reufull syght! And ȝit it was bote soth & ryȝht. — The syster Pes myȝht no-where be, Sche was sent oute contre, [Ms. out st. out of.] Fore sche may fore no thynge Line 365 Be amonge wreth & werrynge. Than was Pes in mych care, When sche saw þe werld þus fare. To hyre fader hyre wey sche leyd And come to hym sone and seyd: Line 370 "Fader, I ame þi douȝter Pes, I auȝht be at thy dese; Thou arte kynge of Pes so dere: Me, fader, þan must þou here. [Ms. my st. me.] My two systeres, Soth & Ryght, Line 375 With Pes & Mersy þei hold fyght, [Ms. syght st. fyght, od. slyght?] All with-out oure asente They done all þer Jugemente. I, Pese, & my syster Mersy bothe We come no(t) heder consell to noye, Line 380 And we foure aw be all at one. Thys thynge, fader, may not þus gone, I, Pes, wyll abyde with the, Tyll all pese amonge þem be. All godnes thorow pes to end is brouȝt; Line 385 Who-so hath pes, he feylys nouȝht; With-outen pes is wroȝht no thynge, Be it neuer so grete doynge.

Who-so euer aboute wyll wende, Pese schall folow at þe ende. Line 390 Soth & Ryght it is þer fe Forto kepe þe name of me, Fore þei haue non oþer nede Bot pes to kepe in euery lede. Why schall I thane be foresake, Line 395 When þou pes fore me gane take? Bot I haue Mersy, my syster, with me: I may not els sauyd be. Seth þou arte kynge of Pes in lond, My word aw to be vnderstonde. Line 400 Off (vs) foure systeres a resyne clere [Ms. þis st. vs.] Now ryȝht wyll I schew here: Thorow vs IIII schall all be wrouȝt In vnyte, is all my thouȝt; All we IIII verament Line 405 Schall make one Jugement. Therefore Jugement auȝht be nouȝt, Tyll we IIII at one be brouȝt; All we behouyth to-geder take, Ryght Jugement forto make. Line 410 Thys seruant onne non wyse May be leuyd in þat vnyse. With-outene my syster Mersy & me Jugement may non gyuen be; Mersy, my syster, cryes euer-mo Line 415 Mersy fore hym þat is in wo: Therefore I, Pes, at þe endes Schall fond to make þem frendys." — The kyngys sone, both wyse & queynte, Herd þe IIII systeres pleynte. Line 420 With-outen hym on none wyse Acord may not ryȝht aryse. "Fader, he seyd, thyne I ame, Off þe, fader, fyrst I come, Wysdome, fader, my name it is Line 425 Fore whom was made þis werldys blys; Thou & I, fader, all one we be In wytte & myȝht & dygnyte. Off þis contake, þat I here, Mersy hath told me resone clere: Line 430 Where-of, fader, I haue pyte That seruant in peyne schall so be. Thy seruante clothinge take I wyll, Both with sothnes & with skyll That Jugement I wyll onderfonge Line 435 And all þat euer to ryȝht wyll longe. I schall cry pes with-outen mys And Ryȝht & Pese I schall do kys. All contake leyd schall be, My wyll it is I schall saue þe." Line 440 Justicia & pax osculate sunt.

17. The stasyons of Jerusalem. (Wallfahrt nach Jerusalem). Aus Ms. Ashm. 61, fol. 128.

Das Gedicht schildert eine jener Pilgerfahrten, welche im 14. u. 15. Jahrh. so häufig von Fürsten, Edlen und reichen Bürgern, in grösseren oder kleineren Zügen, nach dem h. Lande unternommen wurden. Die Seereise begann von Venedig aus, zu Ostern oder S. Johanni, auf grossen Galeeren unter Leitung eines venetianischen Patrons, der die Pilger auch im h. Lande selbst begleitete und ihre Verhandlungen mit den muhamedanischen Behörden führte; sie ging die Häfen Venedigs entlang: Corfu, Modon auf Morea, Candia, Rhodus, Cypern, und endete in Joppe, dem Hafen Jerusalems. Hier landete man unter feierlichem Gesange des Te deum, küsste den h. Boden und schmückte sich mit den Strandmuscheln, dem Attribute des Pilgers. Von da ritt man, unter dem Geleit von Muhamedanern, auf Eseln nach Jerusalem, welches man in höchster Andacht, mit einem Te deum betrat. Man herbergte hier in der Regel in dem berühmten Franziskanerkloster auf Sion [Andere stiegen im Johanniterhospiz, oder bei einem der venetianischen oder genuesischen Consuln ab.] , dessen Guardian den Pilgern meist schon bis Rama entgegenkam. Diese Mönche waren die Wegweiser der Pilger an den h. Stätten, in seit langer Zeit hergebrachter Ordnung; sie hatten die Pil|gerfahrten wieder in Fluss gebracht, die Sagen und Legenden gesammelt und lokalisirt, auch wohl in Büchlein verzeichnet, die sie den Pilgern mitgaben — so erklärt sich die genaue Uebereinstimmung aller Reisebeschreibungen dieser Art. Man besuchte nun die h. Stätten, soweit der Besuch von den Herren des Landes (seit 1382 den ägyp|tischen Mameluken, seit 1517 den Türken) gestattet wurde: die Grabeskirche (in unserm Ged. zuerst, in der Regel erst am Schlusse der Wanderung), wo man der Mitternachtsmesse beiwohnte; die h. Stätten an der via dolorosa, dann rechtsherum im Thale Josaphat und Siloe (östlich) und auf dem Sionsberge (südlich). An den folg. Tagen besuchte man Bethlehem (2 deutsche Meilen von Jerusalem), und auf einem Umwege zurückkehrend die h. Stätten im Gebirge Juda; dann den Jordan, worin man, meist in voller Kleidung, badete an der Stelle der Taufe Christi, das todte Meer, und auf dem Rückwege den Berg der 40 tägigen Fasten (Quarentana) und Bethanien. Selten besuchte man noch den Berg Sinai mit seinem berühmten Katharinenkloster. — Reisebeschreibungen dieser Art haben sich mehrere erhalten, meist genau überein|stimmend in der Ordnung und Beschreibung der h. Stätten, Legenden und Reliquien; so von deutschen die des Landgrafen Wilhelm des Tapfern von Thüringen i. J. 1461, ed. von J. G. Kohl Bremen 1868, die der Bürger Hans Tucher von Nürnberg i. J. 1478 und Helfrich von Leipzig i. J. 1565, besonders des Dominikaners Felix Faber aus Ulm Evagatorium in terrae sanctae peregrinationem (aus d. J. 1480 u. 83) ed. von C. D. Hassler 1843 u. 49 (in d. Biblioth. des litter. Vereins von Stuttgart, vol. I, II, u. III), ferner das "Reissbuch des h. Landes" Frankfurt 1609. — Von neueren Hülfsmitteln vgl. Ersch u. Gruber's Encycl. s. v. Jerusalem, Robinson "Palästina" Halle 1841, Tobler "Denkwürdigkeiten aus Jerusalem" S. Gallen 1853, Tobler "Die Siloahquelle und der Oelberg" S. Gallen 1852, Geisheim "Die Hohenzollern am h. Grabe zu Jeru|salem" Berlin 1858, Sepp "Jerusalem und das h. Land" Schaffhausen 1863, Vogué "le temple de Jérusalem" Paris 1864 u. a.

Die einzige Hs. des engl. Gedichts, Ashm. 61, ist vielfach verderbt und fehler|haft; insbesondere ist ein ganzer Passus, v. 809—840, mit dem Besuche Bethaniens und den Schlussworten des Dichters, vom Schreiber unrichtig hinter V. 736 (nach dem Besuche Bethlehems) versetzt — ich habe diese Stelle an dem richtigen Orte wieder eingefügt. Auch sonst scheint der ursprüngl. Text vielfach verändert; auffällig ist jedenfalls der Wechsel von Stropfen (im Anfange u. am Ende u. v. 271—4) und Reim|paaren. Das Alter des Gedichts ist schwer zu bestimmen. Ein ähnliches Gedicht ist "the stacions of Rome" in Reimpaaren, aus Ms. Vernon fol. 314 (c. 1370) ed. v. Furnivall für die Early Engl. Text Soc. 1867, und aus Mss. Cott. Calig. A II u. Lamb. 306 ed. v. Furnivall in Political, religious and love poems pp. 113—44 für die E. E. T. S. 1866.

God that schupe both heuen & helle, To þe, lord, I make my mone, And gyue me grace þe sothe to telle Of þe pylgrymeage þat I haue gone! I toke my leue at Venys toūne, [Ms. take.] Line 5 And bade felous fore me praye, — Fore it is a cyte of grete renoūne. [ist interpolirt.] And to Jerusaleme I toke þe wey. Bot of all cytes þat I haue seyne, Forto rekyne euerychone, Line 10 Than may Venys be a (quene), [Ms. kyng st. quene.] That stondys in þe greke se alone. It is so rownd, ryche & stoute: Off enmys there them not drede. [there = þarf, þar.] Fore seyntys lyes in þe towne aboute — Line 15 Who-so wyll seke þem, he schall haue mede. Seynt Marke & seynte Nycholas, Thes two seyntys þei lyne in syȝht; Seynte Elyne, þat fonde þe cros, And seynt Jeorge, oure lady knyȝht, Line 20 Amonge them berys grete voys And lyes in gold & syluer wele dyȝht. Seynte Paule þe fyrst hermyte þat was, And seynte Symeone Justus þat hyȝht, And þe fader of seynt Johne baptyst Line 25 Lyes thens a lytell þer-fro. And seynt Lucy, þat vergyne blyste, Þat stedfast was in all here wo, And a thousand Innocentys mene may se, Lyȝet þer closyd in þat towne; Line 30 Seynte Cristofe lege & hys the — At ons I may not rekyne ne soune — [Ms. sone = soune od. somne?] [Nach 32 scheint ein Verspaar zu fehlen.] Fore þer is þe whyrlbone of hys kne And his toth closyd in crystall to se. [Nach dem Reisebuche des Land|grafen Wilhem liegt Simeon in Zara, die Innocentes in Murano bei Venedig.] Twyse in þe ȝere, who þedure come Line 35 To vyset þis corseyntys in þat plas, He schall haue plene remyssyone, Als wele as In þe ȝere of grace. Than passe(we) in-to þe Iles of þe se: [we fehlt.] Curfe, Modyne, & Candy. [Modyne = Modon auf Morea (das alte Methone).] Line 40 Some of þe Iles, with-outene doute [Candia hat nach Landgr. Wilhelm 700 "welsche Meilen" im Umfang.] Be VII C. myle abowte, [Ms. abowte to sey; to sey ist zu tilgen.] And all langys to Venys towne, That is a cyte of grete renowne. In þe Ile of Rodys as we gan gone, Line 45 We founde relykes many one: A crosse, made of þe basyne fuete That oure lord wessch in hys postyllus fete; And þer þe plate we se Where-in he made hys mande; Line 50 And a thorne of þe crowne That styked in hys hede aboune, That blomys euery godefrydey — A feyr merakyll it is to sey! And þer is seynt Loy & Blasy, Line 55 And oþer, mo þan twenty; There is þe arme & hond of seynt Ca|teryne, That blyssyd holy vergyne, And euer-more, who-so þeder come,

A thousand ȝeres of pardone. Line 60 And in Sypres as we schuld go, We fond relykys one or two: The cros of þe gode thefe [Dieses Kreuz des Schächers ist naeh d. Landgr. Wilh. in einem Kloster auf eïnem Berge unweit Paphos.] That cryed mersy & found gode preue. We saw a chapelle onne a hylle; Line 65 Bot we myȝht not come þertylle. Beȝond þat in a coste A lytell besyde is Famagoste; We fond a chapell beforne, Where seynte Kateryne was borne; Line 70 There is many ȝeres of pardone Fore euery man þat þeder wyll come. Thane came we to a-noþer place, There þat þe whalle sualowyde Jonas And bare hym in-to Ninyue — Line 75 A feyre merakyll it ys to se! Than come we to porte Jáffe — I schall ȝow telle who þat name ȝaffe: Japhet, þat was Noeys sone, Was þer fyrst, or þat was begonne; Line 80 And when he leyd þe fyrst stone, He callyd it Jaffe after hys name. This is þe breyd of þe grekys se: Twenty hundreth myle & thre. — Than passyd we to þat same stede Line 85 There seynte Johne was quyke & dede. The nexte thinge after, as I ȝow telle, Is þe graue of Samuelle, That is besyde þe castell of Emaus Theere Jhesu spake to Cleophas. Line 90 Fyrst Joy after þat to vs come When we sey þe wawle of Jerusaleme. And þe fyrst fote þat we sette þer-Ine We were deliuerde of all oure synne And reseyued indulgens "a pena & culpa", Line 95 And at oþer many places mo also. And after þis with gode intente To þe hospytall sone we wente. [the hospitall ist das Franziskanerkloster auf Sion, die Herberge der Pilger.] And onne þe morne, when it was dey, To þe temple we wente oure wey. [þe temple die Grabeskirche. Der Besuch ders. und die Anhörung der Mitter|nachtsmesse bildete in der Regel den Schluss, nicht, wie hier, den Anfang der Wanderung.] Line 100 And þer lyes þe same stone That oure lorde restyd hym onne; The Jues dyde hym so mekyll wo: The manhed myȝht no ferthere go. And after þis a ȝarysene come Line 105 And callyd vs In, be a treyne; When he hade done, he wente hys weye And lokyd þe dore with a keye. Now schall ȝe here þe begyninge, How we worschypped oure heuen kynge. Line 110 The warden reysede a crosse full hye And clerkys songe þe letany; And lewde men þan þer eyȝene wepe, That teres fell vndere þer fete, And thankyde god with all þer myȝht Line 115 That gaffe them grace to se þat syght. Than askyd we a boūne with-all: That we schuld neuer in synne falle. And after þat with gode entente To þe sepulcour forth we wente; Line 120 When we hade offerd & kyssed þe stone, All oure feloys dyde þe same. Beȝond þat we fond a pleyne There Jhesu mette with Mary Maude|leyne, And þer sche wolde haue kyssed his fete, Line 125 When he bakwerd fro hyr ȝede And sche persyde onne hym so ofte, And (he) seyd: "Mary, touche me nouȝht." Behynd þat is a pylere Where-to was bond hys body bare; Line 130 That stondys in a chapell suete, There oure lady stode & wepe. And þus we passyd bye To þe mydys of þe mundye: [Die "Mitte der Welt" war durch einen Stein dargestellt; vgl. 385.] There he wrote with-outene doute Line 135 The mydys of þe werld ronde aboute. Beȝond þat as we schuld gone, We fond þe holys in þe stone There-in þei Joddyd hym onne þe gronde [Ms. Joddyd st. joggyd?] And gafe hym many a blody wonde. Line 140 And þer þei spolyd hym of hys clothys And swore hys deth with grete othes,

And þer at þe dyfe þei gane pleye Who schuld bere hys clothys aweye. And whene he sufferd all þis scorne, Line 145 On hys hede þei sete a crone of thorne And after askyd hym of þat thinge Iff þat he were Jues kynge. Behynd þat is a pylere also There þat he sufferd mekyll wo: Line 150 They bonde hys hondys & his fete And rollyd hys body in þe strete, That erth & grauell onne þe grounde Hade fylled full ilke a wounde; And vnder an auter betwene þe stones Line 155 They made hym crepe all at-ones. When he was so sore Ibonde, With þer fete þei spurned (him) as a hunde — And he ley as a babe stylle And sufferd them to do þer wylle. — Line 160 All crysten kyngys, with one assente Fore godys luffe gyffe þis Jugemente: What cursyde Jue cum to ȝoure ground, Spurne ȝe his body as a hounde, And, bote he wylle mersy crye, Line 165 Honge hym vp on galow-tre, Fore-why þei dyde hym all þis wo! That schall I telle ȝou or I go. — The crosse was not ordeynde mete To nayle onne his body suete: Line 170 Than kepyd þei hym in presone stylle, To þe crosse was ordeynd at þer wylle. That presone is hold a welle of grace Fore all þat comys in þat place, And it is callyd off olde & ȝenge Line 175 The prisone of oure heuen kynge. Beȝond þat is a chapell sqware, Forty gresys depe & more. [Diese 40 Stufen führten zu den V. 247—53 genannten Stätten.] Be hym þat schope both heuen & helle! This tale is trew þat I schall telle: Line 180 There is in a orytory Noys of þe peynes of purgatory — And what man seys it is not so, I schall fynd wytnes, or þat I go, Off prestys þat duellys þer nyȝht & dey: Line 185 They schall bere wytnes (of) þat I sey. And þer synge prestys of cytes thre In worschype of þe trinyte: The fyrste prestys are os Inde, [folio 130] That preuyd þem-selue gode & kynde, [189 ff.) Oefter werden 7 Secten mit besonderen Altären aufgeführt.] Line 190 Fore þei care fore none oþer gode Bot worschipe god þat dyed onne rode. And þei synge noþer more ne lesse Bot þe pater noster at þer messe, Because oure lord bade þem so pray — [þem st. men?] Line 195 They wyll non oþer messe sey; Off brede & wyne hys body dere They resayue it with mylde chere. Bare-fote þei gone & in febulle aray, And duell in þe chyrche both nyȝt & dey; Line 200 Bred & water is most þer fode — I hold þem holy mene & gode. In þe north syde of þat mynstere They worschype god onne þis manere. — The cyte of Grekys duelle fast by, Line 205 That syngys in þe mounte of Caluery; Bot what þei synge or what þei seye, Oure prestys wote not what þei praye. And when þei reyse þe oste onne hye, The Grekys kastys vp a loude crye; Line 210 And when þei breke þe oste in thre, Iche man is housyld as wele as he(!): With a spone with-outene doute They fede þe pepulle all aboute; And a party of þat body dere Line 215 He reseyues on þis manere. Also þe prestys hath no ly(u)inge Bot what þe pylgrymus to þem brynge, Fore faute of clothys þer sydys goth owte, And lyues in tribute & in doute; [l. tribulacion.] Line 220 What lyue-lode þer is to þem leyd, They gruch not, bote hold þem payd. And in þat place with drery mode They wepe fore hym þat dyȝed onne rode, And þei aske non oþer thynge Line 225 Bot heuens blyss at þer endynge. — The thyrd cyte are prestys off owre,

That syngys messe at þe sepulcoure: On þe same graue þat oure lord in leye, Prestys synge in latyne euery deye. Line 230 Off oure maner is þer songe — Saue þer berdys are wele longe: That is þe vse of þat contre: That haue longe berdys, are of degre; The ordour of þem are bare-fote frerys. Line 235 Off almus-dedys þei haue no perys, Fore þei hold none oþer astate Bot worschype god arly & late, Both with þe new law & þe olde — They passe all cytes a M. folde. Line 240 When þei make to god þer mone, They pray fore all as wele as one. Thys holy (prestys), þer duelle, [Ms. saules st. prestys.] Schall wytnes þat I ȝou telle: Fore þei haue spokyne in þer orytory Line 245 With sallys þat are in þe peynes of pur|gatory. — Beȝond þer is an auter vnder an hylle That seynte Elyne louyd full wele, And an hole in þe groūnde There þe holy crosse was fonde, Line 250 And þe two crossys of þe theuys all-so: The beter was betwene þem two; There is "a pena & culpa" in þat place Fore all men þat comys theder fore grace, And beforne as we schuld fare, Line 255 Many gode syȝhtys as wele as þare. Seynte Elyne, þe emperyse, And Constantyne, hyre sone so wyse, Ordeynd þat place fore grete delyte Fore euer-more it schuld be replyed(!); Line 260 Seynt Syluester, þat holy pope, Confermyd it vnder hys holy cope, And what sche wold haue þertylle — The pope was redy at hyre wylle. And ȝit it is more stronge þan so, Line 265 And þat schall I preue, or I go: [Ms. I schall I.] The Jewys askyd Jhesu of þer wylle(!) And bade hym ansuere to þat skylle; He seyd in myddys of þe werld with skylle, Full hyȝe brouȝt vpone an hylle, [267—70 sind verderbt.] Line 270 And seyd: "who-so be in charyte And fore my loue hydere wyll wende, In Ioy & blysse he schall me se And with me duelle with-outen ende." Beȝond þat we may to a pylere go Line 275 Where þat he sufferd mekyll wo: Bonde & betyne þer he stode, Tyll all hys body ranne onne blode; So thyke þei spyte on hym by rawe, That nomane myȝht hys vysage knowe. — Line 280 Than turned we vponne a grece in hye [Auf den Calvarienberg führten 18 Stufen, er lag innerhalb der Grabeskirche.] On-to þe mounte of Caluerye. There was fond a fote of groūnde, There is none sych in þe werld roūnde: Fore it was plantyd with þat tre Line 285 There Jhesu bouȝht vs & made vs fre, And it was halowyd with þat blode That oute of hys body ȝode, And þat was payd in ransone Fore all þe synnes þat we hade done. Line 290 There turnyd all hys cruelte(!) To grete mersy, as we may se, When he foregaffe þe stronge theffe That cryede mersy, as he was leffe, And pute hym in no lauȝhynge ley(!) Line 295 Bot gaffe hym paradys þat same dey. Crysten man, if þou be wyse, Hold þou þis of mekyll price! — And ȝit dyde he more, to feyne: He foregaue þem þat brast hys veyne, Line 300 And prayde hys fader hyȝe on lofte Foregyue þe soules þat he hade wrouȝht. There he betauȝt hys modere dere To Johne, his cosyne, þat stode hym nere, And John betoke hys modure also; Line 305 And þei forth to-geder gane go. And þer he soferd grete pouerte, Neuer man so mekyll as he — A fox hath hole, a byrd hath neste, He had not where-onne hys hede to reste — Line 310 The drynke he askyd, was grete amours, Was mans saule, & non oþer lycours.

Than askyd he folke of yche degre Who sufferd more peyne thane he, And he cast vppe a loud cryȝe Line 315 And seyd lama ȝabatamye. There is þe roche of stone þat cleft in|two, When he sufferd al þis wo. Euer-ilke planet was so kynd: They hade hym some-dele in þer mynd. Line 320 Fore-sothe þei comme of Kaymes kyne, They sette it fore no dedly synne [they st. that.] To reyse þe crose betwene them alle [mortas, mortise.] And in a mortas þei lete (it) falle; And when it smote among þe stones, Line 325 His wondys brast all at-ones. They turnyd hys fete donwerde to helle: His blode on Adams hede gane felle. He prayd vnto hys fader of blys, To saue þe pepull þat wolde be hys; Line 330 Hys one hond ȝede est, þe oþer ȝede weste; As þe pylicane sytte on here neste When sche prykes hyre herte blode [Ms. pryked st. prykes.] To gyffe here byrdys fore þer fode: Thus was he strenyd on a tre, Line 335 That bouȝht vs all in þis degre: In euery veyne þei souȝht hys blode — Thus fulle dere he bouȝt hys brode; The croūne of thorne wente throuȝt hys breyne — Hys penans passe þe pelycane; Line 340 A spere was pute thorow his rybbys And with hys blode he fede his brydys, So fre he was to vs Ichone: He held oute water, whene blod was gone; The spere þat thyrled thorow his herte, Line 345 Ȝit god foregaffe hym all þat smerte. What erthly man in synne is bounde, And he aske mersy in þat groūnde: Haue he done neuer so meky(l) a mysse, [Ms. meky.] He schall be saluyd of all synne þat is. Line 350 Bot why I neuen here no pardone, That schall ȝe here, or þat I gone: Be-cause my wytte may not expond To knaw þe pardon of þat groūnde: Fore þer is þe crope & rote Line 355 And þer begane all oure bote; Fore all þe pardone þat is in Rome There is þe well, & thens it come. There is more pardone, I telle þe, Than is all þe water in þe se Line 360 Or gresse or grauell onne þe ground Or sterrys be in þe sky so roūnde Or motys be in þe sone, Sen þe werld was fyrst begone; — For euery contre here hath end of ryȝht, Line 365 And he is lord of en(d)les myȝht. The pardon þat he gaff to hys frend, Is þe blysse with-outen ende. And all his grace & mekyll more [his st. þis.] Was purchast in a fote of square: Line 370 It passyd not a fote in bred, What mane wyll mete it with a threde. I haue so mekyll more to telle: On þe moūnte I may no lenger duelle. — Than fonde we in Galgatha so: Line 375 Beryed worthyly þer lyggys two: Godfrey of Boleyn & Baudwyne, his broþer — Jhesu brynge theþer sych two oþer: Than durst I sey, þat blyssed lond Schuld duell in crystyne mennys hond! Line 380 Beȝond þer is þe same stede Where Jhesu wondys wer bobbyd rede. — [Ms. babbyd st. bobbyd.] And þus we woke all þe nyȝht, [þus st. þer? Ms. toke st. woke.] Euery man with a candyll-lyȝht. And when we had gone þe serkyll aboute, Line 385 We prayd fore them þat wer in doute. And at þe myd-nyȝht more & les Oure prestys disposyd them to messe, Som at þe mounte of Caluerye And som at oþer plasys þer-bye, Line 390 And at þe sepulcour many one songe, And housyld pepull euer amonge; Fore ilke man ches hym a preste And told hym þat ley on hys breste, And after resauyd hym in forme of bred Line 395 That þer fore vs was offerd quyke & dede.

On þe morne, at vndrene of þe deye, A saryȝen bad vs gone oure weye. And þan ranne we ferre & nere As conys doth to þer couere, Line 400 Some to þe mounte of Caluerye, And some to oþer placys þer-bye, And some knelyd yn þat stede [folio 132] That hys wondys wer anoyntyd rede. [that st. ther.] And sone a frere was to vs sente Line 405 And bade we schuld do hys command|mente; Than durst we no more sey Bot toke oure palmes & wente awey, And in-to þe hospytall we wente And ete & dranke sych as god vs sente. Line 410 When we hade done, we to ke) þe wey [to st. toke.] [Die nächsten Stätten liegen an der via dolorosa; die des Thals Josaphat folgen v. 466.] To þe veyle of Iosphey (!). That passyd we be a cornere, The(re) Jhesu (met) and hys modere dere, [met fehlt.] And þei felle in a swonyng also, Line 415 And þe crosse betwene þem two; And þer þei constreyned Symone To bere þe crosse, as he was wone, — It was so heuy & so square: [l. swere.] His manhede myȝht it no ferthere bere. Line 420 And þe womene of Jerusaleme Wepyd on Cryst, when þat he come, And he ansuerd on þis degre: "Wepe onne ȝour-selue, & not fore me!" Beȝond þat is a chapell smale, Line 425 There some-tyme was sette an halle: There sche(!) brouȝt forth hyre derlynge, [Ms. sche statt Anna? es ist das Geburtshaus Mariä?] The modere of oure heuen kynge. Beȝond þat sche was sette to scole, That euer was wyse & neuer no fole. Line 430 Beȝond þat is þe same lake [es ist die Probatica piscina.] That þe angell styred fore mens sake; Some comme þeder with gode entente; When þe angell was fro þens wente, Thoff he (!) had neuer so mekyll care, Line 435 He schuld be couerde of all hys sore. Than passyd we to þe duellynge Off corsyd Herode, þe fals kynge: There oure lorde was clothyd in whyte, Line 440 They bette hym sore with grete delyte. [Ms. better.] Beȝond þat is an oþer stede, There Pylate dampned oure lord to dede. Besyde þat þer is anoþer place, There Mary Maudeleyne had feyre grace; Line 445 Men callyd it Symone leperus halle: There Cryst foregaue hyre synne alle. Be an oþer place we comme [Ms. wyues duelle st. wyles duelled, vor man ist toune ausgestr.] Þer wyles duelle(d) in þat rych mane Qhych bette þe pore man with hys hond Line 450 And now lyes brynand in helle groūnde. At þe ende of þe toune as we schuld gone, [Salomonis Tempel, wie das Haus Pilati und das güldene Thor, war den Christen verschlossen.] We fond þe temple of Salamone. Be þe gyldyne ȝates as we gon pas, There Jhesu rode vpone hys asse; Line 455 The Jues spred clothes vnder his fete, When þei mette hym in þe strete. There seynte Anne mett with hyre fere, When sche conseyued oure lady dere. With-outen þat ȝate is þe sep(u)lkyre Line 460 Of many cursyd cr(e)atore: Fore saryȝyns of grete astate Are beryed before þat ȝate. Be þat there is an odour stede, There seynt Steuyne was stonyd to dede. Line 465 To þe veyle of Josaphat with gode e(n)tente, There oure lady (was) beryed, we wente. And þer is a caue vnder þe erth by, Wer-in was Cryst sykerly When he suete blode & watere Line 470 And prayd vp to hys fadere: "Fader, he seyd, if it may so be, Late þis deth passe fro me! And if þou wyll not þat it so be, Fader, do thy wyll with me!" Line 475 There is a place, þer þe apostyllus slepe When Jhesu knelyd onne Olyuete And þe Jues souȝht hym infere; There Malcus lost hys ryȝht ere.

And þer is a stone — we kyssyd it alle — Wer oure lady lete hyre gyrdell falle Line 480 When sche was borne vp to hyre sone, Euer in blys with hym to wone. Beȝond þat as we schuld go, Oure lord wepyd vpone þe cyte all-so. And an oþer place we souȝht Line 485 There þe palme was to oure lady brouȝht. [Ein Engel brachte Maria ein Palmenreis mit der Ankündigung ihres nahen Todes.] Than passyd we to an oþer styȝe, To þe mounte of Calueryȝe(!): [Ms. Calueryȝe st. Galile; die örtliche Tradition verlegte das ferne Galiläa an diese Stätte.] There Jhesu and hys apostyllus dere There þei mete all-infere Line 490 After þe tyme þat he was dede: He schewyd them hys wondys rede. Than turnyd we to þat same strete That goth to þe monte of Olyuete: There Jhesu styȝed vp in þer syght Line 495 To hys fader full of myȝht. And þer lyes þe stone ȝite [Den Stein mit den Fussstapsen Christi erwähnt der Dichter nicht.] Where-on he wrote þis holy bede: The pater noster, as we calle; The stone lyes muryd in þe walle. Line 500 And þer þe apostellus made þe crede, That help crystenè mene at nede. Furthe we went to a stone, There oure lady rest hyre vpone. There is a caue vnder a stone, [Diese Rast hielt Marie bei ihrem täglichen Besuch der h. Stätten (sie war die erste Pilgerin) nach Christi Himmelfahrt, 14 J. bis zu ihrem Tode.] Line 505 There James wepyd & made hys mone: Fro þat tyme þat hys lord was dede, He thouȝt neuer to ete brede Bot he had sene hym ryse ageyne, With hungour hym-selue he wold h(aue) sleyne; [Ms. hym st. haue.] Line 510 And þer oure lord in þat place Aperyd to James, when he vp rase, And seyd: "I ame resyn now here: Ete þi mete & make god chere!" — This was James þe mynoure, Line 515 The apostyll of oure sauyoure. And þer is þe graue of Absolone, [folio 133] Of kynge Josaphat & of Ysayone; All, saue þe graue of Absolone, Is transtorrentem Sedrone, Line 520 And vnder þat ley þe same tre That þe crosse was made of, sykyrlye. There is a welle a lytell thens, [im Thal Siloe.] There oure lady gane oure lordys clothys clens. Be-syde þat a lytell þer-fro Line 525 Was Jsay þe prophet sawyne in-two. And þer stondys a well alone [das natatorium Siloe.] There god releuyd þe blynd mane. — Now haue we bot a myle to gone Vnto þe mounte of Syone. Line 530 The fyrst thinge þat we þer fond, Was þe roste of þe holy lambe þat stond; [der Rost für das Osterlamm wurde binter dem Chore des Sions-Klosters gezeigt. Ms. roste ost of.] And þer the water stode to hete [Ms. þat the.] That oure lord wessch with his postyllus fete. [Nach Landgr. Wilhelm waren es 2 Steine, der eine für Christus, der andere für die Apostel.] And þer lyȝes ȝit XII stons, Line 535 That þe apostyllus sate on all at-ons And oure lady amonge þem alle, Whyll Jhesu prechyd onne a walle. With-in a chyrch at an autere [es ist die Sionskirche, von S. Helena zuerst erbaut.] He fede hys postyllus all-infere: Line 540 Of bred & wyne he made his fode And callyd it hys flessch & blode; When þei wer seruyd with þe lambe, He bade þem ete & drynke & make þem stronge: "Fore þis þat I afore ȝou ley, Line 545 Is my flessch & blod, as I ȝou sey. What man so be in charyte, (He) reseyue þis in þe mynd of me; [Ms. and st. he.] And what man þat be fals in thouȝht, I werne hym reseyue it nouȝt". Line 550 On þe oþer syde he wessch þer fete And dryȝed them with a towelle suete. Be-nethe þer is a hous of stone, [Diese Stätte war eine Kapelle im Kreuzgange.] There þe apostyllus wer hyde euer-ychone

When Jhesu come throuȝe a walle Line 555 And bade: "pesse be to ȝou alle!" And than he askyd Thomas of Ynde What skyll he hade to be vnkynde, And schewyd hym hys wondys wyde And bad hym pute his hond in his ryȝht syde; Line 560 When Thomas hade rowyd in his wonde, He wepe full sore & fell to groūnde And lyft vp hys hondys on hyȝht And cryed mersy with all hys myȝht. To any of þis IIII þat ȝe gone, Line 565 Is "a pena & cu(l)pa", euerychone. With-outen þe dore a place we sey, [An dieser Stätte war ein "steinern Mäuerlein, wie ein Altar zusammengeleget" (so Landgr. Wilh.).] There oure lady duellyd many a dey, XIIII ȝere after þat Cryst was dede, And prayd þer many a holy bede; Line 570 And þer seynt Johne þe ewangelyste Songe messe to hyre, when sche lyste. And þer was seynt Mathey Chosyne in-to þe co(m)peney. Beȝond þat in þe same coste [Nach and. Berichten soll Maria in ihrem Wohnhause gestorben sein.] Line 575 Oure lady dyȝed & ȝeld þe goste, And sche toke Johne þer þe palme-tre That was brouȝ(t) hyre in-to Galyle. On þe oþer syde is Cayfas halle, And þeder wente we pylgryms alle; Line 580 And þer we fonde a pylere pyȝht That Jhesu was bound to in þe nyȝht; And þer þei sette hym on a stole And blyndfeld hym as a fole, And when þei bofsyd hym faste, Line 585 They askyd hym who smote hym laste; Than Cayfas seyd in hys Jugemente: "Bot he be dede, þe pepull is sohente". There is a stone both longe & brode, Mekyll more þan a carte lode, Line 590 That on þe sepulcour of oure lord ley When Cryst rose & wente hys wey; And onne þat stone was blode rede, That Cryst bled onne, sen he was dede. That ston þe Grekys hath in kepynge Line 595 In wy(r)schype of oure heuen kynge. On þe oþer syde we fond a stone That Dauyd made þe satere vpone, And þer lyes beryd also, And oþer prelatys many mo. Line 600 Than wente we to þe "feld of blode", [þe feld of blood = Hakeldama, Begräbnissort der Fremdlinge, für des Judas 30 Silberlinge erkauft; es lag gegenüber Sion an einem Berge am Rande des Tales Hinom. to = in der Richtung auf.] There Peter to hys penans ȝode Be-cause he hade hys god foresake: He toke on hys body mekyll wrake, He wronge hys hondys & drew hys here Line 605 And cryed mersy, "lord, thy nore!" And euer when-he askyd grace, The water ranne doune by hys face. Than wente we forth onne oure weye To þe well, þat oure lord dronke of euery deye; Line 610 Two herymetys þat there duelle Calle it "oure lordys welle". And þer þe apostylles all-infere Bare oure lady on a bere, And when þe Jues come in gret deray Line 615 And wold haue drawyne þe body awey, And fore þei wold haue done here schame: Some wex wode & some wex lame; Than couth þei no more sey Bot cryed mersy & welowey; Line 620 Than Peter held stylle þe bere And ansuerd þem on þis manere: He þat askys mersy with herte & thouȝt, He schall haue foregyffnes (of) þat he has wroȝht. In godys name all-infere Line 625 Spyte no more on Jhesu moder dere!" Fast-be (is) a tempulle feyre & fre; [S. Jacob's Kirche, nahe beim Berge Sion.] There mete Jhesu with meydens thre: The(re) is a crosse made in a stone, There pylgrymes knelys & kys Ichone. Line 630 Beȝond þat is anoþer stede, There seynte Jame was quyke & dede. There is þe serkyll of þe toūne aboute, Sex myle with-outen doute. — [folio 134] And sex myle we wente on þe morne [es sind 2 deutsche Meilen.] Line 635 To Bethlem, where oure lord was borne.

Bot þer-of we muste a whyll dwelle, Iff I schall of þe wey telle. As Jhesus by þe wey ȝede, He fond a Jew sawynge hys sede; Line 640 He askyd "what sawys þou onys?" And he seyd "I saw stonys". And Crist seyd "stone mot þei be": And truly þer lyes grete plente. — The nex(t) thinge after, þat I cane ȝou telle, Line 645 There is þe graue of Rachelle, And oþer prophetys graues, one or two, [Elias' und Abacucks Haus lag da.] There lyȝet in þe wey, as we schuld go. Off Bedlem I wyll not lyȝe, Bot þat I saw þer with myne eye. Line 650 Fore, þer þat the asse & þe ox stode, Is now a feyre chyrch & gode; [Die Krippe lag 3 Stufen tiefer als die durch einen in Marmorpflaster in Grau und Roth ausgelegten, prächtig geschmückten, Stein bezeichnete Geburtsstätte. chyrch bez. wol Kapelle od. Krypte.] And þer owre lady in child-bede ley, There (is) a feyre chyrch, I dere wele sey; Beȝond þat is þe same stone Line 655 That oure lord was cyrcumsy(se)d vpone, And þer he blede hys fyrst blode That euer he bled fore mannys fode. Bot why he(!) layd hym in þe stalle, That schall I tell amonge ȝou alle: Line 660 Fore þer was no thinge so redy That schuld longe to sych a lady, Feyre clothys & werme fyre, That women in trauell schuld desyre; Than chefe þei þe wermyst place of all Line 665 And leyd hym in an asse-stalle. The ox and þe asse dyde curtasly And gaue hym place, onne to ly, And euer-more with eyn gray Oure (lord) beheld how he ley. Line 670 And whe(n) þe bed was dyȝht aboute, Sche prayd þat sche myȝht gyff hym souke. And now ȝe schall here þe metynge Betwyx oure lady & hyre derlynge: [V. 673—4 sind im Ms. nach 688 nochmals wiederholt.] Sche sey(d): "welcome heuen kynge, Line 675 Welcum makere of all thynge, Welcome prince in trinyte, That is & was & euer schall be! Welcum both god & man, Welcum my lord, welcum my sone, Line 680 Welcum my Joy, welcum my blys, With all my hert þat I may þe kys! In heuen blyssed be þi name, That wold chese me to be þi dame! So rych a emperour & a kynge Line 685 To be borne of so vnworthy a thinge!" And than sche praysyd hym all aboute And with hyre pappys gaue hym sowke. At Iche of þis, þer pylgryme be, [I. þis placys.] There is "a pena & a culpa", at all thre. Line 690 Then passyd we in-to a valey, The(re) C & XLIIII M. ley Of chylder þat dyȝed fore godys sake, When cursyd Herod of hem toke wrake. And in þat place, with-outene doute, Line 695 Seynt Jerom wrote þe bybull aboute. Then wente we arly onne þe morne [Die folg. Stätten. liegen im Gebirge Judae, über welches die Pilger nach Jerusalem zurückkehrten.] There seynt Johne baptyst was borne. [An dieser Stätte war eine Kirche, vgl. 734.] Than wente we in-to a grete valey There Adam duellyd many a dey, Line 700 And he is beryd a lytell þer-fro — Bot no crystyne mane may come þer-to. And þer is mekyll of þe story Of þe hous of Ȝakary. There me(tte) two ladys feyre & bryȝht— Line 705 Truly, it was a wele feyre syght! The ōne was past chyld-byrth be kynd, The oþer was vergyne feyre & hend And neuer dyde synne, in boure ne in halle, And bore þat chyld þat schall saue vs alle. Line 710 When Elyȝabeth of Mary hade syght, Sche prophesyd anone ryȝht And askyd: "what may þis meruylle be That godys modere commys to me? The chyld þat is in my wome so ȝonge, Line 715 Reiofet, Mary, at ȝoure comynge. All þat I haue is at ȝoure wylle,

And I ȝoure feruant, loud & stylle." When Mary herd þis wordys dere, Sche ansuerde on þis manere: Line 720 All hyre herte to god sche hyȝht And thankyd god off all hys myȝht; Sche knely(d) after onne a stone, Magnificat sche made anone. And when Elyȝabeth with hyre eȝene graye Line 725 Had sene þe wysdome of þat maye And þe feyrnes of hyre face, Anon sche callyd hyre quene of grace; Doūne sone on hyre kneys sche felle And prayd þat sche myȝht with hyre duelle. Line 730 Before þe wey as we come Fro seynte Johne in-to Jerusalem, Standys þe compas of þe rote [Diese Stätte, eine Kirche zum h. Kreuze, liegt ½ Stunde westlich von Jerusalem.] Where-on grew þe tre of owre bote. — [Nach 734 folgt im Ms. in unrichtiger Ordnung zunächst der Besuch Bethaniens, 807—838, vor dem Besuch des Jordan. Bethanien aber wurde auf dem Rückwege vom Jordan besucht. Offenbar hat der Schreiber diese Stelle versetzt, wie auch die den Besuch Bethaniens angehängten Schlussverse beweisen.] And at þe morne, when it was dey, Line 735 To flome Jordeyne we toke þe wey. At Jeryco as we schuld gone, We fond a hond of seynte Johne, And þat is callyd þe Grekys law(!); The(re) we offerd, when we it saw. Line 740 And þer Ȝachee, þe lytell mane, Abod oure lord, tylle þat he came, And clame in-to þe tre on hyȝht, That he myȝht wysly se þat syȝht. And þer we saw þe same stonke [stonke, frz. étang, stagnum; l. also stanke i. R. zu sanke.] Line 745 The(re) Sodome & Gomore fore synne sonke; Fyue cytys, as I wene, Sanke to hell fore vnkyndly synne; There passyd none awey with lyffe Bot Lothe & hys childer & wyfe: Line 750 An angelle come to Lothe halle And told of þe sorow þat schuld falle, He bade hym take hys folke & go, "Fore ȝe schall here of mykell wo; Spede ȝou fast with all ȝoure mayne, Line 755 And fore no-thinge ȝe turne ageyne!" The wyfe Lothe was freyll of thouȝt And sette þe angelle worde at nouȝt And sche brake hys comandment. Here now, þer-fore how sche was schente! Line 760 Hyre husbond bade hyre forth to gone, And sche turnyd in-to a falte stone. And who-so commys to Galile, Where þat (stone) stondys, ȝe may se. — There growys noþer corne ne haye, Line 765 Bot þat þe wate berys awaye; What fysch or foule commys þere-Ine, He schall neuer fle ne swyme, Bot synkys done, as a plombe of lede; Tharefore it is callyd "þe see of dede." Line 770 It is XL myle longe, & large of brede. There dare no-mane touche it fore drede; Fore ȝarysins þat þere duelle [fore st. forþi.] Seys þat it is þe pytte of helle. Than come we to flome Jordane, Line 775 There Jone baptyst both god & man. There we resauy(d) "a pena & culpa" And wesch vs in þe water also. And after we toke a soppe in wȳne, And turnyd vp to Qu(a)ryntyne, [Quarentana hiess der (schwer zu ersteigende) Berg der 4otägigen Fasten und Versuchung Christi.] Line 780 There Jhesu fastyd XL deys, When he began oure new lawys. And þer lyes þe stones rede That þe deuyll bade Cryst turne in-to brede; And when he wolde not wyrke hys wylle, Line 785 An oþer thinge betwen þem felle: He bare oure lord in hys armys two Fro Jerusalem to Jerico And he sette hym on a pynn(a)cle hye, Als fere as men myȝht hym se(!), Line 790 And schewyd hym there haulys & bourys, Riche castellus & many toures. When he hade sch(e)wyd hym þe werld aboute, He spake wordys þat wer in doute, He seyd: "all þis I schall gyfe þe, Line 795 And (þou) falle doūne & wyrschyp me." Off all þat he seyd beforne Oure lorde toke it to lytell scorne

And ansuerd hym wyth a word: "Go forth, theff, & tempe not þi lorde!" Line 800 Than roulyd þat thefe vpone a hepe More tha(n) a M. fathome depe, Fore it was XX^ti oures & mo Or of þat mountan he myȝht go. Doūne at þe fote of þat mountayne Line 805 We founde a garthyne of Abrahame. — Than souȝht we forth, boþe mane & wyfe, The(re) Laȝare was reysed fro deth to lyue And had lyȝe stynkynge in þe grond, A hundreht parte wers þan a hunde. Line 810 Besyde þer in a feyre pleyne Is Martha halle & Mary Madeleyne, There Jhesu at þe sopere sate When Mary Maudeleyne kyssed his fete, And Martha prayd amonge þe(m) alle Line 815 That sche myȝht ryse & serue in halle; Than seyd oure lord fore Marye That sche hade chosyne þe better partye. All is befalle þat I des(criue) [Ms. be felle. desyre st. descryue.] In Betany & in Betphage: Line 820 I(n) Betphage sate oure lord vpone a stone And bode hys asse, to it wer come; There be þe stepys of þe asse fete, There Jhesu onne hys asse lepe. Thys wey is to comme & go Line 825 Sexty myle & X & mo. — Now haue we tolde all þat we haue sene, So god me saue fro sorow & tene! And all þe cause þat I cane seye, Is, to teche a man þe weye. Line 830 What pylgryme þat theþer wylle go, I praye god saue hym to & fro And gyfe þem grace so to do, That heuens blys þei may come to. Now, lord god all-myȝtye, Line 835 Thou grante vs grace þat it so be, That we be redy to come to þe When þat oure saulys schall partyd be! Jhesu, þat fore vs dyȝed on þe rode-tre, Saue vs all fore þi pyte! Line 840 Be þe vertu of þi holy crosse Latte vs neuer in synne falle, So þat we be redy thorow þi grace To comme to þi Joys eternalle! When we schall out off þis werld wende, Line 845 God, grante vs fore þi holy grace Off þe, lord, to haue in mynd(!), Fore to behold þi blyssyd face!

Amen quod Rate.

18. Zwei Geschichten aus der Hölle, aus Ms. Ashm. 61, fol. 139.

Beide Stücke folgen im Ms. unmittelbar hintereinander ohne Titel und Unter|scheidung. Der Text ist völlig verderbt.

I. Klage der Seele des William Basterdfeld.

"All crysten men þat walke by me, Behold & se þis dulfull syȝht! It helpys not to calle ne cry, Fore I ame dampned, a dollfole wyȝht. [Some-tyme in Ingland duellynge — [sind interpolirt.] Line 5 Thys was trew with-outen lesynge —] [sind interpolirt.] I was callyd sir Wylliam Basterdfeld knyȝt. [Ms. basterd feld.] Be were be me, [both kynge & knyȝht, [sind interpolirt.] And amend ȝou,] whyle ȝe haue space! Fore I haue lost euer-lastynge lyȝht Line 10 And þus of mercy cane I gete no grace. When I was now as ȝe be, I kepyd neuer oþer lyffe: I spendyd my lyffe in vanyte, I(n) veynglory, bate & stryffe; [Ms. I st. In.] Line 15 Grete othes with me wer fulle ryffe, I had no grace me to amend; I sparyd noþer meyd ne wyffe, And þat hath brouȝt me to þis ende. I hade no hape, whyll I was here, Line 20 Forto aryse & me repent, Tyll þat I was brouȝt on bere: Than was to late, fore I was schente. All-wey with þem(!) I ame aweyde, In fyre of hell I schall euer be brente. Line 25 Alas, þis werld hath me deseyuede, Fore I hade no grace me to amende! In lechery I lede my lyfe, Fore I hade gode & gold at wylle, I scleuȝe my-selue with-outene knyffe, Line 30 And of glotony I hade my fylle; In sleuth I ley & slepyd stylle: I was deseyued in a reyfte, [reyste = ryste, rest.] A dolefulle deth þat dyde me kylle. Than was to late off "had I wyste". Line 35 Thus ame I lappyd all-aboute With todys & snakys, as ȝe may se, I ame gnawyne my body aboute — Alas, alas, full wo is me! It is to late, it will not be. Line 40 I knaw welle women more & mynne: Fore hym þat dyȝed fore ȝou & me, Aryse & rest not in ȝour synne! Fore when I was in my flowres, Than was I lyȝht as byrd on brere. Line 45 Therefore I suffere scharpe schoures And by þat bergayne wonder dere, And byde in peynes many & sere. Therefore þus I make my mone. Now may helpe me no prayere, Line 50 I haue no gode, bot god alone. Wo be þei, who-so euer þei be, And haue þer V wyttys at wylle, And wyll not be wer be me And knaw gode thinge fro þe ylle. Line 55 The pore fore faute late þem not spylle! And ȝe do, ȝoure deth is dyȝht. Ȝoure fals flessch ȝe not fullfylle Loft with Lucyfere fro þe lyȝht. In delycate metys I sette my delyte Line 60 And myȝhty wynes vnto my pay:

That make þis wormys on me to byte, Therefore my songe is wellywey. I myȝht not fast, I wold not praye, I thouȝt to amend me in myn age, Line 65 I droffe euer forth fro dey to dey: Therefore I byde here in þis cage. Thys cage is euer-lastynge fyre, I ame ordeynde þer-in to duelle; It is me gyuen fore myne hyre, Line 70 Euer to bryne in þe pytte of helle; I ame feteryd with þe fendys felle, There I abyde as best in stalle. There is no tonge my care cane telle. Be were ȝe haue not sych a falle! Line 75 Alas, þat euer I borne was Or modere me bore! why dyde sche so? Fore I ame lost fore my trespas And abyde in euer-lastynge wo. I haue no frend, bot many a fo. Line 80 Behold me, how þat I ame torne! Fore I ame rente fro tope to to. Alas, þat euer I was borne! Gode broþer, haue me in mynd And thinke how þou schall dyȝe, all-wey, Line 85 And to þi soule be not vnkynde — Remembyre it boþe nyȝt & dey! Besyly loke þat þou praye, And beseke þou heuen kynge To saue þe on þat dredfull dey Line 90 That euery man schall gyffe rekenynge! Fore þer no lordys schall fore þe praye, Ne Justys noþer no mane of lawe, There charter helpys þe not þat dey, There pletyne is not worth an hawe. Line 95 God gyue þe grace, þi-selue to know, And euery mane in hys degre. Fare wele! I here an horne blow: I may no lenger byde with þe."

