The minor poems of the Vernon ms. ... (with a few from the Digby mss. 2 and 86) ...

MS. Vern., fol. CXCVI b—CXCVIII, b.

GOd Almihti þat alle þing weldes, Wyndes, watres, wodes and ffeldes, And [Furn. As] soþly, as þou madest of nouht Alle creatures þat euer were wrouht, Line 4 ffor-ȝif vs, lord, þis day vr synne, Þis digne sacrament to bi-ginne, And also worschupe [F. & wurschypfully] þer-of to speke, Þat we neuere þe trouþe [F. beleue] breke, Line 8 Ne forte telle in þis Prolonge [F. þys long] (!) Þing þat falleþ to eny wronge, [F. fall-of may any wrong] But þat hit mihte beo þe to queme And vs in studefast trouþe to ȝeme.— Line 12 Godus sone in heuene a-boue, He schewed vs also [F. alle for] muche loue: ffor whon his passion neihȝed him neih, To his disciples þat weren him by Line 16 He ȝaf his bodi, hem to fede— More loue miht he not schewe in dede— Þat þei schulde muynde haue Of hym þat miht hem þenne saue. Line 20 Ȝit a-forward [F. aftyrward] he let hym slo Wiþ so gret [F. ful vyle] deþ-pyne and [and pynyng] wo. ffor vs and hem dude he þis, To bringe vs alle to his blis. Line 24 More loue miht he not do, Ne neuer mon mihte do so; ffor vs he dude hit, in certeyn, Þat we schulde loue hym wel aȝein. Line 28 Þouh we vr-self [ȝaf] an hundred siþe, O poynt of such loue miht we not kyþe

Lyk to þat loue he haþ vs done, ffor hit is vre saluacioune. Line 32 And of vs ȝit askeþ he nouht But þat may wel I-nouh be wrouht: Noþing bote loue wiþ good louyng, [F. but loue-longyng] To loue him ouer al oþur þing Line 36 And for his loue to leue synne— Wiþ [F. his] loue his blisse þen may we wynne. And [F. ffor] þou may neuere haue hym to þe But þou wolt furst synne fle: Line 40 Alle þing he loueþ, but synne he hates; Ȝif þou loue hym, wiþ synne þou bates. [F. wlates] Ȝif þou loue on, þou most nedes fforsake þat þyng þat he forbedes, Line 44 Elles hit is told for no loue, And nomeliche to vr lord aboue. Þou maiȝt not loue him, þe boc seiþ, [F. wyþ no greythe] But þou haue wiþ þe good feiþ, Line 48 Þat is to sey, leeue þou [F. to beleue] hit wel Al þat is writen of hym vchedel. Studefast treuþe of loue hit semes, [F. comes] And of trewþe loue men nemes: [F. nomes] Line 52 So is þat on wiþ þat oþur, Wiþ studefast treuþe loue, his [F. ys þe] Broþur. To whom ouȝte vr loue be went? To trouþe [F. But to þe beleue] of þis sacrament. Line 56 Þis schulde leeue vche cristen mon And lerne þe treuþe of on þat con: Þat þe bred þat sacrefyed is On þe Auter, is godus flesch, Line 60 fflesch and blod, þer hit is leid, Þorwh þe wordus þe prest haþ seid; Þat lihte wiþ-Inne þe virgine Marie And on þe Rode for vs wolde dye Line 64 And from deþ to lyue a-Ros, God and Mon, in Miht and loos. ffor hose troweþ not þis cler In þe sacrament of þe Auter, Line 68 He schal neuere þe blisse a-byde, ffor no þing þat him may be-tyde.

In þe Olde lawe þus is writen— Iewes and Cristene wel hit witen: Line 72 "God seide þat [F. and] hit was wrouht, He Comaundede alle þing of nouht"— Þis wordus aren verrey and cler, Dauid hem seide in þe psauter. Line 76 Seþþhe he made al of nouȝt þat [F. alle þat noȝt er] was, Lasse Maystrie were in þis caas fforte chaunge on liknes In to a-noþur þyng þen hit is, Line 80 Þat ilke liknesse in [F. of] Bred and Wyn In fflesch and blod to torne hit in. His fflesch and blood in Bred is wrouht; [F. Yn flesshe and blode þe brede be broȝt] Siþþe he made [al] be-fore of nouht, Ȝif þou seo hit not bodiliche in siht, Þi soule wiþ-Inne schal trouwe hit riht; And þauȝ þow fele no sauour But verrey wyn and bred of fflour, Line 88 Þis is wisdam of godus ordinaunce, To saue vs alle from þis Chaunce: ffor ȝif hit weore as flesch to take, Wiþ-stonde [F. wlate] we scholde and hit forsake; Line 92 And for he nolde we hit forsoke, Bot alle men hit vndurtoke, Þerfore his wisdam his owne rede Sauereþ hit in wyn and Brede. Line 96 Hit semeþ bred as to þe siht And as Bred hit sauereþ riht; Nouþur in siht ne in felyng Knowest þou of no certeyn þing. Line 100 What schal þenne þe most saue But studefast þouht þat þou schalt haue, Studefast trouþe of vch a del, Þat wol vs saue wondur wel. Line 104 And summe han hit seyen Bodily, To whom he schewed his Mercy. Lo her a tale al and sum [F. for of ȝow sum] Þat is In Vitas Patrum: Line 108

Line 108

1. Aarracio cuiusdam religiosi. [MS. Simeon: Quod corpus cristi est veraciter in sacra|mento altaris, realiter, & non figuratiue.]

