Cursor mundi (The cursur o the world). A Northumbrian poem of the XIVth century in four versions. Ed. by the Rev. Richard Morris ...

[Göttingen MS. theol. 107.]

[Þe tret]is þat men cals cursor mundi. [folio 1b:1]

[Me]n ȝernis iestis for to here, And romance rede on maner ser, Of alexander þe conquerour, Of Iuli cesar þe emperour Line 4 [Of grece & Tr]oye þe strong strijf, [þere many thosand lesis] hir lijf, [O brut þ]at berne bolde of hand [First Conqu]erour of meri ingland; Line 8 [Of] king arthour, þat was so riche, [W]as non in his time funden suiche; Of ferlijs þat his knigh[t]es fell, [Of] auntris did i. here of tell, Line 12 [Of] wawain, kay, and other stabil, [For] to were þe runde tabil. Hou king charlis and rouland faght— Wid sarazins ne wald þai neuer be saght;— Line 16 O tristrem, and ysoude þe suete, Hu þai wid luffe first gan mete; Of king ionet and ysumbras, Of ydoyne, and of amadas; Line 20 Storijs of diuers thinges, Of princes, prelates, and of kinges,

Sangys sere of diuers rime, Engliss, franss, and latine, Line 24 To rede and here, ilkon is prest, Of thinges þat þaim liked best. þe wisman wil of wisdam here, þe fole him drauis to foli nere, Line 28 þe wrong to here right es loth, And pride wid buxumnes es wroght; Of chastite has lecchour lite; Charite again wreth wil smite; Line 32 Bot bi þe f[r]uyt may ilk man se Of quat uertu es ilk a tre. Of ilk a frouit þat men mai finde He takes fra þe rote his kinde; Line 36 Of gode peretre gode peris, Wers tre wer frouit it beris. [folio 1b:2] þat i say of þis ilke tre Bitakins man bath me and þe. Line 40 þis fruit bitakins all oure dedis Bath gode and ill qua right redis; vr dedes fra vr hert tas rote Queþer þai turne to bale or bote, Line 44 For be þat thing men draus till Men may þaim knaue for gode and ill, A sample herebi til þaim i say þat ragis in to þair riott alway, Line 48 In riott and in rekelage Of all þair lijf spend þai þer stage; For nu es holdyn non in cours Bot he þat can loue paramours;— Line 52 þat foli l[u]ue þat vanyte Him likes nou non oþer gle. It es bot fanton for to say To day it es, to moru away, Line 56 Wid chance of dede or change of hert þat soft bigan endis ful smert.

For quen þu wenis traistiest to be, þu sal fra hir or scho fra þe, Line 60 He þat wenis stiffest to stand, War him hijs fal is neist at hand. Ar he sua sone dune be broght, Quiþer to wend ne wat he noght Line 64 Bituix and his luue haue him ledd To suilk mede as he him forbedd. For þair sal mede widuten lett Be sett til him for duel dett. Line 68 Forþi i blise þat paramoure þat in mi [nede me dos socure], þat sauis me in erde fra sinne, And heuen bliss me helpis to winne, For þou i sumtime be untrewe Line 73 Hir luue es euerelike neue; Hir luue scho haldes treu and lele, Ful suete it es to manes hele, [folio 2a:1] Suilk in erd es funden non Line 77 For scho es moþer and maiden alon, Moþer and mayden neuer þe less, For þi of hir toke iesu his fless. Line 80 Qua þat loues treuli þis lemman Scho es þe loue þat bes neuer wan, For in þis lijf scho fayles neuer And in þe toþer lastes euer. Line 84 Of suilk an suld we mater take, ȝe craftti [The top of second t is made higher than the other, and looks like l.] þat can rimes make, Of hir to make bath ieste and sang And loue hir suete sun emang; Line 88 Wat bot es to set trauail On thing þat noght may auail, þat es bot fantom of þis werld As ȝe haue sene i-now and herd. Line 92 Mater find ȝe large and brade; Rimes mani of hir be made.

Qua will of hir fayrnes spell Find he may inogh to tell; Line 96 Of hir godnes of hir trouth-hedd, Men may find euermar to rede Of reuth of luue and of charite; Was neuer hir make ne neuer sal be.

Lady scho is of ledes all, Line 101 Meke and mild widuten gall, To nedefull neist on to call, And rayses þe sinful quen þai fall, Til all vr balis for to bete, Line 105 Iesu made þat mayden suete; þarbi men may hir helping ken Scho prais ay for sinful men. Line 108 Qua þat worschipis hir he mai be bald, Scho wil him ȝeilde an hundreth fald,

[I]N hir worschip wald i biginne A lastand werk apon to minne. Line 112 For to do men knaue hir kin [folio 2a:2] þat us suilk worschip gan to win, Sumkin ieste nu forto knau þat don was in þe alde lau; Line 116 Bituix þe ald lau and þe new Hu cristes bote bigan to brew, I sal ȝou scheu wid min entent, Sothli of hir testament. Line 120 All þis werld, ar þis boke bline, Wid cristes help i sal our-rine, And telle sum ieste principale. For all may no man haue in tale, Line 124 Bot forþer may na werk stand Widvten grund-wal to be lastand, þarfor þis werke i wil found On a selcuth stedfast grund, Line 128 þat es þe hali trinite, þat all has made wid his bounte.

First at himself i sett mi marke, And siþen to tell of his handwarke,— Of þe angelis first þat fell, Line 133 And siþen i wil of adam tell, Of his hospring and of noe, And sumquat of his sunes thre. Line 136 Of abraham and of ysaac, þat hali men war widuten lac; Siþen sal i tell to ȝou Of iacob and of ysau, Line 140 Here neist sal be siþen teld Hu Ioseph was bath bogh[t] and seld, Of þe iuus and of moyses þat goddes folk to lede him ches; Line 144 Hou godd bigan þe lau him giue, þe quilk þe iuus suld in liue. Of saul þe king and of daui How þat he faught again goli, Line 148 And syðde of salamon þe wise Hou craftili he did iustifie. Hou crist cam thoru prophesi [folio 2a:1] His aune folk forto bi; Line 152 Siþen it sal be rede ȝou þane Of ioachim and of saint ane; Of mari als hir douther milde Hou scho was born and bar hir child; Hu he was born, quen and quare, Line 157 How scho him to þe temple bare; Of þe kinges þat him soght þat thre presantes til him broght; Line 160 Hou þat herodes king wid wogh [[MS. woght, sloght.]] For cristes sake he childer slogh [[MS. woght, sloght.]] ; Hou þat iesu til egipt fledd And hu þat he was þennis ledd. Line 164 And þer suld ȝe here mani a dede þat iesu did in his barnhede;

Siþen of baptist saint iohn, þat iesu baptist in þe flom iordan. Line 168

Hou iesu wan he longe hade fast Was temped wid þe wicked gast; Siþen of ionis baptising And hou him hefded heroud king. Line 172

Hu þai iesu crist him seluen Ches to him apostilis tuelue, And opinli bigain to preche, And all þat seke war to leche, Line 176 And did miraclis sua rif, Quarfor þe iuus him held in strijf; Siþen hu godd all-mightin Turnd water into win; Line 180 Of fijf thousand men þat he Fedd wid fijf louis and fisses thre; Of a man sal ȝe siþen find Line 183 þat godd gaf sight þat born was blind, And of þe spousebreche, þat womman þat þe iuus demed to stan; How he heled a man vnfere þat seke was eght and tuenti ȝere; Line 188 Hou mari magdalain wid grete [folio 2a:2] Com to wasse vr lauerdes fete, Of hir and martha þat wild noght blin Aboute þe nedis of hir inne; Line 192 Of lazar þat ded lay vnder stan, Hou iesu him raysed in fless and ban; Hu iuus iesu oft vmsett, And for his preching þai him thrett, Hou þai sched his blissed blode, Line 197 And pined him apon þe rode. Wid cristes will þan sal i tell Hou he siþen harud hell, Line 200 Hu iuus wid þair grete vnskill Wend his vprising to dill;

Hu he vp ras and hu he vp stey Mani a man it herd and sey; Line 204 Hou he þat [is] of mightes mast Sent intill erde þe hali gast. Of þe tuelue apostlis sumkins ieste, Hou þat þai ended mast and leste; Line 208 Hou vr leuedi endid and ȝalde Hir semeli saule it sal be talde. Of þe hali crois hou it was kidd Lang efter þat it was hidd; Line 212 Of antecrist come þat sal be kene, And of þe dreri dais fijftene þat sal cum bifor domesday; And syden of þe dome sal i say, Line 216 þan of vr leudis murnand mode For hir sune quen he hing on rode; þe last resune of all þis roune Sal be of hir concepcion. Line 220 þise er þe materis i redde on rawe, þat i thinck in þis boke to schawe, Schortli renand on þis dede, For mani ar þar for to spede. Line 224 Nedeful me think it were to man To knau him self, hou he bigan, Hou he bigan in werld to brede, [folio 3a:1] Hou his ospring bigan to sprede, Line 228 Bath of þe first and of þe last, In quatkin cours þis werld is past. Efter hali kirkes state þis ilke boke es translate, Line 232 vnto engliss tung to rede For þe luue of englijs lede, Englis lede of meri ingeland For þe comen to vnþerstand. Line 236 Frenkis rimes here i rede Comunli in ilka stede;

þat es most made for frankis men, Quat helpis him þat non can cen. Line 240 Of ingland þe nacione Er englijs men in comune, þe speche þat men may mast wid spede Mast to speke þar-wid war nede; Line 244 Seldom was for ani chance Englis tong preched in france, Gif we þaim ilkan þair language, And þan do we na vtetrage. Line 248 To leuid and englis men i spell þat understandis quat i can tell, And till þaim speke i alþermast þat ledis þair liues in mekil wast, Line 252 And spendis his loue in trowandis If þai might mend þaim in sum wis; Sum quat to þat thing to tende þat þai þair mede may wid amende, Line 256 Ful wa til þaim hir loue to spende þat findes þir of no fruit at end. Sumkin word or werk as we to held, Suilk a font [So in MS., but read akont] suld we ȝeilde. Line 260 þarfor drau ȝu hiþerward þat of þis pardon wil haue part, To here a[n]d hald sal haue pardon And part of cristes benison. Line 264 Nou of þis prolouge wil we bline, [folio 3a:2] In cristes name vr boke bigine, Coursur of þe werld men au it call, For all mast it ouer-rines all. Line 268 Take we vr biginyng þan Of him þat all þis werld bigan. [Here endis the prolouge of þis boke þat es cald ouerrener of þe werld.] Line 270

Here bigines of þe trinite and of þe making of all þe worlde

Alle men aue þat lauerd drede, þat mirthes settis man to mede, þat euer was and ay sal be, Line 273 Widuten ende in trinite. He þat lauerd, bath godd and man, Anekines thing of him bigan, Line 276 þou he bigan all oþer thing, Himself had neuer biginyng; Of him can all, in him Is al, All haldis he vp fra dunefall; Line 280 He haldis heuen and erde stedfast; Widuten him may na thing last. þis lauerd þat es sua mekil of might Puruaid all in his aun sight, Line 284 And þat he ordained wid his witt He multeplijs and gouernis itt, þar for es he cald þe trinite, For he es an-fold god in thre; Line 288 And if þu wenis it may noght be, Bihald þe sune, þan may þu se, In þe sune þat schines clere Es a thing and thre thinges sere, Line 292 A bodi round, hote, and light, þir thre we find all at a sight; þir thinges thre wid nankin arte Ne may noght be fra oþer part, Line 296 For if þu take þe light away þe erd it has na sune parfay; And if þe hete away be tan [folio 3b:1] Sune forsoth ne has þu nan, Line 300 On ilk a maner ilk man wate, It es þe kind of sune be hate.

þe sunes bodi þat i neuen Bi-takins þe fader self of heuen, Line 304 And bi þe light þat es lastand It es þe sone þu vnderstand, And bi þe hete þu vnderstand so, þe hali gast comes of þaim to. Line 308 And fader es he calde forþi, For he es welle þat neuer is drey; And ouyr þat him seluen wroght Line 311 All thinges quen þat þai war noght. His sun is wisdam þat all thing wate, For all þe werld he haldis in state; He haldis all thinges fra misfare, þat þai noght turne to soru and care. þe hali gast es þat goddhed, Line 317 He giues þe lijf and mas onede. Minning es þe fadir cald, þe sune es vnderstanden tald, Line 320 þe hali gast es þat wille, þe fadir and sune bath fulfille. þis lauerd þat i bi-fore of said, First in his wit he all puruaid, Line 324 His werk vs dos a sotil wright, And siþen he raises it in sight. For-þi is gode as seis scripture Non elder þan his creature, Line 328 Eldir of time ne is noght he, Bot ellis more in dignite. þis writh þat i speke of here, Line 331 Ouerall oþer he is prines [[read prinse]] widuten pere, For oþer writhes bos oþer tymber take, Bot þis him self can tymber make; For of him self he toke his euen, Line 335 þat he made bath of erde and heuen. Bot þu sal noght vnþerstand [folio 3b:2] þat he wrog[t] al his werke wid hand,

Bot said wid word, and als sone All his comandment was done, Line 340 Smartlier þan eie may winck, Or ani manes hert may thinck. And als clerkes seis þat er wise, He wroght noght first with partis, Bot he þat made all of noght, Line 345 All þis werld to-gider he wroght, To be sett in lenth and brede. þe mater first þar-of i rede, Line 348 þat es þe elementis to say, þat first schaples all samen lay; He delt þaim fin [[read siÞen]] in sex dais In partis als þe scripture sais; Line 352 þe elementis first in dais thrin, Thre thinges þaim es widin; þir elementis þat all thing bindes, Foure þar er as clerkes findes, Line 356 þe lauest þan es water and erde, þe thrid es ayr, and fyre þe ferde. Ayder say we þat he þus bigan, As austin sais, þat hali man, Line 360 Als we in his bokis find. First þan wroght he angel kind, þe world, and tyme, þis thinges thre Bifore all oþer thing wroght he. Line 364 þe world i calle wid min ententis þe mater of foure elementis, þat ȝeit [[read ȝett]] was þan of forme vnschapin, Quare-of was siþen serenes schapin; All schaples was it noght for-þi, Line 369 For it of schap had sum parti, Bot þar-for schaples was it hou, For it had nogh[t] as it has nou. Line 372 He wroght apon þe toþer day þe firmament, þat es to say,

þe sky wid sterris gret and small, [folio 4a:1] wid watir schinand als cristall, Line 376 þat es on hey, þat es vnder, In þis he soundid al to wonder. þe thrid day godd did thoru his grace þe watris draue intill a place, Line 380 And bad a dri place suld be: þe watris all he calid þe se. þe drey he calid erd, þat lauerd king, And bad it griss and fruit forth bring. All thinges waxand þare Line 385 þat in þaim selff þair sedis bare.

Þe feird he bad and was done, Bath war mad sune and mone, Line 388 Aiþer wid [his] sere light, To part þe dai fra þe night, In takinyng of tydis to stand, Dais and ȝeris bath duelland; Line 392 And þe sternis grett & smale, þat we may se widuten tale. In þe heiest element of all, þar in þe fire has his stall. Line 396 þe fijfte day þat faylis noght, Of water foul and fiss he wroght, þe fiss to water als we finde, þe foul he bitok to þe wind. Line 400

All gangand bestis þe sexte day, And adam als he made of clay, He was last made als lauerþing, To be maistir ouerall thing. Line 404 In a dale he wroght adam, þat ebron hate in ebreu nam. þir sex dais he wroght his will, þe seuend of werk he held him still; Him self vs gaf ensample þare Line 409 þat we suld hald it euermare.

Of angelis and lucifer hou he fell. For his pride fra heuen to hell. [folio 4a:2]

Þe First werk as ȝe herd me neuen, Godd wroght þe angelis of heuen, And sett þaim in his hey palais, Line 413 Widuten pride to be in pais; For þis palays was sua riche As mighti king in his kingriche. Line 416 He ordaned him tuine creature, To serue him in þat hali ture, þat suld be a numbre hale, Line 419 And mani thousand to haue in tale. þe quilk tale nagat suld be mare, And nedeful bihoued it ware, þis numbrari he ordained þan, Suld be bath of angel and man. Line 424 Worschipd wid to maner of schaft wald he be, þat king of craft, þat es wid angel þat es gostli, And wid man þat is bodili; Line 428 [[sic]] If angelis wald he serued be þat ordris suld haue thrijs thre. He ches till him þat lauerd hend Line 431 þat man suld be mad þe ordir tend, Bot þe angelis he wroght formast, Of all he gaf þaim pouste mast; Line 434 Bot þou þai were bath fair and wise, Summe of less and sum of more prise, An gaf he mast to knaue and fele, If þat he couth haue born him wele, And sett him best in his halle, Line 439 Of prince and sire of oþer all. And for he was sua wonþer light, Lucifer to name he hight. Quen he perceyued þus he þis þat he was ouerall oþer in bliss, Line 444

Line 444 Allas caytif he kneu him noght, þat god him seluen had him wroght; Ful soruful sau he þat tide Agaynes godd he takes a pride, Line 448 Lightli he lete of ilka fere, [folio 4b:1] To god him seluen wald he be pere: Noght pere alon bot mekil mare, For vnder him he wald all were, Line 452 And he himself þair comandour. Qua herd euer of a werr anttour, [[It may be for auttour, but cannot be for auctour]] þat he þat noght had bot of him, Again him suld becom sua grim. Line 456 He said, "sett mi sete i sall Gaynis him þat es best of all, In þe north side sal it be sett, Seruise of me sal he non gett. Line 460 Qui suld i him seruise ȝeilde? All sal be at mine aun weilde." Bot he was marrid of his mint, Ful sone he fand vnsterne stint, Line 464 For langer þen he thoght þat pride, In heuen might he no langer abide, For in þat curte þat es so sclene [[sic]] May na filth duell widvten wene: Saint mychal for þair alder right Line 469 Ras egaynes him forto fight, Gaynes him gaf he a batayl grim, vte of þat court he cast him. Lucifer first doune he broght, Line 473 And siþen all þas to him held oght, And skourd þat court of þaim so clene þat siþen þair stede was neuer sene. þis was þe feind þat formast fell Line 477 For his pride fra heuen to hell, Fra þan his name schangid was, Now es he cald foule sathanas; Line 480

Line 480 Fra ful hey he fell ful lawe, þat of his lauerd wild stand non awe, Widuten coueryng of his care, For merci getis he neuer mare; Line 484 For god au noght giue him mercy, þat þar eftir wild noght cri. And þus he tint þat grete honour [folio 4b:2] , þar badd he noght fulli on our, Line 488 For alsua suith as he was made, He fel, was þar no langer bade. þe toþer angelis þat fell him wid, þe quilk forsok goddes grid, Line 492 Efter þe will þai to him bare, Fell þai to hell, lesse and mare, Sum in þe aire & sum in þe lift, þar þai drey ful hard drift. Line 496 þair þine þai bere apon þaim ay, And sua þai sal to domesday. Bot þos þat left [[MS.lest]] widuten wite, þai were confermed þare als tite, Line 500 þai may neuermar hald to ill, Na mare þan wic may to gode will. þe numbre þat vte of heuen fell No tunge in erd noght can tell, Line 504 Ne fra þat throne of þat bliss, Hou fer in to hell pitt es, Bot bede sais fra erd to heuen Is. vij. thousand ȝere and hundredis. vij.; Bi iornayis qua þat gang it may, Line 509 Fourti mile euerilk a day.

Of bodili substance if þu wil witt, Manis saule þat es it.

Als i told or þat king of craft wald mensked be wid tuin schaft, Bath wid angel and wid man, Line 513 Adam þer fore wroght was þan.

þe teind ordir to fulfill, þat lucifer did to spill. Line 516 Of erd alsua ne was he noght, Bot of foure elementis wroght. Of water his bodi, is fless of laire, His here of fir, his ond of aire, Line 520 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] His hede wid-ine bath eien tuin, þe skey bath sune and mone wid-in, Right als men eien er sett to sight, [folio 5a:1] To [[read So]] seruis sune and mone of light. Line 526 Seuen mayster sternis er sett in heuen, And manys hede has thirlis seuen, þe quilk if þu wil þe vmthinck þu may þaim find wid littel suink. þis wind þat men draus oft Line 531 Bitakins wind þat blauis on loft, Of quilk es thoner and leue[n]ing ledd Als onde wid host in brest is bred. Into þe see all watir sinkis, Line 535 And manes wambe all licur drinkis, His fete him beris vp fra fal, Alsua þe erde vphaldis all. þe ouyr fir ges manes sight, þe ouyr air of hering might, Line 540 þis vnderþ wind him giues his ond, þe erd tast to fele and fond, þe hardnes þat men has in bonis. It is mad of þe kind of stonis, Line 544 On erd it grouis tres and gris, And nayle and her [of] manes fless. wid bestes dumb man hath his fele Of thing men likis, euil or wele. Line 548 Of þir thinges i haue here said was adam cors togider graid.

For þis resune þat ȝe haue herd, Es man callid þe lesse werlde. Line 552

[Of Man's Soul.]

Bot resun ȝeit herd ȝe noght Querof of manes saule es wroght, Of gastli light men sais it es, Line 555 þat godd has made till his licknes, Als a preinte of sele in wax thrist, þar-ine he has his licknes fest; He has it wroght as freind and fere, For-þi es na thing sua dere. Line 560 His goddhed es in trinite. And þe saule has propre thinges thre Menyng and þat of thinges thre, [folio 2a:2] þat is and was and ay sal be. Line 564 It has also vnderstanding clene. Of thing it seis and of vnsene, It has also wisdam in wille þe gode to take and leue þe ille, Line 568 All þe mightes þat may be wonis in þat hali trinite. Alle uirtus has a saule i-wis, þat vte of sinne clensed es, Line 572 And als god þat es in on and thre, wid nankines creature may be vnder-fanding non ouyr tane, And he ouertakis þaim ilk ane. Line 576 Alsua þe saule widuten wene, To alkines thing it es vnsene, þou it of all thing haue sight, To se na saule haue þai na might. Line 580 Nou haue i scheud ȝu til hiþer, Hou tua thinges haldis man togiþer, þe saule of gastli thing to tell, þe bodi his fless and fell. Line 584

[Of the name Adam, and of Paradise.]

Adam was made of manes elde, Als he might him seluen welde, As austin sais þat lies noght, Line 587 And widuten paradis was wroght. Here nou þe resun of his name, Qui þat he was cald adam; In þis name er four lettris laid, þat of þe foure ȝatis er said, Line 592 Sua mekil es adam forto muth Als est, west, north, and south. And þu may aske widuten blame Qui godd him gaf sua grett a name? Parfai þat es bot etht to rede, Line 597 It takins adam and his sede, Oueral þe world suld þai sprede, And þarof bere þe lauerdhede. Line 600 Als vr lauerd has heuen in hand [folio 5b:1] Sua suld man be lauerd of land, þar for he gaf him to bigine, A lufsum land to duell in; Line 604 A land of liif, of ioy and bliss, þe quilk men calis paradis. Into þat land widuten bade, was adam brouth quen he was made, He gaf it him as in eritage, Line 609 To ȝeild þar for na knaulage; Bot for to hald it wel unbrokin, þe forbode þat was bituix þaim spokin. Bot for-þi þat he held it noght, Line 613 He did vs all in bale be broght, In bale he broght vs and in care, Als i sal tell ȝou forder mare. Line 616

Of þe state þe world was inne, Bifor þe time of adam sinne.

Qven adam was made alsone, In paradis þan was he done, þe bestis all bath he and scho, Bi-for adam was broght se to;— Line 620 Fiss in watir and foul to flight, All was broght in adamis sight. All were broght to serue adam. Line 623 And for þat he suld gif þaim name, þan gaf þat king his craft to kepe, Sleyli gert he adam to slepe, vte of his side, als sais þe bock, widuten sor a ribb he toke, Line 628 And of þat ribb he made womman, Till adam þat was first his an, Quen scho was broght bifor adam, virago gaf he hir to name, Line 632 þarfor hight scho virago, For of þe man mad was scho. Naked war þai bath tway, Line 635 þai were noght schamed par ma fay. God þaim blisced and bad þaim brede, [folio 5b:2] And multipli wid þair in sede, "Adam," he said, "hou thinkes þe, In þis stede is fair to be? Line 640 þis is a stede of welthful wone, Of ioye ne blis ne wantis nane, Here lastis lif widuten ende, Here is a thing non for to mend, Line 644 Here es blisse þat lastes ay, Neuer night bot euer day; Es nan forsoth wid hert may thinck, Ne na writer þat may write wid inck. þe mekil ioy þat þaim es lent, Line 649 þat dos wele here mi comandment.

Of treis of fruit here es gode wone, All sal þai be þine bot one, Line 652 Of þaim all þi will to do, Bot ȝon a tre com ȝe noght to þat standis emiddes paradis, For if ȝe do ȝe er noght wise. Line 656 þis tre haf i done in frith, For i wil haue it to mi grith; If ȝe it touche i wil ȝou say, Of dubil ded þan sul ȝe day. Line 660 Be war for-þi ȝe take entent, þat ȝe breke noght mi comandement." And here-bi may ȝe all wele se, Hou he þaim gaf þair will all fre, Line 664 þe gode to do & leue þe ille, Bath he sett in þair fre will, witt and wisdam he þaim gaf, Might and fairhed forto haue; Line 668 Of all erd made adam king, To last wid-uten ending. Amang his meyne diuers sele, I sal tell sumquat of his wele, Line 672 Ar he brak þat iesu forbedd. In mekil bliss þan was [he] stedd, Of his wif [[MS. wis]] sua fair and fre, [folio 6a:1] þat mekil mirth was on to se; Line 676 þe bestis cam him all aboute Als to þair lauerd þai er vnderloute, Foul in flight, fiss on sand, Line 679 All boued him dune to fote and hand; At his will þai ȝede and cam, Als he war maker of þaim. þe bestis war so meke tale widuten hurt þai ȝode euer hale, Line 684 Tuix þe woluis lay þe schepe, Saufli mith þai samen slepe,

þe hund ne harmed noght þe hare, Ne na best soght on oþer sare, Line 688 Bi þe dere þat nou es wild. Als lamb him lay þe leon milde, þe gripe alsua biside þe bere; Na best wald do oþer dere, Line 692 þe scorpion forbar his tunge, Fra bestis þat he lay emonge, Alkines thing in diuers wise Ȝeilded to Adam þair seruise: Line 696 Ne þe nedder was noght bitter, For he was euer wis and witter, For as men rede in boke & ieste, He was mast wis of ani best. Line 700 þe sune was þat time, as i say, Seuen sitht bright þan to-day; þe mone was þat time alsua bright, Als is þe sune nu on day light. Line 704 Hald na man þis for foli, þe prophete it sais ysai: All þe tinges þat w[e] here se, Hey or lau, on land or se, Line 708 þai war of gretter strenth and pidh Bifor þat adam brac þe grith.

[Of Satan's scheme to tempt and ruin Adam.]

Bot adam sone was sent a sond, þat soght him felli forto fonde. Quen sathan sau þat he was chosin [folio 6a:2] To win þat bliss þat he ha lorin, Line 714 Sori he cam, þat fals file, And thoght hou he mith man bigile. He thoght þat thing forto stint, þat godd to gret goddnes had mint. Agaynes godd he wex sua grill, Line 719 þat all his werk he wend to spill,

And troud wele wid his grete enui, Of god himself to win þe maystri. Man es nu sett bituix tua, On aiþer side he has a fa, Line 724 Betuix sathan and his wiif Adam es stad in mekil strijf. Bath þai war on adam, For to bring him in[to] blam, Line 728 Bath es nu on a parti To confunde man wid trechuri; þat wili feind him held on heij, Line 731 Him gayned noght cum adam ney, Namli in his aun schapp To spede he hopid haue na hap. For-þi a messager he sent, wid whom best to spede he went. Line 736 To þis he ches a littel best þe quilk es noght vnwiliest, þe nedder þat es of suilk a schaft, Mast of quantise es in craft, Line 740 Quaintli taght he him þe ginne. Hu he suld at þe wijf bigine, And thoru þe wijf to win þe man, þis nedder forth þat he ne blan. Line 744 In his slohu was seluen sathan, Wonþer was hu he diþer [[read Þider]] wan, Bot wid his suffrance he It lete, þat best wist hu þe bale to bete; Line 748 For-þi he made þaim þat þai moght Sin or leue, if þaim gode thoght, þat thoru skil of hir aune dede, [folio 6b:1] Suld be markyd þaim her mede, Line 752 To bou and liue widuten end, Or ellis of dede in langur to lend.

Hou adam brac þe comandment, Quarfor mani a man was schent.

Adam ȝede wanderand in þat welth, þat halden was þaim in mekil selth. Quen adam was fra eue a trawe, þe nedder nere hand hir gan drau, And said, "womman, tell me nou qui þat ȝe ete noght all comunli Line 760 In paradis of ilk a tre?" "Certis, sir, so nou do we, Of all treis bot [[MS. both]] of ane, þe midward tre es vs vte-tane; Line 764 vr lauerd in forbod had it laid." "And quat þu qui?" "nay," scho said. "Bot," scho said, "if we cum þar ney Of dede for soth, þan suld we dey; þis a tre suld him seluen haue Line 769 And all oþer til vs be laue." "And trous þu þat it be sua As he ȝu said?" "certis, ȝa." Line 772 "Nay," said he, wid gret tresun, "Bot þar es vnder suilk resun, It es for he w[a]ld noght ȝe were Paringale to him na pere. Line 776 þe soth fra ȝu sal i noght hide, He wat wele þat quat time or tide þat ȝe had eten of þat tre, Als goddes suld ȝur seluen be, Line 780 To knau bath þe gode and ille. Ȝe suld be lauerdes at ȝur aun wille, Of it ȝe ete so rede i nu ȝu, And ȝe sal find it for ȝur prou." Line 784 þis heting was þat time ful mekil, Bot ȝeit it was bath fals and fikil;

Sone quen scho þis fruit biheld, [folio 6a:2] Scho ȝerned it to haue in weild, Line 788 Ne left scho noght for drede ne blame, Bot tok and ete and gaf adam. Quat bote es lange mi tale to drau, Bot sum of þe hoting was gain sau. Line 792 All for noght þai ete it bath, Quar thoru all þair king wer wrath, For of þat ilke aplis bitt, Hir sunes teth er eggid ȝeitt, Line 796 And sua sal be to domis day, Here egain may na man say. Quen ayder biheld oþer naked, Line 799 For scham þay stode bath and quakid, For þan þai sau þaim seluen bare, In welth and bliss was clad are, þai clad þaim, i tell it þe, wid leuis of a fike tre. Line 804 Quen [[MS. quem]] þe feind þus had him nomen, wele he wend haue god ouercomen, And said wid in his sori thoght, Line 807 "I haue him done to suink for noght, His heuen sal he haue bi his on, Of adam part ne getes he non To bring into þat eritage, þat i haue tint for mine vtrage." Line 812 He leyed, þat fals file forqui, ȝeit of adam had godd merci, þat adam wer tint godd wild it noght, For he wid wicked red was soght; þe feind was wele mare to blame Line 817 þat sua falsli bigiled adam. God wist þe feind had adam blent, ȝeit wild he noght þat he war schent, Bot þou he siþen of adam roght, Line 821 He wald first it ful dere war boght.

Of þe state þe world was inne Efter the time of adam sinne.

[folio 7a:1] Als fast as þai had don þat sinne, Bigan all vr baret to biginne, Alkins blis fra þaim was went, Fra þai had brokin þe comandement. Sone he bigan vengans to kith, All lourid þan þat ar was blith, Line 828 All bigan stour and strijf, Againes adam and his wijf; Bituix þaim seluen to strijf alsua, þe stranger þe wayker for to sla, Line 832 Ilkan to make of oþer prai,— Als we may se nou ilk a dai. Fra þaim first com dede to man, Fra þat time al vr wa bigan; Line 836 þe wrangwis wight wid il wrake, þair biginning gan þai at him take, Sine and sake, schame and strijf, þat nou ouer all þis world es rijf; Line 840 Merci, lauerd, strang wicked-hede Made adam to do suilk a dede. Him-self had tint and all his kin, Bot vr lauerd had ransumed him, Line 844 On suilk a wise as he had thoght Bifor ar he þis world [had] wroght; Bot þat was noght done all for nede, Bot thoru his aun doughti dede, Line 848 For if he wald he might man Wele better make þan he was þan. wid fless forþi he cam in place, Line 851 And fulfild þis world al wid his grace, His grace it was and na thing oþer, þat he wald bicum vr aller brother: wid þe feind þarfor he faght, And wid his fadir made vr saght. Line 856

Line 856 Leue we nu of þis ilk spell Of vre stori nu for to tell. Line 858

Qven adam sau he had misdone, He went to hide him al sone, He went to hide him emang þa treis, [folio 7a:2] Fra his sight þat all thing seis; All for noght him hid adam, vr lauerd cald him bi his nam. Line 864 "Lauerd," he said, "quen i þe herde, For i sau wele þat i misferde, I and mi wijf went vs to hide, Line 867 For vs thoght schame him to abide; For vr bodijs er all bare." "Certis, adam, þis said i are, þu wat it i teld þe formest, Quat it was to breke mi hest, Line 872 Bot nou it es þis appil etin, And so mi forbot es for-getin. For-þi þat þu has don þe miss, þi seluen es þe wite þi wa, i wiss." Line 876 "Lauerd," he said, "of þis gilt here, Es scho to wite þat es mi fere, þat þu me gaf mi wijf to be, For stiffli first scho bad it me; Line 880 For scho it me bedd widuten bline, Scho has me filid wid hir sine. All þis may scho noght gain say, Scho au to bere þe gilt away." Line 884 Iesu til hir spac and said o-nan, "Qui did þu dus, þu ille womman?" "Þe worm," scho said, "me draf þar till, þat i haue wroght a gain þi will." Til þat worm vr lauerd þan spack, Line 889 wordis bath of wreth and wrack, "þu worm, þu sal be maledight Mare þan ani oþer wight, Line 892

Line 892 For þu sal slide apon þi brest Line 894 Mare þan ani oþer best; Line 893 For þis day forth sal foredin be Line 895 For soth bituix womman and þe, Line 896 erd sal be þi mete for nede; Line 898 Bituix þine and womman sede; Line 897 þu sal waite womman to stang, [folio 7b:1] And scho sal ȝeit þin hefde thrang; þou þu wild euer haue hat stede, Line 901 In cald sal euer be þi bede. And þu womman þat standes here, In soru sal þu þi childer bere, Line 904 þu sal be slain wid dubbil dede; Hard it es þe forto rede. þu sal be vnder mannes ȝeilde, Til him þi buxumnes to ȝelde. Line 908 To schau þi schath be noght vnkid þu sal haue euer þin hefd hid. þat þu doqueþer has nu mistane, It sal be bet wid a womman, Line 912 Of sinles man þan made i þe, In womman sal it ȝeit mi woni[n]g be; Bot þat bes noght ȝeit kid so ȝare For i mast couer mi tinsel are. Line 916

And þu man þat has vndertakin þi wiues rede, and mine forsakin, Nathing sal þu þar wid wine, þe werld es werid wid þi sine; Line 920 In erde þu sal wid suete and suink, Wine þat þu sal ete and drinck, All þe dais of þi elde; Brimbyl and thorn it sal þe ȝelde, Line 924 þarof sal þu ete gresses sere, And þu sal bi þi bred ful dere, Tuix and þu again be gan, To þat erd þat þu was of tan, Line 928

Line 928 For þu ne art bot a pouder plain, To pouder sal þu turn again." He turned þan his wijfes nam, And eue fra þan hir cald Adam, Line 932 Eue scho hight fra þat day, þat moþer of mani it es to say. God made þaim þan cirtlis of hide, þar wid þair fless þan for to hide. Line 936 "Lo," he said of adam, "hou [folio 7a:2] Lik es he mad tilward vs nu! Bath þe gode and ille knauand. For-þi er þai bath strikand, Line 940 To ȝon tre þat lijf es ine And siþen ȝe leue widuten bline." He put him vte widuten bade, Into þe world þar he was made. Line 944 "Ful dere adam it sal be boght Till it be bett þat þu has wroght. Ta þi wijf nu in þi hand, For ȝe sal leue þis lufsum land, Line 948 In till þe wreched world to gang; þar þu sal thinck þi lijf ful lang, Lang pining þare to drei, And siþen dobil dede to dei. Line 952 ȝe sal be flemed fra mi face, Bituix and i ȝou send mi grace, þe oile of merci bos ȝou abide, I hete to send it ȝou sum tide." Line 956 "Allas," said adam, "ful wa es me! Lauerd, þat i ne had troud in þe, Lauerd, þat euer i made þe wrath, For-þi mi lijf es me ful lath. Line 960 I wot bot i of þe haue na freind, Tel me ar i fra þe weind, Hugat and wid quat thing Mai couer nu þi sahuting." Line 964

Line 964 "Adam," he said, "wele seis þu nu, Harkin i will tell þe hu, Emang þin oþer werkes hend Of þi wining gif me þe tend, Line 968 Of all kines fruit hald þu þe neien, For i wil þe tend þan be mein." "Lauerd," he said, "þu gifes all, Qui suld þi part be sua small? Line 972 þe half part gladli or þe thridd we wil þe giue, if þu it bidd." [[No gap in the MS. Laud MS. 416 also wants these lines.]] Adam was put vte nerehand nakid, [folio 7b:2] In to þe land þar he was makid, þar in he led a lang lijf, And gat hijs childer bi his wijf. Line 992 vte es he putt, wreched adam, Of paradis þat riche hame. A firen wall þar es abute, Line 995 May nan cum wid-in þat es þar vte; Ane angel has þe ȝate to gete, wid suord in hand of mekil hete.

[Description of Paradise.]

"Tell me man wid þi lare, Quat land es paradis, & quare, Siþen i here þe þareof spell." Line 1001 Gladli, sir, i sal þe nu tell; Paradis es a priue place, Ful of mirth and of solace, Line 1004 þe loueliest of all landis; In erd toward þe est it standis, Land of lijf, of ro, and rest, wid bliss and bote broidin best. Line 1008 þar euer es day widuten night, And vmlaid wid leme of light, Of sellines it es wele sene, þe griss is euer elike grene; Line 1012 wid all blisses þat þar es ellis, Floures þat er of suete smellis, Treis of fruit þan es þar sett, þat diuers vertu has to ett, Line 1016 þat if man ete in tyme of ane, Hunger sal he neuer haue nane. And if he ete of a noþer tre, Ne sal he neuer thristi be; Line 1020 þe thrid qua it etes of þat þere riss, Sal he neuer haue werines. Of ane qua-so it etes at þe last, He sal in elde be euer stedfast, Line 1024 Sekenes sal he neuer non drey, Ne neuer sal his bodi dey. It es an orichard cald of delijss, [folio 7b:2] wid all suetenes of diuers spicijss, Qua duellis þar thar him noght lang, þar soun es soft and suete sang, Line 1030 Soun of foulis þat þar singes. In middes þat land a welle springes,

þat rennes vte wid four strandes, Stremes farand in ferr landis. þir stremis four þat þar bigines, Thoru all oþer contres rennes, Line 1036 þe first es tyger and ganges, Siþen nilus, and eufrates; þai bring stanis fra paradis, Sua precius naquar funden es. Line 1040 þis paradis es sett sua hei, þat might neuer flod cum þar ney, For-þi was it fre of noe flode, þat all þis werld ouer it ȝode. Line 1044

Hou caym þe cursed with wid wohw His aune broþer abel he slohw.

Nou es Adam in erd stadd, wid griss and leues is he cladd, He suanc, and eue his wijf, Apon þe erd to win þair lijf; Line 1048 wid mekil suinc was þat þai wan, For þai were first þat sau bigan. þe first child þat euer scho bare, was caym þe cursed ful of care; Line 1052 And efter him i wil ȝu tell, A hali child þat hight abell. þis abell was a blisced blode, And caym was þe feindes fode, Line 1056 was neuer wers of moder born, For-þi was he witt þat for lorn. þis abel was a herde of fe, Blissed and hali man was he, Line 1060 Rightwis he was, a[n]d goddes freind, And treuli gaf he him his tend; And for his offrand was rightwis, [folio 8b:1] Godd toke to queme his sacrefis. Line 1064

Line 1064 For caym gaf him wid euil will, vr lauerd loked noght þar vntill, Of þe tilth þat he wid delte. þis caym þat i forwid melte Line 1068 vnto his broþer ire he bare, Allas þat boght þe sackles þar. Again abel he raised a strijf, wid murther he broght his broþer o lijf, wid þ[e] cheke bon of ane asse Line 1073 Men say þat abel slain wasse. And quen he had his broþer slain, He wild haue hid his cors onan, Line 1076 Bot proued was sone his sori pride, þe bodi mith he na gat hide; For vnþer erde might it noght rest, þe clay all vp þe bodi kest. Line 1080 His brother ded sua wend he dill, Bot mith he noquar þat bodi hill; For-þi men sais into þis tyde, Line 1083 Is no man þat murthir may hide.

Qven he had don þat dreri dede, Til his faþer hame he ȝede, Quen his faþer eie vpon him kast, A syhing of his hert vte brast, Line 1088 For mistrouing had he þan sone þat he sum wickednes had done; For bi his chere he sau him wrath, So loked he euer brime and latth. "Sun," he said, "to me þu tell Line 1093 Quar has þu left þi broþer abel?" He ansuerd wid wordes vn-milde, "Quen was i keper of þi childe? Line 1096 Of him can i saii þe certain nan, Bot he to brine his tyde be-gan." vp-on þe feilde his fader went, Line 1099 And soght abel wid all his entent.

þe faþer and þe moder bath, [folio 8b:2] To blame þe broþer was þaim lath Bituix and þai þe soth had sene Line 1103 Thing þai wist noght both in wene; þaim thoght þat kind him wold forbede, To haue done suilk a curced dede. His dede i wis had euer ben hid, warn iesu him-self had it kid, Line 1108 Sua to schape might he noght, Fra mithful god þat all has wroght. He þat flemed first adam, For an appil bit þat he nam, Line 1112 Ne trou i noght he wald him feine, þat he ne wald caim dede a-teine; And he wil þat he by þe vtrage, Line 1115 þat murtherrt sua his aun ymage, He wend to haue schapid þar-wid-all, þat nan him suld clepe ne call.

[God speaks to Cain, and curses him.]

Bot þan com vr aun creature To speke wid þat fals traiture, Line 1120 Of þat murth and þat tresun, He did þat traitur till resun.

"Caym, quer es þi broþer abel?" "I wot," he said, "i can noght tell, Aske his fader quore he be, Line 1125 For he was noght bitan to me." "Bot tell me suith þat þu ne lain, Qui has þu þi broþer nu slain? Line 1128 His blod on erde sched it lijs, And efter wrake to me it crijs. It fines noght wrake to crij, For to scheu þi ill felonni, Line 1132 Thoru þi wrake sua ful of plight, Erd þu sal be nu maledight,

þat sua rescyued þi broder blod, Wid pine it sal þe ȝeild þi fode; Line 1136 For þi mekil felonie, þi whete sal bicum ȝiȝannije. Instede of þin oþer sede, [folio 9a:1] Ne sal þe grou bot thorn and wede; For þi ill wreched-hede, Line 1141 þu sal lede euer þi liif in nede; þi dredeful dede has liknes nan, Of all dedis it is vte-tan; Line 1144 Certainli i tell þe here, þu sal it bi ful selli dere, For þou i wild forgiue it þe, It es noght worthi forgiuen be. Line 1148 To quat contre so þu wend, Sal þu na man find to freind; Bituix quat lede sua þu lend, Euer sal þu and þin be kende. Line 1152 Wid all þu sal biholden vile, Quar þu wendis in exile. Mi handwerk þus egges me, þat i sal take vengans on þe, Line 1156 For hou suld ani erdli fless Duelle wid þe in sikirness, Quen felauschip and broþerhede Ne miht þe drau fra foulhede?" Line 1160

Caym sau his sinne was knaued, And þat þe erde had it schauede, And sau þat gain-saying was nan, Line 1163 vr lauerd he ansuerd sone on-ane. "Lauerd," he said, "nou se i wele, Mi sinne hath sett me in vnsele, Line 1166 I am ouer-tan wid suilk tresum, I am noght worthi to haue pardon. I sal be flemed for mi sinne, Line 1169 In vnknaun land to duell ine,

In vncuth lede sal end mi wa, Quen þai me find þai wil me sla. Line 1172 So ferr i wat i sal be fledd, God gaf nou þat i war dede." "Nai," said vr lauerd, "bes it noght so, All þat þe se sal þe noght slo, Line 1176 Bot i sal sett on þe mi merke, [folio 9a:2] All sal it se to rede als clerk; Sal nan be so bald þe to sla, Bot þi falshed sal were þaim fra. Line 1180 In takening of þi penance, Ye sal be lent a lang mischance.

Qven adam abel bodi fand, Line 1183 For soru on fote miht he noht stand. To birijing þai his bodi bare, Adam and eue widuten mare; þis es þat man men sais was born, Bath his faþer and moþer biforn, Line 1188 He had his eldemoderis maidenhed, And at his birijng all maner lede. An hundrid winter fra his lijf Adam þan forbar his wijf, Line 1192 For soru of abel þat was slain, Till confort was sent him again. þe bodword him cam fra heuen, Line 1195 þat bad him thoru an angel steuen, þat he suld wid his wijf mete, For vr lauerd had ordained ȝeit A child to rise in his ospringe, þat all suld vte of baret bringe. Line 1200 He þat suld saue all folk fra sine, Suld noght be born of caym kin. Qvid þis was born a hali child, Seth, þat was bath meke and milde, Of quam þat crist him self cam, Line 1205 Ful fer to tell fra first adam.

þis child was goddes priue frend, Treuli ȝeild he him his teind, Line 1208 He ȝeild him all þat him bihoued, His broþer as him-self he loued, Eue for abel thoght ful fair, Line 1211 þat godd had sent þaim suilk an air, For abel was þaim wa enogh, þat caym his aun broder slogh.

Of adam als tellis þe stori, [folio 9b:1] þat he sonis had thritti, Line 1216 And of doghtris alsua felle, widuten caim and abell. þe sister was giuen þan til þe broder, þe lau þat time mith be nan oþer; Sua wild god and bihouid nede, Line 1221 To do þair kind forto sprede.

Unseli caym þat was forsakid, wid godd and man was he hatid, And he alsua wid his ofspring Line 1225 Luued vr lauerd non kines thing. For þai him greued wid þair dedis, He þaim forsoke in all þair nedis, To do þe ille wele þai soght, Line 1229 Aue of him ne stod þaim noght, þat boght þaim siþen wijf and barn. wid watir war þai all forfarn, Line 1232 Als ȝe sal here as it bifell, Of noe flode quen i sal tell, For alle were ill & neuer an gode, þai drenkled all in noe flode. Line 1236

Of adam ending telle wil i, And als of þe oile of merci.

Adam had passid nien hundred ȝer; Na wonþer þou he wex vnfer,

All for wroght wid his spade, Of his lijf he wex all made. Line 1240 Apon his spade his breist he laid, To seth his sune þis word he said, "Sun," he said, "þe bus ga To paradis þat i cam fra, Line 1244 To cherubin þe ȝateward." "ȝa, sir, wist i queþirward, þere þat vncuth contre ware, Line 1247 ȝe wat wele þat i was neuer þare." "ȝeis," he said, "i sal þe tell and say, Hugat þu sal ta þi right way, Tilward þe est end of þe dalle, [folio 9b:1] A grene gate find þu sale, Line 1252 In þat way sal yu find forsoth þi moþer and myn oþer broþer sloth. Foluand thoru þat griss greene, þat euer has ben syden sene, Line 1256 þar we cam wendand as vnwise, Quen we war put fra paradise Vnto þis worldes wreched slade, þar i mi-self first was made; Line 1260 Thoru þe mekilnes of vr sin Might na griss grou þar in; þat falu slow sal be þi gate, Fra þaim to paradis þe ȝate." Line 1264 "Fadir," he said, "sai me þi will, Quat sal i say þat angel vntill?" "þu sal him say i am vnfere, For i haue liuede so mani a ȝere, Line 1268 Ay in strijf and soru stadd, þat wid mi lijf i wax all mad, þu prai him þat word me send, Quen i sal fra þis world wend. Line 1272 Anoþer erand sal þar be, þat he wild send me word bi þe,

For i sal haue it vte in hey, Line 1275 þat me was hight þe oile of merci, þat time þat i left paradijs, And left it thoru mi folis. Egain goddes will þat i had wroght; Sum dele nu i haue it boght: Line 1280 Mi soru has ay ben syden neu, Nou war it time on me to reu." Seth went forth widuten nay, To paradis þat ilke day, Line 1284 þe sloth he fand þat gan him wise, Till þat he cam at paradise. Quen he þarof had a sight, He was al dredand of þat light; Line 1288 Suilk a light as he sau þare, [folio 10a:1] A brinand fir he wend it ware, He blissed him as his fader badd, And went forth & was noght radd. þis angel at þe ȝate he fand, Line 1293 And asked him of his erand. Seth þan sett him spell onende, And teld him quarfor þat he was send, Teld him of hijs faderis care, Line 1297 Als he him taght, and ȝe herd are, To send him word quen he sal dei, Langer to liue may he noght drei; And quen þat godd him had tight, þe oyle of merci þat he him hight. Quen cherubin his erand herde, Line 1303 Mekeli he þan him ansuerde, "Ga to ȝe ȝate," he said, "and loute þi hefd widin, þi bodi wid vte, Line 1306 And tent to thinges wid al þi mith, þat sal be scheud vnto þi sight." Quen seth a quile had lokid in, He sau sua mekil welth and win Line 1310

Line 1310 It es in erd, na tung may tell, Line 1311 þat flour, þat frott, þat suete smell, Of ioy and bliss sua mani a thing. In middes þe land he sau a spring Of a welle þat es vtnemis, þar fra renis four grete stremis, Line 1316 Fison, Gison, tigir, and eufrate, þir four mas all þis world wate. Ouer þat welle þan loked he, And sau þar stand a mekil tre, Line 1320 Wid branchis fele of barc al bare, Was þar na lijf in less ne mare. Seth bigan to thinc for qui þat þis tre bicom sua dreri, Line 1324 And on þe steppes thoght he þan, þat duined war for þe sin of man; þat ilk skil did him to mine [folio 10a:2] þis tre was drei for Adam sine. Line 1328 He com þan to þat angel schene, And told him all þat he had sene; Quen he his sith all had him tald, He bad eft ga to bi all it hald; Line 1332 He loked in eft and stod þar vte, And sau thinges þat gert him dute. þis tre þat i of bifore said, Anedder it had al vmbilaid. Line 1336 Cherubin, þat angel bliht, Bad him ga loke þe thrid siht; Him thout þan at þe thrid sith, þis tre was of a mekil hiht, Line 1340 vnto þe sky it raght þe topp, A new-born child lay in þe cropp, Bunden wid a suadiling band; þar him thout it lay squeland. Line 1344 He was all rad quen he þat sey, And to þe rote he kast his ey,

Him thout it raught fra erd to hell, þar vnþer he sau his broþer abel, Line 1348 In his saule he sau him þare þat caim sloght, þat ful of care. He went again þan forto schau To cherubin all þat he sau, Line 1352 Cherubin wid chere sua mild, Bigan to tell him of þat child; "þat child," he said, "þat þu has sene, Es goddes sun widuten wene, Line 1356 þi fader sinne nou wepis he, þat he sal clens sum time sal be, Quen þe plente sal cum of time. Line 1359 þis es þe oyle þat was hight hime, Til him and til his progeni, wid pite sal scheu his merci." Line 1362 Quen seth had vnþerstanden wele, þat þat cherubin said, euer-ilk a dele, Hisleue wild take of cherubyn,— [folio 10b:1] Pe[p]ins þan he gaf him thrin, þe quilk of þe appil tre he nam, þat his fader ete of, adam. Line 1368 "þi fader," he said, "þan sal þu say, þat he sal die þe thrid day, Efter þat þu be comen him vnto, Loke nou þat þu say him so. Line 1372 Bot þu sal take pepins thre þat i take of þat appil tre, And do þaim vnder his tonge rote, To mani man þai sal be bote; Line 1376 þai sal be cedi[r], cipris and pine, Till mani a man be medicine. þe fadir in cedir sal þu take, A tre of hit, widuten make; Line 1380 Of cipris be þat suete sauur, Bitakins of vr suete sauiur.

þe mekil suetteness þat es þe son; þe pine to a fruit es won, Line 1384 Mani kirnelis of a tre most Gain giftes of þe hali gost." Seth was of his erand fain, Line 1387 And sone cam to his fader again. "Sun," he said, "has þu sped aght, Or has þu ani merci broght?" "Sir, cherubin þat hali angel, þat porter es, he gretes þe wel, Line 1392 Sais it sal be nere þe worldes end, Ar þat oyle þe may be sende, Thoru birth of a blisful child, þat sal þe world fra harm schild. Line 1396 Of þi dede he bad me say, þat sal be to day thrid day." Adam was for þis tiþand blithe, so glad he was neuer his sihte. Line 1400 Quen he herd he suld liue na mare, þan he logh, bot neuer are. And þus to godd gan he to cri, [folio 10b:2] "Lauerd, enogh liued haue nou i, þu take mi saule vte of mi fless, Line 1405 And þo it quar þi willes ess." For of þis world he was ful madd, þar neuer a day þar in was gladd, þat liued niene hundred ȝere & mare, And all his lijf led in soru and care; And leuer siþen to won in hell, Line 1411 þen langer in þis world to duell.

Adam, as him was tald biforn, Deyed apon þe thrid morn, Grauen he was thoru seth his sun, Right in þe vale of ebrun; Line 1416 þe pepinis war don vnder his tong, þar ros of þaim þre wandis ȝong,

And sone an elne hight þai were, þai stod þan still and wex no mare. Mani a ȝere elike al grene, Line 1421 Halines on þaim was sene, Still þai stod ay, þa wandes thre, Fra adam time vnto noee; Line 1424 Fra noee quen þe flode ras, Till habraham þat hali was, Fra abraham time still stod þai Till moyses þat gaue þe lay; Line 1428 Euer stod þai still in ane, widuten waxing or wane. Na mare of þa wandis nou Bot a stori sal i rede ȝou. Line 1432

Of adam and oþer eldris.

Adam liuid nine hundrid ȝere, And thritti winter þarto sere, Quen he was dede ful sone onane, His saule it was til hell tane; Line 1436 And all þat died bituix and þan þat iesu ras, bath godd and man, Mith þaim help na halihede, [folio 11a:1] at þai to hell þan most nede. Line 1440 He might wele thinc þat stunnd strang þat in þat stede was stad so lang, Four thousand ȝere in þat wo, Line 1443 Thre hundrid ȝere and four also,— So lang fra adam was i tell Til þat vr lauerd horud hell. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

Þe genialogi of adam þe ald, Of seth and caym nu sal be tald.

SEth spoused his sister delbora, For godd him-self had boden sua;

He gat of hir a sun, enos, A man þat was of mekil los, Line 1452 For-qui he was þe formast man, þat cri on goddes name bigan. Neien hundrid ȝere seuen and fijf, So lang lastid sethis liue. Line 1456 Enos his sun liued all bidene, Nine hundrid ȝere and fijf i wene; Caynan his sun, as it es redd, Line 1459 Nine hundrid ȝere his lijf he ledd. Eyht hundrid ȝere liued malaliel, And fiue and tuenti þar to tell. Nine hundred ȝere and sex iaraeth, þat was þe fift kin fra seth, Line 1464 Of iareth elde þe ȝere fourtiand, was passid ouer þe first thousand. Enoch his sun widuten pere, Liued in erd thre hundered ȝere, Line 1468 He was þe first þat lettris fand, And wrat sum bokis wid his hand; To paradis quic was he tan, Line 1471 And þar he liues in fless and ban; He sal cum bifor domisday To fight for þe cristen lay, wid antecrist þan sal he fight, Forto were þe cristen right. Line 1476 He and his felaue helia, [folio 11a:2] Antecrist sal þaim bath sla, Bot wit þair vprising fra ded to lijf, Sal þai fell þat fals strijf. Line 1480 Adam, als þe stori sais, Deied in þis enoch dais. Of enoch com matussale, Liued neuer man sua lang as he, Line 1484 Til þat nine hundrid ȝere was gan And seuenti, failed it bot an.

Lamet his sun, his elde to neuen, Line 1487 Seuen hundrid ȝere and seuinti and seuen. Of lameth com his sone noe, In quas time þe flod gan be; þe formast world adam bigan, þer-of lamet þe last man. Line 1492 It lastid wele a thousand ȝere, Sex hundrid til and sexti sere. Bot ar þat oþer world biginne, Line 1495 Speke we sumquat of caym kinne.

Qven caym had don þat cursed dede þat he was warid, als we rede, He fledd a-way fra oþer men, Into a stede þat hight eden. Line 1500 Till him was spoused calmana, As was to seth giuen delbora. Sone a sun of hir gat he, þat enos hight, as a cite Line 1504 Of þat ilke name he made; I find na terme of his lijflade. þar he woned wid his brod, þe first cite bifor þe flod. Line 1508 Of enos gaidat of him malaliel, And of him cam matussalel. Lameth his sun had sunes thrine, Iobal, cabal, tubaltainne. Line 1512 þis lameȝ was cald lam[e]ȝ þe blind, Caym he slow wid chance, we find. In þe flode he was fordon. [folio 11b:1] Iobal, þat was his eldest son, Line 1516 was first hogger, and fe delt wid, Tubaltaine þe formast smith, Tobal þair broþer first vnderfang Musyk, þat es þe sonne of sang. Line 1520 Organis, harpe, and oþer gleu, He drou þaim vt of music neu.

A sister had þa brether alsua, And scho was cald noema, Line 1524 Scho was þe formast webister þat man findes of þat mister. Hir fader was þe first o liue, þat euer bigan wid dobil wiue. Line 1528 þai þat þir wonþer werkes wroght, It ran þaim wele þat time in thoght, þat þis world suld cum to ende Line 1531 wid water drenkild or wid fir brend. Tua pilers þai made, of tyle þat an, þe toþer it was of marbil stan, þir craftes all þat þai miht mine, þai put þaim in þa pilers tuine; Line 1536 þe stan, againes þe water to last, þe tyle gaines fir, þat it ne brest, þai wist þat qua so efter cam, Suld be wised wid þar wisdam. Line 1540 For-þi lete godd him liue so lang, þat þai micht seke and vnþer fang þe kind of thinges þat wer dern, Line 1543 Cours of sune and mone and sterne, þe quilk cours miht nan fulli lere, þat miht [noght] liue an hundrid ȝere. Quen so mani ȝere es passed vte, þe mekil spire es rune aboute, Line 1548 Into lang time, es noght to lain, þe planetis er all went again Of þair first making, into þe state; Als þir wise clerkis nu wate. Line 1552

How manes sinne þat i of mene, Corrupt all þis world bidene. [folio 11b:2]

Qven iareth þat ȝe herd me neuen, Had eld of hundid winter seuen,

Mekil malice was first in man, Bot neuer bifor als was þan; Line 1556 In adam time was wa enow, Bot þan wex wele more ye wohw, Namli amang caym kin, þat lited þaim noght bot in sin. Line 1560 All thoght þaim wele it was þair will, And þat was heldand al to ill; On all thing was mare þair thout, þan on iesu þat all has wrohut; Line 1564 So blind þai wex in þair sith, þat rekenig koud þai nan of riht, Ai þair luue þai gaf to lust, þat schent þair saulis al to dust, Line 1568 Of sothfastnes, as sais þe saue, þai left þe lede of oþer laue, þat es of setnes and of kind, Widuten mensk þai were vnmind. All wex wick, bath an and oþer, Line 1573 þe broþer wijf lay bi þe toþer; þair cursednes was noght vnkid, þe laue of kind þai so fordid. Line 1576 wimmen þat forced amanges þaim, might nan þaim bring to reclaim; þe schame, þe sin, þat þar was vte To tell war lang to sitt aboute. Line 1580 þe fend wend witterli wid þis, þat all man kind suld be his, Al mankind forsoth he wend, To his will all suld be kend; Line 1584 Sua forþerli þat godd ne mith, Bring man into state of rith, Into þe state þat he had tint;— Bot god al oþer wise had mint. Line 1588 Of his handwerk sua sone, [folio 12a:1] wold he noght þai war fordone;

Forþi in form of iugement, A neu vengans on þaim he sent, Line 1592 His fas to bring all of liue, And clens þe wrong þat was so riue, wid his grace to gif him grith, þat he suld restore mankind with. Line 1596 Quen he biheld þe foli sua strang, Godd, þat bidin had so lang, þou he war wrath it was na wrang, þis word vte of his hert sprang, Line 1600 And was þe word þat he said þan; "Me rewis þat euer i made man." Bot ilk a man þat þis word heris, wat noght all quat it to peris, Line 1604 þis word was as a prophessye, þat for said was bi his merci, Of þe reuthe him siþen kidd, Quen he to pine him seluen didd Line 1608 For his schoslinges apon rode tre, Quat was his reuthe nu all mai se. Bi þis word þat þen was said, His merci was bifore puruaid, Line 1612 Till þaim þat war on his parti, Forto bring þaim mithili, Als his aune his kingdam tille, His enmijs all forto spill, Line 1616 Againes þam he was sua wrath; And bi his right hand suuar on ath, þat þai suld thole all schamis dede, Saue þe gode to giue his rede, Line 1620 þat all his foluns war for-lorn; þe gode also suld be forborn, Als it in noe flode bifell, Quer of i sal ȝou siþen tell. Line 1624 Bot firist a tre, ar i bigine, I sal here sett of noe kinne

[[No gap in the MSS.]]

Here bigines at noe þe lede þe toþer world for to sede.

[folio 12a:2]

Fijf hundrid ȝere þan had noe, Quen he had geten his sunes thre, þe first was sem, cam þe toþer, Line 1629 And iaphet hight þe thrid broþer; God spac vnto noe þan, And þus his resun he bigan, Line 1632 "Noe," he said, "i tell till þe, All þis world bitrais me, þai haue left me and mi lau, Of me standis þaim non au, Line 1636 All is forgetin þat franchis, þat i gaf man in paradis; þe erd wid sin and schame es schent, All rightwis away es went; Line 1640 All lustsum, all wickedhede, Has fild þis world on lenth and brede. Of þair malice may na man speke, Til heuen þer-of it rises þe smeke, Couaytise, lechuri, and pride, Line 1645 Has spred þis world lang and side; All er þai worthi for to wite, Of pine es non funden quite; Line 1648 Bot i sal ger þaim ley ful lau, þat lates sua lightli of mi au. [[originally lau]] wreke to take i am al bun, I sal þaim drenkil in watir sone, Line 1652

Line 1652 þaim all bot þi wijf and þe, þi sunes and þaire wiues thre; ȝe eyth, for ȝour treu leute, Alone i haue granted mi gre, Line 1656 wid þin ospring as i haue mint Restore þe folk þat sal be tint; Fra þe mast doune to þe lest, Sal neyder haue lijf, foul ne best. Line 1660 Bot ar þat i mi vengeance take, I wil þat þu a vessel nou make." "Sir, tell me quarof it sal be." [folio 12b:1] "It sal be mad of quarid tre, Line 1664 A schip bihouis þe to dight, þi self sal be þe maister wriht, I sal þe tell hu lang and brad, And of quat mesure it sal be mad. Quen þe timber is festind wele, Line 1669 þu wind þe sidis ilk a dele, Bind it first wid balke and band, And wind it siþen wele wid wand; wid pic loke it be nohut thine, Line 1673 Plastir it wele widuten and ine. Seuen skor elne long and tene, Thrijs eheit on wide, on lenth fiftene, Fiftene on it heit þat es þe entent, Fra grund vnto þe tabil-ment. It sal be made wid stagis sere, Ilkan to ser of þair mistere. Line 1680 þu sal be nein o þat o side, make a dur wid mesur wid; A windou sperand wele on hey; Loke þi werk be noght vnsli, Line 1684 And hus þer in to drinc and ete, wardrop loke þu noght forgete. Of alkines bestis ta þu tuin, wid þair makis to duell þar-in, Line 1688

Line 1688 Of ilk liuand best þat es wrohut; Foul ne worm forget þu noght. In þe ouermast stag þan sal þu be, þe foulis alder neist þe vnder be; Siþen efter alþer neist hand, Line 1693 þe meke bestis suld þai stand, þa þat er bath tame and milde, And vnder þaim suld stand þe wild. And þu sal alsua make a boure, Line 1697 To hold vnto þi warnistoure, þan in þe bothum sal be na stall, For all þair filth þeder sal fall. Line 1700 It sal be mekil widuten pere, [folio 12b:2] In making sex sith tuenti ȝere, Sua lang time i haue þaim lent, þat wil cum vnto amendement, Line 1704 And if ani wil tent vnto þe, þat þai þar-in may saued be. Quen þu þi timbir wel has laid, And it es to þi will al graid, Line 1708 þu and þi wijf sal firist ga in, þi sunes wid þair wijfes thrin; ȝe sal alsua take ȝou wid, Best and foul þat sal haue grith, Line 1712 þe meke bi þaim ai tua and tua, þe wild do bi þaim seluen alsua, Of ilka kind ta tua wid-in, Forto hald vp þair aun kin. Line 1716 Loke þu do sua for na suink þu haue deffaute of mete or drinc. Do nu wele, nu leue i þe, Bot i sal eft com þe to se. Line 1720 If þat i se þu wirkis right, I sal þe hold þat i þe nu hight."

Nou wat noe quat dede to do, And hend [[or heud]] þe tymber þat fel þar to,

He gaf þe writhes þair mesur, Line 1725 And wroght himself in þat labur; þai wroght bath in wod and place, Himself festid bath band and lace. Bot euer þe quilis þat he wroght, Line 1729 þe folk to preche forgat he noght, To warn þaim of vr lauerdes wreche, And hu god had him teld in speche; He teld þat resun to mani a man, Quarfor he suilk a schip bigan, Line 1734 wid scorning al þai him ansuerd, And said, "qui es þis carl a-ferd?" Gret wonder, þai said þaim thoght, Qui he was sua dred for noght, Line 1738 [folio 13a:1] þai said þat man war worthi be schent, þat toke þe ald manes wordes tent. Quen noe sau his trauail al tint, Of þis preching þan he stint, It es but foli giue consail to þe folk þat wil but foly do; Line 1744 For-þi he sone he left þat cursid lede, And went him to his aun dede. Less ne mar greued he him nohut, Bituix and he þe schip had wroght, Till it was made and in wid stad, Line 1749 All þat godd bifor him badd. Quen he had don his comandment, He bad noght bot þe iugement, Line 1752 þat godd all mithi suld wirke his will, As he bifor him had said vntill. þen cam godd quen he sau time, Till noe forto speke wid hime, Line 1756 Quen he his wil wid him had spokin, Him-self þe dur suith had stokin, þe windou was wid suilk a gin, Men mith it opin and spere wid in.

Quen al was don was þar no biþe, Line 1761 Stormes ras on euer-ilk a side, Sun and mone leme gan hide, It mirked ouer all þis world wide, þe rain it fell sua fell and fast, Line 1765 welles wer, þe bankes brast; þe see to rise, þe erd to cleue, þe springes gan ouer al vte dreue; Leuening fell wid thoner and rain, þe erd quok and dinned egain. Bath sun and mone tint þair liht, þat all þis world turn to night, Line 1772 þat soru to se was gret aue, þe bigginnes fel bath hey and lau. þe water wex vte ouer þe plaines, [folio 13a:2] þe bestis ran þen to montaynes, Line 1776 Men and wimmen ran þaim wid, Wele þai wend þar haf sum grid, All for noght þan suank a fote Quen þai cam þar was þar na bote. þe foulis flight þan on hei, Line 1781 And fell quen þai miht na langer drei; For noght þai fledd, best ne man, All to late þai all bigan. Line 1784 Thinc on man ferli þat þar suam Side bi side, bath wolf and man, þe leon suam biside þe hert, Did na best til oþer vnquert, Line 1788 þe sperhauk bi þe starling, þai tent til oþer nankines thing. þe ladijs tent noght til pride, þai suam bi þair knauis side; Line 1792 Of lauerdschip was þar na strijf, was na man gelus of his wijf, Miht nan oþer helpe ne suike þai drinklid ilkan euer elike. Line 1796

Line 1796 All he drinklid, riche and pouer, was nan fra dede þat mith him couer. For þaire sinnes wepe þai þan, Allas! fule late þai þaīm began, Line 1800 þai ȝernid þan, þa caitifes madd, þat þai had ben wid noe stadd.

Bot þou þat noe was inquert, He was noght al at ese in hert, Line 1804 þe wind him ledd apon þe flod, He wist noght queþerward he drou, Heuen and erd he flet bituene, Bot he ne wist queþer his schip suld bene. þat was wid him, bath man and wijf, þai wer ful dredand of þair lijf, Line 1810 Bot þat lauerd sua ful of might [folio 13b:1] To noe bifore þair liues hight, Noee wist þan, widuten wene, þe folk war all dede bidene; Line 1814 wid weping sare on þaim he ment, And turned all to godd his entent. He fined neuer night no day, For þat caytif folk to pray, Line 1818 For manes kind, so sais þe boke, Bot durst he neuer wid eie vp loke. He praid to god for þaim alsua, Line 1821 Of þair sauls na wengans ta, Als was tan on þaim þat quile Opon þair bodijs þat was sa vile, Line 1824 Siþen þai war parist sua reufuli, þair saules he wild of haue merci. Sua wild he þat he had widuten faile, Had þai troud noe consaile, Line 1828 Quen þai forsoke his sarmoning And toke his speche to scorning, Bot nou þai find it þair fare, þai wild noght trou on noe lare. Line 1832

Line 1832 For quilis þat godd gaf him grace, þar war nohut fered of his manace.

Þis rain rained euer on-ane, Tuix and fourti dais war gane, Line 1836 þe heiest montayn þat was aware þe flod ouer ras seuen elne and mare; þat was no creature on liue Line 1839 þat might þat win to grund reche no riue, Bot it war fisse þat flett on sund, Might na thing reche þe grund. On þe strem þe schip gan ride, þe wawis bett on euer-ilk a side, Line 1844 þe stormis starkid wid þe wind, þe wawis bett bifor and bihind; Noe and his þai loked ai dun, [folio 13b:2] To drenkil wend þai had ben bun. Bot be ȝe straisti, widuten strijf, Line 1849 Inogh it lettid þaim þair lijf; Til seuin sith tuenti dais war gan, þe flod it stod ai still on an. Line 1852 Aboute fiue monethes þat it stode widuten falling, þat fers flod; Oft wend þai þar schip suld riue wid wind or wawe, or dint or cliue; Bot ȝeit es godd þar þat he was Line 1857 To help ay quen his willis was. Quen he his vengans þus had wroght, Our lauerd þan on noe thoght, Line 1860 And bigan to have pite Of him and þe schip and his meyne; þat mithi king ful sone, i wiss, Turnd þair baret in to bliss; Line 1864 Again he did þe watris ga Into þa placis þat þai com fra, þe erde wex bare quen þai ne wend, þe schip on land bigan to lend, Line 1868

Line 1868 On armeni þar gan it stand,— A hey montayn in þe hali land. þe sun bigan sumquer to kithe, Noe wex þan ful blithe, Line 1872 And said þan to his sones thre, "Childer," he said, "quat rede ȝe, Hou sal we of þis water witt, Line 1875 Queþer þai be aught fallen ȝeitt?" þai said, "thoru a foul may we wit if þe erd aught bared be, Line 1878 Til þe schip wil þai cum no mare, For if he find þe erde aght bare." þan opin noe his windou, Line 1881 Lete vte a rauin and forth he flou, Dun and vp soght here and þare, [folio 14a:1] A stede to sett apon sumquar. Line 1884 Apon þe water sone he fand, A drinkled best þar fletand, Of þat fless was he so fain, To schip cam he neuer egain: Line 1888 þar-for þat messager, men say, þat duellis lang in his iornay, He may be cald, wid resun clere, An of the rauyns messagere. Line 1892 Quen noe sau and was parceiued, þat þe rauyn him had disceyued, Lete vte a douue, scho tok her flith, And fand na place apon to lith, Line 1896 Scho com again widuten blin, Noe ras vp and lett hir in. Siþen bot he seuen dais, After þat, þe bibil sais, Line 1900 þan he sent þe douue eft sith, Scho went forth and cam ful suith, Sone scho cam and duellid noght, An oliue branche in mouth scho broght.

þan was noe wele bi knauin, Line 1905 þat þe flod was wid-drauin, Bot ȝeit he bade seuen dais in rest, For drede if ani damising brest; Line 1908 Siþen he gert þaim all vte driue, Best and foul, man and wiue. þe bestis war ful blith in mode, Line 1911 Quen þat þai had tan þair kindli fode; vr lauerd did þaim sone to sprede, widin þair aun kind to brede. þan bad godd vnto noe, To leue þe schip wid his meyne. Line 1916 A tuelmoneth was gan wid þis, Bi þat ilk same day, i-wiss, A twelmoneth þat he ȝede þar-ine, [folio 14a:2] He left it euer mare to mine, Line 1920 Als peris maior, þe gode clerk, Tellis of him in sumkines werk. Til him þan vr lauerd hend, And said, "noe, mi leue frend, Line 1924 þu and þi sunes wid þair wiues, I haue saued all ȝur liues, ȝou ȝit i haue for-born allan, Of þis wengans þat i hau tan, Line 1928 Til ȝou ȝit þat i lett leue Min brod benisun i giue; I wil þat of þine ospring brede Alkins nacion and lede, Line 1932 Alkin thinges on þair wise I wil þai do to þe seruise." Noe was of his blissing blith, And did to raise an auter suith, Line 1936 He ȝode to worschip godd as wise, And þar apon made his sacrifise. Our lauerd godd all weldand, Him liked wele þair offrand, Line 1940

Line 1940 And said, "noe, for anikins chanse, Sal i noght take sli a noþer venganse, Fra me donward drou manes thoght, Nou er þai all doune fulli broght. And if þu wirke efter mi lare, Line 1945 I sul þe make ful wele to fare. Til gode theues loke þu þe giue, And luue wele treuth quiles þu liue; Of suilk as ȝe bifor haue sauen, Line 1949 Ilk a man liue apon his auen; If þu wil trou apon mi rede, Fle falshed and theft as dede. Line 1952 Qua so of fless wil graith þar fode, Loko þai kast away þe blode, [folio 14b:1] All þat wil leleli wil hald þair lede, Blod to ete i þaim for-bede. Of best wid clouen fote in to, Line 1957 wid scheuand code, ȝe ete also; I warn ȝu nou alsua bidene, Ete of na best of kind vnclene; Line 1960 Of nankines worm þat euer es made, Na foul þat reuis his liuelade, Alsua ȝe ete of na fiss ellis, Bot þat in flock and herd duellis, Line 1964 Fisse and fless of bath i say Loke þe bodi ȝe cast a way. To þe and þine I bidd also, Be nan sua bald oþer to slo, Line 1968 For qua-so slas man or wijf, þar bes na raunsum bot lijf for lijf; I made man efter min aun ymage, Nou wil i nan do oþer vtrage, Line 1972 Euil au na man do till oþer, For ilkan au to be oþer broþer. A couenand neu i hite to þe, þu sal fra nu mi rainbou se, Line 1976

Line 1976 Quilis þu may se mi bou þar vte, Of suilk a flode thar ye noght dute. If man misdo in oþer wise, On þaim i sal take mi iustise, Line 1980 þat sal be at þe day of ire, Quen i sal cum to deme wid fire. wid lele werkis loke ȝe dele, As ȝe wil luue ȝur saule hele, Line 1984 And ȝeldes till ȝur creatur, þe tend part of ȝur labur."

Gode men, i wil þat ȝe it se, þat bituix adam and noe Line 1988 þe time was euer elike grene, þat nankines rainbowe was sene. And if no rain apon erd fell, [folio 14b:2] On erde plente mith men tell. Line 1992 Ne thurt na man ete fless þat tide, þat was don wid manes pride. Nou es for sinne and pride of man, þe erde wayker þan it was þan Line 1996 For þe water þat it sua wess, þar for bihouis nu man ete fless; And wayker es nu manes state, þan it was þan, wele i wate. Line 2000

Qven noe left þat schip alane, He had sex hundrid ȝere and ane, þe elleuent winter was witterli, þar efter, as tellis us metodi, Line 2004 Quen þe world was gangand In elde of þe thrid thousand. Noe, þat lele widuten plight, A neu biginning gan he dight, Line 2008 A neu liuelad gan he bigin, Him-seluen and his sunes thrin. Of land he had ful gret plente, For him self and his sonis thre, Line 2012

Line 2012 Mast to tilth he gaf him þan, To flitt þe breris he bigan; So lang wid flitting he him soght, þat win tres he þaim wroght. Line 2016 Bitid a day he was for-swonken, And vnwaris of win was dronken, þou he him selue first it wroght, þe win þar-for sparid him noght; Drunken on slepe lai bi him ane, þar þe sun apon him schane, Line 2022 Naked on þat lime lay he, þat men thinc most schame to se. His middelest sun was cald cam Biheld and sau his faþer scham, Line 2026 He kidd he was vnkind enogh, [folio 15a:1] To skorning he his fader logh; To his broder iaphet said he, "Broþer, cum nu hiþer and se." Line 2030 "Quat es þat?" said iaphet his broþer. "þi fadir slepand," said þe toþer, "He lis here vte, cum se þu sal, Nakid apon his limes all." Line 2034 "Broþer," he said, "þu seis foli, And þat i trou þu mon in ȝit aby, If þu of þi faþer make despithe, I claime þe of his blissing quite." His ȝonger broþer was ful wa, For þat þe elder he wroght sua, Line 2040 A mantil fra his neck he toke, And ȝede bacward, als sais þe bock, He and his eldest broþer sem, Tua blisful of þat barntem, Line 2044 Til þai com þar þair fader lay, And him þar wid couerid þai. þar-bi mai men wele vnderstand, was funden þan na breke in land. Line 2048

Line 2048 Nos wid his mantil wok, His sunes scornyng he vndertok, His malisun on him he laid, And siþen efterward he said, Line 2052 "Cam, widuten ani doute, þu sal be þi breþer vnderloute, vnderloute to þaim and thral, Sal þu be and þi ospring all;" Line 2056 þe toþer tua for þair couering, Noe gaf his brod blissing. To sem and iaphet þan said he, "Nou sal it all forgiuen be, Line 2060 Leth and wreth for ani plight, If ȝe again me did (euer [[This word is inter|lined.]] ) ani unright; Of ȝu sal ȝeit þat ospring sprede, [folio 15a:2] þat sal oueral haue lord-hede. Blissed sal be ȝur tabernacil, Fild of mirth and of miracyl, And godd it graunt þat it be sua, þat all þis world bes ȝures tua." Line 2068 To cam he said, "þu foule felun, þu has þe kind of þat nacion Of caym, cursed mast of oþer, þat wid tresun slogh his broþer; Do þe suith vte of mi sith, Line 2073 þu art and sal be maledith. Bi me au þu noght to duell, þi woning place es made in hell, Fle fra me, þu warid thing, Line 2077 Nou sal we part for þi skorning." Away he fledd, he and his Were all vr lauerdes enmyes. Line 2080

[Of Noah and his three sons.]

Noe, þat gracius and gode, Liued fourti ȝere eftir þe flode.

Nyne hundrid ȝere and ten sith fiue, So lang lasted noe liue; Line 2084 For he liued leleli as i ȝou neuen, He ssittes wid mighti godd in heuen. His sunes þat i bifore of melt, All þis world bituix þaim delt, Line 2088 To sem, asye, to cam, affrick, To iaphet, europe, þat wilful wik. All þis thre þai er ful riche, Line 2091 Bot sem part was nan oþer liche; For-þi þe world was, als we here, Delt in thre partijs sere, In thre partijs principale, þe partijs er noght parinngale, Line 2096 For asye es, widuten suike, Als so mekil as europe and affrike, Asye is þe thrid in talle, [folio 15b:1] And es þe halfendel ȝeit all hale; Line 2100 It es þe best, for þar in es þe hali land and hathenes, Precius stanis and spices of prijs, For þar-in standis paradis; Line 2104 Inde, and peris, and arabye, Babylon, Iudea, and sulie, and mani oþer diuers contre. þar-in es babilon, þe mast cite. Line 2108 Affrick es þat oþer partie, þat bifor time was cald libye. Mani a contre þar in es, And doghuti cytes, mar & les; Line 2112 þar in es Cartage, cyte strang, And oþer mani ayquar emang, þe mekil land of Ethiopie, lenile, Mortaygne, and indie, Line 2116 þat land lijs mast in to þe souht, þar þe blomen mast er couht.

Ȝe thrid parti es noght þe lest, It lijs mast in to þe west; Line 2120 All on þis side þe grekkisch see was Iaphet giuen til his liuere. It hat Europe, where maste to day Reinys of þe cristen lay; Line 2124 þar in es rome, þat hefd cyte, þat es abouen all cristiante, And mani a noþer riche kingdame, þat i to tell has no tame. Line 2128 Of þir thre bigan þe folk to sprede, And fild þe world in lenthe and brede, Of þaim it ras so mani a men, Of diuers kindes, sex sithe ten. Line 2132 Knyht and thral and fre man, Of þir thre breþer þus bigan, [folio 15b:2] Of sem, fre man; of Iaphet, kniht; Thrall of cam, þat malediht. Line 2136 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

Bigine we now to tell of sem, And siþen of his barn tem.

SEm was lele in godes lare, He liued seuin hundrid ȝere & mare. þis ilk sem was cald sed[e]ch, Line 2141 And was cald melchisedech; vr leuedi Mari, als we find, Com vte of þis same kind; Line 2144 He was king and preist of salem, þat nou es cald ierusalem, þe first of all þat euer was born, þat wid win and bred of corn Line 2148 Made sacrifice to iesu so treu, In taking of þe lawis neu.

þis sem liued, i of rede here, Till ysaac was of seuenti ȝere. Line 2152 Sem had fiue sonys sere, Of an to speke it es mistere, þat es of him of quos sede He was born þat bett vr nede. Line 2156 Arphaxat liued widuten were, Thre hundrid and eyt and thriti ȝere. Four hundrid ȝere his sun caynan; And eyt and thritti fra he bigan. Line 2160 Four hundrid his son sale, He lyued and thritti ȝere and thre. Heber his sun four hundred ȝere, And four and fourti þar-to sere. Line 2164

Phaleth his sun liued witterli, To hundrid ȝere & nein and thritti. Ragan his sun þat was, Tuelf skor ȝere, bot on les. Line 2168 Serut his sun, to hundrid ȝere And thritti was his lijf he bere. Of sua lang lijf was noght nacor, [folio 16a:1] He liued heyt ȝere and four scor. Line 2172 Thare his sun liued langer liue, To hundrid ȝere and oþer fiue. þe toþer elde endis in thare, þe quilk bigan at lete noe. Line 2176 þat tyme was þis world so ȝong, þat all men spac þan wid a tong, þat es ebru for to say, þat Iuus hald ȝeit to þis day. Line 2180

Iaphet had him sunes seuen, A parti sinful for to neuen, Gomor, Madan, Gena, Magog, Tubal, Tyras, and Mosog. Line 2184 Þis Gomor had him sunes thre, Togoriens, Riphat, Assine.

Gena had four sunes, þat was cechim, Elisa, Tharsis, and dotahim; Till eillandis þir þai drou, Line 2189 of þat nacion sprang foli enou.

Cam four sunes had he him, Chus, Phut, Canan, and Mephaim. Of chus,—saba and enila, Line 2193 Sabatha, regma, Sagabata; Of chus bicam nembrot also, þat in his time wroght mekil wo, For he was proud, fers, and fell, Line 2197 Of him sum thing nou wil i tell.

Þis nembrot wid his mekil pride, He wend to wirke wondris wide, Ful fer about men bar his name, Line 2201 Mekil he cuth of sin and schame. Of babilon king, stijf in stour, And þar-wid he was wrang werour, Reuer and manqueller grett, Line 2205 Mekil he luued wid ill be-ȝeitt. [folio 16a:2] þer was na folke þat woned him by, þat miht þaim were fra his merci, Ouerall he rahut wid gret vtrage. þat time it was bot a langage, Line 2210 Ebru þe first þat adam spack. Fra est he brohut ane euyl pack, In till þe filde of Sennar, Sexti werkemen þai wer, Line 2214 wid Nembroth com þai forto duell, And tok a consail þaim emell; A fole consail toke þai and sone, Line 2217 To werre apon þe sunne and mone, þair witt was ful of felonny; Line 2220 A fole consail þarfor said i, Line 2219 Of þair gret pride couth na man tell; In sennar þai toke to duell.

Nembrot þaim said on þis wise, "Me thinc, lordiges, þai war vnwise, vr eldris þat bifor vs were, Line 2225 Quen þai coude find in na manere, Forto were þaim fra þat flod, þat drenkild all þe world ouer ȝode. I rede we bigin a neu labur, Line 2229 And do we wele and make a tour, wid squire and scantlion sua euen, þat it may reche heier þan heuen. God sal we conquere wid fiht, Line 2233 Again vs sal he haue na mith, Or at þe last to hald him still, And lett vs nohut to do vr will, þat euer quen we se ani chesun, Line 2237 Freli we may climbe vp and doun."

[Of the building of the Tower of Babylon.]

þir folis foltid gadrid þaim þan, wid grett enuy þis werk bigan, Line 2240 To and sexti fadum brad was þe grund-wall þat þai made. [folio 16b:1] Quen þai at will had fest þe grund, þe werk þai raisid ane a stound, wid tyle and ter, widuten ston Line 2245 oþer morter ne was þar non; wid corde and plumbe þai wroght so hy, þat hete of sune miht þai nohut dry, wid horsis ad wid camayles hide, Line 2249 þai hold þaim þat hete for to bide, And said, "queþer godd be wrath or blith His estris sul we se als suith;

Nou we haue vs sped sua ferr, Our will may he noght forbarr." Bot grete god, þat euer es hende, Line 2255 a curtais vengans on þaim gan send,

þai þat suilk vtrage on him soght, Lim ne lijf he ne reft þaim noght, Bot sua he menged þar þair mode, þat nan of þaim þar vnderstode Line 2260 Of suilk speche as he wold say, þair tunges wex diuers fra þat day. For schame ilkan þat werk for-sok, And went away, sua sais þe bok. Line 2264 For-þi þat tour es cald babiloygne, þat schending es widuten soygne, þer war all þe spechis delt, In diueris landis ouerall es melt, Line 2268 þat first was bot an and na ma. Nou er þer spechis sexti and tua. þis tour was celly mad vp on hight, Fyf thousand steppis it was right, And eyt skor and four þar to, Line 2273 Sua made þir folis þaim to do. Ten mile compas all aboute, Als þe stori tellis, widuten doute. Line 2276 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] At þis werk ne was noght sem, Ne noman of his barn tem. Line 2280 Ebru þair spece þarfor hald þai, [folio 16b:2] þat iuus haldes ȝeit to þis day.

Þis nembrot was þe first king þat in maumet fand mistrouing, Lang he reyned in þat land, Line 2285 In maumetri first fayth he fand; þat he bigan lastes ȝeit, Sarazins wil it noght for-let. Line 2288 Till his fader þat was dede, a vigur was made wid his rede, And comanded stiffli to his men, Line 2291 As godd þai suld him knau and cen;

Quat for luue and quat for doute, All worschip it als þair vnderloute. þis euydens biheld þis oþer, Line 2295 þat sum for faþer and sum for broþer, For freindes dede þat þaim was dere, þai made ymagis of meteles sere. Thoru þaim þat lau was þar bigun, Sone ouer all þaim was it rune, Line 2300 For freindes dede ouerall þe land, Suilk mistrouing vp þai fand. Feindes crepe þas ymagis wid-in, And lede to folted men wid sin. Line 2304

Thre sunes had thare, on abram Alsua nachor and aram. Thre sunes had nacor þe lele, vs, and bus, and batuele, Line 2308 Of vs com iop, of bus lalam, Of batuel, rebecca and laban. Of aram a sun and dohutyrs thre, Melcha, loth, and dame sare. Line 2312 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

Of þe thrid elde i sal ȝou tell Quo so will a stound nou duell.

Oo abraham nou wil we drau, þat rote es of þe cristen laue. I sai for qui he is þe rote, [folio 17a:1] For of him sprong vr alder bote, Line 2318

Line 2318 þe bote þat broght vs into mirth, Thoru þat hali maydens birth. Line 2320 Of him and his kin sul we rede, þat wonderli bigan to brede. þat leuedi wex vte of his side, we prai hir for hir maydene-hede, þat we may sua þis stori rede, Line 2325 Hir to worschip and vs to mede. þis abraham þat ȝe here me neuen, wele was loued wid godd of heuen; Lele he was ay in his lede, Line 2329 Ful of treuth and halihede. He and his wijf þat hight sare, Al ful of chastite þai ware:— Line 2332 Tua dohutyrs of Aram his broþer, Spoused þe tan, nacor þe toþer, For wid þe laue þat þai liued inne, Men suld noght spouse bot in þarkine:— For he was bath meke and hend, Line 2337 vr lauerd him held his priue frend, Ay luued he sothfastnes and right; For-þi til him vr lauerd hight Line 2340 A child suld brede of his ospring, yt all of thraldom suld þaim bring, And þar suld alsua of his side, Folk sua selcuth mani brede, Line 2344 þat na man suld cune summe ne neuen, Na mare þan þe sternis of heuen, Na mare þan þe grauel in þe see, Sua untelland suld þai be. Line 2348 For þis hith miht be na fabil, He troud wid stedfast herte and stabil, And als he troud, als he fand, Line 2351 vr lauerd him held ful treu couenand. Bot long he led him wid delay, [folio 17a:2] To mare þe medis of his fay, Line 2354

Line 2354 Of sexti ȝere he was and fiue, Line 2355 Quen his fader was faryn fra liue, For him he was murnand in thoght, Ay til vr lauerd him confort broght. And said till him, wid suilk a soune, "Abraham, loke þu make þe boune, þu and þi catel wid þi meine, vte of þi kid and þis contre Line 2362 ȝe sal wend to a better land; Ta loth þi broþer sun in hand; To canaan ȝe most drawe, A land þe quilk i sal ȝou schau. Line 2366 þou leue aram, þe land of yr, Of canaan þu sal be lauerd and sire, þider to wend be þu noght ferid, For þar sal be þi kindli erd; Line 2370 All þe folk þar wones aboute, Til þe þai sal be vnderloute, þar sal þi name ouer-raised be, And all þe ayres þat sal cum of þe. I sal þaim bliss þat þe wil bliss, Line 2375 Mi blissing sal þes oþer miss." Abraham went, and wid him loth, His meyne, his catel wele i woth, And com and lendyd, he and þai, Be side sychen in a valay. Line 2380 Bot þar bi feloun folk þai fand þat mekil wastid of þat land. Als suith als þai diþer cam, God him scheud to abraham, Line 2384 And said, "abraham þis es þe land, þer þu and þine sal haue weldand." Abram þat of treuth was treu, Be betel lifted an aunter neu, Line 2388 [folio 17b:1] He blissed godd, þat king of bliss, And he him blisced and all hiss.

Abraham turned him to þe south, To se þat land him was vncuth, Line 2392 In pes he wend haue it in wald, Als vr lauerd bifor him tald. Bot sone quen he had sesid þe land, þar fell an hunger i vnderstand, Line 2396 Thoru corn wantyng euerayquer, I can noght say þe sothlier; Abraham to selle miht find na sede, To egipt wende most he nede, Line 2400 And sare his wijf wid him to lede, þai had na corn þaim wid to fede. Als þai war wendand þiderward, Line 2403 He hir bisoght of suilk a for-ward:— "Lemman," he said, "sore i me drede, þar we wend bi þis laithly lede, For þu art fair, quen þai þe se, Line 2407 wid miht þai suld þe take fra me. Say þu þar-for till an and oþer, þat þu ert mi sister and i þi broþer, Ellis þat folk quen þai þe se, Line 2411 þai wil me sla for luue of þe." "Sir," scho said, "sua sal it be;" wid þis þai com in þat contre. Line 2414 Bot fra þat proud folk had hir sene, All spac of hir, scho was so schene, And sua þai praised hir to þe king, þat he hir gart bifor him bring; Line 2418 Bot god hir kept þat was hir with, And held her sua widin his grith, þat miht na man wid lichurye Hir bodi nehy wid vilanye. þe king was dred for godes gram, Line 2423 And bitaught þe wijf to abraham, [folio 17b:2] And said, "qui put þu vs in were, þat said þi wijf þi sister were?

Ta here þi wijf and brouk hir wele, Of þin wil i neuer a dele, Line 2428 Bot leuer me es of mine þu haue." þe king him gold and siluer gaue, And commanded thoru vte al his land, Men suld him onure and hald in hand, And if he wald þar no langer lende, þat he most freli hamward wend, And all þe gode he wid him ledd; To lett him straitly he forbedd. Line 2436

Abram went hom & his wijf sare, He loued hir better þan he did are, For worschip þat scho gart him wine, And scho vnsoght sakles of sine. Line 2440 In to betel þai com on-ane, þar he sett first his auter stane, Be-twyx him and loth his neuow Line 2443 Of bestaile hade þai plente enow. To pasture commune þai tok þe land, þe quilk þat lay þaim neist til hand. Bot fra þair stor bigan to spr[e]de, þair pastur gan to wax al nedede, þar-for þair herdis straff for itt, Line 2449 þair bestis nedlinges most þai flitt Fra þat folk þai war emang, þat gretli held þair stor in wrang,— þa nabethens, þat lothly lede, Line 2453 Ful of wrang and of wicked hede,— For þai wid þaim miht haue na rest, þai most nede part to seke þair beste. þen said abraham wid wordes hend, "Loth, mi neuow and mi dere frend, þis land es wide þat we er inne, Line 2459 Godd vs help we mith it wine, Of þis contre þat es sua wide, [folio 18a:1] þu chese to won on sum syde.

Queþer þu chese on right or left, I wil take þat þu has left." Line 2464 Loth loked tilward flom iordane, A dale he ches þar bi a plaine, A lufsum land, a fair contre, þe flum ran thoru ful fair to se; Line 2468 þe land of gomor þar-bi lijs, þat was þan like vnto paradis þe time ar it had done þat sake, Line 2471 Til godd þar on uengance gan take; þat land to won in loth thoght best, And abram ches him tilward þe est. þe land of sodome bar gret blame, For it was in a wicked fame, Line 2476 þai war putt in sua foul a plight, þat godd and man þaim maledight. Abram lendid him in-ane, Bisyde þe land of canaan, Line 2480 vnder þe fote of mount mambre þar he ches to sett his se; þat ilke stede hight chebron, Line 2483 A wonder winsum stede to in won. Ane auter he raised widuten bade, And sacrefice þar-on he made, Line 2486 þat dere godd on him suld myne, To ger him worschip for to winne. þar he sett his tabernacil, Line 2489 þar godd for him sone did miracil. Þar had a were ben in þat land, And it had lasted sumdel lang, Line 2492 Four kinges werrid apon fijf, þe fyue egain þe foure to strijf, þai smat to-gider at þe latter, In a dale biside a watir; Line 2496 [folio 18a:2] Sualang þai heud on helm a[n]d schild, þe four on fiue wan þe feilde,

þe fyue gaf bac to wine a way, And fell into a pitt of clay, Line 2500 þai fled and fell into a sohw, And þar þair fas foluand þaim slow. Siþen þai toke to winne þe land, Line 2503 þai tok all þat þai bifor þaim fand, Loth þai toke and ledd þaim with, was non þai toke þai graunted grith, For þai lett þat þaires was þe land, Fra þai had getun þe ouerhand. Line 2508 Hard held þai loth þat ilk day, A man unethes miht passe away, To cum til abram for to tell, Of lothes chanse hou him bifell. Line 2512 Abram was þan ful mislikand, Quen he herd of his hard tydand, He did to gadir samen his men, Line 2515 Thre hunderd eyt sergauntis and ten; And priuili he did þaim bide Til again an euen tide, And þan he broght þaim to a pas, Men cald in þat land themas, Line 2520 And þar he delt his folk in tua þat þai suld noght schape þaim fra; þir kinges had of na man doute, Line 2523 þair folk þai scatrid ouer al a-boute, Abram þat in trouth was strang, þa hethen men he mett ay emang, Diliuyrd þe paas alle and loth, with all þair catel, ilka croth. Line 2528 Slain war þa kinges þat ilke night Thoru þe grace of godes miht; þe folk of sedome was ful fayn Line 2531 Quen abram was comen egain, [folio 18b:1] þai sau þair freindes hale and sund, And wist þair fas war broght to grund.

Melchisedech, widuten bade, Line 2535 Offrand of brede and wine he made, Of ierusalem and all þat land, was king and preist allweldand. Treu he was, wise and hend, Of þair conquest he toke þe tend, Line 2540 Abram his benison gaf he, And all bad till him tendand be. Of pray wild abram na-thing haue, Bot ilk man he his aune gaue. Line 2544 Mekil it was þat loueword þan þat abram gat of mani a man; þai said it was scheud in sight. Line 2547 vr lauerd in him suld þe holde his hit.

Abram went ham a[n]d wid him ledd His folk; quen he was laid in bedd Slepand, he herd vr lauerdes steuen Sothly til him spac in sueuen, Line 2552 And said, "abram, thar þe nogh drede, I sal þe helpe in all þi nede, Of þat i haue þe hight to mede, Line 2555 To winne may þu be traist to sped." "Lauerd," he said, "hu may þis be, Quat es þi will to giue to me? þu wat wele child nou haue i nan, Bot mi seruantes son alan Line 2560 þat seruis me, Eleazar, Mi ayr wald i þat he war, Sin þu me gaf nan oþer barn." "Nay," said god, "i sal þe warn Line 2564 þat he þin ayr sal noght be, Bot a sede þat comis of þe." "Abram," he said, "þu cum here vte, Bihald þe skey ouer all aboute! Line 2568 þe barnies þat of þe sal brede, [folio 18b:2] Na mar sal þu þaim kon rede

þan sterris on sky or sand in see, To knau it sal ful selcuth be. Line 2572 Be traist in þis þat i þe hyt, þe to reue sal nan haue might." Abram þis word forgat he noght, Line 2575 Vr lauerd to serue was all his thoght, þan made abram his sacrifice, As godd him teld on quat-kin wise. Quen it was done and all poruayd, A uoice þan thoru a cloud said, Line 2580 "It suld be efter a wel lang quile, In egipt suld his sede exile, In thraldam foure hundrid ȝere, Bot þai suld siþen bi it dere, Line 2584 þai suld þaim hald in þat thrang, Wrokin on þaim suld be þat wrang. þan suld þe ospring of abraham, vnto þair land cum freli ham, Line 2588 To hold þair eritage in pais, As it was hite bifor þas dais."

Sare was barnles ȝit wid þis, Line 2591 And scho gan ȝerne þar efter, i-wis. Scho had wid hir an hand womman, þat agar hite, egipcian, Scho said to habram priueli, "þu seis na barnis bere mai i; Line 2596 And siþen þat i mai bere na barn, Agar mi womman i þe warn Bi þe sal lig, if þu wil sua, For i am geld, me es ful wa. Line 2600 If ani barn of hir war þine, I now it held it als for mine." Sare, as scho bifor had said, Line 2603 Biside hir husband agar scho laid. Agar was mad wid child in hiy, [folio 19a:1] And lithly lete bi hir leuedi. Line 2606

Line 2606 Til abram dame sare þan said, "ȝon wenche þat i bi-side þe layd, For scho has a barn bi þe, Line 2609 Gret despit scho lathes of me." Abram said, "scho es in þi hand, þu chastis hir, þu has þe wand." Line 2612 So chastisd sare hir fra þat day, þat scho was fain to fle away; Both in hir fleing as scho ȝode, An angel com bifor hir stode, Line 2616 In wilderness right bi a welle, Wid hir suilk speche gan he spelle. "Agar," he said, "queþen comes þou, Or queþerward wil þu ga nou?" Scho said, "fra mi leuedi i ga, Line 2621 For me scho dos ful mekil wa." þe angel said, "þu wend egain, þu sal hir serue wid mith and main. Wend again, bou hir for-þi, Line 2625 Of þi sede ȝeit sal multipli Ful mekil folk, and i þe warn, þu art wid child wid a knaue barn. þu cal him ysmael, agar, Line 2629 For godd sal couer þe of þi care; He sal be fers and cruel bath, Again all ledis wonder wrath, Line 2632 Egain him all, egain all he, A wonder with man sal he be." Agar ham til hir ladi went, Line 2635 And seruid hir wid gode entent. Sone efter, as i ȝou tell, was scho lither of ysmael; Line 2638 Quen he was born habram had þan, Four skor and sex ȝer ouer gan, [folio 19a:2] And of þis child he was sua blith, As his fader were broght to liue. Line 2642

[Of the addition to Abraham's name.]

Quen he was fiue skor ȝere and nine, God spac to him a littel tine, "Abram," he said, "for me þu ga, I sal ga bifor þe alsua, Line 2646 Multipli þi sede i sall." He louted and thankid him wid-all. þan did vr lauerd to eke his name, And said he suld hate abra[ha]m; Abram as he bifore was caled Line 2651 þat nam suld he na langer hald. So mekil es þis name to rede, As fadir of many serekin lede; "And if þu hald mi teching, Line 2655 Of þe sal cum bath prince and king, þat sal weld al þis contre, Als i bifore has hith vnto þe; þat þu has had as in knaulage, þin sal it haue in eritage, Line 2660 All þe kingdam of þis land To haue and halde til þaim lastand. Bot nou i wil a couenand neu Of þe and þine be halden treu, An hali takning for to ken, Line 2665 To part ȝou wid fra oþer men. Hald ȝe couenand on þis wise, To ȝoure knaue barnis to circumsise þe eytend day fra þai be born, Line 2669 þat es to say þat þai be schorn Of þat ilke lym quar-with þat þai er kend fra wimmen kith. Loke þat ȝe do als i say þe, Line 2673 As ȝe ȝour saulis wil saued be. who es noght sua þai may be bald, þai sal nogh of mi folk be tald; Line 2676

Line 2676 þu and þi childer it sal biginne, [folio 19b:1] And al þat wons þi hous widin. Loke fra þe be don away Line 2679 þe man þat wil noght hald his lay, For-qui þe werk of circumsising, Beris in it-self gret for-bisining. Ne þi wijf þat nou hat sare Fra nou sua sal scho hat namar, Line 2684 Hir name it sal be ekid sua, þat scho sal be called sara. Suilk a sun scho sal þe bere, þat sal be king and caiser, Line 2688 He sal serue me to queme, þis laue ful wele þan sal he ȝeme." þe couenand was wel fest wid þis, vr lauerd went him to heuen blis. Abraham tok wid all his men, And did as god him did ken, Himself and ismael he schare, Line 2695 And siþen all his þat carmen ware. Of thritti ȝere fra he was born, was Ismael quen he was schorn; His fader nyneti and nien þat day, þai vnder-tok þis neu lay, Line 2700 Querbi þan er þai all kid & knaun, þe folk þat of þair kind er draun.

Qven it was hat apon a tide, Line 2703 Abraham satt his huus bisyde, Biside þe dale of mont mambre, He loked him fra and nere; sau he To-war him come childer thre In liknes of godd in trinite. Line 2708 Bot an alone he onered of þa, Als anfald god and in na ma. þe trinite sau he bi þat sith, Line 2711 And gestind þaim wid him þat nith;

First him self þair fete he wess, [folio 19b:2] And syden þaim fedd wid calf fless, Butter and bred þai ete al-sua, þan asked þai quare was sara? Line 2716 Abraham said, "ȝonder widin." þan said þat lauerd, "i wil þu minne At mi gaincum, bi mi lijf, A son sal haue sare þi wijf." Line 2720 Sare wid ine þar scho satt, Herd þis word and lohu þar-att, And said, o skorn, "quar we nu sal Com e-gain to childer tale!" Line 2724 For eld scho wend to bere na barn. "And quat thing es," he said, "may warn, þat godd ne may his will all do? Bi i efsoins cum þe to, Line 2728 þu sal haue barn in a litil quile, Ne thar þe noght for skorning smile." Scho said, "for-soth ne smile i noght;" And if schoe did it, hir ouerthoght. Quen þai wore restid, vp ras þai, Line 2733 And abraham þaim ledd þe way. vr lauerd loked to sodomam, And þus he said to habram, Line 2736 "Abraham," he said, "fra þe wil i noght leyne mi priuite, þu and þine er me sua dere þat i wil ȝe mi consail here. Line 2740 Of sodom haue i herd þe cri, þe stinc it rises vnto þe sky, þe world es wers þan man mai neuen, þe reke it rechis into heuen. Line 2744 To se wil i mi seluen ga, Of þat cri if it be sua; þar sal i take vengans strang, And þar-to sal it noght be lang." Line 2748

Line 2748 [folio 20a:1] "Lauerd," said abraham, "þin are, Sal þu þin aun sua forfare? It semis noght it es þi wille, For the wick þe gode to spille. Line 2752 þi rightwisnes may noght thole sua, For þe wic þe gode to sla, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] If þu þar findes fiue sithes ten, Line 2757 Fourti or thritti of þi lele men, Tuenti may fall, or tuis fyue, Ne sal þai all þar-fore liue?" Line 2760 "yis," said vr lauerd, bot was þar non was funden lele, bot loth alon. vr lauerd went forth, and abraham vnto his hous went him ham. Line 2764 At an euyntide into sodom, To lothes hous tua angeles com, þai fand loth sittand bi þe ȝate, Line 2767 Again þaim he ras fra þar he sate. He praid þaim in godes name, To gestin þaim suld cum hame. Line 2770 As for þat night, & þai said nay, Bot in þat strete duell wold þay. Bot loth to his hous þaim ledd, Line 2773 wid suilk as he hade he þaim fedd. Bot ar þai to bedd war boune, þe folk þaim gadrid vte of þe toune, þe foule feluns wid wic entent, Line 2777 Aboute lothes huus þai went, ȝong and alde, bath child and man, All thoght þaim late þai diþer wan. On loth þai crid þat hous aboute, And badd he suld send þaim vte, þe gestis him cam bi nighter tall, Line 2783 For soth, þai said, knau þaim we sall.

þair sari sine on þaim þai soght wid þaim to haue don it if þai moght. [folio 20a:2] Bot loth be-heinde or þai were war, Fast þe doris þan did he bar, ȝerne on þaim he crid merci, Line 2789 þat þai suld lete þair foli. And said, "i haue here dohutris tua, Takes þaim and dos ȝour will wid þa. Mi gestis lat ȝe ley in pes, Line 2793 For godis luue do þaim na malis." þe mare þat loth þaim dus bisoght, þe mare þai presid and sesid noght, All his praier mith noght help, Line 2797 Warn godes might þar wald ȝelp, þat made þa sinful folk so madd. þai wist neuer quar þai war stad, Line 2800 vr lauerdes miht made þaim so blinde, þat dor ne hous coud þai noght finde; þair aune witt ne wist þai noght, Line 2803 Queþen þai cam ne quat þai soght. Til loth it spac an angel þan, And said, "has þu here any man, Son or dohutir or ani mohw To þe longand, hy or law, Line 2808 þu lede þaim suith vte of þis tun, Ar þan it be sunken dun." Loth went and til his mohwes spac, þar vte þat suld his dohutris tac, Line 2812 "Rise vp," he said, "and fle ȝe sone, þis cite to-day sal be for-done." Bot al þat loth til þaim miht say, þaim thoght it was noght bot a play. Bot arli or men miht wele se, Line 2817 þe angelis bad þat loth suld fle, þai said, "loth fle wid þi meyne, þat ȝe be noght tint wid þis cite."

Quen þai sau loth be to lytand, Line 2821 þai tok him seluen first bi þe hand, His wijf all and his dohutris tua, [folio 20b:1] þat miht vp loke was þar no ma. Line 2824 Quen þai had ledd þaim fra þe doute, þat þai þe toun war broght widute, Be þan bigan þe light of day, Line 2827 þai badd þaim hold forth þair way, And bot þai wold þaim-self forfare, To loke bihind þaim neuer mare. "Make ȝe in þe plain na duelling, Til ȝe bi comen to ȝone felling, Line 2832 Amanges þaim þat ȝe ne be tan, And for þair folijs to be slain." "Lauerd," said loth, "wid leue of þe, In littel segor wald i be, Line 2836 þu hast þe þan diþer ȝare, For i do noght or þu cum þare." Bi þe time þat þe sune ras, Strang cri in þa tounes was, Line 2840 vr lauerd rained on þaim onnon, Fra þe sky fir and brimston. Sodome and gomor wid al þe land, þat aboute þaim lay nerhand, Line 2844 wid all þe woninges þat þar was, Es nouþer left, tre no griss, Ne na thing of þat land vnsunke; Suilk as þai breu nou haue þai drunke. Lothes wijf þis cri scho herd, Line 2849 And longed to se hou þai ferd, For ferli fain wald scho find; And als scho loked hir bihind, Line 2852 A stan scho standis bi þe way, And sua sal do to domes-day. Als a salt stan men seis hir stand, þat bestis lickes of þat land, Line 2856

Line 2856 And anis in þe wouke day, Is scho licked all a-wai, And siþen þai find hir on þe morn, [folio 20b:2] Hal als scho was þar biforn. Line 2860 þar þa fiue cites war won to be Nou es noght bot a stinkand se, þat semis als a lake of hell, Line 2863 Na lyueand thing may þar-ine duell; If ani fiss þar-ine be gan, wid leding of þe flom iordan, þe lijf it es for-done wid stinc Fra it into þat watir sink. Line 2868 Men findis lompis on þe sand Of ter, nan finer in þat land. þar standis euer wonderli, A cloud þar fra vp to þe sky; Line 2872 If þu a brond þar-in wil cast, þe fire it holdis þer stedfast, Thoru brining of þat brymston, Quarof þar es sua mekil won. Line 2876 þar-bi it groues sum appil tre wid applis selcuth fair to se, Quen þai in hand er like a bal, To pouder wid a stinc þai fall. Line 2880 All cristen men! i rede ȝe take Ensample bi þis waful wrak, þat al for lycheri was it tan, So foule was neuer funden nane; Line 2884 þat it was wic it was wele sene, Bi þat wrake þat was sua kene. Hot and stinkand es þe lake, Fir and brimstan was þe wrake, Line 2888 vte of kind þe sine was don, For-þi þair kind it was for-don. Fleis þat sine ouer al þis erde, Line 2891 þe wreche þat foluis haue ȝe herd,

God forbede ȝe do þat sin þat ȝe in hell þarfor brin. And if ȝe sine nede sal do, [folio 21a:1] þe sine of kind ȝe hald ȝu to, Line 2896 þe kindli sin and wid womman, Bot sibb ne spousid ne take ȝe nan. Sua ferr ȝour lust ne foluis noght, þat ȝe forgete him þat ȝou wroght; Mani a man for ouer wele, Line 2901 Himself can neþer fonde na fele, Betuix and þai sink in þat pitt, þat neuer man sank þat þaim miht flitt. Sua did þe wreches of sodome, Line 2905 For þai ne douted noght þe dome, þair welth þaim made of þaim all, In sine and soru forto fall; Line 2908 Bot þan com a dom widuten spare, To þaim þat lang were sparid are, Sua þai þaim tyne widuten end, Line 2911 þat wil þaim noght in time amend. Loth ȝe herd me ar of tell, For drede he drou him to þe fell, In a caue he hid him þare And his dohutris, and no mare. Line 2916 Abraham went him on þe morn To þat stede þe he biforn Had fra vr lauerd tan his leue, And sau þat sore gan him greue, Line 2920 To þa cytes loked he, A sorful sight was on to se. He sau þat contre al bidene, þat sua fair bifor had bene, Line 2924 wid spark and reke couerd abouen, Als it war of a brinand ouin; For it was godes rightwis wreke, þar again durst he noght speke. Line 2928

Line 2928 Loth him held þat caue wid-ine, Himself and his dohutris tuine. Bot þair fader þat þai þar sau [folio 21a:2] þai wend all men war don o dau, Thoru þat ilk waful wrake. Line 2933 þe elder to þe ȝonger spake, "Sister, to þe in derne i say, þu seis þis folk es all away, Line 2936 Bot loth vr fader and we ta, Aliue es nou left na ma; I leue manking sal perischt be, Bot it be storid wid þe and me, Line 2940 þe world es broght to end me thinc. Giue we vr fader enogh to drinc, Quen he es drunken witterli, we sal in bedd ga ligg him bi, Line 2944 For miht we ani barnis brede, Me thinc þe world þar-of had nede." Als þai had spokin, right so þai wroght, þe fader his aune dede wist noght, Ne wist noght quen he bi þaim lay, Both bot wid barn sone war þay. Amon and Moab war getin sua, Line 2951 Bi-tuix loth and his dohutris tua; Of þaim it com sua wicked lede, þat neiþer drou to worthi dede. Til a stede þat hith damas þiderward þair woning was, Line 2956 Of mani man, þou þai were gode, þai reft þair catel and sched þar blode. Abraham syhid in his hert ful sare, Fra þaim him tok talent to fare, Till a contre cadades he flitt, Line 2961 Abimalech was lauerd of itt. His sister he cald sarra his wijf, þat for hir suld rise na strijf, Line 2964

Line 2964 He dredd þe folk was ful of pride, Quiles he was liuand þaim biside. Bot hard it es to kepe, i-wis, [folio 21b:1] þat thing þat ilk man wald war his, And namli i say it of þat thing, Line 2969 þat ȝernid es of gret lording; Abimalech ne fyned noght, Til sarra was bifore him broght, Line 2972 Bot god on nyth com to þe king, In slepe, and said suilk takening, "þu king," he said, "þu schortis þi lijf, þu has anoþer manes wijf." Line 2976 "Lauerd," he said, "wil þu me sla þat wist noght þat it was sua? þai tald bath til an and oþer, Line 2979 Scho was his sister & he hir broþer. And alsua, lauerd, wele þu wate, þat i haue clene halden hir state." "I wot," he said, "þat þu art clene, It war noght sua had i ne bene. Line 2984 Fra touche of hir i saued þe, þat þu suld noght sinne in me: þu ȝeild hir to hir husband wight, He es a prophete, hali and right. And if þu do anoþer rede, Line 2989 þu and þine sul all be dede." Up ras þe king bi nightertale, And cald his men bifor him al hale, Of þis warning he þaim tolde, And þai þaim dredd bath ȝong and olde He did to call abraham sone, Line 2995 And said, "qui has þu dusgat done, Quat haue i don, or mj king Rike, þat þu suld vs þus bisuike?" "Parfay for i me vmbithoght, þat goddes au ȝe douted noght. Line 3000

Line 3000 ȝur harm so wend i best to fle, And said scho suld mi sister be." Til abraham þan gaue þe king, [folio 21b:2] In worschip mani a riche thing, Line 3004 And made him mast of his priue, Bitok him to weld all þat contre.

[Of the birth of Isaac, and of Ishmael.]

Bi þis com sarra to þe tyde Of birthe, scho miht na langer bide, þat ysaac hir sun was born, Line 3009 þat lang was hith him biforn; And circumsised þe eytend day, It was þair heuing in þair lay. Line 3012 þe name of isaac es to say A man þat takines ioy and play, And for þe birth of ysaac, Gret ioy gan his freindis mak. Line 3016 þat ferly child, þat ful of hap, Quen he was spaned fra þe pap, His fadir slow bath schep and net, And made a fest to freindes gret; Mete and drinc he gaf þaim all, Line 3021 þaim bihoued cum to his hall. Isaac was ȝonger þan ismael, Be-tid apon a day it fell, þat þise breþer þai plaid samen, Line 3025 Sarra biheld and thoght na gamen. Scho said, "abraham, ȝon bastard, Do him away þat he haf na part wid mi sun of vre eritage, Line 3029 Or ellis me thinc þu dos vtrage. I wil, quat-sua men thinc or say, His moþer and he be done away." Abraham it toke to herte Line 3033 And thoght hir wordes to smert,

For his sun him heuy thoght, Til þe angel him bodword broght, "Abraham," he said, "gif þe noght ill Nou most þu do þi wijfes will. Line 3038 Of þi mayden and of þi barn, [folio 22a:1] Hir bidding do sal þu noght warn, For ysaac sal bere þe name Of þi sede, sir abraham. Line 3042 þou ismael be noght of sposage, Of him sal cum men kene and sauage." Apon þe morn quen it was day, Bath þan war þai done away, Line 3046 Out of þat hous was put agar, Hir sun apon hir bac scho bar, watir and bred widuten mar Line 3049 Scho tok hir wid, and spac ful sare. Nou gas þat wreche wille of wane wandrand in wildernes alane, Line 3052 þaim wantand bred, þair water es gan, Hop of þair liues had þai nan. Bi a welle vnþer a tre þe child scho laid and gan to fle, Line 3056 For soru þar-on mith scho noght se, Bot waited quen it dede suld be. Quilys scho menyd in hir mode, Confort com hir sone ful gode, Line 3060 An angel com and said, "agar, Quat dos þu, qui mas þu car? Godd has herd þi childes cry, Ris and tak it vp for-þi; Line 3064 Lede him ȝender and haue in minde, þere a welle þan sal þu find, And a tre wid frouit ful gode For þe and for þi childes fode. Line 3068 Here þan sal þu wid him won, And forster here þu sal þi sun."

þe child scho did drinc of þat welle, And in þat wilderness gan þai duell, Lang duelled þai samen þare, Line 3073 Til ismael was waxin mare. An elenge lijf þare þai ledd [folio 22a:2] In wildernes þan war þai stedd; For quen he was waxyn to man, Line 3077 An archer was he best of an. Sone quen he was of elde and witt, He spoused a wijf of egipt, And wonid þar as a wild man, In þat desert þat hight pharan. Line 3082 Þis abraham was of mekil bode, And als of ful clene liuelade, Of lau vr lauerd him gaf þe lade, Of him his patriarche he made, Line 3086 And said, "abraham, i sal þe giue, þe lau þat þu aue in to liue." "Lauerd," he said, "mi self and mine At þi wille, lauerd, all es þine. I and mi wijf es al þine aune, Line 3091 And þat er we ful wele apon knaune; þi bidding we wil do ful fain, Ne sal we neuer do þar egain. Quat sal i do, lauerd, þu me tell?" "Bo þu sal wend in to ȝone fell, Line 3096 þar sal þu find mi messager, þu make of erde þar an auter, Bath of þi corn and of þi fe, þar sal þu offrand make to me." Line 3100 "Gladly, lauerd, als þu has sayd;" Sone was abraham puruayd, Of corn and crop and oþer catell To god his tyde þar gaf he well: Line 3104 It brint, þe reke ras vp ful euen, þe smel was suete and soght to heuen.

In þat time þat i of mene, Line 3107 þe folk was gode, þe world was clene, So gode ne bes it neuer i-wiss, Sua mekil welth, so mekil bliss. Line 3110 [folio 22b:1] þou man miht neuer sua mekil welde, So fast it draus to doune helde. In wrechedam es nou al went Line 3113 To lere na gode giue þai na tent, þe child beris nou þe wit away, Foli es gouyn to man to day. Line 3116

Of ysaac nou wil i neuen [ [[from Laud MS. 416] That louyd was with god in heven].

Herkin of godd þat al es weldand, Hou he wild proue his lete seruand, wele louede habram Isaac, His sely sun widuten sak, Line 3120 He lerid him first godd for to drede, And syden all gode theues in lede. He bigan to loue him sua, þat he miht him naquile for-ga, Line 3124 vr lauerdes will, all mithi king, It was to proue habram wid sum thing. Til abraham vr lauerd spac, Line 3127 "Quere es þi sun," he said, "ysaac?" "All at þi will, lauerd," said he, "I wil þat þu offre him to me." "Gladli, lauerd, þu me him gaf, Line 3131 Gode resun it es þat þu him haf." To vr lauerd he was sua treu, þat miht na pite do him reu, Line 3134 þat he ne hadd leuer his child to spill, þan wirk egain his lauerdes will,— þat child þat was sua many ȝere, Line 3137 Or he was sent, sohut wid prayere;

And nou he wend widuten wene, þat he suld his ayr haue bene. Line 3140 Bot nou es he askid on þis wise Til god to make of sacrifise, And þou it ware grisli and grill, He left noght vr lauerdes will, Line 3144 Bot asked him, widuten bade, [folio 22b:2] Hou [t]he sacrifise suld be made. And he bigan him for to tell, "ȝonder, hey apon ȝon fell, Line 3148 Sal þu brin þi sone for me." "Gladli, lauerd, sua sal it be." Nou sal i tell ȝou hou it was; þe child he kest apon an asse, And tok wid him knauis tua, Line 3153 Bot þai ne wist queþer to ga. He welk þat fell [ner] dais thre, To seke þe stede quare he wild be. Quen he cam þar has him tyht, Line 3157 Of þe ass þe child did he to lyht, And toke him wid him and no mare, His meyne he bad abide him þare, His consail wild he na man tell. Line 3161 þe child he broght apon þat fell, Suord ne fir forgat he noght, And ȝong ysaac a fagett broght. "Sir," he said, "quar sal we take þe best, ȝour sacrifise to make, Line 3166 Siþen we wid vs broght hiþer nan?" "Godd," he said, "sal send vs an." wid þis he stod þe child nerhand, And priueli he drou his brand, Line 3170 þat þe child were noght percayued, Ar þe suord him had dicayued. He lift his hand him for to smite, Bot godes angel com ful tite, Line 3174

Line 3174 Ar he mith giue him þe dint, His suord bihind him he hint, And [bade him] þare bi-side him take A schep his sacrifise to make. Line 3178 He loked bisyde him in þe thornis, And sau it hange þar wid þe hornis. þis angel held ay still þe suord, [folio 23a:1] And spac of confort suilk a word. "Abraham, hald still þin arme, Line 3183 And to þi son þu do na harme, vr lauerd þe for-bedis him to sla, þi dere son, þat þu loues sua; þu loues him mare widvten wene þan þi sone, þat es nou sene. Line 3188 Ful wele þu loues him and dredis, And wele he sal ȝeild þe þi medis. ȝe sal his blissing haue for-qui, Mekil he sal ȝou multepli, Line 3192 For luue of þi ferli fay, Sal ilk a lede cum to þi lay. God has þe uysited so to-day, þi dede in mening sal last ay; Line 3196 þi buxumnes all folk sal find þat sal be bred out of þi kind." Of þis letting he was ful glad, And did as þe angel him bad, Line 3200 þat schepe he slow and siþen he brent, And hamward on his way he went. þe fader gan þe sone for-bede, Til ani man to tell þis dede, Line 3204 "Fader," he said, "be þu ful bald, For me ne bes it neuer tald." þai went again to bersabe, þare þai had left þair meyne. Line 3208

[Of the death of Sarah, and the search for Isaac's wife.]

