 | The South English Legendary |  |
De sancto Wolstano
Sein Wolston bissop of Wircetre was her in Engelonde
Swuþe holyman al is lif [he] was as ich vnderstonde
Þe wile he was a ȝong child god lif he ladde inou
Wanne oþere children eode pleie toward chirche he drou
Seint Edward was [þo oure] king þat nouþe in heuene is
And þe bissop of Wircestre Briȝteiȝe het ywis
Of þis bissop Briȝteiȝe sein Wolston is ordre nom
Ech after oþer as it biuel so þat he preost bicom
Swuþe holyman al is lif [he] was as ich vnderstonde
Þe wile he was a ȝong child god lif he ladde inou
Wanne oþere children eode pleie toward chirche he drou
Seint Edward was [þo oure] king þat nouþe in heuene is
And þe bissop of Wircestre Briȝteiȝe het ywis
Of þis bissop Briȝteiȝe sein Wolston is ordre nom
Ech after oþer as it biuel so þat he preost bicom
Þis bissop vnderveng hym suþþe & monk him made iwis
In þe priorie of Wircetre þat gret hous & hei is
Swuþe wel is ordre he held in þe priorie
And al is wille was to paie God & seinte Marie
In none bed he nolde come ac wanne oþer ȝeode þerto
Touore an auter he wolde go his orisons to do
Wanne þe dede slep hym ouercom þat he ne miȝt fergon
His heued he wolde legge adoun upe a hard ston
On a degre byuore þe auter oþer is bok þer vnder do
And ligge a stonde in dwellinge al is slep was so
In þe priorie of Wircetre þat gret hous & hei is
Swuþe wel is ordre he held in þe priorie
And al is wille was to paie God & seinte Marie
In none bed he nolde come ac wanne oþer ȝeode þerto
Touore an auter he wolde go his orisons to do
Wanne þe dede slep hym ouercom þat he ne miȝt fergon
His heued he wolde legge adoun upe a hard ston
On a degre byuore þe auter oþer is bok þer vnder do
And ligge a stonde in dwellinge al is slep was so
9
He nolde þre[o] dawes in þe wike noþing ete wiþ alle
Ne noþing speke bote is beden for noȝt þat miȝte biualle
Þe oþer dawes wel lite he spak & wel lite et also
Bote a lite gruwel oþer porreie holde he wolde þerto
So longe he was at Wircetre in holy lyf þus stille
Þat me made hym prior of þe hous muche aȝen is wille
Is couent he weste wel & to alle godnesse ham drou
Of God and al gode men loue he hadde inou
Ne noþing speke bote is beden for noȝt þat miȝte biualle
Þe oþer dawes wel lite he spak & wel lite et also
Bote a lite gruwel oþer porreie holde he wolde þerto
So longe he was at Wircetre in holy lyf þus stille
Þat me made hym prior of þe hous muche aȝen is wille
Is couent he weste wel & to alle godnesse ham drou
Of God and al gode men loue he hadde inou
Þe priorie of Wircetre sein Oswold bygan er
Þat was biuore sein Wolston aboute an hondred ȝer
& þat seint Oswold bigan er sein Wolston vulde iwis
So þat þoru hore beire werk strang & hei it is
As þis holyman sein Wolston a time let arere
An hey belhous of strang werk þe bellen to honge þere
And masons aboue & byneþe þer aboute were
And bi laddren clomme up & doun & stones up bere
A man clam upward bi a laddre & þo he was up anhey
Fram eorþe mo þan fourti vet as al þat folk ysey
Dounward he uel as he misstep men were sore agaste
Sein Wolston stod and byheld hou he com dou[n]ward uaste
Þat was biuore sein Wolston aboute an hondred ȝer
& þat seint Oswold bigan er sein Wolston vulde iwis
So þat þoru hore beire werk strang & hei it is
As þis holyman sein Wolston a time let arere
An hey belhous of strang werk þe bellen to honge þere
And masons aboue & byneþe þer aboute were
And bi laddren clomme up & doun & stones up bere
A man clam upward bi a laddre & þo he was up anhey
Fram eorþe mo þan fourti vet as al þat folk ysey
