Legends of the holy rood; Symbols of the passion and cross poems. In Old English of the eleventh, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries. Edited from Mss. in the British Museum and Bodleian Libraries, with introduction, translations, and glossarial index, by Richard Morris.

II.

Þ^E HOLY RODE. [Ashm. MS. Bodleian Lib. 43. [Collated with Harl. MS. 2277 (imperfect). ] ]

ÞE holi rode þe swete tre [treo.] ; riȝt is to habbe in munde [folio 63b] Þat haþ fram stronge deþ [deþe.] ibroȝt to lyue; al mankunde Þoru [þurf.] a [þulke.] tre [treo.] we [þat we.] were uerst uorlore [furst ibouȝt.] ; and uerst ibroȝt to grounde And þoru a tre seþþe to lyue [And siþþe þurf a treo to lyue.] ibroȝt· ihered be þulke stounde Line 4 Al [h]it com of one more; þat ous to deþe broȝte [brouȝte.] And þat ous broȝte [brouȝte.] to lyue aȝen [aȝe.] ; þoruȝ [þurf.] ihesus þat ous boȝte [bouȝte.] Of þe appeltre [Of þe treo.] þat our uerste [omitted.] fader; þen [þe.] luþer appel nom In þe manere þat ichulle [ich wole.] ȝou [ȝou nou.] telle; þe swete rode com Line 8 Þo adam our [þe.] uerste fader [man.] ; þe sunne [sinne.] hadde ido And idriue was out of parais; and eue is [his.] wif also After milse ȝerne [ȝurne.] hi cride; þei it [þeȝ hit.] late were Ane [MS. And, H. Ane.] bi-heste [he] hadde of our lord [louerd.] ; þo me him drof out þere Line 12 Þat [omitted.] wen [whan.] þe tyme were uolueld [fulfuld.] ; our lord [louerd.] him wolde biþenche And wiþ [mid.] oile of mylse smerie [smirie.] him; and his sunne [sinne.] quenche [aquenche.] Gret hope hadde to þis biheste; adam euermo [folio 64] In þe ualeie of ebron; he lyuede in tene and wo Line 16 Twei sone he hadde seþþe; caym and abel Þat on slouȝ þat oþer uor en-vie; as ȝe witeþ wel

Þo caym hadde his broþer aslawe; iflemd he was þeruore Þo adam isei þat he hadde; is twei sones uorlore Line 20 He wep and made deol Inouȝ; lord he sede þin ore Ney womman ichabbe to muche ibe; Inele com ney hire nammore Þre harmes ichabbe þoru hire iheued; my-sulf uerst uorlore And myne sones boþe alas; and of al womman is more Line 24 Nolde adam come þo ney is wif; two hondred ȝer ne more Vor wo þat he hadde uor hire; and euere he lyuede in sore Seþþe he hadde toknynge of our lord; þat he scholde to is wif wende Ne dorste he noȝt be þer aȝen; an sone he hadde aten|ende Line 28 Seth he let is name [n not quite clear.] nempne; and seþþe he hadde mo Al is lif þe seli mon; ladde in tene and wo Þo he was of nyne hondred ȝer; and two and þritti old Þe strengþe him failede of is lymes; is bodi bicom al cold Line 32 He ne miȝte noȝt swynke aboute þe erþe; þe wedus up to drawe Of is lif he was anuyd; he wilnede be of dawe He sat and carede of is lif; he clupede is sone seth Sone he sede icham weri ileued; ich wilny muche my deþ Line 36 Þo ich was idryue of parais; our lord bihet me þere To smere me wiþ þe oile of mylce; wen it tyme were So longe ichabbe abide þer-after; þat I ne may libbe nammore To parais þou most þer-after go; and bidde him mylce and ore Line 40

Line 40 Þe angel þou schalt þer Ifynde; þat drof me out at þe ȝate Say ich abide þulke biheste; me þencþ it comeþ to late And þat elde me haþ ouercome; þat I ne may libbe longe Bede him þat ich deie mote; and þe oile of mylce auonge [MS. auonde.] Line 44 Ine can nanne wei quaþ is sone; þuderward ich wene Leue sone quaþ adam; þe wei is wel i-sene Wen þou comst to þe ende of þis ualeie; a grene wei þou schalt wende Þat riȝt euene estward geþ; to parais last þe on ende Line 48 Þer-bi wende þi moder and ich; þo ich parais uor-let Euerich stepe þat we on stepe; uorbarnde under our uet Ne myȝte neuereft þer gras growe; and al þe oþer wei is grene For þe foule sunne þat we dude; our stapes worþ isene Line 52 Þer-by þou myȝt wiþþoute defaute; to parays euene gon [folio 64b] Seth nom is fader blessyng; and wende him uorþ anon Þe stapes he vond uorwelwed; as is fader him sede Þo he to þe ȝate com; he ne dorste go ner vor drede Line 56 An angel com sone to þe ȝate; and escte wat he soȝte He sede þat to him an ernde; fram his fader he broȝte Þat he was old and weri ilyued; and þat him longede sore After þe swete oyl of mylce; uor he ne myȝte libbe nammore Line 60 Ȝe quaþ þe angel is he so; he ne schal þer-of noȝt doute

Put In þin heued at þe ȝate; and stond þi-sulf wiþþoute He pulte In is heued as he bed; and bi-huld al aboute So murie ne þoȝte him neuer in no stude; þei he stode him-sulf wiþþoute Line 64 So gret delit he hadde and Ioie; of þe foules murie song Of þe swete med al-so; and of þe floures þer among Of ech maner frut þat he sei; þat smolde also swote Þat of ech maner vuel as him þoȝte; amon miȝte habbe þer-of bote Line 68 Him þoȝte ȝif he moste þere; biholde In eny stounde Euermo he myȝte In Ioie be; his lymes hol and sounde Amydde þe place þat was so uair; he sei an vaire welle Of wan alle þe wateres þat beþ anerþe comeþ; as þe þe bok deþ telle Line 72 Ouer þe welle stod a tre; wiþ bowes brode and lere [? sere.] Ac it ne bar noþer lef ne rynde; as it uorolded were A neddre it hadde biclupt aboute; al naked wiþþoȝte skynne Þat was þe tre and þe addre; þat made adam uerst do sunne Line 76 Efsone he bihuld In ate ȝate; þe tre him þoȝte he sei Vaire ileued and iwoxe; up to heuene an hei A ȝong child he sei up þe tre; in smale cloþes iwounde Þe more of [MS. of to.] þe tre him þoȝte tilde; þoru-out helle grounde Line 80 His broþer soule abel ek; him þoȝte In helle he sei Þe angel him drof þo fram þe ȝate; þat he nas nammore þer nei Þe child he sede þat þou iseiȝ; a noueward þe tre Godes sone it was þat wole anerþe; uor þine fader sunne be Line 84 And þe oile of milce wiþ him bringe; wen þe tyme Iuelle is And smere þer-wiþ and bringe of pyne; þi fader and alle his

Þe angel wende to þulke tre; an appel þer-of he nom And tok seth þer-of þre curneles; þo he to him com Line 88 And bed him þulke curneles legge; vnder is fader tonge And burie him wen he were ded; and loke wat þer-of spronge Seth wende aȝen as he com; uor þe wei was wel isene Vor þe stepes were al uorbrend; and þe oþer wei al grene [folio 65] Line 92 Þo he was hom aȝen [aȝe.] icome; his fader he fond ded Þe curneles he dude vnder is [his.] tonge [tunge.] ; as þe angel [þangel.] him hadde ised And seþþe [siþþe.] he burede him as riȝt was; in ualeie [þe val.] of ebron And of-swonke is owe [omitted.] mete [so in H., but read mede.] ; he nuste no betere iwon Line 96 Wiþþynne an [a.] vewe ȝer þer-after; þis curneles gonne [ups]pringe [vpspringe.] Þre [faire] ȝerden [þreo faire ȝurden.] þer woxe of [omitted.] ; vaire þoru alle þinge [fairest of alle þinge.] Þo hi were iwoxe to [omitted.] þe lengþe; of an elne [MS. helue.] ich wene In þulke stat hi stode longe; and euermore grene [andallegate faire and grene.] Line 100 Vorte moyses þe prophete; aboute eode [ȝeode.] in þe londe To lere þat folc of israel; [and] þo vond he þe ȝerdon stonde Lo her he sede [seide.] gret toknynge [tokning.] ; of þe holi trinyte Fader and sone and holi gost; of þis ȝerden þre Line 104 Vp he hem nom [Vp hi nome.] wiþ gret honur; and in auair [fair.] cloþ hem wond [hi wounde.] A swote smul þer com out of [þer-of.] ; þat smulde [smilde.] in-to al þat lond [londe.] Te confermy [þe] bet [þe bet.] is lawe; he ber [her bar.] hem uorþ in [on.] is hond Ech sikemon [sik man.] [þat] þerto hopede; is hele anon [sone.] he vond. Line 108 To teche þat folc þe riȝte [riȝt.] lawe; þe ȝerden aboute he ber

And eke to hele sikemen; two and fourti ȝer Seþþe he deie scholde [Siþþe þo scholde deye.] ; þe ȝerden he sette er Vnder þe hul of tabor; deide him sulf [silf.] þer Line 112 Þer stode þe ȝerden grene; mo þen [more þan.] a þousend ȝer Vorte Seint dauid þe kyng com; þat was of gret power So þat he was þoru þe holi gost; ihote vorte heie [hie.] To þe hul of tabor; in þe lond of arabie Line 116 Þat he þulke ȝerden þre [þreo ȝeorden.] ; vette and wiþ him nome Nye dawes [Neoȝe dayes.] he was þuderward; ar [er.] he þuder come Wiþ gret honur he nom hem up: þo he þe ȝerden vond [nom.] Þe suotnesse þat þer-of com; velde al þat lond Line 120 Wiþ gret melodie of is harpe; Seint dauid þe ȝerden nom [þe suotnesse .... ȝerden nom. These two lines are omitted in H.] And [omitted.] to ierusalem hem [he] ladde; and nyþe dai [þe neoȝeþe dai.] hom he com In a derne stude [In a durne stede.] he hem sette; uor it was in þe euen|ynge [þeueninge.] Vorte amorwe þat he iseie [iseȝ.] ; wuder [whoder.] he· myȝte hem bringe Line 124 A morwe þo he com þerto; to one hi were alle icome And Imored so uaste also [omitted.] ; þat hi ne miȝte awei be [i] nome [beo ynome.] Þat alle þre bicome [þreo come.] to on; wat [what.] bitokeneþ þis Bote þat [omitted.] fader and sone and holi gost; al o god it is Line 128 Seint dauid aboute þis holi ȝerde; a strong wal let rere [dude arere.] And nom gode ȝeme hou it woxe [hou long; hi were.] ; fram ȝere to ȝere [folio 65b] Þat he myȝte at[t]e laste iwete [wite.] ; hou old þat [þis.] tre were Wiþ a cercle of seluer he bond; ech ȝeres scute þere [H. omits line 132.] Line 132 So þat wiþþinne [in.] þritti ȝer; þis [þe.] tre wox [wax.] wel heie [heȝe.] Ac it [heo.] ne wox [wax.] nammore [nomore.] þer-after [afterward.] ; as hi wuste [H. omits as hi wuste.] bi þe [siluer] [from H.] beie Ac euer in on þer-after; swiþe vaire it stod [Ac euere afterward; faire ynou hit stod.] Seint dauid it honured [onurede.] wel; uor he wuste [þat] it was good [god.] Line 136

Line 136 Þo Seint dauid hadde ido; þe sunne of [off.] lecherie And manslauȝt þo [ffor.] he let sle; vor [ffor.] his owe wif vrie [wyff ffrie.] And our lord nom þer-of wreche gret; swiþe sori he bicom His penaunce he dude vnder þis tre; þat he þer-uore nom Line 140 Þer he made eke þen [makede ek þane.] sauter; his sunne [sinnes.] vorte bete Þe raþer [whatlikere.] it him was uorȝeue; uor þat [ffor þe] [holi] tre so [omitted.] swete Þo bigon [bigan.] he eke [ek.] uor is sunne; þe holi [olde.] temple to [omitted.] rere [arere.] Swiþe noble in ierusalem ac he deide [H. omits ac he deide.] ; in þe fourteþe [fourteoþe.] ȝere Line 144 Þe kyng salomon is sone; þat kyng was seþþe þere After him þe temple bulde; þat he ȝare were Two and þritti ȝer he was þer [H. omits þer.] -aboute; and is fader fourtene also So þat it was six and fourti [þritti.] ȝer; ar [er.] þat worke [work.] were ido Line 148 Þo þe [þat.] work was al-mest ido; hem [him.] vailed a vair tre Þat holi tre [þe holi treo.] was fairest þo; þat hi myȝte awer [owar.] ise Salomon it [hire.] let velle and hewe [hewe and fulle.] ; as queinteliche as he miȝte And let it mete and make [makie.] more bi a fot; þen is riȝte Line 152 And broȝte it [in]-to is riȝte stude [stede.] ; and lacy [legge.] wolde it þer Þo was it bi a [o.] fot to schort; [as euene] as hi mete it er Þe carpenters it let[e] [lete.] adoun; in strong [stronge.] wraþþe and grete To noþing þat hi it broȝte to; hi ne miȝte it make [makie.] Imete Line 156 A brugge ouer an olde [old.] dich; hi made [makede.] hit ate [atte.] laste Þo hi ne miȝte in þe temple; to non oþer worc it caste

Þer ouer eode [ȝeode.] mony [meni.] amon; þe wule [while.] it þer lay Nuste [noȝt] alle wat it was; þat defoulede it aday [aledai.] Line 160 Þe quene of saba com þeruorþ; and [omitted.] anon so heo it isei [iseȝ.] Honured[e] [Honurede.] it [wel] vaire and sat akne [akneo.] ; heo nolde come þerney [þerneȝ.] Bi anoþer wei heo wende uorþ; to salomon heo com As heo him hadde wide [ȝurne.] isoȝt; to lerny of is wisdom Line 164 Þoru grace þat our lord [louerd.] hire ȝef [ȝaf.] ; to salomon heo sede Þat þat [þe.] tre ne scholde noȝt ligge þer; ȝif [if.] he dude bi hire rede Vor þer scholde ȝut a mon; deie on [in.] þulke tre Þoru wam [wham.] al þe lawe of giwes; destrued scholde be Line 168 Salomon it let nyme sone; and vnder erþe [vrþe.] it caste Wel depe [deope.] [fur] fram alle men [MS. mem.] ; and burede [burie.] it swiþe [wel.] vaste [folio 66] So longe so it þer-after were [So þat longe þat þer after|ward.] ; a uair walle [welle.] þer sprong And a uair [water] seþþe wiþ god [MS. gret, H. god.] fisc; boþe dep [fisch gret.] and long Line 172 Mony [Meni.] sikemen þer [þat þer.] come; and hor vet wesche þere [here fet wette þere.] Oþer hoden [Here hon|den.] oþer baþede al; pur hol anon [hi] were Þat water hi honurde muche [moche.] ; and wolde þer-Inne wade Ac hi nuste noþing [noȝt.] of þe tre; þat al þe vertu made Line 176 Seþþe it was þer-after longe; þat our lord anerþe [an vrþe.] com And þat folc bispek [MS. bi|speke, H. bispac.] is deþ; and hor red [and here red.] þer-of nom Þis tre bigon to flete [fleote.] anon; as our lordes [louerdes.] wille was Þe giwes come and founde þat tre [fonde þe treo.] fletynge þer [omitted.] bi cas Line 180 Hi nome it vp uor it was vil; and ileie hadde þer longe And made [makede.] þer-of þe holi rode; our lord [þer] on to honge

And [For.] þe tre was vil and old; and to vili our lord also [to vyle oure louerd also.] And [omitted.] ȝut hem þoȝte þat [þe.] tre to vair; þat he were þer|on ido Line 184 Þe croys [croice.] after our lordes [louerdes.] deþ; vnder erþe hi caste Þer hi him to deþe dude; and burede it [omitted.] þere [wel.] vaste And [omitted.] boþe croys eke þer-wiþ; þat þe þeues henge [honge.] on er Þer hi leie ar [er.] hi were ifounde; mo þen an [tuo.] hondred ȝer Line 188 Þo [omitted.] titus and vaspasian; ierusalem nome And destruede [destreign ede.] alle þe giwes; þat neuereft þer hi ne come And al þat lond was ibroȝt; In þe emperours hond of rome And wiþ is men al biset; to nyme þer-to [þerof.] gome Line 192 Seþþe þer com an emperour; þat het adrian Swiþe heþene and luþer [liþer.] ek; and worrede [werrede.] ech cristene|man He wuste war þe rode lay; þat god was on ido And þat cristenemen þe [þat.] stude honured[e]; wenne [whan.] hi [miȝte] come þer-to Line 196 He let a temple of maumet'; in þulke stude arere Þat me ne vond noþing to loute [aloute.] to; bote maumet' þere Wenne [whan.] cristenemen miȝte þuder stele; hi ne dorste [þerste.] vor doute And ek aȝen hor [here.] herte [hurte.] it was; to eny maumet' aloute Line 200 Hi bileuede so al [omitted.] þulke stude; and muchedel uor fere So þat wiþþinne an [a.] vewe ȝer; no cristenmon [ne] com þere So þat þulke stude was; vor-lete [forȝute.] mony aday [meni odai.] Þat no cristenmon ne paynym [cristene man ne payn.] ; nuste war þe rode lay. Line 204

Line 204

A noble emperour þer com seþþe; þat het con|stantyn In batail he was so muche; þat þer nas of no fyn Seþþe com is fon and wonne; muchedel of is londe He ȝarkede aday is ost; aȝen hem vorte [for to.] stonde Line 208 As he toward batail [bataille.] wende; he bihuld up an hei [folio 66b] Him þoȝte þat a uair croys [croice.] ; up in heuene he sei [seȝ.] Lettres he sei [seȝ.] þer-on iwrite; he bigon hem [he hem bigan.] to rede Wiþ [þurf.] þes [þis.] signe þou schalt; maister be þulke [þuse.] lettres sede Line 212 . . . . . . . . . . . . Þe emperour þis vnderstod; þei he heþene were A croys [Ane croice.] he let make [makie.] sone; þat is men byuore [tofore.] him bere Line 216 In stude [stede.] of is [a.] baner; to batail [bataille.] he wende a-non And þoru [þurf.] vertu of þe holi croys; he ouercom is fon And þe maistrie and al is lond won [wan.] ; In a [lute] stounde þere Muche afterward [after.] he þoȝte [soȝte.] seþþe; wat þulke signe were Line 220 Þe wisost[e] [wiseste.] men of [al] is lond; biuore him he let bringe And enquered[e] [enquerede.] of þe croys; wat were þe toknynge Hi sede þat at ierusalem; god was [i]do [ido.] on rode And þat þe giwes hudde þat [þulke.] crois; as hi vnder|stode Line 224 Wen [whan.] ichabbe [ich haue.] þer þoru [H. omits þer þoru.] quaþ þe emperour; myn fon [mi fon.] ibroȝt to grounde Ne worþ [worde.] ich neuer bliþe in [of.] herte; ar [er.] þe holi crois be ifounde . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eleyne þat is moder was; to ierusalem he sende To seche after þe holi crois; and heo gladliche vorþ wende Þo heo com þuder heo let crie; as heo hadde hire red Inome Þat alle þe giwes of þe cite; biuore hire scholde come Line 236 Þo þe giwes i-somned were; hi [hadde] schor[t]liche gret [hi hadde schortliche grete.] fere Gret conseil hi nome þer-of; wat þe encheson were Þo sede on þat het Iudas; ich wene þat ich wot. Wat þis somounce amounty [amounten.] schal; ȝif ich [hit] telli [telle.] mot Line 240 Ich wene þe quene enqueri wole; as heo haþ iþoȝt After þe rode þat ihesu crist; was on to deþe ibroȝt Þat non of ȝou be so wod; þer-of iknowe be [þat non of ȝou ne beo iknowe; ne so wod ne beo.] ; Icholle [Ich wole.] ȝou telle (ȝou) in conseil; wat my fader tolde me Line 244 Þo my fader Symeon; in is deþ vuel lay In conseil he was to me iknowe; þo he þen [þane.] deþ isai Iudas he sede leue sone; ȝif it bitideþ so Þat me enqueri of þe rode; þat god was on ido Line 248 Loke þat þou be iknowe þer-of; raþer þen me þe quelle Þat sachee my fader tolde me; in conseil ichulle þe [ich þe.] telle He sede me a lute biuore is deþ; þat he was ate [atte.] dede To burie in caluarie hul; þe rode þoru comun rede Line 252 Leue [Leoue.] fader ich [he.] sede þo; wat eiled [eileþ.] ȝou alas Wi wolde ȝe him to deþe do; wen he god was He sede þoru me nas [nis.] it noȝt; ac vor he wiþ sede

Myne [Mi.] felawes of hor lawe; hi him broȝte to deþe [oure lawe; dude him þe dede.] Line 256 Seþþe hi dude him in[to] sepulcre; ac he aros to lyue Fram deþe þen [þe.] þridde dai; myd is wounden [wonden.] viue [folio 67] Þen [þe.] fourteþe dai þer afterward; to heuene he wende an hei In þe lond of gallile; as al þat folc isei Line 260 Twel[f] monþe [Tuelf monþ.] it was þer afterward [þerafter.] ; and half ȝer [monȝ.] and more Þat steuene þat was my broþer; preched[e] of godes lore [prechede his lore.] Our [Oure.] giwes him ladde wiþþoute [þe] toun; and henede [stenden.] him wiþ stones And to stronge [deþe] him broȝte Inouȝ; and debrusede [brusden.] al is bones Line 264 Þe morwe after mydwynter dai; to deþe [after þe Midewynter; to deþe.] hi him broȝte And nou he is in [þe] Ioie of heuene; þat he þo aboȝte Þo Iudas hadde þis tale itold; þe giwes sede as hi stode Telle ne hurde we neuer er; þus [so.] muche of þe rode Line 268 Þo þe tyme was icome; biuore þe quene hi come Cheseþ [Cheoseþ.] anon quaþ þe quene; on of þis twei dome Lif and deþ ȝou is biuore; cheseþ weþer ȝe [ȝeo.] wolleþ Bote ȝe me fynde þe suete [holie.] rode; brenne echone [ȝe] scholleþ Line 272 Gret fur heo let make; biuore [tofore.] hor alre eie [eȝe.] Þe giwes bigonne to crie [grede.] loude; þo hi þat fur iseie Ȝif eny mon wot þer-of hi sede; þanne wot Iudas Vor sachee is fader fader; of gret power was Line 276 Þulke tyme þat ihesus was; on þe rode ido Þe quene let nyme þo Iudas; and alle þe oþer [and alle þoþere go.] lette go And bed [bad.] him be iknowe anon; he nolde uor none [no.] þinge

Þe quene him lette wel uaste bynde; and in strong prison bringe [let in strenge bringe; and wel faste bynde.] Þer wiþþoute mete and drinke; seue dawes he lay Vor hongur he bigon to crie; wel loude þen seueþe [þe soueþe.] dai And sede bringeþ me of þis wo; and ichulle ȝou lede Þer ich wene þe rode be [beo.] ; as my fader me sede Line 284 Þo he out of prison com; myd muche folc he wende To þe place as [þer.] þe rode was; as is fader him kende Þo he to þe place com; he sat adoun akne Lord he sede ȝif it is soþ [Louerd he seide if hit beo soþ.] ; þat þou [þu.] god and man be Line 288 And þat þou [of marie] were ibore; send ous here þin [þi.] grace And toknynge þat we fynde mote; þe rode In þisse [þis.] place Anon so Iudas hadde þis bone; to our lord ibede [Anon so Iudas hadde; to oure louerd his bone ibede.] Þe hul bigon to quake; and out of one stede Line 292 Þer sprong [smot.] out a smoke and wende an hei; and muche place fulde Suettere smul ne myȝte be; þen þe smoke smulde Þo Iudas þis isei; loude he gan crie Ihesus is one [omitted.] al-miȝti god; ibore of maide marie Line 296 Wod is þat bileueþ oþer; as ichabbe mony a-day [meni o day.] [folio 67b] Take ichulle to cristendom; and uor-sake þe [omitted.] giwes lay He let him cristeny hasteliche; and þo he icristned was And let him nempne [nemny.] quiriac; þat er het Iudas Line 300 Þo nome hi spade and schole [schoule.] ; and ner þe place wende Depe [Deope.] hi gonne to delue; þer as þe smoke out [vp.] kende [wende.] So þat hi founden roden þre; þo hi hadde idolue longe Our lordes rode and þe [omitted.] oþer two; þat þe þeues were on an-honge Line 304 Biside our lord him to scende; þo nuste hi of þe þre [Biside oure louerdes croice hi gonnen hi fynde; þo nusten hi of þe þreo.]

Þat [þe.] holi croys þat hi soȝte; wuch [which.] it myȝte be And [Ac.] naþeles hi nome alle þre; and toward toune bere To eleyne þe gode quene; wiþ wel glade [gode.] chere Line 308 Bi þe wei ate [atte.] heie non [none.] ; me gan aȝen hem [him.] bringe A ded [ȝung] man vp an bere [in a bere.] ; toward buriynge Quiriac nom þe one [nom þat o Rode.] rode; and ef[t]sone þe oþer And leide vp [vpe.] þis dedeman; ac he ne aros vor noþer Line 312 Hi leide þe þridde him upon; and he aros wel blyue And bigan to þonky godes sone; þat broȝte him fram deþ [deþe.] to lyue Þo com þe deuel ȝollynge [ȝullinge.] uorþ; [and] loude he gan [loude gan to.] grede Alas nou is my myȝte ido; euermo [for euere.] he sede Line 316 Ihesus ihesus wat þencstou; al [alle.] folc to þe lede Þou hast her in-warde iȝeue man; þing [þu hast her a man iȝeue; þing.] þat ich mest of|drede [drede.] Þoru wan [wham.] ich was verst ouercome; and nou icham al [ibrouȝt] to grounde Alas þulke sori wule [while.] ; þat it [he.] was euer ifounde Line 320 Vor Inabbe power non so gret; anerþe among manne Ȝif hi makeþ þe fourme of þe croys; þat Ine mot anon þanne Þer-uore ichot [ich wot.] þat ech man; wole nou þat soþe ise Þat þe croys me haþ [makeþ.] ouercome; and al bileue me Line 324 Alas alas þis [þisne.] tyme; nou ich worþ [al] vor-sake Iudas Iudas wat was þe; wi wostou þus on [on so.] take Þoru þat [þurf on þat.] Iudas was ihote; ihesus to deþe ich broȝte And þoru Iudas icham [ich was.] ouercome; and ibroȝt to noȝte Line 328 Me ne tid [tit.] neuereft [neuere.] strencþe [strenȝe.] non; bote eny mon wole [omitted.] wiþ [bi.] wille Seruy [Suy.] me to paie is flesc; is soule vorte spille [originally spulle but altered to spille.]

