University of Virginia Library

XXVI.—NYCHOLAS.

sa hapnyt þane percase,
his nytboure, þat mychtty was
& duelt nere quhare duelt he,
to fal in-[to] sic pouerte,
þat skantly had he þe lyf-lad;
ȝet þane thre douchteris he had,
& mary þame wald nan þane,
fra in pouerte fel þis man,
þo men before of he parage
þame askyt in-to maryage.
þis poure man wmbe-thocht hyme
hou he his lyfing suld wyne
throu his douchteris; þare-for thocht he
to þe brodale send þaim al thre,
& of þe gud þai mycht wyne
led his lyf, þocht It ware syne;
fore ȝung þai ware & fare of face.
bot fra þis west sancte nicholas,
he had gret dule of þat myschefe,
& thocht he wald þame relefe,
& of gold a gret quantyte
has tane & in a clath band he,
& to þat manis house is gane
In þe nycht hyme alane,
& in a wyndow, quhare þis man lay,
he kest þe clath, & held his way.
þan þe mornyng, quhen he rase,
& in þe wyndow fundyne has
þis gold, he thankit god felsyth;
his heldast douchtyre þan alswyth
he wedyt wele & worthely.
bot ȝet sancte nicholas in hy
a noþir nycht did as before
with syk a sowme of gold ore more;
& þane þis man but a-bad
gret lowyng to god mad,
& his oþir douchtyre sone þane
he maryt with a mychtty mane.
he t[h]ocht to wak & besy be
for til get knawlag, & to se
quha It wes helpyt hyme sa.
& ȝet sancte nicholas cane ta
doubile sa mykil gold as are,
& lad It [þar] as dide he ayre,
& his way syne cane fare,
& left þe gold lyand þare.
þane of þe noys of his fet
he waknyt þane nocht fast cane slepe,
& sone gat vpe & folouyt fast,
& nicholas knev at þe last,
& prayt hyme for godis sak,
to spek with hyme, abad to mak.
his fet with þat in hand he hynt
to kis; bot sone he hyme stynt,
& bad hyme ryse & do nocht swa,
& his gatis hame cane ga,
& bad hym nocht tel he dyd hym gud.
þane athyre one hame ȝed.
þane he his ȝongast douchtir wedit wel,
& hyme-self wele led Ilke dele
with al þe laf, & sa wele wrocht,
þat al his tyme he wantyt nocht.
sone eftyr hapnyt for to de
þe worthy byschope of mirre.
þane [bischapis] sere come to þat towne,
be-cause of þe eleccione
of a new byschape to ma.
& ymang othyr ane of þa
wes of sa gret autoryte,
þat þai wald do þat at bad he.
þis byschape þane of sic mycht
gret þe clergy wakk þat nycht
in abstinence, god to pray
þat þai mycht a gud man purway.
to þat bischope a voice can say
þat nycht befor þe day,
& bad hyme to þe kyrk dure gan in hy,
& þare behald besyly
til hym þat fyrst com, quhat he ware.
& ȝet þe voice sad forthyrmare
þat nicholas suld be his name,
& bad swne he suld be tane,
& byschape mad of þat cite,
for þar-to worthiest wes he.
þe bischape [one] þe morne but hone,
as þe voice bad, has done.
þane nicholas come [hym] alane
to þe kirk dure; & hyme has tan
þe byschap, & his nam sperit has.
& he sad til hyme: “sir, nicholas.”
þe byschape Ioyful þan brocht hym in hy
to þe place of þe clergy,
& sad: “lo, gud mene, þis is he
þat god wil here byschape be.”
þane al consentyt þare-til,
& mad hyme byschape of a wil,
suppos he consentyt nocht,
bot gane-sad al þat he mocht.
& eftyr held þe sammyn meknes
þat he had ore he byschap wes,
In thewis saddare þane wes he ere,
wakyr & in Ithand prayere,
his body waikly he fed,
& wyfyne company ay fled,
blyth in til admonestyng,
& awful in to chast[is]yng.
It is sad, þus nicholas
In þe consil of vicen wes.
& þat tyme men hapnyt be
In gret parele sted in þe se.
þai criyit þane: “nicholas, to god dere,
gyf al be suth we of þe here,
send ws helpe þat þus ar sted!”
& vnese þis sad þai had,
quhene ane in his lyknes
aperit to þam þat sa red was,
ganand dry fwt one þe se,
& sad to þame: “ȝe callit one me;”
þane, þame to helpe, or he fane,
þe schipe be þe sterne has tane.
þane cesit þe storme sa bald,
& þai to land come, as þai wald;
& til his kyrk ȝed but abad,
to thank hyme at þam helpit had.
& alsone as þai hyme se,
but kennyng fand: “ȝone is he,”
& sad: “sir, ȝe sawit ws now,
þare-for lowing we gyf god & ȝou.”
& sad he: “sonnis, thank[is] me nocht,
bot thankis god þat al has wrocht,
& ȝoure ferme treutht & his mercy;
for na lowing þare-of ask I.”
Eftyr sowne hapnyt to be
a gret hungir in þat cunttre,
þat wes sa fel & sa angry,
þat vnese mycht men get to by.
