Legends of the Saints in the Scottish Dialect of the Fourteenth Century

Off sanct Andrew now folouys next,
þat bar þe mekest hart in breste,
In word, in thocht, or yhet in dede,
of ony man, þat we of Rede,
& to petir full brothire was,
as be kynd of manis flesche,
& in passione ewine fere;
for one þe cors bath ded þai were.
eftire cristis assencione,
& þe postulis dispersione,
sanct Andrew his way can tay
towart þe towne of nischia.
In more Iynd Mathew prechit,
& cristis lare þe pupill techyt.
bot þai refusit his preching,
& hym in presone fast can thring,
& bath his eyne felyly put out,
thinkand to slay hyme syn alowt.
þane come till andrew ane angell
one cristis halff, & can hyme tell,
þat he suld pas to murgundy.
& Andrew sad till hyme in hy,
þat he knew nocht [t]hydir þe way.
& þane þe angel can hym say,
þat he to þe sey-syd suld fare,

& he suld sowne a schype fynd þare,
quhar-in he saile suld one þe se.
& his bydding fulfillyt he.
& he rywit richt happely
At þe cite of murgundy,
& to þe pressone in a rese
went, quhar þat matho prechand was,
& fand hyme festnyt rycht fast þare,
& for his disesse gret ful sare.
þane crist, for till confurd þam bath,
clere sicht to mathow gef full rath;
& fra þat his sicht was hyme lent,
till Antioch rycht sowne he went.
& Andrew þar a quhile duelt still,
cristis teching prechand þame till.
& þai war wrath, for mathow
eschapit was; sone tuk Andrew,
& band hyme Rath bath fut & hand,
& bittirly with schurgis dange,
till his blud out in foysione rane.
bot he for þame yhet prayt þane
sa increly, þat in þat place
halely þe folk conuertyt was.
And he in antioche alsone
passit richtrath, fra þis was done.
quhar a gentill ȝong man but bad
come, & with hyme duelling mad,
Agane þe will of all his kyne;
And þai þan in dispyt of hyme,
In fyre þe house set, quhar þai twa
þare lugyne in þe towne can ma.
quhen þe fyre was all one hycht,
withine & out was brynnand brycht,
þe young man hynt deliuerly

a wattir crowat, stud hyme by,
& kist wpwart agane þe bles,
& swyth þe gret fyre can he mes.
þane þat ȝong manis kyne in hy
sad, he was wechyt, sekyrly!
& ledderis dressit apone hicht
to get in; bot þai tynt þe sycht,
& mycht nomare do, as for þane.
for-þi of his kyne sad a man:
“we do foly, þat wirkis þus;
for god with þame is agains ws.
þarfor sesss all, for dout þat he
confundis [vs] for our cruelte!”
& fele of þame, þat þis has sene,
be-come cristine throu baptysing.
bot all þe kyne of þis ȝong man,
fra fyfty dais war gan fra þan,
deide, & in a grawe war dycht,
for þare trespas, throu goddis mycht.
[A]ne woman was þat tyme nere by,
þat wedyt was wilfully
with ane murthire, & was with barne
with hyme, þat turment hir ȝarne;
& god hire send gret seknes ek,

Sequitur effectus e. c.

to punyce, and till mak hir mek.
þan send schow eftyr hyr systir,
and tawld how it stud with hyr,
and bad þat scho suld one one
requir þar goddis, dame dyone,
till helpe hyr þane but abad.
dyane answer to hyr mad:
“quhy prais þou me, þat na thing may

helpe þi sister? bot ga þi way
till andro, cristis appostill,
and byd [hym] ga þi sister till!
for he ma helpe hyr, sekirly,
throw vertu of his god in hy.”
þane sante andro sone scho schocht,
and till hyr cister sone hym brocht,
þat in poynte wes periste to be.
and in þat voice till hyr sad he:
“wikit women, þou tholis þus Ill,
for þu arte maryt a-gane skill,
and has consawit giltfully,
and consalite þe fend wikitfully.
Ȝet þane for-think þi sene, & trow
In þe lar of criste ihesu,
and þat ded thing, þat is in þe,
þu sall caste owt, and wariste be.”
and sone, as he can tell hyr till,
full suthfastly till hyr befell.
thane com a man to hym of case,
þat to name had Nicholase,
and sad hym: “lord, now haf I
of myn elde ȝeris fowrty,
In þe quhilkis I serwit ay
to lichory bath nycht and day;
bot to resiste þe fendis will,
I bar one me þe ewangele,
prayand god of his pytte
to gyf me grace chaste man to be.
bot I am richt nocht ȝet þane,
I þat synnyt as wekit man;
and þocht I lefit for a quhyle,
I turne agane to þat sine wyle.
syne hapynnyt atym þat I,

enflammyt throw full lichory,
for þe ewangele þat I bare
one me, forowtine ony mare
to þe bordale I wente ine hy,
to fulfill myn lichory.
and þar a womane can me say:
‘þu wrechit ald man, ga þi way!
for þi-selfe goddis angel Is,
and to cum her þu doys myse;
þar-[for] fand nocht to nyicht me,
for farly thinge I se on þe.’
þane of hyr word haffand ferly,
I wmbethocht me in-till hy,
þat I þe ewangil on me had;
for-þi I fled away but bad.
and sene þat þou haly man is,
pray þi god to forgyff me þis!”
and quhen Andro herd hym [sa] say,
he [can] gret, and but delay
prait for hym fra morne til nowne;
and, quhene þat he had sa done,
sad, met no drink he nan wald,
till he wyste, þat till þat ald
god had remittit his syne quytly.
þe thred day efter þat in hy,
throw ane angel wes hym tald,
þat god forgevine had þat ald
at his prayer his gret trespas;
bot, as he in penance wes,
sa suld þat ald his penance mak
In prayer, almus, and in wakk.
þane he sex owkis but were
fastit in bred and wattir clere,
and ful of gud wark ȝald þe gaste.
þane till androw sad god in haste,

