The Legend of the Holy Grail its Sources, Character and Development, by Dorothy Kempe. The introduction to, and Part V of, Herry Lovelich's verse "History of the Holy Grail," |
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| XLI. | CHAPTER XLI. HOW JOSEPH AND HIS COMPANIONS CROSS OVER TO BRITAIN ON JOSEPHES'S SHIRT. |
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 | CHAPTER XLI. HOW JOSEPH AND HIS COMPANIONS CROSS OVER TO BRITAIN ON JOSEPHES'S SHIRT. The Legend of the Holy Grail |  |
CHAPTER XLI. HOW JOSEPH AND HIS COMPANIONS CROSS OVER TO BRITAIN ON JOSEPHES'S SHIRT.
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Now telleth here this Story Anon,
That aftir Josephe from Sarras was gon,
So that betwene hym and his Compenye
Manye Jornes wenten they Sekerlye
tyl they weren past the flowm Of Ewfrate,
And Manye Othir Jornes bothe Erly and late.
And as they wenten, Mochel folk they fownde
that hem Arested In that stownde;
but Evere god deliuered hem Anon
bothe Owt Of Castel and Owt of ston;
So that Nyhtes thanne Manyon
In Wodes weren they logged Echon,
and In Every mannes loggenge
Alle Manere Of vyande bothe of Mete and drink;
what that here hertes Cowden Axen Oþer Crave,
with-Owten dowte Anon they it have.
That aftir Josephe from Sarras was gon,
So that betwene hym and his Compenye
Manye Jornes wenten they Sekerlye
tyl they weren past the flowm Of Ewfrate,
And Manye Othir Jornes bothe Erly and late.
And as they wenten, Mochel folk they fownde
that hem Arested In that stownde;
but Evere god deliuered hem Anon
bothe Owt Of Castel and Owt of ston;
So that Nyhtes thanne Manyon
In Wodes weren they logged Echon,
and In Every mannes loggenge
Alle Manere Of vyande bothe of Mete and drink;
what that here hertes Cowden Axen Oþer Crave,
with-Owten dowte Anon they it have.
that Nyht lay Josephe with his wyf,
A Noble woman to God, and Clene Of lyf;
For Of Alle wommen that thike tyme were,
Of hire degre hadde sche non pere.
Thanne descendid A vois there Anon,
and to Josephe there spak thus son,
and seide “that the grete Maister þe word sent
thy wyf fleschly to knowen In good Entente;
This Niht Only that thou so do,
For it is goddis will that it be so.
So that here thorwgh the seed Of the
this lond may Repleynsched be:
and ȝif that it be a knave Chyld,
Galaaz thou him Clepe, bothe mek and Myld,
For thus Commandeth the grete lord
that Alle thing Ordeyneth be his Owne Acord.”
A Noble woman to God, and Clene Of lyf;
For Of Alle wommen that thike tyme were,
Of hire degre hadde sche non pere.
Thanne descendid A vois there Anon,
and to Josephe there spak thus son,
and seide “that the grete Maister þe word sent
thy wyf fleschly to knowen In good Entente;
This Niht Only that thou so do,
For it is goddis will that it be so.
106
this lond may Repleynsched be:
and ȝif that it be a knave Chyld,
Galaaz thou him Clepe, bothe mek and Myld,
For thus Commandeth the grete lord
that Alle thing Ordeyneth be his Owne Acord.”
thanne Answerid Josephe there riht Anon,
“I am Redy his Comandement to don,
but that I am so Feble and so Old
that I not how this thing ben schold.”
quod this voys, “dismaye the non thing,
For thus Moste it be with-Owten varyeng.”
“I am Redy his Comandement to don,
but that I am so Feble and so Old
that I not how this thing ben schold.”
quod this voys, “dismaye the non thing,
For thus Moste it be with-Owten varyeng.”
his wyf, Josephe knew that Nyht,
and begat Galaaz thorwgh goddis Myht,
whiche was A good man, and Clene of lif,
and the peple kepte from Mochel stryf;
and therto A worthy knyht he was,
which was fulfild be goddis gras.
and begat Galaaz thorwgh goddis Myht,
whiche was A good man, and Clene of lif,
and the peple kepte from Mochel stryf;
and therto A worthy knyht he was,
which was fulfild be goddis gras.