þe byschape þan god can pray
þis to remed. & he herd say
þat in þe hawine schipis gret
ware arywit, chargit with quhet,
be tempest þat þam ydyr brocht.
& he to þame sone has socht,
to þere folk þat sa cane fale.
þane askit he þame to sel vitale,
a hundre medreiis at þe lest
of ilke schipe at his request.
sad þai: “fadir, we dare nocht
þis quhet sel we here brocht,
for of constantyne in þe cite
to þe emperoure garner mon we,
& gyf cunt redy be tale
of mesuris of þis quhet hale.”
þane swetly to þam can he pray:
“dere sonnis, do as I ȝu say!
for I hicht ȝou in suthfastnes,
of god ȝe sal haf na les
of quhet a corne þan nov haf ȝe.
cum quhare ȝe sal dischargit be.”
þane his request can þai fulfil,
for þai mycht nocht sa na hyme til.
& þis done, þai sailyt but bad
quhare-to þare tryst wes mad,
& þare þe quhet deliueryt hale
in quantyte, mesur & tale,
þat þai at alysandir had tane.
þare-of þai vonderyt Ilkane,
& þis merwale tald in hy
til al þat þare ware opynly,
þat god he his seruand had done.
& þe byschepe þe quhet alsone
wysely has departyt þane,
eftyr as nedyt ilke mane,
þat þai twa ȝere had of þat quhet
ynuch til sed & til ete.
& nan suld ferly one þis,
for til ws be crist hycht is:
“quha-sa trewis in-to me,
sik wark as I do, do sal he.”
[I]n þe land quhare sancte nicholas
wes byschape, ald custum wes
of ful folk [þat] þare dwelland ware,
for til honoure mawmentis ser,
& namly þe ymag of dyane,
In quhais worschipe carlis had tan
a mekil tre with branchis brad,
& syndry ritis vndir mad
as of þayaȝn[i]s custummance
til et, drink, syng, & dance.
bot þe byschope ger[t] lat be
þat fals custum, & als þe tre
maugre þaris gert strik in twa.
& þare-of wes þe fend ful wa,
& thocht to rewengit be
of þe byschope. for-þi mad he
ane oynment, þat diaton hicht,
þat watir & stane to bryn had mycht,
& hyme transfourmyt, ore he fane,
In lyknes of a ȝung womane
semand relygiouse fore to be;
& in a skaf a-pone þe se
sayland, has met men, þat bone wes
for to sek to sancte nicholas.
“I pray ȝu,” sad scho, “in mynd haf ȝe,
gyf it nocht noyus to ȝu be,
my lytil gyft of þis oynment
ȝe tak with ȝow, & myne entent
þar-with fulfil, as cumyne ar ȝe
to þe cite of myrre;
þat is, þat ȝe oyne gere be al
þe wallis of þe byschapis hal.”
“ȝa,” sad þai sone þare-til,
myskennand hyre or hyr wil.
a lytil schepe sone haf þai sene
chargit of men honest & clene.
amang þam þane þar ane wes
in althing lyk to nicholas,
þat one þame callyt, & askit quhat scho
[þat] with þame spak, had brocht þam to.
quod þai: “scho has brocht
a boyst of oyle, & ellis nocht,”
& at scho to þame sad, tald þai.
& to þame swetly can he say:
“It is þe felone fand dyane,
fra quham ȝe haf þat oyle tane;
& to prowe þat it sa be,
cast it owt in þe se!”
& has he bad, sa haf þai done;
& It a fyre mad alsone,
þat broynt þe watir, & lo rasyt.
þane ware þe schipmen rycht abaysit,
sic wondir quhen þai se,
as fyre a-gane kynd bryne þe se.
with þat þe schipe, þai saw þare,
wanyst a-way, þa ne wist quhare.
bot sa þai sailyt furth, & land has sene,
& hawynit, quhare þai wald haf bene,
& na duelling mad in ony place,
til þai come to sancte nicholas,
as before a-wouyt had þai.
þane sammyne til hyme can þai say:
“sir, of oure lyf we thank þe hale,”
& tald hyme þane al þe tale,
one þe sey quhow þame tyd,
& quhat merakil he þam kyd,
& sawyt þame quhen þai nere schent
ware be þe fende & his buschment;
“þare-of lowyng we ȝeld þe here,
for þu art godis seruand dere.”
quhene þe byschope herd þis talde,
thang to al-mychtty god he ȝaulde,
þane bad he þir men rychtyse be,
& send þame blyth to þare cunctre.
[S]one cane sume folk assay
of rome þe emperoure to verray;
& sic were to gere stanchit be,
þe emperoure send princis thre,
vrsum, apolynen, and ane
of þay men callit negociane.
worthy princis, al thre
has mad þam bon to pas þe se.
& as þir folk ware sayland best,
þar fel one þame a gret tempest,
þat draf þam to adryak,
fore ony defence þai cuth mak.
& quhene þus It hapnyt wes,
& It had hard sancte nicholas,
he ȝed to þame, & to rehet
he callit þam blythly to þe met,
In hope þat þai suld gere men lewe
In-to þe land to stele ore refe.