Dounward he uel as he misstep men were sore agaste
Sein Wolston stod and byheld hou he com dou[n]ward uaste
He made him þe signe of þe crois as he uel to gronde
Harmles he uel and hol inou his lymes hol & sonde
And aros up & dude is werk as hym noþing nere
Louerd muche is þi miȝte as þou kuddest þere
Þat he so harde fram heie vel & of eche harm was sker
Þou ert God þat wonder dest as seiþ þe sauter
Harmles he uel and hol inou his lymes hol & sonde
And aros up & dude is werk as hym noþing nere
Louerd muche is þi miȝte as þou kuddest þere
Þat he so harde fram heie vel & of eche harm was sker
Þou ert God þat wonder dest as seiþ þe sauter
So þat Briȝteiȝe þe bissop of Wircetre was ded
A clerk was bissop after hym þat me clupede Al[d]red
Þat seint Wolston louede wel and he hym also
For ech god man wol louie oþer it were elles misdo
Suþþe hit bicom þat þe erchebissop of Euerwik was ded
Erchebissop hy made þer þis bissop Aldred
And þe bissopriche of Wircestre uacant was & lere
Sein Wolston was sone ichose and bissop imad þere
A clerk was bissop after hym þat me clupede Al[d]red
Þat seint Wolston louede wel and he hym also
For ech god man wol louie oþer it were elles misdo
Suþþe hit bicom þat þe erchebissop of Euerwik was ded
Erchebissop hy made þer þis bissop Aldred
And þe bissopriche of Wircestre uacant was & lere
10
Bissop him made þe holyman seint Edward oure kyng
And aueng him inis dignete and tok him crois & ryng
His bissopriche he weste wel and ek is priorie
And aforcede him to serui wel God & seinte Marie
Four ȝer he hadde bissop ibe[o] & noȝt follich fyue
To seint Edward þe holy king wende out of þis liue
To gret ruþe to al Engelonde so weilawei þe stonde
For strange men þer come suþþe & broȝte Engelond to gronde
And aueng him inis dignete and tok him crois & ryng
His bissopriche he weste wel and ek is priorie
And aforcede him to serui wel God & seinte Marie
Four ȝer he hadde bissop ibe[o] & noȝt follich fyue
To seint Edward þe holy king wende out of þis liue
To gret ruþe to al Engelonde so weilawei þe stonde
For strange men þer come suþþe & broȝte Engelond to gronde
Vor Harald was suþþe kyng wiþ traison alas
Þe croune he bar of Engelond wuch wile so it was
Ac William Bastard þat was þo duk of Normandie
Þoȝte to wynne Engelond þoru strengþe & felonye
He let him greiþe folk inou & gret poer wiþ hym nom
Wiþ gret strengþe in þe se hym dude & to Engelond com
He let ordeiny is feorde wel & is baner up arere
And let destruye al þat he uond & þat lond sore aferde
Þe croune he bar of Engelond wuch wile so it was
Ac William Bastard þat was þo duk of Normandie
Þoȝte to wynne Engelond þoru strengþe & felonye
He let him greiþe folk inou & gret poer wiþ hym nom
Wiþ gret strengþe in þe se hym dude & to Engelond com
He let ordeiny is feorde wel & is baner up arere
And let destruye al þat he uond & þat lond sore aferde
Harald hurde her of telle þe kyng of Engelonde
He let ȝarke uaste is ost aȝen him forto stonde
Þe baronie of Engelonde iredy was wel sone
Þe kyng to helpe & eke amsulue as wone was to done
Þe worre was þo in Engelonde deoluol & strang inou
And hore eiþer of oþeres men alto grounde slou
He let ȝarke uaste is ost aȝen him forto stonde
Þe baronie of Engelonde iredy was wel sone
Þe kyng to helpe & eke amsulue as wone was to done
Þe worre was þo in Engelonde deoluol & strang inou
And hore eiþer of oþeres men alto grounde slou
No strengþe nadde þe stronge men þat icome were so niwe
Aȝen þe baronie of Engelond þe wile hi wolde be[o] triwe
