UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS 
 
 AND 
 
 LIVES OF SAINTS, 
 
 (WITH THOSE OF THE WICKED BIRDS PILATE AND JUDAS.) 
 
 COPIED AND EDITED FROM MANUSCRIPTS IN THE LIBRARY 
 OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM 
 
 BY 
 
 FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL, M.A.CAMBR, 
 
 ONE OF THE HONORARY SECRETARIES OE THE PHILOLOGICAL SOCIETY; 
 
 EDITOR OF LOSELICH'S AND DE BORRON'S 'SEYNT GRAAL'; ROBERD 
 
 OF BRUNNE'S 'HANDLYNG SYNNE', AND WILLIAM OF WADINGTON'S 
 
 'MANUEL DBS PECHIEZ'. 
 
 PUBLISHED FOR THE PHILOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
 
 BT 
 
 A. ASHER & CO., BERLIN. 
 1862.

 
 PREFACE. 
 
 ^ THE chief grievance of an Honorary Secretary is, that certain 
 ") Members of his Society will not send him for press the Papers 
 tLthey have read at the Society's Meetings. Beg for them as he 
 ^ will, by letter, word of mouth, through mutual friends, by 
 ^.special visits, out of some Members no Papers can be got. 
 What then is left for the unhappy Official, but to write Papers 
 himself, or copy MSS. to fill the volume that his refractory 
 friends have left vacant? The former branch of the alternative 
 was out of my reach, so I grasped the latter, and the reader 
 must not blame me if he thinks my basket of fruit a bad sub- 
 stitute for the second course of strong meat that he expected and 
 Bought to have had. 
 
 CJ 
 
 _> Sir Frederick Madden, the keeper of the Manuscripts at the 
 
 ^British Museum, kindly directed me to the earliest unprinted 
 English MSS. under his charge. Of these Roberd of Brunne's 
 Handling St/nne was the most important, but it was too long for 
 our Society, and I have therefore edited it for the Roxburghe 
 Club. Next came the short Poems that stand first in the present 
 v volume, all before 1300; and then the Lives of the Saints (Har- 
 
 |leian MS. No. 2277, about 1305-10 A. D.) of which I took a few 
 Jwhose titles or contents caught my fancy, including those of the 
 pwo accursed ones, Pilate and Judas Iscariot. These not making 
 
 ^a sufficient number of pages in our close print, I added, 1. a few 
 songs from the incomplete and later duplicate of the noble Vernon 
 MS. in the Bodleian Library, having time to collate one only 
 with the earlier copy ; 2. the fragment on the Corrupt state of 
 the Nunneries (p. 138-148) from a Cotton MS. temp. Hen. VI; 
 3. three Poems on Old Age, Earth, and the Faults of the Monks 
 and People of Kildare (which I had, after copying, set aside as 
 
 80562
 
 IV PREFACE. 
 
 having been printed in the Reliquice Antiquce), and lastly the 
 twice-printed ' Land of Cokaygne ', the airiest and cleverest piece 
 of satire in the whole range of Early English , if not of English, 
 poetry. A short abstract of the Poems the reader will find in 
 'the Contents', and he will see that however uninteresting the 
 titles of 'Sarmun', 'Moral Ode', 'Lives of Saints' may appear, 
 information and amusement are yet to be drawn from the pieces 
 themselves. He can get a lesson in the Geography and Ecclesi- 
 astical divisions of England (p. 48-9) , hear about going to school 
 at Oxford (p. 41), and studying there art, Arsmetrike 'a lore 
 pat of figours al is, and of draujtes as me drawep in poudre and 
 in numbre iwis' and Divinity (p. 77); of the heriot beast being 
 paid on a tenant's death (p. 83); of preachers for the Crusades 
 (p. 79); of the pomp, bell-ringing, and show of horses and squires 
 at Bishops' progresses to consecrate new Churches (p. 44, 1. 43-G), 
 and many an other scene of English life. He will find too the 
 Old-Englishman's special sin of Envy 1 denounced (p. 20), his 
 Greed, and Pride 3 , and other faults; will hear Sunday-trading 
 condemned (p. 16), and see the rough mason running from his 
 work to catch and kiss the country-girls coming to market with 
 their eggs (p. 45 ), which of course get broken in the struggle. 
 If the reader should doubt whether the Saint mightier than 
 'all the king's horses and all the king's men' 'can set Humpty- 
 Dumpties together again', he will at least not object to the 
 poet's reflection, that if egg-mongers now could so get their 
 broken eggs made whole, 'they might hop over ditches where 
 they would, and both wrestle and fight' (p. 45, 1. 69, 70). The 
 treatment of the 'puir deil' in those days too was hard, to 
 be talked to pleasantly by a blacksmith-saint till he had heated 
 his tongs redhot, and then to be treacherously caught and 'tuengde 
 and schok' by the nose till the trustful being yelled and hopped 
 
 1 And Englys men namely 
 
 Are purghe kynde of herta hy. 
 
 A forbyseyn ys tolde pys, 
 
 Seyde on Frenshe men and on Englys. 
 
 Frenshe men synne yn lechery 
 
 And Englys men yn enuye. 
 
 Roberd of Brunne's Handlyng Synne, p. 131, 1.4150-5. 
 8 cp. A nopur Mon proudep. as dop a poo. p. 1^9, 1. 18.
 
 PREFACE. V 
 
 and brayed, and had to fly home through the lift, shouting in all 
 men's ears 'Out! What hath the baldpate done! What hath the 
 baldpate done!' was manifestly unfair. The punishment of lustful 
 young women also was judicious (p. 73); the Virgin had odd cases 
 brought before her for decision (p. 59); and Judas murders his 
 father 'smot hym with a ston bihynde in the pate' marries his 
 mother, hangs himself, his womb bursts amid atwo, 'his gvttes' 
 fall to ground, and through the hole goes out his 'liper gost'. 
 But it is not for the oddities of subject or phrase that one values 
 these poems; it is for their language that the student, and for 
 their earnestness that the man , holds them of worth. The words 
 first used in most of them were registered by our lost friend 
 Herbert Coleridge, in his Glossarial Index to the Printed English 
 Literature of the Thirteenth Century, and most of the new words 
 iu the remainder of them will be found at the end of the present 
 Selection. For the deeper feeling in some of the Poems, I need 
 only refer to the simple and touching confession of shortcomings 
 and sins in the ' Moral Ode ' , to the trust and joy of the Songs 
 of 'Merci' and 'Deo gramas' (p. 118-130), the self-abasement shown 
 in the 'Sarmun' (p. 1-7), the tender love of the 'Christ on the 
 Cross' (p. 20-1), and the -triumphant faith of the Martyrs who 
 gave up their lives for God (p. 101-6). 
 
 Of Rhyme, the text contains one noteworthy specimen, 'the 
 Rhyme-beginning Fragment' (p. 21-2), of which the man most 
 capable to speak in England whose hand we have, alas, so long 
 missed from our pages writes as follows: 
 
 Edinburgh, Aug. 30, 1860. 
 My dear Furnivall, 
 
 I am on my rambles, and your letter of the 20th has been follow- 
 ing me. 
 
 The rhyme which has attracted your attention belongs to the kind, 
 which is called "inverse rhyme". You will find something about it in 
 the History of English Rkylhms 'm the chapter on rhyme. 
 
 I do not however remember to have seen so ancient or so elaborate a 
 specimen as the one you have sent me. It is very curious, and to me 
 interesting. With all best wishes I am 
 
 Yours truly 
 
 E, Guest.
 
 VI PREFACE. 
 
 The proofs of the text 1 have read with theMSS.. and endeavoured 
 to make them accurate copies of the originals, though with ex- 
 pansions of the ordinary contractions for er, ri &c., and insertions 
 of commas occasionally. Some final es in italics, to help out the 
 rhythm, I inserted in the first few pages, as noticed in the note 
 to p. 1, but soon gave this up; and the later final es represent 
 the flourishes of the scribe at the end of certain of his words 
 ending in i. In the lines whose rhythm cannot be in any way 
 made good without the insertion of a final e at the end of a 
 word, there the reader may insert it (as erroneously omitted by 
 the scribe) , but not otherwise. The doctrine of the critic of Dr. 
 Pauli's edition of Gower's Confessio Amantis as to the final e in 
 Early English ' , is not strictly borne out by any MS., or any un- 
 doctored edition of one, that I have ever read; and far more ex- 
 perienced readers and better judges than I, have condemned the 
 attempt to impose on a language constantly changing in words, 
 inflexions, and spelling, written often by half-lettered men, a 
 rigid rule applicable only to the well settled speech and literature 
 of a cultivated nation. 
 
 3 Old Square, Lincoln's Inn, 
 Dec. 17, 1861. 
 
 1 In the grammatical system of the 14th century, the final e inva- 
 riably marked the objective case singular.. In adjectives, both the ob- 
 jective in the singular, and all the cases in the plural, are marked by 
 the final e . . In verbs the final e marked invariably the infinitive mood, 
 and the plurals of all the tenses, when the final -en was discontinued.. 
 The final e also marked the adverbial form of words, and distinguished 
 the adverb from the preposition. Gentleman's Magazine, Third Series, 
 vol. 2, p. G47-9, June, 1857.
 
 CONTENTS. VII 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Pages 
 
 I. A SARMUN 1-7 
 
 That we ought to fear, for the Dead are loathly to see; to 
 dust we go, louse and flea are on our skin (5). If we are 2 
 proud of our flesh, what is it but worm's meat; and our skin 
 a sack of dirt and dung: of such the gentleman is too (8). See 
 thy proud neighbour in his grave, he is stench and worms (10), 
 and has no silk or purple. If we are proud of wealth, it 
 comes, it goes, and is but guile (13): spend it well while 
 thou hast it (15). Some are blinded by covetousness (16) and 3 
 become the devil's thralls; they shall die and go to the devil 
 (20): and the rich shall die too, and we all shall give ac- 
 count (24). If we have spent goods and time ill, we shall 
 go to hell (25), and see Christ's wounds, and the Cross and 4 
 the Elements shall cry for vengeance on us (29-33). In hell 
 it will be too late to cry for mercy, here, then, believe; un- 5 
 do thy heart (35), or thou shalt rue it sore (37). Man's life 
 is but a shadow (38). What brought he here but a stinking 
 skin (39)? The same wretched garb he shall take away (40); 
 when the soul is once out of it, no viler carrion is there (42). 
 Don't think to save for your heir (43); he shall waste your 6 
 hoard (44). Keep God in your thoughts (45) , help the needy, 
 and gain heaven (46). Its joy no tongue can tell (47); the 
 soul shall be brighter than the sun (49), the body fair and 
 strong (50), feeling no hunger or thirst; it is well merry to 
 dwell there (51), with many angels (53). We shall see our 7 
 friends and kin (54), Our Lady bright (55), the Trinity, and 
 Christ (56), the sight of Whom is our food and drink (57). 
 Pray we Him to give us joy everlasting (58). You who have 
 come to hear this 'sarmun', have pardon for seven years. 
 
 II. XV SIGNA ANTE IUDICIUM. 1 (A fragment. See two other 
 
 versions, note, p. 162-4.) 7-12 
 
 May the grace of Jesu alight among us (1)! Take heed of 7 
 
 1 After the text was printed I found that Mr. Wright had this poem in his 
 notes to the 2nd volume of the Chester Plays, for the Shakspere Society.
 
 VIH CONTENTS. SIGNA. FALL AND PASSION. 
 
 the wonders before the Judgment (5-8) which Isaiah told by 
 the Holy Ghost (10). At these Tokens children unborn shall 
 shudder, and cry for inercy (25). The first is: the stars shall 
 become as black as coal (42) and be cast clown to earth (40), 9 
 and terror shall fall on all living (45-52) [The Second is,] 
 the dead too shall arise, and for fear look like witless beasts 
 (53-6). The Third: the sun shall turn green and wan (62), 
 and then coal-black (66). The Fourth : the sun shall become 
 red (70). The Fifth : all beasts shall quake and cry for mercy, 10 
 though they cannot speak (80). The Sixth: the mountains 
 and hills shall fill up the dales (85-6), castles shall fall 
 (89-92), and trees be torn up by the roots (93-6). The 
 Seventh: the trees shall grow again, with their roots in the 
 air (97-100), iron shall bleed (101), and poor and rich alike 
 shall die (105-8); no castle or steed shall save them (109-10). 
 The Eighth: the sea shall draw together, and stand up as a 11 
 wall (117), the rivers shall cry to God (118), the fishes shall 
 think He is dead (121-4); and then the waters shall return to 
 their own place (125-8). The Ninth: the skies shall speak 
 like a man (134-6), and pray that they shall not be punished 
 for man's sin (144); [The Tenth] all saints in heaven, and 
 cberubin and seraphin, shall quake (152); the angels shall 
 hold their peace (154), and the fiends of hell shall moan with 12 
 great din (158) and pray for shelter (167); so, man, live a 
 good life here (163). The Eleventh: four winds shall rise, 
 the rainbow shall fall, and the fiends shall be driven back to 
 hell. The Twelfth: the four elements shall cry for mercy to 
 Christ [Incomplete.] 
 
 III. THE FALL AND PASSION . 12-15 
 
 God give us his grace, me to speak and you to learn, that 
 I may show you His uprising (1-6). Lucifer fell seven days 13 
 and nights like snow, from heaven to hell (9-14), and man 
 was created to fill his place (17). God made Adam master 
 of all Paradise but one tree (23), and the devil as a serpent 
 tempted Eve with an apple to make herself as 'witti' as God 
 (31). When the apple was eaten, they were driven out into 
 the vale of Eboir to work hard (37); after 900 years Adam 
 died and went to hell (39); and the devil took all men, though 
 God sent prophets to them (43). Then He took flesh 'of maid 14 
 mari' (49), and suffered for thirty years and more (53). Judas 
 sold him for thirty pence, and he suffered death upon the 
 tree (68). Joseph of Arimathea (71) buried Him in a fair 
 place (76). His mother wept four bitter tears of blood (82) 15 
 who speaks of sorrow against that sorrow? The third day He 
 arose (90), bringing the patriarchs and prophets out of hell
 
 CONTENTS. SEVEN SINS. IX 
 
 Page* 
 
 to heaven (93), and sent His doctrine abroad (103) and His 
 disciples to preach His lore (105), and ascended into heaven. 
 
 IV. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 15-16 
 
 Jesu! give us thy grace. Men and women, leave off your 
 great oaths (3); no limb of Christ is there unforsworn by you 16 
 who are worse than any dog (7). Beware of endless sorrow 
 
 (6). God commanded Isaiah to teach folk the Ten Command- 
 ments. I. Honour our God: those who make gods through 
 witchcraft shall all go to the devil (24). II. Keep Sunday 
 well : but now men hold all their marketing on Sunday. III. 
 Honour your father and mother: but now it's as with bees in 
 a hive; when a father gives up his land to his children, the 
 young drive out the old. IV. die. <fec. 
 
 V. FRAGMENT ON THE SEVEN SINS 17-20 
 
 The King of Heaven be with Us, and bless this preaching to 
 the devil's shame (1-2). We are all of one foul earth (3), 
 and however rich we are, shall rot to ashes and dirt (4). 
 Cleanse thee of thy misdeeds (5), and amend thy sinful life 
 (6). And pray a Pater Noster and Ave Mary that I may 18 
 break the devil's staff (7), and that God's peace may be among 
 us (8): and I will tell you of the seven horrid sins by which 
 men lose heaven (10). I. Pride, the head of all sin. Lucifer 
 fell by it to hell for ever (3-9). Man, why art thon proud of 
 thy clothing linen, woollen, gloves, and shoes (16) , nothing 19 
 but thy filthy skin (13) is thine own, so love God and please 
 him at the Judgment (20). II. Cotelousness. The covetous 
 man never comes to God's house (23), and wishes that no one 
 alive were so rich as he (27). He would sooner give any man 
 his blood than his goods (32), and sits abrood on his muck 
 (35), not thinking of his end (37); but the devil shall take 
 away his breath (41), carry his soul to hell, and be his exe- 
 cutor (43). Trust not then to this world's wealth; it goes 
 away like mist (46). Be you never so rich, when you die 
 you may be proud if you have an old clout to cover your 
 nakedness (50). III. Envy. This sin is now much in the 20 
 land (52). And I'll tell you how. Worldly wealth falls to 
 men unequally (55); some men work hard and are yet al- 
 ways needy (58), others have more; and the desire for this 
 raises strife (Cl) [ends abruptly]. 
 
 VI. CHRIST ON THE CROSS. (A fragment Latin and English) 20-21 
 Look at thy Lord, and weep tears of blood! His thorn- 
 wounded head, his bloody side, his paling face, his dimming 
 sight (7)! 
 
 be-ginne at is heued. and loke to is to. (13) 
 pou ne findest in is bodi. bot anguis and wo.
 
 CONTENTS. A MORAL ODE. 
 
 Pages 
 
 Yet he says, Man thou art lull nigh to hell; turn again, and 
 come to me, and I will receive thee (20). See what I suf- 
 fered for thee (23), and thou givest me no thanks (28). That 
 is my greatest pain (29). 
 
 VII. A RHYME-BEGINNING FRAGMENT, or Specimen of In- 
 
 verse Rhyme 21-22 
 
 (On the troubles of Love and Sin.) 
 
 VIII. A MORAL ODE 22-34 
 
 (About 1250 A. D. Another version from one of the Digby 
 MSS. was printed by Hickes in his Thesaurus, vol. 1, p. 222. 
 
 It omits nine stanzas of this. Coleridge, Gloss, p. vi.) 
 Old I am in years, but useless has been my life (3), folly 
 (4) and idle speech (5), sin iu work and word (6). My old 
 likings I rnislike (7); and now that I would do better, I can't 
 (8); age has stolen on me (9). Slow we are to good (10); 
 yet we must do it while we live (12) , and trust not to wife 23 
 or child (13), for one alms in life is better than five after 
 death (14); and a sot is he who cares more for a friend than 
 his own soul (15). Nor may wife trust to husband (16), nor 
 man to his kin (17); 'who well does not while he may, he 
 shall not when he would' (18). Slack not in well-doing (19), 
 and do it while you may (20). Trust not, rich men, to wall 
 and ditch, but send your goods to heaven (21). There, is 
 neither fire nor thief (22) ; and there we send too seldom meat 
 and bread (23). Nothing shall king or sheriff there take from 
 us (25), and there shall we find all that we have given for 24 
 God's love here (26-9). All our works, good and evil, shall 
 be weighed before Heaven's King; He shall give us our re- 
 ward (30-2); and the poor with his penny may buy the King- 
 dom, as well as the rich with his pounds (33-5). For all God's 
 works are mercy (36); He oversees the world (38), and from 
 His bright eye is no secret deed or dark thought hidden 
 (39-40). All that is, is in His hand, and He shaped all things 
 (41-2). Everywhere He is; and they who do His will, easily 25 
 find Him (43-4). But what shall the breakers of His com- 
 mands whorelicgs, the deceitful and forsworn (52) do at 
 the Great Doom (46), where devils shall bring up all our un- 
 expiated sins (49-51). Each man shall judge himself (54) 
 his own heart the best witness against him (57) to death or 
 life (58). But God shall judge each according to his end (60); 26 
 therefore do good, and pray mercy, before death is at the 
 door (62-4). If you don't leave sin before you can't do any 
 more of it, you 're a fool to expect God's mercy for this 
 (64-5). Yet He has said 'whenever a man repents, early or 
 late, mercy shall he find' (66-7). Many say 'who cares for
 
 CONTENTS. A MORAL ODE. XI 
 
 Pages 
 
 punishment; it shall end' (68). Little know they its heat and 
 bitter blasts (69-70). "Who would give ending pleasure for 
 endless pain (71-2)? The bread of sin is sweet, and so is 
 wild deer's flesh; but he buys it too dear who gives his neck 
 for it (73). A full belly talks lightly of hunger (74), but if 
 a man had tried a little hell-fire, he'd think otherwise of it 27 
 (75-6); no earthly wealth could get him endless joy (78). Of 
 the Judgment. There may we dread (80), for all that was 
 hidden here shall be uncovered (81), every man's life shall be 
 known (82). The penitent shall not be ashamed, but others 
 shall be lost (83-4). The Doom shall soon be over (85), and 
 hard men and makers of evil laws shall be punished (86). 
 Doers of good shall go to heaven (89), and of evil to hell (90) 
 where they shall dwell without end (91): no relief will there 
 be (92), for not again will Christ break hell (93), and none 28 
 else can do it (94). Our Lord bought us with his blood (95), 
 and we'll not give a bit of our bread for His love (96). 
 Death came in through the old devil's spite (98), and for our 
 first father's guilt have we fallen into misery (99-100), else 
 we might have lived in bliss for ever (101). Great was thus 
 the sin for which all died (102); and if, for that, such ven- 
 geance was taken, what shall we do who sin so oft (104)? 
 Full long shall we be in hell, if Adam was there so many 
 hundred years for one bare sin (105-6). God's mercy is not 
 less than his might (107), and the devil himself might have 
 it if he would seek it (108). But Hell's King is merciless 29 
 (109); he who most does his will gets worst reward a bath 
 of boiling pitch (110). God keep us from it (111)! and I will 
 warn you as wise men and the Book say (113-14). Of the 
 Pains of Hell. There is hunger and thirst for evil misers 
 (116); change from chill to heat, and heat to chill (117); with 
 no relief (119). The unsteadfast walk ever, seeking rest and 
 finding none, wearily up and down as water driven with the 
 wind (120-2) ; and quarrellers shall bathe in ever-boiling pitch 
 (124). Fire is there that ever burns, unquenchable by sea, or 30 
 Avon stream, or Stour (125-6), and in it shall be those who 
 were full of foul tricks (127), who loved robbery, whoredom, 
 and drunkenness (128), were liars (129), lovers of others' wives 
 and deserters of their own (130), hoarders of goods (131), and 
 stingy men (132), those greedy of silver and gold (133), doers 
 ofuntrueness (134) and the evil Spirit's teachings (135). Ad- 
 ders, snakes, efts, and toads, shall tear and fret the evil 
 speakers and envious (138). Never sun shines there, nor 
 moon, nor star (139), but only foul smoke and darkness (140). 
 There lay loathly fiends (141) and frightful wights (142), dread
 
 XII CONTENTS. A MORAL ODE. 
 
 Page* 
 
 Satanas and old Beelzebub (143). No heart can think, or 
 tongue tell, how great is the pain of hell (144); but the greatest 
 is, that the damned know it is endless (146). Heathen men are 
 there (147); and wicked Christians (148), whom neither money, 
 prayers, nx>r alms, shall help (149-50). Let each shield him- 
 self while he can, and warn his friend, as I have done (151); 
 and leave what God has forbidden, and do what He has com- 
 manded (153). Love God and your fellow-Christian (154), all 
 hangs on these two words (165). But it is hard to stand, and 32 
 easy to fall, unless Christ gives us strength (157-8); if we 
 worked for God as we do for goods and gain, we should have 
 more of heaven than earls or kings do (159-61). There, is 
 no thirst or hunger, death or age (162); but of it we think 
 too seldom, and of this world too oft (163-4), though here we 
 are a little while, and long elsewhere (165). Let us beware, 
 or the world will drown us (166). Most of us drink of one 
 devil's cup (167); but let us guard against sin with fasting, 
 alms, and prayers (169), leaving the broad street (170), and 
 going the narrow way green and fair it is, though few tread 
 it (171). It is God's command (174), for which men leave 33 
 their own will (17, r >); and will bring us with the fair few men 
 to heaven's king (176), with Whom is mirth and angels' song 
 (177), and neither ill nor wane (179). Some have less joy, 
 and some more, according to their deeds here (180). God 
 alone is their food, their life, their bliss (181), their clothing, 
 and their joy (182-3); their sun and nightless day (184). In 
 heaven is weal and rest (186), bliss without sorrow, and life 
 without death (187) : neither sorrow nor sore (188). God alone 
 is the bliss of angels and men (189), but all shall not see 
 His light alike, only as they loved Him here (190-2). Christ 34 
 shall be enough for all his darlings (194), and of the sight of 
 Him is no satiety (195). God is so lovely in His godship that 
 no man can tell what mirth have those who are in His bliss 
 (196-7). To it may He bring us (198), and Christ grant us 
 here to lead such life that we may thither come. Amen. 
 
 LIVES OF SAINTS. 
 
 IX. ST. DUNSTAN (MS. ab. 1305 A. D.) 34-40 
 
 While he was in his mother's womb, her taper on Candlemas 
 day was miraculously lighted, and other folk lit their lights at 35 
 hers, typifying the light he should give to England (1. 1-20). 
 He was born A.D. 925, the first year of King Athelstan (21), 
 and brought up at Glastonbury (26). When grown up, be
 
 CONTENTS. ST. DUNSTAN S LIFE. XIII 
 
 Pages 
 
 went to his uncle St. Aldelm, Archbishop of Canterbury (32), 
 who took him to the king (36), and Athelstan appointed him 
 to the House of Glastonbury (42), which was established 453 
 years before he was born (48), and before Sts. Patrick and 
 Austin brought Christianity to England (50). Of Glastonbury, 36 
 Dunstan was made Abbot (58), and, when he was not at public 
 prayers, worked in his private smithy (60), and was then in 
 three places at once (67), for his hands were at work, his 
 heart with God, and his mouth praying prayers (68). This 
 made the devil spiteful, and he came as a fair woman to 
 tempt Dunstan (71). The saint chatted away, but quietly 
 heated his pincers, and when they were 'all afire' (79), seized 
 the devil by the nose (80), who wriggled and yelled and hopped 
 about till he got loose (82-7), and then flew off screaming 
 "Out, what hap pe calewe ido: what hap pe calewe ido" (89). 37 
 Dunstan had great power with King Edmund (94); but Edwin 
 put him out of his abbey, and drove him out of England 
 (101). After Edwin's death, his brother Edgar had Dunstan 
 home again (113), made him Bishop of Worcester (119) and 
 of London (131), and then Archbishop of Canterbury (135). 38 
 He upheld firmly the rights of holy church, and made parsons 
 give up either their lechery or their livings (138-40). With 
 St. Osewold (Bishop of Worcester) and St. Adelwold (Bishop 
 of Rochester), he cast out wicked parsons (146), and founded 
 48 Abbeys of monks and nuns (149). Our Lord granted him 
 a sight of his father and mother in heaven (157), and of the 
 joy of heaven (162), and let him hear the angels' merry song 
 of "Lord have mercy upon us, Christ have mercy upon us" 39 
 (165). He loved well the harp (169), and after playing it one 
 day, hung it on the wall (176), and the harp of itself sang 
 the merry anthem "All saints' souls be glad that are in 
 heaven &c." (181). When he had lived many a day (191), 
 one Holy Thursday he fell sick, and had his special friends 
 and servants called to him (195), and forgave them their 
 trespasses, and absolved them (197), and on Saturday bid good 
 day to his friars (200), and then died, A. D. 980. 40 
 
 X. AN OXFORD STUDENT :-one of the Miracles of Our Lady. 40-42 
 A northern knight's son goes to church with his mother, and 
 seeing a Crucifix asks his mother who the man on it (5), and 
 the fair woman by his side, are (10). She tells her boy, and 
 he oft thinks of Our Lady's sorrow at seeing her dear Son 
 die (17). He is put to school at Oxford (20), does a deadly 41 
 sin (24), but is shriven (26), and prays Our Lady for forgive- 
 ness (29). He dies at Oxford (37), and two clerks, his friends, 
 watch the bier (40), but will not light the tapers till some
 
 XIV CONTENTS. ST. SWITHIN'S LIFE. 
 
 Pages 
 
 of the Masters come (42-4). While the clerks sleep, they 
 both think they see angels carry their dead friend's soul to 
 heaven (48), Our Lady going before, and opening the door 
 of heaven (50), and asking her Son to take her friend into 
 His joy (53); Christ promises that He will, for the youth's 
 prayers to Him by the Virgin's sorrow when she saw Him 
 die (56). Our Lady then sends from heaven, and lights the 42 
 tapers round the corpse (60); the clerks awake; the Masters 
 come and do the service, and bury the body (64). The clerks 
 tell their own Master their vision (65), and then the youth's 
 shriftfather is told (70); and he says it is true that the boy 
 had ever in mind Our Lady's grief when she saw her Son die 
 on the Cross (72). 
 
 XI. THE JEWS AND THE CROSS -.-another of the Miracles of 
 
 Our Lady 42-43 
 
 As an Archbishop in Toledo was consecrating the Mass, he 
 heard the Virgin's voice from heaven cry 'Alias, the Jews' 
 treachery', and lament their treatment of her Son on the 
 Cross (4-10). After mass search is made, and the form of 
 our Lord is found, nailed through hands and feet to a Cross 
 by the Jews, and pierced with five wounds (14-16). Now, 
 Lady, give us grace that we may come to the Joy that thou art in! 
 
 XII. LIFE OF ST. SWITHIN [? since printed by Mr. Earle in his 
 
 St. Swtflun.] 43-47 
 
 He was born in Winchester, in the time of king Egberd, the 
 18th king after Kenewold whom St. Beryn brought to Chris- 
 tianity (1-6), though St. Austin had before converted Athel- 
 bright (8). Swithin began to serve Christ when young (13); 
 he was made priest by Elmeston, Bishop of Winchester (15), 
 and the king made him his chief counsellor (22), and teacher 
 of his son and heir Athulf (25). After Egbert's death, Athulf 
 becomes king (28), follows Swithin's counsel (30), and makes 
 him Bishop of Winchester (35). Through all the land men 
 pay their tithe well, and Swithin uproars broken churches 
 (40-1), builds new ones, and displays no pomp at their con- 
 secration, no ringing, 'bobance', or show of horses and squires 
 (45-6). He also improves the town of Winchester; builds the 
 strong bridge outside of the East gate (52-3); and performs 
 the miracle of making whole the broken eggs of a country- 45 
 woman that one of his workmen has upset in trying to kiss 
 her (65-67). If egg-mongers now could get their eggs so 
 treated , they might hop over ditches , and wrestle and fight 
 (69-70). After Athulf s death, his son Adelberd was king (72), 
 and in his third year (A. D. 816) Swithin died, bidding his 
 men not to bnry him in church with pride, but somewhere
 
 CONTENTS. ST. KENELM'S LIFE. XV 
 
 Pages 
 
 without, in a place little thought of (78). This they did (83), 
 and there he lay 109 years and more (85), till he was taken 
 up by order of king Edgar, father of St. Edward (88), and 
 ninth king after Adelbert (91). For then the Saint appears 
 to a holy man , and bids him go to Athelwold , Bishop of 46 
 Winchester, and tell him to move his corpse to a high place 
 (104); and as a sign the holy man's illness shall leave him 
 (108), and the rings on the stone that covers the corpse, shall 
 be taken off easily by the bishop, and fastened on again (116). 
 The good man arises, is cured of his illness (120), and Athel- 
 wold easily takes the ring off the grave-stone, and puts it on 
 again (124). King Edgar appoints the 18th of July for re- 
 moving the corpse (132), Bishops and Abbots are summoned 47 
 (134), a great procession is made (140), and the body dug 
 down to; a wonderful sweetness comes from it which, as 
 you know by other dead men, is much against right (145-9) 
 a blind woman has her sight, and more than 200 sick are 
 cured (150-2). The corpse is put in a fair and noble shrine 
 in St. Peter's Church, and works many miracles (154-6). 
 XIII. THE LIFE OF ST. KENELM, King of the March of Wales . . 47-57 
 Kenulf, who built the Abbey of Winchcombe (the greatest 
 city in the west half of England, 7), was his father (3). In 48 
 that time were five kings in England (9), who had their parts 
 by themselves (20); and England is 800 miles long, and 200 
 broad (12); and in it are three principal rivers, Humber, 
 Thames, and Severn (16). The king of the March had Wor- 
 cestershire (23), Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Chestershire, 
 Derbyshire, Staffordshire, half Shropshire, Herefordshire, some 
 of Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Ox- 
 fordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire: 
 all these were formerly called the March of Wales, and of all 
 was Kenelm king (40), and Winchcombe was his chief city 49 
 (42). Of the other 4 kings, he of Wessex (47) had Wiltshire, 
 Dorset- and Berkshire, Sussex, Chichester, Southampteshire, 
 Surrey, Devonshire, and Cornwall (58). The king of Kent 
 had Kent (59;. The king of Eastland (63) had Norfolk, Suf- 
 folk, the Isle of Ely, and Cambridge (66). The king of 
 Northumberland had all the land beyond the Humber into 
 Scotland (70). [The divisions of the counties into Bishoprics 
 are also stated in the text.] Kenulf died A.D. 819, and St. 50 
 Kenelm succeeded to the throne, though only seven years 
 old. One of his sisters, Wenylde, loved him (85); but the 
 other, Quendride, envied him (91), and thought she should 
 have his heritage if she could kill him (94) ; so she gave him 
 poison, but it did not hurt him, as our Lord would not have
 
 XVI CONTENTS. ST. KENELM'S LIFE. 
 
 Pg< 
 
 him martyred so lightly (101). Then she promised his guardian, 
 Askebert, money and herself if be would kill Kenclm (112-15). 
 And Kenclm had this dream, that before his bed (117) was 51 
 a noble tree with wax lights and lamps on it, and when he 
 had climbed up to its highest bough , one of his best friends 
 'srnot atuo pis treo', and then Kenelm became a little bird, 
 and flew right into heaven (130). Not knowing what the 
 dream means, St. Kenelm tells his nurse Wolwenne (138), 
 who explains that his sister is plotting his death (144), and 
 that the little bird was his soul, that should go to heaven 
 after his life's end (146). Askebert takes him to hunt in the 
 wood of Clent (152), and he lies down to sleep (155). Aske- 52 
 bert digs a pit for him, but the boy awakes (159), and tells him 
 that he loses his time, as he (Kenelm) will not die till his 
 stick gives a sign that he is to be martyred (166). They go 
 on; Askebert sticks the stick in the ground (169), it begins 
 to put forth leaves, and becomes a great ash (171). Askebert 
 delays to do his wicked deed (179), but Kenelm says "that 
 thou doest, do soon" (180), and begins singing Te domine 
 laudamus (182); at "the white Company of Martyrs, Lord, 
 praiseth thee", Askebert smites off his head, under a haw- 
 thorn tree (187), and a white dove flies out of him to heaven 
 (190). Askebert buries the corpse (195), and goes and tells 53 
 Quendride (198). She seizes all her brother's land and manors 
 (200), makes herself queen of the March, and becomes a shrew 
 lady (202), and forbids any one even to name her brother's 
 name (208) under pain of beheading (210). So his death was 
 forgotten by men that have wits (218), but God made a dumb 
 beast remember it (220). For a widow's white cow, that went 
 with other cows into the valley where Kenelm was buried, 
 would always leave them and lie about his holy corpse (226) 
 without feeding (229); and yet she was always 'fat and round' 54 
 (231), and no other cow gave half as much milk (233) a man 
 who had cows like her need not care though his larder were 
 bare and his pastures poor (236). Folk watched the cow, and 
 thought it was some token (242). (The valley was named 
 Coubache (244).) One day as the Pope (251) was singing Mass 
 at St. Peter's in Rome, a dove whiter than any snow (253) 
 laid a writing with letters of gold in English on the altar, 
 saying that Kenelm lay under a thorn in Coubach, bereft of 
 his head (266). This writ was kept as a relick, as coming 55 
 from heaven and our Lord's hand (273), and St. Kenelm's day 
 is kept as a feast day at Rome (276). The Pope sent to 
 Wolfred, Archbishop of Canterbury, to have the body sought 
 out (283). It is sought for, and found, under the thorn of
 
 CONTENTS. A MIRACLE. ST. CHRISTOPHER. XVII 
 
 Pages 
 
 Coubage (289), and when taken up, a spring flows out of the 
 place where it was (294) which is called St. Keneltn's well 
 (297), and sick men are cured by it (298). Though the Bishop 
 had ordered the body to be taken to Winchcornb in Gloucester- 
 shire (303), the Worcestershire men swear they will keep 
 it; and the two shires meet and strive for it by the water of 56 
 Perschore (310). At last they agree, that they will go to 
 sleep, and whichever side wakes the sooner, shall go off and 
 take the body with them (316). The Gloucestershire men wake 
 first (319), and carry away the body (321). On their journey they 
 get very weary, and are obliged to rest on a high down on the 
 east of Winchcomb (328); they pray for drink, and a well 
 springs up on the top of the down, that is still there (331), 
 and by which the monks have built St. Kenelm's Chapel (336). 
 Quendride sat in St Peter's Church in a soler, saw the crowd 
 on the down (341), and was told that her brother was being 
 brought to the Church (344). So she opened her Psalter at 57 
 the first psalm, to curse her brother's corpse with it (350), 
 and when she got to the 19th verse, where the cursing of evil 
 men ends , out burst both her eyes , and fell down on her 
 Psalter (356). The holy body was put into a noble shrine in 
 the Abbey (361), and the bad queen died in shame, and her 
 body was thrown into a foul ditch (364). 
 
 XIV. A MIRACLE OF ST. JAMES'S 57-59 
 
 In the city of Lyons a young man who often went as a pil- 
 grim to St. James, did a deed of lechery (4), and as he was 
 going to be shriven for it, the devil met him, and told him 58 
 that he was St. James (11), and that he must carve off the 
 member with which he had sinned (19). This the man does, 
 
 and kills himself (26). The devil is ready, takes the man's 
 soul, and is going oft" to hell with it (29), when St. James 
 comes down, bids the shrew stop (30), and disputes his 
 right to the soul. The strife lasts long (41), and at last St. 
 James takes the devil, yelling and quaking (46), to our Lady. 59 
 There he 'found his match' (48), and is reproached by her for 
 his treachery (51, 59). As through this, the man's life was 
 taken, our Lady makes the soul go again into the man's body, 
 which arises from death to life (63), and the man leads a good 
 Jife afterwards, though without his lost members (65). The 
 devil went away, and held himself beguiled (67); may sorrow 
 and lither thrift fall on his head! Amen, say all (70). 
 
 XV. THE LIFE OF ST. CHRISTOPHER . . . 59-65 
 
 How Cristopher was a very big man, 24 feet long, and wanted 
 
 to serve the most powerful Master, who was under no one 60 
 else. Finding such a one, he served him till he said he feared
 
 XVIII CONTENTS. ST. CHRISTOPHER. THE 1 1,000 VIRGINS. 
 
 Ptgtt 
 
 the Devil; on which Cristopher went to seek the Devil, and 
 served him, till they passed by a Cross, which the Devil ran Cl 
 out of the road for, into thorns and briars. Cristopher at 
 once left the Devil, and went to a hermit to ask about Christ. 
 The hermit ordered him, as penance, to live on the bank of 
 a river, and carry people over it. This he does, till one uight 62 
 a little boy comes, who is very heavy, and nearly drowns him. 
 The boy is Christ, weighted with the sins of the world; and 
 after making Cristopher's staff leaf and fruit, Christ sends him 
 out to preach the gospel. Cristopher converts many people, 
 and their king sends two successive parties of 100 knights to 63 
 capture him; they daren't do it; but he goes with the last 
 party, and converts them. The king imprisons him, and sends 64 
 two women to seduce him; but he converts them, and they 
 drag the king's idols in the dust, for which they are martyred. 65 
 The king then has Cristopher put on a gridiron to be roasted, but 
 the gridiron melts, and the fire goes out. He then has him 
 shot at; but the arrows stick in the air, and one goes into 
 the king's eye. Cristopher tells the king to smear it with his 
 blood; so the king martyrs him, is cured, and turns Christian. 
 
 XVI. THE 11,000 VIRGINS 66-70 
 
 How Ourse, the daughter of King Maur of Britain, is asked 
 
 in marriage by another king for his son. Her father is sor- 
 rowful at it; an angel tells her that she may marry in 3 years 67 
 if they get her 10 maidens, and then 1000 for each of the 11. 
 This is done (p. 67), Ourse converts them, and the king builds 
 them a ship in which they sail about and have games (p. 67). 
 A wind drives them to Cologne (p. 68), and an angel tells 68 
 Ourse that they shall be martyred there. They go on to Basilic, 
 and Rome, where the British pope Ciriac welcomes them. An 
 angel tells him he will be martyred with the Virgins. He 
 resigns his dignity. Maximinian and Africanus tell the king 
 of Cologne to martyr the Virgins when they come there. 
 Ourse's sweetheart baptises his mother and bis sister Florentine 69 
 (p. 69), goes with them to Cologne, and agrees to suffer death 
 with Ourse. The prince of Cologne has them killed, but of- 
 fers to marry Ourse; she refuses, arid he has her shot. Ciriac 
 and many others are killed too; all A. D. 238 (p. 69). They 
 are buried in a nunnery (p. 70). An abbot asks for a body 70 
 of one , saying he will put it in gold ; he leaves it in wood 
 for a year, and so the body one night goes up to the altar. 
 The monks go to the tomb, and find the body just as it was 
 put there. The abbess of the convent will not let the body 
 go, seeing it was God's will that it should stop there (p. 70). 
 
 XVII. ST. EDMUND THE CONFESSOR . 71-87
 
 CONTENTS. ST. EDMUND THE CONFESSOR. xix 
 
 Pages 
 
 How he was born iu Abingdon on St Edmund's day. and 71 
 soiled no cloth when he came out of his mother. 'Mabille the 
 rich' was his mother's name; Robert, Margery, and Alice, her 
 other children's. She brings them up to eat bread and water 
 on Fridays, and sends the boys 'to scole to Parys' with very 
 little money (p. 71) and with hair shirts (p. 72). St. Edmund 72 
 is good; Christ comes to him as a fair white child, and says 
 he is always by his side (p. 72). St. Edmund crosses his fore- 
 head thrice every night (p. 73), and never does lechery at 73 
 Paris or Oxford, but weds Our Lady with a ring, and keeps 
 his pledge. His landlady's daughter creeps into his bed naked 
 (p 73), so he gives her a sound flogging, and makes her 
 bleed (p. 74), which takes away her lechery, and she dies a 74 
 virgin. His mother dies, charging him to put her daughters 
 in a nunnery. She is buried at Abingdon, with 'Mabille, 
 flower of widows' graven on her tomb (p. 74). Edmund puts 
 his sisters into the nunnery of Cateby in Northamptonshire 75 
 (p. 75). The horse-hair shirts he wore are described, and 
 the penances he did. The hair-shirts -will neither burn nor 
 sink (p. 75). How the devils, like a flock of choughs and 
 crows, tossed about the soul of a dead sinner of Stafgrene 76 
 (p. 76). How St. Edmund always said a prayer to Christ, the 
 Virgin, and St. John One day he forgot it. St. John came 
 with a staff, and threatened to strike him, but forgave him 
 (p. 76). How St. Edmund read Art for six years at Oxford 77 
 (p. 77), and then 'Arsmetrike'; but his mother tells him to 
 study better figures, and draws three Circles, for the Trinity, 
 in his hand. So he studies Divinity (1. 238), and teaches so 
 as to turn men from the world, and make people weep. One 78 
 day in a doze he sees a dove bring him Christ's flesh (p. 78), and 
 then disputes wonderfully concerning the Trinity. He forgets 
 one night to think of Christ's passion ; the devil takes hold of 
 his hand to stop him from crossing himself, but he thinks of 
 the Passion, catches the devil by the throat, and the devil con- 
 fesses that the Passion is the best protector against him (p. 79). 79 
 He arranges his time so as never to be idle, and becomes a 
 great preacher. The Pope orders the Bishops to choose a 
 wise man to preach about the Crusade, and St. Edmund is 
 chosen. He will take no money from poor persons, not like 
 these Archdeacons who work them woe (1. 329). A woman 
 tries to draw her lover back from taking the Cross (p. 79); 
 her hand becomes crooked, but is made straight again on 80 
 her taking the Cross (p. 80). While St. Edmund is preaching 
 in All Saints Churchyard, Oxford, bad weather comes on, and 
 the people run for fear of spoiling their clothes (1. 358), but
 
 XX CONTENTS. STS. EDMUND CONFESSOR AND KING. 
 
 Pages 
 
 the saint tells them the storm is sent by the devil, and on 
 St. E.'s prayer to God, it removes to the half of the church 
 where he is not standing, so that those who went away got 
 wet, and those who stopt kept dry (1.374). Another miracle 81 
 he wrought at Worcester (I. 375). He was made Canon secular 
 of Salisbury, and Treasurer (1. 382), gave much to the poor 
 (1 384), never eat his fill (1. 391), and before Easter eat nothing 
 that had suffered death (1. 400). He was elected Archbishop 
 of Canterbury; but when told of the election by his chamber- 82 
 lain, he said "Be still, fool, go out, make fast the door, and 
 let no man disturb me" (1. 417). Neither to the messengers 
 (1.430), nor the Canons (1.440) would he give way; but the 
 Bishop's command he was obliged to obey, and so was con- 83 
 secrated Archbishop (1. 456) He was strong in penance and 
 fasting, and had ever pity of poor men to whom high men 
 did, all day, woe (1.462): witness, his giving back to a ten- 
 ant's widow the heriot beast she had brought him on her hus- 
 band's death (1. 464-82). So good was he , that the devil raised 
 strife between him and King Henry (John's son) who held the 84 
 Convent of Canterbury against him (1. 488-93). Though the 
 Legate was against him, St. Edmund held out, disregarded 
 the king's threats, and cursed him and all oppressors of the 
 Church (1. 514). St. Thomas appeared to St. Edmund, ex- 
 horted him not to bend , and let him kiss his mouth (1. 528), 85 
 St. Edmund, following Becket's example, went to France, to 
 Ponteney, where he dwelt till obliged to leave for better air 
 (1. 534-48) and go to Soycie (1. 556). There he drew towards 
 death, asked for our Lord's flesh, called Him to witness that 86 
 nothing but Him he had desired on earth (1.566); then he 
 partook of the flesh, said that joy was in his heart, and re- 
 joiced over where he was going (1. 578). At sunrise he died, 
 A. D. 1242; 'his guttes' were buried in the town, in the 
 'Minstre of seint Jake' (1. 588), but his holy body was carried 
 to Ponteney, on St. Edmund the King's day, the day when 
 he had promised the monks to be with them (1. 588-93). 
 
 XVIII. ST. EDMUND THE KING 87-89 
 
 He was king of Suffolk (3), and a hardy and courteous knight 
 (6). Two princes of another land, Hyngar and Hubba, in- 
 vaded England and conquered Northumberland (7-12). Then 
 Hyngar came to St. Edmund's chief town (19), made it bare, 
 slew his people (21), tore children from their mothers' breasts, 
 killed them (23), and burnt the town to dust (26); besieged 
 Eglesdon where St. Edmund was (34), took the king, bound 88 
 him to a tree (40), and shot at him with arrows till his body 
 was as full of them as a hedgehog is of prickles (47) like
 
 CONTENTS. LIFE OF ST. KATHERINE. XXI 
 
 Pages 
 
 St. Bastian was martyred (51). But Edmund quietly called on 
 God, and so Hyngar had his head cut off (56), and hidden in a 
 secret place in the wood of Eglesdon (61-6). There a wild 89 
 wolf finds it, and though his nature "were betere to swolowe 
 hit', he licks and kisses it like his own whelp (70). After- 
 wards Christian men look for it, and when they come near, 
 the head calls out "Here; here; here" (79). They take it 
 up and carry it off with the body the wolf yelling piteously 
 (86) to St. Edmundsbury (89), where it was put in a noble 
 shrine (91), and the torn flesh became whole again (94), and 
 the head joined on to the body, but a thin red line, shining 
 like gold (98), was where the head had been cut off. And a 
 fair pilgrimage it is, to go there and honour that holy body 
 (100). 
 
 XIX. THE LIFE OF ST. KATHERINE 90-98 
 
 When she was eighteen, Maxentius commanded all his officials 
 to come to Alexandria to sacrifice to their gods (10). St. 
 Katherine sees their 'giddyhood' in worshipping idols, goes to 
 the Emperor (16), and asks him why he is so proud of his 
 Temple of lime and stone, and regards not the high Temple 
 of heaven, whose sun and moon and stars never weary (26): 
 on that he should think, forsake his idols, and honour God 
 (30). The Emperor bids her wait, and then questions her (39, 91 
 ol). She says she is King Cost's daughter (47), that idols 
 are no help (50), and that the Emperor's soul will go to hell 
 (62). He sends for great clerks (68); fifty come (71), and the 92 
 maid is sent for (83). An angel comforts her (85), and she 
 taunts the Emperor with having so many Masters to dispute 
 against her only (92). One tells her that the soul cannot live 
 after death (100-3), and God cannot give her the life he had 
 himself lost; but she says that God was made of two things, 93 
 godhead and manhood (109), and arose from death to life (112). 
 Did not Plato the great 'philosophe' say that God was to be 
 scourged and drawn: and Balaam that a Star should arise of 
 Jacob's race (123)? By this the masters are confuted, and say they 
 will be baptised (136). The Emperor orders them to be burnt 
 (139), but the maiden comforts them (142); and after they are 
 burnt, they lie all whole, whiter and fairer in hue than ever 
 (150), no hair or clothes the worse. The Emperor offers Ka- 
 therine to be next to his Queen, and have her image, over- 
 gilt, set up to be honoured like a god's (161), if she will turn; 
 but she says she is God's spouse, and nothing shall take her 
 heart from Him (166). She is stript naked and scourged (168), 
 cast into prison and starved twelve days (173); but a white 
 dove brings her meat from heaven. Then the Empress, with
 
 XXIE CONTENTS. STS. KATHEHINE, ANDREW, LUCY. 
 
 Pages 
 
 her knight Sir Porphyry (170), goes to the prison , and finds 
 an angel anointing Katherine's wounds (183). The Saint so 95 
 preaches to them that the Empress, Porphyry, and '200 knights 
 are baptized (191); and Christ appears to Katherine and com- 
 forts her (192-5). The Emperor has her out of prison, is sur- 
 prised to find her 'fair and round', and torments his jailers 
 for feeding her (203). lie offers to make her the Empress's 
 peer (212); but she rejects all his advances. So he has four 96 
 iron wheels full of rasors made (221), but when Katherine is 
 to be tortured, an angel with a drawn sword hews the wheels 
 to pieces, and kills 4000 men (231). The Empress then re- 
 nounces her idolatry (240), for which her husband has her 
 flesh and her breasts torn with sharp hooks , as men comb 
 wool (249), and then has her head cut off. Porphyry buries 
 her body (252); he and his brother-knights confess that they 
 believe in Christ (257-64), and the Emperor has them killed 97 
 as Mahoun's foes (272). He then offers to make Katherine his 
 Empress (275), but she refuses to turn from Christ (280), and 
 is ordered to be killed (283). Christ appears to her (290), her 
 head is smitten off, and there flows from the wound white 98 
 milk, and not one drop of blood, in token of her maidenhood 
 (295). An angel buries her in the Hill of Sinai, and holy oil 
 to this day runs from her tomb, wherthrough sick men are 
 brought to health and life (302). Three hundred and twenty 
 years after God was born, was this holy maid martyred (306). 
 
 XX. THE LIFE OF ST. ANDREW 98-101 
 
 He was St. Peter's brother, and a fisher; but left his nets 
 when Christ asked him to be a uianfisher (1-6). In the land 
 
 of Patras he turned the folk, and the wife of Egeas, to Christ 
 (12-14), for which Egeas seizes the people to torment them 99 
 (18). Andrew rebukes him, and answers his arguments against 
 Christ's death; but Egeas casts him into prison (51), and after- 
 wards asks him to give up his faith (55). Andrew refuses, 100 
 as his torment here can last for two or three days only (62), 
 while Egeas's in hell will not end for 20,000 years and more 
 (64). So Egeas has him scourged to the bone (71), and then 
 bound to a cross (83), from which he preaches to the people 
 two days and nights (86), refusing to be taken down (90), till 
 a great light hides him from their sight, and his soul goes to 101 
 heaven's bliss (98). His body is buried by Maximille, Egeas's 
 wife (100), but is afterwards taken to Constantinople (106); 
 Egeas falls dead on his way home, and his soul goes to hell 
 (104). 
 
 XXI. THE LIFE OF ST. LUCY 101-107 
 
 She was born in Sicily, and served God from her youth. Her
 
 CONTENTS. STS. LUCY AND EDWARD. JUDAS. XXIII 
 
 Pages 
 
 mother Entice, having had a bloody flux four years, Lucy 
 takes her (24) to the shrine of St. Agaee, in Athens, where 102 
 they hear Mass, and the gospel of the cure of the woman with 
 a bloody flux (29). They pray: St. Agace appears to Lucy, and 
 says she has cured her mother. Lncy determines to live 
 a virgin's life (52). She gives her dowry to the poor (57); for 103 
 which her nurse excuses her to her betrothed (63-6), but he 
 finds she has turned Christian, and tells the Justice Pascas 
 of it (70). Before Pascas she is brought, and declares that 
 as she has given all her goods for Christ, so she will give her 
 body (79). Pascas reproaches her as a strong whore (85), but 
 she says she was pledged to Christ in Baptism, and that 
 pledge she will keep (87-8). On this Pascas threatens to send 104 
 her to a common brothel (92); but she answers, that unless 
 her heart consents to the deed, her maidenhood is the cleaner 
 the more her body is defouled (98). Pascas then proclaims 
 that any one may have her who likes, and orders his men 
 to take her to a brothel. But 1000 of them cannot move her 
 a foot, nor can teams of oxen (p. 105). They light a fire round 105 
 her, and pour boiling pitch over her; but neither hurts her, 
 and she preaches of Jesu, heaven's king. Her neck is cut 
 through with a sword, but she still preaches on, and says that 
 the wicked Diocletian is driven out of his kingdom (p 105). 
 She takes the Sacrament, and angels bear her soul to heaven 106 
 (p. 106). 
 
 XXII. ST. EDWARD -one of the Miracles of St. John .... 106-107 
 King Edward loves St. John, and when a poor man asks him 
 
 for something in John's name, the king gives him a ring. In 
 the Holy Land, St. John appears to a knight, gives him the 
 ring, and tells him to return it to King Edward. The ring 
 is now shown at Westminster as a relic to pilgrims. 
 
 XXIII. THE LIFE OF JUDAS ISCARIOT 107-111 
 
 He was a wicked bird. One night his mother Thiborie dreamt 
 
 that she had borne a child whom all the world cursed. She finds 
 herself with child, and when her boy is born, her friends put him 
 in a barrel and cast it out to sea (p. 107). He is thrown on the 
 Island of Cariot (p. 108), the queen of which is childless. She 108 
 takes the baby, professes herself with child, and in due time 
 shows the foundling as her own. The king christens him 
 Judas. After a time the queen really has a child of her own 
 by the king. Judas grows up a bad boy, breaks other children's 
 arms and heads, ami beats the queen's son. She tells him he is 
 a foundling; so Judas kills her son, runs off to Jerusalem, and 
 enters Pilate's service (p. 108). Pilate and Judas go to play in 109 
 an orchard next to Jndas's father's (p. 109). Judas breaks into
 
 XXIV CONTENTS. JUDAS AND PILATE. 
 
 Pages 
 
 his father's orchard to get some apples for Pilate, anil when 108 
 his father remonstrates, he smashes his |>ato with a stone. 
 Pilate gives him all his father's property, and marries him 
 (Judas) to his own mother (p. 109). She tells him of her son. 109 
 He is sorry that ho has sinned, and goes to Christ, becomes 
 his disciple, then Apostle, and pursebearer, and steals the tenth 
 of all gifts. He grumbles that Mary's precious ointment was 
 not sold (p. 109). For the thirty pence that his tenth of it would 110 
 have been, he sold Christ (p. 110); and then hung himself. 
 His guts fell out, his wicked spirit going nut of his belly, and 
 not by his mouth with which he had kissed Christ. 
 
 XXIV. THE LIFE OF PILATE 111-118 
 
 King Tirus begets him on Pila, the daughter of a meal ward 
 Atus, and calls him Pilatus. He grows up a bad boy, and 
 kills the king's son. So the king sends him to the Emperor 
 as a hostage, and tells him to kill him if he (the king) does 112 
 not perform his truage (p. 112). He does not. And Pilate 
 kills the son of the king of France. The Emperor is advised 
 to send him as Justice to the Isle of Ponce whose people are 
 rebellious. He does so, and Pilate speaks fair to the islanders 
 (I. 54), manages them well (p. 112), and from the isle gets his 
 name of Ponce Pilatus (1. 61, p. 113). For his skill, Herod, 113 
 the king of Jerusalem, Galilee, and India (1.63), sends for 
 him, and puts more than half his realm (Jerusalem and India) 
 under his charge (1. 69). Pilate gathers treasures, and gives 
 them to Caesar the Emperor, that he may hold his kingdom 
 direct from him, and not from Herod (1. 75-83). At this Herod 
 is very wrath, but can only curse and hate Pilate, till our 
 Lord's death, when they were agreed (1.95). Judas becomes 114 
 Pilate's steward, for two shrews will become friends though 
 there were no other men alive (1. 99) When Pilate has con- 
 demned God to death, he fears the Emperor will kill him 
 (1. 109). Afterwards, the Emperor falls sick, and sends to 
 Jerusalem 'after sum god leche' (1. 114). The messenger comes 
 to Veronica, who tells him that Christ would have cured his 
 master, and that she has a kerchief with Christ's 'form' on it, 
 a sight of which will heal the Emperor (1. 126-133). She con- 115 
 sents to take it to Rome; the Emperor is cured on seeing it 
 (1. 142); asks who Christ was; says he will hang or quarter 
 Pilate for putting Christ to death (I. 151), and sends for Pilate 
 to come to him. Now Pilate had before sent a messenger to 
 the Emperor, saying that he was guiltless of Christ's death, 
 but the messenger never arrived, having been driven on shore 
 in Galilee. So Pilate thinks the Emperor has forgiven him, 
 and therefore goes to Rome, in Christ's cloak (1. 168), which
 
 CONTENTS. LIFE OF PILATE. A SONG OF MERCY. XXV 
 
 Pages 
 
 prevents the Emperor killing him; but one day he takes the 116 
 garment off (1. 185), and then the Emperor accuses him of 
 putting Christ to death. Pilate excuses himself, saying that 
 it was the inquest (jury), and not he, who had condemned 
 Christ; but he confesses that he is guilty for not having asked 
 the Emperor's consent. On this the Emperor has him cast 117 
 into a deep dark prison (I. 212), where he wastes away till he 
 one day persuades his jailer to let him out for a walk, give 
 him an apple, and lend him a knife to peel it with (1. 235). 
 As soon as he gets the knife he stabs himself, and his body 
 is cast out of the town (1. 238). But thunder, lightning, and 
 tempest, coine; so the body is thrown into the Tiber (I. 244). 
 There a storm arises, and ships are wrecked ; so the body is then 
 cast into a lake in a wilderness. There a rock cleaves in 118 
 two; the body shoots into it like an arrow from a bow; the rock 
 shuts together again ; and there the body is to this day (1. 257). 
 Here end the histories of the cursed ones, Judas and Pilate. 
 
 XXV. A SONG OF MERCY 118-124 
 
 How, in the west, under a wild wood side, the writer sees 
 lions, bears &c. tearing small beasts to pieces; but a Merlyon 
 (hawk) catches a bird, and on the morrow lets it fly, and thus 119 
 it found Mercy (I. 19). God ordained Mercy to be above all 
 his works; and it passes all things, though at the Day of 
 Doom Right would slay us, and Might do execution on us 
 (1. 37). Then God will rehearse to us his sufferings for us, 120 
 and reproach us for having no mercy on Him, and for not 
 doing Mercy's Seven Works (1. 84). We shall excuse our- 121 
 selves as 'the book saith', but haters of God shall go to hell 
 fire, and His lovers shall have Mercy (1. 105.-7): this let us 
 seek while we have space. We go against nature when we 122 
 break God's commands, and are more 'unkind' than beasts 
 and birds (1. 122-31). For now, harlotry is held a joke, virtue 
 is turned into vice; our god is gluttony and gold, drunken- 
 ness, lechery, and dice (1.132-42). Manhood and we are 
 atwin; Meed is master; God's body is torn from top to toe 123 
 by our oaths (1. 150); knights and clergy are rooted in ribaldry; 
 courtesy and courage are gone, and 'We loue so sloupe and 
 harlotrie, We slepe as swolle swyn in lake' (1.162). Not till 
 Charity is made king shall we leave our sins, and Mercy be 
 over all (1. 164-6). No more: because the Merlyon's feet are 
 cold, I saw it do, as is its nature, catch a live bird, and 
 change it from one foot to the other all night to keep them 
 from dying away, and in the morning let the bird fly. Now 124 
 God grant us repentance, and be our help, that at our end 
 we too may say 'Now Mercy passeth all things'.
 
 XXVI CONTENTS. SONGS, DEO GRACIAS, DEUS CARITAS. 
 
 Pges 
 
 XXVI. A SONGE OF DEO GRAGIAS 124-126 
 
 I saw in a church a clerk bring forth a book 'that prikked 
 was', and he and all the choristers sang Deo gracias. I asked 
 
 what it meant; and the comely clerk leaned over a lectern, 
 and told me of the Trinity, and how God lighted in a love- 125 
 some 'buirde' (1. 29), and shed Ilis blood for our sins; and 
 that in memory of this he sang Thanks to God. I left the 
 church, and twenty times said the words: in mischief and 
 bonchief both are they good to say (1.49), in bale or bliss 126 
 (1. 59). If God gives thee virtues more than others, let no 
 filth deface them (I. 70); if thou be made an Officer, judge 
 rightly and rob no man (I. 76). Dread thy God day and night, 
 then mayst thou sit among His Saints, and there sing Deo 
 gracias. 
 
 XXVII. DEUS CARITAS 127-128 
 
 God is love, and I warn you to get it; for at Doom's day 
 
 the wicked shall go to penance for ever, and the good to bliss 
 (I. 15). Whoso goes in Love, behold and see, he dwells in 
 God. All Love is in Christ, and if we seek love, He is in 
 us. Let Love awake, and let us shrive us of our sin, as 128 
 did Peter, John, and James, and dwell in Christ (1.48). 
 
 XXVIII. ANOTHER SONGE OF DEO GRACIAS 128-130 
 
 Ever my word is Deo gracias; in weal or woe (7), riches or 
 poverty (9-17), mirth or mourning (19), when Fortune's my 
 
 foe (21), or sickness nigh slays me (28), or the friends of my 
 prosperity forsake me (33), still I say Deo gracias. My God, 
 and the mild Maid's son, forgive us our trespass, that we 
 may enter heaven, and there sing Deo gracias. 
 
 XXIX. A SONG-KNOWE pi SELF 130-133 
 
 To this Poul exhorts us 'in a Pistel' that he wrote. Our 
 
 good deeds are little enough (10), and though we came hither 
 with care (19), we may be lightly lost (21). Our life may 
 not last; it is like a blast, a glittering gleam, a fire of heath; 131 
 and this world's goods haste away (31). Sit down; take some 
 round counters, and put down one for every sin you have 
 wrought (38-42). Then count your good deeds; and if you 
 feel safe, think on God: if not, 'amende thee, and thi-self 
 knowe' (48). Know how God made thee and died for thee: 
 and how thou art worthy of hell-fire (56) but for His grace. 
 Know that thou shalt die, in the twinkling of an eye. Be- 132 
 ware of the tire that ever shall burn (69) ; know that thy flesh 
 will rot, 'for eueri mok most into myre' (80); pray then to 
 have heaven for your hire ere you be lodged low in earth 
 (83). Worldly honour soon passes away; our boast, our brag, 
 is soon overbid; Arthur and Hector has Death laid low; let
 
 CONTENTS. SONGS, KNOWE I>I SELF, YESTERDAY. XXVII 
 
 Pages 
 
 us then amend forthwith (95). Thy Conscience shall save 
 thee and judge tbee (97): ask mercy (102); and pray 'to god 133 
 that died on Roode' that Christ's face may be our food ere 
 our breath be blown out (106). 
 
