King Horn ; Floriz and Blauncheflur ; The assumption of Our Lady / first edited in 1866 by J. Rawson Lumby ; and now re-edited from the MSS. with introduction notes, and glossary, by George H. McKnight.

HIC INCIPIT ASSUMPCIO BEATE MARIE

Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 10,036, lf. 62.

IN honorance of ihesu cryst Sitteþ stille and haueþ lyst; And ȝif ȝe wille to me here, Off oure ladi ȝe mai lere, [ 4] Floure of heuene, ladi and quene, As sche auȝt wel to bene, To wham aungeles doun here myȝt To serue hure boþe day and nyȝt. [ 8] Par auenture ȝe haue noȝt iherde How oure ladi went out of þis werde: Sitteþ stille and herkeneþ to me; Now ihesu cryst oure helpe be! [ 12] ¶ Whan ihesu crist was doun on þe rode And þolede deþ for oure goode, He callide to hym seynt Iohan, That was his fleschli kynnes man. [ 16] His moder swete he dide also; He callid no men mo him to. And seide, "womman, lo here þi sone, And, man, take hure to moder in good wone. [ 20] And þenkeþ on my sorwe nowe How I hange here abowe, How I hange apone a tre, Ful sore, I wote, hit reweþ þee. [ 24] Myn feet, myn hondes, of blode ben rede; [leaf 62, back]

With owte gilt I þole dede. But þei haue wille to louen me For wham I hange on þis tree. [ 28] The Iewis me deden mychel schame; Ther of hadde I neuer blame." [No gap in MS.] MArie his moder sore dide wepe; The teeres fellen at hure fete. Nas no wondre þouȝ sche wepe sore; Of sorwe wist sche neuer more. [ 34] When he þat of hure flesche nam, For his holi swete nam, Honge þer nailed to a tre, "Alas, my sone," þo saide sche, "How mai I lyue? how mai I bene? How mai I þis sorwe ysene? [ 40] Neuer ere wist I of sorwe nouȝt; Leue sone, what hauest þou þouȝt? How schal I leue with oute þee? Leue sone, what saist þou to me?" Ihesu spak þo wordes goode, [ 45] As he henge on þe rode, And seide to his moder dere, "I schal þee take a trewe fere, [ 48] That trewly schal kepen þee, [leaf 63] While in erþe þou schalt be." Than seide Ihesu to seynt Iohan, "For my loue kepe wel þis womman. Kepe hure wel with al þi myȝt, [ 53] That no man do hure vnryȝt." ¶ Þan nam þe apostel, seynt Iohan, On his kepynge þis womman. [ 56] He kept hure wel with al his myȝt, That no man do hure none vnryȝt. [[MS. viryȝt]] To þe temple he hure nam, And also sone as he þer cam, [ 60] God to serue he hure dede, Amonge þe nunnes in þat stede.

Ther sche bileft al hure lyfe, Ne loued sche noþer fiȝt ne stryf. [ 64] ¶ The ladies þat þer Inne weren, Ful wel þei ne myȝt hure forberen, For euer þe while sche was þore, Sche wolde serue las and more. [ 68] Seke and hole sche dide gode And seruede hem to hande and fote. Naked and hungry sche cloþed and fedde; [ 71] Colde and seke sche brouȝt to bedde. Ne was þer noþer seke ne fere, [ 63, bk.] That þei nadde to hure mystere. Thei louede hure wel with al here myȝt; [ 75] Sche it serued and þat was ryȝt. Sche woke more þan sche slepe; Hure sone to serue was al hure kepe, To hym sche callid with rewful steuene, [ 79] And he hure sent an angel fro heuene, To glade hure, hym self he cam, That of hure bodi flesche nam. [ 82] Seynt Iohan hure keper was hure dere, And to hure was a trewe fere. Ne wolde he neuer fro hure gone; Al þat sche wolde he wolde done. [ 86] While sche was in þat stede, Al þat sche wolde he hure dede. When sche hadde þer longe ben, That faire ladi, heuene quen, [ 90] Than wolde hure sone sche com him to. When he wolde, hit was do. He sent to hure an angel of heuene, That gret hure with myry steuene, Ther sche was and bad hure bede, Lyȝth an angel in þat stede, [ 96] And seide, "ladi, ful of grace, [leaf 64]

