Legends of the holy rood; Symbols of the passion and cross poems. In Old English of the eleventh, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries. Edited from Mss. in the British Museum and Bodleian Libraries, with introduction, translations, and glossarial index, by Richard Morris.

Þ^E HOLY RODE. [Ashm. MS. Bodleian Lib. 43. [Collated with Harl. MS. 2277 (imperfect). ] ]

ÞE holi rode þe swete tre [treo.] ; riȝt is to habbe in munde [folio 63b] Þat haþ fram stronge deþ [deþe.] ibroȝt to lyue; al mankunde Þoru [þurf.] a [þulke.] tre [treo.] we [þat we.] were uerst uorlore [furst ibouȝt.] ; and uerst ibroȝt to grounde And þoru a tre seþþe to lyue [And siþþe þurf a treo to lyue.] ibroȝt· ihered be þulke stounde Line 4 Al [h]it com of one more; þat ous to deþe broȝte [brouȝte.] And þat ous broȝte [brouȝte.] to lyue aȝen [aȝe.] ; þoruȝ [þurf.] ihesus þat ous boȝte [bouȝte.] Of þe appeltre [Of þe treo.] þat our uerste [omitted.] fader; þen [þe.] luþer appel nom In þe manere þat ichulle [ich wole.] ȝou [ȝou nou.] telle; þe swete rode com Line 8 Þo adam our [þe.] uerste fader [man.] ; þe sunne [sinne.] hadde ido And idriue was out of parais; and eue is [his.] wif also After milse ȝerne [ȝurne.] hi cride; þei it [þeȝ hit.] late were Ane [MS. And, H. Ane.] bi-heste [he] hadde of our lord [louerd.] ; þo me him drof out þere Line 12 Þat [omitted.] wen [whan.] þe tyme were uolueld [fulfuld.] ; our lord [louerd.] him wolde biþenche And wiþ [mid.] oile of mylse smerie [smirie.] him; and his sunne [sinne.] quenche [aquenche.] Gret hope hadde to þis biheste; adam euermo [folio 64] In þe ualeie of ebron; he lyuede in tene and wo Line 16 Twei sone he hadde seþþe; caym and abel Þat on slouȝ þat oþer uor en-vie; as ȝe witeþ wel

Þo caym hadde his broþer aslawe; iflemd he was þeruore Þo adam isei þat he hadde; is twei sones uorlore Line 20 He wep and made deol Inouȝ; lord he sede þin ore Ney womman ichabbe to muche ibe; Inele com ney hire nammore Þre harmes ichabbe þoru hire iheued; my-sulf uerst uorlore And myne sones boþe alas; and of al womman is more Line 24 Nolde adam come þo ney is wif; two hondred ȝer ne more Vor wo þat he hadde uor hire; and euere he lyuede in sore Seþþe he hadde toknynge of our lord; þat he scholde to is wif wende Ne dorste he noȝt be þer aȝen; an sone he hadde aten|ende Line 28 Seth he let is name [n not quite clear.] nempne; and seþþe he hadde mo Al is lif þe seli mon; ladde in tene and wo Þo he was of nyne hondred ȝer; and two and þritti old Þe strengþe him failede of is lymes; is bodi bicom al cold Line 32 He ne miȝte noȝt swynke aboute þe erþe; þe wedus up to drawe Of is lif he was anuyd; he wilnede be of dawe He sat and carede of is lif; he clupede is sone seth Sone he sede icham weri ileued; ich wilny muche my deþ Line 36 Þo ich was idryue of parais; our lord bihet me þere To smere me wiþ þe oile of mylce; wen it tyme were So longe ichabbe abide þer-after; þat I ne may libbe nammore To parais þou most þer-after go; and bidde him mylce and ore Line 40

Line 40 Þe angel þou schalt þer Ifynde; þat drof me out at þe ȝate Say ich abide þulke biheste; me þencþ it comeþ to late And þat elde me haþ ouercome; þat I ne may libbe longe Bede him þat ich deie mote; and þe oile of mylce auonge [MS. auonde.] Line 44 Ine can nanne wei quaþ is sone; þuderward ich wene Leue sone quaþ adam; þe wei is wel i-sene Wen þou comst to þe ende of þis ualeie; a grene wei þou schalt wende Þat riȝt euene estward geþ; to parais last þe on ende Line 48 Þer-bi wende þi moder and ich; þo ich parais uor-let Euerich stepe þat we on stepe; uorbarnde under our uet Ne myȝte neuereft þer gras growe; and al þe oþer wei is grene For þe foule sunne þat we dude; our stapes worþ isene Line 52 Þer-by þou myȝt wiþþoute defaute; to parays euene gon [folio 64b] Seth nom is fader blessyng; and wende him uorþ anon Þe stapes he vond uorwelwed; as is fader him sede Þo he to þe ȝate com; he ne dorste go ner vor drede Line 56 An angel com sone to þe ȝate; and escte wat he soȝte He sede þat to him an ernde; fram his fader he broȝte Þat he was old and weri ilyued; and þat him longede sore After þe swete oyl of mylce; uor he ne myȝte libbe nammore Line 60 Ȝe quaþ þe angel is he so; he ne schal þer-of noȝt doute