 XXX. A SONG OF YESTERDAY 133-138 
 
 When men are merriest at their meal they have no taste for 
 things devout (1-6), but think their worldly weal shall never 
 fade. I would they'd think on Yesterday (7-12). To-day 
 we may have mirths, and revel with bright girls; then Sleep 
 comes; and when we wake, all our joy is 'fantasie'; where 
 it is gone no man can say (13-22). This world is but phan- 134 
 torn and fairy, its joy and bliss a fickle fantasy (28-30), to- 
 day here, to-morrow away: think then on Yesterday. There 
 is none so strong, but that after he's full grown, loses his 
 strength; and 'no buyrde so briht in boure' but that after 
 thirty she shall fade as a flower, and little by little her beauty 
 lose (37-44). None so fresh and fair, but that shall be laid 
 on bier (52): none so bold in binding bears, that has not 
 warnings to be ware (55). The lame, the bedrid, and the 
 blind, make you a Mirror to see the shape cf Yesterday (60). 
 Our life must end, and our carrion be changed under the 135 
 clay; this we should fear an we'd think on Yesterday 
 (72). Salomon says in his poesy that a 'loly' living dog is 
 better than a dead lion (73-80); and the biggest fool alive is 
 wiser than a thousand-pound man buried (84). Socrates says 
 that it is better to look at a man dying, than at a feast, as 
 the death shows us what we shall be (92). But men wonder 
 why God lets people get crooked and old so that they cannot 
 help themselves; and allows beggars, who yield neither good 
 nor profit (97-102). I will tell you why it is. Christ lets 136 
 them live to show young men the shape of Yesterday (108); 
 and that sinful men may do among them the Seven Deeds 
 of Mercy (113); and that proud men and ladies gay may see 
 what hangs over their heads (119). Just as children run 
 after their shadow on the wall, and when they are catching 
 it, it goes from their sight, so is this world and Yesterday 
 (132). When here, you are tempted to covetousness, and 
 think to rise by riches; but suddenly you die, and this world 
 betrays you (142). If your neighbour threatened to kill or 137 
 beat you, you would take good care always to be well guarded 
 against him (145-54): then do the same with Death; he may 
 attack and kill you at any moment: so take up the defence 
 of a pure and perfect life, and trust in God's mercy (165). 
 Some say that Death is a thief, and will steal on them un- 
 warned; but I say no; be is stedfast, true, and leal (172),
 
 XXVIII CONTENTS. WHY I CAN'T BE A NUN. 
 
 Pages 
 
 and warns every man that he will one day deal with him, 
 and take his life, boldly seizing the prey (178). When men 138 
 are merriest at their meal, I rede them think on Yesterday. 
 
 XXXI. WHY I CAN'T BE A NUN 138-148 
 
 [Beginning lost.] When the Commissioners had received their 
 charge, they rode all over England to seek out Nunneries, 
 and enquire into their state (1-23). And when they had come 
 home again, my Father asked how they had sped, and how 139 
 the Nuns fared. 'Well, they answered; and that the Nuns 
 would fulfil his desire' (31). 'Damsel', said my Father, 'you 
 said you would be a nun, bnt you must not carry your pur- 
 pose into act'. I said, 'Father, I will be true to Christ, though 
 I am grieved that my will may not be had' (49). Then I 
 had a Vision one morning in May, as I walked in my garden 
 to see 'the swete effecte of Aprelle flowres', the fair herbs, 140 
 and birds with 'federys schene'. In 'a fayre herbere' 1 prayed 
 to God, that I might live chaste from the corruption of sin- 
 ning, and that 'swete Ihesu ' (89) would be my comfort and 
 refuge (99). 
 
 Swete ihesu, miserere mei! 
 
 I can no more, but trust in the .. 141 
 
 And I fell exhausted, leaned my head on a bench of Camo- 
 mile, and slept (120). Then came a fair Lady, and said 
 'Katherine, awake'; and I beheld her figure the most goodly 
 that ever I saw (132), and I kneeled to her, and asked her 142 
 name (149). She answered 'My name is EXPERIENCE: and 
 thou shalt see to-day a house 'of wommen reguler'. So the 
 Lady Experience took me to a building fair without, but tin- 143 
 clean with sin within (181), a house of Nuns of divers Or- 
 ders (191), but not well-governed, despite of Aristotle's warning 
 of the unreasonability that cometh of sensuality and follow- 
 ing one's 'bestely condiciones' (204). There I found dame 
 PRIDE (215), dame HYPOCKITE (223) dame Devowte had been 144 
 violently put out by dame Sloth and dame Vain-Glory (226-9) 
 dame ENVY (231), dame LOVE UNORDISATE (234), 'dame 
 LUST, dame WANTOWNE, and dame NYCB' (236). Dame 
 Chastity 'had lytylle chere' there (240). Much more I saw, 
 but I must not chatter like a pie, and tell all (251). In every 
 corner was dame Envy (257); but dame Patience and dame 145 
 Charity were not in the Convent, an out chamber had been 
 made for them (267). Dame Disobedient was there (272), and 
 'the wantyng of obedyence' was one of the greatest defaults 
 that grieved me (282). 'That couent was so fulle of syn', 
 that Experience and I went out of it, and I asked her 'why 146 
 sche schewed me thys nnnery' (300). She eaid, "Thy desire
 
 CONTENTS. OLD AGE. EARTH. "OF MEN LIF &C." XXIX 
 
 was to be a nun professed (304), and because thy father would 
 not consent, thy heart was sore oppressed. Now I have showed 
 thee what, for the most part, is the nuns' rule: for the most 
 part, not all, for some are devout and toward, and others lewd 
 and froward" (317). Then I thanked her, and resolved that 
 'nun wold I neuere be none' (329). 'But here peradventure 147 
 some man would say that I forsook a perfect way for a fan- 
 tasy or a dream' (338). No: dream was it none, nor fantasy, 
 but a gracious warning. See in Genesye, Chapytylle xxxiv, 
 how Dinah was defouled and thousands slain, because she 
 went out idly to see things (349). And you Nuns, your barb, 
 wimple, vail, and devout clothing, make men think you are 
 holy in living: then, be within as you are without, my ladies 
 dear. The garland of ivy green at a tavern door is a false 
 sign unless there be good wine within (368-61). Then, do 
 you leave your vices, and lewd customs, or you are the children 148 
 of false hypocrisy (372). Take good heed to this exhortation, 
 and behold the good conversation of the holy virgins here- 
 before, St. Clare, St. Edith, and many more, who fled from 
 sin on earth, and now are quit of all sorrow and woe (388). 
 
 XXXII. OLD AGE. * (A description of the changes wrought by 
 
 it in man.) 148-150 
 
 XXXIII. EARTH. 1 (A Poem in alternate English and Latin 
 stanzas.) 150-152 
 
 XXXIV. "OF MEN LIF pAT WONIp IN LOND". 1 152-156 
 
 A Satire on the Monks and People of Kildare. St. Michael, 
 
 1 Printed before in Reliquia> Antique, vol. 2. Nos. XXXIV and XXXV 
 should be read. Of the writer of XXXIV, stanza 12 well says: 
 pe clerk pat pis baston wrowjte, 
 wel he woke, and slepe rijte nowjte; 
 and stanza 15: 
 
 pe best dark of al pis toun 
 craftfullich inakid pis bastun. 
 
 Roberd of Brunne uses baslon for a kind of rhyme, putting baslon and 
 cotcee together, and as cowee is a stanza in which the tails (or third line 
 tagged on to each of two rhyming couplets) rhyme ( see Guest II, 286, 
 and specimens in The Sarmun, p. 1 , the Fragment on the Seven Sins, 
 p. 17 &c.), so baslon may be the stanza in which the tail consists of a 
 rhyming couplet put on to another rhymed and unrhymed one, as in 
 the text. R. Brunne's passage about the 'ryme' of his Chronicle is, 
 If it were made in ryme couwee, 
 Or in strangere, or enterlace,
 
 XXX CONTENTS. THE LAND OF COKAYGNE. FIVE EVIL THINGS. 
 
 Pages 
 
 st. 1, St. Christopher, st. 2. 'Seint Mari bastard pe Maudlcinis 153 
 sone', st. 3. St. Dominick, st. 4. St. Francis, st. 5. The 
 Friars, with their ropery at Drogheda, st. 6. The Ci/mtn*(?) 
 Minors without, and Preachers within st. 7. The Monks, 154 
 st. 8; A'uns, 9; Prieslg, 10; Merchants, 11; Tailors, 12; SM<- 155 
 lers, 13; Sfctnners, 14; Potters, 15; Bakers, 16; Brf tester a, 
 17; Hucksters, 18; IfW-comiers, 19: drink deep, and make 156 
 merry, you have no other want. 
 
 XXXV. THE LAND OF COKAYGNE 156-161 
 
 A Satire on Monks and Nuns, their Abbeys, Nunneries, Ways 
 
 and Sports. 
 
 Whose wl. com pat lond to. 
 Ful grete penance he mot do. 
 Seue jere in swine-is dritte. 
 180 He inot wade, wol }e i-witte. 
 Al anon up to pe chynne. 
 So he schal pe lond i-winne. 
 
 XXXVI. FIVE EVIL THINGS 161 
 
 NOTE to Poem II, p. 7: XV Signa ante Indicium. (Different 
 English and Latin versions of the same Subject, from English 
 Metrical Homilies from MSS. of the Fourteenth Century, ed. 
 by the Rev. J. Small.) 162-164 
 
 NOTE to Poem VII, p. 21-2, and to Dr. Guest's Letter in the 
 
 Preface 164-165 
 
 INDEX 166-171 
 
 LIST OF WORDS . . 172-180 
 
 Pt rede Inglis it ere Inowe 
 Pat couthe not haf coppled a kowe, 
 Pt outhere in couwee, or in baston, 
 Som suld haf been fordon, 
 
 (extract in Handlyng Sj/nne, p. xxxii, 1. 85-90, in Guest's 
 English Rhythms, vol. 2, p. 282, and in Hearne's 
 Langloft, vol. 1.) 
 
 Of the enlerlace, alternate, or any kind of interlaced rhyme, examples 
 are, the Signs before the Judgment, p. 7-12; the Fall and Passion, 
 p. 12-15, &c.
 
 CORRIGENDA. XXXI 
 
 CORRIGENDA. 
 
 p. 6, st. 49, 1. 3, for /tewesip is, Mr. Wedgwood suggests xeue styls, seven 
 
 times. 
 
 p. 10, 1.38, for bemine]* we should no doubt read bemme}>. 
 p. 22, VII, st. 5, for hable read habbe. 
 p. 34, IX, 1. 10, for here, ? read here. 
 p. 39, 1. 180, ne should doubtless be me. 
 p. 50, 1. 108, paf should doubtless be pan. 
 
 p. 107, 1. 5, Gilbert's Life was not printed by the Percy Society, 
 p. 135, 1. 75, ? for liAyng read licyng. 
 p. 146, 1. 297, for he-helde read be-helde. 
 'bea/i frere' is somewhere printed for 'beau frere'.
 
 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS. 
 
 I. A SARMUN. 
 
 [Against Pride, and Covetousness (16), and on the grave, the pains of 
 hell and the joys of heaven.] (Harl. MS. 913, p. 16.) 
 
 1. pe grace of godde and l holi chirche 
 
 pro} uertu of pe trinite: 
 
 }if ous grace soch workes to wirche; 
 
 pat helplich to ure sowles be . 
 2 a. pes wordes pat ich speke nou last 
 
 in 'latin, hit is iwritte in boke: 
 
 \vel mow we drede and be agast; 
 
 pe dede bep so lolich to loke . 
 2b. per for he seiith . a : man hab munde 
 
 pat of pis lif per commip ende : 
 
 of erpe and axen is ure kunde 
 
 and in to duste we schullip wende 
 
 3. So seip seint bernard in his boke 
 and techip vs ofte and lome: 
 
 to be hend if we wold loke 
 wel file hit is pat of us come 
 
 4. Man loke pin ein and pi nosse 
 pi moup . pin eris al aboute 
 fram pi girdil to pi hosse 
 
 hit is wel vile pat commip vte 
 
 5. Man of pi schuldres and of pi side 
 pou mijte hunti luse and flee 
 
 of such a park i ne hold no pride 
 pe dere nis naujte pat pou mighte sle 
 
 1 In the MS. every and is written a or is marked by a sign of con- 
 traction; and there are no hyphens, and no numbers before the lines. 
 The final es in italics are inserted by the editor.
 
 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS. 
 
 6. If pou ert prute man of pi fleisse 
 opir of pi velle pat is wip-oute 
 
 pi fleisse nis najte bot worme-is meisse 
 of such a ping whi ert pou prute . 
 
 7. Wormis of pi fleisse schul spring 
 pi felle wip-oute nis bot a sakke 
 ipudrid ful wip drit and ding 
 pat stinkip lolich and is blakke 
 
 8. Sire whar of is pe gentil man 
 of eni oper pan of pis: 
 
 him silf mei se . if gode he can 
 for he sal find pat so hit is 
 y. pat hit be sop and nojt les 
 
 pou loke pi nejbor whare and how 
 pou loke in his biriles 
 he was prute as ert pou 
 
 10. Whate prude sastou se par 
 
 bot stench and wormis i-crop in dritte 
 of such a sijt we ajt be ware 
 and in vre hert hit hab i-writte 
 
 11. Silk no sendale nis per none 
 no bise no no meniuer 
 
 per nis no ping a-boute pe bone 
 to jeme pat was ihuddid here 
 
 12. pe wiked wede pat was abute 
 
 pe wormis pat hit habbip al for-sojt 
 Alas whar of is man so prute 
 whan al is pride sal turne to nojte 
 
 13. If man is prute of world-is welle 
 ihc hold a fole pat he be 
 
 hit commip . hit gop . hit nis bot dwelle 
 bot dritte gile and wanite 
 
 14. Lo pat catel nis bot gile 
 trewlich je mov isee 
 
 he nel be felaw bot awhile 
 
 pou salt him leue oper he sal pe 
 
 15. Hit is mi rede while pou him hast 
 pou spen it wel pat helplich be
 
 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS. 
 
 for god. but pou nelt at pe last 
 oper men sulle aftir pe . 
 
 16. Noupe oper mister men per bep 
 proj coueitise hi bep iblend 
 
 pat wer leuer wend to pere dep 
 pen spene pe gode pat god ham send 
 
 17. poj man hit hab hit nis nojt his 
 hit nis ilend him hot alone 
 
 fort to libbe is lif i-wisse 
 
 and help pe nedful pat nap non 
 
 18. Nou mani wrecche be-commip pralle 
 hi nul nojt spene bot jime in store 
 be-com hi bep pe deuil-is pralle 
 nijt and dai hi libbep in sore . 
 
 19. for nijt and dai is al har pojte 
 how hi hit mow hab and winne 
 fast to hold and spene rijt nojte 
 and ledip euer har lif in pinne 
 
 '20. pe wrecchis wringit pe mok so fast 
 up ham silf hi nul nojt spened 
 jit hi sul dei at pe last 
 and to pe deuil hi sul wend 
 
 21. Sip such a wringer gop to helle 
 for litil gode pat nis nojt his 
 whate mai ich bi pe riche man telle 
 pat ledip al is lif in blisse 
 
 22. Hit is as epe forto bring 
 
 a camel in to pe neld-is ei 
 
 as a rich man to bring 
 
 in to pe blisse pat is an hei 
 
 23. peij man be rich of lond and lede 
 and holdip festis ofte and lome 
 hit nis no doute he sal be dede 
 
 to jelde recning at pe dome 
 
 24. je: sulle we jiue^ a-cuntis 
 
 of al pat we habbip ibe here 
 je: of a verping sop i-wisse 
 of al pi time fram jer to jere 
 
 9
 
 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS. 
 
 25. And bot pou hit hab ispend arijte 
 pe gode pat god pe hap ilend 
 
 of ihsu ' criste pou lesist pe sijt 
 to helle pine pou worpe isend 
 
 26. Of helle pine we ajt be ware 
 and euer more hit hab in pojt 
 ac non nel be oper i-ware 
 for ham silf be in i-brojt 
 
 27. peij freris prech of heuen and helle 
 of ioi and pine to mani man 
 
 al pat him penchit bot dweller [a tale 
 as men tellip of wlonchargan 
 
 28. Ak jite pat ilk dai sal be 
 
 per nis non pat nold him hide 
 so sore we sul drede to se 
 pe wondis of ihsu crist-is side 
 
 29. His hondes is fete sul ren of blode 
 pou woldist fle pou ne mijt noj pan 
 pe sper pe nailes and pe rode 
 
 sal crie tak wrech of sinful man 
 
 30. pe erpe pe watir pan sal sprede 
 route and driue al for-wode 
 nov ihsu crist we sul pe wrekke 
 of sinful man pat sadde pi blode 
 
 31. Bope fire and wind lude sal crie 
 louerd nov let vs go to 
 
 for ich wl blow pe fire sal berne 
 vp sinful man pat hap misdo 
 
 32. heuen and erpe sal crie and grede 
 and helle sal berne pou salt ise 
 o: sinful man wo worp pi rede 
 whan al pis wrech sal be for pe 
 
 33. hit is so grisful forto loke 
 and forto hir pe bittir dome 
 angles sul quake soseip pe boke 
 and pat pou hirist of 2 and lome 
 
 1 The MS. has always \hc or ih with a mark of contraction. 
 1 ? for ofte.
 
 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS. 
 
 34. Sei sinful man whi neltou leue 
 pat al ping sal com to hepe 
 wel ajt pi hert proj ute cleue 
 pin eiine blodi tens wepe 
 
 35. Hit is to late whan pou ert pare 
 to crie ihsu pin ore 
 
 while pou ert here be wel iware 
 vn-do pin hert and liue is lore 
 
 36. Vn-do pin hert pat is iloke 
 wip couetise and prvde per an 
 and pench pos wordis her ispoke 
 for-jite ham nojt ac pench apan 
 
 37. and hot pou nelt pench her apan 
 fort vnderfonge gode lore 
 
 i-wis for sop as pou ert man 
 pou salt hit rew bitter and sore 
 
 38. Man-is lif nis bot a schade 
 nov he is and nov he nis. 
 loke hou he mei be glade 
 poj al pis world mijt be his 
 
 39. Wold he pench pe vnseli man 
 in to pis world whate he brojte 
 a stinkind felle i-lappid per an 
 wel litil bettir pan rijt nojt 
 
 40. What is pe gode pat he sal hab 
 oute of pis world whan he sal go 
 a wikid wede whi sold i gab 
 
 for he ne brojt wip him no mo 
 
 41. Rijt as he com he sal wend 
 in wo and pine and pouerte 
 takip gode hede men to jur end 
 for as i sigge so hit sal be 
 
 42. I note whar of is man so prute 
 of erpe axin fel and bone 
 
 for be pe soule enis oute 
 a uilir caraing nis per non 
 
 43. mani man penchit on is pojt 
 he nel nojt leue his eir al bare
 
 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS. 
 
 his eir sal fail and her rijt nojte 
 and wast pe gode wel wide whare 
 
 44. Ich warne pe for i-sold hit sal 
 al pat pou wan here wip pine 
 a bropin eir sal wast it al 
 and be al operis pat was pine 
 
 45. Noup sip pat pe world nis nojt 
 and catel nis bot vanite 
 
 haue god in ur pojt 
 
 and of pe catel be we fre 
 
 46. Anourip god and holi chirch 
 and helpip pai pat habip nede 
 so god-is wil we sul wirch 
 pe ioi of heuen hab to mede 
 
 47. What is pe ioi pat man sal hab 
 if his lif he spenip wel 
 
 sop to sigge and nojt to gab 
 per nis no tunge pat hit mai tel 
 
 48. if i sal tel al pat i can 
 
 in holi boke as we can rede 
 hit is a ioi pat fallit to man 
 of hel pine he ne dar drede 
 
 49. pe man pat mai to heuen com 
 pe swete solas forto se 
 heuesip is brijtir pan pe sun 
 in heuen sal man-is soule be 
 
 50. his bodi sal per be al so 
 
 so fair and strang je mou wel leuc 
 
 iuil is euer fur him fro 
 
 per nis no ping pat him sal greue 
 
 51. to met no drink per nis no nede 
 no for no hungir he no sal kar 
 pe sijte of god him sal fede 
 
 hit is wel miri to woni par 
 
 52. per bep woningis mani and fale 
 gode and betir tak god hede 
 
 pe last word bint pe tale 
 
 wo best mai do: best is his mede
 
 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS. 
 
 53. heuen is heij bope lange and wide 
 mani angles per bep an 
 
 bope ioi and blis in euch side 
 per in sal woni gode cristin man 
 
 54. pe lest ioi pat per is in 
 
 a man sal know is owin frend 
 is wif is fader and al is kin 
 of al pis ioi per nis non end 
 
 55. we sul se oure leuedi brijte 
 so fulle of loue ioi and blisse 
 pat of hir neb sal spring pe lijte 
 in to oure hert pat ioi iwisse 
 
 56. pe sijte of pe trinite 
 
 pe mest ioi pat mai be-falle 
 bope god and man in mageste 
 pe heij king aboue vs alle 
 
 57. pe sijt of him is ure vode 
 pe sift of him is ure virst 
 al ure iois bep ful gode 
 pe sijt of him is alir best 
 
 58. Be-seche we him mek of mode 
 pat soke pe milk of maid-is brest 
 pat bojt us wip is dere blode 
 jiue us pe ioi pat euer sal lest . 
 
 59. Alle pat bep icommin here 
 fort to hire pis sarmun 
 loke pat je nab no were 
 
 for seue jer je habbip to pardoun. 
 
 II. XV SIGN A ANTE IUDICIUM. (A fragment.) 
 (Harl. MS. 913, p. 20.) 
 
 1 pe grace of ihsu fulle of mijte 
 pro} prier of ure swete leuedi 
 mote a-mang vs nupe alijte 
 and euer vs jem and saui.
 
 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS. 
 
 5 Man and woman pou ajtist tak gome 
 pis world-is ending how hit ssal be 
 pe wondres pat sal com be for pc dome 
 pat jung and old hit sal ise 
 9 pe xv tokingis ichul jou telle 
 as us techip ysaie 
 pe holi gost him tajt ful welle 
 and he hit prechid for profecie 
 
 13 hit is iwrit in holi boke 
 
 as clerkis hit mow se and rede 
 pat no ping no man mai loke 
 pat is so grisful forto drede 
 
 17 per nis aliue so sinful man 
 if he per of wold tak kepe 
 and he wold pench apan 
 pat nold wel sore in herte wepe 
 
 21 Godmen takip nou gome 
 
 of tokninges pat commip bi for 
 pe children wip in pe moder wome 
 wel sore sul dicce and drede per for 
 
 25 wip in pe moder worn, hi sul grede 
 vp ihsu criste euer to crie 
 louerde crist pou red vs rede 
 and of vs pou hab mercie 
 
 29 we wold louerd pat we ner 
 in world icome forto bene 
 and vnbejet of ure fader wer 
 pat al ping nou sal suffri tene 
 
 33 pe first tokning sal be pusse 
 
 n 1 al f r 80 P WG Sul hit 8ee 
 
 and pat oper sal be wors 
 
 for sop je nou wel liue me 
 37 pe sterris pat pou sest so b^jfte 
 
 in heuen aboue pat sit so fast 
 
 for man-is sin sal jiue no lijt 
 
 ac sal adun to erpe be cast 
 41 as fair and brijte as pou seest ham 
 
 hi worp be-com as blak as cole
 
 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS. 9 
 
 and be of hiwe durke and wan 
 
 for man-is sin pat hi sul pole ' 
 45 per nis aliue so stidfast man 
 
 pat per of ne sal agrise 
 
 him to hide he ne can 
 
 no whoder to fle in none wise 
 49 hot as bestis pat wer wode 
 
 a-}e opir to erne, her and pare 
 
 for pi hi ne sul can no gode 
 
 see no lond hi ne sul spare 
 53 pan pe dede up sal arise 
 
 up bar bi riles forto sitte 
 
 of pilk dai hi sul agrise 
 
 and lok as bestis pat cun no witte 
 
 III. 57 pe prid dai pan amorow 
 
 grisfol hit sal be to loke 
 
 of moch weping and of sorow 
 
 as we fint in holi boke 
 61 pe sone pat nov schinip so brijt 
 
 pilk dai pou salt i-se 
 
 wel grene and wan sal be is lijt 
 
 and pat for dred so hit sal be 
 65 abute pe time of middai 
 
 he worp as blak as pe cole 
 
 we mov sigge wailawai 
 
 moch is pe pine pat we sul pole 
 
 IV. 69 pe ferp dai pat silf son 
 
 worp as rede as hit wer fire 
 for ferd of dome pat he sold come 
 bi for ihsu pe heij sire 
 V. 73 pe fifte tokning pat sal be-fal 
 pat allirkin maner beste 
 wel sore hi sul quake wip al 
 wil pat ilk dai sal lest 
 77 towar heuen be-hold sul hi 
 
 wip har mund and wip bar pojt 
 
 1 In the MS. the stanzas that follow are written in two lines instead 
 of four.
 
 10 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS. 
 
 of ihsu crist merci to cri 
 poj pat hi ne mou spek rijt nojt 
 81 alas louerd wat sul we tak 
 we pat abbip sin i-wro}t 
 nijt and dai we ajt sore quake 
 whan we it sold pench in ure pojt 
 VI. 85 pe sixte dai ne lef ich nojt 
 wan pes montis and pes hille 
 al for sop hit wurp ibrojt 
 pes depe dalis for to fille 
 89 per nis castel no ture none 
 pat euer was no be salle 
 imakid was of lime and ston 
 pat ne sal adun to-falle 
 93 no no tre in erp so fast 
 
 mid al har rotis so fast ipijt 
 pat ne sal adun to-berst 
 pilk silue dai er hit be nijt 
 VII. 97 pe sefpe dai hit sal grow aje 
 har crop adun har rote an hei 
 such wondris we sul i-se 
 for god-is wrep pat sit an hei 
 
 101 pe iren sul blede . a wonder ping 
 pe ping pat bodi no flesse nap non 
 for dred of pe heuen king 
 vnkundlich ping ded sal don 
 
 105 pan sal dei hope poure and riche 
 ne sal pan per wip stond no ping 
 al we sul ben ilich 
 hope knijt and barun. erl. and. king 
 
 109 ne sal per help castel no ture 
 palfrei chasur no no stede 
 no for al is moch honoure 
 pat he ne worp wel sone dede 
 VIII. 113 pe eijt dai so is dotus 
 
 and pat ful wel pou salt se 
 ful of tene and angus 
 al pis dai so sal be
 
 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS. 11 
 
 117 al pe see sal draw ifere 
 as a walle to stond up rijt 
 and al pos watris pat bep here 
 sal crie merci up god al mijt 
 
 121 pe fissis pat bep per in iwrojt 
 pe see so hard sal ham to-driue 
 pat hi wol wene in her pojt 
 pat god of heuen nis nojt aliue 
 
 125 pan pe see sal draw aje 
 in to pe stid per hit was 
 and euch uerisse watir pan sal he 
 be com to is owni plas 
 IX. 129 pe ix tokin sal be pus 
 
 pe wonderis pat worp pilk dai 
 ouer al pat oper sal deuers 
 wate hit is ich jow tel mai 
 
 133 pe holi man tellip seint austin 
 pat pe skeis so sal spec pan 
 wan al ping so sal hab fine 
 in steuen as hit wer man 
 
 137 hi sul grede lude wip al 
 
 in uois of man up god to cri 
 as heuen and erpe sold to fal 
 god and man noup merci 
 
 141 louerd merci of mijt 
 
 noup is al ur time ispend 
 for sinful man-is ein sijt 
 ne let us neuer ben ischend 
 
 145 per nis no seint in heuen abow 
 in al god-is ferred 
 pat per of ne sal amoue 
 and of pilk tokin be aferd 
 
 149 pus vs tellip seint leronime 
 and seint gregori al so 
 pat pan sal quake seraphin 
 and cherubin . pat bep angles two 
 
 153 per nis in heuen angil iwis 
 pat to oper sal hab spech
 
 12 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS. 
 
 so sore i-worp adrad iwis 
 
 of ihsu crist-is gremful wreche 
 
 157 al pe fendis pat bep in hel 
 
 wip grete din hi wol com pan 
 bar mone pou salt hire ful wel 
 hou hi sul cri to god and man 
 
 161 O: man and womman pou take hede 
 bou pe fentis sul men bar mone 
 wel ajtist pe faire to lede 
 wile pou art in pis wreche wone 
 
 165 vp ihsu crist hi suite cri 
 
 wip such a steuen of pine and wo 
 louerd jif vs ur herbegi 
 aje to helle. let us neuer go 
 XI. 169 pe .xi. dai fure windis sul rise 
 and pe reinbow pan sal fal 
 pat al pe fentis sal of agris 
 and be ifesid in to helle 
 
 173 for wolny nulni hi sul fle 
 
 and pat in to pe pine of helle 
 maugrei ham per hi mot be 
 wip duble pine per in to dwel 
 XII. 177 pe .xii. dai pe fure . elemens sul cri 
 al in one heij steuene 
 merci ihsu fij mari 
 as pou ert god and king of heuene. 
 
 (End of the fragment.) 
 
 III. THE FALL AND PASSION. 
 (Harl. MS. 913, back of p. 29.) 
 
 1 pe grace of god ful of mijt . pat is king an euer was : l 
 mote amang us alijt . an jiue vs alle is swet grace . 
 
 3 me to spek an jou to lere . pat hit be worsip lord to pe : 
 
 me to teche an jou to bere . pat helplich to ure sowles be 
 1 For the a' (= and) , an is printed here.
 
 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS. 13 
 
 5 pat ic mote wip moch worping . pro} is mijt so hit ful fille : 
 
 to jov schow is vp-rising . if hit be his swet wille . 
 7 al pat god suffrid of pine . hit nas nojt for is owen gilt : 
 
 ok hit was man for sin pine : pat wer for sin in helle ipilt . 
 9 po lucifer steij in pride . pat was angel in heuen so brijte : 
 
 vte of heuen he gan glide . an in to helle sone he lijte . 
 11 an wip him mani an mo . pat no tunge ne mijt telle : 
 
 wip him fille adune al so : in to pe derk pit of helle . 
 13 Seue daies a seue nijt . as je seep pat fallip snowe : 
 
 vte of heuen hi ali}t . an in to helle wer iprow . 
 15 for pe prude of lucifer . pe tepe angle fille in to helle : 
 
 an al pat to him boxum were . euer in pine hi mot dwelle. 
 17 har stides for to ful fille . pat wer i-falle for prude an hore: 
 
 god makid adam to is wille . to fille har stides pat wer ilor . 
 19 Skil resun an eke mijt . he jef adam in his mode : 
 
 to be stidfast wip al rijt . an leue pe harme an do gode . 
 21 god jaf him a gret maistre . of al pat was in watir an londe : 
 
 of paradis al pe balye . whan him likid to is honde. 
 23 foules . bestis . an pe frute . saf o tre he him forbede : 
 
 of paradis pe grete dute : an jit he sinied proj iuil red . 
 25 to him pe deuil had envie . pat he in his stid schold be brojte : 
 
 a serpent he com pro} felonie . an makid eue chonge hir pojt 
 27 whi com he raper to eue . pan he com to adam . 
 
 ichul jou telle sires be leue . for womman is lef euer to man . 
 29 womman mai turne man-is wille . whare jho wol pilt hir to : 
 
 pat is pe resun an skille . pat pe deuyl com hir first to . 
 31 Ette he seid of pis appil . if pat pou wolt witti be : 
 
 pe worp as witti of mi}t an wille : as god him silf in trinite 
 33 hi nad bot pat appil i-jette . pat pe sin nas ido: 
 
 glad was pe deuil wol je i-wit . for pe sorow pat he sold to . 
 35 of paradis hi wer ute pilt . wip trauail har liuelode to winne : 
 
 an vte flemid for har gilt . an neuer efte paradis to com inne . 
 37 In pe vale of eboir . his liuelod he most swink sore: 
 
 wip sorow an care an dreri won . he liued .ix.c. jer an more . 
 39 aftir is lif pat he had here . nedis he most wend to helle: 
 
 for pe trepas pat he did here . pere he most bide an dwelle . 
 41 God makid man kin more . ok to helle pe deuil ham brojt: 
 
 pat euir ham traiid proj is lore . non fram him scapid no}t.
 
 14 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS. 
 
 43 god is prophetis to ham send . an seid hov hi sold be sauid : 
 
 as bi Moyses pat am wend . a-je pe propheci jit i-sinid. 
 45 god wist wel bi pilk say . pat bi no man pat was y-cor: 
 
 whan bi prophetis no bi lai . pat cominunelich hine wer for-lor . 
 47 holi bok is fort fulfil . god is angle anon forp send: 
 
 as bi angle gabriel . pat to pe maid was iwend . 
 49 flees he took of maid mari . god an man-is kund to gadir: 
 
 an pat was a gret maistri . pat pe dojtir her pe fader . 
 51 maid bere heuen king . pat is al ure creatoure: 
 
 maid ber pe swet ping . per for sso ne les nojt hir flure. 
 53 God him jed an erp here . xxxti winter an somdel mo: 
 
 as holi writ vs gan lere . he suffrid hope pine an wo. 
 55 man ajens god so gilt . to heuen noh sowle ne mijte : 
 
 fort god-is sone in rode was pilt . an wan vs heuen lijt. 
 57 ludas ne cupe is lord nojt hold . his owen disciple jit he was : 
 
 for xxx peniis he him sold . ynom an ibund he was . 
 59 he was ibobid an i-smitte . an hi spette in is face: 
 
 hi bede him rede if he cupe witte . woch of ham al hit was . 
 61 he was ibund to a tre . an ibet wip scurges kene: 
 
 pat al pe blode vt gan fle : ouer al is bodi hit was sene . 
 63 Sip hi nom him as a pef . an lad him bi-for pilate: 
 
 for he nas nojt to ham lef . hi had to him grete hate . 
 65 pilat bed ham do bar best . a-je pe law be he nold: 
 
 for no gilt bi him he nist . war for dep suffri he ssold . 
 67 hi nailed him in bond an fete . as je mow al i-se : 
 
 for pe appil pat adam ete : dep he polid opon pe tre . 
 69 pe wikkid men nol leue nojt . pat he wer fullich ded so : 
 
 fort per wip a sper hi ad him sojt . an clef is swet hert atwo . 
 71 per was in pe lond a knijt . pat het josep of arimathie: 
 
 pat louid ihsu wel arijt . an pojt is wel to honuri . 
 73 he wend to pilat swipe snel . an be-sojt him mercy : 
 
 if hit wer is wil . pe bodi grant biri . 
 75 po pilat had igrant is luue . glade y-noj ho was: 
 
 he nem pat swet bodi adun . an biriid hir in a fair plas. 
 77 his moder stode him be side . an s t- jon ek al so: 
 
 bitter teris vte gan glide . hir pojt hir hert wol a two. 
 79 hit nas no wonder poj jo wep . for hir swet child alowe : 
 
 wip uailes he was i-smit dep . wip sper hi delet him in two .
 
 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS. 15 
 
 81 al hir ioi was ago . po jo him sei del in rode: 
 
 for to wep je nad no mo . bot iiii bitter teris of blode . 
 83 who spekip of deil a-je pat del . neuer such nas per none: 
 
 as whan pat hi him be-held . as }ho makid an seint Jon . 
 85 sip hi seid at one moupe . pat he wolde destru temple an chirche : 
 
 an pat he was wel coupe . pat al falsnis schold wirche. 
 87 an vp pilat hi cried apan . eu[ri]chon at one vois : 
 
 pat he schold hold barabam . an do ihsu on pe crois. 
 89 In pis manere he was ipinsed . as his swet wil hit was: 
 
 an dep for mankyn suffred . pe prid dai vp he ros. 
 91 after pat he lijt in to helle . per al pe sowles wer i-wisse: 
 
 al his frendis he brojt vt alle . in to ioi an heuen blis . 
 93 Whan in helle was seint ion . patriarkes an oper mo: 
 
 hit isene per scapid non . profetis pat god louid al so . 
 95 al in helle were i-fast . fort ihsu crist proj is mijte : 
 
 of pe pit vte he ham cast . an brojt ham to heuen lyjt . 
 97 proj is dep he ouer cam . as he is manhed siwed : 
 
 as profetis prechid in his name . so pat he dep suffrid . 
 99 po he rose fram dep to liue . as tellip daui pe king: 
 
 is godhed he gan to kipe . holy boke tellip is up-rising . 
 101 ihsu was sikir inoj . pat seid erlich. ic wol rijt me: 
 
 an asnward wip vt woj . after pat dep ouercom be. 
 103 pe .iii. dai he ros to liue . is lore riuedlich he send: 
 
 his deciplis he makid blipe . per after in pe world ham send . 
 105 of his lore forto preche . hoii hi lord ssold siu pe: 
 
 an pe sinful folk to tech . hou meri hit is to wip pe be. 
 107 an after he steij to heuen aboue . per ioi is pat euer lest: 
 
 an per he sal al vs loue . in his swet blisful fest . amen. 
 
 IV. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS -. against swearing, Sunday trading &c. 
 (Harl. MS. 913, p. 31 back.) 
 
 1 Nou ihsu for pi derworp blode : pat pou schaddist for mankyn : 
 jif vs grace to wirch workis gode . to heuen pat we mot enter inn . 
 Man and womman ic red be ware . jure gret opis pat je be leue: 
 and bot je mil god neljou spare, bopelif and catel hewoljoureue.
 
 16 EARLY ENGLISH POEMS. 
 
 5 hit nis no wonder for sop i wisse : pat gret wreche ne fallip per fore : 
 for we ne leuip of al is limmes . pat we ne habbip ham for-swore . 
 man is wors pan eni hunde . oper he is to wild and wode : 
 pat we ssold edwite is worpi wound . pat he polid for vre gode . 
 be a ware whose euer wol . al quelme and sorow pat euir is : 
 10 at pen end so find we sulle . pat for man-is sin it is 
 
 ic rede pat euch be ware i-wis . in as moch as pe is man : 
 whan je swerip gret opis . in rode pou piltist him apan . 
 God commandid to ysay . pat he ssold wend and prech : 
 pat was in pe hil of syna . hou he ssold pe folke tech. 
 
 15 and to ssow ham god-is defens : bope to jung and to olde. 
 
 of pe .x. commandemens . whos wold be sauid ham ssold hold . 
 
 I. pe first comondement is pis . o god we ssul honuri: 
 
 pe heij king of heuen blis . his name wip wirssip to worpi . 
 loue pou him as he dop pe . wip al pi mijt an pi pojt: 
 20 we aujt ful wel for hit was he . pat vs wrecchis so dere bojt . 
 more harm is we dop nojt so . we louid pe ful dritte of grunde: 
 alas wrecchis whi do we so . hit mai no}t hold vre lif a stunde : 
 ve bep hi pe deuil be taujt . pat liuip op goddis mo pan one : 
 and makip goddis pro} wichcraft . pai ssul al to pe deuil gone . 
 
 II. 25 pe secunde so is pis . sundai wel pat je holder 
 
 to serue god pilk dai wis . bope jung and eke olde. 
 and now pe sundai opunlich . men holt al har cheping: 
 wonder pat gode ne sent wreech . al an erpe vp mankyn . 
 
 III. pe prid is . fader moder to honuri . for euch man ajt ful wel : 
 30 moch ten suffrid hi : her hi mijt bring pe wrecche to wel . 
 
 hit fallip bi children pat bep quede : as farip bi been in hiue : 
 whan fader juief ham londe and leede : pe jung wol pe old ut driue : 
 
 IV. pe verp . loue pi nei jbore . as pine owe bodi : non oper pou him wil : 
 V. VI. pe fift wit pe fram licheri : pe sixt is no gode of man pou ne stel . 
 
 VII. 35 pe .vii. manslajt pou ne be : ne coueit nojt neuer adel 
 VIII. IX. poj pou be stuter pan is he : no is wif no is catel . 
 X. fals witnes pou ne her . for to destrei pouer no riche : 
 
 sore and bitter pe soule sal der . for hit beminep heuen-riche . 
 besech we him mild of mode . pat sok pe milk of maid-is brest: 
 40 pat bojt vs wip is der blod . jiue vs euer in heuen rest . Amen. 
 
 [Lollai .1. litil child: whi wepistou so sore, which has been printed 
 elsewhere follows.]
 
 FRAGMENT ON THE SEVEN SINS. 17 
 
 V. FRAGMENT ON THE SEVEN SINS. 
 (Harl. MS. 913, f. 48 and 22.) 
 
 1. pe king of heuen mid us be 
 pe fend of helle fram us te 
 
 to dai and euir more: 
 to dai me jiue gode beginninge 
 pe king of houen to worping 
 
 and speken of is lore . 
 
 2. and pat je hit mote vnderstonde 
 
 pe fend to mochil schame and schonde 
 
 pis predicacioune . 
 and pat }e hit hold mote 
 bodi and soule to mochil bote 
 
 and to saluacioune. 
 
 3. Alle we bep meiis and mowe 
 and of one foule erpe i-sowe 
 
 who so hit wold vnderstonde 
 pis world-is wel nis bot wowe 
 pis wrecche lif nis bot a prow 
 
 al dai hit is gond. 
 
 4. Man . ne be pou neuer so riche 
 be-hold whom pou art iliche 
 
 whan pou ert al nakid 
 be-pench pat pou salt i-worpe 
 and for-roti to axin and erpe 
 
 whar of pou ert makid 
 
 5. Clansi pe of pi misdede 
 
 and lerne welle pi lif to lede 
 
 pe while pou art aliue. 
 to nene frend pou nab triste 
 bot to one ihesu criste 
 
 to child no to wiue. 
 
 6. Mi leue frendis ic jou bi-seche 
 jung . old . poure and reche 
 
 herkenp to god-is speche: 
 
 b
 
 18 FRAGMENT ON THE SEVEN SINS. 
 
 in pe name of god. and S. marie 
 joure sinful lif to amendie 
 to-dai ic wol jow teche. 
 
 7. And pat he me let so wel to spek 
 to dai pe deuil-is staf to brek 
 
 an wip him so to fijte. 
 perto . par charite ic jou crie 
 a pater noster . and aue marie 
 
 in pe name of god al-mijte . 
 
 8. pat pees pat is in god-is huse 
 to dai be a-mangis vse 
 
 proj is holi grace: 
 pat me giue lif. and gode ending 
 and to jou jiue gode lusting 
 
 in pis silue place. 
 
 9. God him silf seiip in his gospel 
 mi leue frendis ic wol }ou tel 
 
 nimip to me gome: 
 o worde ic jou lie nelle 
 of heuen blis no pine of helle 
 
 no of riche dome. 
 
 10. and of pe herrid sinnes seuene 
 whar for men lesip heuene 
 ic wol jou nemeni alle 
 and har namis ic wol }ou teche 
 and hou hi wol men bi-peche 
 
 and make ham to falle. 
 
 I. 1 First at prude i wol be-gin . for hit is heuid of al sinne. 
 [Pride.] ic hit wol jou do to wit . in holi boke hit is i writ. 
 3 Lucifer pat was so brijte . pat fairist was of al wijte. 
 
 wip oute god in heuen nas . non so fair als he was. 
 5 nas neuer non so fule ifund . as he in helle lip abund. 
 
 nad he no more gilte . whar for he was of heuen ipilte 
 7 a litil prude him was in-com . per-for god him hauip be-nome . 
 
 heuen blisse pat euer sal last . and in to helle he is cast. 
 9 per he sal woni euer more . and is prude abigge wel sore, 
 alas . man whi artu prute . whannin commip pi fair schrute .
 
 FRAGMENT ON THE SEVEN SINS. 19 
 
 11 mid whate pou art ischrid aboute. nojte of pe man boute doute. 
 
 pine owen schond pou werist an . pat helip pi fleis and pi bone . 
 13 ic wol pat pou iwit wel . hit nis bote a hori felle . 
 
 pat is pine owen -rijt wede . bepenche pe man and hab drede . 
 15 man and womman vnderstond pis . be-tak euch beste his. 
 
 pat ert so fair mid bi gon . linin. wollin. glouis. and schone. 
 17 pat pou art in hit so prute . ne sal pe leue neuer a cloute. 
 
 per-for man ic pe for-bede . worldlich prude in hert and dede . 
 19 and lede pi lif bi godis rede . to loui god and hab drede . 
 
 pat pou be gode-is sone . and him to queme at pe dome. 
 21 Coueitise is pat oper . herkne nov leue broper. 
 
 P er * s m ani man bi peijte . so pe fend him hauip iteijte . 
 23 pe man pat is coueituse . ne commip he neuer to god-is huse. 
 
 suche per bep al to fele . pat louip more pis world-is welle . 
 25 pan god pat hap ham of erpe i wrojte . and so swithe dere ham bojte . 
 
 he nel is catel spen in wast . ac euer he hit witip fast. 
 27 he nold pat aliue nere . none so riche as he were. 
 
 and euer so he hauip more . pe faster he gaderip to store. 
 29 and euer he wol is lif so lede . in mochel sorow and in drede . 
 
 nel he neuer hab rest . is mochil mukke to witi fast. 
 31 pat ne mai in him slepe cum . lest is mukke be him be nome . 
 
 leuer him wer jiue of is blode . pan ani man of is gode. 
 33 nel he of opir ping hede . but is Me bodi fede. 
 
 mid is siluir and is gold . nojt is soule pat he schold. 
 35 a-pan is muk he sit a-brode . he pat pus dop mid is gode. 
 
 he ne penchith nojt in is end . pat he sal of pis world wend. 
 37 and vnderstonde nojt he nelle . what he is no whoder he schel . 
 
 his catel he wenip witi wel . oc in his soule penche he nelle . 
 39 with is siluir and is gold . he wenip euer is lif hold . 
 
 whan he wenip liuie wel . mid dep adun fal he schel. 
 41 pe deuil benimip him is brep . moch sorow pan he him dep . 
 
 for is gode pe fend him deriip . and is soul to helle he feriip. 
 43 pe deuil is his executur . of is gold and is tresure. 
 
 pat he so moch trist to . loke nou hou he is ago. 
 45 perfor man in alle wise . ic pe for-bede coueitise. 
 
 to world-is wel nab pou no triste . hit went awei so dop pe miste . 
 47 her it is and her hit nis . al so farep pe world-is blis . 
 
 ne be he neuer so riche . whan he lip a cold liche . 
 
 b2
 
 20 CHRIST ON THE CROSS. 
 
 49 if he hauip an old clute . he mai be swipe prute . 
 
 whar mid i-helid he sal be . pat noman nakid him ise . 
 51 of what he gadred an is was . nis pis rewp . alas . alas . 
 III. pe prid sin so is onde . pat mochil nupe* is in lond . 
 
 53 and euir hi quemip pe fend of heile . in woch maner ic wol jou tel . 
 
 leue breperin herknip now. and ic wol jou tell how. 
 55 world-is wel failip vnliche. and nojt euch man ilich. 
 
 sum per bep pat cun nojt libbe . sum pat hauip frendis sibbe , 
 57 and sum per bep pat swinkip sore, winne catel to hab more, 
 
 ham silf fair to susteni . and euer more hi bep nedi . 
 59 and sum per bep leue broper. pat more hap pan anoper. 
 
 and more loue of gode man . anoper wol after pan . 
 
 areri cuntake. 
 
 [ends abruptly.] 
 
 VI. CHRIST ON THE CROSS. (A fragment.) 
 (Harl.MS. 913, f. 28.) 
 
 Respice in faciem christi tui &c. Augustinus. 
 
 pendens nudatum pectus . rubet sanguineum latus . regia 
 pallent ora . decora languent lamina . crura pendent marmorea . 
 rigatterre beatos pedes sanguinis unda. De istis auctoritatibus anglicuiu. 
 
 1 Be-hold to pi lord man. whare he hangip on rode. 
 
 and weep if pou mijt . teris al of blode . 
 
 and loke to is heued. wip pornis al be-wonde. 
 
 and to is felle so bi-spette. and to pe sper-is wnde. 
 5 bi-hold to is brest nakid . and is blodi side . 
 
 stiniith is armis . pat sprad bep so wide . 
 
 his fair lere falowip. and dimmip is sijte. 
 
 per-to is hendi bodi. on rode so is y-tijte. 
 
 his lendin so hangip. as cold as marbre stone. 
 10 for luste of lechuri . nas per neuer none . 
 
 be-hold to is nailes. in hond and ek in fote. 
 
 and how pe stremis ernip . of is swet blode . 
 
 be-ginne at is heued. and loke to is to. 
 
 pou ne findest in is bodi . bot anguis and wo .
 
 A RHYME-BEGINNING FRAGMENT. 21 
 
 15 turne him uppe . turne him doune . pi swete lemman . 
 ouer al pou findist him. blodi oper wan. 
 
 Dilexit nos et lauit nos a peccatis nostris in sanguine suo &c. 
 Leue for pe mi brest nakid. schinip glisminge. 
 mi side dep istunge. mi hondes sore bleding. 
 
 Quid misericordius ualet intelligi ipsi peccatori eternis tormentis 
 dampnato et vnde se redimat non habenti quam ut dicat deus ipse 
 peccatori . Dicit veto deus pater . Accipe unigenitum meum et da 
 pro te . et ille filius tolle me et redime te . Anglicum expone. 
 Man pou hast pe for-lor. and ful neip to helle ibor. 
 20 wend a-je and com to me. and ic wol underfang pe. 
 for first ic makid pe of. nojt. and sip dere pe i-bojt. 
 whan ic mi lif jef for pe . and i-hang was on tre . &c. 
 
 homo; vide quid pro te patior sicut est dolor sicut dolor quo 
 crucior . ad te clamo qui pro te niorior . uides penas quibus afficior . 
 uide clanos quibus confodior . si est tantus dolor exterior . interius 
 est planctus grauior. 
 
 Man bi-hold what ic for pe. polid up pe rode tre 
 ne mai no kinnes wo be mare . pan min was po ic heng pare . 
 25 hire me man to pe gredind. for loue of pe biter deiend. 
 
 loke mi pinis biter and strang . wan ic was nailed pro} fot andhond . 
 for pe ic had hard stundes. dintes grete and sore wondes. 
 for pe biter drink ic dronk. and pou cunnest me no ponk. 
 wip-vte ic was ipinid sore . wip-in ic was mochil more . 
 30 for pou nelt ponk me. pe loue pat ich schowid pe &c. 
 
 [end.] 
 
 VII. A RHYME-BEGINNING FRAGMENT. 
 (Harl. MS. 913, f. 58.) 
 
 Loue hauip me brojt in lipir pojt. 
 pojt ic ab to blinne: 
 blinne to pench hit is for nojt; 
 Nojt is loue of sinne. 
 
 Sinne me hauip in care ibrojt. 
 brojt in mochil vn-winne:
 
 22 A MORAL ODE. 
 
 winne to weld ic had i-pojl ; 
 pojt is pat ic am inne . 
 
 In me is care, how i ssal fare, 
 fare ic wol and funde. 
 fare ic wip outen are 
 ar i be brojt to grunde. 
 
 VIII. A MORAL ODE. 
 (Egerton MS. 613, fol. 7-12; later copy, fol. 64-70.) 
 
 1. Ic ' sem aelder paenne ic *waes a . a winter 3 and a lore 
 ic wselde more panne ic dude, mi wit ah to ben more 
 
 2. Wei lange ic habbe child iben 4 . a worde & ec 5 a dede 
 pech 6 ic beo a wintre eald. to <}ung ic 7 corn at 8 rede 
 
 3. Vnnvwt 9 lyf ic habbe ^e-laed 10 . & Cjnet me pinh 11 ic lede 
 panne ic me bi-panche 12 . wel sore ic me adrede 
 
 4. Mest al paet ic habbe ydon . ys idelnesse and chilce 
 wel late ic habbe me 13 bi-poht. bute me god do milce 
 
 5. Fele ydele word ic hable i-quepen. syden I4 ic speke cupe 
 & fele (}uinge deden 15 i-do . pat 16 me of pinchet nupe 
 
 6. Al to lome ic habbe a-gult. a werche 17 & ec a worde 
 al to muchel ic habbe i-spend. to litel y-leid an horde 
 
 7. Mest al pat me likede ser. nu it me mys likeiS" 18 
 
 pe muchel fol^ep his y-wil. him sulfne he bi-swikefr 
 
 8. Ic myhte 19 habbe bet i-don. hadde ic per 20 y selpe 
 nu ic wolde, ac ic ne mai. for elde ne for un-helpe 
 
 9. Elde 21 me is bi-stolen on. aer ic hit a-wuste 
 
 ne myht ic isen be-fore me . for smeke ne for myete 
 10. Ar^e 33 we beop to done god. to vuele 23 al to priste 
 
 more eie stont 24 man of manne . panne him det 25 of criste 
 
 * The MJ is the Anglo-Saxon \>, the & the 7. The hyphens and commas 
 are not in the MS. Some of the metrical points are inserted from the later MS. 
 
 1 Ich. 2 pen ich wes. 3 awintre. 4 ibeon. a weorde. 5 ech. 
 6 peh. 7 tu }yng. 8 a. 9 Vn-nut 10 habb ilaed. " pincp. 
 12 penche. 13 me. l4 iqueden . sjffffea. 15 ^unge dede. 16 pe. 
 37 weorche. 18 mis-lichet. 19 Ich mihte. 20 po. 2l Ylde. 
 82 aerwe. 23 yfele. 24 stent. 25 do.
 
 A MORAL ODE. 23 
 
 11. pe wel ne dep pe hwile he mei . wel oft hit hym scael ruwen 
 penne hy mowen sculen & ripen . per pe hi aer seowen 
 
 12. Don ec to gode wet (je mu^e. pa hwile CJQ bu6 a life 
 ne hopie no man to muchel. to childe ne to wyfe 
 
 13. pe him selue for-^ut for wife, oper 1 for childe 
 
 he sael comen 2 on vuele stede . bute hym god be 3 milde 
 
 14. Sende ec * sum god be-foren hym . pe hwyle j& ben aliue 5 
 for betere his on almesse before . paune ben after vyue 6 
 
 15. Ne beo pe leure pan pi self 7 , pi mei ne pi mo^e 8 
 
 9 for sot ys pat ys oper mannes frond, betre panne his o^e 
 
 16. Ne hopie wif to hyre were, ne were to his wife 
 bue 10 for him selue aefrech 11 man. pe whyle he bo alife 
 
 17. Wis is pe him sulf be-penp 12 . pa hwile pe he mot 13 libbe 
 for sone willet him for-jy ten u . pe fraemden & po sibbe 
 
 18. pe wel ne dep pe wile he mai . ne seal he waune 15 he wolde 
 mani 16 mannes sor Cje swynch. habbet ofte alle vn holde 17 
 
 19. Ne solde no man don a ferst. ne sclakien 18 wel to done 
 for mani man bi-hoted 19 wel . he 20 it for^ytet sone 
 
 20. pe man pe wule siker ben. to habbe godes blisse 
 
 do wel him silf pe wile he mai . panne haued he it mid 21 ywisse 
 
 21. pos 22 riche men wened ben sikere 23 . purh walles 24 &purh diche 
 he ded his eitte on 25 sikere stede . pe hi send 26 to heuene-riche 
 
 22. For per ne parf he ben of drad a7 . of fure ne of peve 28 
 per ne mai it hym bi-nimen 29 . pe lope ne pe leue 30 
 
 23. per ne perf he habbe kare . of wiue ne of childe 
 pider we sended suuel & bred 31 , to litel 32 & to selde 
 
 24. pider we solden drawen & don . wel oft & wel ^ie-lome 
 
 for per ne seal me us nontbinimen 33 . midwronge ne mid wo^e 34 
 
 25. pider we scolde }erne drawen & don 35 , wolde CJQ me ileue 
 for per ne mai hit ou bi-nimen 36 . pe king ne pe scirreve 37 
 
 1 offer. 2 sceal cume. 3 beo. * aech. 5 hwile he mei to heuene. 
 6 seouene. 7 pene pe sulf. 8 msei ne ffi ina^e. 9 sot is 8e is oSres. 
 10 beo. n aeurich. 12 sulfne bi-pencff. 13 hwile he mote. M wulleff 
 hine for-yte. 15 hwenne. 16 manies. 17 sare iswinch . habbeff oft 
 unholde. 18 slawen. 19 bi-hateff. 20 pe. 21 ffen haueff he mid. 
 22 pes. 23 wenefiT beo siker. 24 walle. 25 his a. 26 pe sent. 27 flierf 
 beon of dred. 2S peoue. 29 mei hi bi-nime. 30 laffe ne ffe leoue. 
 31 sendet & sulf bereft. 3J lite. 33 naht bi nime. M mid wrancwise 
 dome. 35 & don omitted. S6 bi-nimen eow. ^ ne se ireue.
 
 24 A MORAL ODE. 
 
 26. Al |>at beste pat ge we habbet 1 . pider we scolde sende 
 for per we it muwen 3 finden eft. & habben abuten 3 ende 
 
 27. pe pe her det ani god. for to habben * goddes ore 
 al he it seal finden per. & hundred felde more 
 
 28. pe pe ehte wile healden wel. pe wile he mai his welden 
 <}iue his for godes luue. eft heo hit scullen a-finden 5 
 
 29. Vre iswinch & ure tilpe. is efte iwuned to swinden 
 
 ac pat we dot for godes luue. eft we it scullen afinden 
 
 30. Ne seal non vuel 6 ben vn-bout. ne non god vn-for-^olde 
 vuel we doflT al to muchel . & god lasse panne we scolde 
 
 31. pe pe mest deft" nu to gode . & pe pe lest to la<5e 
 ayper to lutel & to muchel. seal pinchen eft hym bade 
 
 32. per me seal vre werkes we^en. bi-foren pen heuene kinge 
 & ^iuen us vre swinches lyen. after vre erninge 
 
 33. Eure ilc man mid pan pe he 7 haued. mai biggen heueriche 
 pe pe more haued & pe pe lasse. bope mai iliche 
 
 34. He alse mid his penie . pe pe 8 oper mid his punde 
 
 pat is pe wnnder-likeste ^are 9 . pat ein man eure funde 
 
 35. And pe pe more ne mai don . bute 10 mid his gode panke 
 al se wel se pe haued. goldes feale manke 11 
 
 36. And god 12 can more pane. 9an pe him fjiued lesse 
 al his werkes & his weies. is milce & rit^ifnesse 13 
 
 37. Lutel loc 14 is gode lef . pat corned of gode wille 
 & eflT-lete muchel <5>yue. 9enne 8e heorte is ille 
 
 38. Heuene & erpe he ouer-siho . his e^en bed so britte 
 sunne. mone. dai. & fur. bud pustre to-^enes his lithte 
 
 39. Nis him nout for-hole ni hud. so muchel bet 15 his mihte 
 nis it no so derne idon . ne a swa pustre nihte 
 
 40. He wot wat debt 16 & penchet. alle quike wihte 
 
 nis no louerd swilc se is crist. na king swilc vre drihte 
 
 41. Heuene & herpe & al pat is. be loken in his honde 
 he ded al pat his willes is. a watere & a londe 
 
 42. He makede fisses inne pe see. & fu^eles inne pe lofte 
 he wit & wait" alle ping. & he scop alle scefte 18 
 
 1 pet betste per we hedde. 2 mihte. 3 habbe bute. 4 for habbe. 
 5 penne deff he his -wel ihealden. 6 nan uuel. 7 he omitted. 6 se ffe. 
 9 wunder-lukeste ware. 10 bute omitted. u marke. ll And oft god. 
 13 rihtwisnesse. 14 lac. 15 biff. 16 deff. " wealdeff. 18 ealle ?e sceafte.
 
 A MORAL ODE. SINNERS AT THE JUDGMENT. 25 
 
 48. He is ord abuten orde. & ende abuten ende 
 
 he one is eure on elche stede. wende war pu wende 
 
 44. He is buuen vs & bi-nepen. bi-foren & bi-hinde 
 pe pe godes wille 8e ' . ei(5er he mai him finde 
 
 45. Elche rune he i-hurd. & he wot alle dede 
 
 he purfr-siho*' elches mannes pane, pat seal us to rede 
 
 46. po pe breked godes hese. & gultet so ilome 
 
 wet sulle hi segge 2 oper don. at pe muchele dome 
 
 47. po pe 3 luueden vnriht. & vuel lif ladde 
 
 wat scullen hi seggen oper don. par engles bed of dredde 
 
 48. Hwat sculle we beren bi-foren us * . mid wan sculle we him 
 
 i-quemen 5 
 we pe neure god ne duden. pe heuenliche demen 
 
 49. per sculle ben deofles swo fele . pe wulled us for-wreien 
 nabbet hi noping for-^fyte . of al pat hi ere se^ien 6 
 
 60. Al pat we mis-duden her. hit wullet cupe pere 
 buten we habben it ibet . pe wile we her were 
 
 51. Al hi habbet an here i- write, pat we mis-duden here 
 pei we it nulten ne i-seien r . hi weren vre i-fere 
 
 52. Hwet scullen horlinges do. pe swikele 8 pe for-sworene 
 wi swo fele beod i-cleped. swa feuwe beod i-corene 
 
 53. Wi hwi were he bi-^iite . to wan were hi i-borene 
 pe sculle ben to depe i-demd. & eure mo for-lorene 
 
 54. Elch man seal him sulne par. bi-clepiean & ec demen 9 
 his a^e were & his ipanc. to witnesce he seal temen 
 
 55. Ne mai hym na man al swa . wel demen ne al sa rithte 10 
 for nan ni cnawed him swa wel. buten one dritte 
 
 56. Elc man wot him sulue best . his were & his i-wille 
 
 pe pe lest wot, seit ofte mest. & pe pe it wot 11 is stille 
 
 57. Nis no witnesse al so mochel. so mannes howe heorte 
 hwa se segge pat he beo al 12 . him self wat best his smerte 
 
 58. Elc man seal him suelf demen . to depe oper to liue 
 
 pe witnesse of his owe were, to oper 31s him seal driue 
 
 1 deff. 2 we seggen. 3 pa 8a. 4 us omitted. b we cweman. 
 
 6 hi ise^en. 7 hi nuste ne ni sejen. 8 swikene. 9 him 8er bi- 
 
 clupien. & ech sceal him demen. 10 ne swa rihte. " 9e 9"e hit wat 
 eal. '> hal.
 