& as he best chere had mad
to þer men he with hyme had,
þe consul of þe land þat tyme,
fore gyft corrumpyt & wynnyne,
thre sakles knychttis had gert ta,
& bad men suld sone þam sla.
& quhen sancte nicholas þis herd,
with þire thre princis furth he ferd,
& one he come to þe sted,
quhare þe knychttis suld thol ded,
& fand þame bundyn al thre,
to be hedyt set one kne,
& þe basare with scharpe brand.
bot he hyme sowne gat be þe hand,
& smertly has It fra hym tane,
& þam losyt, or he fane,
& ȝed with þame to þe pretore.
& þocht þe ȝet wes before
sparyt, with strinth he enterit In.
& þe consul a-gane hyme
rase, & hailist hym honorabli.
he sad a-gane dyspytuisly:
“brekare of law, þu godis fa,
þat wranguisly wald men sla,
hou durst þu, wrech, sa mak þe
In oure vysag fore to se?”
he held hyme þan stil ay,
& tholyt it [þat] he wald say.
& quhene he had flytyn his fil,
& saw þe consul hald hyme stil,
soberyit hym, & at þe request
of þe princis, þat ware honest,
he for-gef his matalent
til hyme, þat wes sa penitent.
þai princis þan had his blyssine
tane mekly, ore þai wald fyne,
& to þe emperoure come agane,
þare nedis sped, & na man slane,
þat þame resawit t[h]ankfully.
& sum mene þare-at had inwy,
þat to þe emperoure þame wreyt
felloun[l]y, & one þame leyt,
sayand: “þai part had al thre
of crime of ourt maieste.”
þane quhen þe emperoure þis herd,
as wod of wit nere he ferd,
& but knawlag of cause or profe
quhet[h]yr it wes [les] ore it wes suth,
he gert sone thryng þam in presone,
& bad þat at nycht but ransone
þai suld be slane but mare delay.
þis quhen þe gyelere herd say,
he come to þam, þat in merknes
lay, & in stokis bundyne wes,
& sad: “allace quhat haf ȝe done
þat but dome mon de sa sone?”
þan to þame he cane discouer
þat to him sad þe emperoure.
fra þis þai hard, þai mad care,
& wrang handis, & gret rycht sare,
as men of helpe þat hope had nan.
þane hyme vmthocht negociane
one quhat wis sancte nicholas
þai thre men, þat to ded demyt was,
deliueryt, & brocht fre away.
fore-þi his falouys he gert pray
to sancte nicholas, þat he
intercessoure for þame wald be,
þat god wald saufe þam in þat ned
fra du[l]ful ded, þat þai can dred,
& mad þare increly prayere.
& sancte nicholas cane apere
to þe emperoure constantyne
þat nycht in slepe, & sad hyme syne:
“quhy gert þu ȝone princis ta
wranguisly, & wald þame sla,
wykit man! ryse, & byd þat þai
be fre deliuerit, to pas þare way.
& gyf þu ne dois, I sal requere
god a-gane þe to gere stere
fellone batal, & sal sone fal,
& met be to bestis al.”
þe emperoure sad: “quhat art þu,
sa hardy þat durst here cum now
in my p[a]lace to manauce me
þis tyme of nycht?” þane sad he:
“for-suth, nicholas is myn name,
& byschape alsa is at hame
of myrre, þe gud cite,
þat here [þ]is warnyng makis þe.”
eftyr þat he aperyt in hy
to þe prefet, quhare he can ly,
& sad: “wykyt man! ware na woud,
quhy has þu for þis warldis gud,
to felone ded of innocent
conspyrit, & gyfine þi consent?
ryse sone, & se þai losyt be!
& gyf þu ne dois, I warne þe,
wormys of þi body sal spryng,
& to schameful ded þe bryng,
þat al þi menȝe hal sal se,
& syne al þai distroyt be.”
þane sad he: “quhat art þu þus
Is cumyne here to mannauce ws
þis tyme of nycht in oure palace?”
þane answert hyme sancte nicholas:
“wyt þu me byschope for to be
of þe gud cite of myrre;
& bot þu do as I þe say,
I sal pas now but delay,
& to þe emperoure sal tel
hou þu, as tratoure fers & fel,
fore gredyines in þi cunctre,
slais lele, & lattis thefis be,
& peruertis lele Iugment
a-gane þe emperouris entent.”
þane sad þe emperoure [&] epertus:
“haly fadir, rew of ws,
& ȝone men fre we sal þe gyfe,
& fra þis day neuir man grewe,
þat þi helpe askis nycht ore day.”
with þat he wanyst son away,
& abaysyt lewyt þe emperoure.
& one þe morne, quhene it wes day,
athyr of þame cane vthyr say,
quhat vysione þai had sene.
þane ordanyt þai þam betwene
þa innocentis to lat pas fre,
& sone send eftyre þame thre,
& speryt be quhat sorcery,
þai þame trawalyt ferlyfully
þat nicht in slepe. & þai sad, nay,
þat sorcery nane cuth þai,
na cause mad nocht for to de,
þocht men one þame lykyt to le.