þat nicholas he gert hym wyne,
þat suld hafe bene tynt for his syne.
ane vthir ȝounge man wes by,
þat til andro sad prewely:
“my modir, þat oft beheld me,
had sic delyte in myn bewte,
þat scho me fandyt besily
to syne with hyr in lichory;
and for I wald nocht do hyr entent,
scho dressit me al for to schent.
for quhen woman wald do sic myse
with man, and refusit Is,
þar is no ber so fell no thra,
quhen hyr quhelpis ar tan hir fra.
Richt sa thocht scho to ger me de
Vith hyr felouny and falsed sle,
and wirk in me hyr wekit will;
þar-for scho ȝed þe Iuge till,
to plenȝe þat I sic vikitnes
wald with hyr do and foulnes.
þarfor to god for me þu pray,
þat I eschape with þe lyf away,
quhen þat I sall accusit be
falsly for sic Iniquite;
for þe day I sall appere
þe Iugis sentence for til here,
I sall for errour hald me stil.
I dar nocht answer ocht þar-till;
for þe self ded sal mar lik me
þan myn modir defamyt be.”
þan hapnyt eftir þat,
to do law þe Iuge set,
and gert þe ȝonge man son apper,
quhat his modir wald say, to her.

sanct andro went with hym als
to þat felone plant and fals,
and quhat euir scho sad hym till,
he answerit nocht, bot held hym still.
sante Andro þan, þat wist hir will,
befor þe Iuge sad hyr till:
“þu cruel and wekit wyff,
þat lyk is þe nan in lyff,
wald þu for þi lechory
ger þi son de here foulely?”
þane sad scho to þe Iuge son:
“myn barne, þat þis has me don,
to þis aldman enerthand is
to foster hym in to sic myse.”
þe Iuge, þat þan wes wrath,
gert bynd þe ȝounge man rath,
and put hym in a sek to mere,
þat was enoynt with pik and ter,
and kest hym fer in þe flud;
syne tuk Andro, quhare he stud,
and dange hym in a dongeone depe
þat he na schapit, bad to kepe,
till he hym thocht be avysment,
how he mycht hym maste turment.
as Andro on þis preson lay,
to god of hewine can he pray;
and thonnere [cam] in þat sitht-war,
þat strak till ȝerd all þat war þar;
and fyr schacht can þat samyn wyf brine,
þe pupile seand, fore hyr syne.
to sante Andro þane mad requeste,
þe puple, for þat tempaste,

and it wes cessit at his prayer sone.
and þe Iuge þan but hone
trewit in criste, and howyn was,
and al his menȝe mar and les.
eftir þis sancte Andrew can ga
to þe cite of Nicea.
and þa of þat cite can hym say,
þat, nere set uas by in þe way,
sewine fendis fers and fell,
and al þat passit by can quell.
þar he to god for þam can pray;
and þai fendis but delay,
In forem of hundis, can apere
mekly befor al þat þar wer.
and he bad þame opynly,
þat þai suld hald þar way in hy
to sic place, þat neuir mare
þai grewit men lat no are.
þar þai wanyste awai sone.
and al þe folk, quhene þat wes don,
becom cristine, and baptism tuk
thru sancte Androw, as sais þe buk.
syne eftir hapnyt of case,
as sante Andro wauerand was,
he com til a-nothir citte.
and as he gat þar entre,
he met men bringand of þe sted
a ȝonge man, þat wes ded.
þan sperit he þe cause quhy
Þe man deit, þat þar can ly.
þai answert, and can say,
þat sewine hundis com quhare he lay,
and verrit hym sodanly.

þane grete sante Andrew Increly,
and sad, þai hundis war þai
þat he chasit fra Nicea.
þane can he till his fadir say:
“quhat sal I haf, gywe but delay
þi sone liffand I gyf to þe?”
þane gretand mekly sad he:
“þar for as for myn derrest thinge,
I sall [hym] gyf ȝou but gruchinge.”
þane sancte Andrew his prayer mad,
and raysit hym but mar abad.
and he, þat wes raisit sa,
with sancte Andrew his dwelling can ma,
and al his synnis þar forsuk,
and of sancte Andrew baptisme tuk.
þe renowne þan mycht nocht be hyd
of ferlis þat sancte Andrew did;
for-þi be land and sey men sowcht
hym for ferlys þat he wroucht.
and amange oþir fowrty war,
þat come be se to here his lare,
þat to þe fend displeisit swa,
þat he a tempeste son cane may,
sa þat þe sey wox sa woud,
þat þai war drownyt in þe flud,
and castine thru þe stormis to land,
quhare þat Andrew wes dwelland;
and men for pitte all þam brocht
til Andrew, þat sa for þame wrocht.
þame resuscit he þan belyf
thru his prayer to þe lyfe.

