 | Saint Alban and Saint Amphabel |  |
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(Buch II.)
Here begynneth the prologue of the secunde boke / treatynge of the conuersion of the blessed prothomartyr of Englande called Sainct Albon.
So as Aurora parteth the derke night
Towarde the tyme of Phebus vprisynge,
And Lucifer with agreable light
Bryngeth kalendes of a glad mornynge:
So by ensample the true lyuynge
Of olde tyme in saint Albon vsed
Caused the lorde, whiche guerdoneth euery thynge,
That the merites of hym were nat refused.
Towarde the tyme of Phebus vprisynge,
And Lucifer with agreable light
Bryngeth kalendes of a glad mornynge:
So by ensample the true lyuynge
Of olde tyme in saint Albon vsed
Caused the lorde, whiche guerdoneth euery thynge,
That the merites of hym were nat refused.
Euery thynge draweth to his nature
Like as kynde gyueth heuenly influence
For to disposen euery creature,
Some to profite, / some to do offence,
Some to encrease by perfite prouidence;
Where vertue hath the dominacion,
Of god ordeined by intere diligence
That sensualitie be bridled with reason.
Like as kynde gyueth heuenly influence
For to disposen euery creature,
Some to profite, / some to do offence,
Some to encrease by perfite prouidence;
Where vertue hath the dominacion,
Of god ordeined by intere diligence
That sensualitie be bridled with reason.
Amonge painems / Iues haue be saine
That vertue hath many of them gouernèd;
Taught by nature, / wrought nothynge in vaine,
But as kynde / and reason hath vs lerned;
Good graine from chaf was discerned—
Thus hath he proued in many a sondry place—
Good from yuell, / by them truely conserned—
Recorde vpon Cornelly and on saynt Eustace!
That vertue hath many of them gouernèd;
Taught by nature, / wrought nothynge in vaine,
But as kynde / and reason hath vs lerned;
Good graine from chaf was discerned—
Thus hath he proued in many a sondry place—
Good from yuell, / by them truely conserned—
Recorde vpon Cornelly and on saynt Eustace!
Who taughte Troyan whylom to done ryghte
Whan the wydowe complayned her greuaunce?
To her grefe themperour cast his sighte—
Reason taught hym, for all his great puissaunce,
To her request to holde the balaunce
Of ryghtwysenes, to se, though he were stronge,
In her pouerte to perswade (!) her perturbance,
By egall dome he to redresse her wronge.
Whan the wydowe complayned her greuaunce?
To her grefe themperour cast his sighte—
Reason taught hym, for all his great puissaunce,
To her request to holde the balaunce
Of ryghtwysenes, to se, though he were stronge,
In her pouerte to perswade (!) her perturbance,
By egall dome he to redresse her wronge.
The storye of olde it put in memorye,
For ryghtwysenes in especiall
Howe that Troyan by prayers of Gregorye
Was preserued from the paynes eternall.
From dampnation and cloyster infernall,
To exemplifie howe god taketh hede
Of his greattest power moste imperiall,
Of ryght and mercy acquiteth eche good dede.—
For ryghtwysenes in especiall
Howe that Troyan by prayers of Gregorye
Was preserued from the paynes eternall.
From dampnation and cloyster infernall,
To exemplifie howe god taketh hede
Of his greattest power moste imperiall,
Of ryght and mercy acquiteth eche good dede.—
And to the purpose of my mattiere:
Durynge his lyfe of great power and myght
This blessed Albon, who so lyste to here,
Though lyke a prince his power yafe great lyght,
Fostred trouthe, / dyd wronge to no wyght:
For whiche the lorde his hande hath nat withdrawe
To call and clepe hym his owne chosen knyght
To be conuerted and turned to his lawe;
Durynge his lyfe of great power and myght
This blessed Albon, who so lyste to here,
Though lyke a prince his power yafe great lyght,
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For whiche the lorde his hande hath nat withdrawe
To call and clepe hym his owne chosen knyght
To be conuerted and turned to his lawe;
His trouthe, / his vertue, / his natife gentylnes,
Of custome stable grounded in many wyse,
Caused god of his mercifull goodnes
To the (!) this prince into his seruice,
All fals ydols manly to despise,
This choson chapyon, borne of the breton lyne,
This newe Tytan / whose beames dyd auise
Out of orient to lorde to enlemyne (!).
Of custome stable grounded in many wyse,
Caused god of his mercifull goodnes
To the (!) this prince into his seruice,
All fals ydols manly to despise,
This choson chapyon, borne of the breton lyne,
This newe Tytan / whose beames dyd auise
Out of orient to lorde to enlemyne (!).
Nowe hensforth shall be my processe,
With gods helpe, my penne to apply
Howe in his tyme he keped ryghtwysenes
And lyke a prince / howe he dyd hym gye
To set his citie vpon eche partie
In gouernaunce, from ryght they not twynne,
Vnder the reignes of prudent polycye:
Whiche to reherse / thus I wyll begynne.
With gods helpe, my penne to apply
Howe in his tyme he keped ryghtwysenes
And lyke a prince / howe he dyd hym gye
To set his citie vpon eche partie
In gouernaunce, from ryght they not twynne,
Vnder the reignes of prudent polycye:
Whiche to reherse / thus I wyll begynne.
Here endeth the prologe of the seconde boke.
Here begynneth the seconde boke of the glorious Prothomartyr saynt
Albon / howe he was made gouernour of the citie of Verolamye.
Vnder the Romaynes chefe and principall:
With great auise it lyked them to ordayne
By commyssyon and titell imperiall
Prince and stewarde thorughout all Bretayne
To chese Albon: / whiche dyd first his payne,
Lyke a prince not slowe nor recheles,
To auoyde all trouble / and rule the people in peas.
With great auise it lyked them to ordayne
By commyssyon and titell imperiall
Prince and stewarde thorughout all Bretayne
To chese Albon: / whiche dyd first his payne,
Lyke a prince not slowe nor recheles,
To auoyde all trouble / and rule the people in peas.
By polecy he hath so prouyded,
Set statutes so myghtye and so stronge,
And his lawes so vertuously deuyded
For com̄on profyte to endure longe,
That no man shulde do other wronge;
And where he sawe innocentes oppressed,
Set a payne inhaste to be redressed.
Set statutes so myghtye and so stronge,
And his lawes so vertuously deuyded
For com̄on profyte to endure longe,
That no man shulde do other wronge;
And where he sawe innocentes oppressed,
Set a payne inhaste to be redressed.
The ryche he made lyue to theyr estate,
Without extorcion do to the porayle,
Repressed ryot, suffered no debate,
Idell people constrayned to trauayle—
Aforne prouyded for plente of vitayle,
Lyke his office with vertuous diligence,
By suffisaunce there were none indigence.
Without extorcion do to the porayle,
Repressed ryot, suffered no debate,
Idell people constrayned to trauayle—
Aforne prouyded for plente of vitayle,
Lyke his office with vertuous diligence,
By suffisaunce there were none indigence.
Beloued and drad with hygh and lowe degre,
For frende nor foo declyned not fro trouth;
The good hym loued for his benignite,
The ryche drad hym, / on the pore he had reuth;
Wronges to redresse there was in hym no slouth;
In his domes stedfast as a wall,
Not singuler founde nor yet parciall;
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The good hym loued for his benignite,
The ryche drad hym, / on the pore he had reuth;
Wronges to redresse there was in hym no slouth;
In his domes stedfast as a wall,
Not singuler founde nor yet parciall;
Nature taught hym all vices for to flee;
Lyke the lawes / to whiche he was bounde,
A chastiser of all dishoneste;
Gafe neuer dome tyll trouthe were out founde;
Nother to heuy / nother to iocounde,
But as tyme and mater gaue hym occasyon,
So was demened his disposition.
Lyke the lawes / to whiche he was bounde,
A chastiser of all dishoneste;
Gafe neuer dome tyll trouthe were out founde;
Nother to heuy / nother to iocounde,
But as tyme and mater gaue hym occasyon,
So was demened his disposition.
He had also of his acqueyntance
Foure vertues called Cardynall:
The reine of his brydell led temperance,
Ryghtwysenes with mercy ruled all,
Trouthe to defende, / and manhod marcyall,
By force also through hygh prowes
Spared not to chastise all falsenes.
Foure vertues called Cardynall:
The reine of his brydell led temperance,
Ryghtwysenes with mercy ruled all,
Trouthe to defende, / and manhod marcyall,
By force also through hygh prowes
Spared not to chastise all falsenes.
He coude appese folke that lyste debate,
Refourme all rancour where he coude it espye,
Lyke a prince knyghtly he dyd hate
Suche as coulde falsely forge and lye,
Stopped his eares from all flaterye,
To foren quarelles lyst yeue no credence
Tyll the partie come vnto audience;
Refourme all rancour where he coude it espye,
Lyke a prince knyghtly he dyd hate
Suche as coulde falsely forge and lye,
Stopped his eares from all flaterye,
To foren quarelles lyst yeue no credence
Tyll the partie come vnto audience;
Enuious sclaunder he punyswed rygorously
Cōpassed of malyce, hatred and diffame,
To double tonges euer he was enmye
Whiche to say yuell of custome haue no shame,
And backbyters that haue theyr lyppes lame
To say well, / this prince yonge and olde
Voyded all suche out of his house-holde;
Cōpassed of malyce, hatred and diffame,
To double tonges euer he was enmye
Whiche to say yuell of custome haue no shame,
And backbyters that haue theyr lyppes lame
To say well, / this prince yonge and olde
Voyded all suche out of his house-holde;
By discrecion he coulde punysshe and spare,
His harte ay voyde of all duplicite:
Large of custome / to naked folke and bare—
His gate ay open for hospitalite.
That, if his vertues shulde rekened be
Here in this boke tolde from yonge age.
I haue therto no connyng nor langage.
His harte ay voyde of all duplicite:
Large of custome / to naked folke and bare—
His gate ay open for hospitalite.
That, if his vertues shulde rekened be
Here in this boke tolde from yonge age.
I haue therto no connyng nor langage.
Not withstandyng, as I haue behyght,
I wyll procede, and not excuse me,
To declare howe gode sawe to his knyght,—
The tyme rehersed, / the date also parde
Whan Amphibalus entred the citie
Of Verolamy, tolde eke the occasion
Howe he and Albon met in the town.
I wyll procede, and not excuse me,
To declare howe gode sawe to his knyght,—
The tyme rehersed, / the date also parde
Whan Amphibalus entred the citie
Of Verolamy, tolde eke the occasion
Howe he and Albon met in the town.
Amphibalus entred the citie
Of auenture to seke herburgage;
By the stretes vp and downe wente he
Lyke a pylgryme of chere and visage:
Tyll it fell so he met in passage
The noble prince, playnely to conclude.
Blessed Albon, with a great multytude.
Of auenture to seke herburgage;
By the stretes vp and downe wente he
Lyke a pylgryme of chere and visage:
Tyll it fell so he met in passage
The noble prince, playnely to conclude.
Blessed Albon, with a great multytude.
This myghty prince by great fortune,
After custome vsed that tyme of olde,
Amyd the citie walked in his estate.
In a garment frenged all with golde.
Amphibalus vertuously made bolde,
with humble chere and meke visage
Besought hym lowly to graunt hym herbergage.
After custome vsed that tyme of olde,
Amyd the citie walked in his estate.
In a garment frenged all with golde.
Amphibalus vertuously made bolde,
with humble chere and meke visage
Besought hym lowly to graunt hym herbergage.
For whan that he on Albon cast his loke
And hym behelde with euery circumstance,
By longe auyse of hym good hede he toke;
It fell anone into his remembrance
Full yore agone of his acqueyntance.
Howe they in one of fortune dyd assent
Out of Brytayn / and vnto Rome went.
And hym behelde with euery circumstance,
By longe auyse of hym good hede he toke;
It fell anone into his remembrance
Full yore agone of his acqueyntance.
Howe they in one of fortune dyd assent
Out of Brytayn / and vnto Rome went.
For gods sake this Amphibalus
Of herborgage can lowly hym require,
To be receyued and take in to his hous.
Albon anone, as the story doth vs lere.
Was in suche case straunge in no manere,
Hauyng a custome to hye and lowe degree
Frely to graunt hospitalite.
Of herborgage can lowly hym require,
To be receyued and take in to his hous.
Albon anone, as the story doth vs lere.
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Hauyng a custome to hye and lowe degree
Frely to graunt hospitalite.
In to his house hym goodly hath receyued—
This symple clerke lyst no lenger tary.
His porte, his chere benyngly receyued—
Mynystred to hym all that was necessary;
From Christis lawe though Albon dyd vary,
Lyke a prince benyng and vertuous
Receyued hym full goodly into his hous.
This symple clerke lyst no lenger tary.
His porte, his chere benyngly receyued—
Mynystred to hym all that was necessary;
From Christis lawe though Albon dyd vary,
Lyke a prince benyng and vertuous
Receyued hym full goodly into his hous.
Not after longe, onely by goddes grace,
Of knyghtly fauour sought oportunyte,
To get a tyme, / a leysour / and a space
To auoyde from hym his people and his mayne,
With this pylgryme alone for to be;
And secretely whan they were met in fere,
To hym he sayde anone as ye shall here:
Of knyghtly fauour sought oportunyte,
To get a tyme, / a leysour / and a space
To auoyde from hym his people and his mayne,
With this pylgryme alone for to be;
And secretely whan they were met in fere,
To hym he sayde anone as ye shall here:
“By many signes and tokens that I can—
Dyuers daungers straunge to recure—
In soth that ye be a christen man;
And of hardynes durst your selfe assure
To put your body and lyfe in auenture,
Amonge paynyms your persone to ieoparte?
Without dethe howe myght ye departe?”
Dyuers daungers straunge to recure—
In soth that ye be a christen man;
And of hardynes durst your selfe assure
To put your body and lyfe in auenture,
Amonge paynyms your persone to ieoparte?
Without dethe howe myght ye departe?”
Quod Amphibalus: “Christe Jesus of his grace—
Of his mercy / be it that I haue deserued,—
From all daunger and euery peryllous place
Christe goddes sonne my body hath preserued,
Ben my gyde and my lyfe conserued,
To this citie brought me safe, to preache
His glorious lawe and his faythe to teache.”
Of his mercy / be it that I haue deserued,—
From all daunger and euery peryllous place
Christe goddes sonne my body hath preserued,
Ben my gyde and my lyfe conserued,
To this citie brought me safe, to preache
His glorious lawe and his faythe to teache.”
Quod Albon than: / “howe may this (be) trewe?
What that he is, I wolde fayne lere,
The sonne of god, / a straunge thynge and a newe!
Had god a sonne? declare this mattiere!”
Quod Amphiball: / “so ye lyst to here
Paciently, / for nothyng wyll I spare
Curiously the trouthe to declare.”
What that he is, I wolde fayne lere,
The sonne of god, / a straunge thynge and a newe!
Had god a sonne? declare this mattiere!”
Quod Amphiball: / “so ye lyst to here
Paciently, / for nothyng wyll I spare
Curiously the trouthe to declare.”
Amphibalus is entreated(!) by reason
On the gospell to grounde his processe,
And to confirme his disputation
Of holy writte he toke iustly wytnesse,
Howe our beleue recordeth in sothnesse
Of god the father and god the sonne also;
“This is our belefe, take good hede therto!
On the gospell to grounde his processe,
And to confirme his disputation
Of holy writte he toke iustly wytnesse,
Howe our beleue recordeth in sothnesse
Of god the father and god the sonne also;
“This is our belefe, take good hede therto!
The sonne, moste perfyte & moste good
For mans helthe and saluation
Was incarnate and toke flesshe and blode;
And semblably, for shorte conclusyon,
Of his moste benigne consolation,
Ryght so as he firste made man in dede,
So come he downe to take our manhede;
For mans helthe and saluation
Was incarnate and toke flesshe and blode;
And semblably, for shorte conclusyon,
Of his moste benigne consolation,
Ryght so as he firste made man in dede,
So come he downe to take our manhede;
And as hym lyste of grace and of mercy
By his power, / whiche that is deuine,
Ordayned maydens to lyue here parfytly,
So he agaynwarde, playnly to determyne,
Toke flesshe and bloude of a pure virgine.
The tyme come, there was none obstacle
But that he wroughte his maruaylous myracle.
By his power, / whiche that is deuine,
Ordayned maydens to lyue here parfytly,
So he agaynwarde, playnly to determyne,
Toke flesshe and bloude of a pure virgine.
The tyme come, there was none obstacle
But that he wroughte his maruaylous myracle.
The tyme approched of grace and gladnes
Towarde sommer, whan the lustye quene,
Called Flora, with motleis of swetenes
Clothed the soyle all in newe grene,
And amerous Veer / agayne the son shyne
By the cherysshynge of Apryll with his shores
Bryngeth Kalendes of May & of his flowres;
Towarde sommer, whan the lustye quene,
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Clothed the soyle all in newe grene,
And amerous Veer / agayne the son shyne
By the cherysshynge of Apryll with his shores
Bryngeth Kalendes of May & of his flowres;
So in the season heuenly and deuine
Of wynter stormes was passed all outrage
And in the rayne Phebus gan to shyne:
The same tyme to our great auauntage
Downe from heuen was sent a message,
Whiche concluded: for oure felicite
A braunche shulde sprynge out of iesse.
Of wynter stormes was passed all outrage
And in the rayne Phebus gan to shyne:
The same tyme to our great auauntage
Downe from heuen was sent a message,
Whiche concluded: for oure felicite
A braunche shulde sprynge out of iesse.
This newe tydynge to Nasereth was sent,
And Gabriell come on his message,
The trynyte hole beinge in one assent,
For to accomplysshe this gratious viage;
The holy goste holdynge his passage
Downe descendyng ryght as any lyne
In to the breste of a pure virgyne.
And Gabriell come on his message,
The trynyte hole beinge in one assent,
For to accomplysshe this gratious viage;
The holy goste holdynge his passage
Downe descendyng ryght as any lyne
In to the breste of a pure virgyne.
Lyke as Luke in his gospell sayth,
As is remembred in the same place:
Whan Gabryell lowly gan abrayde,
Mekely sayde: Hayle mary, full of grace,
Thou chosen of god, euery houre and space,
The tabernacle of the trinyte,
Amonge all women blessed mote thou be!
As is remembred in the same place:
Whan Gabryell lowly gan abrayde,
Mekely sayde: Hayle mary, full of grace,
Thou chosen of god, euery houre and space,
The tabernacle of the trinyte,
Amonge all women blessed mote thou be!
Whan she had herde the angell thus expresse,
Troubled in his wordes, of femynyte,
Thought in her selfe, of very chast clennesse,
This chosen myrrour of humylyte:
This salutation / what it myght be.
The angell seinge her aferde, of womanhede,
Sayd: O Mary, haue herof no drede!
Troubled in his wordes, of femynyte,
Thought in her selfe, of very chast clennesse,
This chosen myrrour of humylyte:
This salutation / what it myght be.
The angell seinge her aferde, of womanhede,
Sayd: O Mary, haue herof no drede!