Ac alas þe tricherie þat þo was and ȝute is
Þat broȝte þo Engelonde alto grounde ywis
Vor Englisse barons bycome somme vntriwe and fals also
To bitraie hom sulf and hore kyng þat so muche triste ham to
Þe Normans and þe Englisse men day of bataille nome
Þare as is þe abbei of Bataille a day togadere y come
To gronde hy smite and slouwe also as God ȝaf þat cas
Willam Bastard was aboue Harald byneþe was
For hy þat Harald triste to faillede him wel vaste
So þat he was byneþe ibroȝt & ouercome attelaste
Þis Willam Bastard þat was kyng suþþe hym vnderstod
Þat he mid vnriȝt hadde yssad so many mannes blod
And þere as þe bataille was an abbey he let rere
Þat me clupeþ Abbey of þe Bataille þat noble stont ȝut þere
Aȝen þe baronie of Engelond þe wile hi wolde be[o] triwe
Ac alas þe tricherie þat þo was and ȝute is
Þat broȝte þo Engelonde alto grounde ywis
Vor Englisse barons bycome somme vntriwe and fals also
To bitraie hom sulf and hore kyng þat so muche triste ham to
Þe Normans and þe Englisse men day of bataille nome
Þare as is þe abbei of Bataille a day togadere y come
To gronde hy smite and slouwe also as God ȝaf þat cas
11
For hy þat Harald triste to faillede him wel vaste
So þat he was byneþe ibroȝt & ouercome attelaste
Þis Willam Bastard þat was kyng suþþe hym vnderstod
Þat he mid vnriȝt hadde yssad so many mannes blod
And þere as þe bataille was an abbey he let rere
Þat me clupeþ Abbey of þe Bataille þat noble stont ȝut þere
As sone so he was king ymad & al Engelond bysette
As he wolde mid strange men ac noman nemiȝte hym lette
Þis holy sein Wolston wel ofte him wiþsede
Þat he wiþ vnriȝt hadde ido a such vuel dede
And spak aȝen hym baldeliche & ne sparede for no drede
For he was þe kundeste Englisse man þat was of eny manhede
For alle oþer were deserited ney þe kyng was wiþ him wroþ
Þat he dradde so lite of hym he swor anon is oþ
To pulte him of is bissopriche he let him somni also
To Westmistre to answerie hym of þat he hadde misdo
Nou nas noȝt sein Wolston wel gret clerk in lore
For wan he scholde to scole go at churche he was more
To Westmestre he com to is daie as he was isomned er
Þis king was in grete wraþþe wel prest aȝen hym þer
And þe erchebissop of Kanterburi Lanfranc was is name
And þe bissop Gondolf of Roucetre alle to don hym ssame
As he wolde mid strange men ac noman nemiȝte hym lette
Þis holy sein Wolston wel ofte him wiþsede
Þat he wiþ vnriȝt hadde ido a such vuel dede
And spak aȝen hym baldeliche & ne sparede for no drede
For he was þe kundeste Englisse man þat was of eny manhede
For alle oþer were deserited ney þe kyng was wiþ him wroþ
Þat he dradde so lite of hym he swor anon is oþ
To pulte him of is bissopriche he let him somni also
To Westmistre to answerie hym of þat he hadde misdo
Nou nas noȝt sein Wolston wel gret clerk in lore
For wan he scholde to scole go at churche he was more
To Westmestre he com to is daie as he was isomned er
Þis king was in grete wraþþe wel prest aȝen hym þer
And þe erchebissop of Kanterburi Lanfranc was is name
12
Sein Wolston to uore hom com þat aȝen him were so stronge
As a þeof touore a Iustice his dom forto auonge
Þe king and þe erchebissop ek speke wordes grete
Þat he ssolde as he worþe was his bissopriche for lete
Forto holde such dignete to lite he couþe of lore
And hy hym hadde to lange iþoled & þo nolde hi namore
And foles hy were þat such fol vurst broȝte in such miȝte
& if he was follich underuonge adoun he ssolde wiþ riȝte
As a þeof touore a Iustice his dom forto auonge
Þe king and þe erchebissop ek speke wordes grete