 26 A MORAL ODE. REPENT IN TIME. 
 
 59. Eal pat cure ilc man haued i-do. sutpe he com to manne 
 swilc hit seie on boc ' i-writen . he seal it penche panne a 
 
 60. Ac drithte ne demed nanne man. after his bi-ginninge 
 ac his 3 lib seal beo swilc. se bued his endinge 
 
 61. Ac (}if pe ende is euel, al it is uuel. & algod 4 , ^if god is ende 5 
 god (}uue pat ure end beo god . & wite pet he us lende 6 
 
 62. pe men pe nele do no god . ne neure god lif leden 
 
 aer ded T & dom come to 8 his dure . he mai sore a-dreden 
 
 63. pat he ne muwe penne bidde ore. for it itit ilome 
 pi he is wis pe bit & be-^it 9 . & bet be-fore dome 
 
 64. penne ded is ate 10 dure . wel late he biddet ore 
 
 wel late he leted vuel weorc . pe hit ne mai do na mare 
 
 65. "Sunne let pe, & pu naht hire, panne pus ne miht do no more 
 for-pi he is sot, pe swa abit, to habbe goddes hore 
 
 66. peh hweffer we it iluuet wel . for drihte sulf hit sede 
 
 a wulche time so eure pe man. of-pinchet his mis-dede 
 
 67. Oper later oper raper. milce he seal i-meten 
 
 ac pe pe nout naued 12 ibet. wel muchel he seal beten 
 
 68. Mani man seid wo recke of pine . pe seal habben ende 
 ne bidde ic no bet beo a-lused 13 . a domesdai of bende 
 
 69. Lutel wat he hwat is pine. & lutel he it icwoweff 14 
 wile hete is per soule wunet. hu biter wind per blouwet 
 
 70. Hadde he ibeon per anne dai . oper twa bare tide 
 nolde he for al middan card, pe pridde per abide 
 
 71. pat habbet ised pat comen panne, pit wuste mid iwisse 
 uuel is pine seoue er. for seoue nihtes blisse 
 
 72. And ure blisse pe ende hafh. for endeliese pine 
 
 betre is wori water to drinke 15 . penne atter i-menge mid wine 
 
 73. Swunes brede is swupe swete . so is of wilde dere 
 
 ac al to duere he i-bu^ied 16 . pat ^iued pere-fore his swere 
 
 74. Ful wombe mai liht-liche speken . of hunger & of fasten 
 swa mai of pine pe naht not. hu hi scullen ilesten 17 
 
 75. Hadde he ifonded sume hwile 18 . he wolde al seggen oper 
 eff-lete him were. wif. & child, suster. & fader. & broper 
 
 1 si aboc 2 iffenche ffenne. 3 ac al his. * & god. 5 penne. 6 lenne. 
 7 dieff. 8 aet. 9 8e beot & beat. 10 deaffis set his. il st. 65 is omitted. 
 abit = abides, wails. 13 nafff naht. 13 ilusd. 14 icnaweff. 15 weter idrunke. 
 16 hi biyff. " hu pine sceal alesten. 18 Hedde his a-fanded sume stunde.
 
 A MORAL ODE. OF THE LAST JUDGMENT. 27 
 
 76. J A1 he wolde operluker don. & operluker penche 
 
 (janne he bi-pouhte on helle fur. pe nowiht ne mai aquenche 
 
 77. Eure he wolde inne wa her. & inne pine 3 wunien 
 wid pan pe mihte helle pine, bi-fluen & bi-scunien 
 
 78. Eff-lete him were al woruldes 3 wele. & al eordliche 4 
 for to pe muchele murcS* cume . pat is heuenriche 5 
 
 79. 1 6 wulle nu comen eft to pe dome . pat 7 ic eow er of sede 
 on pat dai , & at pe dome . us helpe crist & rede 
 
 80. pper we ma^ien beon e<5e of drad 8 . & harde us adrede 
 per elc sceal i-seo bi-foren him. his word & ec his dede 
 
 81. Eal seal ben panne 9 cud. pat man lu^en her & stelen 
 al seal ben per vnwrien. pat men wru^en her & helen 
 
 82. We scullen alre manne lif . icnawe per al so vre owe 
 per sculle heueninges ben. pe hei^e & pe lou^e 
 
 83. Ne seal pei noman scamien per. ne perf he him adrede 
 (}if him here of-pinched his gult . & beted his misdede 
 
 84. For heom ne scamet ne ne gramet . pe sculle beon iboruwene 10 
 ac pe opre habbet scame & grame. pat sculle beon forlorene 11 
 
 85. pe dom seal sone ben idon . ne last he nowit longe 
 
 ne seal him noman mene per. of strengpe ne of wrange 
 
 86. po scullen habben hardne dom . pe here weren herde 
 pa pe euele heolden wreche men . & vuele ladies rerde ia 
 
 87. Ac ]3 after pan pe 14 he haued idon. he u seal per beon idemed 
 blipe mai he panne buen. pe god haued 15 iquemed 
 
 88. Alle po pat isprunge be<3T. of adam & of eue 
 ealle he sculle puder come, for sope we it ileued 
 
 89. po pe habbed wel idon. after heore mihte 
 
 to heuenriche 16 he scullen . ford mid vre drihte 
 
 90. po pe nabbeo*" god idon . & per-inne be<3T ifunde 
 he scullen falle swipe rape . in to helle grunde 
 
 91. paer 1T inne he scullen wuniq. buten ore & ende 
 
 ne breed* neuereuft crist helle dure. to lese hem 1B of bende 
 
 1 Stanza 76 is omitted. * wawe. 3 eal woruld. 4 eordliche blisse. 
 5 cume. ffis murhffe mid iwisse. 6 Ich. 7 pe. 8 dredde. 9 Sen 
 ffenne. 10 iboreje. n . & offer fele sor^e. Ia arerde. 13 and. 
 14 omit pe and he. 15 hafff wel. 16 scule faren. 17 hi wnnie sculen 
 a & buten ende. 1B for lese hi.
 
 28 A MORAL ODE. OF DEATH AND SIN. 
 
 92. Nis no sellic pei heom beo wo. & hem beo 'vnepe 
 2 nele neureit crist polie deo''. for lesen heom of diepe 
 
 93. Enes drihte helle brae, his frend he ut broutte 
 
 him self he polede died* for horn . wel dore he us bouhte 
 
 94. Nolde it mouwe don for mey 3 . ne suster for broper 
 nolde it sune don for fader, ne noman for oper 
 
 95. Ure 4 lauerd for his preles. ipined was on rode 
 ure bendes he unbond. & bouht us mid his blode 
 
 96. We ^ieued vnepe for his louue. a sticche of vre brede 
 
 ne penche we nout pat he seal deme. po 5 quike & to 5 dede 
 
 97. Muchele luue he us cudde . wolde we it understonde 
 pat vre eldrene mis-duden. we habbet vuele an honde 
 
 98. Died" com in pis middenerd . purh pe ealde deofles onde 
 & synne & sor^e & (^e-swinch. a watere & ec 5 alonde 
 
 99. Vres formes faderes gult. we abigget alle 
 
 al his of-sprunge after hym. in herme is bi-falle 
 
 100. purst. & hunger, chnle. & hete. eche & al unelpe 6 
 purh died" com in pis middenerd. & oper vnisalpe 7 
 
 101. Niere no 5 man elles died", ne sic. ne non 8 vn-ysele 
 ac mihten libbe eure mo . a blisse & on hele 
 
 102. Lutel ipenchd" mani man. hu muchel wes pe synne 
 for 9 pan polied alle died . pe comen of here cnnne 
 
 103. Here sunne & ec vre owen. sore us mai of pinche 
 
 for in 5 synne we libbet alle 10 . in sorewen & in swinche 
 
 104. Sudpe god nam swa muchele wreche. for ane misdede 
 
 pe pat so muchel & swa 5 oft mis do9". mu^en us sore n adrede 
 
 105. Adam & his of-spring. for one bare sunne 
 
 was fele hundred wintre in helle. in pine & in vnwunnc 
 
 106. And po pe leded here lif | mid vnriht & mid 5 wronge 
 bute it godes milce do | sculle beo per wel longe 
 
 107. Godes wisdom is wel muchel. & al swa is his mihte 
 & nis his milce nawiht lasse. ac bi 9es ilke wihte 
 
 108. More he one mai for-^iuen . penne alfolc gulte cunne 
 deofel suelf 5 mihte habbe milce. Cjif he it 13 bidde gunne 
 
 1 un ieffe. a sceal neure. 3 mei. 4 Vre ealre. 5 omits these. 
 6 unhelde. 7 uniselffe. 8 un sele. 9 whan ealle polied dietf. 10 alle 
 her. " eaffe. I2 bigunne.
 
 A MORAL ODE. OF THE PAINS OF HELL. 29 
 
 109. pe 9e godes milce sech<5\ iwis he mai is finde 
 
 ac helle kinge is J oreles . wid" pa pe he mai binde 
 
 110. pe <5e dep his wille mest. he hauep wurst mede 
 
 his bead" seal beo wallinde pich. his bed berninde glede 
 
 111. Wurs he deft" his gode wiues 2 . pene his fulle feonde 
 god sculde alle godes frend | a wihd scuche 3 freonde 
 
 112. Neure on helle ic ne com | ne comen ic per ne reche 
 <5eh ich elches wurldes wele. per inne mihte fecche 
 
 113. peh ic wulle seggen eow. pat wise men ut 4 sede 
 and aboke 5 it is i-write. per me mai it rede 
 
 114. Ic it wulle segge heom | pe hem self it nusten 
 
 & warnen heom wit heore hearme 6 . Cjif hi me wulled lusten 
 
 115. Vnder-stondet nu to me. aeidi 7 men & earme 
 
 Ic wulle telle of helle pine . & warnie ow wi<3f herme 
 
 116. On helle is vnger & perst. vuele tuo ifere 
 
 pos pine polied po . pe were mete nipinges here 
 
 117. por is woninge 8 & wop. after eche strete 
 
 hi fared fram hete to pe chele . fram chele to pe hete 
 
 118. panne hi beod in pe hete. pe chele 9 ftinchet blisse 
 penne hi corned" eft to chele . of hete hi habbed misse 
 
 119. Aiper hem deft" wa inou. nabbet hi none lisse 
 nuten hi weper ded wurst . mid neure non 10 iwisse 
 
 120. Hi walked eure & sechet reste. ac hi ne mu^en imeten 11 
 for pi hi nolden po 12 wile | hi mithten here sunne beten 13 
 
 121. Hi seched reste per non nis. ac 14 pi ne muwen ifinde 15 
 ac walked weri up & dun. al 14 se water deft" mid winde 
 
 122. pis beod po pe weren her. on ponke vn-stedefaste 
 & po god bi-heten auht. & nolden it ilaste 
 
 123. po o*e god weorc bigunne. & ful enden hit nolden 
 pe 16 weren her. & nupe per. & nusten wet he 17 wolden 
 
 124. pere is pich pat eure weald", pat sculle bapien inne 
 po pe ladde vuel lif . in feoh 18 end in iginne 
 
 1 are lies. 2 wines. 3 swiche. 4 us. 5 hi hit write. 8 unfreme. 
 7 $edi. 8 wanunge. 9 chelecheff blisse. 10 wheffer him deff wurs mid 
 nane. u mugen iruete. 12 pi 81 nolden. 13 bete. u ac and al 
 omitted. 15 hi finde. 16 nu. " hi. 18 feoht.
 
 30 A MORAL ODE. OF THE PAINS OF HELL. 
 
 125. 'per is fur pat eure barnd*. ne mai hit nawiht quenche 
 her-inne beod pe wes to lef . wrecche men to swenche 
 
 126. per is fur pat is vndredfelde j hatere panne beo vre 2 
 ne mai it quenchen salt water, nauene strien 3 ne sture 4 
 
 127. po pe were swikele men . & fulle of vuele wrenche 
 po pe ne mihte euel don . & lef was it to 5 penche 
 
 128. po pe luueden reuing & stale . hordom . & drunke 
 & pe 6 on pes deofles weorkes | blipeliche swunke 
 
 129. po pe were so lease, pat me hi ne mihte ileuen 
 med ^eorne domes men. & wrancwise reuen 7 
 
 130. pe opre mannes wif wes lef. his awene efr-lete 
 & po pe sunegede muchel . on drunke & on 8 ete 
 
 131. pe wrecchen bi-nemen hure ehte . & leiden huere on horde 9 
 pe lutel leten of godes bode 10 . & of godes worde 
 
 132. And of his owen nolde ^iuen . per he sei pe nede 
 
 ne nolde ihuren godes sonde . per pe ' l sette his beode 
 
 133. po 12 pe weren 13 operes mannes pine u . leure panne ic scolde 
 & weren al to gredi . of suelfer & 1S of golde 
 
 134. And po 12 pe vntreunesse deden . Cja.m 16 hi ahte ben holde 
 & leten pat hi scolde don. & duden pet hi wolde 
 
 135. po pe <9ysceres ir weren | of pis woruldes ehte 
 
 & dude pat pe lope gost. hem tihte & ec 18 tauhte 
 
 136. And alle po 12 <5en eni wise, deoflen her iquemde 
 
 po beo<3T nu mid him | an helle for-don & for-dempde 
 
 137. Bute po 12 pe ofpouhte sore, her here 19 mis-deden 
 & gunnen here gultes beten. & betere lif leden 
 
 138. peor beo*" naddren & snaken. eueten & frude 20 
 
 pa tered & freteo*" pe uuele speken. pe nihtfulle 21 & pe prute 
 
 139. Neure sunne per ne scin^T. ne mone ne steorre 
 per is muchel godes hete. & muchel godes ^eorre 
 
 140. Eure per is vuel smech. pusternesse & eie 
 nis per neure oper liht . panne pe swarte leie 
 
 1 The later MS. transposes the stanzas 125 and 126, and begins 125 
 with: pis is pe. * hundred fealde hattre Sen vre. 3 striem. * i. e. 
 nor Avon stream nor Stour. 5 wes to. 6 a. 7 ireue. 8 a drunken 
 & en. 9 pe wrecche be-nam his ehte . & leide hes en horde. 10 bibode. 
 11 he. 13 pa. 13 wes. 14 fifing. 15 end. 16 dude, pam ffe. 17 witteres 
 and omits weren. 18 to. 19 of ffufte sare heore. 30 frute. *' niff fulle.
 
 A MORAL ODE. LOVE GOD AND YOUR NEIGHBOUR. 31 
 
 141. per ligget laffliche fend, in stronge raketeie 
 
 pat buff pe pe were mid gode . on heuene wel heie 
 
 142. per buff ateliche fend . & eisliche wihte 
 
 pos sculle pa wrecchen i-son 1 . pe sunege purff 2 sihte 
 
 143. per is pe lope sathanas. & belsebuc pe 3 ealde 
 
 lepe he 4 muwen ben of drard. pe bine sculled bi-helde 5 
 
 144. Ne mai non heorte it pencbe . ne no 6 tunge ne can telle 
 hu mucbele pine. & T hu vele. senden 8 inne belle 
 
 145. Of 9 po pine pe pere bued 10 . nelle ic hou nout 11 leio^en 
 nis it bute gamen & gleo. al pat man mai here dreo^en 
 
 146. Ac 12 ^et ne deff heom nout so wo. in po lope biende 13 
 bute pat hi witeff pat heore pine . ne seal neure habben ende 
 
 147. per buff po hepenemen . pe were lawe lese 
 
 pe heom nas nout of godes bode 14 , ne of godes hese 
 
 148. Vuele cristenemen. hi bud here i-vere 
 
 po pe heore cristen-dom. vuele heolden here 
 
 149. ^ut hi bud a wurse stede. on pere helle grunde 
 
 ne sculle hi neure comen vp 15 . for marke ne for punde 
 
 150. Ne mai heom noper helpen per. i-bede ne almesse 
 for nis noper inne helle. ore ne for^iuenesse 
 
 151. Sculde him elc ic man pe wile he mai 17 . of pos helle pine 
 and warnie aec 16 his frend per wid. so ic habbe mine 
 
 ] 52. po pe scilden heom ne cunnen . ic heom wulle teache 
 ich kan beo ^if i 18 seal, lichame & soule liache 19 
 
 153. Lete we pat god for-bet. alle mancunne 20 
 
 & do pe pat he us hat. & scilde we us wid sunne 
 
 154. Luuie we god mid vre heorte. & mid al vre mihte 
 & vre emcristene alse 21 us suelf . swa us lerde drihte 
 
 155. Al pat me rat & singff 22 . be-fore godes horde 
 al it hanged & bi-halt. bi pisse twam worde 
 
 156. Alle godes lawe he fulff. pe newe & pe 23 ealde 
 
 he pe pos twa luue haued 24 . & wel hi wule healde 
 
 1 i-fon. * sune$ede ffurh. 3 belzebud se. 4 eaffe hi. 5 scule bi- 
 healde. 6 iffenche . ne. 7 na. 8 sunden. 9 Wiff. 10 beotf. u eow 
 naht. 12 End. 1S 9a latfe bende and omits bute following. 14 |>e nes 
 naht of godes bi-bode. 15 vt. 16 ech. 17 mu^e. 18 ich. 19 leche. 
 * manne cunne. 41 eal. " rset <fe eal pat me singS". " 8a. 
 * hafff.
 
 32 A MOR. ODE. WORK FOR GOD'S LOVE & THE NARROW WAY. 
 
 157. Ac hi bu<JT wunder erued helde . swa ofte we ' gulted alle 
 for it is strong to stonde longe . & liht it * is to falle 
 
 158. Ac drihte crist he <}iue us strencpe. stonde pat we mote 
 & of alle vre gultes , unne us come 2 bote 
 
 159. We wilnied efter worldes 8 wele. pe longe ne mai ileste 
 & legged al ure iswinch . on pinge un-stede-faste 4 
 
 160. Swunche we for godes luue . half pat we doQT for ehte 
 ne were 5 we nout swa bi-cherd. ne swa vuele bi-cauhte 6 
 
 161. Cjif we serueden god. so we do9" erninges 
 
 more we haueden of r heuene. panne eorles oper 8 kinges 
 
 162. Ne muwen hi her 9 werien heom wid chele. wid purst. ne wid 
 
 hunger 
 ne wid elde 10 , ne wid deft, pe eldre 10 ne pe ^conger 
 
 163. Ac per nis hunger ne purst ne dep . ne vnhelpe ne elde 
 of pisse riche we penchet oft . & of pere to selde 
 
 164. We scolden alle us bi-penche . oft & wel ilome 
 
 hwet we bed*. & to pan 11 we sculle. & of wan we come 
 
 165. Hu lutel wile we beff her. hu longe elles ware 
 hwat we mu^en habben her. & whet elles hware 12 
 
 166. ^if we were wise men. pis we scolden ipenche 
 
 bute we wurpe us iwar . pes worlde us wule for-drenche 
 
 167. Mest alle men he ^iued drinke. of one deofles scenche 
 
 he sceal him cunne sculde wel . Cjif he him 13 nele screnche 
 
 168. Mid ealm[i]hties u godes luue. vte pe us bi-werien 
 
 wid pes 1S wrecches worldes luue . pat he ne 16 mawe us derien 
 
 169. Mid fasten. & almesse. & ibede. werie we us wid sunne 
 Mid po wepnen pe god haued ^iuen | alle 1T mancunne 
 
 170. Laete we pe brode 18 stret. & pe 19 wei bene 
 
 pe lat pe ni^eSe del to helle of manne. & mo ic wene 
 
 171. Go we pene narewe 80 wei. & pene wei grene 
 per forfiT-fareff lutel folc . ac it is feir & scene 
 
 172. pe brode 18 stret is vre iwil . 8e is us lod for to lete " 
 pe 8e al folewed 2S his wil . fared bi pusse strete 
 
 1 omits we and it. 2 cume to. * woruld. * unstedefeste. 5 beo. 
 6 bi-kehte. 7 hedden en. . 8 her &. 9 omits her. 10 ulde . uldre. 
 11 beoff to whan. u finde pere. 18 hine. l4 ealmihtijes. 15 flises. 
 16 omit ne. " bitten. w brade. 19 ffene. 20 nserewne. 21 to 
 forlaete. " eal foliar.
 
 THE NARROW WAY. THE JOYS OF HEAVEN. 33 
 
 173. Hi muwen lihtliche gon . mid <5ere nu<5er 1 hulde 
 fturh ane godliese wude. in-to ane bare felde 
 
 174. pe narewei is godes hes. per-forff farff wel feuwe 
 
 pat buff ffa pe heom sculdeff ^eorne . wid elche un-ffeawe 
 
 175. pos goff un-iepe to-^eanes 2 pe cliue. a^ean pe heCje hulle 
 pos leteff al here a^ien wil . for godes hese to fulle 
 
 176. Go we alle pene wei. for he us wulle bringe 
 mid po faire fewe 3 men. be-foren heuene kinge 
 
 177. per is alre merupe 4 mest. mid englene songe 
 
 pe pis 5 a pusent wintre per . ne pincff him noht to longe 
 
 178. pe pe lest haued. haueff 6 so muchel. pat he ne bit no more 
 pe ffe blisse for ffos for-lat. it him mai rewe sore 
 
 179. Ne mai non vuel ne non wane 7 , beon inne godes riche 
 ffeh per beff wunienges 8 fele . elc oper vn-iliche 
 
 180. Sume per habbet lasse murhffe. & sume habbed more 
 after pan pe hi 9 dude her . after pan pe hi swonke 10 sore 
 
 181. Ne seal per ben bred ne win. ne oper cunnes este 
 god one 11 seal beo eche lif. & blisse. & eche reste 
 
 182. Ne seal per beo fou 12 ne grei. ne cunig ne ermine 
 
 ne ocquerne 13 ne martres cheole. ne beuer ne sabeline 
 
 183. Ne seal per beo seed 14 ne scrud. ne woruld wele none 
 al pe murhffe pe me us bi-hat. al it seal beo god one 
 
 184. Ne mai non murhffe beo so muchel. so is godes sihte 
 he is soff sunne & briht. & dai a-buten nihte 
 
 185. He is elches godes ful . nis him noping jit 15 vten 
 no god nis him wane, pe wunied him abuten 
 
 186. per is wele abute grame 16 . & reste abuten swinche 
 pe mai & nele pider come . sore it him seal ofpinche 1T 
 
 187. per is blisse abuten tre^e. & lif abuten deape 
 
 pe cure scullen wunien per. blipe muwen ben epe 
 
 188. per is (^eo^effe bute ulde. & hele abuten vn-helde 
 nis per sorewe ne sor. ne neure nan vn-sealpe 
 
 189. per me seal drihte sulf i-seon . swa he is mid iwisse 
 he one mai & seal al beo. engle & manne blisse 
 
 1 under. 2 gaff unieffe }eanes. 3 te feawe feire. 4 murhffe. 5 is. 
 8 haued" hafff. 7 ne nawane. 8 wuntinges. 9 omits hi. 10 swanc. 
 11 ane. 12 fah. 13 aquierne. u scier. 15 na wiff. 16 gane. 1T The 
 later MS. ends here.
 
 34 A MORAL ODE. THE LIFE OF ST. DUNSTAN. 
 
 190. And dieh ne beod heore eCje naht . alle iliche brihte 
 di nabbed hi nouht iliche . alle of godes lihte 
 
 191. On pisse Hue hi neren nout. alle of one mihte 
 
 ne |>er ne scullen hi habben god. alle bi one ^ihte 
 
 192. po scullen more of him seon . pe luuede him her more 
 & more icnawen & iwiten. his mihte & his ore 
 
 193. On him hi scullen finden al pat man mai to lesten 
 hali boc hi sculle iseon. al pat hi her nusten 
 
 194. Crist seal one beon inou . alle his durlinges 
 
 he one is muchele mare & betere. panne alle opere pinges 
 
 195. Inoh he haued pe hine haue<3T. pe alle ping wealdeo 
 
 of him to sene nis no sed . wel hem is pe hine bi-healdefr 
 
 196. God is so mere & swa muchel. in his godcunnesse 
 pat al pat is. & al pat wes. is wurse penne he & lease 
 
 197. Ne mai it neure no man oper segge mid iwisse 
 
 hu muchele murho^e habbet po. pe beod hine godes blisse 
 
 198. To pere blisse us bringe god. pe rixlet abuten ende 
 penne he vre soule vn-bint. of licames bende 
 
 199. Crist (}yue us leden her swilc lif . & habben her swilc ende 
 pat we moten puder come, wanne we henne wende. Amen. 
 
 LIVES OF SAINTS. 
 
 IX. ST. DUNSTAN. 
 (Harl. MS. 2277, fol. 51.) 
 
 Seint Dunstan was of Engelond : icome of gode more 
 2 Miracle oure louerd dude for him: er he were ibore 
 
 For po he was in his moder wombe: a candelmasse day 
 4 per folc was at churche ynouj : as to pe tyme lay 
 
 As hi stode mid here lijt: as me dop jut nou 
 6 Here lijt aqueynte oueral: here non nuste hou 
 
 Her lijt hit brende suype wel: and her lijt hit was oute 
 8 pat folc stod in gret wonder: and also in grete doute 
 
 And hi speke ech to oper: in whiche manere hit were 
 10 Hou hit queynte so sodeynliche: pe lijt pat hi here 
 IT As hi stode and speke perof : in gret wounder echon 
 12 Seint Dunstanes moder taper: afure worp anon
 
 THE LIFE OF ST. DUNSTAN. 35 
 
 pat heo huld on hire bond: heo nuste whannes hit com 
 14 pat folc stod and bihuld : and gret wonder perof nom 
 
 Ne non nuste wannes hit com: bote purf our louerdes grace 
 16 perof hi tende here lijt: alle in pe place 
 IT What was pat oure louerd crist: pe lijt fram heuene sende 
 18 And pat folc pat stod aboute : here taperes perof tende 
 
 Bote of pat holi child: pat was in hire wombe pere 
 20 Al Engelonde scholde pe bet beo ilijt: pat hit ibore were 
 
 pis child was ibore neoje hondred jer: and fyue and tuenti arijt 
 22 After pat oure suete louerd: in his moder was alijt 
 
 pe furste jer of pe crouning: of pe king Adelston 
 24 His moder het kenedride: his fader Herston 
 IF po pis child was an vrpe ibore: his freond nome perto hede 
 26 Hi lete hit do to Glastnebury: to norischi and to fete 
 
 To teche him eke his bileue: pater noster and crede 
 28 pe child wax and wel ipej: for hit moste nede 
 T Lute jeme he nom to pe wordle: to alle godnisse he drouj 
 30 Ech man pat hurde of him speke: hadde of him ioye ynouj 
 
 po he was of manes wit: to his vncle he gan go 
 32 pe archebischop of Canterbury: seint Aldelm pat was po 
 
 pat makede wip him ioye ynouj: and euere pe lengere pe more 
 34 po he se} of his godnisse : and of his wyse lore 
 
 For deynte pat he hadde of him : he let him sone bringe 
 36 Bifore pe prince of Engelond: Adelstan pe kynge 
 
 pe kyng him makede ioye ynouj : and grantede al his bone 
 38 Of what pinge so he wolde bidde: if hit were to done 
 
 po bad he him an abbei : pat he was forp on ibrojt 
 40 pi* pe toun of Glastnebure : pat he ne wornde him nojt [*?f>0 
 H pe king grantede his bone: and after him also 
 42 Edmund his broper pat was king: in his poer ido 
 
 To Glastnebury wende sone: pis gode man seint Dunstan 
 44 po beye pe kynges him jeue leue: Edmund and Adelstan 
 IT Of pe hous of Glastnebure: a gret ordeynour he was 
 46 And makede moche of gode reule : pat neuer er among hem nas 
 
 Ac pat hous pat furst bigonne: four hondred jer bifore 
 48 And eke preo and vyfti: er seint Dunstan were ibore 
 
 For per was ordre of monekes: er seint patrik com 
 50 And er seint Austyn to Engelonde: broujte cristendom. 
 
 c2
 
 36 THE LIFE OF ST. DUNSTAN. 
 
 And seint patrick deide tuo hondred : and tuo and vyfti jer 
 52 After pat oure suete leuedi: oure louerd here her 
 
 Ac none monekes per nere furst: bote as in hudinge echon 
 54 And as men pat drowe to wyldernisse: for drede ofgodes fon. 
 H Seint Dunstan and seint Adelwold: as oure louerd hit bisay 
 56 I-ordeyned to preostes were: al in one day 
 
 per after sone to Glastnebury: seint Dunstan anon wende 
 58 He was abbod per ymaked: his lyf to amende 
 IT And for he nolde bi his wille: no tyme idel beo 
 60 A priuei smyppe bi his celle: he gan him biseo 
 
 For whan he moste of oreisouns: reste for werinisse 
 62 To worke he wolde his honden do : to fleo idelnisse 
 
 Seruie he wolde poure men: pe wyle he mijte deore 
 64 Al pe dai for pe loue of god : he ne kipte of hem non hure 
 
 And whan he sat at his wore per: his honden at his dede 
 66 And his his hurte mid ihesu crist: his moup his bedes bede 
 IT So pat al at one tyme: he was at preo stedes 
 68 His honden per, his hurte at god: his moup to bidde his bedes 
 
 perfore pe deuel hadde of him: gret enuye and onde 
 70 O tyme he cam to his smyppe: alone him to fonde 
 
 Rijt as pe sonne wende adoun: rijt as he womman were 
 72 And spac wip him of his wore: wip lajinge chere 
 
 And seide pat heo hadde wip him: gret wore to done 
 74 Treoflinge heo smot her and per: in anoper tale sone 
 IT pat holi man hadde gret wonder: pat heo was and pere 
 76 He sat longe and bipojte him: longe hou hit were 
 
 He bipojte him ho hit was: he droj forp his tonge 
 78 And leide in pe hote fur: and spac faire longe 
 
 Forte pe tonge was al afure: and sippe stille ynouj 
 80 pe deuel he hente bi pe nose: and wel faste drouj 
 
 He tuengde and schok hire bi pe nose: pat pe fur out blaste 
 82 pe deuel wrickede her and per: and he huld euere faste 
 
 He jal and hupte and drouj aje: and makede grislish bere 
 84 He nolde for al his bijete: pat he hadde icome pere 
 
 Mid his tonge he snytte hire nose: and tuengde hire sore 
 86 For hit was wipinne pe nyjte: he nemijte iseo nomore 
 
 pe schrewe was glad and blipe ynouj : po he was out of his honde 
 88 He flej and gradde bi pe lifte : pat me hurde in-to al pe londe
 
 THE LIFE OF ST. DUNSTAN. 37 
 
 Out what hap pe calewe ido: what hap pe calewe ido 
 90 In pe contrai me hurde wide: hou pe schrewe gradde so 
 
 As god pe schrewe hadde ibeo: atom ysnyt his nose 
 92 He ne bijede no more piderward: to hele him of pe pose 
 IF pe holi abbot seint Dunstan: hadde gret poer 
 94 Wip king Edmund pat was po: and was al his consailler 
 
 After king Edmundes dep: a good while was a gon 
 96 pat Edwyne his sone was ymaked king: and nojt after anon 
 
 pis Edwyne hadde vuel red: and perafter drouj 
 98 Wip seint Dunstan he was wrop : siker wip gret wouj 
 1F Of his abbey he dude him out: and dude him schame ynouj 
 100 pe more schame pat he him dude : pe more pe gode man louj 
 
 He drof him out of Engelond: and let him grede fleme 
 102 pis gode man wende forp wel glad : ne nam he neuere jeme 
 
 To pe abbey of seint Amand: bijunde see he drouj 
 104 And soiournede per longe : and ladde god lyf ynouj 
 
 IF After kyng Edwynes lyne: Edgar pat was his broper 
 106 Was king ymaked: for he was nher pan enie oper 
 
 Suype god man he bicom: and louede wel holi churche 
 108 And ech man pat him perto radde: after him he gan wirche 
 Me tolde him of seint Dunstan : pat his broper drof of londe 
 110 Mid vnrijt for his godnisse: and gan him vnderstonde 
 
 IF After him he sende anon: pat he come aje sone 
 112 And bileue his consailler: of pat he hadde to done 
 
 Seint Dunstan com horn ajen: and faire was vnderfonge 
 114 Ladde his Abbey al in pees: fram whan he was so longe 
 Wip pe king he was suype wel: and was al his consailler 
 116 Moche me spac of his godnisse: bope fur and nher 
 
 Hit biful pat pe bischop: of wircetre was ded 
 118 pe king and pe archebischop Ode: porof nome here red 
 IF po pe holi abbot seint Dunstan: bischop hi makede pere 
 120 To makie him hejere in godes lawe: his wille pej hit nere 
 
 Somme eschte pe archebischop: of Canterbury sire Ode 
 122 Wherfore hi him bischop makede : and his grace were so gode 
 
 For he schal, quap pis gode man: after me her beo 
 124 Archebischop of Canterbury: pat me schal iseo 
 
 ^F What saistou, pis oper seide: pu spext folliche iwis 
 126 Nostou nomore pan pi fot: vppe god al hit is 
 
 280563
 
 38 THE LIFE OF ST. DUNSTAN. 
 
 IT Leoue freond, quap pis gode man: ne pore je ne blamie nojt 
 128 Wei ic wot what mle louerd crist: in mie moup hap ibroujt 
 
 As ho saip of pulke pinge: pat he hap in me ised 
 130 Telle ic mai what schal bifalle: after pat ich am ded 
 
 Bischop he was of Loridone and Wircetre : and hulp hope two 
 132 Of Londone and of Wircetre : and bischop was of bope also 
 
 11 Hit biful pat pe archebischop : of Canterbury was ded 
 134 pe pope and pe kyng Edgar: perof nome here red 
 
 And makede pe gode seint Dunstan : archebischop pere 
 136 Gode men pat him iknewe : wel glad perof were 
 
 Cristendom in Engelond: to god stat he drouj 
 138 And rijtes of holi churche: he huld vp faste ynouj 
 
 He fondede purf al Engelond : pat ech persoun schulde cheose 
 140 To witien him fram lecherie: oper his churche leose 
 1T Seint Osewold was pulke tyme: bischop of wyrcestre 
 142 And seint Adelwold also: bischop of Roucestre 
 
 pis tuei bischopes and seint Dunstan: were al at one rede 
 144 And Edgar pe gode king: to do pis gode dede 
 
 1F pis preo bischops wende forp : purf al Engelonde 
 146 And eche liper persoun caste out: pat per nemijte non atstonde 
 
 Here churchen and here oper gode: clanliche hi bynome 
 148 And bisette hit in pore men : purf pe popes grant of Rome 
 
 Eijte and fourti Abbeyes: of Monekes and of nonne 
 150 Of pe tresour hi arerde in Engelond: of persones so iwonne 
 
 So hit was wel bet biset: pan hit was er in schrewe 
 152 For whanne gode maistres beop: som god hi wollep schewe 
 
 If Gode were pis preo bischops: pat o tyme were po 
 154 pe betere is Engelond for hem: and worp euere mo 
 
 U Oure louerd jaf an vrpe: seint Dunstan faire grace 
 156 pat o tyme as he was: in a priueie place 
 
 His fader and his moder ek: in pe ioye of heuene anhej 
 158 After pat hi dede were: aperteliche he sej 
 
 Wel gret loue oure louerd him cudde: whan he schewede pere 
 160 So moche of his priueite: pe while he alyue were 
 
 As he lay anoper tyme: in his reste anyjt 
 162 He sej pe ioye of heuene: and pe place perinne wel brijt 
 
 Angles he hurde also singe: a murie song per inne 
 164 pat me singep jut in holi churche: whan me dop pe masse singe
 
 THE LIFE OF ST. DUNSTAN. 39 
 
 Kirieleyson. christeleyson : was pe murie note and song 
 166 pis holi man pat pis ihurde: ne pojte hit him nojt longe 
 
 IT Wei aujte he to heuene come: after his ende day 
 168 Whan he pe while he was alyue: so moche of heuene isay 
 
 Harpe he louede suype wel: peron he coupe ynouj 
 170 A day he he sat in solaj : and a lay peron drouj 
 
 H pe harpe he heng bi pe wowe: po hit was tyme to ete 
 172 po hit was jare perto ibroujt: he sat adoun at his mete 
 
 Of heuene he gan penche sone : of pe ioye pat was pere 
 174 Of pe ioyfulle blisse pat per was : of halewen pat per were 
 
 He sat as he were ynome: so moche peron he pojte 
 176 His harpe he heng bi pe wowe: of wham he lute rojte 
 
 1F Bigan to cupe his holi pojt: ded treo pej hit were 
 178 As oure louerdes wille was: as hi hurde alle pat per were pere 
 
 Al bi him silue he gan to harpe: a murie steuene iwis 
 180 pat ne singep jut in holi churche: pat an englisch is pis 
 
 Alle halewene soule glade beop: pat in heuene beop ido 
 182 pat suyep oure louerdes way: and for him schadde also 
 
 Here blod for his suete loue: perfore hi schulle wone 
 184 And kynges beo bouten ende: wip crist godes sone 
 
 pis anteyn pat murie is: pat folc ihurde alle 
 186 Hou pe harpe song al bi him silf: per he hong bi pe walle 
 
 Fair grace oure louerd him schowede pere : whan pe dede treo 
 188 So schulde singe of pulke ioye : pat he scholde inne beo 
 
 Louerd ihered beo pi grace: and pi mijte also 
 190 pat pu woldest her alyue for him: such miracle do 
 
 11 po pis holi man hadde ylyued: an vrpe menie a daie 
 192 And his endedai was nej icome: as he him silue isaie 
 
 A holi pursday he worp sik: as hit ful in pe jere 
 194 He let ofsende his freond: pat specials to him were 
 
 His men pat him seruede eke: he let hem clipie also 
 196 And forjaf hem al here trespas: pat hi him hadde misdo 
 
 And assoillede hem of here sinne: and in godes bendes lay 
 198 And so he lay al pulke tyme: and also pane friday 
 
 He let clipie pe saterday: pe freres bifore him alle 
 200 And bed alle godneday: and seide hem what scholde bifalle 
 
 And let him do alle his rijtes: and oure louerdes flesch nom 
 II His soule wende out of pe wordle: and sone to heuene com
 
 40 MIRACLES. AN OXFORD STUDENT. 
 
 Neoje hondred jer and fourscore: in pe eijteteope jere 
 204 He deide after pat oure leuedi: oure louerd an vrpe here 
 
 Nou suete louerd seint Dunstan : pat oure archebischop were 
 206 Bring ous to pe ioye of heuene : as angles pi soule here . 
 
 [Seint Aldelm the Confessour follows; 
 
 then, Seint Austyn pat cristendom: brou^te in-to Engelonde; 
 
 then, Seint barnabe p'apostle; & Seint Teofle, 
 for whom, 
 
 'A fair miracle oure leuedi dude: pat brou3te him out of pulke wo 
 As heo menie opere dude: ic mot $t telle mo'. 
 
 On p. 61 back, is: 
 
 Ou marie pat is so moche: pi milce and pyn ore 
 so murie hit is to telle of pe : paf yit we mote more. 
 
 The fifth miracle is that of] 
 
 X. AN OXFORD STUDENT. 
 (Miracles, Harl. MS. 2277, fol. 63.) 
 
 A knijt per was in Engelond: by norpe her biside 
 A jung child he hadde bi his wyf : as god wolde hit scholde bitide 
 pe raoder adai while hit was ?ung: to churche hit brojte 
 pe child bihuld pe rode in churche: and stod in grete pojte 
 
 5 Moder, he seide, what is pe man: pat jund anhongod is 
 
 If Sone, quap pe leuedi, hit is: oure louerd iwis 
 For ous he was so anhonge: and to depe ibrojt 
 To bringe ous to pe ioye of heuene: he hap ous deore ibojt 
 Wei aujte we panne, quap pe child: seruie him wip wille 
 
 10 And what is pulke faire womman: pat stent bi him so stille 
 Hit is his moder , quap pe leuedi : pat oure suete leuedi is 
 Ou ma dame, quap pe child: wounder me pinjp hit iwis 
 
 H Stod heo bi him po me him slouj: pe leuedi seide je 
 Awey ma dame , quap pis child : mijtestou so bi me 
 
 15 Hou mijte heo iseo quelle hire child: pat hire hurte ne brae atuo 
 Moche del was on hire hurte: and sorinysche also 
 pe} pis child were jung: of pis deol ofte sipe hit pojte 
 Selpe wher he euere were: out of his hurte he hit broujte
 
 MIRACLES. AN OXFORD STUDENT. 41 
 
 pis child was sippe ido to scole: hit lurnede wel ynouj 
 20 So pat he com to Oxenford: po he to manne drouj 
 Selpe hit com out of his pojt : what so he iseje 
 pe deol pat oure leuedi hadde: po heo isej here sone deye 
 If Hit biful sippe in a tyme: as hit dop bi menie on 
 
 pat he dude a dedlich synne: so ne dude he neuere non 
 25 He nolde nojt, as manie on wollep: ligge peron longe 
 To a frere he wende to schrifte: his penance to afonge 
 Repentant he was ynouj: of pulke lipere dede 
 And bisoujte him for pulke sinne: pat he for him bede 
 And pat he bede to oure leuedi for pulke sor: pat heo hadde on 
 
 hire pojt 
 
 30 po he sej hire sone anhonge: and in stronge depe ibrojt 
 pat heo jyue me grace and wille: pe leuedi milce and freo 
 Sorie ynou in hurte: for mio sinne to beo 
 pat he bad eke him silf: bope nijt and day 
 34 For pe deol of hire sone : po heo dim ded isay 
 If He hadde pe while he lyuede: pulke bone in mone 
 
 pat oure leuedi po he was ded: him cudde and eke hire sone 
 Atte laste at Oxenford: at scole he gan deye 
 pe furste day he was iwist: as pe maystres iseye 
 Tuey clerkes pat were ouer him : pat suype wel his freond were 
 40 pat wiste his bodi nijt and day: and were next pe bere 
 Ech man amorwe bote hi tueye: wende horn in his ende 
 Felawe, quap on, hit is tyme: pat we pe taperes tende 
 Abyd, quap poper, a stounde: pat pis maistres come 
 44 Hit nis nojt rijt pe tapres tende: bote hi were her some 
 If As pis tuey clerkes were alone: adoun hi lynede stille 
 So pat hi werpe a slepe: as hit was godes wille 
 As hi slepe, hem pojte bope: pat hi angles meniee iseje 
 Here felawes soule pat per lai ded: to heuene lede heje 
 H Oure leuede as to teche pe wey: hire silue jeode bifore 
 50 And openede pe dore of heuene: pat pe soule were in ibore 
 If po heo tofore oure louerd com : adoun heo sat a kneo 
 
 Sone, heo saide, lo, her mie freond: pat wel hap iserued me 
 Vnderfong him into pi ioye: oure louerd aje sede 
 Leoue moder ic aujte wel: pej pu neuere ne bede
 
 42 MIRACLES. OXFORD STUDENT ; JEWS AND THE CROSS. 
 
 55 For an vrpe he bad mie milce ofte: for pe deol pat pu iseje 
 And pat sor in pin hurte: po pu me seje deye 
 Wei fawe ic him wole afonge: as rijt is pat ich do 
 And among myn halewen him onoury: and pu schalt also 
 
 If po sende oure leuedi fram heuene: to pe tapres lijt anon 
 
 60 pat aboute pe bodi stede: and tende hem echon 
 pe clerkes awoke anon: as hi slepe hope per 
 And fonde pe tapres alle itend: as hem pojte in slepe er 
 
 If po come pe maistres as rijt was : pe seruise for to do 
 And po hit was to ende ibroujt: and pe bodi ibured also 
 
 65 pe clerkes to here priue maistre: tolde al pat hi seje 
 
 pat oure leuedi to oure louerd seide : in pe ioye of heuene heje 
 And hou hi onourede him for pe munde: pat he hadde her in mode 
 Of pe deol pat oure leuedi hadde: of hire sone in pe rode 
 Hi jeode forp to pe frere: pat his schriftfader was 
 
 70 Somme of pe maistres priueiliche: and tolde him of pat cas 
 
 If pe frere seide pat hit was sop: pat he hadde er in mode 
 pe deol pat oure leuedi hadde: po hire sone deide on pe Rode 
 pe miracle was po iholde sop : of pis holi childe 
 Wip eche ping al day we seop: oure leuedi suete and mylde 
 
 XI. THE JEWS AND THE CROSS. 
 (Harl. MS. 2277, fol. 64.) 
 
 1 Gywes hatiep oure leuedi moche: and hire suete sone also 
 
 pat is isene in manie dede: pat pe schrewen habbep ido 
 3 Oure leuedi day in haruest: pat so holi is and suete 
 
 An archebischop song his masse: in pe cite of Tolete 
 5 Rijt atte sacring of pe masse: atte pulke holi dede 
 
 A voij he hurde of heuene: pat puse wordes sede 
 7 Alias pe gywes trecherie: Alias pe lipere vode 
 
 pat among mie sones children: pat he boujte mid his blode 
 9 pe schrewen schulle so vylliche: eftsone do him on pe Rode 
 
 And so schendfulliche auyli: wip so lipere mode 
 11 pe archebischop po he hadde: his masse ibrojt to ende 
 
 He nom wip him folc ynouj: and to pe gywene gan wende
 
 THE LIFE OF ST. SWITHIN. 43 
 
 13 And let ofseche oueral: atte laste hi fonde 
 
 pe forme of oure louerd in a Rode : ibeten and ibounde 
 15 Inailled purf fet and honde: as oure louerd wip vyf wounde 
 
 pat hadde pe gywes ido: god jyue hem harde stounde 
 17 And alle pat hem louye wel: for moche is pe vylte 
 
 And schame pat hi ofte dop: oure louerd in priueite 
 H jut oure leuedi alijte: and warnede pe bischop fore 
 
 Moche godnisse heo hap ido: sippe heo was ibore 
 21 Nou, leuedi, for pe mylce: pat euere hap mid pe ibeo 
 
 And for pe grete sorvve pat pu haddest : po pi sone deide on pe treo 
 23 jeue ous grace pat we mote: such milce her iwynne 
 
 pat we mote to pe ioye : come, pat pu ert inne . 
 
 [Seinf Albon's life follows.] 
 
 XII. ST. SWITHIN. 
 (Harl. MS. 2277, fol. 78.) 
 
 Seint swippin pe confessour: was her of Engelonde 
 2 Biside wynchestre he was ibore: as ic vnderstonde 
 
 Bi pe kinges day Egberd: pis gode man was ibore 
 4 pat po was king of Engelond: and somwhat ek bifore 
 
 pe eijteteope king he was pat com: after kenewold pe kynge 
 6 pat seint beryn dude to cristendom : in Engelonde furst bringe 
 IT Ac seint Austin hadde bifore: to cristendom ibrojt 
 8 Apelbrijt pe gode king: ac al pe londe nojt 
 
 Ac sippe hit was pat seint berin : her bi weste wende 
 10 And turnde pe king kenewold: as oure louerd him grace sende 
 
 So pat seint Egberd pat was kyng: po seint swithin was ibore 
 12 pe eijteteope he was: after kenewold: pat so longe was bifore 
 If Seint swythin pe junge man: swipe jung bigan 
 14 Forto seruie ihesu crist: and bicom cristene man 
 
 Elmeston pe bischop ek : of wynchestre pat was po 
 16 Seint swithin he makede preost: as he dude opere mo 
 
 So pat fram on ordre to oper: seint swipin preost bicom 
 T Clene lyf he ladde and god: and to gret penance him nom
 
 44 THE LIFE OF ST. SWITHIN. 
 
 His godnisse was wide icud: aboute in eche side 
 20 po pat hit com pe king to ere: hit sprong aboute wide 
 
 pe king him onourede swipe wel: and louede him ynouj 
 22 And makede him his chiefe consailler : and mest to his consail drouj 
 
 Apulf his sone and eke his heir: he tok hem to loke 
 24 To norissie and to wardie wel: pat hi to gode toke 
 
 pat he teijte him such portoure: pat to a such child bicome 
 26 Wel him wiste pis holi man : and god warde to him nom 
 H po kyng Egberd was ded: pis child Apulf his sone 
 28 After him was kyng ymaked: as lawe was and wone 
 
 pis junge king was god ynouj : as seint swithin him gan rede 
 30 After his consail al he drouj: and dude bi him his dede 
 
 Engelond was po wel iwist: for pe king was god ynouj 
 32 And swithin his consailler: after wham he drouj 
 
 Elmeston pe bischop sippe : of wynchestre was ded 
 34 pe king and oper heje men : perof neme here red 
 If pis holi man seint swipin: bischop hi makede pere 
 36 Alle men pat him iknewe: ioyous perof were 
 
 Bischop he was god ynouj: and alle gode he wrojte 
 38 pe king also to alle gode: holi churche broujte 
 
 So pat purf pe heste of pe king: and purf his wissinge also 
 40 Ech man wolde purf pe lond: his teoping wel do 
 
 Brokene churchen oueral: seint swithin let vp rere 
 42 And nue churchen in menie stede: per neuerer none nere 
 
 Whan he halewede enie churche: bost ne kipte he non 
 44 Bi nyjte afote myldeliche: he wolde pider gon 
 
 Ajen him ne kipte he no ringinge: bobance ne prute 
 46 pe bost of hors ne of squiers: for he tolde perof lute 
 
 He pojte on pat pe godspel . saip : pat me takp of lute hede 
 48 pat ho so dop his dede mid bobance : him ne tyt non oper mede 
 
 For he afongep his mede her: mid pe dede anon 
 50 Pat worp habbep nou forjute: pis heje meny on 
 IT Seint swithin his bischopriche : to alle gode drouj 
 52 pe toun also of wynchestre : he amendede ynouj 
 
 por he let pe stronge brugge: wipoute pe est jate arere 
 54 And fond perto lym and ston : to worcmen pat per were 
 IT Adai as pis worcmen: aboute here worke stode 
 56 And contrai men to chepinge: come mid moche gode
 
 HOW HE MADE THE BROKEN EGGS WHOLE. 45 
 
 Mid a baggeful of eiren: a womman per com 
 58 A masoun sone pis womman: to his folie nom 
 
 And biclipte hire in ribaudie: as foles dop jut ofte 
 60 And brak hire eiren nej echone : he ne handlede hire nojt softe 
 If po pe womman hire harm isej: ruliche heo gan bigynne 
 62 For heo hem hadde igadered longer sum siluer forto wynne 
 
 Heo makede deol ynouj: and cride also anhej 
 IT Seint swythin com po perforp: and pe deol isej 
 
 Of pis womman he hadde reupe: he nom vp his bond anon 
 66 And blessede pe eiren to-broke: and hi bicome hole anon 
 
 And sound as hi euere were: hi bicome atte laste 
 68 Glad was po pis seli womman: and ponkede gost faste 
 
 Mijte eirmongers nou fare so: pe baldelikere hi mijte 
 70 Huppe ouer diches wher hi wolde: bope wraxli and fijte 
 II pe king Apulf deide sippe: pe kynges sone Egberd 
 72 And his sone was kyng after him: kyng Adelberd 
 
 Hit nas nojt longe afterward: pat he was ymaked kyng 
 74 pat pis holi man seint swithin: drouj to endyng 
 
 For he deide pe pridde jer: pat he was kyng ymad 
 76 And po he schulde hunne wende: his men faste he bad 
 
 pat hi ne scholde him burie nojt: in churche wip prute 
 78 Ac sum war wipoute in a stede: pat me tolde of lute 
 
 In a stede pat me tolde of lest: and lest jeme me tok 
 80 In alle manere pis holi man: bobance and prute forsok 
 
 He deide eijte hondred jer: and in pe sixteope jere 
 82 After pat oure louerd alijt: in his moder wombe here 
 IF In a stede wipoute pe churche: pis holi bodi hi leide 
 84 pat me tolde of lute ynouj : as he him silue seide 
 
 per he lai an hondred jer: and neoje jer also 
 86 And almest fourtene nyjt: er he were panne ido 
 
 Bi pe kinges day Edgar: pat god was ynouj 
 88 pat seint Edwardes fader was: pat his stipmoder a-slouj 
 
 pis holi man seint swippin: schowede bitokeninge 
 90 pat me scholde of pulke place: in hejere stede him bringe 
 
 pis Egdgar was pe noejpe kyng: pat after Adelbert com 
 92 pat kyng was pulke tyme: pat seint swippin dep nom 
 
 pe bischop pat was at wynchestre : po king Edgar was kyng 
 94 pat was seint Athelwold : god and holi purf alle ping
 
 46 THE LIFE OF ST. SWITHIN. 
 
 IF Seint swithin pe holi man: a god tyme him gan biseo 
 
 96 Whan god kyng was and god bischop: ischryned for to beo 
 
 Anijt he cam to an holi man: in his bedes as he lay 
 98 In siknisse and sorwe ynouj: as he hadde ido meny a day 
 
 Arys, he seide, to morwe anon: and ne lef pu nojt bihynde 
 100 To wynchestre pe olde Mynstre: and pere pu schalt fynde 
 
 pe gode bischop Athelwold: pat pe teope is after me 
 102 And saye pat ich him grett wel : and sende him word bi pe 
 
 pat oure louerd hit hap biseje : pat mie bodi schal beo ido 
 104 In churche in an hej stede: and nomore ligge so 
 
 And if pu doutest in enie poynt: pat pis beo duelsinge 
 106 And nojt sop pat ich telle nou: ic wole sende to pe kynge 
 
 For al so sone as pu wolt arise: forto do myn heste 
 108 pat vuel pat pu hast so longe ihad: ne schal no leng ileste 
 
 Ac pu worst perof hoi and sound: wordle wipouten ende 
 110 If pe bischop ne leouej hit nojt: oper signe ic wole him sende 
 
 For whan je comep to pulke stede: per ic ligge jute 
 112 Anoneward per lip a ston: wip oper prute wel lute 
 
 Ringes of yre per beop on : ynailled perto faste 
 114 Ac per nis non so strong of hem: pat ajen jou schullep ilaste 
 
 pat je ne schullep ri}t lijtliche: drawe vp pe ston 
 116 Wipoute wem faste ajen: fast sette hem on 
 
 IT pis gode man of pis tokning: iolyf was ynouj 
 118 Wel bityme he aros: and toward pane wey drouj 
 
 And anon so he dude him on pe wei : hoi and sound he was 
 120 Of pe vuel pat he bar so longe : neuereft igreued he nas 
 
 To pe bischop he wende Apelwold: and tolde him of pis cas 
 122 pe bischop po he hurde pis: wel was him pas 
 
 pe ring pat was on pe ston: faste as he seide er 
 124 Lijtliche hi of nome wipoute wem : and as faste sette hit per 
 
 Wele pe ioye pat he makede po: pe bischop Apelwold 
 126 pis miracle was sone icud: and wide aboute itold 
 
 Seint Apelwold wende sone: to Edgar pe gode king 
 128 And tolde him as wel was rijt: pis holi teping 
 
 IF pis gode king was glad ynouj: hi nomen hem to rede 
 130 Hou hi mijte mid mest honer: do pis holi dede 
 
 Hi assignede a dai perto: as here consayl bisay 
 132 Bifore haruest in pe mounp of Juli : pe eijteteope day
 
 ST. SWITHIN. ST. KENELM. 47 
 
 IT Hi sumnede aje pis holi day: heje men ynowe perto 
 134 Bischopes and Abbotes: pe holi dede to do 
 
 po hi come to wynchestre: per pis bodie lay 
 136 In fasting and oreisouns : hi were nijt and day 
 
 pat oure louerd hem jeue grace: pis holi dede wel ende 
 138 po pe dai him was icome: to pe mynstre hi gonne wende 
 
 Ireuested faire ynouj: wip gret deuocioun 
 140 Wip tapres itend and pe croij: wip gret processioun 
 
 To pe tumbe hi wende sone : as pe bodi lay 
 142 As hit ful in pe mounp of Juli : pe vyfteope day 
 
 IT pis holi bischop Apelwold: as rijt was to do 
 144 Let delue to pis holi bodie: and po hi come perto 
 
 per com smyte out a suete brep: among pis gode men echon 
 146 pat so gret suetnisse as hem pojte: ne smylde hi neuere non 
 
 Louerd moche is pi mijte: sop hit is ised 
 148 pat a bodi scholde so suete smylle : pat so longe hadde ibeo ded 
 
 je witep bi oper dede men: pat hit was moche aje rijte 
 150 A blynd womman anon mid pe dede : in pe place hadde hire sijte 
 
 And menie opere per botnede ek : of vuel and of wo 
 152 And wip-inne pe tuey dayes: two hondred and mo 
 IF pis holi bodi was vp ynome: wip gret honour iwis 
 154 And into seinte peteres churche ibore: per pe heje mynstre is 
 
 And ido in a fair schrin and noble: as hit lip jute 
 156 pe miracles pat of him comep: for sope ne beop nojt lute 
 
 Ischryned he was neojene and tuenti jere: in pon and tuenteope 
 
 jere 
 158 After pat oure louerd an vrpe alijte : in his moder here 
 
 Nou seint swithin pat was bischop: her in Engelonde 
 160 Bringe ous to pe ioye of heuene: purf oure louerdes sonde. 
 
 [St. Kenelin follows.] 
 