Wen [Whan.] my strengþe is me bynome; vondi ich mot [mid] gynne And myd treson ȝif ich may; eny man to me wynne [eni soule awynne.] Line 332 I ne may her no leng bileue; vor þat [þis.] me þencheþ longe Vor þat [þe.] croys þat is me so [omitted.] ney; In pyne icham wel [ful.] stronge Go henne [hunne.] anon quaþ Iudas; ne com her neuereft more [com þu her nomore.] I-founde it is þei it late be; þat ouercome haþ al [ouercomeþ al.] þi lore [folio 68] Line 336 He þat her þis dede man; fram deþe broȝte to lyue Pulte þe [her] wiþ is power; In-to helle grounde blyue Muche was þat [þe.] Ioie of þe crois; þat [men] made [makede.] þo þere Wiþ gret song and procession; þe quene hi it [his.] bere Line 340 Iudas nom þo cristendom; and þo he ibaptised was He let him nempne [nemni.] quiriac; þat er [erst.] het Iudas Þe quene of seluer and [of] gold; an [a.] riche scryne wroȝte And [omitted.] of ȝymmes presiouse [preciouses.] ; and þe rode þer-on broȝte Line 344 Vp [Vpe.] þe hul of caluary; þer hi þe rode founde A noble chirche heo let rere; ihered be þulke [þe.] stounde Þo desired[e] [desirede.] þe quene muche; after þe nailes þre War-wiþ our lord was; Inailed to þe tre Line 348 Quiriac þat het er Iudas; wende [ȝeode.] to þe place As þe crois ifounde was; and bad our lordes grace Þat he ȝif is wille were; þe þre nailes him sende Þe nailes wiþ gret liȝtinge; out of þe erþe wende Line 352 Quiriac þonkede oure lord crist; wiþ gret Ioie he is [hem.] nom And tok hem eleyne þe gode quene; þo he to hire com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Þe Holi rode was [þat was.] ifounde; as ȝe witeþ [wite.] in may And [omitted.] an-hansed was [heo.] in septembre; þe holi rode day Line 364 Mony [Meni.] aȝer was [was hit.] bitwene; riȝt is þat we [me.] telle Of eiþer feste after oþer [Of hire festen as hi falleþ.] ; nouþer bileue I nelle A kyng þer was in perce þo [omitted.] ; cosdroe was is name Cristemen þat [Of cristene men al þat.] he fond; he broȝte alle [omitted.] to schame Line 368 Wiþ his power he won [wan.] also; alle þe londes [al þat lond.] þer aboute Þo he com to ierusalem; of þe sepulcre he was in doute Þat our lord [louerd.] was on [þeron.] ileid; anon so he þis isei [hit iseȝ.] Vor al is power þat was so luþer [liþer.] ; he ne dorste [þerste.] come þer nei [þer neȝ.] Line 372 Ac [omitted.] a partie of þe suete croys; þat Sainte Eleine þeder [þider.] broȝte He tok wiþ him [omitted.] and wende aȝen; nammore þuder [aȝe; no|more þider.] he ne þoȝte Of þulke tre he was wel [omitted.] prout; þei he [omitted.] him-sulf luþer [liþer.] were A swiþe hei tour of gold and seluer; he let him sone rere [silf arere.] Line 376 Ȝymmes and stones presious [preciouses.] ; þer-aboute he let do Þe fourme of sonne and mone; and of [omitted.] sterres [þe sterren.] also Scyne as it hem-sulf were; and turne [turnde.] aboute vaste As þondring [a þundre.] he made [makede.] eke ofte; þat muche folc [meni men.] agaste Line 380 Þoru [þurf.] smale holes myd queyntise; þat water ofte [þat folc iseȝ ofte.] þere He made [makede.] valle adoun to grounde; riȝt as it reyn were As veruorþ as couþe eny man; make [makie.] myd queyntise [folio 68b]

Þe fourme as it an heuene were; he made [makede.] on [in.] alle wise Line 384 Wende aboute myd [bi.] queyntise; and as reyn ofte reyne [gan ryne.] Ac me suth wel selde luþer prute [me seoþ selþe prute.] ; come to gode [MS. godes.] fine Anouewar is [þe.] tour amydde al þis; is [a.] sege he let rere In is riȝt half he made an sege; is on sone he sette þere [H. omits this line.] Line 388 To sitte him-sulf as [on.] a god; in heuene as þei it were As it were in stude of godes sone; þat non defaute nere [H. omits this line.] In is lifthalf he made [sette.] anoþer; a uair cok he let vette [to him me fette.] In [As in þe.] stude of þe holi gost; in is lifthalf bi him [lifthalf me.] sette Line 392 And [He.] sat him-sulf al amyde; þe fader as þei it were And sone and holi gost biside; gret [moche.] prute was þere Nou was þis a wonder [maister.] hyne; and a wonder god also And [Ac.] euer me þencþ he was abast [hit was a bastard.] ; and also [þat.] him com to Line 396 Eraclius þe emperour þat cristene was of [at.] rome Of þis mysuarynge prute; hurde [he hurde.] telle ilome Wiþ is ost he wende in-to is lond; and worrede [werrede.] on him uaste In is heuene he [omitted.] sat as a god; þat noþing him ne agaste Line 400 So þat is eldest [vlþeste.] sone; he het wende [omitted.] ate laste Aȝen þe emperour wiþ [and.] is ost; and of [out of.] þe lond him caste Vor him ne dedeyned [deignede.] noȝt vor him [H. omits vor him.] ; of is heuene ene [omitted.] aliȝte Nammore [No more.] þen it were a god; wiþ erþliche men [mid an vrþlich man.] to fiȝte Line 404 His oþer [omitted.] sone wiþ [mid.] is ost: aȝen þe emperour wende [forþ wende.] Þo hi toward þe [omitted.] batail come; hor eiþer to oþer sende Þat hi bitwene hem-sulue two; þe [þat.] batail scholde do And al hor ost [þost al.] stonde and biholde; and none [þat noman ne.] come þerto Line 408 And weþer of hem aboue [wheder aboue oþer.] were; habbe scholde þe myȝte Of oþeres men and al is lond; after [and after.] is wille diȝte [hit diȝte.] Þo þis vorward ymad was [was ymaked.] ; harde [to-gadre.] hi smyte to grounde

And foȝte as it was hor riȝte; and made [makede.] harde wounde Line 412 Ate [and atte.] laste þe emperour; þen oþer ouercom And as vorward was al is folc; in is baundone nom And let hem cristny echon [euerechon.] ; and siwy after his [suy him to.] wille And þis luþer kyng sat euer atom; in is heuene wel [omitted.] stille Line 416 As a [omitted.] god and nuste noȝt; þat he was byneþe ibroȝt And so vuele his men him louede; þat hi ne warnde [tolde.] him noȝt Þis emperour him wende vorþ; in-to [to.] þis heuene an hei He [and.] vond him sitte as a god; his sone him sat wel ney [and his sone him neȝ.] Line 420 Heil be þou he sede þou [H. omits he sede þou.] false god; in þin false heuene ifounde Nym þin sone and þin holi gost; vor ȝe beþ ney [beoþ neȝ.] aswounde Bi him þat þou þe makest [makedest.] after; þat þolede uor ous [þolede harde.] wounde [folio 69] Bote þou wole on him bileue; þou schalt [her] in astounde Line 424 Of myn hond [myne honden.] þolie deþ; and þi prute be ibrouȝte to grounde Vor al þin heuene Inele bileue; ne [omitted.] uor mark ne pounde Nai sertes quaþ þis oþer; þou ne schalt me [noȝt] so lere Þat ichulle abuye [ich wole abowe.] to eny man; bote he herre [bote. heȝere.] þen ich were Line 428 Þe emperour drou out is swerd; and smot of is heued riȝt þere His ȝonge sone þat sat him bi; þat was in is teþe [teoþe.] ȝere He let him [omitted.] cristny and make [makie.] kyng; of al is fader lond His men he ȝef al þat seluer clanliche; þat he þer uond Line 432 Myd þe gold and myd þe seluer; þat he vond also þere Þe chirchen þat þe oþer hadde destrued; þer-wiþ he let rere And made alond [makede þat lond.] þer [omitted.] wel bileued; and libbe in [bileoued; al in.] godes lawe Alle þat nolde turne to god [on god bileoue.] ; he [hi.] broȝte sone of dawe Line 436

Line 436 Þe holi crois [Rode.] þat he vond þere; þat god was on ido Adoun he nom wiþ gret honur; and ladde wiþ him also To þe boruȝ [burgh.] of ierusalem; and þo he com þer biside Vp þe hul of olyuet; an stounde he gan abide Line 440 Al þat folc aboute him com; wiþ gret honur myd alle And þonkede god of þat [omitted.] cas; þat hem dude [him was.] þer biualle Þat þe swete holi crois; aȝen [aȝe.] moste come Þat þe luþer kyng cosdroe; hem hadde er bynome Line 444 Þe emperour wende adoun þe hul [wende þo anon.] wiþ vair procession Þen [þane.] wei þat our lord wende; toward is [þe.] passion Þo he com to þe boruȝ [burȝ.] ; and wolde In ate ȝate A uair miracle our lord [louerd.] sende; þat he ne moste com In [er he cam.] þer-ate Line 448 Vor þe stones þat were þer [þer were.] aboue: adoun anon aliȝte And bi þe wal stode euene uorþ [bi þoþer wal stod þerforþ.] ; þat nomon In ne miȝte Sori was þis emperour; and al is [and þis.] folc also And dradde þat hi vnworþe [vnworþi.] were; such holi þing to do Line 452 Þer was wop and cri [deol.] Inouȝ; on god þat he hem sende Som grace ȝif is wille were; þat hi saueliche In wende Þo [þer.] stod an angel ouer [aboue.] þe ȝate; a crois he huld an honde Sire emperour he sede þulke tyme; þat our lord [louerd.] was her alonde Line 456 Þo he com In at þis ȝate; to be to deþe ido Vp an [vpon a.] seli asse he rod; and [omitted.] in feble cloþes also He ne com [com in.] wiþ no gret nobleie; so [omitted.] as þou dost nou Wiþ riche cloþes ne oþer prute; þei he were as hei as þou Line 460 Mid þis word he wende aȝen þis emperour [aȝe; þemperour.] anon And liȝte adoun and alle is cloþes; caste of euerichon Anon to is scerte and [schurte and to.] is breche; sore wepynde wiþ [mid.] alle [folio 69b] Þe stones arise vp aȝen [aȝe.] ; þat were adoun Iualle Line 464 And lie [eye.] euerich in is riȝte stude; as hi hadde er ido And þe ȝat up as it was er; þe wei clene also

Þe emperour þe swete rode nom [nom þe swete Rode.] ; and al auote [afote.] In bar Þat folc siwede him wiþ gret prece [prute.] ; gret Ioie and blisse [H. omits and blisse.] was þar Line 468 Anon þer com so suote smul [swet smyl.] ; as it fram heuene were Þat al þat contreie [þe contray aboute.] fulde; and alle þat stode [al þe stede.] þere Þe emperour ber þat [bar þe.] croys; in-to þe temple an hei He gan synge þis nywe [þisne nue.] song; byuore [tofore.] alle þat were þer ney Line 472 Þou croys briȝtore to þis wordle [MS. worldle.] ; þen alle þe sterren be [beo.] Þou art to honouri to þis men; and awel to louye tre [to luye treo.] . Holier þen alle [þan eni.] þing; þou one worþi were Þat þou þe frut [tresour.] of al [omitted.] þe wordl; al one vp þe [þu.] bere Line 476 Þou suete tre þat bere on þe; þe suete nayles þre [also.] And þe suete berþene [burdoun.] of godes sone; þat was ido on þe [on þe was ido.] Saue nou al þis companye; þat igadered her [her igadered.] is And here to-gadere to-dai [to dai to gadere.] ibroȝt; in þin herynge iwis Line 480 Þis song song þe emperour; þat wel [omitted.] is ȝut vnderstonde Vor ȝut me it syngeþ in holi chirche; wen [whan.] me bereþ þe crois an honde Þat [and þat.] folc honoured ek þe crois; as me [hi.] myȝte come þerto Wiþ offring and eke [omitted.] wiþ song; and wiþ oþer melodie also Line 484 Þis was þe holi rode day; þat in septembre is Þeruore me halweþ ȝut þen [halþ þane.] dai: in holi chirche iwis:

SEyn quiriac þat biscop was; prechede godes lawe [folio 71] Iulian þe luþer emperour; broȝte him of lif dawe [him siþþe of dawe.] Line 488 Vor þe suete rode þat he fond; and uor [for he.] men þat [omitted.] þerto drouȝ To bileue men [omitted.] on ihesu crist; uor he it huld al wouȝ Seint quiriac was þo biuore þe emperour ibroȝt He het him bileue on hor maumet' [here Maumetȝ.] ; and þo [omitted.] he nolde noȝt Line 492 His riȝt hond he smot [let smyte.] of verst; ich do he sede þis Vor [For þu.] hast ofte iwrite þer-wiþ; aȝen our lawe iwis Þou gidi [wode.] hound quaþ Seint quiriac; wel hastou do bi me [ido me.] Of a good þoȝt [ane gode dede.] þou were wel vnderstonde; wel auȝte ich blesse þe Line 496 Vor bynome is me [bynyme me.] þulke lyme; þat me haþ ofte to sunne idrawe Vor ichabbe [ich haue.] ofte iwrite [omitted.] þer-wiþ; aȝen ihesu cristes lawe Þe wule [while.] ich was a luþer [liþer.] giw; and on him ne bileuede noȝt Þo þis emperour isei [þo þemperour. þis iseȝ.] ; þat he nolde [nolde noȝt.] turne is þoȝt Line 500 He made him drynke led iweld; and In is mouþ halde [hulde.] it þere Euer sat þis gode mon; as him noþing nere Vp a gredire hi [gredil he.] leide him seþþe; ouer [vpe.] a gret fur and strong To rosti as me deþ versc [fersch.] flesc; grece was þer among Line 504 Vor [For þo.] þat fur was al of grece [al afure.] ; and col [gresse.] and salt was ek þerto And of is flesc þat was vorbarnd [forbrend.] ; þe wounden hi selte [hi silte þe wounde.] also Þo [omitted.] he [Hi.] ne miȝte þer-wiþ turne is þoȝt; ne to deþe him bringe He [Hi.] þoȝte ȝif he [if hi.] miȝte him turne; wiþ eny oþer gynne [omitted.] þinge Line 508 Quiriac he sede biþench þe bet; and do after my lore And ȝif þou nelt honure our godes [nelt god honure.] ; bote þou wolle do more

Þei [Sai.] þat þou nart cristene noȝt [cristine nert noȝt.] ; and ichulle [ich wole.] de-boner be And Murilif [þe murie lyf þat.] þou schalt lede; and þat þou schalt ise Line 512 Þe gode mon nolde do after him þo [nolde after him do.] ; a caudron he let fulle Wiþ seþing oile vol Inouȝ; and let him þer-Inne pulle [þeron pulte.] Þer-Inne he seþ þen [þe,] godemon; vorte he weri was Þe godemon herede our lord crist [Eure crist herede þe gode man.] ; and noþe [neuere þe.] worse he [him.] nas Line 516 So þat þe emperour isei; þat he ne miȝte him ouer|come Wiþ a swerd he smot him þoru þe herte [þurf þe side.] ; þo [and þo.] he was out Inome And is soule to heuene wende; after þis tormentynge [folio 71b] God uor þe loue of Seint quiriac; to þulke Joie ous bringe. Line 520

II.

HOU ÞE HOLY CROS WAS Y-FOUNDE. [Vernon MS. Bodleian Lib.] [The Title is taken from the Index.]

ÞE holy Rode, þe swete treo· riht is to hauen in muynde, [folio 28b:2] Þat haþ from strong deþ i-brouht· to lyue al Monkuynde, Þorwh a treo we weore for-lore· and furst i-brouht to grounde, Þorwh a treo seþþe to liue i-brouȝt· I-heried beo þulke stounde! Line 4 Al hit com of one More· þat vs to deþe brouȝte, And þat vs· to lyue aȝein· þorwh Ihesus þat vs bouȝte; Of þe treo· þat vre furste Fader· þe luþer Appel of nom·, In þe Maner· þat ich ow telle wole· þe swete Rode com: Line 8 ¶ Þo Adam vre furste Fader· þe sunne hedde i-do And i-driue out of Paradis·, and his wyf also, After Milce wel ȝeorne he criede·, þeiȝ hit late were; A bi-heste he hedde of vr lord·, þo me him drof out þere, Line 12 Þat whon þe tyme weore folfuld· vr lord him wolde bi|þenche, And mid Oyle of merci smere him· and his sunnes quenche: Gret hope hedde Adam· to þis bi-heste euer-mo: In þe valeye of Ebron· he liuede mid teone and wo: Line 16 Twey soncs he hedde seþþe·, Caym· and Abel: For Envye· þat on slouȝ þat oþur·, And þat ȝe witeþ wel:

Þo Caym hedde his broþur i-slawe· i-flemed he was þer|fore: Þo Adam sayȝ þat he hedde· boþe his sones for-lore Line 20 He wep and made deol i-nouh·: "lord," he seide "þin ore! Neih wommon ichaue to muche i-beo·, I nule come neih hire no more! Þreo harmes ichabbe for hire i-had·, my self furst for|lore, And nou my sones, welawey!· of Al. wommon is more": Line 24 ¶ Þo nolde Adam come neih his wyf· two hundred ȝer and more, For wo þat he hedde i-had·, and euere he lyuede in sore: From vr lord toknynge he hedde seþþe· þat he scholde to his wyf wende: Ne dorste he not beo þer a-ȝeyn·: A child he hedde atte ende, Line 28 Seth; he let his nome nempne·, and seþþen heo hedden mo: Al his lyf þis seli mon· liuede in teone and wo: ¶ Þo he was of Nyne hundred ȝer·, and two and þritti old, His strengþe faylede of his Limes·, his bodi bi-com al cold; Line 32 Mihte he not aboute þe eorþe swynke·, ne þe weodes vp to drawe; Of his lyf he was a-nuyȝed· he wilnede to ben of dawe: He sat· and Carede of his lyf·: he clepte his sone Seth: [folio 29:1] "Leoue sone· icham weri of-liued·, ich wilne aftur my deþ: Line 36 Þo ich was i-driuen out of paradys·, vr lord bi-het me þere Wiþ Oyle of Milce smere me· whonne hit tyme were; So longe ichabbe þer-aftur a-bide· þat ich may libbe no more: To Paradys þow most þer-after go· and cr en him Milce and ore; Line 40

Line 40 Þe Aungel þou schalt þere fynde· þat drof me out atte ȝate: Sey þat ich a-byde þat ilke bi-heste·, ac hit comeþ wel late, And þat Elde me haþ ouercome· þat i ne may libbe not longe; Bidde him þat ich dye mote· and þe Oyle of Milce a|fonge": Line 44 ¶ "I· con no wey," quaþ his sone, "þiderward þauh ich wene": "Leue sone," quaþ Adam þo·, "þe wei is wel i-sene, Whon þou comest to þe hed of þis valeye·, a grene wey þou schalt fynde, Þat geþ as euene as he may· to paradys þe on ende; Line 48 Þer biȝonde þi Modur and ich·, þo we Paradys forleete, Euerich stude· þat we on stepten· for brende al wiþ vre fete; Ne mihte neuer eft· gras þer-on grouwe·, and al þe oþur wey is grene, For þe foule sunne þat we duden· vr fet-steppes beoþ euer sene; Line 52 Þerbi þou miht wiþ-oute defaute· to Paradys euene gon·": Seth; nom his fadur blessynge·, and þe wey þiderward nom; Þe steppes he fond ful wel i-wered· as his fader him sede: Þo he to þe ȝate com· he dorste go no ner· for drede·: Line 56 ¶ An Angel þer com sone to þe ȝate· and asked what he souhte: He seide· a tiþinge to him· from his fader he brouhte, Þat he was Old· and weri of-liued·, and þat he was alonged sore After þe Oyle of Milce·, þat him was bi-hote·, for he miȝte libbe no more: Line 60 ¶ "Ȝe," quaþ þe Angel, "is he so·? he ne schal þer-of nout doute:

Pult in þyn hed· here atte ȝate·, and stond þi-self wiþ-oute": He pult[e] in his hed·, as he bad·, and bi-heold al aboute; So murie þouȝte him neuere in no stude·; þeiȝ his bodi weore wiþ-oute, Line 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ¶ Him þhouȝte· ȝif he moste þere· bi-holden eny stounde, Euermore he mihte in ioye libbe·, in limes hol and sounde·: ¶ Amidde þe place· þat was so feir· he sauh a feir welle, Of whom alle þe watres on eorþe comeþ·, as þe Bok vs deeþ telle; Line 72 Ouer þe welle stod a treo·, wiþ bowes brode and lere [? sere.] , Ac hit ne bar. Lef· ne Rynde·, bote as hit for-Oldet were; A· Neddre hit hedde bi-clupt a-boute·, al naket wiþ-outen skynne; Þat was þe treo· and þe Neddre· þat furst made Adam do synne: Line 76 He bi-heold eft sone in atte ȝate·, þat treo eft sone he seih, Swiþe feir hed· and i-woxen· vp to heuene an heih; A-nowarde he sayh· a ȝong smal child·, in smale cloþes i-wounde: Þe Roote of þe treo him þhouȝte tilde· a-doun to helle grounde; Line 80 Abeles soule his broþur also· him þhouȝte in helle he seih; Þo drof þe Angel· him from þe ȝate· þat he no more ne seih: ¶ "Þe child," quaþ þe Angel·, "þat þou seȝe· anouwarde on þe treo, Þat was Godus sone· þat wolde on eorþe· for þi fader sunnes beo, Line 84 And þe Oyle of Milce bringe mid him· whon þe tyme i-fuld is To smere þer-wiþ· and bringen of peyne· þi fader and alle his":

¶ Þo wende þe Angel· to þulke treo·, an Appel þer-of he nom; Þreo Curnels he tok him þer-of seþþe·, þo he to him com, Line 88 And bad him þulke Curnels· legge vndur his fader tonge Whon he weore ded· and i-buried·, to loke what þer-of spronge: ¶ Seth· wende a-ȝeyn as he com·, þe wey was wel y-sene, For þe stappes weore· al for-brend·, and þe oþur wey al grene: Line 92 Þo he was hom a-ȝein i-come· his fader he fond ded; He dude þe Curnels vndur his tonge·, as þe Angel him bed, And seþþe buriede him, as riht was·, in þe Vaal of Ebron, And bi-swonk his owne mede·, þo he nuste non oþer whon: Line 96 ¶ Wiþ-Inne a fewe ȝer þeraftur· þis Curnels bi-gonne to springe; Þreo smale ȝerden þer woxen·, feire þorwh alle þinge; Þo heo weoren i-woxen to þe lengþe· of an Elne, ich wene, In þulke stat heo stoden longe· and euere-more grene, Line 100 ¶ Forte Moyses þe prophete· eode her in þis londe To leren þe folk of I[s]rael·, and he fond þe ȝerden stonde: "Lo her," he seide, "gret toknynge· of þe holy Trinite, Of Fader· and Sone· and Holigost·: of þeose ȝerden þre": Line 104 Vp he hem nom· wiþ gret honour·, in feir cloþ he hem wond; A· swote smel· þer com a-non out of·, þat smelde in-to al þat lond: To Confermen bet his lawe· he bar hem forþ in his hond; Vche seek mon· þat þer-to hopede· his hele a-non he fond: Line 108 To teche þat folk þe rihte lawe· þe ȝerden wiþ him he beer,

And helede þer-wiþ seke Men·, two and Fourti ȝeer·: ¶ Seþþe þo he dyen scholde· þe ȝerden he sette er Vndur þe Hul of Tabor·, and dyede him-self þer: Line 112 Þo stoden þe ȝerden grene· More þen A þousund ȝeer Forte seint Dauid· þe kyng com· þat was of gret pouweer, So þat he was·, þorwh þe holigost·, i-hote forte heiȝe To þe Hul of Tabor·, in þe lond of Arabye; Line 116 Þat he þulke ȝerden fette· and heom wiþ him nome: Nyne dayes· he was þiderward· er he þider come: Wiþ gret honour he nom hem vp·, þo he þe ȝerden fond: [folio 29:2] Þe swotnesse þat þer-of com· fulde al þat lond: Line 120 Wiþ gret Melodye of his Harpe· seint Dauid þe ȝerden nom, And heom hom to Jerusalem· þe Niþe day hom he com; In a priue stude he hem sette·, þo hit was in þe Euen|ynge Forte a Morwe þat he seȝe· whodere he hem miȝte bringe; Line 124 A Morwe· þo he com hem to· to one ȝerde heo weren alle i-come, And i-Mored also faste· þat heo ne mihte ben a-wey i-nome; ¶ Þo heo weoren alle· to on by-come· what bi-tokneþ þis But Fader· and Sone· and Holigost· and al o god hit is? Line 128 ¶ Seint Dauid· a-boute þis ȝerden· a strong wal he lette arere, And nom good ȝeme· hou longe he woxe·, from ȝere· to ȝere; Wiþ a Cercle· he bond hym a-boute·, ȝer after ȝere, Þat he mihte atte laste i-wite· hou old þat treo were; Line 132 So þat wiþ-Inne þritti ȝer· þis treo wex wel heiȝe, Ac hit wox no more afterward·, and þat he wuste· bi þe seluerne byȝe; Ac euere in on afterward· Feir and Grene hit stod; Seint Dauid· hit honourede wel·, for he wuste þat hit was good: Line 136

Line 136 ¶ Þo seint Dauid i-sunged hedde þe sunne of lecherie, And Mon slauht þo· for Bersabe· he lette slen Vrie, Vr lord nom þer-of wreche gret·, swiþe sori he bi-com; Vndur þe treo· his penaunce he dude· þat he þer-fore nom; Line 140 Þer he made þe Sauter·, his sunnes forte bete, And þe raþere hit him was for-ȝiue· for þe holy treo so swete: ¶ Þo bi-gon he eke· for his sunne· þe holy Temple to arere, Swiþe noble in Jerusalem·, ac he dyede in þe fourteneþe ȝere: Line 144 ¶ His sone, þe kyng Salomon·, þat after him· kyng was þere, After him· þe Temple bulde forþ· þat heo folliche redi were: Þeraboute· he was þritti ȝer·, and his fader fourtene also; So þat hit was· foure and fourti ȝer· er þat werk weore i-do: Line 148 Þo þat werk· was almest redi· hem faylede a feir treo·: Þat holy treo was þe feireste þo·, þat me mihte owhere i-seo; ¶ Þe kyng Salomon hit let hewen·, As qweynteliche as he mihte, And let hit nymen and make more· bi a fote þen his rihte; Line 152 Þo hit was brouht to rihte stude· and i-laced scholde beo þer, Þo was hit· bi a foote to schort·, as euene as heo meeten er; Þe Carpunter hit leyde a-doun· in strong wraþþe and grete, To no þing þat he hit euere dude· he ne mihte hit maken i-meetete: Line 156 ¶ A brugge ouer an Old dich· heo maden þer-of atte laste, For wraþþe þat heo ne mihten· to non oþur werk hit caste:

Þer ouer eode mony a Mon·, þe while þat hit þer lay, A nusten not alle· hou holy hit was·, þat þer ouer eoden al day: Line 160 ¶ Þe Qween of Saba· com þer forþ·, ac anon þo heo hit seih, Honourede hit feire· and sat a-kneo·, and nolde not come þer neih; Bi a-noþur wey heo wende·, to kyng Salomon heo com, For heo hym hedde wel wyde i-souht·, to leorne of him wisdom; Line 164 Þorwh grace, þat vr lord hire ȝaf·, to kyng Salomon heo sede Þat treo ne scholde ligge þer·, ȝif he dude by hire rede, For þer scholde a mon ȝit dye· on þat ilke treo, Þorwh whom· Al þe lawe of Gywes· distruyȝed scholde beo: Line 168 ¶ Salomon hit let nyme sone· and vndur eorþe hit caste, Wel deope and fer from alle men·, and buriede hit wel faste; So longe so hit þer-afterward was· a wel feir welle sprong, A feyr watur wiþ gret [? god fisch.] sich·, boþe deop and long; Line 172 Mony seke· þat þer comen· and wusch heore feet þer-on, Oþur heore honden·, oþur baþeden al·, heore hele hedden anon: Þat watur heo honoureden muche· and wolden þer-Inne wade, Ac heo nusten no þing of þe treo· þat al þe vertu Made: Line 176

Seþþe longe þer-afturward· þat vr lord on eorþe com, Anon· þo þat folk by-speek his deþ· and heore Red þerof nom, Þat treo bi-gon to fleoten a-non·, as vr lordes wille was: Þe Gywes comen· and founden þat treo· fleotynde þer bi cas, Line 180 Heo nomen hit vp· and for hit was foul· and i-leye hedde þer longe, And maden þer-of þe holy Roode·, vr lord þer-on to honge;

For þat treo· was for-oldet· and heo heolden vr lord luþer also; Ȝit hem þhouȝte· þat treo to feir· þat he weore þer-on i-do: Line 184

ÞAt Crois seþþe· aftur vr lordes deþ· depe vndur þe eorþe heo hit caste, Þer as heo him to deþe dude· and burieden hit swiþe faste; And þe twey Croyses eke þer-bi· þat þe þeoues hengen on þer: Þer heo lyȝen· er heo weore weoren i-founde·, mo þen two hundred ȝer, Line 188 ¶ Forte þat Tytes· and Vaspaȝian· wiþ al heore folk come, And al þe Gywes hedden distruyed· and heore pouwer by-nome·, And al þat lond was i-brouht· in-to þe Emperours hond of Rome, And mid his Men i-fuld· and bi-set· to nyme þer-of Goome: Line 192 ¶ Ac seþþe þer com an Emperour·, þat hihte Adrian, Swiþe heþene· and swiþe luþer·, and werrede vche cris|tene man; He wuste wher þe Rode lay· þat God was onne i-do And cristene men þe stude honoureden· whon heo mihten come þer-to, Line 196 He lette a temple of Maumetes· in þulke stude arere, Þat me mihte not fynde· to loute to· bote Maumetes þere; Whon Cristene Men· mihten þider stele·, heo durste nout for doute, [folio 29b:1] An eke a-ȝeyn herte hit was· to eny Maumete· a loute, Line 200 So þat heo bi-leueden þulke stude·, and also for fere Þat wiþ-Inne a fewe ȝer þer-after· no cristene mon com þere, So þat þulke stude was· for let mony a day, Þat no cristene mon ne Painym· nuste where þe Rode lay: Line 204

