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

c. Ms. Rawlinson 408.

Marcius.

With his blode Seynt dauid he did me wedde. Pray for me now, with sacred Seynt Chedde, That I to hym my couenaunt wole holde That for me was both bought and solde. In þis world here shul not we longe ben, vn-to a noþer contrey we ben bought: Now pray for us, moost holy virgyn, That in oure wey no-wise we erre nought, But al oure werkes both in worde and þought Be made so plesaunt vnto þi hyȝe spouse That we may ben seruantes in his hyȝe house.

O holy doctour blessid pope Gregoure, That sendist seynt Austyn in to Englonde, In my temptacion I may fynde socour By comfort of þi moost gracyous soonde. But ȝit by þi writyng I vndurstonde That al þis wrecchid lyfe is here ful harde: Now pray for us, blessid kyng Seynt Edwarde.

We ben ful myche dayly in goddes dette: Good bisshop Cuthbert, pray þu now for us, And þou, holy Abbot good Seynt Benette, help, whyle we stond in þe myre now þus, That oure good lord now swete ihesus May make us þerof a mytigacion, In reuerence of his Annunciacion.

O blessid lady with þis Emanuel, Now for his glorious Resurreccion helpe us, with þine angel Gabriel, For his worshipful salutacion, And for his mervelous incarnacion Which þat wrought was þorgh þe holigost,

Aprilis.

Kepe us, lady, vnder þi blessid ost. Now thenke on gentil ost chose (!), For þe riȝt good prayer of Seynt Richard, And for þe huge loue of doctour Ambrose, For þis world is now ful fals and hard; Turne not, swete lady, þi chere away∣ward: For al-þogh þat we ryȝt synful be, The more nede, lady, haue we now to þe.

Who spareth to speke, he spareth to spede: Therfor we aught to cry both day & nyght, Now helpe us, good lady, in oure nede, For þi halowed sone ys ful of myght; Of the blessid sonne-beem ȝeue us summe light, For Seynt Tyburce and for Valerian, And shew us þu art a gentil woman.

Whiles þat I lyue, y wil no-wyse sese To crye on hym þat ys my souerayn lege: halowed kyng Jhesu, now sende us pese, For þe holy prayer of Seynt Alphege. I wil now me walke from sege to sege And pray, to help me now, euery saynt, For vn-to hym I made þere my complaynt.

O sacred Seynt George, oure lady knyght, To þat lady þu pray now for me! ȝeueth me, Seynt Marke, some goostely sight, þat I may my-self þe bettur to se— Alas, myne yȝe is blynd in his degre. But ȝitte y pray þe, martir Seynt vital, helpe me to lyue wel when þat I dye shal.

And ȝe two apostelis now both in-fere,

Mayus.

Philip and Jacob, maken (!) mencyon To god of us al in ȝoure good prayere! Now for the holy Crosse Inuencyon heuen-blisse we axe for oure pension, Thorgh meryte of þy dyuyne Ascen∣cion, with þe helpe of Seynt John at porte latyne.

Now, glorious seynt John of Beuerlay. I pray þe hertely, draw not a-bache, Gadre us floures of heuenly maye, with martyrs Gordian and Epimache, And cureth þer-with oure grete soules ache! Now, Nerei, Achille and Pancrace, Seyth forȝeuenesse as of oure tres∣pace.

Good seyntes, make ȝe al oure soules hole Aȝenst þe hyȝe fest as of Pentecost, þat we ben cladde in a snow-whyȝt stole Thorgh þe vertue of þe holy goost; he us comfort þat is of myghtes moost, with þe holy prayers of seynt Dunston, For with-out hym forsoth wytte haue we noon.

God þat is but one in persones thre, holy Trynyte with-oute begynnyng, Sende us such grace þat we saued may be, when we shal passe at þis lyues endyng. helpe us, Seynt Aldelme, for oure amendyng, With þe feste of corpus xpi, and Seynt Austyne which þat taught us to his feyth enclyne.

O þou blessid bysshop Seynt German, I pray þe my petycyon fulfyl; I pray þe same, as hertily as I can, helpe us, gentil virgyn Seynt Petronyl;

Junius.

Also, Seynt Nichomede, I pray þy good wille; Teche me ȝoure daūnce, Marcellyne and petre, To whom I syng with þis sympul metre.

I cry vn-to ȝow now al on a rowe, In special to (þe), martyr Boneface, with al þi felowes both hyȝe and lowe, That ȝe gete to us repentaūnce and space. Medard and Gildard, now where is ȝour grace? Prayeth for oure synnes with ... And aftur þis lyfe to haue þe secund.

Now, blessid Seynt Barnard(!), for us þ^u pray, with þe good Batylde, þe martyr and preste, That we be cloþed al in ȝoure aray, where as he sitteth at his ryal feste. Kepe ȝoue now, I pray ȝoue, Vite and Modeste, Cyryce and Julytte, kepe us fro þe wulfe, And lyght oure goost eclipsed, Seynt Botulfe.