 XIII. ST. KENELM. 
 (Harl. MS. 2277, fol. 80.) 
 
 1 Seint kenelm pe junge kyng: purf oure louerdes sonde 
 Kyiig he was in Engelond: of pe March of Walis
 
 48 THE LIFE OF ST. KENELM. 
 
 3 pe kyng kenulf his fader was : pat kyng was per also 
 
 pat rcrde abbai of wynchecumbe: & let per monekeg do 
 5 After his dep he was per ibured: & jut he lyp pere 
 
 In pe abbay pat jut stent: pat he him silue let rere 
 7 Gret Cite was po wynchecumbe : & mest of ynouj 
 
 In al pulke half of Engelond : as fur as his lond drouj . 
 IT Vyf kynges per were bi pulke tyme : in Engelonde ido 
 
 For Engelond was god & long: & brod ynou perto 
 11 Aboute eijte hondred mile: Engelond long is 
 
 Fram pe soup in to pe norp: & two hondred brod iwis 
 13 Fram pe est in to pe west: also pere-inne beop 
 
 Manye wateres goode ynowe: as je alday iseop 
 15 Ac preo wateres principales: of alle opere beo iwis 
 
 Humber & temese: seuerne pe pridde is 
 17 To pe norp see number gop: pat is on of pe beste 
 
 & temese into pe est see: & seuerne bi weste 
 19 pis vyf kynges of engelonde : pat were bi olde dawe 
 
 Hadde here part bi hem silue: as rijt was & lawe 
 21 pe kyng pat was of pe Marche: hadde po pe beste 
 
 Moche del he hadde of Engelond: pat on half al bi weste 
 U Wircestreschire & warewykschire : & also Gloucestre 
 
 pat is nej al o bischopriche : pe bischopes of Wircestre 
 25 He hadde also perto shestreschire : & Derbischire also 
 
 & Staffordshire pat beop alle: in o bischopriche ido 
 27 In pe bischopriche of Chestre : jut he hadde perto 
 
 Schropschyre sum & haluendel: warewykschire also 
 29 pis kyng hadde also herefordschire : pat o bischopriche is 
 
 & Schropschire haluendel: pat falp to pulke bischopriche iwis 
 31 & sum of warewykschire: & of Gloucestreschire also 
 
 jut hadde pe king of pe marche: more lond perto 
 33 Norhampte schire & bokingham schire : & pe schire of Oxenford 
 
 Leicestreschire & Lincolneschire : & pe schire of hereford 
 35 & pat is o bischopriche: & pat of Lincolne is 
 
 pat while was at Dorkcestre biside Oxenford iwis 
 37 jut hadde pe kyng of pe marche: Notingham schire perto 
 
 In pe bischopriche of Ouerwyke: ac po nas hit nojt so 
 39 Al pe lond was while icliped: pe march of Wales 
 
 & of al was seint kenelm: & his fader kyng iwis
 
 LIFE OF ST. KENELM. DIVISIONS OF ENGLAND. 49 
 
 Nou of alle poperene kynedom: ajen his non nas 
 42 At wynchecumbe of al his lond : pe chief Cite was 
 IF pe vif kinges pat were po : pat on was of kent iwis 
 44 & pat oper as ic seide er: of pe march of walis 
 
 Of westsex & of humberlond: & of estlond also 
 46 puse vyf kynges were po : in Engelond ido 
 IF pe king of westsex hadde po : al wilteschire iwis 
 48 & Dorsete & barrocschire : pat also bischopriche is 
 
 pe bischopriche of salesbury : ac so nas hit po nojt 
 50 For pe chief of pe bischopriche was : at schireburne ibrojt 
 
 jut was pe kynges of westsex : al soupsex also 
 52 pe welde of al pe bischopriche: Cicestre perto 
 
 & souphampteschire & soupereye: pat o bischopriche is 
 54 pe bischopriche of wynchestre : pat jut is per iwis 
 
 & somersete pat to welles: pulke tyme drouj 
 56 Nou hit is pe bischopriche of bape : je witep wel ynouj 
 IF jut hadde pe kyng of westsex : aldoneschir iwis 
 58 & Cornwaille pat in pe bischopriche: of Excestre is 
 IF pe kyng of kent was po kyng: of al pe lond of kent 
 60 pat were in tuo bischopriches : & jut nis nojt iwent 
 IF pe Archebischop of Canterbury: of Engelond is hext 
 62 & pe bischopriche of Roucestre : in pe west side is next 
 
 pe kyng ek of estlond: king was of Norfolc 
 64 In pe bischopriche of Norpwych: & also soupfolc 
 
 & of pe bischopriche of Ely: pat pe ylle of Ely is 
 66 & of al Cantebrugge: pat perto falp iwis 
 IF Of pis lond was seint Edmund : king bi olde dawe 
 68 pat was in his owe lond: je witep wel aslawe 
 IF pe kyng of Norphumberland : was kyng ic vnderstonde 
 70 Of al pe lond bijunde humber: anon into scotlonde 
 
 Of pe Archebischopriche of Euerwyk : & of Durham iwis 
 72 Seint Osewald bi olde dawe: kyng was ouer al pis 
 IF pus menie kynges per were: while in Engelonde 
 74 & here londes departed were: pus ic vnderstonde 
 
 pe kyng pat was po of pe March: as ic telle bigan 
 76 Kenulf pe kyng was icleped : suype holi & god man 
 
 Seint kenelm his sone was: & his eir also 
 78 Bur wenylde & quendride: his doujtren were tuo 
 
 d
 
 50 LIFE OF ST. KENELM. HIS SISTER'S TREACHERY. 
 
 In pe four & tuenti jer: of his kynedom 
 80 Kenulf wende out of pis wordle : & to pe ioye of heuene com 
 
 Hit was after pat oure louerd: in his moder alijte 
 82 Eijte hondred jer & neojentene: bi acountes rijte 
 
 Seint Kenelm his junge sone: in his souepe jere 
 84 Kyng was yinaked after him: pej he jung were 
 IT His o soster bur wenylde: louede him ynouj 
 86 & in eche manere to holi lyfe: & to alle godnisse drouj 
 
 Ac quendride poper soster: of hire manere nas nojt 
 88 For heo turnede to folie & to liperhede: al hire pojt 
 
 Heo sej pat hire junge broper: nas nojt of soue jer 
 90 pat kyng was ynaaked of al pat lond : pat hire fader hadde er 
 
 To him heo hadde gret enuye: pat he scholde so riche beo 
 92 & eir of hire fader lond: & ricchere pane heo 
 
 Heo pojte if heo mijte bringe : pat child of lyfdawe 
 94 pat heo were of pe heritage : quene bi rijte lawe 
 
 Al hire pojt was nyjt & day: to bipenche sum outrage 
 96 pat pis child were ibrojt of dawe: & heo hadde pe heritage 
 
 Heo purueide hire felonye: poisoun streng ynouj 
 98 For to jyue pe junge child: & slen him so wip wouj 
 
 po pis poisoun was ijeue: al for nojt hit was 
 100 For po pe child hit hadde idronke: no pe wors him nas 
 
 For oure louerd nold nojt pathe scholde: so lijtliche ymartred beo 
 102 If pe quene wolde spede: oper heo moste biseo 
 
 For perof heo caste an ambesas: heo pojte anoper pojt 
 104 po heo sej hit was for nojt: pat pe poisoun was iwrojt 
 
 IF pis junge child a maister hadde: pat his wardeyn was 
 106 Askebert he was icliped: strong traitour alias 
 
 For noman nemai pan oper: bet trecherie do 
 108 pat pulke pat is him next: & he trist mest to 
 
 IT pis lipere qaene bipojte hire : of alle liper wrenche 
 110 For me saip pere nis no felonye: patwomman ne can bipenche 
 
 Mid pis Askebert heo spac: pat child forto aspille 
 112 And bihet him mede god ynouj: & of hire al his wille 
 
 So pat pis tuo lipere pinges: were at one rede 
 114 & bispeke hou hi mijte best: do pis lipere dede 
 
 pe while hi speke hope: pis junge child to quelle 
 116 A sweueninge pat pe child mette: ich jou wole nou telle
 
 LIFE OF ST. KENELM. HIS DREAM OF HIS MURDER. 51 
 
 *!T Him pojte pat per stod a treo: rijt tofore his bedde 
 118 pat anon to pe sterren tilde : & wel wide spredde 
 
 pis treo was fair & noble: & schynde brijte ynouj 
 120 Ful of blosmes & of frut: & of menie a riche bouj 
 
 Brenninge wex & lampen ek: wel pikke brende & lijte 
 122 So noble frut nas neuere non: ne pat schynde so brijte 
 
 Him pojte he clemde vpon pis treo: to pe hexte bouj an hej 
 124 & bihuld aboute in to al pe wordle: & prute ynouj isej 
 
 pe while he stod vpon pe treo: & bihuld aboute so 
 126 Him pojte pat on of his beste freond: pat he mest triste to 
 
 In pe grounde stod bynepe: & smot atuo pis treo 
 128 pat hit fil to grounde anon : pat deol hit was to seo 
 
 To a litel fojel he bicom: non fairere ne mijte beo 
 130 & bi-gan wip ioye ynouj: rijt into heuene fleo 
 
 He awook & was in pojte : her-of nyjt & day 
 132 po pis child mette pus: at wynchecumbe he lay 
 
 He nuste what hit bitoknede: pe more was his pojt 
 134 Er he sumping perof wiste : he ne .mijte beo blipe nojt 
 
 His norice pat him hadde ifed: & mid hire mule forp ibrojt 
 136 Tendre was of pis child: for heo him hadde deorest ibojt 
 
 To hire pat child triste mest: wolwenne hire name was 
 138 pat child hire tolde priueite: of pis sweuening al pat cas 
 
 po pe norice hadde ihurd: pat sweuening pat was so god 
 140 Heo bigan to sike sore: & in pojte stod 
 
 Alias heo seide pat ich scholde: pisne day euere abide 
 142 pat mie child mie swete hurte: scholde such ping bitide 
 
 Alias mie child mie suete fode: pat ich habbe forp ibrojt 
 144 pi soster bispekep pi dep: & quelle pe hap ipojt 
 
 Ac pe fowel pat pu bicome to: pat to heuene gan wende 
 146 pat was pi soule pat pider schal: after pi lyues ende 
 If pis sueuene bicom sop ynouj: pat he fond atte laste 
 148 For his soster & Askebert: bispeke his dep wel faste 
 II pis Askebert seide adai: pat pis child scholde wende 
 150 An hunting forto pleyen him : bi pe wodes ende 
 
 & he wip him to wardi him: as hit was rijt bi weye 
 152 He wende to pe wode of Clent: as hit were to pleye 
 
 As hi wende bi pe wode: as god jaf pe grace 
 154 A god wille pe child com on: to slepe in a place 
 
 d 2
 
 52 LIFE OF ST. KENELM. HIS MURDER. 
 
 Adoun he lay al softe pere: & bigan to slepe anon 
 156 Askebert ne pojte nojt: pat he scholde panne gon 
 
 Biside in a durne stede: he bigan to delue faste 
 158 Ane put forto sle pis child: & sippe peron hit caste 
 
 H pis child bigan to awake sone: as hit were bi cas 
 160 After his maister he bihuld: & ne sej nojt whar he was 
 
 Ac oure louerd him jaf pe grace : pej he nuste nojt of his dede 
 162 pat he spac to his maister: & puse wordes sede 
 
 pu trauaillest pere aboute nojt: & pi while pu dost spille 
 164 For in an noper stede ic schal deye: whar so is godes wille 
 
 & purf pis jurd pat her is: tokning pu schalt iseo 
 166 Whan pi lipere wille hit mai do: pat ich ymartred beo 
 
 For wende pis lipere maister: & pis child also 
 168 Forte hi come to anoper stede: pat pis dede were ido 
 
 Askebert pis jurd nom: & sette hit on pe grounde 
 170 Hit bigan to leuy sone: & wexe in a stounde 
 
 & a gret asch bicom sippe: & stent in pulke place 
 172 To schewi pe mijte of seint kenelm : & oure louerdes grace 
 
 pis lipere man nom pis child: in pe wode of Clent 
 174 & ladde him as me dop ane peof : to afonge his iugement 
 
 He ladde him in a priuei stede : al out of pe weye 
 176 Bitwene tuei hilles heje: in a dupe valeye 
 
 IF pis child purf pe holi gost: pej poper him nolde telle 
 178 Wiste wel his lipere pojt: & pat he pojte him aquelle 
 
 & po he targede a lute while: pis lipere dede to done 
 180 pat child seide wel myldeliche: pat pu dost, do sone 
 
 He bigan a song pat me singep : in holi churche a day 
 182 pat was te domine laudamus: er he adoun lay 
 
 & po he cam to an holi vers: pat perinne was & is 
 184 A latyn iwrite as al pat oper: pat an englische is pis 
 
 pe white cumpaignye of martirs: louerd heriep pe: Te mar- 
 
 tirum caudidatfis laudat exercitus 
 186 Rijt as he hadde pe vers iseid: as pe boc tellep me 
 
 pis lipere man smot of his heued: vnder an hajporn treo 
 188 As hit godes wille was: pat he ymartrid scholde beo 
 
 A whit coluere as eni snow : out of him gan fleo teo 
 190 & rijt euene was iseje: into heuene flco 
 
 Vnepe he was soue jer old: er he ymartrid were 
 192 Al to sop his sueuene was: as me mijte iseo pere
 
 LIFE OF ST. KENELM. THE WHITE COW. 53 
 
 1T pis lipere man pat him a-slouj: bigan to delue faste 
 194 And makede a put deope ynouj: & perinne pe child caste 
 
 And burede hit faste ynouj : pat hit ifonde nere 
 196 And wende je forp his wei : & let hit ligge pere 
 
 IF To quendride his lipere soster: anon he gan wende 
 198 And tolde hire al pe lipere cas : fram bigynninge to pan ende 
 
 pis quene was po glad ynouj: aboute heo wende anon 
 200 Forto seisi al pe lond: & pe maners echon 
 
 And makede hir quene of al pe March : as hire broper was kyng 
 202 & schrewe leuedi bicom ynouj: & liper purf alle ping 
 
 & wende aboute into al pe lond: to fonge here manrede 
 204 & bicom sturne & huld hire men: in sorewe & wrechede 
 
 Nou in pe quedes part mote heo ride: fram toune to toune 
 206 And falsliche as heo com anhej: also heo ful perdoune 
 
 Heo let hote in to al pat lond: pat no man so wod were 
 208 To nemne enes hire broper name: for loue ne for fere 
 
 & if me mijte of enie wite : pat hit nere nojt bileued 
 210 pat he nere anon ynome: & ismyte of his heued 
 
 pus furde pe lipere quene: & stirede hire wel faste 
 212 pat noman ne perste hire bropere nempne : so sore hi were of gaste 
 
 H Euere lai pis holi bodi: ibured swipe stille 
 214 pat noman ne perste him enes nemne: ajen pe quenes wille 
 
 So longe pat hit was al forjute: whan me nemijte of him speke 
 216 Ac hit nas nojt so pat oure louerd: atte laste him nolde awreke 
 
 Whan no man nolde pat wittie was : of him penche ene 
 218 Nolde oure louerd pat he were: allinge forjute so clene 
 
 Whan no man nolde pat witti was: of him habbe munde 
 220 A dombe best wipoute witte: hadde aje cunde 
 
 For a widue hadde a whit cou: pat wonede pere biside 
 222 pat jeode adai to fecche hire mete: in pe wode wide 
 
 per seint kenelm lai ibured: in pe valey perdoune 
 224 Eche dai wolde pis white cow: whan heo com fram toune 
 
 Fecche hire mete mid operkyn: *renne heo wolde alone [*MS.ft] 
 226 In to valeye al bynepe: & lete hire felawes echone 
 
 & sitte aboute pis holi bodi : forte eue al longe day 
 228 As hit were to honury him: for he alone lay 
 
 & so heo sat wipoute mete: alday to pan ende 
 230 & whan pat hit eue was : homward he wolde wende
 
 54 LIFE OF ST. KENELM. THE HEAVENLY WRIT. 
 
 & an eue whan heo horn com: fat & round heo was 
 232 & so ful of mule heo was : pat me wondrede of pe cas 
 
 For per nas non of alle pe kyn : pat half so moche mule jeue 
 234 As ful heo wolde a morwe beo : pej heo were ymelked an eue 
 
 Ho so hadde suche kyn ynowe: he nere nojt to bymene 
 236 pe} his larder were nej ido: & his somer lese lene 
 
 IT pat folc pat pe wonder iseje: gret gome mid alle hi nome 
 238 & awaitede wel adai: whar pis cou bicome 
 
 & hi seje hire stitte adai: in pe valeye perdoune 
 240 Meteles stille in one stede: forte heo jeode an eue to toune 
 
 & whi heo leye per so: hi ne mijte wite for noping 
 242 Ac in here hurte him pojte wel : pat hit was sum tokning 
 
 For pis cou wonede per so: & ech dai drouj perto 
 244 Coubache me clipede pis valeye: & jut me dop also 
 
 In coubache pis holi bodi : lay wel menie a }er 
 246 pere me nuste nojt of him: as ic jou seide er 
 
 For his soster was so fers: & in so gret prute ibrojt 
 248 &suchpretningeforhimmakede: patmeneperstehimnemnenojt 
 
 po pis holi bodi ne moste: beo icud in Engelonde 
 250 Oure louerd pat wot alle ping: & perto sende his sonde 
 
 For as pe pope stod at Rome: & song his masse aday 
 252 At seint peteres weued in pe churche: as al pat folc isay 
 
 A coluere whittere pan enie snow : com adoun fram heuene fleo 
 254 & leide vpe pe weued a litel writ: & sippe gan to heuene teo 
 
 & flej vp an hej aje : as oure louerd hit wolde 
 256 pe writ was whit & schynde brijte : pe lettres were of golde 
 
 pe pope ponkede ihesu crist: & al pat folk also 
 258 pe pope nam pis holi writ: po pe masse was ido 
 
 IT He nuste what hit was to sigge: ne non ne coupe wite 
 260 For he ne coupe englisch non: & an englisch hit was iwrite 
 
 He let clipie ech maner diuerse men : of eche diuerse londe 
 262 If enie coupe of pis holi writ: eni ping vnderstonde 
 
 po were per men of Engelonde: pat wiste what hit sede 
 264 & vnderstode wel pat writ: po hi hit ihurde rede 
 
 pe writ was iwrite an englisch: as me radde hit pere 
 266 & to telle hit wipoute rym: puse wordes rijt hit were 
 
 In Clent in Coubache kenelm kinges bern lip vnder a porn 
 heuede bireued
 
 LIFE OF ST. KENELM. HIS BODY IS FOUND. 55 
 
 U pis writ was nobliche: iwist & vp ido 
 270 & iholde gret relik: for jut hit is also 
 
 pe nobleste relik hit is: on perof of al Rome 
 272 As hit aujte wel ho vnderstode: rijt wel whannes hit come 
 
 For whan hit out of heuene com : & of oure louerdes honde 
 274 What noblerere relik mijte per beo : y ne mai non vnderstonde 
 
 perfore seint kenelmes day: as pe pope makede his heste 
 276 At Rome hi holdep hejliche: & makep suype gret feste 
 
 If po pe pope to sope wiste: what was pe tokninge 
 278 His messager into Engelonde: he sente wip pis tipinge 
 
 To pe archebischop of Canterbury: wolfred pat was po 
 280 Lettres he sende pat he scholde-: such ping vndergo 
 
 & siche out of pe wode of Clent: if enie man mijte wite 
 282 v At such an haj porn in Coubache: as hit was in pe write 
 
 And siche out pe holi bodi: pat durneliche lai pere 
 284 And do pat wip gret nobley: pat hi ischryned were 
 H po pis lettre fram pe pope: to pe archebischop com 
 286 Of bischops & of Clerkes : his consail perof he nom 
 
 So pat in pe wode of Clent: pat in Wircestreschire is 
 288 Hi lete siche pis holi bodi: & fonde hit out iwis 
 
 Vnder pe porn of Coubage : as pe writ seide at Rome 
 290 & for pe erore miracle of pe toun : pe whatlokere perto hi come 
 
 For pe contrai men per-biside : pat vnder-jete pat cas 
 292 Ouertrowede wel whar hit lay: for pe miracle so fair was 
 
 Anon so hi holi bodi vp nome: a wil spring vp pere stod 
 294 Of pe stede per he lai on : pat jut is cler & god 
 
 For per is a wille fair ynouj: & euere eft hap ibeo 
 296 In pe stede as he lai on: as me maj per iseo 
 
 pat me clepep seint kenelmes welle: pat menie men hap isojt 
 298 And menie hap of gret siknisse : purf pat water ibeo ibrojt 
 
 Of pe Cite of Wynchecumbe : & of pe contrai per biside 
 300 pe men were mest pat sojte so: to make pe bodi abide 
 
 For pe bischop hadde iloked : pat hit scholde pider beo ibore 
 302 & ischryned per his fader lay: pat arerde pe hous bifore 
 
 pis men pis holi bodi: pat of Gloucestreschire were 
 304 & nobliche toward wynchecumbe: with processioun here 
 
 ^F pat folc of wircestre schire: pat wonede per biside 
 306 Nome hem to rede menie on: to make pe bodi abide
 
 56 LIFE OF ST. KENELM. DISPUTE FOR HIS BODY. 
 
 Hi suore pat hi hit wolde habbe : pat no man ne scholde hit hem reue 
 308 For in pe schire pat hit was ifonde: pat hit scholde bileue 
 
 Bi pe watere of perschore : pis two schires hem mette 
 310 & conteckede for pis holi bodi: & faste to gadere sette 
 
 So pat hi nome a forme of pees: to do godes grace 
 312 Iff god wolde his wille schowe : er hi wende out of pe place 
 
 IT Fortrauailled hy were sore: pat hi moste slepe echon 
 314 Hi makede a forme pat hi scholde: ligge & slepe anon 
 
 & wheper of puse tuei schires : whatlokest mijte awake 
 316 Al sauf scholde wende forp : & pe bodi mid hem take 
 
 Stille hi leye & slepe faste: pis schiren bope tuo 
 318 & reste for here wirynisse: oure louerd hit wolde so 
 
 So pat hi of Gloucestre schire : bigonne to awaki echon 
 320 Al o tyme as god hit wolde: & of wircestre schire nojt on 
 
 In pais hi wende forp here wey: & pe bodi wip hem toke 
 322 Vyf myle wei hi were awend: er popere awoke 
 
 IT pis opere iseje hem bigyled: anon so hi gonne awake 
 324 Hi bigonne to suy pis opere faste : ac hi nemijte hem nojt oftake 
 
 pis men toward wynchecumbe: pis holi bodi bere 
 326 Er hi hit mijte pider bringe: suype werie hi were 
 
 So pat hi come in a wode: a lute bi este pe toune 
 328 & reste po hi were so nej: vp an hej doune 
 
 Apurst hi were for werinisse: so sore pat hit nas ende 
 330 For seint Kenelmes loue hi bede : som drinke oure louerd hem 
 
 sende 
 
 A cold welle & fair per sprong: anoueward pis doune 
 332 pat jut is per fair & cold: a myle fram pe toune 
 
 Wei faire hit is iheled nouj: wip fair ston as rijt is 
 334 And redi ech man to drinke perof: pat comep perforp iwis 
 IT pe monekes sippe of wynchecumbe : arerd habbep perbiside 
 336 A fair chapel of seint kenelm : pat men sichep wide . 
 IF Quendride pe lipere quene: at wynchecumbe po was 
 338 He nuste hire broper nojt so nej : ne nojt of pat cas 
 
 Heo sat in seint peteres churche: biside pe abbey jate 
 340 In a soler in pe est side : & lokede out perate 
 
 po sej heo al pis grete folc: anoueward pe doune anhej 
 342 To-ward wynchecumbe come: rijt vnder soup lej 
 
 Heo of eschte what men hit were: & what hi pojte pere 
 344 Me seide hire pat hi to churche wolde: & hire broper bere
 
 LIFE OF ST. KENELM. A MIRACLE OF ST. JAMES. 57 
 
 IT po was pis quene sorig: in gret deol & fere 
 346 Hire sautere heo nom an honde: as heo witles were 
 
 Of pe sautere pe furste saume : tofore euesong iwis 
 348 Of cursing of lipere men : & of mansing ymaked is 
 
 Dominus laudem hit is icliped: pis saume pe quene radde 
 350 For acorsi hire broper bodi: & pat him pider ladde 
 
 po heo com to pe neojenteope vers : as pe mansing endep iwis 
 352 pat hoc opus eorum: a latyn icliped is 
 
 patsaip what men hit scholde beo : pat scholde afongesuchdede 
 IT Vpe hire owe heued hit com: po heo gan pat vers rede 
 
 For rijt as heo pe vers radde: out berste aipere hire eje 
 356 & fulle adoun vpe hire sautere : as manie men iseje 
 
 & pat was me pinjp wel ido: dai pat hire bymene 
 358 Heo ne biloj nojt hire trecherie: hire bijete was wel lene 
 
 pe sauter is jut at Malmesbury: & ho-so wole come perto 
 360 perinne me mai iseo: whar pe dede was ido 
 
 pis holi bodi was forp ibore: wip gret honour atte fyne 
 362 To pe abbay as he lip jut: & ido in noble schryne 
 
 IF pis lipere quene deide sippe: in schindisse ynouj 
 364 pis bodi as a corsed wrecche: in a foul dich me drouj 
 
 In pe fouleste pat pere was nej: & perinne me hit slouj 
 366 Bote hire ending schindful were: iwis hit were wouj 
 
 Nou god for seint kenelmes loue : his suete grace ous sende 
 368 pat we mote to pulke ioy e : pat he is inne wende : Amen. 
 
 [St. Margaret follows ; then St. Mary Magdalen ; then St. Cristine ; 
 & St. James.] 
 
 XIV. A MIRACLE OF ST. JAMES'S. 
 (Harl.MS. 2277, fol. lOOb.) 
 
 In pe Cite of leouns : a jung man per was also 
 2 pat ofte to seint Jame wende: & grete loue hadde perto 
 
 O tyme as he puder wende: he dude ane folie 
 4 pat menie to helle bringep : pe sinne of lecherie 
 
 Toward seint Jame he wende forp: er he ischcryue were 
 6 pe deuel was wel jurne aboute: him to mislere
 
 58 A MIRACLE OF ST. JAMES. THE GELDED MAN. 
 
 Ajen him hi com in pe wei: swipe mylde & softe 
 8 Rijt as he seint Jame were: as he bigylep men ofte 
 
 Wostou euere ho ic am he seide: poper seide nai 
 10 Ich am pulke he seide pat pu hast: isued manie o dai 
 
 Seint Jame toward warn pu ert: y ne makie of pe no mone 
 12 pat pu nedost swip wel : of eche ping bote of one 
 
 pat pu dudest pe lecherie: er pu wendest to me 
 14 Among alle men if pat nere: mest ic preisi pe 
 IF Seint Jame merci quath pis oper: ic crie me milce & ore 
 16 Forpf me pulke lipere sinne: y nele do so no more 
 
 A bean frere quap pis oper: strong is pi misdede 
 18 pu ne mijt me neuere paye wel: bote pu do as ic rede 
 
 pe membre pu most kerue of: wherwip pu isynewed hast 
 20 pe synne ic wole forjyue pe panne: whan he is fram pe icast 
 
 And nej me pu scholdest beo: in ioye in heuene aboue 
 22 & pu woldest beo ymartird: & pe silue matir for mie loue 
 
 A louerd, quap pis man, seint Jame: haue merci of me 
 24 & ic wole me martir for mi synne : & for pe loue of pe 
 IF pis wrecche man carf of his membres : & awei fram him caste 
 26 & sippe purf his false red: him aslouj atte laste 
 
 Iredi was pe schrewe pere: pe soule he nom anon 
 28 & wel glad bigan in his manere: toward helle gon 
 
 Ne forget nojt seint Jame his pelegrim: for cas pat hi gan bitide 
 30 Ajen pe deuel he com adoun: & bad pe schrewe abide 
 
 pu berest he seide more pan pin owe : & pat ich wole cupe pe 
 32 Hastou bitrayd mie pelgrim: moche schame dostou me 
 IF je al for nojt quap pe schrewe: pu ert hider icome 
 34 In his synne him silf he slouj : & perwip ic him habbe ynome 
 
 Ne mai no manne in dedJich synne : to pe ioye of heuene wende 
 36 As wel pu mijt go ajen: he is myn wipoute ende 
 
 pu lipere ping quap seint Jame: pu bitraidest him wip falshede 
 38 & wip trecherie to him come : pu let him go ic rede 
 
 Ich habbe leue quap pe schrewe: to bigyli & bitraye also 
 40 In eche quyntise pat mai: whi wolde he misdo 
 IF pis strif ilaste bituene hem longe : ac po seint Jame ne mijte 
 42 Wipinne pe schrewe wip resoun: come ne wip rijte 
 
 pu schalt he seide wip me come: to an hejere Justise 
 44 pat pe schal pe trecherie julde : for whan pe schal agrise
 
 A MIRACLE OF ST. JAMES. LIFE OF ST. CRISTOPHER. 59 
 
 To-fore oure leuedie swete & mylde : pane schrewe he gan lede 
 46 He jal & quakede dulfulliche: po he isej hire for drede 
 
 je julle moten hi euere mo: & wo jou mote bitide 
 11 pe schrewe fond his macche po: ic wot he scholde abide 
 
 pu lipere ping quap oure leuedi po: whi fondestou in alle wise 
 50 To bynyme ous & bitraye hem: pat beop in oure seruise 
 
 pu ne schalt neuere pis soule broke: for pi trecherie 
 52 Leoue leuedi quap pe schrewe: merci ic pe crie 
 
 Vnderstond pat ich habbe leue: to bigyli men ynouj 
 54 & pat ich him fond in dedlich synne : & perinne him silue a-slouj 
 
 & pat neuere noman in such cas: to heuene come ne mijte 
 56 As he myn mid alle lawe: hold me ic bidde to rijte 
 IF pu lipere best oure leuedi seide: to moche joure poer is 
 58 Alias pat man nele beo war: er he do amis 
 
 As pu mid trecherie: his lyf him bynome 
 60 Al so ic wole him jyue aje: his lyf bi rijte dome 
 
 & panne he mai cheose as he wole: god man oper vuel beo 
 62 Oure leuedi makede pe soule aje: to pe bodi fleo 
 
 Fram depe to lyue he aros: purf oure leuedi lore 
 64 & god lyf ladde afterward: & pe deuel doutede pe more 
 
 His membres pat. he of carf: euere he dude misse 
 66 Bote a lute wharpurf he mijte : whan he wolde pisse 
 
 & pe deuel jeode awey: & huld him a-gyled sore 
 68 Nadde pe schrewe neuere so moche schame : pat he nere worpe 
 
 more 
 
 For he dop men euere schame: sorewe him mote bifalle 
 70 And liper prift vpon his heued: amen siggep alle 
 
 Nou seint Jame for pe holi stede: pat pu hast in Galij 
 72 Hel alle pi pelegrims & ous : & bring ous to heuene blis . Amen. 
 
 XV. ST. CRISTOPHER. 
 
 (Harl. MS. 2277, fol. 101 b.) 
 
 
 Seint Cristofre was sarajin: in pe lond of Canaan 
 
 2 In no stede bi his daye: ne fond me so strong a man 
 
 Four & tuentie fet he was long: & picke & brod ynouj 
 4 Such man bote he were strong: me pinjp hit were wouj
 
 60 LIFE OF ST. CRISTOPHER. HE SEEKS THE DEVIL. 
 
 Al a contrai where he were: for him wolde fleo 
 6 perfore him pojte pat noman: ajen him scholde beo 
 
 Wip no man he seide he nolde beo: bote wip on pat were 
 8 Hexist louerd of alle men : & vnder non oper nere 
 
 He wende to siche such a man: so pat me him tolde 
 10 Of pe hexiste pat an vrpe was: & mest poer dude wolde 
 IF Seint Cristofre him sojte fur: atte laste he com him to 
 12 pe kyng him eschte what he were: & what he wolde also 
 
 pis oper seide what he was: & pat he seruise wolde 
 14 pe hexte man pat owhar were: & to noman abowe ne scholde 
 
 If he enie such fond : pe king aje sede 
 16 pat he nehuld of no man: ne nescholde of noman beo indrede 
 
 Here aiper was of oper glad: Cristofre him seruede longe 
 IF pe kyng louede melodic : of harpe & of songe 
 
 So pat his iugelour adai: to-fore him pleide faste 
 20 & anemnede in his rym: pe deuel atte laste 
 
 po pe kyng ihurde pat: he blescede him anon 
 22 Seint Cristofre nom gode jeme: ane fot he nolde gon 
 
 Er he wiste whi hit were: pe kyng was lop to telle 
 24 poper seide bote pu telle me: no lenger bileue y nelle 
 If po pe kyng ne sej non oper: leoue Cristofre he sede 
 26 Hit was for he nemnede pane : deuel : for ic haue of him drede 
 
 Eke he is quap Cristofre: hejere maistre pan pu 
 28 pat ne mai ic nojt quap pe kyng: wel wipsigge nou 
 
 Haue god dai ek quap pis oper: y nele neuere wip pe beo 
 30 Ich wole siche pane deuel & seruie him : if ic him mai iseo 
 IF pe kyng was sorie & alle his: for he nolde abide 
 32 To siche pe deuel he wende forp : ac napeles nojt wel wide 
 
 For pe schrewe is euere prest: pat to him habbep ynome 
 IF po Cristofre com wipoute pe toun: gret folc he sej come 
 
 Wip grete noblei wel anhorse: swise firse & proute 
 36 Cristofre hem mette baldeliche: of noman he nadde doute 
 
 pe maistre pat was firs ynouj: com & ymette him anon 
 38 Beau sire he seide what ertou: & whoder wostou gon 
 
 Ich am he seide in mie seruise: & noman seruie y nelle 
 40 Bote mie louerd pat ic siche : pane heje deuel of helle 
 
 Beau frere quap pis oper ic hit am: wolcome ertou to me 
 42 pe beste seruise pat pu wolt cheose: ic wole delyurie pe
 
 LIFE OF ST. CRISTOPHER. THE CROSS AND THE DEVIL. 61 
 
 Cristofre isej his grete folc: & pat he was of gret poer 
 44 Of such a louerd he was glad : & of such a mestier 
 If pe maister het alle his men: awei bote hem tueye 
 46 To teche his mester priueiliche: as hi jeode bi pe weye 
 
 As hi jeode tellinge forp : of pis lipere seruise 
 48 A croij per stod in pe wei: pe deuel him gan agrise 
 
 Fur in breres & in pornes: al aboute he drouj 
 50 je ne come he neuere in betere stede : for pulke was god ynouj 
 
 & perinne were he alto-drawe.: forte ic wolde him bymene 
 52 & po he pe croice ipassed was: he tournde aje to pe clene 
 
 Cristofre eschte whi hit were: him was lop to telle 
 54 Certes he seide bote pu me telle : neuere serui ic pe nelle 
 
 Cristofre quap pe deuel: ic wole pe seruie vayn 
 56 Wip pat pu seruie me pe bet: afterward wip al pi mayn 
 
 Wip a suche croice as pu iseje: pe heje god pat was here 
 58 Ouercom & in sorwe broujte: me & alle myne fere 
 
 Ek he is hejire pan pu quap Cristofre: & hap poer more 
 60 I ne mai hit nojt ofsake quap poper: & pat me ruep sore 
 1 Sai pat panne quap Cristofre beo leng in pi seruise 
 62 If ic of pulke heje manne oujt iwite eny wise 
 
 Forp he wende to siche oure louerd: wide he gan gon 
 64 Atte laste he fond an hermyte: puder he wende anon 
 
 He tolde him clanliche hou hit was : & hou he such man sojte 
 66 I-hered beo he quap pe heremyte : pat in such wit pe broujte 
 
 For he is pi louerd leoue sone: to man he pe wroujte 
 T & mid his owe flesch & blod: in pe croij pe boujte 
 
 pu most sumwhat for him polie: & faste eche friday 
 70 I ne faste neuere quap pis oper: ne jut y ne may 
 
 pu most quap pis oper to churche go : & pi beden bidde also 
 72 I not quap Cristofre what hit is: ne y ne mai hit nojt do 
 
 No quap pis hermyte pu ert strong: & her is a water biside 
 74 pat noman ne mai perouer come: bote he pe hejire ride 
 
 pu most in lisnisse of pi synne : per habbe pi woninge 
 76 & whan enie man hap to pe neod: pu most him ouer bringe 
 
 In forjyuenisse of his misdede: he grantede pis anon 
 78 pe ermyte him jaf cristendom: & let him pider gon 
 
 Cristofre biside pulke watere: & lute hous makede pere 
 80 In his hong ['c] he bar a long perche: his staf as pej hit were
 
 62 LIFE OF ST. CRISTOPHER. THE HEAVY BOY, CHRIST. 
 
 Whan enic man wolde ouer pat water : vpe his rug he him caste 
 82 & nom his parche & bar him ouer : & step hardeliche & faste 
 
 For he was so long & so strong: pat per ne com so heuy non 
 84 pat he nolde wip him wel baldeliche: ouer pe deope gon 
 IT A nijt in pat oper half of pe water: a voij come & gradde 
 86 Cristofre hale hale: pat he him ouer ladde 
 
 Cristofre anon vp aros: his parche an honde he nom 
 88 Wod forp & ne fond no man: po he to londe com 
 
 He nas bote vnepe atom: pat he ne gradde also per 
 90 He wod forp & ne mijte fynde: namore pan he dude er 
 
 jut he gradde pe pridde tyme: po he com horn to londe 
 92 Wip his rod he wod oje: a lute child he fond stonde 
 
 pat child him bad par charite: pat he him ouer here 
 94 je com herforp quap Cristofre: y nuste wher pu were 
 
 Wel lijtliche pis child he nom: & in his armes him caste 
 96 Eueree as he bar pis child: hit gan to heuye faste 
 
 & pat water him wax also: Cristofre him sore agaste 
 98 To adrenche so heuy pat child was : pat vnepe he stod atte laste 
 
 He nas neuere so nej ouercome: at eche tyme hegrunte&blaste 
 100 & leste pat child were adreynt: he ne perste hit adoun caste 
 
 IT po he was to londe icome: as him pojte longe er 
 102 pat child he sette adoun to grounde: forto kele him per 
 
 What ertou he seide so lute: & so heuy bicome 
 104 So heuy pat ic was vpe pe poynte: to adrenche ilome 
 
 pej al pe wordle hadde ileye vpe me : me pinjp so heuy nere 
 106 No wonder Cristofre quap pat child: pej ic heuyere were 
 
 pan al pe wordle for ic am more: pan al pe wordle iwis 
 108 & al pe wordle ic makede of nojt: & al ping pat is 
 
 & pat pu pat sope iseo : piche pi staf on pe grounde 
 110 & leuy he schal & bere frut: & blowe in a stounde 
 
 H po nuste he whar pat child bicom : Cristofre his staf nom 
 112 & pijte in pe grounde: & also hit bicom 
 
 po was he sikerere pan he was : & oure louerd louede more 
 114 Forp he wende to schewi him: & to prechi godes lore 
 
 He ihurde sigge wher cristene men: in tourment were ibrojt 
 116 To confortie hem he wende pider: pat hi ne flecchede nojt 
 
 Beop hardi he seide & stedefast: & dop as ic jou lere 
 .118 pe iustise sturte vp anon: & smot him vnder pe ere
 
 LIFE OF ST. CRISTOPHER. HE IS BOUND. 63 
 
 Sitte wel stille quap Cristofre: ic rede ne smyt no more 
 120 Ertou he seide of pulke: pu hit schalt acore sore 
 
 For if ic nere cristene man: ic wolde me awreke anon 
 122 je bileouep on pis Maumetj: ymaked of treo & ston 
 
 pat no miracle ne mowe do: namore pan so moche treo 
 124 Of mie louerdes Miracles some : bi mie staf pu schalt iseo 
 
 His rod he pijte in pe grounde: & he gan anon 
 126 Leuie & blowe & here frut: bifore hem echon 
 
 On such god he seide je schulde bileoue : pat such virtu mai do 
 128 Hi ne perste for he was so moche : o bold word speke him to 
 
 For his faire miracle of his staf: & for his preching also 
 130 To god tournde in pe place: soue pousend & mo 
 
 To-ward a maner wyldernisse: seint Cristofre wende 
 132 In Godes seruise to lede his lyf : as oure louerd him grace sende 
 
 IF pe Justise tolde pe kinge fore: pat such a man he sej 
 134 Tourne pat folc & he ne perste : for his strenjp come him nej 
 
 pe kyng het tuo hondred knyjtes: siche forto hi him fonde 
 136 pat hi him nome & sone ladde: to him faste ibounde 
 
 Forp wende pis tuo hondred knyjtes: wel yarmed anon 
 138 Toward Cristofre his come a lute: hi bihulde him echon 
 
 Hi alle ne perste come him ne}: ac hanward gonne fleo 
 140 & tolde po hi come horn: pat hi ne mijte him nojt iseo 
 
 IT What je cowardj quap pe kyng: nabbe je him nojt ifounde 
 142 Ich wole if he is alyue : habbe him faste ibounde 
 
 He sende oper tuo hondred knyjtes: pat hi him wide soujte 
 144 & pat hi ne come neuere aje: bote hi him wip hem broujte 
 
 Wel yarmed hi wende forp: & po hi Cristofre iseje 
 146 Hi stode & ne perste come no ner: ne vnepe him loke wip eje 
 
 For he was so gastliche& so moche : pat hi perste vnepe him iseo 
 148 He mijte wip a lute lupe : wel sone habbe ymaked hem fleo 
 IT pis gode man hadd god game of hem : & eschte what hi wolde 
 150 We ne pore nojt pis knyjtes seide: do bi pe as we wolde 
 
 For pe kyng ous het pe bringe him: pyn honde faste ibounde 
 
 152 If pu wolt we wollep him sigge : pat we nabbep pe nojt ifounde 
 
 IF Nai for gode quap Cristofre: je ne schulle nojt beo iblamed so 
 
 154 Ich wole go wip jou to loke fawe: what he wole habbe ido 
 
 He makede hem al ajen hire wille: his honden faste bynde 
 156 & ladde him forp harde ynouj: his honden faste bihynde
 
 64 LIFE OF ST. GRISTOPHER. HIS CONVERTS. 
 
 Bi pe wei as hi him ladder he gan hem so lere 
 158 pat er hi come horn to pe kyng: alle icristned hi were 
 Ac napeles hi ladde him forp : to pe king faste ibounde 
 160 Lo sire he seide godes kni|t: nou we him habbep ifounde 
 
 If pe kyng sat an hej vpe his sige: & anon po he him isej 
 162 For fere he ful to grounde anon: pat his necke to-berste nej 
 
 pis knijtes anon to him come: & po his wit aje com 
 164 Cristofre he seide tourn pi pojt: & bilef cristendom 
 Gode man pu mijt quap pis oper: as wel beo stille 
 166 Mi bodi pu hast faste ibounde: do bi me pie wille 
 
 Certes sire quap pis knyjtes: pat him hadde pider ibrojt 
 168 We habbep itake cristendom : we nulle bileue hit nojt 
 
 IF pe king let po in grete wrappe : pis Cristofre in prisoun do 
 170 & pis knijtes bynde faste : & smyte of here heuedes also 
 
 IF po pe knijtes biheueded were: pe kyng him bipojte 
 172 & tuo faire wymmen mid alle: seint Cristofre he brojte 
 Nite het pat on & poper Aquiline: forto tourne his mod 
 174 po pis wymen iseje Cristofre: as he in prisoun stod 
 
 Hem pojte his face brijtere was: pan sonne oper mone 
 176 Merci Cristofre loude hi gradde: cristendom jef ous sone 
 
 IF Cristofre teijte here bileue : & cristnede hem pere 
 178 pe king hem let amorwe fecche: & loke hou hit were 
 
 & wende hi hadde pane gode man: in lecherie ibrojt 
 180 pis wimmen jeue him lijt ansuere: as hi ne jeue of him no}t 
 What, hou gop pis, quap pe king: habbe je itournd joure pojt 
 182 Honoure cure godes ich jou rede: while jou is wel idojt 
 joure godes beop worpie quap pis wimmen: in faire stede 
 
 honoured beo * 
 184 perfore swopep pe stretes: pat alle men hit mowe iseo 
 
 & we hem wollep onoure iwis: as rijt is & lawe 
 IF pe king let do al as hi sede: sone & wel fawe 
 
 po pis maumetj were ibrojt: in pe stret atte laste 
 188 pis wymmen nome here gurdles bope : & teide to hem wel faste 
 And drowe hem into al pe stret : & hewe hem to douste pere 
 190 Gop hi seide & fecche hem leches: pat hi iheled were 
 
 IF pe king was po for wrappe wod: pat o womman he let honge 
 192 Heuye rekkes bynde to hire fet: pat hire dep prowes were 
 
 stronge
 
 ST. CHRISTOPHER. HIS MARTYRDOM. 65 
 
 po pis womman was vp idrawe: hire lymes burste wip-inne 
 194 Necke & synuen & oper ek: wel aujte heo heuene iwinne 
 
 In strong for he let poper do: ac no fur ne com hire nej 
 196 Sippe he let smyte of hire heued: po he pat isej 
 
 pis holie wimmen bope pus: to pe ioye of heuene wende 
 198 purf pe grace pat oure swete louerd: pur Cristofre hem sende 
 
 pe king let fecche Cristofre : & eschte of him anon 
 200 Wheder he wolde his maumetj seruie oper to depe gon 
 
 II Cristofre forsoc here maumetj: & here seruise also 
 202 pe king het pat me scholde anon: vpe a gridire him do 
 
 And roste him wip fur & pich: & po he was perinne idou 
 204 Awei pe gridire mylte: pat fur queynte anon 
 
 & he aros vp wipoute harme: wrop was pe king po 
 IF To a piler he let him bynde: & knyjtes aboute him go 
 
 Hi schote him to stronge depe: wip wel kene flo 
 208 per schute wip bowe & arblestes : tuo hondred knijtes & mo 
 
 Ac non arewe nej him ne com: ac alle abide biside 
 210 In p'eir hi honge aboue him: as hit were forto abide 
 
 If Anon so pe kyng hit isej: for wrappe pider he wende 
 212 Ouer Cristofre an arewe heng: pat toward pe king kende 
 
 Bope his eje smyte al out: fur vp in his heued 
 214 pe king stod po for angusse: as his wit were bireued 
 
 pu vnseli wrecche quap Cristofre: what is worp pi mijte 
 216 Ajen him pat pu hast bigonne: pu ert wel feble to fijte 
 
 Of pi wrecchede ic habbe reupe: & pat ich wole cupe pe 
 218 For mie louerd to morwe wole: pat me martir me 
 
 Smyre panne pin ejen wip mie blod: & pe tit sijt god 
 IF pis blynde kyng hadde perto hope: & wel hit vnderstod 
 
 Amorwe he let smyte of his heued: & smyrede wip pe blod 
 222 & hadde his ejen gode & clere: & tournde sone his mod 
 
 pis holi man he let burie faire: & bileouede on god anon 
 224 And afeng cristendom: & his men echon 
 
 & to pe ioye of heuene wende: & so hem was bet 
 226 pan wende to helle pyne : & seruie here maumet 
 
 pus seint Cristofre atte laste: pe hexte king out soujte 
 228 Nou god ous bringe to pulke ioye : pat he his soule broujte : Amen : 
 
 [St. Martha follows; then St. Laurence, the Assumption of St. 
 Mary, St. Bartholomew the Apostle, St. Giles the Confessor,
 
 66 THE 11,000 VIRGINS. 
 
 the Holy Rood and its miracles, St. Matthew, Seint Michel 
 parcangle; then the pit of hell &c., printed at the end (p. 132-140) 
 of Mr. Wright's edition of Popular Treatises on Science written 
 daring the Middle Ages, London 1841; then St. Jerome, St. 
 Denis, and St. Luke.] 
 
 XVI. THE 11,000 VIRGINS. 
 (Harl. MS. 2277, fol. 137.) 
 
 Elleue pousend virgines: pat fair cumpaignie was 
 2 Imartred were for godes loue: ic wole telle pat cas 
 
 A king per was in Britaigne: Maur was his name 
 4 A doujter he hadde Ourse : a mai of noble fame 
 
 So fair womman me niste non: ne so god in none poynte 
 6 Cristine heo was & al hire cun: swipe noble & queynte 
 
 Of hire fairhede & godnisse me tolde in eche side 
 8 pat pe word cam in-to Engelond: & elleswhoder wide 
 IT A king per was in Engelond: a man of gret poer 
 10 Of pis maide he hurde telle: gret noblei fur & nher 
 
 To spouse hire & his sone: to-gadere he hadde ipojt 
 12 Ac per nas pe jut in Engelond: no cristendom ibrojt 
 IT Tope king of britaigne he sende worp: his doubter pat was so fair 
 14 pat he hire lete marie: to his sone pat was his heir 
 
 If he were per ajen: pat pe dede were ido 
 16 Destruye he wolde al his lond: & him silue also 
 1T J)o pis message was : to pe king ised 
 18 Sorie & dreorie he was : he ne coupe perof no red 
 
 For pe king of Engelond: was hepene & alle his 
 20 & he wiste wel his doujter nolde: beon iwedded iwis 
 
 & for pe kyng of Engelonde: was man of grete mijte 
 22 & pat he nadde poer non: ajen him forto fijte 
 
 & napeles trues of answere: aje pe message he nom 
 24 Deol & sorwe & lute ioye: in his hurte per com 
 
 He ne tolde nojt his doujter fore: of pis reuful cas 
 26 Ac napeles heo hit vnderjet: for he so sorie was 
 
 jurne heo bad god day & a ni}t: pat he scholde hire rede 
 IT A angel per com to hire a nyjt: & puse wordes sede 
 IT Ne beo pu nojt aje pis sonde: ac pi fader forto paye 
 30 Grante iwedded forto beo: at a certeyn daye
 
 THE 11,000 VIRGINS. THEIR SHIP AND THEIR GAMES. 67 
 
 Wipinne preo jer pat pu mowe: pi maidenhod honoure 
 32 & per wonye mid pe: clene maidenes in pi boure 
 
 pat pe kynge sone & pi fader: beo at one rede 
 34 To cheose pe ten maidenes: wipoute enie wikhede 
 
 Whan je to-gadere beop: pat bi fynde jou ek perto 
 36 A pousend maidenes to ech of jou: to seruie jou also 
 
 pat whan alle je to-gadere beop : pat ech mowe in his side 
 38 Honoure here maidenhod & pyn: pat hit beo coup wide 
 
 So pat me nute maide non: alised aje pe 
 40 & pat he wole cristene beo: pi louerd pat schal beo 
 
 In pisse foreward grante him: in pe pridde }ere 
 42 Iwedded to beo in godes lawe : naue perof no fere 
 IT po pis maide ihurde pis: heo was glad of pis lore 
 44 pat heo wiste wharwip hire fader: bringe out of sore 
 
 To hire fader heo wende anon: & bad pat hire telle scholde 
 46 Whi he mournynge jeode so: & he seide he nolde 
 
 Ich wot wel pi pojt quap pis maide: pej pu hit holde stille 
 48 Of pi message naue pu no doute: ic wole don al pi wille 
 
 po gan heo sigge in whiche manere: as p'angel hadde ised 
 50 Heo wolde habbe pis heje man: if hit were his red 
 IF Wele pat pe king was glad: po he hurde pis 
 52 pe message he jaf an answare: mid gode hurte iwis 
 
 po pe tepinge to him com: wel he him paide 
 54 Sone he let him cristinie: for loue of pis maide 
 
 & purf his fader red : & purf poper kynge 
 56 Elleue pousend maidenes clene: to pis maide hi lete bringe 
 
 Wher me mijte fynde nou as sone: as me mijte po 
 58 I ne wene nojt wher me scholde: in al pis toun fynde mo 
 IT pis maide was glad of pe cumpaignye: pat to hire com 
 60 Sone heo gan in priueite : teche hem of cristendom 
 
 pat for hire loue & hire prechinge: alle cristene hi were 
 62 Louerd which a cumpaignye: of clene maidenes was pere 
 
 So glad was pe king of his doujter: & of hire faire ferede 
 64 pat he hem let makie a schip: of gret lengpe & brede 
 
 pat hi scholde aboude in pe see: pleye wher hi wolde 
 66 pat ech man a londe & a watere : here maidenhod preisi scholde 
 
 Hi songe ofte a londe & a watere: & tresches gonne lede 
 68 & oper maner faire pleyes : & alle of faire dede 
 
 e2
 
 68 THE 11,000 VIRGINS. THEY GO TO COLOGNE & ROME. 
 
 Mete & drinke stilleliche: to schipe hi gonne bringe 
 70 To preo jeres sustenance : wipoute leue of pe kynge 
 
 A day hi furde to pe see: & pleide vp & doun 
 72 For ioye per bihulden hem: men of menie o toun 
 IF As hi were in mest pleye: oure louerd a wynd sende 
 74 pat drof hem fur in-to pe see: me nuste whoder hi wende 
 
 Wei glade weren hi po: pe wynd hem drof wel blyue 
 76 Atte Cite of Coloigne: hi gonne furst aryue 
 
 To damaisele Ourse : an angel per com pere 
 78 And hire maidenes bad lede wel: forte hi ymartred were 
 
 & seide hi schulde furpere fare: & alle aje wende 
 80 & in pulke toun ymartred beo: for godes loue attan ende 
 
 Glad was pis maide purf pis word: forp hi wende anon 
 82 Atte Cite of Basilie: hi aryuede po echon 
 
 Fram pulke^euerechone : afote hi wende to Rome 
 84 pe pope hem makede ioye ynou: po hi pider come 
 
 For meniee of hem him were isibbe: & for he was of britaigne 
 86 Ciriac his name was: hi were wip him wel fawe 
 IF To pe pope an angel per com a nijt: & seide pat he scholde 
 88 Mid pis maidenes ymartred beo: for oure louerd hit wolde 
 
 After pis tyme pis holi man: honourede hem pe more 
 90 & prechede hem of clanniesse: & of oure louerdes lore 
 
 Tuelmonp & elleue wyke: alle pis maidenes were 
 92 At Rome wip pis holi pope : pat he dude wet lere 
 
 Ac pe pope po seint Ciriak: his consail clipie bigan 
 94 His clerkes & his Cardynals: & menie anoper man 
 
 Tofore hem al his dignete: he tok vp attan ende 
 96 & seide he wolde into anoper lond: mid pis maidenes wende 
 
 His Cardynals were perajen: pat he his dignete gan reue 
 98 Wip wenclen forto go: & his dignete bileue 
 
 Napeles he wende forp wip hem: al ajen here rede 
 100 His Cardinals & his clerkes : gret schame perof him sede 
 
 IF Tuei lipere princes: Maximin & Affrican 
 102 pojte pat pis maidenes wolde: tourne menie man 
 
 To here prince of Coloigne: hi sende for pan one 
 104 pat he whan hi pider come: hem martrede echone 
 
 IF pis child pat schold pis maide wedde: as hi hadde ised 
 106 King was ymaked in Engelond: po his fader was ded
 
 THE 11,000 VIRGINS. THEIE MARTYRDOM, A. D. 238. 69 
 
 pat ladde swipe chast lyf: & langede wel sore 
 108 Wip pe clene maide speke : purf strenjpe of godes lore 
 
 IF An angel per com to him: & bad him in alle wise 
 110 pat his moder & his junge soster: he lete baptize 
 
 & pat he to Coloigne wende: wip him wip al his mayn 
 112 & afonge cristendom: er hi come agayn 
 
 pat he bounde hure to him faste: in word & in dede 
 114 & endedc to-gadere here lyf: as he hem wolde rede 
 
 pe junge king fawe dude: as pangel him gan lere 
 116 He nom his moder & his soster: & po hi ibaptised were 
 
 & pe bischop Clement ek: pat hem ibaptised hadde 
 118 Toward Coloigne forp wip him aje: pis maidenes he ladde 
 
 Wel glad was pe junge kyng: po he to his lemman com 
 120 As glad was pis maide: po heo se} him in cristendom 
 
 Gladdest he was wip his soster: pat het Florentine 
 122 pat heo scholde so jung & so clene: suffrie depes pyne 
 
 Ourse of Britaigne pe junge king: of gret ioye him gan lere 
 124 pat he huld him faste to hire : & pat he ne flecchede for no fere 
 
 pat hi mijte in true loue: togadere ymartred beo 
 126 & in heuene beo mid ihesu crist: pat hen boujte on pe treo 
 
 pis junge kyng grantede al pis : pis womman nojt ne wornde 
 128 His furste pojt to true loue: of clannisse he tournde 
 T pe hepene prince jare was: po hi to Coloigne come 
 130 & lipere men menie on: & pis cumpaignye nome 
 
 Hi suede & cride on hem aschame: to grounde hi hem slowe 
 132 As so fele wolues among hem: here flesch hi to-drowe 
 
 If po hi come to pis clene ping: Ourse of britaigne 
 134 po hi fonde such a creatoure: so fair & so fayne 
 
 pe prince hire nom & hire bihet: to lete hire go alyue 
 136 & for hire noble gentise: habbe hire to wyue 
 
 pis maide seide pat heo nolde: non vrplich spouse take 
 138 pe prince was po wrop ynou: po he was forsake 
 
 IF Archers he let hire schute anon: to depe attan ende 
 140 & po heo & hire cumpaignye : to pe blisse of heuene gonne wende 
 
 & pe junge kyng of Engelond : & his moder also 
 142 & his junge soster Florentine: to depe were ido 
 
 & pe pope Ciriac: & bischopes menie on 
 144 pat for hope of martirdom : wip po maidenes dude gon
 
 70 THE 11,000 VIRGINS. THE CORPSE OF ONE RISES. 
 
 Ou , louerd , pe grete ioye : of pis swete ferrede 
 146 pat martirdom for pi loue: afonge wipoute drede 
 
 In pe tuo hondred: & eijte & prittig jere 
 148 After pat god an vrpe com: pis maidenes ymartred were 
 
 pis elleue pousend maidenes: & al pe cumpaignye 
 160 Ibured were sippe in Coloigne: in a nonnerie 
 
 An abbod per was per biside : pat hurde of pis cas 
 152 & ofte of pis clene maidenes: gret miracle per was 
 
 He bad p'abbot of Coloigne: pat he him granti scholde 
 154 A body of pis clene maidenes : & he hit wolde do in golde 
 
 If po pis bodie him was bitake: tuelfmonp he let hit beo 
 156 Wipoute siluer oper gold: in a chiste of treo 
 
 po pe tuelf monpes were ido : as pe monekes echone 
 158 At matyns were a nijt: pe bodie aros vp alone 
 
 & enclynede hire to pe heje weued: & wende myldeliche 
 160 Out purf al pe couent: faire & stilleliche 
 
 pis monekes po hi pis iseje: adrad & sorie were 
 162 To pe tumbe hi wende per heo was: & ne fonde hire nojt pere 
 
 IF pis quap p'abbot is oure wreche: for we nadde hire ido 
 164 In golde rijt as hit hadde ibeo: for we bihete hire so 
 
 To p'abbesse of Coloigne: p'abbot wende anon 
 166 & tolde pe cas hou hit was: of pe maide agon 
 
 Hi wende to pulke stede: per as heo was ileid er 
 168 & heuede vp pe lid of pe prouj: & fonde hire ligge per 
 
 Faire & euene as heo dude er: so lute lyme per nas 
 170 pat ne lai as he furst dude: fair miracle per was 
 
 p'abbasse was po glad ynouj: & pe nonnen echon 
 172 & for pe miracle songe an hej: & ponkede god anon 
 
 IF p'abbot bad pat he moste habbe: po holi bodi eftsone 
 174 & he hit wolde honoury fawe: as rijt was to done 
 
 Ac p'abbesse bit nolde granti nojt: no pe couent noper 
 176 pat he hit scholde eft lede aweie: pe} hit were here broper 
 
 For hi seje hit was godes wille: pat hit scholde bileue pere 
 IF pis abbot wende horn aje: wip wel dreorie chere 
 
 Nou god ous grantie for his grace: pat we mowe iwinne 
 180 pe heje ioye of heuene: pat pis maidenes beop inne: Amen: 
 [Seint Simon <fc Seint Jude follow; then St. Quintiu the Martyr, 
 All Saints Day, All Souls Day, St. Leonard the Confessor, & 
 St. Martin.]
 
 ST. EDMUND THE CONFESSOR. 71 
 
 XVII. ST. EDMUND THE CONFESSOR. 
 (Harl. MS. 2277, fol. 155.) 
 
 Seint Edmund pe confessour: pat lip at Ponteneye 
 2 Of gode men & true he cam: pe| hi nere nojt wel heye 
 
 Ibore he was in Engelond: in pe toun of Abyndone 
 4 Glad mijte pe moder beo: pat bar such a sone 
 
 Mabille pe riche his moder het: pat god womman was ynouj 
 6 For bop wyf & widne: to holi lyf heo drouj 
 If A seint Edmundes day pe king: pe gode child was ibore 
 8 So clene he cam fram his moder: wipoute erne hore 
 
 & so drie pat no clop: pat nej pe moder was 
 10 Ne nej pis junge child ibore: noping isoilled nas 
 
 A seint Edmundes dai he was ibore: po hit was furst dai 
 12 Fram pe morwe forte hit was nej nijt: as ded ping he lay 
 
 Rijt as he were ded bore: for no lyf on him ne say 
 14 Ajen eue he cudde furst his lyf: to churche he was ibore 
 
 & for seynt Edmundes day hit was: Edmund icleped perfore 
 IT pis child wax & wel ipej: elles wonder hit were 
 
 po hit was of enie elde: pe moder hit let lere 
 18 & Robert ek hire oper sone: for sones heo hadde hem two 
 
 & tuei maidenes clene ynou: hire doujtren were also 
 20 Dame Margerie & dame Alice : pat at Kattesby were ido 
 
 & pat in ordre nonnes were: & liggep per bope tuo 
 H Dame Mabille pe gode moder: pis children louede ynou 
 22 & wissede hem to clene lyue: & to godnisse drouj 
 
 pe wile children junge were: ofte heo jaf hem mede 
 24 For to faste pane fridai: to watere & to brede 
 
 purf mede & purf faire biheste: hi wer so per-on ibrojt 
 26 po hi were in grettere elde: hit ne greuede hem rijt nojt 
 
 pe moder werede harde here: for oure louerdes loue 
 28 Fram pe schuldre to pe hele: & harde hauberk aboue 
 
 In suche penance heo ladde hire lyf: pis widue pat was so wys 
 30 Wel jung heo sende bope here sones: to scole to Parys 
 
 & bitok hem spense lute ynouj: as heo mijte biseo 
 32 Hi seide aje pat hi ne mijte nojt: bi so lute beo 
 
 Leoue sones, quap pis moder: ic mai beo jut wel hende 
 34 If je wollep don after me: ic can jou more sende
 
 72 ST. EDMUND THE CONFESSOR. CHRIST IS HIS. 
 
 & hit schal jut likie wel: bi pan je wite pan ende 
 36 If je pore mid so lute : out of londe wende 
 If Leoue moder, quap pe sones: we schulle don after pi lore 
 38 Ac pu wost we ne mowe nojt libbe: bote pu ous sende more 
 If pe moder tok wel stilleliche: ech of hem an here 
 40 pat hi werede hem eche wike: tueye oper prie pere 
 
 & heo wolde hem sende spense ynou : pe while hi at scole were 
 If pis children jeode to scole po: & dude here moder heste 
 
 & werede here here prie a wyke: oper tueye atte leste 
 44 So longe hi hem vsede perto: pat hi hem nome oftere mo 
 
 So longe pat noper dai ne nijt: hi nolde hem nojt forgo 
 46 Hi vseden hem so wel perto: pat hi werede hem dai & nijt 
 
 pis was lo a god moder: pat teijte hire childrene arijt 
 48 And euere as heo hem sende elopes : as heo hem mijte iwynne 
 
 perwip heo wolde heren sende: isued stille wip-inne 
 If Seint Edmund pe gode clerc: to eche godnisse drouj 
 
 pat euerech clerc pat him iknew: hadde of him ioye ynouj 
 52 For oure louerd & his holi grace: mid him was wel ryue 
 
 & pat oure louerd cudde him wel: in his junge lyue 
 If For as he jeode a dai: in a mede for to pleye 
 
 His felawes he bileuede echon: & jeode biside pe weye 
 56 & alone jeode vp & doun: & his beden sede 
 
 per cam go a fair whit child: to him in pis mede 
 58 Felawe, he seide, hail pu beo: pat gost pe silue alone 
 If Seint Edmund stod in gret[e] pojt: wannes pis child cone 
 60 Ne knoustou me nojt, quap pis child: seint Edmund seide no 
 
 Nam ic pi felawe, quap pis child: whoder pu euere go 
 62 At scole ic sitte ek bi pe: euere bi pi rijt side 
 
 & wip pe ic go in eche stede: ne go pu nojt so wide 
 64 & pi pleyfere ic am: & if pu nost noj ho ic beo 
 If In mie foreheuede iwrite: mie name pu schalt iseo 
 66 Signe perwip pi foreheued: & pi breost also 
 
 An cue whan pu to bidde gost: & aday whan pu risest perto 
 68 Euerech nijt er pu slepe : as in munde of me 
 
 & pe deuel ne tit poer non: forto greuy pe 
 If Seint Edmund nuste mid pis word: whoder pis child bicom 
 
 He kneu wel pat hit was oure louerd : gret ioye to him he nom
 
 HIS SCHOOL-LIFE. THE INNKEEPER'S LEWD DAUGHTER. 73 
 
 72 He nolde forjete nojt o nijt: his lore forto do 
 
 To croici prie his foreheued: & his breost also 
 74 & sigge ihesu cristus nazarenus: as he hit isej iwrite 
 1T Wip noping ne scholde a man bet: wip pe deuel him wite 
 76 In penance & in his lore: pat child dude al his pojt 
 
 For godes loue he polede moche: pat deore him hadde ibojt 
 78 In penance he was so wel yused: & peron jung ibrojt 
 
 pat po he was of grettere elde : hit ne greuede him rijt nojt 
 IF At Parys he was at scole longe: & at Oxenford also 
 
 He ne dude neuere lecherie : ne neuere ensentede perto 
 82 As his schriffader wolde telle: ofte in priueite 
 
 He ne mijte neuere fynde non: of so gret chastete 
 84 Pryueiliche at Oxenford: perfore a dai he com 
 
 To pe ymage of oure leuedi: & bi pe hond hire nom 
 86 And forhet bifore hire: truliche wommanes mone 
 
 And wip trupe holde al his lyf: clanliche to hire one 
 88 pe ymage he weddede wip a ring: as man dop his wyf 
 
 Clanliche to holde in spoushode: to hire al his lyf 
 90 Aue maria gracia plena: puse four wordes were ido 
 
 & igraued in his ring of golde : for hit acordep perto 
 . 92 Wel he huld his trupe sippe: & his wedding also 
 
 & true spouse was ynou: & nolde nojt'misdo 
 94 Ich wot me mijte fynde: ho so sojte blyue 
 
 Som man pej hit selpe beo: vntruere wip his wyue 
 96 & as ful beo of pe mariage: & as fawe hit vnbynde 
 
 Wele whar enie of jou coupe : such an hosebonde fynde 
 IF His osteste had a doujter: per he was at inne 
 
 pat louede moche pis holi child : if heo mijte of him enie loue 
 
 awinne 
 100 Heo ne coupe nej non oper wit: heo fondede forto do 
 
 Folie bi nijte & bi daye : if heo mijte come perto 
 102 Heo bad him pat heo moste a nijt: to his bedde wende 
 
 pis holi child ne wornde hire nojt: ac dude as pe hende 
 IF pis maide was po glad ynouj: for er heo bad wel ofte 
 
 A nyjt po heo sej hire tyme: to his bed heo com softe 
 106 Hire elopes he dude of anon : as hit is lawe of bedde 
 
 & makede hire redi to kreopen in : ac wel febliche hire spedde
 
 74 ST. EDMUND THE CONFESSOR. HIS MOTHER'S DEATH. 
 
 108 For seint Edmund hadde a smeort jerd: pis womman adoun he 
 
 redde 
 
 & leide vp hire nakede rug: pat heo nej awedde 
 110 He ne sparede rug ne side noper: er heo to grounde bledde 
 
 Quenche mijte hire fole pojt: mid blod pat heo schadde 
 112 & euere seide pis holi man: as he leide on hire faste 
 
 Maide pu schalt lurny pus: awei forto caste 
 114 pi fole wil of pi flesch: wip suche discipline 
 
 Heo pojte lute of fol pojt : er pis gode man wole fyne 
 If pis wenche wende softe aje: hire rug smurte sore 
 
 Heo bijat so lute po: pat hire ne longede puder no more 
 118 Clene womman heo bicom: wipoute flesches dede 
 
 & clene maide sippe deide: as hire schriffader sede 
 120 pis maidenes pat beop wilful: folie to do 
 
 Ich wolde hi fonde such a lemman: hem to chaste so 
 If po Mabille his swete moder scholde : of pis wordle go 
 
 Seint Edmund hire holi sone: nej hire was po 
 124 pe moder him jaf hire blescing: po heo schulde hunne fare 
 
 Blesce ek mie broper, quap poper: pej he beo elleswhare 
 126 Leoue sone, quap pe moder: bope je come of me 
 
 & he is whan pe beop o blod: iblesced forp wip pe 
 If Ac ic bidde pe for pe loue of god: & of seinte Marie 
 
 pat pu somwhar pi sostren do: in a nonnerie 
 130 pat hi mowe lede clene lyf: in godes seruise 
 
 pat pu ne suffrie pat hi beo: iwedded in none wyse 
 132 pis catel pat ich biquepe: pis dede forto do 
 
 Al ic bitake in pyne warde: & hem perwip also 
 134 pis gode womman deide po: & of widuen was flour 
 
 & in seint Nicholas churche at Abyndone : ibured was wip gret 
 
 honour 
 136 Vnder a ston bifore pe Rode: in pe soup side iwis 
 
 A lute wipoute pe abbay jate: pe chapel arered is 
 138 Aboue hire hit is iwrite: her lyp on pe ston 
 
 Mabille flour of widuen : & lesing nis hit non 
 140 For heo was womman of gode lyue: as me mijte bi hire iseo 
 
 & menie miracle sippe at Abyndone: for hire hap ibeo 
 If Nou ne forjet nojt seint Edmund : pat his moder him hadde ibede 
 
 po his poer was iwoxe: he pourueide him a stede
 
 HOW HIS HORSE-HAIR SHIRTS CUT INTO HIM. 75 
 
 144 & his sostren were ido: in a nonnerie 
 
 Ac wel vnepe he mijte hit do: wipoute symonye 
 
 146 Atte laste he com to Cateby: in Northamte schire 
 Igranted him was per anon: al pat he wolde desire 
 
 148 Bope his sostren a godes name: nonnen he makede pere 
 
 & lyuede per al here lyf & holie wymmen were 
 f . 
 