Line 204

Seoþþe þer com an Emperour· þat het Constantyn; In werre and batayle he was so muche·, þat þer nas no fyn; Seþþe comen his fon and wonnen· muchedel of his londe; He ȝarkede a day his Ost· a-ȝeyn heom forte stonde; Line 208 ¶ As he touward þe Batayle wende· he bi-heold vp an heiȝ, Him þhouȝte þat a feir Crois· In heuene þat he seiȝ; Lettres he sayȝ þer-on i-write·, he hem bi-gon to Rede·: "Wiþ þis signe þow schalt Mayster beo·," þulke lettres sede, Line 212 "And wite þe from þy fon·, by daye· and eke by nihte, Whon þow þenkest þer-vppon·, spede þou schalt in fihte": ¶ Þe Emperour þis vndurstood·, þeih he Heþene were, A· Crois he lette make sone· þat his Men by-foren him bere, Line 216 In-stude of his Baner·, In Batayle a-non, And þorwh þe holy Crois· he ouercom alle his fon And won þe Maystrie·, and al his lond· in a luytel stounde þere: Muche he þouhte þer-afterward· what þulke signe were; Line 220 Þe wiseste Men of al his lond· bi-fore him he lette bringe, And enquerede of þe Crois· what weore þe tokenynge: Heo seiden him· þat in Ierusalem· God was don on þe Roode, And þe Gywes þat Crois hudden þere·, as heo hit vndur|stode: Line 224 "Whon ichabbe," quaþ þe Emperour, "þer þorwh· my fon i-brouht to grounde, Ne worþ ich neuere glad of herte·, er þe holy Cr[o]is beo i-founde": Þo þe Emperour· of þe holy Roode· so feir Miracle i-seiȝ, He let him Baptiȝen of seint Siluestre·, þe Pope þat þo was neih: Line 228

Line 228

ÞE holy Rode· I-founde was·, as ich ow wolle now telle: Constantin þe Emperour· heþene folk gon faste quelle, For heo vr lord Ihesu crist· to strong deþ brouhte; Alle þe heþene Men þat neih him were· sone he brouhte to nouhte: Line 232 Eleyne þat his Modur was· to Ierusalem heo sende To sechen aftur þe holy Rode·, And heo gladliche forþ wende; Þo heo com þidere· heo lette crie·, as heo red hedde i-nome, Þat alle Gywes of þe Citéé· to-fore hire scholde come: Line 236 Þo þe Gywes i-somened were· heo hedden ful gret fere; Gret counseil þei nomen þer-of· what þe enchesun were; ¶ Þo seide on· þat hette Iudas·, "Ich wene þat ich wot What þis Somouns amounti schal·, ȝif ich telle mot: Line 240 Ich wene· þat þe Qweene enquere wole·, as heo haþ i-þouht, Aftur þe Roode þat Ihesu crist· to deþe was onne i|brouht; Þat non of ow· ne beo so wod· þat þer-of i-knowe be, In Counseil ich ow telle wole þat my fader tolde me: Line 244 ¶ Þo my Fader Symeon· in his deþ vuel lay, In Counseil he was to me i-knowe· þo he on him þe deþ i-say; "Iudas," he seide, "leoue sone·, ȝif hit bi-tydeþ so Þat me enquereþ after þe Rode· þat Ihesus was on i-do, Line 248 Loke þat þou beo a-knowe þer-of· er þat me þe quelle; Þat Zachéé my Fader tolde me· in Counseil ich wol þe telle: He seide me a luytel bi-fore his deþ· þat he was atte dede To burien hire· vppe Caluarie Hul·, as heo nomen alle to rede": Line 252 ¶ "Leoue Fader," i seide, "þo· what eylede ow Allas Whi wolde ȝe hym to deþe do·, whonne þat he good was": ¶ He seide· "bi me nas hit nout· ac for þat he wiþ-sede

Mine felawes of vre lawe· þerfore heo him brouhte to dede; Line 256 Seoþþe heo him in þe Sepulcre dude·, ac he a-ros to lyue Fro deþe· þe þridde day· mid his woundes fyue; Þenne þe fourtiþe day þer-afterward· to heuene he wende an heih, In þe lond of Galiléé· þat al þat folk i-seih: Line 260 Twelf Moneþ hit was· þer-afterward·, and half a ȝer· and more, Þat Steuene· þat my broþer was· preche gon of his lore; Oure Gywes· him hedde wiþ-oute þe toun· and stenede him wiþ stones, Þerwiþ to deþe heo him brouhte· and to brusede his bones: Line 264 Þe Morwe after Mid-wynter-day· to deþe heo him brouhte, And nou he is in þe Ioye of heuene· and he hire a|bouhte": ¶ Þo Iudas hedde his tale i-told· þe Gywes seiden, as heo stode, "We ne herde telle neuer er· þus muche of þe Roode": Line 268 Þo þat þe tyme was· bi-fore þe Qweene heo come, "Cheoseþ seide þe Qweene þo· of þeose tweye dome; Lyf· and Deþ· is ow bi-fore·, cheseþ wheþer ȝe wollen, But ȝe· þe Holy Roode me bringe· Brenne vchone ȝe schullen": Line 272 Gret Fuir heo lette make· bi-fore heore alre eiȝen; Þe Gywes bi-gonne to crie loude· þo heo þe fuir i-seiȝen, And seiden· "ȝif þer-of eny wot· þenne wot Iudas, For Zachee· his Fader· fader; of gret pouwer was, Line 276 Þulke tyme þat Ihesuc was· on þe Roode i-do": Þe Qweene· þo lette nyme Iudas· and þe oþere heo lette go, And bad him ben A-knowe·, and þo he nolde for no|þinge [folio 29b:2]

Þe Qweene him lette þo faste bynde· and in-to strong prison bringe, Line 280 Wiþ-oute mete· and drinke· þer seue dayes he lay; For strong hunger loude he criede· þene seueþe day, And seide· "bringeþ me of þis wo· and ich ow wole telle and lede Þer-as ich wene· þat þe Roode beo·, as my fader me sede": Line 284 Þo he out of prisun com· mid muche folk he wende To þe place þer þe Roode was·, as his fader him kende; Þo he to þe place com· A-doun he sat on kneo, Lord he seide·, "ȝif hit is soþ· þat þow· God and Mon beo, Line 288 And þat· þow of Marie weore i-boren· send vs nou þi grace Sum toknynge· þat we fynde mowe· þe Roode in þis place": ¶ Anon· þo Iudas þis bone hedde· to vr lord i-bede, Þe Hul bi-gon to qwake· and out of one stede; Line 292 A· smoke sprong out· and wende an heiȝ·, and muche place fulde, Swettore þing nas neuer non· þen þe smoke smulde; Þo Iudas þis i-sayh· loude he bi-gon to crye, "Ihesus is one Almihti God·, i-bore of Mayde Marie; Line 296 Wood is· þat eni oþur by-leeueþ· as i-chabbe mony a day, Taken i-chulle to Cristendom· ich forsake Gywene lay": He let him cristene hastiliche· and þo he i-cristened was, He let him nempnen Quiriak· þat er· he hette Iudas": Line 300 ¶ Þo nomen heo spade and [MS. sand.] schouele· and ner þe place wende, Deope heo gonne to delue· þer as þe smoke out wende; So þat heo founden Roodes þreo· þo heo hedden i-doluen longe, Þe Roode þat God was on i-do· and þat þe twey þeues were on an honge Line 304 Bi-syden vr lord· him to schende·, ac he nuste whuch of þe þreo

Þe holy Crois þat heo souhten· whuch of þe þreo hit mihte beo; Ac noþeles heo nomen alle þreo· and toward toune hem bere To Eleyne þe goode Qweene· wiþ wel glade chere; Line 308 Bi þat hit was heiȝ non· me gon aȝeyn hem bringe A ded Monnes bodi· vppon A bere· to-ward buryinge; Quiriak nom þis o Rode· and eft-sone þe oþer, And leyde vppe þis dede Mon·, ac he ne a-ros for nouþer; Line 312 He leyde þe þridde him vppon· and he a-ros wel blyue, And bi-gon to þonke Godes sone· þat him brouhte to lyue: ¶ Þo com þe deuel ȝellynde forþ· loude he gon crie and grede, "Allas nou is my power a-go·," her-after more he sede; Line 316 "Ihesus Ihesus· what þenkestou·, Alle folk to þe lede, Þou hast here in Monnes warde· þing þat ich mest drede, Þorw whom· ich furst was ouercome· and nou I· am al to grounde; Allas þulke sori while· þat heo was euere i-founde, Line 320 For ich nabbe nou· power so gret· on eorþe a-mong Menne; Ȝif me fourmeþ enes þe Crois· anon ich mot go þeonne, Þer-fore ich wot þat eueri mon· wol nou þe soþe i-se, Þat þe Crois me haþ ouercome· and al my power bi-nome me; Line 324 Allas þat ich þis tyme i-sayh· nou ich worþ al forsake! Iudas Iudas· what was þe· whi woldestou þus on take, Þorwh on Iudas þat was i-hote· Ihesuc to deþe was i-brouht, And þorw a Iudas ich am ouercome· and i-brouht to nouht; Line 328 Strengþe ne worþ me neuer non· bote eny mon wole mid wille Seruen me to payen his flesch· his soule forte spille;

Whon my strengþe is neih by-nome· fonde ich mot wiþ ginne And mid tresun ȝif ich may· eny Men to me winne; Line 332 I· may here no lengore bi-leue· for þis me þinkeþ longe, For þe Crois þat is me bi-fore· in peyne ich am wel stronge": ¶ Iudas seide·, "go henne a-non· ne cum þou here no more, I-founden is þeih hit late beo· þat ouercomen haþ al þi lore; Line 336 He þat her is· þe dede mon· fro deþ i-brouht to lyue Pult te wiþ þi pouwer al· in-to helle wel blyue": Muche was þe Ioye of þe Crois· þat me þo made þere, Wiþ gret song· and processioun· þe Qweene heo hire bere; Line 340 ¶ Iudas nom cristendom· and þo he i-cristened was He let him nempne Quiriac· þat er heihte Iudas: ¶ Þe Qweene of Seluer and of Gold· A gret Schrine heo wrouhte, And of ȝymmes preciouse· and þe Roode þer-Inne brouȝte, Line 344 Vppe þe hul of Caluarie· þer heo þe Roode founde; A Feir Churche heo lette a-rere· i-heried beo þulke stounde! ¶ Þo þe Qweene· desirede muchel· aftur þe nayles þreo, Wherwith vr lord was· I-nayled to þe treo; Line 348 Quyriac· þat er hihte Iudas· wende to þe place, Þer as þe Crois i-founde was·, and bad vr lord of grace Þat God, ȝif his wille were·, þe þreo Nayles him sende; Þe Nayles· wiþ lihtynge gret· vp of þe eorþe wende; Line 352 Quiriac þonkede Ihesu crist· wiþ gret Ioye he hem nom, And tok hem Eleyne þe goode Qweene· þo he to hire com; ¶ Þus was þe holy Roode i-founde· þe þridde day of May Þat we clepeþ in holichirche· þe Holy Roode day; Line 356 Quiriac· þat þe holi Roode fond· Bisschop seþþe he was, In heuene he is nou seint Quiriac· þat furst hette Iudas;

By-seche we þe holy Roode· þat brouhte þe deuel to grounde, [folio 30:1] And seint Quiriac· and seint Eleyne·, þorwh whom heo was i-founde, Line 360 Þat heo bi-sechen God for vs·, þat on þe Roode schedde his blood, Þat we mote to þe ioye of heuene come· þat is so swete and god. Amen·

ÞE holi Roode was i-founde· as ȝe witeþ in May, Honoured he was seþþe· in Septembre· þe holi Rode day; Line 364 Mony a ȝer þer was by-twene·, riȝt is þat we telle, Hou þis feste was by-gonne· for-soþe lyȝen i nulle: A kyng þer was on eorþe þo·, Cosdre was his nome, Cristene Men þat he mihte fynde· he brouȝt hem alle to schome; Line 368 Wiþ his luþer power he won also· al þe londes þer-aboute, Þo he com to Ierusalem· of þe sepulcre he hedde doute, Þat vr lord was Inne i-leyd· a-non so he þis i-seih, For al his power þat was so luþer· ȝit ne dorst he come þer neih, Line 372 Ac a partye of þe swete Crois· þat seint Eleyne þider brouhte He tok wiþ him· and wende a-ȝein· no more þidere he ne þouhte; Of þulke treo· he was wel proud·, þeih he him-self heþene were, A· swiþe heiȝ tour of Gold and Seluer· he let him sone a-rere, Line 376 Of ȝimmes· and of stones precious· þer-aboute he lette do; Fourme of Sonne· and of Mone· and of Sterres also Schinen·, as hit hem-self were·, and tornen a-boute faste, And þundringe he made ek· þat þe folk ofte a-gaste, Line 380 Mid smale holes þorwh queyntyse· þat watur ofte þere He made hit ofte to grounde falle· as þeiȝ hit Reyn were, As ferforþ as couþe eny mon· make mid queyntyse,

Þe fourme as hit heuene were· he made on alle wyse; Line 384 . . . . . . . . . . . . A-nouwarde his Tour· amidde al þis· his sege he lette a-rere, In his Riht half he made a sege· his o sone he sette þere, Line 388 To sitten onne him-self· as a God· in heuene· as þeih hit were: In-stude as þeih hit were godes sone· þat no de-faute nere; In his Luft half· he made a-noþur· and feir he lette fette In-stude of þe holi-gost·, bi his Luft half· he him sette, Line 392 And sat him-self a-midde· þe Fader as þeih hit were; And sone· and Holi-gost· bi-side· gret pruyde was þere: . . . . . . . . . . . .

ERaclius þe Emperour· þat cristene was of Rome, Of þis mis farinde pruyde· he herde tellen ofte and i-lome; In-to his lond· he wende wiþ his Ost· and werrede wiþ him wel faste; In his heuene he sat as a God·, as þeih him no-þing ne a-gaste, Line 400 . . . . . . . . . . . . Him ne deynede not ones for him· of his heuene a-lihte, No more þen hit weore a God· wiþ erþliche mon to fihte; Line 404 His sone· a-ȝein þe Emperour· mid his Ost he sende, Þo he to þe Batayle come· er eiþer to oþer wende, Þat heo bi-twene hem-selue two· þe Batayle scholde do, And al heore Ost· stonde and bi-holden· and no mon come þer-to, Line 408 And wheþer of hem so a-boue were· habbe scholde þe mihte Of þe oþeres Men· and his lond· after his wille dihte; Þo þe forward was ymad· to-gedere heo smite to grounde,

And fouȝten as heore riȝte was· and maden harde wounde, Line 412 Ac atte laste· þe Emperour· þe oþur ouer-com And al his folk·, as forward was·, in his baundun nom, ¶ He lette cristen euerichone· and suwen him to his wille; Þis luþer kyng sat euere a-tom· In his heuene wel stille, Line 416 As A God· and nuste not· þat he was bi-neþe i-brouht, And so vuel he was bi-loued of his men· þat heo nolden him telle nouht; ¶ Þis Emperour him wende forþ· in-to his heuene an heih, He fond him sitte þere as a god· his sone him sat wel neih; Line 420 "Heil," he seide·, "sire false god· in þis false heuene i-founde, Mid þy sone· and mid þin hori-gost· [(sic) hori gost—a dirty ghost? (intended as a pun.)] ȝe beþ neih a|swounde; Bi him þat þou makest þe aftur· þat for vs þolede wounde, But þou wolle on him bi-leeue· þou schalt here in a stounde Line 424 Of myn hond þole deþ· and þi pruyde ben i-brouht to grounde; For al þin heuene y nul bi-leue· ne for Mark· ne for pounde": ¶ "Nay Certes," qu[o]d þis oþer·, "þou ne schalt me not so lere, Þat ich to eny mon schule a-bouwe· bote he herre þen ich were": Line 428 ¶ Þe Emperour drouȝ out his swerd· and smot of his hed riht þere: His ȝongeste sone· þat bi him sat· þat was in his tenþe ȝere, He let him cristene and make kyng· of al his fader lond; His Men he ȝaf al þat seluer· þat he þere fond, Line 432 ¶ Mid þe Gold and riche þinges· þat he fond þere; Þe chirches þat þe schrewe destruyde· he lette þer-wiþ vp a-rere, And made al þat lond in god bi-leeue· þere in Godes lawe; Alle þat nolde turne to God· he brouȝt hem sone of dawe: Line 436

Line 436 Þe holy Crois þat he fond þere· þat vr lord was onne i-do, A-doun he nom wiþ gret honour· and ladde wiþ him also To þe Borwh of Ierusalem·, and þo he com þer bi-syde Vppe þe Hul of Olyuete· a stounde he gon a-byde; Line 440 Al þe folk a-boute him com· mid gret honour wiþ-alle And þonkeden God· of þat cas· þat hem was bi-falle, Þat þe swete holi Crois· a-ȝein moste come, Þat þe luþur kyng Cosdre· hem hedde er bi-nome; Line 444 ¶ A-doun of þe hul wende þe Emperour· mid feir procession Þulke wey þat vr lord wende· to-ward his passion; Þo he com to þe borwh· and wolde in atte ȝate A feir Miracle vr lord sende· þat he ne mihte in þer-ate; Line 448 For þe stones þat a-boute were· a-doun a-non a-lihte And stooden euene a-boute bi þe oþur wal· þat no mon in ne mihte; Sori was þe Emperour· and al his folk also And dredden þat heo not worþi weoren· a such holy þing to do; Line 452 Þer was wepynge and cri i-nouh on god· þat he hem sende Sum grace·, ȝif his wille were·, þat heo to þe Borwh wende; ¶ Þo stod þer-bi an Aungel· a Crois hee heold an honde: "Sir Emperour," he seide·, "þulke tyme· þat vr lord was here a-londe, Line 456 Þo he com in atte ȝate· to deþe to ben i-do, Vppon a sely Asse he Rod· in feble cloþus also, He com wiþ no gret nobleye· so as þou dest now, Wiþ riche cloþus· ne wiþ oþer pruyde·, þeih he were as heih as þou": Line 460 ¶ Mid þis word he wende a-ȝeyn· þe Emperour a-non A-lihte a-doun· and his cloþus· of caste euerichon, Anon to his schurte· and his Brech· sore weopinde wiþ|alle; Þis stones risen vp aȝeyn· þat weren er doun i-falle, Line 464 And lay· vche in his rihte stude· as heo hedden er i-do, And þat ȝat opene as hit was er· and þe wey clene also;

Þe Emperour nom þis swete Rode· and al a fote him beer; Þat folk suwede him wiþ gret pres· gret Ioye and blisse was þer, Line 468 Anon þer com so swete a smul· as þei hit from heuene were, Þat al hit smulde wiþ gret Ioye· þat in þe cuntre weren þere; ¶ Þe Emperour bar þis swete crois· in-to þe temple an heih, He gon singe þis newe song· bi-foren alle þat weore þer neih: Line 472

"ÞE Crois briȝtore to þis world· þen Alle þe sterres beo, Þou art to honoure of alle men· and muche to loue of alle treo; Holiore þou art þen al þat is· for þou one worþiore were, Þat þou þe tresor of al þis world· al one vppe þe bere; Line 476 Þow swete treo· þat bere on þe· þe swete Nayles also, Þe swete burþene· of Godus sone· þat on þe was i-do, Saue nou al þis cumpanye· þat i-gederet her is, And here to-day to-gedere i-brouht· in þin heryinge i|wis": Line 480 ¶ Þis song soong þe Emperour· þat wel is vnderstonde, For ȝit me hit singeþ in holichirche· whon me bereþ þat crois an honde; Al þat folk honurede ek· þat Crois· so feire so heo mihten do, Wiþ offringes· and wiþ song· and wiþ oþure melodyes also; Line 484 ¶ Þis was þe holi Rode day· þat in Septembre is Þerfore me honoureþ in holichirche· þulke day ȝit i-wis:

Seint Quiriac þe Bisschop· prechede Godus lawe: Iulian þe luþur Emperour· brouht him seþþe of dawe, Line 488 For þe holi Roode· þat he fond·, and for he men þer-to drouh To bi-leeue on Ihesu crist· for al he heold hit wouh; Þo þe Emperour hedde seint Quiriac· bi-fore him i-brouht He bad him leeuen in heor Maumetes·, and þo he nolde nouht, Line 492 His riht hond he let furst of smyte· And al i-do he seide þis:— "For þou hast wel ofte· þer-wiþ i-write· aȝein vr lawe i wis": ¶ "Þou gidi hound·" seide þis gode Mon·, "wel hastou i-do by me, Of my good þou weore wel vnderstonde· wel ouȝt i blesse þe, Line 496 For þou hast bi-nome me þulke lime· þat haþ me ofte to sunne i-drawe, For ich habbe þer-wiþ ofte i-write· a-ȝeyn Ihesu cristes lawe, Þe while þat ich was Gyew· and on him bi-leeuede nouht:" Þo þe Emperour saiȝ þat he nolde· nout tornen his þouht Line 500 He ȝaf him drinken welled led· and in his mouþ helde þere, Euere sat þis gode mon· as þeih him noþing nere; Vp A Gledeire he leide him seþþe· ouer a gret fuir and strong, To Rosten as me deþ versch flesch· grees was þer Among, Line 504 For þat fuir was· al of Col· and grece· and þat salt was eke þer-to, And of flesch þat was eke for brend· þe woundes he salte also, Þo heo ne mihte torne þer-wiþ his þouht· ne to deþ him bringe, Heo bi-þouhten hem· ȝif heo mihte· wiþ eny oþer þinge; Line 508 ¶ "Quiriac" he seide· "þenk on þi-self· and do aftur my lore, Ȝif þou nult not· vr godes honoure· bote þow wolle more,

Sey þat þou nart· cristene nout· and ich wolle de-boner beo, And murie lyf þou schalt lede þer-afterward·, and þat þou schalt i-seo": Line 512 Þo þe gode mon nolde don after him·, a Caudrun he lette fulle Wiþ Oyle· and let hit seþen faste· and let him þer-Inne pulle; Þer-Inne he seþ þe gode Mon· forte þat he weri was: Þe gode Mon heriede vr lord euere and neuer þe worse him nas; Line 516 Þo þe Emperour i-sauȝ· þat he ne mihte him so ouer|come, With a swerd he smot him þorwh þe herte· þo he was of þe Baþe inome; His soule wente to þe Ioye of heuene· aftur his tor|mentynge, Crist for þe loue of Seint Quiriac· to þulke Ioye vs bringe A. M. E. N.! Line 520

III.

THE STORY OF THE HOLY ROOD [[Harlein MS. 4196. [folio 76b:1] .]]

De morte primi parentis Ade et de incepcione crucis Christi.

When adam oure form fader dere Was of elde nyghen hundreth ȝere, And þarto [thritt]y [nearly effaced,] , þan he kend Þat his life drogh nere þe end; Line 4 Þan said he vntill eue, "þou sall All my suns bifor me call, Þat I may blis þam or I dy." And als he bad scho did in hy; Line 8 Scho cald [þam] vnto him þat tide, [folio 76b:2] Þai come and stode all him biside, Als he in his sekenes lay, And vnto him þus gan þai say:— Line 12 "Fader, what harm es þe on hand, Þat þou es in þi bed ligand, And wharto hastou cald vs heder?" Þan said he to þam al to-geder:— Line 16 "Suns," he said, "I far ful ill, Of pine and sorow I find my fill." And þai answerd and said ogaine:— "Fader tell vs what es payne, Line 20 And how it es sorow to haue, Say vs þe suth, so god þe saue; For whils we in þis werld haue bene, Of sekenes haue we seldom sene." Line 24 Þan said seth, "for suth I trow, Fader, þat þou ȝernes now Of paradis fruit forto ett mare, Of þe whilk þou has etin are; Line 28

Line 28 And þarfor ligges þou sorowand swa, Bot say to me and I sall ga Sone vnto paradis ȝate, And I sall grete þare in þe gate; Line 32 I sall mak site and sorows sere, And so I hope god sall me here, And send sum angell me to gete Sum of þat fruit þat þou wald ett." Line 36 Adam vnto seth þan telles:— "I ȝerne no fruit, ne no thing els, Bot I haue dole with-owten dout, And euil in al my lims obout." Line 40 Þan said seth and þai all bidene, "We wate neuer what euil es to mene; Tell vs what thing þe greue þus, Wharto suld þou laine fra vs?" Line 44 Als he lay þan þus said he:— "Al my suns herkins to me! When god had made me with his will Ȝowre moder þan he made me till; Line 48 In paradis sone he vs sett, And gaf vs leue al fruit to ett; He outtoke no thing bot a tre Þat he forbed bath hir and me; Line 52 In middes of paradis it stode, And was knawing of ill and gude; Þe est he put in my powsté And þe north at my will to be, Line 56 And till ȝowre moder he toke þat tide [folio 77] Bath þe west and þe sowth syde; And twa angels he toke vs till, Vs forto were fra alkins ill; Line 60 Till on a tyme, sons, suth to say, Oure angels went fra vs oway, Bifor god þaire wirschip to ma; Þan [com] þe fende þat es oure fa, Line 64

Line 64 And in ȝowre moder fand he stede, And did hir do efter his rede; Sone scho ette, als he hir red, Of þe fruit god vs bath for-bed; Line 68 Scho bed it me and I ette sum, And þus bigan oure care to cum; Þe gerrard þus gan hir bigile, And me also, allas þat while! Line 72 Þan of oure werk was god il paid, And als sone vnto me he said:— 'Adam, for þou has left my lare And broken þe bode þat I bad are, Line 76 And mare wroght efter þi wife, Þan efter me þat lent þe life, Vnto þi bodi sal I send Sexty wowndes and ten to lend, Line 80 Right fra þi heuid vnto þi hele, Eghen and eres and ilka dele; And all þi lims on ilka side Witht sorows sall be ocupide.' " Line 84 He said, "suns, god has sent þis thing Vntill vs and all oure of-spring; Bot oure lord god almighty Said we suld haue oile of mercy, Line 88 In þe werldes end, if we wald craue, Of all þis site vs forto saue;" All on þis wise when he had talde, He feled sorows ful many-falde; Line 92 He cried and said him self vnto, "Allas! caytif what sall I do; Þat slike sorows er to me send, And has no medsin me to mend!" Line 96 When eue herd þat he said swa, Scho wepid and had ful mekell wa, And vnto god fast gan scho call, "Lord forgif me þir angers all! Line 100

Line 100 I wroght þe werk, þat wate I wele, Wharfore we haue þis dole ilkdele." Scho praied adam on þis manere, "Lord lat me haue þi sorow sere, Line 104 For sertes I did all þe syn [folio 77:2] Wharfore þou es þir angers in." Þan adam answerd hir vntill, "It may noght be wroght at oure will, Line 108 Oure lord of heuyn þat has it send Thurgh his might he may it mend."