Prayeth for us, Marcellyan and Marke, wyth Geruase and Prothase, martyrs ylkone. This world now, Seynt Edward, wexyth darke, For oure ynward syght ys al-most a-gone. Lede us, oure first martyr Seynt Albone, Etheldrede of Ely, I pray now helpe me, wyth Seynt John Baptist þe natiuite.

Bryng us mydsomer of heuenly blys, I pray ȝow martyrs both, Paule and John̄, Wher of gladsom myrth we shal not mys, For þat Leo pope endureth al-one. Now, Petre and Paule, I trist ȝow vpon, And Seynt Paule, þi commemoracyon

Julius.

Helpe us euer to oure saluacyon. O ȝe martirs Martynyan and Processe, Now al oure floures begynneth to fade; In þis erthe, Martyn, is but wrec∣chidnesse, Syth þat Adam put þeron his spade. Now mercyful god, þat al þing hath made, For þe translacyon of Seynt Thomas Bryng us ones to his endeles solace.

Lo now tyme passith of chyrry fayre: Therfor I pray ȝou þen, Brethren̄ seuyn, That I may be one of Benet-ys heyre, Where ȝe ben yn Relyques of heuyn. Jentyl broþer Jhesu, bryng us þer euyn— That were to me a gracyous fortune. Now help þe holy bysshop Swithine.

I mette a while with blessid Seynt Botulphe, Now, sacred Seynt Kenelme, with þe I mete, Prayng þe with hert þis Seynt Ar∣nulphe, Bryng me to þat mery daunsyng so swete. A, gentyl mayden O seynt Margarete, And noble Praxede, lete me bere ȝoure trayne, And ȝoure also, Lady Magdalayne!

Seynt Appollinare, teche me ȝoure games, Make us, Seynt Crystyn, heuenly lepars, Let eus dispute with þe, good Seynt James, Bryng us to Seynt Anne to oure verse pars (!), Make us to study þe seuen slepars; Lede us, Seynt Sampson, to þe hyȝe scoles, For þedir, Felyce, comen no foles.

(T)O 1 Abdon and Sennen I me redresse, Good Seynt German, bring us to heuen-blys;

Augustus.

The bondes of Seynt petur of lammesse vnbynde us, (with) blessid pope Steven. And sacred Stephen deken, help with þi merytes many a folde, with þis kyng and martir: Seynt Os∣wolde.

Seynt Sixte þe pope, for goddes loue and sake, with Donate Bysshope, do þi diligence, And with þi felowes, Seynt Cyriake; with Seynt Romane, helpe þ^u oure conscience, O þow worthy martir Seynt Laurence, Pray for us now with þis Seynt Ty∣burce, I hope now hit wil be neuer þe wurse.

Seynt Ypolyte, here my peticyon, with Seynt Euseby, the holy confes∣soure. Now, lady, for þyne hyȝe Assumpcyon ȝeue us þi hande and þi holy socoure, That we nowe mowe styȝe in to þi hyȝe toure, where þat glorious Seynt Magne is with þe; Lady in octabis (!) only socour me!

To my valentyne, lady, I chese þe, whom þat I wyl chaunge neuer for no newe. Now pray for me, halowed Seynt tymothe, To my lady þat I euer be trewe. help me nowe, I pray þe, Seynt Bartilmewe, So worthy apostil as þow art one— For better helpe þan prayer can I none.

helpe us, Seynt Ruphe, þe martir of crist, And Seynt Austyn, þe worthy hyȝe doctour, with Decollacyon of Seynt John̄ Bap∣tyst, Seynt Felice, pray Jhesu xpyst oure savioure, with blessyd Seynt Cuthburge, þat virgyn floure,

September.

So þat we may daūnce with holy seynt Gyle In heuen an hyȝe aftir þis litul whyle. Al þis world ys ful of care and pyne: Now pray for us, holy bysshop Seynt Cuthbert, with þe holy Abbot Seynt Bertyne, That we may now gracyously astert. Ȝitte I pray to þe with al myne hert, Lady, for þi ioyful Natyuyte, That with Seynt Gorgone þow þenke on me.

Souerayn lady, þyne Vtas we done holde, with Prothe and Jacincte a commemo∣racyon; Muche grace of the, lady, haue I herde tolde: Now helpe, lady, in oure temptacyon, For thy (sones) holy Crosse Exaltacyon. Pray for us now, martyr..., atte oure moost nede, with virgyn Edythe for þe bettyr spede.

Now, þow bysshop and martyr Seynt lambert, Pray here for us al to swete Jhesu crist, That he pourge and clense oure soules and hert Fro al wikked synful and derkely myst. help us, Seynt Mathew þe euangelist, And al þe 1 felowes of Seynt Mauryce, with þe virgyn Tecle to take a spyce.

