Nachträge zu den legenden / [ed. C. Horstmann].

b) Aus Ms. Cbr. Caj. Coll. 174.

Pryncys provde that be in prees, I schall you tell that is noo leesse. In Cesylle was a nobylle kyng, ffayr and strong and somdele yong. he had a brother at gret Rome, [ 5] Pope of alle crystyndome; a nother brother in Almayne, an emperoure that wrouȝt the sar∣ȝenys payne. The kyng was clepyd kyng Roberd; Nevyr mane wyst hyme aferde; [ 10] he was kyng of grete honoure, so that mene clepyd hyme conquer∣oure; In alle the worlde was none hys pere, kyng ne duke, far ne nere. and for he was of chevalry the floure, [ 15] hys brother was made emperoure; hys other brother goddys vycare, pope of Rome, as i say the; he lovyd bothe god & mane. The pope was clepyd Vrbane, [ 20] The emperoure was clepyd Vala∣monde— a strenger mane was neuer none fonde, Save hys brother, kyng of Cesylle, Of whome i wylle you telle a whyle. The kyng thouȝt he had no pere [ 25] In alle the wo(r)lde, far ne nere, and in hys ȝongeth(!) he had gret pride ffor he was vmpere on euery syde. at mydsomer, on seynt Jonys day, The kyng come to chyrch fulle gay, [ 30] fforto here hys evynsong. hyme thouȝt he dwellyd alle to long: he thouȝt more on werldly honoure Thane on god, oure savioure. In Mangnifigat he herd a vers: [ 35] he made a doctore hit to reherse In language of hys ovyne tounge— he ne wyst what they sounge. The vers was, I telle the: Deposuit potentes de cede [ 40] Et exultauit humiles— Thys was the vers withoutyn lesse. The doctore seyd anone ryȝt: "such power hath god almyȝt: he may hye mene make low [ 45] and lowe mene hye in a litelle throw. he may it do, without lye, In the twynkyllyng of an ye." The kyng sayde withe hert onstabylle: "alle thy song is fals & fable. [ 50] what mane hath suche power To bryng me lowe or in danger? ffor i ame floure of cheualrye; alle my enmyes i may dystroy;

Ther is no mane that lyveth on londe [ 55] That me may with strenght with∣stonde. Therfore this is a song of nouȝt." and this erroure had in hys thouȝt, and in hys thouȝt a slepe hyme toke In hys closset, as seyeth the boke. [ 60] whane evynsong was alle done, a kyng lyke to hyme cane goene, and alle mene with hyme can wende— kyng Robert left alle behynde. The new kyng, as i the telle, [ 65] was goddys angelle, hys pride to felle. The angelle in halle gret Joi made, and alle mene of hyme were glade. The kyng awoke, that lay in chyrch: hys mene he thouȝt wo to wyrch, [ 70] ffor he was lefte ther alone and darke nyȝt felle hyme one. he begane to cry one hys mene: But there was none wolde speke to hyme, But the sextene in the chyrche ende; [ 75] ffast to hyme thane cane he wynde. The sextene sayde: "what doyst thou here, Thou fals wreche & losyngere? Thow art here for some felony, holy chyrche forto dystroye." [ 80] Thane sayde Robert: "thou foule gadlyng, I ame no theyf, i ame a kyng. Opyne the dore ryȝt anone, That i may to my palysse goene!" The sextene thouȝte anone thane [ 85] þat it was some wode mane, and wolde the chyrch delyuered were— The sextene of hyme had fere; he opynnyd the dore anone in haste. The kyng begane to ryne faste, [ 90] as a mane that were nere wode. at hys ovyne palysse gate he stode and clepyd the porter gadlyng, and bad let hyme in In hastyng, anone the ȝatys to ondo. [ 95] The porter sawe he clepyd so(!). and he answeryd sone anone: "Thou schalt wete, or we goone: Thy lorde i ame, that schalt þou knowe, and in prisone thou schalt lye fulle lowe [ 100] and be hangyd & to-drawe as a traytor, be the lawe! Thow schalt wele wete that i ame kyng. Opyne the gate, thou foule gadlyng!" The porter seyde: "so mot i the, [ 105] The kyng is with hys meyne. wel i wote without douȝte That the kyng is not now without." The porter come in to the halle, and on kne before the kyng cane falle [ 110] and seyd: "ther is at ȝoure gate a nyce fole icome late, he seyeth he is both lorde & kyng, and clepith me foule gadlyng. lorde, what wylle ye that i doo? [ 115] let hyme in or let hyme goo?" The angelle seyde in haste: "let hyme come in faste! ffor my fole I wylle hyme make, sith the name of a kyng he hathe take." [ 120] The porter come to the yate and hyme callyd, in to late. he smote the porter, whene he come in, That blode start out on mouth & chynne. The porter yolde hyme hys tra∣waylle [ 125] and smote hyme ayene without faylle, That nose & mouth brafte on blode. Thane he faryd, as he were wode. The porter and hys mene in haste Kyng Roberd in a podelle dyd caste, [ 130] Onsemely made hys body thane That he was lyke no other mane. and brouȝt hyme before the new kyng and seyd: "lorde, this gadlyng Me hathe smete without desert [ 135] and seyeth he is kyng apert. This traytor schulde be for hys sawe Bothe ihangyd & to-drawe, ffor he seyethe no other worde But that he is both kyng & lorde." [ 140] The angelle seyde to kyng Roberde: Thow fole, art thou not aferde My mene to do suche vilenye? That gylte thou moste nedys abye. whatt art thou?" seyde the angelle. [ 145] Robard seyde: "thou schalt wete fulle welle: I ame kyng, & kyng wylle be; withe wrong thou hast my dyngnite. The pope of Rome is my brothere, The emperoure ys an other, [ 150] he wylle me wreke, i the telle, I wote he wylle not long dwelle." "Thou art my fole, seyd the angelle,