Afore god thou hast founden grace,
Thou shalt conceyue a chylde in all clennesse,
Of whose byrthe Bedleme shall be the place—
As the gospelll can bere herof wytnesse;
And his name, playnly to expresse,
Thou shalt hym name of moste vertue,
Whan he is borne, and call hym Jesu.
Thou shalt conceyue a chylde in all clennesse,
Of whose byrthe Bedleme shall be the place—
As the gospelll can bere herof wytnesse;
And his name, playnly to expresse,
Thou shalt hym name of moste vertue,
Whan he is borne, and call hym Jesu.
Howe may this be? sayde this glorious mayde,
That knowe no man in wyll, dede nor thought.
Thangell than vnto Mary sayde:
As I toforne haue the tydynges brought,
By the holy goste this myracle shalbe wrought,
The vertue also of hym that syt highest
Shall ouershadowe and lyght into thy brest;
That knowe no man in wyll, dede nor thought.
Thangell than vnto Mary sayde:
As I toforne haue the tydynges brought,
By the holy goste this myracle shalbe wrought,
The vertue also of hym that syt highest
Shall ouershadowe and lyght into thy brest;
For that lorde that shall of the be borne,
As thynge moste holy, men shall hym call
The son of god, / as prophetes wrote be-forne;
Suche heuenly grace is vpon the fall
By a prerogatyue aboue women all,
With lyght surmountyng aboue the sterres seuen;—
This message I haue brought the from heuen.
As thynge moste holy, men shall hym call
The son of god, / as prophetes wrote be-forne;
Suche heuenly grace is vpon the fall
By a prerogatyue aboue women all,
With lyght surmountyng aboue the sterres seuen;—
This message I haue brought the from heuen.
Quod Mary: fulfylled be the wyll
After the worde / which thou hast brought vnto me!
Beholde this handmayde / & this humble ancille!—
This was her answere with all humylyte.
Thoo god was pleased with her virginite,
Yet was that lorde—/ doctours beare wytnesse—
Pleased more with her deuoute mekenes.
After the worde / which thou hast brought vnto me!
Beholde this handmayde / & this humble ancille!—
This was her answere with all humylyte.
Thoo god was pleased with her virginite,
Yet was that lorde—/ doctours beare wytnesse—
Pleased more with her deuoute mekenes.
Thus hath a mayde through her perfytnes
To beare her lorde graciously deserued,
A chosen doughter by her pure clennes
To beare her father, / her chastite concerued;
By her merytes that were to her reserued,
As I sayde erst, by a prerogatyue
She amonge women was mayden, mother, & wyfe;
To beare her lorde graciously deserued,
A chosen doughter by her pure clennes
To beare her father, / her chastite concerued;
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As I sayde erst, by a prerogatyue
She amonge women was mayden, mother, & wyfe;
To god a mayde to fulfyll his wyll,
And to the lorde a seruant by mekenes,
Doughter & mother, / & eke faythfull ancyll;—
Whiche to remembre hath brought gostly gladnes
Of all welfare / our daungers to represse,
Aforne by recorde of prophetes in substaunce,
Vs to defende agayne all mortall greuaunce.
And to the lorde a seruant by mekenes,
Doughter & mother, / & eke faythfull ancyll;—
Whiche to remembre hath brought gostly gladnes
Of all welfare / our daungers to represse,
Aforne by recorde of prophetes in substaunce,
Vs to defende agayne all mortall greuaunce.
For whiche, dere host, sith it may auayle,
To my doctrine yeueth hartily credence!
God hath me sent to teache you and counsayle.
So that ye lust with humble diligence
Become his knyght and do hym reuerence,
Obeye his lawe & his preceptes all,
Taketh good hede to you what shall befall!
To my doctrine yeueth hartily credence!
God hath me sent to teache you and counsayle.
So that ye lust with humble diligence
Become his knyght and do hym reuerence,
Obeye his lawe & his preceptes all,
Taketh good hede to you what shall befall!
His fayth to you shall gyue so great vertue
That blynde folke ye shall make for to see
By inuocation only of Christe Jesu,
Delyuer the people from all aduersite,
Leprous folke / and tho that lame be
To be made clene / and make them go vpryght,
And euery sykenes recouer thrugh his myght;
That blynde folke ye shall make for to see
By inuocation only of Christe Jesu,
Delyuer the people from all aduersite,
Leprous folke / and tho that lame be
To be made clene / and make them go vpryght,
And euery sykenes recouer thrugh his myght;
Ye shall escape by his prouydence
All myscheues to you that ben contrary,
Lyue longe tyme, / go free from pestilence,
From Christis fayth / if that ye wyll not vary;
To graunt your askynge the lorde shall not tary.
But at last or ye hens wende,
By martyrdome ye shall make an ende;
All myscheues to you that ben contrary,
Lyue longe tyme, / go free from pestilence,
From Christis fayth / if that ye wyll not vary;
To graunt your askynge the lorde shall not tary.
But at last or ye hens wende,
By martyrdome ye shall make an ende;
By martyrdome ye shall ende your lyfe
And blessedly from this worlde shall passe,
Out of all trouble and transitory stryfe
Whiche day by day / doth you here manasse;
Thrugh Christis myght and influence of grace
Ye shall to god / to your great auantage
By meke suffraunce make your passage.
And blessedly from this worlde shall passe,
Out of all trouble and transitory stryfe
Whiche day by day / doth you here manasse;
Thrugh Christis myght and influence of grace
Ye shall to god / to your great auantage
By meke suffraunce make your passage.
This was chefe cause and grounde of my com̄yng,
Sent by Jesu vnto this towne
As a bedyll to brynge you tydyng
Howe by his myghty visitation
Ye shall endure payne and passyon
For Christis fayth in his moste pacient wyse,
As knyght and martyr chosen to his seruice.
Sent by Jesu vnto this towne
As a bedyll to brynge you tydyng
Howe by his myghty visitation
Ye shall endure payne and passyon
For Christis fayth in his moste pacient wyse,
As knyght and martyr chosen to his seruice.
That is his wyll, ye shall fynde in dede,
To recompence the great humanyte
Whiche ye haue vsed of fredome and manhede
To indigent folke and people in pouerte,
And specially for hospitalite,
With other dedes in nombre called seuen
Dedes of mercy, registred nowe in heuen:
To recompence the great humanyte
Whiche ye haue vsed of fredome and manhede
To indigent folke and people in pouerte,
And specially for hospitalite,
With other dedes in nombre called seuen
Dedes of mercy, registred nowe in heuen:
To fede the pore / whiche had no vitayle,
And to viset folkes in prison,
Receyue them that herburgh dyd fayle,
Bedred folkes that lay in mischiefe downe,
Comforte the syke, mynystre them foysowne,
Parte with them of that they had nede,
And bury them that laye in myschefe dede;
And to viset folkes in prison,
Receyue them that herburgh dyd fayle,
Bedred folkes that lay in mischiefe downe,
Comforte the syke, mynystre them foysowne,
Parte with them of that they had nede,
And bury them that laye in myschefe dede;
To his seruantes / & all that ye haue mynystred
Cronycled ben in the heuenly consistory,
In his boke perpetually registred,
Eche good dede the lorde hath in memory,
It to guerdon with a palme of victorie,
Perpetually with hym to reigne in ioye—
Greatter conquest than was the sege of Troye.
Cronycled ben in the heuenly consistory,
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Eche good dede the lorde hath in memory,
It to guerdon with a palme of victorie,
Perpetually with hym to reigne in ioye—
Greatter conquest than was the sege of Troye.
Sith ye your handes haue not withdrawe
From hospitalite, pore folkes for to fede,
Whyle ye haue lyued in this paynym lawe,
Causes of the poore to promote and to spede,
God forgetteth not to quite your mede;
If this be done after ye be baptised,
A double palme for you shalbe deuysed.”
From hospitalite, pore folkes for to fede,
Whyle ye haue lyued in this paynym lawe,
Causes of the poore to promote and to spede,
God forgetteth not to quite your mede;
If this be done after ye be baptised,
A double palme for you shalbe deuysed.”
Lyke a prince in moste knyghtly wyse
Albon obeyed with entiere diligence,
All these wordes gan wysely aduertise,
Answerynge these wordes in sentence:
“What maner worshyp, / what maner reuerence
Shall I do than, whan I am withdrawe
From ydolatry / and turned to Christis lawe?”
Albon obeyed with entiere diligence,
All these wordes gan wysely aduertise,
Answerynge these wordes in sentence:
“What maner worshyp, / what maner reuerence
Shall I do than, whan I am withdrawe
From ydolatry / and turned to Christis lawe?”
Amphibalus yafe answere to Albon:
“Ye must beleue—& in no doubte be:
There is no god in this worlde but one,
The father, / the sonne, / the holy gost, these thre
Ioyned in one by perfyte vnite,—
The foundation, as I can well preue,
Firste article & grounde of our beleue.
“Ye must beleue—& in no doubte be:
There is no god in this worlde but one,
The father, / the sonne, / the holy gost, these thre
Ioyned in one by perfyte vnite,—
The foundation, as I can well preue,
Firste article & grounde of our beleue.
This fayth, in soth, shall clerely you directe,
If that you lyst gyue therto credence,
All olde errours to auoyde & correcte;
If ye so done with humble reuerence,
I dare affirme and conclude in sentence
That your begynnyng to god is acceptable
And to your soule treasure moste profytable.
If that you lyst gyue therto credence,
All olde errours to auoyde & correcte;
If ye so done with humble reuerence,
I dare affirme and conclude in sentence
That your begynnyng to god is acceptable
And to your soule treasure moste profytable.
Of the father the power eternall,
Of the sonne souerain sapience,
Of the holy gost in especiall
Grace dothe procede by vertuous prouidence;
And to descryue the magnificence
Of all the thre, / called thre and one,
Vndeuided, / they neuer asonder gone.
Of the sonne souerain sapience,
Of the holy gost in especiall
Grace dothe procede by vertuous prouidence;
And to descryue the magnificence
Of all the thre, / called thre and one,
Vndeuided, / they neuer asonder gone.
And if ye lyste vnto this lawe tourne,
Of his most digne imperiall maieste
He shall you make with hym to soiourne,
This blessed lorde, / this blessed trinite,
Where ioye is euer and all felicite,
Tofore whose face eternally lastynge
Thre Jerarchies one Osanna synge.
Of his most digne imperiall maieste
He shall you make with hym to soiourne,
This blessed lorde, / this blessed trinite,
Where ioye is euer and all felicite,
Tofore whose face eternally lastynge
Thre Jerarchies one Osanna synge.
Of this matiere be nothyng in doute!
Set asyde all ambiguyte,
Forsake your mawmettes / and all that false route—
For they be made of metall, / stone / & tree,
Whiche may not helpe nor forther in no degree:
Saturne, / Jubiter, / Mars, / and Appollo,
With the false goddessis Dyana and June;
Set asyde all ambiguyte,
Forsake your mawmettes / and all that false route—
For they be made of metall, / stone / & tree,
Whiche may not helpe nor forther in no degree:
Saturne, / Jubiter, / Mars, / and Appollo,
With the false goddessis Dyana and June;
Though they haue eares, / in trouth they may not here,
With eien great / of lokyng they do fayle;
They be forged in golde & stones clere;
Who calleth to them, they may nothyng auayle.
Nowe, dere host, forsake all this rascayle,
As I haue sayde, / and do in Christ delyte:
And he by grace shall make you perfyte.”
With eien great / of lokyng they do fayle;
They be forged in golde & stones clere;
Who calleth to them, they may nothyng auayle.
Nowe, dere host, forsake all this rascayle,
As I haue sayde, / and do in Christ delyte:
And he by grace shall make you perfyte.”
A large space Albon kepte hym close,
Fayned in maner as he had disdayne,
From his place in great hast arose;
Yet, or he went, he gan to sayne:
“Ye be not wyse, your doctrine is in vayne.
If it were wyst ye were in this citie,
Ye shulde endure full great aduersitie;
Fayned in maner as he had disdayne,
From his place in great hast arose;
Yet, or he went, he gan to sayne:
“Ye be not wyse, your doctrine is in vayne.
If it were wyst ye were in this citie,
Ye shulde endure full great aduersitie;
34
For your sake there shulde be practysed
Dyuers tourmentes for your destruction,
For your blasphemye cruelly chastised
Without fauour or remyssyon,
At the last, for shorte conclusyon,
Your heed smyten of / without grace,
If ye were knowne or founden in this place.
Dyuers tourmentes for your destruction,
For your blasphemye cruelly chastised
Without fauour or remyssyon,
At the last, for shorte conclusyon,
Your heed smyten of / without grace,
If ye were knowne or founden in this place.
In this mater I can none other fele
For your persone somwhat I stande in doute;
You ben here / yet I shall counsayle,
And you preserue, that no man shall take hede
Of your consayte / nor what ye mene in dede.”
And with that worde / out of the place he goth,
Sheweth a chere lyke as he had bene wroth.
For your persone somwhat I stande in doute;
You ben here / yet I shall counsayle,
And you preserue, that no man shall take hede
Of your consayte / nor what ye mene in dede.”
And with that worde / out of the place he goth,
Sheweth a chere lyke as he had bene wroth.
By grace of god and fauour of fortune
All that he sayde was done with reuerence,
Of gentylnes he was not importune,
Suffered all thynge with humble pacience;
Albeit so / he gafe no full credence
To his doctrine of thynges whiche he tolde,
Stode in doute / what partie he shulde holde.
All that he sayde was done with reuerence,
Of gentylnes he was not importune,
Suffered all thynge with humble pacience;
Albeit so / he gafe no full credence
To his doctrine of thynges whiche he tolde,
Stode in doute / what partie he shulde holde.
Albon in hast thought for the best,
whan Lucyna shone full shene and bryght,
with slepe oppressed, for to take his rest.
Amphibalus satte all that longe nyght
Vpon his knees, as gods owne knyght,
For loue of Albon with great deuotion
Makyng full mekely his orison.
whan Lucyna shone full shene and bryght,
with slepe oppressed, for to take his rest.
Amphibalus satte all that longe nyght
Vpon his knees, as gods owne knyght,
For loue of Albon with great deuotion
Makyng full mekely his orison.
To whose prayer of grace god toke kepe
And lyste to consydre his affection.
And in this whyle as Albon lay and slepe,
The same nyght he had a vision,
Straunge and dyuers by manyfolde reason,
And wonder fer from his intelligence
What it ment or what was the sentence.
And lyste to consydre his affection.
And in this whyle as Albon lay and slepe,
The same nyght he had a vision,
Straunge and dyuers by manyfolde reason,
And wonder fer from his intelligence
What it ment or what was the sentence.
Towarde morowe, whan Albon dyd abrayde
Out of his slepe / and Phebus shone full shene,
Gan to maruayle / and no worde he sayde
Touchyng his dreame / newe, fresshe and grene,
Vnderstode not what it shulde mene;
Rose vp in haste / and to the pylgryme went,
Besechyng hym to declare what it ment:
Out of his slepe / and Phebus shone full shene,
Gan to maruayle / and no worde he sayde
Touchyng his dreame / newe, fresshe and grene,
Vnderstode not what it shulde mene;
Rose vp in haste / and to the pylgryme went,
Besechyng hym to declare what it ment:
“My frende, quod he, / if all thynge be trewe
Whiche ye haue preached of Christ & of his lawe,
Dyuers maruayles vnknowne, straunge & newe
Shewed to me this nyght or it can dawe,
I you beseche, your witte ye nat withdrawe
For to declare the exposition,
Whan I haue tolde you myn auision.
Whiche ye haue preached of Christ & of his lawe,
Dyuers maruayles vnknowne, straunge & newe
Shewed to me this nyght or it can dawe,
I you beseche, your witte ye nat withdrawe
For to declare the exposition,
Whan I haue tolde you myn auision.
The whiche truly as I reherce can:
Lokyng vp to the heuenly mansion,
Me thought sothly that I sawe a man
From that place to this worlde come down,
Of whose beautie was no comparysown;
Eke me thought of boystous folke & rude
He was beset with a great multitude.
Lokyng vp to the heuenly mansion,
Me thought sothly that I sawe a man
From that place to this worlde come down,
Of whose beautie was no comparysown;
Eke me thought of boystous folke & rude
He was beset with a great multitude.
This people enuious & frowarde of entent,
As it semed, of malyce and hatered
With many a sondry fell turment,
With sharpe scourges made his sydes blede,
Bounde his handes—/ I toke therof good hede—
And on a crosse they hynge hym vp full blyue,
With spere and nayles they yafe him woundes fyue.
As it semed, of malyce and hatered
With many a sondry fell turment,
With sharpe scourges made his sydes blede,
Bounde his handes—/ I toke therof good hede—
35
With spere and nayles they yafe him woundes fyue.
Naked he was; / body, / fote / and hondes
On length and brede drawen with great peyne,
By the constreynt of myghty stronge bondes
Drawen a-sonder was euery narfe and veyne;
With a sharpe spere his herte clouen in twene,
Persed he was so depe and profounde
That bloude and water ranne out of that wounde;
On length and brede drawen with great peyne,
By the constreynt of myghty stronge bondes
Drawen a-sonder was euery narfe and veyne;
With a sharpe spere his herte clouen in twene,
Persed he was so depe and profounde
That bloude and water ranne out of that wounde;
With a reede spere they raught—I toke hede—
To gyue hym drynke: / eysell, mengled with gall;
A crowne of thorne set vpon his heed,
And amonge his cruell paynes all
Kynge of iewes in scorne they hym call,
And in despite malycyously cryenge
Of Jewery saluted hym as kynge—
To gyue hym drynke: / eysell, mengled with gall;
A crowne of thorne set vpon his heed,
And amonge his cruell paynes all
Kynge of iewes in scorne they hym call,
And in despite malycyously cryenge
Of Jewery saluted hym as kynge—
As me thought, they greately dyd offende
To make all his body so for to blede;
And from the crosse downe bad hym discende
If that he were gods sonne in dede;
His skynne to-rent, / all blody was his wede;
Lyke a meke lambe, / myne herte dyd agryse
To se hym turment in so cruell wyse.
To make all his body so for to blede;
And from the crosse downe bad hym discende
If that he were gods sonne in dede;
His skynne to-rent, / all blody was his wede;
Lyke a meke lambe, / myne herte dyd agryse
To se hym turment in so cruell wyse.
After these paynes greuous and intollerable
And all his hydous mortall tourmentry,
With a great voyce pitous and lamentable,
Vpon the poynte / whan he shulde die,
To his father thus he gan to crye:
In to thyne handes, father, I commende
My goste, / my spirite /—and thus he made an ende.
And all his hydous mortall tourmentry,
With a great voyce pitous and lamentable,
Vpon the poynte / whan he shulde die,
To his father thus he gan to crye:
In to thyne handes, father, I commende
My goste, / my spirite /—and thus he made an ende.
And with that crye as he yafe vp the gost,
From the crosse his body they toke downe,—
Lyke well-stremes vpon euery coost
His grene woundes shed out great foyson
Of blody droppes; / and, for a conclusyon
Of all his paynes, / his body was anone
Closed and ensealed vnder a great stone.
