Altenglische legenden.

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

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

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

(Prolog.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amen.

I. Buch.

(Prolog.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

II. Buch.

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

A cloudy skie that shal vanysshe soone. With his manhod he holden is riht wis, [manhood. holdyn.] Line 50 And with his knyhthod he hath gret prouidence, Of gouernance he hath a souereyn pris; Thouh he be large, he doth no violence. [Off his largesse.] And thus his famous roial excellence— I dar reherse, as men reporten alle, [reportyn.] Line 55 Doth your auauntyng and al your bost appalle. Thus hath the heuene disposid and his fate [disposed in his.] That he in vertu hath no tyme lorn; And thouh so be he was but late, [that he was.] As men recorde, in Saxonie born, Line 60 Spent weel his youthe, as I you tolde afforn, [wel his tyme, wheer ye your tyme ha lorn.] Sit now crownyd on a kyngis stage, [And sit. on st. in. kynges.] Where ye no name han sauf of fals pillage. [wheer. saff.] Rehersith sum thyng in especial [folio 41] [Tel on sum.] Which to your worshepe may rebounde ageyn; [That.] Line 65 Yif euer ye dide any thyng egal [euere. diden ony.] On londe or watir that was knowe or seyn [lond or see.] Lyk the meritis preued in certeyn [merytes prevyd.] Of kyng Edmond, which with sceptre in honde, [hond.] But yong of yeris gouerneth Estynglonde"! [governyth Estyngelond.] Line 70 With such rebukes whan Lothbrok had hem blamyd, [Thus with rebukys whan.] In ther hertis it causid gret enuye, And of them-silff were verraily ashamyd [wer.] That he kyng Edmond list so magnefie: [so to.] Made an a-vow of fals conspiracie: [And made a vowh.] Line 75 Yif thei myhte fynde oportunyte, [yiff euere.] On his noblesse thei wolde auenged be. [avengyd.] Thus euer hath been a merueilous dif|ference [euere. merveyllous.] Twen liht of uertu and vecious derknesse, [vicious dirknesse.] Twen perfeccioun and raueynous violence, [ravynous.] Line 80 Atwen fals pillage and knyhtly hy prow|esse; [hih.] Enuye alwey is contrary to goodnesse. [For euere envye is contrarye.] And thus for uertu, to speke in woordes pleyne, [And so. woordys pleyn.] Inguar and Vbba at Edmond gan disdeyne. [dys|deyn.] And in this menewhile it fil upon a day: [in this whyle.] Line 85 Of fantasie that cam onto his mynde, [vnto.] He wolde disporte him, go take his hauk and play, [to st. go.] This said Lothbrook, and leue his men behynde. [Sool by hym-sylff.] And at a ryuer it fil thus, as I fynde: [riveer.] Because that he was allone at large, Line 90 Anoon he entred in talitil barge. [entryd. into a litel.] And in that vessel whil he kept him cloos, [And fehlt. In his vessel.] Sool be him-silff, that no-man myht him se: [by.] Al vnwarly a sodeyn wynd aroos And drof his barge into the salt see. [drooff.] Line 95 And by our occian daies too or thre [by thoccian. two.] Fordreuen he was by fatal auenture [Fordryven.] Among the wawes, and koude no land recure. [kowde. lond.] Diuers daungeres he passid of many a fond, [He passyd daungerys and many dyvers sond.] With sondry tempestis forpossid to and fro: [sundry. too & froo.] Line 100 Tyl be fortune he was cast upon the lond [Tyl he be f. was.] Fer up in Northfolke, the story tellith so, [ferre. Norffolk. soo.] Beside a village, callid Redam tho. [thoo.] Men of the contre for an vnkouth thyng [cuntre.] Hym and his hauk presented to the kyng. [presentyd.] Line 105

Line 105 Ryht merueilous and riht a strange caas A kyng to come fro so fer contre! [ferre cuntre.] And no-man koude espie what he was: [kowde.] In his apport he kepte him so secre. [kept.] Thyng that god wil, it must needis be— [mvt nedys.] Line 110 To muse theron, the labour were in veyn, [wer.] Or to dispute or argue ther-ageyn. [Or two (!)] Whan Lothbrocus was to kyng Edmond brouht, [But whan Lothbrook. Edmund.] The kyng comandid of Roial gentilesse To al his houshold: that he failed nouht [housoold. faylle.] Line 115 Of that myhte ese him in his heuynesse [Of fehlt. myght.] Or reconforte him in his vnkouth distresse; Euer of custum chargyng his officeres [Evere. custom. officerys.] Al humanite shewen to straungeres. [shewyn to straungerys.] Thoruh al his court this was the vsance: [al fehlt.] Line 120 That no-man shulde in no-maner wise To no straunger do no displesance, [straungeer.] But them cherisshe, as thei best kan deuyse. [can best.] Which of custum was kept for an enprise [custom. empryse.] In al his paleis to pilgrym and straunger, Line 125 With hool attendance, that ech man make cheer. This said Lothbrok was weel ronne in age, [wel.] Riht gentilmanly in al his demenyng, Was disposid of old in his corage [And was disposed.] Specially to haukyng and huntyng. [hawkyng.] Line 130 To whom ther was assigned by the kyng Oon, that was maistir of his huntis alle, [maister.] And, as I fynde, Bern men dide him calle. [did.] This Lothbrocus considered euery thyng, [And thus Loth|brochus.] Thouh he were a paynym in his lyue, Line 135 Toknys notable which he sauh in the kyng [Notable toknys.] Of hih prowesse and knyhtly disciplyne, And how he was a merour of doctryne, And his houshold was liht and lanterne [And how.] To alle uertuous how thei shal hem go|uerne: [shulde.] Line 140 For which Lothbrocus louly, as him ouhte, [Loth|broochus lowly.] Requered the kyng for him to prouide, [The kyng requeryd.] With hool herte of grace he him besouhte, In his houshold that he myhte abide, [With-inne.] Doon him seruise bothe to gon and ride— [To doon. goon.] Line 145 For, as him sempte, it was in his auys [in fehlt.] Among housholdis an heuenly paradys. [Among alle housoldys.] To whos request the kyng is condes|cendid [condiscendid.] And most goodly gan him reconforte, Gaf him licence, and nat be reprehendid, [as it is com|prehendid.] Line 150 With Bern, his hunte, to pleie him and disporte, And whan him list to court ageyn resorte; [ageyn to court.] And grauntid him withoute daunger [withoute moor daungeer.] To gon on haukyng by euery fressh ryuer. [To lete hym hawke.] And thouh Lothbrocus were of hih estat [Lothbrook wer.] Line 155 In his contre and of gret excellence, Yit in such game he was most fortunat, [suych.] And therof hadde famous experience: [ther-inne had.] Thoruh whos besy waker dilligence [For thorugh his besy wakir.] His hauk and he took foules many-fold, [foulys.] Line 160 Ech day them brouhte hoom to the hous|hold. [And ech day brought hem. housoold.] Al watir foul and foul upon the lond, Wher he fond plente in any maner place, [Wheer plente was of them in ony place.] Ther myht noon escape from his hond; [froom.] And beestis wilde ful weel he koude enchace. [wel. cowde.] Line 165 And thus he stood weel in the kynges grace,

Eek al the houshold gan him magnefie — [Yit al the housoold.] SaufBern, the hunte, hadde at him enuye. [167—8) umgesetzt.] [Save.] Thus he, that stood in euery mannys grace [that fehlt.] And in the kynges hih beneuolence, [beny|volence.] Line 170 Was by enuye remeued from his place, [thorugh st. by. remewyd fro.] Lengere in court to haue noon assistence; So serpentyn was the violence [serpentyne.] Which of this Bern sette the herte afire: Of fals malys moordre to conspire. [Of froward malice fals mordre.] Line 175 Cause was ther noon, sauf that Loth|brok [ther was. save.] Was more eurous and gracious onto game [ewrous. vnto.] Than was this hunte, and mo beestis took, [moo.] In such practik hadde a grettere name: [And in suych konnyng.] Wherof this Bern lauhte a maner shame, [had st. lauhte.] Line 180 Gan compasse of hatful cruelte [And gan.] Whan he sauh tyme, auengid forto be. [sawh.] Vpon a day to-gedir out thei wente [to gidre.] Vn-to a wode, sum game forto fynde. [woode.] And whil Lothbrocus no - maner malis mente, [Lothbrook. malice.] Line 185 This false Bern fil on him behynde [fals.] And cowardly, the story makith mynde, Slouh him riht ther in his furious teene, [slowh. there. tene.] And after hid him a-mong the busshes greene. [mong busshes rugh & grene.] The moordre accomplisshid, Bern tour|ned hoom ageyn, [Afftir this mordre Bern tournyd.] Line 190 As he no-thyng knowen hadde of the caas. [had knowen.] And a day aftir whan Lothbrok was nat seyn, The kyng enquered ech man where he was. [enqueryd. wheer.] And in this while, rennyng a gret paas, In kam his grehound, and fawne gan the kyng, [this st. his. þe.] Line 195 Fil doun toforn him ful pitously whynyng. And whan the kyng had youe the gre|hound bred, [yovyn.] Out of the paleis a gret paas he ran Streiht to his maister, where as he lay ded. [maistir.] And in this tyme the kyng merueile began [the kyng fehlt. gan st. began.] Line 200 And enquered of many dyuers man: So longe absent where Lothbrok shulde be, [long.] Almost thre daies, that no-man koude him se. Wherof the kyng fil in suspecioun, [suspeccioun.] Gan ymagyne that it was not a-riht, [nat.] Line 205 Ful diligently made inquisicioun Yif any man hadde had of him a siht. [ony.] But on the morwe aftir the thridde nyht Onys ageyn the grehound dide appere, [Yit eft ageyn the grehound did.] Fawnyng the kyng with a ful pitous cheere. Line 210 Wherupon the kyng gan caste anoon He wolde the maner fynde out and espie Vnto what place the grehound wolde goon; [Onto.] Cerchid out by prudent policie, [And serche it out.] Assigned a knyht to folwe to that partie [And bad a knyght drawe afftir that p.] Line 215 In secre wise, to knowe what it mente, Why so ofte the grehound kam and wente. [Why that so. cam.] Afftir the grehound the knyht gan folwe a paas, Most secrely, and maad therof no tale. [Ful st. most. secretly. made.] By whom he kam there as Lothbrocus was [cam. ther that Lothbrook.] Line 220 Hid vnder leues in a couert uale, [vndir levys. a ful couert.] His wounde bloody, his face ded and pale, His eyen gastlewh reuersid bothe tweyne, [vp tournyd st. reuersid.] His hound aside which dide his deth compleyne. [besyde. did.] Moordre wil out, thouh it abide a while, Line 225 Lyk his decert, he must receyue his meede. — [Lych his discert. mvt.]

For of this treson and fals compassid gile The venymous roote began first of hat|reede. For it was founde that Bern hath doon this deede, By certeyn signes, and forto make a preeff [be serteyn.] Line 230 To knowe the trouthe the grehound was most cheff. Whan kyng Edmond hath fully appar|ceyued [aperceyved.] Fro poynt to poynt the mater how it stood, [matere.] How this moordre by Bern was first con|ceyued Of fals enuye, which maade his herte wood, [made.] Line 235 And how to god the vois gan crye of blood, To doon of riht vengeance, as him ouhte, [ven|gaunce.] Vpon the traitour that this treson wrouhte: The kyng of riht was meued to do lawe, [mevyd.] To punysshe this deede hatful and hor|ryble. [orryble.] Line 240 Bern was arrestid, which myht him nat withdrawe, [not.] Aftir conuict by toknes ful credible, [And afftir. toknys.] Dempt and foriuged that in al haste pos|sible [for|jugid.] For-to be lad onto the same stronde [vnto.] Wher first the barge of Lothbrok kam to londe. Line 245 Into that vessel, the story is weel knowe, [wel.] Which nouther hadde oore, seil nor mast, [nouthir. sayl.] Folwyng the cours what coost the wynd list blowe, [To folwe the.] This said Bern be Juggement was cast. [sayde. by.] Tween wynd and wawe his barge almost brast, Line 250 Fordryue by rokkis and many hidous roche: Til toward Denmark his vessel gan ap|proche. [a-proche.] And so be-fil of sodeyn auenture, [And it be-ffyl. a st. of.] As hap and fortune list for him purchace: [provide st. purchace ver|schrieben.] With gret myschef the lond he gan recure [That with.] Line 255 And was up dreuen in the same place [dryven.] Wher Lothbrocus was wont for his solace [wheer as.] To goon on haukyng, whil he was alyue: Wher Bern the hunte of fortune dide aryue. [forcast st. of for|tune. did vp aryve.] The barge of Lothbrok in Denmark was weel knowe, Line 260 But of his deth they knew no-maner thyng Nor to what coost the wyndes hadde him blowe [coostys. wynd had.] Nor what was falle of him that was here kyng. [ther st. here.] But fals Bern at his up-komyng [B. with|oute moore tarying.] Was take anoon and lad forth by the hond Line 265 Toforn too prynces, which gouerned al that lond. [To-for II. governyd.] These prynces tweyne, sonys to Loth|brok, [This. of st. to. kyng Lothbrook.] Hynguar and Vbba callid in tho daies, [Ynguar.] In ful streiht wise the said Bern the took, [Which by gret streyghtnesse. seid.] Of him tenquere they made no delaies, [And to enquere hym they.] Line 270 Constreynyng him bi rigerous assaies [But hym constreyned.] To discure a-mong his peynes alle [To declare.] Of ther fadir what that was befalle. This cursid Bern, enuyous and riht fals [ek st. riht.] And of complexioun verray saturnyne, Line 275 Worthi to been enhangid bi the hals Or to be rakkid with a broke chyne, With face pale and tonge serpentyne [tounge serpertyne(!).] Reportid hath in his malencolie

How kyng Edmund slouh Lothbrok of enuye, [slowh.] Line 280 And how this slauhtre was doon in despit [despight.] Of ther lyne and of ther roial blood. That thei of haste withoute more respit, [Ms. despit st. respit.] [moore respight.] Knowyng the deth of Lothbrok how it stood, To Bern gaf credence, which that maad hem wood, [yaff. made.] Line 285 Of verray rancour and furyous cruelte [veray.] Caste on kyng Edmund auengid forto be. [Edmond.] And bi assent these cruel prynces tweyne, [thes.] Hyngwar and Vbba, of hatreed and enuye [Yngwar. hatrede.] Thoruh al Denmark proudly gan ordeyne [out st. al. ful proudly.] Line 290 To gadre in haste al the cheualrye, Maad assemble a passyng-gret nauye. [Fro sondry coostys assemblyd a greet navye.] Twenti thousend of fyhtyng men thei hadde, [And XX^ti thou|sand.] Which bi the se to yngland ward thei ladde. [Ynglond.] And Bern the hunte, as ye shal vndir|stonde, Line 295 Vndertook the shippis forto leede [Vndirtook ther shippes. lede.] Toward the coostis of Estynglonde. But Eolus contrary was in deede, [contrarye.] Which drof ther vessell to Berwyk upon Tweede: [droof.] At which port the story doth descryue [And at that poort.] Line 300 How that thei weren compellid for taryue. [wern. for fehlt. to aryve.] Afftir this londyng a-brood thei gan hem drawe [ther st. this. first st. abrood.] Thoruh al the North heldyng ther passage, [Toward the n. hem holdyng ther p.] And al the peeple that heeld of Cristis lawe [Cristes.] Thei slouh hem up, bothe old and yong of age; [They nouthir sparyd old nor yong of a.] Line 305 Cherches, Abbeys thei spoilid in her rage; [Cherchys. spoylled. ther.] Fully purposyng, as the story seith, [myn auctour.] To slen alle tho that heeld of Cristis feith. [sleen. thoo. held.] These woode prynces, these tirantis most cruel, [This froward peple, this t. ful cruel.] To god contrarie and to lawe of nature, Line 310 Be title of wil, as any tigres fel, [of wyl, in ther pursewt moost fel.] To moordre and robbe spared no creature. [To spoylle and robbe, sparyd.] Certeyn yeres there thei dede endure, [And certeyn yeerys ther. did.] Void of al mercy and good conscience, [voyde.] No riht pretendyng sauf wil and violence. [Havyng no title, save.] Line 315 After tyme of certeyn yeres space, [And afftir. yeerys,] Euer enduryng in ther fals cruelte, [Perseueryng euere.] Hyngwar purposid forto change his place, [Yngwar.] Left Vbba stille in the north contre, [And lefft.] And took with him a passyng-gret meyne Line 320 Toward Estyngland, yf it wolde auaile, [Estyngelond. yiff. myght st. wolde.] Of fals presumpcion kyng Edmund for tassaile. And with his meyne ther he his tentis piht, [there. he fehlt.] In sondry places where he dide hosteie. [By divers placys wheer. did.] The peeple oppressid durst nat with him fiht Line 325 Nor in no wise his biddyng disobeie. Thus, by force this tirant gan werreie [And thus. warreye.] The Innocent peeple by strengthe and myhti hond, Thoruh euery contre of Estynglond. [Estyngelond.] This was the maner of him and his men: [manere.] Line 330 Of euery age to slen alle tho he mette, [In euery.] Nother spared childre nor women; [He nouthir sparyd.]

Pite nor praier myhte nat his swerd lette. [Prayer nor pyte myght his swerd nat.] Thus procedyng, it happed that he sette [And thus. happyd.] His paueliouns upon a pleyn contre, [pavylliouns with-Inne a strong cuntre.] Line 335 Which stood nat ferr fro Thetforde the cite. [was st. stood. ferre. Thetfford.] And as I fynde, he entryng in that toun, Of his komyng the ceteseynes vnprouyded, [Ful vnwarly, the citeȝeyns vnprovided.] Sleyng the peeple, as he wente up and doun — [sleeyng. went.] For lik as sheepe they stood alone, vn|guyded, [they wer. vngided.] Line 340 Withoute an hed, dispers and eek deuyded: And as beestis with swerd of vengance [But lyk as.] Thei were oppressid and koude no cheuy|sance; [wer. cowde.] Thus first the tyrant gan his malis shewe, [first fehlt. gan the tyraunt his cruel malice.] By cruel vengance the cite despoilyng; [By mortal. dyspoyllyng.] Line 345 He spared no sect, sauf he kepte a fewe [sparyd noon, sect fehlt. kept.] Of folkes olde, vnweeldy and haltyng, [Of fehlt. Folk that wer olde.] Vpon ther deth for febilnesse languys|shyng: [And on ther.] Such as he dempte, platly for-to seye, [suych. platly fehlt. ther is no moore to seye.] That were not worthy on his swerd to deye. [wer nat.] Line 350 This tirant Hyngwar by feer gan them compelle, [Ynguar. for feer. hem.] Voidyng delaies forto teche hem (!) where [hym.] Or in what castel kyng Edmund dide duelle, [place st. castel. Edmond did.] And of his puissance thei gan also enquere, [And ek also of hem he gan enquere.] And that thei shulde conueie him and lere [And fehlt. wolde conveyen.] Line 355 Toward the place, or geten him a guyde, [and gete.] Where his houshold that tyme dide abide. [wheer with. housoold. he did.] For verray dreed these folkes feeble and olde, [veray. this folkys poore and oolde.] Of ther lyues stondyng in Jupartye, Vnto Hyngwar the place anoon thei tolde, [Ynguar.] Line 360 And with his host thei lad him that partye [oost. ladde hem.] Wher as kyng Edmond with his cheualrye Withynne Castre (!), a place delectable, [At Elysdone a place ful delytable.] [Ms. castre.] His houshold heeld, ful roial and notable. [housoold.] But whan kyng Edmond knew of his comyng [folio 50] [knewh.] Line 365 And of the paynymes the maner herde seyn, [herd.] Ful lik a knyht he made no tarieng [tarying.] But with his power, statly, weel beseyn,. [poweer. wel.] Beside Thetforde he mette him on a pleyn. [Thetford.] Ther wardis set and sheltrouns in bataile Line 370 Euerich gan other ful mortally assaile. [othir.] From the morwe that the larke song, Whan in Thorient Phebus shoon ful bryht, [the Orient.] Thei first assemblid, on outher party strong, [outhir.] And so contynued in ther mortal fyht; [contynnewyd.] Line 375 The slauhtre last til it drouh to nyht: For with his knyhtis that kyng Edmond ladde [knyghtes.] Of paynym blood ful gret plente he shadde. Edmond that day was Cristis champioun, [Crystes.] Preeuyng him-silf a ful manly knyht; [Pre|vyng.] Line 380 Among sarseynes he pleied the lioun: [Sarsyns.] For they lik sheepe fledde out of his syht. Maugre the Danys he put Hyngwar to flyht: [mawgre. Ynguar.] For wher his swerd that day dide glyde, [the swerd of Edmond did glyde (that day fehlt).] Ther was no paynym afforn him durste abyde. [durst.] Line 385 The soil of slauhtre I-steynyd was with blood, [was I-steyned.] The sharp swerd of Edmond turnyd red: [sharpe. tournyd.]