Put In þin heued at þe ȝate; and stond þi-sulf wiþþoute He pulte In is heued as he bed; and bi-huld al aboute So murie ne þoȝte him neuer in no stude; þei he stode him-sulf wiþþoute Line 64 So gret delit he hadde and Ioie; of þe foules murie song Of þe swete med al-so; and of þe floures þer among Of ech maner frut þat he sei; þat smolde also swote Þat of ech maner vuel as him þoȝte; amon miȝte habbe þer-of bote Line 68 Him þoȝte ȝif he moste þere; biholde In eny stounde Euermo he myȝte In Ioie be; his lymes hol and sounde Amydde þe place þat was so uair; he sei an vaire welle Of wan alle þe wateres þat beþ anerþe comeþ; as þe þe bok deþ telle Line 72 Ouer þe welle stod a tre; wiþ bowes brode and lere [? sere.] Ac it ne bar noþer lef ne rynde; as it uorolded were A neddre it hadde biclupt aboute; al naked wiþþoȝte skynne Þat was þe tre and þe addre; þat made adam uerst do sunne Line 76 Efsone he bihuld In ate ȝate; þe tre him þoȝte he sei Vaire ileued and iwoxe; up to heuene an hei A ȝong child he sei up þe tre; in smale cloþes iwounde Þe more of [MS. of to.] þe tre him þoȝte tilde; þoru-out helle grounde Line 80 His broþer soule abel ek; him þoȝte In helle he sei Þe angel him drof þo fram þe ȝate; þat he nas nammore þer nei Þe child he sede þat þou iseiȝ; a noueward þe tre Godes sone it was þat wole anerþe; uor þine fader sunne be Line 84 And þe oile of milce wiþ him bringe; wen þe tyme Iuelle is And smere þer-wiþ and bringe of pyne; þi fader and alle his

Þe angel wende to þulke tre; an appel þer-of he nom And tok seth þer-of þre curneles; þo he to him com Line 88 And bed him þulke curneles legge; vnder is fader tonge And burie him wen he were ded; and loke wat þer-of spronge Seth wende aȝen as he com; uor þe wei was wel isene Vor þe stepes were al uorbrend; and þe oþer wei al grene [folio 65] Line 92 Þo he was hom aȝen [aȝe.] icome; his fader he fond ded Þe curneles he dude vnder is [his.] tonge [tunge.] ; as þe angel [þangel.] him hadde ised And seþþe [siþþe.] he burede him as riȝt was; in ualeie [þe val.] of ebron And of-swonke is owe [omitted.] mete [so in H., but read mede.] ; he nuste no betere iwon Line 96 Wiþþynne an [a.] vewe ȝer þer-after; þis curneles gonne [ups]pringe [vpspringe.] Þre [faire] ȝerden [þreo faire ȝurden.] þer woxe of [omitted.] ; vaire þoru alle þinge [fairest of alle þinge.] Þo hi were iwoxe to [omitted.] þe lengþe; of an elne [MS. helue.] ich wene In þulke stat hi stode longe; and euermore grene [andallegate faire and grene.] Line 100 Vorte moyses þe prophete; aboute eode [ȝeode.] in þe londe To lere þat folc of israel; [and] þo vond he þe ȝerdon stonde Lo her he sede [seide.] gret toknynge [tokning.] ; of þe holi trinyte Fader and sone and holi gost; of þis ȝerden þre Line 104 Vp he hem nom [Vp hi nome.] wiþ gret honur; and in auair [fair.] cloþ hem wond [hi wounde.] A swote smul þer com out of [þer-of.] ; þat smulde [smilde.] in-to al þat lond [londe.] Te confermy [þe] bet [þe bet.] is lawe; he ber [her bar.] hem uorþ in [on.] is hond Ech sikemon [sik man.] [þat] þerto hopede; is hele anon [sone.] he vond. Line 108 To teche þat folc þe riȝte [riȝt.] lawe; þe ȝerden aboute he ber

And eke to hele sikemen; two and fourti ȝer Seþþe he deie scholde [Siþþe þo scholde deye.] ; þe ȝerden he sette er Vnder þe hul of tabor; deide him sulf [silf.] þer Line 112 Þer stode þe ȝerden grene; mo þen [more þan.] a þousend ȝer Vorte Seint dauid þe kyng com; þat was of gret power So þat he was þoru þe holi gost; ihote vorte heie [hie.] To þe hul of tabor; in þe lond of arabie Line 116 Þat he þulke ȝerden þre [þreo ȝeorden.] ; vette and wiþ him nome Nye dawes [Neoȝe dayes.] he was þuderward; ar [er.] he þuder come Wiþ gret honur he nom hem up: þo he þe ȝerden vond [nom.] Þe suotnesse þat þer-of com; velde al þat lond Line 120 Wiþ gret melodie of is harpe; Seint dauid þe ȝerden nom [þe suotnesse .... ȝerden nom. These two lines are omitted in H.] And [omitted.] to ierusalem hem [he] ladde; and nyþe dai [þe neoȝeþe dai.] hom he com In a derne stude [In a durne stede.] he hem sette; uor it was in þe euen|ynge [þeueninge.] Vorte amorwe þat he iseie [iseȝ.] ; wuder [whoder.] he· myȝte hem bringe Line 124 A morwe þo he com þerto; to one hi were alle icome And Imored so uaste also [omitted.] ; þat hi ne miȝte awei be [i] nome [beo ynome.] Þat alle þre bicome [þreo come.] to on; wat [what.] bitokeneþ þis Bote þat [omitted.] fader and sone and holi gost; al o god it is Line 128 Seint dauid aboute þis holi ȝerde; a strong wal let rere [dude arere.] And nom gode ȝeme hou it woxe [hou long; hi were.] ; fram ȝere to ȝere [folio 65b] Þat he myȝte at[t]e laste iwete [wite.] ; hou old þat [þis.] tre were Wiþ a cercle of seluer he bond; ech ȝeres scute þere [H. omits line 132.] Line 132 So þat wiþþinne [in.] þritti ȝer; þis [þe.] tre wox [wax.] wel heie [heȝe.] Ac it [heo.] ne wox [wax.] nammore [nomore.] þer-after [afterward.] ; as hi wuste [H. omits as hi wuste.] bi þe [siluer] [from H.] beie Ac euer in on þer-after; swiþe vaire it stod [Ac euere afterward; faire ynou hit stod.] Seint dauid it honured [onurede.] wel; uor he wuste [þat] it was good [god.] Line 136