"Blessed be þou in eche place. Be nouȝt adrad þouȝ I be here; I am þi sones messagere. [ 100] Fro hym I am to þe come; He gret þee wel, þi dere sone. Floure of erþe, heuene quene, Blessed mote þou euer bene. [ 104] Wel be þat tyme þat þou was born, For al þis worlde hit was forlorn, Ȝif þou ne were and þe fruyt of þee; Marie, ladi, wel þee be. [ 108] Ladi, best of al þinge, Bliþe tiþynges I þee brynge, Thou take þis palme þat I brynge þee; Thi dere sone haþ sent it þee. [ 112] The þynkeþ longe him to see; Ther fore most I no lengere be, He schal sende after þee Of heuene ferde moche plente, [ 116] And brynge þee in to his blisse, That euer was and now is. Þer he is kyng, þou schalt be quene; Al heuen ryche bliþe schal bene. [ 120] [[64, bk.]] And alle him þenkeþ swiþe longe Til þou comest hem amonge." Than answerede oure ladi, And seide to þe angel, "belamy, [ 124] Art þou my sones massagere, That bryngest me þis bodes here? Haueþ he me sette any day, Aȝens when I me greithe may, [ 128] With my frendes and my kynnes men, And with hem þat I in erþe haue ben, And hem þat I haue fedde and clad, And don al þat my sone hem bad?" Tho seide þe angel, "I sei þee; [ 133] Thou schalt be here but daies þre. The þridde dai we schal come, Alle ix. ordres fram heuen a boue,

"And fecche þee with myry songe; For after þee vs þinketh longe." To þat aungel seide oure ladi, [ 139] "What is þi name, þat standeþ me bi?" "My name seie I þee nouȝt; But take þis palme þat I haue brouȝt. Kepe it wel, I bidde þee, [ 143] Ne lete it neuer be fro þee. Ne mai I no lengere abide here, [lf. 65] For I am sent a massagere. [ 146] I schal to þe apostles sone anone, And seie to hem sundry, on and one, That þei ben here þe þridde dai; No lengere abide I ne mai." [ 150] When he had iseide, to heuene he steie; And marie þer bi-left he. [No gap in MS.] Vn-til hure chambre sone sche nam; And also sone as sche þider cam, Sche dide of hure cloþes alle, [ 155] And wasche hure with water of wille. So sone as sche hadde doun, Newe cloþes sche dide hure apoun. When sche was faire schred and clad, To ihesu cryst aboue sche bad, [ 160] And seide, "sone, I þanke þee, That þou hast yþouȝt on me, My sone, þat is heuene kynge, I praie þee of þi blessing. [ 164] Sone, for þyn hye name, Schelde my bodi fro payne and schame, That þe deuel haue no Myȝt; To reyue þee hit were no ryȝt. [ 168] Kepe me, sone; now is nede [lf. 65, bk.] That I ne haue of þe deuel no drede. For with þe wiles þat he can, He bigileþ many a man. [ 172]

"Leue sone, ȝeue hym nouȝt Man kynde þat þou hast bouȝt. [ 174] Mi sone, þat art ful of pite, For man kynne I praie þee, That þou, for þi holi grace, Ȝeue hem boþe myȝt and space, [ 178] Hem to amende or þei ben dede, That þei haue of þe deuel no drede. Thynke, leue sone, þou hast hem wrouȝt, And dere þat þou hast hem bouȝt." When sche hadde praied so, [ 183] Hure frendes sche callid hure to, [No gap in MS.] Hure sibbe and hure kynnes men. With reuful steuene sche spak to hem, An seide, "leue frendes, my sone Wol no lenger þat I here wone. [ 188] He wol þat I with him be; Where fore I praie ȝow par charite, Ȝif I any þinge haue mys wrouȝt, Seieþ me now; for-hele ȝe nouȝt. I it wole amende with my myȝt, [lf. 66] That my soule haue no vnplyȝt, [ 194] The good þat ȝe haue doun me, My sone þat was doun on þe tree, Man to bigge fro þe quede, He ȝelde it ȝow at ȝoure nede, [ 198] And brynge ȝow in to his blis, Ther I schal be and my sone is." Alle þat weren hure bi, [ 201] Off suche tiþinges weren sori, And saide, "lady, how mai þis be? How schulle we lyuen with oute þee? Ladi, þou hast vs serued so; [ 205] Alas, how schulle we parte a two? Swete ladi, what is þi þouȝt? Rewe on vs; departe vs nouȝt.

