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[Bede's Tale of Jumna and Tumna; or, How an Abbot's Mass-singing made the Fetters fall off a Knight in Prison.]
what tyme seynt Bede was man lyuand,
were many kyngës yn þys land;
Betwyxë tweyn was grete batayle,
For whych þyng y telle þys merueyle;
þe toon hyght Edfryde of þe norþe cuntre,
þe toþer of Lyndëseye was he:
Edfryde had grete seygnourye,
Seynt Audre housbonde, of Ely.
þys batayle was, þurgh here boþe assent,
Besyde a watyr, men calle Trent:
Syre Edfrydes broþer hyȝt Elfwynne,
He was slayn þe batayle ynne;
On boþe partyys, ne was none
So feyre a knyȝt of flesshe and bone,
Ne so doȝty was of armes;
Þarfore seynt Bede pleyneþ hys harmys.
were many kyngës yn þys land;
Betwyxë tweyn was grete batayle,
For whych þyng y telle þys merueyle;
þe toon hyght Edfryde of þe norþe cuntre,
þe toþer of Lyndëseye was he:
Edfryde had grete seygnourye,
Seynt Audre housbonde, of Ely.
þys batayle was, þurgh here boþe assent,
Besyde a watyr, men calle Trent:
Syre Edfrydes broþer hyȝt Elfwynne,
He was slayn þe batayle ynne;
On boþe partyys, ne was none
So feyre a knyȝt of flesshe and bone,
Ne so doȝty was of armes;
Þarfore seynt Bede pleyneþ hys harmys.
An noþer knȝyt also was felte dowun
Almoste dede, and fyl yn swoun:
Þe namë of þys ȝungë knyȝt,
‘Iumna,’ seyþ seynt Bede, he hyȝt.
whan þys Iumna had long leyn,
He couerd, and sette hym vp aȝeyn,
And stopped hys woundes, þey shuld nat blede,
And as he myȝt, þennë he ȝede
To seke hym helpe agher to haue,
Or frendës fynde, þat hym myȝt saue.
Almoste dede, and fyl yn swoun:
Þe namë of þys ȝungë knyȝt,
‘Iumna,’ seyþ seynt Bede, he hyȝt.
whan þys Iumna had long leyn,
He couerd, and sette hym vp aȝeyn,
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And as he myȝt, þennë he ȝede
To seke hym helpe agher to haue,
Or frendës fynde, þat hym myȝt saue.
And as he wente with mochë drede,
He was take with kyng Eldrede,
And, broght vn-to a lordyng,
An Erle þat heldë of þat kyng.
Þe Erle asked hym ‘what he was,
And where he had be yn hard kas?’
He was take with kyng Eldrede,
And, broght vn-to a lordyng,
An Erle þat heldë of þat kyng.
Þe Erle asked hym ‘what he was,
And where he had be yn hard kas?’
For drede of deþ, he was affryȝt,
And durst nat sey he was a knyȝt;
He seyd, “seyre, ȝyf þy wyl be,
Y am an husband of þe cuntre;
Y was wunt to lede vytayle
To knyȝtës þat were yn batayle;
And now y am a porë man,
Yn þys maner fro þe batayle wan,
And wyl fonde to saue my lyfe
Tyl y may comë to my wyfe.”
Þe erle þan made a leche be stoundes
Tende to hym, to hele hys woundes.
And durst nat sey he was a knyȝt;
He seyd, “seyre, ȝyf þy wyl be,
Y am an husband of þe cuntre;
Y was wunt to lede vytayle
To knyȝtës þat were yn batayle;
And now y am a porë man,
Yn þys maner fro þe batayle wan,
And wyl fonde to saue my lyfe
Tyl y may comë to my wyfe.”
Þe erle þan made a leche be stoundes
Tende to hym, to hele hys woundes.
Þat tyme were here many thedys,
Many vságes yn many ledys;
For euery kyng, yn þat dawe,
Beleued on dyuers lawe;
Sum were crystyn, on oure fay,
And some beleued on paynyms lay;
Þarfore þat tyme was mykyl þro,
And ofte was boþë werre and wo;
Ȝyf any kyng myȝt of oþers men take,
He shuld hem selle, or yn seruage make.