 150 pe vlpere was sippe pnorasse: 01 pe leuedies echon 
 
 For hem hap sippe god ido: miracles menie on 
 152 & bifore pe weued an hej: ibured hi beop pere 
 
 In a chapel of seint Edmund: pat hi lete arere 
 If J)is holi man seint Edmund: werede stronge here 
 
 In strongere manere he was ymaked: pan oper manes were 
 156 He nas isponne ne iweue: ac ibroide of strenges longe 
 
 & sippe as me knyt a net: iknyt harde & stronge 
 158 Of hard hors-her ymaked: pe knottes deope wode 
 
 pat moche del his bodi orn: in quitoure & in blode 
 160 Herof he hadde brech & scherte : fram necke to pe hele 
 
 Vneseliche he mi^te ligge: & lutel ese ifele 
 162 A strong rop per was sippe aboue: fram pe schuldre ido 
 
 To his buttok of hors her: to holde hit faste to 
 164 & sippe he was bynepe his brech: igurd faste ynouj 
 
 Wip a strong corde aboue pe here: pat faste to-drouj 
 166 So faste was in eche side : pe here to him ibounde 
 
 pat vnepe he mijte bye his rug: oper lokie to pe grounde 
 168 & whan he byde him enie pyng: his flesch was so ignawe 
 
 pat wonder hou he polede hit: to beo so to-drawe 
 170 Fet & honde pat nere nojt: itourmented wip pe here 
 
 Necke & heued & al his face: pat wipoute were 
 172 He ruddede a nijt wip his here : whan no man ne mijt hit iseo 
 
 For he nolde pat no lyme: vnypyned scholde beo 
 1F A dai he toe al priueiliche: his man his olde here 
 
 pat he hem forbrende stilleliche: for hi forolped were 
 176 He cast hem in gret fur: ac hit ne com noj per nej 
 
 Ac euere hi were iliche sounde: as pis man isej 
 H po he sej hit ne brende nojt: he bond perto faste 
 
 Heuye stones to drawe hit adoun: & pe water hit vp caste 
 180 Nadde pat fur poer non : to tuochi pe holi here 
 
 Ac napelea he tolde his louerd: pat hi forbrende were
 
 76 ST. EDMUND THE CONFESSOR, HIS PRAYERS. 
 
 IF Seint Edmund & his felawe: as hit was ofte here wone 
 
 In a day fram Lenkenore: wende to Abyndone 
 184 As hi come in a gret faleye: blake mouekes he sej 
 
 As hit crowen & chojen were: fleo bi p'eir anhej 
 186 A lute blac sac as pej hit were: among hem pis foweles bere 
 
 & caste hit vp fram on to oper: as hi hit to-tere 
 188 pat was a soule for his wickednisse: pat hi to helle bere 
 
 His felawe stod & bihuld: & was nej wod for fere 
 I Seint Edmund jaf him god confort: & tolde what hi were 
 
 Deuelen of helle he seide hit beop : & pat hi berep iwis 
 192 A manes soule of stafgrene: her bifore hit is 
 
 pat nou rijt deide late: he ne comep neuere in blis 
 194 He mai singe welewei: pat euere he dude amis 
 
 Forp hi wende to staf-grene: pat sope hi fonde pere 
 196 pe man ded a lute bifore: & ligge hot in a bere 
 
 No pe gladdere ne mijt he beo: pat pe deueles him so to-tere 
 IT Seint Edmund pis holi man: louede wel his lore 
 
 For his loue he louede jut: godes seruise pe more 
 200 Mest he louede an oreisoun : pat was of ihesu crist 
 
 & of oure leuedi his swete moder: & of seint Johan p'ewangelist 
 202 pat .o. intemerata: bigynnep a latyn 
 
 pe bigynnyng is wel god: & also pe fyn 
 204 Eche dai bi custume: he seide pis oreisoun 
 
 He nolde hit bileue for no scole: ne for no lessoun 
 206 Ane dai he hit forjot: he hadde so moche to done 
 
 IT Seint John p'ewangelist: com to him wel sone 
 208 A pameri he broujte on his hond: gret & strong ynouj 
 
 Seint Edmund he nom bi pe hond: & his pamerie drouj 
 210 So heje & wip so gret eir : as he him wolde altodryue 
 
 Seint Edmund lay & quakede : & dradde of lyue 
 212 For if he him hadde ismyte : as he drouj : he hadde ibeo ded anon 
 
 He quakede & cride dulfulliche: louerd merci seint John 
 H Ich wole for-jeue pe, quap seint Johan: pu criest so sore 
 
 & pench bet on oure oreisoun: & ne forjet hit nomore 
 216 He ne for-jat after pulke tyme: nomore pis oreisoun 
 
 For no studie ne for no neode : ne for pojt of lessoun 
 If So wel lurnede pis holi man: & suche grace hadde 
 
 pat he bigan at Oxenford: & of art per raddc
 
 HIS READING AT OXFORD; ARSMETRIKE &C. 77 
 
 220 Of art he radde six jer: contynuelliche ynouj 
 
 & sippe for beo more profound: to arsmetrike he drouj 
 222 & arsmetrike radde in cours: in Oxenford wel faste 
 
 & his figours drouj aldai: & his numbre caste 
 IT Arsmetrike is a lore: pat of figours al is 
 
 & of draujtes as me drawep in poudre: & in numbre iwis 
 IT A nijt in a visioun: his moder to him wende 
 
 Sone heo seide to what figours: wostou nou entende 
 228 Leoue moder, quap pis oper: suche as we iseop 
 
 IT Leoue sone, quap pe moder: betere figours per beop 
 230 Wherto pu most pin hurte do: & penche her-on nomore 
 
 Heo nom forp his rijt bond: & wrot peron his lore 
 232 preo rounde cerclen heo wrot: in pe paume amidde 
 
 In pe tueye heo wrot fader & sone : & holi gost in pe pridde 
 IF Sone heo seide her-afterward: entende to pis lore 
 
 To heuene aje pe moder wende: he ne sej hire no more 
 IF po isej seint Edmund: pat hit was al of pe trinite 
 
 & pat god wolde pat he schulde: ihure diuinite 
 238 To diuinite as god wolde: pis gode man him drouj 
 
 per ne spedde non in Oxenford: so wel of ynouj 
 240 Hit nas nojt longe per afterward: pat pe Chanceler ne sede 
 
 & pe hexte maystres of pe toun: pat he schulde bigynne & rede 
 242 He wipsede & longe seide: pat he nas nojt worpie perto 
 
 So pat moche ajen his wille: nede hi makede him hit do 
 244 So pat he bigan at Oxenford: of diuinite 
 
 So noble a losed per nas non: in al pe vniuersite 
 246 Of redinge he hadde so gode grace : pat menie on to him drouj 
 
 His scolers pat ihurde of him : gode men were ynouj 
 248 So pitousliche he wolde rede: & so gode grace hadde perto 
 
 pat his scolers pat ihurde of him: nuste ofte what to do 
 250 Ac sete as in anoper wordle: & ofte hudde here eje 
 
 & wepe pat pe teres vrne adoun: pat men hit al aboute iseje 
 252 Vnepe enie ihurde of him: pat pe betere ne bicom 
 
 & menie bileuede al pe wordle: & to religioun nom 
 1f A dai as pis holi man: in diuinite 
 
 Desputede as hit was his wone : of pe trinite - 
 256 In his chaire he sat longe: er his scolers come 
 
 A lutel he bigan to swondrie: as a slep him nome
 
 78 ST. EDMUND THE CONFESSOR. BEATS THE DEVIL. 
 
 258 po pojte him in his swondringe: pat a whit coluere com 
 
 Fram heuene mid oure louerdes flesch: & pe wei to him nom 
 260 & pat swete flesch pulte in his moup: & sippe flej vp anhej 
 
 Heuene openede hire ajen: as pis gode man isej 
 262 pe sauour of oure louerdes flesch: him pojte was in his moupe 
 
 And al pe clergie him pojte of god: po he awok he coupe 
 264 Of pe pure stat of crist : & of his mageste 
 
 As angel him pojte he coupe: & of his priueite 
 If He bigan so deope desputie : of pe trinite 
 
 pat gret wonder me haddc: purf al pe vniuersite 
 268 pat pe gretteste clerkes pat were: in Oxenforde po 
 
 Ne pojte pat enie vrplich man: so furforp mijte go 
 270 Ne wite so moche of godes stat: bote hit angel were 
 
 pernere nonemaystres inOxenford: pat in gret wonder perof nere 
 272 Ac he mijte of ihesu crist iwite: more pan was in boc 
 
 Whan he vsede oure louerdes flesch: & in his moupe toe 
 If Ne pojte nojt pis holi man: so moche in his lessoun 
 
 pat euere among his pojt nas mest: in godes passioun 
 276 O tyme he was in grete studie: of his lessoun a nyjt 
 
 pat longe he sat per aboute: forte hit was nej dailijt 
 278 po hit was toward pe dai: anapped he was sore 
 
 He lynede adoun vpon his boc: po he ne mijte studie nomore 
 280 So pat he ful aslepe: & vnywar also 
 
 & ne pojte nOjt on pe passioun: as he was iwoned to do 
 282 pe deuel com to him wel sone: noping to siche he nas 
 
 Seint Edmund of him was iwar: in swondring as he was 
 284 He wolde him blesci wip pe deuel : his rijt hond he gan forp drawe 
 
 pe deuel him nom perbi anon: he ne mi}te him nojt wawe 
 286 po nom he forp his lift hond: to blesci him wip also 
 
 pe deuel him nom perbi faste: pat he ne mijte noping do 
 288 Vpe him he laie as a sak: pat he was al ouercome 
 
 He ne mijte him wawe fot ne hond: his poer him was binome 
 290 Ac delyure he hadde al his pojt: so pat he pojte sone 
 Of oure louerdes passioun: as he was woned to done 
 If pe deuel ne mijte po bileue: vpe him none prowe 
 
 For drede he ful sone adoun: bituene him & pe wowe 
 If Seint Edmund aros vp anon: & pe deuel ouercom 
 Strangliche & harde ynou: bi pe prote he him nom
 
 HE IS CHOSEN TO PREACH FOR THE CRUSADE. 9 
 
 296 purf oure louerdes passioun: tel nou he seide me 
 
 Ich axie pe hou cristene man: mai best him witie fram pe 
 298 Me ne schal wip noping quap pe deuel: schulde fram mie poer 
 
 So wel as purf his passioun: pat pu nemnedest er 
 IT per lurnede pis holi man: as we mowe ek echon 
 
 In whiche manere we mowe best: pe deueles poer forgon 
 302 For he hatiep godes passioun: as man dop his fon 
 
 & whan a man hit hap in munde: he wole him fleo anon 
 IF Eche tyme of pe dai & of pe nijte : seint Edmund him gan biseo 
 
 pat he dijte him wel to godes wille: pat he nolde idel beo 
 306 Oper he was in oreisouns: oper at his hoc 
 
 Oper he et oper he slep: oper to oper ping he toe 
 T preo tymes him pojte he forles: whan he com perto 
 
 Whan he rod & whan he slep: & whan he et also 
 310 For he nas panne in studie: ne in bede no pe mo 
 
 Ech oper tyme him pojte: to som prou scholde go 
 IF So longe pis gode man: to eche godnisse drouj 
 
 pat his godnisse was wide coup: & me spac perof ynouj 
 314 pe beste prechour he was iholde: pat me owar vnderstode 
 
 For ho-so hap wip him godes grace : his dedes mote nede beo gode 
 IF po pat of pe croserie : pe pope sende fram Rome 
 
 To bischops of Engelond: pat hi a wysman nome 
 318 To prechi of pe croserie: aboute in pe londe 
 
 pat me wende to iherusalem: & sende here sonde 
 320 Procuracies hi jeue hem ek: per hi wende aboute 
 
 Of persones to nyme largeliche : pat non nere wipoute 
 IF Seint Edmund was perto ichose: pis prechinge forto do 
 
 For he was prechour god ynou: & holi man perto 
 324 He nolde of persones nyme noping : ne no spense take 
 
 Ac whan persones him bode oujt: he hit wolde forsake 
 IF For whan he seruede ihesu crist : of his owe spense he toe 
 
 & of persones & of oper men : jiftes he forsoc 
 328 He ne furde nojt as pis Arcedeknes: ne pis opere no pe mo 
 
 pat persones & pouere preostes: oueral dop wel wo 
 330 As he prechede a dai: of pe croij wel longe 
 
 A jung man wende among popere: pe croij to afonge 
 332 A womman pat him louede: anon po heo isej pis 
 
 Hente him bihynde hasteliche: & ajen him drouj iwis
 
 80 ST. EDMUND THE CONFESSOR. HIS MIRACLES. 
 
 334 As stif as enie bord: hire honden bicome anon 
 
 pat heo nemijte hem awolde nojt: noper synues ne bon 
 336 pat pe hond was ek forcroked: heo makede reuliche bere 
 
 Seint Edmund bihuld aboute: & eschte what hit were 
 IF Sire merci quaf> pis womman: wrecchede ic am ynouj 
 
 As pis man wolde afonge pe croij: a lute ic him wipdrouj 
 340 & myn hond is al-forcroked : wharwip ic him nom 
 
 In ale wrecchede ic am ibrojt: alias pat ich euere her com 
 342 Womman quap pis holi man : woltou pe croice take 
 
 If ic mijte louerd quap pis oper: y nolde hire nojt forsake 
 344 pis womman sat adoun a kneo : & of him pe croice nom 
 
 & pe crokede hond streijte forp: & anonrijt hoi bicom 
 346 Heo cride & herede ihesu crist: pis was coup anon 
 
 For pis miracle per toke pe croij: men menie on 
 If In o tyme of pe roueisouns: pis holi man also 
 
 Prechede a dai at Oxenford: as he hadde ofte ido 
 350 In alle halewe churchjerd: in pe norp side 
 
 Mid pe baners at vnderne: as men dop a londe wide 
 352 As pe holi man amidde al pe folc: in his preching was best 
 
 pe grislikeste weder pat mijte beo: com fram pe west 
 354 Swart & durc & grislich: & ouercaste al pan toun 
 
 pe wynd bleu ek so grisliche : as al pe wordle scholde adouu 
 IF So durk hit was ek perto: pat vnepe me mijte iseo 
 
 Grislikere weder pan hit was: ne mijte an vrpe beo 
 358 pat folc for drede of here elopes : faste gonne to fleo 
 
 Abidep quap pis holi man: oure louerd is god & freo 
 360 pis weper pe deuel brinjp: to desturbie godes lore 
 
 Oure louerd is strengere pan he: ne drede je nojt so sore 
 362 He bihuld to god an hej: & cride milce & ore 
 
 To schulde hem fram pe deueles mijte : pat he ne greuede hem 
 
 nomore 
 IF po he hadde iseid his oreisoun: pat weper bigan to glide 
 
 In anoper half of pe churche: al in poper side 
 366 per hit gan dasche adoun: hit nolde no leng[er] abide 
 
 pat vnepe purf pe heje strete : me mijte go oper ride 
 368 Ac in pe norp half of pe churche : per pis gode man stod 
 
 per ne ful nojt a reynes drope : to desturbi a manes mod
 
 HIS PREFERMENT. HIS TEMPERANCE. 81 
 
 370 Ac in pe soup half of pe heje strete : hit leide on for wod 
 
 pat al pe stret a watere orn: as hit were a gret flod 
 372 pat folc pat fram pe prechinge : for doute of reyn drouj 
 
 Hi pat wende bi pe heje strete : hadde perof ynouj 
 374 Ac hi pat bileuede pere: drie & clene were 
 
 IT Louerd, moche is pi mijte: fair miracle was pere 
 375* In pe toun of wircestre : ful pulke silue cas 
 376 As pis holi man seint Edmund: in his preching was 
 
 Such weper per com ouer him : pat hem drof hit awei also 
 378 Me pingp as bi his lyue: fair miracle per was ido 
 
 So wide sprong his holi lyf : aboute fur & nher 
 380 pat me ne huld of holinisse : in Engelond his per 
 
 Imaked he was at Salesbury: Canoun seculer 
 382 Prouendre he hadde of pe hous: & was tresourer 
 
 po he was auanced: he tolde perof lute 
 384 He spende aboute pore men: pat opere dude in prute 
 
 He spende so moche for godes loue: aboute in almesdede 
 386 pat vnepe he mijte half a jer: bi his rente his lyf lede 
 
 IT To p'abbei of Stanleghe : he wende panne ilome 
 388 & soiournede per for defaute : of his crop 
 
 For maistre steuene of Laxingtone: pat abbod was po pere 
 390 His disciple hadde ibeo: while hi at scole were 
 
 His fille ne et he neuere mo: pat enie man hit mijte iseo 
 392 Ne as moche as man nede moste: in god poynt forto beo 
 
 Of him wondrede euerech man: pat him isej ete 
 394 Hou he mijte holde his lyf: bi so lutel mete 
 
 Of god mete nolde he nojt: pej me wolde him bringe 
 396 Hit was what lutles pat he et: al of grete pinge 
 
 pane dai pat he masse song: flesch ne et he non 
 398 Ne pe dai per bifore: for noping pat mijte gon 
 
 Fram pat me lek allan: forte com ester day 
 400 He ne est noping pat polede dep: as al pat folc isay 
 
 Ne in pe aduent no pe mo: ac pat was lute ynouj 
 402 Ajen his oper penance: pat he al day forp drouj 
 
 Hit biful pat pe Archebischop : of Canterbury was ded 
 404 Seint Edmund was ichose: perto purf pe comun red 
 
 po pe ellectioun was ymaked in pe Court of Canterbury 
 406 Anon hi sende here messager: to him to salesbury 
 
 f
 
 82 ST. EDMUND THE CONFESSOR. HIS MEEKNESS. 
 
 He wende toward salesbury: ac per nas he nojt 
 408 He fond him in pe toun of Calne: po he was al isojt 
 
 In his chambre he was priueiliche: at his boc wel stille 
 410 Ne perste noman to him go: forto wite his wille 
 
 Ac napeles on pat was him next: as hit were his chambevlayn 
 412 God tepinge wende to him bringe: perto he was fayn 
 He tolde him pat he was ichose: archebischop to beo 
 414 pis holi man him chidde anon: & het him panne fleo 
 
 Beo stille, fol, he seide, ich hote pe: & go out hunne anon 
 416 Make faste pe dore after pe: & ne let no man in gon 
 To desturbi me of mie studie : ac let me in pays beo 
 418 Of pis tepinge he told lute: perbi me mijte iseo 
 
 So farep jut pis clerkes: hi ne wilnyep no maistrie 
 420 Ne beo ichose to heje men: for gode ich wene ic lie 
 
 IT pis messagers bileuede wipoute: & carefulle were of pojt 
 422 For pe dai wende forp: & here message ne dude hi nojt 
 
 Hi wende for here gode tepinge : to beo nobliche vnderfonge 
 424 So murie hem pojte here semblant : pat he pojte per wel longe 
 
 Here jiftes hi mijte epe bere: pat seint Edmund hem caste 
 426 Hi bimende & ofpojte sore: pat hi hijede pider so faste 
 
 He n'aros ane fot fram his boc: er god pane tyme sende 
 428 As he was iwoned anoper dai: ac so forp wel softe wende 
 
 H po he cam out of his chambre : pe messagers come 
 430 & seide here erande hou hit was : he toe perof lute gome 
 
 1 po pe lettres were irad: beau freres he sede 
 432 Ich wole loke what mie felawes : of pis ping wollep rede 
 
 In pe chapitre of salesbury: as rijt is pat ich do 
 434 Hi nadde of him non oper ansuere : po hit alles com perto 
 
 IF pe chapitre of salesbury : amorwe was plener 
 436 Alle pe Canouns of pe queor: per come fur & ner 
 
 To consailli him of pisse pinge : pe red was sone ido 
 438 For gladliche at one worde: hi radde him alle perto 
 IF Beop stille, quap pis holi man: what schal pis ised 
 440 Worpi nam y nojt perto: nymep anoper red 
 
 Certes, quap pe bischop, po: & pe Canouns alle also 
 442 Nou pu ne mijt nojt per ajen beo: pu most hit nede do 
 
 IF pe bischop al wepinge: cride on him faste 
 444 And in obedience: him het atte laste
 
 HE GIVES BACK TO A POOR WIDOW THE HERIOT-BEAST. 83 
 
 pat he ne scholde nojt bileue: godes wille to do 
 446 To buxom to holi churche: & to al pe lond also 
 
 If po bigan pis holi man: to wepe & sike sore 
 448 Nou god he seide ous jeue his grace: his milce & his ore 
 
 & ic take god to witnisse: & seinte Marie also 
 450 pat if y ne wende synewi dedliche : y nolde neuere hit do 
 
 If po hi ihurde pis word: ioyful ynou hi were 
 452 Hi nome him vp wip ioye ynou : & to pe heje weued him bere 
 
 & te domine laudamus: songe murie & heje 
 454 Euere wep pis holi man: as pis Canouns iseje 
 
 So pat hi come to Canterbury: & dude as rijt was pere 
 456 & Archebischop was ymaked: vnponkes pej hit were 
 
 Ne per no man eschte per: whar he toke on wel ynouj 
 458 & wel wissede holi churche: & to alle godnisse drouj 
 
 If his lyf was holi er: wel betere hit was po 
 460 In penance he was strong ynouj: in fastinge & oper wo 
 
 He hadde euere of seli men : pite & deol ynouj 
 462 For him pO}te pat heje men: dude hem al dai wouj 
 
 If O tyme on of his pore men: wende of lyfdawe 
 464 His beste best to heriet: me broujte as hit [was] lawe 
 
 po cam pis seli manes wyf: pat careful widue was 
 466 & mette .wip pis holi man : as oure louerd jaf pat cas 
 
 Heo cride on him deolfulliche : merci & his ore 
 468 & seide bote pat o best: lute god heo hadde more 
 Ne heo nuste in whiche manere: for meseise lyue 
 470 Heo bad him for godes loue: pat he pe best ajen hire jyue 
 
 If Gode womman, quap pis holi man: pu wost wel lawe hit is 
 472 pe chief louerd to habbe pe beste eijte: whan a man ded is 
 To his clerkes he seide a latyn : pat heo hit nojt ne vnderstod 
 474 Me pinjp hit is a liper lawe: & noper rijt ne god 
 
 If pis gode wyf hap forlore hire louerd : pat hire god forp drouj 
 476 & to leose after hire beste best: me pinjp hit were wouj 
 
 Nis pat on liper ynouj: pej heo ne lore pat oper also 
 478 purf pe deuel of helle hit is : & purf god nojt ido 
 
 If Gode wyf, he seide, if ic take pe: aje pi best to lone 
 480 Woltou hit witie to myne bihoue: of ic hit esche eftsone 
 
 Aje sire, quap pis widue: god julde pe pyn ore 
 482 pis widue nom horn hire best: & ne juld hit no more
 
 84 EDMUND THE CONFESSOR AND KING HENRY. 
 
 IT^pis cas biful menie o tyme: whan men bede him oujt 
 484 Heriet of pore men : ne wilnede he rijt noujt 
 
 We ne mowe nowhar nej: rekene al his gode dede 
 486 For in penance strong ynouj : his lyf he gan lede 
 
 & truliche huld vp holi churche: & schulde hire fram wouj 
 488 perfore hadde pe deuel of helle: enuie gret ynouj 
 
 He bigan to rere contek: bituene hem anon 
 490 & kyng Henrie pat was: pe kynges sone Johan 
 
 pe kyng & moche del of pe lond: ajen holi churche was 
 492 As pe kyng er his grandsire: was aje seint Thomas 
 
 & pe Couent ek of Canterbury : ajen seint Edmund hulde faste 
 494 Ofte hi nome a louedai: ac pe Contek cuere ilaste 
 
 IT A Legat was po in engelonde: pat ajen him was also 
 496 Stedefast was pis holi man: pej he lute help hadde perto 
 
 Hi ne mijte acordi for noping: ac pe leng pe wors hit was 
 498 Ac pis holi man euere nam: his ensample bi seint Thomas 
 
 Wei ofte he bad pe king & his consail: if hit were here wille 
 500 Holi churche werrie nojt: ac in pees lete hire beo stille 
 
 Hire franchise as hit was: as hit hadde ibeo jare 
 502 pe king him pretnede faste anon: bote he bileuede his fare 
 
 IT Of pi pretnynge ic drede lute : seide pis holi man 
 504 For if pu me dryuest out of londe : anoper red ic can 
 
 For ic can go to parys: as ic habbe er ido 
 506 & wynne me per mete ynou: & clopinge perto 
 
 If pu letest me to depe bringe : pu payest me wel ynouj 
 508 pu ne mijtest do me nomore honour: pan quelle me wip wouj 
 
 IT jut eft as he dude ofte: to pe king he sende 
 510 He answerede him pe leng pe wors: & nolde noping amende 
 
 po pis holi man isej: pat hit non oper nolde beo 
 512 purf holi churche he gan to fijte : & amansede alle peo 
 
 pat werrede pe churche of Canterbure : & eke dude schame 
 514 & somme pat he gulti wiste: he amansede bi name 
 IT To pe king & his consail: pe worp wel sone drouj 
 516 Ne per noman esche po: whar hi were wrop ynouj 
 
 pretinge per was & bost ynouj : seint Edmund him huld stille 
 518 & fast huld vp pe sentence: & let hern speke here wille 
 
 1T Seint Thomas com & spac wip him: & fram heuene alijte 
 520 & bad him holde vp stabliche: holi churche rijte
 
 ST. EDMUND LEAVES ENGLAND. 85 
 
 For non vrplich anuy ne for dep: ne flecche pu nojt 
 522 Ac nym ensample of me & of opere : pat so deore hire habbep ibojt 
 
 H Seint Edmund ful adoun a kneo: & huld vp his hond also 
 524 To cusse pis holi manes fet: ac he ne moste hit nojt do 
 
 po bigan he to wepe sore: louerd he seide pin ore 
 526 Beo nou stille, quap seint Thomas: ne wep pu so no more 
 
 Whi wilnestou to cusse mie fet: hit nere no rijt to do 
 528 pu schalt nu ene pi wille habbe: & cusse mie moup also 
 
 If Seint Edmund after pulke tyme: stedefast was ynouj 
 530 To deye rapere for holi churche: pan me dude hire wouj 
 
 He pojte on seint Thomas : hou he out of londe wende 
 532 pe while pe king was in mest wrappe : if he wolde amende 
 
 Ensample he nom of him: & priueiliche ynouj 
 534 Wende him out of Engelond: & into france drouj 
 
 He pojte ek pat at Ponteney: he was faire vnderfonge 
 536 & isustened in his anuy: pat ileste swipe longe 
 
 & also steuene of Langetone : pat Archebischop was 
 538 Six jer was at Ponteney: in pulke silue cas 
 
 So pat seint Edmund vnderstod : of his ancestres ynowe 
 540 Whan contek was of holi churche : pat to Ponteney drowe 
 
 IT Also dude seint Edmund: to Ponteney he wende 
 542 To abide pe stat of holi churche : when oure louerd hit wolde 
 
 amende 
 
 Honoured he was per ynouj : of alle pat per were 
 544 & euere abod amendement: fram jere to jere 
 
 If Hit biful pat seint Edmund: as god wolde atte laste 
 546 Velde his bodi heuy ynouj : & febli wel faste 
 
 So longe pat he was so feble : pat me ne radde him nojt beo pere 
 548 Ac to soiourny elleswhar: where betere eyr were 
 1F pis holi man his leue nom: elleswhoder to wende 
 550 pe monekes makede so moche deol: pat hit-nas non ende 
 
 Beop stille , quap pis gode man : fare ic wole purf alle pinge 
 552 & come aje hider to jou : a seint Edmundes day pe kynge 
 
 Louerd in such siknisse: which word per was ised 
 554 Ac whan he ne mijte nojt alyue: foreward he huld ded 
 
 IT Forp he wende wip his men: per god eyr were 
 556 To pe toun of soycie: & bileuede pere
 
 86 ST. EDMUND THE CONFESSOR. HIS DEATH. 
 
 per heo jeode so longe as hit was: in siknisse ynouj 
 558 So longe pat he lai adoun: & to pe depe drouj 
 
 IT So pat he eschte oure louerdes flesch: & hit was him ibroujt 
 560 He sat & bihuld hit faste ynouj: in studie & in pojt 
 
 Longe hit was er he spac enie ping : & po he seide myldeliche 
 562 Louerd, he seide, pu hit ert: pat ich habbe iloued truliche 
 
 & truliche on pe bileoued : & ipreched of pe also 
 564 And pu truliche at myn endedai : ert icome me to 
 
 Ich take pe louerd to witnisse : pe while ic haue her an vrpe ibeo 
 566 Noping elles y ne wilnede: louerd bote pe 
 
 Louerd pat pis was an hej word: & he pat pus sede 
 568 God & holi moste he beo : & holi lyf lede 
 
 IF po he hadde ynome oure louerdes flesch : he sat longe in pojte 
 570 & al lajinge an englisch: puse wordes forp brojte 
 
 Me saip game gop a wombe: & ic sigge game gop an hurte 
 572 & in his bed per he lai: vprijt he sturte 
 
 In oure louerd pat he had ynome: wel ioyful he was po 
 574 & al his game was in hurte: for his bodi was wel wo 
 
 pe more his bodi pynede :pe nher he was his ende 
 576 & whan he were of pisse lyue : he wiste whoder wende 
 
 perfore pe more he was: in siknisse & in wo 
 If pe gladdere he was for he wiste: whoder he scholde go 
 
 & pe more he loj in ioye ynouj : & pe muriere him gan like 
 580 Me nuste him nojt enes ligge adoun: ne gronye ne sike 
 
 & sat euere glad ynouj: & lynede wel ofte 
 582 Vpe elopes oper vpe his hond: as pej he deide softe 
 
 So fair semblant ne makede he non : as po he was at an ende 
 584 In pe morweninge as pe sonne aros : out of pis wordle he gan wende 
 
 He deide tuelf hondred jer: & two & fourti rijt 
 586 After pat oure suete louerd: in his moder was ali}t 
 
 Me let him openie anon: & his guttes take 
 588 & burie per as he was ded: in pe Minstre of seint Jake 
 
 & his holi bodi me nam: & faire let hit lede 
 IT To pe abbai of Ponteney: as he him silf sede 
 
 A seint Edmundes dai pe king: pider he was ibrojt 
 592 Foreward he huld pis monekes: & ne faillede hem nojt 
 
 For po he ne com nojt aje alyue: ded he com iwis 
 594 & per he was ibrojt an vrpe: & also ischryned is
 
 ST. EDMUND THE KING. 87 
 
 & lyp per faire ynou: & wip gret honour also 
 596 Menie is pe faire miracle: pat god hap for him per ido 
 
 Nou for his loue we biddep god: pat ous deore boujte 
 598 Bringe ous to pe hej blis: pat he his soule to broujte: Amen: 
 
 XVIII. ST. EDMUND THE KING. 
 (Harl. MS. 2277, fol. 162 b.) 
 
 Seint Edmund pe holi king : of wham we makiep gret feste 
 2 Of pat on ende of Engelond: kyng he was her bi este 
 
 For of soupfolc he was kyng: & of pe contray wide 
 4 For per were in Engelond: kynges in eche side 
 
 Swipe fair knyjt he was & strong: & hardie in eche poynte 
 6 Meok mylpe & ful of milce: & swipe curteys & quoynte 
 
 Tuei princes of anoper lond: pat were of liper pojt 
 8 Faste here red to-gadere nome: to bringe Engelond to nojt 
 
 Hubba was poper ihote: & poper het Hyngar 
 10 Wip grete furde hi come to Engelonde : er enie man were iwar 
 
 In norphumberland hi bigonne: & per hi sloje to grounde 
 12 Robbede also & brende to nojt : & destruyde al pat hi founde 
 1F po hi hadde norphumberland: clenliche to nojt ibrojt 
 14 Also hi pojte al Engelond: hi ne pojte raper bileue nojt 
 
 Hyngar pat o maister was: his felawe bileuede pere 
 16 & her bi este wende him silf: to sle pat per were 
 
 Of pe godnisse of seint Edmund: he hurde moche telle 
 18 In to his lond he wende anon: to fondie him to quelle 
 IF In to his hexte toun he com: er erne man were iwar 
 20 & robbede al pat he fond: & makede pane toun bar 
 
 pat folc he sloj al to grounde: al pat he mijte ofgon 
 22 jung & old wyf ne maide : he ne sparede non 
 
 Children fram here moder breost: he drouj & let hem quelle 
 24 & alto-drawe tofore here moder: pat reupe hit is to telle 
 
 pe modres he let sippe quelle: pat reupe hit was ynouj 
 26 pe toun he brende al to douste: & pat folc aslouj 
 
 He of-eschte of pat folc : where here kyng were 
 28 & hi him teijte wher he was: hi ne perste non oper for fere
 
 88 ST. EDMUND THE KING. HIS MARTYRDOM. 
 
 1F For in pe toun of Eglesdone : a god wei pannes hit was 
 
 30 po pe lipere prince pis ihurde: he ne makede nojt softe pas 
 
 Ac wende pider hasteliche: wip his men echone 
 32 Hi come &mette wip seint Edmund: wipoute pe toun alone 
 IF po Hyngarwiste pat he hit was: he nom him anon pere 
 34 & bisigede alle pe men: pat wipinne pe toun were 
 
 Seint Edmund was faste ynome: in a lute stounde 
 36 & ilad to-fore pe prince naked: his honden faste ibounde 
 
 As me ladde oure louerd tofore Pilatus : forto afonge his dom 
 38 po his dom was ijyue: faste me him nom 
 
 & ladde him to a picke wode: & makede him menie wounde 
 40 & beote him sore wip harde scourgen : & to a treo him bounde 
 
 So pat pis lipere tourmentours : pat beote him so sore 
 42 pojte pat pej hi him schame dude : pat hi him wolde do more 
 
 Hi stode afur & bende here bowes: & here arewes rijte 
 44 And as to a merke schote to him: as euene as hi mijte 
 
 pe arewes stode on him picke: & al his bodie to-drowe 
 46 & euere stod pis holi man: stille as pej he lowe 
 
 As ful as an illespyl is : of pikes al aboute 
 48 As ful he stikede of arewen: wip-inne & wipoute 
 
 So ful pat in none stede: ne mijte an arewe in wende 
 50 For oper bote he his bodi corue: & him dude torende 
 
 As pe holi man imartred was: pe holi seint Bastian 
 52 Also hi rende his holi bodie: & schote pis holi man 
 
 pat eche pece ful fram oper: wonder hit was of his lyue 
 54 Euere he stod as him ne rojte: & cride on god wel blyue 
 IF po Hyngar isej pat he ne mijte: him ouercome nojt 
 56 He let smyte of his heued : pat he were of lyue ibrojt 
 IF As pis holi man his bedes bad: me smot of his heued 
 58 Ac his bodi was er alto-rend: pat noping n'as bileued 
 
 & for hit was alto-drawe: hi lete hit ligge pere 
 60 Ac his heued for me ne scholdehit nojtfynde: forpmidhemhibere 
 IF In pe wode of Eglesdone : a durne stede hi fonde 
 62 Among picke pornes hi caste hit: & hudde hit in pe grounde 
 IF po hi hadde of pis holi kyng : al here welle pere 
 64 Glade & blipe hi wende forp: lipere men as hit were 
 
 pat heued hi hudde durneliche: pat noman perto ne come 
 66 If enie were bileued alyue: & pat heued wip hem nome
 
 HIS BURIAL IN ST. EDMUNDESBURY. 89 
 
 A wyld wolf per com sone : & to pe heued drouj 
 68 & per vppe sat & wiste hit faster aje cunde ynouj 
 
 For his cunde were betere to swolewe hit: he lickede hit ofte 
 
 & custe 
 70 & as he wolde his owe whelp: wip wylde best hit wiste 
 
 Sippe po come cristene men: & in som poer were ibrojt 
 72 pe holi bodi hi fonde sone: for hit nas ihud nojt 
 
 Ac for hi ne fonde nojt pat heued: aboute hi wende wide 
 74 & longe hi sojte in eche stede: euerech in his side 
 IF Hi ne mijte hit finde for noping: so pat hi come a day 
 76 Biside pulke picke stede: per as pe heued lay 
 
 Hi nuste nojt pat hit was per: pat heued bigan to grede 
 78 As hit among pe pornes lai: & puse wordes sede 
 
 Al an englisch. her: her: her: as pej hit were alyue 
 80 po pat folc ihurde pis: pider hi vrne blyue 
 
 pat heued hi fonde in pulke stede: per as hit him silue sede 
 82 Louerd ihered beo pi mijte: pat per was a fair dede 
 
 pat heued hi bere to pe bodie: & sette hit euene perto 
 84 & bere forp bope wip gret honour: as rijt was to do 
 
 & pe wolf makede po deol ynouj : po hi pat heued forpbere 
 86 He jal & furde pitousliche: as pej he witles were 
 
 He suede hem euere while he mijte: jullinge wel sore 
 88 Atte laste he wende al aweie: per me ne sej him no more 
 
 Hi ladde him to seint Edmundesbury: as me clepep pane toun 
 90 pis holi man al isound : & leide him peradoun 
 
 In noble schryne hi him broujte: as rijt was to do 
 92 per he lyp al hoi & sound: as hi seop pat comep him to 
 
 For his bodi pat was so to-drawe: bicom al hoi anon 
 94 As pe while he was alyue : bope in flesch & bon 
 
 His heued as faste to pe bodie: as hit was euer er 
 96 In al his bodi per nas wem : as menie man isej per 
 
 Bote as his heued was of ismyte : as oure louerd hit wolde 
 98 A smal red lyne al aboute: schyninge of golde 
 
 Wele whiche fair pelrynage: is pider forto fare 
 100 To honoury pat holi bodie: pat hap ibeo per so jare 
 
 Nou god for pe loue of seint Edmund : pat was so noble kyng 
 102 Grante ous pe ioye pat he is inne: after oure ending: Amen: 
 I Seint Clement follows, < then Seinle Katerinc.]
 
 90 ST. KATHERINE. 
 
 XIX. ST. KATHERINE. 
 (Harl. MS. 2277, fol. 171.) [The & of the MS. is printed and.] 
 
 Seinte katerine of noble cunne : com bi olde dawe 
 Hire fader kyng hire moder quene: bope of olde lawe 
 King Cost hire fader het: gret clerc pat maide was 
 per nas non of pe soue artj : pat heo gret clerk of nas 
 5 pulke tyme heo was old: eijtene jer vnepe 
 
 And ic wene in pulke vlpe: heo was ibrojt to depe 
 Maxent pemperour: meche londe let crie 
 pat eche kinriche vnder him: come to Alisandrie 
 And of hem pat bileuede : to do stronge gywise 
 10 Ech man to do for his stat: to here god sacrefise 
 If po alle pe men were pider icome: to don here lawe 
 Seinte katerine baldeliche: piderward gan drawe 
 Heo stod bihalues and bihuld: here gydihede 
 Heo sej honoure pe maumetj: menie cristene men for drede 
 If po hadde heo gret deol in hurte: heo blescede hire anon 
 16 And forp anon to pemperour: baldeliche gan gon 
 
 Sire riche Emperour heo seide: pu ert noble and hende 
 pu scholdest pi poer and pi wit: to som wysdom wende 
 For pe folie ic sigge pat: pat ich iseo her do 
 20 So moche folc of furrene londe : pat pu clipest herto 
 If In gret ioye and wonder in joure hurte : of pis temple }e dop so 
 pat is ymaked of lym and ston : and of joure maumetj also 
 Whi ne biholde je pe heje temple: perof jou wondri maie 
 Of heuene pat gop aboute: aboue jou nijt and daie 
 25 Of sonne and mone and of pe steires : pat fram pe est to pe west 
 Wendep and neuer werie beop: and neuer hi nabbep rest 
 Bipench pe bet and turn pi pojt : to som wysdom ic rede 
 And whan pyn owene inwitpesaip: pat no whar nis suchadede 
 Al-mi}tie god pu him holde: pat such wonder can make 
 30 To fore alle opre honoure him : and pure maumetj pu forsake 
 Mid oper reisouns of clergie: pat maide preouede also 
 pat here godes noping nere: pat hi aourede hem to 
 If pemperour stod and ne coupe: answerie in none wise 
 Him wondrede of hire f airhede : and of hire queyntise
 
 SHE IS TAKEN BEFORE THE EMPEROR. 91 
 
 35 Maide he seide abyd her wip: forto oure sacrefise 
 
 And we schulle anoper wip pe speke: ic oper mie Justise 
 
 1T pis heje man after his sacrefise: jeode and sat in his trone 
 And al his folc aboute him: me broujte pis maide sone 
 Maide, quap pis Emperour: pu penchest gent and freo 
 
 40 Of what kyn ertou icome : wonder me pinjp of pe 
 
 IT Sire Emperour, quap pis maide: ic wilnie swipe lute 
 Of mie kyn to telle pe : for hit were sinne and prute 
 For in his boc pe wise man: Catoun saip also 
 pat man ne schal him silue preise: ne blame no pe mo 
 
 45 For so dop foles pat beop idreijt : wip veyne glorie and prute 
 Ac napeles ic wole wip oute prute: of mi kyn telle a lute 
 
 IT Ich am pe kinges doujter Cost: pat pu wost wel which he is 
 Hider ic com to speke wip jou: pat je bileouep amis 
 For me clepep him godes wip wrong: pat ane fot ne mowe go 
 
 50 Ne noman helpe in none wise: ne hem silue no pe mo 
 Maide seide pemperour: if pat pis sop were 
 Al pe men of pe wordle were in gydihede: and pu one hem 
 
 scholdest lere 
 
 And me schal leoue alle men: and more hit wole beo note 
 pan a fol womman as pu ert: pure bolt is sone ischote 
 
 55 Sire , quap pis maide po : pej pu lute telle of me 
 As god mai pe resoun beo : of me as of pe 
 For Emperour me saip pu ert: and ech man is also 
 pat mai hote and his men mote: nede his heste do 
 Of bodi and soule pu ert ymaked : as pu mijt pe silf iseo 
 
 60 Mid rijte pi soule maister is : and pi bodi hire hyne schal beo 
 If panne pi bodi maister is : and pi soule his hyne 
 Aje cunde panne hit is and pu worst: perfore in helle pyne 
 purf clergie pis holi maide: resouns makede so qaoynte 
 If pat pemperour ne non of his ne coupe : answerie hire in none 
 
 poynte 
 
 65 Maide he seide pu schalt abide : in warde her mid me 
 And bityme ic wole fynde: pat scha answerie to pe 
 pis emperour sende anon: wel wide aboute his sonde 
 IT To pe hejiste clerkes: pat were in enie londe 
 And bihet hem mede gret: to do a lute maistrie 
 
 70 To sustenie vp here lawe : purf strenjpe of clergie
 
 92 ST. KATHERINE. SHE DISPUTES WITH THE DOCTORS 
 
 So pat vyftie maistres come: pe gretteste pat me fond 
 As wide as me mijte siche: o whar in enie lond 
 pemperour he seide anon : whi he after hem sende 
 
 74 Ajen a womman to desputi: pat al here lawe schende 
 
 IF Nou is pis seide pat on: gret schame ic vnderstonde 
 An Emperour to siche aboute: so wide in eche londe 
 After maistres to plaidi: ajen a jung wenche 
 Whan on of oure knaues mijte : hire resouns sone aquenche 
 
 IF Nai seide pemperour: heo is wisere pan je wene 
 
 80 If je mowe ojt ajen hire do : hit worp sone isene 
 
 For ich wole bet pat je hire ouercome : mid resouns a somme 
 
 wise 
 
 pan we hire mid strenjpe makede: to do sacrefise 
 Let bringe hire forp , quap pat on : and heo schal sigge anon 
 pat heo ne spac neuere wip wisere men : er heo fram ous gon 
 
 85 An angel to pis maide com: and bad hire noping drede 
 
 For heo scholde hem alle ouercome: and to cristendom lede 
 pat purf hire resouns hi scholde alle : afonge martirdom 
 
 IF po pis maide ihurde pis: gret ioye to hire heo nom 
 Wei baldeliche heo wende forp: po meste hire to com 
 
 90 Sire, heo seide to pemperour: jyfstou a wys dom 
 
 pus fole maistres of clergie: bringest and settest a benche 
 To desputie aje me one: pat nam bote a fol wenche 
 And if hi ouercomep me : pu bihotest hem grete prute 
 Andmidstrenjpe makest me wiphemspeke: and bihotest me lute 
 
 95 And pinjp me vnrijt whan ic am: one ajen hem alle 
 
 Ac ic wole whan god is myn help : afonge what me wole bifalle 
 
 1F Sai me quene what ertou: pat o maister seide [primus retor 
 Ajen oure clergie penjpstou speke: turn pi pojt ic rede 
 pu saist pat god almijtie: dep an vrpe polede here 
 100 Ich wole preouie pat hit ne mijte: beo sop in none manere 
 Ho so deyep he ne maie: neuere to lyue come 
 Whan al pe vertu of his bodi : purf dep him is bynome 
 
 IF If pu saist pat god is ded: pu ne mijt libbe nojt 
 104 If he pat lyf pe scholde jeue : is to depe ibrojt 
 
 IF Nai seide pis holi maide : pu faillest of pyn art [Katerina 
 pe ne tit bote pu speke bet: of pe maistere no part
 
 AND CONVINCES THEM. THEY ARE TO BE KILLED. 93 
 
 God hadde euere and euere schal: wip his godhede 
 And for loue of ous in oure flesch: he nom his manhede 
 Of two pinges he was ymaked: aiper moste his cunde afonge 
 
 110 For in cunde of manhode ous to bugge: he polede dep stronge 
 Ac to bileue ded hit was: aje cunde of godhede 
 perfore he aros from depe to lyue : po he hadde ido al his dede 
 purf pe stronge dep pat purf Adam : we were on ibrojt 
 purf godhede ymengd in oure kunde : nede moste beo ibojt 
 
 115 If pu wipsaist pis reisoun: anoper ic wole pe make 
 
 pat clerkes seide of pure lawe : je ne mowe nojt forsake 
 Platon pe grete philosophe : pat was of joure lawe 
 Seide pat god wolde iscourged beo: and eke to-drawe 
 Loke hou hit mijte beo sop: in oper manere 
 
 120 Bote pat pe mochele god for ous: bicom a lute man here 
 
 As god balaham joure prophete: pat hepene was also 
 IF In his boc seide je witep whar: if |e wollep loke perto 
 pat per scholde of Jacobes cunde : a sterre arise brijte 
 pat bope kinges and Dukes scholde: bynyme here mijte 
 
 125 pat was pat oure louerd wolde : of Jacobes cunde beo ibore 
 
 And ouercome alle pat euer were: sippe oper bifore 
 If jut preo kynges of joure lawe : of pulke sterre pojte 
 
 For pe sterre pat god was ibore : and perfore lok him brojte 
 IF po pe maistres ihurde here speke : of so gret clergie 
 
 130 Ne coupe hi answerie nojt o word: ac jiue hire pe maistrie 
 Certes sire , quap pis maistres : so gret cler non per nis 
 pat to hire reisouns hire scholde answerie : forhibeop sopeiwis 
 We seop pat pe holi gost is mid hire: and in hire moupe 
 We ne conne answerie hire nojt: ne we ne pore pej we coupe 
 
 135 perfore bote oure lawe: pe betere we iseo 
 
 Alle we siggep mid one moupe: icristened we wollep beo 
 IF Hei traitours, quap pemperour: beo je icome herto 
 Certes je schulle to stronge depe: alle be on ido 
 Amidde pe toun he het anon: forbrenne hem echone 
 
 140 And hi pane dep for godes loue: afonge wipoute mone 
 Ac mest reup hi hadde of alle: pat hi ifulled nere 
 pis maide hem gan to conforti: and of cristendom lere 
 And seide here stronge dep: pat hi polede pere 
 Scholde beo here cristendom : if hi stedefast were
 
 94 ST. KATHERINE. THE EMPEROR OFFERS TO MARRY HER. 
 
 If pis maistres were igladed po: gladliche forp hi jeode 
 146 And nome pane dep for godes loue : pat me wolde hem beode 
 Hi makede pe signe of pe croij : and in pe fur me hem caste 
 po hi hadde longe ibrend: and ded were atte laste 
 And pat fur was aqueynt: al hoi hi leye pere 
 150 Whyttere and fairere in heu: pan hi euere were 
 
 per nas non so lute wem: nojt pe leste of hare here 
 Oper of clop apeired were : hi leye wip faire chere 
 pemperour let fecche anon: pat maide katerine 
 Haue reupe, he seide, of pe silue: and schulde fram pyne 
 155 Haue reup of pi junge bodi: pat so fair is and hende 
 pu schalt libbe in gret noblei : if pu wolt pi pojt wende 
 In mie paleys ic wole pe make hejist after mie quene 
 And after pi forme lete make: an ymage brijt and schene 
 Ouergult and hire sette: amidde pe Cite 
 160 And ech man him schal honoure : for honour of pe 
 As me schal a god do: pu ne schalt mid al pi lore 
 So moche noblei bipenche: pat y pe nele do more 
 If Sire Emperour, quap pis maide : bilef pi fole pojt 
 
 pu nast no more while to spille: pan to speke so embe nojt 
 165 God almijtie-es spouse ic am: and al pi blandisinge 
 
 Ne pi tourmentz ne schulle ene: fram him myn hurte bringe 
 
 11 pemperour hire let stripe al naked: to a piler faste ibounde 
 
 And bete hire sore wip stronge scourges : and make hire harde 
 
 wounde 
 
 po hi seje pat hi ne mijte: permid turne hire pojt 
 170 In durke prisoun and in deope: sone heo was ibrojt 
 
 pat noman ne jaf hire mete ne drinke: for heo scholde for 
 
 hunger deye 
 
 Oper turne hire pojt to here lawe : and beo ibrojt out of treye 
 In prisoun pis maide lai : tuelf dayes and tuel nijt 
 pat heo noper ne et ne dronk : ne sej non vrplich lijt 
 If A whyt colure fram heuene: com to hire eche dai 
 176 And brojte hire fram heuene mete: as heo in prisoun lai 
 If A dai as pemperour: fram home was afare 
 
 pemperice pojte on hire : and hadde of hire grete care 
 
 Of hire bed wel priueiliche: heo aros at midnijt 
 
 And nom wip hire sire porphirie: pat was hire priuei knijt
 
 SHE CONVERTS THE EMPRESS. 95 
 
 ]80 po hi to prisoun come: hi seje per gret lijt 
 If Hem wondrede wharof hit were: pat pulke stede was so brijt 
 po sejen hi katerine: in pe prisones grounde 
 And an angel of heuene : smyrie hire wounde 
 If pemperice cride anon: katerine pyn ore 
 
 185 Mi rijte bileue tech pu me: y nele beo fol namore 
 pe knijt als god sire porphirie: loude cride also 
 pat moche folc pat per aboute was: sone com perto 
 Sire porfirie ful adoun to hire fet: and loude he gan to crie 
 Anon pis maide hem prechede of god : and of seinte Marie 
 
 190 So pat porphirie and pemperice: purf pis maide pere 
 And tuo hondred knyjtes ek: ibaptijed were 
 Oure louerd him silf com adoun sippe: to seinte katerine 
 Lo here he seide ic hit am: for wham pu ert in pyne 
 Beo stedeuast in pi tourmentz: and ic wole beo mid pe 
 
 195 pi sige is ymaked in heuene: per pu schalt wone wip me 
 If Anoper dai pis Emperour: after pis maide sende 
 pat heo were for hunger ded: swipe wel he wende 
 pis maide was tofore him ibrojt: swipe fair and round 
 What he seide hou gop pis: is heo jut hoi and sound 
 
 200 Whar beop pis traitours: pat hire in prisoun wiste 
 Hi habbep ifed hire stilleliche: pat noman hit miste 
 Bi pe fei ic owe Mahoun: hi ne schulle nomore 
 He let nyme his Gailers: and turmenti sore 
 H Sire Emperour, quap pis maide: is pis god iugement 
 
 205 Gultelese men for mie gult: to bringe in such tourment 
 Ho pat me hap per ifed: he ne dredep pe nojt 
 For an angel of heuene hit is: pat mete me hap ibrojt 
 Do me what tourmentz so pu wolt: and let hem quite gon 
 For certes of pat pu hem saist: gult nabbep hi non 
 If Hei, hende maide katerine: seide pemperour 
 
 211 pench on pi noble gentrise: for of maidenes pu ert flour 
 Turn pi pojt and pu schalt beo: pemperesse peer 
 Heo ne schal habbe nojt tofore pe: bote pat heo is mie fer 
 If Gode man, quap pis holi maide: pu spext al embe nojt 
 
 215 Mid al pi poer pu ne schalt: fram ihesu wende mie pojt 
 
 Alle pe tourment} pat pu mijt peuche : of pynes swipe stronge 
 pu mijt do me if pu wolt: iredi ic am to afonge
 
 96 ST. KATHERINE. THE EMPRESS IS TORTURED. 
 
 For noping ne wilny ic so moche : as mie flesch and blod iwis 
 To jyue for mie lordes lone : pat for me jaf his 
 If po was pemperour so wrop: pat he was nej iswowe 
 
 221 Four wheles of ire he let fulle : of rasours kene ynowe 
 
 And makede hem midgynne turne aboute : pe tuei wheles vpward 
 And oper tueie euene hem ajene: in poper side doneward 
 pat ho pat bituene were : in poper half ne scholde wende 
 
 225 pat pe rasours nolde al his flesch: todrawe and torende 
 If po pis maide was: ido peron to schende 
 
 Oure louerd crist fram heuene: an angel gan pider sende 
 pis angel wip a drawe swerd : pis wheles alto-heu 
 And pe peces flowe aboute: as corn whan me hit seu 
 
 230 And smyte on pis lipere men: wel harde to pe grounde 
 pat four pousend per were aslawe : in a lute stounde 
 je for gode pat was wel: per hi mijte lurne 
 To fijte aje ihesu crist: mid here false querne 
 To wende aboute here rasours: pe holie maide to drawe 
 
 235 Hi nemijte hit nojt wel bilije : pat were ibrojt of dawe 
 If po nuste pemperour noj what do: for deol ne for sore 
 pemperesse nolde po: hire stat hele nomore 
 Sire heo seide hou gop pis: for godes loue pyn ore 
 Ich iseo pis maide is god : and of holi lore 
 
 240 joure maumetj ic forsake: y ne bileue for no fere 
 po gan pemperour for wrappe: loude julle and rore 
 Him pojte he ne mi}te for noping : fram ihesu hire po wende 
 He het pat me scholde hire lede: to pe tounes ende 
 And hire breosten fram hire bodie: wip kene hokes rende 
 
 245 And after smyte of hire heued : hire pe more to schende 
 If Wip gode hurte pemperesse: pane dep gan afonge 
 
 pe quellers heo bad hijie faste: and n'abide nojt to longe 
 
 Hi nome kene hokes of ire : and hire flesche to-gnowe 
 
 As me drawep wip combes wolle: here breostes hi todrowe 
 
 250 Fram hire bodi mossel mele : and sippe smyte of hire heued 
 pe bodie for houndes hit scholde ete: vnbured hit was bileued 
 Ac porfirie burede a nijt: pis holi bodi and god 
 If po pemperour pat bodi miste: he was wrap and wod 
 He turmende menie men: pat nemijte hem nojt skere 
 
 255 po seide porfirie anon: lo sire whar ic am here
 
 THE EMPEROR KILLS PORPHYRY AND ST. KATHERINE. 97 
 
 Ich burede pyn holi wyf: pat was cristes make 
 And to ihesu crist ich haue also: al myn hurte itake 
 For no poer pat pu mijt do : y nele him nojt forsake 
 If po gan pemperour for sorewe: alle his lymes to schake 
 260 Mahoun, he seide, what schalt pis beo : hou schal ic nou do 
 Nou ic haue mie wyf forlore: and sire porfirie also 
 Whi nas porfirie al myn hurte: neltou me nojt rede 
 IF po wende pis oper knijte forp: and loude gonne grede 
 
 And we beop cristene bicome: euerechone hi sede 
 263 We nullep pane dep for godes loue: leue for no drede 
 
 pemperour po gan drawe his her: and sore sike and grone 
 Mahoun he seide hou schal ic do: schal ic bileue alone 
 If Whi neltou rapere fecche mie men: after mie leoue wyue 
 
 Ac pej pu nulle helpe me: y nelle forsake pe nojt 
 270 pis foles pat habbe forsake pe: to depe schulle beo ibrojt 
 He let nyme porfirie anon: and his felawes echone 
 And let smyte of here heuedes wip pe toun: as Mahounes fone 
 If po let he fecche katerine: Damaisele he seide 
 
 Ich wole if pu tourne wolt: forjyue pe pi misdede 
 275 And wip gret noblei as Emperesse: oueral wip me pe lede 
 
 And alle ping ic wole do: also after pie rede 
 If Certes sire, quap pat maide: pis wordes beop for nojt 
 
 pu ne schalt me neuere fram him bringe : pat hap me deore ibojt 
 Do what pu wolt and haue ido: and bring pi wille to ende 
 280 For pu ne schalt mid no tourment: mie pojt fram ihesu crist 
 
 wende 
 If Whar beo je mie quellers: pemperour po sede 
 
 pis wicche je schulle faste bynde: and wip-oute pe toun lede 
 And smyte of hire heued anon : and do pe gode dede 
 pat heo ne bringe ous neuereft: in sorwe ne in drede 
 If po pis maide was ibrojt: to sle wipoute pe toun 
 286 To god heo makede hire preyere: a kneo heo sat adoun 
 
 Louerd, heo seide, grante me: pat ech man pat hauep mone 
 In enie neode oper anuy: in myne passione 
 pat he mote to his wille: help habbe sone 
 290 po com our louerd silf and sede: ic granti pe pi bone 
 Com her forp mie lemman: mie leoue spouse also 
 Heuenejat yopened is: pat pu schalt come to
 
 98 ST. KATHERINE. ST. ANDREW. 
 
 If pe quellere smot of hire heued : as pe men aboute stode 
 Whit mule per orn out of pe wounde : and nojt o drope of blode 
 
 295 pat was signe of maidenhod: pat pe mule out com 
 
 pat clene was wipoute synne: and wipoute swikedom 
 If An angel com and nom pe bodi: among alle pe manne 
 And bar hit to pe hul of synay: tuentie iourneyes panne 
 And burede hit per nobliehe: and faire ynou also 
 
 300 per jut to pis dai: pe bones beop ido 
 
 Of hire tumbe per vrnep jut: holi oylle wel blyue 
 Wher-purf menie sik men is ibrojt: to hele and to lyue 
 Wide a londe hit is ilad: ho so hit habbe mote 
 Noble relik hit is: sike men to habbe of bote 
 
 305 preo hondred jer and twentie: after pat god was ibore 
 Imartred was pis holi maide : of wham we tolde bifore 
 Noon ihesu crist for pe suete loue: of seinte katerine 
 jyue ous pe ioye of heueue: and schulde ous fram belle pine. 
 