From the crosse his body they toke downe,—
Lyke well-stremes vpon euery coost
His grene woundes shed out great foyson
Of blody droppes; / and, for a conclusyon
Of all his paynes, / his body was anone
Closed and ensealed vnder a great stone.
And whyle that he with stronge honde was kept close,
Maruayll of maruayles most I can maruayle:
The deed body / to lyfe agayne rose—
Maugre the knyghtes with all plate and mayle:
A soden slombre theyr hedes dyd assayle,
An angell moste souerayne of delyte
I sawe appere, / and he was clothed in whyte.
Maruayll of maruayles most I can maruayle:
The deed body / to lyfe agayne rose—
Maugre the knyghtes with all plate and mayle:
A soden slombre theyr hedes dyd assayle,
An angell moste souerayne of delyte
I sawe appere, / and he was clothed in whyte.
Amonge other maruayles there was one
Whiche I behelde in myne auision:
Out of his graue closed with a stone
He rose vp, lyke a stronge champyon,—
With open eien I had aspection
Of all this thyng, no parte lefte behynde,
From poynt to poynt all marked in my mynde.
Whiche I behelde in myne auision:
Out of his graue closed with a stone
He rose vp, lyke a stronge champyon,—
With open eien I had aspection
Of all this thyng, no parte lefte behynde,
From poynt to poynt all marked in my mynde.
Bad nor songen amonge the Brytons layes
Was neuer herde so soote an heuenly sowne,
After the nombre full of forty dayes,
Folowed after the resurrection
To the tyme of his assention,
What multytude of angels all in fere
Conueyde hym aboue the sterres clere—
Was neuer herde so soote an heuenly sowne,
After the nombre full of forty dayes,
Folowed after the resurrection
To the tyme of his assention,
What multytude of angels all in fere
Conueyde hym aboue the sterres clere—
36
I sawe this thyng and knewe it well ynowe
By a maner vncouth apparence—
The garmentes whytter than mylke or snowe
Of all thangels that dyd hym reuerence.
This was theyr songe and refret in sentence:
Blessed be the father, / blessed mote he be,
The sonne eke blessed in his humanyte!
By a maner vncouth apparence—
The garmentes whytter than mylke or snowe
Of all thangels that dyd hym reuerence.
This was theyr songe and refret in sentence:
Blessed be the father, / blessed mote he be,
The sonne eke blessed in his humanyte!
These vncouth tydynges I sawe them in my slepe,
And many other thynges mo withall,
Secrete thynges—I toke of them good kepe—
Not to be shewed to no man mortall”—
And he tolde vnto Amphibell all,
Whan he a woke, in full humble entent
Besechyng hym to declare what it ment.
And many other thynges mo withall,
Secrete thynges—I toke of them good kepe—
Not to be shewed to no man mortall”—
And he tolde vnto Amphibell all,
Whan he a woke, in full humble entent
Besechyng hym to declare what it ment.
Whiche thynges to here greatly was delyted
Within hym-selfe, of spirituall gladnes,
Saw that his herte was of god visited;
And full deuoutly a crosse he gan forth dresse,
“Lo here, quod he, / this token beareth wytnesse
Of all the signes, clere as the sonne beame,
That were vnto you shewed in your dreame!
Within hym-selfe, of spirituall gladnes,
Saw that his herte was of god visited;
And full deuoutly a crosse he gan forth dresse,
“Lo here, quod he, / this token beareth wytnesse
Of all the signes, clere as the sonne beame,
That were vnto you shewed in your dreame!
The man whiche to you dyd appere,
Sent from heuen, so fayre and glorious,
He was the same, as I shall you lere,
My blessed lorde, / myn owne lorde Christ Jesus,
Most benyng, / moste meke / and most vertuous:
Whiche on a crosse suffred passion—
As ye sawe clerely in your auision—
Sent from heuen, so fayre and glorious,
He was the same, as I shall you lere,
My blessed lorde, / myn owne lorde Christ Jesus,
Most benyng, / moste meke / and most vertuous:
Whiche on a crosse suffred passion—
As ye sawe clerely in your auision—
Only by mercy by his gratious aduise
Of the trespas to make redemption
Touchyng the aple / whiche in paradise
Adam ate of, by false suggestion
Of a serpent, to great confusion
Fyrst of hym-selfe, / nexte of all his lyne,
Tyll Christis passyon / that was our medycyne.
Of the trespas to make redemption
Touchyng the aple / whiche in paradise
Adam ate of, by false suggestion
Of a serpent, to great confusion
Fyrst of hym-selfe, / nexte of all his lyne,
Tyll Christis passyon / that was our medycyne.
Agayne Adam the serpent was so wode;
To staunche his venym was founde none obstacle,
Tyll on the crosse Christ Jesu spende his blode,
A medycyne, / bawme / and chyefe triacle,
Lycour of lycours, / dystyllyng by myracle
From the cundytes of Christis woundes fyue
Man to restore ayen from deth to lyue.
To staunche his venym was founde none obstacle,
Tyll on the crosse Christ Jesu spende his blode,
A medycyne, / bawme / and chyefe triacle,
Lycour of lycours, / dystyllyng by myracle
From the cundytes of Christis woundes fyue
Man to restore ayen from deth to lyue.
Whose blessed passyon is our restauratyfe,
Helth and diffence of moste excellence,
To asswage the bolynge of our mortall stryfe,
Bawme imperyall agaynst fendes violence,
The phylosophre celestiall queynt essence
To all welfare mankynde to restore,
Helpeth all sykenesses / whan leches can no more,
Helth and diffence of moste excellence,
To asswage the bolynge of our mortall stryfe,
Bawme imperyall agaynst fendes violence,
The phylosophre celestiall queynt essence
To all welfare mankynde to restore,
Helpeth all sykenesses / whan leches can no more,
Our leche, / our ypocras, / our gostely galyene,
Our samson called that venquisshed the lyon,
Our myghty chapyon, the famous strōge Achilles(!)
That bare vp heuen for our saluation,
Hye on the crosse makyng our raunson;
He that ye sawe, was the same man,
In your auision, that ouercame Sathan.
Our samson called that venquisshed the lyon,
Our myghty chapyon, the famous strōge Achilles(!)
That bare vp heuen for our saluation,
Hye on the crosse makyng our raunson;
He that ye sawe, was the same man,
In your auision, that ouercame Sathan.
The multytude that abou(t)e hym stoode
Were false iewes, / his deth immagynyng,
Of cursed malyce, / nayled hym to the roode;
Lyst not receyue his gratious comyng,
Of theyr prophetes refused the wrytyng,
Knewe not theyr lorde, / but as folke aduersary
For his goodnes / were to hym contrary.
Were false iewes, / his deth immagynyng,
Of cursed malyce, / nayled hym to the roode;
Lyst not receyue his gratious comyng,
Of theyr prophetes refused the wrytyng,
37
For his goodnes / were to hym contrary.
Mercyfull Jesu, gayn deth to stynte our stryfe,
Lyst suffre deth, / from deth to make vs free,
Venquisshed deth / with deth to brynge in lyfe,
Whan lyfe was slayne an high vpon a tree;
Forbode frute / brought immortalyte(!),
By a rounde aple was caused all this losse,
By frute refourmed / that henge vpon the crosse.”
Lyst suffre deth, / from deth to make vs free,
Venquisshed deth / with deth to brynge in lyfe,
Whan lyfe was slayne an high vpon a tree;
Forbode frute / brought immortalyte(!),
By a rounde aple was caused all this losse,
By frute refourmed / that henge vpon the crosse.”
“Let me, I praye you, haue veray knowlegyng
By your discrete faythfull diligence,
As ye that ben experte in many a thyng,
What obseruaunce, / what due reuerence
Vnto the father and his magnificence,
To the holy goost, / tell on fyrste of those two,
And to the sonne / what seruice shall I do?”
By your discrete faythfull diligence,
As ye that ben experte in many a thyng,
What obseruaunce, / what due reuerence
Vnto the father and his magnificence,
To the holy goost, / tell on fyrste of those two,
And to the sonne / what seruice shall I do?”
Whan Amphabell gan playnely to aduertise
His faythfull as kyng with all humylyte,
Gan reioyse in many sondry wyse:
This Albon, where as he stode free,
Was godly moued to aske of these thre;
By god enspired, conceyued of reason,
Only of grace came this question.
His faythfull as kyng with all humylyte,
Gan reioyse in many sondry wyse:
This Albon, where as he stode free,
Was godly moued to aske of these thre;
By god enspired, conceyued of reason,
Only of grace came this question.
Thanked god / and goodly gan hym dresse
To comforte the trewe affection
Of blessed Albon / and, truely to expresse,
Hym to quite; for shorte conclusyon.
Of his demaunde made a solution,
His conceytes discretely to appese
Thus he sayde, to set his herte in ease:
To comforte the trewe affection
Of blessed Albon / and, truely to expresse,
38
Of his demaunde made a solution,
His conceytes discretely to appese
Thus he sayde, to set his herte in ease:
“These thre persones / whiche ye haue named here,
The father, the sonne, the holy goste, these thre
Ben sothfastly lyke, as ye shall here—
Truste me ryght well, on god in trinite,
Joyned in one by perfyte vnite;
Beleue this iustly / and your wyttes dresse
For lyfe or deth / this article to confesse!”
The father, the sonne, the holy goste, these thre
Ben sothfastly lyke, as ye shall here—
Truste me ryght well, on god in trinite,
Joyned in one by perfyte vnite;
Beleue this iustly / and your wyttes dresse
For lyfe or deth / this article to confesse!”
“This is my fayth / and I beleue thus,
Quod blessed Albon with all humylyte,
There is no god but my lorde Jesus;
Whiche that come downe from his fathers see
Mekely to take our humanyte,
For our helth and our saluation
Lyst of his mercy to suffre passyon.”
Quod blessed Albon with all humylyte,
There is no god but my lorde Jesus;
Whiche that come downe from his fathers see
Mekely to take our humanyte,
For our helth and our saluation
Lyst of his mercy to suffre passyon.”
“He with the father, the holy goste, these thre—
Amphibalus rehersyng vnto Albon—
They be all one god by perfyte vnite,
And other god in all the worlde is none;
And this belefe loke ye not forgone!”
This worde ofte rehersed in sentence,
Albon fell downe with deuoute reuerence
Amphibalus rehersyng vnto Albon—
They be all one god by perfyte vnite,
And other god in all the worlde is none;
And this belefe loke ye not forgone!”
This worde ofte rehersed in sentence,
Albon fell downe with deuoute reuerence
Toforne the crosse, / and with great repentance,
And sayde: “O lorde Jesu, on my mys-dede,
O Jesu, mercy! / receyue my penaunce,
Whiche on the crosse lyst for my sake to blede”
And on his knees fast he gan hym spede,
With contryte herte / great to god a lofte,
With wepyng teares the crosse he kyssed ofte;
And sayde: “O lorde Jesu, on my mys-dede,
O Jesu, mercy! / receyue my penaunce,
Whiche on the crosse lyst for my sake to blede”
And on his knees fast he gan hym spede,
With contryte herte / great to god a lofte,
With wepyng teares the crosse he kyssed ofte;
With all his membres, hath hym applyed,
As on the crosse Christ had be present
And he with hym whan he was crucyfyed—
So of hole herte Albon was dilygent,
His face, his eien with teares all besprent,
This penitent, his langour for to lysse,
Was euer busye Christis fote to kysse.
As on the crosse Christ had be present
And he with hym whan he was crucyfyed—
So of hole herte Albon was dilygent,
His face, his eien with teares all besprent,
This penitent, his langour for to lysse,
Was euer busye Christis fote to kysse.
His bytter teares from his eyen tweyne
Lyke a christall-well encreasyng at a floode:
Albon ay busy to make the water reyne,
To myngle his wepyng with Christis owne blode—
I mene the wounde grauen in the roode
Vpon the crosse that was to hym shewed,
Of drery sobbyng the carectes all bedewed.—
Lyke a christall-well encreasyng at a floode:
Albon ay busy to make the water reyne,
To myngle his wepyng with Christis owne blode—
I mene the wounde grauen in the roode
Vpon the crosse that was to hym shewed,
Of drery sobbyng the carectes all bedewed.—
By grace enspired this Albon gan hym drawe
To take the order of religion
Of Christis fayth and bynde hym to that lawe
With wyll and herte and hole affection,
And secretely made his professyon
To Christe Jesu, tyme and houre deuysed
By Amphibalus whan he was baptysed.
To take the order of religion
Of Christis fayth and bynde hym to that lawe
With wyll and herte and hole affection,
And secretely made his professyon
To Christe Jesu, tyme and houre deuysed
By Amphibalus whan he was baptysed.
With humble herte this was the langage
Of holy Albon: quod he “I here forsake
The pompe of Sathan / and all his baronage
And all the power of the vggely fendes blake,
My soule and body to Jesus I betake
Whiche for mankynde dyed—it is no nay,
Thus I beleue—/ and rose the thyrde day.”
Of holy Albon: quod he “I here forsake
The pompe of Sathan / and all his baronage
And all the power of the vggely fendes blake,
My soule and body to Jesus I betake
Whiche for mankynde dyed—it is no nay,
Thus I beleue—/ and rose the thyrde day.”
Quod Amphibalus with a glad visage:
“Be stronge of fayth! our lorde is holde with the,
He wyll not fayle to confyrme your corage—
By tokens shewed of his beningnyte;
In especiall reporteth this of me:
To other aforne you, as I reherse can,
That they were taught, / they lerned it of man;
39
He wyll not fayle to confyrme your corage—
By tokens shewed of his beningnyte;
In especiall reporteth this of me:
To other aforne you, as I reherse can,
That they were taught, / they lerned it of man;
But your langage excellyng in vertue,
Experience hath yeue you knowlegyng
By reuelation of our lorde Jesu,
Whiche to you hath declared euery thyng,
His byrth, / his passyon, / his vprysyng,
Of all this thyng lyke as ye had in syght
To call you to hym to be his chosen knyght.
Experience hath yeue you knowlegyng
By reuelation of our lorde Jesu,
Whiche to you hath declared euery thyng,
His byrth, / his passyon, / his vprysyng,
Of all this thyng lyke as ye had in syght
To call you to hym to be his chosen knyght.
Whiche me semeth ought ynough suffice,
With the surplus of your auision,
To you expouned the maner and the gyse
Of Christis fayth with full instruction.
Mekely of herte with supportation
At my request your highnes not ye greue
For to departe goodly to yeue me leue;
With the surplus of your auision,
To you expouned the maner and the gyse
Of Christis fayth with full instruction.
Mekely of herte with supportation
At my request your highnes not ye greue
For to departe goodly to yeue me leue;
I am meued of veray conscience
Other contrees to preache Christis lawe;
I hope to you it shall do none offence
For a season though I me withdrawe—
It is a by-worde / and a full olde sawe,
Whiche hath be sayd / syth gone many a yere:
Frendes alway / may not ben in fere.”
Other contrees to preache Christis lawe;
I hope to you it shall do none offence
For a season though I me withdrawe—
It is a by-worde / and a full olde sawe,
Whiche hath be sayd / syth gone many a yere:
Frendes alway / may not ben in fere.”
“Frendes, quod Albon, neuer depart asonder
Joyned in vertue and knyt by grace;
Though one be here and a nother yonder,
Theyr hertes ben one euery houre and space,
In god combined, / ther parteth them no place,
Of one wyll aye in that they haue to done.
Of whiche I praye / departeth not so sone,
Joyned in vertue and knyt by grace;
Though one be here and a nother yonder,
Theyr hertes ben one euery houre and space,
In god combined, / ther parteth them no place,
Of one wyll aye in that they haue to done.
Of whiche I praye / departeth not so sone,
To abyde a weke;—ye may do me great ease,
By your doctryne to haue instruction
My lorde Jesu howe shall I hym please
With ryght hole herte and true affection,
To serue hym duely, lyke my profession,
And in his fayth wherin I moste delyte
With your teachyng that I may be perfyte.”
By your doctryne to haue instruction
My lorde Jesu howe shall I hym please
With ryght hole herte and true affection,
To serue hym duely, lyke my profession,
And in his fayth wherin I moste delyte
With your teachyng that I may be perfyte.”
Amphibalus knowyng his entent,
Lyst in no wyse denye his askyng.
The longe nyght they to-gether spent
Only in prayer and deuoute praysyng;
For out of syght they chose theyr abydyng,
From noyse of folke they gan them selfe withdraw,
And all that whyle they spake of Christis law;
Lyst in no wyse denye his askyng.
The longe nyght they to-gether spent
Only in prayer and deuoute praysyng;
For out of syght they chose theyr abydyng,
From noyse of folke they gan them selfe withdraw,
And all that whyle they spake of Christis law;
Of Christis fayth and of his religion
Was theyr fayth (!) and theyr dalyance;
Amonge to god they mayde theyr orison
Them to defende from fendes accombrance.
In this whyle god yafe them sory chaunce:
A cursed paynym of malyce and enuie
Where they met the place he dyd espie.
Was theyr fayth (!) and theyr dalyance;
Amonge to god they mayde theyr orison
Them to defende from fendes accombrance.
In this whyle god yafe them sory chaunce:
A cursed paynym of malyce and enuie
Where they met the place he dyd espie.
To auoyde them of comforte and refuge,
This paynym aforsayd of malyce lyst not spare
For to accuse them bothe vnto the iudge,
Of theyr metyng the maner to declare;
And moreouer—yuell mote he fare!—
Of malycyous, frowarde cursednes
The iuge he set a-fyre with wodenes.
This paynym aforsayd of malyce lyst not spare
For to accuse them bothe vnto the iudge,
Of theyr metyng the maner to declare;
And moreouer—yuell mote he fare!—
40
The iuge he set a-fyre with wodenes.
With enuious sturdy violence
Through the citie they serched were & sought
And comaunded to appere in the presence,
Toforne the iuge both two to be brought.
The towne serched, / but they founde them nought:—
Blessed Albon, meued of corage
To kepe his maister & saue hym from damage,
Through the citie they serched were & sought
And comaunded to appere in the presence,
Toforne the iuge both two to be brought.
The towne serched, / but they founde them nought:—
Blessed Albon, meued of corage
To kepe his maister & saue hym from damage,
Vpon a nyght before the dawnyng
This blessed Albon his maister gan conueye
With heuy chere, most pituously wepyng,
Out of the citie, brought hym on the waye.
At the departyng fared as they wolde dye—
So were theyr hertes ioyned in one cheyne,
Not lyke to twynne / tyl deth departe them in twayne.
This blessed Albon his maister gan conueye
With heuy chere, most pituously wepyng,
Out of the citie, brought hym on the waye.
At the departyng fared as they wolde dye—
So were theyr hertes ioyned in one cheyne,
Not lyke to twynne / tyl deth departe them in twayne.
O faythfull loue standyng in suche a state,
By resemblaunce in comparyson
As whylome dyd Dauyd and Jonathas
Maugre kyng Saules persecution;
Faynyng was none nor dissimulation;
Lyke to endure, playnly to termyne,
Tyll Antropos theyr lyues tryed atwyne.
By resemblaunce in comparyson
As whylome dyd Dauyd and Jonathas
Maugre kyng Saules persecution;
Faynyng was none nor dissimulation;
Lyke to endure, playnly to termyne,
Tyll Antropos theyr lyues tryed atwyne.