Sex skor ȝere and seuen liued sara, And died widuten childer ma; þan ysaac no ma scho bare, And abraham for hir had care, Line 3212 In ebron hir grof abraham, þar first was grauen hali adam. Abraham wald in his liue, Line 3215 þat ysaac had wed a wiue, [folio 23a:2] And wal scho ware, if sua miht be, Bath of his kind and of his contre; Men suld hir seke wid-in þat land, þar his frendes ware weldand. Line 3220 A sergaunt þan comandid he, þat mast wist of his priuete, þat had ben ay at his finding, Line 3223 Euer siþen þat he was child ȝeing; Apon his kne he did him suere, þat he suld þan lele erand bere, And þat he suuld giue hal talent, To fulfille his comandment. Line 3228 "Frend," he said, "þu wend in hy vn-til mesopothani, (þar þu wat vr frendes won,) To seke a wijf vnto mi sun. Line 3232 And if scho may be funden þare, þu bring hir ham wid mekil fare; Bot i wil þu bring him nan þat es of þe kind of canaan." Line 3236 "Sir," said þe sergant, "qual sal i do? þe may þat ȝe wild haue, if scho wid noght hider cum wid me?" "þan of þi trouth i make þe fre, Line 3240 For ysaac, wid no forward, wil i þat he wend thyderward."

"Gladli, sir, it sal be don." þe sergaunt made him redi son, Line 3244 And boune was mad to his busking, Tresur gret wid precius thing, Slik als maydens has of mister, All þat ten chamelis miht ber, Line 3248 Ring and broche þat war selli proud, Gold and ston for mayden schrud, þat qua him sau miht vnderstand He comen was fra a riche land. Line 3252 To mesopothamie suith cam he, [folio 23b:1] And sone he fand þe soth cyte, And quen he com nerehand þe toun, Bi a welle he lithed doun; Line 3256 A prayer made he in þat place, And þus he bisoght god of his grace, "Lauerd," he said, "þat all welde may, þat my lauerd honurs euer and ay, For quas loue he wild noght warn, To sacrifice his aune barn, Line 3262 Til quam to seke a wijf i fare, Lauerd þu send me an sum-quar, And sua mi seruis sett at seme, Line 3265 þat to þi worschip may be quene, [[read queme]] And suilk a wijf to ysaac þat may be gaynand him to tak, Line 3268 Him to yoi and mensk to þe; Lauerd, þu grant it sua may be. And graunt me bi þis welle here, Traist to be of my praiere, Line 3272 For bi þis welle sal i abide, Quat of mine erand may bytide; Here sal i abide til þat i se Maidens cum fra þis cyte, Line 3276 þair watir at þis welle to drau, þar sal i mi womman knau;

Scho þat sal bete my threst, I sal hir hold as for þe best." Line 3280 Had he noght rested bot a thrau, Of maydens sau he com a rau, þe formast was unlauthir milde, Hir semed na thing to be wilde, Line 3284 Ne was scho noght of lath thing liht, Rebecca was hir name scho hiht, Hir fadir was cald batuel. Hir semed all hir werkes wel, Line 3288 Sittandli hir watir tok, [folio 23b:2] þe sergant fast gan apon hir loke, þat was bath witti and deuyse, And said to hir on þis kin wise; Line 3292 "Mayden," he said, "giue þu me drine, For i haue þe sumdele in suink, I am a man farand þe way, Mi harnays dun here did i lay, Line 3296 Of mi passage was i in doute, For na man kneu I here aboute; Me war loth if i miht me were, Line 3299 Men did me harm of mi gere." "Leue fremd," scho said, "þin asking Ne es noght bot a littel thing, þu sal it haue wid gode will, Line 3303 And þin chameyles sal drinc þair fill, For vs ne wantis here na vessel, Bolle ne bockett, ne na fonel." Scho drow þaim al enogh to drinc, Left scho noght for hir suynk, Line 3308 And euer ilk fote miht he noght blinne, To bihold þat fair maydene, Hou all hir dedis bigane hir seme, þe sergaunt thoght þaim selcuth queme. "Say me," he said, "bi þi hand, Line 3313 Has þu ani fadir liueand?"

"Sir," scho said, "ȝa, and moþer wid al, Til hous gladli þai wil þe call, Line 3316 Fodder and hay þu sal find boune, Nan fayrer Innes in all þe toune."

[Of the marriage of Isaac.]

And he hir gaf a gifte on-ane, A gold ring þat brihtly schane, Line 3320 Thankand godd te erde he fell; þe mayden ran hom tiþand to tell. Scho had a broþer hight laban, And he ran forth egain þe man, Line 3324 wid taking wer þai samen knaun, [folio 24a:1] To riche gestnyng was he draun. þan wist þai bi þis messager, Abraham him was sibb ful nere; Line 3328 Ete no drinc nouþer he wolde, Til he him had his erand told, Til þat þe sekirnes was tane, Licnes to reuyn had he nane. Line 3332 Sua wele worth suilk a messager! To send a message for to bere, þat reckes of him seluen right noght, Til þat his lauerdes nedes be wroght. þe mariage þan did he make, Line 3337 Bi-tuene Rebecca and ysaac, Ilkan gaf he giftes sere, Efter þat þai worthi were, Line 3340 And cledd þe may wid riche wede, Als þe lau was in þat lede. Ilk man gaf he sumkines thing, Line 3343 And Batuel mad him fair gestning. At morn wid goddes benisun, Rebecca was ledd vte of þe tun, Hir moder als wid hir scho ledd, Line 3347 And rad til þai com nere þat stedd,

þar wonand was sir abraham; And ysaac was noght fra ham, ysaac went him forto ro, Line 3351 And thoght on thinges he had to do, He ȝede þar walkand bi þe strete, And com egaynes him to mete. þan said Rebecca, "quat man es he, þat tilward vs comand i se?" Line 3356 He drow hir nere and still spac, "ȝon es my lauerd, sir ysaac, It es þe kayser þat sal be þin, Of him nou sal þu haue sesin. Line 3360 Til his bihoue i þe soght, [folio 24a:2] In seli time and wid me broght." þe sergaunt did hir dun to liht, In better aray hir forto dyht, Line 3364 Scho hir arayed in better wede, A mantel aboue clad in rede; And þou scho schamful was, i-wis, Scho tynt na contenanse wid þis. Rebecca and ysaac er samen Line 3369 Mete wid mekil gle and gamen, wid mekil mirth thar no man wene, was broght to hous þat mayden schene. And þan þai made þe mariage Line 3373 þat fell vnto riche eritage. þe mekil loue of Rebecca Feld þe soru of dame sarra; Line 3376 Suilk er in þis lijf ful thic, For-getis þe dede for þe quic: Bot þai it did for sum resun, And thoru significacion. Line 3380

Ismael had wiues thrin, þat kinges tuelue com of him, þai held as men war mihtiest, þe landes þat lay in to þe est, Line 3384

Line 3384 Gret farli was þe kin to tell, was multeplied of ysmael. abraham efter dame sarra, Tok a wijf hight cephura, Line 3388 Of hir he had a sone hith madan, And a-noþer hight madian; Noght for lust of licheri, Bot for his sede suld multipli, Line 3392 Als godd him had biforand hiht, Tok a wijf, for sua was riht. Tuix his childer he delt his auht, His land to ysaac he bitauht, Line 3396 For he was born of mariage, [folio 24b:1] wid riht he bade his eritage. An hundred ȝere seuenti and fyue, Quen abraham had ledd his lyue, Line 3400 He deyed in treuth and in halihede. His sones dohuti were of dede; þai wepe his dede and sua did ma, And laid him bi his wijf sara. Line 3404 In godd was euer his feith feste, vr lauerd vs bring in to his reste! Suilk a rest in for to cum, Line 3407 þat we may wid him seluen won. Amen. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

Nou es gode to vndertake, þe stori to tell of sir ysaace.

Ovre lauerd, þat es of bounte bone, Til him he gaf his benisone, wijs he was & godd he dredd, Line 3413 And gladli his bidding he didd. widuten child his wijf was lang, And þat thoght ysaac ferli strang,

He praid to him þat all may mende, þat he wild him sum childer sende, For his wijf he dredd ful sare, Scho suld be geld for euermare. Line 3420 þe gode childer getin of grace, vnne[the]se cum þai forth in place, Bot quen þai cum forth, wele es kend þat þai of goddes grace er send. Line 3424 Child vnethes had dame sare, Rebecca, Rachel, and anna, Ne ȝit þe hali Elizabeth, Line 3427 To haue hir birth com scho nohut eth, Of saint iohn þe baptist, þat til man scheud iesu crist. Alsua semes, qua right can deme, Bes of Rebecca barn-teme, Line 3432 Scho had noght þaim for-þi i say, [folio 24b:2] Ar þai were sohut many a day. Godd hiht þaim childer noght for-þi, þat of his sede suld multipli, Line 3436 And said, "ysaac, i sal be, Als wid þi fader, alsua wid þe." Ysaac gaf to godde his tende, Line 3439 And prayd he suld him childer send, Sua lang he praid þat his praier Wele was herd wid god sua dere. His wijf þat lang child had forgan, Nou scho bredis tua for an; Line 3444 Of tuynlinges hir thoght na gamen, þat in hir wombe faght oft samen, Sua hard in hir wombe þai faght, þat scho ne had rest day ne naght. To pray to godd ay was scho prest, To consail hir quat were best, Line 3450 Quat hir war best he suld hir rede, Hir lijf was lickes to be dede;

Sua wonder strang it was, þair were, þat þai miht nohut þair strijf forbere Til þai had of þaim seluen might To se quere-for þat þai suld fight. Fra þe biginyng of þe world, Line 3457 Of suilk a were was naquar herd, Ne suilk a strijf of childer tuine, þat lay þair moder wombe wid-ine. þair strut it was vnsterne stithe, Line 3461 wid wrethly wraystes oþer wreche, Betuix vnborn a batayle blind, Suilk on was ferli to find. Line 3464 He þat on þe right side lay, His broþer oft him wraisted away, And he þat lay apon þe left, Line 3467 His broþer oft his stede him reft. þe leuedi was ful ferli dradd, [folio 25a:1] As womman þat ful hard was stad, Bo[t] vr lauerd of sothfastnes Had don hir into sekernes, Line 3472 Thoru his verra propheteye, Quat suld be þa childer enuye, Of þair werre and of þair lijf, Line 3475 And quat ensample bar þair strijf. For-þi buxum baret scho bar, And kneu confort suld cum of care. Hir breding was ful selcuth sare, And hir childing mekil mare, Line 3480 þan wex þe fight more þan beforn, Queþer of þaim suld first be born. [Lines 2569 to 2622 have been here repeated by mistake, and then crossed through.] ¶ Strang es for to schere þe schar, þe miht of kinde es funden mare; Of þir tua breþer þat i of mote, Line 3485 þe less þe mare laght bi þe fote, In trauayling, and drew egayn;— [folio 25b:1] Ful hard it was þair moþer pain. Line 3488

Line 3488 þat first was born was rohw wid har, þe toþer child was sleyth and bar; He þat was rohw was rede wid-all, Esau þai did him to call; Line 3492 Iacob hight þe ȝonger broþer, His moder him loued mare þan þe toþer. For-þi was he noquer sent, Bot to þe hous ay tok he tent, Line 3496 þe hous to kepe and tent þe mete, Mast to þat mister was he sett. þe faþer loued Esau for fode, Line 3499 For-þi þat he was an archer gode, And quen he wald ay was he bone, To gete his fadir venisun. And he was als þe formast born, He delt al wid tylth of corn, Line 3504 He delt alsua w[id] oþer thinges sere, Of best, of wode, of foul, of reuere; His fader þat ald was and vnfere, Oft he fedd wid gode dinere. Line 3508 Gode was þe world in þ[a]t sesun, And mekil it uayled þe benisun Of gode men þat wele held þair fai, On childer þat þai wald it on lay. Of blissing may men bisening tak, Be þir childer of ysaak, Line 3514 Hou þe ȝonger of þa tua, þe blissing stale his broþer fra. Bot first es gode þat it be tald, Hou esau his broþer sald. Line 3518 Esau went for to hunt A day, as he was oftin wont, Bath fer and nere he has sohut, Line 3521 Bot þat day gamen fand he noght; [folio 25b:2] For haue men neuer so gode graith, Ilk day es noght tyme of waith,

Bot riuely þat dai þat men failes, About his gamen mast trauayles. Line 3526 Quen he al weri was for-gan, Ham he tok his way on-an, For hauke es eth, as i here say, Line 3529 To reclaime þat has tint his prai. His broþer he fand giuand his tent For to make a riche pulment, Line 3532 "Of þis mete mi broþer," he said, "Giue me sum part þat þu has grayd; Mete and drinc þu has at will, And lang es siþen i ete mi fill." Line 3536 Iacob said, "nay, god it witt, To þe haue i nohut graithid itt, þe mete my moþer me bitaght, For þu and i er seldom saght; Line 3540 Aboute vr for-birth er we wrath; Bot þu sal suere me an ath, þat þu sal neuer fra þis night In þi for-birth clayme na right." Line 3544 "For-birth," he said, "quat seruis it me? Broþer, at þi will all sal it be." wid þat forward he made a vou, Line 3547 And said, "for hunger i dey riht nou;" And for his fille of þat potage, As a wrecche he sold his eritage, Line 3550 He ete and dranc and went his way, And tynt his blissing fra þat day. Na bote it was þou him forthoght, Godd wold it were his þat it boght.

Ysaac, þat dohuti man, Line 3555 vnfere and elde apon him ran, Of bodi fayled him þe miht And of eyen al sua þe siht. þe man þat sua wid elde es diht, [folio 26a:1] His day es turned into nyht, Line 3560

Line 3560 And haue man ben neuer so bald, Quen þat he bicomis alde, Til vnweild bigines to falle Line 3563 His body, it waxes drey and dall. His heued bigines for to schake, His handes vmquile for to quake, It crepis crouland in his bac, And his bonis for to crac, Line 3568 þe frely fax to fall of him, And þe siht to wax al dim. þe front it frounsis, þat was schene, þe nese it droppis ay bi-tuene, Line 3572 þe teth to rote, þe and to stinc, Alone to lyue trauayl him thinc. þan es eth þe fote to spurne, Line 3575 Quen he fallis wid his aun turne; He praysis al thing þat es gan, Of present thing he prayses nan; þan es eth to make him wrath, To sahutingis him sum-del lath: Line 3580 To teche men wid his aun witt, He haldes nan sua wis as itt, Quen all witt es fra him gan, Line 3583 And wille þat welth es mast of an, Bot nankines wile may ald man pai Ful baldli þan dar i say. He þat in suilk stat es stadd, Es no gle may make him gladd. Line 3588 Elde es nou a selcuth thing, For all it ȝernis þat er ȝing, Quen þai it haue þai er vnfayn, And þan wold þai be ȝong again, þan wold þai be as þai war ar, Line 3593 And þat may þai be neuer mar.

Sua has elde þis ysaac ledd, [folio 26a:2] þat he in langure lis in bedd,

Him wantis siht, as i said ȝou, And cald on his sun esau. "Esau, leue sone," he said, "Ga loke þi takil be puruaid, Line 3600 And fond to stalk þe sua nere þat þu may hapin to sla sum dere; If þu may ani venisun gete, Gladli wild i þarof ete. Line 3604 Leue sone, þu hast hiþer till Gladli don þi fadris will, þu art archer wid þe best, Bath in feld and in forest, Line 3608 If þu may bring me ani best, þu diht it me fair and honest. þar efter nou me langes sare, Here þar i liy in bedd of care. Line 3612 Sun," he said, "i wil noght lye, It bes noght lang ar þat i die, Ga bring me nou sum venisun, And þu sal haue mi benisun." Line 3616 "Sir," he said, "gladli and sone, wid goddes help it sal be done." His moder tok tent to ysaac, And herd þe wordes þat he spac, Line 3620 And wist of lang lijf was he noght; Avoyde scho hir, and vmbethoght. Iacob hir sun scho called hir to, And þus til him þus said scho, Line 3624 "Mi leue sone, i wil þe warn, For-qui þu art mi derest barn, þi fadir badd þi broder gang Line 3627 To set him mete, and duel nohut lang, þat if he ani wath miht gete, He suld him dight þar-of to ete; For war he anys þar-wid fedd [folio 26b:1] Ar he deyed in carful bedd, Line 3632

Line 3632 His benisun he wild him gete,— For lang he wat he may noght speke. Bot leue sun, ful lath me ware þat he þi benisun fra þe bare, Line 3636 vnhappi wrecche has he ben ay, þi sele he sal noght bere away; Bot þu sal do nu mi consail, wele i wat it sal þe avail. Line 3640 Nou hey þe suith, þat þu ne blin, Ar þat þi broder be comen in, Of kiddis fatt þu fett me tua, I sal þe teche hou þu sal da. Line 3644 I sal þaim dight til his bihoue, A mete as he was wont to loue, It sal him sauor to his wille, Ete he sal þar-of his fille; Line 3648 Quen it es diht þu it him reche,— Do nou wele as i þe teche. And þat he may þe less mistrau, þu sal say þat þu art esau, Line 3652 Fra þe forest neuli comen, venisun þou hast him nomen, wid daynte diht to his bihoue; Line 3655 þu bidd him rise and þarof proue, þat þu may gete bi þis resun Of þi fader his benisun." "Moder," he said, "wis war þi lare, Ne war of a thing i drede sare, Line 3660 þu wost mi handis er al bare, and esaues er rohw wid hare. If mi fader þat nou es blind, May mi gile sua vnder find, Line 3664 I drede me sar, of benisun He sal me giue his malisun." "Do way, leue son," rebecca said, [folio 26b:2] "þat malisun apon me be laid, Line 3668

Line 3668 Bot þat i bad, þu bring me sone." "Gladli, moþer, it sal be done." Iacob went into þe fold, Line 3671 And broght þa kiddes þat i of tald, His moder smartly þaim dight, Als scho bifor had him hight, And clad him, als it was mete, Line 3675 wid his broder cloth þat smelled suete. wid a rohu skyn scho hillid his hals, And couerd þar-wid his handes als, þat his fader suld algat trou He were his sun esau. Line 3680 His moder him þis mete bi-tahut, And he it suith his fader rahut, "Fader," he said, "sitt vp and ett, I haue þe broght þi ȝerning mett." "And quat art þu?" his fader said. "Sir, i esau, þi mete es graid." Line 3686 "And quatkines mete?" "sir, venisun, Ete and giue me þi benisun." "Hou es it, son, þu spedd so sone?" "Almithi godd has herd my bone, And sent hit smartli to mi hand, Line 3691 Men au to thanc him of his sand." "Cum nere, leue son, and lat me fele, If þu be he i loue sua wele." Line 3694 Quen he had felt his smelland clath, And gropid his hals and handes bath, "þis voice," he said, "þat i here, Is of iacob widuten were, Line 3698 Bot handis and hals es, als i trou, Mi dere sun, þi child esau; þe sauor sone of þi vestment, It sauors as it war of piment. Line 3702 I sal wend forth, þu duelles here, [folio 27a:1] Mi blissing, sun, þan sal þu bere.

þi broder be þin vnderlout, And all þat wonis þe nere aboute; And all þa sone þat blisses þe, Blissed sal þaim seluen be; Line 3708 And all þat biddis þe malisun Sal bere it on þair aun croun." He ete and dranc þat was his will, And siþen his sone he called him till, His brod blissing he him gaf, Line 3713 þe quilk his broder wend to haue, And made him lauerd ouer all his kin; Bot þat was wid his moder gyn, Line 3716 Hir moder consail was þar-vnto, And godd wald scho suld sua do. Bot iacob went quen þis was don, And esau cam efter sone, Line 3720 "Fader," he said, "sitt vp in bedd, I haue þe broght quar-of be fedd, Of venisun þat i þe bring Ete, and giue me þi blissing." Line 3724 His fader him asked, "quat art þu?" "Sir, þi sone," he said, "i esau." [ [[from Laud MS. 416]] Sonne he seid for my prow Thow were here at me right now] "I?" he said, "nay godote, Mith i noght be sua liht of fote!" wid þis gaue ysaac a grone, Line 3731 "Sone," he said, "riht nou was one þat first me fedd and siþen me kist, And me bigilid þat i ne wist; Mi benisun nou has þi broder." Line 3735 "And fader," he said, "es þar non oþer?" "Na, son, also mote i haue mede." "Allas quat i am broght in nede! Away he has mi blissing born, Sua did he als þe toþer morn. Line 3740

Line 3740 [folio 27a:2] He has me done ful mekil schame, Rihtful was iacob cald his name, þat es to say in riht langage, Supplanter of eritage, Line 3744 For quan i first born suld be, wid strinth agayn þan drou he me; He has me done ofte vnresun, And nou me reft mi benisun, Line 3748 Me es sua wa, almast i wede; Fader, þis was na broder-hede. Consail me, fader, hu i sal liue." Line 3751 "Son, quat kines consail may i þe giue?" "And es þar, fader, na blissing left?" "Na, þi broþer it has þe reft." Line 3754 "And es þar, fader, nan oþer wan?" "Wan," he said, "es nan bot an. In þe deu and griss alsua, Sal be þi blissing quar þu ga, wid erde trauail, and sua þu do, Line 3759 And prai godd send his deu þar-to." "Lord," he said, "quat es me best, Min hert bes neuer mar in rest Bituix and þis iacob be dede, If i may gete him in any stede." Line 3764 þus esau wid his manasce, vte of þat land did iacob chasce. Quen þair moder sau it was sua, He sohut his broder for to sla, Line 3768 Scho sent him sone into aran, Til hir broþer þat hight laban, þer to soiorne for þair sake Line 3771 Till þat his broþer wreth suld slake. Be niht þe flom iordane he wode, And thoru a wildrenes he ȝode, He loked quare þat him war best, Bi þe way to take his rest. Line 3776

Line 3776 He tok a stan he fand him bi, [folio 27b:1] And þar-apon made his hefd to ly. In slepe he sau alleddir him by, Stand fra his hefd vp to þe sky; Line 3780 Apon þat ledder sau he boun, Angelis clymand vp and doun, Opin him thoght þe ȝate of heuen, Of godd he herd suilk a steuen, Line 3784 "Godd and lord," he said, "i am Of ysaac and of abraham. Iacob," he said, "þu sal haue tuyne Wiues of þin aun kine, Line 3788 Tua dohutyrs of laban, þin eme, þat þu sal haue wid barnteme. Wid þe sal i be in al þi nede, And ger þin ospring wide to sprede. I sal be, for þin eldris sake, Line 3793 Wid þe, and esau for-sake." Wele was he gladid of þat sight, Soft him thoght he slep þat nyht. On þe morn quen it was day, Iacob ras fra þar he lay, Line 3798 And said, "vr lauerd, widuten were, þat i wist nohut es wonnand here, Here es nan oþer thing," said he, "Bot goddes hous and heuen entre." þe ston his heued lay apon þat night, In takning, he it sett vp-right, Line 3804 And oyle he putt apon þat ston, And made to godd a voice anon, And said, "if godd be mi freind, And lede me in my way i wend, Line 3808 And send me mete and drinc and cloth, And bring me again widuten loth, vnto my kith þat i com fra,— If i finde þat he lede me sua,— Line 3812

Line 3812 He sal be mi god and mi king, [folio 27a:2] And þis ston stand as in tokni[n]g; And þis stede fra nou it sal Be clepid goddes aun hall. Line 3816 Of all þe gode he dos me weild, Lelely þe tend i sal him ȝeild." Iacob went him forth his way, Line 3819 Quar thre flockes of bestes lay Bi-side a welle, vp-on a feild, And iacob sau and biheld, A mekil stan apon it lay; þat bestes dranc at ilka day. Line 3824 þe herdes bi þaim fand he þare, And askid þaim queþer þat þai ware? "Sir," þai said, "we are of aran." "And knau ȝe aut," he said, "laban?" "Sir, ȝa;" "and es he hale and fere?" "ȝa, hal and sound, widuten were; ȝonder i se his dohutir rachell Line 3831 Driuand his bestes to þe well, For all þe flockis cumes hiþer Ilk a day, to drinc togider." Line 3834 þan cam Rachell þat maydin bright, Iacob lifted vp þat ston ful wight, And spac sua wid þat damysel, Line 3837 And kneu him þar wid may rachel; And said, "quat art þu, lemman?" "Sir, my fadir hight laban." Line 3840 Aboute þe hals he hir hint, And kist hir thries ar he stint. "I am iacob þi cosin nere, Line 3843 And for þi loue am i comen here." þe may, quen scho gan vnderstand þat iacob suld be hir husband, To laban tald scho neu tydand, And he him ledd bi þe hand. Line 3848

Line 3848 þai frained of þair freindes fare, [folio 28a:1] And he þaim tald bath less and mare, Laban for-faynhed he did to call Line 3851 For his neuou sake his freindes call; And siþen he did him for to say, Quat was þe enchesun of his way. "Sir," he said, "i wil þe tell, Line 3855 For to spouse þi dohutyr Rachiell." "þan sal þu serue me seuen ȝere, Ar þu sal haue mi dohutir dere." "Gladly, sir, sua sal it be," Fra þan wid laban duelled he. Line 3860 þe eldir sister he for-soke, For scho gleyed, sua sais þe bock; For to serue for rachel fre He was maister herde of his fe; Line 3864 It was ferly of þat fare, Hou mekil þai multiplied ware. Quen þat þe seuen ȝere war gan, Iacob askid him his lemman, Line 3868 Laban said, "frend, ful blethily," Bot þar he did a tricheri. For quen he had may rachel wedd, Lya he stal vnto his bedd, Line 3872 Be-side lya al niht he lay, His vnwytand til hit was day. Bot quen he wist it on þe morn, Line 3875 Ful wa was him þat euer he was born. Fra hir he ras and syhid sare, And askid hir quo had broght hir þar. "Laban," scho said, "allas for sinne, Qua wend he wild me þus biginne." þan did he laban to resun, Line 3881 "Qui did þu me suilk a tresun?" "VI laue," he said, "þat we in leue, wil first vr eldir dohutir geue. Line 3884

Line 3884 Bot neueue murne þu no wite, [folio 28a:2] þu sal haue rachel as i þe hite, And þat may be nan oþer wise Bot ȝeit for þi seuin ȝere seruise. Line 3888 To-quiles hold lya in þi bedd, For-soth þan sal þu rachel wedd." þis new forward was festind þan, Bituix iacob and laban, Line 3892 His terme was passid, and seuin dais He weddid Rachel, þe stori sais.

Lya bred child and had a son, Ruben, and siþen symeon, Line 3896 þan leuy, þan ysacar, Zabulon, Iudas, sex breder war, A dohutir scho had, þat hith dina. Bot of oþer and wimmen tua Line 3900 Had foure sunes getin of him, Dan, Gad, Asser, and nyptalim. Rachel bar Iacob sones tuin, Line 3903 First joseph, and siþen beniamin. þat was a chesun of hir fin On þaim scho dyed in gesin. Quat of his wiues, tua of spouse, Line 3907 And quat of hand-wimmen in house, Tuelue sonis had he of þa, And a dohutir þat hiht dina.

[Jacob returns to his own land, and meets Esau.]

Iacob wex riche, his childer thraf, Thoru þe grace þat godd him gaf. þan bigan þat take taland, Line 3913 To wend into þair kindly land, wid wijf and child, wid an assent, Ilkan in hand wid oþer went. Line 3916

Line 3916 Laban of leue said þaim nay, And þai be niht stal away, wijf and barn wid flitting hale, Line 3919 All stal þai forth on þe nihttertale. A godd hadd laban in his boure [folio 28b:1] þe quilk he was wont to honure, Line 3922 And in þair flitting rachel it fand, And forth scho bar it in hir hand; Laban it missed, ouer-all it soght, Bot his god ne fand he noght. Iacob went him forth his way, Line 3927 On þe feild widuten he lay, Apon þat a side of flum iordane, And sent his ahut ouer ilkane. Iacob lay bi him-selue þat night, In hand he lahut an angel briht, Line 3932 þat in handis werstild þai, All þe niht til it was dai. þe angel said, "þu lat me fare." He said þat suld he neuer mare Line 3936 Late him passe for ani thing Tille he ha giuen him his blissing. Sua lang þai wrestild samen þar, þat iacob was him hurt ful sare Line 3940 þe maistir synew of his the, þat euer siþen halted he, And for þis resun i tell ȝou nou Of synews etis neuer na ieuu. Line 3944 þan askid godd, widuten blame, And bid him say quat hiht his name. "Iacob i hate." "Iacob ȝa, Sal þu na langer be cald sua, Line 3948 Bot þu sal be called isRael, þat es man seand godd of hele; For þu egain godd es sua stalworth, wel mare again man sal þu be worth."

Iacob sent þan for-to fonde, Line 3953 Esau wid sahutinyng sonde, For he was dredd in all thing, For-to cum in his meting; Line 3956 For quen he of his coming herd, [folio 28b:2] Ful wrathli agaynes him he ferd, Foure hundrid men ȝode him wid, Gode were iacob fra his aun grith; And sua he sal, þat wat i wele, Line 3961 For he es all vmsett wid sele. Iacob sent him of his ahut Giftes large wid him to sahut, Line 3964 þe messager him brohut ansuer, He com egayn him wid gret pouer. Iacob ledd gret folk of his kin, For doute he delt þaim in tuin, Line 3968 For þe gret doute þat he had þan He delt in tua bath best and man, þat quiles esau smat an of þa, Line 3971 þe toþer parti suld schap þaim fra. Iacob dred esau ful sare, For he was fell and wild nohut spare, þat if he miht him aniquar ta, widuten pite he wild him sla; Line 3976 And þus he made þan his praier, "Lauerd," he said, "my godd sua dere, þat first made adam man of lijf, Line 3979 And siþen of him made eue his wijf, þat had þai holdin þat þu þaim badd, þai had in bliss ben euer stadd: And ald noe, bath lele and god, þu saued fra þat ferly flodd: Line 3984 þu wat mi lauerd þat i es sua, Mi broder es nou mj mast fa, þat thoru mi moder rede and roun I stal fra him his benisun. Line 3988

Line 3988 Here ouer þis flum last quen i ferd, In hand i bar nohut bot a ȝerd, Line 3990 And nou mi lauerd, blissed þu be, Of folk tua flockes cumes wid me. Lauerd! þu send nu me þi rede, [folio 29a:1] Egain esau has suorn mi dede, Line 3994 For man þat þu wil helpe in nede, Ne thar him neuer na ferednes drede. Of þis gret haut þu has me lent, Line 3997 I haue þarof bi-for me sent, For ar þat he all þa haue slain, He sal be masid of his mayn; Line 4000 þe quilis if þu will þai sal pasce, And cum nohut in his hand percas." Esau cumis brime wid mekil route, Nou es iacob in mekil doute, Line 4004 He suore miht he wid him mete, Formast his lijf he suld for-lete. Bot qua þat godd helpis wid-all, Traistli may he wend ouer-all. Line 4008 Quen he sau his folk and his ahut His broder þan he sohut wid sahut And for his come was wonder blith, þat gam he wil wid kissing kyth: Suilk strinthe es of þe hali gast, Line 4013 To sahutling make þair wrethes mast. He welcumed iacob wonder faire, He wist he was his fadir ayre, Line 4016 widuten wrethe, widuten wrake, Of loue and pes þai samen spac. Quen þai had said þat þai wald say, Esau went him ham his way, Line 4020 vnto syer, þer he cam fra, And iacob till his fadir gan ga, For ȝeit he was liueand, Rebecca his moder dede he fand. Line 4024

Line 4024 þis ysaac þat i of rede, In bock es cald þe lastand sede, He ledd his lijf widuten blame, And birid es be-side abraham: Line 4028 Nine skor ȝere he had ouer-gan, [folio 29a:2] vte of þis world wen he was tan. Quen þis douthi man was dede, þir breder to þaim tok to rede, Line 4032 To dele þair landis þaim bituene, And þen miht þai liue widuten tene. Til esau bi-tid Ebron, And iacob went into Edon. Line 4036

þe stori of iacob be-gines here, And alsua of his sonis sere.

IAcob was selcuth riche of fe, Of alkins gode he had plente, He was ful riche als we rede, Loued and lele in ilka lede, Line 4040 Bot þou he loued his sonis ilkan, Sua wele as ioseph loued he nan; For he was fair, widuten sake, Of breder had he nan his make, Line 4044 All his breþer war herdis, i say, Bot he duelled at ham al-way. þis was ioseph þat lele þat dredd þat loueword had sua spedili spredd, þat wise, þat chast, þat gentile, Line 4049 þat siþen suffrid sua gret perele; Bot of þa perelis þat he was inne, Sumquat to tell i sal biginne, Line 4052 And hou he cam vte of his wa, Into his wele, ȝe sal here alsua. Ioseph saw a niht in sueuen, þe quilk es worthi forto neuen. Line 4056

Line 4056 Him thoght his fader þair corn schare, þar his elleuen breþer ware, Him-self was an þe feld biside, To gadir corn in heruist tyde; Line 4060 His breþer scheuis he sau lutand Til his alone, þat was standand. Anoþer drem þar efter sone, [folio 29b:1] Him thouth bath sune and mone, And of þe mast þat war in heuen Honurd him sternis elleuen, Line 4066 All loutid him on þair manere, Right als he þair lauerd were. He tald it þaim and þai said, "hou May þis be-tyde? quat wist þu? Line 4070 For to be lauerd ouer vs all? þat bliss sal þe neuer fall." Fra þis time forth, dai ne naght, wid ioseph war þai neuer saght, Line 4074 Enuye þai had til him sua strang, þai soght him ay to greue with wrang. Ne wald þai neuer apon him se, Fra þat day bot wid enmite. Line 4078 Ioseph was mast at ham duelland; His breder mast in wildrenes beand, wid þair fe bituene þa lawis, Als it bi-tid in þas dawis; Line 4082 Bi þir storijs men may wele se Men liued þat time mast wid fe. þir breder þat i spac of are, Amang þa fellis duelland war, Line 4086 þat nan koud tydand of þaim tell, For þay sent na man þaim emell. þair fadir, þat of þaim witt wald, Ioseph his sone til him he cald, Line 4090

"Sun," he said, "þu most al-gate Go wit of þi breder state;

Lang es siþen we of þaim herd, þiair fe als wold i wit hou ferd." Line 4094 "Fader," he said, "i wil ful fain, þi bidding wil i noght stand agayn." He went forth and wist noght quar Graytly quere his breder ware, Line 4098 Bot ar he to his breder wan, [folio 29b:2] wil he went and met a man, "Quat sekes þu here, sun," said he, "Sir, my breder, and mi fader fe." þan ansuerd þat man to him, "þu sal þaim find in dotaym." Line 4104 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] He went him forth and ferder soght, Til he þaim fand he fined noght. Quen þai him sau cum ioseph þair broder, Ilkan of þaim said þan til oþer, Line 4110 "Lo! quer þe dremer nou es comen! Be miht god he sal be nomen, Lat vs do him to dreri dede, Line 4113 Loke quat his drem sal stand in-sted." Ful fain þai were þai þar him fand, Nou þai may haue him to wille in hand. If þai bifor him auht for-bar Line 4117 Nou þai wil him noght spar. On was eldest of þa elleuen, þe quilk ȝe herd me ruben neuen, Quen he herd þai wild him sla, Line 4121 Na wonder þan þow him was wa, Stynt it wold he if he moght, þe foly þat his breder on him soght. All he sau þaim in a will Line 4125 þair broder sacles for to spille. "Mi breder," he saide, "dos ȝe naght sua, I rede noght ȝe ȝoure broder sla, Line 4128

Line 4128 þat es ȝour aun fless and blod, To murder him it es noght god; And if ȝe do, for-soth mi will Sal ȝe neuer haue þer-till. Line 4132 And if ȝe do suilk an vtrack, Fu sekir may ȝe be of wrake, And ȝoure schending be mast cuth; All men sal ȝou haue in mouth; Line 4136 þat baret rede i noght ȝe breu [folio 30a:1] , þat ȝou for euer eftir rew. He has ȝou na-thing done, for-qui ȝe haue noght again him bot enuy; And wit his fader þat he be slane, His lijf-dais all tell i for-gan." Line 4142 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] "For man þat liuand es, na wijf, Ne sal he schape fra vs wid þe lijf." Quen ruben sau þar was nan oþer, Bot algat þai wild sla þair broþer, "For godes luue, do way," he said, "þat na hand on him be laid, Line 4150 þat na blod off him be schedd, Bot if he algat suld be dede, Do it þan wid suilk a wile þat ȝe noght ȝour handis file. Line 4154 In þis wast i wot a pitt, Drey and waterles es itt, þar ouer it standis a mekil tre,— Cast him þer inne and lat him be. Bituix and he o-liue be broght, Line 4159 þen may we say we sau him noght; His cirtil sul we riue and rent, And blodi til his fadir it sent. And say to him þat we it fand Line 4163 widin þe wildreness ligand;

And say we þat he riuen es wid wild bestis in wildrenes. þan wil na man of vs mak saue, Line 4167 þat we him suld haue done of daue. Dos," said ruben, "as i ȝou say," For he wild lede him quick a-way. "Gladly," said þay at þat hete; Line 4171 þai hent Ioseph bi hend and fete, And nakind him and kest him dun, And left him þar als in prisun. Siþen þai sett þaim doun and ete [folio 30a:2] , þen sau þai comand bi þe strete Line 4176 Marchandes of an vncuth lede Of egipt, as we in bokis rede, wid camaylis þat gret birdins bar Of spices and of oþer ware. Line 4180 Emang þas breder an þar was Quas name þat was cald Iudas, He said, "quat bote were it til vs þat we for-did vr broder þus? Line 4184 Bote take we him vte of ȝon den, And selle we him to ȝone chepmen, þat þai may lede him in fer land To be þair thral euer-mar liuand. If it sua tyde þat he die þare, Line 4189 It es til vs bot littel care; And if he be þer-inne lyuand, His fadir of him heris no tiþand." þar was ioseph in seruage sold Line 4193 For tuenti besauntis tan and told. Nou es Ioseph ledd vte of land, God hald ouer him his hali hand. Ruben þat mast of þaim was i-wis, He wist noght of þis marchandis, Apon þe morn he cam and soght Line 4199 þe pitt, bot ioseph fand he noght.

He murned mare þan i can tell, Almast in suounyng doun he fell, Til his breder ȝode he sone, Line 4203 And þai him tald quat þai had don. Quat bote es langer to make mane For thing þat couering es þar nane? His fadir þai sent widuten bade Ioseph kirtil al blodi made; Line 4208

Quen his fadir his cirtil kneu, Miht na man gamen him no gleu: [folio 30b:1] "A best," he said, "mi son has rent, Allas þat euer i him out sent! þat way þat was sua wild to wend, þat al mi loue on him gan lend. Line 4214 Allas! wittles was i þat day! Of him has bestis made þar pray; þis was his clath, þat es wele sene, A! quat þat best was wonder kene þat has me reft mi dereling dere, Mi ioy, mi gladnes of mi chere. Line 4220 Ioseph, þu was mi ioy allon, Nou art þu ded, and i haue non; Ioseph þat was fre and fair, of all myn ahut suld haue ben air, For þi suetenes and þi fair heu. Line 4225 Mi care sal euermare be neu; I wald sinc in-to hell depe, wid mj son þar-for to wepe." Line 4228 Bot all his murni[n]g for to rede, Or for to speke, it were vnspede; His oþer sonis cam ilkan sere For to mende þair fader chere, Line 4232 Bot al for noght com þai him nere, Of confort wald he nathing here, Es noght his murning may a-mend I trou bi-fore his liues ende. Line 4236

Line 4236 Leue we nou of iacob and his care, To tell of ioseph and his fare.

Þir chapmen þat has ioseph boght, Into egipt þai him broght, Line 4240 þar he eftsonis was sald Til a dohuti berne and bald, To putyfar þe kinges stuard, Line 4243 þan was he sald wid neu forward, þat held ioseph in mensk and lare Al þou þair treuthes sundri ware; For þai war of sarasin lede, [folio 30b:2] Line 4247 And ioseph held euer his in hede. Sir Putifar wele vnderstod þat ioseph was of gentil blode, In all þe dedis þat he wroght, Line 4251 God was wid him in dede and thoght; þe wardaynschip of al his ahut Has putifar ioseph bitaght. þan was ioseph loued and dred, Line 4255 For wisdam all his werkis ledd, And for he was curtais and hend, Of all folk þan fand he frend. Putifar went into contre, Line 4259 And ioseph duelled wid his meyne, And has his godis all in hand, vnder him selue all weldand. Ioseph was ferli fair in face, Line 4263 And fild wid-all in godes grace, His ladi hir eye apon him kest; Forward of fole es eth to fest, Foli it was, and sua scho fand, Line 4267 Hir loue to set bot it miht stand. Scho kithid it ay quilis scho moght, And ioseph lete he wist it noght, And wist and dilled it as þe wise, And ay scho praysed his seruise. Line 4272

Line 4272 Sua land in herte scho has it hid þat at þe last must it be kid, For qua-sua euer es glad or blith, Priue loue at end wil kith. Line 4276 Ofte scho menyd to him hir mone, Bot euer scho fand ioseph in one; Quen scho sau þat, þan wex hir care, And longing had scho ay þe mare, In hir foli sua was scho fest, Line 4281 þat dai ne niht had scho no rest. [folio 31a:1] For quatkines pine es harder þan threst þan warn þe thing man louis best? And to be putt in suilk prisun, þat reuis man miht and resun? Line 4286 In prisun i hald þat bodi stad, Of quam þe hert es nu glad, For quan hert has þat it wil wiss, þe bodi may haue na mar blis, Line 4290 Ne no mar wa þan wil to wane, widuten wil es liking nane. Hert and wil er bath as an, þat bath er er reft fra mani an, Line 4294 Thoru strenth of luue þat nan mai stere, þow his hert all stel it were;— Hert of stele and bodi of bras, Stranger þan euer samson was, Line 4298 þat luue ne may him meke wid miht, Sum tyme a loue wid an eye siht; Ful hard it es wid him to dele, So wil he make mans fless frele, Line 4302 Quen his loke alone may bring Into his thraldam þe king; And, maugre his, he dos him loute, For euer he ledis him wid doute. For-þi if þu be suilk a gome Line 4307 þat þu wil algate loue ouercome,

Quen þu seis him bone to þe, Stalworthli þu fra him fle, Fle and turne þu noght þi ey; Or ellis if þu be ful sly, Line 4312 Thoru þin eye þe sal be schent, An aru þat es wid wild fir brent, First to brinne þi hert wid-ine, And siþen to strangil þe in sine. Line 4316 Fleand þu folow noght, i rede, For sua þu may þe driue to dede, To dede vmquile and to langure [folio 31a:2] Quen þu art soght fra þi socure; Line 4320 For better it es betime to stint, þan folu þe prai þat es tint; Qua folous lang widuten torne, Oft his [fote] sal find a spurne, Line 4324 Reu his res þan sal he sore, And venge his harm wid foli more. Sua did þis wijf þat i of rede, Scho folud ioseph quere he ȝede, Line 4328 And for scho foluand fand a spurne, Scho waited him wid a wic turne, Hir-self in godes grame and gilt, Line 4331 And almast made him to be spilt. Hou scho broght him sua to fonde, For to tell i wil noght wonde; Line 4334 Scho soght on ioseph mani a dai, And euer he ansuerd hir wid nay. Ioseph, þat was hir purueour, Line 4337 Apon a day wid mekil onur In chambir hendely he hir grett, And said, "madam, cum to ȝour mett." "ȝis," scho said, "bot ar þu ga, Line 4341 Spek wid me a word or tua." "Lang," he said, "may i noght duell;" And þus bigan scho for to spell. Line 4344

Line 4344

"Ioseph," scho said, "to þe lemman, Hendest of all i make my man, Be-tuix þi-self alone and me Here sal i scheu my priuete. Line 4348 þi loue me has broght to grund, þat i may neuer mare be sound, Bot if my bot may rise of þe, And þat þu wil my lemman be, Line 4352 worldes welth to welde in wone Enow þu sal haue al-lone; To my lauerd sal þu be sua dere, [folio 31b:1] þat oþer nan sal be þi pere." Line 4356 Scho hals him wid þis And proferd him hir muth to kiss, And drou him þan towar[d] hir bedd, Bot ioseph, þat vr lauerd dredd, Line 4360 "Do way," he said, "þi foli wille, wilt þu me and þi-self spill? Putifar me has betaght Line 4363 Land, and lythe, and all his aght; And for he traistes nu in mi leute, To kepe his gode he traistes in me, All es me taght and noght vte-tane, Bot þu þat art his wijf allane, Line 4368 Of þe haue i no kines miht, And if i hadd it war no right; He þat has giuen me suilk pouste, Him to be-tray, godd forbede it me, And we awe noght wid na resun Line 4373 Til vr lauerd do suilk tresun; And leuere me es be pouer and lele, þan falsli to winne catele. Line 4376 For-þi leuedi, wid mode and mayn, þu drau þi foli wille agayn, For qua bigines wil any thing, Line 4379 He aue to thinck apon þe ending."

Scho said, "allas, ioseph, þis day, And has þu ansuerd me wid nay? If i lyue þu sal it proue An ille freind to þi bihoue. Line 4384 I sal þe make wid mi hosband þe most hatid of all þis land." Scho drou his mantel bi þe pane; Quen ioseph sau no better wane Line 4388 He drou, and scho held, þe tassel brac, þe mantel left, and he gaf bac. Þan fell þat wijf to feloni, [folio 31b:2] And sone scho soght a tricchori, Scho gaf a cri þat all miht here, Line 4393 þe folk þat in þat palays were "Leuedi," þai said, "quat es at ȝou?" Scho said, "ne herd ȝe noght hou ȝone traytur Ieu me wold schend, þat mi lauerd haldes for his frend? He wald haue forced me in hy Line 4399 Had i noght mad titter cry, And quan i crid ful sone i-fledd, And left wid me a tokin in wedd; His mantil es be-left wid me, Here þe soth may ilk man se Line 4404 þat þai may se þe vylany, þe quilk he soght on his leuedi." "Sir," scho said to Putifar, "was neuer don to leudi mar Line 4408 Scham, þat liuand was in lede, þan þi gedling of vnkud sede. Ioseph sohut on me in boure Forto do me dis-honoure, Line 4412 Suilk it was þe vilani þat he gan seke on my bodi. For-þi as þu art man for-þe, Loke on him i-wrokin be." Line 4416

Line 4416 Putifar þan comandid sone þat Ioseph suld be tane and done In kinges presun for to ly, widuten ransum for to by. Line 4420 Allas! ioseph bath war and wijs, Ille es þe quit þi treu seruis, For þi godnes and þi treuth-hede, Ful ille es ȝolden ye þi mede! Line 4424 Suilk es tresun of womman, Stranger in world es funden nan, And god amend hir þat es suilk, [folio 32a:1] And giue man grace to fle all suilk.

Nou es Ioseph in presun strang Lou! as ȝe haue herd wid wrang, And siþen liked him ful wele, Line 4431 For all es turned him to sele, For sone was ioseph haldin dere wid þe mayster iaolere, Thoru þe miht of goddes grace Line 4435 Ouer all þe presunes þat þar was: Or þat in presun were, or band, All hadd þaim Ioseph vnderhand, He ferd ay wid sua mekil strijft, Line 4439 þat all was done as he wald scift. þus can god help man in nede, And namly þat him wil loue and drede. In þis time þat ioseph ferd þus, were tua men of þe kinges hous Line 4444 To presun sent for þair mis-dede, (Bot quat it was can i noght rede), þe spenser and þe botoler bath, þe king wid þaim was wonder wrath; Bot þe mayster iaoler Line 4449 To ioseph taght þaim vnto fere. Quen ioseph sau þaim alsua suith, To confort þaim he was ful blith,

Bot als þai lay in þat presun A-niht, þai mett a visioun, Line 4454 And of þi[s] sueuen þat þai had sene, Ayder of þaim gan to oþer it mene. Droupand o day he sau þar chere, And askid qui þai murnand were. þe botoler for bath gau ansuere, Line 4459 "Sir," he said, "we er þe droupander For tua sueuenis we sau in sight, In vr slepe þis ilk night." Line 4462 "And quat war þa? for þi leute [folio 32a:2] þin aune dreme first tell þu me." "Me-thoght i sau a win tre, And a bohu wid branches thre; Line 4466 vp-on þis tre, on ilk-a bohw, Me-thoght þar hing grapis enohw, And of þe grapis þat þar-on hang In a covpe me-thoght i wrang. Line 4470 Me-thoght þe king was at his mett, And i þat coupe in hand him sett." "God wat," said ioseph, "wid þe miht of heuen, Line 4473 I sal vndo þe wele þi sueuen. Or þis thrid day began, þu sal be vte of presun tan, And clensid be bifor iustise, Line 4477 And putt again in þi seruise. Quen þu es in welth bifor þe king, For goddes loue of me haue mening, þat i may thoru þe help of þe Line 4481 Out of þis presun l[i]uerid be. First men stal me fra mi thede, And presuned me, sacles of dede." þe spenser said, "me thoght i bar A lepe, as i was wont do ar, Line 4486

Line 4486 wid bred þat i bar on mj heued, Me thoght wid rauins it was me reued. A mekil rauin mi basket hent, Line 4489 Aboute mi hefd it raue and rent." "Certis," said ioseph, "bes it noght lang, Bi-tuix and þu on galuis hang, It sal wid-in thre dais be, Line 4493 þar sal na ransun ga for þe." Right as Ioseph said biforn, He was hangyd on þe thrid morn; þe botoler was lesid þat ilk day, Line 4497 And ioseph still in presun lay, wid langur lengand and wid care, [folio 32b:1] Lang he was forgetin þare! wildnes of welth of þis botoler, Line 4501 For-gatt ioseph his drem-reder, For man þat weltris in his welis, And for his welth na fautes felis, If he haue freind þat lijs in wo Line 4505 Ful oft he is forgetin so. Lang was it said, and ȝeit sua bes, 'Sone hert forgetis þat eyen ses', Bot i dar sai, and god it wate, Line 4509 'Qua lely loues forgetes late'. Ioseph lay in þat langing, Bi-tuix and Pharao þe king Line 4512

SAu in his slep suilk a sueuening, þat he comandid bi-for him bring Clerk and kniht, erle and baron, T[o] scheu til him his vision, Line 4516 To wit if ani man þer ware Coude telle to quat euidens it bare. Bot þar was neuer an of þaim all Coude say quat þar-of suld fall. Line 4520 Þan bigan þe botoler say Of ioseph þat in presun lay,

To þe king þus spac he þan, "Sir," he said, "i knau a man Line 4524 þat if he forth war brohut in place, I vnderstand he has þat grace, If þi drem, widuten bide, He sal þe tell quat may bityde. Line 4528 Sir king, þu was anis wid me wrath, And wid þe maistir spenser bath, In presun war we don in bande, þar-in a Iuen child we fand; Line 4532 Eyder of vs a drem we sau, And he vs bad þaim til him schau, And we bigan him for-to telle, [folio 32b:2] He told vs all þat siden fell." Line 4536 "Ga to þe presun," said þe king, "And do him suith bi-for me bring; Loke cloding neu on him be done, And þat he cum bi-fore me sone." Þe botoler to þe presun lepp, Line 4541 And sone þar-out he tok ioseph, And did apon him neu clothing, And brohut him bifore þat gadering. On ioseph siht it was wele sene, Line 4545 þat he had lang in presun bene, For lene he was, and wan in face, As he þat lang was fra solace. þe barnage mekil farli thoght, Line 4549 þat he to kinges rede was broght. Þan cald þe king ioseph nerre And said, "i haue soght nere and ferr To find a man mi drem to rede, Bot hider-to miht i noght spede. Line 4554 Bot coud þu tell me quat it ware, Mi grace þu suld haue euer-mare." "Sir," he said, "þu scheu it þan, And i sal rede it als i can. Line 4558

Line 4558 I am al bone þi wille to do, Line 4559 If god wil giue me grace þar-to."

"Me-thoght in drem þis ender niht, þat i com in a medow sliht, Floures and gress i-now i fand, Line 4563 And ky fourtene þar-ine gangand; þe seuen of þaim me thoght ferli were selcuth fat and fair ky; þe toþer seuen i ȝode to se þaim also selcuth, thoght me, Line 4568 þair hide was clungen to þe bon, So lene sau i neuer non, Lene and hungri bath war þai, [folio 33a:1] þai draf þe toþer seuen a-way. Line 4572 In þat medu so lang þai ware þat þai had etin þe erd al bare. Me-thoght siþen i folud a sty Into a feild and sau me by, Fourtene eris stand of quete, Line 4577 þe seuen of þaim war wonder grete, Sua wele war sett me thoght selcuth; Bot of þe toþer me thoght vncuth, þai war sua clungen, dri, and tome. Of þis, ioseph, say me þi dome, Line 4582 And giue me þar-of a god consaile, And þe ne sal i neuer faile. þu sal gode office haue ful tite, And all for-giuen þe þi wite." Line 4586 Þan said ioseph, "leue sir king, Godd has þe schaud a fair warning, þar-fore au þu wele wid right Line 4589 To honour him wid mayn and miht, Siþen he bi-fore has warnid þe, Againes þi wa to saued be. Line 4592 For thoru þis for-bisin here, Witt þu þar sal be seuen ȝere

Of plente be in þi kingrike þat er þa seuen fat bestes lick, Line 4596 þat oþer seuen nedi nete Bitakins seuen ȝere hunger grett, þat oþer neist sal be foluand Line 4599 þat neuer was suilk bifor in land, þat suilk diffaute sal be of bred, þe folk sal be for hunger dede. Sir king, þis es þi visyoun, Line 4603 Loke þi selue wid gode resun, For bath þir dremes er als on. For-þi i rede þat þu on-an Do gete þe a gode purueour, [folio 33a:2] þat in þis nede may þe socure, Line 4608 In ilk a land men for to sett To gadir of ilk þe fijfte mett, Of þat time þat es plente." "Certis, ioseph, sua sal it be, Line 4612 Bot for þu art sua mekil of prijs, And þar-to þu art bath war and wijs, So þat non es funden suiche, Steiward of all my king-riche Line 4616 Sal þu be made, and hy iustise, For wele i traist in þi seruise." "Nay, sir, bot tas noght in despit, For first þan wil i ma me quit Line 4620 Of plight of putifars wijf." "Do queþer," he said, "þar-of na strijf." "Sacles i am, and dere haue boght." "I wat þu tellis it me for noght, Line 4624 þi sacles schame wele sene it es, And god es wid þi werkis, i-wis." Quen þat þe barnage of egipt Sau him haue suilk a worschip, Line 4628 wonder þaim thoght hou þat he was to þe king mad sua priue,

For qui, he was a man vnsen, And had in gret misliking ben. Line 4632 "we wend wele, sir, he had ben dede." "Nay," said þe king, "god forbede, He was presuned wid ille rede, Sua has he liued in mekil dred, Line 4636 And þat es sene in his visage; Men haue him don ful gret vtrage. Of mj dremes nou has he Teld me quat þer-of wil be, Line 4640 And for i wat noquar his make, I wil þat he here vnder-take All þe worschip of mi land, [folio 33b:1] And þat wil i ȝe vnderstand, Line 4644 þat all be wroght wid his consail, For all mi land it sal auail. þe seuen craftes wele he can, And es a selcuth wis man." Line 4648 All his barnage less and mare vnto ioseph an ath þai suare, Till him as wardayn for to tent And for to do his comandement. Line 4652 Of his aune hand tok þe king And did on ioseph hand his ring, And clething on him let he fall, Line 4655 Suilk as him selue was cled wid-all, To ride and ga widuten letting, And knele bifor him als a king: þan said þe king, "ioseph, lo! þu wost þat i am pharao, Line 4660 Sal non sua bald be in mi land, widuten þe stir fott or hand." . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] His name þai changid for þat onur And cald him þe worldes saueour;

þe king him did a wijf to take, Hiht assener, a doghti make. Line 4668

Ioseph thoght on his mistere, Gart gadir him seriant and squier To gadir him writhes fer and ner, Quare þat euer þai funden were, Line 4672 And bernys made wid-in þat ȝere, A thousand sett in stedis sere. And siþen comandid he him-selue Depe celers for to delue, Line 4676 And thoru his aun witti rede Fild þaim wid wines, quite and rede. Quen þe folk þus sau him dele Line 4679 wid win and corn, fless and mele, And fild þe lathes here and þar [folio 33b:2] . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] þe land of egipt less and mar. Line 4684 þus ferd he in þa seuin ȝeris, þat ma þan a thousand celers Fild he wid wines neu and fress, And lardineris wid saltid fless; Line 4688 Gerneris and granges fild he wid sed, Ma þan i wid tung can red, In ilk a stede a sere wardain. þan went he to þe king a-gain, Line 4692 For to rest him wid þe king, Aftir his mekil trauailing. Quen þa seuen ȝere war vte, Plomen ouer all þe land aboute, Line 4696 As þai war wont, þair sede to sau, Bot alkines welth bigan wid-drau. þe erde clang for hete and drohut, And so bigan þe drech cum vte, Line 4700 For þat dreþ þat was sua strong, Corn no griss on erde non sprong.

þan died þe bestes vp all bidene For þat hunger þat was sua kene, þat bi þe formast ȝere was gan, Line 4705 vnethes was þar best left an. þe wrecched pore miht find na fode, þai were so fele þat beggand þai ȝode, þe flockis war sekand in þe land, Line 4709 Be hundris and be thousand, þat soght þaim rotis als þe suyn,— Soru it was to se þat pin. þe childer and þe men of elde Line 4713 For hunger lay dede in þe feilde; Before þe king þai come wid cri, And said, "lauerd, þu haue merci Of þi folk for hunger er dede, was neuer mar nede of brede. Line 4718 þou men ouerall haue saun feldes, [folio 34a:1] Of corn es noght on þat vp-ȝeildes; þe qualm has bestis all ouer-gan; Bot if sum bote of þe be tan, þi folk sule dey vp all bidene Line 4723 wid qualm, þis hunger es sua kene."

ÞE king sau þis, and wep ful sore, And sau men bodis bolnnand wore, For wit ȝe wele, þat in þat tide, Had he in hes herte na pride. Line 4728 "Lordi[n]ges," he said, "wele wot ȝe Mi steuard ioseph al fedis me, For derworthili es he þar-tille, He es all lord, and þat es skill; Line 4732 Bot gas and falles him to fote And prais him he do ȝou bote; And þat he giue ȝou of his corn Ar ȝe for hunger be for-lorn." Line 4736 To ioseph went þai criand þan, "þu reu on vs, þu blisful man,

And lene vs sumquat of þi sede, was neuer ar sua mekil nede, Line 4740 Lene vs sunquat wid þi skep." "I sal ȝou lene," said ioseph.

Ioseph was ful of pite, Line 4743 Did threches sone in þat contre, Quen þe sede was dight and bone, He sald ilk an his porciun, Sua þat þai miht skilfully þai and þair meyne liue þar-bi. Line 4748 In bokis find we of a wile þat ioseph did þat was sotile, þe chaf of corn he kest vmquile, Into þe flum þat men call Nile, Line 4752 For-qui þ[a]t watir þat rennis þare, To iacob hus it has þe fare. þis hunger þat i here of tell [folio 34a:2] In landis all aboute it fell, Line 4756 Men mist it noquer in no land, And seuen ȝere it was lastand. þan iacob and his sonis ware wid hunger in point to for-fare, Line 4760 Soruful þai were, was na selcuth, þai had noght to put in þair mouth. þou þai had siluer and gold rede, þai miht noght find to by na bred, þir childer oft for hunger grett, Line 4765 And iacob ne wist hu þair hunger to bett. Oft he lifted vp his hend To godd þat he him help suld send, And grant him sone menskli to dey, Ar þat hunger lang to drey. Line 4770 Bot vr lauerd godd all-miht Heris man prayer, and þat es riht, For þou he proue his freind wid pine, þar-for wil he him noght tine; Line 4774

Line 4774 Iacob quen he was mast in siht, God him confortid widuten liht. Line 4776

Be-tid þan, in a littel quile, Iacob ȝode walkand bi þe Nile, He sau apon þe watris reime Chaf cum fletand wid þe streme. Line 4780 Of þat sight wex he ful blith, And til his sonis he tald it suith, "Childer," he said, "ȝe list and lete, I sau chaf on þe water flete; Line 4784 Queþen it comis i can noght rede, Bot doun it fletis ful god spede. If it be comen fra fer land, Line 4787 Loke quilk of ȝu sal take on hand, For vs all take þis trauaile, þar-of es gode we ta consaile. Agayn þe flum to folu þe chaf, [folio 34b:1] Corn þare sul we find to haf." Line 4792 Ruben þan said his resun, "Lo," he said, "I am al-redi boun, vr aller nedis to vnder-ta, Gif me tresur and lat me ga." Line 4796 His breder said, "may we ga all In goddes name, and sua we sall." "Tresur enohut wid ȝu ȝe take, And i ȝou pray for goddes sake, Line 4800 Quen ȝe funden haue ȝour fang þat ȝe duell noght þar to lang. Bot gas warli in vncuth land, Line 4803 God hald ouer ȝou his hali hand." Þire breder went vte of canaan, For þare was Iacob wonand þan; þar ȝongest broder þai left at hame, Beniamyn þan was his name, Line 4808 þai heyed þaim apon þair way, þan sone to egipt com þai.

Bot quen þai sau corn plente, Glader men miht neuer be, Line 4812 Bred to sell þai fond and bohut, And to Ioseph siþen þai soght. And men þaim taght quilk was Ioseph, And doune þai knelid at his step. Coud þai of him na knaulag take, And vnkudly to þaim he spac. Line 4818 "Childer," he said, "queþen er ȝe?" "Sir," þai said, "of a contre þar in es mani a nedi man, Line 4822 Of a land men calis canaan." Line 4821 þan said Ioseph ful vncuthly, "Bot er ȝe comen þis land to spy?" "Nai," þai said, "lord godd forbede, Bot we er comen for mekil nede, Line 4826 For þis hunger it es vte-neme; [folio 34b:2] We er all a manes barnteme, þar es hunger in vr king-riche, was þar neuer bi-for non suiche. Line 4830 þe folk dies vp all bidene, Suilk a hunger was þar neuer nan sene. And þar-for haue we hider sohut, And a parti mone wid vs broght, Redi penis we haue to tell Line 4835 If we may find here aught to sell. For-þi we pray þi lauerd-hede, þat þu wil help vs in þis nede, Of þi mekil plente here To selle vs, be it neuer so dere. Line 4840 Thar þe lauerd, haue na mistrouing þat we suld cum for ani oþer thing."

"I sall ȝou selle, bot telles nu me, Quat kines a man ȝurfaderes he?" "Sir, iacob es vr fader name, Line 4845 An ald man we left at hame.

Elleuen breþer we er lyveand, Ane at hame and ten in þis land." "And quat es he, þat es þe lest?" "Sir, beniamin hight he, ȝongest." Quen he biheld þaim all oraue, Line 4851 wele ilk an he coud þaim knaue, He thoght apon his fadir care, And þar-for syhid he ful sare. Line 4854 Þair siluer he tok and gaf þaim corn, And to þair in did it be born; He gart waite at a priue tide, And did his siluer coupe to hide Line 4858 In a sec þe corn biside, and bad þaim to þe mete a-bide. Quen þai had etin and war boune For to wend ham vte of toun, Line 4862 Ioseph bi-gan þan his sarmon, [folio 35a:1] And þus þaim he scheud his resun. "Gode men," he said, "ȝe sal fare, Bot of vr king I warne ȝou are, I am noght king ouer þis land, Line 4867 Bot ilk man sal wele vnderstand, þe king of þis land hat Pharao, þat all his will can gar be do; Line 4870 Ouer-all es dredd, and he es riche, þat was þar neuer bifor non suiche: Of him i tell ȝou witterly Of thef wil he haue na merci, Line 4874 For-qua so es tan wid stoln thing, He wil þat do him to hing. I say noght þis bot þat ȝe Ar like treu men for to be. Line 4878 Godd giue ȝou wele for to founde, And bring ȝou ham hal and sounde, Hal and fere ȝur fader to se, Line 4881 God grant ȝou þat it so may be."

"Sir, godd ȝou for-ȝelde," said þay, "Of all ȝour gode, and has god day." Quen þai forth fully war gan, Line 4885 Ioseph sergauntis called on-an, "Childer," þai [[read he]] said, "we serue þe king, And we misse sumquat of his thing, If he it wit he wil be wroght, And god for-bede, þat war vs loth. ȝon er theues we lelemen wende, Line 4891 And he a thif þaim hider sende. Foluis þaim and ransakis þair ware, Ar þat þai pass or fra vs fare, If in þair sekkes ahut be funden Line 4895 Loke þai all be tan and bunden." . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Þe sargantes þat war brim as bar, þai ran and ouer-tok þaim þar. "Theues!" þai said, "ȝe sal a-byde, [folio 35a:2] wend ȝe þe kinges tresur to hide? He þat ȝou has done socoure, Line 4903 Stolin ȝe haue of his tresur. In an ille time did ȝe dis dede, For suilk þar-of sal be ȝour mede." "Certis," þai said, "leue lordinges, Haue we noght tan of þe kinges; we er bath treu men and lele, Line 4909 war we neuer wont to stele, we ne haue wid vs trussed noght, Bot thing þat we lely haue boght, And vr aun lele bigetyn thing, Line 4913 For goddes loue dos vs na letting." Apon þair sekes laid þai hand, þat coupe þai soght and sone þai it fand. "A! traitours, nou es it sene, Queþer þat ȝe be foule or clene." Line 4918

Line 4918 þan war þa breder bunden hard, And sone broght bifor þe steuard, And presond to þe thrid morn, Line 4921 þat ma folk miht cum biforn; þe quilis sent ioseph þe ȝepe Men þair harnays for to kepe. Line 4924 Þe thrid morn comandid he, A gadring of þe land suld be. Forth war broght þe breder ten, was þar neuer sorier men, Line 4928 þai fell doun at ioseph fete, And merci soght wid reuful grete. þe folk askid quat þai suld be, Line 4931 "Theues," said ioseph, "of a contre þat þaim es fer, as þai me tald, And þat es sene on þair dedes bald; For quilis i sold þaim of mi sede, Line 4935 Mi coupe þai stale a-way to lede. Seriantis sent i sone on hand, [folio 35b:1] And in þair ger mi coupe þai fand; I resceyuid þaim and warned noght, Of all þat euer þai me bi-soght, Line 4940 Mete and drinck i gaf þaim bath, And bad þaim kepe þaim ay fra skath, And siþen i praid godd al weldand, Lede þaim safly into þair land, Line 4944 And þar-apon stale þus mi thing:— If ȝe giue dome we sal þaim hing." Þan spac ruben þe eldest broder, Stille menand til þe toder, Line 4948 "Nou es comen vr alde sake, Into wandred sin and wrake, þat i ȝou said þis oþer ȝere, Bot þan my rede wild ȝe noght here, Of ioseph vr broder lele, Line 4953 wid wrange ȝe sald him for catele;

ȝe salde him alle egain mi assent, And þat find ȝe nou in present; Line 4956 Don ȝe haue þe sine ȝe wate, ȝour repentanse es comen ouer late. Naquiþer-war may we nu stire, þair will bihouis vs suffre here. Line 4960 Lauerd, help! þat all has wroght! In oþer help ne traist i noght." He menid him þus wid murnand chere, And wend ioseph miht it noght here. "Allas!" þai said, "þat euir we ware Born, if we sal þus for-fare." Line 4966

Ioseph ras vp fra his stede; To galuus wend þai þan be ledd. Bot ioseph herd þair murning sare, And left þaim as noght ne ware; First he wild þaim make a-gast, Line 4971 And siþen reu on þaim at þe last. Quen he sau þair murnyng mane, [folio 35b:2] vnto þe court he spac on-ane: "Gode men, listines, all and sum, Ar þat ȝe giue ani dome. Line 4976 A word," he said, "es soth may fall; All-þou þat þai be theues all þat þa war breder all at hame, þai mengid me þe ȝongest name; Line 4980 Nou wil i do to þaim þat grace, þat þai þe ȝongest bring in place þat þai left at þair fadris ine, þe quilk es cald beniamin. Line 4984 And toquilis wil i ane of þir ten, þat þai giue to name ruben, Duell in hostage here wid me Til þat þe ȝongest be comen to be. þe term es fourti dais sett, Line 4989 þat i of þaim mi couenand gett.

Bot þai me þan mi couenand bring, For-soth þair hostage sal i hing; Line 4992 And if þai couenand hald, i-wiss, I sal for-giue þaim all þi miss. þus-gat wil i proue þaim nou." Line 4995 "Sir," þai said, "godd ȝeild it ȝou, For if þat ȝe haue lijf þar-to, ȝour comandement sul ȝe do." Line 4998 þair leue þai tok and war ful blith, And hied þaim in þair way ful suith. vr lauerd ledd þaim in þair fare, þat þai com to þar fader ȝare. Line 5002 þai kist þair fader al sone, And did þair seckes be vndone. "Say me," quot iacob, "hou es þis, þat of mi childer an i miss?" Line 5006 "Sir, he es in egipt." "allas, qui?" "For þar vs toke þe hei bayli, To schap wid gile were we fayn." [folio 36a:1] "And quat hope ȝe? sal he be slain?" "Nay, sir," þai said, "god wid schild, Him sal deliuere ȝour ȝongest child." "Qui, hou, sal beniamyn cum þare?" "Sir ȝa, elles þai wil Ruben for-fare, ȝour eldest sun heued or hang." "And haue ȝe terme?" "ȝa sir." "hu lang?" "Fourti dais;" "þan dred i sare, ȝe must hast ȝou on ȝour fare." Line 5018 Ne had þai soiurnid but a stound, Iacob said, "time es to found, Fettis me hame ruben bliue, Or elles hald ȝe noght mi liue. Line 5022 Ledis wid ȝou beniamyn, God grauntt ȝou grace diþer to win. Lauerd! miht-ful king!" he said, "þat paradis to man puruaid, Line 5026

Line 5026 And bitaght adam lenthe and wide, And eue þat wroght was of his side; On flode þu sauedd noe here, Line 5029 And tempt abraham þi dere Of his a sun offrand to make, And he it wild do for godes sake,— þat was my fader isaac,— Line 5033 Till þat þe angel for him spac; And sauid me mi broþer fra, Esau þat wilde me sla, Saue mi childer hal to me, Line 5037 And haue of ioseph saule pite." Þir childer tok wid þaim to spend, þai buskid þaim in þair way to wend, So lang þai went apon þair way, þat into egipt sone com þai. Line 5042 þai soght and sone þe steuard fand, At a gerner him standand, þar he liueranse made of corn, [folio 36a:2] þai grett him all on knes biforn. Line 5046 Quen ioseph gan his breder se, Mekil ioy in hert had he, And ruben þat for him was nomin, Had mekil ioy quen þai war comin. Him sterid all his bodi wid-ine, Line 5052 Ioseph biheld þan beniamyn, Line 5051 For quen þe tan þe toþer sy, No-gates miht þair bodijs ly, He hent him in his armis þare, Line 5055 And kised him sexti sith or mar; And grett on him ful tenderly, And siþen on binck he sett him by. "Hou faris," he said, "vr fadris stat?" "Mi fadir faris wele, sir, i wat. Line 5060 Knaulage of ȝoures haue i nan." "Parfay, broder, and all es an."

"Knauest þu me?" "sir," he said, "nay, I sau ȝou neuer bifor þis day. we er noght sibb." þis said he, Line 5065 "þe soth þan sal i scheu to þe. First wald þai me haue slayn, þir ten, And siþen me sald to vncuth men, And all was for i tald a drem Line 5069 þat comen es nou to gode, i tem; I hat ioseph, ȝur broþer am i." þai fel in suoune and crid "merci!" þan þai wend widuten wene Line 5073 þai suld be hangid all bidene. Bot ioseph confort þaim þar chere, And wepand said, "my breder dere, ȝour gilt i haue forgiuen ȝou, Line 5077 For-gif me myn, i prai ȝou nou, For-giue me dat i did ȝou take, And bunden be widuten sake. Line 5080 þe coupe into ȝour seck put i, [folio 36b:1] And presuned ȝou ful spitusli, And schent you siþen in menes siht; I am a-knau i did vnriht. Line 5084 Mi wreche es me nou al ouer-gan, To me i pray ȝou ȝe haue nan, Bot rape ȝou suith bone to ga, For i wil algate it be sua. Line 5088 Mas ȝour ger alredi tift, ȝour seckes sal i fille o gift, To fete my fadir sul ȝe founde, Line 5091 And sais him i am hale and sound. For ȝeit haue we bi-fore to bide, Fiue ȝere of þis hungery tyde, þat sal mani man and wiif Ar it be endid for-ber þair lijf. Line 5096 Bes noght dred, bot mas god chere, For ȝour hele god sent me here.

Noght ȝour rede but godes sand, was i þus sent into þis land, As Pharao fadir has me made, Line 5101 And lord ouer-all his landes barde [[read brade]] ." "Sir, gladli all ȝoure biddyng Sal be til vs as comanding, Als suith as we mai be graith, Line 5105 we sal do as ȝe haue said. þat we haue done miss we repent ay, For-giue it vs, lauerd, we ȝou pray, Siþen god wild suilk cas suld fall." He said, "i haue for-giuen ȝou all. Til ȝour fader nou ȝe sal, Line 5111 And tel him ȝe er sound and hal, He mas soru ay for ȝour sake, þis tyding his soru slake." "We sal make na lang duelling, Line 5115 Bi-tuix and we him to ȝou bring." "Takis ruben ham wid ȝou [folio 36b:2] And leuis wid me beniamin nu." He clad him wid pall of affrick, And siþen gaf him giftes riche; Line 5120 He keist þaim all, in signe of saght, And siþen to godd he þaim bi-tagh[t]. And efter ȝede ham till his in, wid his ȝong broder beniamyn; Line 5124 Of pall he did on him clathing, And on his handis sett riche ring. Þir breder ȝede forth þar way, Line 5127 And to þair fadir sone com þai, Siluer and gold þai wid þaim ledd, And clathing bath for bac and bedd. For-getin haue þai all þat care Line 5131 þaim was don thoru Ioseph þare, þai com ham noght presunes lick, Bot as þai ware knihtes rike; Line 5134

Line 5134 Clad þai ware wid riche wede, þair camayles charged all wid sede. þair fader lay vnfere in bedd, Line 5137 He miht noght stir him of þat sted; þer cam to him a messager, And tald him softli in his ere, Line 5140 "Sir," he said, "here gode tydand, þi sonis er knithes here at hand." "þu lies," he said, "bi godd sua dere, þai er na knightes, ne knightes pere." "Sir, bi þe faith i aw to ȝou, Line 5145 þai er knithes, als i trou, For þai er clad in riche pall, And giue riche giftes ouerall. Line 5148 Siluir and gold þai haue plente." "Sais þu soth?" "ȝa, sua mote i the, And if þat þu noght trous me, Line 5151 Ris vp and cum þi-selue nou to se!" [folio 37a:1] "I may noght rise, i am sua lame;" And wid þat word þai com al hame, In at þe dor, apon a route, Haylisand þair fadir gan þai loute. "Sir," þai said, "we bring tyding, Fra þi sonis tuynne g[r]eting, þat es, fra beniamyn vr broder, Line 5159 And fra ioseph, þat es þe toder." [[MS. has torder]] Quen iacob, þat in bed was won, Herd þaim neuen ioseph his sun, þan bigan his hert to liht, And in his bed to sitt vp-right. Line 5164 His hefd was all bar for elde, Apon his sonis he þan bihelde, And sau þaim clad in pal sua riche; "Seys me þan, widuten suiche, Line 5168 Quat er ȝe make mening nou Of ioseph, mi sone, be-tuix ȝou?

Thritti ȝere es it siþen so gan, Line 5171 Siþen he wid wilde bestes was slan. ȝe gabb, and certis ȝe do gret sin, þat ȝe of him make ani mine." Line 5174 "Fadir," þai said, "mistrou vs noght þat we þe haue na gabing broght, For ioseph hale and sound left we." "Lauerd, quar-euer i sal him se:" Line 5178 "Certis sir, ȝa, god may wele geue." "I wild," he said, "na langer liue." "ȝe sal haue lijf langer þan dider." "Quat! haue ȝe broght him wid ȝu hider?" Line 5182 "Nay, sir, bot ȝe sal to him fare, He has sent efter ȝou his chare, we sal ȝou make þar-in a bedd, In to egipt sul ȝe be ledd." Line 5186 þan wex iacob ferly fain, His bodi bigan to quick again. "Gif me mi clathes," þan said he, [folio 37a:2] "And hastily þat we graithed be, Childer," he said, "lat vs gang, Line 5191 For in-to egipt thinc me lang." Israel wid þis vp lep, þat bi-for miht noght strid a step widuten asking ani help of son, Line 5195 þat quake wid ilk a lim [[MS. lin]] was won. þat first for eld miht noght wel spec, To hast his sonis wald he reke, Line 5198 He cries on þaim as ȝong man were; þan said ruben, "leue fadir dere, I rede stedfastlyer ga." Line 5201 "And quat art þu, þat biddes me sua?" "Ruben ȝour sun." "and quat thing, Es of Ioseph? and no lesing." Line 5204

Line 5204 "Of egipt, sir, þat riche land, Line 5205 Es he mayster and al weldand." "Hou sua, es þar nan oþer king?" "Ȝes, bot he tentis to na maner thing, þe ward he has of þat king-riche, Line 5209 And demes bath þe pouer and riche. He delis wid þe corn of þat contre, þis es þe soth, trou ȝe me." Line 5212

Israel made an offrand suyth, As þai war wont in þat sith. God cam to him in vision, And said to iacob his resun, Line 5216 "Iacob, iacob, listen vnto me; wid þi fadir i was, as i am wid þe, Al-mihti god thar þe noght drede, wend til egipt emang þat lede, Line 5220 For i my self sal þe þar lede, And many a man gar of þe sprede. And þar for-soth sal þu die, Ioseph þi sone sal loke þin eye." Line 5224 Þan was iacob buskid ȝare, [folio 37b:1] wid all men þat wid him ware; His sonis all wid þair flittyng, Line 5227 wid wijf and barn and oþer thing, In waynis war þai put to lede, þat ioseph sent þaim ful of sede. His meyne þat him folud diþer, Quen þai war gadrid al to-gider, Line 5232 Sex and sexti soum o lyuis þai were, widuten sonis wijfes; And ioseph had him sonis tuin, Manassem and effraim, Line 5236 þat in egipt his wijf him bare, þat þe king had getin him þar. Quen iacob cam egipt nere, He sent Iudam his messager, Line 5240

Line 5240 To tell iacob comen was in land, And bere ioseph þar-of tydand. Line 5242 Quen ioseph of his fadir herd, wid his court agayn him he ferd, Quen þai had kist a mile and mar, His blissing gaf he him right þar. Quen ioseph wid his fader mett, Line 5247 Tendirly wid eye he grett, þai grett for gladnes, as I trou. Iacob said to ioseph, "nou Of dede wil i me neuer mene, Line 5251 Nou i þi face, leue sone, haue sene." Bot certaynli, þe soth to say, Qua-so had ben be-stadd þat day, And hadd þat suete meting sene, Line 5255 þou he thre dais had fastand ben, Of mete and drinck, in myn entent, I hope he suld haue had na talent. "Sone, i wend lang siþen gan, Line 5259 wid wild bestis þu hadd ben slain, Qua-fore i fell in gret sekenes. [folio 37b:2] I-loued be godd þat þu liuand es! Sone, qui held þu þe fra me? Line 5263 Quat clath was þai me broght to se þat blodi was, and i ne wate hou?" "Noght of mi bodi, and þat se ȝe nou." "Into sysen quen i þe sent, Line 5267 To seke þi breder, þat þider went?" "So did i, fadir, mistrou ȝe noght, þair mete to þaim i redi broght; Bot als suith as i þar was comyn, wid ill consail was i nomin." Line 5272 "And quy, leue sone?" "i sal ȝou say, Ne menis ȝou noght, nou mani a day, Of a drem ful lang siþen gan?" Line 5275 "Leue sone, was þu þar-fore tan?"

"Ȝa, fadir, vnethes ne schapid i, Til marchandes cam me for to bi, And to þis land me gan bring, Line 5279 And siþen me sold vnto þe king. In presun siþen, i may noght layn, was don þar i suffrid payn; þat was thoru putifars wijf, Line 5283 þat wold haue broght me of mi lijf. Quar-for to presun was i don, Me borud nan, bot godd alon; He þat til his in nede es beste, Line 5287 In him i haue mj hope al fest. He has me liuerd al of mi care, And putt me in welth, na man mare. þe lordschip al of þis land, Line 5291 To reule and kepe es in mi hand, For-þi, leue fader, lett ȝe noght, All ȝoure will it sal be wroght, Bath for mi breder and for ȝou, For i ouer-all haue pouste nou. Line 5296 To mi lauerd ȝe come wid me, [folio 38a:1] I sal ȝou do a-quayntid be; I sal to ȝou ask sum rescett, And wele i wate it for to gett." Line 5300 "Gladli, sone, þan go we sone, To thanc him he has for þe done; Knele i sal bifor þe king, Line 5303 And thanck him of his gret helping, Als his aune in al þat i may, And þu sal be his seruant ay. I sal þe to þe king biteche, And siþen þe mi blissing reche, Line 5308 And þan i will me lay to dey;— To liue i may na langer drey."

Iacob went þan wid his route, His sonis tuelue him al aboute, Line 5312

Line 5312 His berd was side wid mekil har, Apon his hefd his hat he bar, Line 5314 As man of elde and lang for-liuen, And mani a baret bifore had driuen. Quen þai war comin bifore þe king, þat loutid him all wid þair haylsing; Of his come þe king was fayn, Line 5319 And of his sete him ras agayn, Kiste him and sett him on binck him by, And honurd him dereworthly. þe king þan did his lettris write, Line 5323 To samen all widuten lite, þe best þat was in his kingriche, And did to make a fest ful riche. Quen iacob sau al plente were, Line 5327 And all aboute to make him chere, He praid to gode men þat þar were To listen a quile his word to here. þe king bad þaim all listen þan, Line 5331 And þus Iacob his tale bigan,— "Pes haue Pharao, þe king! [folio 38a:2] Godd giue him his brod blissing! Gode men, i am, als ȝe may se, Line 5335 An ald man, þou ȝe knau noght me, Na mare do i ȝou, es na selcuth, For i am in þis land vncuth. vte of ebron born am i, Line 5339 þar lijs vr eldris, þar sal i ly; þar lijs adam, þe formast man, And eue of quam we all bigann. þe folk þat of þaim to was bredd, For þai na-thing godd ne dredd, Line 5344 On þaim he tok vengans ful sare, Bot eyth on-liue he left, na mare;— þat was noe right-wis, of quan Bi-com vr faithful abraham, Line 5348

Line 5348 þat dred god, and loued him sua, þat for his loue his sone wald sla, þat was ysaac, his dere, His sone i am, þat ȝe se here. Line 5352 I am sex skor and ten ȝere ald, Mi fadir hiht ysaac, as i tald: Quen he was to his ending bon, Line 5355 I had of him my [[MS. his]] broder benisun; Mi broþer esau me bi-soght To dyserit me, if þat he moght, He flemed me vte of mi land, Line 5359 Thoru godd i haue it ȝit in hand. þir tuelue mi sonis þai er, ilk-an. Thritti ȝere es siþen gan, þat i had tint mi sone sua dere, Ioseph, þat i haue funden here; Line 5364 þat he es funden i loue godd sua, He saue him fra þe feind his fa." He gaf þaim all his blissing. And to iacob said þe king, Line 5368 "A wisman es þi sone ioseph, [folio 38b:1] In all egipt es non sua ȝep; For he bath saued me and mine, Fra mekil nede and mekil pine. Line 5372 Frist was he here as vr thrall, Nou vnder me es he mast of all. I giue him woning-sted to lend, For euer mar, widuten end, Line 5376 Till him and to his breder elleuen, To chese quar þi seluen wil neuen." Iacob quen he leue had laght, Line 5379 wid his sonis and all þair aght, went to a stede for þair ese Of pasture gret, þat hiht ranese. In þat stede þair lijf þai ledd, Ioseph þaim gaf quarof be fedd, Line 5384

Line 5384 For faute of bred þat ilk tide, was ouerall þe world so wide; Bot in na land sua mekil nan, As in egipt and canaan. Line 5388 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Sua lang haue þai boght þair sede, þat þair siluer wex all nede; Line 5392 Quen þat þai had nethir worth ne quare, þat þai miht for þair liuelad spare, þe folk of egipt com bi-dene, Bifor ioseph, þaim to mene. Line 5396 "Lauerd," þai said, "to þe we say, þat all vr aght it es away. Nou haue we noght quar-wid we may Lenthe vr liues nou fra dis da. Line 5400 Es vs noght left bot erde bare, And all vr bodis ful of care. Landes and liþes with bodi we bede, þat þu vs take in þi bundhede. Line 5404 In thraldam tak vr landes all, For sede we may þaim saw wid-all." þai sold þair landis þan for nede, [folio 38b:2] And ioseph boght þaim all for sede. In all egipt left he na land Line 5409 vn-boght in-to þe kinges hand, vte-take þe land of þat lede þat was taght preistes forto fede, To kepe þaim selue for þair hald, þe king þaim fand as it es tald. Line 5414 Þus coude ihoseph, i said ȝou, waite his lauerd þe kinges prou; Bath he did his lauerdes biȝate, Line 5417 And halp þe nedeful in þair state, Quilis þaim lastid þat sesune þere. Iacob þar liued seuentene ȝere, Line 5420

Line 5420 In aa contre þat hiht iessen; Of him was bred ful mani men. Quen it drou to his last day, To ioseph dusgat gan he say, Line 5424 "If i fond euer grace in þe, þu lay þi hand vnder mi the, And hith me treuli, wid couenand, þat i noght be doluen in þis land. Bot hite me treuli þu þi selue Line 5429 Sal me wid min eldris delue." "Fadir, treuli i þe hite, It sal be done, wid all mi mihte," And þar-to an ath he him suar. Line 5433 Nou lijs iacob in bed of car, And draues fast to his endyng; And ioseph did bifor him bring Bath effraym and manasse, Line 5437 To blisse his childer praid he. Iacob in bedd him laid vpright, For elde all dim him wex þe siht; He laid aboute þaim eyder arme, Line 5441 And kist þaim oft apon his barm. [folio 39a:1] "Mi suete sone, ioseph," nou he said, "Of þe am i noght al vn-puruaid, þi fruit i se bi-for myn eye, Nou recc i neuer quan i dey." Line 5446 He laid his hand apon þair croun, And gaf þaim serekines benisoun. "Sone," he said to ioseph, "nou Line 5449 Most i pass, godd bitheche i ȝou. God, þat was vr eldris wid, Grant ȝou bring in-to ȝour kid. Line 5452 þou ȝe be flemed here a quile, He sal ȝou bring fra þis exile." His sonis he bifore him cald, And mani resunes he þaim tald, Line 5456

Line 5456 Bath þat þai suld ouer bide, And in þair last dais bitide. Quan he endid of his saue, His sonis blissed he on a rau; Line 5460 He gaf ilk-an sere benisun, And efter laid his hefd doun, And went vte of þis wrecched world, And to his former fadris ferd; Line 5464 And broght es in to grace of grith. vr lauerd vs graunt to duell him with! Nere seuen skor ȝere of elde, was þis iacob at his done helde. Line 5468 Bot thre ȝere þer was him wan, His sonis him bar to canaan, And laid him þar his eldris by, þer he disyrid him-self to ly Line 5472 Be ysaac and bi abraham, In ebron, biside olde adam. þis ilk iacob, þat i of mele, Hight bath iacob and israele. Line 5476 þe folk of israel of him sprang, þat king pharao held in thrang. In egipt held he þaim ful hard, [folio 39a:2] As i sal tell ȝou sone forward. Line 5480 Siþen he died, ioseph, þat wise, And endid in vr lauerdes seruise; And first was birid in þat contre, Siþen born til his erde was he. Line 5484 þe ospring þat of ioseph bredd, was mekil in þat land spred, Quat of him, and quat of his breder sede, War thritti thousand as we rede. Line 5488 Half sex skor was ioseph þat day, Quen he went all ledis way. þe quilis þat ioseph reyned þar, His breder in egypt reynid war; Line 5492

Line 5492 Efter þai liued had mani a day, Dede and doluie þar war þai. Line 5494

Of moyses nou wil i tell, If ye wil a stound duell.

Þat quiles ras þar a neu king, þat of ioseph had na knouyng. He made þan ane parlement, Line 5497 And said, "gode men, takis entent Hou þe folk of ysrael Es bred emang vs nou, sua fell. Line 5500 Bot we ne were vs fra þair kin, þai wil vr land al fra vs win." "Sir king, þat es soth," þai said, "þai haue ȝour land all ouer-laid. Ioseph kine ouer-ganges all, Line 5505 þat to ȝour eldris first was thral; wid þair penijs wat we bohut was he, Nou wil his kin diserite þe. Line 5508 Sir, consail ȝou, and þat be ȝare, was neuer nede of consail mare." He said, "lat vs loke priuely, For vs bihouis nou to be sly;" Line 5512 [folio 39b:1] He said, "hald ȝe þaim sua in doute, þat þai be ay ȝour vnderloute. For if þai take a-gayn vs to fight, And þai ouer vs haue þair miht, Line 5516 I dar say, widuten fine, þat we sal sua vr landes tine. Haldes þaim for-þi in awee In trauail bath to bere and draw; In werkis, þat we haue to make, Line 5521 we sal find wirking for þair sake; Apon þair neckes sal þai bere Bollis wid stan and wid mortere."

On þaim þe king sett sere steward, To hald þaim in werk hard; Line 5526 wid hard werkis he held þaim ine, Sone had þai made tounes tuine, Rameses and Fitou hight þai, þa goddes folk bar to þaim clay. Line 5530 Bot euer mar þai did þaim waa, þe folk multiplied ay ma. þat landis folk þat þai wid war, Gret enuy to þaim þai bare; Line 5534 Ofte wid þair wordes smarte, Gret tene þai sett vnto þair hart. þat king wex wonderly fell Again þat folk þat i of tell, Line 5538 þat þaim wid held and fled as fas, And wild na fruit of þaim ras; Bot quen þair wiues in childing stad, Brimly comandid he, and bad Line 5542 Midwiues to be of þat same land, And all þe knaue-barnes þai fand, widuten grith þai suld þaim sla: And mayden childer þai suld lat ga. þa midwius for godd war dradd, Line 5547 And did noght als þe king badd, Bot saued þai þair childer liues. [folio 39b:2] þan did þe king to call þa midwiues, Of þe quilk þat þar war tua, Line 5551 Phua þe tan hiht, þe toþer sephora; To þir tua wimmen spac þe king, "Qui do ȝe noght mi bidding wid þe childer of ebreu lay?" "Sir, for þis resun," said þai, Line 5556 "þa wimmen, ȝe sal vnderstand, Er noght like wimmen of þis land, For ilkan can þaim seluen stir, Quen þai cum to þat mistir; Line 5560

Line 5560 For ar we cum to þaim miht, þai er lither bi þair aun sliht." Line 5562 And for þa wimmen did sua wele, Godd þaim sent bath hap and cele. Þan comandid eft þe king pharao, þat all þat folk wild for-do, Ouer-all his kingriche euerilk-quar, Quen womman ani knaue-child bar, þat of þe kind of ebru ware, Line 5569 Men suld it in þe flum for-fare. Quat he was wicked and wode Again þat folk sua mild of mode! Bot for noght wend he smore þat sede, þat godd him-selue wald of brede, May naman, for nankines chance, For-do þat worldes puruiance; Line 5576 Of israel sede he thoght, Be born of he þat þis world wroght, And of his ferd son þat was, Getin of lay þat hight iudas; Line 5580 þan wold he drau his manhed, Of him cam kinges of þat lede. And of his broder leui bredd þe preistes þat þair lauis ledd, Line 5584 Preist & demister, say i, [folio 40a:1] Both þai com of þis leui, Of þe quilk was moyses formast, þat i sal tell ȝou of in hast; Line 5588 Hougatis he cam first in place, And saued was thoru godes grace, Fra Pharao, þat king feloun, Line 5591 þat comandid þe childer for to droun. And siþen efter sal be redd, Hou þat he goddes folk ledd; Hou þe comandmentis tok, As i hiht ȝou bifore in þis bok. Line 5596

Line 5596 And quen i se þe time þar-to, þe kinges kin i sal vndo; Of quam sprong of þat sauyour, þat broght vs all in-to socour. Line 5600 Þe formast broþer þat hiht leuy, A man was of his genealogy, Fra him bot þo toþer degre, þat of his wijf had childer thre; Line 5604 Moyses and aron, þas tua, And a dohutir hight maria. Born in þat time was moyses, Quan þat folk was in þat pres; Line 5608 Quen he was born, widuten bide, His moder did him for to hide. Quen scho to mu[n]th had him hid, And it was passid in to þe thrid, Line 5612 þat scho no langer hide him ne mohut, a kist of rises did scho be wroght, Did pic it sua, widuten and inne, þat thoru miht na water wine; Line 5616 In þis kist hir child scho did, And quen it was sperd wid þe lid, Noght fer fra þe kinges ham, Scho laid it on þe water fam Line 5620 Amang þe richeys, in an yle; [folio 40a:2] Sone þar eftir in a quile, þe kinges dohutir playand ȝode, And sau þat vessel in þe flode. Line 5624 Scho gert men fet it to þe land, A squeland child þar-in scho fand, þat was farli for to se,— Line 5627 Of þat child scho had pite. "For soth," scho said, "mistrou thar nan Of ebru childer þat þis es nan." þis childes sister stod þar-by, "wil þu i ga," scho said, "ladi, Line 5632

Line 5632 To fett a womman of þat lede?" Line 5633 "ȝa," scho said, "i sal do it to fede." Scho went and fand þat scho soght, þe childes moder wid hir scho broght. þe ladi bitaght it hir to fede, And for hir seruise hight hir mede, þe womman sone it vnderfang, Line 5639 And fedd it til it coude spec and gang. Quen it was thriuen and sum del ald, To þe kinges dohutyr scho it ȝald, For hir child þan scho him ches, And gaf him to name moyses; Line 5644 þar-for was moyses his name, For he was of þe watir tane. All þe folk him saw in lede, Ferli had of his fair-hede. Line 5648 Bi þis cam moyses to elde, þat he miht him-seluen weild; þan went he vte apon a day To se þe breder of his lay, Line 5652 To knau his breder, hou þai ware Filid in þat land wid care. He saw a gypcian ful sore Smyte a iuu, bifor him þore. Line 5656 [folio 40b:1] (þat branch of kin cald iuus was, þat cam of iacob sonis iudas.) Quen Moyses sau þar war na ma, Bot him-seluen and þai tua, Line 5660 To þat egypcian he drogh wid suilk a dint, þat he him sloh; Quen he had slain him wid his hand, He dalue him sone vnder þe sand. An-oþer day he went alsua, Line 5665 And fightand fand he iuus tua; He said to him þat bar þe wite, "Hou durst þu sua þi broder smite!"

þan ansuerd him þat an, "Siþen quen was þu vr domesman? wil þu me sla as þu did an, þis oder day, þe egypcian?" Line 5672 Moyses for þis vpbraid was dredand in his hert, and said, "Thoru quam es þis? hou may þis be? Qua broght vp þis word on me?" þe king herd þis, and bad alsua Line 5677 Men suld seke moyses to sla. Moyses sau na better wane, Bot fledd him into madian, And sett him þar a well biside, Line 5681 Tyȝand for to spir and bide. þe preist of þis stede þat i neuyn, He had at ham dohutris seuenyn; þai com to watter þar þair fe, Quarof þair fader had plente. Line 5686 Als þai war drauand þe water best, Com herdes and away þaim kest; Moyses sau þai did þaim wrang, And sone he mengid he þaim emang; þe herdes fra þe well draf he, Line 5691 And did to drinc þe maydines fe. þa wimmen went þaim ham agayn, [folio 32b:2] And at þaim gaue þair fader frayn, "Hou had ȝe sua smertly done, þat ȝe er comen ham sua sone?" Line 5696 "Sir," þai said, "thoru a ȝong man, þat semed to be a gypcian; Sir, þe soth til ȝou to say, He put þe herdes all away, Line 5700 And wid vs he vr water drogh, And gaue vr bestis drinc enogh." "Quer es þat man? ȝe do him call." þai said, "sir, gladli we sall." Line 5704

Line 5704 þai fett moyses, fair and suete, And wid preist Raguel he ete. Quen þai war quaintid, as i tell, þis moyses and sir Raguell, Line 5708 He weddid of his dohutris an, Sephoram, an hend womman. Tua childer to him gan scho bere, Gersan and heliezer. Line 5712 Þis quilis was in israel, þe folk ledd in mekil vnwele, þair sor was soru on to se, And for to here was pite. Line 5716 þaim þai held hard as thral, On godd þai gan to cri and cal, Again þat folk sua wid þaim ferd, Sua lang þai cald þat godd þaim herd. He herd þair mening and þar vnquart, And he vmthoght him in his hart, Of þis hiht lang siþen gan, Line 5723 He made to þair eldris and abraham. For forward þat he wid þaim fest, His eye of reuth on þaim he kest; Bath he helpid þaim of þair wa, And þaim diliuerd fra þair fa. Line 5728 Moyses þat time tok kepe, [folio 41a:1] To his elde fadris schepe, þat was þe preist of madian, Quas dohutir he had him tan. Line 5732 His flok he fedd apon a tide Bi a wilde wodis side, And as he welk bi him a stounte, Be-side oreb, a littel mount, Line 5736 He sau a selcuth sight to se; Him thoght brinand he sau a tre, Als it wid loue war all vmlaid. Line 5739 Him thoght, and to him seluen said,

"To se ȝon tre i sal ga nerere, þat brinand semis as on ferre." Quen he þis busk ner had sene, Line 5743 wid blome and lef he fand it grene, And þis was a for-scheuing schene, [[MS. schend]] Of moder bath and maydin clene, þat siþen lang, widuten les, Bar a child and scho wemles, Line 5748 As did þe tre þat semid to brine, And þou þar was na fir wid-in. As moyses onferum thoght, þe tre brinand, and brint noght, Line 5752 þan cald on him vr lauerd of miht, vte of þat mekil lemand liht, Tuis moyses cald he bi name; Line 5755 "Quat wil þu, lauerd? here i am." "I am þin eldris god," said he, "For i þaim ledd, þai loued me, Mi folk of ysrael es in wa; Line 5759 þai haue ben led wrang alsua. Bot i wil nou þair murning mend, To pharao i wil þe send, Pharao, of egipt king, Line 5763 vte of his land þaim for to bring." "Lauerd," he said, "quat am i þar-to, At suilk a gret nedis to do?" Line 5766 [folio 41a:2] "Ga forth," he said, "widuten drede, For i mi-selue sal þe lede; þat þai noght say again mi sand, Line 5769 wid mi takins þu sal þaim fand. Quen þu has broght þaim fra þat land, þo þaim to make me þair offrand, Apon þe topp riht of þis hill." Line 5773 "Lauerd," he said, "say me nou þi will. Quat sal i say þaim es name þin?" God him ansuerd, wid littel dyn, Line 5776

Line 5776 "If þai mi name wil at þe frayn, þu ansuer þaim þus a-gain, 'Til ȝou me sendis he þat ess'— þis es mi name, more ne less; Line 5780 Of him þat es mi name þu call, Mi mening neuer mar sal fall.

Do, moyses, nou as i þe kenne, Line 5783 Ga, gadir to-gidir þe eldest mene Of all mi folk of israel, And sai þat i haue herd þaim wel, þai er in wandring and in wa, Ful wele i wat þat it es sua. Line 5788 And say i sal þaim sone visite, þar-to sal be na lang dilite. I sal þaim bring fra þat thralhede, And into a land of lufsum-hede, Line 5792 A land rennand honi and milk, In al þis world es nan suilk. Siþen sal þu wend al-sua, To pharao þe king þu ga, Line 5796 And bid him lat mi folk away,— þat he has haldin to þis day, Doand þaim sua gret vtrage, þat þai mai make on me no knaulage:— Into wildirness land Line 5801 I wil þaim bring vte of his band, Bot wele i wat he es ful thra, Lath him thinkes to late þaim ga. [folio 41b:1] He sal me draw wid lith and lenkith, Til i deliuere þaim wid strenth." Line 5806 "Lauerd," said moyses, "wele i trow þat Pharao wil me mistrow." "Soth, wat has þu in þi hand?" "Lauerd," he said, "i bere a wand." "þu kest it on þe griss, i bidd." Line 5811 "Gladli, lauerd," and sua he didd.

Quen it was on þe gris laid, Aneddir it was, and he was fraid, So ferd, þat he to fle bigan; To moyses said vr lauerd þan, Line 5816 "In þi hand þu noght forsake, Bi þe tayl þu vp it take." Quen moyses it had in hand, As it was ar, it wex a wand. Line 5820 To moyses spac god al-mightin, "þu put þi hand in bosum þin." He put his hand in, al in hele, And vte it tok he als a mesele; Line 5824 He put it eft in his spayere, And vt it tok, hale and fere: "Ga forth," he said, "and if þe king wil noght trow þi first takning, Line 5828 Qua sua wil noght trou þe first, To trow þe toder him es best. If þai trow nouþer of þas tua, To þe water of þe flum þu ga, Line 5832 And poure it vp apon þe land, And certaynli, þu vnderstand, All þat þu drawis vte of þat flode, It sal be turnid in-to blode. Line 5836 Tak wid þe aaron alsua, To pharao þe king, say ȝe tua þat he lat mi folk a-parte Pass, to worschip me in desarte; Line 5840 þair sacrifice to make to me, vte of his land ior[n]ais thre."

Nou makis moyses him boune, [folio 41b:2] As god him taght his lessoune. Line 5844 His broder aaron he mett, For god him-self þair mething sett wid þe eldest folk of israel, wid pharao þai went to dele. Line 5848

Line 5848 þai said þat godd him-seluen bad His folk þat vnder him war stad To giue þaim leue to wend fra his hand, To worschip god in wildrenes land. King pharao gaf þis ansuer, Line 5853 "Quat es he? þat godd, or quer? þat i suld ethir here his sond, Or lat þe folk vte of mi lond, Line 5856 Neyder i knou him þat ȝe say, Nor i ne wil lat þe folk away." "ȝis," he said, "þus-gat wil he þat his folk come iornais thre, Line 5860 In wildirness offrand to make, þat suerd apon ȝou take na wrake." He said, "farli of ȝou me thinc, Line 5863 wald ȝe mi men take fra þair suink? þai rise and brede ay more and mare, And more wild if þai idel ware. Line 5866 Blame haue þai þat werkis on þaim spar, And hald þaim ay harder þe mar." Fra þat time nedis had þai, Line 5869 Do tua iornays apon a day, And þar-on sett he men at aske, Of ilk day to ȝeild þair taske, Line 5872 "To stand lat ȝe þaim noght hone, As ȝe haue latin þaim most-quat don. And qua-sua dos noght ȝour bidding, wid scharpe skourges ȝe þaim suing. Now wald þai make a withsawe, Line 5877 Fra þair werkis þaim to drawe, For to wend to wildirness, To þair lauerd, i ne wat quat he ess. Bot als i euer brouke mj hand, [folio 42a:1] I sal þaim do duell in mi land." Line 5882

þan spac god al weildand, To moyses his trew se[r]uand.

"Quen pharao askis ȝou, wid quat takin he sal ȝou trow, þu bidd þi broder aaron, þe wan[d] kast bi-for pharaon, Line 5888 And it sal to a neddir worth." Anoþer tim þai went þaim forth, Bifore þe king into his hall, Line 5891 þar he satt, wid his knightes all; Bot noght he of þair erand herd. þan tok aaron his ȝerd, And on þe flor he kest it doun, Line 5895 And it bicam a w[o]rm feloun. þen cald þe king his enchauntonurs, þe craftiest of his Iugylonurs, Doun þai kest a wand, ilk an, Line 5899 And þai wex dragonis sone on-an. Bot aaron ȝerd it wex sua kene, þas oþer it wirid al bidene. Line 5902 þe kinges herte wex hard as brass, "þe folk," he said, "ȝeit sal noght pass."

God spac þan to moysen, Line 5905 "þe herte of pharao i ken, For nou i wat þat it es mare Harder for mi sake þan are. Line 5908 And for þat he me wil noght here, Hard sondis i sal send him sere; Bath on him and on his kingriche. He sal ger mani a man mislike. Line 5912 And for he wil þus bate on me, I sal him drenkil in þe se." þe first vengans he on him send, Line 5915 Men sal mene vnto þe worldes end.

Þis it was þe first sand; All þe watris of his land, Wex sone into blod rede, [folio 42a:2] þat all þe fiss þar-in was dede, Line 5920

Line 5920 For þe rott þat þar-on fell, Bath it stanc, reuer and well. þar was in house na vessel fre, þat water held, of stan no tre, Line 5924 Of þis watir þat it ne stanc: wa was þaim þat it dranc. þe toþer wengans þat him fell, Line 5927 were froskis, þat na tung miht tell, þat vte of brym a[n]d watris bredd, And ouer-all egipt land þai spredd, þat al þe erde þai couerd sua, Line 5931 A man miht noght fre sett his ta, Bath in hous and wid-vte, And al þe land ouer-al aboute. þan bad þe king pharaon, Cal moyses and aaron, Line 5936 "ȝe pray ȝour lauerd," he said, "þat he Do þir froskis a-way fra me." And þai said, "sett vs teme quen we sal pray for þe and þi men." Line 5940 "To morn," he said; "sir, and we sal." Ful fast on god bigan þai call, To liuere þe folk of þat onfall; And godd þaim did sua of all. Line 5944 þe froskes deyed vp al be-dene, þe hepis of þaim war wonder to sene þat men gadrid o-pon þe grund. Quen pharao sau rest a stound, Line 5948 His herte wex grett, and gan to greue þe folk, þan wild he giue na leue For to pass vte of his kingr[i]ke. þe thrid vengans was sent him slike, þat all þe pouder of his land Line 5953 wex hungri flies, sare bitand, þat bath þai bat bath man and best, To fless-flies þai war likest. Line 5956

Line 5956 Bot al for noght, was it na bote, [folio 42b:1] þe folk he let noght pass a fote. Þan sent godd on þaim a flie, Line 5959 A scharper sau neuer man wid eye, On pharao and his to drauth, þat ouer all his land it rauht. Bot in þe land þat hight gessen, þar wonand was his aun men, Line 5964 Com non of þa flies þare, Ful wele he coude his aun spare. þou þai wonid in þat contre, Ful fair he made his aun fre, Line 5968 þat pharao suld vnderstand, þat mihti he was ouer all his land. Pharao, þat fals of pes, Cald aaron and moyses, Line 5972 "Gas," he said, "here in mi land, And to ȝour lauerd ȝe make offrand. Quar-to suld ȝe ferder ga?" Line 5975 "Do way," þai said, "it bes noght sua, God wil na worschip take of þaim þat duellis emang cursid men, Sua es þe folk of egipt, Line 5979 þat makis to bestis þair worschip. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Thre iornais, more ne less, Most wend into wildernes, Line 5984 To make vr lauerd worschip to, As he has comandid vs to do." "Wend on þann, siþen ȝe wil ga, Bot ferrer ga ȝe noght þan sua, Line 5988 For me ȝe pray,"—and þai said, "ȝa, To-morn þe flijs sal be ȝou fra, And þar-for bigile vs namare." þe folk þat time he lete for-fare, Line 5992

Line 5992 Moyses praid þe toder day, All þe flijs wair quit a-way, þat all þe land it wex so clene, Line 5995 þat neuer a flie þar-in was sene. [folio 42b:2] Bot ȝeit þaim held pharao in thrang, þe folk ne wild he late forth gang. Þan sent godd a qualm on all, On bestis in þat kingdam to fall, Line 6000 Hors and ass, moul and camayle, Doun þan dyed al þair catele. His aun folk þat hadd ani best, þar dyed noght on of þe lest; Line 6004 Quen pharao sent þat to se, Al hal and fere þai fand þair fe. Bot ay was pharao in an, þat folk a-way ne lete he nan. Line 6008 Þan sent godd þe sext on-sand, þat fals pharao to fand; Bile and blester bolnand sare, On all his folk, less and mare, Line 6012 wa was þaim on þair bodis all, þair king þai banned, gret and small. Bot ȝeit for noght þat men miht say, Ne wald he latt þat folk away. Line 6016 Þe seuent vengans þat siþen fell, It was a weder was wonder fell, A thoner wid a hayl sua kene, Line 6019 þat suilk a-noþer was neuer sene: Hail and fir menged samen, þat it ouer-tok, thoght þaim na gamen; For bath it slow fra it bigan, Line 6023 widuten hous, bath best and man; þe treis it brast, þe erde it brent: At þe land of gessen þar it stent, Israel for þat tempast Line 6027 was nouþer harmed, man no best.

þan said þe king, "i haue þe wrang, All þis wreche on me es lang, þu prai þi lord, sir moyses, þat he wil do dis thoner ses; Line 6032 For he es right-wis þat ȝe on leue, þe folk to fond i sal giue leue. I and mine þe misse has done." [folio 43a:1] He praid, þe wedir sescid sone:— Quen pharao had þat he soght, Line 6037 Langer forward held he noght. Þan sent godd a litel best, Of toth es noght vnfelonest, Line 6040 Locust it hight in bok i fand, I trou non suilk es in þis land. þat best gnow vp all bidene Line 6043 þat thoner left, bath ripe and grene; Of þaim it was sua mani bred, ouer al þe land þai war spredd, þat men noquar ne miht se Line 6047 Griss on erde, ne lef on tre. Bot ȝeit was king pharaon Fals as he was ay bi-forn; þan did god wid-drau his light, Line 6051 And mirknes made mar þan niht, Sua mirk þat nan miht oþer se; And þat was lastand dais thre, Na man miht vte of stede stire:— Bot euer gessen made he clere. Line 6056

[The Passover, and killing of the first-born.]

ȝeit god fandid pharaon, And sent þe tend wreche him on, Mare þan all þas oþer smert, To sett him soru at his hert. Line 6060 Aron he bad and moysen, "Dos," he said, "as i ȝou ken,

Sais to mi folk on þis-kin wise, þat þai make me a sacrifise; Line 6064 First þai me an auter make, And siþen sal ilkan hous in-take A clene he-lamb, widuten sake, Line 6067 þe blod ȝe hald, þe filth vt schake; And quen it es to offrand bedd, þe meyne þarwid sal be fedd. Loke þat þai be schod, ilk an Line 6071 þat lamb sal ete, and barfott nan. And qua for pouerte es bihind, [folio 43a:2] þas oþer all sal þaim find, þat lambis blod in all thing, ȝe make þar-wid a takning, Line 6076 On ilk a post, on ilk derner, A sine of tau T make ȝe þer. wid therf bred, and letus wild, þe quilk þat groues in þe feild; Line 6080 It sal noght soþin be bot bred, þe lamb þat þai sal wid be fed; þai sal it ete, bath fete and heuid, Ouer niht na-thing þar-of be leuid; And if ohut leue or it be tynt, Line 6085 þat do it in þe fire be brint. ȝe be all girt, wid staf in hand, Ne hones noght quile ȝe er etand. And i mi self," said god al-miht, Line 6089 "Sal pass thoru egipt þat night, And all þe for-birthis sal i sla, Bath of man and best alsua; Line 6092 And on þair goddes i wil me wrake, On þaim i sal mi vengans tak. In menyng sal ȝe hald þis day, Bath ȝe and ȝour ospring ay, Line 6096 Sollemply wid-in ȝour lay, wid all þe worschip þat now ȝe may."

Þan cald moyses þe olde Men of israel, and tolde Line 6100 All þat godd hadd him said, And hou þis lamb suld be puruaid. On þair poste and þair derner, þe blod þai suld anoint it þer; Line 6104 And straitly for-bed þat þai Sould vte of hous cum bi-for day, To liuer him as godd mint And geue egipcians a dint. Line 6108

Þe folk was fayn, and louted doun, And went to make þair lambis boun, [folio 43b:1] Of þis bodword war þai fain and glad, And did all as moyses þaim badd. Efter sone þat ilk night, God, as he bifor had hight, Line 6114 Sent his aun angel doun, In al egipt, thoru ilk a toun, And soght þair housis all bidene, Of þas þat war egipciene; Line 6118 Of þat meyne left he nan, At þe last þat he ne slow an. At þe king him selue he bigan, Line 6121 þe forth-birth slow bath [best] and man. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

Wretherale ras vp þe king, Line 6125 And wid him all his sori geng, Ouer all egypt þe cri it ras, Mani þar were þat said allas! Line 6128 þer was na hous in all þat land, þat þar-in was an dede man ligand. Be niht þan sent king pharaon Aftir moyses and aaron, Line 6132 "Gas," he said, "vte of mi kith, ȝe and all ȝour folk ȝou with,

Mas sacrifis ȝour lauerd vntill, Quar and hou, so þat ȝe will. Line 6136 And tak ȝour bestis wid ȝou boune, Gas, and giue me ȝour benisun." þan gan þe folk apon him cri, And said, "do ȝou forth in hey, Line 6140 Duell ȝe lenger ani quile, All we drede dede vs wil bigile."

Fra þis folk þat was in soru, þe folk of israel to boru Line 6144 Askid siluer wessel sere, And clathes þat war of pris dere; And godd, þat grace to his folk gaue, þaim he did þair asking haue, For to reue þat folk vn-sele, Line 6149 And help his folk of israel. þai war ny, wane þai stere bigan, [folio 43b:2] Sex hundrid thousand fotmen þan, widuten childer, wimmen, and brod, þat nan þe number vnderstod. Line 6154 Left þai na-thing þat þar was, Schip, ne kow, or [ox,] ne as; þair woning þar, widuten wene, Foure hundrid ȝere tua þan had bene; Quen þis time was broght to end, Of egypt goddes ost vte wend; Line 6160 þis owes euer to be in mind To israel and al þair kind.

To moyses þan vr lauerd teld, Line 6163 Quat wise þai suld þair pask held, And neuer mare þat day to ete, Sour bred ne non oþer mete, Nor na day widin þa seuen dais, þe seuyn first als þe stori sais. Line 6168 þe for-birth of þair barn-tem Fra þan þai suld to god it tem

To him til offir at þe lest þe forbirth als of ilk a best, Line 6172 Manes child wid pris be boght, And schip, and hors, ass, be broght; In mening, þis es to vnderstand, þat he þaim liuerd of þat land, Line 6176 wid strenthe of egypt he þaim drou, Of man and best for-birth he slou.

Quen pharao þis folk forth send, Line 6179 God bad þaim into wildernes wend, Or philistiens suld wid þaim mete, And let þaim for to wend þair strete; þar-for þai tok þe wild way, Beside þe rede se it lay. Line 6184 þir godes folk armid ware, Ioseph bonis wid þaim þai bare, For quen ioseph in lijf was stad, ȝerne he praid þe folk and bad Line 6188 þat quen god sent him visiting, [folio 44a:1] þai suld his banis þeþen bring. Bi a mekil wodis side þai made þair logis for to abide; Line 6192 God him selue þaim led þair way, To wise and kepe bath night and day, wid clouden piler on day liht, wid firen piler apon þe niht, Line 6196 þat in all time þaim wantid nouþer, Bath niht and day þat þai ne had ouþer.

[The Passage of the Red Sea.]

God þaim bad drau iner-mare, Egain on-slent þar þai ware, Line 6200 Into pharaons side; On him wald he scheu his pride, þat he suld wene þaim lok in þare, þat þai miht na gat ferder mare, Line 6204

Line 6204 And him suld þan reu his cast For þat folk was fra him past, þat he suld ȝeit him seluen payn Al-gate to bring þat folk agayn, Line 6208 And þat he suld þar-to mint, He suld for euer mare be stint. Þis folk did sua widuten bade, And iner-mar þair logging made. Line 6212 Sone in land was þe tiȝand spred þe folk was turnid a-gayn and fled; His folk þan gedrid pharaon, "Lordinges," he said, "quat haue we don, þat we lete þus þis folk away, Line 6217 þat suld vs serue for euer and ay!" His folk all armid did he call, And gart to couipil his cartis all, Sex hundrid cartis wid all þair gers, On all þat ost he sett leders. Line 6222 Quen he had mad al boun his ost, He went wid mekil þride and bost; Quen goddes folk his coming herd, þai bigan to wax al ferd, Line 6226 And quen þai sau þaim efter hey, [folio 44a:2] þe folk of israel bigan to cri On god, and to moyses þai said, Line 6229 "In egipt was na ill vs graid; þar-for þu has vs ledd may fall In wildernes to sla vs all. Line 6232 Qui wild þu lede vs fra þat land? No said we noght, þar duelland To leue vs, for vs leuer were þe egypcianis to serue þare, Line 6236 Alkines baret for to drie, þan in wildernes for to die?" Þan ansuerd moyses and said, þat nan of þaim be mis-paid; Line 6240

Line 6240 "Standis and biholde," said he, "Godes miracil sul ȝe se, Godes miracyl and his miht, Him-self to-day for ȝou sal fight, Line 6244 Gas forth hardili ȝour way." And god to moyses gan say, "Moyses, þu take þat wand Line 6247 þat þu was wont to bere in hand, And do þe to þe water side, þe see þar-wid sal þu smite, And þu sal se it cleue in tua, And giue ȝou redi gate to ga, Line 6252 þe quilk king pharao sal se, wid his ost and his meyne. He sal wene ȝou to ouer-take, Bot þan i sal me on him wrake, Line 6256 And ȝe sal come all hal to land; Suilk es þe uertu of þi wand."

MOyses did as god him bad, Line 6259 For pharao was he noght rad, In þe se his wand he smate, It clef and gaf him redi gate; þe [se] on ayder side him stod, Line 6263 As wallis to-quilis þai forth ȝode, [folio 44b:1] Til þai war passid thoru al þe flod. Quen þe king þis vnderstod, He folud w[id] oste on hors and fote, For noght caytif was him na bote, He sau þe se it drau in tuine, Line 6269 þe brod watir he did him ine, Moyses, wid his folk al hale, widuten wanting of his tale, Line 6272 Be-held þat ost apon þe land;— He smat the water wid his hand, was þar to se na langer bide, þe se drou samen on eyder side, Line 6276

Line 6276 Bath bihind þaim and before, And drenklid mani hundrid skore. King ne kniht, or squier, or suayn, Com neuer on of þaim agayn. Line 6280 þus he wrekid him, þat lauerd of miht, On þaim þat þus wid him wald fiht, His folk has he saued all sound, His enmys has he broght to grund. þan bigan þai þaim amang Line 6285 Cantemus domino, a neu sang Til god, þat sua had mad þaim quyte Of all þair soru and þair site; Line 6288 And sua mot he diliuere vs, vr dere lauerd, suete iesus!

Þir er þe folk of israele, vr lauerd ches to him for lele, Line 6292 For þe quilk he mani miracle did, þa þaim seluen it for-did; For oft on him þai made vtrake Quarfor oft þai fand his wrake, Line 6296 Als i sal tell ȝou redili Forth-þer mare in þis stori, wid þair daunger to moyses, Oft did þai [him] gret males. Line 6300

Of þe tre of lijf nou sal i tell, And alsua of þe folk of israell.