"In moche sorwe and in myche wo Schulle we lyue, be þou a go." Þan answerede oure ladi To þat folke þat stode hure bi, [ 212] "Lateþ be ȝour greding hit helpeþ noȝt; And haueþ blis in ȝoure þouȝt. Whiles I am here, wakeþ with me; Hit doþ me good þat I ȝow se. [ 216] Haueþ no drede in wel; [leaf 66, bk.] Of peyne schal I þole no del. [No gap in MS.] Mi bodi mai no peyne þolen, For he was þer of y-boren. [ 220] He þoled deþ him self for me; He honged nailed on þe tree. Mi sone þat is kyng of heuene, [ 223] Schal me sende worde wel euene; Iohan and þe apostles, where so þei bene, Schulle alle come for to sene." As sche so spak to þe mon, Off al þat wist nouȝt seynt Ion. [ 228] He come to speke with oure ladi; Ferli him þouȝt þat sche was sory, And seide, "ladi, what is þee? What is þis folk þat I here se? [ 232] Seie me, ladi, what is þee?" he sede; "For me were leuer þat I were dede, Than I þee se suche semblaunt make, "For schal I neuer suche a ladi take. Hastou ouȝt herde þat I ne can, [ 237] Off me or of any oþer man? Schal I neuer haue blis Til I wite, ladi, what þee is." [ 240] Oure ladi wept and Iohan also, [lf. 67] For trewe loue was bitwene hem two. Iohan seide, "ladi, what is þee? For þi sones loue, seie þou me." [ 244] Marie answerde with rewful steuene,

And seide, "me cam bode fram heuene, [ 246] Fro my sone a massagere; He wol no lengere þat I be here. Wite þou wel hit rewiþ me [ 249] That I schal, Iohan, parte fram þee. For þi loue and þi seruyce That þou hast doun on eche wise, Thou hast me boþe fed and clad, And doun also my sone þee bad. My sone schal it wel ȝelde þee; [ 255] I schal him telle when I him se." Than answerde seynt Iohan, That was a ful sori man, And seide, "ladi, how mai þis be That I schal þee no more se? [ 260] Mi ioie, my blis, is doun eche del; Ne schal me neuer worþen wel, Sithen we ben parted atwo." [ 263] Þo seide our ladi, "why saistou so? Wite þou wel, I go be-forn; [lf. 67, bk.] Thi seruyse schal noȝt be forlorn; I schal to my sone seie of þee [ 267] That þou with hym and me schal be. But herestou now, my frende Iohan, When þou sest þat I am gon, Kepe my bodi þat I ne be binomen, When þe fellon Iewes comen, [ 272] Mi bodi forto doun no schame, For þei hate no þing more þan my name. Mi sone þei hongen on a tre; Wel I wote so wolde þei me. I wote wel þei louen me nouȝt; But þer of be þi most þouȝt. [ 278] When I am parted, Iohan, fram þee, That þei do my bodi none euelte. My sone, þat woneþ in heuene liȝt,

Lete hem neuer þer to haue myȝt." "Ladi, sithen hit is so, That we schal departe a two, [ 284] Seie me how long hit is to þan." "For soþe," marie seide to Iohan, "Bi þis and þe þridde day, No lenger abide I ne may." [ 288] When he it herde, he was sory; [lf. 68] He wept, and seide, "ladi, mercy. How schal I lyue? how schal I fare? How schal I blis or ioie haue? [ 292] Furst my lord was brouȝt to dede, Thorw þe felun iewes rede, And now my ladi wil me fro, Swete lord, now me is wo. [ 296] Wolde my lord I wolde be dede, For I ne can no better rede." "Iohan," sche seide, "whi seistou so? Th[e] aungeles schal þee come to, To kepe þee where so þou be, [ 301] Erliche and late to gladen þee." Whiles he spak so to seynt Ion, Come þe apostles euerychon, To gidre; but þei wist nouȝt How þei weren to gidre brouȝt; [ 306] Off oþeres come ne wist none; But of hure come bliþe was Ion. He cust hem alle, so fayn he was, And seide, "deo gracias; [ 310] Blessed, ihesu, be þi myȝt, For it is faire and hit is ryȝt That þi moder come to þee, [lf. 68, bk.] That sche faire welcom be [ 314] Of þine apostles þat most þee louen, I ne wote how þei ben hidre ycomen." Than seide Petyr to seynt Ion, "Whi art þou so sory A mon? [ 318]

