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

64 [Martyn]

SEint Martyn was i-bore : in þe londe of sabarie; Wel ȝong he was i-noriced : in þe londe of papie. A noble knyȝht is fadur was : and Maister of þe fierde, Vnder Costantyn þe Aumperour : and al is .Ost. he stierde. Line 4 For into batayle he brouȝhte is ȝoungue sone : þar-of him to lere. None heorte nadde he þer-to : for huy heþene were; his heorte bar him euere to Iesu crist : þei he i-cristned nere, he i-saiȝh þat heore bi-leue nas nauȝht : þat huy bi-lefden þere. Line 8 ¶ To churche, þo he was Twelf ȝer old : stilleliche he wende And bi-hiet ore louerd cristine to beo : ȝwane he þe time him sende. ¶ Þe Aumperour het into al þat lond : to euereche olde kniȝte Þat heore sones scholden into batayle comen : and for heore faderes fiȝhte. Line 12 So þat þe ȝungue seint Martin : nas bote of fiftene ȝer Þo he [þe armes] in eche bataile : for is fadere ber. A winter ase þis child rod : bi þe weye al one, A Miseise man he mette naked : sore sike and grone. [folio 185b] Line 16 Seint Martyn drovȝ out is swerd : ase we findeth in þe bok, And carf is Mantel half a-to : and þe pouere Manne it bi-tok. ¶ Sone aftur-ward, ase he bi-heold : to-ward heouene an heiȝh, with is halue Mantel i-heled : ore louerd crist he seiȝh: Line 20 "lo," he seide to is Aungles : "þis ne worth me nouȝht bi-reued; Martin, þat is heþene ȝuyt : here-with me hath bi-weued." Þo Martin þis i-herde : and ore louerd he saiȝh þere, Glad ne bliþe nolde he beo : are he i-cristned were. Line 24 ¶ Eiȝhtetene ȝer he was old : þo he i-cristned was; Þat he hadde so longue a-bide : ofte he seide alas. Ake al þe to ȝer þare-afturward : in-to batailes he wende For is fader wide a-boute : ase þe Aumperor him sende. Line 28 hit bi-fel of a gret bataile : þat þe Aumperor hadde i-nome, he het alle is knyȝhtes in is lond : þat huy scholden to him come;

he het Martyn with heom wende : and Armure with him take. "Certes, sire," Martin seide, "þine Armes ich habbe for-sake, Line 32 ¶ Ich am Iesu cristes knyȝht : and so ich habbe i-beo longue, And none oþure Armes bote his : i-nelle vnder-fongue." "Ei, couward," seide þe Aumperour : "nouþe þou sparest for fere For-to fiȝhte with þine felawes : ase þi riȝte were?" Line 36 "Sire," seide Martin þo : "þe soþe þou schalt i-se, Of þine Armes ne kepe i nouȝht : ake þe furste ichulle beo Al one bi-fore al þi folk : naked to þe bataile; Line 39 Mine louerdes miȝhte þou schalt i-seo : for he me nele nouȝt faile." ¶ Þo þat ferd al-ȝare was : seint Martin wende a-non Vn-armed with is swerd a-drawe : among alle is fon. Þo he a-mong hem was i-come : þare nas of hem nouȝht on Þat miȝhte ani more hebbe up is hond : þane it were a ston; Line 44 huy ȝolden him þe maistrie a-non : bote þat he let hem a-liue. Seint Martin clepede is felawes : and het hem hom wel bliue. "Sire Aumperour," he seide, "nouþe þou sixt : ȝwuch is mi louerdes miȝhte; Are ȝe alle it hadden þar-to i-brouȝht : longue ȝe mosten fiȝhte! Line 48 ¶ Nov þou hast alle þine fon i-wonne : þonke god, and nouȝht me, And haue guod day, for i-nelle : no lengore serui þe." he nam is leue and wende forth : —he nolde no leng a-bide— To þe holie bischop hyllari : þat wonede þare-bi-side. Line 52 Of him he was i-maud a-colite : and dude al bi is rede. Ore louerd cam to him a niȝht : and þeos wordes to him seide : ¶ "Ich hote þe, Martin, þat þou go : wel ofte to þine kunne, And spec with hem, ȝif þov miȝht : bringue hem out of sunne; Line 56 Þei þat huy heþene beon : ne let heom nouȝht þare-fore, For ech guod man schal Anouri þat kun : þat he was of i-bore. Ake gret a-nuy þov schalt habbe : þe ȝwile þou gest a-boute; Þe ȝwyle þou mine grace hast : þe þarf no-wiȝht doute." Line 60 Þis guode Man, ase ore louerd him het : to-ward is kun wende. Strongue outlawes bi þe wei he mette : heore bouwes sone huy bende, Þis guode man huy nomen : and maden him mani a wounde, [folio 186] Forth huy ladden him for-to sle : is hondene faste i-bounde. Line 64 Þe outlawes axede him ȝif he were : so sore a-drad euere.

