Selections from early Middle English, 1130-1250 [extracts]

XXIII. KENTISH SERMONS

Sermo jn die epiphanie. [f. 128 v1]

CVM natus esset ihesus in betleem iude in diebus herodis regis ecce magi ab oriente uenerunt ierosoli∣mam dicentes. Vbi est qui natus est rex iudeorum. ¶ We redeth i þo holi godespelle of te dai ase ure louerd godalmichti [ 5] i bore was of ure lauedi seinte Marie i þe cite of bethleem. þet si sterre was seauinge of his beringe. swo a pierede te þo þrie kinges of heþenesse. to janes þo sunne risindde. And al swo hi bi knewe [f. 128 v2] his beringe bi þo sterre. swo hi nomen conseil be tuene hem þet hi wolden gon for to hyne an uri. and þet hi wolden offri [ 10] him· gold· and stor· and Mirre. And al swo hi hedden aparailed here offrendes swo kam si sterre þet yede to for hem in to ierusalem. Þere hi speken to herodes and hym askede. wer was se king of gyus þet was i bore. And herodes i herde þet o king was i bore þet solde bi

king of geus. swo was michel anud. and alle hise men. for þet he was [ 15] of dred for to liese his king riche of ierusalem. Þo dede he somoni alle þo wyse clerekes þet kuþe þe laghe and hem askede wer crist solde bien i bore. Hi answerden þet ine ierusalem. for hit was swo i seid and be hote hwilem bi þo profetes. And al swo herodes i herde þis. swo spac te þo þrie kinges. and hem seide. Goþ ha seide into [ 20] bethleem and sechez þet child. and wanne ye hit habbeth hi funde swo an uret hit. and efter þet cometh to me. and hic wille go and an uri hit. [f. 129 r1] Þet ne seide he nocht herodes for þet he hit wolde on uri{punctel} ac for þet he hit wolde slon. yef he hit michte finde. Þo kinges hem wenten and hi seghen þo sterre þet yede bi fore hem. [ 25] al wat hi kam over þo huse. war ure louerd was. and al swo hi hedden i fonden ure louerd{punctel} swo hin an urede. and him offrede hire offrendes. Gold. and. stor. and Mirre. Þo nicht efter þet aperede an ongel of heuene in here slepe ine metinge and hem seide and het. þet hi ne solde a yen wende be herodes. ac be an oþer weye wende into hire [ 30] londes. ¶ Lordinges and leuedis þis is si glorius miracle. and si glorius seywinge of ure lordes beringe. þet us telþ þet holi godespel of te day. and ye muee wel under stonde be þo speche of þe godspelle þet me sal to dai mor makie offrinke þan an oþren dai. and þer of us yeft ensample þo þrie kinges of heþenesse. þet comen fram verrene [ 35] londes ure louerd [f. 129 r2] to seche. and him makie offrinke. And be þe't' hi offrede gold. þet is cuuenable yeftte to kinge{punctel} seawede þet he was sothfast kink. and be þet hi offréde Stor. þet me offrede wylem be þo ialde laghe to here 'godes' sacrefise{punctel} seawede þe he was verray prest. And be þet hi offrede Mirre. þet is biter þing. signefieth þet hi [ 40] hedde be liaue þet he was diadlich. þet diath solde suffri for man ken. Nu i hiereth wet signefieth þet Gold. þet. Stor. þet Mirre. And offre we Gostliche to ure lorde. þe't' i offrede flesliche. Þet Gold þet is bricht and glareth ine þo brichtnesse of þo sunne. signefieth þe gode beleaue. þet is bricht ine þe gode cristenemannes herte. Si gode [ 45] beleaue licht and is bricht ine þo herte of þo gode Manne ase gold. Offre we þanne god almichti god gold. Be leue we stede fast liche. þet 'he is' fader and sune. and holy gost. is onlepi god. Wo so hath beleaue ine gode swo offreth him god gold [f. 129 v1] þet Stor signefied gode werkes. for ase se smech of þe store wanne hit is i do [ 50]

