The early South-English legendary ; or, Lives of saints. I. Ms. Laud, 108, in the Bodleian library. Edited by Carl Horstmann.

37 [Vita sancti Nicholai]

SEynt Nicholas þe holie Man : þat guod confessour was, [folio 111] Of heiȝe men he was i-come : In þe cite of patras : For in patras he was i-bore— : nelle ich þar-of nouȝt lye; his moder name was Ione : his faderes epiphanie. Line 4 Þe furste day þat he was i-bore : þat child, þat was so guod, Ase it was in ane mele i-baþed : al one upriȝt it stod. Ano[n] so he was i-bore : he [MS. and] gan to beo guod and clene; he nolde fridai ne wodnesday : souke nouȝt bote ene. Line 8 Þo he couþe gon ant speke : he ne pleide neuere mo, Ake ȝwane oþur children rageden [orig. raieden] faste : to churche he wolde go; he nolde speke non ydel word : ase swuche children doth; Leiȝingue and pleiȝes and ragingues : he bi-lefte al-so. Line 12 Þo he was sethþe of grettore elde : to scole he was i-set; So wel he leornede : þat man nuste, no child leorni bet. Sethþe þo he more [al. m. wit] couþe : al his studie he tok to guodespelles ant to holi writes : and alle oþere bokes for-sok. Line 16

Line 16 So clene lijf he ladde ȝong : þat deinte it was to wite; More godnesse ne miȝte beo : þane we findeth of him i-write. Þo is fader and is moder weren dede : þis holie child Nicholas luyte tolde of heore guode : þei he heore eyr was : Line 20 to pouere Men he ȝaf it clene : ȝware he saiȝ neode; And heo þat nolden bidde him non : stilleliche he gan hem beode.— An heiȝ Man þare was bi-side : þat sethþe þoruȝ luþer cas his guod was al-clene a-wei i-go : and al pouere bi-come he was. Line 24 he hadde þre douȝtren faire i-nouȝ : clene and guode al-so; In so gret Meseise heo weren i-brouȝt : þat heo nusten ȝwat to do. Þo heo nusten ȝware-bi libbe— : for heore guod heom was bi-nome— heore red huy nomen alle þreo : fole wommen to bi-come Line 28 And raþer þanne heo in swuche houngur weren : to libbe bi hore| [MS. heore] dom. Þe olde man, heor alre fader : gret deol to him he nom. gret pite hadde in is heorte : þe guode seint Nicholas, Þo he i-heorde þe deolfole mone : þat a-mong heom alle was. Line 32 Of is fader guode a nyȝt : ane beiȝ [al. weg] of gold he nam, I-wounde in one cloute : and stilleliche to heore house he cam, to a derne wyndouwe softeliche : seint Nicholas gan gon And caste in þat gold priueliche : and wende a-ȝein a-non. Line 36 Þis housebonde a-ros a-Moruwe : ant þar-of nuste nouȝt : he com and fond þane beiȝ of gold : þat seint Nicholas hadde i-brouȝt. Þar-of he was glad i-nouȝ : þei he nuste ho it brouȝte; he it nam and þonkede Iesu crist : þat on is meseise þouȝte. Line 40 Þare-with he conseilede swyþe wel : his eldeste douȝter sone With fair bruydale and gret honour : ase riȝt was for-to done. Seint Nicholas i-saiȝ al þis : and naþeles ȝuyt he þouȝte Þat þis selie Man neode hadde : þat he more guod to him brouȝte. Line 44 A niȝt he a-waitede swyþe wel : ase ore louerd it wolde, And at one fenestre caste In eft-sone : ane oþur beiȝ of golde. [folio 111b] Þis housebonde a-morewe a-ros : þat gold he fond sone; he þonkede god with guode heorte : þat hadde i-heord is bone. Line 48 And natheles him wondrede muche : ho is freond so wel were, And þouȝte þat he a-waiti wolde : ȝif he more come þere. he conseilede is oþur douȝter : swiþe wel with þis golde,