"Nai, certes," quath þis holie man : "þat nas ich neuere. ¶ Ore louerdes hel^p was euere neiȝh : þe manne þat was in care : So muche is þar-to min hope : þat i-ne rechche hou ich fare." Line 68 Of Ihesu crist he tolde so : with heom þat him nome, Þat huy ful sone leten him go : and cristine for him bi-come. Ase þis guode Man eode forth al one : þe deuel a-ȝein him cam; In faire manere he axede him : ȝwodere þene wei he nam. Line 72 Þis guode Man seide, "ichulle go : ase mi louerd wole lede me." "Ȝwodere þou go," þe oþur seide : "þe deuel wole aȝein þe beo." ¶ "Ȝe," seide þis guode Man : "þou most wel al-so; For ȝwane ore louerd is min help : i-ne rechche ȝwat oþure do." Line 76 Þis guode Man eode a-mong is freond : is moder cristine he made; his fader nolde cristine be : for al þat huy him bede.— Seint Martin fond a ȝong man ded : þat swiþe wel with him was, Þat bi-lefde on ore louerd for him : ake i-cristned nouȝt he nas. Line 80 ¶ Gret deol made þis holie man : þat he nadde ibe i-cristned er : To is burieles he eode, and bad for him : and weop wel mani a ter. Þe dede Man bi-gan a-non : fram deþe arise to liue; Line 83 "Martin," he seide, "i-hered beo þou : and ore louerdes woundes fiue! Mi soule was to helle i-lad : ase alle beoth of oure kuynde, Ake tweye Aungles þoruȝ godes grace : hadden me in muynde And seiden ore louerd þat ich hadde : ouwer desciple i-beo; Þare-fore ore louerd me dude a-rise : for þe honour of þe Line 88 And dude mi soule to mi bodi : for þi loue hider bringue. Cristine-dom par charite : ich esche bi-fore alle þingue." ¶ Gret Ioye hadde þis holie Man : of þis swete cas; he nolde departi fram him nouȝht : are he i-cristned was.— Line 92 Þat folk nam sethþe seint Martin : for he was so guod, And maden him bischop of turoyne : muche a-ȝein is mod. To mile with-oute þe cite : an Abbeye he liet a-rere; Four-score Monekes of guode liue : him-sulf he dude þere. Line 96 with heom he wonede al in pays : ase he heore soueren were; he ne wende nouȝht out bote ȝwane it neod was : þat folk for-to lere.— ¶ So holi lif seint Martin ladde : þat he hadde to is heste Fuyr., and treo., and þe kuynde of worm : of foules and of beste. A strong wind blevȝ a fuyr : þat to seint Martines house it wende,