Thou schalt be schorne euerydelle lyke a fole, a fole to be, [ 155] ffor thou haste no dyngnite. Thy councelore schalle be an ape, and oo clothyng schalle be to you schape: I schalle hyme cloth as thy brothere, Both of a sute, it schalle be none othere; [ 160] he schal be thy ovyn fere— some wit of hyme may thou lere. hovndys, how so it befalle, Schalle ete with the in the halle; Thou schalte ete on the grounde, [ 165] Thy taster schalle be an hovnde, To asay thy mete before the— loke thane where is thy dyngnite?" he set a barbore hyme beforne and bad as a fole he schulde be schorne, [ 170] alle rovnde lyke a frere, a hand brede above the ere, and one hys crovne to make a crosse. he begane to cry & make a noyse, he swore they schulde þerfore abye [ 175] alle that dyd hym that vylony, and euer he seyde that he was lorde. Therfore mene sayde that he was wode. he ne wende in no wyse That god almyȝthty cowde not de∣vyse [ 180] hyme to bryng to lower estate— and withe a drauȝt he was ckek-mate. at lower estate myȝt he not be Thene to be a fole, as semyth me. so low ȝit was neuer kyng. [ 185] alasse, that was a dolefulle thyng That he schulde for hys pride such schame among hys mene abyde. Ther was in court neyther grome ne page But of the kyng they made rage; [ 190] ffor no-mane myȝt hyme knowe: he was so dyffugyd (!) in a throwe.— God put hyme in other lyknesse ffor hys gret onbuxumnesse. hunger & thryste he had grete, [ 195] ffor he ne myȝt no mete ete But hovndys etyne of hys dysche, whethyr it were flesche or fysche; he was to deth nere brouȝt, or euer he wolde ete ouȝte [ 200] withe hovndys that weryne in the halle— harder myȝt hyme not befalle; and whene it myȝt no oþer be, he ete with houndys gret plente. with hovndys day & nyȝt he lay, [ 205] and oftene he cryed welaweye That euer he was borne ffor he was almost forlorne. The angelle hyme askyd euery day: "ffole, art thou kyng? þou me say!" [ 210] "I am a kyng, iff i be lowe; and that schalt thou fulle wele knowe." "That semyth the wele, sayde the angelle, Thou art a fole, & that is dole." The angelle was kyng, hyme thouȝt long. [ 215] In hys tyme nas neuer wrong, Tresoun, falshede, ne no gyle In alle the londe of Cysylle; off alle maner gode grete plente; a mong alle folke love and charite: [ 220] Eche mane lovyd wele other, as wele as hys owyne brother; In hys tyme was neuer stryeff Betwyxt mane & hys wyeff. Thane was that a Joyfulle thyng [ 225] In lond to have suche a kyng! kyng he was thre ȝere & more, and Roberde went as a mane forlore. so hit befelle one a daye a lytylle before the monythe of maye: [ 230] syr Valamonde, the emperoure, sent lettrys of grete honoure To hys brother, of Cesylle kyng, and prayd hyme come without lettyng, That the myȝt bothe with oone [ 235] Speke with hys. (!) brother, pope of Rome; hyme thouȝt long they were atwynne; he had hyme let for no wynne That he were in gode araye In Rome on holy-thursdaye. [ 240] The angelle welcomyd the masyn∣gerys, and gaffe theme clothys of gret pryse, ffurryd alle withe ermyne— In crystyndome are none so fyne, and alle was couchyd withe perle— [ 245] Of better may there nomane telle. off that wondryd alle the londe how that clothe was wrouȝte wythe honde; yf such a clothe were to dyȝte, alle crystyndome hit ne make myȝte. [ 250] where suche clothe was to selle Ne who hit made, cane nomane telle.