into þe ueréé and goth upward to þo heuene and to gode ward Swo amuntet si gode biddinge to gode of þo herte of þo gode cristenemanne. Swo we mowe sigge þet stor signefieth þe herte. and se smech luue of [53. After stor, e erased.] gode. Bi 'þet' Mirre þat is biter. and be þo biternesse defendet þet [54. Bi] Li MS.] Cors þet is mide i smered. þet no werm nel comme i hende{punctel} signefiet [ 55] þo gode werkes þet is biter to þo yemernesse of ure flesce. Si Mirre signefiet uastinge. for þo luue of gode wakie. go ine pelrimage. uisiti þe poure. and to sike. and to do alle þe gode þet me may do for godes luue. þo ilke þinges so bieth bitere to þo wrichede flessce. Ac al so si mirre loket þet bodi þet no werm ne may þer i hende come{punctel} so us defendet [ 60] þo iléke þinges fram senne. and fram þe amonestement of þo dieule þet ha ne may us mis do. Lordinges nu ye habbet i herd þo signe∣fiance of þo offringes þet maden [f. 129 v2] þo þrie kinges of heþenesse to gode. hye habbet to gode 'i offred' of yure selure. and of [64. i offred on margin.] yure erþliche godes. Ne ne offreth him nacht on lepiliche to day. ac [ 65] alle þo daies i þo yere gostliche. Gold. and Stor. and Mirre. ase hic habbe i told. Gold{punctel} fore Gode belaue. Stor{punctel} for holy urisun. Mirre. for gode werkes. þet bieth þo offringes. þet ure louerd be sekeþ auerichedaye þo cristenemanne. and werefore se xpistenman yef has deþ{punctel} of seruet þo blisce of heuene. And ihesu crist þet for us wolde [ 70] an erþe bi bore. and anured of þo þrie kinges of painime{punctel} he yeu[e] [71. yeuus MS.] us his grace of þo holi gost in ure hertes wer bi we moue hatie þo ileke þinges þet he hatedh. and lete þo ileke þinges þat he for biet. and luuie þo ilek þinkes þat he luued. and do þo ilek þinges þat he hóót. ine him so bileue and bidde and serui. þet we mowe habbe þo blisce [ 75] of heueriche. Quod uobis prestare dignetur per.

Domini[ca] secunda post octavam epiphanie. Sermo euan.

Nuptie facte sunt in chana [f. 130 r1] galiléé. & erat mater ihesu ibi. Vocatus est autem ihesus ad nuptias & discipuli eius. ¶ Þet holi godspel of to day us telþ. þet a bredale [ 80] was i maked ine þo londe of ierusalem. in ane cite þat was i cleped Cane in þa time þat godes sune yede in erþe flesliche. 'ac' To þa bredale [82. flesliche ac. To MS.]

was ure leuedi seinte Marie. and ure louerd ihesus crist and hise deciples. so iuel auenture þet wyn failede. at þise bredale. þo seide ure leuedi seinte Marie. to here sune. hi ne habbet no wyn. And ure [ 85] louerd answerde and sede to hire. Wat be longeth hit to me oþer to þe wyman. Nu ne dorste hi namore sigge. ure lauedi. Hac hye spac to þo Serganz þet seruede of þo wyne. and hem seyde. al þet he hot yu do{punctel} so doþ. And ure louerd clepede þe serganz and seyde to hem. ffol vellet ha seyde. þos ydres. þet is to sigge þos Cróós. oþer [ 90] þos faten of watere. for þer were. vi. ydres of stone. þet ware i clepede baþieres wer þo gius hem wesse for clenesse. and for religiun. Ase þe custome [f. 130 r2] was ine þo time. þo serganz uuluelden þo faten of watere and hasteliche was i went into wyne. bie þo wille of ure louerde. þo seide ure lord. to þo serganz. Moveth to gidere and [ 95] bereth to Architriclin. þat was se þet ferst was i serued. And al so hedde i drunke of þise wyne þet ure louerd hedde i maked of þe watere{punctel} ha niste nocht þe miracle. ac þo serganz wel hit wiste. þet hedde þet water i brocht. þo seide Architriclin to þo bredgume. Oþer men seyde he doþ forþ þet beste wyn þet hi habbeþ ferst at [ 100] here bredale. and þu hest ido þe contrarie þ'e't þu hest i hialde þet beste wyn wath nu{punctel} Þis was þe commencement of þo miracles of ure loruerde þet he made flesliche in erþe. and 'þo' beleuede on him{punctel} his diciples. Ine sigge nacht þet hi ne hedden þer before ine him beliaue{punctel} ac fore 'þe' miracle þet hi seghe{punctel} was here beliaue þe more [ 105] i strengþed. Nu ye habbeþ i herd þe Miracle. nu i hereþ þe signe∣fiance. Þet water bi tockned se euele xpisteneman. [f. 130 v1] for al so þet water is natureliche schald and a kelþ alle þo þet hit drinkeþ{punctel} so is se euele xpisteman chald of þo luue of Gode. for þo euele werkes þet hi doþ. Ase so is Lecherie. spusbreche. Roberie. [ 110] Manslechter. husberners. bakbiteres. and alle oþre euele deden. [111. Manslechtes MS.] þurch wyche þinkes man of serueth þet fer of helle. Ase godes oghe mudh hit seid. and alle þo signefied þet water{punctel} þet þurch yemere werkes. oþer þurch yemer i wil liesed þo blisce of heuene. þet wyn þat is naturel liche hot ine him selue{punctel} and an het alle þo þet hit drinked{punctel} [ 115] be tokned alle þo þet bied an héét of þe luue of ure lorde. Nu