"Whi wepistou, and what is þee? For felaschip telle þou me. [ 320] I schal þee seie, seynt Ion, Whi I am so sory a mon, But seie me furst, for godes loue, Whi ȝe arn hider icome, [ 324] And weryn so wide isprad: Seieþ what haþ ȝou hidre ilad." Tho seide Petyr a ferli þinge: [ 327] "I was fer hens atte my prechinge. I was so henne in anoþer londe And helde my boke in my honde, And tauȝt men of my sermoun, [ 331] I ne wote how I cam to þis toun." So seide alle þat weren þere, Suche wondre sawe I neuer ere. [ 334] None of hem ne wist þorw wham, Ne what wai þei þidre cam, [leaf 69] Than seide seynt Iohan, "for soþe, I wys, I schal ȝow telle what it is. Comeþ wiþ me in to þis hous; [ 339] Oure ladi þer abideþ vs. Sche ordeyneþ hure to fare vs fro, For hure sone hit wolle so. [ 342] Hure sone haþ sent his messagere; He wol no lengere þat sche be here. And hider he haþ ȝow alle ysent To kepe hure bodi when sche is went. Bi fore hure knele ȝe alle bi-dene And seieþ, 'ladi, heuene quene, [ 348] Off alle wymmen, best þee be; Thi sone vs haueþ sent to þee, To kepe þee and do þi wille: Vs þenkeþ wel þat it is skille, [ 352] That heuene and erþe bowe þee to, For þi sone hit wol so, Thi sone, þat is heuene kynge, And alle þing haþ in his kepinge.'" Than comen þe apostles alle, [ 357]

And bi hure bigan to falle. [ 358] Vp ros oure swete ladi And kist þe apostles bi and bi. Off here come sche was glad; [lf. 69, bk.] Alle þei dide þat sche bad. [ 362] Sche asked hem how þei come þere, That sprad so sundry were. The seide in ful good þouȝt, "Thi sone vs haþ hidre ybrouȝt To kepe þee, and by þee by; [ 367] Ther fore we comen to þe, lady." Ful bliþe sche was of here come; "Blessed," sche seide, "be my sone! [No gap in MS.] When it is my sones wille [ 371] That I come him to, hit is skille. Mi bodi ȝe schal kepe so That þer-to come nouȝt my fo. Kepeþ faire my body, [ 375] That none do me no vilany. The Iewis ben ful of felony; My sone þei slow þorw enuye. [ 378] The haten no þing more þan my name, God late hem neuer do me schame. Ther fore I praie ȝow, þur charyte, And for þe loue þat ȝe haþ to me, When I am faren to heuen blis, [ 383] Wakeþ alle þer my body is. [ 320] Kepiþ it boþe nyȝt and dai, [leaf 70] That no Iewe stele it awai. Thei wolde it brenne or do it schame; But ihesu, for þi holi name, [ 388] Late hem neuer þer-to haue myȝt, For sikirli hit were vnryȝt." Thei seiden, alle soþe, I wys, "Hit schal be, ladi, as þi wille is." Whiles oure ladi spak so [ 393]

To þe apostles þat come hure to, Come an aungel and stode hure bi, And seide, "wel þee be, ladi, And so be alle þat ben þee bi; [ 397] "Loke þou be ful redi. Þou schalt to heuene and be made quene; Ful bliþe mai þine hert bene. Alle schal þee serue, þe company of heuene." [ 401] As soone oure ladi herd þat steuene That þe aungel seide hure to, Wel ful of Ioie was sche þo; Sche ȝede to hure bedde and lai, A bowte þe tyme of myddai; [ 406] Iohan and þe apostles weren hure bi, To kepen hure as oure ladi. [[lf. 70, bk.]] Sche badde Iohan and þe apostles alle, To kepen hure what so bi falle. Sitteþ now stille, boþe more and lesse, [ 411] And herkeneþ of þe moche blesse Off Ihesu, þer he come so lyȝt: He dide his moder ful moche riȝt, As a sone auȝt his moder to done, He callid þe aungeles euerychone, And alle þe mayne þat was in heuene, And seide to hem with mury steuene: "Commeþ with me to my lemman! Sche is my moder; hure sone I am; Off hure I toke flesche and blode. And sithen I hange on þe rode, [ 422] I þat euer was and ay schal ben, In al þis blisse þat ȝe here sen, I hadde reuþe on al mankyne, That alle went to helle pyne. [ 426] I made man to serue me, And þorw þe appel of a tre, That adam toke and ete it Inne, To helle he went, and al his kynne.

