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

49 Vita sancti Kenelmi. Regis.

SEint Kenelm, þe ȝongue kyng : þat holi martyr is, he was kyng in Engelonde : of þe Marche of Walis. Kyng kenulf his fader hiet : he was kyng þare also; Þe Abbeie of wynchecoumbe he liet arere : And þare-inne monekes do; Line 4 And Aftur is deþe he was þare i-bured : and ȝeot he lijth þere In þe Abbeiȝe, þat ȝeot stant : þat he him-seolf liet a-rere. Þo was wynchecombe gret cite : and mest of i-novȝ Of al þulke half of Engelonde : so feor so his lond drouȝ. [folio 149b] Line 8 Fyf kingues þare weren þulke tyme : In engelonde i-do, For Enguelond was guod and long : and sum-del brod al-so. A-bouten eiȝte hondret mile : Engelond long is Fram þe South into þe North : and to houndret brod i-wis Fram þe Est into þe West. : al-so þare-inne beoth Manie wateres guode i-nowe : þat men al dai i-seoth. Line 14 bote þreo wateres principales : of alle ne beoth, i-wis : Þat .on. is homber, þat oþur seuerne : and temes þe þridde is. Line 16 To þe North-se hombur geth : þat is on of þe beste,

And Temese into þe est-se : and seuerne into þe weste. ¶ Þeos fijf kyngus of Engelonde : þat weren bi olde dawe, hadden heore part ech bi him-seolf i-deld : ase it was riȝt and lawe. Þe kyng þat was of þe March : he hadde al þat beste : Muche del he hadde of Engelond : þat on half al-bi weste, Line 22 Wyrecestre-schire, and ware-wike-schire : and þe schire of gloucestre— Þat is neiȝwat al o bischopriche : þe bischopes of wyrecestre. Line 24 he hadde þar-to chastre-schire : and derbi-schire al-so, And stafford-schire—þat beoth alle : to one bischope-riche i-do, In þe bischop-riche of Chastre : and ȝeot heo beoth þar-to, Schrobbe-schire sum : and warewyke-schire haluen-del al-so. Line 28 Þis king hadde al-so hereforde-schire : þat o bischopriche is, Ake Schrob-schire fallez haluendel : to þulke schire, i-wis, And sum of warewike-schire : and of gloucestre-schire al-so. Sethþe hadde þe king of þe March : wel more lond þer-to : Line 32 Nore-hampte-sc^hire, and boking-ham-schire : and þe schire of Oxen|ford, Leycestre-schire, . lincolne-schire : and þe schire of hert-ford— Þat is al o bischopriche : þat of lincolne nouþe is, Þat ȝwuylene was of deorkcestre : bi-side Oxenforde, i-wis. Line 36 Sethþe hadde þe king of þe March : Notingham-schire þer-to— In þe bischopriche of Euerwike : bote þo nas it nouȝt so. Þo was al þis lond i-cleoped : þe Marche of Walis : Of al þis seint kenelmes fader : he was king, i-wis. Line 40 Non of alle þe oþere kyne-riches : a-ȝein þis kinedom nas; And wynche-coumbe of al þis lond : chef Cite þo was. Þis fijf kyngues þat weren þo : þat on was of kent, i-wis, And þe oþer, ase ich ou seide er : of þe Marche of walis, Line 44 Of Esex, and of North-homberlond : and of est-lond al-so— Þis fijf kynedomes in engelond : in þat time weren i-do. Þe king of west-sex hadde þo : al wilte-schire, i-wis, And Deorkecestre, and barroke-schire : þat al o bischopriche is, Line 48 To þe bischopriche of salesburi— : ake þo nas it so nouȝt, For þe chief stude of þe bischopriche : at schirbourne was i-wrouȝt. Sethþe hadde þe kyng of west-sex : south-sex al-so, Þe welde and al þe bischopriche : of Cicestre þer-to; Line 52