And are þis guode man it onder-ȝete : i-barnd was þat on ende. Seint Martyn hiet a-godes name : þat fuyr a-ȝein wiende : For is heste þat fuyr flevȝ : a-non a-ȝein þe wynde Line 104 To þe stude þare it cam fram : and ne bi-lefde no-wiȝht bi-hinde, And dude a-ȝein þe kuynde of fuyre : a-ȝein þe wynde to fle. [folio 186b] Þare was i-sene þat fuyr ne miȝhte : a-ȝein is heste be.— ¶ To is heste he hadde, ase ich seide er : þe kuynde of þe tre, Line 108 Ase ȝe mouwen bi a fair miracle : of him nouþe i-seo. On a dai ase he stod under a treo : to prechi godes lawe, Þe luþere men þat þare-bi stoden : þouȝhten him bringue of dawe : huy gunne sawie þat treo a-to : to-ward þis holie Manne, Line 112 Þat it scholde ouer-falle him— : for þare nadde he freond nanne. Þoruȝ noyse of þe crakeȝingue : þe guode man i-heorde Þat þut treo fel touward him. : a-ȝein wel sone he it cherde; ¶ he het þat treo a-godes name : opward a-ȝein tuyrne. Line 116 Þat treo a-ros up-riȝht i-nouȝh : for it nolde is heste werne, And ouer-ful in þat oþur side : [m]anie of is fon. huy þat leoueden, lieten heom sone : cristni euerech-on.— Line 119 Þe worm dude is heste al-so. : for ase he cam bi a wateres brimme, A lodlich Naddre he i-saiȝh : stifliche aȝein him come swymme. "Ich hote þe," seide þis holie Man : "þat þov aȝeinward wende, A[n]t þat þou neuereft here ne come : ne nouȝwere in þis ende." Þis worm turnede a-ȝen a-non : ase þis holie Man him het, Line 124 And swam in-to an oþur lond : and þulke contreiȝe fur-let.— ¶ Foules duden is heste al-so. : for on a time ase he gan gon, he saiȝh douedoppene fisches cachche : and swolewen heom in a-non. "Alas!" seide þis guode man : "þis is þe feondes manere : Line 128 Gultlese þingus and vnwarre : to cachchen, ase huy doth here, And þing þat non harm ne doth : bote wenth in pay[s] to beo; So farez þe deuel, a-waytez euere : for-to he is preiȝe i-seo." he het þe foules a-godes name : ech-one þannes teo Line 132 And þat huy scholden in-to wildernesse : out of þat watere fleo, Þat huy neueref[t] þare ne comen : gultlese þingues to take. Þis foules a-non with þis word : awei huy gonne schake.— ¶ bestes duden al-so is heste. : for ase he wende a-boute, Line 136 Aftur ane hare he saiȝh vrne : grehoundes a gret route;

"Alas," he seide, "þis seli best : þat no-þing ne doth a-mis! Þis foule houndes it wollez to-drawe : gultles ase it is." he het þe grehoundes a-bide a-non : and ne do þat best no wo; Line 140 huy at-stunten a-non, and eoden a-ȝein : and lieten þat best forth go. ¶ On atyme kene houndes comen : a-boute one of is manne; he ne miȝhte him wite, so kene huy were : ne help nadde he nanne: "Ich hote eov," he seide, "a-godes name : and on seint Martines al-so, Line 144 Þat ȝe me laten a-pais wende : Min erinde for-to do." Þe houndes a-non with þat word : bi-gonne to stonde stille, And wenden euerech in is wey : to do seint Martines wille. ¶ A kov al-so þat was gidi : a-boute orn in þe londe, Line 148 Þat fale men slov, and bestes al-so : ȝware heo fond anie stonde; hire ne miȝhte no-þing atstonde a-ȝein : so strong þat foule þing was. A-ȝein seint Martin heo cam eorne : ase ore louerd ȝaf þat cas; [folio 187] Sore weren is Men a-dradde. : þis guode Man hire het a-non Line 152 A-godes name stonde stille : and [n]ane fot forþere gon. Þat best, þei it gidi were : a-non it gan a-bide. Seint Martin þene deuel i-saiȝ : opon hire rugge ride. Line 155 ¶ "Þov luþere þing ȝwat dostþov þer? : for euere þou dost to quede. Ȝwy trauailest þou þat selie best : þat ne loueth no misdede? A-corsede þing, þou wend a-wei : ne cum neiȝh hire non-more!" Þe deuel wende a-wei a-non : ȝeollinde suyþe sore— he moste nede is heste do : ase wel ase þe kov. Line 160 Þo heo of him deliured was : ase ȝe i-hereth hov, Mildeliche heo eode to seint Martyn : to is fet heo feol a-kneo a-non, And schok hire heued, to þonki him : he nolde fram him gon. ¶ Seint Martin hire het a-risen up : and to ire felawes wende. Line 164 heo lottede on him and eode forth : hom to ire owene ende.— Seint Martin was apostlene pier : for þe holie gost a-liȝhte In him ase in þe Apostles : in fourme of fuyr wel briȝhte. A dai ase þis guode Man sat : allone in is celle, Line 168 his priue Men a-biden him þare-oute : and heorden him loude telle; Al-so ase þei it wummen were : huy heorden with him speke. Þare-of hem þouȝhte wonder gret : ne dorsten huy nouȝt in breke. ¶ Sethþe þo þe guode man cam out : huy fullen a-doun a-kneo, Line 172