Hit was a Mon of Religioun, Of alle Men [F. almes] he hedde gret renoun; And, [F. But] for þe fend wolde him haue schent, IIe leeuede not in þe sacrament, Line 112 And seide, hit was not Ihesu Þat Conceyued was þorwh gret vertu, Ne Ihesu was not þat Oble Þat was reised atte sacre Line 116 And þat þe folk honourede to; [F. And þo þat wurschep dede þarto] To leeue hit was not to do. Bi-fore two Abbotes þus he tolde— Þis Abbotes write þis tale to holde, Line 120 Hit scholde be told to eueriche mon [F. euery wham] Þat is aȝeyn þe Cristendom Til hit beo preued bi Clergye Wher hit beo treuþe or heresye. Line 124 Þis Abbotes schewed him þe rihte wey, Wiþ alle þe ensaumples þat þei couþe sey; And al he seide hit was lye, But ȝif he seȝe hit wiþ his eȝe Line 128 "Don [F. Doþe] þen so þat I hit seo, Þen wol I leue þat hit so be." Þis Abbotes preide a ful seue niht Þat he [F. god] wolde schewe him, to trouwe [F. þurghe] his miht, Line 132 In fflesch, in Blod on þe Auteer, To Conferme his trouþe cler. And him-self preide specialy Þat god wolde schewe hym in Body, Line 136 "Lord, [F. L. he seyde] for no mis-bileeue, Þat þow scholdest wiþ me [F. me þe] greue, But forte schewe þe riht soþnes Þat þow art sacrament of þe Mes, Line 140 Þat I may make oþer certeyne Whon I wiþ eȝen haue þe seyȝene." [F. seyne] Þis Abbotes lyȝe in orisoun Til þat þe seueniht were don. Line 144

Line 144 Þe Sonenday [F. seuenþe] to Churche þei come, Þat oþur Mon wiþ hem þei nome. A sege was ordeynt for hem þre, To bi-holde al þat priuite Line 148 Of þat holy Sacrament Þat scholde be schewed in here present. Bi-twene hem sat þis ilke mon Of whom þe Miracle furst bi-gon. Line 152 Whon þe oble was on þe Auter leid And þe prest þe wordes hed seid, Alle þre þouȝte hem [F. þan] verreylike By-fore þe prest a Child lay quik, Line 156 In feir forme, of fflesch and blod; Þis say þei þre þer þey stod. Whon þe prest scholde parte þe sacrament, An Angel [doun] from heuene was sent Line 160 And sacrefyed þe child riht þore: As þe prest hit brac, þe Angel hit schore, Þe Blod in to þe Chalis Ron Of þat child, boþe God and Mon. Line 164 Þe prest [F. þys man] ȝede to þe hiȝeste degre, To hosel him as hit fel to be; Hem [F. Hym] þhouȝte þe prest brouȝte on þe patin [F. pateyn] Mosseles of þat child newe slayn Line 168 And beed him a Mossel of þat fflesch, Wiþ al þe blod þer-on al fresch. Þen gan he crie wiþ loude steuene: "Merci, Godus sone of heuene, Line 172 Þe Bred I sauh on þe Auter lyȝe Hit is þi bodi, I seo wiþ eȝe; Of þe Bred þorwh sacrament To fflesch and Blod hit is went; Line 176 Þis I beo-leeue, and euere I schalle, ffor verreyliche we seon hit alle." Whon he and þei weore alle certeyne, In forme of Bred hit tornde aȝeyne. Line 180 He dude him hosel as oþur wore, And was a good mon for euer-more. And al oþure beo [F. beþ] þe bettre Þat hereþ þis tale or redeþ þis lettre.— Line 184

Line 184 Þe Prest þat sacreþ Godus bodi, He moste beo ful clene nedeli; A lewed mon þat schal hit receyue, Alle-Maner fulþe moot he [F. behoueþ hym] weyue. Line 188 But [om. in F.] beo þou neuere so good a prest Ne neuer so gret wiþ-Inne [F. Ne so grete wytte yn] þi Brest, I rede þou here hou þei [F. þe propertes] are schewed, Al-þauh þei [F. þe langage be but] ben of langage lewed. Line 192 Þou wost wel, in [F. þat] þe Oble Is [F. ys but] a luytel þyng to se: So schaltou beo luytel in wille, Luytel and Muchel [F. meke] wiþ-outen ille, Line 196 Nout in pride ne in heihþe, ffor no wisdam ne no sleihþe; Þe soþe hit is [F. þat we ne falle] wiþ Lucifer, Proude men schal wone [F. ffor pr. m. w. wyþ hym] þer. Line 200 Þe Oble is mad of whete, Þe Beste [F. louelyest] corn þat men of [om. in F.] ete: So schulde we beo meke and louely To alle þo þat ben vs by; Line 204 Þis Mekenes is a-ȝeyn þat [om. in F.] Ire Þat is wiþ Lucifer in þat [om. in F.] fyre. Þe paast of þe oble nouht ne owe Beo maad of no-maner sourdowe, Line 208 ffor þe sourdowe makeþ al soure Þe swettest [F. swetnes] þat comeþ of þe floure. Bi þis sourdowe is tokenynge Þat Envye is a wikked þinge, Line 212 ffor hit for-doþ alle swetnesse of dede, Þat god scholde ȝiue vr soules [F. ȝyue for soule] meede; Þerfore makeþ he non herburgrye Þer he fyndeþ biforen envye. Line 216 O vertue [F. A v. also] In þe whete is Þat is muche a-ȝein Slouhnes: Þer whete comeþ he wol [F. ffor whete-corne wyl] not prike, As Otes don and Barlike; Line 220 Ne we ne scholde not be [F. haue any] prikel In [F. Of] Idelnesse ouer-Mukel; [F. mykyl] Idelnesse gruccheþ and is heui of þouht And is [F. also] soone wroþ for nouht, Line 224