The masyngerys rydyne withe the kyng To gret Rome without lettyng. The fole Roberd also went, [ 255] clothyd in a lothly garment, withe fox taylys sowyd abouȝte— Mene myȝte hyme know in that rouȝthe! an ape & he in oo clothynge, In signe that he was an vnderlyng. [ 260] The angelle was clothyd alle in white: Neuer was seyne suche a syȝte; all was couchyd withe perle riche: Neuyr mane saw no suche; so fayr a stede as he on rode, [ 265] Nas neuer kyng that euer bestrode. so royalle a kyng come nevyr in Rome: alle mene wondyrd whene he come. hys mene were rychly dyȝthe, her richesse coude say no wyȝte; [ 270] of clothys, gyrdyllys & othere thynge Euery squyer semyd a kynge; and alle they rydene in rych aray— save kyng Roberd, i you say. alle mene on hyme cane loke, [ 275] ffor he rode lyke a coke. The pope & the emperoure also and other lordys many moo welcomyd the angelle as kyng, and made Joi of hys comyng. [ 280] These thre bretherne had gret com∣fort— The angelle was made kyng be sort; wele was the pope & the emperoure wan the had a brother of such hon∣oure. fforthe cane stert kyng Roberde, [ 285] as a fole þat was not aferde, and cryed withe eger speche On hys bretherne: to do hyme wreche To hyme that hathe withe queynt gyle hys crovne of the lond of Cesyle. [ 290] Pope ne emperoure ne no other knew not hyme for there brother, But for a pore fole he was holde More thane he was yere a thousandde folde; To clayme such a brotherhede [ 295] hit was but a folys dede. kyng Roberd begane to make care, Meche more thane he dyd yare, whane hys bretherne wolde hyme not knowe: "alasse, seyde he, now ame i lowe!" [ 300] ffor he hopyd in alle thyng hys bretherne wolde have made hyme kyng. and whane his hope was alle igoo, he cryde: "alas, now am i woo!" he seyde alas that he was borne [ 305] ffor he was a mane forlorne; he seyd alas that he was made ffor of hys sylfe he was not glade; he seyde alas that he was alyve, "sorowe, thou art to me fulle ryve." [ 310] he seyde alasse & welawoo, "hert, cleffe, & brast on-twoe!" alasse, alasse, was alle hys song, he tore hys here, hys handys he wrong, and euer he seyde alasse, alasse. [ 315] and thane he thouȝth on hys tres∣passe. he thouȝt thane of Nabegoddonaȝofore, a nobylle kyng, was hyme before; In alle this worlde was none hys pere, kyng ne duke, far ne nere; [ 320] wythe hyme was syr Olyverne, prynce of knytys, stout & sterne; Olyferne swore euermore Nabegoddonasore, and seyde there was no god in londe [ 325] But Nabegoddonaȝore, i vnderstande. Therfore Nabegoddonasore was gladde That he the name of god had, and loved Olyuerne the more. and sythene hit grevyd theme both sore: [ 330] Olyferne dyed in gret doloure, ffor he was slayne in scharp schoure; Nabegoddonaȝore lyved in desert, Ne durst he not be apert; ffyftene yere he lyved there [ 335] with rotys, grasse, & euylle fare, and alle of mosse hys clothyng was— alle come hyme be goddys grace. he cryde mercy with drewry chere: God hyme restoryd as he was ere. [ 340] "Nowe am i in such a case, and wele wers thane he was. whane god me yave suche honoure That i was clepyd conqueroure, In euery londe of crystyndome [ 345] Of me they spokyne euerychone and seyd ther was neuer my pere In alle the worlde, far ne nere: ffor that i felle in gret pride, as angellys that can fro hevyne glide [ 350] and in twynkyllyng of an Ie God benam them there mastry. so hathe he myne for my gylt, ffor now i ame fulle low pilte. It is ryȝt that i so be— [ 355] lorde, of thi fole have pete! Mercy, lorde, i wylle nomore,