With gret nobleie and fayr bruydale : ase ore louerd it wolde. Line 52 Ȝeot þouȝte þis guode Nicholas : þo þis was al i-do, Þat it were guod to conseili : þe þridde douȝter al-so : A niȝt he wende wel stilledliche : to þat fenestre eft-sone And caste In ane beiȝ of gold : ase he was i-woned to done. Line 56 Þis housebonde hadde i-waked longue : for-to wayti of þis cas : So þat, þo seint Nicholas cam : wakiende he was. Op he sturte and siwede him : and bi is cloþus heold him faste, he ne let nouȝt go are þe guode man : i-kneuȝ him [al. was iknowe] at þe laste. Line 60 Ȝeorne bad seint Nicholas : þat he to no man ne sede, Þe ȝwyle þat he a-liue were : of þis priue dede. With þis gold þe þridde douȝter : wel i-conseilled was; And alle þreo weren riche [al. gode] wiues : þoruȝ seint Nicholas. Line 64 In þis manere seint Nicholas : ase ich nouþe habbe i-sed, Delde al is heritage : þo is fader was ded. Ȝwane oþur Men eoden to habbe solas : he nadde þar-to no [MS. ne] wille : to churche he wolde and in one huyrne : is beden bidde wel stille.— ¶ Hit bi-feol þat þe bischop : of Mirre was ded, And folk cam to cheose ane oþur : and þar-of hy nomen heore red; So þat heo weren in hore beden : nyȝt and dai wel faste Þat ore louerd heom sende ane guode man. : and he herde heom ate laste. Line 72 For a nyȝt þare cam a voiz : ase it were in metingue, to a bischop þat was maister þer : and tolde him þis tyþingue [al. of þe cheosinge] And seide, "goth to-morewe to churche [to ch. on the margin.] sone : riȝt are hit dai beo : Þe furste man þat ȝe þare mouwen : i-heore oþur i-seo And þat hote Nicholas : takez him wel sone And makez him bischop of Mirre! : god hath i-heord ower bone." Line 78 þe bischop and þat oþur folk : a-risen are hit dai were, And comen to churche, and founden sone : Nicholas stonde þere : Line 80 In one huyrne he stod ful stille. : heo axeden ȝwat he was And ȝwat were is riȝte name. : he seide hem "Nicholas." heo nomen and ladden him with gret honour : to þe churche of Mirree And sacreden him to bischop þere : and setten him in is se. Line 84 Þo he was heiȝ man i-maked : þis guode Nicholas,

More bouȝsum and milde he bi-cam : þane euer er [he] was; luyte pruyte he hadde of is power : ȝwane men him wolden a-loute, And ȝif it nere for eiȝe of god : leouere him were with-oute. Line 88 So prest he was to alle men : þat on him beden & cride, And so muche for heom he dude : þat men speken þar-of wide.— Muche folk In a time : In-to þe se i-wende [folio 112] In a schip, to don heore neode : ȝif ore louerd þe grace heom sende. So þat þere cam a gret tempeste : þat heo wenden alle a-drenche. Line 93 Alle guodnesse heo bi-heiȝten god : þat heo miȝten on bi-þenche. So þat heo þouȝten, ase heore schip : toward þe grounde was, On þe guodnesse þat men tolden : of þe bischop Nicholas : Line 96 "Leoue louerd Nicholas" : wel loude alle heo criden, "Ȝif it is [MS. it] soth þat we habbez : i-heord tellen of þe wide, In þis peril saue us nouþe : þat we ne beon a-dreint; Louerd Nicholas, help us nouþe : are ore schip beo a-seint!" Line 100 Ase heo gradden, þare cam on eorne : on-owarde þe watere bi-side A bischop in abite swiþe fair. : wel loude on him huy cride. "Lo me here," quath þis holie man : "ȝe cleopeden me wel faste. Seggez ȝwat ouwer wille beo : and ȝwarof ȝe beon a-gaste!" Line 104 "Louerd," heo seiden, "Nicholas : ȝif it is þi wille, Saue us nouþe of þis tempeste : þat we he[re] [MS. he] ne a-spille" "Ne habbe ȝe," quath þis holie man : "her-of none drede!" Þat weder bi-cam þo stille inouȝ : þo he þeos wordes sede. Line 108 heo bi-heolden þo after him— : heo nusten ȝware he was; And þonkeden muche ore swete louerd : and þene bischop Nicholas. Þene wei stille and murie : toward þe londe huy nome; With-oute eche destourbingue : to londe wel glade heo come. Line 112 Alle heo duden heom fort a-non : to þe bischope Nicholas, Ase to a man þat heo neuere ne seiȝen : ne nusten ȝwuch he was. Ech of heom bi-heolden him faste : þat to þis guode man com : Alle heom þouȝte þat it was he : þat þene deth heom bi-nam. Line 116 "Louerd," heo seiden, "i-hered þou beo! : to þe we gradden bliue; On-ouewarde þe se þo þou come : and brouȝtest us to liue. I-hered beo þe tyme þat þou most : a-mong men on eorþe beo! For swuche grace ne hadde neuere eorþelich Man : ase man may on þe i-se." Line 120