fra thyne he went to achia,
goddis word þar to say.
sa al þe folk nerhand ware

Conuertit on to cristis lare,
and swith mad kirkis mony ane,
fra þat þai had baptisme tane.
als þe wyf of egeas
be hym to god conuertit was.
þane egeas, þat wes fell,
quhen he of sic conuersione herd tell,
to þe citte of patras
he went, and all þat þar in wes
dwelland, he distren[ȝi]t þare
with twrment, þat wes fell and sare,
goddis lar to forsak,
and sacrifice to ydolis mak.
and as he wrocht sic tyranny,
sancte andrew com till hym in hy,
and sad: “gaynand thinge war to þe,
þat Iuge of men sittis to be,
to honowr and knaw þi Iuge ay,
þat is in hewine, and do away
fals goddis of thi thocht,
þat ar of menis handis wrocht.”
egeas can till hym say:
“art þu Andrew, þat prechis ay
þat wikit, fals, and felone lare,
þat þe prince of rome ay quhare
has command to distroy away?”
þane can sancte Andrew till hym say:
“of rowme þe prince knew nocht ȝete
how criste, goddis son swete,
come in þis warld, and ewine
prechit bot a god of hewine,
and taucht men, þat al ydolis ar
bot fendis, and with þam to be ware;
for fendis techinge wes and Is
to greve god, and do euir myse.”

egeas sad: “to sic fals thinge
Ȝur god taucht in his prechinge,
apone a gebat he wes done.”
and Andrew sad till hym alsone:
“þat gebat wes the haly tre,
þat now þe haly cors call we,
quhar of þe preuete I will,
and þu will her me, tel þe till;
and hou resonable cause amowit
þat makar of man, þat luffit
vs sa. for our restoringe
he tholit þar one for to hynge,
vnastrenȝet, bot of fre will.
and lo, þe cause I tell þe till;
for I wes with hym þe self oure,
þat hym betresit þe tratoure.
and befor þat till ws sad he,
þat he suld sone betrasit be,
and crucifite for heile of man,
and one þe thrid day ryse eftir þan
fra dede agane, I ȝow dewice.
þan sad petir one þis vyse:
‘lord, of þi-self haf reutht and spare
þat þu sic panys tak neuir mare!’
with dedigne he can ansuer ma,
and sad: ‘ga agane, sathana!
for þu miskennis, and saweris nocht
þe thinge he god will haf in thocht.’
and als, to tech vs þat he
wald thole sic ded of wil fre,
[he] sad till vs opynly:
‘to gyf myn sawle pouste haf I,
and tak it agane to me.’
at his laste super sine sad he,
quhen we with hym ware sittand all:
‘ane of ȝou betrese me sall.’

þane war we sorowfull ilkane;
bot he, to comfort vs one ane,
sad: ‘to quham I gyf now
þe morcel of bred of ȝow,
trewis wele þat at is he,
þat þis nycht sall betrese me.’
Ȝet þane he wald nocht set sic blam
till hym be his propir name,
na put hym fra his burd, thocht þare
to sit he vnworthy ware.
þane gaf he ilkane a sope
with his hand of his awne cope,
and althinge syne, all and sum,
he tald vs clerly þat war to cum,
richt as It done befor had bene.
þar[for] wat I wel bwt wene,
he tholit of his awne vill
al þe payne wes done hym till;
sene he nocht þe traitour fled,
na drew hym nocht of þat sted,
quhar þat he wiste þe tratour wald
cum to, þat Iudas hym sald.”

egeas sad: “It ferlis me,
þat sa wise a man, as þou suld be,
suld folow hym throu ony skill,
þat, othir of thret or gud will,
tholit hym in þe croice be done.”
þan Andrew answerte hym alsone:
“þat is, for þu has hard me
spek of þe croice þe preuete;
þe quhilk, perauentur giff will þu,
I sall vndo þe richt sone now.”
egeas sad þan: “lat me se,
how turment suld be preuete.”
androw sad: “sic turment was

þe preuete mare and lese
of manis restauracione,
as I sal prew þe be resone,
gyf þu wil her me tholmodly.”
egeas sad: “and ȝet wil I
with paciens a quhil here þe.
and bot þu sene trew me,
þe prewete þu sal resawe
of þat croice, as þu can crafe.”
androw [sad]: “gyf þat I dred
þe croice, quhare-in criste wes spred,
þe Ioy of It I na prechit ȝow.”
egeas sad: “I se well now,
þat full of wodnes is þi woce,
prechand þe turment of þe corse,
and for þi hardynes na pane
dredis.” þan Androw sad agane:
“for hardines is nocht þat I,
bot of sad thocht anerly,
þat I dred nocht of ded þe payne;
for ded of richtwyse, þat ar slane,
Is preciowse to god of hewine,
and contrar of synfull ewine.
and þar-for is þat I ȝarne þe
of corse to here þe priwete,
sa þat þu knaw it wel and trew,
and trowand, þat þu ma cum now
of þi sawle to þe restorynge.”
þan sad egeas: “to þat thinge!
þat thinge restoryt is but wene,
þat uterly periste has bene?
quhethir myn sawle perist be,
þat to restoringe behuffis me
þar-of cum throw þe treutht, þat þu,
þocht I na It knaw, wald ger me trew?”