[folio 44b:2] Quen moyses þat folk hadd ledd Ouer þe see, as godd him bedd, He and his broder aron, Out of þe seruage of pharaon, Line 6304 In syrie apon þe toder side þai made þair logging for to bide. þe quile þai duellid þar to rest, Of water had þai mekil brest, Line 6308

Line 6308 And wide þai soght it here and þar, Bot water miht þai find noquar. þe folk þat þar aboute him lay Ilkan gan to oþer say, Line 6312 "Quar we sal in wildernes Die for thrist thoru moyses. Quat sal we drinc?" to him said þai. Moyses þat niht in sleping lay, Line 6316 þat niht he ȝede and tok his rest, In sleping he lay in þat forest, Quen he on morn him lokid bi He sau þat him thoght ferli, Line 6320 At his heued sau he stand waxin of cypris, a wand; Apon his left hand loked he, Anoþer he sau of cyder tre; Line 6324 And quan he lokid on his riht hand, Of Pine tre þe thrid he fand; Bi þe leuis þat þai bar, þai kid of quatkines tre þai war: Line 6328 Bot moyses for goddes awe, þa wandis vp durst he noght drau. þe toþer day he went him eke, wid þat folk water to seke, Line 6332 þar he slepe at morntide, He fand þa wandis him biside. þe thrid sid suagat he fand, þat did him wele to understand Line 6336 þat sumkines takining suld þar be Closid in þa wandes thre. [folio 45a:1] "Selcuth thing," he said, "wid-in Es closid in þa wandis thrin." Line 6340 þa wandis takin parsonis thre, And a-fold godd in vnite. þan he drou þaim vp at þe first, widuten ani skade or brist, Line 6344

Line 6344 And quiles þai in þat wildernes ware, þa wandis ay wid him he bare. Siþen þai fand þat frith widine, water bitter as ani brin, Line 6348 As it war brine sua was it bitter, To drinc it ne was þaim neuer þe better. Bot quan þa wandis war in don, þe water wex suete als sone, Line 6352 þa watris þat sua foule stanc, Of suetter neuer nan þai bifor dranc. þat miracle sau þai all a-pert þat duelland war in þat desert. Line 6356 Fra þat time held moyses þa wandes bath in pris and pres, Quar-sua he walked, here or þare, þa wandis ay wid him he bare; Line 6360 And quen he clymed on mont synay, þan he hid þaim preuyly; To-quilis he fastid his lenten tyde, In erde he did him for to hide. Line 6364 For na drie ne for na wate, Ne changid þai neuer þair state, Bot euer þai held lijf and flour, Sauirand wid a suete sauur. Line 6368

Of þis moyses, lauerdinges, Haue i tald ȝou sumkin thinges, Of him i may noght all ȝou tell, For it war ouer lang to duell, Line 6372 Bot of his trauail tell i sall, He suffrid þat fraward folk wid-all. For he þaim ledd, and soth it es, [folio 45a:2] Fourti ȝere in þat wildrenes, Line 6376 And fand þaim fode in þair nede, widuten sauing of ani sede. For godd him-selue þaim sent þair fode, Fand þai neuer nan sua gode, Line 6380

Line 6380 It sneu to þaim as it war flour, Of hony it had lickest sauour; þis mete þat þai war fedd wid þan þai called it in þair langag man, Line 6384 It cam at morn and at euening, volatile þaim sent þat king. þat king aw men to loue and loute, wid all worschip him mensk and doute! þar þai had mekil watir wan, Moyses of þe hard stan He smat wid his forsaid wand, Line 6391 And vte as a brok it brast þe strand, þar had þai watir in wildernes land, Plente for men, to fhote and hand. Bot for all þa dedis gode, Line 6395 Þat god þaim gaf, and lent þair fode, þa iuus, þat of wil wer wlanc, þai ȝeild him ay ful littel thanc, For þou þair tunges spac resun, þair hertes was ay wid tresun. Line 6400

[The Battle with Amalek.]

In þis time þat i sal of speke, þer was a lauerding hiht amalec, Line 6404 þat on þaim faght, and þai on him, In a stede þat hiht Rapydym. Moyses þan cald sir iosue, Line 6407 And made him maystir of þat semble, He said, "ches þe wid þine and freck, þan ga þu and fiht wid sir amalec; And i sal on ȝon hil stand, Line 6411 And goddes ȝerde hald in mi hand." To þis fight þai went þaim sone [folio 45b:1] , Bot moyses and aaron, þai went apon þat hill, In hope alone of goddes will; Line 6416

Line 6416 Quiles Moyses held vp his hend, It was wele in þat batayle kend, For ay þat quilis witterli, Had godes folk þe victori; Line 6420 Bot if he slakid þaim ani sithe, Amalec wan alsua suith. So lang he held þaim vp wid þis, Line 6423 þat slake þaim must maugre his;— If he war irk it was na wonder;— þai gadrid stanis and laid him vnder, Euer held he vp and aaron His handis til þe fight was don. Line 6428 vnder eyder hand was an, þat held him stedfast as a stan, þat bi þe sune was at doun helde, wid israel was left þe feilde. Line 6432 Ietro, þe preist of madian, þat was moyses kines man, Quen he herd hou þai had don, Be-tuix israel and pharaon, Line 6436 To speke wid moyses he cam, And broght him his wijf sephoram, wid his tua sonis scho by him ber, Gersan and Eliaser. Line 6440 þis ilk folk was vntelland þat moyses had vnder his hand, þat did him wonder gret trauail, Til Ietro gaue him to consayl Line 6444 vnder bayles þaim to sett, þat þai in right suld be gett In smale wrangys, þat þar ware; Line 6447 And to þaim þat grete chargis bare, Namly þat fell to gastlines, Suld techid be thoru moyses.

Listens nou vnto mi saw, [folio 45b:2] And tell i sal of moyses law.

Þan bigan þat folk to say Line 6451 To moyses, "to go get vs lay." Moyses said, "þat es god right, we sal it aske of godd almiht, Bot fast bihouis ȝou and me." Line 6455 "And hou lang sal þe terme be?" "þe terme sal last fourti dais, þe quilis i ga to get ȝour lays, Here on þe mount of synay." "Sir," þai said, "ȝa, ful bleþili." [[No gap in the MS.]] Line 6460 Moyses went apon þat fell, And fourti dais gan þar-on duell, þe quilk he fastid, as we rede, Line 6463 To get þe lau his folk wid to lede. þan cam vr lauerd to him onan, And tok him tablis tua of stan, Line 6466 wid his comandementis ten, And badd him vndo þaim to his men. And for we awe þaim hald wid dett, In dis bok i haue þaim sett. Line 6470

"Trow þu in na godd bot in an, Ne na maner ath suere þu nan, And hald þu wele þi haliday, Line 6473 Fadir and moder ȝe worschip ay, Loke þu reue no man his lijf, Nor na man þu reue his wijf, Loke þu nouþer reue ne stele, Line 6477 Ne ber þu witnes nan bot lele, þi neyhburs wijf ȝerne þu noght to haue, Nor best of his, ne may, no knaue."

þis er comandementis ten, Line 6481 vr lauerd þaim tok to moysen, First to þe iuus for to ken, And siþen to vs cristen men. Line 6484 If we þaim kepe bath vte and in, þai sal vs saue fra dedeli sin.

[The people set up a golden calf.]

Qvilis moyses was a-way, [folio 46a:1] þat fals folk, widuten fay, Line 6488 þai said þat moyses was slain, And suld neuer to þaim cum a-gain; And ȝeit sum said þat he was liuand, and in lijf suld be. Line 6492 þai samind þaim and tok to rede To make þaim a godd of gold rede, And said þa folis þaim emang, Line 6495 "Sua stalworth suld he be, and strang, þat he sal hald vs hale and fere, And kepe vs ay in vr mistere. Quen manna sal vs wantand be, He sal send vs wid plente." Line 6500 þus bigan þair gile wid gamen, þair golden tresur gadrid þai samen, A golden calf þare-of þai blew, And als a godd honurd it new. Line 6504 "vre godd," þai said, "þis ilk es he þat broght vs thoru þe rede se, Fra pharao and his pouste, þar-for es worthti he honurd be." Line 6508 Þis moyses was ful derne and dere To gode, men may we find it here, He tok him tablis of þe lay, As ȝe herd me bifor-hand say, Line 6512 Quen he had tahut him suilk a relik, "þe folk," he said, "has don a suilk,

Siþen þu cam fra þaim last þu sal þaim find ful vnstedfast." Line 6516 Lauerdinges, to þis fals lede, Manna fell as ȝe herd me rede, It fell fra heuen sua gret plente, Als a rime frost to se, Line 6520 Quilis moyses him held away For to do þaim haue þe lay. Bot sum of þaim þis fast for-sock, And þis riche manna þai tock, Line 6524 And vnder erd in helpis hid, [folio 46a:2] Again þe forbod sua þai did, þou þai were þat time vnwise, Line 6527 þai did sua egaynes goddes enpris.

Qven moyses cam fra þat fell, Sone herd he ȝe tiȝing tell, þat his folk ful euil had don, þar-of fand he takin sone. Line 6532 Quen he was comen into dissert, þe calf he fand þar, sett a-pert, He herd þe gret noyse þat was þare, Aboute þis calf wid mekil fare; Line 6536 He wex sua mengid in his mode, þat he miht say nouþer ille ne gode, Ne he ne wist queþer better ware, To turne or wend him ferdermare. þe tablis þ[a]t he in hand bar, Line 6541 In pecis he þaim brac riht þar, And þar-wid forþermare he ȝede, For to se þair curced hede. Line 6544 He sau þaim knele þis calf aboute, As godd him-self leue and loute, "Quat es þis, dele ȝe nou! Line 6547 Es þis ȝour godd þat ȝe in trou?"

Quen þai were war of moyses, þai fledd a-way as in a res,

ȝong and ald, less and mare, þe calf alone left þai þare. Line 6552 þen cald moyses þaim to gider, "Lordinges," he said, "i am comen hider, Aboute ȝour erand haue i bene, Qui fle ȝe fra me dus bidene? Line 6556 Comis again widuten doute, Haue ȝe þe dais al fastid vte, þat i bad, ar i me went, Line 6559 Or haue ȝe halden mi comandement? And qua has made þis calf here, þat ȝe dus worschip and halde dere? It es of gold widuten wene, [folio 46b:1] ȝe hald it for ȝoure godd bidene. Line 6564 Mekil haue i trauayled for ȝou, þat litil turnis ȝou to prou, þat suilk a godd honurs nou! Here efter it sal sare rew ȝou. Qua made þis calf? i wald him ken, Or held þe fast emang þir men? Line 6570 And qua has haldin mi comandement, And qua noght, siþen i fra ȝou went? And quilk forgat me and quilk nohut? And qua þis gold to-gider broght? And quilk er þa it samen bleu, Line 6575 And quilk as for þair godd it kneu?" Ilkon said, "haue i na wite," And all þan made þaim-seluen quite. "Parfay," said moyses, "for noght þe soth algate it sal be soght. Line 6580 I wil mi selue knau þe fals, And ilk man sal knau him als. 'Ful ille hayl brac ȝe þe day, þat i fastid sua!' sul ȝe say. Line 6584 Ill hayl sul ȝe se þat sithe, For quen i wepe ȝe made ȝou blith,

And made þis godd in for to trou, þe quilis i ȝede to pray for ȝou. Line 6588 Ful mekil foly did i þan þat euer i to help ȝou bi-gan, Quen i ledd ȝou thoru þe strand, vte of all ȝour enmys hand; Line 6592 And siþen i askid ȝou al-sua ȝour fode, and iesu ȝou sent manna, þat ȝe in erd nou has hid vnder. Mani a man on ȝou sal wonder, Line 6596 vr lauerd sal me on ȝou wrake, To saue þaim all þat has na sake. All er ȝe treu, þis es ȝour saues, [folio 46b:2] Es nan of ȝow þat þis calf knawes; Ȝe say þat ȝe ne made it noght, Line 6601 Ne neuer cam it in ȝour thoght, Nor ȝe honurd it neuer, ȝe say, Bot all þar-wid nu ȝe nite me nay. Bot sais me þan, quarfor and qui ȝe made sua mekil din and cri, Line 6606 þat i ȝou saw make all bi-dene? Thoru þe watir it sal be sene. Schews me sone, it sal be kidd, Quere ȝe haue ȝe manna hidd." þe putis quen þai þaim vndid, Line 6611 þai fand bot wormis crouland imyd. Quen þai þis sau, qua soth wil say, þat þat war gilti thoght na play. þis golden calf he gart to brest To poudir, and it in water kest, Line 6616 And of þis water he did ilkan Drinc, queþer þai wald or nan. And all þa men þat had þe gilt, þai had þair berdis all ouer-gilt; Line 6620 Bot þai þat war widuten plight, And held his comandementis right,

And heldid to na maumettry,— As was þe kinred of sir leui, Line 6624 þe watir prouid þaim for clene, Was na gold on þair berdis sene. Moyses to þair ȝatis ȝode, Line 6627 And þus he said quen he þar stode, "All þat er in goddes parti, Hider ȝe cum sone and stand me bi." So did þai þat war in godes half, Line 6631 And honurd noght þat gilden calf. "Gas," he said, "þat it be sene, Sles vp ȝone caytifes all bidene." Ilkan went wid suerd in hand, [folio 47a:1] And slow þar tuenti thowsand. Line 6636 þan gan moyses to þaim say, "wat ȝe quat ȝe haue don to-day? Ȝe haue to godd halden vp ȝoure handis, And slayn þat goges will wid-standis."

Zit spac vr lauerd to moysen, Line 6641 "þu do," he said, "as i þe ken, Hew þe suilk tablis," he said, "As i bifor þe had puruaid, þe quilk þu brac, and i sal sone Line 6645 write þaim neu." "it sal it be done." Apon þe morn quen it was day, went moyses to fett þe lay, He tok þe comandementis ten Line 6649 For to lede wid all his men, writen wid godes aun hand, He sent þaim þair a fair presand. Quen moyses had broght þe law, Line 6653 And his folk in face him saw, þaim thoght him hornid apon fer, And douted him to cum him nere. þan þe law he þaim vndidd, Line 6657 As vr lauerd to him gan bidd.

Of an ark to þaim he spac, In goddes worschip for to mak, A tabernacyl als for to dight, Line 6661 þar-of he scheud þaim þe slight. þan he tok vp þa wandis thrin, And for to kepe did þaim þar-in, Line 6664 For-to bere to ilka stede, Queþer so he þee folk wild lede. Line 6666

Listens nou a litel thraue, For i sal tell of þe iuus lawe.

Nou sal ȝe of þa domis here, Line 6667 þat god to moyses gaf sere, þaim all to telle it were gret suink, [folio 47a:2] Bot sum er god to here, me think. Qua smites man in wil to sla, Line 6671 He sal him-seluen be slayn alsua. Qua-so slas any man wid will, And bifore has waited þar tille, If he to min auter fly, Men sal him þe[þ]in draw to die. Line 6676 Qua þat fadir or moder smite, Or ellis þaim bannys in despite, Die þai sal widuten lite, widuten ransum for-to quite. Line 6680 If tua flites, and þe tan, þe toþer smyte wid neue or stan, Sua þat he ly schort quile or lang, Siþen efter quen he may gang, Line 6684 þe smyter sal quite his leching, And þe skade of his ligging. Quo smytes seruand wid a wand, And he be dede vnder his hand, Line 6688 He sal be gilti of þe sine: If he liue a day or tuine,

þe lauerd sal vnder-ly na payn, For als his catel es his suayn. Line 6692 If man smytes wijf wid barn, Quar thoru þe child es forfarn, Bot sua þat þe moder lyue, Till hir hosband sal he giue Line 6696 Nedis þat men sais es right, wid loking of lele menes sight. And if scho die þar-for, þe wijf, þan sal he tine lijf for lijf, Line 6700 Eye for eye, or toht for toth, Hand for hand, loke þis be soth, Fote for fote, or ta for ta, Wounde for wounde, wa for wa. Line 6704 [folio 47b:1] Qua-so smytes vte his thrales eye, And mas him vnsihti for to sie, Or toth vte of his muth smyte, He sal him make fre and quite. Line 6708 Þe [[MS. Ie]] ox þat man sles wid horn, þat sua was wont noght biforn, To dede þat best men sal it stan, Bot of þat fless eyte na man nan; þe bestis lauerd sal ga quite Line 6713 Of alkines chalange and wite. If his lauerd kenne him kene of horn Thre dais pascid þar-biforn, Line 6716 If he sle man or womman, þat best sal be tahut to slan; And þat lauerd þat þe same best iht, Sal þar-for ansuer at his miht. Line 6720 If he sle ani manes suayn, Thritti schilling of mone again Sal men giue þe lauerd to mendes, þe best þan sal wid stoning ende. If any man þat mas a pitt, Line 6725 And siþen he wil noght hil it,

And ox or ass or any oþer aght Fall ine, þe man þat þis pitt ahut . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Of his best sal ȝeilde þe pris, Bot þe dede best sal be his. Line 6732 If þat min ox first sle þin, þus biddis god all-mightin, þat þe quic best be sald, Line 6735 þe pris bituix þaim delt and tald, And þe dede carion alsua, Sal be delt bi-tuix þaim tua,— Bot if he wist it at þe lest, Thre dais bifor of his best, Line 6740 And na keping did him in wilde, Ox for ox þan sal he ȝelde. [folio 47b:2] Qua-so stelis schip, ox, or cow, To sla or selle, or ani oþer prow, Line 6744 Oxin fiue for an he pay, For a schip foure, it stand for lay. Thef hous-brekand orgrubband [[MS. grulband]] grund, If man him smyte wid dedes wound, And þe dede be don bi night, Line 6749 þe smyter þan sal haue na plight; Bot if þe sunne be resin þan, It sal be tald for slauht o man. Line 6752 If thif na fyn haue, na gift, þat he may ȝeild again his thift, He sal be sald bot if þat he Haue any aght may funden be, Line 6756 Ani best, ȝong or alde, He sal again ȝeild dubbil [[MS. dulbil]] fald. If fir be kindlid and ouer-take Line 6759 Thoru feild of corn, mou, or stak, He þat fir kindlid in þat feild, He aue þe harmis for to ȝeild.

If i giue þe for to kepe Ox or kow, ass or schepe, Line 6764 Hors or ani oþer auht, And it wid theuis be lahut, OR dede or don in-till vn-miht, Or don away fra manes siht, Line 6768 wid þi ath þu ma þe clene, And þu ga quite of þat i mene; Bot if þis ahut be stoln in chanse, þu sal ma me restauranse. Line 6772 And if i lent þe suilkines best, þat ded be, or spilt at þe lest, And i my-selue noght in present, þu sal it quite wid iugement, Line 6776 And ellis noght, namly in dede, [folio 48a:1] I lete to hire for any mede. þa þat to wicked dedis draw, Godd wil þat þai be done o daw. Line 6780 Qua þat dos wid best þe foul sin, He sal be don to dede þar-in. Qua þat honours goddes new, Of his sleing sal na man rew. Line 6784 To cumlynges loke ȝe do na suike, For quilum was ȝour-seluen was slike. Wydw, na child fadir-less, Do ȝe na wrang nor na maless, Line 6788 If ȝe do, crye to me þai sal, And i for-soth sal here þair cal. þan sal mi wrethe be kindlid sua, þat wid my wreche i sal ȝou sla, Line 6792 widuus i sal make ȝour wiues, ȝour barnes haue na fader in liues. If þat þu lenys any thing, þu aske it noght wid okering. Line 6796 If þat þu, quen þu art wrath, Of simple man take wed of clath,

ȝeld again þat clath i say, Ar sunne ga doun þat ilk day, Line 6800 For he has nouþer on bac nor bedd, Clath to hap him bot þat wedd; For ellis if þat he to me crie, I sal him here thoru mi merci. Line 6804 Missay na preist ne preins in land; Gif gladli þi tende and þi offrand, þe formast scheuis of ȝoure corn, þe first child þat to ȝou es born; Line 6808 Noght þat allon, i comande ȝou, Bot bath þe first of schep and kow, þe child þat ȝe to offrand bring, Line 6811 ȝe bi agayn for oþer thing. [folio 48a:2] þir forbirths þat i of tell, Sal seuen dais wit þair moderis duell, þe eytand day sul þai offrid be, Als i haue comandid to þe. Line 6816 Þe fless þat best bifore has tast, Ne ete ȝe noght þar-of þe last. Take noght to him þat es lyer, Ne fals witnes for feloin ber, Line 6820 þou folow þaim na mare þan þi fas, þat vnto wicked dedis gas. Nor hald wid nan, þou þai be fele, Agayn þi dome þu wat es lele, Line 6824 Bath riche and pore þu sest in pliht, In dome ne spare þu noght þe riht. Þi enmyes best þu findes o stray, þu bring it ham, sua wil þis lay. Line 6828 If þu find of þin ill-willand vnder birdin his best ligand, Help him or þu ferþer wend, Line 6831 And sua þu may make him þi frend. Sla þu nan wid-vten sake, No blendand giftes nan þu take.

To pilgerim and to vncuth, þu bere þe wid þi dedis cuth. Line 6836 Ȝe knaw þe state of cumbling, vnder Pharao þe king: ȝour land ȝe saw seuin ȝere, Line 6839 And schere þar-of ȝour cornes sere. þe eytand sal ȝe lat it ly still, þe pore men hungyr for to fill. Sex dais sul ȝe wirk i say, And ȝe sal rest þe seuint day, Line 6844 Hors and ass, womman and knaue, þat day sal þai resting haue. Suere ȝe bi na goddes fals, [folio 48b:1] Trow ȝe nan oþer i bidd ȝou als, Line 6848 Haldis þis wele, i warne ȝou nou. Min angel sal wend bifore ȝou, þat sal ȝou wiss and ful wele lede, Into a land of blisful thede. Line 6852 Ȝour fas þat ȝu wenis wid-stand, Sal haue na miht in fote no hand, For i mi-selue sal for ȝu fight, Line 6855 Ne sal nan ouer ȝu haue na miht; For i sal hald lele mi hiht, þe quilis ȝe folu mi laus right. Suilk was þe lessun and þe lare, Line 6859 And ȝeit a thousand sides mare, þat vr lauerd scheud to moysen, To gar his folk þaim knau and cen.

Bot lauerdinges, for-þi þat i Line 6863 Thoru wittnessing of prophesi, And thoru prof of þe seluen dede, To birth i wild vr lauerd lede, Line 6866 Ar he had tan ouer fless and blod,— þe first was abraham of þair brod, To quam was hiht þat of his sede Suld all þe blisced folk brede; Line 6870

Line 6870 And sua þai did, prins and prophete, As godd had hight him in his hete,— And for-þi, lauerdinges, þat i Line 6873 May noght tell all þair prophesy, þat of þe blisful birth was said, þat lang bifore was puruaid, Line 6876 Of summe of þaim þat said mast, Of his birth thoru þe hali-gast, I sal ȝou scheu widuten les, Als enent þis moyses, Line 6880

[Aaron's rod, and the death of Moses.]

Þis moyses þat i rede of here, was tahut þe folk to lede and lere, þat delt war in kinredis tuelue, [folio 48a:2] Moyses þaim bad him-selue Line 6884 þat ilk kinred suld bere a wand. His bidding durst þai noght widstand; And ilk-a wand þat þai þar bar, He sperd þaim in þair seyntwar, Line 6888 And wrat þe name and set þe sele, þat nan suld oþer man be-tele. Quen he þaim lokid on þe morn, Line 6891 Fand an [[MS. nan]] wid lef and flour born, And for it was an almaunde wand, þat ilk fruit þar-on þai fand, Almaundes war growen þar-on, þe wand þat fell to aron. Line 6896 To all þat folk þat was in þat land Moyses did son scheu þe wand, Bot ȝeit he told noght þaim þat tyde, Wat of þis takening suld bitide; Line 6900 For frawardnes wid þaim he knew, And for þai war of trouth vntrew. þis wand was done vp for to hald, As god almyhti him seluen wald, Line 6904

Line 6904 In tak[n]ing for to take and tell, Agayn þat folk þat was rebell. At vnderstand þat godd mouht, Line 6907 All thing do þat him gode thouht. þis wand bitakins vr leuedi nou, þe fruit hir sone, suete iesu. Of þis mater ȝit bos me ses, To tell ȝu mare of þis moyses. Line 6912 Quen moyses, widuten les, Had ledd þe folk in wildernes, Fourti winter and na lass, Dede in þat desert he was. Line 6916 All his elde sex skor ȝere, And for he was to god sua dere, [folio 49a:1] Him seluen has birijd him and hid, In a preue plasce nu kidd; For wist þe iuus quar he lay, Line 6921 Honure him as godd wald þai.

[Joshua leads the people into Canaan.]

þe iuus went, widuten resun, In-to þe land of promyssyon; Line 6924 Thoru moyses ne com þai noght, Bot Iosue þaim dider broght, þat godd efter moysen, Leder made him ouer his men; Line 6928 wid his felaw þat Caleph hyht, þa tua broght þaim to þair riht. þat iosue com of þat kin þat men callis effraym, Line 6932 For ioseph had him sonis tuin, Manassen and Effraym, Born in egipt, bot fostrid he was And leder wid maystir moyses. Line 6936 Bot moyses, right-wis of rede, For-gat he noght, ar he war dede,

To sett his hali wandis thre In a stede he fand priue, Line 6940 þar þai greu neyder less ne mare, Bot euer bifor as þai ware, Right to king dauid dais, þat ledd his folk in gode lays, Line 6944 þat thoru warning of godes sande, Broght þaim to his aun lande.

Qven aaron was dede, þe preist, His sone Elyazar was neist, And bar þe state of his fadir-hede, Fra Iosue was giuen to lede. Line 6950 þis iosue was selcuth wight, And maystri had in many a fiht, He faght treuly for goddes lay, For-þi god dubild him his day, Line 6954 And did þe sonne stille for to stand, Til Iosue wan þe ouer-hand. And quile he passid flum iordan, [folio 49a:2] þe watir stod still als ani stan, Line 6958 Til he þe folk had ouer-broght, In-to þe same land þai soght. Ioseph banis þai wid þaim ledd, And þar þaim grof in þat stedd, Line 6962 In a land þat hight sichim, Was giuen in lott to Ioseph kin; For as þai wan it wid þair hand, þat delt bituix þaim ilk-a land. Line 6966 þat ilk kinred of þa tuelue Had a ouer-man þaim selue, þat suld þair aun kinred lede, Quen þat þai to batayle ȝede. Line 6970 For þai fand strang folk þaim egain, þat þaim wid werr did mekil payn, And wid-stod þaim þe land to winne, Bot þat was for þair aun sin. Line 6974

Line 6974 For-qui þai held þair lay lastand, Was na folk þaim miht wid-stand, þat on an hundrid miht for chans, Quilis þai wid þaim had goddes cheui|sans. Ne thurt þaim drede na man in place, Bot þair fight lastid littel space, Line 6980 For quen þai most were in þair wil, Mast þai soght þaim-selue, vnsele. Of god all-mihti þai left þe law, Line 6983 To sarazins faith þai gan þaim draw, And made wid þaim þair mariage; Qua herd euer men sua rage? þat suilk a king coude na man knau, þat held þaim fra ilk manes aw, Line 6988 Bot euer þai vnskil on him soght, Til þai þaim-self in thraldam broght. In thraldam er þai worthi be, And wild noght thole and miht be fre.

[The Judges in Israel, and their contemporaries.]

Caleph come efter Iosue, Line 6993 Of israel demister was he; [folio 49b:1] In his time were þe fablis writin, þat ȝit er thoru þe bokis witin, Line 6996 Saturnus and sir Iubiter, þat we nou in fablis here; And þe firste sybil of pers, Men findes of in alde vers. Line 7000

Caleph had a sone, othomel, He demid þe folk of israel Fourti ȝere; in his time was þe cite made of thebas. Line 7004

Ayoth was þan demister Of israel, four skor ȝer; In his time was a batail grim Bi-tuix israel and beniamyn, Line 7008

Line 7008 For loue of a dekins wijf,— Mani a man þar tint þe lijf, Fourti thousand of Israele, Of beniamyn nerr als fele. Line 7012

Sanigath come efter him, Troy was bigun in his tim, Ten ȝere had he þe folk to ȝeme, Line 7015 Siþen had tua sonis þaim to deme.

Barach, and wid him delbora, þai iuggid fourti ȝere and ma; þan was a sybyl of libye, And apollo wid his melodie. Line 7020 Efter þaim cam Iedeon, þat worschip in his time had done, Slow kinges fourti of heden sede, wid thre hundrid of his lede, Line 7024 þan was oreb, and salmana, Zeb and Zebee þas oþer tua. In þe time of þis iedeon wes Bath orpheus and ercules. Line 7028 Siþen ledd þat folk thola, Lastand tuenti ȝere and ma; þan ras þe thrid sybila, þat men clepid delphica; Line 7032 Of troye and grece þe batayl bald, þis sybil mekil bifor scho tald. Als lang þan was sir iare, þair leder and þair maystir mare; Line 7036 In Grece þan reyned preamus, As þe ald story tellis to vs; In þis ilk iare time, were lettris funden of latine. Line 7040 Iepte first þai held, bastard, And siþen he held sex ȝere þair ward; Zamazinis þat time be-gan, þe wimmen land widuten man. Line 7044

Line 7044 Esebon siþen, sais þe boc, Tok israel to lede and loc, He ledd þaim seuen ȝere and mare; Alysaundir in þat time þare Line 7048 þat paris aght, rauyscht elayn, Quarfor mani a man was slain; þe feird sibil widin þat sithe, In babilon bigan to kithe. Line 7052 Achialon com efter-ward, þair leder was and þair stiward, He had þat folk ten ȝere to gett; In his time was troye vmsett. Line 7056 Labdon þan had þaim vnderhand, was ouer þaim eyt ȝere lastand; In his time was troy nomen, And thoru þe grekis ouercomen, Line 7060 þere mani moder sone was feld, As it es in þe stori teld. þe werr lastid sua lang a pece, Line 7063 þat þar was slayn of þaim of grece Eyth hundrid sith sexti sith, sexti and ten, Of thousandis sere sith of þair men: Sex hundrid and four skore sex thousand Of men of troy faght for þair land. Here-of thar na man be in were, Line 7069 For qui, þe seging lastid ten ȝere widuten breking of þat were, [folio 50a:1] þat greuid bath ney and ferr. Line 7072 þat werr semid to be non oþer, Bot as þe tonn half a-gayn þat oþer, þou all þis world had resin ben,— Sua was þar mani cayser kene; Line 7076 Bot miht þai neuer win þe ton, Til þai it wan wid tresun. And al þe enchesun of þis strijf, was about rauysching of a wijf, Line 7080

Line 7080 All for fairhede of heleyn, Line 7081 was þare sua mani thousand slain.

[Of Samson and his strength.]

And siþen efter þis ilke labdon, þair demister was sir sampson, Line 7084 þat was sua strang and sua wight. Barnles was his modir mani a niht, And in hir elde, thoru godes miht, Ane angel has þis barn hir hight, Line 7088 þat thoru his here he was sua wiht þat he had tuenti menes miht. vnder philistiens þai ware, þe iuus, holdin þat time þare. Line 7092 Sampson soght chesun of strijf, Of philistiens he wald haue his wijf. Apon a day he went and saw, A fayr womman of þair law, Line 7096 He told his freindes sone onan, þat he had chosin suilk a womman, And tok þaim wid him for to proue To gete hir til his bihoue, Line 7100 If hir freindes wald him late. As he went walkand bi þe gate, A leon welp þat ran ouer-thuart, Raumpand to sampson he start; Line 7104 Sampson slou þat leon kene, þe spirit of godd in him was sene. Quen he had his erand done, Hamward went he alsua sone, Line 7108 And bot a littel terme gan, [folio 50a:2] He went to take his lemman. And als he went þat gate agin, He fand in þe leon muth was slain, A swarm of bes þar-in war bred, And wid þe honi he him fedd; Line 7114

Line 7114 His wijfes fader and moder fre Of þis honi to ete gaf he, Line 7116 Bot noght he did þaim at vnderstand, Hougat he þat honi fand. At þat fest þar he was stadd, A redel vndo him he badd, Line 7120 And hight þa men to giue þaim mede, If þai coud right þat rydel rede, þat ilk mede þai suld him hight, If þai it ne rede in a seuen niht. Line 7124 "Of þe eytand þe mete vte sprang, And þe suete vte of þe strang." þis it was quen þai had soght, And studid thre dais for noght, Line 7128 þai bi-soght his wijf þat scho Suld gar him tel hir it vnto. To þat bride was biddand bald, Sampson al þe soth hir tald. Line 7132 And scho al þat to hir was kidd, Till þas oþer scho it vndidd,— And þat was mekil vnleute, To tell hir lauerdes priuete. Line 7136 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 7140 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Sampson for wreth his wijf forsok, And scho anoder husband tok. Line 7146 Quen sampson þar-of herd say, "Now forth," he said, "fra dis day, Awe i to haue na maner wite, To do philistiens despite." Line 7150

Line 7150 Thre hundrid foxis he samen knytt, (I wat noght hou he on þaim hitt,) vnto þair taylis fir he bonde, Line 7153 Foluand ilk fox a brond, And into philistiens land, [folio 50b:1] Thoru þe feild alsua rennand, Line 7156 For þai war ripe, he lete þaim renne, And sua þair turnis [[read curnis]] gart he brinne; þair olyues wid þair wyn tres, þir foxis brint wid þair bles. Line 7160 Þir philistiens þan went þaim vte, And soghte sampson al a-boute. þe Iuus war þan þair vnderloute, Sampson bunden þai ȝeld for doute; þir philistiens, widuten les, Line 7165 þai ran on sampson in a res, Bot sampson, þat was wonder smert, vte of þair handis sone he stert, Line 7168 And gaf a braid sua fers and fast, þat al his bandis sone he brast. Thoru chance he fand an ass bane,— For oþ[er] wapin þan had he nan,— Of þat hedin folk he felde Line 7173 A thousand þat wid tale was teld. Siþen he went in-to a toun, vnto a wijf þat was comoun, Line 7176 Biside hir all þat niht he lay. þis philistiens þan herd say, þai vmsett þat toun a-boute, þat if sampson went aniquar vte, Line 7180 A nihtertale or in mornyng, To doleful dede þai suld him bring. Bot sampson, þat was farli wiht, vp he ras mid-war[d] þe night, Line 7184 And bar þe ȝatis of þe toun, And layd þaim on a hi doun.

Siþen he ches a wijf to wale, Line 7187 Dalidam, him broght in bale. þe philisties, sua ful of strijf, þai hight to dalida his wijf Giftes grete, all for to frain Line 7191 Quere was sampson miht and mayn. [folio 50b:2] Sua lang scho frayned him, þat balde, And suilk a gabing he hir tald, "wid seuen synous qua-sua me band, I tint mi strenthe in fote and hand." His fas stilly scho bad ta kepe, Line 7197 And quile he was on-slepe, And þan vpon his fa-men calde, To do wid him al quat þai wald. Bot sampson wakind of his nap, Line 7201 Of bandis he lete him-seluen scap, His bandis all he brac in tua, As þai had ben bot a stra. Bot ȝeit his wijf left noght for þis, Thoru egging of his enmys, Line 7206 Til scho þe soth had gert him say, In quat thing all his strenthe lay. "Quar es þi strenth, lef?" scho said, "quer." "It es," he said, "al in mi her; Line 7210 war my her schorin i war noght þan Stranger þan a-noþer man."

NOu has sampson bi-taght his lijf In will to weild to his wijf; was neuer sampson ar in drede, Line 7215 Nou has scho bath his lijf and dede Bath in hir wille: nou has he done þat sal on him be sene ful sone. Sampson, þi first wijf lerid þe witt, If þat þu coude haue holdin itt! Line 7220

Line 7220 þis wijf alsua þat þu has nou, Auht þu noght sua wele to trou! Sare man aw to drede þe barnde þat has brent bifore his hand, Line 7224 Bot hard it es to stand agayn þe wijf þat fines noght to frain, þat eyder for loue or drede of awe, Dos man his priuetes to schawe. Line 7228 Or drunkenes oft may be-tide, Mas man his consail to vnhide. [folio 51a:1] þat ofte in fanding men findes sua, Man priueest es mast manes fa, Line 7232 Na þar es nan sua gret may gref, As traytur derne, and priue thef. Alsua scho did, dame dalida, Of all wick, ay worth hir wa! Line 7236 Hir lauerdes consayl scho teld to þa þat held he mast to be his fa. Hir time scho soght, had þai ben nerer, Quilis he slep scho cutt his her Line 7240 wid hir scheris, wa worth hir hend! And to his fas scho him bikend. All miht þai do þan þat þai mint, For thoru his fax his fors was tint, It did him selcuth mekil loth, Line 7245 þai bett him and presuned him both. And quen he was done in presun, A man of þat same nacyon Line 7248 Gat dalida his wijf to wedd; Sampson was to þe bridal bedd, For he was sly of harping glew; Line 7251 Bi þan his her was waxin new. Bi a piler þan was he sett, To mirth þe gomys at þair mett Line 7254

Line 7254 whan þai war blithest at þat feste,— Sampson cuth ful wele of ieste. Line 7256 Sumdel waxin was his her; þe post, þat all þe hous vp bar, wid bath his handis he it schok, Sua fast þat al þe hous it quock, Line 7260 þat hous he feld, gaf na man grith, And slow his fas, him-self þar-with.

After sampson alþer nest, Line 7263 was demister hely þe preist, And þou him-self was clene of sin, For þe gilt of his sonis tuin, Line 7266 þe quilk he wist and chastid noght, þair sinne apon him-self þai boght. For quilys he left at ham for elde, [folio 51a:2] þai went to fight apon þe felde, Line 7270 wid oþer fele þar war þai slayn, And goddes hali arke was tayn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] His harn panne he brac wid chance, God sent it him for wengaunce. þai may drede suilk vncele Line 7279 þat chastis noght þair childer wele, For oft on fadir fallis þe wrake, þat sent es for þe childes sake. Fourti ȝere demyd he israel, And efter him com samuel, Line 7284 He was a selcuth dohuti thing, þe first þat noyntid man to king.

[Samuel anoints Saul and David.]

PRophete was sir samuel, Line 7287 Dere wid godd, for he was lel,

þe iuus, wid þair mekil pride, Sent efter him apon a tyde. Line 7290 "Lordinges," he said, "say me quar-till Haue ȝe me fett? quat es ȝour skill?" "Get vs a king." "quat, er ȝe wode? Ne haue ȝe noght a king ful gode, þat fra ȝour fas thoru se ȝou led, Line 7295 And wid riche manna ȝou fedd, And many werkis for ȝou wroght?" "Sir," þai said, "þu sais for noght, Get vs a king þat may vs lede, As we se haue all oþer lede." Line 7300

Parfay þan ansuerd samuel, "Ȝe er to fraward wid to dele, For nouþer er ȝe war ne wise, Bot for ȝour riches ouer lawe-lis; Nou er ȝe bath in rest and pes, Line 7305 ȝe lang ful sore to haue males. For-soth i say and sal a-wou, Ful sore it sal repent ȝou, Noght ȝou allone bot ȝour ospring Sal rew ful sore ȝour ȝerning, Line 7310 For it es wel worthi þat qua [folio 51b:1] May thole na wele, to thole þe wa?"

Sare wep samuel wid þis, Til him com vr lauerd of blis, And thrijs he cald on samuel, Line 7315 "Lauerd," he said, "i here ȝe nu wel." "Mi folk," said godd, "ful frawarly þai seke and wirke ful grett enuy, þai ask nou an-oþer king þan me, Ful ilhayl þat time sal þai se; Line 7320 þat þai disire þai sal it haue, To þair aun hefd a staue! Amang þis folk sal þu find an, Line 7323 þat saul es cald, a stalworth man,

wid shuldris bath thic and brad, Of him þan sal þair king be made. Siþen þai haue þus forsakin me, Line 7327 He sal be noyntid þair king to be."

Sone þai did saul be soght, Funden and forth was he broght, He was heyer þan any man Line 7331 Bi þe shuldris þat was funden þan. þis saul haue þai mad þair king, wid anoynting and coroning, Ful wretherhele to þair bihoue; Line 7335 And sone on þaim sua gan it proue, For þan was there na langer bide, Men werrid on him on ilka side, þat þai widin a tueluemoneth stage were putt vte of þair eritage. Line 7340 þan bigan þai call and crie, þat godd on þaim suld haue merci,

And samuel þat wist þair wa, Cald on god for þaim alsua. Line 7344 Godd him bad to fille his horn wid oyle, "and wend þu forth biforn Into a man þat hatt iesse, In bethleem sal he funden be, Line 7348 þu sal him finde in bedleem, [folio 51b:2] Seuen sonis he has to barn-tem. An of þaim þu sal make king, Line 7351 For saule me dredis nankin thing, For-þi wid caytifte and wid care vte of þis world sal he fare; For ar þat he be slain in were, þe fend he sal in bodi bere, Line 7356 þai sal him trauail bath day and niht, And lothly his bodi dight."

"Parfay, lauerd," said samuel, "I here noght of þat iesse tel, Line 7360

Line 7360 Nor his sonis ne him i knaw, þe childes name ȝe wil me schaw." "ȝis," he said, "i sal þe kenne Him to knau emang oþer men. Line 7364 In vysage es he bright and clere, In red of heu, wid lawhand chere; His fadir in all has sonis seuen, þe ȝongest es he þat i neuen, Line 7368 Bath wis and hend, and of gode fame." "Quat hatt he?" "dauid es his name. And for þat he es war and wijs, I haue him chosyn to þis seruis; Line 7372 His sede and his barn-tem Ouer all men sal i maynten, His fas sal noght agayn him vaile, For him ne his ne sal i noght faile; To be king þu noght him dere, Line 7377 Mi benisun þan sal he bere." Samuel went sekand þe land, Til he þe hous of iesse fand; Line 7380 Iesse him rescyued ful fayre, And samuel him cald his ayre. "Comyn," he said, "i am, iesse, Ane of þi sonis for to se." Line 7384 "Sir," he said, "sua may ȝe, ȝoure word es comandement to me." His sonis sex þat ware at ham, [folio 52a:1] All did he call þaim forth bi nam Bot þe ȝongest þat was a-way Line 7389 Samuel said, "sir iesse, say, Quer es þin alder ȝingest son?" "He es," he said, "þar he es won, wid ure schepe apon þe law." Line 7393 "Do fett me him, i wil him knaw." þai did him fett widuten lett, He haylced hendly þat prophett, Line 7396

Line 7396 He knew him quen he him biheld, Bi takening þat was bifore him teld. Noyntid he was widuten bade, And king ouer þe iuus mad. Line 7400 Bot þou þat he war noyntid king, Ouer þe king-riche gouerning He entermett him of na dede, Bot to his schep again he ȝede. Line 7404 Goddes gast in him was sent, Fra þan it was fra saul went. Dauid koude of serkin note, He coude of harpe mekil bi rote, Line 7408 Quen he wild wid his gle him gamen, His schep þaim-selue semblid samen Of his minstralcy to here, þe men was wont to draw him nere.

Saul was ȝit instede of king, Line 7413 Bot he miht do na gouerning, þe fend was in his bodi fest, Quarfor he miht haue na rest. Line 7416 þan said þai all, "quat sal we do wid vr king? þat may haue na ro. He es ay vte of witt, and wode; Hou sal we meke his menged mode? He es ful of wicked-hede, Line 7421 Wa es vs þe lijf we wid him lede!" Þan spac a gode man of þat throm, And said, "do we littel dauid com, wid his harpe bifore þe king, [folio 52a:2] He sal him do to glew and sing, Line 7426 þe quilis he til him takis kepe, þe king he sal gar fall o-slepe."

Forth þan did þai dauid bring Line 7429 Harpand a sang bifor þe king, And gert him wid his melodie Falle on-slepe, þat was weri, Line 7432

Line 7432 Sumquile wid harpe, sumquile wid sang; And þus he seruid þe king ful lang, þat ay quen he was trauailid mast Thoru þat foul warid gast, Line 7436 And he bigan to harpe and sing, Of his vnro he had resting.

David and Goliath; war with the Philistines.

Þat quile cam in philistiens, Line 7439 þair feloun fas, þat were painens, þair ost on ilk half þat contre spred, þai wastid godis and a-way ledd. þai broght wid þaim Goli, þat etin, In foul hordam was he getin, Line 7444 Grett he was, and alsua hy, He semed Sathanas to sy Be-tuix his eyen, thre fote brad, Ful laith it was his visage made. Line 7448 Of bodi grett, in graynys lang, vnsterly semid he to be strang; Sex elne and mare he was on hiht, He was all armid forto fight. Line 7452 Of his mete was mesur nan, He wild ete seuen schep his an. Þan said he, "quar es nu saul king? And i miht anis wid him ming, Line 7456 Suld he neuer ber na croune, I suld him sla, be saint mahoune! Qui comes he noght or sendis his sand? wid him wald i mi fors fand. Line 7460 Ayder send he a man to me hider, þat i and he may fight to-gider, [folio 52b:1] And queþer may oþer ouercome in feild, þe toþer folk all to him helde. A man of his again a man of ouris, If ours may winne his in stours, Line 7466

Line 7466 þat þai be ours and þaire ayris; If þai winne vris, þat we be þairis. And here i bede mi-selue redi Line 7469 For to fight for vre parti." Ilk a day he cam in place, And batayl bedd wid suilk manace, And euer quen þe folk him sau, Line 7473 þaim stod of him ful grett aw.

"Allas!" said king saul þan, "Allas! quere sal we find a man þat dar þe batail, for my sake, Line 7477 Aȝayn ȝon warlou vndertake? þe man þat miht fight him agayn, And him ouercom in batal playn, I suld him riche in all his liue, Line 7481 And giue him my dohuter to wiue." Þis herd dauid, and forth gan stand, "Sir king," he said, "hald me coue|nand; I trou treuly in godes miht, þat i sal vndertake þe fight, Line 7486 Agayn Goly þat es sua grim, wid goddes grace sle sal i him; Agayn ȝon wrecched etin thing Line 7489 For-soth haue i na drede, sir king. He traystis all in his aun hand, And i in iesu þat es all weldand."

To dauid said saul þe king, Line 7493 "I hope þar-to þu art ful ȝing, ȝone is a stalworth batail-wright, And þu lerid neuer for to fight. If he þe sle, as godd forbede, Line 7497 All burthe vs hald of heden lede. Quat bote es to lose þi lijf, leue page, And we to þaim siþen make omage?"

"Do way, sir king, it es na nede, [folio 52b:2] þare godd wille helpe, tharna man drede.

Apon a day mi schep i gett, A bere, a leon, bath i mett, Line 7504 I hadd na help bot me alone, And god, þat me lent his lone. þai soght me for to rend and riue, And i laid hand on þaim bliue, Line 7508 And schok þaim bi þe berdis sua þat i þair chaulis raf in tua, widuten ani suerd or knijf, Bath i reft þaim þair lijf. Line 7512 He þat me þare þe maystri gaf, He may me do it here to haf. It es noght worthi, leue ser king, Line 7515 þat man in god haue mistrouing."

"Ga þan," he said, "in goddes grith, And godd him-selue be þe wiht. Gas and fettis me nou in hi, Min aun armur to child daui." Line 7520 Helm and habiryun on him þai did, And gird him wid a suord emid; Quen dauid was armyd sua, Forth a fote miht he noght ga, Line 7524 Neyder forth ne ȝeit on back, Bot stille he stod as a stack. His armys fra him gan he suenge, And tok bot a staf and a slenge, Line 7528 He þat was wont to bere in hand, Aboute his flok of schepe walkand; He tok fiue stanis þar war round, And putt þaim in his scrip þat stound, And said, "dos away þis ger, Line 7533 For certis i can na armis ber, Bot wid mi slinge i sal him fell. Do go we diþer widuten duell." Line 7536 Quen dauid went him forth in route, He sau þe folk þat war in doute,

[folio 53a:1] To gar þaim wid hope to be bald, þus he þaim his resun tald. He said, "qui sul men be so dred, þat es in right-wis batail stedd? Line 7542 And qua þat fihtes in wrangwisness It helpis him noght, his dredness, For neyder may iren ne stele Line 7545 were men wrangwisness wele. For godd es euer on rightwis side, werrand again wrangwis pride. Line 7548 For-þi sal god for vs fight, All ȝe wate we haue þe right, He sal sua vs help sua wid his grace." wid þis he went in-to þe place. Line 7552

Quen golias on dauid be-helde, Ful littel talle of him he teld, Bot held him as in despite, And þus bigan wid him to flite. Line 7556 "wenest þu þat a hound i be, And wid þi stan to stone me? Cum forth fast, widuten bade, þi fless sal foulis fode be made." Line 7560

Dauid ansuerd, "if godd wil, nay! In god i haue fest all mi fay. wid armis cumþs þu me agayn, And i gaynes þe all playn, Line 7564 I come agaynes þe in his name, þat þu has don despitt and schame; þu hastis him and his in despitt, And wid his grace i sal þe quite. Line 7568 þi bodi sal i giue to gifte, To ete wid foulis of þe lift, [[The MS. has flyte.]] þat all may witt, þat godd of miht, Sauis noght man in wapyn briht, Bot for to trow in him stedfast Line 7573 And stabil in his lay to last."

Þan said golias, "þu art bot dede." Dauid said, "þat take i godd to rede." [folio 53a:2] Said goli, "wil þu fight wid me?" "I rede bi-time þat þu heþen fle." "Fle þat wenis haue þe werre, For ar i fle i sal come nerre." wid þis a ston he laid in slinge, Sua stalworthli he lett it suinge, Line 7582 þat in his front þe ston he fest, þat both his eyen vte þai brest. wid þis he fell, was na ferly, Line 7585 And vte his suerd þan drow dauy, And hefdid him wid his aun brand, And broght it þe king to presand. þe sarazines þat were nere biside, Line 7589 Fledd all and durst na langer abide, Bot þar were many feld to ground, And mani fledd wid dedes wound.

Saul is jealous of David.

Dauid went ham wid gret honour, All thankid godd þair creatour, Line 7594 And mekil he was, þe soth to say, Loued and dredd fra þat day, wid ȝong and alde, pore and riche, þai loued him all in þat kingriche. To Ierusalem þat hefd bar þai, Line 7599 þere dauncid wimmen bi þe way, In þair dauncing þis was þair sang, þat þai for ioy þaim song emang,— "Saul has smyten a thousand, Line 7603 Ten thousand smiten in dauid hand." For þis word was saul wrath, And ofte was he brim and brath. Line 7606 "I haue a thousand feld, hou sua! And dauid ten thousand, and ma!

Noght of al es him nan wane, Bot þat he es noght king alane." For los þat dauid wan þat sith, Line 7611 wald neuer saul loke on him blith, He did his kingriche to lese, þat þai to king suld dauid chese. He hatid him as his fa, [folio 53b:1] Fra þan he waitid him to sla; Line 7616 Ofte sal þaim be quite on þis wise, þat to lyther lauerd dos seruise. Þe toþer day efter-ward þe warlaw trauailid saul hard, Line 7620 As he was wont bigan to rage, And as dauid cam him to suage þe king smat to him wid a spere, In tene he wald him thoru bere, Line 7624 þat thoru he had his bodi born Ne had he blinked him biforn. Away þan drou him sone daui, Line 7627 Bot sa[u]le he dred him ne for-þi. Of a thousand men bi tale, He made him leder and marschale, And thoght, and þus said in his mode, "þat i him sle it es noght gode, Line 7632 Bot ellis i sal late him alane, Philistiens sul be his bane." He askid dauid if he walde Line 7635 His dohuter wedd to haue and halde, To þe couenand for to bring An hundrid hefdis to þe king Of þat folk of heden lede. Line 7639 Dauid went forth wid godes rede, Wid þat unlele sone dauid mett, And wightly wan of þaim his dett; Agayn an hundrid þat saul soght, Dauid him þe doubil broght. Line 7644

Line 7644 Þe king him gaf his dohuter onan, þat hight Michol, a fair womman. þe kinges sone hiht Ionathas, To dauid a treu freind he was. Line 7648 þan bad þe king qua miht ouer-ta, Dauid his sone-in-law for to sla, To seke him as his ful fa; Line 7651 þarfor was Ionathas ful wa, [folio 53b:2] And praid him bath day and naht, [[This was first written niht.]] To make þe king and dauid saght, Bi-fore þe king he dauid broght, Bot efter sone was all for noght. Line 7656

Sone efter þis a batayl ras, And dauid went again þair fas, þis batail it was hard enow, And dauid fast on his fas slow; Line 7660 þare mani a man fel vnder schild, Bot wid dauid went þe feld.

And ȝeit þe warlau þat was wont Trauailid þe king in lytil stunt, Line 7664 And dauid harpid him wid his harpe; þe king þan hent a spere scharpe, To strike him thoru unto þe wawe, Bot dauid blenkid quen he it saw. Into his hous þan dauid fledd, Line 7669 Bot ar þe king wald ga to bedd, He sett his men þe hous aboute To waite at morn quen he cam vte, Him to sle if þai miht him mete, Line 7673 Bot michol vte be night him lete, vte at a priue derne posterne; He fledd to samuel ful ȝerne, Line 7676 þat duelland was in ramatha. Sone to þe king tald was it sua, And his messagers dider did sende, For to rauisch dauid he wend, Line 7680

Line 7680 Bot þar-to miht þai neuer win, For cumpany þat he was in, And godes grace þat was him wid, Sauid him euer in gode grith. Line 7684 Amang his kin in priuete, Als he ware an vtelaw, wonid he; þe gode men thoght of þat contre þair sonis send wid him to be. Line 7688 Saul soght ofte here and þare Dauid, as he his faman war, He wist if he to lijf miht stand, [folio 54a:1] He suld be king ouer all þat land, And childer of his aun sede, Line 7693 Suld be vte driuen for nede. For-þi he hight þaim giftes rijf, þat miht bring dauid of lijf. In felde and toune, in frith and fell, Saul soght dauid for to quell, Line 7698 þat oftin chancis sua it bi-fell, þat welner was noght þaim emell: And dauid þat was milde of mode, Agaynes euil ay did he gode, Line 7702 þat oft-sith miht him haue tane, And if he wald miht þaim [[read him]] haue slane. For fra þe kinges aun bedd, þus he broght a preue wedd; Line 7706

IN þat time þat he him soght, wid all þe miht þat he moght, He sett his tentis in a dale, Line 7709 þar-of it cam to dauid tale; Whenn it was niht þan cald dauy On [of] his aune ful priuely, wid him allone stilli he went, Line 7713 vnto þe kinges aun tent; Him-self and all his folk þai fand, In þair beddis fast slepand. Line 7716

Line 7716 þis squier hyht Abysai, þat to þis tent com wid daui, "Sir," he said, "wid leue of ȝow, I sal him sla ful ethe es now, Line 7720 Thoru his bodi i sal him smyte, þat euer of him we sal be quite." Dauid said, "godd it forbede, Line 7723 þat þu suld thinc do suilk a dede, Or euer him do spitt or schame þat noynted es in goddes name." Of all þat ilke kinges gere, He tok bath a coupe and a sper, Line 7728 Na mare broght he wid him vte, [folio 54a:2] þou þai slepe all him a-bout. He ȝede sua fer, nan miht him dere, And þus he crid to þat here, Line 7732 "Hou haue ȝe kept ȝour king," said he, "His coupe, his spere, loke quar þai be. þai war bath sett at his hefd, Loke nou, for þei be þar leued." Line 7736 Quen þat saule herd þat cri, "Es þat," he said, "mi sone dauy?" "ȝa certis," said dauid, "it es y, Quarfor sekist þu me and qui? Line 7740 Gladly wald i be on-knaun. Qui sekest þu me þat es þin aun?" "Soth," said saule, "widuten wene þe miss es min, and wele es sene." "Here i leue þe kinges glayue, Line 7745 ȝe send a man it to rescayue. He þat all rightes, widuten ros, Sal ilk man ȝeld efter he dos." Line 7748

¶ Sone efter, it was noght lang, Agayn saule þai gaf a batayl strang, þe sarazins þai him vmsett, In a hard stour þai samen mett. Line 7752

Line 7752 Ful scharp it was, þat stour and snell, All fledd þe folk of israell; þar þai fell þat miht noght sle Apon þe montayn of gelboe, Line 7756 Dohuti barnis þan war ar slan, þe kinges sonis and Ionathan. Of þis batayle þat was sua snell þe fors apon þe king it fell, Line 7760 Mani a god archer þen was þar Wondid, þe king him-selue ful sare. Said þe king to his an squier, "þu draw þi suord and sla me here, Ar þat here be ouer-tane Line 7765 wid hand of sarazin, and siþen be slane." þe squier did noght als he bad, [folio 54b:1] For he him-seluen was wonder drad, þan saul him-seluen drow his suord, And ran him-seluen apon þe hord. Quen his squier þus sau him dede, He did him-seluen to þat ilk rede, Apon his aune suord he ras, Line 7773 And wid his lauerd dede he was. þat was a murnand day to myne, Of Saul and his sonis thrinne, Line 7776 And all his folk þat was sua kene, Now er þai slain all bedene.

Þe sarazins on þe toþer day, Fand quare saule bodi lay, Line 7780 His hefd þai smat of, þat king, And sent his bodi for to hing. His men þai cam a nythertale, wid þaim away his bodi stale, Line 7784 And priueli day did it hide, þai dalf it in a wodis side. Fourti winter was he king;— Now haue ȝe herd his ending. Line 7788

Line 7788 Þat time was dauid comyn agayn Fra amaleth, þat he had slain, Line 7790 þat was a strang philistiene, Dauid had gunen a batayl kene; wid goddes grace þe feild he wan. Of saul ost he mett a man, Bifore dauid fote he fell, Line 7795 "Queþen cumes þu? quat can þu tell?" "Fra þe folk of israele I cum, to telle þe tydinges lele; þai er scumphited wid þair fas, Saul es slain, and ionathas." Line 7800 "þat þai bath er slain, querbi Wast þu it es sua?" said dauy. "Thoru chance," he said, "i cam ren|nand On monte Gelboe, and fand Saule him lenand on his spere, [folio 54b:2] wondid wid þe sarazin here. Line 7806 He me bisoght quen he me saw, þat i suld him bring o daw. Thorw his bodi mi suord i drow, His herte in tua i wat i clowe; I wist na langer liue he miht, Line 7811 Lo! here his croune fair and bright." Wele he wend for his tyding For to pay, dauid þe king, Bot þar-wid paid he noght dauy, þat sal he sone ful dere a-bi. Line 7816

For dauid quen he herd þis word, was he neuer of a wers conford; His hend he wrang, his men wid-all þat godes folk suld sua mis-fall, Line 7820 þai wepe þat day till it was gan;— þan spac dauid to þat man, "Qui dred þu noght godd?" he said, "Quen þu þi handis on him laid, Line 7824

Line 7824 For to do him despite or schame þat noyntid was in godes name? vte of mi sight ȝe lede him sone, To dreri dede þat he be done; Line 7828 A fouler dede þan ani may driue, þat all may knau, bath man and wiue, þat qua lais hand in felony On king, or sais him velany, Line 7832 Or þat him waytis wid despite, Or of ille quile him may noght quite, Of fir-ingis dede widuten grith He dye if he be tan þar-with." Line 7836

Þe thrid elde with þis es pasced, þar-of þis saule was þe last. þat elde bigan at abraham, And endis here, in godes name; Line 7840 Nine hundrid ȝere fourti and tua It lastid, it es written sua. [folio 55a:1] Four thousand sex [s]kor and foure tald was al þe world þat time ald. Bi-tuix abraham and king daui Line 7845 ȝe herkin nou þe genealogy; Abraham, in lay sua lele, þat fadir was of folk so fele; Isaac his sone of sposage was, Of him iacob, of him iudas, Line 7850 Of him phares, of him esrom, Ilkan of þiese of oþer com; Of quem aaron, widuten gab, Of him cam Aminadab. Of Aminadab cam Naason, Line 7855 Of Naason his sone hight salamon, Of him cam Boz, of him Obeth, Of him Iesse, þis elde es eth: First fra abraham to tast, And sua to Iesses þar-of last. Line 7860

Here biginnys ful witterli, þe feird elde, at [þ]e king daui.

SAul es slayn, þat soruful king, Dauid him folus, þat dohuty thing, þat sett a septir in his hand, þat men clepis þe kinges wand. Line 7864 Alle honurd him wid suilk a halising,— "Hayl be þu lauer[d] dauid, vr king! Saf and sound ay mot þu be, Till þat folk es vnder þe." Line 7868

Dauid was a ful waful man, Ful riht wisli he reyned þan, Fra he bigan to be king in land, Line 7871 was nan þat durst his word widstand. Fair was þat court he wid him ledd, His folk bath him loued and dredd. Had he noght reyned bot a stound, Quen he a hous bigan to found, Line 7876 A mekil tour, lang and brad, þe quilk in Ierusalem he made. Bot þe wiliest of winne, [folio 55a:2] Riueliest þai fall in sinne; Line 7880 He þat sua mani had in wone Reft him his wijf, þat had bot ane. He had a dohuti knight of fame, His wijf hight Barsabe to name, Line 7884 Allas! scho was sua fair and bright, þe king kast anis on hir a sight, He askid, "quat was þat ladi?" Line 7887 "ȝour knithes wijf," þai said, "vrsi." þat vri was þat time noght þare, Bot in þe kinges ost was he fare; þe quilis þe knight so was a-way þe king him-seluen bi hir lay. Line 7892

Line 7892 þis leuedi was wid child in hij; þe king sent þan to fett vrsy, Quen vrsi cam, widuten lite, þe king did sone lettris to write, Line 7896 And gaf þaim vry for to bere, vnto þe marchal of þat here; wid comandement he him bisoght þat vri, þat þa lettris broght, Line 7900 In batail sua he suld be stedd, þat he þar-inne suld be dede.

Vri þir lettris tok and bar, Bot noght he wist quat þai war. Line 7904 þe comandement of him was don, For slain he was in batayl sone, All suilk lettris berand for-þi, þar bere lettris as did vri. Line 7908

Quen vri was þus broght o liue, Dauid tok Barsabe to wiue, And held hir in his hous fra þan; Til vr lauerd said to Nathan, Line 7912 "Ga to dauid king and say, He has misdon again mi lay." þan cam þe prophete to þe king, Line 7915 And said him suilk a for-bisening: [folio 55b:1] "þere was wonand wid men a wike, Tua men, a pore and a rike, þe riche he had sua mekil fe, Of alle godis he hadd plente, Line 7920 Of schepe he had ful mekil wane; þe pore he had na schip bot ane, þat he had wid his siluer boght, And fra a lamb it had vp-broght. Line 7924 þe riche man, thoru euil hert, To a gest cumande ouer-thuert, For to spare his aune aght, þis pore manes schep he laght, Line 7928

Line 7928 And to his mete he has it slane, Of his, þat ellis has bot ane. Line 7930 þe man þat don had suilk a dede, Sir king, what suld he haue to mede?" wid þis word þe king was wrath, Line 7933 "Bi godd a-liue," he suore his ath, "þat man," he said, "es goddes quede, And aght wid right to suffre dede." "Sun," he said, þat goddes gome, "Giuen þu has þin aun dome. Line 7938 Godd þe made king of israele, To lede þe folk wid lawis lele; þu þat suld hold kinges stede Has brokin þe laue þat he forbede; Slayn þu has þi knight vry, Line 7943 And tan his wijf and lijs hir bi; Of godd him-selue ne stod þu na awe. For-þi i cum nou þe for to schaw, þat þi hous, he sendis þe word, Line 7947 Sal neuer be tuinned be fra suord, And euyl he sal apon þe rayse; And þus-gat als to þe he sais, Line 7950 þi wiues þat þu has to wale, Be giuen to oþer men þai sale, þe sinne þat þu in priuete did, Bifore þe folk it sal be kid. Line 7954 "Sinned i haue," said dauid þan. [folio 55b:2] "þat es soth," said þe prophete Nathan. "þar-for sal þu noght die, i wate, For godd has it þe translate; Line 7958 For þu sal witt þat i sal noght lye, þe son of barsabe he sal die." Dauid gatt eft wid hir a sone, Line 7961 þat was ful wijs, hight salamone.

Quen dauid knew his cost of care, Reued him thing neuer sua sare; Line 7964

Line 7964 In takin þat he reud his sake An orison sone gan he make, þat high miserere mei deus, Men au to say þat sinne es reus. Line 7968 Of all þe psalmis of þe sautere, þis salme of penance has na pere. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

[The story of the three holy rods, or trees.]

Dauid had reined king þare Line 7973 wintris tuelue, or ellis mare; Bot noght widuten strijf and fiht, þou held he wele his men to right. vr lauerd scheud him a sight, Line 7977 As he in his bedd lay a night, Thoght on his fas philistiens, þat had him done ful mani tenys, þat soght his folk to bring to grund; Gladly wald he þaim confund. Line 7982 To gar þaim for him soore to grise, vmthoght him ȝerne on quat wise, be-taght him þan to god at kepe, And blisced him, and fel a-slepe. þan cam to him an angel clere, was goddes aun messagere, Line 7988 And lufsumly to dauid spack, "þu slepis, dauid, nou i þe wack, Comyn i am þe to consayle, þu folu it, and it sal þe vayle. Line 7992 Siþen god þe ches king of kith, His herte has euer ben þe wid; He biddis þe to wend onane, [folio 56a:1] Forto pass þe flum iordane, Line 7996 Into þat ilke stede þu passe, Quere moyses him doluen was;

þat stede wate na man bot him-selue, vr lauerd, þat þer him-selue gan delue. þar sal þu finde a relik, In all þe world es þar nan slik, Be-tuix þe erde and þe lift Line 8003 May na man giue a richer gift. þu sal find þa wandis þare, þat moyses oft wid him bare, Of cydyr, pyne, and of cypress, Line 8007 þar war þai sett thoru moyses. vte of a sted þat hate helim, diþer broght he þaim wid him. Es na man for-soth can say Line 8011 Of how grett vertu and grace er þai, Nor na manes tung can say ne mele Quat þai sal bere of soulis hele; Of þaim þu sal haue a gret vauntage, Bath to þe and þi barnage; Line 8016 Qua may him rest onder þaim oumbery, Es þar na thing þat may him cumber. Haue god day, for nou wend I, þu do samen þin ost in hy."

Quen dauid had þis consail herd, To samen his folk sone he ferd, Line 8022 He passid þe flum his ost him witt, þai went þaim thoru feild and frith, Til þai were comen into þat stede þat him was bodin in his bede. Line 8026 þe wandes he fand quen he cam þare, Ethe was to knaue quilk þai ware, He knew þaim at þe first sight, For þai war thre all of a hight, Of a lickenes, þou þai war sere; Line 8031 Passid was a thousand ȝere

[folio 56a:2] Siþen þai were planted in þat place, In grennes ay thoru goddes grace. Line 8034 On hiht in grund þai were noght houyn Bot as þat thre stod on a stouyn; þair stouyn was on þat stod þaim vnder, Bot þair croppis ware all sunder. Be fruit and lef miht men se, Line 8039 Of quat-kin kind was ilk a tre. And quen þe king cam ner þas tres, Honurd and kist þaim on his knes; He drow þaim vp, soft i-nogh, widuten breking of any bow. Line 8044 Quen þe king þaim had vte-tan, His host þaim honurd, euerilk-an, þe king þaim held vp in þair sight, A lem schan of þa branches bright, þat all his ost miht se þat leuen Line 8049 Hou it rahut vp into heuen. þen be-cam þat folk ful blith, For fand þai neuer fra þat sith Man ne best þat þaim wid mett, þat of þair way miht þaim lett. Line 8054

A Riche man was þare bi þe way was seke, and to him turned þai, And seke had ben sua mani a day, widuten hope of hele he lay. His folk he said him stille abade, To se þat seke a turne he made, Line 8060 In sekenes sore he fand him stadd; Of þe king he was ful gladd. Quen he bigan þa wandes se, On þaim he grett for gret pyte, Line 8064 þan was he hale and sound in hy; þe suete smel raght to þe sky. wid þe king he ȝede a-way, And gaf þaim god and goday. Line 8068

Line 8068 Fayr was þat gret proscession, þere was many a blith baron, Line 8070

[folio 56b:1] Þai went þaim forth þe hie strete, Foure sarazins wid þe king gan mete, Blac and bla as led þai ware, Mekil riches wid þaim þai bare, þat saw man neuer bifore þat oure, Sua frawar[d] schapin creatoure. Line 8076 Of þair blac hew it was selcuth, And in þair brestes þai bar þair muth, Lang and side þair broues wern And recched al a-boute þair ern. þair muthes wid, þair eyen brad, Line 8081 Ful wonderful was þair facis mad! In þair forhefd was þair sight, Loke ne miht þai noght vpright; þair armys hari, wid harplid hide, war sett til elboues in þair side, Line 8086 Crumplid knes, and bouch on bac; þe king þaim wondrid on and spac. Quen þaim biheld þat kinges here, was nan þat lahuter miht for-bere; Apon þair knes þai þaim sett, Line 8091 And hendli þe king þai grett, And to þe king þus said þai, "Sir saf be þu, for now and ay, Quat thing þu beris lat vs se, Fonde if it goddes wille sal we; Line 8096 Scheu vs þe sauand tre, sir king, For wele we wat, widuten lesing, Pyne on þat tre suffre he sall, þe king of blis for his folk all. Line 8100 Schew vs þe tre þat all sal fere, For þar-for er we comen here; Be-holdyn vs i-nogh has þu, vr forward schap þu ses all hou, Line 8104

Line 8104 Ful layth er we, bot alsua layth Es wic man, saule and bodi bath; þir wandis thre wid-in þair rote, Agayn all euillis er þai bote. Line 8108 þai sal vs ȝelde bifore þi sight [folio 56b:2] Fayrnes, thorw grace of god almiht; Of þaim sal rise vr raunsun, And of all vr sinnes pardun, Line 8112 To þaim þat merci for þair sinne Cries to iesu, of dauid kinne; þe miht of þaim lat vs proue." wid þis þe king tok of his gloue, Line 8116 þa branchis of sua mekil blis, He held þaim to þaim for to kiss. þai knelid, and þai kist als tyte Line 8119 As mekil þair hide bicom quhite; And of fre blode þai hadd þe hew, And all þair schapp was turned new, Of man-kind had þai þe mett, Line 8123 For in þair kinde was ilkan sett. Bifore þe king þan fell þai don, And made ilkan þair orison; All þe folk þat sau þat sight, Line 8127 þai grett, and thanked god of miht. þe ricches þat þai wid þaim ledd, þai offrid in þat same stede, þaim-selue again þai tok þair sty, Line 8131 And went þaim þan to ethiopy.

Þe king went forth thoru a feld, Til-war[d] a felle bi a done helde; An armyte þar þai fand at hame Line 8135 In þat montayn, was halt and lame, Mekil on him he had vnhele, Thritti ȝere he had ben mesele; On all his bodi was he sare, Line 8139 For-þi he liued bi him-seluen þare.

Of grete landis he lad [[read had]] lauerd ben, Bot al he left it in his tene, And for hardnes of his vnhele, Line 8143 He gaf him all wid god to dele, And for to end in his seruis. þe niht fornest of paradis Line 8146 [folio 57a:1] Him thoght in sueuen he was þar-by, And thoght alsua þe king dauy Weches wid a wand his bodi sua clene, þat sekenes on him was þar nan sene. Suilk was þe sueuen þat him thoght, Bot of þe branches wist he noght, Line 8152 þat þai suilk wandis fand and soght, Or in þat contre wid þaim broght. He wock, and thoght on þat sight, And said, "vr lauerd godd of miht, Qui ne war i alsua hal and light, Line 8157 Als me thoght i was to niht?" vnese had he menid his mode, þat a lem fra þe wandes stode, Right in-to þe hermytage, Line 8161 þe king to-come and his barnage. Sone quen þai mett wid þat hermyte, þai haylced him, widuten any delite, And þat haylsing þat þai him talde, Ful hendly to him he ȝalde, Line 8166 Also suith as he þe king had knaun, He said, "welcum, sir, to þin aun." He said, "thoru [þe] sal þis mesele Be saf and sound of all vnhele. Line 8170 Me thoght to night on þis-kin wise, þat we war bath in paradise, And þat þu wid þa wandes wess, And þe vnhele of mi fless, Line 8174 þat as a fiss þu made me fere, wid wandis þat þu beris here."

þe wandis he kist, and kneled þare, He was haler þan euer he was are. þe king, þat kind was of cost, Line 8179 þis man he ledd forth wid his ost, And all his liue did wid him lend, For to þe king was he ful hend. Line 8182 Knight he was and mekil in pris, þe king him quitt wele his seruis.

þe king went forth ful sone onan, [folio 57a:2] Til he com a-gayn to flum iordan. He tok þa wandes in his hand, Line 8187 þe strem still bigan to stand, It stod þe folk on ayder side þe kinges passage for to bide. Line 8190 Quen þai war pascid ouer þe strand, And all comen vp-on þe toþer land, Witt ȝe wele þai war ful glad; To þat folk þe king þan bad, Line 8194 Ilkan to sett þair pauelyun As for þat niht widuten þe toun; þan on þe morn quen þai suld lem, Into þe tune of Ierusalem, Line 8198 He suld þaim bring to sett inward, widin his aune orichard, þe quilis wald he make him boune, And ordayne a ful fair processioune. þai restid þaim þat niht and bade, Of þe wandis gret los þai made; Line 8204 Aboute was þaim þe king ful ȝerne, He putt þaim in-to a cysterne, And did he siden þaim laumpis liht, And sett men þaim to kepe all niht, þe quiles þe king him went to slepe. Bot god þat al has for to kepe, þat all for-lokis in his sight, Line 8211 His will widstande has nan na miht,

Es na-thing þat may for-barre His wille þat bifore es sua war, Line 8214 He þat sua mihti es and wise He did þa wandis for to rise, In þat cysterne þe rotis fest, Sua depe þa rotis samen kest, þat miht na man þaim þeden winne widuten breche, for any gynne. Line 8220

Quen dauid saw nan oþer bote, Bot þat þa wandis þan had rote, [folio 57b:1] þat festind ware in erde sua fast,— And in his herte he was a-gast, And said, "all nacion and lede, Awe vr lauerd for-to drede, For he es mihtful in ilk dede Line 8227 At all his wille in werk to spede. Sal nan," he said, "þaim heden stir, Siþen god him-seluen has sett þaim here." þan gart þe king to kepe þat syde, þat orichard for-to make mare wide, A wal gart he aboute it rayse, Line 8233 And plantid tres þat war to prayse, Of cedri, pine, and of lorer, þat ȝerde suld be him-seluen dere. And oþer riche tres he soght Line 8237 In mani stede, and dider broght; All fruites he planted in þat place, For his waking and his solas. Quen it was closid aboute, þat tre, A siluer cerkil sone naylede he, Line 8242 þat was þe stauin for to strenthe, And knaw þe wax of gret and lenthe. Suilkin serklis sett he sere, Thritti winter, ilka ȝere, Line 8246 And did an to, i ȝou say, Euer quen he tok anoþer away.

For thritti winter wex þat tre, þat it was selcut for to se. Line 8250 Of cerklis þat he tok away, Offrand he made to mene on ay. It was sua karkid, ilka bow, Line 8253 wid lef, and flour, and fruit, enow, All said þat it sau, lesse and mare, was neuer tre suilkin blossum bare. Anoþer tre of suilk a kind Line 8257 In all þis world were noght to finde.

Of worschip was þis tre to wonder, þe king oft-sithes knelid þar vnder, In bedis þat he had to say, [folio 57b:2] Kneland he þar-vnder lay. Line 8262

[David purposes to build a temple to God.]

Quen he had made his orisoun, vnder þat tre he sett him doun, He thoght þan apon mani a thing, As he þat was suilk a lording, Line 8266 A temple thoght he make on hight, In þe worschip of godd all-miht; Fer and depe he him bi-thoght, Line 8269 Hou þat þis temple suld be wroght, For to kepe in þair ser relike, þat he miht saue in his kingrike; þat was, þat hali arke þai bare Aboute, wid all þair sayntuare, Line 8274 þat es to say, þe tablis tuin, þat þe ten comandementis war in, þat god wrat wid his aun hand; I, and þar-in was aaron-es wand, Line 8278 þar bar þe fruit þou it war drie; And of manna als a partye; þe gylden oyle of þe propiciatory, To cherubynes, als sas þe story. Line 8282

Line 8282 þir thinges þat i telle ȝou here, þe king þaim held tresur dere, þer-for thoght þe king dauy, Make þaim a riche herbergery. Line 8286 vnder þis tre þat i of say, A stapil was of marbil gray.

As he thoght þus quat was to done, An angel com fra heuen trone, Line 8290 Apon a bohw he made his sete, Of þat tre þat was sua suete; For wid þat flour þat was sua new, þar stode a selcuth louly hew. Line 8294 þis angel þat sua brightly schan, Spac to þe king, þar he sat an, And said, "godd þe loke, sir king, wele i wat al þi ȝerning, Line 8298 þi wille in worschip for to wirke, [folio 58a:1] þat es to godd a crafty kirke. Bot þu sal witt on quat wise þat þis werke awe for to rise. Line 8302 Godd wil noght þi selue it make, For of þi handis he wil noght take Suilke a werke, it war vnright, Line 8305 For werrour art þu, man-ful wight, And many man slayn wid þi hand, Bot þu sal ellis vnder-stand It may noght thoru þi-seluen be don; End it sal þi sone salamon, Line 8310 þu sal it ordaine in þi thoght, Thoru salamon it sal be wroght; For he sal be a man of pes, And mekil haue worldis es, Line 8314 He sal be king efter þi day, þis es þe soth, þat i þe say. He sal reyne bath in reste and pes, þe temple sal he make wid ese, Line 8318

Line 8318 He sal haue witt, ricches, and sele, To wiss all his kingriche wele. It sal be precious and proude; Line 8321 þe werke he sal sua semely schroude, Relykis sal þar-ine be lokin þat euer mare sal of be spokin, Bituix and to þe worldes end. Line 8325 Haue god day, for nou i wend."

Daui vnder-stode þis skil, ȝeit lete he noght his dede wid dill, þat he ne thoght for to do so, Line 8329 Als þe angel said him to.

[The choice of David's successor.]

þe king þan to his chambir went, Line 8331 And sone efter þe quene he sent; For of his lawis þis was an, Of all his barnagee was þar nan, Man no womman, ȝonge ne olde, Line 8335 þat in his chambir was sua bolde A fote to sett bot þai war cald, [folio 58a:2] And quen þe king speke wid þaim wald; Ne wijf, war scho neuer sua leue, Nor noght þe quene widuten leue. For-þi þan entrid barsabe, Line 8341 þe quene his spouse, and his priue þe king, þat he in herte had hidd, To þe quene he it vn-didd. Line 8344 Bot noght for-þi ne tald he noght, þe bod-word als þe angel him broght, Bot ellis wisly and ful schort, Line 8347 He tald right as him lay on hert. "Dame, i did þe hider call, As for mi weddid wijf of all, In elde i am waxen now, Of mi kingriche quat redis þu? Line 8352

Line 8352 To quam sal i giue it for to lede, þat me may turne to mensk and mede?" þat leudy to hir lauerd did loute, wid buxumnes, reuerence, and doute, Scho kneled dun quen scho had stande, þe king hir tok vp bi þe hande, Line 8358 As he þat of hir consayl wild witt, And did þair ether dun for to sitt; And bad hir say, ne wond it noght, Quat war best as hir thoght, Line 8362 Of his kingriche, þat es to say, Qua suld it haue efter his day.

"Sir," scho said, "siþen i sua se, þat ȝe wil consayl haue of me, Line 8366 þe best of all it i coude hitt, Ful gladly wald i scheu ȝou it. þe kingriche sir, þat es þin, þu it wan wid mekil pin, Line 8370 And alsua þu had gret malese For to stabil it, and to pese, Sir king," scho said, "ȝe haue in liues, Mani childer wid ȝour wiues, Line 8374 þat ȝernand er now in strijf, [folio 58b:1] To haue þe kingriche in ȝour lijf. ȝe frely king, sua ful of bliss, þe best rede me thinc es þis. Line 8378 ȝe giue it to quham-so ȝe will, For my graunt sal ȝe haue þar-till, I þat es þin aun womman, Gayn-sawe sal i ma þe nan, Line 8382 For salamon, mj sone, es ȝing. Bot miht ȝe mene apon, sir king, wele ȝe wat þat ȝe me hight, Ar ȝe to spouse me treuthe pliht, A sone if ȝe miht gete wid me, Line 8387 ȝour air for soth þan suld he be.

And siþen sua es i haue me gett þat neuer nan oþer wid me mett, Line 8390 Bot an bifore ȝou had i noght; For ȝour loue was i wydow wroht, (On quat-wise me thar noght tell, For wele ȝe wat hou it bifell. Line 8394 Blisced be god ful of miht, For-gyuen es ȝou þar-of þe plight); I say noght nou, so godd me rede! For nan vpbraid ne for na mede, Line 8398 Ne for na ȝerning þat i haue Any couenand of ȝou to craue. For neyder i kepe to gabb ne glose, Bot say þe soth es my purpose. Line 8402 þou salamon mi sone be ȝong, He es wijs and of redi toung, þat neuer seruid gref ne vylany, And getyn he es wid þi bodi. Line 8406 He þat better can mende þan payre Best worthy es to be þin ayre. Noght for-þi qua godd wil chese, King efter þi day he bese." Line 8410 Suilk a knott þe quene on hir skil knitt, þe king ful wele herkind þan itt, And curtaysly, widuten hone, [folio 58b:2] He graunt hir ferly all hir bone. Line 8414

"Dame," he said, "to þe i say, þat salamon sone efter mi day Sal be king of al þat i wan, If god him-self wil it be þan, Line 8418 He ne es ȝit bot wonder ȝing, þu sett him to fostering, Tille he be lerid himself to lede, Bath wid clergy and knighthede. Lere of clergy wele he sal, Line 8423 þat es of wijsdam þe grund-wal.

þe child es theued and milde of mode, Loke þat he haue maystir gode, Line 8426 Bot it be on him-seluen long, He sal be bath riche and strong. þu layn þis as þin aun lijf, Line 8429 For lath me ware to rayse ani strijf, Bituix and we se time and day He sal be king, qua wil or nay. And þat þu be noght in mistrow, þar-to make i here a wou." Line 8434

[The wonderful childhood of Solomon.]

þis child was sone sett to bok, And clergy wele he vnder-tok, For all his herte he gaf to lare, Line 8437 Might neuer child loue clergi mare. Thoru þe grace of godd of heuen, Sone he coude þe artis seuen. Quen he coude of landis lade, Ful hyly king þai him made, Line 8442 was nouþer agayn him old ne ȝing, Salamon þan was made king. His fadir bidding wele he held, Line 8445 And did all þat his moder weld; He held þat tre ful dere in derne, þat dauid king honurd so ȝerne, vnder þat tre ofte-sithe he satt, And lerid selcuth mani quat. Line 8450 For vnder þe vmber of þat tre, [folio 59a:1] þe king of thinges lered he, Bath and of tres, grisses fele, Quilk war þair vertus lele, Line 8454 For quatkin euil ilkan miht gayn, Quer-so þai grew in wode or playn; And queþer þe medicin of bote, Funden be in cropp or rote. Line 8458

Line 8458 Of lare he lerid vnder þat tre, þan made he gode bokis thre, Line 8460 And dohutyli he þaim vndid, wid saumplis of tres and griss imid. þe first bok, widuten les, Men it callis ecclesiastises, Line 8464 þat spekis mast, widuten wand, Hou fals þis world es forto fand. Of prouerbis es þe toþer bok, þat leris man him vmbiloke Line 8468 Agaynes þis world wrecched-hede, Hou þat he au him for to lede. þe thrid bok, efter þa tua, þe quilk me clepis cantica, Line 8472 A notful bock in hali writt, þe bok of loue men clepis itt, For of þat loue it spekis mast Line 8475 Bituix manes saule and þe hali gast. þat was na clerk so crafti kende Be-tuix and to þe worldes end, þat miht þat clerk wid clergi mate Ne coude þe bokis þat he wrate Line 8480 To-quilis he satt vnder þat bohw; Of all wisdam he had enohw.

Stedfast stod þe marbil stan, On fer þe gilden lettris schan; Line 8484 þai said, "sum-time þat men suld se Godd him-seluen reyne in þat contre, þat plantid was bituix þa floures, þar þe stremis held þair cours. wele i wate neuer es it wan, [folio 59a:2] Of flour ne fruit þat it has tan, Line 8490 And in þis time suilk fruit suld geue, þat all his freindes þar-of suld leue; Ne of þat fruit suld na man bite, þat he ne suld loue it als tite." Line 8494

Line 8494 þis writt wid fele was red and sene, Bot fone it wist quat it wald mene: Bituix and he quam bar marie, Line 8497 Henge þer-on his folk to bie, Be barntem of alde adam, þat thoru a bitt broght all in blam, An applis bitt, bath man and wijf, þat tre was dede, þis sal be lijf. And writen es in parchemin, Line 8503 þat it cam vte of þat pepyn, þat wrecched adam fel fra, And broght him seluen in mekil wa: For sua bigan þe crois, i wis, Line 8507 Of iesu crist vr king of blis.

[The story of David is finished.]

Nou es it gode to turne to vr style þat we haue gon out of a whyle, Line 8510 And tell apon vr mekil tale For to make vr stori hale. þis dauid þat i redd of here, was king and reyned fourti ȝere Line 8514 His reyning was wid right resun; Gaynis him his fas had na fousun. Childer had he wid wiues sere, Line 8517 Of þe quilk i make na mening here, For he þat mekil has forto tell þe schortlyer þan bos him spell. þis ilk it was, king dauy, þat mekil spac of prophesy, Line 8522 Of cristes birth ful lang biforn, þat of a mayden suld be born. þat mayden of his aune sede was getyn, in bokis as we rede, Line 8526 [folio 59b:1] And vr lauerd bi-for him high[t], Of him suld spring þat all suld right.

þis ilke dauid þe sauter made, Is redd ouer-all þis world brade. Line 8530 Homer þe poete þat was sua rijf, Liued in þis king dauid lijf, And of affric þe strang barnage, Did make þe cyte of cartage, Line 8534 þat to Rome was euer quede. And siþen quen king dauid was dede, He bad his men þat he suld ly, In bethleem his fadris by. Line 8538

[Solomon's choice.]

Qven dauid was dede, sone salamon was king sittand in his faderis tron, He was a burli bacheler, In all þis werld had he na pere. Line 8542 Of witt and wisdam, as we rede, was neuer nan wiser laue to lede. In bedd he lay apon a night, Line 8545 Bifor him stod an an angel bright, And to him spac wid blithful chere, And said, "i am a messagere, Mi lauerd has þe sent word bi me To giue þe choys of thinges thre, Line 8550 Of strenth, riches, and of witt, Ches quilk þu wil, þu sal haue itt. If þu him seruis wid herte hale, Of thre þu sal haue an to wale."

Salamon þis vnderstod, Line 8555 Of þis message thoght him godd, "wittles," he said, "quat es catel? Or quat es strenth wid to del, þat man na witt has wid to lede? I ches me witt for all mi nede; Line 8560

Line 8560 I thank him þe chois me wild giue, I sal him serue quile i may liue, wid all mi miht in al mi wille, He giue me grace it to ful-fille." Line 8564

þe angel said to salamon, [folio 59b:2] "wisely in chesing has þu don, And for þu wele has chosin an, þu sal þaim haue euerilkan, Line 8568 For þu sal be ful war in dede, And all folk þar-wid sal þe drede, And þu sal dredenes haue of nan, Of riches sal þu haue ful gode wan."

Þan reyned salamon wid þis, Line 8573 And ledd his lijf in mekil blis; He loued þe folk of his king-riche, And all him loued, bath pore and riche, All þat again him wroght males, Line 8577 wid wisdam broght þai to his pes, And all þat his fadir ne moght, Salamon to ende it broght. Ierusalem loued he mast of all, þar was he sett in kinges hall. Line 8582

[The judgment of Solomon between the two women.]

IN his king-riche þe former dawis Amang his folk he sett his lawis, And did þaim straytly forto ȝeme, Might na man mare rightly deme. Amang his rightwis domis rijf, Line 8587 Herkins hou he feld a strijf. Of mister was þer wimmen tuin, þat ledd þair lijf in sake and sine, For þai had housing nan to wale, þai duelled in a littel schale; Line 8592

Line 8592 Bath a night lighter war þai, And bath at anis in gesyn lay; Bath war knauis þat þai bar, þair moderis ful nedi þai war, Line 8596 þa had na credlis, na nan wid to by, Bot did þair childer bi þaim ly, þair clothing was sua nede and fa, þat þai miht nan part þaim fra. Line 8600 Bot of þise wimmen, allas! þe tan In bedd slepand hir sone had slan, As wimmen do ful riuely, [folio 60a:1] þat ȝong childer lais þaim by. Line 8604 Quen scho fand hir child was dede, Ne coude scho find na better rede, Bot fra hir fere sch[o] stal hir barn, And laid bi hir hirs so for-farn, Line 8608 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And siþen in bedd still scho lay, Lete as scho slepe bituix and day.

þe toþer womman quen scho wock, And scho bigan hir child to lok, Line 8616 And fand it ligand dede hir bi, Scho said, "allas! þat euer liued i! Mi child es dede, and i ne wat hou, Cold has slayn it, as i trou." Line 8620 þis child in barm to fir scho bar, And wele scho wend to quikin it þar, Bot all for noght, þat was for-layn It miht not couer to lijf a-gayn. Line 8624 Sua at þe last þat scho parceiued, þat scho was of hir child disceyued, Quen scho graithli was o-knawn, þat þat child was noght hir awn, Line 8628

Line 8628 vnto hir fere scho stirt in hy, And þar-wid gaf a mekil cry. Scho said, "þu wicked, ay be þu wa! Qui has þu me bigiled sua Line 8632 Of mi child þat mi-selue bar? þu giue it me, wid-uten mar! Gif me my child þu fra me stal." þe toder said, "þu lies euen all. Line 8636 I bar mi-selue it, and it es mine, þe dede child for-soth es þin, þat þi-selue of lijf has sett, Ful wele haue i min aun gett." Line 8640 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

"Parfay þu lies, wicked womman, And þat sal sone be ouer-tan, Line 8644 Mi quick child has þu stolin to þe, And þi dede child laid bi me. þu sal it ȝelde, bi mi leute, Quen iuggement þar-of sal be." Line 8648 wid þis þai cam bifore þe king, All folud þaim, bath ald and ȝing, Of þe folk of ilk a toun, þat of þe dome wald here resun. Line 8652 And sone wid salamon þai mett, vnder þe tre quar he was sett, þar he mast his witt soght, of all thinges þat he wroght. Line 8656 Quen þai war all bi-for him þar, First spac scho þe quic child bar, And said, "saf be king salamon, Sua semly sittand in þi tron! Line 8660 Lauerd, þi pore womman þu here, And rightwis deme þu þis mistere. þis womman ȝe se here stand we er bath in a hous duelland, Line 8664

Line 8664 Bath at anis wid child we war, And bath at anis vr childer bar, In wanis war we stad vnwide, And layd vr childer bi vr side. Line 8668 Bot welaway! it sua bitydd, Mi fere smorid hir child in bedd, And siþen scho laid it priuely, Quilis i slepe, in bed me by, Line 8672 And stal mi liuand child away. Bot i knew wel bi þe light of day Of þis tresun scho had me don. I hir resuned þan al-sua son, Line 8676 Bot miht i neuer hider tille, Mi child gett for godd nor ille."

"Þu liest," sayd þe toþer þan Line 8679 "Ful egerly, as a wicked womman, Ne thoght i neuer þi child to stele, Bot womman am i gode and lele. þis child in min arm es min, Line 8683 And þat þu has dede þar it es þin, Of mi wombe þis child was born, [folio 60b:1] And þu wid schame þin has lorn. þe dede es þine, and mine þe quic;" Suilk wordis spac þat womman wic.

Þe toþer said, "allas! sir king," Line 8689 And þar-wid gan hir handis wring, "I se mi child me es wid-draun, For i sal noght cum to min aun, þu do me bote a-gayn þis bald, For all þe soth i haue þe tald." Line 8694

Þe king þat was sua sly a clerk, Bath war and wijs in al his werk, Of þis ilk playnt him thoght selcuth, Als of a cas þat was vncuth. Line 8698 "Lordi[n]ges," he said, "þis womman here, Sais ȝone quic child scho bere,

And þar egayn sais þe toþer, Scho es þe moþer and nan oþer. þe dede child es neyder of þaim, Ne þar-to wil calle or claym, Line 8704 Bot of þis quick þai bath wald be Moder, as ȝe here and se. Bot moder may it haue bot an, And proue ȝe se þat þar es nan, Line 8708 And eyther wald þai haue it all. Bot þai may noght cum to þat tal. þan thinc me wele wid alkin arte Bituix þaim nede bos it be part, Line 8712 And siþen þat þai wil sua, wid suord it sal be delt in tua, And ether sal haue a side in hand;" wid þis þe king bad fett a brand.

Þis womman þat þe moder was, Line 8717 Scho fell to ground and crid allas! And said, "lauerd god it wid-schild þat þu briten sua mi child. Line 8720 ȝe giue to hir mi child alan, þat es me leuer þan it be slan. Of him i giue hir nou all mi right, [folio 60b:2] Ar þat i se him sua be dight." Line 8724

Þe toþer said, "neyther sal he be Hal be gyuen to me nor þe, Bot baldly sua nou be he delt, Right as þe king bifor melt." Line 8728 Bot euer þe toþer cald agayn, "Lauerd, lat noght mi child be slayn For nathing," scho sayd, "may fall." "Lauerdinges," he said, "þis here ȝe all, To queþer of þir tua sal i deme? Line 8733 Say me nou quat ȝou thinc queme." "we," þai sayde, "sir, bi þis day, Ne wat bituix þaim quat to say." Line 8736

Line 8736

He said, "ne herd ȝe noght þe tan wald haue him quic, þe toþer slan? þe tan had delt þe child in tua, þe toþer wild noght lat him sla; Line 8740 Quer-for me thinc, if ȝe so rede, þe child be noght don to dede, Bot he be holden to ȝon wijf, þat wald sua fayn saue his lijf, Line 8744 For scho þat has his lijf sua dere, His moder es, widuten were." "þis dome," þai said, "es ful right wis." All þai louid salamon þe wise. Line 8748 Hir barn scho toke and went hir ham; Of þis dome sua spredd þe fam, þat all spac of þis king salamon, þai said, sua wijs was neuer non, Line 8752 Ne craftier in werk of hand, was neuer funden non in land. Ne neuer nan þat hadd, i-wis, Sua mekil wele of worldes blis. Line 8756

The building of the Temple.

Qven salamon was wele at esse, And all his kingriche in pese, þan bi-gan he him to entermett Line 8759 þe temple to make he was in dett, þat his fadir him of bi-soght, [folio 61a:1] Bot of a thing ferli him thoght. Quilis he was tymbrand to þat thing, þe quilis þat tre bigan to cling, Line 8764 þis tre þat i bifor of tald, Nou bigan it to wax ald; Ilk a man said, þat it sie, þat it for elde bigan to drey, Line 8768 And semed wele it wild na mare, þat men suld it hald in are,

þe lesse tale þar-of to tell Line 8771 þat men þe titter suld it fell, Quen nede war it suld be soght, And to þe werk of þe temple be broght. þe king did cast wid scantlyon, Line 8775 And did make all þe tymber bon. Quen all was puruaid in þat place, And bunden samyn, balk and lace, þai fand gret marring in þair mark, þe writhes þat suld rayse þe wark; þe best balk þat þar-in su[l]d be, Line 8781 þar-of þan wantid þaim a tre, þe balk þat mast þe werk suld binde,— þai soght an-oþer for to find. Mani a wode haue þai thoru gan, Line 8785 Bot suilk a tre ne fand þai nan. Quen þai had soght and miht noght spede, "Sirking," þai sayde, "we doute vr dede Sal perichis and leue all bihind, Line 8789 For a tre we may noght find." wid þis þai lete þair werk to hone, And spac vnto king Salamone, Line 8792 "Sir," þai said, "durst we for aw, vre thoght fayn we wild þe schaw, we haue soght bath ner and ferr, For to find a mayster sperr, Line 8796 For to feste wid cumpas sley, Vr werk to-gider, bath lau and hy. If we durst say þe, leue sire, [folio 61a:2] þat þu þar-for lepe noght in ire, Line 8800 þe tre þat es in orichard þin wald bring vr werk wele to fin." þe king of þis tre vnderstod, Almast mengid him his mode, Line 8804 Ne for-þi þe tre he ȝate, Quen he miht do nan oþer gate.

Sone þe tre was heuen doun, Line 8807 And squire on-laid and scantlyoun, þe tre was alsua mete and queme, As any man þar-to coude deme, Bot quen it was vp wid strenth, It wantid large an elne lenth. Line 8812 þai lete it doun widuten lett, And fand it mete i-noght wid mett, Efte þai lifted vp þe tre, It was to schort a gret quantite. Line 8816 þus þa proued it thre days, Als it in þe stori says, Bot for na biding þat þai bide, Line 8819 Ne miht þai do it stand in stede. Bot quen þai sau na bote ellis, þai went to seke in frith and fellis, To find a-noþer tre wald þai, Line 8823 And þai it fand þe first day; þat ilke day þat was funden, þe balk was in his birdin bunden. þan þai tok þis tre of cypris, Line 8827 And did it in worschip and in pes, In þat hali temple grith, And þe thritti cerklis þar-wid,— þat king dauid, þat was sua god, Did þar a-boute quiles it stode Line 8832 To witt hou þat it grew bi ȝere,— And offrid þaim as tresur dere, To haue of þat tre lastand myne, Of forbysenyng þat þar was ine. Line 8836 At þe temple for þis resun, [folio 61b:1] þai er wid tresur in comun, Ne war þai neuer þan spend, Til þat þai war iudas bikend, Line 8840 To him þan war þai taght and tald, Quen he for þaim his lauerd sald.

And þus says sum opynyoun, Bot sua sais noght þe passion. þat tre þan ful richely, was in þat temple don to ly, Line 8846 was þar neuer of made oght, Tille þat þe crois þar-of was wroght. Þis kirke was wroght of marbil stan, Suilk an-oþer in world was nan, As was þis temple salamon, Line 8851 þar-ine was all þair relikis don, Mani selcuth for to se, He wroght þar bath in stan and tre. was neuer man born þat coude wirke, Ne ordayne suilk an-oþer kirke, Line 8856 Bot god had giuen him suilk wisdam, As godd gaf to salamon, As sais þe men þat þar has ben, wid-in and vte, bath haf þai sen. Thritti elne quen it was made, Line 8861 Itt had on lenth, and tene o brad, And on hight it had fijftene, wid craft ouer-all wroght bidene; For-þi þi balk i tald of are, Line 8865 Of elnes was fijftene and mar. Quen þat þe temple haluid wes, þe tre euer it lay stille in pes, Mani it wald haue done a-way, Line 8869 Bot miht þai noght, still it lay. And efter salamones day þer cam a preist, was of þat lay, þer-to fiue hundrid men he ledd, Line 8873 Bot þai miht neuer stir it of stedd; wid ax he wald haue cutt it þan, [folio 61b:2] all-to sone he it bigan vt of þat tre it brast a blass, þat brint þaim all in þat place, Line 8878

Line 8878 þat quic cam nan of þaim ham: Line 8879 Cyrillus þan was þe preistes nam. þis es a takening of þat tre, þat halud was as ȝe may se.

SAlamon was in mekil wele, Line 8883 And vmsett wid happ and sele, His wiues were wonder to neuen, Of quenis had he hundrides seuen; Thre hundrid concubinis it sais, Efter þe law was in þa dais. Line 8888 wid-ine þat time þat i of rede,

The first martyr for Christ.

þer cam a leuedy of þat lede, For to honure hir in þat stede, As mani of þat contre dide, Line 8892 For to make her orisoun; Bot vnwarly scho sett hir doun, Apon þis ilk tre wid chance, Line 8895 þat men made to suilk honurance; Bot sone þer was to se a wonder, Hir clathes bigan to brin hir vnder, As þou þe tre in fir had ben! þis ilk womman þat i of men, Line 8900 þis tre scho stirt all dredand fra,— Hir name was cald maximilla,— And þan bigan scho for to crie, As wid a voice of prophesy, Line 8904 And said, apon þat tre suld hing þat lauerd of helle, þat blisful king, Iesu crist of maydin born, Line 8907 To saue þe world þat was for-lorn. þat suld þe iuus here and se þat suld þe crois make of þat tre. For þe loue of þis sothsaw, þe iuus fell widuten awe, Line 8912

Line 8912 [folio 62a:1] For scho had neuend cristes name, "On godd," said þai, "þu has said schame, Scho es wod, and wid þe warlau tan." And heuedid hir ful sone on-an. Line 8916 Sent þan was an angel þare, And vp to heuen hir saule bare, In hir folk hir aldir siht, And said þat cristian scho hight. Line 8920 þar-for war þe iuus wrath, þat name to here was þaim ful lath. þis womman was first þat men wist, þat martird was fore iesu crist. Line 8924 þe iuus thoght þai had noght don i-now, þis [tre] vte of þe temple þai drow; þer was a pitt bot litil þaim fra, was callid piscyna probatyca, Line 8928 þe iws þat ay was wont to wrang, þar-ine þe kinges tre þai slang; Bot quar-sua-euer þis tre lay, Line 8931 God schued þar-on his mihtes ay; For euer-ilk day a certayn oure, þar lithed dun fra heuenes tour Angelis, þat war selcuth schene, For to stire þat water bidene. Line 8936 And quen þat it wa stirid sua, Men þat lay in langur of wa, Qua miht first in þe water wine, Of sor had he na langer mine, Line 8940 war his sekenes neuer sua strang, þow he had liued neuer sua lang. þe iuus, þat war sua crabbid and kene, Quen þai had þis miracle sene, Line 8944 þai drow it þedin and made a brig, Ouer a littel becc to lig, þe watir of sylole, and said, Quen ouer þat water þai it laid, Line 8948

Line 8948 "If þat ani vertu be Of olines widin þis tre, Line 8940 wid sinful menes fete," said þai, [folio 62a:2] "wid ganging sal be done away." O þis maner þis tre þar lay, Tille after lang and mani a day, Til sibil cam so fer fra kith, To salamon to speke him wid, Line 8956 And forto here of his wisdam. Quen þat scho to þe cite cam, Scho cam in at þat ilk ȝate, þar þis tre lay in hir gate, Line 8960 Doun sho bowid hir to þe grund, þe tre scho honurd þar a stound. Scho left hir syrte widuten schorne, And barfot wald ouer þat borne, Line 8964 And to þat tre scho gan hir falde, And prophesy þar-of scho tald; And namlyest of domes-day, Line 8967 Hou all þis world suld wit of way. Quen þat þis sibil and þe king, Desputid had of mani a thing, þe king þan gaf hir giftes faire, Line 8971 And hamward scho tok hir ayre. þis ilke tre þat i of say, þer it lay ful mani a day, Bot it was in þe temple boun, At þe time of cristes passion. Line 8976

Lat we þis tre ly þar it lijs, And speke we of salamon þe wis.

[Solomon's great sin and repentance.]

His dedis coude na man þe-vise, [[read de-vise]] war he neuer of sua mekil prise, Line 8980 Bot hard it es, þe word of sine, þat ȝarkid was to adams kine!

þat soruful werk þaim self þai soght, þat all þair sede in soru broght, Line 8984 Man to fall in filth of fless, Thoru fourme of kinde þat es sua ness. Ouer-pascid has þat caytif kinde, Line 8987 And made king salamon al blinde, Blind of witt and wisdam als, [folio 62b:1] And made him in þat faith ful fals. Thoru wimmen þat he loued sua fele, He fel fra lijf and saules hele, Line 8992 Again þe lau þat god him forbedd, Leudis he loued of vncuth ledd, þat made him godd to renay, And to for-sake his aun lay. Line 8996 Lauerd king sua mekil of miht, Quer becam all his in sight, þat did him-seluen sua to spill, Foluand a wicked wommanes will.

Allas! erly þis gile bigan, Line 9001 At adam þat was formast man; Sampson þat strangest was in lijf, was bigilid thoru a wijf; King dauid, thoru a wijfes siht, To dede he did a sackles knyht; Nou salamon, i rede of here, Line 9007 þat of wisdam neuer had na pere, Siþen wimmen haue bigilid him so, Qua may of þaim be siker? quo? Certis, i hope vnethes nan, Line 9011 þat es in world of wic womman. þe man sch[o] has in hir bandun, Scho bringes him to confusion, For-þi i say, blissed es he, Line 9015 þat dos him noght in þair pouste; For if he loue hir mare þan nede, To will as a fole scho wil him lede.

For be he neuer to-fore sua sly, þan sal he fall into foly. Line 9020 Mistrou naman, þoqueþer, þat i wil speke of wimmen velany; If i sua did it war vnhend, I thinck na womman forto schend. Certis nay, thar na man wene, Line 9025 For in þis world es nan sua clene Creature, wid godd and man, [folio 62b:2] Ne nan to loue, as gode womman. þe euil alone to þaim i tell þat er funden bath fals and fell, Feloun in entent to suyke, Line 9031 þe wimmen þat i blame, er slike; þe wicker neuer þe worthi are, þat men tell quat þe dohuthy are, Nor þe gode þe wers to praise, Line 9035 Quat sua men of þe wicked saise. Quilk er to lac, and quilk er to loue, þair aune werkis wil þaim proue, Bot god þat dide apon þe rode, Line 9039 And amend þe wic and saue þe gode.

Qven salamon his wille had wroght, wa was him þat euer he thoght Godd to wreth, his saule to file, And þan repentid him a quile. Line 9044 wid bath his heyen sare he grett, And did prophetis for to fett, þe patriarkis þaim com wid all, Bifore þair fete dun gan he fall, Line 9048 And said, "hauis sone of me merci, Es nan sua sinful a wreche as i. Nou se i wele i haue mis-gan, For i haue honurd selue sathan, Line 9052 I haue leued mi lauerdes lawe, And sua me tan to þe warlawe."

"Has þu," þai said, "þi law renayd?" "ȝa, sua, walaway!" he said. Line 9056 "And qui," said þay, "did þu sua?" "A womman wroght me al mi wa, For mi misgilt i am a knawin, I war worthi wid hors be drauin; I haue me done a wicked dede, Line 9061 Thoru a womman of hethen lede. ȝe rede me nou, for godes sake, ȝour consail i wil vndertake." þan þai said, "quat rede can ȝe, [folio 63a:1] þe rede it es hally in þe, Line 9066 þu þi selue, þat es sua wijs, First þu say vs þin a-vijs; we sul be to þi bidding boun." He said þan, "tak of mij croun Line 9070 þat i na langer au to were, Mi kinges robe als þat i were, All for mi sinne fer wil i fle, To vncuth land fra þis contre." Line 9074

"Do way," þai said, "king salamon, þis thing aw we noght for to don, Nouder we wil, ne we haue miht, For-do þe lawe of kinges right; þe law þat god has laid on king, Line 9079 we ne aw to breke for nankines thing." "How may þis be? quat say ȝe now, Ne sal i haue na rede of ȝou?" "Quat rede may we say to þe?" "I wil þat ȝe vncoroun me; Line 9084 Mi lauerd i haue be-left, allas! ȝe helpe me in þis caytif cas, And lais on me ful hard paynis, For sore it es mi repentanis. Line 9088

Line 9088 Siþen i haue serued to haue schame, Gif me mi schrift, in goddes name."

Þat schrift was soruful and vnsene, þat all þat cite sau all bidene, Line 9092 Alde and ȝong, all gan on him wonder, þe schrift þat salamon ȝode vnder. His sine bifore þat grete cite, wid waful weping scheud he, Line 9096 His riche croune of gold and stan, Did first of his hefde be tan, And of his robe he gan to riue, And his bodi all to driue. Line 9100 To skourge bar thoru þat thrang, vte of his bac þe blode it sprang. þat sor, þatschame, þatmartyring, [folio 63a:2] was neuer sene on suilk a king. Line 9104 Bot all he tok in goddes name, And tholed mekly al þat schame, For all to nede him thoght þat game, þat he miht thole for suilk a blame; Quarof before he loued þe lust, Line 9109 He wild men raf it al to dust, Quarthoru it semed wele bi þis, þat he wan merci for his miss, Line 9112 Quat for þe reuth of his misdede, Quat for þe schrift he vnder-ȝede. After þe time he þus had don, A quile reyned king salamon Line 9116 Blisfully ouer all þat land; His werkes ȝeit þan war lastand. His craftes sal be lastand ay, In world bituix and domes-day; Line 9120 þat mekil i haue for to tell, Mihti for oþer thinges duell. Oþer thing es mast to mine, To rekin forth vr lady kine; Line 9124

Line 9124 For þar-for mast i vnder-toke, For to make þis englis boke; To telle first hou vr lauerd of miht, Till haly men ofte sithes hight, Line 9128 þat of þair sede a man suld spring, þat mankind suld vte of baret bring. Ful lang hight was þis bi-forn, þe time þat iesu crist was born. Line 9132

[The death of Solomon, and the names of his successors.]

Of salamon nou endis mi tale, He reyned fourti winter hale, He þat sua wele was of wine, His elde was fourti and tuinne, Line 9136 Grauyn in bethleem was he boune, þat was his aun fadris tune, wid mensk and worschip; efter quam, Reyned his sone hight robam. Line 9140 þis Roboam þat i of mene, [folio 63b:1] Reyned wintris seuentene. His sone cam efter, Abya, Thre ȝere he reyned and na ma. Line 9144 Hasa his sone, bath hale and fere, Reyned an and fourti ȝere; Iosaphat his sone in liue, Reyned tuenti ȝere and fiue. Line 9148 þat was helyas, þat prophete, þat god of sua mekil lete, þat stint þe rayn thoru his praiere, Sex monethes and thre ȝere; Line 9152 And quen he praid eft a-gayn, Godd sent þe folk plente of rayn. He was þe first, as þe stori says, Line 9155 þat ded men raysed in former dais. Of Iosaphat com Ioram, þat reyned wintris eyht, wid quam

was a prophete helyseus, And as þe stori tellis vs, Line 9160 Helyas was þat ilke time þare Translatid in golden chare. Of þi Ioram cam Ozias, þat reyned fifti wintris was; Line 9164 In þat time þat i of mele, was in þat land prophetis fele, Isayas, Ioel, Osee, Abdyas, Amos, Ionas, and mycheas. Line 9168 þe eyhtand sibile bigan to rise, þat was of prophesi ful wise. Of Ozias cam Iothan, Line 9171 Sextene ȝe[re] was he reynand þan; Romulus was þe formest man þat reyned in Rome, and it bigan. Achaz, his sone, efter him com; Line 9175 þat time was made þe toun of Rom; Sextene ȝere reyned achaz, And of him cam Ezechias, He reyned nine and thritti ȝere, [folio 63b:2] wele was he loued wid iesu dere. Line 9180 Siþen reyned manasses, þat was his sone, widuten les; þat time was, as sais þe stori, A sibile þat hiht of samy. Line 9184 Of þis manasses cam amon, As his fader was þe son, Folis war þai bath, for-qui þai honurd euer maumettri. Line 9188 Amon son was Iosyas, A dohuti king, in his time was For-don þe toun of Niniue, þat was vmgang jornays thrie, Line 9192 þat standen had in time þare, Fourti hundrid ȝere and mare.

þat time was prophete Ieremye Spekand in his prophesie. Line 9196 Iosias gatt Ioconyam; þe transmigracion was þan, þat þe bok of mening mas. þen was a king sedechias; Line 9200 In his time was þe Iuen land wommen all in sarazin hand; Ierusalem was stroyd and tan, Line 9203 þan bigan þair kingr[i]che to wan, And, as i in þe stori find, þat time was þe temple brind, Thoru a king of babilon, In thraldam he had þaim don, Line 9208 þat Nabugodonosor hight; Strang he was, of mekil miht. A tuelfmoneth he þe tun vmsett, And wan it for þe diffaute of mett. þe king fled vte bi nightertale, Line 9213 with þe withest men he had in wale, Bot he was takin at his flíght, His sonis slayn bifor his sight, Line 9216 And him seluen did þai bind, [folio 64a:1] And kest him into a presun blind. þe iuus er nou put of state, And in þair kingriche translate, Line 9220 þat had four hundrid ȝere stand And fijfty to þat day ner-hand.

The fourth age of the world is finished.

Of world þe ferd elde now es tald, þat was four hundrid winter ald Line 9224 And fiue and sexti ȝere and thre, Bot siþen þis world bigan to be, Four thousand and sex hundrith Line 9227 ȝere, qua rekines right to tell es eth.

The Fifth Age of the World. The Family of the Virgin Mary.

Blissed be scho þat vs has spedd, þat we þe eldes four has redd; To rekin forth þat leuedi kine, þe fijfte elde wil we bigine. Line 9232 Ieconias ȝe heard me mone, Salatiel he had to sone, And of þis ilk salatiel Becam his sone Zorobabel. Line 9236 Abiud ȝeit cam of him, Of abiud Elyachim, Of quam Asor, sadoch of him, þat loth er for to lig in rim. Line 9240 Sadoch gat achim, for soth, And of achim cam eliuth, Of eliuth cam Eleazar, þat leui als to name he bar. Line 9244 þis Leui had sonis tua, þat was matan and pantra, Mathan gat Iacob; iacob, ioseph; þat was þe nethermast steph, Line 9248 Of þat side es to telle na ma. Of pantera cam propantera, Of propantera cam Ioachim, vr leuedi mari cam of him. Ioseph and scho, so may men se, Line 9253 Bot at þe thrid and ferde kne. [folio 64a:2] þe mayden þat vs þat lauerd bare, þat lesid all þis world of car, þus was þe fruit þat broght vr bote Of þe tre þat adam was þe rote. Line 9258 Qua sua wil se fra adam þe alde, Hou mani knes to crist es tald,

He sal find widvten excusacions, Sexti alde generacions, And neyther tald he ne he, þus may þe genealogy be. Line 9264

Isaiah's prophecy of Christ.

Crist was forsaid wid prophesy, þat mast of spac saint ysay, And to þe iuus so mistrouand, Line 9267 He bad þaim here and vnderstand. "Iesse," he said, "of his rotyng Certaynly a wand suld spring, vte of þat a flour suld brest, þe hali gast þar-on suld rest, Line 9272 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] þe gast þat giues giftes sere." Bot ȝit þat folk, was ay in were, Line 9276 vn-til oþer said, "quat may þis be So wonderly mirkly spekes he?" Bot ȝit he let it sua be hidd, And lang þer-efter sua he þaim it vn|didd. "Gode men," he said, "can ȝe noght se? For of a man þat hiht Iesse Line 9282 A mayden sal brede, of his hup-spring, And scho sal haue a sone to king, I wil noght hele for drede of blame, Emanuel sal be his name." þat es to say, in englis þus, Line 9287 vr lauerd him-seluen alle wid vs. "Hony sal he ete and milk, wele sal he knaw quilk es quilk, Fra þe wick þe gode to knau, Line 9291 Fra him þe soth sal nan wid-draw." Sum iuus said to oþer þan, "Qua herd euer suilk speche of a man

[folio 64b:1] þat born sal be, sum thing es þare þat he wild noght war knaun mare." And þan said ysay, "parfay, Line 9297 I sal ȝou opinlier say, Qui suld i langer wid ȝou layn? I sal vndo it ȝou all playn, For i haue writen all þis thing, Line 9301 þat i sal leue to ȝoure ospring þis ilk bok, bot summe of þaim Again my saw sal sett þair claim; For efter þat i am of liue, Line 9305 Agayn þe soth sal ȝour ayris striue. Qui er ȝe of will sua wilde? A mayden sal vs bere a childe, Querof i tald ȝou here biforn, Tille vre bi-houe sal he be born. Line 9310 þis child sal vs be gyuen tille, And sal reyne at his wille; Men sal him call wid names sere, 'Ferlyful' and 'cunsaylere.' Godd of strenth and fader es he, Line 9315 Cald of þat world es forto be, And 'prins of pais,' men sal him call, And neuer mare sal his reyne fall. I haue ȝou tald hou it sal be, Line 9319 Bot i ne wat queþer ȝe it se." "Ful litel se we ȝit," said þai, "Of all þat euer we here þe say, Line 9322 For siþen þat we war born in werde, Sua selcuth sawe we neuer herd." "Ne i ne herde neuer," he said, "in land, Men sua hard at to vnderstand, Line 9326 Ne saw ȝe noght for godes dome, þe wand bere lef fruit and blome? þis wand bitakins a mayden clene, þat sal þe child bere þat i mene, Line 9330

Line 9330 þat sal his folk fra baret by, Line 9331 To quham men sal haue gret enuy. þat ȝou tellis saint Ieremie, [folio 64b:2] If ȝe wold loke his prophesie. And ȝit i sal ȝou say a thing, Bot holde ȝe it for na hething, Line 9336 Quen he þat haliest es comen, ȝour noynting sal fra ȝou be nomen. Bot ȝit i hope ȝe be sua blind, þat ȝe can noght mi resun find; Line 9340 King wer ȝe wont to noint ay-quare, Bot sua sul ȝe nou haue na mare, Fra he be noynted, þat i say, Kingles sul ȝe be fra þat day." Line 9344 Of þis ȝou tellis Ieremy, þe prophetes Ioel, and hely,— ȝit he es liuand in hele, þis ilk ely þat i of mele. Line 9348 Bot for na talking þaim was tald, It tok neuer in þair hertis hald, Bot ay mistrouing and mistrows. God said him-self, of þa iuus, Line 9352 Quen he mas of his moder minne, þat was comen of al þair kinne, He said, "my lemman es sua gent, Scho smellis suetter þan piment, Line 9356 And wele softer hir vestiment þan any reclis þat er brent. Fayr es þe muth of þat leudy, And ilk toth es as yuory, Line 9360 As douues eye hir loke es suete, As rose on thorn er to vnmete; And tuene þaim fayre acord es nane, Sua es tuix hir kin and my lenman." For as þe rose es bred of thorn, Line 9365 Sua was mari of iuus born.

Bot ar of cristes birth we neuen, we sal tell how þe fadir of heuen Dight his dere sone to sende, Line 9369 Almast at þe worldes ende, Into erde vr fless to ta, [folio 65a:1] To bring mans kind vte of wa. And hou he gaf vs his pardun, Schortly sal i tell ȝou resun. Line 9374

Re-capitulation, of Adam's Fall and the Scheme to save Mankind.

FOr ȝe lauerdinges, wele haue ȝe herd Of ȝe bigining of þis world, Hou he þat neuer had bigining, Line 9377 Made heuen and erde and all thing, And als to all thing he gaf, þair kindly schroud for to haf. Line 9380 For sune and mone þat es sua briht, Had seuen sith mar þan nou of liht, And all thinges was þan, als i trow, wele mihtier þan þai er nou. Line 9384 A! lauerd! gret harming was þare, þat all suld die, bath less and mare, þat of adam and eue com. Bot ȝit it was a rightwis dome, Line 9388 As ȝe sal se, wid rightwis skill, þat harkins of þis stori wel. Quen all þis world to end was wroght, þat wanting was þat [[read þar]] in of noght, Best, griss, fruit and tre, Line 9393 And all was þat þar-in suld be; Foul and fiss, gret thing and smal, Adam last was made of all. Line 9396 In ebron greue, þat ilke dale, þar-in he drow siþen mekil bale, Of erde god made him to be, Efter his aun trinite. Line 9400

Line 9400 His aune ymage he wroght him þare, Hou miht he loue haue kid him mare; In paradis he did him rest, And slyly slepe apon him kest, Line 9404 He wroght a felaw of his ban, To adam, þat was first his an; Witt and skil he gaf him tille, Miht, and fairhed, and fre will. Line 9408 [folio 65a:2] Ouer all þis world king and kayser, And lastand lijf ay for to bere; In paradis in eritage, To lede þair lijf ay to a stag, Line 9412 In welth, widuten tene or tray, Bituix-and a certayn day, þat of his ospring war of þat tale, þat miht ful-fille þe numbre hale, Of þat felauschip þat fell, Line 9417 vte of heuen into hell, And siþen þai suld sua blisced be, þat þai of dede suld neuer se; Line 9420 And sua suynkles, fair, and bright, As þat time was of sunne so light, As ȝe haue herd me bifore neuen, Als suld þai siþen sty to heuen. Line 9424 Qua herd euer speke of mare bliss, þan, or deme, was to adam and his? Lawis tuynne thoru sett assise, was to Adam in paradise, Line 9428 Als in haly writt we find; þe first law was cald 'of kinde,' þat es to say, kindly to do All þat him was bidden to. Line 9432 Þe toþer has 'possitiue' to name, þe whilk lawe was for-bed Adam, Forto ete þat fruit, and saide, "þis tre in forbode haue i laid, Line 9436

Line 9436 If þu sua bald be it to bite, þu sal be dede in soru and site, And if þu wil mi forbode halde, þu sal be lauerd as i þe tald, Line 9440 Of all thing in erde and paradis, wid mare bliss þan þu can deuis." Of þis ald adam sesin all; Allas! ful sone he lete it fall. Line 9444 His gret worschip þat he had þare, And broght vs all eter to care. Sua sone as he þat appil ete, [folio 65b:1] þe lawis bath he gan for-lete, Line 9448 Bath naturale and positiue, Thoru his wijf he wex caytiue, Quen scho troud mare þe fendes lare, þan godd þat hir had wroght þare. Sua was adam for his vtrage, Line 9453 Forth driuen vte of his eritage, vte of ioy and vte of blis, In soru and sithe to him and his; Thoru dede his lijf mast he tyne, Quar sal he euer mare haue medicine, Quen he so wrecchedly had tynt Line 9459 His heritage wid iugement! þat sinne, allas! sua hard was itt, þat nan of left, widuten smitt, þat euer was vnder him born, Line 9463 þe strenth of itt has al forlorn. So hy na-thing was neuer wroght, þat thoru it seluen miss ne moght Fall dun into lauer state, Line 9467 As all þir wise clerkis wate. All erdly thing miht haf had þe right, If it ne ware thoru mans plight; A mis it was of mekil sake, Line 9471 þat broght to man sua mekil wrake,

þat vte of þe fayrest land þat es, Has put man into wildrenes: Line 9474 Suilk pliht was first, suilk was last, þat of his sesin gan him cast; þis es bot law, qua soth wil say, vsyd in court þus ilka day. Line 9478 Nou es man gilted in eueles all, His aun sine has made him thrall, þat first was fre, as i bifore tald; Nou has him sathanas in wald, Line 9482 To quas seruis straitly he bi-held, His thral he was to haue in weld. [folio 65b:2] And quihy he his thrall in his seruise, He ne may be fre on nan-kin wise, Nor thral may wid na law in lede Ask heritage vr lauerd-hede; And siþen he es þus thrall bicomen, His heritage him es be-nomen, Line 9490 Ne in na court awe na thrall be herd, Ne stand in dome to be ansuerd. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] þan most him seke anoþer nede, Line 9495 To wine his heritage, if he wil spede, þat he wat born of frely strand, þat may in court scheu his erand, His heritage agayne to winne, Line 9499 þat he be of his aun kinne. So þat he sothfast man suld be, And ete noght of þis forsaid tre, þat suld be born widuten sinne, Line 9503 And helden had þir lawis tuine, þat es þe tuine of paradis; þe thrid es of a mount synays, þat giuen was to moyses, þat neuer of oþer halden wes, Line 9508

Line 9508 Bot he þat neyder did sinne ne plight; And quat man miht se so bright, þat suilk a man coude thinc in thoght, þat muster þat miracle moght? Line 9512 Reste here nou a litel wil i, A sample for to tell her-by, A sample cordand þat i tok, vte of saint Robar[t] bok. Line 9516

The Parable of a King and his four Daughters.