So On the Morwe, whanne it was day,
Josephe and his Meyne tooken here way
there that holy arche it was,
And Maden here preyeres In þat plas;
Afore that holy vessel Alle knelynge,
they preiden there ful sore wepinge
And besowhten Oure lord Of good Cowndyt
Ouer that Se to passen ful qwyt
Into the lond that was behoten hem,
To Alle here Children, and to here stren.
Josephe and his Meyne tooken here way
there that holy arche it was,
And Maden here preyeres In þat plas;
Afore that holy vessel Alle knelynge,
they preiden there ful sore wepinge
And besowhten Oure lord Of good Cowndyt
Ouer that Se to passen ful qwyt
Into the lond that was behoten hem,
To Alle here Children, and to here stren.
Thanne whanne here preyers they hadden I-do,
Towardis the Se thanne Gonne they go,
And this be-fyl vppon a satirday
that be-Nyhgted they weren In fay.
and whanne they weren Come to the see,
Nethir Galeye ne Schipe ne fownden they sekerle
where-Inne they myhten Over see gon.
thanne Maden they mone Everichon;
and for Sorwe and fol lewmentyng
they borsten Alle In Sore wepyng,
and preyden Owre lord Of his Socour
hem forto senden In that langowr;
and for his Mercye & his pyte
Sawf to bryngen hem Over the See.
and with this they Comen wepyng ful sore
alle to Josephes the Bischope thore,
“A, Sire bischope, how scholen we do?
Ouer this Se mown we not Go,
For here is nethir schipe ne Galeye
That we mown Ouer In gon trewelye;
Wherfore we mosten Abyden stille here
But ȝe konne tellen vs Ony bettyr Chere.
Wherefore, Sire, we preyen now the
that thou wost tellen vs som Certeinte,
whethir that we scholen here stylle Abyde,
Owther Ouer the see goon At this tyde
Into the lond that is ȝoven to vs
Be the Specyal grace Of swete Iesus,
that the Remnaunt Of Oure weyes myhte we go
Oure lordis wille to fulfillen Al so.”
Towardis the Se thanne Gonne they go,
And this be-fyl vppon a satirday
that be-Nyhgted they weren In fay.
and whanne they weren Come to the see,
Nethir Galeye ne Schipe ne fownden they sekerle
where-Inne they myhten Over see gon.
thanne Maden they mone Everichon;
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they borsten Alle In Sore wepyng,
and preyden Owre lord Of his Socour
hem forto senden In that langowr;
and for his Mercye & his pyte
Sawf to bryngen hem Over the See.
and with this they Comen wepyng ful sore
alle to Josephes the Bischope thore,
“A, Sire bischope, how scholen we do?
Ouer this Se mown we not Go,
For here is nethir schipe ne Galeye
That we mown Ouer In gon trewelye;
Wherfore we mosten Abyden stille here
But ȝe konne tellen vs Ony bettyr Chere.
Wherefore, Sire, we preyen now the
that thou wost tellen vs som Certeinte,
whethir that we scholen here stylle Abyde,
Owther Ouer the see goon At this tyde
Into the lond that is ȝoven to vs
Be the Specyal grace Of swete Iesus,
that the Remnaunt Of Oure weyes myhte we go
Oure lordis wille to fulfillen Al so.”
Whanne Josephe sawh hem Maken this Mone,
Gret pite he hadde Of hem Everichone
that they here Contre and good hadden forsake,
and Only to Goddis Servise hem take;
and Ek that Of his kynne they were,
bothe lordis and ladyes that weren there.
Gret pite he hadde Of hem Everichone
that they here Contre and good hadden forsake,
and Only to Goddis Servise hem take;
and Ek that Of his kynne they were,
bothe lordis and ladyes that weren there.
And Anon he seide these wordis Milde,
“Dismaye ȝow not, neþer lord lady ne Childe,
For he that hath Counveyed vs In Every weye,
Ouer this See he wele vs now Conveye.
But alle, at this tyme, Cowndeye not he wele;
and why, I schal tellen yow the Skele.