þane Androw sad: “þat is þe thinge,
þat þu wald here. I haf ȝarninge
with paynis quhill I þe kene,
how þe tynt sawlis of almen
war brocht to þe restorynge
of þe croice, throw þe prewe thinge
þat was. fore firste man, þat wes mad
of vnwemmyt erd, brocht in had
fel ded throu þe tre of trespase
In þis ȝerd; nedfull thinge wes
þat one vnwemmyt vergyne
ane vthire suld be borne syne,
þat suld be werray god and man
In a persone, to restore þane
þe liff, þat men had tynt, & he,
throw þe croice of þe blissit tre,
suld exclude of misȝarninge
þe tre; þan, þat he syne suld hynge
a-pone þe croice with handis stracht;
For Adame vnclene handis racht
to þat tre, þe froit to get
and ete of þat forbodine met;
and þar-for suld þis latir mane,
for þe froyt wes etyne þar þane,
þe self bittirnes taste of gall,
and In hym tak our ded with-all,
þat he his inmortalite
micht gyf till ws of his wil fre.”
egeas sad: “tel þis þu may
to þam þat will gyff to þe fay!
nocht-þane, bot þu consent to me,
and sacrifye, þat I ma se,
to goddis þat ar almychtty,
I sall ger men þe crucify
one þe croice, þu lofis sa.”

þane Andrew sic answer can ma:
“till a god suthfast ay
I sacrify euir ilka day,
þe flesche of quhome þe folk treufull
has etyne, and of þe flesche is full;
þe lame, þat sa sacrifit is,
remanys quhyk and hale, I-wis.”

egeas sad: “how ma þis be?”
quod Androw: “þu tak to þe
þe forme of prenttis, gyf þat þu
wil knaw it þat þou speris now!”
egeas sad: “þu sal me tell
thru tvrment, þat is hard and fell,
þe knawlage of It þat I sper.”
þane sad Andrew with sobyr cher:
“Me ferlis, þat sa wise a man as þu
In sic foly suld fall now,
þat þu wenys to ger me schaw
myn goddis sacrifice fore aw;
bot sene þu has þe preuete
herd of þe corse, now here þou me
of sacrifice tel to þe now
þe priuete. gyf þu wil tru
In criste, þe sone of god, þat was
crucifit in mannis flesche
throw Iowis, suthfaste god to be,
throu quhat ordir, I sal tel þe,
quhow þat lame, quhen he is slane
ande sacrifit, luffis agane,
and ettyne dwellis ay elyke,
vnwemmyt in his lestand ryk.”
egeas sad: “to me þu tell
how þat lame, þat slane is, dwell
quyk in his ryk, as þu sais now!”
þane said andro: “gyf þu wil trew

with hale hart in god, þu may
knaw þis thinge, þat I þe say;
and bot-gyf þu will hertly trow,
þu vittis nocht þu speris now.”

egeas wrath wes þane, and sone
bad in presone he suld be done,
till he had soucht in his entent,
how he mycht hym best tvrment.
to þe presone, quhare he was, þan
of þe land gadderit mony mane,
þat Androw wald haf losit fane,
and for his sak egeas slane;
bot he þame prayt to be stil,
ande sic wordis sad þam till:
“þe quyet of our lord Ihesu,
luk in vnreste ȝe turne nocht now!
for myn lord Ihesu al paciens
schewit, and mad na-kyne defens.
quhen he betresit was of will,
he flat no sad myss ony man till.
þar-for cylens and reste haf ȝe,
his discipulis gyf ȝe be!
for quhen criste betresit wes,
he schew alkyne tholmodnes.
þar for haf ȝe paciens,
na makis for me na defens;
bot erare ordanis ȝou, þat ȝe
to criste campionis ma be,
þat ȝe stutly ma our-cum
warldly anoys, al and sum!
for, gyf þat terrour dred suld be,
þe terrour is to dred, par-de,
þat ay sal lest, and euir ek.
bot warld[l]y terrour to þe rek
may be lyk, at growis sone
and sone may als away be done;

for warldis wa oþir is licht,
and may be tholit with hart wycht;
or ellis are þai sa hard and sar,
þat þai þe body sla but mare.
bot to þe firste dole egeas
pressis hym ful fast to pass;
bot mak ȝou redy þat ȝe ma
cum to þe Ioy, þat lestis ay,
haffand na dowt of payne, for-þi
þat ma sla bot þe body!”

And [as] Andro mad þis prechinge,
egeas gert men furth hym bringe,
and, sitand in-to Iugment,
In þis wyis sad hym his entent:
“Andrew, haf I nocht geffyne þe
þe space of a nycht to avice þe,
þat þu mycht draw þi hert away
fra þis lord, þu prechis ay,
and of þi cristis lawis blyne,
þat þu mycht oure frendschepe vyne?
for felly thinge is, and but reson,
of wil to tholl þe passione
of croice, of fyr, or of sword.”
andro answert to þat word:
“parfyt Ioy I ma haf with þe,
say þat þu will trew to me,
and trew in criste and in his lare,
and lef þir ydolis, þat nocht are
bot fendis, þat dissavis þe.
and in þis cuntre god send me,
quhare of his lare sa haf I wrocht,
þat I fele folk to hym has brocht.”
egeas sad: “for þat wil I
distrenȝe þe for to sacrify,
þat þai, þat þu dissawit has,

our goddis resave to þar grace,
renunciand to þat vanite,
þat þai haf trewit in thru þe,
till goddis sacrifice offerand;
For is na citte in þis land,
quhare-in templis of goddis are
vndistroyt now thru þi lare.
þare for is nedful, þat thru þe
oure goddis now enpleysit be,
þat þu aganis þe [has] mad wrath,
and þat our frendschep þu ma rath
wyne, or ellis, for þe wrething
of our goddis, thole tormentinge,
And one þat gebat syne but hown,
þat þu sa luffis, suthly be done.”