IT was a king of mekil pris, Right he was worthi and wijs, þat ilk king þat i of mone, He had child nan bot a sone, Line 9520 þat wid his fadir was sua wele, He wist his wisdam ilka dele. In all wisdam was he riche, And al-gat of his fader liche; Line 9524 wid him of a will and myht, [folio 66a:1] His fader wroght wid his in-sight, All þat his fader wild haue wroght, Thoru him to ende it suld be broght. And dohutris foure had þis king, Line 9529 To quham ilkan he gaf sum thing Of his miht and of his bounte, As fel to haue suilk sistris fre. Ilk-an sundri giftes he gaf, Party wid him-selue to haf, Line 9534 Bath of his wisdam and of his miht, As ilkan fell-to haue wid right. Of his substance he gaf ilk-an, And ilk-an gaf he substance an, Line 9538 As to hir fader it ahut to fere, widuten quhylk on nan manere Miht he in pes his kingriche ȝeme, Na rihtwis dome þar-in to deme. Line 9542

Line 9542 þair namis sul ȝe here qui, þe first of þaim was cald merci; Line 9544 þe toþer was cald sothfastnes; þe thrid of þaim, rightwisnes; Pes þe ferde syster hiht; widuten þise has king na miht, Line 9548 For to lede his lauerdhede. þis ilk king þat i of rede, A seruaunt had in his bayly, Agayn his lauerd had don foly, Line 9552 And thoru dome him lokid was, Be don to pine for his trespas, And to his aun fa feloun, was he bi-tahut vnto presoun; Line 9556 For he ne had neuer sua gret enwy, As to þat man to be bayly, Quhi[l] he was in þat presun so, His enmye wroght him þar ful wo. Quen mercy saw him suagat be, Line 9561 Of him scho gan to haue pite, Scho miht hir forbere na-thing, [folio 66a:2] Bot forth scho cam bifore þe king For to scheu him hir resun, Line 9565 And forto diliuere vte þat presun. "Fader," scho said, "þi dohuter am y, As þi-self it wat witterly, Fulfild i am of buxumnes, Of mekil reuth and sutenes, þi gifte es me, lef fadir dere, Line 9571 For-þi þu here nou mi praiere, Of þis wreche presun þat es, þat he must haue forgiuenes, þat es vnder his feloun fa, In presun pined and in wa, Line 9576 þat thoru him be-suak, And did him for to do vtrak,

þat falser falshed him es hite, þat falshede sekis day and nihte Line 9580 And falshede to him ȝolden be, And þe presunn be sald to me. For þu art, as all knaues þe, King of meknes and of pite. Line 9584 þin eldest dohutir þu wat i am, Of all þi werkis es mi name, þi dohutir ne aw i neuer be, Bot i of him ne haue pite; Line 9588 Merci he awe to haue wid righ[t], For þi gret witt and þi in-sight; And þi pite, þat es sua suete, Awe þi presun of bandis bete. Line 9592 I sal noght fyne mercy to cry, Be-tuix and he haue þi merci." Quen sothfastnes herd þis talking þat mercy þus bisoght þe king, Line 9596 And þat scho was algate aboute For to haue þis presun vte, Bifor þe king fote scho stode, Line 9599 And said, "leue fadir, fair and gode, Suylk selcuth haue i herd to-day, [folio 66b:1] þat i may noght for-bere to sy Of mi syister suete þat es, Mercy, þat wid hir suetnes, Line 9604 wald þis presun diliuerid ware, þat sothfastnes wild for-fare. Bot mercy awe non here to spede, Bot-if þat sothfastnes it lede. Line 9608 If mi sister saue miht all, þat scho wald for cry and call, þan suld þu be doutyd noght, And nan misdedis suld be boght. Bot þu art king þat art sothfast, Line 9613 Of rightwisnes and of ste[d]fast

þat þu wil þe soth here euer and ay; And þis presun þat i of þe say, Line 9616 þat pyte of him-selue had noght, How suld oþer rew on him oght? Dome bi-houis him thole for-þi, A[l] his misdede wid for to by." Line 9620 Rightwisnes ras þan and said Hir resun þan, as scho was puruayd, "Sir, of þi dohutris am i an, And þu art king so rightwis nan, Line 9624 þi werkis all er war and wis, And all þi domys er rightwis, þis thral þat þu has fra þe flemyd, wele has he seruid to be demid. Line 9628 For quilis þat he was fre, Mercy ay wid him had he, And sothfastnes, and riht al sua, Line 9631 Til þat him self flemid him vs fra. It was his aun wilsum sinne, þat did vs all fra him to tuynne, He has him mengid agayn mercy, Dede he aws to thole for-þi, Line 9636 þe quilk þat þu him bifore hiht, In presun be he wele wid right. For dome has him giuen it in sight, [folio 66b:2] Tille sothfastnes haue said þe plight, þat so þu wald his soru slake, Line 9641 þat he miht dome bifor þe take. For qui þat dome sparis nan þat sothfastnes has ouer-tan; Ilk man scho giues ay wid will þair right to haue bath gode and ill; For sothfastnes has said his sake, Line 9647 And þar-for dome wil nan him wrake, Awe na man him say gode in werde, Siþen þat pite nou es noght herd."

A! þat wreche widuten freind, þat on na side may gete him lend, Ne he ne may schap, quere-so he ga, þat him ne saylis ay his fa, Line 9654 þat witt and strenth al has him reft, And nakid his wreched bodi left! Noght him allon bot al his kin, In thraldam has he broght þaim in, He did þaim misdo comunly, Line 9659 Bot dome þaim cam foluand in hy, And iuggid þaim in sothfast treuth, widuten merci, widuten reuth; Nor pes at hame miht noght lende, Bot vte of land scho suld wend. Line 9664 For pes naquer it may abide, þar hatered wonys, or were, or pride, Nor of merci made na man mynne, All left þe land þat þai war inne. was nan þat left was efter þar, Line 9669 þat þai ne all distroid ware, All to dede þaim did to riue, was noght bot eyht sum left aliue, Noe and his sonis thrinne, þat in þat schipp allone was ine, Line 9674 His wijf and his sonis wijfes, In all þis world left na ma lijfes. It es mekil awe to telle, [folio 67a:1] Of any dome þat was sua felle; Line 9678 And all was right in sothfastnes, widuten mercy and rightwisnes. Þe ferde sister after þe thridd, Said to þe king, þe place emydd, Line 9682 "Pes i hate, as þu wele wate, Bituix mi sisteris es þe bate, All þat þai striue amang þaim thre, Thoru pes it au to tried be, Line 9686

Line 9686 For querof seruis any assise, Of sothfastnes or of iustise, Line 9688 Bot for to ȝeme þe pes in land, Dome es þarfor sett to stand. Siþen al þir thre er sett for me, Hou sal i þan for-sakin be? Line 9692 Siþen þat for me all gode er wroght, And widuten me tald for noght. Saue me es noght in þis werlde, Bot if þat merci may be herde; Line 9696 þu aw me here, widuten les, For fadir art þu and prins of pes. Pes endis al þat wele es wroght, Qua has na pes he has as noght, Line 9700 Quat es riches qua can me say, Quat es wisdam quar pes es a-way, Qua wil for pes his trauayl spend, In pes forsoth þan sal he ende. Line 9704 þan aw wele pes be herd for-þi, For þis presun þat cries mercy! And of vs foure sett at a-sise, Rightwisly to do iustise, Line 9708 widuten all vre comun assent, Aw to be made nankin iugement, Nor dome aw to haue na recorde, Or we be all at an a-corde; Line 9712 Til an bihouys vs all consent, And siþen schape þe iugement, Or ellis aw dome be callid agayn. [folio 67a:2] For-þi þu wrecche þat es in payn, Aw nou to find sum pite. Line 9717 Now has þu herd mi sistris thre, Here me fader nou for-þi, For mercy fines noght to cri, Merci and hir sistris tua, Line 9721 Gladly wald i acord þaim sua."

Quen þat þe kinges sone had sene Suilk strijf his sistris be-tuene, Line 9724 þat þai widuten him miht ende, Nor pes bituix þaim miht noght lende, "Fadir," he said, "þi sone i es, Of þi strenth and of þi witternes, Sua wele i am loued wid þe, Line 9729 þat þi wisdam men callis me, All þis world lang and brade, Has þu fader thoru me made. Line 9732 All þu wroght thoru min in-sight, For we er bath of a strenth and a miht, Of a worschip and a will, þi wille i sal euer-mare ful-fille, Line 9736 Fadir, rightwisest demister! Mercy me mouys wid hir prayere, þat scho made skilful bifor þe; For þe wrecche i haue of pite, Line 9740 Mercy first gan on þe call, Scho aw be formast herd of all, For sothfastnes algate sal I At an acord make wid mercy. Line 9744 Fadir i sal on me for-þi Of thrall take clathing sothfastly, And thole on me þe dome i sal, þat he suld vnder ga, ȝone thral. Line 9748 I sal crie pes in lande i-wiss, And dome and pes do samþen kis; þe were to end bring sal i sua, Line 9751 And saue þi land folk fra wa." [folio 67b:1] Qua vnder sta[n]dis þis sample here, He may vnderstand all clere, Line 9754 þat þar es in vr lauerd sua right, Thre personis and a godd of miht, Of godd þe fadir all thing es, Of godd þe sone all dohutines, Line 9758

Line 9758 In godd þe haly-gast all thing Fulfild es and has ending. Line 9760 A-fald godd vn-delt es he, And a substance wid men, þa thre. He mote þaim giue his benisoun, þat wil gladly here þis sarmoun. Line 9764 Nou lauerdinges, haue ȝe herd Nou, Of þis world, quarfor and hou was it wroght, and his gilt, Line 9767 Adam vr former fadir spilt, And how his thraldam miht wid nachance, Of his fal gete agayn couerance. Angel miht wid na resun, Make for adam his raunsum, Line 9772 For þan suld man widuten doute, Haue ben to angel vnderloute, Bot manes ransum suld be slik, [[originally suilk]] þat suld him make to angel lik. Line 9776 Anoþer skil alsua we finde, If angel had tan mans kinde, þan war he wayker made þan are, þat he suld haue power þare, Line 9780 And seme lightly for to falle, As did þe prins first of all. And if godd had wroght a-noþer man, For to raunsum þat ilk adam, Line 9784 þat miht falle wid nankines right, þis raunsum vnto adam es plight, For all þe bale on him gan brede, þe bote suld be þan of his sede; Line 9788 No patriarck ne ȝeit prophete, Miht be sent adames sine to bete, For þai þat getyn war in sinne, [folio 67b:2] As comunly es all mankinne. Line 9792 Hou miht þai man of sin ma clene? Certis na gate, als i wene.

Siþen angel þan it aght noght do, Na mane him had na miht þar-to. Qua-so suld make þis ransum þan, Bath behoued him be godd and man, Man for man to suffre wa, Line 9799 Godd to quelle þe fend alsua; Man to dye, god for to rise, Miht ellis take þis enprise. Mekil it was his suetnes þan, Line 9803 Mekil reuth had he þat time of man, þat wald liht vte of þat hie toure To lighten in a maydens boure, þat lefte sua many schepe alone, To fett on þat wil was gone. Line 9808 For may be nan suilk herd for-þi, Na lauerd nan of suilk merci. Qua-so on suilk a brid wilde thinck, His grete loue, his mekil suink, Line 9812 þat sua wilde first vr licnes haue, And siþen for ws him seluen gaue, Or aght his herte brest o thrinne, Or fra his comandementis tuinne.

þe prophecye of suete iesu, Listen, and i sal tell ȝou nou.

Of ysay i redd be-forn, Line 9817 He said, "a child es vs biforn, A sone es giuen vs for vr nede, Sustene he sal his lauerdhede. To name haue ferly-ful he sal, Line 9821 And consaylour men sal him cal, þe stalworth godd men sal him numme, God fadir of world es for to cumme, His riht name es prince of pes." þise er his names, widuten les, Line 9826

Line 9826 þat þe prophete has on him laid, [folio 68a:1] Bot herkin nou, qui þai er said; Line 9828 Selcuth es his first name, Mare selcuth herd neuer nane, Ne neuer sal wid rightwis dome, þan god him-selue man bicome. Line 9832 For if þu fonde, as men may finde, A barn ouer-karkid sua wid kind, þat had thre fete, or handis thre,— As oft men saw and ȝit may se,— And if þu siþen anoþer fande, Line 9837 þat wantid eyder fote or hand, war þei selcuth þar-for i say, To calle hem selcuth, certes nay? Man þat any god [him] cuth, wald here-of thinc na selcouth, Line 9842 For surkarc of kinde had þe tan, And kind was t[o] þat oþer wan. Suilk schap to see es na ferlik, Bot monstrus miht men call þaim lik; Bot he war ferli-ful to calle, Line 9847 If þu him sau, and so miht falle, þat in a man all manschip ware, widuten less, widuten mare. So þat he ware man al sothfast, And all his schap widvten last, Line 9852 And stedfast horis and oþer tolike, It were vnmihty be funden slike. Bot qua miht suilkan find, or quare, Men miht say ferlyful he ware. Bot selcuther a thousand fald, Line 9857 þis barn þat isay of fore-tald, Bath es godd and man al hale, Of sothfastnes þis es þe tale. Of manes kind him fayles noght, And al es fully þat he wroght. Line 9862

Line 9862 All thing of him bigining toke, As tald bi-fore es in þis bok. Line 9864 Bot he es þar na god of miht, [folio 68a:2] þat semid him in erde to light, þat vnder anoþer wise we wede, Fully laght vr man-hede, Line 9868 Siþen he sua wild be-cum man, Of a womman bos him be born þan, For to lese mankind fra wa, þat was laght wid þe fend his fa. Line 9872 Bot god siþen he wild so be gest, In a clene stede bos him rest; A clene woning he ches for-þi, For to mak in his herbergery. Line 9876

[The parable of the Castle of Love and Grace.]

. . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

IN a castel semly sett, Strenthed wele widuten lett Line 9880 þis castel es of loue and grace. Both of socure and of solace; Apon þe marche it standes traist, Of enmye dredis it na fraist, Line 9884 It es hy sett apon a cragg, Gray and hard, widuten hagg. Dounward es it pol[i]scht bright, þat it may neyhe na warid wiht, Line 9888 Ne na maner gin of were May cast þar-till it for to dede, wid wallis closid four of stan, þat fayrer in þis world es nan. Line 9892 Baylis has þis castel thre, wid wallis thrinne, semly to se, As ȝe sal siþen here diuyse, Bot wel fayrer on many wise Line 9896

Line 9896 þan tung may tell, or hert thinc, Or any clerk may write wid ink. A depe dick þar es a-boute wele wroght, widuten doute; Line 9900 wid kirneles es vmset ful wele, Schroud on ilk a side wid sele; Seuen barbicans er þar dight, þat er made wid mekil slight, Line 9904 [folio 68b:1] Ilkan þai haue bath ȝate and toure, þat neuer mare may fayle socoure. wid mislike sal he neuer be ledd, þe man þat þiþer-ward es fledd. Line 9908 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Þis castel es noght for to hide, Es payntid on þe vter syde Line 9912 wid thre colouris, of sundri hewe, þe grund-wal neyst, þat es so trew, Metand wid þat roche of stan, Line 9915 Of suete grennes þai wantis nan; For suete grennes, i dar wele say, His hew he haldis lastand ay. þe toþer hew neist to finde, Es all of blew men cals ynde, Line 9920 þe midward heu es þat i mene, To sight it es ful selcuth schene; þe thrid colour ouermast of all, þat þe kirnelis er paynt wid all, Line 9924 It cestis lem ouer all sua bright, þat rechis to þe donwar light, As Rose rede es in spring, And semes als a brinand thing. Line 9928 waried wight nan comes þar neuer, Bot suetnes es þar lastand euer. wid-in þat castel þat sua es tift, þat queþer es þan snau on drift, Line 9932

Line 9932 þat castel brightnes so vnnede, Ouerall þat contre on lenth and brede. Midward þe hiest tour i telle, Line 9935 þar springes of clere water a well; þar-fra rennys four stremes suete, Thoru þat grauel and þat grete, And þarwid fillis ilk a dicke, Line 9939 Qua þar-bi es, wele may þaim like; Qua miht þaim wid þat water wass, He miht haue hele of all his fless. Wid-in þis tour þat es for-sayd, Es sett a trone of yuor graid, Line 9944 þat es of gretter light and lem [folio 68b:2] þan someres day es sunnes bem; Craftyly castin wid compas, Climband vp wid seuen pas, Line 9948 Ilkan es wid þair mesur mett, Ful semely þar þan er þai sett. þe lem of light ay lendis new, þat mengis wid þa coluris hew. Line 9952 was neuer ȝit king ne cayser, þat euer satt in suilk a chayer! Bot fayrer was, widuten ende, þe stede þar god him-seluen wald lende, þat was þar neuer suilk a hald, Line 9957 Ne nan wylyer in world to wald, Ne neuer bes made wid manes witt, For god him-self diuysed itt, To his bihoue sundri and sere, For-þi we awe to hald it dere. Line 9962 Þis castel es of beld and bliss, þar myrth es neuer mar to miss, Castel bath of hope and hald, Hir grith to haue þai may be bald. þat es þe bodi of þat berde, Line 9967 Had neuer womman so blissed werde,

Ne neuer sua many maners gode, As mari mayden, mylde of mode. It es vs sett as in þe marche, Line 9971 And standis vs fore schild and targe, Agaynes all vr feloun fa, þat waytis vs ay for to sla. þe Roche þat es polichit so sliht, Ee mayden mari hert ful bright, Line 9976 þat nehyes neuer to wic dede, Bot euer scho lyues in maydenhede, þat scho hir ches þe first day, Scho ȝemed it in mekenes ay. Line 9980 Þe fundement þat first es laid Nest þe Roche, as it es said, þat paynted es wid grenne hew, [folio 69a:1] And þat lastes euer elike new, Line 9984 þat es end of þat mayden clene, Lyghtand hir haly herte schene. þe grennes lastand euer and ay, Bitakins ending of þat may, Line 9988 For gode ending of al and all, [Of] al vertus es grund-wal. Þe midward hew þat es of ynde, Es na man þat may fayrer fynde, þat es takening of all sothfaste, Line 9993 Of tendernes and trouth stedfast; Scho seruid in our lauerd of miht, In meknes suete, day and niht. Line 9996 Þe colour ouermast of all, It couerys all a-boute þe wall, And it es rede as any blode,— Of all þir oþer es nan sua gode,— þat es þat haly charite, Line 10001 was kindlyd in þat lefdy fre. Sua vmlayd wid loue so clene, Scho was geuyn to serue god bidene.

Þe foure trettis on hy er sett, þe castel with fra saght to gett, þat er four vertus principalys, Line 10007 þe quilk men callis cardinalys; All oþer vertus of þaim tas hald, For-þi er þay hefd vertus tald,— þat es rightwisnes, and meth, Line 10011 For-siht, and strenth, to tell er eth. At þe ȝatis foure er four porteris, þat na-thing may cum in þat deris. Þe baylis thre of þat castell, þat es sua wele wroght cernel, Line 10016 þat es in cumpas wroght a-boute, And weris all þat werk fra doute; þat on þe ouermast stage es sett, Hir maydenhede es graythly gett, þat neuer was wemmyd, was a dele, [folio 69a:2] For scho was filde wid þe grace so wele. Þe bayle midilmast of þe thre, Line 10023 Betakins wele hir chastite. þe ouermast, widuten fayle, May wele bi-takin hir sposayle, Name of bayli it hatt for-þi, For it hir held as in bayly, þat makles es hir self, I say, Line 10029 Spousid, and moder, and clene may; He most wend thoru an of þir thre, þat in þis world wil saued be. Þe barbicans seuen þat es aboute, þer standis thre baylis widvte, Line 10034 þat wele kepis þat castel, For arw, schott, and quarel, þat er þe seuen vertus to tell, þe seuyn sinnes er sett to quell. ȝe sal þaim here, widuten bide. Line 10039 þe first of þaim men clepis pride,

þat es ouer-comin and mad ful mate, þer buxumnes may hald hir state; Charite euer fordos enuye; Abstinence fordos glutrie; Line 10044 þe chastite of þis leuedy Ouercumes all lust of lichery; Al gredines of euerilkan, Hir fredam all fordos it þan; Line 10048 Miht neuer in hir be wreth ne hete, Hir tholemodnes it was so grete; Gastly gladnes was hir emydd, þat al ille heuynes it for-didd. Line 10052 Þe welle of grace springes þarin, þat fynis neuer mare to rine. God gaf his grace to al his dere, And delt it all wid mesur sere, Line 10056 Bot scho þat was his aun to wale, To hir he gaf his grace al hale. Bot of þe grace þat of hir brestis, [folio 69b:1] Ouer all þis world þat grace it kestis, For-þi scho es cald in ilk-a place Moder of pyte and als of grace. And quat may we call þa dikes Line 10063 Bot wilful pouert, þat man in likes? Ne may na gynne in erde be wroght, May cast to dere þis castel aght, Quar-thoru þe feind, þe warid wiht, Ouer-comen es and has tint his miht, þat had sua mekil miht biforn, Line 10069 þat was na man of moder born Miht were him fra þat fend sua fell, þat he ne him putt to þe pine of hell. For þis ilk leuedi for-soth es scho, þat godd said of þe moder vnto, Line 10074 þat suilk a womman ȝit suld spring, þat suld ful sare his heuid thring.

Now blissid be þat blisful berde, þe worthiest an of all in werlde, þat king of all þat ay has bene, His sete made in hir saule clene, To gestyn in hir lele body, Line 10081 To saue his folk fra sinne and foly, And bring þaim vte of presun strang þat þai had liggen in sua lang. Ful lef was vs, þis leuedy lele, Line 10085 þat bountes in hir bar sua fele, Mare þan any schaft þat es; Bot þe sone of hir rightwisnes, þat in hir louely bodi light, Line 10089 Made hir a thousand sith so bright. He cam in at þe ȝate sperd, And sua it was quen he forth ferd. As þe sune gas thoru þe glas, Line 10093 He miht do quat his willis was.

[A Prayer to Our Lady.]

"Mi saule es cumyn, leudi, þe to, And callis at þe ȝate þe vnto, Line 10096 Knockand it fynis noght to crie, [folio 69b:2] Leudy suete, þu haue mercy! vndo, vndo, leudy, þin are To þis caytif, castin in care! Line 10100 widuten þi castel i am vmsett, Hard we thre famen thrett, þis world, mj fless, þe fend als, þat fylus me wid fandyng fals, Line 10104 To ger me fall in fylthes fele, All agaynes mi saule hele. A gadring held þai gret to-gider, þe fend formast he cam thider, Line 10108 wid thre werkis bunden bi his hide, [[so in MS.]] þat es slawnes, envie, and pride;

þe world has tuynne to his ascyse, þat es auaris, and couaytise; Line 10112 þe fless has ful redily him by Lechury, and eke glutry. Thoru þis þan am i driuen dun, And lijs for-castin as crachun. Line 10116 I drede me sare lang forto ly, Bot if þi grace me helpe, leudy, þat þu þe wayke es wont to couer, þo me to passe þa dykes ouer, þar þe castel standis so stabil, Line 10121 And charite es so comunabil.

Listens now wid gode deuocion And i sal tell of þe suete concepcion.

Herkins nou all þat will haf mede, I sal ȝou þe story rede, Line 10124 Of birth þat vs þe maiden bar, As prophetis tald vs sumquar; Hou prophecye cam al to ende, Quen Iuus alþerlest it wend, Line 10128 þe wand þat bar vs first þe flour, And siþen þe fruit of suete odour. þis bok es of na triphilrie, Bot of godd and vr leudy, Line 10132 For-þi i rede of þaim we here, [folio 70a:1] þat may ȝou helpe in ȝour mister, And leue ȝour vnnaytschip a quile þat lijf and saule es wont to file; For qua þat in right trouth es blind, þar-of þe syght here sal he finde. For it es vncuth and vnwon, Line 10139 þe fadir to be-cum þe sone, þat he þat began all thing, Cam to take him biginnyng. Line 10142

Line 10142 And suagat forto cum till him, We sal biginne at ioachym, Line 10144 þat fadir was of þat mary þat was þe ȝate of vr mercy, And at his wijf þat hight anna, And at hir sister Ismaria. Line 10148 Ismaria and anna war tua Sistris, i wene, widuten ma, þe formast bar Elizabeth, An haly leudi, milde of meth, Line 10152 þat spousid was to Zacari. Saint Iohn þe baptist, þis leudi Moder was, as i[s] sum-quar In þis bok written forþermar. Line 10156 þe toþer sister, þu vnderstand, þat Ioachim had to husband, þan sal we first vr stori draw, For worthiest es it for to schaw. Ioachim of kinges kind Line 10161 was comen, and of dauid strind, Born he was in a cite Of nazareth, in galile, Loued he was in all þat lede Line 10165 For his mekil dohutihede. To wijf he has dame anna tan, þat suilk a coupil was neuer nan. To samirtale widuten strijf, Line 10169 Be-tuix any spouse and his wijf, Mare loueword miht nan be with, [folio 70a:2] þan was of þaim wid-in þair kith. Sua dohuti was þis Ioachim, Line 10173 þat god him-selue was wid him, Sua haly lijf þai liued euer, þat god of heuen þai wrethed neuer. To tylth he tent and tende gaf lele, In thre his godis did he dele, Line 10178

Line 10178 þat god had lent him of his lone; To pore party gaf he one, Line 10180 þe toþer parti, as was for-melt, It was bituix þe preistes delt, þe thrid party wid þaim lend, wid þaim seluen forto spend. Line 10184 was neuer nan for-soth, witt ȝe, Man of sua mekil charite, ne mare of reuth and of pite, Line 10188 Nan thole-moder in chastite, Line 10187 Ne na sothfaster man þan he. His kind was of þe rote of iesse, Fadir of dauid, þat gentil king, Ioachim cam of his ospring. Line 10192 Þis ilke anna þat was his wijf, In grett leute scho led hir lijf, þe loue-word of hir and hir fame was als fer born as þe name; Line 10196 In almus dede hir lijf scho ledd, As we fund in þe stori redd. þat tuenti ȝere na child scho bar And þarfor had scho mekil car, Line 10200 Eyder thoght of oþer schame, Bot þai ne wist quat to blame: For-þi to god awe þai gaue, þat if þai ani child miht haue, Line 10204 Queþer þat it ware scho or he, To godd bitaght þan suld it be, In þe temple to serue alwais, To-quilis it lastid þe lijf days. Line 10208 Child to gete þai litid lang, [folio 70b:1] And did ay gode werkis a-mang, þai halud all þe festis dere, þat Iuus halud þan bi ȝere. Line 10212 Amang þa festis i of telle, A mekil feste in winter fell,

þat þe iuus helde for haluing Of temple salamon þe king; Line 10216 Ilkan to þe temple broght Sere giftes efter þay moght, Sum wid lesse and sum wid mar, All þair giftes þai ȝeld vp þar. Line 10220 Or ellis ilkan for sere resun, Com to make þair orisun. þe patriark was noght a-way, Bot he vndid þaim all þair lay, Line 10224 wid moyses tablis in his hand, For þan was sum man god dredand. To þis feste cam Ioachim, And freindes many com wid him, For to pray and als honure Line 10229 Almihti godd, þair creature; Ioachim forth gane stande, And made him boune wid his offrand; þe patriark hiht ysacar, Line 10233 Quen he of Ioachim was war, Toward the auter gan he stride, "Ioachim," he said, "a-bide," Bi-fore all þat war gedrid þare, Line 10237 "I bidd þe cum na ferþer mare. Ioachim here sal be nan Offrand of þi hand here tan, For þu it awe in nakin wise To make to godd þi sacrifise. Line 10242 þi offrand au noght here be sene, Fle þaim," he said, "vs be-tuene." Ioachim thoght mekil schame, And said, "haue i seruid suilk blame? Ethir i am sua ful of sinne, [folio 70b:2] þat i na kirke awe to cum in Line 10248 Mi orisune and my prayer make? Say me, leue sir, quat es mi sake?

Quat haue i wroght a-gayn þe lay? I pray þe, sir, þat þu me say. Line 10252 For gladli wald i vnderstand, Qui þu forsakis min offrand." Þan ansuerd ysacar, "parfay! Ioachim, i sal þe say, Line 10256 I þe said it noght for-þi þat i haue sene þi foly, þi sinne, þi sake, neuer i saw, Bot godd him-self sais in vr law, Qua þat has in israel na sede, Line 10261 He es forcurscyd as we rede. þis sede barntem es tald, And sua aue ilk man to hald, þan semes þe lawe wid resun riht, He callis þat man for malediht Line 10266 þat has na child, may nan knawe, Ne nan we aw þe neuer hawe. Of þe law for þis resun, Is fallyn on þe þis malysun, For þu na child has getyn of þe,— þi offrand aw forsakin be. Line 10272 þe tre þat beris na fruit to hand, Amang oþer tres it au noght to stand; Quen þu has barntem in lande, Gladly sal we rescyue þi offrand." Quen Ioachim þir wordis herd, Line 10277 Schame him thoght and þus ansuerd, "þat i am childles it rews me sare, If i miht haue, leuer me ware, And þat i haue nan hider till, It es al lang on goddes will; If i be geld allone in lede, Line 10283 Quen god wil he may send me sede." Es na man, i trow, can say, [folio 71a:1] Quat schame thoght ioachim þat day,

For þis schame and þis upbraid, þat ysacar þe preist him said. Line 10288 He went vte of þe kirke for schame, And schame him thoght to wend hame, Bot to þe herdis of his fe, þat he had of grett plente, Line 10292 He went amang þa wildern lawis, þar his fe was in þa dawis. were pagis nan for herdis sett, Line 10295 Bot stalworth men þair bestis to gett, þat miht agaynes þe thefes fight, And þat coude rise at time of niht And loke þair bestis ay in nede; Ioachim, to þaim he ȝede, Line 10300 Amang his hirdis duellid he þar, In prayer woke wid weping sare, And fastand was in will to be, Line 10303 Til godd him wid his sande wald se. Bot fastand lang had he noght ben, Quen him was sent an angel schene, þat wid þe light he bar wid him, He was all dredd, sir Ioachim! Line 10308 For þat brightnes was he dradd, And stod still as he war madd. Bot þis angel þat bi him stode, Broght him tyȝandes sua gode, Line 10312 He said, "Ioachim, make gode chere, I am vr lauerdis aun messagere, Hider am i nou to þe sende, þi murnand chere for to a-mend; For he has herd þi prayere, Line 10317 Now he þe sendis þin ansuere, For þi schame and þi vpbraid, þat ysakar þe preist þe said: If þu na child had hider-till, It es noght tyd þe for nan ill, Line 10322

Line 10322 þou godd vmquile be funden still, All may he wirk right at his will. Ofte sith latis he be lett Line 10325 Man and womman childe to gett, Bituix and þair forþer elde, And þan þaim sendis childer to welde, þat man may se þat child hir by, Es right born and noght of lichery. Of abraham has þu herd say, Line 10331 How lang he liued a[n]d many a day widuten child, in hope alone, And syden godd him sent suilk on, þat in his sede suld blissid be All mankind, and haue saute. Iacob als, and Rachel his wijf, Line 10337 þai samyn ledd ful lang þair lijf, Of þaim com siþen Ioseph þe gode Als in hir elde, þat blissid fode, þat of egypt siþen was styward, And all þe land had in his ward. Samuel als þat ful of right, Line 10343 And sampson als þat was so wiht, Both þai bar to wimmen gelde, þat vte of birth of child was teld. Barnis þat of suilk er bredd, Line 10347 Er born to stand in mekil stedd, And ofte er for þair dohutihede Selcuth mekil worthi of mede. þu trow þir samplis witterly, Line 10351 For þu sal haue a child in hy, A mayden child noght þar-to lang, Of þe þi wijf sal vnderfang. Maria sal þu do hir call, Line 10355 Fillid wid goddes grace ouer-all, For scho sal be al godd be kende; To him presentyd at thre ȝer ende,

As þu of hir þi vow has made, Line 10359 Scho sal be flour of maydens made. Of maydins all sal scho be flour, [folio 71b:1] And scho sal bere ȝour sauiour, Iesu crist all menes hele. Line 10363 And þat þu trow mi tale for lele, Quen þu agayn sal wend þi gate, þu sal find at þe gylden ȝate Of ierusalem, þi wijf anna, þat es for þe selcuth wa, Line 10368 To seke þe scho ne wate quiþer to ga. And quen þu findes þat it es sua, Certaynly þan sal þu trow, All þat I haue tald þe now." Line 10372 Quen þe angel had his erand don, He went agayn widuten hon, Bot ar he went he bad him make A sacrifise for goddes sake. Line 10376

IOachim þan was glad and blith, And vp he sett an auter suith, Made sacrifise on maner suilk,— First tene lambis quite as milk, þat beris takning in þaim selue, Siþen þar neist of bolis tuelue, Line 10382 And at þe laste an hundrid schepe, How he þaim delt, ta now gode kepe. To godd he gaue þe·lambis to lottis, And to þe pore men þe bole stostis, [[so in MS.]] þe hundrid schepe þat i for-melt To all þe comune war þai delt; Line 10388 On þis maner offrid he, And delt þaim siþen all thre. þe lambis ten all als an Bitakins iesu crist was tan, And don on rode for vr wite, And for vs suffrid gret despite. Line 10394

Line 10394 þe bolys tuelue he offrid sua, vnderstand tuelue apostlis þa, Line 10396 þat tholid for crist soru and care, And martird for his loue þai ware. þis hundrid þat war boune, [folio 71b:2] were all delt to þe comune, Line 10400 Bitakins felauschip, i-wiss, Of saintes hye in heuen bliss, þe takning of an hundrid tale, All fullines it takins hale. Line 10404 For þa þat stad ar in þair bliss, widuten want has al þair wiss, widuten seke, widuten sare, May nakines nede be funden þare.

LEue we Ioachim þus gatt, Line 10409 And speke we nou of anna state, Of hir sythe and of hir care, Hou scho hir for hir husband bare, Quen þat he him held fra hame, For his despite thoght hir schame. þis leudy was of mekil pris, Line 10415 Louid and lerid, war and wijs; Quen þat scho herd þis tydand Of ysakar and hir husband, Line 10418 Scho tok on hir clething of care, Scho sperd her dore, and wep ful sare, wepe and murned niht and day, Hir lijf in langing lastand ay, Of gladschip was hir alþerlest. Line 10423 Quen þat þar day was cumyn of þe fest, þan men suld bolde þaim to be blith, And ilk man his godness to kith Fayr clathing þan on þaim to take For þair hie festis sake; Line 10428 þan satt anna menand hir mone, Bituix hir-self and godd alone.

Scho had a maydin hight vtayne, þat was hir preue chamburlayne, "Leudy," scho said, "for god sua dere, þu mende þi mode and change þi chere! Qui ne wil þu on þi seluen think, þat þu ne wil neiþer ete ne drinck. Hou lang sal þu þus be wrath? [folio 72a:1] þu clath þe nou wid sum better clath. þu awe vmthinc þe, leudy lele, Line 10439 þat þu art of kinde of israele; Ne wate þu noght—it semis nay— quatkines a fest it es to day [[MS. has say]] ? It greuys me wonderly sare, I se þe leudy ma suilk care, þat i þe se wepand always, Line 10445 Quen þu suld ma þe best at ays. Anna, leudy, leue þi bere! And clathe þe fayre and mende þi chere! For goddes aune day it es, All awe be glad bath mare and less." Suilk was þe talking of vtayne, Line 10451 þan gaf anna hir ansuer a-gayne, "vtaine," scho said, "qui sais þu sua, Be stille, or ga þu heþ[i]n me fra, þu blamys me for i mak dol, Quat? wenis þu i be a fole? Line 10456 Quar-of suld i haue ioy or bliss, Quen i mi weddid lauerd miss? I to make mirth or any solace Bot i him saw bifore mi face? I mak na mirthe, thar ye noght wene." vtayne wid þis word gan tene, Line 10462 And thoru þe bolnyng of hir herte, Sch[o] kest to hir wordis ouerthuerte, "Leudi," scho said, "for quat-kins thing witis þu me þi misliking?

If þu may na childer brede, Line 10467 Quam witis þu þin aun vnspede?" þan was ful soruful dame anna, Quen vtaine had hir greuid sua, vp scho ras and went a-way, And went hir forth in tene and tray In-to hir orichard on-ane, Line 10473 To wepe þar bi hir-self alane, [folio 72a:2] þat scho miht wepe and ma hir mane, þat comforte suld cum to hir nane. Sone quen scho was comen þare, Scho gaf hir all to murne and care, Scho lift hir handis vp to þe sky And þus to pray scho said on hy, "Lauerd! þu here mi orisoun, Line 10481 And bliss me wid þi benisun! Dere god, þu here me sua As þu did, sum time, dame sara! þat suilk a worthi sone hir gaf Line 10485 As scho disirid for to haf." Quen scho had endid hir praier, Scho plande hir eft on þis manere, Ofte scho said, "allas! allas! þat euer i born or geten was! Line 10490 Queþen haue i þis malisun, þat vte of kirke and comun I am don, and for curcid telde; Qui was i born of moder geld." Line 10494 To-quilys scho mened þus hir care, wid weping and wid sihting sare, Scho sau þat angel bifor hir stande þat first had ben at hir husbande. "Anna," he said, "herd es þi bone, þu sal haue a child ful sone." Line 10500 þis bodword gan hir herte to liht, And ansuerd to þat angel bright:—

"Queþer so i haue may or knaue, God him-selue sal it haue Line 10504 For to serue him nyht and day; He wotis þis haue i ȝernid ay." "Anna," he said, "þu ma gode chere Quat so euer þu se or here, I am goddes aun angell, Line 10509 Trewe tiþing to þe i tell. þe gret almus dede of þe, Is present bifore mi lauerdis kne, þi ȝerning gode and þi prayere, [folio 72b:1] Es comyn now to goddes ere, Line 10514 þu may be blith for bliss and belde, Ne drede þe noght for þin elde. Four skor ȝere had dame sara, Quen scho hir sone ysaac bara; Rachel, þat was Iacob wijf, Line 10519 widuten child led lang hir lijf, And siþen scho bar a ferly fode, A lauerding gret, Ioseph þe gode, þat styward was and wele widstode þe hunger þat egipt ouer-ȝode. A dohutir sal þu haue in hij, Line 10525 And þu sal call hir name mari, All sal hir worschip wid resun, Ouer all wimmen to bere coroun; Fild wid grace þan sal scho be, And fostird littil child wid þe, Of thre ȝere in þe temple sett, Line 10531 And þer-to fourtene winter gett. þare sal scho serue bath day and niht To godd, as ȝe bifor haue hight, Ne sal na womman wid right resun Agaynes hir haue nan ille chesun. was neuer nan forsoth i say, Line 10537 So blisful born as scho þat may,

Ne sal þar na man ne by þat milde, þow sal scho modir be of a childe. Of hir sal cum þat man sauere, Line 10541 þe dohutir sal þe fadir bere. wid þis talking sal þu trow me, Quen þu art comen to þe cyte Of ierusalem, at þe gylden ȝate, Line 10545 An entre es þare þat sua hate, þan sal þu finde þi hosband þare, þat þu has langid efter sare. þu sal se tiht þat i þe tald, Line 10549 Of blisful birth þu may be bald." Quen þis angel away was diht, [folio 72b:2] Tua men þer cam were clad in quiht, "Anna," þai said, "make þe blith, þi lauerd es comand also suyth, Line 10554 Ga to mete him, þu þe spede." Anna buskid hir and ȝede, Ne duellid scho na langer þare, Bot as hir bad þe angel are, Line 10558 To ierusalem es scho gan; wid Ioachim scho mett onan, þat ilk stede þat þaim was sett, At þe gilden ȝate þai mett. Quen þir cely tua mett samen, Line 10563 þai grett þaim seluen wid gastly gamen, For to aske ne thar na man If þai wer glad and ioyful þan. Quen þai had made þair orisun, þai went þan into þe toun, Line 10568 And siþen traystly þe sande þai badde Querof þe angel þaim bodword made, þat [[read þar]] efter sone þai samen lay, Anna wid child was of a may. Line 10572 Of december þe eyhtand day was scho getin þat i of say.

Of the Childhood of Mary.

Qven anna was cum to time of birth, Scho bar þat may mekil of mirth, Maria to name on hir þai laide, As þe angel bifore þaim saide. Line 10578 Quen þai hir hadd thre yere fedd, þan was scho to þe temple ledd, And of hir þare þai made offrand, To him þat es godd al weldand. At þis temple þat i nou of mene, A grece þar was of steppis fijftene, Castin was wid cumpas sly, Line 10585 For to ga þai war ful hy; þis may, bot of thre ȝere alde, was on þe grece i ar of tald Apon þe ouermast step don, [folio 73a:1] Bot scho hir clamb anoþer son; Line 10590 þe quilis þai loked þaim be-side, Scho wan vnto þe hiest stride, widuten help of man of welde, As þou scho war womman of elde. Be þis ensampil may men sy, Line 10595 Godd wald scho grew and clamb on hij, Thoru gode thews and liuelade clene, As siþen was on þat leuedy sene. Quen hir frendes gan hir se Apon þe alderheiest þe-gre, Line 10600 Thoght ferly hou scho dider wan; þai ȝald hir to þe temple þan, As þa made þair vow biforn, Ar scho war of hir moder born. Line 10604 Quen þai had made þair sacrifice, And gaf hir to þe kirke seruice, Amang oþer maydens þat war þare vnto fostring and to lare, Line 10608

Line 10608 To godd him-selue þai hir bikened, And ilkand ham bigan to wende. Þar þai left þat mirthful may, Godd hir ledd in all hir way, Line 10612 As scho of body wex and name Sua wex hir louewor[d] and hir fame, wid witt and bounte to ouer-pass All þas þat in þe temple was. Line 10616 þare was na may of nan ospring Mare hali, neiþer ald ne ȝing; þe angelis ofte þai cam and ȝede, To conforte hir in all hir dede. Line 10620 þas þat þis mayden to was couth, þat thoght of hir ful gret selcuth, þat scho was sua ȝong and wijs, Line 10623 Sua haly and of sua gode seruis. Hir witt, hir vertu, hir loue word, May na man write wid pennys ord; Es nan þat coude sua mekil rede, þat mare ne es hir dohuti-hede, Hou milde, hou meke, hou chast, hou clene, It was wele kid þar-bi and sene Line 10630 þat godd him-self in hir wald light, And in hir did his woning dight. Sothly may men here-bi se, þat leudy was of gret bounte, For it es funden as we rede, [folio 73a:2] vr lauerd wald him neuer bede Line 10636 To saule þat fowlid was in sinne, To make his woning stede þar inne. þan bus þis may be clene and bright, widuten playnt, widuten plight, Line 10640 Of quham þat king þat all gan make Semyd his manhede for to take. In þe temple es scho wonand ay, And seruid godd, bath night and day,

All hir miht and all hir tent, To goddes seruis es scho went. Line 10646 Sua lang has þis mayden þar ben, þat scho was comen to ȝeris fourten, þan did þe bischop comand þare, þat all þe maydens þat þar ware Comen to elde of fourtene ȝere, Line 10651 Suld be sent to þair freindes dere, For to mari and for to spouse, Ilkan to þair aun house. Line 10654 Mani of þaim þat þar was stad, Did gladly as þe bischop bad, Bot mari wilde na mariing, Bot mayden liue to hir ending. Line 10658 Quen men to hir of spousing spac, Scho said þat nan wild scho tak, "To godd þan haue i gyuen me, May i to na man maryd be, Line 10662 Oþer hosband may i haue nan, Of him haue i mad mi lemman; Mi maydenhede to him hi hight, I sal him hald it at my miht, Line 10666 wid wille þat i haue hight him to, Ne sal i neuer mare vndo. To god þan was i giuen are Mi moder me of bodi bare, Line 10670 In his seruis most i lende Bituix and to mj liues ende." Þe bischop wist noght for to speke, Durst noght do hir, hir wov to breke, For it was bifore many a day Line 10675 Comandid in þe ald lay, "þe vow þat þou to godd had made Hald and ȝelde widuten bade." Line 10678 On anoþer side, he was dredand To bring a custum new on hand,

þe maydens frendes for to lett [folio 73b:1] In mariage þaim forto sett, Line 10682 For it was bodyn in þair lede, wid mariage þe folk to sprede. þarfor did þe bischop to fett þe wisest men þat he miht gett Of all þe men in þat contre, Line 10687 At þe temple make a-semble. Quen all war gedrid, wis and alde, þe bischop þaim þat resun tald, Qui he gart þaim semblid be Of þat vowing of chastite, For to aske of þaim þair rede, Line 10693 þat scho wald hald ay til hir dede, þat neyder þaim bode ne durst it breke. Her-of in consayl sulde þai speke, And deplie þat þai suld loke how Scho miht hir mary and hald hir vow. For vow þat anis es made rightwis To breke awe na man þat es wijs, þar vow es made, it comes of will, Bot mad, nedewayis it bos fulfill. Bot þar was nan at þis gadring, Line 10703 þat coude giue consayl of þat thing; Consayl oþer gaf þai noght Bot crie and call on godd a-loft, þat he þaim suld suilk scheuing scheu, þat þay miht wid sum takning kneu Quat þai suld do þan of þat may, To ger hir breke hir vow, or nay. Þan fell þai all on kneis doun, Line 10711 And made to godd þair orisun; þe quilis þat þai in þair prayers lay þai herd a voysce, þus gan it say, "Loke ȝe," it said, "þe prophesy was said bifore of ysai, Line 10716

Line 10716 Thoru þis prophete sal ȝe se Til quham þe may sal spousid be. Ysai, þe alde prophete, Line 10719 Ful lang siþen þat he ȝou hete Of þe rote of iesse þar-of suld spring A wand þat suld a flour forth bring, Bath flour and fruit suld þar-of briste, þe hali gast þar-on suld reste." Line 10724 Thoru þe voyce þai þar gan here, þat said, "þis wand suld florisching bere, [folio 73b:2] And suld of þe Rote of jesse spring," þan war þai don in grett knawing, And vmthoght þaim þas to call þe kin of dauid kindred all, Line 10730 Quas fadir was þat iesse, þar þai war spred in þat contre; Ilkan of þaim sulde in þair hand Biddin be to bere a wand, Line 10734 þe quilk of þaim þat bar burioun Suld spouse þat may in his bandun. wid þis þai sent vp and doun, And badd þaim at þat day be boun, All þat hadd na spouse to bedd þat of king dauid war bredd, Line 10740 And þa men þat war diþer cald, In hand was bidden a wand to hald, And quilk man þat his wand suld blome, Suld mari haue, wid rightwis dome. Þe day cam of þis asemble, Line 10745 Be-left þar nan of þat contre þat þai ne all at þe temple ware, Bot any spousid man it ware. Ioseph him cam to ierusalem, A man þat wonid in bethleem, Line 10750 His wijf was dede, him-selue was alde, Amang þir men i bifore talde

He cam þat day to bere his wand, As comandid was ouer all þe land. Childir had he ne-for-þi, Line 10755 Elder and mare þan may mari; He was sumdel forthgan in lijf, He ȝerned noght to haue suilk a wijf, Hir to haue had he noght mint, If he miht any gate it stint! Line 10760 Bot stint miht he na kin way, þat he ne most nede cum to þat day; For ilkan wid þair wand forth gan step, þan on bac him drow iosep, Line 10764 To-quilis all þair wandis vp ȝald, Bihind stod ioseph as vnbald; þan bad þe preist þaim forth to call, To offre vp þair wandis all. þe preist þaim tald, and sone he fand þar was haldin bihind a wand, Line 10770 Quen ioseph þat he ne miht noght, Nedewais forth his wand he broght; þan alsuith as it was sene, [folio 74a:1] wid lef and flour þai fand it grene, A dowe þat was fra heuen sent Lihtid doun and þar-on lent. Line 10776 þan was þe may ioseph bitaght, And he has hir in spousayle laght, Queþer he wild wid wille or nay, He most hir spouse and lede away. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

Qui iesu crist born wald be Of a spousid may, nou tell i þe.

And þar es resunes writen sere, Querfor god wald scho spousid were. Line 10784

Line 10784 þe first þat þe feind suld noght perceyue þat a mayden suld conceyue, Line 10786 For had he on any wise ouer-tan A child bifore of a mayden, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Ne had he neuer gyuen to rede þat iesu crist war don to dede, For wele he miht haue witten þan þat he suld haue sauid man. Line 10794 vr lauerd wild for resun suilk Be fostrid of a mayden milk, þat suld hir maydinhed haf hidd, And hir husband þo-queþer kidd. Anoþer, for men suld hir noght stan, If scho wid child war ouertan, Line 10800 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] For lawe was þat time in þe land, womman þat hadd na husband, If scho funden war wid child, Fra staning suld na man hir schild. Þe thrid resun of hir sposayle, Line 10809 þat manes help hir suld noght fayle, For to help hir in hir nede, Queþer-sua scho rade or scho ȝede. þus kept he hir, þat lauerd i-wiss, For to be quene of heuen bliss, Line 10814 All cristen men, bath mare and less, Thoru hir þai haue þair selyness.

Hou þat þe angel gabriell Grett mari, i will ȝou tell.

IOseph spousid þat leudy fre, And ledd hir into galile, Line 10818

Line 10818 wid hir ledd scho maydinis seuen,— þair namys herd i neuer neuen,— þai war all of hir aun kin, Line 10821 And of þat ellde hir self was in, þa seuen þe bischop hir bitaght Quen scho fra him hir leue laght. wid-in þe land of galile, [folio 74a:2] Line 10825 Es nazareth, a fair cite, þar he left mari his spouse, þe quilis he went ham to his house. vnto bethleem þan went he, Line 10829 To ger his bridale makid be, He wild haue ordayned al his thing, Ar he his wijf till hous wild bring, Bot ar þat he to hous hir fett, Line 10833 was scho þar wid þe angel grett.

SAint gabriel was sent fra heuen, Hir broght bodword wid suilk a steuen, Line 10836 And said, "hayl mari, ful of grace! Godd es wid þe in ilk a place, Blissid ouer all wimmen þu be, And blissed be þe fruit of þe." þis leudy doutid noght þe siht Line 10841 Of þis angel þat was sua bright, For oft-sithe had scho be-fore sen þe siht of angels þat war schen, Bot of þis scho was in were, Line 10845 Qui he hir gret in suilk manere? þe quilis þat scho hir bithoght Quat was þis haylsing he hir broht, Hir hert he saw, and als hir wille, Saint gabriel, and said hir till, Line 10850 "Maria, querfor art þu dradd? Es þe na nede nou to be madd,

Be þu noght menged in þi mode, Bot ay in hope stedfast and gode, Ne sal þe na thing be wid losyn þe maydenhede þat þu has chosin. Of grace of loue in ilk a stede, Line 10857 þu has it thoru vr lauerdes goddhed. He has þe chosin to his lemman, þu sal haue child ful sone on-an, Moder and maydin ay sal þu be, And godes sone bes born of þe. He sal be of ful ferly fame, Line 10863 Of kinges kin sal be his name, Ouer kinges all he sal be king, His miht sal last widuten ending, His folk all saf þan sal he make, And bring þaim vte of sinne and wrake." Þis leudy na-thing doutid scho, Line 10869 þat godd ne miht his wille al do, [folio 74b:1] Bot wite scho wald on quat manere þat a mayden child miht bere. "Child," scho said, "hou sal i brede, þat neuer had part of flessly dede Of man? bot i haue chosin me, Line 10875 Euer to liue in chastite. þe womman þat neuer touchid man, How sal scho conceyue? tel me þan. I herd it neuer in lijf ne lede, Line 10879 womman brede child in maydenhede." Gabriel said, "leudy, nay, Hou þat may be i sal þe say, þe haly gast in þe sal lende, Line 10883 And goddes miht in þe ascende, For-þi sal þu haue child, and he Goddes aun sone callid sal be. widuten sinne and wrecchednes, Sal þu be mayden as þu es, Line 10888

Line 10888 Is, and was, and ay sal be clene, Mayden as þu has biforn ben. Line 10890 þat þu be noght of þis in were, Elizabeth be þi samplere, Scho þat was sua fer in elde Ar god wild giue her child to weld; In erde þequeder was na-thing Line 10895 þat scho had of sua grett ȝerning. Scho has conceyuyd of hir husband, Sex moneth nou wid child gangand, For es na thing in erde may fall, þat godd ne may do his wille wid all." Þe bodeword gan þe leuedi trow, To goddes sande scho gan hir bow, wid child scho wex widuten mare As womman did bifore neuer are. To þat angel scho said onan, Line 10905 "I am mi lauerdes hand-womman, þat þu has said nou me biforn, þe saueour of me be born." þat all wroght and has in hand, Sunne and mone, see and sand, Line 10910 þat ay sal be and euer has ben, Es lokin widin þat mayden clene. wat þu quat for soth i talle? þe lord es noght bicomen thrall, þe dohutir moder agayn all won, þe fader es nou bicumen sone; Line 10916 And he þat first na dede miht die, [folio 74b:2] Nou es he man made forto drie. Godd bicam man dedly þus, Noght for þe nede he had to vs, Bot ellis wid his grace for-þi, And he suld suffre dede vs by; Line 10922 þat es to say, ded widuten ende, And fra þe feind miht vs defend.

Þe day þat hir was sent þis sande, Of marz þe fiue and tuentiande, Line 10926 Fra fiue thousand ȝere war runne Efter þis world it was begune, Nyenty and nyne and monethes sex, þat oure elde in þis mayden wex. Leue we nou of þis leuedy, Line 10931 And speke we of sir zacari, Hou þe angel him cam to warn, He suld haue ion, þat selly barn.

Of John the Baptist.

Þis Zachari þat i of rede, Line 10935 Be-comen was of leuy side, Elizabeth his wijf was alde, was Anna sister [[A later hand has written "doghter," to be added after "sister."]] as i bifor talde; Ful haly a lijf þai samyn ledd, Line 10939 widuten child bituix þaim bredd, And dow þai þar-fore murnand were, þai batid it mekil wid þair chere Almast to þair liues ende, Line 10943 Bot godd at þe last an þaim sende. Sua a fest fell in þair lede, þat Zachari vn-to þe temple ȝede To do þe folk þair seruis, Line 10947 As lawe was þan, in ald wise, Reuersid him on his manere, Siþen he went vnto þe autere; Line 10950 He badd þe folk wend vte, ilkan, Quilis he prayed in þe kirk allan, As he bifore þan was wont; And had he duellid bot a stunt, He lokid vnto his right hand, Line 10955 And saw an angel bi him standd, Quar-for in mode he wex al madd; þe angel bad him be noght radd,

And said, "Zachari, he me sende To þe, þe lauerd þat all may mende, To confort þe of þi sight, Line 10961 þu sal haue a child and þat ful right. [folio 75a:1] Of suilk a child þu mai be blith, For gode costes he sal kith, Hys name sal be called iohn, Line 10965 For brightin has þe tidd þi bone."

"DO wai, sir," he said, "quat says þu, þi tithand soth mai i noght trou, I and mj wijf on ald tas, Line 10969 Of child er we passed þe pas." "þu sal haue child," he said, "parfay And finde al soth þat i say; Mani sal be blith of his birth, Line 10973 He sal be man of mekil mirth. Bot for þat þu wold noght trou Mi word, þu sal be dumb fra nou, Till þat he be borin, þat ȝung, Line 10977 And he sal do þe haue þi tung. Be-for all mighti godd he sale Be-com a man of mekil tale, Line 10980 Mekil for right þan sal he suynk, And nouþer wyne ne seser drink, Bot of his moder wamb sal he, Of þe hali gast fulfild be. Line 10984 þu sal be dumb for þi mistroune, Till þe time of his circumsisioune. Sir Zachari, haue gode day, All sal þu find þat i þe say." Line 10988 Þe folk þat stode þar vte [[MS. looks like bte]] and bade, Thoght ferli quat wid þis he made, Quen þai had biden tyl þai war irk, þai com þam-self into þe kyrk. Line 10992 All madd sir zachari þai fand, Til þaim might he tell na tiþand,

Ne seruise do sua was he medde, And dumb þai till his houus him ledd.

Nu beris child elizabeth, Line 10997 In septenbre of þat moneth, þe four and tuentiand night [folio 75a:2] was ion geten thoru grace of dright, Forwit þe annunciacoune Of crist, þat brogth us all pardoune. For right was þat þe purueur Line 11003 Suld cum bi-for þe sauueour, He þat sould cum for vr hele Sent for-wid him his bedele, For-þi sent iesu iohn forwith, Line 11007 Are he him-self tyll vs walde kyth. þair moderis aqueþer bath milde, ȝode at anes with þaire childe, Bot elizabeth was ferrer gane, Line 11011 Sex moneth and wokis ane Fra saint iohn þe concepcioune was till þe annunciacioune. Sone sum vr leuedi was mett Line 11015 wid þe angel als i tald, & grett, Scho went hir vte of nazareth For to speke wid elizabeth Line 11018 þat lang was geld, þat alde wijf, Bot þan scho w[a]s wid child in lijf. Not fer fra childing þat si-quare þat maria com to se hir þare. Quen þai war mett, þar leuedis tuin, þat bath war cosines of a kyn, Line 11024 Formast saint mari spak, And hire greting bi-gan to mak To elizabeth, þat wele forth stadd, Hir child in wamb be-gan to gladd, And for ioi it set vpright Line 11029 For to worchip þat lauerd dright,

Againes him made ioi and gleu, Line 11031 If he him ne sau, wel he him kneu; His lauerd he kneu ful wel biforne þat he was of his moder borine, þe man is lauerd, þe maistir his clerk, þe maker keue [[read kneu]] hys hand-werk. Line 11036 Elizabeth in þat ilk place, [folio 75b:1] þare scho was fild wid goddes grace, Bigan and said a prophesie, "Blisced be þu ai, marie! And blisced be þe fruit of þe! Line 11041 þat þu wald seme me to se, þe moder of mi drightin dere, widin mi wambe þe childe gan here þi hailsing nu þat þu me made, Line 11045 And it made ioi widuten bade. Blesced es þu þat mistrued [[MS. mis|tuned]] noght þe holi bodword þe w[a]s broght, þu may be traist and redi bide, All þat þe is tight sal be-tyde." Line 11050 Þir leuedis mensked þam emell, þair will þai gan till oþer tell, Bot þair mensking þam bi-tuene, was sumquat divers, als I wene. Line 11054 þe tane was leuedi mayden ȝing, þe toder hir hand-womman kerling. þar duellid vr leuedi wid hir nece, Til iohn was born, a wel gode pece, At hir childing hir was helpand, And,—als i in sum bokes fand, Line 11060 And it es eth at vnderstand,— þat maria wid hir auen hand, And was hir-self þe first womman þat liftid fra þe erd saint iohn. Line 11064 Quen iohn was born, þat ilk sith, His frendes was ful glad and blith,

And had of hir ful mikil mirth, þat was so lang widuten birth, Line 11068 Noght allane ierusalem burght, Bot elles all þe cunthre thurght. His fest it es in somers time, It halus bath Iuu and sarazine, Line 11072 Thoru alle þe land þat heþen lijs, By-tuix and þar þe sun it rijs. For-þi of him witnesis it þus, [folio 75b:2] vr lauerd, vr sauuour, iesus, Line 11076 "Of wijf," he said, "was neuer born nane A gretter child þan saint ihone." All made þat mirth of his bering, Fadir & moder ant þair kithyng, And gedrid þaim to-gider all, Line 11081 Bot ȝeit þai ne wyst hu him to call. Sir Zachari þai did call forth, Bot ȝeit he might noght speke a word, (Bifor ȝe herd þe resun qui) þan asked þaim sir Zachari, Tablis and a pointel tite, Line 11087 And he bigan þe name to write, And said als þe angel first him gaue Iohn to name, þat suld he haue. His frendes þoght þar-of selcuth Of þis name þat was vncuth, Line 11092 þai said þat þai cuth noght find No sli name in all þair kind. Quen þai had circumsised saint iohn, His fader had his speche on-non, And suilk a prophecie gan melle— "Blisced be þe godd of israelle, þat visiting his folk has sent, Line 11099 And ransoning til his has lent."

Þis child was ai fostrid dere; Quen he was siden of vij ȝere,

He left bath kindli kith and thede, And to þe wildernes he ȝede, Line 11104 For-þi þat he walde fle fra sinne, He lefte his kith & all his kine. In þat wildernes lang he bade, Line 11107 And ledde þare ful hard liuelad, And liued wid rotis and wid grise, wid honi of þe wildrenesse. Line 11110 He ete no bred ne dranc no wine, Ne werid nouþer wol no line. þis was iohn, þe gode baptyst, [folio 76a:1] þat efterward hoif iesu crist. Line 11114

Quen þis iohn was born, als I Tald ȝu forwid, vr leuedi Bot taght to godd elizabeth, And went again to nazareth. Line 11118 wid þis bigan to cum þe sith Hir wamb itself bigan to kith, þat men was sumdele of parceiued þat þis maydin hade consaiued. Eftir þat ioseph þis mai Line 11123 Had spousid, als ȝe herd me say, Mare þan thre moneth duelled he In his aunen kingli cunthre; At þe income of þe first moneth Ioseph went to nazareth, Line 11128 þat leuedi,—quen he come nerehand with hir to speke als dos hosband, To speke of nedes of þair huse Als dos þe men þat liues in spouse,— He fand, widvten oþer warn, Line 11133 þat þis leuedi was wit barn. Quen þat he kneu hir in slik state, was he neuer man so mate, So sori was he neuer his liue, Line 11137 Als quen he fand wid child his wijf,

þat he neuer touched tille. He wex thoghtful and likid ille, And þat was no selcuth, for he Line 11141 wist noght of hir priuite; Bot quat-sum-euer he had in þoght, Mislikand chere made he noght, Bot in his herte he helde it stille. vmthoght him at þe laste his wille, He was him-seluen for to stele Line 11147 Fro þat leuedi was non so lele. Of hir ne walde he for no-þing Lay of hordam mistrouyng, Bot tok his red ai for to fle [folio 76a:1] Preuili & lat hir be. Line 11152 Gode will he had to fle hir fro; þe night he þoght to haue done so, Ane angel, þar he sclepand lay Till him he come, þus for to say, "Ioseph! dauid sun, for-qui will þu leue þi spouse mari? Line 11158 þe child scho has in bodi bredd, Quarfor in mode þu art so madd? Be þu ful traist & in na dredenes, þe hali gast werke it es; It es þe hali gastis might, widvten part of ani plight; Line 11164 þe child þat scho gas nou wid-alle, His name þan sal men iesus calle; Hir sunne and fader sal he be bath, To sauue his folk all fra wath." Line 11168 Fra þis time forth had ioseph nane Mistrouinng of þat maydane, In his keping hir tok he, And liued wid hir in chastite, Line 11172 wid mensk & worschip hir to ȝeme, And for to seruir ai to queme.

þus for-soth widvten faile, Line 11175 Held þan samen þair spousaile.

[The Birth of Christ.]

Þe tide, þat bringes all to fine, Ran wid þis to moneth nine; Ioseph dight him for to ga Line 11179 To bedthelem, and did al-suua, þar wolde he noght lat hir duelle, For wordis of þe Iuus felle. For to fle þair fals fame, Line 11183 To bethleem he ledd hir hame. In þat siquar þat þai did þus was emperour, sir augustus, Line 11186 A man men had of mekil doute And dredd ouer-alle þis world aboute. [folio 76b:1] Ouer alle þe worlde he made statut, Till all þat war his vnderlute, þat ilk king suld ma þam boune To cum into þair kindli toune, Line 11192 To make knaulage wid sum þing To sir augustus, þair ouer-king. A baylle tok þis werc on hand, was callid cyrinus in þat land, Line 11196 þat did men names for to write þat suld þis ȝeilde all for to quite.

IOseph come in þat sequare To betheleem, als i tald ȝou are, vntill his auen ham and hous, Line 11201 And broght wid him his spouse. þan was scho gan sua forth, þat milde, þat scho was at hir time of childe. Quat sal i tell ȝu lesse or more, Line 11205 Bot Iesus þan, hir child, scho bare, Hir child, and majden neuer þe lesse, widduten wemmyng of hir flesse.

Qua goddis might kneu witerli, þar-of thurt him thinc no farli Mari bere barn in chastite, Line 11211 Siþen god wald it suld sua be. He þat þe dri wand might gere In a night, and fruit bere, widvten weke of erd aboute, Line 11215 And in a night sua did he sprute To floure and fruit, (als i haue said) Might he noght þan, þat alle purueyd, Be born of a maydin eth Line 11219 At þe terme of nine moneth? þat alle wroght, and alle mai reke, And þid þe dumb asse to speke, And did þe see to cleue in to Line 11223 His wyderwines alle for to slo, well might he ger, widuten stemme, Maiden to be child withouten wemme. Þe licnes of þis barnteme, [folio 76b:2] Right als þu seis þe sune beme Line 11228 Gas thru þe glas and comis againe, widvten brest, right so alle plaine, Bot sliliker he come and ȝede, Sauuand his moder hir maydenhede. þus scho bar hir barn teme, Line 11233 þat bl[i]ssidful birth in betheleem. Suilk claþes as scho had tille hand, wid suilk scho swetheled him and band, Bi-tuix tua cribbis scho him laid; was þar no riche geris graid, Line 11238 was þar no pride couerlite, Chamber, curtain, ne tapite. þe herdis þat war wont to be Line 11241 On felde, was þat time wid þair fe, þat lighted angelis brith of heuene, Broght þam bodword singand wid steuene,

"I bring ȝu word wid ioi and blisse, Born to-night ȝur sauueour ese! wid þis takening þat i ȝu sai, ȝe go to-morn quen it es dai Line 11248 To betheleem, and find ȝe salle þe sauueour be born of alle. þare es þe kyng of all kinges, Born to-night wid þir takeninges, In a cribbe he sal be funden, Line 11253 Liggand þar ane asse es bunden. Honoris him, for-qui he sall Be sett in dauid kinges stall." Quilis þis angele slik tydand tald, þas oþir lighted thic fald, Line 11258 Louand god wid suilkin sau "On hey be ioi, and pes on law." Quen þai had sayd þat þai wald sai, þir angelis witid þam awai, Line 11262 Rad war þe herdes for þat light þai had sene of þa angelis bright, For þai sau neuer slik a sight, [folio 77a:1] Sli visiting bifor þat night. þai said, "to bethleem go we, Line 11267 O þis tydand þe soth to se." Quen þai come þare, mari þai fand, And wid hir ioseph hir hosband, And þe child, þat swethild was, Lay in cribbe tuix ox and asse. Line 11272 Quat þai had herd and sene þai tald, Alle wondrid on, ȝong and alde, Bot mari helde in hert ai still, Line 11275 And thanked drightin al his will. IN august time, þe emperour, was vs born our sauueour. Quen þis child was best in pes, On sunnes night, withvten les, Line 11280

Line 11280 Ten dais of þe moneth was gane, þat ilk ȝere was born san iohn. Line 11282 þe aghand day þis chil was born, was he circumcisid and schorn; Iesus to name on him þai laid, Als þe angel þaim forwid said.

AT þe terrm of fourti dais Line 11287 Efter þat þe gospel sais, þai bar þe child fro bethleem vnto þe temple of ierusalem, For to do on him þat day, Line 11291 þe settnes of þe alde lay. þe lay of moyses þan wild womman þat had a knaue child, At þe formast birth suld scho, Line 11295 It offer þe holi temple vn-to, Eftir þat scho suld haue lien, Fourti dais in hir gesin; For maiden child eft als lang, Line 11299 Ar scho sold to þe tempele gang. And wid hir child suld offre þare A lamb if scho so riche ware, And elles qua ne might sua, [folio 77a:2] To offre turtil douues tua, Line 11304 Or of douues doubel brid. þis lay mari wid iesu did, Pouer gift gan scho for him giue þat come in pouert for to liue, Line 11308 Of pouerte na dedeigne had he, þat biddis vs loue well pouerte, For pouert thar na man mislike, Quilis he in god trouthes riche. Line 11312 And was a goddes hali man In þe temple wonnand þan, Of sex skor ȝere, hight symeon, þat had mad mani holi bone, Line 11316

Line 11316 þat he might in his liues hele þe comfort se of israele, Line 11318 þat mannes ransoning suld bere; And drightinn had him giuen ansuere, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] þat he of dede suld neuer dei, Line 11323 Till he suld crist self se wid ei. For-þi quen moder mari milde, Into þe temple broght hir child, þis symeon þat had his tast Line 11327 Touched o þe hali gast, Of þe child come he was so fayn, þat he ful sone him went a-gayn; And for gladnes he gaf a cri Line 11331 þat alle ouer herde þat stod him bi. "God has sene his folk to-night, And sent þam þat he lang for-hight!" þan he ran to iesu skete, [[MS. looks like strete]] And fel þar done bi-fore his fete, Honurd him, þat seli man, And tok him in his armes þan, Line 11338 And kist his [fete] and said "drightine Do me to rest, nu seruand þine, For nu myn eien has sene þi hele, þat þu has hight till israel." [folio 77b:1] Þar was alsua ane ald womman, Anna, þat was wid eld for-gan, Line 11344 þat had leuid four-sith tuenti ȝere In widowhede and dais sere. Lele scho was ai in hir lede, Line 11347 And neuer vte of þe temple scho ȝede, Bot euere þar-in was scho bune In almus dede and in orisoune. Quan scho þis gan iesus se, Honurd him bifor his kne, Line 11352

Line 11352 Scho said, "treuli þis ilk es he In quam þe world sal sauued be." Of propheci soth þis word es, For þis anna was prophetess. Line 11356

Þat ilk dai a propheci Said symeon of vr lauedi, Of hir and of hir son ihesu, þe quilk þat i sal tell ȝu nou. Line 11360 "þis child," he said bi-for þaim alle, "Sal be to fele men in dune falle, And to fele in uprising, Line 11363 In takning alsua of gainsaying; þis dunefal sal we vnderstand Suld be all þe mistrouand, þis vprising of oþerfele Line 11367 þat in trouth w[ar] treu and lele." Til mari he said, "þin auen hert A sorful word sal stic ouer-thuert;" þe suord of soru thoru hir hert stod, Quan scho hir sune sau hang on rod.

The Three Kings make Offerings to Christ.

FRa he was born, þe dai threttend, þai offred him, þe kinges hend, wid riche giftes þat þai broght, Line 11375 þat he was born bot þat ȝere noght, And sum men sais þe neist ȝere Foluand, and sum, wid resun sere: Sais tua ȝere efter þat þai come. Line 11379 Iohn gilden-moueth sais wid his dome þat he fand in ane ald boke, [folio 77b:2] þir kinges thre þair wai þai toke A tuelmoth are þe natiuite, Line 11383 For ellis might noght þaa kynges thre Haue raght to ride so fer way, And cum to crist þat ilk day. Line 11386

Line 11386 He said þat in þat bok he fand Line 11387 Of a prophete of estrin land, Hight balaam, crafti and ald; And mikel of a stern he tald, Line 11390 A stern to cum þat suld be sene, was neuer nane befor sua schene. Us tellis alsua iohn gilden-muth, Of a folk fer and ful vncuth, Line 11394 wonand bi þe est occeane þat biȝond þaim es wonand nane. Amang quilk folk was broght a writ Of seth, þe man was laid on it; Line 11398 Of suilk a stern þe writ it spak, And of þir offrandes to mak. þe writ was gett fra kin to kin, þat best it couth to haue in min; At þe last þai ordained tuelue, Line 11403 þe thoghtfulest emang þaim-selue, And did þaim in a montaine dern, Desseli to waite þe stern; Line 11406 Quen ani deide of þaim dozeine, His sun [[MS. sum]] for him was sett again, Or his neist frend þat was fere, Sua þat euer þan ilk ȝere. Quen þair cornis was in done, Line 11411 þai went into þat montaine sone; þar þai offred, praid, and sua[nk], Thre dais nouþer ete na drank. þus thoru ilk ospring þai did, Till at þe last þis stern it kid, þis ilk stern þaim com to warn, Line 11417 Opon þat mount in forme of barn, And bar on it licnes of croice, [folio 78a:1] And said to þaim wid manes voice, þat þai sould weind to iuen lande. þay went, and tua ȝere was walcand,

þe stern went forwid þat þaim ledd, And wonþerfulli þan war þai fedd, þar scrippes, queþer þai rad or ȝode, þaim fayled neuer drinc ne fode. Line 11426 Þir kynges rides forth þair rade, þe stern alwais þaim forwid glade, þai said, "far we nu to yon king, þat sal in erd haue nan euening; þis king we sal bere offrand neu, And honur him wid trouthes treu; Alle þe kinges of þis werld Line 11433 For him sal be quakand & fered." þai folud o þis stern þe leme, Till þai com in-to ierusaleme, Line 11436 Bot fro þai come þar alsuith, þe stern it hid and gan vnkith, Thoru þe might of saint drightin, For herodes sake his wiþerwine, Line 11440 þat þoqueþer wist þe kinges noght, Bot went haue funden þat þai soght. þai tok þair gestni[n]g in þat tune, And spirand him after vp and doune, Bot þe burges of þat cite Line 11445 Had farli quat þis tydand suld be. þai asked quat þai soght, and þai Said, "a blisful child, Par-fai! He sal be king of kinges alle, Line 11449 To hend & fete we sal him falle. Sau ȝe na stern þat led vs heþer?" þan þai gedrid þaim to-giþer, And spak þar-of wid gret wondring, And word com to herodes king, þat þar was suilk kinges comin, Line 11455 In þat tune gestning had nomin. Quen he þis tiþand vnderstode, [folio 78a:2] Him toght it nouþer fair ne gode,

For wele he went, þat ful of suike, To be putt vte of his kingrike; Line 11460 And did he suith do samen calle, þe maistris of þis kingrike alle, And frained if ani of þaim wist, Quar he suld be born, þat crist, þat suld king of Iuus be? Line 11465 þai said, "in bethleem iude," For þe prophete had writin sua, And sais, "þu bethleem iuda, Line 11468 If þu be noght þe most cite, þu es noght lest off dignite, Of þe sal he be born and brede. Mi folk of israel sal lede." Line 11472 Herodes þa kinges calld in dern, And spird quen þai sau þat stern, "Gas," he sais, "and spiris garn, And quen ȝe funden haue þat barn, Comes again and tellis me, Line 11477 For wid worschipp i will him se." "Sir," þai said, "þat sal be ȝare." Quen þai went in þair wai to fare, And left herodes, þat fals feloune, þe stern þai sau bifor þaim boune, And here-bisemes sua think me, Sau nan it bot þe kinges thre. Line 11484 Tuix þe lift and þe erd it glad, A fairer þan was neuer no mad, Right fra þe tune of ierusalem It ledd þaim in-to bethleem, Line 11488 Vte ouer þat hous þan stod þat stern, þar iesu and his moder warn. þai knelid dune and broght in hand, Ilkane him gaf worthi offrand. Line 11492 Þe first of þam, þat iaspar hight, He gaf him gold wid resun right,

[folio 78b:1] And þat was for to scheu takening Of kinges all þat he was kyng. Melchior him come þar neist, Line 11497 And kid he was bot[h] godd and prest, wid rekels forwid him he felle þat agh be brint in kirc [[MS. kirt]] to smell, It es a gum þat cummes of firr. Bot attropa gaue gift of mirr, A smell of selcuth bitternes, Line 11503 þat did man cors wid smerled es, (For rotting es no better rede) In takning he was man and sulde be dede. Of þir thre gyftes, sais sum boke, At anes alle thre he toke, Line 11508 Ful sueteli, and smiland chere, Beheld þaa giftes riche & dere.

IOseph and mari his spouse, Ful faire þai callid þaim to house, Faire þai did þair conrai dight, Line 11513 wid þe child þai war þat night, wid-vten pride, þe soth to telle, Had þai na bed spredd wid pelle, Bot þat þai fand widvten wand Line 11517 þay tok, and thanked god his sand. Ful fayn war þai, þai sua had spedde, þe kinges thre er broght in bedde, Thre weri kinges of þare way, Line 11521 þe feirst a child wele more þan þai. þat wist þai wele, and kid wid dede, Ful wele he wele þaim quite þar mede. þai had in will þat ilk night Line 11525 To turn bi herodis als þai hight, Bot quiles þai slepand lay in bedd, An angel come þat þam for-bedd To wend þaim bi him ani wai, Line 11529 For he was traitour, fals in fai,

Anoþer wai þat þai suld fare. þe morn quen þai risen ware, Line 11532 And þai had honurd þar þe child, [folio 78b:2] þai tok þair leue at mari mild, And thanked ioseph curtaiseli, Of þair calling & herbergeri.

Þe kinges ȝode anoþer wai; Line 11537 Quen herodes herd þer-of sai, Ful wrath he wex, þat wrangwis king, And held him driuen all till hething. He set his waites by þe strete, Line 11541 If þai might wid þe kinges mete, He comande sono þai sud be slane, If þai might ouþer be ouertane. Line 11544 Bot godd wald noght þai met þam wid, þai ȝode alle sauf in-to þair kith.

Qven herodes sau he migh noght spede, Sua wa him was þat he wald wede, For þat his will might noght rise, He þoght him venge on oþer wise. He made a puruiance in hey, Line 11551 þat mani sackles suld it by, For he might find nane wid sake, On sackles he wald him wrake. Quan herde euer ani slike Puruiance sua ful of swike, Line 11556 þat for þe chesun of a barn Sua mani wold þat war forfarn? He comanded his knightes kene To sla þe childer alle bi-dene, Line 11560 wid-in þe tun of bethleem And vtewid mani barntem Did he sackles of liue; Ful sari made he mani a wiue! Line 11564 wid-in þe land left he noght ane, Of tua ȝere eilde þat he ne was slane,

Tua ȝere or lesse, i tell it ȝu, For sua he wend to sla iesu. Line 11568 Alle for noght gan he striue, Moght he noght iesu bringe of liue, He þat ur aller lijf mai geue, [folio 79a:1] widuten him mai no man liue, Line 11572 Ar him-self wald, þat mighti king, To dede might no man him bring, And ȝeit noght þan þat he ne suld rise Alle right at his auen deuise. Line 11576 It was a mekil soume of quaine Of þe childer þat war slaine, A hundreth fourti foure thousand Thoru iesu come to lijf lastand. Line 11580

BOt seuene dais, we forwid rede, Are herodes gert do þis dede, þar ioseph on his sleping lai, An angel þus till him gan sai, Line 11584 "Rise up, ioseph! busk þe and ga, Mari and þi child al-sua, For ȝou bihouis nu alle thre In land of egipt for to fle. Line 11588 Rises up, ar it be dai, And folus ay þe wildrin wai. Herodes, þat es þe childes fa, For nou waites him to sla. Line 11592 þar sal ȝe dwel stille wid þe barn, Till þat i eft cum ȝou to warn."

The wonderful Childhood of Christ.

Sone was ioseph redi boune, Line 11595 wit naghtertale he went of toune, wid mari mild and þair meygne,— A maydin and þair swaines thre, þat seruid in þair seruise; Line 11599 wid þam was nane bot war and wise

Forth scho rade, þat mayden milde, And in hir arm scho led hir childe, Till þai come till a coue þat was depe, þar þai þoght to rest and slepe, Line 11604 þar did þai mari for to light, Bot sone þai sau an vgli sight. Als þai lokid þaim bi-side, vte of þis coue þan sau þai glide Mani dragonis sodaynli, [folio 79a:2] Line 11609 þe suaines þan bi-gan to cri. Quen iesus sau þaim glopend be, He lited of his modir kne, And stod apon þe bestis grim, Line 11613 And þai þaim louted vnder him. þan come þe prophecie all clere, To dede þat said es in þe sautere, "ȝe dragones wonand in ȝur coue þe lauerd au ȝe worthi to loue." Line 11618

Iesu went bi-for þaim þan, For-bedd þaim harm do ani man. Mari and ioseph ne for-þi For þe child war ful dreri, Line 11622 Bot iesu ansuerd þaim on-ane, "For me drede nu haue ȝe nane, Ne haue ȝe for me na site, For i am man all parfite, Line 11626 And all þe bestes þat ar wild, For me most worth tame and mild."

Hou þe tre boued to saint mari.

Leonis ȝode þaim als emidd, Line 11629 And pardes als þe dragons didd; Befor mari & ioseph ȝode, In right wai þaim forto lede. Quen mari sau þe bestes route, First scho was gretli in doute, Line 11634

Line 11634 Till iesu lokid on hir blith, Line 11635 And drede bad hir nane to kith, "Moder," he said, "haue þu no ward, Nouþer of lion ne of lippard, Line 11638 For þai cum noght vs harm to do, Bot for þair seruis at serue vs to." Bat[h] asse and ox þat wit þam ware, And bestes þat þair harnais bare, vte of ierusalem þair kith, Line 11643 þe leonis mekeli ȝode þaim with, wid-vten harm of ox or asse, Or ani best þat wid þaim was. [folio 79b:1] þan was fulfild þe prophesie þat said was thoru Ieremie, Line 11648 "wolf, weþir, lion, or ox, Sal comme samen, and lamb and fox." . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] A waine þai had þare ger widin, þat drauen was wid oxen tuin, Line 11654 Forth þai went þar wai fra þan widvten teching of ani man.

MAria forth þaim foluand rade, Gret hete in wildrenes it made, Of gret trauaile scho was weri, Line 11659 A palme thre scho sau hir bi, "Ioseph," scho said, "faine wald i rest, vnder þis tre me thinc war best;" "Gladli," he said, "þat will resune." Sone he stirt and tok hir doune. Quan scho had siten þar a wey, Line 11665 Scho bi-held þis tre was hey, And sau a frout þar-on hingand, Men clepes palmes in þat land. "Ioseph," scho said, "faine wald i ete Of þis frutt if i might it gete." Line 11670

Line 11670 "Mari, me think fe[r]li of þe, Line 11671 þat ses þe gret hight of þis tre, þe fruit hu suld men reche vn-to þat mannes hand mai non com to. Bot i site for a-nodir þing, Line 11675 þat we nu haue of water wanting, vr water puruiance es all gane, And in þis wildrenes es nane, Nouder for vs ne for vr fee, Line 11679 Ne for nane of vr meygne.

How the tree bowed to Jesus.

Iesu satt on his moþer kne, wid a ful blith chere said he, "Bou þe till vs suyth, þu tre, Line 11683 And of þi fruit þu geue vs plente." vnnethes had he said þe soune, Quen þe tre it boued doune [folio 79b:2] Right to mari his moder fote, þe crope was euen wid þe rote. Line 11688 Quen alle had eten fruit enoght, ȝeit it boued doune ilk a boght, Tille he wold comand it to rise þat gert it loute in his seruise. Line 11692 To þat tre þan spak ihesu, "Rise vp," he said, "and right þe nu; I will þu fra nu forthward, Be planted in mi orchard Line 11696 Imang mi treis of paradis, At þu and þai be of a pris. vnder þi rote þare es a spring, I wil at vte þe water wring, Line 11700 Make vs a well for mi sake, þat alle mai plente of water take." wid þis þe tre stert vp stedfast, vnder þe rote a well vte-brast, Line 11704

Line 11704 wid strem suete, clere, and cald; Alle drank enogh ilkan þat wald, wid alle þe bestes in þat place, Line 11707 þai loued ai drightin of his grace.

Inde ange[l] brac þe tre.

A pon þe morn quen it was day, And þai war buskid to þar way, Iesus him turned to þe tre, Line 11711 And said, "þu palme, i comand þe þat of þi branches ane be schorn, And wid min angel heþin born, To planted be in paradis, Line 11715 þar mi faþer mirthes es." vnethes had he þis word spokin, An angel come, a bogh was brokin, And born a-wai it was alsone, His comandement was done. Line 11720 þe bogh till heuen wid him he bar; þai fel in suuiine all þat þar war, [folio 80a:1] For angel sight þai fell doune mad. Iesu þaim said, "qui er ȝe radd? Queþer it be sua ȝe wate it noght þat handes mine þis tre has wroght, And i will nu þis ilk tre, Line 11727 Stand in paradis to be, To mi saintes in stede of fode, Als in þis way to ȝu it stode." Siden ȝode þai forth þar wai, And ioseph gan to iesus sai, "Lauerd þis es a mekel hete, Line 11733 It greues vs, it is so grete, If þu redes þat it sua be, we will þe way ga bi þe se, For þar es tunes in to reste, Line 11737 þat wai to ga me thinc war best."

"Ioseph ne drede þu noght i say, For i sal make þe schort þi way, þat þu on threti dais lang Line 11741 Iornais, sal haue bot a day at gang." Als þai togeder talked sua, þai lokid þaim on ferrom fra, And sone bigan þai for to se Line 11745 Of land of egipte sum cite. þan þai wex ful gladd and blith, And come þaim till a cite swith, þar þai fand na noþer knauyng, Line 11749 þat þai cuth aske at ani gestning. þat siquare þat þai come till tune, was prestes at þair temple bune To do þe folk als þai war sett Make sacrifis to þair maumett. Line 11754 Bot maria nere was gestnid þare, To se þat kirc hire sun scho bare; Quen scho was comen þat kirc widin, Men might a selcuth se to min, þat all þar [y]dels in a stound Line 11759 Grouelinges fel vnto þe grund, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Dune at þe erd alle war þai laid. [folio 80a:2] þan come þe propheci was said, Line 11764 "Quen he," it said, "þe lauerd salle Come to egipte, ydels alle Sal fall dunne als þai war noght, þe quilk þai wid þair handes. wroght." Of þat tune was a lauerding, Line 11769 Quen him was tald of þis tiþing, He gedrid folk, and duelled noght, And to þe temple he þaim broght, Forto wreke þaim was he bune Line 11773 þat þus did cast his goddes dune.

Quen he þaim sau in þe temple lij, His goddes and his maumettri, Line 11776 He come to maria widvten harm þar scho hir chil[d] bar in hir barm, Honurand forwid he felle, Line 11779 And till þis folk þus gan he telle, "þis child, if he no war god of might, vr goddes alle had standen up right. Bot for he es god mighti sene, vres es fallen dune alle bi-dene. Line 11784 Quat dos vr goddes vr mai do gere; Bot we ne wirk þe wislikere, þe werke of him sore mai we drede, Als wittenessis on vr eldris dede; Hu it bitid till pharaon, Line 11789 wid all his folk he was for-done, For þai wold noght on iesu trou, Sua ful of might and of vertu, Alle þai drouned in see. Line 11793 I trou in him, al-sua do ȝe." was noght a templee in al þat tune, þat þar ne fel sumdel dune. Line 11796

IN egipte leue we nou iesum, wordes to telle of herodes sum. þis herodes had regned thritti ȝere, Quen þat vr leuedi iesu bere, Line 11800 Siþen he regned thries seuen, [folio 80b:1] His wranges god on him sal heuen, þat fals, þat fell, þat goddes fa, þat soght his lauerd forto sla, Line 11804 Hu had he hert to seke þair blode þat neuer did till him bot gode? þat wili wolf, þat for sua fals Bath gain frimmed and frindes als, Of karlis costis til vnknauen, Line 11809 And manqueller til his auen.

þat gredi gerard als a gripe, Line 11811 His wranges mi biginnes to ripe! And of his seruis mani dai, Nu comes time to take his lai. þat caitif vnmeth and vnmeke, Line 11815 Nu biginnes he to wax seke; þe palsy has he a side, þat dos him fast to poke his pride; On his heued he has þe skalle, Line 11819 þe skab ouer-gaes his bodi alle, In sides held him fast þe thring; His folk sau soru on þair king. Line 11822 wid þe crache him toke þe skurth, þe festre thrilled his bodi thurgh, þe gutt podagere es ill to bete, Line 11825 It fell alle dune in till his fete. Ouer alle þan was he mesele plaine, And þar-wid has he fever quartaine, þropsi held him sua in threst, Line 11829 þat he wend his bodi suld brest. þe falland goutt he had emelle, His teth vte of his hefde felle, On ilk siþe him soght his sare, Line 11833 þer might no man on lijf haf mare. Ouer al wrang vte worsum and ware, And wormis cruled here and þare

Þis caitif þar he ligges seke, Line 11837 And dos him leches forto seke, And þai come bath fra fer & nere, [folio 80b:2] Dat sliest was of þat mistere, Line 11840 Bot for þai might noght leche his wa, Alle he did þaim forto sla. His auen men all fledd him fra, Bath seruand and sun alswa, Line 11844 His freindes alle þai fra him fledd, Might nane for stinc cum til his bedd,

Alle þai fledd fra him a-way, Line 11847 And praid efter his ending day.

Quen þat his sun archelaus Sau his soruful fadir þus, To þe barnage tit he sent, Line 11851 For to make a priue parlement, "Gode men," he said, "quat es ȝur sight Of mi fader þat þus es dight? ȝe se he has na mannes taille, Line 11855 þar-for ȝe sai me ȝur cunsaille. He es sua stadd in his wa, þat sau i neuer nane noþer sua; þe roting þat him renes vte, Line 11859 þe stink þat ai es him a-boute, Ne mai na liuand man it thole, And þar-wid he dos his leches cole. Quat him-self dos he ne wate, Line 11863 For he es in a sorful state, He es vte of his witte for wa. For-þi i rede, if ȝe rede sua, þat we gett vs leches tuin, Line 11867 In quilk þat we mai sikir vs in, To make a neu bath to proue, Of pic and oil til his bi-houe, Line 11870 And quen þat it has had a hete, Cast him in and late him swete." þe barnage said, "gode es þis rede, For almous war þat he war dede." Þir leches sone did þai bring, Line 11875 And quen þai com bifor þe king, He liftid up his lathli chin, [folio 81a:1] And felunli gan on þaim grin, Line 11878 "Fiz a putaines," he said, "quat er ȝe?" "Sir, leches for to leche þe, Medicine sal þu of vs take, A noble bath we sal þe make, Line 11882

Line 11882 þat bi þat þu þar-of cum vte þu sal be hal als ani troute." Line 11884 þai filde a led of pic and oyle, And fast þai did it for to boyle; Quen it was to þair will al dight, þai lifted vp þat maledight. Line 11888 "Ha, traituris!" he said, "i salle Hing ȝu both, bot ȝe mak me hale." "Nai sertis," þai said, "sir king! Ne sal þu neuer no man hing, Line 11892 Bi þat we ani fra oþer part, Bot-if we faile nu of vr art." wid þis þai lete his heued dune, And vp þe fete of þat feloune, Line 11896 For þai haf halden him þar hete, þar-in þai hang him bi þe fete, And baþed him in pic and terr, And sent him þar he faris werr,— Wers þan he ferd euer are, Line 11901 þar neuer comes ende apon his care; For he es be-lefte wid satanas, And wid þe traitur, sir iudas. Quen he was dede, þat gerard grim, Archelaus was king efter him. Line 11906 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

Qven herodis of his lijf was farn, An angel com ioseph to warn, And said, "time es ȝe busk ȝou, þu and mari, and alsua iesu, Line 11914

Line 11914 Into ȝor kith in godes name, I bidd ȝou þat ȝe wend nu hame, For þai þat soght þe child to quelle Er nu alle dede, for soth i telle." Line 11918 Ioseph was of þis tiþand faine, [folio 81a:2] And buned him to wend againe, Bot toward þat side of þat land, þar archelaus was regnand, Line 11922 (þat was þe land þat hight iude), þider to turn þaim suld he, Bot went he into galilee, To tun and burgh and mani cite. Line 11926

Hou iesus did in his barn-hedde, Sum thing þat i will rede.

BItid apon a haliday, þat þai calld sabat in þar lay, Iesus and oþer childer samen Line 11931 went þaim bi þe flum to gamen. þar-bi sett iesus on his play, And laikes seuen made of clay, Line 11934 And till ilkane of foure he made, þat suld be þaim to water laþe, þat water might renne fra and till, vte of þe flum alle at will. Line 11938 Amang þa childer was þar ane, Als he þat sib w[a]s to sathane, wid erd and enst and euil witt, þe water wising gan he ditt, Line 11942 þat water to þe lakes broght, And spilt þe werk þat iesus wroght. þan said iesus, "þu goddes fede! Sun of tinsel and of dede! Line 11946 Nu þat i do þu it for-dos, And þar-of sal þu make na ros."

was þar wid him no langer mote, Bot dede he fel dune at his fote. His frendes þan bi-gan to cri Line 11951 Ogaines iosep and mari, "ȝur sun, þat wanton and wilde, wid his banning has slane vr childe." Quen þai war þus done to resune, Mari and iosep þai dred tresune Line 11956 Of þe freindes of þis barn. [folio 81b:1] Iesu wele faine wold þai warn; þan said ioseph to mari, "Speke þu wid him al priuili, Line 11960 And ask him qui he dusgat geres vs hated be for his a-feres, vr neghburs mai þaim on vs wrek; Spek þu, i dar noght wid him spek." Mari soght þan till him sone, Line 11965 And said, "mi lauerd, quat has it done þis bodi, dede worthi to be?" Iesus ansuerd, "wele worthi was he, Quen he wold noght thole to stande Mi werk þat i made wid hande." Line 11970 "Sun," scho said, "wirk noght þus wise, Alle wille þai þan agines vs rise." Iesus, þat was fulfild of houe, His moder mod wold he noght droue, Bot on þe ded cors þar it lay Line 11975 wid fote he smat, and þus gan say, "Rise vp, þu ful of felonnie, For þu was neuer ne es worthi Mi faþer rike part of to gete, Line 11979 For qui? þu has mi dedes lett." þis cors vp ras quen he said sua, And on his wai him did to ga. Line 11982 Ihesu þan in þat ilke stede, þe water sone to lakes ledde,

And of lame of þe lakes selue Line 11985 wid handes mad he sparus tuelue. Apon þar sabaoth þus he did, And mani childer was þare emid. Quan juus þis gan se and here, Line 11989 þai spac to ioseph on þis manere, "Ioseph, ne seis þu bi þi fai, Hou iesus brekes ur halidi?" Line 11992 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Ioseph þan to iesus spak, "Qui dos þu men slik plaint to mak For þi wirking on vr sabate?" [folio 81b:2] And iesus samen his handes smate, And he said, in þai aller sight, Line 11999 "Rises vp and tas ȝur flight, Flies and liues ouer all þis world!" þai tok þair flight and forgh þai ferd. Quen þai þis sau þat bi him stod, Sum said him euil, sum said him god, And sum him loued and spak of pris, And sum him blamed þat war [[MS. wai]] vnwis. Sum of þaim þis selcuth sau went to prestes of the lau, Line 12008 And said þaim hu ioseph sun Suilkin maistris do was won, Bi-for þe folk of israel, þat it was soth for to tel. Line 12012 At þe last come þis tyþand, To tuelue kindredins of þe land.

[How Jesus kills two boys and brings one to life again.]

Aprest sun þar was standand wid a wand he bar in his hand,

Thoru envi, wreth, and tene, He brak þe lakes alle bidene, Bath he ditted þe water lade, And temed lakes þat he made. Line 12020 þan said him iesus in hij, "þu wreche sede of feloni! werke of dede, sun of sathane! Of þi fruite sal be sede nane; Line 12024 Bot forþi rotes er alle dri Sal neuer þi branches multipli." wid þis he drid awai on-ane, Line 12027 And siden he fel dune dede as stane. Þan tok ioseph iesu to lede Mari and þai hamwarde ȝede; And comes a child, a maledight, Apon iesu to rase he tight. Line 12032 wid childer gaue he him a chou, And sua he wald haue feld iesu. þan said iesu to þat felune, [folio 82a:1] "Sal þu neuer cum sund to tune, And if þu did it war vnresune,"— Line 12037 wid þis word dede þar fel he dune. þis child frendes þan sau him dede, And crid þan als þai wald wede, And said, "quatkin a child es þis, þat all mai do þat he will, i-wis, Line 12042 And þat he bides alsone, widvten letting it es done." To ioseph wid þair plaint ȝode þai, And þusgate gan þai tille him sai, "Do wai fra vs iesus, þi sun, Line 12047 For in a tune mai we noght won, Ouer þat þu do to teche him þan Blissing haunt, and noght to ban." þan said ioseph wid mild chere, Line 12051 "Qui þos þu, sun, on slik manere?

Ne seis þu well hu mani wedes Of þis fole folk, for þi dedes, þai hate vs all and has in leth, þat we ne mai thole þair wreth." Iesu gaf ioseph þan ansuer, Line 12057 "Nu es na wifes sun nouþer quare Bot he be þat his fadir has lerd, Efter þe wisdom of þis werd, Of faþer þe banning deris noght Line 12061 Bot to þat sun þat mjs has wroght." Þe grete lauerdinges was ful tene, And ras again iesu alle bidene, And plaint on him made comminli, Bath to ioseph & to mari. Line 12066 þan gan ioseph sare to drede þe tresun of þat Iuus dede, þat him and mari þus gan blame; And iesu hint vp þat licame þat lai dede bi-for þat thrang, Line 12071 And bi þe hare vp he him hang, [folio 82a:2] þat alle might se him sp[e]ke him to, Als fader suld to child do. And þe spirit þat was fledd Line 12075 Again come in þat ilk stedd, þat dede cors wex hal & fere, Alle had selcuth þat þar were. Line 12078

[How Jesus was first put to School.]

A Maister was þar selcuth kene, At iesu was him ferli tene, Alle for he spac sua skilwisli, At him he had ful gret enui, Line 12082 Thoru bolning of his hert, To ioseph spac he wordes ouer smart,

wordes spac he of despite, Right als he wold wid iosep flite. "If þu," he said, "wold luue þi sune, Till bettir theues þu suld him w[u]ne, Bot if þu ne wolde he war a fole Line 12089 þu suld do set him to sum skole, þar he might lere of man stand aw, Til eldrin men worschip to know. Bot it es sene ful wele þarbi, Line 12093 Leuer ȝu thinc, þe and mari, þat he luue ȝu þan landes lawe, For-þi ȝe bere him right nane awe. Formast thing men au him ken, To mensk prest and eldermen, Line 12098 wid oþir childer suilk als he, Hald stedfast loue and cherite, And wid þaim luuesumli to duelle, þe iuen lawe þaim lere emelle." Line 12102 Þen said ioseph, "on quat manere, Might men hald þis child to lere? If þu wenis him for to lern, Him to lere wil we noght wern, Line 12106 Thing þat fallis till manes lare." Iesu þe maistir gaue ansuere, "þu þat es comandur of lay, Als efter nu i here þe say Line 12110 Es þu and oþer halden to, [folio 82b:1] Bot i noght halden for to do. For i am sundri, soth to say, To bunden be to erli lay, Line 12114 Of ȝour laus i am vt tane, For erdli fader haue i nane. þu es vnþer laue and þar-in bunden, Bot i am ar þe laue was funden; And þogh þu wenes makeles to be, þat nane in lare suld teche þe, Line 12120

Line 12120 I kan þe ken þat þu ne kan, þe thing i neuer lerd of man, For þu wist noght quen þu was born, þat wate i wele, and þar be-forn; Line 12124 And noght alle-ane þe time past, Bot ellis hu lang þi lijf sal last, For to be lengand in þis world." And wondrid on þat þis word herd,

"O ho!" alle þan gan þai cri, Line 12129 "Qua herd euer sua grett ferli! Of ani man, vnknauen or cuth, Qua herd euer mare selcuth! we wat alle wele of þe, iesu, Line 12133 Queþen þu es born, and quat es þu, Of þine eld er we noght in were, vnethes es þu ȝit fiue ȝere. Line 12136 And queþin come him þat es so ȝing, For to bring forth slik talking?" Alle þai said, "als mot we thriue, we herd neuer suilk a child a-liue!" Þan gaue iesu to þaim ansuere, Line 12141 And to alle þe Iuus þat þar ware, "Alle," he said, "thinc ȝu selcuth, To here slik speche of childes moth, Bot quarfor þan wil ȝe noght trow, Sother þinges þat i tell ȝu? Line 12146 ȝe wonþer on þat i tald are, þat i kene wele þat ilk siquar Quen þat ȝu ȝur moderis bare; [folio 82b:2] ȝe, forsoth, ȝeit sai i mare, Of abraham, þe quilk ȝe calle Line 12151 þat he suld be ȝur fader alle, I him sau and wid spak als, And ȝeit ȝe wene þat i am fals." Quen iesus þus had said his will, Als a ston þan wex þai still. Line 12156

Line 12156 Alle þat þar was, ald and ȝong, Line 12157 A word ne durst þai sp[e]k wid tung. To þat folk þan spak iesu, "Als child þan haf i ben wid ȝu, Mang childer als child i spak, Line 12161 To me knauleche nan wald ȝe tak, Mang wis i spak wisdom ȝu wid, Bot na-þing wold ȝe wid me kid. Noght ȝe ne vnderstod for-þi, Line 12165 Lesse i wate er ȝe þan i, It es sene ȝe er of litel fai." þan gan a maister for to sai þus to ioseph and to mari, Line 12169 "we haue a maistir þat hat leui, Him to lere wil he noght warn, Til him bi-teche ȝe ȝur barn." þan ȝode mari and ioseph, wid cherising to iesu þai spak, Line 12174 To þe skole him to tille, Bot in þat skole he was so stille þat he spak nouþer god no ille. Quen þai him broght to sir leui till, Maistir leui, þat ald man, Line 12179 Techid him a lettir þan, And bad him þar-to respond, And iesus held him still a stund. Leui was wrath, a ȝerd vp hint, And smat him on þe heued a dint. Þan said iesu to maistir leui, Line 12185 "Quarfor smites þu me, and qui? I sai for-soth, wold þu it tru, [folio 83a:1] þu smites him can mar þan þu. For þat þu teches till oþer men, þin auen worth i can þe ken. Line 12190 Bot þai er blind and speks & heris, And wate noght quat þat þar-to feris,

Als a chime or brassen belle, Line 12193 þat noþer can vnderstand ne telle Quat takenes þair auen sune, þat wantes bath witt and resune." Iesu þan folud on his speke, Line 12197 And þus he gan his resun eke, "þe lettres fra alpha to tau, wid sundri sight men mai þaim knau, ¶ Quat es i au, sai first to me, And i sal vndo alpha to þe; Line 12202 For he þat alpha can noght se, Hu sal he witt quat tav mai be? ypocrites, for ȝe er sua, vndos me first quat es alpha, And i sal trou ȝu wele i-wis, Line 12207 Quen ȝe tell me, quat tau es." Iesu gaue him þan his task, Of ilk a letter for to ask, Resune of ilkan bi name; Line 12211 Quen leui herd, þan togh him schame, And clumsed was quen he gan here Schap of so mani letteris sere. And he bi-gan a cri to giue, "þis ilk child au noght to liue, Abouen erd he liues to longe, Line 12217 worthi he war on gibet to honge, For fire i quat him mai noght brin, And oþer pine he can bigin; I trou þat þis ilk ferli fode, Lang was born bi-for noi flode; Line 12222 Quat wamb him bar or bredd, And wid was pappis was he fedd? Fle for-soth fra him wille i, [folio 83a:2] His werdes i mai noght vnderli, Mi hert es clungen for to here, Line 12227 Bot drightin seluen wid him ware.

Es nan þat mai his wordes bere, And i wend i might me wid him stere. Bot i, caitef, nu all bischorn, Line 12231 I wend mi make war noght born, Als prentiz wend i him ouercomen, Bot in his resuns am i nomen. Allas!" he said, "quat mai i sai? I am ouercomen nu fra þis dai. Line 12236 A childe he has widvten beilde Nu ouercomen widin myn eilde, For he hardens swilkin thing, þat i ne can end ne beginning; In his witt he es so balde, Line 12241 þat i mai noght on him bi-halde. Me-thinc for-soth, wid sli resune, þat he wid man has na comune, Na thing can i him discri[u]e, Line 12245 Sau i neuer suilk an mi liue. A trigettur i hope es he be, Or ellis god him self es he, Or sum angel wid him dwelis, Line 12249 To lede þe wordes þat he tellis. Queþen he come, quat sal he be, I ne wate, be mi laute." Quen iesus had him herd a quile, He said, and þar-wid gan smile, Line 12254 "A comandement nu mak i here, þat ȝe all mai se and it here, þat þe geld þair fruiting find, And þai haue sight þat er blind, þat þe poueraile gett sum bote, Line 12259 And cripel ganging right on fote, þe dede to rise, and oþir ilkane Be sett into þair stat on-nane, To be lastand in him þat es [folio 83b:1] Rote of lijf lastand suetenes" Line 12264

Line 12264 And quen þat iesus had said sua Alle had bote þat was in wa, Line 12266 Bot namar durst þai siþen sai, But priueli þai stale away.

[How Jesus brought a dead Child to Life.]

Þan went ioseph and mari bune wid iesus tille a-noþer tune, þat meigne mild and meth Line 12271 went þaim þan to nazareth, þat es þe tune þat mari bade, Quen þe angel hir bodword made. Iesus went him forth to plai Line 12275 wid þe childer on an halidai, In a loft was in þat tune, A child þar cast an-oþer dune vte of the left vnto þe grund, Line 12279 Sua þat he to dede was stund. His frendes herd þis in hij, þan ran þai to iosep and to mari, Loude on þaim bigan þai cri, Line 12283 "Quarfor haue ȝe laten and qui? ȝour sun has vres feld wid strijf, And felunli him broght of lijf." Alle if þai on him said þar will, Iesus alwais held him still, Line 12288 þat nane ansuer wold he sp[e]ke, Til þat mari come and ioseph. þan said mari, "leue sun, me say, Queþer þu pudt þe child or nai?" And he said noþir ill ne gode, Line 12293 Bot dune of þis loft he ȝode, Til he come þar þat licam lay, And þus til him gan he say, Line 12296

Line 12296 "Zeno," said he, "hu faris þu?" And he said, "wele far I nu." Line 12298 "If i þe putt? þe soth þu say," And he ansuerd, "lauerd, nai, nay." þe childes frendes fra þat siquar [folio 83b:2] Held iesus in worschip wele þe mare.

[How Jesus carried the Water to his Mother without a Pot.]

Tille iericho quen þis was done went him ioseph þan alsone, Mari him with, þat bird unbald, And iesus was þan sex ȝere alde; He boued till þat þai wold bidd, þair bidding blithli he of didd. Line 12308 His moder him bitaght a pott water fra þe welle to fott, wid oþer barnes of þe tune, Bot quen he had his water bune, A child þat wid þaim was þare Line 12313 Brac þe pott þat iesus bare, wid will or wid a recles dint; And iesus vp þe water hint, Line 12316 And bar it hame als a balle, And present þan his moder wid-alle. Quen mari had sene þis maistri, Scho hid in hert it preuili, Line 12320 For scho was traist and doutid noght, þat goddes will ne sulde be wroght.

Hou iesus sew þe quete.

Tille his moþer bern he ȝede, [[MS. ȝode]] And toke of quete a litil sede, Apon þe felde him self he sew, And þat ilk dai it grew Line 12326

Line 12326 So thic þat wonþer was to se, Line 12327 And multeplid to grett plente, þat quen it was schorn wele it ȝalde, A hundreth of þair mettes talde. Iesus toke þis corn for melte, Line 12331 And ferli it aboute him delt.

Hu þe leonis fauned iesus.

FRa ierico to flum iordane, Line 12333 Amang þa stretes es þar ane þat right bi þat water side Lai a leones þat tide, Line 12336 Norisand hir quelpes sua, [folio 84a:1] þat na man durst bi hir ga. Til-ward þe flum apon a dai Iesus gangand come þat wai, Line 12340 To þe leones coue he ȝode, þar he þe quelpes vnderstode. Bot fra þe leones him saw well þai cuth þair lauerd knaw, Line 12344 Alle þai gan a-gaine him rise, And honurd him opon þair wise. Iesus satt bi-tuix þaim þan, About his fett þe quelpes ran, Line 12348 And plaid wid him on þair maner, And wid þar fauning made him chere. þas oþir leonis þat war ald, Stode on fer, als bestes wald, wid hefdis þai bar law saile, Honurd him faunand þair taile. Line 12354 þe folk stod ferr and lokid tille, "we ne sau neuer bestes of sli wille," And said, "if [he] ne or his kin Ne had wroght are sum gret sin,

ȝit wold noght leones on þis wise Bede þus till him þair seruise." Line 12360 And quen iesus þis coue cam vte, þe leonis þan come him a-boute, þe quelpes ran abut his fete, Line 12363 To plai wid him toght þaim suete. þe folk stod and biheld on ferr, For leonis durst þai noght cum nerr. Þan said iesus, "nu mai ȝe se Line 12367 Hu beste better er þan ȝe, þat can þar lauerd honur and ken, And ȝe þat he has made to men, And þat eftir his aunen ymage, Line 12371 Till him wil ȝe tak na knaulage. þe bestes mekand knaues me, And men knaues noght þat þai se." þan he ȝode þe flum to passe [folio 84a:2] wid all þe leons þat þar wase, Line 12376 þe water gaue him gate ful gode, On aiþir side on him it stode; Quen þai had him conuaeid sua, Forth in pes he bad þaim ga, Line 12380 To noie no man ne no man þaim, Till þai had geten þair erd agayn. þair leue þai tok wid þair entent, Iesus hame till his moþer went.

Iesus him was in þat siquar Line 12385 Of aght ȝere alde, and na mare.

[How Jesus pulled the Short Tree Long.]

Ioseph was a parti wreght, Plogh and haru cuth he dight, Trein beddes was he wont to make, And þar-for his seruis to take. Line 12390 A man come till him and bedd He suld him make a trein bedd,

þat suld on lenth thre eln haue, Line 12393 And ioseph comand till his knaue þat he him suld sli timbir felle, And he þe mesur gan him telle. þe knaue þat þis timber fett, Line 12397 Ne held noght graithli his mett, Bot ouer schort he broght a thre; Quen ioseph come it for to se, Line 12400 And sau it schort it might noght gaine, Oft he laid it dune and tok a-gaine. Quen iesus him sau sua besi be, About þis ilk vnginand tre, Line 12404 "Fader," he said, "to me þu schau þar-of þat an ende for to drau, And þu þat oder, for i hight þe, we sal it lenth a quantite." Line 12408 þis tre þai droght þaim bituine, þat sone þer was a maistri sine, þat first vnquemest was te se, Nu es it þe quemest þat mai be; Line 12412 þan fand ioseph of letting noght, [folio 84b:1] Bot his werk at will he wroght.

[How they brought Jesus again to School.]

Ȝett þe folk soght eft als are, To sett iesus to worldes lare, Line 12416 And þar-of mari þai bisoght, And ioseph þaim letted noght, And to þe skole þan was he broght. þe maistir foli again him wroght, For he bigan him for to lere, Line 12421 wid wic will and ill manere. He bad him alpha for to say, Iesus ansuerd and said, "parfay, Bot sai þu me first of betha, And siden i sal þe of alpha." Line 12426

Line 12426 þe maistre þat wold on him wrake, Gaf iesus wid hand a strake; Line 12428 For he him strak wid na resune, Dede in þe plase þ[a]r fell he dune, And iesus þat had tholed schame, Till his moder went him hame. Line 12432 Ioseph, þat þ[a]n was ful eri For þe child, he calde mari, "Mari," he said, "mi hert es sare, I drede men sal þis child forfare, þe folk þat has sua ill will, Line 12437 I drede vr child þat þai sal spill." . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] "Na," scho said, "þat es na nede, þu goddes gome thar þe noght drede þat ani man vs do þat wrang, Line 12443 For he þat sent him vs amang To be born, he wold him seme, Fra wik men he sal him ȝeme. Line 12446 He þat has sent him in his name Sal were him fra bath site and schame."

Þan was iesus þe thrid siquare Boden to be sett to lare. Line 12450 þe Iuus wald algat þat he Of þair lare suld lerid be, [folio 84b:2] Ioseph and mari wold noght wern, Bot to þe skole þai led him ȝern, wid cherising and talking mild, Line 12455 Bot wele þoquaþer wist þai þis child Might neuer be lerd of manes lare, þat all witt in him self-bare. Line 12458

Line 12458 Quen iesus come in-to þat skole, Line 12459 If he wer ȝung was he na fole, wid þe hali gast was he ledde; A bok þan him þe maistre bedde, A bok þat spac of menes law, Line 12463 þar mani stod þat herd and saw Hu he vndid þat he fand þare, And oþir þinges mikel mare, Als þe hali gast gan him tell, Line 12467 Right als þe spring dos of þe well, þat if it euer vte-rinnand es, þe well es neuermare þe les. Als sua stalworthli he talde, Line 12471 Ne herd neuer man ȝing ne alde Sua kindli goddes werkes tell. þe maistre dune for wonþer fell, Honurand him he fel him vnder, þat alle þat skole on him gan wonder. Quen ioseph herd he ran bliue, Line 12477 wen þis maistre war done o liue Als maistris þat i for of melt, Quen þai wrang wid iesus delt. Line 12480 þis maistre said, "ioseph, leue fere, þu broght me noght a child to lere, Bot maistre es him-selue parfitt, Line 12483 To lere him oght a chaime [[read claime]] þe quite. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

[Jesus restores to life a Burgess of Capernaum.]

ÞAn flitted þai tille a tune þat called was capharnaum, þare woned ioseph and mari, Line 12489 For to fle þe Iuus envi. And was þar wonand in þat wike, þat hight ioseph, a burges rike, Line 12492

Line 12492 þat lai in langur mani day, [folio 85a:1] And dede þan in his bed he lay. Quen iesus herd þis quaining grete, þe late þai thoru þe cite lede, Line 12496 He had þar-of ful gret pite, And þus till ioseph him mened he. "Quarfor ioseph," þan said iesu, "To þis man þat high[t] as þu, Line 12500 Ne dos þu grace of bunte nane?" "And quat bunte has i of wane?" Iesu he said, "þu has ful gode, þu take and bere till him þi hode, And on his face þu sal it lai, Line 12505 And þar-widall þus sal þu sai, 'Iesus he sal sauue þe,' And sone þan sal he sauued be." Quen ihoseph herd þis comandement, To þe dede man hus he went, Line 12510 His hod he laid apon his face, And iesus sent him sone his grace, For vnnethes had he it on him laid, And þe forsaid wordes said, Line 12514 Quen þat cors bune to bere, Ras him vp all hal and fere.

[How Jesus slew the Adder.]

Siþen noght lang þar þai bad, Bot to bethleem þair flitting mad, þar wid iesus woned þai. Line 12519 Ioheph cald him on a dai His eldest sun, was hatten iame, And send him to þe ȝard be name For to geder þaim sum cale; And iesus stilli him efter stale, Line 12524 Ioseph and mari vnwitand; And quiles he was þar cal gederand,

A nedder sprent vte of þe sand, And stanged iame in his right hand. For he was hurt ful selli sare Line 12529 Reuli gan he cri and rare, Blonand in a littill waþ, [folio 85a:1] þat al-mast bigan he to diþ; Line 12532 For bitternes he dune hi[m] laid And ofte-syde, "wailewai!" he said, "Mi hand es stanged sare selli!" Quen iesus herd þis reuful cri þat þis wreche iames made, Line 12537 Till him he ȝode widvten bade, And did he him nanoþer gin Bot hent his hand and blev þar-in. Keland he made al hal his hand, And dede þe worm biside þai fand.

[How the light of heaven shone on Jesus asleep.]

Ay quen ioseph was won to wend, Til ani waiting wid sum freind, His sunnes war ay wid him bone, Iame, ioseph, iude, and symiun. Line 12546 wid him come als his doghters tua, Mari wid iesus come alsua, And wid hir mari cliophe, þat an was of þe sistris thre, Line 12550 (For vr leued had sistris tuin, þat i sal siþin make of min). Quen þis meigne was gedrid samen, All þai wanted þair gastli gamene, Til þat iesus was comen in place To giue þaim blissing of his face, For ar þat he wid þaim war sett, Nouþir wild þai drinc ne ett, Line 12558

Line 12558 Ne breke þair bred, ne tast þar mes, Til he war comen to þair des, And till him seluen war on stadd And wid benisun þaim badd, Line 12562 And if he war fra hame þat tide, Till þat he come all suld þai bide. And quen he suld to metschip ga, Mari and ioseph, his breþir alsua,— Ioseph suns I neuend ȝu are,— Line 12567 Alle þai felauschip him bare. [folio 85b:1] þir men helde he lijf dai and night, Bifor þaim als a candel bright, þai him leued and duted ay, Line 12571 And quare he slepe, night or day, þe clerenes self of goddes light Schane on him, na sunne so bright. þe soth it es als i ȝu say, we find þat here on-slepe he lay. Line 12576

[Christ disputes with the Doctors in the Temple.]

þir [[MS. has Sir]] er his barnhedes þat i tald Done er he was tuelue ȝere ald; Bot nu of sum þan sal ȝe here He did quen he was o tuelue ȝere, Als luca vs sais, þe godspeller, Line 12581 þat witnes lele es wont to bere. In ierusalem, þat hij cite, At a fest was gret semble, Alle þe god men come þat day, Line 12585 Mari and ioseph war noght a-way, þair freindes wid þaim þider soght, And ȝung iesus wid þaim þai broght. Ay quilis þis feste it was lastand In þe tune war þai deuelland. Line 12590

Line 12590 Quen it was done hame þai went, And forgat iesus widvten tent, Line 12592 For at þe vtecoming of þe ȝate, He turned again, þai him forgate. vnto þe juus folk he ȝede, And loked on bokes of þair lede, Desputand tuix þaim he satt, Line 12597 And þai him ansuerd maniquatt. Alle þat in þat folk war stadd, For farli of his wit war madd, Of þis child þat was sua ȝoung Line 12601 Again his resun had naman tong. wid þe grete maistris þus he badd Till mari had hir iornai made, Line 12604 þan at þe frist on him toght scho, Bot wist scho neuer quat to do. [folio 85b:2] vnqueinteli was þai gun him quaine, Ioseph and mari þaim turned againe To sek him, þar his freindes wid, Ouer-alle aboute þaim in þat kid. Sua lang a-boute had mari gane Line 12611 þat weri was scho, lith and bane, And þar-of na ferli if it ware, If hir hert was glopend sare. Line 12614 Scho come into a skole gangand, A gret gedering þar-in scho fand Of maistris of þair lawe, wid þaim scho iesus sittand sawe, þe best maistris of þat tune, Line 12619 He gaue þaim all redi resune. Þan said his moder til him þus, "Leue sun, qui has þu glopened vs? þi fader and i has mani waies Soght þe abute þir thre dais, Line 12624 wid droupand hert and sari chere. Qui did þu þus, mi lef and dere?"

"Moder," he said, "qui soght ȝe me? And quarfor suld ȝe mornand be? Ne wate ȝe nedewais most i do Line 12629 þe thing þat fallis mi fader to." Bot quat he wid þir wordes ment, Graithli wist þai noght þe entent. Fra þan of iesus sprang þe fame, Line 12633 And wid his moder he went hame, And bar him als a child in doute, Till fader and moder vnþerloute; Quar þai wold lede him, was ful eth. þai went þaim þan to nazareth, Line 12638 And all þat euer þai wold him bidd widvten ani strijf he it didd. In hert his moder still held ay Line 12641 Alle þat scho herd him do or say. He wex in wit, als was his wille, þat might na man him find wid ille, For fild he was wid þe hali gast. [folio 86a:1] In nazareth þai soiorned mast, Line 12646 It to iesus was comen nere vnto þe elde of thritt[i] ȝere, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] þan him toght þe time þat he In cristen lay wold baptist be, Line 12654 wid cristen law þe trouth suld sprede, þar-of here-after sal i rede. Bot ar i þar-of telle bigin, I sal ȝou telle mare of his kin. Line 12658

[The Progeny of Saint Anne and her three Husbands.]

FOr quen þat ioachim was dede, Anna wid hir freindes rede

was geuen till a-noþer hosbande, A dought[i] man of þat land, Line 12662 Cleophas it was his name, Riche of gode dede and fame. Sone wid hir a doghtir he gat, þat mari als hir sister hat; Line 12666 A man in mariage heir toke, [[MS. take]] Alpheus hightl, als sais þe boke. Tua suns had wid hir alpheus, þat was ioseph and iacobus. Line 12670 þis iacob, þat i tell of nu, was cald þe broþer of iesu, Iesus broþer cald was he, For sibred worschip and bunte. Line 12674 Ontinkel till him was wid facune, And was als of gret religiune, Hali lijf he lede all wais. Fra he was born, þe stori sais, Line 12678 He dranc neuer sider ne wine, Ne neuer werd clath of line, Ne flesse he ette of all and alle, Ne fined neuer on drightin to calle. Sua hauntand he on knes to lij, Line 12683 [And for to prai sua Iþenli,] þat his kneis war bolned sua þat vnethes might he ga. Siþen come þe time men wend, Line 12687 [folio 86a:2] He war þat crist þat suld be sende. þis ilk iacob þat i of telle, als he stod a dai to spelle, In ierusalem was he slane, Line 12691 To paradis his saul was tane.

Quen he was dede, þis cleophas, was anna giuen to salomas, Scho wex wid child and bar in hij A maiden child, þai cald mari, Line 12696

Line 12696 And scho was giuen to zebede, Line 12697 A dughti man of galile. Of hir was born gode childer tuai, þe mekil iame, þat es to sai, þe quilk king herodes did to sla; þe toþer broþer of þir tua Line 12702 was saint iohn, þe wangelist, þat was sua louued wid iesus crist For his mekil dughti hede, And for he liued in maiden hede. Alle þe apostlis he ouerpast, Line 12707 Thoru his maidenhed sted-fast; In felauschip was he iesus neist, And lai and slep apon his breist, And sau þe priuites of heuen, Line 12711 wele ma þan ani man can neuen.

