And Jhesu Cryst look þou forsake
Þe whylke þou holdyst þy waraunt!
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And for we haue now on hande
Þis ryche feste, as þou mayst see,
Come now forþ wiþ þyn offerande,
And holde it for no vanyte!
For to oure goddes, so good at nede,
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Ȝiff þat þou wylt buxum be,
Ryche gyfftys schal be þy mede
And þat þou sayde forgeue I þe."
Þenne bespak here Kateryne —
God off heuene forgat sche nouȝt;
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Þat schoop here wymman & virgyne,
Sente grace in-tyl here þouȝt —:
"Þese aren quyke deuelys to calle
Þat þis peple haue here souȝt;
Þer is no god but on off alle,
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Þat þe & me & al haþ wrouȝt."
Þis emperour wiþ woo gan wake,
And þouȝte on wylys & queynte crokes.
Lettres gart he swyþe make
And preuyly, as saiþ þe bookes,
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Ou a maydyn was come ful ȝyng, [Ms. On st. ou = hou.]
Þat here goddys alle forsook.
He selyd hem wiþ hys owne ryng
Þat he off hys ffyngyr took.
He took þe messanger in hande
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Þe lettrys selyd for gret tokenyng
To alle þe wyse men of hys lande,
And bad hem come wiþ-outen dwellyng.
Ful gret honour he hyȝte hem ȝyt,
As he was trewe knyȝt & kyng,
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Ȝyff (þey) wiþ here wysdam & here wyt
Myȝten ouyrcome þat maydyn ȝyng.
Þat maydyn was in presoun done,
Soone as þe messanger was went.
An aungyl com to here fol sone
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Þat Jhesu Cryst here hadde Isent.
He sayde: "my lord gretes þe weel
Þat wyt & wysdam has þe lent —
And þat þyn herte be strong as steel
And þynk on hym wiþ good entent!
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