II. Strafe des Ehebruchs.

Man, fro myscheff þou þe amend And to my talkynge þou take god hede! Fro synnes VII þou þe defend, The lest of all is forto drede. Fore of þe lest I wyll ȝou speke, Line 5 And fro hell I wyll ȝou tech. Be wer, man! god wyll hym wreke Off hym þat his techinge do breke. The fyrst sacrement þat euer god made, That was wedloke, in gode fey. [folio 137] Line 10 Beleue þou þat with-outen drede, Fore þat schall last to domes-dey — Hys awne word if we wyll hold — Tyll deth come þat all schall werke(!) And vs all in cley to fold. [Nach 15 fehIt ein Vers.] Line 15 The gretyst kynge in all þis werld Be some cause hys croūne may fore|gone: I take wytnes of kynge Rycherd And kynge Fabere & Absolone, And kynge Dauyd þat made þe sauter boke: Line 20 Fore synne þat he dyde with Bersabe, Cryst fro hym hys croūne he toke: Thus holy wryte tellys me. The gretyst clerke þat euer þou seyste, To take hym vnder heuen cope, Line 25 He may neuer take ordure of preste [Ms. ha st. he.] Bot he haue leue of þe pope; And he be getyne in vowtry Or els a basterd he be borne, Thus I canne well telle to þe: Line 30 The ordyre of preste he hath forelorne. And þe begger at þe toūnes ende To hym wedloke is as fre As þe ryall kynge of kynd, Fore all is bot a dyngnite. Line 35 Man, if þou wyst what it were To take anoþer than þi wyffe, [Ms. it st. here.] Thou woldyst raþer sofere (here)

To be sleyne with a knyffe. Fore if þou take anoþer mans wyffe, A wronge eyere þou muste nedvs gete, Line 40 And þus thou bryngys thre saulys in stryffe, In hell fyre to ly & hete. Bot wreches thinke in þer herte That fele þem gylty in þis case: With schryft of mo(u)th & penans smerte Line 45 They wene þer blys forto vnbrace; [vnbrace st. enbrace?] Bot and þei dyed a sothen deth With-outen schryft or repentans, To hell þei go with-outen lete, Fore þei canne chefe non oþer chans. Line 50 A god sampull I wyll ȝou telle, [þou st. ȝou.] To my tale if ȝe take hede. In Felamownte þis case befelle XXX^ti wynter senne þe deth(!). [deth st. dede.] There duellyd two breþer in þe toūne, Line 55 As þe story tellys me beforne, Be one fader & modere getyne; Squyres þei wer of grete renoūne. The eldere broþer had a wyffe, The feyrest woman in all þat londe, Line 60 And ȝit vsyde a cursyde lyffe And brouȝt hys saule in bytter bonde; [Ms. hyre st. hys.] He rouȝht not what woman he toke: So lytell he set by hys wyffe. The devyll cauȝht hym in a croke Line 65 And merkyd hys mode with grete mys|cheffe. The two breþer vpone a dey With enmys were sleyne in fyȝht. The eldure to helle he toke þe wey, The ȝenger to paradys ryȝht. Line 70 And þis was knaūne in sothnes: Herkyns, sires, what I schall sey! Take gode hede, both more & les, Fore godys loue bere þis tale awey! The eldure broþer hade a sonne, a clerke, Line 75 Fully XV ȝere of age; He was ryȝht holy in hys werke, Tho hym schuld fall þe herytage. [Ms. tho st. to.] Fore hys fadere he made grete mone, As fallys a gode sone of kynd; Line 80 Euery nyȝt to hys fadure graue wold he gone, Forto haue hys soule in mynde. Thus he prayd both dey & nyȝht To god & to hys modere dere: Of hys fadere to haue a syȝht Line 85 In what place þat he in were. The chyld þat was so nobull & wyfe Stod at hys fadere graue: There come one in a whyte surples And preuely toke hym by þe sleue. Line 90 "Come onne, chyld, & go with me, Fore god hath herd þi prayere: Chyld, þi fadere þou schall se, Wer he bryneth in helle fyre." He lede hym to a comly hylle: Line 95 The erth opynd, & he in ȝede. Smoke & fyere gane þer oute welle, And many saules glowand in glede. There he saw many a sore turmente, How soulys were pute in grete pyninge. Line 100 He saw hys fadere how he brente, And be þe membyrs how he hynge; Fendys bold with crowkys kene Rente hys fader fro lyth to leme. "Chyld, þou couetys þi fader to sene: Line 105 Loke vp now & speke with hym!" "Alas, fadere, how stand þis case That ȝe be in þis peynes stronge?" "Son, he seyd, I may sey alas That euer I dyde þi modure wronge! Line 110 Fore sche was both feyre & gode And also both trusty & trew; Alas, I was wers than wode, Myn awne bale þer I dyde brew." "Wheþer is þer any seynt in heuyne Line 115 That ȝe wer wonte to haue in mynde, [Ms. wente.] That myȝht ȝou lowse oute of prisone, Oure lady Mary or some gode frende?" "Sone, all þe seyntys þat be in heuen Ne all þe angellus vnder þe skye Line 120 One oure space oute of þis peyne They haue no powere to lyst me. [Ms. lyst = lese, wie öfter praet. lest in diesem Ms.] Sone, if euery gras wer a preste

That growys vpone godys groūnde, Off þis peyne þat thou me seyste Line 125 Canne neuer make me vnbonde. Sonne, þou be a preste, I wote wele, Ons or þis dey VII ȝere: At messe, at matyns ne at mele Thou take me neuer in þi prayere! Line 130 Loke, sone, þou do, as I þe sey, The(re)fore I werne þe wele beforne: Fore euer þe more þou prayst fore me, My peynes schall be more & more. Fare wele, he seyd, my dere sone! Line 135 The fader of heuen betech I þe. And werne euery mane, where so þou come, Off wedloke-brekynge wer to be!" The angell begane þe chyld to lede Sone out off þat wrechyd wone, Line 140 In-to a forest, was longe in brede. The sone was vppe & bryȝht it schone. He lede hym to a feyre arbour — The pathys wer of clene crystalle — That to hys fyȝht was passynge feyre Line 145 And als bryȝt as any ber(i)alle. The wallys semyd of gold bryȝht, With dores & with tourys stronge. They herd vpone þe ȝatys on hyht Mynstralsy with angellus songe, Line 150 The pylycane & þe popyne-Jay, The tymour & þe turtell trewe, A hondreht M. on a rewe, The nyȝhtyngale with notys newe. On a grene hyll he saw a (tre), Line 155 The fauour of it was stronge & ftore; [Ms. fauour.] Pale it was & wāne of ble, Lost it had þe frute & floure. [Ms. hat.] A reufull syȝht þat chyld gane se, And of þat syȝh(t) he hade grete drede, Line 160 "A, god lady, how may þis be? The blode of þis tre lokys so rede." The angelle seyd: "þis is þe tre That god Adam þe frute forbede, And þerfore dryuene oute was he Line 165 And in þe erth hys lyffe he lede. Fore in þe place þer thou seys it spred, Grow þe appull þat Adam bote, [grow st. grew.] And þat was thourhe Evys rede And þe deuyll of hell it wote. Line 170 When any synfull come here-Ine, As þou seyst, chyld, with me, Fore vengawnce of þat cursyd synne The blode rynneth oute of þis tre." [Ms. an hylle st. a tre.] He lede hym forth vpone þe pleyne: Line 175 He was wer of a pynnakyll pyȝht: Syche one saw he neuer none, Off clothes of gold þat burnest bryȝht. There vnder sate a creatoure Als bryȝht as any sonne-beme. Line 180 The angell dyde hym grete honoure. "Lo, son, he seyd, þis is þi neme: [þi neme = þin eme.] Thy (fader) broþer þou may sene, [feyre st. fader.] In heuens blys with-outen ende. So myȝht þi fader wele a bene, [a = haue.] Line 185 And he to wedloke had be kynde. Therefore he hath gete hym helle Endles in þat depe dongeone, There euer-more forto duelle, Fore in helle is no redempcione." Line 190 Man, fro myscheff the amend, And þou may syte all saue fro care. Fro dedly synne god þe defende, And vnto blys þi saull schall fare.

19. S. Giles, von Lydgate, aus Ms. Harl. 2255, fol. 95b.

Off Agamenoun vndir the large empire, Born in Athenys, of grekys roial lyne, Blissid Giles, thy grace lat enspire In-to my penne, the tratys tenlvmyne; Cast doun thy look, lat the streemys shyne Line 5 Of thy tweyn eyen, this processe to con|veye, Bynfluence of grace, which is divyne, Me to directe of that I wolde seye: In thy worship compendiously to write, By a maneer breef compilacioun Line 10 To remembre, so as I can endite, Thy glorious lyff, thy conversacioun, Thoruh al the world in every regioun Rad and rehersyd, bexaumplysful notable, Lyk a myrrour of contemplacioun Line 15 To folk that cast them in vertu to be stable. A litil glene gadryd in the feeld Tween large shokkys of parfit hoolynesse, Mong grete shevys that I ther beheeld To gadryn vp eerys did my besynesse, Line 20 Greyn tryed out, celestial of swetnesse, To fostre and feede folk contemplatyff, Ful in purpoos breeffly to expresse Sentenciously thy myraclys and thy lyff: Wherupon, my purpoos to fulfylle, Line 25 By goddys grace, fortvne or aventure Ther was to me brouht a litil bille Of gret devocioun by a creature, Requeryng me to do my besy cure Afftir the tenour oonly for Giles sake Line 30 Out of latyn translate that scripture, Folwyng the copee this labour vndirtake. To whos requeste I lowly did obeye, Breefly this stoory to put in remem|braunce, Long processe lefft, took the nexte weye — Line 35 For shorte meetrys don gladly gret ple|saunce, By cleer repoort rehersyd the substaunce, Prolixite forto sette a-syde; Bood no lenger, but gan my penne avaunce, Trustyng seyn Gile forto be my guyde. Line 40 Compendiously was remembrid thus, So as in ordre I shal rehersen heer. Thy fadir was namyd Theodorus, Callyd Pellagia was thy moodir deer, Of roial blood bothe born I-feer; Line 45 Thy youthe fostryd, bookys determyne, With dilligence, vertu forto leer And profite in vertuous disciplyne. Thus disposyd in vertu to profite, Lyk thy maistris, which tauht the spelle & reede, Line 50 Tendre of age gretly list delite, As seith thy liff, in almesse-deede: Of compassioun castist of thy weede, Gaff it freely to oon that quook for cold: Which was maad hool, refresshyd in his neede — Line 55 First myracle in thy legende toold. Fadir, moodir anoon as they were ded, Thu dist reioisshe ther tresour and rich|esse, Thy patrymonye for moost goodly speed Thu gaff to poore of merciful almesse. Line 60 Anothir poysowned, the venym dist re|presse; To oon also, with a feend travayled, Thy prayer and expert hoolynesse To his recure hath souereynly avayled. Thy myraclys sprad in thy contre, Line 65 For teschewe veynglory and fals pryde Of perfeccioun, fleddist ovir the se,

Preysyng of peeple forto sette asyde. Vnto shipmen savacioun and guyde, Madist the tempest graciously asswage Line 70 And fro perisshyng dist so for them pro|vide, From al pereil to fortune ther passage. Sike and poore thu list also visite, And alle that wern in tribulacioun. Of the wydewe, callid Theocrite, Line 75 To hir douhtir thu were sauacioun, Of oold langoure hir consolacioun; To al the contre pleynyng for skarsete, By thy prayer and mediacioun They did habounde with gracious plente. Line 80 Whan the heremyte Veredemyus Was ferre absent — thy stoory doth ex|presse — Thoruh thy meryt notable and vertuous Thu madyst a penaunt hool from al sik|nesse. Toward desert thy Journe thu dist dresse; Line 85 With coold watir and herbys rauh and greene Complet thre yeer — thy stoory berith witnesse — Laddist thy liff, of colour pale and leene. God of his grace had vpon the mynde: Lyst ordeyne, for a restoratyff, Line 90 To thy repaast whit as snowh an hynde With plentevous mylk, to fostre therby thy liff. Myd sharpe breerys, thu were contem|platyff, Thy body peyned with rigerous conty|nence, Ageyn Sathan of custom was thy striff. Line 95 Dauntyng thy flessh by vertuous ab|stinence, Thy foode was nouthir on flessh nor fissh, Sool by thy-silff in a desert place, Othir deyntees cam noon in thy dissh But frute and rootis, which thu dist up race — Line 100 Beestys reioisshyng to looke vpon thy face; Moong sharp busshys keptist thy hermy|tage; As I toold erst, among by goddys grace Soowk of an hynde which that was savage. Thus of custom the hynde kept hyr tyme Line 105 At certeyn houres duryng ful thre yeer: Wente in pasture, gresyng fro the pryme; Toward mydday she cam with ful glad cheer, Of god provided to be thy vitaleer, With a repaast of(hyr) mylk moost soote; [Ms. thy st. hir.] Line 110 She was thy cook, she was thy boteleer, Ageyn the constreynt of hungir to do boote. This myracle and this vnkouth thyng Was at Tuskan, to Gascoigne adiacent, Vpon Burgoyne regnyng ther as kyng, Line 115 As I reede, his name was Fluent, Which in huntyng set al his entent, Curteys, gentyl in al his governaunce; To conclude shortly in sentement, He was soget to the kyng of Fraunce. Line 120 At Mount-pilerys holdyng his soiour, As thy stoory, Giles, makyth mynde, Vpon a day the kyng with gret lobour, Al his meyne, noon was lefft behynde, Houndys vncouplyd, to chasen at thyn hynde, Line 125 Royal lymerys, with alauntys huge. Thy beeste swift lefft hem echoon behynde, Ran to thy feet for socoure and refuge. The kyng, the bisshop, thy stoory who list reede, Of that kyngdam, cam to thy presence: Line 130 Hurt with an arwe sauh thy wounde bleede, Proferyd amendys and gold for ther offence. The kyng in wyl thy wrong to recompence, By the assigned of hool affeccioun To bylde of monkys in goddis reverence Line 135 A monasterye withynne his regioun: At thy request the bisshop and the kyng Condescendid, with a condicioun: That thu woldist accomplissh ther askyng To been abbot of that religioun, Line 140 Sett a ground of hih perfeccioun By good exaunple, take of thy persone, And of desert leve thy mansioun For comoun profit, and lyve nat so allone. At ther prayer with al hvmylite Line 145

Line 145 In thyn avys thu were condescendid, That the religioun myht encreesid be By thy presence, and vertuously amen|did — Circumstauncis breefly comprehendid: Thoruh oo persone, often hath be prevyd, Line 150 Al a religioun myhte been amendid, By oo good man socouryd and relevid. In this mateer it needith nat to tarye. To daunte thy flessh — the trouthe was weel seene — Whan thu leftist to been solitarye, Line 155 Feedyng thy-silf with rootis rawh and greene, Drank welle watir, of colour megre & leene; Thy wounde open, thy blood distillyng doun As dewy droopys ageyn the sonne sheene, Ay to remembre on Cristis passioun: Line 160 Prayeng the lord duryng al thy liffe, Bexperience as it was afftir founde, In remembraunce of Cristis woundys five That evir bleedyng shuld be thy wounde, That no leeche with salue shulde founde Line 165 Thy grevous hurt to staunche it or to bynde, Cristis carectis, large, wyde and rounde Eternally tenpreente hem in thy mynde. The sayd abbey accomplisshid and I|wallyd, The kyng present in his roial estat Line 170 With the bisshop whan that thu were stallyd: Meek of thy poort, nat pompous nor elat, Lovyd and drad, with grace fortunat, Launpe and lanterne of perfeccioun, [Ms. launpe = laumpe.] Tauhtist thy sogettys eerly and eek lat Line 175 To profite in ther religioun; Fastyng, wakyng, and liggyng hard a nyht, To thy disciplis patroun and exaunplarye, First at matynes settist vp the liht In eche party of the seyntuarye; Line 180 Kneelyng in chirche or in thy librarye Evere in study or contemplacioun, Pastor callid — nat a mercenarye; With a bridil of castigacioun Madist thy flessh meekly to obeye Line 185 To the spirit, voyd of rebellioun. Of alle thy werkys discrecioun bar the keye, With hih prudence and no presumpcioun: Tweyne of counsayl, equyte and resoun, Lyk a fadir peised rigour and clemence, Line 190 Tween thextremytees hate or affeccioun Rewlyng thy covent vndir obedience, Witt and discrecioun kept egal the ballaunce Attwen cherisshyng and iust correcciouns; Thu bar the torche of prudent gover|naunce Line 195 Fro parcial drauht of fals dyuysiouns, Resoun repressyd foreyn occasiouns, With softe speeche and with woordys fayre Wer sett a-syde alle rebelliouns — To thy precept was no soget contrayre. Line 200 Swifft of wynge, fliht of thy good fame By cleer repoort cam to the audience Of kyng Charlys, and of thy parfiht name. Wherof supprysed, with spiritual fer|vence By auctoryte of royal excellence Line 205 Sent to the devoutly by massage, Beyng thy-sylf at Aralatence. Toward hym holdyng thy viage, Mettist a man which in his entraile Was oppressyd by the feendys myht — Line 210 A wykkyd goost so did hym assayle, Alle men feerful to comen in his siht. But of compassioun and grace of Cristis myht By thy prayer he was maad hool by grace. Afftir this myracle Charlys the noble knyht Line 215 In bothe his armys the meekly did enbrace. The kyng lowly, with devout obeisaunce Prayde, thu woldist in thyn orisouns Haue hym dayly in thy remembraunce: Sith it stood so, for short conclusiouns, Line 220 He hadde offendid of froward mocioun In a synne, terrible to descryve,

Nevere of purpoos in his oppynyoun Therof to been confessyd in his lyve. Nat longe aftir, beyng at thy masse, Line 225 By gret avys praidest for the kyng In thy Memento, list nat lihtly passe. Tyl Crist Jhesu grauntyd thyn axing, In a bille the trespas rehersyng With goldene lettris, cast on the auhteer, Line 230 Brouht by aungil from hevene descendyng, Of al the caas declaryng the maneer. To mor encrees of this vnkouth my|racle — As the bille in ordre did expresse — To thy request was maad noon obstacle: Line 235 "Crist hath foryove of his gret goodnesse The kyngis gilt thoruh thy parfitnesse". Alle circumstauncys pleynly out declarid, Attween you too as thu dist hym confesse, Trewly in ordre, ther was no poynt I|sparid. Line 240 This vnkouth bille by an angil brouht Cast on the auhteer, briht as the sonne shoon — What was writen noman kneuh riht nouht, Woord nor sillable, but thy-silf alloon; They gaff a liht lik a charboncle-stoon Line 245 Thoruh the Chapel — the scrowe shoon so sheene — Among hem alle sothly was nat oon Except thy-silff, knew what they did, meene: Grauntyd to the for a prerogatiff, In this bille with this addicioun: Line 250 "What synful man list amende his liff Ful repentaunt with contricioun And the sacrament with confessioun, The lord above shal hem to mercy take Thoruh thy prayeer and hooly orisoun, Line 255 So that they list ther synne to forsake". Charlys restoryd vnto goostly helthe By thy notable informacioun, To gret encrees of this wordly welthe And gret prosperite of al his regioun, Line 260 At thy departyng from his roial dongoun To dissevere ye tweyne were so loth: Of fervent love and trewe affeccioun — Thy lyff remembrith, that ye wepte bothe. Repeyryng hom, by thy decert, ay morid Line 265 Bencrees in vertu — Crist Jhesu was thy speed — A dukys sone was to liff restoryd By thy prayeer, which lay affore the deed. Among thy brethre with obeissaunce & dreed, Comyng hom, brouht in with glad visage, Line 270 Abood nat longe, clad in a pilgrym weed Toward Rome madist thy viage — Cause of thy goyng in thy liff expressyd Was of gret ȝel and gret affeccioun, [ȝel = zeal.] Ful weel expert, for grace hath so dressyd Line 275 Thy pilgrymage toward Rome toun, And to expleite al thyn entencioun Noon obstacle, as it is comprehendid. To thy request and iust peticioun Graciously the Poope is condescendid. Line 280 Gret heed he took to thyn hoolynesse And to thy famous gret hvmylite, Sette thy chirche for evir in sikyrnesse And thy religioun in tranquillite, By bulle asselyd, with many liberte, Line 285 Peynnes annexid by ful hard sentence Ageyn alle tho that of iniquite To thy covent did violence. And by anothir favourable sygne, Of god enspired, the pope did his peyne, Line 290 Lyk a fadir gracious and benygne Putte thy freedamys to stonden in cer|teyne: Vnto thyn hous he gaff doorys tweyne By crafft out-corve, wrouht by fressh entaille, Maugre alle tho that list at it disdeyne — Line 295 Thyn hous tenpugne they shal nat pre|vaylle. Thes seid doorys corve out of cipresse, Brouht to Tibre they fond noon obstacle, Next to that stronde, thy stoory seith ex|presse, They fro Tibre conveid by myracle Line 300 To thy closet and litil tabernacle, Brouht to londe with gret solennyte Afore thy steepil with many fressh pynacle. In which doorys, who lyst thy stoory se,

Was hool complet lyff of the apostlys twelue Line 305 In fressh picture, with liffly quyk ymages — Thouh Pygmaleon hadde be ther hym|selve, He coude haue maad no goodliere visages — Reised bentaile vpon smale stages, Garnysshed with gold, fret with stoonys ryche. Line 310 Blissid Giles, by thy pilgrymages Thu gat thes lowkys, to which ther be noon liche: Kept in thy chirche for a memorial, Tokne of ful graunt and confirmacioun That thy mynstre in especial Line 315 Fraunchysed was, for pleyn conclusioun, From al maneer Jurediccioun Of foreyn poweer, by thyn hoolynesse, Prelat nor prynce of no presumpcioun Thy libertees nor fraunchise to oppresse. Line 320 By a spirit oonly of profecye Knewh beforn whan thu shuldist pace; Thy brethren present, with many wepyng ye, On a sonday kneelyng in the place Spreynt with teerys lookyng on thy face, Line 325 Whan that thu gaff, as I can remembre, Thy goost to god, conveied vp by grace With hooly angelis, moneth of Septembre.

Oratio ad scm Egidium.

O gracious Gile, of poore folk cheef patroun, Medicyne to syk in ther distresse, Line 330 To alle needy sheeld and proteccioun, Refut to wrechis, ther damagys to redresse, Folk that were deed restoryng to quyk|nesse: Sith thu of god wer choose to be so good, Pray for our synnes, pray for our wikkyd|nesse Line 335 To Crist Jhesu that bouht vs with his blood! Cast vpon vs thy goodly pitous ye, To our request thyn eerys doun enclyne, For the love of Jhesu and Marie, Born in Bedleem, she a pure virgine; Line 340 And, as thu were triacle and medicyne To kyng Charlys whan he in myscheef stood, Teeche vs the weye by thy goostly doctryne To love that lord that bouht vs with his blood! Geyn our enmyes which been in nombre thre: Line 345 The flessh, the world, the dreedful ful serpent, Of thy grace and merciful pite To thy servauntis that serve the of entent, Ageyn al trouble be with hem present, Maugre the feend and his furyous mood; Line 350 Gracious Gile, be nevir from vs absent, For love of Jhesu that bouht vs with his blood! We put our trust and our affeccioun In thy moost feithful prudent gover|naunce; Be thu our sheeld, our pavys and sheltroun, Line 355 That were so famous by myraclys in sub|staunce, Wrouht by thy meryt, in Germanye and Fraunce, Maugre Leviathan, mankyndis foo moost wood; Ageyn whos werre have vs in remem|braunce To-fore that lord which bouht vs with his blood! Line 360 O myn a-vowe which callyd art seyn Gile, Tween hoope and dreed moost meekly I requere: Thynk on thy man, that labourid to compile This litil ditee of hool herte and enteere! Haue mynde on alle that truste on thy prayeere, Line 365 For love of hym that starff vpon the rood! Yiff thu be meene, we stonde no-thyng in weere To have his mercy that bouht vs with his blood.

Explicit quod Lidgate.

20. S. Edmund und Fremund, ein Legendenepos in 3 Büchern, von Lydgate,

Ms. Ashm: 46, perg, 4., vielleicht von ders. Hand geschrieben wie Ms. Harl., ohne Illuminationen (ausser einem Titelbilde, die Ueberreichung einer Pergamentrolle an den König darstellend), aber mit künstlerisch verzierten Initialen und in schöner klarer Schrift, scheint eine spätere Recension des Textes vom Dichter selbst. Die Buch|und Capitelüberschriften, fehlen, das 2. Buch folgt unmittelbar dem 1., nur mit grösserer Initiale; am Schlusse des 2. steht explicit, nach v. 954, worauf der Rest der Seite leer gelassen ist; S. Fremund beginnt ohne den lat. Titel, mit v. 995 des 2. Bu|ches; die Eintheilung in 3 Bücher ist also nicht ersichtlich, S. Fremund erscheint eher als zweiter Haupttheil. Ms. Ashm, beginnt sogleich mit dem 1. Buche; der, die Illu|mination des Banners und der 3 Kronen begleitende Eingang, v. 1—72, folgt erst am Ende des 3. Buches nach v. 1520; die Stanze v. 73—80 und das lat. Gebet fehlen; ebenso fehlt am Schlusse des Gedichtes das Lenvoye und Regi; dafür hat es hier nach den auf v. 1520 folgenden 72 Vv. des Eingangs noch einen grösseren Zusatz über die miracula (463 V.), in achtzeil. Stropfen wie jene 72 Verse. V. 648—690 des 1. Buches sind unrichtig nach v. 724 umgesetzt; II 659—665 u. III 225—231 fehlen. Statt Henry VI ist (ausser III; 833) überall Edward IV eingesetzt, dem diese neue Recension gewid|met scheint. Die Varianten dieses Ms. sind grossentheils wol Verbesserungen Lydgate's und bekunden die sorgsame Feile dieses nach Gewähltheit des Ausdrucks und Wohllaut strebenden Dichters; zahlreicher im 1. und in der ersten Hälfte des zweiten Buches, nehmen sie nach v. 665 des 2. Buches ab; von da ab sind die Verschiedenheiten bei|der Texte meist nur graphischer Art. Ashm. liebt die Schreibung oo, y st. i, v. st. u, aunce st. ance, ght st. ht (myght syght) die Endungen ir st. er (aftir, othir), yn, yd; die Wörter beginnen häufig mit grossen Buchstaben.

aus Ms. Harl. 2278. Lydgate dichtete, ausser kleineren Legenden, wie S. Margaretes in Ms. Durham und S. Giles in Ms. Harl. 2255 fol. 95 b, und Invocationes an Heilige (wie an S. Ursula, Katharina, Osiza in Mss. Harl. 2255 u. 2251), mehrere grössere Legenden: ein Marienleben in 4 Büchern, aus Ms. Harl. 629 edirt von Caxton, und neuerdings in Engl. religious Heft 2, London 1871; Albon und Amphabel, gedichtet im J. 1439 [Vgl. die Notiz am Schlusse des Ms. Trin. Coll.: Here endith the glorious Liff and Passioun of the blesside Martyr s. Albon and s. Amphibalus, which glorious Lyves were Translatyde oute of Frenssh and Latyn by Dan John Lydgate monk of Bury, at Request and prayer of Masteir John Whethamstede the yere 1439, of his Abesye XIX. — Albon ist der Protomartyr England's, im 3. Jhdt. (unter Diocletion oder Constancius enthauptet); sein angeblicher Bekehrer Amphibalus ist wohl nur eine fingirte Person.] ), erhalten im Ms. Trin. Coll. Oxf. 38 fol. 1—66 (fehlerhafte Hs.), Ms. Philipps Cheltenham 8299, und in einem alten Drucke, S. Albons 1544 (von John Hertford); endlich Edmund und Fre|mund. Albon und Edmund, je in 3 Büchern, nach ganz demselben Plane gedichtet, sind Doppellegenden, indem das 3. Buch in beiden das Leben eines verwandten Heiligen (Amphibalus und Fremund) in demselben Rahmen erzählt. Die Legende von Edmund, dem Patron von Bury (v. I, 238), dichtete L. in seinem Alter (vgl. III, 80) aus Anlass des Aufenthaltes des Königs Henry VI in Bury (vgl. I, 137 ff.) auf die Aufforderung des Abtes Wilhelm (vgl. I, 187 ff.) für den König. Ms. Harl. 2278 ist das Widmungs-Ms. des Dichters an den König, zu diesem Zwecke pracht|voll ausgefūhrt, mit zahlreichen, künstlerisch werthvollen Illuminationen zum Texte geschmückt, in eleganter Schrift, mit sorgfältig revidirtem Text, — ein Meisterwerk seiner Art. Ich gebe hier den Text dieser Hs., mit den Varianten einer späteren Revision, des Ms. Ashm. 46. Andere Hss. von geringerem Werth sind Ms. Ashm. 59, Cbr. Ee II, 15, und Fremund's allein Ms. Harl. 372, Harl. 2255.

(Prolog.)

Blyssyd Edmund, kyng, martir, and vyrgyne, [Blyssed Edmond. kyng fehlt.] Hadde in thre vertues by grace a souereyn prys, [had.] (B)e which he venquysshed al venymes serpentyne. [By.] Adam, baserpent banysshed fro paradys, [be a s.] Eua also, be-cause she was nat wys, Line 5

Line 5 Eet off an Appyl off flesshly fals plesance: Which thre figures Edmund by gret auys [Edmond. greet avys.] Bar in his baner for a remembrance. [baneer.] Lyk a wys kyng peeplys to gouerne, Ay vnto reson he gaff the souereynte: Line 10 Figur off Adam wysly to dyscerne, [figure.] Toppresse in Eua sensualite; [To oppresse. sensuallyte.] A lamb off gold hyh vpon a tre, [tree.] An heuenly signe, a tokne off most vertu, [tookne. moost.] To declare how that humylite Line 15 Aboue alle vertues pleseth most Jhesu. [plesith moost.] Off Adamys synne was wasshe away the rust [Adam is. a wey.] Be vertu only off this lambys blood, [oonly.] The serpentys venym, and al flesshly lust, [al fehlt.] Sathan outraied, ageyn man most wood, [moost.] Line 20 Tyme whan this lamb was offred on the rood [offryd.] For our redempcioun: to which hauyng reward This hooly martir, this blyssyd kyng so good, [blyssed.] Bar this lamb hiest a-loffte in his standard. [hyest.] The feeld off Gowlys was tokne off his suffrance [suffraunce (so meist — aunce).] Line 25 Whan cruel Danys were with hym at werre; [wer.] And for a signe off Royal suffisance, That no vices neuer maad hym erre, [nevir made.] The feeld powdryd with many heuenly sterre And halff Cressantis off gold, ful bryht and cleer. [cressauntys.] Line 30 And wher that euere he iourneyde, nyh or ferre, [wheer. Journyed.] Ay in the feeld with hym was this baneer: Which be influence off our lord Jhesu, [by.] As it hath be preued offte in deede, [previd.] This hooly standard, hath power and vertu [poweer.] Line 35 To stanche fyres and stoppe flawmys rede, [staunche.] By myracle: and, who that kan take heede, [can.] God grantyd it hym for a prerogatyff, [it fehlt.] Be-cause al heete off lust and flesshlyheede [hete.] Were queynt in hym duryng al his lyff. [wer.] Line 40 This vertuous baner shal kepen and conserue [baneer. kypyn.] This lond from enmyes, daunte ther cruel pryde; [froom. daunte the pryde.] Off syxte Herry the noblesse to preserue, [Off fourte Edward.] It shal be born in werrys be his syde; Tencresse his vertues, Edmund shal been his guyde, [Tencrese. Edmond. be.] Line 45 By processe tenhaunce his Royal lyne:

This martir shal by grace for hym prouyde To be registred among the worthy nyne. [wourthy.] [V. 1—48. Hierzu als Bild ein Banner mit Adam, Eva, der Schlange und oben einem Lamme, auf rothem Felde.] This other standard, feeld stable off colour ynde, [Init. othir. stable feld.] In which off gold been notable crownys thre: [be.] Line 50 (T)he firste tokne, in cronycle men may fynde, [first.] Grauntyd to hym for Royal dignyte, And the seconde for virgynyte, [secunde.] Formartirdam the thrydde in his suffryng; To these annexyd Feyth, Hope, and Charyte, [hoope.] Line 55 In tokne he was martyr, mayde, and kyng. These thre crownys kyng Edmund bar certeyn [Edmond.] Whan he was sent be grace off goddis hond [by. goddis sonde.] At Geynesburuh for-to slen kyng Sweyn: [Geynesbourgh. sle.] By which myracle, men may vndirstond, [vndirstonde.] Line 60 Delyuered was fro Trybut al thys lond, [trybute. londe.] Mawgre Danys, in ful notable wyse: For the hooly martyr dissoluyd hath that bond, [bonde.] Set this Regioun ageyn in his franchise. [his fehlt.] These thre crownys historyaly taplye, [a. R. Applicatio.] , [historyally tapplye.] Line 65 By pronostyke notably souereyne To sixte Herry in fygur signefye [To IIIIth Edward. figure.] How he is born to worthy crownys tweyne: [wourthy.] Off France and Ingland, lynealy tatteyne [Yngeland. leneally.] In this lyff heer; affterward in heuene [here aftirward.] Line 70 The thrydde crowne to receyue in certeyne, For his meritis, aboue the sterrys seuene. [49—72) Hierzu ein Bild mit 3 Kronen.] , [merytes. a. Ende Amen.—] [Varianten. V. 1—72 folgen in A. erst nach V. 1520 des 3. Buches.]

To alle men, present, or in absence, Which to seynt Edmund haue deuocioun, With hool herte and dew reuerence Line 75 Seyn this Antephne and this Orisoun: Two hundred daies ys grantid off pardoun, Write and registred afforn his hooly shryne [73—8) in rother Schrift.] Which for our feith suffrede passioun, Blyssyd Edmund, kyng, martir, and vir|gyne. [73—80) u. lat. Gebet fehlen.] Line 80

D(omi)ne rex gentis Anglorum, miles regis angelorum, O Edmunde, flos martirum, uelud rosa uel lilium, funde preces ad dominum pro salute fidelium! Ora pro nobis, beate Edmunde, vt digni effi|ciamur promissionibus xpi! Oracio.

Deus ineffabilis misericordie, qui beatis|simum Regem Edmundum tribuisti pro tuo nomine Inimicum moriendo vincere, concede propicius familie tue: ut eo interueniente mereatur in se antiqui hostis incitamenta superando exting|uere. Per xpm dominum nostrum.

Amen.

I. Buch.

(Prolog.)

The noble story to putte in remem|braunce [Anfang des Ms. Ashm.] [stoory.] Of saynt Edmund, martir, maide, & kyng, [Off. Edmond. mayde martir.] With his support my stile I wil auaunce: [style. wyl.] [wryte.] First to compile aftir my kunnyng [compyle. konnyng.] His glorious lif, his birthe and his gynnyng, [lyff.] Line 85 And be discent how that he, that was so good, [by. that nach how fehlt.] Was in Saxonie born of the roial blood. [royal.]

In rethorik thouh that I haue no flour [Rethoryk. though, that fehlt.] Nor no coloures, his story tenlumyne, [colours. stoory.] I dar not calle to Clio for socour [Cleo.] Line 90 Nor to tho muses that been in noumbre nyne, [the.] But to this martir, his grace to enclyne, To forthre my penne of that I wolde write: His glorious lif to translate and endite. [gloryous lyff. endyte.] [be the s. . Carnotence.] For be sentence of prudent Carnotense Line 95 In Enteticon where he doth specefie, Grace forthereth more than doth elo|quence, [forthryth moore. Ello|quence.] Whiche of alle vertues hath the regalie: [which. regalye.] For Mercurie nothir Philologie [nouthir phylologye.] To-gidre knet and ioyned in mariage, Line 100 Withoute grace may haue noon auauntage. For grace hath power alle vertues to directe— [poweer al.] Withouten whom auailith no prudence: [With|oute whoom avayleth.] For this princesse hath fredham to correcte [fredam.] Alvicious thinges, al slouthe, al negligence, [thyng. neclygence.] Line 105 Which halt the reyne of wisdam and science; [hath st. halt. reene.] And but she gouerne of our lif the bridil, [your lyff. brydel.] What-euer we do, we werke but in ydil. [euere ye doo. we werke not but in ydel.] Withoute grace ech vertu is bareyn, Withoute grace force is but febilnesse, Line 110 Withoute grace al wisdam is but veyn, Withoute grace may be no rihtwisnesse, Fredam, bounte, manhod, nor gentilesse, [manhood. gentillesse.] Prowesse in armis, nor sheltrouns in bataile— [armys. bataylle.] Withoute grace what may al this auaile? [al this world avaylle.] Line 115 She set in ordre alle vertues be reson, [resoun.] Preserueth tunges from al froward lang|uage. [preservith tounges froom hire froward.] And she restreynith thoruh hir hih renon [restreyneth. thorough.] The cours of fortune, for al hir fel outrage, And grace kan best directen the passage [can. dyrectyn.] Line 120 Of folk in labour, which that disespeire, To reste eternall to make hem to repeire. [to v. make fehlt.] Grace of the stronge double kan the strengthe, [strong. can.] And she the feeble kan supporte in his riht [feble. ryght.] And make a dwerf of a cubit lengthe [To make. cubyt of.] Line 125 Venquysshe a geant for al his grete myht. [geaunt. greet myght.] Which callid is in euery mannys syht [sight.] Gouerneresse of vertues alle: Therfore to grace for helpe I wil now calle. [wyll.] And first this martir shal for me prouide Line 130 And of his mercy opne me the gate, [opyn.] To make grace forto be my guide [been.] His holi lif in ynglissh to translate. [This. Englyssh.] And to remembre the statly royal date Whan I first gan on this translacioun: Line 135 It was the yeer by computacioun, [be.] Whan sixte Herry in his estat roial With his sceptre of Yngland and of France [Yngelond. Fraunce.] Heeld at Bury the feste pryncipal [his ffeeste.] Of Cristemesse with ful gret habundance, [with a ful.] Line 140 And aftir that list to haue plesance— [lyst.] As his consail gan for hym prouide— [counseyl.] There in his place til hesterne forto abide: [tyl Estirn for tabyde.] Whiche is an hous of his fundacioun, [which.] Where his preestis synge ay for him and preie [wheer.] Line 145 Of ful hool herte and trewe affeccioun, That god his noblesse in al vertu conueie And grante him wynne to-forn, or that he deie, [graunte.] A palme of conquest, and, whan that he shal fyne,

To be registrid among the worthy nyne. [registred. wourthy.] Line 150 Which at departyng in Bury from his place [folio 8] Lyst of his noblesse and magnanymite [his high n.] And of his owyn special grace, [owne special singleer g.] Meuyd in hym-silf of his benignyte, Of ther chapitle a brother forto be, [brothir.] Line 155 Yeuyng his chapleyns occasion and matier [mateer.] Ay to remembre on him in ther praier: [prayeer.] For thei conceyue in ther opynyoun [oppynyoun.] How the holy martir, which restith in that place, [hooly.] Shal to the kyng be ful proteccioun [shal be to.] Line 160 Ageyn alle enmies, be vertu and grace, [and by g.] And for his noblesse procure and purchace Forto rassemble by tryumphal victory [rasemble. be. victorye.] To his fadir, most notable of memory; [moost. memorye.] Hopyng ageynward, the kyng shal for his sake Line 165 Been to that chirch diffence and protectour [to the chyrche.] And into his handis al her quarel take, [ther st. her. quareel.] To been ther sheeld and ther supportour: [And st. To.] Sithe he allone is ther roial foundour, [Sith.] Them to releue ageyn al wordly shoures, [worldly shours.] Line 170 Lyk as to-forn dide his progenitoures; [did. progenitours.] And sithe the kyng in his roial estat [sith.] List be deuocioun of his benyuolence [by.] With the holy martir to be confederat, As kyng with kyng, bothe of gret excel|lence: Line 175 For whiche the martir be heuenly premy|nence [which. of st. be. hevenely.] To sixte Herry shal his grace dresse, To make him floure in tryumphal prow|esse; Be influence he fro the heuene doun [By.] Shal in knyhthod make him most marcial, [knyghthood.] Line 180 Yiue him with Arthour noblesse and hih renoun, [Yeve.] And with Charlemayn forto been egal; [be.] And he shal grante him in especial [graunt.] With seint Edward to loue god and dreede, [drede.] And with seint Lowis, that was of his kynreede. Line 185 In this mater there is no more to seyn, [mateere ther. moore.] Sauf: to the kyng forto do plesaunce, [Saff. to st. forto.] Thabbot William, his humble chapeleyn, [The a. chapleyn.] Gaf me in charge to do myn attendaunce [doon my.] The noble story to translate in substaunce [stoory.] Line 190 Out of the latyn aftir my kunnyng, [konnyng.] He in ful purpos to yeue it to the kyng. [purpoos. geve.] And thouh I was bareyn of elloquence, [though.] Hauyng no practik fresshley to endite, [ffresshly.] I took upon me vndir obedience Line 195 Aftir his biddyng me lowly forto quite. [byddyng.] But yit a-forn, or I gan to write, Vpon my knees riht thus I gan to seie To the holi martir, and meekly forto preie: "O precious charboncle of martirs alle, [charbouncle.] Line 200 O heuenly gemme, saphir of stabilnesse, Thyn heuenly dewh of grace let doun falle In-to my penne, encloied with rudnesse; [enclosyd.] And, blissid martir, my stile do so dresse [blyssed.] Vndir thi wengis of proteccioun, [thy wynges.] Line 205 That I nat erre in my translacioun! O richest rube, rubefied with blood [rubye. rubyfied.] In thi passion be ful meek suffrance, [meke.] Bounde to a tre lowly whan thow stood, [Boundyn. thou.] Of arwes sharpe suffryng ful gret penaunce, [sharpe.] Line 210 Stable, as a wal, of herte in thi constaunce: Directe my stile, which haue vndirtake In thi worshepe thi legende forto make! [which I.]

O amatist with peynes purpureat, [purpurat.] Emeraud trewe of chastite most cleene, [Emerawde. clene.] Line 215 Which nat-withstandyng thi kyngli hih estat For Cristis feith suffredist peynes keene: [Crystes. kene.] Wherfore of mercy, my dulnesse to sus|teene, Into my brest sende a confortatiff [breest.] Of sum fair language, tenbelisshe with thi liff! [to e.] Line 220 Send doun of grace thi licour aureat Which enlumynyth these rethoriciens [enlvmyneth.] To write of martirs ther passiouns laureat, And causith also these fressh musiciens, Fals lust auoided of epicuriens, Line 225 Of glorious seyntes the tryumphes forto synge That suffred peyne for Crist in ther leuynge! [suffryd.] Now, glorious martir, of Bury cheef patroun, [chef.] In Saxonie born of the blood roial, Conueie my mater, be my proteccioun— [conveye. matere.] Line 230 Sithe in thi support myn hope abidith al; [your st. thi. suppoort. hoope. abydeth.] Directe my penne of that I write shal! For, so thi fauour fro me nat ne twynne, Vpon thi story thus I wil be-gynne". [ryght thus.] IN Saxonie whilom ther was a kyng, Line 235 Callid Alkmond, of excellent noblesse, [Alkemond.] A manli prince, vertuous of leuyng, [lyvyng.] And ful habounde of tresour and richesse, [habunde.] Notable in armys, ful renommed of prow|esse, [renomyd.] A semly persone, hardi and corageous, [semely. coragious.] Line 240 Mercurie in wisdam, lik Mars victorious, Eyed as Argus be vertuous prouidence, And circumspect as famous Scipioun; In kyngli honour of most excellence Holde in his tyme thoruh many a regioun. Line 245 But nat-withstandyng his famous hih re|noun, He so demened his hih noblesse in deede [demenyd. dede.] Aboue al tresour to loue god and dreede. In wordli honour thouh he were fort|unat, [worldly. were fortunat ist ausgelassen.] Set in a chaier of kyngli dignite, Line 250 He koude knowe in his roial estat [cowde.] Aboue alle kyngis god hath the souereynte, [kynges.] And aduertisid in his most mageste [aver|tysed. maieste.] That sceptre or crowne may litil auaile or nouht [lite avaylle. noght.] To hem that loue not god in herte and thouht. [them.] Line 255 God makith kyngis and god kan kast hem doun, [kynges. can cast.] Chastisith the proude, the meek he kan auaunce, [Chastiseth. meke.] Lyk ther merites he yeueth hem ther guerdoun [yevith them.] And hem aquytith aftir ther gouernaunce: [aquyteth.] This hadde Alkmond ful weel in remem|braunce, [Alkemond. wel.] Line 260 Which in his grettest and most magnifi|cence To god disposid to do most reuerence. [dysposed.] For euery thyng that to god was dewe, Al obseruances heuenly and deuyne [Alle. dyvyne.] This worthi kyng ful lowly wolde sewe, Line 265 His roial crowne meekly to him enclyne. [mekly.] Thus in two wise his noblesse dide shyne: [did.] Toward the world, in knyhtly hih prowesse, And toward god, in parfit holynesse. [263—9) im Ms. durchgestr.] [parfight.] And of his noblesse ferthere to declare, Line 270 A wif he hadde, the story berith witnesse, [wyff.] A worthi pryncesse, and callid was Siware. [that st. and.]

Which bothe excellid in bounte and fair|nesse, As Hester meek, Judith in stabilnesse, [meke.] And in beute lik Dido of Cartage, [bewte.] Line 275 In wifly trouthe void of al outrage, [wyffly. voyde.] As Lucrece she was of herte stable, In semlynesse rassemblyng Bersabe, [resemblyng.] Sobre of hir port, of wil nat variable, [sobir. poort.] Lik Marcia in wifly chastite, [of wyffly.] Line 280 With al hir vertues passyng-fair to se, Of compassion dide ay hir-silf delite [did.] In almesse-deede and poore folk to visite. [dede.] Thus Alkmundus with the queen Siware [Alkemvndus.] Aforn of god chose, it is no dreed, [I-choose. drede.] Line 285 As sumtyme was Habraham and Sare, [Lyk as som. Abraham.] The holy patriark, who-so take heed, [Thooly. whoo-so can t. hede.] Of whos progenye blissid was the seed: [whoos. blyssed. sede.] Blissid ther stok, blissid ther roial blood, [Blyssed.] Which ther tyme bar frut that was so good. [Which in ther tyme brought forth a frut so good.] Line 290 This kyng in herte hadde a deuocioun [had.] Petir and Poule in Rome to vesite: [visite.] Shewid to hym be reuelacioun, [To hym I-shewyd by.] Wherof in soule he gretly gan delite. [Off which.] And of affeccioun his vowes to a-quite, Line 295 Disposid him to take that viage [He hym dysposed.] And to parfourme his holi pilgrymage. [parforme.] Ryht fortunat he was in his passage. [ful st. ryht.] Reliques in Rome deuoutly vesytyng, With a widwe he took his herbergage, [And with.] Line 300 A parfit lady, ful holy of leuyng. [parfyght woman.] Which bi miracle out of his brest shynyng [Which saugh. breest.] Sawh a cleer sonne with a ful heuenly lyht, [sawh fehlt. A ful cleer.] That to foure parties shadde his beemys bryht. [shad.] Wherupon she cauhte a fantasie [wheer. caught.] Line 305 And in hir-self gan gostly ymagyne, [hire sylff. goostly.] With a sperit fulfillid of prophecie [spirit fulfylled.] Sadly seide: "the sonne that I se shyne [Ful sadly.] Shewith in his stremys gostly and deuyne [moost goostly.] A pronostik as I conceyue in deede: [prenostyk. dede.] Line 310 Out of his brest a sonne shal out spreede [breest. ther shal a sonne out sprede.] That shal enlumyne with his bemys cleer [Which st. that. beemys.] (T)he foure parties of the firmament, [Alle the foure.] Shyne in vertu as Phebus in his speer [speer = sphere.] [And shyne.] Whan he his wayn hath from Aurora sent, [is st. his. wan hath froom.] Line 315 Voidyng alle cloudis with which the soil was blent, Makyng his stedis thoruh ther fery leemys [the stedys with his fyry l.] Glade thorison of many sondry reemys. For lik a sonne, this world tenlumyne, From kyng Alkmond a branche shal out spreede, [Froom Alkemvndus ther shal a braunche out sp.] Line 320 Which to al uertu his corage shal enclyne, As in his story heeraftir men shal reede." [Lyk as this stoory shewe shal in dede.] And in this mater ferthere to proceede, [matere. ferther. procede.] Of the holi womman he hath his leue take [woman.] And to Saxonie his viage he gan make. Line 325 And solemply there he was receyued, [solempnely.] The contre glad of his repeir-ageyn. [cuntre.] And aft(i)r soone Siware hath conceyued Thoruh goddis grace, that werkith neuer in veyn. [Thorugh goddys. which st. that.] And in þat yeer she bar a child certeyn [329—30) umgesetzt.] [And thylke yeer.] Line 330 In Norenberghes, a cite of gret fame, [Norhenberges. greet.]