For whanne ȝe Comen Owt Of ȝoure lond,
As I do ȝow here to vndirstond,
And forsoken Al Worldly Ese,
Onliche that goode lord for to plese,
and him behighten good Servise to do
As the Child to þe fadir, with-Owten Mo;
And that Synne scholden ȝe don non
From that tyme forward where so ȝe gon,
lik As ȝe dyden there be-fore
with ȝoure wyves whanne ȝe weren thore:
and he ȝow behighte with-Owten drede
he wolde ȝow socoure In al ȝoure Nede;
and where-Onne ȝoure herte would thenke,
ȝe scholde it hauen, bothe Mete and drynke;
and Also delyveren ȝow wolde he
From alle Noysaunce and al adversite:
And Alle thing that he hath ȝow behyht,
he hath it parfo[r]med with strengthe & myht.
For ȝit me semeth that ȝe axeden nevere thing
but that Anon that ȝe hadden ȝowre Askyng.
and as Often as that Arest hauen ȝe ben,
he hath ȝow deliuered both faire & Clen.
Thus hath he ȝolden to ȝow his beheste,
To Man womman and Child, both lest and Meste.
“Dismaye ȝow not, neþer lord lady ne Childe,
For he that hath Counveyed vs In Every weye,
Ouer this See he wele vs now Conveye.
But alle, at this tyme, Cowndeye not he wele;
and why, I schal tellen yow the Skele.
For whanne ȝe Comen Owt Of ȝoure lond,
As I do ȝow here to vndirstond,
108
Onliche that goode lord for to plese,
and him behighten good Servise to do
As the Child to þe fadir, with-Owten Mo;
And that Synne scholden ȝe don non
From that tyme forward where so ȝe gon,
lik As ȝe dyden there be-fore
with ȝoure wyves whanne ȝe weren thore:
and he ȝow behighte with-Owten drede
he wolde ȝow socoure In al ȝoure Nede;
and where-Onne ȝoure herte would thenke,
ȝe scholde it hauen, bothe Mete and drynke;
and Also delyveren ȝow wolde he
From alle Noysaunce and al adversite:
And Alle thing that he hath ȝow behyht,
he hath it parfo[r]med with strengthe & myht.
For ȝit me semeth that ȝe axeden nevere thing
but that Anon that ȝe hadden ȝowre Askyng.
and as Often as that Arest hauen ȝe ben,
he hath ȝow deliuered both faire & Clen.
Thus hath he ȝolden to ȝow his beheste,
To Man womman and Child, both lest and Meste.
“But ful Evel Aqwyt hym han ȝe
For his kendenesse, As ȝe scholen Se:
Herkeneth me now what I schal say.
For his kendenesse, As ȝe scholen Se:
Herkeneth me now what I schal say.
“Whanne he to ȝow spak ȝisterday
Atte Entre Of the forest here
That Agas is Clepid In Old Manere,
and there he warned ȝou genneraly
In Chastete to kepen ȝow Only,
and Clene In body and In herte,
that non vnclennesse ȝow Asterte;
Ne not with ȝowre wyves forto Melle
but be his leve, As I ȝow Spelle;
and this promyse Maden ȝe,
As ȝe wel knowen Certeynle:
Now, behold how ȝe han this holden,
ȝowre promyses lik as ȝe tolden!
For the More part Of this Compenye,
ȝe knowen ȝowre wyves In luxvrye!
And Somme there ben that Repenten ful sore
that Owt Of here Contre Comen they thore;
and so Entasted Alle ȝe been,
Somme Of lecherye that is vnclen,
And Somme Of his Contre the Repentaunce
why they Owt Comen be Ony Chaunce,
and Sory they ben In alle degre
here hertes to sette In Swich parfyte.
Atte Entre Of the forest here
That Agas is Clepid In Old Manere,
and there he warned ȝou genneraly
In Chastete to kepen ȝow Only,
and Clene In body and In herte,
that non vnclennesse ȝow Asterte;
Ne not with ȝowre wyves forto Melle
but be his leve, As I ȝow Spelle;
and this promyse Maden ȝe,
As ȝe wel knowen Certeynle:
109
ȝowre promyses lik as ȝe tolden!