For ther was noon that his strook withstood Nor durste abide afforn him for his hed; And many a paynym in the feeld lay ded, Line 390 And many cristene in that mortal striff [many a.] Our feith defendyng that day loste his liff. [lost.] Out of the feeld Hyngwar is a-goon, [Ynguar.] With his meyne, whan it drouh to nyht. Ded in that bataile abood ful manyoon. [that fehlt.] Line 395 And blessid Edmond, as Cristes owne knyht, [kyng st. blessid.] Gan to considere in his owyn siht [gan consydryn. his inward s.] And streyhtly peisen, this holy kyng most good, [blyssed.] What pereile folwith to shede so moche blood. [pereyel.] Withynne him-sylff he dempte of equite Line 400 Of paynym blood the gret effusioun [greete.] Caused in soth thoruh ther Iniquite [Causyd.] Perpetuely ther dampnacioun, [perpetuelly.] And how in helle was no redempcioun; And of cristene thouhte, of verray trouthe, [he thoughte. veray.] Line 405 To seen such slauhtre it was to gret a routhe. [swych. to fehlt. a gret.] Thouh he was bothe manly and vertuous And a good knyht, his story thus deuyseth, Yit of prudence this kyng victorious In his memorie narwely aduertisith [ful narewely aduertyseth.] Line 410 How good conscience ageyn slauhtre agrysith: [swych slaughtre agriseth.] Wherfore of purpos a uow he made in deede [I pur|poose he made a vowh.] Neuer his liff no blood to sheede. [nevir in. no paynym blood.] He hadde a routhe that goddis creature, [a fehlt.] Which rassemblid his liknesse and ymage, [re|semblyd.] Line 415 Sholde in helle eternal peyne endure [shulde.] Thoruh mysbeleue for paganysme rage; Considered also: it was to gret damage [Considred.] Tween too peeples to seen such mortal stryues, [Twen them & crystene. suych.] Soules to Juparte and losse eek of ther lyues. [Ther soulys. and ek ther lyves.] Line 420 Ofte in his mynde and his remembrance [and in his.] This pitous mater was tournyd up so doun: [matere. vp and doun.] Dempte onto god it was gret displesance [vnto.] To seen of blood so gret effusioun; Makyng an heste of hool affeccioun [an fehlt. behest.] Line 425 Duryng his lif, as him thouhte it dew, [dewe.] For Cristis sake shedyng of blood teschew. [Crystes. teschewe.] Remembryng also how Cryst upon a cros [the croos.] Lyst shede his blood, our ransoun for taquite, And of his power the thridde day aros, [poweer.] Line 430 By mercy only, with pes men to respite — [oonly. pees. respyghte.] For euer in pes he doth him most delite: [euere. delyghte.] For which kyng Edmond his corage hath applied [hath his corage.] To leue the werre and be with pes allied, Folwyng the traces of our lord Jhesu [tracys.] Line 435 Which loued ay pes and list no-man werreie: [lovyd.] Bexaumple of whom with pes took his issu [this yssew.] Withynne his herte to close him vndir keie; Which forto keepe he redy was to deie. And whil the kyng in pes thus doth so|iourne, Line 440 To speke of Hyngwar my stile I wil retourne. [Ynguar. — Die Ueber|schrift fehlt.]

This chapitle declarith the Title of the martirdam of Edmond, the kyng of Est|yngland.

Whan cruel Hyngwar maugre al his myht [Ynguar.] Constreyned was the feeld to forsake [forsakyn.] And with his meyne was I-put to flyht, A dedly hatreed gan in his herte a-wake, [hatrede.] Line 445 Hym to purueie a vengance for-to take; And heer-upon a werm most serpentyne [here.] Of fals enuye gan in his herte myne. His folk disparpiled he gan gadere ageyn, [dys|parpled. gadre.] To make him strong dide his diligence. [did al his dilligence.] Line 450 Eek of his myscheff whan Vbba herde seyn, [herd.] With ten thousend kam to his presence. [thousand he cam to. his fehlt.] Cruel of herte, bothe of oon sentence, [and bothe of o.] Conspired in haste of froward cursidnesse By way of vengance kyng Edmond to oppresse. [weye.] Line 455 Tofore Thetforde bothe of oon assent, [And at Th.] Of marcial pride and pompous fel outrage Thei heeld a counseil, and therupon han sent [held. counsayl. ha sent.] Vnto kyng Edmond a surquedous massage, By them deuysid, contrary of language, [be. devysed. contraryous.] Line 460 Theron concludyng a sentence ful peruerse [proverse (!)] Vndir these woordis which I shal reherse. [this.] First in al haste foorth goth the mas|sager [hast.] Sent by Hyngwar, a ful froward knyht, [By Yngwar sent.] Malencolius of face, look and cheer, [malencolyous of look, face.] Line 465 Of port despitous and coleryk of syht, [of his sight.] Doyng no reuerence to maner wiht, [no fehlt nach to.] [Which did no. to no m. w.] Sauf to the kyng, knelyng, he gan abraide [save. he fehlt.] In fel language and thus to him he saide: [And in. and vor thus fehlt.] "The myhti prynce, most victorious Line 470 On lond and se, of power Inuyncible, Most to be drad, most marcial, most famous, [and nach marcial.] Notable in conquest, more than it is credible — Whom to descryue it is an Inpossible: [discryve. it fehlt.] My lord Hyngwar, as thou shalt vndir|stonde, Line 475 By me of trust sent to the this sonde: He chargith the and yeueth the counsail [the vor and fehlt. yevith the this c.] Tobeie his preceptis and therupon tabide, And the comandith, to thi gret auail, [vnto thyn avayl.] For thi sauacion afforn to prouyde, [To thy s. for to pr.] Line 480 Al thyng contrary forto sette a-side [con|trarye.] That shulde rebelle ageyn his hih puis|sance, And the submytte vnto his ordynance; This eek his wil that thow, nat maligne [this = this is.] To disobeie his lustis in no thyng, Line 485 Into his hand thy kyngdam to resigne, [the st. thy.] To paie a tribut, and vnder him be kyng; [trybute. vndir. to be.] And eek thow mustest accomplisshe his axyng [thou mustyst. askyng.] Thi roial tresoures and thi richesses olde [tresours. rychesse.] With him to parte, of ryht as thou art holde; [parte hem.] Line 490 Ouer al thyng this charge on the he leith [And ovir.] And the comandith shortly in sentence: First to forsake of Cristen-dam the feith, [thy feith.] And, to his goddis that thow do reuerence, [thou doo.] To offre onto them with franc and with encence. [frankincense Weihrauch.] [vnto hem. with frank and encence.] Line 495 Be weel auysed thow make no delay [wel. thou.] Al this taccomplisshe, and sey nat onys nay!

And he ageynward of his magnyficence Shal to the grante a statly fayr guerdoun: [graunte vnto the.] Assigne tresour onto thi dispence, [vnto.] Line 500 And vnder him regne in this regioun. [vndir.] To these requestis make no rebellioun: [To this request.] For, yif thou do, thou shalt lese in this stryff Thy kyngdam first, thy tresour, and thy lyff. [kyndam.] Loo heer theffect of myn ambassiat — [here.] Line 505 To the I haue nomore in charge to seyn. [charg.] Thi counseil tak of folk of hih estat, [counsayl. take. of fehlt.] Shortly concludyng, and lese no tyme in veyn: What to my lord I shal reporte ageyn; Mak no delaies of that we han in hande, [Make. dellayes. haue on honde.] Line 510 Reherse in substance wherto he shal stande!" [But telle in s. . stonde.] The kyng, nat rakel, but of hih prudence, [rakyl.] As he that was discret, manly and wys, Lyst for noon haste lese his pacience; Thouh he this mater sette at litil pris, [matere se t. litel.] Line 515 Yit he purposed to heere and se thauys [purpoosyd.] Of a bisshop, which that stood beside, By his counseil an answere to prouyde. The Bisshop stondyng in a perplexite At such a streit what was forto seyne — [suych. streyght.] Line 520 For of discrecioun he pleynly did se, Lyk as thenbassiat dide his wit constreyne, [did. witt.] How this mater requered oon of tweyne: [matere re queryd.] Outher tendure, for short conclusioun, [outhir.] Void of al respit deth or subieccioun: [voyde. respight.] Line 525 Toward the kyng with a ful pitous cheer, The said bisshop, gan to tourne his face, Which, for astonyd of this sodeyn mateer, [Which sore astonyd.] Koude yeue no counseil in so short a space — [Cowde yive.] Such mortal dreed gan al his look difface Line 530 That he vnnethe had no woord to speke; [he fehlt.] Til atte laste thus he gan out breke: [at the.] "To holde a feeld ye stonden vnpurueied, [stondyn.] Heer atte hand your enmy is batailid; [here at the. bataylle d.] Yif his requestis of you be disobeied, Line 535 Your castel heer is lyk to been assailid, [heer fehlt. to be assaylled.] Of men nat stuffid, nouther weel vitailid: [not. nouthir. vitaylled.] And of too harmys at so streiht a prykke [two army s.] It were wisdam to chese the lasse wykke. Fro Cristis feith so that ye not flitte, [Crystes. that fehlt.] Line 540 Hool in your herte that it be conserued, By dissymylyng ye may your-self sub|mytte, [Be dyssemelyng. sylff.] Sithe the kyngdam shal to you be reserued; [sith. kyndam. be to yow reservyd.] And that your lif may be fro deth con|serued, [And fehlt. fro deth may be preservyd.] Your-silff submyttyng ye may dissymyle and feyne Line 545 For a tyme, til god list bet ordeyne". [As for a.] This bisshop hadde a ferful tendirnesse, [The b.] A Jelous dreed in his·ymagynatiff; [Jalous.] Seyng the mater stonde in such streihtnesse [Seeyng. matere. stood.] As iupartie of the kynges liff, [As in j.] Line 550 Knew no diffence nor preseruatiff As for the tyme in his opynyoun, [oppynyo un.] Nor noon auoidance, sauf symylacioun. [save symblacioun.] But blissid Edmond was not born to feyne — [blyssed.] Yt longid not onto his roial blood; [It longith nat vnto.] Line 555 His herte euer on, departed not on tweyne, [ay oon. departyd.] Hatid too heedis closid in oon hood; [two.] So stable and hool withynne his soule he stood By manly force, of o face and of o cheer, [be. of face and o cheere.] Caste otherwise to gouerne this mateer. [othir. mateere.] Line 560

Line 560 He was endewed with alle the giftes seuene [enduyd.] Of tholigost, this Cristes champion. [the hooly goost.] Of hooly feruence cast up his look to heuene And inly syhhed of hih deuocioun; [syhed.] Void of al feynyng and symylacioun, [symblacioun.] Line 565 Lyk goddis knyht manly dide abraide, Vnto the bisshop euene thus he saide: "O, sere bisshop, sholde I me now with|drawe, [O sir.] Shewe by dissymylyng a maner variance? Force to put of with force, is good lawe; [it is.] Line 570 But this mater requereth in substance [mateere requerith.] To be peised more iustly in ballance — [For to.] What sholde profite to my concyence [What dysavayl wer to my c.] Wynne al this world and to god doon offence? [and do to.] Ther is in soth a nothir cheuysance [chevyssaunce.] Line 575 Heer in this world for thyngis temporal, [Here. of st. for. thynges.] And a nother gostly purueiance [anothir. purvyaunce.] Touchyng the thynges that been celestial; [thoo thynges. be.] For wordly men Juparte lif and al, [Off worldly men.] Slen ther neyhboures, only to gete good; [And sleen. neyhbours.] Line 580 But goddis lawe forbit shedyng of blood. This proude legat of this tirant seith [of the.] And first purposith in his legarie (!) [l. legacie?] [purposeth in this l.] That I sholde forsake Cristes feith [shulde.] And falle falsly in tapostasie, Line 585 Submytte my crowne and my regalie, Aftir these thynges were fro me withdrawe, [this. fro me wer drawe.] To cerymonyes of paganysmes lawe. [paganysme.] But there anoieth noon aduersite [ther.] Where domynacion hath noon interesse, [wheer.] Line 590 Of froward malys nor of Iniquite — [malyce.] For alwey trouthe al falsheed shal op|presse. [al fehlt.] Tirantis may regne and floure in the richesse As for a while, floreshyng in ther sesoun, [florysshyng.] Til thei vnwarly go to dampnacioun. [goon.] Line 595 And for my part, al lordshepe set a-side, [lordshippe.] To Cristes feith to which I haue me take, [I ha.] For lyf or deth theron I shal abide Vnto my laste, and neuer my lord forsake, [nevir.] Which on a cros deied for my sake: [he deyde.] Line 600 So for his loue and feith to-gidre in deede I wil weel suffre my blood for him to sheede." [that men my blood shal shede.] And heerupon this kyng most ful of grace, [here.] Most pacient and most benigne of cheer, [paciently.] Lyk goddis knyht, gan to tourne his face Line 605 Bi gret auys toward the massager That kam from Hyngwar, and bad him neyhen neer, [fro Ynguar. neyhe.] Ley to ere, to herkne in pleyn language [And ley.] A ful answere touchyng his massage: [this.] "Go to thi lord in al haste possible, Line 610 To him reporte pleynly as I seie As for answere stable and most credible: [moost stable and credyble.] How Cristes feith I neuer shal disobeie, [nevir.] But for his lawe spende my blood and deie, Lyk my beheste whan I Sathan forsook [my promys.] Line 615 And of his feith the stole and ryng I took. [stoole.] Thi lord behestith thre thynges onto me: [vnto.] This kyngdam, which that I do possede, [kyndam first which yit I.] And of his tresour he grantith me plente; [graunteth.] But of his richesse, god wot, I haue no neede, Line 620 And of my lif I haue no-maner dreede — Sauf I wolde for my most hertis ese Rathere lese al than onys god displese. [621—3) Save I wolde for my moost hertys ese & mede Rathere lese al, make this chevyssaunce, Than to my god do ony dysplesaunce.]

And, out of subieccioun with al extort seruage, [And fehlt. and al extort.] In Cristes feith I stonde at liberte, Line 625 Maugre thi lord and al thi proud language. Shedyng of blood and al mortalite Causid of werre, shal be left of me; [for me.] And Cristes lawe to meynteyne anddiffende, [meyntene.] With humble suffrance my lif I wil dis|pende." Line 630 This proude knyht, aforn from Hyng|war sent, [froom.] Ys tournyd ageyn, of indignacion, [Is tournyng.] And hath reported the kynges hool entent, [repoortyd.] How he wil neuer thoruh no collusion [nevir in his entencioun.] Forsake his feith, by no condicion, Line 635 But rathere to been, forto seie in woor|des fewe, [to fehlt. been to speke in woordys f.] With sharpe swerdis on smale pecis hewe; "The paynym fect he hath in hih despit; [This p. sect. despight.] To submytte him he demeth it were out|rage; [denyeth (!)] Blood forto sheede he hath noon appetit, [appetight.] Line 640 And to been armyd he hath left his corage; [lefft.] Affermeth platly and seith in pleyn lan|guage: [affermyth.] He moost desireth a-boue al wordly good [worldly.] For Cristis feith to deie and spende his blood. And to ffranchise his kyngdam and contre, [kyndam. cuntre.] Line 645 He hath a corage, that he him-self a-lone, [sylff.] So his peeple myht stonde at liberte, To suffre deth meekly in his persone. More with the world he wil nat haue to doone. His manly knyhtis, his soudiours nyh and ferre [knyghtes. sowdyours.] Line 650 Pes to cherisshe, he hath yeue up the werre." [he fehlt. yove.] Whan that Hyngwar this answere vndir|stood, [that fehlt. Ynguar.] With men of armys passyng a gret route [rowte.] He doun descendith, as any tigre wood, [ony tegre.] And hath the castell beseged al-a-boute. [castel. besegyd.] Line 655 Of whom kyng Edmond stood nothyng in doute, For Cristis loue list no diffence make, But of hool herte to deie for his sake. He listnat suffre that no-man sholde lette The seid tirant nor make no diffence, Line 660 Nor that no wiht the gatis sholde shette. For which in haste bi sturdy violence Blissid Edmond was brouht to presence Affor the tirant, sittyng in his estat, Lyk as was Cryst whilom tofor Pilat. [659—665) fehlen.] Line 665 This Ingwar first with furious contynance [contenaunce.] His couert malis began thus to vnclose: [malice.] Of Cristis feith with euery circumstance Most cruely he gan him to oppose, [l. appose.] [cruelly.] Him comandyng withoutyn any glose [withoute ony.] Line 670 Forto declare, and nat a poynt withdrawe, [not.] Yif his profession were maad onto that lawe. [wer. vnto the lawe.] "Certes, quod Edmond, I wol weel that thou knowe: [Certis.] To Crist al hool with body and herte [boody.] I am professid, what wynd that euer blowe; [euere.] Line 675 That fro his feith I shal neuer dyuerte [nevir.] For lyf nor deth, sor ioie nor for smerte, But to contynue in euery auenture [so contynewe.] Withoute chang, whil that my lif may dure. [chaunge. endure.] For ther is nouther tresor nor richesse— [is no tresour.] Line 680 Rekne of erthe al the pocessiouns— [in st. of. the fehlt.]

Power of prynces and ther pompous nob|lesse [poweer.] With al the manacis of tirantis and felouns; Thy furious thretis, thyn adulaciouns, [The.] With al thi puissance shal me nat remeue Line 685 Fro Cristis lawe nor fro his iust beleue. [Crystes. byleue.] Thow maist thi swerd whette sharp and keene And me dismembre ioynt fro ioynt as|sonder, [assondir.] Lyk a tirant in thi contagious teene Me disseuere pecemeel heer and yonder; [par|celmeel. here & yondir.] Line 690 But triste weel, and haue heerof no wonder: [truste. wondir.] It passith thy myht and pompous violence [thy witt.] In Cristes feith to arte my conscience. And o woord, first as I the tolde: [l. at o woord.] As I began so I wil perseuere, [wyl I.] Line 695 My feith, my baptem iustly I wil holde Vnto my laste, and so enduren euere; [enduryn.] Fro my professioun I wil departe neuere; Thow maist manace and slen my body heer, [boody here.] My soule franchised (is) fer from thy poweer. [is fehlt.] [is ferre fro. powere.] Line 700 Do thi beste! thi rychessis I despise; [rychesse I do d.] Thow shalt of me han no subieccioun, [haue.] Nor fro my lawe restreyne me in no wise, To make me halte in my professioun. And herkne a woord, in short conclusioun: Line 705 Of my body thouh thow haue victorye, My soule shal lyue and regne with Crist in glorye. [myn. lyu.] In my diffence I haue set a strong feeld Vpon a ground of long perseuerance, Of Cristes feith deuysed a myhti sheeld, [devysid.] Line 710 A gostly swerd whettid with constance, And a cloos brest of hope in my creance, [breest. hoope.] Of loue and dreed, my body for tassure, [boody.] Hool, vndepartid shal be my Cotearmure; [coote armvre.] A spere of trust vpward erect to heuene, Line 715 Squared the hed ffeith, hope and charite, [Squaryd. hoope.] Which shal reche aboue the sterrys seuene Tofor that lord, bothe on, too, and thre, [oon. two.] Vnto whos grace I submytte me, And for his sake, as I ouhte of ryht, Line 720 Redy to deie as his owyn knyht. [owne.] And for his loue to suffre passioun I am maad strong with herte, wil and cheer, The palme of victory as goddis champioun [vic|torye.] It to conquere, whil that I am heer; Line 725 Of Cristis cros I sette up my baneer, [a st. my.] Bexaumple of martirs, which with ther blody hew [By e. . hewe.] Gat heuenly tryumphes, al clad in purpil hew. [& st. al. newe st. hew(!).] Thus I desire forto been arraied, [be.] As a meek seruant tofor my lord tapere; [meke. tofore. appere.] Line 730 For him to suffre I am nat disamaied, [not dysmayed.] My god, my makere, my saueour most entere, [saviour. entiere.] Which with his blood bouht me so dere; And sithe for me he suffred so gret peyne, [suffryd.] To deie for him, allas why sholde I feyne? [shulde.] Line 735 Wherfore, Hyngwar, make heerof no dellaies! [Ynguar.] Fro Cristes feith I neuer shal declyne. [nevir.] Thy thret, thy manaces, nor al thin hard assaies [thretys. manacys.] Shal for no dreed withynne myn herte myne. [my.] And myn entent at o woord to termyne: Line 740 As Cristis knyht of hool herte I defie Alle fals goddis and al ydolatrie." [Al.]