Of god prouidid: Edmond was his name: [provided. Edmvnd.] Eyhte hundrid yeer fourty and eek oon [ek.] Fro Cristis birthe by computacioun, [froom. Crystes.] The same tyme so longe it was agoon Line 335 That this Edmond, as maad is mencioun, [made.] Was in Saxonie, the noble regioun, Born of Siware, by record of writyng, Sone to Alkmond, the holi glorious kyng. [Alkemond.] The which Edmond bi grace of Crist Jhesu Line 340 Day by day, so as he wex in age, [be. ryght st. so.] So he alwey encreced in vertu: [encresyd.] Sobre of his chier, void of al outrage, [cheer. voyde.] Demeur of port, angelik of visage, [Demvre. poort. aungelyk.] Most acceptable in euery mannys siht — [sight] Line 345 For of his presence glad was euery wiht. [wyght.] Good frut ay cometh fro trees that be goode, [comyth froo.] From fressh hed-sprynges renne stremys cristallyne, [fro. hede.] In vertuous pastures holsom is the foode, Fro gentil blood procedith a trewe lyne. [trewe st. gentil.] Line 350 Tarage(!) of trees thapplis determyne: So yong Edmond, pleynly to declare, Shewed how he kam from Alkmond and Siware. [Shewyd. Alkemond.] This name Edmond compownyd is of tweyne: That on party seid of blissidnesse, [The ffirst p.] Line 355 And the seconde by uertu souereyne [secunde.] Is seid also of vertuous clennesse; [Innocent st. vertuous.] And thus Edmundus, pleynly to expresse, [Edmondus.] Of god aboue, lik as it was seene, [sene.] Was bothe blissid and of his lif most cleene. [blyssed. clene.] Line 360 Fro good in vertu to bettre he dide en|cresse [bettir. did. encrese.] By proporcioun of a good stature — [And by.] For Roial nature koude neuer cesse [wolde st. koude. nevir cese.] Of hir handwerk to shewe the portrature; Louyd and desirid of euery creature: [desired.] Line 365 For god gaff him bi heuenly influence [be.] Bounte with wisdam, bewte with hih pru|dence. [with bewte hih p.] And thouh that he excellid in semly|nesse, Was most heuenly in chier and contenance: [And was. cheer.] Yit was ther neuer seyn vngentilesse [nevir.] Line 370 In his persone nor in his gouernance: For of hih trouthe and iust perseuerance, Afferme I dar, his lif who list discerne: [whoo.] [291—373) im Ms. durchstr.] Of alle goode thewes he was liht and lan|terne. [good thewys.] Pryde in his persone hadde noon In|teresse, Line 375 Goodly of spech to hih and low degre; [speche. lowh.] And thouh his birthe was of hih noblesse, His port was conueied with al humylite— [poort.] Which of alle vertues hath the souereynte: For wher meeknesse bridle kan disdeyn [wheer. meknesse. can.] Line 380 In hih estatis, there is noon errour seyn. [ther.] Chast of his lif bothe in deede and thouht, [Chaast. dede.] Deuout to godward, neuer out of Charite; [nevir.] What-euer he seide, his woord ne changid he nouht; [euere. chaunged. nought.] Benygne of speche to hih and low degre, [lowh.] Line 385 Disdeyned folk nouht in ther pouerte, [Dysdeyned nat folk.] But of nature for al his hih renoun Hadde on alle needy Roial compassioun. [Had on al nedy.] For vertu gladly take in tendre age, [tendir.] Where grace graueth the deepe inpres|siouns, [wheer. gravith hire depnesse(!) inpressyouns.] Line 390 It wilnat voide by no foreyn outrage, [wol nat. be noon.] But more encrece by long successiouns; [encrese.]

Loue take in youthe hath this condiciouns: [these.] In gentil hertis for tenduren euere. [to enduryn.] By newe encres, and neuer to disseuere. [encrees. neuere.] Line 395 Yong of yeeris, old of discrecioun, Flouryng in age, fructuous of sadnesse, His sensualite ay soget to resoun, [sensuallyte.] And of his counsail discrecioun was maistresse; Foure cardynal sustre, Force and Riht|wisnesse, Line 400 Weied alle his werkis, by Prudence in ballance, Al passiouns voide in his Attemperance. [avoyded.] Thouh he was fair as Alcybyades, And with Dauid hadde grace vnto his guyde: [had.] For alle these vertues in his roial encres Line 405 He was deuoid of surquedie and pride; [devoyde.] Vices alle in him were set a-side — [For v. wer.] And yf he shal be shortly comprehendid, [yif.] In him was no thyng forto be amendid. For, whom that god list of his grace calle [whoom.] Line 410 To his seruise thoruh hih perfeccioun, [seruice] He wil fro vertu nat suffre him forto falle, [l. hem.] [hem.] But singulerly in his prouisioun Stablisshe ther corages and ther profes|sioun Hool in his feith — such grace he doth hem sende, [suych. hem.] Line 415 So to preserue onto his(!) lyues eende. [l. perseuere.] [perseuere (!). vnto ther lyves ende.] And to procede ferthere in this mater, [matere.] Yf ye list aduertise in your mynde, [yif.] An exaumplaire and a merour cler [exaumplayre. cleere.] In this story ye shal now seen and fynde: [mowh.] Line 420 For yong Edmond listnat be behynde [hooly st. yong. been behynde.] With othre martirs, most parfit, chose and good, [othir. parfight.] For Cristis feith forto shede his blood. [Crystes.] And the processe pleynly to declare Of Estyngland how he was maad kyng, [Estyngelond. he cam to be kyng.] Line 425 So as I kan, in soth I wil nat spare [can.] But heer in ordre reherse by wrytyng, [here. reherse it be.] Folwyng myn auctours in euery maner thyng [maneer.] As in substance vpon the lettre in deede, [substaunce folwyng the lettere in dede.] To do plesance to them that shal it reede. [Iede. — Die Ueberschrift nach 430 fehlt; grössere Init.] Line 430

How he was sacryd kyng of Estyngland, and by what title he kam to the Crowne.

The same tyme remembrid heer to-forn, [her.] As ye han herd the processe by reedyng, [redyng.] Whan seynt Edmond was in Saxonie born: In Estyngland regned a worthy kyng, [Estyngeland. ther regnyd.] A manly man and vertuous of leuyng, [lyvyng.] Line 435 Weel gouerned and of notable fame, [Ful wel governyd.] And, as I fynde, Offa was his name. Longe in that Rewm his lif he dide leede [Reem. did lede.] In his estat with ful gret worthynesse. [greet wourthynesse.] But for he hadde noon heir to succede, [Eyr.] Line 440 He kauhte in herte a manier heuynesse. [In herte he caught a maneer.] Which to refourme deuoutly and redresse, Ther kam a conceit in-to his corage [conceyt.] Into holy lond to make a pilgrymage. [land.] Which for taccomplisshe he made his purueyance, [purviaunce.] Line 445 List no lengere delaie it nor respite, [dellaye. respighte.] His rewm first (set) in good gouernance, [Reem.] [first sett.] Thouhte by the way his cosyn to vesite. [Thoughte. visite.] And forth he goth, pleynly to endite, [he wente. tendyte.]

On his viage, with a gret meyne, Line 450 Toward Saxonye, and passid is the see. And ther he was receyued lik a kyng Of Alkmundus, his owyn cosyn diere, [Alkemondus. owne. dere.] And alle estatis in Saxonie abidyng [alle thestatys.] Assemblid weren forto make him chiere. [wern. cheere.] Line 455 And specially his neuew most entiere, [entieere.] Blissid Edmond, with roial attendance [blyssed.] Was ay awaityng him to do plesance; [euere st. ay. for to.] He neuer parted out of his presence: [nevir departyd. greet.] To him he hadde so gret affeccioun. Line 460 Which that kyng Offa in his aduertence Ful weel considered of wisdam and resoun, [wel considred.] Seyng in vertu his disposicioun [Seyyn.] Dempte him ful able, as by liklynesse, [Dempte how he was as be l.] For tatteyne to vertuous hih noblesse: [Able for tateyne.] Line 465 Of face and look he was so amyable, Best acceptid in euery mannys siht, [And best.] Demeur of port, of his chier most stable, [Demewr. poort and of. cheer.] On his bealoncle awaityng day and nyht; [his fehlt. On bialvncle.] Al this considered, thouhte, as it was ryht, [Al thyng consydred, Offa thought of right.] Line 470 How he muste of reson and nature Loue Edmond best aboue ech creature. First in his conceit he gan to takyn heed, [folio 18] [take hede.] To his neuew how moch that he was bounde; [Vnto. mooche.] Thouhte ageynward, in blood and nyh kynreed, [And th. and fehlt.] Line 475 How riht requyrith, where gentilesse is founde, [requeryth wheer.] Of kyndly meuyng it must ageyn rebounde [mut. st. must.] To him where first the gentilesse was seyn, Bounte for bounte, for loue shewe loue ageyn. Which kyng Offa gan wisly aduertise, [wysly.] Line 480 Of his neuew seynge the diligence, [seeyng.] The grete attendance, thawaytyng the seruise, [seruice.] The humble port, thabood in his presence: Alle these thyngis kyngly to recompense, [Al thes thynges.] Thouhte he was bounde to him al his liff Line 485 Him to guerdone with sum prerogatiff. [som.] Thus, euery thyng that was necessarye Wisly ordeyned toward his passage, [dyspoosed.] This worthy Offa list no lengere tarye, Whan he were redy, to doon his pilgry|mage — Line 490 Except a sparkle abood in his corage Of hih feruence toward his neuew diere, [dere.] And to hym seide riht thus as ye shal hiere: First in his armys he gan him to embrace, [enbrace.] And seide: "Edmond, my neuew most entier, [seid. entieere.] Line 495 My wil is this, or I parte fro this place — And will also that alle men it heere: [wyl. do it here.] Because thow hast maad me so good cheere, [thou.] What-euer falle of myn ageyn-komyng, [euere.] Or I departe, receyue of me this ryng! Line 500 And, gentil neuew, in especiall [especial.] I the accepte for my sone in deede, [dede.] Vnder most trewe affeccion paternall, [vndir. paternal.] A-forn alle othre of my kynreede, [othir born of.] Of riht hool herte, that thow shalt succede Line 505 The crowne tenherite and regne aftir my day, Yif it so falle I deye be the way". [that I deye.] With salt terys distillyng on his face, [salte.] At his departyng, of fadirly feruence [with st. of.] Eft ageyn Edmond he gan enbrace, Line 510 His cosyn Alkmund beyng in presence: [Alkemond.] Which euery thyng markid in sentence That kyng Offa outher dide or saide [outhir. did.]

Vnto his sone, and smylyng this he saide: [smylyng thus abrayde (!).] "Edmond sone, hastow me forsake [now st. me.] Line 515 And list of me nomore to taken heed, [takyn hede.] And of affeccioun a newe fadir take, Which art so nyh born of his kynreed? [of my kynrede.] And sithe it likith to his goodliheed [sith. lyketh. goodlyhede.] To take the so and forto be thy guyde, Line 520 As for his sone lat him for the prouyde!" [provide.] Afftir this language Offa took a ryng Which was to him most special and entiere, With which he was afforn I-sacrid kyng [affortyme sacryd.] By an holy bisshop, the story doth us lere, [Be.] Line 525 And onto Edmond he seide in this maniere: [Than vnto. maneere.] "Gentil neuew, this ryng which that thow dost se [that fehlt. doost.] Shal been a tokne a-twixe the and me. [be. atwix.] What our or tyme that I this ryng the sende, [hour.] Receyue it goodly for an entier signe: [entieer.] Line 530 Which in effect shal be for a good eende [sum st. a. ende.] And for sum cause of memorye digne. [mateere st. cause.] Which for taccomplisshe be gracious and benygne, [tacomplysshe.] Touchyng my sonde take good heed therto [hede ther too.] Withoute delay anoon that it be do!" [dellay.] Line 535 Alle thestatis of Saxonye were present [wer.] At the departyng of these kyngis tweyne, [this kynges.] Conueyeng Offa alle of on assent [Which hym conveyed alle of oon a.] With gret noblesse, which thei dede ordeyne. [did.] At leue-takyng thei felte a manier peyne— [maneer.] Line 540 But it was seid sithe go many a yeer: [sith. yeere.] That freendis alwey maynot been in|feer. [frendys. may nat. yffeere.] Offa goth forth, and Alkmund stille abood, [Alkemond.] Riht weel beseyn and with a fayr meyne, [Ful wel be seyn. and fehlt.] And ful deuoutly on his way he rood Line 545 Toward the parties of the grete se, [greete.] A-bood the passage — ye gete no mor (of) me: [his st. the. no moore of me.] [of fehlt.] For be the story I can not deuise [nat wel.] Where he shippid at Gene or at Venyse, [Wheer. shipped.] Of his passage by that se so large, Line 550 Nor by what coostis his galey dide dryue— [cuntrees st. coostis. did.] It is no parcell pleynly of my charge Thunkouth tournes cleerly to descryue, [coostys st. tournes.] Nor wher ther speed was outher slouh or blyue; [wheer. outhir slowh.] It is a thyng which I nat vndirtook, Line 555 Be-cause it is nat rehersid in my book. I hadde neuer rad afforn nor seyn [nevir.] Of Franceys Petrak the Cosmagraffie, [Cosmograffye.] Where he descryueth ful openly and pleyn [Wheer he dyscryveth. opynly.] The strange contres toward that partie, [straunge cuntrees.] Line 560 And how the maistris shal ther Galeys guye [shipmen st. maistris. galeyes. guyde.] Of old expert touchyng ther loodman|nage— Which to declare I haue no cleer language. [562—3) It passith my witt to telle of ther passage That nevir knewh no crafft of loodmannage.] But whan he had accomplisshid his iourne, [hadde a-complysshed.] At the holy sepulcre doon his deuociouns [At Crystes s.] Line 565 And certeyn daies abide in that contre [cuntre.] In his prayeres and special orisouns, [prayers and hooly o.]

Fulfillid his vowes, maad his oblaciouns: [Fulfylled. made.] Glad in his herte that he the place hath seyn, [that place.] His vessell reedy, gan shape him hoom ageyn. [redy.] Line 570 And, as the story cleerly doth expresse, [557—571) später durchstr.] In his repair this holy blyssid kyng [repeyer. blyssed.] At port Seyngeorge fil in gret seeknesse. [poort seint George. syknesse.] And ther a while vpon his bed liggyng [there.] Ful weel conceyued in his languysshyng [wel.] Line 575 Be the encressyng of his maladie, [thencresyng. malladye.] That he must die, there was no remedie. [mut. ther.] And ful deuoutly, of humble and meek entent [meke.] He made him redy by confessioun, [be.] Thanne receyued the holy sacrament, [And thanne.] Line 580 Gan to declare his hertis mocioun— [He gan declare.] Al his meyne stondyng enviroun— [581—2) umge|setzt:] [And al his m.] To-forn them alle in open audience, [opyn.] And first of alle tolde hem this sentence: [he toold.] "Syrs, quod he, I charge yow in deede Line 585 And yow coniure of conscience to se Touchyng my kyngdham who that shal succeede. Tauoide away al ambiguyte, [awey. ambyguite.] My laste will—takith heed that it so be— [last.] Ys this in soth, seith so at your repeyr: Line 590 My cosyns sone shal regne and be myn heyr. [eyr.] Hath, berth my neuew this tokne and this ryng, [beryth. this vor ryng fehlt.] After the promys maad whan that I wente! [aftir. made.] In al haste possible that he be crownyd kyng! Besechyng yow in al my beste entente [best entent.] Line 595 Withoute delay this massage to presente [dellay. present.] Aftir my deth, and looke ye nat varye To my desir forto been contrarye! Lat been among yow no contencioun In this mater nor no variance, [matere.] Line 600 But that ye putte him in cleer pocessioun [put.] Of Estyngland to haue the gouernance! [Est|yngeland.] This is my will, this is myn ordynaunce [wyl and this myn.] And my desir — looke it be do soone! [that st. looke. right soone.] For sondry vertues I se in his persone. [For dyvers thynges.] Line 605 I wot how he hath disposicioun [For first he hath greet.] Vnto al vertu, as semeth vnto me, [To alle vertues. semyth.] And god hath sent him of grace gret foy|soun, [of fehlt. grace and greet.] Semlynesse, wisdam and beaute, [bewte.] Loue and gret fauour of hih and lowh degre: Line 610 Which in o persone to rekne be riht fayr. [been.] Therfore, at o woord, I wil he be myn hayr." [air.] And whan his meyne, which knelid him beforn, Had herd the wil and sentence of the kyng, With gret assurance thei were bounde and sworn [wer.] Line 615 It for taccomplisshe in euery-manier thyng. [maner.] And whan he hadde delyuered hem the ryng, [whanne. had.] Of this lyff heer makyng a blysful eende [here.] To goddis mercy his soule he dide sende. [did.] Than his meyne with al ther besy cure, Line 620 As they best koude in strange fer contre, [cowde. straunge & fer.] Gan ordeyne for his sepulture And buryed him with gret solempnite. Which accomplisshid, thei taken han the se. [a-complysshed. takyn.] By goddis grace, makyng no dellaies, [By grace of god made no greet d.] Line 625 Into Saxonie they kam in fewe daies. [But to S.]

To kyng Alkmond ther message first thei tolde [massage. toolde.] Of kyng Offa and of his fair eendyng; [endyng.] And he gan weepe as he to water wolde. [wepe. watir.] And to yonge Edmond they presente up the ryng [yong. present.] Line 630 And him besouhte bamaner constreynyng [coartyd st. besouhte. be a m.] In goodly haste tordeyne his passage [to ordeyne.] Toward Estyngland, taccepte his heritage. [Estyngeland. to acc.] His fadir Alkmond, trist in compley|nyng, [Alkemond ful trist.] Kepte his chambre, wered his clothis blake, [His chaumbre kept, weryd clothis.] Line 635 From al peple his persone absentyng: [And froom. hym-sylven st. his persone.] Til be processe his sorwe gan aslake. [Tyl that by.] Than in his paleis he gan a counseil make Of alle his lordis, of swich as were most wys, [of fehlt vor suych. wer.] In this mater to heren there avys: [matere. to seen ther avys.] Line 640 Wher that his sone, grene and tendir of age, [wheer.] By ther discrecion and noble prouidence Shal sorth procede, to take his heritage, Toward Estyngland, bauys of the sen|tence — [Estyngeland. by tytle of ther.] For he was loth to leuen his presence, [For loth he was forgoon his pr.] Line 645 Sithe al his yoie and wordly suffisance [Sith. Joye. worldly. —] Abood in Edmond, and his hertly plesance. And with o vois they conclude euerychon [concludyd.] Fynally, this mater to termyne: [matere.] To Estyngland that Edmund sholde gon, [Estyngeland. Edmond shuld.] Line 650 Ther to be crownyd, next born off that lyne: [as born next of lyne.] For they dempte be grace which is dyuyne [For as. by.] And off ther counsail hool and vndeuyded, That he off god was therto prouyded — Ageyn whos wil may be no resistence, Line 655 Nor no counsail which that may auaile: [Nor to c.] For god preferrith thoruh his magnyficence Alle tho in vertu which that may preuayle; [thoo.] Whos disposicioun most vnkouth off en|tayle [whoos. & st. off.] Afforn ordeyneth be merueillous wer|kynges Line 660 The palme off prynces and crownyng eek off kynges. Alkmund was heuy off cheer and con|tenance [Alkemond.] That Edmund sholde departe out off his siht; [Edmond shulde.] With wepyng eyen hauyng remembrance [havyng in r.] Off thilke womman that sawh a sonne bryht [woman.] Line 665 Shyne on his brest that gaff so cleer a lyht, [breest.] In Rome cite, and kauhte a fantesie [In Rome toun, gan to fantasye.] How thilke sonne dide Edmund signefie: [did Edmond.] Which was a tokne that he sholde in this lyff [that st. which. shulde in his.] Shyne lik a sonne by excellent cleernesse, [bexcellent.] Line 670 And off foure vertues han a prerogatiff: First off Prudence, off Force, and Ryht|wisnesse, Lyue batemprance in his chast clennesse; [And euere endure in chastite and clennesse.] That he be signes which were in hym begonne [Be signes shewyd that wer.] Sholde in al vertu shyne lik an heuenly sonne. [Shulde in al goodnesse sh.] Line 675 These thynges peised and weied in his thouht, [Thes.] And in him-sylff enspired off resoun By goddis wil how al this thyng was wrouht, [Be.]

And off hih wisdam and discrecioun: [of.] He condescendid to the peticioun [condiscendid.] Line 680 Off thenbassiat, dewly as him ouhte, Which the messageris from kyng Offa brouhte. [massagerys froom.] First twenty knyhtes he ches out off his Rewm, [Reem.] That wern in wisdam and knyhthod most notable, [knyghthood.] And other twenty, that fro Jherusalem [othir. froom Jerusaleem.] Line 685 Kam with kyng Offa, famous and honurable; [Cam.] And among alle a knyht off port most stable [poort.] Assigned was, the story is ful kouth, [kouthe.] For-to gouerne Edmund in his youth: [Edmond. youthe. —] He hadde off old famous experience [648—690) fehlen hier, folgen erst nach 724, mit folg. Varianten:] Line 690 Bothe off armys and off gentilesse, [gentillesse.] Al his apport demened with prudence, [apoort. demenyd.] Sadnesse in tyme, in tyme also gladnesse, With entirchangyngis off merthe and so|birnesse [With entirchaungynges pleynly to expresse.] Affter the sesouns requered off euery thyng, [requeryd.] Line 695 A man ful able to been aboute a kyng. He hadde eek clerkis ful circumspect and wise, [ek.] Signed tawaite vpon his doctryne, Chose chapeleyns erly for tarise [Choose chapleyns.] To do seruyse which that is dyuyne. [seruice.] Line 700 And alle his sqwieres, pleynly to termyne, [And al his houshoold.] Sqwieres and yomen that sholde with him goon, [Squyers. shulde.] Alkmund for vertu ches hem euerychoon. [Alkemond. chees.] And affter this, as he that was ful wys, [afftir that.] Ordeyne gan ful royal apparayle [Gan ordeyne.] Line 705 For yonge Edmund be dilligent auys, [yong Edmond.] Stuffed his shippis with meyne and vitayle. [And stuffyd. shippes.] And whan they wern redy for-to sayle, [saylle.] This chose off god ful meekly doun kne|lyng [choose.] Off ffader and mooder axeth the blessyng. [fadir. modir.] Line 710 It nedeth nat to wryten or reherse [nedith.] The woful sobbynges, the syhhes to de|clare, [sihes.] Nor the heuynesses that gan the hertis perse [hevynessys. perce.] Off al that land, whan Edmund sholde fare; [lond. Edmond. shuld.] The pitous wepynges off Alkmund and Siware, Line 715 How they in terys gan hem-syluen drowne, [sylff.] Nor off this Qween how ofte she dide swowne. [of þe queen. did.] This noble pryncesse koude hir nat restreyne, [kowde hire.] Whan that she sawh hir sone take his leue, To sobbe and weepe and pitously com|pleyne — Line 720 It was no wonder thouh it dide hym greue! [wondir. did hire greve.] For tendre moodres ther loue kan weel preue, [tendir modrys. can wel.] Hertly toknys to shewe out kan not spare [And hertly. wyl st. kan. nat. —] Thoruh mortal constreynt — Record vpon Syware, Whan she hir sone gan kyssen and enbrace [hire. kysse] Line 725 And in hir armys moderly hym streyne, [hire. sofftly st. moderly.] With salt terys bedewed al hir face. [salte teerys bedewyd.] So bittir was the partyng off them tweyne. And in especial most she felte peyne [728—9) And myght no woord bryng out for peyne, So bettir was the partyng of them tweyne,] Whan she sawh Edmund entren in-to se, Line 730 She koude nat stynte to wepyn off pite. [730—1) Namly whan Edmond gan entre in to the see, To seen hire wepyn of modirly pytee.] Off al that day she list nat for-to pleye

Nor noman kowde make hire glad nor liht. [hir.] For whan the shippis gan saile upon the weye, [shippes. saylle. ther st. the.] She stood ay stylle and affter cast hire siht — [afftir.] Line 735 So weel as moodres, loue ther kan no wiht! [wel. modris. can.] And whan Syware hadde longe mournyd, [moornyd.] Conueyed in armys hoom she is retournyd. Expert the shipmen off ther loodmanage [loodmannage.] Knowyng the coostis off ech sond, [the coostys & daungerys.] Line 740 And Eolus fortuned ther passage, [fortune.] And god by grace heeld ouer them his hond, [ovir.] Conueied ther shippe toward Estynglond. [Ther ship conveyed. Estyngelond.] And at a place, pleynly to descryue, [discryve.] Callyd Maydenburuh, in haste they dide aryue. [Maydenbourgh. by grace st. in haste. did.] Line 745 Thoruh goddis myht whan thei the lond han kauht, This holi Edmond, of hool affeccioun, [of hih.] Fro ther arryuaile almost a bowe drauht [For st. fro. al|moost. draught.] He ful deuoutli gan to knele doun [he fehlt.] And preied god first in his orisoun [prayde. first fehlt] Line 750 That his comyng were to him acceptable [First that. to hym wer.] And to al the land welful and profitable. [lond. Die 2 folg. Strophen sind durchstrichen.] And in tokne that god herde his praier, [herd. preyere.] Vpon the soil, sondy, hard and drie, [that soyl.] Ther sprong bi myracle fyue wellis clier, [sprang. cleere.] Line 755 That been of uertu, helthe and remedie [Which by vertu were helthe.] Ageyn ful many straunge malladie. Thus list the lord of his eternal myht First at his londyng magnefie his knyht. [to magneffye.] Alle the feeldis sowyn round aboute [For al the soyl.] Line 760 And lond arable a ful large space [And arable lond.] Gan there tencrece — of trouthe, this no doute — [ther. it is no.] More than it dide in any othir place; [ony.] And al thencres kam of goddis grace: [thencrees cam in off.] For in such caas may been noon obstacle [suych. ther may be.] Line 765 Whan for his seynt god werkith bi myracle. [seyntes.] And be-side the wellis, as I fynde, [And fehlt. Besyde thoo wellys.] At his comyng he bilt a roial toun, [his first comyng.] Which stant ther yit for a manier mynde [yitt. maneer.] For his arryuaile into this Regioun. [Off his aryvaylle.] Line 770 Which is this day callid Hunstantstoun, [Which to this day is callyd Hunstanstoun.] And betokneth, who-so looke a-riht, [Which that betoknyth whoo.] In latyn tonge swetnesse and gret myht; [tounge. myght.] For this name compownyd is of tweyne: First of Hony, which hath gret swetnesse, Line 775 The tother party, pleynly forto seyne, [tothir.] Ys seid of stonys, which han gret hard|nesse. [Ms. oft st. of.] [Is. of stanys. hath.] And thus this toun, pleynly to expresse, Of Ston and Hony took ther propirte [took the.] Of folk that first dwellid in that Cite; Line 780 For thei were humble of maneres and tretable, [soote st. humble. manerys.] Pesible of port and of condiciouns; [peysyble. poort.] And at a preef manly and diffensable, [def|fensable.] And for tassaile lik hardy champiouns; [tassaylle. lik fehlt. chaumpiouns.] In pes lik lambes, in werre lik leouns. [pees lyk lambys. lyouns.] Line 785 And in this wise this manly peple wrouhte, [this noble peple wrought.] Which fro Saxonyeseynt Edmond brouhte. [with hem(!) brought.] And ther he heeld his houshold nyh a yeer. [housoold.] And thanne remewed to Athelborgh, the toun; [Re|mevyng to Attilburgh the toun (so der Vers).]

And there, I fynde, he lerned his fawteer. [lernyd.] Line 790 And in this while of fals collusioun Enmyes were entred into this regioun, [wer entryd.] Which falsly hadde of ther malis contryued [Off entent which falsly had contryved.] From his kyngdham Edmond to haue depryued. Thei caste, of fforce rather than of riht, [rathere.] Line 795 To haue put him from his heritage. [Taputte hym pleynly.] But afor god trouthe passith myht, Fre gifte and blood hauyng auauntage; [Wheer giffte and blood havith avauntage.] And thouh so were that he was yong of age, God wolde his title promoten in certeyn, [God lyst. preferre.] Line 800 Maugre alle tho that grucche ther-ageyn. [thoo. grucchyd.] For whan Kunbertus, the bisshop El|manense, [Hunbertus. Elmanence.] Knew the purpos of the fals werkyng, [al the purpoos of ther. werchyng.] Made alle the lordes thoruh his hih prudence [Made alle wourthy thorugh.] Of thilke kyngdham to come at his callyng [Off thylk kyndham.] Line 805 And of kyng Offa shewed hem the ryng, [shewyd hym(!).] Whos laste wil he dede to them expresse, [last wyl to them he did.] His stiward present that therof bar wit|nesse. [bar therof.] Twenti knyhtis that were at his eendyng [And XX^ti knyghtes. wer. endyng.] The trouthe (affermyd) holy of this matere. [affermyd fehlt in H.] [The trouthe affermyd holly.] Line 810 Thus, by grace, ther was no mor tarieng, [And thus. moore tarying.] The lordis first, with al the peeple I-fiere, [peple yffere.] Ful loude cried, that alle myhte hiere, [lowde. all men myght here.] That of kyng Offa be gifte and be kynreede [yiffte. by.] Edmond was heir iustly to succeede. [eyr. succede.] Line 815 And of assent heeron a day they sette, [here on.] List no while prolonge it nor delaie, [And lyst.] But alle attones at Athilburgh him fette [attonys. Attilburgh.] In the beste wise they koude hem-silf arraie. [best wyse that they kowde hem arraye.] Wherof his enemyes gretly gan dismaie — [Which made his enmyes gretly to dysmaye.] Line 820 But alle such enemyes to hyndryn han no myht [al suych enmyes. hyndren.] Where bi grace god list to forthre a ryht. [Wheer that by. lyst.] Gret noumbre of lordes and worthy knyhtis fadde, [lordys & wourthy knyghtes.] Bothe of Saxonie and this regioun, [and of.] Ful ryaly this yonge prynce ladde [ryally.] Line 825 Toward Suffolke, as maad is mencioun, [made.] And him conueied to the roial toun, [to that.] Callid Bures, who-so list to lere, [I-callyd Būrys.] Where he was crowned, anoon as ye shal heere. [wheer. crownyd. here.] Sauf whit and blak I haue no mo coloures [Save whight. no more colours.] Line 830 Forto descryue his coronacioun; [discryve.] In Tullius gardeyn I gadrid neuer floures, [nevir flours.] Nor neuer slepte vpon Citheroun, Nor at the welle drank of Elycoun, [off the. at Elycoun.] Nor of Calliope no fauour fond attall, [at al.] Line 835 To telle or write a feste so Royall; [ffeeste. royal.] I haue therto no kunnyng nor insiht [konnyng.] Forto reherse so excellent a thyng. [folio 31] For he receyued that day by goddis myht A crowne, a sceptre, a swerd eek and a ryng, [and ek a ryng.] Line 840 And by Kunbertus he was enoynted kyng, [Hunbertus. ennoynted.] Ful solempnely, the cronycle ye may see, [se.] The day of Cristis hih Natyuyte. [Crystes.]

The riche crowne was set on his hed To rewle the peeple thoruh his hih nob|lesse, [peple. hih fehlt. nobless.] Line 845 And heeld the swerd to keepe al vndir dreed [held. kepe hem vndir.] That dide wrong the peeple to oppresse, [That wolde be wrong the poore peple oppresse.] The sceptre of pees, the ryng of ryht|wisnesse — For pees and riht, with mercy meynt a|mong, Conserue a kyng in his estat most strong. Line 850 This thyng accomplisshid by accomptes cleer [accountis.] Fro the tyme of Thyncarnacioun [off the.] Eihte hundryd wyntir fifty and sexe yeer [wynter.] Whan blissid Edmond thoruh his hih renoun [blyssed.] Was crownyd at Buryskyng of this regioun, [was fehlt.] Line 855 Which that tyme, most gracious of vysage, [benigne st. gracious.] Was ful compleet fiftene yeer of age. [com|plet. Ueberschrift nach 857 fehlt.]

This chapitle declareth the Roial gouer|nance of seynt Edmond aftir he was crownyd kyng of Estyngland.

This hih feste, ful famous of renoun, [The hih feeste.] Fully accomplisshid, with euery circum|stance, In al that longith Tacoronacioun, [to acoronacioun.] Line 860 That blissid Edmond by goddis ordynance Hadde of Estyngland hooli the gouernance: [Estyngelond holly.] Tholi gost beyng euer his guyde, [The hooly goost beeing evir.] First for his rewm thus he gan prouyde. [reem right thus.] Lawes he sette of trouthe and equite, [He set lawes.] Line 865 Them establysshid upon ryhtwisnesse; [And them stablysshed.] First so disposyng his royal mageste Twen sceptre and swerd tattempre his noblesse, [tatempryn.] That ther were founde in nouther noon excesse, [wer. nouthir.] But with the sceptre conserue his peeple in pees, [firste st. sceptre.] Line 870 Punysshe with the swerd folk that were reklees. [with the secunde. wer rekkelees.] For, as a sceptre is smothe, long and round, The hier part of gold and stonys ynde: [hiher party. goold. stoonys.] So semblably this noble kyng Edmond [semlably.] Was meek of maneres and vertuous, as I fynde, [meke. manerys.] Line 875 Vp to godward hadde most his mynde, [And vp to. had.] Mercy preferryng, examyned euery deede, Delaied rygour, listnat of haste proceede. [delayng.] In his on hand the sceptre of pees he heeld, [on fehlt. he fehlt. held.] Cherisshynge his peeple in reste and quyeete; [cherysshing. and in quiete.] Line 880 And wher that he espied or beheeld [wheer.] Ryot or trouble of folk that were vnmeete, [wer.] Of manly prudence in his royal seete [hih st. manly. ] Anoon he took his swerd of rihtwisnesse, [He took anoon.] [Off which as.] Of fals rauyne alle surfetis to redresse. [al surffetys.] Line 885 And so, of clerkys as discrecioun [folio 33] Ys named moodir of vertues alle, [Is namyd.] With hir douhtren: prouydence and resoun, [hire sustrys.] Riht to sustene she bowe nat nor falle: [Right so sustene(!).] So was he besy the tresour, that men calle Line 890 Rem publicam, to moren and amende, [moore.] In pees tawmente it, in werre it to diffende. He koude the reynes coarten and rest|reyne [renys. coartyn.]

Of such as lyued by fals robberye, Al ydil folk that wolde also disdeyne [ydel folkys.] Line 895 In vertuous labour ther bodies to applie, Chastise truantis for ther losengrye; [trowauntis] Deuly cherisshe, as it is specefied, [And dewly.] For comon profit them that were occupied. [wer.] In foure thyngis he dide his besynesse. [thynges. did.] Line 900 First sette his study bi ful gret dilligence [set. studye.] With hool herte and vertuous hih prow|esse, Doon first to god dew reuerence, [dewh.] Cherisshe his prynces in ther magnificence, [His prynces cherysshen.] Gouerne his knyhtis in marcial disciplyne, [knyghtes.] Line 905 Tauht by Vigecius, ffamous in that doc|tryne. First blissid Edmond of noble policie [blyssed. nobil.] Heeld up the chirch of hih perfeccioun, [chirche.] Fro them auoided al maner symonye, Bothe ypocrisie and symylacioun; [Ipocrysie. symvlacioun.] Line 910 Gaff no benefices but for deuocioun, But ches out heerdis most contemplatiff To rewle his peeple, for ther parfit liff. [parfight lyff.] His roial Juges, that shulde his doomys speede, Such as excellid in kunnyng and prudence, [suych. konnyng.] Line 915 That were nat corrupt with fauour, loue nor dreede [wer. dred.] And hadde to giftes no maner aduertence, [yiff|tes.] Groundid in lawe and on good conscience: [on st. in.] Them he ches out, by whos auysementis [avysement.] Were execut hooly his Juggementis. [wer. hooly fehlt. his royal Jugement.] Line 920 His noble lawes that tyme were gouernyd [wer.] Withoute oppression of any meyntenance, [ony.] That lyht of trouthe cleerly was discernyd And nat eclipsid be power nor puissance; [eclypsed.] For meede tho daies peised nat in ballance, [mede thoo.] Line 925 Nor fals forsweryng with fauour was not meynt [nat.] Nor for vntrouthe Jurours were not atteynt. [Jorours wer nat.] Marchandise sold by no gile, [soold.] The symple biggere vntrewly to deceyue; [The poore byere. disceyve.] Thartificer knew no-maner wile, [The artificeer. knewh.] Line 930 Nouther in vttryng nor inward to receyue— [nouthir. owtryng. resceyue.] What fraude mente, men koudenat tho conceyue; [frawde. cowde.] The laborer neded no stuff to borwe, [laboreer nedid.] For his salaire abood nat til the morwe. [Nor for his salarye. tyl on morne.] Thus first of prynces the notable ex|cellence, Line 935 And of the cherch the preued perfeccioun, [cirche. the fehlt. ffamous perfeccioun.] And of the Juges thauyse prouydence, [thavisee.] And of knyhthod the marcial hih renoun, [of the.] And of marchantis the hih discrecioun, [of the.] With al the residue, in oon ymage knet, [resedewe. I-knet.] Line 940 Wer by kyng Edmund in ther dew ordre set: [Edmond. dewe.] Of this ymage prynces stood as hed, With ther two eyen, of prudence and resoun, To ther sogetis forto takyn heed, [sogettys.] That thei nat erre by no deuysioun; [divysioun.] Line 945 Eek that the eeris haue inclynacioun [ther eerys.] That outher party his quarell may expresse [outhir. quareel.] Be good leiser, or thei here doomys dresse. [By. leyseer. here fehlt.] This moral ymage to conserue and diffende, The kyng ordeyned of royal polycye Line 950 That worthy knyhtis, pleynly to com|prehende, [knyghtes.] Sholde of the armys the party occupie, [shulde.] Forto supporte it thoruh ther chyualrie: [chevalrye.]

To keepe maidens and widwes from outrage, [kepe maydenys.] And saue the chirche from myschef and damage. [fro.] Line 955 This cristene prynce for a prerogatiff Disposed, a soule to quyke this ymage, [disposid.] Forto preferre folk contemplatiff, Sobre of ther leuyng, demeur and sad of age, [lyvyng. demewr. and fehlt.] Expert in kunnyng, benygne of ther lang|uage: [konnyng. humble st. benygne.] Line 960 Lyk ther office, be exaumple and by doc|tryne [bexaumple.] With liht of vertu his peeple tenlumyne. With feet and leggis this ymage to supporte, To contynue bi lengthe of many yeeris, [Forto contvne.] This prynce ordeyned, his story kan reporte, [as bookys can.] Line 965 The plouh in cheeff, with othre laborerys, [plowh. othir laboureerys.] As dyuers trauailes which been parti|culeris: [travaylles. particuleerys.] For, but yif labour holde the plouh on honde, [helde. plowh.] In prosperite no lond ne myhte stonde. [myght.] Thus euery membre set in ordre dewe, Line 970 Cause was noon among hem to compleyne; [Ther was no cause.] For ech of hem his office dide sewe, [did.] The hed listnat at the foot disdeyne; Ther loue was oon, departed not on tweyne; [they partyd.] Ech thyng bi grace so deuly was conueied: [be. dewly.] Line 975 Hed of the membris was not disobeied. [nat.] And as the Ruby, kyng of stonys alle, [stoonys.] Reioiseth ther presence with his naturel liht: [Reioyffeth. natural.] So kyng Edmond in his roial stalle [Right so blyssed Edmond.] With sceptre and crowne sat lik an heuenly knyht, [With crowne and sceptre.] Line 980 To hih and low most agreable of syht — [lowh.] This woord rehersid of euery creature: "Longe mote he leue, longe mote the kyng endure!" [Long mut he lyve this kyng and endure.] And as myn auctour his persone doth descryue, He was be craft so fourmyd of nature: [by. formyd.] Line 985 A bettir compact was ther noon a-lyue [That bettir.] Nor proporcyownyd of fetures nor stature; [Nor bet proporciouns of feturys.] Most lik a knyht labour to endure; And euery man only bi goddis grace [wyght st. man.] Loued him of herte that loked on his face. [lovyd. lookyd.] Line 990 In his estat most goodly and benygne, Heuenly of cher, of counseil prouydent, [cheere.] Hadde in his persone many blissid signe, [Shewyng of grace ful many a blysful signe.] Whan tyme requyrid, kyngly pacient, [requeryd. he was moost pacient.] And ay to godward hool was his entent; [euere st. ay.] Line 995 And al his port, in ordre to termyne, Was to al uertu a scole and a doctryne. [Was vnto vertu of scole.] In his doomys most rihtful & most trewe, [al his.] Best auysid in Juggement yeuyng; [Moost circumspect in Jugement yevyng.] Stable of his heste, loued no chaunges newe, [beheest. lovyd.] Line 1000 Koude weel abide, nat hasty in werkyng; [Wondir avised, nat hasty.] And passendly discreet in comandyng, [Of alle his preceptis discreet in c.] In his language nat boistous nor contraire, [And in his speche not.] But with sad chier benygne and debonaire. [cheer. .] Most temperat he was of his dieete, [also st. he was. dyete.] Line 1005 Large in yeuyng to folkes vertuous; [folkys.] To foryefnesse most mansuet and meete; [Ageyn in|juryes moost mansuete.]

In prosperite meek and nat pompous, [meke. not.] Sur in aduersite; of mercy most famous, [Sewr.] His hand mynystre, pleynly as I reede, [rede.] Line 1010 Topne his cofres for almesse-deede. [To opne. coffres. dede.] To alle religious protectour and support, [alle fehlt. suppoort.] To heretikes a yerde most mortal — [heretiques. the st. a.] Lollardis that tyme fond in him no confort, [counfort.] To holichirche he was so strong a wal, [umgesetzt.] [To hooly chirche ther cheef castel and wal.] Line 1015 Hated fals doctryn in especial; [umgesetzt.] [hatyd. doctryne.] And disdeyned of kyngly excellence [royal st. kyngly.] To alle fals tonges to yeuen audience: [Vnto detraccioun to yiven a.] To his hihnesse it was abhomynable [And to his.] Feynyd lesynges and adulacioun, [Hyndryng tounges and adulacioun.] Line 1020 Kankrid mouthes and lippis detestable; [Le|syngges feyned with lippes.] And al enuyous supplantacioun [Nor fals envye nor s.] Hadde in his siht no supportacioun; Double corages nor soweris of discord [Double mouthys. discoord.] With his noblesse myht haue noon accord. [hadde st. miht haue. accoord.] Line 1025 And as myn auctour makith rehersaile [rehersaylle.] His hih prowesse puttyng in memorye, [hih fehlt.] In trouthes quarel komyng to bataile [he was founde in bataylle st. komyng to b.] A sheeld of knyhthod, of worthynesse the glorye, Callid in armes a swerd of hih victorye: [armys. the swerd.] Line 1030 For in his brest he bar to his encres [Which in his breest bar to his encrees.] Of magnanymyte the herte of Hercules, [Herculees.] Prudence in armys, to make a feeld and fette, Hadde with Nestor manly auysynesse; [With Nestor hadde. avysenesse.] Knyhtly cherid his foomen whan he mette; [Moost knyghtly cheeryd.] Line 1035 With Tideus he hadde eek hardynesse, [ek.] Eek at assaies passyng delyuernesse; [In persone passyng delyvirnesse.] And thouh he hadde bothe hardynesse and myht, [As though that he excellyd of greet myght,] He neuer took feeld but on a ground of ryht. [He neuer faught bataylle but wheer as he knew right.] What-euer he wan, of ffredam and bounte [Off thyng wel wonne thorugh fredam & bounte.] Line 1040 To parte it forth he was most liberal, [Vnto his men he was moost liberal.] In his giftes there was no skarsete, [For in. ther.] For longe delaies he liste noon make attal — [Nor long dellayes he lyst noon m. at al.] For of such giftes that callid been roial [of fehlt. yifftes.] Men seyn, with prynces who that hath to doone, Line 1045 A gifte is doublid whan it is youe soone. [yove.] This prynce among, of natural gentilesse, [among fehlt. gentillesse.] Wolde for disport, his story doth deuyse, [dispoort.] Hawke and hunte, tauoiden ydilnesse, Vse honest gamen in many sondry wise; [gamyn. sundry.] Line 1050 And lik a knyht to haue exercise [hauyn. excersyse.] With marcial pleies, in youthe hauyn a guyde [In st. with. havyng.] Knyhtly to teche him for pees to Juste and ryde. [in pees.] And as it sat to his roial estat, Dyuers tymes he armyd wolde be [armyd he.] Line 1055 To renne a pees, wondir fortunat, [woundir.] Therin most ewrous and therwithal parde [Ther inne.] Best demened that men koude owher se: [The best demenyd. owher fehlt.] For god bi grace maad him so enteer [made. entiere.] That he was able alle vertues to leer. [for to lere.] Line 1060

Line 1060 This worthy prynce famous in al uertu, [notable st. famous.] Old of prudence, of yeris yong and greene, [discrecioun st. prudence. grene.] Chose and ordeyned of our lord Jhesu [choose.] Tencrece in goodnesse, of entent most cleene: [of his. moost clene.] For in his court, as it was weel seene, [wel sene.] Line 1065 As his maister in youthe dide him teche, [Lyk as. did.] Ther was noon oth nor dishonest speche; [nor noon.] First in the morwe, whan he dide aryse, [did.] With his knyhtis he was anoon conueied [meyne st. knyhtis. anoon he was.] To his oratorie, to heren his seruise; [Vnto his clooset to heryn.] Line 1070 Al holy thyng of him was so obeied; [goodly st. holy. so was.] Cloos in his herte ech uertu was I-keied: [ykeyed.] Thus toward heuene he was contemplatiff, Toward the world a good knyht of his liff. [al st. of.] And of his houshold styward was plente, Line 1075 Glad suffisance was his tresorer, [tresowrer.] And countrollour was lyberalite, And trewe reknere was callid his cofrer, [coffereer.] And humble compassion was his awmener, Marchal of halle good cher with gentilesse, Line 1080 And clerk of kechyn was feithful redynesse. There was no surfet of no ryot late: [nor no ryot.] Sobirnesse kepte his wach at eue; [kept.] Geyn poore folk shet was not his gate, [Ageyn. nat.] His warderope open, alle needy to releue; [wardrope opyn al. relevyn.] Line 1085 Such roial mercy dide his herte meue, [suych. mevyn.] To clothe the nakid and the hungry feede, And sente his almesse to folk that lay bedreede. [And he sent. his fehlt.] Who can or may keepe cloos or hide A cleer lanterne whan that it is lyht, Line 1090 On a chaundelabre whan it doth abide; [Vpon. .] Or of the sonne difface the bemys bryht? [Apollo st. the sonne.] Or who koude hyndre goddis owne knyht, This holy Edmond, this Cristes owne man, [blyssed st. holy. this fehlt vor Crystes.] To many a kyngdham but that his fame ran? Line 1095 Of his noblesse that was the report: [Of fehlt. thus st. that. repoort.] In Estyngland how ther was a kyng [Estynge|lond.] Of whom the renon by many a strange port [To st. of. straunge poort.] Was rad and sunge, his vertues rehersyng, [songe.] His gouernance, his knyhtly demenyng. Line 1100 Which cesid nat, fro tyme it was be-gonne, [Ms. for st. fro.] [fro that it.] Til into Denmark the noble fame is ronne. [hat rede.] Which was occasion of ful gret hatreed Of such as hadde at his noblesse enuye. [suych.] Prowesse of knyhthod, where-euer it doth proceed, [wheer euere. did. procede.] Line 1105 And hih report of famous cheualrie [of noble ch.] I-hyndred is ful ofte on sum partie [Is put a-bak ful offte. som.] Bi them that list falsly therat disdeyne, Whan to such noblesse them-silf maynot atteyne. [suych. may not.] Now cese a while I wil in this matere Line 1110 And in maner make a digressioun, [And make in maneer a d.] Lyk as myn auctour doth me pleynly lere, [men st. me. pleynly fehlt.] Forto reherse the firste occasioun [first.] How Danys kam into this regioun; [cam.] Aftir reherse the title be wrytyng [Than telle the cause and the title. —Die lat. Note fehlt.] Line 1115 Of the martirdam of this worthy kyng. Explicit liber primus. Incipit secundus.