For the More part Of this Compenye,
ȝe knowen ȝowre wyves In luxvrye!
And Somme there ben that Repenten ful sore
that Owt Of here Contre Comen they thore;
and so Entasted Alle ȝe been,
Somme Of lecherye that is vnclen,
And Somme Of his Contre the Repentaunce
why they Owt Comen be Ony Chaunce,
and Sory they ben In alle degre
here hertes to sette In Swich parfyte.
“But the tothere that Oþerwise han do,
here hertes to god Contenwed Euere mo,
and ȝit Into this day dwellyn they So,—
Al so hot brenneng Evere In Charyte, lo,
as Ony licour In vessel boylled May be,
Thus dwellen they In love and In Charite;
and ben fulfild with the holy gost,
the wheche that is lord Of myhtes most;
For they han kept hem In Chastete
Attyr Goddis byddyng In Eche degre,
And In Chastete han they kept here lyf
Aftyr goddis comandement with-Owten stryf,—
These, trewely, scholen passen the See
with Owten Schipe oþer galeye In Ony degre;
and the See hem Susteyne schal also,
and there-Over Clene forto go.
For with venym Enfect be they not trewelye,
Neþer with fylthe Entachched, ne with non velonye;
These with-Owten Schipe Scholen go
Over the See with-Owten Mo,
thorwgh feyth, beleve, and stedfast Creaunce
that In hem is fownden with-Owten variaunce.
here hertes to god Contenwed Euere mo,
and ȝit Into this day dwellyn they So,—
Al so hot brenneng Evere In Charyte, lo,
as Ony licour In vessel boylled May be,
Thus dwellen they In love and In Charite;
and ben fulfild with the holy gost,
the wheche that is lord Of myhtes most;
For they han kept hem In Chastete
Attyr Goddis byddyng In Eche degre,
And In Chastete han they kept here lyf
Aftyr goddis comandement with-Owten stryf,—
These, trewely, scholen passen the See
with Owten Schipe oþer galeye In Ony degre;
and the See hem Susteyne schal also,
and there-Over Clene forto go.
For with venym Enfect be they not trewelye,
Neþer with fylthe Entachched, ne with non velonye;
These with-Owten Schipe Scholen go
Over the See with-Owten Mo,
thorwgh feyth, beleve, and stedfast Creaunce
that In hem is fownden with-Owten variaunce.
“But ȝe that ben fallen in Synne,
ȝe ben not Able to Entren the Se with-Inne
But ȝif ȝe han Owther Schipe oþer Galeye
That ȝow Ouer May bryngen Sauflye.
and wele ȝe now heren the Cause why?
I schal it ȝow tellen ful Openly;
that we from ȝow scholen departen here,
I schal it ȝow Schewen More Openly and Clere.
For Oure lord desyreth In non degre
The deth of A Synnere, what so he be;
but that he lyve and Amenden his lif
Forto lyven In Clennesse with-Owten stryf.
ȝe ben not Able to Entren the Se with-Inne
110
That ȝow Ouer May bryngen Sauflye.
and wele ȝe now heren the Cause why?
I schal it ȝow tellen ful Openly;
that we from ȝow scholen departen here,
I schal it ȝow Schewen More Openly and Clere.
For Oure lord desyreth In non degre
The deth of A Synnere, what so he be;
but that he lyve and Amenden his lif
Forto lyven In Clennesse with-Owten stryf.
“This thing to ȝow now have I told,
ȝowre owne folyes to knowen Manyfold,
Of that ȝe han Mistaken ȝow Ony Owr
I forfetyng Aȝens ȝoure Creatowr,
Neþer neuere Repented ȝow Into this day
Of ȝoure Evele dedis, as I ȝow Say.”
ȝowre owne folyes to knowen Manyfold,
Of that ȝe han Mistaken ȝow Ony Owr
I forfetyng Aȝens ȝoure Creatowr,
Neþer neuere Repented ȝow Into this day
Of ȝoure Evele dedis, as I ȝow Say.”