Line 120 Þis guode Man, þo he i-heorde þis : þonkede and herede al-so Ore louerd, þat wolde for is loue : suych miracle do.— ¶ hit bi-feol In ane oþur tyme : of þe bischop Nicholas, Þat gret hongur al-a-boute : In is bischopriche was; Line 124 So luþere fullen þe ȝeres alle : þat no corn nouȝwere nas. gret deol hadde þis guode bischop : of þat luþere cas. Fram feorrene contreies [al. om.] þare comen schipes : with muche corn þare|bi-side : Þis bischop wende a-ȝein heom sone : and bad heom one stounde a|bide, Line 128 "For þe loue of Iesu crist : leneth me," he sede, "Ane hondret quarters of þat corn : þat ȝe þare doth lede, to þis selie men þat beoth here : neiȝ for houngur dede; heo ne habbeth no corn to libbe bi : to sede ne to brede." Line 132 "Certes, sire," þis schipmen seiden : "þat ne dorre we nouȝt : For al þis corn þat þou i-sixt : þat we habbez here i-brouȝt, With swyþe schars met with-alle : bitauȝt it is us echone Þat we it leden þe Aumperour— : ne dorre we make no lone." [folio 112b] "With-oute faille," quath þis gode man : "ne dredez ou riȝt nouȝt, Ȝif ȝe me wollez þar-of lene : þat eov schulle faili ouȝt; Line 138 Þe folle ȝe schulle ȝelden þe Aumperoure : ase men token ou for-to lede, No-þing ne schal ou failli : ne þarf ov no-þing drede." Line 140 Þe schipmen ope truste of is word : wel largeliche him mete And token þe bischope wel i-metene : Ane houndred quarteres ȝwete; And wenden forth to þe Aumperour : and is corn him ladde; And beden is stiwardes meten wel : ȝif heo þe folle hadden. Line 144 huy meten, and founden al þe fulle : and wel more þare-to. For wonder heo axeden þe schipmen : ȝwi it woxe so. heo þonkeden a-non þane gode bischop : þat is neode to heom mende, And tolden fore þe Aumperoure : hou muche corn heo him lende, And hou he bi-het heom þat it ne scholde : þare-fore ne wanie nouȝt, And hou heo hadden bi large met : wel more corn i-brouȝt. Þis guode bischope heo hereden swiþe : and þonkeden muche also, Þat hadde þoru ore louerdes grace : swche miracle i-do. Line 152 Al þe contreie hadde i-nouȝ : to mete and to sede,

To ȝer and more, of þat corn : þat heo gonne þare lede.— ¶ In an oþur tyme þis guode bischop : bi a fair treo com : he fond þare men þat duden þing : a-ȝein heore cristine-dom : Line 156 heo stoden þare, ase heo ofte duden : and maden heore sacrefise to þe deuel onder þis treo : þat men [superscribed.] miȝten þar-of a-grise. Seint Nicholas heom tornede echone : gode men for-to be, And dude heom for-sake þe feondes lore : and hewe a-doun þat treo. Þe deuel after þulke tyme : to him hadde gret onde : Line 161 For-to a-batien is pouwer : in alle manere he gan fonde.— pilegrimes weren in þe se : to seint Nicholas for-to wende, For þe guodnesse þat huy of him herden : ȝif god heom wolde þe grace sende. Line 164 In fourme of a fair womman : þe deuel cam heom to And seide, "louerdingues, wel is eou : þat ȝe mouwen ouwer wille do For-to seche þis holie man : þat so milsful is and hende! Leouere ich hadde þane ani-þing : miȝte ich with ou wende : Line 168 For ich ne wilni no-þing so muche : ase þane holie man to seo. A luyte þing ȝe moten for me don : ȝwane it ne may oþur beo : Nimeth here þis guode oygnement : þat deorewurþe is with-alle, And ȝwane ȝe into is churche comiet : smeorieth in eche walle, Line 172 For-to wurthschipien þane guode man : þat is of so gret pouste; And ȝwane ich ne mai to him come : doth þat In þe muynde of me!" Þis pilegrimes with glade heorte : þis oynement to heom nome, to smerien with þis holie churche : ȝwane heo þudere come. Line 176 Ase he wenden forth in þe se : sone it dude bi-falle Þat þare cam to heom a schip : with faire men with-alle; A bischop þare was a-mong heom : swiþe fair man and hende. he grette heom faire and axede a-non : ȝwodere heo þouȝten wende. heo seiden þat heo wolden : ȝif it godes wille were, [folio 113] to þe churche of Mirree : for-to Anouri seint Nicholas þere. Line 182 "Ȝwat was þe womman," þe bischop seide : "þat ȝwile er eou cam to, And ȝwat was it þat heo eou bi-teiȝte? : ȝwat schulle ȝe þare-with do?" Line 184 "Sire, it is an oynement" : þeos pilegrimes seden, "Þe guode womman ȝeorne us bad : to þe holie churche it lede And þare-with in muynde of hire : ȝwane it were þudere i-brouȝt,