Theyr loue more sad, stable and vertuous
In comparyson than the poetes made
Of Pyrothe or of Thedeus,
Of Horestes / outher of Pylade,
Fresshe for a season / that wolde sone fade,
As whylome dyd the loue of Achylles
And Patroclus slayne amyd the prees,
In comparyson than the poetes made
Of Pyrothe or of Thedeus,
Of Horestes / outher of Pylade,
Fresshe for a season / that wolde sone fade,
As whylome dyd the loue of Achylles
And Patroclus slayne amyd the prees,
Whan that Ector, the Troyan champyon,
Slowe Patroclus for his frowardnes,
Maugre Achylles for all his high renown;—
To exemplifie there is no stablenes
In worldly loue, / but chaunge and doublenes,
Be it of blode, kynne or alye;
Without vertue all standeth in ieoperdye.
Slowe Patroclus for his frowardnes,
Maugre Achylles for all his high renown;—
To exemplifie there is no stablenes
In worldly loue, / but chaunge and doublenes,
Be it of blode, kynne or alye;
Without vertue all standeth in ieoperdye.
Of these tweyne the loue was a nother:
By enterchaungyng / betwene them set a lawe:
Albon to abyde and to dye for his brother,
Amphibalus his presens to withdrawe;
In theyr hertes the feruence dyd adawe
Of perfyte loue to endure longe—
As Salamon writeth / that loue as deth is stronge.
By enterchaungyng / betwene them set a lawe:
Albon to abyde and to dye for his brother,
Amphibalus his presens to withdrawe;
In theyr hertes the feruence dyd adawe
Of perfyte loue to endure longe—
As Salamon writeth / that loue as deth is stronge.
In all suche case the loue maketh hertes bolde;
And by ensample that loue auoydeth drede,
Albon for loue toke his cloth of golde
And lyke a prince lyst to chaunge his wede,
Of entier herte he gan it for to sprede
Ouer the shulders of Amphiball anone,
The houre whan they atwynne shulde gone.
And by ensample that loue auoydeth drede,
Albon for loue toke his cloth of golde
And lyke a prince lyst to chaunge his wede,
Of entier herte he gan it for to sprede
Ouer the shulders of Amphiball anone,
The houre whan they atwynne shulde gone.
From all his fone he iustly was assured
Who that euer had on this clothe of golde,
Tyll he the place fully haue recured
To stande atlarge, a forne as I haue tolde.
Thus with sobbyng and wepyng manyfolde
God suffered them a-sondry to deuyde,
Forsoke them not but was theyr bothes gyde.
Who that euer had on this clothe of golde,
Tyll he the place fully haue recured
To stande atlarge, a forne as I haue tolde.
Thus with sobbyng and wepyng manyfolde
God suffered them a-sondry to deuyde,
Forsoke them not but was theyr bothes gyde.
41
A symple sclauenne fortorne and threde-bare,
Of Amphabals a full olde garment,
This noble prince Albon lyst not spare
To cast vpon hym, though it were all to-rent.
So hole to Christe was set all his entent;
And in his pouert to shewe that he was playne,
To his Tygurry returned home agayne.
Of Amphabals a full olde garment,
This noble prince Albon lyst not spare
To cast vpon hym, though it were all to-rent.
So hole to Christe was set all his entent;
And in his pouert to shewe that he was playne,
To his Tygurry returned home agayne.
Amphibalus northwarde to his passage,
Chere of herte / god to be his gyde,
For a tyme to eschewe the cruell rage
Of paynyms, as fortune lyst prouyde.
But holy Albon dyd the bront abyde,
To lyue and dye as goddis champyon;
Christ bare his standerd, / the crosse was his penon.
Chere of herte / god to be his gyde,
For a tyme to eschewe the cruell rage
Of paynyms, as fortune lyst prouyde.
But holy Albon dyd the bront abyde,
To lyue and dye as goddis champyon;
Christ bare his standerd, / the crosse was his penon.
His sodayn chaunce he helde it was no losse,
Forsoke ryches, toke hym to pouerte;
His treasure was to knele aforne the crosse,
His hertil ioye and his felicite.
And for a whyle thus I let hym be
In his prayers, / and tel I wyll in dede
Howe his enemyes agaynst hym procede.
Forsoke ryches, toke hym to pouerte;
His treasure was to knele aforne the crosse,
His hertil ioye and his felicite.
And for a whyle thus I let hym be
In his prayers, / and tel I wyll in dede
Howe his enemyes agaynst hym procede.
There was a statute proclaymed in the towne:
Who that wolde not do no reuerence
Vnto theyr goddes / nor mekely knele downe,
In to theyr fyre for to cast ensence,
He shulde anone by cruell violence
Be take and layde vpon an aulter bounde
To-forne theyr goddes & slayne with many a wounde,
Who that wolde not do no reuerence
Vnto theyr goddes / nor mekely knele downe,
In to theyr fyre for to cast ensence,
He shulde anone by cruell violence
Be take and layde vpon an aulter bounde
To-forne theyr goddes & slayne with many a wounde,
Of his body to make sacrifice.
Superstitious was this oblation,
Whiche of newe paynyms gan practise
Agayne the doctryne and predication
By Amphybalus brought into the towne;
By the iudge set in ordynaunce
On hym and Albon fyrst to do vengeance,
Superstitious was this oblation,
Whiche of newe paynyms gan practise
Agayne the doctryne and predication
By Amphybalus brought into the towne;
By the iudge set in ordynaunce
On hym and Albon fyrst to do vengeance,
So to punysshe one and one by rowe
Without mercy or longe auisement.
To blessed Albon this statute was well knowe
Bothe of theyr dome and cruell iugement;
And ay this prince, / stable in his entent,
Made stronge in god / for lyfe or deth tendure
The lordes hande / and his auenture.
Without mercy or longe auisement.
To blessed Albon this statute was well knowe
Bothe of theyr dome and cruell iugement;
And ay this prince, / stable in his entent,
Made stronge in god / for lyfe or deth tendure
The lordes hande / and his auenture.
Whan somer floures blowed whyte and redde
And were in theyr highest lusty, fresshe season,
And fyry Phebus / from the crabbes hedde
Toke his passage towarde the lyon:
At Verolamy / in that royall towne
The same tyme paynyms haue auerted
To Christis fayth / howe Albon was conuerted.
And were in theyr highest lusty, fresshe season,
And fyry Phebus / from the crabbes hedde
Toke his passage towarde the lyon:
At Verolamy / in that royall towne
The same tyme paynyms haue auerted
To Christis fayth / howe Albon was conuerted.
For whiche agaynst hym so obstynate they stode
Lyke wylde boores or tygyrs in theyr rage,
Vengeable of herte, furyous and wode,
Malancoly and pale of theyr visage;
And all the nyght with cursed fell langage
Gan to manace lyke wolfes rauenous
This blessed Albon and Amphibalus.
Lyke wylde boores or tygyrs in theyr rage,
Vengeable of herte, furyous and wode,
Malancoly and pale of theyr visage;
And all the nyght with cursed fell langage
Gan to manace lyke wolfes rauenous
This blessed Albon and Amphibalus.
The darke tydes of the cloudy nyght
With-drough theyr shadowes and their skyes blake,
And Lucyfer gan shewe his beames bryght,
And Aurora hath the bedde forsake
Of fyry Titan and her leue take,
And Phebus Chariot draweth vp with flegonte
And gan illumyne all the Orisonte;
With-drough theyr shadowes and their skyes blake,
And Lucyfer gan shewe his beames bryght,
And Aurora hath the bedde forsake
Of fyry Titan and her leue take,
And Phebus Chariot draweth vp with flegonte
And gan illumyne all the Orisonte;
The holsome bawme gan in meddowes flete
Amonge the flowres and holsome leues grene,
The syluer dewe gan the soile to wete
Lyke perles rounde as any christall shene,
Whan nature, of worldly thynges the quene,
Ordeyned a day of fresshenes plentous,
Whan Albon was beseged in his hous.
Amonge the flowres and holsome leues grene,
The syluer dewe gan the soile to wete
Lyke perles rounde as any christall shene,
42
Ordeyned a day of fresshenes plentous,
Whan Albon was beseged in his hous.
The paynyms gan make theyr selfe stronge
This noble prince Albon to pursewe.
Vpon that houre whan the larkes songe
In theyr leden and gan the day salewe.
Theyr purpose was specially to sewe
Amphibalus, but that he was gon;
In stede of hym they fyll vpon Albon.
This noble prince Albon to pursewe.
Vpon that houre whan the larkes songe
In theyr leden and gan the day salewe.
Theyr purpose was specially to sewe
Amphibalus, but that he was gon;
In stede of hym they fyll vpon Albon.
Aforne the crosse they founde hym knelyng
In his prayer, and they vpon hym went.
He rose vp and made no taryeng;
And the great multytude that the iuge sent
Fell vpon hym and lyke wolfes hym rent,
In theyr furyous, mortall, fell deluge
They hym present anon afore the iuge,
In his prayer, and they vpon hym went.
He rose vp and made no taryeng;
And the great multytude that the iuge sent
Fell vpon hym and lyke wolfes hym rent,
In theyr furyous, mortall, fell deluge
They hym present anon afore the iuge,
Meke as a lambe, of porte and chere benynge,
To done his batayle / lyke Christis owne knyght.
His banner was, his standerde and his signe
The crosse of Jesu / whiche he bare vpryght,
Magre paynyms, in theyr alder syght,
Lyke a champyon agayn them to warrye,
Vnder that penon cast hym to lyue and dye—
To done his batayle / lyke Christis owne knyght.
His banner was, his standerde and his signe
The crosse of Jesu / whiche he bare vpryght,
Magre paynyms, in theyr alder syght,
Lyke a champyon agayn them to warrye,
Vnder that penon cast hym to lyue and dye—
God was with hym to susteyn his partie;
Stedfast of herte, / hardy as a lyon,
Put his lyfe for Christ in ieopertye;
Of body naked, / trouthe was his habergon,
His shelde was fayth, / his sworde and his burdon,
His spere, his pollax, / surer than stele to endure,
Was only hope / the victorie to recure;
Stedfast of herte, / hardy as a lyon,
Put his lyfe for Christ in ieopertye;
Of body naked, / trouthe was his habergon,
His shelde was fayth, / his sworde and his burdon,
His spere, his pollax, / surer than stele to endure,
Was only hope / the victorie to recure;
His sabbatons set on grounde of trouthe,
And his greues forged with stabilnes.
And his polayns plyant without slouthe,
And his quisshews borne vp with high prowesse,
A payre of curesse / closed with ryghtwysenesse,
And his vauntbrace was truste that went beforne,
Rerebrace of charyte / which myght not be forlorne;
And his greues forged with stabilnes.
And his polayns plyant without slouthe,
And his quisshews borne vp with high prowesse,
A payre of curesse / closed with ryghtwysenesse,
And his vauntbrace was truste that went beforne,
Rerebrace of charyte / which myght not be forlorne;
Gloues of plate to beare of and defende
Was true affection medled with the dede,
A large pauice greatly to commende
Of trewe meanyng to auoyde al way all drede;
And thus in trouthe, who so lyst take hede,
All in vertues enarmed for defence
With a cote-armour aboue of pacience.
Was true affection medled with the dede,
A large pauice greatly to commende
Of trewe meanyng to auoyde al way all drede;
And thus in trouthe, who so lyst take hede,
All in vertues enarmed for defence
With a cote-armour aboue of pacience.
Charyte was chefe of his counsayle,
Taught hym the maner / agayn his cruell fone
Howe that he shulde do to his great auayle,
Enter in to the felde / and knyghly to gone.
All that it so were / that he was but alone,
His banner splayed / full erly on the morowe,
Grace was his guyde, with saynt John to borowe.
Taught hym the maner / agayn his cruell fone
Howe that he shulde do to his great auayle,
Enter in to the felde / and knyghly to gone.
All that it so were / that he was but alone,
His banner splayed / full erly on the morowe,
Grace was his guyde, with saynt John to borowe.
Fyrst he was led by mortall violence,
Drawe and torne in moste cruell wyse,
The holy crosse vp borne for his defence,
And brought he was to do sacrifice
Vnto theyr ydols. / but he them dyd dispise,
Asclypiodot the iuge there present,
And all the citie gathered of entent.
Drawe and torne in moste cruell wyse,
The holy crosse vp borne for his defence,
And brought he was to do sacrifice
Vnto theyr ydols. / but he them dyd dispise,
Asclypiodot the iuge there present,
And all the citie gathered of entent.
43
This goddes knyght holdyng the crosse in honde,
Inui(n)sible by vertue of that signe;
And paynyms that aboute hym stonde
Cruell and cursed agayn hym gan malygne,
Though they were there borne of one lyne;
The iuge troubled whan that he toke hede
Of Christis crosse / & had in maner drede.
Inui(n)sible by vertue of that signe;
And paynyms that aboute hym stonde
Cruell and cursed agayn hym gan malygne,
Though they were there borne of one lyne;
The iuge troubled whan that he toke hede
Of Christis crosse / & had in maner drede.
Albon alway, this prince full notable,
Stode ay vpryght with loke moste coragious,
Euer of one herte, / as any centre stable,
The crosse afforne, banner most gloryous,
Moste agreable and moste victorious.
And fyrste of all, the story doth vs lere,
Of his maister / the iudge of hym dyd enquere,
Stode ay vpryght with loke moste coragious,
Euer of one herte, / as any centre stable,
The crosse afforne, banner most gloryous,
Moste agreable and moste victorious.
And fyrste of all, the story doth vs lere,
Of his maister / the iudge of hym dyd enquere,
And asked of hym to what partie he was gone,
By his sleyght and his vncouth wyle
Whiche dispysed theyr goddes euery chone,
Come of nowe theyr citie to begyle.
At whose wordes Albon stynt a whyle
And sayde at last with sobre countenaunce:
He was departed by goddes ordynaunce.
By his sleyght and his vncouth wyle
Whiche dispysed theyr goddes euery chone,
Come of nowe theyr citie to begyle.
At whose wordes Albon stynt a whyle
And sayde at last with sobre countenaunce:
He was departed by goddes ordynaunce.
Quod the iuge: “where euer that he be
Either embesyled orels set a syde—
Touchyng the fayth that he hath taughte to the
And therin ben thy maister and thy guyde,
And is nowe fledde / and durst not abyde
By his doctryne: a reason full notable
His preachyng is nought orheis not stable.
Either embesyled orels set a syde—
Touchyng the fayth that he hath taughte to the
And therin ben thy maister and thy guyde,
And is nowe fledde / and durst not abyde
By his doctryne: a reason full notable
His preachyng is nought orheis not stable.
I trowe he wolde haue come to presence
If in his fayth had he no varyance;
Other some remors of his conscience
Hath cast his herte in newe repentance;
If he had had in his fayth constance,
Lyke a maister he shulde nat haue gone
And his disciple in myschefe leaue alone.
If in his fayth had he no varyance;
Other some remors of his conscience
Hath cast his herte in newe repentance;
If he had had in his fayth constance,
Lyke a maister he shulde nat haue gone
And his disciple in myschefe leaue alone.
In this doctryne, as to myne entent,
There is disceyte vnder some falsenes,
Or in his teachyng he is fraudolent,
Whiche the brought in so great wodenes
To forsake thy treasure and ryches,
Of all our goddes in so frowarde wyse,
Of wylfulnes / and malyce them to dispise.
There is disceyte vnder some falsenes,
Or in his teachyng he is fraudolent,
Whiche the brought in so great wodenes
To forsake thy treasure and ryches,
Of all our goddes in so frowarde wyse,
Of wylfulnes / and malyce them to dispise.
Thou standist nowe in a full perlous poynt,
The clerke hath brought the in so great a snare
And set thy reason so farre out of ioynt
And made thy wyt so naked and so bare,
That thou arte, pleynly to declare,
In Christis cause / and so from our fayth to erre
Agayne all our goddes to begyn mortall warre.
The clerke hath brought the in so great a snare
And set thy reason so farre out of ioynt
And made thy wyt so naked and so bare,
That thou arte, pleynly to declare,
In Christis cause / and so from our fayth to erre
Agayne all our goddes to begyn mortall warre.
Whiche thynge consydered, / as it is skylle & ryght,
And egally paysed in balaunce:
Wronge to do them by any maner wyght,
Nother by fauour, / frendshyp / nor suffraunce
May not passe without great vengeaunce;
Vpon blasphemy the lawe doth ordeyne
Agayn the goddes: / deth to be theyr peyne.
And egally paysed in balaunce:
Wronge to do them by any maner wyght,
Nother by fauour, / frendshyp / nor suffraunce
May not passe without great vengeaunce;
Vpon blasphemy the lawe doth ordeyne
Agayn the goddes: / deth to be theyr peyne.
Vnto a foole thou gafe hasty credence
And by his foly he hath the begyled;
Fyrst to the goddes / thou dost no reuerence,
Of despite wylte not be reconsyled;
Thou farest as a man whiche is vnabyled,
Stondyng as nowe from grace desolate,
Vyle and abiecte out of thyne olde estate.
And by his foly he hath the begyled;
Fyrst to the goddes / thou dost no reuerence,
Of despite wylte not be reconsyled;
Thou farest as a man whiche is vnabyled,
Stondyng as nowe from grace desolate,
Vyle and abiecte out of thyne olde estate.
44
In suche case eche man may be disceyued
By suche false foren information;
But nowe thyne errour is cler(l)y apperceyued:
So by counsell, / for thy saluation,
Or thou incurre the indignation
And or iugement by rygour the manace,
Forsake that secte, / fall downe and axe grace—
By suche false foren information;
But nowe thyne errour is cler(l)y apperceyued:
So by counsell, / for thy saluation,
Or thou incurre the indignation
And or iugement by rygour the manace,
Forsake that secte, / fall downe and axe grace—
To thyne estate thou mayst thus be restored;
With humble herte / do them sacrifyce,
And thy treasure & thy ryches shalbe mored
And encreased in many a sondry wyse,
To great worshyp / and sodeynly aryse,
Of townes, / castels / lorde we shall the make,
So thou wylte the fayth of Christe forsake”.
With humble herte / do them sacrifyce,
And thy treasure & thy ryches shalbe mored
And encreased in many a sondry wyse,
To great worshyp / and sodeynly aryse,
Of townes, / castels / lorde we shall the make,
So thou wylte the fayth of Christe forsake”.
Of herte and thought very indiuisybel
Albone stode hole and kept his grounde & place,
The iuges promysse, flateryng and fallybel
Boystous threatnynges, / with whiche he gan manace,
Voyde of drede, / of one chere / and one face
This manly prince, / this hardy knyght Albon
Stode betwene bothe / stable as any stone.
Albone stode hole and kept his grounde & place,
The iuges promysse, flateryng and fallybel
Boystous threatnynges, / with whiche he gan manace,
Voyde of drede, / of one chere / and one face
This manly prince, / this hardy knyght Albon
Stode betwene bothe / stable as any stone.
