An Old English miscellany containing a bestiary, Kentish sermons, Proverbs of Alfred, religious poems of the thirteenth century,

APPENDIX III. [Vernon MS. fol. 230, col. 3.]

Þe visions of seynt poul wan he was rapt in-to paradys. [[The full stop is that of the MS.]]

Lustneþ lordynges. leof and dere, Ȝe þat wolen. of þe sonday here: Þe sonday. a day hit is Þat Angels and Archaungels. Ioyen I.-wis Line 4 More. in þat ilken day, Þen eny oþur., as I. þe say.; Þen wol we. her-ate dwelle: Ho preyed furst rest. for soules in helle, Line 8 Þat is to witen., I. sei þe so, Poul. and Michel., Archaungel bo; For god of his grete miht Þe peynes of helle. put in heore siht: Line 12 Poul sayh. bi-foren helle-ȝates Brennynge tres. þat neuer slakes; Mony on. for heore synne þonne Weore I.-pyned. and honged þer-onne, Line 16 Summe bi hondes. and bi feet þere, Summe bi þe her., summe bi þe ere, Summe bi þe Armes., þat weore longe, And summe þer hengen. bi þe tonge: Line 20 ¶ He sauȝ a caudren. brennynge at enes, Of diuerse colours. wiþ seue lemes; And þer weore þei. for heore synne Diuersliche. I.-pynet þer-Inne; Line 24

Line 24 And seuen peynes. weoren þer also, Þat duden þe soules. muche wo: ¶ Þe furste of snouȝ., þe secunde of ys, Þe þridde fuir., in alle wys, Line 28 Þe Feorþe blod., as I. þe say, Þe Fyfþe Eddres. of foul aray, Þe sixte leyt., as mon may þink, ¶ Þe seueþe peyne. hit was of stynk. Line 32 At þat penaunces. were þei in cast, Synful soules., and al for-þrast, Þe wȝuche þat nolden., in no chaunce, For heore synnes. do no penaunce; Line 36 Þer weore þei turmented. in þo ledes, And vche reseyued. aftur his deedes: Summe wepten. and ȝelled þenne, Summe gouleden., and summe dude brenne; Line 40 Þei disireden. euere to dye, [folio 230b] Hit miht not beo. wiþ-outen lyȝe, For þe soule., wher so hit go, Schal neuer dyen. for weole nor wo; Line 44 Þerfore. sore hit is to drede Þe places of helle. for wikked-hede: In þe wȝuche. þer is a whel brennynge, Wiþ muche serwe. euer-lastynge; Line 48 Vndur þat wheol. is þer þore A þousund grisly peynes. sore, Fyue tymes. vche day to telle Beo turmented. wiþ þe Angel of helle; Line 52 In vche of þo. fyue tymes Ben A þousund soules. turmented in pynes: ¶ Aftur þat. sayh he þer he stod A wondur orible. grisly flod; Line 56 And in þat flod. say he þere Mony deueles bestes. were; As Fissches þei were. in þat flod þo, Todus., Neddres., Snakes. mony mo; Line 60

Line 60 And þe synful soules. in hiȝ Eten. and gnowen. wiþ-outen merci; Of hem tok I. no more kep, But as a Lyun. doþ of a schep Line 64 Ouer þat watur. he sayȝ ligge A wondur long. and an heiȝ brugge, And ouer þat brugge. saf goon þen Þe soules. of good rihtful men, Line 68 Wiþ-outen harm. of word. or dede, And also wiþ-outen. eny drede: ¶ Þe soules of synnes., as I. þe telle, Fallen doun þer. in pyne to dwelle, Line 72 Þer to take. and resseyue so As þei on eorþe. deserueden to; Be-war of þis., i sei beo-fore, As God seide in þe gospel þore: [Ligate per fasciculos ad comburendum] Line 76 Byndeþ hem in knucchenus. forþi "To brenne lyk. to licchi, Spous-brekers. wiþ lechours, Rauisschers. wiþ rauisschours, Line 80 Wikked. wiþ wikked. also, For so schul þei. to-gedere go; For eueri creature. go schal Bi þat brugge., sum or Al, Line 84 And lasse or more. schal he be deruet Er-aftur he haþ. heer deseruet:"