thane Andro sad: “now her þou me,
sone of ded and Iniquite,
and lynt to bet þe fyr of hell,
quhar þu in lestand payne sal dwel;
her me, þat is full sekir now,
apostil of myn lorde Ihesu,
þat suthly with þe to þis oure
of trutht has tretit þe censoure,
þat þu mycht wit quhat resoun wes,
and als to defend suthfastnes,
and ydolis clerly to forsak,
and til a god of hewyne þe tak.
bot, fore þu dwellis in wikitnes,
and wenis nocht-þe-les,
þat I suld dowt þi manauce ocht;
na, bot quhat þu has in thocht
of grewouse payne to torment me,
do fourth! I sal þe mare be
acceptable to my kinge Ihesu,
þat I thole fore sic paynis now.”

egeas commawndyt þat he
þar in a frame suld sted be,
and with scharpe schurgis befte rycht sare,
till ane and twenty mycht nomare;
and quhen his fel biddinge wes done,
a-gane gert bringe [hym] till hym sone,
and sad: “andro, I consall þe,
þat of þi-self þu haff pitte,
and behald how sched is þi blud,
and lefe self-wil for consale gud!
for, gyf þat þu sa dur wil be
þat þu wil nocht consent to me,
a-pone þat gebat þu sall hinge,
quhare-in þu has sa gret lykin[g]e.”
þan sad andro till hym in hy:
“of cristis croice seruand am I,
and of þe croice þe ourcumyn[g]e
I no dred, bot ȝarnis ore althinge;
bot lestand auch it be to þe.
þat þu ma wit, quhen þu seis me
In hard torment persewer,
lowand myn god with gladsum cher,
and at þe last in criste trew;
for I am mar discesit now
of þi lestand dampnacione
þane of myn awne schort passione.
for my passione wil endit be
In a day, twa or thre,
bot þi tormentis sall leste, no wer Is,
mar þane a thousand of ȝeris,
and ȝet þane but end euirmar,
deand but drede in lestand car.”
egeas gret dediynge had,
and bad his tormentoris but bad
þane one þe croice þai suld hym stracht,

and bynd faste with all þar mawcht
with cordis, bath fut and hand,
and syne ger þe croice ewyn vpstand;
na he wald nocht þane he suld be
festynyt with nalis to þat tre,
for dowt þat he suld de or sone.
þe tormentouris þan but howne
tuk and led hym þane to þe croice.
þane all þe pupile with hey voice
andro mad þame monicione,
þat þai suld nocht his passione
let, and Ioyand held his way,
goddis lare to þame prechand ay.
and quhene to þe place nere com he,
quhare he mycht þe croice se,
he criyt to It with hey voice,
and sad: “alhale, þu blissit croice,
þat is hallowit welfully
of Ihesu cryste in þe body,
and ennowrnyt as of ȝemmys
In gret bewte of his lymmys.
befor þat god one þe had clummyn,
ȝerdly dowt þane had þou nommyn;
bot [h]ewynly luf hafand in þe,
with ȝarnynge now þou sall tane be;
for leile folk wat quhat gyftis þou
and Ioy in þe has grathit now.
Ioyand þare-for I cum to þe;
sa þat blithly þu resawe me,
his lele discipil, þat cane hange
one þe; for I haf ȝarnyt lange
for till embrace þe, for þat I
has luffit þe lange enkrely.
fore-þi resawe me now fra men,
and to myn master me be-kene,

þat thru þe he resawe me heyre,
þat thru þe wes myn ransoner!”
and quhen he had þis wiis sad,
his clathis all fra hym he lad,
And to þe tormentoris of will
he gafe þame, þat suld do hym till.
þane one þe croice but howne
þai strekyt, and band hym sone
with cordis, as þai had byddyng.
þane þe pupile þat saw þat thynge,
þat ware wele nyne thowsand men,
trowit in criste, and cane hym kene,
and tuk baptisme thru þe prechinge,
þat he mad þame of hewynlyk thinge.
and amaunge oþir ane wes þar,
þat throw hym tr[e]wit goddis lar,
þat till egeas bruthir wes,
and had to name stratocles,
þat oure all oþir menyt þane
þe gret payne of þat rychtwis man.
bot Andro, þat þar hangyt, ay
for þai lele men god can pray,
and mad þam exortacione,
to tholl bath pyne and passione.
he sad thame, þat na thinge here wes,
þat mycht be tholyt in to flesche,
bot ewynly recompensacion
mycht mak to þe retribucione
of þe Ioy and gret delyte.
þane all þe pupile passit tyt
with gret noys till egeas In,
sayand one hicht, þai suld it bryne,
bot he andro fra þe tre
lousit and mad fre;
for sik techere as he wes þane,