Adam þan vnto seth gan say: "Sun of a thing I sal þe pray, Line 112 Forto wend als I sall þe wys Vnto þe ȝates of paradis, And at þe ȝates, when þou cumes right, Þou sal mak sorow in goddes sight; Line 116 Fall to erth and powder þe, And pray god haue mercy on me, For þan par auenture send sall he Sum of his angels to þat tre, Line 120 Of whi[l]k springes þe oile of life, Þat medcyn es to man and wife, Þar forto send me sum dele, Þan hope I þat my care sal kele." Line 124 Þan answerd seth and said in hy, "To do þi will I am redy, Bot þe bus teche to me þe way, And what I sall to þe angell say." Line 128 Adam said, "sun tell him till How þat I haue angers ill, And tell him also of þis thing How þat my life es nere ending; Line 132 And pray him me to certify Of þe oile of mercy weterly, Þe whilk god hight me of his grace, When he me put out of þat place; Line 136

Line 136 If he now þat sand to me will send, Of all my sorow it sall me mend:" "And sun," he said, "I sall þe say Wharby þou sall ken þe way: Line 140 Þou sall sone find a grene gate Euyn vnto paradis ȝate; Wend estward and for no thing let, Vntill þou in þat way be set; Line 144 Þan many fotesteps saltou se, Bath of þi moder and of me; For by þat ilk way went we twa, Þi moder and I with-outen ma, Line 148 When we war put out of þat blis To won in midelerth for oure mis; And þe sin of vs twa allane, Was so grete and god with-gane, Line 152 Þat in what stedes oure fete gan fall, [folio 77b] Þare groued neuer gres, ne neuer sall, Bot euermore be ded and dri, And falow, and fade, for oure foly; Line 156 Þus saltou find, with-outen mis, Right to þe ȝates of paradis." Seth es went, with sorows sad, Furth right, als his fader bad, Line 160 And hastily he fand þe way, Als adam vntill him gan say, With welkit steppes, many ane, Als his fader bifore had gane; Line 164 And euen he held þat ilk gate Vntill he come to paradis ȝate: On his face þan fell he downe And kest pouder opon his croune Line 168 Ful mekill murni[n]g gan he make, And sorowed for his fader sake; And vnto god fast gan he cri Of adam forto haue mercy, Line 172

Line 172 And oile of mercy him to send, So þat he might in liking lend: So als he made his praiers fast, God sent saint michael at þe last; Line 176 He bad þat seth he suld vp rise And said vnto him on þis wise:— "Seth," he said, "what sekes þou here? I am michaell goddes messangere, Line 180 My lord of heuyn has ordand me Ouer all his men keper to be; And sertanly to þe I say, Þat þe thar nowþer grete ne pray Line 184 Efter þe oile of mercy here, For þou gettes it on no manere, Vntill a tyme if þou tak tent When fiue thousand ȝere er went, Line 188 Twa hundret and twenty þar-till, And also aght als es goddes will; Þan sal god send doun his sun Crist in-to þe werld at won; Line 192 For mannes sins þan sal he dy, And so fra bale he sall þam by; Grauen he sall be in a stede And rise þe thrid day right fra þe ded, Line 196 And lif ogayne, in lim and lith; And adam þan sall rise him with; Adam and all his of-spring, Þat god vntill his blis will bring; Line 200 With crist þan sall þai right vp ryght [folio 77b:2] And wende to won in lastand light; Þan sal þi fader right vp rise And wend to welth in paradis; Line 204 And þat same crist als I tell þe In þe flum sal baptist be; To saue man saules he sall be send And all fals trowth he sall defende; Line 208

Line 208 Þe oyle of mercy sal he gif Till all þat in his law will lif; And till all þat will sese of sin Sal he gif blis þat neuer sal blin; Line 212 Þan sall þi fader cum fra paine And dwell in paradis ogayne; Þarfore if þou þi fader se Say him als I haue said to þe, Line 216 'His daies er dreuen vnto þe end, Langer in þis life may he noght lend.' Bot first now, or þou wend oway, Sall þou do als I þe say; Line 220 Wende vnto paradis ȝate And put in bot þi heuid þarate, And lat þi body stand þaroute, And luke what þou sese þe obout; Line 224 And if þou any selkuth se Cum ogayne and tell to me." Seth went and did on þis manere, And saw ful many selkuthes sere; Line 228 He herd þare noyse and nobill smell, Swetter þan any tong might tell; Gay herbes and trese þare gan he se, And fowles sang ful grete plenté; Line 232 In middes of paradis saw he right A well þat was schinand ful bright, Of þe whilk foure flodes ran out, And went ouer al þe werld obout; Line 236 He saw of þa foure flodes clere Come al þe water in þis werld here; Obouen þe well persayued he Whare þare stode a ful faire tre, Line 240 With branches þaron maniane, Bot bark ne lefe ne had it nane; Þan had seth meruail in his mode Whi þat tre so naked stode; Line 244

Line 244 And wele he hopid, his hert with-in, Þat it was for his fader sin, Als þe steppes war þat he had sene; Þat neuer bare none herbes grene, [folio 78] Line 248 And all for þe sin of þam twa, Þarfor he trowed þe tre was swa; Al þis thoght when he had left, In ogaine þan luked he eft, Line 252 And hastily þan gan he se A meruaile of þe mekill tre; Him thoght þat it stode vp ful euyn And rechid on heght right to þe heuyn, Line 256 And bark inogh þar-on was sene With leues þat was gay and grene; And in þe crop of þat tre on hight A litill childe he saw full right, Line 260 Lapped all in clathes clene, Als it right þan born had bene, So till his sight it semed ȝing, He had grete meruaile of þis thing; Line 264 Vnto þe erth þan luked he And saw þe rotes of þat same tre, Weterly him thoght þai fell In-to þe vtterest end of hell, Line 268 And þare him thoght he had a sight Of his broþer saul ful right, Abell þat was sakles slaine. Þan to þe angell he went ogayne Line 272 And tald vnto him albidene, Als he þare had herd and sene; He pried þe angell tell him mare Of þe childe þat he saw þare; Line 276 Þe angell answerd him in hy, And said what it suld signify; "Þe childe þat þou saw in þe tre, Þe sun of god for suth es he, Line 280

Line 280 His schewing here noght els it ment Bot þat he sall till þe erth be sent; He sall fordo þi fader syn, And vnto welth ogayne him win; Line 284 He es þe oile of mercy right, Þe whilk was to þi fader hight, When he fra paradis gan wende, Thurght formast fanding of þe fende; Line 288 Fra bale to blis þis barn sal bring Þi fader and all his of-spring [MS. of of spring.] , Þat ordaind er in þe werldes ende, Fra wa till endles welth to wende." Line 292 Þe angell þan toke kirnels thre Þat war tane of þat same tre, Of þe whilk oure bale bigan, And vnto seth þus said he þan:— Line 296 "With-in thre daies when þou cumes hame [folio 78:2] Sall þi fader dy Adam, And in a graue he sall be graid, And, when he es in erth so laid, Line 300 Þir kirnels þat I gif þe to Þan in his mowth þou sall þam do, For of þam sall thre wandes spring, And ilkone sall be of sere thing: Line 304 Þe first of cyder suthly es, Þe secund sal be of cypres, And þe thrid of pine sal be; And þai bitaken þe trenité, Line 308 In þe cyder þe fader alweldand, And in cypres þe sun we vnderstand, In þe pyne þe hali gaste bi skill." Þus tald þe angell seth vntill, Line 312 And when he was þus kyndely kend, Hastily hamward gan he wend, And hame also with him he had Þe kirnels als þe angell bad. Line 316

De obitu primi parentis ade.

When seth had wroght all on þis wise And cumen hame fra paradise, Vntill his fader fast gan he fare, Als he lay in sekenes sare, Line 320 And tald vnto him albidene How he had done whare he had bene, And how þe angell gan him hete Þat he suld haue his bale to bete, Line 324 Oile of mercy fra god send To saue him in þe werldes end. When adam herd him sogat say, Þa wordes ful gretely gan him pay, Line 328 And in his life þan anes he logh, For he hopid forto win fra wogh, And forto be saued sertainely; Þarfore to god þus gan he cry, Line 332 "Lord me list no langer lif, Mi gaste in-to þi hend I gif Forto wis it at þi will, In whilk stede so it sall go till." Line 336 Þus he died with-in þe thrid day Als þe angell vnto seth gan say; Þan had he lifed in þis werld here Nien hundreth and threty ȝere; Line 340 For mans kinde was þan so strang, Þat þai moght wele lif so lang. When he was ded þus als I tell, Both wife and barnes opon him fell [folio 78b] Line 344 And lay opon þe cors criand, Heuid to heuid and hand to hand, Þai trowed to turn life him vntill, For þai kowth þan none oþer skill; Line 348 And als þai murned with dreri mode, Michaell come and by þam stode, And oþer angels gudely graid,

And vnto seth al þus he said: Line 352 "Wepes namore, bot bese still, For þus it es my lordes will, Þat I sal teche here ȝow vnto How ȝe with þis cors sall do; Line 356 Takes him vp and wendes with me, For in erth sall he bereed be." Þai toke þe cors vp þam omang, And þe angels bifore gan gang Line 360 Singand all ful solempnely, And makand nobill melody; To þe vale of ebron þai him broght And groue him þare, als þam gude thoght. Line 364 Þan al his barnes awonderd ware Of þe sight þat þai saw þare; Þe angel said þan to þam in hy, "Of þis thing haues no ferly, Line 368 For als we now do him vnto So sal ȝe with ȝowre ded men do; Gers beri þam in erth or stane, For all sall di þat life [MS. lift.] has tane." Line 372 Seth þan opon þa kirnels thoght, Þat he fra paradis had broght; In his fader mowth he þam did Als þe angell gan him bid; Line 376 Of þa kirnels thurgh goddes grace Wex thre wandes in litill space, And of þa wandes grete ferlis fell, Als men may here me efter tell; Line 380 Ful mekill sele was to þam sent, Als men may here wha takes entent;

De tribus uirgis in ore ade crescentibus

In adams mouth þir wandes stode, Till tyme of noie efter þe flode, Line 384 Þat was to wit with-outen were, A thowsand sexty and twelue ȝere;

And furth ȝit groued þai in adam Fra noie till tyme of abraham, Line 388 Fra abraham ȝit stode þai þen Vntill þe cumyng of moysen; And nowþer flitted fer no nere, [folio 78b:2] And ilkone groued by þam self sere; Line 392 Ane elne of lenkith þa wandes ware And all þis time wex þai nomare, Bot in astate ay war þai sene, And euer grouand in like grene; Line 396 Lang efter þat tyme þus bifell Þat þe childer of israel Went with moyses thurght þe se, Fra pharao and his menȝé, Line 400 Þat mekill wa had to þam wroght, And in grete bondage had þam broght; Þai past þe se bath hale and sound, And pharao and his men war dround; Line 404 And when þaire fase war þus for-done To þe vale of ebron come þai sone, And als þai in þat dale gan dwell Forther-mar þan þus bifell; Line 408 Opon ane euyn als moyses ȝode He saw whare þir thre wandes stode, Þat are in adams mowth was sett, And with grete honore he þam grett; Line 412 "For suth," he said, "þir wandes mene Þe trinité þam thre bitwene, Þat on þis wise er samin sett, For in þe rote all war þai mett." Line 416 Þa wandes þan thoght he forto take Wirschip to þam forto make; And fra þe erth when he drogh þam out So nobil smell was þam obout, Line 420 And so gude sauore gan þai fele, Þat his men wend wonder wele

Þat þai had bene cumen right, To þe land of hest þat þam was hight; Line 424 Al his folk þai war ful fayne And loued god with might and mayne: Moyses toke þa wandes schene; And lapped þam in clathes clene, Line 428 And als a relik obout þam bare, With wirschip, als þai worthy ware: Ay whils þai dwelled so in fere, And þat was foure and fourty ȝere, Line 432 And all þat war with wormes smeten, Or els with wilde bestes beten, And þai might neght þa wandes nere Þai suld als fast be hale and fere, Line 436 So þat defaut suld þai find nane, Thurgh towcheing of þe wandes allane: So it bifell þe folk had care [folio 79] For þat þam wanted water þare, Line 440 And in þaire hertes þai bigan To be mis-trowand ilka man, To god þai groched al bidene; And moyses said to þam in tene, Line 444 "Mistrowand men herkins to me, If ȝe in trowth will stedefast be, We sall gett water grete wane Here out of þis hard stane." Line 448 For god had bidden him on þis wise Þat he suld strike on þe flint twise, And largely þan suld it gif Water þat þai with might lif; Line 452 Þan with his wand þe stane strake he And water went out grete plenté, Þat men and bestes had þaire fill Of water at þaire awin will; Line 456 And for moyses toke all þe mede And loued noght god for his gude dede,

Ne gert þe folk na louing make To him þat sent it for þaire sake, Line 460 Þarfore oure lord god all-mighty, Said vnto moyses opinly, Þat he suld noght þa childer bring Vnto þe land of his heteing, Line 464 Þat was þe land of promisiowne, Þat he had made vnto þam boune. Þan moyses wist and wele he kend Þat his life drogh nere þe ende; Line 468 To þe hill of thabor þan went he And þare he sett þir wandes thre, By-side a water vnder þat hill, For he hopid it was goddes will Line 472 Þat gude werk suld with þam be done; Þan efter þis he died sune.

Quomodo dauid tulit uirgas in ierusalem.

Still þan stode þa wandes þare A thowsand ȝere and wex nomare, Line 476 Bot in astate ay gan þai stand Till dauid was king of iews land; And þat was a lang tyme bitwene, And euer þai groued ilyke grene; Line 480 Þan dauid was thurgh þe haly gaste Warned þat he suld wende in haste, In-to þe land of araby Till þe hill of thabor hastily, Line 484 Þe thre wandes þare forto fett, Þat moyses þe profett had sett; [folio 79:2] To ierusalem þat þai war broght For thurgh þam suld be wonders wroght, Line 488 And diuers dedis done bidene, And efterward so was it sene; Þus when dauid warned was Till araby sone gan he pas, Line 492 To þe hill of thabor fast he ȝode,

Whare þir ilk thre wandes stode; Vnto þe stede he went full euyn, Als he was warned with god of heuyn; Line 496 And when he of þe wandes had sight He honord þam with all his might, And toke þam vp out of grounde; And swilk a smell þare was þat stounde, Line 500 And noise and nobill melodi Of diuers maners of minstralsy, Þat dauid and his menȝé wend Þe haly gaste had þare descend, Line 504 So mekill mirth gan with þam mete Of nobill noyse and sauore swete; Þan dauid laid þa wandes in fere In a kase al of siluer clere; Line 508 He sang ful fast so was he faine And on þis wise he went ogayne; And als þai went so by þe strete, Seke men many gan þai mete, Line 512 All war þai helid in gude degré, Thurgh vertu of þa wandes thre. Dauid was ful glad and blith, Vnto his cuntré come he swith; Line 516 Þe nyend day efter hame come he To ierusalem þe riche ceté, Bot night it was thurgh goddes will When þai come þe ceté vntill, Line 520 On þe wandes had dauid thoght With wirschip whare he sett þam moght, And in a dike he did þam right Biside his castell all þat night, Line 524 And seker men he sett to wake, So þat þai suld no harmes take; On þe morn he thoght to seke a space To plant þa wandes in honest place, Line 528 Forto be keped honestly,

And wirschipd als þai war worthy. To rest he went es noght at laine, And sone at morn he come ogaine; Line 532 He fand his wandes hale and sownde Ful fast grouand on þe grounde, [folio 79b] And þar-of grete wonder him thoght, Bot remu þam þan wald he noght, Line 536 For in his hert he trowed right Þat þai war sett thurgh godis might; Þar-fore he lete þam stand þare still, And bad þat none suld negh þam till; Line 540 And forto dwell with-outen dout He made a stif wall þam obout, Stalwurthly of lime and stane, So þat negh to þam suld nane. Line 544 Þe same lenkith ȝit war þai þare, Als moyses in desert þam bare; Bot þus when dauid sett þam has, Þan wex þai so þat wonder was, Line 548 Þe body wex in a hale tre And þe crop was branches thre; And for it wex so dauid made A serkell al of siluer brade, Line 552 And bad þat it suld sawded be All obout þe haly thre, Þat he might wit, with-outen were, How mekill it wex ilka ȝere; Line 556 For it wex grete thurgh goddes grace And also lang in litill space; In þat stede þan stode it þare Threty ȝere and sumdele mare, Line 560 And wex ful fast, I vnder-stand, For þe tyme was nere cumand; Þan dauid wex dreri in mode, For in his hert he vnderstode Line 564 Þat [he] a sinful man had bene

And vnt[o] god he gan him mene; Sitand vnder þat haly tre, Grete sorow in his hert had he, Line 568 And in his sorowing said he þus, Miserere mei deus et c'. And so he made his mis to mende Þe sawter buke right to þe ende; Line 572 And in remission of his syn To mak a kirk he gan bigin, And þare-obout he begged fast, Till foure and thwenty ȝeres war past; Line 576 And bisid him both day and night With werkmen þat war wise and wight; And for he was a synfull man Of god þus was he warned þan:— Line 580 "A hows to me saltou neuer make, And þat es for þi sinnes sake." [folio 79b:2] Dauid answerd and said in hy, "Lord, wha sall make þi hows bot I, Line 584 Wha sall vnto þi werk tak tent, Sen vnto me no sele es sent." "Salomon þi sun," said he, "Sall mak a temple vnto me, Line 588 Þat euer-mare sal be in minde, And in meneing omang man-kinde." Þan dauid wist righ[t] wele inogh, Þat his life fast till ende drogh, Line 592 Of þat ceté gert he call Þe eldest men and maisters all; And hastily þai come him till Forto wit what was his will; Line 596 Þan vnto þam al þus said he, "Takes salomon my sun for me, For, sirs, als sune I sal be ded, And god has chosen him in my stede; Line 600 His corown so he gaf oway

And so he died þat ilk day; Þan in a grafe þai gan him graue, Whare kinges suld þaire beriing haue, Line 604 With sang and grete solempnité, Als fell to swilk a lord at be.

Quomodo salomon perfecit templum.

Salomon was corond king, And led þe land at his liking; Line 608 Moste sutile werkmen has he soght And on þe temple fast þai wroght, And endid it of masonry In þe space of ȝeres twa and thretty; Line 612 Forto tell all his fader tyme And efter þe wirking of him; And when it suld till end be brogh[t], Þe wrightes þat þe timber wroght Line 616 A mekill balk þam bud haue ane, In þat cuntré þai kouth find nane, Þai soght in toun and in ceté, And nowre-whare might þai find a tre, Line 620 Þat wald acorde vnto þaire met, Bot þat þat dauid king had sett; It forto take þe king cumand And bad it suld no langer stand; Line 624 Þan doun þai hewit þat haly tre So þat þaire werk might endid be; Þai caried it vnto þe kirk And ordand werkmen it to wirk; Line 628 Þe maisters has þaire mesure tane, [folio 80] Þe lenkith threty cubites and ane; Þai polist it and made it plaine, Bot all þaire wirking was in vayne; Line 632 When it was made efter þaire merk, Þai wand it vp vnto þe werk And langer þan þai fand þe tre, By a cubet þan it suld be; Line 636

Line 636 Of þat fare þai war vnfaine, And sune þai gat it doun ogayne Eft þai toke þaire mesures þan, And kuttes it als wele als þai can; Line 640 "Do wind it vp" biliue þai bid, Bot al was in waste þat þai did; Þan was it schorter þan þe assise Thrise wroght þai with it on þis wise; Line 644 Acorde to þat werk wald it noght, Þar-of þam all grete wonder thoght; Þai cald þe king for he suld se How þai had wroght with þat tre, Line 648 For mekill tene was þam bitid, Sen þai war al so crafty kid; When salomon saw it was swa, In-to þe temple he gert it ta, Line 652 And bad þat it suld honowrd be, For sum might trowed he in þat tre; Anoþer balk þan haue þai soght, And al þe werk till end þai wroght. Line 656 Þe haly tre, on þis manere, Lay in þe temple many a ȝere, Twa pilers of þe kirk bitwene, Þe king gert kepe it þare ful clene, Line 660 And made þe custom in þat cuntré, And bad þat ilka man suld be In þat stede anes in ilka ȝere, And ilkone on þaire best manere Line 664 Þat haly tre forto honowre Þat seþin bare oure sauioure. So it bifell opon a ȝere Al þe cuntré, fer and nere, Line 668 Vnto ierusalem þai went To honore þat tre with gude entent; A woman was þare þam omang Þat in hir hert ay hopid wrang; Line 672

Line 672 Scho soght þeder þe sight to se And trowed no vertu in þe tre; Hir thoght it was scorne in hir wit Þat oþer men so honord it; Line 676 Maximilla was hir name, [folio 80:2] Scho sat þaron hir self to schame, And for scho trowed no might þarin; Hir clathes biliue bigan to brin Line 680 Als herdes þat had bene right dry, Þan cried scho loud, thurgh prophecy, And said, "my lord mighty ihesu Haue mercy and on me þou rew." Line 684 When þe iews herd hir on ihesu call, Grete tene in hert þan had þai all; Þai said "scho sklanders oure goddes euyn For a new god we here hir neuyn"; Line 688 Þai bad þat bald men suld be boune To haue hir tite out of þe toune, And sune, with-outen oþer rede, Þai staned hir vnto þe ded; Line 692 Scho was þe first þat suferd schame For þe neueni[n]g of ihesu name. It was þaire custum, als men knew, Þat who so neuind þat name ihesu, Line 696 He suld be staned to ded als sone And so was with þat woman done.

De probatica piscina.

Ful many when þai saw þis sight Honord þe tre with all þaire might, Line 700 And þarto made þai more loueing Þan vntill any oþer thing; Þarfore þe iews thoght grete despite, And to þat tre þai went ful tyte; Line 704 Out of þe toun þai did it draw, For men þar-in no might suld knaw, For þai saw grete worde of it went,

And men þarto toke mekill entent Line 708 And many men honord it mare, Þan goddes þat in þe iewri ware; Þarfore þai ordand þam omang Þat na more worde of it suld gang, Line 712 Bot for vertu þat was þar-in Þai durst it nowþer breke ne brin; In to a dike þai gan it kast, So to be wasted at þe last, Line 716 Þarfore in þat dike þai it did; Bot god wald noght þe might war hid, Sen þat so grete word of it went, Þarfore his sande þarto he sent; Line 720 Euer-ilka day a sertaine tyme, Bitwix þe vnderon and þe prime, His angels to þat haly tre Ful oft-siþes men might þam se, [folio 80b] Line 724 Þai moued þe water in þat tide And wesche þe tre on ilka side; And all men þat war seke and sare If þai in þat tyme might be þare, Line 728 When þe water was moued swa; Wha so might first in-to it ga, If he had neuer so mekill bale, Hastily he suld be hale Line 732 Thurgh vertu of þat haly tre; Þis was knawin in ilk cuntré, For mani þat blind and croked ware Hastily war þai helid þare; Line 736 So when þe iews persayued right, Þat thurgh þe tre was schewid slike might, Þai said it suld noght lang be swa; Out of þe water þai gan it ta, Line 740 And ordand it to be a brig, Ouer a-noþer bek to lig, For so þai trowed þat mens fete,

And bestes þat went by þe strete, Line 744 Suld cum and ga all ouer þat tre So þat it suld wasted be; For grete despite in hert þam thoght Þat wonders thurgh it war wroght. Line 748 Þus lay þis tre þare, als I tell, Vntill þe sage quene, dame sibell, Come to ierusalem on a ȝere, Wisdom of salomon to here; Line 752 And by þat side hir gate was graid Whare þis haly tre was laid, And sone when scho þar-of had sight Scho honord it with all hir might, Line 756 Kneland doune on aiþer kne, Swilk vertu trowed scho in þe tre; Hir clathes gert scho þar-on lig, And bare fete went scho ouer þe brig; Line 760 Thurgh prophecy þan þus scho said— "Þis ilk tre þat here es laid A verray signe wele may it seme Of a domesman þat all sal deme, Line 764 Als lord and maister moste mighty, Þus may þis signe wele signify." Scho lended þare ay whils hir list, Grete wit of salomon scho wist; Line 768 And seþin ogayne gan scho ga To hir cuntré þat scho come fra, And þat tre euer scho gan honowre Þat seþin bare oure sauiowre; [folio 80b:2] Line 772 Þis haly tre lay in þat stede, Vntill þat crist suld suffe[r] dede, When dome was gifen ordand was he Forto be hanged opon a tre, Line 776 Þat als a cros þan suld be wroght; On swilk a tre þan had þai thoght, Sone a iew stode vp in hy,

And þus he said thurgh prophecy:— Line 780 "Þe kinges tre, I rede, ȝe take, Þe whilk ȝe laid ouer þe lake To make a cros both large and lang Þe kyng of iews þar-on to hang." Line 784 To þis þai all assented þan, And rathly out of þe toune þai ran; Þai toke þe tre þan þare it lay, Þe thrid part þai hewed oway, Line 788 And of þe rembnand haue þai made A large cros, bath lang and brade; Viij cubites þai made it lang With-outen þat in þe erth suld gang, Line 792 And aþer side of cubites thre Þat abouen þe heuid suld be; When it [was] made þus at þaire will, Þe ceté sone þai broght it till, Line 796 To pilate went þai ful gude spede, He held him wele paid of þaire dede.

De fabrice clauorum.

E cros es made, als it sall be, Bot þan þam nedes nayles thre; Line 800 Þe iews war ful redy boune And ran for na[i]les in-to þe toune; Vnto a smith þai come ful sone And bad, "belamy, biliue haue done, Line 804 Make thre nayles stif and gude At naile þe prophet on þe rode"; When þe smith herd þaire entent, How þat ihesu suld be schent, Line 808 In hert he had ful mekyll wa Obout þe nayles forto ga, For of ihesu he vnder-stode Þat [he] was prophet trew and gude; Line 812 Þarfore wele in his hert he thoght Þat for him suld no nayles be wroght;

He answerd þam with wordes fre And said "ȝe gett none nailes for me, Line 816 God has sent on me his merke So þat I may wirk no werk;" In his bosum he hid his hand [folio 81] And said he hurt it on a brand, Line 820 "Þar-on," he said, "I haue slike pine Þat I hope my hand to tyne." Þan answerd þe iews kene And said vnto him all in tene: Line 824 "All for noght þou feynes þe, All þi sare-nes will we se, And bot we find þi tales trew Ful sare it sall þi seluen rew." Line 828 Þus thai thret him in þaire saw, And gert him þare his hand out draw, Þan was þare schewed in þat place Grete gudenes, thurgh goddes grace; Line 832 His hand semed als it war sare And hurting had it neuer þe mare; Þe iews saw þat it was so, And namore said þai him vnto; Line 836 Furth come þan þe smithes whife, A fell woman and full of strife, By þe iews þare þai stode, Scho spac hir husband litill gude; Line 840 "Sir," scho said, and loud gan cry, "Sen when had þou slike malady; Ȝistereuen, when þe day was gane, Euill on þi handes had þou nane, Line 844 And sen sekenes es sent to þe Þir men sall noght vnserued be, Þai sall haue nayles or þai ga, Als sone my self sall þam ma." Line 848 Scho blew þe belise ferly fast, And made þe yren hate at þe last.

Þe iews helppid hir forto smite So þat thre nayles war made ful tite; Line 852 Hir husband saw and stode ful still, He durst noght say þat scho did ill; Þai war full grete and rudely wroght, Bot þarfore þai forsuke þam noght, Line 856 Bot sone, when þai þir nailes had, Furth þai went with hert ful glad, And hastily þai toke þe gate Vntill þai come to sir pilate. Line 860

IV.

FINDING OF THE CROSS. [[Harlein MS. 4196, [folio 149b:2] .]]

De Inuencione sancte crucis.

MEn aw to honure euer omang Þe cros þat al our hele on hang; And how þat haly tre was fun, Was þis feste ordand and bigun; Line 4 Þat tre vs aw forto do honoure Þat bare oure lord and oure sauioure. Whils Constantyne þe nobil king Lifd here in erth in grete liking, Line 8 Trew he was, in dede and saw, And lely lifed he in his law; In Rome he regnid als Emperoure, And gouerned it with grete honoure; Line 12 So in his tyme, trewly to tell, All on þis maner it bifell:— Þe grekis and þe folk of barbary Gederd ful grete cumpany, Line 16 Forto gif batail ogaynes rome, And so by strenkit it to ouercum; And when king Constantine herd tell Off al þis fare, how it byfell, Line 20 In his hert he had grete drede, For ful grete power gun þai lede; He ordand him grete cumpany Of men of armes and archery Line 24 His land with fighting to defend, And to hald it fro his enmis hend; And als he lay opon a night, Bifore þat day þat þai suld fight, Line 28 Him thoght he lukid to heuyn on high,

And in þe aire him thoght he sigh Þe same cros þat crist was on done, And a voice sayd þus to him sone: Line 32 "Ordayne þine armes on þis kin wise, Þan sal þou ouercum þine enmise; And in þis figure fully þou trayst, Þan thar þe no thing be abaist; Line 36 Mak þis in þine armes forþi, Þan sall þou haue þe victori."

In hoc vince.