Line 52 And southampte-schire and soþereye : þat of þe bischopriche is, [folio 150] Þe bischopriche of wynchestre : þat ȝuyt is þere, i-wis; And somer-sete [þat] to welles : þulke tyme drouȝ— Nov it is þe bischopriche of baþe : ȝe schullen i-wyten. Line 56 ¶ Þe kyng of west-sex hadde sethþe : al deuene-schire, i-wis, And Cornwaile, þat in þe bischopriche : of Eccestre nouþe is.— Þe king of kent was þo kyng : of al þe londe of kent, Þat weren inne tweie bischopriches : and ȝeot nis it nouȝt i-went : Line 60 Þe bischopriche of Caunterburi : þat in Engelonde ȝeot is hext, And þe bischopriche of Roucestre : þat inþe west-side is next.— Þe king þat was of ast-londe : king was of North-folk, Þe bischopriche of Northwich : and al-so of south-folk Line 64 And al þe bischopriche of hely : þat þe Yle of hely ȝeot is, And grauntebrugge-schire : þare-to fallez, i-wis; Seint Eadmund was of þat lond : kyng bi olde dawe— For he was in is owene lond : for is guodnesse a-slawe.— Line 68 Þe kyng of North-humber-lond : was kyng, ich onder-stonde, Of al þe londe bi-ȝeonde houmber : A-non into scotlonde, Þe bischopriche of Eouerwik : and of Duyrham, i-wis; Seint Oswold bi olde dawe : was kyng of al þis. Line 72 Þus manie kyngues weren : ȝwylene in Engelonde, And heore londes de-partede weren : þus, ich under-stonde.— Þe kyng þat was of þe march : ase ich telle bi-gan, Kenulf kyng he was i-cleoped : swiþe holi and guod man : Line 76 Seint kenelm was is sone : and is eir al-so; Borewenild and quendrith : weren is douȝtrene two. In þe foure-and-twentiþe ȝere : of is kynedom Þe kyng kenulf deide : and to þe IoIe of heuene he com— Line 80 hit was afftur þat ore louerd : in his moder a-liȝte Eiȝte hundret ȝer and Nyntene : bi a-countes riȝte. ¶ Seint kenelm, is ȝonge sone : In is seuenþe ȝere kyng was I-mad aftur him : al-þei he ȝong child were. Line 84 his [o] soster Borewenild : louede him i-nouȝ And in eche manere : to alle guod-nesse heo drouȝ. Quendrith, þe oþur soster : of hire maneres nas nouȝt, For heo tornede to feolonie : and to quede hire þouȝt. Line 88

Line 88 ¶ heo i-saiȝ þat hire ȝungue broþer : þat nas nouȝt of seue ȝer, kyng was i-mad of al þat lond : þat heore fader hadde er : to him heo hadde gret onde : þat he scholde so riche beo And eir of hire fader lond : and of more power þane heo; Line 92 heo þouȝte, ȝif heo miȝte bringue : þis child of lijf-dawe, Þat heo wolde of is heritage : beo quene with lawe. Al hire þouȝt was niȝt and day : to bi-þenche sum outrage, Þat þis child were i-brouȝt of dawe : for-to habbe is heritage. Line 96 heo porueide hire riȝt feolonliche : A poysun, strong i-nouȝ, For-to ȝiue þis ȝongue child : to slen him with wouȝ. [folio 150b] Þo þat poysun him was i-ȝiue : þat so strong and luþer was, Ore louerdes miȝte was so muche : þat no-þe worse him nas. Line 100 Þo þe luþere quene þat i-sai : þat hit was al for nouȝt, Þat no poysun ne miȝte him sle : heo þouȝte an oþur þouȝt. Þis ȝongue child ane maister hadde : þat his wardein was— Askebert he was i-cleoped : a strong trichour, alas! Line 104 For noman ne may to oþur : sonere tricherie do Þane þilke þat is him euere neiȝ : and þat he trist mest to. ¶ Þis luþere quene bi-þouȝte hire : of one false wrenche— Line 107 Men seith þat feolonie nas neuere non : þat womman ne can bi-þenche. with þis Askebert heo spac : þis child to slen and spille; heo bi-het him mede and guod i-novȝ : and of eche þing don is wille. So þat þis to luþere þingues : weren at one rede, And bi-speken hou huy miȝten best : don þe luþere dede. Line 112 Þe ȝwyle huy bi-speken boþe : þis ȝongue child to quelle, Þis swete sweuene þis child matte : þat ich ov wolle nouþe telle : him þouȝte þat þare stod a treo : riȝt bi-fore is bedde, Þat a-non to þe steorrene it tilde : and swyþe wide it spradde; Line 116 Þis treo was fair and noble i-novȝ : And schon wel briȝte and wide, Ful of blostmene and of fruyt : and mani a riche bouȝ bi-side, berninde wex and laumpes al-so : þicke brenninde and liȝte— So noble treo nas neuere i-seiȝe : ne non þat schon so briȝte. Line 120 him þouȝte he c[l]am op-on þat treo : to þexte bowe an heiȝ And bi-heold a-boute in-to al þe world : and a-perteliche i-seiȝ. Þe ȝwyle he stod opon þis treo : and bi-heold a-boute so, him þouȝte þat on of is nexte frend : and þat he truste mest to, Line 124