II. Buch.

SOmtyme in Denmark ther was a paynym kyng: As I fynde, Lothbrocus was his name, [And as. Lothbroochus.] Which him delited in hawkyng and huntyng [haukyng.] And to disporte him in such maner game; [And fehlt. dispoorte. suych maneer.] And for thencres of his roial fame Line 5 Whan he to Mars had doon his obseruance, [of Mars. don the.] To serue Diane was set al his plesance. This Lothbrocus hadde sones tweyne, [Lothbrook. had sonys.] Wonder despitous and of gret cruelte: [Men moost d. and ful of cr.] Hyngwar and Vbba. which that dide here peyne [Ynguar. did hir.] Line 10 To stuffe ther shippis with gret meyne, [shippes. with furyous fals meyne.] Lyk as piratis to robbe upon the se, [Lyk fehlt. see.] And so lik men of ther corage wood [thus st. so.] Reioisid hem euere to slen and sheede blood. [Reioysshed. sleen. shede.] What-euer they wan outher bi force or myht, [euere. outhir be.] Line 15 It was to hem no-maner difference; For whethir ther getyng kam by wrong or riht, [For wheer. cam in of wrong.] Thei took ther title of wilful violence. And as they sat onys in the presence [oonys. the fehlt.] Of Lothbrocus, ther fadir, that was kyng, [Lothbroochus. her.] Line 20 They gan boste and seide in auauntyng: [Thus they gan booste. in vauntyng.] "Ys ther any leuyng now these daies, [Is. ony lyvyng. this.] Kyng or prynce, so myhti of puissance In any rewm, knowen at alle assaies, [ony Reem. prevyd at al.] On londe and water that hath gouernance, [lond or watir.] Line 25 Which rassemblith or is lik in assurance [Which that resemblyth or þe lyk in substaunce.] To vs in manhod, yf it be declaryd, [yif. be wel d.] Which to our noblesse of riht may be comparyd? [Or to our.] For there is noon afforn vs dar abide; [ther.] Be title of swerd alway we preuaile, [prevaylle.] Line 30 To spoile be force alle them that go or ride, [spoylle. them fehlt. goon.] Take alle vesselis that bi the se doo saile, [And take. vessellys. do saylle.] Stuf of marchantis we proudly kan assaile, [Stuff. gan assaylle.] Takyng noon heed whethir it be ryht or wrong— [wheer st. whethir.] For ther be any on erthe now so strong?" [l. wher st. for?] [Wher ther be ony.] Line 35 Whan Lothbrocus had herd hem seid a while [Lothbroochus. said.] Such bostful woordes, presumptuous of language, [suych. woordys.] Anoon on hem of scorn he gan to smyle, Bad hem stynte and cese of ther outrage, Seide: there was oon, yong and tendir of age, [Sayde. oon but yong.] Line 40 Which passed hem in worthynesse as ferre [passyd.] As doth the sonne a verray litil sterre: [litel.] "In Estyngland there regneth now a kyng [Estyngelond. ther regnith.] Whos hih renoun alle folkes do commende, [whoos. al folkys do comende.] Of whom the noblesse by report of seyeng [seying.] Line 45 On euery part his bemys doth extende. [Thorugh-out the world.] Lat be your bost! his prowesse doth transcende [boost. your prowesse.] Al your emprises as hih as doth the moone

A cloudy skie that shal vanysshe soone. With his manhod he holden is riht wis, [manhood. holdyn.] Line 50 And with his knyhthod he hath gret prouidence, Of gouernance he hath a souereyn pris; Thouh he be large, he doth no violence. [Off his largesse.] And thus his famous roial excellence— I dar reherse, as men reporten alle, [reportyn.] Line 55 Doth your auauntyng and al your bost appalle. Thus hath the heuene disposid and his fate [disposed in his.] That he in vertu hath no tyme lorn; And thouh so be he was but late, [that he was.] As men recorde, in Saxonie born, Line 60 Spent weel his youthe, as I you tolde afforn, [wel his tyme, wheer ye your tyme ha lorn.] Sit now crownyd on a kyngis stage, [And sit. on st. in. kynges.] Where ye no name han sauf of fals pillage. [wheer. saff.] Rehersith sum thyng in especial [folio 41] [Tel on sum.] Which to your worshepe may rebounde ageyn; [That.] Line 65 Yif euer ye dide any thyng egal [euere. diden ony.] On londe or watir that was knowe or seyn [lond or see.] Lyk the meritis preued in certeyn [merytes prevyd.] Of kyng Edmond, which with sceptre in honde, [hond.] But yong of yeris gouerneth Estynglonde"! [governyth Estyngelond.] Line 70 With such rebukes whan Lothbrok had hem blamyd, [Thus with rebukys whan.] In ther hertis it causid gret enuye, And of them-silff were verraily ashamyd [wer.] That he kyng Edmond list so magnefie: [so to.] Made an a-vow of fals conspiracie: [And made a vowh.] Line 75 Yif thei myhte fynde oportunyte, [yiff euere.] On his noblesse thei wolde auenged be. [avengyd.] Thus euer hath been a merueilous dif|ference [euere. merveyllous.] Twen liht of uertu and vecious derknesse, [vicious dirknesse.] Twen perfeccioun and raueynous violence, [ravynous.] Line 80 Atwen fals pillage and knyhtly hy prow|esse; [hih.] Enuye alwey is contrary to goodnesse. [For euere envye is contrarye.] And thus for uertu, to speke in woordes pleyne, [And so. woordys pleyn.] Inguar and Vbba at Edmond gan disdeyne. [dys|deyn.] And in this menewhile it fil upon a day: [in this whyle.] Line 85 Of fantasie that cam onto his mynde, [vnto.] He wolde disporte him, go take his hauk and play, [to st. go.] This said Lothbrook, and leue his men behynde. [Sool by hym-sylff.] And at a ryuer it fil thus, as I fynde: [riveer.] Because that he was allone at large, Line 90 Anoon he entred in talitil barge. [entryd. into a litel.] And in that vessel whil he kept him cloos, [And fehlt. In his vessel.] Sool be him-silff, that no-man myht him se: [by.] Al vnwarly a sodeyn wynd aroos And drof his barge into the salt see. [drooff.] Line 95 And by our occian daies too or thre [by thoccian. two.] Fordreuen he was by fatal auenture [Fordryven.] Among the wawes, and koude no land recure. [kowde. lond.] Diuers daungeres he passid of many a fond, [He passyd daungerys and many dyvers sond.] With sondry tempestis forpossid to and fro: [sundry. too & froo.] Line 100 Tyl be fortune he was cast upon the lond [Tyl he be f. was.] Fer up in Northfolke, the story tellith so, [ferre. Norffolk. soo.] Beside a village, callid Redam tho. [thoo.] Men of the contre for an vnkouth thyng [cuntre.] Hym and his hauk presented to the kyng. [presentyd.] Line 105

Line 105 Ryht merueilous and riht a strange caas A kyng to come fro so fer contre! [ferre cuntre.] And no-man koude espie what he was: [kowde.] In his apport he kepte him so secre. [kept.] Thyng that god wil, it must needis be— [mvt nedys.] Line 110 To muse theron, the labour were in veyn, [wer.] Or to dispute or argue ther-ageyn. [Or two (!)] Whan Lothbrocus was to kyng Edmond brouht, [But whan Lothbrook. Edmund.] The kyng comandid of Roial gentilesse To al his houshold: that he failed nouht [housoold. faylle.] Line 115 Of that myhte ese him in his heuynesse [Of fehlt. myght.] Or reconforte him in his vnkouth distresse; Euer of custum chargyng his officeres [Evere. custom. officerys.] Al humanite shewen to straungeres. [shewyn to straungerys.] Thoruh al his court this was the vsance: [al fehlt.] Line 120 That no-man shulde in no-maner wise To no straunger do no displesance, [straungeer.] But them cherisshe, as thei best kan deuyse. [can best.] Which of custum was kept for an enprise [custom. empryse.] In al his paleis to pilgrym and straunger, Line 125 With hool attendance, that ech man make cheer. This said Lothbrok was weel ronne in age, [wel.] Riht gentilmanly in al his demenyng, Was disposid of old in his corage [And was disposed.] Specially to haukyng and huntyng. [hawkyng.] Line 130 To whom ther was assigned by the kyng Oon, that was maistir of his huntis alle, [maister.] And, as I fynde, Bern men dide him calle. [did.] This Lothbrocus considered euery thyng, [And thus Loth|brochus.] Thouh he were a paynym in his lyue, Line 135 Toknys notable which he sauh in the kyng [Notable toknys.] Of hih prowesse and knyhtly disciplyne, And how he was a merour of doctryne, And his houshold was liht and lanterne [And how.] To alle uertuous how thei shal hem go|uerne: [shulde.] Line 140 For which Lothbrocus louly, as him ouhte, [Loth|broochus lowly.] Requered the kyng for him to prouide, [The kyng requeryd.] With hool herte of grace he him besouhte, In his houshold that he myhte abide, [With-inne.] Doon him seruise bothe to gon and ride— [To doon. goon.] Line 145 For, as him sempte, it was in his auys [in fehlt.] Among housholdis an heuenly paradys. [Among alle housoldys.] To whos request the kyng is condes|cendid [condiscendid.] And most goodly gan him reconforte, Gaf him licence, and nat be reprehendid, [as it is com|prehendid.] Line 150 With Bern, his hunte, to pleie him and disporte, And whan him list to court ageyn resorte; [ageyn to court.] And grauntid him withoute daunger [withoute moor daungeer.] To gon on haukyng by euery fressh ryuer. [To lete hym hawke.] And thouh Lothbrocus were of hih estat [Lothbrook wer.] Line 155 In his contre and of gret excellence, Yit in such game he was most fortunat, [suych.] And therof hadde famous experience: [ther-inne had.] Thoruh whos besy waker dilligence [For thorugh his besy wakir.] His hauk and he took foules many-fold, [foulys.] Line 160 Ech day them brouhte hoom to the hous|hold. [And ech day brought hem. housoold.] Al watir foul and foul upon the lond, Wher he fond plente in any maner place, [Wheer plente was of them in ony place.] Ther myht noon escape from his hond; [froom.] And beestis wilde ful weel he koude enchace. [wel. cowde.] Line 165 And thus he stood weel in the kynges grace,

Eek al the houshold gan him magnefie — [Yit al the housoold.] SaufBern, the hunte, hadde at him enuye. [167—8) umgesetzt.] [Save.] Thus he, that stood in euery mannys grace [that fehlt.] And in the kynges hih beneuolence, [beny|volence.] Line 170 Was by enuye remeued from his place, [thorugh st. by. remewyd fro.] Lengere in court to haue noon assistence; So serpentyn was the violence [serpentyne.] Which of this Bern sette the herte afire: Of fals malys moordre to conspire. [Of froward malice fals mordre.] Line 175 Cause was ther noon, sauf that Loth|brok [ther was. save.] Was more eurous and gracious onto game [ewrous. vnto.] Than was this hunte, and mo beestis took, [moo.] In such practik hadde a grettere name: [And in suych konnyng.] Wherof this Bern lauhte a maner shame, [had st. lauhte.] Line 180 Gan compasse of hatful cruelte [And gan.] Whan he sauh tyme, auengid forto be. [sawh.] Vpon a day to-gedir out thei wente [to gidre.] Vn-to a wode, sum game forto fynde. [woode.] And whil Lothbrocus no - maner malis mente, [Lothbrook. malice.] Line 185 This false Bern fil on him behynde [fals.] And cowardly, the story makith mynde, Slouh him riht ther in his furious teene, [slowh. there. tene.] And after hid him a-mong the busshes greene. [mong busshes rugh & grene.] The moordre accomplisshid, Bern tour|ned hoom ageyn, [Afftir this mordre Bern tournyd.] Line 190 As he no-thyng knowen hadde of the caas. [had knowen.] And a day aftir whan Lothbrok was nat seyn, The kyng enquered ech man where he was. [enqueryd. wheer.] And in this while, rennyng a gret paas, In kam his grehound, and fawne gan the kyng, [this st. his. þe.] Line 195 Fil doun toforn him ful pitously whynyng. And whan the kyng had youe the gre|hound bred, [yovyn.] Out of the paleis a gret paas he ran Streiht to his maister, where as he lay ded. [maistir.] And in this tyme the kyng merueile began [the kyng fehlt. gan st. began.] Line 200 And enquered of many dyuers man: So longe absent where Lothbrok shulde be, [long.] Almost thre daies, that no-man koude him se. Wherof the kyng fil in suspecioun, [suspeccioun.] Gan ymagyne that it was not a-riht, [nat.] Line 205 Ful diligently made inquisicioun Yif any man hadde had of him a siht. [ony.] But on the morwe aftir the thridde nyht Onys ageyn the grehound dide appere, [Yit eft ageyn the grehound did.] Fawnyng the kyng with a ful pitous cheere. Line 210 Wherupon the kyng gan caste anoon He wolde the maner fynde out and espie Vnto what place the grehound wolde goon; [Onto.] Cerchid out by prudent policie, [And serche it out.] Assigned a knyht to folwe to that partie [And bad a knyght drawe afftir that p.] Line 215 In secre wise, to knowe what it mente, Why so ofte the grehound kam and wente. [Why that so. cam.] Afftir the grehound the knyht gan folwe a paas, Most secrely, and maad therof no tale. [Ful st. most. secretly. made.] By whom he kam there as Lothbrocus was [cam. ther that Lothbrook.] Line 220 Hid vnder leues in a couert uale, [vndir levys. a ful couert.] His wounde bloody, his face ded and pale, His eyen gastlewh reuersid bothe tweyne, [vp tournyd st. reuersid.] His hound aside which dide his deth compleyne. [besyde. did.] Moordre wil out, thouh it abide a while, Line 225 Lyk his decert, he must receyue his meede. — [Lych his discert. mvt.]

For of this treson and fals compassid gile The venymous roote began first of hat|reede. For it was founde that Bern hath doon this deede, By certeyn signes, and forto make a preeff [be serteyn.] Line 230 To knowe the trouthe the grehound was most cheff. Whan kyng Edmond hath fully appar|ceyued [aperceyved.] Fro poynt to poynt the mater how it stood, [matere.] How this moordre by Bern was first con|ceyued Of fals enuye, which maade his herte wood, [made.] Line 235 And how to god the vois gan crye of blood, To doon of riht vengeance, as him ouhte, [ven|gaunce.] Vpon the traitour that this treson wrouhte: The kyng of riht was meued to do lawe, [mevyd.] To punysshe this deede hatful and hor|ryble. [orryble.] Line 240 Bern was arrestid, which myht him nat withdrawe, [not.] Aftir conuict by toknes ful credible, [And afftir. toknys.] Dempt and foriuged that in al haste pos|sible [for|jugid.] For-to be lad onto the same stronde [vnto.] Wher first the barge of Lothbrok kam to londe. Line 245 Into that vessel, the story is weel knowe, [wel.] Which nouther hadde oore, seil nor mast, [nouthir. sayl.] Folwyng the cours what coost the wynd list blowe, [To folwe the.] This said Bern be Juggement was cast. [sayde. by.] Tween wynd and wawe his barge almost brast, Line 250 Fordryue by rokkis and many hidous roche: Til toward Denmark his vessel gan ap|proche. [a-proche.] And so be-fil of sodeyn auenture, [And it be-ffyl. a st. of.] As hap and fortune list for him purchace: [provide st. purchace ver|schrieben.] With gret myschef the lond he gan recure [That with.] Line 255 And was up dreuen in the same place [dryven.] Wher Lothbrocus was wont for his solace [wheer as.] To goon on haukyng, whil he was alyue: Wher Bern the hunte of fortune dide aryue. [forcast st. of for|tune. did vp aryve.] The barge of Lothbrok in Denmark was weel knowe, Line 260 But of his deth they knew no-maner thyng Nor to what coost the wyndes hadde him blowe [coostys. wynd had.] Nor what was falle of him that was here kyng. [ther st. here.] But fals Bern at his up-komyng [B. with|oute moore tarying.] Was take anoon and lad forth by the hond Line 265 Toforn too prynces, which gouerned al that lond. [To-for II. governyd.] These prynces tweyne, sonys to Loth|brok, [This. of st. to. kyng Lothbrook.] Hynguar and Vbba callid in tho daies, [Ynguar.] In ful streiht wise the said Bern the took, [Which by gret streyghtnesse. seid.] Of him tenquere they made no delaies, [And to enquere hym they.] Line 270 Constreynyng him bi rigerous assaies [But hym constreyned.] To discure a-mong his peynes alle [To declare.] Of ther fadir what that was befalle. This cursid Bern, enuyous and riht fals [ek st. riht.] And of complexioun verray saturnyne, Line 275 Worthi to been enhangid bi the hals Or to be rakkid with a broke chyne, With face pale and tonge serpentyne [tounge serpertyne(!).] Reportid hath in his malencolie

How kyng Edmund slouh Lothbrok of enuye, [slowh.] Line 280 And how this slauhtre was doon in despit [despight.] Of ther lyne and of ther roial blood. That thei of haste withoute more respit, [Ms. despit st. respit.] [moore respight.] Knowyng the deth of Lothbrok how it stood, To Bern gaf credence, which that maad hem wood, [yaff. made.] Line 285 Of verray rancour and furyous cruelte [veray.] Caste on kyng Edmund auengid forto be. [Edmond.] And bi assent these cruel prynces tweyne, [thes.] Hyngwar and Vbba, of hatreed and enuye [Yngwar. hatrede.] Thoruh al Denmark proudly gan ordeyne [out st. al. ful proudly.] Line 290 To gadre in haste al the cheualrye, Maad assemble a passyng-gret nauye. [Fro sondry coostys assemblyd a greet navye.] Twenti thousend of fyhtyng men thei hadde, [And XX^ti thou|sand.] Which bi the se to yngland ward thei ladde. [Ynglond.] And Bern the hunte, as ye shal vndir|stonde, Line 295 Vndertook the shippis forto leede [Vndirtook ther shippes. lede.] Toward the coostis of Estynglonde. But Eolus contrary was in deede, [contrarye.] Which drof ther vessell to Berwyk upon Tweede: [droof.] At which port the story doth descryue [And at that poort.] Line 300 How that thei weren compellid for taryue. [wern. for fehlt. to aryve.] Afftir this londyng a-brood thei gan hem drawe [ther st. this. first st. abrood.] Thoruh al the North heldyng ther passage, [Toward the n. hem holdyng ther p.] And al the peeple that heeld of Cristis lawe [Cristes.] Thei slouh hem up, bothe old and yong of age; [They nouthir sparyd old nor yong of a.] Line 305 Cherches, Abbeys thei spoilid in her rage; [Cherchys. spoylled. ther.] Fully purposyng, as the story seith, [myn auctour.] To slen alle tho that heeld of Cristis feith. [sleen. thoo. held.] These woode prynces, these tirantis most cruel, [This froward peple, this t. ful cruel.] To god contrarie and to lawe of nature, Line 310 Be title of wil, as any tigres fel, [of wyl, in ther pursewt moost fel.] To moordre and robbe spared no creature. [To spoylle and robbe, sparyd.] Certeyn yeres there thei dede endure, [And certeyn yeerys ther. did.] Void of al mercy and good conscience, [voyde.] No riht pretendyng sauf wil and violence. [Havyng no title, save.] Line 315 After tyme of certeyn yeres space, [And afftir. yeerys,] Euer enduryng in ther fals cruelte, [Perseueryng euere.] Hyngwar purposid forto change his place, [Yngwar.] Left Vbba stille in the north contre, [And lefft.] And took with him a passyng-gret meyne Line 320 Toward Estyngland, yf it wolde auaile, [Estyngelond. yiff. myght st. wolde.] Of fals presumpcion kyng Edmund for tassaile. And with his meyne ther he his tentis piht, [there. he fehlt.] In sondry places where he dide hosteie. [By divers placys wheer. did.] The peeple oppressid durst nat with him fiht Line 325 Nor in no wise his biddyng disobeie. Thus, by force this tirant gan werreie [And thus. warreye.] The Innocent peeple by strengthe and myhti hond, Thoruh euery contre of Estynglond. [Estyngelond.] This was the maner of him and his men: [manere.] Line 330 Of euery age to slen alle tho he mette, [In euery.] Nother spared childre nor women; [He nouthir sparyd.]

Pite nor praier myhte nat his swerd lette. [Prayer nor pyte myght his swerd nat.] Thus procedyng, it happed that he sette [And thus. happyd.] His paueliouns upon a pleyn contre, [pavylliouns with-Inne a strong cuntre.] Line 335 Which stood nat ferr fro Thetforde the cite. [was st. stood. ferre. Thetfford.] And as I fynde, he entryng in that toun, Of his komyng the ceteseynes vnprouyded, [Ful vnwarly, the citeȝeyns vnprovided.] Sleyng the peeple, as he wente up and doun — [sleeyng. went.] For lik as sheepe they stood alone, vn|guyded, [they wer. vngided.] Line 340 Withoute an hed, dispers and eek deuyded: And as beestis with swerd of vengance [But lyk as.] Thei were oppressid and koude no cheuy|sance; [wer. cowde.] Thus first the tyrant gan his malis shewe, [first fehlt. gan the tyraunt his cruel malice.] By cruel vengance the cite despoilyng; [By mortal. dyspoyllyng.] Line 345 He spared no sect, sauf he kepte a fewe [sparyd noon, sect fehlt. kept.] Of folkes olde, vnweeldy and haltyng, [Of fehlt. Folk that wer olde.] Vpon ther deth for febilnesse languys|shyng: [And on ther.] Such as he dempte, platly for-to seye, [suych. platly fehlt. ther is no moore to seye.] That were not worthy on his swerd to deye. [wer nat.] Line 350 This tirant Hyngwar by feer gan them compelle, [Ynguar. for feer. hem.] Voidyng delaies forto teche hem (!) where [hym.] Or in what castel kyng Edmund dide duelle, [place st. castel. Edmond did.] And of his puissance thei gan also enquere, [And ek also of hem he gan enquere.] And that thei shulde conueie him and lere [And fehlt. wolde conveyen.] Line 355 Toward the place, or geten him a guyde, [and gete.] Where his houshold that tyme dide abide. [wheer with. housoold. he did.] For verray dreed these folkes feeble and olde, [veray. this folkys poore and oolde.] Of ther lyues stondyng in Jupartye, Vnto Hyngwar the place anoon thei tolde, [Ynguar.] Line 360 And with his host thei lad him that partye [oost. ladde hem.] Wher as kyng Edmond with his cheualrye Withynne Castre (!), a place delectable, [At Elysdone a place ful delytable.] [Ms. castre.] His houshold heeld, ful roial and notable. [housoold.] But whan kyng Edmond knew of his comyng [folio 50] [knewh.] Line 365 And of the paynymes the maner herde seyn, [herd.] Ful lik a knyht he made no tarieng [tarying.] But with his power, statly, weel beseyn,. [poweer. wel.] Beside Thetforde he mette him on a pleyn. [Thetford.] Ther wardis set and sheltrouns in bataile Line 370 Euerich gan other ful mortally assaile. [othir.] From the morwe that the larke song, Whan in Thorient Phebus shoon ful bryht, [the Orient.] Thei first assemblid, on outher party strong, [outhir.] And so contynued in ther mortal fyht; [contynnewyd.] Line 375 The slauhtre last til it drouh to nyht: For with his knyhtis that kyng Edmond ladde [knyghtes.] Of paynym blood ful gret plente he shadde. Edmond that day was Cristis champioun, [Crystes.] Preeuyng him-silf a ful manly knyht; [Pre|vyng.] Line 380 Among sarseynes he pleied the lioun: [Sarsyns.] For they lik sheepe fledde out of his syht. Maugre the Danys he put Hyngwar to flyht: [mawgre. Ynguar.] For wher his swerd that day dide glyde, [the swerd of Edmond did glyde (that day fehlt).] Ther was no paynym afforn him durste abyde. [durst.] Line 385 The soil of slauhtre I-steynyd was with blood, [was I-steyned.] The sharp swerd of Edmond turnyd red: [sharpe. tournyd.]

For ther was noon that his strook withstood Nor durste abide afforn him for his hed; And many a paynym in the feeld lay ded, Line 390 And many cristene in that mortal striff [many a.] Our feith defendyng that day loste his liff. [lost.] Out of the feeld Hyngwar is a-goon, [Ynguar.] With his meyne, whan it drouh to nyht. Ded in that bataile abood ful manyoon. [that fehlt.] Line 395 And blessid Edmond, as Cristes owne knyht, [kyng st. blessid.] Gan to considere in his owyn siht [gan consydryn. his inward s.] And streyhtly peisen, this holy kyng most good, [blyssed.] What pereile folwith to shede so moche blood. [pereyel.] Withynne him-sylff he dempte of equite Line 400 Of paynym blood the gret effusioun [greete.] Caused in soth thoruh ther Iniquite [Causyd.] Perpetuely ther dampnacioun, [perpetuelly.] And how in helle was no redempcioun; And of cristene thouhte, of verray trouthe, [he thoughte. veray.] Line 405 To seen such slauhtre it was to gret a routhe. [swych. to fehlt. a gret.] Thouh he was bothe manly and vertuous And a good knyht, his story thus deuyseth, Yit of prudence this kyng victorious In his memorie narwely aduertisith [ful narewely aduertyseth.] Line 410 How good conscience ageyn slauhtre agrysith: [swych slaughtre agriseth.] Wherfore of purpos a uow he made in deede [I pur|poose he made a vowh.] Neuer his liff no blood to sheede. [nevir in. no paynym blood.] He hadde a routhe that goddis creature, [a fehlt.] Which rassemblid his liknesse and ymage, [re|semblyd.] Line 415 Sholde in helle eternal peyne endure [shulde.] Thoruh mysbeleue for paganysme rage; Considered also: it was to gret damage [Considred.] Tween too peeples to seen such mortal stryues, [Twen them & crystene. suych.] Soules to Juparte and losse eek of ther lyues. [Ther soulys. and ek ther lyves.] Line 420 Ofte in his mynde and his remembrance [and in his.] This pitous mater was tournyd up so doun: [matere. vp and doun.] Dempte onto god it was gret displesance [vnto.] To seen of blood so gret effusioun; Makyng an heste of hool affeccioun [an fehlt. behest.] Line 425 Duryng his lif, as him thouhte it dew, [dewe.] For Cristis sake shedyng of blood teschew. [Crystes. teschewe.] Remembryng also how Cryst upon a cros [the croos.] Lyst shede his blood, our ransoun for taquite, And of his power the thridde day aros, [poweer.] Line 430 By mercy only, with pes men to respite — [oonly. pees. respyghte.] For euer in pes he doth him most delite: [euere. delyghte.] For which kyng Edmond his corage hath applied [hath his corage.] To leue the werre and be with pes allied, Folwyng the traces of our lord Jhesu [tracys.] Line 435 Which loued ay pes and list no-man werreie: [lovyd.] Bexaumple of whom with pes took his issu [this yssew.] Withynne his herte to close him vndir keie; Which forto keepe he redy was to deie. And whil the kyng in pes thus doth so|iourne, Line 440 To speke of Hyngwar my stile I wil retourne. [Ynguar. — Die Ueber|schrift fehlt.]

This chapitle declarith the Title of the martirdam of Edmond, the kyng of Est|yngland.

Whan cruel Hyngwar maugre al his myht [Ynguar.] Constreyned was the feeld to forsake [forsakyn.] And with his meyne was I-put to flyht, A dedly hatreed gan in his herte a-wake, [hatrede.] Line 445 Hym to purueie a vengance for-to take; And heer-upon a werm most serpentyne [here.] Of fals enuye gan in his herte myne. His folk disparpiled he gan gadere ageyn, [dys|parpled. gadre.] To make him strong dide his diligence. [did al his dilligence.] Line 450 Eek of his myscheff whan Vbba herde seyn, [herd.] With ten thousend kam to his presence. [thousand he cam to. his fehlt.] Cruel of herte, bothe of oon sentence, [and bothe of o.] Conspired in haste of froward cursidnesse By way of vengance kyng Edmond to oppresse. [weye.] Line 455 Tofore Thetforde bothe of oon assent, [And at Th.] Of marcial pride and pompous fel outrage Thei heeld a counseil, and therupon han sent [held. counsayl. ha sent.] Vnto kyng Edmond a surquedous massage, By them deuysid, contrary of language, [be. devysed. contraryous.] Line 460 Theron concludyng a sentence ful peruerse [proverse (!)] Vndir these woordis which I shal reherse. [this.] First in al haste foorth goth the mas|sager [hast.] Sent by Hyngwar, a ful froward knyht, [By Yngwar sent.] Malencolius of face, look and cheer, [malencolyous of look, face.] Line 465 Of port despitous and coleryk of syht, [of his sight.] Doyng no reuerence to maner wiht, [no fehlt nach to.] [Which did no. to no m. w.] Sauf to the kyng, knelyng, he gan abraide [save. he fehlt.] In fel language and thus to him he saide: [And in. and vor thus fehlt.] "The myhti prynce, most victorious Line 470 On lond and se, of power Inuyncible, Most to be drad, most marcial, most famous, [and nach marcial.] Notable in conquest, more than it is credible — Whom to descryue it is an Inpossible: [discryve. it fehlt.] My lord Hyngwar, as thou shalt vndir|stonde, Line 475 By me of trust sent to the this sonde: He chargith the and yeueth the counsail [the vor and fehlt. yevith the this c.] Tobeie his preceptis and therupon tabide, And the comandith, to thi gret auail, [vnto thyn avayl.] For thi sauacion afforn to prouyde, [To thy s. for to pr.] Line 480 Al thyng contrary forto sette a-side [con|trarye.] That shulde rebelle ageyn his hih puis|sance, And the submytte vnto his ordynance; This eek his wil that thow, nat maligne [this = this is.] To disobeie his lustis in no thyng, Line 485 Into his hand thy kyngdam to resigne, [the st. thy.] To paie a tribut, and vnder him be kyng; [trybute. vndir. to be.] And eek thow mustest accomplisshe his axyng [thou mustyst. askyng.] Thi roial tresoures and thi richesses olde [tresours. rychesse.] With him to parte, of ryht as thou art holde; [parte hem.] Line 490 Ouer al thyng this charge on the he leith [And ovir.] And the comandith shortly in sentence: First to forsake of Cristen-dam the feith, [thy feith.] And, to his goddis that thow do reuerence, [thou doo.] To offre onto them with franc and with encence. [frankincense Weihrauch.] [vnto hem. with frank and encence.] Line 495 Be weel auysed thow make no delay [wel. thou.] Al this taccomplisshe, and sey nat onys nay!

And he ageynward of his magnyficence Shal to the grante a statly fayr guerdoun: [graunte vnto the.] Assigne tresour onto thi dispence, [vnto.] Line 500 And vnder him regne in this regioun. [vndir.] To these requestis make no rebellioun: [To this request.] For, yif thou do, thou shalt lese in this stryff Thy kyngdam first, thy tresour, and thy lyff. [kyndam.] Loo heer theffect of myn ambassiat — [here.] Line 505 To the I haue nomore in charge to seyn. [charg.] Thi counseil tak of folk of hih estat, [counsayl. take. of fehlt.] Shortly concludyng, and lese no tyme in veyn: What to my lord I shal reporte ageyn; Mak no delaies of that we han in hande, [Make. dellayes. haue on honde.] Line 510 Reherse in substance wherto he shal stande!" [But telle in s. . stonde.] The kyng, nat rakel, but of hih prudence, [rakyl.] As he that was discret, manly and wys, Lyst for noon haste lese his pacience; Thouh he this mater sette at litil pris, [matere se t. litel.] Line 515 Yit he purposed to heere and se thauys [purpoosyd.] Of a bisshop, which that stood beside, By his counseil an answere to prouyde. The Bisshop stondyng in a perplexite At such a streit what was forto seyne — [suych. streyght.] Line 520 For of discrecioun he pleynly did se, Lyk as thenbassiat dide his wit constreyne, [did. witt.] How this mater requered oon of tweyne: [matere re queryd.] Outher tendure, for short conclusioun, [outhir.] Void of al respit deth or subieccioun: [voyde. respight.] Line 525 Toward the kyng with a ful pitous cheer, The said bisshop, gan to tourne his face, Which, for astonyd of this sodeyn mateer, [Which sore astonyd.] Koude yeue no counseil in so short a space — [Cowde yive.] Such mortal dreed gan al his look difface Line 530 That he vnnethe had no woord to speke; [he fehlt.] Til atte laste thus he gan out breke: [at the.] "To holde a feeld ye stonden vnpurueied, [stondyn.] Heer atte hand your enmy is batailid; [here at the. bataylle d.] Yif his requestis of you be disobeied, Line 535 Your castel heer is lyk to been assailid, [heer fehlt. to be assaylled.] Of men nat stuffid, nouther weel vitailid: [not. nouthir. vitaylled.] And of too harmys at so streiht a prykke [two army s.] It were wisdam to chese the lasse wykke. Fro Cristis feith so that ye not flitte, [Crystes. that fehlt.] Line 540 Hool in your herte that it be conserued, By dissymylyng ye may your-self sub|mytte, [Be dyssemelyng. sylff.] Sithe the kyngdam shal to you be reserued; [sith. kyndam. be to yow reservyd.] And that your lif may be fro deth con|serued, [And fehlt. fro deth may be preservyd.] Your-silff submyttyng ye may dissymyle and feyne Line 545 For a tyme, til god list bet ordeyne". [As for a.] This bisshop hadde a ferful tendirnesse, [The b.] A Jelous dreed in his·ymagynatiff; [Jalous.] Seyng the mater stonde in such streihtnesse [Seeyng. matere. stood.] As iupartie of the kynges liff, [As in j.] Line 550 Knew no diffence nor preseruatiff As for the tyme in his opynyoun, [oppynyo un.] Nor noon auoidance, sauf symylacioun. [save symblacioun.] But blissid Edmond was not born to feyne — [blyssed.] Yt longid not onto his roial blood; [It longith nat vnto.] Line 555 His herte euer on, departed not on tweyne, [ay oon. departyd.] Hatid too heedis closid in oon hood; [two.] So stable and hool withynne his soule he stood By manly force, of o face and of o cheer, [be. of face and o cheere.] Caste otherwise to gouerne this mateer. [othir. mateere.] Line 560

Line 560 He was endewed with alle the giftes seuene [enduyd.] Of tholigost, this Cristes champion. [the hooly goost.] Of hooly feruence cast up his look to heuene And inly syhhed of hih deuocioun; [syhed.] Void of al feynyng and symylacioun, [symblacioun.] Line 565 Lyk goddis knyht manly dide abraide, Vnto the bisshop euene thus he saide: "O, sere bisshop, sholde I me now with|drawe, [O sir.] Shewe by dissymylyng a maner variance? Force to put of with force, is good lawe; [it is.] Line 570 But this mater requereth in substance [mateere requerith.] To be peised more iustly in ballance — [For to.] What sholde profite to my concyence [What dysavayl wer to my c.] Wynne al this world and to god doon offence? [and do to.] Ther is in soth a nothir cheuysance [chevyssaunce.] Line 575 Heer in this world for thyngis temporal, [Here. of st. for. thynges.] And a nother gostly purueiance [anothir. purvyaunce.] Touchyng the thynges that been celestial; [thoo thynges. be.] For wordly men Juparte lif and al, [Off worldly men.] Slen ther neyhboures, only to gete good; [And sleen. neyhbours.] Line 580 But goddis lawe forbit shedyng of blood. This proude legat of this tirant seith [of the.] And first purposith in his legarie (!) [l. legacie?] [purposeth in this l.] That I sholde forsake Cristes feith [shulde.] And falle falsly in tapostasie, Line 585 Submytte my crowne and my regalie, Aftir these thynges were fro me withdrawe, [this. fro me wer drawe.] To cerymonyes of paganysmes lawe. [paganysme.] But there anoieth noon aduersite [ther.] Where domynacion hath noon interesse, [wheer.] Line 590 Of froward malys nor of Iniquite — [malyce.] For alwey trouthe al falsheed shal op|presse. [al fehlt.] Tirantis may regne and floure in the richesse As for a while, floreshyng in ther sesoun, [florysshyng.] Til thei vnwarly go to dampnacioun. [goon.] Line 595 And for my part, al lordshepe set a-side, [lordshippe.] To Cristes feith to which I haue me take, [I ha.] For lyf or deth theron I shal abide Vnto my laste, and neuer my lord forsake, [nevir.] Which on a cros deied for my sake: [he deyde.] Line 600 So for his loue and feith to-gidre in deede I wil weel suffre my blood for him to sheede." [that men my blood shal shede.] And heerupon this kyng most ful of grace, [here.] Most pacient and most benigne of cheer, [paciently.] Lyk goddis knyht, gan to tourne his face Line 605 Bi gret auys toward the massager That kam from Hyngwar, and bad him neyhen neer, [fro Ynguar. neyhe.] Ley to ere, to herkne in pleyn language [And ley.] A ful answere touchyng his massage: [this.] "Go to thi lord in al haste possible, Line 610 To him reporte pleynly as I seie As for answere stable and most credible: [moost stable and credyble.] How Cristes feith I neuer shal disobeie, [nevir.] But for his lawe spende my blood and deie, Lyk my beheste whan I Sathan forsook [my promys.] Line 615 And of his feith the stole and ryng I took. [stoole.] Thi lord behestith thre thynges onto me: [vnto.] This kyngdam, which that I do possede, [kyndam first which yit I.] And of his tresour he grantith me plente; [graunteth.] But of his richesse, god wot, I haue no neede, Line 620 And of my lif I haue no-maner dreede — Sauf I wolde for my most hertis ese Rathere lese al than onys god displese. [621—3) Save I wolde for my moost hertys ese & mede Rathere lese al, make this chevyssaunce, Than to my god do ony dysplesaunce.]

And, out of subieccioun with al extort seruage, [And fehlt. and al extort.] In Cristes feith I stonde at liberte, Line 625 Maugre thi lord and al thi proud language. Shedyng of blood and al mortalite Causid of werre, shal be left of me; [for me.] And Cristes lawe to meynteyne anddiffende, [meyntene.] With humble suffrance my lif I wil dis|pende." Line 630 This proude knyht, aforn from Hyng|war sent, [froom.] Ys tournyd ageyn, of indignacion, [Is tournyng.] And hath reported the kynges hool entent, [repoortyd.] How he wil neuer thoruh no collusion [nevir in his entencioun.] Forsake his feith, by no condicion, Line 635 But rathere to been, forto seie in woor|des fewe, [to fehlt. been to speke in woordys f.] With sharpe swerdis on smale pecis hewe; "The paynym fect he hath in hih despit; [This p. sect. despight.] To submytte him he demeth it were out|rage; [denyeth (!)] Blood forto sheede he hath noon appetit, [appetight.] Line 640 And to been armyd he hath left his corage; [lefft.] Affermeth platly and seith in pleyn lan|guage: [affermyth.] He moost desireth a-boue al wordly good [worldly.] For Cristis feith to deie and spende his blood. And to ffranchise his kyngdam and contre, [kyndam. cuntre.] Line 645 He hath a corage, that he him-self a-lone, [sylff.] So his peeple myht stonde at liberte, To suffre deth meekly in his persone. More with the world he wil nat haue to doone. His manly knyhtis, his soudiours nyh and ferre [knyghtes. sowdyours.] Line 650 Pes to cherisshe, he hath yeue up the werre." [he fehlt. yove.] Whan that Hyngwar this answere vndir|stood, [that fehlt. Ynguar.] With men of armys passyng a gret route [rowte.] He doun descendith, as any tigre wood, [ony tegre.] And hath the castell beseged al-a-boute. [castel. besegyd.] Line 655 Of whom kyng Edmond stood nothyng in doute, For Cristis loue list no diffence make, But of hool herte to deie for his sake. He listnat suffre that no-man sholde lette The seid tirant nor make no diffence, Line 660 Nor that no wiht the gatis sholde shette. For which in haste bi sturdy violence Blissid Edmond was brouht to presence Affor the tirant, sittyng in his estat, Lyk as was Cryst whilom tofor Pilat. [659—665) fehlen.] Line 665 This Ingwar first with furious contynance [contenaunce.] His couert malis began thus to vnclose: [malice.] Of Cristis feith with euery circumstance Most cruely he gan him to oppose, [l. appose.] [cruelly.] Him comandyng withoutyn any glose [withoute ony.] Line 670 Forto declare, and nat a poynt withdrawe, [not.] Yif his profession were maad onto that lawe. [wer. vnto the lawe.] "Certes, quod Edmond, I wol weel that thou knowe: [Certis.] To Crist al hool with body and herte [boody.] I am professid, what wynd that euer blowe; [euere.] Line 675 That fro his feith I shal neuer dyuerte [nevir.] For lyf nor deth, sor ioie nor for smerte, But to contynue in euery auenture [so contynewe.] Withoute chang, whil that my lif may dure. [chaunge. endure.] For ther is nouther tresor nor richesse— [is no tresour.] Line 680 Rekne of erthe al the pocessiouns— [in st. of. the fehlt.]

Power of prynces and ther pompous nob|lesse [poweer.] With al the manacis of tirantis and felouns; Thy furious thretis, thyn adulaciouns, [The.] With al thi puissance shal me nat remeue Line 685 Fro Cristis lawe nor fro his iust beleue. [Crystes. byleue.] Thow maist thi swerd whette sharp and keene And me dismembre ioynt fro ioynt as|sonder, [assondir.] Lyk a tirant in thi contagious teene Me disseuere pecemeel heer and yonder; [par|celmeel. here & yondir.] Line 690 But triste weel, and haue heerof no wonder: [truste. wondir.] It passith thy myht and pompous violence [thy witt.] In Cristes feith to arte my conscience. And o woord, first as I the tolde: [l. at o woord.] As I began so I wil perseuere, [wyl I.] Line 695 My feith, my baptem iustly I wil holde Vnto my laste, and so enduren euere; [enduryn.] Fro my professioun I wil departe neuere; Thow maist manace and slen my body heer, [boody here.] My soule franchised (is) fer from thy poweer. [is fehlt.] [is ferre fro. powere.] Line 700 Do thi beste! thi rychessis I despise; [rychesse I do d.] Thow shalt of me han no subieccioun, [haue.] Nor fro my lawe restreyne me in no wise, To make me halte in my professioun. And herkne a woord, in short conclusioun: Line 705 Of my body thouh thow haue victorye, My soule shal lyue and regne with Crist in glorye. [myn. lyu.] In my diffence I haue set a strong feeld Vpon a ground of long perseuerance, Of Cristes feith deuysed a myhti sheeld, [devysid.] Line 710 A gostly swerd whettid with constance, And a cloos brest of hope in my creance, [breest. hoope.] Of loue and dreed, my body for tassure, [boody.] Hool, vndepartid shal be my Cotearmure; [coote armvre.] A spere of trust vpward erect to heuene, Line 715 Squared the hed ffeith, hope and charite, [Squaryd. hoope.] Which shal reche aboue the sterrys seuene Tofor that lord, bothe on, too, and thre, [oon. two.] Vnto whos grace I submytte me, And for his sake, as I ouhte of ryht, Line 720 Redy to deie as his owyn knyht. [owne.] And for his loue to suffre passioun I am maad strong with herte, wil and cheer, The palme of victory as goddis champioun [vic|torye.] It to conquere, whil that I am heer; Line 725 Of Cristis cros I sette up my baneer, [a st. my.] Bexaumple of martirs, which with ther blody hew [By e. . hewe.] Gat heuenly tryumphes, al clad in purpil hew. [& st. al. newe st. hew(!).] Thus I desire forto been arraied, [be.] As a meek seruant tofor my lord tapere; [meke. tofore. appere.] Line 730 For him to suffre I am nat disamaied, [not dysmayed.] My god, my makere, my saueour most entere, [saviour. entiere.] Which with his blood bouht me so dere; And sithe for me he suffred so gret peyne, [suffryd.] To deie for him, allas why sholde I feyne? [shulde.] Line 735 Wherfore, Hyngwar, make heerof no dellaies! [Ynguar.] Fro Cristes feith I neuer shal declyne. [nevir.] Thy thret, thy manaces, nor al thin hard assaies [thretys. manacys.] Shal for no dreed withynne myn herte myne. [my.] And myn entent at o woord to termyne: Line 740 As Cristis knyht of hool herte I defie Alle fals goddis and al ydolatrie." [Al.]

Off this language Hyngwar wex nyh wood, [Ynguar.] Made the kyng strongly to be bounde [the kyng Edmond.] And comandid, afforn him as he stood, Line 745 First to be bete with shorte battis rounde, [betyn.] His body brosid with many mortal wounde. [broosyd.] And euer the martir among his peynes alle [euyr.] Meekly to Jhesu for helpe he gan to calle. The cheef refuge and supportacioun Line 750 In his suffrance was humble pacience; [with st. was.] Loue to his herte gaff consolacioun, With gostly feer quekid the feruence — For charite feelith no violence: For wher charite afforceth a corage, [wheer. forcyth.] Line 755 There is of peyne founde non outrage. [ne st. of. ne noon.] The cursid Danys of newe cruelte This martyr took, most gracious and be|nigne, Of hasty rancour bounde him to a tre, As for ther marke to sheete at, and ther signe. [shete at ther signe.] Line 760 And in this wise, ageyn hym thei maligne, Made him with arwis of ther malis most wikke [arwes. malice. most fehlt.] Rassemble an yrchoun fulfillid with spynys thikke: [fulffylled.] As was the martyr seynt Sebastyan, Bothe in our feith lyk of condiciouns. Line 765 Red by his sides the roial blood doun ran, And euer to Jhesu he maade his orisouns. [euere.] Thus with the tryumphes of ther passiouns Blissid martirs, with crownes laureat, [Blyssed. crownys.] Cleyme hih in heuene to regne in ther estat. Line 770 Danys with arwes hookyd, sharpe and grounde [arwys.] Spenten ther shot, fersere than liouns, [spentyn.] Most mortally, as wounde ay upon wounde Renewid ageyn the deepe inpressiouns. What shal I write of Cristis champiouns, Line 775 Which whilom thouhte it dide her herte good [whyloom. did. hertis.] To wasshe ther stolys in the lambis blood? [the stoolys in ther l.] In heuene bi grace they cleyme to haue an hoom, [be.] Folwyng the traces of Crist that is ther hed, [tracys.] Which lik a geant descendid from Edoom [Which that lyk. discendyd.] Line 780 And hadde in Bosra his clothis died red; [reed.] Which feedith his knyhtes with sacryd wyn and bred, [fedith. breed.] Set at his table in the heuenly mansioun, That drank the chalis heer of his passioun. [here.] And a-mong martirs, pleynly to termyne, Line 785 With his garnement died red as blood [reed.] Edmund was pressid with grapis in the vyne, [Edmond. of st. in.] Vnto a tre bounde whan he stood, [tree.] To-torn and rent with tigres that were wood, [wer.] And thoruh-pershid euery nerff and veyne, [persyd.] Line 790 Thynkynge for Crist to suffre was no peyne. This mene-while whan Hyngwar did him se [meene. Ynguar.] And sauh his body steynyd al in red, [steyned. al reed.] He maade his knyhtis reende him fro the tre [knyghtes to rende.] And comanded to smytyn of his hed. [comaundid. smyten.] Line 795 But the holy martir of oo thyng took first heed: [o. first took.] Requered a space to maken his praier; [Re|queryd. makyn. preyere.] And most deuoutly saide, as ye shal heer: [seyde. here.] "O Lord god, which of beneuolence [god fehlt.] Thi blissid sone sentist to erthe doun, [blyssed.] Line 800 To been incarnat for our gret offence, And, of our trespas to make redempcioun,

Vpon a cros suffrede passioun — [suffredyst.] Nat of our merit, but of thyn hih pite, [not. meryte.] Fro Sathanys power to make us to go fre: [Sathanas. vs goon, to fehlt.] Line 805 Now graunte me, Lord, of thy magny|ficence, [graunt.] Of thyn hih mercy and benygnyte, In my deyeng to haue meek pacience, [deying. meke.] And in my passioun forto grante me By meek exaumple to folwe the charite [meke example.] Line 810 Which thow haddist hangyng on the roode, Whan thow list deie for our alder goode! [aldir.] Now in myn eende grante me ful con|stance, [ende. graunt.] That I may deyen as thy trewe knyht And with the palme of hool perseuerance [hooly.] Line 815 Parfourme my conquest only for thy riht; [performe. oonly.] That cruel Hyngwar, which stant in thy siht, May neuer reioise nor putte in memorye [nevir. reioysshe. put.] Of my soule that he gat victorye! [gat the v.] Vnto Tirantis ys nat victoryous [Vnto.] Line 820 Thouh they thy seruantis slen off fals hatrede; [sleen.] For thylke conquest is more glorious Wher that the soule hath of deth no dreede. Now, blissid Jhesu, for myn eternal meede, Only of mercy, medlyd with thy ryht, [thy fehlt.] Line 825 Receyue the speryt of me that am thy knyht!" [spirit.] And with that woord he gan his nekke enclyne, His hed smet off, the soule to heuene wente. [went.] And thus he deied, kyng, martyr, and virgyne. [deyde.] In gostly feruence so hoote his herte brente: [brent.] Line 830 His liff, his blood for Cristys sake he spente; [Crystes. spent.] Such heuenly grace god list vnto hym sende: [suych.] With grace he gan, with grace he made an eende. [his ende.] Danys of despit the body ther forsook, A gloryous tresour of gret worthynesse; Line 835 But of the martyr the holy hed they took [the hooly martir þe gloryous hed.] And bar it forth of froward cursidnesse In tacouert, shrowded with thyknesse [Into a c. shrowdid.] Of thornys sharpe, the story makith mynde, And ther they hid it, that no-man shulde it fynde. [there.] Line 840 Bvt blissid Jhesu, which euery thyng may se, His holy martir listnat so forsake, (B)vt of his grace and merciful pite, Knowyng that he deied for his sake, [deyde.] Suffred a wolf his holy hed to take [suffryd. woulfs. heed. to fehlt.] Line 845 And to conserue it ageyn assautis alle, [assawtys.] That foul nor beeste sholde upon it falle — [shuld.] An vnkouth thyng and strange, ageyn nature, That a beeste furyous of felnesse, Which of custum doth ay his bestial cure [custom.] Line 850 With mannys flessh to stanche his gredy|nesse; But now he hath forgoten his woodnesse [forgotyn.] And meekly lith awaytyng nyht and day Vpon the hed, as for a synguler pray! — [heed. singuleer.] Thus kan the lord his martyrs magnefie [can.] Line 855 Of his goodnesse with many fair myracle, The rage of beestis appese and modefie; Ageyn whos myht may been noon obstacle: Which hath heer shewid a wonderful spectacle: [here. a wondir spectacle.] That a fers wolff bamaner obseruance [woulf. be maneer.] Line 860 To serue the martyr list doon his atten|dance.