Line 172 And axeden ȝwat þe speche were : þat with him hadde i-beo. Þe guode man seide, "ich may eou telle : for ȝe me beoz priue: It was ore lauedi and seint Anneis : þat þare-inne weren with me, Of þe Ioye of heouene huy speken : and ofte huy doth so. Line 176 Seint petre and seint powel : to me comiez ofte al-so."— Seint Martin at paray : mette ane Musel bi cas. he custe him, and anon aftur-ward : þe Musel al hol was.— ¶ Men ne seiȝe him neuere wroth : ne liȝe no-þe-mo, Line 180 And ȝwat-so-euere is Men duden : he wolde euere bi on go. In wel pouere wede a day : he rod out on ane Asse; heiȝe Men he mette bi þe weie : þat tolden of him þe lasse. heore hors weren of him a-drad le : for is pouere cloþes, Line 184 And ornen a-bach, and felden hem a-doun. : huy weren with him ful wroþe, huy sturten up and nomen þis holie Man : and beoten him ful sore. Euere he was stille and ne spak no word : for þi huy beoten him þe more. ¶ Þo huy him hadden so i-bete : huy bi-lefden [him] atþen ende Line 188 ligginde þare, and worþen on heore hors : forth heore wei to wende. Ake heore hors nolden gon of þe stude : for al þat huy don miȝten, Ȝuyt huy smiten with ȝeorde and with spore : are þat huy a-liȝhten And criden merci þis guode Man : þat huy him hadden mis-do. Line 192 heore hors hem bere forth a-non : þo huy token on so.— And in an hous þe ȝwile it barnde : he slep wit-oute harm; Line 194 his cloþes fur-barnden al-to cole : he ne fielde it no-þing warm.— ¶ At a gret feste, ase he scholde : þe heiȝe masse singue, [folio 187b] To churche he wende with is men : men gunne a-ȝein him ringue. Ane pouere Man he mette nake : þat no schroud him nadde a-boue, And bad him sum-þing to helien him with : for ore louerdes loue. Seint Martyn bad is Ercedekne : þat he him ȝeue sum cloth. Line 200 Þe Ercedekne tolde þarof luyte : and nolde, he swor is Oth. Seint Martin bote anne Cuyrtel : on him-sulf þo nadde: To þe pouere Manne he hine ȝaf : in an hous þare he him ladde. ¶ he ne bi-lefde on him no cloth of wolle : bote is Cope al-one. Line 204 Þe masse ne miȝhte he bi-guynne nouȝht : þat folk made þar-of mone. "Ȝwy neltþou," seide þe Ercedekne : "þine masse bi-guynne?"