ÞEr sauh. þe goode mon. poule In þat pyne. moni diuerse soule, Line 88 Summe to þe kne. and summe to þe hipes, Summe to þe nauel., summe to þe lippes; And summe he sauȝ bi-suyled. as souwes In þat pyne. vp to þe brouwes, Line 92 And þei weore turmented. euerlastyngly; Þei wept and gouled. and weore sory: ¶ And Poules herte. was so sor,

Þat for serwe. he wepte þor, Line 96 And of þat Angel. asked he Whi summe were þer. in-to þe kne: ¶ Þe Angel seide. to him þen "Heo ben Bacbyters. of men, Line 100 Þat in word. and dede., as I. þe say, Hyndren heor euen cristen. þat þei may; ¶ And þo. þat to þe nauel. þou se Spous-brekers. and lechours þei be, Line 104 Þat aftur heore dedes. to vndurstonde Nolde no penaunce. take on honde; ¶ And þo þat weren. up to þe lippes blake, Stryf. and Iangelyng. in chirche dude make, Line 108 Vche to oþur. Iangled. wiþ scorn, To heere godus wordus. þei han for-born; ¶ And þo þat weren. vp to þe briȝes In þat flod., Aboue þe eiȝes, Line 112 Þulke weore glade. of þe mischeef Of heore neihȝebors. and of heore greef:" And Poul wepte. and seide þo, "Muche wo is hem. I.-come to, Line 116 Þat so mony peynes. grymme Ben ordeynt to. for heore synne:" ¶ Seynt Poul þo. bi-tornd his face And sayȝ a-noþur. derk place, Line 120 Moni Men. and wymmen. þer Amongus, Þat for-freten. heore owne tonges: ¶ And Poul asked. of him þere What maner men. þat þei were: Line 124 Þe Aungel seide. to him ful sleih, "Þei vsuden. Ocur. and vsuri, Merciable. weore þei nouht, Þerfore hit schal. be dere a-bouht:" Line 128 And Poul sauȝ þenne. a-noþur plas, Þat moni peynes. þer-in was; Þer he sauh. dispitous þing,

As Blake Maydens. in Blac cloþing; Line 132 And þei sodun. euerichon In wellyng pich. and Brumston; Brennyng dragouns. and serpentes i-fere Hongynge. Aboute heor nekkes were, Line 136 Gnawyng hem. to don hem schom, To tere þe Flesch. from þe bon; And þer weore. foure Angels to telle Þat weoren of þe hous. of helle, Line 140 Brennynge hornes. hedde þei on hed, Þei hem turmented. and dude hem qued; Faste þei wente. þis pepul a-boute, Wiþ moni turmentes. grete and stoute, Line 144 Seying to hem. as was heore wone, "Knoweþ ȝe þei seide. godus sone, Þe wȝuche. þat muche on ȝou þouȝt Al þe world. whon he bouȝt; Line 148 For ȝe nolde neuer. knowen him Ȝe schullen han here. þeos pynes grym:"

Poul þis asked. feire and wel, And þenne onswered. þe Aungel: Line 152 "Þeos serued not chastité, Til tyme of heor weddynge. schulde be, But lyuede. in heore lecherie, And heled heore children. and dude hem dye, Line 156 And ȝaf hem to swyn. or to houndes, Or drouned hem. In slodes groundes, And schewed hem. to þe worldus degré As þei maydens. hedden i-be; Line 160 And in þis lyf. þei lyueden ȝore, And duden no penaunce. þerfore": ¶ Aftur þis. he sayȝ at ene Men. and. wymmen., moni and lene; Line 164 Lene þei weore., wiþ-outen flesche, Þei soffred harde. and noþing nessche; Muche lay bi-foren hem. of Mete

Þat hem deynet not. of to ete, Line 168 Þo weore þeose. þat weore not trewe, And nolde not faste. þat hem was duwe, And hedden. of mony metes de-deyn, But hit weore likerous. be certeyn: Line 172