Many vságes yn many ledys;
For euery kyng, yn þat dawe,
Beleued on dyuers lawe;
Sum were crystyn, on oure fay,
And some beleued on paynyms lay;
Þarfore þat tyme was mykyl þro,
And ofte was boþë werre and wo;
Ȝyf any kyng myȝt of oþers men take,
He shuld hem selle, or yn seruage make.
wharfore y telle so of þys knyȝt,
þe erle dyd hym bynde euery nyȝt
þat he ne shuld[ë] fro hem fle,
Ne stele awey to hys cuntre;
Noþeles, for alle þat þey myȝt hym bynde,
A-noþer tyme, lose, þey myȝt hym fynde;
Só fast, þey neuer hym bonde,
Þat lose a-noþer tyme þey hym fonde.
þe erle dyd hym bynde euery nyȝt
þat he ne shuld[ë] fro hem fle,
Ne stele awey to hys cuntre;
Noþeles, for alle þat þey myȝt hym bynde,
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Só fast, þey neuer hym bonde,
Þat lose a-noþer tyme þey hym fonde.
Þys boundë knyȝt hyght Iumna,
And had a broþer þat hyȝt Tumna;
þys Tumna was prest relygyous,
For he was abbot of an house;
So long he leued yn þat estre
Þat for hys name he hyȝt Tuncestre;
Þat tounne, as y vndyrstande,
hyt was yn Northhumber-lande.
And had a broþer þat hyȝt Tumna;
þys Tumna was prest relygyous,
For he was abbot of an house;
So long he leued yn þat estre
Þat for hys name he hyȝt Tuncestre;
Þat tounne, as y vndyrstande,
hyt was yn Northhumber-lande.
þys abbot herd tydyng certeyn
Þat Iumna was yn batayle slayn;
He come to Trent, þys abbot Tumna,
And fonde a body ryȝt lyke Iumna;
Onóurablye he dyd hyt graue
Yn hys cherche, þere he wulde hyt haue,
And song þarforë, day and ouþer,
For he went he had be hys broþer.
Þat Iumna was yn batayle slayn;
He come to Trent, þys abbot Tumna,
And fonde a body ryȝt lyke Iumna;
Onóurablye he dyd hyt graue
Yn hys cherche, þere he wulde hyt haue,
And song þarforë, day and ouþer,
For he went he had be hys broþer.
Þogh þat Tumna had chose wrong,
hys broþer had þe godenesse of hys song;
For God alle wote, and wyst hyt þere
For whom he madë hys preyere;
how as euer men, þys knyȝt at eue bonde,
Þe bondes, on þe morne, vndo þey fonde;
Men myȝt neuer hym yn bondes so feste
Þat þey þat tyme ne gunne al to-braste.
hys broþer had þe godenesse of hys song;
For God alle wote, and wyst hyt þere
For whom he madë hys preyere;
how as euer men, þys knyȝt at eue bonde,
Þe bondes, on þe morne, vndo þey fonde;
Men myȝt neuer hym yn bondes so feste
Þat þey þat tyme ne gunne al to-braste.
Þo men þat had þys man yn holde,
Þys wundyr to þe erle þey tolde;
Þe erle had þer-of gretë wundyr
Þys wundyr to þe erle þey tolde;
Þe erle had þer-of gretë wundyr
Þat hys bondes were so a sunder,
He seyd ‘hym self wulde with hym speke,
To wytë why hys bondes dyd breke.’
He seyd ‘hym self wulde with hym speke,
To wytë why hys bondes dyd breke.’
Before þe erlë was he fette,
And þe erle, ful feyre he grette,
“Sey me now,” he seyd, “bele amye,
“kanst þou weyl on sorcerye?
Sum wycchecrafte þou doust aboute bere,
Þat þy bondes mow þe nat dere.
For soþe,” he seyd, “sum what þou dos,
Þat euer-more þey fynde þe los.”
And þe erle, ful feyre he grette,
“Sey me now,” he seyd, “bele amye,
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Sum wycchecrafte þou doust aboute bere,
Þat þy bondes mow þe nat dere.
For soþe,” he seyd, “sum what þou dos,
Þat euer-more þey fynde þe los.”
he seyd, “on whycchecrafte beleue y noȝt,
Ne for me shal none be wroȝt,
Ne wyl nat be, þurgh fendys crafte,
Vnbonde, ne with no whycchëcrafte.