To the iuge sayde, as ye shall here:
“Thy manaces nor promys of pleasance
In frowarde speche nor thy frownyng chere
Shall me not meue on poynt from my constaunce,
In Christ Jesu / is hole my suffisance;
For me lyst not here longe processe to deuise,
Thy golde, thy treasure, thy goddes I despise.
“Thy manaces nor promys of pleasance
In frowarde speche nor thy frownyng chere
Shall me not meue on poynt from my constaunce,
In Christ Jesu / is hole my suffisance;
For me lyst not here longe processe to deuise,
Thy golde, thy treasure, thy goddes I despise.
And where thou hast my maister eke accused
Of inconstance / and duplicite,
Be ryght well sure god hath hym excused;
That he dyd, / the counsell come of me;
He fled not, god wote, for feare of the—
I was assented to kepe hym absence,
And elles he had come to audience.
Of inconstance / and duplicite,
Be ryght well sure god hath hym excused;
That he dyd, / the counsell come of me;
He fled not, god wote, for feare of the—
I was assented to kepe hym absence,
And elles he had come to audience.
From the trouthe me lyst not to declyne,
All thy wordes be sayde but in vayne;
Of my mayster / I confesse the doctryne,
For lyfe nor deth / neuer to turne agayne
From Christis fayth / whiche standeth in certeyne,
For it causeth folkes lame / to go vpryght,
And folkes blynde to recure theyr syght.
All thy wordes be sayde but in vayne;
Of my mayster / I confesse the doctryne,
For lyfe nor deth / neuer to turne agayne
From Christis fayth / whiche standeth in certeyne,
For it causeth folkes lame / to go vpryght,
And folkes blynde to recure theyr syght.
This fayth so hole infyxed is in my mynde,
Vnto me more precious and more dere
Than all the stones / that comen out of Inde
Or all the ryches that thou rehersyst here,
Golde or treasure / rekened all in feare;
Worldly worshyps, / pompe or veynglorye,
To fayth compared be thynges transytorye.
Vnto me more precious and more dere
Than all the stones / that comen out of Inde
Or all the ryches that thou rehersyst here,
Golde or treasure / rekened all in feare;
Worldly worshyps, / pompe or veynglorye,
To fayth compared be thynges transytorye.
This faythe in god maketh me so ryche and strōge,
All worldely good for it I do despise.
What shulde lenger drawe the alonge?
To false goddes in no maner of wyse
I wyll not do worshyp nor sacrifise;
Echon ben false and haue nother wit nor mynde—
Ye that serue them be very mad or blynde.
All worldely good for it I do despise.
What shulde lenger drawe the alonge?
To false goddes in no maner of wyse
I wyll not do worshyp nor sacrifise;
Echon ben false and haue nother wit nor mynde—
Ye that serue them be very mad or blynde.
Most deceyuable whan a man hath nede,
Ben your goddes with all your mawmetrye—
It hath ben proued aforne in my kynred
And many other borne of myn allye:
All suche rascayle of purpose I defye,
False and faylyng of olde tyme and newe
To all theyr seruauntes, of custome most vntrewe.
Ben your goddes with all your mawmetrye—
45
And many other borne of myn allye:
All suche rascayle of purpose I defye,
False and faylyng of olde tyme and newe
To all theyr seruauntes, of custome most vntrewe.
I cast neuer with them to haue a do
Nor make fyre vpon theyr aulteris—
This is myn answere—take good hede therto!—
Nor none ensence cast in theyr senseres
Nor knele aforne them this C. M. yeres—
This is in somme, for one worde and all,
My last wyll and answere fynall.”
Nor make fyre vpon theyr aulteris—
This is myn answere—take good hede therto!—
Nor none ensence cast in theyr senseres
Nor knele aforne them this C. M. yeres—
This is in somme, for one worde and all,
My last wyll and answere fynall.”
With this answere ther rose vp a sodeyn crye,
Noyse of the people, clamour and wepyng;
Aboute the martyr they wente busylye
Lyke wodemen vpon hym gauryng.
He herde all theyr speche, spake agayn nothyng;
The iuges manace, / the peoples violence
He suffred all / and kept his pacience.
Noyse of the people, clamour and wepyng;
Aboute the martyr they wente busylye
Lyke wodemen vpon hym gauryng.
He herde all theyr speche, spake agayn nothyng;
The iuges manace, / the peoples violence
He suffred all / and kept his pacience.
The people, agayne hym vengeable and cruell,
Vnto theyr temples brought hym anone ryght;
By violence they gan hym to compell
To theyr goddes to offre and to set vp lyght.
Blessed Albon, as goddes owne knyght,
Stable of herte / and hole in his entent,
To sacrifice wolde neuer assent.
Vnto theyr temples brought hym anone ryght;
By violence they gan hym to compell
To theyr goddes to offre and to set vp lyght.
Blessed Albon, as goddes owne knyght,
Stable of herte / and hole in his entent,
To sacrifice wolde neuer assent.
The people then in theyr furyous hete,
By the iewes cruell commaundement,
They strypte hym fyrst, / and with scourges bete,
Tyll his body and skynne was all to-rent.
But he with glad chere sufferde his torment,
His eien vplyfte / to god began abrayde
And to the lorde deuoutly thus he sayde:
By the iewes cruell commaundement,
They strypte hym fyrst, / and with scourges bete,
Tyll his body and skynne was all to-rent.
But he with glad chere sufferde his torment,
His eien vplyfte / to god began abrayde
And to the lorde deuoutly thus he sayde:
“Lorde god, quod he, kepe myn inwarde thought,
Graunt of thy grace in my greuous payne
Pacience, that I ne grudge nought;
Of thy mercy, O Jesu, not disdeyne
My freyle flesshe / from murmour to restreyne,
Syth that my wyll stant hole without stryfe
To the to offre my soule and eke my lyfe.
Graunt of thy grace in my greuous payne
Pacience, that I ne grudge nought;
Of thy mercy, O Jesu, not disdeyne
My freyle flesshe / from murmour to restreyne,
Syth that my wyll stant hole without stryfe
To the to offre my soule and eke my lyfe.
Remembre the, lorde, on thy seruant Albone!—
For nother flody stormes, / wynde / nor reyne
May hurte that house bylte on stable stone:
And semblably it is full selde seyne,
Who byldeth in Christe / byldeth not in veyne;—
Syth my byldyng stant holy in thy grace,
Suffre not my wyll remeue from this place!
For nother flody stormes, / wynde / nor reyne
May hurte that house bylte on stable stone:
And semblably it is full selde seyne,
Who byldeth in Christe / byldeth not in veyne;—
Syth my byldyng stant holy in thy grace,
Suffre not my wyll remeue from this place!
My voyce, / my tonge, / my wyll, fully record,
All of assent without excepcion,
For lyfe, for dethe they neuer shall discord.
But thou, Jesu, madest our redemption:
Nowe by the vertue of thy passyon,
O blessed lorde, graunt me constance
Amonge the paynes, hole wyll and meke suffrance!”
All of assent without excepcion,
For lyfe, for dethe they neuer shall discord.
But thou, Jesu, madest our redemption:
Nowe by the vertue of thy passyon,
O blessed lorde, graunt me constance
Amonge the paynes, hole wyll and meke suffrance!”
Whyles the martyr was scourged and bete,
This was his voyce, / on Christ Jesu to cry;
To call his helpe wolde neuer lete
Nother for smerte / nor paynfull tormentrye;
Vnto paynyms lawe / he wolde neuer applye
Nother for manace, rebuke norrygour,
For fayre speche, / for promysse nor fauour.
This was his voyce, / on Christ Jesu to cry;
To call his helpe wolde neuer lete
Nother for smerte / nor paynfull tormentrye;
46
Nother for manace, rebuke norrygour,
For fayre speche, / for promysse nor fauour.
Lyke a dyamande, he wolde not be broke
Nor restreyned from his olde constance,
From Christis fayth they myght not (him) reuoke
With all theyr fayned wordes of pleasance.—
Than was he put vnder gouernance
Of the iuge, / as a lambe amonge houndes,
Full syxe wekes not to passe his boundes.
Nor restreyned from his olde constance,
From Christis fayth they myght not (him) reuoke
With all theyr fayned wordes of pleasance.—
Than was he put vnder gouernance
Of the iuge, / as a lambe amonge houndes,
Full syxe wekes not to passe his boundes.
Duryng this tyme—the boke maketh mention—
He streytly kept of moo than one or twayne,
Lyke a martyr holde in streyte pryson,
Myght not reche further than his cheyne.
The elementes his wronges gan to compleyne
In theyr maner, agaynst natures lawe
Theyr benefytes of kynde to withdrawe:
He streytly kept of moo than one or twayne,
Lyke a martyr holde in streyte pryson,
Myght not reche further than his cheyne.
The elementes his wronges gan to compleyne
In theyr maner, agaynst natures lawe
Theyr benefytes of kynde to withdrawe:
Vpon the erthe, / on herbe, / grasse, / nor floure,
On all these thre was no dewe sene;
The grounde to cherysshe come nother rayne nor shoure,
For no moisture fell vpon the grene;
Flora slepte, / that is the floures quene,
Eolus the smothe wyndes softe
All this whyle enspired not alofte.
On all these thre was no dewe sene;
The grounde to cherysshe come nother rayne nor shoure,
For no moisture fell vpon the grene;
Flora slepte, / that is the floures quene,
Eolus the smothe wyndes softe
All this whyle enspired not alofte.
The erthe scaldeth with the feruence of the sonne,
Hete on nyghtes was intollerable;
There grewe no frute, / the skyes were so donne,
Greynes come none, / vplande was not erable. /
Thus by a maner complaynt lamentable
Heuen and erthe complayned them of ryght
The iniurie done vnto goddes knyght.
Hete on nyghtes was intollerable;
There grewe no frute, / the skyes were so donne,
Greynes come none, / vplande was not erable. /
Thus by a maner complaynt lamentable
Heuen and erthe complayned them of ryght
The iniurie done vnto goddes knyght.
The people playned for lackyng of vitayle,
Demed it cause of some sorsery
That Thelementis lyst to holde a batayle
For Christis knyght, to holde vp his partye
Agayne myscreantes with theyr tormentrye,
Magre theyr malyce to make the martyr stronge,
To shewe by signes the paynyms dyd him wronge.
Demed it cause of some sorsery
That Thelementis lyst to holde a batayle
For Christis knyght, to holde vp his partye
Agayne myscreantes with theyr tormentrye,
Magre theyr malyce to make the martyr stronge,
To shewe by signes the paynyms dyd him wronge.
Asclepeodet syttyng as iuge than,
Though he to Albon had great hatered,
Yet bicause of Dioclesyan
To slee the martyr durst not procede
Tyll he had sent letters, as I rede,
To themperour, rehersyng howe Albon
Forsaken had theyr goddes euery chone,
Though he to Albon had great hatered,
Yet bicause of Dioclesyan
To slee the martyr durst not procede
Tyll he had sent letters, as I rede,
To themperour, rehersyng howe Albon
Forsaken had theyr goddes euery chone,
Enformyng hym of his obstinacy,
Howe all theyr goddes he set also at nought
And howe theyr power pleynly he doth defye,
And was made christen of herte, wyll and thought,
And hath also subtylly wayes thought,
The peoples hertes from our goddes withdrawe,
In theyr despyte to folowe a newe lawe.
Howe all theyr goddes he set also at nought
And howe theyr power pleynly he doth defye,
And was made christen of herte, wyll and thought,
And hath also subtylly wayes thought,
The peoples hertes from our goddes withdrawe,
In theyr despyte to folowe a newe lawe.
But the great and kynde famylyaryte
Whiche Albon had with the emperour,
Bycause also of his great dignite
And of his kynne, had so great fauour,
That the iudge drad for to do rygour
Vpon this prince of deth or cruelte
Tyll from the emperour he had auctorite—
Whiche Albon had with the emperour,
Bycause also of his great dignite
And of his kynne, had so great fauour,
That the iudge drad for to do rygour
Vpon this prince of deth or cruelte
Tyll from the emperour he had auctorite—
47
And but there (be) done great execution,
By hygh aduise of all the hole empire,
To punysshe all tho, from false rebellyon
Whiche to destroye your goddes so desyre.
With whiche letters the emperour set a fyre,
Abode no lenger, / but hastyly gan ordeyne
To sende his felowe downe into Brytayne,
By hygh aduise of all the hole empire,
To punysshe all tho, from false rebellyon
Whiche to destroye your goddes so desyre.
With whiche letters the emperour set a fyre,
Abode no lenger, / but hastyly gan ordeyne
To sende his felowe downe into Brytayne,
And in great hast—the story telleth expresse—
Dioclesyan hath sent a great power
With Maxymyan, called Herculesse,
Into Braytayne, to serche out the mattier;
Wher that any were founde farre or nere
Of Christ is fayth, to sleyne euery chone
Without mercy, / except only Albon;
Dioclesyan hath sent a great power
With Maxymyan, called Herculesse,
Into Braytayne, to serche out the mattier;
Wher that any were founde farre or nere
Of Christ is fayth, to sleyne euery chone
Without mercy, / except only Albon;
His lyfe to saue by a condition:
If to theyr sectes he wolde agayne restore (!),
From Christis loore / turne his opinion,
Of theyr goddes / the sta(t)utes to support,
To Dioclesyan that they may report
Howe that Albon doth hym sore repent
To Christis fayth / that he dyd assent.
If to theyr sectes he wolde agayne restore (!),
From Christis loore / turne his opinion,
Of theyr goddes / the sta(t)utes to support,
To Dioclesyan that they may report
Howe that Albon doth hym sore repent
To Christis fayth / that he dyd assent.
Made hym promyse / so that he wolde turnen
To theyr idols, / with fayned fayre langage;
Amonge with thretninges they dayly him adiuren,
To peruerte his herte and his corage.
But euer ylyche of chere and of visage
Betwen fyre & water, / now harde now blādysshyng,
From his constance they myght hym neuer bryng.
To theyr idols, / with fayned fayre langage;
Amonge with thretninges they dayly him adiuren,
To peruerte his herte and his corage.
But euer ylyche of chere and of visage
Betwen fyre & water, / now harde now blādysshyng,
From his constance they myght hym neuer bryng.
Lyke a stronge towre bylte on a hygh mountayne,
Toke none hede of theyr monitions,
Stode in our fayth so stable and so certayne;
Theyr ryche promysse of castels and of towns
With many lordshyps in dyuers regyons
He set at nought, / by grace and by vertue
His grounde to stable he abode in Christ Jesue.
Toke none hede of theyr monitions,
Stode in our fayth so stable and so certayne;
Theyr ryche promysse of castels and of towns
With many lordshyps in dyuers regyons
He set at nought, / by grace and by vertue
His grounde to stable he abode in Christ Jesue.
Than by precepte of Dioclesyan—
If he not chaunge for fayrenes nor for drede,
The charge was yeuen to Maxymyan
By iugement and dome to taken hede,
To assigne a knyght to smyten of his hede;
Suche one as had in knyghthode hygh renoune,
Shulde on this prince done executioune.
If he not chaunge for fayrenes nor for drede,
The charge was yeuen to Maxymyan
By iugement and dome to taken hede,
To assigne a knyght to smyten of his hede;
Suche one as had in knyghthode hygh renoune,
Shulde on this prince done executioune.
This was so commaunded by sentence
Of the emperour that Amphibalus,
If he were take, by notable violence
Without mercy shulde be serued thus,
By iugement cruell and furyous:
Made naked fyrst and to a stake bounde,
At his nauyll made a large wounde—
Of the emperour that Amphibalus,
If he were take, by notable violence
Without mercy shulde be serued thus,
By iugement cruell and furyous:
Made naked fyrst and to a stake bounde,
At his nauyll made a large wounde—
He compelled amonge the cruell route—
At the nauyll his bowels to be take
And his guttes serched rounde aboute,
Lyke a longe rope tyed to a stake,
And of his lyfe so an ende (to) make,
And at laste voyde of all pytye
Smyte of his heed, by furyous cruelty.
At the nauyll his bowels to be take
And his guttes serched rounde aboute,
Lyke a longe rope tyed to a stake,
And of his lyfe so an ende (to) make,
And at laste voyde of all pytye
Smyte of his heed, by furyous cruelty.
This was the dome touchyng the tormentes
Of blessed Albon and Amphibalus,
Falsely concluded in the iugementes
Of Maxymyan, my auctor telleth thus,
With Asclepeodet wode and contraryus,
In that citie bothe two there present,
In Verolamy, / whiche yafe this iugement.
Of blessed Albon and Amphibalus,
Falsely concluded in the iugementes
48
With Asclepeodet wode and contraryus,
In that citie bothe two there present,
In Verolamy, / whiche yafe this iugement.
The citezyns gathered enuiron
For this matter with great diligence,
Bothe of London and many other towne,
Of iugement to here that sentence—
Youen vpon Albon in open audience,
Vnder these wordes put in remembrance,
As ye shall here rehersed in substaunce:
For this matter with great diligence,
Bothe of London and many other towne,
Of iugement to here that sentence—
Youen vpon Albon in open audience,
Vnder these wordes put in remembrance,
As ye shall here rehersed in substaunce:
Tyme of the emperour Dioclesyan,
Whan he stode hyest in his maiestie,
At Verolamy—the story tell can—
Whan Albon was lorde of that citie,
Tho days called for his dignitie—
Recorde of cronycles / whiche lyst not feyne—
Prince of knyghtes and stewarde of Bretayne,
Whan he stode hyest in his maiestie,
At Verolamy—the story tell can—
Whan Albon was lorde of that citie,
Tho days called for his dignitie—
Recorde of cronycles / whiche lyst not feyne—
Prince of knyghtes and stewarde of Bretayne,
Duryng his lyfe to haue possession;
All his power aforne hath he practysed;
But nowe for he by false rebellyon
Of wylfulnes and malyce hath despysed
Beforne these dayes by antiquite deuised
The olde worshyps notable and famous
Done to Jubyter, Appollo and Venus:
All his power aforne hath he practysed;
But nowe for he by false rebellyon
Of wylfulnes and malyce hath despysed
Beforne these dayes by antiquite deuised
The olde worshyps notable and famous
Done to Jubyter, Appollo and Venus:
For whiche cause let euery man take hede,
Lyke as the lawe concludeth of ryght,
By iugement in hast he to be dede,
His hede smyten of fyrst in the peoples syght
By the handes of some olde worthy knyght—
Bycause the martyr was of high renowme
There shulde a knyght done execution—
Lyke as the lawe concludeth of ryght,
By iugement in hast he to be dede,
His hede smyten of fyrst in the peoples syght
By the handes of some olde worthy knyght—
Bycause the martyr was of high renowme
There shulde a knyght done execution—
By dome also, after whan he were deed,—
The place assigned by sorte or auenture—
From the body / whan parted was the heed:
The corps there shulde haue his sepulture
Passyng an other priuate creature,
There to be grauen, the body with the heed
Joyned to-gether, in a great chest of leed;
The place assigned by sorte or auenture—
From the body / whan parted was the heed:
The corps there shulde haue his sepulture
Passyng an other priuate creature,
There to be grauen, the body with the heed
Joyned to-gether, in a great chest of leed;
With hym buryed his crosse and his sclaueyne;
A large tombe for a memoryall.—
This was the dome of the iuges tweyne
In Verolame, citie full royall,
To auenge theyr goddes infernall
Vpon Albon, whan they dyd deme,
Agayne theyr lawes, for a false blaspheme;
A large tombe for a memoryall.—
This was the dome of the iuges tweyne
In Verolame, citie full royall,
To auenge theyr goddes infernall
Vpon Albon, whan they dyd deme,
Agayne theyr lawes, for a false blaspheme;
Dempte he was cause of mysauenture
That theyr landes brought forth no grayne,
The benefytes withdrawen of nature—
To cherisshe theyr frute come noder dew nor reyne
By sodeyn vengeance, as ye haue herde me seyne.