þe emperoure þam franyt þane,
gyf euir þai had sene sik mane
þat men callit sancte nicholas,
& als wes byschape of þe place
of myrre. & þane al þai thre,
quhen þai hard þis name nemmyt be,
hevyt þar handis to þe hewyne,
& lowyt god with blyth stewyne,
& prayt god, for his gret grace
& þe meryt of sancte nicholas,
to sawe þame sa hard stad.
þane, quhen þe emperoure speryt had
of þat byschape hale þe lyf
& his meraklis, þat ware ryf,
& þai haf tald hyme, he can say:
“passis one quytly away,
& lovis god & sancte nicholas,
þat has ȝou helpyne of his grace!
of oure Iowelys als tak ȝe,
& berys hyme, & sais þat he
set me nomare in sic effray,
bot for me & myne empyre pray!”
þane sowne þai princis thre
socht to þe cite of myrre,
& with þe byschape sone can met,
& mekly knelyt til his fet,
& sad: “suthly, sir, we kene now
þat haly seruand to god art þu,
& honouris hyme, & lufis bath;”
with þat þai tald hyme al þe wath,
hou þai war put in-[to] presone,
& slane suld haf bene but ransone,
& hou þat to þe emperoure
he aperyt and þe eperture,
“& þame in slepe sa fleyt he,
þat deliueryt be hyme are we;
& bad vs pray ȝou fore his sak
ȝe wald of þire Iowelis tak,
& for hyme pray & for his landis.”
þe byscepe þane hewit his handis,
& thankit god of his gud dede,
þat wil his seruandis gyf sic med.
& syne þere men infourmyt he
in laute, treutht and cheryte,
& bad þame thank god, & hym nocht,
þat he sic meraklis for hym wrocht,
& gef þam sene his benysone.
& þai to pas has mad þame bone.
god ferlyful is in his sanctis,
þat blyssis þam & in þam blissit is,
& suthly blissit in sanct nicholas,
to quham he gef sa gret grace,
& sa gret vertu in hyme wrocht,
þat it ware wondir to be thocht,
þat, þo he in his byschepryk
dwelland wes quyk & body-lyk,
quhare ony ware herd sted on land or se,
trastand thru hym to helpyn be,
& wald dewotly til hym pray
to helpe þame in sic effray,
In sic forme god wald apere,
& succure þame in þat mystere.
for-þi to god be Ioy lestand,
þat sa rewardis his serwand;
& blyssit be he þat sa wel dyd,
þat god sic werkis for hym kyd.
syne hapnyt It eftirward,
quhen god hyme ȝeld wald mare reward,
þat he in siknes sa can fal,
þat his strinthis falȝet al.
& quhene he had persawyng
þat it sa nere was his endyng,
ful increly þane cane he pray
to god & psalmis al-sa sa.
& quhene he for his sone had bene
In prayere lang, þan has he sene
angelis come; & he but bad
bowit þe hewid, & syne he mad
þe takyne of þe croice verray,
& syne þe thretyd psalme can say
til [to] þe vers cummyne was he
“In manus tuas Domine,”
& with þat tuk þe sacrament
of godis body in gud entent,
& blissit his brethyre & ȝald þe gest.
þe angelis þan his sawle in hast,
þat þare aperyt, in handis has tane,
& had til hewyne, or þai fane,
eftyre godis byrth, as trew we,
thre hundir ȝere fourty & thre.
þare wes hard a ferly thyng,
þat angelis hey in hewine can syng.
þe clergy þan mad dule & care,
as men þat dissolat lewit ware.
ȝet lewyt þai nocht for-þi,
bot hyme enteryt worthely,
quhare at his hewid oyl rycht clere
sprang, & for seknes sere
gaf hop & but; & at his fet
sprank a wel of watir swet;
& of his body oyle cane spryng,
þat helful wes til al sare thing.
& til his kyrk succedyt þane
in word & wark a worthy man,
quham syne wikyt men for inwy
fra his seg put falsely;
& þane þe oyle cesit to spring,
til þai þe byschop [hame] can bryng.
þane þare It sprang as it did ere.
& lang tyme eftyre with gret were,
þe turkis thru iniquite
distroyt þe towne of myrre.
þane eftyre þis þare come in hy
knychtis of barre wele fourty,
& fand ȝet in þe gret cite
foure ald monkis, þat let þam se
þe towme quhare-in sancte nicholas
wes lad þe tyme he ded was.
þe knychtis opnyt þe towme, & fand
þe banys vare in oyle fletand.
þane gert þai [þame] with þame be
borne to þe towne of barre
In gret worschipe, quhare þai are,
& hele & helpe gyfis til al sare.
& mad wes þe translacion
of cristis incarnacione
a thousand auchty ȝere & sewine.
fore-þi be Ioy to god of hewyne.
ande eftyre þat sancte nicholas
to þis warld ded wes,
hou god had hyme in dante,
be merwalis sere, þan schawit he.
of quhilkis ane here will I tel,
hou til a prioure þat It befel
of sancte crucis kyrk but dout,
þat þan as now wes vndirlout
to þe abbay of cheryte,
in worschipe of oure lady fre.
quhen wyse clerkis & dewot
had mad þe story & þe note
of þis crys þat was mychtty,
It wes ful fare spred son in hy,
& songyne & sad in mony place
in honoure of god & nicholas.