Smeorie þe holie churche wowes— : þat we ne leten it nouȝt!" Line 188 "Ȝe, ȝe," quath þis holie man : "ȝe nuten nouȝt ȝwat heo is. takez me þat oynement : and ȝe schullen i-seo, i-wis." Þis guode man nam þat oynement : and a-midde þe se it caste. Þat watur bi-gan to berne a-non : a-ȝein is kuynde, wel faste; Line 192 Fram stude to stude þat fuyr orn : and barnde þe se, i-wis. Þo seide þe guode man, "here ȝe iseoth : ȝwat ouwer oynement is. hadde ȝe ani-þing þarof : on þe churche-walles i-do, Al þe churche hadde for-barnd : and al þe toun al-so. Line 196 hit was þe foule feond of helle : þat it ou tok with honde For-to brenne þulke churche : for he haueth þar-to onde." Forth wende þis bischop and alle his : anon-riȝt þoruȝ godes sonde. Þe pilegrimes roweden [orig. rewe] þene nexte wey : so þat huy comen to londe. to seint Nicholas heo wenden þo : þat heo so wide souȝte. A-non so heo i-seiȝen þis guode man : heo stoden in grete þouȝte; heom þouȝte þat it þe bischop was : þat in þe se to heom cam, Þat sche^wude hem þat oynement : and þe feondes swykedam. Line 204 "Louerd," heo seiden, "nov þin ore! : muche is þi pouwer : Þat we i-seiȝen in þe se : are we comen her." heo hereden muche þene holie man : as it wel riȝt was. Line 207 Þe guode man faste heom for-bed : þat heo ne tolden nouȝt þis cas. Fairore Miracle on eorþe : ne miȝte we neuere i-wite Þane we of seint Nicholas : findeth ofte i-write!— In a tyme luþere men weorreden : þene Aumperour of rome And destruyden is londes faste : and bataille a-ȝein him nome. Line 212 Þe Aumperour nam þre grete louerdingues : and oþere wel mani on, For-to wenden, I-armede swyþe wel : to fiȝten a-ȝein is fon. Þis þreo princes with heore men : in þe se forth i-wenden, to fiȝten a-ȝein is wyþerwynes : ase þe Aumperour heom sende. Line 216 So þat þe wynd heom drof : ase it were bi cas, to þe contreie of Mirree : þare þis bischop was. Þe bischop heorde of hem telle. : aȝen heom he wende sone, Line 219 And bad heom come and ete with him : and huy graunteden is bone. Þis [þe] [om.] guode man dude for heo ne scholden : none robberie do. he made hem suyþe wel an ayse : and fair semblaunt al-so; So þat þoruȝ þis holie bischop : heo and heore fon

With-oute dunt oþur blod i-sched : a-corded [orig. acordet] weren a-non, Al-to þe Aumperores guode : ant to his honour al-so. Þeos þre maistres wenden hamward : þo þis dede was i-do. [folio 113b] heo comen and tolden þe Aumperour : hov heo hadden on i-take. Þe Aumperour was wel a-payd : and gret feste gan heom make. Line 228 heore luþere felawes comen sone : and þare-to hadden envie, And seiden heo hadden þe Aumperoure : i-don gret tricherie And with is fon imaked a fol pays : and with grete feolonie, to þe deseritisun of þe Aumperour : ope heom heo gunne lye. Line 232 Þe Aumperour in grete wrathþe : let heom nime faste And binden þeos þre princes : and in strongue prisone caste. So faste weren þis luþere men : ope þis princes þreo Þat þe Aumperour swor is oth : A-slawe heo scholden beo. Line 236 he let somony is knyȝtes alle : þat heo a-morewe come For-to bringuen þeos þreo princes : to deþe þoruȝ heore [al. his] dome. A-non so þe tiþingue was i-brouȝt : to þis princes [al. prisons] þreo, heo weopen and criden deolfulliche : þat reuþe it was to se, Line 240 heo weopen and heore cloþes teren : and heore her al-so; And þouȝten on þe grete godnesse : þat seint Nicholas hadde i-do. [vv. 241-2 al. om.] "Louerd," heo seiden, "Nicholas : fro ȝwam wel glade we eode, And also wis ase we gultelese beoth : help us in ore neode, Line 244 Ne lat us neuere þus gulte-lese : to deþe beon i-brouȝt!" Þe holie bischop Nicholas : ne fur-ȝat heom nouȝt : [vv. 245-6 al. om.] For a nyȝt, ase þe Aumperour : ase a louerd lay and ase a sire, In-to is paleis, þat was so strong : and i-barred al with ire, Line 248 to him riȝt bi-fore his bed : þis holi bischop com, [orig. ca^om] And seide, "sire Aumperour, ȝwat þencst þou : with þi false dom? Ȝwi hast þou þis gultelese men : In þi prisone i-brouȝt And gulteles þenchest heom a-quelle? : ich rede, with-drauȝ þi þouȝt! A-ris op sone, ich rede þe : and lat heom of prisone wende, Line 253 Oþur ichulle mine louerd bidde : þat he þe weorre sende, [al. schal þe schende] Þat þare-inne þou worst al-to-boned : and i-brouȝt of lijf-dawe, Þat foules schullen and wilde bestes : þi caroyne al-to-drawe." [vv. 255-6 al. om] Line 256 "Ȝwat artov," quath þe Aumperour : "oþur of ȝwat pouste, Þat in þis tyme art i-come : in-to mi paleys to me And swuche bolde wordes spext? : wonder me þinchez of þe!"