Thanne they that Cowpable were,
herde Josephe Speken In this Manere,
and hem So Acusede Of here trespas,
Ful mochel Sorwe Maden they In that plas,
and begannen so gret deol forto Make
So that for Sorwe they gonne to qwake,
that neuere grettere Sorwe Men say
To-forn that tyme Into that day;
and Cryden In here Owne Conciense,
“A, Creature vnkende, why wostest þou Offense?
and Of this Condicioun Cursed peple we ben
Ful two hundred & Sixty, as that I wen.”
herde Josephe Speken In this Manere,
and hem So Acusede Of here trespas,
Ful mochel Sorwe Maden they In that plas,
and begannen so gret deol forto Make
So that for Sorwe they gonne to qwake,
that neuere grettere Sorwe Men say
To-forn that tyme Into that day;
and Cryden In here Owne Conciense,
“A, Creature vnkende, why wostest þou Offense?
and Of this Condicioun Cursed peple we ben
Ful two hundred & Sixty, as that I wen.”
And Of hem that not Acwsed were,
To Iosephes the[y] Rennen al In fere,
and to-forn hym they kneleden Everychon,
and thanne thus to hym they seiden Anon—
“Now, swete Sere Josephes, how may this be
that we scholen passen here Ouer the see?”
thanne he hem Answerede Ryht Anon
“Here Over this See now scholen ȝe gon.”
and vppon that Compenye was Certeinly
Two hundred persones and ful Fyfty,
and the Moste part Of Alle tho,
kynnes folk to Iosephes weren Also.
To Iosephes the[y] Rennen al In fere,
and to-forn hym they kneleden Everychon,
and thanne thus to hym they seiden Anon—
“Now, swete Sere Josephes, how may this be
that we scholen passen here Ouer the see?”
thanne he hem Answerede Ryht Anon
111
and vppon that Compenye was Certeinly
Two hundred persones and ful Fyfty,
and the Moste part Of Alle tho,
kynnes folk to Iosephes weren Also.
That Nyht it was bothe fair and stille,
and the See pesible At here Owne wille
with-Owten tempest Owther distresse;
and þe Mone schon In alle hire bryhtnesse,
Also bryht as In Averylle,
thus it schon bothe fair & stille:
and this was the Satyrday Certeinly
Aforn Esterne day ful trewly.
and the See pesible At here Owne wille
with-Owten tempest Owther distresse;
and þe Mone schon In alle hire bryhtnesse,
Also bryht as In Averylle,
thus it schon bothe fair & stille:
and this was the Satyrday Certeinly
Aforn Esterne day ful trewly.
And tho Iosephes to his fadir then Cam Anon
And hym kyste to-forn hem Echon,
& so On Aftyr Anothir there
As his Owne bretheren In Eche Manere;
So Iosephes hem kyste Everychon,
Alle his Compenye be On and On;
and to hem he seyde In the same degre
As to his Fadir he dyde thanne Certeinle,
“Sweth ȝe me now Everychon
In the Same weye that I schal gon.”
And hym kyste to-forn hem Echon,
& so On Aftyr Anothir there
As his Owne bretheren In Eche Manere;
So Iosephes hem kyste Everychon,
Alle his Compenye be On and On;
and to hem he seyde In the same degre
As to his Fadir he dyde thanne Certeinle,
“Sweth ȝe me now Everychon
In the Same weye that I schal gon.”
thanne Iosephes the See wolde han Entred Anone
but that A voys to hym there Cam thus sone,
and Seide, “Iosephes, Entre thou not here,
but werke thou In Other Manere.
Ferst putte to-forn the Everichon
that thou kystest here Anon,
and Setten here feet vppon the se—
For Alle I-Saved scholen they be,
As it is pleynly the be-hote,
Over Al Sawf scholen they gon On fote;
For Alle Sewr Scholen they be
vppon the See to Gon ful Certeinle,
and Over this see scholen they pase
Er the day schewe In Ony plase.”
but that A voys to hym there Cam thus sone,
and Seide, “Iosephes, Entre thou not here,
but werke thou In Other Manere.