"Hit rewid me, and for-þouȝt sore, And I it wolde þole no more. [ 432] I lyȝt doun, and man bi-cam, [leaf 71] And of þat maide flesche nam. "Bi fore alle oþer I hure ches, [ 435] And I was born of hure flesches. Thritti wynter and somme del more, Men to wissen, I was þore. Men dide me moche euelte; Myn owyn þat ouȝt for to be, [ 440] Thei token me and bette me sore, And atte þe last þei dide wel more, With oute gult þei me swongen, And to a piler þei me bounden. [ 444] Nailes þei smyten in my fette; Off blode myne handes weren rede. Myn hert þei stongen with a spere; That sawe alle þat weren þere. [ 448] Ther I hange nailed on þe tree, My modre was wel wo for me, And also was hure cosin Ion. I callid hure to me soone anon, [ 452] And seide, 'Iohan, for my loue, Kepe wel þis wyf; I am hure sone.' Boþe þei wenten þo fro me; Al one I hanged on þe tree, [ 456] Mi soule fram my bodi I nam, [ 71, bk.] In to þe pyne of helle sone I came. Alle my frendes þat I þer fonde, I toke hem oute with my ryȝt honde, Adam and Eue and many mo, [ 461] I dide hem oute of helle go. When I hadde harwed helle, And don as I ȝow telle, [ 464] And fet adam fro þe quede, The þridde dai I ros fro dede. Fram erþe to heuene I cam; God and man, bothe I am, [ 468] In heuene and in erþe is my myȝt;

"Now I wol forþe in ryȝt, That my modre be me bi; This tyme I wol for þi, [ 472] Comeþ with me with mury songe, And do we hure come vs amonge." Than cam ihesu with his mayne, Aungeles, archaungeles, moche plente, In to þe chambre þer sche was Inne, with ful many of hure kynne. [ 478] That chambere was ful of moche blis, As euer is þer ihesu is. Tho seide alle þat were þere, [leaf 72] Suche a blis sawe þei neuer ere. Amonge þat Ioie and þat glewe, Oure ladi, hure sone knewe. [ 484] When sche him sawe, sche was glad; Listeneþ þe bede þat sche bad: "Sone, blessid mote þou be, That þou bicome man of me; [ 488] Hit is wel sene, I am þee dere, Now þi self art comen here. Thine apostles þou sendist furst to me, And now þou art come with þi meyne, To fecchyn me in to þi myȝt: [ 493] Was neuer modre sone so bryȝt. Mi leue sone, now art þou come With þi meyne, here a bone. Do, my sone, þat þi wille is; [ 497] To þee me þinkeþ longe I wis." [No gap in MS.] "Modre," he seide, "come with me; Of alle wymen best þee be. [ 500] [No gap in MS.] Thou schalt to heuen and be made quene; Wel bliþe may þine hert bene." "Sone," sche seide, "I be-seke þee O þing þat þou graunt me, [ 504] That I noȝt þe deuel se, [leaf 72, back] Ne none þat euer with him be.

"I loue hem nouȝt; þei arn my fone; Ne wolde I neuer sene hem none." "Moder," he seide, "ne drede þee nouȝt; [ 509] Ne come it neuer in my þouȝt; Ne wille I neuer more þole That any of hem come þee bi fore; Ne schal þou neuer se-ne here [ 513] But me and aungeles, þine fere. Moder, a ȝift I schal þe ȝyue, Thou schalt with me in heuene lyue, And more schal I ȝeue þee; [ 517] Al heuene companye schal serue þee. [No gap in MS.] "Modre, for þe loue of þee I schal haue mercy and pite [ 520] Off al man kynne for þi praiere, That were forlorn ȝif þou ne were. Alle þat doun þee worschipe, [ 523] And seruen þee wel, and treuliche Bi seke to þee, and mercy will crie, And seyn, 'help, seynt marie,' In what peyne so he be, Moder, for þe loue of þee, [ 528] I schal hem reles sone anon; [leaf 73] For þi loue I schal þus done. Ȝif any haue ben al his lyue In hede synne, maide or wyue, [ 532] And he wille, on his last þrowe, Schryue him and ben y-knowe, And telle it, ȝif he haue þe prest, Or a noþer man þat is him nest, [ 536] And ȝif he ne mai do no more, But þat him forþinkeþ sore, In what synne so he be, Moder, for þe loue of þee, [ 540] I schal on him haue mercy, And sithen þei schulle wone þee bi.

"Ȝif a man hadde al one wrouȝt [ 543] Alle þe synnes þat myȝt be þouȝt, And he on his last dai, Ȝif he none ere ne mai, Repent him, and calle to þee, In what synne so he be, [ 548] I schal here his praiere, For þi loue, modre dere, Al þat þou wolt bi seke fore, Be it lasse, be it more, [ 552] Hit schal ben aftur þi wille, [lf. 73, bk.] For I it wille, and þat is skille, Þat no þing with seie þee, Off þat þou wolt biseke me." [ 556] Oure ladi knelid him bi forn, And seide, "þe tyme þat þou were born, Ouer alle oþer blessed þou be, [ 559] For alle þat I wol, þou grauntest me." ¶ "So I auȝt, moder, and so I wille;" He left vp his hond and blessed hure stille; His blessing sche þouȝt good, And he hure soule vndrestode. [ 564] He callid to him seynt myȝhel, "Thou kepe me þis soule wel, Thou and alle þine fere; Is no þinge me so dere." [ 568] Alle þat mayne þat cam fro heuene, Thei syngen with a myry steuene; Men myȝt wite bi here songe [ 571] That moche ioie was hem amonge. With alle þat mayne to heuen he hure nam; And as soone as he þer cam, He made hure quene of heuen liȝt; Blessid be hure sones myȝt! amen! NOw schal we here of þe bodi, [ 74] Where it bi cam, and where it li. When þe soule was þere fro hure nomen, [ 579]