lorde, i have grevyd the fulsore: holy wryȝt i had in dyspite: Therfore ys revyd me my delite, [ 360] ffor hit is ryȝt a fole i be— I ame worthy non other dygnite. Euer thi fole, lorde, wylle i be— lorde, on thy fole haue pyte! lorde, thynk, i am thi creature; [ 365] This wo is ryȝte that i endure, and welmore ȝit, & it myȝt be: lorde, withe tender hert then thynk on me! Of my kyngdome me grevith nouȝte, hit is lorne for my evylle thouȝte; [ 370] at better state kepe i neuer to be, lorde, so that thou rew on me. Blessyd Mary, of womene borne, pray for me i be not forlorne, pray to thy sone that dyed for me [ 375] On me, hys fole, to have pite! Blessyd Mary, fulle of curtsy, I pray to the tendurly That thou pray thy sone one thy kne, On me, hys wreche, to haue pite! [ 380] Pereles lady, thou gete me grace: To the i knowe alle my trespasse: Thou let me neuer lorne be, sithe he dyed for me on tre!" he seyd nomore alasse, alasse, [ 385] But thankyd god of hys grace. Thus he gane hyme sylf stylle and thankyd god with gode wylle. The pope, the emperoure, & the kyng V wekys they made there dwellyng. [ 390] and whene the fyve wekys were gone, To there ovyne lond they went anone, Both emperoure & the kyng— There was a fayr partyng. The angell come in to Cysylle, [ 395] he & hys mene, fulle wele. whane he come in to the halle, The fole he dyd forthe calle and seyde: "fole, art thou kyng?" "Nay, syr, without lesyng." [ 400] "what art thou!" seyd the angelle. "Syr, a fole, that i wote wele, and more thane a fole, and it myȝt be: I kepe non other dygnite." The angelle in to chamber went, [ 405] and after the fole anone he sent. he bad hys meyne out to gone: Ther left no mo but he alone and the fole that stode hyme by. To hyme he seyde: "thou hast mercy; [ 410] God hath foryevyne the thy trespas. knowe thy sylfe, and have grace! Thynk thou art fulle low pilte, and alle was for thy ovyne gylte; at lower degre myȝt nomane be [ 415] Thane be a fole—how thenkyth the? a fole thow were to heuyne kyng, Therfore thou art an vnderlyng. I ame an angelle of renowne, sent to kepe thy regioun. [ 420] More Joi me schalle befalle In hevyne among my ferys alle In on oure of a daye Thane in the erthe here, i the say, In a C thousand yere, [ 425] yf alle the worlde far & nere were at my lykyng. I ame an angelle & thou art a kyng." he went in twynklyng of an Ie— No more of hym there was sye. [ 430] kyng Roberd come in to the halle. hys meyne he dyd before hyme calle: and alle were at hys wylle, as to ther lorde, as it is skylle. he lovyd god & holy chyrche, [ 435] and euer thouȝt after hys wylle to wyrche. he reyned after II yere & more, and lovyd god & hys lore. The angelle yaue hyme warnyng The tyme of hys dyeng. [ 440] whene tyme came he dyed sone, he let wryte sone anone how Cryst with his gret myȝte Made hym low, as it was ryȝte. Thys story he sent euerydelle [ 445] To hys bretherne vnder hys sele. and the tyme whene he schulde dye, That tyme he dyed, as he cane saye. hys bretherne thane thouȝte on the fole That cryde on theme & made dole: [ 450] Thane they wyst wele hit was þer brothere— without dout hit was non othere. The pope of Rome therof cane preche, and the people þerof dyd teche, That they schulde pride forsake [ 455] and to god ryȝtfulle heme take: ffor pride wylle, & it myȝte be, surmount Crystys dygnite; and he myȝt have had hys ovene wylle, Thorow pride he wolde hyme sylfe spylle. [ 460]

This story is without lye In Rome to be kept trulye, at seynt Petur-is chirch, i hit say. and thys is truthe without nay That lowe be hyghed at goddys wylle, [ 465] and the hye lowyd, as it is skylle. Ihesus, that for us can dye, In hys kyngdome let us be hye, Euermore to be above, ffor there is euyr Joy, peas & loue. [ 470]

Notes

• 96 Ms. sawe he st. saide ho.
• 127 u. 132 Ms. the st. that.
• 127 u. 132 Ms. the st. that.
• 176 Ms. hyn.
• 192 l. dyffigured.
• 447 Ms. thy st. the.