Ferst putte to-forn the Everichon
that thou kystest here Anon,
and Setten here feet vppon the se—
For Alle I-Saved scholen they be,
As it is pleynly the be-hote,
Over Al Sawf scholen they gon On fote;
For Alle Sewr Scholen they be
vppon the See to Gon ful Certeinle,
and Over this see scholen they pase
112
As the vois to Iosephe[s] Spak, in the same Manere
Riht so forth his peple Cleped he there;
and theym that the holy vessel bore,
Into the Se he dide hem gon thore,
“For the vertw Of this Fessel
ȝow schal Cowndyen faire and wel.”
and thus vppon the see they wenten Anon
with-Owten drede thanne Everychon,
that so vppon that water wenten they there
As thowgh vppon the drye grownd they were;
and with hem boren they In Compenye
the holy vessel, with-Owten lye,
the wheche they Cleped seint Graal
Owthir Oþerwyse it is I-Clepid þe sank Ryal.
Riht so forth his peple Cleped he there;
and theym that the holy vessel bore,
Into the Se he dide hem gon thore,
“For the vertw Of this Fessel
ȝow schal Cowndyen faire and wel.”
and thus vppon the see they wenten Anon
with-Owten drede thanne Everychon,
that so vppon that water wenten they there
As thowgh vppon the drye grownd they were;
and with hem boren they In Compenye
the holy vessel, with-Owten lye,
the wheche they Cleped seint Graal
Owthir Oþerwyse it is I-Clepid þe sank Ryal.
And whanne Iosephes beheld Al this
that On þe water the[y] wenten with-Owten Mys,
thanne dide he Of his Schirte there,
and Clothed him In Anothir Manere,
and spradde that Schirte vppon the see
As thowgh that it pleyn lond hadde I-be,
and Seide to his fadir there Anon
his feet that Schirte to setten vppon.
that On þe water the[y] wenten with-Owten Mys,
thanne dide he Of his Schirte there,
and Clothed him In Anothir Manere,
and spradde that Schirte vppon the see
As thowgh that it pleyn lond hadde I-be,
and Seide to his fadir there Anon
his feet that Schirte to setten vppon.
Thanne cleped he forth An Old Man
that Iosephes ful Cosyn was than,
and twelfe Sones he hadde Also;
but the fadris Name was Clepyd Dro:
and he his feet sette vpon the Scherte,
and as Iosephe to-forn him hadde sette.
thanne Aftyr this Iosephes gan to Calle
An hundred and Fyfty forth with Alle;
and alle vppon the Scherte Entred Anon,
And there vppon the See they stoden Echon.
that Iosephes ful Cosyn was than,
and twelfe Sones he hadde Also;
but the fadris Name was Clepyd Dro:
and he his feet sette vpon the Scherte,
and as Iosephe to-forn him hadde sette.
thanne Aftyr this Iosephes gan to Calle
An hundred and Fyfty forth with Alle;
and alle vppon the Scherte Entred Anon,
And there vppon the See they stoden Echon.
Thanne Josephes bothe Schirte and water gan blesse,
And Anon God gan it for to Redresse,
and wax moche largere hem vntylle,
and it fer Abrod spradde Aftyr goddis wylle!
behold what Meracle god there wrowhte
For his peple that he hadde I-bowhte!
that for An hundred and persones Fyfty
Vppon that schirte Alle weren they trewely!
Except Only persones tweyne
whiche weren not worthy In Certeyne,
the whiche was bothe the fadir & þe sone
that ne hadden not ful wel I-kept here Wone;
the Fadris Name, ‘Symenx’ it was,
that whanne he scholde Entren In that plas,
Into the water they sonken there Anon
As thowgh it hadde ben Owther led Oþer ston.
And Anon God gan it for to Redresse,
and wax moche largere hem vntylle,
113
behold what Meracle god there wrowhte
For his peple that he hadde I-bowhte!
that for An hundred and persones Fyfty
Vppon that schirte Alle weren they trewely!
Except Only persones tweyne
whiche weren not worthy In Certeyne,
the whiche was bothe the fadir & þe sone
that ne hadden not ful wel I-kept here Wone;
the Fadris Name, ‘Symenx’ it was,
that whanne he scholde Entren In that plas,
Into the water they sonken there Anon
As thowgh it hadde ben Owther led Oþer ston.