lordinges ure lord god almichti. þat hwylem in one stede. and ine one time flesliche makede of watere wyn{punctel} yet habbeþ manitime [118. hadeþ MS.] maked of watere wyn{punctel} gostliche. wanne þurch his grace maked of þo euele manne good man. of þe orgeilus umble. of þe lechur chaste. [ 120] of þe niþinge [f. 130 v2] large. and of alle oþre folies{punctel} so ha maket of þo watere wyn. þis his si signefiance of þe miracle. Nu loke euerich man toward him seluen. yef he is win{punctel} þet is to siggen yef he is [123. he he is win MS.] an heet of þo luue of gode. oþer yef he is water. þet is yef þu art chold of godes luue. yef þu art euel man{punctel} besech ure lorde þet he do ine þe [ 125] his uertu. þet ha þe wende of euele into gode. and þet he do þe do swiche werkes þet þu mote habbe þo blisce of heuene. Quod uobis. prestare dignetur.

Dominica tercia post octavam epiphanie.

Cvm descendisset ihesus de monte. secute sunt eum [ 130] turbe multe. Et ecce leprosus ueniens adorabat eum dicens. Domine si uis{punctel} potes me mundare. ¶ Þet holi godspel of to dai us telþ. þet ure lord ihesus crist. ase he hedde i yue þo newe laghe. in one montayne. and hedde i maked þet formeste sarmun þet euerte made in erþe{punctel} suo him folgede michel folk. Swo [ 135] kam a leprus. a sikman and onurede him and seyde. Lord. [f. 131 r1] lord ha seide yef þu wilt{punctel} þu me micht wel makie hool of mine lepre. of mine euele. And ure lord him seide and spredde his hond. and tok his lepre{punctel} hic wille seide ure lord þet þu bi clensed. and al so raþe he was i warisd of his maladie. Nu lordinges þis is þe miracle [ 140] þet þet godspel of te dai us telþ. ac great is þe tokningge. Se leprus signefiez þo senuulle men. si lepre þo sennen. þet scab bi tokned þo litle sennen. si lepre be tokned þo grete sennen þet biedh diadliche. Ase so is lecherie. spusbreche. Gauelinge. Roberie. þefte. Glutunie. drunkenesse. and alle þo sennen þurch wiche me liest þo luue of gode [ 145] almichti and of alle his haleghen. þurch S'c'ab nis nacht man and wyman deseiurd fram mannes felarede. Ne for þo litle sennen. þet noman hine ne mai loki. nis noon deseurd pardurableliche fram gode{punctel} ne fram holi chereche. for lepre is man deseurd of þo com∣painie

of gode and of alle his angles. þat is to sigge for diadliche [ 150] senne. [f. 131 r2] Nu ye habbet i herd þe miracle and wet hit be tokned. Nu loke we yef we bieþ clene of þise lepre. þat is to siggen of diadliche senne. Se [leprus] liest þe felarede of oþer men{punctel} for se þet sterft inne diadliche senne{punctel} so for liest þe compainie of gode. And yef ye bieþ clene{punctel} lokeþ þet ye ne falle nocht. þet ye ne [ 155] bie deseuerd fram þe felarede of gode al michti. þurch none euele werkes þurch none euele i wil. And yef ye bieþ leprus þurch diadliche senne. greded gode Merci{punctel} þet þo leprus yaf helþe ine bodie{punctel} þet he us yeue gostliche helþe. in ure saule. Comeþ to srifte for leted yure sennen and þer of bieþ a soiled. þanne sollie habbe þo helþe of [ 160] heuene. þat is lif with uten ende. Quod nobis. prestare dignetur. per.

Dominica quarta post octavam epiphanie.