He wakkend þan and was ful glad, [folio 150] For he so gude herting þan had; Line 40 Vp he rase with hert ful light And to his moder he went ful right, Þat was saynt Elyne þe noble quene, And tolde vnto hir ilkdele bidene; Line 44 Of þis tithing scho was ful fayne And gert ordan, with al hir mayne, Þat he suld haue swilk armes dight, Als he had sene by gastly sight; Line 48 His awin armes sone doun war laid And þe cros in his scheld purtraid, Byfore him in batayle to bere, And so he went furth to þe were; Line 52 And thurgh þe vertu of þe croyce, Als he was warned by gastly voyce, Al his enmis he ouer-come And broght þe victori to Rome. Line 56 Saint Elyne þan was wunder fayne Þat hir sun was cumen safe ogayne, And þat ilk figure of þe rode Honurde þai with mayn and mode; Line 60 Bot of þe cros no thing þai knew, Ne no thing wist þai of Ihesu, Ne no thing wist þai what it ment Þat þai honurd with gude entent. Line 64

Line 64 Þan king Constantine gert call Of Iewry þe maisters all, Forto enquere by þaire clergy What thing þat signe suld signify: Line 68 Þai said, "sir, lely we ȝow hete, Byfor þis tyme was a prophete Hight ihesuc, and [in] þis same Ceté Was he hanged on swilk a tre; Line 72 Ful many men þarbi was mend, And grete vertu þarof was kend, Bot sone efter þe iews it hid, For no might suld of it be kid, Line 76 And how it was hid sal ȝe here. Sir, it bifell in þis manere— When ihesuc vnto ded was done, Þe iews þan tok þaire counsail sone, Line 80 Forto hide þat ilke haly tre, So þat it suld noght honurd be; Vnder þe grete hill of caluary Þore groue þai it ful priuely, Line 84 With two crosses þat theues on hang, And also þe nayles þat war strang; Al kest þai priuely in a pyt, [folio 150:2] So þat no man suld of þam wit; Line 88 Þore haue þai liggen, on þis maner, Sethin more þan two hundreth ȝere, Sethin Tytus and vaspasian come And destroyd mony iews of Rome; Line 92 For right als þai boght ihesu fre For thritty penis of þaire moné, So war þai sold to þaire enmy Euer thritty iews for a peny; Line 96 On þis wise war þai al broght doun, Vnder þe Emperoure subieccione, So þat no man wun þore sald Of þe Emperure bot þai wald hald, Line 100

Line 100 And sethin als wide als þai er saun Has no iew hous of his awyn; Swilk maystris war made þam omell, And efter þat tyme þus bifell:— Line 104 In Rome ane Emperoure was þan Þat named was sir adrian, Cristen law wald he none ken, Bot euer distryed al cristenmen; Line 108 Þis Emperoure wele vnderstode Whore his elders had hid þe rode, And herby persayued he it right, For cristen men both day and night Line 112 Come to honure þat haly stede, And bousomly þore made þaire bede; Þai honurd þe mount of caluary, In wirschip of þe cros namely. Line 116 And þis Emperoure of Rome Wist cristen men so þeder come, Þe cros he wold noght þethin take, Bot þus he ordand for þaire sake Line 120 In þat same place to edify A temple for þaire maumetry, For cristen men suld þan forbere In þat stede to mak prayere; Line 124 Þan cristen men þat place refused, None of þam efter þeder vsed, And so it wurthed at þe last Þe cros al out of minde was past, Line 128 And þat was for no man herd say Þarof ne in what stede it lay. Lang efter þe temple of maumetry Was all distroyd fro Caluary, Line 132 Þan groued þe stede with thornes and breris, And of þe cros no thing men heris; For two hundreth ȝeres war omell, Bitwix þe tymes þat I of tell. [folio 150b] Line 136

Line 136 Þan Constantine was Emperoure And rewlid rome with grete honoure; Vnto him was tolde in þat tyde, How þat þe iews þe cros gun hide. Line 140 Vnto his moder he said in hi, "Moder, sen we haue þe victori And myne enmise þus er slone, Thurgh vertu of þe cros allone, Line 144 And clerkis has told to þow and me Þat criste was ded on swilk a tre, Ful fayn I wold þat tre war soght And sone vnto more honure broght." Line 148 Þan said his moder, saynt Elyne, "Sun, for suth I sal noght fyne Þat haly tre or I haue fun." And sone hir way scho has bigun, Line 152 Furth scho went with faire menȝé, To ierusalem, þat riche ceté. And when þe iews herd hereof tell Þat þe quene come þam omell, Line 156 Grete wunder had þai albidene, What thing hir cuming suld bimene. And al þe iews sone did scho call To cum into þaire comun hall, Line 160 Þe sertayn suth hir forto lere Of thinges þat scho wold enquere; Here-fore þe iews had mekil dout, Þai gedird togeder in grete rout, Line 164 And priuely þai ask þis thing, What was þe caus of þe quenes cuming. And sum, als þai had herd of hir, Said scho come for þe cros to spir, Line 168 Waron crist vnto dede was broght, And ilkone said þai knew it noght; So was þore ane þat hiyght Iudas, Þat grete mayster omang þam was; Line 172

Line 172 Saint simyon sun for suth was he, And Simyon was sun of ȝaché. Þis Iudas said, "sumdele I mene Of thinges þat here bifore has bene; Line 176 Simyon, my fader, als ȝe sall here, Told vnto me on þis manere:— When he wist wele sune forto dy 'Sun,' he said, 'herkin me in hy, Line 180 A counsail sall I tel to þe, Þe whilk I will you hald priué; If it bifall, sun, in þi liue [folio 150b:2] Þat any spir, oþir man or wiue, Line 184 Or efter þe cros will þe ass, Þat ihesu crist on hanged was, Or þai þarfore do þe to dede, Tell þam vnto swilk a stede, Line 188 Þat now es waste and al vnkid, For þore I wote wele was it hid; And if þou may þi ded escheu, Þan wald I þat no man it kneu.' Line 192 Þus tald he to me in what stede Þai groue þe rode bi comun rede, Bot if we any oþer wise mai do, I rede we tel noman þarto." Line 196 Þan had þai meruail in þaire mode For þai herd neuer are of þe rode; Þan come þai furth, ilkone bidene, In comun hall bifor þe quene. Line 200 Sone on þis wise scho said þam to— "Dose swith and chese one of þir two, Whethir ȝow es leuir to suffer dede, Or els to tel me in þis stede Line 204 Whore cristes cros in erth es hid, And bot ȝe do, als I ȝow bid, Ilkone ȝe sall be brint þis day." And sone a fire scho did puruay, Line 208

Line 208 And when þai saw þe fyr on brede, In þaire hertis þan had þai drede: Vnto þe quene al gun þai cry, "Lady, of vs here haue mercy, Line 212 For we wote no thing how it was; If any wote þan wote Iudas, For he was ane old prophet sun, Þe laws wele better mai he cun; Line 216 His elders war of þe alde state, And of þaire werkes sumdel he wate." Þan lete scho al þo oþer go, And Iudas toke hir vnto; Line 220 And for he wald tell no resoun, He was done in depe dungeoun, And þore he lay in mirknes grete, Seuyn dayes, with-outen drink or mete. Line 224 For hunger he cried on þe seuynd day, "Saue me and I sall yow say Whore ȝe sall fynd þe rude tre, Als my fader tolde vnto me; Line 228 Vnto me es þis mater dym, Bot sum knawing I haue by him." Fro prisun þan was Iudas tone, [folio 151:1] And furth went with þam ilkone Line 232 Vnto þe mount of Caluary; Þam folowd ful grete cumpany. And when þai come whore þai wald be, Þan Iudas knelid doun on his kne, Line 236 He said, "lord, þat all has in waldë, If tales be trew þat men has talde, If þou be he þis werld bigan, And verrayli es both god and man, Line 240 And of a maiden in erth was born, Als sere prophetis haue said biforn, Send us sum takening of þi grace, To find þe rude tre in þis place, Line 244

Line 244 Wharon þi self wald suffer dede, If it be hid here in þis stede." Als Iudas þus gun his prayers make, Þe hill obouen bigan to quake, Line 248 And þarof rase a ful grete reke, Bot þat was ful wele smelland smeke; Ful mekil mirth was þam omell, Fo[r] neuer man feld swetter smell; Line 252 Þan Iudas fast bigan to cry, And he said ful stedfastly, In veritate, christe, tu es redemptor mundi, "In suthfastnes, lord criste, I trow, Line 256 Þe sauioure of þis werld es þow, Þat born was of þe mayden chaste, And sall be euer of mightes maste; Vnto þi law I wil me take, Line 260 And þe Ieus law euer I forsake." Þan cristen man þai gan him mak And turned his name to Quiriak, Sethin was he Bisschop in hali kirk, Line 264 And hali werkis oft gun he wirk. Þai biheld whore þe smel come out, And fast grubed þai þore obout; So depe þai grubbed and so fast, Line 268 Thre crosses fand þai at þe last; Ane of crist both large and lang, And oþer two þat theues on hang, Bot þore was noman þat knew Line 272 Whilk was þe cros of ihesu. Þan Quiriak prayd, with hert and hend, Þat god suld þam þe nailes send Þat nayled crist þe rude vnto; Line 276 And sune when he had prayed so Thre nayles aperd vnto þare sight, [folio 151:2] In þe erth schineand ful bright; Þai toke thre nayles and crosses thre Line 280

Line 280 And bare þam to þe riche ceté; Ful mikel folk come þam ogayne And of þare fare þai war ful fayne; And on a bere þore gun men bring Line 284 A ded bodi vnto þe beryiing. Quiriak bad þam þat it bare Set doune þe bere omang þam þare, So forto proue þare, or þai pas, Line 288 Whilk of þa crosses cristes was; Quiriak fast vnto god prayd And ane cros to þe cors he layd, And sethin ane oþer he laid þartill, Line 292 Bot ȝit euer lay þe bodi styll; Þe thrid cros þan he toke forþi And layd it vnto þe ded body, And als sune als it neghed nere Line 296 Þe cors rase up, both hale and fere; And al þe folk þat saw þat sight Loued god, with al þaire might; And so þai past into þe toun, Line 300 With a fful fayre processioune; Al loued þai god, with ioyful mode, And saynt elyn scho bare þe rode; Þan sone omang þam herd þai ȝell Line 304 A ful grete dyn of deuils of hell; Þai cried, "allas and wayloway, For dole what sal we do þis day; Þe tre es funden whilk we suppose Line 308 Sall ger vs all oure pouwer lose, For we haue power in no place, Whore men on þam þat takin mase; Now mun oure power fro us pas, Line 312 Wo wurth þe while it funden was! For fro þat figure bihoues vs fle So with man-kind ouercumen er we; It puttes oway all oure powere, Line 316

Line 316 So þat we mai noght negh it nere, Bot-if we may with any gyn Mak þam to do dedly syn; Þan with þam wil I wun and wake, Line 320 For all þe crosses þat þai can make, Bot I may neuer no man spill With syn, bot-if þam seluin will; Asay I sall, with sere sutelté, Line 324 To ger men syn and serue me." Quiriak said þan to þe fende [folio 151b:1] "Þou wikked deuil þi way þou wende, Vnto þe deppest hole of hell, Line 328 Euermore in dole to dwell; For funden es now þe haly tre Þat fellis þi pride and þi pousté." Þe fendes þan with hidose cry Line 332 Vanist fro þam ful sudanly; Þan went þai furth with meri mode Vnto þaire temple þai bare þe rude. Þan þe nobil quene Eline Line 336 Gert mak a case of syluer fyne, With gold and precius stones plenté, And closid þarin þat haly tre; And on þe mount of caluary Line 340 Gert scho mak a kirk in hy, And þore scho set þe haly tre Of all men honord forto be; And sone when it was þeder broght, Line 344 Fro sere sides men þeder soght, And ful grete grace was þore schewd, And grete releue to lerd and leude; Thurgh cristen land so es it kend, Line 348 Þat fro þe fendes it mai us fend, So þat þai may do us none ill, Bot-if oure self assent þartill; For in werld has he no powere, Line 352

Line 352 Night ne day to negh us nere, If we his werkis will forsake, And cristes cros opon vs make. God grante us grace so to honoure Line 356 Þe cros þat bare oure sauioure, Þat we may to þat blis be broght, Whilk crist with his blode to us boght.

VI.

HOW ÞE HALI CROS WAS FUNDIN. BE SEINT
ELAINE [[Fairfax MS. 14, Bod. Lib. [folio 88b] , art, 63.]]

Of þe rode now for to rede ihesus criste he be mi spede, þat þare-on suffred sorouful pine to lause vs fra our wiþer-wine; Line 4 we agh to buxumli hit bere, for hit of bote is our banere, baþ on bodi and in hert, againe alle our care hit is our quert. Line 8 quen ihesus þer-of was vn-done, þe iewes hid hit efter sone fra cristen men hit to blinde; laþ ware ham þai sulde hit finde, Line 12 þai wiste þe cristen walde hit kepe for-þi in erþ þai grofe hit depe vnder erþ, and oþer twa quare-on þe theuis hang on squa; Line 16 þe riȝt rode þai went to dille out of þe cristen mennis skille, þat if wiþ chaunce men on ham hit quilk þai sulde haue þai sulde noȝt witt: Line 20 ¶ bot crist, þat nane is to him like, walde noȝt late his dere relike, squa noteful þing, squa lang be hid, þat he ne walde þat hit ware kid. Line 24 quen hit had bene ij. hundre ȝere vnder erþ, þat druri dere, to bote of baþ our saule and life, he did hit be fundin þorou a wife: Line 28

Line 28 a duȝti wife, þat hiȝt Eline, was moder of king costantine, ho fande hit, qua-sum wil wite hit now, herkin and I sal tel hit ȝou. Line 32

Als in stori. I. red and fande, quen costantine was liuande of rome þen was he emperour, againe heþin folk stiþe in stoure; Line 36 be-tid a tide þat heþin lede come him batail for to bede; sa mikil folk þai wiþ ham led þat costantine was sare a-dred. Line 40 þai come tille him þat ilk niȝt atte þai sulde on þe morne fiȝt. ¶ A man þat selcouþ faire was graide [folio 89] come to þe kinge and þus he saide:— Line 44 "costantine loke vp and se til heiuen-warde and conforte þe." he lokid vp and in þat siȝt, he sagh [þar] cristis crosse ful briȝt; Line 48 a titel sagh he þar-on lye, "here-in þou salle haue victorie." þen did þe kinge make [of] a neyuen [read an euen.] suche a cros as he sagh in heyuen [read heuen.] ; Line 52 and vp in trauþ he ras stedefast and braþeli on his faas he brast, and did þat cros be-for him lede and felled doun þat cursid lede; Line 56 þai felle, þai fled þa wiþer-wine, þe victorie has kinge costantine þorou þe croice and cristis miȝt, and þorou þaire stedfast trauþ in [d]riȝt. Line 60

Þen sende þe king constantine sandis til his moder eline for to do seche, wiþ-outen hone, þe cros þat criste on was done, Line 64

Line 64 to finde þat hali tree sum-quare and make a kirke be raisid þare. benciras and ansiers, þer twa men was messagers, Line 68 þai ware sende to þe quene fra rome; bot herkenis how þai gaue dome. ¶ þis lauedi had þen hir wiþ a cristen man, was gode goldsmiþ, Line 72 quat þing þat ho him of walde mouþ[e] atte hir deuise make he couþe, bot pouer he was of litil aȝt. and to a iew mikil he aȝt Line 76 a soumme of money for to amount, and askid him ful harde a-count; þe couenand was made ful harde and saide he made him suche forwarde, Line 80 if he his money muȝt noȝt gett, þat he sulde ȝilde him for his dett þat ilk weȝt at þer was lesse he sulde ȝilde of his awen flesse. Line 84 þe dai Is past, þe dette vn-quit, þe bodi be-houis be-leue for hit. ¶ þe cristen dred ful sare þe pine, bot þe iew walde neuer fine. Line 88 baþ to þe quenis court þai come, þe iew þrali bad gif him dome. sharp grundin knife in hande he bare, þe cristen [MS. has iew altered to cristen.] stode nakid be-for him þare; Line 92 þai walde for money had him boȝt, bot grante of þe iew gatte þai noȝt; of raunsoun na mare þen a risshe walde he take bot of his flesshe. Line 96 ¶ Saide benciras and ansiers:— "þou sal haue broþer al þi fers, þe quene has biddin vs to deme And al þat resoun is to queme, Line 100

Line 100 say vs how þou wil him diȝt and we salle giue þe dome ful riȝt." ¶ "how," saide þe iew, "bot be my lay, þat werst þat euer I. can or may, Line 104 his eien first putt out I. sal and his hende smite of wiþ-al; tonge and neise wil I. noȝt saue, til atte I al my couenande haue." Line 108 ¶ þe messagers him gaf ansquare "þen semis hit noȝt þou wil him spare, take þou þe flesse we deme þe, squa atte þe blode mai sauid be; Line 112 a drope of blode if atte þou tine we gif ȝou dome, þe wrange is þine; al if his flesshe was salde and boȝt his blode to selle neuer he þoȝt; Line 116 þe fallis þe flesshe, we ar wele knawen, kepe him þe blode þat is his awen." ¶ þen saide þat iew, "be saint driȝtine me þink þe wers part is mine; Line 120 to take þe flesshe if I. assay þen þe blode wil ryn a-way; for-done ȝe haue me wiþ ȝour dome, and þat make ȝe romains of rome; Line 124 maugrefe þer-fore mote ȝe haue, alle þat suche a dome me gaue." ¶ benciras þen saide, "parfay alle has þis court herde þe missay, Line 128 me and my felaw sir ansiere; þou has missaide riȝt foule here, we wil missay þe na wiȝt, bot ellis of þe we wil haue riȝt; Line 132 þe lauedi, for ho did vs leue, ho bad vs riȝtli dome to giue, and þe soþ we haue þe saide, þer-fore þou dos vs now vpbraide." Line 136

Line 136 ¶ þe lauedi bad, wiþ-outen lite, iugement on him þai sulde giue tite, for sicure was ho þan of site, [folio 89b] þat þe cristen man was quite. Line 140 þe iew was dampned, so at þe quene sulde al his catel haue be dene, In hir merci his tonge to take, þat in hir presence suche wordis spake. Line 144 þe iew him þuȝt selcouþ tene atte þis dome at was sa kene, and saide on hiȝt, atte al muȝt here, "me ware leuer ȝou to lere Line 148 quare lijs ȝour lordis rode tree, þen þus smartli dampned be." ¶ "god wate frende," þen saide eline, "þou sal be quite of alle þi pine Line 152 if þou wil do as I. þe bid, to shew vs quere þat cros is hid." "lauedi," he saide, "be my lay, þe soþ ȝet can I. noȝt say; Line 156 bot sette me a certaine day þat wiþ my maistris speke I may, I salle þe bringe tiþande of hit, þe quilk bleþeli þou walde witt" Line 160 ¶ "Gladli," ho saide, "here I þe hiȝt of a day respite and a niȝt;" ¶ saide elaine, "certis bot þou hit finde of baþ þine eien þou sal be blinde." Line 164 ¶ þe iew him sped tawarde his tide, ouer his day durst he noȝt bide; na selcouþ if he dred him sare, he wiste þe quene walde him noȝt spare; Line 168 til hir he went better spede, and saide, "lauedi I. knaw my dede, priuely be-houis vs fare, and folowes me wiþ-outen mare." Line 172

Line 172 þar-fore he went him sone in hy vn-to þe mount of caluary; and oþer folk went wiþ þe quene, þidder þai went al bedene. Line 176 ¶ sone quen þai þaire praier makid, þe erþ vnder ham hit shakid. þen saide þe iew þat al þis herde, "criste þou art sauiour of þis werde!" Line 180 his claþis he kest, al bot his serke, to make him nemil vn-to his werke; siþen he toke a spade in hande, lange he dalue, bot noȝt he fande; Line 184 ¶ quen he riȝt depe had dellui[n] sare, mare þen xx. fote or mare, þai fande iij. crossis; an was þat ilke, bot wiste þai noȝt quilk was quilk, Line 188 þe quilk muȝt be þe lordis tre, and quilk muȝt þe theuis be: wiþ mikil ioy and mikil gle, to þe toun þai bare þa þre; Line 192 þer ware þai done in certaine place, for to a-bide our lordis grace.

Aboute midward of þe day and mare a dede man cors forþ þai bare; Line 196 saint elaine made hir praier þare, so did al þe folk was þare, þat crist sulde ham takening shaw his awen dere tree to knaw. Line 200 on aiþer tree þe cors on rane, bot alwais lay hit stil as stane; ¶ þe þrid þai touchid wiþ his hide, and vp he rase wiþ-outen bide, Line 204 and spac wiþ a bliþ voyce, and þus gatis he hailsed þe croice:— "god loke þe cros precious þinge, on þe hange þat heiest kinge; Line 208

Line 208 menskid wiþ his flesshe was þou, of alle trees maste of vertu; he has þe halghed at mast con ken, and þe salle mensk al cristen men." Line 212 ¶ þis miracle sene wiþ mani man, þai bare hit to þe temple þan; þe Iewes to þe baptim ran, þer was cristened mani a man. Line 216 quen þat cros was broȝt in men muȝt se þinge is ȝet to myn, for þat tree þat hit of was shorne, as talde is in þis boke be-forne, Line 220 and al-wais in þat temple lay, and ȝet was funden þer þat day; hit ȝalde of hit sa squete a smel, how gode hit was can I. noȝt tel; Line 224 þe smelle ouer al þe temple spred, and þer-wiþ amendid ilka sted; and bi þat smellinge muȝt man se hit was shorne of þat ilk tree. Line 228 ¶ a iew þat mikil had herde and sene, he talde þe soþ vn-to þe quene, and saide, his eldris talde him be dene, quatkin a tree hit sulde haue bene; Line 232 quen ho had herde al his resoun, þen can ho make hir orisoun, þat god witering sulde sende hir sone, [folio 90] whar ho sulde þat cros done. Line 236 ¶ our lorde hir sende an angel wise, and bad hir dele hit in foure partise; þe tane sulde in þe temple lende, to rome men sulde þe toþer sende, Line 240 til alisaundre to bere þe þrid, þe firþ to bere hir Seluin mid, to costentine with hir to wende, and alsqua did. þat lauedi hende. Line 244

Line 244 ¶ In foure pecis þai hit smate, of þe quiche got hit wate; þai did riȝt with ij. as god ment, til rome and alisaundre ham sent; Line 248 þe þrid þai left in þat cité, as in stede of auctorité; þe firþ led hir wiþ eline vn-to hir sone king costantine; Line 252 to mete hir ȝode mani baroun, wiþ grete and faire processioun; wiþ-in þe kirke of saint sophie þer haue þai sette hit richelie; Line 256 was neuer ȝet na tree in lande sa riche ne sa faire shewande; Men was wonte to come to se at ilke paskis þat hali tree. Line 260 daies iiij. ham sette for stage þe emperour wiþ his baronage, ¶ a-pon þe day of mandee; þe riche quene wiþ hir meyne, Line 264 a-pon þe friday efterwarde [MS. ofter|warde.] , of pardoun for to serue hir part; þe clergi on þe seterday, þat kepers ware of cristen lay; Line 268 wiþ-outen case þer daies þre þis cros was þen, and man mote se; ¶ and hit was talde of mani man, at a licour þer-of ranne, Line 272 þat wiþ betinge was bote of bale, and sekenes diuers to make ham hale; a vessel, þat hit ware noȝt tint, stode vnder þat licour for to hint, Line 276 for to dele vn-to þe vnfere, to sende ouer al þe cuntree sere.

ÞE grace of god is grete and gode, þat giuis vs ensaumple of þe rode; Line 280

Line 280 ma miȝtes has our lorde wroȝt þen ani man mai þink in þoȝt: bot man of trauþ is squa vnsely, þai traw noȝt bot þai se wiþ ey; Line 284 and þat vnneþis wil þai traw, wiþ-outen signe of grete vertu. me þink, if ȝe þe soþ haue soȝt, þat syn þe werlde was first wroȝt, Line 288 miraclis of þe crossis miȝt has oft standen in stede and riȝt, ouer and vnder, riȝt and left, in þis compas god has al weft; Line 292 ¶ bot-if man of him-selue be blinde, vm-þink him wele he sal hit finde, þe liknes of þis tree sa trew was in þe alde laghe, be-for þe new, Line 296 and in þe new laghe alsqua sere, þat sum ar gode of for to here. ¶ I þink þis is þat tree of blis þat riȝtwisnes to bundin is. Line 300 had adam fundin hit atte hande, þar-wiþ he muȝt had life lastande; þat plauntid hit is in paradis and dos þe dede vp for to rise. Line 304 ¶ and adam, quen he wroȝt had woghe, vnder þis tree he him droghe, þat did him god to resoun and did him hope of pardoun. Line 308 þe blode of abel hit crid als, quen him had slaine his broþer fals; wiþ-in þat cry was grete þing hid, þat in þis cros now is kid. Line 312 and dede, for soþ, had bene noe, had noȝt him saued þat tree. of foure corners þe arche was made, als has þe cros of lange and brade; Line 316

Line 316 þe dore of þe arche a-pon þe side, and þer was ihesus wounded wide; qua wil vm-þinke him in his mode mai finde mani takenis of þe rode. Line 320 ¶ Our lorde gaf moises a wande to wirke maistri wiþ in hande; sum time was hit worme, sum time ȝerde, as men I.-noghe has saide and herde Line 324 þat wele be takenid. þat cipres, þer-of was warnis[t] [MS. warms.] moises, baþ in worde and in dede. quen israel of egipt ȝede, Line 328 of þat blessed lambis blode, a cros was made in signe of rode; þa at cros had on ham drawen, [folio 90b] our lorde ham sauid as for his awen; Line 332 and al þa oþer ware bot tint and taȝt vn-to þe angels dint. ¶ quen þe nedderes þat ware fel stanged þe folk of israel, Line 336 quen þai welk in wildernes, vnder þe warde of sir moyses, a nedder was sette a-pon a tree, þat quen þe stanged muȝt se Line 340 þe nedder on þe tree þer hange, þai ware alle warisht of þaire stange. ¶ quen þai saghe, as þai did oft, moises lift his hende on loft, Line 344 þe quilist he helde his hende on croice, ay herde his awen folk þe voice. ¶ quen strife was a-boute presthede, in þe dais a-mange þe iewes lede, Line 348 to xij. men taȝt þai wandes xij., ilkan merkid his him-selue, and saide quilk wande beris blome sulde haue þe presthede wiþ dome; Line 352

Line 352 þer florisht an, as ȝe haue herde, þe cros a-pon þat ilk ȝerde. ¶ Heliseus on oþer-wise did a dedeman for to rise; Line 356 þe staf þat he a-pon him did þe crosse hit bare to tak in hede. ¶ quen dauid faȝt againe þat etin has he noȝt his staf for-ȝetin; Line 360 vn-to þe bataile he hit bare, muȝt na kinge squorde do mare. þe signe of tav. in alde lawes be-takenis cros in our dawes, Line 364 þe men at þar wiþ blessed ware hit helped ham fra mis-fare; tav and cros baþ ar as an, bot. tav has ȝerde a-bouen nan. Line 368 of croice in þe alde testament was mani bisening, qua to cowde tent, ¶ croice is, qua-sum [MS. qua|sim.] wil or nay, baner of hali kirk to-day; Line 372 man has noȝt herde þat fole be lorne þat hali crosse has wiþ ham borne. bot has be-tid, baþ now and are, þe lesse folk ouer-come þe mare, Line 376 þer croice was stad atte ani fiȝt, if þe dude be tane wiþ riȝt. Of cros to telle for-gete I noght, of cros þe formast man was wroȝt, Line 380 of cros þe first of alle wifis; of cros god boȝt our saule liuis, þer-on he gaf him-self raunsoun, and of him-self made gunfanoun. Line 384 þe cros of medicine beris bote, baþ in frute and als in rote; in cros hit was for vs þe flour þat we haue þorou sa grete honour. Line 388

Line 388 a riche liknis ay beris hit, hit is þe heued of hali writte, foundement. of our clergie, rewle hit is of haly vie. Line 392 makid hit is of foure and þre, now is hit talde bot for a tree; nokis foure and trees þrin, syn þe þrid was done þer-in. Line 396 In trees þrin and faure parates I. vnderstande þe vij. artis; of iiij. and iij., qua tellis eyuen, he sal hit noumbre make of vij. Line 400 þou do to gedder x. and ij. þe laghis twin sal þou finde squa; In x. sal þou finde þe halde, in tale of twa þe new is talde. Line 404 man has on croice his schaping knawen, and he him-selfe on vij is drawen, baþ in bodi and saule, I. say; þe bodi of elementȝ twies tway, Line 408 þe saule hit has of strengthis þrin, þat takin of cros þai bere wiþ-in. ¶ quen god þat ordeins alkin state, of alle in his for-þoȝt he wate, Line 412 ferlely puruaied he an; a cros of tree and noȝt of stane, bot þat was for to make mende of þe tree þat was defende: Line 416 his cros he has wroȝt with craft, hit beris schap til alkin shaft. wele did moises þat hit fande, and dauid als þat fot þe wande, Line 420 and salamon þat fel hit did; and ho þat hit fande, quare hit was hid, elaine at squa gerne hit soȝt, and til our note now has hit broȝt, Line 424

Line 424 ho delt hit wisely as ho wilde, þat al þis werlde hit is fulfilde of þe name and of þe smelle, [folio 91b] for-þi is gode þer-of to telle. Line 428 Eline ne walde noȝt for lete þe naylis, in hende and fete þat driuen ware; ful ȝorne ho soȝt til ho ham fand, fund ho noȝt, Line 432 a werk of ham ho wroȝt ful fine In bridel of king costantine; was na cristal als briȝt, ne sa shene to mani siȝt; Line 436 quidder-sum [MS. sim.] he ferde þat sire, þe bridel briȝtnes bare of fire; mani þat sagh þat bridel briȝt turned to þe grace of goddis miȝt. Line 440 costantine ham bare iij. ȝere, quen he droghe til his endinge nere, out to þe bridil he ham laȝt, and to be side þe crois ham taȝt, Line 444 þat mani vertu siþen wroȝt, þorou miȝt of crist þat vs boȝt; at costantine noble and in fraunce god has made mani mustraunce. Line 448 ¶ At saint denis is his croun, wiþ þa nailis redy boun; mani man come seke and sare at þaire hele had fundin þare. Line 452 ¶ now þe crois is broȝt til ende, þe crois miȝt mote vs defende; qua-sum [MS. sim.] þis tale can beter tende, for cristis loue he hit amende; Line 456 þis tale, queþer hit be il or gode, I fande hit writen of þe rode. mani tellis diuerseli, for þai mai finde diuerse story, Line 460

Line 460 ¶ þat fande þe crois he hiȝt Iudas; made bisshop of þe toun he was, and his name was turnid þus, þat he was calde quiriacus: Line 464 ¶ quen fundin was þis hali crois, þe warlaghe saide on-loft with vois:— "a ha Iudas! quat has þou done, þou has me greued, I warne þee sone Line 468 at þou did þat cros kiþe, þou salle rew hit mani siþe; þorou hit ware mani saulis myne, þat I am ferde now to tyne; Line 472 noȝt for-þi I. wil noȝt nyte, ful wele I sal þi dedis quite; [MS. didis.] a-noþer kinge gaine þe sal rise þat sal make þe to grise, Line 476 and do þe suffer sa mykil shame, at þou sal nite ihesu name; and þis was saide be tirand an. þat quiriac was of siþen slan: Line 480 ¶ þat findis cry quen Iudas herde, neuer þe mare was he ferde, bot waried he þat quiþer-wine, and saide, "crist þat is lorde myne, Line 484 he deme þe in-to helle depe, euer in wellande wa to wepe." Þat hali crois, I of haue red, quar-on ihesus for vs was spred, Line 488 hit is our shilde and our spere, againis þe feinde for to were; ilk day in were we weinde bot þat ihesu vs grace sende, Line 492 þorou þe crois a-gaine þe fende to be our socour at our ende.

VII.

EXPOSITION OF THE HOLY ROOD [[Harl. 4196, [folio 177:2] .]]

In festo exaltacionis sancte crucis.