And whanne Josephes beheld thanne this,
“ȝe han don ful Evele with-Owten Mis.
Now here the werkes don wel schewe
what feith In ȝow was In þis throwe.”
And whanne that Into the water weren they Sonke,
with Alle here strengthes thanne they Swonke
tyl that Aboven the water they were.
Thanne they that vppon the lond weren left there,
Faste they Ronne hem to Socoure,
And to þe lond hem pulde In that Oure.
“ȝe han don ful Evele with-Owten Mis.
Now here the werkes don wel schewe
what feith In ȝow was In þis throwe.”
And whanne that Into the water weren they Sonke,
with Alle here strengthes thanne they Swonke
tyl that Aboven the water they were.
Thanne they that vppon the lond weren left there,
Faste they Ronne hem to Socoure,
And to þe lond hem pulde In that Oure.
and Josephes held his scherte be the Sleve
that So In to the Water he dyde hem Meve,
and Comaunded hem alle to God Al-Myht,
that so be goddis governaunce forth wenten they ryht;
So that it happed hem bothe faire and wel
That vppon the Morwe they Aryvede Ech del,
and Into grete Breteyne they Entred Anon
Al that Compenye thanne Everychon;
And Syen bothe the lond and Contre there,
That Alle fulfyld with Sarrasines were,
and Manye Othere Miscreaunce,
so happid that tyme was here Chaunce.
that So In to the Water he dyde hem Meve,
and Comaunded hem alle to God Al-Myht,
that so be goddis governaunce forth wenten they ryht;
So that it happed hem bothe faire and wel
That vppon the Morwe they Aryvede Ech del,
and Into grete Breteyne they Entred Anon
Al that Compenye thanne Everychon;
And Syen bothe the lond and Contre there,
That Alle fulfyld with Sarrasines were,
and Manye Othere Miscreaunce,
so happid that tyme was here Chaunce.
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Whanne that Alle Aryved they were,
Josephes Anon Reuersed hym there,
and vppon his knes he knelide A-down,
and to God there he Made his Orisown,
and ȝald hym graces & thankynges Al so
Of the Miracle that he for hem hadde I-do.
Josephes Anon Reuersed hym there,
and vppon his knes he knelide A-down,
and to God there he Made his Orisown,
and ȝald hym graces & thankynges Al so
Of the Miracle that he for hem hadde I-do.
Thanne Josephes drowh hym somwhat Afer
From his Felawes, and wolde Comen non ner,
and his preyeres gon faste forto Make
For his Othere felawes sake
with wepyng and with teres grete,
For hem that beȝonde the Se he lete,
that God hem Sauf Scholde brynge
Into here feleschepe with-owten blemschenge.
And whanne his preyeres he hadde I-do,
A vois to hym Anon Cam tho,
And seide, “Iosephes, thy preyere
Of god it is herd In good Manere;
For to the Scholen they Comen sauf & sownd
there that thow stondist, vppon this grownd.
For this lond is behoten to the
And to hem þat thou hast In compeyne,
Forto Multeplyen this lond here
with Oþere peple thanne þere-Inne were;
And therfore thou Most speden the faste,
Goddis Name to pvblysshe In haste;
For wete þou wel, thou Mostest here travaille
Tyl goddis lawe be knowen with-Owten faille,
Over Al Abowtes In this lond,
and for non thyng that thow wond.”
From his Felawes, and wolde Comen non ner,
and his preyeres gon faste forto Make
For his Othere felawes sake
with wepyng and with teres grete,
For hem that beȝonde the Se he lete,
that God hem Sauf Scholde brynge
Into here feleschepe with-owten blemschenge.
And whanne his preyeres he hadde I-do,
A vois to hym Anon Cam tho,
And seide, “Iosephes, thy preyere
Of god it is herd In good Manere;
For to the Scholen they Comen sauf & sownd
there that thow stondist, vppon this grownd.