Line 136 Þo Seint dauid hadde ido; þe sunne of [off.] lecherie And manslauȝt þo [ffor.] he let sle; vor [ffor.] his owe wif vrie [wyff ffrie.] And our lord nom þer-of wreche gret; swiþe sori he bicom His penaunce he dude vnder þis tre; þat he þer-uore nom Line 140 Þer he made eke þen [makede ek þane.] sauter; his sunne [sinnes.] vorte bete Þe raþer [whatlikere.] it him was uorȝeue; uor þat [ffor þe] [holi] tre so [omitted.] swete Þo bigon [bigan.] he eke [ek.] uor is sunne; þe holi [olde.] temple to [omitted.] rere [arere.] Swiþe noble in ierusalem ac he deide [H. omits ac he deide.] ; in þe fourteþe [fourteoþe.] ȝere Line 144 Þe kyng salomon is sone; þat kyng was seþþe þere After him þe temple bulde; þat he ȝare were Two and þritti ȝer he was þer [H. omits þer.] -aboute; and is fader fourtene also So þat it was six and fourti [þritti.] ȝer; ar [er.] þat worke [work.] were ido Line 148 Þo þe [þat.] work was al-mest ido; hem [him.] vailed a vair tre Þat holi tre [þe holi treo.] was fairest þo; þat hi myȝte awer [owar.] ise Salomon it [hire.] let velle and hewe [hewe and fulle.] ; as queinteliche as he miȝte And let it mete and make [makie.] more bi a fot; þen is riȝte Line 152 And broȝte it [in]-to is riȝte stude [stede.] ; and lacy [legge.] wolde it þer Þo was it bi a [o.] fot to schort; [as euene] as hi mete it er Þe carpenters it let[e] [lete.] adoun; in strong [stronge.] wraþþe and grete To noþing þat hi it broȝte to; hi ne miȝte it make [makie.] Imete Line 156 A brugge ouer an olde [old.] dich; hi made [makede.] hit ate [atte.] laste Þo hi ne miȝte in þe temple; to non oþer worc it caste

Þer ouer eode [ȝeode.] mony [meni.] amon; þe wule [while.] it þer lay Nuste [noȝt] alle wat it was; þat defoulede it aday [aledai.] Line 160 Þe quene of saba com þeruorþ; and [omitted.] anon so heo it isei [iseȝ.] Honured[e] [Honurede.] it [wel] vaire and sat akne [akneo.] ; heo nolde come þerney [þerneȝ.] Bi anoþer wei heo wende uorþ; to salomon heo com As heo him hadde wide [ȝurne.] isoȝt; to lerny of is wisdom Line 164 Þoru grace þat our lord [louerd.] hire ȝef [ȝaf.] ; to salomon heo sede Þat þat [þe.] tre ne scholde noȝt ligge þer; ȝif [if.] he dude bi hire rede Vor þer scholde ȝut a mon; deie on [in.] þulke tre Þoru wam [wham.] al þe lawe of giwes; destrued scholde be Line 168 Salomon it let nyme sone; and vnder erþe [vrþe.] it caste Wel depe [deope.] [fur] fram alle men [MS. mem.] ; and burede [burie.] it swiþe [wel.] vaste [folio 66] So longe so it þer-after were [So þat longe þat þer after|ward.] ; a uair walle [welle.] þer sprong And a uair [water] seþþe wiþ god [MS. gret, H. god.] fisc; boþe dep [fisch gret.] and long Line 172 Mony [Meni.] sikemen þer [þat þer.] come; and hor vet wesche þere [here fet wette þere.] Oþer hoden [Here hon|den.] oþer baþede al; pur hol anon [hi] were Þat water hi honurde muche [moche.] ; and wolde þer-Inne wade Ac hi nuste noþing [noȝt.] of þe tre; þat al þe vertu made Line 176 Seþþe it was þer-after longe; þat our lord anerþe [an vrþe.] com And þat folc bispek [MS. bi|speke, H. bispac.] is deþ; and hor red [and here red.] þer-of nom Þis tre bigon to flete [fleote.] anon; as our lordes [louerdes.] wille was Þe giwes come and founde þat tre [fonde þe treo.] fletynge þer [omitted.] bi cas Line 180 Hi nome it vp uor it was vil; and ileie hadde þer longe And made [makede.] þer-of þe holi rode; our lord [þer] on to honge