Line 224 And þat wraþþhe comeþ of sorwe, And [F. þat] of wonhope wol muche Borwe. Þis sacrament of þe Messe Loueþ not such Idelnesse, Line 228 Not wiþ non nul he dwelle Bute þer men of þe [om. in F.] Ioye spelle. Þe paast of þe oble seid beo-forn Schal not beo of medlet corn, Line 232 Bote al onliche of whete: ffoule desires [F. þe mastlyoun] schal men lete, Þat bi-meneþ, In no wyse We schal vs ȝiue to [F. medel wyþ] Couetyse, Line 236 Þat is also called [F. And namely wyþ] Aueryce, Þe whuche is a foul [F. ys tolde a] wikked vice. Also þou seost þe oble is þinne And muche honeste wiþ-Inne: [F. & grete dunhede ys noun þer-ynne] Line 240 And þat wol wel signefye Aȝeyn þe sinne of glotenye; Þer wol not þe sacrament reste, Ac [F. þere] glotenye wol him out keste. Line 244 And as [om. in F.] þou sest, þe oble is whit: So schul we haue no-maner delyt Of no-maner fflesches take, [F. of flesshely lak] ffor lecherie [F. Of l. þat] makeþ þe soule blake. Line 248 Þeos seuene partyes [F. propertes] beþ In þe Oble, as we seoþ, And eueri propurte þer-Inne Is aȝein an hed-synne. Line 252 A-ȝeyn þis sacrament do þo Þat aren in synne and þerto go, Or aren in wille aȝeyn to wende To synne and hem-self schende; Line 256 As [F. Also a] prest þat goþ to synge Mes Þat in dedly synne is; An hondred-fold he sungeþ more Þe[n] he a lewed mon wore. Line 260 Alle þat receyue þe sacrament In dedly sunne or wikked entent Or [om. in F.] in eny of þeose [F. þese yche] seuene Þat þou hast here herd nempne, Line 264

Line 264 Riht to [F. Hyt ys to] heore Dampnaciun, And þerfore vengaunce schal be don. And here I schal telle a tale Hou hit is to þat mon Bale: Line 268

2. Aarracio presbiteri parochialis. [MS. Simeon: Quod propter peccatum occultum communio non debet negari.]

A Parisch-prest was in a Toun, Of ful gret discrecioun, fful good and rihtful he was, And god sende hym of his gras: [al. F.: Dyscrecyun a ryȝt wyt ys On boþe partys ryȝtly to ges.] Line 272 Of his parischens he vndurstode Whuche wer vuel and wȝuche wer gode. Two he hedde forte gete Þat nolde neuere synne lete. Line 276 And hit felde [= fell] on an Asterne, Þat þe prest scholde non hosul werne But hit were for þe gretur synne, Inobedience or Corsyng Inne: [F. As yn cursyng or yn vnbuxyme] Line 280 Þis prest was in ful gret þouht Wher he schulde hosele hem or nouht. He preyede to God, heuene-kyng, Þat he wolde sende him tokenyng Line 284 Wheþer he scholde hem hosul [om. in F.] forbede; To ȝiue hit [F. To housel] hem he hedde gret drede. ffrom god he hedde þis onswere: Þat vch on scholde heor oune charge bere, Line 288 And þat he scholde werne hit none But ȝiue hit forþ to euerichone; "Do as Ihesu dude in dede, And þou schalt no mon hit forbede, Line 292 No more þen he dude Iudas Þat hedde I-don a gret trespas; Ihesu ȝaf alle wiþ mylde mood, Whon Bred was turned to flesch and blod. Line 296 ffor summe þat hit take hit schal hem saue, And summe þerfore peyne schal haue; Aftur þey aren of synne clene, Also schal hit on hem beo sene." Line 300

Line 300 Ȝit preyed he god of More grace: Þat he mihte knowe be þe face Whuche resceyued hit worþily, And wȝuche to haue hit not worþi. Line 304 And [god] [om.] graunted him his wille, To knowe þe goode from þe ille. Þe folk þat to þe prest went fforte receyue þe sacrament, Line 308 Of somme þe face was also briht As þe sonne In somer [F. on days] -liht; And summe þe [F. here] visage was also blak Þat noþing miht hit Blakore mak; Line 312 Of somme hit was [F. And some were] as red as blod, Starynge as þei weore wood; Of somme þe visage was bolled [And sum were swolle þe vyseges] stoute, As boþe heore eȝen welleden oute; Line 316 And summe nymped [F. gnapped] wiþ [F. here] feet and hondes, As dogges don þat gnawen heore bondes; And somme hedde visages of Meselri; And somme were lyk foul Maumetri. Line 320 Moni wondres weore on hem seene, Mo þen he couþe þenne deme. [F. se at þat tyme] Þe prest, whon he sauh alle þise, Of þat siht he gan to grise, Line 324 ffor þat siht he [om. in F.] was hidouse And dredful and Meruilouse. [F. perylous] Ȝit preȝede he god wiþ good entent Þat he mihte wite what al þis ment. Line 328 And god almihti louede him wel And wolde schewe him eueridel: "Þo Men þat weore so briht As þe sonne on day-liht, Line 332 Þo Men aren ȝit in Charite And clene of synne, and worschupeþ me. Þo Men þat were so blake Þat no þing mihte hem blakore make, Line 336 Þo weore [F. are] lechours foul wiþ-Inne And haue no wille to leue heor synne. Þo Men þat weore so red as blood, Þei are tirauns [F. Irus &] wikked of mood, Line 340