For this lond is behoten to the
And to hem þat thou hast In compeyne,
Forto Multeplyen this lond here
with Oþere peple thanne þere-Inne were;
And therfore thou Most speden the faste,
Goddis Name to pvblysshe In haste;
For wete þou wel, thou Mostest here travaille
Tyl goddis lawe be knowen with-Owten faille,
Over Al Abowtes In this lond,
and for non thyng that thow wond.”
Whanne Iosephes herde this vois thus seyn,
thanne from the Erthe he Ros In Certein,
And looked vpward to the hevene,
And Seide, “lord with Mylde stevene
behold thy Servaunt Al Redy here
thy wil to fulfille Every where.”
thanne from the Erthe he Ros In Certein,
And looked vpward to the hevene,
And Seide, “lord with Mylde stevene
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thy wil to fulfille Every where.”
Thanne Josephes tornede Anon Ageyn
Toward his fadir & his frendis In Certeyn,
and seide, “lordynges, herkeneth to Me;
Tydynges I schal tellen ȝow now Certeynle.
this is the lond ful sothfastly
that to vs is behoten, and Owre Compeny,
the wheche with Othere plauntes Edified moste be
thanne it is now for Certeynle.
For as the lawe Of Miscreaunce,
It is bothe fals and Eke variaunce;
therfore Moste Goddis lawe here
Stedfastly ben vp-holden In Ony Manere;
and þerfore In þis lond that lawe Roten welen we,
and the Rootes of þe fals lawe breken sekerle.”
Toward his fadir & his frendis In Certeyn,
and seide, “lordynges, herkeneth to Me;
Tydynges I schal tellen ȝow now Certeynle.
this is the lond ful sothfastly
that to vs is behoten, and Owre Compeny,
the wheche with Othere plauntes Edified moste be
thanne it is now for Certeynle.
For as the lawe Of Miscreaunce,
It is bothe fals and Eke variaunce;
therfore Moste Goddis lawe here
Stedfastly ben vp-holden In Ony Manere;
and þerfore In þis lond that lawe Roten welen we,
and the Rootes of þe fals lawe breken sekerle.”
Thanne answerid they Alle Anon
that to-forn Iosephes stoden Echon,
“lo! Sire, behold al Redy ben we here
with Owre hertes and bodyes al In fere
To don Al ȝowre Comandement,
lo, vs alle here, Sire, present!
For here ben we Redy Everychon,
Goddis lawe to Reren Aȝens owre fon;
and the lawe Of the verray Crucyfye,
we scholen it vp-holden to lyve Oþer dye:
there-fore Comande vs what we scholen done,
and it schal be sped thus sone,
To Owre poweris and Owre Myht
Goddis lawe to holden upryht.”
that to-forn Iosephes stoden Echon,
“lo! Sire, behold al Redy ben we here
with Owre hertes and bodyes al In fere
To don Al ȝowre Comandement,
lo, vs alle here, Sire, present!
For here ben we Redy Everychon,
Goddis lawe to Reren Aȝens owre fon;
and the lawe Of the verray Crucyfye,
we scholen it vp-holden to lyve Oþer dye:
there-fore Comande vs what we scholen done,
and it schal be sped thus sone,
To Owre poweris and Owre Myht
Goddis lawe to holden upryht.”
Thanne answerid Iosephe[s] to hem Ageyn,
“ȝit Schal I Abyden In Certeyn
Tyl that we han Of Owre felawes som tyding,
ȝif God Of his grace hyder wyle hem bryng
that On þe tothir syde Of the see now be,
that God hem kepe for his grete pete.”
“ȝit Schal I Abyden In Certeyn
Tyl that we han Of Owre felawes som tyding,
ȝif God Of his grace hyder wyle hem bryng
that On þe tothir syde Of the see now be,
that God hem kepe for his grete pete.”
116
Now leveth here this storye
Of Iosephes and Of Al his Compenye,
and Retorneth to Nasciens Ageyn,
and Ek to Celydoyne In Certeyn.
Of Iosephes and Of Al his Compenye,
and Retorneth to Nasciens Ageyn,
and Ek to Celydoyne In Certeyn.
| CHAPTER XLI. HOW JOSEPH AND HIS COMPANIONS CROSS OVER TO BRITAIN ON JOSEPHES'S SHIRT. The Legend of the Holy Grail | |