But to his myht no thyng is Inpossible. Danyel was sauff among the fers lyouns, Seyn John Baptist — record on the bible— [recoord.] Lyued in desert mong serpentis and dragouns. [among.] Line 865 And among Crystis myhty champiouns Kyng Edmond hadde, his story seith the same, A wolff to keepe hym — there was no lamb more tame. [woulff. ther. — Die Ueberschr. nach 868 fehlt.]

This chapitle declaryth how crystene men, afftir the persecucioun off Danys was appesid, how they souhte aftir the hed of the blyssyd Martyr.

Whan swagid was the dreedful Ty|rannye Of cruel Hyngwar in this regioun, Line 870 That he and Vbba with al ther cheualrye Withdrouh in party ther persecucioun: [partye.] The crystene peeple of hih deuocioun Assemblyd wern, fully purposyng [purpoosyng.] To seeke the body of ther holy kyng. [seke. boody.] Line 875 And compleyned atwixen hope and dreed Whan they hadde his blissid body founde, [atwyx hoope. drede.] That they wanted and failed of the hed. [wantyd. faylled. hede.] Forwhich they wepte with syhhes ful profounde, [syhes.] Sekyng the forest and the valys rounde [the foorest and valeys.] Line 880 With blast of hornys, with rachchis & with houndys, [racchys.] Thoruh Heylesdone serchyng al the boundys. [Heylysdone sechyng.] And by a maner replicacioun Ech onto other gan crye in ther walkyng: [vnto othir.] "Wher is our confort, our consolacioun? [and consolacioun.] Line 885 Wher is, allas, the hed now of our kyng?" — This was ther noise with sobbyng and wepyng— [l. uoise?] "Allas, allas, shal we be thus destitut [destitute.] Of our cheef Joie, our blisse and our refut? [reffute.] Suffre vs onys beholde thy blyssid face [behoold. blyssed.] Line 890 And seen at leiser thyn angelyk visage! [leyseer.] Bowe thyn eeris to our compleynt be grace Forto relese our constreynt and our rage! Allas, Edmond, appese now our damage, And to our compleynt of mercy condes|cende! [do con|discende.] Line 895 For noon but thow our myscheuys may amende". The lord of lordys celestial and eterne, Of his peeple hauyng compassioun, Which of his mercy ther clamours kan concerne, Relesse ther langour and lamentacioun: [relese the.] Line 900 Herde of his goodnesse ther Inuocacioun [herd.] And gaff hem counfort of that they stood in dreed: [them. drede.] Only by grace to fynde ther kynges hed. [be. hede.] Wyth wepyng terys, with vois most lamentable [teerys & voys.] So as they souhte, walkyng her and ther, [here. there.] Line 905 "Where artow, lord, our kyng most agreable? [wheer.] Wher artow, Edmond? shew vs thyn heuenly cher!": [chere.] The hed answerde thryes: her, her, her, [answeryd. heer.] And neuer cesid of al that longe day [nevir. al the long.] So for-to crye, tyl they kam where he lay. [wheer.] Line 910 This heuenly noise gan ther hertis lyhte [l. uoise?] [light.] And them releue of al ther heuynesse, Namly whan they hadde of the hed a syhte, Kept by a wolff foryetyng his woodnesse. [woulff.] Al this considered, they meekly gan hem dresse Line 915

Line 915 To thanke our lord, knelyng on the pleyne, [Ms. pleyn.] For the gret myracle which that they haue seyne. [seyn.] They thouhte it was a merueile ful vnkouth To heere this language of a dedly hed. But he, that gaff into the assis mouth Line 920 Swych speech of old, rebukyng in his dreed [suych. speche. oold.] Balaam the prophete for his vngoodlyheed: The same lord list of his grete myht [greet.] Shewen this myracle at reuerence of his knyht. [shewyn. at the.] Men han eek rad how in semblable cas, Line 925 As bokes olde make mencyoun, [bookys.] How that an hert spak to seynt Eustas— [Ewstas.] Which was first cause of his conuersioun. [convercioun.] For god hath power and Jurysdiccioun Make tongis speke of bodies that be ded— [been.] Line 930 Record I take of kyng Edmondis hed. [recoord.] Off this myracle that god list to hem shewe [lyst hym.] Somme wepte for Joie, the story berth witnesse; [berith.] Vpon ther cheekys terys nat a ffewe Distillid a-doun of ynward kyndnesse— [dystylled. kyndenesse.] Line 935 They hadde no power ther sobbyngis to represse, [sobbyng.] Twen Joie and sorwe by signes out shewyng [be.] How gret enternesse they hadde vnto ther kyng. [entier|nesse. the st. ther.] Thus was ther wepyng medlyd with gladnesse, And ther was gladnesse medlyd with wepyng; Line 940 And hertly sobbyng meynt with ther swetnesse, And soote compleyntes medlyd with sob|byng— Accord discordyng, and discord accor|dyng! For for his deth thouh they felte smerte, [For his.] This sodeyn myracle reioisid ageyn ther herte. [reioysshed.] Line 945 The folkys dide ther bysy dilligence [did. bysy fehlt.] (T)his holy tresour, this relik souereyne (T)o take it uppe with dew reuerence, [vp. dewe.] And bar it forth, tyl they dide atteyne Vnto the body. and of thylke tweyne [of fehlt.] Line 950 Togidre set, god by myracle anoon Enyoyned hem, that they were maad bothe oon. [enioyned.] Off ther departyng ther was no-thyng seene A-twen the body and this blissid hed, For they togidre fastnyd were so cleene; [to gedre. wer.] Line 955 Except only, who sotylly took heed, A space appered breede of a purpil threed, [apperyd.] Which god list shewe tokne of his suf|france, To putte his passioun more in remem|brance. [put.] The said wolff in maner gan compleyne [saide woulff.] Line 960 That he so hih a tresor hath forgo; [tresour. forgoo.] To folwe the martir dide his besy peyne, Wolde in no wise departe the body froo: Of bestial loue felte a maner woo, Forto disseuere thouhte a gret penance Line 965 Fro thylke thyng where stood al his plesance. [wheer.] It is no merueile, the beeste was not to blame, [nat.] Thouh he were wo to parte fro his richesse! [wer. woo.] Which ageyn nature maad him to be tame, [made.] That to no-man he shewed no fersnesse, [shewyd.] Line 970 Tyme of thexequyes compleynyng his distresse; And meekly aftir to woode wente ageyn Most doolfully, and was neuer aftir seyn. [nevir.]

Vnto the body of this gloryous kyng Beside the place wher he dide endure, Line 975 Anoon at Oxne, a place of smal beldyng, [byldyng.] They ful deuoutly maade a sepulture. Whos martirdam by record of scripture Was tyme of yeer, as I can remembre, Vpon a monday the moneth of Decembre: [monyth.] Line 980 On which day the moone was of age Too and twenty by computacioun; [two.] Indiccioun tweyne reknyd in our language, Eyhte hundrid yeer fro the Incarnacioun And seuenty ouer, as maad is mencioun, [Sixty and X ovir.] Line 985 Whan the holy martir was by acontis cleer Day of his passioun of age thretty yeer. [accountys.] On which day, his legende makith memorye, He suffred deth and cruell passioun [suffryd. cruel. —] And with a palme celestiall of victorye Line 990 Be grace is entrid the heuenly mansioun, Wynnyng a tryumphe most souereyn of renoun, As kyng and martir, wher he maynot mysse Eternaly for-to regne in blysse. — [Nach 994 steht explicit, der Rest der Seite ist leer; die Fortsetzung v. 995 ff. folgt auf der and. Seite mit grösserer Init.] Now, glorious martir, which of gret meeknesse Line 995 For Crystes feith suffredist passioun, Qwyke my penne, enlumyne my rudnesse, [quyke. rudenesse.] To my dulnesse make a direccioun, That I may vndir thy supportacioun Conpile the story hangyng on this matere [com|pyle.] Line 1000 Off seyn Fremond, thyn owyn cosyn dere! [seint. owne.] Thoruh thy fauour I cast me for tassaye [caste.] To declare of humble affeccioun How seyn Fremond be myracle dide outraye [seint. by. did.] Hyngwar and Vbba thoruh his hih renoun, Line 1005 And them venquysshid in this regioun; [venquysshed.] First write his liff, and therupon proceede, [procede.] As god and grace list my penne leede. Folwen myn Auctour, that wrot his liff toforn [folwyn.] In frensh and latyn, of gret auctorite; Line 1010 Off the trouthe gadren out the corn [gadryn.] And voide the chaff of prolixite; Reherse the merueiles of his natyuyte, Aftir to godward how he dide him quyte. [did.] A litil prologue afforn I wil endite. [litel prologe.]

III. Buch (S. Fremund).

[Die lat. Ueberschr. fehlt.] Incipit vita sancti Fremundi egregii martiris, Edmundi carissimi consanguinei, qui eiusdem martiris interfectores domino iniutante prostrauit graciose; vna cum miraculis Edmundi martiris antedicti, prout in post sequentibus clarius elucescit.

(Prolog.)

WHo kan remembre the myracles merueilous [meraclys.] (W)hich Crist Jhesu list for his seyntes shewe? [seyntys.] Or who kan write the tryumphes gloryous Of his martirs, in noumbre nat a fewe? And I am ferful aboue myn hed to hewe, [my.] Line 5 Lyst froward chippis of presumpcioun [chippes.] Sholde blynde myn eyen in ther fallyng doun. [shulde. eeyen.] Yt is nat holsom to looke ageyn the sonne [it.] For dirked eyen dulled of ther syht; [dullyd.] Men symply lettryd, that but litil konne, [litel.] Line 10 Sholde feerful been in herte of verray ryht [very.] To entermete of thilke eternal lyht, [entirmete.]

Which bryhtest Phebus in ordre sette him-selue [set.] Myd his crowne of the heuenly stones twelue. [stoonys.] The charboncle, of his nature red, [charbouncle. reed.] Line 15 And Cerawnus, lyk the fyry leuene, Wolde oppresse and dirke a dullyd hed Forto beholde ther bemys sent from heuene. [froom.] The cours celestiall of the sterrys seuene To comprehende, ther dyurnal meuyng, Line 20 To bareyn wittis is a ful strange thyng. And yiff the cleernesse of the heuenly sterrys So fer transcende the liht of this parties: [ferre.] Thempire abouen that from vs so ffer ys, [abovyn. ferre.] Wher the nyne ordres in ther thre Jerarchies Line 25 Preisen the lord with ther soote armonies, What mortal man the liht may ther dis|cerne, But grace be guyde to leede him and gouerne? [lede.] God hym-silff in thilke Imperial se Ys souereyn sonne, that paleys tenlumyne, Line 30 Laumpe, lanterne and liht of that Cite, Wher non Eclips may lette his bemys shyne. [Wheer noon.] Tofor whos face and throne, that is deuyne, [tofore. trone. divyne.] Heuenly speritis in his laude and preisyng [spirytis. lawde. preysynge.] Neuer cesse Ossanna for-to syng; [nevir cese. osanna. synge.] Line 35 Wher the felashepe of heuenly Citeseyns, [Ther. felashippe.] Queer of prophetis and patryarkes olde, Twelue appostlis as Juges souereyns, [appostelys.] Which Cristis lawe in erthe tauhte and tolde; [Crystes. taught. toolde.] And ther also men may seen and beholde Line 40 Gret multitude of martirs, clad in red, Steyned in Bosra, to deie they hadde no dreed: [had.] The prothomartir seyn Steuene with his stonys, [folio 71] [stoonys.] The firy gredile ther shewid of Laurence, [grydile. ther fehlt.] And holy Vyncent, his flessh brent to the boonys Line 45 On colis rede by extort violence, [Oon coolys reed.] Denys of Grece, thoruh meek pacience [meeke.] At Mountmartir slayn in his constance, Sent by seyn Clement to conuerte France, [seint. convert.] George, Cristofre, myhty champiouns [Crystoffore.] Line 50 Off Crist Jhesu, suffred for our feith, [suffryd.] Ignacius that tamed the liouns [taamyd.] In his passioun, as the story seith, Blissid Blasy his hed to wedde he leith, [Blyssed.] Was nat ferfull to change this present liff Line 55 With Crist in heuene to be contemplatiff; The holy man ycallid seynt Albon, [I-callyd.] Prothomartyr off this regioun, Suffred deth sythen ful yore agon [yoore agoon.] For Cristes sake, and bittir passioun. Line 60 But now to mynde kometh the champioun [comyth.] Off Estyngland, born of the Saxoun lyne, [Estyngelond. Saxonyes.] Callid seynt Edmund, kyng, martir, and virgyne: [Edmond.] The holy kyng, of his liff most cleene, [This.] This Cristis knyht hardy as lyoun, Line 65 Was for our feith shet with arwes keene— As I to-forn haue maad mencioun: Now purposyng with supportacioun Of al the martirs afforn rehersid heer, [alle. heere.] Induce a story longyng to this mateer: [Indite. mateere.] Line 70 How that a cosyn of this hooly kyng, Callid Fremundus, was manly and notable, Ful merueilously by record of wrytyng [be.] Ordeyned was, this story is no fable, Vpon Hyngwar for to be vengable [Ynguar.] Line 75 And ageyn Vbba, which in ther cruel rage Hadde slayn his vncle, tho thretty yeer of age. [thoo.]

In this mater, toforn as I you tolde, [mateere. yow. toolde.] Because it is vnkouth and wonderfull, [wondirfull.] My speritis feeble and feynt with yeeris olde, [spiritis. oolde.] Line 80 And my corage appallid and maad dull, [and my witt maad dul.] Myn eyen derkid and with the mystes full — [dirkyd.] This to seyne the myst of vnkonnyng Troubleth my wit to wrihte so hih a thyng: [To trouble. witt. wryte.] I resemble vnto Polypheme, Line 85 That hadde oon eye set in his forhed, Nat lik Argus; of liht I kan not deeme: [can.] Which causith me, allas! whan I take heed, That hand and penne quake for verray dreed. Of which palysy, but grace be my leche, [palsy.] Line 90 Me to directe, I not who shal me teche. Who shal speke or telle the grete myht [wwhoo(!). greet.] Of our lord god, or shewe his gret poweer, Al his preisynges reherse as it is ryht, [alle.] Or synge his laudes with nootis fressh and cleer; [nootes.] Line 95 Most merueillous and vnkouth fer and neer [ferre.] Founde in his seyntes, as auctours alle accorde? Fremundis story the trouthe kan recorde. [Fremvndus.] Ful wonderful was his concepcioun, [wondirful.] Shewid by myracle and toknys manyfold: [tooknys.] Line 100 For ageyn kynde, as maad is mencioun, A child, that was but of thre daies old, Thoruh goddis myht hath of his berthe told [byrth. toold.] And ouermor, myn auctour seith the same, [ovirmoor.] Prophesied what sholde be his name: [Prophecyed. shulde.] Line 105 The child, baptisid anoon was affter ded, [baptysed. afftir.] Callydhym Fremund by his mouth toforn. And anoon affter by myracle, who take heed, That no signe besiled were nor lorn, [wer.] Vpon that nyht whan Fremund was born, Line 110 Daies nyne, the story doth us lere, Ouer the paleis a Reynbowe dide appere. [ovir. did.] Whos thre colours, yiff men list to knowe, [to fehlt.] Gaff first a tokne and bar gret witnesse: The wattry greene shewed in the Reyn|bowe [shewyd.] Line 115 Off chastite disclosed his clennesse, The saphir blewh his heuenly stabilnesse, The hardy red apperyng in the skye His martirdam dide signefie. [did.] Noote bi this bowe quatreble of colour, Line 120 Thus ouersprad be many fer contre: [ovir.] That he was born to been a gouernour, [a fehlt.] With sceptre and swerd; by roial dignyte Weryng a crowne; ordeyned for-to be Geyn mescreauntis to his encres of glorye [encrees.] Line 125 Lyk a conquerour, to haue of them victorye. And as myn auctour doth also for him legge, He hadde in thre a prerogatiff: First of the heuene a treble preuylegge: [previlege.] Oon to be maide duryng al his liff, [On to the m.] Line 130 Founde of his doctryne most contemplatiff To teche his sogettis dide upon him take, And affter martyred he was for Cristes sake. [aftir martird.] His ffader, his mooder, lik as the story seith, [fadir. modir.] By myracle he maad hem be baptised [made.] Line 135 And by his techyng he turned hem to our feith. [tournyd.] And affter that, so as it is deuysed, Forsook his kyngdham and afftir hath praktysed [practysed.] With frut and rootis, of verray parfitnesse, [frute. parfightnesse.] Space of seuene yeer to lyue in wildir|nesse — Line 140

Line 140 And al this tyme his clothis wex nat oold; [cloth.] With other tweyne leued as an hermyte, [othir. lyved.] And by his wachchyng and fastyng manyfold [wacchyng.] Be-side a welle lay lik an Anachorite. Whos berthe and lyff fayn I wolde endite [birthe.] Line 145 Compendiously and writen the substance. But a fals serpent, callyd Ignorance, Troubleth my penne, I maynot foorth proceede, [troublyth. forth procede.] But grace shal helpe the wedir forto cleere [weedir.] And these too kynges do fauour in this neede: [thes two.] Line 150 First blissid Edmund, and his cosyn deere [blyssed Edmond.] Callid Fremundus, to conueie this mateere. And vndir support of these seyntes tweyne [thes.] To write this story I shall do my peyne. God by ther praier shal be my sup|portour, [prayeer.] Line 155 Help me forward, yif it be his wille [helpe.] By influence of his myhty socour Into my penne sum licour to distille: [som.] Lycour of grace, my purpos to fulfille, [purpoos.] Vnder whos mercy and helpe that he shal sende [vndir.] Line 160 Off this story to maken a good eende. [make. ende.] Off Burchardus folwe I shall the style, That of seyn Fremund whilom was secretarye; [seint. was whylom.] Which of entent dide his liff compile, Was his Registrer and also his notarye Line 165 And in desert was with him solitarye, With him ay present, remembryng euery thyng Wrot liff and myracles of this holy kyng. [wroot.] To kyng Offa Fremund was sone and hayr, [ayr.] Regnyng in Mershlond, the story berth witnesse; [mersshland. berith.] Line 170 His moodir Botild, riht goodly and riht fayr And a womman of gret parfihtnesse, Longe bareyn, the story doth expresse; And she was suster and lik in many a thyng [sustir.] Vnto seyn Edmund, the holy glorious kyng. [seint Edmond.] Line 175 The kyng, the queen wer ferr ronne in age, [ferre.] And al this while Botild was bareyn; Tryst and heuy lest ther heritage [Ms. left st. lest.] [lyst. erytage.] Wer translatid to som hayr foreyn [ayr.] For lak of yssu. but god be grace hath seyn [Issew.] Line 180 To ther requestis: the maner and the guyse Ceriously the story shal deuyse.

In that prouynce withynne a smal village Ther dwelled a man, which callid was Aldare, [dwellyd.] Which with his wiff in a smal cotage Line 185 Ther houshold heeld, whos lyflode was but bare. [houshoold held. lyfflood.] And as the story in ordre shall declare, She hath conceyued, myn auctour writ the same, Born a sone, and Thoua was his name. [Thova.] The thridde day of his Natyuyte, Line 190 Ageyn nature, the story listnat lye, Be myracle, ffamous in that contre, The said child gan speke and loude crye, [lowde.] And be a maner vnkouth prophecye: How kyng Offa, as the child hem tolde, [hym.] Line 195 Sholde haue a sone in his daies olde; [shulde.] And ouermor in pleyn language he seith: [ovirmoore.] Whan he were born, how he sholde also [wer.] Fader and mooder conuerte vnto our feith [fadir. modir.] By goddis myht and many a merueile do; [doo.] Line 200 "And sike folkys shall lowly come hym to [And fehlt. Syk. too.] To fynde socour of euery maladye, And he be grace shal doon hem remedye:

Cure leeprys, and folkys that be blynde With newe liht he shall hem enlumyne, Line 205 To furious men he shall yive wit and mynde, [witt.] And sturdy hertis to grace he shal enclyne, Tourne mescreantis by his prudent doc|tryne To Crystes lawe, and make creplis goon, Delyuere his kyngdham from al ther mortal foon; [kyndam. ther fehlt.] Line 210 And he shal be kyng, martyr, and vir|gyne. And in tokne that al this thyng is trewe, A Reynbowe shal shewe daies nyne Vpon his paleis with fresh beemys newe, And euer alych of colour and of hewe, [euere.] Line 215 And contynue in oon his glad liht, [con|tynewe. glade.] Whan he is born, and gynne the same nyht"; Tolde openly a-mong the folkes alle, [Toold opynly. thoo folkys.] For a signe to putte al in certeyn, How al the peeple Fremund sholde hym calle, [shulde.] Line 220 That no tokne shewid were in veyn; [wer.] And how his mooder, that was afforn bareyn, [modir.] Sholde ber a child be grace of god sent doun, [shulde bere.] Which sholde enlumyne al this regioun. And whan the child hadde alle these thynges told, Line 225 Beyng of age but only daies thre, He gan requere with cryeng manyfold, As alle folkes myhte heere and se: In the name off the Trenyte Be baptised. in presence off echon Line 230 Afftir his baptym gaff up the speryt anoon. [225—231) fehlen.] The tyme approched and faste upon hath hied: [aprochyd.] The Qween conceyued be grace of goddis myht, Lyk as the child toforn hath prophesied. The Reynbowe affter appered anoon ryht [afftyr apperyd.] Line 235 And daies nyne shewed a-brood his liht, [shewyd.] To signefie: a sonne was sent doun, That sholde enlumyne al this regioun. As newe greyn out off feeldis olde And leues greene growe out off trees gray; [levys. treeys.] Line 240 And as the bawme which in wyntres colde [coolde.] Deepe in the ground, which in the roote lay, [depe.] Vpward ascendeth in Aprylle and in May: [ascendith.] So semblably from Offa and Botyld Be grace off god conceyued was this chyld. [the st. this.] Line 245 Whan Jhesu(!) was born, old was Ely|sabeth, [Ms. Jhesu st. John.] [John st. Jhesu. Eliȝabeth.] And old also was hooly Ȝacharye, The blissid tyme, to-gidre in Naȝareth Whan in the Mountayn she mette with Marie. [mounteyn.] And thus by grace and sperit of prophecie, [spirit.] Line 250 Whan kyng Offa and Botyld were bothe old, [wer.] Off Fremundis birthe tofforn a child hath told. Affter whos berthe, for short con|clusioun, [afftir whoos birthe.] As myn auctour in ordre hath deuysed, Whan he to yeeris kam of discrecioun, [cam.] Line 255 Off bisshoppe Oswy Fremund was baptised And among crystene the feste solemp|nysed, Ech man for Joie syngyng in his degre: "Laude and preisyng be to the Trenyte." [lawde. Trinite.] To teche the peeple Fremund dide excelle [did.] Line 260 And them conuerted from ydolatrye, [And fehlt. convertyd.] Off Cristis baptem fulled hem in the welle, [Crystes. fullyd.] The feith off Jhesu tenhance and magnefie. And his sogetis deuoutly gan hem hye, [sogettys.]

Gret multitude, alle off oon assent, Line 265 Off holy baptem to take the sacrament; The Kyng, the Queen, in ther daies olde Be holy Fremundis informacioun,— Lyk as the child be prophecye tolde How by ther sonys predicacioun Line 270 Off feithful herte and humble affeccioun They shulde receyue in ther Roial estat Baptem be Fremund and be regenerat. [by.] Thus be the grace off our lord Jhesu [by.] Fro day to day, the trouthe was weel seene, [wel sene.] Line 275 Fremund encressed fro vertu to vertu, [encresyd.] As any sonne his fame shon so sheene; [ony. shoon. shene.] Wrouhte myracles, made leprys cleene: [wrout.] The grace off god dide hym so magnefie [did.] That he cured euery malladie. [curyd.] Line 280 His ffadir Offa feeble wex for age [wex feble.] And blissid Botild, his moodir most benygne; As they that gan approchen to the stage Off decrepitus, expert be many a sygne, By prudent counsail cast hem to resygne [caste.] Line 285 Sceptre and crowne with al the Regalie To yonge Fremund, the kyngdham forto guye. [yong. kyndam.] The herte off Fremund to god so strang was knet, [stronge.] In Cryst Jhesu stablisshed his plesance: To serue the lord he thouhte it was weel bet Line 290 In parfitnesse be long contynuance, Than haue in erthe Roial gouernance On the peeple heer in this present lyff: [here.] Sithe he hym caste to be contemplatyff. [sith.] But ther-ageyns ther was so gret in|stance [there.] Line 295 That yonge Fremund sholde be crownyd kyng: [yong. shulde.] As trewe enheritour by goddis ordynance, Doun fro the stok off kynges descendyng [discendyng.] The pe-de-gre by lyneal conueyyng, [Ms. pe de gre.] [pe de gre.] He next in ordre, cronycles who list rede, [cronyclees. reede.] Line 300 Affter his ffader ordeyned to succede. [afftir. fadir.] Off his persone and off his stature Was noon so likly that tyme, doutles. [doutlees.] First considered his Roial engendure, [consydred.] His hooly liff, his vertuous encres; [encrees.] Line 305 Cherysshere off concord, louere off trouthe and pes: All thes thynges peised in his persone, [al thes.] Dempte him most worthy forto regne allone [wourthy.] Vois off ryche and vois off the poraylle, [of the.] And hool the uoise gostly and temporall: [Ms. noise.] [holly.] Line 310 Was noon so hable to haue gouernaylle [able.] As was Fremundus, born off the stok royall. [Royal.] And thus the clamour bothe off oon and all, [al.] By many resoun alle off oon entent, To regne as kyng made Fremund to assent. Line 315 The feeste yholde and the solempnyte [yhoolde.] Off his notable coronacioun, [this.] Nat-withstandyng his Roial dignyte He aduertised off prudence and resoun How that al wordly domynacioun [worldly.] Line 320 Hath in erthe but a short abydyng, Nouther off Pope, Emperour nor Kyng. [nouthir.] On hooly bookys his lust was forto reede, Redressed all wronges, sustened riht|wisnesse, [redressyd alle. sustenyd.] His hand mynystre to almesse-deede, Line 325 Cherysshyng presthod for ther holynesse, [preesthood.] Off maidnes, widwes supportyng the clen|nesse, [maydenys.] Hauyng compassion on euery poore wiht, [whyght.] Ay more enclynyd to mercy than to riht. [enclyned.] And whan he hadde regned but a yeer, [whanne. regnyd.] Line 330

Line 330 By goddis grace feruently enspyred Sauh how ther was no trust in this liff heer; [Sawh.] Off gostly loue his herte was thoruh-fyred, [goostly.] Toward desert so soore he hath desyred, Forsook the world and al his regioun, Line 335 And took his weye toward Carlioun: Thouhte how it was to his gostly auail, Fader and mooder off purpos he forsook; [fadir. modir.] With other tweyne that were off his coun|sail. [othir. wer.] On the se-syde a litil barge he took, [see. litel.] Line 340 And, as it is remembred in the book, [remembryd.] Withoute vitaile or wordly purueiance [vytaylle. worldly purvyaunce.] Commyttith his passage to goddis ordy|nance. [Commytteth.] Entreth the se, parteth fro the stronde; [Entryth. partith.] With wynd ydryue fyue daies two and fro [Idryve. too & froo.] Line 345 Withouten oore or rowyng kam to londe. [withoutyn. cam.] Off auenture that tyme it happid so Vp an yle froward to kome to, [vp in an. come too.] To wikked spiritis a place couenable, [wykkyd. convenable.] Lyk a desert, off ffolk inhabitable. [dissert.] Line 350 Yet in that yle ther were ful fayre mounteynes, [Ms. mounteyns.] [yit. wer. fair.] Rennyng reuers and wellis crystallyne, [ryvers.] Large meedwis and lusty greene pleynes, [pleyns.] [medwys.] Trees ylade with holsom frutys fyne; [Ilade.] And I suppose, by grace, which is dyuyne, [suppoose be.] Line 355 By god ordeyned for Fremund in to dwelle With his too feerys, beside a plesant welle. [two.] And Ilefaye men that yle calle, Off old tyme desolat and sauage— More agreable than was his roiall stalle [moor. Royal.] Line 360 To hooly Fremund, thouh he were yong off age. [wer.] And ther he bilte a litel hermytage Be-side a ryuer, with al his besy peyne, [ryveer.] He and his fellawis, that were in noumbre tweyne; [wer.] A lytil chapel he dide ther edefie, [litel. did there.] Line 365 Day be day to make in his praiere, [by. makyn.] In the reuerence only off Marie And in the worshepe off hir sone deere. [hire.] And the space fully off seuene yeere [in the sp.] Hooly Fremund, lik as it is founde, Line 370 Leued be frut and rootis off the grounde. [lyved by frute.] Off frutis wilde, his story doth us telle, Was his repast, penance for tendure; [repaast.] To stanche his thrust, drank watir off the welle, And eet acornys, to sustene his nature, [Akornys.] Line 375 Kernellis off notis, whan he myhte hem recure; [nootys. myght.] To god alway doyng reuerence, [alwey.] What-euer he sente took it in pacience. The olde serpent hadde at hym enuye, [oold.] By many froward fals suggestioun Line 380 Brouht onto mynde his stat, his regalye [vnto. staat.] Off tyme passid, his domynacioun, And gaff to hym ful many occasioun [for tagrucchyd. of ful hool.] For tagruchchid. but he off hool entent Gaff thank to god off al that euer he sent. [euere.] Line 385 For hunger, thrust, excesse off hoot or cold, [hungir. coold.] Nor for no constreynt off aduersite, Nor for assaut off temptacioun manyfold [assawt. temptaciouns.] In hym was founde no mutabilite; Stable as a wal he stood in his degre; Line 390 Al wordly thyng bothe in herte and thouht [wourldly.] For Cristes sake Fremund sette at nouht. [set.] To Cristes plouh he hadde set to hond [plowh. hand.] Off hih perfeccioun, and list nat looke ageyn, He was nat wery to tourne amyd the lond, [land.] Line 395

Line 395 His gostly trauaile for-to spille in veyn. [travaylle.] Gruchchyng nor feyntise was neuer in Fremund seyn, [grucchyng.] But lyk a champioun in erthe sent from heuene That slouh the serpent with his hedis seuene. [heedys.] His cloth hool conserued by myracle [conservyd.] Line 400 Duryng seuene yeer fressh as the firste day— [first.] What god wil saue ther may be non ob|stacle, Nor geyn his wil ther may no-man sey nay: Thus hooly Fremund parfit at al assay, For in desert lyk Cristes owen knyht, [de|seert. owne.] Line 405 Ay off oon corage perseuereth day and nyht.— [of o. perseueryth.] And whil that he doth in desert soiourne [deseert.] In abstynence and contemplacioun, To kyng Offa my style I wil retourne And of purpos make a digressioun. Line 410 For in that tyme, the book makith men|cioun, Yngwar and Vbba with Danys aryuyng Slouh seynt Edmund, martir, maide, and kyng: [Edmond.] Afforn rehersid his lyff, his passioun, For Cristes feith how he shadde his blood Line 415 By meek suffrance and humble affeccioun, [meeke sufferaunce.] Bounde to a tre meekly whan he stood, [tree.] Shet with arwis off Tirantis fell and wood, [arwes.] With many a wounde, hedid and dis|membryd, [heffdyd.] As in this book is heer-toforn remembryd. Line 420 Hys brother-in-lawe for verray in|potence [brothir. of st. for.] Off crokid age, sorweful in his entent That he was feble to make resistence, Whos lusty yeeris were wastid and yspent: [wer.] His counsail took, his massagerys hath sent [counseyl.] Line 425 To seeke Fremund, bothe nyh and ferre, Ageyn the Danys to make a mortall werre: [ist ausgelassen.] Too and twenty massageris notable [two. ful notable.] Off preuyd men, men off discrecioun, Swich as kyng Offa knew weel that were able [wel. wer.] Line 430 To seke and serche thoruh al this regioun [seche. al his.] And alle strange yles abouten enuyroun [aboutyn.] And smale prouynces enclosed with the se, [enclosyd.] To fynde a place wher Fremund sholde be. [wheer. shulde.] Bvt at the laste, only by goddis grace [but.] Line 435 And off his merciful dyuyne prouydence, They were conueied and brouht vnto the place [wer.] Where as they fond off Fremund the pre|sence; [wheer.] [Wyl was poweer and extorcioun.] In lowly wise dyde hym reuerence, [did.] Vnknowe to hym, but in fulpleyn language Line 440 They meekly tolde theffect off ther mes|sage: [toold. massage.] And benyngnely, ther massage to a|bregge, [benignely.] Afforn declaryd his ffadrys benysoun, And affter that they gan in ordre allegge [aftir. legge.] The Rewmys myscheff, the desolacioun, [Reemys. myscheef.] Line 445 Off paynymes the grete oppressioun, [paynymys.] Crystene lawe lowe put vndir foote; Fremund requeryng to socoure and do boote; With wepyng eyen also they hym tolde [eeyen.] Off Cristis lawe fynal destruccioun, [Crystes.] Line 450 Maidnes rauesshid, men slayn that were olde, [maydenys ravysshed. wer.] Cherchis robbid, dispoiled and bordoun, [despoylled. boore doun.] Menstris desolat, reuersid up so doun, Al religioun and clerkly disciplyne [Schwager Edmund's ist Offa, vgl. v. 174.]

With furye off Danys brouht vnto ruyne, Line 455 Crystene feith brouht to destruccioun, The seuene sacrementis hangyng in Jup|partye, [sacramentis. Jupartye.] Wil was Juge, power extorsioun, And fforce, allas! tornyd to robberye. [tournyd.] Fully concludyng: ther was no remedye Line 460 In al thys myscheff, to saue this woffullond, [myscheef. wooful.] But grace off god and Fremund ley to hond. In this mater merueillous to here [mateere. heere.] Seynt Fremund stood in a perplexite, Gan to change face, look and chere, Line 465 Caste in his herte and peised thynges thre: [Cast.] His ffadres mescheff, the Danys cruelte, [fadrys.] And cheff off alle he dradde for his partie [cheef. dred.] Lyst newe Intrusioun brouhte in ydolatrie; [lest. brought.] Considered also in what pliht that he stood [Consydred.] Line 470 In his professioun forto lyue solitarye, Teschewe werre and shedyng eek off blood — Fro which entent he cast him not to varye, [For. nat varye, ohne to.] And to been armyd he thouhte that it was contrarye [that fehlt.] For an hermyte that hath the world for|sake, Line 475 Deedis off armys for-to vndyrtake. Thus atween tweyne hangyng in ballance, Most specially o thyng he gan to dreede: [to fehlt.] The furious Ire, the vnmerciful vengance Off paynymes swerd cristene blood to sheede. [paynymys.] Line 480 But in this cas for his eternal meede [caas.] He was ay redy off hool affeccioun [ay fehlt.] For Cristes feith to haue suffred passioun. [suffryd.] And forto sette alle thynge in feurte, [al thyng in Reeste(!).] Off conscience the wyndes forto cleere Line 485 (A)nd cloudy mystes off ambiguyte, Hooly Fremund took hym to praiere: [prayeere.] Besouhte the lord off hool herte and enteere [besought. entieere.] That off his power, most mercyfull and benygne, [poweer.] What he shall do to shewen hym som signe. [shal doo. shewyn. sum.] Line 490 The nexte nyht an Angell dyde appere, [next. aungil did appeere.] Whil he slepte, and by auysioun [by a visyoun.] Bad that he sholde been off riht good chere [cheere.] And haste hym hom in-to his regioun; [hoom.] "Be strong in speryt, lik Crystes champioun, [spirit.] Line 495 Mescreantis off Denmark for-to werreye: And Cryst Jhesu shal for the feeld purueye." Wyth two and twenty from his fader sent [froom. fadir.] Off chose personys in this ambassiat, [choose. Embassyat.] Noumbred tho tweyne with Fremund ay present: [nowmbryd XXII^ti.] Line 500 Made foure and twenty, notable off estat — [maade.] And god be grace made hem fortunat, [by.] And ech of them thoruh goddis grete myht [greet.] Sempte a thousend in ther enemyes syht. [thousand. enmyes.] Conueyed be grace, maad in vertu strong — [by.] Line 505 Wher god helpith, ther doth no force faile — [faylle.] Gan haste hem forth, ther passage was nat long, [hym, ther. not.] Took a smal shippe, hadde redy arryuaile, [ship.] Gan haste hem forth toward ther bataile. Fond his fader, wepyng whan he beheeld, [fadir wepyn.] Line 510 With cristene peeple oppressid in the feeld. Bvt whan Ingwar herde off ther komyng, [whan fehlt.] To hooly Fremund an herawde sente doun: [sent.]

Grantyng hym withoute more taryyng In pes and quyete to haue pocessioun Line 515 Vnder his lordshepe off al that regioun, [vndir. lordshippe.] So he wolde Cristes feyth forsake, And so tabyde and to ther lawe hym take. Off whiche sonde Fremund hath despit — [which. despight.] Not for the kyngdham to which he hadde ryht, [kyngdome.] Line 520 But for our feith; withoute more respit He seide: he wolde aquyte him lik a knyht. And in the name off hym that hath most myht, Crist Jhesu, approche he gan toward The paynym party, displaied his standard. Line 525 To-forn alle other first Fremund dide assaile [Init. othir. did assaylle.] (T)he proude Danys, Crist Jhesu was his guyde, Hew assonder ffersly plate and mayle, [hewh a sondir. maylle.] His manly knyhtis ay fyhtyng be his syde; [knyghtes. by.] Afforn ther face no paynym myhte a-byde. [myght.] Line 530 And foure and twenty that day withoute obstacle [XXIIIIti. withoutyn.] Slouh fourty thowsand, only be myracle. [thousand. oonly by.] To Cristis power no thyng is inpossible, [Crystes poweer.] So as him lyst he may the feeld ordeyne: As Moyses remembryth in the bible, Line 535 Leuitici affermyng in certeyne, [affer|myth it in certeyn.] How that an hundryd, to speke in woor|des pleyne, [woordys pleyn.] Sholde off ten thowsand, as put is in memorye, [shulde.] Be goddis grace haue the victorye; [By.] For he allone may his conquest shewe Line 540 Wher as hym lyst off his magnyfycence, [where.] With gret noumbre or ryht with a fewe, Al oon to hym, there is no difference. [ther.] And, to conclude breffly in sentence, Nat fro the erthe by mene off spere or sheeld, [meene.] Line 545 But he be grace yeueth conquest in the feeld. [by. gevith.] Thus this champioun, this knyht most vertuous, Hooly Fremund, dide the feeld re|cure, [did.] (Th)at day on Danys he was victoryous. [Ms. At st. That, durch Nachwirkung der Initiale v. 547; so auch v. 576.] [That.] And afftir that he dide off his armure, Line 550 Kneled doun and dide his besy cure: [knelyd.] Thanked god, by full gret auys, [thankyd.] And off his conquest to hym he gaff the prys. Duryng this werre ther was oon Duc Oswy [duk.] With kyng Offa, a prynce off gret estat, Line 555 A dyssymylere, which ful traitourly [dyssemelere.] Fro Crystes feith was a fals renegat; Afforn with Ingwar sworn and confederat, [Ynguar.] By vndirmynyng, this was his menyng: Affter Fremund he to be crownyd kyng; [aftir.] Line 560 Compassyng that hooly man shal deye And be mordrid by som fals tresoun, [sum.] And therupon to fynde a redy weye His labour was, by som occasioun. And as seyn Fremund knelyd lowly doun [seynt.] Line 565 Thankyng the lord for his gracyous speed [of st. for.] Affter his victory, Oswy smet off his hed. [aftir. victorye. heed.] And sodenly his hooly chast blood [sodeynly. chaast.] Ran lyne ryht in-to the visage Off this tretour, as he be-syde stood, [traytour.] Line 570 Brent hym so sore that he fyl in rage — [in a rage.] Lo heer the guerdoun off his mortal out|rage, [loo here.]

Lo how that god off ryhtful Juggement [Jugement.] Kan punysshe the mordre off folkis Inno|cent! The furye off Oswy was so inportable Line 575 (Th)at, saue the deth, he sawh no remedye. [That saff deth, the fehlt. sauh.] But, off this mordre be-cause he was coupable, Vnto seyn Fremund ful lowde he gan to crye: [seint.] "Mercy, o martir, haue mercy, or I dye!" [deye.] With wepyng terys and with a sobby sown, [teerys. sobby soun.] Line 580 "Off me most wrechchid haue compas|siown! [wrecchyd.] My grete offence to the I am a-knowe, [greet.] My sclandrous gilt, my trespace most horryble, [trespas moost.] Which haue deserued to brenne in helle lowe — [dysservyd.] My transgressioun, allas! is so terryble. [is fehlt.] Line 585 But ageyn mercy no thyng is Inpossible. [Impossible.] O blissyd martyr, rewe on my trespace That kan no refut but fle to the for grace!" [can. reffute.] Ther fil anoon a wondirful myracle, By mercy shewyd vnto this woful wiht, Line 590 At whos request ther was no long obstacle [noon long.] But that his praier was herd anoon ryht: [prayere.] The hed off Fremund by grace off goddis myht, Wher as it lay, dide sodenly abrayde [did sodeynly.] And vnto Oswy euene thus it sayde: [he st. it.] Line 595 "Cristis appostel, which hath off Crist power [Crystes apostyl. poweer.] And grace to grante thy low peticioun, [lowe.] He grante to the off hool herte and enter [entieer.] Off alle thy synnes an absolucioun; And me receyue in his confessioun Line 600 To liff euerlastyng, so that my meek suf|france [meeke.] Accepted be to his deuyn plesance". [acceptyd. dyvyn.] And as it is remembryd in historye [in his storye.] And registred be old antiquyte, [of oold.] Beside Radforde he hadde this victorye [Ratforde. his st. this.] Line 605 On them off Denmark — lord, blissid moot he be [blyssed mut.] Which off his merciful dyuyn mageste [maieste.] Made foure and twenty, but a fewe in noumbre, Fourty thowsand Danys to encoumbre! Off this myracle the fame ran ful wyde, [In st. of.] Line 610 The tryumphe rad with lettres aureat, [lettrys.] The palme up born long ordeyned for tabyde [longe.] Theternal chaplet off branches laureat, [The et. chapelet. braunchys.] Crownyd for ther meryt with capital pur|purat [with st. for. meryte with.] Ordeyned for martirs, with many a riche ston: [of st. for.] Line 615 And a-mong alle Fremund was set for on. [oon.] This blissid martir by myracle up aroos, Afforn predestynat to liff that is eterne, [affore.] Took up his hed with his tweyne handis cloos, — Whos hooly steppis to guye and to gouerne, [to nach and fehlt.] Line 620 As folkis present myhte weel discerne, [might wel.] By supposaile: he goyng forth so ryht, [supposaylle.] He was conueied be grace off Aungellys myht; [he fehlt. by. aungelys.] A-twen Whittone and Harborugh he abood, [Wittone. Harbourgh.] (A)nd ther, I fynde, a while he dide dwelle, [there. did.] Line 625 Took his swerd and euene ther he stood [there.] Toucheth the ground: and ther sprong up a welle: [towchyd. there sprang.]

With cristal watrys the stremys gan up welle; [vp belle(!).] And wessh a-way the blood that was so red, [whyssh awey.] Which doun distillyd from his hooly hed; Line 630 Took off the watir — ffolk sawh that were present — [sauh. wer.] And whan he hadde wasshe cleene his woundis, [whanne.] (T)ournyng his face toward the Orient Be-side the welle where yit the ground is — [wheer.] And passed nat the sylue same boundis, [passyd not. selve.] Line 635 Gaff up the gost, he knelyng in that place, [goost.] Toward the heuene with cheer erect and face. Oswy with othre, rehersid heer-beforn, [othir. heer fehlt.] Took up the body and the holy hed, And to Offcherche Fremund they haue born, [Ost|cherche.] Line 640 With his sherte closyd stronge in led, [strong. leed.] And with deuocioun, dilligence and dreed Withynne an Arche a-twixe two pillerys [Arch atwyx.] They mured him up. where he lay many yerys, [mvryd hem. wheer.] Wrouhte myracles and many sondry signes. [wrought. sundry.] Line 645 His fame sprad in many fer contres. — And in this lond there were thre virgynes, [ther wer.] Which that hadde dyuers Infirmytes: Oon was podagre in handis, leggis, knees, Another mwet, the thrydde, who lyst lere, [anothir mewet.] Line 650 What-euer was seid she myhte no-thyng heere. [myght.] Off these virgynes, the story doth us teche, [Ooff thes.] The firste Elffleda namyd·off these thre, [thes.] Which hadde lost the office off hir speche; [hire.] Thoua the secounde, hadde this infirmyte: [secunde. had.] Line 655 Off hand and foot she fayled liberte, [faylled.] This to seyne: the cely poore wyht [This is to.] Potagre was, myhte not stonde up ryht; [podagre. myght nat.] The thrydde mayde and the laste off alle, The Cronycle recordith in substance, Line 660 Men in that tyme Bryhteba dyde hire calle, [Bryghteva did hir.] And lak off heryng was al hir penance. [hire.] But forto fynde reles off ther greuance, — [relees.] Thouh alle these thre were seueryd fer assonder, [ferre assondir.] Ther dreem was oon, and that was a gret wonder: [wondir.] Line 665 They hadde in charge by reuelacioun, These thre in noumbre: how they sholde hem dresse [shulde.] Toward Offcherche, which is a kouth toun [Ostcherche. couth.] In Warwyk-shire, the story beryth wit|nesse, Ther to fynde reles off ther syknesse; Line 670 A specyal sygne youe to hem by grace Wherby they sholde approche vnto the place: [that place.] Fro the sepulchre off Fremund evene vpryht, [froo. sepulcre. evene fehlt.] As the aungele by myracle dyde hem lere, [aungel. did.] Ther sholde a skye as any sonne bryht [shulde. ony.] Line 675 Dresse up his bemys to the sterrys cleere, Lyk Phebus tressyd in his mydday speere, Neuer dyrken nor noon eclipsyng haue [nevir dirkyn.] Tyl vn-to tyme they kam vnto his graue. Thus conueyed be bryhtnesse off the skye [the st. be.] Line 680 (T)o Offcherche, as maad is mencioun: [Ostcherche, made.] Wher off ther syknesse they fond first remedye. [the seknesse. fonde. wheroff.] And affter that by reuelacioun Off the aungel they hadde instruccioun To take the body and the hooly hed [boody. heed.] Line 685 And karye it with hem out off the cas offled. [carye. them. caas. leed.]