And [For.] þe tre was vil and old; and to vili our lord also [to vyle oure louerd also.] And [omitted.] ȝut hem þoȝte þat [þe.] tre to vair; þat he were þer|on ido Line 184 Þe croys [croice.] after our lordes [louerdes.] deþ; vnder erþe hi caste Þer hi him to deþe dude; and burede it [omitted.] þere [wel.] vaste And [omitted.] boþe croys eke þer-wiþ; þat þe þeues henge [honge.] on er Þer hi leie ar [er.] hi were ifounde; mo þen an [tuo.] hondred ȝer Line 188 Þo [omitted.] titus and vaspasian; ierusalem nome And destruede [destreign ede.] alle þe giwes; þat neuereft þer hi ne come And al þat lond was ibroȝt; In þe emperours hond of rome And wiþ is men al biset; to nyme þer-to [þerof.] gome Line 192 Seþþe þer com an emperour; þat het adrian Swiþe heþene and luþer [liþer.] ek; and worrede [werrede.] ech cristene|man He wuste war þe rode lay; þat god was on ido And þat cristenemen þe [þat.] stude honured[e]; wenne [whan.] hi [miȝte] come þer-to Line 196 He let a temple of maumet'; in þulke stude arere Þat me ne vond noþing to loute [aloute.] to; bote maumet' þere Wenne [whan.] cristenemen miȝte þuder stele; hi ne dorste [þerste.] vor doute And ek aȝen hor [here.] herte [hurte.] it was; to eny maumet' aloute Line 200 Hi bileuede so al [omitted.] þulke stude; and muchedel uor fere So þat wiþþinne an [a.] vewe ȝer; no cristenmon [ne] com þere So þat þulke stude was; vor-lete [forȝute.] mony aday [meni odai.] Þat no cristenmon ne paynym [cristene man ne payn.] ; nuste war þe rode lay. Line 204

Line 204

A noble emperour þer com seþþe; þat het con|stantyn In batail he was so muche; þat þer nas of no fyn Seþþe com is fon and wonne; muchedel of is londe He ȝarkede aday is ost; aȝen hem vorte [for to.] stonde Line 208 As he toward batail [bataille.] wende; he bihuld up an hei [folio 66b] Him þoȝte þat a uair croys [croice.] ; up in heuene he sei [seȝ.] Lettres he sei [seȝ.] þer-on iwrite; he bigon hem [he hem bigan.] to rede Wiþ [þurf.] þes [þis.] signe þou schalt; maister be þulke [þuse.] lettres sede Line 212 . . . . . . . . . . . . Þe emperour þis vnderstod; þei he heþene were A croys [Ane croice.] he let make [makie.] sone; þat is men byuore [tofore.] him bere Line 216 In stude [stede.] of is [a.] baner; to batail [bataille.] he wende a-non And þoru [þurf.] vertu of þe holi croys; he ouercom is fon And þe maistrie and al is lond won [wan.] ; In a [lute] stounde þere Muche afterward [after.] he þoȝte [soȝte.] seþþe; wat þulke signe were Line 220 Þe wisost[e] [wiseste.] men of [al] is lond; biuore him he let bringe And enquered[e] [enquerede.] of þe croys; wat were þe toknynge Hi sede þat at ierusalem; god was [i]do [ido.] on rode And þat þe giwes hudde þat [þulke.] crois; as hi vnder|stode Line 224 Wen [whan.] ichabbe [ich haue.] þer þoru [H. omits þer þoru.] quaþ þe emperour; myn fon [mi fon.] ibroȝt to grounde Ne worþ [worde.] ich neuer bliþe in [of.] herte; ar [er.] þe holi crois be ifounde . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eleyne þat is moder was; to ierusalem he sende To seche after þe holi crois; and heo gladliche vorþ wende Þo heo com þuder heo let crie; as heo hadde hire red Inome Þat alle þe giwes of þe cite; biuore hire scholde come Line 236 Þo þe giwes i-somned were; hi [hadde] schor[t]liche gret [hi hadde schortliche grete.] fere Gret conseil hi nome þer-of; wat þe encheson were Þo sede on þat het Iudas; ich wene þat ich wot. Wat þis somounce amounty [amounten.] schal; ȝif ich [hit] telli [telle.] mot Line 240 Ich wene þe quene enqueri wole; as heo haþ iþoȝt After þe rode þat ihesu crist; was on to deþe ibroȝt Þat non of ȝou be so wod; þer-of iknowe be [þat non of ȝou ne beo iknowe; ne so wod ne beo.] ; Icholle [Ich wole.] ȝou telle (ȝou) in conseil; wat my fader tolde me Line 244 Þo my fader Symeon; in is deþ vuel lay In conseil he was to me iknowe; þo he þen [þane.] deþ isai Iudas he sede leue sone; ȝif it bitideþ so Þat me enqueri of þe rode; þat god was on ido Line 248 Loke þat þou be iknowe þer-of; raþer þen me þe quelle Þat sachee my fader tolde me; in conseil ichulle þe [ich þe.] telle He sede me a lute biuore is deþ; þat he was ate [atte.] dede To burie in caluarie hul; þe rode þoru comun rede Line 252 Leue [Leoue.] fader ich [he.] sede þo; wat eiled [eileþ.] ȝou alas Wi wolde ȝe him to deþe do; wen he god was He sede þoru me nas [nis.] it noȝt; ac vor he wiþ sede