Line 124 On þe grounde stod bi-neþe : and smot a-to þis treo, Þat it feol a-doun to grounde : þat deol it was to seo. to aluyte foul he bi-cam : non fairore ne miȝte non beo, And bi-gan with Ioye i-novȝ : riȝt into heouene fleo. Line 128 Þo þis child þouȝte so : at wynchecombe he lay : he a-wok and [in] grete þouȝte was : boþe niȝt and day. he nuste ȝwat tockninge it was : wel þe more was his þouȝt; Are he þarof sum-þing wuste : bliþe nas he nouȝt. Line 132 his norice, þat him hadde i-fed : and with hire milk forth i-brouȝt, Þat child heo louede euere muche : with dedes and with þouȝt; To hire þat child triste mest : —woluene hire name was : Þis child tolde hire priueliche : of is metingue al is cas. Line 136 Þo þis Norice hadde i-heord : þe sweuene, þat was so guod, heo bi-gan to siche sore : and in grete þouȝte stod; "Alas," heo seide, "þat ich scholde : euere þis day a-bide, Þat mi child, mi swete heorte : swych cas schal bi-tide! Line 140 Alas, mi child, mi swete fode : þat ich habbe forth i-brouȝt, Þi soster, þat bi-spekez þi deth : to quelle þe heo hath i-þouȝt. Ake þe foul, þat þou bi-come to : and to heuene gan i-wende, [folio 151] Þat was þi soule, þat þudere schal : aftur þi liues ende."— Line 144 Þis metyngue bi-cam soth i-nouȝ : þat he fond atþe laste. For is soster and Askebert : bi-speken is deth wel faste. Askebert seide a day : þat þis child scholde wende An hontingue, to pleiȝen him : bi þe wodes ende, Line 148 And he with him, ase hit was riȝt : to witien him bi þe weiȝe. he wende to þe wode of clent : ase it were heom for-to pleie. Ase huy wenden a-boute þe wode : ase ore louerd ȝaf þe grace, grete wille þat child hadde : þare to slepen in one place; Line 152 A-doun he lai wel soffteliche : and gan to slepe a-non. Askebert ne þouȝte nouȝt : þat he scholde þannes gon. bi-side in one derne stude : he gan to deluen faste Ane put, ȝwane þat child were ded : þare-inne him to caste. Line 156 Þat child bi-gan a-wakien sone : ase þei it were bi cas, After is maister he bi-heold : and ne saiȝ nouȝt ȝware he was. Ake ore louerd him ȝaf þe grace : þei he nuste nouȝt of is dede, Þat he spac to his maister : and þeos wordes sede : Line 160