Of þis rekning na mare nu, Bot of ihon þe baptist a[n]d of Iesu, þe sex eld forto bring in place. Line 12715 Quen drightin gan spede his grace Til his auen choslinges treu, þe testament bigan he neu, Quarof Saint ion was messager, þat of halines had na pere. Line 12720 He come bifor wid his baner, þe cristin lau man forto lere, For saint iohn come als baneur Bi-for þat hali sauueour. For in þis hali iohns time Line 12725 was lau bigunnen of baptime. [folio 86b:1] He taght men first forsake þair sine, And sua þair baptime to bigine, Thoru quilk we sal to heuen cum, Quen we of þis world es num, Line 12730 If we vr lijf leli will lede, And at þe ending to crist vs bede.

þis ilk tre þat i here bigin Line 12733 Es alle sete for mari kin, þat ilk man mai witt witerli, Of ioseph kin and of mari; For þai come bath of a man, þat sir leui had to nam. Line 12738 Salatiel, Zorobabel, aliud, eliachim, Azor, sadoch, achim, eliud, eleazar siue leui, pater pantra, filius parpantra, Achim, pater mathan, filius iacob, Ioseph coniux, maria filia. Line 12743 þis leui had him sunnes tua, Mathan and pantera, Of mathan come iacob, of iacob ioseph, þat es þe neþermast step. Line 12747 Of þat side es to tell no ma, Bot of pantera come parpantera, Of parpantra come ioachim, And saint Mari come of him. Line 12751

[Of John the Baptist and Christ's Baptism.]

Iohn ai bi þe flum gan duelle, þe folk ful fair þan gan he spell, In water baptist he alle þa, þat come til him baptim to ta. Line 12755 In baptizing bath ȝung and ald Men soght til him, þen was he bald, And forto here of his sarmune, þat mani man broght to resune, And into wai to gett þaim mede. Bot hard it was his lijf to lede! Line 12761 þe Iuus tiþand of him herd, And of his fare þat he wid ferd, [folio 86b:2] Ferli þaim toght hu he might last, wid sua grete trauale and fast, Line 12765

Line 12765 Siþen he was of þair kin and kith, Quarfor he wold noght w[o]n þaim wid. Alsua þe maistris of þe lau, Line 12768 Bituix þaim in þair comen saw, þoght selcuth of þis baptizing, And said, "it es gret mistrouuing, þis iohn þat sal vr lau for-do, Line 12772 Bot we ne take better tent him to. witt we þan for quat resune, For sauuyng or for dampnaciune, þat he nu suilk baptizing mas? Line 12776 And queþer þat he be messias þat þe folk abides sua, To blissen þaim vte of þair wa? Elias or christ, queþer es he, Line 12780 þe soth ful fain witt wald we, Queþer þat he es prophete þatsua leris." wid þis þai sent þair messageris Of þe wisest þat þai fand, Line 12784 To bring fra ihon certain tiþand. þe messageris þat sua was send, To þe wildrenes þai wend, Ful hendli þan þai him grett, Line 12788 Als tite als þai wid him met. þe wisest þat amang þaim were His erand said, on þis manere, "Sir," he said, "we wold þe prai þat þu þe soth wald vs sai, Line 12793 Quatkin man sal we cal þe? Tell vs for soth quat man þu be. Alle þe folk of ierusalem Think ferli grete to godde i teme, Of þi baptime and of þi dedes, Line 12798 Of anerlijf þat þu here ledes. Es þu elias halden to nu, [folio 87a:1] Crist or prophete, man to bou? Line 12801

Line 12801 Queþer þu liues suilk lai as we? To send þaim word þai prai it þe; Of þi-self quat will þu say Line 12804 vnto maistris of þe lay?" Blithli said iohn þan par-fai, widvten anikin de-lay, "Mi leue breþer and freind, Line 12808 ȝe sal gain to ȝur maistri wend And tell þaim soth, on mj parti, Nouþer am i crist ne ȝeit heli, Line 12811 Ne prophete sal me no man claime." "Quat þan sal we sai to þaime?" "A uoice criand," he said, "i hatt, In wastin biddand graith þe gatt Line 12815 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Again þe lauerd þat comen es nu, Till him au ilk man to bou; Line 12819 þat lang was hight, nu comen es, Of him i preche in wildrenes; Of quam i es noght worthi to Louse þe thwanges of his scho. Line 12823 Loke ye grath him wele þe wai, He es þe lauerd, sua sal ȝe sai." Suilk als iohan said broght þai Ansuer to þe maistris of þe lai. Line 12827

Qven iesus crist was comen ner vnto þe eld of thritti ȝere, þen him þoght þe time was cumin þat he baptime wold haue nomin. He did him þan to flum iordane, þar he fand his cosine iohane, Line 12833 In wildrenes all bi him ane, Liuand bot wid goddes lane. Quen iohn him sau, als sais þe bok, For drede ilk lim he quoke, Line 12837

Line 12837 And þat alle folk might here, Line 12838 "þis es þat lamb widuten were, þat goddes lamb, þat clenge sale [folio 87a:2] þis wreched werld fra sinful duale. þoght he me efter comen be, Line 12842 Lang was he made forwid me." To saint iohn þan said iesu, "Mi cosine dere and frend es þu, To baptiz me i haue þe soght." Line 12846 "Baptiz lauerd þe! ne dar i noght. I, caitef, queþen come it me þat i, mi lauerd, suld baptiz þe? Quarfor, for i am ful of sine, Line 12850 And hider fledd fra alle mi kine; A nedeful wreche here am i hidd." "þu sal þo, iohn, als i þe bidd, And baptiz me nu, leue cosine." Line 12854 "I dar noght negh þe, lauerd mine; Skill me think it war wele mare þat i of þe, lauerd, baptized ware." "Iohn," he said, "we most þe lai fulfill." "Lauerd," he said, "nu, at þi will." . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

Iesus into þat water ȝode, Line 12862 And saint iohn nerehand him stode. Quen he sau iesus redi tift Quakand vp his hand he lift, And þare him was vr lauerd crist, Of his auen seruand baptist. Line 12867 þare þe hali-gast him light In schapp of douue, þat come in flight; And, als he lokid vp till heuen, Opin he sau þe liftes seuen, Line 12871 þe fader steuen þar thoru it brast, Right als it war a thonir blast,

"þis es mi sun leue and dere, Line 12874 Alle þis world him aw to here." . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

Þo-quiles saint iohn þis office did, Serekin selcuth was þar kidd, Line 12879 þe holi strem of flum iordane On aeiþer side stude still as stane. Thre þinges in an was sene þare, [folio 87b:1] þe sun, þat mannes bodi bare, þe uoice, þat child þe fader knau, þe douue, þe hali gast to schau. Line 12885 þe ald testament herewid slakes, And sua þe nu bigining takes.

Of iohn þi worschip, quat sal I say, þat cheud was þat ilke day? Hu þat þu was of costes clene Line 12890 Thoru þi merite was it sene, Quen nane was worthier þan þu Hand to lai on swete iesu, To giue him þat hali sacrement, Line 12894 þat all þis worlde au to take tent! Selcuth it was to thinck in breist, þe klerk forto baptiz þe preist, þe sun þe fader, þe knight king, Line 12898 þe schaft him þat wroght all þing. Bot might it nogat þe wit slipp þat he self said of þi worschipp, Of blis þat he to þe purvaid, Line 12902 Sli witnesing he seluen said; "Ama[n]g all wiues sunnes," said he, "þat euer was or euer sal be, A heier barn was neuer non Line 12906 Of moder born, þan þu, [[MS. Þun]] saint iohn." And þar-of es right no farlik, Quen he-self þe wittnes for-slik, Line 12909

Line 12909 Quen he þe ches als his lantern Befor his face þe light to bern, Line 12911 To takin bere of his coming, Als baneur bifor þe king, Als bedel gas bifor iustis, Als com þu bifor þat right-wis. Line 12915

The Temptation.

Quen Iesus had his baptim tan, He left iohn still bi flum iordane, Fra þan to folk he will him knaw; Bot er he wild him fulli schaw, Line 12919 ȝeit a quile he wild a-bide, [folio 87b:2] Tille he had fastid his lentrin tide. And þat wald he noght do apert, Bot went in-to þe depe desert, Line 12923 þar þe hali gast him ledd, And fastid fourti dais vnfedd,— Fourti night and fourti daijs, þan hungred him, þe stori sais. Line 12927 Thoru þe kind of his manhede, þat bodili fode has of nede, þe warlou wili has him soght, Line 12930 Faand he wold him if he moght. For it was sene he noght him kneu, Quen he began do suilk a gleu; For-þi he wold him tast wid sin, To witt if he had part him in. Line 12935 þat derf of dede, þat fals traitur, Come forto faand his creatur! He douted him war na bote, Bot stod right bi his lauerd fote, He sau him hungri and forfast, In glotani he wend him cast, Line 12941 And said tille him, "i wate þat þu Has fastid lang, and hungris nu,

If þu be goddes sun, bidd sone, Line 12944 And gere þi comandment bi done, Bidd þir stanis be bred to will, And siþen mai þu ete þi fill." þan said þe lauerd to þe fede, Line 12948 "Man mai noght liue allane wid brede, Bot wid þe word man liues ellis Of god, þat wid his muth he spellis." Left noght þe warlou sua his were, Bot hardli he ȝode him nere, Line 12953 Qua herd euer beist sua bald! He hint his lauerd all in wald In his armis, and toke his flight To tune of ierusalem ful right, Line 12957 [folio 88a:1] And sett him on þe hei pingnion, On þe temple of þe tun. "If þu be goddes sun," said he, "þus-gat sal i proue nu þe, Line 12961 Hu bot lepe nu done to þe grund, þat þi bodi be noght stund; For written it es, 'he sal þe send Angelis forto þe defend, Line 12965 To bere þe tuix þair handis sua witvten hurt of fote or ta, Nouþer to spurn on tre ne stane.' Do lepe, for drede thar þe haue nane." þan said iesus, "þu au to waand, þi god þi lauerd forto fand." Line 12971

¶ ȝeit gun þat chinche wid him to chide, And said, "here sal þu no langer bide, Sum oþer ansuer sal þu say, Ar i fra þe ȝeit part away." Line 12975 þat warlou him in armis hint And bar him forth, widvten stint, Apon þe heiest fell he fand, Line 12978 And þar he scheud him all þe land,

Ilk kingrike and als cite Line 12980 Ouer-all þe worlde þat þai might se. "Ne seis þu noght," said þe felune, "All þis werld, bath ture and tune? þe kinges all er at mi fay, Line 12984 And at mi will all regn þai, And alle i giue þe þaim fra nu, If þu to me will knele and bou. Ne þe bird haue right na doute, Line 12988 For to bicum mine vnderlout." Ihesus þan said, "nu na langer Mai i þi wiked wordis ber, Fle sattan! widvten duell, Line 12992 For writen it es in bok of spell, 'þi lauerd au þu to fote fall, And worschip wid þi mightes alle.' " þe warlau left him fra þat tide, [folio 88a:2] Durst he noght gain his biddi[n]g bide, His angelis come his seruis tille, Line 12998 And duellid wid him at his wille.

LEue we nu iesus a litil quile, And turn we to saint iohn vrstile,

[The Death of John the Baptist.]

Hu herod king him did of liue, For þe loue of his broder wiue;— Line 13003 Bot noght þat herodes, ȝe sal trou, þat slou þe childer for iesu, Bot was anoþer þat sua hatt;— Of his thre sunnes þat he gatt þe formast hight archelaus, Line 13008 Als þat stori tellis vs, þat regned eftir his faþer liue; þe toþer philipp had spousid wiue þat had to name herodias; Line 13012 And herods þe thrid broder was.

Þis herodis king, als it es redd, Bath he leuued saint iohn, and dredd, And gladli herd his sarmoune, Line 13016 Bot he did a gret vnresune, An vnkindnes kid ful rijf, He reft his broder philip his wijf, þis wif þat herodias hight; Line 13020 Mekil he did agin þe right. Quen seint iohn herede þat it was sua, witt ȝe for-soth him was ful wa, And forto fell þat foule fame, Line 13024 He come right to herods hame, vte of desert þat he was in, He come to snaipe þe king of sin. Bifor his barounes euerilkane, Line 13028 He forbedd him þat wommane, And tald him þare for man skill, þat no man au it thole no dell. Line 13031

Herodias herd þis forbote, And dred to part fra king herode, [folio 88b:1] In hir hert neuer wald scho wede, Forqui his wordis was to drede. Line 13035 Scho wist þat rightwis was his sau, And might noght suffere gainsau, On oþer side was scho ful wa, Line 13038 If scho suld part king herodis fra. Scho crid and made ful mekil dole, Als scho þat was ane obber fole. Scho had a doghtir of philip getin, Hir wickednes bes neuer forgetin, Of hir name es na force to tell, Line 13044 For scho es knauen þar-wid in hell, For thoru hir was saint iohan, Als i sal siþen tell ȝu, slane. Line 13047 To king herodis said saint iohan, "Do wai fra þe y[o]n þat wick woman;

þu loues hir mekil again þe lijf, And þou es scho þi broder wijf þat þu au noght haue wid lau Line 13052 If þu war radd for goddes au. I drede if þu ne bete þi sake, þu sal noght dei widvten wrake."

"Do wai, iohn, qui sais þu sua? To þi desert i rede þu ga, Line 13057 Stille i rede þu halde þe þar, And of þis mater spek na mar. Leue herodias ȝeit will i noght, þat þu has said dere bes boght; Line 13061 I luue hir mare þan ani þing." "þat es a-gain þe right, sir king! þi broþer wif fra him to reue, I rede bi-time þat þu hir leue." Line 13065 "Iohn, ouer mekil has þu spokin, And þat sal noght be vnwrokin, For þu sal in mj presun lij, Ful dere sal þu þir wordis bij." Line 13069 Herodias him hatid to dede, þai prisuned iohn thoru hir rede, þar did Herodis him to cast [folio 88b:2] For to make him all agast, Line 13073 To sla him was he noght in will, Bot for þat wickid wijf to still; For hir to wreth he dred ful sare, Als he þat na-thing leued mare. Line 13077 His desciplis come him to se, þe king þaim lete haue fre entre, þai fand him in þat presun dep, Might þai noght forber to wep. Line 13081 Iohn bigan at þaim to witt Queþir iesus crist, our lauerd, ȝeitt Bigan wid wordis him to kith? For þar-of wold he be ful blith. Line 13085

Line 13085 And he said, "mi breþer leue and frend, Nu ȝe sal mi erand wend, Line 13087 To þat gret lauerding iesu Sais him als i sai to ȝu, On mild maner sais ȝour erand, For-getes noght, bot vnþerstand. ȝe ask him if he be þat gome Line 13092 þat for man sauuete sal come, If hit be he, hu lang sith Sal he him hide and noght kith? Ouþir his word he send vs þan Line 13096 Queþir we sal bide a-noþer man?" Þai tok þair leue, & went fra iohn, And [com] þar iesus was ful son, "Sir," þai said, "iohn þe greting sendis, þar he in hard presun le[n]gis, Line 13101 Askes if þu be he þat sale Louse þe bunden folk of bale." "I am he," he said, "par fay! Line 13104 And ȝe sal grete him well and say, Meseles er hal, crepelis gas right, Def has hering, þe blind has sight, And þat man sal blissed be Line 13108 De quilk him sklandris noght in me." . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Þir desciplis toke þair answer [folio 89a:1] And luueli to saint iohn it ber; Line 13113 wid iesus mekil folk left þai þan, And he to take þaim wid bigan, And badd þaim all hald þaim stille Till he had þaim said his wille. Line 13117 ¶ "God men," he said, "quat man ȝode ȝe vnto þe wildrenes to se? wend ȝe þar þe rede to find Line 13120 þat heildis waifand wid þe wind?

Or þe soth a man cledd in silk? Nai, kinges hus er funden suilk, Line 13123 Sais men quat þat ȝe soght þare, Prophete? ȝe, forsoth, and mare. þis es he of quam was redd Lang ar he was born o bredd, Line 13127 'I sal send forto puruai aun angel forwid þe þi wai.' "

SAint iohn alwais in presun lai, Till it come on a fest dai, Line 13131 þat þe king did for to call þe barnage of his kingrike all; þis was þe dai als men has herd, þat he was born into þis world. Line 13135 Quen all war sett and ett at ays, Bifor þe king in his palays, His broþer doghtir, gent and smale, Come bifor þaim for to bale, Line 13139 Balid wele and tumblid wid al; Alle wondrid on hir in þat hal, For scho sua wele hir maistri cuth, All þai had hir sone in muth. Line 13143 þan said þe king þat maiden till, "Ask me quat þing als þu will, I sal þe giue widvten suike, yf þu aske half [[MS. falf]] mi kingrike." Line 13147 And bad hir aske quat sum scho wold, And suar he suld hir couenand hald. [folio 89a:2] "Sir king," scho said, "god ȝeild it þe For þar-on wil i consaile me." To þe bure scho tak hir pas, Line 13152 For to spek wid herodias. "Moder," scho said, "quatkin þing Rede ȝe þat i aske þe king?" Line 13155 "And has he þe hight to haf þi bone?" "ȝa." "ga þan and ask him sone,

Of saint iohn þat in presun es, Line 13158 His heued to giue þe in a dise." Quen scho þis, þat feindes fode, Bifor þe king scho come and stode, "Sir," scho said, "for þi barnage Nu will i ask nane vtrage, Line 13163 Thar þe na-þing be dredand, For nouþer i ask þe lith ne land, Ne nan oþer þing wid vnresun, Bot iohnes heued þi presun." Line 13167

Quen herodis sau þat scho wald nane Giftes take, bot þe heued of iohn, wit him-self wex he wrath, And namli for he suar þat ath Line 13171 þat he suar for-wid folk so felle, þat men suld hald him for vnlele. A sergant [sent] he to þe iaiole, And iohn he comand forto cole. Line 13175 His comandement was noght vndone, For he was hefedd als sone, To þe maiden þai it taght, Fra hir hir moder it siþen laght. þarfor euer ay worth hir wa! Line 13180 þat god man dos wid tresun sla. Bot þis dede was seld ful dere, þe mening ȝeit lastis bi ȝere, wid a greful uengance. Line 13184 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] To kirk be drauen wid gret semble. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

Þusgat was him saint iohn slane, Oþer a chesun was þar nane. Line 13193

Line 13193 For to make ending of mi tale, [folio 89b:1] Ful ilhaile gan scho to bale Line 13195 þat gert his heued sua forth be broght, was neuer nane sua dede boght. Als we men here of mekil telle, His saule it went als sone to helle, þe ȝates fand spered fast, Line 13200 And he þe barres of þaim brast, And þar he duelled a quille, and bade, And of socur þe bod-word made To freindes þat he þar-in fand, Line 13204 Ai till þe lauerd þaim lesid of band. Till hell sua forwid him he ferd, Right als he did in to þis werld, For-þi es he cald his forinnier, Line 13208 And cristes auen messager. His disciplis, þai was boune, And led his licam vte of tune, Til sebastien wid mekil fare, Line 13212 þis hali cors þai birid þare.

I rede ȝu nu, lauerdinges alle, þat ȝe on blisced iohn ai calle, For witt ȝe sum i sad ȝu are, Line 13216 A better child wijf neuer bare. He es blisced ouer ilk prophete, Of all ȝour bale he mai ȝu bete. Of hei ospring þan es þis iohn, Line 13220 þat þar vp-sittes hei in thron, Nere bitaght to mild mari, Godd him-self es nere sibb for-þi, And saint iohn þe wangelist; Line 13224 To þaim bringh vs, lauerd crist! ¶ Herd ȝe haue of iohn soth-saus, He was slan in pask daus; Here nu quat herodias did, In a wal his heued scho hidd, Line 13229

Line 13229 Scho has it saltid in a wall, Line 13230 For scho hir dredd if sua might fall His heued war till his bodi done, [folio 89b:2] þat he muond quickin again alsone, Thoru his mekil hali-hede: Line 13234 Bot scho þar efter siden ȝede. His bodi vte of þe erde þai hent, And all to poudir þar it brent. Siþen war hali monkes sent, Line 13238 To-geder þe askes þat þai brent, Pouder or bone þat þai fand þare, þai gedrid vp, and wid þaim bare.

The Beginning of Christ's Ministry.

Iesus þan wist well þis strijf, Line 13242 Quarfore iohn was done o lijf, To þe Iuus, þat war felune, In his louing he made sarmune. Fra nazareth to capharnaun, Line 13246 Fra neptalim to Zabulom, went he prechand of þe lai. In auerill, on þat oþer dai, was it he bigan to preche, Line 13250 And opinlik þe folk to teche. þe synagoges alle soght he, Ouer all þe land of galile; Of his sarmon spac mani man, Line 13254 And of þe loueword þat wan. Quen he herd tell saint ion was slaine, To nazareth he went a-gaine, In till his auen kindli contre, Line 13258 Tua dais in aueril entre. He sarmoned wid his lou[li] spek, And helid mani þat war seke, Line 13261 þe vnfer fast tille him þai soght, þair heling groched he þaim noght,

Leche to þaim he was ful hoild, Line 13264 Nouþer askid he siluer ne gold.

Christ chooses the Apostles

Þan thoght iesus it was to lang widuten felachip to gang, Chese him felaus will he bigin, Line 13268 Bot noght of riche kinges kin, Ne of erli, ne of grete barune, [folio 90a:1] Ne oþer gret lauerding of tune, Bot mene men of simpil lijf, Line 13272 þat princes held men syden rijf. ¶ Tua breþir, peter and andreu, Bath þai war of mekil theu, Ne had þai first nanoþer gode, Line 13276 Bot wid þair schip fand þaim fode, wid þair fissing war þai fedd, And pouer liuelade þarwid ledd. wid a word left þai þar schippis tuin, For þat was all þair worldis win, Line 13281 And neuer siþen went þair mode, For þai sau þair chaunge was gode. At see saint iohn and iame he fand, Quiles þai þair lines war baitand, Fadir & moder and alle þair kin, And schip þai left, and foluid him. Þan come till him iudas thadu, Line 13288 And broght wid him sait bartilmeu. Siþen he come vntill a bij, A morning fand he dan leui, Of publicane lede was he, Line 13292 And als a man of gret pouste. Iesus crist first wid him ete, And he for iesu all forlete, To folu him toght him no schame, And siþen mathe was his name. Line 13297

Line 13297 Siþen simond, and iudas, Line 13298 þe less saint iohn, a[n]d saint thomas, þan iudas skarioth þe bald, þat at þe last his lauerd sald. Tuelue war þai to tell in tale, Line 13302 Quen þai war to-gedir hale. Fra þai þaim to þis lauerd ches, Alle þai forsoke þis worldes ese, Line 13305 To man þai wroght neuer vnpes, If man þaim soght wid gret malese; For þai þaim loued ilkan als breþer, [folio 90a:2] þai herdes sundrid neuer fra oþir, widvten ani threpe or strijf Line 13310 Ai tille þe ending of þair lijf. To petre þat he pouerest fand, Of alle he made him mast weildand, Bifor all his oþer feris [[MS. peris]] Most priuilag he gaf to peris. Line 13315 To petre said he, "loues þu me?" "þu wat wele, lauerd, þat i loue þe." "þu sal do þan mi comandement." "ȝa, sir, wid mine alle entent, Line 13319 To dei for þe, if it be nede." "Mi schipe," said iesus, "sal þu fede. Petir," he said, "þu has bene gode Fisser hidertille on flode, Line 13323 Fra dis dai forth i sal þe ken For to be fisser of gode men. þu sal nu fra þis time forward Of heuen and erd be ȝateward; Of þaim þu sal þe kays bere, Line 13328 Bath for to open and to spere. Quam sua þu bindes, be he balde, He sal befor me bunden tald; And quat man þu lesis of band, For lous he sal in heuen stand. Line 13333

Line 13333 Petre es þu, and mi kirc sall Line 13334 On þat stane sett hir grundwal. Na wrenkes of þe maledight Againes hir sal haue no might. Seruis me þu and þi fere, Line 13338 ȝe er mi frendes leue and dere." And sua þai did, bath dai and night þai seruid him, als wele was right, widuten pride, wit simple lijf, Line 13342 widvten strut, widvten strijf. þe folk him folud of þe land Bi hundrith and bi thousand; Line 13345 Men folud him for sere resune, [folio 90b:1] Sum to here his suete sarmune, To se him-self and here his speke, And sum for hele come þat war seke, And sum to se miraclis rijf, Line 13350 Hu þat he raisid dede men to lijf; And sum all forto haue þe fode, For ilk man had of his gode. And þar þat ani faute bitidd Line 13354 was noght his curtasi vnkidd, þat he ne it scheud wid mani dedis, In mani stede, wid wordi medis, Als bifor þe arthitricline, Line 13358 þar he turned þe water to wine.

[The Miracles and Sayings of Christ.]

LAuerdinges, in þat ilk contre þat men clepis galilee, In a tune men clepis chane, Line 13362 Bridel was þar ordained ane; þe bride-gome did þaim þider calle His special freindes alle, Line 13365

Line 13365 And was þar praid forto be Line 13366 vr leuedi, and hir fre meigne: And iesus self, he come þar tille, wid sum desciplis at his wille. þat gedring þan it was ful gret, Line 13370 And mani semli satt in sett. þe folk þat dai ful faire was fed, Of bred and flesse both soþin and bredd, Left þai nouþer for cost no suink, And gode wine þai had to drink. þe wine was noght sparid amang, And þarfor lastid it noght lang. Line 13377 Quen mari wist þar wine was gane, Scho tald it till hir sune a-nane, And þus mildli scho made hir mane, "Mi leue sun, wine haue þai nane." And tille his moder þan said he, "Quat es þat to me and þe? Line 13383 If it be sua þair wine be gnede, [folio 90b:2] On vs ligges noght þe nede; . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Bot ȝeit þan sal we do als hend, In nede þan sal þai find vs frend." Scho cald þe botler hir to, Line 13390 And said, "do þat mi sun biddis þe do, þat he þe biddis be puruaid;" "It sal be done, leuedi," he said. Iesus bad þaim þan on-ane Line 13394 Fille þair grete vesselis of stane Of watir clere, and þai did sua, þan badd iesus þaim to ga For to tast of þat neu wine, Line 13398 And bere it to sir architricline, þat of þat hous was þan husband, And costes te þe bridale fand. Line 13401

Line 13401 þai fild a cope sone in hast, Line 13402 And gaf sir architricline to tast; He drank, and felg gode sauur, Ne drank he neuer sli licur, And cald to him þe boteler, Line 13406 And said him þus, þat all might here, "Quarfor," he said, "þus did þu Has halden þe god wine to nu? Line 13409 þe gode drink suld þu first dispend, And siþen drink þe wers at end, At ende quen men es drunken made. And ȝe þe best has done in bade Ai hiþerto, forþi me think, Line 13414 þe mare es wastid of vr drink." þair fest þai held wid gret gladschip, For suete it was, þair felauschipp, þar himself was vr drightine, Line 13418 And made þaim of þaire water wine. þis was þe formast singne he did, þat was till his disciplis kidd, Quarfor þai gun trastli trou, Line 13422 Fra þat dai in vr lauerd iesu. þan left þe bridgome þe bride, [folio 91a:1] And folud iesu fra þat tide, Ne lai he neuer bi hir side, Line 13426 Bot left hir and all worldes prid, Of wijf he forsoke þe handband, And turned him to þe better hand. Men sais þis was saint iohne, Line 13430 wid iesus loued was better none, He was cosin to iesus crist, And siþen he was ewangelist. þis ilk was iohn þe godspeller, þat lai on iesu brest at super, Line 13435 Of witt he drank þar-of þe well, þat he wid speche gan siþen spell.

Sli signe did crist at his bridale, Line 13438 þat ilk iohn tellis in his tale, Of þat iesu walkand in erth, Of godspellers he was þe ferth. Marc, luca, mathe, his felaus, Line 13442 Bot iohn was sotilest in saus. Forþi to þe arn likest es he, þat es na foul sua fair mai fle, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And es na foul sua gleg of ei, Line 13448 Ne nane þat mai fli sua hei. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

Iesus, he said, a passage made vte-ouer þe se of tibereade, Line 13453 Gret was þe folk him foluand ȝode, To here his preching þoght þaim gode, þair hele to gete þat was seke, Fra fer till him gan þai sek. Line 13457 þis folk was mekil, all for to tell; Iesus clamb vp intill a fell, His apostlis wid him he ledd, Line 13460 Biheld þat folk abute þaim spredd þat folud him in mekil thrang, Him reud þai had fastid lang. þe dalis war wid folk ouerlaid; Line 13464 Philip he cald til him, and said, "Philip, þis folk es wonder fele, [folio 91a:2] Hu redis þu we wid haim dele? Nu haue þai gret mister of mete, Quar sal we þair fode nu gete?" Line 13469 þis he said, þe godspel tellis, To faand him, and for na þing ellis, For he þat made bath sunne & mone wist well quat he had to done. Line 13473

Line 13473 þai folud him fastand dais thre, Line 13474 Of þaim had iesus gret pete, And said, "if þai turn ham þair wai, For þe faint sone faile sal þai. Quen þai mai find na þing to bij, Dede bi strete þan mon þai lij." Line 13479 Philip said, "lauerd, quat cunsaile Mai i giue þat mai þaim waile? Me thinck to do war noght eth, Qua had penis thre hundreth Line 13483 Brede wid to bi, þai er sua fele, It war to ilkan bot a morsele." þan spak andreu, was nan so mild, He said, "we haue wid vs a chi[l]d þat has fiue lauis and fisses tua, Line 13488 Bot quat es þat widvten ma?" þan said vr lauerd, "enoght es þat, I wald þe folk dune all satt." He said, "we sal nu do ful wele;" Of hay þan was þar mekil dele. Line 13493 Quat sal i sai ȝu lange sarmune? Alle right þar þai sett þaim dune. Iesus bliscid þis bred for-melt, And siþen bad it suld be delt; Line 13497 He bliscid siþen þe fisses tuine, And sett his fuisum þaim widine. þat quen it forwid þaim was sett, All þai had enoght at ett. Line 13501 þis bred and fisse was delt abute, Had nan defaut in þat route. Gode men, it was a gret gedring [folio 91b:2] Iesus fedd wid sua litil þing! Line 13505 Fisses tua and fiue laues of bred, þat iesus wid fedd suilk a here. Abute fiue thousand, als it es red, was þe folk þat he þar fed. Line 13509

Line 13509 Quen þai had etin, badd drightin þat þai suld na crummes tine, Line 13511 þe relef gedrid þai in hepis, And fild þar-wid tuelue gret lepes. þus can he sett ai his fusun Quar he will giue his benisun. Line 13515 þe folk all þat he gaf fode, þai thankid god of all his gode, And said, "forsoth þis ilk es he þat sal his folk do sauued be." Line 13519

Efter þat þis signe was done, Noght lang bituix bot alsone, Anoþer he did þat ȝe sal here, Als tellis þis ilk godspellere, Line 13523 Of a man þat born was blind, And soght at iesus grace to find. Iesus was þar, he welk þe strete, wid þis blind þar gan he mete, Line 13527 His disciplis him askid þan, "Lauerd," þai said, "quat has þis man Or his eldris done biforn Line 13530 þat he þugat suld blind be born?" þan said iesus, "has nouþer he þis, Ne ȝeit his ospring done þe mis. Bot for þat goddis werkis mai Line 13534 In him be scheud, fra þis dai, Mi fadir werkis most i do þo-quilis quat i haue dai þar-to. Fra nu bihouis þe sunne him spede Forto do his fadir dede, Line 13539 wirke he most fast forwid night, Ai quilis þe dai it lastes light. To-quiles I in þis worlde be, [folio 91b:2] It has na lightnes bot of me." wid þis vnto þe erd he spitt, Line 13544 And wid þe erd he menged itt,

And tok he of þat smerl a-wei, Line 13546 And smerled þar-wid his aeiþer ei. And said till him, "mi leue freind, To natatori sal þu nu wend, At natatori silole, þar sal þin eien wassen be." Line 13551 He went and weisse his eien þare, And gat his sight in þat siquare. Fra nu thar him namare be ledd, He come again þan to þat stedd. Quen men him sau, þat kneu him are, Fast þai gan on him stare, Line 13557 Sum þai said, "es þu noght he, þis ender dai might noght se?" Sum said nai, and sum said þat ilk, And sum said anoþer þat semes suilk. þe sotht tuix þaim cuth þai noght find, þan ansuerd þaim, he þat was blind, "þis ilk am i, forsoth i sai." Line 13564 "Hu gat þu þan þi sight?" said þai, "Mi sight," he said, "þan gat i þus, þar es a man þat hatt iesus, wid lame he smerd mi eien tua, And badd me siþen forth to ga Line 13569 To natatori sylole, 'Ga wasse þin eien þar,' said he. Quen i had done als he bad me, Als sone eftir might i se." Line 13573 Said þai, "quar es he, þat iesu?" "I ne wat quar he es nu." þai hint him þan, þir felun juus, And led him þan to þe phariseus, þat maistris of þe lau war þan, Line 13578 And frained at þis helid man, [folio 92a:1] To telle þaim hu he gatt his sight, And he said, "þus þat man me dight."

Sum Iuus said, þat stod him bi, Line 13582 "Of gode him semes haue na parti þat haldis of halidai na state,"— For þis was done on þar sabate. And oþer said, "bot hugat moght Sli werk of sinful man be wroght?" þa pharaseus þat ai war felle, Line 13588 Quen þai had striued þaim emell, þai groined and cuth no resun find, þan did þai bring again þat blind. "Quat haldes þu þat man?" said þai. "A prophete," said he, "bi mi fay." Þe maistre Iuus þan bigan Line 13594 To mistrouu of þis seli man, Quaþer forwid blind al had he bene, þai said þat he had alwais sene. þe neist men of his ospring Line 13598 Did þai forwid þaim to bring, "þis es ȝur sun," þai said, "and ȝe Sai þat blind-born man was he; Sais vs nu, bi ȝur laute, Line 13602 Hu es it sua þat he mai se?" His freindes said, "vr sune he es, And blind was born, widvten les." "Hu þat it es sua þat he seis nu?" "we ne wate, bot aske himself hu. Aske him-self, for best he wat Line 13608 Gif ansuer of his auen state." þus gaue þaa seli men ansuer, For-þi þai dred þe Iuus sare, þai had mad, þat men wele wist, A statute again iesus crist, If ani wold him leue or loute, Line 13614 þair synagoge suld be put vte; For-þi him-self badd þai farine. . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

ȝeit þai cald þe thrid time [folio 92a:2] Line 13618 þis blind and bad him loue drightin. þaisaid, "blisce him þat wones on hight, For þis man es a sinful wight." Line 13621 He said, "i wate noght of his plight, Bot to me, blind, gaf he þe sight." "Hu," said þai, "gart he þe se? Tell vs hu he did wit þe." Line 13625 "Qui quar-to suld i tell ȝu mare, Ne haue i noght all tald ȝu are? Quarfor spir ȝe sua of þat gome? wil ȝe his disciplis bicum?" "we!" said þai, and þai bigan Line 13630 Ful felunli þis man to ban. "Hald ȝe to him," said þai, "þu caitiue, His sal we be neuer our liue, þu mot his disciple be, For disciplis moyses er we, Line 13635 þat was a man widvten sake, we wat þat godd self wid him spake, Of þis man knauyng nan haue we." To þaa Iuus þan ansuerd he, "Of ȝu think me selcuth, Line 13640 Qui ȝe hald him sua uncuth? And sais ȝe wat noght queþen he be þat þus has giuen mi sight to me. I wate, and it of soth es soght, Line 13644 þat sinful man god heris noght, Bot he allane þat dos his will, And haldes him fra dedis ille. þis es þe man þat drightin heris, And helpis oþir for his praieris. Line 13649 Ne it, i-wis, was neuer herd Siþen þe bigining of þis werld, Blind-born man to gett his sight widvten gras of godes might." Line 13653

Line 13653 þan said þai, "þu caitif lorn Line 13654 In sine was alle to-gedir lorn, Queþer þu wenis vs nu here [folio 92b:1] Of þine vnwittes for to lere." wid þis þai scott him als a dog Line 13658 Right vte of þair synagog, "Herd ȝe nu þis lurdane," said þai, "Hu he wald lere vs her vr lai, þat ebber þat in sine was gotin!" Line 13662 Quen iesus wist him þus forschotin, þair strijf he wist, bath les and mare, And þat þai had him wrethed sare. Forþi he thoght him do solace, Line 13666 And mor to scheu him of his grace. Quen þat iesus and he was mett, Ful derworthili his lauerd he gret, Till him spac iesus, "sai me nu sai, Trous þu in goddes sun or nai?" Line 13671 "Quar es he?" he said, "wist i quare, To trou in him ful lef me ware." Iesus said þan, "þu has him sene, And spokin wid, widuten wene," þen said iesus, "mi to-coming [[MS. coinng]] Line 13676 In erd es iugement to bring, þat þai þat noght seis suld se, And þat þe seand blind suld be." þan said sum of þat semble, Line 13680 "Sais þu vs þan þat blinde ee [[read er]] we?" "war ȝe," he said, "widvten sight, þan war ȝe blind widvten plight. Bot nu ȝe sai þat ȝe mai se, In sine þarfor bileft er ȝe." Line 13685

Forþermar ȝeit sal i tell ȝu Sum gestes of þat suete iesu. Als tellis þis ilk ewangelist þat he sau foluand iesu crist. Line 13689

Line 13689 Mont oliuete þan es an hill Line 13690 þat iesus haunted mekil till; For þiþer ȝode he ai vmstunt, þar to prai ofte was his wont. Apon a dai quen him thoght gode, [folio 92b:2] Fra þeþin to þe temple ȝode, Line 13695 For to teche and for to lere þe men þat gladli wald him here. þe pharaseus, þat luued ai strijf, vnto þat kirc þai broght a wijf Line 13699 þat þai in hordam had ouertane, þair lau wold men suld hir stane, In midward of þis temple wide, þar mani man was stad þat tide. Line 13703 Abute hir heued hir har hingand; All wondrid on hir in þat thrang. þan spac an of þaim for alle, Bifor iesus þus made his call, And þai gan him list ilk-ane, Line 13708 "Maister," he said, "þis wommane Has brokin þe band of hir sposaile, And þarwid tan, widuten faile. Moises will we stane alle slike, Line 13712 Queþer þai pouer be or rike; þu giue vs nu þi iugement." Bot þis was noght þair entent, For þai had suorn ilkan þar-till, Line 13716 þis wreche womman for to spill, In wrangwisdede or word þai soght To take him þat þai neuer moght. þai thoght if he bid hir stane, Line 13720 Man of merci was he nane; And if he bad to let hir gang, þan might þai sai he did wrang; To breke þair laue þai soght sua Him forto take bituix þa tua. Line 13725

Line 13725 Quen þai þis wise on iesus soght, wele he wist quat þai thoght, Line 13727 He stoupid dune, and wid his hand He wrat a quile in þe sand. Alle þai crid þan þat þar was, Line 13730 "Giue vs þi dome, and lat vs pas, Ful lange we duell nu," said þai. [folio 93a:1] "Qua warnis ȝu to wend ȝur wai? Bot qua þat es widuten last Line 13734 At hir þe first stane he cast, Hir staning mai he wele bigine, þe man þat es widvten sine." wid þis he loutid dune eft sith, Line 13738 All wex þai dumb þan all suith, Ne wist þai neuer quat forto sai; Ilkan skulked þaim a-wai. þai left þis temple þan allane, Line 13742 Bot iesus crist and þis wommane. Quen iesus lifted vp his heued, And sau nane in þat temple leued, Biheld þis womman standand þare, þat caitef carked in hir kare, Line 13747 "womman," he said, "quar es bicomen þi witherwines þat he [[read þe]] had nomen?" Quakand scho loked hir abute, Line 13750 And iesus bad hir haue na doute; "Lauerd," scho said, "þai er a-wai." "For-þi, womman, to þe i sai, Ga nu forth, mi leue freind, Line 13754 For þu has leue nu forto wend; I dampne þe noght far quar þu far, Bot ga nu forth and sin no mare." He said noght alane, "na mar þu sin," Bot "loke þi will be noght þar-in."

A water þar es widin þat thede, þat þai cald piscine in þar lede,

þis ilk water, als þe stori sais, Line 13762 was mekil renouned in þa dais, Als it war a gode vinere; þarbi lai mani man vnfere, þar-in was won forto descend, Line 13766 Angelis forto þe water to blend, And tid it sua in þat sequar, Quen þis water droued war, þe first seke man þat might win [folio 93a:2] To þat welle to wasse him in, Line 13771 þat quat sekenes was als on him, He suld be helid, ilk a lim. Iesus þan was þare walkand, Line 13774 Come bi þe welle, gret folk he fand þat þar war liggand forto bide, Quen þair hele þaim suld betide. þar fand iesus a man vnfere, Line 13778 þat had bene aght and thretti ȝere, Sua was his limmes him wit-tane, þat of þaim weildnes had he nane; Iesus biheld þis caitiue þare, Line 13782 And of him reud selcuthli sare, And said, "god man, me wid þu mele, Gernis þu to haue þi hele?" Line 13785 "ȝa, sir," he said, "na thing sua gladd, Bot sua wid seknes am i stadd, þat i ne mai to þe water win, Line 13788 For oþer me gas bifor þar-in, [[MS. þai in]] Ne þar es na man, soth to tell, þat will me bere into þe well. Lang haue i ledd in langur lijf, Es nane will reu on me, caitif." Line 13793 "And godman, i þe treuli sai, þu sal be hal nou fra þis dai. Rise, thar þe lij no langir, Do þe to ga wid all þi ger." Line 13797

Line 13797 Up he ras widvten mare, Line 13798 And on his bac his bed he bar. þe dai þat þis man was made fere, þe Iuus it held for hali dere, Line 13801 Quen þai sau him þat birþen vnder, Fast þai gun on him to wonder. "Quat cursed man es yone," said þai, "wirkand again godd and his lai? It semes he has of god nan awe;" And said allsua mani fele sawe, Line 13807 "þu carl, qui brekes þu our lau, [folio 93b:1] þi bedd suld þu nouþer bere ne drau, Suith þu bere again þi birthin, Line 13810 þar waried worth þu wid drithin." "God men," he said, "for godes might, Qui wite ȝe me widvten plight, A blisced man me gaue hailand; Line 13814 At þe well of sylole he me fand, Quen he had made me hal a[n]d fere, 'Ris vp,' he said, 'wid þi litere And do þe suith heþen to ga,' Line 13818 And als he badd, right did i sua. Aght and thretti ȝere in band, I lai widvten might of fot or hand; þe angel lighting ai i bade, Line 13822 Ai till þis man has hale me made. He þat me hal has wroght, widstand his bidding aght [I] noght." þai lete him passe fra þaim emell, And tuix þaim spac þe iuus fell, "þis man es noght wid godd," said þai, "þat brekes þus þe hali-dai, Line 13829 þe liuf he ledes nane mai lede, And all es he again vr lede; He hates till cum to vr bewist, Ne till vr lau wil he noght list, Line 13833

Line 13833 vr halidais noght he for-beris, Line 13834 Bot mani dedis on þaim he geris To be done, vs forto paire; And syden can na man spec so faire. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Ofte he dos vs samen sanck, Line 13840 And þarfor haue he neuer thank; He dos vs mani gadring make, And mani sanking for vs sake, þat we mai drei it nu na mare, Line 13844 For-þi we most vs consale þare þat he be tane, and done in bandis, Qua first on him mai lai þair handis, [folio 93b:1] And qua þis comandment haldis noght þat it be dere apon him boght." wid þis þai partid þair semble, Line 13850 Bot iesus went of þat cite, And in apon anoþer side, vte of þair sight him forto hide, Line 13853 For ȝeit was noght his time commin To be widin þair handes nomin. Might þai neuer lai hand him on, Til þat he-self wald it war don; Line 13857 Quen time come he him-seluen bedd, And noght a fote fra þaim fledd Till þai his suete blodde had schedd, And giuen him-self for vs in wedd. Iesus went vnto þe temple þan, Line 13862 þar spac he wid þis helid man, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] He sau him all for soru bittin, Line 13866 For iuus sua wid him had fletin; He suaged him wid wordes heind, "Fra nu," he said, "bi-houes þe freind

Tent to mi teching and mi tale, Line 13870 For of þi sekenes es þu all hale."

Iesus went fort here and þare, And did miraclis euerai quare, Till it come a solempnite, Line 13874 He come againe in þat cite; wid him come his desciplis lele, And oþer folk foluand fele. Line 13877 Into þe temple þai wid him ȝede, [[MS. ȝode]] And he bigan þaim forto rede, Forto rede and forto sarmone, And tald þaim mani god resune. All said þai þaim þan emelle, Line 13882 "Qua herd euer man sua spelle, Man vnlerd on boken lare!" All wondrid on him, lesse and mare. Iesus þat þair talking herd, Sueteli he þaim sone ansuerd, Line 13887 [folio 94a:1] "Mi lare es noght mine," said he, "Bot his þat it has giuen me, þat neuer ligh, ne neuer salle, Line 13890 Forwit and treuth he has ai hale; He and his lare will last for ai, þis will him-self wittenes and sai. þe man þat spekes of him-self ros wat ȝe, god men, quat he dos? Line 13895 Quen he his auen ros has soght, In his muth sothfast es noght; Bi [[read But]] sothfastnes es in his worthd Line 13898 þat sais of oþer man loueword. Moyses ȝur lau ȝu broght, ȝe wat it, bot ȝe hald it noght, Line 13901 Selcuth me thinc ȝe hate me sua, And, sackeles, sekes me to sla." þan said þa iuues, "selcuth here we, þu missais, þe deuil es in þe; Line 13905

Line 13905 Qua will þe sla? qui sais þu wrang?" He said, "i haue done ȝu emang Werkis suilk als ȝe haue sene, Line 13908 þat ȝe on wondrid ofte for tene. Moises þu gaue in þe ald Lau of circumcision to hald, And ȝe circumsise on hali dai, Line 13912 And noght ne lett ȝe for þe lai. And quarfor hate ȝe me so þan, For i made hale a seke man Apon þe dai of ȝur sabate? Line 13916 Bot demis me noght in mi state, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Sua suld ȝe do, wolde ȝe me tru, And wele i wat it war for ȝu." Line 13921 Mani man war bi and stod, And herd þis folk, sua wrath and wod, þat war comen into þat tune, Line 13924 And herd all þair dispotisiun; Ful mani wordis spac þai fell, þat it war tore all here to telle. [folio 94a:2] Sum said, "quen christ him-self sal schau, Line 13928 Queþen he sal cum, sal no man knau, Ne of quat kin, na quat contre; Bot þis man kin [[MS. kim]] wele knau we, Of þis thede es bath he and his, þe contre quate þat soth es þis." Þan said iesus a word to min, Line 13934 "ȝe wate quat i am, and mi kin, Of ȝur vnwitt qui ne wald ȝe blin, And seke noght sacles sua wid sin? And herken skil and hald resune? ȝe knau me and mi naciune. Line 13939

Line 13939 quat-sum ȝe knau witt ȝe forsoth, ȝe sal na lese here of mi toth, Line 13941 For he þat me mang ȝu has send, Es sothfastnes widvten end. He þat me send, i wat quat es, Bot ȝe ne knau him noght i-wis; If i sai þat i him ne kneu, Line 13946 þan war i leier and vntru, Bath war i fals & als leier, And right suilk als þat ȝe nu er. I knau him, and has knauen euer, Fra him sal i sunder neuer." Line 13951

Siþen soghut þai iesus for to slane, Bot þai might hand lai on him nane. Fain þai wolde him haue nomin, Bot ȝeit his time was noght comin. Mani man bi-gan to trou Line 13956 Fra þat time forth in iesu; Ai fra þat dai for-warde, þe Iuus, wid þair fals forward, And wid þair mani tresun ful rede, þai soght iesu to do to dede. Line 13961

Nou sal ȝe here on quat-kin wise Iesu did lazar rise, Bot ar þat i sua fer will ga, Line 13964 I sal speke of his sistres tua,

þat was martha, widvten lain, [folio 94b:1] And alsua mari magdalain. þis lazar, als sais vr stori, Line 13968 was of a sted hight bethani, He had þir forsaid sistris tuin, þe tane a womman ful of sine. A seli sinful was scho ane, Line 13972 And first als a commen wommane; Of þis womman þe grete fairede, Did mani man of witt to wede. Line 13975

Line 13975 Seuen fendes vte of hir cast he, Line 13976 Als tellis luca þe wangeliste. A seli sinful was scho þis, For all hir sine turned hir al to blis. Scho was liuand þat siquar Line 13980 þat iesus prechid here and þar, And mani apert miracle did, Quarwid to mankin he him kid; And mani seke he gaue þair hele. And als he come bi a castele, Line 13985 A man þat hight symon leprous, At ete he praid him till hous; Iesus him granted his praier, Line 13988 For he him praid wid god cher, Fulfair seruis symond him dight, Als was to slik a lauerd right.

Quen iesus in his sete was sett, Line 13992 wid his desciplis at þe mett, þis sinful womman and forlaine, þis forsaid mari magdalaine, widin þis castel þat i of talde, Line 13996 Might scho do all quat scho walde. þe man þat godd will be bett, ȝe wat, lauerdinges, mai no þing lett. þe word of iesus rase ful brade, Line 14000 And of þe miraclis þat he made. Quen mari wist iesus þar comen, A boist of smerles has scho nomin; A smerl þat was of pris ful dere, [folio 94b:2] þis oygnement wid hir scho bere. For mi tale schortli to tell, Line 14006 Bi-for iesus fete sone scho felle, þar-wid scho fel in suilk a grete, þat wid þe teris scho wesse his fete; On þaim scho wepe hir sinnes sare, And siþen scho drei þaim wid hir hare;

Quar scho fand ani brek or sare, Line 14012 wid hir smerl scho smerld it þare, wid all worschip þat scho him did, Quer scho kist his fete emid. Alle þai wondrid on þis mari, Line 14016 þai sau hir neuer sua sari, Ne left scho noght hir dede for schame. Simon þat sir was of þat hame, wondrid, and said in his þoght Line 14020 (Bot wid mouth he said it noght), "war þis man a right prophete, þis womman wepand on his fete He aght to witt quat scho ware, Line 14024 And lat hir negh him noght sua nere, For scho es womman of sinful state, Als men ouer all þis contre wate."

Þan ansuerd him iesu crist, Line 14028 Quat symon thoght, wele he wist, And said, "herk to me a stund." "Gladli, maistir," said simond. "I[t] was a man quilum was wont Penis forto lene vmstount, Line 14033 þis man him was an okerer, And tua men come þat had mister, And askid him penis to lane; Line 14036 þis riche man lente to þe tane A hundred penis, suilk als ran, And fifti to þat oþer man. Quen it come to þe terme dai, Line 14040 þai had noght quarof to pai; For he þaim sau no catel haue, [folio 95a:1] All þair dett he þaim forgaue, Line 14043 For-gaf it þaim and bad þaim fare. Queþer of þaim bird luue him mare?" "Sir, me tinck, widvten lett, Line 14046 þe man þat he forgaf mast dett,

He þat mast was forgiuen till Line 14048 Ma[s]t au to loue him wid skill." He said, "we be ansuerd symon, þu giues dome wid right resun." Alwais scho wepe apon his fete, Line 14052 And iesus crist biheld and lete, And to symond he said on-ane, "Ses þu nu þis ilk wommane? To mi fete gaue þu water nane, Line 14056 To wasse þam siþen scho ne fane, þu wat þat it es soth i-wis, þat þu me bedd noght forto kiss, Nu siþen i come in-to þin in Line 14060 To kisse mi fete wald scho noght blin. Oygnement þu gaf me noght, And scho hir oygment me broght And smerld has mi fete and schank, Quarfor i cun hir mekil thank. Line 14065 And for þat scho loues me mekil, Of mi loue scho mai be secir. Of hir sinnes es scho mad clene, þai er for-giuen hir all bidene." Line 14069 He said, "mekil þu loued, mari, Mekil es forgiuen þe for-þi, Ga quar þu ga, þi mekil treuth Line 14072 Has þe sauid, and þi reuth; Nu es þu sauf thoru þi fai; I sal þe kepe forth fra þis dai."

Iesus efterward in hij Line 14076 Come prechand into betani, Giuand mani seke þair hele; þe folk him foluand was ful fele. Line 14079 Martha and mari broþer he fand, [folio 95a:2] Lazarun þar was wonand, He gestind wid þir sistris tua, I neuend ȝu, mari and martha. Line 14083

Line 14083 Quen þai wist he suld wid þaim duel, Of þair ioi was tore to tell, Line 14085 And na selcuth, for suilk a gest Come neuer to þair hus to rest. Martha was e husewijf of þat huse, Abut þe seruis was scho fuse, Line 14089 Bot mari serue al ane hir lete, And set hir forwid iesus fete, Bifor his fete scho set hir dune, Forto here his suete sarmune; Line 14093 Nouþer scho tent to mete ne bord, Bot forto herkin goddes word. Martha thoght all scho helpe ne wold, A pituse plaint to crist scho talde; "Sir," scho said, "se ȝe noght hu I am left ane to serue ȝu? Line 14099 Mi sister sittes, als ȝe se, And leues all-ane þe suink on me. Biddis hir, sir, forto rise Line 14102 And help me nu in ȝur seruis." "Martha, martha," þan said iesu, "In mekil besines es þu, Bisi es þu a-bute mani dede, Line 14106 Bot mast of ane a queþer es nede; þe better part has mari chosin, þat hir mai neuer be widlosin." Blisced was þat afflicciun Line 14110 þat mari broght to sli pardun, Alkin thing scho for-soke, Bot ane of alle scho hir toke, Of all thing scho tok till ane, Line 14114 widvten quam es buute nane. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Es na man þat can telle þe teind Part þis lauerd dos tille his freind,

[folio 95b:1] For es na man wid herte mai thinck, Ne clerk nane mai write wid ink, Ne eie mai se, ne ere mai here, Ne manes witt mai nan cum nere, Hu mekil mede þat vs es dight, Line 14124 If we will se[r]ue þat lauerd right. Leue we nu þir sistris þus, Forto speke of lazarus.

Þis lazarus of bethani Line 14128 Had sistris martha & mari, Mekil he loued his sistris bath, Ne soght he man neuer wid lath, A castel was bath his and þairis, Eftir þar eldris þarof was airis. Line 14133 To þis castel was iesus cald To herberi, als i forwid tald, Soth it es, þis lazarus Line 14136 was seke, als þe stori tellis vs, In his sekenes he languist sua, He had no might a fote to ga; Line 14139 Martha and mari þan was ful wa, For his vnhele and oþer ma, His sistris serued him to hand þat bunden lai in godes band, Line 14143 Bot till him þat sua was bunden, Fer haue þai soght and nan funden, Al if þai soght fand þai na bote, þe seke him saris fra heued to fote. Quen þai sau þar was nanoþer Line 14148 State of couering of þari broþer, Consaile þai toke iesu biseke, For þaire broþer þat was sua seke, Of þair broþer þai suld him sai Line 14152 He loued sua wele, in langur lai, To prai him, if his will it ware, Cum se laȝar þat was unfere; Line 14155

Line 14155 Ful wele þai troud þat he moght þair broþer hale of all his soght. þe saandes soght ouer all iude, [folio 95b:2] And fand him noght in þat cuntre, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And quat ȝe qui? for þis resun, Line 14162 Men soght him sla wid fals tresun. Quen þai him fand noght in þat land, þai fined noght till þai him fand, þir messageris heindli said Line 14166 þe erand þat was on þaim laid; þai praid him als a lauerd dere, For his freind þat was vnfere, Line 14169 A turn till him þat he wald make, For him, and for his frendes sake. "He lijs to die, þi lele and tru, Line 14172 Lauerd," þai said, "on him þu reu!" To þa men þe bodwor[d] bare Iesu gaue þaim suilk ansuare, He said, "gas again ȝur wai, Line 14176 To þaim þat sent ȝu sal ȝe sai þat þai noght for þair broþer murn, To dede sal noght his langur turn, Bot sal mi blis þar-wid bi sene, Line 14180 wele forþermar þam ȝeit has bene." Again þai went wid þair ansuer, Tua dais vr lauerd duelled þar, Line 14183 þan did he his desciplis call, "Buskes ȝu," he said, "ȝe sall vnto iude weind wid me nu." Line 14186 And þai said, "sir, quat thinkes þu? Ne was þu noght bot littel gane Almast þar wid iuus slane? Sir, it es na consail of freind, Line 14190 þat ȝe deþerward nu wend."

Iesus said, "qui sai ȝe sua? Ten tides has þe dai and tua, Qua has to weind on ani wai, Line 14194 Gode es þai ga bi þe light of dai, For quasum walkes on nighter-tale Of drigthing ofte he feindes duale. Bot þat i sai, tak ȝe god kepe, [folio 96a:1] Lazar vr freind es laid on-slepe, þat i tell him weind it es time Line 14200 Forto wakin him of his suime. I haue him luued wele al his sith, And þat es righ[t] i nu him kith." "Sir," þai said, "if he slepe oght, Doute of dede ȝeit has he noght, If he mai slepe hele es at hand." Iesus said, "ȝe mis-vnderstand, Line 14207 For ȝe sal noght lang þar-tille Tiþand þat þu sal like ful ille. For he es dede, þat i of sai, Nu es it gane þe feird dai, Ded and doluen bath es he. Line 14212 Es he noght quik, þat sal ȝe se; For nu þan es i glad and blith þat i was noght wid þaim þat sith. Bot nu þan am i efter send, Diþir-ward nu will i wend." Line 14217 Quen thomas, þat hight didimus, Herd þat dede was lazarus, Als his maistir him tald, iesus, He sight sare, and said þus, Tille his felaus sor-ful said he, Line 14222 "Lauerdinges," he said, "nu here ȝe, Lazarus es noght in liue, Go we deie wid him bliue; List me liue na langer þan nu, Bot if we help haue of iesu. Line 14227

Line 14227 we sal find missing witterli Line 14228 Of ur gode freind of bethani." Tuix ierusalem and þis castel þat ȝe me herd of forwid mele, þar mari woned magdalane, war of milis ful fiftene, Line 14233 þar lazarus was doluen and dede. Iesus sone diderward he ȝode. Lazar was a heiborn man, His kin was ȝeite about him þan, At þat castel his freindes bade, Line 14238 And for lazar gret murning made; witt mari and martha, it sais, þai had bene wepand þar fur dais. þas was fele boden, als i tru, Line 14242 And mani alsua vnboden iu diþer come, both ane and oþer, To cumforte mari for hir broþer. Bi þis come þaim tiþand Line 14246 þat iesus comand was nere hand, þat he was comen into þat stede, wid his felauschip þat he ledd. Martha was neuer so faine, Line 14250 þan weint scho wepand him againe, To fote scho felle him soruful-li, And reuli on him gan scho cri. "Leue lauerd," scho said, "quat rede? Nu es mi broþer fra me dede. Line 14255 Allas, said þu here wid vs bene, Had he noght bene dede, i wene. Of quatkin þing þu mas praie[re], I wat þat drightin wil þe here." Line 14259 "Be still," he said, "þi broþir sal rise." "ȝa," scho said, "on sumkin wise, On domes-dai, wele wat i quen, þen sal he rise wid oþer men." Line 14263

Line 14263 Iesus said, "i am vpras and lijf, Qua trous in me, man or wijf, Line 14265 þou þai war dede ȝeit sal þai liue, þat gift for soth i sal þaim giue. And all þat liue and trous in me, Dede ne sal þai neuer be. Line 14269 Trous þu þis?" "sir," scho said, "ȝa, I trou þis, and nu trou i alsua þat þu ert godes auen sune, Comen emang vs forto wone." Line 14273 MArtha, wel sorful and sari, [folio 96b:2] Scho tald till hir sistir mari, And in hir ere gan scho roune, Line 14276 "And crist es comen to toune, Do þe to spec wid him in hij:" widvten mar vp ras mari, Line 14279 Tilward hir maistr ran scho fast, Men wenid scho had bene a-gast! Quen men hir sau, þat bi hir stod, Renand forth als scho war wod, witt ȝe forsoth of mani man Line 14284 þe teres bi þair chekes þon ran. "Till hir broþer graue scho gas, þar forto suoun," þai said, "allas!" Bot mari was in anoþer tent, Line 14288 wid hir lauerd to spec scho went, For crist þat has his grace hir sent, wid hir sistir hir efter sent. Line 14291 Till him scho ran and fell on knes, "Lauerd," scho said, "als þu nu seis, Dede es þi freind, mi broþer lazar, And þarfor es mi hert ful sare." Line 14295 Scho said, "had þu bene here wid vs Had noght mi broþer deieid þus." Iesus biheld hir a stert, Line 14298 And had gret reuthe at his hert.

Lazar freindes þat þar ware, Line 14300 þai crid and made a reuful chere. Iesus to mari in hir care Mekil luue he scheued þare, Line 14303 Quen he him-self of hir misfare A parti on him-seluen bare, For he wepe sarer þan þas oþer wid þir tua sistris for þair broþer. Tendirli he wepe, and said, Line 14308 "Quare haue ȝe nu his bodi laid?" "Sir," said mari, "cum forth and se, Ful mekil, lauerd, loued he þe. Line 14311 Lauerd, of selcuth þat es sley, [folio 96b:2] þi luuand þus, qui lete þu him dey?" Iesus þair waining vnþerstude, wid þam to þe graue he ȝode. Line 14315 Quen he come þar, widvten hone, He bad þe graue suld be vndone, Of þe tumbe take of þe lidd, Line 14318 And sone his comandment þai did. þan said martha, "lauerd, i trou, wormes bigines at ete him nou. Line 14321 He stinkes, for thre dais er gane Siþen he was loke here vnder stane." Þan said iesus, "martha, do wai, It es na witt i here þe sai, Line 14325 Forgetin has þu sone þi lare þat i þe said a littel ere. If þu wold trou, are said i þe þat sone þu suld a selcuth se, Line 14329 Quarof suld rise a gret leue-word." þe folk all gadrid wid þis word, þe lidd of tumb a-wai þai lifte, And iesus loked vnto þe kiste, Line 14333 And tille his faþer he made a bone. þe fader of heuen it herd ful sone,

"Honurd be þu, fader, euer and ofte, wid angelis þine vp on-lofte, Line 14337 þi sun þe thankes þu dune has send Of þe and hali gast es kend. Faþer i wat i am of þe, And ane þan er we all thre; Line 14341 I haue tane fless here emange mine auen, And i am noght wid þaim knauen. I will all witt for quat resune Line 14344 þat þu has sent me hider dune, And thoru me þi mightes spred, Quar-wid i am luued and dred Line 14347 I will all witt þat here er stadd." wid "lazar, come forth!" he badd, On lazarim he gaue a cri, [folio 97a:1] þat all it herd þat stod him bi. At þis bidding he ras on-nane, Line 14352 He þat liggand was in stane, In winding clath als he was wonden, Heued and fete bath was bunden. "Lous him nu," he said, "forqui, I wate he liues nu witterli." Line 14357 þe folk said, þat þar stod emidd, "Mekil treuth has þu him kidd." Fra þat dai forth tore was to tell þe folk þat foluand iesus fell. Line 14361

Sone ouerall þis tiþand ras Of lazar þat resusced was, I hope þat ferrer was it rijf þan it was forwid of his lijf. Line 14365 þe signes þat ȝe haff herd here, ȝe au, lauer[d]inges, hertli to here; Herd ȝe neuer nane suilk, i wene, For qua þat selli suilk has sene, Line 14369 Do creplis gang, þe blind haue sight; . . . . .

. . . . . [no gap in Göttingen & Laud MSS.] Qua dred ne trus noght his might, Ne þair trouth wold hald right, I sai þat þai war maledight, Line 14375 And namli þas þat has bene bune Quen he vpraisid lazarune. Bot Iuus, þat war bath fell and fals, þat au him menske and worschip als, Als he þat born was of þair kin, Line 14380 And mast he come for þaim to win. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

[The Obstinacy and Contrariousness of the Jews.]

Þir werkes þat crist wroght gode Menged þe Iuus in þair mode, þar-for þa consailed þaim emang Line 14386 Him ouþer forto heued or hang. His gode werkes ai to þaim ware Bot soru and kindling of care, A sorful rede fra þan tok þay, Line 14390 wat it was to do or say. Ful deueli war þa iuus thra, [folio 97a:2] þair blisced lauerd forto sla, þair auen lauerd sua ful of blis, Line 14394 And þat sua helpand was till his, Sua mighti meke, sua mild of mode, Sua fre giuer of ilkin god.

It es, lauerdinges, als we wate, Line 14398 vr for-eldris þe bibel wrate, God luued þe iuus lang biforn þat his suete sun was born, And mekil luue to þaim had done, And liured þaim fra pharaon, Line 14403 Fra pharaon þat was sua strang þat þaim in seruage held sua lang.

He sent a man þaim forto lede, Line 14406 Fra emang þat cursed lede, Moyses it was his name, He ledd þaim thoru þe se fame; þis moyses was þair leder, Line 14410 And drouned þe king wid al his here. In wildrenes widvten suink Bath he fand þaim mete and drinck, þat he þaim fedd wid angel mete, And of mani bale he þaim bett. Line 14415 Mekil luue gan he þaim schau, wid moyses he sent þaim lau, And liurd þaim of mekil wa, For þai had mani felun fa. Line 14419 And helid bath dumb and deff, And did þe wand bere bath flour and lef, þat aron him-seluen bare; Als i haue tald ȝu forwid are. Line 14423 And opinli þaim for-wid hete, Thoru þe might of sir prophete, þat he suld flesse take of þair kin, Forto ransun adam sin. Line 14427 And quen þa asked saul to king, He gaue þaim freli þair asking. And als king dauid wid chesing, [folio 97b:1] þat sclou golias wid his scling; And efter him king salamon; Line 14432 And þe land of pr[o]mission Hight he þaim in forto won. And þar-apon he sent his sun In erd be born, þe soth to tell, Line 14436 To ranson all þat ȝode to hell; And ȝeit troud noght þaa felun þat þaim tald rightwis symioun, Of him þat he in handes bare, Line 14440 Bot eur mistroud mar and mare,

Quen he him-self emang þaim kidd, And mani a fair miracle did; Line 14443 Als was bifor þe architricline, Quen he turned þe water in-to wine: And of ten men þat war mesele, þat he gaue ilkane þair hele; Line 14447 Of lazar þat was dede alsua, þat he raised, and oþer tua; And of a man þat was nu fere Mar for-soth þan thretti ȝere; Line 14451 And als of oþer mani sere, þe tend i mai noght recken here. Ne he þaim gaf nan oþer task Line 14454 Bot all to haue þat þai wold ask, þe mar to þaim þat he him bedd þe faster ai þai fra him fledd, Line 14457 Bot all þat he wid loue þaim soght, Entent þe iuus was for noght. A! quat þai war ful envius, And to þaim-self ful contrarius, Line 14461 Again þair auen weritt, þat þai wald noght tru on itt. þat said þat crist suld take manhede, Of a maidene and of þair sede, Line 14465 Ne ȝeit wold þai noght vnþerstande Quen iohn him baptist wid his hand, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And said, "ȝour sarmun es ȝone." [folio 97b:2] And ȝeit þai troud noght saint iohn, Ne for noght he cuth do or sai, Line 14472 Might he þaim bring to right wai. Ne ȝeit na signe þat wroght iesu, Might þai bring right trouth to trou. Bot for his dedis gode ilkane, Line 14476 Ofte þai soght him forto slane,

And namlikest for þat resun Line 14478 þat he vpraisid lazarun. Fra þat time forth þai did þair paine þat he and lazar bath war slaine. Iesus for þe folk þat till him felle, Lazar for he gun of him spelle. Line 14483

Þir cursed folk wid þair mist[r]ou Thoght iesu sla, bot þai ne wist hu, Ne þai ne wist hu to begin, Line 14486 þai said, "we most nu find sum gin, Hu þat he mai dampned be." wid þis þai made a gret semble, wid-in a hus was in þat tune, Line 14490 Of þair auen dampnaciune, Hu þai might make þat tresun For him þat wald take na ransoun. þai said, "he es sua selcuth, i-wisse, All þe world mon wid him rise. All þis world till him sal bue, Line 14496 And if he liue in him sal true; And men of rome sal cum, mai fall, And tak vr sted and folk wid-all, And first fra vs vr land vs reue, Line 14500 And siþen in þair seruis bileue." At þis gedring a man þar was, His name was haten cayphas, þair biscop was þat siquar; Line 14504 Bettir had him bene he neuer ware. Bischopis war þai þan a-boute, Ilkane bot his twelmu[n]th vte. Line 14507 Caiphas said, "gode men, ȝe wate [folio 98a:1] In gastlines i hald ȝur state, Folus me and mi consaile, Line 14510 I hope þat it sal ȝu a-vaile; ȝe vnderstand noght all þat i wat als thoru þe propheci, Line 14513

Line 14513 þat a man sal in hand be tane, Line 14514 And dampned for þe folk, and slane. Soth it es þat sua sal be, þis ilk iesu þan es he. Dei allane for-soth he sall, Line 14518 Are þat þe folk be perist all." . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] To sla iesu ilkane þai hight, Line 14522 And þar-to þai þair trouthes plight. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

Caiphas spac þus his spa, Line 14526 wordis suilk and oþer ma Of þe dede of iesu crist, And said wel sothyer þan he wist, For he come to dei wid will, Line 14530 And sua þe prophecijs to fulfill. Fra þan þai soght, widvten aw, Iesu forto bring of daw. Iesu will duell nu na langer Line 14534 þar þai mai him se oþer here, A quile in effrem duelland he es,— A cite bi a wildrenes,— Line 14537 He duellis wid his disciplis þare, He wate þe Iuus wile him for-fare, If þai might hand apon him lai, Line 14540 Bot ȝeit was noght comen þat dai þat he him wold to dede be done, Bot it wa comand aftir sone. þir iuus þat him held in strijf, Line 14544 þai na man mar in lijf, His desciplis þai war ful wa, þat þair maistir was hated sua, Namli of þaim þat he Line 14548 Suld serued mast and luued be.

[folio 98a:2] "I haue," he said, "ȝu chosin tuelue, þe tuelf it es þe feind him-self." þis bi him he þaim for-tald Line 14552 Thoru quam he wist he suld be sald, þat was sir iudas scarioth, Of all him fell þe werst loth.

In effrem duellid he a stound, Line 14556 And þeþen sone gan he found; Lang duellid he noght in þat cuntre, Bot went him into galile; þe land of iude he has forborn, Line 14560 For þar þai had his dede al suorn. þan held þe iuus in þair cite A fest me clepes cenophe, Desciplis said þan to iesu Line 14564 þir wordis þat i sal tell ȝuu; "Sir, do þe heþen into iude, þar men þi werke mai opin se; To ierusalem rede we ȝu wend, Line 14568 For þar es comuneli ȝur freind, þe freindes þat we haue ouþerquar, we quat mast quat þai er þar. þair fest es nu, sir, go we þan, Line 14572 For didir gas sua mani man. It es na skil þu þe wid-drau, Bot bede þe forth þe men to knau, If þu wil haue þi werkis kidd, Line 14576 þu suld þe drau þe flolk emidd, þat þai ma bath þe se and here, And luue þe for þi signes sere. þe man þat will loue-word haue in nede Baldly forth he suld him bede." Line 14581

Iesus said, "freindes, ȝe wat it noght, Anoþer þing es in mi thoght, þe world i wate hates noght ȝu, It hatis me, for-soth, ȝe trou, Line 14585

Line 14585 Me and mine werkes all, Line 14586 And all þat to mi trouth will fall. I can noght hate ȝu witerli, [folio 98b:1] Bot me it hates na selli, For it wat neuer quat i am, Line 14590 And of it spec i mekil scham, I of it and it of me, Mai na luue bituix vs be. Ga ȝe to fest, for sua ȝe do, Line 14594 Haue i na tome at ga þar-to, Haue i na tome nu deþir fare, For quone me louand haf i þare."

Þai went allane, and left him þus, And priveli þaim folud iesus, Line 14599 He folud þaim priueli vnsene, wold he noght haue knauen bene Nouþer wid iuus ne wid his auen, wold he noght þat sith be knauen. He wist forwid þe iuus suare, Line 14604 þat þai suld him no langer spare, þa feluns þat wald he war slaine Fast efter iesus gan þai fraine. Als wittles men sli late þai lete, Line 14608 And said, "quar es iesus þe prophete? Queþer es he bicomen, þat wiss, Nu suld he schau his maistris." At þe porte of salamon Line 14612 Come vr lauerd into þe tun, þar he fand forwid him boune Mani iuus þat war felune, Line 14615 wid þa vnmeke þar was he mett, And sone wid þaim he was vmsett, þar bigan þai forto route Line 14618 And for to gader him abute, Allane iesus þaim stod emid, Keneli þai him to resun did. Line 14621

Line 14621 "At þis vr fest," said þai, "er ȝe Ful mekil askid;" "quarfor?" said he. "For þu art sua dred with alle, Line 14624 And men will godes sun þe calle. If þu sua be, þe soth þu schau, [folio 98b:2] And do þe folk þe for to knau." "Soth it es i am," said he, Line 14628 "wid goddes auen sun speke ȝe, Bot wele i wat ȝe trou it noght, þe werkis þat of me er wroght, þat ilke dai ȝe se wid sight, Line 14632 Might neuer be done wid manes might. ȝe trou me noght, þat wate i wele, Ne ȝe me luue neuer a dele; Line 14635 And for ȝur herd hald ȝe noght me, For-þi mi schipe mai ȝe noght be, þat ȝe war sauf garn haue i bene, If mi trauail be littel sene. Line 14639 ȝe ne wil me leue, ne lete, ne here, Bot mi schepe þat me haldis dere, Of mi paradis þe bliss Ful wele i sal þaim dider wiss. On domisdai þan sal þai stand, Line 14644 Mi blis to haue on mi right hand, In þe lijf sal neuer leue, þis gift sal non haue might þaim reue. Witt ȝe þat i ȝu drede no þing; Line 14648 He þat of heuene es faþer and king Mi faþer he es, ȝe vnderstand, Him i drau to mi warand. I am his sun iesus, þat salle Line 14652 Bring þis world all vte of bale; I am þar-in bot littel quile, Fra nu þar-in sal fast mi quile. Ne for þi wele sal i kepe Line 14656 þat he me taght, mi fader schepe;

I sal þaim were fra ilkin wath, Line 14658 Of hell ne sal þai haue no lath. [[MS. wath]] I haue gret might and sal haf mare, For we er ane a[n]d sal be euermare. þis es þe soth, mi faþer and i Line 14662 we er all ane, ȝa witterli, Sua þat we thoru nane-kin art [folio 99a:1] Ne man be made in sundri part."

[Q]uen iuus þis herde thoght þaim noght gode, Littel wantid þat þai ne war wode, þai loked on him bath wrath & grim, And hethli þai bihuted him, Line 14669 And said tuix þaim þan mistrijf, "Loke he schape noght wid his lijf! It war worthi to stane him sone." Iesus said, "qui? quat haue i done? Ouþer gain ȝu wroght on ani wais?" "For þu art goddes sun, þu sais." "I sai ȝu sotht, þat sal ȝe see, Line 14676 For gode dede wil ȝe stane me? For quilk of mi gode dedis ane Sai ȝe nu, ȝe will me stane?" "For þin dedis gode," said þai, Line 14680 "we wil noght stane þe, parfai! Bot for þin wickidnes gain þe laue, And for þe luue of þine missaue; þu mas þe godd, a[n]d þu ert man." "Soth it es," said iesus þan, Line 14685 "Bath i am qua right wil min, For sundri mai we neuer tuin. Gas lokes þe laus of ȝour lai, Line 14688 And vnderstandes quat þai sai, In bok þe soth all mai ȝe find, Bot-if ȝe self will be blind; Line 14691 ȝour auen boke ȝe can noght spelle, ȝeit ȝe wate noght, i will ȝu telle.

For-þi þu proues þe for felun, Line 14694 And me goddes sun wid resun, For he es wid resun goddes sun He þat his werk wirke was won. In þis werld am i comen and send, þe malese þar-of forto mend. Line 14699 Of his sand am i comen, I-wiss, And he has me halden all for his. þe hali writt leies na wight, [folio 99a:2] Ho cuth it vnderstand so right. Line 14703 þe werk þat i wirke in his name, Quat man mar wid resun blame. He þat in me wil treuli trou, It sal him turn to mekel prou; Line 14707 And qua wil noght trou þat i tell, His duelling stede sal last in hell. Mi fader es forsoth in me, And I in him sal euer be." Line 14711

[W]id wordis suilk war þai binomin, wid skill conclused and ouercomen, Thoru þe hali writtes lare Line 14714 was said a thousand ȝere and mare. Gain him cuth þai find resun nane, Als crachuns feld he þaim ilkane; Quat forto sai þai can na mare, Line 14718 Awai þai went sorful and sare, Awai þai went wid menged mode, And iesus to þe temple ȝode. þar he mani chapman fand Line 14722 Serkin marchandis chepand, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] þair ox, þair kij, þair chepe þaim sald, And moneurs þair penis tald; And iesus þat him war tene, Line 14728 þar-vte he keste þaim all bidene,

Bath best and bier vte he beft, Line 14730 Noght ane of þaim þarin he left. þe moneurs for þair misgilt, þair bordes ouer-keist, þair penis spilt, þair setlis þar þai gun in sette, Line 14734 He kest þaim dune vnder þair fette. Ne wald he neuer of þaim blin, Till all war vte þat þar was in. Amang þair men þat i of tald, Line 14738 Quar sum þat duues boght and sald, Gain þaim he was ful kene and crus, And said, "dos ȝu vte of mi hus, Mi hous au, be right resun, [folio 99b:1] Hus of praier and of orisun, Line 14743 And ȝe it make, widvten leue, A to-draght of reuer and theue."

Qven þai had þis sene, þe iuus To blaken þan bigan þar bruus, "Maistir," said þai, "farli thinc vs Qui þat we þe suffir þus, Line 14749 Quat-kin signe do can þu, Quarfor we suld þe þusgat bu?" vr lauerd Iesus þaim gaue ansuer, Bot þai ne wist quat vnderstanding it bar. "ȝe felle þis kirc dune to þe grund, I sal it raise in littel stound, Line 14755 Al hal widin þe thrid dai, I sal it raise, þe soth to sai." þe iuus þan ansuerd him wid ire, "Nu ert þu ai a selcuth sire, Line 14759 It es bot foli all þi talking, And als ane impossible þing; Quen salamon king, mast of blis, Had all þat he wald eftir wiss, Line 14763 In all his welth he was to wirk Fourti ȝere aboute þis kirk,

Till it was made als it es nu; Line 14766 And nu a grete farli sais þu, Do fell it dune and siþen þu sale In thre dais it vp rais all hale! þar er suld fourti ȝere be past, Line 14770 Ar þu had might it dune to kast." Bot þai wist noght iesus entent þat of his auen bodi he ment, To lat þam strui it als þai did, Line 14774 And siþen raisid on þe dai thrid.

[The Jews plot against Christ's life.]

[Q]uen Iuus had said þis and mare, þai left him and his disciplis þare, þai left him þar and went þair way, Mekil on him gun þai missay. Line 14779 For þai him held þair ful fa, [folio 99b:2] And said, "qua herd euer man spec sua!" Sum said, "ouþer es he prophete, Or crist himself to man es hete; Bot a thing in were er we, Line 14784 we wat þat ioseph sun es he, And þai er of a kind of galile, Bot bes noght of þat cuntre, Bot of a castell certaineli Line 14788 Quar-of was born þe king daui, þat es þe tune of bethleem, þe bok es wittenes forto tem. Soth," said þai, "til oþer þan, Line 14792 þan es godd þis ilke man, þat of bethleem kind es noght Be tane als thef, and to dede broght. He es wele knauen widin his kidh, His fader alsua his moder wid Of galile es born and getin, Line 14798 And siþen it mai noght be for-getin,

Hu opinli and forwid all Line 14800 He dos him goddes sun to call þe folk er foles, þat er sene, þat risis þus wid him sua clene." Quen seand men herd of him and sau, Of him stod þaim ful mekil au, And said, "fast es he throdd a[n]d thriuen, And mekil grace nu es him giuen; King salamon in all his blis, Line 14808 Had neuer suilk hap als he þis, For til him was þe lay bitaght, þat he himself thoru lering laght; Ne þe prophetes sua wise þat ware, þat þai ne of man had sumkin lare; Bot þis man syden he comen in world, Of suilk anoþer man he neuer herd, þat neuer of man was lerd þe lau, And gain him mai be no gain-sau; In his hert es all puruaid, [folio 100a:1] Quat he will sai þat thing es said. Leue we him has vs ouercomn, Line 14820 Lang ar he for vs be nomen, For if þe riche be noght his freindes, þe pouer wid wile al wid him wendes."

[þ]an come þai to þe phariseus, Line 14824 Of all þai war þe mast schreus, And þaim þan askid sone in hij, "Quat es he þat goddes enemi? Haue ȝe him tane?" þai said nai. "And quarfor send we ȝu," coth þay, "Bot forto take him if ȝe moght?" "Bot gaines him mai we do noght, He has vs wonne wid maistri, Line 14832 And we sal schau ȝu skil forqui, For suilk a man, widvten wene, was neuer in erd herd ne sene, Line 14835

Line 14835 Againes his word mai no man striue, Be he neuer of resun sua riue." Line 14837 "Allas! nu has he ȝu bischent, Queþer ani of vres be til him went, Queþer he haue swiken wid his art, Ani lauerding apon vr part, Line 14841 we sari men, quat mai we sai, Ne knau we noght þe wreten lay, þis ilk man sal do vs schend." þan said ane þat was his freind, Line 14845 Hight nichodeme, was sent his saand, Ful fast wid skil wold he þaim faand, "Me thinc, lauerdinges, þat thoru þe sau þat i for me to warand drau, widvten dome nane au be slain, Line 14850 Ar he wid plight mai be ouertain. For if þat ȝe graithli will loke, ȝe sal it find written in vr boke, If ani man war tane for oght Line 14854 He suld bifor Iustis be broght. And if it war sli maner of witt, [folio 100a:2] þat he þar-of ne might him quitt, þan his dome men suld him giue, Forto die or for to liue." Line 14859 "wid him þu haldes als we se, For ȝe er bath of galile, Bot we find writen nouþer quar þat vr crist suld born be þar, Line 14863 Bot of bethlem, of dauid kind, þis es soth als ȝe sal find." þai went þaim hame, all þat sith, wrath, waful, and vnblith. Line 14867 [S]trangli was þis folk felun, Of littel witt and pouer resun, Bitaght all to þe witherwine, Line 14870 Ne nedder mare none of venime;

Of wicked will and euil mode, Line 14872 Again þair auen fless and blode. Quat he was, noght þai vnderstod, þat witt gaue to men þat war wod, Till all þe nedi did he gode, Line 14876 And tille þair folk fand farli fode; Bot all for noght enent him stod, Till þai at end him did on rod. Line 14879 þai had leuer se þe fend of helle, þan him bituix þaim for to duelle. Ful mekil au þai þat lauerd luue, þat sua wald cum for þair bihoue; He folus þaim and þai him fle, Line 14884 Ne wald þai neuer apon him se, Suetli wald he þaim drau him to, And þai er abute at him for-do. Line 14887 Bot had sele on þaim bene sene, Ful blith of him þan had þai bene, And worschipd him wid hande & fote, þat sua wald be born for þair bote. He luued þaim in his herte rote, Bot of þair luue es noght to mote, For þai him hated als þe dede, [folio 100b:1] Ful ilhaile tok þai þat rede, Line 14895 And ne forþi for wele ne wa, Fra nu wil he noght fle þaim fra, Bot stabilli bituix þaim lend, Line 14898 Till prophecis be broght till end, Till he was nailid on þat ilk tre we ilk dai sample of se. Line 14901 þat broght vs vte of wa and pine, Of handis of vr witherwine, And of his passiun sua harde, Line 14904 þat ȝe sal here nu forward; He wil him bandun nu þaim till, Ful freli wid his auen will, Line 14907

Line 14907 For he seis þe time comand neie, þat he for manes-kind wil deie, Line 14909 To bi þaim vte of þair wa, Fra weild of þe feind, þair fa. He will him all vnbidden bede, For fast it draus te þe nede For his to suffir passiun. Line 14914 For-þi to speke of þat ransum þat richer es þan erd or heuene, [folio 100b:2] Or all þat manes witt mai neuene, For-þi me think þat nu es gode Line 14918 þat we speke sumquat of þe rode. And alsua of þat ranssuning, þat for vs gaf iesus, heuene king, And resun es we vr rime rume, And set fra nu langer bastune. Line 14923 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Crist and his moþer do me spede! þat i vnworthi es to rede, Line 14927 And of his will me send his grace, Of witt and will, and þar-to space, þat i it rede wid sli lu[u]ing I mai it wele till end bring, To lu[u]ing of god and halikirke, To manes note als forto wirke. [[The next 14 leaves of the Göttingen MS. (and 13 leaves of the Trinity MS.) are written in one column of long lines: the lines are here divided, each into two.]] Line 14933

[Christ's Entry into Jerusalem, and the Last Supper.]

[I]esus went tillward ierusalem gangand apon his fete, Line 14938 And he come till a littil hill men clepis mont oliuete. Sex dais forwid pask-dai wid his he went þat strete, Line 14942

Line 14942 Till his desciplis þat he ledd Line 14943 sli wordis spak he suete: "[Q]uat ȝe mi breþer qui," he said, "i wend again so snell? Line 14946 Herkens nu and vnderstand, þe soth i sal ȝu tell. ȝon iuus er, wele wat it ȝe, a folke selcuthli fell, Line 14950 þai will me neuer luue, i wiss, for þing i mai þaim tell. For luue ne au ne for na signe, þat i for þaim haue wroght, Line 14954 wid mani selcuth, als ȝe haue sene, and wid softenes þaim soght. Bot all mi suink nu es it sua, standes me for noght, Line 14958 þe time es nu manes sune sal dei, and mannes kind be boght. [T]o yon castel," he said, "ȝe ga ȝe se again ȝu stande, Line 14962 þar sal ȝe find ane asse best wid hir fole done in bande. Gas fet hir me, if ani man lais apon ȝu hande, Line 14966 To lett ȝu, ȝe sai ȝe haue þe lauerd to ȝur warande. [A] moþer asse ȝe þare find, [folio 101a:1] and ȝe hir sal vndo Line 14970 vte of band; and if þat ani man askes þu quarto, ȝe sai þaim þe lauerd haues nu wid þaim forto do, Line 14974 And sal no man ȝu sai bot god. þe stede es yonþer, lo!" [S]one þar went desciplis tua vnto þis said castele, Line 14978

Line 14978 þis asse þai soght þai fand Line 14979 bunden bi a postele. Broght þai nouþer on hir bac sadil ne ȝeit panele Line 14982 To þair lauerd þat nouþer was cledd wid silk ne cendele. "[M]i freindes," he said, "wat ȝe qui i weind nu to þis tun? Line 14986 þe soth to witt, i sall ȝu schau all mi preue resun. þe time es comen þat i sal suffre mi passiun, Line 14990 þe feste es nu, mismay ȝu noght, bot makis mi riding bune. [þ]ou," he said, "sal womman sun in mannes hand be laght, Line 14994 þa sal him take and deme to dede widvten ani saght. And wid tresun him do on tre, als it es forwid taght, Line 14998 He sal be dede, and rise he sal wid-in þe thrid naght." [þ]ai keist þair clathes on þis asse, and did him þar-on to sitte; Line 15002 Sone it ras þe worde þat he was comand bi þe strete. þe folk was comen to þe fest, almast for ioy þai grete, Line 15006 þe simple folke of þe tun þai went him forto mete. [W]id all þe mirthes þat þai moght derworthli þai him mete, Line 15010 Wid harp and pipe, horn and trump, þe wai þaim him vmsete. Ald and ȝung, bath lesse and mare, wid ai word þai him grette, Line 15014

Line 15014 "welcum sauueur! lang has þu bene, thoru þe sal all be bette." Line 15016 þe lauerdinges and þe riche men to-quiles on back þaim drogh, And temprid resun to trei Line 15019 to take ihesus wid wogh. þai murned, quiles þe pouere men and þe childer loght, Line 15022 Bifor þair king þe childer kest branches þai brack of bogh, [a]nd sum þan kest þair clethes dune, in midward þe thrang, Line 15026 þai spredd þe strete wid clath and flur, his asse apon to gang. þe folk him folud and forwid went, þai menskid him wid sang. Line 15030 "Osanna, lauerd! welcum þu be, quar has þu bene sua lang?" [B]ot þe childer þat war waike to weind þat pres emang, Line 15034 On wallis and on windous, als þair hefdis ouer þai hang, Biheld þair lauerd þar he come, forsoth had þai na wrang, Line 15038 All þai sang als wid a muth þat all þe cite rang. "[G]loria laus," (þat es, worschip) "lauerd haue þu nu and ay, King and crist and ransuner Line 15043 of folk of goddes lay. All to þin auen welcum þu be, [folio 101b:1] þar þu es comen to-dai. Line 15046 þu take to thank þat we þe make sli mensking als we mai. [O]sanna king! to þe we cri a sang wid suete steuen, Line 15050

Line 15050 Na lesse be þu loued in erd þan þu es loued in heuen. Of israel þan es þu king, þat aght men tru ful euen, Line 15054 And comen of þai hei dauid kin, of hier nane can neuen. [C]um nu forth, þu blisced king in vr lauerdis name, Line 15058 þe receiues þin auen folk, and biddes þe welcum hame. Of þin worthi werkis done ful fer es spredd þe fame, Line 15062 Welcum lauerd þat leches [[MS. lethes]] all and liching giues to lame. [C]um nu forth vr sauueour, we haue discernd þe, Line 15066 þu es right king of israel, qua sum þe soth can se. wid prophecie was þu forsaid þat þu born suld be, Line 15070 Of gode king dauid kin and of þe rote of iesse. [O]sanna! sir king, cum forth" þai crid, lesse and mare, Line 15074 "vnto þi auen, for we er þine, and sal be euer mare. Blisced be þu and þe time þat þe þi moder þe bare, Line 15078 For king sua mekel comen to tune herd was neuer are. [W]elcum be þu lauerd," þai said, "ne duel þu noght widvte, Line 15082 To þis grete vr sollempnite, welcum widvten doute." þai him ledd in to þe tune, ful gret it was, þat route, Line 15086

Line 15086 To temple þai him ledd wid sang on ilk side aboute. "[þ]is es vr sauueour," þai said, "þat comen es till vs nu, Line 15090 Of þe king kind of dauid his name Is hatin iesu. þe dede mai him neuer widstand. he dos it till him bu, Line 15094 Mani seke has he giuen hele, men agh in him to trou. [L]ang has he bene a-wai, lang efter him vs thoght; Line 15098 Tuelue or ma of men vnschodd þan has he wid him broght, And on þair fete þaim semed fare for-þi of þaim vs roght, Line 15102 vr mantels vnder þaim we spred, for oþer hadd we noght. [N]ou es he comen þat es vr king, nu sais alle osanna! Line 15106 we wend he had forhoud vs all þarfor was vs ful wa, welcum es he, fra nu he sal na langer leue vs sua. Line 15110 For wa es þaim þat might him hald! and lates him part þaim fra."

[Q]uen þe princes and þe riche men wist all of þis fare, Line 15114 þai bicome þan sorfuler þan euer war þai are. Bituix þaim, þaa curced men, þai mened þaim þair care, Line 15118 To cayphas mal sone þai went, and gadrid þaim right þare. "[L]auerdinges," said cayphas, [folio 102a:1] "mi hert es selcuth sare, Line 15122

Line 15122 For þis iesus þat es sua wis and als sua mekil of lare. Line 15124 It es wele sene, all folus him, nu bath þe les and þe mare, Suilk a mane was neuer ȝeit siþen ani werldes ware; Line 15128 [I]t es grete wonder to tell, þe farlis þat he nu mas, we se þe folk alle fall till him ouerall quare he gas. Line 15132 All vr lau he sal for-do, vr auen folk allas Sal he do againes vs rise, and be vr mast fas. Line 15136 [A]ll þis world es turned till him als ȝe nu mai se, For-þi mi rede i sal ȝu giue, and herkenes all to me. Line 15140 Thoru [t]his man, þis es þe soth, þis world sal losen be, And he be slane, it sal be br[o]ght all into sauuete. Line 15144 [B]etter it es þat a man dei, þan all þe folk be lorn, And þat þis ilke iesus be tane arli to morn. Line 15148 þat mai noght done be for þis folk if men had it suorn, Bot langer þan þis fest be done ne be he noght forborn." Line 15152 [I]esus prechand ilk dai stabli in þe temple stode, Ilk night of oliuete to þat mount he ȝode; Line 15156 þar he wid his disciplis lai, for sua him thoght it gode,

And euer on dai þe folk he gaf of goddes word þe fode. Line 15160

[Q]uen þat suete mightiful king was comen to þat tide, þat in his suete will was sett, þat he for mannes pride Line 15164 wald suffir pine and passiun, wald he no langer bide, Bot buxumli him-self he bedd tille all þat might bitide. Line 15168 Ful mani sari sigh, i-wis, þar sank tille his herte, þe fless was dutand for þe dede, þat kindli wald haue quarte. Line 15172 It was ful schonand for þe sare, na selcuth sua smarte, þat his mekil charite for vs to thole him gart. Line 15176 [þ]e thre dais was runnen vte and þe ferde on hand, His disciplis right na selli bigan to be doutand. Line 15180 "Sir," þai said, "ȝe tell vs nu, and we sall vnderstand, Sal we ȝuu ani paskes dight ouþerquar in land?" Line 15184 [þe] lauerd loked þaim apon, and ansuerd þaim ful suete, "Gas till-ward þe tune," he said, "a man þar sal ȝe mete, Line 15188 A watrin vessel in his hand, againes þu ȝe strete, ȝe ga wid him, he sal ȝu bring vntil ane in, ful skete. Line 15192 [F]olus forth þat ilk man right in to þe bij;

To þe lauerd of þat hus all ȝe sai on mi parti, Line 15196 þat he wald lene vs sum seler, [folio 102b:1] to make in vr mangeri, And he ȝu sal deliure ane, and þat be done priueli." Line 15200

[þ]ai went þaim forth vnto þe tune, wid þis man þai mett, wid a vessel in his hand water for to fett. Line 15204 He ledd þaim till his lauerd hus, þat derworthli þai grett, And he þaim lent par cherite, a celer in at ete. Line 15208 [Q]uen þis hus was cumli dight, was þar na langer bide, Iesus come wid his felauschip, þat littel luud pride. Line 15212 It was a suete farnet, i-wiss, was gedrid þar þat tide, þe lauerd was to þe soper sett, his felaus him biside. Line 15216

Iudas of þe tuelue was ane þat skarioth hight, was iesus cristes aumoner bot he was maledight. Line 15220 wid þe iuues had he spoken þar bifor a night, His auen lauerd þaim for to selle, als heili als he might. Line 15224 [þ]e lauerd es to þe super sett, þe mete all redi bune, vp he lift his hali hand, and geue þe benisune. Line 15228 þan he toke þe brede and brack, als it redd in rune,

Till his disciplis he it redd, Line 15231 and said þaim þis sarmune:— "[T]akes and ete of þis bredd, for flesse þan es it mine, þat sal þis ilk night be ledd for ȝu to mekil pine." Line 15236 Siþen þ[e] chalis vp he toke, and blisced als þe wine, And gaue þaim all þar-of to drinc, þat derworth drightine. Line 15240 "[D]rinkes alle of þis," he ssaid, "for-qui it es mi blode, þat for ȝu þan sal be sched, and for man-kin on rode." Line 15244 Quen saint iohn, his dere cosine, þir wordes vnþerstod, On his lauerd breist he slepe fo[r] menging of his mod. Line 15248 "[v]nderstandes quat i ȝu say, Mi breþer," said iesu, "Gladly vnderfanges þat gifte þat i here giue ȝu. Line 15252 I sal noght of na suilkin drinc, drinc forsoth wid ȝu, Till we be samen in mi kingrike, giuen i haue a vou. Line 15256 [T]o mi fader þat es þar-in, þider i sal ȝu lede, And of mi mete þat þar sal be, wid-all i sal ȝu fede. Line 15260 And of mi drinc þar sal i drinc to ȝu for ȝur mede, For þat i sai ȝu here wid word, þar sal ȝe find it in dede. Line 15264 [M]ismai ȝu noght, mi breder dere, quat-sum ȝe here or se,

þe traitur þat me trai sal, amang ȝu here es he." Line 15268 Ilkan on oþer þai biheld, "quilk of vs mai þis be?" "Bot he þat etis of mi disse, he sal bitriase me. Line 15272

[M]i leue breþer and freind, bes noght rad," he said, [folio 103a:1] "Ful wele i wat quilk of ȝu, þe tresun has puruaid. Line 15276 þat i haue luued, he sal me trai, þe gate it es all graid, He mai sai walawa! his werd þat forwid him es laid." Line 15280 [Q]uen þat þis super was alle done, iesus ras vte of his sete, Bot his disciplis þat war sett ane vp-rise he lete. Line 15284 wid a tuel he belted his sides sittand mete, wid a bacine he water broght, forto wasse þair fete. Line 15288 [þ]e mekenes of þis suete iesu, suilk herd men neuer tell, þat bued sua his lauerd-hede to buxumnes of therll. Line 15292 Forwit his disciplis fete ful freindli he fell, Of suilk seruis was na selcuth þai wondrid þaim emell. Line 15296 [F]rist wid watir he þaim wess all þair fete bidene, And wid his tuel efter-ward, wiped þaim all clene. Line 15300 Quen he come to saint petir þar he satt þaim bituene,

His fote ful tite till him he titt him schamed wele was sene. Line 15304 "[L]auerd," he said, "quat es þi will? do fra mi fete þi hand, Nu sal þu neuer wasse mi fete to-quiles i am man liuand." Line 15308 "Peris, if i ne wasse," he said, "i wil þu vnderstand, Sal þu haue na part wid me of blis þat es lastand." Line 15312 [þ]at said peris to bitid, "lauerd, i ai forbede Noght fete allane, bot hefd and hend, er to wase i bede." Line 15316 "He þat hafs his bodi clene," iesus said, "es na nede þat he do wash aght bot his fete; for sample tas mi dede. Line 15320 [H]erkenes me, mi freindes, þe þing i telle ȝu sall, Me ȝur maistir ȝe clepe, and ȝur lauerd ȝe call. Line 15324 Soth it es þat sal be sene, Suilk dai þan sal it fall, For a forbiseneng nu ȝur fete ȝus haue I washen all. Line 15328 [S]iþen i þat lauerd and maistir es has þus-gat seruid ȝu, Loke ilkan of ȝu till oþer, þat ȝe als breþer bu. Line 15332 þe seruis þat i haue ȝu done, all haue ȝe sene it hu, þos wele for i sal noght lang duell wid ȝu fra nu. Line 15336

[M]i leue breþer, i ȝu forbede pride be ȝu emang,

ȝe haue me folud hidreto tuelue in mekil thrang. Line 15340 Bot ane of ȝu þis ilk night Sal do me mekil wrang; To-morn þan sal i dampnid be on rode tre to hang; Line 15344 I sal dei, and i sal rise, þar-to sal noght be lang." [Q]uen þai herd þat he suld dei, and thoru þair tresun, Line 15348 And þat his bodi suld be taght [folio 103b:1] his fas þat ware felun, And þat he suld apon þe rode thole hard passiun, Line 15352 Qua suld do þis, suike ilkane of oþer had mistroun. And sorful þai bicome þaim emelle, þar-of þai had resun. Line 15356 [þ]an spac petir first of all, "lauerd, to me þu sai, Queþer þu sais it oght bi me queþer i sal þe bi-trai? Line 15360 Queþer wat i qua þi traitur es þat sua þe luued has ai?" vr lauerd suetli gaue him ansuar, "nai þu, peris, nai, Line 15364 Bot in þis felaschip es he; he mai sing of wailwai! [F]ul walawai! þan mai he sing, þat cursed, ful of care, Line 15368 And walawai! als mai scho sai þe moder þat him bare, To more blis it had him bene vnborn if he ware. Line 15372 I sal ȝu teche him for to knau mistrouuing wid na mare,

Here eftirward sone sal ȝe se, ful ille þan sal he fare. Line 15376 [H]e þat i to wite þe brede, þat ilk es he, þat bald;" Iudas opind þan his mouth are he þar-to was cald, Line 15380 Sone þan was þat morsel bune, he dight it als he wald, And iudas suelud it on-ane, þat syden his maistir sald. Line 15384

The Betrayal and Last Hours of Christ.

[V]te of vr lauerd hali hand þe morsel laght iudas, wid þat ilk snade he laght, croupe in him sathanas. Line 15388 Of all venime and eneui ful kindeld vp he ras, Fra þan he ran him ilk fote, ne ȝede he noght a pas Line 15392 Till he come to þat in þar woned in sir caiphas, þar he þe iuus forwid fand, his auen lauerd fas. Line 15396 He þat suilk a lauerd forsok Mai sai mani allas! [Q]uen þis traitur to þaim come, in consail he þaim fand, Line 15400 Hu þai might vr lauerd take, þai wald him haue in hand. þai askid iudas quat he wald? he said, "to bring tiþand Line 15404 Iesu þe prophete quare to find, ȝe er sua nu grenand. [Q]uar his innes es to night ful wele i can ȝu bring, Line 15408

Line 15408 If ȝe me oght of ȝures giue, yt i wit for quat þing, Line 15410 In ȝur handis i sal him teche; hald ȝe it na heting." All þai said to sir iudas, "þu ert a dughti dring, Line 15414 And goderhale nu sal þu se, for luue of þis chiþing. [[first, thing; then altered]] " [þ]is marchandis, lauerdinges leue, had we of mekil nede, Line 15418 Bot to þaim þat þe cheping did, it fell to mekil vnnsp[e]de. þai askid iudas quat he wald aske þaim for his mede. Line 15422 And he, þat traitur fell, þaim said, "bot thritti penis gnede." [folio 104a:1] "Make þu vs sikir of him, lo! here þe penis we þe bede;" Line 15426 "Quat sekernes nu will ȝe mare? till him i sal ȝu lede; Quar abute a-bide ȝe nu, bot go we better spede." Line 15430 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

[Q]uen þis wreche iudas þus rescaiued had his fang, Line 15434 "Comes forth god men," he said, "nu, qui duell ȝe sua lang?" þai armid þaim all priueli, all for to make þaim strang, Line 15438 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Quen þai war armed in þat curt, iudas þaim stod amang; Line 15442 þe traitur fals þan said to þaim, "wid me þan sal ȝe gang,

þe man þat i sal ȝu bitheche, a-bute him has grete thrang, þar-for a takeining i ȝu giue, þat ȝe ga noght wrang. Line 15448 [K]nau ȝe þe man þat ȝe sal take bi night?" þai said "nay." "Quar-wid ȝe sal him knau, a taken i sal ȝu say. Line 15452 þat ilk man ȝe se me kiss, ȝur handes on him ȝe lay, For þat es he owe go to take." "it sal be done," said þay. Line 15456 "For to hals him faire i sal ga forwid ȝu þe way, And loke ȝe folud me nerehand." "And sua we sal, parfay!" Line 15460 "[T]o-quilis ȝe se me him kis, lais handis on him on-ane, He has wid him sum men, i-wis, bot armed es þar nane. Line 15464 If þai bigin þaim forto were, loke þai all be slaine;" Suilk takening was of þat traitur, to do his lauerd be tane. Line 15468 [H]a! quat þis traytur iudas was vnkind and felun! þat þus his suete lauerd soght vnto dampnaciun, Line 15472 Better him hade ben to bene dede, or bene wid bataile bune, þan wid a kissing on þis wise, him haue done sli tresune. Line 15476 Bot sene es nu he serued are his modir malisune. [H]a! þu iudas, traitur, thef, felunest in lede! Line 15480

Line 15480 Of þi mekil wickidnes mai all þis world nu drede. Line 15482 Hu might it schope into þi hert, to do suilk a dede, Suilk a lauerd for to sla and þarfor take þi mede? Line 15486 þu ȝeilde again þat þu has tane, þu þarto þe bede, þu was and es þe traitur mast þat euere was in thede. Line 15490

[L]eue we nu iudas of here to sai of his tresun, To speke of iesu þar he was herberd in þe tun. Line 15494 Hu saint petir menid him to, and said him þis resun, "þu sal be traijst lauerd, to-night, it es noght mistrun, Line 15498 Elleuen er we ȝeit to stand vid þe, all redi bun. [I]f ani come þe forto take, we sal þe were þaim fra, Line 15502 we er hardi men enogh, a-gain iudas vr fa." [folio 104b:1] "Quat wapins haue ȝe?" said iesus, "sir, we haue suerdis tua." Line 15506 þan he bad þaim all be stille, and said, "enou er þa, [I] do ȝu witt, mi breþer dere, þat lang es siþen gane Line 15510 þat grened i haue þis ilk mete, mast at ete of ane. Iudas sal nu cum in hij, forto do me be tane, Line 15514 And ȝe forsoth sal efter me be left ful will of wane."

[Q]uen þai vnderstod þis word, a-soruing þan bigan, Line 15518 And vr lauerd cald eft sith petir, and said him þan, "Petir freind, self sathanas has askid þe to fan, Line 15522 He will þe siften if he mai, als men dos corn in barn. Bot i haue praid for þe faith þat it stand gain sathan. Line 15526 [P]etre, cumfort breþer þine quen i am ledd ȝu fra." "Lauerd," he said, "þu wat þat i þe luue and drede alsua, Line 15530 I am redi þe to folu bath in we[l] and wa; Bath to presun and to dede, for þi luue will i ga." Line 15534 [þ]an bihelde þat lauerd heind apon þat suete meygne, þat þar mekil murning made, ful sorful on þaim to se. Line 15538 "Ha mi leue farnet," he said, "ful wele þan sal ȝu be, þis ilke night sal be a skaile bi-tuix ȝu and me. Line 15542 Till vnmesure mismay ȝu noght for time sal cum þat ȝe Sal ȝur soru þat es nu haue turned in-to gle. Line 15546 [F]or þogh mi fless to þaim be taght, als propheci has sett, þat thoru mi dede apon þe rode sal mannes bale be bett, Line 15550 I sal rise on þe thridd dai, to liue widvten lett.

And quen we sall in galile, eft be samen mett, Line 15554 All þe care ȝe nu sal haue, ful clene ȝe sal forgett. [P]etre, be þu noght to rad, make noght to mekil care, Line 15558 ȝe weind ȝu in-to galile, and i sal mete ȝu þare." "I," he said, "to leue þe þus þat sal be neuer mare, Line 15562 Bot sal we ellis suffir samen, bath soft and sare." "Do wai, leue freind," said iesus þan, "þu sal me nickin are, Line 15566 [þ]u sal þe þaim ȝeit to night þo me ful gret dispite, For þai wald writh on me þu wate all þair auen wite, Line 15570 Ar þe koc him crau to-night, thries þu sal me nite, And sai þat þu me neuer sau, bes þar no langer lite. Line 15574 Bot þu sal couer and cumfort þaim þat þu seis in þair site, And þe and þaim, bath of ȝur [care], i sal ȝu make ful quite." Line 15578 [A]ll þe apostlis þan bigan to fall apon þe ground; [folio 105a:1] And he him went als he was wont vnto þe mont oliuete, Thre disciplis wid him ȝode Line 15583 foluand at his fete. "Abides here, and praies," he said, "i sal cum to ȝu skete." Line 15586 Fra þaim he ȝode, þan him allane wele a stan cast of strete.

[W]id him he thre apostlis toke, are he made his praiere, Line 15590 Petir, iam, and als saint iohn, þir thre him derrest were. Priueli þaim ledd him wid for þai war him dere, Line 15594 And scheud þaim apon þe mount, his consaile forto here. Als dughti fadir dos to sun, he gun þaim teche and lere, Line 15598 And his angus in his herte to þaim þus made he clere.

"[M]i saule es sorful to þe dede þat sal i suffer sone, Line 15602 Quilis i ga mi praier to make, ȝe bide me here and hone." A stancast þan fra þaim he ȝode, and þar he made his bone, Line 15606 Till his fadir dere of heuen þat sittand es in throne. His soruying mai na man telle þat liues vndermone, Line 15610 [F]orþi god men, i warn ȝu to thinc apon his care, Aud folus him ȝur fader es to leten on his lare; Line 15614 Awai ȝe do ȝur prid of lijf þat ȝe wid mekil fare, And buxumnes for him ȝe bere, þat sua grete for ȝu bare; Line 15618 For his wa agh we all to wepe, he suffer for vr sare, Of all þe sorus þat has bene, suilk herd ȝe neuer are. Line 15622 [F]or quilis he lai in orisun, he wid his fadir grett,

For þe mekil drede of dede, his hali self all suett; Line 15626 þat was blod þat of him ran, þe erd was þar-wid wett, Hard it was, þat soru, i-wis, þ[a]t in his hert was sett. Line 15630 "[F]adir," he said, "þu here þi sun þat nu to þe will cri, Queþer i sal nu þis chalis drinc, or i sal passe þar bij? Line 15634 Fadir," he said, "þu wat it wele, i sai it noght-for-þi, All þi will it sal be done, þare-tille i am redi." Line 15638 Lauerdinges nu, for goddes luue, ȝe herkin nu to mi spell, Of suilk a soru sum i sai er men herd neuer of tell. Line 15642 wid strand [[so in MS.]] drede he smiten was, thoru his fless and felle, Quen suete of blod vte of him brast, þat sua on erd fell. Line 15646 [Q]uen he was resin vte of his stoure, till his felaus come he, All on slepe he fand þaim fast for soru and pite. Line 15650 Ful suetli to þaim he spack, "breþer, quat nu do ȝe? Rises vp, and wakes wele, ar þat ȝe tempid be. Petre, wake wid me aquile, Line 15655 þus hight þu noght to me?" [folio 105b:1] þair eien was greued sua wid grete, þat soru it was [to] se, "[R]ise vp peris, has þu nu forgetin þat þu me hight? Line 15660

Line 15660 þu said for me if mistir war, to dede thole suld þu fight; Line 15662 And nu þu mai noght wake wid me ane vre of a night. Bes wacand ay in orisun for him, þe maledight, Line 15666 þogh þe spirite ai redi be þe fless es fuss to plight."

[Q]uen he þus had þaim taght, still he left þaim þare, Line 15670 And went him eft into þe stede quar he praid are. Mekil he dred þat hard dede, þat broght vs vte of care. Line 15674 Ful buxumli he laid him dune apon þe erd bare, And till his suete fadir of heuen, quained his sare, Line 15678 wid wordes þat he forwid said, and nouþer less ne mare. "[I] wate wele þat i sal it drinck þis chalice, fadir mine, Line 15682 Thoru mi bodi most it passe, þe tholing of þis pine. I am þi sun, all redi bune, will to do all þine." Line 15686 wid þis he ras vte of þe plasse, þat him anurd in; [Q]uen he had mad his orisun, vp sone he ras a-wai, Line 15690 And come till his apostlis, slepand all þai lai. To waken þaim ȝeit wold he noght, þat tened war wid trai, Line 15694 Of þaim redeles he reud sare, more þan man couth sai.

And þan he went þe thrid siþe, his fadir for to prai. Line 15698

[Q]uen he had þe thrid siþ mad his orisun, And mening till his fadir dere mad of his passiun, Line 15702 þe strang soru þat he lede can na man rede in roun; þe angelis vte of heuen come, on slepe þai lai all dun. Line 15706 "[S]lepis nu, for wele ȝe mai, mi breþer leue," he said, "For he es comand nere at hand, þe tresun has puruaid, Line 15710 For nu goddote! he sal me giue a sorful hard braid, Bot mekil wa if he wald witt þar es him forwith laid, Line 15714 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [H]e has wroght, if he walld it witt, him-self mekil wa. Line 15718 wid mekil folk nu comand es he þat es mi mast fa, Spere, surd, and mace, þai bring and wapins oþer ma; Line 15722 Iudas nu yonder comes þat sekes me to sla." [F]ul marrid war war þai in þair mode, ful mirk it was þe night, Line 15726 Als þai on ferr þaim lokid fra, þai sau comand a light. His disciplis wex ful radd quen þai sau þat sight, Line 15730 Of lantern, staf, suord, and spere, and mani brandes bright,

And iudas armed to þe fote, all redi for to fight, Line 15734 On him þat he suld fight fore, [folio 106a:1] wid resun and wid right,

Iesus went him forþer-ward, disciplis him foluand, Line 15738 Tillward a littel ȝard of cedron ouer þe strand. Iudas wele he kneu þe stede þar iesus was hauntand, Line 15742 wid his fals felaschip þe traitur þar him fand. [Q]uen iudas had a-visid him, quilk it was iesu, Line 15746 Sone he ran him forto kis, and gret him, haikens [[read harkens]] hu. "Haile, maistir," he said, "þu be!" "iudas, quat sekes þu?" Line 15750 "Iesus," he said, "of nazareth." "ȝe haue him funden nu, [I] am he;" quen he had sua said all to þaim þan, Line 15754 Iudas and his felauschip all on-back þai ran. þai fell dune sone to þe grund, euer-ilk a man, Line 15758 Iudas ilk lim he quoke, all vp þai siþen wan. [ȝ]eit ansuerd iesus, "quat þai soght?" þai said, "iesus seke we," Line 15762 "And als i haue ȝu forwid said here haue ȝe funden me." Iudas lepe eft up him to, "aue rabi," said he, Line 15766 For to kisse his suete muth he bedd it him ful fre.

"Siþen ȝe me seke, i ȝu biseke ȝe late mi felaus be, Line 15770 Iudas," he said, "þat þu sal do, þar-to nu hij þu þe."

[Q]uen iudas bed iesus to kisse, forsoth he groched noght, Line 15774 "Iudas," he said, "quilum was þat mekil of þe i roght; Nu þu has wid feluni and tresun me bi-soght, Line 15778 wid a kiss has þu mannes sune vnto þi bandun broght." [w]id þis word þat iesus said, þai stirt þaim forth ilkane, Line 15782 þai him vmsett on ilk side þat sone þan was he tane. wid macis and wid neuis smart vnrekinli on him þai rane, Line 15786 Ilk dint þat þai him gaue, it reked to þe bane. Petre þat him luued sua wele, he sau na beter wane, Line 15790 Of þe forel his suord he drogh and smat þe ere of ane, For had it bene eftir his will he wald him fain haue slane. Iesus said þan "petre, do wai! Line 15795 þat dint giue þu nane, [I]n þi forel þu put þi suord, i will noght þat þu smitte." On malkus ere hes hand he laid, and he led him ful tite; Line 15800 "He þat smitand es wid suord, of suord sal haue þe wite, I will þat nane for mi sake nouþer fight ne flite. Line 15804

Line 15804 [L]eue petir, i sai to þe queþer þu it has fo[r]gett, Line 15806 If i mi faþir wald biseke, i moght widvten lett Haue tuelue thousand legiuns red[i] wid me vmsett. Line 15810 Bot hu suld þan þe prophecis [folio 106b:1] till end cum þat er sett?" Petre was in handis nomin for fight þat he had done. Line 15814 Iesus him toke þan malcus ere, it helid widvten hone, "Ga forth," he said, "mi fadir has wroght for þe mi bone." Line 15818 Petre wald a-wai haue bene and þan he eschaped sone, Quen his lauerd awai was ledd, wid him wa left ful fone. Line 15822 [B]i his heued and bi his har forth þai his maistir droght, And rugged him vnrekinli bath ouer hil and hogh; Line 15826 wid þair bastunes bet him sua, þai did him mekil wogh, Hu þai him ledd þat ilk time to se was soru inogh. Line 15830 [H]u wid bastuns þai him beft ful brimeli to þe grund, þai huitid on him viliker þan he had bene a hund. Line 15834 His disciplis þat war ferd at fle bigan to fund, And als þai fre [[read fra]] þe erd him titt, his bodi was all stund. Line 15838

[Q]uilis þai him war þus handland wikidli als þai moght,

"Ha men," he said, "quat ȝe er of ane vnseli toght, Line 15842 wid staues qui bete ȝe me sua? quat haf i again ȝu wroght? Quarfor haue ȝe taken me, and als a thef vmsoght Line 15846 wid lantern apon nightertale, and i ne fled ȝu noght? [F]orsoth i neuer se[r]ued it, in dede ne ȝeit in sau, Line 15850 In þe temple was i wont to teche men ilk dau, Quar all þe folk was wont to cum wid maistris of þe lau. Line 15854 Maistir was þar nane sua gret þat i dred for þair au, Ne of þe thinges þat i said, mi word wid skil wid-drau. Line 15858 [N]u er ȝe comen me to take, all in mirknes of night, And nu haue ȝe here tane me widvten ani plight. Line 15862 For ȝe me hate all to dede, haue ȝe nanoþer right, Bot suilk it es, ȝur time," he said, "mirknes widvten light. Line 15866 Ful ilhaile þan troud ȝe iudas, þat maledight, Mekil pine puruaid es ȝu, bot mare till him es dight." Line 15870

[H]is hend þai band and ledd him forth, a-trott and noght þe pas, Right to þair auen bischop, his name was called cayphas. Mate and weri war þai þan, Line 15875 þai ne wist quarfor it was,

þar he liuerd his maistir up, Line 15879 þai bunden had wid las, Line 15880 Ne left þai noght bi-hind þaim Line 15877 þat fals felun iudas. Line 15878 þe feluns him logh till hething Line 15881 on ilk side, allas! [P]etre folud him on ferr, for durst he noght in sight, Line 15884 For wonder gladli wald he witt of þe ending if he might. To cayphas hus he him come, [folio 107a:1] and þider in he tight, Line 15888 Nu i hope it halden bes þat crist him forwid hight. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [Q]uen he was to þat palais comen, spered it was þe ȝate, A knauen freind he had þar-ine, and in he did him late Line 15896 Preuili widin his mode, for was he neuer sua mate, Gladdli wald he speke and spir bot at quam he ne wate; Line 15900 [Q]uat suld of his maistir worth, wit he wald ful faine. A quile forward he ȝode, a quile him drou againe, Line 15904 Quat þai wald wid his maister do gladli wald he fraine. For sare he dred þat syden fell wid þaim he suld be slaine. Line 15908 [A] fire was kindlid on þe place, þe night it was ful cald, Mani drogh abute þat fire for thinges þat war tald. Line 15912

Line 15912 Petir didir-ward he drogh, þogh he was vnbald, Line 15914 A sergant þer was war of him, and gun him to bihald. [Q]uen þis man hade avised him, and þar he sau him stand, Line 15918 "yoene," he said, "es ane of his þat wid vs es in band." "Ebberthwert nai," said he, "ȝe misunderstand, Line 15922 Ne wist i neuer quat he was siþen i was born in land."

[H]ad noght petre bot a littel vnethes þeþin gane, Line 15926 Quen anoþer wid him mett and said, "dis ilk es ane Of his felauschip forsoth, dos þat he be tane." Line 15930 "I," said petir, "c[n]aulage of him?" he said, "i neuer nane," [A]nd þis he drou him to þe ȝate, faine wold he be þar-vte, Line 15934 Bot þar he mett a womman sone þat did him mast to dute. Him þis scho said, "forsoth i sau lang ar wid him in route, Line 15938 þu sais noght sotht 'i knau him noght ne neuer was þar a-boute.' " "[I] knau him noght, for-soth," he said, þar-to his ath he suare;— Line 15942 Bi þis was time of night passid ouer midnight and mare. þan bigan þe koc to krau, þe time was comen þare, Line 15946 Petre þan him vnbitoght, þe word him said was are,

And went him forth vte of þat curt, wepand ful selli sare. Line 15950

[I]esus þan turned him abute, o petre eie he keist, þan wist he comen his maistir word widvten langer frest. Line 15954 Quen he him-self it vnderstode, almast his herte wald brest. þat night he did him till a roche, þar vnder for-to reist, Line 15958 For he ne wist quiþerward to weind, ne wat þat him was best.

[I]t es writen of þis iudas quen he had done þat sin, Line 15962 wid his penis þat he tock, went till his moder in. "Modir, i haue mi maistir sald, [folio 107b:1] sal he na man bigin, Line 15966 An in mi purs þe pris i bere, sumquat mon i win." [I]udas was iesus aumoner, bath thepf and traitur bald, Line 15970 Alle þat was till him bitaght ful seldin again him ȝalde. Of his theft and of his feluni, his modir alle he tald, Line 15974 And hu he to þe iuus had his auen maistir sald. "[S]un, has þu þi maistir sald?" "modir," he said, "ȝa." Line 15978 "þu," scho said, "nu sal be scheint, i wat þai will him sla, To dede þu sal se him be done, bot he sal rise þer fra." Line 15982 "Rise vp modir eft?" he said, "na sertis! ne bes it noght sua,

[N]e sal he neuer rise eft, treuli nou i þe hight, Line 15986 Are sal þis ilk coke vp rise was skaldid ȝisternight!" vnethes had he said þe word, þe coke lep up on flight Line 15990 Feþerid fairer þan biforn, creu thoru grace of dright; And þan bigan þe traitur fals Line 15993 to drede him for his pligh[t]. [þ]is it was þat ilke coke, þat petir herd him crau, Quen he had nitt his lauerd thrijs he did him-seluen knau. Line 15998 Specke we nu hu þai iesus ledd, þis folk widvten lau, Bath hider and þedir, bot þai ne wist quider þat þai wald him drau; þe lath despite þai till him did, Line 16003 es soru i-wiss, to schau. [A]ll þat night he was in hand amang þat cursed lede, Line 16006 Apon þe morn ran diderward þe folk, als þai wald wede. þe lauerdinges all quar eftir sent to be bifor þis dede. Line 16010 Petre, quen he sau þe dai, till his felaus he ȝede, He went þan forto visite þaim, for þar-of had þai nede, Line 16014 A sorfuler night might na man haue, ne he had, als we rede.

[The Trial before Caiaphas and Pilate.]

[I]n sir cayphas hus þai helde þair gadering, Line 16018

Line 16018 Again þair lege lauerd, i-wiss, to heued him oþer to hing. Line 16020 All þai gederid of þe tune, bath fre man and dring, And sent to pilate þair procketur, and did him dider bring, Line 16024 For he was sett vte ouer þaim vnder cesar þe king.