Myne [Mi.] felawes of hor lawe; hi him broȝte to deþe [oure lawe; dude him þe dede.] Line 256 Seþþe hi dude him in[to] sepulcre; ac he aros to lyue Fram deþe þen [þe.] þridde dai; myd is wounden [wonden.] viue [folio 67] Þen [þe.] fourteþe dai þer afterward; to heuene he wende an hei In þe lond of gallile; as al þat folc isei Line 260 Twel[f] monþe [Tuelf monþ.] it was þer afterward [þerafter.] ; and half ȝer [monȝ.] and more Þat steuene þat was my broþer; preched[e] of godes lore [prechede his lore.] Our [Oure.] giwes him ladde wiþþoute [þe] toun; and henede [stenden.] him wiþ stones And to stronge [deþe] him broȝte Inouȝ; and debrusede [brusden.] al is bones Line 264 Þe morwe after mydwynter dai; to deþe [after þe Midewynter; to deþe.] hi him broȝte And nou he is in [þe] Ioie of heuene; þat he þo aboȝte Þo Iudas hadde þis tale itold; þe giwes sede as hi stode Telle ne hurde we neuer er; þus [so.] muche of þe rode Line 268 Þo þe tyme was icome; biuore þe quene hi come Cheseþ [Cheoseþ.] anon quaþ þe quene; on of þis twei dome Lif and deþ ȝou is biuore; cheseþ weþer ȝe [ȝeo.] wolleþ Bote ȝe me fynde þe suete [holie.] rode; brenne echone [ȝe] scholleþ Line 272 Gret fur heo let make; biuore [tofore.] hor alre eie [eȝe.] Þe giwes bigonne to crie [grede.] loude; þo hi þat fur iseie Ȝif eny mon wot þer-of hi sede; þanne wot Iudas Vor sachee is fader fader; of gret power was Line 276 Þulke tyme þat ihesus was; on þe rode ido Þe quene let nyme þo Iudas; and alle þe oþer [and alle þoþere go.] lette go And bed [bad.] him be iknowe anon; he nolde uor none [no.] þinge

Þe quene him lette wel uaste bynde; and in strong prison bringe [let in strenge bringe; and wel faste bynde.] Þer wiþþoute mete and drinke; seue dawes he lay Vor hongur he bigon to crie; wel loude þen seueþe [þe soueþe.] dai And sede bringeþ me of þis wo; and ichulle ȝou lede Þer ich wene þe rode be [beo.] ; as my fader me sede Line 284 Þo he out of prison com; myd muche folc he wende To þe place as [þer.] þe rode was; as is fader him kende Þo he to þe place com; he sat adoun akne Lord he sede ȝif it is soþ [Louerd he seide if hit beo soþ.] ; þat þou [þu.] god and man be Line 288 And þat þou [of marie] were ibore; send ous here þin [þi.] grace And toknynge þat we fynde mote; þe rode In þisse [þis.] place Anon so Iudas hadde þis bone; to our lord ibede [Anon so Iudas hadde; to oure louerd his bone ibede.] Þe hul bigon to quake; and out of one stede Line 292 Þer sprong [smot.] out a smoke and wende an hei; and muche place fulde Suettere smul ne myȝte be; þen þe smoke smulde Þo Iudas þis isei; loude he gan crie Ihesus is one [omitted.] al-miȝti god; ibore of maide marie Line 296 Wod is þat bileueþ oþer; as ichabbe mony a-day [meni o day.] [folio 67b] Take ichulle to cristendom; and uor-sake þe [omitted.] giwes lay He let him cristeny hasteliche; and þo he icristned was And let him nempne [nemny.] quiriac; þat er het Iudas Line 300 Þo nome hi spade and schole [schoule.] ; and ner þe place wende Depe [Deope.] hi gonne to delue; þer as þe smoke out [vp.] kende [wende.] So þat hi founden roden þre; þo hi hadde idolue longe Our lordes rode and þe [omitted.] oþer two; þat þe þeues were on an-honge Line 304 Biside our lord him to scende; þo nuste hi of þe þre [Biside oure louerdes croice hi gonnen hi fynde; þo nusten hi of þe þreo.]

Þat [þe.] holi croys þat hi soȝte; wuch [which.] it myȝte be And [Ac.] naþeles hi nome alle þre; and toward toune bere To eleyne þe gode quene; wiþ wel glade [gode.] chere Line 308 Bi þe wei ate [atte.] heie non [none.] ; me gan aȝen hem [him.] bringe A ded [ȝung] man vp an bere [in a bere.] ; toward buriynge Quiriac nom þe one [nom þat o Rode.] rode; and ef[t]sone þe oþer And leide vp [vpe.] þis dedeman; ac he ne aros vor noþer Line 312 Hi leide þe þridde him upon; and he aros wel blyue And bigan to þonky godes sone; þat broȝte him fram deþ [deþe.] to lyue Þo com þe deuel ȝollynge [ȝullinge.] uorþ; [and] loude he gan [loude gan to.] grede Alas nou is my myȝte ido; euermo [for euere.] he sede Line 316 Ihesus ihesus wat þencstou; al [alle.] folc to þe lede Þou hast her in-warde iȝeue man; þing [þu hast her a man iȝeue; þing.] þat ich mest of|drede [drede.] Þoru wan [wham.] ich was verst ouercome; and nou icham al [ibrouȝt] to grounde Alas þulke sori wule [while.] ; þat it [he.] was euer ifounde Line 320 Vor Inabbe power non so gret; anerþe among manne Ȝif hi makeþ þe fourme of þe croys; þat Ine mot anon þanne Þer-uore ichot [ich wot.] þat ech man; wole nou þat soþe ise Þat þe croys me haþ [makeþ.] ouercome; and al bileue me Line 324 Alas alas þis [þisne.] tyme; nou ich worþ [al] vor-sake Iudas Iudas wat was þe; wi wostou þus on [on so.] take Þoru þat [þurf on þat.] Iudas was ihote; ihesus to deþe ich broȝte And þoru Iudas icham [ich was.] ouercome; and ibroȝt to noȝte Line 328 Me ne tid [tit.] neuereft [neuere.] strencþe [strenȝe.] non; bote eny mon wole [omitted.] wiþ [bi.] wille Seruy [Suy.] me to paie is flesc; is soule vorte spille [originally spulle but altered to spille.]