Ascendente ihesu in nauiculam. secuti sunt eum discipuli eius. Et ecce motus factus est magnus in mari. Ita [ 165] ut nauicula operiretur fluctibus. Erat autem illis{punctel} uentus contrarius. [f. 131 v1] ¶ We redeth i þe holi godspelle of to dai þat ure lord ihesu crist yede one time in to ane ssipe and ise deciples mid him in to þe séé. And so hi were in þo ssipe so a ros a great tempeste. of winde. And ure lord was i leid him don to slepe. ine þo [ 170] ssipe. er þane þis tempeste a róós. Hise deciples hedde gret drede of þise tempeste. so a wakede hine. and seiden to him. lord saue us{punctel} for we perisset. And ha wiste wel þet hi ne hadde nocht gode beleaue ine him{punctel} þo seide to hem. wat dret yw folk of litle beliaue. Þo a ros up ure lord and tok þane wynd and to séé{punctel} and al so raþe hit was [ 175] stille. And al se þo men þet weren in þo ssipe hedde i seghe þo miracle so awondrede hem michel. Þis is si vaire miracle þet þet godspel of te day us telþ. Þere fore sal hure be liaue bie þe betere a strengþed. Ine swiche lorde þet siche miracle mai do and doþ wanne he wile. Ac hit is us nyede þet se þet sucurede hem ine þa peril{punctel} þet [ 180] us sucuri ine [f. 131 v2] ure niedes. Þet we clepie to him þet ha us helpe. and he hit wille do bleþeliche. yef we him bisecheth merci mid good i wille al so him seluen seith bi þe holi writes. Salus populi ego sum. & cetera. Hic am ha seiþ helere of þe folke. wanne

hi to me clepiedh ine hire sorghen. and ine hire niedes hic hi sucuri [ 185] and beneme hem al here euel with ute ende. Grede we to him merci sikerliche. yef se deuel us wille a cumbri þurch senne. Þurch prede oþer þurch an vie. oþer þurh wreþe. oþer þurch oþer manere of diadliche senne grede we to him Merci. and sigge we him lord sauue us þet we ne perissi. and þet he us deliuri of alle eueles. and þet ha [ 190] yef us swiche werkes to done in þise wordle{punctel} þet þo saulen of us mote bien isauued a domes dai. and gon to þo blisce of heuene. Quod ipse prestare dignetur.

Dominica In sexagesima. Sermo.

SImile est regnum celorum homini patrifamilias. qui [ 195] exijt primo mane conducere operarios in uineam suam.

¶ Hure lord godalmichti to us spekeþ ine þo holi [f. 132 r1] godespelle of te day. and us seaweth one forbisne. þet yef we uilleth don his seruise. þe't' we sollen habbe [ 200] þo mede wel griat ine heuene. For so seyth ure lord ine þo godspelle of to dai. þet on goodman was. þat ferst uut yede bi þe Moreghen for to here werkmen in to his winyarde. for ane peny of forewerde. and al so he hedde i mad þise forewerde{punctel} so ha sente hi into his wyn∣yarde. so ha dede at undren and at midday al so. þo þat hit was [ 205] a yen þan euen{punctel} so ha kam into þe Marcatte. so he fond werkmen þet were idel. þo seyde he to hem. Wéé bie ye idel{punctel} and hie answer∣den{punctel} and seyde. lord{punctel} for we 'ne' fonden te dai þat us herde. Goþ nu ha seide se godeman into mine wynyarde{punctel} and hic þat richt is{punctel} yu sal yeue. þos yede into þise wynyarde. mid þo oþre. þo þet hi wel [ 210] euen. þo seide þe lord to his sergant. Clepe þo werkmen and yeld hem here trauail. and a gyn to hem þat comen last. and go al to þo ferste. yef eue [f. 132 r2] riche of hem ane peny. Se sergant dede þes lordes commandement. so paide þo werkmen and yaf euerich ane peny. And so hi seghen þo þet bi þe Morghen waren i comen. þet [ 215] hi þet waren last i cume. Hedden here euerich ane peny{punctel} Þo wenden hi more habbe{punctel} þo gruchchede hi a menges hem. and seyden. þos laste on ure habbeþ i travailed. and þu his makest velaghes to us. þet habbeth al deai i bye ine þine wynyarde. and habbetþ iþoled þe berdene