And as the story doth in ordre telle, These thre virgynes retourned been ageyn, [retournyd. been fehlt.] Kam to a ryuer that namyd was Charwelle, [riveer.] And faste-by they fond a ful fayr pleyn. [founde.] Line 690 And for they wolde no thyng were in veyn, For the hooly martir off Alabawstre whit [Allabastre whyte.] They dyde ordeyne a toumbe off gret delit: [did. delighte.] Ther-in was graue the Natyuyte [inne.] Off Crist Jhesu abouten enuyroun, [aboutyn.] Line 695 The riche presentis off the kynges thre, Feste off Candilmesse receyued be Sy|meoun, [The ffeeste. by.] His meek suffrance, his Resureccioun: [meeke.] In which toumbe they haue fully purposid That the body off Fremund shal be closid. Line 700 And on this pleyn passyng-fair to seene Be-side this ryuer, because it drouh to nyht, They took a yerde off salwh with leuys greene, [yeerde of saluh.] Markyng the place and fet it ther vpryht. [there.] And toward morwe whan the day was lyht, Line 705 They kam ageyn, anoon as they aroos, [cam.] To burye the body holdyng ther purpoos. Bvt they fond nouther the body nor the ston, [founde neythir. boody. stoon.] Nor no tokne ther-off koude see: [cowde.] Saue the yerde, left there whan they were gon, [sauff. wer.] Line 710 Was growe that nyht into a large tre. For which the maidnes, that were in noumbre thre, [maydenys. wer.] Gan sore weepe and compleyne for di|stresse, [soore wepe.] For losse only off ther wordly rychesse. [wourthy.] God saw how sore the absence dide hem greue [abscence. did.] Line 715 Off hooly Fremund in ther affeccioun: He off his mercy, ther compleyntis to releue, [compleyntes.] Maad hem to knowe by reuelacioun [made.] How by dyuyn disposicioun He by myracle and gracious auenture Line 720 Prouyded hath for his sepulture; Bad ther-affter they sholde no more enquere, [And st. Bad. afftir. shulde.] (B)ut paciently suffre ther penance, With glad herte and with ryht good cheere Meekly abyde goddis ordynance: Line 725 For thoruh his myhty gracious purueyance [purviaunce.] He shal ordeyne be mysteryes ful pro|founde A tyme prouyded whan he shal be founde. But, wher he lay, the pleyn that was a|loffte Was plenteuous off floures and pasture, [plentevous. flours.] Line 730 The gras, the herbys holsom, smothe and soffte, [soote holsoom & soffte.] And vertu hadde, nat only be nature [not. by.] But be myracle, syk beestis to recure: [by. seek.] Fed with the hay or gras in his grennesse [hey.] They were maad hool of newe or old syknesse. [weer.] Line 735 The place was had in gret reuerence Off alle folkis that dwellyd faste-by, [fast.] Worsheped it with al ther dilligence, [worshipped. it fehlt.] For myracles that fille sodenly. [fyl sodeynly.] And to declare the ground and cause why: Line 740 I doute not, al was doon be grace [by.] Off hym that rested in that hooly place. — [restyd.] Than fil it so: a pilgrym off this Rewm, [it ffil so. Reem.] Callid Edelbertus, the story tellith heere, [Ethelbertus.] Beyng present at Jherusalem, [beeyng. Jerusaleem.] Line 745

Line 745 So as he lay with hool herte and entere [entiere.] At the sepulchre, knelyng in his prayere: Vpon a nyht hadde this auysioun: To haste hym hoom toward his Regioun; Callid by name, the cronycle makith mynde, Line 750 Thre sondry tymes swynge nyht be nyht. [sundry. shewyng st. swynge.] And he dellaied, alwey, as I fynde, Beyng in doute, thouhte in his inward syht "What may this been? I conceyue nat a|ryht"; Prayyng god, deuoutly ther knelyng, Line 755 What was his will, to haue ful know|lechyng. [wyl.] The thrydde tyme, wheras this pilgrym lay, Hadde in precept no lengere for-to dwelle, By goddis aungel, but in al haste that he may [aungil.] Haste hym homward, myn auctour doth thus telle, [vs st. thus.] Line 760 Toward the ryuer that callid is Charwelle: And on that pleyn, to-forn as is maad mynde, He sholde off salwh a large tre ther fynde, [shulde. saluh. ther fehlt.] Vnder which the hooly seynt was graue, [vndir.] Blyssid Fremund, — afforn heer put in mynde; [blyssed. here.] Line 765 Tolde him toknes which that he sholde haue [Toold. toknys. shulde.] At his komyng, the place for-to fynde: [comyng.] And oon ther was, which was nat lefft behynde, Which sholde be shewid to hym the same day [that same.] A-myd the place wher as the martir lay: Line 770 A mylk-whit sowhe cloos vnder the greene, [whyte sowe. vndir.] Entre nor yssu noon shewed on the pleyn, [entree. Issew. shewyd.] With yonge pigges in noumbre ful thret|tene A ful gret pas komyng him ageyn; [paas.] And, for-to putte al thyng in certeyn, Line 775 Withynne a chapel be-side that foil ful blyue [the soyl.] He sholde fynde notable preestis fyue. Alle these toknys rehersyd poynt be poynt To Ethelbertus breffly in sentence, [breeffly.] The angel pullid his ryht arm out off Joynt, [aungil.] Line 780 For crokid bakward, for his diffidence, [ffer st. for. diffence st. diffidence.] And manacid for his necligence Neuer to been hool, til upon the day [nevir.] That he kam thedir wher seyn Fremund lay. [cam. seint.] Gretly affraied with his infirmyte — Line 785 Felte in his arm gret peyne and passioun: [arme.] Took streiht the weie to Rome the cite, To this entent, for short conclusioun: Ther to receyue ful absolucioun [there. resceyve.] Be Cristis vyker, what-so-euer falle, [by Crystes vikeer. evir.] Line 790 Off his offence and his synnes alle. And to procede and telle forth the caas, For good expleit touchyng his iourne, To the pope, as his purpos was, [poope. purpoos.] He goth in haste for mor auctorite, [for the moore.] Line 795 And with a sperit off humylite, [spiryt.] Sette a-side al long dilacioun, Ech thyng commyttyng to his discrecioun [commyttyd.] Off these materes remembryd ceryously, [this mateerys.] Maad to the pope a declaracioun [made.] Line 800 Touchyng these myracles in ordre by and by. Which thyng conceyued, off hih discre|cioun Bad hym resorte hoom to his regioun, [resoorte.] Delyuered hym lettrys notable and special, [lettres.] To speede his purpos, testymonyal. [spede.] Line 805

Line 805 Whan he kam hoom with Bullis auc|torysed, He dilligently made Inquysicioun, [maad.] Fond alle the tooknys trewe afforn deuy|sed [toknys.] Aboute the place off his Inuencioun: Helthe off his arm and restitucioun, Line 810 The sowhe, the piggis, god lyst so pro|uyde, [sowe. pigges.] And preestis fyue dwellyng ther-be|syde. To the Bysshop off the diocyse [of ther.] Made off his bullis presentacioun, Callyd Byrynus: which in goodly wyse Line 815 Assentyd is to his translacioun. [to this.] Took certeyn prelatis off Religioun, And by the Popis ful auctoryte Translatyd hym to Dunstaple, ye may se. To which place the body whan they brouht, Line 820 Be goddis grace and his grete myht [by. greet.] Sondry myracles the hooly martir wrouht: Made folkis lame for-to goon vpryht, [for fehlt.] Cured leeprys, to blynde men gaff syht, [curyd.] And remedye to syke folkys alle [seeke.] Line 825 That for socour vnto his grace calle. — Now, hooly Fremund, martir, mayde, and kyng, Vnto seynt Edmund cosyn most entere, [Edmond. entieer.] Which wrouhtest myracles heer in thy leuyng, [wroughtyst. here. lyvyng.] With Crist now regnyng aboue the sterris clere: [cleer.] Line 830 Socoure thy seruantis by mene off thy praiere [prayeer.] And ouer them hold thy gracious hond, [ovir. holde.] And saue (sixte Herry), his peple and al this lond! [Ms. forthe Edward, von and. Hand über einem and. radirten Namen (sixte Herry)über|schrieben.] [save VI^te Herry(!).] Whilom off Danys thow haddest the victorye, [whiloom. thou haddyst. the fehlt.] By myracle, as maad is mencioun, [made.] Line 835 Now crownyd martir in the heuenly con|sistorye: Geyn gostly enmyes be our proteccioun; [ageyn.] Prey specyally for al this regioun Forto preserue fro damagis this contre: Our feithful trust is in thyn vncle and the! Line 840 For semblably as thow, kyng Fremund, Venquysshedest Danys at Ratforde on the pleyn: [venquysshed.] Riht so thyn vncle, the hooly kyng Ed|mund, To saue this lond fro Trybut in certeyn, [trybute.] At Geynesboruh by myracle slowh kyng Sweyn. [Geynesbourgh. Swayn.] Line 845 The which story, accomplysshed of old date, I am purposid in ynglyssh to translate. [englyssh.]

(Miracula des h. Edmund.)

A Thowsand yeer reknyd and thryttene [threttene.] Folwyng Crystes Incarnacioun, Mortal constreynt, an inportable teene [a mortal.] Line 850 Troubled al the lond off Brutis Albioun, [trowbelyd.] Beyng that tyme kyng off that regioun Etheldredus, which by acountis cleer [Ethelredus.] Was off his kyngdham the fourte and thretty yeer. [kyndam. foure and thrytty.] This newe trouble gan off stryues olde Line 855 By them off Denmark, which off antiquyte Cast with this lond a werre forto holde Off wilful malice and compassid cruelte, [compast.] As in cronycles men may reede and se: Which to contynue with strengthe and myhty hond [contvne. strong st. strengthe.] Line 860

Line 860 Kyng Sweyn off newe is entred in this lond. [entryd in-to this.] Tytle was ther noon but wilful tyrannye: By a maner off newe Intrusioun, Be Sweyn conspired, cleymyng the regalye, Off Danys ryht to haue pocessioun: Line 865 He forto regne cleymyth by successioun. [cleymeth. by fehlt.] Entryng this lond, the story (who) lyst seen, [who fehlt.] [the stoory whoo lyst.] Be extort power gan to brenne and slen, [by.] Spoiled menstres and holy cherches brente, [spoylled mynstrys. cherchis brent.] Robbed cites and euery famous toun, [robbyd citees.] Line 870 And for a tribut thoruh al the lond he sente — [trybute. sent.] He list off pryde make noon excepcioun; His swerd off vengance whet be extor|cioun, [by.] Off hatful yre and off furyous rage Spared nouther old nor yong off age. [sparyd nouthir oold.] Line 875 In Etheldredus ther was no resistence, [Ethelredus.] Force to withstonde his cruel tyrannye; Riht was oppressid by mortal vio|lence: The kyng for feer fled in-to Normandie. Thus, desolat, void off al cheualrye [voyde.] Line 880 Stood al the lond: which gaff gret hardy|nesse To the tirant the peeple for-to oppresse. To hooly places was do no reuerence, [placys. doo.] Men slayn and moordred by vengable cruelte, [mordryd.] Wyues oppressid by sclandrous violence, Line 885 Widwes rauesshid loste ther liberte, [ravysshed. lost.] Maidnes diffouled by force ageyn pite, [maydenys diffoulyd.] Preesthod despised, religyous in disdeyn, Be cruel hatrede off this tirant Sweyn. [by.] Took up-on hym forto be callyd kyng, [folio 100] Line 890 Presumptuously, off force ageyn al ryht. Wil was his guyde, collusion his werkyng, His lawes gouerned be power and be myht — [governyd by poweer. by.] Off rihtwisne(sse) eclipsid was the liht. [Ms. riht wisne.] [rightwysnesse. eclypsed.] Gadryng off tresours, be gold to haue auayl, [gadryd the t.] Line 895 Fraude and falsnesse wer cheff off his counsail. [cheef. his fehlt.] Sette a trybut general on the lond — [trybute.] With couetise he was so set affyre, [coveityse.] So fer off rauyne he strechchid out his hond — [ferre. strecchyd.] The mor he gadred, the mor he doth desire: [moore. gadryd. moore.] Line 900 Sent his collitours into euery shire, [collectours.] Spared nouther, pleynly to deuyse, [sparyd nouthir.] Confermed off seyntes ffredam nor ffran|chise. [con|fermyd.] Gadrid in haste this tribut and tall|iage [trybute. tallage.] Be rauynours and robbours infernal, Line 905 To hyndre the peeple by extort pillage, Delay excludid, mercy was noon attal. [at al.] And for this tribut was so general, [trybute.] To Estyngland strechchid this axyng, [Estyngeland.] Wher seynt Edmund whilom was crownyd kyng. [Edmond. whyloom.] Line 910 The peeple, nat vsed to be Tributarye, [vsyd. Edmond.] Cleymed franchise off Edmund, ther pa|troun; The raueynours, aleggyng in contrarye, [ravynours alleggyng.] Were Inportune in ther exaccioun. The peeple a-geynward for ther protec|cioun Line 915 Knowyng no refut as in this mater [ref|fute. mateere.]

Sauff to the martir to make ther praier: [save. prayeere.] Thus ryche and poore off al that re|gioun Off oon affeccioun with herte, wil and myht With deuout prayer for ther redempcioun [prayeere.] Line 920 Kam on pilgrymage with sondry tapris lyht [cam.] To the hooly corseynt, ther wachchyng day and nyht, [there wacchyng.] Besechyng hym his seruantis to socoure Ageyn the tirant that wolde hem deuoure, Which paciently acountid ful ten yeer, [accountyd.] Line 925 Ingland, hath suffryd this tribut ful ter|ryble, [Ingeland. trybute.] Fond fauour noon, groos nor particuler; Constreynt off rygour was to hem odible: [so odible.] That to contynue they dempte an Inpos|sible, [contvne.] By pouert spoiled which made hem sore smerte, Line 930 Which as they thouhte craumpysshed at here herte. [at ther.] They lay prostraat, knelyng aboute his shryne, [prostrat. the st. his.] Women go barfoot pitously wepyng, With letanyes preestis dede enclyne, [did.] By abstynence the peeple long fastyng, Line 935 Men off religioun be prayer and wakyng: Besouhte the martir ther fredam to renewe [besought.] And off his mercy on ther wo to rewe. [vpon.] Ther requestis were nat maad in veyn: [wer.] For he that was cheeff Cubyculer Line 940 Aboute seynt Edmund and his chaumber|leyn; — [Edmond. chaumbirleyn.] Alle off assent dyde ther deuer [did. deveer.] To praie ther patroun to caste his eyen cleer, [preye.] His heuenly eyen, ther trouble to termyne, With liht off confort ther hertis tenlumyne; Line 945 Fyrst Ayllewyn, that cely creature, Afforn his shryne vpon the pauement lay, [pament.] In his praiere deuoutly dyde endure, [did.] Seelde or neuer parteden nyht nor day. [Selde. neuere. partyd.] For whan so euer his lieges felte affray, [euere. liges felt. Edmond.] Line 950 The peeple in hym hadde so gret beleue: Thoruh his request Edmund sholde hem releue: — The perfeccioun off Ayllewyn was so couth, [Aylwyn. kouth.] So renommed his conuersacioun; [renomyd.] That many a tyme they spak to-gidre mouth be mouth [spake.] Line 955 Touchynge hyh thynges off contem|placioun; [touchyng.] Expert ful offte be reuelacioun [by.] Off heuenly thynges, to speke in woordes fewe, [woordys.] Be gostly secretys which god lyst to hym shewe. — And as he lay slepyng on a nyht: Line 960 Clad in a stole off angelik cleernesse [stoole.] Whittere than snowh, powdryd with ster|rys bryht, [whyhtere. snow.] Off cheer celestiall, surmontyng off fair|nesse, His sterryssh eyen lik Phebus off fressh|nesse, With plesant language the martir gan abraide Line 965 And to his chapleyn euene thus he saide: "Go forth in haste, spille no tyme in veyn, [goo. spil.] And looke thow do trewly my massage! [doo.] And in my name sey thus to kyng Sweyn: [myn.] That off my peeple he axe no truage: [trewage.] Line 970 Ther ffranchise is to stonde in auantage [at st. in.] From al trybut and al exaccioun Vnder the wynges off my proteccioun. [vndir.]

"'Vexe nat my peeple, suffre hem lyue in pees, Trouble nat the kalm off ther tranquyllite! Line 975 In thy requestis be nat so reklees! [so fehlt. rekelees.] To axe hem trybut yt longith nat to the, [trybute.] Ther ffredam stablysshed off antiquyte. Be war therfore, off malys nor off pryde [malice.] Be vsurpacioun thow sette it nat a-syde! [not.] Line 980 Thy wilful errour, in gros to compre|hende, [in gros fehlt.] Ys, for-to trouble me and my franchise, To make hem wrongly ther goodis to dispende. Be war therfore, and werke afftir the wise! Myn enbassiat that thow nat despise! Line 985 For, yiff thow do, pleynly to expresse, God and I ther damagis shal redresse'". Toward morwe whan Ayllewyn awook, He was somdel abasshed in his corage. (T)o Geynesborugh the ryht way he took; [weye.] Line 990 God was his guyde to forthren his viage, And for tacomplysshe fully his massage. Affter the fourme off his Instruccioun [afftir.] He folwed theffect off his auysioun. [folwyd.] He dide his massage openly declare, [did. opynly.] Line 995 To the presence whan he kam off Sweyn, Fro poynt to poynt, list nat oo woord to spare. [a st. oo.] Whom forto heere the tirant hath dysdeyn, Bad hym deuoyde, no mor ther to be seyn. [moore there.] And departyng, thouh that it was late, [that fehlt.] Line 1000 Toward nyht he wente out at the gate. [went.] Destitut he was off herbergage, Sauff ther-be-side a cherche-yerd he took; [chircheyeerd.] Mong graue stones, thouh he was old off age, [stoonys. oold.] He leyde hym doun, and nyh alnyht he wook, [leyd.] Line 1005 And toward heuene ful ofte he caste his look, Prayeng the lord to rewe on his symplesse [praying.] And toward morwe be grace his iourne dresse. And, forto putte this mater in memorye, [mateere.] Retournyng homward, the story berth witnesse, [berith.] Line 1010 At Lyncolne withynne the teritorye With slombre oppressyd, trauayle and heuynesse, [travaylle.] For recreacioun, his labour to redresse: Toward Aurora the martir, maide, and kyng To hym appered, saide, as he lay slepyng: [apperyd.] Line 1015 "What newe trouble hath thy cheer disteynyd, [dysteyned.] With heuynesse consumed and apeyred? [consumyd. appeyred.] Pluk up herte! al that my peeple hath pleynyd [pleyned.] I shal redresse, or thow be hoom repeyred. Off my socour be nat dysespeyred! Line 1020 Or ouht longe bet tydyng god shal sende, By whos support al I shal amende." [suppoort.] Egelwynus resortyng hoom ageyn, At Geynesborugh the silue same nyht In his castell to-for the tirant Sweyn [Castel.] Line 1025 Blissid Edmund, armyd lik a knyht, [umgesetzt. Edmond.] Conueied by an angel, as Phebus cleer off lyht, [umgesetzt. Edmond.] Axed off Sweyn, a sharp spere in his hond: "Wiltow, quod he, haue tribut off my lond?" [trybute.] Off heuenly colour was his cote-armure, [coote armvre.] Line 1030 The feeld aȝour, off gold with crownys thre. [with fehlt.] In tokne he was, by record off scripture, Kyng and martir, his legende who list se; The thrydde crowne tokne off virgynyte. [whoo.] He with a spere, sharp and keene grounde, Line 1035 Gaff the tirant his laste fatal wounde — [last.] Geyn goddis wil may be no reffut. [reffute.] Thus onto hym Edmund gan specefie: [vnto. Edmond.]

"Haue thyn axyng, haue heer thy tribut, [here. trybute.] Guerdoun couenable geyn fals tyrannye!" [covennable ageyn.] Line 1040 Sweyn affraied loude gan to crye, [lowde.] Yald up his gost, I not what weye he took. But with the noyse al the castel wook. — No-man merueile off this vnkouth myracle, That Sweyn was slayn in his chaumbre a|nyht! [chambre.] Line 1045 Geyn goddis power ther is noon obstacle, [poweer.] In heuene, in erthe egal is his myht, As weel in derknesse as in the cleer lyht; [wel. dirknesse.] His victorye with spere, swerd or sheeld [sweerd.] In chaumbre shewed as weel as in the feeld. [shewyd.] Line 1050 To prudent peeple and folkis that be sad Twen ffeeld and chaumbre is no difference; [chaum|bir.] Lyggyng a-bedde his myht is to be drad, For cowardise hath noon experience Wher he list use his myhty violence, Line 1055 In bed, in chaumbir, in castel, or in tour, [chaumbre.] The swerd al oon off his dredful rygour. [sweerd.] Som ffolk, nat wis, to cowardise arette That Sweyn was slayn in his bed a-nyht. The castel cloos, the strong wal nat lette [Casteel.] Line 1060 But that his entre kam al off goddis myht; As thoruh a glas perce the bemys bryht [peerce.] Whan Phebus shyneth, Sweyn in the same wise Slayn be myracle, and by no cowardise.— [by.] And to procede as it komyth to mynde, Line 1065 This Egelwyn herde in his passage A gret rumour off horsmen behynde, Which spak to hym in ful pleyn language: "Art thow nat he that brouhtest the mas|sage From kyng Edmund, thenbassiat not tretable, [Edmond. nat.] Line 1070 Dreedful, sodeyn, hasty and vengable?" As kyng Edmund saued fro tribut [savid trybute.] This lond be myracle, sette the Rewm in pes, [long(!) by. sett. Reem. pees.] Ryht so the Danys off counfort destitut [destitute.] Durste afftir neuer put them-sylff in pres [durst. nevir. prees.] Line 1075 To axe no truage nor gold to ther encres. [trewage. encrees.] Wher god diffendeth, lat us neuer dreede, [diffendith. nevir.] Ageyn whos power no malys shal pro|ceede. [poweer. malice. procede.] Off Sweynys deth thus writeth Marian: [Sweyn is.] How oon Wolmarus, born off gentil blood, Line 1080 Dowmb, deff, podagre, and an Essex man; [dowm and deeff.] The same hour so with hym it stood: Lay a-deyeng and his tyme abood; [deying.] Which neuer spak erst, sodenly abrayde, [nevir. sodeynly.] To his ffreendis euene thus he sayde: Line 1085 "The sharp spere off kyng Edmund, certeyn, [speere. Edmond.] (T)o sette this lond fro tribut in surnesse, Ypershid hath the cruel herte off Sweyn. [I-percyd.] Wherby this lond is brouht in gret glad|nesse." [is fehlt.] These woordis sayd, the man in his sik|nesse [Thes wordys.] Line 1090 Yald up the gost—neuer afftir nor afforn, [nevir.] And spak no mor, sithe tyme that he was born. [moore. sith.] Thus Egelwynus be tooknys ful certeyn, [toknys.] As he homward gan his Journe holde, [hoolde.] Hauyng relacioun off the deth off Sweyn: Line 1095 Withynne hym-sylff his herte gan to bolde [began to boolde.] And euery part this myracle forth he tolde, [toolde.] Thanked god off his gracious refut Which hath this lond delyuered fro tribut. Fro the cronycle yiff I shal nat varye, Line 1100 Kyng Sweyn was slayn, as maad is men|cioun, [made.] The day secounde off frosty Februarye [the secunde day.] A thowsand yeer fro the Incarnacioun

Fourtene ouer by computacioun. [ovir.] The Danys affter, saltyng his careyn, [aftir.] Line 1105 In-to Denmark be sailled hoom ageyn. [saylled.]

And as myn Auctour in ordre doth deuyse, Neuer tirant durste putten assay [nevir. durst puttyn. Edmond.] Off seynt Edmund to breke the franchise, Line 1110 But he were punysshed withoute long delay. [seyntes.] Hard is with seyntis forto make affray: [by. wel.] Be exaumple as I can weel preue [by. shereve.] By Leoffstan. which, whan he was shyr|reue, [Init. Edmond.] To seynt Edmund hadde no deuocioun, [here.] Line 1115 To heere off hym froward by dysdeyn, Off his myracles ful smal affeccioun, To heere hem rad the tyme spent in veyn; [libertees.] His libertes, he was therageyn. To sitte in Jugement he caste a certeyn day Withynne the boundis wher the martir lay. Line 1120 A woman gilty, fferful for hir trespace, [wooman.] For dreed off deth, socour forto fynde Off blyssyd Edmund entred is the place, [blyssed Edmond entryd.] Lowly besechyng: he on hir wo taue mynde. [woo. to haue.] Leoffstan dide hir arreste and bynde [did hire a reeste.] Line 1125 By cachepoll with force and violence, [Cacchepollys.] Vnto the seynt doyng no reuerence. The clerkis present in deuyn seruyse [divin.] Gan in maner to make resistence, Off hooly chirch diffendyng the ffranchise; [chirche.] Line 1130 But al for nouht: ther was such assistence [suych.] By pres off baylyues beyng in presence, With multitude the clerkis to assayle, That to sey nay it wolde nat auayle. The offycerys, rauynous lik houndis, [officers.] Line 1135 With Leoffstan, furious off chier, [cheere.] Off the cherche entred is the boundis. [chirche entryd.] The clerkis prostrat lay in ther praier, [prayeere.] The woman crieth, that alle men myhten hier: [al. here.] "Help, blissid Edmund! help and be my reed! [Heelp.] Line 1140 For, but thow helpe, I shal in haste be ded. [thou. deed.] Keep and conserue thy Jurediccioun Fro this tirant, or this day I shal deye". The clerkis knelyng in ther orysoun: "Keep thy ffredam, o martir!" they gan preye. Line 1145 But Leoffstan lyst nat for to obeye, With al his court is entred, off entent [entryd.] In the cherche to sitte in Jugement. [Into the chirche.] No reuerence doon to the seyntuarye, [seyntwarye.] The tirant was so vnmercyable: Line 1150 Be violence the woman forth they karye; [by. carye.] A quest redy, the Jurours Inportable. [Jorours.] The woman crieth with voys ful lamen|table: [heelp.] "Help, hooly martir! shal I be this wise Dempt in the boundis this day off thy franchise?" Line 1155 The Juge procedeth to execucioun, [procedith.] (T)houhte no ffredam ageyn hym sholde auayle. [shulde.] A ffeend anoon took pocessioun Off this tirant, sore dyde hym trauaile [soore did.] In euery membre and in his entraile; [entraylle.] Line 1160 Amyd his torment yald up his gost in hast — [goost.] I dar nat deeme what way he is past. [not deme. wey.] Thus kan the martir punysshe hem that been rebel; [be st. been. rebeel.] Folk that truste hym, counforte hem and releue, Socoure ther pleyntes, supporte ther quarel, [quareel.] Line 1165 As this myracle openly doth preue; [opynly.]

Who seketh his helpe, shal nat mescheue, [sekith. myscheve.] To his seruantis gracious and benygne.— A tale for them, ageyn hym that maligne. [ageyn hem.]

Knyhtes fyue off malice and rauyne, Line 1170 Ageyn the ffredam off Edmund ful coup|able, [Edmond.] Haberyowned and in platis fyne [habiriownyd.] Entred his court, took hors out off his stable, [entryd.] With swerdis drawe to shewe hem-sylff vengable, Lyst any man wolde make resistence; [ony.] Line 1175 Ladde forth the pray bextort violence. [lad. ther pray.] But sodenly thus with hem it stood: [sodeynly. with them.] Or they passyd the boundis off the gate, Trauayled with furye, and echon wex wood. [echoon.] Repented affter, offred up mayland plate, [repentyd afftir. offryd.] Line 1180 Confessyd, assoiled, — in cronycle set the date; [in the cr.] Euer afftir off hool affeccioun [euere.] Hadde to the martir gret deuocioun. —

Eek oon off Flaundres, that was a fals brybour, [Flaundrys.] Kam vndyr colour off oblacioun, [cam. cololour (!)] Line 1185 Kyssed the shryne, lyk a slyh pilour, [pillour.] And with his teth, the book makith men|cioun, Rauhte off a nowche. but, in conclusioun, [raught.] His teth ftak stylle and on the nowche a|bood, [stake.] By myracle, wher as the pylour stood; [pyllour.] Line 1190 He koude nat remewe fro the place, [cowde. remeve. fro that.] But stylle abood, that alle men myhte se. [myght.] The Couent kam, prayyng the seynt off grace [preying.] Vpon that wrechche forto haue pite: [wrecche. for fehlt.] Loosnyd he was and wente at liberte. Line 1195 Thus kan the martir on rebellis be veng|able; [losnyd.] Whan they repente, benyngne and mercy|able. — [benigne.]

Theuys eyhte, tentre the cherche at nyht, [chirche.] Oon brouhte a laddere, a-nother brouhte a barre, [anothir. brought.] A-nother besy with al his strengthe and myht Line 1200 To vnpyke lokys, a-nother to vnbarre, [vnpykke lokkys.] Oon with a leuour to leffte the doore on harre, Oon with a pykoys, a-nother hadde a spade, [pykoyse.] Oon clamb the wyndowe his fardell forto lade; [fardel.] Oon at the grownsel lowe gan to myne, [growncelle.] Line 1205 A-nother besy to entre, yiff he myhte; [myght.] Compassed afforn tave kome to the shryne, [compassyd. to haue come.] To bern away the gold with stonys bryhte. [stoonys bryght.] But to ther malis the martir hadde a fyhte: [malice. sight.] So sore be vertu he dyde the theuys bynde, [soore. did.] Line 1210 Tyl on the morwe the peeple dyde hem fynde: Stood stylle as ston, sore in them-sylff amasyd, [stoon. soore.] Somme with ther armys crompyd to the bak, With eye up-tournyd aboute they haue gafyd, [gasyd.] Oon with his crampown, a-nother with his sak, Line 1215 Another stood and on the wal he brak; Fro ther werk myhte no remews make, [myght.] Tyl on morwe they were at myscheff take, [on the.] Bounde and fetryd and throwen in prysown. [folio 110]

Tyl the Bysshop off the diocyse Line 1220 Sat upon hem, dide execuciown, [did.] By hasty rygour procedyng to Justise. [Justice.] Hangyd they wern, shortly to deuyse — Loo how the martir the robbours dyde quyte! — [did.] Off this mater what sholde I more endite? [mateere. shulde.] Line 1225 The lawe he thouhte gaff to hym licence To execute hasty Jugement, Be-cause in cherche was do the gret of|fence, Conspired be theuys, alle eyhte off assent; [chirche. doo.] Nat seyn afforn this text bauysement: [by.] "Cesse thow nat, thus thapostel bad, [by avysement.] Line 1230 Them to delyuere that to the deth be lad". [Cece thou. Thapoostyl.] Off whos deth this bysshop Theodrede Hadde al his lyff hertly repentance, For this cruel and this hasty deede Made the peple faste and do penance; [this nach and fehlt.] Line 1235 He sore contrit, tryst off contenance, [doo.] Hadde euer affter for that gret offence Withynne hym-sylff remors off conscience. [evir aftir.]

Whan ffolk off pryde lyst haue no reward Line 1240 To hooly seyntis forto do reuerence, [seyntes.] God punyssheth hem: record on seynt Edward [recoord of.] Whilom at Bury beyng in presence [whyloom.] Whan Osgothus off hatful necligence, A lord off Denmark, lyk a wood man ferde, Line 1245 The myracles off Edmund whan he herde. [Edmond.] Toward the martyr he bar old hatrede, This Osgothus, as it was affter founde, [aftir.] Despysed his myracles whan he herde hem reede. [herd.] Yet he in ordre was callyd the secounde, [yit.] Line 1250 Next to the kyng, with gold and perlys rounde [peerlys.] Rychely beseyn, and statly off array. Aboute the shryne walkyng al the day, Off coryouste and presumpcioun His look he caste toward that hooly kyng, Line 1255 Off fals dysdeyn, voyd off deuocioun [voyde.] Depraued his vertues, his passioun, his lyuyng. [depravid.] And as he stood the martir thus skornyng, With a brood fawchoun hangyng be his syde, Fyl plat to grownde, mawgre al his pryde — [grounde.] Line 1260 God is nat plesid with such fals blas|ffeme [suych a.] Doon to his seyntys off Indignacioun, [seyntes.] Namly to martirs, which, the lord to queme, [na|mely.] Suffred for his sake deth and passioun; [suffryd.] To pleye with seyntys kometh off ambi|cioun, [seyntes comyth.] Line 1265 Which god wil punysshe with vnwar vengaunce; For which this story is put in remem|brance. — This lord off Denmark for al his gret bost, [greet boost.] For al his tresour, his gold and his perre, As a demonyak vexyd with a gost, Line 1270 Ful offte turnynge in his infirmyte. [tournyng.] The noise aroos, oon seith "there lyth he", Tyl the rumour off cryyng heer and there [here.] Kam be report to the kynges ere, [Cam. repoort.] Which thilke tyme in Chapitle was present Line 1275 Off his grace and Royall dignyte [Royal.] With the abbot and hool al the couent, Tencresse ther franchise and ther liberte: [tencrese.] Off his benygne and mercyful bounte [remours.]

Gaff hem the maner off Mildenhale and the toun Line 1280 With eihte hundredis in pocessioun. [hundredys.] Al this tyme Osgothus lay dystreyned In his furye walwyng up and doun Whan hooly Edward knew how he was peyned, Off Royal mercy he hath compassyoun; Line 1285 Heeryng the noyse and the horryble soun, Dredful, terryble, off this wood man, Thus he seyde to Abbot Leoffstan: "Fader Abbot, it longeth to you off ryht [fadir. longith. yow.] With hooly praier and deuout orysoun [prayeer.] Line 1290 With al your couent to gon anoon ryht [goon.] To the holy martir in processioun, [hooly.] The letany song with deuocioun, [letanye songe.] Prayyng the corseynt off his benygnyte On this Osgothus forto han pite". [haue.] Line 1295 This myracle is the more auctorysed [moore.] That seynt Edward was ther-at present; Ouht off resoun to be mor solempnysed. [oughte. moore.] For the holy kyng was so diligent, [dilligent.] Off his grace to go with the couent Line 1300 In processioun, ther knelyng on ther kne, To saue Osgothus off his Infirmyte. And by the counseyl off Ayllewyn, cer|teyn, [counsayl.] To the fertre the syke man was led. [seke. lad.] And a gret space whan he hath ther leyn, Line 1305 Wher he afforn was furyous and mad, He gan abrayde and to wexe sad; Restoryd to helthe, lowly doun knelyng [restooryd.] Gaff thank to god and to the hooly kyng. Tamende his manerys he gan eek blyue, [maners. he began.] Line 1310 Sette a-syde his froward sturdynesse; To the martir duryng al his lyue He was deuout, took to hym meeknesse. [took hym to m.] What uayleth pryde? what uayleth fro|wardnesse?— [vayleth. vaylleth.] Exaumple heeroff ye may seen at the lest [leste.] Line 1315 Be vengance take in Essex on the preest [preeste.] Whych to the martir denyed herbergage Lad by Ayllewyn to Londene the Cite; [Londone.] His place brent, for his froward language Vengance take, men myhte the flawme se. [myght.] Line 1320 But therageyn off grace and off pite At Crepilgate, entryng that royal toun, Dide many myracle, the book maketh mencioun. [did. makith.] Tofforn at Stratfforde, callyd at the Bowe, His litil carre whan it sholde passe, [litel. shulde.] Line 1325 The bregge broke, the deep strem vn|knowe, [streem.] Narwh was the plawnc: ther was no weye but grace: [narwgh. planke. wey.] A-boff the flood o litel wheel gan glace, [above. oon litel.] The tother wheel glod on the boord a|loffte, [tothir. glood.] And Ayllewyn wente afforn ful soffte. [went.] Line 1330 He kam to Londene toward eue late: [cam. Londone.] At whos komyng blynde men kauhte syht. [comyng. kaught.] And whan he was entred Crepylgate, [entryd.] They that were lame be grace they goon upryht, [wer. by.] Thouhtful peeple were maad glad and lyht; [wer.] Line 1335 And ther a woman contrauct al hir lyue, [there. contract.] Cryyng for helpe, was maad hool as blyue.— Thre yeer the martir heeld ther resy|dence. [held.] Tyl Ayllewyn be reuelacioun Took off the Bysshope vpon a day licence Line 1340

Line 1340 To leede kyng Edmund ageyn to Bury toun. [lede. Edmond.] But by a maner symulacioun [maneer symblacioun.] The bysshop granteth, and vnder that gan werche [vndir.] Hym to translate in-to Powlys cherche; Vpon a day took with hym clerkis thre, Line 1345 Entreth the cherche off seyn Gregory, [entryth. chirche. seint.] In purpos fully, yiff it wolde be, [purpoos.] To karye the martir fro thenys preuyly. [Ms. theuys.] [carye. thens.] But whan the bysshop was therto most besy With the body to Poulis forto gon, [Powlys. goon.] Line 1350 Yt stood as fyx as a gret hill off ston. [It. ffix. hyl. stoon.] Multitude ther myhte noon auayle, [myght. avaylle.] Al-be they dyde ther fforce and besy peyne; [did.] For but in ydel they spente ther trauayle. [Idel. spent.] The peple lefte, the bysshop gan dys|deyne: Line 1355 Drauht off corde nor off no myhty cheyne [coorde.] Halp lyte or nouht — this myracle is no fable — [light st. lyte.] For lik a mount it stood ylyche stable. [Ilich.] Wher-upon the bysshop gan meruaylle, Fully diffraudyd off his entencioun. [deffrawdid.] Line 1360 And whan ther power and fforce gan to faylle, [poweer.] Ayllewyn kam neer with humble affec|cioun, [cam.] Meekly knelyng sayde his orysoun: The kyng requeryng lowly for Crystes sake [lowely.] His owyn contre he sholde nat forsake. [owne cuntre. shulde.] Line 1365 Wyth this praier Ayllewyn aroos, [prayeere.] Gan ley to hand: fond no resistence, Took the chest wher the kyng lay cloos, Leffte hym up withoute violence. [lefft. withoute ony.] The bysshop thanne with dreed and reuerence Line 1370 Conueyed hym forth with processioun, Tyl he was passid the subarbis off the toun. [subarbys.] Alle syke ffolk that for helpe souhte [seek.] To the martir, lyggyng in maladye, Were maad hool; myracles euer he wrouhte: [wer. euere.] Line 1375 Who callyd to hym ffond hasty remedye. [whoo.] Wher he passith upon ech partye, Thoruh euery toun and euery smal village, [cam.] The peeple kam to conueye his passage; Broke breggis they gan ageyn renewe, [brooke.] Line 1380 Strowed al the weies with floures fressh and grene, [strowyd. flours.] And with clothes off many dyuers hewe [cloothys.] They heng ther wallis, maad the pament clene, [made.] That noon obstacle was in the weye sene. To Stapylfforde they took the weye ryht, Line 1385 And, as I fynde, he logged ther al nyht, At the cheff maner off that litil toun, [cheef maneer. litel.] Weel receyued with besy attendance. [wel.] And he that hadde the domynacioun Off thilke village, lay in gret penance Line 1390 Thoruh old syknesse: but off al greuance, Wher he so longe afforn lay languysshyng, Was maad al hool be myracle off this kyng; [by.] And whan he was be grace thus recuryd, [by.] Ful deuoutly in al his beste wise Line 1395 Made his auouh and hertly hath assuryd [avowh.] That litil maner hooly to a-mortyse [litel maneer. hool.] With the reuenus, as lawe lyst deuyse, To the cherche, breffly to termyne, [chirche. breeffly.] Wher the martir lith hool now in his shryne. [lyth.] Line 1400 By Essex weye whan he was repeyred [repeyered.]

To Bedrysworthe holdyng his weye ryht: For long absence they that were dyspeyred, [dysespeyred.] At his komyng wer maad glad and lyht. [comyng.] With ther offryng to hym goth euery wyht, Line 1405 Deuoutly prayyng the martir nyht and day [preying.] With hem tabyde and neuer parte away.— [with hym. nevir.] Baldewynus, a monk off seynt Denys, Gretly expert in crafft off medycyne, [greet(!).] Ful prouydent off counsayl and ryht wys, Line 1410 Sad off his port, fructuous off doctryne— [poort.] Affter by grace and influence deuyne [aftir. dyvyne.] Chose off Bury Abbot, as I reede, [Choose.] The thrydde in ordre which dide ther succede; [did.] To seynt Edward he was phesecien, [phesicien.] Line 1415 To many siknesse he dide remedye: [did.] In nyne and twenty wyntir, ye may seen, A newe cherche he dyde edefye, Ston brouht fro Kane out of Normaundye [stoon. Cane.] By the se and set up on the stronde [see. vpon.] Line 1420 At Ratlysdene and caryed forth be londe. By helpe and support off William con|querour [suppoort.] The cherche acomplysshed, with his fun|dacioun Baldewyn dyde his deuout labour Statly to ordeyne for the translacioun Line 1425 Off blyssyd Edmund, yeer from his passioun [blyssed Edmond. froom.] Ful two hundryd twenty and eek fyue, As myn Auctour the dathe doth descryue. [dathe st. date.] [date.] Toward the ende almost off Apprylle [almoost Aprylle.] Certeyn prelatis fro the kyng sent doun Line 1430 This translacioun deuoutly to fulfylle, Off Bed(r)ysworthe they entred ben the toun — [Ms. Bedysworthe.] [Bedrys|worthe. entryd been.] A thowsand yeer fro the Incarnacioun Nynty ouer by accountis cleer [ovir.] With addicioun fully off fyue yeer. Line 1435 The feste kept with al the obseruances [ffeeste.] By custom vsyd off antiquyte — [Be custoom.] I lakke konnyng to telle al circumstances Appertenyng to that solempnyte. The poopis bullys gaff hem auctoryte, Line 1440 The kyng weel wyllyd, ther was noon obstacle, [wel wylled.] By cleer report off many fayr myracle. [be. repoort.] These thynges reknyd ouhte ynowh suffyse [thes. out(!) Inow.] Vertuously this mater for to grounde. [mateere.] And to procede, in most humble wyse, Line 1445 With dreed and reuerence, off ryht as they wer bounde, [drede. were.] Out off a chapel, that callyd was rotounde, [Rotownde.] They took the martir on ther shuldres squar [shuldrys.] And to the shryne deuoutly they it bar, Whych was afforn prouyded for the nonys, [noonys.] Line 1450 With clothis off gold arrayed and perré [cloothis.] And with many ryche precyous stonys, Longyng vn-to his roial dignyte. Which off his grace and merciful bounte To our requestis shal goodly condescende, [condiscende.] Line 1455 Geyn al our enmyes this lond for to dyf|fende. [alle.]

(Schlussgebet.)

O Gloryous martir, which off deuout humblesse [wer. tree.] For Crystes sake were bounde to a tre, With shot off arwes suffredyst gret duresse, Thy blood doun raylyng, that routhe it was to se, [rayllyng. see.] Line 1460 With purpil colour; streyned off cruelte [l. steyned.] [stey|ned (!) of crueltee.]

Was al thy body, Crystis feith tenhance: [Crystes.] O blyssyd kyng, off mercyful pite [blyssed. pitee.] Pray for thenherytour off Ingelond and France! Settyst a-syde al thy royal noblesse Line 1465 For Crystis sake, gemme off vyrgynyte, Lefftyst thy kyndham, thy tresour, thy rychesse; [kyndam.] So feruently brentyst in charyte, That dreed off deth nor duplycyte [nor no.] Myhte make the gruchch in thy mortal greuance: [myght. grucche.] Line 1470 Wherfore, O martir, off mercyful bounte Pray for thenherytour off Inglond and France! [Ingelond.] Be thow our swerd, al foreyn ffoon toppresse, [to o.] Our sheeld, our pauys, castel off surete, [sheld. pavys. suerte.] Our portecolys, boolewerk off stabylnesse, [poortcolys.] Line 1475 Gate off dyffence: so kepyng the entre [keepyng.] That noon enemy may breke our liberte! [enmy.] O gracyous martir, haue alway remem|brance [alwey.] To pray the lord in the celestyal se [in his.] For thenherytour off Inglond and France! [1480 ff.) Yngelond.] Line 1480 Pray that the chirche may stonde in parfytnesse, [parfightnesse.] Pray for prynces, to keepe ther dygnyte Vertuously, withoute doubylnesse, Pray for knyhthod, to lyue lyk ther degre, [knyghthood.] Pray for the lawe, that noon extorsioun be, Line 1485 And off marchauntis hold Justly the ballance, [hoold.] Pray for the plowh, pray for the pouerte, And for thenherytour off Inglond and France! Encresse prelatis in ther holynesse, [encrece.] And folk Religious in ther humylite, Line 1490 Vertuous wydwes in ther stedfastnesse, Wyues in ther trouthe, maydenhod in chastyte, Keep Innocentis from al aduersite, [froom.] Pray for al nedy: god send hem suffisance! [sende.] By a prerogatyff pray to the Trynyte Line 1495 For thenheritour off Ingelond and France! Pray for artiffyceres in ther besynesse [artyficerys.] Trewe to perseuere, deuoyd off sotylte, [devoyde of al sotiltee.] For laboureres teschewen ydylnesse, [labourerys teschewyn ydelnesse.] As they been ordeyned off god in ther degre! [degree.] Line 1500 Saue trewe pilgrymes from al aduersite, And maryners from wyndy disturbance! Pray for pes and for tranquyllite! Pray for thenheritour off Inglond and France! Folk at debat reconcyle and redresse, [debaat. reconsyle.] Line 1505 Refourme dyscordys to pes and vnyte! [dyscoordys. pees.] Folk langwysshyng and bedred for syk|nesse [languysshyng. bedrede.] Sende hasty counfort to ther Infirmyte! [send.] Folk exylyd restore to ther contre, [exiled reestore.] To presounnerys mercyful delyuerance! [prysownerys.] Line 1510 And, blyssyd Edmund, in long prosperyte [blyssed Edmond.] Conserue thenherytour off Inglond and France! Encresse our kyng in knyhtly hih prow|esse, [encrece.] With al his lordys off the spiritualte, [alle. spyrytualte.] Pray god to grante conquest and worthy|nesse [wourthynesse.] Line 1515 By ryhtful tytle to al the temporalte, [be.] And to syxte Herry Joie and felycyte, [and to ffourte Edward.] Off his two Rewmys feith, loue, and obeissance, [Reemys] Longe to perseuere in his victorious se, As iust enheritour off Ingelond and France! Line 1520

Lenuoye.

Das Lenvoye und Regi fehlen in Ms. Ashm. Nach v. 1520 folgen in Ms. Ashm. die 72 Verse des Eingangs vor dem I. Buch; darauf nachfolg. Zusatz in acht|zeiligen Stropfen über weitere miracula, der ein erster Entwurf, ohne gehörige Durcharbeitung, zu sein scheint.

Go, litel book! be ferfful, quaak for drede For tappere in so hyh presence! To alle folk that the shal seen or reede, Submytte thy-sylff with humble reuerence, To be refourmyd wher men fynde offence, Meekly requeryng, voyde off presump|cioun, Wher thow faylest, to do correccioun! Saue blak and whyt thow hast noon othir weede, Off Tullius Motles a dyrk apparence; The heuenly botler, callyd Ganymede, The to refresshe lyst do no dilligence; Off Mercurye the aureat influence, The tenlumyne dystylled skarsly doun: For which be soget to al correccioun! God grante that mercy may thy Journe spede, With gracious support where men fynde offence; Colour is noon thy brydyl for-to lede, Off Rethoryk, to stonde in thy dyffence; Bareyn off language, nakyd off ello|quence, At Elycon welle thow drowh but smal foysoun: For which be soget to al correccioun! Polypheme, allas! took so gret heede, That Argus lyst to haue noon aduertence The to socoure in so gret a neede; The sugre off Omer was ffer off be absence; Dul and vnpulsshed off fructuous sentence, Withoute that fauour and supportacioun Off goodly Rederys, do correccioun! Callyope lyst nat hyr bawme shede, The tenbelysshe with colours off cadence; Thy Auctour gadred no flours in the mede Vnder Pernaso, to haue ther assistence; Daunger off Muses gaff hym no licence For tapproche the hyl off Cytheroun: For which be soget to al correccioun!

Finis libri.

REGI.

SOuereyn lord, plese to your goodly|heed And to your gracious Royal magnyfi|cence To take this tretys, which a-twen hope and dreed Presentyd ys to your hyh excellence! And for kyng Edmundis notable reuerence Beth to his chyrche dyffence and Champioun, Be-cause yt ys off your ffundacioun!

Ende.

Ms. Ashm. 46, fol. 87.

Laude of our lord vp to the hevene is reysed Above the sonne and bryght sterrys cleere, And in his seyntes our lord Jhesu is preysed, As offte is seyn by ther devout prayeere, And be signes which they werchyn heere Thorugh Crystes myght, geyn which is noon obstacle. And to purpoos of this mateere I wyl remembre an vnkouth ffayr myracle.