Diuersely theyr sorowes were made double
To fynde the cause what made all this trouble:
That theyr landes brought forth no grayne,
The benefytes withdrawen of nature—
To cherisshe theyr frute come noder dew nor reyne
By sodeyn vengeance, as ye haue herde me seyne.
Diuersely theyr sorowes were made double
To fynde the cause what made all this trouble:
Either it come by some frowarde aduenture,
By wytchecrafte or by sorcery,
Whiche so longe vpon them doth endure,
Either by artmagyke or by nygramancy—
Eche dempt after his fantasy;
Within the citie they sayd eke many one:
It come for vengeance of saynt Albone.
By wytchecrafte or by sorcery,
Whiche so longe vpon them doth endure,
Either by artmagyke or by nygramancy—
Eche dempt after his fantasy;
Within the citie they sayd eke many one:
It come for vengeance of saynt Albone.
With this sodeyn vnware aduersite
Itroubled was all the regyon
Of Verolamy, the greattest of that citie
Made amonge them a conuocation,
Of all the countre, / citie, / borough and towne
The wysest come downe from eche partie,
Agaynst this myschefe to shape a remedye.
Itroubled was all the regyon
49
Made amonge them a conuocation,
Of all the countre, / citie, / borough and towne
The wysest come downe from eche partie,
Agaynst this myschefe to shape a remedye.
Amonge them selfe cast a prouydence:
Wronge that was don to Albon in that towne
Agaynst trouthe and good conscience,
Of this myschefe / was chefe occasyon;
And by assent to relece his prison—
Theyr aduersite so myght be amended
By meane of hym / to whom they had offended,
Wronge that was don to Albon in that towne
Agaynst trouthe and good conscience,
Of this myschefe / was chefe occasyon;
And by assent to relece his prison—
Theyr aduersite so myght be amended
By meane of hym / to whom they had offended,
Barefote and bare whan that he was take,
Lyke a prisoner brought to theyr presence.
Of this matter a counsell they gan make,
Dempt of reason in hym was none offence,
For at them selfe began the violence,
And he stode quite in theyr opinion,—
Of this iniury hauyng compassyon;
Lyke a prisoner brought to theyr presence.
Of this matter a counsell they gan make,
Dempt of reason in hym was none offence,
For at them selfe began the violence,
And he stode quite in theyr opinion,—
Of this iniury hauyng compassyon;
They consydered his blode and his kynred,
His alyaunce and his hygh noblesse,
For they stode a parcell in great drede;
All the citie troubled with heuynesse
To se theyr lorde brought in suche distresse,
Causyng that citie and that famous towne
To stande in rumour and great discention.
His alyaunce and his hygh noblesse,
For they stode a parcell in great drede;
All the citie troubled with heuynesse
To se theyr lorde brought in suche distresse,
Causyng that citie and that famous towne
To stande in rumour and great discention.
Seynge theyr stewarde, that was so noble a knight
And a man fre-borne of that citie,—
His famous lyne downe descendyng ryght
From the Romayns of olde antiquite—
By comparyson, the cronycle who lyst se,
The stocke conueyed of hym that was so good
First from Troyans and from Romayn blode.
And a man fre-borne of that citie,—
His famous lyne downe descendyng ryght
From the Romayns of olde antiquite—
By comparyson, the cronycle who lyst se,
The stocke conueyed of hym that was so good
First from Troyans and from Romayn blode.
Fyrst from the partye / for to speake of Troye:
He had with Ector magnanimyte,
Of whose noblesse all Brytayne may haue ioye;
Sad a(s) Scipion, voyde of duplicite.
And Verolamy, that famous olde citie,
May well reioyse, / renewed euer in lyche
With his relyques that it is made so ryche.
He had with Ector magnanimyte,
Of whose noblesse all Brytayne may haue ioye;
Sad a(s) Scipion, voyde of duplicite.
And Verolamy, that famous olde citie,
May well reioyse, / renewed euer in lyche
With his relyques that it is made so ryche.
And to reherse of his conditions:
A ryghtfull prince in all his gouernance;
In hym was neuer founde occasyons,
Of frowarde meanyng / nor double varyance
Neuer ment to no man displeasance;—
Peysed all this, / alas, voyde of refuge
Nowe lyke a thefe he stande aforne the iuge!
A ryghtfull prince in all his gouernance;
In hym was neuer founde occasyons,
Of frowarde meanyng / nor double varyance
Neuer ment to no man displeasance;—
Peysed all this, / alas, voyde of refuge
Nowe lyke a thefe he stande aforne the iuge!
But to refourme his byrth and lyberte
The chefe of the citie dyd theyr busy payne,
This noble prince amonge them to go free
From bonde or fetters / or noyse of any chayne.
But therupon the martyr gan complayne
Within hym selfe, leste suche noyse and sown
In any wyse shulde let his passyon;
The chefe of the citie dyd theyr busy payne,
This noble prince amonge them to go free
From bonde or fetters / or noyse of any chayne.
But therupon the martyr gan complayne
Within hym selfe, leste suche noyse and sown
In any wyse shulde let his passyon;
That kynde of mercy / whiche they dyd hym shewe
Of his paynes by a maner of allegeaunce,
The martyr dempt—to speake in wordes fewe,—
It was to hym moste odious vengeaunce;—
For his desyre and his herty pleasance
Was only this, shorte processe to make,
To suffre dethe only for Christis sake.
Of his paynes by a maner of allegeaunce,
50
It was to hym moste odious vengeaunce;—
For his desyre and his herty pleasance
Was only this, shorte processe to make,
To suffre dethe only for Christis sake.
With herty sobbyng, profounde and depe
Towarde heuen mekely he kest his syght,
Of inwarde constreynt pitously can wepe,
The crosse aforne hym deuoutly helde vpryght,
Cryenge to Jesu: “haue mercy on thy knyght!
Let not the fende by no collusyon
Stere the people to let my passyon!”
Towarde heuen mekely he kest his syght,
Of inwarde constreynt pitously can wepe,
The crosse aforne hym deuoutly helde vpryght,
Cryenge to Jesu: “haue mercy on thy knyght!
Let not the fende by no collusyon
Stere the people to let my passyon!”
To the people turnyng his knyghtly face,
Sayd vnto them of herte and hole corage:
“Your fayned fauour, your dissymuled grace
May in this case do me none auauntage,
Fully disposed to perfourme my viage,
Forto accomplysshe lyke as I haue begon—
In Christ Jesu my tryumphe may be won.
Sayd vnto them of herte and hole corage:
“Your fayned fauour, your dissymuled grace
May in this case do me none auauntage,
Fully disposed to perfourme my viage,
Forto accomplysshe lyke as I haue begon—
In Christ Jesu my tryumphe may be won.
Syth I am redy forto endure payne
Of my free wyll, why suffre ye so longe?
Of my desyre I desyre moste souerayne
For Christis sake to endure paynes stronge.
My martyrdome / why do ye so prolonge?
In your entent agayne me ye do erre
That I do couet so longe to differre.
Of my free wyll, why suffre ye so longe?
Of my desyre I desyre moste souerayne
For Christis sake to endure paynes stronge.
My martyrdome / why do ye so prolonge?
In your entent agayne me ye do erre
That I do couet so longe to differre.
I maruayle howe ye may susteyne
Of neglygence so longe to abyde,
Whyle the martyr is newe, fresshe and grene
Execution for to set a syde.
Loke your statutes and thereupon prouyde,
Vnto your goddes reporteth how that I
Of all the worlde am theyr most ennemy!
Of neglygence so longe to abyde,
Whyle the martyr is newe, fresshe and grene
Execution for to set a syde.
Loke your statutes and thereupon prouyde,
Vnto your goddes reporteth how that I
Of all the worlde am theyr most ennemy!
Syth they be wrought of men that ben mortall,
Vnworthy preued to beare any dignitie,
But forged ydols of stones and metall,
Falsely vsurped agayne the deyte.
Foles do wronge to knele vpon theyr knee;
For, who calleth to them, they yeue none audience,
Domme as a stocke, / voyde of intelligence.
Vnworthy preued to beare any dignitie,
But forged ydols of stones and metall,
Falsely vsurped agayne the deyte.
Foles do wronge to knele vpon theyr knee;
For, who calleth to them, they yeue none audience,
Domme as a stocke, / voyde of intelligence.
A fole is he amonge foles all
To a blynde stocke / that kneleth to haue syght:
And so is he that doth for strength call
To hym that hath no power nor no myght,
Can not discerne betwene darkenes and lyght,
Large lypped wordes haue they none,
Of tonge meued / as any stocke or stone.
To a blynde stocke / that kneleth to haue syght:
And so is he that doth for strength call
To hym that hath no power nor no myght,
Can not discerne betwene darkenes and lyght,
Large lypped wordes haue they none,
Of tonge meued / as any stocke or stone.
O fruteles hope, / O false trust dispayred,
O vanyte, / O rudenes detestable,
O apparence with manhode foule appared,
O ignorance passyng-abhomynable!
O Idolaters of corage most vnstable,
Why worshyp ye in your conceytes blynde
Cursed mawmets / þt haue nother wyt nor mynde?
O vanyte, / O rudenes detestable,
O apparence with manhode foule appared,
O ignorance passyng-abhomynable!
O Idolaters of corage most vnstable,
Why worshyp ye in your conceytes blynde
Cursed mawmets / þt haue nother wyt nor mynde?
They be proued worse of condition,
Lasse of power, sothely, than be ye;
Of worldly thynges ye haue inspection—
They haue great eien, yet they may, not se;
Boistous handes, / they fele nothyng, parde,
Theyr armes longe they make no diffence,
With theyr defe eares may haue none audience.
Lasse of power, sothely, than be ye;
Of worldly thynges ye haue inspection—
They haue great eien, yet they may, not se;
51
Theyr armes longe they make no diffence,
With theyr defe eares may haue none audience.
What thynge is worse than yeue the souereynte
Of your handwarke to forge fals ymages,
Defe, blynde and dombe; / vnto whose deyte
Though ye call ay afforne theyr visages,
They knowe no-thyng thentent of your langages;
Of all fyue wyttes they be so defectyfe—
What causeth this / but lacke of soule and lyfe?
Of your handwarke to forge fals ymages,
Defe, blynde and dombe; / vnto whose deyte
Though ye call ay afforne theyr visages,
They knowe no-thyng thentent of your langages;
Of all fyue wyttes they be so defectyfe—
What causeth this / but lacke of soule and lyfe?
For howe myght he verrayle in dede
Without felyng of ioye or heuynes
Restore to lyfe folkes that ben deed
Or make them hole that playne of theyr sykenes?
For all distresse, disceyte or doublenes
Of worldely myscheues, sought on eche partie,
Was fyrst brought in by false ydolatrye.
Without felyng of ioye or heuynes
Restore to lyfe folkes that ben deed
Or make them hole that playne of theyr sykenes?
For all distresse, disceyte or doublenes
Of worldely myscheues, sought on eche partie,
Was fyrst brought in by false ydolatrye.
A man that hath memory of reason,
Whom god hath made lyke to his ymage,
Is foule blent in his discretion
To fals ydols to knele or do homage.
Wo be to them, ruyne and damage,
Trouble, myschyefe vnto one and all
To suche mawmettry that for helpe call!”
Whom god hath made lyke to his ymage,
Is foule blent in his discretion
To fals ydols to knele or do homage.
Wo be to them, ruyne and damage,
Trouble, myschyefe vnto one and all
To suche mawmettry that for helpe call!”
Whan the paynyms herde and vnderstode
That they myght not remoue his conscience
From Christ Jesu that dyed vpon the rode,
For fayre nor foule, / for fauour nor violence
To do by theyr counsell: and all of one sentence
A place assigned, lyke theyr opinion,
Shulde at Holmehurst suffre his passyon.
That they myght not remoue his conscience
From Christ Jesu that dyed vpon the rode,
For fayre nor foule, / for fauour nor violence
To do by theyr counsell: and all of one sentence
A place assigned, lyke theyr opinion,
Shulde at Holmehurst suffre his passyon.
In theyr opinion by controuersye
Stode at debate, as they were applyed
What maner deth Albon shulde dye
Whiche hath theyr goddes and theyr secte denyed;
Some of a crosse wolde haue hym crucyfyed,
Other there were, / that dyd in malice raue,
Wolde haue hym quicke karued in his graue,
Stode at debate, as they were applyed
What maner deth Albon shulde dye
Whiche hath theyr goddes and theyr secte denyed;
Some of a crosse wolde haue hym crucyfyed,
Other there were, / that dyd in malice raue,
Wolde haue hym quicke karued in his graue,
Some also, aforne or he were deed,
Of false enuie and furyous wodenes
Wolde haue his eien out of his heed:
That he shulde in myschefe of blyndnes
All desolate and abiecte in darkenes
Folowe his maister with his eien blynde,
Of auenture tyll he myght hym fynde;
Of false enuie and furyous wodenes
Wolde haue his eien out of his heed:
That he shulde in myschefe of blyndnes
All desolate and abiecte in darkenes
Folowe his maister with his eien blynde,
Of auenture tyll he myght hym fynde;
Echeon concludyng that he shall be deed.
And fynally thus was theyr iugement:
Lad to Holmehurst there smyte of his heed—
The cruell iuges with paynyms of assent.
Lyke a lambe / monges wolfes all to-rent,
Towarde his dethe and pitous passyon
In cheynes bounde led hym through the towne,
And fynally thus was theyr iugement:
Lad to Holmehurst there smyte of his heed—
The cruell iuges with paynyms of assent.
Lyke a lambe / monges wolfes all to-rent,
Towarde his dethe and pitous passyon
In cheynes bounde led hym through the towne,
No fauour shewed; lettyng nor obstacle,
But cruell rygour, voyde of all pitie.
Lyke as men gone to some vncouth spectacle,
People come downe his martyrdome to se—
The iuge alone lefte in the citie.
Lyke turmentours, this was theyr furyous cry:
“Out of this towne drawe forth our ennemy!
52
Lyke as men gone to some vncouth spectacle,
People come downe his martyrdome to se—
The iuge alone lefte in the citie.
Lyke turmentours, this was theyr furyous cry:
“Out of this towne drawe forth our ennemy!
By experience at eye ye may deme:
Lyke his desert, so foloweth hym his chaunce,
To our goddes moste odious blaspheme,
Grounde and gynning of our sodeyn greuance,
On whom they lyst to shewe theyr vengeance”—
This was theyr noyse, far from all reason,
As they hym lad towarde his passyon.
Lyke his desert, so foloweth hym his chaunce,
To our goddes moste odious blaspheme,
Grounde and gynning of our sodeyn greuance,
On whom they lyst to shewe theyr vengeance”—
This was theyr noyse, far from all reason,
As they hym lad towarde his passyon.
There was so great concors of folkes aboute—
The multytude gan alway to multiplie—
Of paynyms contagious was the route,
The grounde so full on euery partie:
Men myght vnneth any space espie
To stande vpon—myn auctor lyst not feyne—
Whā blessed Albon was led towarde his peyne.
The multytude gan alway to multiplie—
Of paynyms contagious was the route,
The grounde so full on euery partie:
Men myght vnneth any space espie
To stande vpon—myn auctor lyst not feyne—
Whā blessed Albon was led towarde his peyne.
The feruent hete of the sommer sonne
Hath with his streames / the soile so clad & brent,
Vp in the lyon as his course hath ronne:
With his brennyng the grounde was almost shent;
Vnder the fete where as the people went,
The soyle so hote of sodeyn auenture:
For enchaufynge they myght not endure.
Hath with his streames / the soile so clad & brent,
Vp in the lyon as his course hath ronne:
With his brennyng the grounde was almost shent;
Vnder the fete where as the people went,
The soyle so hote of sodeyn auenture:
For enchaufynge they myght not endure.
Lastynge this hete / whan Phebus shone so clere,
The people in nombre waxed more then lasse,
Tyll that they come to a great ryuere,
Whose sturdy wawis wolde not suffre them passe.
The great depenes gan them to manasse.
The brydge streite, / the people so great and huge
That many one were dreynt in that diluge.
The people in nombre waxed more then lasse,
Tyll that they come to a great ryuere,
Whose sturdy wawis wolde not suffre them passe.
The great depenes gan them to manasse.
The brydge streite, / the people so great and huge
That many one were dreynt in that diluge.
Great preace of people downe to the water cam:
The ryuer depe, / the brydge narowe & small:
They that coude, ouer the ryuer swam,
Who that coude not, turned ouer as a ball;
The comberous preace caused many a fall.
The noyse was great, the rumour & complaynt
In his passage of people that was dreynt.
The ryuer depe, / the brydge narowe & small:
They that coude, ouer the ryuer swam,
Who that coude not, turned ouer as a ball;
The comberous preace caused many a fall.
The noyse was great, the rumour & complaynt
In his passage of people that was dreynt.
Fauour was none of brother vnto brother—
They were so busy to passe the ryuer;
In that great pryde eche man oppressed other—
To passe the brydge there was so great daungere;
The hete importable that tyme of the yere
Caused many one / whiche on the brydge stode
For great fayntnes / to fall in to the flode.
They were so busy to passe the ryuer;
In that great pryde eche man oppressed other—
To passe the brydge there was so great daungere;
The hete importable that tyme of the yere
Caused many one / whiche on the brydge stode
For great fayntnes / to fall in to the flode.
This great myschefe whan Albon gan beholde,
Moued of mercy and of compassyon,
With wepyng eyen, as they water wolde,
Vnto the erthe fyll on his knees downe,
His loke vpcast with great deuotion
Towarde heuen, makyng his prayere
To Christ Jesu sayde as ye shall here:
Moued of mercy and of compassyon,
With wepyng eyen, as they water wolde,
Vnto the erthe fyll on his knees downe,
His loke vpcast with great deuotion
Towarde heuen, makyng his prayere
To Christ Jesu sayde as ye shall here:
“O lorde Jesu, out of whose blessed syde,
Whan thou for man were nayled on the rode,
Through whose herte / there dyd a spere glyde:
At whiche wounde ranne water out and blode—
O blessed lorde, moste mercyfull and good,
So as I sawe in myn auisyon,
Out of thyn herte two lycours ranne adown:
Whan thou for man were nayled on the rode,
53
At whiche wounde ranne water out and blode—
O blessed lorde, moste mercyfull and good,
So as I sawe in myn auisyon,
Out of thyn herte two lycours ranne adown:
That is to say, / red bloud and water clere,—
Those two lycours / of our redemption;
At my request drye vp this ryuer,
Staunche the floode, and here myn orisoun,
And take this people vnder thy protection,
Suffre that they with dry fete may wende
Of my passyon to se an ende!”