[S]ir pilate come and askid þaim, in hething als it were, Line 16028 "Quare es ȝur king, ȝe do him bring forth bifor vs here." þai stirt þaim forth vnsternli, wid a ful baldli chere, Line 16032 "Parfai, pilat, þu him agh to hald nu ful vndere, þat king him mas widvten leue of cesar þe emperore, Line 16036 Ne herd þu neuer selcuth slike als þu of him sal here." [C]ayphas þat þair bischop was ful riche he was and rank, Line 16040 Alle þai gedrid at his curt, [folio 108a:1] and þar þai samen sank. Iesus þat in p[re]sun lai, ful hard þai did him hank, Line 16044 And bunden broght him forth als thef, þair will it was full wlank.

[þ]ai vmbithoght þaim on quat wisse þat þai might him wrei, Line 16048 And wid quat þing þai tittest might do him for to dei. Sir pilate on þaim biheld, of skill was sumdele sli, Line 16052 He knew sum-dele þair feluni, wist þaim was lef to li;

[H]e biheld þa bitter bald, hu þai said þair resun, Line 16056 And vnderstod þat þai him had tane all wid tresun. Pilate satt, and him abute, þe burgeises of þe tun, Line 16060 He louend na wight þat wick folk, for þai war ay felun. Bifor þaim iesus stod als a lamb, his heued drupand dun, Line 16064 On þaim he loked noght his heie, bot bad þair will ai bun. [M]ani lesing had þai mad again iesus þat day, Line 16068 Pilate did men herk and list all þat þai wald say. Bot he cuth find na skill quarfor plight on him to lay, Line 16072 For in þair auen sau þai said oft sith þan forkid þai. [V]p þar stert tua panteners in middes þat cunsile, Line 16076 And said on hei to sir pilate, "sir, herkin vs a quile. He þis es man, and mas him god, to gere men trou his gile, Line 16080 He es na godd ne goddes sun, of him we knau þe stile. [G]od men," þai said, "ȝeit es þar mare, herken, i sal ȝu tell, Line 16084 þat he in þe temple said, quar we herd him spell; He bad þat we þat temple suld all to þe grund it fell, Line 16088 He suld it raise þe thrid dai, no langer terme emell."

[w]id þis pilate vp he ras, iesus wid him he lede, Line 16092 And ȝode into þe pretori, þat was a sundri stede. Bi-tuix þaim tua he askid him quarfor he was sua medd, Line 16096 To þat folk him soght wid schame þat ansuer nane he bedd? "[S]eis þu noght, þat þai þe hate þir iuus, na-thing mare, Line 16100 If þai haue might wid vile dede nu will þai þe forfare. Ne heris þu noght on ilk side, hu þai apon þe rare, Line 16104 Again þair saus þat þai sai, qui ne giues þu þaim ansuare: Siþen men has said us þat þu es sua wis a man of lare; Line 16108 Sai iesus, qui dos þu dus to me na soth þu spare."

[A]t þir wordis come a man rinand fast in hij, Line 16112 And said þat he wald speke on-ane wid pilat priueli. A messager him tiþand broght fra his wif, þat leuedi, Line 16116 [folio 108b:1] Scho grett him wele and tiþand sent, de quilk he had redi. "[þ]i wijf es sumdele iuel at ese, and þat es for a sight Line 16120 þat scho in hir sleping sau, nu þis ilke night, Of þis iesu, þat nu þis folk has tan widvten plight. Line 16124 word scho sendis þe forþi, if ani wai þu might

þat þu thole him noght to dei, for it war gret vnright." Line 16128 [Q]uen pilate had þis tiþand herd, and wele it vnderstode, He broght wid him iesus again, and to þat curt he ȝode. Line 16132 "Gode men," he said, "i can noght find nu in þis man bot gode, For he ne es noght worthi to dei, als me thinc in mi mode. Line 16136 Bot schourges him and lates him ga, quen ȝe mai se þe blod." "[D]o wai," said þai, "nu sir pilate, quarfor þan sais þu sua, Line 16140 we will it grant on nanekin wise þat he suld scap vs fra. He mas him king, and wald be cald, and þu wat wele þat sua Line 16144 Mas him king widuten leue, hes þe emperurs fa. Of galile þan es he born [[The MS. has "þe folk" here, twice in the long line.]] þe folk he dos mis-ga." Line 16148

[Q]uen þat pilate herd þaim sai he was of galile, Thoght he wald haue sauued him, to drede þan gan he, Line 16152 For herodis was þat ilk siquar keper of þat contre. Bunden iesus als he was, alsua he lete him be, Line 16156 And wid his sergantes he him sent till herodes forto se. [F]orto wreth sir herodes mare pilat thoght ful laith, Line 16160 For he and he had samen bene, forwid selcuth wrath,

Forto do his breth to bu, of him þat was ful brath. Line 16164 Herodes had grenid him to se, þar forwid mani ratht; [H]erodes grenid him to se, and of his come was faine; Line 16168 wid his knithes vp he ras, and went all him againe. Of him he wend haue signes sene, for noght, all was in vaine, Line 16172 Ne wald he neuer on him bi-hald, fo[r] thing þat he might fraine. [B]ot ȝeit þe ius find noght, to seke iesu wid wrake, Line 16176 þai praid herodes þat he ne suld no praier for him make, Ne helpe him noght, ne he ne did, all for þe iuus sake. Line 16180 ȝeit i hope þat þai sal bath grisli bifor him qwake.

[Q]uilis þat herodes wid him spack, and he ansuerd him noght, Line 16184 For he had grened him to se þar-for it him for-thoght, For had he anikin signe forwid herodes wroght, Line 16188 Had noght þe ius him done to dede for thing þai cuth or moght. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [H]e askid him all priueli, qui þai him had sua soght, Line 16196 "Speke wid me, and sai me qui, [folio 109a:1] and all sal be for noght."

And iesus held him stille, als he noght of him-seluen roght: Line 16200 A purprin cleth þai on him kest, and gain to pilate broght I[n] takking he was a fole, his witt bot littil doght. Line 16204

[A]pon sir herodes halue þai grett wele sir pilate, And said, "ȝe er freindes made, þe sotht þar-of we wate, Line 16208 He has þe sent þis man again right in þat ilke state. A word wid him ne wald he speke, ne anes lift vp his late. Line 16212 [H]e es þe selcuthest man, þat euere ȝeit we sei, For he wald nouþer chaunge his chere for lau man ne for hei, Line 16216 Nouþer ansur for to giue, ne anes lift vp his hei. Bot herodes thankes þe þi sand, forsoth we sal noght lij." Line 16220 "[C]ertis," said pilate to þaim, "þat thinck me nu ful gode, Bot giues me consail if ȝe can, þat menged es in mi mode. Line 16224 þis gode man es of mekil witt, qua it welle vnderstode, Bot he has wrethed ȝu, for-qui ȝe er wid him sua wode. Line 16228 I rede men chasti him þarfor, and bete him to þe blode. [G]ode men quat es þan ȝur dome, sais me sertainli," Line 16232 All þai said, "he be done on rode, and þat in hij."

"Better most ȝe sai þan sua," coth pilat, "sua rede I, Line 16236 To uarn ȝur consaile better it es þan to do mare foli." [P]ilat was ful wrath i-wiss, wid þaim þat ilk dai, Line 16240 "Man," he said, "qui dos þu þus, þat þu will na-þing sai Againes þaim þat folus [[MS. fouls]] þe; nouþer ȝe ne nai? Line 16244 For þi state þu au to speke, to bring þi-self a wai. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [Q]ui es þe sua lath to speke? bot ansuer þaim, i rede, Ne seis þu noght hu þat þis folk þe hates to þe dede? Line 16252 A freind has þu nogh bituix þaim, for all þai er þi fede, If þu will noght helpe þi-self, men haldes þe for quede. Line 16256 [S]ai me þu queþer þat þu be goddes sun or nane, þat i mai witt it wittirli." þan ansuerd he on-ane, Line 16260 "I [am] his sun, als þu has said þat all lese be wane; þat sal be sene quen sothfastnes sal quilum be ouertane, Line 16264 [T]rou it qua-sum will it trou, i sal ȝu cheu ȝe right, For to climb þe cludes all þe sun sal haue þe might. Line 16268 And for his freindes efterward, dune þan sal he light,

Noght in priuite i sai, bot in ȝur aller sight." Line 16272 [W]ele at þis word was he herd wid þat curced lede, All up þai ras and gaue a cri, [folio 109b:1] right als þai wald wede. Line 16276 "Quat mister es of witnesing again him forto lede? His auen muth nu has him dampnid, of witnes es no nede. Line 16280 Dos him on rode, þat ranson nane sua bald befor him bede." [Q]uid þis a sergant forth him stret þat stod ama[n]g þaim þare, Line 16284 He lifte his hand and a buffet he gaue iesu ful sare, And said eftsones, "speke bot skill and wordis slik na mare, Line 16288 For þi missau þat all has herd maldat þat þe qua spare." . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Iesus þan lifted vp his face and loked on þat felun, "Freind," he said, "qui smites þu me wid-vten right resun, Line 16296 Ar þat þu þi word had mendid, quat es þine achesun? þe man þat es noght ouertane in mote to smite it es tresun." Line 16300 [P]ilate him ras, and forth he ȝode vte of þe pretori, þis felun folk iesus þai ledd, foluand him wid cri. Line 16304 Pilate said þaim and bad þai suld do him no vilani,

For quat ending þe mote suld take, þai wist noght witterli. Line 16308 [I]ntill a chambir went pilate þan priuili him ane, And iesus thoru his comandment, þar-in wid him es gane. Line 16312 Pilate him sone to resun did wid wordes mani ane, "God man," he said, "þu sai me qui þu ert als presun tane, Line 16316 Thoru þis bischop and his men þat þu ert to be-taght? wele knaus þu þaim, and þai þe, þat þe has to me laght. Line 16320 Ert þu goddes [sun]," he said, "es of sua mekil maght?" "Soth," he said, "qui askes þu, it es þe forwid taght." Line 16324 "[þ]e soth þu sai me," said pilate, "quarfor þu es þair fa, Iwate and seis þai wile noght fine, bituix and þai þe sla. Line 16328 Ne wate þu þat þe pauste is mine to spill or lat þe ga?" þan said iesus to sir pilate, "me thinck it es noght sua, Line 16332 [F]or if þu pouste haue a quile, þu sal noght haue it ay. I haue it of godd and es his sun if i þe soth sal say." Line 16336 Pilate seis þat wid na word ouer-cum him he ne may, Of his clathes vnclad him, and oþer did on him lay. Line 16340 [S]ua he sent him cled again to þaim þat war his fas,

Apon his heued a crune he sette, in hething all, allas! Line 16344 Iesus thoght ful mekil schame quen he sua schorned was, For cuth he neuer wid suilk be cled, forwid in nankin cas. Line 16348 Iesus thoght ful mekil schame, and luted dune his chere, þis þai said, "it es ȝur king, [[MS. kimg]] lo! him bifor ȝu here." Line 16352 Loude bigan þai forto cri [folio 110a:1] þat all moght ouer-here, "Gas nu and take ȝu him bliue, we wald on rode he were." Line 16356 [A]ll þai crid als wid a mouth, "naile him on rode tre!" "Sai ȝe noght sua," said sir pilate, "þat es no rede of me, Line 16360 He agh noght dei for na resun þat i can in him see." þai said ilkane, "þis ilk man bot he ne dampned be, Line 16364 þe freindschip sal þu lele forsoth bituix cesar and þe." [P]ilate said þan, "lo! here ȝur king, bot herke i sal ȝu sai, Line 16368 To moru it es ȝur mekil fest þat ȝe halu in ȝur lay, A presun er ȝe wont at haue, for resun of þe day. Line 16372 Askes quilksum þat ȝe wille, ȝe sal it haue parfay, Askes þan ȝur king, and i ȝu sal noght nic it nay." Line 16376 "Quarfor," coth þai þan, "sais þu sua? leue maistir, do wai!

[O]f þis iesus speke þu na mare, bot of anoþer man, Line 16380 þe quilk þat we haue till vs tane, his name es baraban." "Of ȝour king þat es in hand, quat aghtel ȝe do þan?" Line 16384 "Do him on tre;" "sackles es he als fer se sum i can." Eft þis word ai mare and mare to cri þai all bigan. Line 16388 "[S]elcuth vs thinc of þe, pilate, wid dreching forto drill, we haue vs chosin barabaras, algat him haue we will." Line 16392 Pilate him thoght þair grening alle þat he it wild fulfill, Quen he wele sau þat all his soigne, þai tok it bot till ill, Line 16396 Iesus þat all to-drauen was to skourge he taght þaim till. [Q]uen þat pilate sau na bote gain þaim lang to striue, Line 16400 Of iesus dede he þoght þe sake all fra him-seluen driue, vp he ras and wess his hend emidward þat folk bliue. Line 16404 "All ȝe se," he saide, "þat i am sacles of his liue." [þ]ai crid all on hei, "pilate be still, thar ȝe noght drede, Line 16408 His blod on vs be and on þaim þat of vs sal brede." And sua it es, god it wat, sene on alle þair sede, Line 16412 For nu er þai als thrallis made vnder all oþer lede.

[P]ilate stud vp on his fete emidward þat gret gedering, Line 16416 "Pes," he said, "lo here to ȝu es liuerd vp ȝur king. I here ȝu sai ȝe will him do on rode tre to hing." Line 16420 "Do wai pilate till vs," said þai, "feris noght to do sli thing, [w]e haue vr lau," said þai, "þat we liue in inland, Line 16424 Eftir þe laue þan sal he dei, þis sal þu vnderstand." Pilate forthoght þaim bath to wreth, he wald þaim hald in hand, Line 16428 To þat wilful wode he taght [folio 110b:1] þe lauerd es all-weldand. [þ]an was þat suete sackeles flesse done to mekil wrang, Line 16432 First þai band him till a tre, and wid skourges him suang Fra þe heued to þe fote, ouer all þe blod oute wrang. Line 16436 Siþen þai crouned him wid thorn, þat thorn his heued thrang, And bitaght þaim at þair will, har sargant for to hang. Line 16440 þe manslaer, þat barabas, es loused of presun, And vr lauerd es ledd to sla widvten ani chesun. Line 16444 vte of presun þat haue þai tane þe thef and þe felun, And on rode þai go to hing þe lauerd and þe barun; Line 16448 þai and all þe sede of þaim has goddes malisun.

[a]n euil chaunge haue þai þaim made, þaa fals, þaa felun fode, Line 16452 Quen þai þe fine gold forsok, and toke þaim to þe lede; þai ches þaim-self dampnaciun thoru þair auen rede, Line 16456 And broght vs till saluaciun, þaim seluen to þe dede. [I]udas stod emang þat folk, to bihald and sei Line 16460 Hu vili þai wid him delt, and quat schame he gan drei. Quen he sau þar was na soygne, bot his lauerd sud dei, Line 16464 þan him reud of his res, and went himself to wri. [Q]uen þat he sau his maister sua be casten alle to care, Line 16468 wid his penis forth he lepe þat he had rescaiued are; þan him reud his marchandis, allas! caitiue ful of sare. Line 16472 "Ha," he said, "quat ȝe er a felun folke, for ȝe can na man spare, Here i ȝeild ȝu ȝur mone, giues me again mi ware. Line 16476 [F]ul wrather-haile to mine bihoue haue i tan þis mone, For þe sackeles blod of him, for right-wis man es he. Line 16480 Allas! þat euer i was till him made sua priue, þat þe erd þe time þat i was born ne had bisuelid me. Line 16484 Takes," he said, "ȝur penis here a felun folk er ȝe,"

"Han we noght þar-of to do," said þai, "þu sal þi seluen se. Line 16488 [A]ll for noght," said þai, "iudas þe marchandis es made." He left þe penis on þe flore, and sone awai he glade. Line 16492 "þai will," he said, "þe rightwis sla widuten ani bade, And all sal nu of tresun speke, ouer all þis world sua brade; Line 16496 [I] sal mi-seluen on me wreke, of þis marchandis wrang, For þis rightwis ful wratherhale, toke euere i þis fang." Line 16500 A rape he gat him preuili, þat he wist was strang, And fast he fest aboute his hals, him-self þar-wid he hang. Line 16504 He brast in tua his buelis alle, [folio 111a:1] vte at his wambe þai wrang, þe sari saul þar-vte he sent, widvten þat sorful thrang. Line 16508 [v]te at his wamb þe saule brast, at muth had it na wai, þat he wid kist cristes muth, als ȝe are herd me say, Line 16512 Quen he come als a traitur fals his auen lauerd to be-trai; Sli dede was neuer, als men sais, herd bifor þat dai. Line 16516 [D]ed es caitiue iudas nu, þat traitur has to name, Of his vgli marchandis has all þis world þe fame. Line 16520 His knightes mai men call all þaa þair lauerd dos spite or schame,

To dei als he for þair seruis and hell haue to þair hame. Line 16524 [N]u es iudas dede wid schame, als ȝe herd me telle, And to þe warlou all bitaght þat hurles hard in hell. Line 16528 "Lo! here þe preis," he said, "þat i gun for mi lauerd sell," He kest þaim dune apon þe grund, threti penis þar fell. Line 16532 [B]ot þe iuus, þat all wold haue, þe thresur forsok þai noght, wid þe pris of þat hali blode a potter place þai boght. Line 16536 To be done in þair corbanan, þai said þat it ne doght, Acheldemack þai cald þe feild, for it wid blode was boght, Line 16540 Forto delue in vncuth men þat to þat cite soght. [I]esus crist, vr sauueur, was dampned to do of dau, Line 16544 To be hanged on a tre, als þan was thefis lau. Bot swilk a tre þaim wantid alle als writen es in sau; Line 16548 þai said þai wold þe kinges tre vnto þat mister sau, For it was comanded þai it suld vte of þe temple drau. Line 16552 [þ]an went þai to þe temple suith, in tua þis tre þai schare, Als mekil als þai sau þat gained, þai tok þaim and na mare. Line 16556 þai fand it als nu and fress als it on stouid ware.

All quat þai wald þar-of to schape, fand þai na letting þare, Line 16560 [w]idvten rotte, widvten brest, it smelde selcuth suete, Forto make þis werk þarof, widvten letting it lete. Line 16564 Bote forto bere vte of þe kirc þa fand it ful vnmete, For þeym might þai for na thing, it stir a fote of strete. Line 16568 [T]ua houndreth men sent cayphas to fett a-wai þat tre, þai most þan ouer heu it þar or forto late it be. Line 16572 þe rode þai schop þan als þai wald, als we þe taken se, Of cedre, cypres, and of pine, als writen es of þaim thre. Line 16576 [A]pon þe heued hei on þe rode, ouer þar was done a brid, þar war þe lettris written in of mani a man war red. Line 16580 [folio 111b:1] Quen it was wroght þai all ne moght stir it vte of þe stede, Bituix and þat ur lauerd crist was þedir him-seluen ledd. Line 16584 [Q]uen he come to þat suete tre þe felunes to him said, "Take it vp," þai said, "þu seis hu it es to þe graid." Line 16588 He lutede dune and kist it sone, and at þe first braid, Widvten ani help of man vpon his bac it laid. Line 16592 [I]nto þe tune forth he it bare, bifor þat cursed lede.

þai met a bisen man i-wis, him þai gun þai nede, Line 16596 At take þe tane end of þe tre to ga better spede. Half feird ellen was þe lenth, and oþer half þe brede, Line 16600 And þan to the mount of caluari all þar-wid þai ȝode. [A]pon þe mont oliuete þai sett þis rode tre, Line 16604 Mani man folud of þat tun, and mani of þat contre, Sum for gode and sum for ill, all come him forto se; Line 16608 Mani þar grete and mani þar logh, of þat gret semble. [þ]e riche men þai skorned him, and did all þat þai moght Line 16612 Hu þai him might do mast dispite, on ilk-a side þai soght. A crune apon his heued þai sett of scharp tre was wroght, Line 16616 þat in a hundred stedes, i-wiss, þe red blod vte broght. [þ]ai cled him in a mantil rede, toke of his auen wede, Line 16620 And siþen in his hand þai sett a mekil staf of rede; And wid him plaid sittisott, and bad þat he suld rede Line 16624 Quilk of þaim him gaue þe dint; sare agh þai for him drede. Sare þai agh þaim drede, þe folk þat war sua felle, Line 16628 þe schame þai on vr lauerd soght, ful store it war to telle!

þai did him sitt als he war king, on kneis bifor him felle, Line 16632 "All haile vr king," suilk was þe hething, þai draue him þaim emell. þai spitted on his luueli face, þa disciplis of hell, Line 16636 þai hailced him bifor, bihinde, þai gaue him buffetes snell. [G]rett it was þat folk to se, þat gedrid to þat thrang, Line 16640 ȝong and alde, man and wif, þai wep and handes wrang. "ȝe fole mistrouand folk," þai said, "qui will ȝe algat hang Line 16644 þe man þat neuer plight has done? mekil haue ȝe þe wrang." [A]ls þai quaned iesus þus, wommen of þat cite, Line 16648 Iesus turned him abute and þus to þaim said he; "Wimmen, wimmen, do wai! ne wepe ȝe noght for me, Line 16652 Bot on ȝur childer and ȝur-self, for ȝeit þe dai mon se þe baraine blisced sal men calle; for soth þis sal men se. Line 16656 [folio 112a:1] [B]lisced sal men hald þair wamb þat neuer barnes bare, þe pappe þat neuer suken was, for in þat time of care Line 16660 þe fellis sall þai bidd on þam fall, sua hid wald þai þai ware. Quen suilk in grene tre es wroght, in dri sal mekil mare." Line 16664

[The Crucifixion and Burial.]

[þ]e knightes þat war wid him sett, þai iesu sone un-clede, And ledd him to þat rode tre, and þar-on þai him sprede, Line 16668 þar he gaue his suete flesse for vr ransun in wede. Iesu þu haue merci on vs, þat sua sare for vs blede! Line 16672 [þ]ai nailed him opon þat tre, on þe mont caluare, And a thef on eþer side þai hinged þar him bi, Line 16676 þat þai all suld vnderstand ȝode þat wai bi, Of þir tua theues, als qua sai, "þair maistir thef am I." Line 16680 þe chesun of his dede þai wrat abouen his heued on hij; [A]bouen his heued, als i ȝu tell, a bord was festind plat, Line 16684 þar-on it was þe titel writen, thoru rede of sir pilat. "Iesus nazarene, of iuus king," þar apon he wrat, Line 16688 Of ebru, gru, and latine, for to schind his state. [T]o quilis þai goddes wiþerwines him nailed to þe tre, Line 16692 For þaim þat did him all þat schame, his praier þus made he, "Fadir," he said, "forgiue þu þaim þat þai do gaines me, Line 16696 For quat þai do, þai er sua blind, þai can noght seluen se."

[A]bute his cirtil drou þai cutt, qua suld it bere a-wai, Line 16700 Till him þai mekil heþing made þat walked bi þat wai. "Haile! þu struyer of temple, art þu nu þare," said þai, Line 16704 "And said þat þu suld cast it dune, and raisid þe thrid dai. Haile oþer men was þu ofte wont, þi-self hele if þu mai." Line 16708 [þ]as oþer said, "if he be crist, als he did men to trou, He do him-self doune of þe rode, and all we sal him bu." Line 16712 Mekil heþing þai of him made, bath sarazin and Iu, Te teind part of þair despiitt, i mai noght tell to ȝu! Line 16716 [O]f theifs þat biside him hang, þe tane him gane vpbraid, "þu sauue nu bath þe-self and vs if þu be crist," he said. Line 16720 þe toþer theif him gaf ansuer, and blamed him a braid, And said, "þu dredes litil godd, þat þis paine es on laid. Line 16724 [L]ittil dredis þu drightin, or his mekil might, þe dome þat es nu giuen on vs, we haue it all wid right; Line 16728 And þis man, wat we wele þat he es all widvten plight. Haue merci lauerd! on me quen þu bes in þi rike sua bright!" Line 16732 [folio 112b:1] Till him he gaue ful suete ansuer, "forsoth to þe i hight,

þat þu sal be in paradis wid me þis ilke night." Line 16736 þis thef þat hang on his right hand, dismas to name he hight, Gesmas hight þe toþer thef, þat was all maledight. Line 16740 Bi þis was vndrin of þe dai, þan mirkind all þe light, [H]is apostlis was fled him fra, durst na man wid him bide, Line 16744 Bot ane, his modir and saint iohn, þat duelled bi his side. Foluand him in wele and wa, þai sau þat sorful tide, Line 16748 Fra þan was mirknes ai to none, ouer all þis world wide. [H]is modir and mari magdalene, and mari cleophe, Line 16752 And iohn his dere cosin, stode bi þe rode tre. Iesus þan sau his modir wepe, of hir he had gret pete, Line 16756 "Modir, iohn sal be þi sun fra nu, instede of me. And þi modir, mi dere cosin, þu loke hir hir," said he, Line 16760 Fra þan he his leuedi lagh[t] in his ward for to be. [B]i þis it was þe dai sua gane, þat comen was to none, Line 16764 Iesus wald wele þe prophecis war all til ending done. þan he said, "me threstes sare," a suain stirt forth alsone, Line 16768 And bedd him bitter gall to drinc, bath weri him sun and mone! [[up to p. 961]]

[þ]at bitter drinc þat he him gaf, he bedd his muth þar till, Line 16772 He tasted it, bot noght he dranc, for it was selcuth ill. For þe mekil blod he bled als he moght, spac he still, Line 16776 "To þe fadir ȝeilde i mi gast, nu haue i done þi will." [Q]uen him was bedd þat bitter drinc of aisel and of gall, Line 16780 þat blisced saule he ȝeild for vs, his heued dune lett he fall. þe dai wex mirk þan þe night, þe erd it choke wide all, Line 16784 þe stanes brast, þe temple clef in tu, bath rofe and wall. [L]auerd! þat all þis world in hand has lokin als a balle, Line 16788 þu reu on care of cristen men þat can bot on þe call; Nameli on þat dreri dai, quen þu þaim deme sall, Line 16792 þu lat þaim noght þat þu sua boght bicum þe feindes thrall. [S]ua fersli þe erd quock þe grauis it vndid, Line 16796 þat mani man ras to þe lijf in erd was forwid hidd. And come to tune emang þa men, to þair freindes þaim kidd; Line 16800 þan bigan mani a man to drede for farlis þat bitidd. [þ]e word it come to sir pilate to þaim þat war on stadd, Line 16804 Of all-kin thinges þat bifell, quarfor he wex ful radd.

widvten mete and drinc þat dai in soru was he stadd; Line 16808 Eftir þe maistir iuus he sent, [folio 113a:1] þai come als he þaim badd, "[H]aue ȝe nu sene, quat sai ȝe me of thinges þat er done?" Line 16812 "Oft siths haue we sene," said þai, "esclepis of sun and mone." A rightwis man was in þat lede als þar was funden quone, Line 16816 Ioseph of arimathi he hight, till heuen þan gan he hone. Of iesus bodi all for to beri he askid pilate his bone, Line 16820 And pilate had selcuth þat he had giuen þe gast sua sone. [þ]e iuus for þe mekil fest, þat on þe moru suld be, Line 16824 þai said þat bodi suld be nane left hangand on þe tre. "Fellis þaim dune als ȝe best thinck, for paid i am," said he, Line 16828 þe tua þai fand sumdel in lijf, of eþer þai brac þe thie. [B]ot quen þat þai till iesus come, þai fand him dede as stone, Line 16832 For þai wist þat he was dede, of him þai brac no bone. Bot longeus þe blind, wid a spere (of knightes was he one) Line 16836 Thoru his side vnrekenli apon his herte it rane; . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [B]lod and watir vte of his side ran, selcuth mekil wane, Line 16842

Line 16842 And of þat blod ran till hijs ei he gate his sight on-ane. Line 16844 He þat sau it þus he said, his wittnes es, saint iahne, For þat man of his freinschip, was sua ner was bi him ane. Line 16848 Ioseph, þat his freind was lele, was of arimathie, Ne grantted neuer wid will ne werk, to þaire gret felune, Line 16852 He and sir nicodeme alsua, als tellis vs þis storie. wid leue of pilate to þe rode þai went þaim priueli, Line 16856 þar sorfulest of all þai fant, saint iohn and mari. [þ]e rode it was wid lieif and brac florist wele selcuthli, Line 16860 Fra þe middai to þe complene þat mani toght farli; Bot þogh þe iuus þat it sau thoght selcuth ne for-þi, Line 16864

Line 16864 Nouþer þai gaue man, ne þai toke ensampel god þar-bi; Bot on þe morn of þat grening, þe tre als ar was dri. Line 16868 [V]te þai drou þe nailes thre, and toke his bodi dune, wid winding clath and riche smerel, hiis birijng made þai bune. Line 16872 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] A stane he til him-self had wroght, ioseph, þat god barune, Line 16876 þai delued him þare derworthli, in a ȝard bisides þe tune. [þ]e murning þat his moþer made mai na man rede in rune. Line 16880 Sone of þis was tiþand tald to þaa iuus felune, þai come to pilate and þus-gat þai did him resune. Line 16884 "Sir," þai said, "nu will vs drede men sal vs do tresune, Sir," þai said, "he, yon traitur, yon letter of vr lai, Line 16888 vs menis quilis he was in liue [folio 113b:1] þat we herde sum say, þat he suld haue bath might and strenth to rise þe thred day; Line 16892 For-þi es skill þat daies thre ȝeming on him we lay. [I]f his desciplis cum bi night to stele him þan away, Line 16896 And sais till all he resen es, þar bes ane iuel play; þan sal rise mare þan bi-forn euer again ur lay." Line 16900

Line 16900 "Gas," said pilate, "and dos him kepe þe best wise þat ȝe may." Line 16902 [þ]e prins of þe preistes of þe lau went to þat monument, And sperid it wid a mekil stane, to turne enogh had tuent. Line 16906 þai did þair selis þar-apon, are þat þai þeþen went, Armed knightes þar þai left þat to þe tumb suld tent; Line 16910 Bot quen þat he ras to liue þai caitiues war bot schent. [I]oseph wald haue a-wai þe rode, þe iuus it him forbedd, Line 16914 þat ilke night þaim-self it did a-way for to be ledd; wid þe theifs croices tuin, quen all war gane to bedd, Line 16918 And groue þaim thre for cristen men, widin a preue stedd. Forþi þai bar þe maliscon of him þat þar-on bledd. Line 16922 [N]u es þe crois grauen vnder grete, and iesus vnder stane, And hinges all hope of hali kirc in mari mild allane. Line 16926 Ay till iesus þe thrid dai had fughten again sathane, And werid him in his auen bitt, als hund es on a bane, Line 16930 [A]nd als þe fiss wid a baite apon þe hoke es tane, For if he sau him man als man, his goddhed sau he noght. Line 16934 To-quilis his fless lay vnder grete, his gast till hell es gane,

þat wid þe might of his goddhed, he ras him-self on-ane. Line 16938 [T]horu a tre, als ȝe haue herd, was all man-kind mad thrall, And throru his hali rode tre, þan war we frelsed all. Line 16942 Again þat appil adam ete was giuen iesus þe gall, All þe pinis of þis world Line 16945 to tell þaim þai war ful small, Again þe lest of his to drei, if i ȝu lije na sall; [F]or he þat neuer no sin did, vr sinnes all he bare, Line 16950 And vilelik for vs was ledd, als i haue tald ȝu are. For vr sakis þat we had done he suffred all þe sare, Line 16954 Noght a lim of his licame suffred he to spare; And siþen his lijf he for vs gaue, quat might he þaim do mare. Line 16958 [H]e þat did velanije neuere, ne neuer þar-to thoght, vr sinnes and vr vilaniie ful dere on him he boght; Line 16962 Sua wele he luued vs þat na-thing of him-self he roght, And alle þe wrake on him he toke, [folio 114a:1] þat oþer men had wroght. Line 16966 [A]ll þe tunges of þis werld cuth noght tell þe tend, Ne all þe hertis cuth noght thinc hu he till vs was hend. Line 16970 Es nane þat he ne aght to reu sare þe soru of suilk a freind,

þat sli baret on him wald bere to lede vs all to leind Line 16974 [A]nd thinc ȝu na selcuth of þis, for ȝeit i sai ȝu mare; All þe sekenes of þis werld if a man on him bare, Line 16978 And þat man of all oþer men might suffer all þair sare, Again his pine bot als ane vre, littel or noght it ware. Line 16982 [Q]uar thoru i might liue in lijf a hundred thousand ȝere, And i might anis for his luue ilk dai dey sere; Line 16986 All þat i might drie to pine, to sare and to torfere, Again þe pine he for me dregh, bot als i-noght it were. Line 16990 [þ]an may men say þat his pine was hardir for to drei, þan it war þe pine of hell, in als lange a quili. [[read quile]] Ya! forsoth þat mai men se, Line 16995 þat es of skil aght sley, He was sua mighti in him-self, his kind it was sua hei. Line 16998 [A]nd for þat iesus had in him sua grete might and vertu, þat þar was neuer man þat had sua mekil als we trou. Line 17002 In sum-kin schaft might thole þe pine of hell, als we wat hu, þat es to say, widvten end, þan semis wele, þat iesu Line 17006 Tholed harder pine in als lang, men mai it wele avou.

[M]annes saul thoru kind it louis þe bodi sua, Line 17010 þat it wold neuer if it might þe bodi self forga. Do man it neuer sua mekil pine, ne sua mekil wa, Line 17014 Till bodi haue tint his wittes fiue, þe saule wil noght þar fra. [H]ering, sight, smelling and fele, cheuing er wittes fiue, Line 17018 All sal be tint ar saule passe, quen þe herte sal riue. Kind na saule suffris are, to part wid man a-liue; Line 17022 Bot iesus þat swa mighti was, suffred harder þe striue, þan ani man þat es or was, or sal be born of wijfe. Line 17026 [F]or þis ilke suete iesus had sua mekil might and maine, þat it semis wele to be, and sotht it es all plaine, Line 17030 þat he has an hundreth syth dublid þis ilke paine, And es na man þat es in skill þat agh say here againe. Line 17034 [Q]uilis he hang on þat suete tre, als it es forwid tald, His hali saule till fadir his wid voice ful hei he ȝald. Line 17038 þar scheud he him for mighti god, þat all thing has in wald, And sua to make vr ransuning, [folio 114b:1] for vs him-self he sald. Line 17042 [H]a! þu blisced mai of all, of þe quat mai i say?

Of þi soru, mari milde, þu hade in hert þat day. Line 17046 þat dai it was þi passiune, mai nane þarwid sai nay, Quen þu þi suete sun sua sau be ledd wid tene and tray. Line 17050 [B]ot comen it es þe nu þe suord þat thoru þine herte stang, þat symeon wid propheci had hight þe forwid lang. Line 17054 Bot of ioy ane hundreth fald, he dublid þe þi sang, Quen he ras fra dede to lijf, Line 17057 wid his godde-hed sua strang. Bath þe birth and þe passion of iesus þat vs boght, If he ne had resin fra þe dede, had bene vs all for noght. Line 17062 Nu mai we se all opinli, þe fight till end es broght, þe werld succurrid, þe feind es feld, þat man wid soru soght. Line 17066 [I]n þe þan, leuedi, hang all vr trouth and fai, All men was in dute and were bot þu, leue hali mai! Line 17070 Til þi suete sun vp-ras þi trouth was stabil ai, Hu men agh vr lauerd leue, þu lered vs þar þe wai. Line 17074 [M]ari meke, þu moder es, ful of reuth and pete. Mirthful maiden, mild of all! fulfild of all bunte. Line 17078 Na man mai tell þe teind part þe bliscednes of þe!

vr trouth, vr hope, all bar þu þan, vr beild leuedi nu be, Line 17082 And pais vs wid þi suete sun þat hang for vs on tre. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Of him i haue þe passiun nu said, eftir mi might, Hu he egain vr witherwine, vr bataile toke to fight. Line 17090 þogh his it war þe paines all, vrs it was þe plight, He giue vs grace, haue part of blis, þat he til his has hight. Line 17094 And þat we mai widvten end, be wid him in his sight, þar ioy and blis es lastand ay, þat es in heuenes light, Line 17098 And speciali for me ȝe pray þat þis bock gart dight, Iohn of lindbergh, i ȝu sai þat es mi name ful right. Line 17102 If it be tint or dune a-way, treuli mi trouth i plight, Qua bringes it me widvten delay, i sal him ȝeild þat night. Line 17106 And qua it helis and haldis fra me, treuli i ȝu tell, Curced in kirc þan sal þai be wid candil, boke, and bell. [[The long lines end here, and the bottom of the page is written in two columns again. See the fac|simile.]] Line 17110

[A Discourse between Christ and Man.]

"[I]esus of mari born [folio 114b:1] For sinful man þat was for-lorn, I forsok mi fadir blis, Line 17113 And come in-til erde, i-wis.

I let me take and hard bind [folio 114b:2] For luue i had to manes kind, Line 17116 I tholid pouert, pine, and schame, All for sinful manes ane. Thinc, ai thinc, ai sinful man, [folio 115a:1] þu thinc on iesu, þi lemman. Line 17120 I stod naked als i was born þe wiked iuus þaim biforn, Bunden till a peler fast, To-quiles þe bandis might last; Line 17124 On mi bac i bar mi rode, Quen i to mi dede ȝode, Had neuer man sua mekil schame In erd for man-kin blame. Line 17128 þu sinful man þat gas bi me, Duel aquile and þu mai se, Duel aquile and fand to stand, Line 17131 Bihald mi fote, bihald mi hand! Mi bodi es wid skurges suongen, Breist, and heued, and fote thoru stongen I hing apon þis hard rode, For þe i gaue mi herte blode; Line 17136 þe thornis on mi hefd standis, Thirld am i, fote and handis. Bi-hald and se mi blodi side, þat for þi luue es opend wide; Line 17140 Put in and grape, mi suete freind, Take vte mi herte bituix þi heind; þen mai þu wid þin eien se Hu truli þat i loued ai þe. Line 17144 Fra mi croune vnto mi ta Ful i am of pine and wa; Bituix tua theues hang i here Als i thef and traitur were, Line 17148 Bifor mi moder eien, mari, þan tholid i all þis velani. [[up to p. 981]]

I haue nu mani blodi wondis, And suffrid here mani stondis, Line 17152 And dieid on þis rode tre, þu sinful man! for luue of þe. Siþen i haue þe sua dere boght, Line 17155 Quat ailis þe þu loues me noght? wid þi sine þu pinis me, [folio 115a:2] Als did þe iuus apon þe tre, wid athes grete and wick dede, oft þu geris mi wondis blede. Line 17160 þu sinful man! if þu cuth gode, Of agh þe thinc apon mi blode Night and dai, and all time, Birt þe thinc apon mi pine. Line 17164 wailewai! þu sinful man, Ne made i þe mi lemman, Ne haue i giuen þe all mi bliss And mi-self þar-wid, i-wiss, Line 17168 If þu neuer sua nobile ware; Quat þan might i giue þe mare? I ne wate on nanekin wise, þan bird þe thinc ai for to rise, Line 17172 Suith to rise and fand to blin, An for mi luue forsake þi sin. Forsake þi sin par charite, Line 17175 And fand to rise, and cum to me! I sal þe hals, i sal þe kisse, An bring þe to mi fadir blisse." Iesus, for þi hali blode þat þu sched apon þe rode, Line 17180 þu send till vs grace and might, Euer and ai to luue þe right; And sua vr sines to forsake, þat vs to ioy wid þe þu take, Line 17184 And night and dai, and all time, Sua to thinc apon þi pine,

þat we mai, quen we heþen wend, Cum to ioy widvten end. Amen. [O] Iesu! ioyful er þine dedis, Line 17189 þat þu wid to lijf vs ledis, þe feinde þi folk þat þu fedis, And giue vs might to wine þi medis. Quen i se þi bodi þat bledis, Line 17193 Ful sare mi hert mi sinnes dredis, þat vnethes þar i scheu mi nedis [folio 115b:1] Bot þi hend to me þu spredis. þi pine and ioy bath þu me redis, And kisse of saghtling þu me bedis. [A]nd sais to me, "all thole i þis To bring þe, wreche man, to bliss. If þu will wirck als i þe wisse Line 17201 Mi merci sal þu neuer misse." I aske þe grace, þu sais me "ȝeis," And kindli biddis me to kiss. "[M]an," þu sais, "cum nere and se, þu wate i tholed all þis for þe, Line 17206 þat i am hanged on þis tre; Quat will þu nu suffer for me? þus am i thralled to make þe fre, war þu namare thralled be. Line 17210 [L]at noght in þe be tint mi dede, Ne thral me namar wid þe fede, For þat blod þu seis me schede; Be wise and wirc aftir mi rede. Line 17214 Of lastand lijf i giue þe brede, Aske quat þu wil, am i na quede. [A]ske me þi will, þin es þi nede, For am i noght of giftes gnede. Line 17218 þu mai be ful traist to spede wald þu for me do sumkin dede, Forber þat i þe sal forbede, Line 17221 þo þat i þe bidd and haue þi mede."

[Q]ui ne suld i, iesu, do þi will? All wil þu þat i do bot ill, Line 17224 Bot i þat es sua dedeli dill, Spedis ay me-self to spill, wid mi fless lust to fulfill. Forget i oft þis greues grill. Line 17228 [I] mai me-self sai walaway! þat to mi thrist suld be sua thra, Foluand mi fless þat es mi fa, Mi wai i wander in-to þe wa. Line 17232 And ay þu sais, "a ha! a ha! [folio 115b:2] Mi leue frend do namar sua; [O]f þi misgang þu wend again, And i mi-self sal þe sain Line 17236 Bath to giue þe might and main. If þu will thinc apon mi pain, I suffred me for þe be slain, Mi dede mai noght be done in vain [I]f þu will folu me and mine Line 17241 þu most wele thole sum part of pine. Forsake þe sarke of silk and line, Full þi fless [[MS. fcess]] þi witherwine, And tempre it fra ale and wine, And seke þe saule medicine. Line 17246 [M]an, to serue lauerdis tuin It es vngainand to bigin, Me to seke in lust of sin Line 17249 Fra blis to blis þu mai noght rin. Mi kingrike sua mai na man win, Ne nane þat es of adam kin." [O]ft þu biddes me to lete Line 17253 Apon þi lare, iesu, sua suete, For all mi sinnes þu will me mete, Mi balis art þu bune to bete. Forþi iesu, als þu has hete, Line 17257 þu giue me grace on þe to grete,

[T]o wepe for wrang þat i haue wroght, And euer apon þi dede haue thoght, Hu þu forbar vs first and boght, Of þi choselinges hu þu broght, Line 17262 Of helle quen þaa sorful soght, For þe widstand na mightes moght. [þ]at ransuning þat i of tell, Line 17265 þu spede me, lauerd! for to spell Hu mightili þu herid hell, And quellid him þat all wald quell. þe gestes of þa iuus fell, Line 17269 wald smore þi mightes þaim emell.

[Of Joseph of Arimathea.]

[L]auerd, wid þi leue wald i [folio 116a:1] Of ioseph tell of arimathi, Line 17272 Hu iuus had till him enuei, For he þe laid in tumb to ly. Him and nichodeme for-þi þai karked wid þair caitiue cri. Line 17276 [þ]is nichodeme was, crist, þi knight, þat come to speke wid þe bi night; Quen he nanoþer wai ne might, And sau þi dome bifor his sight, Of þi pine he was vte of plight, For he wist þu had þe right. Line 17282 [B]ot þat folk was sua ful of flitt, þat he ne might þair muthes ditt. þa quone þat held wid þe þair-witt, wele was sene þaim wantand witt, þarfor wroght nichodeme a writt, I tell nu wid þi leue of it. Line 17288

[O]f ioseph, quen þe iuus wist Line 17289 þat he had doluen iesu crist, þai wid him ful wrath & wod, And all formenged in þair mod. þai sent þair sergantz forto nim Line 17293 Bath sir nichodeme and him; And oþer twelue þat for him space Quen þat þai soght iesu wid sake, Al þai hidd þaim-self to ȝeme, Line 17297 Bot fort þan come sir nichodeme. For he was ouer þe iuus þan, Als þair prins and ouer-man. He come to þaim in þat siquar, Line 17301 þat in þair sinagog þai war, He said "ȝe men, murtherers sua curs, Hu dar ȝe cum in goddes hus!" þai said, "bot quat þar-in dos þu? þat sua spac and held wid iesu. Line 17306 þi part mot euer and wid him be." "Amen, amen, amen," said he. Alsua ioseph of arimathi, [folio 116a:2] C[u]me forth and sais me[n] "qui, wite ȝe me, for i wele did Line 17311 wid iesus bodi, þat i haue hid In a tumb þat was mine auen? Ill haf ȝe done wald ȝe be knauen Of þat sight þat ȝe did hang, Line 17315 And wroght him mekil wa wid wrang." [A]t þir wordis forth þai lepe, And sone laid hand on sir ioseph, þair iaioleris to þaim þai cald, Line 17319 And þaim badd do him upp in hald, In a hald in presune state, Bituix and eftir þair sabate. Line 17322

Line 17322 "He has done vs despite and schame For-þi we loke þat his licame Line 17324 Ne be noght doluen vnder lame, Bot taght to bestes wild and tame." [þ]an said ioseph of arimathi, Line 17327 "Me thinc ȝe speke als did goli, þat vnder-toke to striue and fight wid child daui again god of might. For god had said gone siþen lang 'Me self es sett to wirke þe wrang.' [P]ilate was þar, his blode was blend, Quen þat he wassen had his hend, He said, 'of þis man lele and gode I am vnsakid for his blode,' Line 17336 And ȝe me gaue to ȝur ansuer, 'Lat vs and vrs þe blame bere,' And als ȝe said, it sal i wene On ȝu and ȝuris bath be sene." Line 17340 [þ]ai ledd ioseph, þaa brimli bald, To presune in a stalworth hald, þar he of na man suld haue sight Ne nanekin leme of dais light, Line 17344 Fra mete and drinc þat he suld fast, And did to spere þe doris fast, Lockid bath widvten and in, [folio 116b:1] And selid wid þair selis tuin; Line 17348 And sett þair waites þar a-bute, þat he suld neuþerquar win vte. And eftir þair sabath bad togedere, þat þai suld all þaim geder deþire For to loke all wid a rede, Line 17353 Hu to do ioseph to dede. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] vndid þair lock all wid þe kay, þe selis alsua þai did away, Line 17358

Line 17358 Bot ioseph, þat þai left had þare, Awai was, þai ne wist quiþer ne quare! Fulferlid all þan war þai, Line 17361 þat þai ne wist neuer quat to say, For sele and look all fast þai fand, þe cay þaim seluen had in hand.

[The Resurrection of Christ.]

[Q]uiles þai spek þus of þis selcuth, A new tiþand þaim come vncuth, Sum of þe knightes þat war sent All forto ȝeme þe monument; Line 17368 And tald þaim of angelis ane Had lifted awai þat mekil stane; His clething als þe suannes suyre, And his chere like slaght of fire. [[MS. frce]] "þis angel sat apon þe stane, For drede we fell als dede ilk ane, To þaa wimmen þat iesus soght Line 17375 He said, we herd, 'ne dredis noght, ȝe seke þe bodi of iesu, Resin he es, and noght here nu.' His wordis wele we vnderstand, 'Iesus, þat on crois hij hang, Line 17380 Es resen, als he forwid said. Lo! here þe stede quar he was laid. Bot till his desciplis sai ȝe, Fra dede to lijf vp-resen es he, Line 17384 And bidd þaim wend into galile, Als he for said þai sal him se.' Of vs ne thar ȝu noght mistrou [folio 116b:2] For þus it es als we tell ȝu." Line 17388 þan þai badd bifor þaim call þat kepte þe graue þe knightes all, "Wate ȝe quat þaa wimmen ware or queþen? Line 17391

Line 17391 Qui ne had ȝe broght þaim wid ȝu þeþen?" Line 17392 "þa wimmen knau we noght," said þai, "Als we war dede alle dune we lay, Quen we self war vte of maght, Hu suld þai þan for vs be laght?" þan suar þa iuus þat war wrath, Line 17397 "Drightin liues!"—þis was þair ath, "we tru ȝu noght, witt ȝe wele, ȝur saues er les, euer-ilk-a dele." [þ]aa knightes ansuerd to þa iuus, "ȝe er þat folk þat ai mistrouis, Line 17402 Quen ȝe him sau forwid ȝur sight, Sua mani maistris make of might Bath herd and sene of þat iesu, Line 17405 No selcuth ȝee vs will noght tru. He said are wele we vnderstode, þe lauerd liues ȝe did on rode, Line 17408 For we of men has herd and said, Ioseph, þat in tumb him laid, ȝe lokid vnder lock and sele, þat nane ȝu suld of him bitele. Line 17412 Bot ȝe him mist þar alsone, Als all ȝur stedis had bene vndone, þan if ȝe reghtwisli will deme, ȝeild vs ioseph þat ȝe suld ȝeme, And we sal iesu ȝeild wid dett Line 17417 þat in his graue we suld haue gett." þe iuus said þan, "iesus ȝeild ȝe, we sal ȝeild ioseph þat ȝe sal se, we wat quar ioseph es all bune, In arimathi, his auen tune." Line 17422 [þ]e knightes said, "if ioseph be In arimath, his auen cite, þan þar we sai of iesu þat he [folio 117a:1] Es redi stadd in galile. Line 17426

Line 17426 of þis soth-sau þan er we bald, Line 17427 Als þe angel to þaa wimmen tald." [Q]uid þis word dred þir iuus, To blaken þan bigan þair bruus, To-gider sone þai þaim broght, "Nu es vs nede of redi thoght, Line 17432 Bot we bewar widstand in time, þou iesu sal gere all tru in hime, If we late ouþer þis tiþand sprede All be we schent, þat godd forbede. þir knightes sal we giftes bede, Line 17437 And we sal ditt þair muth wid mede." [A] sum of penis þan gadrid þai, And gaue þe knightes forto say Till all þat wald þaim tiþand fraine, To sai and ansuer þaim againe, Quilis bi night on-slepe þai lay Line 17443 Iesu men come and stale a-wai; And said, "if ani man ȝu wite, ȝe sal ȝu saue and make ȝu quite." [A]llas! allas! of couaytise, Sua mani war it mas unwise! Line 17448 It rewis rightwisnes his way, And lettes þaim þe soth to say. For tor it es right wai to find, To man þat couaitis has blind, Line 17452 Quen giftes has for-done þe sight, Qua mas þan folu þe reule of right. Bot iesu crist, þat rightwis es, And all him-self es sothfastnes, Line 17456 þogh it neuer haue lated sua lang, Awai to wreke he dos þe wrang, And sothfastnes, quen fals es fledd, Haldes foluand forth his stede. þan sal falsed be fulli feld, Line 17461 wid all þat til him heilded or held.

Sua did þir knightes i of mele, [folio 117a:2] þai war for gifte þe soth to hele, Line 17464 Als þai war forboght sua þai did, þat þai bath herd and sau þai hid. And said, als þaim was bidden sai, Iesu cors was stolin awai. Line 17468 Bot wate ȝe quat þai þar-wid wan Schenschip and chame of mani a man, Of men þai wan schenschip and schame, And of þar leute tint þe name. Line 17472 All fals sal fare on þat ilk wise, And euer sal rightwisnes vp-rise, Ful wa þaim was þaa wrechis wick, Quen þis tiþand bigan to thick. [I]n þat siquar vte of iude Line 17477 Of moned men was comen thre, And till þat folk tald all bidene, þat þai had wid þair eien sene. Line 17480 "Iesus," þai said, "þat ȝe to dede did, Sittand his desciplis emid We sau on mont of oliuete, Line 17483 And said to þaim, 'mi breder suete, ȝe sal nu wend ouerall þis werld, And sai als ȝe haue sene and herd, All þat will trou and baptim take, Sal sauued be of all þair sake.' Line 17488 Quen he þaim had þis talking teld, To heuen he stei, we all biheld." [þ]e preistes And þas oþer ald Said to þaim þis tiþand tald, Line 17492 "And dar ȝe suere, for godes blise, þat ȝe bath herd and sau all þise?" "ȝa, sertainli, þat soth it es we take drightin til vr witnes. Line 17496 If we ne said soth, quat suld we win? For-soth na-thing bot sin."

wid þis þe maistris suith vp stirt, þis word þaim satt ful sare to herte, In consaile þai þaa thre men ledd, [folio 117b:1] wid goddes lai þai þaim forbedd, And coniured þaim, bi goddes lau, þir wordis neuermare to schau, þat þai þaim had tald of iesu. Line 17505 "þir guiftes her for-giue we ȝu," And gaf þaim giftes grete to spend, And thre men wid þaa thre þai send, Hame to þare land þaim for to lede, Are þair tiþand suld ferrer sprede. [þ]e iuus þaim drou togeder þan, And sari soruing þaim bigan, Line 17512 And said, "quat takening mai þis be In israel, in vr contre." Bot anna and cayphas, þir tua, þat mast soght iesus forto sla, Line 17516 To conford þaim þai sau in care, "Do wai," þai said, "dos sua no mare, Queþer we þe knightes aght to tru, þat gett þe graue of þat iesu, þai tald vs þat of angelis ane Line 17521 Had lifted of his graue þe stane. His desciplis wele mai falle, Said sua till þa knightes alle, And gaue þaim giftes sua to sy, Quilis þai his bodi bar away, Line 17526 And lieid þat þai sau him rise. For-soth it es nanoþer wise, For giftes grete of vs þai toke, And noght of vres þai forsoke, Line 17530 Als we þaim badd or wold bidd, wele ȝe wat þat sua þai did. Bot þaim bird beter for to bu þair thoght till vs þan to iesu." Line 17534

Line 17534 [V]p-stode þan and said nichodeme, "Gode men, for goddes luue tas ȝeme Quat ȝe sai, and sais bot right, Line 17537 And has sum drednes of vr dright; Ne herd ȝe quat þir thre men said, [folio 117b:2] And on ȝur lay þair hend þai laid And suar, þat þai and oþer fele Sau iesus, wid his meigne, mele Line 17542 And stei vp in a littel stund To heuen fra oliuete þe munt? And hali stori tellis and sais þat helias, in alde dais, Line 17546 was taken vp als in-till heuen,— Inoght haf ȝe herd þar-of neuen;— His sun men askid quer he was comin, And he þaim said he was binomin, 'Reft away for-soth es he.' Line 17551 'Reft,' said þai, 'hu mai þis be, Mai fal sum gast awai him ledd, And es vnto þe fellis fledd. In israel es ful grete fellis, Line 17555 þar es he soth and nouþer ellis: Bot chese we dughti men and lele To seke þe fellis of israel.' Line 17558 þai praid his sun him ga to seke, He went, and oþer men him eke, Bot quen þai thre dais had him soght, Na tiþand hame of him þai broght. For-þi," said nichodeme, to þaa, Line 17563 "Mi rede es if ȝe rede nu sua, ȝe seke þe fellis all to-gider, þat iesus be noght rauist þeþir, Line 17566 þat if we find him þare wid chance we mai do for vr plight penance."

[A]ll þa iuus, bath lesse and mare, Of þis consaile þai paieid ware, Line 17570 And ches men þat þai wele avoud And right wele als þaim self troud; Bath þai soght dune and dale, Line 17573 Bot of iesu herd þai no tale. Walawai! quat þa men war blind, Quen þai went sua iesus to find. Line 17576 [folio 118a:1] For him to find qua wille him seke, þair mode till him þam most þai meke, To knau him drightin all weildand, þan mai þai find him bune at hand, Mightili in all his nede, To suilk he wille his bodi bede. Line 17582 For þoght he sitt in heuenes hall, ȝeit he is in erd ouer alle, Mightili bath fer and nere, And nouþer mist in heuen ne here. þai þat traistli in him trous, Line 17587 His bliscing to þa men buus; Bot sua did not þir caitif iuus, Sent in-to cliftes and in-to clous To seke iesu if he war reft, Line 17591 Wid ani gast and þar bileft; He þat all gastis, gode and ill, Has to weld all at his will! For-þi þa iuus war ful medd, Line 17595 þair sandes come again vnspedd þat had him soght vp and dune; Bot ioseph in his auen tune, þai said þai sau, in arimathi, For þar þai left him sekirli. Line 17600 Princis and prestes of þe lay, All of þis tiþan wondrer þai, And thanked þair godd of israel, þat suagat can his dedis dele, Line 17604

Line 17604 þat [Ioseph] suld be funden þus Line 17605 þat presuned was, and noght iesus. [þ]ai made a gedring gret in dern, And said, "gode men loke ȝe gern, Hu we might do yon doghti gome, Ioseph, vntil vs for to cume, Line 17610 To tell vs of his auen state, And oþer thinges þat he wate." þai did þan for to write a write— þis þan was þe tenur of itte. Line 17614 "Pes," it said, "ioseph, and grith, [folio 118a:2] Haue þu and all þat es þe wid, we wat wele we haue done plight, Bath againes þe and dright, Line 17618 And self drightin has þe broght Fra wicked wrang we on þe soght. It sal be bot all to queme; Leue freind wald þu þe seme Line 17622 For to cum wid vs to mele; Pes haue þu nu, ioseph, and hele." [þ]ai sent forth seuen men of wale, war mast to ihosep speciale, Line 17626 And bad quen þai wid iosep mett, wid pes and luue he suld be grett. Sone in his hand þat letter sett, Line 17629 Ful wele suld all þat miss be bett. Ioseph þan þai fand, þe stori sais, All bune at hame in his palais; þai hailsed him widvten lite, Line 17633 And raght him forto rede þat scrite. Sone quen he had þat letter redd, vp tillwar heuen his heued he bedd, "I blisce þe, lauerd, þu me has gett And sauf vnder þi winges sett;" þa messageris he kist þan all, Line 17639 And hendli gestind þaim in hall,

Ful wele war þai wid him þat night. þe morn his asse þan did he dight, To ierusalem he toke þe strete, Line 17643 þe iuus him come for to mete. To ioseph said þai all to-gedir, "Paisful be þi coming hedir." Line 17646 And ioseph sli greting þaim gaue, "Goddes pais þan mot ȝe all haue," He kisced þaim all, widvten blin, wid nichodeme toke he his in, He was gestind ful wele at ais. Line 17651 þe toþer morn, als þe stori sais, [folio 118b:1] Come cayphas, anna, nichodemus, þat ioseph did to resun dus, "[I]oseph, to godd of israele Line 17655 Schriue þe, and sai soth and lele Of þing þat we sal at þe frain, þe soth we prai þe noght to lain, All we cund þe mekil grame For þu grof iesu licame; Line 17660 In a hus we luked þe, Bot quen we come þe for to se, Of þe na takening fand we þar, Quarfor we for-wondred ware, Line 17664 And war we for þe dred-ful sare. Til nu þu tellis vs of þi fare, Til godd and vs, wid-vten hone, þu tell quat of þe was done." Line 17668 [I]oseph ansuered, "i sal ȝu say, ȝe sperd me vp-on a friday, At euentide into þat stede; And als i stode saiand mi bede, þe setirday, sone at midnight, Line 17673 þat i sau þan suilk was þe sight. Bi noukes four þe hous vp hang, And sone þar-eftir, was noght lang,

I sau comand iesu sua bright, Line 17677 Right als it war of leuening light, In-til þis hus þar i was stadd, And i fell dune, sua was i radd; vp he me lifted, widvten lett, Line 17681 And wid a deu mi face he wett, Quen he wiped had mi face, He blisced me all wid his grace, And said, 'ioseph be noght eri, Line 17685 Bihalde on me, þis ilk es i.' I biheld him als i was And cald him maistir elias, 'Helias es i noght,' he said, Line 17689 'Bot iesus þat þu in graue laid.' He ledd me to þat stede on-ane, [folio 118b:2] þar i had sperd him in stane, His faciale, his winding clath, Line 17693 þar war þai left, i sau þaim bath. þat he was iesus þan wist I wele, And cuthli for him gun i knele, And i said, 'lauerd! ai blisced þu be þat here es comen in þe name of þe,' And bi þe hand he me hint, Line 17699 And forth me broght, widuten stint, Right to min auen hus at ham, And to me, quen i deþer cam, Line 17702 'Pes,' he said, 'haue þu ioseph, Ga noght vte of þi hus a step Til fourti daies began till end, Nu i to mj desciplis wend.' " Line 17706 Quen ioseph all his tale had teld, þai fell als þai in duale war delued, Grouelinges dune on erd plate,— war neuer þa iuus als mate. And ilkan gun til oþer say, Line 17711 "Quat a signe es þis!" said þai,

"In ierusalem we here nu min Line 17713 we knau bath iesus and his kin." [V]p he ras and stod þaim bi, A doghti gome þat hight leui, Line 17716 "I knau," he said, "of him bredd Dughti men þat drightin dred, Desseli to godd praiand, wid sacrefice and wid offrand, Quen symeon, þat mekil prest, Line 17721 þat bar þe hali-gast in his breist, þat iesus tuix his hend he fang, And said, 'lauerd liued haue i lang Biddand to þe þe sight of hele, þat þu has dight to israel; Line 17726 Nu haue i sene it wid min eie, Lat nu in rest þi seruand deie.' þat ilk symeon þar was bune, [folio 119a:1] Gaue sainte mari his benisune, Line 17730 And till hir said, 'i wil þe warn þat quilum sal þis ilke barn Be till sum men vprising, Till oþer sum in dune falling; He sal find mani barn vnbain, Line 17735 For mani sal sai him again. Of his dede als þe sorful ord Sal thril þine herte als wid a suord. Of mani hert þe thoghtes hidd Line 17739 Sal for him be knauen and kid.' " [þ]an said þe iuus, "do nu send we, Efter þaa ilk preistes thre, þat tald þat þai sau iesus sitte Apon þe mont oliuete." Line 17744 And sua þai did, quen sua was done þaa men þai did to resun sone, And þai ansuerd, "bi gode of might, we sau him þar wid open sight. Line 17748

Line 17748 we sau him þar and herd his steuen, And openli he stei till heuen." "Of ȝu," þai said, "ȝeit thinc vs won|der," And did þaa thre men þan to sunder, And askid seluen ilkan sere, Line 17753 Oo þair forking fain wald þai here, If ani gain oþer wald sai aght, Bot all þair fanding was for noght, For all said soth þat þai sei Line 17757 Iesus on hight til heuen stei. [þ]en said anna and cayphas, "vr lau wil, bath þat es and was, þat in þe muth of tua or thre Line 17761 Suld all þe soth stand for to be." "And quat thing sal we say ȝu þan? Inoght it was a rightwis man, Line 17764 And paid sua wele god and his stat, þat wid his word he was translate. And of þe prophet sir moyses [folio 119a:2] þat nane wate quare he doluen es. Bot iesus, þat in hand was laght, And to sir pilate was bitaght, Bath biskurged and bispitt,— Line 17771 For he of mani plight was witt,— wonded with spere, nailed on tre, wid thornes crouned als was he; þis menskeful ioseph did him delue In tumb þat wroght was till him-selue, And thre men als nu witnes here, þai sau bifor þair eien clere Line 17778 þis ilke iesus spekand wid his, And siþen stei till heuen blis."

[The Resurrection of Simeon's two Sons.]

[I]oseph of arimathi vp-ras Line 17781 And said till anna and cayphas,

"ȝu thinc selcuth wid right i-wiss Of iesu vpras, for-soth it es, Line 17784 For ȝe ne wold it neuer trou, þat he was god self and iesu. vp-resin he es, dute es þair nane, Bot he es noght vpresen allane, Line 17788 For sum men of þis ilke kith Es resen vp forsoth him with þat sene was in ierusalem. Line 17791 Of ald symeon barntem He had suns tua, bot lang es gane, Siþen þai war dede and laid vnderstane, All war we at þar ending day, Line 17795 And helped þaim in erd to lay. Gas, seis nu, for þe hali-dome, And ȝe sal find þair tumbes tume; In mi cite of arimathi, Line 17799 þar er þai walkand witterli. þar men seis þaim in þat tune, In kneling state and orisune; Ai vmquile men heris þaim cri, Line 17803 Bot wid nane speke þai of þat bi. Ga we þan fulsumli þeder, [folio 119b:1] And fand we forto bring þaim heder, And sal we þaim wid coniuring, Ger tell vs of þis vp-rising." Line 17808 [Q]uen þai herd þis word was said, Smartli þeder þai þaim graid, Bath cayphas and alsua anna, Ioseph, nicodeme, and ma, Line 17812 And ane þat hight gamaliel, Of him es noght bot treuth to tell. þai sau þa tumbes, tome war þai, Til arimathi þai went þair wai, Line 17816 On þir tua breþer þai hitt in hij, þai fand þaim in þair beddis lij.

þai halsid þaim wid sueteli sare, wid kissing worschip þai þaim bare; To ierusalem wid mekil drede Line 17821 In synagog þai gun þaim lede. Quen þai in-to þat hus war lede, Sone was in hand þe lau þaim bedd, Bath thoru þe lau of moysi, Line 17825 And thoru þair godd adonay, þair mekil god of israel, þai coniured þaim na soth to hele. þai said, "he þat has raised ȝuu, Sais vs nu if it was iesu; Line 17830 And tell vs all, widvten strijf, Hu ȝe war raised fra dede to lijf." [Q]uen carius and lenthius was coniured of þir iuus þus, Line 17834 wid all þair fless þai quoke onane, And wid þair hertis gun þai grame. Till heuen þai lifted þair eien brad, And on þair [[MS. þari]] tunges þe takni[n]g made wid þair fingres all of þe crois, And alsone spac wid manes vois. Line 17840 "Lauerd," þai said, (þat hei drigh|tin þan [[MS. þai]] bad þai giue þaim parchemine) [folio 119b:2] "We sal ȝu write and na-thing lij Quat we herd and sau wid ei." Line 17844 Sundri þai þaim fra oþer sate, And aiþer bi him-seluen wrate, Bot þogh þai sundri sattand were, was na-thing in þair saus sere. Line 17848

[The writing of Carius and Lenthius as to Christ's entry into Hell.]

"[L]auerd iesu crist," said þai, Line 17849 "Godd, þat all þir mightes may,

þat es upras of dede and lijf, Line 17851 And has vs kid þe right sua rijf, þu late vs lauerd, wid leue of þe, To tell nu of þi auen priuite. Thoru dede of þi suete croice Line 17855 Coniurd er we to tell wid voice, For þu bad we suld na man tell, þi dedis dern þu did in hell,— þe dedis of þi maieste,— Line 17859 Bot thoru þi-self coniurd er we, Siþen it es sua nu most we nede þe mightes tell of þi godd-hede.

[A]ls we war stad in mu[rn]ful stall, we self and vr eldris all, Line 17864 Brathli þar brast a golden leme, Brighter þan ani sunes beme, Sua right purprin heu es nane, þis ilk light apon vs schane. Line 17868 Adam, þat was man formast, Bigan þan forto blith in hast, wid patriark and wid prophete, In m[i]rk settlis þar þai sete, Line 17872 Said wid gladnes gretand gle, 'þis ilke light forsoth es he þat maker es of lastand light, Line 17875 Nu has he sent vs þat he hight.' [þ]an bigan saint isay þe hali prophete, for to cri, 'þis light it es of goddes sun Line 17879 þat i in erd tell of was won. þe folk in dedeli mirknes stadd [folio 120a:1] Sau grete light þat made þaim glad, þat light es nu apon vs schede Line 17883 þar we sitte in þe schadu of dede.' [A]ls þis brightnes þus gun vs bald, vr fadir symeon, þat ald, Line 17886

Line 17886 þan said wid blithful chere vs to 'ȝe thank drightin, nu cums i ȝu ro, vr lauerd iesu crist þe blisse, Line 17889 All-mighti godd es fader hiss. In temple was he me bitaght, And ȝung in armis i him laght; þe hali gast þus did me mele, Line 17893 Mine eien lauerd has sene þi hele, þe quilk þu has þi folk fordight Of israel, wid blisful light.' þe saintes alle togeder stad, wid þis bigun þai mare to glad. Line 17898 [A] man come þan widuten lite, þat semed wele haue bene hermite, þai said till oþer, 'quat man es yon?' And he þaim ansuerd, 'i hate iohn, Iohn es mi nam, voice and prophete, Biddand forto graith þe strete, Line 17904 To graith þe wai for cristes face, þat till his folk sal grant vs grace. þat iesus i biheld and sei, Line 17907 Quen he to me was comand nei; Thoru strinth of þe haligast i spack, And said, þe lamb widuten sack, Los him here, i said þan, lo! Line 17911 þat sal all werldes sin for-do. Quen i haf þat sacles of plight, I sau apon his licam light In schap of douue þe haligast, Line 17915 And herd a voice fra heuen in hast, And said, 'þis es mi sun, mi dere, All ȝe agh him forto here.' Line 17918 Comen es i nu forwid þat king, [folio 120a:2] Bodword of his cum to bring, Goddes sun sal ȝu sone visite, Line 17921 He cums at hand to slak ȝur site.

He þat es bred sua hei of strand, Nu comes to se þis laithli land.' Line 17924

[Q]ven ald adam had vndertane þat he was houen in flum iordane, On seth his sun lude gan he call, And said, 'sun tell til vs all Line 17928 þe sothfastnes, and na thing hele, All þat þu herd of saint michaele Archangele, quen i þe gan wis To þe ȝatis of paradis, Line 17932 To prai vr lauerd drightin dere, To send me wid his messagere þe oyle of his merciful tre, þat i, seke, moght smerled be.' Line 17936 [þ]an come seth and stod ner-hand, And spac þat all might vnderstand, 'I come þan to paradis ȝate And gern bisoght i godd þar-ate, þai i wid saint michel mett, Line 17941 Sone i him, and he me, grett, 'Fra godd,' he said, 'i am þe sent Till all mankind þan take i tent. Seth,' he said, 'to þe i say Line 17945 þat þu þe suink naght, fra þis dai, wid greting praier for to gett þe oyle þat god in hight has sett, þi fadir wid to smerl, adam, Line 17949 For his limes þat ȝeit er lame; For he mai get it nakin wais Bituix and at þe last þais, þarfor cal es it dais last, Line 17953 Quen fiue thousand ȝere sal be past. Fiue thousand ȝere, fiue skore þar-till, þan sal þrightin his hight fulfill. His auen sun sal he send dune [folio 120b:1] In erde, þat mani sal mistron, Line 17958

Line 17958 þi fadir cors vp sal he rais, Line 17959 And als of oþer in þakin dais. þou halier þan he be nane Houen sal he be in flom iordane. Quen he sal stei vp of þat strand, þat oyle he sal bring in his hand, Of his merci to smerl all wid Line 17965 þat sekes treuth wid his grace or right, [[read grith]] And till all þaa þat bers baptist To lastand lijf in name of crist. þat goddes sun sua, mekil of might, þat mang mankin als man sal light, Sal bring þi fader adam and his Line 17971 Of hell to paradis of blis.' þe patriarkes þan herde all þis, Ful mekil ioy þai made i-wis Might þai na langer murni[n]g mith wid cri þai ioy þai gun to keid. Line 17976

[Q]ven sathan sau þai santes sere Make tuix þaim sua blithful chere, Duke of dede and prince of hell, Till hell bigan þus to spell, 'Hell,' he said, 'ma þe redi At receiue iesu nu in hij, Line 17982 þat roses him-self goddes sun to be. And þogh man dede dredand es he, And said for blod þat he sal schede, His saule was dreri for þe dede, Hard has he werraid me again, And mekil merrid of mi main. Line 17988 þat i made wode, halt, blind, and mesel, wid word allane he gaue þaim hele, I taght þe dede men als þin auen, Bot quilk he has þaim fra þe drauen.' [þ]an ansuerd hell to prince sathan, Quat es he? þat sua mightful ane,

[folio 120b:2] Sua mightful man for dede sua radd, Siþen all þe mighti men er stadd. vnþer þe bath in water and land, Line 17997 And þu has broght þaim to mi hand. If þu þan be sua mighti þus, Quatkin a man es þat iesus? þat werrais on þe euer-ai quare, Line 18001 And siþen es dredand dede sua sare. Siþen his manhed es suilk of might, Qua mai þan gain his goddehed fight? I sai, siþen he es all weilldand, Line 18005 Es na thing mai his will widstand. Qui dredes he dede? þu wate noght, na, Noght bot forto suike þe sua He will þe take and waif in wa To lend þar-in euer and a.' Line 18010 [S]ir sathan þan till hell ansuerd, And said, 'qui art þu sua ferd? Receiue iesu þou witherwin, vr werreur bath mi and þine. Line 18014 I haue him fandit to driue to dede, Mine eldrin folk of iuen lede Haue i done rise againes him, To strike him wid a spere ful grim. Aisel haue i blend wid gall, Line 18019 For to sleke his threist wid-all; On tre i haue him gert to hing, And nailis thoru his hend to sting; þe time es nu comand nere, Line 18023 þat dede sal bring him till vs here.' [þ]an gaf hell to sathan ansuer, 'þu said it me sum time are, Line 18026 þat þis ilke man was he was wont to drau þe dede men fra me; for mani haue i halden here, þat quilis þai in þis werld were Line 18030

Line 18030 Has ofte had dede men fra me heþen, Noght wid þair might bot his of heuen. He þat of heuen es all weildand, [folio 121a:1] He gaue þe dede to þaim praiand, And þis iesus quat man him knaus, þat þus þe dede he fra vs draus; Noght wid praier als oþer did, Line 18037 Bot wid his word þat he wald bid. Mai fall þis es þat ilk iesus, þat stinkand lazarun fra vs Of his erding þe thridd dai He losed him, and ledd away, Line 18042 þe quilk al dede him quick he ȝald, His word widstand had i no wald.' [þ]an gaue ansuer, þat fals fede, þat bath es prince and duke of dede, 'þis ilk iesus es for-soth þat Line 18047 þat greuis vs in mani-quat.' [Q]uen hell had herd þis sathan saw, 'Of him me standes mekil aue, Thoru vr mightes bath to-gedir Line 18051 I þe forbede þu bring him hedir. For quen in erde word þat he bad I quock for him, sua wex i rad; And al mine wicked werkes eke For-dune war thoru his auer speke. Ne of lazarun had we na hald, Line 18057 Bot titter þan of tung es tald, Fra vs he lepe selcuthli light, was neuer ern sua fus to flight Til he come þar his licam lay, Line 18061 And þar-wid went him forth his way. wele wat i nu, and wenis noght, þat he þat suilkin mightes moght Es godd stalworth weildand in will And manhed mighti forto fulfill, Line 18066

Line 18066 And es sauueor of manes lede. Line 18067 And if þu hedir him lede, All þat her here spred wid me, In presun of mi creuelte, Line 18070 Dune in dome of dede sua dim, [folio 121a:2] To lijf he sal þaim lede wid him.'

[T]Oquilis þat hell and prince sathan 'Made þaim emell sli murnand mane, þar com a steuen als thoru blast, A gasteli voice criand ful fast, Line 18076 'ȝe princes of helle, vndos ȝur ȝate! þe king of blis will haue in-late.' Quen hell herd þis, it said on-ane, 'þu do þe heþen fra me, sathan! A faint fighter me thinc ert þu, Line 18081 Hu sal þu fight again iesu?' wid þis gaue hell it-self a braid, And kest vte sathan þan and said, 'Till his wicked werkis samen Line 18085 Speris ȝur ȝatis, þis es no gamen. ȝur brasen ȝates nu sepere ȝe wele, And bindes þaim wid bar of stele, And forces ȝu wid might and main Stalworthli to stand again, Line 18090 Are ȝe, wid all þaa þat we wald, Be tane in oþer menes halde.' [þ]is herd þe saintes all, and said Til hell wid wordes of vpbraid, Line 18094 'Bot opin vp þin ȝates wide, Lat in þe king, widvten bide! In sal he c[u]me, þe king of blis.' Dauid said on hij wid þis 'Sted,' he said, 'nu tas mi saus Line 18099 þat i fortald in forme daus,

His merci his knauen, þat lauerd king, And his selcuthes til vr ospring.' þan brast þe brasen ȝate sua strang, And stelin lock þat þar-on hang. [þ]an said ysai, þat prophete, Line 18105 'þis es þat i quilum ȝu hete, vp sal þe dede rise, i ȝu said, vte of þair graue þai war in-laid; And þan þai sal be blith and glad [folio 121b:1] , þat folk þat er in erd stad, Line 18110 For fra þe lauerd þar-in light sale A deu, al forto make þaim hale, On þaim sal sprede, thoru his might, Als he in adam time had hight. Line 18114 To dede i said, 'quar es þi stang [[MS. stand.]] '? To hell, 'quar es þi mightes strang'? Quen þai had herd þis of ysai, þe santes all þai gaue a cri Line 18118 Till hell, 'vndo þin ȝates suith! Nu ert þu crachun fra þis sight. Hell,' þai said, 'ouercomen art þu And euer widvten might fra nu?' [A]nd ȝeit þar comen a mekil steuen, Als it war a thoner of heuen, Line 18124 'Opin ȝur ȝates! ȝe princes, wide, To blisful king, widvten bide! He wil cum in, þat king of blis.' Line 18127 Bot quan þat hell had herd all þis þat þis steuen tuis had þaim soght, He said, als he had herd it noght, 'þat king of blis, quat es he, þat?' Dauid said þan, 'wele wate i quat þir wordes þat i here of cri, Line 18133 Ful wele i knau þaim,' said daui; 'For i wid propheci had hight Thoru þe haligastes might, Line 18136

Line 18136 And þat i tald of forwid þan Line 18137 I sai ȝu nu, wele i it can. þe lauerd þat es sua mekil of might, þat es sua strang and stif in fight, þe blisful king þis es þat ilke, Line 18141 For þar mai be nanoþer suilk. He þat biheld fra heuen doune To here þe plant of his presune, Of his sinful sighand sua sare, Line 18145 To lese þaim vte of band of care. [folio 121b:2] And þu hell, sua fule stinkand sting, vndo, late in þe blisful king!' [Q]uilis dauid teld þus till hell Sli wordis als ȝe herd me tell, Line 18150 þat king þat all has in his weild, He come in wid a blisful beild, þe lauerd him-self in his goddhed wid-in þe schapp of vr manhed. Line 18154 þa waful wras sua dedeli dim, All lighted þe leme þat come wid him, Brast all þe bandes of vr site, And visited vs wid grete delite, Line 18158 In þat mirknes þar we lay, Euer in night widuten day.

[Q]uen hell and dede sau it be sua, þai and þair werkis ful of wa, Line 18162 þai war for-wondrid of þat light, In þair cuntre þai sau sua bright. Quen þai sua brathli iesu sau, Line 18165 Emang þair settlis stad sua lau, Of þair prid thoght þaim littel plau And gaue a cri wid mekil au; Line 18168 'Quat ert þu, þus es heder comen, þu has vs in þi pouste nomen? Quat es þu þat es sua wight Line 18171 vr schenschip forto scheu to dright?

Sua prisful quat ert þu of pith, þat lastand signe þe beris wit, Line 18174 þat thoru wreth of þi maieste Condempnid þu þus all vr pouste? Quat ert þu, sua grete, sua small? þu ert sua lau and hei wid-all, Line 18178 Bath als king and emperur In schap of thral sua stith in stur, Sua stith in sture, and king of bliss, Dede and alsua liuand es; Line 18182 þat þe croice bare on þe slan, Dede lay luken vnderstan. In þi deieng all thinges dred, [folio 122a:1] þe sternis in þair mightes med, Bituix þi dede fre es þu nu, Line 18187 vr legions all droues þu. [A]nd quat es þu þat louses sua þat formast sin sua band in wa? þat casten war in caitiuite, To formast fredom mas þu fre. Line 18192 Quat es þu þat sua wid þi leme [[MS. lime]] Nu lightes adam barn-teme, þat blind lay thoru mirknes of plight, And þu þaim scheus sua selcuth light?' þus said all þa legions Line 18197 Of feindes, castin als crachuns, þat þai sua brathli dune war cast, þai war ful dred and all agast. wid a voice all þai crid þan, Line 18201 'Queþen es þu sua selcuth a man, Sua mekil man, mighti and schene, And siþen of all costes clene, For erdes werld þat has bene ay vr vnderlute all to þis day, Line 18206 þat agh vs rent of ȝong and ald, Bot neuer suilk a rent þai vs ȝald.

A dede man suilk als þis es ane Til vs ȝeit sent þai neuer nane. Line 18210 Quat es þu þan þat es sua bald Comen þis wise intill vr hald? þat es noght for vr pines radd Line 18213 Bot louses þa in þaim er stadd. Quatkin maistri mas þu on vs? Mai fall þu art þat ilk ihesus Line 18216 þat sathan vr prince vs of tald, And of þi dede on rode sua bald, þat thoru þi dede apon þat tre, All þis werld suld bou to þe.' Line 18220 [w]id þis gan Iesus him to wreth Als þou he brath had bene in breth. Sathan, þat pinful prince, he laght [folio 122a:2] And vnder might of hell bitaght, And adam till ward he drogh, [[MS. droght]] þar blise of brightenes was enogh. Hell hint þan þat gerard grim! Line 18227 And selcuth snapli snybbid him, 'þu prince of tinsel and þu duke Of wastful werk, sir belzabuk, Line 18230 Schorning þu ert of gode angele, Despit of all rightwis and lele; þe king of blis qui did þu hang And hight us haue sua mekil fang. Bot nu þi sothhed wele es kid, Line 18235 þat littil wist wist þu quat þu did; Lo! nu hu þis iesus here Thoru light of his goddhed clere, þe mirknes driues all dune, Line 18239 And þe bandes brekes of vr presun. His bunden has he reft vs fra, And all þat wepe widin vr wa, þai faiel [[MS. saiel]] vs sua þat vr bidding Line 18243 Es all fordone wid þair praiing.

Nu es vr king-rike all for-done, Line 18245 Of mankind mon w[e] gete ful fone, For þar-wid nu þai thret vs sare þat dede war ful vnlouwis are, þat neuer might be blith ne glad. Quilis þai in caitifte war stad. Line 18250 Sathan, þu fadir of wicked-hede, Quarfor has þu done suilk a dede? Lo! þir þat lang vnder vs has bene widvten hope in tray and tene, Line 18254 Nu es nane þat wil þaim mene, Ne tere apon þair chekes sene. [H]a! sathan prince of hell here, And þu þat es þar-of portere, Line 18258 All þat þu wan and mad þe rike Thoru adam and þe tre wid suike, And thoru tining of paradise, [folio 122b:1] Nu has þu tint on oþer-wise, þu has tint thoru his rode tre, Line 18263 And gladschip all es gane fra þe. siþen þu þe king of blis werraid And sua þe-self has vnder-laid, Fra nu forth, vnderstand þu wele, Ful mani pines sal þu nu fele. Line 18268 Hu fele, hu lastand, and hu hard þat þu sal drei widin mi ward! [H]a! prince sathan, þu duke of dede, Heued of pride, qui gaue þu rede þis ilk iesus to crucifi, Line 18273 widuten skil, vnrightwisli? Qui was [þu] þarto sua bald To bring þat rightwisnes in to vr hald? þat sackles hider forto lede? Line 18277 Ill has þu done þe-self to spede, For mani wick and misdedi Has þu nu here tint forþi.' Line 18280

Line 18280 [Q]uilis þat hell and sir sathan Line 18281 Made þus þair mening o þar mane, þe king of blis, als was his will, Hell þan said he þus-gat till. Line 18284 'þe prince sathan, sal lend in pine Euer vnder pouste þine, Instede of adam and his brode, And all mi rightwis men and gode To me fra ȝu nu sal i drau, Line 18289 þat of ȝu sal þaim stand nan au.' wid þis he streked forth his hand, And said til his þat he þar fand, 'Cum to me mj santes nu, All þat mi liknes has on ȝu, Line 18294 Cumes nu heder all to me, þat thoru þe warlou and a tre All dampned war, nu sal ȝe se A tre did him to dampned be, Line 18298 To dede ȝu deme he did sua dim [folio 122b:2] Nu sal þat dede be dampned on him.' [A]lsuith was all þat leue geing Lopin vnder þat lauerd weing, Line 18302 Adam bi þe right hand he ches, And said, 'adam i giue þe pes, To þe and all childer þine, And till all oþer rightwis mine.' [A]dam fell dune bifor his fete Line 18307 And spac to him, wid wondis wite, 'Lauerd,' he said, 'i sal þe prais, For þu has tan me to þi pais, þar i was wid mi fais vmsett I cald on þe, þu has me bett; Line 18312 þu has me werid all fra þe wrake Of þaim þat lepe in-to þat lake, All his santes nu sal ȝe sing, In his worschip þat es vr king. Line 18316

Line 18316 For him to greme it es ful grill, And lastand lijf es in hijs will.' All þe saintes þan kneled dune, Line 18319 And all þai said þus, wid a sune, '[N]u comen art þu lauerd, vr dright, vr ransuner als þu has hight, Line 18322 þat þu thoru prophete tald a[n]d tight Nu es fulfild bifor vr sight, Thoru þi croice þu has vs boght, And for vs has þu hedir soght Fra dede of hell to lousen vs, Line 18327 All has þi dede vs sauued þus.' 'Lauerd,' þai said, all wid a steuen, 'Als þu has sett þi marke in heuen Of þi blis lauerd godd, sua gode, And has þe taken of þi rode Line 18332 Raised in erd of ur ransun; þu sett it lauerd in hell þar dune, To knau þi croice victori, Line 18335 þat dede haue here na mare maistri.' [folio 123a:1] þe lauerd lifted hand, widvten bad, And on adam a croice he mad. On all his saintes þat þar were Line 18339 His blising laid, þat iesu dere, þat lauerd dere, widvten stint; Bi þe right hand he adam hint, Line 18342 His auen saintes all þat he had soght, He has þaim all of presun broght. [þ]an crid daui wid steuen strang, 'ȝe sing þe lauerd an vncuth sang, Singes till him a sang vncuth, Line 18347 For he has wroght ful gret selcuth.' þan ansuerd all þat clene couent, 'Sli blis he has his saintes sent, Sing we þan siþen it es sua, Line 18351 Amen,' þai said, wid 'alleluya.'

[I]n þat felauschip þar was Line 18353 A prophete, þat hight micheas; 'Quat godd,' he said, 'es lauerd als þu! þu ert worthi vnto to bu, Line 18356 þat þu þi wreth sua sueteli slakis, And fra þi folk þair sinnes takis. þi willing merci beris wid-in, And sua þu slokenis all vr sin; Line 18360 þu has þaim druned and don forfare, Als þu till vr foreldris suare.' þe sainte all gaf þar ansuer, 'þis es vr godd for euermar, Lauerd and god he sal be vr, Line 18365 And euermar or gouernur, wid-vtenen end nu be it sua, Amen,' said þai, 'alleluya.' [A]bacut þan gun to mele Line 18369 And said, 'þu es lauerd of hele, Till all þi pepule forto bring vte of thralhed till þi chosling.' þe saintes sad nu euer and a Line 18373 'He es blisced! amen! alleluya!' [A]lsua did þan ilka prophete, Foluand þat blisfu[l] lauerd fete, 'Amen, alleluya!' þai sang, Line 18377 And ai onurd him emang. vr lauerd bi þe hand adam laght, And to saint michel him bitaght, In-to paradis þat blisful stede, Line 18381 All þat felauschip he ledd. [B]ot sone quen þai war comen widin, Of eldrin men þai mett þar tuin, þat þai war ald was ith to se, Line 18385 þan said þe saintes, 'quat men er ȝe? þat war noght dede in hell wid vs, Bot in paradis in bodi þus?' Line 18388

Line 18388 Ane of þaa ansuerd þat flocke, Line 18389 And said, 'mi name es cald enoke þis man,' he said, 'þat is mi fere He has hate widuten were; Line 18392 vnto þis blis bath war we broght, Bot neuer of dede ȝeit wist we noght. Here sal we lend in lijf lastand, Til ante-crist be comen in land Line 18396 To fight a-gain þat witherwin, wid signes of vr lauerd drightin. In ierusalem we sal be slain, þe thrid dai ris vp again, Line 18400 Bifor þat witherwin sua prud we sal stei vp thoru þe clude.' [Q]uilis þai þus spac, þar com ouerthuert A wreche man, vngodeli gret, Line 18404 On his schulder a croice he bare, Of him þai all for-wondrid ware, þai said, 'quat ert þu þat es here, þat has to thef sua like a chere? Line 18408 And hu come þe sua graithli gode þat þu on schuldir beris þat rode?' 'Soth,' he said, 'i mai noght nite, Strang theif i was worthi to wite, Ful mekil harm wroghti in land, [folio 123b:1] And þar-for was i hint in hand. Line 18414 Iuus me hanged beside ihesu, Bot his takeninges did me tru, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] I praied þat he suld on me reu, To me,' he said, 'i hight þe treu þat þu þis ilk dai sal be Line 18421 In blis of paradis wid me.' þis takin he tagh[t] me þan of pris, 'Ga forth,' he said, 'to paradis Line 18424

Line 18424 And if þe ȝateward þe widstand, Sai him þu has ful god warand; Iesus goddes sun sai þu, Line 18427 þat right on rode was nailed nu Send þe þeder;' and þus i wroght, And suith þat angel in me broght In paradis, on þe right side, Line 18431 And here he said, 'a quile þu bide, Til adam, fadir of all man-kin, Be comen wid his folk here-in, Line 18434 wid all his childer, lele and gode, In crist þat lauerd was done on rode." Prophetis and patriarkes eke. Quen þai had herd þis thef speke, All þai crid wid a steuen, Line 18439 'Blisced be þe lauerd of heuen, Fadir of merci widuten miss, þat suilk a grace has sent till hijs, Sinful men þaim forto lede Line 18443 In paradis, and forto fede vntill his pastur þat es sua rike, þar lijf es lastand euer elike.'— To þat pastur he mot vs bring, Line 18447 þat bath vr keper es and king! þat pastur es cald heuen blis, þar-till vs bring, iesus wid his.

[þ]ir war þe preuites we sau, Icarius and mi felau, Line 18452 we breþer tua, bot noght we dar [folio 123b:2] Of þaa priuetes tell no mare. Saint michel forbod on vs laid; 'Gas to ȝur breþer forth,' he said, 'In ierusalem and þar sal ȝee Line 18457 Criand in orisuns for to be, In orisuns and in kneling; Louand iesus vprising Line 18460

Line 18460 þat sua wid him has raised ȝu. Line 18461 And ȝe sal be, sua well iesu, All dumb of speche wid ilk man Till ȝu spekand, bituix and þan þat he haue lent his leue ȝu to Line 18465 His dern priuetes for to vndo.' And siþen he bad vs sone on-ane, 'veind þu euer þe flum iordane, Feris sal þe find þar ma, Line 18469 þat vp es raised wid ȝu tua, wittnes forto schau of sight, þat resen es iesus als he hight.' Line 18472 For he has granted vs bot thoru Dais to hald vr paskes nu, vr frendis widin wittnesing, Of vr lauerd iesu vprising, Line 18476 And of þe hali flom iordane vr baptizing þan haue we tane, A clething giuen es vs ilkane, In erd mai be nu quitter nane. Line 18480 And quen we sal haue halden þaa Thre das of pask widuten maa, We sal be rauised forth awai, Sal no man se vs fra þat day. Line 18484 we haue ȝu tald all þe soth-sau Of all þat we haue leue to schau; Bot louis nu vr lauerd dright, An knau til him of ȝur plight, Line 18488 And dos ȝur penans quilis ȝe may: His pes be wid ȝu: a[n]d haues gode day." [folio 124a:1] [Q]uen written was þat þai wald write, Carius þan tok his scrite Againe till anna and cayphe, Line 18493 And to gamaliel, þir thre; Bot lentheus ȝald vp his teme Line 18495 Bath to ioseph and to nichodeme.

þai war transfigurd als tite, was neuer snau half sua quite; Line 18498 þai went awai fra sight of eie Moght neuer man þaim siþen seie. þe writtes þat þai left þaim þare, Nouþer of þaim es oþer mare, Line 18502 Ne noght a letter oþer lesse, Bot als þe tane þe toþer es.

[Þ]At gadring of þa iuus hale, Line 18505 Quen þai had herd þis selcuth tale, þai said, "for-soth, þis ilke dede, was done wid mightes of godd-hede." Far synagog þai went þaim vte, Line 18509 wid mekil besines and dute. Apon þair breistes gun þai bulk, And ilkan to þair in þai skule. Line 18512

[Pilate's Letter to Rome.]

[I]osepht and nichodem hijs fere Did to write þis stori here, Line 18514 To sir pilate þai it vndid, All þat þe iuus said and did. In synagog, widvten lite, Pilat did þa gestes write, Line 18518 In comune bokes of þair lay, Bat þat he sau and herde say Of iesu and þair iuus state; Lettres to rome þar-of he wrate, Line 18522 [Q]uare-of þis was þe biginning, "Ponce pilate gret claude þe king!" Said, "littel es gane siþen it bitid þat was bifor min auen eien keid, þe iuus wid þair envie and hete Line 18527 Has slain þair auen god sua grete; þat suld be godd till þair ospring, [folio 124a:2] Keneli þai demid him to hing. Line 18530

Line 18530 Of quam þair eldris had ane hight, þat to þaim suld þair auen dright His angel send dune for þaim, Line 18533 þair worthi king him forto claim. þat þai þis hight þat was sua schene, Suld tide þaim thoru a maiden clene. þis ilke man was to þaim sent Line 18537 Bath in time and in present, Quilis i was baile of þair lau, Quen sum men of þa iuus sau Line 18540 þis ilke man dos signes sere,— þe blind to se, þe dumb to here, To parlesi and eke to mesele, Line 18543 And to þe wode, giuand þair hele, Redi to raise þe dede till hand, And till his will þe wind to stand, Apon þe see, widvten wete, Line 18547 Gangand als apon a strete;— And oþer takeni[n]ges fel vnteld, þat þai for goddes sun him held. þe princes als his ful fas Line 18551 wid enst and nith again his ras, Als presun þai him toke for-þi, And bitaght him me als þair bailli. Of mani wranges þai him wreid, Line 18555 And mani lesing on him lieid, And said he was a tregettur, And again þair lau traitur. I troud all þat þai me tald, Line 18559 And beft to þaim i him vp ȝald, And þai him hanged, sli was þair rede, And deluid him quen he was dede. And of mi knightes sum þat sett Forto do his graue to gett, Line 18564 And þar-apon þai did þar sele, þat no man suld his bodi stele.

þe thrid dai ras he to lijf, [folio 124b:1] Bot þan bigan a nu strijf Line 18568 Bituix þaa iuus and mi knightes, For þan bigan þai bede þaim giftes Forto lei of his vp-rise, Bot þou þai toke þe gifte of pris Fra þat men folk sua fell, Line 18573 þe soth bihoued þaim algat tell. þai sau him rise fra vnder stane, And þai þat had fals giftes tane. For-þi, sir king, i warn þe nu Line 18577 þat þu na lesing here-of trou, And nameli to þe sau of iuu, For dusgat did þai wid iesu. Line 18580 Aha! quat þair will was wick þat werraid him bath dede and quick." Nu haue ȝe herd be tald þe pas, Hu þat he herid hell and ras. Line 18584 [Q]uen he for vs was boght and sald was tua and threiti weinter ald, And monethes sex and woukes tua, Quen he þe iuus lete him sla. Line 18588 Bot we sal bath sua vnderstand, Iuus and sarzins him slou wid hand. þe skill þar-of it was for-þi, þat he þaim bath come forto bi. Line 18592 þat ilk þai þan deied he, Als his moþir was gret wid aue, Tua night he in sepulcre lai, Line 18595 Bot noght bot anlepi day. þe nightes tune bitakenes bath þe bodili dede and saulis [[MS. laulis]] bath; þe day bitakind ded of him Line 18599 þat lightend all vr ded sua dim; Quilis his licam lai vnder stane, In gast es he to hell gane, Line 18602

Line 18602 His bodi here, his gast was þar, Line 18603 His goddhede wanted nouþer-quar. Into hell þat lauerd him light, [folio 124b:2] On pask-dai als on midnight;— For witt ȝe wele and vnder-take þat ilke time he sent vs wrake Line 18608 Apon þe egypciens vnlele, þat he did sla wid his angele; þat ilke time on nightertale, Line 18611 He broght his freindis vte of bale, þat es fra hell to paradis. And quen his will was forto ris, Till his licam he went again, Line 18615 And ras vp thoru his auen main. þe seuend dai in pask tide He ras arli, widvten bide, Bath godd and man als he was ar, vndeiand nu for euermare, Line 18620 For wid his fight again vr fede, Ouercomen he has þe lastand dede.

[A]nd dus bicome þat oyle in place, þat god hight adam of grace; Line 18624 Lang might adam thinc þe space Of fleming fra þat lauerd face, Four thousand ȝere, þan was þe tale, Four hundred and four all hale was adam bidan in his bale, Line 18629 Thoru dome into þat dinning dale. His lijf was in þis werld here Neine hundreth and thritti ȝere, Blisced be þat king and clerk Line 18633 þat sua kan sauue his hand-werk; And blisced be scho þat him bare Suilk a saluing till vr sar. þat ilk leuedi mot lene vs lare Line 18637 In his louing to tell nu mare.

[Christ is like a Lion.]

[L]Eon of reghtwisnes has raised Him-seluen, and his presun laised, Leon men mai him clepe wid right, For mai na best be mare of might. And alsua þar es oþer resun [folio 125a:1] Qui he es takened to a leon, Line 18644 Leon quelp quen it es born Liges dede to þe threid morn, widvten lijf of ani lim, Line 18647 His [fadir] comis þan to him; And wid his cri þat es sua greis, He giues his quelp lijf forto rijs. Sua did iesu, vr champioun, Line 18651 þou he lai dede for vr ransoun, Quen þat his fader wald, he bad þe sun vpras vs alle to glad. Of leon alsua þe kind es hey, Line 18655 Slepand loukes he neuer his eie, Ne iesus, þou his gast he ȝald His godd-hede þat has all i[n] wald, Moght neuer dei ne neuer sall, Line 18659 Ne slepe, þat has to wake vs all.

[Our Lord's Life after he had risen.]

[þ]at king, quen he was resen to lijf, Scheud him till his desciplis rijf, Com and ȝode to þaim vmstunt, Line 18663 And ete and dranck als he was wont; wid þaim he dueld fourti dais, An sarmoned (als þe stori sais) Line 18666 Of heuenes blis þat es sua hei, And quen his will was forto stei, To gadir all his togeder he badd; And þai war all samen stadd, Line 18670

Line 18670 Iesus him kid to þaim all nu, Line 18671 To fraist if þai in trouth war tru, þair mistrouning forto misprais, And vte of wanhope forto rais. Line 18674 For sum þar was of þat gadring, þat troud noght ȝeit his vprising; Bot þair mistrovth, soth to sai, Es strinthing of vr troght to-day; Gret sekirnes till vs it was, Line 18679 þe mistrouuing of sant thomas, For he wald trou on nakin wise [folio 125a:2] vr lauerd iesu suld sua vprise; Of his vpris he was in were Line 18683 And said, "for thing þat i mai here Mai i trou he vpresin es, Till i mai se and fele his fless, þe thirles bath of hend an fete, Line 18687 And of his side þe wondes wete; Quen i haue graped þa wid hand, þe soth þan most i vnderstand." Bot iesus þat sli brest wald bete, Thomas luuesumli he lete, Line 18692 And forto grape his wondes wide To put his hand in at his side, And said, "thomas þu fele and se Queþer i me-self or noght it be, Line 18696 And mistrou noght þat es to trou, Bot stand in stedfast trouth fra nu." Quen thomas þat crist was couth, Herd þis takning of iesu muth, Line 18700 "þu ert," he said, "nu lauerd min And þu art als mi dere drightin." "For þu," said he, "þe soth has sene, Nu þu wat widvten wene Line 18704 Bot þa men sal be benedight Sal trou in me widuten sight."

[F]ra þan wald drightin wid opin dede Comferme his trouth til alkin lede; He bad þan his desciplis teche Line 18709 Ouer all þis world forto preche, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And all þat wald tru fra þat time, And siþen wald reciue baptime, þat þai suld baptist be in hast, Line 18715 In name fader and sun and hali gast. And þai þat will noght baptim take, Ate dome þai sal be done to wrake. þe truand and þe baptist bath Line 18719 þai sal be sauf fra waful wath. þar has he sothfast sample left, [folio 125b:1] þat nedewais most he born be eft, First in flexs and syden in crist, Line 18723 Of modir wamb and þan baptist; Fader and modir vs gat and bar, Bot crist has nu vs getten þar, Line 18726 vs getun in hali gast has he, For-þi sothfast his suns er we. Ful wa þan mai him be for au, Line 18729 þat will noght suilk a fadir knau! For-þi es he ful wele we wate, þat neuer of þat appil bate Thoru him we mai, widvten lett, Aske vr eritage wid dedett, Line 18734 For left he noght þar-of a smitt Of all þe lau þat he ne held itt, þat neuer was haldin þar biforn, þat he for vs come to bi born. Line 18738 Of erde it come þe frist man þat all vr baret vs bigan; þe toþer vs come fra heuen tur, Line 18741 þat broght vs saghtnes and succur.

þe formast man was flesli wroght, þat all þe w[o]rld in bale had broght; He was put vte of paradis, Line 18745 And all þe ospring þat was his; Bot iesu vr fadir has made al plain, Gat til vr eritage again, þat lighted in erd fra heuen hei, And fra þe lau vs dos vp stei. Line 18750 [T]ill his desciplis bad þat heind Fra ierusalem þai suld noght wend, Bot bide his fadir hight right þar, þat thoru his muth said men ar, Line 18754 "Se said þe baptim of sant iohn was noght done bot in water allon, Bot i sai ȝu ȝe sal in hast Be baptist in þe hali gast." Line 18758

[The Ascension of Christ.]

Quen iesus had his spell fulfild, [folio 125b:2] And teched þaim all þat he wild, Forth he led þat megne suete, Line 18761 Oup-on þe munt of oliuete In licnes of processiun, And gaf þaim all his benisoun: And wid his auen propre might, He stei vp in þair aller sight, Line 18766 A cloud þat þar again him light Bitaght him till his angelis bright; Quen þai þe sight of him had tint, ȝeit þai biheld widvten stint, Line 18770 And quilis þai biheld sua in lite, Biside þaim stod tua men in quite, And said, "god men of galile, Quar-apon sua wonder ȝe? Line 18774 ȝe wonder sua apon iesu, Bot right als he es tane fra ȝu,

He sal cum at anoþer tide, Line 18777 For thar ȝe naght him nu abide. Bot þat come sal be wonder kene, Quen he sal deme vs all bidene." [A]pon þat hal[i] thures-day Line 18781 þan went iesu to graith vr way, wid fadir his to graith vr in, þat nu es of his auen kin, Line 18784 In heuen blis, þat es þe soth; If we will folu right þe slotht, His kin ne will he noght forsake, Bot it be thoru vr auen make, Line 18788 Bot god forbede þat it sua weind, þat we vr fa make of vr freind; Ful wele aue we to luue hi[m] þan, Qua luues him noght, he es na man. Na certes, if i þe soth sal rede, Line 18793 Na man es he dos no manhede, And of vnmanhede es it draun, To be again gode dede vnknaun. vr manhede bu we þan him vnto, [folio 126a:1] In all þe gode þat we mai do, Line 18798 For ferist in erd he here it fett, And nu he has in heuen it bett. Sua hei vtouer all creatur, Line 18801 Quat hert mai thinc of sli onur, þat he till vs has done of blis, þat cupplid þus vr kind to his. And sett apon his fadir right hand, þat mighti god all weilldand. Line 18806 þat es a selcuth thing to neuen, For þar es erd heier þan heuen. þar iesus, god and man wid-all, Sua hei es sett in heuen hall. Line 18810 Quat ellis bot erd es vr manhede, þat es made ane wid his godhede?

He send vs nu þat ilk grace Line 18813 þat to se his blisful place! Mar blis ne ioy mai neuer be, þan on his suete face to se. Line 18816

[A description of the Person of Christ.]

[O]f his visage þat es sua brigh[t] Me to speke þar-of it es vnright, For angelis es no sun sua light, þair most ioy es on his sight, Line 18820 To se him þar he sittes nu, In heuen als we agh all to trou, Bot of his liknes þat he bare Line 18823 Quiles he was prechand here a[n]d þar. þan mai we sai, als it es redd In vr bokes in sumkin stedd, Of heght he was a meteli man, Line 18827 Efter þat þe men war þan; Nouþer to gret, ne right to small, And wonder semli was wid-all; Line 18830 His chere was dredeful on to loke, And luuesum alsua, sais þe boke; His har like to þe nute brune, Line 18833 Quen it for ripes fallis dune, Apon his chuldris ligand wele, [folio 126a:2] Bi his eris skailand sum dele. Line 18836 In heued he had a sched biforn, Als nazarenes has þat þar er born. His forhed fair, wemles to sight, widuten ani runkil sleight, Line 18840 His vijs sum-dele wid rede was blend; Of neies and muth was noght to mend, Forkid fair þe chin he bare Line 18843 And tender berd wid mekil hare.

Berd and hefd of a heu ware, Line 18845 Nutte brun als i tald ȝu are. Meteli har was on his schin, And als his hefd [[MS. fete]] was sched in tuin. Stedfast his loke and simple ay, Line 18849 His eien clere, and sum-dele gray; Clerli spac he quat he wald, And all his skill wisli he tald. In his snaiping auful was he, Line 18853 In talking might nane sother be. þat teris he wepe we find enogh, Bot we find neuer þat he logh. Of suilk a moder, suilk a child, Line 18857 wid fair visage and modes mild, It es wele sene bi þe veroni And bi þe ymage of þat leuedi þe tane es to þe toþer like, Stad in þe blis of heuen-rike. Line 18862

[The Acts of the Apostles.]

[Q]ven iesus was vpstei til heuen, Als ȝe herd me forwid neuen, To ierusalem þan went þaim sone, Als þaim was bedin forwid done. þe breþer all er comen þeder, Line 18867 In a hus war þai to-gider, S[t]ill þai held þaim þar and euen. þe apostlis war þan bot elleuen, Petre, iohn, iame, and andreu, Line 18871 Philipe, thomas, and bartholomeu, Mathe, iacob, iudas, simon, [folio 126b:1] All þir lay þar in orisoun; Mari his modir and oþer sum Line 18875 þat was neuer betaght to iesum,

þai war nere sex skor men to tell. þan ras petre þaim to spell, Line 18878 "Mi breþer," he said, "it most nu nede þe writt be fulfild þat we rede; þat hali-gast said thoru daui, Of iudas and his trechori, Line 18882 þat in vr tale was tald for ane And did vr lauerd iesu to slane. Of þe mede of his feluni A feild he did him for to bi; Line 18886 He brast in middis quen he hang, His guttes at his wamb vte wrang. þe salme sais thoru þe hali-gast, Line 18889 His woning sted be wild and wast, And for his tresun and his suike, Anoþer most haue his bischop-rike, Of þis gadring bihouis vs þan, Line 18893 In wittenesing to chese a man vnto þe seruis of [[MS. or]] vre tale, For to make vr numbre hale." All þai said, "loke it be sua," Line 18897 And of þaim all þai ches þaim tua, þe tane hight ioseph barrabas, þe toþer was haten matheas. Line 18900 þai said, and þus drightin bisogh[t], "þu lauerd þat seis all manes þoght, þu scheu vs queder of þis tua sere, þat þu will haue to vs mistere, Line 18904 Into stede iudas was losin, Quilk of þir þu wil haue chosin." þan keist þai caueles þaim emell, Bot sone apon mathi it fell, Line 18908 Of him it was vr lauerd will, þe tale of tuelue to fulfille.

[The Descent of the Holy Spirit.]

[T]En dais fra þe assenciun, [folio 126b:2] þe apostlis lai all in orisun. Line 18912 Als þai sua to-gedir lay Apon þat hali Wittsunday, At vndrin tide þar come a sune vte of þe air brestand dune, Line 18916 Als it war a thoner blast, Brathli on þat hus it brast, wid a wend at come wid-all And, þai sittand, fild all þat hall. þe hali gast þar lighted þan Line 18921 Bath on womman and on man, vnto þair hefdes all bidene was firen tunges sittand sene, A firen tung on ilke a-light, Line 18925 Bot noght þai brint, þou þai war bright. And qui þai come in firin sight? Bot forto strenth and giue might, For wele we wate, widvten gile, For fire es gode to strenth þe tile; Tung bi-takenes all langage Line 18931 þat þai suld haue of ful knaulage, To stand stithli for þe fay, And thrali preche for cristes lay. Of hali-gast fild war þai þan, Line 18935 And for to tell þai all bigan þe miraclis grete of iesu crist, For alkin langage wele þai wist. Als þaim to gaf þe hali-gast Line 18939 Of alkin witt to touche and tast, was na langage þat man wald mouth, þat þaim all it kindlik cuth. [I]n þat siquar was in þat tune Sere men of all religiune, Line 18944

Line 18944 Of all manere of naciune Man redes of in ani rune, Line 18946 þat to þat feste com þat siquare, Of ilkin lede, bath lesse and mare. Quarfor þai war dred and gast, [folio 127a:1] Quen þai had herd þat mekil blast, For þat farli sone war þai fus, Line 18951 And ran þaim til þe apostlis hus, All carpand of þat grisli crack; þair auen langage ilkan þai spac, Of ilkan thing þat þai cuth frain, Redi þai gaue þaim ansuer again, þat ilk tung quat-sum it ware, Line 18957 Till ilk lede þai gaue ansuare; It was na wisdam man to knau þat þai ne cuth resun redi schau. All wondred-on þat þai herd or sei, And said, "er noght þir of galilei Born þat es þair kind cuntre? Line 18963 Hu," said þai þan, "ma þis be, þat vr langage nu speke þai þus? Gret selcuth here-of thinces vus." Oþer-sum badd þaim þan do way, And said, "drunkein of must er þai." [V]p stod peter in þat thrang, Line 18969 And said, "gode men, ȝe haue þe wrang, we er noght drunkin als ȝe say, It ne es bot vnþren tide of þe day, we er noght wont þat time at ete Ne noght to drinc bifor vr mete; Bot i sal till it ȝu wele better, Line 18975 If ȝe can rede ȝur auen letter. þar was a prophete treu and lele, In formdais, þat hight ioel, 'I sal send in þe last dais Of mi spirit,' þus it sais, Line 18980

Line 18980 'Bath on man and womman eke Of propheci þan sal þai speke, Line 18982 ȝur suns and ȝur doughtris fre, And ȝur ȝongmen sal sightes se. ȝur eldrin men sal dremis dreme, And of mi gast i sal a streme Line 18986 To suayn and womman giue alsua, [folio 127a:2] To cum wid propheci to spa; In heuen on hei þan sal i schau, And signes dune on erd lau.' " Line 18990 He tald þaim mani takinges sere, þat es no nede all reken here. "Mi breder," he said, "ful wele mai i ȝu tell of þe prophete daui, Line 18994 He wist that god till him had suorn þat ane suld of his sede be born To sitt in setlis þat war his; Bot he þat sau on-ferrum þis Line 18998 Of his vpris he said, 'in hell, It sal noght be left to duell, Ne neuer of rote his fless haue sight, Bot raised es he wid strenth of dright.' Fra dede to lijf nu resin es he, Line 19003 And þar-of witnes all er we, Raised sua wid godes might, And sikird of hir fadir hight. Of hali-gast þe giftes sere, Line 19007 Giuen vs has he als ȝe se here, Tille heuen he stei, þat es wele sene; And i sai to ȝu folk bi-dene, þis iesus es mi lauerd dright, Line 19011 ȝe did on rode widvten right." [þ]ir wordis herd, þair hert gan tru, And als for þair misdedis þai ru, To petre and þe apostlis to Line 19015 þai said, "god men, quat sal we do?"

"Bot dos penance and baptiz ȝu In þe name of vr ihesu, Line 19018 ȝe sal forgiuen be ȝur sake, þe gift of hali gast to take; For-qui to ȝu and to ȝur sede, þe barnis þat of ȝu sal brede, Line 19022 þe mede es hight of all and all, All þaa þat cristen er iesu wil call, Bot for ȝur bote i ȝu forbede [folio 127b:1] To leten at þis wicked lede." Line 19026 Petre pained him ful garn In cristes lai þat folk to larn; And þai þat toke þis word till hert, þair saulis turned it to quert; Line 19030 For þar was þat ilke day in liues Baptist thre hundreth men and wiuis, þat desseli both late and are Line 19033 þar tendant to þe apostlis ware, And of þat bred ete wid þaim þare, þat þai had noght elles-quare. Line 19036 þai þat hus had or ani oþer gode þai sald, and wid þe pris þai ȝode And bifor þe apostlis fete it broght, þar-of to no-quat þaim god thoght. Arli þe apostlis euer-ilke day Line 19041 went to þe temple for to prai, At þair gain-come þe mete þai gaf, Ilkan als þai sau mister haf. Line 19044

[P]etre and iohn a day at none went to kirc to make þair bone, Biside þe wai þar sau þai lij, Line 19047 A man was croked in þe parlesi, And had bene mast all his fordais, Als þe stori vs tellis and sais; Ilk dai men þedir him bare Line 19051 Forto bidd his almosun þare.

Petre and iohn þai bi him ȝode, Line 19053 And he þaim badd him giue sum gode, Petre and iohn ansuerd him þan And said, "bihald on vs, þu man!" Als qua say, bihald on vs and se And vnderstand vr pouertte, Line 19058 Als qua sai, þu sal se vr wane, For giftes haue we to þe nane. [ [[from Edin|bro' MS.]] He thaim bihelde bot wel wend he Thai sulde him sum charite. Petir saide til him on-ane, Line 19063 "Golde na silvir haue I nane."] For-qui petre gode ne was it noght, þat oþer men had sua him broght All for to kepe vnto þair nede, [folio 127b:2] And for þaa pouer men to fede, þat for þat þing þair godes sald Line 19069 Bifor þe apostlis fete vp-ȝald. "þat i mai giue," he said, "i sale, I wate þu has nede to be hale, In iesus nazarenus name," Line 19073 He said, "rise vp and ga þu lame." His hand he raght and vp he ras, And to þe temple spede his pas, þat noght forwit might strid a step, Louand vr lauerd þan he lep; Line 19078 þe propheci was þan fild sua, þat said þe halt suld scope as ra. þe folk quen þai þis man had sene, þai wondred on all bidene, Line 19082 þa þat forwid had knauen him, For wonder sum þar fell in suim.

[P]etre þan bigan to mele And said þe folk of israele, Line 19086 "Qui wonder ȝe sua wid vnright Als þis war done wid vr might?

Bot mighti godd widvten make, Of abraham and of ysaac, Line 19090 And of vr eldris þat has bene a, His sun þan has he blisced sua; ȝe suake and nitt bifor pilate, And deme als ȝe-self it wate, Line 19094 þe oncall of his hali name, Has lent his hele nu to þis lame wid þe troutht þat fell þar-to, For it mai selcut mekil do. Bot nu mi breþer, i vnderstand Line 19099 þat ȝe it did ȝur vnwittand, Repentis ȝu, and bes vnk[n]aun To sauue ȝur saulis ilk man his auen, Again þe grete comune assise Line 19103 Quar all sal come bifor iustise. [folio 128a:1] ȝur sin widstand, þat ȝe mai rise wid þat parti þat es rightwise, Line 19106 Forgiuenes clene sal be of plight, þan forsoth quen thoru þe might Of rising on þe last dai, þe lastand dede sal worth a-way; Bi his fadir sitt he sall, Line 19111 Till he record haf vs all, þat he spac feirst wid prophecis Ai to þe time þat all suld ris." Line 19114

[þ]e apostlis speckand þis and mare, þe preistes come in þat siquare, þe temple maistris wid þaim bun, All þai war of a comun. Line 19118 At þair talking þaim tened sare, And said, "hu es þis þat ȝe dar Suilkin loueword of him say, þat we did deme dis endir day?" þe saduceus,—namli þat lede, Line 19123 For þe vprising wold þai wede,

For þai wald neuer ȝeit for thing þar suld be ani vp-rising,— Line 19126 þe apostlis did þai be taken sone And sua þai war in presun done, þar badd þai iuen suld þaim ȝeme, For late it was þaim þan to deme. Bot mani troued þar and trud, Line 19131 To baptim take þaim-seluen buud, þat quat of man and quat of wiue, þar was conuerted thousandes fiue.

[þ]E toþer dai þat folud neist, Line 19135 þai gadrid vte both prince and preist, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And sett þaim in þat curt emidd, And bad þaim of þe dede þai didd, þat þai suld telle, widvten hone, In quas name þat it was done. Line 19142 Bot petre first of hali gast His ansuer gaf þaim in hast; Bot first he scheud als wid dede, [folio 128a:2] þat þair asking was bot sothed. Line 19146 He said, "es it resun þat we For vr gode dede schalanged be? vnskilwisli þan can ȝe blame. Line 19149 For-witt ȝe wele, þat in þe name Of iesu þat ȝe did on rode, þat alwais ȝe misunderstode, Line 19152 þat godd his fader raised to liue, (Als wate mani man and wiue) þat es made als a corner stane For to make tuin folkes ane, Line 19156 Ane in him for to be fest,— þat ilke þat fra ȝur werke ȝe keist, In him es hele of mankind all; Es no noþer name on to call, Line 19160

Line 19160 þat of hele mai giue man blis, Line 19161 Bot yf man thrali thinc on þis." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 19166 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

[þ]e maistris quen þai vnderstode Sua stedfastli þe apostlis stode, Line 19174 þai bad þat þai þaim suld wid-drau Quilis þai suld samen speck a thrau. þai said, "nu se ȝe noght þir men, Qua can vs of þaim consail cen? þe signe all sau ȝe þat þai did? Line 19179 we may noght nite, sua es it kid, Bot þarfor sal we threte þaim hard, þat þai sal neuer mor forward Line 19182 þis name to man or womman neuen, Or dere on þaim þai suld it heuen." [T]ald war þai þan and bidden þare, þat þai fra þan suld neuer mare Line 19186 Of þe name of iesu spell, Ne nankin tiþand þar-of to tell. And þai þaim ansuer gaf on-one, Bath sant petre and saint iohn, Line 19190 "And queþer au we þan to bu To godd al weildand, or to ȝu? [folio 128b:1] þat bidd ȝe þat he mast forbedis, And sua ȝe scheu ȝur soth-hedis. Line 19194 þe lauerd to bidd þe man widstand, vnlau it es to tell in land

þe thing þat we bath herd and sau. Hu mai we þan bot we it knau? If we ne did we war to wite Line 19199 For sothfastnes es noght to nite." þa iuus þat war ai sua curst wald eft haue tan þaim if þai durst, For folk durst þai noght hete apon; And þai went hame vn to syon. Line 19204 Quen þai come to þair breþer þar, þai tald hu þai handlid war, þai lifted þair hend all wid a steuen, And thanked iesu þar-of heuen. Line 19208 Quen þai had all said þair bede, þan bigan to stir þat stede, And in þat erde-din þat schoke, þe hali gast eft-sith þai toke. vte of þair hali hertis horde Line 19213 Spedeli þai spelled godes worde.

[The Falsehood of Ananias and Sapphira.]

[O]f þat folk a man þar was, His name was cald ananias, "I wil," he said, "mi godes giue wid þir rightwismen to liue, Line 19218 wid þaim i mai of mete a[n]d drinck, Mi liuere haue widvten suinck." Till his wijf he said, "i and þu Here-to sal we make a uuou." Line 19222 þe wou was made, his land he sald, þe penis hali tane and tald, þe quilk he broght widuten freist, And for þe apostlis fete dune he kest; þe haluendele þar-of he stale, Line 19227 And said þat þar þe pris was hale. His wif it wist and held þar-till; was neuer þe fruit of suilk bot ill,

For all suilk it-self bisuikes, [folio 128b:2] And lethes mast þat þar-in likes. Petre it sau wid hali sight, Line 19233 For-fild he was of grace of dright, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] "Sai me," he said, "ananias, Line 19237 Qui has þe tempted sathanas, To make sli lesing of þi sale, And ȝald þe half vp for to hale? All þat þu wend þar-wid to win Line 19241 Sale turn þe bote to sake and sin. Sikir es þu nu of sin and sake, þar-of þu has in hand þe wrake." Had saint petre þaim said na mare, Quen he fell dune dede right þare; þe ȝong men hint þat cariu[n]e þare, And þeþen for to delue it bare. Line 19248 [S]one efterward bot ures threin, His wijf come þis vnwitand in, "womman," said petre, "sald ȝe sua ȝur land?" scho said, "sir, ȝa." Line 19252 "þu leies," he said, "and au to wand wid fals-hede þe hali gast to fand. Lo! quar bifor þe dor þai stand, þat right nu delue di dede husband. Sua sal þai þe do nu on-ane," Line 19257 wid þis word fell scho dede as stane. [N]u wonder na man þat i haue spokin þat wranges þan sua suith was wrokin, For cristen kirc, þou it bigan, Line 19261 ȝeit was it noght als stabil þan, And custom es emang alle treu, Quen lau es made bituix men nu At þe biginning forto be redd, Line 19265 þat drede mai do þe lau take stedd,

To do þe folk for drede and au Line 19267 þat wild noght ellis hald þe lau; þe gode and lele for luue and mede, þe wich þai hald þe lau for drede. [folio 129a:1] Fra þan durst na man wid þai meng, bot þat wold leli wid þaim leng; Mani seke vnto þaim soght, And mani signe on þaim þai wrogh[t]; Bath in wais and in strete Line 19275 þe seke war born þaim for to mete, þat petre schuldrid on þaim suld rine þar-of had mani medicine. Line 19278 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [P]rince was petir of þos twelue, And gretter signe þan crist him-selue He wroght, als it es said sum-quar, Priuilege of signe for-þi he bare; Line 19284 For crist him-seluen hight him þat ilke, Quen he for him wroght signes suilk.