Than bad god Peter to him comen, And seide, "Peter, I comaunde þee, Mi moder bodi kepe þou me. Iohan and alle þine fere, Nis no þinge me so dere; [ 584] When I furst in þis worlde cam, Off hure bodi flesche I nam; Off hure bodi, I was born. Petyr, go forþe þou be forn, [ 588] Thou and alle þine feres with þee, To Iosephat, to þat vale, And leiþ þe bodi in a stone; Haueþ no drede of ȝoure fone; [ 592] Goth with faire processioun To ierusalem þorwe þe toun. Doþ þe belles alle to ryngen, And loke þat ȝe mury syngen. [ 596] Loke þat ȝe haue candele, Torches boþe faire and fele. Foure of þe apostles schal bere þe beere; Ther-on schal ligge me modre deere. Haueþ no drede of no Iew, [leaf 74, bk.] For I my self schal be with ȝow." When ihesu hadde him so seide, And þe bodi was on bere leide, [ 604] He ȝaf hem alle his blessinge And stye to heuen, þer he is kynge. [No gap in MS.] ¶ To hym þo seide seynt Ion, "Felawes, go we soone anon, [ 608] And turne we þis processioun, And synge we faire þorw þis toun." [No gap in MS.]

[See the parallel lines to these, below, on page 130, col. 2.]

[See the parallel lines to these, below, on p. 130, col. 2, near the foot.]

Ther was a Iew hem amonge, Off þe apostles harde þe songe. [ 612] To þe beere he cam lepand, And as he wolde lai on his hande; To þe bere he cleued fast, [ 615] And to Petir he criede atte þe last, And seide, "Petir, þenkest þou nouȝt, When þi lord was to vs brouȝt, Thou him forsoke, and I þe knewe? Praie for me," seide þe Iewe, [ 620] "Praie þi lord, ȝif I mai so be, That he haue mercy on me. Thenke," quod þe Iewe, "what I þee dede. When þou was with vs in þat stede, When þi lord was ytakyn, [leaf 75] And þou haddest him forsakyn, [ 626] Oure mayne þee knewe þat ilke nyȝt Bothe bi speche and by syȝt, And seiden alle, for I stode þee bi,

That þou was of Ihesus companye. Thou seidest with wordes and with þouȝt, [ 631] 'For soþe þat þou knewe him nouȝt.' Praie þi lord of moche myȝt, And his moder þat art so bryȝt, That he me help at þis stounde, [ 635] For I was neuer so harde ybounde. As I þee helped atte þi nede, Ȝelde me, Petir, now my mede." Seynt Petir answerde þo To þe Iewe þat was so wo, [ 640] "Ȝif þou woldest leue on him, That on þe rode dide þi kyn, That he is soþefast godes sone, God and man for him bi come, [ 644] That marie bare in hure lyf, Clene maide and clene wyf, Clene widewe with oute wem, For þee I wol praie þen, [ 648] Ihesu cryst vs liȝteþ aboue, [leaf 75, back] That he, for his moder loue, So ȝeue þee myȝt for to go, And bringe þee oute of þi wo." [ 652] The Iewe þat henge apoun þe bere, Answerde anone as ȝe mai here, "I leue wel, and better I schal done, On ihesu crist, godes sone, [ 656] That Iewes diden on þe rode, And for vs he schedde his swete blode, That marie bare in hure lyf, Clene maiden and clene wyf; [ 660] He brynge me, I praie it him, Oute of þe wo þat I am Inne." As soone as he hadde seide þis bede, He was al hole in þat stede: [ 664] Off fote, of honde, he hadde myȝt; Alle his lymes bi come ful ryȝt. He stode vp swiþe anone