"Ich am," quath þis Nicholas : "bischop of mirree." Line 260 ¶ Seint Nicholas wende al-so : to þe Aumperoures heiȝe Iustise, Þare he lai bi-side in þe paleys : and made him sum-del a-grise : "Þov witlese wrechche," he seide : "ȝwat hauestou i-þouȝt? Rastov þat þis gultelese men : to deþe beon i-brouȝt? Line 264 With-drauȝ þi red, ich þe rede, sone : oþur þou schalt al for-dwyne And for-leose al þi guod : and deyȝe in strongue pine." "Ȝwat artou," þis oþur seide : "þat spext wordes þus grete And þe Aumperores heiȝe Iustise : þus baldeliche darst þrete?" Line 268 "Ich am," he seide, "Nicholas : bischop of Mirree. bote þou with-drawe þi red sone : þou schalt i-leue me." Þe Aumperour lai and quakede sore : and sende after is Iustise, [folio 114] Þat was al-so sore a-drad : and soruful in eche wise. Line 272 Eyþur tolde oþur fore : hou he to heom seide And wel baldeliche þretnede heom. : ȝware-fore heo weren in drede. For-to schilden heom fram is wrathþe : an-oþur heo mosten rede : Þis þre prisones heo leten up nime : and sone bi-fore heom lede. Line 276 Swiþe sore heo weren a-dradde : for heo wenden a-non beo dede; To þe bischop Nicholas : reuliche heo gonne grede. "beaus amis," quath þe Aumperour : "ȝwat-manere men beo ȝe, Þat þus þoruȝ ouwer enchauntement : a-niȝt drechcheth [al. derieþ] me?" Line 280 "A, sire, merci," þis oþure seide : "ȝwi wolle ȝe seggen so? Of anchauntement ne couþe we neuere : ope god we wollez us do. Ake gultelese men we buth : with onriȝte hidere i-brouȝt; Line 283 Al-so wis god schilde us fram þe deth : ase we ne beth gultie nouȝt." "I-knowe ȝe ani Man," quath þe Aumperour : "þat hote Nicholas?" Þare nas neuere on, for þis word : þat in gre[t] hope ne was! heore hondene heo heolden op on heiȝ : and wel loude gradden Line 287 to þe bischope [MS. bi bischope] Nicholas : þat he reuþe of heom hadde. "Þoruȝ him," quath þe Aumperour : "ȝe beth to liue i-do, Ich ou ȝiue lijf and lime : and ouwer chateles al-so. goth nouþe hasteliche to him : and tellez him wel bliue hou þat for þe loue of him : ich let ov gon a-liue; Line 292 biddeth þat he for-ȝiue me is wrathþe : and non harm for eu me do, Ake þat he bidde god for me : and for mi kynedom al-so." [vv. 293-4 al. om.] Þis prisones wenden with glade heorte : to þe bischope Nicholas,

And þonkeden him, ase heo auȝten wel : of þis Ioyfule cas. Line 296 Ich wene, þere nas neuere haluwe : seint Nicholases i-per, Þat so manie faire Miracles : bi is liue dude her; For to come into so strong paleis : and gon op-on þe se al-so, gret wonder was þat ani-bodi : swuch miracle miȝte do! Line 300 Muche of þe kuynde of heuene : ore louerd here him sende, Aungles dede a-liue to do : are he hennes i-wende. [vv. 297-302 al. om.] — Þo ore louerdes wille was : þat he scholde hennes wⁱende, he bad ore louerd þat he scholde : aungles to him sende. Line 304 Þo he i-say þe Aungles to him come : he þonkede ore louerd faste. Þe þrittiþe saume of þe sauter : he bi-gan þus ate laste "In þe, louerd, ich habbe i-hoped : þat ich i-confundet ne beo, Þine holie ere beiȝ a-doun to me : heiȝe and deliuere me." Line 308 he deide ate sixte vers : þat on e[n]glichs to seggen is "Mine soule, louerd, ich bi-take þe : þou bouȝtest hire, i-wis." Þe soule out wende with þulke worde : and þe Aungeles forth hire bere; Alle þe felaweschipes of heuene : wel glade þere-with were. Line 312 he deide þre houndret ȝer : and in þe þreo and fourtyþe ȝere After þat god was i-bore : as þe bok us deth lere. In one toumbe of Marbre he was i-leid : swyþe faire with-alle. Out of þe harde Marbre-ston : þe oyle gan out walle; [folio 114b] Line 316 A welle of eoyle þare sprong out : riȝt at is heued a-non, And at is fet a welle of water : of þe harde Marbre-ston. [vv. 317-8 al. om.] Sike men þare gonnen sone : wel þicke þudere gon. Þar-of men beren wide a-boute : and ȝeot men doth al-so; Line 320 gret botningue þar is ȝuyt : of men þat comieth þare-to— For þe welle of eoyle and of watur : ase manie men i-seoth, In þe harde ston lastez ȝeot : þare is holie bones beoth.— Many fair Miracle þare [om. þare] hath of him : sethþe he deide, i-come. Line 324 Þei we ne mouwen nouȝt tellen alle : we moten tellen of some. [vv. 320-5 al. om.] — ¶ To a gyv at one tyme : a cristine man ȝeode For-to borewi gold of him : to is muchele neode. he ne miȝte finden him nanne boruȝ : ne wed nadde he non : Line 328 Þane gyv to seint Nicholas churche : he bad with him gon; Op-on seint Nicholases auter he swor : at one certeyne daye,