and sa racionable a mane
suld nocht thole sic payne, bot er he
fra þat croyce suld lousit be;
“for þis is þe toþir day,
þat hangand he has prechit ay
þe rycht treutht and wil nocht cesss.”
egeas þane, þat dowtand was
þe puple wald his hows bryne
for þat cause, and distroy hyme,
hecht to þame þane, þat he
suld loyse andro and mak hym fre;
and þar-with come towart þe place,
quhare þe apostill hangand was.
and quhen androw saw hym nere,
he sad to hyme: “quhat dois þu here?
will þu trew ȝet? þocht it be late,
of hewine þu sal fynd opyne ȝete;
and gyf in cryste þu will nocht trew,
In wane þu cumys to me now;
fore with lyff I sall nocht be
of þis croice lousyt fre be þe.
fore now I se myn kinge of mycht;
here I sted ame in his sycht.
bot of þe, sorow I haff [and] wa,
to hard lestand pane þat hastis sa;
þar-for sped þe, gyff þu may,
trew lele treutht, put sic payn away,
fore dred, quhene þu wald, þou ma nocht
to state of grace þane be brocht.”
þe tormentouris pressit þane
til haf lousit þe haly man,
bot fore ony thinge þai mycht do,
þai cuth nocht attenȝe hym to.
þane com vthire syndry ma,
þat pressit þame hym don to ta;

bot þai mycht nocht tweche hym a laste,
bot tynte þare trawel in to waste.
þane cryit Andro with hey stewyn:
“I pray þe, dere god of hewyne,
þat of þis croyce thu thole nocht me
with lyff done tane to be,
þat hangyt her has dais twa.
now, Ihesu cryste, here I þe pray
to þe blyse þu wald tak me,
and thole me nocht our-cumyne be
of wardly Iuge, þat of self-wil
þus trettis me forowt skill!
fore, criste, þu art myn master dere,
þat I luf maste bot ony were;
and þat I ȝarne oure althinge,
to be and dwel in þi lovynge.
for in þe and thru þe ame I
It, at I ame, gud god; fore-thy
resawe me, and tholl me nocht
with þe lyf of þis croice to be brocht!”
as he þis sad with clere stewyne,
þar come a licht fra þe hewyne,
as it a fyre-sclacht had bene,
and vmlapyt hym sa clene,
þat nane mycht fere þat gret lycht
with ewene behald hym of þe sycht
and quhen þe licht had bene þar
þe space of half ane houre and mar,
It disparit; and syne in haste
þe apostil ȝald þe gaste
to god, þat is in trynyte:
to quham ay Ioy and honour be.

amange vthir of þe towne
In þat þlace stud a matrone

þat wellfully quhite maryt wes
with a senatour of þe place,
þat maximilla had to name,
and wes richt of nobil fame.
and quhen scho saw þe haly man
one þat mak de, schow com þane
with hyr men in gret quantite,
and lousit hym doun of þe tre,
and with all reuerence and honour
lad hym in þe sammyn sepulture,
þat schow fore hyr-self had mad,
and it enbawmyt but abad
with aloe, myre and cense,
and bawme of rettinge and defens.
þan was egeas wondir wa,
þat saw hym-self confundit sa,
and thocht, þar-fore, he wald send
to þe cesare, it til amend,
a playnt, as fore commowne profyt,
to wre leile men þat had no wyt,
and namely agane þat matrone
to put hyr to confusione,
and al þai þat vele wylly was
to þe apostil mare and les,
In hope þat cesare suld sowne
ger wengeance fore þis be done.
bot here-one as he musand wes,
and towarte his Innys can pass,
rycht in þe myddis of þe strete
þe fend, his master, can he met,
quha enterit in hym rycht þare,
and he þe gast ȝald but mare
In hoppyne sycht. and quhen þat wes
tald his bruthyre stratocles,
he send his men, and bad þat þai

of his bruthire þe cors suld lay
ymange þai men [þat] war ded twyse,
fore he be-cause of cowatice,
pressumyt sik a man to sla
for to wyne gud. and we call þai
twyse ded, þat fra þis flesche
departis, and syne neuir-þe-les
to þat drery ded ar send,
þat is ay now and neuir has end.
þar-for, he sad, nocht wald he
haf of his bruthyre faculte,
for dowt þat hym suld smyt þe gilt
of hym, þat sa gud a mane had spilt.
In achaia þis done wes,
In þe citte of patrase,
quhare god workis fore hym but wer
mony ferlis one maneris sere.
and nocht þare-In anerly,
bot oure al þe war[l]d, sekirly.
quhen ony man is in to dred,
ore ȝet of hele, ore helpe has ned,
and wile one sancte Androw cal
In clene lyf, he helpis all;
and quha-sa in deuocione
has hym, or in affeccione,
he wil helpe þam, quhen þai haf ned.
and als in haly wryt I red,
þat of his grawe, eftir lange
þat he wes ded, swet manna sprange
and oyle þare-with, as it war mele,
with swet saweoure, þat parfite hele
gaf till al þai þat come þare
with ony seknes ore with sare.
and quhen it sprange habundanly,
men hald it as fore prophecy,

þat þe ȝere eftir suld be
In þat land of froyt plente.
bot sic springynge cesis now,
fore syne of men, as I trow;
ane oþir cause ma be, fore-quhy
þat translat[it] is his body
till constantynople, quhare he
sal rest, to day of dome sal be.