[The Apostles are imprisoned, and set free by an Angel.]

Fra þan þair folk wex mare and mar, For fast þe folk fel to þair lare, Line 19288 Bot ȝeit þe iuen folk felun þai did þe apostlis in presun, Thoru consail of a naciun wald trou na resurrecciun Line 19292 Suld be of man on domes-day, Bot gain þe apostlis þai said ai nay. þis folk was hatten saduceus, þai held ai wid þe phariseus. Line 19296

[B]ot sone þar-efter on þe night, Sent þaim was an angel bright, þat broght þaim thoru þa stedis strang, And bad þaim to þe temple gang Line 19300

Line 19300 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] For to spell þe word of lijf, Line 19303 þat all might here, man and wijf. þe presuns dors left als he fand, Nouþer he brast barre ne band,— þat was to strinth þair throuth and grund, And for þe iuus vn-to confund. Quen þai sau dis, þe iaiolers, Line 19309 Suld bring þaim forwid demaistris, "Lauerdinges, it es selcuth," said þai, "we find vr prisuns all away, Line 19312 þe dors sperd and wales hale, [folio 129a:2] Als god me helpe, soth es þis tale. Ne na takning of suilk fand we; vmthinckes ȝu hu þis mai be." Line 19316 [þ]a maistris fast þaim vmbithoght, wid þis a man þaim tydand broght, "þe men þat ȝe did in ȝur prisun," He said, "in temple þai sarmun." To þe temple þan þai ȝede, [[MS. ȝode]] þe apostlis to þair curt to lede, Line 19322 Bot na strinth did þai þaim till, For þai come wid þaim all at will. þai durst no hardnes þaim do For þe folk þaim helded to; Line 19326 Midward þat curt war þai sett, þe biscop wid forbod þaim thrett; "we bid," he said, "and ȝe forbede Thoru þe might of bischop-hede, þat ȝe in name of þat iesu, Line 19331 Be noght sua bald to preche fra nu; For all ierusalem, and mare, Haue ȝe fulfild wid ȝur lare, Queder ȝe will driue on vs þe blam Of ani wreking of þis name, Line 19336

Line 19336 Þat we suld him haue slain wid wrang, þar ȝe þrechand sua thrali gang." [A]ll als ane þai gaf ansuar, Line 19339 Moght nan for oder þaim for-bere, "Mare nede it es if ȝe wald tru To godd, þan ani man to bu; vr eldrin god did iesu rise, Line 19343 þe quilk ȝe hang wid fals assise, And has him lithed on his righ[t] hand; þis wate ȝe wele, mai nane wid-stand. Ofte to ȝu has it bene tald, Line 19347 wittnes þar-of all er we bald, wid hali gast he has vs sent, And þat treuli til him we tent. Line 19350 To ȝu if ȝe wile ȝu repent [folio 129b:1] þis gift of grace þan has he sent."

þan bigan þai wrinck and wraist, And for tene þair teth to gnaist, þan wid snepes þai þaim suang, Line 19355 And skurged sare, þai lete þaim gang, And bad þaim fle als þai wald dede, To neuen namar iesu þair fede. þai went forth ioifuler þan are, Line 19359 And noght þai mened of þair sare, But loued ai iesu cristes name, þat þai for him war worthi grame. [þ]e stedfast trouth to here it, lo! Quat-kin strenthes it mai do! Line 19364 þat nouþer for word ne for dint, Fra stabil trouth might do þaim stint þaim thoght na-thing sua suete in lijf, Als for iesu to suffre mekil strijf, Ay þe mar men did þaim miss, Line 19369 þe sekerer ai þai war of blis. Cristes blis þai loued sua wele, þat þai moght of na torfer fele, Line 19372

Line 19372 Als he bifor þaim wroght þe way, Alsua him ay folud þai. Line 19374 He þat þaim sua dere had boght Of all þis world þan gaf þai noght. þe maistris þat come efter-ward þai lered at þaim to suffre hard, Line 19378 þat neuer for na bale ne buud, Fra cristen trouth þat þai in troud.

[I]n þir apostlis time it sais Line 19381 þe cristen-dame wex fast þa dais, þat þe apostolis had to speke,— þat herdes war of cristes schepe,— Sua wex þe cristen mens tale, Line 19385 þat þai might na-waies kep þaim hale, For-þi þai sett vnder þaim seuen, þe quilk i sal þe names neuen. S[t]euin, and philip, and thamor, [folio 129b:2] Timon, meniam, nichonor, Line 19390 and nicholas þir seuen were Sett bifor þe apostlis sere. On þaim þai held þair hali hand, And a quile þai war praiand, Line 19394 And athes þan þai þaim made, Of þaim þar-of þai toke the lade, þe birden vnder þaim to bere. Of þat folk quen was mistere, Line 19398 Goddes word wex fast and greu, And alsua did þe trouth treu; And of þe preistes was þar fele Line 19401 þat left þair lastes a[n]d wrohede lele.

[The Stoning of Stephen.]

[S]Teuin of strenth and godes grace was fulfild in ilk a place, Mani miraclis grete of might, wroght he forwid folkes sight: Line 19406

Line 19406 vp þar ras a strijf him with Line 19407 Men þat war of sundri kith, þat synagog of iuus held, Sone þai weint haf steuen feld. Bot all þair strijf was in vain, Had þai no might him again, Line 19412 wid speche þai gaue him mani turn, Bot nane might gain him hald a spurn; þe hali spirit thoru him spack, In word might þaim noght him ouertak; All þe men þat sau his chere Line 19417 Thoght he was an angel clere. Tua wittnes had þaim puruayd, To tell of godd he had missaid Gain moyses and gain þair lau, Line 19421 He said, "queþer es þis soth or vnsau;" He fined neuer þaim to missay þe bishop of þair lau, herde say. Steuin tifted him all bune, Line 19425 And þan bigan a gret sarmune, [folio 130a:1] And þar he proued, wid-vten au, þat fals it was, all þair on-sau. For first to loue godd he bigan Line 19429 Of moyses, þat dughti man, And siþen spac he of þair lau, þat þai it cuth noght seluen knau. Bot quen he had þaim tald þe soth þai bigan to gnaist wid toth, Line 19434 þam þoght þair hertis brast for tene, Eth was to kindli þat was kene. vp he þan lifted eien his, Line 19437 "I se," he said, "vr lauerd blis, And manes sun þar se i stand, Iesus, bi godd on his right hand." In furme of man he sau him in, Line 19441 His fader and he sum dele in tuin,

He sau him stand to help him bede, For helpand au to stand in nede, He sau him croised þat ilke turn Line 19445 þat he for stani[n]g suld noght schurn. For to here neuen iesus name þat held it bath schenship and schame, And namliest wa was þaim þan Line 19449 Quen men him cald bath god and man. þan wex þa wreches vte of wit, And gun þair erin for to ditt, þai harmid na tþing mar in hert; þarfor on steuen alle þai stert, Line 19454 þai drou him vte of tune allane, And þar þai demed him to stane. þe fals wittnes stane him bigan, þat said þai herd him drightin ban, þai held for lau wid-vten sin, Line 19459 Þat þe wittneses suld bigin. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] A child hight saul of þair lede Line 19463 Tok tent to-quilis to þair wede, þat ilk þat þan was hatten saul, Siþen he was apostil paul. Line 19466 Quilis þai him wid stanis queld, [folio 130a:2] vp tilward heuen his hend he held, Apon his knes he dune him sett, And derworthli he drightin grett. "Lauerd," he said, "to þe iesu Line 19471 ȝeild i mi gast, reciue it nu! And lauerd, for-giue þu þaim þair plight, For of þe soth haue þai na sight." wid þis his hali gast he ȝald To iesu, þat for him was sald. Line 19476

[The Persecution of the Christians, and Saul's hand in it.]

[F]ra þat steuen was done of dau, Fast þai ras widvten au Line 19478 Again hali kirc, it forto wast, And in ierusalem aldermast. For he, þat ouerman was slaine, was of þe seuin dekins ane, Line 19482 Disciplis folud þai sua hard þat þai þaim draf vte of þair ward, Sauue þe apostlis þat þaim ledd, þai stod, bot all þas oþer fledd: Line 19486 All oþer fledd, bot ȝeit þai stod, Sua dos þe heirdes þat er gode. þan sau þe apostlis it was nede To turn in-till a-noþer lede. Line 19490 Alphei sun þat hight iacob, Of ierusalem þai made biscop, þai laid þair handis him apon, Petre and iacob and sant Iohn, Line 19494 For-þi of quoner þan of thre, Mai na bischop sacred be.

[I]N þat siquar was saul mast, þat cristen kirc bigan to wast, Line 19498 Fra hus to hus sekand he ran, And vte he drou bath wijf a[n]d man. And þogh he presund þaim wid wogh, Als god wald nane he slogh, Line 19502 For god him gert, þat euer es god, vnwemmed his hend in saccles blod. [folio 130a:1] [þ]ai þat war sua skailed for nede, Fra stede to sted walkand þai ȝede, Stedfaster þouqueþer þan are For-qui þat þai skailed ware. Line 19508 Philip, þat was of dekins ane, þe neist to tell fra sant stephane,

To preche he come in till a bi Line 19511 þat men cleped samari. þar þe folk wid hale assent Till his wordes gaue þai tent, Miraclis did he for þaim fele, Mani seke men gaue he hele. Line 19516

[Simon Magus wishes to buy Holy Gifts.]

[þ]ar was a man, symon magus, Als vr stori tellis vs, Line 19518 He ledd þe folk wid mekil suike, For signes was his workes like; He wroght bifor þaim gret farli, And al was wid his iugelri, Line 19522 Goddes vertu or grete prophete, Or angel ellis þat him lete, Or goddes sun self þai him held, For he cuth make þe men all dueld. Quen þe folk was in þat tune Line 19527 Treuli troud philip sarmune, And to þe baptizing þaim buud, Symon lete þan als he troud, And baptized him til hali kirc, Line 19531 For signes he sau philip wirke, Oþer ȝa þan he might do. Bot for he wend at cum þar-to, þar-for toke he baptim faint, Line 19535 For to be philip a-quaint, To be him als his priue uere, þat he might of his signes lere.

[Q]uen þe apostlis herd sua say, Samaritans had tane þair lay Line 19540 Fra ierusalem þai sent on-ane Bath saint petre and sant iahn, þai praid for þaim þan in hast, [folio 130a:2] þai suld reciue þe hali gast. Line 19544

Line 19544 þat es to sai wid takins sene, Line 19545 Bot thar no man þouqueþer wene, þat þai ne it receiued had þat time, vnsene quen þai toke baptime. Here-bi mai se þat oght es wiss, þat þou summe mai baptis, Line 19550 Mai na man þat es in land Conferming giue, bot bischop hand. þat ilke solwile þis philip wist, For-þi all of þat he baptist, Line 19554 He sent þaim to þe apostlis ay, þat þai suld on þaim handes lay, Als we se nu þir bischopis do, þat þis pouste is giuen vn-to. Line 19558 þe bischop halle confirmament, Of strenth it es þe sacrament, Stabli for to stand in strijf, In last of cristen manes lijf. Line 19562 [Q]uen symon magus vnderstod þe haligast, it was sua gode, þat þa men þat it vnderfang Line 19565 Might do sli vertu and sua strang, He wend it war bot aquaintis, And wend haue bogh it for sum pris. Als it es in þe stori redd, Line 19569 To þe apostlis gifte he bed, "þis ilk maistri giues me," he said, "þat on quat man mi hend be laid, He haue þe haligast in hij," Line 19573 To win wid-all he wend it bi. Petre ansuerd þat caitif quede, "þi catel be þe-self to dede, Line 19576 And hald þe catel þat es þine To be wid þe in hell pine." Here mai men se bi dis resun, Quen saintes gaf þair malisun, Line 19580

Line 19580 þat gaf it na wight als for will [folio 131a:1] þai had of wrake or oþer ill, Line 19582 Bot for rightwisnes þai it do, To þaim þat worthi es þar-to. "Has þu no part," said petre, "here, þu has wid falshed fest þe fere, Line 19586 Ne thoru þin hend has þu na might To gere þe hali gast at light; Bot do penance nede es enogh, [[MS. enoght]] For drightin has þu soght wid wogh þe forgiue, if sua may fall, Line 19591 þe falshed þu him fanded wid-all." It fell saint petre als for rent, To call men till amendement, Sua au all preistes, bath mare and less, In als mekil als in þaim es. Line 19596 Petre and iohn went agayn And preched bath wid might and main, Ne left þai for na blenc ne blame, Till þai to ierusalem com hame. Line 19600

[Of Paul and his Conversion.]

[L]At we nu þir prechurs stand, And speke we of on werraiand; Saulus soght ayquar and thrett Line 19603 þat all þe cristen þat he wid mett. Of prince, of preist, gat he leue, And þar-on purcheced he þair breue For to seke bath vp and dune, Line 19607 If he might find in ani tune Cristen man, he suld þaim lede To ierusalem to presun bede. Line 19610 Als he went þus to speke and ask Tilward a tun þat hight damask, þe fire of hell had him stund, Line 19613 And brathli kest him to þe grund.

Blindfeld he was als he sua lay, Line 19615 And herd a steuen þus till him say, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] "Saul, saul, þu sai me nu Line 19619 Quarfor sua on me werrais þu?" [folio 131a:2] "And quat ert þu, lauerd, sua vnsene?" "Bot i am iesus nazarene, þat þu werrais all þat þu mai. Bot vnderstand þat i þe sai, Line 19624 It es to þe vte ouer might Again þe stranger [[MS. Þi wranger]] for to fight." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Saul him quok, sua was he rad, Line 19633 For-glopind in his mod all madd. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] "Sai me, þu lauerd, quat i sal do þi will wil i redi do nu, lo!" Line 19638 "Rise vp and gang, þe tune es nere Quat þu do þar sal þu here." Line 19640 þe folk war ferd þat wid him ferd, No man þai sau quat-sum þai herd, Of saule herd þai wele þe steuen, Bot noght þai sau þat come fra heuen, Blind he ras vp als he moght, Line 19645 þat bifor was blind in thoght. His eien bath opin had he Line 19647 And þou a stime might he nogh se, All blind to tune has men him ledd, An thre dais liued he þar vnfedd,

Noght he ete þa thre dais time, Line 19651 Ne he iwis might se a stime. widin þa thre night and thre dais Mekil he lerd, als sum men sais, Of spelling þat he syden spac, Line 19655 For of preching had he na make.

[I]n tun of damask þat time was A cristen man hight ananias, Line 19658 To quam vr lauerd said in syght, "Ga till a strete þat suagat hight, In þat hus," said he, "sal þu find Saul of thars þar liggand blind, Line 19662 Liggand laid his heued dune Ay fast praiand in orisune." Ananias þan him ansuerd, Line 19665 "Lauerd," he said, "ofte haue i herd Of prisuni[n]g tell and of pine, [folio 131b:1] þat he has done to seruandes þine, And pouste has to do all schame þat euer callis apon þin name." Line 19670 "Do wai," he said, "it es noght sua, Bot þar i bid þe gang, þu ga, þu ga till him, he es mi lele, And of mi chesing he es vessele, For to knau mi name and bere Line 19675 Bath bifor king and caisere. Baptizing þu sal him bede, Bot of þi lare has he no nede, His maistre of lare i self sal be, Line 19679 And mekil sal he thole for me, Himself to thole part of þat pine, þat he did are to seruandis mine." [A]nanias soght sone þat in, Line 19683 And forsaid saul he fand þar-in, And quen he laid on him his hend, "Saul," he said, "he me has send,

Iesus þat has kidd to þe, Line 19687 Bi-wai to do þe forto se, wid-in and vte to haue þi sight, And haue haligastes might." Schalis fell fra his eien away, Line 19691 And had his sight fra þat day, And quen he had his baptim tane, He ete and dranck a[n]d couerd onane. To cristen, als i ȝu telle, Line 19695 In synagog bigan to spell, And þus sone þan wer he cuth, wid godes wordes of his muth. Line 19698 All þat him herd him wondrid on, And ilkan said, "ne es noght ȝon He þat we sau þis ender day Gain iesu name so oft werray? Line 19702 And alsua come he to þis tune, Att fett þe cristen men to presune?" Saule couerd in a stund, [folio 131b:2] þe iuus fast gan he confund, Line 19706 And bad þaim all to lete and list, þar was no godd bot iesu crist. [S]ua fast þe iuus he widstode, þat sare he menged þaim in mode, Quarfor þat þai toke þair rede Line 19711 Ful derfli sone do him to dede. þair redis þarfor gun þai rune, wid all þe kepers of þat tune, Line 19714 Night or day to waite þe time Quen þai might cum to murder him. þe mair þan did þe tun be gett, Bot saul wist þat he was thret, Line 19718 And in a lepe men lett him dune vte-ouer þe wallis of þat tune, widuten ani wond or weme. He went right þan to ierusalem, Line 19722

Line 19722 To þe apostlis sone he him bedd; Bot þai sum-dele war for him dredd, And wend noght ȝeit, in þat siquar, þat sekirli he cristen war. Bot barnabas tiþand þaim tald, Line 19727 And made þaim of his bunte bald, Tald hu crist wid him gun mete, And till him spac walkand by strete, Hu he ne blincked for na blame In damask to spell vr lauerdes name. Apostel was he siþen ane, Line 19733 þat make in spelling had he nane, And fra þat time men cald him ay Conuers paul in goddes lay. Paul went forth here and þare, Line 19737 And spelled fast widuten spare Bath to heiþen folk and iuus, And fast despuitede wid þe greuus. Als iuu ne fand he nan sua thra, For oft þai soght him forto sla. Line 19742 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

To petre turn we nu again, [folio 132a:1] For to make vr stori plain. Line 19748

[Peter sees a Vision and Preaches to the Heathen.]

[P]Etre fast þe trouth vndid, Line 19749 And preched in a tune high[t] lidd, þar he fand a man vnfere In parlesi mare þan seuen ȝere, Till him petre said "enea, Line 19753 Crist giue þe hele þat it be sua, Rise," he said, "þi bedd þu dight," To stir þat forwid had na might

Suith he ras, widvten mare, Line 19757 widvten ani mene or sare; þan fell þat folk to crist on-ane. In tun of Zope was a maidene, Line 19760 Of sum men was scho cald dorca, And sum hir cald thabita, Cristen scho was and euer fus Line 19763 Aboute all werkes of almus, Bot namliest of oþer thing To seu þe pouer þair clething; Line 19766 þis maiden deide, quilis petre did þe forsaid signe ȝe herd, at lidd þat þen was bot a littel fra; þe cristen sent men þeþir tua, And praid him he suld him hij, Line 19771 Bot noght þai tald him resun qui. Petre nicked þaim [not] wid nay, Bot to þis licam come þat lay, wid pouer widus vmbisett, Ful tendirli þai for hir grett, Line 19776 wid weping scheud þai þair wed þat dorcha gaf þaim in þair nede, þat petre moght wit quat scho were þair praier gladliker for to here. Line 19780 He bad þa men be all vte-done, þat in þat hus left bot a quone, Line 19782 For þar was mang þaim wele mai be Sum was noght worthi signe to se, Tilward þat lik he turned his face, [folio 132a:2] And kneland bisoght iesu of grace; "Thabita," he said, "rise vp, i bidd," wid þis scho lifted hir eien-lidd. Line 19788 Quen scho of petre had a sight, Bi hir-self scho sat vp-right, To sant petre scho raght hir hand, And he hir raised for to stand; Line 19792

Line 19792 þaa þat war vte, in bad he call, And ȝald hir quick bifor þaim all. þan bicome cristen all þat tun, Line 19795 þat petre soght wid his sarmun, Of sarmon wald he na wight blin, And lang þai lenged at an in. Line 19798 þar he fand a faithful freind, His name was cald symon þe heind. þar he did mani man to trou, Line 19801 In þat tun þat cald es acris nu.

[B]ot quilis þat petre lenged þare, In a tun þat hight cesare þar was a man heildand to righ[t], Cornelius to name he hight, Line 19806 A mighti man of gret honur, was sett vnder þe emperuur To suffer þar na wrang be done. Apon a day ate time of none, Line 19810 An angel come and stode him bi And said, "be noght rad, corneli, þin orisuns and þine almus Es knaun hei in goddes hus. Line 19814 þu sal puruai þe sone sum men For to send vntill Zopen, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And do þat petre cum to þe, Line 19819 At symon heind hus es he. Fott him to þe, he sal þe lere All of þi lijf, hu þu sal stere." Line 19822 Cornelis efter [[MS. ettet]] þat sight Cald til him tua men and a knight, vntill Zopen sone he þaim send, [folio 132b:1] Als þe angel þan had him kend, þat went þaim forth and did alsua. þe toþer dai þai sau þaim fra, Line 19828

Line 19828 þat inns þar saint petre lai; Line 19829 þan was it vndrin tide of dai, þat es þat ilke time to say þat petre went him to pray, Line 19832 First to prai and siþen to ete, For þat time had he hunger grete. Quilis þai dight his liuelad, In orisunn he lai and bade, Line 19836 And fell he þar-wid in a suime Als ihesus self send on hime. Of manes witt noght þam he wist, Als wele was þan of iesu crist. Line 19840 Him þoght he loked to þe lift, And sau þar-in a mekil clifte, A linnan clath four siquar Line 19843 Laten dune, him þoght was þar, At noukes four, four listes lang, vte of þe air þar-wid it hang. Line 19846 Quen it on erd was laten dun, All four-foted bestes sau he boun, And all maner crepand best, Line 19849 Of þa þat er noght tald honest. Petre hungred þan ful sare, A voice him said in þat siquar, "Petre, rise, and sla, and ete," Line 19853 Als quasay, 'go and þu sal gete þe iuen folk, emang þu ga þe haiþen lede, for þu sal sla þir lastes þat es noght to prais, Line 19857 And haeli hali-kirc vp rais.' Quen þat petre þa vnbestes sau, Of þaim thoght him mekil au, Forboden bestes war in lede, Line 19861 "Lauerd ihesus!" he said, "forbede þat i suld ete for ani nede [folio 132b:2] þe mete þai ete in haiþen-hede.

To me at ete war na resun, þat till haþen men es comen." Line 19866 Als petre þan gan to hone, þar come anoþer steuen sone, "Petre," it said, "þu sla and ete, þat to do thar þe noght lete, Line 19870 Call noght comun, it es vnright, þat clengid has him-seluen dright. þat es þe haiþen, als qua say, Line 19873 Clenging in goddes for-sight in fay. Thar þe noght wand wid þaim to meng To lere þaim sal þu wid þaim leng." Dune and vp þis ilke wise, þis ilke clath was laten thris, Line 19878 And thris þis ilke steuen cald To make petre of þat sight bald. And ambros sais þat we sai thre Rehercing quen a child sal baptist be. "Trus þu in godd," ȝa, þis es ane, þe toþer, "forsakes þu sathane," Line 19884 þe thrid es, "will þu baptist be." And alsua anoyntinges es þar thre, þe breist, in schuldris, and in frunt, And thris þan es he put in funt. And quen þis clath thris was schaun, Again it was till euen drauen. Line 19890 [B]ot quilis þat petre him vmbithoght Of þis sight, quat bitakin moght, þan come þa three men him till hand, þat come fra corneli erand: Line 19894 First þai come to sir simon in, Askand if petre war þar-in. Saint petre þar-wid was warnist, Thoru gastli might of iesu crist, Line 19898 "Petre," it said, "lo! yonder thre Men er sent to seke nu þe,

[folio 133a:1] Rise, ga wid þaim, and haf na dred I self þe send and sal þe lede." Line 19902 Petre mett þaim in hij, "þe man ȝe seke," he said, "es i, Quat es þe achesun of ȝur way?" "Gladli," said þai, "we sal þe sai. A centener, sir cornelius, Line 19907 To seke þe nu sent he vs; He dredis drightin, na man mar, And of him has he said ansuar Line 19910 Till his hus þe forto bring, For to here þi sarmoning." þair super did saint petre dight, Line 19913 And wid him gestins þai þat night,

Apon þe morn þai went þair wai, And to cesar sone come þai. Lang efter þaim thoght corneli, And did his freindis cal for-þi, Line 19918 Quen he of his comming vnderstode, Sone he ras and gain þaim him ȝode, And quar þai mett him in þe strete, Cornelius him fell to fete Line 19922 wid all his hert him honura[n]d; Bot petre him raised bi þe hand, And till him said, "do rise vp, broþer, I am a man als þu art anoþer." Line 19926 Cornelius þar had freindes fele, Petre to þaim þus gun he mele, "ȝe wate," he said, "vr lauerd forbedis Meng vs wid ani oþer ledis, Line 19930 Bot nu wid sight i haue it sene þat of mankind es nane vnclene. þarfor wid leue i am ȝu lent, Line 19933 And comen to ȝu als efter sent. Quat ȝe will wid me, witt i wald." Cornelius all þe soth him tald, Line 19936

Line 19936 Firist al of þat angel sight Line 19937 And siþen of bodword broght right, "For þis meting þat i wid mett [folio 133a:2] I did þe," said he, "for to fett." [P]etre opind þan his muth Line 19941 And said, "i se nu þat it es cuth þat god, þat made for vs ransun, Bihaldis noght mannes presun, Line 19944 Ne he bihaldis queþer he be Iuu or sarsin, thral or fre, Bot all folk þat him dredis, wid luue vntil his lau he ledis. Line 19948 Ne hope i nane he will fro-hu þat will traistli in him trou." Petre þaim said a spelling þan Of baptizing þat iohn bigan, Line 19952 þat was of penance cald baptim, And siþen þaim tald of crist time. Hu he him-self þat ilk wise, For vr ensampel did baptize. Line 19956 Siþen of his lijf he wid þaim led, Hu him on rode þe iuus spred, And hu he ras þe thrid day, And þar-of witnes lele war þai. Line 19960 "And spac wid vs in fless and fell, And bad vs weind his word to spell. His fader, þat all has forto ȝeme, Has taght him quic and dede for to deme. Noght we allan of his afers, Line 19965 Bot ilk prophete him witnes bers. All to be sauf of sin and schame, þat wil tru in his hali name." Line 19968 Quilis þat petre spac þis spell, þe haligast dune on þaim fell, Line 19970 On all þat herd þair spell in place, þe hali gast þaim come wid grace.

Thankand drightin alworthi dere, Fra þan þai spac wid speches sere, Petre spac þan, "qua mai forbede water at baptim here in þis lede, þat haligast has tane als we [folio 133b:1] þat mare es baptist to be." Line 19978 He did þaim baptis þan ilkan, Bot in iesu name allane, In fourme þat him bitaght was are Of baptising, he held it þare; Line 19982 For suilk a skill him þogh it nede, þat cristes nam suld þar-wid sprede, In quilk name tald for-smerld es he, þe fadir alsua of quam þat he be; And þe hali gast i-wiss, Line 19987 wid þe quilk þat he smerld es. þar duelled petre a littel stage And þis it was þe first passage, þat þe apostolis in parti Line 19991 Made mang þe folk of paeni.

[F]Ra nu for-ward i will Of þe apostlis hald me still, Line 19994 Of þaim nu speke na mare, For þan þai sundrid widequar, Ilkan in-to cuntre sere þe cristen lau þe folk to lere. Line 19998 þair aun lauerd ful wele þaim lede, In þair spelling ful wele þai sped; þou þai wele spede, als i sai, Ful mani a torfer suffred þai, Line 20002 Ne left þai for no greue ne scham, Bot werrand on þe wrang þai wan. þai did þaim-seluen all till proue, of dede for þair lauerd bihoue, Line 20006 Quat contre ilkan tok to preche Efterward i sal ȝu teche,

Quat ending ilkan had, and quare, Siþen i mai tell of þaim na mare.

[Of the Assumption of Our Lady.]

Bot firist i tell of hir ending Line 20011 þat of all kinges bar þe king, Hu scho þat bar him þat vs boght, vnto þat mekil blis was broght. Line 20014 [folio 133b:2] þou nan als i be sua vnworthi man, Hirs i am wid all þat i can, wid fell and fless and saule wid-all, I am and euer sal be hir thrall; Line 20018 For i am neuer mare sua fre Als till þat leuedi thralled be. Of hir worschip sua wid to win Line 20021 To tell wate i noght quar bigin, For, þou mi tung it war of stele, And i cuth luue na man sua wele, And bigan hir louing speken Line 20025 A thousand ȝere might i noght rekin, þou þat i did nan oþer þing, Tell tend part of hir louing. For ai þe mare i thoght to say, Line 20029 þe widder suld i find þe way. þou queþer leuedi sal i neuer fine Ay to be in louing þine, Line 20032 Ful wele i wat, sua kind art þu, þat þu mi will wil me alu, For oft þu menskes man wid mede For will allane widuten dede; Line 20036 In þi louing þu do me lende, Leuedi, vnnto mi liues ende. [Q]uarfor i sal a littel vie Line 20039 Rede here nu of þat leuedi, Fra þat hir sun, vr lauerd crist, Deide on rode and was traist. Line 20042

Line 20042 I witt ȝu to say widvten were, Line 20043 þat all þat hertli wil it here, Hertli heris it or redis, þai sal haue hir blissing to medis, Bath cristes aun benisun Line 20047 And of þair sines remissiun; Womman sal noght peris of barn, Ne nane wid mistime be forfarn Ne fall in-to na dedeli plight, Line 20051 Quen þai it here, dai or night, And mar þar-of i sai ȝu ȝeit, [folio 134a:1] Qua hertli redis or heris it, Of vr leuedi and saint iohn, Line 20055 þair beniscon þaim bes noght won. And saint edmund of pounteni, Dais of pardun þaim gaf fourti, In a writt þis ilke i fand, Line 20059 Himself it wroght i vnderstand. In suthrin englijs was it draun, And i haue turned it till vr aun Langage of þe norþren lede, þat can nan oþer englis rede. Line 20064

[Q]ven iesu crist was done on rode, And suffred dede all for vr gode, Sone he cald til him sant iohan þat was his sibe ner kines-man, Line 20068 And his aun moþer; bot þaim tua Ne cald he men till him na ma. Line 20070 "Womman," he said, "lo! here sun þine For manes luue thole i þis pine. Lo! hu i hing apon þis thre, Forsoth i wate, it reus nu þe. Line 20074

Line 20074 Mi fete, mi hend, of blode er rede, wid-vten right i thole þis dede; Min auen þat agh me louen, Line 20077 For quan i come dun fra abouen, þai me do þis mekil schame, Line 20079 Ne seruid i neuer to bere sli blame." His modir stode and sare scho grett, þe teres fell fast dun till hir fete, was na ferli þou scho wepid sare, For scho might haue na soru mare. For he þat toke of hir his fless, Line 20085 Als his su[ete] willis it wass, Hang a tre þar nailed to. "Allas! allas! allas!" caid [[sic]] scho, "Hu mai i liue, hu mai i be! Line 20089 Hu mai i on þis soru se! Ne cuth i are of soru noght! [folio 134a:2] Leue sun, quat has þu thoght, Line 20092 Hu sal i liue widvten þe? Leue sun, quat sais þu me." [þ]an spac iesu wordes gode, Als he hang þar on þe rode, Line 20096 He said till hir, "mi moder dere, I sal biteche þe nu a fere þat treuli sal take kepe to þe, To-quilis þat þu in erd be." Line 20100 He said þan sone to saint iohan, "For mi loue kepe wele þis womman, Kep hir and serue wid all þi might, þat na man hir do vnright." þan tok þe apostel sone on-ane Line 20105 In-tille his keping, þat maidane, He seruid hir bath dai and night, And kepd hir wid all his might; To temple wid him hir he nam, And als sone als he dedir cam Line 20110

Line 20110 Emang þe muntes of þat stede, God to serue þar he hir ded; þar scho bileft for all hir liue, Line 20113 Loued scho nouþer fith na striue. All þe leuedis þat þar ware In all hir will þai hir forbare, Line 20116 For quilis þat scho was wid þaim þare þai seruid hir, bath lesse and mare. To fere and seke ai did scho bote, And seruid þaim to hand and fote, Nakid and hungri scho clad and fedd, þe seke þan broght scho to þair bedd; Ne was þar nouþer seke ne fere þat þai ne had of hir gret mistere, For þai hir luued wid all þair might; Scho seruid it ofte and þat with [[MS. wild]] right. Scho wok wele mar þan scho slepe, Hir sun to serue was all hir kepe, [folio 134b:1] Till him scho cald wid reuful [[MS. reu|fuf]] steuen, And he hir sent an angel of heuen, He-self come quilum þat scho bare For to confort his auen moder care. Saint iohn hir kepd a[n]d held dere, For he was till hir a ful treu fere, Ne wald he neuer fra hir gane, Line 20135 For bath þair willis was als ane; Al þat scho bad gladli he did, To-quilis þai lenged in þat sted. Line 20138 [Q]uen scho had þar wele lang bene, þe leuedi, þat es heuenes quene, Hir langed sare hir sun cum to, Line 20141 And quen scho greued sone was scho. An angel sent he hir fra heuen, And grett hir wid a mild steuen, In þe temple wid hir he mett; Honurand hir þar he grett, Line 20146

Line 20146 And said, "leuedi! ful of grace Wele ye be in euerilk a place! Be þu noght dred for me here, For i am þi sun messagere, Line 20150 Fra him i come, to þe i cum; þe gretis wele þi dere sun, Flour of erd, of heuen quene, Blisced mot þu euer bene, Line 20154 wele be þat time þat was born. For al þis werld war for-lorn If þu ne war, and þe fruit of þe, Mari leuedi, godd wid þe be. Line 20158 Leuedi! best of all thing, Blith bodworth i þe bring, Take þis palme here in þi hand, It es þi dere sunes sand; Line 20162 Ye thinck ful lang þi sun to sene, Here mai þu nu na langer bene, He sal send efter þe ful sone, Line 20165 Ne sal þu noght here lang hone. þu sal be broght till heue blis [folio 134b:2] þar þu sal neuer of mirthes mis; þar he es king, and þu sal be quene, All heuen curt sal blith bene. Line 20170 All heuen curt nu thinc ful lang Till þu be comen þaim emang; þu sal be here bot dais thre, Leuedi suete, nu graith þu þe." [þ]an him ansuared vr leuedi, Line 20175 And said to þe angel, "belami, Es þu mi sunes messagere þat bringes me þir tiþandes here? Has he sett me ani dai Line 20179 þat i widin me graith mai? I wald gladli witt tuix and quen, To take leue at mi kines-men, Line 20182

Line 20182 At freindes þat me fedd and clad, And helped als mi sun þaim badd." [þ]an said þe angel, "i say it þe, þu sal be here bot dais thre, Line 20186 þe thrid day we sall cum dun wid angelis, all loke þu be bun, And feche þe wid meri sang, Line 20189 For efter þe vs thinck ful lang." [þ]an said it sone, vr leuedi To þe angel þat stod hir bi, Line 20192 "Quat es þi name, þu suete amy? Gladli nu witt þar-of wald i." "Mi name nu i sai þe noght, Line 20195 Bot haue þis palm i haue þe broght, Kepe it wele nu prai i þe, And lat it neuer fra þe be. I mai noght lang bileue here, Line 20199 For i am sent als a messagere; I sal wend to þe apostlis on-ane, And scheu þaim sundri ane and an, þat þai be here þe thred day. Line 20203 Langer bline nu i ne may."

[folio 135a:1] Quen þe angel had his erand mad, He went vr leuedi eftere bade, Line 20206 þe palm scho toke þat was hir broght, And þat bode forgat scho noght. In-till hir chamber scho it bar, Line 20209 And alson als scho come hir þar, Of did scho sone ilka hater, And weiss hir suete bodi in water; And quen þat leuedi sua had done, A neu smoke scho did hir on. Line 20214 Quen scho was schod and wele clad, Till iesu crist a bone scho badd, And said, "sun, i thanck it þe þat þu wald sua thinc on me; Line 20218

Line 20218 Sun þu ert of heuenes king, Line 20219 I biseke þe of þi blissing. Suete sun, for þi hali name, þu kepe me fair fra pine a[n]d schame, þat þe deuel haue na might Line 20223 To dere me, þat war vnright. Sun helpe þu me, for nu es nede, þat i ne haue of þe deuil drede, For wid þe gilis þat he can, Line 20227 He bisuikis ful mani a man. Leue sun, þu gif him noght Mankind þat þu dere boght. Line 20230 Sun, þu ert ful of pite, For sinful man biseke i þe, þat þu sun, for þi hali grace, Line 20233 Gif þaim bath might and space, þaim to mend ar þai be dede, þat þai haue of þe deuil na drede. Sun, thinc hu þu þaim wroght Line 20237 And hu þu þaim dere has boght, Sun þu kepe þaim fro þair fa, For quam [[MS. quan]] þu tholed all þis wa." [Q]uen scho had praid als scho wald, Hir sibmen till hir scho cald, [folio 135a:2] Hir sibmen, and hir kinnes-men, Line 20243 wid reuful steuen spack scho þen. "Leue freindes," scho said, "mi auen sun wil i here no langer won, He will i cum and wid him be; Quar-for i prai ȝu, par cherite, Line 20248 If i haue ani-thing mis-wroght, ȝe sai it me and helis it noght, I will it mend, and þat es right, þat mi saule haue na plight. Line 20252 þe gode þat ȝe haue done to me, Mi sun, þat done was on þe tre

Man to biy fra pine and dede, Line 20255 For-ȝeild it ȝu at time of mede, And bring ȝu to þat ilke bliss þar i sal be, quar mi sun es." [a]ll þat euer war hir bij Line 20259 Of suilk tiþand war sari, And said, "leuedi, hu mai þis be, Hu sal we liue quen þu will fle! Leuedi! þu has vs seruid sua, Line 20263 Allas! hu sal we part in tua. Leuedi, leue, quat has þu thoght? þu reu of vs and part nu noght. wid mekil soru and mekil wa Line 20267 Sal we liue, part þu vs fra." In hij þan ansuerd vr leuedi Till þaim þat war stad hir bi, Line 20270 "Lat be weping, it helpis noght, And haldis ioy in-to ȝur thoght. Quilis i am here wakis wid me, It dos me god þat i ȝu se. Line 20274 Haue ȝe na drede, bot witt ȝe wele, In pine sal i thole na dele, To me sal cum na pine ne wa, For mi sun will þat it be sua, Line 20278 For mi licam his bodi bare, [folio 135b:1] He will it suffere of na sare, He þat i bare, þat blisful bird, Sal me send of heuen weird; Line 20282 Iohn and þe apostlis quar þai be, All þan sal þai cum to me." Quilis scho spac þus, þat suete womman, þar-of ȝeit wist noght saint iohan, He come to speke wid vr leuedi, Line 20287 Farli him thoght þat þai war sari.

"[L]Euedi, fild ful of grace, quat es ye, And þir leuedis þat i here se?

Leued, qui mas þu suilk chere, Dede nu war me leuer i were Line 20292 þan i þe sau sli semblant make, For i sal neuer sli a leuedi take. Has þu agh[t] herd þad i ne can Of me or ani oþer man? Line 20296 Ne sal i neuer mare haue blis, Till i witt, leuedi, quat es þis." [V]r leuedi wepe, sant iohn alsua, Treu luue was bituix þaim tua. Line 20300 "Leuedi," he said, "quat ailes þe, For mi se[r]uis þu tell it me." Mari ansuerd wid reuful steuen, "Me come tiþand ar-quile fra heuen, Mi sun me sent his messagere, Line 20305 He will noght lang þat i be here. Witt þu for-soth, it reus me þat i sua sone sal part fra þe, For þi luue and þi seruise, Line 20309 þu has me kid on ilkin wiss, þu has me done als mi sun þe bad, þu has me bath wele fedd and clad; Mi sun sal wele ȝeild it þe, Line 20313 I sal him sai quen i him se." þan hir ansuerd saint iohn, For he was a ful sari man, Line 20316 [folio 135b:2] And said, "leuedi, hu sal it bene Quen i þe sal no mare sene! Mi ioy es done euer-ilk dele, Line 20319 Ne sal me neuer fra nu be wele Siþen we sua sone sal part in tua." "A! iohn! iohn! qui sais þu sua? þou i be noght here þe biforn Line 20323 þi seruis has þu noght lorn; I sal mone mi suete sun, He sal do þe sone till him cum, Line 20326

Line 20326 Quen time es þat he will haue me. Suete iohn, nu biseke i þe, Line 20328 Lat þu na iuus cum me to, Despit fulfain wald þai me do. Line 20330 Mi bodi wald þai seke wid schame, þai hate na-þing mor þan mi name, Mi bodi þu helpe fra þaim, i sai; þou we be sib, bath i and þai, Line 20334 þai hate no-þing mar þan me; Mi sun þai hing on þe rode tre; I wat wele þai luue me noght, Line 20337 For-þi þar-on haue þu þi thoght, Quen i be parted iohan, fra þe, þat þai me do nu na vilane, Line 20340 Mi sun þat wonis in heuen light Lat þaim þar-to haue na might." "[S]ai me leuedi, siþen it es sua, þat we sua sone sal part in tua, Line 20344 Sai me hu lang it es till þan." "Sertanli," þan said scho, "iohan, Bi-tuix þis and þe thrid dai Duell no langer here i mai." Line 20348 Quen he þis herd he was sari, Wepand he said, "leuedi, mercei! Hu sal i liue, hu sal i fare, Hu sal i ioy haue euermare? Line 20352 Mi lauerd frist was done to dede, Thoru þe fals iuus rede, And nu wil þu leuedi me fra! [folio 136a:1] Nu me neus all mi wa. Line 20356 Wald mi lauerd i wald be dede, For of me-self can i na rede." "A! iohn iohn! qui sais þu sua, þe angelis ofte sal cum þe toa, Line 20360 To kepe þe wele in all þi state, And confort þe, bath erli and late."

[A]ls scho spac þis to saint iohan, Come þe apostlis euerilkan Line 20364 Togider, bot þai ne wist it noght Hu þai war togedir broght, Line 20366 Of oþer cume ne wist þai nane; Bot of þair cume blith was iohan, All he þaim kist, sua fain he was, And said to þaim, "deo gracias, Line 20370 Blisced be ay iesu þi might, For it es fair and it es right, Siþen þi moder sal cum to þe, Line 20373 þat scho fair bi-wakid nu be Of þin apostlis, þe mekil luuen; I ne wate hu þai be nu hider comen." "Sai me broþer, suete iohan, Line 20377 Qui art þu nu sari a man? Que wepis þu sua, quat es þe? For felauschip sai þu nu me." Line 20380 "[I] sal þe sai þe resun qui, Qui þu seis me nu sua sari, Bot do me first at vnnderstand Hu ȝe er gedrid here till hand, Line 20384 ȝe þat sua wide sundred war spred, Sais me quat has ȝu hider led." "[H]arke nu iohn, a farli thing, I was fer heþen at a preching Line 20388 Fer vte in a-noþer land, I held mi boke wid-in mi hand, I liuerd me of mi sarmon, I ne wat hu i come in þis tune. Line 20392 Als me help lauerd suete iesus, [folio 136a:2] I ne wat hu i come in þis hus. We se wele þat we all her here, Suilk farli sau we neuer are; Line 20396 Of vs es nane þat wat for quam, Ne wat quat-wise we hider cam."

"[L]istes all i ȝu biseke i-wiss, Line 20399 I sal ȝu tell all quat it es, Coms wid me vnto yon hus, vr leuedi es þar, abides vs, And graith hir to fare vs fra, Line 20403 For hir sun will þat it be sua. Hir sune has sent his messager, He will na langer scho be here, And hider he has vs all send Line 20407 wid hir to speke nu er scho wend. Cums nu all here in wid me, Bifor hir fair þan knele ȝe, Line 20410 And sais hir 'leuedi, wele þe be! vr lauerd has vs sent nu to þe, To visite þe and be þe bij, Line 20413 For-þi er we, leuedi, comen to þe in hij.' B]ot a thing," said þan sant iohan To petre and the apostlis ilkan, "Lokes quen ȝe cum þar-in, Line 20417 þar es ful mani of hir kin, þat no man of all vr fere Bifor hir mak na laith chere, Bot fair semblant to make hir glad. Dos nu all als i ȝu badd." Line 20422 þai ȝode forth, þe apostlis tuelue, Right bifor vr leuedi selue, vnto hir chamber þar scho was in, wid mekil folk all of hir kin. Line 20426 On kneis þai sett þaim euerilkan, Als þaim had bidden saint iohan, "Suete leuedi, of heuen quene, Blisced mot þu euer mor bene! Line 20430 Of all winmen best þu be, [folio 136b:1] Ovr lauerd vs has nu sent to þe For to serue and do þi will, will vs thinck þat it es skill. Line 20434

Line 20434 Heuen and erde all bous þe to, For-qui þi sun will it be so. He has in keping alkin thing, Line 20437 He es þi sun, es heuenes king." þen ras vp sone vr leuedi And kist all þe apostlis þat stod hir bi, Of þair cum scho was ful glad, Line 20441 þai sett þaim dun als scho badd. Scho askid þaim hu þai come þar? For þai war spred ful wide quar. "Leuedi, ful of gode thoght, Line 20445 þi sun has vs nu heder broght To kepe þe wele als vr leuedi, To-quilis þu art here vs bij." Line 20448 Sua fain scho was þat þai þar wern, "Blisced," scho said, "ai be þat barn! I am his moder, wele he me kid, I am ful fain ȝe er me mid, Line 20452 Siþen sua es nu mi sun it will þat i cum to him, it es skill. Mi bodi sal ȝe kepe nu sua, þat nane it negh þat es mi fa, Line 20456 wakis nu fair mi licam, wele i wate and traist ic am. þe iuus, all ful of felunie, Mi sun þai sloght all for envie, Line 20460 Fain þai war to do me schame, þai hate na thing mar þan mi licame. For-þi prai i ȝu, par cherite, And for þe loue ȝe haue to me, Line 20464 Quen i am farn to heuen blis, Wakis a night þar mi bodi es, Kepis it wele bath night and day, þat iuus stele it noght a-way. Line 20468 [folio 136b:2] þai wald it brin or do gret schame, Bot iesu, for þi hali name,

Lat þaim þarto haue na might, Line 20471 For sekirli it war vnright." Scho said, "all forsoth i wiss It sal be als þi willes es."

To-quilis vr leuedi spac also Line 20475 To þe apostlis þat come hir to, þe angel lited and stod hir bi, And said, "hail be þu mi leuedi, And all þaa þat er wid þe! Line 20479 Loke þat þu nu redi be, þu sal till heuen, and þar be quene, Ful blith it mai þi hert ai bene, þe sal serue þe curt of heuen." Line 20483 Quen vr leuedi herd þat steuen þat þe angel said hir to, Fild of gladnes þan was scho, Line 20486 To hir bed scho ȝede and lay, Aboute þe time als of midday. Iohn and þe apostlis satt hir bi, Forto kepe hir als þair leuedi. Line 20490 Amanges þaim sone eftir þis þar come a sang of paradis, Sua suete and was sua it farli, þat all þa þat war hir bi, Line 20494 ȝung and ald and euerilkon Fell þaim sone a-slepe apon, Bot vr leuedi, ilkan þai slepe. To þis farli tas ȝe nu kepe, Line 20498 An erdedin þar come þat schoke Alkin þing, als sais þe boke. [þ]an spac þat leuedi to sant iohan, And to þe apostlis euerilkan, Line 20502 And to maydens þat war þar-in, And to oþer fele of hir kin, "Wakis," scho said, "and slepis na wight, I sal fare þar mi sun has tight, Line 20506

Line 20506 Nu es þe time þat i sal fare [folio 137a:1] þat i sal neuer witt of care." Line 20508

[S]ittes all still nu mare and less, And heris nu þis merines; þar come iesus in his might, King of heuen he did als right, Line 20512 Als sun wid moþer agh to don; He cald his angelis war nogh[t] fon, And all þe felauschip of heuen, And said to þaim wid a steuen, Line 20516 "Cums wid me to mi lemmane! Mi moder es scho, hir sun i ame, I toke of hir mi fless and blod, Line 20519 þan es it right i do hir god. I þat euer was, and ai sal be, In all þis bliss þat ȝe here se, Line 20522 I gaf ransun for all man-kin, þat went bifor till hell pine. I had þaim mad to serue me, And thoru þat appil of þat tre Line 20526 He ete again mi forbidding, He was tint wid all his ospring, It reud me and for-thoght sare, I wald it suffer sua na mare, Line 20530 I lighted dun and man bicam, Of þat maiden mi fless i nam, Bi-for all oþer i hir ches And i was born als of hir fless. Line 20534 Thritti winter and sumdele mare I linged to wiss man in lare, Inogh þai did me vilete, þat wid right min aune sul be, Line 20538 þai toke me þan and bett me sare, And at þe last þai did me care, widvten gilt þai did me wrang, Bi-tuix tua thefs þai me hang, Line 20542

Line 20542 Nailed fast thoru hend and fete; Mi bodi of blod was all wete, Line 20544 Mi hert þai stanged wid a spere, [folio 137a:2] þat sau þai all þat war þere. Line 20546 þis schame i thold all for noght, Ful dere haue i man-kind boght. þar i hang nailed on þe rode tre, Mi moder was ful wa for me, Line 20550 And sua was vr cosin sant iohan; I cald him to me sone on-ane, I said till him, 'mi leue cusin, Line 20553 þu kepe þis womman, moder min, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] For þe lu[u]e þu has to me, Line 20557 Kepe hir quilis scho bi þe be.' þai parted fra me þat siquar, Allan i hang on rode-tre þar; Line 20560 Fra mi bodi mi saule i nam, And siþen vntil hell i cam. All mi freindis þat i þar fand, Line 20563 I toke þaim vte on mi right hand, Adam and eue and oþer mani ane, I did þaim vte of pine be tane. Quen i had þus-gat herid hell, Line 20567 And doun all als i ȝu tell, And had ouercomen þe ful quede, þe threid day i ras fra dede. Fra erd i stey till heuen þan, Line 20571 For i am bath nu godd and man. I am nu here in all mi might, For sua i will, for it es right, þat mi moþer be wid me, Line 20575 For it es time þat it so be. Comis nu forth wid meri sang, And do hir cum vs all emang." Line 20578

Line 20578 þan come iesus wid his meigne, Line 20579 Archangelis, angelis, gret plente, vntil hir bur wid meri sang, þan þai thoght till hir ful lang. þis bure was ful of mekil blis, Line 20583 (And sua es ay þar iesus es) þat all þaa þat þan war þare, [folio 137b:1] Sli blis ne sau þai neuer are. Amang þat singing and þat glu Line 20587 vr leuedi hir sun iesu kneu, Quen scho him sau, scho was ful glad; Listnes þe bone þat scho him bad. "Ay blisced mot þe time be Line 20591 þat þu was, lauerd, born of me! It es wele sene i am þe dere, Nu þi-self es comen here; þin apostlis first þu sent to me, Line 20595 Nu ert þu comen wid þi meigne To fett me sone vnto þi rike, Had neuer modir sun þe like, Sun do nu þat þi will es, Line 20599 For me thinck lang to þe i-wiss." "Suete moþer, þu cum to me, Of all wimmen best ȝe be, þar i am king þu sal be quene, Line 20603 Ful blith þan mai þi hert ai bene." "Sun," scho said, "bath lauerd and king, I þe biseke nu of a thing, Line 20606 Queþer i sal of þe feind haue sight, Or ani of his þat er maledight; I luue him noght, he es mi fa, Line 20609 Leue sun, let me se nane of þa." "[M]I suete moder, ne drede þe noght, Ne come it neuer in mi thoght. wel i noght thole þe þaim sey, Line 20613 Sal nane cum nu bifor þi eie;

Sal þu na-thing se ne here, Line 20615 Bot me and angelis þi fere. Mi suete moder wit þu wele, Of paine sal þu thole na dele, All heuen curt sal serue ai þe, Line 20619 And make þe manrede, nu moder fre. Modir a gifte i will þe giue, þu sal wid me in heuen ay liue. I sal haue merci, mi modir dere, [folio 137b:2] Of all mankind for þi praiere, Line 20624 þat were forlorn it þu ne ware, For of þi bodi þu me bare. All þat menskes þe, leuedi, And all þes þat þe seruis treuli, Line 20628 And þai will cri þe merci thri, And sais wid herte 'help me mari!' Moþir for þe luue of þe, In quatkin sine sum þai be, Line 20632 I sal þaim help, i hight þe sone, For þi luue modir it sal be done. If ani haue bene in all his liue In heued sin, man or wijf, And he will at his last time Line 20637 For-sake his sine and repent hime, And tell it, if he mai haue preist Or oþer man þat es him neist, If he mai tell ne do na mare, Bot þat him of sin reu sare, Line 20642 Of quatkin sin it euer be, Moþer all for þe luue of þe, I sal on him haue gode merci, If he wid will wil do forqui. Line 20646 If a man had him ane all wroght All þe sinnes þat mai be thoght, And he will at his last dai, If he na noþer time ne mai, Line 20650

Line 20650 Repent him, and call on þe, Line 20651 In quatkin sin sum þat he be, I sal sone here all his praier, For þi luue, mi auen moder dere. And þat þu will biseke me fore, Be it lesse, be it more, Line 20656 It sal be, moder, als þu will, For mi grant sal þu haue þar-till. It war vnright i suld widstand þe of agh of þine erand." Line 20660 [V]r leuedi luted him biforn, [folio 138a:1] Said, "sun, þe time þat þu was born Ouer all oþer i-blisced þu be, For all mi will þu grantes me." Line 20664 "Sua agh i, moþer, widuten wand," And blisced hir wid his right hand. Till hir sun þat scho loued mast, þan scho ȝald hir hali gast. Line 20668 He cald till him saint michel, And said, "kepe þu nu mi lemman lel, þu, and alsua all þi fere, It es na-thing es me sua dere." Line 20672 þan he had hir saul sent And it was fra þe bodi went, All þe angelis þat come fra heuen Sang þan wid a meri steuen, Line 20676 It was wele sene apon þair sang Mekil ioy was þaim emang. wid merines till heuen scho nam, An alsone als scho þeder cam Line 20680 Scho was made quene of heuen, þat mild, Blisced worth ai suilk a child.

[Of our Lady's body.]

[I] sal ȝu tell of hir licam, If I can tell quar it bigan. Line 20684

Line 20684 Quen þe saule fra hir was num, Line 20685 Godd bad saint petre til him cum, He said, "petre, i comand þe Mi moder bodi wele kepe þu to me, Qven i first in þis werld cam, Line 20689 [of hir bodi mi flexs i nam] Of hir bodi þan was i born;" He said, "petre, ga þu nu biforn, All þi feris gang wid þe, Line 20693 In to iosaphat, þat valle, An berijs hi þai sone on-ane; Of fais nu haue ȝe dredenes nane. Gas all wid fair processiun Line 20697 To ierusalem right thoru þe tun, Dos þe bellis all to ring, And suith fair þar-wid ȝe sing, [folio 135a:2] wid cirges and wid candelis bright þat ȝe haue no defaut of light. Line 20702 Four apostlis bere þe bere, þar lijs apon mi moþer dere. Haue ȝe na drede þar of iuu, Line 20705 For i mi-self sal be wid þu." [Q]uen iesu þus all had him said, And þe bodi on bere was laid, All he gaue þaim his blissing, Line 20709 And stei till heuen þar he es king. þan said þe apostil sant iohan, "Breder, go we sone o-nan, And graith we þis processiun, Line 20713 And sing we faire thoru þe tun." Four of þe apostlis þat were wern, þat hali bodi forth wid þaim bern; þai sang fair als wele was right, Line 20717 And mani serges þar was light.

[þ]e iuus þat war goddes enemi, Of his dede þai herd in hij, Line 20720

Line 20720 þai askid quat it was, þat cri, Line 20721 And men þaim tald it was mari, þat saint petre and his fere, Hir bodi bar apon a bere. Line 20724 þai said "allas! allas! for schame, wid schap scho vs we sal haue blame, Arme we nu vs forto be strang, we sal þaim take all als þai gang, þou ilke bodi nu take we it, Line 20729 To cast it nu in a fule pitt, Or brin it, or do sum-quar; For scho þat ilke traitur bare, þat we quilum hang on rode, Line 20733 For vs thoght he was noght gode." þai went to fill þat fole forward, And sone þai lepe þedirward, Line 20736 Bot iesus wald noght thole þat schame, [folio 138b:1] He mad þaim all blind and lame, þat of þaim all ne was þar nan Line 20739 þat might a fote ferrer gane. þar was a preist þat was to bald, Als it es in þe stori nu tald, Line 20742 wald on hir bere haue laid his hand, vnferenes sone þar-of he fand! His hend clef to þe bere fast, Line 20745 þan creid he merci! at þe last, His [arms] war all clungen drei. "Petre," he said, "haue nu merci, And prai for me, for i will tru, Line 20749 Nu will i no langer be iuu." "Trous þu," said petre till him þan, "þat iesus es batht godd and man, And born was all of þis mari?" Line 20753 He said, "i tru it nu inwardli." þan parted his hend fra þe bere, And he wex sone hal and fere. Line 20756

Line 20756 Saint petre him tagh[t] þat palm, "Ga to þa men þat lijs in sualme," He said, "and rine on þaim wid itt, And þai sal bath haue hele and witt." And sua he did, thoru grace of dright þai couerd all, bath in hele and sight. þar bi-com cristen in þat siquar, Line 20763 I-wis four thousand men a[n]d mare. In him es worthi for to trou, þat dos his fas him for to bou, þai þat er of his modir dere, Line 20767 Moght neuer thole a man to here, ill bot ilkan on þair wise, Esai bun do hir þair seruise. þat bodi to þat vale þai bare Line 20771 Of iosephat, quen it come þare, þai did þat bodi þar-in beri, wid fair seruis and sang meri. Line 20774

Sone þar-eftir, als sum bock sais, [folio 138b:2] vr lauerd him lighted of his palais, And wid his hali curt he cam To fett his modir bodi hame, Line 20778 Sais þar scho es in fless and ban; For scho es of all wimmen vte-tan, Als scho þat godd him-seluen bare, þat hir priuelege war þe mare, Mare als scho makeles es Line 20783 To be þar bath in saule and fless. And þat it sua suld be, þai say, þat in þe tumbe þar scho lay Mai men find na thing bot flur Line 20787 Springand ai vp, wid suete sauur. Bot þar enent, sais Ieronim, He wil noght take þe boke on him, þou it be sua ouder [[read ouÞer]] nai, þou hir bodi be missed away. Line 20792

Line 20792 Despuit, he sas, es na mister Line 20793 Bituix þe wise in suilk a were, Bot teche till him þat all-might Lat him þar-of þe resun right, For it es better to be stille, Line 20797 þan raicke on resun þat es will. Bot wele we wate, widuten wene, Of heuen and erd þat scho es quene, Bath emperice of heuene, leuedi Sett in throne hir dere sun bi. Line 20802 And fines nouþer day ne night, To prai for sinful manes plight. Es nane þat sua in foli fallis, þat stintes and apon hir callis, hendelik and hopis wele Line 20807 þat þai sal faire hir helpis fele. And for scho reuis þe witherwin Sua mani sinful of his pine, In soru þat he in es stadd For na-thing es he als radd, Line 20812 He mai noght tillward hir light þat meris him of all his might. Again þat fa scho be vrbeild, [folio 139a:1] And namli quen we dune sal heild, To be þan for vs sper and scheld, Line 20817 þat we cum neuer vntil his weild. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [þ]is leuedi, þat i mene of, mast Conceuid thoru þe hali gast Line 20822 þat blisful child þat scho vs bere, Quen scho was of eild fourten ȝere; And thritti ȝere was iesu crist, Quen he did him to baptist, Line 20826 He preched thre ȝere and monet thrin, He deid, and ras for all mankin,

Fourti dais in erd he badd, Line 20829 Ar he vp till his fadir glad: Efter þe vpsti of þat drightin, Scho liued bot wintris seuen and nine, þen it was, hir eld all hale, Line 20833 Thre-and-sexti ȝere in tale. [þ]at i þe hight, i haue þe done, Leuedi! sett bi þi sune in throne, vnto þi sun i bidd a bone, Line 20837 þu do him to grant me it sone! Iesus, do me to luue þe sua, þot queþer i sitt, or stand, or ga, þat lijf, ne dede, ne wele, ne wa, Mai neuer turn mi hert þe fra, Line 20842 Bot hald it hold in þi seruis, And cum to ioy in paradis . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] At min ending, i prai it þe! Line 20847 Sais all amen, þar cherite.

[Of the Works and Death of each of the Apostles.]

[S]peke we nu of þa spellers bald, Sin we haue of þair leuedi tald. þe apostlis þat wid war spred, Line 20851 þat till vr lau þe unleuand ledd, And efter þat we find in boke Quat ending ilkan of þaim toke, Line 20854 Of þaim to schau noght bot a sume For þis boke has no noþer rume, [folio 139a:2] It es na spede vr suinck to spend, An thing we mai noght bring till end. [P]etre was saint andreu broþer, Line 20859 þe tane was blisced and þe toþer, He was born in bethaida Of galile, me clepis sua; Line 20862

Line 20862 Of hali kirc he es grund-wall, Line 20863 Of crist him-self þat ledis all. Formast chosin þor-þi als heuid, Ouer all his feris was he leuid, Of goddes sun first confessur, Line 20867 Of all man-kind herde of pastur, Stan of kirc, of king-rike caisar, Luuer ef lauerd, alsua niter, Nitand he fell, wepand he ras, Line 20871 And crouned in passiun he was. His name is giuen til him of dede, And titel of might of mede, Line 20874 He preched quilis he was in liue And namli in þir landis fiue, Capadoce, and galathie, Bethani, and in asye, Line 20878 And in a land high[t] ytali, þat nu men callis lumbardi. And of his signis, schortli to rede, Apon þe flouand see he ȝode, Line 20882 A ded quickind wid his schade Quilis he him forbi walkand glade. To þe criplis þan gaf he fote, And to þe parlesi gaf he bote; Bat ananias and his wijf, Line 20887 For suilk he dampned þaim of lijf, þat all suld take ensampil þaim bi to do þaim na mare trechuri. Simon magus, þat iuglur,— þat ledd þe folk wid gret errur, Line 20892 þat in him-seluen was sua prud He wend to flei vte ouer þe clud, Bot thoru saint petre orisun [folio 139b:1] Sorfulli sone fell he dune,— Line 20896 . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Quen he of antioche had fund Line 20901 þe kirc, and graithli sett þe grund, Again þis ilk simon he ȝede. Line 20903 To rome at turn misleuand lede, Of trouth spelland widvten spare, Fiue winter was he bischop þare; Sex and thritti wintris euen Line 20907 Fra þat iesu crist stei till heuen. In rome thoru ane þat hight neron was emperour þan of þe tun, For þe luue of his sarmun, Line 20911 vp his fete, his heued dun, Nailed on a rode he wess, Als to be him-seluen ches. Line 20914 "His maistre," he said to þaim of rome, "And he agh noght haue a dome, For he was noght worthi þar-till;" þar-for þai dampned him at his will. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in Gött. & Laud MSS.] Birid his bodi was þat tide Line 20921 vtewid þe tun apon þe est side. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in Gött. & Laud MSS.]

[P]aule, þat saul had first to nam To quilis he did þe cristen scham, First he was þe iuus vocate, Line 20927 And syden he come till postil state, Cald of iesu crist fra heuen, Line 20929 þar he forcasten herd his steuen. Seand he fell, bot blind he ras, vessel of chesing wroght he was, To þaim he first was werreur, Line 20933 Eftir-ward bicom he gode prechur,

Schepe of wolf, meke of fell, Line 20935 In chesing last, formast in spell. His kith was thars þat he bredd in, Comen of þe king beniamin, þe toþer ȝere eftir þe assenciun, Line 20939 Toke he baptim, and gun sarmun. Fra he had tane þe apostil hade, [folio 139b:2] was nan sua mekil trauail made, Godes word to spell and sprede Line 20943 Amanges all misleuand lede. Ful mani folk to trouth he wan, At ierusalem he first bigan, Thoru illerike, and lumbardi, Line 20947 Right till he come to hispani; Of hijs miraclis sal we neuen, vp-reft he was till thred heuen. A day and of a night þe stund Line 20951 He was stad at þe se grund; A gast of gile a-wai he draif þat in a mayden bodi claif; Line 20954 A child þat thoru a fall was slain, He gaf it lijf and heled again; A Iugelur wid blindnes he smate, To halt a ganging gaf he state; Line 20958 þe nedder of venim þat was strang, Noght he schurned wid þe stang, Bot of his hand þar it was fest, Line 20961 He schok and in þe fire it kest; Man þat in feire was vnfere He heled sone wid his praier. Ful mani it was tat ilk torfer, Line 20965 þat he gun drei for drightin der Apon his auen fless and blod; First on þe iuus þat ai war wode, þai on him werraid ai wid wa, Line 20969 And þe haiþen folk alsua.

He tholid mani torfer als i tald, Trauail, hunger, thrist, and cald, Schip-breking he sufferd thrijs, Line 20973 And anes was he beft, a[n]d tuis. A thousand waites at þe lest, Bath ma[n]g men and wild best In prisun ofte he lai in wath, Line 20977 In mirknes a[n]d in bandes bath, To-quilis þe iuus felle him band [folio 140a:1] And taght him haiþen men in hand. He was sua stad sumkin day, Line 20981 vnethes bar he þe lijf a-way, In a lepe ouer a wal was laten dun, Hard in pres and in presun; Thoru an erd-din þat þar was Line 20985 þar-wid was he latin pass. Siþen at rome vnder neron, þat emperur was of þe tun, Line 20988 For þat he preched goddes word Hefdid he was wid dint of suord, þat ilk day, þat ilk ȝere, Line 20991 þat martird was petre his fere; And on þe west half of þat cite Birid of cristin men was he. Line 20994

[Andrew.]

[þ]e thrid apostil hight andreu, Line 20995 A man of mekenes and of theu, His name bitakenis for to rede, Als fair or man of gode manhede; Bath thoru sithi and achai Line 20999 He went prechand þe criste lay. vnder a tyrand hight egeas Bunden on a rode he was, Bunden hard wid rapis strang, Line 21003 To do [[MS. lo]] his pine to last lang

widvten scheding of his blod, Line 21005 For mast he preched of þe rode. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in Gött. & Laud MSS.]

[James the Greater.]

S[a]int iohn and iacob þe mare, Zebedei suns bath þai ware, Line 21010 þis iachob preched widequare, And sent his lettris here and þar; þe land of spaigne in faith he fest, And mani oþer of þe west. Line 21014 Of widvten ani wite, Herodes did his heued to smite, Siþen it was his bodi tane Line 21017 And laid in kist of marbil stane.

[John the Evangelist.]

[folio 128a:2] [I]ohn, maiden saint, iam broþer, Mar luued wid crist þan ani oþer, þat sua till him he bar him neist þat he slepe apon his breist; And of þe well of witt he drank,— þat of resun was [non] sua rang,— In spelling he bicom sua wiss, Line 21025 Als þou a flum of paradis. þe grace of godes word he spred To þaim þat he to lau had ledd; [ [[from Edin|bro' MS.]] And beste in cristis awin sted Als he was of him-seluin bed, [[? led in MS.]] ] Line 21030 His maistir moder þar he laght, þat was to þat descipil taght, Line 21032 Maiden to kepe to mayden clene, Als he an-oþer sun had bene. In asy spellid þis iohn: Ane emperur, domaciane, Line 21036

Line 21036 Did him to fleme vntill an yle, Line 21037 þar he was in a tuelmoth quile; þe bock of schauuþing þar he wrat, Spekand of mekil priue state. þat emperur wend him to mate Line 21041 In a tunn was welland hate, Ful of oyle he did it schote, Bot nouþer it harmid him, hefd ne fote. For als he was of lust vnlam Line 21045 Als was vnwemmed his licam. He did miraclis, als he wele moght,— Of trein wandis gold he wroght, Of grauel bi þe se side Line 21049 Stanis precius of pride, And efterward wid cristes main þaim turned to þair kind again. He raised þe widu drausian, Line 21053 þat was dede, and a ȝong man; venim he dranc widvten wath, þe puisund men he raised bath Line 21056 þat war standede for suilk a drinck; And quen he lang had liued in suinck, Eftir sexti ȝere and seuen [folio 140b:1] Fra vr lauerd stei till heuen, Line 21060 Fulfild of eld, quen þat he seye His ending dai him neghand neye, First he did his graue to delue, Line 21063 And siþen he laid þar-in him-selue. Quen he had said his orisun, In þat graue he laid him dun, Line 21066 (Als it es in þe stori tald) Till iesu crist his saule he ȝald, In þe cite of ephesim; Line 21069 Men wenis þar-for þar of him He es noght dede, als mani sais, Bot spelland lijs he allwais, Line 21072

Line 21072 For þat erd, þai say, vmstund Line 21073 Men seis vprisand fra þe grund, And als a slepand andes ofte It beris þe puder vp on-loft, Line 21076 Als a thing war vnder quick,— þe landes folk it wil noght nick.

[Philip.]

[P]hilip was of bethaida Line 21079 Born, als petre was alsua, To þe franchis prechid he wonand biside þe mekil see; In herpoli and frigie, Line 21083 Done he was on rode tre. Noght nailed als vr lauerd allane, Bot þar iuen staned him wid stane, þou his licam be leued þare, Line 21087 His saule it es wid drightin dere.

[Thomas Didymus.]

[T]homas, didimus he hight, Line 21089 For lang he douted in þe right, þat he might noght trou wid ere, Wid eie was he mad lele truere. Line 21092 He prechid þar wid fote and ȝede To peris, and parth, and folk of mede, And to þe folk of hirthane, Till þaim of inde and batriane. Line 21096 Fast he soght þat estrin thede, [folio 140b:2] And thriled in-to haiþen-hede, And þar he lenghtid his sarmun, Bituix and till his passiun. Line 21100 In a cite hight calamine, Of inde fine flesli þar toke he, Smiten thoru wid a spere, And his bodi es birid þere. Line 21104

[Bartholomew.]

[B]artholomeu was born in suli, He preched in lichaoni, Line 21106 And wittnes of matheu find we, Godspell he turned in tung of inde. And siþen a tun albane Line 21109 Of mekil armenie was tane, And priue wid ful hard paine, Line 21111 For quick þai had his bodi flaine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in Gött. & Laud MSS.]

[Matthew the Evangelist.]

[M]atheu, apostil and wangelist, Of leui cald and cosin of crist, Line 21118 First he was a publican And siþen of godspellers ane; He spelled first in iudea, And siþen in macedonea Line 21122 For sarmoning of goddes word, Men sais þat he stiked was wid suord. He lijs on þe munt of parth, Of heuen it has his saule part. Line 21126

[James the Less.]

[I]acob, alplei barnteme, Line 21127 was first bischop of ierusalem, Rightwis to call him men was won, And he was vr leuedi sister sun, Quarfor men cald him vr lauerd broþer, þai war ontinkil aiþer til oþer. Line 21132 Man of sothfastnes and right, Sua mekil halines and light, Line 21134

Line 21134 þat folk ilkan wald oþer stem, Line 21135 Qua rine might tittist on his hem. In ierusalem he preched fast, þe iuus sett him at þe last Line 21138 vp apon þe temple hei, [folio 141a:1] For he spelland wald noght lie, Dun of þe temple þai him suang, ¹And siþen stanes at him flang, Line 21142 A wicked iuu wid wicked wrang,¹ [[^1_1 These lines transposed in MS.]] Smate him wid a walker stang, Line 21144 þat he him brac his harn panne: þe cristen men þai him delued þane.

[Judas the Good.]

[A]noþer apostil þat hight iudas þat þis iacob broþer was, Line 21148 He prechid in mesopotani, And in þe contre of ponti, Line 21150 þar made he wid his sarmon mild þe men þat was als bestes wild. He was heuedid in a bij, In nerico of carmeni. Line 21154

[Mathew.]

[Q]uen iudas had him-seluen losin, Mathias to þe twelue was chosin, Als þe cauil on him fell, Line 21157 In iuda he toke to spell. þis ilk matheu was on of þa Of half ferth skore and tua, Line 21160 þat iesus sent his word to sprede Quilis he self spelland ȝede. Of his ending find i noght, Line 21163 Hu he vte of his lijf was broght.

[Simon Zelotes.]

[S]ymon Zelote and chananeu Line 21165 Al was a name he luued treu, His lauerd al to serue he tent, Als þou he in his luue had brent. Eftir þe rightwis iacob Line 21169 Of ierusalem was he bischop, þe land of egipt he toke to lere, And quen he was of sex skor ȝere, vnþer þe emperur traian Line 21173 Nailed he was on rode, and slain. Birid he was in borffora, In stori es it writen sua. Line 21176

[þ]ir war his disciplis tuelue, [folio 141a:2] þat folud iesu crist him-selue, Spellers of trouth, lerers of lede, þat þou þai all be ane in mede, Line 21180 Ilkan þai toke þaim sundri stede To preche, als it es forwid rede. Petre and philip, þir tua Line 21183 we find had wiues, and na ma, þat wittnes es sant petre wijf, For scho was martird in his lijf. And nu of saint marcell, Line 21187 His doghter was saint peronell. þe first mess þat sant petre sang, was þar þan non canon lang Line 21190 Bot pater-noster in þaa dais, Na langer canon was, als it sais. Bot siþen þe men þat efter war, þar-till þai ekid mar and mare. Line 21194

[Luke the Evangelist.]

[L]ucas was cristes goddspeller, And of þe apostlis dedis writer, Line 21196

Line 21196 Leche of craft, lerid of greu, Line 21197 Of lare he cuth noght of ebru, Disciple of pauel ai foluand fere In wele and wo wid-vten sere. Als he was born in chastite, Line 21201 þat was na man might chaster be. þe mistrouand he toke to teche, Bath of lijf and saule leche; þar-for wroght he bokis tuin Line 21205 þat medicine of saule es in, Of goddspelling þe tane he kidd, þe toþer of þat þapostlis didd. þe seuentiand and feird ȝere Line 21209 Efter þat he had liued here, Quen he was dede in bethani, þar was he doluen for to lij. Bot in þe tune of costantin, Line 21213 þat wele was loued wid drightin, [folio 141b:1] þai did saint andreu relikis and him Bring to constantine apolim.

[Barnabas.]

[B]arnabas was of a naciun Line 21217 Of a cite of cypriun, wid pauel emang þe haþen lede He wan vnto þe apostil-hede. In lau he was selcuthli lele, Line 21221 In vertus foluand sua fele, Mani oþer men in strijf Fanded for to folu his lijf; In all þe stedis þar he ȝede, [[MS. ȝode]] Of goddes word he seu þe sede. Line 21226 Of saint matheu þe godd-spell bock Quiderward sum-euer he toke, widuten lett wid him he bare þar he fand ani seke or sare, Line 21230

Line 21230 And lete þat bock apon þaim rine, þat it ne was þaim medicine. Line 21232 Quen he had sufferd paines strang For cristen trout, and striued lang, Bath for-draun and brint wid fire, His saule es went to heuen schire.

[Mark.]

Marc his goddspeller wid won Line 21237 In baptim was saint petre sun, Sun and disciple was he lele To spell þe folk of israell; Line 21240 Eftir his kind he was leuite, And cristes goddspell did he write, þe godspell in a tale he wrate. Line 21243 Men sais þat of his tumb he smate, And þat for noght bot for to fle þat he na preist suld ordained be, Bot na-þeless for his liuelade, Line 21247 Siþen þan toke he bischophade. þe word þat petre spellid gern, Mark, men sais, it wrat in dern; þe first þat kirc wroght in abye, þat me clepis alexandri; Line 21252 þe pask day messe quan he sang, [folio 141b:2] þan com þat haiþen lede wid wrang þat cristen men to pine was preist, Abute his hals a corde þai fest, Line 21256 And tilwar[d] presun drou his felle, þat flexs þar-of in pecis felle, And siþen eftir presuning, Line 21259 His saule he ȝeld to heuen king. Him-seluen lauerd, vs til him bring, For of his blis es nane ending. Line 21262

[F]Our er þai tald, þe wangelistis, þat draus þe wayn þat es cristis,

Of þaim sal i tell efter mi maght, Quat þai bitakin, and quat þair draght, Quat es ȝok, quat quele mai be, Line 21267 Quat es bridil, and quat axil tre, Quilk man, quilk calf, quilk leon, quilk fule, I sal ȝu tell, widuten bule. Four flummes in se in paradis, Line 21271 And wain man wid four quelis wise; Mathu takins þe first quele, Line 21273 And marck þe toþer takins wele, And luck þe thrid wid resun right, þe feird iohn, þat fule of flight; þe quelis er draun diuers wise, þe first gas, þe toþir it hise, Line 21278 þe thrid quele es wont to rin, And fleis þe feird widuten blin. [þ]ar es gode axeltreis tua, A nobil bridil es alsua, Bath wis and war es þat leder, Line 21283 And soft it es þe ȝock to bere. Tuin axils er tuin laus, i-wis, þe bridil es wisdom forto wis, þe carter self es iesu crist, Line 21287 His bodi þe ȝock he has stablist. [G]race, scho has hir giftes delt Til ilkan sere of þir formelt. Mathe writt was in ebreu, [folio 142a:1] þas oþer thre þai wratt in gru, Line 21292 þe stile of matheu, water it was, And wine þe letter of lucas, And mark pagine, it was milk, And iohn honi suete als suilk. Line 21296 [þ]e first to wax it has sauur, þe toþer of mir, þe thrid of flour, þe feird sauors als aromate, Of all þe spices þat men wate. Line 21300

Line 21300 þe first he teils of feild to fede, Line 21301 þe toþer he saus efter þe sede, þe thrid harus efter wid spepde, þe feird it watris ai in nede. Ilkan of þaim þair lare þai lere, Line 21305 And renges to þe werld at here, Dinnes þe toþer, [t]rumpes þe thrid, Singes þe feird wid sune vnhid. Line 21308 þe first has bell, þe toþer timpane, þe thrid has harp, þe ferd organe; þe first of þaim als laump es bright, Quilis þai giue til oþer light, Line 21312 þe toþer als cerge, þe thrid als stern, þe feird als dai he þat es ern. [þ]e frist es greff of irin was, Line 21315 þe toþer of þaim was made of bras, þe thrid of siluer, þe ferd of gold, For-þi it war þair werkis hold. Line 21318 [M]atheu of man he has fascun, Luk has of ox, ai lokis dun, Iohn of ern, þe skill es sere, Line 21321 (Ta tent quarfore and þu sal here.) Matheu has schapp of manes state, For he of cristes manhed wrate; Luk of ox for þis resun, Line 21325 He spac mast of his passiun; Mark of leon beris takening þat spellid of his vprising; Line 21328 Iohn fuel ern, heiest of flight, [folio 142a:2] Spac of his godde-hed heiest of hight. [þ]e state of ilk ewangelist Line 21331 Beris in him vr lauerd crist, He es man and ox, leon, and ern, May no skilwis man þis wern: Line 21334 Man quilis he here liued in lijf, Ox quen he was slain for vr strijf,

Leon quen he ras wid might, Line 21337 And ern takand til heuen his flight. [A]nd ilke man þat wrang will fle, wid rightwisnes þir four mai be, Man quilis he manlik him ledis, Ox to sla his flexsli dedis, Line 21342 Leon dantand harsk and hard, Foul wid thoght till heuen-ward. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

[The Finding of the Holy Cross.]

[O]F þe rode nu for to rede Line 21347 Crist him-self vs do to spede! þat tholid þar-on hard pine To lais vs fra vr wiþer-wine; Line 21350 we au to buxumli it bere, For it of bote es vr banere; Bath on bodi and in herte, Line 21353 Gain all vr care it es vr querte. Quen þat iesu þar-of was done þe iuus did it eftir sone, Line 21356 þat cristen men bote to blind þat war þan it suld noght find. þai wist þe cristen wold it kepe, þar-for þai did it to delue depe Line 21360 vnder erd, it and oþer tua Quar-on theues hang; for sua þe right rode þai wend to dill vte of þe cristen men skill, Line 21364 þat if men wid chance on þaim hitt, Quilk it war þai suld noght witt. But crist þat na kind es to like, wald noght lat his dere relike Line 21368

Line 21368 [folio 142b:1] Sua notful thing sua lang b[e]hid, þat he ne wald bot it war kid. Quen it had bene tua hundreth ȝere Al vnder molde, þat dreuri dere, To bote of bath saule and lijf, Line 21373 He did be funden thoru a wijf, A doghti wijf þat hight eline, was moder of king costantine. Scho it fand, qua wil witt hu? Line 21377 Herkin, and i sal tell þan you, [A]ls i in a stori it fand. Quen king costantine was liuand, Of rome þan was he emperur, Gain haþen folk stif in stur. Line 21382 Bitid a time, þat haiþen lede Com him batail for to bede, Sua mekil folk þai wid þaim ledd, þat costantine for þaim was dred. þar com till him þat ilke night Line 21387 þat þai suld on þe moru fight, A man þat selcuth fair was graid, And wakind him, and þus he said, "Costantin, loke vp and se Line 21391 Till heuenward, and comfort þe." He loked vp, and in þat sight Sau he cristes crois ful bright; A titel sau he þar-on ley, Line 21395 "Herin," it said, "sal þu haue victori." þan did þe king make of an euen Suilk a croice als he sau in heuen, And vp he ras in trouth stedfast, And brathli on his fas he brast, Line 21400 And did þat croice bifor him lede, And feld fast on þat haþen lede. þai fell, þai fled, þaa wiþerwine, þe maistri has king costantine Line 21404

Line 21404 Thoru þe crois and cristes might, And thoru þair stedfast trouth in dright. þan sent þe king costantine, [folio 142b:2] Sandir men till his moder eline, Line 21408 For to seke, widvten hone, þe crois þat iesu was on done, To find þat hali tre sumquar, And do a kirc be raised þar: Line 21412 Sir benciras and ansieris, þir tua men war messageris, þai war sent to þe quene fra rome, Bot herkins nu hu þai gaf dome. þis leucdi had þat time hir wid Line 21417 A cristen man was gode goldsmith, Quatkin thing als scho wald muth, Make till hir ful wele he cutht; Bot pouer he was, and hard in dett Till a iuu, and terme had sett, Line 21422 A sume of mone for to amunt, þat askid him ful hard acunt. Line 21424 It was wele sene þat hit was hard, For he him asked wid sli forward If he his mone moght noght gete, þat he suld ȝeild him for his dett þat ilke weght þat þar war less, Line 21429 He suld ȝeild of his aun fless. þe dai es gan, þat dett vnquitt, þe bodi most bileue nu for itt: þe cristen dred ful sare for pine, Bot þe iuu wald neuer fine. Line 21434 Bath to þe quene curt þai come, þe iuu thral bad giue him dome, Scharp knif in hand he bar, þe cristen man stod nakid þar. Line 21438 þai all wald haf again him boght, Bot grant of iuu ne gat þai noght

Of ransun na mare þan a rish, Line 21441 wald he of here bot of his fless. [þ]an said benciras and ansiers, "þu sal haue broþer all þat þe fers, þe quene has bidden vs to deme [folio 143a:1] To þe all þat to right es queme. Sai me hu þu wile him dight, Line 21447 If þat he be dempt to þe wid right." "Hu?" said þe iuu, "bot bi mi lay, þe werist þat euer i can or may. His eien firist putt vte i sall, Line 21451 And his hend þat he wirkes wid-all, Tung and nese, and siþen þe lau[e], Till þat i mi couenand haue." þe messageris him [[MS. hin]] gaue ansuere, "þan semis naght þu wil him spare, Take þan þe fless, þat grantes he, Sua þat þe blod may saued be; A drope of blod if þat he tine, Line 21459 we giue vr dome, þe wrang es þine. Quat-sum his fless was sald or boght, His blod to sell he neuer thoght, ȝeild þe þe fless he es wele vnknaun, Sauue him þe blod, þat es his aun." [þ]an said þat iuu, "bi sant drightin Me thinc þe wers part es min; Line 21466 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Fordon ȝe haue me wid ȝur dome, þat ȝe ramanis broght fra rome. Maugre þarfor mot þai haue, Line 21471 All þat suilk a dome me gaue!" Bensiras þan said "parfay! All has þis curt þe herd missay, Me and mi lauerd sir ansire þu has missaid vs in þin ire. Line 21476

Line 21476 And we will missay þe na wight, Bot ellis of þe we will haf right. þe quene has sent vs hider-to Line 21479 þis curt, rightwisnes for to do, And sothfastnes haue we þe said, þar-for has þu nu vs missaid." þe quene bad widuten lett Line 21483 þe iugement þai suld þam sett, For sekir was scho þan of site, [folio 143a:2] þat þe cristen man was quite. þe iuu was dempt sua þat þe quene Suld haue his catel all bidene, Line 21488 In hir merci his tung to take, þat in hir curt sli missau make. þe iuu him thoght selcuthli tene At þis dome þat was sua kene, Line 21492 And said on hij, all might here, "Me war leuer ȝu for to lere Quar lijs ȝur lauerd rode-tre, þan dampned sua sone to be." Line 21496 "[G]odd wate, mi freind," þan said eline, "þu sal be quitt of allkin pine, If þu will do als i þe bidd, Line 21499 To scheu vs quar þat crois es hid." "Leuedi," he said, "bot bi mi lay þe soth ȝeit can i þe noght say; Bot sett þu me sum terme day Line 21503 þat wid mi maistris mele i may, I sal þe bring tiþand of itt, Line 21505 þat þu sua blithli wald of witt." "Gladli," scho said, "here i þe hight Of a dai respit and of a night, Bot þu vs do þe crois to find, Line 21509 Of bath þin eien þu sal be blind." þe iuu him speded toward his tide, Ouer þe term durst he noght abide,

Na selcuth he him schonid sare, Line 21513 He wist þe quene wald noght him spare Till him, ne nane of all his lede, Bot he ne hir did þe better spede wit quar þat hali croice it ware, Line 21517 For þar-apon hir ath scho suare. þarfor he went him sone in hij, vnto þe mont of caluari, wid hir folke went him þe quene, þar þai praid þan all bidene. Line 21522 [folio 143b:1] Sone quen þai had þair praier makid, vnder þaim þe erd all quakid, þan said þe iuu, and all it herd, "Crist þu es sauueur of þis erd!" Of he kest all bot his sarke, Line 21527 To make him bun til his warke. Sone he nam a spade in hand, Lang he delue bot noght he fand; Quen he right depe had doluen dare, Ma þan tuenti fadim or mare, Line 21532 He fand tua croices and þat ilke, Bot þai wist noght quilk was quilke, þe quilk might be þe lauerd tre, And quilk it might þe thefs be. wid mikil ioy and mekil gle Line 21537 vnto þe tun bar þai þaim thre, þar war þai done als in mid place, For to a-bide vr lauerd grace. Line 21540 Abute midward þe dai or mar, A dede man bodi forth þai bare, Saint elin made hir praer þare Line 21543 And sua did all þe folk was þare, þat iesu þaim suld sum takin schau, His aun dere tre to knau. wid aiþer tre þe cors on-rane, Line 21547 Bot alwais lai it still als stane;

þe thrid þai touched till his hide, And vp he ras widvten bide, Line 21550 And spac wid a ful blith voice, þus hailsand þe tre of þe croice, "Godd þe lock, crois, precius thing! In þe hang alþer heiest king. Line 21554 Menskid wid his fless was þu, Of alle tres most of vertu, Line 21556 He has þe halud þat all can cene, And menskid wid all cristen men; Thoru þe has godd sent nu me lijf, And thoru þe worschip of þis wijf." [þ]is miracle sene wid mani man, [folio 143b:2] þai bar it to þe temple þan, Line 21562 þe iuus to þe baptim ran, Ful fain þai war þai þider wan. Line 21564 Bot quen þat croice was comen in Men might se thinges þat was to min! For þat tre þat it was of schorn, Als i tald in þis boke biforn, Line 21568 And alwais in þe temple lay And ȝeit was funden þar þat day, It ȝald of it sua suete a smel, Line 21571 Hu suete it was can naman tell. þe smel ouer all þe temple spred, And þar-wid mendid ilka sted, Line 21574 þat bi þe smelling might men se It was schorn of þat ilk tre. A iuu þat mekil had herd and sene, þe soth tald þar of to þe quene, Line 21578 And quatkin tre it suld haue bene His eldris tald him all bidene. Quen scho had herd his resun, þan gan scho make hir orisun, Line 21582 þat godd wald send hir witring sone, Quat of þat crois he wald war done.

[V]r lauerd it gan ane angel wise And bad hir dele it in four partise, þat ane might in þe temple lend, To rome men suld anoþer send, Line 21588 Till alixandre to send þe thrid, þe feird to bere hir seluen mid, To costantin-opil for to weind. Line 21591 And alsua did þat leuedi heind, Of þe funden croice for-meilt, þe quilk tua was delt, Line 21594 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] þe tane scho left in þat cite, Line 21597 Als in sted of autorite; þe toþe[r] tok wid hir, quene elin, vnto hir sun king costantin. Line 21600 To mete hir ȝede mani barune, [folio 144a:1] Gret and fair was þe processiune, wid-in þe kirk of saint sophie þar haue þai set it richelie. Line 21604 was neuer ȝeit na tre in land, Sua riche ne sua fair schinand, Til ilk paskes for to se was men wont þat hali tre, Line 21608 Dais four þaim sett for stage; þe emperur wid hir barnage, Aþon þe day of mondee; Bot þe quene wid hir meigne Line 21612 Apon þe fridai eftir-ward, Of pardun forte serue hir part; þe clergi on þe satirdai, þat kepers was of cristen lay. Line 21616 widuten case þir dais thre þis crois þan was man wont to se, And it was tald of mani man þat oft a licur þar-of ran, Line 21620

Line 21620 wid þat licur was bote of bale, Line 21621 For sekenes sere to make þaim hale, A uessel þat it war noght tint, Set vnder þe tre þe licur to hint, For to dede vnto þe vnfere Line 21625 To send ouer all þe contre sere.

[The Virtues and Symbols of the Cross.]

[þ]e grace of godd es gret and gode, þat gaue vs sampil bi þe rode, Line 21628 Mar mightes has vr lauerd wroght, þan ani man may thinc in thoght, Bot mani of trouth es sua vnslie, þei trou noght bot þat þai se wid eie; And þat vnethes wil þai trou, Line 21633 widvten signe of gret vertu; For me-thinc if þe soth be soght, þat siþen þe werld was first wroght, Miraclis of þe crois might Line 21637 Has bene in semblance and in sight. Ouer and vnder, right and left, [folio 144a:2] In þis compas godd has left. Line 21640 Bot-if man of him-self be blind, vnthinc him wele he sal it find þe lickenes of þis tre sua treu, In þe ald lau was bifor þe neu, Line 21644 And in þe nu alsua sere, þat sum er gode of forto lere. I thinc þis es þat tre of bliss þat rightwisnes til bunden es, Line 21648 Had adam funden it at hand þat wid þe might had lijf lastand; þat planted es in paradis, And dos þe dede vp forto rise; Line 21652 [A]nd adam wroght, quen he had wogh, vnder þis tre he him wid-drogh,

þar did him drightin for to reson And did him in hope of pardun. [þ]e blod of abel it crid als Line 21657 Quen him had slan his broþer a fals. wid þat tre gret thing was hid, þat in þis ilk croice es hid, And dede forsoth had bene noie If him ne sauued had þe tre. Line 21662 Of four querner þe arche was made, Als has þe crois on lang and brad, þe dur of þat arche apon þe syide, And þar was iesus wonde wide. Line 21666 Qua wil vmthinc him in his mode, Mai find fele takeins of þe rode. [V]r lauerd gaf moyses a wand To wirke maistri wid-in hand, Line 21670 Siþen was it worm, and eftir ȝeird, Als man might forwid haue herd. þat wele bitakenes þat cypres, þar-of was warnist moyses, Line 21674 Bath in word and eke in dede. Quen israel of egipt ȝede, Of þat blisced lamb blode [folio 144b:1] A crois was made in signe of rode, þaa þat crois had on þaim draun, vr lauerd þaim sauued als his aun, All þas oþer war bot tint Line 21681 Bitaght vnto þe angel dint. [Q]uen þe neddris þat war fell, Stanged þe folk of israell, Quen þai welk in wildrenes vnder þe lau of moyses, Line 21686 A nedder was sett vpon a tre, þat quen þe stanged men might it se þe nedder þat on þe tre hang þai war all warist of þat stang. Line 21690

Line 21690 [Q]uen þai faght als þai did ofte And moyses lifted his hand on-loft, Quilis he held his hend on croice, Ai had his aun folk þe voice. Line 21694 [Q]uen strijf was abute þe preist-hede In þa dais mang þa iuus lede, To tuelue men taght þai wandes tuelue, Ilkan marked his him-selue, Line 21698 And said quilk wand suld bere blome Suld haue þe preist-hede wid dome, þar florist ane als ȝe haue herd þe croice takning, þat ilke ȝeird. Line 21702 Helyseus on oþer wise Did a dede man for to rise, þe staf þat he apon him did, Of croice it bare þe takin-hede. Line 21706 [Q]uen dauid faght again þat etin, þan had he noght his staf forgetin, vnto þe bataile he it bare, Might na king suord do mare. Line 21710 þe signe of tau in ald laus Bitakeins croice nu in vr daus, þe men þat þar-wid takin ware, Oft it helpid þaim fra misfare. Line 21714 Tau and croice als bath er ane, [folio 144b:2] Bot tau has ȝeild abouen nane; Of croice in þe ald testament Line 21717 was mani bisning, quat cuth tent. [C]roice es, qua-sum will or nai, Baner of hali kirc to-day; Line 21720 Men has noght herd þat folk be lorn þat hali croice has wid them born, Bot has bitid of mani quare, þe less folk ouer-come þe mare. Line 21724 þar croice was stad at ani fight, If þat þe dede be done wid right.

Of croice to tell for-gett i noght, On croice þe formast man was wrogh[t], On croice þe first of all wiues, Line 21729 On croice godd boght vr saul liues, þar-on he gaf him-self ransun, And of him-self made gunfaigun. þe croice of medicine beris bote, Bath in frut and als in rote, Line 21734 In croice it was for vs þe flour, þat we haue thoru sua grett honur. A riche licknes at beris itt, It es þe heued of hali writ, Line 21738 Fundement of vr clergie, Reule es it als of hali vie. Made it es o four and thre þou es it cald bot for a tre. Line 21742 Noukes foure and treis thrin, Siþen þe thrid was done þar-in In thris thrin and fur partes, I vnderstand þe seuen artis, Line 21746 Of four and thre qua tellis euen, He sal þe numbre make of seuen. þu do to-gider als ten and tua, þe laus tuin sal þu find sua, Line 21750 In ten þan sal þu find þe ald, In tale of tua þe nu es tald. [folio 145a:1] Man has of croice his schaping knaun, And he him-self of seuen es draun Bath in bodi and saule i say, Line 21755 þe bodi of element tuis tuay, þe saule it has of strinthes thrin, þat takin of croice þai bere widin. Quan godd þat aghlis ilkin state, Of all in his forthoght he wate, Farli puruaid he him ane Line 21761 Make croice of tre, and nogh[t] of stan,

Bot þat was forto make þe mend Of þe tre þat was defend. Line 21764 His crois he has wroght sua wid craft, It beris schap till alkin schaft. wele did moyses þat hit fand, And dauid als þat fott þe wand, Line 21768 And salomon þat fell it didd, And scho þat it fand þar it was hid,— Eline þat sua gern it soght, And till vr note nu has it broght; Scho delt it wisli als scho wild, þat all þis world it es fulfild Line 21774 Of þe name and of þe mell, For-þi es gode þar-of to tell.

[E]line ȝeit wald noght for-lett þe nailes in his hend and fete Line 21778 þat driuen war, ful gern scho soght, Till scho þaim fand ne fined noght. Of þaim scho wroght a werk ful fin In bridil of king costantin, Line 21782 was no cristal als bright, Ne sua schene to manes sight. Quiþer-sum he ferd, þat sire, þe bridil schane bright als fire. Line 21786 Mani þat sau þat bridil bright, It turned to þe trouth of right. Costantin þaim bar thre ȝere, Quen he drou to ending nere, Line 21790 vte of þe bridil he þaim laght, [folio 145a:2] And do biside þe croice þaim taght, þat mani vertu siþen wroght Line 21793 Thoru might of crist þat vs boght. And costantinopil and in france, Godd has made mani mustrance. At saint denis es his croune, wid þaa nailis redi boune; Line 21798

Line 21798 Mani man come sekeand sare Line 21799 þat þair hele gaf redi dare. Of þe croice es broght till ende, þe vertu of þe croice vs defend! Qua þe tale can better attend Line 21803 For cristes luue he it amend. þis, queþer it be ill or gode, I fand it writen of þe rode, Mani tellis diuersli, For þai mai find diuers stori. Line 21808 [þ]at fand þe croice hight iudas, Bischop of þe tun made he was, þan was his name turned þus þat he was cald quiriacus. Line 21812 Quen funden was þis hali croice. þe warlou said on hij wid voice, "Ha ha! iudas, quat has þu done? Gaynes me þu has misdone. Line 21816 For wid mi will tinsel es wroght þat þu fand þou i wald it noght; Thoru him war mani saulis mine, Thoru þe þat i nu drede to tine, Thoru him i regned fer a-bute, Line 21821 þu mou me kast a kingr[i]ke vte, Ne forþi i will noght nite, þat ȝeit i ne sal þi dedis quite. Anoþer king gain þe sal rise, Line 21825 þat i sal do þe for to grise, To do þe suffir sua mekil scham, þat þu sal nite þi iesu name." Line 21828 [folio 145b:1] And þis was said bi tyrand ain þat quiriacus was of siþen slain. þat feindes cri þou iudas herde, Neuer þe mare ne was he ferd, Line 21832 Bot werid he þat widerwin, And said, "crist, þat es lauerd mine,

He deme þe in to hell depe, Line 21835 Euer in welland wa to wepe." [þ]at hali croice i haue of redd, Quar-apon iesu for vs was spredd, Be vr scheld and also vr spere Line 21839 Bituix vs and all helles here! Stedfastli in hert to bere, For ilk day we wend in were, Ilk day in were we weind, Line 21843 Bot þe, iesu! haue we na freind. Thoru þe croice make vs þi freind To be vr succur at vr end. Amen.

[The Sixth Age of the World; the Day of Doom.]

[S]Ex eildis haue we broght in place þe sext es cald þe time of grace, Þat bigan a cristes come, And lastes to þe dai of dome. Line 21850 Quen it sal be, þat wate na man, He sal all end þat all bigan, For quen he firist þis werld wroght, Ay forto stand he made it noght. þe terme es sett att end itt in, Line 21855 And mai it neuer vte ouer-rin. þat mai na man witt in lede Bot his auen lau[er]d-hede, Bot bitakins ferr no drei, Men watt þat it neghes ney; Line 21860 Of þir takins þat i of say Men mai þaim se nou ilka day, þat ilk þat iesus seluen tellis, In þe bocke of godspellis; Line 21864 "Takenis," he sais, "sal men see In stern, and sunne, land, and see, [folio 145b:2]

Mekil in erd sal be þe thrang, Line 21867 þat sal be þe men emang, For þe se sal rise and route, Mani man sall drede and dute, Folk þan sal gain oþer rise Line 21871 To werrai samen in mani wise. Hunger and qualm, and nede enogh In erd sal rise for manes wogh, Mekil wa þaim sal bitide, þat þat time es sett forto bide." Line 21876 þir signes se we nu ilk-a day, If we knau agh vs seluen may, He send vs þis all in warning, To be war gaines his coming. Line 21880 All of vr salus to be fus, Again his come þat es sua crus. Bot ai þe ma takins we se, Ay þe wer warnist er nu we, Line 21884 þat we wil noght be warnist, þar-of him quainus [[MS. quaimis]] iesu crist. Quarfor þat ilk creatur Efter þe stat of þair natur, Line 21888 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Better þair maker knaues þan man. Allas! quat mai we of sai þan Line 21892 Till him quen he sal be iustis, Of vr faint and vr fals seruis? And he gain vs, sua meke and milde, And na þing luues mare þan vr kind, And sua mekil has vs giuen vr will, þat we him werrai ay wid ill. Line 21898 þe bestes dumb, leonis and beris, All liueand þing on sere maneris Dos þair deuer, þe warnes noght, Thankand þe maker þat þaim wroght.

Heuen and erd, sunne and mone, And all þat in þis erd es done, Line 21904 þai serue him all apon þair wise, [folio 146a:1] And man widdraus him his seruise. Sua fild wid couetise es he þat he of godd has no pite. Line 21908 Mekil leuer him war to here Hu roland iusted, and oliuere, Or of retauthing to ride in rume, þan of vr lauerd passiun Line 21912 þat he suffrid wid gret despite, Fra pine of hell to make vs quite! Qui er we þan sua prud and bald, [ [[from Edin|bro' MS.]] Alle sal we die bath ginge and alde Es nau havis of him selvin walde] Crist has till him vr dais tald, þe dais þat we mai noght schap, Dede sal rug vs till his rape. Line 21920 Qua-sum bifor wil noght bewar, þan sal he find an efter char, Ful ilhail he giue vs witt, Bot if vr lijf be ledd wid itt. Line 21924 wid eie and ere þe soth we wate, And neuer þe better es vr state; Thoru warnising of oþres wrake, vnethes will ani sampel take, Line 21928 If ani warnist be vmquile, It sal him last ful litil quile. For if it be at vndrin tide, Line 21931 It sal noght to þe [[MS. be; the "to" is inter|lined.]] none abide, Thoru þis wreched werld delite, þat euer we se awayward wite. Quat bote es it sua fast to fraist þat we mai neuer þar-of be traist? If we þar-on haue hald vmquile, þat es vs giuen bot for a gile, Line 21938

Line 21938 Quen þu best wenis to haue all, Line 21939 Fra all þan sal þu tittest fall. Itt es falland, als i haue teld, All-wais till it be fullfeld; þar-for for crist þan preche i ȝu, Line 21943 And namli for ȝur aun pru, [folio 146a:2] þat ȝe þat in þis lake es lend, Haue euere thoght apon ȝur end, þat ȝe ne it for ȝur heuen chese, And sua þe right heuen ȝe lese. Line 21948 For ouþer of þaim we most for-ga, For mai na man haue heuens tua, Haue here all þat his fless wil like, þat efterward þe saule haue slike, Better es here widstand vr will Line 21953 þat we mai þar it all fulfill. þis lijf es noght an nour of a day Again þat þat lastes ay. All þat i sai es a resun, Line 21957 þat we allwais be redi bun, Redi ai gain his coming, þat ilke day we se takening. His firste come was ful smeth, Line 21961 þe toþer salbe ful rugh and reth; þe first he come vs all to queme, þe toþer sal be vs all to deme; First him-self com dampned to be, þe toþer all to deme sal he. Line 21966 Of þis cume sal be takin sere, Bifor cumand, þat ȝe sal here widvten þat we se allwais, Ai risand mare of grete vnpais; For-qui of all þar sal an rise, Line 21971 þat cristen men sal mast do grise, þat all þis werld on lenth and brede, Sal send his wickednes to sprede.

[Of Antechrist.]

þat antecrist of danis sede, Line 21975 Sum-thing of him es forto rede. He þat sua fild of goddes grame, Qui he sal haue suilk a name, For-þi es he cald ante-crist, Line 21979 For he sal be gain iesu crist, Againes crist þat es to say, [folio 146b:1] For gain his werke he sal werray. Crist come meke al in his tide, Line 21983 He sal cum reth risand in pride; Crist come to do þe lau to rise, þe sinful forto make rightwise, Bot he sal cum þe meke to fell, Line 21987 þe sinfull raise, sua sais þe spell. All gode theu, wid might and main, All sal he werrai þaim again, [[agaim in MS.]] þe goddspell and all hali writt, Line 21991 He sal fordo, wa worth his witt! He sal do rise all maumettri, And clepe him-self godd almighti. þis antecrist has had ful fele Line 21995 þat till his seruis has bene ful lele, Als antioche and domiciane, And nu þar es ful mani ane; And quatkin man sum euer it es vte of þe reule of rightwisnes, Line 22000 Or laued or religiun, Clerk, monk, or canun, And werrais þat þai suld were, of antecrist þe nam may bere. Line 22004

[N]v sal ȝe here, i will ȝu rede, Hu þat antecrist sal brede,

Nathing sal i feigne ȝu neu, Bot þat i find in bokis treu. Line 22008

Line 22008 þir clerkis sais all þat er wise, Line 22009 þat he of iuus kin sal rise, And of þe kind men clepis dane, þat prophet mas of þus his mane. "Dane," he sais, "es nedder in strete, waitand hors to stang in fete, Line 22014 To do þe rider fall bi þe way, þat als mekil es for to say, Bi way als nedder sal he sitt, þat all þe men þat he may witt [folio 146b:2] Ridand in þe reule of right, Line 22019 He sal þaim smite and do þaim light; He sal þaim giue ful attri dint, vte of þair trouth he sal þaim stint." [O]f fadir and modir he sal be born, Als oþir men was him biforn, Line 22024 Bituix a man and a womman, And noght of a maydene allan Als it es foli tald of sum; Noght tuix a bischop and a nun, Bot of a bismer brim and bald, Als getin of glotun and skald, Line 22030 þat þar may be na fuler tuin. He sal be getin all in sin, Getin in sin and born in plight, Ouer all he sal be maledight. Line 22034 In his geting þe feind of hell, Sal crepe in his moþer to duell, Maistir of errur and of pride, þar-in he sal his birth abide. Line 22038 þou he be nu in presun bunden, Als it in hali writt es funden, þat saint gregor himself wroght, þar-for he sais he leies noght. Line 22042 þe kind of strinth þat he had are, þou þan his might be halden mare,

þat his might es noght nu sua knaun; vr lauerd has done all for his aun, þat if he might, all wald he quell; For-þi he bunden has þat fell, Line 22048 He sal be lesid þan of band, And mekil wa sal wirke in land. þis es he, þat sorful dring, we rede of in boke of scheuyng. An angel said he sau lendand Line 22053 wid a mekil cheingne in hand, And bar kay of þe mekil pitt, [folio 147a:1] Als sais saint iohn in hali writt. To þa dragun suith he wan, Line 22057 þat men callis deuil and sathan, And in þe pitt him sperd fast, To-quilis a thousand ȝere at last, For to be laised at þe last Line 22061 Quen þat thousand ȝere war past, To walk his wai fra þat quile, And mani man for to bigile. þe king of prid þis ilke es he, Line 22065 And euer it sal him foluand be; [A]nd als it in vr leuedi light,— þe hali-gast wid goddes might,— And vmbilaid hir wid his leme To brede þat blisful barnteme, Line 22070 þat all þat birth scho þar suld brede Suld hali be of his goddhede; Right sua de deuil sal descende, And in antecrist moder sal lend, To fill þat caitiue su vnclene, Line 22075 And vmbilay hir all bidene, All in his weild hir to reciue, And do hir thoru a man conciue, þat all þat birth þat þar es born, Line 22079 Be wick, and fals, and felun lorn.

Forþi his nam is cald ful right Line 22081 Sun of tinsel, þat maledight! For all þat he mai wirke þar-to, All manes kind he sal for-do. [O]f his geting i tald ȝu are, Of his birth i sal tell ȝu quare, Line 22086 For als þat crist him-seluen ches Be born in bethleem for vr es, His manhede for to bring in place þat he take for vs wid his grace, Right sua sal þe feind he þis Line 22091 ches him a birth-sted i-wiss, þat beist es stighlid till his stall, [folio 147a:2] Quar es þe rote of euils alle, þar lest of gode men makis min Line 22095 þat es þe tun of babilon wid-in. þis tun was quilum chef of pers, Of mani oþer alsua diuers, A tun of selcuth mekil pride, Line 22099 Heued of maumettri þat tide; Bethaida and corozaim, þir tua cites sal susten him. vr lauerd snaipes þir tua tunes, Line 22103 In þus he sais in his sarmunes. "Corozain ai be þe wa! And sua þe be bethaida! Capharnaim ai wa þe be! Line 22107 þe sinful sun sal regne in þe, If þu þe rais vp intill heuen, Till hell dep sal þu be driuen." Noris him sal enchanturs, Line 22111 Of nigromancers and of iugelurs, Of all maner craftes ill, Of all falshed þai sal him fill, wicked gastes ai his weirs, Him foluand in all his fers. Line 22116

Line 22116 To ierusalem sal he siþen fare, Line 22117 All þat he cristen findes þare If þai will noght trou till his lare, He sal þaim sla widuten spare. And in þe temple salomon þan sal þat traitur sett his tron, Line 22122 þat all was feld lang siþen gane, He sal raise it all eft of stane. Circumsise him þar he sall, And goddes sun him do to call. Line 22126 [þ]e grete caysers and þe kinges, And all suilk oþer lauerdinges, Turn þai sal till him tittest, And syden þas oþer at þe lest. Line 22130 [folio 147b:2] Ouer all þar crist was wont to ga, He þaim sal ouer-gang alsua, Bot first he sal þaim do distrou þat haglud [[read halgud]] of vr lauerd iesu. Line 22134 Siþen ouer all þis w[e]rld wide, Sal be send saand wid mekil pride, His prechurs forto spell his will, All for þe cristen lau to spill. Line 22138 Fra see to see, fra north to suth, He sal do make his sarmun cuth, He sal do mani signe to bene, þat men has noght forwid sene; Line 22142 Thonir on loft fall sal he gere, And treis als brathli blomis bere; Brathli to de þe see bereth, And brathli do it to be smeth. Line 22146 Of thinges sere fra þair naturs Turn to be in sere figurs, Gain kind, and wid þe deuil craft, þe watris for to rin on baft, Line 22150 þe wind to do rudli to rise, And stormes do men sare to grise;

To raise þe dede for manes sight, Sua selcuthli to schau his might, þat if he noght vr lauerd chosling, He sal vntil his errur bring. Line 22156 Bot all sli signes wroght wid art, Of sothfastnes sal haue no part; wid iugelri þai sal be wroght, Line 22159 And faintum be, and ellis noght. Als symon magus in his wihile Right sua sal he þe folk bigile, Als he did wid sli craft til ane, Line 22163 He slou a chepe wend him haue slain. þe gode men sal se suilk be wroght, þai sal be studiand all in thouth, Queþer þat he be crist or nain, þat þai of here þe scriptur sain. Line 22168 [folio 147b:2] Ne es na land þat men can neuen, vnder þe rof of cristes heuen, þat he ne sal do þaim to be soght, To bring þe cristen men to noght, He sal him-seluen do to rise Line 22173 Again þe lele on thrin wise, þat es to sai, wid gift, wid au, And wid gret signes þat he sal schau. Qua in his trouth þan wil bihold, Sal plente haue of siluer and gold, For all þe hurdes þat er hidd, Line 22179 Sal hali in his time be kidd. þat he mai noght wid giftes drau vntil his trouth, he sal wid au; And þar he mai noght wid drede, wid signes sal he fand to spede; Line 22184 And qua wil noght bileue him sua, He sal þaim wirke ful mekil wa, Mani sorful pine to drei, And siþen drerili for to dei. Line 22188

Line 22188 þan sal þar rise in þat siquar Line 22189 A soruyng suilk was neuer are, Siþen men was made bituixand þan And syden þe w[e]rlde it first bigan. þan sal þai fle þat wald be hidd, Line 22193 And to þe fellis þan sal þai bidd, "Fellis fal apon vs dune, To hide vs all fra þis felun." And he þat in hus es stadd, Line 22197 þat time sal he be sua radd, Neuer sal he reck quar-vte he win, To bileue all his werldis win To funden be, sua sal he steck Line 22201 Ouer hogh to lepe his hals to breck. þan sal all þai, schortli to sai, Es funden lele in cristes lay, vnþer iesu crist for-lake, Line 22205 Ouþer vnþerli sua waful wrake, wid irin, or fire, or attri best, [folio 148a:1] Hu þat euer þai mai hardist; And sua wid sere maner of pine, In crist þai sal haue blisful fine. [þ]is dreri time þat ȝe of here, Line 22211 Slal lastand be half thrid ȝere; For his derelinges, þe stori sais, vr lauerd sal do to schorte þe dais, For if þe dais ne schorted were Line 22215 vnethes suld ani fless be fere. þe tim of þis antecrist come, And of vr lauerd day of dome, Saint paul sais in his sarmonis Line 22219 To þe folke of thessalonis, Bot if dissencion bitide, And he comen, þe child of pride þat es bot discord and strijf, Line 22223 Ouer all þis werld be runnen rijf,

Thoru sarazins and ante-crist, Line 22225 His come sal bide vr lauerd crist. we wat bath thoru stori and vers, þat þe kingrike of grece and pers war heued kinges in form tide, Line 22229 wid pouste florist mast of pride; And siþen was rome all at þe last, Of all þas oþer ouer-mast, þat þar suld be na lede of land Line 22233 þat rome suld haue it vnderhand; þat alkin folk to rome suld heilde, And truage als till heued ȝeilde. Saint paul sais for þis resun Line 22237 þat first sal be dissensiun, Er ante-crist sal cum in land, þat es þus-gat at vnderstand; Bot all kingrikes þat rome was vnder Fra lauerd-hede of rome sal sunder, þat first was under romes au, Line 22243 þe antecrist him sal noght schau. þis tid noght ȝeit of romanie, [folio 148a:2] For þou it struid be gret partie, Ai quilis þe frankis kinges es Line 22247 þat au þe empire of rome to wiss, Of rome empire þe dignite Ne mai na wai all perist be, For in þai kinges sal it stand Line 22251 Ai to-quilis þai er lastand. [V]r maistris tellis of þis chance, þat þar sal be a king of france, þat of romaine sal þe empire Line 22255 Hallij lauerd be and sire; He sal be in þe last dais, þe most king of all, it sais, Bath þan sal he be þe mast, Line 22259 And of oþer all he sal be þe last.

þis king sal be vmset wid sele, Line 22261 Efter þat he has regned wele. þan his regning es broght til end To ierusalem þan sal he wend, Line 22264 þar sal he ȝeild bath vp of hand, His corun and his kinges wand To iesu crist, vr dere drightin; Sua sal cristen kinges fine, Line 22268 And alsua of þe impire of rome. þan sal sone þe antecrist come Efter, saint pauel þapostil sais, He sal him schau in þaa dais, Line 22272 þat sinful man widuten make! þat soruful sun, and ful of wrake! þe warlau auen child to will His werkis wrang to ful-fill. Line 22276 He sal be cald his auen sun, All wickednes in him sal won, All falshed and feluni, And all tresun sal in him li. Line 22280 He sal him raise sua hei on hight, þat men sal wene þat he es dright; He-self sal do þan to raise him [folio 148b:1] Ouer goddes all of þe ald time, Ouer iubiter and apolin, Line 22285 þat goddes were of sarsin, Heier þan þir he sal him bere, For he sal be wele mightiere. He sal men do him for to rose Line 22289 Ouer all þat men to worschip dos, vte ouer þat hali trinite þat suld of all worschiped be. In þe temple sal he sitt, And do men falsli for to witt þat he es þat ilke crist to lete, Line 22295 þat was þaim hight thoru prophete.

þar sal he do him circumsice, Line 22297 And scheuyng make of his maistris, "I am þat crist," þan sal he say, "þat ȝu was hight for mani dai, Line 22300 Nu am i comen all for ȝur hele," þus sal he to þe iuus mele, "Comen i am to geder ȝu þat has bene skailed ai to nu." Line 22304 þe iuus sal schort þan þair consail, And turn þaim till his trouth al hale; þai sal wene crist at vnder-fang, And sal reciue þe gerard strang. Line 22308 Als crist has to þaa iuus bald, In his goddspell for-wid tald. "I come in mi fadir name, And ȝe me seke wid mekil schame, If an-oþer come in his auen, Line 22313 Ful-sone ȝe sal till him be draun. [A]ls sibile sais in hir spelling, þat in time of þis forsaid king, Constans men sal him clepe in lede, He sal haue mekil lauerd-hede Line 22318 Of romaine and all þe empire, And als of grece he sal be sire. A mekil man, of statur hij, [folio 148b:2] Fair in fascun on for to sij, Line 22322 luued wele wid-vten lame, widvten last all his licame. Mekil richess þan sal be, þe erd sal giue fruit plente; Line 22326 þe mett of qwet, als it es tald, For a peni it sal be sald, wine and oile þat ilk pris. þan sal fra north a folk rijs þat alixander sperd in gog, And in a land þat hatt magog, Line 22332

Line 22332 þa fule folke na muth mai mele Line 22333 Of þair number, it es sua fele. þis ilke forsaid vnlaus lede, Quer all landis sal þai sprede, Line 22336 And do þe men drede ful sare, To fellis fle to hide þaim þare. Manes fless sal þai noght spare, Es na mete þai sal gern mare, Line 22340 Hors and asse, womman and child, Sal nan haf might fra þaim þaim schild. Bot at þe last þe romain king Line 22343 Sal of his ost make gret gedring, He sal þaim bring þan all to grund, And at þe last þaim all confund, Gain sarazines gret werraiur, Line 22347 Bath to strui þaim tune and tur, Of maumettri þair templis all; And to baptim he sal þaim call, To turn to crist þat sched his blode, In templis he sal raise his rode. Line 22352 Quen þat þis ilk dughti dring Sal haue an hunder winter king Bene and tuelue, þan sal he fare To ierusalem, als i tald are, Line 22356 And ȝeild vp þar his diademe To þat lauerd þat all sal deme, þe cristen kingrike vp to ȝeild [folio 149a:1] To iesu, þat has all to weild. Line 22360

[T]ua prophetis þan sal cum in hij, þat es enoch, and ald heli, þat gain þe saut of antecrist Sal do þe lele to be warnist. Line 22364 þai sal þaim teche and sal þaim right, And strinth þaim al gain þat fight, þe iuus sal conuerte, als it sais, All þat funden bes þaa dais, Line 22368

Line 22368 Quen þai ful-fild has þair seruis, þe antecrist sal gain þaim rise, Line 22370 þe boke of sp[e]lling scheus sua, þat he sal þaim bath sla. Quen þai haue dede lien tua dais, To lijf ur lauerd sal þaim rais. Line 22374 þas oþer all he mai ouerreke wid suord he sal him-selue wreke, Or do þaim for to cristen renay If þai sal bere þair lijf away. Line 22378 All þat he in him trou sal gere, In frunt þai sal þe takin bere. [B]ot quen þat ilke warlou brede His caitifte has tua ȝere kidd, Line 22382 Tua ȝere an a half þar-to, wid all þe drouing he mai do Ouer all þis werld in linth and bred, Namli gain þe cristen lede; Line 22386 þat all þat will him sal widstand Sal cruned be to lijf lastand; þan sal vr lauerd apon him send, His dome, þat him sal driue to end; For cristes come sal be sua bright þat thoru þat mekil lauerd light He sal of-stand sua mekil au, Line 22393 þat all þe filth þan of his mau Sal brest vte at his hindwin, For drede he sal haue of drightin. Sua sal he be perst albischitin, [folio 149a:2] Bat wid drede and soru bitin. Line 22398 [A]nd oþer maisterijs, ne for-þi þat folus þe word of gregori, Sais saint michel sal him quell, In papilon þat mekil fell, In þat sted in his auen stall; þat þis be soth, wele mai fall, Line 22404

Line 22404 For if saint michael cum in place, To dome bifor vr lauerd grace, Line 22406 Him sla it sal noght his vertu, Bot ellis thoru bidding of iesu. And stabli au we tru als stane, þat als suith als he bes slane, Line 22410 Crist sal noght cum his dome to del, Bot als we find in daniel, Fourti dais he sal þaim ȝate þat fallen er vte of þair state Line 22414 Thoru foluing of þat fals prophete, þat þa mai þaim wid penans bete, Quen þair penance til end es wrogh[t]. I vnderstand all in mi thoght, Line 22418 þat es na man sua wiss þat mai Tell quen sal be þe last day, Bot he þat all has for to ȝeme, All es in his will to deme. Line 22422 þat laste day þat all sal ende, He giue vs lauerd, wid him to lende. Of ante-crist all wrang and wogh Me-thine þat i haue rede i-nogh. Line 22426

[The Fifteen Signs that shall come before Domesday.]

[N]u mai i na-gat bot i mene þa cruel dais and þa kene Forn domes-dai þai sal be sene, wid sorful sines ful fijf-tene; Line 22430 If ȝe of þaim will listen a trau, I sal ȝu tell of þaim sothsau. þat es na man in erd sua fell, þat herkin hertli wele þis spell, Of þis wrechid werldis end, [folio 149b:1] þat he ne agh his lijf to mend. Line 22436

Line 22436 Grete sines sal vr lauerd make, Line 22437 Forto scheu þe wick his wrake, Als it es tald of Ieremi, Zorobabel and ysai; Line 22440 Ierom, als þat man wele trus, Tellis he fand in a boke of iuus, Queþer þai sal hale on rau bitide, Or enter-uale bituix þaim bide, Line 22444 þat vndos he vs nouþer-quar, þou he was mekil clerk of lare. þe iugement a littel are þat nan sal of þe feluns spare, Line 22448 Sal vr lauerd mightes schau, þat man it sal in erd knau. Hider nu i bidd þaim drau, All þat of him standes au, Line 22452 And herkin sua þat i sal say, þat he weind noght hafles away. Sua sorful sight was neuer a þat þaim sal bide sal tell of wa. Line 22456 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

[þ]e first dai sal i of rede, Ful mekil it es al forto drede, Line 22460 For þar sal fall doun fra þe lift A blodi rain, a dreri drift, þe erd sal be all rede of heu, Ne sau men neuer suilk a deu! Line 22464 Childer in þair moder wamb, þar þai li, wid-in þair wambes sal þai cri, wid hei note and lude steuen, Line 22467 "Merci nu, lauerd! king of heuen, Forto be born we haf na space, we do vs, lauerd! in þi grace. Quar-to suld we be born to-day. Line 22471 Quen all thing sal turn to wai?"

Gretand sal þai call on iesu, Line 22473 "Lauerd, haue merci on all nu."