Wen [Whan.] my strengþe is me bynome; vondi ich mot [mid] gynne And myd treson ȝif ich may; eny man to me wynne [eni soule awynne.] Line 332 I ne may her no leng bileue; vor þat [þis.] me þencheþ longe Vor þat [þe.] croys þat is me so [omitted.] ney; In pyne icham wel [ful.] stronge Go henne [hunne.] anon quaþ Iudas; ne com her neuereft more [com þu her nomore.] I-founde it is þei it late be; þat ouercome haþ al [ouercomeþ al.] þi lore [folio 68] Line 336 He þat her þis dede man; fram deþe broȝte to lyue Pulte þe [her] wiþ is power; In-to helle grounde blyue Muche was þat [þe.] Ioie of þe crois; þat [men] made [makede.] þo þere Wiþ gret song and procession; þe quene hi it [his.] bere Line 340 Iudas nom þo cristendom; and þo he ibaptised was He let him nempne [nemni.] quiriac; þat er [erst.] het Iudas Þe quene of seluer and [of] gold; an [a.] riche scryne wroȝte And [omitted.] of ȝymmes presiouse [preciouses.] ; and þe rode þer-on broȝte Line 344 Vp [Vpe.] þe hul of caluary; þer hi þe rode founde A noble chirche heo let rere; ihered be þulke [þe.] stounde Þo desired[e] [desirede.] þe quene muche; after þe nailes þre War-wiþ our lord was; Inailed to þe tre Line 348 Quiriac þat het er Iudas; wende [ȝeode.] to þe place As þe crois ifounde was; and bad our lordes grace Þat he ȝif is wille were; þe þre nailes him sende Þe nailes wiþ gret liȝtinge; out of þe erþe wende Line 352 Quiriac þonkede oure lord crist; wiþ gret Ioie he is [hem.] nom And tok hem eleyne þe gode quene; þo he to hire com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Þe Holi rode was [þat was.] ifounde; as ȝe witeþ [wite.] in may And [omitted.] an-hansed was [heo.] in septembre; þe holi rode day Line 364 Mony [Meni.] aȝer was [was hit.] bitwene; riȝt is þat we [me.] telle Of eiþer feste after oþer [Of hire festen as hi falleþ.] ; nouþer bileue I nelle A kyng þer was in perce þo [omitted.] ; cosdroe was is name Cristemen þat [Of cristene men al þat.] he fond; he broȝte alle [omitted.] to schame Line 368 Wiþ his power he won [wan.] also; alle þe londes [al þat lond.] þer aboute Þo he com to ierusalem; of þe sepulcre he was in doute Þat our lord [louerd.] was on [þeron.] ileid; anon so he þis isei [hit iseȝ.] Vor al is power þat was so luþer [liþer.] ; he ne dorste [þerste.] come þer nei [þer neȝ.] Line 372 Ac [omitted.] a partie of þe suete croys; þat Sainte Eleine þeder [þider.] broȝte He tok wiþ him [omitted.] and wende aȝen; nammore þuder [aȝe; no|more þider.] he ne þoȝte Of þulke tre he was wel [omitted.] prout; þei he [omitted.] him-sulf luþer [liþer.] were A swiþe hei tour of gold and seluer; he let him sone rere [silf arere.] Line 376 Ȝymmes and stones presious [preciouses.] ; þer-aboute he let do Þe fourme of sonne and mone; and of [omitted.] sterres [þe sterren.] also Scyne as it hem-sulf were; and turne [turnde.] aboute vaste As þondring [a þundre.] he made [makede.] eke ofte; þat muche folc [meni men.] agaste Line 380 Þoru [þurf.] smale holes myd queyntise; þat water ofte [þat folc iseȝ ofte.] þere He made [makede.] valle adoun to grounde; riȝt as it reyn were As veruorþ as couþe eny man; make [makie.] myd queyntise [folio 68b]