Bi-fore þe Iewes euerechone, [ 668] That suche a myracle haþ done, Ihesu crist, godes sons, Of a wilde hounde haþ made a lomb, To preche his worde in eche a lond. Seynt Petir, þat holi man, [leaf 76] [ 673] The Iew he crystened anone, He tauȝt him al his bi leue; He wist he was to godes biheue; [ 676] He ordeyned him to prest anone, And bad him soone for to gone And prechen al of godes sone, In eche a lond where he come. [ 680] That palm þat Petir helde in his honde, He toke it him þorw godes sonde, And bad him godes wordes telle Among þe Iewes þat were so felle. So he spak þe furst day, [ 685] That he turned to godes lay Twenty þousand and sommedel mo, Thorw wordes þat he spak þo. [ 688] Foure of þe apostles þat were þere, That swete bodi forþe þei bere, The Iewes þat were godes fone, Thei herde þe cri sone anone, [ 692] And þei asked what was þat crie, And men seiden it was mari, That seynt Petir and his fere Bare þare apoun a beere. [[leaf 76, back]] "Alas," seide þei, "for schame, [ 697] Ascape þei vs, we schulle haue blame. Arme we vs alle sone anone, And take we hem alle þer þei gone. That bodi þat þei bere, nyme we it, And cast we it in a foule pit, [ 702] Or brenne we it, and do it somme where, Or cast we it in a foule sere." Thei comen lepand þiderwarde, [ 705]

And þat hem fel swiþe harde. Ihesu wolde nouȝt þat schame; He made hem boþe blynde and lame. Off hem alle, was þer none [ 709] That myȝt a fote on erþe gone. Here mouþes were to here nek went; Thei þouȝt alle þat þei were schent. Boþe here feet and here handes [ 713] Where bounde with stronge bandes: Ful sore bounden þei were, For þei ne myȝt go ne here. [ 716] Than comen here frendes hem to, And seide, "alas, whi leie ȝe so, In ȝoure armour so fast ycliȝt, That beþ so faire and so bryȝt? [ 720] Ȝoure speres, ȝour schildes, helpeþ ȝow nouȝt; [leaf 77] Telleþ vs what ȝe haue þouȝt." Thei answerd nouȝt þat leyen þere, For þei ne myȝt hem noȝt here, [ 724] But somme of hem þat myȝt speke Seide, "alas! who schal vs wreke?" And euer þei cryede many a stounde, "Alas, how harde we lie here ybounde!" [ 728] Off fyue þousand was þer none That myȝt of þat stede gone. Than seide some þat stode hem bi, That hadde ysene þat ferli, [ 732] That 'seynt Petir and his fere Bare oure ladi on a beere, "Thise men wolde hure haue nomen," And þus þei ben ouer comen. [ 736] The ladi þei wolde haue doun schame; Ther fore þei hauen godes grame.' The folke hem bad mercy to crie To ihesu cryst of here folie, [ 740] And leue þat he is godes sone, And siþen crysten men bi come.

"We hope þat ihesu schal sone tyme Delyuere ȝow of ȝoure pyne." [[lf. 77, bk.]] Thei criede "mercy" with good wille, Somme lowde and somme stille, [ 746] And ihesu, þorw his mochil myȝt, Here feet and handes gan to ryȝt. Thorw myracle þat þer was doun, Bi-come cristene many on, And leuede on cryst and criede mercy, That none oþer god was so myȝty. The apostles went forþe on here way, To Iosephat, to þat Valay. [ 754] When þe apostles comen were, Wel softe þei setten doun þe beere. With gret deuocioun, euerychone, Thei leide þe bodi in a stone, And bileft alle in þat stede, As oure ladi hadde hem bede, [ 760] And woke þer al þat nyȝt With many torches and candle lyȝt. On þe morwe when it was dai, Thei loked where þat bodi lai. [ 764] Thei ouerturned þat ilke stone; Bodi þei founde þer none; But þei sawe in þat stede þana [ 767] Liand as it were a mana. [[lf. 78]] That manna bitokned hure clene lyf, That sche was modre, maide, and wyf. Tho wist þe apostles, I wis, The bodi was in to paradis, [ 772] Also godes wille was. Thei seide, "Deo gracias." [No gap in MS.]

