 | The South English Legendary |  |
De sancto Mattheo apostolo et ewangeliste
Sein Mattheu þewangelist apostel he was iwis
Ewangelist & eke apostel for boþe he was & is
Ewangelist for he mad gospellis þat me deþ rede
Apostel for oure Louerd an eorþe mid him gan lede
For as [oure] Louerd ȝeode ouerlond sein Matheu he sei bicas
Is mester do of tollares craft for tollare he was
Fals and trichour of is work and liuede bi ualshede
Oure Louerd him het bileue is work com siwe me he sede
He bileuede þo is work and mid oure Louerd ȝeode
And is fals mester let for he nadde þerto no neode
Ewangelist & eke apostel for boþe he was & is
Ewangelist for he mad gospellis þat me deþ rede
Apostel for oure Louerd an eorþe mid him gan lede
For as [oure] Louerd ȝeode ouerlond sein Matheu he sei bicas
Is mester do of tollares craft for tollare he was
Fals and trichour of is work and liuede bi ualshede
Oure Louerd him het bileue is work com siwe me he sede
He bileuede þo is work and mid oure Louerd ȝeode
And is fals mester let for he nadde þerto no neode
Fair forbusne oure Louerd ȝaf alle sunfol þo
Wanne he a so sunfol man wiþ him het do
Wanne he a so sunfol man wiþ him het do
Sein Mattheu is sunne bette and tok to Cristendom
And oure Louerd siwede uaste and apostel bicom
Suþþe þo oure Louerd was into heuene iwend
Þe apostles were wide alonde to prechi isend
Into þe lond of Ethiope sein Mattheu sone ȝeode
To prechi men to Cristendom as it was gret neode
He fond tweie luþer men and strong wicchen þere
Zaroes & Arafaxat þat þe deueles limes were
Þat as hi wolde in gret siknesse monyman hi hadde ido
And monyman þoru þe deuel iheled hadde also
And oure Louerd siwede uaste and apostel bicom
Suþþe þo oure Louerd was into heuene iwend
Þe apostles were wide alonde to prechi isend
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To prechi men to Cristendom as it was gret neode
He fond tweie luþer men and strong wicchen þere
Zaroes & Arafaxat þat þe deueles limes were
Þat as hi wolde in gret siknesse monyman hi hadde ido
And monyman þoru þe deuel iheled hadde also
Alle þat þe luþermen [] in siknesse broȝte
Sein Mattheu hom helede anon & wel clene outsoȝte
Sori were þis luþer men hi nuste wat was to done
Tweie dragons þe deuelen were to hom hi clupede sone
Þat caste brimston al furi and slou into al þe londe
Men and bestes þicke þerwiþ hom nemiȝte non atstonde
Þis luþer men hom vette to hom for hi ssolde todrawe
Þe ewangelist sein Matheu and bringe him of lif dawe
Sein Mattheu hom helede anon & wel clene outsoȝte
Sori were þis luþer men hi nuste wat was to done
Tweie dragons þe deuelen were to hom hi clupede sone
Þat caste brimston al furi and slou into al þe londe
Men and bestes þicke þerwiþ hom nemiȝte non atstonde
Þis luþer men hom vette to hom for hi ssolde todrawe
Þe ewangelist sein Matheu and bringe him of lif dawe
Þo sein Mattheu þis ihurde baldeliche he gan gon
Þe signe he made of þe crois and to hom wende anon
Þo þe dragons him iseie to is fet he fel adoun
Hi ne miȝte wawe hore noþer anne uot for al þe toun
Þe signe he made of þe crois and to hom wende anon
Þo þe dragons him iseie to is fet he fel adoun
Hi ne miȝte wawe hore noþer anne uot for al þe toun
Lo ȝe wrecches quaþ þe apostel to þis luþer men tweie
Ware is nou al ȝoure art ouercome ȝe beoþ beie
Ȝif inadde nou mi Louerd for ȝou ȝeorne bisoȝt
Bi ȝou it ssolde nou biualle as ȝe hadde bi me iþoȝt
Þis tweie luþer dragons þat ȝe habbeþ hider ibroȝt
Arereþ nouþe ȝif ȝe mowe oþer ȝoure art nis noȝt
