Works of John Metham : (Amoryus and Cleopes, &c.) / edited by Hardin Craig

CHRISTMAS DAY

[leaf 87 a.]

I rede in elde volummys this matere subsequent, the qwyche was kepte as a kalendere off helde men in elde tyme; but ye the qwyche schal rede, preue yt and so yeffe credens, the qwyche off longe experiens for trwthe ys wrytyn:

Iff Crystemes day falle vp-on the Sunday, the wyntyr folwyng schulde be wyndy; the somer fayr and drye, and a kend wederryng schep, and alleso for beys; gret pes schuld be that yere in euery londe; but that yere ther schulde be grete derth off vytaylys: and he that ys born that day schulde be fortunat to the worlde.

Iff Crystemes day falle vp-on Moneday, yt schuld be a gret wyntyr, and fulle off wyindys; and the somyr ful of tempestys; that yere schulde be gret plente off vytaylys, gret multitude off men schulde dey: he that ys born that day schuld be stronge and myghty; myche sekenes schulde regne that yere in folkys eyn.

Iff Crystemes day falle vp-on the Tysday, many women schuld dey; that yere the wyntyr schulde be meruulus ful off soden tempestys, the qwyche schulde cause gret peryschyng off men and schyppys; the somyr schuld be pesybyl and drye: he that ys born that day schuld be enuyus, a louer off dyssencion and debate.

Iff Crystemes day falle vp-on the Wedynnys-day, the wyntyr foluyng schuld be hard and fulle off wyndys: the somyr schuld be fayre and myry and gret plenty off qwete; that yere schuld be y— and myche yonge folke schulde dey that yere faste, and gret los off schyppys that yere schulde be: he that ys born that day schuld be myghty and stronge, but he schulde dey myscheuusly.

Iff Crystemes day falle vp-on the Thursday, the wyntyr schulde be meruulus fulle off wyndys and grete flodys, gret tempestys and soden; the somyr schuld be gode and drygh; greynys and bestys [leaf 87 b.] that yere schulde multiplye: that yere schulde kyngys and lordys dey; he that ys born that day schuld be trwgh and wele-wyttyd.

Iff Crystemes day falle on the Fryday … [This fragment of the Christmas day is a spoiled sheet used as fly-leaf. The text breaks off in the third line of the second page. Beneath that are names and scribblings in later hands, and at the bottom in the scribe's hand:

But qwan he sey this plesur of the pepyl thus folowgh he thus ganAnd yff ther be founde in myd in les parte and now to procedeAlas myne oune knyte Alas qwy dye thus schamffully.

]