Line 340 Heore Euencristen for to slo Wiþ dede [F. deþ] and wiþ word also. [or wyþ pyne do wo] Þo þat þow sauh wiþ Bollen visage, Þo aren Envyous and [om. in F.] ouer-outrage. Line 344 And þo þat nymped her fingres and hendes, [F. finger endes] Are Bacbyteres bi-twene frendes. Þo þat þou sauh Meseles bi siht, Þey loue more good þen god almiht. Line 348 Þo þat þou sauh lik Maumetrie, On worldly þinges þei most affye, More loue þei catel þat he haþ sent Þen þei don hym þat al haþ lent. Line 352 Þeose-maner men are riht [F. ȝyt] in wille In heore synne to leue stille, And þerfore schal þe sacrament Of hem aske heor [F. harde] Iugement, Line 356 Þat þei haue resceyued him vnworþily And serued þe fend wiþ ful Envy." [F. hys enemy] Þis tale is told for loue of þo Þat in synne to hosul go, Line 360 Or ben in wille to torne aȝeyn; Al heore trauayle þei don in veyn. Ȝif þou wole [F. whan] þyn hosel saue [shalt] take, Beo in wille þi synne to forsake Line 364 Euermore in studefast herte; And ȝif [F. þoghe; And om.] þou synne in bodi [F. sone aftyr and] smerte, God takeþ hit nouȝt to so gret grim As þou in tresun Receyuede hym. Line 368 In no þing wot I more tresun Þen bringe þi lord on his felun, And ȝit men seiþ þe synne is to greue [F. here s. ys grefe] Þat bringeþ a trewe mon on a þeue. Line 372 Ȝif þou do þus þi witande, Þen chargen hit me [F. men hyt] moste on hande. Þerfore loke þou wite nouht Line 375 No synne I-hud In herte ne þouht! [F. has 2 vv. more.] ffor [F. Also] no Clerk þat is in synne, Til he leue and þer-of blynne He schulde not serue atte Auteer Ne hondle þing þat comeþ þer [F. Ne halewede þyng to come] neer. Line 380

Line 380 I touched er [See Furniv., p. 274-5.] of þis outrage Whon I spac of þe [om. in F.] sacrilage, Þat þe holigost schewed him nouht ffor þe Dekene syngede in þouht; Line 384 In þe tale of Ion Grisostomus Þis tale is told, for ow and vs. Als is he worþi to ben i-schent Þat sone aftur þe sacrament Line 388 To folye and to synne drawes— Luitel of Godus vengaunce hym awes! Ȝif þou forȝete or ouer-sittes Þe tyme of hosul þat þou wel wittes, Line 392 Luitel fors of him þou ȝeues, Nouþur þou louest hym ne leues. [F. þou louest hym nat þat þou by lyues] And ouer al he loueþ þe best; And þou ne wolt a nihtes gest Line 396 Leten hym herborwe in þin hous! Þou art vnkynde and [F. ryȝt] Meruylous, Þat al þe ȝer þou letest him weyue, Wiþ worschipe woltou not him resceyue. Line 400 God Manaseþ for þis chesun, ffor [F. And] riht hit wole and eke resun: ffor suche men aren holden vntrewe In þe Olde lawe and in þe newe. Line 404 Comaunded [F. Comaundement] In þe Olde lawe was Ones in þe ȝeer to schewe þi trespas. Þe newe lawe is of þe more honour, Ones in þe ȝeer [F. Ones to] resceyue þi creatour, Line 408 Ones a ȝer him to knoweleche, Þi lord to plese for doute of wreche. Þat prest i blame ouer alle þinge, Wiþ-outen gret skil þat letteþ to synge; Line 412 ffor mony a soule mihte I-saued be [F. be saued] Wiþ þat Masse þat þenne leueþ he. [F. he haþ leued] ffor alle þat in þe [om. in F.] peyne Is, Abydeþ socour of þe Mes, Line 416 ffor eueri Masse makeþ Memorie Of soules þat aren In purgatorie. Muche þonk schal he [F. þat prest] haue Þat helpeþ soules for to saue; Line 420

Line 420 No þing may so muchel avayle Of heore peynes and heore trauayle As þe sacrament of þe Auteer, Hit [F. Ne] makeþ hem of peynes cleer. [so c.] Line 424 And þat may I schewe apertely Bi a tale of seynt Gregori:

(3.) Aarracio felicis presbitcri.