Off this language Hyngwar wex nyh wood, [Ynguar.] Made the kyng strongly to be bounde [the kyng Edmond.] And comandid, afforn him as he stood, Line 745 First to be bete with shorte battis rounde, [betyn.] His body brosid with many mortal wounde. [broosyd.] And euer the martir among his peynes alle [euyr.] Meekly to Jhesu for helpe he gan to calle. The cheef refuge and supportacioun Line 750 In his suffrance was humble pacience; [with st. was.] Loue to his herte gaff consolacioun, With gostly feer quekid the feruence — For charite feelith no violence: For wher charite afforceth a corage, [wheer. forcyth.] Line 755 There is of peyne founde non outrage. [ne st. of. ne noon.] The cursid Danys of newe cruelte This martyr took, most gracious and be|nigne, Of hasty rancour bounde him to a tre, As for ther marke to sheete at, and ther signe. [shete at ther signe.] Line 760 And in this wise, ageyn hym thei maligne, Made him with arwis of ther malis most wikke [arwes. malice. most fehlt.] Rassemble an yrchoun fulfillid with spynys thikke: [fulffylled.] As was the martyr seynt Sebastyan, Bothe in our feith lyk of condiciouns. Line 765 Red by his sides the roial blood doun ran, And euer to Jhesu he maade his orisouns. [euere.] Thus with the tryumphes of ther passiouns Blissid martirs, with crownes laureat, [Blyssed. crownys.] Cleyme hih in heuene to regne in ther estat. Line 770 Danys with arwes hookyd, sharpe and grounde [arwys.] Spenten ther shot, fersere than liouns, [spentyn.] Most mortally, as wounde ay upon wounde Renewid ageyn the deepe inpressiouns. What shal I write of Cristis champiouns, Line 775 Which whilom thouhte it dide her herte good [whyloom. did. hertis.] To wasshe ther stolys in the lambis blood? [the stoolys in ther l.] In heuene bi grace they cleyme to haue an hoom, [be.] Folwyng the traces of Crist that is ther hed, [tracys.] Which lik a geant descendid from Edoom [Which that lyk. discendyd.] Line 780 And hadde in Bosra his clothis died red; [reed.] Which feedith his knyhtes with sacryd wyn and bred, [fedith. breed.] Set at his table in the heuenly mansioun, That drank the chalis heer of his passioun. [here.] And a-mong martirs, pleynly to termyne, Line 785 With his garnement died red as blood [reed.] Edmund was pressid with grapis in the vyne, [Edmond. of st. in.] Vnto a tre bounde whan he stood, [tree.] To-torn and rent with tigres that were wood, [wer.] And thoruh-pershid euery nerff and veyne, [persyd.] Line 790 Thynkynge for Crist to suffre was no peyne. This mene-while whan Hyngwar did him se [meene. Ynguar.] And sauh his body steynyd al in red, [steyned. al reed.] He maade his knyhtis reende him fro the tre [knyghtes to rende.] And comanded to smytyn of his hed. [comaundid. smyten.] Line 795 But the holy martir of oo thyng took first heed: [o. first took.] Requered a space to maken his praier; [Re|queryd. makyn. preyere.] And most deuoutly saide, as ye shal heer: [seyde. here.] "O Lord god, which of beneuolence [god fehlt.] Thi blissid sone sentist to erthe doun, [blyssed.] Line 800 To been incarnat for our gret offence, And, of our trespas to make redempcioun,

Vpon a cros suffrede passioun — [suffredyst.] Nat of our merit, but of thyn hih pite, [not. meryte.] Fro Sathanys power to make us to go fre: [Sathanas. vs goon, to fehlt.] Line 805 Now graunte me, Lord, of thy magny|ficence, [graunt.] Of thyn hih mercy and benygnyte, In my deyeng to haue meek pacience, [deying. meke.] And in my passioun forto grante me By meek exaumple to folwe the charite [meke example.] Line 810 Which thow haddist hangyng on the roode, Whan thow list deie for our alder goode! [aldir.] Now in myn eende grante me ful con|stance, [ende. graunt.] That I may deyen as thy trewe knyht And with the palme of hool perseuerance [hooly.] Line 815 Parfourme my conquest only for thy riht; [performe. oonly.] That cruel Hyngwar, which stant in thy siht, May neuer reioise nor putte in memorye [nevir. reioysshe. put.] Of my soule that he gat victorye! [gat the v.] Vnto Tirantis ys nat victoryous [Vnto.] Line 820 Thouh they thy seruantis slen off fals hatrede; [sleen.] For thylke conquest is more glorious Wher that the soule hath of deth no dreede. Now, blissid Jhesu, for myn eternal meede, Only of mercy, medlyd with thy ryht, [thy fehlt.] Line 825 Receyue the speryt of me that am thy knyht!" [spirit.] And with that woord he gan his nekke enclyne, His hed smet off, the soule to heuene wente. [went.] And thus he deied, kyng, martyr, and virgyne. [deyde.] In gostly feruence so hoote his herte brente: [brent.] Line 830 His liff, his blood for Cristys sake he spente; [Crystes. spent.] Such heuenly grace god list vnto hym sende: [suych.] With grace he gan, with grace he made an eende. [his ende.] Danys of despit the body ther forsook, A gloryous tresour of gret worthynesse; Line 835 But of the martyr the holy hed they took [the hooly martir þe gloryous hed.] And bar it forth of froward cursidnesse In tacouert, shrowded with thyknesse [Into a c. shrowdid.] Of thornys sharpe, the story makith mynde, And ther they hid it, that no-man shulde it fynde. [there.] Line 840 Bvt blissid Jhesu, which euery thyng may se, His holy martir listnat so forsake, (B)vt of his grace and merciful pite, Knowyng that he deied for his sake, [deyde.] Suffred a wolf his holy hed to take [suffryd. woulfs. heed. to fehlt.] Line 845 And to conserue it ageyn assautis alle, [assawtys.] That foul nor beeste sholde upon it falle — [shuld.] An vnkouth thyng and strange, ageyn nature, That a beeste furyous of felnesse, Which of custum doth ay his bestial cure [custom.] Line 850 With mannys flessh to stanche his gredy|nesse; But now he hath forgoten his woodnesse [forgotyn.] And meekly lith awaytyng nyht and day Vpon the hed, as for a synguler pray! — [heed. singuleer.] Thus kan the lord his martyrs magnefie [can.] Line 855 Of his goodnesse with many fair myracle, The rage of beestis appese and modefie; Ageyn whos myht may been noon obstacle: Which hath heer shewid a wonderful spectacle: [here. a wondir spectacle.] That a fers wolff bamaner obseruance [woulf. be maneer.] Line 860 To serue the martyr list doon his atten|dance.

But to his myht no thyng is Inpossible. Danyel was sauff among the fers lyouns, Seyn John Baptist — record on the bible— [recoord.] Lyued in desert mong serpentis and dragouns. [among.] Line 865 And among Crystis myhty champiouns Kyng Edmond hadde, his story seith the same, A wolff to keepe hym — there was no lamb more tame. [woulff. ther. — Die Ueberschr. nach 868 fehlt.]

This chapitle declaryth how crystene men, afftir the persecucioun off Danys was appesid, how they souhte aftir the hed of the blyssyd Martyr.

Whan swagid was the dreedful Ty|rannye Of cruel Hyngwar in this regioun, Line 870 That he and Vbba with al ther cheualrye Withdrouh in party ther persecucioun: [partye.] The crystene peeple of hih deuocioun Assemblyd wern, fully purposyng [purpoosyng.] To seeke the body of ther holy kyng. [seke. boody.] Line 875 And compleyned atwixen hope and dreed Whan they hadde his blissid body founde, [atwyx hoope. drede.] That they wanted and failed of the hed. [wantyd. faylled. hede.] Forwhich they wepte with syhhes ful profounde, [syhes.] Sekyng the forest and the valys rounde [the foorest and valeys.] Line 880 With blast of hornys, with rachchis & with houndys, [racchys.] Thoruh Heylesdone serchyng al the boundys. [Heylysdone sechyng.] And by a maner replicacioun Ech onto other gan crye in ther walkyng: [vnto othir.] "Wher is our confort, our consolacioun? [and consolacioun.] Line 885 Wher is, allas, the hed now of our kyng?" — This was ther noise with sobbyng and wepyng— [l. uoise?] "Allas, allas, shal we be thus destitut [destitute.] Of our cheef Joie, our blisse and our refut? [reffute.] Suffre vs onys beholde thy blyssid face [behoold. blyssed.] Line 890 And seen at leiser thyn angelyk visage! [leyseer.] Bowe thyn eeris to our compleynt be grace Forto relese our constreynt and our rage! Allas, Edmond, appese now our damage, And to our compleynt of mercy condes|cende! [do con|discende.] Line 895 For noon but thow our myscheuys may amende". The lord of lordys celestial and eterne, Of his peeple hauyng compassioun, Which of his mercy ther clamours kan concerne, Relesse ther langour and lamentacioun: [relese the.] Line 900 Herde of his goodnesse ther Inuocacioun [herd.] And gaff hem counfort of that they stood in dreed: [them. drede.] Only by grace to fynde ther kynges hed. [be. hede.] Wyth wepyng terys, with vois most lamentable [teerys & voys.] So as they souhte, walkyng her and ther, [here. there.] Line 905 "Where artow, lord, our kyng most agreable? [wheer.] Wher artow, Edmond? shew vs thyn heuenly cher!": [chere.] The hed answerde thryes: her, her, her, [answeryd. heer.] And neuer cesid of al that longe day [nevir. al the long.] So for-to crye, tyl they kam where he lay. [wheer.] Line 910 This heuenly noise gan ther hertis lyhte [l. uoise?] [light.] And them releue of al ther heuynesse, Namly whan they hadde of the hed a syhte, Kept by a wolff foryetyng his woodnesse. [woulff.] Al this considered, they meekly gan hem dresse Line 915

Line 915 To thanke our lord, knelyng on the pleyne, [Ms. pleyn.] For the gret myracle which that they haue seyne. [seyn.] They thouhte it was a merueile ful vnkouth To heere this language of a dedly hed. But he, that gaff into the assis mouth Line 920 Swych speech of old, rebukyng in his dreed [suych. speche. oold.] Balaam the prophete for his vngoodlyheed: The same lord list of his grete myht [greet.] Shewen this myracle at reuerence of his knyht. [shewyn. at the.] Men han eek rad how in semblable cas, Line 925 As bokes olde make mencyoun, [bookys.] How that an hert spak to seynt Eustas— [Ewstas.] Which was first cause of his conuersioun. [convercioun.] For god hath power and Jurysdiccioun Make tongis speke of bodies that be ded— [been.] Line 930 Record I take of kyng Edmondis hed. [recoord.] Off this myracle that god list to hem shewe [lyst hym.] Somme wepte for Joie, the story berth witnesse; [berith.] Vpon ther cheekys terys nat a ffewe Distillid a-doun of ynward kyndnesse— [dystylled. kyndenesse.] Line 935 They hadde no power ther sobbyngis to represse, [sobbyng.] Twen Joie and sorwe by signes out shewyng [be.] How gret enternesse they hadde vnto ther kyng. [entier|nesse. the st. ther.] Thus was ther wepyng medlyd with gladnesse, And ther was gladnesse medlyd with wepyng; Line 940 And hertly sobbyng meynt with ther swetnesse, And soote compleyntes medlyd with sob|byng— Accord discordyng, and discord accor|dyng! For for his deth thouh they felte smerte, [For his.] This sodeyn myracle reioisid ageyn ther herte. [reioysshed.] Line 945 The folkys dide ther bysy dilligence [did. bysy fehlt.] (T)his holy tresour, this relik souereyne (T)o take it uppe with dew reuerence, [vp. dewe.] And bar it forth, tyl they dide atteyne Vnto the body. and of thylke tweyne [of fehlt.] Line 950 Togidre set, god by myracle anoon Enyoyned hem, that they were maad bothe oon. [enioyned.] Off ther departyng ther was no-thyng seene A-twen the body and this blissid hed, For they togidre fastnyd were so cleene; [to gedre. wer.] Line 955 Except only, who sotylly took heed, A space appered breede of a purpil threed, [apperyd.] Which god list shewe tokne of his suf|france, To putte his passioun more in remem|brance. [put.] The said wolff in maner gan compleyne [saide woulff.] Line 960 That he so hih a tresor hath forgo; [tresour. forgoo.] To folwe the martir dide his besy peyne, Wolde in no wise departe the body froo: Of bestial loue felte a maner woo, Forto disseuere thouhte a gret penance Line 965 Fro thylke thyng where stood al his plesance. [wheer.] It is no merueile, the beeste was not to blame, [nat.] Thouh he were wo to parte fro his richesse! [wer. woo.] Which ageyn nature maad him to be tame, [made.] That to no-man he shewed no fersnesse, [shewyd.] Line 970 Tyme of thexequyes compleynyng his distresse; And meekly aftir to woode wente ageyn Most doolfully, and was neuer aftir seyn. [nevir.]

Vnto the body of this gloryous kyng Beside the place wher he dide endure, Line 975 Anoon at Oxne, a place of smal beldyng, [byldyng.] They ful deuoutly maade a sepulture. Whos martirdam by record of scripture Was tyme of yeer, as I can remembre, Vpon a monday the moneth of Decembre: [monyth.] Line 980 On which day the moone was of age Too and twenty by computacioun; [two.] Indiccioun tweyne reknyd in our language, Eyhte hundrid yeer fro the Incarnacioun And seuenty ouer, as maad is mencioun, [Sixty and X ovir.] Line 985 Whan the holy martir was by acontis cleer Day of his passioun of age thretty yeer. [accountys.] On which day, his legende makith memorye, He suffred deth and cruell passioun [suffryd. cruel. —] And with a palme celestiall of victorye Line 990 Be grace is entrid the heuenly mansioun, Wynnyng a tryumphe most souereyn of renoun, As kyng and martir, wher he maynot mysse Eternaly for-to regne in blysse. — [Nach 994 steht explicit, der Rest der Seite ist leer; die Fortsetzung v. 995 ff. folgt auf der and. Seite mit grösserer Init.] Now, glorious martir, which of gret meeknesse Line 995 For Crystes feith suffredist passioun, Qwyke my penne, enlumyne my rudnesse, [quyke. rudenesse.] To my dulnesse make a direccioun, That I may vndir thy supportacioun Conpile the story hangyng on this matere [com|pyle.] Line 1000 Off seyn Fremond, thyn owyn cosyn dere! [seint. owne.] Thoruh thy fauour I cast me for tassaye [caste.] To declare of humble affeccioun How seyn Fremond be myracle dide outraye [seint. by. did.] Hyngwar and Vbba thoruh his hih renoun, Line 1005 And them venquysshid in this regioun; [venquysshed.] First write his liff, and therupon proceede, [procede.] As god and grace list my penne leede. Folwen myn Auctour, that wrot his liff toforn [folwyn.] In frensh and latyn, of gret auctorite; Line 1010 Off the trouthe gadren out the corn [gadryn.] And voide the chaff of prolixite; Reherse the merueiles of his natyuyte, Aftir to godward how he dide him quyte. [did.] A litil prologue afforn I wil endite. [litel prologe.]

III. Buch (S. Fremund).

[Die lat. Ueberschr. fehlt.] Incipit vita sancti Fremundi egregii martiris, Edmundi carissimi consanguinei, qui eiusdem martiris interfectores domino iniutante prostrauit graciose; vna cum miraculis Edmundi martiris antedicti, prout in post sequentibus clarius elucescit.

(Prolog.)

WHo kan remembre the myracles merueilous [meraclys.] (W)hich Crist Jhesu list for his seyntes shewe? [seyntys.] Or who kan write the tryumphes gloryous Of his martirs, in noumbre nat a fewe? And I am ferful aboue myn hed to hewe, [my.] Line 5 Lyst froward chippis of presumpcioun [chippes.] Sholde blynde myn eyen in ther fallyng doun. [shulde. eeyen.] Yt is nat holsom to looke ageyn the sonne [it.] For dirked eyen dulled of ther syht; [dullyd.] Men symply lettryd, that but litil konne, [litel.] Line 10 Sholde feerful been in herte of verray ryht [very.] To entermete of thilke eternal lyht, [entirmete.]

Which bryhtest Phebus in ordre sette him-selue [set.] Myd his crowne of the heuenly stones twelue. [stoonys.] The charboncle, of his nature red, [charbouncle. reed.] Line 15 And Cerawnus, lyk the fyry leuene, Wolde oppresse and dirke a dullyd hed Forto beholde ther bemys sent from heuene. [froom.] The cours celestiall of the sterrys seuene To comprehende, ther dyurnal meuyng, Line 20 To bareyn wittis is a ful strange thyng. And yiff the cleernesse of the heuenly sterrys So fer transcende the liht of this parties: [ferre.] Thempire abouen that from vs so ffer ys, [abovyn. ferre.] Wher the nyne ordres in ther thre Jerarchies Line 25 Preisen the lord with ther soote armonies, What mortal man the liht may ther dis|cerne, But grace be guyde to leede him and gouerne? [lede.] God hym-silff in thilke Imperial se Ys souereyn sonne, that paleys tenlumyne, Line 30 Laumpe, lanterne and liht of that Cite, Wher non Eclips may lette his bemys shyne. [Wheer noon.] Tofor whos face and throne, that is deuyne, [tofore. trone. divyne.] Heuenly speritis in his laude and preisyng [spirytis. lawde. preysynge.] Neuer cesse Ossanna for-to syng; [nevir cese. osanna. synge.] Line 35 Wher the felashepe of heuenly Citeseyns, [Ther. felashippe.] Queer of prophetis and patryarkes olde, Twelue appostlis as Juges souereyns, [appostelys.] Which Cristis lawe in erthe tauhte and tolde; [Crystes. taught. toolde.] And ther also men may seen and beholde Line 40 Gret multitude of martirs, clad in red, Steyned in Bosra, to deie they hadde no dreed: [had.] The prothomartir seyn Steuene with his stonys, [folio 71] [stoonys.] The firy gredile ther shewid of Laurence, [grydile. ther fehlt.] And holy Vyncent, his flessh brent to the boonys Line 45 On colis rede by extort violence, [Oon coolys reed.] Denys of Grece, thoruh meek pacience [meeke.] At Mountmartir slayn in his constance, Sent by seyn Clement to conuerte France, [seint. convert.] George, Cristofre, myhty champiouns [Crystoffore.] Line 50 Off Crist Jhesu, suffred for our feith, [suffryd.] Ignacius that tamed the liouns [taamyd.] In his passioun, as the story seith, Blissid Blasy his hed to wedde he leith, [Blyssed.] Was nat ferfull to change this present liff Line 55 With Crist in heuene to be contemplatiff; The holy man ycallid seynt Albon, [I-callyd.] Prothomartyr off this regioun, Suffred deth sythen ful yore agon [yoore agoon.] For Cristes sake, and bittir passioun. Line 60 But now to mynde kometh the champioun [comyth.] Off Estyngland, born of the Saxoun lyne, [Estyngelond. Saxonyes.] Callid seynt Edmund, kyng, martir, and virgyne: [Edmond.] The holy kyng, of his liff most cleene, [This.] This Cristis knyht hardy as lyoun, Line 65 Was for our feith shet with arwes keene— As I to-forn haue maad mencioun: Now purposyng with supportacioun Of al the martirs afforn rehersid heer, [alle. heere.] Induce a story longyng to this mateer: [Indite. mateere.] Line 70 How that a cosyn of this hooly kyng, Callid Fremundus, was manly and notable, Ful merueilously by record of wrytyng [be.] Ordeyned was, this story is no fable, Vpon Hyngwar for to be vengable [Ynguar.] Line 75 And ageyn Vbba, which in ther cruel rage Hadde slayn his vncle, tho thretty yeer of age. [thoo.]