þe toþer dai to bide i-wis, [folio 149b:2] It sal be wele were þan þis. Line 22476 þe sternis wid þar lemand leuin Sadli sall fall dun fra heuen, Es nan sua wele fest of þaim all þat it ne sal dun þat day fall, Line 22480 And titter sal þai rin on grund þan fireslaght dos quen it es stund. þai sal on erd rin here and þare wepand, als þai men ware; Line 22484 Na word þai sal þo-queþer sune, Till þat þai be fallin dune, vnto þe abyme, widuten sight, Line 22487 And þar þai sal haf tint þair light, And worth all blac sum ani cole; Lauerd! hu mai we þan þis thole, þat es sua solwid in vr sinn, Line 22491 And als we wonden þaim war in!

[E]fter þe tua fulus þe thrid, An vncuth day þan es it kid, þat þe mone þat es sua schene, Line 22495 Quen it es in þe waxand sene, Sal bicum rede als ani blode, For drede of him was don on rode. On erd dun he sal descende, Line 22499 Bot þar sal it na wight lend, Bot in þe see þan sall it rin, And þar it sal be hid wid-in, Forto fle þe dai of au, Line 22503 Quen crist sal cum himself to schau.

[þ]e feird signe eftir þe thride, Sal be ful grisli on to se, þat þe sun þat es sua bright, Line 22507 And seruis all þis werld of light,

It sal bicum þan ful vnfair, Line 22509 Dim and blac sum ani haire, Quen it es first fairest on to loke, At middai time, als sais þe boke, Blacken it sal þat ilke time, [folio 150a:1] þat nan þar-wid sal se a stime. Line 22514 A! lauerd! ful wa sal be þat man þat sal haue na merci þan. To þaim þat he his wreth sal kith, Ne sal þai neuer fra þan be blith. [V]gli sal be þe fifte day, Line 22519 Mare þan ani tung can say; All bestes dumb vnder þe lift, Vp þai sal þair heuedis lift Apon vr lauerd for to cri, Line 22523 If þai might speke at aske merci. Right vnto þe air þan sal þai rin For dredenes þar to hide þaim in, An sal cri wid stither steuen Line 22527 þan nu mai do ten or elleuen, All for drede of his coming þat dome [[MS. domo]] sal deme of all ting. [þ]e sexte dai es redd in rune, Line 22531 Quen all þis werld bath dale and dun, Euen illike hei sall wroght all, valis vp-rise, þe fellis fall, Line 22534 And all þis erd nu vnder heuen Sal þat þai be all like euen For dredenes of þat demester. þe pes sal turn all in-to were, Line 22538 þe erd sal quake neuer ar sua fast, Tour and tun all dun to cast, þat es na werk sua strang, or wall, þat ne dune þat dai sal fall; wod and wal all dun sal drau Of þat demester for dredful au. Line 22544

Line 22544 [S]orful sal be þe signe seuind, Line 22545 Mare þan þe sexte þat i haf neuind. þe treis forcastin sal þaim pain Forto right þaim vp a-gain, Line 22548 Dun þe crope, vpward þe rote, Of mirthes nan þan es to mote; vnquemfulli þai sal þai quake, [folio 150a:2] þat all þe erd it sal do schake; Line 22552 Noght a lijf on þaim i sal last Quen þat þe gret in tua sal brest. Lauerd! quar sal we þan reste Quen nan sal witt quar þaim es best; All wanis sal vs þat time wane, Line 22557 Bot we ne haue þe grace of ane. þan bihouis all folk to dei, Thoru sorfulnes þat þai sal drei. [þ]e aghtand signe it has no make, Nan forwid of sua mekil wrake; Of hir chanel þe see sall rise Line 22563 To hide it, bot it mai na wise, It sal brest ouer dale and dune, All kin thinges forto drune, Bot he ne us faile þat has it tald, þat was selue moyses þe ald. Line 22568 vp to þe lift rise sal þe see, þar wid strenth to gett entre, þe fisses þat þar-in er stadd, þat we oft make vs of gladd, Line 22572 Till erdward þan sal þai fle, And wene þat god þaim mai noght se; Again þe se þan sal it drau, Dun fra þe lift vnto þe lau, Line 22576 In-til hir canel sal scho turn, And als til þairis ilk a burn. [þ]e niend sal be cruel and kene, was nan suilk of þa forwid sene, Line 22580

Line 22580 wid speche sal all thing þaim mene Als it wid manes muth had bene;— I drau to warant saint austin, Line 22583 þat spekis hu þis werld sal fine;— þai sal cri on vr lauerd dright, 'Haue merci on vs for þi might, Lauerd god, þat lastes ay! Line 22587 þou sal vs to do wite away. To turn agayn als noght ne war; [folio 150b:1] Lau[er]d þu lat vs noght for-fare."

þ]e teind vte tan forto neuen, Line 22591 þat es na halu vnþer þe heuen, And heuen self it sal be ferid Gain him þat made medileird, Als vs tellis saint ierome, Line 22595 And gregor þat was pape of rome. þe seluen angelis sal quake vnqueme For doute of him þat all sal deme, For þan sal quake saint cherubin, And alsua sal do seraphyn; Line 22600 Na creatur sal þan list play, Saint petre sal be dumb þat day, þat he a worde ne sal dur speke, For dute of þe mister þe wreke. Line 22604 For heuen he sal se part in sundere,— And he sal here it cri to wondre, Cri and brai for dute and drede, "Haue merci! lauerd! for nu es nede." þan sal þai þat in hell er cropin, Line 22609 Quen light sal chine of heuins opin þa warlous all sal walk þan vte,— Saint paul it sais, it es na dute; Line 22612 Herkins nu quat þai sal say, For drede þai sal haue of þat day. "Iesus, lauerd, þat wroght vs a Line 22615 In heuen, and siþen it take vs fra,

we haue it tint wid gret foli; Line 22617 In þis gret nede to þe we cri, þi wreche handwerke [[MS. landwerke]] in wa þat þu of fire vs suffres sua, Line 22620 Caitiue þat nu sorus mare þan euer in hell wont was are, þu ȝeild vs egain vr ostel nu, þat vs es reft, and we ne wat hu, we wald it vnderfang ful fain, Line 22625 If we might haue vr erd egain."

[þ]e signe of þe dai elleuen, [folio 150b:2] It es na skill þat it be leuen; Sare þai sal do for to grise, Line 22629 wind on ilk-a side sal rise, Sua fast again oþer sal þai blau, þat es na tung þat it mai schau. þe erd þan sal it do to rift Line 22633 And vp vte of þe stede to lift, þe deuils vt sal be for-driuen Of þat erd þat sal be reuin, Bere þair bodis in þat air; Line 22637 þat sight it sal be ful vnfair! þan sal þe rainbou descende, In heu of gall it sall be kende, wid þe windes it sall it mell, Line 22641 And driue þaim dun all in-til hell, And bete þe deuillis deþer in, In þair bale ai for to brin, And sal þaim bid to hald þaim þare, Abouen erde to come na mare. Line 22646 þe terme es comen, nu haue ȝe sale þe in-come to be in yur bale; þan sal þai bigin to cri and call, "Lauerd fadir, vr godd of all, Line 22650 þu lat vs under erd be hidd, þat we be here na langer [[MS. nanger]] kidd."

[þ]e tuelft signe es sorful sere, Thoru might of him þat all can stere. þat es na man in erde wroght Line 22655 þat agh to lat it be vte of thoght, And forto mend his lijf þe mare, To iesu þat ut leuedi bare. Heuen sal be lokin again, Line 22659 Sal nan be þan þat þai ne sal quain Hugat here nu mai we lend. Quen alkin thing drauis til end, þe angelis þat in heuen sal be, Line 22663 Sal knele dun bifor cristes kne, And sal cri merci to þat king [folio 151a:1] þat þai se bun till all thing. Line 22666 For þat reuthes sal þai be radd, þai se ouer all þe werld stadd; Quen angels sua sal drede þat pas, Of sinful quat sal worth, allas! Line 22670

[þ]e day thrittende sal be to snell Mare þan ani tung mai tell, Of þat sorful grisli dau, Line 22673 þat crist sal till his chaftes schau, Quen all þe stanis þat er made vnder þe lift in werld brade, Abouen þe erd and bi-neþin, Line 22677 Right vnto þe abyme fra heþin, Sal smite to-gider wid sli maght, Als thoner dos wid firen slaght. wid hard dintes mon þai kidh, Line 22681 Has nan þan euen to be blith. wid strenth þan sal þai samen threst, þat all to pecis sal þai brest. Line 22684 þis sal be lastand all a day, þe signes of þis sori play, þe men þat þat day sal ouerbide, vnder a fell þai sal þaim hide. Line 22688

Line 22688

[þ]e dai fourtend sal be ful ill, Line 22689 Till all þe werld it sal be grill, A stormi day, a strait of au, Bath of frost, hail, and snau. Line 22692 þan sal þar come thoner and leuen, And drone all þat es vnder heuen; þe cloudis to þe see sal rinn For to hide þaim þan þar-in, Line 22696 For to fle þat day sua breme, þat vr lauerd sal come to deme.

[Q]uat sal be þe fijftend day? Line 22699 Als i haue funden, i sal ȝu say; Men sais þat soth mai be and fall, þat it sal be ending of all. Line 22702 þis middelerd, ful wailwai! [folio 151a:2] All to noght sal brin þat day, þe see þat vmlukes all land, Line 22705 And watris all þat rennis in strand, All sal turn again to noght, Als þai war first ar þai war wroght, Heuen and erd to be mad neu, þat euer sal be lastand treu. Line 22710

[What shall happen on Domesday.]

[Þ]an sal be herd þe blast of beme, þe demister sal cum to deme þat all thing of-standes au; Line 22713 In quatkin furme i sal ȝu schau. we trou, and all au for to trou,— Bot it be saraȝin or iuu,— þat efter þe resurrecciun, þe hei day of his assenciun, Line 22718 Come iesus till his frendes suete þat sett war to þair mete and ete,

And þai þat war in drede and dute, wid stabil trouth he brogh þaim vte, And siþen vp till heuen he stey, Mani man constadd and sey. Line 22724 His desciplis for þis sight, Mekil he did þair hertis light, A cloud a-gain him sau þai light And bar him vp, was wonder bright; werrai godd and man werrai, Line 22729 All forto deme on domes-day. þat ilke forme cum sal he þare, As he in erd his croice bare, Line 22732 Sua sal he cum, bot witt ȝe þan, þat siþen þe werld first bigan was neuer sene sua sorful a tide, Als þat dai sal be for to bide. Line 22736 [Q]uen he come first his cum to kith, wid mekenes all gan he mith, þat come was dern and hidde Line 22739 And bot to fone men was kidde. His oþer coming sal he schau [folio 151b:1] Rightli till all þis werld to knau, Bath heuen and erd for him sal drede, Als ȝe haue bifor herd me rede. Line 22744 It es na clerk mai write wid inck, Ne muth to mele, ne hert to thinck, þe hundreth and thousand knightes Sal folu þat lauerd mekil of mightes, wid him to cum all to þis day, Line 22749 All-as! quat sal þe sinful say. vngainand sal be þan his gamin Line 22751 Quen he to brin sal se all samin, Land and see and alkin thinges, þat ani werldis hald wid hinges. Sorful bes þan þe sinful chere, Line 22755 Quen all þan sal þaa trumpes here;

Bifor þe face of þat caiser Line 22757 Angelis sal his baner bere, His rode þat he was on spred, þat he vs witt to lijf has ledd, Line 22760 Ouercomen þe feind wald all forfare, Es na baner he dredis mare. was neuer sunn schineand sua clere þe tende part, als þat banere! Line 22764 þe brightnes of þat croice sua schene, Ouer all þe w[e]rld it sal be sene. þus heili, bot wele helier, Line 22767 Sal cum to deme þe demister.

[A]tt dome he sal noght sitt allane, Bot felaus oþer ful mani ane; Line 22770 Al þaa þat sua þaim seluen buud þat werldis worschip al forhuud, Siluer and gold and esse of lijf, And taght þair fless for him in strijf, And traualid þaim on all wise Line 22775 To pain þaim in his seruise, And folud leli all his laus; þaa men sal be als his felaus, Line 22778 For to deme bath gode and wick, [folio 151b:2] Queþer-sum þai be dede or quick.

[A]ll þat sall be att þat assise, Line 22781 All hale þaim-self þai sal vp-rise In bodi and saule, al on neu wise, All thoru þe might of þat iustise. þat ilke flesh þat we haue nu, Line 22785 þan sal we haue sua sal we trou, And oþer nan we writen find; þat oþer trous, of trouth er blind. [ [[from Edin|bro' MS.]] That other trowes of trowthe er blind Of this trowthe hard es trowthe to find] þat man es molten fless and banes, Fra time þat þai be rotin anes Line 22792

Line 22792 Haue lim and lijf, als þai had ar, It semes sua þat neuer mar. Line 22794 Bot mistru þat, it es na nede, Herkin qui, i sal þe rede. Quen god will sua, þat vp-beris all, þat manes fless to mold to fall, Line 22798 Ne might be noght þan wid his main, þat ilke erde make fless again? He þat it made fordos þe fless, He mai it make quan his will es; He þat dos fless worth to lame, Line 22803 Of lame mai wirke flesli licame; A bodi mai he sone make of oght, þat all þis werld made first of noght; For-þi schortli es noght þat he Line 22807 Ne mai all do his will to be. Ne dute right na man in his dede, For trouth sal do man best to spede, Qua dutes es barn þe mare, Of trouth allan þis es þe lare. Line 22812 [A]ll mai he do þat all weildes, If þu will witt of þair eldes. þat þai sal on þat day in vprise, Saint paul vs sais on þiskin wise,— þat less and mar, ald and ying, Line 22817 At þat fortald vprising Sal be of eild, als þai suld here, [folio 152a:1] Haue deide of eild of thritti ȝere, þat eild þat crist had at his dede Quen he vs boght all fra þe quede. And if þat ani man here liuand Line 22823 wemmed was on fote or hand, On heued or bac, breist or side, Als we se chances oft bitide, On muth, or nese, or ellis-quar, Or boce apon his bodi bare, Line 22828

Line 22828 Crepil or croked, or turned on baft, Or limmes ma gain kindli craft, Line 22830 Thoru ma or less of lim haf last,— At þe vprising þat sal be last. All þaa þat godd has chosen til his For to be broght vntil his blis, Line 22834 Quat-sum þai in þis lijf haf bene, It sal na wemme on þaim be sene, Ne noght bot all faire-hede, Als we in hali scriptur rede. Line 22838 Al sal haue right lim þare þai agh to haue, ne less ne mare. Bot take tent quat i sai to þe, Line 22841 Of faire statur hu sal it be, And of þair eilde of þaim i mele, þat crist tas for his aun lele. Line 22844 þas oþer sal haue fairhede nane, for alkin selcuth sal þaim be wane, Of þaim it es to tell na tale þat widuten bote brend es bale. Line 22848

[þ]e childer þat er abortiues, þaa er þat er noght born in liues, Sal rise [[MS. risi]] in thritti ȝere eild, Till littel bote to þaim or beild. Line 22852 For þai war noght baptist i wiss, Ne sal þai haue na part of bliss, þir mekil maistris sais þat þai Mai sauued be on nankin way. Line 22856 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

þe men that thoru þair aun gilt [folio 152a:2] wid hefding draght, or hanging spilt, Thoru þair sin and þair foli, Line 22861 wid hundes eten þe mast parti. Mani wenis þat er vnwise Line 22863 þat þat fless sal neuer hal vprise,

And þat to wene es bot sothede; Nu sal i þe þe resun rede. Line 22866 vte all skil it es, and right, Forto mistru in cristes might; Line 22868 Quat man mai witt, quat man mai lere? Quat ei mai se, quat ere mai here? Quat man in erd mai thinc in thoght? Hu all þis werld vr lauerd wroght, Heuen and erd all in þair haldes! þat mighti god þat all waldes, Line 22874 Qua can sai me vte of a sede Hu he dos a hundreth brede? Thoru his will dos þat mighti king vte of þe hard tre to spring First þe leaf and þan þe flour, Line 22879 And siþen fruit wid his sauur, Ilkin fruit in his sesun. Au we þar-on to seke resun Hu he dos all thing to naite, Certes þat war both surfaite; Line 22884 þe mar man suink him þar abute Fra spede þe ferrer sal he be vte; A sample i sal ȝu scheu þar-bi þat i fand, of saint gregori. Line 22888 þar he was in a sted sumquar, A crafti clerk and wise of lar Askid him a question Line 22891 Of a wolf and of a lion, And of þe thrid þat was a man, Quar-of þe tale he dus bigan;— Line 22894

"[A] man welk thoru a woddes way, þar nere þe strete a wolf him lay, þis wolf was vnmesur mete, [folio 152b:1] All þis mannes fless he ete. Line 22898 Als suith als he sua had done A hungri leon mett he sone,

vp and dun his prai sekand; Line 22901 Quen he nan oþer best ne fand þis wolf he felde and ete him all, Ne left he nouþer gret ne small. þe leon efter deide in hij, Line 22905 Dede þar gun his carion li, And þat was rotin al to noght. Quar nu sal þis man be soght? For i mai trou on nankin wise Line 22909 þat þis man to lijf mai rise, Siþen es als i wene þat can, Tuin þat erd þat come of man Fra þat erd þat come of best." Line 22913 Saint gregor gaf ansuer honest, And to þat man þat was in were þe soth þan schaud he him a[l] clere, And proued him wid quilk resun, þat at þis grete resurreccion, Line 22918 wid all his limmes hale and fere Sal cum bifor þe demistere. For þou his bodi all war brint, Line 22921 And blaun oueral þe puder tint, ȝeit mai god geder it a-gain And neu him at his will wid main; All þe fless þat was of man Line 22925 Sothfast sal be raised þan, It sal be delt in littel weue, þat was of best all sal bileue. Line 22928 He þat made þe tan and þe toþer bath, wele bituix þaim can he schade, Sua hali sal þai rise þan þare, þai sal noght want a hefd hare, Line 22932 Ne noght a naile of fote ne hand. þouqueþer sal we vnderstand, [folio 152b:2] þat naile and hare þat has bene schorn Bes noght all quar þai war biforn;

Bot als potter wid his pottis dos Quen he his nu vessel fordos, Line 22938 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] He castis sone all in a ball Line 22941 A better for to make wid-all, Noght he lokis quilk was quilk, Bot makes an oþer of þat ilk Line 22944 wele fairer þan þe first was wroght; Right sua sal crist, ne dute þu noght. He þat es lauerd of erd and heuen Mai of þat ilke seluen euen Line 22948 þat first was molten in to lam, Make a wele fairer licam, And if þarof was mar or lesse, Line 22951 To mesur [[MS. mesin]] als his will it es.

[O]n paske day, say saintes sum, þat þe day of dome sal cum, þe day he wald him-self vprise He sal vs raise þat ilke wise; Line 22956 He sal deme at midward þe night, þat ilk time he sent his might, vnto egip þat folk to quell, þat ilke time he herid hell. Line 22960 þat ilk time sal cum þat king, His lele vnto blis þaim to bring.

[þ]e sted of dome quar all sal mete, vs tellis ioel þe prophete, Line 22964 And thoru his muth vs sais drightin, "Quen i sal haue merci of min, Sal breke þair bandes a[n]d þair lace, I sal þaim confort and solace, Line 22968 In wale of iosaphat i sall Do to be gedrid ledis all, þar sal i giue mi dome of drede;" Bot mani mai, þou þai can rede, Line 22972

Line 22972 wat noght þis word i forwid quath, Quat bitakins vale of iosaphat, Line 22974 Amang a hundreth men of wane [folio 153a:1] It vnderstandes wele noght ane. þai wene þan þat vr lauerd dright Sal cum into þat uale to light, Line 22978 þat iosaphat es called siquar, þai wene þe dome sal be þar, vnder þe mont of oliuete, Line 22981 Als it es tald of prophete; þai tent allan bot to þe letter, And littel es þaim þar-of þe better. Iosaphat, qua tas entent, Line 22985 Bi-takenis godes iugement, Ierom sais of þat prophesie, þat iosaphat mai signefie Line 22988 vr lauerd dome, quat rightli spellis, þat beris þe word and noght ellis. Bot qua will witt þe soth and right Of saint paul sau he might, Line 22992 He sais vs þat vr lauerd sal light Dun to þe cludes þat er on hight, In þe aire o-loft he sal him schau, To do his mightes for to knau, þar sal we mete wid him to lend, For euermare widuten end. Line 22998 þe wicked, þat drede noght his au, Here dun sal þai be demed lau, þai sal haue na might vp to win, Sua heui carked [[It looks like carijed in MS.]] of þair sin; vp in þe sky þe dome sal be, Line 23003 Sua trus hali kirke and we.

Bot es na man sua wise can tell Hu lang at dome iesu sal duell, Bot þe vprising widvten hone, Ful suith i wis it sal be done, Line 23008

Line 23008 Bath sal rise in a littel quile, Line 23009 All þat er dede and þat sal deie. Saint austin sais enent þat day Es nan can godes consail say. Line 23012 Of dome men callis it þe day, [folio 153a:1] Queþer þar be ma þan an or nay, vnder þe nam of dai men sall, vnder-stand þe time þat all Line 23016 Sal be demp at þat dome sua strang, Queþer it last schor quile or lang.

[þ]ai þat sall brathli die þat tide, To bete sal [[MS. repeats sal]] þay na space abide, Bot þat þat has bot sinnes light Sal clenged be al for þe sigh[t] Line 23022 Of feindes þat sal to þe dome be ledd, For þai for þaim sal be sua dred, þai sal haue dome sua lath to be, þat saintes þat on þaim sal se Line 23026 Bath þai drede sal and gru, And þis thar na man mistrou, Line 23028 þat þan in sinnes light war tane, And penance þarfor don has nane. For penance sal haue nan oþer pine, Bot þat drede of þe witherwine, Line 23032 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] þat dredenes sal be sua vnmete, Line 23035 þat it may all suilk plightes bete, þat funden er in dedeli sin, þai weind to pine widuten blin.

[A]T þis dome es forwid melt, Line 23039 Sal all ledis in foure be delt, þe gode in tuin on his right hand, þe wick in tuin on left to stand; þe formast rau sal stand him nere, Als þa þat es his dughti dere, Line 23044

Line 23044 þat all þis werldis welth forsoke, And anerli to god þaim toke. Line 23046 þat sinn and sake for him for hu[u]d, And bodi and saul til him buud; And weint þaim in to religion, Line 23049 And did þair bodijs als in preson, And suonkin þaim bath dai and night, For to serue vr lauerd fair and bright. Gret lauerd-schip sal þir be lent, [folio 153b:1] For-qui þai sal of nan be dempt, All þe hali men sal cume Line 23055 wid vr lauerd vnto þe dome, Noght to dempt, þat sal þu witt, Bot in þair settlis for to sitt, For felauschip vr lauerd bere, Line 23059 Bath als iustis and demister. Iesus crist lang es i-wiss, Siþen he þis couenand hight till his.

[þ]e toþer rau biside sal be, Line 23063 Sal be ful luueli on to se, Sal be of gode cristen lede, þat did in lijf mani gode dede. þat þou þai riches had enogh [[MS. enoght]] , þar-for þai to na tresur drogh, Line 23068 Bot suilk als þai had in catele þai did to pouer men at dele, And gaue þair herte for luue of mede þe nedi for to clath and fede; Line 23072 And willi war to do, and glad, þat men of hali kirke þaim bad; And did wele here þair mis to mend, Treuli trouand at þair end. Line 23076 Suilk men þat sua bar þaim her, Of dome bot gode sal þai n[o]ght here, Ful light sal be þair part þat day, Til þaim ful suetli sal he say, Line 23080

Line 23080 "ȝe blisced folk, bath men and wiues, þat me war seruand in ȝur liues, In mi greuance ȝe did me gode, Line 23083 Quen i was hungri, ȝe gaf me fode; Me threisted sare, drinc ȝe me broght; Presund i was, and ȝe me soght; Quen i was stad in sekenes sare, ȝe come for to confort mi care; Line 23088 Of nakedhede quen i toke harm, ȝe gaf me clething wid to warm; Quen i was will and vte of rest, [folio 153b:2] Godli tok ȝe me to gest. Line 23092 For ȝe haue serued me sua wele, To mede ȝe sal haue lastand sele, þe sele þat ȝe haue soght to win, For euer sal ȝe duell þar-in." Line 23096 þan sal þir felauschipis tua Lede lastand lijf for euer and a. þat iesus crist most bring vs to! For in þis werld es bot vnro, Line 23100 Ful wele es him [þat] won mai þare, þat kith was neuer cuth to care.

[þ]ar sal stand on his oþer side, wreches stad in wa ful wide, Line 23104 An of þaim sal men se alsua þair parti to be delt in tua. Laith and stinkand sal þai be, Sari and sorful on to se, Line 23108 þe first rau þe mast stinkand, Sal be of wreches mistrouand; þe renaid er traiturs and fals, Murtherers and mansuorn als, Line 23112 þat thoru cursing or oþer plight, Of kirc has tint þe help wid right. Fra comun vte of cristen men þa carful eth sal be to ken, Line 23116

Line 23116 þat in þair lijf war wont to lij Line 23117 In hordam and in lechori, Foluand all þair flesli will, þat mast þaim liked, dedis ill Line 23120 widvten reuth, or will to mende; vnschriuen war þai at þair end, Bot deid in dedeli sin of dede, Line 23123 þir to deme sal be na nede, For þai war dempt ar þai com þar, þair dome apon þaim self þai bar.

[þ]e toþer rau es ill enogh, Line 23127 Of cristen fals and ful of wogh, [folio 154a:1] þat mas þaim cristen men wid nam, And vnder seruis all goddes gram. Falsli es he cristen cald, þat cristes laus wil noght hald, Line 23132 Fals it es þat luue to knau, þat nouþer will for luue ne au Do þat him suld be to queme, Line 23135 Quar-wid men might him-self ȝeme. Bot in pride and in tricheri, In nith and enst and licheri, And in vntalland sinnes fele, Line 23139 þe hundreth part mai i noght mele, þat man right nu his lijf in-ledis, Sua ducke in þair wicked-hedis. On ilk side þan gadrid þai, Line 23143 Bot littel bare þe pouer away, þai er sua gnede þat þai ne mai spar, Nouþer to giue þaim less ne mare. þe couaitus, for-soth to tell, Has mani saule broght to hell, Line 23148 Bisuelid it has þis werld on brede, vnethes sal men find ane in lede þat wele will schriue þaim of þis sake Ne for na consail mendes make.

witt ȝe for-soth all þat er slike Line 23153 þai sal be demed all wid þe quick, To mekil soru and site to þaim, þat all þis werld þaim mai noght raim. wid mekil wreth and auful chere, vr lauerd sal say þat þai sal here, "Do fleis heþen, ȝe maledight! Line 23159 vnto mi blis haf ȝue na right, Oft i was wid malese mett, Line 23161 Bot for ȝou was i neuer þe bett; In hunger and thrist oft sau ȝe me, Bot þar-of had ȝe no pite. Gas to þe deuil, þar sal ȝe ga, Forto well wid-in his wa, Line 23166 Euer wid-in his wa to well, [folio 154a:2] wid him and his þat er in hell." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in Gött. or Heralds' Coll. MSS.]

[H]a! lauerd, quat he war wise þat moght Stedfast hald þis day in thoght! To forget þat day neuer mare Line 23177 To-quilis þat he liueand ware. For þan might he make here his way, Fra wrake to wer him on þat day; Fra þat day forth yu au to min, Sal neuer saule fra bodi tuin, Line 23182 For gode and ill þat þai did are, Samen quilis þai to-gider ware. To-gider sal þai take alsua, Line 23185 þair worthi mede in wele or wa, Ouþer in heuen or hell pine, wid sathanas, þat witherwine, Line 23188

Line 23188 þat fra þat iugement be made Line 23189 Sal casten be, widuten bade, In a stinkand stanck of fire; þar sal be ȝolden him his hire, Als sas þe boke of preuite Line 23193 þat saint iohn was schaud to se.

[Description of Hell and its Nine Pains.]

And qui þat stinkand stanck es cald, þar es resun, qua can bi-hald; Line 23196 Stanck als men sais vmstunt Es sua depe þat þar-on es na grund, Alsua þe pitt of hell pine Line 23199 It es suo depe, widuten fine, þat end ne bes þar neuer apon, A stanck for-þi it callis saint iohn. He þat es duked anes þai dun, Line 23203 Comis neuer vte of þat presun; þe fire þat þar es forto brin, Neuer mar ne mai it blin. Line 23206 [N]Ine paines principal es þar, Crist lat vs neuer dider far! þe first it es þe fire sua hate, þat all þe mekil see sua [wate], Line 23210 þou þat it casten war þar-in, [folio 154b:1] Ne suld it neuer þe lesse brin; Sua þat vr fire ne mai na mar Again þat fire þat brines þar, Line 23214 þan painted fire gain urs might, þat on wagh wid man war mad right; For euer it brinnes dai and night, Bot neuer mar it castes light. Line 23218 [þ]e toþer pine es cald sua kene, þat manes muth mai noght mene, þat þou a fire fell war made, Line 23221 And wid chance þat thoru glade,

Quilis þu might turn þi hand abute, It suld wax cald widvten dute. Line 23224 [þ]e thrid þine es hard to drie, Of wormes þat sal neuer deie, Fell dragons and tadis bath þat er apon to loke ful lath, Line 23228 Ful laithsum on to here and se, Ful wa es þaim þat þar sal be; Als we se fisses in water suim, Line 23231 Sua liue þai in þat lou sua dim. [þ]e feird paine it es of stinck, þat mai na man sua mekil thinck. þe liȝft es vndemes of dint, Line 23235 þat þa wreches þar sal hint, Als it war dintes on a steþi þat smethes smites in þair smethi. þa dintes er ful fers and fell, Line 23239 þarder þan dint of irin mell. [þ]e sexte pine es naght to schape, It es sli mirknes þat men mai grape; Sua wonder thick þar sal it be, Line 23243 þat nan ne mai on oþer se. [þ]e seuend schinschip al for þair sin, Ai schame lastand þat neuer sal blin, For þar-til sal ilkan haue sight Line 23247 To se schenschip on oþeres plight. [þ]e aghtand pine it es ful grise, [folio 154b:1] To se þa warlaus in þair wise, Line 23250 Strang pine es on þaim to loke, And namli laght in-til þair croke; þat dreri din, þat balful bere, þat þai widvten stint sal here, Line 23254 Of þa wepand in þair wa, þat sal þaim last fer euer and a. Firen bandes es þe niend, Als in hali writt we find, Line 23258

Line 23258 þat all þair limmes er bunden wid, widuten leth on ani lith. Line 23260 Bot a point es þaim paines mar, þan ellis all þair oþer fare, Line 23262 þai wat þair pine sal haue no end, For þai mai haf na might to mend. [A]nd nu þar es þaa paines nine, Here nu þe skil of ilk a pine; Line 23266 Niene ordris of angele þai forsoke, Quen þai þaim to þe warlau toke, þar-for sal þai pined be, wid þaa pines, six and thre. Line 23270 [A]nd for þat þai war won to brin, In couaitis catel wid to win To-quilis þai in þis werld ware, Line 23273 þar-for ai sal þai brin þare. And þa men þat sua stark war here, Stithli þair wickedhed to stere Line 23276 And brint þar-in sua war þai bald, þai sal haue euer þat water cald. þaa þat war fild of enst and hete, þat iþenli þair hertis ete, Line 23280 þar wormes sal þaim vnder wrote In bale widuten hope of bote. [A]nd for þai here war wont to li In þair stinkand lust of lecheri, Line 23284 And wald noght haue bot þair delices, þat drou þaim in-till oþer uices, þai sal haue iþen stinck i-wiss [folio 155a:1] þat þai sal neuer mar miss. Line 23288 [A]nd for þai wald na dissipline Thole for luue of vr drightine, þai sal be beft widuten houe, And merci nane to þair bihoue. Line 23292 [A]nd for þai wald noght be light, þat giues of sothfastnes þe sight,

þat es godd self at vnderstand, Line 23295 þai sal haue mirkenes ai lastand; And for þai wald noght schriue þar sake, Bifor þair ending na mendis make, Ilkan sal se wid sight of schame, Quat blenck on oþer es for to blame. [A]nd þai þat wald no spelling here Of godd, ne of his laus lere, Line 23302 For-þi þan sal þai here þe sunes Bath of neddris and of dragunes, þat reuful bere, þat reuful cri, þat wa es þaim es stad þar-bi. Line 23306 And forþi þat þai gildrid war, widuten þis lijf wid lastes sere, þai sal suffre soru ai þare, Line 23309 Apon þair membris euer-ay-quare. Ay wend þai here to liue in sin, þar sal þai dei widuten blin, Deiand ai and neuer dede, Line 23313 For dede sal flei þaim als þair fede. þa þat bes set in þat prisun, vpward þar fete, þair hefdes dun, þair backes tillward oþer bett, Line 23317 wid pine on ilk-a side vmsett. [þ]e rightwismen sal se þa pines Apon vr lauerd witherwines, Line 23320 þat þair blise mai be þe mare, þat þai er schapid fra þat care. [þ]e wick alsua þe gode sal se widin þair gamen stad and gle, Line 23324 þat þai þe sorfuler sal be [folio 155a:2] þat tint has folili þat le; To domesday sua sal þai fare, Bot efter domes-day namare; Line 23328 For to þaim se þat þaa maledight, Bot þe seli saul of þaim haue sight.

Bot þou þai se þaim, witt þu it wele, Of þaim þai sal noght reu a dele, If fader sau his aun sun þare, Line 23333 Or sun his fader þar in care, þe wijf hir man, or man his wijf, Or freind he luued als his lijf; Line 23336 For þair mis-fare suld þai noght murn, Ne aues for þair schathes schurn, Bot sal þai haue a grete delite, For to se þaim in þair site, Als we haue here a sunni dai Line 23341 To se fisses in a water play; For-qui þe rightwis blith sal be Quen he sal wrake on sinful se. If þai suld for þaa felauns prai, Line 23345 It war gain godd and gret deray, For þay till him sal be sua queme, All sal þaim like þat he sal deme. To deme vs moth þat drightin sua þat we cum neuer into þat wa! Line 23350

[Heaven, and the Seven Gifts of the Blessed.]

[Q]vem þat þe demister has done, Iesu crist widvten hone, Line 23352 Wid his felauschip sua fre Sal weind in-till his fader cite. þe name of þat cite to neuen, Line 23355 Es þe kingdam hei of heuen, vnto þat blis to duell him wid, þat euer es ful of grace and grith. Of all gladnes þar es gleu, Line 23359 And þat es euer elike ai neu, þair blis it sal be sua parfite, þat þai sal for na thing haf site, Line 23362 [folio 155b:1] þai sal be quite of all site and care, Ful wele es him mai won ay þare.

Nan eie mai se, na ere mai here, Na herte mai thinc þaa ioys sere, þat iesus crist has dight till his, Line 23367 þat ordained er till his blis. [þ]a seli þat sal duell in heuen, In bodi sal haue giftes seuen, Line 23370 And seuen in saule, all to þaire medis, þat sal be fourtend blisced hedis. In bodi, suiftenes and fairhede, Line 23373 Fredom and strenth ai lijf to lede, Liking als wid lastand hele; þe saul alsua has als fele, Line 23376 Sal haue wisdom and frendschip, Concord, pouste, and worschip, Sekirnes, and ioyful ro; Hu þis mai be i sal vndo. Line 23380 [I]n suiftnes þu sal be sua suift, þat als suith sum þu mai lift þin eien vp wid sith to se, Als suith þar þan sal þu be; Line 23384 And alsuith als sunn mai fest Fra est hir lime vnto þe west, Als suith mai þu cum þider, All at þi will or ellis quider, Line 23388 Nu at erd, nu at lift, Or hu sum euer þu wil þe schift. þat ilke þan mai þe anglis do þat þu sal euening þaim be to. Line 23392 [O]f þi fairhede i sai þe man, þu sal be bright als sun es þan, þat sal be brighter forto tru Seuen siþe mar þan it es nu. Line 23396 þan mai men witt it bes ful bright, Sua has vr lauerd vs forwid hight, þat he sal neu vr bodijs slike, þai sal be till his auen like, Line 23400

Line 23400 And ȝeit thar na man drede þat he [folio 155b:2] sal brighter þan þe sunn be; Line 23402 Als he þat wroght al thing in lede And schrud þaim in þair fairhede, And goddes temple, sum it es said, þat he to won in has puruaid, Line 23406 þan most it nede be faire i-wis, þar-in sal won þe sune of blis. þe fredom sal be at vnderstand, þi bodi bind sal nankin band, Line 23410 All þat þe wid-standand es Thoru sal þu thril wid þi suiftnes, Ne es no creature þat mai, Lett þe forto fare þi way. Line 23414 Als þe graue moght noght hold vr lauerd bodi quan he wolde Rise, þat he ne freli ras, And come þar his disciplis was, Line 23418 And did þaim sone vte of þair dute, And al þair hald was lukin a-bute;— þan sal þi bodi be like till his; A ful grett fredom þan es þis. Line 23422 [þ]u sal haue strenth, forsoth i tell, wid þi fote ouer-cast a fell, Or all þis erd, if þe gode thoght, Als lightli ouer-turn þu moght, Line 23426 Als þu mai nu loke wid þi sight, Sua mekil þan sal be þi might. [L]iking þu sal haue sua to like, Mai liking nan þar-to be like, Line 23430 Of welthes mar mai na man tell, þan haue to will of welth þe well; þat es vr lauer[d] him-self to say þat þu sal se on euer and ay. Line 23434 þou þat þu euer apon him se, Of him sal þu neuer sad be.

If þu war schott into þi heued, Line 23437 A glouand irin þar-in war leued, [folio 156a:1] And it might pass, if sua might fall, Glouand thoru þi limmes all, þu suld haue soru, es þar na dute, Bath in bodi and als wid-vte, Line 23442 ȝa forsoth, thort na man mare; Right sua quen þat þu art þare, þat welth þat þe sal neuer blin þu sal widuten haue and widin, To like þe als depe in herte Line 23447 Als þe suld mislike slik vnquerte. [I]n þis lijf has man gret liking To se of mani men sancking, Line 23450 On wummen fair forto bihald, In clething cledd of riche fald; To se bigginges and fair tunes, Line 23453 Of serekin glues to here þe sunes, And here gode talking forto tell, Suete spiceri to theue and smell, To handil þat es smeth and soft, Fair iuelis þat me gernis oft; Line 23458 All oþer-kin blisces þat mai be, All þir in þe sal be plente, Als wele ai þan sal þu seie, Line 23461 wid lokin als wid opin eie, In wittes fiue ledd als in welth, And þair-wid sal haue lastand elth. [H]ele widuten seke or sare, Line 23465 þar sal be lastand euer mare; þaa þat of caris all er quitte, It mai nan iren on þaim bite, Line 23468 Na mar mai a dint þaim dere, þan man þe sum beme to schere. Of lastand lijf þar es þe land, þar dreri dede es ay fleand, Line 23472

Line 23472 Of þat hele mai be terme nane, Line 23473 þair lijf sal euer last in ane. þir er þas ilk blisced hedes, Line 23475 þat giuen er to þe bodi medis. [folio 156a:2] þe bodi has seuen, þe saul has seuen, Of þaim nu neist es for to neuen.

[þ]e saintes stadd ai in þat sele, þai sal na wanting haue of wele; Of þe well of witt þai drau, Line 23481 wisdom, þat dos man al to knau, þat was, and es, and ai sal be, þai se it all in þat trinite. Line 23484 Of alkin men in heuen and hell, Bath nam and dede þai sal cun tell, And all þe dedis þat þai didd, þar sal be to þe saintes kidd; Line 23488 It sal na thing fra þaim be hid, þat sight of godd has euer emidd. þai sal bath knau dede and thoght, Bot þar-for vnderstand þu n[o]ght It sal þe turn till ani schame, Ne namaner of blinc ne blame. Line 23494 Haue neuer þi sin sua laith bene, þat þu was here-of scriuen clene, And drem penance here of care, For þaim ne sal þe schame na mare, þan þou a man þe tald to-day Line 23499 Quat þu did and in credel lay; Ne namar schame sal þe thinc þare, þan if þu comen of batail ware, Line 23502 wid wondes þat þu þar had tane, And þu war heled of þaim ilkane. Nan oþer thing es manes sin forgiue, þan for to bete it quiles we liue, For-giuen er þai and neuer þe less. Godd, þat all wate þat es. Line 23508

Line 23508 Es or was, or sal be euer, vte of his witting be þai neuer, Line 23510 Ne sal þu nouþer schame ne soru, Bot haue grett ioy þat þu ert boru. [F]renschip þar es, widuten fade, Godd has his aun childer made, Line 23514 [folio 156b:1] þai won wid him, wid þaim he wonis, And luues þaim als his aun sunes. Mare þan þaim-seluen luue þai dright, þe angelis þaim als þaim-seluen right. Mekil it es þar þair concord, For all es euer at ane a-cord, Line 23520 þai er sua selcuth samen tale, Als an will þai wil all hale Line 23522 þat quider-ward þat ane wil loke, All lokes þederward, so sais þe boke. [þ]at ane will, all it will al-sua, And godd and angel will be do, "Ful goderhail," said þu, "mai fall, If als i wald sua wald all." Line 23528 þu sais quen þu vmthinckes þe, þat þu wald like saint petre be, If þu will þat þu sal be tite, Ne sal þar be na langer lite; Line 23532 Like to petre self i sai, Bot to be petre þan sai i nai, For it þu gerned be petre self, Line 23535 þan gerned þu be noght þe self; For if þu þi being wald noght be, þan wald þu noght war mad o þe. Bot þar es nan þat gernis mare Line 23539 þan þai, in seruis worthi ware, Bot in þat mekil stablenes, Sal nan gern be bot þat he es. For if þai gerned suilk i-wiss, Line 23543 þan war þai noght in fulli bliss,

Bot þair blis þat þar wonand es, Es mirthes nan it mai of miss. Line 23546 Ilk man þan sal haue till his, All þat he wile efter wiss. [M]ekil þar sal be þair might, Line 23549 þat in þat welth sal be sua wight, Sua mightili þair might to fill, þat if it sett þaim in þair will Line 23552 To make an oþer erde and heuen, [folio 156b:1] þai might it make als þai wild neuen. For þaij er aires all wid crist, Line 23555 þai þat er stadd in his bewist, Als godd er þai and goddes aires, Do all þair will might es þaires. Line 23558 "Qui ne make þai, siþen þai sua mv, An-noþer heuen and erd?" coth þu. Blithli sir, sai i þe sale, For-þi þat godd has wroght ai hale, Of his werkes es noght vnhale, Line 23563 Bot al in weght and mett and tale; For if þai a-noþer heuen wroght, It war sur-fait and all for noght. Mani thinges mai we do, Line 23567 þat forto do war littel fro, Als forto schope and forto rin, Quen it war better for to blin; Line 23570 Quarto þan suld we ferþer striue, þan for to liue in saintes liue? Of rightwis al þe sau es slik, þat þai sal be til angelis like, Line 23574 And ne for-þi þou þai be all In an anelepi fadres hall, þai sal in woni[n]g stedes sere, Ilkan haf his ioy plener. Line 23578 Of þair worschip quat mai we mene, þat crist him kithes to þaim clene!

Angelis sal þaim menske þar dere, And saintes als þou þai goddes were, To worschip þat god þat þaim dight, And graith þaim bath in mode and might. Heuen and erd and all creatur Line 23585 Sal ber þaim worschip and honur, Sunn and mone, water and stern, þat rinnes nu wid ras sua gern, Into better state for to stand, Fra þan no langer bes stirand. Line 23590 þar-for sal þai þaim worschip bere, [folio 157a:1] þat als mekil als in þaim were, wid þair worschip als þai might best, Forto bring þaim in-to rest. Line 23594 [O]f þair sekirnes for to say, Certes es þar na noþer way, For of þe welth þat þai er in Es na thing þat mai þaim tuin, Line 23598 Ne na mistime [[MS. mis|triue]] þaim mai bitide, For þai er traist on ilk-a side; þat godd has giuen þaim to mede, To tine þai wate it es na drede. Line 23602 þair ioy, þair glad-schip, quat can tell? Na man forsoth in fless ne fell; For to bihald þat trinite, Hu he es anefald god in thre, Face wid face þat godd to se, Line 23607 þat euer was and ay sal be, þai sal haue ioy wid-in and vte, And on euer-ilk-a side a-bute, Ouer and under and ay-quar; Line 23611 vr lauerd vs giue vr woning þar! [þ]ir er þe blisses and mani ellis, God [[MS. Gog]] giues to þaim þat wid him dwellis. Bot als þar goddes freindes sall worschip haue emang þaim all, Line 23616

Line 23616 Sua sal þa wreches for þair sake, Be-stad in pine widvten slake. Line 23618 þir sal be fair and dughti bath, þai sal be bath gresli and lath; þir sal be light als foul to flei, Line 23621 þai sal be dill wid wa to drei; [þ]ir sal be selcuth strang and wight, þai sal be waike widvten might. [þ]ir sa[l] liue in fredom fre, Line 23625 And þai sal euer in caitiuete; [þ]ir sal liue euer in delite, And þai euer in soru and site; Line 23628 [þ]ir sal in hele liue euermare, [folio 157a:2] And þai sal euer be seke and sare. [þ]ir sal be euer in lastand lijf, Line 23631 And þas and dede sal euer strijf; [þ]ir sal haue witt, þair will to wise, þai sal be fild of all folijs, Line 23634 For if þai oght mai witten þar, It es noght bot of site and care. [þ]ir sal of suete frenschip be traist, þai sal of ilkin fredom fraist; Line 23638 [W]id ilkin thing sal þir acorde, wid alkin schaft þai sal discord; [þ]ir sal haue weildnes of wale, Line 23641 þai sal vnweld be wid bale. [þ]ir sal worschip all creatur, Of all sal þai haue dishonur; Line 23644 [þ]ir er for traistnes blith and glad, þai quake for care sua er þai rad; [þ]ir laghes in ioye þar þai er lend, þai wepe in soru widuten end. Line 23648 Fra þat soru and þat syte, Iesu crist þan make vs quite, And giue vs grace sua here to do, þat we wid his mai rest in ro. Line 23652

[The State of the World after Domesday.]

[O]f blis and beild nu haf ȝe herd, Nu sal i tell ȝu of þe werld, Line 23654 þat sua for-don was and fordriuen Efter þat þe dome be giuen. It sal be brint sua depe an drey Als noei flode ras vp on hei, Line 23658 And þan sal haue a schap all neu, Euer mar to stand in treu; All þe elementes þat we se, þan þai sal all clenged be, Line 23662 þat nu er stirand all sal stand, Sal þar-be þan na pine in land, Als we er nu ilk dai in, þat godd has sett vs for vr sin. Line 23666 Als hate and cald, raine and wind, [folio 157b:1] Sal þar be þan na storm to find, Na mist ne mirk, ne na maner Of weder to þis werld to dere; Line 23670 Als all vr bodijs þat we here bare, Bes fairer þan þen euer was are, Alsua þis werld sal neu haue schrud, þat had it neuer nan sua prude. Line 23674 An hundreth sith of fairer heu, Bath heuen and erd sal be mad nu; Sunn and mone, stern and lift, þat ai wid stiring er nu schift, Line 23678 And watris renand alwais wate, Gernand be in better state, Fra þat time still þan sal þai stand, wid farli blis to be lastand. Line 23682 [þ]e sunn sal haue, þe scriptur sais, þe lightnes þan of seuen days, [þ]e water þat wett cristes fless, Ani baptim his santes wess, Line 23686

Line 23686 Fra þat time forth ouer pas it sal þe schene schining of cristal. Line 23688 [þ]e erd þat cristes cors in-bredd Of paradis sal be a stedd, And for it was quilum made rede, wid blod of santes þar-on sched, It sal be fild wid mani flours, Line 23693 Smelland suete wid mani colurs; þat neuer mare sal dim ne duine, Bot als paradis sal it schine. þat erd, þat first was maledight Line 23697 To thornes for vr eldrin plight, þan sal it blisced be and quite Of labur, of soru, and of site; Line 23700 Ne neuermar fra þat day Ne bes þar-in wa harmes ay, And þus-gate sal he schift his hand, Or lauerd þat es ay lastand. Line 23704

[The Author's Exhortation to his Fellow Men.]

[Ȝ]ee cristen men, ȝe vmbiloke, [folio 157b:2] All þat euer has herd þis boke, Of ȝur lijf þat ȝe here lede Line 23707 ȝe turn it noght into wanspede! Qua-sum graithli wil him vmthinc, þe werld es fals and ful of suinc, Fals it es, we mai se hu, Line 23711 And algat will we þar-on trou; þis littel lijf we haue in hand And wenis ai to be lastand, Line 23714 þe dede wene we ai for to dill, Bot þat dos all vr speding spill. þan blindes vs a littel wele, þat we can noght vs seuen fele, Line 23718

Line 23718 Dam fortune ternes þan hir whele And castes vs dun in-till a wele. Of þat duncast we mai wid chance Enent þis werld gete couerance, Line 23722 And cum to worldes welth a-gain, Aquile to hald wid mekil pain; Bot þar-wid find we a-noþer strijf, þat waites na-thing bot vr lijf. Line 23726 Dede vs has widsett vr strete, Nill we, will we, we sal mete, All sal we rin in-till his rape, Line 23729 we wat þat þar mai be na schap. Euer he waites vs, þat fede, Es na thing certainer þan dede, Ne vncertainer þan es þat tide, Line 23733 Forþi we au ai him a-bide; To pass þe pas þat es sua hard, And we wat neuer quiþer-ward. we sal siþen all heþen wend, Line 23737 Bot if we here haue mad na freind, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] For-þi þis lijf he has vs lent, Line 23741 To serue him ai wid all vr entent, To hald ai wele his comandment, If we do mis, do mendement. [T]o trauaile ordained es þis lijf, [folio 158a:1] Again vr fas thrin to strijf, Line 23746 vr fless, þis werld, and þe warlau, we er all bunden in þair au. þe fless es ay to filthes fus, þe werld nithful and couaitus, Line 23750 þe warlau, suernes wreth a[n]d pride; þir warrais vs on ilka side. [þ]ir thre mai we well for-driue, If we will leleli lede vr liue, Line 23754

Line 23754 For bath mai fell þaim man and wijf, þat stalworthli wil gain þaim strijf. If we wil oght stithli vs stire, Line 23757 Cristes helpe sal be vs nere, His helpis and vr wittes eke, If we will him blithli biseke. For-soth if we will do ur paine, Line 23761 þai haue na might stand vs egain, If we will note on þaim vr might, Certes þai er feld in flight; Eth es for to win wind here, Line 23765 þe land þat nan es bote to were, Hardeli es he couward, þat nankin part mai thole of harde þat ȝeildis him ar he be soght, Line 23769 And tines sua him-self for noght. Fight he aght ai quiles he doght, And fle quen he na langer moght. [A]lsua es fele os vs i drede, Line 23773 þat bedis þaim bi-for þe nede vnto þair witherwin wid plight, widuten ani fand of fight; Line 23776 Bot ai to fall es redi bun, Qua herde euer a mare crachun, þat wil noght bede to giue a spurn? Bot fallis dun bifor þe turn. Line 23780 All þat vr fless vs ledis till, Of all vr wale þat es vr will, Line 23782 And þou we wate þat it es ill, [folio 158a:2] Fine we neuer to ful-fill. Allas! þat for a littil lust, A dreuri þat es bot a dust, Line 23786 we thral vs till vr ful fa In presun forto lij in wa! Of suilk er mani nu and ma, Allas! allas! qui do we sua? Line 23790

Line 23790 Qui sell we vs-self vnto þat soru, þat na boruth vs fra mai boru? Line 23792 Als wreches wid vr will forsakis, þat selines þat neuer slakis. Bath of þat soru and of þat sele I wene I haue said ȝu sum-dele. Line 23796 Quat þai er to fand, to tell þe soth, Bath me wantes tung and toth; þe broiden blis to cristes dere, þe bale þat him forsakis here, Line 23800 we haue vs forwid wais tua, þe tane to wele, þe toþer to wa. To queþer we will freli mai we ga, Als till vr freind, or till vr fa. Line 23804 Bot if we þan for-sake vr freind, And ches vs til vr fa to weind, þan þar i sai, and lies noght, In sorful time þan war we wroght; A sorful time till vr bihoue, Line 23809 Bot godd forbede þat we it proue. Quen we it proue þan es to late, Es þar na mending þat of state, Es þar na way bifor vs ridd, Line 23813 Cum take vs better þan we did. For qua ne dos noght quen he mai, Quen he wald, men sais him nai. Here es þe time al forto grete, Line 23817 Here es þe time vr sinnes bete, Ouþer here or nouþer-quar ellis, þat wittnes us all hali spellis. Ilk day we haue somun [folio 158b:1] For to graith and make vs bun, Line 23822 þat ilke day we se and here, we au it noght to hald in were. þe spellers fines noght to spell, Line 23825 þe soth þai spar vs noght to tell,

For to vs do be-war wid hell;— þair spede ne es worth a note-schell. Selden cum we sarmun nere, Line 23829 Lath vs thinc it for to here, þe ere selden þar-to we lay, Bot fer it es vr hert a-way; Line 23832 For said it es gane mani rath, Lath vs to here þat man es lath, Quarfor of þaim late we so ill, Line 23835 Bot for þai speke again vr will. He þat me sais al þat me likes, Godd it wat mast he me suikes, For if we self vs vnder-stode, Line 23839 vr will vs dos ful littel gode, Bot of vr skil oft mas vs blind, Quen can fand þat sal we find. Line 23842 Find we sal, lest quen we wene, All sal we to þe dede bidene. wi qui þan make we vs sua kene, Of þis es all þat i me mene, Line 23846 Mekil wald i mene and mote, wist i me war ani bote, Ai to spell and noght to spede, wasting it es of goddes sede. Line 23850 Ill worth it es to tell þe feild, þat noght again þe sede wil ȝeild; Quat bote es ai of right to rede, þat neuer funden es indede. Line 23854 Mekil here and littil hald, Bot war a ribaudri vs tald, Of a fantum ouþer a fable, Line 23857 þat suld we hald in herte stable, In hert to hald it als a hurd, [folio 158b:2] Quen noght es made of cristes word. Hu mai he be him-seluen hold Line 23861 þat cheses him þe lede for gold.

[A]ll þat written es in writt Line 23863 wroght it es to lere vs witt, Hu we au to lede vr lijf, Cristen folke, bath man and wijf, In eldrin men vr merrur mai se Line 23867 Quat forto fulv, quat forto fle, þe thinges þat we self ne can For to frain at oþer man, And he þat mare can þan anoþer, Debonerl[i] teche his broþer; Line 23872 All er we breþer, ȝing and ald, For vs was crist bath boght and sald, He has vs in his numbre tald, Als his schep of his aun fald, Line 23876 Thoru herdes þat vr lauerd has sett, þat he will þat his folk be gett. He has vs chosin for vr mede, His hali folk for to fede; Line 23880 Amang þaa herdes am i ane,— Sua wreche vnworthi wat i nane,— þar-til haue i cristes grace me tane Loued be he lauerd of all his lane. A besant es me taght to sett Line 23885 þat i him aght to ȝeild wid dett, þar-for au i me to paine To ȝeild him wid biȝate again, Line 23888 Als bihouis vs ȝeild ilkane, Acunte efter þat we haf tane; Sum for mare and sum for less, Efter þat vr giftes es, Line 23892 þat þat besant rote noght in horde, þat au he send in werk and worde. Here i haue a littel spend, In word efter þat i entend, Line 23896 [folio 159a:1] Moght i mare, godd wate mi mode, I au it for to spend in gode,

In his worschip, þat mighti meke, And mari milde his moþer eke. Line 23900 His louing au i neuer to blin, To-quilis mi lijf me lastes in, Lijf and saule i ȝeild hir till, þar-of leuedi scho do hir will. Line 23904 Of hir worschip þat i mai mare, I sal of-tell sum ellis quare, Quen i am comen to better space, Eftir scho sendis me hir grace. Line 23908

[Prayer to Our Lady.]

[L]Euedi! loke to þis caitiue clerk, For-sake þu noght þis roide werk, For þou it roid and stubil be, It es in worschip wroght of þe. Line 23912 I prai þe leuedi þu wald þe seme, To take þis littel werk to queme, Suilk als it es, forsake it noght, To þi worschip i haue it wroght; To þi seruis and to mi pru, Line 23917 þat seruis þe wele ȝeildes þu, þat i þe can noght serue in dede, Mi wil i hope þu will me mede. For me i ask a littel bone Line 23921 þat i biseke wid wordis fone, Giue me grace quilis i here hone To bete mi sin þat i haue done. If i fal here on ani wise, Line 23925 Iesu fast do me for to rise, þi sunns dede to men on ay, And on min aun last day, Line 23928 þat nu es mi hope be þan mi hald, Again þat breme þat es sua bald! þe leme, leuedi! vs light emell, þat he mot hafles hurl to hell, Line 23932

Line 23932 And lede me wid þe for þi sun Line 23933 For euer-mare wid ȝu to won. [þ]is ilk praier leuedi! þu here, [folio 159a:2] For þa þat er me leue and dere, Line 23936 And for all cristen folk alsua, Bath quick and dede, freind and fa, þu do þaim haue þi suns grace To liue bifor his l[u]ueli face. Line 23940 All þat þis boke heris or redis, Line 23943 Leuedi! þaim help in all þair nedis.

[The Sorrows of Mary.]

[S]pell ȝeit wold i, if i cuth, war ani mirthes in mi muth, For mekil i haue to mote; Line 23947 Bot þat in hertis hord es rest, Nedewais vte þan most it brest. [[line 23950 in MS. comes after l. 32947.]] Of bale to breu sum bote, Line 23950

Scho þat es bote of ilk a bale, Of hir treuli it es mi tale, Hir murning for to min, For þat soru þat scho sei, Line 23954 Hir suete sun on rode drei. [[line 23956 in MS. comes after l. 23953.]] All thoru his aun kin;

[H]ir pining was hir sun pine, þair bather pines au to be mine, If þat i luue þaim treu; Line 23959 I se him hang, i se hir wring, þe car all of þat cumli king, All cristen aue to reu. Line 23962

Line 23962

[I]n herte to reu, in muth to quain, Hu þai haue þat sackles slain, Line 23964 þe plaint it es þair plight; Quen he bitaght him till his aun, þai haf him bath fordriuen and draun, Als scheu es vs til sight. Line 23968

[H]e hinges hei widuten boru, His moder fines noght to soru, Quat selcuth? certes nan, Line 23971 To se hir aun fless and blod Sua be pined on þe rode, þat had na child bot ane. Line 23974

[H]ir dole ne mai i noght for-dill, [folio 159b:1] Bot wid hir weping wepe i will, wid crist to suffer sare; Line 23977 For all his bale was me to bete, He dranc þe sure, and i þe suete, Mi baret all he bare. Line 23980

[W]ede of welth i wil na mar, Cledinng wil i take of care, þar-till me standes nede, Line 23983 And murn wid hir þat him bare; Made neuer moþer sli murning are! þat reuth es of to rede. Line 23986

[S]ai me moder, widuten wem, was þu þan at ierusalem, Quen þat þi sun was laght, Line 23989 Bunden and sua laithli ledd, And bete ai till his bodi bled, To pilate sua bitaght? Line 23992

"[I] say," coth þu, "þat i was þar, Bot carked sua i was wid care, vnethes i diþer wan; Line 23995

Line 23995 Bot quen i sau þa iuus snell, Line 23996 Rise again mi sun sua fell, Ful wanles wex i þan. Line 23998

[O]f wittes all me wanted might, Gang and steuen, tung and sight, All failed me þat tide; Line 24001 Cri mi word and wa mi witt, Mi teris al mi sight þai ditt, Ful pale wex all mi hide. Line 24004

[A]ll mi blod it was me blend, Mi spirit for to ȝeile i wend, þair snaiping was sua smartt; Line 24007 wimnen sau i wep and quain, Bot nane als mari magdalain, þat mast i toke till hartt. Line 24010

[W]idvten me was wamman nane, þat sua murnand made hir mane, Sua sorful as was scho; [folio 159b:2] Line 24013 Ful piteus it was hir plaint, Ne kid scho noght hir luue was faint, Sua redeles vte of ro. Line 24016

[Q]uen þe bedel gaf his cri; vp þe folk all ras in hij Mi sun all forto scheind, Line 24019 To drei dome mi sun es draun, All fled him fra þat was his aun, Bileft vs noght a freind. Line 24022

[V]nreufulli þan gun him raipe, Ful sorfuli him forto snaipe, þat folk þat was sua fade, Line 24025 Of clay þai kest att him þe clott, And laiked wid him sittisott. I sau and still a-bade. Line 24028

Line 24028

[þ]ai draf him forth wid staf and steng, I and þat wreche womman ȝeng we folud þaim to fote; Line 24031 I stakrid sua might i noght stand, Bot als þai held me vp wid hand vnbun was i to bote. Line 24034

[V]nto þe munte of caluari,— Sua sorful womman non als i,— þis wid mi sun i went; Line 24037 þe soru þat i sau on him þare All it was me blublid ȝare þat euer me mai be ment. Line 24040

[T]o domes-dai liue if i moght, Ne ȝode it neuer vte of mi thoght, Quen i þar-on suld thinck; Line 24043 þat brixel beting crune of thorn, þat all his fless it was bi-torn; þai gaf him gall to drinck." Line 24046

[þ]ar-for i sai leuedi sua fre, þat a ful selli man war he, þat wid þe might haue sene, [ [[from Edin|bro' MS.]] That pinis of thi suet son Line 24050 I wat that euir it mad him mon That car that was sa ken.

Moder! traistnes of ur trewþe, Don vs to rewen wit þi rewþe, Line 24054 And þinkin on þat stur þat þi son þar droch in place, Noht gain his wil bot wit his grace, Vs al to don sucour. Line 24058

I moder murnand, wep cod þu, þis soru seand apon Iesu? "Min sorou I ne can noht sai, Line 24061

Line 24061 [Nailid apon þat rod tre Line 24062 Ful sorfulli biheld he me, I think it euir and ai. Line 24064

Mar he murnid for mi car, Than for al his awen sar, For als a lamb he stod; Line 24067 For wit þaim þat swa him soht, A word to spek men herd him noht, Til he was spred on rod. Line 24070

Sa dep þat sithe me sat in site, þat wel I wist wit-outen wite, þai wroht him al þis wrang. Line 24073 þat es na tung mai spek wit word, Ne writer write wit pennis orde, Hu þat vr stur was strang. Line 24076

Fair he wes and fre, mi child, Softe in speche, in maner mild, Quil he stod in his state; Line 24079 His face þat fo[r]wit was sa schen, It es nou grisli on to sen, His bodi al blodi wate. Line 24082

A croun of þorn his hefd on stod, þat ilka prik broht vt the blod, þai sput on him þair spit, Line 24085 Vnnethes ik his kenning knew, þat i ne sach nan of him wald reu, þat wroht me out of wite. Line 24088

This harm mi hert it held sa hard, To wandrin wist I quiderward, Sa was me waies wan; Line 24091 Quen sli sette did him me forlete, Mi sun þat was sa selcuþe swete, And hauid bot him allan. Line 24094

Line 24094 I ne wate quarfor ne qui [folio 160a:1] [T]int i haue all helpe and hald, Care clinges in mi hert sua cald, Noght of me-self i wate; Line 24205 Ful wa es me, me es ful wa, was neuer sua waful moder a Stad vte of all state. Line 24208 [M]i sun sua suete, to me þu sai, Hu sal i nu weind mi way, Line 24210 Quare forto laite mi freind? Quat hope, quat grace, quat helpe, quat rest, þu ordaines me, for þu mai best, If i ne wid þe sal weind." Line 24214 [S]iþen suilk it was þi cares kidd, þu dreied dole, leuedi! þu did For gode it was þi euen, Line 24217 Quen he þe sau þis murning make, Sum-thing i wis to þe he spake, If him stode ani steuen. Line 24220 [þ]ou his vntelland was þe pine, Till hert i wat it ȝode als þine, þat ekid was till his; Line 24223 And all þe baret þat he bare, It satlid in þi hert ful sare, wid-vten ani mis. Line 24226

Line 24226

[He] þat sua reufulli was dight, Line 24227 If he þe said oght forto light, þi mode þat was in murn; Line 24229 ȝa did he, quat he said, "mi dere Moder sal þu nu mend þi chere, To fadir mine in turn. Line 24232

[þ]u carke þe noght sua fast wid care, Siþen i sal to mi fadir fare, I sal þe leue a fere; Line 24235 For in mi stede þu sal haue ane, And þat sal be þi cosine s. iohane, þin aun leif and dere. Line 24238

[þ]u sal be moder, he sal be sun, To serue þe als i was wone [folio 160a:2] Quilis þu sal lengen here, Line 24241 For he es bath sua war and wise, I haue him taght to þi seruise, Nu most þu mend þi chere. Line 24244

Mi suete moder, tender of hert, Nu confort þe, þu sal haue quert, And werp a-way þi wepe; Line 24247 It es þi kind for me to care, Bot sua i wil þu do na mare, Bot take to iohan kepe. Line 24250

[M]i moder dere, þu wate þat i Nam fless of þe, and resun qui I hang apon þis tre: Line 24253 Bot forto dei for manes kind, Als men in prophecis mai find, þat er for-said of me. Line 24256

[B]ot þou i dei nu on þis wise, þe thred morn i sal vp-rise, þat þu sal see wid eie; Line 24259

Line 24259 To mi desciplis and to þe, Line 24260 All sothfast scheu þan sal i me, For-þi nu most i dei. Line 24262

[N]u sal i dei, rise sal i sone, An stei vp to mi fadir trone, þar-for mai þu be blith: Line 24265 Mi schepe er funden to þe fald, þat quilum þe wolf held in his hald, þat tint war andersith. Line 24268

[F]or-þi sal ane be dede and slain, And all þis werld sal quickin a-gain, þat a man forwid slogh; Line 24271 A man tint all quen it bigan, All sal be sauued thoru a man, þat born es on þis bogh. Line 24274

[þ]e thing þat es mi fader will, þu mai noght moder thinc it ill, For-soth it most be done! [folio 160b:1] þis ilke pine es for me dight, And lang es of mi fadir hight, Ouerpasse i sal it sone. Line 24280

[N]e drede þu noght, mi moder suete, þat i þe will nu þus forlete, þou i nu fra þe fare. Line 24283 For witt þu wele, i am wid þe widuten tuin, and sua sal be Fra nu for euermare. Line 24286

[N]u most i li vnder þe dede, Siþen suilk it es mi fader rede þe dede all for to quell; Line 24289 Queþen i come þu wate al plaine, Nu sal i stei þeder agayne, Quen i haue herijd hell. Line 24292

Line 24292

[I] far bi-for, it es þi prou, Line 24293 Bot cum wid me mai þu noght nu, Bot þu sal folu eft, Line 24295 I fare, for me bihouis to weind, To-quilis sal iohn þat es þi freind In-sted of me be left." Line 24298

"[I]ohn," he said, "þis mai þu here, Take kepe nu to mi moder dere, And serue hir wid solace; Line 24301 þu take mi moder nu for þine, For þou þat i sal passe þis pine, wid ȝu sal be mi grace." Line 24304

[Q]uilis iesus spac þir wordes son To teche þaim quat þai suld don, þai fined noght to grete; Line 24307 For murning al dumb war þai, Sua þat a word might þai noght sai, Ne stand apon þair fete. Line 24310

[þ]ir martris tuin þat i of mene, Cosines bath and maidens clene, Quen þai herd cristes voice Line 24313 Sua waike þat vnethes might þai here, Com neuer care þair hertis sua nere, For him þai sau on croice. [folio 160b:2]

[W]id hard thraues þat he throu, þai sau þat he to dede him drou, þat soght þair hertis sare; Line 24319 Als dede þai war, widuten speke, was neuer for soru tua sua seke, Siþen ani werldes ware. Line 24322

"[V]r spirit was als fled vs fra, For we wist of na-thing bot wa, þou we herd quat he said; Line 24325

Line 24325 Speke we wald, might had we nan, For-þi we stemmed still als stane, þou lijf was vs for-laid. Line 24328

[A]lsuith þan þar come a worde, Fra þe crois of cristes suord, And thriled bath vr herte; Line 24331 Ful brath it was and come ful kene, Ful sone it was apon vs sene, þat smiten war sua smart. Line 24334

[þ]ou we war wondid bath i wiss, Mi wond it was harder þan his, Bot bath war hard enoght; Line 24337 He was mi sun, and cosin his, To me his moder did þai þat mis, þai wroght on him wid wogh. Line 24340

[V]r murning bath it was for an þat satt vs bath in fless and ban, Sli baret had na bote; Line 24343 To tene all tight vs was þat time, Quen we na hele might se on hime, Fra heued vnto þe fote. Line 24346

[H]ad he noght fre on all his fell, In suime al falden dun i fell, And þar als dede i lay; Line 24349 þat suime was of mi soru suage, Bot quen i raxed vp in sauage, I ne wist bot walaway. Line 24352

[W]id-vten croice þe croice i bare, þat croiced was, was all mi care; [folio 161a:1] Quen i on him biheld, Line 24355 þe spere þai stock wid, wid wrang, þat ilk mine hert it thoru stang, And heied me to heild. Line 24358

Line 24358

[þ]e nailes þat him fest on rode, Thoru in hefd and fete þai ȝode, Sua luue vs samen band! Line 24361 þe luue þat neuermar mai ley, þi dome vs did to-gider drei, Hard faand i þar-of fand. Line 24364

[Q]uen i was lighter of þat leue, [F]and i na-thing me to greue, Na kind me kid bot gode." Line 24367 Bot nu scho greues al again, And dublis nu þis moder pain þat forwid scho wid-stode. Line 24370

"[B]ot i þan fanded neuer are, Nu i wate of womman care, And neuer i wist biforn;" Line 24373 For es na man sua wise in lare, þat all can se þat tender fare, Bot þai þat child has born. Line 24376

[L]euedi! hu nu þu fand it cuth, þe saue of symeons muth, þat he lang siþen tald. Line 24379 He said a suord suld stick ouerthuert Toru and thoru þin aun hert, þat er þir caris cald. Line 24382

[F]ul sorful was þat suord and sare, Leued! confort of vr care! þat þe bitidd þat tide, Line 24385 þu þat of soru na thing wist ar, Nu þi soru it was þe mare, þat tide þe was to bide. Line 24388

"[T]o bide i most widuten bote, It raght mi hert al to þe rote, vnrideli on me rane; Line 24391

Line 24391 Of mine vnro fand i na rest, [folio 161a:2] And bodid al mi hert to brest, wid mani a grisli grane. Line 24394

[Q]uen þat mi sun was all for-bled, þat sua wid soru was forwid fed, Him thristed sare and said; Line 24397 þai him dight a bitter drinck, Ne left þai noght for þair suinck, Of gall and aisel graid. Line 24400

[Q]uen he had tasted wid his muth, He it forsoke, was na selcuth! Bot crid anes and eft, Line 24403 "Mi fader," he said þan, "eloy, Mi lauerd godd, sai me nu qui þu has me þus bileft?" Line 24406

[þ]an lete he dun his hefd heild, His seli saule al forto ȝeild, In-till his fadir hand; Line 24409 þe elementis þan murned all, Quen þai sau þair make fall, þat wroght þaim forto stand. Line 24412

[þ]e erd bigan to riue and quake, þe air gan durkin and to blake, And murned all wid him; Line 24415 Bath sun and mone widvten light, Ouer al þe werld ne was both night, All droued and wex dim. Line 24418

[þ]e see to din, þe stanes clef, þe temple fra þe rof it ref, þe dede ras of þair den; Line 24421 Hali men þat had forwid bene, All vp war þair grauis sene, þat cuth þair freindes ken. Line 24424

Line 24424

[Q]uen i þus sau al thinges skurn, vnfeland for þair lauerd murn, Might i me noght for-bere; Line 24427 þat me ne bihoued widuten spar, Of him þat i of bodi bare, His baret wid him to bere. [folio 161b:1]

For es na tung þat rekin moght, Ne manes hert to thinc in thoght, Mi murning to þe teind; Line 24433 Bot þan mi murn was alþermast, Quan þat i sau him ȝeilde þe gast, þat me was suilk a freind. Line 24436

[I] sau him dei, i sorud ay, Mi site es all þat i can say, Mi tening es sua togh, Line 24439 Qua ne wist forwit quat weping ware, List to me and þai mai here, For nu wate i enogh. Line 24442

[I] stod þan bi þat reuful tre, þat all mi soru was on to se, þar-on was all mi sight; Line 24445 Apon mi taas oft sith i stod, Roles raxland to þe rode, þat was all þat i might. Line 24448

Bot quan þat i ne might ellis spede, Dun to fall þan must i nede, To climb had i na hald; Line 24451 Bot als ferr als i might reke, To kisse þ[a]t tre was blodi weke, was na mar will of wald. Line 24454

[L]uue me did me ferrer bede þan i might cum til end wid dede, Mor wend i þan i moght; Line 24457

Line 24457 Baldli bedd i vp mi hend, Haue wonen, to mi sun i wend, Allas! al was for noght. Line 24460

[M]e-thoght might i apone him rine, Mi lemman lijf, and lauerd mine, þus brinand in mi bale, Line 24463 And wid mi hand him anes reche, He þat all sare was wont to leche, I suld haue bene all hale." Line 24466

[H]a! leuedi, sli martirdome, [folio 161b:2] Qua might it tell he suld haue tome, Quat langur was þe laid; þi saul es multen al to dede, Line 24470 þi face es wann sua rose vnred, Als forwid þe wa said. Line 24472

[N]u findes þu na better blis þan es þi sunes blode to kiss, þat spred es on þat griss; Line 24475 "Soth," coth þu, "bot ȝeit i sale, Al clene be broght vte of mi bale, Quen mi sun willis ess. Line 24478

[H]ere-wid com me sone socure, And sum lightnes of mi langur, Ioseph and nichodeme, Line 24481 Mi sun to menske, and sua þai did, For all worschip til him þai kid, þair cum was me ful queme. Line 24484

[W]id þaim broght þai gere enogh, vte of his fete þe nail droght, And als vte of his hend, Line 24487 Quen i sau sone quarto þai thight, All mi licam bigan to light, And mi mode to mend. Line 24490

Line 24490

[Q]uen i him had in armis fald, þat suete fless bath dri and cald, Bihaldand on his wondis, Line 24493 þan bigan mi gle to grou, Mar þan ani man wald trou, And neu me mi stundis. Line 24496

[B]ot þarof breud me sum bote, þat i might kis him hand and fote, And hald him in mi barm; Line 24499 Ne might i noght forbere mi grete, Bot quen i kist his muth sa suete, þe lesse it was mi harm. Line 24502

[O]n him mi hefd i schok, and said, vngertli, leue sun, art þu graid! Quat has þu said or wroght, Line 24505 Queþer þu did ani feluni, [folio 162a:1] Or ani maner of plight for qui? Nay, nay, ne did þu noght. Line 24508

[N]ay leue sun! had þu na wite, Forto suffers like despite, Bot all it was for-þi Line 24511 þat þu wald boru man of wa, Of mekenes leue him sample sua, þat þu come for to bi. Line 24514

[H]ere in mi barm hald i þe dede, Allas! quat es me nu to rede, I wrechedest of all! Line 24517 Allas! quar es mi mekil mirth Of ioy þat i had in þi birth, Sua fersli nu to fall. Line 24520

[M]e es ful wa, ful wa es me! To grete es turned all mi gle, Na blis mai make me blith. Line 24523

Line 24523 If þu sun, wil mi murning mend, I wald in me þat þu wald send, þin hali gast eft sith. Line 24526

[þ]at mekil ioi me was vmsett Quen i was wid þe angel grett, In mi bodi þu light, Line 24529 þat mekil ioi i þan was in, vnethes mai i þar-of min, Sua mate i am of might. Line 24532

[I] kist him þan bath frunt and cheke, Muth and nese, and eien eke, At-quilis i might drei; Line 24535 For quen þi face bespitt, And thoght apon þe iuus flitt, þe tere fell dun of mine eie. Line 24538

[I] murnand moder þus for-made, vnsterin staikid was i stadd, Sua war mi stundes store; Line 24541 Mi lijf was dede, dede was mi lijf, þus was i stikid all wid strijf, To tell it war ful tore. [folio 162a:2] Line 24544

[N]u i ligg and nu i stand, Bunden þus in balful band, Bot hope of bote i bare, Line 24547 Of bale and bote slik was mi soru, He hight to rise þe thrid moru, þat hope for-kest mi kare. Line 24550

[þ]an nichodeme þat doghti knight, wid ioseph nam þat cors to dight. To beri it als was best, Line 24553 For luue badd i þan forto bide, Ouþer to lay me bi his side, To-gider for to nu rest. Line 24556

Line 24556

[I] blisced oft mi blisful child, Had neuer moder nan sua mild, þat euer me mous to min; Line 24559 þai wald haue berid him ful fain, Bot i him held wid all mi main, Sua lath me was to tuin. Line 24562

'[F]reindes,' i said, 'þat es sua fre, For drightin luue ȝe reu on me, Mi praier for to here, Line 24565 A quile ȝe late him li her still, ȝe mai do siþen all ȝur will Wid mi dereling sua dere. Line 24568

[O]n him bihaldes al mi bliss, And all mi bale quan i him mis, Ȝe reu on me for-þi; Line 24571 Siþen i mai him noght haue in lijf, Giues me him dede, widuten strijf, Fre for ȝure curtasie. Line 24574

[L]euer me war to dede be dreuin, þan efter his lijf forto liuen, I ne roght quat dede it ware.' Line 24577 þat blisced bodi to wind þai wald, And i bigan it to wid-hald, Sli strijf tuix vs was þare. Line 24580

"[L]euedi, qua herde euer inlede Of ani rune sua rewful rede, [folio 162b:1] Talking forto tell; Line 24583 þis semed strijf, bot it was nan, For bath ȝur willis was in an, Sene was als siþen fell. Line 24586

[þ]i sun do worschip, wald þai sone, And sua þai wald þat it war done, If luue þe ne ledd to lite. Line 24589

Line 24589 þou þu wald þai birid þi barn, Ful lath was þe his like to tharn, þat slake was of þi site. Line 24592

[S]uilk it was, ȝur suete discord, Discord of muth, of hert acord, Als freindes bath and fede; Line 24595 Quat did ȝe þan, sai leuedi mar?" "Bot nichodeme and ioseph bar To delue þat bodi dede. Line 24598

Quen his licham in stane was laid, Allas! allas! ful ofte was said, Noght all for him allane, Line 24601 Bot alsua for mi reuful schurs þat þai sau ledd wid sli langurs All mened of mi mane. Line 24604

[O]f mi mane mare, quat mai i mene, Fortugild þus wid trai and tene, Als taght me was þat tide, Line 24607 Quen oþer men war went away, Apon mi sun tumb þan i lay, þar bedd i for to bide. Line 24610

[A]t þe last left i allane, Euer elike kisand þat stane þat mi lijf lay vnder; Line 24613 þan com mi cosin saint iohan, þat þan of welth was al mi wan, Mi soru fra me to sundre. Line 24616

[T]o me reuful he raght his hand, On fote vnethes might he stand, Sua lame in lime and lith; Line 24619 vnto þe tun þan he me ledd, [folio 162b:2] And oþer wimmen murnand and medd, þai went vs þider with. Line 24622

Line 24622

[M]ani of þai þat wid me mett For mi greting sare þai grett, A! sighed sare wid-all, Line 24625 Fra me ne wald þai noght tuin, Til i come til mi cosin in, þar stablid þai mi stall. Line 24628

[þ]ar lai i in mi luue langing, Ay to mi suns vprising, þat faith in me was fest; Line 24631 Iohn luued me if he might mar þan his moþer þat him bar, He ȝeilded him þat mai best. Line 24634

[S]ua seke i was and sar for soruu, Quen mi sun ras þe thrid moru, All till his graue þai thrang, Line 24637 Might i noght diderward a fote, Ne forto bid me was na bote, þat lett thoght me ful lang." Line 24640

"[F]ul lang, leuedi, thoght me þat lett, And thoght it was mi bale all bett, For þan greu all mi gle; Line 24643 wid oþer wimmen þat him soght, Send bodword to þi leif þu noght In langurs all for þe." Line 24646

[O]f all þis langur was þu light, þu bird of blis, na sun sua bright, And all þine balis bett; Line 24649 þi suete sun sua hale of hight Son he þe conford wid his sight; Quen ȝe war samen mett. Line 24652

[þ]u had him siþen till all þi will, For all þi ioi wald he ful-fill, Again sua strang a stour; Line 24655

Line 24655 þar þu him has nu all in blis, Leuedi! diþerward vs all wiss, Line 24657 Wid fand of þi socur. Amen. [folio 163a:1]

[Apostrophe to Saint John].

[I]ohan, ful seli was þu sene, þat suilk a moder als i mene was to þi kepinng taght; Line 24661 To kepe þu take þat maiden clene, And sua was þu widuten wene, þat sua þat leuedi laght. Line 24664

[þ]ar was þe raght a riche relike, Might tresur nan be þar-to like, Of metel ne of stane; Line 24667 Bot cristes aun dreuri dere, þat of pris mai haue na pere, Nai, nai! certis nane. Line 24670

[T]o faintise was þi faith na fere, Forþi þu was his aun tresurrere, On traister one nan to trou; Line 24673 Ful graithli was þat grace þe grant, For-qui his moder was þin aunt, Sua worthi nane as þu. Line 24676

[þ]ar-till þe worthiest he made, wid mekenes and wid manhed, Forþi es þaim ful wele, Line 24679 Man ouþer womman, queþer it bene, þat liues in virginite, Quat fanding þat þai fele. Line 24682

[H]e þat in manhed es lele, He ledis lijf lik til angele, For virgines all er þai; Line 24685 Bot þis liuelade þat likes quon Fra þat it anes be fordone, It es for euer and ay. Line 24688

Line 24688

[W]ele agh men dere to kepe þat thing, þat anes tint, no couering, Sua do þai þat er wise; Line 24691 þou þu haue oþer vertu slain, In þe þu mai þaim couer again, Redi in þe to rise. Line 24694

þe man þat left has buxumnes, [folio 163a:2] Mai turn and be suilk als he was, All at his aun will; Line 24697 If þu was large and es noght nu, Giue gladli and þan ert þu, Suilk fautes mai men fill. Line 24700

[I]f man in ani vices be cast, He mai wid-drau him fra þat last, And be þat he was are; Line 24703 Bot þai þat maidenhed haue tint, All for noght es if þai mint, To couer it euermare. Line 24706

[þ]is þan wist þu iohn ai wele, And held þi state ai stabil als stele, þat worschip did þe win; Line 24709 þi faith he sau was noght to fail, Crist made þe cuth of his consail, And priue-est of his kin. Line 24712

[C]hamberlain of gret honur He made þe of his moder chanbur, Sli blith þe þar bitid; Line 24715 þu seruid hir wid main and might, was neuer seruid dai ne night, In boure sua blith-ful bridd. Line 24718

[T]o þat blithful brid, iohan, þi leuedi, moder and maiden, þat þu sua cuth was till, Line 24721

Line 24721 I þe biseke ur erand be, And scho be till hir sun þat we Mai wirke here ai þair will. Line 24724

[I]n cristes worschip forto suinke, And euer apon his passiun thincke, þat sua did ȝu to murn, Line 24727 we prai þat [l]euedi be vr leind, þat we mai find hir sun ur freind, To dede quen we sal turn. Amen.

[The Story of Elsey, and the Festival of the Conception].

Of þe concepciun of vr leuedi I will ȝu tell wittirli [folio 163b:1] [L]Istes gode men, wid ȝur leue Ful lath me war ȝu forto greue, Line 24734 þat ȝu thoght mi talking togh, For me thinc neuer mar enogh, þat i mai of hir louing rede, þat bett vs all vte for vr nede. Line 24738 All mi lijf vnto mine ende, In hir worschip if i might spende, All þat i cuth thinc or say, Line 24741 It war naght half ane hure of a day, þat þis thar na man nick wid nai, Sua brad of hir blis es þe wai. Line 24744 þou mans witt be neuer sua strait, Scho mai wele bring it into nait; For þou mi witt war neuer sua wild, Quen i make mening of þat mild, Quat blis scho bred again vr bale, þat i ne sal find wissing to wale; þat gifs me list of hir to rede, Line 24751 For he es all spedd þat scho will spede. Tald es in þis boke biforn Hu þat scho was getin and born,

Bot nu lauerdinges, if ȝe me bid, Quat time and terme þat it bitid þat scho was getin, þat bird of blis, I sal ȝu mone widuten miss. Line 24758 þe fest of hir concepciun, þar-of ȝe sal here þe resun, Qui þat hali kirke and hu Bi ȝere þarof dos seruis nu Line 24762 þat it did noght in ald dais; Herkenis hu þe stori sais.

[A] king þat hight william bastard, þat werraid ingland ful hard, Line 24766 Sua stalworth man he was of hand, þat wid his fors he wan þe land. Ful selcuth keneli cuth he fight, He slogh þe king þat harald hight, þat born was of þe danes blod, [folio 163b:2] For-qui þe land he him wid-stode. þan bar wiliam þe seygnuri Line 24773 Of ingland and of normundi. ye king of danmark on-ane Herd þat king harald was slane, Of witt al-mast wald he weind, Line 24777 For luue of harald his freind. Schippis did he dight him ȝare In-till ingland þan for to fare, Line 24780 Apon þe normandes forto fight, þat wan þe land widuten right; For he suar bi þe king of heuen, Line 24783 þat harald slaghter suld he heuen. To king willam bodword was broght Of þis tiþand þat him forthoght, He dred him sare þat were suld rise, And warnist him on mani wise; Line 24788 He gedrid souders here and þare, To strenth his castelis eueray quar,

Als he þat conquerur was gode, Line 24791 And for to werrai vnderstode. His consail bad him for to fand, þe king of danemark widstand, Line 24794 For to speke of sumkin pais, Bituix him and þaa da[na]is. þis ilke time þat i of say, was ane abbot of ramesay, Line 24798 þe name of him was cald elsis, A heind man and a wis; A grete resun wele schau he cuth, Widvten ani maring in muth. Line 24802 þis abbot of þis erand bere, was chosin to be messa[g]ere. vnto dane-mark to fare, Als man was lerid of mekil lare. Line 24806 Sone it was his schipping tift wid presand and mani right gift, [folio 164a:1] Of siluer and of gold giftes to bede, Mar þan mister es to rede; þe signe of pes alsua to bring Line 24811 Tuix william and þat oþer king, And of þaa schippis forto spir, Quen þai wer boune for to stir. Line 24814 [E]lsis to schipping him did, His bur bleu als he-self wald bid, He passed þe se þat was brade, His presand to þe king he made. Line 24818 welcum was his presand and he, Als bringand hand es wont to be; Till erlis and baruns of þat rike, þan gaue he sere giftes eke; Line 24822 þaa þat he had na giftes till, wid hightes faire he went þair will. Sua wele in speche cuth he spell, þat all þat ost he did to duell. Line 24826

Line 24826 Quen all þir nedis wele war done, þai dightid him his schipping sone, þai set vp þe mast of þair schip, Sir elsis and his felauschip; Line 24830 His giftes gaf he noght in vain, Bot fair presantes war sent egain. Forth þai sailed on þat flode, For all to will þe wind þaim stode. At þe last might þai noght se, Line 24835 Bot heuen a-bouen and þe see; þe wedir als in somer smeth, Sone bigan it ruth and reth, Line 24838 þat ilk wau til oþer weft, And bremli to þat barge beft. þe lift it blakind al to night, On ilke side þaim slaked sight, Line 24842 þe see for rethnes wex al rede, To dole was turned al þair nede. þe wind ras gain þaim ful vnride, þe þaim sailed on ilk side. Line 24846 þaim bleu mani vnrekind blast, [folio 164a:2] þair mast raf and cordis brast, Strangli straite þan war þai stadd, þe marinelis war selcuth radd, Line 24850 Sua rad ne war þai neuer are, For þai war neuer in perel mare. Ful wansum wix þai þan of rede, For drerili þai drede þair dede. Line 24854 Quen þai had striuen quilis þai might, Again þat storm al was for noght, þai lite it wander vp and dune, þair schipp, ay redi for to droune; þai wandrid waful on þat flode, Line 24859 Crid and wepe als þai war wode, Ay lokid þaa sari sua forsuonkin, Quen þair schip suld quelm a[n]d dronkin.

On iesu crist þai cri and call, Line 24863 And on mari, þat helpis all, þai said, "leuedi, þat es sua mild, Prai for vs vnto þi child, Line 24866 All mon we droune, sua walaway! Help nu leuedi, for wele þu may." þai wrang þair hend and wep ful sare, Als men karkid all wid care, Line 24870 Apon þair brestes fast þai beft, All in god þai þaim bileft. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [B]ot scho þat es oft bote in bale, Till all þat hope in hir has hale, Socur sone to þaim scho sent, Line 24877 þat in sli perel on hir ment. Dun bi þat schipp an angel light, In selcuth clething schene of sight, þis angel to þa wakand kid, Line 24881 And þus to þaim his erand did. "Elsis," he said, "lift vp þi chere, Cum nere and speke wid þis messager." All þaa þat in þat schip ferd Line 24885 war mad quen þai him sau and herd; þis angel þus he tald his tale, [folio 164b:1] "Elsis," he said, "if þu will hale Cum of þis schip to land a[n]d fere; Nou sal þu hight and vou me here, þat þu sal do als i þe say Line 24891 Till all þe kirkes þat þu may. Quen þu comes into ingland Forto do þaim at vnderstand, Line 24894 Forto halu þis ilke dai wid all þe worschip þat þai may; In hali kirke rinand bi ȝere, Als getin was vr leuedi dere, Line 24898

Line 24898 For getin bituix man and womman was scho þat wem had neuer nan: Geten was scho all to be born, Line 24901 Forto sauue all þat war lorn. þis es þe day als scho was getin, Loke it neuer mar be forgetin; Line 24904 Qua þat halus it widuten faile, Bath lijf and saule it sal þaim vaile. Do vou elsis, and hald þi vou, It sal þe turn to mekil prou," Line 24908 To þat angel spac elsi, And said, "sai me sum signe quarbi I and all mi monkes mai, Line 24911 And all cristen men, knau þat day." "To knau," he said, "it es ful eth, þe aghtand day of þat moneth þat men clepis in þe ȝere Decembir in þe calundere, Line 24916 þat es þe dai þat i of mene Als getin was þat leuedi schene." "Say me," said elsis, "quatkin wise Of hir sal we make vr seruise, Line 24920 Siþen nan es þroper, þat i knau." "Gladli sir! i sal þe schau, þe seruis of hir birth þu take, þar-of þu sal þe seruis make; Line 24924 For a word þat þar-in es redd [folio 164b:2] þu sett an-oþer word in sted, All quar ȝe say natiuite, þis word concepciun sal be, Line 24928 For to change þar es namar Of all þe seruis þat es þar." Bot nu it es on oþer wise Line 24931 þar es made of proper seruise, þat qua sua will nu may say, Proper of þat concepcion day. Line 24934

Line 24934 [O]f þis bodword blith was elsi, Line 24935 And thankid crist and vr leuedi, Gladli he hight and wid god will þat comandment al to fulfill. Line 24938 Quen þe abbot his vou had made, vte of þair sight þis angel glade; Alsuith no langer gun þai duell, þe leme gun light, þe storm it fell, Ful fair bicom þat see to sight, Line 24943 And þai bigan þair takil dight, þair wind to will gode and fair þai fand, Till þai com in-till ingland; Line 24946 wid all þair fardel and þair fere þai com till land al hale and fere. Elsis bigan þis comandment Sone forto schau till his couent, Line 24950 Al þis chance þat him bitid, Al comunli he it vndid, To worschip hir concepcion þat of plight vs gat pardun; Line 24954 þis fest fra þan þe folk forth held, þar-of ilkan till oþer teld. þis ilke abbot in ramesai A settnes sett in his abbay, Line 24958 þar-in þis euer forto stand, To-quilis þat abbai es lastand, And sua men dos in stedis fele Line 24961 Sua agh all do þat es to hir lele. þe stori þar-wid forto say, [folio 165a:1] Euern quan we will hald þis day, Mai na man serue hire in lede, Line 24965 þat scho ne ȝeildes þaim þar mede. Scho do vs here at serue hir sua, þat we be wid hir euer and a. Amen. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

[An Exposition of the Creed].

Trou in godd fadir all-mighti, þat made bath heuen and erd, and in iesu crist his anelepi sun, vr aller fadir, conseiued of þe hali gast, born of þe uirgine mari, Tholed vnder ponce pilate, done on þe rode, dede and doluen, lighted in-till hell, þe thrid day ras fra dede to lijf, stei till heuen, sittes on his right hand godd fadir all weildand, þe þin sal he cum forto deme bath quic and dede. I tru in þe hali gast, in hali kirke, in felauschip of halus, forgiuenes of sinnes, vprising of fles, and lijf wid| uten end, amen. [G]od of luue has his cleping, Line 24987 For qui þat he luues of alkin thing. þat he-self wroght wid his main; All gode thing luues him egain. He es of sight alsua sua wide, Line 24991 þat fra his sight mai nathing hide; He has alsua his nam of dute, For all dredis him his vnderlute. All bihouis of him stand au Line 24995 His handwerke all, bath hei and lau. "[F]Ader" es he, for all he fedis, Or for all thing of him bredis, Line 24998 Mighti es he cald for-þi, þat in his will he es all-mighti. For alkin thinges þat he will, He has þe might it to fulfil, Line 25002 Ne es na thing þat he wil do þat he ne has þe might has þar-to. [folio 165a:2] Thoru his word þat wroght þus all, Thoru þat he es maker of all, Line 25006

Line 25006 Bath of sene thing and vnsene Line 25007 Maker he es of all bidene. wid þis word "heuen" and vnderstand, All gastli thing and vnseand; Line 25010 wid þis word "erd," bihald þu þe Al thing þu mai here, fele, or se. þis nam "iesus" in ebru lay Line 25013 Es "lauerd" and "sauueur" for to say, And wele wid skil es he cald sua, þat has vs sauued vr sinnes fra. Line 25016 þis word "crist" at vnderstand, Es smerld, bot noght wid mans hand, Noght wid þat oil men seis in place Bot wid þe hali-gastes grace. Line 25020 "Sun" es he cald of selines, For he es his fadir ioy and blis. "Anelepi" qui es he cald and knaun Bot for he es o fald his fader aun? And es his aun sun wid kind, Line 25025 And ouerall wid his merci mind. Thoru þe hali gast allane Toke he fless of þat maidane, Line 25028 And sua he did, for wele he moght þat al þis werld made of noght. "Pilate" was of grete office, For ouer iuus he was iustice. Line 25032 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And "ponce" was he cald of on yle þat he was fostrid in sum quile, Line 25036 And he bitakins feind of hell For boke him clepis muth of mell. Pined he was, sua þat his þine Suld be for vr medecine, Line 25040 "On rode," for-qui his rightwis rede wald thole him die nanoþer dede.

For croice it beris of mani thing, Of cristen mans priueleging, [folio 165b:1] For if þu plate it lais on grund, Four halues of þis werld rund Line 25046 Bitakeins crist has boght þar-wid, ȝat all wid trouth mai cum to grith. And quen it sett es on end vp euen, þat takins pes tuix erd and heuen. Dede he was þat thoru his dede, To lastand lijf he suld vs lede, Line 25052 And for a noþer skil, þat we Gastli wid him dede suld be, For adam sin to dei bidene, Line 25055 And rise wid baptim to be clene. þe pray þat he of hell vte-toke His choslinges was, sua sais þe boke, þas oþer þat his lau for-soke, Line 25059 He left þaim in þe feindes croke, For-þi ras he þe thrid dai, (Als ȝe haue forwid herd me say) þat he suld wid his vprising Line 25063 In right trouth vs fra baret bring. Til heuen he stei to make vr gate, And opin til vs heuin ȝate, Line 25066 þat first was sperd for þat sin; þat adam first had broght vs in; Sittes apon his fader right hand, þat es þus-gat at vnderstand, Line 25070 þat he es bath euening and pere In worschip til his fadir dere. þe quilk and gode men er chosen, þe dede þe quick þat er for-losen. In "hali-gast" we au alsua Line 25075 To tru, als in þir oþer tua, He es cald hali for alkin thing Takis of him þair haluing, Line 25078

Line 25078 Gast for he mai gastli blau Line 25079 Ouerall his grace, quar he wil schau. "Hali kirke" es, als we rede, A gedring cald of cristen lede, [folio 165b:2] þat es þis point al forto say,— Line 25083 we þat liues in cristen lay, In al þat trouth we heild a[n]d bu, þat hali kirc es wont at nu Line 25086 To haue wid santes comuning; þis es a point of vr truyng. we hope namli [[MS. nanli]] to haue pardun Thoru baptime and contriciun, Line 25090 And þar es alsua oþer thinges þat sinful man to pardun bringes, Als almus, fast, and oþer ma, Bot nan sua riueli als þir tua. Line 25094 we au tru als þat all sal rise And cum bifor þat grete iustice, þar to take vr rightwis mede Line 25097 Efter þat we haue wroght in lede, And be broght efter domes-day vnto þat lijf þat lastes ay; In þiskin truth au þu be tift, Line 25101 þu þat will cum to rightwis schrift.

[The Lord's Prayer, & its Exposition.]

[F]Adir vr þat es in heuen, Halud be þi nam to neuen, þu do vs haue þi riche rike þi will in erd be wroght elik, Line 25106 Als it es wroght in heuen lay, vr ilk day brede giue vs to-day. Forgif þu til vs dettes vrs, Als we forgiue till vr detturs, Line 25110 And ledde vs in na fanding, Bot schild vs fra iuel thing. Amen.

[C]rist him-self wroght þis praier, For-þi es it widuten pere, For þar es na praier þat es Sua gainand of þe mekilnes, Line 25116 For þar es bones seuen wid-in, þat makis of all vr nedis min, Bath to liuelade þat es here Line 25119 And þat vr saule has of mistere, [folio 166a:1] And þat es in þir wordes quone For birthin grete þai bere vndone. And sal i þarof, als i mai, vndo ȝu quat þaij er to say. Line 25124 "[F]Adir," þis word quen we say, þar-wid vnderstand we may þat fadir he es vte ouer us all, And we als suns apon him call; Line 25128 witt þu þar-for ilk orisun, And four thinges haf wid resun, Fulli luue þat es to bere Till him þat we make to praier, Line 25132 And sekir hope vr bone to wine, And stedfast trouth to stand ai in, þe feird to knau wid buxumnes þat na gode of vs seluen es. Line 25136 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Thoru þis word "fadir" forto scheu Fulli luues in to knaue, Line 25140 For ilkin thing of alkin strind, þe fader it au to luue wid kind. Bot þar him callis "fadir" fele þat er noght suns til him lele, Line 25144 þat nouþer his suns er wid dede, Ne wid na liuelad þat þai lede, Ne godd þaim for na suns knaus, þat to þe feind þair dedis draus. Line 25148

Line 25148 For wicked man, þat god forsakis, And to þe warlou werk him takis, He mai noght goddes sun be kend Bituix and he his state amend. Line 25152 þan bihouis vs wid resun þat wil haue herd vr orisun, þat we to suilk dede vs draue þat crist vs for his aun knau, Line 25156 And þan we mai wid rightwisnes Cal him vr fader, for sua he es. wid þis word "vrs" we vnderstand All sekirnes of vr erand, [folio 166a:2] For if þat he þus vrs be, Line 25161 Halden sekirli es he vs to here in vr mister, In alkin rightwis praier; Line 25164 Bot þar es resun qui vr bone Es noght granted vs quilum sone, Ouþer for vr praier es vnlele Line 25167 And askid gain vr saule hele;— Als was þe praier of saint paul, For it was gain hele of his sa[u]le; He praid þe fanding of his fa Line 25171 Thris it suld be tan him fra, Siþen na man might til heuen win Bot he ne had fanding of sum sin, þat thoru ouercoming of þat faand He may þe mede haue ay lastand; For-þi was said till him ansuer Line 25177 "Enoght es þe mi grace to bere," Bot þat es manhed most of mede, Be funden treu again þe nede;— Or ai vmquile vr bone es right, Line 25181 Bot vnherd thoru vr aun plight, þat thoru vr liuelade wick we sper þe rightwis demisters ere. Line 25184

Line 25184 Als quen we prai for þaim þat lijs In sin þat godd gif þaim grace to rijs, þou þis praier be forto take, And we be worthi it to make, Line 25188 þir sinful men þair wickedhede Lettes vs vr bone to spede; And of vr praier crist es paid, vmquile þou it be delaid, Line 25192 To turn it vnto better state, Als he þat all vr mister wate, And þat es noght vnherd at tru þat turned es till vr gretter pru. Line 25196 þis word, "þat es," quen we it min Stedfast trouth it beris wid-in, [folio 166b:1] For quen we trou in his goddhed, vr trouth sal take vs mekil manhed; For þat of trouth it es þe lau Line 25201 To tru þe thing we neuer sau. wid þis word "in heuen," þat es Noted sothfast buxumnes, Line 25204 For thoru þis word in heuen au we To thinck hu hei in heuen es he, Hu lau in erd þat we er stadd, þan au we buxum be, and radd. Line 25208 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Qua þir four has he mai wele euen Sai "halud be þi nam to neuen," Line 25216 þat es to say, "lauerd þu strenth In vs þi nam on brede and lenth; þat we þi suns sua mai be þat we wirck noght egaines þe, Line 25220

Line 25220 And ger þi nam be schaud als Line 25221 Amang þaa men of trouth er fals, Als es þe sarazinis and iuus, And alkin ledis þat mistrous, Line 25224 And all þe men þat werded es Forto be broght into þi blis." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] "þu do vs haue þi riche rike," Line 25231 þat in þis wreched werld we wick Sua do vs regne here wid þi grace, þat we mai regne bifor þi face." þis ilke praier es all for þaa þat es in clenging fair alsua; Line 25236 Or vnder-stand an-oþer way þis forsaid cleuse, þat es to say, "Destruy þu, lauerd! wid pouste þine þe mightes of þe witherwine, Line 25240 Fra þe folk es vnder þe, And sett þaim in þi sauuete, þe quilk to þa men has þu tight þat menskes þe wid mode and might." Or in þis ilke clause we pray Line 25245 For all his enentes domes-day, [folio 166b:2] Quen sothfastnes sal all be sene, þe corn sal fra þe caf be clene, Line 25248 þe gode sal fra þe wick be draun, þat of þair fas þai mai be knaun. For mighti godd þair will to wirke, And þat þi kingrike, halikirk, Line 25252 May be broght of alkin wath To blis, scho and hir childer bath, For þan sal king be funden nan In heuen and erd, bot þe alane. Line 25256

Line 25256 [þ]is es þe thrid word of bone, Line 25257 "In heuen a[n]d erd þi wil be done," þat es to sai, "lauerd giue vs to Grace in erd þi wil to do, Line 25260 To for-bere al þin vnwill, And all þi comandment fulfill, Als right as dos þin angels all And halus of heuen, vp in þi hall, Pais þe wid þair seruis sere; Line 25265 Sua mot we do all þat er here! Ȝung and ald, bath mar and lese, Of alkin order þat here es, Line 25268 Of all mister, of alkin lare, Al þat þis has fordestind are, To þe kingrike of heuen blis, þi will doand þu diþer wiss." Line 25272 [þ]e feird bone vs askes fode, Bath for lijf and saul gode; . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] þat es to say, bath strenth and hele To saul and bodi wid to dele; Line 25278 For þar es fode of thre manere þat saul and lijf has of mister, Line 25280 For-qui þe bodi has nede of bath To bruked be wid mete and clath; Bot gastli fode to saul es feris, þat es, quen men sarmon heris, Line 25284 Bot fode of housil for bath it es Bath for þe saule and for þe fless. [folio 167a:1] Eftir þir tuin fodis we pray Quen we ur pater noster say, Line 25288 For if vr fless be fed to will, And þe saule for hunger spill, þat es, bot it be fedd wid lare, Na selcuth if þai bath forfare! Line 25292

Line 25292 Bot if saul teching haue of sele, Line 25293 And fles be foluand efter wele, þan sal þai bath, for-soth to say, Be broght to blis þat lastes ay. Line 25296 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] "[F]orgiue vs fadir, dettis vris, Als we for-giue til vr detturs," Line 25300 þis it es þe fijfte bone, þat þusgat au to be vndone: For-giue vs fadir vr sinnis to Right als we till oþer do Line 25304 þat againes vs here agh has done; Hu wath it es to bid þis bone! For mani gain him-seluen prais Quen he his pater noster sais, Line 25308 For if þu prais to godd þat he Right þi sinnes for-giue to þe, Als þu þaim for-giues til oþer, Line 25311 And þu hald wreth enent þi broþer, He þat þin euencristen es And namli askis forgiuenes, Line 25314 þu biddes on þi-seluen wrake, And prais þat crist it on þe take; For god him sais in his god-spell, wid sli mett als ȝe bij and sell, Line 25318 wid þat ilk þu sal be mett, Quen ilk man sal haue þair dett. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Hu mai he aske forgifnes þan, þat wil noght for-gif oþer man? Line 25324 For-gif til oþer þan most we nede, If we enent vs-self wil spede, And sal we merci haue of god, [folio 167a:2] Suilk als we till oþer bod. Line 25328

Line 25328 Bot if þi saule it be sua seke Line 25329 þat þu þi mode mai noght meke, Better es þan to say it noght Bot þu ne haue þis entent in thoght, þe quilk þat i sal scheu ȝu here; þat es to say, "vr fadir dere! Line 25334 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] If we thoru frelsnes of vr fles Mai gif til oþer na forgiuenes, Line 25338 Als we suld do, and þu vs taght, wid þi grace grant vs þi maght Till oþer sua forgif þair sin, þat we mai þi forgiuenes win. Line 25342 To luue vr euencristen sua þat we þair lastes mai forga; Of man-kind sua to luue þe state, þat we þair wicke werkes hate, Line 25346 Sua man als man to luue in lai, þat we forber þair lastes ay." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [þ]e bone es of þe sexte asking, Line 25357 "þat we be led in na fanding," Noght sua þat we ne fanded be, For gode men fand þan tholes he, Bot we pray vr fanding be sua Line 25361 þat we noght feld be wid vr fa, For ofte þe men þat er rightwis Thoru fanding win þai to þair pris.

For quan þai fanding maistris wele, Cruned er þai wid mekil sele. Line 25366 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] For we haue witherwines thrin þat euer fandes vs wid sin, Line 25370 þis werld wid welth, vr fless wid will, þe warlou euer eggand vs til ill; þan prai we til vr fadir dere Line 25373 He ne fand vs bot als we mai stere. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [S]iþen it es vrs last asking, Line 25377 "þu schild vs fra iuel thing," Bot for-þi þat we mai find [folio 167b:1] Iuels laid bifor man-kind Line 25380 þat bi vs-self we mai noght fle, widin þis bone þarfor prai we, þat he vs schild fra iuels all þat in aiþer lijf mai fall, Line 25384 þat es to sai, fra sin and sake, Fra bodi bath and saul wrake. "[A]men," þat es "sua mot it be, Of all þat we haue praid to þe;" þis word Amen þat last es laid, Line 25389 Confermis all es forwid said, Alsua, "lauerd godd! fadir and king, þu grant vs gode al vr asking, Line 25392 þat we forwid haf asked þe, þat es, þi name mot halud be, þi kingrike fader, send vs sone, þi will in heuen and erd be done, Gif vs to-day ur ilkday mete, Line 25397 And forgif us sua vr aun dette Als we forgif vr detturs all, And late vs in na fanding fall, Line 25400

Line 25400 Bot schild vs fra alkin ill, Amen fadir, þu it fulfill. Line 25402

[Prayer to the Trinity.]

[F]adir and sune and hali gast, To þe i cri and call mast, þat treuest es in trone; Line 25405 A-fald godd i call in thre, Lauerd loued in trinite, To þe make i mi bone. Line 25408

þu schild vs all fra sin and schame, Lauerd for þi hali hei name, þat helpis þine sua sone, Line 25411 And wis vs all þat ilk way þar euermar es gamen and plai, For hard es here to hone. Line 25414

[H]ali fader, heuen king! Lauerd loued ouer al thing! Line 25416 In þe i tru and calle, [folio 167b:2] And on iesu, þi suete sun, Are and late i will ȝu mon, In bure and eke in hall. Line 25420

Hali gast! i call al-sua, In þe i tru and in nama þu schild me to fall! Line 25423 And if i fall in ani skath, þu do me, lauerd, to rise rath And mine freindes all. Line 25426

[þ]u þat has þis werld al wroght, And has it sett all wid þi thoght, And stabild it in skill, Line 25429

Line 25429 Of all þi sandes wilde and tame, Line 25430 Man þu made and gaf him name, And gaf him lijf to will. Line 25432

þou adam rape him in a res Thoru an appil þat eue him ches, vs all for to spill, Line 25435 þu þat es crist and god anfald, Lauerd be vr hope and hald, þu do his flode to fill. Line 25438

[R]ape þe lauerd nu forto reu, For ilk day vr nede es neu, For fast i fund to fare, Line 25441 Of mi sinnes me reus sare, I wate þi merci es wele mare, In hope nu i durk and dare. Line 25444

þu þat has þis werld to weild, þu reu me lauerd in mi eild, And wisse me wais ȝare Line 25447 þar saintes has þair seli sete, On domes-day þar we sal mete þu schild me fra care. Line 25450

[F]ul derf i was to bidd vndo, þat luued i neuer rest ne ro, Bot weildnes and wa; Line 25453 Ful leif me was to cum in cri, wid magote and wid margori, [folio 168a:1] wid mariot, mald, and ma. Line 25456

Of manslaghter had i na make, Ne nane sua wild in wa to wake, To riue þe grene and gra; Line 25459 Nu it dos me eild take grith, Lauerd þi merci take me with, Fott þe was fallen fra. Line 25462

Line 25462

[N]u ask i nouþer gra ne grene, Line 25463 Ne stede schrud, ne lorem schene, Ne purperpall, ne pride of pane, Line 25465 Ne riche robe wid veir and gris,— Of worldes welth aske i na prijs; Ne castel made of lime and stane,

Bot stedfast hope and trouth right, And hert clene and eien sight, Oþer gersum aske i nane. Line 25471 Do me lauerd to witt þi will, And siþen heuenrike to fill, For sone er þir gamins gane. Line 25474

[O]f me es noght bot sine and sake, Lauerd! bot þi merci it make, vnworthi am i, wele þu wast, Line 25477 And all vnredi for to rise On domes-day bifor iustise, þar all er casten on a cast. Line 25480

þar santes sal bath dute a[n]d drede, And i sal se þin wondes blede, Mi hope es in þi merci mast; Line 25483 Als euer was and ai sal be, Lauerd loues in trinite, Fadir and sun and hali-gast. Line 25486

[A Prayer for the Hours of the Passion.]

Iesus, þat wald efter midnight, [folio 168a:1] þi suete face, þat was sua bright, wid Juus spitting file, Line 25489 And suffer siþen, for vr sinn, Buffettes on þi soft chin, All in þat ilke quile; Line 25492

þat ilke time þu fra dede ras, [folio 168a:2] Lauerd als þi will it was, Mildli and still; Line 25495

Line 25495 Ken vs lauerd, for þi name, Line 25496 To forsake bath sin and scham, And vr werkis ill. Line 25498

Of vr sinnes sone to rise, And wiss vs euer wid þe wise, And leue vr gamines grill, Line 25501 þat we, wid þin apostlis heie, Mai þe se in galileie, Lauerd! if it be þi will. Line 25504

[Lauds.]

[S]uete lauerd! wid-vten les, Ful mekil was þi tholmodnes In þat ilke time; Line 25507 þai felun iuus dai and night, viled þe wid all þair might, wald þai neuer fine. Line 25510

þu gif vs, lauerd! might and mode, To luue þe ai þat es sua gode, And thinc apon þi pine; Line 55513 wid hand and hert, werke and will, Ay þe to luue bath lude and still, To þe wid hert encline; Line 25516 Quen we fall aght in-to fanding, Defend vs fra þe fule thing, þu wate þat we er þine. Line 25519

[Prime.]

[I]esus! þat broght was in present Bifor pilate to iugement, At prime of day i wene; Line 25522 þat ilke time þu mustrid þe, Suete iesu! wid hert sua fre, To mari magdalene. Line 25525

Line 25525

þu scheu þe lauerd vntil vs, Line 25526 þat al to mekil has ben vnbuxs vnto þi suete trace, Line 25528 And giue vs lele schrift at hald, Of all vr sinnes neu and ald, For þi suete grace. [folio 168b:1]

þat na sin be sene vs on, At þe mekil day of dome, Quen we er broght in place; Line 25534 þat we efter þat ilk day, Mai liue wid ioy for euer and ay, Bi-for þi suete face. Line 25537

[Undern.]

[S]uete iesu, at vndrin time, For vr sinnes, and noght for þine, þu suffrid a-bute þi hert, Line 25540 Of iuus þat war fell and strang, wid knotted skorges hard and lang, Dintes sare and smarte. Line 25543

þat ilke time þat i neuen, þu sent þi hali gast fra heuen To þine apostlis suete; Line 25546 þu send vs, lauerd! witt and will To mende vs of vr dedis ill, And fall þe to fete. Line 25549

Quen sinnes in vr herte er sene, wid ter of eie to clens þaim clene, And wid wanges wete, Line 25552 þat ai mai be vr comfort mast, þe suettnes of þe hali-gast, wid þi merci to mete. Line 25555

[A]t mid-day iesus wid nud mode, þu spred þi bodi on þe rode, To drau vs all to heuen; Line 25558 þat ilke time lauerd! þu wild Take fles of þat mayden mild, Thoru an angel steuen. Line 25561

Reciue þu, lauerd! me and ma Into þi suete armis tua, þat er sua bright and schene. Line 25564 Lauerd! þu hele all wondes mine wid þi suete precius medicine, Grant þat it sua bene. Line 25567

þu make vr bodis fair and chast, Ai to receiue þe hali gast, [folio 168b:2] wid herte gode and clene; Line 25570 þat we mai clene cum to þe, þar þu sittes in trinite And ioyes euer sene. Line 25573

[Noon.]

[S]uete iesu! at þe time of none, þan þu was on rode done, And suffrid hard pine; Line 25576 þu þat es of mightes mast, vte of þi bodi þu gaf þi gast, In þat ilke time. Line 25579

In þat ilke time to heuen stei þu, And quickened vr hertis, suete iesu! All luueli þu vs lere Line 25582 þe to luue wid sothfast rede, And to haue mening of þi dede þat þu boght sua dere. Line 25585

þi pines in vr hert to write, þar we gang and þar we site, To-quilis þat we er here, Line 25588

Line 25588 þat we a-mang þat ilk throm Line 25589 þat seruis iesus, goddes sun, Mai be felau and fere. Line 25591

[Even-song.]

[S]uete iesu! þat lauerd es, þu gaf sight of þi blod and fless, At euen-sanges time, Line 25594 þat ilke time þu dune was tane Of þe rode in fles and bane, Als it me mai mene. Line 25597

Do wickenes vte of vr thoght, And feluni þat gaines noght, And envie and tene; Line 25600 þat we mai take þat ilk fles, Lauerd! if þi will it es, wid bodi and herte clene; Line 25603 And þat it be vr warantise, On domes day quen we sal rise, And þu þis werld sal deme. Line 25606

[Complins.]

[S]uete iesu! all þar þu stode, [folio 169a:1] þi suete bodi in fless and blode, At þe time of compleie. Line 25609 For drede al of þat bitter dede, þat þu suffred for all manhede, þi hert was ful sarie. Line 25612

þat ilk time þar was þu wonden, Laid it sepulcre and noght funden, wid marijs þat þe soght, Line 25615 þu clens vr hertes of soru and care, And giue vs ioy for euermare, þat þu vs to boght. Amen. Line 25618

[A Song of the Five Joys of Our Lady.]

[folio 169a:1] [H]Aile be þu mari maiden bright! Line 25619 þu teche me þe wais right, I am a sorful dreri wight, Line 25621 als þu mai se, Quer i sal in þe hard pine of hel be. Line 25623

[M]i sinful saule sighes sare, Liued i haue in sin and care, Leue i wil and do na mare, Line 25626 mi leued fre. Saul and bodi, lijf and dede, bi-teche i þe. Line 25628

þar þu lay in þi bright boure, Leuedi! quite als leli floure, An angel com fra heue . . . . . Line 25631 sant gabriel, And said, "leuedi! ful of blis, ai worth þe wel!" Line 25633

Stil þu stod, ne stint þu noght, þu said til him þe bodword brogh[t], Al his wil it sal be wroght, Line 25636 in his ancele. Leuedi bi-for þi suete sun mak vs lele. Line 25638

[þ]e toþer ioy, i wate it was, Als sun [it] schines thoru þe glas, Sua ert þu leued wemles, Line 25641 and ai sal be. Leued, for þat suete ioy, þu reu on me. Line 25643

[þ]e thrid ioy, i vnderstand, Thre kinges com of thrin land, To fal þi suete sun til hand, Line 25646 and gaf him gift. Mir, reclis, and gold red, als it was right. Line 25648

Line 25648

þe king was riche, þe gold was rede, þe reclis fel til his goddhed, [folio 169a:2] Mir to man þat sal be dede Line 25651 for vr sake. Leuedi! to þi suete sun at ane vs make. Line 25653

þe feird, it es al thoru his grace Quen he fra dede to lijf ras, Quen he sua hard suongen was Line 25656 on rode tre; Leuedi! of vr sinnes al þu make vs fre. Line 25658

[þ]e fijft, þu was til heuen broght, þe iuus þe soght and fand þe noght, Als þi suete sun it wroght, Line 25661 almighti king. Leuedi mari! be vr helpe at vr ending. Line 25663

Leuedi! for þi ioies fiue, þu kid þi might and help vs suith, Leuedi mari! moder o liue Line 25666 wid flur and fruit. Rose and leli þu sprede ay wide, and helpe þi suite. Line 25668

Leuedi mari! wele þu wast, þe feindes fraistes me ful fast, wele i hope i sal þaim cast Line 25671 thoru might of þe. Quen i neuen þi suete nam, i ger þaim fle. Line 25673

þir iois er said als i can sai; Mi site, mi soru, i cast away, Nu help me leuedi wele þu may, Line 25676 and be mi spere. Fra þe har pain of hell þu me were. Line 25678

All þat singes þis sang, And all þat ligges in paines strang, þu lede þaim right þar þai ga wrang, Line 25681 and haue merci On all þat trous þat godd was born of þe, fair leuedi! Line 25683

[A Prayer to God the Father.]

[D]rightin dere! wid blisful beildes, þat al þis werld wid wisdom weildis, And al þat quilum was bot noght, To serkin schapp þam has þu wroght, And taght it man þar-in to duell, þat foli fra þi frenschip fell, [folio 169b:1] [Forþi] for bot þat satt sua hei, þe quilk he brac als sott vnslei, Line 25691 And demed was for his breking To pine of hell and his ospring;— þu lete þi dere sun siþen fell, Forto bring man vte of hell, Line 25695 wid his dede he boght again, vr saulis þat wid sin war slain, þat all þat cristen lau wald hald, þai suld be of þi merci bald, Line 25699 To-houen be in hali fontstane, And hald þair lau þat þai haf tane, þu wil þai boru vnto þi blis, Line 25702 All au to luue þe lauerd for þis. Bot siþen þu kid þi merci mare, To man-kind for to cast of [care], þat if he sin on ani wise, Line 25706 wid schrift and penance [mai he rise]. For penance es þe toþer [bord], þat fletand flites man ouer [ford]. Quen schip es brokin wid [sin], It sal him hauen of merci win, Line 25711 For þar es namli botes tuin, Mai man bring vte of bale of sin; Baptim es þe first of þir tua, þe toþer liue in penance thra, Line 25715 For king þat alkin craftes can, Sua gamli has þu graith for man,

þat þu will neuer lat him for fare, Bot he ne wil algat leue þi lare. þu wis vs first od adam plight, Line 25720 In font quen we er cristen dight, Sua clene þat if we deied, i-wis, It suld vs bring to heuen blis. Line 25723 Bot þou vr lijf last bot a quile, Vr crisme clath ful sone we file, Thoru thre fas þat dai and night, [Ne] fines noght on vs to fight, Line 25727 [In fin] ay for to do vs fall, [folio 169b:2] Honi þai bede and giues vs gall. Of þir thre fas þe werld es an, Line 25730 vr fless es ane oþer, þe thrid sathan, And bitides of sua þat we Sin thou egging of þir thre, Line 25733 þat we er wrogh fra god [be flemed], And for vr sines to hell demed. we breke his lau þat we haf takin, wid sin haue we him forsakin, Bot ȝeit his merci es als are, Line 25738 He wil noght thole vs sua for-fare, Bot he vs grant has sus[taining] þat we may cum til his saghtling, þat es sothfast penance and [schrift], þat quen we fall vp mai vs lift. Line 25743 And þat noght anis allan, ne tuis, Bot quen we fal ai mai we rise; For es no man sua gret mai sin And he in time þar-of wil blin, Line 25747 And make to preist his costes cuth, wid reuth of hert and schrift of mouth, þat he ne his merci has in hij, Line 25750 If he haue hope in his merci. For mar it es his merci sene, þan all þe sinnes þat has bene, Line 25753

Line 25753 Or sal be to þe werldes end, Line 25754 To man þat will in time amend. For na mar þan a sparc in see, Mai sin again his merci be, Line 25757 And drightin seluen has [vs het] Thoru þe muth of his prophett, Quan sinful man his sin wil l[ete], He sal þe find of merci suete, Line 25761 And crist him sais þat mar ioi es widin þe curt of heuen blis, wid þe angels wonand þar, Of a sinful reuand sare, þan of a hundreth lele of dede. Line 25766