ane bischope vmquhile, I herd say,
religeouse lyf liffand ay,
sancte Andrew in affecione
had ay, and in deuocione
oure all hawlouys þat euir ware,
outare goddis modir dere;
and als in custum he had ay,
quhen he suld eythir do or say
or spedful or helplyk thinge,
ay to say in þe begynninge:
“In worschipe of god almychty
and of sancte Andro þus do I.”
þe fals fend þane, our felone fay,
had invy he liffit sa
thankfully to god and mane;
fore-þi enforcit he hym þane.
and for to dissawe hym fellouny,
and ger hym fal in lichery,
and þat he mycht sa þat man wyne,
and for to ger hym fal in syne,
he transformyt hym in hy
In forme of a fare lady,
and come to þe bischope In,
sayand, schou wald schryf hir of syne,
and to sik man schryfyne be,
þat till assolȝe hyr had pousté,

þat mycht na man, hyr thocht,
sa wel do as he mowcht.
þane answert he, and sad: “parde,
I haf ministeris vndir me,
to quham I haff gewine powere
al schriftis halely till here;
þare-for tak þe ane of þa,
and til hym þi schrift þu ma!”
þane sad schow: “parde,
to na man will I schriffyne be
bot anerly to ȝow, ore nocht
schaw þat I haff in thocht.”
þe bischope þan, as Innocent,
þat misknew al hyr entent,
sat done þar, and mad hym chifte
In gud lasere to here hyr schrift.
þare schow on kneys dewotly
sat done and sad mekly:
“for goddis sak I pray þe,
þat þu wil haf mercy of me!
fore I stabelaste in ȝouthed,
as ȝe ma se, and ȝe tak hed,
and fosterit is delecatly.
of kingis kyne ȝet am I,
þocht I þis symple wed has tane,
and cumyne hiddir one allane
fore my faddir of mekil mycht
wald me haf marryit with a knycht,
bot I wald nocht consent þare-to,
for na thynge he mycht euire do;
fore manis falowschipe haf I
refoysit euir-mare halely,
and to þe kynge of hewyne tan me,
to lyf ay in virginite.
bot he sa hale set his entent

to weddinge to ger me consent,
þat oþir worthit me do [h]is will,
or halely my purpos spill,
or thole torment gret and fell.
fore[-þi] I thowcht I wald nocht dwell,
bot stal away þis preuely;
fore me ware leware wtrely
be banyste fare owt of myn land,
þane fore to brak to criste þe band,
þat I hafe mad and paid ay
of my lif to þe last day.
and, fore ȝour word is spred wid
of halynes one ilke syd,
I chesit ȝou to cum till,
offerand in ȝoure gentill will,
þat ȝe in ȝoure gret pitte
In sik distrese wald rew one me;
for I can fynd place na-quhare,
þat to me sa gaynand ware,
as vndir ȝour proteccione
to luf in contemplacione,
and warldly thingis to refuse,
and hewinly thing sine to wse.”

And quhen þe bischope þus tale
to þe hend had hard hale,
he beheld hyr Increly,
and wes forferlyt grettumly
þat in hyre suld assemblit be
sic nobillay, ȝouthed and bewte,
and þat scho suld ȝet, neuir-þe-lese,
with castite restrenȝe hyr flesche,
and oure all hyre wyss spekyn[g]e.
þane mad he hyr answeringe:
“be sikyr, douchtyr, and dred nocht!
for he in quham þu set þi thocht,

sall þi helpe and protectore be,
sene þu til hym has gewine þe,
and fore þis Ioy falȝeand, þu
ay-lestand Ioy has chosine nov.
and I, þocht I symple be,
goddis servand, hechtis þe,
þat þu sal hafe þi vphalding
with honeste in al thinge
In myn diocé, quhare þu
will chese dwelling to mak nov.
bot þis day with me þu sall ete
eftyr trawel and þe hete.”
þane sad scho: “lord, lat be!
of sic thinge requere nocht me!
þat mycht be hendringe to myn fame,
and lattinge als to ȝore gud name;
for men will lichtly spek ye Ill,
þocht þai haf litill cause þare-till.”
þane sad þe bischope til hyr sone:
“of sic thinge ar þe nocht schone,
for we sal nocht be ws ane twa
conuerse for-owtine witting ma,
þat sal al Il presumpcione
exclud and all suspicione.”
quhen þis wes sad, and mes done,
samyn þai ȝed to met sone,
and þe lord gert hyr be set
ewene before hym at þe mete;
syne þe lawe in þar degre
war to met set, as þai suld be.
bot ay þe bischope in arane
beheld hyr bewte, and nocht fane, [OMITTED]

quhen his harte wes het within
of fleschly luste, with hyr to syne.
and as þe fend had persawynge
þat þe bischope sic lykyne
had in hyr farhed, þan gerte he
In hyr appere þe mare bewte,
till þat þe bischope had gret will
his fellone lust to fulfill,
waitand bot lasare quhen he
mycht purchess oportunite.