In this mater, toforn as I you tolde, [mateere. yow. toolde.] Because it is vnkouth and wonderfull, [wondirfull.] My speritis feeble and feynt with yeeris olde, [spiritis. oolde.] Line 80 And my corage appallid and maad dull, [and my witt maad dul.] Myn eyen derkid and with the mystes full — [dirkyd.] This to seyne the myst of vnkonnyng Troubleth my wit to wrihte so hih a thyng: [To trouble. witt. wryte.] I resemble vnto Polypheme, Line 85 That hadde oon eye set in his forhed, Nat lik Argus; of liht I kan not deeme: [can.] Which causith me, allas! whan I take heed, That hand and penne quake for verray dreed. Of which palysy, but grace be my leche, [palsy.] Line 90 Me to directe, I not who shal me teche. Who shal speke or telle the grete myht [wwhoo(!). greet.] Of our lord god, or shewe his gret poweer, Al his preisynges reherse as it is ryht, [alle.] Or synge his laudes with nootis fressh and cleer; [nootes.] Line 95 Most merueillous and vnkouth fer and neer [ferre.] Founde in his seyntes, as auctours alle accorde? Fremundis story the trouthe kan recorde. [Fremvndus.] Ful wonderful was his concepcioun, [wondirful.] Shewid by myracle and toknys manyfold: [tooknys.] Line 100 For ageyn kynde, as maad is mencioun, A child, that was but of thre daies old, Thoruh goddis myht hath of his berthe told [byrth. toold.] And ouermor, myn auctour seith the same, [ovirmoor.] Prophesied what sholde be his name: [Prophecyed. shulde.] Line 105 The child, baptisid anoon was affter ded, [baptysed. afftir.] Callydhym Fremund by his mouth toforn. And anoon affter by myracle, who take heed, That no signe besiled were nor lorn, [wer.] Vpon that nyht whan Fremund was born, Line 110 Daies nyne, the story doth us lere, Ouer the paleis a Reynbowe dide appere. [ovir. did.] Whos thre colours, yiff men list to knowe, [to fehlt.] Gaff first a tokne and bar gret witnesse: The wattry greene shewed in the Reyn|bowe [shewyd.] Line 115 Off chastite disclosed his clennesse, The saphir blewh his heuenly stabilnesse, The hardy red apperyng in the skye His martirdam dide signefie. [did.] Noote bi this bowe quatreble of colour, Line 120 Thus ouersprad be many fer contre: [ovir.] That he was born to been a gouernour, [a fehlt.] With sceptre and swerd; by roial dignyte Weryng a crowne; ordeyned for-to be Geyn mescreauntis to his encres of glorye [encrees.] Line 125 Lyk a conquerour, to haue of them victorye. And as myn auctour doth also for him legge, He hadde in thre a prerogatiff: First of the heuene a treble preuylegge: [previlege.] Oon to be maide duryng al his liff, [On to the m.] Line 130 Founde of his doctryne most contemplatiff To teche his sogettis dide upon him take, And affter martyred he was for Cristes sake. [aftir martird.] His ffader, his mooder, lik as the story seith, [fadir. modir.] By myracle he maad hem be baptised [made.] Line 135 And by his techyng he turned hem to our feith. [tournyd.] And affter that, so as it is deuysed, Forsook his kyngdham and afftir hath praktysed [practysed.] With frut and rootis, of verray parfitnesse, [frute. parfightnesse.] Space of seuene yeer to lyue in wildir|nesse — Line 140

Line 140 And al this tyme his clothis wex nat oold; [cloth.] With other tweyne leued as an hermyte, [othir. lyved.] And by his wachchyng and fastyng manyfold [wacchyng.] Be-side a welle lay lik an Anachorite. Whos berthe and lyff fayn I wolde endite [birthe.] Line 145 Compendiously and writen the substance. But a fals serpent, callyd Ignorance, Troubleth my penne, I maynot foorth proceede, [troublyth. forth procede.] But grace shal helpe the wedir forto cleere [weedir.] And these too kynges do fauour in this neede: [thes two.] Line 150 First blissid Edmund, and his cosyn deere [blyssed Edmond.] Callid Fremundus, to conueie this mateere. And vndir support of these seyntes tweyne [thes.] To write this story I shall do my peyne. God by ther praier shal be my sup|portour, [prayeer.] Line 155 Help me forward, yif it be his wille [helpe.] By influence of his myhty socour Into my penne sum licour to distille: [som.] Lycour of grace, my purpos to fulfille, [purpoos.] Vnder whos mercy and helpe that he shal sende [vndir.] Line 160 Off this story to maken a good eende. [make. ende.] Off Burchardus folwe I shall the style, That of seyn Fremund whilom was secretarye; [seint. was whylom.] Which of entent dide his liff compile, Was his Registrer and also his notarye Line 165 And in desert was with him solitarye, With him ay present, remembryng euery thyng Wrot liff and myracles of this holy kyng. [wroot.] To kyng Offa Fremund was sone and hayr, [ayr.] Regnyng in Mershlond, the story berth witnesse; [mersshland. berith.] Line 170 His moodir Botild, riht goodly and riht fayr And a womman of gret parfihtnesse, Longe bareyn, the story doth expresse; And she was suster and lik in many a thyng [sustir.] Vnto seyn Edmund, the holy glorious kyng. [seint Edmond.] Line 175 The kyng, the queen wer ferr ronne in age, [ferre.] And al this while Botild was bareyn; Tryst and heuy lest ther heritage [Ms. left st. lest.] [lyst. erytage.] Wer translatid to som hayr foreyn [ayr.] For lak of yssu. but god be grace hath seyn [Issew.] Line 180 To ther requestis: the maner and the guyse Ceriously the story shal deuyse.

In that prouynce withynne a smal village Ther dwelled a man, which callid was Aldare, [dwellyd.] Which with his wiff in a smal cotage Line 185 Ther houshold heeld, whos lyflode was but bare. [houshoold held. lyfflood.] And as the story in ordre shall declare, She hath conceyued, myn auctour writ the same, Born a sone, and Thoua was his name. [Thova.] The thridde day of his Natyuyte, Line 190 Ageyn nature, the story listnat lye, Be myracle, ffamous in that contre, The said child gan speke and loude crye, [lowde.] And be a maner vnkouth prophecye: How kyng Offa, as the child hem tolde, [hym.] Line 195 Sholde haue a sone in his daies olde; [shulde.] And ouermor in pleyn language he seith: [ovirmoore.] Whan he were born, how he sholde also [wer.] Fader and mooder conuerte vnto our feith [fadir. modir.] By goddis myht and many a merueile do; [doo.] Line 200 "And sike folkys shall lowly come hym to [And fehlt. Syk. too.] To fynde socour of euery maladye, And he be grace shal doon hem remedye:

Cure leeprys, and folkys that be blynde With newe liht he shall hem enlumyne, Line 205 To furious men he shall yive wit and mynde, [witt.] And sturdy hertis to grace he shal enclyne, Tourne mescreantis by his prudent doc|tryne To Crystes lawe, and make creplis goon, Delyuere his kyngdham from al ther mortal foon; [kyndam. ther fehlt.] Line 210 And he shal be kyng, martyr, and vir|gyne. And in tokne that al this thyng is trewe, A Reynbowe shal shewe daies nyne Vpon his paleis with fresh beemys newe, And euer alych of colour and of hewe, [euere.] Line 215 And contynue in oon his glad liht, [con|tynewe. glade.] Whan he is born, and gynne the same nyht"; Tolde openly a-mong the folkes alle, [Toold opynly. thoo folkys.] For a signe to putte al in certeyn, How al the peeple Fremund sholde hym calle, [shulde.] Line 220 That no tokne shewid were in veyn; [wer.] And how his mooder, that was afforn bareyn, [modir.] Sholde ber a child be grace of god sent doun, [shulde bere.] Which sholde enlumyne al this regioun. And whan the child hadde alle these thynges told, Line 225 Beyng of age but only daies thre, He gan requere with cryeng manyfold, As alle folkes myhte heere and se: In the name off the Trenyte Be baptised. in presence off echon Line 230 Afftir his baptym gaff up the speryt anoon. [225—231) fehlen.] The tyme approched and faste upon hath hied: [aprochyd.] The Qween conceyued be grace of goddis myht, Lyk as the child toforn hath prophesied. The Reynbowe affter appered anoon ryht [afftyr apperyd.] Line 235 And daies nyne shewed a-brood his liht, [shewyd.] To signefie: a sonne was sent doun, That sholde enlumyne al this regioun. As newe greyn out off feeldis olde And leues greene growe out off trees gray; [levys. treeys.] Line 240 And as the bawme which in wyntres colde [coolde.] Deepe in the ground, which in the roote lay, [depe.] Vpward ascendeth in Aprylle and in May: [ascendith.] So semblably from Offa and Botyld Be grace off god conceyued was this chyld. [the st. this.] Line 245 Whan Jhesu(!) was born, old was Ely|sabeth, [Ms. Jhesu st. John.] [John st. Jhesu. Eliȝabeth.] And old also was hooly Ȝacharye, The blissid tyme, to-gidre in Naȝareth Whan in the Mountayn she mette with Marie. [mounteyn.] And thus by grace and sperit of prophecie, [spirit.] Line 250 Whan kyng Offa and Botyld were bothe old, [wer.] Off Fremundis birthe tofforn a child hath told. Affter whos berthe, for short con|clusioun, [afftir whoos birthe.] As myn auctour in ordre hath deuysed, Whan he to yeeris kam of discrecioun, [cam.] Line 255 Off bisshoppe Oswy Fremund was baptised And among crystene the feste solemp|nysed, Ech man for Joie syngyng in his degre: "Laude and preisyng be to the Trenyte." [lawde. Trinite.] To teche the peeple Fremund dide excelle [did.] Line 260 And them conuerted from ydolatrye, [And fehlt. convertyd.] Off Cristis baptem fulled hem in the welle, [Crystes. fullyd.] The feith off Jhesu tenhance and magnefie. And his sogetis deuoutly gan hem hye, [sogettys.]

Gret multitude, alle off oon assent, Line 265 Off holy baptem to take the sacrament; The Kyng, the Queen, in ther daies olde Be holy Fremundis informacioun,— Lyk as the child be prophecye tolde How by ther sonys predicacioun Line 270 Off feithful herte and humble affeccioun They shulde receyue in ther Roial estat Baptem be Fremund and be regenerat. [by.] Thus be the grace off our lord Jhesu [by.] Fro day to day, the trouthe was weel seene, [wel sene.] Line 275 Fremund encressed fro vertu to vertu, [encresyd.] As any sonne his fame shon so sheene; [ony. shoon. shene.] Wrouhte myracles, made leprys cleene: [wrout.] The grace off god dide hym so magnefie [did.] That he cured euery malladie. [curyd.] Line 280 His ffadir Offa feeble wex for age [wex feble.] And blissid Botild, his moodir most benygne; As they that gan approchen to the stage Off decrepitus, expert be many a sygne, By prudent counsail cast hem to resygne [caste.] Line 285 Sceptre and crowne with al the Regalie To yonge Fremund, the kyngdham forto guye. [yong. kyndam.] The herte off Fremund to god so strang was knet, [stronge.] In Cryst Jhesu stablisshed his plesance: To serue the lord he thouhte it was weel bet Line 290 In parfitnesse be long contynuance, Than haue in erthe Roial gouernance On the peeple heer in this present lyff: [here.] Sithe he hym caste to be contemplatyff. [sith.] But ther-ageyns ther was so gret in|stance [there.] Line 295 That yonge Fremund sholde be crownyd kyng: [yong. shulde.] As trewe enheritour by goddis ordynance, Doun fro the stok off kynges descendyng [discendyng.] The pe-de-gre by lyneal conueyyng, [Ms. pe de gre.] [pe de gre.] He next in ordre, cronycles who list rede, [cronyclees. reede.] Line 300 Affter his ffader ordeyned to succede. [afftir. fadir.] Off his persone and off his stature Was noon so likly that tyme, doutles. [doutlees.] First considered his Roial engendure, [consydred.] His hooly liff, his vertuous encres; [encrees.] Line 305 Cherysshere off concord, louere off trouthe and pes: All thes thynges peised in his persone, [al thes.] Dempte him most worthy forto regne allone [wourthy.] Vois off ryche and vois off the poraylle, [of the.] And hool the uoise gostly and temporall: [Ms. noise.] [holly.] Line 310 Was noon so hable to haue gouernaylle [able.] As was Fremundus, born off the stok royall. [Royal.] And thus the clamour bothe off oon and all, [al.] By many resoun alle off oon entent, To regne as kyng made Fremund to assent. Line 315 The feeste yholde and the solempnyte [yhoolde.] Off his notable coronacioun, [this.] Nat-withstandyng his Roial dignyte He aduertised off prudence and resoun How that al wordly domynacioun [worldly.] Line 320 Hath in erthe but a short abydyng, Nouther off Pope, Emperour nor Kyng. [nouthir.] On hooly bookys his lust was forto reede, Redressed all wronges, sustened riht|wisnesse, [redressyd alle. sustenyd.] His hand mynystre to almesse-deede, Line 325 Cherysshyng presthod for ther holynesse, [preesthood.] Off maidnes, widwes supportyng the clen|nesse, [maydenys.] Hauyng compassion on euery poore wiht, [whyght.] Ay more enclynyd to mercy than to riht. [enclyned.] And whan he hadde regned but a yeer, [whanne. regnyd.] Line 330

Line 330 By goddis grace feruently enspyred Sauh how ther was no trust in this liff heer; [Sawh.] Off gostly loue his herte was thoruh-fyred, [goostly.] Toward desert so soore he hath desyred, Forsook the world and al his regioun, Line 335 And took his weye toward Carlioun: Thouhte how it was to his gostly auail, Fader and mooder off purpos he forsook; [fadir. modir.] With other tweyne that were off his coun|sail. [othir. wer.] On the se-syde a litil barge he took, [see. litel.] Line 340 And, as it is remembred in the book, [remembryd.] Withoute vitaile or wordly purueiance [vytaylle. worldly purvyaunce.] Commyttith his passage to goddis ordy|nance. [Commytteth.] Entreth the se, parteth fro the stronde; [Entryth. partith.] With wynd ydryue fyue daies two and fro [Idryve. too & froo.] Line 345 Withouten oore or rowyng kam to londe. [withoutyn. cam.] Off auenture that tyme it happid so Vp an yle froward to kome to, [vp in an. come too.] To wikked spiritis a place couenable, [wykkyd. convenable.] Lyk a desert, off ffolk inhabitable. [dissert.] Line 350 Yet in that yle ther were ful fayre mounteynes, [Ms. mounteyns.] [yit. wer. fair.] Rennyng reuers and wellis crystallyne, [ryvers.] Large meedwis and lusty greene pleynes, [pleyns.] [medwys.] Trees ylade with holsom frutys fyne; [Ilade.] And I suppose, by grace, which is dyuyne, [suppoose be.] Line 355 By god ordeyned for Fremund in to dwelle With his too feerys, beside a plesant welle. [two.] And Ilefaye men that yle calle, Off old tyme desolat and sauage— More agreable than was his roiall stalle [moor. Royal.] Line 360 To hooly Fremund, thouh he were yong off age. [wer.] And ther he bilte a litel hermytage Be-side a ryuer, with al his besy peyne, [ryveer.] He and his fellawis, that were in noumbre tweyne; [wer.] A lytil chapel he dide ther edefie, [litel. did there.] Line 365 Day be day to make in his praiere, [by. makyn.] In the reuerence only off Marie And in the worshepe off hir sone deere. [hire.] And the space fully off seuene yeere [in the sp.] Hooly Fremund, lik as it is founde, Line 370 Leued be frut and rootis off the grounde. [lyved by frute.] Off frutis wilde, his story doth us telle, Was his repast, penance for tendure; [repaast.] To stanche his thrust, drank watir off the welle, And eet acornys, to sustene his nature, [Akornys.] Line 375 Kernellis off notis, whan he myhte hem recure; [nootys. myght.] To god alway doyng reuerence, [alwey.] What-euer he sente took it in pacience. The olde serpent hadde at hym enuye, [oold.] By many froward fals suggestioun Line 380 Brouht onto mynde his stat, his regalye [vnto. staat.] Off tyme passid, his domynacioun, And gaff to hym ful many occasioun [for tagrucchyd. of ful hool.] For tagruchchid. but he off hool entent Gaff thank to god off al that euer he sent. [euere.] Line 385 For hunger, thrust, excesse off hoot or cold, [hungir. coold.] Nor for no constreynt off aduersite, Nor for assaut off temptacioun manyfold [assawt. temptaciouns.] In hym was founde no mutabilite; Stable as a wal he stood in his degre; Line 390 Al wordly thyng bothe in herte and thouht [wourldly.] For Cristes sake Fremund sette at nouht. [set.] To Cristes plouh he hadde set to hond [plowh. hand.] Off hih perfeccioun, and list nat looke ageyn, He was nat wery to tourne amyd the lond, [land.] Line 395

Line 395 His gostly trauaile for-to spille in veyn. [travaylle.] Gruchchyng nor feyntise was neuer in Fremund seyn, [grucchyng.] But lyk a champioun in erthe sent from heuene That slouh the serpent with his hedis seuene. [heedys.] His cloth hool conserued by myracle [conservyd.] Line 400 Duryng seuene yeer fressh as the firste day— [first.] What god wil saue ther may be non ob|stacle, Nor geyn his wil ther may no-man sey nay: Thus hooly Fremund parfit at al assay, For in desert lyk Cristes owen knyht, [de|seert. owne.] Line 405 Ay off oon corage perseuereth day and nyht.— [of o. perseueryth.] And whil that he doth in desert soiourne [deseert.] In abstynence and contemplacioun, To kyng Offa my style I wil retourne And of purpos make a digressioun. Line 410 For in that tyme, the book makith men|cioun, Yngwar and Vbba with Danys aryuyng Slouh seynt Edmund, martir, maide, and kyng: [Edmond.] Afforn rehersid his lyff, his passioun, For Cristes feith how he shadde his blood Line 415 By meek suffrance and humble affeccioun, [meeke sufferaunce.] Bounde to a tre meekly whan he stood, [tree.] Shet with arwis off Tirantis fell and wood, [arwes.] With many a wounde, hedid and dis|membryd, [heffdyd.] As in this book is heer-toforn remembryd. Line 420 Hys brother-in-lawe for verray in|potence [brothir. of st. for.] Off crokid age, sorweful in his entent That he was feble to make resistence, Whos lusty yeeris were wastid and yspent: [wer.] His counsail took, his massagerys hath sent [counseyl.] Line 425 To seeke Fremund, bothe nyh and ferre, Ageyn the Danys to make a mortall werre: [ist ausgelassen.] Too and twenty massageris notable [two. ful notable.] Off preuyd men, men off discrecioun, Swich as kyng Offa knew weel that were able [wel. wer.] Line 430 To seke and serche thoruh al this regioun [seche. al his.] And alle strange yles abouten enuyroun [aboutyn.] And smale prouynces enclosed with the se, [enclosyd.] To fynde a place wher Fremund sholde be. [wheer. shulde.] Bvt at the laste, only by goddis grace [but.] Line 435 And off his merciful dyuyne prouydence, They were conueied and brouht vnto the place [wer.] Where as they fond off Fremund the pre|sence; [wheer.] [Wyl was poweer and extorcioun.] In lowly wise dyde hym reuerence, [did.] Vnknowe to hym, but in fulpleyn language Line 440 They meekly tolde theffect off ther mes|sage: [toold. massage.] And benyngnely, ther massage to a|bregge, [benignely.] Afforn declaryd his ffadrys benysoun, And affter that they gan in ordre allegge [aftir. legge.] The Rewmys myscheff, the desolacioun, [Reemys. myscheef.] Line 445 Off paynymes the grete oppressioun, [paynymys.] Crystene lawe lowe put vndir foote; Fremund requeryng to socoure and do boote; With wepyng eyen also they hym tolde [eeyen.] Off Cristis lawe fynal destruccioun, [Crystes.] Line 450 Maidnes rauesshid, men slayn that were olde, [maydenys ravysshed. wer.] Cherchis robbid, dispoiled and bordoun, [despoylled. boore doun.] Menstris desolat, reuersid up so doun, Al religioun and clerkly disciplyne [Schwager Edmund's ist Offa, vgl. v. 174.]