Þat he ssolde as he worþe was his bissopriche for lete
Forto holde such dignete to lite he couþe of lore
And hy hym hadde to lange iþoled & þo nolde hi namore
And foles hy were þat such fol vurst broȝte in such miȝte
& if he was follich underuonge adoun he ssolde wiþ riȝte
Sein Wolston stod wel mildeliche & hurde al þat hy sede
Nadde he noman bote God to answerie ne to rede
Sires he sede riȝt it is þat ich ȝoure heste do
For sire king þou ert mi souerein & þou erchebissop also
Þe crois ich habbe ȝare ybore þat ȝe seoþ her lo
I knowe ich am and wel ichot þat ynam noȝt worþe þerto
Wanne ȝe wolleþ þat ich ine bileue as man þat vnworþe is
Wel vawe ichelle ȝoure heste do as mine souereins iwis
In obedient to Holy Churche iwis ich nel be[o] noȝt
To ȝulde up as ȝe me hoteþ ich ine habbe here ibroȝt
Ac for ȝe ne toke hyne me noȝt inelle ȝou take non
Ac him þat hine me bitok byuore ȝou euerichon
Þe godeman þat hit me bitok ȝend he liþ wel stille
Ichelle him take [hine] up aȝen þanne do ich ȝoure wille
Nadde he noman bote God to answerie ne to rede
Sires he sede riȝt it is þat ich ȝoure heste do
For sire king þou ert mi souerein & þou erchebissop also
Þe crois ich habbe ȝare ybore þat ȝe seoþ her lo
I knowe ich am and wel ichot þat ynam noȝt worþe þerto
Wanne ȝe wolleþ þat ich ine bileue as man þat vnworþe is
Wel vawe ichelle ȝoure heste do as mine souereins iwis
In obedient to Holy Churche iwis ich nel be[o] noȝt
To ȝulde up as ȝe me hoteþ ich ine habbe here ibroȝt
Ac for ȝe ne toke hyne me noȝt inelle ȝou take non
Ac him þat hine me bitok byuore ȝou euerichon
Þe godeman þat hit me bitok ȝend he liþ wel stille
Ichelle him take [hine] up aȝen þanne do ich ȝoure wille
To seinte Edwardes tombe he wende þat was in marbelston
And nom is crois wel mildeliche & smot þe point þer on
Þe staf smot in þe marbelston as it were in nesse sonde
And he was inne deop inou þe godeman let hym stonde
Nou he sede ich him habbe bitake þat bitok it me
And touore ȝou here iȝoulde up al þulke dignete
Takeþ nou wam þat ȝe wolleþ somme þat be[o] [bet] in lore
And habbeþ goday euerichon ȝe ne mowe esse namore
And nom is crois wel mildeliche & smot þe point þer on
Þe staf smot in þe marbelston as it were in nesse sonde
And he was inne deop inou þe godeman let hym stonde
Nou he sede ich him habbe bitake þat bitok it me
And touore ȝou here iȝoulde up al þulke dignete
13
And habbeþ goday euerichon ȝe ne mowe esse namore
Þis holyman hym wende uorþ amang ham alle wel softe
Þe volk stod as hy were inome & biheld þe crois wel ofte
Hou he stod in þe marbelston so deope and so vaste
Of þe miracle hom wondred alle & were somdel agaste
Somme of hom wende þerto sone þe crois up to drawe
Ac þer nas non so strang of ham þat miȝte hure enes wawe
Þe volk stod as hy were inome & biheld þe crois wel ofte
Hou he stod in þe marbelston so deope and so vaste
Of þe miracle hom wondred alle & were somdel agaste
Somme of hom wende þerto sone þe crois up to drawe
Ac þer nas non so strang of ham þat miȝte hure enes wawe
Hy porueide þer sire Gondolf bissop of Roucetre
Þat he were after sein Wolston byssop of Wircetre
Þe erchebissop him het arise & nyme þe crois anon
Þe bissop aros wel baldeliche & þuder ward gan gon
Þe crois he nom & faste drou uppon þe marbelston
He nemiȝte hure wawe noȝt þat folk wondrede echon
And þare aboute wel þicke drou þat wonder forto se[o]
Þe king and þe erchebissop iseye þat it nemiȝte oþer be[o]
Þat he were after sein Wolston byssop of Wircetre
Þe erchebissop him het arise & nyme þe crois anon
