 | The South English Legendary |  |
De sancto Iohanne Baptista. [Decollatio]
Sein Iohan was þe beste bern þe holy Baptist
Þat of womman was euere ibore [] wiþoute Iesu Crist
Ac of þat he an eorþe was me nefindeþ noȝt iwrite
Þat he eni miracle dude þat me miȝte of vnderȝite
Monion þencheþ þer of wonder so godman so he was
So gret miracle dude mony oþere þat aȝen him noȝt nas
Ac al it was for þe luþer Giwes þoru oure Louerdes wille so
For ȝif he hadde here an eorþe gret miracle ido
Þat of womman was euere ibore [] wiþoute Iesu Crist
Ac of þat he an eorþe was me nefindeþ noȝt iwrite
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Monion þencheþ þer of wonder so godman so he was
So gret miracle dude mony oþere þat aȝen him noȝt nas
Ac al it was for þe luþer Giwes þoru oure Louerdes wille so
For ȝif he hadde here an eorþe gret miracle ido
For he gan ferst ȝute Cristendom & þat folk þerto lere
Þe Giwes wolde habbe iwend þat he oure Louerd were
Þer fore oure Louerd dude miracle & ne let him do non
For þe Giwes ssolde iwite wuch he were echon
Þe Giwes wolde habbe iwend þat he oure Louerd were
Þer fore oure Louerd dude miracle & ne let him do non
For þe Giwes ssolde iwite wuch he were echon
Herodes þat was þo king in a tyme to Rome
Wende toward þe emperor as is riȝt was ilome
So þat bi þe wei he wende bi sire Phelippe is broþer
And wiþ him reste as riȝt was hore eiþer wiþ oþer
So þat Erodes spak wiþ is broþer wyue þere
Þat he hure wolde to wiue habbe hou so it euere were
And þat he wolde framward Rome þeruorþ aȝen wende
And nyme and lede hure forþ wiþ him & holde to is ende
Wende toward þe emperor as is riȝt was ilome
So þat bi þe wei he wende bi sire Phelippe is broþer
And wiþ him reste as riȝt was hore eiþer wiþ oþer
So þat Erodes spak wiþ is broþer wyue þere
Þat he hure wolde to wiue habbe hou so it euere were
And þat he wolde framward Rome þeruorþ aȝen wende
And nyme and lede hure forþ wiþ him & holde to is ende
Nou was þis a sori couple and also him mote biualle
And luþer þrift uppon hore heued amen seggeþ alle
At on acord hi were sone to don þis sori dede
As tweie ssrewen acordeþ sone at an luþer rede
And luþer þrift uppon hore heued amen seggeþ alle
At on acord hi were sone to don þis sori dede
As tweie ssrewen acordeþ sone at an luþer rede
Þis Herodes wende uorþ inis wei toward Rome
And þoȝte take is broþer wif wanne he aȝenward come
His owe wif it vnderȝet as somwo hure word sende
To þe king of Damache hure fader sone he[o] wende
To be[o] þere forte he[o] weste hou þis dede ssolde ende
Þis king Eroudes bi is broþer aȝenward gan eft wende
And as it was er bispeke [] is wif mid him he nom
And [huld] hure wiþ strengþe as is owe in spousbruche & hordom
And temde bi hure deoluolliche in sunne and wiþ gret wou
His broþer & is wiues fader were wiþ him wroþ inou
And harm him dude uppon al hore miȝte & boþe were is fon
Ac he huld him faste inis folie and bileuede euere in on
And þoȝte take is broþer wif wanne he aȝenward come
His owe wif it vnderȝet as somwo hure word sende
To þe king of Damache hure fader sone he[o] wende
To be[o] þere forte he[o] weste hou þis dede ssolde ende
Þis king Eroudes bi is broþer aȝenward gan eft wende
And as it was er bispeke [] is wif mid him he nom
And [huld] hure wiþ strengþe as is owe in spousbruche & hordom
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His broþer & is wiues fader were wiþ him wroþ inou