 XX. ST. ANDREW (follows St. Katherine). 
 (Harl.MS. 2277, fol. 174b.) 
 
 Seint Andreu p'apostle: was seint peteres broper 
 2 Oure louerd silf to cristendom: him broujte and non oper 
 
 For fischeres hi were bope: and as hi fischede aday 
 4 Bi pe se cure louerd com : and here fisschin isay 
 
 Come, he seide, after me: and ic wole jou make 
 6 Manfischers, and pis opere: here nettes gonne forsake 
 
 And suede him mid pis word: and ne chose nojt amis 
 8 Hem was so betere pan to pasken: in pe water iwis 
 
 While oure louerd an vrpe was : mid him bope hi were 
 10 And sippe hi wende wide aboute: cristendom to lere 
 If In pe lond of patras : seint Andreu sippe com 
 12 He tournde per wel faste: pat folc to cristendom 
 
 Churchen he rerde al aboute: and teijte me perto 
 14 Egeas wyf pe lustise : he makede cristene also 
 
 perfore he iustise was wrop: and wende to patras 
 16 To pe cite in gret wrappe: as seint andreu was
 
 THE JUSTICE IMPRISONS HIM FOR CONVERTING MEN. 99 
 
 Cristene men pat he per fond: sone he let take 
 18 To make hem wip his tourmentj: cristendom forsake 
 1F Seint Andreu sone to him com: sire he seide nym jeme 
 20 pu pat ert so gret iustise: seli men to deme 
 
 pe heje Iustise of heuene : pu haddest neode to knowe 
 22 pat in-to pe put of helle : pe schal deme wel lowe 
 IT What ertou Andreu, quap pe Iustise: pat menie dai hap igo 
 24 And idrawe men to pi false god: pu ne schalt neuereft mo 
 
 Ich drawe men, quap seint Andreu: to god pat sop is 
 26 Ac wrecches and false joure beop: and deue and domhe iwis 
 
 Whi saistou so, quap pe iustise: pu wost wel mid alle 
 28 pat pu perof loude lixt: hou mijte hit so falle 
 
 For pe god pat pu of telst: pe gywes while nome 
 30 And slowe him as he worpie was: bi pur rijt of dome 
 IF Nai certes, quap seint Andreu: rijt nas hit nojt 
 32 Ac purf godes wille ous to bugge : he was to depe ibrojt 
 IF Hou mijte hit beo, quap pe Iustise: pat his wille were perto 
 34 For pe gywes him wip strenjpe nome: and him slowe also 
 IF Ich wot to sope, quap Andreu: ajen his wille hit nas 
 36 For ic was wip him pulke tyme: and isej hou hit was 
 
 For er wel longe he tolde ous fore: hou hit scholde beo 
 38 Tyme and stede and euerech poynt: as we mijte sippe iseo 
 
 If pu woldest pat sope ihure : and if pu rijt vnderstode 
 40 Gret vertu ic wole pe telle: of pe suete holi rode 
 
 Ich wole herkny, quap pis oper: and bote pu do after me 
 42 In pe Rode as pi louerd deide: ic wole sette pe 
 
 If ic doutede, quap pis oper: y ne prechede perof nojt 
 44 Ac peron is al myn hope: mie ioye and al mie pojt 
 
 pis pu mijt telle, quap pe Iustise: men pat luuep pe 
 46 And for y nelle hit ileoue nojt: oper ping pu schalt telle me 
 
 Bote pu bileoue on oure godes : mijtie of alle pinge 
 48 In pe Rode pat pu of spext: to depe me schal pe bringe 
 
 Al mijtie god, quap pis oper: ich herie nijt and day 
 50 Ich bileoue on him and herie wole: pe while ic speke may 
 IF pe Iustise was po wrop ynouj: seint Andreu he let caste 
 52 In strong prisoun and he lai per: pe while hit ilaste 
 
 As pe iustise sat amorwe in his sige: to him he was ibrojt 
 54 Andreu, he seide, ic hopie wel: pat pu beo bet bipojt
 
 100 ST. ANDREW. HE IS BEATEN AND BOUND TO THE CROSS. 
 
 And pat pou habbe fram folie: pi pojt itournd to nijt 
 56 To libbe wip ous in ioye gret: and leue pin vnrijt 
 H pu lipere bern, quap seint Andreu: pu huntest aboute nojt 
 58 pe more tourment pu me dost: pe gladdere is mie pojt 
 
 Forpe mo tourment} pat ich polio for mie louerd: erpat ichdeye 
 GO pe more worp mi ioye wip him: in pe ioye of heuene heye 
 
 Ich doutie more of pe pan of me: for mie pyne nele ileste 
 62 Bote o dai oper tueye her: oper preo atte meste 
 
 Ac pe tourment pat pu schalt habbe: wharto pu schalt wende 
 64 In tuenti pousend jer ne mo: ne worp ibrojt to ende 
 
 PO was pe lustise swipe wrop: he het his men anon 
 66 Seint Andreu scourgi so : po pat him oke ech bon 
 
 And sippe bynde him honde and fet: to pe Rode faste 
 68 Wip stronge corden for his lyf: scholde pe lengore ilaste 
 
 And he pe more in pyne beo: and pe more schede of his blode 
 70 pe tourmentours wel ynouj: his heste vnderstode 
 
 Anon tope bon hi beoten him furst: wip stronge scourges gode 
 72 In to pe vrpe hi pulte faste: pe tuei endes of pe Rode 
 H po seint Andreu isej pe Rode: adoun he sat a kneo 
 74 Hail beo pu swete Rode he seide : swettest of alle treo 
 
 pat pu wip mie louerdes lymes: ihalewed mostest beo 
 76 And of jymmes preciouses: wel glad ic pe iseo 
 
 And wel glad ic come to pe: wel glad afong pu me 
 78 For euere sippe mie louerdes dep: ic habbe pe 
 
 Nym me nou al fram pis men : to mie louerd pu most me sende 
 80 For al myn hope and mi wil is : purf pe to him wende 
 
 po he strupte of him silf his elopes: atte bigynnynge 
 82 And bitoc pe tourmentours: pat scholde him to depe bringe 
 
 Faste hope fet and honde: to pe croij hi bounde 
 84 pe honden hope aboue pe heued: pe fet toward to grounde 
 
 pat folc com picke aboute him: he gan to prechi faste 
 86 Tuei dayes and tuei nijt: pe while his ly ilaste 
 
 pat folc pretnede pe iustise: and picke aboute him come 
 88 And wolde him alto-drawe anon: bote he him adoun nome 
 H pe lustise him wolde nyme adoun: seint Andrew him forbed 
 90 I nele nojt he seide come adoun: er pan ic beo ded 
 
 For ic iseo mie swete louerd: and erwhile ic isej 
 92 pat abydep me til ic come: he is her wel nej
 
 HE ASCENDS INTO HEAVEN. ST. LUCY. 101 
 
 Whan me wolde him nyme adoun: he pojte he was anhej 
 94 No man ne mijte him areche: for euere vpward he stej 
 
 Here armes whan hi vpward reijte: bicome as stif as treo 
 96 So gret lijt per com aboute him: pat noman ne mijte him iseo 
 
 Hi hurde him and ne seje him nojt: pat lijt ileste iwis 
 98 Forte pe holi soule wende: perwip to heuene blis 
 
 po pe soule was forp iwend : and pe holi bodi bileuede pere 
 100 Maximille pe iustises wyf : and oper pat per were 
 
 Wip gret honor hi hit neme adoun: and to buringe bere 
 H jut nolde pe iustise ileoue noping: pat he gan him lere 
 
 perfore amidde pe wey: as he homward wende 
 104 He ful ded to fore pe men: and his soule to helle sende 
 
 Ac seint Andreu was sippe: heje ilad iwis 
 106 To pe lond of Constantinople: per as he jut is 
 
 Swipe glad pat lond is: pat he euere per com 
 108 In pisse manere seint Andreu: polede martirdom. 
 
 [The Miracles of St. Andrew follow ; and then St. Nicholas and his 
 Miracles.] 
 
 XXI. SEINTE LUCIE. 
 (Harl.MS.2277,fol.l83.) 
 
 Seinte Lucie pe holi maide: in Cisille was ibore 
 Wei jung heo gan to seruie god: & bileuede synne & hore 
 Dame Entice hire moder het: pat hire to womman broujte 
 4 Of such a child wel glad heo was: as heo wel oujte 
 II So pat hire moder cam an vuel: swipe greuous & longe 
 For four jer heo hadde mid grete pyne : pe meneisoun l stronge 
 In fisciciens heo hadde ispend: moche del of hire gode 
 Ac per nas non pat mijte hire hele: pat heo ne bledde blode 
 So pat wel wide in pe lond: me tolde of seint Agace 
 10 Of miracles pat at hire schryue : come purf godes grace 
 In pe Cite of Attenes: per pis holi womman lay 
 pat folc wende pider picke: bope nij[t] & day 
 
 ' meniwun, la dyssenterie, le flux de venire.
 
 102 ST. LUCY. HOW HER MOTHER IS CURED OF A FLUX. 
 
 Bi menie pousend to-gadere: of eche lond aboute 
 11 po seintc Lucie isej al dai : of folc so gret route 
 15 Moder, heo seide, pu hauest an vuel: swipe greuous mid allc 
 And we hurep aldai miracles : of seint Agace falle 
 Go we forp pider mid opere: to pe holi seint Agace 
 And pu schalt per to hele come: purf oure louerdes grace 
 II Nou was Lucie stillelicbe: itournd to cristendom 
 20 Ac hire moder hepene was : and al pat folc pat heo of com 
 To an hepene man Lucie was: iwedded in junghede 
 Ac napeles clene maide he wa: wipoute ech foldede 
 Hire moder heo nom stilleliche: & mid opere forp wende 
 To pe tumbe of seint Agace: hire moder lyf to amende 
 25 po hi were pider icome: hi leuede a stounde pere 
 And hurde pe masse per adai: wip opere pat per were 
 So pat pe godspel: was adai as Lucie vnderstod 
 Of a womman pat while hadde : pe meneisoun of blod 
 And come & tuochede pe lappe: of oure louerdes clop ene 
 30 As he wende in grete presse: and was hoi anon and clene 
 IT Leoue moder, quap Lucie: if pu leouest in holi churche 
 And pe wordes of pe godspel: & wold perafter wurche 
 purf tuochinge of seint Agace Tumbe: pu worst hoi anon 
 As pe womman was purf oure louerd : pat after him gan gon 
 35 po pat folc was al iwend: seinte Lucie com 
 
 To seinte Agace holie Tumbe: & hire moder wip hire nom 
 per hi leye in hire bedes: hi nolde panne gon 
 So pat Lucie pis maide: werp aslepe anon 
 pat holi maide seint Agace: fram heuene to hire alijte 
 40 Wip gret cumpaignie of angles : hire croune schynde brijte 
 Lucie heo seide leoue soster: whi trauaillestou so 
 Whi biddestou me so jurne ping: pat pu pe silue mijt do 
 pi bileue pat is so god: helpep pi moder iwis 
 Anon purf pe and pi godnisse : pi moder iheled is 
 45 And also as pis Cite: is moche ihered purf me 
 
 Also schal pi contrai : beo ihered purf pe 
 IF po seinte Lucie aw ok: heo gan to quake sore 
 
 Moder heo seide pu ert hoi: pe neper drede namore 
 For pe loue of pe holi maide: pat pe hap to hele ibrojt 
 50 Ne fonde pu neuere to bringe me: of mie clene pojt
 
 HER LOVER ASKS THE JUSTICE TO PUNISH HER. 103 
 
 Ne let neuere mie spouse in folie: mie maidenhod aspille 
 Ne let me nojt leose pe longe lyf: for a lute fol wille 
 Ac al pat pu igranted hast : to mie spouse jyue mid me 
 54 Let me hit jyue pore men: moder ic bidde pe 
 If pe moder po heo hoi was: god womman heo bicom 
 And pe doujter purf pe moder wille: al hire god nom 
 And delde among pore men: while hit ilaste ojt 
 To him pat hire spouse was: pe tepinge was ibrojt 
 If To seinte Lucie norice he wende: and eschte hire faste 
 60 What Lucie were so onbicome: hire god awei to caste 
 
 And whi heo dude hit so awei : and whoder heo dude hit bere 
 pe norice quenteliche: jaf perof answere 
 And seide to Sulle heo hap ifounde: dureworpe ping iwis 
 pat is such a pousend worp: as al hire ping is 
 65 pe beste cheffare hit is iboujt: pat euere man to drouj 
 Woldestou enter perinne in per: pu were riche ynouj 
 pe cheffare was heueneriche: pat pis maide hadde iboujt 
 poper wondrede of panswere: and stod in gret pojt 
 So pat poper vnderjat: pat heo cristine was 
 70 In grete wrappe he tolde fore: pe lustise pat het pascas 
 IT Lucie was wel sone ifet: and tofore pe iustise ibrojt 
 Maide seide pc iustise: what hastou ipojt 
 Bilef he seide pi folie: ic rede in alle wise 
 And to oure godes as rijt is: pu do sacrefise 
 If Ich haue, quap pis holi maide: al pis preo jer ido 
 76 Mi sacrefise to ihesu crist: and jut ic wole also 
 
 Al pat ic hadde ic haue isold: and itake am to his lore 
 Andnou ic wole mie bodi perto take: whan per nisbileuednomore 
 Ich julde him vp al mie bodi: sire lustise atfore pe 
 80 To spene ech lyme in his seruise: do what pu wolt bi me 
 1" Nou ic wot, quap pe iustise: wharto pu tournest pi mod 
 For in hordom and in lechours: pu hast ispend pi god 
 And whan pu nast nomore to spene: pu saist in pi speche 
 peron pu wolt spene al pi bodi : and perof pu dost preche 
 85 For pu spext as an hore strong: whan pu wold forsake 
 pi louerde to wham pu ert iwedded: & to lechours take 
 IF Iwedded ic was to ihesu crist: pis holi maide tolde 
 po ic ifulled was: pulke weddin ic wolde holde
 
 104 ST. LUCY. 1000 MEN CANNOT MOVE HER, NOR 
 
 Ac to hordom pu woldest me bringe: whan puwoldest me make 
 90 Mi swete spouse ihesu crist: for enie oper forsake 
 If pu him schalt forsake, quap pe iustise: haddestou hit iswore 
 Oper to comun bordel: beo ilad oper ibore 
 And per schal menie a moder child: go to licame 
 And ligge bi pe ech pat wole: in hordom & in schame 
 If Ne mai no womman, quap pis maide: of hire maidenhodbeoido 
 96 For no dede pat me do pat bodi : bote hire hurte beo perto 
 For pe more aje mie wille: mie bodi dcfouled is 
 pe clennere is mie maidenhod: & pe more mie mede iwis 
 IF pe Iustise let aboute wide: into al pe contrai crie 
 100 pat alle pat wolde bi such a fair womman: do enie folie 
 If To hire come alle pat wolde: for alle heo scholde take 
 For in bordel heo scholde beo ido : & non of hem forsake 
 He het his men hire nyme faste: & to bordel hire lede anon 
 Alle pat mijte nej hire come: hi droje faste echon 
 
 105 Hi schoue & droje al pat hi mijte : hi nemijte hire a fot awinne 
 Ne make hire icche anne fot: of pe stede pat heo was inne 
 
 If po nome hi ropes stronge ynou: & to fet & honden tyde 
 And alle pat mijte per ne} come: faste hi drowe & breide 
 A pousend men mid al here mayn: hire one gonne drawe 
 110 And euere heo lai stille as ston: hi nemijte hire enes wawe 
 If What, hou gop pis, quap pis Iustise : what reisoun mai pis beo 
 pat a pousend men nemowe hire enes: of pe stede teo 
 Sire Iustise, quap pis maide: pu huntest aboute nojt 
 If For pe} pu haddest jut to hem: ten pousend ibrojt 
 115 }ut ic wolde beo for jou alle: ic fele bi me her 
 pe holi vers pat seint Dauid: saip in pe sauter 
 pat a pousend men scholde in mie side falle : & to grounde beo 
 
 ibrojt 
 
 And ten pousend in mie rijt half: and me aprochi nojt 
 perfore hit is al for no"}t: pat pu huntest aboute 
 120 God is strengere pan pu beo : perfore nabbi no doute 
 1f pu ert wicche, quap pe Iustise: perof me mot pe bringe 
 Mi clerkes & myne enchantours : bynyme schulle pi wicchinge 
 His clerkes he let bringe forp: and his enchantours echone 
 And hi dude here enchantementz: aboute hire alone
 
 CAN OXEN; NOR CAN FIRE OR SWORD HURT HER. 105 
 
 If po hi hadde ido pat hi coupe: pat folc gan eft drawe 
 126 And euere heolai stille as anhul: hi nemijtehirenojt cues wawe 
 po lustise po he isej pis: for wrappe was wel nej wod 
 Certes, he seide, hire wicchinge: ne schal do hire no god 
 If Stronge temes he let fecche: of Oxen menie on 
 130 And bringe per pat maide was: and teye to hire echon 
 
 He let hem prikie and harli faste : hi gonne to drawe & tuicche 
 And euere lai pis maide stille: hi nemijte hire enes icche 
 Wel ic wene wher me mijte: purf erne lasse drawinge 
 Enie womman an vrpe nou: to suche folie bringe 
 135 Ac for alle men nabbep nojt: of oxen so god won 
 
 Summe pej hit fewe beo: mid lasse drawinge wollep gon 
 T Certes, quap pe iustise: oper what we mote do 
 
 Wip oper ping we schulle hire welde: whan we ne mowe nojt so 
 Makiep vpe pe hore as heo lyp : whan we ne mowe iwynne hire 
 
 henne 
 
 140 As strong fur as je mowe make: pat heo al forbrenne 
 If po pis fur was strong ymaked: he sat amidde wel stille 
 Ne mijte pat fur hire enes brenne: ne harmie worp a fille 
 po nomen hi & walde pich: and brinston wel faste 
 And vpe hire tendre bodi naked: al seopinge gonne hit caste 
 145 And euere sat pis maide stille: hit ne greuede hire noping 
 Ac prechede euere wip glade hurte: of ihesu heuene king 
 IT po nuste pe lipere lustise: what he mijte do more 
 Whan he nemijte pis clene ping: ouercome mid his lore 
 A scherp swerd he let & kene: purf-out hire prote do 
 150 To bynyme hire speche: and hire holi lyf also 
 
 po heo was purfout pe prote ismyte: pe bet heo spac ynouj 
 And prechede jurne of ihesu crist : & wel smere louj 
 If je, heo seide, pat cristene beop: glade & blipe je beo 
 Nou ne beo je adrad of noping: for gret ioye ic iseo 
 155 A ioyful tepinge ic jou telle: pat sop is and les nojt 
 pat rijt nou is holi churche: in god pees ibrojt 
 For oure tuei wiperewynes: pat habbep ibeo so jare 
 Deop rijt nou to nojt ibrojt: je ne pore of hem nojt care 
 For pe lipere Dioclician: pat so moche harm hap ido 
 160 Ipult is out of his kynedom: he ne comep neuere more perto
 
 106 ST. LUCY. ST. EDWARD, KING OF ENGLAND. 
 
 And also Maximian: pat so liper hap ibeo 
 Rijt nou deide in lipere depe : je ne scholle hem nomore iseo 
 pis glade tepinge ic jou bringe: pej hi fur hunne beo 
 Ihered beo god pat ic moste pis dai alyue iseo 
 
 165 Ich wole jou non bitake ihesu crist: for ic wole fram jou wende 
 Bringep me oure louerdes flesch : for pat schal beo myn ende 
 Preostes wende forp anon: and pat folc pat per stod 
 And fette to pis holi maide: godes flesch and his blod 
 po heo hit hadde vnderfonge: and hire rijtes also 
 
 170 And pe oreisouns were alle iseid : pat bifulle perto 
 Wip pe laste word heo jaf pe gost: as hi amen sede 
 Angles al jare were: hire soule to heuene lede 
 per heo is wip ihesu crist: in ioye wipouten ende 
 Nou god for pe loue of hire: ous lete pider wende: Amen. 
 
 [Seint Thomas follows; then Seinte Anastace, Seint Stephene, 
 Lucian, and Seint lohan p'ewangelist and his Miracles.] 
 
 XXII. ST. EDWARD. A Miracle of St. John's. 
 (Harl. MS. 2277, fol. 195 b.) 
 
 Seint Edward pat was nou late: in Engelond otire kyng 
 Seint lohan p'ewangelist: louede purf alle ping 
 Me ne scholde him noping bidde: for loue of seint lohan 
 pat he mijte do wipoute blame: pat he ne grantede anon 
 5 A dai per com a pore man: wip wel dreorie mod 
 
 And bad him for seint lohnes loue: pat he him jeue som god 
 Seint Edward bipojte him po : he nadd nej him noping 
 For to' jyue pis pore man:' wip a goldene ring 
 pis ring he louede wel ynouj : and for pe loue of seint lohan 
 10 He jaf him jut pe pore man : & he jeode forp anon 
 H per after ward sippe seint lohan : com to a knijt of Engelond 
 As he was bijunde see: auentoures to afonde 
 Wend, he seide, whan pu horn comest: to Edward joure kyng 
 And sai him pat he for was * loue: he jaf pisne ring [ l whose 
 15 Him sende here his ring ajen: and ponkede him also 
 IF po pis knijt com to Engelonde: his erande he gan do
 
 JUDAS ISCARIOT. HE IS PUT TO SEA IN A BARREL. 107 
 
 Seint Edward ikneu pane ring: and vnderstod anon 
 pat pe pouere man pat he him jaf : was pe louerd seint lohn 
 pulke ring is jut at Westmynstre: for relik ido 
 20 As me schewep pelegrims: per ofte comep perto 
 Nou seint lohn p'ewangelist: if pi wille is 
 Bidde for ous pat we mote: come to heuene blis. 
 
 [Gilbert's and Beket's lives (Percy Society,) follow.] 
 
 XXIII. JUDAS ISCARIOT. 
 (Harl. MS. 2277.) 
 
 Incipit vita lude cariote: 
 
 ludas was a liper brid: pat ihesu solde to Rode 
 2 Sum- what me maie of him telle : ac lute of enie gode 
 
 For me ne schal no whar: of him wite bote ho so wole lie 
 4 Ruben was his fader icliped: his moder Thiborie 
 
 pis ruben in ierusalem: wonede mid his wyue 
 6 pej here sone a schrewe were: hi were of gode lyue 
 
 As pis Ruben bi his wyf: anijt ileye hadde 
 8 Harde metinge his wyf mette: whar of he sore adradde 
 
 Hire pojte heo hadde ibore a child: pat al pe wordle was lop 
 10 And al pe wordle him a-cursede: and was wip him wrop 
 
 And pat acursed he schulde euere beo : while pe wordle stode 
 12 And al his cun me cursie wolde: for such a liper vode 
 
 pis wyf was wel sore adrad : to hire louerd heo tolde anon 
 14 je, he seide, hit is pe mase: and also hit wole gon 
 
 Wel ic wot, quap pis gode wyf: if ic am mid childe 
 16 pat hit is tokning of a bern: liper and vnmylde 
 
 pis wyf rekenede pe tyme : and swipe heo gan iwite 
 18 And yfele pat he was mid childe: ^.nd pulke tyme bijite 
 
 Sorie heo was and sore of drad: nire freondes heo tolde fore 
 20 Hi nuste what hem was to done: po pat child was ibore 
 
 Lop hem was to murprie: here flesch and here blod 
 22 And lop a bern to norischie: so liper and vngod 
 IF So pat he seje: a barayl atte laste 
 24 per inne hi dude pis liper qhild: and amidde pe see hit caste
 
 108 JUDAS ISCARIOT. HE ENTERS PILATE'S SERVICE. 
 
 pc see him hurlede vp and doun: as a liper clot 
 26 Sippe hit caste him alond: vpe pe yle of Cariot 
 
 perfore ludas cariot: euere icleped he was 
 28 For in pe yle of Cariot: ifonde he was bi cas 
 
 pe king and pe quene of pe lond: togadere were longe 
 30 Ac hi no child for no ping: bituene hem nemijte afonge 
 
 So pat pe quene jeode adai: and pleide bi pe stronde 
 32 In pe yle of Cariot: pe lipere bern heo fonde 
 
 po heo sej hit was a child: manlich and fair 
 34 Glad heo was and hopede: of him to habbe an heire 
 
 Heo let hit witie in preuite: mid childe heo hire makede 
 36 pe king and al pe lond also: perof were wel glade 
 
 Sone pe tyme heo nom forp : pat pe child scholde beon ibore 
 38 Me schowede forp pe lipere bern: glad was pe king perfore 
 If po he sej hit fair and hende: he let hit nemne ludas 
 40 Hit nis nojt al god pat is fair: isene per hit was 
 
 pat child was ido in gode warde: as kinges sone scholde 
 42 Sone hit ful perafterward : as oure louerd hit wolde 
 
 pat pe quene mid childe was: of hir louerd bijite 
 44 Glad were hope king and quene: po hi hit mijte wite 
 
 So pat heo hadde a knaue child: pat fair and gentyl was 
 46 pe quene vpe him hire hurte dude: and pe lasse vpe ludas 
 If pe children waxe swipe wel: ludas bigan sone 
 48 To do lipere and qued ouer al: as him was to done 
 
 Children pat he com to: he wolde smyte and bete 
 50 And breke here armes and here heued: and pat god lete 
 
 To pe kinges sone he hadde enuie: for he was iloued more 
 52 Of pe quene pan he were: hit of pojte him sore 
 
 perfore he alto-beot pat child: whan he mi}te hit one wite 
 54 Ac pe quene him beot sore ajen : whan heo hit mijte vnderjite 
 
 Ac perfore nolde he neuere bileue : for neuere ichasted he nas 
 56 So pat pe quene vpbreid adai: pat he fyndling was 
 
 After pulke tyme pis lipere ping: pat child hatede ynouj 
 58 He awaitede his tyme wel: and priueliche hit slouj 
 If po no perste he no leng abide: leste he hadde his dom 
 60 Stilleliche he wende to ierusalem: me nuste whar he bicom 
 
 per was pilatus : of pe lond lustise 
 62 pis ludas anon vnder him: leuede in seruise
 
 JUDAS MURDERS HIS FATHER, AND MARRIES HIS MOTHER. 109 
 
 So wel he louede him anon: pat styward he him made 
 64 Of al his ping, and het his men: do pat he bade 
 
 pat o schrewe \vip pat oper: maister was as rijt is 
 GG For ech ping louep his iliche: so saip pe boc iwys 
 
 For pe} in al a contray: bote tueie schrewes nere 
 68 }ut hi wolde felawes beo : if he to-gadere were 
 If So pat pis tuei schrewen: pe louerd and pe stiward 
 70 Adai jeode alone pleye: vnder an orchard 
 
 Swipe faire aples: pilatus isej perinne 
 72 Clembe ouer he bad ludas: and some perof iwinne 
 
 hulas brae pe jard anon: and sone was in ibrojt 
 74 His owe fader orchard hit was: ac napeles he nuste hit nojt 
 
 Com pe gode man pat was his fader : and eschte him what he were 
 7G And bi was leue he brae his jard: and what he dude per 
 
 ludas seide ic wole her beo: maugre pi tep bifore 
 78 And of pis applen habbe and bere : pej pu hit haddest iswore 
 11 pis gode man was anuyed: of pis liper answere 
 80 pe schrewe he misdude ajen: he nemijte noleng forbere 
 
 So pat hi nenie aiper oper bipe top: and makede stronge wounde 
 82 pe schrewe was strengere pan his fader: and brojte him sone to 
 
 g[r]unde 
 
 So pat he smot him wip a ston: bihynde in pe pate 
 84 pat al pe sculle to-daschte: pe brayn ful out perate 
 
 So pat he slouj his owe fader: and po me mijte wite 
 86 pat his moder mette of him sop : po he was bijite 
 
 jut were his fader betere: habbe ibrojt him of dawe 
 88 As sone as he was ibore: pan he hadde him aslawe 
 
 Of p'aplen pat pe schrewe whan: and of pe peren also 
 90 And bar pilatus and tolde him: hou he hadde ido 
 If Pilatus wende anoper daie: to pe gode manes house 
 92 And jaf ludas al his god : and makede him wedden his spouse 
 
 For he was maister & lustise: he mijte do vnrijt ynouj 
 94 po weddede pe schrewe his owe moder: and his fader aslouj 
 If As pis gode wyf lai anijt: bi hire schrewe louerd pere 
 96 Heo gan to sike swipe sore: he eschte whi hit were 
 IT Certes, sire, quap pis wyf: wel anijte ic sike sore 
 98 Wo and sorewe me comep to: none womman more
 
 110 JUDAS ISCARIOT; BECOMES CHRIST'S PCRSEBEARER. 
 
 Glad ne blipe ne worpe ic neuer: whan ic me bipenche 
 100 For ic nadde neuere sone bote on: and him ic let adrenche 
 
 Sippe ic fond m\e louerd aslawe: y not in wlriche wise 
 102 And myn vnponkes ic am Swedded: wip strengpe of pe iustise 
 
 po ludas ihurde pis : sorle he was ynouj 
 104 Certes, he seide, ic am pi sone: and mi fader ic aslouj 
 
 po was pis gode wyf soriere: pan heo euere were 
 10G Sone, heo seide, what mowe we do: pat we ischryue nere 
 
 If ludas ihurde of oure louerd telle : pat he an vrpe jeode 
 108 pat he halp menie man: in siknesse and in neode 
 
 purf his moder red to schrifte: to oure louerd he wende 
 110 Repentant he was and wilnedc: his lyf to amende 
 
 So pat he suede oure louerd longe : to wite of his manere 
 112 Oure louerd him makede his disciple: to beo apostles ifere 
 
 Sippe oure louerd him makede apostle: to fondi his mod 
 114 And sippe pursberer of his pans: to spene al his god 
 
 For meni men jyue oure louerd god : pat were of gode pojt 
 116 To susteynie his apostles: oper nadde he nojt 
 
 Ac po ludas wipinne was: and his mijte founde 
 118 Of oure louerdes god pat he wiste: he stal al to grounde 
 
 Whan he nrijte of eche ping: pe teoping he wolde stele 
 120 A schrewe he was al his lyf: y ne maie no leng hele 
 
 Wei wiste oure louerd pas: and al his liper dede 
 122 Ac napeles he moste fulfille: pat pe prophetes sede 
 
 If Seinte Marie Magdaleyne: to oure louerd com 
 124 To-fore his swete passioun : and moche oignement wip hire nom 
 
 His fet heo wosch wip hire teres: and wipede wip hire her 
 126 Wip pis swete oignement: heo smired oure louerd per 
 
 ludas of pojte pis ille : for hit moche worp was 
 128 And seide pat hit was vuele ido: pat hit isold nas 
 
 preo hondred pans hit was worp : and permide me mijte fille 
 130 Menie pore man afingred: ho so hit moste sille 
 
 pat he seide for he wolde: if pe boxes hadde ibeon Isolde 
 132 Habbe ispend and to him: pe teoping iholde 
 
 pe teoping perof was prettie pans: sore him of-pojte perfore 
 134 pat so menie pans of his peofpe: scholde fram him beo ilore 
 
 perfore oure louerd for prettie pans: he solde mid vnrijte 
 136 pat he pe teoping of pulke boxes: to him keouerie mijte
 
 JUDAS ISCARIOT. PILATE. Ill 
 
 Him suede eche liperi pewe: for he louede baret and stryf 
 138 He was strong peof and man quell ere: and also he endedehislyfe 
 
 And suche men schulde anhonge beo : andpo nomanhit noldedo 
 140 Him silf he heng vp a treo : for such dep he scholde to 
 
 His wombe to-berste amidde atuo: po he schulde deye 
 142 His gvttes fulle to grounder menie men hit iseye 
 
 per wende out a liper gost: atte moup hit nemijte 
 144 For he custe er oure louerd: perwip mid vnrijte 
 
 Nou swete louerd pat purf ludas: isold wer to pe treo 
 146 Schuld ous fram pe lipere stede: per we weneppathebeo: Amen. 
 
 XXIV. PILATE. 
 (Harl.MS.2277.) 
 
 Pilatus was a liper man: and com of liper more 
 Bituene a king and a fol womman: in spousbreche ibore 
 pe king Tirus was an hej man: and of grete fame 
 Bi a melewardes doujter he lai: Pila was hire name 
 
 5 And bijat on hire vnder pe querne: pe lipere bern bi cas 
 pe meleward pat hire fader was: atus ihote was 
 For pe doujter pat het Pile: and pe fader Atus 
 Of here beire name me makede anne: and clipede him pilatus 
 pe child wax and wel ipej: and po hit was of preo jere 
 
 10 pe moder hit sende to his fader : for he was of gret poer 
 pe king hit louede swipe wel: and let hit wel lere 
 Bi pe quene he hadde anoper child: bope in one jere 
 pat child pat was rijt bijute: and pilatus also 
 To norisschi and to lere wel: to-gadere were ido 
 
 15 As hi wexe hi toppede ofte: per nas bituene hem no loue 
 Ac pat child rijt bijute: euer was aboue 
 
 If Pilatus awaitede his poynt: and pojte to julde his while 
 He stal adai stilleliche: and slouj pat child wip gyle 
 
 If po pe king pis ihurde: he was sorie ynouj 
 
 20 He nuste what do wip pe schrewe: pat his rijt sone so slouj 
 He pojte if he hit slowe : pat hit were doble wo 
 And pat he nemijte blipe beo: \yhan he him iseje owhar go
 
 112 PILATE. UE KILLS THE KING OF FRANCE'S SON. 
 
 If p'emperour to him sende: after truage of his londe 
 
 pe king him bipojte hou he mijte best: paye him of his sonde 
 
 25 Pilatus he sende pider: as hit were in ostage 
 
 For p'emperour him scholde sle: whan him faillede of his truage 
 He sende him word pat he nadde: children bote him on 
 And for al pe god alyue: he nolde his lyf forgon 
 And bote he at his daye: sende his truage 
 
 30 Hi his sone do what he wolde: as rijt is bi ostage 
 
 ^f pemperour him louede moche : ac of his schreuhede nuste he uojt 
 pe kinges sone of france ek: was in hostage pider ibrojt 
 He was bet biloued pan pilatus : pej hi felawes were 
 And for pat on was god and pat oper schrewe : gode felawes 
 
 neuere hi nere 
 
 35 pe schrewe awaitede wel his tyme: for he was fel ynouj 
 Bituene hem silue stilleliche: his felawe he slouj 
 pemperour him nom anon: he nuste what wip him do 
 He wolde him sle, ac his consail: ne jaf him nojt perto 
 And seide he was toward: swipe hardie man mid alle 
 
 40 Of a such man mijte moche god: in to al pe contray bifalle 
 If Schulle we lete quap p'emperour: a manquellere alyue go 
 Sire sire quap pis oper: pu hast menie a fo 
 And such man if he bileuep forp : gret god maie pe do 
 And if lawe of londe nele: pat pu him lete so go 
 
 45 Wel pu wost pat in pe yle of Ponce: schrewen per beop ynowe 
 per com neuere lustise: pat hi sone ne slowe 
 perfore pu mijt him sende pider: to beo lustise of pulke yle 
 And bote he beo queyntere pan enie oper: he ne scapep nojt a 
 
 gy le 
 
 And if he pat lond chastep wel : and bringep vnder fote 
 50 He worp man wipoute peer: if he duri mote 
 If po pilatus was pider isend: he wiste wel pe gyle 
 
 And pe maner enquerede of pe lond: po he cam in to pe yle 
 He spac faire and mylde: and was euere stille 
 Wip fair speche and quentise: he hadde of hem his wille 
 55 Hi dude al after his wille: and hulde him euere lustise 
 
 per nemijte so neuere non: beo in none wise 
 If po p'emperour ihurde pat he mijte: pat lipere folc so pewe 
 He ne huld non so queynte man: as he huld pe schrewe
 
 LIFE OF PILATE. HIS TREACHERY TO HEROD. 113 
 
 Of his queyntise me spac wide : bi daye and bi nyjte 
 
 60 Hou he amaistrede pe yle of ponce : as neuere no man ne mijte 
 
 60* For he amaistrede and ascapede : pe yle of ponce so wel 
 Ponce pilatus me him clipep: in crede and godspel 
 
 IT pe king herodes pat was : po king bi kynde 
 
 Of pe lond of ierusalem : and of Galilee and ynde 
 
 Of pilatus he hurde ynouj : of his wit and his queyntise 
 
 65 Glad and blipe he wolde beo: to habbe such a lustise 
 Noble jiftes he him jaf: and fondede in alle wise 
 If he wolde out of pat lond: and leue in his seruise 
 So pat pilatus com to him : and such consail hi toke 
 pat more pan half his kynedom: he tok him to loke 
 
 70 To beo maister of ierusalem : and also of ynde 
 In his owe lond he athuld: Galilee of his kynde 
 po pilatus hadde per longe: pe maistrie fur and nher 
 He gan to cupe what he was: po he sej his poer 
 For ech schrewe wole abide his tyme: to cupe his felonie 
 
 75 He gaderede tresour and oper god: ynouj in his baillie 
 
 And wende to Cezar pemperour: pat was maister ouer pe kinge 
 Of tresour and oper god ynouj: largelichc he gan him bringe 
 And jaf him wip pat he moste : pe baillie holde pere 
 Of him as he dude of herodes: his kynedom pej hit were 
 
 1 pemperour pat was pe kinges louerd: sone him bipojte 
 
 81 And gladliche nom pe tresour: pat pilatus him brojte 
 And grantede pilatus al pat lond: to holde bi maistrie 
 pat he huld er of herodes : per was gret trecherie 
 He wende aje to ierusalem: and to ynde also 
 
 85 As louerd he dude alle his hestes: po he cam perto 
 Herodes sende after him: to accountie after wille 
 Pilatus spac purf pemperour: and ne jaf nojt worp afille 
 po herodes isej pe trecherie : and pe lipere falshede 
 He huld him bitrayd purf felonie : he nuste what to rede 
 
 90 po he sej pat he ne mijte: vndo pemperoures dede 
 Pilatus he acursede ilome: for his lipere falshede 
 And po he ne mijte him oper do: bote wrappe him bar mid rijte 
 So gret wrappe hem was bituene: pat no tonge hit telle ne mijte 
 pe wrappe ilaste forte oure louerd: to depe scholde go 
 95 Ac for aiper to oper sende: acorded hi were po 
 
 h
 
 1 14 LIFE OF PILATE. HE AND JUDAS BECOME FRIENDS. 
 
 IT pe while pilatus in his lond: louerd and sire was 
 ludas pat oure louerd solde: to him com bi cas 
 His steward he him makede anon: gode freond hi were 
 For tuei schrewen wollep freond beo : pej no mo men nere 
 
 100 ludas was per his steward : forte he his fader aslouj 
 
 And forte he wedde his owe moder : wip grete strenjpe and wouj 
 IT Suppe god was ynome: and schulde beo to depe ido 
 Pilatus purf pe gywene wille : him demde perto 
 For pe gywes in Jerusalem: in here poer him nome 
 
 105 perfore hi ne mijte him quelle nojt: bote purf his dome 
 Longe after pat he was ded: he repentede him ilome 
 He ne perste nojt for pemperour: perfore come at Rome 
 Ac euere him huld at lerusalem: among pe gywes faste 
 Ac sore he dradde pemperour: pat he him slowe atte laste 
 
 110 Longe hit ful perafterward : pat pemperour was sek 
 In strong vuele and wel long: pat he nas noman ilek 
 Leches he let fecche wide : ac him ne mijte hele non 
 So pat his o messager: to ierusalem com gon 
 Longe and wide he eschte per: after sum god leche 
 
 1 15 To a womman he com pat het veronike: pat heo scholde him to 
 
 sum on teche 
 
 Alias, quap pe womman: if pu haddest hider igon 
 pe while pe prophete her was: pi wille hadde beo idon 
 IT A whar , quap pe messager po : pe prophete beo bicome 
 Certes, quap veronike: pe gywes him habbep ynome 
 
 120 To depe him hi broujte on pe rode: purf pilatus dome 
 perfore he ne perste neuer eft: bifore jou come at Rome 
 pe while pe prophete her was : gret ioye ic hadde midde alle 
 Him to nej beo: if hit mijte so bifalle 
 And po y ne mijte nej him beo: ic him bad a bone 
 
 125 pat ich mijte ofte his forme iseo: he me grantede gone 
 IT Mi keuerchief ic him bitok : and he wond hit aboute his face 
 pat ech man mijte wel iseo: his mijte and his grace 
 For per he leuede his owe forme: pat in his face was 
 In ech poynt po he hit me tok: pat no defaute per nas 
 
 130 pulke forme is me bileued: pat ich mijte igladed beo 
 
 purf pe sijt pat is him so iliche: whan y ne mai him silue iseo 
 Hadde pi louerd pemperour: pe forme iseje ene 
 Ich wot he were hoi anon: and of his vuel clene
 
 VERONICA'S KERCHIEF CURES THE EMPEROR. 115 
 
 Dame, mercie, quap pe messager: maie pulke ymage ojt 
 
 135 For enie gold oper siluer ' : to pemperour beo ibrojt 
 pat nis nojt, quap pis wyf: for al his gold iwis 
 Bugge ne mijte pe leste hurne: pat peron is 
 Ac ic wole, quap pe wyfe: wip pe to him wende 
 If oure louerd him wole bote : purf his forme him sende 
 If Heo wende forp wip pis messager: and po heo com to Rome 
 
 141 pemperour hi tolde al pis: po hi to him come 
 If Anon po he pe ymage isej: he was ol anon 
 
 He honourede wel veronike: heo ne moste fram him gon 
 pe ymage he athuld pat hit ne com: neuereft out of Rome 
 
 145 In seint peteres churche hit is: as men iseop ilome 
 IF po eschte he whar oure louerd were : and whar he sippe bicome 
 Veronike him seide hou pe gywes : to stronge depe him nome 
 And hou pilatus his lustise : pe dom jaf perto 
 If Ou lipere man, quap pemperour: hap he itake on so 
 
 150 Assentede he to pe gywes : and nas nojt of here lawe 
 
 Ich wole if ic maie to him come: anhonge him oper todrawe 
 Alias pulke holi man: pat he let bringe of dawe 
 Ich wot pe gywes beop wel liper: hi wolde beo perof fawe 
 In faire manere he let sende: after pilatus sone 
 
 155 pat he come to him as to his louerd: as rijt was to done 
 Ac pilatus sende ane lettre : to his louerd er 
 pat he for^eue him his wrappe: pat he to him ber 
 And pat he was gulteles of pe dep : pat me vpe him sede 
 And pat pe gywes him slowe: al wipoute his rede 
 
 160 Ac a strong tempest in pe see : his messager gan dryue 
 In-to pe lond of galilee : and per he gan ariue 
 Ac vaspasian pat was per maister: pe messager faste nom 
 So pat nej pemperour: pe messager neuere ne com 
 If po pemperoures messager: to pilatus was iconic 
 
 165 And pilatus hadde of him: his erande ynome 
 
 He wende pat his owe messager : to pemperour hadde iwend 
 And pat he hadde forjeue him his wrappe : and after him isend 
 Oure louerdes curtel he dude on: pat he wiste euer wel 
 pat vnsued was of pred: as hit saip in pe godspel 
 
 1 siluer: is repeated in the MS.
 
 116 LIFE OF PILATE. HIS EXCUSES FOR CHRIST'S DEATH. 
 
 170 Wip wel glade chere: he wende to pemperour 
 
 And grette him po he com him to : wip wel gret honoure 
 T So wrop wip noman vnder sonne: pemperour nas bifore 
 As he wip pilatus was: for his dep he hadde iswore 
 And for he hadde oure lordes curtel: on whan he bifore him com 
 
 175 His hurte was al swaged: wip grete ioie he him nom 
 
 He makede mid him al pe ioye: pat man mijte mid oper do 
 
 For virtu of pe holi curtel: and his men also 
 
 Anon so he was out of his sijt: his op he swor anon 
 
 pat to stronge depe he wolde him bringe : if he mijte him of gon 
 
 180 Ac gret ioye he makede mid alle: whan he to him com 
 
 And euere whan he fram him was : he iuggede him stronge dom 
 pis maner ileste longe: pat alle pat ihurde pis cas 
 Wondrede moche of pemperour: pat he vnstable was 
 So atte laste pis pilatus: as oure louerde hit wolde 
 
 185 His curtel he stripte of bi cas: as he neuere ne scholde 
 And com so bifore pemperour: and he anon him nom 
 He swor his more op anon: pat he to wropere hele per com 
 Sai, he seide, pu wrecche man: sai what hastou ido 
 Slowe pu pe holi prophete: to wropere hele dudestou so 
 II Certes sire, quap pilatus: y ne dude him nojt to depe 
 
 191 Beo iknowe, quap pemperour: for pu mijt as epe 
 
 Bote pe lipere gywes, quap pilatus: to pe depe him brojte 
 Wipoute pe, quap pemperour: neuere such ping hi ne wrojte 
 H Certes sire, quap pilatus: y ne m&ie nojt ofsake pis 
 
 195 pat y ne demde him to depe: ac ic moste nede iwis 
 
 For penqueste vpe him seide: pat he destruyde oure lawe 
 And lawe jifp pat alle suche: me scholde bringe of dawe 
 And ic per pat pi iustise was: purf pin heste and pi rede 
 Moste nede jyue pe dom: whan penqueste sede 
 *H Whan pu vnderjete, quap pemperour: pe gywene falshede 
 
 201 Whi naddestou ispeke per aje: and desturbed pe lipere dede 
 God hit wot, quap pilatus: and Jerusalem also 
 pat ic was per ajen bi mie mijte: pat he nere to depe ido 
 Ac hi were vpe him alle so faste: pat me ne mijt mid no lawe 
 
 205 Whan penqueste passede: bote he were ibrojt of dawe 
 If If pu ne mijtest mid rijte him sauue: pemperour po sede 
 Hou perstestou wipoute mie red: do such a lipere dede
 
 HE IS CAST INTO PRISON, KILLS HIS JAILER, AND IS KILLED. 1 1 7 
 
 Certes sire, quap pilatus: y ne maie wipsigge nojt 
 pat ic perof ne misdude: in gulte ic am ibrojt 
 
 210 And me schal bi pe, quap pemperour: as bi a gultie man do 
 pu schalt passi bi iugement : for pu toke on so 
 In strong prisoun and swipe durk : sone he let him caste 
 pat he ne sej fot ne honde: he let him bynde faste 
 So longe he laie in prisoun: in hunger and in pyne 
 
 215 pat his lymes clonge awei: his bodie gan al fordwyne 
 
 He hadde leouere his dep peran : his lymes so forclonge to nojte 
 So hi dude alle tofore here dep : pat oure louerde to depe brojte 
 If A dai as pe gailer: into prisoun com 
 
 Pilatus cride so dulfulliche : pat gret deol to him he nom 
 
 220 "Haue reupe of me, sire, he seide: for pin owe gentrice 
 Wei pu wost knyjt ic am: and while was hej Justice 
 And nou ic her clynge awei: and no sijt iseo wip eye 
 Let me enes per charite: iseo sijt er ic deye" 
 pe gayler hadde reupe of him: such man he hadde ibeo 
 
 225 And of prisoun ladde him out : pe wordle forto seo 
 IT po pilatus com to lijte: as pe hoc hap itold 
 
 And isej his bodie alforswarted : his hurte ful ful cold 
 "Alias he seide pis dai abide: pat ich euere com in lijt 
 Sire Renald for pi curteisie: grante me ane bone 
 
 230 jif me an appel to ete: for ic hit maie do sone" 
 pe gayler him tok an appel: he seide hit was vnrijt 
 Vnpared an appel take: an hej man oper a knijt 
 Such wrecche as ic nou am: ic was while hej lustise 
 Len me a knyf pis appel to parie : for pin owe gentrise 
 
 235 po pe gayler him tok a knyfe: him silue he slouj anon 
 And smot him deope in pe bodie: and lai ded as a ston 
 po pe tepinge com to pemperour: pat bodie he let take 
 And caste hit wipoute pe toun: among olde walles forsake 
 per ne wende noman perforp: aboute in none side 
 
 240 pat he nas lame oper wod: oper sum auentoure him gan bitide 
 per was pundre and lijtninge: and gret tempest per aboute 
 pat hi were witles and adrad : pat hi ne perste no whar at -route 
 So pat pemperour let take: pe wrecche licame atte laste 
 And bere hit to pe watere of tybre: and perinne hit caste
 
 118 PILATE'S BODY BURIED IN A ROCK. A SONG OF MERCY. 
 
 245 po com per a gret tempest: |>at per aboute wel wide 
 
 pat schipes adreynte pere menie on: per aboute in eche side 
 II Al pe contray per aboute hem dradde: and nom hem to rede 
 And in-to a watere fur fram men: pis licame gonne lede 
 Bituene hulles and wyldernisse: and perinne hi him caste 
 
 250 pe pundre smot per anon: and pe lijtinge wel faste 
 pat bodie flet vp and doun: icast her and pere 
 Mid weder and tempest of water: pat ech man hadde fere 
 Amidde pe water per stod a roche: po pe licame was per nej 
 pe roche clef amidde atuo : as al pat folc isej 
 
 255 And as an arewe schet of a bwe: pat bodie schet perinne 
 pe roche schet to-gadere anon: po pat bodie was wip-inne 
 And pe wrecche bodie per lyp: jut to pis day 
 Moche wo jut per is per aboute: as me iseo maie 
 pus pilatus endede his lyf: as he wel wel worpe was 
 
 260 God schulde ech cristenene man: fram so dulful cas. Amen. 
 
 hie finiuntur gesta. Maledictorum . lude et Pilati. 
 
 [End of the MS. Harl. 2277.] 
 
 XXV. A SONG OF MERCI. 
 
 (Duplicate of theVernonMS., Brit.Mus. Additional MS. 22,283, fol.128, back, 
 
 col. 2.) 
 
 Bi west, vnder a wilde* wode syde. 
 2 In a launde . per i . was lent . 
 
 Wlanke deor . on grounde gan glide . 
 4 And lyouns raunpyng. vppon bente. 
 
 Beores . woluus . with moupes wide . 
 6 pe smale bestes 1 . pei al to-rent. 
 
 per haukes vnto pare 2 pray pei hyde . 
 8 Of whuche .to on . i . toke goode 3 tent . 
 
 * The Bodleian copy generally has y where the Brit. Mus. one has i, 
 as in wylde and glyde, line 3, and ^t for the Br. Mus. hi; also a 
 final e after the I of rent, tent, hent, ment, 1. 6, 7, 9, 11. It has also more 
 capitals for the nouns; and more metrical points, which are printed here. 
 
 1 Beestes. 2 heore. 3 tok god.
 
 A SONG OF MERCY. 119 
 
 A merlyon. a brid hedde ' hent. 
 10 And in hir 2 foot, heo gan hit bringe. 
 
 Hit coupe not speke. but pus hit ment. 
 12 How merci passep alle pinge. 
 
 Merci was in pat. bryddes 3 Muvnde. 
 14 But perof kneuj . pe hauk non . 
 
 For in hire foot. he a gan hit bynde. 
 16 And heolde hit stille. as eni ston. 
 
 Heo dud after . pe cours of kynde . 
 18 And fleij in-to a treo anon. 
 
 porw kynde. pe brid gan Merci fynde. 
 20 For on pe morwe . heo let hit gon . 
 
 Ful stille .i. stod. my self al on. 
 22 To herken. how pat bryd gan synge 
 
 A-wey wol wende. bope murthe and moon. 
 24 And Merci passep . strengpe and riht . 
 
 Mony a wyse. seo we may. 
 26 God ordeynet 4 Merci. most of miht. 
 
 To beo a-boue . his werkes ay. 
 28 Whou deore Ihesu. schal beo 5 diht. 
 
 To demen vs. at domes day. 
 30 Vr sunne wol beo. so muche in siht. 
 
 We schul not wite. what we schul say. 
 32 Ful fresliche 6 . riht wol vs affray. 
 
 And blame vs for. vr mislyuyng. 
 34 pen dar non persone 7 . for vs to pray . 
 
 But Merci. passep alle pinge 8 . 
 If Riht wolde sle vs. for vr sunne 9 . 
 
 Miht wol don. execucion. 
 38 And rihtwis god . penne 10 wol bigynne . 
 
 Forto " reherse vs. pis resoun. 
 40 I made pe Mon . }if pat pou mynne . 
 
 Of feture . liche . myn owne fasoun . 
 42 And after crepte. in-to pi kynne. 
 
 And for pe suffred passioun. 
 
 1 had. . 3 hire. 3 Briddes. heo. 4 ordeyned. 5 be. 8 fersliche. 
 p'se. 8 ping. 9 synne. 10 Rihtwyse god . pen. n Forte.
 
 120 A SONG OF MERCY. 
 
 44 Of pornes kene. pen was pe croun. 
 
 Ful scharpe. vppon. myn bed standyng. 
 46 Myn herte ia blood . ran from me doun . 
 
 And i . forjaf pe . alle pinge * . 
 48 Myn herte 1S blood . for pe gan blede . 
 
 To buye pe. from pe fendes blake 2 . 
 50 And i . forjaf pe . pi mysdede . 
 
 What hast pou suffred. for my sake. 
 52 Me hungred. pou woldest not me fede. 
 
 Ne neuer my furst. ne woldestou slake. 
 54 Whon .i. of herborwe. hedde gret nede. 
 
 pou woldest not. to pin hous me take. 
 56 pou seje me .a. monge todes blake. 
 
 Ful longe. in harde prisoun lyng. 
 58 Let seo what vnswere. constou make. 
 
 Where were 3 pou kynde. in eny ping. 
 60 And hou .i. whenched 4 . al pi care. 
 
 Lyft vp pin eje s . and pou maijt se. 
 62 My woundes wete. blodi al bare. 
 
 As i . was rauht 6 . on roode tre. 
 64 pou seje me. for defaute forfare. 
 
 In sekenes. and in pouerte. 
 66 jrt 7 of pi good . woldestou not spare . 
 
 Ne ones come, to visite me. 
 68 Al eorply pinge ' . i . jaf to pe . 
 
 Bope beest and fysche 8 . and foul fleoyng. 
 70 And tolde pe. hou pat charite. 
 
 And Merci. passep alle ping. 
 If Hou myhtou . eny Merci haue . 
 
 pat neuer desiredest . non to do . 
 74 pou seje me naked, and elopes craue.* 
 
 Barehed . and Barefot . gan I . go . 
 76 On me pou vochedest no ping saue. 
 
 19 B.M.hert. 'ping. 3 B.M.feondesbolde. 3 Wherweore. 4 quenched. 
 6 eije. 6 rau$t. 7 }it. 8 fisch. 
 
 * The next four lines are from the Bodleian copy, and are not in the 
 Brit. Mus.. one.
 
 A SONG OF MERCY. 121 
 
 But beede me wende. pi wones fro. 
 78 pou seje me ded. aboue to graue. 
 H On bere. seuen dayes and mo. 
 .SO For luytel dette . i . ou^te pe po . 
 
 pou forbed. my buryinge 1 . 
 82 pi Pater noster. seide not so. 
 
 For Merci passep. alle pinge. 
 H peose are pe werkes of Merci . seuene . 
 
 Of whuche . crist wol vs areyne . 
 86 pat alle schul stoney. wip pat steuene. 
 
 pat euer tresoun. mihte ateyne. 
 88 For here 2 but yf 3 we make vs euene. 
 
 per may no miht. ne jiftes jeyne. 
 90 pen 4 to pe kyng of heuene . 
 
 pe bok seip. pat we schul seyne. 
 92 Wher hastou lord, in prisoun leyne. 
 
 Whon were 5 pou . in eorpe dwellyng . 
 94 Whon seje we pe. in suche peyne. 
 
 Whon askedst pou. vs eny ping. 
 H Whon je seje . oper 6 . blynd . or lame . 
 
 pat for my loue. asked jou oujt. 
 98 Al pat je duden . in my 7 name . 
 
 Hit was to me . bope dede 8 & pouht . 
 100 But je pat hated, cristendame. 
 
 And of my wrappe. neuer ne rouht 9 . 
 102 jour seruise schal. be 10 endeles schame. 
 
 Helle fuyr. pat slakes nouht 9 . 
 104 And je . pat with my blood .i. bouht 9 . 
 
 pat loued me. in joure lyuynge. 
 106 je schul haue. pat je haue souht 9 . 
 
 Merci pat passep alle pinge. 
 If pis tyme schal tyde. hit is no nay. 
 
 And wel is hym. pat hap pat grace. 
 110 For to plese. his god to pay. 
 
 And Merci sechep 11 . while he hap space. 
 
 1 blinking. 2 beer. 3 }if. 4 penne. 5 Whonne weore. 6 ouper. 
 7 myn. 8 deede. 8 ?* for ht, 10 ben. " seche.
 
 122 A SONG OF MERCY. 
 
 112 For beo vr moupe. crommed* with 1 clay. 
 
 Wormes blake. wol vs enbrace. 
 114 penne is too late. Mon. in goode fay. 
 
 To seche to amende . of pi trespace . 
 116 With J mekenes pou may. heuene purchase. 
 
 Oper meede . par pe non bryng . 
 118 But knowe pi god. in vche a case. 
 
 And loue hym best, of eny ping. 
 IT To god a 2 mon. were holden meste. 
 
 To loue. and his wrappe eschuwe. 
 122 Now is non. so vnkuynde a beeste. 
 
 pat lasse dop. pat weore hym duwe. 
 124 For beestes and foules. more and leeste. 
 
 pe cours of kuynde 3 . alle pei suwe. 
 126 And whon 4 we breken. godes heste. 
 
 Ajeynes kuynde. we ben vn-trewe. 
 128 For kuynde wolde . pat we hym knewe . 
 
 And dradde hym moste b . in vre doinge*. 
 130 Hit is no riht. pat he vs rewe. 
 
 But Merci passep. alle pinge. 
 IT Now harlotrie 6 . for murpe is holde. 
 
 And vertues turnen 7 . in-to vice . 
 134 And symonye. hap chirches solde. 
 
 And lawe is waxen . couetise . 
 136 Vr feip is frele. to flecche and folde. 
 
 For treupe is put. to luytel prise. 
 138 Vr 8 god. is glotonye. and golde. 
 
 Dronkenes. lecherie 6 and dyse. 
 140 Lo here 9 vr lust, and vr 8 likyng. 
 
 jet jif we wole . repent 10 and rise . 
 142 Merci passep. alle pinge. 
 T Vnlnstily . vr lyf we lede . 
 144 Monhod and we. twynne in two. 
 
 To heuene ne helle. take we non hede. 
 146 But on day come, a noper go, 
 
 a ?quommed. l M*. * and. 3 kynde. * whonne. b most. 
 5 doing. 6 y for ie. 7 tornen. 8 Yre. 9 beer. 10 repente.
 
 A SONG OF MERCY. 123 
 
 Who is a Maister. now but meede. 
 148 And pruude. pat wakened al vr wo. 
 
 We stunt noper ' . for schame ne drede . 
 150 To teren vr god. from top to to. 
 
 For-swere his soule. his hert al-so 2 . 
 152 And alle pe Membres 3 . pat we con 4 mynge. 
 
 Ful harde vengeaunce. wol falle o 5 po. 
 154 But Merci passep alle ping 6 . 
 
 If And corteis knihthod. and clergye. 
 156 pat wont were vices, to forsake. 
 
 Are now so roted 7 . in rybaudye. 
 158 pat oper murthes. lust hem not make. 
 
 A wey is gentel. curtesye 8 . 
 160 And lustines. his leue hap take. 
 
 We loue so sloupe. and harlotrie. 
 162 We slepe . a 9 swolle swyn in lake . 
 
 per wol no worsen upe . with vs wake . 
 164 Til pat charyte . be made 10 a kyng . 
 
 And penne schal. alle vre synnes n slake. 
 166 And Merci passep alle ping. 
 
 IF I. Munge no more, of pis to jou. 
 168 Al pauj .i. koupe. yf 12 pat .i. wolde. 
 
 For je han herde 13 . whi and hou. 
 170 Bigon pis tale . pat .i. haue tolde . 
 
 And pis men knowen. wel i.-nouh. 
 172 For Merlions . feet ben colde . 
 
 Hit is heore u kuynde . on bank and bouh . 
 174 A. quik brid. to haue 15 and holdc. 
 
 From foot to foot, to flytte 16 and folde. 
 176 To kepe hire, from clomesyng. 
 
 As i. an hauporn. gan bi holde. 
 178 I. sauj my self, pe same ping. 
 
 Whon heo hedde holden. so al niht. 
 180 On morwe heo let hit gon a way. 
 
 1 stunte neiper. 2 herte also. 3 menbres. 4 cuu. 5 on. 6 fringe. 
 7 Rooted. 8 gentyl cortesye. 9 as. 10 beo mad. " pen schal. al 
 vr synne. 1J jif. 13 herd wel. u heor. 15 hawen. 16 flutte.
 
 124 A SONG OF DEO GRATIAS. 
 
 Wheper genteri ' taujt hire . so or nouht 
 182 I . con not tclle jou . in goode 2 fay . 
 
 But god . as pu art ful of myjt . 
 184 pouj we plese pe. not to pay. 
 
 Graunt vs repentaunce. and respijt. 
 186 And schrift and hosel. or we day. 
 
 As pou art god. and Mon verray. 
 188 pou beo vr help, at vr 3 endyng. 
 
 Byfore 4 pi face, pat we may 4 say 4 . 
 190 Now Merci passep alle ping 5 . 
 
 Explicit a songe of Merci. 
 
 XXVI. A SONGE OF DEO GRACIAS.* 
 (Duplicate of Vernon MS., Brit. Mus., fol. 129, col. 1.) 
 
 In a chirche . pere i . con knel . 
 2 pis ender day. in on Morwenynge. 
 
 Me liked pe seruise. wondur wel. 
 4 For-pi pe lengore. con .i. lynge. 
 
 I seij a clerk a boke forthe brynge. 
 6 pat prikked was . in Mony a plas . 
 
 Fast he souht what be schulde synge. 
 8 And al was. Deo gracias. 
 
 Alle pe queristres in pat qwer. 
 10 On pat word, fast gon pel cri: 
 
 pe noyse was goode. and .i. drouj neer. 
 12 And calde a prest ful priuely. 
 
 And seide syre . for jor curtesy . 
 14 Telle me jif je haue spas . 
 
 What hit menep. and for whi. 
 16 je singe. Deo gracias. 
 IT In silke pat comely clerk, was clad. 
 18 And ouer a lettorne . leoned he . 
 
 1 gentrie. * good. 3 vre. 4 i for y. 5 pinge. * This and the 
 following Songs, I had not time to compare with the Bodleian copy.
 
 A SONG OF DEO GRATIAS. 125 
 
 And with his word, he made me glad. 
 20 And seide sone. i. schal telle pe. 
 
 Fadur and sone. in Trinite. 
 22 pe holygost ground of vr graas . 
 
 Also ofte sipe . ponke we . 
 24 As we sei . Deo gracias . 
 IF To ponke and blesse hym we be bounde. 
 26 With alle pe murpes pat mon may mynne. 
 
 For al pe world in wo was wounde . 
 28 Til pat he crepte. in-to vr kynne. 
 
 A louesum buirde. he lihte with-Inne. 
 30 pe worpiest pat euer was. 
 
 And schedde hys blood for vr synne. 
 32 And perfore . Deo gracias . 
 1 pen seide pe prest. sone bi pi leue. 
 34 I. most seye forp my seruise. 
 
 I. prey pe take hit. nouht in greue. 
 36 For pou hast herd al my deuyse. 
 
 Bi cause whi . hit is clerkes wise . 
 38 And holichirche . Muynde of hit maas . 
 
 Vn-to pe prince so muche of pride . 
 40 Forto synge. Deo gracias. 
 IF Out of pat chirche. i. went my way. 
 42 And on pat word, was al my pouht. 
 
 And twenti tymes. i. con say. 
 44 God graunt pat i. forjete hit nouht. 
 
 pouj .i. were out of bonechef brouht . 
 46 What help weore to me. to say alias. 
 
 In pe nome of god. what euer be wrouht. 
 48 I . schal seie . Deo gracias . 
 IF In myschef and in bonchef hope . 
 50 pat word is goode to say and synge. 
 
 And not to wayle and to be wrope. 
 52 pauj al be nouht at vr likynge. 
 
 For langour schal not euer lynge. 
 54 And sumtyme plesaunce. wol ouerpas. 
 
 But ay in hope of amendynge. 
 56 I. schal say. Deo gracias.
 
 126 A SONG OF DEO GRATIAS. 
 
 A-Mende pat pu hast done amis. 
 58 And do wel penne and haue no drede. 
 
 Wheper so pou beo . in bale or blis . 
 60 pi goode suffraunce. schal gete pe mede. 
 
 jif pou pi lyf in likyng lede . 
 62 Loke pou be kinde in vche a caas . 
 
 ponke pi god jif pou wel spede. 
 64 With pis word. Deo gracias. 
 If jif god hap jiue pe vertues mo. 
 GG pen he hap oper two or pre. 
 
 penne i. rede pou rule pe so. 
 68 pat Men may speke worschupe bi pe. 
 
 Be ferd of pruyde and bost pou fle. 
 70 pi vertues let no fulpe defaas. 
 
 But kepe pe clene corteis and fre. 
 72 And penk on. Deo gracias. 
 *lf jif pou be made an officer. 
 74 And art a Mon of Muche rniht. 
 
 What cause pou demest. loke hit be cler. 
 76 And reue no Mon from hym his riht. 
 
 jif pou be strong and fers to fiht 
 78 For envye neuer mon pou chas 
 
 But drede pi god. bope day and niht. 
 80 And penke on. Deo gracias. 
 IF jif we pis word in herte wol haue . 
 82 And ay in loue and leute leende. 
 
 Of crist bi couenaunt . we mowe craue . 
 84 pat ioye pat schal neuer haue ende. 
 
 Out of pis world . when we schul wende . 
 86 In-to his paleys forto paas. 
 
 And sitte A-Monge his seyntes hende. 
 88 And pere synge. Deo gracias. 
 
 Explicit a songe of Deo gracias. 
 
 [A songe of '! take my leue' follows ]
 
 A SONG OF DEUS CARITAS. 127 
 
 XXVII. DEUS CARITAS. 
 (Duplicate of Vernon MS., Brit. Mus., fol. 129, col. 1.) 
 
 Deus caritas est. 
 2 A deore god omnipotent: 
 
 Lord pou madest. bope foul and best 
 4 On eorpe to Mon. pou here hit sent. 
 
 I. warne jow alle hope more and leste. 
 6 Charite .i. rede pat je hent. 
 
 For hit is cristes heste. 
 8 pat schal come to pe iugement 
 H For whon he comep. at domes day 
 10 pat al pis world, hit schal wel se. 
 
 pe wikked he biddep to gon heore way. 
 12 In bittre penaunce for euere to be. 
 
 And to pe goode wol pat lord say 
 14 |e schul alle wende wip me. 
 
 In-to pe blysse for euer and ay. 
 16 Et qui manet in caritate. 
 IF God pat made bope heuene and helle. 
 18 Vr swete lord of Nazareth 
 
 Adam pat was. so fair of felle. 
 20 For his folyes . he suffred deth . 
 