Those two lycours / of our redemption;
At my request drye vp this ryuer,
Staunche the floode, and here myn orisoun,
And take this people vnder thy protection,
Suffre that they with dry fete may wende
Of my passyon to se an ende!”
And whyls the teares from his eien ranne
Downe by his chekes on eche partie,
By deuout prayer of this holy man
All sodeynly the ryuer was made drye,
The flode staunched and vanysshed as a skye. /
He neded not the maner out to serche
Whan god by grace lyst any thynge to werche.
Downe by his chekes on eche partie,
By deuout prayer of this holy man
All sodeynly the ryuer was made drye,
The flode staunched and vanysshed as a skye. /
He neded not the maner out to serche
Whan god by grace lyst any thynge to werche.
For he that made maugre Pharao
The people of Israell passe the red see
With drye fete, / the same lorde euen so
Was that Albon kneled vpon his knee
Prayeng the lorde of grace and pitie
Graunt the people to haue inspection
And passe the ryuer to sen his passyon.
The people of Israell passe the red see
With drye fete, / the same lorde euen so
Was that Albon kneled vpon his knee
Prayeng the lorde of grace and pitie
Graunt the people to haue inspection
And passe the ryuer to sen his passyon.
An vncouth maruayle, / a gracious myracle:
Folkes drounde / lowe at the bottom sayne,
With goddes myght, / where may be none obstacle,—
The ryuer drye / founde was ageyne,
Voyde of moysture, / smothe was and playne—
Of the holy martyr / the vertue alway mored:
Folke aforne drownde / to lyfe were restored—
Folkes drounde / lowe at the bottom sayne,
With goddes myght, / where may be none obstacle,—
The ryuer drye / founde was ageyne,
Voyde of moysture, / smothe was and playne—
Of the holy martyr / the vertue alway mored:
Folke aforne drownde / to lyfe were restored—
No token of deth was in theyr faces sayne,
But quicke and lyuely to euery man nes syght.
These great myracles notable in certayne,
Fyrst of the ryuer / dryed by goddes myght,
All this consydered: the selfe same knyght
Whiche was assigned for to do vengeaunce
On blessed Albon, / fyll in repentance;
But quicke and lyuely to euery man nes syght.
These great myracles notable in certayne,
Fyrst of the ryuer / dryed by goddes myght,
All this consydered: the selfe same knyght
Whiche was assigned for to do vengeaunce
On blessed Albon, / fyll in repentance;
The same knyght / astonyed and aferde,
Whiche through (!) Albon towarde his passyon,
Of god visited / cast a way his swerde,
Afore the martyr / mekely kneled adowne
And vnto god made his confessyon,
Besechyng Albon of comforte and socour,
In humble wyse beknowyng his errour:
Whiche through (!) Albon towarde his passyon,
Of god visited / cast a way his swerde,
Afore the martyr / mekely kneled adowne
And vnto god made his confessyon,
Besechyng Albon of comforte and socour,
In humble wyse beknowyng his errour:
“Seruant of god, / O blessed man Albon,
Thy god only / is very god, certayne,
There is no god sothly but he alon,
All other goddes bere here name in veyne;
By the myracles / whiche that I haue seyne
I dare affirme—/ the trouth it doth well preue—:
He is very god, / on whom that I beleue.
Thy god only / is very god, certayne,
There is no god sothly but he alon,
All other goddes bere here name in veyne;
By the myracles / whiche that I haue seyne
I dare affirme—/ the trouth it doth well preue—:
He is very god, / on whom that I beleue.
I wote ryght wele he is myghty and is good:
For in a moment / through his magny fycence
At thy request voyded hath the flood:
As lorde of lordes most digne of reuerence—
None lyke to hym of power and potence,
Whiche on this erthe as souerayne lorde and kynge
Passyng all other / doth maruayles in werchynge.
For in a moment / through his magny fycence
54
As lorde of lordes most digne of reuerence—
None lyke to hym of power and potence,
Whiche on this erthe as souerayne lorde and kynge
Passyng all other / doth maruayles in werchynge.
Set all a syde, the dede beareth wytnes,
Of no collusyon nor of no false apparaunce,
Of godly myght shewyng his greatnes
Ryght as it is in very existence.
For whiche I aske of all olde neglygence
Mercy, / and pray for my trespace,
O glorious martyr, / that lorde to do me grace!
Of no collusyon nor of no false apparaunce,
Of godly myght shewyng his greatnes
Ryght as it is in very existence.
For whiche I aske of all olde neglygence
Mercy, / and pray for my trespace,
O glorious martyr, / that lorde to do me grace!
There is no lorde / but only Christe Jesus,
He is my lorde and I wyll be his knyght,
Whiche made these stremes to departe thus—
A great myracle wrought in the peoples syght!
His power is great / and he is moste of myght;
All fals goddes here I do forsake
And to his mercy all holy I me take.”
He is my lorde and I wyll be his knyght,
Whiche made these stremes to departe thus—
A great myracle wrought in the peoples syght!
His power is great / and he is moste of myght;
All fals goddes here I do forsake
And to his mercy all holy I me take.”
This knyght by grace thus sodeynly conuerted—
The name of whom was Araclius.
Whiche thynge whan paynyms haue aduerted,
They fell vpon hym as wolfes dispitous,
Touchyng the ryuer sayd it was not thus,
It weren theyr goddes and none other wyght
That wrought this myracle by theyr great myght.
The name of whom was Araclius.
Whiche thynge whan paynyms haue aduerted,
They fell vpon hym as wolfes dispitous,
Touchyng the ryuer sayd it was not thus,
It weren theyr goddes and none other wyght
That wrought this myracle by theyr great myght.
“Our myghty goddes, most famous and most good,
Of theyr benyngne gracious influence
They haue auoyded this ryuer and this flood;
Of whose secretes we haue experience
And in effecte full notable euidence:
Whiche for our sake, / if it be well sought,
For our passage this myracle haue we (!) wrought.
Of theyr benyngne gracious influence
They haue auoyded this ryuer and this flood;
Of whose secretes we haue experience
And in effecte full notable euidence:
Whiche for our sake, / if it be well sought,
For our passage this myracle haue we (!) wrought.
For to accomplysshe that we haue begon
Agayn our moste enemy, lyke to our entention,
Our god most myghty, the fyry feruent sonne
With his great hete and beames yuyronne (!)
Hath rauysshed, with a shorte conclusyon,
This gloryous Phebus with his streames clere
The watry moysture of this great ryuere.
Agayn our moste enemy, lyke to our entention,
Our god most myghty, the fyry feruent sonne
With his great hete and beames yuyronne (!)
Hath rauysshed, with a shorte conclusyon,
This gloryous Phebus with his streames clere
The watry moysture of this great ryuere.
They haue consydered our great deuotion
Whiche we haue towarde theyr deyte,
Howe we labour for execution
Agayne theyr moste ennemy founde in the citie.
But for (to) hynder theyr magnanymytie
Though thou in contrary accordyst with Albon,
Hast an opinion agaynst vs euerychone.”
Whiche we haue towarde theyr deyte,
Howe we labour for execution
Agayne theyr moste ennemy founde in the citie.
But for (to) hynder theyr magnanymytie
Though thou in contrary accordyst with Albon,
Hast an opinion agaynst vs euerychone.”
Thus was theyr langage and theyr dalyance
Of hatefull malyce agaynst this trewe knyght;
With great rebukes for his repentance
Fyll vpon hym lyke wolfes anone ryght
And called hym in all the peoples syght
To theyr goddes he was a fals blaspheme,
Worthy to dye—/ of malyce thus they deme;
Of hatefull malyce agaynst this trewe knyght;
With great rebukes for his repentance
Fyll vpon hym lyke wolfes anone ryght
And called hym in all the peoples syght
To theyr goddes he was a fals blaspheme,
Worthy to dye—/ of malyce thus they deme;
Ranne vpon hym with paynes full vncouth
Of great malyce they had vnto Albon,
Fyrst they smyten the tethe out of his mouthe,
And there they brake his bones euerychone—
Without wounde membre was lefte none.
Of mynde, of herte alway hole he stode,
For in his brest the fayth of Christe abode.
55
Fyrst they smyten the tethe out of his mouthe,
And there they brake his bones euerychone—
Without wounde membre was lefte none.
Of mynde, of herte alway hole he stode,
For in his brest the fayth of Christe abode.
Only by grace he had this auantage:
In his belefe so holy dyd he stande
Whiche for his fayth myght suffre no damage,
Kepte his promyse / whiche he toke in hande.
He lefte halfe-deed lyeng vpon the strande:
Fro wycke or worse, / fro cryme to cryme in dede
Lyke homycydes the paynyms gan procede.
In his belefe so holy dyd he stande
Whiche for his fayth myght suffre no damage,
Kepte his promyse / whiche he toke in hande.
He lefte halfe-deed lyeng vpon the strande:
Fro wycke or worse, / fro cryme to cryme in dede
Lyke homycydes the paynyms gan procede.
With broke bones / this pytous wounded knyght
Was on the stronde lefte with deedly chere,
Pale of hewe, / myght not syt vpryght,
As the story in order doth vs lere.
By many a stubbe and many a sharpe brere
Barefote they led hym, / voyde of compassyon,
This blessed Albon, towardes his passyon.
Was on the stronde lefte with deedly chere,
Pale of hewe, / myght not syt vpryght,
As the story in order doth vs lere.
By many a stubbe and many a sharpe brere
Barefote they led hym, / voyde of compassyon,
This blessed Albon, towardes his passyon.
That he was bare, the traces were welll seyne:
For with his blode the soile was dyed redde;
Made his passage towarde a hygh mounteyne
Through sharpe stones / quare as speres hedde—
Thus entreated aforne, or he was deed.—
Without wepyng / what erthely creature
Myght se a prince / suche deadly payne endure?
For with his blode the soile was dyed redde;
Made his passage towarde a hygh mounteyne
Through sharpe stones / quare as speres hedde—
Thus entreated aforne, or he was deed.—
Without wepyng / what erthely creature
Myght se a prince / suche deadly payne endure?
Stedfast of herte, his trust wolde neuer fayle,
Grounded in god, and in his fayth so stable,
Goth vp the hyll to accomplysshe his batayle.
And there were people veryly innumerable;
The sonne was hote, / the hete importable,
In poynt almost with feruence and with dust
To slee the people with a sodeyn thurst.
Grounded in god, and in his fayth so stable,
Goth vp the hyll to accomplysshe his batayle.
And there were people veryly innumerable;
The sonne was hote, / the hete importable,
In poynt almost with feruence and with dust
To slee the people with a sodeyn thurst.
Constrayned with hete, gan cry eche one,
Of cursed malyce and great malyncoly,
Vpon the martyr made assaute anone
And sayde: through his magyke and his sorcery
That they were lyke through mortall thurst to dye.
Agaynst whose deedly furyous cruelte
Blessed Albon gan shewe his charyte:
Of cursed malyce and great malyncoly,
Vpon the martyr made assaute anone
And sayde: through his magyke and his sorcery
That they were lyke through mortall thurst to dye.
Agaynst whose deedly furyous cruelte
Blessed Albon gan shewe his charyte:
To pray for them that dyd hym moste turment
This was his custome and his olde vsage:—
With hole herte and humble trewe entent
Prayed god with teares in his visage
Of this myschefe to stynt the great rage,
That the people shulde in no degre
Bicause of hym to suffre aduersyte.
This was his custome and his olde vsage:—
With hole herte and humble trewe entent
Prayed god with teares in his visage
Of this myschefe to stynt the great rage,
That the people shulde in no degre
Bicause of hym to suffre aduersyte.
“O lorde, quod he, / for thy heuenly empire,
Lyke as thou arte most myghty of pusance,
Thy smothe wynde by grace let enspire
Called zepherus, to do them allegeance,
This rygours eyre with dewe of attemperance,
Betwene hote and colde set a meane in dede;—
Or thou do vengeance, mercy may procede.
Lyke as thou arte most myghty of pusance,
Thy smothe wynde by grace let enspire
Called zepherus, to do them allegeance,
This rygours eyre with dewe of attemperance,
Betwene hote and colde set a meane in dede;—
Or thou do vengeance, mercy may procede.
56
Of this myschefe ordeyne a relece,
Without vengeance suffre people gone!—
That whylom madest thy seruant Moyses
With his yerde to smyte vpon a drye stone,
At whose touchyng come water out anone:
Nowe, gracious lorde, with newe stremes fresshe
On this hyll these people do refresshe,
Without vengeance suffre people gone!—
That whylom madest thy seruant Moyses
With his yerde to smyte vpon a drye stone,
At whose touchyng come water out anone:
Nowe, gracious lorde, with newe stremes fresshe
On this hyll these people do refresshe,
Thy gratious mercy from them do not expelle!”
Of blessed Albon rehersed this prayer:
At his fete anone sprange vp a well,
Full plentous with cristall stremes clere—
A wonders thynge / and a maruaylous to here
From a drye hyll of moystyr voyde at all
To se spryng a well clerer than cristall!
Of blessed Albon rehersed this prayer:
At his fete anone sprange vp a well,
Full plentous with cristall stremes clere—
A wonders thynge / and a maruaylous to here
From a drye hyll of moystyr voyde at all
To se spryng a well clerer than cristall!
Of whiche water there was so great foyson
And of that sprynge so gracious habundance,
That from aboue there came a ryuer downe;
This holsom streme was of so great pleasaunce:
To staunche theyr thurst founde ther suffisance,
The hete aswaged, the people out of dispreyre—
By goddes grace so temperate was the eyre.
And of that sprynge so gracious habundance,
That from aboue there came a ryuer downe;
This holsom streme was of so great pleasaunce:
To staunche theyr thurst founde ther suffisance,
The hete aswaged, the people out of dispreyre—
By goddes grace so temperate was the eyre.
Thus was the people refresshed at theyr lust
By the holy martyr, mercyfull and good.
Yet of false malyce they had a frowarde thurst
In theyr corages, lyke furyous folke and wode,
Agayne nature for to shede blode,
The blode of hym / whiche in theyr disease
By his prayer theyr myschefe dyd appese.
By the holy martyr, mercyfull and good.
Yet of false malyce they had a frowarde thurst
In theyr corages, lyke furyous folke and wode,
Agayne nature for to shede blode,
The blode of hym / whiche in theyr disease
By his prayer theyr myschefe dyd appese.
Theyr thurste was staunched, / they were refresshed wele,
But a false thurst of malyce and hatered
In theyr desyres / was staunched neuer a dele:
They were besye the blysfull blode to shed
Of hym that holpe them in great nede:
Lyke blasphemous, / makyng a false obstacle,
Gaue vnto the sonne thanke for this myracle.
But a false thurst of malyce and hatered
In theyr desyres / was staunched neuer a dele:
They were besye the blysfull blode to shed
Of hym that holpe them in great nede:
Lyke blasphemous, / makyng a false obstacle,
Gaue vnto the sonne thanke for this myracle.
With voyce vpraysed falsely they began,
Thus they sayde of outragyous clamour:
“Praysyng and laude be to you(!) the sonne,
Whiche in this myschefe hath be our sauiour,
Stauched our thurst / with his gracious lycour,
By his beames moste fresshe and clere shynyng
Vs to releue made a well vp spryng!” Verba translatoris.
Thus they sayde of outragyous clamour:
“Praysyng and laude be to you(!) the sonne,
Whiche in this myschefe hath be our sauiour,
Stauched our thurst / with his gracious lycour,
By his beames moste fresshe and clere shynyng
Vs to releue made a well vp spryng!” Verba translatoris.
O people vnkynde, blynded with fals errour,
O frowarde people, / rude, / dull / and obstinate,
O beastiall folke, / forthest from all sauour
Of grace and vertue, / o people in fortunate,
In your conceyte / o folke moste indurate!
That god hath shewed for loue of Albon,
Ye gyfe thankes to ymages made of stone!
O frowarde people, / rude, / dull / and obstinate,
O beastiall folke, / forthest from all sauour
Of grace and vertue, / o people in fortunate,
In your conceyte / o folke moste indurate!
That god hath shewed for loue of Albon,
Ye gyfe thankes to ymages made of stone!
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O most vnhappy, / o people vngratious,
Worse than beastis, / o voyde of all reason,
O cruell tygrys, / o wolfes furyous,
O folysshe asses / dull of discretion,
Falsely to deme in your opinion:
Thynge that Albon by grace of god hath wonne
Ye yefe the laude other to sterre or sonne!
Worse than beastis, / o voyde of all reason,
O cruell tygrys, / o wolfes furyous,
O folysshe asses / dull of discretion,
Falsely to deme in your opinion:
Thynge that Albon by grace of god hath wonne
Ye yefe the laude other to sterre or sonne!
Ye set a syde the southfast sonne of lyfe,
The sonne of grace that doth all the worlde gye,
Whiche may you saue agayn all mortall stryfe,
To all our sores may do best remedy.
Ye do great wronge for to defye(!)
This worldly sonne from temporall bryghtnes,
And to forsake the sonne of ryghtwysenes!
The sonne of grace that doth all the worlde gye,
Whiche may you saue agayn all mortall stryfe,
To all our sores may do best remedy.
Ye do great wronge for to defye(!)
This worldly sonne from temporall bryghtnes,
And to forsake the sonne of ryghtwysenes!
Lyke false blasphemus, forsoke your creature
And do worshyp to a creature!
The sonne of lyfe may clyppis no shoure,
Whose heuenly beames, by recorde of scripture,
Yeueth lyght of grace to euery creature;
But ye arne frowarde his influence to take
And for your ydols his lordshyps to forsake (!).
And do worshyp to a creature!
The sonne of lyfe may clyppis no shoure,
Whose heuenly beames, by recorde of scripture,
Yeueth lyght of grace to euery creature;
But ye arne frowarde his influence to take
And for your ydols his lordshyps to forsake (!).
What may auayle Jupiter, or Saturne,
Or cruell Mars, / that causeth stryfe or warre,
Or worldely Phebus, / þt one day doth her soiurne,
The nyght cometh on: / the lyght is fro you farre,
And eke your Venus, / called the day-sterre,—
All these rekened, in your mad wodenesse
Called of your custome goddes and goddesse!
Or cruell Mars, / that causeth stryfe or warre,
Or worldely Phebus, / þt one day doth her soiurne,
The nyght cometh on: / the lyght is fro you farre,
And eke your Venus, / called the day-sterre,—
All these rekened, in your mad wodenesse
Called of your custome goddes and goddesse!
God that this day shewed here,
To magnifie his gloryous knyght Albon,
With a fresshe well, / and dryed the ryuer—
Reken vp your goddes, and forget neuer one:
Of these myracles, / forsoth, his (!) parte is none!
A fole is he that of them dothe retche,
Sith vnto suche thīg their power may not stretche.
To magnifie his gloryous knyght Albon,
With a fresshe well, / and dryed the ryuer—
Reken vp your goddes, and forget neuer one:
Of these myracles, / forsoth, his (!) parte is none!
A fole is he that of them dothe retche,
Sith vnto suche thīg their power may not stretche.