And harm him dude uppon al hore miȝte & boþe were is fon
Ac he huld him faste inis folie and bileuede euere in on
So þat sein Ion þe Baptist a day to him com
And chalangede him of is sunne to ligge in hordom
And sede it was aȝen riȝt lawe and aȝen Cristendom
Erodes þeruore in wraþþe sein Ion faste nom
And forto paie þe luþer hore in strong prison him caste
Þat he lay al a ȝer ywarded wel uaste
And suþþe he let smite of is heued as ȝe hureþ ofte telle
As ȝe mowe ifinde iwrite in þe gospelle
In a castel of Arabie his heued was of ysmite
And eft hure doȝter þe quene it nom & let it faste wite
His deciples wende stilleliche þoru oure Louerdes grace
And burede þis holy body in a wel fair place
Bitwene Abdei & Elise þat prophetes wile were
Þis body was stilleliche wel longe ibured þere
And chalangede him of is sunne to ligge in hordom
And sede it was aȝen riȝt lawe and aȝen Cristendom
Erodes þeruore in wraþþe sein Ion faste nom
And forto paie þe luþer hore in strong prison him caste
Þat he lay al a ȝer ywarded wel uaste
And suþþe he let smite of is heued as ȝe hureþ ofte telle
As ȝe mowe ifinde iwrite in þe gospelle
In a castel of Arabie his heued was of ysmite
And eft hure doȝter þe quene it nom & let it faste wite
His deciples wende stilleliche þoru oure Louerdes grace
And burede þis holy body in a wel fair place
Bitwene Abdei & Elise þat prophetes wile were
Þis body was stilleliche wel longe ibured þere
Þis false quene þat heued hudde þat it nere ifonde noȝt
Leste it were eny tyme to þis body ibroȝt
And he arise fram deþe to liue & bico[me] attelaste
A prophete as he was er þeruore hy hudde it faste
Leste it were eny tyme to þis body ibroȝt
And he arise fram deþe to liue & bico[me] attelaste
A prophete as he was er þeruore hy hudde it faste
A day as he[o] huld þis heued and bihuld þe face
Þat heued bigan to blowe on hure þoru oure Louerdes grace
And he[o] fel doun ded anon as oure Louerd is wreche caste
Me þincþ he[o] nedorste noȝt biliȝhe hure ssreuhede attelaste
Þat heued bigan to blowe on hure þoru oure Louerdes grace
And he[o] fel doun ded anon as oure Louerd is wreche caste
Me þincþ he[o] nedorste noȝt biliȝhe hure ssreuhede attelaste
[Ne] þe foule best hire doȝter noþer for as he[o] ȝede a day
And pleide upe yse in hure game as monyman isay
Þat is tobrak an vnder hure & he[o] adreinte anon
And wende forþ adeuelwey boþe fleiss and bon
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Þat is tobrak an vnder hure & he[o] adreinte anon
And wende forþ adeuelwey boþe fleiss and bon
Þus hadde moder and eke doȝter hor mede attenende
As ssel eche luþer man wanne oure Louerd him wole sende
Vuel hy tombede attelaste nere hom noȝt so loþe
Nou day [þat] hom muche bymene for ssrewen it were boþe
As ssel eche luþer man wanne oure Louerd him wole sende
Vuel hy tombede attelaste nere hom noȝt so loþe
Nou day [þat] hom muche bymene for ssrewen it were boþe
Þat heued was suþþe priueliche to Ierusalem ibroȝt
And ibured stilleliche þat me nefonde it noȝt
Of þis holy bodi þere it lay mony miracles come
Gret and faire niȝt & day as me seiþ ilome
And ibured stilleliche þat me nefonde it noȝt
Of þis holy bodi þere it lay mony miracles come
Gret and faire niȝt & day as me seiþ ilome
Þer was þo a luþer emperor þe luþer Iulian
Þat reneide oure Louerdes lawe & was swuþe luþer man