"For þou most er ane pouere Manne : sum cloth to him i-winne." "Nov is þis," seide þe Ercedekne : "gret a-nuy with þe, Line 208 For j-ne seo no pouere Man : nouȝwere a-boute þe be." "No," seide þis holie man : "it nele faillie þe nouȝht, Al redi þou findest a pouere Man : habbe þou þat cloth i-b^rouȝth." ¶ Þe Ercedekne in grete wrathþe : eode into chepingue, Line 212 A lodlich cloth he bouȝhte for fif panes : to þe bischope he gan it bringue. Þe bischop eode into þe vestiarie : is Cope he gan of strepe. Line 214 he nadde under is vestimenz : to habbe on bote ^þis Iuype, Vnneþe it heolede is derne limes : and nouȝht folliche is elbouwes; For is bare Armes atþe masse : þis guode man hadde gret houwe— For þe uestimenz wide weren : and is Armes smale and lene; Line 218 laste is Armes nakede weren i-seiȝe : he ne dorste hebbe op is hond ene. ¶ Ake þo he nedlingus at þe sacrement : is hondene hebbe up scholde, Line 220 An Aungel schrudde is nakede armes : with tweie sleuene of golde. Þe ercedekne cride and bi-hiet : þat neuere-eft mis-don him he nolde.— Þe deuel hadde to þis holie man : gret onde with-alle. he cam in a time him to bi-traye : in riche cloþus of palle, Line 224 with hosen and schon of briȝte golde : swyþe fair he was of face. "Martin," he seide, "wel þe beo : i-founde þou hast mine grace: Ich am þilke þat þou seruest wel : ichulle me schewi to þe; Þov most sone chaungi þi lif : and bi-time come to me." Line 228 ¶ Þis guode Man sat in gret þouȝht : no word he ne sede. "Martyn," he seide, "ich am þi freond : ȝwar-of hastþou drede, Ȝwane þin owene god spekez with þe : here mouth with mouþe? Euere þou hast of guode bi-leue i-beo : ne lat it nouȝt faili þe nouþe! For ich blessi alle þat on me bi-leuez : þei huy me nouȝht ne seo, And er þis þei þov ne seiȝe me nouȝht : in þulke blessingue þou woldest be." Line 234 ¶ "I nuste neuere," quath þis guode man : "þat mi louerd euere sede Þat he wolde on vrþe come : in swuche riche kingene wede; Line 236

Line 236 And bote ich mouwe of mine louerdes woundes : on þe signe i-se Oþur of is croyz, inelle i-leue : þat þou mi louerd be." Þe foule þing wende a-wey : and was adrad of ane boule; Þe stude þare-Aftur swiþe longue : stonk of him riȝht foule.— Line 240 [folio 188] ¶ Þis guode Man seide his ende-day : him was swyþe wel come. his desciples weopen sore : and gret deol to heom nome. "Leoue fader," huy seiden, "ȝwat schulle we do : þat þov us wolt for-sake? Vs fader-les with-oute confort : ȝwam woltþu bi-take? Line 244 Nov wollez wilde wolues come : and alle þine schep a-spille." "Ich mot nede," seide þis guode man : "don mine louerdes wille." Of Askene and of is here he made : a bed at is ende-day, And þaron feble aȝen is deþe : opriȝht adoun him-sulue he lay; Line 248 And toward heouene lokede ay : so longue þat it nas non ende. his Men þouȝhten it dude him harm : and wolden him helpe to wende. ¶ "A-bideth," seide þis holie man : "ȝwy wolle ȝe don so? latez me ane ȝwyle bi-holde þe stude : þat mi soule schal to!" Line 252 Þo i-saiȝh he þene deuel aftur is soule : stonde þare with is feren. "A-wey," he seide, "þou luþere best : þou nast nouȝt to don here! with me nastþou nouȝt to done : for mi louerd me wole onder fongue; In is name to him ich wende : þat bouȝhte me swiþe strongue." Line 256 ¶ With þusse worde he ȝaf þene gost— : Aungles i-redie were, Þat folk heorde heore murie song : ase huy þe soule bere. Four hondret ȝer it was : and in þe sixe-and-sixtiþe ȝere Aftur ore louerdes buyrtyme : þat þis guode Man deide þere. Line 260 Four-score winter he was old : are he was ded al-so. God ȝiue us part of þulke ioye : þat is soule wende to.

Notes

• al. om., r. forth?
• MS. hⁱet?
• om.
• MS. boke
• orig. hiet
• orig. hiet
• al. so siker
• a v. om.
• MS. ouerfalle
• MS. anie
• MS. gultlesse
• al. 2 vv. more.
• MS. ane
• place left vacant, paray on the margin; al. paris
• al. om.
• ȝuyt huy al. om.
• erased? al. hit
• orig. is
• Harl. 3 vv. more.
• al. 2 vv. more.
• al. wel longe er hit come
• he m. on the margin.