29. TO ST. ROBERT OF BURY.
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[MS. Laud 683, leaves 22, back–23.]
Here beginneth a praier to Seynt Robert.
1
O blyssid Robert, Innocent and Virgyne,
Glorious marter, gracious & riht good,
To our prayer thyn eris doun Enclyne,
Wich on-to Crist offredyst thy chast blood,
Ageyns the the Iewys were so wood,
Lyk as thy story makyth mencyoun,
Pray for alle tho, to Crist that starff on rood,
That do reuerence on-to thy passioun.
2
Slayn in childhood by mortal violence,
Allas! it was a pitous thing to see
A sowkyng child, tendre of Innocence,
So to be scourged, and naylled to a tre;
Thou myghtyst crie, thou spak no woord, parde,
With-oute langage makyng a pitous soun,
Pray for alle tho, knelyng on thy kne,
That do reuerence on-to thy passioun.
3
Fostrid with mylk and tendre pap þi foode
Was it nat routhe to se þi veynes bleede?
Only for Crist, crucyfied for our goode,
In whos despit al sangweyn was thy weede,
Slayn in erthe, in hevene is now thy meede,
Among marteris, vp-on thyn hed a crown,
O gracyous Robert! to pray for hem tak heede
That do reuerence on-to thy passioun.
4
Suffredist deth or thou koudist pleyne,
Thy purpil blood allayed with mylk whiht,
Oppressid with turment koudest no woord seyne,
Fer fro thy norice, founde no respight;
Be grace enspired, Iesu was thy delight,
Thy sowle vpborn to the hevenly mansioun,
Pray for alle folk that haue an apetyght
To do reuerence on-to thy passioun.
5
Haue vpon Bury þi gracious remembraunce
That hast among hem a chapel & a shryne,
With helpe of Edmund, preserve hem fro grevaunce,
Kyng of Estynglond, martir and virgyne,
With whos briht sonne lat thy sterre shyne,
Strecchyng your stremys thoruh al þis regioun,
Pray for alle tho, and kepe hem fro ruyne,
That do reuerence to both your passioun.
Explicit.