Of þis miracles þo he hurde in gret wraþþe & onde
He let nime þis holi bones & tosprede into al þe londe
And caste it aboute ech fram oþer þat noman þer nei necome
Ne fonde it noȝt to fette is bote as me dude er ilome
And ȝute for al is felonie nebileue oure Louerd noȝt
Þat mony sik man þat com þerney nas to hele ibroȝt
Þat reneide oure Louerdes lawe & was swuþe luþer man
Of þis miracles þo he hurde in gret wraþþe & onde
He let nime þis holi bones & tosprede into al þe londe
And caste it aboute ech fram oþer þat noman þer nei necome
Ne fonde it noȝt to fette is bote as me dude er ilome
And ȝute for al is felonie nebileue oure Louerd noȝt
Þat mony sik man þat com þerney nas to hele ibroȝt
Þo was þe luþer Iulian wroþore þanne he was er
A[s] is bones w[ere] er tosprad his men he sende þer
And let is fette clene aȝen and wiþoute toune anon
He let hom [sette in] a strong fure and forberne echon
And þe doust þer of wel wide he let blowe mid þe wynde
Þat me nessolde of him an eorþe neuere more finde
Nou was he a wonder hine awei wi nadde he þo
To douste ibrend al þe þeues þat þer necome of hom namo
A[s] is bones w[ere] er tosprad his men he sende þer
And let is fette clene aȝen and wiþoute toune anon
He let hom [sette in] a strong fure and forberne echon
And þe doust þer of wel wide he let blowe mid þe wynde
Þat me nessolde of him an eorþe neuere more finde
Nou was he a wonder hine awei wi nadde he þo
To douste ibrend al þe þeues þat þer necome of hom namo
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Ac sein Iones finger þat he teiȝte oure Louerd þo he him isay
Cominge touward baptisinge as at Twelfþeday
Touward þe water of Iordan & loude gradde and sede
Lo Godes Lomb [þat] binymeþ þe worles misdede
Cominge touward baptisinge as at Twelfþeday
Touward þe water of Iordan & loude gradde and sede
Lo Godes Lomb [þat] binymeþ þe worles misdede
No fur nemiȝte on þulke finger come for none þinge
For þe holy dede þat he þere wiþ teiȝte þe heie kynge
Ac ihol was and ȝut is and þere nis namore bileued
An eorþe of him bote þulke vinger and his holy heued
For al is body was forbrend bote soulement þulke to
Is day þat is in haruest þis dede was ido
Þat is bodi was þus forbarnd & also þulke day
Þer after longe me fond is heued in eorþe as it lay
Me halt is feste of þis to þinges þanne þat ȝe it wite
For me nemay noȝt oure Leuediday þat is heued was of ismite
For þe holy dede þat he þere wiþ teiȝte þe heie kynge
Ac ihol was and ȝut is and þere nis namore bileued
An eorþe of him bote þulke vinger and his holy heued
For al is body was forbrend bote soulement þulke to
Is day þat is in haruest þis dede was ido
Þat is bodi was þus forbarnd & also þulke day
Þer after longe me fond is heued in eorþe as it lay
Me halt is feste of þis to þinges þanne þat ȝe it wite
For me nemay noȝt oure Leuediday þat is heued was of ismite
A maner martirdom it was is bones so to drawe
Þer uore me may wel þanne holde is feste bi riȝte lawe
Þis holy heued þat þus was at Ierusalem ihud
Þoru uair miracle of sein Ion uerst it was ikud
For to tweie monkes at Ierusalem him sulf he com biniȝte
And ssewede hom ware is heued lay as it were in a siȝte
Þer uore me may wel þanne holde is feste bi riȝte lawe
Þis holy heued þat þus was at Ierusalem ihud
Þoru uair miracle of sein Ion uerst it was ikud
For to tweie monkes at Ierusalem him sulf he com biniȝte