Euere stod þis wrecche men as hi were inome
Sein Mattheu hi dradde sore hi helde hom ouercome
Ware is nou al ȝoure art ouercome ȝe beoþ beie
Ȝif inadde nou mi Louerd for ȝou ȝeorne bisoȝt
Bi ȝou it ssolde nou biualle as ȝe hadde bi me iþoȝt
Þis tweie luþer dragons þat ȝe habbeþ hider ibroȝt
Arereþ nouþe ȝif ȝe mowe oþer ȝoure art nis noȝt
Euere stod þis wrecche men as hi were inome
Sein Mattheu hi dradde sore hi helde hom ouercome
Sein Mattheu þis tweie dragons þoru Iesu Cristes lore
Out of þe lond drof anon hi necome þere namore
And wende aboute and prechede & þe ssrewen let go
Ouercome wrecches as hi were hom nas neuere so wo
Nou wo hom mote euere be[o] wat wolde þe ssrewen þere
Luþer dom on hore heued fram ȝere to ȝere
Out of þe lond drof anon hi necome þere namore
And wende aboute and prechede & þe ssrewen let go
Ouercome wrecches as hi were hom nas neuere so wo
Nou wo hom mote euere be[o] wat wolde þe ssrewen þere
Luþer dom on hore heued fram ȝere to ȝere
Hit biuel þat þe kynges sone of þe lond was ded
Sone þe tweie deueles limes togadere nome hore red
And wende þuder ȝif hi miȝte þoru art him rere
Hi dude hore enchantement as þe deuel hom gan lere
Ac þat child lay euere ded for hore miȝte nas riȝt noȝt
Þoru þe king hi were inome and in strong prison ibroȝt
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And wende þuder ȝif hi miȝte þoru art him rere
Hi dude hore enchantement as þe deuel hom gan lere
Ac þat child lay euere ded for hore miȝte nas riȝt noȝt
Þoru þe king hi were inome and in strong prison ibroȝt
Þe king sende after sein Matheu [] as me of him tolde
Ȝif he miȝte is sone arere for he was so wis iholde
Þo sein Mattheu þuder com to oure Louerd he dude is bone
And arerde þoru Godes grace þis child to liue sone
Þis child aros and herede God ibore of maide Marie
Anon so þe king it isei wel loude he gan crie
Ȝif he miȝte is sone arere for he was so wis iholde
Þo sein Mattheu þuder com to oure Louerd he dude is bone
And arerde þoru Godes grace þis child to liue sone
Þis child aros and herede God ibore of maide Marie
Anon so þe king it isei wel loude he gan crie
To soþe he sede ich ise[o] þat Mattheu a god is
Þei he be[o] in mannes forme god he is iwis
Honure we him as it is riȝt wiþ seluer and wiþ golde
Hy bode him tresour inou wel more þanne he wolde
Þei he be[o] in mannes forme god he is iwis
Honure we him as it is riȝt wiþ seluer and wiþ golde
Hy bode him tresour inou wel more þanne he wolde
Nai certes quaþ þis holyman god nam ich noȝt
Ac Godes sergant þat for us to deþe was ibroȝt
Ȝif ȝe wolleþ on him biluue to heuene ssolle ȝe wende
And wo so nele he worþ iwis in pine wiþoute ende
So þat þe king and alle his icristned of him were
Wiþ þe tresour þat hi him broȝte a uair churche he let rere
In þritti dawes he was arered so gret help þer was to
Þat þe king is beden bad and al þe contreie also
Ac Godes sergant þat for us to deþe was ibroȝt
Ȝif ȝe wolleþ on him biluue to heuene ssolle ȝe wende
And wo so nele he worþ iwis in pine wiþoute ende
So þat þe king and alle his icristned of him were
Wiþ þe tresour þat hi him broȝte a uair churche he let rere
In þritti dawes he was arered so gret help þer was to
Þat þe king is beden bad and al þe contreie also
After þe tweie enchanteors sein Mattheu gan sende
Zaroes & Arafaxat and made hom þanne wende
In to þe lond of Perce hi wende wiþ ssame inou
Þere misbiluued folk wel þicke aboute hom drou
Suþþe sein Simon and sein Iude to Perce þene wei nome
And þis tweie enchanteors to gronde hi ouercome