þe dewot brethyre þane in hy
of sancte crocis priory
þat story fane wald haf oysit,
sene nane wes [þat] It refusyt;
bot ȝet durst þai nocht do It,
fore dout þat þare prioure suld wit.
þare-for mekly þai can hym pray
þat he wald lewe þam to say
þe story of sancte nicholas,
þat oure-alquhare oysyt was.
bot sc[h]ort answere to þam mad he,
& sad, it suld nocht oysit be,
fore he wald nocht in his kyrk
þat þai sic nowelry suld wirk,
bot bad þame do as þai did are.
& as for þane þai gat nomare.
þane þai ourdraf & held þam stil,
In hope ȝet to wyne his wil.
sone eftyre a-nothyr day
þai come & cane hyme mekly pray
þat he wald lewe þame to syng
In honoure & in lowyng
of sancte nicholas þat story.
& he answert angrely,
with wordis of reprowe, þa[t] þai
suld neuir lewe haf It to say,
& blamyt þame for þai war thray,
& bad þame one þare gettis ga,
sayand, he wald be na way
ony new story thole þam say,
þat þan befar lykare ware to be
warldly sang and vanyte
þane thing þat suld deuocione
Inbryng or ȝet contricione.
& þarfor let he þam wele wit
þat in his kirk suld neuir It
be oysit, for ocht [þat] mycht be.
& quhene his brethyre þis can se,
anoyt [þai] ware, & held þame stil,
for þai mycht do nomare þare-til.
sone eftyr hapnyt to be
of sancte nicholas þe solempnite,
quhen al þe cunctre dewotly
sad or sang his new story.
& þire brethir dises cane haf,
þat þai no durst do as did þe lafe,
bot þe story til al commown
þai sang with deuocione,
of ewinsang, & eftyr syne,
in houre of mydnycht & matyne.
& quhen þai matynis had don,
agane þai went to slepe alsone,
as to þare estat afferyt,
& to þare reule alsa aperyt.
& þare prioure ymange þe lafe,
þat wend gud rest for til haf,
apone his bed mad hyme to ly.
& sone aperyt rycht mychtfully
& in gret wreth sancte nicholas,
& speryt quhy he sa hardy was
to let his brethyre to þat day
his story for to syng or say;
&, as in gret wrecht, but mare
he hynt þe prioure be þe hare,
& rukyt hyme of his bed in hy,
& traylyt hyme ful angrely
our al þe floure here & þare,
gyfand hyme mony dintis sare,
syngand þis anteme distinctly
ay noyt to noyt til hyme sadly
al out “o pastor eterne.”
& with þat ay dingnand was he
þe sad prioure with handis sare,
þat mycht nocht do bot reufully rare,
criand ay mercy ful fast.
til al his brethyre at þe last
of slepe waknyt, quhare þai lay.
þai ware set in sic effray
quhen þare prioure sa roydly
þai hard rare & sa pytusly.
þan past þai fast, quha best mycht sped,
til hyme, þat sted wes in þat ned,
& fand þai hyme ded nere-hand,
& noþir mycht stere fut na hand.
þane had þai ferly of sic fare,
& askyt hym quha brocht hym þare.
bot he wes set in sic effray,
þat he had na word to say,
bot lay stil, as he ware ded.
þane tuk þai hym vpe of þe sted,
& one his bed lad hym softly.
þare a lange tyme he can ly
In langoure, & of hele in were;
bot at þe last, be [þe] prayere
of sancte nicholas, þat was þan
wele rewengit of þat man,
god rewyt of hyme & gef hym hele.
þane cane he til his breþir mele:
“lo, breþir, be-hald and se
hou sancte nicholas has me
fore my dure hart nere-hand slan,
& put me in þis mekil payne,
be-cause I wald thole ȝou na way
his new story syng na say.
bot now I pray ȝou increly,
þat ȝe wil oysit dewotly
fra hyne furth, & ensampil ta
of me in hart to be nocht thra
worschipe and honoure to do
to god & al his halowis to.”
& had I tovme here-one to dwel,
mony ferly cuth I tel,
þat god wrocht for sancte nicholas
for mony man in syndry place;
bot I haf ado ellis quhare,
for-þi I byd here no langare,
bot, had I lasare & space,
I wald tel hou sancte nicholas
merwalis wrocht eftyr his disces,
þat wondirful & mony wes.
bot, þocht I lasare now haf nane,
I sal ȝet byd, til tel ane
of þe gret merwalis þat he dyd,
þat now is in þe warld wele kyd.
It befel, as we red,
a cristine man to haf sic ned
of warldis gud, þat nere he
In poynt wes disparyt to be.
for at cristine men he socht
to get helpe, bot he gat nocht.
for-þi til a Iow is he gane,
& at hym consel has he tane,
& sa fere his complaynt mad,
þat þe Iow of hym pyte had,
& sad: “frend, mycht I þe lewe,
myn wil ware gud þe to relewe
with creance, quhare-with þu
mycht help þe, gyf I mycht trew
þat þu as lele man wald quyt me
þe gud þat I suld creance þe.”