Þe fourme as it an heuene were; he made [makede.] on [in.] alle wise Line 384 Wende aboute myd [bi.] queyntise; and as reyn ofte reyne [gan ryne.] Ac me suth wel selde luþer prute [me seoþ selþe prute.] ; come to gode [MS. godes.] fine Anouewar is [þe.] tour amydde al þis; is [a.] sege he let rere In is riȝt half he made an sege; is on sone he sette þere [H. omits this line.] Line 388 To sitte him-sulf as [on.] a god; in heuene as þei it were As it were in stude of godes sone; þat non defaute nere [H. omits this line.] In is lifthalf he made [sette.] anoþer; a uair cok he let vette [to him me fette.] In [As in þe.] stude of þe holi gost; in is lifthalf bi him [lifthalf me.] sette Line 392 And [He.] sat him-sulf al amyde; þe fader as þei it were And sone and holi gost biside; gret [moche.] prute was þere Nou was þis a wonder [maister.] hyne; and a wonder god also And [Ac.] euer me þencþ he was abast [hit was a bastard.] ; and also [þat.] him com to Line 396 Eraclius þe emperour þat cristene was of [at.] rome Of þis mysuarynge prute; hurde [he hurde.] telle ilome Wiþ is ost he wende in-to is lond; and worrede [werrede.] on him uaste In is heuene he [omitted.] sat as a god; þat noþing him ne agaste Line 400 So þat is eldest [vlþeste.] sone; he het wende [omitted.] ate laste Aȝen þe emperour wiþ [and.] is ost; and of [out of.] þe lond him caste Vor him ne dedeyned [deignede.] noȝt vor him [H. omits vor him.] ; of is heuene ene [omitted.] aliȝte Nammore [No more.] þen it were a god; wiþ erþliche men [mid an vrþlich man.] to fiȝte Line 404 His oþer [omitted.] sone wiþ [mid.] is ost: aȝen þe emperour wende [forþ wende.] Þo hi toward þe [omitted.] batail come; hor eiþer to oþer sende Þat hi bitwene hem-sulue two; þe [þat.] batail scholde do And al hor ost [þost al.] stonde and biholde; and none [þat noman ne.] come þerto Line 408 And weþer of hem aboue [wheder aboue oþer.] were; habbe scholde þe myȝte Of oþeres men and al is lond; after [and after.] is wille diȝte [hit diȝte.] Þo þis vorward ymad was [was ymaked.] ; harde [to-gadre.] hi smyte to grounde

And foȝte as it was hor riȝte; and made [makede.] harde wounde Line 412 Ate [and atte.] laste þe emperour; þen oþer ouercom And as vorward was al is folc; in is baundone nom And let hem cristny echon [euerechon.] ; and siwy after his [suy him to.] wille And þis luþer kyng sat euer atom; in is heuene wel [omitted.] stille Line 416 As a [omitted.] god and nuste noȝt; þat he was byneþe ibroȝt And so vuele his men him louede; þat hi ne warnde [tolde.] him noȝt Þis emperour him wende vorþ; in-to [to.] þis heuene an hei He [and.] vond him sitte as a god; his sone him sat wel ney [and his sone him neȝ.] Line 420 Heil be þou he sede þou [H. omits he sede þou.] false god; in þin false heuene ifounde Nym þin sone and þin holi gost; vor ȝe beþ ney [beoþ neȝ.] aswounde Bi him þat þou þe makest [makedest.] after; þat þolede uor ous [þolede harde.] wounde [folio 69] Bote þou wole on him bileue; þou schalt [her] in astounde Line 424 Of myn hond [myne honden.] þolie deþ; and þi prute be ibrouȝte to grounde Vor al þin heuene Inele bileue; ne [omitted.] uor mark ne pounde Nai sertes quaþ þis oþer; þou ne schalt me [noȝt] so lere Þat ichulle abuye [ich wole abowe.] to eny man; bote he herre [bote. heȝere.] þen ich were Line 428 Þe emperour drou out is swerd; and smot of is heued riȝt þere His ȝonge sone þat sat him bi; þat was in is teþe [teoþe.] ȝere He let him [omitted.] cristny and make [makie.] kyng; of al is fader lond His men he ȝef al þat seluer clanliche; þat he þer uond Line 432 Myd þe gold and myd þe seluer; þat he vond also þere Þe chirchen þat þe oþer hadde destrued; þer-wiþ he let rere And made alond [makede þat lond.] þer [omitted.] wel bileued; and libbe in [bileoued; al in.] godes lawe Alle þat nolde turne to god [on god bileoue.] ; he [hi.] broȝte sone of dawe Line 436

Line 436 Þe holi crois [Rode.] þat he vond þere; þat god was on ido Adoun he nom wiþ gret honur; and ladde wiþ him also To þe boruȝ [burgh.] of ierusalem; and þo he com þer biside Vp þe hul of olyuet; an stounde he gan abide Line 440 Al þat folc aboute him com; wiþ gret honur myd alle And þonkede god of þat [omitted.] cas; þat hem dude [him was.] þer biualle Þat þe swete holi crois; aȝen [aȝe.] moste come Þat þe luþer kyng cosdroe; hem hadde er bynome Line 444 Þe emperour wende adoun þe hul [wende þo anon.] wiþ vair procession Þen [þane.] wei þat our lord wende; toward is [þe.] passion Þo he com to þe boruȝ [burȝ.] ; and wolde In ate ȝate A uair miracle our lord [louerd.] sende; þat he ne moste com In [er he cam.] þer-ate Line 448 Vor þe stones þat were þer [þer were.] aboue: adoun anon aliȝte And bi þe wal stode euene uorþ [bi þoþer wal stod þerforþ.] ; þat nomon In ne miȝte Sori was þis emperour; and al is [and þis.] folc also And dradde þat hi vnworþe [vnworþi.] were; such holi þing to do Line 452 Þer was wop and cri [deol.] Inouȝ; on god þat he hem sende Som grace ȝif is wille were; þat hi saueliche In wende Þo [þer.] stod an angel ouer [aboue.] þe ȝate; a crois he huld an honde Sire emperour he sede þulke tyme; þat our lord [louerd.] was her alonde Line 456 Þo he com In at þis ȝate; to be to deþe ido Vp an [vpon a.] seli asse he rod; and [omitted.] in feble cloþes also He ne com [com in.] wiþ no gret nobleie; so [omitted.] as þou dost nou Wiþ riche cloþes ne oþer prute; þei he were as hei as þou Line 460 Mid þis word he wende aȝen þis emperour [aȝe; þemperour.] anon And liȝte adoun and alle is cloþes; caste of euerichon Anon to is scerte and [schurte and to.] is breche; sore wepynde wiþ [mid.] alle [folio 69b] Þe stones arise vp aȝen [aȝe.] ; þat were adoun Iualle Line 464 And lie [eye.] euerich in is riȝte stude; as hi hadde er ido And þe ȝat up as it was er; þe wei clene also