And driue hom an alle deuelwei þer mote hi euere be[o]
So þat toward Cristene men ne dorste hi neuere te[o]
Zaroes & Arafaxat and made hom þanne wende
In to þe lond of Perce hi wende wiþ ssame inou
Þere misbiluued folk wel þicke aboute hom drou
Suþþe sein Simon and sein Iude to Perce þene wei nome
And þis tweie enchanteors to gronde hi ouercome
And driue hom an alle deuelwei þer mote hi euere be[o]
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Sein Mattheu in Ethiope þe kinges doȝter nom
Þat clene þing was of hure sulue and broȝte hure to Criste[n]dom
And made hure uowe chastete lif to lede clene
Þe maide neuere eft afterward þe biheste ne brac ene
Þat clene þing was of hure sulue and broȝte hure to Criste[n]dom
And made hure uowe chastete lif to lede clene
Þe maide neuere eft afterward þe biheste ne brac ene
A king of anoþer lond wowede hure wel uaste
And wilnede hure to is spouse & up hure is loue caste
Þo þe maide nolde is wille do to sein Mattheu he drou
And bisoȝte him to be[o] inis half & bihet him mede inou
Com quaþ þe apostel þulke day & ich ȝou wole wel rede
Þat heo holde hure to spoushod & þer inne hure lif lede
And wilnede hure to is spouse & up hure is loue caste
Þo þe maide nolde is wille do to sein Mattheu he drou
And bisoȝte him to be[o] inis half & bihet him mede inou
Com quaþ þe apostel þulke day & ich ȝou wole wel rede
Þat heo holde hure to spoushod & þer inne hure lif lede
Þe king was glad & wende wel þat he it bi him sede
Þat he hure wolde rede to him ac he ne þoȝte noȝt so quede
Þe king com a day & muche folk þat he gan wiþ him bringe
And þis maide ek to hure sein Mattheu is prechinge
Þat he hure wolde rede to him ac he ne þoȝte noȝt so quede
Þe king com a day & muche folk þat he gan wiþ him bringe
And þis maide ek to hure sein Mattheu is prechinge
Sein Mattheu stod & prechede þat folk al abrod
He preisede mest of alle þing inis prechinge spoushod
Þat þer nas no lif so god þere it was god and clene
Wel hopede þo þe king þat he dude bi him mene
For þat þe maide ssolde to him iwedded be[o]
Sein Mattheu he louede muche and hopede wille ise[o]
He preisede mest of alle þing inis prechinge spoushod
Þat þer nas no lif so god þere it was god and clene
Wel hopede þo þe king þat he dude bi him mene
For þat þe maide ssolde to him iwedded be[o]
Sein Mattheu he louede muche and hopede wille ise[o]
So þat suþþe sein Mattheu is prechinge forþer drou
Ȝif þe king he sede hadde a wif þat he louede inou
And a fol come in spousbruche and leie bi is wiue
Þe king wolde beo wroþ inou & bringe him of liue
For he him hadde is wif binome & ymad hure do amis
Of þe heie king of heuene also it is iwis
Ȝif þe king he sede hadde a wif þat he louede inou
And a fol come in spousbruche and leie bi is wiue
Þe king wolde beo wroþ inou & bringe him of liue
For he him hadde is wif binome & ymad hure do amis
Of þe heie king of heuene also it is iwis
Ȝif he hadde a gode spouse and let clene lyf
And þer come forþ a fol and binime him is wif
To stronge deþe he wolde him bringe and to helle pine also
Þeruore beo echman iwar þat noman it nedo
Þo þe king hurde þis sone he vnderstod
Þat it was bi him ised for wraþþe he was nei wod
And swor he nolde bliþe be[o] ar he were awreke
Forþ he wende & gan anon sein Mattheu is deþ bispeche
And þer come forþ a fol and binime him is wif
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Þeruore beo echman iwar þat noman it nedo
Þo þe king hurde þis sone he vnderstod
Þat it was bi him ised for wraþþe he was nei wod