Of theyr power me lyst no more to entreate
Whiche leadeth men vnto theyr dampnation;
Mars nor Jupiter / nor Phebus with his hete
May do no fauour nor mytigation
Agayne the myschefe, lyke your opinion.
The sayde myracles were wrought by vertue
For loue of Albon by grace of Christ Jesue.
Whiche leadeth men vnto theyr dampnation;
Mars nor Jupiter / nor Phebus with his hete
May do no fauour nor mytigation
Agayne the myschefe, lyke your opinion.
The sayde myracles were wrought by vertue
For loue of Albon by grace of Christ Jesue.
Your discretions ben so foule blent,
Your conceyt derke / and false in your opinion
Magre your mawmettes, in all my best entent!
I woll procede with hole affection
To accomplysshe vp the holy passyon
Of seynt Albon by grace of his fauour,
In his translation folowyng myn auctour.—
Your conceyt derke / and false in your opinion
Magre your mawmettes, in all my best entent!
I woll procede with hole affection
To accomplysshe vp the holy passyon
Of seynt Albon by grace of his fauour,
In his translation folowyng myn auctour.—
After these myracles shewed at the well—
A gratious treasure, a yefte of great price,—
Lyke here toforne as ye haue herde me tell—
Yet for all that, folowyng theyr olde auice
The people abode styll in theyr malyce;
From the mounteyne / cast not for to wende
Of the martyr tyll they haue made an ende.
A gratious treasure, a yefte of great price,—
Lyke here toforne as ye haue herde me tell—
Yet for all that, folowyng theyr olde auice
58
From the mounteyne / cast not for to wende
Of the martyr tyll they haue made an ende.
Fyrst hent his lockes, that were longe and large,
Malycyously bounde them to a stake;
Chose out a knyght / and on hym layde the charge
That in all hast he shulde hym redy make
And a sworde sherpe in his hande take,
And they hym bad, hauyng of god no drede,
With a great stroke to smyte of his hede.
Malycyously bounde them to a stake;
Chose out a knyght / and on hym layde the charge
That in all hast he shulde hym redy make
And a sworde sherpe in his hande take,
And they hym bad, hauyng of god no drede,
With a great stroke to smyte of his hede.
The hede hynge styll, / the body fell to grounde;
His crosse also all besprent with blode—
Kepte for a relyque / whan it was after founde,
Maugre paynyms, contagious and wode;
For amonges them secretely there stode
A christen man, / the whiche toke kepe
The sayde crosse deuoutly for to kepe.
His crosse also all besprent with blode—
Kepte for a relyque / whan it was after founde,
Maugre paynyms, contagious and wode;
For amonges them secretely there stode
A christen man, / the whiche toke kepe
The sayde crosse deuoutly for to kepe.
This turmentour, this cursed paynym knyght,
He that smote of the hede of saynt Albon,
By vengeance he hath lost his syght:
Bothe his eien fyll from his hede anone—
Without recure his worldly ioye was gone;
Whiche fyrste was glad to make the martyr blede,
Lyke his disceyt, deserued hath his mede.—
He that smote of the hede of saynt Albon,
By vengeance he hath lost his syght:
Bothe his eien fyll from his hede anone—
Without recure his worldly ioye was gone;
Whiche fyrste was glad to make the martyr blede,
Lyke his disceyt, deserued hath his mede.—
This wounded knyght / whiche in the valey abode—
Araclius, as ye haue herde me deuise—
The deth of Albon whan he vnderstode,—
Whiche for feblenes myght not aryse,
Gan peyne hym selfe, in full pitous wyse,
Amonge paynyms, as he myght hym kepe,
With honde and fote vpon the hylle to crepe,
Araclius, as ye haue herde me deuise—
The deth of Albon whan he vnderstode,—
Whiche for feblenes myght not aryse,
Gan peyne hym selfe, in full pitous wyse,
Amonge paynyms, as he myght hym kepe,
With honde and fote vpon the hylle to crepe,
Vpon the monition of the same knyght
Aforsayd(!) hym selfe on hande and fote to gone.
The iuge hym met and spake to hym thus ryght:
“Thou that hast so many a broke bone,
Clymbe vp fast and praye to thyn Albone,
Ceasse not / but crye vpon hym sore
Thy broke bones and woundes to restore!
Aforsayd(!) hym selfe on hande and fote to gone.
The iuge hym met and spake to hym thus ryght:
“Thou that hast so many a broke bone,
Clymbe vp fast and praye to thyn Albone,
Ceasse not / but crye vpon hym sore
Thy broke bones and woundes to restore!
Fyrst of all renne to hym and take hede—
To be made hole of thyne infirmyte,
Vnto the body / ioyne agayne the hede,
And in all hast thou shalte recured be
From all sykenes and aduersyte;
And after that do thy busy cure
To ordeyne for his sepulture!
To be made hole of thyne infirmyte,
Vnto the body / ioyne agayne the hede,
And in all hast thou shalte recured be
From all sykenes and aduersyte;
And after that do thy busy cure
To ordeyne for his sepulture!
And syth thou arte a knyght of his doctryne,
Let se what he may nowe do the auayle
To make the hole by crafte of medycyne!
Call vnto hym fast, / & loke that thou not fayle,
And thou shalte fynde an vnkouth meruayle:
If thou not cesse vpon hym for to crye,
Agaynst all sykenes / thou shalte fynde remedye.”
Let se what he may nowe do the auayle
To make the hole by crafte of medycyne!
Call vnto hym fast, / & loke that thou not fayle,
And thou shalte fynde an vnkouth meruayle:
If thou not cesse vpon hym for to crye,
Agaynst all sykenes / thou shalte fynde remedye.”
This maymed knyght yafe good audience
To that the iuge sayde in derysyon;
All set in fyre with sodeyn hote feruence
Gan to abrayde of great deuotion:
“I truste, quod he, of hole affection,
Only by vertue and merytes of Albon
God vnto helthe me may restore anone;
To that the iuge sayde in derysyon;
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Gan to abrayde of great deuotion:
“I truste, quod he, of hole affection,
Only by vertue and merytes of Albon
God vnto helthe me may restore anone;
Through his power and his magnyfycence
The eternall lorde may by his great myght
By the prayer and mercyfull clemence
Of hym that is his maister / and he his knyght,
I that am lame to make me go vpryght.”
And these wordes sayde, / with great loue & drede
So as he myght crope vp to the hede.
The eternall lorde may by his great myght
By the prayer and mercyfull clemence
Of hym that is his maister / and he his knyght,
I that am lame to make me go vpryght.”
And these wordes sayde, / with great loue & drede
So as he myght crope vp to the hede.
With great deuotion he gan the heed embrace,
To the heed(!) he brought it anone ryght,—
All bedewed with wepyng was his face
Of wofull herte, to se that pytous syght,
That holy prince albon, Christis owne knyght.
By whose meryte, / whan he crepte on the grounde,
All sodeynly he rose vp hole and sounde.
To the heed(!) he brought it anone ryght,—
All bedewed with wepyng was his face
Of wofull herte, to se that pytous syght,
That holy prince albon, Christis owne knyght.
By whose meryte, / whan he crepte on the grounde,
All sodeynly he rose vp hole and sounde.
And whan he was restored agayne to his strength,
He yafe praysyng, laude and reuerence,
With humble chere fyll prostrate in length,
Thankyng god of entier diligence;
And in the peoples open audience
Seased not saynt Albon for to prayse,
For loue of whom Christ Jesu dyd hym rayse—
He yafe praysyng, laude and reuerence,
With humble chere fyll prostrate in length,
Thankyng god of entier diligence;
And in the peoples open audience
Seased not saynt Albon for to prayse,
For loue of whom Christ Jesu dyd hym rayse—
His force agaynst Christe made hym to recure—
The people present myght se and knowe.
Than he deuoutly made a sepulture,
Gadryng stones, lyenge on a rowe:
Layed the martyr in the grounde downe lowe,
And all alofte—his labour was wele sene—
He couered it with torues fresshe and grene.
The people present myght se and knowe.
Than he deuoutly made a sepulture,
Gadryng stones, lyenge on a rowe:
Layed the martyr in the grounde downe lowe,
And all alofte—his labour was wele sene—
He couered it with torues fresshe and grene.
Wher-of paynyms had great enuie,
Whan they behelde howe the same knyght
Restored was and hole in eche partye
So sodeynly to his force and myght:
Wherof astonyed was euery man and wyght,
Thought in them selfe it was agayn nature
A brosed man so soone forto recure.
Whan they behelde howe the same knyght
Restored was and hole in eche partye
So sodeynly to his force and myght:
Wherof astonyed was euery man and wyght,
Thought in them selfe it was agayn nature
A brosed man so soone forto recure.
Agayne this knyght they toke theyr consayle,
Amonge them gan his deth conspyre.
Thought it shulde be to them great auayle—
To slee this man they were so set a fyre,
His hasty deth so greately they desyre.
Some sayd that he had in his entent
Some wychecrafte or some experiment,
Amonge them gan his deth conspyre.
Thought it shulde be to them great auayle—
To slee this man they were so set a fyre,
His hasty deth so greately they desyre.
Some sayd that he had in his entent
Some wychecrafte or some experiment,
Some other sayde in theyr iugement—
Lyke theyr owne false immagynatyfe—
This was wrought by inchauntement,
Or by some magyke had a preseruatyfe
Not to be slayne with dagger, / sworde / nor knyfe,
But so were—/ the story doth remembre—
That he were hew in peces euery membre.
Lyke theyr owne false immagynatyfe—
This was wrought by inchauntement,
Or by some magyke had a preseruatyfe
Not to be slayne with dagger, / sworde / nor knyfe,
But so were—/ the story doth remembre—
That he were hew in peces euery membre.
Amonge them selfe was great controuersy,
And eche of them gan his verdyte shewe.
Tyll it befell, of malyce and enuye
Fals paynyms, in nombre not a fewe,
In peces smale / haue hym all to-hewe;
Of his recuryng hauyng no maner of drede,
All of one assent they smote of his hede.
And eche of them gan his verdyte shewe.
Tyll it befell, of malyce and enuye
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In peces smale / haue hym all to-hewe;
Of his recuryng hauyng no maner of drede,
All of one assent they smote of his hede.
This blessed knyght, as the story sayth,
Stode alway in one in his perseuerance,
Of wyll, / of herte / stedfast in the fayth,
Lyst not chaunge for turment nor penance,
To holy Albon egall in constance;—
As he was made felowe of his victorye,
So is he nowe partable of his glorye.—
Stode alway in one in his perseuerance,
Of wyll, / of herte / stedfast in the fayth,
Lyst not chaunge for turment nor penance,
To holy Albon egall in constance;—
As he was made felowe of his victorye,
So is he nowe partable of his glorye.—
After all this vengeable cruelte
And all this mortall furyous violence,
For to go home agayne to theyr citie
To all the people the iuge yafe lycence.
At theyr departyng all of one sentence
And with one voyce, / homwarde as they resorte,
Theyr langage was, as the story doth reporte:
And all this mortall furyous violence,
For to go home agayne to theyr citie
To all the people the iuge yafe lycence.
At theyr departyng all of one sentence
And with one voyce, / homwarde as they resorte,
Theyr langage was, as the story doth reporte:
“Wo (to) that iuge that doth none equite,
Wo be to hym that doth no ryghtwysenes,
And wo to hym that can haue no pitie,
Wo to that iuge gouerned with wodenes,
And wo to hym that of false hastynes
Worketh vpon wyll by false collusyon
Without tytle or trouthe or of reason!”
Wo be to hym that doth no ryghtwysenes,
And wo to hym that can haue no pitie,
Wo to that iuge gouerned with wodenes,
And wo to hym that of false hastynes
Worketh vpon wyll by false collusyon
Without tytle or trouthe or of reason!”
This was the noyse, the rumour and the crye
Whan they departed home from the mountayne—
Trouthe wyll out, magre fals enuie,
Ryghtwysenes may not be hyd, it is certayne,—
As for a tyme it may be ouerlayne;
By ensample: as passed is the daungere
Of stormy weders, / Phebus is most clere.
Whan they departed home from the mountayne—
Trouthe wyll out, magre fals enuie,
Ryghtwysenes may not be hyd, it is certayne,—
As for a tyme it may be ouerlayne;
By ensample: as passed is the daungere
Of stormy weders, / Phebus is most clere.
Our gracious lorde Jesu most benyngne,
Which all gouerneth by eternall myght,
Lyst to shewe many a gracious sygne,
Folowyng vpon the selfe same nyght
After the passyon of his blessed knyght:
Out of whose tombe was sene an heuenly strem
Assendyng vpwarde, bryght as the sonne beame;
Which all gouerneth by eternall myght,
Lyst to shewe many a gracious sygne,
Folowyng vpon the selfe same nyght
After the passyon of his blessed knyght:
Out of whose tombe was sene an heuenly strem
Assendyng vpwarde, bryght as the sonne beame;
The same tyme whan folkes to bed went,
Ouer the citie / this bryght streme gan shyne,
Last all the nyght—no man knewe what it ment—
Vpwarde erecte ryght as any lyne.
The people sawe / howe it dyd enlumyne
The longe nyght, as god dyd ordayne,
To all four partes stretchyng of Bretayne.
Ouer the citie / this bryght streme gan shyne,
Last all the nyght—no man knewe what it ment—
Vpwarde erecte ryght as any lyne.
The people sawe / howe it dyd enlumyne
The longe nyght, as god dyd ordayne,
To all four partes stretchyng of Bretayne.
With this vncouth maruaylous myracle
Was sene and herde duryng all the nyght—
People gathered to loke vpon that spectacle,
Betwene ioye and drede / reioysyng of that lyght—
As they coude discerne and knowe of ryght,
This was the ditie / which in that lyght was songe,
As folowyng is wrytten in latyn tonge:
Was sene and herde duryng all the nyght—
People gathered to loke vpon that spectacle,
Betwene ioye and drede / reioysyng of that lyght—
As they coude discerne and knowe of ryght,
This was the ditie / which in that lyght was songe,
As folowyng is wrytten in latyn tonge:
Albanus vir egregius martir extat gloriosus.
And were there sene assendyng vp and downe
In the celestiall, glorious, bryght skye
Heuenly angels, that made noyse and sowne
With this refret in this armonye:
“Let vs with songe vpreyse and magnyfye
The laude of Albon, notable and glorious,
This day with martyrs made victorious!”
And were there sene assendyng vp and downe
In the celestiall, glorious, bryght skye
Heuenly angels, that made noyse and sowne
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“Let vs with songe vpreyse and magnyfye
The laude of Albon, notable and glorious,
This day with martyrs made victorious!”
Albanus vir egregius martyr extat gloriosus.
This songe was herde by reporte through þe towne
And remembred vpon eche partie
For a synguler commendation
Of hym that was prince of his chyualrye,
Stewarde of Bretons, to gouerne them and gye:
Whose synguler laude and tryumphe glorious
This day with martyrs is made victorious.
This songe was herde by reporte through þe towne
And remembred vpon eche partie
For a synguler commendation
Of hym that was prince of his chyualrye,
Stewarde of Bretons, to gouerne them and gye:
Whose synguler laude and tryumphe glorious
This day with martyrs is made victorious.
Albanus vir egregius martyr extat gloriosus.
This noble prince of Brutis Albion
Hath suffered deth and mortall turmentrye
Stable of herte, this Christis champyon,
Hauynge dispite of all idolatrye;
This blessed martyr, crowned aboue so hygh,
With angels songe soete and melodious
This day with martyrs is made victorious.
This noble prince of Brutis Albion
Hath suffered deth and mortall turmentrye
Stable of herte, this Christis champyon,
Hauynge dispite of all idolatrye;
This blessed martyr, crowned aboue so hygh,
With angels songe soete and melodious
This day with martyrs is made victorious.
Albanus vir egregius martyr extat gloriosus.
O prothomartyr full famous of renown,
Amonge paynyms hauyng the maistrye,
To be cause, grounde and destruction
In Verolamy of all false mawmettrye,
Thy lyfe for Christe hath put in ieopartye:
For whiche this day with songe melodyous
Thou arte with martyrs made victorious;
O prothomartyr full famous of renown,
Amonge paynyms hauyng the maistrye,
To be cause, grounde and destruction
In Verolamy of all false mawmettrye,
Thy lyfe for Christe hath put in ieopartye:
For whiche this day with songe melodyous
Thou arte with martyrs made victorious;
Be vnto that citie supportour and patron,
Kepe them from sorowe, / sykenes / and malady,
From pestilence and yll infection,
And of theyr ennemyes represse all tyrannye;
Whiche be fraunchised with the regallye
Of thy presens, / o martyr glorious,
With all that longeth to the and to thyn hous!
Kepe them from sorowe, / sykenes / and malady,
From pestilence and yll infection,
And of theyr ennemyes represse all tyrannye;
Whiche be fraunchised with the regallye
Of thy presens, / o martyr glorious,
With all that longeth to the and to thyn hous!
And, blessed martyr, most lowly I the requere,
Whiche abydest in the heuenly mantion,
With laurer crowned aboue the sterres clere,
Only of mercy to haue compassyon
If ought be sayde in this translation
Through ignorance, vnconnyng or rudenes,
Of gracious support, / and rewe on my symplenes—
Whiche abydest in the heuenly mantion,
With laurer crowned aboue the sterres clere,
Only of mercy to haue compassyon
If ought be sayde in this translation
Through ignorance, vnconnyng or rudenes,
Of gracious support, / and rewe on my symplenes—
In my labour though there be founde offence,
My wyll was good, / though small was my connīge;
Meddell mercy with thy magny(fi)cence,
O gracious martyr, of pitie remembrynge
The wydowe offered parte of a ferthyng,
The lorde aboue her meanyng vnderstode—
Saue of only wyll / she had none other good:
My wyll was good, / though small was my connīge;
Meddell mercy with thy magny(fi)cence,
O gracious martyr, of pitie remembrynge
The wydowe offered parte of a ferthyng,
The lorde aboue her meanyng vnderstode—
Saue of only wyll / she had none other good:
Semblably thy parfytnes to queme
I am full set of humble affection,
Hopyng eche man / lyke myn entent wyll deme.
I wyll procede vnder correction
To wryte in order the translation,
Fyrst set aforne brefe and compendious
The martyrdome of Amphybalus,
I am full set of humble affection,
Hopyng eche man / lyke myn entent wyll deme.
I wyll procede vnder correction
To wryte in order the translation,
Fyrst set aforne brefe and compendious
The martyrdome of Amphybalus,
With this, o martyr, / that from thy heuenly see
Thou lyst downe cast on me thy heuenly loke,
To forther my penne, / of mercy and pite,
In compylation of this, the thyrde boke.
O blessed Albon, / make thy dewe downe flete
To my penne of mercyfull habundance,
This boke to accomplysshe vnto thy pleasance!
Thou lyst downe cast on me thy heuenly loke,
62
In compylation of this, the thyrde boke.
O blessed Albon, / make thy dewe downe flete
To my penne of mercyfull habundance,
This boke to accomplysshe vnto thy pleasance!
Finis.
Here endeth the seconde boke of the gloryous prothomartyr saynt Albon.
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