Line 160 "Þou trauailest," he seide, "a-boute nouȝt : and þine ȝwyle þou dost spille, For in ane oþure stude i schal deie : ȝware hit is godes wille; And þoruȝ tokningue of þis ȝeorde : þou schal wel i-seo Þare al þi wille þou miȝt do : þat ich i-martred beo." Line 164 Forth wende þis luþere man : and þis child also. huy comen to on oþur stude : þare þe dede was i-do. Þis maister nam þe ȝeorde : and sette hire on þe grounde : And heo bi-gan to leui þare : in wel luyte stounde, Line 168 And a swyþe gret Asch bi-cam sethþe : and ȝeot stant in þulke place, to schewi þe miȝte of seint kenelm : and ore louerdes grace. Þes luþere man nam þis child : in þe wode of klent And ladde him, ase men doth a þeof : to a-fongue is Iuggement, Line 172 he ladde him into a priue stude : al out of þe weiȝe, bi-twene [twei] hulles heiȝe : into a deop ualeie. ¶ Þis child þoruȝ þe holi gost : þei þe oþur it nolde him telle, Wuste wel is luþere þouȝt : þat he him wolde a-quelle; Line 176 And þo he targede a luyte : þis luþere dede to done, Þat child seide wel mildeliche : "ȝwy ne dost þou sone?" he bi-gan Ane saume þat men singuth : in holie churche a-day, Þat was "te deum laudamus" : are þat he a-doun lay. Line 180 Riȝt ase he scide an holi vers : þat þare-inne was and is, A-latyn i-write, as alle þe oþure : and þe englisch so is þis "Þe faire compaygnie of Martyrs : louerd, herieth þe :" Riȝt ase he hadde þat fers i-seid : as þe boc tellez me, Line 184 Þe luþere man smot of is heued : onder an hawȝþorn-treo, Þare ase godes wille was : þat he i-martred scholde beo. A coluere, ȝwiȝt so eni milk : out of him gan teo And riȝt euene heo was i-seiȝe : into heouene fleo. [folio 151b] Line 188 Onneþe he was seue ȝer old : are he i-martred were— Alto soth is sweuene was : ase [men] miȝten i-seo þere! ¶ Þis luþere man þat him a-slovȝ : bi-gan to delue faste And made ane put, deop i-nouȝ : and þare-inne þis child caste; Line 192 he burede hit þare faste i-nou : þat he i-founde nere, And wende hom a-ȝein in is wei : and liet him ligge þere. To Quendrith, his luþere soster : a-non-riȝt he gan i-wende

And tolde al þis luþere dede : hou he was i-brouȝt to ende. Line 196 Þeos womman was þo glad i-nouȝ! : A-boute heo sende a-non For-to saisi alle his londes to hire : and þe maneres euerech-on, And liet hire makien quiene of þe Marche : ase hire broþur was king. A schrewe lauedi heo was i-novȝ : and wicke þoruȝ alle þing! Line 200 heo wende a-boute ope al hire lond : and nam hire manrede, And bi-cam stuyrne and bi-ladde hire men : harde with muche wrech-hede. heo liet hote into al þat lond : þat no man so wod nere to nemmen hire broþer name : for loue ne for fere; Line 204 And ȝif man miȝte ani i-wite : þat nadde it nouȝt bi-leued, Þat he were sone i-nome : and i-smiten of is heued. Þus fierde þis luþere womman : and sturede hire wel faste; Line 207 Þat no man ne dorste hire broþur bi-mene : huy weren so sore a-gaste. And euere lai þis holie bodi : i-bured swiþe stille, Þat no man ne dorste of him speke : a-ȝein þe quiene wille. So longue, þat he was al for-ȝite : þo men ne moste of him speke. Ake hit nas nouȝt þat atþe laste : ore louerd him nolde a-wreke. Line 212 Þane no man nolde, þat witti was : of him þenchen ene, Ore louerd nolde nouȝt þat he were : allingues for-ȝite so clene; Ȝwane no man, þat witti was : of him ne hadde muynde, A doumb best, þat is with-oute witte : hadde, a-ȝein kuynde. Line 216 For a wydewe hadde ane ȝwite kov : þat wonede þare-bi-side, Þat ȝeode a-dai to fetten hire mete : in þe wode wel wide Þo seint kenelm was i-bured : in þe valeie þare doune. Þis kou wolde eche daye : ȝwane heo come fram toune Line 220 to gaderi hire mete, with oþure kuyn : heo wolde gon al one Fer a-doun into þis valeie : and hire felawes bi-leue ech-one, And sitte bi þis holie bodi : al þe longue dai, Ase it were for-to honouri him : for hit so one lay; Line 224 And so heo sat with-oute mete : al þe day to þen ende, And ȝwane hit atþe eue was : hamward heo wolde wende. Ȝwane heo cam hom at eue : fair and round heo was, And swyþe Mielch al-so : —þat was a wonder cas! Line 228 For þare ne was no oþur kov : þat half so muche milk ȝeoue; heo ne ȝaf a-morewe noþe lasse : þei heo were i-milked an eue.