thane com a pylgrime sodanly
to þe ȝet, and fast can cry,
for goddis sak entre askand;
and fore he sped nocht, with his hand
he knokit faste apon þe ȝet,
sayand, fayne he wald haf met
before þe bischope, ore ellis nocht,
fore þare-for had he þiddir socht.
þane come þe portare in but hone,
and to þe bischope sad rycht sone
þat. quhen þe bischope herd, þat he
askit met in sic degre,
he askit þe lady quhat hyr thocht,
gyf he suld haf entre or nocht.
scho sad: “schere, me think resone
þat ȝe ask hym sum harde questione,
þe quhilk gyf he can nocht vndo,
þat þe entre be warnyt hym to;
for, gyf hym wantis sic prudence,
he suld nocht cum in ȝour presence.”
þe bischope thocht, and all þe lafe,
þe sentence ganand þat scho gafe.
þane speryt þai vpe and done,
quha suld mak þis questione;

bot þar wald no man vndertak
sa sle a question for to mak.
þe bischope sad: “lady, sene ȝe
of sle spekine has sutelte,
with wisdome þare-to at ȝore wil,
sendis ȝe questione hym til!”
þane sad scho: “sir, askis hym in hy
of þis warld þe maste ferly,
þat god in lytil space has wrocht.”
and to þat man, quhen þis wes brocht,
he mad answere but abad,
þat þe maste merwale, þat god mad
“Is in þe visage of þe mane,
þat all are lyk, and ȝet, nocht-þan,
In ilke face In sum degre,
men fyndis diuersyte
of almen þat euir has bene
sen þe warld was, forout wene.
And in þe face þe wittis all
of þe cors are stedyt, gret & smal.”
and quhen þis ansuere wes mad
till al þat in þe hall abade,
cuth na man fynd till amend
þe answer, þat wes to þam send.
ȝet sad þe lady: “bot I wyll
ane vthyre questione send hym till,
quhare-In we ma assay his wit;
and gyf he will answere It,
he is worthy till haf entre.
þare-fore sperys at hym, gyf he
can say, quhare þe erd hyest Is.”
and quhen þe pilgram had herd þis,
he sad: “þe corse of dere Ihesu
In hewyne empyre is heyest nov,
þat sammyne is bath god and man

In a persone; sa mane we þane
trew, þat þe erde in his persone
Is in þe hyeste regione.”
þane he þat mediatoure had bene,
and hard þis answere all bedene,
recordyt it to þe bischope all
as he harde, bath gret & smal.
þane all þat in þe hall were,
llowit þe pilgrame answere,
and sad, worthy ware þat he
to þe hall suld welcum be.

bot þe lady ȝet sad: “nay,
anis ȝet we wil assay,
and þe thred tyme al-þire-beste,
and wit gyf he doucht to be geste;
fore proponyt till hym sal be
a thinge of gret diffyculte,
and myrke, and hard fore to say,
gyf his wit gud be til assay;
and gywe he cane vndo þat worde,
he may wele syt at ȝoure awne burde.
þare-fore spere at hym, quhat space is ewyne
fra þe ȝerde vpe to þe hewyne?”
þe portare þane þis demand mad
to þe pilgrame, quha but abade
sad to hyme agane: “þu ga
til hyre þat cane þis demand ma,
and spere at hyre grathly;
for schow wat It bettyr þane I;
fore schow met It, quhen scho fell
of þe hey hevine done to hell;
and fore þat I in hell neuir wes,
I cane nocht grathly tel þe space.
and say þis bischope als, þat schow
þat sic demand has mad me to,

Is þe fende in wemanis schape,
hyme with fandinge til vmlape.”
þe portare, þat hard hym sa say,
come till þe hall but delay,
haffand wondir with rednes,
[&] tald þis til all þat þare wes,
quhare-of þai had gret ferly.
bot þe fend wes away in hy,
sonare na ony man cuth thynke,
and lewit þe place full of stinke.
þe bischope þane hymself blamyt,
þat wes in poynte to hawe ben schamyt,
quhene he consentit fore to syne,
and fore þat cause þe fend socht hym.
þane he repentyt hym in hy
of his trespace and his foly,
and gret with his ewyne rycht sare,
and bad þe portare pase but mare
to bringe þe pilgram. bot he þane
away wes went fra sicht of mane.
þe bischope gert þe puple call,
and word be wourd sad to þa all,
how þat þe fend come till his In
In wemanis schape, to ger hym syne,
and commawndit þam fore to pray
fore hyme, als wakk and fast þe day,
til god of his debonare will
one sum manere wald schau þam til,
quha-euire wes þe pylgram, þat sa
saffyt hym fra his felone fa.
þane til hym-self þat nycht but bad
In visione wes warning mad,
þat sancte Andro, to god rycht dere,
“as a pylgrame apperyt here,
to kepe þe fra þe fend, þat, na he,

had wikitly confundyt þe.”
and þe bischope fra þat tym, ay
to sancte Andrew nycht and day,
wes mare dewote ine al thinge
of sancte Androw in þe lowynge,
to quham wyrschipe and honour be
of alkyne men in al degre!
ȝet men mycht say mekile thinge
of sancte Andrew in lowinge;
bot, fore I am alde and swere,
I will say no mare of hym here.
bot lowis hym gretly, for he wes
our al þe lave of maste meknes,
and wes þe fyrste man of þam al,
þat we appostil now can call,
þat chosyne ware with criste to be,
all his derreste and mast priwe.
and syne sanct petir, his awn broþir,
he broucht to criste before al vthyre,
and syne deit apone þe tre,
as In It deit his master fre.
þar-for he suld haf honowringe,
þat sa thankful til hevynis kinge
was fyrste and laste, and traste is now
to bruk þat blyse with dere Ihesu,
þat ay sal leste but ony end,
to þe quhilk blyse he vs al send!

University of Virginia Library

III.—DE SANCTO ANDREA.