Seint Gregori seiþ for þe same: Hit was a prest, ffelix his name; Line 428 Bi-syde he wonede [F. hys wonyng] in a paþe, Was a wassching In an hote baþe. Þis prest ofte þider ȝede, To wassche him whon he hedde nede. Line 432 Þis prest þer euer [redi] [F. redy] he fonde A Mon to wassche him, [F. þat serued hym] to foot and honde; He drouȝ his hosen of and his schon And redi was hem on to don; Line 436 At eueri tyme he þider com His herneis [F. Hys shone & hys hosen] feire of he nom, And seruede him at eueri tyde In þat watur and ofte [F. eke] beo-syde. Line 440 Þis prest þat com þider so ofte, Þat þis mon þer seruede so softe, He ne askede hym neuer-more Wheþen he was ne hou he com þore; Line 444 But eueri tyme he was redi And seruede him ful apertely. [F. peynybly (penyblely)] Þis prest þouȝte, "he serueþ me wel, His trauayle wol I quite sum-del." Line 448 On a day he þider þouhte And twey loues wiþ hym he brouhte. In to þat baþ ȝeode þat prest And wusch him as he dude nest; Line 452 Þis mon was þere him aȝeyn, To serue him wel he dude his Mayn. Þis prest, whon he scholde go, [F. furþe go] He ȝaf þis mon þis loues two, Line 456 And þonked him muchel his seruyse, And more he scholde haue [F. he wulde] oþurwyse.

Þis Mon onswerde þis prest a-ȝeyn: "Þis bred ȝe bringeþ to me in veyn, Line 460 ffor neuer-more schal I ȝete Bred ne non oþur mete: I am a Mon þat is ded, Þat neuer-more schal ete bred." Line 464 Þe prest asked: "on what manere Is hit þat þou wonest here?" Þis Mon onswerde in þat tyde: [F. a. & seyd] "I was lord here ar I dyede, [F. deyde] Line 468 And þis seruise þat I am Inne Is þe peyne for my synne. Bote I þe preye par charite, Offre on þe Auter þes loues for me; Line 472 And I beseche þe ouer alle þynge Þat sixe Masses for me þou synge; And heo weore songen, I hope to wende In to þe Ioye wiþ-outen ende. Line 476 And whon þe sixte masse is left, Ȝif þou ne fynde me her eft, Trouwe [þou] þenne forsoþe i-wis Þat for þi preyere I am in Blis." Line 480 Þis prest al þat wike longe ffor þis [F. þys same] mon preyede and songe. And whon þe wike was al gon, Þe prest com þidere, and fond non; Line 484 He hopede [F. beleuede þan] wel þat he was brouht To blisse, for he ne fond him nouht.— Beo þis tale ȝe may se Þat hit is gret Charite Line 488 Masses for þe dede to synge, Þe soules [out] of pyne forte bringe. Ouer [F. Passyng] alle þing hit haþ pouwer, Þe sacrament of þe Auter, Line 492 And nomeliche whon hit is don Wiþ good monnes deuocion; Him wol god sannore here Þen on þat is him nouht so dere. Line 496 In þe seueþe Comaundement Toucheþ to þis sacrament

In a tale of þat [F.a] kniht, Hou þe prest þat liueþ not riht, Line 500 Of his preyere is luytel prou, And þere hit telleþ wel hou. [See F. p. 72-76.] And I schal telle anoþur here Of a Masse of a good frere: Line 504

(4.) hou a man of Souþfolk was saued þorou a masse.

A Mon in Souþfolk ones dyed, Bi-sydes Sudburi, as men seid. ffor þat mon such grace was diht Þat him was graunted to come a niht Line 508 fforte speke wiþ his wyf, To mende þe fautes of his lyf. "Ȝef a Masse," he seide, [om. in F.] "were for me don Wiþ a good monnes deuocion, Line 512 I hope to Ioye for to go And beo dilyueret of al my wo. I preye þe, dame, par charite To trauayle so muche for me." Line 516 Heo graunted hym þat ilke bone, And ros vppon þe morwen sone And to þe ffreres sone heo code, Þer heo hopede best to spede. Line 520 Heo com and spac wiþ a ffrere And preyed heo moste his masse here, And for hire hosebondes soule to synge, And heo wolde ȝiue hym offringe. Line 524 Þe ffrere dude hire a Mes In Comuyn, as þe seruise is. Whon þis Masse I-songen was, Heo wente hom a good pas. Line 528 Þe niht aftur þenne com he. "Slepestou?" he seide. "nay," seide heo; "Are ȝe ȝit," heo seyde, "in blis? Þe Masse for ow I-songen is." Line 532 "Þe Masse," he seide, "þou dudest do, [F. be do] A parti hit helpeþ [F. halpe] me þerto; Mi part ich hedde of þat Mes As of þing þat Comuyn is. Line 536

Line 536 Ȝif on weore specialy for me seid, Of my peyne I were ful leyd, [al. F.] Ȝif þe prest were of lyf so good Þat God his preyere vndurstood; Line 540 I hope þenne grace to haue Þat his Masse mihte me saue;" Ofte he seide to his wyf: "A prest, A prest of clene lyf!" Line 544 On þe Morwen forþ heo eode To þe ffreres eft to [F. et god] spede, And schewed hit to þe priour, And preyed him of socour; Line 548 Ȝif he hedde eny broþur Þat he kneuh [F. hopede were] beter þen oþur, "Þat wol synge me a Mes ffor a Mon þat ded is, Line 552 At [F. And at] myn ese he schal haue To a pitaunce what he wol craue." Þe prior spac to [F. vn-to] a ffrere And preyed him on alle manere Line 556 Þat he wolde a Masse synge ffor þat soule heo made preyinge. Þe ffrere was an holy mon; And ar [þat] he his Masse bi-gon, Line 560 He preyed to god his orison, Wiþ [F. Yn] a gret deuocion, [afflyceyoun] Þat hit mihte ben him to pay, Þe Masse þat he scholde synge to-day. Line 564 Whon þe Masse was don to þe ende, He bad þe wommon hom [to] wende, "And whon þou more eft heres, Cum and sey to vre ffreres!" Line 568 Þe niht aftur—lustneþ now!— He com and seide: "slepestou?" "Nay," heo sayde, "hou fare ȝe?" "Wel," he seide, "and so worþ þe!" Line 572 "Sire, weore ȝe a-payed of þat Mas Þat for ow to-day songen was?" "Ȝe," he seide, "graunt Merci! Þat Masse to me is more worþi Line 576