þane cane he to þe Iow say:
“sir, purte me in sic assay
has set þat na man wil for me
borcht, na detoure noþir be.
bot wald þu in þis place
for me tak borch sancte nicholas?
for to þe one his autere
þe gret ath sal I swere,
þat I sal leyly pay to þe
þe gud þat þu sal lene to me.”
til hyme can þe Iow þan say:
“of nicholas I haf hard ay
gret [&] ferlyful bounte;
for-þi til hyme & to þe
I wil assur in þis ded,
sene þat I se þe haf sic nede,
& hyme to borcht tak for myn gud.”
with þis þai one sammyne ȝud
to sancte nicholas oratore,
til þai his autere come before,
quhare þat cristine man tuk in hy
þe ymag þare tresonably,
& þare-one swere but mare delay,
þat he suld treuly til hym pay
þe gud he lent hym in þat place,
& in borch drew sancte nicholas.
þe Iow þare-of held hym content,
& a gret sowme þe cristine lent,
one certane cunnand hym to pay
his gud a-gane at certane day.
þe fals man þe gud has tane
In þis wyse, & one is gane.
& þar-with warnyst [he] hym sa
þat of a penny he mad twa,
& ekyt þus þis warldis gud,
& þat lykine it with hym stud.
& quhen þe certane tyme wes cumyn
to quyt þat he of lang had wonnyn,
þe Iow askit, as wald lawte,
þe gud agane to payt be.
bot þane þe cristine man vnwise,
blyndyt threu gret cowatise,
nyt his det al wtrely.
þare-of þe Iow had gret ferly;
& gert cal hyme in Iugment,
to prowe his lane þat he lent.
þe fals man þan hyme vmthocht
þe Iow hou he begil mocht,
& mad a staf, þocht it wes syne,
lang & gret, & a hole within,
& eke It put of quantyte,
þat fra þe Iow borouyt had he.
& quhen þe day cumyne wes nere,
þat he in Iugment suld apere,
he tuk þat staf & with hym brocht,
as he of gold þat na-thing thocht,
& enteryt sa in Iugment,
as wilful mane, in Il entent.
& quhene þe Iou had tald his tale,
þe wykit man it nyt al hale,
þat he euir ony gud hyme lent.
bo[t] for þe Iow þane his entent
nocht mycht prowe, þe Iug þane
þe athe gaf to þe cristine mane,
til a-quyt hyme þat he nocht tuke,
be his ath apon a buke.
& quhene he þe ath suld swere,
þe staf þat he in hand cuth bere,
he be-tacht to þe Iow to kepe,
& suore hyme, mane is il to eke,
þat he mare gold til hym tacht
þane before til hyme acht.
þe Iow þane persawyt nocht
þe falset þat þis man wrocht.
þe quhilk, fra he mansuorn hym had,
tuk his staf & mad na bad,
& fane wes þat he had swa
begylyt þe Iow, þat wes wa,
& sad: “quhy has þu, sancte nicholas,
begylyt me in þus wyis,
quhen for my gud I borch tuk þe?
þare-for, bot þu reweng me
of hyme þat me begylyt now,
fra þis day sal I neuir trew
þe meraklis þat men sais of þe,
na with þi god þu mychtty be.”
þane as þis fals man ham can ga,
sic wil of slepe hyme can ta
þat in þe mydis of þe way
nedlyngis to slepe he don lay.
& oure hyme, þat sa can ly,
a cart, chargyt rycht hewy,
maugre þe men oure hym drawe,
þat slew hyme self & brak his staf,
& of It schot þe gold sone.
þane ydyr rane mony but ony hone,
þat of þis case wonderit fast;
& ȝet þe Iow wes nocht þe last
& saw his gold hale vnhyd.
þane sone þe Iuge can hyme byd
tak his gold. bot he wald nocht;
sa mykil pyte þane hyme thocht
of þat catyfe þat lay dede
of lyf & saule in þat stede.
þane sad þe Iow: “sancte nicholas,
þat her þi poware wele kithit has,
& as lele borcht freit has þe,
& þe suth mad knawine be,
pray to god þis man now
be resuscit; & I sal trew
In suthfast god & haly kirk,
þat for þe wil sic werkis wyrk.”
& quhen he þis request [had] mad,
he þat was ded rase but bad,
& lowit god of his gret grace,
& syne eftyr sancte nicholas,
at quhais prayere god hym lent
lynt & space hyme to repent,
& his falset confessit al,
hou he had done, to gret & smal.
& þus þe Iow gud cristine mane
be-come, & al his gudis þane
for cristis sak delt away,
& led gud lyf til his enday.
ane vthyre tale ȝet wil I tel
of a Iou hou it befel,
þat of sanct nicholas has sene
sa mony wondris wrocht but wen
for þame þat oþire ware sek or sare,
In watir or land, othyre-quhare.
ane ymag of hyme gert he mak,
& in his In syne for his sak
gert set in-to [a] priwe place.