Þe bissop aros wel baldeliche & þuder ward gan gon
Þe crois he nom & faste drou uppon þe marbelston
He nemiȝte hure wawe noȝt þat folk wondrede echon
And þare aboute wel þicke drou þat wonder forto se[o]
Þe king and þe erchebissop iseye þat it nemiȝte oþer be[o]
Hy repentede of hore dede and after sein Wolston sende
In vaire manere þat hy wolde hore trespas amende
Þe messagers iredi were after hym sone wende
Ȝute þis holyman for al ȝare gult is herte to ham bende
And sede ich mot nede do mine souereines wille
To court he wende aȝen mid hom wel mildeliche & stille
Þo he was to court icome hy arise aȝen him anon
Þe kyng and þe erchebissop ek & oþere þat were is fon
In grete noblesse hy clupede him vorþ & forȝifnesse hym bede
And bede to amendy aȝen him al hore misdede
And bede him nyme aȝe þe crois & do by hore rede
For he was best worþe þerto þanne eni oþer hy sede
In vaire manere þat hy wolde hore trespas amende
Þe messagers iredi were after hym sone wende
Ȝute þis holyman for al ȝare gult is herte to ham bende
And sede ich mot nede do mine souereines wille
To court he wende aȝen mid hom wel mildeliche & stille
Þo he was to court icome hy arise aȝen him anon
Þe kyng and þe erchebissop ek & oþere þat were is fon
In grete noblesse hy clupede him vorþ & forȝifnesse hym bede
And bede to amendy aȝen him al hore misdede
And bede him nyme aȝe þe crois & do by hore rede
For he was best worþe þerto þanne eni oþer hy sede
Nay certes sire quaþ sein Wolston þat nere noȝt to do
For ich wot ȝe sede soþ inam noȝt worþe þerto
Ac nymeþ wan ȝoure wille be[o] anoþer þat conne more
Þe king and þe erchebissop ek cride him milce & ore
And sede þer nas non oþer þat so worþe were þerto
Longe it was ar þis holiman hore wille wolde do
Ac forto obeie is souereins he wende vorþ attelaste
& nom þis crois wel mildeliche þat stikede er so faste
As liȝtliche as he wolde hym sulf þe crois he gan up drawe
Þat so mani men [uond]ede er & nemiȝte noȝt enes wawe
Þicke orn þat folk aboute hym and no wonder hit nas
Þe miracle was sone ikud þat so apert was
For ich wot ȝe sede soþ inam noȝt worþe þerto
14
Þe king and þe erchebissop ek cride him milce & ore
And sede þer nas non oþer þat so worþe were þerto
Longe it was ar þis holiman hore wille wolde do
Ac forto obeie is souereins he wende vorþ attelaste
& nom þis crois wel mildeliche þat stikede er so faste
As liȝtliche as he wolde hym sulf þe crois he gan up drawe
Þat so mani men [uond]ede er & nemiȝte noȝt enes wawe
Þicke orn þat folk aboute hym and no wonder hit nas
Þe miracle was sone ikud þat so apert was
Me honurede þis holyman as muche as me miȝte
His poer þat him was bynome he tok aȝen wiþ riȝte
And aȝen to is bissopriche wiþ gret honour drou
Is couent vnderueng hym faire & honurede him inou
Þis holyman ladde al is lyf in god lyf and clene
In syknesse wel vewe þer were þat man wolde ofmene
Þat he ne broȝte to hele anon þoru oure Louerdes grace
Sike men wel þicke come to him in eche place
His poer þat him was bynome he tok aȝen wiþ riȝte
And aȝen to is bissopriche wiþ gret honour drou
Is couent vnderueng hym faire & honurede him inou
Þis holyman ladde al is lyf in god lyf and clene
In syknesse wel vewe þer were þat man wolde ofmene
Þat he ne broȝte to hele anon þoru oure Louerdes grace
Sike men wel þicke come to him in eche place
Deue and dombe & eke blinde & ech maner sike also
He helde þoru oure Louerdes grace wanne hi come hym to
So longe he liuede an eorþe her þat a was of gret elde
His body bygan to heuegy al gret feblesse he uelde