Line 576 Þen al þe world an hundred siþe, Ne miht haue mad me neuer [F. half] so bliþe. His preyere was to god so dere, ffor al þat he preyede [F. þat he besoghte wyþ] he wolde here; Line 580 Þeih he hedde preiȝed for a þousund mo, ffrom peyne to blisse þei hedde i-go; [F. he had broȝt þo] ffor what þing he hedde asked bone, Line 583 God wolde ha [F. God hade] graunted him ful [as] sone. Haue good day! for now I wende To þat Ioye wiþ-outen ende. God lete þe [F. vs] neuere þer-of mis, Þou ne he, [F. Wyþ-outyn ende] to haue þat blis." Line 588 Þe wyf com sone on þe Morn And fel on knes þat ffrere bi-forn And tolde him þer eueridel Hou he for his preyere was wel. Line 592 And þat ffrere ful wel he [F. þarby] lette, And þonked God, for Ioye he grette. Wel weore hym at his endynge Hedde such a prest for him to synge!— Line 596 In þis tale schewed is: Of [F. Ouer] alle þing good is þe mes, Þe [F. For þe] sacrament on þe Auter Ouer alle passeþ his pouwer. In þe Masse þei hem a-fye Þe soules þat are in purgatorie. [2 vv. om.: ffor hyt makeþ mencyun of þe passyun As Iesu cryst to deþ was doun] Þe sone is offred to þe ffadur of heuene ffor þe soules þe prest wol nempne; Line 604 Þat is þus for to [F. Also þys tale wyl] mene: Ȝif þe prest beo good and clene, Þenne wol Ihesu crist hym heere, ffor what þyng he makeþ preyere; Line 608 Preye he for soule or for bodi, Þat aren in pyne or [F. or here] in nuy, Boþe wol god almihti saue What þe gode prest wolde haue. Line 612 Not only for soulus is he herd, Bote eke for vs here in þis world. Beo a Mon in seknesse or in prisun, Weyferynge, or in temptaciun, Line 616

Line 616 Or in eny oþur trauayle, Þe sacrament wol vs a-vayle; Hit wol delyuere vs out of peyn, Ȝif vr trouþe beo certeyn. Line 620 And þat was wel schewed in dede In Engelonde, so seiþ seint Bede: In his Bokes writen hit is, A feir Miracle of þe Mes: Line 624

(5.) Aarracio Bede. [Cf. Hist. Eccl. IV. c. 22.]

Þat [F. What] tyme seint Bede was liuonde, [man lyuande] Weore Mony kynges in þis londe. Bi-twene two was gret Batayle— Þerfore i telle þis Meruayle; Line 628 Þat on hiht Edfride, of North Cuntre, Þat oþur of lindeseye was he. Edfride hedde gret seygneri, Seynt Andreu hosbonde of hely. [F. Audre] Line 632 Þis Batayle was bi boþe heore a-sent Bi-sydes a watur men calleþ Trent. Sire Elfride [r. Edfrides] broþur hette Eleswynne, [F. Elfwynne] He was slayn þat Batayle Inne; Line 636 On boþe partys ne was non So feir a kniht of fflesch and bon, Ne non so douhti was of Armes— Þerfore seint Bede pleynede his harmes. Line 640 A-noþur kniht was [F. also was] feld doun Nerhonde ded, and fel in swoun; Þe nome of þis ȝonge kniht Ruyna, [F. Iumna] seiþ seint Bede, he hiht. Line 644 Whon þis Ruyna hedde long leyn, He keuerde, and seet vp aȝeyn, And stopped his woundes þei schulde not blede, And, as he mihte, þennes he ȝede, Line 648 To seche him help sumwher to haue, Of [F. Or] frendes fynde him to saue. As he wente wiþ muchel drede, He was taken wiþ kyng Coldrede; [F. Eldrede] Line 652 And brouht him [F. vn-] to a lordyng, An Erl, þat heold of þe kyng.

Þe Erl asked him what he was, And wher he hedde ben in hard cas. Line 656 ffor doute of deþ he was a-friht And dorste not seye he was a kniht; He seide: "sire, ȝif þi wille [MS. welle] be, I am an hosebonde-mon [F. om. mon] of þe cuntre, Line 660 I was wont to lede vitayle To knihtes þat weoren in Batayle; And nou I am a pore mon, Þus fro þis Batayle I com, [F. wan] Line 664 And wolde fonde to haue [F. saue] my lyf, Til I may come to my wyf." Þis Erl dude a leche bi stoundes To tente [F. Tende] to hym, to hele his woundes. Line 668 Þat tyme was here mony þeodes, Mony vsages, and [F. yn] mony leodes, ffor vche a kyng in þat dawes [F. dawe] Vsede his diuerse lawes: Line 672 Summe were cristene in vre fay, And summe leeuede in paynymes lay; Þerfore þat tyme was muchel þro, And ofte was boþe werre and wo. Line 676 Ȝif a kniht [F. kyng] miht oþer men take, He scholde hem sulle or in seruage make. Wherfore i telle so of þis kniht: Þe Erl let him bynde eueriche niht, Line 680 Þat he ne scholde from hym fle Ne stele a-wey to his cuntre. ffor al þat þei mihte him bynde, Ofte loos þei dude hym fynde; Line 684 Neuer so faste þeih heo him bounde, Loos a-noþur tyme þei him founde. Þis bounden kniht, Ruyna, Hedde a Broþur, þat hihte Tymma; [F. Tumna] Line 688 Þis Tymma was prest Religious, ffor he was Abbot of an hous, So longe he liuede in þat estre Þat his nome heet Tymmestre; [F. Tuncestre] Line 692 Þat tyme, [F. tounne] as ich vndurstonde, Hit was in Northhumberlonde.