And swor he nolde bliþe be[o] ar he were awreke
Forþ he wende & gan anon sein Mattheu is deþ bispeche
Þis godeman nas noþing adrad ac prechede euere uaste
And confortede þis clene maide þat hure heorte up him caste
Þis maide fel doun to is fet & on him gan ȝeorne grede
Euere þis godeman hire radde clene lif to lede
And confortede þis clene maide þat hure heorte up him caste
Þis maide fel doun to is fet & on him gan ȝeorne grede
Euere þis godeman hire radde clene lif to lede
Suþþe he wende & greiþede him his masse forto singe
Luþer men iredi were isend þoru þe kinge
Riȝt as he stod attemasse on of hom forþ wende
And smot him þoru out wiþ a swerd & is wombe rende
For in he smot him atte rug and atte wombe out
Þo þe godeman was aslawe þe ssrewe was wel prout
Þat folk þat Cristene was wel þicke com anon
Þe kynges paleis forto brenne & to sle is men echon
Luþer men iredi were isend þoru þe kinge
Riȝt as he stod attemasse on of hom forþ wende
And smot him þoru out wiþ a swerd & is wombe rende
For in he smot him atte rug and atte wombe out
Þo þe godeman was aslawe þe ssrewe was wel prout
Þat folk þat Cristene was wel þicke com anon
Þe kynges paleis forto brenne & to sle is men echon
Ac sein Mattheu is deciples forbode hom euerichone
Þat hi ne dude no such þing & let God iworþe al one
Hi wende & nome þat holi bodi & faire an eorþe it broȝte
Ȝute þe king mid al is miȝte after þe maide soȝte
Ac þo he nemiȝte in no manere to is wille hure wynne
He wende & let sette auure þe hous þat he[o] was inne
Þat hi ne dude no such þing & let God iworþe al one
Hi wende & nome þat holi bodi & faire an eorþe it broȝte
Ȝute þe king mid al is miȝte after þe maide soȝte
Ac þo he nemiȝte in no manere to is wille hure wynne
He wende & let sette auure þe hous þat he[o] was inne
Ac sein Mattheu þoȝte on hure al þei he ded were
And fram heuene liȝte adoun to hire & is help kudde þere
For þat fur he drof aȝen to þe kinges paleis anon
And forbrende it al to noȝte & is men echon
And fram heuene liȝte adoun to hire & is help kudde þere
For þat fur he drof aȝen to þe kinges paleis anon
And forbrende it al to noȝte & is men echon
A ȝe ȝe wel was þat such gleo ich wolde ihure
An hard puf him was blowe aȝen to teche him pleie wiþ fure
An hard puf him was blowe aȝen to teche him pleie wiþ fure
Vnneþe him sulf & is sone ofscapede wiþ þe liue
He miȝte segge wroþer hele he willede after wiue
For wel sone þere afterward musel he bicom
And he nemiȝte wynne is hele gret deol to him he nom
Wiþ is swerd him sulf he slou & is bodi al torende
Nou God it wite [and] sein Mattheu woder is soule wende
Þat folk wende & made anon a nywe king wel blyue
Þe clene maidens broþer þat he wilnede so to wiue
Þat sein Mattheu þe apostel er cristnede wiþ is honde
Ware þoru suþþe Cristendom com into al þe londe
Nou Iesus us ȝiue þe grace þulke ioie to wynne
For þe loue of sein Mattheu þat is holy soule is inne
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For wel sone þere afterward musel he bicom
And he nemiȝte wynne is hele gret deol to him he nom
Wiþ is swerd him sulf he slou & is bodi al torende
Nou God it wite [and] sein Mattheu woder is soule wende
Þat folk wende & made anon a nywe king wel blyue
Þe clene maidens broþer þat he wilnede so to wiue
Þat sein Mattheu þe apostel er cristnede wiþ is honde
Ware þoru suþþe Cristendom com into al þe londe
Nou Iesus us ȝiue þe grace þulke ioie to wynne
For þe loue of sein Mattheu þat is holy soule is inne
| The South English Legendary | |