Seynt Thomas of ynde þiderward cam Also blyue as he myȝt gan, [ 776] And wolde haue ben at hure fyne, Ȝif he myȝt haue come bi tyme. As he loked him bi side, [ 779] He sawe a briȝtnesse bi him glide; Bi þat stede þer he come, Oure ladi to heuene was nome. He knelede doun and seide, "ladi, Off me, I praie ȝow, haue mercy. [ 784] Ladi, quene of heuene lyȝt, For þine swete mychel myȝt, Sende me token þis ilke day, What þing þat I say may [ 788] To myn felawis, þer I hem fynde, That I was toward þi buriynge. Thei wil nouȝt leue þat I were; [ 791] Now graunt me, ladi, my praiere." A-bowte hure myddel a seynt sche souȝt, [leaf 78, back] That sche hure self hadde wrouȝt, Off silk and gold wounden in pal; Doun to thomas sche lete it fal. [ 796] He toke þer þe gurdel in his honde, And þanked hure of hure sonde. Forþe he went of þat stede; Toward þe toune he him dede, [ 800] His felawis for to seke on his fete, Ȝif he hem ouȝt myȝt mete. Atte þe temple dominus He fonde hem alle in an hous. [ 804] When he hem sawe, he gret hem, And þei answerde alle hym, And seiden, "thomas of ynde, Euer art þou bi-hynde. [ 808]

"Whare hast þou so longe bene? We haue buried heuene quene. Thou helpest noȝt at no good dede; Thou failest euer at most nede." [ 812] "Sore me forþinkeþ þat I ne was here, But I ne myȝt come no nere. Blessed be sche, quene of blis, In þat stede þer now sche is! [ 816] For wel I wote bi my þouȝt, [leaf 79] Ther ȝe hure left, is sche nouȝt." Than seide to him sone anone, Bothe Petir and seynt Ione, [ 820] "Thou ne woldest, leue thomas, That oure lord fram deth ras. Come, þou art mys bileuyd, [ 823] And tales ynow þou canst fynde, Thou leuest nouȝt on godes craft; Swylk felawis wille we nauȝt." "Be stille," he saide, "broþer Iohan. Whi chyde ȝe me euerychone? [ 828] I am ful wery man for-gone; Me ne list answeri neuer one. But I thanke oure lord god, [ 831] I sawe hure with flesche and blood, Ther oure ladi to heuene went: Here is þe token þat sche me sent." Quath seynt Petir, "þat is sothe. This seynt sche hure self wof. [ 836] We dide it on hure in þe beere; Wonder me þinkeþ þat it is here. Go we swiþe in to þe vale, To wite þe sothe of þis tale [ 840] That he haþ vs here yseide, [leaf 79, bk.] For it was in þe tumbe ylaide." Oute of þe place swiþe þei ȝede, And þe tumbe þei vndede; [ 844] No þing þer Inne þei ne founde, But a manere floure at þe grounde. That floure was 'manna' yelepid;

Hit was in þe tumbe ystekyd. [ 848] Thei ȝeden alle abowte þe tumbe And knelede on þe bare grounde, And seiden, "ihesu, godes sone, Al þi sonde be welcome. [ 852] Myȝtful art þou, heuene kynge; That mai we wite bi þis tokenynge; For no man mai wite ne se What is þi derne priuete." [ 856] Cryst of heuene, þat is so bryȝt, Amonge þe apostles sone he lyȝt, And gret hem alle yfere, [ 859] With aungeles fele þat with him were, And seide, "now pees be with vs! Blessed be ȝe," seide Ihesus. A lyȝt cloude come after þan, And ouer sprad hem euery man, [ 864] And bar hem alle þat ben þere, [leaf 80] In to here stedes þer þei preched ere; And fonden alle þat folke ȝete, Sittand stille atte here fete. [ 868] And þei bigonne for to preche, And þe folke for to teche. Moche wondre hem þo þouȝt How þei weren þidre brouȝt. [ 872] Miȝtful art þou, heuene kynge, Ihesu Crist, in alle þinge! The apostles kneled in þat stede; To ihesu þei bede a bede. [ 876] Ihesu herde here praiere, For þei were him leue and dere. WE biseche þee for alle þat hereþ þis vie Off oure ladi seynt marie, [ 880] That Ihesu schelde hem fram grame, Fro dedly synne and fro schame. Ne mys auenture schal bi falle þat man That þis a vie here can.

Ne no womman þat ilke dai [ 885] That of oure ladi hereþ þis lai, Dien ne schal of hure childe, For oure ladi hure schal be mylde. [[leaf 80, bk.]] Ne none mys auenture schal be-falle In felde, in strete, ne in halle, [ 890] In stede þer þis vie is rad, For oure ladi hure sone it bad. And þe archibisshop seynt Edmound Haþ graunted xl. daies to pardoun To alle þat þis vie wol here Or with good wille wol lere. [ 896] Ihesu, for þi modre loue, That woneþ in heuene vs aboue, Graunt vs, ȝif þi wille is, The mochil Ioye of paradis! [ 900] A praier þer-to seie alle we, A Pater noster pur charite, And an Aue marie þer-to, [ 903] That Ihesus vs graunt so. Amen!

¶ Celi regina sit scriptori medicina.