ÞEn sauȝ poul. a serwȝful siht, And he loked þer. forþ riht; An Old mon sat. þer wepynge Bi-twene four deueles. foul ȝellynge; Line 176 ¶ Poul asked. what he was, And þe Angel. seide in plas, "He was Neclygent. aȝeynes for bod, And kepte not. þe lawes of God; Line 180 He nas not chast. of bodi i-souȝt, Ne of herte., ne of his þouȝt, But euer he was. Couetous, Proud of herte. and contrarius, Line 184 Þer-of nolde he. him not schriue, Ne do no penaunce. bi his lyue, Þerfore he schal. beo pyned ay, Wiþ-outen Noumbre. til domus-day: Line 188

POul wepte. and bi-gon to goule: Þe Angel seide. "whi wepustou, poule? Ȝit sayȝ þou not., as I. þe telle, Þe strengest peyne. þat is in helle:" Line 192 ¶ Þe Angel him schewed., wiþ-outen weoles, A put a-seled. wiþ seuen seles, He bad him stonde bac. for þat þing, Þat he mihte sustene. þat stynk; Line 196 He opened þe Mouþ. of þat put, Hit stonk foule. wȝon hit was vn-schut; Þe stynk þat com out. of þat plas Passed al þe peynes. and stinkes þer was: Line 200 ¶ Þen seide þat Angel. to bi ginne "Hose comeþ. þis put wiþ-Inne, Bi-fore God. and vre ladi, Schal neuer of him. beo no merci: Line 204

Line 204

POul askede. "wȝuche ben þo Þat schulen. to þis peyne go:" He seide., "hose leeueþ not. in wone Þat Iesu crist., Godus sone, Line 208 Tok Flesch and blod. of þe virgine Marie, And seþþe was boren. of hire bodye; And also þulke., I. telle hit þe, Þat neuer wollen. Baptized be; Line 212 Þulke þat resseyue not. worþily Þe flesch. and blod. of godus bodi:"

POul loked. forþur þen And sauȝ ful mony men. and wymmen, Line 216 Wormes. and serpentes. on hem seeten, Euer as houndes. þei on hem. freeten; So mony soules. þer weore in hold, Vchon on oþur. as schep in fold; Line 220 Hit was also dep. to nemene As from þe eorþe. vp to heuene; Of heore serwyng. was muche wondur, Þei made a noyse. as hit weore þundur: Line 224

And þenne poul loked. touward heuene And out of eorþe. he herde a steuene, A synful soule. he sauȝ comynge Among seue deueles. waymentynge, Line 228 Þe wȝuche. þat same day forþi Was i-taken. from þe bodi; ¶ Þe Angels of God., þat ben vr frendes, Criȝeden faste., to þe Fendes, Line 232 Seyȝinge allas.! makynge. heore mon, "What haþ. þat wrecched soule i-don?" ¶ Þe Fendes seiden. verreyment— "He haþ seȝen. his Iuggement, Line 236 He haþ ben muche. mys-Auyset, Godus Comaundemens. he haþ dispyset; In eorþe he lyued. in foly, And þer dude he. no remedi; Line 240 His owne chatre. haþ he rad [nota.]

Þat his synnes were. Inne I.-sprad; And so forþ. we telle þe His owne-self. þen Iugged he:" Line 244 ¶ Þen tok þe deueles. and him bounde, And caste hym in-to þe derkeste grounde, Þer as was wepyng. wiþ muche vnseeþe, Goulyng., And grisbatyng. of teþe; Line 248

ÞEn seide to Poul. þat Aungel "Leeue þou hit. and knowe hit wel, So as Mon doþ. in his lyuing, [nota.] So schal he haue. aftur his endyng; Line 252 Aftur þat þis was. forþ so sent, In wiþ þe space. of a moment, ¶ Aungeles of heuene. saiȝ he come þon, Brouhten þe soule. of a Rihtful mon; Line 256 Þer was Ioye., wiþ loud steuene, For so þei beeren hit. in-to heuene; Of A þousund Angels. he herde þe vois, Ioynge. wiþ a semely noys, Line 260 And seiden, "murie soule. blesset þou be, For euer murþe. schal beo wiþ þe; Þou art i-blesset. of God in trone, Þe wille of Ihesu. hastou done:" Line 264