& quhen hyme hapnit per-case,
þat he fra hame othyre ere ȝud,
he wald til hyme be-tak his gud,
& þane, quhen he ȝed his way,
lyk sic wordis wald he say:
“lo, nicholas, I þe betak
here al my gud to ward & wak,
for I wat þu kepe It may
fra al Il bath nycht & day.
for-þi I wil þu wit, gyf I
myse ocht of It, þu sal It by
one þi body dere Inuch
with wandis, þat are scharp & tucht.”
& lang tyme þis þe Iou ded,
til one a tyme it betyde
hyme pas with his chafare
fra hame; & thefis þare
come, & al his gud has tane,
outane þe ymag hym alane.
& quhen þe Iou ham wes cumyne,
& fand his gudis a-way nummyne,
to þe ymag cane he say:
“quhy is my gud þus away,
þat in ȝemsel I þe lefte,
& let þe wit þu suld be befte,
& þu it tholit a-way be tane?”
þar-for þe ymag, or he fane,
with wandis dang felloun[l]y.
& in þe sammyn tym tyd ferly
to þa thefis þe gud stal,
departand it ymang þame al.
sancte nicholas to þame aperyt
bla & bludy, & at þam speryt
quhy suld he sa be dycht
for þare mysded & þar plicht,
& hyme vnhelyt & sad þam to:
“hou mykil is wrocht me, lo!
& þus demaynyt, as se ȝe now,
for gud þat ȝe tuk fra þe Iou,
& þus as ȝe se me has beft,
& na hale hyd one me left!
for-þi, treuly, bot ȝe but hone
amend þe skath [þat] ȝe haf done
to þe Iou, & hyme restore
þe gud ȝe tuk fra hyme befor,
I sal pray god þat ȝe sal be
sone hangyt one [a] galou tre.”
þane speryt þai quhat he wes.
sad he: “I ame nicholas,
byschape quhylum, seruand of crist,
& at his bares is my bewyst.”
quhene þai þis had herd & sene,
abaysit þai ware al-bedene,
& hyme requeryt for þame to pray,
& hecht þat þai suld but delay
amend þe myse [þat] þai had done.
þane wanyst he away sone,
& þai þe gud a-gane ȝald
to þe Iou, & hyme taulde
hou þai his gudis sa stal,
& ymang þame delt it al,
& hou sancte nicholas de bare
to þame come in þat sythware,
& hou he bludy wes & bla,
& quhat he sad til þame alsa.
þe Iou for mercy þan þai crawe,
& he þan gladly þame for-gawe;
& þai forhicht mare to steile,
[&] become gud men and lele.
þane þe Iow ryf has mad
þis merakle, & but bad
wes baptist, & fra þane
led thankful lyf to god & man.
a gud man quhylum [had] a scolere
[to] son, þat þan cane lettir lere;
& þis man for his sownis sak
euir-ilke ȝere a fest wald mak
In honoure of sanct nicholas
til al scoleris þat nere hym was.
sa one a tyme he gert purway
a-pone sancte nicholas day
a mangery with glad chere,
& til It callit he frendis sere.
& as þai set ware to þe met,
þe fend, oure fay, come to þe ȝet
In lyknes of a palmere,
& callit fast one þe portere,
& prayt hym to þe lord to ga,
& ask hyme met. & he did sa.
þane his sone, þat befor hym stud,
he send til hyme with plesand fud.
bot, or he to þe ȝet wes cumyne,
a-way þe feynd his gat has numyn.
& þe chyld hyme folouyt fast;
sa he abad hyme at þe last
at a get sadlis, & he hym hynt,
& weryt hyme or he stynt.
þane þis auenture, þat befel,
a man til his fadir can tel;
& he with gret dowle & wa
to þe ded cors sone can ga,
& brocht it hame but abad,
& in his chawmer it lad,
& for dole lud can rare,
& of his hed rugyt þe hare,
& gret, þat pyte wes to se,
& “was” oft sad, “wa is me,
dere sowne, for þis soroful cace!
bot quhou has þu, sancte nicholas,
quyt me þe honoure at I dyd
for hyme, þat þis case it tyd,
& sic reward has mad to me
for þe gret worschipe I did þe!”
& quhen he chyd a quhil had fast
with sancte nicholas, at þe last
þe child his hevid becuth to stere,
& sone rase vpe hale & fere,
& lang tyme lifyt, & gudman was,
& ay seruit sancte nicholas;
& sa did als his fadir ay
for þis merwal til his ded day.
It was anys a mychtty man
þat mykil warldis gudis wane,
& had na barne with his wyf,
to bruk his land eftir his lyf;
for-þi he prayt sancte nicholas
ful increly to purchas
sic grace of god at he mycht haf
oþir a madyne-barne or a knaf,
to bruk his land & be his are;
for barne to get he had dispare.
& to sancte nicholas he mad
a wow, gyf he a knaf-chyld had,
þat he a colpe of gold fulfyne
he suld gere mak, & brynge hym syne
sancte nicholas to þine altere,
fra þat his son mycht ocht hym stere.