A king sum tyme in cuntré was, Þat had to name king chodroas, A sun he had þat was his ayre, And oþer menzé many and faire. Line 4 Of þe cuntré of pers was he king, And all þe land at his dedeing. He gert ilk ceté and ilk toune Vnto his biding be so boune, Line 8 Þat in a trone up he him sett, And cumand þam with-owten lett Þat king of kinges þai suld him call, [folio 177b:1] And allso god grettest of all, Line 12 And lord of lordes both loud and still, And none on melde [Read molde.] mete him untill. Zit was noght þis in þat sesowne Inogh till his confusione; Line 16 Bot to ierusalem he went, And said all suld be schamely schent Þat trowed on crist or on his lay. Þar-to he dose all þat he may, Line 20 In ierusalem þaire kirkes he stroyde, And cristen men ful gretly noyed. He toke his wai þan to þe graue Whare crist was layd þat vs sall saue, Line 24 It to destroy with all his mayn; Bot for ferdnes he turned ogayne, And durst do no thing at þe kyrk,

Bot wikkedly þus gan he wirk. Line 28 Saint Eline þe nobill quene, Þat lang bifore his tyme had bene, Fand þe cros [MS. cors.] þat men cald þe rode, Þat ihesuc died on for oure gude, Line 32 And to ierusalem scho it broght, And graithed it þare als hir gude thoght, In siluer and go[l]d al bidene, For þat it suld be kepid clene, Line 36 And þat same kirk gert scho make Coriosly for þat cros sake, For men suld hald þat haly tre In honore als it aw to be. Line 40 Bot þis ilk king chosdroass [MS. choso|roass.] , When he wist whare þis ilk cros was, He gert his men with grete maystry Haue it forth with him in hy Line 44 Out of ierusalem ceté, And broght it whare him liked to be. When he was þus cumen hame ogayn, Of his iorné he was ful fayne, Line 48 And hastili þan [MS. þant.] gert he dight A faire toure all off siluer bright; He made it nobilly for þe nanes, Within all ful of precius stanes. Line 52 A trone of gold þarin he sett, With precius stanes all ouer plett, And þarein gert he gayly dyght, Like son and mone and sternes bright; Line 56 Also zit gert he mak þarin Propirtese by preué gyn, Þat it was like untill a heuyn; [folio 177b:2] And rayn þarfro cumand ful euyn Line 60 And preué whistils war omang Made euyn like to angels sang. Þare in þat toure als him gude thoght,

A sege untill him self he wroght, Line 64 And þare he gert with mekill pride Set þe haly cros him biside. Þar als a god he sat in stall, And so he bad men suld him call. Line 68 His kingdom and all his riallté, Vntill his sun haly gaf he; And on þis wise þat curst caytiue In maumetry wald lede his liue. Line 72 And so he did full many a day Ledeand þe folk in fendes lay. Þus with þe deuil we lat him dwell, And of his son I sall now tell. Line 76 A nobill king of cristendum, Þat namen was heraclium, Was gouernowre of grete [empire] Souerainly als lord and syre; Line 80 Childer he had and worthly wife, In cristes law he led his life. Þan þis son of chosdroas In his hert euill angerd was Line 84 Þat þis cristen king had name More þan he or his sire at hame. Þarfore he ordand him in hy, And gaderd a grete cumpani Line 88 Of sarzins by his assent; And with ful grete ost es he went, With þis cristen king to fight, And to destroy him if he might. Line 92 Bot sone eraclius herd tell, Of þis falshed how it bi-fell. He ordand him full hastily Of cristen men grete cumpany. Line 96 Bot als it was oure lordes will, When aither come oþer vntill, In place whare þai swld batayl take,

On þis wisse gan þai couenant make. Line 100 A water was þam twa by-twene, And a brig all ouer it clene. Þe sarzyn was mekill of brede and lenth, And traisted mikill in his awin strenkth. Line 104 Þarfore þis forward gan he ma To do þe batail bitwix þam twa. And þat þe cristend man suld mete him [folio 178:1] In middes þe brig was ouer þe brim, Line 108 And wheþer so might maistri win On his side suld þe bataill blin; And he suld haue in his pousté All þat þai bath had, land and fe. Line 112 To þis couenant assented þai bath, And þarto band þai þam with ath, Þat if þaire men on owþir side Come forto help þam in þat tide, Line 116 Þai suld be cut for þaire iornay, Þaire armes and þaire legges oway, And so be kasten in þe flode, And saue þam suld none erthly gude. Line 120 When bath þe sides war sworn þar-till, Þis couenand lely to fulfill, Þe twa lordes [MS. lorde lordes.] on þe brig [MS. bring.] met, And aiþer hard on oþer set. Line 124 Ful fast þare faght þai tow in fere, And none oþer durst negh þam nere. Þan cristen men, with hertes fre, Prayed to ihesu crist, þat he Line 128 Suld send þaire prince þe victory, Als he for þam on rode wald day, And all þai praied þan with a voice:— "Thurgh vertu of þi haly croyce, Line 132 Whar-thurgh þou wan þe victori Of þe fende, oure fals enmy, Þou grante þis day oure prince to wyn

Þe maistri ouere zon fals sarzyn." Line 136 On þis manere all prayed þai fast; And ihesuc herd þam at þe last, And ordand to his trew serwand Of þe sarzin to hawe ouer [MS. euer.] hand, Line 140 And to destroy him in þat place. Blisced be he þat gaf slike grace. Sone when þe sarzins saw þis sight, How þaire maister to ded was dight, Line 144 Swilk drede in hert had þai ilkane, Þat þai oblist þam noght allane, To hald þe couenand made byforne, Bot new athes all haue þai sworn, Line 148 With eraclius forto stand, In ill and gude, with hert and hand, And wilfully all hale hete þai, Forto leue on cristes lay, Line 152 And forto bycum cristen men, And crist for þaire god euer to ken. Sone when eraclius saw þat sight, [folio 178:2] He resayued þam with hert ful light, Line 156 And cownsaild þam with wordes fre, Þat þai suld all baptist be, And trow in crist with gude entent, And to his saw all þai assent. Line 160 So war þai baptist all þat day, And lifed euer in cristes lay. Veraclius [So in MS.] when þis was done, In-to pers puruaid him ful sone, Line 164 And with him all þat cumpany Þat bifore lifed in maumetry. And als he went thurgh-out þat land, All þe folk þat he þare fand Line 168 Ouþer war þai baptist sone Or els þai war vnto ded done. Þus conquert he all þat cuntré,

Till he come tyll þat same ceté, Line 172 Whare Cosdroas so sitand es Als a god in grete reches. Into þe toure he went full sone And fand him sitand in his trone, Line 176 Dubbed obut with pricius stanes, And dight ful nobilly for þe nanes. Biside him stode þat haly tre Þat þai had soght so forto se; Line 180 And souerainly for þat tre sake, Wirschip to him gan þai make. Þan cosdroas was full affraid, And þus Eraclius to him said:— Line 184 "If þo will haue þi life in land, Als I say sall þou vnder-stand, For þou has done þis tre honore, Þat bare ihesu oure sauyore; Line 188 All if þou did it noght for him Vnto þe grante I life and lym. At þe reuerence of þis haly tre, If þo will trow in ihesu fre, Line 192 And forsake all þi mawmetry, Þat þou and þi folk yn affy, And turn þe unto ihesu crist, And in his name will be baptist, Line 196 Þi life in land þan haue þou sall And all þi kingdom still withall. And if þou will noght do þis rede With my swerd þou sal be dede." Line 200 Þis sarzin wald noght turn his mode, To leue his fals goddes for no gude. Þarfore Eraclius ful sone [folio 178b:1] Strake of his heuyd with-outen hone, Line 204 And bad þat he sul[d] haue beriing, By-caus þat he had bene a king. Þan þai toke þat haly tre,

With ful grete solempnité, Line 208 And bare it [MS. if.] furth so þam omang, With himpnes and with nobil sang. And all þe folk þan war ful glad, Þat þai þis haly tre þus had. Line 212 Hamward þai toke þe way in hy, With mekill mirth and melody; And als þai come in þe strete, Doun ouer þe mownt of olyuete, Line 216 Als it fell in þare iornay, To ierusalem þe redy way, Graithly furth þai held þe gate, Vnto þai come till þat ilk zate, Line 220 Whare ihesuc crist went in ful playn, When he come þeder at suffer payn; And mekill folk of þat same toune, Þat war cumen with processiowne, Line 224 For wirschip of þe haly tre, And sum þat reall sight to se, Eraclius him self gan ride Bifor þe prese with mekill pride, Line 228 And oþer lordes þat with him ware, Þe haly cros oma[n]g þam bare. And þus, with grete solempnité, Entred þai to þat ceté. Line 232 Bot when þai neghed þe zates nere, Þis meruaill fell on þis manere. Þe zates, þat bifore war wide, Closed samyn sone in þat tyde, Line 236 Þat kenyng of zate was þare nane, Bot all closed alls a wall of stane, So þat þai might no takning se, On whilk syde þai suld haue entré. Line 240 Sone when þai saw þis wonder dede, In þaire hertes þai had grete drede. Eraclius [MS. Era|chius.] and oþer ma,

When þai saw þat it was swa, Line 244 Þai praied ihesuc oure sawiowre In þat case þam to socoure, Thurgh uertu of þat haly tre, Þat þai might win to þat ceté. Line 248 Þus praied þai all with drery steuyn, Heueand up þaire heuides till heuyn; And als þai loked so up on hight, [folio 178b:2] Þai saw ane angell schineand bright, Line 252 Euyn opon þe wall standand, And þe signe of þe cros in his hand; He stode obouen whare þe zate suld be, And þir wordes on þis wise sayd he. Line 256 He said, "when crist of heuyn king, Þat lord es of all erthly thing, Þis same wai to þis ceté went, Þare forto suffer [MS. susfer.] grefe turment, Line 260 In at þis zate he toke þe way, Bot he come all on oþer array. Grete hors for him none ordand was, Bot sitand on a simple ass; Line 264 He was noght cled in kinges clething, Bot pouerly went he in all thing; He went noght with grete minstralsy, Bot in his prayers ful preuely: Line 268 Ensaumple suthly forto gif To þam þat in his law wald lif, In him to trow with trew entent, And mekely to wende als he went." Line 272 When þis was said, he went up euyn, With grete light, till oure lord in heuyn. Þe Emperoure þan Eraclius Ful hertly thanked dere ihesuc; Line 276 And all þe folk þat with him ware War ful faine of þis ferly fare. Sone of his stede doun es he light,

And kest of all his clething bright, Line 280 His corown and his kinges array And his dubbing he did oway, And barefot went he on his fete, Bereand þe cros [MS. cors.] by þe strete. Line 284 And on þis maner did þai all. And when þe king come nere þe wall, It opind and wex zates wide, Als it had bene bifor þat tyde. Line 288 Þai entred þan with solempne sang, Ful mekill mirth was þam oma[n]g; And þe cros bare þai þam bitwene, Till þe stede whare it bifore had bene, Line 292 And up þai set it really, And honord it als was worthi. Þat day þare, thurgh þe cors allane, War miracles wroght ful maniane, Line 296 Of sere blind men þat had þaire sight, And crokid men war made ful right; Of parlesy war helid grete wane, [folio 179:1] And dum and defe ful maniane; Line 300 And leprous men had hele in haste, And out of many war deuils chaste. Þus war þai held ful grete plenté, Thurgh vertu of [þat] haly tre, Line 304 Þat bare ihesu oure sawiowre, Vnto him be euer honowre.

VIII.

DISPUTE BETWEEN MARY AND THE CROSS [[Vernon MS. [folio 315b:3] .]]

Disputacio inter Mariam et Crucem, secundum Apocrafum.

I.

Oure ladi freo·, on Rode treo·, made hire mon: Heo seide on þe· Line 4 þe fruit of me· is wo bigon: Mi fruit I· seo· in blodi bleo· Line 8 Among his fon, Serwe I· seo·, þe veines fleo· from blodi bon: Line 12 Cros·! þou dost no trouþe; On a pillori· my fruit to pinne, He haþ no spot· of Adam sinne; Flesch· and veines· nou fleo a-twinne, Line 16 Wherfore I· rede of routhe·:

II.

Cros· þi bondes schul ben blamed, Mi fayre fruit· þou hast bi-gyled; Þe fruites Mooder· was neuere a-famed, Line 20 Mi wombe is feir·, founden vn-fuyled: Chyld· whi artou not a-schamed

On a pillori· to ben I·-piled? Grete Iewes· þus weore gramed, Line 24 And dyede· for heore werkes wyled; In mournyng· I· may melte; Mi fruit· þat is so holi halwed, In a feeld· is fouled· and falwed; Line 28 Wiþ grete Iewes· he is galwed, And dyeþ· for Monnes gelte:

III.

FOr grete Iewes· galwes were greiþed, Þat euer to Robbyng· Ronne ryf; Line 32 Whi schal my sone· on þe beo leid, Þat neuer nuyȝed· mon nor wyf? A drinke of deþ· soþliche seid, Cros þou ȝeuest· þe lord of lyf: Line 36 His veynes to bursten· wiþ þi breid, Mi fruit stont nou· in a strong stryf; Blod from hed· is hayled, Fouled· is my fayre fruit, Line 40 Þat neuer dude· tripet ne truit Wiþ þeues þat loueden· ryot and ruit; Whi schal my sone· be nayled?

IV.

Þorwȝ Iugement· þou art en-Ioynet Line 44 To bere fooles·, ful of sinne: Mi sone from þe· schulde beon ensoynet, And neuere his blod· vppon þe rinne; But nou is truþe· wiþ tresun teynet, Line 48 Wiþ þeoues to honge·, fer in fenne; Wiþ feole nayles· his limes ben feynet, A careful Moder· men mai me kenne, In Bales· I· am bounde; Line 52

Line 52 Þat fruit was· of a Mayden born, On a þeoues tre· is al to torn; [folio 316] A Broche· þorw-out his brest bo[r]n His holi herte· haþ wounde: Line 56

V.

Tre þou art loked· bi þe lawe Þeoues· traitours· on þe to d[e]ye, But now is trouþe· wiþ tresun drawe, And vertu· falleþ in vices weye; Line 60 But loue· and treuþe·, in soþfast sawe, On a treo· traytours· hem teye, Vertu is· wiþ vices slawe: Of alle vertues· my sone is keye, Line 64 Vertu· swettore þen spices; In fot· and· hond· bereþ blodi prikke, His hed is ful of þornes· þikke, Þe goode hongeþ· a-mong þe wikke, Line 68 Vertu dyeþ wiþ vices·:

VI.

Tre vnkynde; þou schalt be kud, Mi sone step-Moder· I· þe calle: Mi fruit was born· wiþ beestes on bed, Line 72 And be my flesch· my flour gan falle, Wiþ my brestes· my brid I· fed; Cros· þou ȝeuest him· Eysel· and Galle! Mi white Rose· Red is spred, Line 76 Þat fostred was in· a fodderes stalle; Feet· and fayre hondes; Þat nou ben croised· I· custe hem ofte, I· lulled hem· I· leid hem softe: Line 80 Cros þou holdest hem· hiȝe on lofte Bounden· in bledyng bondes·!

VII.

Mi loue· i·lol ed vp in þe eyr, Wiþ cradel bond· I· gan him bynde, Line 84 Cros he stikeþ nou· on þi steir, Naked a-ȝeyn· þe wylde wynde: Foules fourmen heor nestes· in þe eyr, Wolues in den· reste þei fynde, Line 88 Bot Godes sone·, in heuene heir, His hed nou leoneþ· on þornes tynde, Of Mournyng· I· may mynne; Godes hed· haþ reste non, Line 92 But leoneþ· on his scholder bon; Þe þornes· þorwh his flesch gon, His wo· I· wyte hit sinne:

VIII.

Cros to slen· hit is þi sleiht, Line 96 Mi fayre fruit· þou berest fro blis; Cros þou holdest him so heih on heiȝþ, Mi fruites feet· I· mai not kis; Mi mouþ I· pulte·, my sweore I· streiȝt Line 100 To cusse his feet·, soþ þing hit is: Þe Iewes· from þe cros me keiȝt, On me· þei made heore mouwes amis, Heore games· and heore gaudes; Line 104 Þe Iewes wrouȝten· me ful wo: Cros· I· fynde· þou art my fo, Þou berest my brid·, beten blo, A-mong þeose fooles fraudes·: Line 108

IX.

Cristes cros· ȝaf onswere:— [[Cross responds.]] Ladi to þe· I· owe honour,

Þi brihte palmes· nou I· bere; Mi schyning scheweþ· þorw þi flour, Line 112 Þi feire fruit· on me ginneþ tere; Þi fruit me florischeþ· in blod colour To winne þe world· þat lay in lure; Þat Blosme Blomed· vp in þi bour, Line 116 Ac not for þe· al-one; But for to winne· all þis world, Þat swelte· vndur þe deueles swerd: Þorw feet and hond· God let him gerd, Line 120 To A-mende monnes mone·:

X.

Adam dude· ful huge harmes, Whon he bot A bite· vndur a bouh, Wherfore þi sone· haþ sprad his Armes, Line 124 On a treo tyed· wiþ teone I-nouh; His flesch· is smite wiþ deþes þarmes, And swelteþ heer-in· a swemly swouh; His Breste is bored· wiþ deþes swarmes, Line 128 And wiþ his deþ· fro deþ he drouh Alle· his leoue freondes; As Ozie spac· in prophecie And seide—"þi sone seinte Marie, Line 132 His deþ· slouȝ deþ· on Caluarie, [folio 316:2] Ȝaf lyf· wiþ-outen endes·":

XI.

Þe stipre· þat is vnder þe vyne set May not bringe· forþ þe grape; Line 136 Þeih þe fruit· on me beo knet, His scharpe schour· haue I· not schape: Til grapes· to þe presse beo set Þer renneþ· no red wyn· in rape; Line 140

Line 140 Neuere presse· pressed bet, I· presse wyn· for kniht and knape: Vp-on a Blodi brinke I· presse a grape·, with strok and stryf, Line 144 Þe Rede wyn· renneþ ryf: In Samaritane· God ȝaf a wyf Þat leof licour to drynke:

XII.

LAdi· loue doþ þe to alegge Line 148 Þi fruit is prikked· wiþ speres ord: On Cros·, wiþ-outen knyues egge, I· kerue fruit· of godes hord; Al is al red·, Rib· and Rugge, Line 152 His bodi bledeþ· a-ȝeyn þe bord; I· was piler· and bar a brugge, God is weie·, witnesse of word; God seiþ he is· soþfast weye; Line 156 Mony folk slod· to helle slider, To heuene· mihte no mon þider, Til god dyed· and tauȝte whider Men drawen· whon þei dye·: Line 160

XIII.

Moyses haþ fourmed·, in his figour, A· whit lomb·, and non oþer beste Schulde be sacred vr saueour, And be mete of mihtes meste; Line 164 I· was þat cheef chargeour, I· bar flesch· for folkes feste; Ihesu crist· vre saueour He fedeþ· boþe lest and meste, Line 168 Rosted· a-ȝeyn þe sonne; On me lay· þe lomb of loue,

I· was plater· his bodi a-boue, Til feet· and hondes· al-to cloue, Line 172 Wiþ blood· I· was bi-ronne:

XIV.

Ȝit Moyses· in Rule haþ rad, We schulde ete vr lomb· in sour vergeous; Sour vergeous mai make· vr soules glad, Line 176 To serwe sore· for sunnes ours; Sour vergeous schal make· þe deuel a-drad, For he fleccheþ· fro godes spous; Beo a staf· stondeþ sad, Line 180 Whon ȝe fongen flesch· in godes hous, Þat staf· is Cristes Crouche; Stondeþ stifli· bi þat stake, Whon þat ȝe fongen· flesch in Cake, Line 184 Þen schal no feond· maystri make, Ȝoure soules for to touche:

XV.

For pardoun scheweþ· be a shrine, Wiþ nayl· and brede· on bord is smite, Line 188 Rede lettres· write be lyne, Bluwe· Blake· a-mong men pite: Vr lord I· likne· to þis signe, His bodi· vppon a bord· was bite, Line 192 In Briht blod· his bodi gan schyne; Hou wo him was· may no mon wite, Red vp-on þe Roode; Vr pardoun brede·, from top too to, Line 196 Writen hit was· wiþ wonder wo, Wiþ Rede woundes· and strokes blo, Vre Book· was bounden in bloode·:

XVI.

Adam· stod vp in stede, Line 200 In Bitter galle· his gost he dreint; A-ȝeyn þat galle· God ȝaf vs mede, Wiþ swete Merci· Bitter is queynt; His Bodi was Book· þe Cros was brede, Line 204 Whon crist for vs· þer-on was cleynt: No mon gat pardoun· wiþ no bede, Weor he neuere· so sely a seynt, Til book on bord· was sprad;, Line 208 Wiþ sharpe nayles· dunted and driue, Til feet· and hondes· al-to riue; His herte blod· vre book haþ ȝiue, To make· vr gostes glad: Line 212

XVII.

Cristes Cros· ȝit spac þis speche [folio 316:3] Furst was I· presse· wyn to wringe, I· bere a Brugge·, wei to teche, Þer semely Aungeles· sitte and synge: Line 216 Lord of loue· and lyues leche For þe was set· sely sacrynge, To winne þe world· þat was in wreche; Þe Cros was brede·, pardoun to bringe, Line 220 Pardoun· In book is billed; What is pardoun· vppon to minne? Hit is forȝiuenes· of dedly sinne; Whon blod was writen· on cristes kinne, Line 224 Pardoun was· fulfilled:

XVIII.

Oure ladi seide· Cros of þi werk Wonder þe not·, þeiȝ I· be wroþe,

Þus seide Poule·, Cristes clerk;— Line 228 Þe feolle Iewes·, wiþ false oþe, Iewes· ston hard, in sinnes merk, Beoten a lomb· wiþ-outen loþe, Softur þen watur· vndur serk, Line 232 Meode· or· Milk· medled boþe; Þe Iewes· weoren harde stones; Softur þen watur· or eny licour, Or dewȝ þat liþ· on þe lilie flour Line 236 Was cristes bodi· in blod colour, Þe Iewes wolden· ha broken his bones·:

XIX.

And mony A prophete· gan make mon, And seide· "lord send us þi lomb Line 240 Out of þe wildernesses ston, To fende vs· from þe lyon cromp:" Of mylde mount of Syon Be-com mon·, In A Maydens womb, Line 244 Made a bodi·, wiþ blessed bon, In a Maidens blod· þi bodi flomb: At Barreres· weore debate; Þorwȝ stones· In þe wildernes Line 248 Men miȝte better· ha crepet I·-wis, Þen bored· in-to heuene blis, Til blod· brac vp þe ȝate·:

XX.

Sin monnes sone· was so nedi, Line 252 To beo lad· wiþ lomb mylde, Whi weore gylours· so gredi For to defoule· my faire childe? Cros whi weore þou· so redi Line 256 To rende my fruit·, feor in fylde?

Ladi to make· þe deuel dredi, [[Cross replies:]] God schop me a scheld·, schame to schilde, Til lomb of loue· dyede; Line 260 And on me ȝeld þe gost· wiþ vois; I· was chose· a Relik chois, Þe signe of Ihesu cristes crois, Þer dar no deuel· a-byde: Line 264

XXI.

Moni folk I· fende· from heore fos: Cristes Cros· þis sawes seide:— Heuene ȝates· weore closed clos [[crux respondit:]] Til þe lomb· of loue dyede, Line 268 Þis is write· in tixt· and glos: Aftur Cristes deþ· prophetes preide: Til þe lomb of loue· dyed and ros In helle pyne· monkynde was teyde: Line 272 At houre of his none; Þe lomb of loue· seyde his þouȝt— Nou is folfuld· þat wel is wrouȝt, A Mon is out of bondes brouȝt Line 276 And heuene dores· vndone:

XXII.

Wiþ þe Fader· þat al schal folfille, His sone to heuene is an help, I· was piler· and stod ful stille: Line 280 After oþur ȝiftes· now gostes ȝelp, Þe fend· þat al þis world wolde kille, His swerd he pulte vp· in his kelp; To helle he horlede· from þat hille, Line 284 Beerynge· as a Beore whelp: A beore is bounden· and beted; Cristes Cros· haþ craked his croun,

Þe lomb haþ leid· þe Lyoun a-doun; Line 288 Þe lomb is lord· in eueri toun, So Cristes blod· haþ pleted:

XXIII.

In holy writ· þis tale is herde, Þat goode ȝiftes· god vs ȝaf; Line 292 God seiþ him-self· he is schepherde, And vche an heerde· bi-houeþ a staf; [folio 316b:1] Þe Cros· I· calle· þe heerdes ȝerde, Þer-wiþ þe deuel· a dunt he ȝaf, Line 296 And wiþ þe ȝerde· þe wolf he werde, Wiþ duntes· drof him al to draf: Þe Cros· þis tale tolde; Þat he was staf· in þe heerdes hond, Line 300 Whon schep breken· out of heore bond, Þe wolf he wered· out of lond Þat deuoured· cristes folde:

XXIV.

Ȝit seide· þe Meke Marie— [[respondit Maria.]] Line 304 Roode· þou reendest my Rose al red: Þreo Iewes coomen· from Caluari Þat day· þat Ihesu þoled ded, Alle þei seiden· þei weore sori, Line 308 For-dolled· in a drouknyng dred; Þei tolden hem alle· wherfore· and whi Heore hertes were colde·, as lumpyng led; Þe furste· heore tale tolde; Line 312 Whon crist was knit· with corde on a stok His bodi bledde· a-ȝein þat blok, Þorw feet and hondes· nayles gan knok, Þen gan myn herte· to colde·: Line 316

Line 316

XXV.

ÞE Secounde seide nay· not þat· Þat dude serwe· in-to myn herte schete; But whon þe Roode ros· and doun was squat, Þe nayles· renten him hondes and feete, Line 320 Þorw-out his helm· þe harde hat Þe þornes· in-to his flesch gan crepe, His Ioyntes· vn-Ioynet· I· tok good gat; Þo weop I· water· and teres leete, Line 324 To care I· was enclyned; In cloddres of blod· his her was clunge, Þe flesch was from· þe bones swonge, Druiȝe drinkeles· was his tonge, Line 328 His lippes to clouen· and chyned·:

XXVI.

ÞE þridde seide· þis þouhte me lest Of þeose peynes· and oþer mo, Þis peyne þouhte me· peyne mest; Line 332 Al his flesch· he let of flo, His Mylde Moder· stod him nest, Loked vpward· And hire was wo, A swerd swapped hire· þorw þe brest: Line 336 Out of þe cros· þe knyf com þo, Þis siht sauh I· my-selue; Þe swerd of loue· þorw hire gan launce, Heo swapte on swownyng· þorw þat chaunce; Line 340 To scornen hire· þei gan daunce, Iewes· bi ten· and twelue·:

XXVII.

Sin Iewes made· so muchel mon, To seon my brid·, bounden in brere, Line 344

Line 344 In sad serwyng· moste I· gon· To seon blodi· my chyldes chere: Fadres· and Modres· þat walken in won Schul loue heore children· beo skiles clere; Line 348 Þeose two loues· weore in me al-on, For fader and moder· I· was here, Þeose two loues· in me weore dalt; I· was fader· of his flesch, Line 352 His Moder hedde· an herte nesch, Mi serwe flowed· as water fresch, Weopyng· and wo· I· walt:

XXVIII.

IN me weore tacched· sorwes two, Line 356 In þe fader· mihte non a-byde, For he was euere· in reste and Ro, Ioyned· in his Ioyes wyde, I· serwed sore· for to sei so: Line 360 I· say whon þat my derlyng dide, Wiþ duntes· he was to deþe i-do, Vp-on a tre· his bodi was soyled; Whon trouþe is told· and darted; Line 364 Of alle Ioyes· God is welle, Þer mihte no serwe· in him dwelle, I· serwed sore· as Clerkes telle, Mi pyne· was not departed·: Line 368

XXIX.

ÞE hattore loue· þe caldore care, Whon frendes fynde· heore fruit defoyled; Þe dispitous Iewes· nolde not spare, Til trie fruit· weore tore and toyled; Line 372 Neuer Mayden· Mournede mare, [folio 316b:2] I· sauh my child· ben surded and soyled,

Myn herte to-clef· wiþ swerd of care; I· sauȝ my brid· with blod bem-oyled [MS. ben oyled.] , Line 376 As Symeon· seide beo-forn;, Þe swerd of serwe·, scharp I·-grounde, Schulde ȝiue· myn herte a wounde; In more wo· þen I· was bounde Line 380 Neuere buirde· haþ born·:

XXX.

ÞE dede· worþily· gan wake, Þe dai turned· to nihtes donne, Þe Merke Mone· gan Mournyng make, Line 384 Þe lyht out leop· of þe sonne, Þe temple walles· gan chiuere· and schake, Veiles in þe temple· a-two þei sponne: Cros· whi noldestou not crake, Line 388 Whon rihtful blod· on þe was ronne, And kuyndes· losten heore kende;: Whon my fruit· on þe was fast, Cros· whi weore þou not a-gast? Line 392 Þow stod stif· as eny mast, Whon lyf· left vp his ende·:

XXXI.