So god him helpe and seint Nicholas : his gold him for-to paye. Þis giv for seint Nicholas loue : his oth nouȝt ne for-sok, Line 332 Ake seint Nicholas to borewe he nam : and þat gold him bi-tok. Þis luþere cristine man : þo it cam to is daye, Þat gold nolde he ȝelde nouȝt : ake þouȝte þane giv bi-traye. Þe giv cam and axede him : ȝwanne he it ȝelde wolde. Line 336 "Þov false schrewe," þe oþur seide : "ich it þe habbe i-ȝolde." Þe giv seide nay, and he ȝus : bote al ne heold it nouȝt. Þe giv let him somoni : þat he was to court i-brouȝt. Ake þis false cristine man : þouȝte op one feolle gynne : Line 340 Ane staf he nam op-on is hond : —holuȝ he was with-inne— Þare-inne he dutte al þat gold : þat he scholde þe giwe ȝelde, And feolliche dutte hine and faste : þat men ne scholden him bi|melde. bi-fore þe bayllifs huy comen : þe giv and he boþe. Line 344 he with-sok þe giwes dette : and was i-don to ane oþe. Þo he scholde is oth do : is false staf he bi-tok Þe giwe, and bad him ȝwitie þe ȝwile : he leide is hond on þe bok; And seide, "al-so muche gold al-so ich borewede : of þe giv þat here is, Line 348 So helpe me crist and seint Nicholas : ich tok him a-ȝein, i-wis." Þis luþere man with is fals oth : swiþe wel i-leued was, And þe oþur, for he was a giv : no-þing i-leued he nas. "Ȝwane þou me hast bi-giled : with þi false cas, Line 352 Ich bidde þine borouȝ þat he it me ȝelde : þe guode seint Nicholas." Þe giv with wel sorie chere : wende him forth a-non, And þe false man nam is staf : and hamward bi-gan to gon. Al-so he wende bi þe weie hamward : to slepe he hadde grete wille : Þare twei weiȝes to-gadere comen : a-doun he lai wel stille. Line 357 As þis false man lay and slep : a cart þare cam gon, And al-to-bruysde is false bones : þat he deide a-non. Þat o ȝweol to-brak þane false staf : ase mani a man i-saiȝ : [[Here a fol. is wanting; MS. Harl continues :]] Line 360

[Þat gold schadde out al-abrod : & amidde þe weye lay. ¶ þe gyw, þo he þis iseȝ : loude he gan to crie

& þonkede seint Nicholas : þat schewede his tricherie. For þe miracle men him radde : cristene forto beo. Line 364 "Certes, ynelle," quaþ þis oþer : "er i^c more iseo; Ac if god & seint Nicholas : wolde þis liþer manes [al. man is] lyf sende, Cristene i^c wolde þanne beo : & serui hem to mi lyues ende." ¶ Fram deþe to lyue þis false man : þurf seint Nicholas com. Line 368 Anon so þe gyw þis iseȝ : he wilnede cristendom, & bileouede on ihesu crist : & god man euereft was. Þis me þinȝþ a fair miracle : of seint Nicholas! her ȝe seoþ hou hit goþ bi men : þat wiþ gyle swerieþ, iwis; Line 372 Þeȝ he þurf gyle swerie soþ : iwis forswore he is.— ¶ A god man þer was in a tyme : þat longe was mid his wyue, Þat no childe nemiȝte habbe : þat euere cam to lyue. To seint Nicholas ofte hi bede : achild hem to sende, Line 376 & bihete him, if hit so were : to him forto wende. ¶ Seint Nicholas ihurde here bone : —for god he is & mylde : hit biful þer-after sone : þat his wyf was mid chylde, & brouȝte forþ afair sone. : glad þis gode man was! Line 380 he let ȝarki a fair coupe : to seint Nicholas. So faire was þe coupe of golde : þo heo was ȝaru iwrouȝt, & þis hosebonde heo was so leof : þat he nolde leue hire noȝt, Ac athuld hire in his owe hous : him-silue þer-of to drinke; Line 384 Anoþer to seint Nicholas : þe goldsmyth he let biswinke. ¶ Þo þe coupe was ymaked : to þe louerd seint Nicholas, he wiste hire wiþ gret drueri : ac þoþer fairere was. ¶ Þo his sone was wel i-woxe : & hadde strenȝþe & miȝte, Line 388 To þe pelgrimage of seint Nicholas : þis gode man him diȝte, & nom wiþ him his leoue sone : & þe coupen beye, Þe furste, þat him was so leof : to serui him bi þe weye, Þoþer, to ofri seint Nicholas : whan hi þider come. Line 392 hi greiþede hem a-godes name : & þe holi wei hi nome. ¶ So þat hi come in þe see : as hi þane wei wende. After water of þe see : þis gode man his sone sende : "Fech me," he seide, "of þe water : in myn owene coupe!" Line 396 Þat child dude his fader heste : & to þe water gan stoupe. Þe coupe ful out of his hond : & anon to grounde sonk; Þe child ful in afterward : & in þe water adronk. Gret deol makede þis gode man : þo he seȝ þis cas, Line 400 Þat he nadde bote þat o child : & he adronke was. "Awei," he seide, [al. þat i^c schal] "þis dai abide! : leoue louerd, allas!