þane sa wrocht sancte nicholas
þat til hyme son borne þar was
a knaf-chyld at dewyse,
þat wox & worth rycht wyse.
& quhen he come til eld parfyt,
his fadir thocht he wes quyt
of þe wou he mad sanct nicholas,
thru quham [god] had lend hym þat grace,
& a fare cowpe gert mak.
þe quhilk til hyme empleysit sa,
þat he wald na-wyse it forga,
bot til his oyse apply[i]t It—
sa was he blyndit in his wit—
& bad ane vthyr mad suld be
to haf with hym oure þe se.
quhen þat wes done, he mad hym ȝare
to sancte nicholas to fare,
& his sowne with hyme can ta,
& þire cowpis bath alsa.
&, as þai ware in þe se sayland,
his sone he has gert tak on hand,
þe fyrst mad of þe cowpis twa,
&, for to bring hyme watir, ga.
þane as he oure þe burd can lout,
þe coupe & he bath fel out.
þe ways sowne hym wesch avay.
þan wes hard, I treu, to say
quhat sorou & quhat care
þe fadir mad, þo na but ware.
nocht-þane þe wou þat he
had mad, [he thocht] suld haldin be.
& quhen þat he come percase
to þe kirk of sancte nicholas,
he tuk þe secund coupe in hand,
& one þe altare fore offerand
It set; bot It was son away
castine furth but delay.
bot sone agan þe coupe he fet,
& one þe altere he it set;
bot It wes farrere castyn þan.
þare-of wondryt mony man.
ȝet þe thryd tym he mad
offerand; bot þe coupe but bad
[wes] farrer castine mykil space.
þan þe puple, þat þare was,
for-wondryt ware les & mare.
þan þe chyld in þe sy[t]hware
Come, with þe fyrst coupe in hand,
& þare-of mad offerand,
hale & fere as he na wath
had feld, & þe coupe bath,
& tald þame quhou, quhen þat he
wes castine out in-to þe se,
sancte nicholas com son þare,
& sawit hyme fra al sare,
& brocht hym þare; bot he ne wist hou.
þane þe puple can kneis bou,
thankand god þat wes nocht Irk
sa for his confessoure to wirk.
þane his fadir, þat blyth wes, rath
mad offerand of þe coupis bath
to sancte nicholas, þat swa
had brocht hyme out of mykil wa,
& passit hame, his sone & he,
to þare awne at-oure þe se.
als of ane vthir man I red,
þat worthy wes in word & ded,
& bocht fele landis & nan sauld;
bot he had nan ayre þam to wald,
til It betyd hym of case,
be meryt of sancte nicholas,
a knaf barne with his wyf to haf,
quhare-eftyre he can mykil [c]raf;
“a deo datus” [he] gef to name
þis barne, þat wes of godis lane.
& þan þis cheld wox, & wel thraf,
& vertouyse was a-beofe þe laf.
þan for sancte nicholas sak
his fadir in his place gert mak
a fare chapel & honest,
& ilke ȝere gert mak gret fest
one sancte nicholas day.
bot þis fare place oure nere-hand la
to þe landis of agazenis,
þat ware ful cruel sarrezenis;
þe quhilk þis barne tuk & band,
& with þame led in-[to] þare land,
& to þare king þai mad presand
of hyme, þat wes sa awenand.
þe quhilk resawit hym thankfully,
& betaucht hym his coupe in hy,
to serue hyme of his drynk.
& þare he dwelt, þo hym sare think,
til a ȝere wes cumyne nere-hand.
bot til his fadir, þat ham duelland
wes soroful for his sonnis sak,
at he wes wont, ȝet gert he mak
a gret fest for sancte nicholas.
& one his day hapnyt of case
þe chyld to stand befor þe king,
& of þat fest to haf mennyng,
& hou he was with fais tane.
þane in his hart he mad mayne
& sichit sare. for þat þe king
of þat thing had persawing,
& speryt at hym quhat hym amowit
to mak sic doule; for he hym lufit.
bot þe barne was lath to tel.
ȝet þane þe king, þat was fel,
hale þe suth gert hym say
quhat Ioy at hame wes þat day.
þe king was wrath & swore on hicht:
“þo nicholas do al his mycht,
ȝet sal þu here with me byd.”
a ferly gret hapnyt þat tyd.
a fellon wynd com don son,
& al þe palace has vndone,
quhare þe king set at þe met,
& sodanly þe chyld has set
befor þe chapel dure at ham
with coupe in hand al alane,
his fadir & frendis al
sytand at met in-to þe hal,
one sancte nicholas day.
& quhen his fadir þat herd say,
he wes sa Ioyful, þat na man
þe teynd of It tel cane.
lord of þam al, sancte nicholas
was lowit, þat ware in þat place,
þat to þis merakle can tak tent,
hou þat barne in a moment
was liftyt fra sa fare a place
be vertu of sancte nicholas.
to quham be honoure & lowing
of mare, of les, of auld & ȝing,
oure al þis warld, be land & se,
& euire al tyme, so mot It be.