Whon þat Prince· of Paradys Bledde· boþe brest· and bak: Line 396 An heþene clerk· was seint Denys, He seide· þis world· wente al to wrak, He sauȝ þe planetes passen· out of here pris, Þe brihte sonne· gan waxen blak; Line 400 Þe Clerk· þat was so wonderly wys Wonder wordes· þer he spak, Denys· þis grete Clerk seide; Þe day of doom· draweþ to an ende, Line 404

Line 404 Al vr kuyndes· haþ lost vr kende; Til God þat dyed· for vch a kuynde For Monnes kuynde deyde·:

XXXII.

Foules fellen· out of heore fliht, Line 408 Beestes gan Belwe· in eueri binne: Cros· whon Crist· on þe was cliht, Whi noldestou not· of mournyng minne? Þe Cros seide· ladi briht, Line 412 I· bar ones þi fruit· for monnes sinne, More to amende· monnes riht Þen for eny weolþe· þat I· gan winne; Wiþ blod· God bouȝte his broþer; Line 416 Whon Adam· Godes biddyng brak; He bot a bite· þat made vs blak, Til fruit weore tied· on treo wiþ tak·, O· fruit· for anoþer·: Line 420

XXXIII.

Sin Cristes Cros· þat kepeþ ȝifte Graunted· of þe fadres graunt, I· was loked· I· schulde vp-lifte Godes sone· and maydenes faunt, Line 424 No Mon hedde· scheld of schrifte; Þe deuel stod lyk· A lyon raumpaunt, Mony folk· In-to helle he clihte, Til þe crosses dunt· ȝaf him a daunt; Line 428 Mi dedes are bounden· and booked; Alle þe werkes· þat I· haue wrouht Weore founden· in þe Faderes· fore-þouht, Þerfore ladi· lakkeþ me nouht, Line 432 I· dude· as me was looked:

XXXIV.

Þorw Blod· and Watur· cristendam was wrouht, Holy writ· witnesseþ hit wel, And in wille· of soþfast þouht, Line 436 A Mon mai· be cristened skil; Þat blod· þat us alle bouht Digne cristenyng· gan vs del; At cristenyng· crist for-ȝat vs nouht, Line 440 His blessede blod· whon we gan fel: Maiden· Moder· and Wyue; Þi fruit haþ ȝiuen vs baptem, Cristened we weore· In Red rem, Line 444 Whon his bodi bledde· on þe Beem, Of Cipresse. and Olyue·:

XXXV.

AS Ihesu seide· to Nichodemus "But a Barn· be twyȝes born, Line 448 Whon domus-day· schal blowen his bemus, He may elles liggen· loddere for-lorn, Furst of a wombe·, þer reuþe remus, Siþþe in a font·, þer synne awey is schorn": Line 452 I· was cros· to monnes quemus, I· bar þe fruit· þow bar bi-forn, [folio 316b:3] For þi beryng· Al-one; But ȝif I· hedde· I·-boren him eft, Line 456 From riche reste· mon hedde beo-reft In a loren logge· I·-left·, Ay· to grunte· and grone·:

XXXVI.

Þou art I·-Crouned· heuene quene, Line 460 Þorw þe burþe· þat þou beere,

Þi garlond is al· of graces grene, Helle Emperesse· in heuene Empere: I· am a Relyk· þat shineþ shene, Line 464 Men wolde wite· wher þat I· were, At þe parlement· wol I· bene, On domes-day· prestly a-pere; Whon Ihesu schal seye· riht þere; Line 468 "Trewely· vppon þe Roode tre Mon· I dyede for þe; Mon what hastou· don for me· To beon· my frendly feere·?" Line 472

XXXVII.

At þe parlement· shul puiten vp pleynyng, Hou Maydenes fruit· on me gan sterue, Spere· and spounge· and sharp nayling, Þorw þe harde hat· þe heued shal kerue, Line 476 Shul preie· to þat rihtful kyng: Vche mon schal haue· as þei a serue, Rihtful schul ryse· to riche restyng, Truyt· and tripet· to helle shal sterue: Line 480 Mayden Meoke and Mylde; God haþ taken in þe· his fleschly trene I· bar þi fruit· leoþi and lene; Hit is riht þe Roode· helpe to a-rene Line 484 Wrecches· þat wraþþe þi chylde·:

XXXVIII.

ÞE queen a-cordet· wiþ þe cros And a-ȝeyn him spak· no more speche; Þe queen ȝaf· þe Cros a cos, Line 488 Þe ladi of loue· loue gan seche, Þeiȝ hire fruit· on him were· diȝt to dros, Whon rendyng ropus· gan him reche:

Cristes cros· haþ kept vs from los, Line 492 Maries preyers· And God vr leche, Þe qween· and þe Cros· a corde: Þe qween bar furst· þe cros afturward, To fecche folk· from helleward, Line 496 On holy stayers· to steyen vpward And regne· wiþ God vr lorde·:

XXXIX.

ÞE Clerk· þat fourmed· þis figour Of Maries wo· to wite som, Line 500 He saih him-self· þat harde stour, Whon godes Armus· weore rent aroum; Þe Cros is a cold· Creatour, And euere ȝit haþ ben· def· and dom, Line 504 Þeiȝ þis tale beo florisshed· with faire flour, I· preue hit· on Apocrafum; For witnesse· was neuer foundet; Þat neuere cristes cros spak, Line 508 Oure ladi leide· on him no lak, Bot to pulte· þe deuel a-bak, We speke· hou crist was woundet·:

XL.

IN Flesshly wede Line 512 God gan him hede, Of Mylde May Was bore to blede, As Cristes Crede Line 516 Soþly wol say; On a stokky stede He Rod· we Rede, In Red Array; Line 520 From deueles drede

Þat Duyk vs lede, At domes-day: Whon peple· schal parte· and pace; Line 524 To heuene halle· or to helle woode, Cristes cros· and cristes blode And Marie preiers·, þat ben ful goode, Grant vs þe lyf· of grace· Amen. Line 528

Explicit disputacio inter Mariam et Crucem. Secundum Apocrafum.

IX.

[WITH AN O AND AN I [[Douce MS. 126, [folio 90b] .]]

I.

Godys sone þat was so fre, In-to þis world he cam, And let hym naylyn vp-on a tre, Al for þe loue of man; Line 4 His fayre blod þat was so fre, Out of his body it ran, A dwelful syȝte it was to se; His body heng blak and wan, Line 8 Wiþ an O and an I.

II.

His coroune was mad of þorn And prikkede in-to his panne, Boþe by hynde and a forn; Line 12 To a piler y-bowndyn Ihesu was swiþe sore, And suffrede many a wownde Þat scharp and betere wore. Line 16 He hadde vs euere in mynde, In al his harde þrowe, And we ben so vnkynde, We nelyn hym nat yknowe, Line 20 Wiþ an O and an I.

III.

But-ȝif we loue hym trewe, Houre peynys ben in helle, Ȝarkyd euere newe; Line 24 Who so wele loue trewe Byhold ihesu on þe croys, How he heng pale of hewe, And cryde wiþ mylde voys. Line 28 Me þristiþ he gan to kalle, Þe iewis herdyn þys, Eysel meynt wiþ galle Þey bedyn hym y-wys, Line 32 With an O and an I.

IV.

His þrist was to seyȝe For loue of manys soule, Hym longede for to deyȝe; Line 36 Who so be proud in herte Þynk on god al-myȝt And on his wowndys smerte, How rewly he was a-dyȝt; Line 40 Godys sone in trone, Þat heyȝest is of myȝt, Tok batayle a-lone For oure loue to fyȝt, Line 44 With an O and an I.

V.

Þe batayle was so stronge, At many a betyr wownde. Þe ryche blod out spronge: Line 48 Trewe turtyl corounyd on hylle, Þat heyȝest art of kynde, Þy loue chaungyþ my wille,

Whan þou comyst in my mynde; Line 52 Þe fend I forsake anon, For on lady so hende; [folio 91] To seruyn þe lady þan wil I gon, For ȝhe is of my kende, Line 56 With an O And an I.

VI.

Ich am on of þo Þat þy sone bouȝte dere, He schal me nat for-go. Line 60

A M E N .

X.

[WITH AN O FOR AN I [[Douce MS. 128, [folio 258] .]]

As þou for holy churche riȝt Bare þe blody face, To þe y praye, boþe day and nyȝt, Of ioye sende me a space. Line 4 Wiþ an O. for and an I. a space for to a-byde, Thu bere myn arnde to þat lord. þat bare þe blody syde. ¶ Ihesu kyng in trone, Lord in magesté Line 8 To þe y make my mone Wiþ herte good and fre. Frendes haue y none That wolde me knowe ne se, Line 12 My wonynge ys allone, Lord wel wo ys me! Wiþ an O. and an I. My wonynge is wel wykke, Frendes haue y fewe, My fomen walkeþ þykke. Line 16

XI.

THE INVENTION OF THE HOLY CROSS [From Caxton's Golden Legend, third edition [The first edition (1483) is in the British Museum, but was overlooked till this piece and the next were in type.] , 1493].

Of thynuencion of the holy crosse and first of this word Inuencion/

[folio Cxxxi:1] THe Inuencion of the holy crosse is sayd by cause that this daye the holy crosse was founden· for tofore it was founden of seth in paradyse [folio Cxxxi:2] terrestre/Lyke as it shall be sayde here|after: and also it was founden of salamon in the monte of lybane and of the quene of saba/in the temple of salamon And of the Iewes in the water of pyscyne· And on this daye it was founden of Helayne in the mounte of caluarye/

THe holy Crosse was founden two hondred yere after the resurrexcion of our lord· It is redde in the gospell of nychodemus/that whan Adam wexed seek: Seth his sone wente to the yate of paradyse terrestre for to gete the oyle of mercy for to enoynte wyth alle his faders body: Thenne ap|pyered to hym saint mychell thaungell and said to hym/traueyle not the in vayne/for this oyle. for thou mayst not haue it tyll fiue thousand and fyue hondred yere ben passed/how be it that fro Adam vnto the passyon of our lord were but fyue M and [folio Cxxxib:1] xxxiij yere/In another place it is redde that the aungell broughte hym a braunche. and commaunded hym to plante it in the mounte of lybanye. Yet fynde we in another place: that he gaaf to hym of the tree that adam

ete of / And sayd to hym that whan þat bare fruyte he shold be guarysshed and all hool / Whan seth came agayn, he founde his fader deed / and planted this tree vpon his graue / And it endured there vnto the tyme of salamon / and by cause he sawe that it was fayre / he dyde doo hewe it doun / and sette it in his hows named saltus / and whan the quene of saba came to vysyte Salamon / She worshypped this tree by cause she sayde the sauyour of all the world shold be hanged theron / by whom the royame of the Iewes shall be defaced and seace: Salamon for this cause made it to be taken vp and doluen depe in the grounde / Now it happed after that they of Iheru|salem: dyde doo make a grete pyte for a pyscyne: where as the mynysters of the temple shold wesshe theyr bestes þat they sholde sacrefyse / and there founde this tree / and this pyscyne hadde suche vertue that the aungels descended and meuyd the water / And the fyrst seek man that descendyd in to the water after the meuynge / was made hool of what someuer sekenesse he was seek of· And whan the tyme ap|proched of the passyon of our lord / thys tree aroos out of the water and floted. aboue the water / And of this pyece off tymbre made the Iewes the crosse of oure lord / Thenne after this hystorye: the crosse by whiche we ben saued . came of the tree by whiche we were dampned / and þ^e water of that pyscyne had not this vertue onely of the aungel: but of the tree / Wyth this tree wherof þ^e crosse was made there was a tree that wente ouerthwarte· on whyche the armes of our lord were [folio Cxxxib:2] nayled / And another pyece aboue whiche was the table / wherin the tytle was wryten: and another pyece wherin þ^e sokette or morteys was maade that the body of the crosse stood in: Soo that there were foure manere of trees That is of palme of cypres / of cedre and of olyue / Soo eche of thyse foure pyeces was of one of these trees: This blyssyd crosse was put in the erthe and hid by the space of an C yere and more· But the moder of themperour whiche was named helayne founde it in this manere / For constantyn came wyth a grete multytude of barbaryns nyghe vnto the ryuer of the

dunoe / whiche wold haue goon ouyr for to haue destroyed al the countré And whan constantyn hadde assembled hys hoost / He wente and sette them ageynst that other partye / but assone as he began to passe the ryuer: he was moche aferd / by cause he shold on the morn haue batayle / And in the nyght as he slepte in his bedde: an angel awoke hym· and shewed to hym the sygne of the crosse in heuen and sayd to hym: Beholde on hye on heuen / Thenne sawe he the crosse made of ryght clere lyght / and was wryten there vpon wyth lettres of gold / In this sygne thou shalt ouercome the batayle / Thenne was he alle comforted of this visyon / And on the morne / he put in his banere the crosse: and made it to be born tofore hym and his hoost. and after smo[te] in the hoost of his enemyes: and slewe and chaced grete plenté / After this he dyde doo calle the bysshoppes of the ydollis / and demaunded them to what god the sygne of the crosse apper|teyned: and whan the[y] coude not answere somme crysten men þat were there tolde to hym the mysterye of the crosse· and enformed him in the faith of the trynyté. Thenne anone he byleued parfytele in god / and dyde do baptyse hym [folio Cxxxii:1] and after it happed that constantyn his sone remembryd the vyc|torye of his fader: Sente to helayne his moder for to fynde the holy crosse Thenne helayn wen[t]e in to Iherusalem / and dyde doo assemble alle the wyse men of the countré: and whan they were assembled / they wolde fayne knowe wherfore they were called: Thenne one Iudas sayd to them: I wote wel þat she wyl knowe of vs where the crosse of Ihesu cryst was leyed: but beware you al / that none of you telle hyr / For I wote well thenne shal our lawe be destroyed For zacheus myn olde fader sayd to symon my fader / And my fader sayde to me at his deth: be wel ware: that for noo tourment that ye maye suffre / telle not where the crosse of Ihesu cryst was leyde For after that it shall be founden· the Iewes shall reygne no|more. but the crysten men that worshyppe the crosse shal thenne reygne. And verayly this Ihesus was the sone of god: Thenne demaunded I my fader: whe[r]fore had they hanged

hym on the crosse sythen it was knowen that he was the sone of god. Thenne he sayd to me fayre sone I neuer accorded therto: But gaynsayd it alwaye / but the pharysees dyde it by cause he repreuyd theyr vyses / but he aroos on þ^e thirde daye and his discyples seeyng he ascended in to heuen / Thenne by cause that stephen thy broder bylyued in hym the Iewes stoned hym to deth / Thenne whan Iudas had sayde thyse wordes to hys felawes / they answerd we neuer herde of suche thynges· Neuerthelesse kepe the wel yf the quene demaunde the therof· þat thou saye nothyng to hyr / whan þ^e quene had called them / and demaunded theym the place where our lord Ihesu cryst had be crucefyed / they wold neuer telle ne ensygne hyr: Thenne commaunded she to brenne them alle / but thenne they doubted and [folio Cxxxii:2] were aferde / and delyuerd Iudas to her [and] sayd / Lady this man is the sone of a pro|phete and of a Iust man and knoweth ryght wel the lawe / and can telle to you all thynge wat ye shall demaunde hym / Thenne the quene lete all the other go and reteyned Iudas wythout moo / Thenne she shewed to hym his lyf and dethe and bad hym chese whiche he wold· Shewe to me sayd she the place named golgata: where our lord was crucefyed by cause / and to the ende that we maye fynde the crosse / Thenne sayd Iudas it is two C yeres passed and more / and I was not thenne yet born / Thenne sayd to him the lady / by hym that was crucefyed. I shal make the perysshe for hungre. yf thou telle not to me the trouthe / Thenne made she hym to be caste in to a drye pytte / and there tourmented hym by hungre / and euyll reste. whan he had ben seuen dayes in that pytte / Thenne sayd he yf I myght be drawen out: he shold saye the trouthe / Thenne he was drawen out / and whan he came to the place / anon the erthe moeuyd and a fumme of grete swete|nesse was felte in suche wyse that Iudas smote his hondes to-gyder for ioye· and said in trouthe Ihesu cryst thou art the sauyor of the world / It was so that Adryan the Emperour had do make in the same place where the crosse laye a temple of a goddesse by cause that all they that came in that place

shold adore that goddesse But the quene dyde do destroye þ^e temple / Thenne Iudas made hym redy and began to dygge / And whan he came to xx paas depe / he founde thre crosses and brought them to the quene / And by cause he knewe not whiche was the crosse of our lord he leyed them in the mydle of þ^e cyté: and abode the demonstraunce of god: and aboute the houre of none / there was the corps of a yonge man brought to be bu [folio Cxxxiib:1] ryed / Iudas reteyned þ^e byere and layed vpon it one of the crosses / and after the second. and whan he layed on it the thyrde / anone the body that was deed came agayn to lyf / Thenne cryed the deuyll in the eyre. Iudas what hast thou don: thou hast doon the contrarye that thother Iudas dyd / For by hym I haue wonne many sowles / and by the I shall lose many by hym I reyned on the people / and by the I haue loste my royame / Neuerthelesse I shall yelde to the this bountee For I shal sende one that shal punysshe the / and that was accomplysshed by Iulyan the appostata: whiche tour|mentyd hym afterward [Orig. afterwrad.] whan he was bysshop of Iherusalem: and whan Iudas herde hym he cursed the deuyll and said to him Ihesu cryst dampne the in fyre perdurable / After this Iudas was baptysed and was named quyryache / And after was made bysshop of Iherusalem / whan helayn had the crosse of Ihesu crist / and that she had not the nayles / Thenne she sente to þ^e bysshop quyryache that he sholde go to the place and seeke the nayles / Thenne he dyde dygge in therthe so long that he founde them shynyng as golde. thenne bare he them to the quene / and anone as she sawe them she worshypped them wyth grete reuerence· Thenne gaf saint helayn a parte of the crosse to her sone: And that other parte she lefte in Iherusalem closyd in gold: syluer· and precyous stones / And hyr sone bare the nayles to the emperour: And the Emperour dyde doo sette them in hys brydel [and] in his helme whan he wente to batayle: This reherceth Eusebe whiche was bisshop of Cezar / how be it that other saye otherwyse: Now it happed that Iulyan the appostata dyde doo slee quyryache þat was bysshop of Iherusalem: by cause he had founden the crosse / For he

hated [folio Cxxxiib:2] it soo moche / that where someuer he founde the crosse / he dyd it to be destroyed / for whan he wente in batayle ayenst them of perse he sente and commaunded quyriache to make sacrefyse to thydollis // And whan he wold not doo it / he dyde do smyte of his ryghte honde / and sayd wyth this honde hast thou wryten many lettres / by whiche thou repellyd moche folke fro doyng sacrefyse to our goddes: Quyryache said thou wood hounde thou hast don to me grete proffyte. For thou hast cut of the honde wyth whiche I haue many tymes wreten to the synagoges that they sholde not byleue in Ihesu cryst: And now sythe I am crysten / thou hast taken fro me that whyche noyed me: Thenne dyde Iulyan do melte leed and cast it in his mouth and after dide do bringe a bedde of yron / and made quyryache to be layed and stratched theron / and after layed vnder brennyng cooles. and threwe therin grees and salte / For to tourmente hym the more / and whan quiriache moeuyd not· Iulyan themperour sayd to hym / other þou shalt sacrefye our goddes / or thou shalt say at the leest thou art not crysten / and whan he sawe he wold do neuer neyther he dyde doo make a depe pytte ful of serpentes and venemous bestes / and caste hym therin / and whan he entred· anone the serpentes were all deed / Thenne Iulian put hym in a cawdron full of boylynge oyle: and whan he shold entre in to it / he blyssyd it and sayde / Fayr lord tourne this bayne to baptym of martyrdom / Thenne was Iulyan moche angry: and com|maunded that he shold be ryuen thorugh his herte wyth a swerd / and in thys manere he fynysshed his lyf /

The vertu of the crosse is declared to vs by many myracles / For it happed on a tyme that one enchauntour hadde dysceiued a notarye: and broughte hym [folio Cxxxiii:1] in to a place: where he had assembled a grete conpanye of deuylles / and promysed to him that he wold make him to haue moche rychesses And whan he came there he sawe one persone blacke sittyng on a grete chayer: and all aboute hym all full of horryble peple and blacke whiche had speres and swerdes: Thenne demaunded this grete deuyll of the enchauntour who was that clerke / then|chauntour

sayd to him / Syre he is oures / thenne said the deuyll to him: yf thou wylt worshyp me and be my seruaunte / and renye Ihesu cryst: thou shalt sitte on my right side The clerke anone blessid hym wyth the signe of the crosse· and sayd that he was the seruaunt of Ihesu cryst his sauyour And anone as he had made the crosse / þ^e grete multytude of deuylles vanyshed awaye /

¶ It happed that this notari after this on a tyme entred wyth his lorde in to the chirche of saint sophye / and kneled downe on his knees tofore thimage of the crucifyxe: the whiche cruci|fyxe as it semed loked moche openly and sharply vpon him· Thenne his lorde made him to goo aparte on a nother side: and alway the crucifyxe torned his eyen towarde hym. Thenne he made him goo on the lefte syde / and yet the crucifyxe loked on hym Thenne was the lorde moche amerueylled / and charged hym and commaunded him that he sholde telle him wherof he had soo deserued that the crucifixe soo behelde and loked on him / Thenne sayd the notarye that he cowde not remembre hym of noo good thynge that he had done / sauf that on a tyme he wolde not renye ne forsake the crucifyxe tofore the deuyll / Thenne lete vs so blysse vs wyth the sygne of the blessid crosse that we may therby be kepte fro the power of our goostly and dedely enmye the deuyll / And by the merites of the gloryous passion that our sauyoure [folio Cxxxiii:2] Ihesu cryst suffred on the crosse after this lyf we maye come to euerlastyng lyf in heuen / A M E N.

XII.

THE EXALTATION OF THE CROSS [Caxton's Golden Legend, third ed. 1493.]

Here foloweth thexaltacion of the holy Crosse /

[folio CClxviib:1] THe exaltacion of the holy Crosse is sayd· by cause that on this day þ^e holy crosse and fayth were gretly enhaunced / and it is to be vnderstonde that tofore the passion of our lorde Ihesu crist. þ^e tree of the crosse was [Orig. wan.] a tre of fylthe / for þ^e crosses were made of vile trees: and of trees without fruyt: for all that was planted on the mount of caluarie bare no frute It was a fowl place / for it was the place of þ^e torment of theuis: It was derk for it was in a derke place and wythout bewté / It was the tree of deth / for men weren [folio CClxviib:2] put there to deth. It was also the tree of stenche / for it was planted amonge the caroynes / and after the passion the crosse was moche enhaunced / for the vylté was transported in to pre|cyosité: Of the whiche the blessyd saynt andrew saith / O precious holy crosse god saue the: His bareynes was torned in to fruyte / as it is sayd in the cantycles / I shall ascende vp in to the palme tree: His ignobylité or vnworthines was torned in to sublymité and heyth The crosse þat was torment of theuis / is now born in the front of themperours / hys derknes is torned in to lyght and clernesse wherof crisostom sayth the crosse and þ^e woundes shall be more shinyng than the raies of the sonne at the iugement: his deth is conuerted in to perdurabilyté of lyf / wherof it is sayd in the preface: that frowhens þat the deth grew / frothens the lyf resourded / and

the stenche is torned in to swetnesse canticorum j / This exal|tacion of the holy crosse is solempnysed and halowed solempnly of the chirche: for the fayth is in it moche enhaunced: for the yere of our lorde vj C and xv our lorde suffryd his peple to be moche tormented by the cruelté of the paynems. And cosdroe kyng of perceens subdued to his empyre all the reames of the worlde / and he cam in to iherusalem and was aferde and adredde of the sepulcre of our lorde: And retourned: But he bare with him the parte of the holy crosse / that saynte Helene hadde lefte there:

And thenne he wolde be worshypped of al the peple as a god. And dyde doo make a tour of golde and syluer / wherein precyous stones shone· And made there in the ymages of the sonne. and of the mone: and of the sterres And made that by subtyll conduytes water to be hydde. And to come downe in maner of Rayne.

And atte the laste stage. he made horses to drawe charyottes rounde [folio CClxviii:1] aboute lyke as they had meuyd the tour and made it to seme as it had thondred / and delyuerde his reame to his sone / and thus this cursid man abode in the temple and dyde doo set the crosse of our lorde by him and commaunded that he sholde be callyd god of all the people / And as it is rede in libro de mit[r]ali officio / The sayd cosdroe resident in his trone as a fader / set the tree of the crosse on his right side in stede of þ^e sone / and a cocke on his lyfte side in stede of the holy goost / and commaunded that he sholde be called fader / And thenne heracle the emperour assembled a grete oost / and came for to fyghte wyth the sone of cosdroe by the ryuer of danubye / And thenne it pleysed to eyther prynce: that eche of theym sholde fyghte one agaynst that other vpon the brydge / and he that sholde be vaynquysh and ouercome: his aduersarye sholde be prynce of thempyre wythout hurtyng eyther of bothe oostes / and soo it was ordeinyd and sworn· And who someuer sholde helpe his prynce. sholde haue forthwyth his legges and armes cut of: and to be plonged. and cast in to the ryuer: And thenne heracle commaunded him all to god / and to the

holy crosse / wyth all the deuocyon that he myghte: and thenne they foughte longe / and at the last our lorde gaaf the victorye to heracle: and subdued him to his empyre. The oost that was contrary and al the peple of cosdroe obeyed theym to the crysten fayth / and receyued the holy baptesme / And cosdroe knew not thende of þ^e bataylle / For he was adoured and worshyped of all the peple as a god / soo that no man durst not saye nay to him And thenne heracle came to him / and fonde him sittyng in his siege of golde / And sayd to hym / For as moche as after the manere thou hast honoured the tree of the crosse / Yf thou wylt receyue baptim / and the fayth of Ihesu cryste / I shall gete it to the [folio Cclxviii:2] and yet shall thou holde thyne trone [Orig. crone.] and reame wyth lytyll hostages / And I shal lete the haue thy lyfe / and yf thou wylte not· I shall slee the wyth my swerde / and shall smyte of thyne hede And whan he wolde not acorde therto: he dyde anone doo smyte of his hede / And commaunded that he sholde be beried: by cause he had be a kynge: And he founde wyth him one his sone of the age of ten yeres / whom he dyde doo baptyse. and lyfte him fro the fonte. And left to hym the reame of his fader. and thenne dyde doo breke that toure [Orig. trure.] / And gaaf the siluer to theym of hys oost / And gaaf the golde and precyous stones for to repaire the chirches that the tyraunt had destroyed / And took the holy crosse and broughte it agayne to Iherusalem And as he descended fro the mount of oliuete / and wolde haue entred by the gate: by whiche our sauyour went to his passion on horsbacke aourned as a kynge· sodenly the stones of the yates de[s]cended: and Ioyned theym togyder in the yate lyke a walle / and all the peple were abasshed / And thenne the angell of oure lorde appered vpon the gate holdyng the signe of [Orig. repeats the signe of.] the crosse in his honde / And sayd: whan the kyng of heuen went to his passion by this gate / he was not arayed lyke a kyng / ne on horsback But came humbly vpon an asse / In shewyng the example of humylyté whyche he lefte to theym that honour hym / And whan this was said he departed and vanysshyd away / Thenne the emperour toke of his hosen / and

shone himself in wepynge. And despoylled hym of alle hys clothes in to his sherte /

And took [Orig. toook.] the crosse of our lorde: and bare it moche humbly vnto the gate /

And anone the hardenesse of the stones felte the celestyall commaundement / and [Orig. and And.] [folio Cclxviiib:1] remeuyd anone. and opened and gaue entree vnto theym that entred Thenne the swete odour that was felte that daye whan the holy crosse was taken fro the toure of Cosdroe / and was brought ayen to Iherusalem fro soo ferre countree / and soo grete space of londe retorned in to iherusalem in that moment / and replenysshyd it wyth all swetnes: Thenne the riht deuoute kyng began to say the praysynges of the crosse in this wyse O crux splendidior / & c: O crosse more shinyng than all the steeres / honoured of the worlde rihte holy / and moost amyable to all theym whiche oonly were worthy to bere [Orig here.] the raunson of the worlde: Swete tree / Swete nayles / Swete yron: swete spere beryng the swete burdens / Saue thou this presente company. that is this day assemblyd in thy lawde and praysinges: And thus was the precious tree of the crosse reestablyshid in his place and thauncyent myracles renewid For a dede man was reised to lyf / And iiij men taken wyth the palsei were cured and helid. Ten lepers were made clene: and xv blynde men receyuid theyr sight ayen / Deuylles were put out of men / and moche peple and many were delyuerde of dyuerse siknesses and maladyes. Thenne themperour dyde doo repayre the chirches. and gaaf to them grete yeftes: and after retorned home to his empyre: And it is sayd in the cronycles that this was done other while: For thei sawe that whan Cosdroe had taken many reames. he took Iherusalem / And zacharye the patriake. and bare awaye the tree of the crosse. And as heracle wolde make peas wyth him: the kyng cosdroe sware a grete othe: that he wolde neuer make peas wyth crysten men and romayns yf they renyed not him that was crucifyed / and adoured the sone / And thenne heracle: whiche was armed: wyth faith bro [folio Cclxviiib:2] ughte his oost ayenst him: and destroyed and wasted the perciens wyth many

batailes that he made to theym / and made costdroe to flee vnto the cyté of thelyfonte / And at the last cosdroe had the flyxe in his bely / and wolde therfore crowne hys sone kyng / whiche was named mendasa And whan syroys his eldest sone herde herof / he made alyaunce wyth heracle / and pursued his fader wyth his noble peple and set him in bondes: and susteynid hym wyth brede of trybulacion and wyth water of anguysh / And at the last he made to shote arowes at him bi cause he wolde not byleue in god / and soo deyed: And after this thyng he sent to heracle the patryarke. the tree of the crosse: and all the prysoneres / And heracle bare in to Iherusalem the precyous tree of the crosse And thus it is rede in many cronycles also. Syble sayth thus of the tree of the crosse / that the blessyd tree of the crosse was thre tymes wyth the paynems· as it is sayd in thystorye tripertyte: O thryes blessid tree / on whiche god was stratched / This perauenture is sayd for the lyf of nature / of grace: and of glory: whiche came of the crosse / At constantynople a Iewe entryd in to the chirche of saynt sophie / and considered that he was there alone / and saw an ymage of Ihesu cryst / And took his swerde and smote thymage in the throte / and anone the blood guysshid oute and sprange in the face and on the hede of the Iewe / And he thenne was aferde and took thimage / and cast it in to a pytte / And anone fledde away: And it happed that a crysten man met him and saw him all blody And sayd to him / fro whens comest thou thou hast slayne some man / and he sayd I haue not: The crysten man sayd verely thou hast commysed some omycide / For thou art all bespronge wyth the blood / and the Iew sayd. verely the god of the crysten [folio Cclxix:1] men is grete and the fayth of hym is ferme and approued in all thynges / I haue smyten noo man but I haue smyten thymage of Ihesu Cryst· and anone yssued blood of his throte / And thenne the Iewe brought the crysten man to þ^e pytte / And there drewe out that hooly ymage· And yet is sene on this daye the wounde in the throte of thymage / And anon the Iewe bycame a good crysten man and was baptysed. In syrye in the Cyté of baruth

ther was a crysten man whiche had hyred an hous: for a yere / and he hadde sette thymage of the crucyfyxe by his bedde / to whiche he made dayely his prayers / and sayd his deuocion / and at the yeres ende he remeued and tooke an other hous. and forgate and lefte thymage behynde hym / And it happed that a Iewe hyred that same hous / And on a daye he hadde another Iewe one of his neyghbours to dyner: and as they were at mete / It happed hym that was boden in lokyng on the walle to espye this ymage / whiche was fyxed to the walle and began to grynne at it for despyte / And agaynst hym / that badde [Orig. hadde.] hym / and also thretened and menaced hym: by cause he durst it kepe in his hous thymage of Ihesu of nazareth: and that other Iewe sware as moche as he myght. that he neuer hadde sene it / ne knewe not that it was there / And thenne the Iewe fayned as he hadde ben peased / and after went straite to the prynce of the Iewes / and accused that Iewe of that whiche he hadde sene in his hous: Thenne the Iewes assembleden and came to the hous of hym: And sawe thymage of Ihesu cryst / and they toke that Iewe and bete hym / And dyd to hym many Iniuryes / And caste hym out half dede of theyr synagoge / and anone they defowled thymage wyth theyr feet / and renewed in it all the tour [folio Cclxix:2] mentes of the passyon of our lord / and whan they perced his syde wyth the spere / blood and water yssued habun|dauntly in soo moche that they fylled a vessell / whiche they set ther vnder. And thenne the Iewes were abasshed and bare this blood in to theyr synagoge / and all the seke men and malades that ware enointed ther wyth / were anone guarysshed and made hooll: And thenne the Iewes told and recounted alle this thinge: by ordre to the Bysshop of the countree: and alle they wyth one wylle receyued baptyme in the fayth of Ihesu cryst / and the Bysshop put this blood in ampulles of crystalle and of glas for to be kepte / And thenne he called the crysten man that had lefte it in his hous / and enquyred of him who hadde made soo fayre an ymage / and he sayd that nychomedus hadde made it / And whan he deyde / he lefte it to gamalyell: and Gamaliel to zachee and zachee to Iaques / and Iaques to symon / And

had ben thus In Iherusalem vnto the destruction of the Cyté. And fro thens hit was born in to the Royame of agryppe of Crysten men / And fro thens it was brought agayn in to the countree. and it was lefte to me by my parentes by ryghtfull herytage / and this was done in the yere of our lord seuen hondred and l.