With furye off Danys brouht vnto ruyne, Line 455 Crystene feith brouht to destruccioun, The seuene sacrementis hangyng in Jup|partye, [sacramentis. Jupartye.] Wil was Juge, power extorsioun, And fforce, allas! tornyd to robberye. [tournyd.] Fully concludyng: ther was no remedye Line 460 In al thys myscheff, to saue this woffullond, [myscheef. wooful.] But grace off god and Fremund ley to hond. In this mater merueillous to here [mateere. heere.] Seynt Fremund stood in a perplexite, Gan to change face, look and chere, Line 465 Caste in his herte and peised thynges thre: [Cast.] His ffadres mescheff, the Danys cruelte, [fadrys.] And cheff off alle he dradde for his partie [cheef. dred.] Lyst newe Intrusioun brouhte in ydolatrie; [lest. brought.] Considered also in what pliht that he stood [Consydred.] Line 470 In his professioun forto lyue solitarye, Teschewe werre and shedyng eek off blood — Fro which entent he cast him not to varye, [For. nat varye, ohne to.] And to been armyd he thouhte that it was contrarye [that fehlt.] For an hermyte that hath the world for|sake, Line 475 Deedis off armys for-to vndyrtake. Thus atween tweyne hangyng in ballance, Most specially o thyng he gan to dreede: [to fehlt.] The furious Ire, the vnmerciful vengance Off paynymes swerd cristene blood to sheede. [paynymys.] Line 480 But in this cas for his eternal meede [caas.] He was ay redy off hool affeccioun [ay fehlt.] For Cristes feith to haue suffred passioun. [suffryd.] And forto sette alle thynge in feurte, [al thyng in Reeste(!).] Off conscience the wyndes forto cleere Line 485 (A)nd cloudy mystes off ambiguyte, Hooly Fremund took hym to praiere: [prayeere.] Besouhte the lord off hool herte and enteere [besought. entieere.] That off his power, most mercyfull and benygne, [poweer.] What he shall do to shewen hym som signe. [shal doo. shewyn. sum.] Line 490 The nexte nyht an Angell dyde appere, [next. aungil did appeere.] Whil he slepte, and by auysioun [by a visyoun.] Bad that he sholde been off riht good chere [cheere.] And haste hym hom in-to his regioun; [hoom.] "Be strong in speryt, lik Crystes champioun, [spirit.] Line 495 Mescreantis off Denmark for-to werreye: And Cryst Jhesu shal for the feeld purueye." Wyth two and twenty from his fader sent [froom. fadir.] Off chose personys in this ambassiat, [choose. Embassyat.] Noumbred tho tweyne with Fremund ay present: [nowmbryd XXII^ti.] Line 500 Made foure and twenty, notable off estat — [maade.] And god be grace made hem fortunat, [by.] And ech of them thoruh goddis grete myht [greet.] Sempte a thousend in ther enemyes syht. [thousand. enmyes.] Conueyed be grace, maad in vertu strong — [by.] Line 505 Wher god helpith, ther doth no force faile — [faylle.] Gan haste hem forth, ther passage was nat long, [hym, ther. not.] Took a smal shippe, hadde redy arryuaile, [ship.] Gan haste hem forth toward ther bataile. Fond his fader, wepyng whan he beheeld, [fadir wepyn.] Line 510 With cristene peeple oppressid in the feeld. Bvt whan Ingwar herde off ther komyng, [whan fehlt.] To hooly Fremund an herawde sente doun: [sent.]

Grantyng hym withoute more taryyng In pes and quyete to haue pocessioun Line 515 Vnder his lordshepe off al that regioun, [vndir. lordshippe.] So he wolde Cristes feyth forsake, And so tabyde and to ther lawe hym take. Off whiche sonde Fremund hath despit — [which. despight.] Not for the kyngdham to which he hadde ryht, [kyngdome.] Line 520 But for our feith; withoute more respit He seide: he wolde aquyte him lik a knyht. And in the name off hym that hath most myht, Crist Jhesu, approche he gan toward The paynym party, displaied his standard. Line 525 To-forn alle other first Fremund dide assaile [Init. othir. did assaylle.] (T)he proude Danys, Crist Jhesu was his guyde, Hew assonder ffersly plate and mayle, [hewh a sondir. maylle.] His manly knyhtis ay fyhtyng be his syde; [knyghtes. by.] Afforn ther face no paynym myhte a-byde. [myght.] Line 530 And foure and twenty that day withoute obstacle [XXIIIIti. withoutyn.] Slouh fourty thowsand, only be myracle. [thousand. oonly by.] To Cristis power no thyng is inpossible, [Crystes poweer.] So as him lyst he may the feeld ordeyne: As Moyses remembryth in the bible, Line 535 Leuitici affermyng in certeyne, [affer|myth it in certeyn.] How that an hundryd, to speke in woor|des pleyne, [woordys pleyn.] Sholde off ten thowsand, as put is in memorye, [shulde.] Be goddis grace haue the victorye; [By.] For he allone may his conquest shewe Line 540 Wher as hym lyst off his magnyfycence, [where.] With gret noumbre or ryht with a fewe, Al oon to hym, there is no difference. [ther.] And, to conclude breffly in sentence, Nat fro the erthe by mene off spere or sheeld, [meene.] Line 545 But he be grace yeueth conquest in the feeld. [by. gevith.] Thus this champioun, this knyht most vertuous, Hooly Fremund, dide the feeld re|cure, [did.] (Th)at day on Danys he was victoryous. [Ms. At st. That, durch Nachwirkung der Initiale v. 547; so auch v. 576.] [That.] And afftir that he dide off his armure, Line 550 Kneled doun and dide his besy cure: [knelyd.] Thanked god, by full gret auys, [thankyd.] And off his conquest to hym he gaff the prys. Duryng this werre ther was oon Duc Oswy [duk.] With kyng Offa, a prynce off gret estat, Line 555 A dyssymylere, which ful traitourly [dyssemelere.] Fro Crystes feith was a fals renegat; Afforn with Ingwar sworn and confederat, [Ynguar.] By vndirmynyng, this was his menyng: Affter Fremund he to be crownyd kyng; [aftir.] Line 560 Compassyng that hooly man shal deye And be mordrid by som fals tresoun, [sum.] And therupon to fynde a redy weye His labour was, by som occasioun. And as seyn Fremund knelyd lowly doun [seynt.] Line 565 Thankyng the lord for his gracyous speed [of st. for.] Affter his victory, Oswy smet off his hed. [aftir. victorye. heed.] And sodenly his hooly chast blood [sodeynly. chaast.] Ran lyne ryht in-to the visage Off this tretour, as he be-syde stood, [traytour.] Line 570 Brent hym so sore that he fyl in rage — [in a rage.] Lo heer the guerdoun off his mortal out|rage, [loo here.]

Lo how that god off ryhtful Juggement [Jugement.] Kan punysshe the mordre off folkis Inno|cent! The furye off Oswy was so inportable Line 575 (Th)at, saue the deth, he sawh no remedye. [That saff deth, the fehlt. sauh.] But, off this mordre be-cause he was coupable, Vnto seyn Fremund ful lowde he gan to crye: [seint.] "Mercy, o martir, haue mercy, or I dye!" [deye.] With wepyng terys and with a sobby sown, [teerys. sobby soun.] Line 580 "Off me most wrechchid haue compas|siown! [wrecchyd.] My grete offence to the I am a-knowe, [greet.] My sclandrous gilt, my trespace most horryble, [trespas moost.] Which haue deserued to brenne in helle lowe — [dysservyd.] My transgressioun, allas! is so terryble. [is fehlt.] Line 585 But ageyn mercy no thyng is Inpossible. [Impossible.] O blissyd martyr, rewe on my trespace That kan no refut but fle to the for grace!" [can. reffute.] Ther fil anoon a wondirful myracle, By mercy shewyd vnto this woful wiht, Line 590 At whos request ther was no long obstacle [noon long.] But that his praier was herd anoon ryht: [prayere.] The hed off Fremund by grace off goddis myht, Wher as it lay, dide sodenly abrayde [did sodeynly.] And vnto Oswy euene thus it sayde: [he st. it.] Line 595 "Cristis appostel, which hath off Crist power [Crystes apostyl. poweer.] And grace to grante thy low peticioun, [lowe.] He grante to the off hool herte and enter [entieer.] Off alle thy synnes an absolucioun; And me receyue in his confessioun Line 600 To liff euerlastyng, so that my meek suf|france [meeke.] Accepted be to his deuyn plesance". [acceptyd. dyvyn.] And as it is remembryd in historye [in his storye.] And registred be old antiquyte, [of oold.] Beside Radforde he hadde this victorye [Ratforde. his st. this.] Line 605 On them off Denmark — lord, blissid moot he be [blyssed mut.] Which off his merciful dyuyn mageste [maieste.] Made foure and twenty, but a fewe in noumbre, Fourty thowsand Danys to encoumbre! Off this myracle the fame ran ful wyde, [In st. of.] Line 610 The tryumphe rad with lettres aureat, [lettrys.] The palme up born long ordeyned for tabyde [longe.] Theternal chaplet off branches laureat, [The et. chapelet. braunchys.] Crownyd for ther meryt with capital pur|purat [with st. for. meryte with.] Ordeyned for martirs, with many a riche ston: [of st. for.] Line 615 And a-mong alle Fremund was set for on. [oon.] This blissid martir by myracle up aroos, Afforn predestynat to liff that is eterne, [affore.] Took up his hed with his tweyne handis cloos, — Whos hooly steppis to guye and to gouerne, [to nach and fehlt.] Line 620 As folkis present myhte weel discerne, [might wel.] By supposaile: he goyng forth so ryht, [supposaylle.] He was conueied be grace off Aungellys myht; [he fehlt. by. aungelys.] A-twen Whittone and Harborugh he abood, [Wittone. Harbourgh.] (A)nd ther, I fynde, a while he dide dwelle, [there. did.] Line 625 Took his swerd and euene ther he stood [there.] Toucheth the ground: and ther sprong up a welle: [towchyd. there sprang.]

With cristal watrys the stremys gan up welle; [vp belle(!).] And wessh a-way the blood that was so red, [whyssh awey.] Which doun distillyd from his hooly hed; Line 630 Took off the watir — ffolk sawh that were present — [sauh. wer.] And whan he hadde wasshe cleene his woundis, [whanne.] (T)ournyng his face toward the Orient Be-side the welle where yit the ground is — [wheer.] And passed nat the sylue same boundis, [passyd not. selve.] Line 635 Gaff up the gost, he knelyng in that place, [goost.] Toward the heuene with cheer erect and face. Oswy with othre, rehersid heer-beforn, [othir. heer fehlt.] Took up the body and the holy hed, And to Offcherche Fremund they haue born, [Ost|cherche.] Line 640 With his sherte closyd stronge in led, [strong. leed.] And with deuocioun, dilligence and dreed Withynne an Arche a-twixe two pillerys [Arch atwyx.] They mured him up. where he lay many yerys, [mvryd hem. wheer.] Wrouhte myracles and many sondry signes. [wrought. sundry.] Line 645 His fame sprad in many fer contres. — And in this lond there were thre virgynes, [ther wer.] Which that hadde dyuers Infirmytes: Oon was podagre in handis, leggis, knees, Another mwet, the thrydde, who lyst lere, [anothir mewet.] Line 650 What-euer was seid she myhte no-thyng heere. [myght.] Off these virgynes, the story doth us teche, [Ooff thes.] The firste Elffleda namyd·off these thre, [thes.] Which hadde lost the office off hir speche; [hire.] Thoua the secounde, hadde this infirmyte: [secunde. had.] Line 655 Off hand and foot she fayled liberte, [faylled.] This to seyne: the cely poore wyht [This is to.] Potagre was, myhte not stonde up ryht; [podagre. myght nat.] The thrydde mayde and the laste off alle, The Cronycle recordith in substance, Line 660 Men in that tyme Bryhteba dyde hire calle, [Bryghteva did hir.] And lak off heryng was al hir penance. [hire.] But forto fynde reles off ther greuance, — [relees.] Thouh alle these thre were seueryd fer assonder, [ferre assondir.] Ther dreem was oon, and that was a gret wonder: [wondir.] Line 665 They hadde in charge by reuelacioun, These thre in noumbre: how they sholde hem dresse [shulde.] Toward Offcherche, which is a kouth toun [Ostcherche. couth.] In Warwyk-shire, the story beryth wit|nesse, Ther to fynde reles off ther syknesse; Line 670 A specyal sygne youe to hem by grace Wherby they sholde approche vnto the place: [that place.] Fro the sepulchre off Fremund evene vpryht, [froo. sepulcre. evene fehlt.] As the aungele by myracle dyde hem lere, [aungel. did.] Ther sholde a skye as any sonne bryht [shulde. ony.] Line 675 Dresse up his bemys to the sterrys cleere, Lyk Phebus tressyd in his mydday speere, Neuer dyrken nor noon eclipsyng haue [nevir dirkyn.] Tyl vn-to tyme they kam vnto his graue. Thus conueyed be bryhtnesse off the skye [the st. be.] Line 680 (T)o Offcherche, as maad is mencioun: [Ostcherche, made.] Wher off ther syknesse they fond first remedye. [the seknesse. fonde. wheroff.] And affter that by reuelacioun Off the aungel they hadde instruccioun To take the body and the hooly hed [boody. heed.] Line 685 And karye it with hem out off the cas offled. [carye. them. caas. leed.]

And as the story doth in ordre telle, These thre virgynes retourned been ageyn, [retournyd. been fehlt.] Kam to a ryuer that namyd was Charwelle, [riveer.] And faste-by they fond a ful fayr pleyn. [founde.] Line 690 And for they wolde no thyng were in veyn, For the hooly martir off Alabawstre whit [Allabastre whyte.] They dyde ordeyne a toumbe off gret delit: [did. delighte.] Ther-in was graue the Natyuyte [inne.] Off Crist Jhesu abouten enuyroun, [aboutyn.] Line 695 The riche presentis off the kynges thre, Feste off Candilmesse receyued be Sy|meoun, [The ffeeste. by.] His meek suffrance, his Resureccioun: [meeke.] In which toumbe they haue fully purposid That the body off Fremund shal be closid. Line 700 And on this pleyn passyng-fair to seene Be-side this ryuer, because it drouh to nyht, They took a yerde off salwh with leuys greene, [yeerde of saluh.] Markyng the place and fet it ther vpryht. [there.] And toward morwe whan the day was lyht, Line 705 They kam ageyn, anoon as they aroos, [cam.] To burye the body holdyng ther purpoos. Bvt they fond nouther the body nor the ston, [founde neythir. boody. stoon.] Nor no tokne ther-off koude see: [cowde.] Saue the yerde, left there whan they were gon, [sauff. wer.] Line 710 Was growe that nyht into a large tre. For which the maidnes, that were in noumbre thre, [maydenys. wer.] Gan sore weepe and compleyne for di|stresse, [soore wepe.] For losse only off ther wordly rychesse. [wourthy.] God saw how sore the absence dide hem greue [abscence. did.] Line 715 Off hooly Fremund in ther affeccioun: He off his mercy, ther compleyntis to releue, [compleyntes.] Maad hem to knowe by reuelacioun [made.] How by dyuyn disposicioun He by myracle and gracious auenture Line 720 Prouyded hath for his sepulture; Bad ther-affter they sholde no more enquere, [And st. Bad. afftir. shulde.] (B)ut paciently suffre ther penance, With glad herte and with ryht good cheere Meekly abyde goddis ordynance: Line 725 For thoruh his myhty gracious purueyance [purviaunce.] He shal ordeyne be mysteryes ful pro|founde A tyme prouyded whan he shal be founde. But, wher he lay, the pleyn that was a|loffte Was plenteuous off floures and pasture, [plentevous. flours.] Line 730 The gras, the herbys holsom, smothe and soffte, [soote holsoom & soffte.] And vertu hadde, nat only be nature [not. by.] But be myracle, syk beestis to recure: [by. seek.] Fed with the hay or gras in his grennesse [hey.] They were maad hool of newe or old syknesse. [weer.] Line 735 The place was had in gret reuerence Off alle folkis that dwellyd faste-by, [fast.] Worsheped it with al ther dilligence, [worshipped. it fehlt.] For myracles that fille sodenly. [fyl sodeynly.] And to declare the ground and cause why: Line 740 I doute not, al was doon be grace [by.] Off hym that rested in that hooly place. — [restyd.] Than fil it so: a pilgrym off this Rewm, [it ffil so. Reem.] Callid Edelbertus, the story tellith heere, [Ethelbertus.] Beyng present at Jherusalem, [beeyng. Jerusaleem.] Line 745

Line 745 So as he lay with hool herte and entere [entiere.] At the sepulchre, knelyng in his prayere: Vpon a nyht hadde this auysioun: To haste hym hoom toward his Regioun; Callid by name, the cronycle makith mynde, Line 750 Thre sondry tymes swynge nyht be nyht. [sundry. shewyng st. swynge.] And he dellaied, alwey, as I fynde, Beyng in doute, thouhte in his inward syht "What may this been? I conceyue nat a|ryht"; Prayyng god, deuoutly ther knelyng, Line 755 What was his will, to haue ful know|lechyng. [wyl.] The thrydde tyme, wheras this pilgrym lay, Hadde in precept no lengere for-to dwelle, By goddis aungel, but in al haste that he may [aungil.] Haste hym homward, myn auctour doth thus telle, [vs st. thus.] Line 760 Toward the ryuer that callid is Charwelle: And on that pleyn, to-forn as is maad mynde, He sholde off salwh a large tre ther fynde, [shulde. saluh. ther fehlt.] Vnder which the hooly seynt was graue, [vndir.] Blyssid Fremund, — afforn heer put in mynde; [blyssed. here.] Line 765 Tolde him toknes which that he sholde haue [Toold. toknys. shulde.] At his komyng, the place for-to fynde: [comyng.] And oon ther was, which was nat lefft behynde, Which sholde be shewid to hym the same day [that same.] A-myd the place wher as the martir lay: Line 770 A mylk-whit sowhe cloos vnder the greene, [whyte sowe. vndir.] Entre nor yssu noon shewed on the pleyn, [entree. Issew. shewyd.] With yonge pigges in noumbre ful thret|tene A ful gret pas komyng him ageyn; [paas.] And, for-to putte al thyng in certeyn, Line 775 Withynne a chapel be-side that foil ful blyue [the soyl.] He sholde fynde notable preestis fyue. Alle these toknys rehersyd poynt be poynt To Ethelbertus breffly in sentence, [breeffly.] The angel pullid his ryht arm out off Joynt, [aungil.] Line 780 For crokid bakward, for his diffidence, [ffer st. for. diffence st. diffidence.] And manacid for his necligence Neuer to been hool, til upon the day [nevir.] That he kam thedir wher seyn Fremund lay. [cam. seint.] Gretly affraied with his infirmyte — Line 785 Felte in his arm gret peyne and passioun: [arme.] Took streiht the weie to Rome the cite, To this entent, for short conclusioun: Ther to receyue ful absolucioun [there. resceyve.] Be Cristis vyker, what-so-euer falle, [by Crystes vikeer. evir.] Line 790 Off his offence and his synnes alle. And to procede and telle forth the caas, For good expleit touchyng his iourne, To the pope, as his purpos was, [poope. purpoos.] He goth in haste for mor auctorite, [for the moore.] Line 795 And with a sperit off humylite, [spiryt.] Sette a-side al long dilacioun, Ech thyng commyttyng to his discrecioun [commyttyd.] Off these materes remembryd ceryously, [this mateerys.] Maad to the pope a declaracioun [made.] Line 800 Touchyng these myracles in ordre by and by. Which thyng conceyued, off hih discre|cioun Bad hym resorte hoom to his regioun, [resoorte.] Delyuered hym lettrys notable and special, [lettres.] To speede his purpos, testymonyal. [spede.] Line 805

Line 805 Whan he kam hoom with Bullis auc|torysed, He dilligently made Inquysicioun, [maad.] Fond alle the tooknys trewe afforn deuy|sed [toknys.] Aboute the place off his Inuencioun: Helthe off his arm and restitucioun, Line 810 The sowhe, the piggis, god lyst so pro|uyde, [sowe. pigges.] And preestis fyue dwellyng ther-be|syde. To the Bysshop off the diocyse [of ther.] Made off his bullis presentacioun, Callyd Byrynus: which in goodly wyse Line 815 Assentyd is to his translacioun. [to this.] Took certeyn prelatis off Religioun, And by the Popis ful auctoryte Translatyd hym to Dunstaple, ye may se. To which place the body whan they brouht, Line 820 Be goddis grace and his grete myht [by. greet.] Sondry myracles the hooly martir wrouht: Made folkis lame for-to goon vpryht, [for fehlt.] Cured leeprys, to blynde men gaff syht, [curyd.] And remedye to syke folkys alle [seeke.] Line 825 That for socour vnto his grace calle. — Now, hooly Fremund, martir, mayde, and kyng, Vnto seynt Edmund cosyn most entere, [Edmond. entieer.] Which wrouhtest myracles heer in thy leuyng, [wroughtyst. here. lyvyng.] With Crist now regnyng aboue the sterris clere: [cleer.] Line 830 Socoure thy seruantis by mene off thy praiere [prayeer.] And ouer them hold thy gracious hond, [ovir. holde.] And saue (sixte Herry), his peple and al this lond! [Ms. forthe Edward, von and. Hand über einem and. radirten Namen (sixte Herry)über|schrieben.] [save VI^te Herry(!).] Whilom off Danys thow haddest the victorye, [whiloom. thou haddyst. the fehlt.] By myracle, as maad is mencioun, [made.] Line 835 Now crownyd martir in the heuenly con|sistorye: Geyn gostly enmyes be our proteccioun; [ageyn.] Prey specyally for al this regioun Forto preserue fro damagis this contre: Our feithful trust is in thyn vncle and the! Line 840 For semblably as thow, kyng Fremund, Venquysshedest Danys at Ratforde on the pleyn: [venquysshed.] Riht so thyn vncle, the hooly kyng Ed|mund, To saue this lond fro Trybut in certeyn, [trybute.] At Geynesboruh by myracle slowh kyng Sweyn. [Geynesbourgh. Swayn.] Line 845 The which story, accomplysshed of old date, I am purposid in ynglyssh to translate. [englyssh.]