 In god for sope. he schal dwelle. 
 22 In charite ho so geth. 
 
 Hit is sop. pat .i. ou telle. 
 24 Bi-holde~and seo. In deo mangt. 
 IF Crist was toren vche a lym. 
 26 And on pe Roode. he was .i.-do. 
 
 pe fende pat was. so derke and dym. 
 28 To pe crois he com po. 
 
 Crist, al Charite is in hym. 
 30 pere he ouercome vr fo. 
 
 Charite i. rede pat pou myn. 
 32 And penne. Deus est in eo. 
 IF Let Charite. nou a- wake. 
 34 And do hit. per neode is.
 
 128 ANOTHER SONG OF DEO GRATIAS. 
 
 Heuene forsope. penne maijt pou take. 
 36 And come to pat riche blis. 
 
 Nou crist for his Modur sake. 
 38 Let vs neuer pis place mys. 
 
 And schilde vs from . pe feondes blake . 
 40 And sit deus in nobis. 
 IT And charite .i. rede pat we bygynne. 
 42 As bifore alle oper games. 
 
 And schruyue vs clene of vr synne. 
 44 For so dud petur Ion and lames. 
 
 And perfore god. hem dwelled withinne. 
 46 For pei weore alle. withouten oper blames, 
 
 Crist let vs heuene wynne. 
 48 Et nos in ipso maneamus. 
 H God pat dwellep in gret solas. 
 50 In heuene pat riche regnyng. 
 
 And for vs poled gret trespas. 
 52 Wondur muche at vre muntyng. 
 
 On pe Roode don he was. 
 54 In gret dispit icleped a kyng. 
 
 penkep noupe. on deus caritas. 
 56 And brynge vs alle to goode endyng. 
 
 Explicit Deus caritas. 
 
 XXVIII. ANOTHER SONGE OF DEO GRACIAS. 
 (Duplicate of Vernon MS. Brit. Mus. fol. 129, col. 1.) 
 
 Mi. word is Deo gracias. 
 2 In world wheper me be wel or wo. 
 
 Hou schold. i. laujwe or sigge alias. 
 4 For leeue me wel. hit lastep o. 
 
 And pouj hit greue. hit wol ouer go. 
 6 As pouht chaungep . for suche is gras . 
 
 perfore wheper me be wel or wo. 
 8 I. sei not but Deo gratias.
 
 ANOTHER SONG OF DEO GRATIAS. 129 
 
 IF pouj .i. be riche of gold so red. 
 10 And liht to renne as is a ro. 
 
 A nopur is boun to begge his bred. 
 12 With brestes blak and bleynes bio. 
 
 Whon .i. seo goode depart so . 
 14 To sum Mon god sent gret solas. 
 
 And sum Mon ay to lyue in wo. 
 16 pen sei .i. deo gracias. 
 IF pou he be pore, and lyue in peyn. 
 18 A nopur Mon proudep. as dop a poo. 
 
 Whon murthe is his and mournyng myn . 
 20 As may bifalle. to me and mo. 
 
 jif fortune wolde. be so my fo. 
 22 From me to turne. hire freoly faas. 
 
 Sippe god may sende. bope weole and wo. 
 24 I. sei not. but deo gracias. 
 IF A lord of worschupe jif .i. ware . 
 26 And were falle doun. in a wro. 
 
 Sekenesse sittep me . so sare . 
 28 And serwe wol neij. myn hert slo. 
 
 pus am .i. bounden. from top to to. 
 30 And i. turment so. for my trespaas. 
 
 jit god may loose me. of pat wo. 
 32 And penne .i. say. Deo gracias. 
 IF Whon .i. hedde spendyng. here bifore. 
 34 per wolde no felauschupe . founde me fro . 
 
 But herken and hije. to myn home. 
 36 For in myn hond per stod non ho. 
 
 Nou appeerep. non of po. 
 38 So pouert apayred hap my plas. 
 
 Ho may haue wele withoute wo. 
 40 perfore .i. sey. Deo gracias. 
 IF Almyhti corteis crouned kyng. 
 42 God graunt vs grace to rule vs so. 
 
 pat we may come to pi wonyng. 
 44 pere is weole . withouten wo . 
 
 Milde maide prey pi sone al so. 
 46 pat he forjiue vs. vr trespas.
 
 130 A SONG KNOW THYSELF. 
 
 And aftur ward, in-to heuene go. 
 48 pere to synge. Deo gracias. 
 
 Explicit. A noper songe of Deo gracias. 
 
 XXIX. A SONG-KNOWE pi SELF. 
 (Additional MS. 22,283; Brit. Mus. fol. 129, back, col. 1.) 
 
 In a Pistel pat Poul wrouht. 
 2 I . founde hit writen . and seide riht pis . 
 
 Vche cristcn creature knowen hym self ouht. 
 4 His oune vessel, and sope hit is. 
 
 Nere help of hym . pat vs deore bouht . 
 6 We were boren to luytel blis. 
 
 Whon alle pi goode dedus . beop porw soujt . 
 8 Seche and pou schalt. fynden a-mys. 
 
 Eueri mon schuld . knowen his. 
 
 10 And pat is luytel . as .i. trowe . 
 To teche vr self, crist vs wis. 
 
 12 For vche mon ou}t hym self to knowe . 
 IF Knowe pi self, what pou ware . 
 14 Whon pou were . of pi Moder born . 
 
 Ho was pi moder. pat pe bare. 
 16 And ho was pi fader, per biforn. 
 
 Knowe hou pei beop. forpe i-fare. 
 18 So schaltou. peij pou hedde sworn. 
 
 Knowe pou come hider. wip care. 
 20 pou nost neuer. jif pou bide til morn. 
 
 Hou lihtly. pou maijt be forlorn. 
 22 But pou pi synne schryue and schowe. 
 
 For lond or kip . catel or corn . 
 24 Vche Mon oujt hym self to knowe. 
 
 11 Knowe pi lyf . hit may not last . 
 
 26 But as a blast, blouh out pi breth. 
 
 Tote and by a nopur mon tast. 
 28 Riht as a gleirtand glem. hit geth.
 
 A SONG KNOW THYSELF. 131 
 
 What is al. pat forp is past. 
 30 Hit farep as fuir of heth . 
 
 pis worldes goode . a way wol hast . 
 32 For synnes seekenes . pi soule slep . 
 
 And pat is. a ful deolful dep. 
 34 Go, saue pi soule and pou be slowe. 
 
 With pi Maistrie. medel pi mep. 
 36 For vche mon oujt. hym self to knowe. 
 IT jif pou pi self, knowe con. 
 38 Sitte doun. and take countures rounde. 
 
 Sippe furst. pou monnes wit bigon. 
 40 Hou ofte synne. pe hap ibounde. 
 
 And for vche a synne. lay pou doun on. 
 42 Til pou pi synnes. haue soujt vp. and founde. 
 
 Counte. pi goode dedes eurichon. 
 44 A-bide pere a while, and stunt a stounde. 
 
 And jif pou fele pe syker and sounde . 
 46 penke on pi god. as pe wel owe. 
 
 And jif pou arf. in synne ibounde . 
 48 Amende pe . and pi self knowe . 
 
 Knowe what god. hap for pe do. 
 50 Made pe aftur. his oune liknes. 
 
 Seipe he come, from heuene also. 
 52 And dijed for pe. in gret distres. 
 
 For pe he suffred. hope pyne and wo. 
 54 Knowe pou hym . and alle his . 
 
 Whoso greuep hym. is worpi to go. 
 56 To helle fuyr . but he hit redres . 
 
 And he beo demed. be rihtwisnes. 
 58 But his grace is. so wide isowe. 
 
 From his wrape .i. rede vs bles. 
 60 For vche mon oujt. hym self to knowe. 
 IF Knowe pi self, pat pou schalt dye. 
 62 But what tyme pou nost neuer ne whenne. 
 
 With an twynklyng of an eije . 
 64 Eueriday pou hijest pe henne. 
 
 pi flesche foode . pe wormes wol fye . 
 66 Vche criaten mon. oujt pis to kenne. 
 
 i2
 
 132 A SONG KNOW THYSELF. 
 
 Loke aboute. and wel aspye. 
 68 pis world dop but bitraye menne . 
 
 And be war of pe fuir . pat euer schal brenne . 
 70 And penk pou regnest here . but a prowe . 
 
 Heuene blisse . pou schat haue penne . 
 72 For vcbe mon oujt. hym self to knowe. 
 If Knowe pi flesche. pat wol rote. 
 74 For certes pou maijt not longe endure. 
 
 And nedes die. hennes pou mote. 
 76 pauj pou haue kyngdam and empyre. 
 
 And sone pou schalt. be forgote. 
 78 So schal souereyn, so schal syre. 
 
 Hoso leeuep not pis .i. trowe he dote . 
 80 For eueri mok . most in-to myre . 
 
 Preye we to god. vr soules enspire. 
 82 Or we bene logged, in eorpe lowe. 
 
 Heuene to haue. to vr huire. 
 84 For vche mon oujt him self to knowe . 
 T Knowe pi kuynde Creatoure. 
 86 Knowe what he. for pe dide. 
 
 Knowe pis worldly, honoure. 
 88 Hou sone pat hit is forp islyde. 
 
 Ende of ioye. is her doloure. 
 90 Strengpe stont vs in no stide. 
 
 But longyng. and beoing in laboure. 
 92 Vr host vr brag . is sone ouerbide . 
 
 Arthur, and Ector. pat we dredde. 
 94 Dethe* hap leide hem. wonderly lowe. [* MS. Aethe] 
 
 Amende pe mon. euene forp mydde. 
 96 For vchemon oujte . hym self to knowe . 
 H pi Concience schal pe saue and deme. 
 98 Wheper pat pou. be ille or good. 
 
 Grope aboute and take good jeme. 
 100 per maijt pou wite. but pou be wood. 
 
 per schalt pou pe same seone. 
 102 Aske Merci. wip mylde mood. 
 
 Amende pe. pou wot what .i. mene. 
 104 Vche creature pat berep . bon and blood .
 
 A SONG OF YESTERDAY. 133 
 
 Prey we to god pat died on Roode . 
 106 Ar vr brethe beo. out i. blowe. 
 
 pat cristes face, may bene vr foode. 
 108 For vche mon oujt . hym self to knowe . 
 
 Explicit. A song knowe pi self. 
 
 XXX. A SONG OF YESTERDAY. 
 (Additional MS. 22,283; Brit. Mus. fol. 129, back, col. 3.) 
 
 Whon men beop muriest. at heor mele. 
 2 With mete and drink, to maken hem glade. 
 
 With worschipe. and with worldliche wele. 
 4 pei bene so sette. pei conne not sade. 
 
 pei haue no deynte forto dele. 
 6 With pinges pat bene deuotly made. 
 
 pei wene heore honoure and heore hele. 
 8 Schal euer last and neuer diffade. 
 
 But in heore hertes. i. wolde pei hade. 
 10 Whon pei gon ricchest men aray. 
 
 Hou sone pat god hem may degrade. 
 12 And sum tyme penke on justurday. 
 1 pis day as leef. we may be liht. 
 14 With alle pe murpes pat men may vise. 
 
 To Reuele with pise buyrdes briht. 
 16 Vche mon gayest on his gise. 
 
 At pe last . hit drawep to niht . 
 18 pat slepe most make . his maistrise . 
 
 Whon pat he hap kud his mint. 
 20 pe morwe he buskep vp to rise. 
 
 penne alle drawep hem to fantasie . 
 22 Wher he is bicomen con no mon say. 
 
 And }if heo wuste . pei were ful wise . 
 24 For al is turned to justerday. 
 H Whoso wolde penke. vppon pis. 
 26 Miht fynde a goode enchesun whi.
 
 134 A SONG OF YESTERDAY. 
 
 To preue pis world, al wey i-wis. 
 28 Hit nis but fantum. and feiri. 
 
 pis eorpeli ioie pis worldly blis. 
 30 Is but a fykel fantasy. 
 
 For nou hit is. and nou hit nis. 
 32 per may no mon perinne affy. 
 
 Hit schaungep so oft and so sodeynly. 
 34 To day is here, to morwe a way. 
 
 A syker ground who wol him gy. 
 36 I. rede he penke on justerday. 
 IF For per nis non. so strong in stour. 
 38 Fro tyme pat he . ful waxen be . 
 
 From pat day forp. eueriche an hour. 
 40 Of his strengpe he leost a quantite . 
 
 Ne no buyrde so briht in boure. 
 42 Of pritti wyntur. i. enseure pe. 
 
 pat heo ne schal fade as a flour. 
 44 Luyte. and luyte. leosen hir beute. 
 
 pe sope je may . for self ise . 
 46 Beo jor eldres. in goode fay. 
 
 Whon je bene grettest in jour degre. 
 48 I. rede je penke on justurday. 
 IF Nis non so fresch. on fote to fare. 
 50 Ne non so feir. on folde to fynde. 
 
 pat pei ne schal on here . be broujt ful bare . 
 52 pis wrecched world nis but a wynde. 
 
 Ne non so styf. to stunt ne stare. 
 54 Ne non so bold. Beores to bynde. 
 
 pat he nap warnynges to be ware. 
 56 For god is so corteis and so kynde. 
 
 Biholde pe lame, pe bedrede. pe blynde. 
 58 pat bit jou be war. whil pat je may. 
 
 pei make a Mirour. to jor mynde. 
 60 To seo pe schap . of justerday . 
 IF pe lyf pat eny mon schal lede . 
 62 Bep certeyn dayes atte last. 
 
 pen most vr terme. schort nede. 
 64 Be o day comen. a nopur is past.
 
 A SONG OF YESTERDAY. 135 
 
 Here-of and we wolde . take good hede . 
 66 And in vr hertes acountes cast. 
 
 Day bi day. withoute drede. 
 68 To-ward vr ende. we drawe ful fast. 
 
 penne schal vr bodies in eorpe be prast. 
 70 Vr Careyns chaunged. vndur clay. 
 
 Here of we oujte be sore agast . 
 72 And we wolde penke on justerday. 
 IF Salomon seide in his poysi. 
 74 He holdep wel bettre . with an hounde . 
 
 pat is likyng. and loly. 
 76 And of sekenesse. hoi and sounde. 
 
 pen be a leon. pouj he ly. 
 78 Cold, and ded. vppon pe grounde. 
 
 Wher of seruep . his victori . 
 80 pat was so styf. in vche a stounde. 
 
 pe most fool. i. herde respounde. 
 82 Is wysore. whil he lyue may. 
 
 pen he pat hedde . a pousond pounde . 
 84 And was buried, justerday. 
 IF Socrates seip. a word ful wys. 
 86 Hit were wel bettre forto se. 
 
 A mon pat nou partep. and dis. 
 88 pen a fest. of Rialte. 
 
 pe fest wol make, his flesche to ris. 
 90 And drawe his herte. to vanite. 
 
 pe body pat on pe bere lis. 
 92 Schewep pe same pat we schal be. 
 
 pat ferful fit. may no mon fle. 
 94 Ne with no whiles, wynne hit a way. 
 
 perfore among al lolyte. 
 96 Sumtyme penke on justerday. 
 IF But jit me meruayles. ouer al. 
 98 pat god let monymon croke and elde . 
 
 Whon miht and strengpe is from hem fal. 
 100 pat pei may not. hem self awelde . 
 
 And now pise beggers most principal. 
 102 pat good ne profit, may non jelde.
 
 136 A SONG OF YESTERDAY. 
 
 To pi purpos vnswere. i. schal. 
 104 Whi god sent suche men . boote and belde . 
 
 Crist pat made hope flour and felde. 
 106 Let suche men lyue. forsope to say. 
 
 Whon a jonge mon. on hem bihelde. 
 108 Scholde seo pe schap . of justerday . 
 
 If A nopur skil. per is for whi. 
 110 pat god let suche men lyue so longe. 
 
 For pei beop triacle. and remedi. 
 112 For synful men. pat ban don wronge. 
 
 In hem. pe seuen dedes of Merci. 
 114 A Mon may. fulfille amonge. 
 
 And also pis proude men may perbi . 
 116 A feir Mirour vndurfonge. 
 
 For per nis non. so stif ne stronge. 
 118 Ne no lady, stout ne gay. 
 
 Biholde what ouer hor bed con honge. 
 120 And sumtyme penke on justerday. 
 
 If I . haue wust . sin . i . coupe meen . 
 122 pat children hap. bi candel liht. 
 
 Heore schadewe on pe walle isen. 
 124 And ronne per aftur. al pe niht. 
 
 Bisi aboute. pei ban ben. 
 126 To cacchen hit with al heore miht. 
 
 And whon pei cacchen hit. best wold wen 
 128 Sannest hit schet out. of heore siht. 
 
 pe schadewe cacchen. pei ne myht. 
 130 For no lynes. pat pei coupe lay. 
 
 pis schadewe. i. may likne a riht. 
 132 To pis world, and justerday. 
 
 If In-to pis world, whon we bep broujt. 
 134 We schul be tempted, to couetyse. 
 
 And al pi wit. schal be porw soujt. 
 136 To more good, pen pou may suffise. 
 
 Whon pou penkest best, in pi pouht. 
 138 On richesse. forte regne and rise. 
 
 Al pi trauayle . turnep to noujt . 
 140 For sodeynly on dep pou dyese.
 
 A SONG OF YESTERDAY. 137 
 
 pi lyf pou hast ilad with lyjes . 
 142 So pis world, gon pe bitray. 
 
 perfore . i . rede pou pis dispise . 
 144 And sumtyme penke on justerday. 
 
 If Mon , jif pi neijebor pe manas . 
 146 Opur to culle. opur to bete. 
 
 I. knowe me syker in pe cas. 
 148 pat pou wold drede. pi neijebores prete. 
 
 And neuer a day pi dore to pas. 
 150 Withoute syker. defense and grete. 
 
 And ben purueyed . in vche a plas . 
 152 Of sykernes. and helpe to gete. 
 
 pin enemy woltou. not forjete. 
 154 But ay be aferd . of his affray . 
 
 Ensaumple here of. i. wol jou trete. 
 156 To make jou penke. on justerday. 
 
 H Wei pou wost . withouten fayle . 
 158 pat dep hap manast pe to die. 
 
 But whon pat he wol pe assayle. 
 160 pat wost pou not. ne neuer may spye. 
 
 jif pou wost don bi my counsayle . 
 162 Wip syker defence, be ay redie. 
 
 For siker defence, in pis batayle. 
 164 Is clene lyf parfit and trye . 
 
 Put pi trust, in godus Mercie. 
 166 Hit is pe best, at al assay. 
 
 And euer among . pou pe ennuye . [? enmiye] 
 168 In-to pis world, and justerday. 
 "IT Sum men seip pat dep is a pef . 
 170 And al vnwarned. wol. on hym stele. 
 
 And. i. say nay. and make a pref. 
 172 pat dep is studefast trewe and lele. 
 
 And warnep vche mon . of his gref . 
 174 pat he wol o day. with hym dele. 
 
 pe lyf pat is. to jou so leof. 
 176 He wol jou reue. and eke jor hele. 
 
 pis poyntes. may no mon hym repele. 
 178 He comep so baldely. to pike his pray.
 
 138 WHY i CAN'T BE A NUN. 
 
 Whon men beop murgest. at heor mele. 
 180 I. rede je penke on justerday. 
 
 Explicit. A song, of $usterday. 
 
 XXXI. WHY I CAN'T BE A NUN. 
 (Bibl. Cotton, Vesp. D.IX, fol. 179.) 
 
 And whan they had resceyvede her charge, 
 2 They spared nether mud ne myer, 
 
 But roden over Inglonde brode and large, 
 4 To seke owte nunryes in euery schyre: 
 
 Her hertys were alwey on her hyre, 
 6 And that scheude they wel in her workyng, 
 
 For they were as ferfent as ony fyre 
 8 To excecute her lordys byddyng. 
 
 And schortly to sey, no' man abode 
 10 That on thys erand schulde be sent. 
 
 In-to dyuers schyres dyuers men rode, 
 12 And one of hem be-gan in kent. 
 
 They token her leue and forthe they went; 
 14 And to eche of hem was jeven grete hyre, 
 
 And there fore they were so feruent 
 16 To seke owte nunryes in euery schyre. 
 
 But the townes names I ouyr pas, 
 18 For and I schulde telle alle in fere, 
 
 Hyt were a long tale for to here. 
 20 But on a boke I dare well swere, 
 
 In gode feythe and on womanhode, 
 22 None was forjete, fer ne nere, 
 
 Thorowj ynglond long and brode. 
 24 [Bjut when they were com home ajene 
 
 That roden owte message to bere, 
 26 Than my fader was fulle fayne 
 
 And callede hem to hym alle in fere
 
 WHY i CAN'T BE A NUN. 139 
 
 28 And seyde, "how sped je there je were, 
 
 How faren the nunnes that je cam tylle?" 
 30 "Welle, syr," quod they, "and made vs gode chere, 
 
 And yowre desyre they wolle fulfylle." 
 32 "I thanke hem seres Iwys," quod he, 
 
 "Now am I glade, so god me spede:" 
 34 And than my fader loked on me, 
 
 "Dameselle," quod he, "now take gode hede, 
 36 For yowre entent god do yow mede, 
 
 je seyde je wolde be a nune 
 38 But je may not fulfylle in dede 
 
 The purpose that je haue be-gun." 
 40 "Fader, quod I, and sore I wept, 
 
 Wolle je me here wythe wordys few; 
 42 I trow my wylle schalle be accept 
 
 Before owre souereyne lorde ihesu, 
 44 And to him I am, and wolle be, trew 
 
 Wythe alle my wylle and obcervaunce, 
 46 And I wolle not chonge hym for no new , 
 
 For I loue hym wythe owten variaunce; 
 48 And trewly me repenteth fulle sore 
 
 That my wylle my not be had." 
 50 Than my fader low} and seyde no more, 
 
 But went his way and was fulle glade; 
 52 But than morned I, and was ryjt sad, 
 
 And in my hert I was fulle wo: 
 54 'Alas', I thowjt, 'my chawnce ys bad, 
 
 I trow that fortune be my fo.' 
 56 Than hyt befell in a mornyng of may, 
 
 In the same jere as I seyde be-fore, 
 58 My pencyfnes wolde not a-way 
 
 But euer waxed more and more, 
 60 I walked a-lone and wepte sore 
 
 Wythe syhyngys and mornyng chere, 
 62 I seyde but lytylle and thowjt the more, 
 
 For what I thowjt no man myjt here, 
 64 And in a gardyne I sporty d me 
 
 Euery day at dyuers howres,
 
 140 WHY i CAN'T BE A NUN. 
 
 66 To beholds and for to see 
 
 The swete effecte of aprelle flowres, 
 68 The fayre herbys and gentyl flowrys 
 
 And birde syngyng on euery spray, 
 70 But my longyng and my dolowrys 
 
 For alle thys sport wolde not away. 
 72 The byrdys sate on the bowes grene 
 
 And syngyng fulle meryly & made gode chere 
 74 Her federys were fulle fayre and schene 
 
 And alle they maden mery in her manere. 
 76 Than went I in-to a fayre herbere, 
 
 And set me on my kneys allone, 
 78 To god I made my prayowre, 
 
 And on thys wyse I made my mone 
 80 "Lord* god that alle vertu hast 
 
 And haddyst wythe-owten begynnyng, 
 82 Kepe me that I may lyue chaste 
 
 For the corupcion of synnyng; 
 84 For thowj my fadyr and alle my kyn 
 
 For-sake me thus in necessite, 
 86 jyt I hope suche grace to wyn 
 
 That owre lord ihesu wolle resceyue me. 
 88 Souereyne lord omnipotent, 
 
 Now be my comfort, swete Ihesu. 
 90 Before the alle thyng ys present, 
 
 Alle that evyr was, and alle pat ys. 
 92 Alle that schalle be aftyr thys , 
 
 Thow knowest alle thyng bothe most and lest. 
 94 Now ihesu kyng of hevyn blys, 
 
 Wysse me thy seruant what ys best, 
 96 For now I am alle desolate, 
 
 And of gode cownesayle destitute. 
 98 Lord to my mornyng be mediate, 
 
 For thow are oonly my refute, 
 100 To the for comfort I make my sute 
 
 To haue that ioy that lastythe ay, 
 102 For her loue that bare that frute, 
 
 Swete ihesu, miserere mei!
 
 WHY i CAN'T BE A NUN. 141 
 
 104 I can no more, but trust in the 
 
 In whom ys alle wysdom an wyt; 
 106 And thow wost what ys best for me, 
 
 For alle thyng in thy syjt ys pyt. 
 108 Loo here I thyne hand-mayde syt 
 
 Dyspysede and in poynte to spylle; 
 1 10 My cawse to the , lorde , I commytte ; f 
 
 Now do to me aftyr thy wylle." 
 112 And at that worde for-feynte I fylle 
 
 Among the herbes fresche and fyne; 
 114 Vn-to a benche of camomylle 
 
 My wofulle hede I dyd inclyne, 
 116 And so I lay in fulle grete pyne, 
 
 And cowde not cese but alwey wepe, 
 118 And sore I syjhed many a tyme 
 
 And prayed my lorde he wolde me kepe. 
 120 And at the last a sclepe was Ibrowjt 
 
 And alle a-lone in this gardyne. 
 122 And than com a fayre lady, as me thowjt, 
 
 And called me by name 'kateryne', 
 124 And seyde "a- wake, dowjtyr myne, 
 
 And to my talkyng take entent; 
 126 To bryng thyne hert owte of pyne, 
 
 And to comfort the, now haue I ment. 
 128 Kateryne", sche sayde, "loke vp and haue" 
 
 And than I behelde welle her fygure, 
 130 I pray to god in hevyn her saue, 
 
 For hyt was the most godely creature 
 132 That euer I saw, I yow ensuer, 
 
 As I wolle telle yow or I go, 
 134 For I behelde welle her feture, 
 
 Her bewte, and her clothyng also, 
 136 And me thowjt I was as wakyng tho ; 
 
 And I behelde that lady so 
 138 That I forgate alle my mornyng, 
 
 For hyt was to me a wondyr thyng 
 140 That lady to beholden and see,
 
 142 WHY i CAN'T BE A NUN. 
 
 Sche was so fayre wythe-owten lesyng 
 142 Bothe of clothyng and of bewte, 
 
 Thys that was so godely arrayed. 
 144 Sche comfortythe me in dyuers wyse, 
 
 And spake to me in dyuers wyse, 
 146 And bad me anone I schulde aryse. 
 
 And me thowjt I rose and knelyd thryes, 
 148 And seyde to her wythe grete reuerence, 
 
 "What ys yowr name, dame empryse?" 
 150 Sche seyde "my name ys experience; 
 
 And, dowjter, my techyng may not fayle; 
 152 For what so I teche, hyt ys fulle trew, 
 
 And now at thys tyme for thyne avayle 
 154 I am com hedyr on the to rew; 
 
 And wythe the help of cryste ihesu 
 156 I hope hyt schalle be for the best, 
 
 For suche thynges as I schalle the sche, 
 158 I tro hyt schalle set thyne hert in rest." 
 
 "Thanke yow, lady," quod I than, 
 160 "And there-of hertely I yow pray; 
 
 And I, as lowly as I can, 
 162 Wolle do yow servyse nyjt and day; 
 
 And what je byd me do or say 
 164 To yow I promyt obedyence, 
 
 And bryng me owte of thys carefulle way, 
 166 My gode dere lady experience." 
 
 Than me thowjt sche toke me by the honde 
 168 As I knelyd vp-on my kne 
 
 And vp a-none sche bad me ryse, 
 170 And on thys wyse seyde to me, 
 
 "Kateryne, thys day schalt thow see 
 172 And hpwse of wommen reguler, 
 
 And diligent loke that thow be, 
 174 And note ryjt welle what pow seest there." 
 
 Than me thoujt sche led me forthe a pace 
 176 Thorowj a medow fayre and grene, 
 
 And sone sche browjt me to a place, 
 178 In erthe ys none so fayre I wene,
 
 WHY i CAN'T BE A NUN. 143 
 
 Of ryalle byldyng so I mene , 
 180 Hyt schyned wythe-owte so fayre and clere, 
 
 But syn had made hyt fulle vnclene 
 182 Wythe-in, as je schalle aftyr here. 
 
 "What place ys thys pat stondythe hyre", 
 184 Quod I to hyre pat dyd me lyde. 
 
 "Kateryne, sche sayd, we wyl go nere, 
 186 And what you seyst, take good hede." 
 
 Than at the jates in we jede, 
 188 Boldly as thowj we had be at home, 
 
 And I thowjt, 'now cryst vs spede'. 
 190 Than to the cloyster sone we com, 
 
 For hyt was a howse of nunes in trewthe, 
 192 Of dyuers orderys bothe old and yong, 
 
 But not welle gouernede , and pat was rowthe , 
 194 Aftyr the rewle of sad levyng. 
 
 For where that selfe-wylle ys reygnyng, 
 196 The whyche causethe dyscord and debate, 
 
 And resun hathe none enteryng, 
 198 That howse may not be fortunate. 
 
 For arystotelle, who so redythe 
 200 In the fyrst boke of hys moralite, 
 
 Playnely sayethe that euery man nedethe 
 202 To be ware of the vnresonabylite 
 
 That comethe of the sensualite , 
 204 And not hys bestely condiciones sewe, 
 
 But let resun haue the soueraynte, 
 206 And so he schalle purches vertu.' 
 
 But what in that place I saw 
 208 That to religion schulde not long, 
 
 Peraventure je wolde desyre to know, 
 210 And who was dwellyng hem a-mong. 
 
 Sum what schalle I telle yow wyth tong, 
 212 And sum what cownseyle kepe I schalle, 
 
 And so I was tawjt whan I was yong, 
 214 To here and se, and sey not alle. 
 
 But there was a lady, that hyj dame pride; 
 216 In grete reputacion they her toke
 
 144 WHY i CAN'T BE A NUN. 
 
 And pore dame mekenes sate be syde, 
 218 To her vnnethys ony wolde loke, 
 
 But alle as who scythe I her forsoke, 
 220 And set not by her nether most ne lest; 
 
 Dame ypocryte loke vp-on a boke 
 222 And bete her selfe vp on the brest. 
 
 On euery syde than lokede vp I, 
 224 And fast I cast myne ye a-bowte; 
 
 Yf I cowde se be-holde or a-spy, 
 226 I wolde haue sene dame devowte. 
 
 And sche was but wythe few of that rowjt; 
 228 For dame sclowthe and dame veyne glory 
 
 By vyolens had put her owte; 
 230 And than in my hert I was fulle sory. 
 
 But dame envy was there dwellyng 
 232 The whyche can sethe stryfe in euery state. 
 
 And a nother lady was there wonnyng 
 234 That hyjt dame loue vn-ordynate, 
 
 In that place bothe erly and late 
 236 Dame lust, dame wantowne, and dame nyce, 
 
 They ware so there enhabyted, I wate, 
 238 That few token hede to goddys servyse. 
 
 Dame chastyte, I dare welle say, 
 24Q In that couent had lytylle chere, 
 
 But oft in poynte to go her way, 
 242 Sche was so lytelle beloved there; 
 
 But sum her loved in hert fulle dere, 
 244 And there weren that dyd not so, 
 
 And sum set no thyng by her, 
 246 But jafe her gode leue for to go. 
 
 And at that place I saw muche more, 
 248 But alle I thenk not to dyscrye, 
 
 But I wolle sey as I seyde be-fore. 
 250 And yt ys a poynte of curtesy; 
 
 For whoso chateryt lyke a py 
 252 And tellethe alle that he herethe and seethe, 
 
 He schalle be put owte of company, 
 254 And scho the gose, thus wysdum vs lereth*.
 
 WHY i CAN'T BE A NUN. 145 
 
 And in that place fulle besyly 
 256 I walked whyle I myjt enduer, 
 
 And saw how dame enevy 
 258 In euery corner had grete cure; 
 
 Sche bare the keyes of many a dore. 
 260 And than experience to me came, 
 
 And seyde, kateryne, I the ensuer, 
 262 Thys lady ys but seldom fro home. 
 
 Than dame pacience and dame charyte 
 264 In that nunry fulle sore I sowjt; 
 
 I wolde fayne haue wyst where they had be, 
 266 For in that couent were they nowjt; 
 
 But an owte chamber for hem was wrowjt, 
 268 And there they dweldyn wyth-owtyn stryfe, 
 
 And many gode women to them sowjt 
 270 And were fulle wyfulle of her lyfe, 
 
 Also a-nother lady there was 
 272 That hyjt dame dysobedyent 
 
 And sche set nowjt by her priores. 
 274 And than me thowjt alle was schent, 
 
 For sugettys schulde evyr be dylygent 
 276 Bothe in worde, in wylle, and dede, 
 
 To plese her souereynes wyth gode entent, 
 278 And hem obey, ellys god forbede. 
 
 And of alle the defawtes that I cowde se 
 280 Thorowj schewyng of experience, 
 
 Hyt was one of the most that grevyd me, 
 282 The wantyng of obedyence. 
 
 For hyt schulde be chese in consciens, 
 284 Alle relygius rule wytnesseth the same, 
 
 And when I saw her in no reverence, 
 286 I myjt no lenger abyde for schame, 
 
 For they setten not by obedyence. 
 288 And than for wo myne hert gan blede, 
 
 Ne they hadden her in no reuerence, 
 290 But few or none to her toke hede. 
 
 And than I sped me thens a grete spede, 
 292 That couent was so fulle of syn; 
 
 k
 
 WHY i CAN'T BE A NUN. 
 
 And than experience dyd me lede 
 294 Owte at the jates there we com In. 
 
 And when we were both wyth-owte, 
 296 Vp on the gras we setten vs downe, 
 
 And then we he-helde the place abowte, 
 298 And there we talkeden as vs lest. 
 
 And than I prayed experience for to haue wyst 
 300 Why sche schewed me thys nunery, 
 
 Sche seyde "now we bene here in rest, 
 302 I thenk for to tellen the why. 
 
 Thy fyrst desyre and thyne entent 
 304 Was to bene a nune professede, 
 
 And for thy fader wolde not consent, 
 306 Thyne hert wyth mornyng was sore oppressed^, 
 
 And thow wyst not what to do was best; 
 308 And I seyde, I wolde cese thy grevawnce, 
 
 And now for the most part in euery cost 
 310 I haue schewed the nunnes gouernawnce. 
 
 For as thow seest wyth-in yonder walle 
 312 Suche bene the nunnes in euery warde, 
 
 As for the most part, I say not alle, 
 314 God forbede, for than hyt were harde, 
 
 For sum bene devowte, holy, and towards, 
 316 And holden the ryjt way to blysse; 
 
 And sum bene feble, lewde, and frowarde, 
 318 Now god amend that ys amys! 
 
 And now kateryne, I haue alle do 
 320 For thy comfort that longeth to me, 
 
 And now let vs aryse and go 
 322 Vn-to the herber there I com to the." 
 
 Than in thys herber sche let be me. 
 324 I thanked her wyth grete reuerence, 
 
 I pray to god I-blessyd be sche, 
 326 Thys fayre lady experience. 
 
 And whan sche was gone, I wakede anone. 
 328 And I thowj how I may gouerned be, 
 
 For nun wold I neuere be none, 
 330 For suche defawtes that I haue see.
 
 WHY i CAN'T BE A NUN. 147 
 
 But jyf they myjt amendyd be, 
 332 And forsake her syn both day and nyjt, 
 
 God jyf me grace that day to se , 
 334 And ellys hyt wolle not be a ryjt. 
 
 But here perauenture sum man wolde say, 
 336 And to hys conceyte so hyt schulde seme, 
 
 That I forsoke sone a perfyte way 
 338 For a fantesy or for a dreme. 
 
 For dreme was hyt none, ne fantasye, 
 340 Hyt was vn-to me a gratius mene, 
 
 [A piece of the MS. containing the whole of the first 4 lines , and part 
 of the next four, is torn off here.] 
 
 That 
 
 342 Holy wryt w 
 
 Pleynely go rede hyt wh . . . 
 344 And hyt ys wretyn in Genesye, 
 
 In the fowre and thyrty Chapytylle, 
 346 How dyna, for sche bode not stylle 
 
 But went owte to see thynges in veyne, 
 348 Sche was defowled a-jenst her wylle, 
 
 And there-fore thowsandys of peple were sclayn. 
 350 Yowre barbe, your wymppylle and your vayle, 
 
 Yowre mantelle and yowre devowte clothyng, 
 352 Maketh men wyth-owten fayle 
 
 To wene je be holy in levyng. 
 354 And so hyt ys an holy thyng 
 
 To bene in habyte reguler; 
 356 Than, as by owtewarde aray in semyng, 
 
 Beth so wyth-in my ladyes dere. 
 358 A fayre garlond of yve grene 
 
 Whyche hangeth at a taverne dore, 
 360 Hyt ys a false token as I wene, 
 
 But yf there be wyne gode and sewer ; 
 362 Ryjt so but je your vyces for-bere, 
 
 And let alle lewde custom be broken, 
 364 So god me spede, I yow ensewer 
 Ellys yowre habyte ys no trew token 
 
 366 hyng 
 
 k2
 
 148 WHY i CAN'T BE A NUN. OLD AGE. 
 
 368 
 
 yng . . . nde gode levyng, 
 
 370 . . yf they be wyth-in the contrary, 
 
 In holy schrypture wyth-owte lesyng 
 372 They bene called the chyldryn of false ypocrasy. 
 
 Now, ladyes, taketh gode hede to thys exhortation 
 374 That I haue tawjt yow in thys lore, 
 
 And beholde the gode conuersacion 
 376 Of gode women here be-fore , 
 
 Fulle holy vyrgynes many a store, 
 378 The whyche levedyn here relygyiusly, 
 
 And now in ioy and blysse therefore 
 380 They haue possession enlesly, 
 
 Seynte clare and seynte edyth also, 
 382 Seynte scolastica and seynte Brigytte, 
 
 Seynte Radegunde, and many mo 
 384 That weren ' professed in nunnes habyte. 
 
 They fulle besy were wyth alle her wytte 
 386 To be ware of syn , and fle there froo , 
 
 And now for evyr they bene qwyte 
 388 From alle maner sorow and woo, 
 
 Seynte audre, seynte freswyth, & seynte Emerlde (?) 
 390 Seynte wythbuge & seynte Myldrede, 
 
 Seynte sexburge & seynte Ermenylde, 
 392 Of alle these holy women we rede. 
 [? Incomplete.] 
 
 XXXII. OLD AGE. 
 (Harl. 913, p. 54 back; printed Rel. Ant. II., p. 210.) 
 
 1. Elde makip me geld, an 2 growen al grai. 
 when eld me wol feld . nykkest 3 per no nai . 
 eld mil meld . no murpes of mai 
 when eld me wold aweld. mi wele is a wai 
 
 1 MS. wereren. a The ands are written a'. 3 MS. blotched.
 
 OLD AGE. 
 
 149 
 
 eld wold keld. an cling so the clai. 
 wip eld I mot held, an hien to mi dai. 
 
 2. When eld blowid he is blode . his ble is sone abatid . 
 al we wilnip to ben old. wy is eld ihatid. 
 
 moch me anuep. pat mi dribil druip. and mi wrot wet. 
 
 eld me awarpep . pat mi schuldern scharpip . and joupe me hap let. 
 
 3. Ihc ne mai no more 
 
 , poj mi wil wold jete: 
 
 grope vnder gore 
 
 y-joket ic am of jore 
 wip last an luper lore 
 
 4. iset ic am wip sunne 
 pat i ne mai nojt munne 
 eld me hap amarrid 
 
 ic wene he he bi-charred 
 
 5. Al pus eld me for-dede 
 pus he toggip vte mi ded 
 
 Y ne mai more of loue done 
 mi pilkoc pissep on mi schone 
 
 6. Mine hed is hore & al for-fare 
 i-hewid as a grei mare 
 
 when i bi-hold on mi schennen 
 m'in dimmip al for-dwynnen 
 
 7. Now i pirtle i pofte . i poute . 
 
 i snurpe i snobbe i sneipe on snovte . 
 i lench i len on lyme i lasse 
 i poke i pomple i palle i passe 
 
 8. i riuele i roxle i rake i rouwe 
 
 i clyng i cluche i croke i couwe 
 i grunt i grone i grenne i gruche ) 
 i nese i nappe i nifle i nuche ^ 
 
 9. i stunt i stomere i stomble as sledde . 
 i blind i bleri i bert in bedde. 
 
 i spitte i spatle in speche i sporne 
 i werne i lutle p erf or i murne 
 10. i spend an marrit is mi main 
 an wold wil jupe a-jayn 
 
 an sunne me hap bi-set. 
 non murpis wip mupe : 
 pat trustep to jupe . 
 an drawip ham on rewe. 
 
 vch schenlon ' me bischrew. 
 Mi bodi wexit lewe 3 
 Mi frendis waxip fewe. 
 > pro} kund i comble an kelde 
 as gallip gome i-geld. 
 pus he wol me a- weld: 
 an al pis wilnep eld. 
 
 Such sond is me sent : 
 pus is mi wel iwent. 
 as falc i falow an felde: 
 
 1 puer. 
 
 debile.
 
 150 
 
 OLD AGE. EARTH. 
 
 such willing is after elde. 
 
 i was heordmon nov am holle 
 al folk of me bep wel folle 
 11. eld me hap so hard ihent 
 
 seo wouw spakliy * he me spent ) arerid ig of rote : 
 
 vch top fram oper is trent. 
 
 pe tunge wlasep wend perwip \ 
 
 lostles lowtep in uch a lip > he fint me vnder fote. Amen. 
 
 i mot be pat eld bep 
 
 XXXIII. EARTH. 
 (Harl. 913, p. 62; Rel. Ant. II, p. 216.) 
 
 1. Whan erp hap erp iwonne wip wow 
 pan erp mai of erp nim hir inow 
 erp vp erp fallip fol frow 2 
 
 erp toward erp delful him drow . 
 
 Of erp pou were makid. and mon pou art ilich: 
 
 in on erp awaked pe pore and pe riche 
 
 2. Terrain per inuri 
 tune de terra copi 
 terra super are 
 
 se traxit ad arid 
 De terra plasmaris 
 vna terra pauper 
 
 3. Erp gep on erp. wrikkend in weden. 
 erp toward erp. wormes to feden 
 erp berip to erp . al is lif deden 
 
 when erp is in erpe. heo muntid 3 pi meden. 
 
 When erp is in erpe . pe rof is on pe chynne . 
 
 pan schullen an hundred wormes. wroten on pe skin. 
 
 i 
 
 cum terra lucr 
 
 
 . am 
 
 
 
 atur 
 
 )1 
 
 terra sorci 
 
 
 
 
 subito frustr 
 
 
 
 am 
 
 
 at 
 
 ar 
 
 
 terraque trist 
 
 
 
 ris 
 
 simile virr 
 
 
 ) 
 
 es 
 
 >om 
 ac dites sunt pr^ 
 
 4. 
 
 Vesta pergit uesti), 
 
 bus 
 
 super vestem v 4 
 vesta pastum d 
 
 1 The Rel. Ant. reads 'spakky', but the true word is evidently 'spakly' 
 = quickly or certainly. H. C. 
 
 3 Glossed 'festine'. 3 metitur. 
 fur. Bond. 
 
 rare, to deck it out with car,
 
 EARTH. 
 
 ac cum gestis omni 
 
 10. 
 
 bus 
 
 ad uestam migr 
 
 quis vult suspir 
 doma tangit m / 
 verrunt 1 uermes 
 
 en turn 
 
 cum uesta sit scrobi 
 Cum sit uesta ponit 
 tune in cute candid 
 
 5. Erp askip erp. and erp hir answerid 
 whi erp hatid erp . and erp erp verrid 
 erp hap erp . and erp erp terip 
 erp geep on erp . and erp erp berrip . 
 Of erp pow were bi-gun. on erp pou schalt end 
 al pat pou in erp wonne. to erp schal hit wend 
 
 6. Humus humum repet 
 humum quare neglig 
 humus humum porrig 
 super humum perag 
 humo sic incip 
 
 quod humo quesi 
 
 ens 
 
 et responsum dl 
 
 et humo fru 
 
 >atur 
 sic et oper 
 
 humo que port j 
 ac humo me 
 
 humo totum d 
 
 abis 
 
 7. Erp get hit on erp . maistrie and mijte : 
 al we bep erp. to erp we bep idijte. 
 erp askep carayne . of king and of knijt . 
 whan erp is in erp. so low} he be lijt. 
 Whan pi rijt and pi wowj. wendip pe bi-for: 
 be pou pre nijt in a prouj. pi frendschip is ilor. 
 
 8. Terra vincit braui } [terra collucr } 
 
 totus cetus homin I |de terra portr I 
 
 ... >vm { . Vatur. 
 
 ops cadauer mmt jque regis scrutj 
 
 cum detur in tumuli Imox terra vor J 
 
 Cum ius et iustici) (coram te migr) 
 
 . }vm < . . >abunt. 
 
 pauci per trmocti j (mortem deplor^ 
 
 9. Erp is a palfrei. to king and to quene 
 erp is ar lang wei. pouw we lutil wene 
 
 pat werip grouer and groy. and schrud so schene 
 whan erp makip is liuerei. he grauip vs in grene 
 Whan erp hap erp wip streinp pus geten. 
 alast he hap is leinp. miseislich i-meten. 
 Die uestam 2 dextrar). Iregique regi 
 
 x 1 1UH1 I ' 
 
 iter longum mar ^ (quod est sine 
 
 1 Glossed 'trahunt'. 8 est tarn.
 
 152 
 
 KARTII. 
 
 nos tradit rui 
 Uenet hanc lucra) 
 
 >tam 
 
 indumentam uar). (dans cedit scuti 
 
 ->mm. < 
 omne dat corrod^ ^ 
 
 Cum per fortitudi 
 
 nem \ 
 capit longitudi (misere meta 
 
 11. Erp gette on erp. gersom and gold 
 erp is pi moder. in erp is pi mold 
 erp uppon erp . be pi soule hold 
 
 er erpe go to erpe. bild pi long bold 
 Erp bild castles . and erpe bilt toures . 
 whan erp is on erpe . blak bep pe boures . 
 
 12. Humus querit plurim] (super humum bo 
 
 humus est mater tu I I in quam sumas dor I 
 
 . f >& < >na. 
 
 anime sis famul j super humum pro 
 
 Imundo cum coro 
 
 domum dei perpetr 
 Ops turres edific) 
 quin* fatum capij 
 
 Jat 
 
 ac castra de pe) 
 
 tra. 
 
 penora sunt te 
 
 13. penk man in lond. on pi last ende 
 whar-of pou com. and whoder schaltou wend, 
 make pe wel at on. wip him pat is so hend. 
 and dred pe of pe dome . lest sin pe schend . 
 For he is king of blis . and mon of moche mede 
 pat delip pe dai fram nijt . and leuip lif and dede . 
 
 14. De fine nouissim \ (mauors medite 1 
 
 hue quo veneris uicl I die quo gradie 
 
 ~ j \ft t 
 
 or quando. 
 
 miti prudentissim 
 hesites iudic 
 Quia rex est glori 
 mutat noctem de di 
 
 ris 
 
 s , >1 
 
 jconcordare de 
 ine noxa dampnej 
 (dans mensura rest ) 
 Ivitam mortem prestj 
 
 >at. Amen. 
 
 XXXIV. "OF MEN LIF pAT WONIp IN LOND'. 
 
 A Satire on the Monks and People of Kildare. 
 
 (Harl. MS. 913, p. 7.) 1 
 
 1. Hail seint michel wip pe lange sper 
 fair bep pi winges vp pi scholder 
 
 1 Printed Rel. Ant. II, p. 174. Mr. Wright says, 'see an account of 
 the MS. in Mr. Crofton Croker's Popular Songs of Ireland, pp. 282-7.'
 
 'OF MEN LIF pAT WONIp IN LOND'. 153 
 
 pou hast a rede kirtil a-non to pi fote 
 pou ert best angle pat euer god makid 
 pis uers is ful wel iwrojt 
 hit is of wel furre y-brojt 
 
 2. Hail seint cristofre wip pi lang stake 
 
 pou ber ur louerd ihesu crist ouer pe brod lake 
 mani grete kunger swimmep abate pi fete 
 hou mani hering to peni at west chep in London 
 pis uers is of holi writte 
 hit com of noble witte 
 
 3. Seint mari bastard pe maudlein-is sone 
 to be wel iclopid wel was pi wone 
 
 pou berist a box on pi bond ipeintid al of gold 
 woned pou wer to be hend . jiue us sum of pi spicis 
 pis uers is imakid wel 
 of consonans and wowel 
 
 4. Hail seint dominik with pi lang staffe 
 hit is at pe ouir end crokid as a gaffe 
 
 pou berist a bok on pi bak. ic wen hit is a bible 
 poj pou be a gode clerk, be pou nojt to heij. 
 Trie rime la god hit wote 
 soch an opir an erpe i note 
 
 5. Hail seint franceis wip pi mani foulis 
 kites and crowis. reuenes and owles 
 fure and .xx. tl wild ges and a poucok 
 mani bold begger siwip pi route 
 
 pis uers is ful wel isette 
 swipe furre hit was i-vette 
 
 6. Hail be je freris wip pe white copis 
 
 je habbip a bus at drochda 1 war men makip ropis 
 euir je bep roilend pe londis al a-boute 
 of pe watir daissers je robbip pe churchis 
 maister he was swipe gode 
 pat pis sentence vnderstode 
 
 7. Hail be je gilmins wip jur blake gunes 
 je leuith je wildirnis and fillip pe tiuns 
 
 1 Drogheda.
 
 154 *OF MEN LIF {>AT WONIp IN LOND'. 
 
 Menur wip-oute. and prechur wip-inne 
 jur abite is of gadering pat is mochil schame 
 sleilich is pis uers iseid 
 hit wer harme adun ileiid 
 
 8. Hail je holi monkes wip jur corrin 
 late and rape ifillid of ale and wine 
 depe cun je bouse pat is al jure care 
 
 wip seint benet-is scurge lorne je disciplinep 
 
 takep bed al to me 
 
 pat pis is sleche je mow wel se 
 
 9. Hail be je nonnes of seint mari house 
 goddes bourmaidnes and his owen spouse 
 
 ofte mistredip je jur schone. jur fete bep ful tendre 
 dapeit pe setter pat tawip jure lepir 
 swipe wel je vnder-stode 
 pat makid pis ditee so gode 
 
 10. Hail be je prestis wip jur brode bokes 
 
 poj jur crune be ischaue . fair bep jur crokes 
 jow and oper lewidmen delep bot a houue 
 whan je delip holibrede. jiue me botte a litil 
 Sikirlich he was a clerk 
 pat wrochete pis craftilich werke 
 
 11. Hail be je marchans wip jur gret packes 
 
 of draperie auoir-depeise and jur wol sackes 
 gold siluer stones riche markes and ek pundes 
 litil jiue je per-of to pe wrech pouer 
 sleij he was and ful of witte 
 pat pis lore put in writte 
 
 12. Hail be je tailurs wip jure scharpe sheres 
 to mak wronge hodes je kittip lome gores 
 a-jens midwinter hote bep jur neldes 
 
 poj jur semes semip fair, hi lestip litil while 
 pe clerk pat pis baston wrowjte 
 wel he woke and slepe rijte nowjte 
 
 13. Hail be je sutlers wip jour mani lestes 
 wip jour blote ! hides of selcup bestis 
 
 1 May be r, blotched.
 
 C OF MEN LIF pAT WONIp IN LOND'. 155 
 
 and trebles and treisuses bochevanpe and alles 
 blak and loplich bep jur tep hori was pat route 
 nis pis bastun wel ipijte 
 each word him sitte arijte 
 
 14. Hail be je skinners wip jure drenche kiue 
 who so smillip per-to. wo is him aliue 
 whan pat hit ponnerip. je mote per-in schite 
 dapeit jur curteisie. je stinkep al pe strete 
 worp hit wer pat he wer king 
 
 pat ditid pis trie ping 
 
 15. Hail be je potters wip jur bole ax 
 
 fair bep jur barmhatres, jolow bep jur fax 
 je stondip at pe schamil. brod ferlich bernes 
 fleiis jow folowipe, je swolowipe y-now 
 pe best dark of al pis tun 
 craftfullich makid pis bastun 
 
 16. Hail be je bakers wip jur louis smale 
 
 of white bred and of blake . ful mani and fale 
 je pinchep on pe rijt white ajen goddes law 
 to pe fair pillori ich rede je tak hede 
 pis uers is i-wrowjte so welle 
 pat no tung i-wis mai telle 
 
 17. Hail be je brewesters wip jur galuns 
 potels and quarters ouer al pe tounes 
 
 jur thowrnes berip moch awai, schame hab pe gyle 
 bep i-war of pe coking-stole, pe lak is dep and hori 
 sikerlich he was a clerk 
 pat so sleilich wrojte pis werk 
 
 18. Hail be je hokesters dun bi pe lake 
 
 wip candles and golokes and pe pottes blak 
 tripis and kine fete, and schepen heuedes 
 wip pe hori tromcheri hori is jure inne 
 he is sori of his lif 
 pat is fast to such a wif 
 
 19. Fi a debles kaites pat kemip pe wolle 
 
 al pe'schindes of pe tronn an heij opon jur sculle 
 je makid me sech a goshorne ouer al pe wowes 
 per-for ich makid on of jou sit opon a hechil
 
 156 THE LAND OF COKAYGNE. 
 
 he was noble clerk and gode 
 pat pis dep lore vnderstode 
 20. Makip glad mi frendis ? sittip to long stille 
 spekip now and gladiep and drinkep al jur fille 
 je habbep ihird of men lif pat wonip in lond 
 drinkip dep and makip glade, ne hab je non oper nede 
 pis song is y-seid of me 
 euer i-blessid mote je be. Explicit. 
 
 XXXV. THE LAND OF COKAYGNE. 
 
 (Harl. MS. 913, fol. 3.) 
 
 (Printed in Hickes's Thesaurus part 1, p. 231; and (modernised) in Ellis's 
 
 Specimens, vol. 1. In the MS., only the first lines of the divisions ^ 
 
 of the poem begin with capital letters, and there are no commas.) 
 
 1 Fur in see bi west spayngne. 
 
 Is a lond ihote cokaygne. 
 
 per nis lond under heuen-riche. 
 4 Of wel of godnis hit iliche . 
 
 poj paradis be miri and brijt. 
 
 Cokaygn is of fairir sift. 
 
 What is per in paradis. 
 8 Bot grasse and flure and grene-ris. 
 
 poj per be ioi and grete dute. 
 
 per nis mete bote frute. 
 
 per n'is halle, bure, no benche. 
 12 Bot watir, man-is pursto quenche. 
 
 Bep per no man but two. 
 
 Hely and enok also. 
 
 Clinglich may hi go. 
 16 Whar per wonip men no mo. 
 IT In cokaygne is met and drink. 
 
 Wip vte care, how and swink. 
 
 pe met is trie . pe drink is clere . 
 20 To none, russin, and sopper.
 
 THE LAND OF COKAYGNE. 157 
 
 I sigge for sop, boute were. 
 
 per n'is lond on erthe is pere. 
 
 Vnder heuen n'is lond iwisse. 
 24 Of so mochil ioi and blisse . 
 per is mani swete sijte. 
 
 Al is dai, n'is per no nijte. 
 
 per n'is baret noper strif . 
 28 N'is per no dep, ac euer lif. 
 
 per n'is lac of met no clop . 
 
 per n'is man no womman wrop. 
 
 per n'is serpent, wolf no fox. 
 32 Hors , no capil , kowe .no ox . 
 
 per n'is schepe. no swine no gote. 
 
 No non horwj-la, god it wot. 
 
 Nother harate, nother stode. 
 36 pe lond is ful of oper gode . 
 
 N'is per flei. fle, no lowse. 
 
 In clop, in toune. bed, no house. 
 
 per n'is dunnir, slete, no hawle. 
 40 No non vile worme no snawile. 
 
 No non storme, rein, no winde. 
 
 per n'is man no womman blinde. 
 
 Ok al is game, Ioi, and gle. 
 44 Wei is him pat per mai be. 
 
 per bep riuers gret and fine. 
 
 Of oile, melk, honi and wine. 
 
 Watir seruip per to no ping. 
 48 Bot to sijt and to waiissing. 
 
 per is maner irute . 
 
 Al is solas and dedute. 
 
 per is a wel fair abbei. 
 52 Of white monkes and of grei . 
 
 Per bep bowris and halles. 
 
 Al of pasteiis bep pe walles . 
 
 Of fleis , of fisse , and rich met . 
 56 pe likfullist pat man mai et. 
 
 Fluren cakes bep pe scingles alle. 
 
 Of cherche . cloister . boure . and halle .
 
 158 THE LAND OF COKAYGNE. 
 
 pe pinnes bep fat podinges. 
 60 Rich met to princej and kinges . 
 Man mai per-of et inoj. 
 Al wip rijt, and nojt wip woj. 
 Al is commune to jung and old. 
 64 To stoute and sterne, mek and bold 
 H per is a cloister fair and lijt. 
 Brod and lang, of sembli sijt. 
 pe pilers of pat cloistre alle 
 68 Bep i-turned of cristale. 
 Wip har-las and capitale . 
 Of grene Jaspe and rede corale . 
 In pe praer is a tre. 
 72 Swipe likful for to se. 
 
 pe rote is gingeuir and galingale . 
 pe siouns bep al sedwale. 
 Trie maces bep pe flure. 
 76 pe rind, canel of swet odur. 
 pe frute gilofre of gode smakke. 
 Of cucubes per n'is no lakke . 
 per bep rosis of rede ble. 
 80 And lilie likful for to se. 
 
 pai falowep neuer day no nijt. 
 pis ajt be a swet[e] sijt. 
 T per bep .iiij. willis in pe abbei . 
 84 Of triacle and halwei . 
 Of baum and ek piement. 
 Euer ernend to rijt rent. 
 Of pai stremis al pe molde. 
 88 Stonis preciuse and golde. 
 per is saphir and vniune. 
 Carbuncle and astiune. 
 Smaragde . lugre . and prassiune . 
 92 Beril . onix . topasiune . 
 Ametist and crisolite. 
 Calcedun and epetite. 
 H per bep briddes mani and fale . 
 % prostil, pruisse, and nijtingale.
 
 THE LAND OF COKAYGNE. 159 
 
 Chalandre and wodwale. 
 
 And oper briddes wipout tale. 
 
 pat stintep neuer by bar mijt. 
 100 Miri to sing dai and nijt. 
 
 [Here a few lines seem to be lost.] 
 If jite I do jow mo to witte. 
 
 pe Gees irostid on pe spitte. 
 
 Fleej to pat abbai, god bit wot. 
 104 And gredip 'gees al hote, al bot.' 
 
 Hi bringep garlek gret plente. 
 
 pe best idijt pat man mai se . 
 
 pe leuerokes pat bep cup. 
 108 Lijtip adun to man-is mup. 
 
 Idijt in stu ful swipe wel . 
 
 Pudrid wip gilofre and canel. 
 
 N'is no spech of no drink . 
 112 Ak take inoj wip-vte swink. 
 If Whan pe monkes geep to masse. 
 
 All pe fenestres pat bep of glasse. 
 
 Turnep in to cristal brijt . 
 116 To jiue monkes more lijt. 
 
 When pe masses bep iseiid. 
 
 And pe bokes up ileiid. 
 
 pe cristal turnip in to glasse. 
 120 In state pat hit raper wasse. 
 If pe jung monkes euch dai. 
 
 Aftir met gop to plai. 
 
 N'is per hauk no Me so swifte. 
 124 Bettir fleing bi pe lifte. 
 
 pan pe monkes heij of mode. 
 
 Wip bar sleuis and har hode. 
 "If Whan pe abbot seep ham flee. 
 128 pat he holt for moch glee. 
 
 Ak napeles al par amang. 
 
 He biddip ham lijt to eue-sang. 
 
 pe monkes lijtip nojt adun. 
 132 Ac furre fleep in o randuu. 
 1f Whan pe abbot him iseep. 
 
 pat is monkis frara him fleep .
 
 160 THE LAND OF COKAYGNE. 
 
 He takep maidin of pe route . 
 136 And turnip vp her white toute . 
 
 And betip pe taburs wip is bond. 
 
 To make is monkes lijt to lond. 
 If Whan is monkes pat iseep. 
 140 To pe maid dun hi fleep. 
 
 And gep pe wench al abute. 
 
 And pakkep al hir white toute. 
 
 And sip aftir her swinke. 
 144 Wendith meklich horn to drinke. 
 
 And geth to bar collacione. 
 
 A wel fair processione. 
 T Anoper abbei is perbi. 
 148 For soth a gret fair nunnerie. 
 
 Up a riuer of swet milke . 
 
 Whar is plente grete of silk . 
 
 Whan pe somer-is dai is hote. 
 152 pe jung nunnes takith a bote. 
 
 And doth ham forth in that riuer. 
 
 Bothe with oris and with stere. 
 
 When hi beth fur from the abbei. 
 156 Hi makith ham nakid for to plei. 
 
 And lepith dune in-to the brimme. 
 
 And doth ham sleilich for to swimme . 
 
 pe jung monkes 1 pat hi seeth . 
 160 Hi doth ham up, and forp hi fleep. 
 
 And commip to pe nunnes anon. 
 
 And euch monke him taketh on. 
 
 And snellich berith forth bar prei. 
 164 To the mochil grei abbei. 
 
 And techith the nunnes an oreisun. 
 
 With iambleue vp and dun. 
 IT pe monke pat wol be stalun gode. 
 168 And kan set a-rijt is hode. 
 
 He schal hab wipute danger. 
 
 .xii. wiues euche jere. 
 
 1 MS. monkep.
 
 FIVE EVIL THINGS. 161 
 
 Al proj rijt and nojt pro} grace. 
 172 For to do him silf solace . 
 
 And pilk monk pat clepip" best. 
 
 And dop his likam al to rest. 
 
 Of him is hoppe, god hit wote . 
 
 To be sone uadir abbot. 
 
 Whose wl com pat lond to. 
 
 Ful grete penance he mot do. 
 
 Seue }ere in swine-is dritte . 
 180 He mot wade, wol }e i-witte. 
 
 Al anon up to pe chynne. 
 
 So he schal pe lond[e] winne. 
 
 Lordinges gode and hend. 
 184 Mot je neuer of world wend . 
 
 For je stond to jure cheance. 
 
 And fulfille that penance. 
 
 pat je mote pat lond ise. 
 188 And neuer more turne a-je . 
 
 Prey we god so mote hit be. 
 
 Ainen, per seinte charite. finii. 
 
 XXXVI. FIVE EVIL THINGS. 
 
 Bissop lories. 
 
 Kyng redeles. 
 
 jung man rechles. 
 
 Old man witles. 
 
 Womman ssamles . 
 
 I swer bi heuen kyng. 
 
 pos bep fiue liper ping.
 
 162 NOTE TO POEM II. 
 
 NOTE to Poem II, p. 7, XV Signa Ante Indicium. 
 
 The Rev. J. Small of the University Library, Edinburgh, has kindly 
 furnished me (through our member, Mr. Muir) with another English, and 
 a Latin, version of these Signs before the Judgment. They form pages 
 25-28 of a small volume that Mr. Small has now in the press, English 
 Metrical Homilies, from MSS. of the Fourteenth Century. 
 
 And bides us lok til grouand tres; 
 For quen men leues on thaim sees, 
 Men wat that ful ner es somer coraand, 
 And riht sua mai we understand 
 Quen we se thir takenis cume, 
 That nerhand es the dai of dom. 
 