And thenne all the Iewes halowed theyr synagogues in to the chyrches and therof cometh the custome that Chyrches ben halowed: For to-fore that tyme the aultres were but halowed only / and for this myracle the chyrche hath ordeyned / that the fyfte kalendas of decembre / Or as [Misprinted at in orig.] it is redde in an other place: the fyfte ydus of Nouembre shold be the memorye of the passyon of our lord / wherfore at rome the chyrche is halowed in thonore of our sauyour / where as is kepte an ampulle wyth the same blood: and there a [folio CClxixb:1] solempne feste is kepte and done / and there is proued þ^e ryght grete vertu of the crosse vnto the paynems and to the mysbyleued men in all thynges / And saint gregory recordeth in the thyrde booke of his dyalogues: that whan andrewe bisshop of the Cyté of fundane suffred an hooly nonne to dwelle [dwedlle in orig.] wyth hym / the fende thenemy began Temprynte in his herte the beaulté of her / in suche wyse / that he thoughte in his bedde wycked and cursyd thynges / And on a daye a Iewe came to rome and whan he sawe that the daye fayled and myght fynde no lodgynge. he wente that nyght / and abode in the Temple of appollin / and by cause he doubted of the sacrylege of the place / how bee it that he hadde no fayth in the Crosse· yet he markyth and garnysshed hym wyth the sygne of þ^e crosse: thenne at mydnight whan he awoke / he sawe a companye of euyll spyrytes: whiche wente to-fore one Lyke as he hadde somme auctoryté of puyssaunce aboue thother by subiection / and thenne he sawe hym sytte in the middes a-monge the other: and began to enquyre the causes and dedes of eueryche of thyse euylle spyrytes: whiche obeyed hym / and he wold knowe what euylle eueryche hadde do / But gregory passyth the maner of this vysyon / By cause of shortnes· But we fynde semblable

in þ^e lyf of faders / That as a man entryd in a Temple of thydollis / he sawe the deuill syttyng / and all his meyny aboute hym And one of thyse wycke spyrytes came and odoured hym / and he demaunded of hym / Fro whens comest thou and he sayde / I haue ben in suche a prouynce / and haue moeued grete warres: and made many trybulacyons and haue shedde moche blood· and am come [came in orig.] to telle it to the: and Sathan sayd to hym· in what tyme hast thou done this. and he sayd in thyrty da [folio CClxixb:2] yes and sathan sayd: why hast thou bee so longe there aboutes / and sayd to them that stode by hym: goo ye and bete hym / and all to-lasshe hym. Thenne came the seconde and worshypped hym / and sayd Syre I haue ben in the see / And haue moeued grete wyndes and tourmentys and drowned many shyppes / and slain many men / And sathan sayde how longe hast thou ben aboute this / and he saide xxij dayes. and sathan sayde hast thou done nomore in this tyme / and commaunded þat he shold be beten / and the thyrd came and said I haue ben in a Cyté and haue meuyd stryues and debate in a weddyng / And haue shed moche blood / and haue slayne þ^e husbond: and am come to telle the / and sathan axed / in what tyme hast thou done this: and he sayd in x dayes / and he sayd hast thou done nomore in that tyme / And commaunded them that were aboute hym to bete hym also: Thenne came the fourth and sayd / I haue ben in the wyldernes xl yere: and haue laboured aboute a monke and vnnethe at the last I haue throwen and made hym to synne of the flessh / and whan sathan herde that / he aroos fro his sete / and kyssed hym. and toke his crowne of his hede / and set it on his hede / and made hym to sytte wyth hym. and sayd thou hast done a grete thynge / and hast laboured more than all thother / and this maye be the maner of the vysyon: that saint gregory leueth: whan eche had sayd / one sterte vp in the mydle of them all / and sayd he had meuyd Andrewe agaynst the name [So in first edition, but read nonne.] / And had meuyd the fourth parte of his flessh agaynst her in tempta|cion· and therto that yesterday he thought so moche in his minde on her that in the houre of euyn songe he gaf to her

in Iapyng a buffet / and sayde pleynly þat she myght here it that he wolde synne wyth her: thenn[e] the mayster com|maunded hym that he shold performe þat he had [folio CClxx:1] begonne: and for to make hym to synne he shold haue a synguler victory [Orig. virtory.] and rewarde amonge all the other / and thenne commaunded he: that they shold goo loke who that was that laye in the temple. And they wente and loked / and anone they were ware that he was marked wyth the sygne of the crosse: And they beyng aferd escried and sayd / veryly this is an empty vessell. alas he is marked / and wyth this voys all the companye of the wycked spyrytes vanysshed awaye / and thenne the Iewe all amoeuyd came to the bysshop: and tolde to hym all by ordre what was happed: And whan the bisshop herd this / he wepte strongly. and made to voyde all the wymmen out of his hous / and thenne he baptysed the Iewe. Saint gregory reherceth in his dyalogues that a nonne entred in to a gardyne / and sawe a letuse / and coueyted that: and forgate to make the sygne of the crosse / and bote it gloton|essly / and anone fylle doune· and was rauysshe of a deuyl / and there cam to her saynt Equycyen / and the deuyll began to crye and to saye / what haue I doo I satte vpon the letuse / and she came and bote me and anon the deuyll yssued oute by the commaundement of the holy man of god: It is redde in thystorye scolastyke / that the paynems had pe[y]nted on a walle the armes of Serapis / and theodosyen dyde do put them out. and made to be peynted in the same place the sygne of the crosse / and whan the paynems and prestes of thydollis sawe that. anone they dyde them to be baptysed / sayenge that it was gyuen theym to vnderstonde of theyr olders / that tho armes shold endure/tyll that suche a sygne were made there. in whiche were lyf: And they haue a lettre. of whyche they vse / that they calle holy / and had a forme that they sayd it exposed and sygnefyed lyf perdurable /

XIII.

THE SYMBOLS OF THE PASSION [[Royal MS. 17 A 27, [folio 72b] .]]

[figure]

Overnacule [The readings here given are from Additional MS. 11,748. veronicle.] , i honoure him and the, Þat þe made þorow his preuité; Þo cloth he set to his face, [folio 73] Þe prent laft [by-left.] þere [omitted.] þorow his grace, Line 4 His moth, his nose, his ine to, His berd, his here [lere.] dide al so. Schilde me for al þat in [me fro dissece in al.] my liue I [that y.] haue singud [sinwed.] with wittus fiue, Line 8 Namlich with mout of sclaunduring, Fals othus [othis swore.] and bakbiting,

And made boste with toung al so Of sinnus þat i haue do; Line 12 Lord of heuen, for-ȝeue it me Þorow syht [vertu.] of þe [omitted.] figur þat i here se.

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Cultellus circumsicionis.

Þis [the.] knif be-tokeneþ [tokeneth the.] circumsicion, He distroyet [distryed.] sinne al and sum Line 16 Of oure formefadur adam, Were-þorow þow [we.] tok kynde of man; From temptacioun of lecherie Be [he be.] my socoure whan i schal diee. [folio 73b] Line 20

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Pellicanus.

Þe pelicane his blod did [doth.] blede Þer-with his briddus for to fede, Þit [hit.] be-tokenet on [a-pon.] þe rode Oure lord us fede [fedde.] with his blode, Line 24 Wen he us bouht out of helle In ioy and blis with him to dwelle, And bene our fadur and our fode, And we his childurne meke and gode. Line 28

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Triginta denarii.

Þe pens also þat iudas tolde, Þat for [ther-fore.] iesu crist was solde, Vs schilde from tresun and couetyse, [folio 74] Þer-in to die in no wise. Line 32

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Lanterna.

Þe lantern þat me bar [men bare.] in þe lyȝt, Wen crist was taken in þe niȝt, Hit lyt [he kepe] me from niȝtus [dedely.] sine, Þat i neuer be tak [neuer deye.] þer-inne. Line 36

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Gladii et fustes.

Suerdus and battus þat þey bere Iesu crist þer-with [with omitted.] to fere— From findus, lord, þow [thay.] kepe me Of hem aferd þat i ne be. Line 40

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Arundines.

Crist had a stroke with a rede, [folio 74b] Þer-with þe iewes brak his hed [Wiþ a reed he hadde a strake, Ther-with his heued þe iew to-brake.] ; With gud chere and milde moode Alle he tholud [suffred.] and stille [stille he.] stode: Line 44 Wen i misdo or ani man me, Hit be for-ȝyf for þat pité.

[Manus depillans et alapans.

The hond, lord, þat tare of þyn here, And þe honde þat flapped under þin here— Line 48 Þat pine be my socour there That y haue y-sinwed with myn [with myn is in a later hand.] here, And of alle oþur synne al so Þat wiþ myn eren haue y herkened to.] [From MS. 11,748.] Line 52

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Velamen ante oculos.

Þe cloth be-fore þin ine to, To bobbe [bobby.] þe þey knyt it so, Hit kepe me from [fro eche.] ueniauns Of childhod and of ignorauns, Line 56 And of other [alle.] sinnus also Þat i haue with my ine do, And with [wiþ my.] nose smellud eke, Boþe ho[le] and eke [also.] seke. [folio 75] Line 60

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Tunica inconsutilis et uestis purpuria.

Þe whit cote þat hade sem none And þe purpure þey layd both upon one [laid loot up one.] , Þey be my sokur and my helping, Þat my bodi hatþ [ther y haue.] usud soft cloȝing. Line 64

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Virge et flagelle.

With ȝerdes grete þow were to-dachud, With scourges smert al to-lachud, Þat peine me soker [be my socour.] of sinnus [synne þis.] , Of slouth and of idelnes. Line 68

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Corona spinea.

Þe coroune of þorn on þin hed þrast, [folio 75b] Þin her to-tar, þi skyn to-brast; Schild [þat schild.] me from pein of helle pit, Þat i haue deseruud þorow uan-wite [wane-wit.] . Line 72

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Columpna cum corda.

To þe piler, lord, al so With a rop þey [men.] boundun þe to; Þe senewes from þe bones brast, So hard hit was draw and strened fast; Line 76 Þat bond me alese of bondes, Of unkind dede and unkindnes [

Harde þay drowe and stryned faste;Þe ȝenewys fro þe bonys to-barst.Þat bond alese me and vnbynde,Þat y haue trespassed and be vnkynde. The words "and vnbynde" and the next line are in paler ink.

] .

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Uestigia saluatoris, quando exiuit per portam ierusalem, portando crucem, coronam spineam [folio 76] coronatus, mille passus sic incedens, roseum cruorem distillando.

Þow bere þe cros and toke þe gate Out at ierusalemus ȝate; Line 80 Þin foot-steppus suet and gode Wer sene þorow schedi[n]g of þi blod. Þer mettust þow with wymmen of bedlem, And al so with wymmen of ierusalem, Line 84 And alle [omitted.] þey wepten for þi turment; To hem þow seydust apertment, "Ne wepe ȝe not for my wo, But for ȝoure [ȝow.] self and ȝoure childurne also; Line 88 For hem ȝe moun ful sore wepe, And salt teres for hem lete, For þey schul haue turment hard An hundert wintur her afterwart." Line 92 Þo steppus of [Al þay stappis of oure.] sine ȝif us pardoun, Wen we gon with [we gooth wiþ good.] deuociun On [A.] pilgremage on hors or fote; Of alle oure sinnus [sorwe] þey ben our bote. Line 96

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Claui.

Þe nayles þorow fet and handus to— [folio 76b] Þey helpe me out of sinne and wo Þat i haue in my liue do, With handus handult, with fet i-go. Line 100

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Malleus.

Þe hamur bothe sterne and gret Þat drof þe nayles þorow hond and [nayles in cristis.] fete Þey [hit.] be my socur [socour þat.] in my lyf, Ȝif i [y eny.] man smot with staf or knyf. Line 104

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Uas cum felle.

Þe uescel with eysel and with galle [folio 77] Kep me from þe [omitted.] sinnus alle,

Þat to þe soul is fowl uenim, Þat i be not pusond þer-ine [that men be nouȝt y-combred þer-yn.] . Line 108

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Spongea.

Þo þow thurstudust sor with-alle, Þey ȝeufe þe eysel medult with galle; Þat i haue dronken in glotonie, Hit saue me wen i schal diee, Line 112 Þat, lord, now i pray to þe For þat greuauns þow suferdst for me [ll. 113, 114 omitted.] .

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Lancea.

Lord, þe scharp spere i-ground [folio 77b] Þat in þin herd mad a wonde, Line 116 Hit kuench þe sine [synnes.] þat i haue wrogt, With al myn hert euel i-þowt, And of my stout prid þer-to, And myn unbuxumnes al-so. Line 120

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Scala.

Þe laddur upset be enchesoun Wen þow wer ded be take adoun [to take þe doun; originally, by take a-doun.] ,

Wen i ham ded in [on.] ani sinne Take me þat i ne die þer-ine. Line 124

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Forceps.

Þe tonges þat drow þe nayles out, Of fet, of handes, al about, And louset his [loosed þi.] bodi from þe tre, Of alle my sinnus þey lese [loose.] me. [folio 78] Line 128

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Iudeus spuens in facie christi.

Þe iewe þat spit [spathe.] in goddus face— For he hit suffurd, he ȝyf us [me.] grace; Þat I haue reuilud or ani man me, For þat despit for-ȝyf it be. Line 132

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Christus portans crucem in humero.

Þe cros be-hind his bak-bon Þat he þolud deth uppon— Ȝif me grace in my liue Clene of sine me to schriue, Line 136 And þerto uerey [al-so.] repentauns, And here to fulfille my penauns.

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Sepulcrum christi.

Þe sepulcur þat [that he.] þerinne was layde [folio 78b] His blessud bodi al be-bled [for-bleed.] — Line 140

Line 140 He me send, or þat [omitted.] i deye, Sorow of hert and ter of ye, Cler and [Clene.] clensud þat i be, Or i to my graue tee; Line 144 So þat i mow [mote.] on domus day To þe [thi.] dom cum with-out dedli [omitted.] fray And wend to [to þe.] blis in [wiþ.] cumpanie, Þer [MS. þei.] os [þat.] men schul [schal.] neuer dye, Line 148 But dwelle in ioy wit oure lord riȝt [wiþ ouȝte driȝt, read oure Driȝt.] , Þer is euer day and neuer niȝt, Þat last schal with-outen ende; Now iesu crist [us] [ous.] þidur send [

MS. 11,748 adds two lines:—

Iesu, þat deidest one þe rode tree,Graunte ous þis for charite. Amen.

Then follows at once:—

These armes of crist bothe god and manSeint peter discriued ham.What man þes armes ouer-ȝaithAnd for hure synnes sory and schriue beethTo seye hit a twelfe monthe eche day wiþ good chereHe haþ sixe thowsaund and seuen hundred and fiue and fifty ȝereAnd half a ȝere and dayes threThis is y-grauntyd for to beAnd for the vernicle haue he mayFourty dayes eueryche dayAnd for the pytye with good chereGrauntyd is sextene thowsaund ȝereAnd sixe [an] thirty dayes þer-toFor to segge euery day A pater noster and v. Aue maria wiþ o Crede.

] . amen. Line 152

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Graciarum acciones iesu christo stanti in sepulcro.

I þank þe, lord, þat þow me wrout, [folio 79] And with strong peynus þow me bout; I þank þe, lord, with ruful entent Of þi peynus and þi turment, Line 156 With carful hert and dreri mod, For schedynd of þi swet blod. What may i say þow hast done for me? Þi bodi was bonden to a tre, Line 160 With scourges knit þe knottis [MS. knoctis.] grete Þi blessud bodi was al for-bete, On eueri side turnud and torne, Also naked as þow were borne, Line 164 Þat hol sted was found none Fro þe croun to þe ton. Þi blessud bodi þer hit stod, [folio 79b] Al hit was be-helet in blod; Line 168 And when þow were so for-swong, Among þe iues þey did þe hong, With scharp naylus þorow hand and fet Þey let þe hong til þow wer ded; Line 172 And aftur þi deth, to us sote, Þey pittun a spere to þin hert rote;

Þe wiked iwes with sturdi mode Let þer-out strem þin hert blod. Line 176 Alas! lord, þi penus þow tholudust þo, Oure sinnus hit mad so wellawo. Ȝese instrumentus þat here pertend [Read purtraid.] beþ In memori of þi bittur deyt, Line 180 Þey hulpun hem to do þi passioun, Þey help us to oure sauacioun; For þey greuet þe ful sore, Þin anguich wex so lenger þe more. Line 184 Lord, what may i for þat ȝylde þe? Þow desirdust noȝt but loue of me. Lord, þow ȝif me grace and myȝt [folio 80] With al min hert to loue þe ryȝt; Line 188 In lyf and deth, in wele and wo, Let neuur min hert turne þe fro, And or hit so be for thing unwrest For loue let, lord, min hert brest; Line 192 In a blessud tym þen was I bore, When al my loue to þe is core. But merci, lord, i þe prey, Þow let me neuer in sine dye, Line 196 Werethorow i schuld dampned be; Derworth lord, for þi pité Þis graunt me, lord, i prey to þe, For mari loue þi moder fre. amen. Line 200

Þese armus of crist boþ god and man, Sent petur þe pop discriuet hem. Wat man þis armes ouer-se, For his sinnus sori and schereuen be, Line 204 Þre ȝer of pardon is þe summe Of sent petrus grant, furst pope of rome; And xxx popes aftur him þat were, [folio 80b] An C dayus ich yauf with gode chere; Line 208

Line 208 xxxviii bichoppus eke also, Ich grant bi him self xl dayus þer-to. Pope innocent mad a gret counsail And al þis confermed with-outen fayl, Line 212 And more pardon ȝaf also, iiii ȝere ii C dayus þer-to; And ich bischop sayd to-for-hand For syȝt of þe uernacul hath graunt Line 216 xl dayus to pardon, And þer-with-al her benisun. And also who þat eueri day Þis armus of crist be-hold may, Line 220 Þat day he ne sal dee no wiked ded Ne be cumbert with þe kued; And also to wymen hit is meke and mild, When þey trauelne of her chi[l]d. Line 224 Þe soum of wekeus to se hit ich day A. C. and xix and half get þow may, To sen it ich day in þe moneþ also [folio 81] V. C. ȝer and xviii and xii wokes þer-to, Line 228 To sen it a twelf-moneth ich day enter Haþ vi. M^o. vii. C. v. and fifti ȝere And half ȝere and dayes þre Of pardon, þus popus haþ graunted þe. Line 232

XIII.

THE SYMBOLS OF THE PASSION [[Additional MS. 22,029.]] .

[figure]

The vernacul—I honowre hym [and the] Þat the made throwe hys pryuy[té]; The clothe he set ovyr hys face, The prynte he lefte ther, of hys grace, Line 4 Hys mowthe, hys nose, hys eyn too, Hys berd, hys here he ded also. Schyld me, lorde, for þat in myn lyffe That I haue synnyd with myn wyttys fyve, Line 8 Namelyche with mowthe of stlawndrynge, Of fals othys and bakbytynge,

And makyng boste with tonge alsoo Of many synnys that I haue doo: Line 12 Lorde of heuyn, for-zeue it me Throwe vertew of the fygure þat I here se.

[figure]

Thys knyffe betoknythe þ^e circumsysy[on], That dystroyd owre synnys alle and sum Line 16 Of owre formfathyr adam, Wher-thorowe we toke þ^e kynde of man. From temptacyon of lecherye, Lorde, kepe me tylle that I deye. Line 20

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The pelycan hys blode dothe blede Þer-with hys byrdys for to fede, It betoknythe vppe-on the rode Owre lorde fed vs with hys precius blode, Line 24 Whan [h]e vs bowt owt of helle In ioye and blys with hym to dwelle, And be owre fathyr and owre fode, And we hys chyldyr meke and good. Line 28

Line 28

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The pens also that Iudas tolde, Wher-for iesu cryste was solde— Lorde, schylde me from treson and couetyse, Ther-in that I deye in no wyse. Line 32

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The lantern þat they bare in the lygthe, Whan cryste was takyn with-in þ^e nygthe— Lord, kepe me from nygthys synne, That I neuyr be take ther-In. Line 36

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Swerdys and stauys that þ^ei bere Ther iesu cryste to fere with there— From fendys, lorde, kepe thow me, Of them, lorde, a-ferd that I not be. Line 40

Line 40

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Uythe a zarde he had a stroke, Þer-with the iewys hys hede they broke; With good chere and myld mode, Alle he suffyrd and stylle he stode. Line 44 Whan I mys-do ar ony man do me, It be for-zeve for that peté.

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The handys, lorde, þat tare of thyn here, And þ^e hande þat clappyd the vndyr þ^e ere— Line 48 For þat peyn, lorde, be myn socowre there That I haue synnyd with pryde of here, And alle othyr synnys also That with erys I haue herkynd to. Line 52

Line 52

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The clothe be-forn thyn eyn too, To bobbyn the they knyt it soo— Lord, kepe me from vengawns Of chyldhode and of ignorawns, Line 56 And eke synnys also That I haue sene with myn eyn too, And with myn nose smyllyd eke, Bothe olde and seke. Line 60

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Thyn own cote that had seme non, The purpylle þat they leyd lotte vppe-on— Lorde, be myn socowre and myn helppyng That myn bodye hathe vsyd mys clothyng. Line 64

Line 64

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Uythe zardys grete þou ware alle to-daschyd, With scorgys smerte alle to-laschyd; Lord, socowre me of synnys thys, Of stlowthe and eke of ydylnes. Line 68

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The crown of thorn on þⁱ hed preste, Thyn here to-tere, thy skyn to-breste. Lord, socowre me of synnys thys, Of stlowthe and eke of Idylnes. Line 72

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TO þ^e pyller, lorde, also, With a rope men bownd þ^e too, Hard drawe and streynyd faste; The senews from þ^e bondys braste. Line 76 Lorde, lose me of bondys in dystresse, Thowe I ded onkend a-geyns kyndnesse.

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Thowe bare the cros ouyr the lake, Owt of iherusalem at the gate; Line 80 Thy fote-steppys swete and good Wer sene throwe schedyng of þⁱ precyus blode. Þou mettyst with women of bethleem, And also women of iherusalem; Line 84 Alle they wepyd for þⁱ torment; To them þou seyddyst a-perte-ment, "Wepe ze not for myn woo, But for zowre childyr also; Line 88 For them ze maye sore wepe, And salte terys for them lete; For they schal haue torment hard An hundyrd wyntyr here-aftyrwa[r]d." Line 92 Tho steppys for vs of grace zeue pardon, Whan we goo, wythe deuocyon, On pylgrymage on hors ar on fote. Of myn synnys, lorde, be myn bote. Line 96

Line 96

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The naylys throwe fete and handys also, Lorde, kepe me owt of synne and woo, That I haue in myn lyffe doo, With handys handyld or on fote goo. Line 100

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The hamyr bothe stern and grete, Þat droffe þ^e naylys throw hand and fote, Lord, be myn socowr in alle myn lyffe, Iffe ony man stryke me with staffe or knyffe [Lines 101-104 follow line 124 in the MS.] . Line 104

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The vessel of aysylle and of galle, Lord, kepe me from þ^e synnys alle,

That to sowle ben venym, That I be not poysynd ther-in. Line 108

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Whan þou thrystyd sore with-alle, They gaffe the eysyll with byttyr galle; Alle þat I haue dronke in glotenye For-geue me, lorde, ar than I deye. Line 112 . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Lord, the spere so scharpe I-grownde, Þat in thyn herte made a wownde, Line 116 It quenchyth the synne þat I haue wrowt, With alle myn harte fulle ewle thowt, And myn stowt pryd also, And myn onbuxumnes ther-too. Line 120

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The ledder, vppe-set be encheson Whan þou war ded to be take a-down,

Whan þat I am In synne, Lord, lete me not dey ther-in. Line 124

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The pensynnys, þat drewe þ^e naylys owt Of fete and handys, alle a-bowt, And losyd þⁱ bodye from þ^e tre, Of myn synnys, lord, lose þou me. Line 128

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The iewys þat spytte, lorde, in thy face Ze suffyrd alle, and gaffe them grace; That I haue gylte or ony man me, It be for-zeue for þat peté. Line 132

Line 132

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The cros be-hynd þⁱ bakke-bon, Þat þou suffyrd dethe vppe-on— Lord, geue me grace, in my lyue, Clene of synne me to schryue, Line 136 And þer-to very repentawns With spas to performe myn penawns.

[figure]

The sepulkyr wher-in þou war hyd, Þi blyssyd bodye alle for-bled—

Lord, grawnt me, ar þat I deye, Sorowe of herte with terys of eye, Clene clensyd for thy mercye, Er þat I in myn graue lye, Line 144 So þat I may at domys daye To þat dome cum with-owt fraye, And wend to blysse in cumpany, Ther as men schalle neuyr dye, Line 148 But dwelle In blysse with þat lord brygthe, Wher euyr is day but neuyr nygthe, And lest schal with-owt ende: Iesus cryste vs thedyr send! Line 152