(Miracula des h. Edmund.)

A Thowsand yeer reknyd and thryttene [threttene.] Folwyng Crystes Incarnacioun, Mortal constreynt, an inportable teene [a mortal.] Line 850 Troubled al the lond off Brutis Albioun, [trowbelyd.] Beyng that tyme kyng off that regioun Etheldredus, which by acountis cleer [Ethelredus.] Was off his kyngdham the fourte and thretty yeer. [kyndam. foure and thrytty.] This newe trouble gan off stryues olde Line 855 By them off Denmark, which off antiquyte Cast with this lond a werre forto holde Off wilful malice and compassid cruelte, [compast.] As in cronycles men may reede and se: Which to contynue with strengthe and myhty hond [contvne. strong st. strengthe.] Line 860

Line 860 Kyng Sweyn off newe is entred in this lond. [entryd in-to this.] Tytle was ther noon but wilful tyrannye: By a maner off newe Intrusioun, Be Sweyn conspired, cleymyng the regalye, Off Danys ryht to haue pocessioun: Line 865 He forto regne cleymyth by successioun. [cleymeth. by fehlt.] Entryng this lond, the story (who) lyst seen, [who fehlt.] [the stoory whoo lyst.] Be extort power gan to brenne and slen, [by.] Spoiled menstres and holy cherches brente, [spoylled mynstrys. cherchis brent.] Robbed cites and euery famous toun, [robbyd citees.] Line 870 And for a tribut thoruh al the lond he sente — [trybute. sent.] He list off pryde make noon excepcioun; His swerd off vengance whet be extor|cioun, [by.] Off hatful yre and off furyous rage Spared nouther old nor yong off age. [sparyd nouthir oold.] Line 875 In Etheldredus ther was no resistence, [Ethelredus.] Force to withstonde his cruel tyrannye; Riht was oppressid by mortal vio|lence: The kyng for feer fled in-to Normandie. Thus, desolat, void off al cheualrye [voyde.] Line 880 Stood al the lond: which gaff gret hardy|nesse To the tirant the peeple for-to oppresse. To hooly places was do no reuerence, [placys. doo.] Men slayn and moordred by vengable cruelte, [mordryd.] Wyues oppressid by sclandrous violence, Line 885 Widwes rauesshid loste ther liberte, [ravysshed. lost.] Maidnes diffouled by force ageyn pite, [maydenys diffoulyd.] Preesthod despised, religyous in disdeyn, Be cruel hatrede off this tirant Sweyn. [by.] Took up-on hym forto be callyd kyng, [folio 100] Line 890 Presumptuously, off force ageyn al ryht. Wil was his guyde, collusion his werkyng, His lawes gouerned be power and be myht — [governyd by poweer. by.] Off rihtwisne(sse) eclipsid was the liht. [Ms. riht wisne.] [rightwysnesse. eclypsed.] Gadryng off tresours, be gold to haue auayl, [gadryd the t.] Line 895 Fraude and falsnesse wer cheff off his counsail. [cheef. his fehlt.] Sette a trybut general on the lond — [trybute.] With couetise he was so set affyre, [coveityse.] So fer off rauyne he strechchid out his hond — [ferre. strecchyd.] The mor he gadred, the mor he doth desire: [moore. gadryd. moore.] Line 900 Sent his collitours into euery shire, [collectours.] Spared nouther, pleynly to deuyse, [sparyd nouthir.] Confermed off seyntes ffredam nor ffran|chise. [con|fermyd.] Gadrid in haste this tribut and tall|iage [trybute. tallage.] Be rauynours and robbours infernal, Line 905 To hyndre the peeple by extort pillage, Delay excludid, mercy was noon attal. [at al.] And for this tribut was so general, [trybute.] To Estyngland strechchid this axyng, [Estyngeland.] Wher seynt Edmund whilom was crownyd kyng. [Edmond. whyloom.] Line 910 The peeple, nat vsed to be Tributarye, [vsyd. Edmond.] Cleymed franchise off Edmund, ther pa|troun; The raueynours, aleggyng in contrarye, [ravynours alleggyng.] Were Inportune in ther exaccioun. The peeple a-geynward for ther protec|cioun Line 915 Knowyng no refut as in this mater [ref|fute. mateere.]

Sauff to the martir to make ther praier: [save. prayeere.] Thus ryche and poore off al that re|gioun Off oon affeccioun with herte, wil and myht With deuout prayer for ther redempcioun [prayeere.] Line 920 Kam on pilgrymage with sondry tapris lyht [cam.] To the hooly corseynt, ther wachchyng day and nyht, [there wacchyng.] Besechyng hym his seruantis to socoure Ageyn the tirant that wolde hem deuoure, Which paciently acountid ful ten yeer, [accountyd.] Line 925 Ingland, hath suffryd this tribut ful ter|ryble, [Ingeland. trybute.] Fond fauour noon, groos nor particuler; Constreynt off rygour was to hem odible: [so odible.] That to contynue they dempte an Inpos|sible, [contvne.] By pouert spoiled which made hem sore smerte, Line 930 Which as they thouhte craumpysshed at here herte. [at ther.] They lay prostraat, knelyng aboute his shryne, [prostrat. the st. his.] Women go barfoot pitously wepyng, With letanyes preestis dede enclyne, [did.] By abstynence the peeple long fastyng, Line 935 Men off religioun be prayer and wakyng: Besouhte the martir ther fredam to renewe [besought.] And off his mercy on ther wo to rewe. [vpon.] Ther requestis were nat maad in veyn: [wer.] For he that was cheeff Cubyculer Line 940 Aboute seynt Edmund and his chaumber|leyn; — [Edmond. chaumbirleyn.] Alle off assent dyde ther deuer [did. deveer.] To praie ther patroun to caste his eyen cleer, [preye.] His heuenly eyen, ther trouble to termyne, With liht off confort ther hertis tenlumyne; Line 945 Fyrst Ayllewyn, that cely creature, Afforn his shryne vpon the pauement lay, [pament.] In his praiere deuoutly dyde endure, [did.] Seelde or neuer parteden nyht nor day. [Selde. neuere. partyd.] For whan so euer his lieges felte affray, [euere. liges felt. Edmond.] Line 950 The peeple in hym hadde so gret beleue: Thoruh his request Edmund sholde hem releue: — The perfeccioun off Ayllewyn was so couth, [Aylwyn. kouth.] So renommed his conuersacioun; [renomyd.] That many a tyme they spak to-gidre mouth be mouth [spake.] Line 955 Touchynge hyh thynges off contem|placioun; [touchyng.] Expert ful offte be reuelacioun [by.] Off heuenly thynges, to speke in woordes fewe, [woordys.] Be gostly secretys which god lyst to hym shewe. — And as he lay slepyng on a nyht: Line 960 Clad in a stole off angelik cleernesse [stoole.] Whittere than snowh, powdryd with ster|rys bryht, [whyhtere. snow.] Off cheer celestiall, surmontyng off fair|nesse, His sterryssh eyen lik Phebus off fressh|nesse, With plesant language the martir gan abraide Line 965 And to his chapleyn euene thus he saide: "Go forth in haste, spille no tyme in veyn, [goo. spil.] And looke thow do trewly my massage! [doo.] And in my name sey thus to kyng Sweyn: [myn.] That off my peeple he axe no truage: [trewage.] Line 970 Ther ffranchise is to stonde in auantage [at st. in.] From al trybut and al exaccioun Vnder the wynges off my proteccioun. [vndir.]

"'Vexe nat my peeple, suffre hem lyue in pees, Trouble nat the kalm off ther tranquyllite! Line 975 In thy requestis be nat so reklees! [so fehlt. rekelees.] To axe hem trybut yt longith nat to the, [trybute.] Ther ffredam stablysshed off antiquyte. Be war therfore, off malys nor off pryde [malice.] Be vsurpacioun thow sette it nat a-syde! [not.] Line 980 Thy wilful errour, in gros to compre|hende, [in gros fehlt.] Ys, for-to trouble me and my franchise, To make hem wrongly ther goodis to dispende. Be war therfore, and werke afftir the wise! Myn enbassiat that thow nat despise! Line 985 For, yiff thow do, pleynly to expresse, God and I ther damagis shal redresse'". Toward morwe whan Ayllewyn awook, He was somdel abasshed in his corage. (T)o Geynesborugh the ryht way he took; [weye.] Line 990 God was his guyde to forthren his viage, And for tacomplysshe fully his massage. Affter the fourme off his Instruccioun [afftir.] He folwed theffect off his auysioun. [folwyd.] He dide his massage openly declare, [did. opynly.] Line 995 To the presence whan he kam off Sweyn, Fro poynt to poynt, list nat oo woord to spare. [a st. oo.] Whom forto heere the tirant hath dysdeyn, Bad hym deuoyde, no mor ther to be seyn. [moore there.] And departyng, thouh that it was late, [that fehlt.] Line 1000 Toward nyht he wente out at the gate. [went.] Destitut he was off herbergage, Sauff ther-be-side a cherche-yerd he took; [chircheyeerd.] Mong graue stones, thouh he was old off age, [stoonys. oold.] He leyde hym doun, and nyh alnyht he wook, [leyd.] Line 1005 And toward heuene ful ofte he caste his look, Prayeng the lord to rewe on his symplesse [praying.] And toward morwe be grace his iourne dresse. And, forto putte this mater in memorye, [mateere.] Retournyng homward, the story berth witnesse, [berith.] Line 1010 At Lyncolne withynne the teritorye With slombre oppressyd, trauayle and heuynesse, [travaylle.] For recreacioun, his labour to redresse: Toward Aurora the martir, maide, and kyng To hym appered, saide, as he lay slepyng: [apperyd.] Line 1015 "What newe trouble hath thy cheer disteynyd, [dysteyned.] With heuynesse consumed and apeyred? [consumyd. appeyred.] Pluk up herte! al that my peeple hath pleynyd [pleyned.] I shal redresse, or thow be hoom repeyred. Off my socour be nat dysespeyred! Line 1020 Or ouht longe bet tydyng god shal sende, By whos support al I shal amende." [suppoort.] Egelwynus resortyng hoom ageyn, At Geynesborugh the silue same nyht In his castell to-for the tirant Sweyn [Castel.] Line 1025 Blissid Edmund, armyd lik a knyht, [umgesetzt. Edmond.] Conueied by an angel, as Phebus cleer off lyht, [umgesetzt. Edmond.] Axed off Sweyn, a sharp spere in his hond: "Wiltow, quod he, haue tribut off my lond?" [trybute.] Off heuenly colour was his cote-armure, [coote armvre.] Line 1030 The feeld aȝour, off gold with crownys thre. [with fehlt.] In tokne he was, by record off scripture, Kyng and martir, his legende who list se; The thrydde crowne tokne off virgynyte. [whoo.] He with a spere, sharp and keene grounde, Line 1035 Gaff the tirant his laste fatal wounde — [last.] Geyn goddis wil may be no reffut. [reffute.] Thus onto hym Edmund gan specefie: [vnto. Edmond.]

"Haue thyn axyng, haue heer thy tribut, [here. trybute.] Guerdoun couenable geyn fals tyrannye!" [covennable ageyn.] Line 1040 Sweyn affraied loude gan to crye, [lowde.] Yald up his gost, I not what weye he took. But with the noyse al the castel wook. — No-man merueile off this vnkouth myracle, That Sweyn was slayn in his chaumbre a|nyht! [chambre.] Line 1045 Geyn goddis power ther is noon obstacle, [poweer.] In heuene, in erthe egal is his myht, As weel in derknesse as in the cleer lyht; [wel. dirknesse.] His victorye with spere, swerd or sheeld [sweerd.] In chaumbre shewed as weel as in the feeld. [shewyd.] Line 1050 To prudent peeple and folkis that be sad Twen ffeeld and chaumbre is no difference; [chaum|bir.] Lyggyng a-bedde his myht is to be drad, For cowardise hath noon experience Wher he list use his myhty violence, Line 1055 In bed, in chaumbir, in castel, or in tour, [chaumbre.] The swerd al oon off his dredful rygour. [sweerd.] Som ffolk, nat wis, to cowardise arette That Sweyn was slayn in his bed a-nyht. The castel cloos, the strong wal nat lette [Casteel.] Line 1060 But that his entre kam al off goddis myht; As thoruh a glas perce the bemys bryht [peerce.] Whan Phebus shyneth, Sweyn in the same wise Slayn be myracle, and by no cowardise.— [by.] And to procede as it komyth to mynde, Line 1065 This Egelwyn herde in his passage A gret rumour off horsmen behynde, Which spak to hym in ful pleyn language: "Art thow nat he that brouhtest the mas|sage From kyng Edmund, thenbassiat not tretable, [Edmond. nat.] Line 1070 Dreedful, sodeyn, hasty and vengable?" As kyng Edmund saued fro tribut [savid trybute.] This lond be myracle, sette the Rewm in pes, [long(!) by. sett. Reem. pees.] Ryht so the Danys off counfort destitut [destitute.] Durste afftir neuer put them-sylff in pres [durst. nevir. prees.] Line 1075 To axe no truage nor gold to ther encres. [trewage. encrees.] Wher god diffendeth, lat us neuer dreede, [diffendith. nevir.] Ageyn whos power no malys shal pro|ceede. [poweer. malice. procede.] Off Sweynys deth thus writeth Marian: [Sweyn is.] How oon Wolmarus, born off gentil blood, Line 1080 Dowmb, deff, podagre, and an Essex man; [dowm and deeff.] The same hour so with hym it stood: Lay a-deyeng and his tyme abood; [deying.] Which neuer spak erst, sodenly abrayde, [nevir. sodeynly.] To his ffreendis euene thus he sayde: Line 1085 "The sharp spere off kyng Edmund, certeyn, [speere. Edmond.] (T)o sette this lond fro tribut in surnesse, Ypershid hath the cruel herte off Sweyn. [I-percyd.] Wherby this lond is brouht in gret glad|nesse." [is fehlt.] These woordis sayd, the man in his sik|nesse [Thes wordys.] Line 1090 Yald up the gost—neuer afftir nor afforn, [nevir.] And spak no mor, sithe tyme that he was born. [moore. sith.] Thus Egelwynus be tooknys ful certeyn, [toknys.] As he homward gan his Journe holde, [hoolde.] Hauyng relacioun off the deth off Sweyn: Line 1095 Withynne hym-sylff his herte gan to bolde [began to boolde.] And euery part this myracle forth he tolde, [toolde.] Thanked god off his gracious refut Which hath this lond delyuered fro tribut. Fro the cronycle yiff I shal nat varye, Line 1100 Kyng Sweyn was slayn, as maad is men|cioun, [made.] The day secounde off frosty Februarye [the secunde day.] A thowsand yeer fro the Incarnacioun

Fourtene ouer by computacioun. [ovir.] The Danys affter, saltyng his careyn, [aftir.] Line 1105 In-to Denmark be sailled hoom ageyn. [saylled.]

And as myn Auctour in ordre doth deuyse, Neuer tirant durste putten assay [nevir. durst puttyn. Edmond.] Off seynt Edmund to breke the franchise, Line 1110 But he were punysshed withoute long delay. [seyntes.] Hard is with seyntis forto make affray: [by. wel.] Be exaumple as I can weel preue [by. shereve.] By Leoffstan. which, whan he was shyr|reue, [Init. Edmond.] To seynt Edmund hadde no deuocioun, [here.] Line 1115 To heere off hym froward by dysdeyn, Off his myracles ful smal affeccioun, To heere hem rad the tyme spent in veyn; [libertees.] His libertes, he was therageyn. To sitte in Jugement he caste a certeyn day Withynne the boundis wher the martir lay. Line 1120 A woman gilty, fferful for hir trespace, [wooman.] For dreed off deth, socour forto fynde Off blyssyd Edmund entred is the place, [blyssed Edmond entryd.] Lowly besechyng: he on hir wo taue mynde. [woo. to haue.] Leoffstan dide hir arreste and bynde [did hire a reeste.] Line 1125 By cachepoll with force and violence, [Cacchepollys.] Vnto the seynt doyng no reuerence. The clerkis present in deuyn seruyse [divin.] Gan in maner to make resistence, Off hooly chirch diffendyng the ffranchise; [chirche.] Line 1130 But al for nouht: ther was such assistence [suych.] By pres off baylyues beyng in presence, With multitude the clerkis to assayle, That to sey nay it wolde nat auayle. The offycerys, rauynous lik houndis, [officers.] Line 1135 With Leoffstan, furious off chier, [cheere.] Off the cherche entred is the boundis. [chirche entryd.] The clerkis prostrat lay in ther praier, [prayeere.] The woman crieth, that alle men myhten hier: [al. here.] "Help, blissid Edmund! help and be my reed! [Heelp.] Line 1140 For, but thow helpe, I shal in haste be ded. [thou. deed.] Keep and conserue thy Jurediccioun Fro this tirant, or this day I shal deye". The clerkis knelyng in ther orysoun: "Keep thy ffredam, o martir!" they gan preye. Line 1145 But Leoffstan lyst nat for to obeye, With al his court is entred, off entent [entryd.] In the cherche to sitte in Jugement. [Into the chirche.] No reuerence doon to the seyntuarye, [seyntwarye.] The tirant was so vnmercyable: Line 1150 Be violence the woman forth they karye; [by. carye.] A quest redy, the Jurours Inportable. [Jorours.] The woman crieth with voys ful lamen|table: [heelp.] "Help, hooly martir! shal I be this wise Dempt in the boundis this day off thy franchise?" Line 1155 The Juge procedeth to execucioun, [procedith.] (T)houhte no ffredam ageyn hym sholde auayle. [shulde.] A ffeend anoon took pocessioun Off this tirant, sore dyde hym trauaile [soore did.] In euery membre and in his entraile; [entraylle.] Line 1160 Amyd his torment yald up his gost in hast — [goost.] I dar nat deeme what way he is past. [not deme. wey.] Thus kan the martir punysshe hem that been rebel; [be st. been. rebeel.] Folk that truste hym, counforte hem and releue, Socoure ther pleyntes, supporte ther quarel, [quareel.] Line 1165 As this myracle openly doth preue; [opynly.]

Who seketh his helpe, shal nat mescheue, [sekith. myscheve.] To his seruantis gracious and benygne.— A tale for them, ageyn hym that maligne. [ageyn hem.]

Knyhtes fyue off malice and rauyne, Line 1170 Ageyn the ffredam off Edmund ful coup|able, [Edmond.] Haberyowned and in platis fyne [habiriownyd.] Entred his court, took hors out off his stable, [entryd.] With swerdis drawe to shewe hem-sylff vengable, Lyst any man wolde make resistence; [ony.] Line 1175 Ladde forth the pray bextort violence. [lad. ther pray.] But sodenly thus with hem it stood: [sodeynly. with them.] Or they passyd the boundis off the gate, Trauayled with furye, and echon wex wood. [echoon.] Repented affter, offred up mayland plate, [repentyd afftir. offryd.] Line 1180 Confessyd, assoiled, — in cronycle set the date; [in the cr.] Euer afftir off hool affeccioun [euere.] Hadde to the martir gret deuocioun. —

Eek oon off Flaundres, that was a fals brybour, [Flaundrys.] Kam vndyr colour off oblacioun, [cam. cololour (!)] Line 1185 Kyssed the shryne, lyk a slyh pilour, [pillour.] And with his teth, the book makith men|cioun, Rauhte off a nowche. but, in conclusioun, [raught.] His teth ftak stylle and on the nowche a|bood, [stake.] By myracle, wher as the pylour stood; [pyllour.] Line 1190 He koude nat remewe fro the place, [cowde. remeve. fro that.] But stylle abood, that alle men myhte se. [myght.] The Couent kam, prayyng the seynt off grace [preying.] Vpon that wrechche forto haue pite: [wrecche. for fehlt.] Loosnyd he was and wente at liberte. Line 1195 Thus kan the martir on rebellis be veng|able; [losnyd.] Whan they repente, benyngne and mercy|able. — [benigne.]