That heuenly spyce hit is ful swete: help us þerof, good bysshop Fermyne; Sacred Cipriane, ȝif hit wold be gete, with Cosme and Damiane wold I dyne. Lede us þederward as ryght as a lyne, Seynt Myghel, To þat heuenly kyng∣dome, helpyng þe holy doctour Seynt Jerome.

October.

Now, holy Seynt Remyge, with al angeles, Thorgh þe prayer of Seynt Leodegare, Brynge us now from al wrecchidnesse, Beyng ful of synne, wrecchid sorow and care. I wyl not loue þis world, I wil be wel ware: For me hit is tyme as to leue þat warke, By help of ȝow martirs, Marcelle and Marke.

I wyl be as stedfast as any stone: helpe with þi felowes, Seynt Dyonyse, So þat I may dwelle with Seynt Gerone And with Seynt Nichase in hyȝe para∣dyse— For of þis lyfe I sette ful litul pryce. I pray þe, Seynt Edwarde confessour and kynge, That I may with Kalyxte both hoppe and synge.

Teche me þe way, glorious Seynt Wolfran, To Myghel in þe moūnt wold I ryde— Flessh is my hors, sowle ys þe man. I pray Seynt Luke for to be my gyde, helpe me, Jentyl virgyn Seynt Frys∣wyde, One of þe floures here of Englonde, with al holy virgyns Eleuen þowsond—

That was a present made al in a day Ful worthy to god Seynt Romaman (!), hys floures in october as wel as I may, God gaderyth Seynt Cryspyn and Cryspynian. Some of þem fadeth and wexith al wan, why? for her maners be so lewde and rude. But prayeth for us now, Symon and Jude.

I chese al seyntes to my valentyne, Trewly, I hold hit ryght as for þe beste. Teche us for to Daūnce, blessid Seynt Quyntyne,

Nouember.

With Al halowen in þis moost hyȝe feste. Al Cristen sowles God ȝeue þem good reste, Abydyng hys mercy in purgatory, Suffryng for her synnes peynes bittur∣ly.

Lord Jhesu xpist, þo peynes ben ful scharpe! Now, Seynt leonard, helpe us þerfore, Make þem easy with þy moste dow∣cet harpe; And þe Foure crowned, I pray ȝow, euermore, helpyng with þy sawtry, Seynt Theo∣dore, That hit may aswage some-what oure grete peyne, With þe prayers of holy Seynt Mar∣tyne.

For þis holy daunce mynstralcy ys goode: Now, seynt Bruce, helpe with þy sownded lute, That cryste wasshe me with his pre∣cyous blode. Pray for us now, al-sacred Seynt Machute, Edmunde of Pounteney, now in ȝoure sute I wold þat I were, with sacred Seynt hewe, Wheþer hit were coloure whyte, rede or blewe.

I wold be cloþed in cristemasse lyueray: helpe me þer-to, holy Edmund þekyng! Of al þat huge feste þere ys but a day, where þat Seynt Cecily ys euer beyng, And þere Seynt Clement ys euer enduryng; Bring me þere, Grysogone, with my valentyne So þat I may daunse, with Seynt Kateryne.

Ȝeue me þy blessid hond, Seynt Lyne þe pope— wold god I cowth þy steppes wel to sewe— helpe me to daunse in þy halowed cope, with Seynt Saturne, þe martyr ful trewe. Pray for us þen, Apostel Seynt An∣drewe,

December.

As aȝenst oure lordes Secund aduent, So at domes-day þat we be not shent.

A, lord Jhesu xpist, to þe now I cry, whome þis þat we offende with synnes alas! Lord, haue mercy, for þy moder mary, And also for þe loue of Seynt Nicholas! As truly, lord, as she, þy moder, was Kepte from fylthed in her Concepcyon, wassh us from synne with þy swete passyon!

Saue, lord, þy blessid spowse, holy-church, From erroures and heresyes þat doon spryng, And teche with feythe truly for to wurche, with deuoute Seynt Lucy, þyne owne derlyng; Graunt us þyne hert as for to ioye and syng, with al oþer seyntes in þy presence, Thy worthy so grete song, O sapience!

Kepe al þy peple which þat ben on lyue, Them especyal þat I haue of mynd; And al good sowles þat with þy woūndes fyue, whoom hit pleasith þe, from peynes vnbynde. Graunt us for to be with Thomas of ynde, A curyous caral in þis Crystemasse As to syng nowel, when þat we hens passe.

Lo now ys come þe moost glorious feste, The holy Natyuyte of oure lorde. Goode Stephen, make us al, moste and leste, with Seynt John in vertues to acorde, That we may sitte at Innocentes borde, with Thomas of Caunturbery, oure frende. Now saue us, fader, with oure flessh, þy worde, For Seynt Siluester loue at oure laste ende!

Notes

• 1

  Ms. O.
• 1

  Ms. þi.