 Bot for Crist spekes of takeninge 
 That tithand of this dom sal bringe, 
 Forthi es god that I you telle 
 Sum thing of thir takeninges snelle: 
 Sain Jerom telles that fiften 
 Ferli takeninges sal be sen 
 Bifor the day of dom, and sal 
 1 1 kau of thaim on ser ' dai fal. 
 
 (1) The first dai sal al the se 
 Boln and ris and heyer be 
 Than ani fel of al the land , 
 And als a felle up sal it stand, 
 The heyt thar-of sal passe the felles 
 Bi sexti fot, als Jerom telles, 
 
 (2) And als mikel the tother day 
 Sal it sattel and wit away, 
 And be lauer than it nou esse, 
 For water sal it haf wel lesse. 
 
 (3) The thride dai, rnersuine and qualle 
 And other gret fises alle 
 
 Sal yel, and mak sa reuful her 
 That soru sal it be to her. 
 
 1 $eir, several.
 
 NOTE TO POEM II. 163 
 
 (4) The ferthe day freis water and se 
 Sal bren als fir and glouand be. 
 
 (5) The fift day sal greses and tres 
 Suet blodi deu that grisli bes. 
 
 (6) The sexte day sal doun falle 
 Werdes werks bathe tours and halle. 
 
 (7) The seuend day sal stanes gret 
 Togider smit and bremly bete. 
 
 (8) And al the erthe the achtande day 
 Sal stir and quac and al folc slay. 
 
 (9) The neynd day the fels alle 
 Be mad al euin wit erthe salle. 
 
 (10) The tend day sal folc up crep, 
 Als wod men of pittes dep. 
 
 (11) The elleft day sal banes rise 
 
 And stand on graues thar men nou lies. 
 
 (12) The tuelft day sal sternes falle. 
 
 (13) The thretend day sal quek men dey alle, 
 Wit other ded men to rise, 
 
 And com wit thaim to gret asise. 
 
 (14) The faurtend day at a schift 
 
 Sal bathe briu bathe erthe and lift. 
 
 (15) The fifetende day thai bathe 
 
 Sal be mad newe and fair ful rathe, 
 
 And al ded men sal rise, 
 
 And cum bifor Crist our iustise. 
 
 Uncle Versus de ejusdem Signis. 
 
 Signis ter quinis se prodet ad ultima finis 
 Mundani motus Domino soli modo notus. 
 
 (1) In signo primo surget mare stans quasi murus 
 Erigat, in proprios post pauca sinus rediturus, 
 Atque quater denis cubitis transcendere monies 
 Cernetur, paucique fluent in flumina fontes. 
 
 (2) Oculet in signo sic se maris uuda secundo, 
 Ut vix aspectum capiat. Diuersa profundo 
 
 12
 
 164 NOTE TO POEM VII. 
 
 (3) Monstra super fluctus post hec ubi nata patebunt, 
 Rugitusque sui celos horrore mouebunt. 
 
 (4) Quarto cum fluuiis ardebunt equoris unde, 
 Fontibus ut 1 latices effundant non erit unde. 
 
 (5) Rorem sanguineum quinto deducet ab [herbis] 
 Horror et arboribus lacrimis perfusus acerbis. 
 
 (6) Hinc turres et tecta cadent, que 2 diruet edes 
 Sexta dies, omnis que solo ruet ardua sedes; 
 
 (7) Augebit lapidum conflictus in orbe timorem , 
 Terribilemque dabit collisio seua fragorem. 
 
 (8) Concuciet terram post hec motus generalis, 
 Omnia conturbans, horrendus, et exitialis. 
 
 (9) Omnibus equatis in piano terra jacebit, 
 Strata superficies nichil asperitatis habebit. 
 
 (10) Hinc velud amentes exibunt ante latentes 
 In latebris homines et fari nulla valentes. 
 (It) Sicca super tumbis post hec surgencia stabunt. 
 
 (12) Casus stellarum signans discrimine finem 
 Nesciet ulterius clarum deducere finem. 
 
 (13) Corpore uiuentes simul absque mora morientur, 
 Ut pariter clangente tuba cuncti repetentur. 
 
 (14) Optimus inde status celum terramque nouabit, 
 Lace sub eterna, quern nulla dies uariabit; 
 
 (15) Conuocet ut cunctos cum buccina protinus urgens 
 ludicis ante pedes ueniet plebs tota resurgens. 
 
 NOTE to Poem VII, p. 21-2, and to Dr. Guest's Letter in the Preface, p. v. 
 
 The following is the passage from the History of English Rhylhmt 
 (vol. 1, pp. 136-7) referred to by its author. 
 
 "INVERSE RHIME 
 
 is that which exists between the last accented syllable of the first section, 
 and the first accented syllable of the second. It appears to have flourished 
 most in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. I do not remember any 
 instance of it in the Anglo-Saxon , but it is probably of native growth. 
 
 1 et. * quia.
 
 NOTE TO POEM VII. 165 
 
 A kindred dialect, the Icelandic, had, at an early period, a species of 
 rhime closely resembling the present the second verse always beginning 
 with the last accented syllable of the first. It is singular that the French 
 had, in the sixteenth century, a rhime like the Icelandic, called by them 
 la rime entrelassee. The present rhime differed from both, as it was 
 contained in one verse ... We will begin with the verse of four accents. 
 These steps | both reach \ : and teach \ thee shall | 
 To come j by thrift \ : to shift \ withal | . Tusser. 
 The pi | per loud \ : and loud \ er blew | , 
 The dan | cers quick \ : and quick \ er flew | . Burns" 
 
 M. Eugene Oswald has kindly supplied me with the following specimen 
 of the French rhyme similar to that of the text, though about 250 years 
 later. 
 
 ^'Clement Marot. 1542. 
 
 Chanson III. 
 
 Dien gard ma Maistresse, et Regenle, 
 Genie l de corps , et de fa^on , 
 Son cueur tien 8 le mien en sa lenle 
 Tant et plus d'ung ardant 3 frisson. 
 S'on m'oyt 4 poulser sur ma chanson 
 Son de uoix 5 , au Harpes doulce/fes, 
 Cest Espoir, qui sans marrisson 
 Songer me faict en amoureMes. 
 
 1 gentille. * tient. 3 ardent. 
 
 4 Old Pres. of ou'ir, whence oyer and oyez. Old Infinitive oyr: "le 
 Roy envoia guerre celi cordelier pour le oyr parler." Joinville. 
 
 5 Of course, toix. Variante, of later edition, son de Lucz - luth. 
 The second and third stanzas do not keep up this law of rhyme, but 
 
 have other curious artifices of form. I do not think the form a common 
 one. E. 0."
 
 166 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Abingdon, Edmund the Confessor 
 born at, p. 71, 1. 3; p. 74. 
 
 Adain and men made to supply 
 the place of Lucifer and his fol- 
 lowers, p. 13, 1. 17-18. 
 
 Adelberd, king (Egberd's grandson), 
 p. 45, 1. 72. 
 
 Affrican the wicked prince, p. 68, 
 1. 101. 
 
 St. Agace, p. 101, 1. 9. 
 
 St. Aldelm, Archbp. of Canterbury, 
 p. 35, 1. 32. 
 
 Alice, St. Edmund's sister, p. 71, 
 1 20. 
 
 St. Amand, abbey of, p. 37, 1. 103. 
 
 St. Andrew, the life of, p. 98-101. 
 
 Aquiline, the fair, tempts Christo- 
 pher, p. 64, 1. 173. 
 
 Archdeacons oppress poor parsons 
 and priests, p 79, 1. 328. 
 
 Aristotle's warning against sen- 
 suality, p. 143, 1. 199. 
 
 arsmelrihe defined, p. 77, 1 224. 
 
 Arthur even laid low by Death, 
 p. 132, 1. 93. 
 
 Askebert, the guardian of St.Kenelm, 
 p. 50, 1. 106; p. 51-2. 
 
 Athelstan, king, p. 35, 1.22,36,44. 
 
 Athelwold, St., p. 36, 1.55; Bp. 
 of Rochester, p. 38, 1. 142. 
 
 Athelwold, Bp. of Winchester, the 
 10th after St. Swithin, is told 
 of St. S.'s appearance in a vision, 
 p. 46, and has his corpse dug 
 
 up and buried in St. Peter's 
 
 Church, p. 47. 
 
 Athens, city of, p 101, 1. 11. 
 Athulf, king Egberd's son, taught 
 
 by St. Swithin, p. 44, 1. 23-* is 
 
 made king, 1. 28. 
 Atus, father of Pila, Pilate's mother, 
 
 p. Ill, 1. 6. 
 
 Austin, St., converts king Athel- 
 wold, p. 43, 1. 7, 8. 
 
 , Christianity brought to 
 
 England by, p. 35, 1. 50; p. 43, 
 
 1.7. 
 Avon stream, p. 30, st. 126. 
 
 bakers, cheating, denounced, p. 155, 
 st. 16. 
 
 Barabbas, referred to, p. 15, 1. 88. 
 
 Basilie, the Cite of, p. 68, 1. 82. 
 
 baslon; the Satirical Poem, p. 152-6, 
 probably an example of this metre, 
 p. 154, st. 12; p. 155, st. 13, 15. 
 
 Beelzebub, p. 31, st. 143. 
 
 beggars; why allowed by God, 
 p. 135-6, 1. 101 &c. 
 
 Bernard, St., referred to, p. 1, st. 3. 
 
 Beryn, St.; converts king Kene- 
 wold, p. 43, 1. 5, 10. 
 
 bishoprics of England, contents of, 
 p. 48-9. 
 
 brewsters to be ware of the cucking- 
 stool, p. 155, st. 17. 
 
 the broad street to Heaven, p. 32, 
 st. 172.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 167 
 
 Canterbury, St. Edmund elected 
 Archbp. of, p. 81, 1.404; other 
 Archbishops of, Aldelui , p. 35, 
 1. 32 ; Ode, p. 37, 1. 121 ; Dunstan, 
 p. 38, 1. 135; Wolfred, p. 55, 
 1. 279; Edmund, p. 81, 1. 403. 
 
 Cariot, the isle of, p. 108. 
 
 Catesby, convent at, p. 71, 1. 20. 
 
 Cato quoted, against self-praise, 
 p. 91, 1. 44. 
 
 Cezar th'emperour, p. 113, 1. 76. 
 
 Chastity, Dame, turned out of 
 Nunneries, p. 144, 1. 239. 
 
 chatterers, how to be treated, p. 144, 
 1. 251-4. 
 
 children chasing their shadows on 
 the wall: this world likened to, 
 p. 13',?, 1. 121-32. 
 
 , their ingratitude to their 
 parents, p. 16, 1. 31-2. 
 
 Christ on the Cross, p. 20-1. 
 
 Christopher, St., Life of, p. 59-65 ; 
 p. 153, st. 2. 
 
 Ciriac, the Pope, from Britain, p. 68, 
 1. 85-6. 
 
 Clement, Bp., p. 69, 1. 117. 
 
 Clent, the wood of, in Worcester- 
 shire, p. 51, 1. 152; p. 52, 1. 173; 
 p. 55, 1. 287. 
 
 Cokaygne, the Land of, p. 156-161. 
 
 Cologne, the City of, p. 68, 1. 76. 
 
 Commandments, the Ten, p. 15-16. 
 
 consecration of new Churches ; ring- 
 ing and pomps at, condemned, 
 p. 44, 1. 45 &c. 
 
 Cost, king; St Katherine's father, 
 p. 90, 1. 3. 
 
 Coubache, the valley of, p. 54, 
 1. 244. 
 
 , the miraculously -fed 
 cow of, p. 53-4. 
 
 counters, sins to be reckoned by, 
 p. 131, 1. 38. 
 
 Covetonsness denounced, p. 3; 
 p. 19. 
 
 Cross, the devil's fear of the, p. 61, 
 
 1. 48-52. 
 Crusades, the preaching for, p. 79, 
 
 1. 316 &c. 
 
 Death is no thief, but warns men 
 well that he is coming, p. 137, 
 1. 169. 
 
 Deo Gratias, a Song of, p. 124-126. 
 , another Song of, p. 128 
 to 130. 
 
 Deus Caritas, a Song, p. 127-8. 
 
 devil, the, is covetous men's exe- 
 cutor, p. 19, 1. 43. 
 
 has his nose pinched 
 
 and burnt by St. Dunstan, p. 36-7, 
 1. 80-9. 
 
 Devout, Dame; turned out of Nun- 
 neries, p. 144, 1. 226. 
 
 Dinah, her rape for going out to 
 see things in vain (Gen. xxxiv), 
 p. 147, 1. 346. 
 
 Diocletian, the wicked, p. 105, 1. 159. 
 
 Disobedient, Dame, in Nunneries, 
 p. 145, 1. 272. 
 
 Dominic, St., p. 153, st. 4. 
 
 Drogheda, the friars' ropery at, 
 p. 153, st. 6. 
 
 Dunstan, St.; the Life of, p. 34-40. 
 
 Earth, a Poem, p. 150-2. 
 Eastland (of England), the king of, 
 
 p. 49, 1. 63. 
 
 Eboir, the Vale of, p. 13, 1. 37. 
 Edgar, king (the ninth after Adel- 
 
 bert), has Swithin's body taken 
 
 up, p. 45, 1. 87; p. 46, 47. 
 Edmund, St., king of Eastland, 
 
 p. 49, 1. 67. 
 
 , king of England, p. 35, 
 
 37. 
 Edmund the Confessor, Life of, 
 
 p. 71-87. 
 
 Edmund the King, Life of, p. 87-9. 
 St. Edmundsbury, p. 89, 1. 89.
 
 168 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Edward, St., son of king Edgar, 
 p. 45, 1. 88. 
 
 , p. 106-7. 
 
 Edwin, king of England, p. 37, 
 1. 96-105. 
 
 Egberd, King, p. 43, 1 3, and Saint, 
 1 11. 
 
 Egeas, the Justice of Patras, p. 98, 
 1. 14 <fcc. 
 
 eggs , a bagful of smashed ones 
 made whole and sound by St. 
 Swithin, p. 45, 1. 66. 
 
 Eglesdon, town of, p. 88, 1. 29; 
 wood of, p. 68, 1. 61. 
 
 Elmeston, Bp. of Winchester, p. 43, 
 1. 15 (St. Swithin}; is succeeded 
 by St. Swithin, p. 44, 1. 33-5. 
 
 England, its size, rivers, 5 king- 
 doms, and bishoprics, described, 
 p. 48-9. 
 
 Entice (orEutice), St. Lucy's mother, 
 p. 101, 1. 3. 
 
 envy denounced, p. 20. 
 
 Envy, Dame, in Nunneries, p. 144, 
 1. 231 ; p. 145, 1. 259. 
 
 Eve's temptation, p. 13, 1. 26. 
 
 Everwyk, or York, the Archbishop- 
 ric of, p. 49, 1. 71. 
 
 '5 evil things', p. 161. 
 
 Experience, discloses herself to 
 Katherine, and takes her to see 
 the real state of English nun- 
 neries, p. 146, 1. 322; p. 152, 
 1. 150. 
 
 the Fall (of man) and Passion (of 
 
 Christ), p. 12-15. 
 Florentine, the sister of Ourse's 
 
 betrothed, p. 69, 1. 121, 142. 
 France, the son of the King of, 
 
 in hostage with the Emperor, 
 
 p. 112, 1. 32. 
 
 Francis, St., p. 153, st. 5. 
 friars satirized, p. 153, st. 6, 7. 
 
 Galicia, St. James's shrine in, p. 59, 
 
 1 71. 
 garland of Ivy green, the sign at 
 
 a tavern-door, p. 147, I. 358-9. 
 gilmins (? hermits) quizzed, p. 153, 
 
 st. 7. 
 Glastonbury, p 35, 1. 26, 40, 45; 
 
 p. 36, 1. 56. 
 
 hair clothing for penance, p. 71, 
 
 1. 27; p. 75, 1. 154-181. 
 Heaven, the joys of, p 6, st 47-58; 
 
 p. 33. 
 Hector even laid low by Death, 
 
 p. 13-2, 1. 93. 
 Hell, the pains of, p. 29-31, st. 115 
 
 to 151. 
 Henry III, King John's son, p. 84, 
 
 1. 490. 
 heriot, the custom of giving the 
 
 tenant's best property on death 
 
 to his chief lord , p. 83 , 1. 464, 
 
 472 ; is the devil's law, and not 
 
 God's, 1. 478. 
 Herod, king of Jerusalem, Galilee. 
 
 and India, p. 113, 1. 62-3, &c. 
 Hubba and Hyngar, p. 87, 1.9; 
 
 p. 88, 1. 33, 55. 
 
 hucksters quizzed, p. 155, st 18. 
 Hypocrite, Dame, in Nunneries, 
 
 p. 144, 1. 221. 
 
 inquest or jury on Christ, p. 116, 
 
 1. 197, 199. 
 Iscariot, Judas ; so called from the 
 
 isle of Cariot, p. 108, 1. 27. 
 ivy green, a garland of, a tavern 
 
 sign, p. 147, 1. 358. 
 
 James, St. ; a Miracle of his, p 57-9. 
 
 Jews; Poem of their nailing the 
 image of Christ to a Cross in 
 Toledo, and being found out by 
 the Virgin speaking of it from 
 heaven, p. 42-3.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 169 
 
 John, St.; a Miracle of his, p. 106-7. 
 Joseph of Ariraathea, p. 14, 1. 71. 
 Judas Iscariot, the Life of, p. 107 
 
 to 111 ; referred to, p. 14, 1. 57. 
 Judgment, the Day of; the Signs 
 
 before, p. 7-12, p. 162-4; the 
 
 Wonders at, p. 4; the Doings at, 
 
 p 27-29. 
 
 kaites wool - combers quizzed, 
 
 p. 155, st. 19. 
 
 Katherine, St., the Life of, p. 90-8. 
 , the girl wishing to turn 
 
 men, p. 141, 1. 128. 
 Kenelm, St., king of the March of 
 
 Wales, the Life of, p. 47-57. 
 Kenulf, king, builds Winchcombe 
 
 Abbey, p. 48. 
 Kildare; a Satire on the Monks 
 
 and People of, p. 152-6. 
 kirtle, our Lord's unsewed one, 
 
 p. 115, 1. 168; saves Pilate's life 
 
 for a time, p. 116. 
 "Know thyself, a Song of, p. 130-3. 
 
 Langton, Archbp. Stephen of, p 85, 
 
 1. 537. 
 Laxington, Abbot Stephen of, p. 81, 
 
 1. 389. 
 Lenkenore, near Abingdon, p 76, 
 
 1. 183. 
 lewdness, a girl's, St. Edmund's 
 
 cure of, p. 73-4, 1. 98-121. 
 Love, the evil results of, (a Rhyme- 
 beginning Fragment), p. 21-2. 
 Love Unordinate, in Nunneries, 
 
 p. 144, 1. 234. 
 Lucifer's fall from Heaven, p. 13, 
 
 1.9-16; p. 18, 1, 1.3. 
 St. Lucy, the life of, p. 101-7. 
 Lust, Dame, in Nunneries, p. 144, 
 
 1. 236. 
 Lyons, the City of, p. 57, 1. 1. 
 
 Mabille the rich, mother of St. 
 
 Edmund the Confessor, p. 71, 
 
 1. 5; p. 74, 1. 122. 
 Malmesbury, Quendride's Psalter 
 
 now there, p. 57, 1. 359. 
 the March of Wales, contents of, 
 
 p. 48. 
 dame Margerie, St. Edmund's sister, 
 
 p. 71, 1. 20. 
 
 St Mary, p. 153, st. 3. 
 Maur, a king in Britain, p. 66, 
 
 1.3. 
 
 Maxentius, the Emperor, p. 90 &c. 
 Maximille, wife of Egeas, the Jus- 
 tice of Patras, p. 101, 1. 100. 
 Maximin, the wicked prince, p. 68, 
 
 1. 101; p. 106, 1. 161. 
 mede, the Master now, p. 123. 
 Mercy, a Song of, p. 118-124. 
 , the Seven Deeds of, p. 136, 
 
 1. 113. 
 merlyon, the hawk; how it warms 
 
 its cold feet at night, p. 119; 
 
 p. 123, 1. 172-182. 
 St. Michael, p. 152, st. 1. 
 the mirror for men to see Yester- 
 day in, p. 134, 1. 59; p. 136, 
 
 1. 116. 
 monks and nuns satirized see 
 
 Cokaygne, p. 159-61, and p. 156 
 
 &c. ; p. 154, st. 8, 9. 
 a Moral Ode, p. 22-34. 
 
 the narrow way to Heaven, p. 32, 
 st. 171. 
 
 St. Nicholas's Church at Abingdon, 
 p. 74, 1. 135. 
 
 Nite, the fair temptress of Christo- 
 pher, p. 64, 1. 173. 
 
 Northumberland, the extent of, 
 p. 49, 1.69-72. 
 
 Nun; "Why I can't be a Nun", 
 a poem on the evils in Nun- 
 neries, p. 138-148. 
 
 Old Age , a Poem, p. 148-150.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 St. Osewald, king of Northumber- 
 land, p. 49, 1. 72. 
 
 St. Osewold, Bp. of Worcester, 
 p. 38, 1. 141. 
 
 Ourse, the head of the 11,000 Vir- 
 gins, p. 66, 1. 4 ; p. 68, 1. 77. 
 
 Oxford Student, tale of an, a 
 Miracle of Our Lady's, p. 40-2. 
 , school at, p. 73, 1. 80; 
 course of studies at, p. 77. 
 
 Paris, English boys sent to school 
 
 at, p. 71, 1. 30; p. 73, 1. 80. 
 Pascas, the Justice who tortures 
 
 St. Lucy, p. 103, 1. 70. 
 Patras, the land of, p. 98, 1. 11. 
 Pentarchy of England, p. 49, 1.43-6, 
 
 &c. 
 Perschore, the water of, p. 56, 
 
 1. 309 (the village of P. is 8 or 
 
 9 miles from Worcester). 
 St. Peter's Church at Winchester, 
 
 St. Swithin's body deposited in, 
 
 p. 47, 1. 154. 
 
 - altar at Rome, p. 54, 
 1. 252. 
 
 - church at Rome; the 
 Veronica placed there, p. 115, 
 1. 145. 
 
 Pilate, the Life of, p. 111-118; re- 
 ferred to, p. 14, 1.63, 75, 87; 
 p. 108, 1. 61 ; p 109. 
 
 Pilatus, derivation of the name, 
 p. Ill, 1. 7-8. 
 
 Plato's prophecy that God would 
 be scourged and torn, p. 93, 
 1. 117-18. 
 
 Ponce, the isle of, p. 112. 
 
 Ponteney in France ; English exiled 
 priests at, p. 71, 1. 1; p. 85, 
 1. 535-8 &c. 
 
 Pontius (Pilate), origin of the name, 
 p. 113, 1.60-1. 
 
 poor men, oppression of by high 
 men, p. 83, 1. 462. 
 
 poor men may buy Heaven with 
 their pennies, p. 24, st. 34. 
 
 Porphyry, St., p. 94, 1. 179; p. 95, 
 1. 188 <fec. 
 
 potters quizzed, p. 155, st. 15. 
 
 pride denounced, p. 1-2; p. 18-19. 
 
 Pride, Dame; in great reputation 
 in Nunneries, p. 143, 1. 216. 
 
 priests quizzed, p. 154, st. 10. 
 
 Quendride, king Kenulf s daughter, 
 plots against her brother, king 
 Kenelm, and brings about his 
 death, p. 50-57. 
 
 Reuben, Judas's father, p. 107, 1.4; 
 
 is killed by his son, p. 109, 
 
 1. 82-4. 
 Robert, Edmund the Confessor's 
 
 brother, p. 71, 1. 18. 
 Sir Ronald, Pilate's jailer, p. 117, 
 
 1. 229. 
 
 Salisbury, St. Edmund made Canon 
 
 Secular of, p. 81, 1. 381. 
 Satan, p. 31, st. 143. 
 Sermon against Pride &c., and on 
 
 the Grave, Hell, and Heaven, 
 
 p. 1-7. 
 shrews, two, sure to get together, 
 
 p. 109, 1.65-8; p. 114, 1. 99. 
 Sicily; St. Lucy born thore, p. 101, 
 
 1. 1. 
 Sins, the Seven; fragment on, 
 
 p. 17-20. 
 , the prevalent ones now, 
 
 p. 122, 1. 132 &c. 
 skinners quizzed, p. 155, st. 14. 
 Socrates says it is better to look 
 
 on a death-bed than a feast, 
 
 p. 135, 1. 85. 
 Solomon's 'poysi' orProverbs quoted, 
 
 p. 135, 1. 73-7. 
 Soycie , the town of in France, 
 
 p. 85, 1. 556.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 171 
 
 Spain, West; Cokaygne near there, 
 p. 156, 1. 2. 
 
 Stafgreen, near Abingdon, p. 76, 
 1. 195. 
 
 Stanleghe, abbey of, p. 81, 1. 387. 
 
 Stephen Langton, at Ponteney, 
 p. 85, 1. 537. 
 
 stick, St. Kenelm's, miracle of its 
 bearing leaves, and becoming an 
 ash, p. 52, 1. 170; St. Christo- 
 pher's the same, p. 62, 1. 109-112. 
 
 a storm miraculously removed for 
 St. Edmund, p. 80-1. 
 
 Stour, the river, p. 30, st. 126. 
 
 Sunday-trading denounced , p. 16, 
 1.27. 
 
 sutlers quizzed, p. 154, st. 13. 
 
 swearing denounced, p. 15-16, 
 1. 3-15. 
 
 Swithin, St. ; Life of, p. 43-7. 
 
 tailors quizzed, p. 154, st. 12. 
 Thiborie, Judas's mother, p. 107, 
 
 1.4 ; is married to her son, p. 109, 
 
 1. 92-4. 
 thirty, the age when girls' beauty 
 
 begins to fade, p. 134, 1.42. 
 St. Thomas (a Beket), p. 84, 1. 492, 
 
 498, 519; p. 85. 
 Tims, king, the father of Pilate, 
 
 p. Ill, 1. 3. 
 Toledo, the Archbishop of, p. 42, 
 
 1.4. 
 
 Vaspasian, lord of Galilee, p. 115, 
 
 1. 161. 
 St. Veronica, p. 114, 1. 115; p. 115. 
 
 Virgin Mary; her sorrow, p. 15, 
 1. 83 ; two Miracles of hers, p. 40-3 ; 
 her judgment on the devil and 
 the self-mutilated man, p. 59, 
 1. 57-61. 
 
 Virgins, The Eleven Thousand, of 
 Cologne, p. G6-70. 
 
 Wales, the March of, p. 47, 1.2; 
 
 its extent, p. 48, 1. 2;i-39. 
 Wanton, Dame, in Nunneries, p. 144, 
 
 1. 236. 
 Wenylde, St. Kenelm's sister, p. 49, 
 
 1.78; p. 50. 
 
 Wessex, its extent, p. 49, 1. 47-58. 
 Westminster, relics at, p. 107, 1. 19. 
 Winchcombe, Abbey of, built by 
 
 King Kenulf, p. 48, 1.3. 
 , the great City of, p. 48, 
 
 1.7. 
 Winchester, Bishops of; Elmeston, 
 
 p. 43, XII. 1. 15; St. Swithin, 
 
 p. 44, 1. 35; Athelwold, p. 45, 
 
 1. 94 sq. 
 , the bridge of, built by 
 
 St. Swithin, p. 44, 1. 53. 
 Wolfred, Archbp. of Canterbury, 
 
 p. 55, 1. 279. 
 Wolwenne, St. Kenelm's nurse, 
 
 p. 51, 1.137. 
 women, holy, names of, p. 148, 
 
 1. 381-91. 
 worldly bliss, p. 19, 1 47; p. 134, 
 
 1. 29-34. 
 
 Yesterday, a Song of, p. 133-8.
 
 172 
 
 LIST OF WORDS &C. 
 
 LIST OF WORDS &c. 
 
 not in Coleridge's Glossarial Index, 1250-1300, A. D. 
 
 a, prep., in, a two, p. 14, st. 77. 
 a, prep., at or with, p. 146, 1. 291. 
 a, inter j., ah, p. 1, st. 2b. 
 afonge, v.a., take, p. 41. 
 ajt, v.n., ought, p. 8, st. 5. 
 alive, adj., p. 63, 1. 142. 
 all, pron., p 146, 1. 319. 
 alone, adv., only, p. 3, st. 17. 
 although, conj., p. 123, 1. 168. 
 amove, v.n., p. 11, 1. 148. 
 anap,t>.n., take with sleep, bedrowse, 
 
 p. 78, 1.278. 
 anoveward, prep., upon, p. 56, 
 
 1. 341. 
 aoure, v.a., honour, worship, Fr. 
 
 aourer, L. adorare, p. 90, 1. 32. 
 apan, prep., upon, p. 5, st. 36. 
 arraign, v.a., p. 121, 1. 85. 
 array, v.n., p. 133, 1. 10. 
 arsmetrike, sb., geometry &c., p. 77, 
 
 1. 222. 
 
 art, sb., the liberal Arts, p. 77, 1. 220. 
 as, conj. or rel.pron., that, which, 
 
 p. 77, 1. 223; in which, p. 57, 
 
 1. 362. 
 
 ash, sb., ash-tree, p. 52, 1. 171. 
 aslay, v.a., prel. aslouj, p. 53, 
 
 1. 193; p. 58, 1.26. 
 atom, adv., at home, p. 62, 1. 89. 
 attain, v.a., p. 121, 1. 87. 
 avail, sb., help, comfort, p, 142, 
 
 1. 153. 
 await, v. a., watch, p. 53, 1. 238. 
 
 awield, v.a., rule, manage, p. 149, 
 
 st. 8; p. 135, 1.100. 
 awinne, v. a , win, get, p. 73, 1. 107. 
 awolde, v a., move, wield, p. 80, 
 
 1. 336. 
 
 barb, sb., a nun's face-veil or 
 
 muffler, p. 147, 1. 350. 
 barehead, adj., p. 120, 1. 75. 
 beastly, adj., p. 143, 1. 204. 
 because, p. 125, 1. 37. 
 become (to), v.a., turn (into), p. 51, 
 
 1. 129. 
 
 become, r.n., go to, p. 53, 1. 238. 
 bedrid, sb., the bedridden, p. 134, 
 
 1.57. 
 begin (of), v. n., spring (from), p. 151, 
 
 st. 5. 
 
 beguile, v.n., p. 59, 1. 39. 
 behold after, v. n., look after, p. 52, 
 
 1. 160. 
 
 bench, sb., bank? p. 141, 1. 114. 
 bent, sb., a grassy plain, p. 1 1 8, 1. 4. 
 bert, v. n., break wind, p. 145, st. 9. 
 bespeak, .a , plan, plot, p. 51,1. 144. 
 bespit, r.n., spit on, p. 20. 
 best, for the, p. 142, 1. 156. 
 bet, adv., cp., better, p. 50, 1. 107. 
 betake, v.a., p. 71, 1. 31. 
 bethink, v.a., think of, purpose, 
 
 plot, p. 50, 1. 110. 
 betide, v.a., p. 51, 1. 142. 
 betray, v.n., p. 59, 1. 39,
 
 LIST OF WORDS &C. 
 
 173 
 
 bid (beden), v.a., pray (prayers), 
 
 p. 61, 1. 71. 
 
 bigete, sb., gain, p. 57, 1. 358. 
 bimean, v. n., regret, p 82, 1.347. 
 bipeach, v.a., deceive, p. 18, st. 10. 
 biset in, v.a, place, bestow on, 
 
 p. 38, 1. 148. 
 
 bitter, adj., severe, harsh, p 4, st. 33. 
 bitter, adv., bitterly, p. 5, st. 37. 
 blain, sb., A. S. bltegen, a pustule, 
 
 p. 129, 1. 12. 
 
 bleed, v.n., p. 10, st. 101. 
 blind, v.a., make blind, p. 3. 
 blossom, sb., p 51, 1. 120. 
 bob, v. a., beat, p. 14, 1. 59. 
 body, sb., corpse, p. 14, 1. 74. 
 boldlier, adc., cp , p. 45, 1. 69. 
 bonechef, sb., prosperity, p. 125, 
 
 1.49, (mischief, sb., adversity, ib.). 
 book, sb., Bible, p. 138, 1. 20. 
 boten, v.n., become cured, p. 47, 
 
 1. 151. A.S. belan. 
 both, conj., p. 4, st. 31. 
 bouten, prep., without, p. 39, I. 184. 
 brag, sb., A.S. briegan, to spread, 
 
 pretend, p. 132, 1. 92. 
 bring forth, v.a., bring up (a child), 
 
 p. 51, 1. 135. 
 
 building, sb., p. 143, 1. 1. 
 bur, sb., lady, maiden, girl, p. 50, 
 
 1.85. 
 
 busk, v.n., make ready, p. 133, 1.20. 
 but (bote), conj., except, p. 5, st. 37 ; 
 
 p. 60, 1. 24. 
 
 buttock, sb., p. 75, 1. 163. 
 buxom, v.n., bow, obey, p. 82, 
 
 1. 367. 
 
 by, prep , through, p. 159, 1.124. 
 bye, v.a, prct. byde, bow, p. 75, 
 
 1. 167. 
 bymene, r.a.? p. 61 , 1. 51 ; p. 57, 
 
 1. 357. 
 
 calewe, sb., bald-pate, p. 37, 1. 89, 
 A.S. calo, bald. 
 
 camomile, sb., p. 141, 1. 114. 
 
 can or cunne thouk, give thanks, 
 
 p. 21. 
 
 cast, v.a.? add up, p. 77, 1. 223. 
 castle, sb., p. 152, st. 11. 
 catel, sb., riches, goods, p. 6, st. 45. 
 cease , v.a., cause to cease , stop, 
 
 p. 146, 1 308 
 chapitle, sb., chapter (of Genesis), 
 
 p. 147, 1. 344. 
 chaser, sb., hunter, a horse, p. 10, 
 
 st. 109, O.Fr. chasseres. 
 chaste, adj., pure (generally), p. 140, 
 
 1. 82. 
 
 chatter, v.n., p. 144, 1.251. 
 cherubin, sb.pl., p. 11, st. 149. 
 chief, sb , metropolis, p. 49, 1. 50. 
 chorister queristere , sb., p. 124, 
 
 1.9. 
 chough, sb., the bird, A.S. ceo, 
 
 p. 76, 1.185. 
 circle, sb., p. 77, 1. 232. 
 cleanly, adr., right out, p. 61, 
 
 1. 65. 
 
 clemde, prel. of climb, p. 51, 1. 123. 
 clive, sb., acclivity, p. 33, 1. 175. 
 clomesyng, part., stiffening from 
 
 cold, A.S. clom, band, clasp, 
 clothing, sb., p. 142, 1. 142. 
 comble, v.n.? p. 149, st. 7. 
 come within, v. a., overcome, p. 58, 
 
 1.42. 
 conceit, sb., conception, fancy, p. 147, 
 
 1. 336. 
 
 conde, sb.? slit, wound, p. 20. 
 condition, sb., p. 143, 1. 204. 
 continually, adv., p. 77, 1. 220. 
 conversation, sb , life, p. 148, 1.375. 
 core, r.a.? p. 14, 1. 45. 
 cost, sb., side, part, p. 146, 1. 309. 
 counsel, sb , keep counsel, p. 143, 
 
 1. 212. 
 counter, sb., thing for counting 
 
 with, p. 131, 1..38. 
 country, adj. (c. man), p. 55, 1. 291.
 
 174 
 
 LIST OF WORDS &C. 
 
 course, sb., succession, p. 77, 1.222; 
 
 p. 122, 1. 125. 
 crop, t>. a., breed, produce, p. 2, 
 
 st. 10. 
 crop, sb., top (of a tree), p. 10, 
 
 st. 97. 
 cure, sb., charge, p. 145, 1. 2i8. 
 
 dasher, **., p. 153, st. 6. 
 deadly (sin), adj , p. 59, 1. 54. 
 deal, v. a., separate, p. 152, st. 13. 
 death, adj. (death throes), p. 64, 
 
 1.191. 
 
 debate, tb., p. 143, 1. 196. 
 deep, sb., deep water, p. 62, 1. 84. 
 deface, v.a., p. 126, 1. 70. 
 defence, sb., forbiddance, prohibition, 
 
 p. 16, 1. 15. 
 
 deil or del, sb., sorrow, p. 15, 1.83. 
 delivre, adj., free, p. 78, 1. 290; 
 
 O.Fr. delitre, libre, affranchi, 
 
 Roq. 
 
 desire, sb., p. 146, I. 303. 
 destitute, adj., p. 140, 1. 97. 
 deverse or diverse, v.n., p.ll,st.!29. 
 devoutly, adv., p. 133, 1. 6. 
 diffade, v.n., fade away, p. 133, 1. 8. 
 diligent, adj., p. 145, 1. 275. 
 discipline, si. (of flogging), p. 74, 
 
 1. 114. 
 
 disobedient, adj. as sb., p. 145, 1. 272. 
 dispute (in divinity), v.n., p. 77, 
 
 1. 255. 
 disturb of for in or from, p. 82, 
 
 1. 338. 
 
 diverse, adj., different, p. 54, 1.261. 
 divinity, sb., the study divinity, 
 
 p. 77, 1. 238. 
 do, r. a., put, row, p. 160, 1. 152; 
 
 get (up), rise, p. 160, 1. 159. 
 do, phr., have done! p. 97, 1.279. 
 doat, v.n., p. 132, 1. 79. 
 doing, sb., p. 122, 1. 129. 
 dolour, **., p. 132, 1. 89. 
 dotus, adj., fearful, O.Fr. dotut. 
 
 draw, v. a., pull (one's hair), p. 97, 
 
 1. 266. 
 draw, v. a., play (a lay on a harp), 
 
 p. 39, I. 170. 
 dread, r.a., p. 8, st. 13. 
 drunkenness, sb., p 122, 1. 139. 
 due, adj., p. 122, 1. 123. 
 dunnir, sb., thunder, p. 157, 1. 39. 
 durne, adj., dark, p. 52, 1. 157. 
 dumeliche, adv., secretly, p. 55, 
 
 1. 283, A.S. dyrnan, to hide, 
 dute, sb., treasure, prize, p. 13, 1.24. 
 
 each, adj., every, p. 50, 1. 86. 
 
 east, adj., p. 48, 1. 18. 
 
 Eastland, sb., Norfolk, Suffolk, Ely, 
 
 and Cambridge, p. 49, 1. 63. 
 effect, sb., p. 140, 1. 67. 
 eie, sb., awe, p. 22, st. 10. 
 eirmonger, sb., egg-monger, p. 45, 
 
 1.69. 
 
 either, adj., both, p. 57, 1. 355. 
 election, sb., p. 81, 1. 326. 
 embrace, v.a., p. 122, 1. 113. 
 empire, sb., p. 132, 1. 76. 
 endlessly, adv., p. 148, 1. 380. 
 endure, r.n., p. 145, 1.256. 
 eHglish, sb., p. 54, 1. 260. 
 enhabit, v. n., p. 144, 1. 237. 
 ensure, v.a., assure, p. 145, 1.261; 
 
 p. 147. 
 
 epistle pistel , sb., p. 130, 1. 1. 
 er , adv. , before , formerly , p. 50, 
 
 1. 90. 
 
 erne, v. n., run, p. 9, st. 49. 
 erore, adj., cp., former, p. 55, 1. 290. 
 eschew, v.a., p. 122, 1. 121. 
 even, adv. t as far as, p. 52, 1. 190. 
 execution, sb., beheading, p. 119, 
 
 1.37. 
 
 exhortation, sb., p. 148, 1. 373. 
 experience, sb., p. 142, 1. 150. 
 
 falc, sb., a plant, p. 149, st. 10. 
 fantasy, sb., p. 134, 1. 30.
 
 LIST OF WORDS &C. 
 
 175 
 
 fashion, fasoun, sb., making, shape, 
 
 p. 119, 1.41. 
 
 fast to for on, p. 71, 1. 24. 
 fawe, adv., p. 63, 1. 154. 
 fearful, adj., p. 135, 1. 93. 
 fervent, adj., eager, p. 138, 1. 7. 
 fese, v.n., drive, A.S. fesian, drive 
 
 away, p. 12, st. 169. 
 fiercely fresliche , adv., p. 119, 
 
 1.32. 
 figure, si., geometrical f., p. 77, 
 
 1. 223. 
 file, adj., foul (base of filth) , p. 1 , 
 
 st. 3. 
 
 fill, st. (eat one's fill), p. 81, 1. 391. 
 fiz, sb., son, p. 12, st. 179. 
 flecche, v.n., bend, give way, p. 62, 
 
 1.116. 
 fleme, ? sb., outlaw, A.S. flijma, 
 
 one who flees, a runaway, p. 37, 
 
 1. 101. 
 flit, v.a., change, shift, p. 123, 
 
 1. 175. 
 
 fold, sb., time, p. 24, st. 27. 
 folly, sb., a sinful act, p. 57, 1. 3. 
 forbear, v.n., refrain from, p. 147, 
 
 1. 362. 
 forcroked, adj., bent up, p. 80, 
 
 1. 341. 
 
 foreign - furrene , adj. ? p. 90, 1. 20. 
 form, sb., treaty (by deed or ar- 
 ticles), p. 56, 1.311,314. 
 forolthed, pp., befouled, p. 75, 
 
 1. 175. 
 for-roti, v.n., rot completely away, 
 
 p. 17. 
 
 forte, con/., until, p. 52, 1. 168. 
 forth, prep., up, p. 51, 1. 135. 
 forth-mydde, adv., forthwith, p. 132, 
 
 1.95. 
 fortrauailled, pp., thoroughly tired 
 
 with travel, p. 56, 1. 313. 
 frail, adj., p. 122, 1. 136. 
 fresh uerisse , adj. (of water), 
 
 p. 11, st. 125. 
 
 frow, adv., glossed festine, p. 150. 
 froward, adj., p. 146, 1. 317. 
 furst, sb., thirst, p. 120, 1. 53. 
 fye, v.a., Peat, p. 131, 1.65. 
 
 garden, sb., p. 141, 1. 121. 
 
 gentise, sb., birth, bearing, p. 69, 
 1. 136. 
 
 ghastly, adj., p. 63, 1. 147. 
 
 giddyhood, sb., folly, A.S. gijdig, 
 giddy, p. 90, 1. 13. 
 
 ]ime, v.n., keep, hoard, A.S.giman, 
 take care of, p. 3, st. 18. 
 
 glad with, pleased with, p. 69, 
 1. 121. 
 
 gleirtand, adj., glittering, p. 130, 
 1. 28. 
 
 glisminge, adv., gleamingly, p. 21. 
 
 glory, vain, sb., p. 144, 1. 228. 
 
 go, p.p. igo, p. 99, 1.23. 
 
 go to, v.n., go at them, fall on, 
 begin, p. 4, st. 31. 
 
 God forbid! p. 146, 1.314. 
 
 goose, prov. "shoe the goose", p. 144, 
 1. 254. Rabelais' ferroyt fes ct- 
 galles (Garg. liv. 1, chap, xi) is 
 translated 'he shoed the geese' 
 in 'Sir T. Urquart and Mr. Mot- 
 teux's translation' (1818. Reprint 
 of Ozell's edition of 1737, vol.1, 
 p. 167). Cotgrave has Ferrer les 
 cigales. 'To spend the time in 
 trifling, to undertake a foolish 
 businesse; to lose time alto- 
 gether . . . Ferrer les oyes . as, 
 Ferrer les cigalesS cp. 'It is as 
 much pity to see a woman weepe, 
 as it is to see a goose goe bare- 
 footed.' Withal's Diet. ed. 1634, 
 p. 579, in Nares. 
 
 grace, sb., spirit, power, p. 1, st. 1. 
 
 grave, v.a., engrave, cut, p. 73, 
 1. 91. 
 
 gridiron, sb., p. 65, 1. 202, 204.
 
 176 
 
 LIST OF WORDS &C. 
 
 harbour, $b. (in a garden), p. 140, 
 
 1.76. 
 
 harlotry, b., p. 122, 1. 132. 
 harm, sb., evil, p. 13, st. 19. 
 harp, v.a., play on the harp, p. 39, 
 
 1. 179. 
 hawthorn, adj., p. 52, 1.187; sb., 
 
 p. 123, 1. 177. 
 heath, *i., p. 131, 1. 30. 
 heavy, v. n., grow heavy, p.G2, 1.96. 
 herduian, sb., p. 150. 
 hereforth, adt., p. 62, 1. 94. 
 hexist, adj , sp., highest, p. 60, 1. 8, 
 
 10. 
 
 highly, adv., p. 55, 1. 276. 
 hive, sb., p. 16, 1.31. 
 hold, v.a., consider, p. 2, st. 13; 
 
 give or have (feasts), p. 3, st. 23. 
 hore, si., ? sin or filth, p. 71, 1.8; 
 
 sin, p. 13, st. 17. 
 horrid, adj., p. 18, st. 10. 
 horsehair, sb., p. 75, 1.158. 
 hostess osteste , si, p. 73. 
 hypocrisy, p. 148, 1. 372. 
 
 icche, v.n., budge, stir, p. 104, 1. 106. 
 idojt, pp. of dow, to prosper, p. 64. 
 
 1. 182. 
 
 ifere, adv., together, p. 11, st. 117. 
 illespyl, si., hedgehog, A.S. \l, igil, 
 
 a hedgehog, pylce, a garment of 
 
 skin with the hair, 
 in, prep., on, p. 99, 1. 42. 
 inspire, v.a., p. 132, 1. 81. 
 iredi, adj., ready, p. 58, 1. 27. 
 is, adj., his, p. 2, st. 12. 
 is, adj., his, for its, p. 9, st. 61. 
 -is, gen. term., p. 2, st. 13; p. 8, 
 
 st. 5, &c. 
 
 isee, v.a., see, p. 2, st. 14. 
 ivy, sb , A.S. ifig, p. 147, 1. 358. 
 ipej, ? pp. of pe, do, p. 35, 1. 28. 
 
 keld, v.n., make cold, p. 149, 1. 1; 
 become cold, p. 149, st. 7. 
 
 kene, v.n., p. 65, 1. 212. 
 
 kill, v.a., p. 62, 1. 102. 
 
 kind, adj., merciful, p. 132, 1. 85. 
 
 kingdom, sb., reign, p. 50, I. 79. 
 
 kinriche, sb., holder of a kingdom 
 
 or domain, A. S. cynrice, kingdom, 
 kith, sb., p. 130, 1. 23. ' 
 kithe, v.n., make known, show, 
 
 p. 15, 1. 100. 
 
 langour, sb., mourning,O.Fr. laigner, 
 
 se plaindre, murmurer, p. 125, 
 
 1. 53. 
 
 lap, v.a., wrap, p. 5, st. 39. 
 larder, sb., p. 54, 1. 236. 
 lasse, v.n. ? p. 149, st. 8. 
 latin, si., p. 1, st. 2 a. 
 leave, v.n., p. 15, st. 5. 
 lectern, sb., p. 124, 1. 18. 
 Ionian, si. (of Christ), p. 21, st. 15. 
 lest, t.imp., it pleased, p. 146, 1.298. 
 lewe, adj., glossed debile, p. 149, 
 
 st. 6. 
 
 lifeday, si., life, p. 50, 1. 93. 
 like, Proverb, 'ech ping louep his 
 
 iliche', p. 109, 1. 66. 
 liking, adj., pleasant; but ? read 
 
 livyng, p. 135, 1. 75. 
 line, sb. (a red line), p. 89, 1. 98. 
 lisnisse, si., loosing, remission, 
 
 p. 61, 1. 75. 
 liperhede, sb., wickedness, p. 50, 
 
 1. 88. 
 
 little, adv., p. 144, 1. 132. 
 lolich, adv., loathsomely, p. 2, st. 7. 
 long, phr., ever the longer the 
 
 more, p. 35, 1. 33. 
 long, v.n., belong, p. 143, 1:208. 
 losed, ? pp., praised, p. 77, 1. 245. 
 lostles, adj., ? listless, p. 150, st. 11 . 
 loud lude , adt., p. 4, st. 31. 
 lowly, adv., p. 142, 1. 161. 
 lustiness, sb., valour, p. 123, 1. 160. 
 lusting, sb., (good) desire, p. 18, 
 
 st. 8.
 
 LIST OF WORDS &C. 
 
 177 
 
 lute, sb., (base of little), p. 56, 1.327. 
 lutles, gen. of lutel, little, p. 81, 
 
 1. 396. 
 lyne, r.w., lie (down), p. 41. 
 
 main, si., chance, p. 149, st. 10. 
 inaner, sb., ? manor, or manoir, 
 
 mansion, manor- or dwelling- 
 house, p. 53, 1. 2CO. 
 manslajt, sb., murderer, p. 16, 1.35. 
 match found his match, p. 59, 
 
 1.48. 
 
 mean, sb., p. 148, 1. 340. 
 meatless, adj., without food, p. 53, 
 
 1. 240. 
 
 medel, r.a., mix, p. 131, 1. 35. 
 mediate, adj., propitious, p. 140, 
 
 1. 98. 
 members, sb.pl., genital organs, 
 
 p. 58, 1. 25. 
 merlyon, sb., a kind of hawk, a 
 
 merlin, p. 119, 1. 9, <fec. 
 merry, adv., p. 159, 1. 100. 
 mete, adj., bad, p. 29, st. 116. ? A. S. 
 
 mate, moderate, little. Piers 
 
 Plowman's Crede, 1.85: 'tweye 
 
 myteynes as meter', worn out, 
 
 worthless. 
 
 mighty of for over, p. 99, 1. 47. 
 mischief, sb., adversity, p. 125, 1.49. 
 mislere, v.a., misinform, deceive, 
 
 p. 57, 1. 6. 
 
 inisliving, sb., p. 119, 1. 33. 
 niok, sb.?, p. 132, 1. 80. 
 mone, sb., complaint, p. 58, 1. 11. 
 mont, sb., mountain, p. 10, st. 85. 
 morality, **., p. 143, 1. 200. 
 mould, sb., form, shape, p. 152, 
 
 st. 11. 
 
 mow (corn), v.a., p. 23, st. 11. 
 much, adj., big (man), p.63, 1.147. 
 munge, v.a., mention, p. 123, 1.167. 
 munne, r.a., mind, care for, p. 149, 
 
 st. 4. 
 muntyng, sb., p. 128, 1. 52. 
 
 must, pret., could, p. 54, 1. 249. 
 
 near nere -, adv., cp., p. 143, 1. 185. 
 
 necessity, */., time of need, p. 140, 
 1. 85. 
 
 needs, adv. , of necessity, p. 13, 
 st. 39. 
 
 nigh, prep., p. 58, 1. 21. 
 
 nime, r. ., take by a vision, en- 
 trance, p. 39, 1. 174. 
 
 no, con/., nor, p. 2, st. 11. 
 
 north, adj., p. 48, 1. 17. 
 
 nourish, v.n., be brought up, p. 35, 
 1. 26. 
 
 nurse norice , sb., p. 51, 1. 135. 
 
 observance, sb., p. 139, 1. 45. 
 odour, sb., p. 158. 
 officer, sb., p. 126, 1. 73. 
 ofgast, adj., afraid, agast, p. 53, 
 
 1.212. 
 
 ofsake, v.a., deny, p. 61, 1. 60. 
 omnipotent, adj., p. 140, 1. 88. 
 onde, sb., envy, p. 20, 1. 52. 
 one, phr., make at one, p. 152, 
 
 st. 13. 
 
 out, adj., outside, p. 145, 1. 267. 
 outrage, sb., evil deed, p. 50, 1. 95. 
 outward, adj., p. 147, 1. 356. 
 overbid, v.a., p. 132, 1. 92. 
 overtro w, u.a.,know well, p. 55, 1. 292. 
 
 palm (of the hand), sb. , p. 77, 
 
 1. 232. 
 pameri, sb., palm branch or staff, 
 
 p. 76, 1. 208, 209. 
 patience, sb., p. 145, 1. 263. 
 pensiveness, sb., p. 139, 1. 58. 
 perche, sb., staff, rod, p. 61, 1. 80. 
 phantasy, sb., p. 134, 1. 30. 
 pike, sb., prickle, spine, p. 88, 1.47. 
 pilte, r.M., ? pelt, p. 16, 1. 12. 
 , put, crucify, p. 14, 1. 56; put, 
 
 set, p. 13, 1. 29. 
 pistel, sb., epistle, p. 130, 1. 1. 
 in
 
 178 
 
 LIST OF WORDS &C. 
 
 plainly, arfr., p. 143, 1.201. 
 play, r. i., amuse, p 51, 1. 150. 
 plays, sb.pl., games, p. 67, 1.68. 
 plesaunce, sb., mirth, p. 125, 1.54, 
 poesy, tli., p. 135, 1. 73. 
 pofte, v. n , puff, p. 149, st. 7. 
 pose, gb., ? cold, running at the 
 
 nose, p. 37, 1. 92. 
 poverty, sb., p. 5, st. 41. 
 powder, sb., ? chalk powder, p. 77, 
 
 1. 223. 
 preach, v.a., preach to, teach, p. 68, 
 
 1.90. 
 
 present, adj., p. 140, I. 90. 
 prioress, sb., p. 75, 1. 150. 
 procnracy, tb., p. 79, 1. 320. 
 professed, p p., vowed, p. 146, 1.304; 
 
 p. 148, 1. 383. 
 profound, adj., wise, learned, p. 77, 
 
 1. 221. 
 
 promit, v.a., promise, p. 142, 1.164. 
 proud, v.n., become proud, show 
 
 off, p. 129, 1. 18. 
 
 psalter, sb. (sautere), p. 57, 1. 356. 
 pudri, v.a., stuff, fill, p. 2, st. 7; 
 
 p. 159, 1. 110. 
 
 quantity, sb., p. 134, 1. 40. 
 quench, v.a., p. 74, 1. 111. 
 quittor, gb., p. 75. 
 
 rather, adv., formerly, earlier, p. 159, 
 
 I. 120. 
 
 redress, v.a., p. 131, 1. 56. 
 regular, adj., nnder religious rule, 
 
 p. 142, 1. 172. 
 
 reigning, ?sb., kingdom, p. 128, 1.50. 
 religiously, adv., p. 148, 1. 378. 
 remedy, tb., p. 136, 1. 111. 
 reputation, sb. , repute, p. 143, 
 
 1. 216. 
 
 respond, r.n., p. 135, 1. 81. 
 revel, v.n., p. 133, 1. 15. 
 rifedly riuedlich , adv. , p. 15, 
 
 1. 103. 
 
 roveisoun, tb., p. 80, 1. 348, Fr. Rou- 
 vaitons, roraisong; Rogations, 
 temps de prieres; de rogare. 
 Roquefort. 
 
 royalty rialte , p. 135, 1. 8f*. 
 
 rudde , r. a. , redden with blood, 
 p. 75, 1. 172. 
 
 rue, r. a., repent, p. 5, st. 37. 
 
 run of, for run (or stream) with, 
 p. 4, st. 29. 
 
 sad, adj., serious, religious, p. 143, 
 
 1. 194. 
 
 sautere, gb., psalter, p. 57, 1. 356. 
 say, phr., say at one mouth, p. 15, 
 
 1. 85. 
 
 seed, gb., shed?, p. 33, st. 183. 
 sceft, sb., creature, p. 24, st. 42. 
 schindful, adj., disgraceful, p. 57, 
 
 1. 366. 
 schindisse, sb., disgrace, infamy, 
 
 p. 57, 1. 365, A.S. scendnyg. 
 scholar, sb., p. 77, 1. 256. 
 sed, gb., satiety, A.S. seed, satis- 
 fied, sated, 
 seeming, gb., appearance, p. 147, 
 
 1. 356. 
 
 self, adj., himself, p. 97, 1. 290. 
 selfwill, sb., p. 143, 1. 195. 
 serabli, adj., semely, p. 158, 1.65. 
 sensuality, gb., p. 143, 1. 203. 
 seraphin, gb.pl., p. 11, st. 149. 
 serve to, v.n., be of use for, p. 157, 1.47. 
 set, v.n., fight, p. 56, 1. 310. 
 set by, v.a., value, care for, p. 144, 
 
 1 220; p. 145, 1.287. 
 sharp, v.n., become sharp, p. 149, 
 
 st. 2. 
 shingle scingle , sb., tile, p. 157, 
 
 1.57. 
 shire, sb., men of a shire, p. 56, 
 
 1. 309. 
 
 showing, gb., p. 145, 1. 280. 
 sign, v.a., make a sign (of the cross) 
 
 on, p. 72, 1. 66.
 
 LIST OF WORDS o. 
 
 179 
 
 simony, sb., p. 75, I. 145; p. 122, 
 
 1. 134. 
 
 sit down al, for to, p 39, 1. 172. 
 smite, v.a., cut, p. 51, 1. 127. 
 soler, sb., upper chamber, p. 56, 
 
 1. 340. 
 
 some, for 'some part', p. 48, 1.31. 
 sooth, sb., truth, true thing, p. 99, 
 
 1.39. 
 sore, adv., sorely, p. 5, st. 37; p. 4, 
 
 st. 28. 
 
 sovereign, adj., p. 140, 1. 88. 
 spene, r., (base of) spend, p. 6, 
 
 st. 47. 
 spill, r.a., lose, waste (time), p. 52, 
 
 1. 163. 
 
 stead, s6., help, p. 132, 1. 90. 
 stepmother, sb., p. 45, 1. 88. 
 stinie, r.a., ? look at, p. 20, st. 5. 
 stoney, r.n., be astonished, p. 121, 
 
 1. 86. 
 
 stour, sl>., p. 134, 1. 37. 
 string, sl>., p. 75, 1. 156. 
 subject (of a superior), sb., p. 145, 
 
 1. 275. 
 sueven, sb., dream, p. 51, 1. 147; 
 
 p. 52, 1. 192. 
 
 summer, adj., p. 54, 1. 236. 
 sure, adj., safe, sound (wine), p. 147, 
 
 1.361. 
 suuel, sb., (soul,) seasoning, p. 23, 
 
 st. 23. 
 
 sweetheart, sb., p. 51, 1. 142. 
 swell, v.n., p. part, swolle, p. 123, 
 
 1. 162. 
 swevening, sb.. dream, vision, p. 50, 
 
 1. 116. 
 
 swilc, con./., such as, like, p.24,st.40. 
 swondrie, r.n., doze, p. 77, 1. 257. 
 
 talking, sb., p. 141, 1. 125. 
 targe, r.a., tarry, p. 52, 1. 179. 
 tent, si., attention, heed, p. 118, 
 
 1.8. 
 that there, pron., that, p. 89, 1.82. 
 
 the? r.a., pp., ipej, do, p. 35, 1.28. 
 there, comp.pron., where, in the 
 
 places where, p. 139, 1.28; p. 146, 
 
 1. 294. 
 
 theredown, adv., p. 53, 1. 206. 
 thick, adr, p. 51, 1. 121. 
 thorn, sb., thorn-tree, p. 54, 1. 267. 
 threatening, sb., p. 54, 1. 248. 
 throuj, sb., coffin, A.S. prA, p. 70, 
 
 1. 168. 
 tit, tyt, happens to, p. 65, 1.219; 
 
 p. 44, 1. 58. 
 to-geanes, prep., against, p. 33, 
 
 1. 175. 
 
 torment, v.a., p. 75, 1. 170. 
 toward (and fro ward), adj., good, 
 
 p. 146, 1. 315. 
 
 travail, r.n., work, p. 52, 1. 163. 
 tray, v.a., betray, p. 13, st. 41. 
 tree, sb., wood, p 63, 1. 122. 
 tresche, sb. (Danse, bal, assemblee; 
 
 jeux de baladins"), p. 67, 1. 67. 
 trespass, sb., outrage, p. 128, 1.51. 
 trust triste , sb., p. 17, st. 5. 
 tug out, r.a., p. 149, st. 5. 
 
 ulthe, sb. , age, A.S. yldo, age, 
 
 p. 90, 1. 6. 
 underget, r.a., undertake, p. 55, 
 
 1. 291 ; get at, find out, p. 66. 
 undergo, v. a., undertake, p. 55, 
 
 1. 280. 
 
 university, sb., p. 78. 
 unlike, adv., unequally, p. 20, 1.55. 
 unlustily, adr., in an unmanly way, 
 
 p. 122, 1. 143. 
 
 unordinate, adj., p. 144, 1. 234. 
 unreasonably, sb., p. 143, 1.202. 
 nnwinne, sb., distress, A. S. iryw, 
 
 joy, p. 21. 
 unypyned, adj., unpunished, p. 75, 
 
 1. 173. 
 
 vanity, sb., empty show, p. 2, st.13. 
 veil, sb., p. 147.
 
 180 
 
 LIST OK WORDS &C. 
 
 vessel, sb., p. 130, 1. 4. 
 
 victory, **., p. 135, 1. 79. 
 
 virst, /<., ? drink, satisfaction of 
 
 thirst, p. 7, st. 57. 
 virtue, */>., miracle, p. C>3, 1. 127. 
 vise, r.fl., devise, p. 133, 1. 14. 
 
 wanting, *&., p. 145, 1. 282. 
 
 ward, . i., ward, take care of, p 51, 
 
 1. 151. 
 
 ward, si)., place, p. 146, 1. 312. 
 warning, **., p. 134, 1. 55. 
 weave, r.a., pp. iweue, p. 75, 1.156. 
 wencle, sl>., girl, A. S. icencle, maid, 
 
 p 48. 
 
 were, sk., care, p. 7, st. 59. 
 west, adj., p. 49, 1. G2. 
 what, comp.pron., that which, p 141, 
 
 1. 106. 
 whatlokest, </., cp., soonest, p. 56, 
 
 J.315. 
 
 while, conj., p. 2, st. 15. 
 while, adv , formerly, p. 49, 1. 73. 
 
 why, sb , the reason why, p. 146, 
 
 1. 302. 
 
 winter, #!>., year, p. 14, st. 53. 
 wiste, prd., iwist, pp., watched, 
 
 p. 41, 1.38,40. 
 within, prep., p. 128, 1.45. 
 witness, u. a. t p. 145, 1. 284. 
 witty, adj., possessing wits, having 
 
 a mind, p. 53, 1. 219. 
 wlank, adj , A. S. wlanc, lofty, 
 
 proud, p. 118. 
 word, phr. , the last word binds 
 
 the tale, p. 6, st. 52. 
 worthi, r.a, honour, p. 16, 1. 18. 
 wraxli, v.n. , wrestle, p. 45, 1. 70 
 
 (in Coleridge's Gloss, as tcrayH). 
 wrekke of, v.a., revenge on, p. 4, 
 ' st. 30. 
 wunienge, tb., dwelling, p. 33, 1.179. 
 
 yet, conj., p. 122, 1. 141. 
 
 yield, v a., pay back, p. 58, 1.44. 
 
 Berlin, printed by Unger Brothers, Printers to the King.
 
 University of California 
 
 SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 305 De Neve Drive - Parking Lot 17 Box 951388 
 
 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90095-1388 
 
 Return this material to the library from which It was borrowed. 
 
 ESIK 
 AN 
 
 NOV 
 
 N( 
 
 UMJF 
 
 INT 
 
 Fl 
 
 TH 
 
 NO 
 
 Form L-9~20m-8 
 
 R 2 g 1968
 
 3 1158 01264 5742 
 
 A 001 299554 4