Theuys eyhte, tentre the cherche at nyht, [chirche.] Oon brouhte a laddere, a-nother brouhte a barre, [anothir. brought.] A-nother besy with al his strengthe and myht Line 1200 To vnpyke lokys, a-nother to vnbarre, [vnpykke lokkys.] Oon with a leuour to leffte the doore on harre, Oon with a pykoys, a-nother hadde a spade, [pykoyse.] Oon clamb the wyndowe his fardell forto lade; [fardel.] Oon at the grownsel lowe gan to myne, [growncelle.] Line 1205 A-nother besy to entre, yiff he myhte; [myght.] Compassed afforn tave kome to the shryne, [compassyd. to haue come.] To bern away the gold with stonys bryhte. [stoonys bryght.] But to ther malis the martir hadde a fyhte: [malice. sight.] So sore be vertu he dyde the theuys bynde, [soore. did.] Line 1210 Tyl on the morwe the peeple dyde hem fynde: Stood stylle as ston, sore in them-sylff amasyd, [stoon. soore.] Somme with ther armys crompyd to the bak, With eye up-tournyd aboute they haue gafyd, [gasyd.] Oon with his crampown, a-nother with his sak, Line 1215 Another stood and on the wal he brak; Fro ther werk myhte no remews make, [myght.] Tyl on morwe they were at myscheff take, [on the.] Bounde and fetryd and throwen in prysown. [folio 110]

Tyl the Bysshop off the diocyse Line 1220 Sat upon hem, dide execuciown, [did.] By hasty rygour procedyng to Justise. [Justice.] Hangyd they wern, shortly to deuyse — Loo how the martir the robbours dyde quyte! — [did.] Off this mater what sholde I more endite? [mateere. shulde.] Line 1225 The lawe he thouhte gaff to hym licence To execute hasty Jugement, Be-cause in cherche was do the gret of|fence, Conspired be theuys, alle eyhte off assent; [chirche. doo.] Nat seyn afforn this text bauysement: [by.] "Cesse thow nat, thus thapostel bad, [by avysement.] Line 1230 Them to delyuere that to the deth be lad". [Cece thou. Thapoostyl.] Off whos deth this bysshop Theodrede Hadde al his lyff hertly repentance, For this cruel and this hasty deede Made the peple faste and do penance; [this nach and fehlt.] Line 1235 He sore contrit, tryst off contenance, [doo.] Hadde euer affter for that gret offence Withynne hym-sylff remors off conscience. [evir aftir.]

Whan ffolk off pryde lyst haue no reward Line 1240 To hooly seyntis forto do reuerence, [seyntes.] God punyssheth hem: record on seynt Edward [recoord of.] Whilom at Bury beyng in presence [whyloom.] Whan Osgothus off hatful necligence, A lord off Denmark, lyk a wood man ferde, Line 1245 The myracles off Edmund whan he herde. [Edmond.] Toward the martyr he bar old hatrede, This Osgothus, as it was affter founde, [aftir.] Despysed his myracles whan he herde hem reede. [herd.] Yet he in ordre was callyd the secounde, [yit.] Line 1250 Next to the kyng, with gold and perlys rounde [peerlys.] Rychely beseyn, and statly off array. Aboute the shryne walkyng al the day, Off coryouste and presumpcioun His look he caste toward that hooly kyng, Line 1255 Off fals dysdeyn, voyd off deuocioun [voyde.] Depraued his vertues, his passioun, his lyuyng. [depravid.] And as he stood the martir thus skornyng, With a brood fawchoun hangyng be his syde, Fyl plat to grownde, mawgre al his pryde — [grounde.] Line 1260 God is nat plesid with such fals blas|ffeme [suych a.] Doon to his seyntys off Indignacioun, [seyntes.] Namly to martirs, which, the lord to queme, [na|mely.] Suffred for his sake deth and passioun; [suffryd.] To pleye with seyntys kometh off ambi|cioun, [seyntes comyth.] Line 1265 Which god wil punysshe with vnwar vengaunce; For which this story is put in remem|brance. — This lord off Denmark for al his gret bost, [greet boost.] For al his tresour, his gold and his perre, As a demonyak vexyd with a gost, Line 1270 Ful offte turnynge in his infirmyte. [tournyng.] The noise aroos, oon seith "there lyth he", Tyl the rumour off cryyng heer and there [here.] Kam be report to the kynges ere, [Cam. repoort.] Which thilke tyme in Chapitle was present Line 1275 Off his grace and Royall dignyte [Royal.] With the abbot and hool al the couent, Tencresse ther franchise and ther liberte: [tencrese.] Off his benygne and mercyful bounte [remours.]

Gaff hem the maner off Mildenhale and the toun Line 1280 With eihte hundredis in pocessioun. [hundredys.] Al this tyme Osgothus lay dystreyned In his furye walwyng up and doun Whan hooly Edward knew how he was peyned, Off Royal mercy he hath compassyoun; Line 1285 Heeryng the noyse and the horryble soun, Dredful, terryble, off this wood man, Thus he seyde to Abbot Leoffstan: "Fader Abbot, it longeth to you off ryht [fadir. longith. yow.] With hooly praier and deuout orysoun [prayeer.] Line 1290 With al your couent to gon anoon ryht [goon.] To the holy martir in processioun, [hooly.] The letany song with deuocioun, [letanye songe.] Prayyng the corseynt off his benygnyte On this Osgothus forto han pite". [haue.] Line 1295 This myracle is the more auctorysed [moore.] That seynt Edward was ther-at present; Ouht off resoun to be mor solempnysed. [oughte. moore.] For the holy kyng was so diligent, [dilligent.] Off his grace to go with the couent Line 1300 In processioun, ther knelyng on ther kne, To saue Osgothus off his Infirmyte. And by the counseyl off Ayllewyn, cer|teyn, [counsayl.] To the fertre the syke man was led. [seke. lad.] And a gret space whan he hath ther leyn, Line 1305 Wher he afforn was furyous and mad, He gan abrayde and to wexe sad; Restoryd to helthe, lowly doun knelyng [restooryd.] Gaff thank to god and to the hooly kyng. Tamende his manerys he gan eek blyue, [maners. he began.] Line 1310 Sette a-syde his froward sturdynesse; To the martir duryng al his lyue He was deuout, took to hym meeknesse. [took hym to m.] What uayleth pryde? what uayleth fro|wardnesse?— [vayleth. vaylleth.] Exaumple heeroff ye may seen at the lest [leste.] Line 1315 Be vengance take in Essex on the preest [preeste.] Whych to the martir denyed herbergage Lad by Ayllewyn to Londene the Cite; [Londone.] His place brent, for his froward language Vengance take, men myhte the flawme se. [myght.] Line 1320 But therageyn off grace and off pite At Crepilgate, entryng that royal toun, Dide many myracle, the book maketh mencioun. [did. makith.] Tofforn at Stratfforde, callyd at the Bowe, His litil carre whan it sholde passe, [litel. shulde.] Line 1325 The bregge broke, the deep strem vn|knowe, [streem.] Narwh was the plawnc: ther was no weye but grace: [narwgh. planke. wey.] A-boff the flood o litel wheel gan glace, [above. oon litel.] The tother wheel glod on the boord a|loffte, [tothir. glood.] And Ayllewyn wente afforn ful soffte. [went.] Line 1330 He kam to Londene toward eue late: [cam. Londone.] At whos komyng blynde men kauhte syht. [comyng. kaught.] And whan he was entred Crepylgate, [entryd.] They that were lame be grace they goon upryht, [wer. by.] Thouhtful peeple were maad glad and lyht; [wer.] Line 1335 And ther a woman contrauct al hir lyue, [there. contract.] Cryyng for helpe, was maad hool as blyue.— Thre yeer the martir heeld ther resy|dence. [held.] Tyl Ayllewyn be reuelacioun Took off the Bysshope vpon a day licence Line 1340

Line 1340 To leede kyng Edmund ageyn to Bury toun. [lede. Edmond.] But by a maner symulacioun [maneer symblacioun.] The bysshop granteth, and vnder that gan werche [vndir.] Hym to translate in-to Powlys cherche; Vpon a day took with hym clerkis thre, Line 1345 Entreth the cherche off seyn Gregory, [entryth. chirche. seint.] In purpos fully, yiff it wolde be, [purpoos.] To karye the martir fro thenys preuyly. [Ms. theuys.] [carye. thens.] But whan the bysshop was therto most besy With the body to Poulis forto gon, [Powlys. goon.] Line 1350 Yt stood as fyx as a gret hill off ston. [It. ffix. hyl. stoon.] Multitude ther myhte noon auayle, [myght. avaylle.] Al-be they dyde ther fforce and besy peyne; [did.] For but in ydel they spente ther trauayle. [Idel. spent.] The peple lefte, the bysshop gan dys|deyne: Line 1355 Drauht off corde nor off no myhty cheyne [coorde.] Halp lyte or nouht — this myracle is no fable — [light st. lyte.] For lik a mount it stood ylyche stable. [Ilich.] Wher-upon the bysshop gan meruaylle, Fully diffraudyd off his entencioun. [deffrawdid.] Line 1360 And whan ther power and fforce gan to faylle, [poweer.] Ayllewyn kam neer with humble affec|cioun, [cam.] Meekly knelyng sayde his orysoun: The kyng requeryng lowly for Crystes sake [lowely.] His owyn contre he sholde nat forsake. [owne cuntre. shulde.] Line 1365 Wyth this praier Ayllewyn aroos, [prayeere.] Gan ley to hand: fond no resistence, Took the chest wher the kyng lay cloos, Leffte hym up withoute violence. [lefft. withoute ony.] The bysshop thanne with dreed and reuerence Line 1370 Conueyed hym forth with processioun, Tyl he was passid the subarbis off the toun. [subarbys.] Alle syke ffolk that for helpe souhte [seek.] To the martir, lyggyng in maladye, Were maad hool; myracles euer he wrouhte: [wer. euere.] Line 1375 Who callyd to hym ffond hasty remedye. [whoo.] Wher he passith upon ech partye, Thoruh euery toun and euery smal village, [cam.] The peeple kam to conueye his passage; Broke breggis they gan ageyn renewe, [brooke.] Line 1380 Strowed al the weies with floures fressh and grene, [strowyd. flours.] And with clothes off many dyuers hewe [cloothys.] They heng ther wallis, maad the pament clene, [made.] That noon obstacle was in the weye sene. To Stapylfforde they took the weye ryht, Line 1385 And, as I fynde, he logged ther al nyht, At the cheff maner off that litil toun, [cheef maneer. litel.] Weel receyued with besy attendance. [wel.] And he that hadde the domynacioun Off thilke village, lay in gret penance Line 1390 Thoruh old syknesse: but off al greuance, Wher he so longe afforn lay languysshyng, Was maad al hool be myracle off this kyng; [by.] And whan he was be grace thus recuryd, [by.] Ful deuoutly in al his beste wise Line 1395 Made his auouh and hertly hath assuryd [avowh.] That litil maner hooly to a-mortyse [litel maneer. hool.] With the reuenus, as lawe lyst deuyse, To the cherche, breffly to termyne, [chirche. breeffly.] Wher the martir lith hool now in his shryne. [lyth.] Line 1400 By Essex weye whan he was repeyred [repeyered.]

To Bedrysworthe holdyng his weye ryht: For long absence they that were dyspeyred, [dysespeyred.] At his komyng wer maad glad and lyht. [comyng.] With ther offryng to hym goth euery wyht, Line 1405 Deuoutly prayyng the martir nyht and day [preying.] With hem tabyde and neuer parte away.— [with hym. nevir.] Baldewynus, a monk off seynt Denys, Gretly expert in crafft off medycyne, [greet(!).] Ful prouydent off counsayl and ryht wys, Line 1410 Sad off his port, fructuous off doctryne— [poort.] Affter by grace and influence deuyne [aftir. dyvyne.] Chose off Bury Abbot, as I reede, [Choose.] The thrydde in ordre which dide ther succede; [did.] To seynt Edward he was phesecien, [phesicien.] Line 1415 To many siknesse he dide remedye: [did.] In nyne and twenty wyntir, ye may seen, A newe cherche he dyde edefye, Ston brouht fro Kane out of Normaundye [stoon. Cane.] By the se and set up on the stronde [see. vpon.] Line 1420 At Ratlysdene and caryed forth be londe. By helpe and support off William con|querour [suppoort.] The cherche acomplysshed, with his fun|dacioun Baldewyn dyde his deuout labour Statly to ordeyne for the translacioun Line 1425 Off blyssyd Edmund, yeer from his passioun [blyssed Edmond. froom.] Ful two hundryd twenty and eek fyue, As myn Auctour the dathe doth descryue. [dathe st. date.] [date.] Toward the ende almost off Apprylle [almoost Aprylle.] Certeyn prelatis fro the kyng sent doun Line 1430 This translacioun deuoutly to fulfylle, Off Bed(r)ysworthe they entred ben the toun — [Ms. Bedysworthe.] [Bedrys|worthe. entryd been.] A thowsand yeer fro the Incarnacioun Nynty ouer by accountis cleer [ovir.] With addicioun fully off fyue yeer. Line 1435 The feste kept with al the obseruances [ffeeste.] By custom vsyd off antiquyte — [Be custoom.] I lakke konnyng to telle al circumstances Appertenyng to that solempnyte. The poopis bullys gaff hem auctoryte, Line 1440 The kyng weel wyllyd, ther was noon obstacle, [wel wylled.] By cleer report off many fayr myracle. [be. repoort.] These thynges reknyd ouhte ynowh suffyse [thes. out(!) Inow.] Vertuously this mater for to grounde. [mateere.] And to procede, in most humble wyse, Line 1445 With dreed and reuerence, off ryht as they wer bounde, [drede. were.] Out off a chapel, that callyd was rotounde, [Rotownde.] They took the martir on ther shuldres squar [shuldrys.] And to the shryne deuoutly they it bar, Whych was afforn prouyded for the nonys, [noonys.] Line 1450 With clothis off gold arrayed and perré [cloothis.] And with many ryche precyous stonys, Longyng vn-to his roial dignyte. Which off his grace and merciful bounte To our requestis shal goodly condescende, [condiscende.] Line 1455 Geyn al our enmyes this lond for to dyf|fende. [alle.]

(Schlussgebet.)

O Gloryous martir, which off deuout humblesse [wer. tree.] For Crystes sake were bounde to a tre, With shot off arwes suffredyst gret duresse, Thy blood doun raylyng, that routhe it was to se, [rayllyng. see.] Line 1460 With purpil colour; streyned off cruelte [l. steyned.] [stey|ned (!) of crueltee.]

Was al thy body, Crystis feith tenhance: [Crystes.] O blyssyd kyng, off mercyful pite [blyssed. pitee.] Pray for thenherytour off Ingelond and France! Settyst a-syde al thy royal noblesse Line 1465 For Crystis sake, gemme off vyrgynyte, Lefftyst thy kyndham, thy tresour, thy rychesse; [kyndam.] So feruently brentyst in charyte, That dreed off deth nor duplycyte [nor no.] Myhte make the gruchch in thy mortal greuance: [myght. grucche.] Line 1470 Wherfore, O martir, off mercyful bounte Pray for thenherytour off Inglond and France! [Ingelond.] Be thow our swerd, al foreyn ffoon toppresse, [to o.] Our sheeld, our pauys, castel off surete, [sheld. pavys. suerte.] Our portecolys, boolewerk off stabylnesse, [poortcolys.] Line 1475 Gate off dyffence: so kepyng the entre [keepyng.] That noon enemy may breke our liberte! [enmy.] O gracyous martir, haue alway remem|brance [alwey.] To pray the lord in the celestyal se [in his.] For thenherytour off Inglond and France! [1480 ff.) Yngelond.] Line 1480 Pray that the chirche may stonde in parfytnesse, [parfightnesse.] Pray for prynces, to keepe ther dygnyte Vertuously, withoute doubylnesse, Pray for knyhthod, to lyue lyk ther degre, [knyghthood.] Pray for the lawe, that noon extorsioun be, Line 1485 And off marchauntis hold Justly the ballance, [hoold.] Pray for the plowh, pray for the pouerte, And for thenherytour off Inglond and France! Encresse prelatis in ther holynesse, [encrece.] And folk Religious in ther humylite, Line 1490 Vertuous wydwes in ther stedfastnesse, Wyues in ther trouthe, maydenhod in chastyte, Keep Innocentis from al aduersite, [froom.] Pray for al nedy: god send hem suffisance! [sende.] By a prerogatyff pray to the Trynyte Line 1495 For thenheritour off Ingelond and France! Pray for artiffyceres in ther besynesse [artyficerys.] Trewe to perseuere, deuoyd off sotylte, [devoyde of al sotiltee.] For laboureres teschewen ydylnesse, [labourerys teschewyn ydelnesse.] As they been ordeyned off god in ther degre! [degree.] Line 1500 Saue trewe pilgrymes from al aduersite, And maryners from wyndy disturbance! Pray for pes and for tranquyllite! Pray for thenheritour off Inglond and France! Folk at debat reconcyle and redresse, [debaat. reconsyle.] Line 1505 Refourme dyscordys to pes and vnyte! [dyscoordys. pees.] Folk langwysshyng and bedred for syk|nesse [languysshyng. bedrede.] Sende hasty counfort to ther Infirmyte! [send.] Folk exylyd restore to ther contre, [exiled reestore.] To presounnerys mercyful delyuerance! [prysownerys.] Line 1510 And, blyssyd Edmund, in long prosperyte [blyssed Edmond.] Conserue thenherytour off Inglond and France! Encresse our kyng in knyhtly hih prow|esse, [encrece.] With al his lordys off the spiritualte, [alle. spyrytualte.] Pray god to grante conquest and worthy|nesse [wourthynesse.] Line 1515 By ryhtful tytle to al the temporalte, [be.] And to syxte Herry Joie and felycyte, [and to ffourte Edward.] Off his two Rewmys feith, loue, and obeissance, [Reemys] Longe to perseuere in his victorious se, As iust enheritour off Ingelond and France! Line 1520

Lenuoye.

Das Lenvoye und Regi fehlen in Ms. Ashm. Nach v. 1520 folgen in Ms. Ashm. die 72 Verse des Eingangs vor dem I. Buch; darauf nachfolg. Zusatz in acht|zeiligen Stropfen über weitere miracula, der ein erster Entwurf, ohne gehörige Durcharbeitung, zu sein scheint.

Go, litel book! be ferfful, quaak for drede For tappere in so hyh presence! To alle folk that the shal seen or reede, Submytte thy-sylff with humble reuerence, To be refourmyd wher men fynde offence, Meekly requeryng, voyde off presump|cioun, Wher thow faylest, to do correccioun! Saue blak and whyt thow hast noon othir weede, Off Tullius Motles a dyrk apparence; The heuenly botler, callyd Ganymede, The to refresshe lyst do no dilligence; Off Mercurye the aureat influence, The tenlumyne dystylled skarsly doun: For which be soget to al correccioun! God grante that mercy may thy Journe spede, With gracious support where men fynde offence; Colour is noon thy brydyl for-to lede, Off Rethoryk, to stonde in thy dyffence; Bareyn off language, nakyd off ello|quence, At Elycon welle thow drowh but smal foysoun: For which be soget to al correccioun! Polypheme, allas! took so gret heede, That Argus lyst to haue noon aduertence The to socoure in so gret a neede; The sugre off Omer was ffer off be absence; Dul and vnpulsshed off fructuous sentence, Withoute that fauour and supportacioun Off goodly Rederys, do correccioun! Callyope lyst nat hyr bawme shede, The tenbelysshe with colours off cadence; Thy Auctour gadred no flours in the mede Vnder Pernaso, to haue ther assistence; Daunger off Muses gaff hym no licence For tapproche the hyl off Cytheroun: For which be soget to al correccioun!

Finis libri.

REGI.

SOuereyn lord, plese to your goodly|heed And to your gracious Royal magnyfi|cence To take this tretys, which a-twen hope and dreed Presentyd ys to your hyh excellence! And for kyng Edmundis notable reuerence Beth to his chyrche dyffence and Champioun, Be-cause yt ys off your ffundacioun!

Ende.