wel i^c wot, i^c haue agult : þe louerd seint Nicholas, Þat i^c bynom him þe furste coupe. : louerd, what schal i^c do? Line 404 Þerfore i^c habbe ilore nou mi child : & þe coupe also. Seint Nicholas, forȝif hit me : & ynelle noȝt bileue, iwis, Þat ynelle siche þe : þeȝ me beo bifalle þis!" ¶ Þis gode man [him] wende forþ : in deol & sori þoȝt; Line 408 Er he to seint Nicholas com : he neturnde aȝe noȝt. Þo he to þe weued com : þat he hadde wide isoȝt, Þe coupe he offrede þerto : þat he hadde þider ibroȝt. þe coupe hipte anon aȝe : he nolde astinte þere, Line 412 Ac hipte into þe flor : wreche as þeȝ hit were. Þis gode man hire nom vp : & offrede hire eft þere. Eftsone heo hipte fram þe weued : forþere þan heo dude ere. ¶ Þo was þis gode man agrise : & þoþere aboute also. Line 416 "Louerd," he seide, "seint Nicholas : i^c haue þe moche misdo. Ich wolde offri þoþer coupe : ac ynemai þerto come : vnderfong þus, if hit beo þi wille : for þoþer me is bynome. vnderfong þoþer of mi sone : for þu wost wher he is; Line 420 Let mi sone to þe offri þulke : & let me offri þis."— For no hope of his sones lyf : þe gode man þis nesede, Ac for he scholde his soule helpe : & þe whatlokere do what he bede.— ¶ Mid þis word þer com in : his sone, þat was adronke, Line 424 & bar þe coupe on his hond : þat was mid him asonke; To þe weued he ȝeode & offrede : to seint Nicholas. wele, louerd, þe grete ioye : þat of þe miracle was! Gladliche þe fader & þe sone : here offring vp bere; [folio 182] Line 428 & wende hom wiþ gret ioye : & leuede þe coupen þere, & herede moche seint Nicholas : as hi wel auȝte, iwis.— Meni is þe faire miracle : þat of seint Nicholas is!— ¶ A gyw was while in a tyme : þat i-hurde meni o tale Line 432 Of þe miracles of seint Nicholas : þat he dude so fale. So [þat], þeȝ he were a gyw : vpe him his hurte he caste, & honurede him ynouȝ : & biþoȝte him atte laste : An ymage priueiliche he makede : of seint Nicholas Line 436 & honurede hit in his hous : þo hit ȝare was. ¶ In a tyme hit biful : þat he hadde to done In þe contrai þer-aboute : to come aȝe wel sone. he nuste wham his god bitake : forte he aȝe come : Line 440 Seint Nicholas ymage he bad : nyme þer-to gode gome. "Ich þe habbe," he seide, "iloued ynouȝ : do me som god þerfore :

