Prolog to Jeremie, prophete [From K. Prologus. AH. Prologe. G. No initial rubric in CE.] .
JEREMYE, the profete, to whom this prologe is ascriued, as anent [anentis ceteri passim.] the Ebrues is seen to ben booistousere than the sermoun of Isaie, and of Osee, and than [of A.] othere profetes; but in wittes he is euene, sithen that in the same spirit he profeciede; but the symplenesse of speche fel to hym of the place in whiche he was born. Forsothe he was of Anatoth, that vnto this dai is a litil town, bi thre myle beende fro Jerusalem; a prest of prestus, and in his moder wombe halewid; thurȝ his maidenhed halewende to the chirche of Crist a gospel man. This a child bigan to profecien; and the caitifte of the chef cite, and of Jewerie, not only in spirit, but and with eȝen of [Om. E pr. m.] flesh beheeld. Now forsothe Assiries hadden translatid the ten lynagis of Irael in to Meedis; now the townes of Jentiles weldeden the londis of them. Wherfore in Jewere onli [oon A.] and Beniamyn he profeciede; and of his cite the fallingus with fourefold abece, he weilede, the whiche wee [and wee C pr. m. E pr. m. AGHK.] han ȝolden [ȝolden with vers C pr. m. E pr. m.] to the [Om. C sec. m. E sec. m.] mesure of metre `and vers [Om. C pr. m. E pr. m.] . Therfore the ordre of viseouns, that anent Grekes and Latynes outerli is confoundid, to the rathere feith wee han amendyd. The boc forsothe of Baruch, his notorie, that anent the Ebrues is not rad, ne had, wee han laft; for alle these thingus curses of enemys abidende, to whom nede is me to answern bi my werkis a rowe. And this I suffere, for ȝee constreynen, O! Paule and Eustoche; but more riȝt it were, to the shorting of euel, to putte mesure to the wodnesse of them bi my silence, than to eche dai sum what of newe thing writende, to [Om. C pr. m.] terre [feere K sup. ras.] the wodnesse of the enuyouse.