Þe emperour þe swete rode nom [nom þe swete Rode.] ; and al auote [afote.] In bar Þat folc siwede him wiþ gret prece [prute.] ; gret Ioie and blisse [H. omits and blisse.] was þar Line 468 Anon þer com so suote smul [swet smyl.] ; as it fram heuene were Þat al þat contreie [þe contray aboute.] fulde; and alle þat stode [al þe stede.] þere Þe emperour ber þat [bar þe.] croys; in-to þe temple an hei He gan synge þis nywe [þisne nue.] song; byuore [tofore.] alle þat were þer ney Line 472 Þou croys briȝtore to þis wordle [MS. worldle.] ; þen alle þe sterren be [beo.] Þou art to honouri to þis men; and awel to louye tre [to luye treo.] . Holier þen alle [þan eni.] þing; þou one worþi were Þat þou þe frut [tresour.] of al [omitted.] þe wordl; al one vp þe [þu.] bere Line 476 Þou suete tre þat bere on þe; þe suete nayles þre [also.] And þe suete berþene [burdoun.] of godes sone; þat was ido on þe [on þe was ido.] Saue nou al þis companye; þat igadered her [her igadered.] is And here to-gadere to-dai [to dai to gadere.] ibroȝt; in þin herynge iwis Line 480 Þis song song þe emperour; þat wel [omitted.] is ȝut vnderstonde Vor ȝut me it syngeþ in holi chirche; wen [whan.] me bereþ þe crois an honde Þat [and þat.] folc honoured ek þe crois; as me [hi.] myȝte come þerto Wiþ offring and eke [omitted.] wiþ song; and wiþ oþer melodie also Line 484 Þis was þe holi rode day; þat in septembre is Þeruore me halweþ ȝut þen [halþ þane.] dai: in holi chirche iwis:

SEyn quiriac þat biscop was; prechede godes lawe [folio 71] Iulian þe luþer emperour; broȝte him of lif dawe [him siþþe of dawe.] Line 488 Vor þe suete rode þat he fond; and uor [for he.] men þat [omitted.] þerto drouȝ To bileue men [omitted.] on ihesu crist; uor he it huld al wouȝ Seint quiriac was þo biuore þe emperour ibroȝt He het him bileue on hor maumet' [here Maumetȝ.] ; and þo [omitted.] he nolde noȝt Line 492 His riȝt hond he smot [let smyte.] of verst; ich do he sede þis Vor [For þu.] hast ofte iwrite þer-wiþ; aȝen our lawe iwis Þou gidi [wode.] hound quaþ Seint quiriac; wel hastou do bi me [ido me.] Of a good þoȝt [ane gode dede.] þou were wel vnderstonde; wel auȝte ich blesse þe Line 496 Vor bynome is me [bynyme me.] þulke lyme; þat me haþ ofte to sunne idrawe Vor ichabbe [ich haue.] ofte iwrite [omitted.] þer-wiþ; aȝen ihesu cristes lawe Þe wule [while.] ich was a luþer [liþer.] giw; and on him ne bileuede noȝt Þo þis emperour isei [þo þemperour. þis iseȝ.] ; þat he nolde [nolde noȝt.] turne is þoȝt Line 500 He made him drynke led iweld; and In is mouþ halde [hulde.] it þere Euer sat þis gode mon; as him noþing nere Vp a gredire hi [gredil he.] leide him seþþe; ouer [vpe.] a gret fur and strong To rosti as me deþ versc [fersch.] flesc; grece was þer among Line 504 Vor [For þo.] þat fur was al of grece [al afure.] ; and col [gresse.] and salt was ek þerto And of is flesc þat was vorbarnd [forbrend.] ; þe wounden hi selte [hi silte þe wounde.] also Þo [omitted.] he [Hi.] ne miȝte þer-wiþ turne is þoȝt; ne to deþe him bringe He [Hi.] þoȝte ȝif he [if hi.] miȝte him turne; wiþ eny oþer gynne [omitted.] þinge Line 508 Quiriac he sede biþench þe bet; and do after my lore And ȝif þou nelt honure our godes [nelt god honure.] ; bote þou wolle do more

Þei [Sai.] þat þou nart cristene noȝt [cristine nert noȝt.] ; and ichulle [ich wole.] de-boner be And Murilif [þe murie lyf þat.] þou schalt lede; and þat þou schalt ise Line 512 Þe gode mon nolde do after him þo [nolde after him do.] ; a caudron he let fulle Wiþ seþing oile vol Inouȝ; and let him þer-Inne pulle [þeron pulte.] Þer-Inne he seþ þen [þe,] godemon; vorte he weri was Þe godemon herede our lord crist [Eure crist herede þe gode man.] ; and noþe [neuere þe.] worse he [him.] nas Line 516 So þat þe emperour isei; þat he ne miȝte him ouer|come Wiþ a swerd he smot him þoru þe herte [þurf þe side.] ; þo [and þo.] he was out Inome And is soule to heuene wende; after þis tormentynge [folio 71b] God uor þe loue of Seint quiriac; to þulke Joie ous bringe. Line 520