Which late ffyl the sylve same yeer A thousand toold ffro the Natiuite Line 10 Off Cryst Jhesu by mevyng circuleer Fourty and oon, at Londone the Cite; That our lord of merciful pite The twenty day monyth of Novembre Lyst to renewe of his benignite Line 15 A memoryal, as I can remembre, With-inne the boundys of that towne Maad his grace wit newe light to shyne, To greet reiosshyng of al this regioun, Vpon a day, pleynly to termyne, Line 20 Off hym that is kyng, martir, and virgine, Blyssed Edmond: whoos merytes to ag|gregge, Our lord Jhesu, by grace which is divyne, Wrought a myracle at Tempse vpon the bregge, His gloryous martir ffor-to magneffye, Line 25 Day of his ffeeste, at ffoure afftir|noon — Thyng doon in opyn may nat gladly lye. On that bregge, bylt of lym and stoon, Chyldre to pleye assemblyd were in oon; Among which sone of a ffleccheer, Line 30 Tendre of lymes so as he myght goon, Was among hem, of age but thre yeer. Which of custom ther pleyes did or|deyne, [folio 88] Lyk ther conceyt, of verray Innocence. Tyme of ther play to-gidre thre or tweyne Line 35 Kept ther dispoort, in whoom was no diffence(!). A droof of oxes cam fforby ther presence Passyng the bregge; the chyldre wer so neer: Oon of the beestys by sodeyn violence Cauht in his hornys the chyld of the ffleccheer, Line 40 Lefft hym vp-on heyghte toward the Oryent, Ovir the wal caste hym in-to the fflood — Sondry peple beeing ther present: Off aventure somme on the bregge stood. But Jhesu Cryst, moost benigne and good, Line 45 Which of mercy lyst for man to sterve, For our sake spent his precious blood: The seid chyld of mercy lyst preserve, As I toold erst nat fful thre yeer of age — A monyth lasse, as I reherse can, Line 50 Born thorugh the bregge with the wawes rage. Off compassyoun a pitous noyse gan, The bittir teerys doun by ther cheekys ran Off suych as sauh westward them be-fforn Toward Cooldherberwe passyng "the Swan" Line 55 How, by myracle, the seid chyld was born. Grace of our lord, knet with good aventure, Gaff to this chyld a special avauntage: That so tendre a litel creature Born with the streem ffelt no damage, Line 60 Nat astonyd of look nor visage. Casuelly a botman fforby went, Merveyllyng cam ner in his passage, Into his vessel the litel child he hent, Afftir an ebbe, whan the fflood gan ryse; — Line 65 As ye haue herd, Cryst Jhesu was his guyde, As þe processe pleynly doth devyse. Vpon the bregge in the same tyde The childes modir sat in hir hous besyde And knewh no-thyng what of hir chyld was ffalle. Line 70 Tyl a woman cowde no lengere byde, Ran a greet paas: which did the modir calle, With wepyng and sobbyng of hir cheer Sparyd nat but pleynly toold hir al. The modir saide: the chyld in no maneer Line 75 No poweer hadde to reche vp to the wal; But whan she knewh of hir childes ffal By a greet oxe cast in-to the fflood: As modrys weepe at ffeestys ffuneral, Lyk a mad woman, ffuryous and wood Line 80 She ran hire out, lyst ffor no-thyng spare, As creature moost Inffortunat, Hir her to-torn, of kercheves maad al bare, Crying allas, with sorwe & dool chek|maat, Off sodeyn ffurye al disconsolat. Line 85 And so she ran by howsys to the place Off Temple streete, took heede of noon estat: Tyl she met a gentylman by grace, Which appertenyd, as it also is toold, To a baroun dwellyng ther-be-syde, Line 90 The lord Fanhoop, which heeld ther his housoold. The seid servaunt of ffortune in that tyde Vpon this woman sadly dyd abyde Amyd the streete, lyst no fferther goo, Tyl it stood soo that grace lyst provide Line 95 He knewh the cause and ground of al hir woo; Hadde of hir constreynt greet com|passyoun, Serchyng the cause of hire compleynyng. "Allas, quod she, my child is throwe doun" — Dysespeyred ffully of his ffyndyng; Line 100 "But, gentyl sere, telle me now o thyng: This day what ffeeste is in the kalendeer,

Which may me helpe and graunte my axing Thorugh his merytes and devout prayeer?" "Woman, quod he, be off good coun|ffort, Line 105 Truste hool in god afftyr my doctryne! This day is halwyd — taak heede to my repoort — In his worshepe that is a pure virgine, The blyssed martir kyng Edmond in his shryne." And with that woord the woman fyl plat doun Line 110 On bothe hire knees, bowed hed and chyne, With devout herte seide this orysoun: "O lord, that hast of poore folk no despight Nor of synfful, which calle the in ther nede; Blyssed Jhesu, that hast also delight Line 115 To fforthere alle thoo that love the and drede: For Edmondys sake that did ffor the blede Percyd with arwes ffyleed sharp and keen, Jhesu, graunte my request ffor-to spede: My litel chyld that I may oonys seen. Line 120 And whyl I lyve, I halwe shal the day [Ms. thy st. the.] Off thy martir, kyng of Estyngelond, With devout herte, as I best can or may, In hoope I shal seen vpon the strond My litel chyld brought quyk or ded to lond." Line 125 Down to the watir as she gan hyre hye, Sauh hire sone which held vp his hond Out of a boot and lowde gan to crye: "Wher is my moodir, myn owne moodir dere? [folio 90] Moodir, moodir!" alwey the chyld gan crye. Line 130 Heryng that voys with sobre pitous chere, Doun to Tempse ffaste she gan hire hye; Off hir sorwen a-dawen gan the skye Vpon hire chyld whan she cast hire look, Fond hym al hool, hurt in no partye, Line 135 Myd of a boot. and vp hire chyld she took, Gaff thank to god with humble affec|cioun For this myracle knelyng on hire kne — Doon at London, day of the passyoun Off seint Edmond — and this a-vowh maad she: Line 140 Duryng hire lyff that solempnyte To halwe and kepe in al hire best entent The sayde ffeeste. hire husbonde ek parde To doo the same also was of assent. This myracle must oonly been ascryved Line 145 To god alloone, and to no mannys myght, And that the chyld in savete was aryved Cheef thank to god mvt be yove of ryght Which hath poweer to magneffye his knyght, By this myracle, no-man may sey nay, Line 150 Which that befel, whoo-so looke aryght, The kalendeer of kyng Edmondys day.

Name of our lord to exalte and reyse We ar comaundid be scrypture & wryting: In the sawteer, of herte and wyl to preyse, Line 155 By hym that was choose prophete and kyng: First by prayer and devout knelyng — Last of his psalmys Dauid biddith soo — For myracles and merveyllous werkyng Calle to his seyntes in what we haue doo. Line 160 Thorugh whoos suppoort gret wondrys þei ha wrought, Yove to our lord lawde of ther myracles; For ther merytes he forgat hem nought, To ther requestys maade noon o(b)stacles. Bryght as berylle, clerere than spectacles, Line 165 Grace excellith euery precious stoon. To seyntes, shryned or set in tabernacles, God hath mervaylles wrought many moo than oon. Palpable exaumple in stoory men may se: Mawgre Pharao and al his greet myght Line 170 Moyses passyd thorugh the Rede see; A bussh vnbrent with ffyr was maad bryght; A saphir skye ladde Israel be day-light Toward the lond of promyssyoun, A ffyry pileer afforn hem brente a-nyght, Line 175 Them to conveye by grace of god sent doun. For hem he wroughte myracles moo than oon: Bittir watir tournyd to swetnesse, Maade a riveer renne out of a stoon, To staunche the thrust geyn drought of wyldirnesse; Line 180 Ful ffourty yeer, the bible berith witnesse, Ther cloothys ffressh, nat brooke nor to|torn. Which exaumplys yive ffeith and sekir|nesse For his seyntes what god hath wrought to-fforn, First in ftooryes of antiquite, Line 185 Which shulde alwey remembryd been of ryght. In myddil age the laste also parde Whan the hooly goost to Marye doun alight; Ek whan a dowe with snowych ffetherys whight Cam doun to Cryst in the ffloom Jordan; Line 190 A greet myracle ageyn naturys ryght

Whan oold Eliȝabeth brought forth seyn John. Cryst thorugh the world sent his apost|lys twelve To preche his ffeith in euery regioun, Gaff exaumple, the blyssed lord hym-selve, Line 195 To hooly martirs to suffre passyoun. And oon is shryned in Brutys Albyoun, A gloryous corseynt, martir, mayde, and kyng, In whoos worshepe of trewe affeccioun I wyl remembre two myracles by wryting. Line 200 God lyst his martir fforto magneffye: Notable signes fful expert in certeyn: Seint Edward present in his regalye Osgothus slayn ffor his ffroward dysdeyn; Thynk on Leoffstan and fforget nat Sweyn; Line 205 Be opyn myracle how our lord Jhesu For his corseynt dayly be toknys pleyn Hath in seint Edmond shewyd greet vertu, By nowmbre toold of yoore agoon be date Moo than I kan rehersyn in substaunce; Line 210 In especial of two that ffyl but late, Which I purpoose to putte in remem|braunce, The laude of Jhesus with euery circum|staunce Off this myracles to sette to his hond. Off which two this was the varyaunce: Line 215 Oon vndir watir, the tothir on the lond. Al the myracles in ordre forto sette, Off oold and newe, doon by this gloryous kyng: Them to compyle thouh I be bounde of dette, Off elloquence I haue but smal konnyng, Line 220 Rethoryques colours of endytyng In my librarye is noon habundaunce; My wyl is good, though to so greet a thyng I ffele my witt dullyd of ignoraunce. But as the wydwe makyd hire offryng, Line 225 Wel was acceptyd, cheef of hire tresour For she gaff al, the gospel witnessyng, No-thyng reservyd of gold ffor hire tresour: And semblably, enteryng this labour, To this martir of herte and hool entent, Line 230 Off sugryd cadence though I haue no fflour, Off this myracles I make my present. Tyme of the yeer whan the sonne shene I-entryd was in-to the boolys heede, Alceste in mydwys grew fresshly in euery grene, Line 235 Spradde hire crowne with fflours whyte & rede; Nyghtyngales of that sesoun took heed With newe entvnys Aurora to salwe: My penne I took, ffaste gan me speed Thys myracles to sette in ordre dewe. Line 240 A thousand yeer by computacioun Foure hundryd ovir with ffourty addid too The surplus foure by revolucioun, Whan this myracles opynly wer doo; Day of Aprylle, I dar weel wryten soo, Line 245 Ful XXVIII^ti accountyd by rekenyng First remembryd of this myracles twoo, Forn the Translacioun of this hooly kyng. — The same tyme, as I reherse shal, Oon afftirnoon, by ffeithful Just repoort, Line 250 A mayde-chyld nat ferre fro the Northgat, Nat two yeer oold, creep for hire dis|poort — To gadre fflours was hire most counffort — Vpon a banke ageyn the sonne cleer: Doun froom an hyl of aventure or foort Line 255 The tendir mayde ffyl in the riveer — The seid streem sevene ffeet was deep — In the moode plounged breest and heed. Hire yong sustir, allas, whan she took keep, Off ffive yeer oold, cryed out ffor dreed. Line 260 The strete a - roos, ffaste gan hem speed, This sodeyn caas whan they did knowe. They cam to late, for the chyld was deed — Among the moode the fface lay so lowe. Off the streete a certeyn neyhbour, Line 265 Nat ffer absent, of sodeyn aventure Herd a noyse and this vnwar clamour: To knowe the caas did hire besy cure. The chyld lay gruff, myght nat recure. This woman ran, gan calle, lyst nat rowne, Line 270 To the moodir—moost woofful creature: Offsodeyn sorwe almoost ffyl in a swowne. Out of hir-sylff, astonyd in hir herte, Ful offte sithe gan to crye allas, And specially whan she did adverte Line 275 How of hire child was drownyd hed & fface; With her vntressyd hastyd a greet paas — Peple present abood vpon the stronde, — Newe and newe cryed alwey allas Tyl that hire chyld was brought ded to londe. Line 280 Hed and boody sounkyn wer to grounde: Dysespeyred serchyng the riveer; With touch of ffeet the ded cors was ffounde Bolne with watir: of lyff ther was noon cheer; Cast to londe. the peple that stood neer Line 285 In this caas sawh no remedye. Tyl a woman, of strong herte and entieer, Bold of corage, ffaste gan hire hye,

Took vp the chyld be the leggys tweyne, Tavoide watir hed tournyd vp so doun, Line 290 To this entent, the boody she gan streyne. At nase and mouth ran out greet foysoun Lykour horryble, almoost a galoun. Alle of assent as in ther desir To seint Edmond made this orysoun, — Line 295 Tyme whan the chyld lay coold ageyn the ffyre, No tokne of lyff seyn in look nor face, Verray ded, coold, of cheer and con|tenaunce, By greet recoord hool an howrys space: Tyl at the laste cam to remembraunce — Line 300 With wepyng eyen ffyl in dallyaunce For pitous sobbyng and lamentable soun — To haue recure of ther dedly grevaunce To blyssed Edmond, made Invocacioun. Fadir and moodir ffirst knelyng on ther kne, Line 305 Al ther neyhbours aboute hem enviroun, Ful devoutly with al humylite To the hooly corseynt seide this orysoun: "O gloryous martir, protectour and pa|troun, Our request of mercy nat despyse: Line 310 Pray for thy tenauntys abydyng in this toun And ffor this chyld born in thy ffraun|chyse! Alle of assent with reuerence we shal seke Thyn hooly place, oold and yong of age, With greet avys lowe our-selff and meke, Line 315 Contryt of herte, sobre of our visage, With this avowh come on pylgrymage A-ffor thy shryne to thy Royal presence: Prostrat afor the with ffeithfful hool corage, To our prayere tyl thou yive audience". Line 320 Greetly troublyd in ther oppynyoun Took vp the chyld in the mortal distresse, Which yit lay ded, and with processyoun Toward the martir attoonys they hem dresse, Affor the ffertre knelyng with meknesse, Line 325 Tyl that Jhesus ffor Edmondys sake Beheld ther ffeith, ther trust, ther stabyl|nesse: Off whoos mercy to grace he hath hem take. By his martirs meeke mediacioun The lord above with-inne litel space Line 330 By his mercifful consolacioun Made blood appeere in the chyldes fface; Sodeyn quyknesse hir herte did enbrace — Quyk lyk a soule moore than vegetatyff, Al the membrys revived wer by grace: Line 335 So that it was restooryd ageyn to lyff. Geyn goddys werkyng may be noon obstacle — Resistence geyn his eternal myght Causith seyntes with many greet myracle To be worshepyd and gloryfyed in his sight: Line 340 A greet example shewyd in his knyght, Kyng and martir and a pure virgine, Off Estyngelond enherytour be ryght, Which Incorrupt restith in his shryne. This Royal corseynt, gloryous and notable, Line 345 To helpe his servauntys is nat wont to tarye, And can also in tyme ben vengable To them that been to his ffredam con|trarye. Which in the boundys of his seyntwarye, [l. with st. which?] This myracle was but late wrought — Line 350 Regestre it vp mid of your lybrarye For a memoryal, and forget it nought! For this myracle al the bellys rang, Abbot William beeyng ther present, And Te deum devoutly was ther song Line 355 To-ffor the awteer knelyng the covent. The toun cam doun echoon of assent, In purpoos fful, for short conclusyoun, The yong chyld, the tendir Innocent Shulde afftir be born on processyoun, Line 360 Al opynly vpon the thrydde day, Namyd off kyng Edmond the Transla|cioun. Which tacomplysshe was maad no delay. Som ffolk wepte ffor devocioun, That took good heed in ther inspeccioun: Line 365 Which sauh the chyld of colour ffressh & reed, The day afforn brought thoruh Bury toun To-ffor seint Edmond of visage paale and deed. Alle attoonys knelyng on ther knees That wer present, of cuntre or the toun, Line 370 Estatys reknyd of hih or lowe degrees; That sauh the chyld born in processyoun, With wepyng eyen of compassyoun, Symple and lettryd ther heedys did en|clyne To seyn ther prayere and ther devocioun Line 375 Vndir these woordys, abydyng at the shryne: "Gemme of martirs of colour purpurat, With hookyd arwes thy boody dyed reed Yong of yeerys in royal estat Ful thrytty wynter, ffor Cryst whan thou wer deed; Line 380

Line 380 A woolff fro beestys kept thyn hooly heed — Thy legende makith mencioun: O blyssed martir, of mercy take good heed, Save thy ffraunchyse, thynke on Bury toun! Suffre no tyraunt thy ffredam to as|saylle, Line 385 Noon oppressour ageyn hem to maligne, Thynk on thy spere greetly did avaylle [Ms. on, st. ou = hou?] Ageyn kyng Sweyn — a thyng notable & digne To be regestryd and shewyd for a signe — Whoos tyrannye was ful dere abought". — Line 390 Anothir myracle with this to combyne, I wyl remembre, which on the lond was wrought.

Which on the lond ffyl also but late At which (!) an hour, not ferre out of the toun, In a subarbe callyd Rysbygate. Wheer a yong babe lay tournyd vp so doun, Line 395 Nat fful two yeer age, as maad is men|cioun, His syde vpward, ffolk can repoorte weel: Which was that tyme to his conffusyoun Ovir-redyn with a carte-wheel. The chyld oppressyd lay in the streete deed, Line 400 Blak al the boody, the eyen cloos of sight. A neyhbour casuelly took heed, Hent vp the chyld, bar it anoon right Off compassyoun in al haste that (s)he myght, [Ms. he st. she.] Line 405 With wepyng eyen and fface fful pitous, Namly whan she sauh the chyld so dyght, Ded in hir armys brought to the ffadrys .hous. This sodeyn caas myght nat be kept cloos, Thorugh the streete the clamour gan to sprede. Line 410 Greet noumbre of ffolk attonys vp aroos. Among which wysest ffolk took hede And gaff counsayl at so streyght a nede, With woofful cheer seide vnto oon and alle, Off hih prudence thus oon gan hem rede: Line 415 First on ther kneen that they shulde ffalle To make ther vowes, alle that wer present, Withoute abood or ony long tarying [Ms. aboord.] To bere this chyld al be oon assent Bare on ther ffeet vnto ther blyssyd kyng, Line 420 Diversly to make ther offryng. Compendiously this myracle to descryve, Our lord Jhesu took heed to ther axing: Off his mercy the chyld gan to revyve. Space of an hour this litel chyld ded lay — Line 425 Tokne of lyff nor signe was noon seyn. Off Jvle in soth vpon the VIII day Soone vpon noone they gan prey ageyn, To the hooly martir ther orysoun to seyn Aboute the chyld vpon ech partye. Line 430 Whoos preyers were nat maad in veyn: Cryst lyst his martir fforto magneffye, In laude of hym did hym greet ffavour: By whoos merytes and mediacioun The child restooryd ageyn to his vigour. Line 435 The peple aroos with greet devocioun, Cam to the shryne on processyoun, With Joye and wepyng medlyd euere a|mong, Te deum songe, with devout knelyng, Ave Rex gentis was afftir that ther song. Line 440 The Priour last this myracle gan pur|poose — The peple abood with greet reuerence — The trouthe toold, ther was no ffeyned gloose, Lyk as it ffyl declaryd in sentence Vnto alle that wer ther in presence, Line 445 Yive them this counsayl above al othir thyng To sette ther trust with entieer dilligence In blyssed Edmond, martir, mayd, and kyng, "Which shewyd hath in this myracles two Our lord above of his magnifficence, Line 450 Off oold tyme and now of newe also, To shewe to yow by notable evidence How this martir of royal excellence Prefferryd is in the hevenly consistorye With gloryous kynges to holde residence, Line 455 Crownyd with seyntes euer to regne in glorye. Amen."

Now lat vs alle with hertly conffi|dence Requere this martir to graunte thynges thre: With spere & arwe to stondein our diffence Geyn them that caste to breke his liberte, Line 460 To savehis chirche, his toun, and his cuntre, Mawgre alle thoo that in ony wyse Wolde interupte his royal dignite Be deregacioun doon to his ffraunchyse.

Explicit.

21. S. Margarete, von Lydgate, aus Ms. Bishop Cosin's Library, Durham, V. II. 14, fol. 97b.

Abschrift der folgenden Legende verdanke ich der Freundlichkeit des Herrn Dr. Al. Brandl. — Ms. Durham enthält ausser Lydgate's Margarete das aus Mss. Laud 108 und Vernon bekannte, in Herrig's Archiv abgedruckte (I) Alexiuslied, und ein prosaisches Leben der Magdalena, fol. 106—111, Anfang: Mary Magdaleyn was surnamed of Magdalon the Castell and she was born of the kynred that were descen|did of ryal kynne and hir ffadir highte Syrus and hir modir highte Eucharie; der Schluss letzterer Legende fehlt.

Here begynneth the prolog of the holy seynt Margarete, compendyously compiled in balade by Lidgate dan John, Monk of Bury. A^o VIII^c. h VI^v.

At the reuerence of seynt Margarete My purpos is hir lyfe to compile; Though I haue no rethorikes swete Nor colournoone tenbelisshe with my style. [Ms. noōn; den Strich habe ich hier und in ähnlichen Fällen durch e aufgelöst, aber opinion u. a. durch opinioun gegeben.] Yet dar I seyn, it happeth so somen while: Line 5 Vnder writyng rude of apparence Mater is hid of grete intellygence. Ful ofte falleth, in this chestys blake Golde and perlys and stones of grete prys Ben ylooke and in-to warde ytake; Line 10 And by sentence and the prudent avys Of philosoffres, that holden were so wys, A royal ruby, in whiche ther is no lak, May closed ben in a ful pore sak. And though that I haue noone eloquence Line 15 For to discryue hir parfit holynesse, Hir chaste lyf, hir tendre innocence, Hir martirdam wrought by grete duresse,— Ay vnmutable in hir stablenesse, Vn-to the dethe ay one in hir suffraunce: Line 20 So was hir herte roted on constaunce; In Crystes feith she gan hir so delyte, For whom she lyste despyse al worldly glorye, This daysye with leves rede and white: Purpul-hewed, as maked is memorye, Line 25 Whan that hir blode was shad oute, by victorye, The chaste lely of whos maydenhede Thorugh martyrdam was spreynt with roses rede. Margarete the storye dothe hir calle After a stone ynamed Margarite, Line 30 A precyous gemme amonge these stones alle; In there bokes as clerkys liste to write, For of nature perlys echone ben white, Right vertuous of kynde, rounde, and small: Whiche propurtees resemblene hir at-alle; Line 35 She was first white by virginyte, In al hir lyvyng preuyde vertuous, And smal she was by humylite, Right strong in god, this maide glorious; And for she was thurgh deth victoryous, Line 40 Thurgh her triumphe she gate the palme in heuene, With laurere crowned above the sterres seuene. This stone in vertu is a cordyal, To the spirit a grete confortatyf: Right so hir herte was imperyal, Line 45

Line 45 I mene in vertu duryng al hir lyf, For she venquesshed withal hir mortal stryf The deuel, the worlde — her storye dothe devyse — And of hir flesshe she made a sacryfice Vnto the lorde, that starf vpon the rode Line 50 Whan he liste deye for oure redempcyoun: So this virgine, taquyte him, shad hir blode Ful benygnely in her passyoun. O gemme of gemmes, vyrgyne of most renoune, Thy lif to write be thou my socoure Line 55 And shede of grace the aureat lycoure Into my penne, quakyng of verray drede, Of retoryke for I haue no muse Duely to write thi martirdome in dede. Ne were oo thyng, I wolde me excuse: Line 60 That thou of grace wylt me not refuse But dyrectyn, o blysful lode-sterre, Me and my penne to conveye, whan I erre. Lat thi lyght in derkenesse be my guyde Tochyng this processe whiche I haue vndertake; Line 65 Remembre, o virgyne, vpon that other side On hir that caused, oonly for thi sake, Thyn holy lyf me to compile and make: My lady Marche I mene, whiche of entent [Ms. marche.] Yafe firste to me in commaundement Line 70 That I shulde considre welle and see In frensshe and latyn thyne holy passyoune, Thi martirdame and thi virginite, And therof make a compilacyoun. So as I cowde, vnder correccioun Line 75 And vnder supporte of alle that shal it rede, Vpon this storye thus I wylle procede.

Here endeth the prolog of seynt Mar|garete, and next folwyng begynneth the storye of hir.

In Anthiochye, a famous grete citee, This blyssed mayde, this martir gloryous Whilom was born — hire legende ye may see; Line 80 Hir fader callid Theodosius, And, as the storye playnly telleth vs, A patryark he was of paynyme lawes, After the ryghtes vsed in tho dawes. To a noryce this mayde was ytake, Line 85 Right gracious of shape and of visage; The paynyme lawe of herte she hath for|sake [folio 99] And was baptised in hir tendre age: For whiche hir fader gan fallen in a rage And to hir-warde bare ful grete haterede, Line 90 Whan that he knewe she crystened was in dede. And whan that she by processe dede atteyne Vnto the age of XV. yere, With othir maydnes of beaute souereyne, This holy virgyne, benygne and glad of chere, Line 95 Flouryng in vertu, moste goodly and entere, Humble of hir porte, this gracyous creature Kepte of hir noryce the shepe in theire pasture. Devoyde of pride, of rancour and of Ire, She called was a mirrour of mekenesse; Line 100 The holy gost hir herte so dede enspire That wille and thought were sette on parfitnesse; To thynke on Criste was holy hir glad|nesse; And chere benygne to alle she dede shewe, Softe of hir speche, and but of wordys fewe. Line 105 She gat hir love vpone euery syde, By-cause she was so inly vertuous — For god and grace with hir dide abide, Al thyng eschewyng that was vycious. [Ms. prefette.] Til that the prefecte, called Olibrius, Line 110 Of auenture rode on his pleyng: Where he sawe first this mayde, hir shepe kepyng.

He was rauesshede anoone with hir beaute, Hir grete fairnesse whan he dide aduerte, Hir fresshe face eke whan he dide see; Line 115 Hir heuenly Iyene perced thurgh his herte, Brent in his corage with importable smerte: This cruel wolfe for love impacyent Cast him devowre this cely Innocent. Firste to him-self thus he spake and sayde: Line 120 "What is she this, where dothe this goodely duelle? Who sawe ever to-forne so faire a maide, Whiche alle othir in beaute dothe excelle? Of wommanhede she is the verray welle; For me semeth myn herte in euery weyne Line 125 Is thurgh-perced with hir Iyene tweyne." And with that thought he made for to gone His seruauntes to hir Innocence, Bad thei sholde enquere of hir anōne What that she was, with al hir diligence, [hir st. her.] Line 130 And reporte vnto his presence Of hir lynage playnly how it stode And where she were borne of gentil blode; "And of hir birthe if that she be fre, I wille hir haue sothely to my wyfe, Line 135 Loue and cherysshe for her grete beaute, As it is skyle, duryng al my lyfe, That atwene vs ther shal be no strife; And if she be borne of foreyne lyne, I wille hir take to my concubyne." Line 140 Whan she was brought vnto his pre|sence, First he enquerede of hir condicyoun, Bad hir declare platly in sentence, Of hir lawe and hir religioun And of hir kyne, by short conclusyoun Line 145 Clerly dyscure—and the trouthe attame— Hooly hir purpos, and what was hir name. She, not to rekel for noon hastynesse, But ful demure and sobre of contenaunce, Gan looke on him, by grete avisenesse Line 150 Dressyng to god hir hertes remem|braunce — Of chere nor colour ther was no va|riaunce; [folio 100] Constaunt of herte, this holy blyssed mayde To the prefecte euene thus she saide: "Touchyng my lynage, by successyoun Line 155 My bloide conveied is fro grete noblesse; My name Margarete; and of religioun I am cristen, in verray sothfastnesse; And in that lawe withoute doublenesse For lyf or dethe playnly I wille abide, Line 160 Perseuere stable, and varien on no side." Wherof the Juge in manere gan dis|deyne, To hir saide, for short conclusioun: "Margarete, ther ben thynges tweyne Ful couenable to thi condicyoun: Line 165 And this the first, to myn oppinioun, Of thi byrthe the grete nobilite, And the seconde is thi grete beaute: Whiche in thi persone Joyned ben y-fere, Worthi to be called a Margarite, Line 170 Of fairnesse of shape and eke of chere A chose gemme among these perles white And in this tweyne for I me delite, Sewyng my counsaille thou mustest con|discende Better avysed the thride to amende. [Ms. the the thride.] Line 175 To thi beaute it were a ful grete loos, To thi youthe and to thi maydenhede; To leve on him that deide on a croos, I holde it foly: wherfore take goode hede, Forsake his feithe, and do as I the rede: Line 180 First lat that god of the be denyed Whiche on a tre was hange and cruci|fied!" "Certes, quod she, what-euer that thou seye, He wilfully suffred passioun, And humbely liste for mankynde deye Line 185 And shed his blode for oure redempcioun, To make vs fre and payen oure raunsoun, Of his Joye that we ne sholde mysse Where now he regneth eternaly in blysse." The Juge, wrothe, sent hir to prisoun Line 190 There to abide tille on the next day. Makyng, as thoo, no dilacioun, Bad she sholde in al the haste thei may

Be brought aforne him, to seyn yee or nay Touchyng hir creaunce, what was hir lawe or feith, Line 195 And to hir evenne thus he seithe: "Margarete, quod he, haue pite on thyne age, And haue eke mercy on thi grete fair|nesse! Spille not thi thought of foly ne of rage, But tourne thyn herte and thi wittes dresse Line 200 To our goddes, and do thi besynesse Hem to honour and plese her deyete, As thou desirest to lyue in prosperite!" Quod she ageyn: "with hert, wille and thoughte I worship him verrayly in dede Line 205 That made man and after hath him bought, Whom heuene and erthe and the see dothe drede; Alle elementes he dothe conveie and lede: For wynde nor weder nor no creature Withoute his mercy may no while en|dure." Line 210 Quod the Judge: "anoone but thou con|sente To my desire as thou hast herde devyse, Truste fully that thou shalt repente! For first I shal in ful cruel wyse Mercyles thy body so chastyse— [folio 101] Line 215 Trust me welle, this no feyned tale — Thi flesshe assonder kerve on peces smale." Quod Margarete: "while that me last|ethe brethe, I shal abide in this oppinioun. Sytthe Criste for me suffred peyne and dethe, Line 220 Shad al his blode for my redempcyoun: So for his sake, of hole affeccyoun, Be assured that I haue no drede To deye for him and al my blode to shede." The Juge thanne vpon a galowe-tre Line 225 Lete hangene vp this holy pure virgyne, Hir flesshe be rente in his cruelte. Whos blode ran doun right as eny lyne; Lyke a quyke this mayden in hir pyne Shad oute hir blode, hir veynes al to|rent, Line 230 Til of hir hody the lycour was al spent. Allas the while! thei that stode beside, Ful sore weptene of compassyoun; Allas for doole! thei myght vnnethe abide To sene hir blode so renne and rayle doune; Line 235 So unportable was hir passyoun For Cristes feithe, that the peple abraide And of pite thus to hir thei saide: "O Margareta, allas whan we take hede Hou thou whilom were faireste vnto see, Line 240 But now, allas, thi body is al rede, Steyned with blode: whereof we han pite. Allas, allas, hou myght it euere be To sene a mayde yonge, fresshe and ten|dre of age Mighty to endure of tourment suche a rage? Line 245 Whi hast thou lost thyne excellent fairenesse? Whi hast thou lost thi shape and thy beaute? And fynal cause of thi mortal distresse Is thi wilful incredulite. Lete fantasies oute of thyn herte fle Line 250 Now at the last, that thou maist in eese Of thi turment the bitternesse appese!" Quod she: "goth hens, ye fals coun|saylirys! Ye worlde peple, vnsad and euervntrewe, Flesshely, chaungeable and in youre de|sirys Line 255 Delityng euere in thinges that be newe, Amonge remembreth—and wolde god ye knewe— That of my flesshe the mortal tourmentrie Is to my soule chief salve and remedie." And to the Juge thns she saide and spake: Line 260 "O gredy hounde, lyoun insaciable, On my body thou maiste welle taken wrake, But the soule shal perseuere stable, For Cristes feith abiden immutable;

For thilke lorde Crist Jhesu, whom I serve, Line 265 From al myschief my spirit shal preserve." The Juge, confuse sittyng in the place, To beholde myght not sustene The rede blode rayle aboute hir face, Lyke a ryver rennyng on the grene; Line 270 Toke his mantel in his mortal tene, Hid his visage, whanne that he toke hede In herte astoned to sene hir sydes blede; Made hir in hast to be take doune Myd of hir peyne cruel and horrible, Line 275 And efte ageyne putte hir in prisoune. Where she prayde: if it were possible, Hir mortal foo, dredful and odible, The lorde besechynge that she myght him see, Whiche cause was of hir aduersite, [folio 102] Line 280 Hir impugnynge thurgh his mortal fight That man first brought to destruccyoun. And sodeynly appered in hir sight, Where as she lay boundene in prisoun, In the lykenesse of a felle dragoun Line 285 The olde serpent, whiche called is Sathan, And hastyly to assayle hir he begane; With open mouthe, the virgyne to de|uour, First of alle he swolwed in hir hede. And she deuoutly, hir self to socoure, Line 290 Gan crosse hir-self, in hir mortal drede. And by grace anoone, or she toke hede, The horrible beste, in relees of hir peyne, Brast assondre and partyd was on-tweyne. And efte ageyne to assayl hir he be|gane, Line 295 The story seith, and after dothe appeere By gret disceit in lykenesse of a man; And she deuoutly, with hir yen clere Lyfte vp to god, gan maken hir prayere. And as she lay in hir orisoun, Line 300 Vnder hir fete lyggyng the dragoun, The deuel venquysshed toke hir by the honde, Spake thes wordes as I shal devyse: "Thou hast me bounde with invisible bonde: Whiche victorie ought ynogh suffice; Line 305 Cese of thy power, and lat me now aryse, For I may not abidene thi constreynt: In this batayle thou hast me made so feynt." And she aroos withouthe fere or drede, This cely ma(i)de, this tendre creature, Line 310 By grace of god hent him by the hede And cast him doun, for al his felle ar|mure, Vnder hir fete — he myght not recure; And on this serpent for to do more wrake, Hir ryght fote she sette vpon his bake. Line 315 "Oo feende, quod she, of malys serpen|tyne, Remembre of the how I haue victorye, A clene mayde, by powere femynyne: Whiche shal be rad to myn encrees of glorye, Perpetuelly putte eke in memorie, Line 320 How a mayde hath put vnder fote Sathan, that is of synne crope and roote". With that the serpent lowde gan to crie: "Thou hast me brought shortly to vt|traunce, I am ve(n)quysshed, I may it not denye, Line 325 Ageyns the ful feble is my puyssaunce; Thyn Innocence hath brought me to mys|chaunce, And a mayde, but of yeeres tendre, Hath me outrayed with hir lymmes sklendre. Yif that a man, whiche had force and myght, Line 330 Had me venquysshed, I myght it welle sustene; But now, allas, ageyn al skele and ryght A cely virgyne, a mayde pure and clene Hath me bore doun in-til my felle tene: And this, allas, bothe atte eve and mo|rowe Line 335 Is grettest cause of my dedly sorowe. This encreseth grete party of my peyne Whan I consydre withynne my-self and see How thi fader and moder bothe tweyne Were in there tyme frendly vnto me; Line 340

Line 340 But thou allone thurgh thi virginite, Thi chast lyf, thy parfyt holynesse Han me venquysshed and outrayed in di|stresse". Whan she bigan the serpent to con|streyne [folio 103] To discure, and no-thinge to hyde, Line 345 By what mene and what-manere treyne, Outher by malys outher by envye and pryde, That he assailed man on any syde, The kynde of man: "telle on anoon, quod she, And be welle ware thou lye nat to me!" Line 350 "So thely, quod he, I may it not denye,— To seyn the trouthe playnly, and not spare: My nature is of custume for to lye, As I that am of trouthe and vertue bare; Lyggynge awayte ayenste the welfare Line 355 Of folkes goode, and alway envyous To alle that ben parfite and vertuous. Naturelly to hem I haue envye, Though thei thurgh vertu me ofte put abak And whan it falleth thei haue of me mastrie, Line 360 Ageyn to me resorteth al the wrak; Of charite I have so grete a lak, So grete sorowe only for lak of grace That man in heuene sholde occupye my place. Yet wote I welle I may it not recure Line 365 Nor in that place shal I neuer abide, But in helle sorowe and peyne endure, From heuene caste for my grete pryde — This foule vice fro thennes was my guyde; Yet of malys, the trouthe for to telle, Line 370 Envye I haue that man ther sholde duelle. This eke trouthe that whilom Salamon, As bookes olde recorden and conclude, Closed in a vesselle fendes many one And of spiritus a grete multitude, Line 375 Whiche Innocentes ful often can delude. But after dethe of that prudent kynge Fro that vessel thei caste oute fire spark|lynge; Men supposyng in theire oppinioun There was closed grete tresour and rychesse, Line 380 Brak the vessel, of entencyoun, And sodeynely the fendes gan hem dresse Oute of that holde fer fro that distresse, At her oute-goyng enfectyng al thayre, Where thei abidene and haue thene re|paire. [thayre = the ayre.] Line 385 Whiche to mankynde do ful grete da|mage By ther malys and ther temptacions, To olde and yonge and euery manere age, By ther conspired fals illusyouns. But fynally alle ther collusyons Line 390 Goth vnto nought, and al ther violence, Whan ther is made myghty resistence." Whan the serpent malicyous and olde To the mayde, whos fote dede him op|presse, Had his processe and his tale tolde, Line 395 She withe-drowe to done him more du|resse; And the dragoun vpwarde gan him dresse, Disapered, and forth his wey is goo. And she assured of hir gostly foo, Wenquysshed hath the prynce of al derkenesse; Line 400 And sitthe she hathe ouercome the hede, It faylethe nat she nedes moste oppresse His cruel mynystre, and haue of him no drede. And sewyng on this floure of goodelyhede The next day, voyde of al refuge Line 405 Save of the lorde, was brought afore the Juge, Ful moche peple beynge in presence. And for she wolde do no sacryfice [folio 104] The fals goddes, by mortal violence She was dispoiled in ful cruel wyse Line 410 And naked stode, that folke myght hir despise; And after that this gemme of maydenhede

Was brent with brondus bright as eny glede, Hir sydes skorched, whilom white as melke — The cruel mynystres liste hir nat to spare — Line 415 For Crystes sake hir body, softe as selke, Mercyles naked stode and bare; And to avment and encrese hir care, In boylyng water she was caste and bounde, The water blowyng . . . . . [die Zeile ist lückenhaft.] Line 420 The folkes alle, that stondene enviroun, Of doo(l)ful pite, that sawe this auenture, [Ms. dooful.] Gan wepe and pleyne, and of compas|syoune; Merueyled sore a tendre creature Sustene myght suche tourment and en|dure: Line 425 For the tyraunt, to make hir peynes strange, In fire and water gan hir tourment change. And sodeynly there fille an erthe-quave: The peple, in drede, dempte it was ven|geaunce, And fyve thousand, for god wolde hem save, Line 430 Conuerted weren from there myscreaunce, For Cristes sake heveded by vengeaunce — Se how a mayde in al hir tourmentrie The feith of Crist coude magnifie! The blynde Juge, al voyde of happe and grace, Line 435 Last that othre conuerted wolde be To Cristes feith, withoute lenger space Commaunded hath that this mayde fre, In youthe flourynge and virginite, To ben heueded, withoute more tar|ying, [folio 104b] Line 440 In hir praier as she lay knelynge. But first she praied of humble affeccyoun To the Juge, to graunten hir leysere That she myght make hir orisoun, And haue a space to lyue in hir praiere. Line 445 And ful deuoutly with hert hole and entere, Vpone the poynte whan she sholde deye, The blessed virgyne thus bygan to preye: First she praide of parfite charite [a. R.: Primo orauit pro suis per|secutoribus,] For hir enemys and hir tourmentours, Line 450 For hem that caused hir aduersite And had hir pursued with mony sharpe shours — Of parfit love she gadrid oute the flours; Praying also for thoo folkes alle That after helpe vnto hir grace calle, Line 455 And for alle thoo that haue hir in me|morie [a. R. Necnon et pro eius memoriam agentibus et se inuocantibus.] And swiche as truste in hir helpe at nede: That god hem graunte, sittinge in his glorie, Of his grace that thei may welle spede, And ageyne right that no-man hem mys|lede, Line 460 "And, lorde, quod she, to alle be socoure That for thi sake done to me honoure! And specyally to the I beseche [a. R. Etiam deuote orauit ad deum ut, quecumque in partu periclitans se inuocauerit, ille suam prolem emittet.] To alle wymmen whiche of childe tra|uayle, For my sake, oo lorde, be thou her leche, Line 465 Lat my prayere vnto hem availe, Suffre no myschief tho wymmen, lorde, assaile That calle to me for helpe in theire greu|aunce, But for my sake save hem fro myschaunce; Lat hem, lorde, not perisshe in theire childynge, Line 470 Be thou her cōmforte and consolacyoun, To be deliuered thurgh grace of thyne helpynge [folio 105] Socoure hem, lorde, in theire tribula|cyoun! This is my praier, this is myn orisoun, And specially do alle folkes grace Line 475 That calle to me for helpe in any place!"

And fro that high heuenly mansyoun Was herde a voys in open audience: That god had herde hir peticioun, To be parfourmed withoute resistence. Line 480 And than this maide, moste of excellence, Roos vp deuoutly, and no-thynge afferde, Seide vnto him whiche that helde the swerde: "Come nere, quod she, myn oune bro|ther dere, Smyte with the swerde, and loke thou spare nought! Line 485 My body shal behynde abidene here, But my soule to heuene shal be brought." Hir hede enclynynge with an humble thought; The mynystre with al his myght and peyne Lefte vp his swerde and smote hir necke on-tweyne. — Line 490 The peple of pite gan to crie and soune That stode and sawe hir bitter passioun. Of martirdam thus she toke the croun, For Cristes feithe, with hole affeccyoun; Threttene kalendes, the boke maketh mencyoun, Line 495 Of Jul, this maide, a merour of constaunce, Was laureat thurgh hir parfit suffraunce. An holy seynt writeth of this maide and seithe: This Margareta, parfyt of hir creaunce, With drede of god moste stable in hir feythe, Line 500 Vnto the deth hauyng perseueraunce, Sette hoole to god with thought & remem|braunce, In herte ay compun(c)t — she was so ver|tuous, [Ms. compinct od. compunt st. compunct.] Euery thing eschewyng that was vi|cious; [folio 105b] Hir blyssed lyf, hir conuersacioun Line 505 Were example of parfite pacience, Of grounded clennesse and of religioun, Of chastite founded on prudence; God gaf to hir souerayn excellence In hir tyme that she sholde be Line 510 To alle a maisterasse of virginite; Hir fadir, modir, hir kynred she for|soke — Hir holy lyuynge was to hem odious — To Cristes lawe al holy she hir toke, This blissed mayde, this virgyn glorious; Line 515 Of alle hir enemyes she was victorious, Til at the laste, in vertu complet goode, For Cristes sake she shad hir chaste bloode.

Explicit vita sce Margarete.

Lenvoy.

Noble princesses and ladyes of estate, Line 520 And gentilwomen lower of degre, Lefte vp your hertes, calle to your ad|uocate Seynt Margarete, gemme of chastite; And all wymmen that haue necessite, Praye this mayde ageyn sykenesse and dissese, Line 525 In trayvalynge for to do yow ese! And folkes alle that be disconsolat In your myschief and grete aduersite, And alle that stonde of helpe desolate, With devout hert and with humylite Line 530 Of ful trust knelyng on your kne, Pray this mayde in trouble and alle dissese Yow to releve and to do yow ese! Now, blissed virgyne, in heuene hy exaltat, [folio 106b] With other martirs in the celestialle se, Line 535 Styntith werre, the dredfulle fel debat That vs assailith of oure enemyes thre, From whos assaute inpossible is to fle; But, chaste gemme, thi servauntes sette at ese And be her shelde in myschief and dis|sese! Line 540

Explicit.

22. S. Cristofer, aus Ms. Lincoln Cathed. (Thornton Ms.), fol. 122b. (c. 1430).

Die beste Beschreibung des sog. Thornton Ms. (N. A. 1, 17 der Dombibliothek zu Lincoln) geben Fred. Madden in s. Ausg. des Syr Gawain 1839 (für den Banna|tyne Club), und Halliwell in s. Thornton Romances 1844. Diese Hs., fol., papier., 314 Blätter zählend, im Anfang und am Ende und auch sonst mehrfach defect, ist grösstentheils von einem Robert ab Thornton (so die Unterschrift vieler Stücke der Hs.) c. 1430—40 geschrieben, welchen Madden einer in der Gegend von Rydale, North-Riding, Yorkshire, ansässigen Familie dieses Namens zutheilt und für identisch halten möchte mit dem i. J. 1425 als Vikar von Silkeston in der Dechantei von Don|caster nachweisbaren Robert Thornton (cf. Ms. Addit. 11400 p. 55), während Laing und Perry richtiger auf einen ebenso genannten, aus Yorkshire gebürtigen Geistlichen der Kathedrale von Lincoln, der später archdeacon von Bedford war und 1450 starb, schliessen. Die Sprache der Hs. weist deutlich auf Yorkshire, nicht auf Lincolnshire; auch die ursprünglich in einem andern Dialect abgefassten Gedichte sind in den York|shire Dialect umschrieben. Das Alter des Ms. ist nach 1422 zu setzen, da die fol. 250 ff. erzählte "Reuelacyone schewede to ane holy womane now one late tyme" (so der Titel) nach der Angabe des Gedichtes selber in diesem Jahre stattfand; es ist also ein ver|hältnissmässig spätes Denkmal des nördlichen Dialektes. — Den Inhalt der Sammlung bilden Romanzen (Morte Arthure, the awntyrs of Arthure of the Terne-Wathelyne, Romance off Syr Perecyuelle of Gales, Octovyane, Ysambrace, Sir Degrenance, Eglamour of Arthasse), Legenden, religios-moralische Gedichte und Gebete (ed. von Perry Religious pieces in prose and verse, 1866, für die E. E. T. S.), Prosaabhand|lungen zum Theil von Richard Hampole, dem Landsmann Thornton's (ed. von Perry Prose treatises of Rich. Rolle de Hampole für die E. E. T. S.), u. andere Prosastücke (wie Leben Alexanders des Gr.). Die Legenden dieses Ms. sind: S. Cristofer fol. 122b; S. John Euangelist fol. 231 b, in 14 zeil. Strophen und Alliteration (diese bindet je 2 Langverse), den alliter. Dichtungen (wie Susanna, Morte Arthure) angehörig, aber ziemlich rein im nördl. Dialect geschrieben; und de Miraculo beate Marie fol. 147 (von einem sündhaften Ritter, der durch einen friar bekehrt wird, Anf.: Jhesu lorde in Trynyte þat was and es and aye schalle be). Das Gedicht Lamentacio peccatoris fol. 51 (Anf. Alle crystyn men þat wawkes me bye) ist identisch mit dem in unserer Sammlung p. 367 abgedruckten Gedicht. S. John Evangel. ist bereits edirt in Perry's Religious pieces in prose and verse für die E. E. T. S. (mehrfach fehlerhaft). — S. Cristopher gehörte vielleicht der nördl. Legendensammlung an. Nach v. 5 ist eine grössere Lücke, da mehre Blätter ausgefallen sind. Dieses Gedicht folgt hier nach einer, von mir nochmals mit dem Ms. verglichenen Abschrift Dr. Brandl's.

Vita Sancti Cristofori.

(Her)e bygynnes þe lyffe of þe Story of (S)aynte Cristofre, to þe heryng or þe (red)yng of þe whilke storye langes . . ete mede, & it be done with deuocione.