Syre erle,” he seyd, “hyt ys a-nouþer;
Yn my cuntre y haue a broþer
Þat supposyþ weyl þat y am slayn,
For y come nat home agayn;
For me he syngeþ euery day a messe;
Prest, and abbot, for soþe he ys;
Y wote weyl, þát ys þe enchesun
Þat my bondes are so ondoun,
For, no þyng haþ powere
Aȝens þe sacrement of þe autere;
And ȝyf y were dede yn ouþer werlde,
hys preyer shulde for me be herde,
To bryngë me of pyne and wo
And aftyrward to blys[së] go.”
Ne for me shal none be wroȝt,
Ne wyl nat be, þurgh fendys crafte,
Vnbonde, ne with no whycchëcrafte.
Syre erle,” he seyd, “hyt ys a-nouþer;
Yn my cuntre y haue a broþer
Þat supposyþ weyl þat y am slayn,
For y come nat home agayn;
For me he syngeþ euery day a messe;
Prest, and abbot, for soþe he ys;
Y wote weyl, þát ys þe enchesun
Þat my bondes are so ondoun,
For, no þyng haþ powere
Aȝens þe sacrement of þe autere;
And ȝyf y were dede yn ouþer werlde,
hys preyer shulde for me be herde,
To bryngë me of pyne and wo
And aftyrward to blys[së] go.”
Alle þe meyne þan, and þe erle,
Supposed weyl he was no cherle,
As he to hem byfore hadde seyd,
whan þey on hym fyrst handës leyd;
By hys semblant and feyre beryng
Hym semed weyl to be a lordyng;
By hys speche, þey vndyrstode
Þat he was man of gentyl blode.
Supposed weyl he was no cherle,
As he to hem byfore hadde seyd,
whan þey on hym fyrst handës leyd;
By hys semblant and feyre beryng
Hym semed weyl to be a lordyng;
By hys speche, þey vndyrstode
Þat he was man of gentyl blode.
Þe erle toke hym yn pryuyte;
Of when he was, telle hym shulde he;
“Sey me þe soþe, and, as y am knyȝt,
Þou ne shalt haue for me, skaþe ne plyȝt.”
“Syn ȝe me behete ȝoure pes and gryth,
Y am þe kyngës man Edfryth;
Armës y bare yn þe batayle,
with alle my powere hym to auayle.”
“So me þoȝt,” seyd þe erle,
“Þe semed nat to be a cherle;
But, for þát y here þe seye,
Þou were wurþy for to deye,
For þou hylpë þer to slo,
Þat alle my kyn ys dede me fro;
But, langer þat y sykerd þe,
Shalt þou haue no skaþe for me.”
Of when he was, telle hym shulde he;
“Sey me þe soþe, and, as y am knyȝt,
Þou ne shalt haue for me, skaþe ne plyȝt.”
“Syn ȝe me behete ȝoure pes and gryth,
Y am þe kyngës man Edfryth;
Armës y bare yn þe batayle,
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“So me þoȝt,” seyd þe erle,
“Þe semed nat to be a cherle;
But, for þát y here þe seye,
Þou were wurþy for to deye,
For þou hylpë þer to slo,
Þat alle my kyn ys dede me fro;
But, langer þat y sykerd þe,
Shalt þou haue no skaþe for me.”
He ȝede and solde hym for raunsoun
At London to a Frysoun,—
A Frysoun ȝe shul vndyrstande
To a marchaunde of Fryslande;—
Þys Frysun wulde þys man furþe lede,
And, dyd on hym bondes for drede;
For he ne shulde skape by þe weye,
He dyd on hym, bondes for to leye;
But hyt auayled hym no þyng
Neuer a day, þat byndyng;
For yn þat oure þat þe messe was sunge,
Þe bondes to-braste, and alle to-sprunge.
At London to a Frysoun,—
A Frysoun ȝe shul vndyrstande
To a marchaunde of Fryslande;—
Þys Frysun wulde þys man furþe lede,
And, dyd on hym bondes for drede;
For he ne shulde skape by þe weye,
He dyd on hym, bondes for to leye;
But hyt auayled hym no þyng
Neuer a day, þat byndyng;
For yn þat oure þat þe messe was sunge,
Þe bondes to-braste, and alle to-sprunge.
Þys Frysoun þoȝt ‘how may þys be?
hé may ryȝt weyl fro me fle;
Chaunsfullyche hyt vayled noȝt,
þe katel þat y wyþ hym boȝt.’
hé may ryȝt weyl fro me fle;
Chaunsfullyche hyt vayled noȝt,
þe katel þat y wyþ hym boȝt.’