ÞEn seide þe Angels. in heore seiȝing, "Ledeþ hym vp. to-foren vr kyng, Glad may he ben. of alle clerkes Þat schal him-self. rede his goode werkes; Line 268 Aftur schal Mihel. lede him in hiȝ To paradys. to oþur holi:" A Ioyful noyse. was hem Among Of Angels. and Archangeles. wiþ song: Line 272

ÞEi þat in peyne. bi-neþen lyȝe Herden þis. and al hit seiȝe; Þei ȝelleden. wiþ lodly cry, "Poul. Michael. on vs ha merci, Line 276 Prei for vs. wiþ good a-cord

To vre god. and to vre lord:"

ÞEn seide þe Angel. to hem þo— "Weputh; Poul and I. wolen also, [folio 231] Line 280 Þat Almihti God., þat may best, Send ȝow. sum refuit. and sum rest;" ¶ And þeose. þat in peyne weore Cried on God. wiþ delful beere; Line 284 Michael. and poul. also And A legioun of Aungelus. mo: Þe soun of hem. was herd ful euene. Vp in-to þe Feorþe. heuene, Line 288 Seiȝinge. "haue merci on hem Þe sone of God. and eke of mon:"

And þenne þei. þe heuene seih Open A-non., ful sodeynly, Line 292 Þe sone of god. com doun þo, And herde hem preye. mony on mo, Þei preieden alle. ful tenderli, "Haue merci on vs. sone of Daui": Line 296

Þe vois þenne. of vre heuene kyng Ouer al þe peynes. was herd seying; "What good ha ȝe don. herbifore, Þat ȝe aske. reste. so sore; Line 300 I. was don on cros. for ȝou with dere, And smiten wiþ. a ful scharp spere, I.-nayled also. wiþ nayles þree, Eysel. and Galle. to drynke bode me; Line 304 I. ȝaf my-self. for ȝou to be, For ȝe schulde ouer-come. wiþ me; Bote ȝe weore þeues. coueytous, Proude., and. wroþe., and envyous; Line 308 Good. neuer nolde ȝe. do non, Ne to schrift. nolde ȝe not gon, Ne do penaunce. for no þing, Wiþ Almus-dedes. ne wiþ fastyng; Line 312 But ȝe weore lyȝers. al ȝor lyf,

And liueden euere. in serwe and strif:"

ÞEn kneled Poul. and Mihel And a Milioun Angeles. wel, Line 316 Bi-fore þe sone of God. to pray Þei moste ha reste. þe sonenday; Þo weore þeos., as I. ow telle, Þat weoren. in þe pynen of helle: Line 320

Þen seide vr lord. to hem in spelle, For Poul. and also Michaelle, And myn oþure Angels. on hiȝe, Þat ben in heuene. so goode and triȝe, Line 324 And also. of my grete goodnesse, Hem to ese. of heore distresse, Þis reste. I. ȝiue ȝow. ful soon From þe seter-day. at Non, Line 328 Til þe secunde hour. beo cum On þe Monenday., al and sum:

Anon þe soules. hedden þer rest, He ȝaf hit hem. þat mihte best: Line 332 Þe soules criȝed. euerichon, "Blesset beo þou lord. sone of mon, Lord. and God. of Dauid kuynde, Þis rest bi þe. haue we in Muynde:" Line 336 ¶ Þerfore. whos halweþ wel. þe sonenday, He schal ha part. of þe reste ay, Þat þe Angeles. in heuene Han þere. wiþ mylde steuene: Line 340 ¶ Beo war. of þe serwe. and drede And of þe peynes. þat we her rede, And torne we. in alle wyse Vr lord to serue. þat hiȝe Iustise; Line 344 Bi wȝuche seruyse. we may come To vre lord god. and wiþ him wone: [[In the MS. there follows:—Þe Pope trental.]]