Lordynges, if it be ȝowre will, And ȝe will here & holde ȝow still And take ȝow tome a while þertill, A nobill storye I sall ȝow tell, And als trew it es als any steylle. Line 5 [(Hier ist eine grössere Lücke.)] . . . . . [folio 123] "For-thy, sir kyng, hafe now gud daye! [l. sir od. ser? s. sirris 624.] I sall neuer ryste, sothely to saye,

Ne neuer in seruece with lorde lende Tyll I be seruand to þat fende." — And fra þat kyng with steryne mode Line 10 He went away als he ware wode. Forthe he wandirde Este & Weste, Thorgh wyldirnes and whilde forest, Many a mountayne & many a valaye Thorowte he went, full many a daye. Line 15 And appone a daye, als he gane byde Vndir ane heghe mountayne syde, Als-so ferre als þat he couthe kene He saughe ane oste of armede mene; Foulle & vggly were þaire wedis, Line 20 And alle þay rade one blake stedis; Als þay come rydand one a rowte, A grete tempest come þame abowte. Ane of þe vgglyeste of þat araye Comes rydand owte appone straye; Line 25 Vnsemly was he vnto syghte; Twentty cubettes he was of heghte. & als sone als he come hym nere, "Beleamy, he sayd, what dose þou here? Telle me tyte withowtene lesynge Line 30 What es þe cause of þi commynge!" Full sone he ansuerde hym agayne: "Me standes none awe fro þe to layne: Certanly, þe sothe to telle, I gaa to seke þe fende of helle. Line 35 Kane þou telle me of hym oghte? For many a day I hafe hym soghte." "Whate wolde, & þou myghte hym mete?" [im Ms. fehlt þou.] "Serue hym, he sayde, to hende & fete, & euer-mare to be hys mane, Line 40 In alle þe seruece þat I kane: And I may fynde þat it swa bee [folio 123a:2] Þat þere be no gretter a lorde þane hee." The toþer ansuerde sone & sayde: "I ame þe fende, & þou be payede, [Ms. þer st. þou?] Line 45 In alle þis worlde þer sall fynd nane So grete a lorde als I ame ane. Halde vp thy hand þou sall be trewe And neuer chawnge me for no newe!" "Here my trouthe; I halde me payede, Line 50 And it be sothe als þou hase sayde." Bathe to-gedir away þay ȝode, Als þay hade bene welland wode, Thorowte marrase & ouer mowntayne. Till þay come to a faire playne, Line 55 Þare two gatis to-gedyre mett: Whare crystyne mene a crosse hade sett. And whene þe fende was of it ware, For ferde one syde he styrte full ferre, He tuk a waye þat was full wyk, Line 60 Thorowte a wod with thornnes thikke. And his discyple foloude so faste Þat hym thoghte he all to-braste. Whene þay com to þe playne agayne, Bytwix þame two was noþer fayne: Line 65 For þaire cotis ware al to-reuyne And þaire lymmes in-sondir sleuene. Byfore þe fende he styrte, Iwys, "Saye, whatkyns fare, he sayd, is this? Whate sawe þou, or whate ayled the, Line 70 So faste owte of thy waye to flee? And þou me serue efte on þis wyes, No lengare I kepe of thy seruyce." The fend hym gafe full sone ansuere: "That concele wetys þou neuer-mare; Line 75 For all þe golde þat es in my kyste That preuate walde I noghte þou wiste. And ells, whate als euer þou will, [folio 123b] Alle thi lykynge I sall fullfill." "Nay, he said, I make a vowe: Line 80 Bot þou telle me the skyll righte nowe, Sall I neuer langare, by þis lyghte, Serue the, noþer daye ne nyghte." Þe fend sawe þer none oþer waye Bot þer þe sothe he most nedis saye; Line 85 "Saghe þou, he saide, þat crossede tree Þat stod byfore bathe the & mee?" "Ȝa, he said, þat saughe I wele; How myghte þou make so myche vncele?" "Þat sall I say þe sothefastly. Line 90 Þat es my maste souerayne enemy. For whene þat all þis werlde was lorne, Criste was of a maydene borne And dyed for þame on slyke a tree, To brynge þame owte of my poste. Line 95 Þer es no-thyng, he sayd, so mekill I hate, For-thi I flede owte of my gate;

In þat place I dare noghte byde Whare I it see one any syde." One-one he ansuerde hym agayne: Line 100 "Here hafe I takyne þe with a trayne: For þou said, in þis werlde was none So myghtty a lorde als þou was one, Ne none so grete in no degree, [Ms. undeutlich ob Nee oder Ne.] And on þat conant I duelte with the; Line 105 Bot now me thynke: sene þat þou flede & for þat tre was so adrede, Þou erte wele ferdere, sothe to sayne, For hym þat one þat tre was slayne. My seruece thynke me euylle bysett Line 110 And sare me rewes I with þe mett. Fare wele, fende, for euer & aye! For Cryste to seke I will assaye; I sall neuer ryste on lyth nor lyme Till þat I hafe mett with hym." [folio 123b:2] Line 115 And trewly þar, als I ȝow telle, He partede fro þe fende of helle. Þe fende bygane to crye & ȝarme, [ȝarme to cry, auch Allit. P. B 971.] Bot he myghte do hym nankyn harmme. Fro þat stede full faste he ȝode, Line 120 Thorgh wildirnes, als he ware wod(e), Thorgh many a cete & many a towne, Thorgh many a vale & many a downe, Northe aud Southe bothe Este & Weste, Thorgh wildirnes & wylde foreste; Line 125 He fande no-man þat couthe hym telle In whate place þat Criste gane duelle, Ne þat couthe make of hym mynde In whate place he solde hym fynde. And als he went by hym allanne, [Ms. allane.] Line 130 In gret murnynge makand hys mane, By a faire mountayne syde, Arely in a morowene tyde, He loked abowte: þane was he warre Of an ermytage vndir a skerre; Line 135 And thedir he went appone his fete. And þer he fande an alde ermete; His vesage & his berde was whytte, To loke one hym was grete delytte; His clethyng was of þe same colour; Line 140 Hym semyd a mane of grete honour. & als sone als he come hym nere, He haylesed hym one his beste manere: "Sir, he saide, in Cristis name Wele-come be þou to my hame! Line 145 Telle me, if thi will it bee, Whene þou arte & of whate contree, And alle þi cause, bothe more & lesse, [folio 142] What þou dose in þis wildirnesse?" [Das folg. Blatt ist im Ms. versetzt.] And he ansuerde, & was full fayne: Line 150 "Sir, he said, I sall noghte layne: Als euer mot I wele fare, I seke a mane þou spake of are; I hafe hym soghte full wilsome wayes, Many ȝeris and many dayes, Line 155 And went thorgh many dyuerse lande, And ȝitt was neuer mane þat I fande Þat trewely couthe put me in mynde In what stede þat I solde Criste fynde; Swa mekill I hafe hym in my thoghte Line 160 Þat all þis werlde I sett at noghte. Kane þou oghte wysse me to þat mane?" "Ȝaa, quod þe hermete, I trow I kane. What es thi will, & þou hym fande?" "Serue hym, he said, to fote & hande, Line 165 With all my witt & all my myghte, For euer-mare, bathe daye & nyghte: And I se it swa maye falle Þat he be gretteste lorde of alle." "Ȝis, quod þe hermet, sothe it es, Line 170 He es kyng of souerayne blysse; Heuene & erthe & angells bryghte, Sone & mone & sternes lyghte, Mane & beste & foule one tree And fysches in þe flode to bee, Line 175 Elementes & alkyne thynges, Bouxome are to his biddynges; With his worde he mad þame alle, Hym to serue, bothe grete & smalle. For-thi I say þe, certanlye, Line 180 Þer es no souerayne lorde bot he. Bot certanly, þe sothe to saye, If þou will serue þat lorde to paye, The firste thyng es, the sall availe, To wirke after gud consaile Line 185 And forsake thyne awene will

In alle thynges, bathe lowde & stille; Fastynge sall þou mekill vse And gude metes & drynkes refuse; At ilke tyme þat þou sall ete Line 190 Tak noghte halfe þi fill of mete! Vnto thi bedde when þou sall gaa, Luk þat þou ly nexte-hand þe straa! And when þou felys thy flesche es warme, Than sall þou kepe þe þus fra harme: Line 195 Ryse vp naked with all thy mayne, Till þat thi flesche be calde agayne! Þus sall þou gete the victorye Of hym þat es thy maste enemy. If þou wirke appone this wyse, Line 200 Þan may þou duelle in þi lordes seruyce; Owte of þis werlde whene þou sall wende, To Joye & blysse withowttene ende." Þan ansuerde he with mylde mode: "Some of þis concelle thynke me gude; Line 205 Bot, als euer hafe I riste or ro, Alle this penance I may noghte do; My body es so grete & lange Þat mete I ne may no while forgange. For-thi I pray the for his sake Line 210 Anoþer penance þat I myghte take." Þane ansuerde þat haly ermyte, With wordis þat ware mylde & swete: "Many a prayere byhoues the to saye Vnto þat lorde, bathe nyghte and daye, Line 215 And wirchipe hym in þat þou kane, For-why he es bothe god & mane. Pouerte, sekenes, reches & hele, Alle es in his hande to dele, In his lykynge & in his wille Line 220 Wheþer he will vs safe or spille; Alle þe halowes þat are in heuene And angels, ma þan mane kane neuene, Withowttene sessynge byfore hym þay synge Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, withowttene endynge. Line 225 And þou sall pray hym especyaly To defend þe fra thi false enemy, Þat es abowte-warde daye & nyghte Thi saule to sla with all his myghte. For by his crosse þou myghte wele see Line 230 Whate þat garte þe fende awaye so flee, How mekill of powere þat he es, And lorde & kyng of endles blysse. His crosse garte he byfore the sett The fende of helle fro þe to lett; Line 235 For, had it noghte bene þe byforne, Till endles payne þou hade ben lorne And gane till helle with þe fende, To duelle in payne withowttene ende." "Allas, he sayde, þat I ne couthe Line 240 Þat lorde wirchipe with my mouthe! For, & I couthe, I walde full fayne Wirchipe hym with all my mayne." The ermyte ansuerde with myld mode: "Sen it (es) swa thi will es gude [es fehlt im Ms.] Line 245 And þou kane noþer faste ne praye, And god askes noghte bot at þou may: I sall þe concell in oþer thynge To serue hym wele to his lykynge. Þere rynnes bysyde þis heghe mountayne Line 250 A water, þat turnes to mekill vngayne; It commes owte of þe salte see, For-thy na brygge may ouer it bee; Þe stremys are so styffe & stythe Þat many a mane þer losses þaire lyfe. Line 255 And þe semys a mane full strange, For þou arte wondirly brade & lange. And þou will in a logge byde By þat wilde water syde And bere mene ouer þat hedouse flode Line 260 For Cristes luffe þat dyed on rode, In alkyne whethirs, daye & nyghte, And feyne þe neuer at all þi myghte: Certanely, I dare wele saye, Þan sall þou serue þat lorde to paye, Line 265 And for thi trauell & thi serues He will þe brynge till heuens blysse." Vnto þat ermete sone he sayde: "In þis conant I halde me payede: Will þou be borghe it sall swa be." Line 270 "Ȝe, sayd þe ermet, als mot I the, Þis conant will I vndirtake For Cristes luffe & for his sake." Þe ermet hym lerid withowten drede His Paternoster and his Crede, Line 275 His Aue Maria he lerid hym alswa, And oþer prayers many ma. And appone þe thirttendaye

Vnto þe water þay tuke þaire waye. Bysyd þat burne, þat was sa brade, Line 280 Bytwix þame twa a logge þay made. With-In þat logge he houede styll; Þe ermet broghte his mete hym till. Spared he neuer daye ne nyghte To bere mene ouer with all his myghte; Line 285 Was neuer wethir so fers ne felle, Ne tempeste, þat mene couthe telle, Þat ne he was redy in littill whille To bere mene ouer withowttyne perill. [folio 125] His clathes with þe whilke he couerde his skyne, Line 290 Febill þay were & wondir thyne; And, als he ȝode appone þe day, Swa in his logge one nyghttes he laye. In wynter whethirs þat ware full calde Þane sufferde (he) penance many-falde, [he fehlt im Ms.] Line 295 With froste & snawe bothe hayle & slete— He hade no felynge till his fette. Somtyme þe ermet broghte hym mete, & somtymes was þer nane to gete. A lang sprete he bare in hande, Line 300 To strenghe hym in þe water to stande. In his story als I herde saye, This lyffe he lede full many a daye. Till after in a wynter tyde A storme felle by þat water syde; Line 305 Sa hedousely þat storme gane falle Þat sondir it braste both waghe and walle; Wyndis wexe bothe wilde & wode, Wawes bolnede In þe flode. Full sore he was þer-of adrede, Line 310 And faste in-till his logge he flede And sperid his dore with a pyne, And for þat whethir held hym þer-Ine. Whene þat it was abowte mydnyghte, Byȝonde þe water he herde a skrythe, Line 315 Full lowde one heghte he herde it cry, [Ms. urspr. saye, in cry corr.] And askede "helpe ouer" full rewfully, In his crye þat he gane make, "Helpe ouer", he saide, "for Cristes sake!" Vp he stirte with steryne mode Line 320 And swythe he paste ouer þat flode, With his lange staffe in his hande. Na thyng on lyf þer he fande. Belyfe he turnede hym ouer agayne, And of his trauele he was vnfayne. Line 325 Vnnethes he had mad hym bownne In his logge to lay hym downe: Whene he herd a wele mare rewfull crye; "Helpe ouer" it saide "for Cristes mercy!" And vp he rase & ouer he went Line 330 For Cristes luffe with trewe entent. And when he come þer it solde be, Na qwyke thynge couth he here nor se. Þane was he werse payed of his fare Þane of all his trauele þat he had are; Line 335 Agayne he wode þat water onane, Nerehand fornomene on ilke a bane; By he was commene vnto þe banke, He hade no fele on fote ne schanke. In-till his logge he hyede þat tyme, Line 340 And to þe erthe he felle in swyme. And als he laye on þat gronde full still, He herde a voyce bothe lowde & schrylle, Cryande with a rewfull mod "Helpe ouer, for Cryste þat dyed on rode! Line 345 Bot I hafe helpe sone in this stede, My lyfe es lorne, I ame bot dede." The third tyme ouer þe flod he ferde; No-thyng he sawe, no-thyng he herde — Mirke it was, abowte midnyghte; Line 350 Of mone ne sterne had he no lyghte. & als he gropede downe to þe sannde, He fande a littill childe sittande Agayne þe wethirs þat ware so calde, Als it were of a tweluemonethe alde. Line 355 Vp he lyftede þis childe anone And sett it on his schuldir bone — Þat he hym fand he was full fayne, For els he trowed he had bene slayne; He couerde þe childe with his mantill noke, Line 360 And ouer þe water þe way he tuke. In-myddis þe streme when þat þay ware, The wawes with wynde bygane to barre, And the childe swa heuy woghe Þat ofte-sythes one knees he hym droghe; Line 365 In-to þe water he crokede downe

And was in perell for to drowne — Sen þe fyrste daye þat he was borne, Was he neuer swa ferde byforne! Þe water bygane to bolne & rowte Line 370 And ofte-tyms hym turnede abowte; [Ms. tyms = tymms, oder tymes?] So þat vnnethes, als he vndirstode, Passede he qwykke ouer þat flode. And whene (he) come to þat water bryme, [he fehlt im Ms.] He sett hym downe, and lukede one hym Line 375 With a wondir angry chere. "Childe, he sayde, what dose þou here? Tell me tytt þe trewe tale Wheyne þou come & whedir þou salle! For, als euer moghte I the, Line 380 Dere hafe I boghte þe lufe of the. And maste I mervayle me of a thynge: Þat þou, þat arte so littill & so ȝynge, How þou may be so heuy of wheghte. Resone of this wolde I wete reghte, Line 385 Þat arte wele hevyere, by my hede! Þane a hundrethe stane of lede; For, had all þis werlde bene in a sekke And laide one lofte appone my nekke, Hevyere myghte I noghte hafe borne, Line 390 If I solde hafe bene dede þer-forne." Than ansuerde þat littill childe, With wordis þat were meke & mylde: "Thou sall wele wiete withowtten faile Þat of my weghte es no mervaile: For þou hase borne, þe sothe to ne|uene, Line 395 Þat hevyere es þane erth & heuene, For I ame makere of alkyns thynge And god withowttene any bygynnynge; Of þis thynge mervaile þe noghte: Line 400 Thou hase hym borne þat hase þe boghte. And trowe me wele withowttene drede, I sall þe qwyte full wele thi mede. Turmentys sall þou many ane take And sythene be martirde for my sake; Line 405 Take þame gladly & with gude chere, For þou sall be my derlynge dere; Owt of þis werlde whene (þou) sall wende, [þou fehlt im Ms.] I hete þe Joyes withowttene ende. And with þe water of þe see Line 410 In my name I crystyne the; Cristofere in Criste I calle þe here, In my name, by thryne manere. Firste I will þou bere my name And suffere for me mekyll schame — Line 415 And whate mene sayse or dose þe till, Suffir it with a hertly will! Þat oþer poynte þat es þe nexte, I will þou bere me in thi breste, Als þou me on thi schuldir bare; Line 420 This es þe seconnd poynte of lare — [l. secound?] And trowe wele þat I am godd & kynge And souerayne lorde of alle thynge. The thirde poynte es, I will þou gaa Thorghe alle this lande bothe to & fra Line 425 And preche my lawe with mekill honoure, To duke & kynge and emperour. And if þay saye þou arte noghte trewe, This verraye takynnyng þou schall þame schewe: Thi staffe þat þou hase in thi hande, Line 430 With þe whilke þou bare me to þe lande, Vnto þe erthe þou late it falle And stryke it downe byfore þame alle [folio 126] And praye to me! it maye be sene: If it bere fruyte & leues grene, Line 435 That als trewe & sothe it es Þat I am god of heuenes blysse. For-thi to morne whene it es daye, Thou tak þi staffe & wend thi waye, Thorowte þis lande þat es sa wyde, Line 440 To townnes & cetees on ylka syde! Byfore kyngges whene þou arte broghte, What þou sall say ne drede þe noghte: For in thi tonge I sall be ay And teche þe alle þat þou sall saye. Line 445 Dispytously þay sall þe smytte And spitt one the in gret dispite, Many turmentis sall þou take; Bot thole þam mekly for my sake! For after þame I sall þe brynge Line 450 To Joy & blysse withowttene endynge. Hafe gud day, Cristofire, & thynk on me! My blyssynge mot euer with þe be." Whene he had said, he steghe til heuene,

To mare Joye þane mane kane neuene. — Line 455 Appone þe morne, verrament, Cristofir fra his logge went; His stafe in his hand he tuk, And blyssede hym, als telles þe buke. Thorowte þat lande full faste he prechide Line 460 & Cristes lawes þe folkes he techide; Saraȝens he conuerted ay-whare & garte þame lefe on Cristis lare. He droghe hym till a noble cetee, Þe gretteste þat was in þat contre — Line 465 Licie þat riche cetee hyghte; Þare-In he duelly(d) a full seuenyght. [Ms. duelly.] Bot murnynge hade he mekill in mode Þat he þaire speche noght vndirstode; Full specyaly to gode he prayed Line 470 Þat he myghte wete (whate) þay sayde. [whate fehlt im Ms.] Crist it wolde noghte fra hym layne; And whene he wiste, he was full fayne. Sone he went In-to þe felde; Full many a saraȝene hym byhelde, Line 475 Þat had gret ferly of his fare, Whethyne he come & whate he ware; Fra sa mekill a mane and sa store [fra = since, od. st. for.] Had þay neuer sene byfore. Apertly to þe peple he prechede, Line 480 Als Criste hym-seluene had hym techide, Of his Incarnacione, Of his pyne & of his passione, And how for vs with mylde mode He sufferde dede appone þe rode, Line 485 And sythene fra ded to lyfe rasee And steghe till heuene, als his will was, How he sall come one domesday Bathe als god & mane verraye And alle mene deme withowttene bade Line 490 Þat euer was in this werlde made; Wha wele hase done, to Joy sall wende, Þase oþer to payne withowttene ende. And þane to Criste hertly he prayede: If all were sothe þat he had sayde, Line 495 Þat his stafe in Cristis honour Byfor þame solde bere fruyte & flour. He lyfte þe stafe vp in þat stownde And strak it downe in-to þe grownde: And in þat place, þat alle myghte sene, Line 500 It bare bathe fruyte & leues grene. Alle þat euer þat miracle seghe, Helde vp þaire hende till heuene on heghe And to þe grounde on knees gane falle, And cristene mene bycome þay alle: Line 505 Heghte thowsande mene þaire ware by tale, Withowttene womene & childir smale; Cristofere wente to a water anone & sone he cristenede þame euerylkone. Forthe þere come a saraȝene strange, Line 510 Þat was a mayster þam amange Of grete honour & grete renowne, Þat kepare was of þaire Mahowne; Vysage had he stowte and gryme; In grete dispyte he spitte one hym, Line 515 With þe smale ende of his mace He smate Cristofere in the face, Swa þat he bygane to blede. Than Cristofere said: "so Crist me spede, Wharne I leuede on goddes lare, [Ms. wharne st. warne = ne war, nisi.] Line 520 Þat bofett sold be venged sare." The saraȝene felle, þer he gune stande, & þe mace clefed in his hande; Sone onone þer was he dede; His body wexe als bla als lede. Line 525 Cristofere grette & made ill chere; "Jhesu, he saide, þat boghte vs dere, Thurghe vertu of thi wondis fyve Þou graunte þis mane to hafe his lyfee: Þat alle may knawe the in this stede, Line 530 Þat þou arte lorde of lyfe & dede!" With þat worde þe saraȝene rase Fra dede to lyffe, als goddis will was. Whene he was resyne, he cryed on heghte: "Loued be god, he said, of myghte, Line 535 Fadir & sone and þe haly gaste, & Mary, þat es his modir chaste! For I was dampned in-to helle, In endeles paynes þer-In to duelle, And god hase(me)sauede thurgh his grace, [Ms. hafe st. hafe. me fehlt im Ms.] Line 540 Till schewe his miracle in this place. My false goddes I here forsake

And till his mercy I me bytake Þat dyed for vs appone a tree — Louede & wirchipid mot he bee!" Line 545 His false goddis he smate þame alle In-sondir with ane Iryne malle; Cristofere cristenede hym on-ane And namede hym Sebastyane. Than wente þay forthe bothe in-fere, Line 550 Thorghe alle þat lande, ferre & nere. Whare cristene mene & prisoners ware In turmentes & in prisouns saree, Bothe þay broghte þaym mete & drynke, And concelde þame on Criste to thynke Line 555 And for to take with hertly will Alle paynnes, bothe lowde & styll, Also þaire dede þat þay solde take With glade chere for Cristis sake, And after þaire paynnes þat þay sold wende Line 560 To Joye & blysse withowttene ende. — Whene þe kynge of þis herde telle, Þat was a sowdane fers & felle, Þat þer was comene ouer þe flode Þe maste mane þat euer on erthe ȝode, Line 565 With a lang staffe in his hande, And ȝode prechande thorow his lande, And had turnede to cristyne laye Heghte thowsande saraȝens appone a daye, And also his dere frende Joas, Line 570 Þat kepare of his goddis was: Þe kynge stirte, whare he stode, & fure als he ware welland wode; He brandeschet hym & bate his berde. — Þase þat hym saghe, þay were full ferde. Line 575 "Allas, he sayde, whate sall I doo? Slyke tythandes come neuer are me too!" Lowde he gane bothe rowte & rare, "Allas, he sayde, for sorowe and care; Be Mahowne þat made the mone, [folio 127] Line 580 Of hym sall I be vengede sone." Belyfe he garte be armede wele A howndrethe mene in Iryne & stele; "Belyfe, he sayde, þat ȝe be bowne And sekes þat harlotte fro towne to towne! Line 585 Whene ȝe hafe foun hym at þe laste, [l. fonn?] Brynges hym byfore me bowndene faste! I sall hym chasty on swylke manere Þat euer-ylke mane bothe ferre & nere Ensampill by hym sall þay take Line 590 Oure myghty goddis to forsake." Thorowte þat lande þat was so wyde Þose knyghttes hym soghte on ylke a syde; And at þe laste þay hym fande, Appone his knees to Criste prayande. Line 595 And als he turnede to þame his face, God hym gaffe so mekill grace And slyke a meracle for hyme schewed þane, Þat alle thase bycome cristyne mene. And with þe water of a welle Line 600 He baptiȝede þame, als I ȝow telle, In þe name of þe Trynyte, Þat es one gode & persones three; He taughte þame how þat þay sold wyrke To trowe in gode & haly kyrke, Line 605 And alle þaire false goddis defye That ware no better þane sorcerye. And whene þir tythandes were comene to towne, Þe kyng felle of his chayere downe — His hede he brake agayne a walle; Line 610 & faste one Mahowne gane he calle, And said: "als þou erte lorde of myghte, Þou helpe me nowe to fende my ryghte, Þat alle thies folke may knawe & trowe Þat þare es no god bot thou." Line 615 Twa hundrethe knyghtes sent he þane, Armede wele, of hardy mene; He comande þame one lyfe and lyme Þat þay solde brynge Cristofer to hym. Thay went forthe at þe kynges bone, Line 620 And whare he was þay fande hym sone. And whene þat þay his vesage saghe, Full faste for ferde awaye þay flaghe. Cristofer faste on þame gune calle And þus he sayde vnto þame alle: Line 625 "I praye ȝow, sirris, with herte meke, Ȝe will me saye what þat ȝe seke." A knyghte hym ansuerde son onone — For ferde he tremlide ylka bone:

"We come in message fro þe kynge Line 630 Vntill his presence the to brynge. Bot we sall gyffe þe leue Iwysse To wende whare þat þi will is; And to þe kynge sall we saye That we þe fande noghte in our waye." Line 635 "Naye, said Cristofere, þat ware no skill, Þane wroghte ȝe noghte þe kynges will. Bot I will say ȝow verrayment: Bot if it be by myne assent, Ȝe hafe no power ne no myghte Line 640 To brynge me to þe kynges syghte. Bot ȝe sall take a stalworthe baste And bynde my handes byhynd me faste; And, wheþer it torne to wele or waa, Gladly will I with ȝow gaa." Line 645 With stalworthe rapes gane þay bynde His handis bakewarde hym byhynde; Þay ledde hym forthe on þat arraye Tyll þay come þare þe kynge laye. Whene þe kynge hade of hym syghte, Line 650 In his chayere he welte vp ryghte. And whene þay had lyfte hym vp agayne, Thane of Cristofer gane he frayne Whethyne he was and of whate con|tree: "Hafe done, he saide, & telle þou me!" Line 655 Cristofere with full blythe chere Ansuerde hym on this manere: "Byfore my baptyme was I thane A saraȝene & a cursede mane, And sen my baptyme hafe I bene Line 660 A crystyne mane, als þou may sene; Cristofere I hate, in Cristis name — He will me schelde fro syne & schame." Than said þe kynge: "so mot I thryue, I sall þe proue a fole belyue Line 665 For to neuene hym in þis stede Þat myne eldirs did to dede And sloughe hym on a gebete-tre — A fote fro þam he moughte not flee. For-thi I say þe on this wyese: Line 670 Bot þat þou make sacrafice Vnto my goddis, þat all may welde, Þou sall be dede appone a felde." Cristofere sone hym ansuerde þus: "Full righte thi name es called Dagius: Line 675 Þat es þus mekill for to saye Þou arte bothe cursed & waried for ay, & felawe vnto þe false fende & dampned till helle withowttyne ende. For alle þi goddis are fekill & false, Line 680 And so, for sothe, arte þou als." Þe kynge bygane to styrte & stare & couthe (!) & rowte als he wode ware. [couthe scheint verschrieben (st. coupe caupe?).] "Fy appone þe, þou boye so bolde! Appone my goddis þou lyes, þou le|wede — Line 685 Þat sall þou appone thi body bye; Thow fals rebawde, I þe defye. Myne knyghttes thorowe þi wichecrafte Fra my lay þou hase þame rafte." Euer-ilkane he garte þame take Line 690 And bynd þame faste, for Cristes sake, And In a felde for grete dispite Alle þaire hedis he garte of smyte; Þaire bodyes he garte leue in þe felde, Wylde wolues for to hafe in welde. Line 695 & Cristofere after all þis full sone In a presone he garte be done, Withowttene owþer drynke or mete, In stokkes styffe & fetters grete; Mekill stynke was þer, I wene, Line 700 Tadis & neddirs & scorpyons kene. Þane keste þe kynge a cursed gynne, To gare hym falle in dedly syne: He tuke twa maydyns bryghte of blee, Þe fayreste þat was in þat contree, Line 705 And put þame to hym preualy, To gare hym falle in lechorye; Bot Criste, þat maste of myghtes may, Saued hym in þat harde assaye. Als he prayede in þat presone syde, Line 710 Þay haylsede hym with mekyll pride And bade hym fele þaire pappis bare And wyrke what euer his will ware; Þe tane of þame highte Nicia, & þe toþer highte Aquilina. Line 715 Cristofere saide: "benedicite; Whate do ȝe here, & what are ȝe?"

Þay ansuerde hym withowttene naye: "Þe kynge vs sende þe to bytraye, & oure warysone he hase vs highte Line 720 To gare þe syne with vs to-nyghte. Bot we see fully in thi face So mekill of vertu & of grace, Þat we þe pray to forgyffe vs & teche vs to trowe on thi Jhesus; Line 725 Oure false goddis we will forsake And till his mercy fully vs take." [folio 128] Cristofere cristenyde þame ryghte þare [Ms. þ…, hier durch þare aufgelöst.] And kend þame to leue on Cristis lare. Þe kynge herde tell of þis full rathe, Line 730 & sone he send after þame bathe. "Wyches, he said, waa mot yow be! Hafe ȝe forsakyne my goddis so free Thurghe þe concelle of this false Jug|lour — And myghte hafe had sa mekill honour? Line 735 By Mahoune þat es moste of pryce, Bot ȝe make sone ȝoure sacrafyce, I sall neuer styrre owte of this stede Till ȝe be done till wykked dede." A nobill ansuere withowttene bade Line 740 Full sone vnto þe kynge þay made: "If we sall do one þat manere Als þou vs comandes to do here, Gare swepe bylyfe þe stretys alle, & to þe tempill thi concelle calle, Line 745 Þat þay may see how we sall doo, & for to bere witnes þer-too!" Whene alle was (done) als þay had sayde, [im Ms. fehlt done.] Þe kynge wende wele till hafe bene payede. Þe maydyñs in-till þe tempill ȝode, Line 750 In Cristes name, þat died one rode, Þaire beltis tuke þay in þaire handis & abowte þe mawmetis neke þam bande, Þay trayled þam forthe amange þam alle Till þat þay felle in powdir smalle. Line 755 Þane sayd þe maydyns on þer gamene Till alle þe saraȝens þat þer wa(r) samene: [Ms. wa.] "Gose, getis ȝow lechis with all ȝour mayne, For to hele ȝour goddis agayne!" Þe kyng cryede owte, harraw, allas Line 760 Þat euer of womane borne he was, He rafe his clothis alle to wondir, Whene þat his goddis ware brokyne in|sondir. Aquilina, þat maydene brighte, He garte þame hynge hir in his syghte; Line 765 Many heuy stonys till hir þay bande And all to-rafe hir fote & hande. One this manere whene scho was dede, Þay tuke hir sister in þat stede, Nicia, þat maydene swete, Line 770 & band hir faste bothe hende & fete & caste hir in a fyre full rathe. Bot owte scho paste withowttyne skathe: Þer was non hare appone hir hede [Ms. harme st. hare.] Towched with þe fire so rede, Line 775 Ne no weme on hir body, Thurgh goddis grace & his mercy. Whene þe kynge was warre of this, Nerehand wexe he wode Iwys; A foulle saraȝene comande he tyte Line 780 Þat he sold hir hede of smyte. Whene þat hir martirdome was done, Þe kynge in chayere sett hym sone, Swythe he bade withowtt duellynge Cristofere þay sold byfor hym brynge. Line 785 And sone whene he com hym byforne, He spitt one hym with full grete skorne, "Fy, he said, þou foule, þou etayne! [etayne, ags. eóten = giant, so in M. Arth. 4122, 4163.] Alle my knyghtes þou garte be slayne And with thi falsehede & thi fare Line 790 Þou hase me wroghte full mekill care; Swa sall þou neuer no langare doo, Als euer hafe I riste or roo!" His turmentours, þay stode hym by, He garte þame nakyne all his body, Line 795 With flayllis of Iryne lange & grete Fra bake to syde he garte þam hym bete. Þay sett a bacenet one his hede Þat byrnand was of fyre so rede. Ane Iryne bynke þay made with strenghe, Line 800

Line 800 Fyftene cubetes it was one lenghe; Cristofere þan garte þay bynd, Hys handis bakwarde hym byhynde, And one þat bynke þay band hym faste, Ay qwyles þe Iryne ropis myghte laste. Line 805 Than comanded þat renegate Þat bynke with fyre þay solde make hate; Bylyfe þay tuke bothe terre & pykke And wilde fire þat was full wykke, Qwyke bromstone þay did þer-to Line 810 And oþer thynges many moo, And alle this vndir þe bynke þay thraste, And with þayre belyes þay blewe ful faste, Till it was rede one ilke a syde Als rose es in þe somers tyde. Line 815 Cristofere on þat bynke he laye Fra it was prime appone þe to daye, [Ms. to daye, to ist zu tilgen?] Als nakede als he was borne, Till it was mydday one þe morne. Þe tourmentours, at blewe at hyme, Line 820 Criste forschope þame bothe lythe & lyme: Some were tournede þe face byhynde, Some were crokede, & some wer blynde. & with a blaste þer come a thondir: Twa thowsande saraȝenes were smetyne in-sondir, Line 825 Some þe body fra þe hede, Brynte als blake als pyk or lede; Of þame þer come þe fouleste stynke Þat euer any mane myghte see or thynke. Þe bynke of Iryne þat Cristofere bare Line 830 Als waxe awaye it meltyde þare, And he stode vp bothe hale & fere, Smyland with a semly chere. And to þe kynge he sayd: "here may þou see My goddis myghte & his poustee: Line 835 For alle þe elemenfis are in his walde, Wheþer he will þay be hate or calde. Me hase thoghte þis fyre als cole Als I had lyggene in a water polle, & als so softe to my lykynge Line 840 Als dewe es in a may mornynge. For-thi þou lefe thyne eresye And crye to Criste for his mercy, Þat þus hase saued in þi syghte His seruand thrugh his mekill myghte." Line 845 "Fy, he saide, þou wiche strange! I had þe leuer one galous hange & sythene with wylde horse drawe, Or þou sold gare me torne my lawe. Commes hedir swythe, my knyghtes kene, Line 850 And helpes me wele, þat it be sene! For I hafe ordeyned swylk a wyle, He sall no lengare vs bygyle: If þat he will (noght) byrne with lowe, [noght fehlt im Ms.] We sall hym slaa with schotte of bowe. Line 855 Takis hym bylyfe in-to ȝour welde And ledis hym faire in-to þe felde, Appone a bent withowt þe borghe With scharpe arowes ȝe schote hym thurghe! And, be Mahowne, if þat ȝe spede, Line 860 I sall ȝow qwyte full wele ȝour mede." Thay bande hym þane naked vntill a tree, Þat gret dole it was to see, In a felde þat was full playne, Þare whethirs calde were hym agayne. Line 865 Abowte hym come many stowte saraȝyne, For to do hym sorowe & pyne; Thay bente þair bowes tyte & sone And schote þaire arowes agayne þe mone. Was neuer arowe þat greued hym Line 870 Ne þat hym towched lythe nor lyme — God schewed þer a meracle faire: For alle þaire arows hange in þe ayre, Als thike als leues dose on trees Or ells þat þay were swarmes of beese. Line 875 Thre hundrethe knyghtis Iwys þer ware [folio 129] Þat schote at Cristofere body bare. Þe kynge of this when he herde telle, Downe he come fra his castelle, With many a knyghte of his menȝe, Line 880 Þat grete mervaile for to see. And als he lokede vp-on heghe, Ane of þe arowes smate owte his eghe. The kynge sterte whare þat he stode, And nerehande wexe he welland wode. Line 885 "Allas, he sayde, for sorow & care,

Now am I lorne for euer-mare, For ȝone fende with his wichecrafte My syghte fra me away hase rafte!" Cristofere, bowndyne þer he stode, Line 890 Thus ansuerde hym with myld mode: "How scholde I arowes schote at the? Here stand I bowndyne till a tree Als nakede & bare als es a stane; Bowe ne arowes hafe I nane; Line 895 Bot þou sall ons knawe & fynde That þe same arowe þat mad þe blynde A knyghte it schotte withowttene faile Þat chefeste es of thi consaile. For-thi, while þat þou hafe space, [Ms. hafe oder hafe?] Line 900 Aske god mercy of his grace! For, if-alle þe thynke þou dose me pyne, The grettest penance euer es thyne. To-morne at pryme in this same stede Þou sall gare me be don to dede; Line 905 Whene I am dede, þou take my blode In his name þat dyede one þe rode, & laye it one thyne eghe ful ryghte: & þer-thurgh sall þou hafe syghte." Alle nyghte naked þer stode he styll, Line 910 Prechande þe pepill with full gud will, How þay solde Criste bothe lufe & drede & after þat hafe heuene to mede; Many a saraȝene fers & felle — Wele ma þane I with tonge kan telle — Þat nyghte he tournede to þe trouthe ful trew, Line 915 To leue appone oure lorde Jhesu. And one þe morne at þe houre of pryme, Als he had sett byfore hys tyme, Till hym þer come a saraȝene strange Line 920 With a naked suerde in his hande; "Cristofere, he saide, gyf þe noghte ille, [vor ille fehlt like?] The kynge hase sente me the vntill With my swerde the for to slaa. For-thy myne herte es wondir waa. Line 925 Bot walde þou wyrke after my rede, At this tyme solde þou noghte be dede: For alle thi bandis sall I bryste & wende with the to ȝone foreste; & lefe I will one cristyne lare Line 930 & duelle with the for euer-mare." "Nay, said Cristofere, so haf I riste, Þat concelle es noghte for þe beste: It ware to me a grete taryinge [Ms. taryunge, mit Punkt über u.] Fro þat Joye þat es withowtyne endynge. Line 935 Bot þou sall trewly trowe in Criste And In his name be baptiste; & whene þou hase thi deuer done, Þou sall come to Joye onone, For I sall certanly, þe sothe to saye, Line 940 Wend byfore & make þat waye." The saraȝene said: "god do his will! & als þou saise I assent þer-till." Cristofere knelede downe on his knee And sayde: "In manus tuas, domine. Line 945 Alle-myghty god, als þou me boghte, For my syne forsake me noghte; Jhesu, þe sone of swete Marye, Of my saule þou hafe mercy! And, als þou erte god syttand in trone, Line 950 Þat þou will graunt to me a bowne: For alle mene þat in presone are And alle þat are in sorowe & care, For alle womene þat are with childe, For all þat passes by waters whylde: Line 955 For all þat hase me in thaire mynde, Thi swete grace þat þay may fynde, And þat my storye will here or rede Of þaire askynge þat þay may spede; [Ms. þat þat.] & for my frende þat me sall slaa Line 960 & brynge me fro þis werldis waa, Þat þou hym will forgyfe his myse & brynge hym to þi mekill blysse." Whene he had said als I ȝow neuene, A voyce þer ansuerde hym fro heuene: Line 965 "I grante the fully thi prayere. Come to me, my seruande dere!" The saraȝene þat helde þe suerde in hande, Full fast he trymlide fote & hande. He lyfte his swerde with hert full sare, Line 970 And Cristofere hede he smate of thare. Whene he had done, he felle to grounde, And bathe þay dyede in þat stownde;

Thaire saules wente to-gedir a-waye To Joye & blysse þat lastis aye. Line 975 The kynge thane with a sympill mode Enoynted his eghe with Cristofer blode: And thorgh þe grace of god al-myghte Þe kyng full sone he had his syghte. A tombe full sone þe kynge garte make, Line 980 Of marbyll whitte, for Cristofere sake, And beryed hym with grete solempnite In þe myddis of þat riche cete; His frende he beryed at his feete, In a tombe, þat was full mete. Line 985 The kynge þer made a faire abbaye And dyd þer-In monkes graye, In the honour of Cristofere & his frende To laste vnto þe werldes ende. Þe kynge his false goddis all forsuke Line 990 And crystyndome of priste he tuke, And alle þat in þat cete ware He cristenyde þame, bothe lesse & mare; Kirkes garte he many make Thurghe his landis for Cristis sake; Line 995 Pristes þame In he dyd to praye In þe honour of Criste to domesdaye. He ordayned in his land full tytte: What mane of Cristofere spake dispite Or of Cristis lawes spake velany, Line 1000 He solde be dede withowttene mercy. Þat noble kyng þat highte Dagius, He gart hym be called Cristicolus. Þe lawes of Criste he kepid full ryghte Twenty ȝeres after with all his myghte; Line 1005 He lyffed in almous-dedis & orysouns And many haly deuocyouns, & þane he dyed, als I herd saye, And beryed was in þat same abbaye, And, in his story als it es sayde, Line 1010 By Cristofere garte he hym be layde. Thaire (saules) are samene in heuens blysse.— [saules fehlt, oder Thaire st. thay?] God bryng vs thedir, whene his will es.

Amene.

Explicit vita sancti Cristofori.

Thornton.

23. Of Sayne Johne þe euangelist. aus Ms. Thornton, Linc. Cath., fol. 231.

Of all manekynde þat he made þat maste es of myghte, And of þe molde, merkede and mesured that tyde, Wirchipede be þou, Euangelist, with euerilke a wyghte Þat he wroghte in this werlde, wonnande so wyde; Louede be þou, lufely, lugede in lyghte,— [Ms. loifely in lufely corr.] Line 5 To life ay in lykynge þat lorde the relyede That in Bedleme was borne of a byrde bryghte. That barne brynge vs to blysse, þare beste es to byde: To byde in his blysse, Thare he es and his Line 10 Dysciples ilkone, Whare myrthe may noghte mysse. That waye þou vs wysse, Euangelist Johne!

Johne, as þe gete or germandir gente, Line 15 As jasper þe jowell of gentill perry, So was þou daynte as drowry, derely endent In his dedis þat for dule endeynede hym to dye; Þou was lufed of þat lorde þat vs lyfe lente,— Þare was na lyueande lede he lete mare by, [Perry liest lyncaude.] Line 20 Ne na wyghte, in þis werlde with hyme þat went. And by thi werkes I wate þat þou was worthi: Wele worthi þou ware For thi werkes ay-whare And dedis by- dene.— Line 25 Now forthir to fare, Of thi mekenes mare With mouthe will I mene.—

In Galylee graythely gome was þou get, As godd of his gudnes graunted þe grace; Line 30 Ȝebede thi fadir, the fude þat the fet, He fedd the and fosterde, þat faire was of face; Þou was myldeste of mode þat euer mane mett; Thi modir highte Mary — swylk mene|syng mene mase— The seet scho aste for hir sonnes myght hir thynk wele sett Line 35 And of thaire syttynge for-sothe hafe sere solace. Solace was it to þe, The pereles of pouste Called the full styll; Þou forsuke thi fadir fre, Line 40 Schipe and nett of þe see, And went hym vntill.

Thi modir, thi mobles, all maner of thyng Þat any mane in his mynde aftir myghte mene, [Nach v. 44 u. 45 fehlt je ein Vers.]

. . . . .

Of all þe welthe & þe wanes thou hade in kepynge, [Nach v. 44 u. 45 fehlt je ein Vers.] Line 45

. . . . .

To cayre with þat cumly, thou keste the full clene; With þat lorde for to lende was thi ly|kynge, And for his lufe all lythes lefte thou by-dene: By-dene lefte þou it all

Þat was thyne in-with walle, Line 50 The werlde þou forsuke; Thare-by sett thou bot smalle, When thou come to his calle, As witnese the buke.

Thou was witty and wyse, thi werkes vnwylde, — Line 55 Þou werede the fro wyrkynges, wrechid þat ware; Þou was methe & meke, as maydene for mylde, [Ms. for. st. fol.?] Thi mynde moued þou fro myse one ilk a manere; Thou was faire and fayntles, with na fylthe filede, Ne with na fandyng thi flesche defoulede with na fere. Line 60 For-thi was þou chosene, chaste as a childe, Oure cheftane he chose the, vnchangide of chere. Thi chere was full chaste Fro werkes all waste, Noghte assentand to syne; Line 65 Full gude was thi gaste, Na filthe had defaste The, verray virgyne.

Thow was sybbe oure saueoure, hir syster sone Whas semely sydis saluede oure sare: Line 70 Þat was þe byrde so bryghte, with birdyne ȝode bune And þe barne alþer-beste of body scho bare. Bathe frenchipe and faythe to frayste it bese fune In þat frely fude, to folowe his fare. For-thi with þat worthi, Johne, wald þou wonne Line 75 And with hym walke, whate way þat his will ware. Ware his will was to wende Or hym lyked to lende, Bathe myldely and still, Þou helde þe ay with þat hende Line 80 And ferde forthe with thi frende, And wroghte at his wyll.

Thou was preue with þat prynce in euerilk a place, To the he publischede þe poyntis of his preuate: Firste when þat frely transfegurede his face Line 85 To a fone of his folke, a ferly to see; [fone quhone = few.] Seþene at the supere thorghe souerayne grace Many selcouthe syghte schewede he to þe; For þou was trayste and trewe and fo|lowede his trace And tuke at his techyng, þat faythfull es and free. Line 90 Free fro thralle vs to brynge, Heghe one rude walde he hynge — So lawe wald he lende! And þou, his derlyng, His modir in kepyng Line 95 To þe he be-kende.

Thou was bouxsome and bayne hir body to tent, And to his byddyng bowand, to blysse þat vs broghte: [Ms. blyff, mit Schleife durch f.] Thou seruede þat semly, till hir sone sent Aftir hir hym-selfene. and sythene þou soghte, [soghte hier = departed, wie Troy B. 6644. 13209.] Line 100 In-to Asye þe way warely thou went. Thare worthyly werkes of wirchipe þou wroghte: [folio 232] Prechide appertely the puple repent, Thorghe prikkynge of penance fra paynes þou thayme broghte. Þou broghte thaym to blysse Line 105 Thorowe mendynge of mysse; Gret kirkes þou made. Þe Emperoure of þis Was warre, as I wysse, And hatrede he hade. Line 110

Line 110

Domycyane, þat deuyls lymme, dedey|ned at þi dede And demyd the for thi doynge with dule for to dye: With tyraunteȝ he tuk the als theefe in þat thede. Thay toylede the bytwene thayme and threted the thraly, Thase licherouse lurdañs, laytheste in lede; Line 115 To Porte-latyne thase laddes the leddene full laythely. Thane the boustoure balde with barett he bedde That thay thi body suld bare, with bale for to bye. [vor bare fehlt make?] To by was þou made bare, And done in a tonne thare Line 120 With oyle wellande hate; Seþene wald þay noghte spare, Þay sett the full sare One ane yrene plate.

Of all þe dedes þay couthe doo, þat derfe ware & dill, [dill = dull stupid, so Allit. P. A. 680.] Line 125 Thou dyede noghte, for thai dide no dere vnto the; [Ms thair, worauf dede auspunctirt ist; l þai.] Foulely foullede þay thi flesche, ȝit felid þou nane ille; [Ms. foulede?] For-thi þi famene the flemede owte of cuntre. Þan to Pathmos, a place, passede þou vntyll. The Apocalips in þat place with a pene free Line 130 Wysely þou wrate it, with witt and with will; And for thi werke þou ware worthi wir|chipede to be. To be wirchiped with myghte, Þou ware worthi full ryghte In euerilk a place: Line 135 Thou was witnes of lyghte, Þat wysses euerilk a wyghte — Thi name es goddes grace.

Grete grace was þe gyffene & graun|tede also Thurghe his gudnes þat gyfes vs all gyftes of mayne. Line 140 Whils þou suggeourned in þat suyle, Domycyane, thi foo, At a semle þat segge in certayne was slayne. Þan þou gysed the gerne and gafe þe to goo Tyll Ephesyme graythely þe gates þat ware gayne. Feele folke ware thi srendes, þare þou ferde froo, Line 145 And for to frayste of thi fare þe toþer ware fayne; Fayne ware þe folke free, And come rynnande to the And hailsed the hame, And saide þus vnto the: Line 150 "Blissede ay mote he be, Þat commes in goddes name!"

Thane was Drucyane dede, thi derlynge so dere, And sulde to delfynge be done, dredles, þat daye; [Ms. scheinbar dolfynge; vorher ist dof ausgestr. dredles certainly.] Bot þou bade thayme habyde and sett downe þe bere; Line 155 Thou blyssede þe body, bare þare it laye. Scho sett hir vp softely with a blythe chere — Als scho hade slepede, it semede, sothe for to saye. Þay hade wondir of þat wyghte, þe wyes, þat þere ware, And all wirchipede thi werke þat wente by þe waye. Line 160 By þe way þay þat went, Þay lefte landis & rent, With the for to wende; To no-thyng tuke þay tent. And sone sum of thaym repent Line 165 By fondyng of þe fende.

Þay ware cumbyrde in couetyse, þe cay|tefs had care For þaire kuaues ware cledde in clethyng full clene And þay hade no-thyng in hande as þay had hadde are And ware noghte haldene so myghty as þay hade are bene. Line 170 For-thi wroghte þou þaire will: of wandes þat ware Thow made golde full gude, and gafe þam, I wene; Smale stanes of þe see saynede þou þare: And þay warre saphirs, forsothe, — was nane swylke sene. Sene swylke was þare none Line 175 For fyne precyouse stone; The wandes, whene þou badde, Þay ware golde ylkone. Þou gafe thayme welthe mare wone Þan þay euer hadde. Line 180

Whene þay had welthe more wane þane þay euer bewanne, Þay wente home by þe waye — vnwysely þay wroghte. A ȝonge barne in þat burghe was dede ryghte thanne; Þat ilke body þat hym bare, to bale scho was broghte, His modir come murnande, with hir many manne; [Perry manande!] Line 185 To the made thay thayre mane — mele myghte thay noghte. And for thay grett so grysely, to grete þou byganne; To godd of his gudnes seþene þou be|soghte. Þou besoghte godd of myghte: Þane þe childe rase vpe ryghte, Line 190 And tolde þame full euene Þat lett by þi lare lyghte And couetede þe golde bryghte, How þay hadd loste heuene.

Than thay wepede and weryede þaire werke and þaire wyll, Line 195 Þat þay for welthe of þe werlde sulde wende vnto woo. Thow said: "will ȝe suffire sothely and still Seuene dayes penance?" and sonne said thay ȝoo. Thay tuke at thi techynge and traysted þar-tyll, Þay had forthynkyng in thoghte þat þay it fledde froo. Line 200 Þe precyouse stones, semly to see appone syll, And þe golde in thaire kynde a-gayne gune þay goo. Thay go agayne in degre [folio 233] As þaire kynde was, to bee Stones as þay ware; Line 205 The golde turnede to wandis free. Þane þat syghte fra thay see, Myse didd þay na-mare.

In þat cuntre was a clerke, knawene and kende: Þay callede hym Cratone þe cunande, thurghe owte clergy; Line 210 All þe lande and þat lede þat he gune in lende, With his lawes and his lare warre þay ledd by. Þat philosophir all þe folke faste he de|fende That thay suld noghte in thi faythe, Johne, þame affy; Þus merrede he þe mene þaire mysse for to mende, Line 215 And thurghe mawmetis he made mony a maystry. Thurgh thaym the he soghte, For the, Johne, forsothe he wroghte A puysone, to profe the; He saide: as he thoghte, Line 220 If it noyede the noghte, Þane walde he lufe the.

Bot þat puysone to profe, þat proud|deste in palle

Profirde it two presoners, was puneschede in pyne. Als faste als þay felyd it, downe dede gune þay falle — Line 225 So was it fell for to frayste, þe fylthe was so fyne. Bot þou sauede thayme alsone, seande thaym alle, And saynede þe coppe swetely and sup|pede it off syne: Thow hade no harme. þat behelde þat hendeste in hall And to the hâlly þay heledide, bathe he and his hyne. Line 230 His hyne holly and he Trewely trowede þare to þe, Become þare thi brothire. Þou saide to þat menȝe: "Luke þat ȝe lufande be, Line 235 Ilkone to oþer!"

Thou bade thaym be free to frayste in þaire fare, Faythefull and frendely till euerilk a fere. "What may þis mene? quod these mene, moue it vs mare: We hafe no mencyone ne mynde of þis matere." Line 240 "It es þe comma(n)dement of Criste þat I ȝow declare, To kepe it be connande all mankynde clere. [Perry commande.] Luke ȝe releue ilke a lede þat lykes ȝoure lare; To lufe ilk mane as ȝoure-selfe, this lessone ȝe lere! To lere nowe þis ryghte, Line 245 Gret godd of his myghte Graunte ȝow þe grace. And Jhesu, þat worthi wyghte, Helpe vs all to þat lyghte, For to see his face." Line 250

Wyse mene and witty þat of thi werkes wyste, Weled the for wo(r)thi wirchipe to welde: To be þaire beschope blethely þay bedde the, so blyste, For þou myghte in thaire bale beste be thaire belde; Thay menskede the with manhede, with mytir vnmyste, Line 255 And folowed thi fare freely, in firthe and in felde. Thus thow lyffede in the lande, whils oure lorde lyste; And whene hym lykede, he laghte the; thi gaste þou gune hym ȝelde. For to ȝelde the thi mede In heuene for thi gude dede, Line 260 Whene þou heþene paste, He was redy, we rede. To þat lyghte he vs lede, Þat euer-more sall laste. Amene.

Explicit.