wite mi god forte i^c come : þat hit ne beo forlore! For, bi seint Nicholas þat i^c louie : if hit beo awei ibore Line 444 whan i^c come aȝe, þu schalt : sore abigge þerfore." Þe gyw wende forþ his wei : & tok al his god to wite Þe ymage, forte he come aȝe : as hit is iwrite. Siþþe hit biful þat liþere men : & þeoues þer come [[Here L. goes on again.]] Line 448 And to [al. om.] -breken þe giwes hous : and is guod a-wei nome. [folio 115] Þo þe giv cam hom a-ȝein : and miste al is gvod, [orig. good] gret deol he made and seoruwe i-novȝ : and ferde ase he were wod. to þane ymage he wende a-non : ase he bi þe walle stod : Line 452 "Seie," he seide, "ȝwat hauest þou i-do? : þou hauest i-set harm a-brod. Ich bi-tok þe to witene al mi guod : þat god lente me : hit is nouþe al i-bore a-wei : and þat ich wite þe, Ȝwan ich it bi-tok þe in warde : and þou were of pouste Line 456 to witen it wel, ȝif þat þou woldest. : þare-fore þou haue maugre. [vv. 456-7 al. om.] For ȝwane ich truste so muche to þe : and þou noldest do mi bone, bi riȝte lawe, ase ich þe bi-het : þov schalt a-bugge sone, Ȝwane þou ȝolde mine godhede : so vuele atþe laste." Line 460 harde scourgene he nam and stronge : and beot þis ymage wel faste, Þat grete peces borsten a-wei— : he ferde ase he were wod, And euere he bad þat seli treo : bringue aȝen is guod. Seint Nicholas þare-afterward sone : to þe þeoues wende, Line 464 Al for-woundet and to-drawe : ase þe giv him to-rende; "Lo," he seide, "hov ich am for ov : I-woundet and for-gnawe, blok and blodi, ase ȝe i-seoth : and al mi bodi to-drawe. bringez a-ȝen, ich red ov, sone : þat ȝe habbez a-wei [orig. a-ȝen] i-bore And istole of þe giwes guode : oþur ȝe schulle hangi þare-fore. [vv. 466-9 al. om.] For-soþe i segge, ȝe schullen hangen : bote ȝe it hom anon lede, Line 470 Ȝe schullen some a-bugge with me : ouwer foule mis-dede." Þeos þeoues weren sore of-dradde : heo nomen heom to rede Line 472 And ladden hom a-ȝein þe giwes guod— : huy ne dorsten oþur for drede, [orig. fere]

And weren a-knowe of al hore gult : and þe Miracle him sede hov seint Nicholas to heom cam : with is sidene blod-rede. Þe giv, and þe þeues al-so : to seint Nicholas bede Line 476 Þat he for-ȝeue heom heore gult : and nolden more don to quede. Þe þeues bi-comen trewe men : and ne stelen neuereft more, And þe giv him let cristny sone : and tok him al-to godes lore, And euereft more euerechone : loueden seint Nicholas. Line 480 Me þincheth, a-mong alle oþere : a fair Miracle þat was! [vv. 480-1 al. om.] — ¶ In anoþur time a guod man was : þat hadde a clerk to sone; Eche ȝere he wolde for is loue : a-seint Nicholas dai bi wone Of manie clerkus gret feste holden : and wurthschipien [al. om.] seint Nicholas al-so, Line 484 with offringue and seruise at churche : gret honur him do. Þe feond hadde þar-to onde. : a dai he [MS. ase he] cam þere A-seint Nicholas day to þe ȝate : ase þei it a beggare were, And bad, for seint Nicholas loue : þat man sum guod him [orig. heom] ȝeoue. Line 488 Anon so þat child wuste him þere : he nolde no leng bi-leue Ake bred he nam in is hond : þane schrewe forto beode. And þo þat child cam toward þe ȝate : þe schrewe aweiward ȝeode; Þat child eode euere after-ward : to ȝiuen him of þe brede, Line 492 Ake he ȝeode euere forth, ase it were : a-weiward þat child to lede : And þo he cam in-to a derne stude : he bi-turnde him ate laste, [folio 115b] Ase it were to nime þat bred : and anon he nam wel faste Þat child bi is seli þrote [MS. þ^r ote] : and a-stranglede him a-non; Þat child lai þare and deide sone : and þe schrewe a-wei gan gon. Þe guode man, þo he miste is child : he souȝte it wel wide; Line 498 Ake þo he fond it ligge a-slawe : wel deolfulliche he cride. "Louerd," he seide, "seint Nicholas : ich bidde þe milce and ore! honoured ich þe habbe mani a dai : ant ȝeot ich hopie more, And for anchaisun of mi sone : þe more, and for is lore, Þat þou me sendest Ioie of him : and schildest me fram sore : Ȝwi ȝelstov mine ȝwyle þus? : louerd, ȝwi dest þou so? Line 504 hov miȝtþou þus, seint Nicholas : for reuþe bi me do? Ȝif me gladnesse of mi child : þat ich mote him a-liue i-seo,

And ich him bi-hote to þine seruise : and þat he schal guod man beo." Ase he was þus in is beden : þat child a-ros op allone, Line 508 And herede god and seint Nicholas : a-mong heom euerechone, Þat him hadde lijf i-sent : for is fader bone þer; And he tolde al-hou þe deuel hadde : him a-strangled er, For al-so muche ase he honourede so : þane guode seint Nicholas. Þis, me þinchez, a-mong alle oþere : a fair Miracle it was! Line 513 Louerd, [þat] for þe loue of seint Nicholas : mani Miracle hast i-do, Þou schild us fram þe pine of helle : and fram dedliche sunne also.