Þis Abbot hedde tiþinges certeyne Þat Ruyna was in Batayle slayne. Line 696 He com to Trent, þis Abbot Tymma, And fond a bodi lyk to Ruyna; Honorabliche he dude hit graue In his chirche þer he wolde hit haue, Line 700 And song þerfore day and oþur: He wende hit hedde ben his broþur. Þauh Tymma hedde chosun wrong, His broþur hedde þe goodus [F. godenesse] of þe song— ffor God al wot, and wust hit þere Line 705 ffor whom he made his preyere:— Þeih men a-niht þis kniht bounde, A-Morwe þei hym loos founde, Line 708 Men mihte hym neuere bynde so fest [F. yn bondes so feste] Þat þei [[the bonds]] þat tyme nolde al to-berst. Þe men þat hedde þis kniht in holde, Þis wondur to þe Erl þei tolde. Line 712 Þe Erl hedde þer-of gret wondur Þat þis bondes weore so in-sondur; He seide, him-self wolde wiþ him speke And wite whi his bondes dude breke. Line 716 Bi-fore þe Erl was he set, [F. fette] And þe Erl feire he gret. "Sey me," he seide, "þou belamy, Const þou wel on sorcery? Line 720 Sum wicche-craft I trouwe þou bere Þat þi bondes þe not dere; fforsoþe," he seyde, "sumwhat þou dos Þat euer-more þei fynde þe loos." Line 724 He seide: "wicche-craft con I nouht, Ne for me schal non beo wrouht, Ne I nul be by fendes craft vn-bounde beo, [F. ne] bi no wicche-craft. Line 728 Sire Erl," he seide, "hit is a-noþur: In my cuntre I haue a Broþur, Þat leeueþ wel þat I beo slayn, ffor I com not hom aȝeyn; Line 732 ffor me he syngeþ vche day a Mes— prest, abbot forsoþe he is.

I wot wel, þat is þe enchesun Þat my Bondus here [F. are so] vndon; Line 736 ffor no þing ne haues pouwer Aȝeyn þe sacrament of þe auter. ffor, ȝif I weore ded, in oþur werld, His preyere for me weore I-herd, Line 740 To bringe me out of peyne and wo, And siþen to blisse forte go." Al þat Meyne and þat Erl Leeuede wel he was no cherl, Line 744 as [MS. And as] he to-fore hem hedde i-seid Whon þei on hym furst hond leyd; Bi his semblaunt and feir beryng Hym semed wel a gret [F. to be a] lordyng, Line 748 Bi his speche þei vndurstood Þat he was mon of gentil blod. Þe Erl tok him in priuite, Wheþen he was telle scholde he; Line 752 "Sey me soþ, and, as I am trewe [om. in F.] kniht, Þou schalt no skaþe haue, be my miht." [F. ne plyȝt] "Seþþhe þou me bi-hotest pes and griþ, I am þe kynges mon Eldriþ; [F. Edfryth] Line 756 Armes I bar in þat Batayle, Wiþ my pouwer him to auayle." "So me þhouȝte," seide þe Erl, "Þou [F. þe] semed not to ben a cherl. Line 760 Bote for þi knowlechyng her me bye [F. But for þat y here þe seye] Þou weore worþi for to dye, ffor þou halp [F. hylpe] þer to slo, Þat al my kynde is ded me fro; Line 764 Bote, for I er sikerde þe, Scha[l]t þou haue no skaþe for me." He eode and sold him for Raunsoun At Londone to a ffrisoun. Line 768 A ffrisoun, ȝe schul vndurstonde, Is a Mon of ffrys-londe. Þis ffrisoun scholde þis Mon forþ lede, And dude on him bondes for drede, Line 772 ffor a-skapyng bi þe weye He dude bondes on him leye.