Folk þat þis wonder i-saiȝ : guode ȝeme alle huy nome And a-waiteden wel a dai : ȝware þe kou bi-come. [folio 152] Line 232 Heo seien hire sitte al þe day : in þe valeie þare doune, Stille in one stude, meteles : for-to heo eode an eue to toune. Ake ȝwi heo sete þare so : heo ne miȝten i-wite noþing; bote in heore heorte huy onder-stoden : þat it was sum tokning. Line 236 For þis kov wonede so þere : and adai drouȝ hire þare-to, Þe ualeye men cleopeden "koubache" : and ȝeot men doth al-so.— In kovbache þat holie bodi : lai wel mani a ȝer, Þat men nusten of him no-þing : ase ich ov seide er : Line 240 For is soster, þat was so forth : in grete pruyte i-brouȝt, So gret þretningue for him heo made : þat men ne dorsten him nemme nouȝt.— Þo þis bodi ne moste beo : i-founde in Engelonde, Ore louerd, þat wot alle þing : to him he sende is sonde. Line 244 Ase þe pope stod at rome : in his masse a day At seint peteres weouede : ase muche folk þat i-sai, A coluere, ȝwiȝt so ani snov : cam fram heouene fleo And leide on þe weuede a luyte writ : and sethþe aȝen gan steo, Line 248 he flevȝ op into heouene an heiȝ : ase ore louerd it wolde. Þat writ was ȝwijt and schon wel briȝte : þe lettres weren of golde. Þe pope þonkede ihesu crist : and þat folk dude al-so. he nam þe lettre on his hond : and þo heo was ondo, Line 252 he nuste ȝwat it was to segge : ne non in-siȝt he ne couþe i-wite— For he ne couþe englisch non : and on englis it was i-write. he liet cleopie eche-manere men : of eche diuerse londe, ȝif any covþe of þis holie writ : Ani-þing onder-stonde. Line 256 Þo weren þare men of Engelonde : þat wusten ȝwat it sede, And onder-stoden wel þat writ : þo heo i-heorden it rede. ¶ Þat writ was puyr on Englisch i-write : ase men it radden þere; And for-to tellen with-oute ryme : þeos wordes it were : Line 260 "In klent covbache kenelm, kyngues sone, lijth onder ane þorne, is heued him bi-reued." Þis writ was wel nobleliche : i-wust and up i-do, And i-holde for gret relike : and ȝeot it is al-so; Þe nobleste relike it is on þar-of : þat is in þe churche of rome— Line 264