Ms. Ashm. 46, fol. 87.

Laude of our lord vp to the hevene is reysed Above the sonne and bryght sterrys cleere, And in his seyntes our lord Jhesu is preysed, As offte is seyn by ther devout prayeere, And be signes which they werchyn heere Thorugh Crystes myght, geyn which is noon obstacle. And to purpoos of this mateere I wyl remembre an vnkouth ffayr myracle.

Which late ffyl the sylve same yeer A thousand toold ffro the Natiuite Line 10 Off Cryst Jhesu by mevyng circuleer Fourty and oon, at Londone the Cite; That our lord of merciful pite The twenty day monyth of Novembre Lyst to renewe of his benignite Line 15 A memoryal, as I can remembre, With-inne the boundys of that towne Maad his grace wit newe light to shyne, To greet reiosshyng of al this regioun, Vpon a day, pleynly to termyne, Line 20 Off hym that is kyng, martir, and virgine, Blyssed Edmond: whoos merytes to ag|gregge, Our lord Jhesu, by grace which is divyne, Wrought a myracle at Tempse vpon the bregge, His gloryous martir ffor-to magneffye, Line 25 Day of his ffeeste, at ffoure afftir|noon — Thyng doon in opyn may nat gladly lye. On that bregge, bylt of lym and stoon, Chyldre to pleye assemblyd were in oon; Among which sone of a ffleccheer, Line 30 Tendre of lymes so as he myght goon, Was among hem, of age but thre yeer. Which of custom ther pleyes did or|deyne, [folio 88] Lyk ther conceyt, of verray Innocence. Tyme of ther play to-gidre thre or tweyne Line 35 Kept ther dispoort, in whoom was no diffence(!). A droof of oxes cam fforby ther presence Passyng the bregge; the chyldre wer so neer: Oon of the beestys by sodeyn violence Cauht in his hornys the chyld of the ffleccheer, Line 40 Lefft hym vp-on heyghte toward the Oryent, Ovir the wal caste hym in-to the fflood — Sondry peple beeing ther present: Off aventure somme on the bregge stood. But Jhesu Cryst, moost benigne and good, Line 45 Which of mercy lyst for man to sterve, For our sake spent his precious blood: The seid chyld of mercy lyst preserve, As I toold erst nat fful thre yeer of age — A monyth lasse, as I reherse can, Line 50 Born thorugh the bregge with the wawes rage. Off compassyoun a pitous noyse gan, The bittir teerys doun by ther cheekys ran Off suych as sauh westward them be-fforn Toward Cooldherberwe passyng "the Swan" Line 55 How, by myracle, the seid chyld was born. Grace of our lord, knet with good aventure, Gaff to this chyld a special avauntage: That so tendre a litel creature Born with the streem ffelt no damage, Line 60 Nat astonyd of look nor visage. Casuelly a botman fforby went, Merveyllyng cam ner in his passage, Into his vessel the litel child he hent, Afftir an ebbe, whan the fflood gan ryse; — Line 65 As ye haue herd, Cryst Jhesu was his guyde, As þe processe pleynly doth devyse. Vpon the bregge in the same tyde The childes modir sat in hir hous besyde And knewh no-thyng what of hir chyld was ffalle. Line 70 Tyl a woman cowde no lengere byde, Ran a greet paas: which did the modir calle, With wepyng and sobbyng of hir cheer Sparyd nat but pleynly toold hir al. The modir saide: the chyld in no maneer Line 75 No poweer hadde to reche vp to the wal; But whan she knewh of hir childes ffal By a greet oxe cast in-to the fflood: As modrys weepe at ffeestys ffuneral, Lyk a mad woman, ffuryous and wood Line 80 She ran hire out, lyst ffor no-thyng spare, As creature moost Inffortunat, Hir her to-torn, of kercheves maad al bare, Crying allas, with sorwe & dool chek|maat, Off sodeyn ffurye al disconsolat. Line 85 And so she ran by howsys to the place Off Temple streete, took heede of noon estat: Tyl she met a gentylman by grace, Which appertenyd, as it also is toold, To a baroun dwellyng ther-be-syde, Line 90 The lord Fanhoop, which heeld ther his housoold. The seid servaunt of ffortune in that tyde Vpon this woman sadly dyd abyde Amyd the streete, lyst no fferther goo, Tyl it stood soo that grace lyst provide Line 95 He knewh the cause and ground of al hir woo; Hadde of hir constreynt greet com|passyoun, Serchyng the cause of hire compleynyng. "Allas, quod she, my child is throwe doun" — Dysespeyred ffully of his ffyndyng; Line 100 "But, gentyl sere, telle me now o thyng: This day what ffeeste is in the kalendeer,

Which may me helpe and graunte my axing Thorugh his merytes and devout prayeer?" "Woman, quod he, be off good coun|ffort, Line 105 Truste hool in god afftyr my doctryne! This day is halwyd — taak heede to my repoort — In his worshepe that is a pure virgine, The blyssed martir kyng Edmond in his shryne." And with that woord the woman fyl plat doun Line 110 On bothe hire knees, bowed hed and chyne, With devout herte seide this orysoun: "O lord, that hast of poore folk no despight Nor of synfful, which calle the in ther nede; Blyssed Jhesu, that hast also delight Line 115 To fforthere alle thoo that love the and drede: For Edmondys sake that did ffor the blede Percyd with arwes ffyleed sharp and keen, Jhesu, graunte my request ffor-to spede: My litel chyld that I may oonys seen. Line 120 And whyl I lyve, I halwe shal the day [Ms. thy st. the.] Off thy martir, kyng of Estyngelond, With devout herte, as I best can or may, In hoope I shal seen vpon the strond My litel chyld brought quyk or ded to lond." Line 125 Down to the watir as she gan hyre hye, Sauh hire sone which held vp his hond Out of a boot and lowde gan to crye: "Wher is my moodir, myn owne moodir dere? [folio 90] Moodir, moodir!" alwey the chyld gan crye. Line 130 Heryng that voys with sobre pitous chere, Doun to Tempse ffaste she gan hire hye; Off hir sorwen a-dawen gan the skye Vpon hire chyld whan she cast hire look, Fond hym al hool, hurt in no partye, Line 135 Myd of a boot. and vp hire chyld she took, Gaff thank to god with humble affec|cioun For this myracle knelyng on hire kne — Doon at London, day of the passyoun Off seint Edmond — and this a-vowh maad she: Line 140 Duryng hire lyff that solempnyte To halwe and kepe in al hire best entent The sayde ffeeste. hire husbonde ek parde To doo the same also was of assent. This myracle must oonly been ascryved Line 145 To god alloone, and to no mannys myght, And that the chyld in savete was aryved Cheef thank to god mvt be yove of ryght Which hath poweer to magneffye his knyght, By this myracle, no-man may sey nay, Line 150 Which that befel, whoo-so looke aryght, The kalendeer of kyng Edmondys day.

Name of our lord to exalte and reyse We ar comaundid be scrypture & wryting: In the sawteer, of herte and wyl to preyse, Line 155 By hym that was choose prophete and kyng: First by prayer and devout knelyng — Last of his psalmys Dauid biddith soo — For myracles and merveyllous werkyng Calle to his seyntes in what we haue doo. Line 160 Thorugh whoos suppoort gret wondrys þei ha wrought, Yove to our lord lawde of ther myracles; For ther merytes he forgat hem nought, To ther requestys maade noon o(b)stacles. Bryght as berylle, clerere than spectacles, Line 165 Grace excellith euery precious stoon. To seyntes, shryned or set in tabernacles, God hath mervaylles wrought many moo than oon. Palpable exaumple in stoory men may se: Mawgre Pharao and al his greet myght Line 170 Moyses passyd thorugh the Rede see; A bussh vnbrent with ffyr was maad bryght; A saphir skye ladde Israel be day-light Toward the lond of promyssyoun, A ffyry pileer afforn hem brente a-nyght, Line 175 Them to conveye by grace of god sent doun. For hem he wroughte myracles moo than oon: Bittir watir tournyd to swetnesse, Maade a riveer renne out of a stoon, To staunche the thrust geyn drought of wyldirnesse; Line 180 Ful ffourty yeer, the bible berith witnesse, Ther cloothys ffressh, nat brooke nor to|torn. Which exaumplys yive ffeith and sekir|nesse For his seyntes what god hath wrought to-fforn, First in ftooryes of antiquite, Line 185 Which shulde alwey remembryd been of ryght. In myddil age the laste also parde Whan the hooly goost to Marye doun alight; Ek whan a dowe with snowych ffetherys whight Cam doun to Cryst in the ffloom Jordan; Line 190 A greet myracle ageyn naturys ryght

Whan oold Eliȝabeth brought forth seyn John. Cryst thorugh the world sent his apost|lys twelve To preche his ffeith in euery regioun, Gaff exaumple, the blyssed lord hym-selve, Line 195 To hooly martirs to suffre passyoun. And oon is shryned in Brutys Albyoun, A gloryous corseynt, martir, mayde, and kyng, In whoos worshepe of trewe affeccioun I wyl remembre two myracles by wryting. Line 200 God lyst his martir fforto magneffye: Notable signes fful expert in certeyn: Seint Edward present in his regalye Osgothus slayn ffor his ffroward dysdeyn; Thynk on Leoffstan and fforget nat Sweyn; Line 205 Be opyn myracle how our lord Jhesu For his corseynt dayly be toknys pleyn Hath in seint Edmond shewyd greet vertu, By nowmbre toold of yoore agoon be date Moo than I kan rehersyn in substaunce; Line 210 In especial of two that ffyl but late, Which I purpoose to putte in remem|braunce, The laude of Jhesus with euery circum|staunce Off this myracles to sette to his hond. Off which two this was the varyaunce: Line 215 Oon vndir watir, the tothir on the lond. Al the myracles in ordre forto sette, Off oold and newe, doon by this gloryous kyng: Them to compyle thouh I be bounde of dette, Off elloquence I haue but smal konnyng, Line 220 Rethoryques colours of endytyng In my librarye is noon habundaunce; My wyl is good, though to so greet a thyng I ffele my witt dullyd of ignoraunce. But as the wydwe makyd hire offryng, Line 225 Wel was acceptyd, cheef of hire tresour For she gaff al, the gospel witnessyng, No-thyng reservyd of gold ffor hire tresour: And semblably, enteryng this labour, To this martir of herte and hool entent, Line 230 Off sugryd cadence though I haue no fflour, Off this myracles I make my present. Tyme of the yeer whan the sonne shene I-entryd was in-to the boolys heede, Alceste in mydwys grew fresshly in euery grene, Line 235 Spradde hire crowne with fflours whyte & rede; Nyghtyngales of that sesoun took heed With newe entvnys Aurora to salwe: My penne I took, ffaste gan me speed Thys myracles to sette in ordre dewe. Line 240 A thousand yeer by computacioun Foure hundryd ovir with ffourty addid too The surplus foure by revolucioun, Whan this myracles opynly wer doo; Day of Aprylle, I dar weel wryten soo, Line 245 Ful XXVIII^ti accountyd by rekenyng First remembryd of this myracles twoo, Forn the Translacioun of this hooly kyng. — The same tyme, as I reherse shal, Oon afftirnoon, by ffeithful Just repoort, Line 250 A mayde-chyld nat ferre fro the Northgat, Nat two yeer oold, creep for hire dis|poort — To gadre fflours was hire most counffort — Vpon a banke ageyn the sonne cleer: Doun froom an hyl of aventure or foort Line 255 The tendir mayde ffyl in the riveer — The seid streem sevene ffeet was deep — In the moode plounged breest and heed. Hire yong sustir, allas, whan she took keep, Off ffive yeer oold, cryed out ffor dreed. Line 260 The strete a - roos, ffaste gan hem speed, This sodeyn caas whan they did knowe. They cam to late, for the chyld was deed — Among the moode the fface lay so lowe. Off the streete a certeyn neyhbour, Line 265 Nat ffer absent, of sodeyn aventure Herd a noyse and this vnwar clamour: To knowe the caas did hire besy cure. The chyld lay gruff, myght nat recure. This woman ran, gan calle, lyst nat rowne, Line 270 To the moodir—moost woofful creature: Offsodeyn sorwe almoost ffyl in a swowne. Out of hir-sylff, astonyd in hir herte, Ful offte sithe gan to crye allas, And specially whan she did adverte Line 275 How of hire child was drownyd hed & fface; With her vntressyd hastyd a greet paas — Peple present abood vpon the stronde, — Newe and newe cryed alwey allas Tyl that hire chyld was brought ded to londe. Line 280 Hed and boody sounkyn wer to grounde: Dysespeyred serchyng the riveer; With touch of ffeet the ded cors was ffounde Bolne with watir: of lyff ther was noon cheer; Cast to londe. the peple that stood neer Line 285 In this caas sawh no remedye. Tyl a woman, of strong herte and entieer, Bold of corage, ffaste gan hire hye,

Took vp the chyld be the leggys tweyne, Tavoide watir hed tournyd vp so doun, Line 290 To this entent, the boody she gan streyne. At nase and mouth ran out greet foysoun Lykour horryble, almoost a galoun. Alle of assent as in ther desir To seint Edmond made this orysoun, — Line 295 Tyme whan the chyld lay coold ageyn the ffyre, No tokne of lyff seyn in look nor face, Verray ded, coold, of cheer and con|tenaunce, By greet recoord hool an howrys space: Tyl at the laste cam to remembraunce — Line 300 With wepyng eyen ffyl in dallyaunce For pitous sobbyng and lamentable soun — To haue recure of ther dedly grevaunce To blyssed Edmond, made Invocacioun. Fadir and moodir ffirst knelyng on ther kne, Line 305 Al ther neyhbours aboute hem enviroun, Ful devoutly with al humylite To the hooly corseynt seide this orysoun: "O gloryous martir, protectour and pa|troun, Our request of mercy nat despyse: Line 310 Pray for thy tenauntys abydyng in this toun And ffor this chyld born in thy ffraun|chyse! Alle of assent with reuerence we shal seke Thyn hooly place, oold and yong of age, With greet avys lowe our-selff and meke, Line 315 Contryt of herte, sobre of our visage, With this avowh come on pylgrymage A-ffor thy shryne to thy Royal presence: Prostrat afor the with ffeithfful hool corage, To our prayere tyl thou yive audience". Line 320 Greetly troublyd in ther oppynyoun Took vp the chyld in the mortal distresse, Which yit lay ded, and with processyoun Toward the martir attoonys they hem dresse, Affor the ffertre knelyng with meknesse, Line 325 Tyl that Jhesus ffor Edmondys sake Beheld ther ffeith, ther trust, ther stabyl|nesse: Off whoos mercy to grace he hath hem take. By his martirs meeke mediacioun The lord above with-inne litel space Line 330 By his mercifful consolacioun Made blood appeere in the chyldes fface; Sodeyn quyknesse hir herte did enbrace — Quyk lyk a soule moore than vegetatyff, Al the membrys revived wer by grace: Line 335 So that it was restooryd ageyn to lyff. Geyn goddys werkyng may be noon obstacle — Resistence geyn his eternal myght Causith seyntes with many greet myracle To be worshepyd and gloryfyed in his sight: Line 340 A greet example shewyd in his knyght, Kyng and martir and a pure virgine, Off Estyngelond enherytour be ryght, Which Incorrupt restith in his shryne. This Royal corseynt, gloryous and notable, Line 345 To helpe his servauntys is nat wont to tarye, And can also in tyme ben vengable To them that been to his ffredam con|trarye. Which in the boundys of his seyntwarye, [l. with st. which?] This myracle was but late wrought — Line 350 Regestre it vp mid of your lybrarye For a memoryal, and forget it nought! For this myracle al the bellys rang, Abbot William beeyng ther present, And Te deum devoutly was ther song Line 355 To-ffor the awteer knelyng the covent. The toun cam doun echoon of assent, In purpoos fful, for short conclusyoun, The yong chyld, the tendir Innocent Shulde afftir be born on processyoun, Line 360 Al opynly vpon the thrydde day, Namyd off kyng Edmond the Transla|cioun. Which tacomplysshe was maad no delay. Som ffolk wepte ffor devocioun, That took good heed in ther inspeccioun: Line 365 Which sauh the chyld of colour ffressh & reed, The day afforn brought thoruh Bury toun To-ffor seint Edmond of visage paale and deed. Alle attoonys knelyng on ther knees That wer present, of cuntre or the toun, Line 370 Estatys reknyd of hih or lowe degrees; That sauh the chyld born in processyoun, With wepyng eyen of compassyoun, Symple and lettryd ther heedys did en|clyne To seyn ther prayere and ther devocioun Line 375 Vndir these woordys, abydyng at the shryne: "Gemme of martirs of colour purpurat, With hookyd arwes thy boody dyed reed Yong of yeerys in royal estat Ful thrytty wynter, ffor Cryst whan thou wer deed; Line 380

Line 380 A woolff fro beestys kept thyn hooly heed — Thy legende makith mencioun: O blyssed martir, of mercy take good heed, Save thy ffraunchyse, thynke on Bury toun! Suffre no tyraunt thy ffredam to as|saylle, Line 385 Noon oppressour ageyn hem to maligne, Thynk on thy spere greetly did avaylle [Ms. on, st. ou = hou?] Ageyn kyng Sweyn — a thyng notable & digne To be regestryd and shewyd for a signe — Whoos tyrannye was ful dere abought". — Line 390 Anothir myracle with this to combyne, I wyl remembre, which on the lond was wrought.

Which on the lond ffyl also but late At which (!) an hour, not ferre out of the toun, In a subarbe callyd Rysbygate. Wheer a yong babe lay tournyd vp so doun, Line 395 Nat fful two yeer age, as maad is men|cioun, His syde vpward, ffolk can repoorte weel: Which was that tyme to his conffusyoun Ovir-redyn with a carte-wheel. The chyld oppressyd lay in the streete deed, Line 400 Blak al the boody, the eyen cloos of sight. A neyhbour casuelly took heed, Hent vp the chyld, bar it anoon right Off compassyoun in al haste that (s)he myght, [Ms. he st. she.] Line 405 With wepyng eyen and fface fful pitous, Namly whan she sauh the chyld so dyght, Ded in hir armys brought to the ffadrys .hous. This sodeyn caas myght nat be kept cloos, Thorugh the streete the clamour gan to sprede. Line 410 Greet noumbre of ffolk attonys vp aroos. Among which wysest ffolk took hede And gaff counsayl at so streyght a nede, With woofful cheer seide vnto oon and alle, Off hih prudence thus oon gan hem rede: Line 415 First on ther kneen that they shulde ffalle To make ther vowes, alle that wer present, Withoute abood or ony long tarying [Ms. aboord.] To bere this chyld al be oon assent Bare on ther ffeet vnto ther blyssyd kyng, Line 420 Diversly to make ther offryng. Compendiously this myracle to descryve, Our lord Jhesu took heed to ther axing: Off his mercy the chyld gan to revyve. Space of an hour this litel chyld ded lay — Line 425 Tokne of lyff nor signe was noon seyn. Off Jvle in soth vpon the VIII day Soone vpon noone they gan prey ageyn, To the hooly martir ther orysoun to seyn Aboute the chyld vpon ech partye. Line 430 Whoos preyers were nat maad in veyn: Cryst lyst his martir fforto magneffye, In laude of hym did hym greet ffavour: By whoos merytes and mediacioun The child restooryd ageyn to his vigour. Line 435 The peple aroos with greet devocioun, Cam to the shryne on processyoun, With Joye and wepyng medlyd euere a|mong, Te deum songe, with devout knelyng, Ave Rex gentis was afftir that ther song. Line 440 The Priour last this myracle gan pur|poose — The peple abood with greet reuerence — The trouthe toold, ther was no ffeyned gloose, Lyk as it ffyl declaryd in sentence Vnto alle that wer ther in presence, Line 445 Yive them this counsayl above al othir thyng To sette ther trust with entieer dilligence In blyssed Edmond, martir, mayd, and kyng, "Which shewyd hath in this myracles two Our lord above of his magnifficence, Line 450 Off oold tyme and now of newe also, To shewe to yow by notable evidence How this martir of royal excellence Prefferryd is in the hevenly consistorye With gloryous kynges to holde residence, Line 455 Crownyd with seyntes euer to regne in glorye. Amen."

Now lat vs alle with hertly conffi|dence Requere this martir to graunte thynges thre: With spere & arwe to stondein our diffence Geyn them that caste to breke his liberte, Line 460 To savehis chirche, his toun, and his cuntre, Mawgre alle thoo that in ony wyse Wolde interupte his royal dignite Be deregacioun doon to his ffraunchyse.

Explicit.