þe Frysoun seyd, “wylt þou weyl
Restore aȝen alle my katel,
And y shal ȝyue þe leue to go
To þy cuntre, þere þou come fro;
But fyrst þou shalt me trouþë plyght,
And trewly holde hyt at alle þy myȝt,
To brynge þe katel, and ȝyue for þe,
And ellës y grauntë þe nat fre.”
he graunted hym alle þat he seyd,
And trouþe yn hande with hand[ë] leyd.
Restore aȝen alle my katel,
And y shal ȝyue þe leue to go
To þy cuntre, þere þou come fro;
But fyrst þou shalt me trouþë plyght,
And trewly holde hyt at alle þy myȝt,
To brynge þe katel, and ȝyue for þe,
And ellës y grauntë þe nat fre.”
he graunted hym alle þat he seyd,
And trouþe yn hande with hand[ë] leyd.
þys Iumna went to þe kyng Loyre,
þat was kyng of Kaunterbyre;
he was seynt Audre syster sone,
And Iumna was wonte with here to wone;
Of alle hys state, boþe wo and wele,
Iumna tolde þe kyng euery deyl;
Þe kyng þan ȝaue hym hys raunsoun,
And he bare hyt to Londoun to þe Frysoun.
þat was kyng of Kaunterbyre;
he was seynt Audre syster sone,
And Iumna was wonte with here to wone;
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Iumna tolde þe kyng euery deyl;
Þe kyng þan ȝaue hym hys raunsoun,
And he bare hyt to Londoun to þe Frysoun.
Syþen ȝede he home, þys knyȝt Iumna,
To hys broþer þe abbot Tumna,
And tolde hym of alle hys wo-fare,
And of alle hys cumforte yn alle hys care.
Þe abbot ful weyl þan vndyrstode
Þat hys messe dyd hym grete gode,
And þat þe sacrament gan hym borowe
Oute of seruage and out of sorowe.
To hys broþer þe abbot Tumna,
And tolde hym of alle hys wo-fare,
And of alle hys cumforte yn alle hys care.
Þe abbot ful weyl þan vndyrstode
Þat hys messe dyd hym grete gode,
And þat þe sacrament gan hym borowe
Oute of seruage and out of sorowe.
Þys tale telleþ vs seynt Bede,
Yn þe gestys of Inglond þat we rede.
Yn þe gestys of Inglond þat we rede.
By þys talë, mow men lere
Þat þe messe helpeþ vs weyl here;
For vs lyuyng, hyt makeþ memórye,
As weyl as for soules yn purgatórye;
Euery man shal beleue þat ryȝt,
Þat holpe wyl be, as was þe knyȝt.
Þat þe messe helpeþ vs weyl here;
For vs lyuyng, hyt makeþ memórye,
As weyl as for soules yn purgatórye;
Euery man shal beleue þat ryȝt,
Þat holpe wyl be, as was þe knyȝt.
Þys sacrament helpeþ nat ȝyt a-lone,
But deuoute offrynges also echone;
Alle þat we offre at þe messe,
Alle oure saluacyun hyt ys;
Nat onely for to saue þo þat dede beþ,
But þe quyke also hyt saueþ and redeþ;
As weyl haue þe quyke, þe pru,
As þe dede, þereof vertu;
Quyke and dedë, more and lesse,
Alle are saued þurgh þe masse.
But deuoute offrynges also echone;
Alle þat we offre at þe messe,
Alle oure saluacyun hyt ys;
Nat onely for to saue þo þat dede beþ,
But þe quyke also hyt saueþ and redeþ;
As weyl haue þe quyke, þe pru,
As þe dede, þereof vertu;
Quyke and dedë, more and lesse,
Alle are saued þurgh þe masse.
þe offryng ys also a present
þat hyt be oure helpe, þe sacrament,
To þe fadyr of heuene bysyly,
For whom þou offrest, to haue mercy.
þat hyt be oure helpe, þe sacrament,
To þe fadyr of heuene bysyly,
For whom þou offrest, to haue mercy.
A tale y fondë onës wryte;
And as y wote, þan shul ȝe wyte;
And weyl a-cordeþ yn alle þyng,
Þat God ys payd of gode offryng.
And as y wote, þan shul ȝe wyte;
And weyl a-cordeþ yn alle þyng,
Þat God ys payd of gode offryng.
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