Bot þat vaylede him no-þyng Neuer a day, þat byndyng: Line 776 ffor in þat tyme þe masse was songen, Þe bondes to-barst and al to-sprongen. Þis ffrison þhouȝte: "hou may þis beo? He may riht wel from me fleo; Line 780 Happyliche hit a-vayleþ [F. vayled] nouht Þe Catel þat I wiþ him bouht." Þe ffrison seide: "wolt þou wel Restore a-ȝeyn al my Catel, Line 784 And I schal ȝiue þe leue to go To þi Cuntre þat þou com fro. But furst þou schalt me trouþe pliht, And trewely hold hit wiþ al þi miht, Line 788 To bringe þe Catel I ȝaf for þe, And elles I graunte þe not fre." He graunted him al þat he seide, And trouþe in hond wiþ hym he leide. Line 792 Þis Ruyna wente to kyng loer, Þat was kyng of Caunturber— He was seint Andreas [F. Andre] suster sone, And Ruyna was wont wiþ hym [F. here] to wone; Line 796 Of al his stat, boþe wo and wele, Ruyna told him eueridele. Þe kyng ȝaf him his Raunsun; And [he] bar hit to londun to þat ffrisun. Line 800 Seþþe eode he hom, þis kniht Ruyna, To his broþur, Abbot Timma, And tolde him of al his wo-fare And of his cumfort in al his care. Line 804 Þis Abbot wel vndurstood Þat his Masse dude him gret good And þe sacrament gon hym borwe Out of seruage and out of sorwe. Line 808 Þis tale telleþ vs seynt Bede In his gestes þat we Rede.— Bi þis tale may men lere Þat Masses helpeþ vs wel here: Line 812 ffor vs liuynge hit makeþ Memorie, Also for þe soules in purgatorie.

Vche mon schal leeue þat riht Þat helpen hit wolle as [hit] dude [F. þat holpe wyl be as was] þe kniht. Line 816 Þis sacrament helpeþ not ȝit alone, Bote þe offrynges euerichone, Al þat we offre atte Mes, Al to vre saluacion hit is. Line 820 Not only forte saue þe dede, [F. þo þat dede beþ] Þe quike hit saueþ also and rede; [F. redeþ] As wel haue þe quike þe prou As þe dede þerof þe vertu nou [om. in F.] ; Line 824 Quike and dede, More and lesse Ben I-saued þorwh þe Messe. Þe Offringe is as a present, Þat helpeþ vs wiþ þe sacrament, Line 828 To þe ffadur of heuene tentefuly, ffor whom þou offerest to haue Merci. A tale I fond ones I-writen, And as I sauh hit, I wol ȝe witen, Line 832 And wel a-cordeþ in alle þinge Þat God is payed of good offringe.

(6.) Of a man þat was closed in a myne.

Hit was a Mon bi-ȝonde þe séé, A Mynour, wonede In a Citee. Line 836 Mynours, þei makeþ in hulles holes, As men don þat secheþ coles. Þe [r. þis] Mynour souht stones vndur molde Þat Men of maken seluer and golde. Line 840 He wrouhte and holede in þe hille. A perilous chaunce fel hym tille: A gret parti of þe Myne ffel doun þer and closed hym Inne. Line 844 His felawes alle þat weren hym hende, Þat he weore ded wel þei wende; Þei eode and tok hem alle to Rede, And tolde his wyf þat he was dede. Line 848 Þis wommon bi-menede hir hosebonde sore— God leeue þat mony such wymmen wore!— Heo helped his soule in alle þynge, In almes-dede and in offringe; Line 852

Line 852 Heo Offred for him atte Auter fful of wyn a picher, And [a] feir lof wiþ-al, Eueri day as [F. as for a] principal, Line 856 And al þat twelf-moneþ stabely, Bote o day þat passed forby. ffewe suche wymmen [now] we fynde Þat to heore hosebondes are so kynde! Line 860 Bote þis wyf wiþ al hire miht Dude for him [boþe [F. boþe; MS. Vern. om.] ] day and niht. Hit fel at þe twelfmoneþ ende, His felawes to þe hul gon wende, Line 864 And come to þat same stude eft Þer þei heore felawe in werk left. Riht þere þei furst bi-gon Þei percede þorwh in to þe Mon: Line 868 Þe Mon In good stat þei founde, Liuinge, wiþ-outen wem or wounde. Euerichone þei hedde ferly, And þat was gret Resun why! Line 872 Alle þo men weore in gret weer How he hedde lyued al þat ȝer. Bote þenne he tolde hem euerichon How he hedde lyued þer al-on: Line 876 "I haue I-liued gracious lyf Þorwh cortesye of my wyf: Eueri day heo haþ me sent Bred and wyn to present; Line 880 But o day, þenne eet I nouht, ffor my mete me nas not brouht." Þei ladde þe mon in to þe toun, And tolde þis Miracle vp and doun, Line 884 ffurst þorwh þe Citéé, And seþþe þorwh al þe contre. Hit com in spekyng [F. þey asked hym] atte laste Þat day þat he dude faste. Line 888 He tolde hem þe dayes name, And his wyf seide þe same: Þat day heo offrede neuer a del, Þe goode ffriday hit mihte be wel. Line 892

Line 892 Now may ȝe here þat almes-dede Gostlyche wole a mon fede, And so may ȝe wel vnderstande Þat God is payed of good offrande.— Line 896 ffor al þis tale in ȝor lyues Trustneþ not in ȝor wyues, Ne in ȝour children no-þing; Makeþ or-self ȝour offring! Line 900 So kynde a wommon as I of tolde Liueþ not now, beo ȝe bolde! Ne no clerk þat þis redes Schal fynde non nou of so kynde dedes.— Line 904 Ȝe men þat are nou In present, Þat hereþ rede þis sacrament, Ouer alle þing hit haþ power, Þe sacrament on þe Auter, Line 908 As I haue here to ow i-schewed, Not to lered bote to lewed. Ȝe lewede men, I telle hit ow— Þis clerkes con hit wel I-nouh. Line 912 Preiȝe we þenne vr creatour, Þat [om. in F.] þe sacrament, vr saueour, Þat Bodi and soule he wol vs saue, And we him to [om. in F.] loue and he us to [om. in F.] haue. Amen. Line 916