Line 264 So it ouȝte wel ho-so it under-stode : fram ȝwanne þat it come: For ȝwane it out of heouene cam : fram ore louerdes honde, Ȝwat noblere relike miȝte beo? : I-ne can non onder-stonde. Þare-fore seint kenelmes day : ase þe pope makede is heste, Line 268 At rome huy holdez heiȝliche : and makiez wel heiȝ feste.— ¶ Þe pope, þo he þe soþe wuste : þat it was swuch tockningue, his messagers in-to Engelonde : he sende wit þis tiþingue; To þe Erchebischope of kaunterburi : wolfred þat was þo, Line 272 his lettre he sende, þat he scholde : of swuche þingue onder-go And seche after þe wode of klent : ȝif ani man miȝte i-wite, And seche ane þorn in kovbache : ase it was in þe write, And for-to seche þat holie bodi : þat derneliche lay þere, Line 276 And nimen it up with gret honour : þat hit i-schrined were. Þo þe lettre fram þe pope : to þe Erchebischope cam, [folio 152b] Of bischopes and of clerkus : conseil þar-of he nam: So þat in þe wode of klent : þat in wyricestre-schire is, Line 280 he liet seche þat holie bodi : and fond it out, i-wis, Onder þe þorne at covbache : ase þat writ seide of rome. For þe contreie-men bi-side : manie þudere huy come, Þo men of þare-bi-side : onder-ȝeten þat cas, Ortreweden wel ȝware it lay : for þe miracle so fair was. A-non so þat bodi was op i-nome : þe ȝwile þat folk þare stod, Þere sprong a welle, þare he lay : þat ȝeot is fair and guod. A welle þare is cler i-nouȝ : and eucreft hath i-beo, Line 288 In þe stude þare he lai on : ase man mai þare i-seo, Men cleopieth "seint kenelmes welle"— : þat mani man hath i-souȝt, And manie þoruȝ þe watere : of grete Anguisse beoth i-brouȝt. Of þe cite of wynchecumbe : and of þe contreie þare-bi-side Line 292 Þe men weren þat souȝten so : þat holie bodi so wide: And þe bischopes hadden er i-loked : þat it scholde to winchecumbe beo i-bore And i-schrined, þare is fader lai : þat a-rerde þat hous bi-fore. Þis men nomen up þat holie bodi : þat of gloucestre-schire were, Line 296 And nobleliche toward wynchecumbe : with procession it bere. Þat folk of wyricestre-schire : þat woneden þare-bi-side,

Nomen heom to rede manie : to maken þat bodi a-bide, And sworen þat huy it wolden habbe : and noman ne scholde it heom bi-reue, Line 300 For in þe schire þare it i-founde was : huy seiden, it scholde bi-leue. bi þe watere of pireford : þis two schirene hem mette, And conteckeden for þis holie bodi : and faste to-gadere sette. So þat huy nomen ane fourme of pays : to don bi godes grace, Line 304 Ȝif god heom wolde is wille sch[e]wen : are huy wenden fram þat place. Feor huy weren i-trauailed and sore : so þat heom luste slepe ech-on: huy maden ane fourme þat huy scholden alle : ligge slepe a-non, And ȝweþur of þis twei schires : miȝten sonore a-wake Line 308 huy scholden sauf i-novȝ wenden forth : and þat bodi with hem take. ¶ Stille huy leiȝen slepe faste : þis schirene boþe-to, And resten heom of hore werienesse— : for ore louerd it wolde so. [So] þat huy of gloucestre-schire : a-woken sone ech-on Line 312 At one tyme alle, ase god it wolde : and of wyricestre-schire nouȝt on. In pais huy wenden forth heore wey : and þis bodi with heom toke. Wel fif mile wei huy weren i-wende : are þe oþere a-woke. Line 315 Þis oþere i-seiȝen heom bi-gylede : anon so huy bi-gounne a-wake: And siweden þis oþere swiþe faste : ake huy ne miȝten heom nouȝt of-take.— Þis men toward wy[n]checombe : þat holie bodi huy bere. Are heo miȝten it þudere bringue : swyþe werie huy were. So þat huy comen into one wode : a luyte bi este þe toune, Line 320 And resten heom, þo huy weren so neiȝ : op-on ane heiȝe doune. A-þurst huy weren for werienesse : so þat it nas non ende. huy beden ore louerd for seint kenelmes loue : þat he scholde heom drinke sende. [folio 153] A fair welle þare sprong op : an heiȝ op-on þe doune— Line 324 Þat ȝuyt is þare, cler and cold : half a mile fram toune; heo is nouþe wel faire i-heoled : with freo ston, ase riȝt is, I-redi ech man to drinken of : þat cometh þare-forth, i-wis. ¶ Þe Monekes of Wynchecombe : arerd habbez þare-bi-side Line 328 A fair chapele of seint kenelm : þat men sechez ful wide.— Quendrith, þe luþere womman : at wynchecumbe þo was;