And ssewede hom ware is heued lay as it were in a siȝte
And hy wende forþ & soȝte is sone & in þulke here iwonde
Þat he werede in wildernesse attelaste hi it fonde
And þene finger hy fonde ek þat was of him bileued
Wiþ gret honour forþ hi bere þis finger & þis heued
And weste it for fair relike and ȝute attelaste
Efsone hi were faste ihud and in a put icaste
And leie þere longe ihud as vewe þerof roȝte
Ac were an eorþe al for ȝute as noman is neþoȝte
Þat he werede in wildernesse attelaste hi it fonde
And þene finger hy fonde ek þat was of him bileued
Wiþ gret honour forþ hi bere þis finger & þis heued
And weste it for fair relike and ȝute attelaste
Efsone hi were faste ihud and in a put icaste
And leie þere longe ihud as vewe þerof roȝte
Ac were an eorþe al for ȝute as noman is neþoȝte
Ac sein Ion nolde noȝt þat hi leie to longe þere
To þe abbot Marcel he com aniȝt as it in metynge were
And bad him nime is heued up & sede ware it lay
Þis godeman sone aros him up & ne abod noȝt forte day
He openede is celle dore & biheld aboute
A sterre he fond biuore þe dure houi þere wiþoute
Þe cleroste þat miȝte be[o] him wondrede þerof inou
He þonkede God wiþ gode wille & toward þis sterre drou
He nom up his hond & wolde take he nemiȝte noȝt areche
Ac softe he gan to swie forþ as it were þen wei to teche
And þe abbot him siwede euere and þe sterre touore wel softe
Þe abbot honurede is ledare þat so god was wel ofte
To þe abbot Marcel he com aniȝt as it in metynge were
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Þis godeman sone aros him up & ne abod noȝt forte day
He openede is celle dore & biheld aboute
A sterre he fond biuore þe dure houi þere wiþoute
Þe cleroste þat miȝte be[o] him wondrede þerof inou
He þonkede God wiþ gode wille & toward þis sterre drou
He nom up his hond & wolde take he nemiȝte noȝt areche
Ac softe he gan to swie forþ as it were þen wei to teche
And þe abbot him siwede euere and þe sterre touore wel softe
Þe abbot honurede is ledare þat so god was wel ofte
Forþ wende þe sterre forte he com ouer þulke place
Þer þis holy heued lay þoru oure Louerdes grace
Þo he com ouer þulke place he houede þere a stonde
Forte Marcel þis gode monk þis heued hadde ifonde
Þer þis holy heued lay þoru oure Louerdes grace
Þo he com ouer þulke place he houede þere a stonde
Forte Marcel þis gode monk þis heued hadde ifonde
Þe gode bissop Iulian Marcel tolde þis cas
Þoru hom boþe þis holy heued inome up of þe eorþe was
And is heued and is finger ek boþe beoþ hole and sonde
A sein Iones day in haruest þus hi were ifonde
Þeruore ȝute þoru heste of Rome þoru al Cristendom
Me halt þene day in honurance of is holy martirdom
Þoru hom boþe þis holy heued inome up of þe eorþe was
And is heued and is finger ek boþe beoþ hole and sonde
A sein Iones day in haruest þus hi were ifonde
Þeruore ȝute þoru heste of Rome þoru al Cristendom
Me halt þene day in honurance of is holy martirdom
For in oure Leuediday in Leinte as he was to deþe ibroȝt
For oþer festes þat þer beoþ þer of ne rat me noȝt
Nou sein Ion þat in flum Iordan baptisede Godes sone
Lete us þoru oure Cristendom to þe ioie of heuene come
For oþer festes þat þer beoþ þer of ne rat me noȝt
Nou sein Ion þat in flum Iordan baptisede Godes sone
Lete us þoru oure Cristendom to þe ioie of heuene come
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