of þo pine. and of þo hete of al þo daie. þo ansuerede se gode man [ 220] to on of hem. Frend ha seide ine do þe noon unricht. Wat for þingketh þat hic do min i wil{punctel} and al so ure lord hedde i told þise forbisne{punctel} so he seide efter ward. so sulle þo uerste bie last{punctel} and þo laste ferst. Fele bieþ i clepede{punctel} ac feaue bieþ i cornéé. Nu i hereþ [224. On margin, Multi sunt uocati{punctel} pauci.] þe signefiance. þes godeman{punctel} be tockneþ godalmichti ure lord. Se [ 225] winyard be tockneþ. þe seruise of ure lorde. þe werkmen. be tockneþ alle þo þet doþ cristes seruise. [f. 132 v1] þo tides of þo daie{punctel} be tok∣neþ þe time of þis world. Bie þe Morghen i herde ure lord werkmen in to his winyarde. þo ha sente þe patriarches. ate begininge of þis wordl. ine is seruise. þet þurch gode beleauéé him seruede. and seden [ 230] his techinge to alle þo þet hi hedden hit to siggen. Al so at undren. and at midday. i herede he werkmen into is winyarde. þo ha sente be þo time þet Moyses was and aaron. and i þe time of his prophetes dede he mani god man in to his seruise{punctel} þet þurch griate luue to him helden. and deden his seruise. To yenes þan euen{punctel} godalmichti [ 235] [235. þan] þā MS.] i hierde werkmen in to his winyarde. þo þat he alast of þis wordle naam fles and blod ine þe Maidene seinte Marie. and seauede ine þis world. þo fond he Men. þet al day hedden i be idel. Werefore he fond þet heþen folk þet be þo time þet was i go{punctel} hedden i be ut of godes be liaue. and of his luue. and of his seruise. Hi ne hedden [ 240] nocht i be idel [f. 132 v2] for to done þo deueles werkes. Ac þere fore seith þet godspel þet hedden i be idel{punctel} þo þet hi nedden bi leued ane god almichti. ne him louie ne him serui. For al þat is ine þis wordle. þet man is. bote yef ha luuie godalmichti. and him serui{punctel} al hit him may þenche for lore and idelnesse. þo a resunede ure lord þe paens [ 245] be ise apostles. vre fore hi hedden i be so longe idel. þo þet hi ne hedden i be in his seruise{punctel} þo ansuerden þe paens{punctel} þet non ne hedden i herd hij. þet is to sigge þet hi ne hedden neuer te i hee[r]d prophete ne a postle ne prechur. þet hem seaude ne hem tachte hu i solden ine gode beleue ne him serui. Goþ a seide ure lord inte mine [ 250] winyarde. þet is inte mine beleaue. and hic yw sal yeue yure peni þet is heueriche blisce. þo heþen men yeden be þa daghen into cristes seruise{punctel} and we þet of hem bieþ i cume. and habbeþ cristendom

under fonge{punctel} bieþ i entred in to cristes seruise þere fore we sollen habbe ure peni þet is þe blisce of heuene. [f. 133 r1] al so wel ase [ 255] þo þet comen bi þe Morghen. for al so we hopieþ for te habbe heue∣riche blisce{punctel} ase þo patriarches and þo prophetes. and þo apostles and þo gode men þet hwilem ine þis world godalmichti serueden. So as we habeþ i seid of diuers wordles. þet god almichti dede werkmen into his winyarde{punctel} so we mowe sigge of þo elde of eueriche men. [ 260] For godalmichti deþ werkmen into his winyarde bi þe Morghen. Wanne ha clepeþ of swiche þer bieþ into his seruise ine here child∣hede. Wanne hi of þis world wendeþ. beswo þet hi ne be ine no diadlich senne. At undren ha sent men in to his winyarde. þet a turneþ into his seruise. of age of man. At Middai wanne þo dai is [ 265] alþer hotestd be tokned þo men of .xxx^ti. wyntre. oþer of furti. for þe nature of Man is of greater strengþe and of greater hete ine þo age. Se euen bi tockneþ. elde of Man. þet is se ende of þe liue. Vre lord deþ werkmen in to his winyarde a genes þo e [f. 133 r2] uen{punctel} Wanne fele ine here elde wendeþ ut of here senne in to cristes seruise. As so [ 270] solle hi habbe þo blisce of heuene{punctel} ase þo þet ferst comen into þe winyyarde. Nocht for þan for þise griate bunte þet ure iord yefþ ne solde no man targi for to wende to godalmichti ne him to serui. for al so seid þet holi writ þet non ne wot þane dai of his diaþe. for Man mai longe liues wene and ofte him legheþ se wrench. Nu gode men [ 275] ye habbeþ i herd þet godspel and þe forbisne. Nu lokeþ yef ye bieþ with inne þo winyarde. þet is þet yef ye bieþ ine godes seruise yef ye bieþ with ute diadliche senne yef ye hatied þat he hateþ. yef ye luuieþ [278. he he MS.] þet he luueþ. and doþ þet he hot. and but ye do{punctel} ye bieþ hut of his winyarde. þe is ut of his seruise. and ye doþ þet ure lord hóót. so ye [ 280] of serueþ þane peni. þet 'is' heueriche blisce. ye of serueþ þet good þet noon herte ne may i þenche ne noon yare i here ne tunge telle. þo blisce þet god [f. 133 v1] halt alle þo þet hine luuieþ. þider lord granti us to cumene. Quod ipse prestare dignetur. per.