bote heo nuste nouȝt hire broþer so neiȝ : ne no-wiȝt of þat cas. In seint peteres churche heo sat : bi-side þe Abbeie-ȝate, Line 332 In a soler inþe est-side : and lokede out þare-ate. heo i-saiȝ al þis grete folk come : a-doneward of þe doune heiȝe Toward wynchecumbe : a-luyte fram suyd-leiȝe. heo Axede ȝwat men it weren : and ȝwat huy þouȝten þere. Line 336 Men seiden þat huy to churche wolden : and þat huy hire broþer bere. Þo was þis Quiene sori i-novȝ! : in grete deole and fere hire sauter heo nam on honde : ase þei heo witles were. Of þe sauter þe laste saume : bi-fore þe Euesongus, i-wis, Line 340 of corsingue and of luþere men : and of mansingue i-maked heo is: "Deus laudem" [heo] is i-cleoped. : þis saume þe Quiene radde, For-to a-corsi hire broþur bodi : and alle þat him þudere ladde. Þo heo cam to þe Ninteoþe vers : ase þe mansingue endez, i-wis, Line 344 Þat "hoc opus eorum" : a-latin i-cleoped it is, Þat seit þat men it beo scholden : þat duden þat ilke dede: Opon hire owene heued it cam : ase heo þat vers gan rede: For riȝt ase heo þat vers radde : out-borsten boþe hire eiȝe Line 348 And fullen a-doun op-on hire sauter : ase manie men i-seiȝe. Þe sauter is ȝuyt at wynchecombe : and ho-so come wole þare-to, Aperteliche man may þare i-se : ȝware þe dede was i-do.— Þis holie bodi was forth i-bore : with gret honour ate fine, Line 352 And in þe Abbeie, þare he lijth ȝuyt : i-don in wel noble schrine. Þis luþere Quiene deide sethþe : in schrewedenesse i-nouȝ; Line 354 Þat bodi, ase a corsede wrechche : into ane diche man it drovȝ, Into þe fouleste þat was þare a-boute : and þare-inne man it slong— bote hire endingue sunful were : me þinchez elles it hadde i-beo wrong! Line 357 Nov god for þe loue of seint kenelm : is swete grace vs sende, Þat we moten to þulke Ioie : þare he is inne,i-wiende. AmeN.

Notes

• MS. fran
• al. in
• al. bischopriche
• r. Westsex
• al. Dorsete
• al. om.
• orig. nouȝt so
• r. o
• al. ȝe witeþ wel inouȝ
• vv. 63-4 are transp. in the MS.
• on the margin.
• orig. ant
• MS. cam
• al. prute inouȝ
• MS. ich
• om. non
• MS. hire
• al. om.
• = heo, huy
• al. whane
• om.
• orig. manrade
• al. 2 vv. more.
• al. 2 vv. more.
• al. fers : and
• al. þerto sette is honde
• al. bern
• al. om.
• al. om.
• al. & for þe miracle of þe cou : þe what|loker þerto hi come.
• al. For
• al. þat o.
• al. þat me
• al. for
• al. vp
• MS. him
• al. om.
• al. what
• al. afongeþ
• al. 2 vv. more.
• al. 2 vv. more.
• al. scenfol
• MS. it