A slou feuere him com on þat nom hym noȝt to stronge
Þat made is body multe awey þat laste swuþe long
He helde þoru oure Louerdes grace wanne hi come hym to
So longe he liuede an eorþe her þat a was of gret elde
His body bygan to heuegy al gret feblesse he uelde
A slou feuere him com on þat nom hym noȝt to stronge
Þat made is body multe awey þat laste swuþe long
Seueniȝt byuore þat he deide his breþeren [he] let vecche alle
And let him al his riȝtes do & sede wat ssolde biualle
Out of þis lyf to heuene he wende as he ssel byleue
In the monþe of Geniuer a sein Fabianes eue
A þousond ȝer and nyenty and fiue þer byuore
It was þat oure swete Louerd an eorþe was ibore
In þe teþe ȝer it was also of þe kyngdom
Of Willam þe rede kyng þat after Willam Bastard com
He hadde ar he hanne wende voure & þritti ȝer
And four monþes and four dawes bissop ibeo her
Vour score ȝer he was old and seuene also ney
Ar he wende out of þis lyf to þe ioie of heuene an hey
And let him al his riȝtes do & sede wat ssolde biualle
Out of þis lyf to heuene he wende as he ssel byleue
In the monþe of Geniuer a sein Fabianes eue
A þousond ȝer and nyenty and fiue þer byuore
It was þat oure swete Louerd an eorþe was ibore
In þe teþe ȝer it was also of þe kyngdom
Of Willam þe rede kyng þat after Willam Bastard com
15
And four monþes and four dawes bissop ibeo her
Vour score ȝer he was old and seuene also ney
Ar he wende out of þis lyf to þe ioie of heuene an hey
Þo þis holyman was ded þis monekes come sone
In þe priorie of Wircetre and dude wat was to done
Wesse þat body as it was riȝt & to churche it bere
Þe monkes alle wiþ gret honur þat is breþeren were
Þe seruise þer aboute dede as it was wel riȝt
And to segge hore sauter ek þer aboute hy woke al niȝt
In þe priorie of Wircetre and dude wat was to done
Wesse þat body as it was riȝt & to churche it bere
Þe monkes alle wiþ gret honur þat is breþeren were
Þe seruise þer aboute dede as it was wel riȝt
And to segge hore sauter ek þer aboute hy woke al niȝt
Þo hit was wel [w]iþinne niȝt as hy sede in hore boke
Hom luste slepe swuþe wel vnneþe hi miȝte loke
And somme ne miȝte noȝt forbere ac leiȝe & slepe vaste
Somme as it were in dwellinge hore eiȝne togadere caste
Hom luste slepe swuþe wel vnneþe hi miȝte loke
And somme ne miȝte noȝt forbere ac leiȝe & slepe vaste
Somme as it were in dwellinge hore eiȝne togadere caste
Þis holy body þat lay þer ded bytwene hom in þe bere
Aros him up wel mildeliche as it alyue were
And aweiȝte hom euerichon & bigan atte on ende
And bygan al along þe rewe þoru out þe quer wende
And euere as he aweiȝte hom he gan hom somdel chide
Þat hy nolde wiþ hore slep hore riȝte time abide
So muche was is holy herte þe ordre forto wite
Þat he nolde noȝt þei he were ded is breþeren forȝute
Aros him up wel mildeliche as it alyue were
And aweiȝte hom euerichon & bigan atte on ende
And bygan al along þe rewe þoru out þe quer wende
And euere as he aweiȝte hom he gan hom somdel chide
Þat hy nolde wiþ hore slep hore riȝte time abide
So muche was is holy herte þe ordre forto wite
Þat he nolde noȝt þei he were ded is breþeren forȝute
Þis miracle was wide ikud as riȝt was þat he were
At Wi[r]cestre he was ibured & issrined is nou þere
For him me may þer al day many fair miracle ise[o]
Nou God leoue þat we mote wiþ hym in þe ioie of heuene be[o]
At Wi[r]cestre he was ibured & issrined is nou þere
For him me may þer al day many fair miracle ise[o]
Nou God leoue þat we mote wiþ hym in þe ioie of heuene be[o]
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