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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| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
| XLIII. |
| XLIV. |
| XLV. |
| XLVI. |
| XLVII. | CHAPTER XLVII. OF JOSEPHES IN CAMELOT, AND OF KING AGRESTES'S TREACHERY AND DEATH. |
| XLVIII. |
| XLIX. |
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 | CHAPTER XLVII. OF JOSEPHES IN CAMELOT, AND OF KING AGRESTES'S TREACHERY AND DEATH. The Legend of the Holy Grail |  |
CHAPTER XLVII. OF JOSEPHES IN CAMELOT, AND OF KING AGRESTES'S TREACHERY AND DEATH.
206
whanne Iosephes say þat Mordrains þe kyng
was I-browht to his dwellyng,
And Nasciens belefte with Gaanor
that Of Galafort was dewk thor,
than Iosephes departed thenne In hye,
and with him his Compenye
and Of his kynnes men Also,
Abowtes In the Contre forto go,
the holy Ewangelye forto preche,
and the peple, Of Christendom to teche.
anon from Galafort gonne they go
& at Nasciens and þe qwene here leve token tho,
and At Alle Othere knyhtes In fere.
was I-browht to his dwellyng,
And Nasciens belefte with Gaanor
that Of Galafort was dewk thor,
than Iosephes departed thenne In hye,
and with him his Compenye
and Of his kynnes men Also,
Abowtes In the Contre forto go,
the holy Ewangelye forto preche,
and the peple, Of Christendom to teche.
anon from Galafort gonne they go
& at Nasciens and þe qwene here leve token tho,
and At Alle Othere knyhtes In fere.
thanne forth here weye wenten they there
Into Manye A stronge Contre,
to prechen the peple ful certeinle.
thanne to a Cyte they comen, God wot,
which was tho Clepid kaAmalot;
and this the Richest Cite was
Of Alle breteygne In Ony plas,
and Ek it was of sweche bownte
that Alle kinges weren crowned þere Sekerle,
whiche that weren of paynem londe,
In þat Cite As I vndirstonde,
For it was more had In worschepinge
thanne ony oþer Cite with-owten lesynge.
Into Manye A stronge Contre,
to prechen the peple ful certeinle.
thanne to a Cyte they comen, God wot,
which was tho Clepid kaAmalot;
and this the Richest Cite was
Of Alle breteygne In Ony plas,
and Ek it was of sweche bownte
that Alle kinges weren crowned þere Sekerle,
whiche that weren of paynem londe,
In þat Cite As I vndirstonde,
For it was more had In worschepinge
thanne ony oþer Cite with-owten lesynge.
In wheche tyme whanne Cristene thedir come,—
Iosephes and his Compenye Alle & some,—
there was A lord, And Ek was he kyng,
the moste fers Man In this world levyng,
and his Riht Name was with-Owten les
properly there was he Clepid Agrestes;
and whanne Iosephes was Entred there,
& his Compenye with him Alle In fere,
ful faste gan he preche ful sekerlye
the Name & þe power of God Almyhtye.
And thike tyme Abowtes kamaAlot þere Nere
but Miscreawntes Every where,
That, so as Goddis wille it was,
thike day Convertyd was In þat plas
A thowsend & Fyfty Sarrazines
that to fore tyme weren wethir-wynes,
and Torned to the Cristene lay,
& forsoken Sarrazines for Evere & ay,
and Al here false Miscreaunce
that to fore they kepten with Mischaunce.
Iosephes and his Compenye Alle & some,—
207
the moste fers Man In this world levyng,
and his Riht Name was with-Owten les
properly there was he Clepid Agrestes;
and whanne Iosephes was Entred there,
& his Compenye with him Alle In fere,
ful faste gan he preche ful sekerlye
the Name & þe power of God Almyhtye.
And thike tyme Abowtes kamaAlot þere Nere
but Miscreawntes Every where,
That, so as Goddis wille it was,
thike day Convertyd was In þat plas
A thowsend & Fyfty Sarrazines
that to fore tyme weren wethir-wynes,
and Torned to the Cristene lay,
& forsoken Sarrazines for Evere & ay,
and Al here false Miscreaunce
that to fore they kepten with Mischaunce.
whanne that this kyng Agrestes
beheld his peple with so gret pres,
and that so Manye Convertyd were,
where-Offen ful Sorweful was he there;
þerfore so gret sorwe thanne took he,
that to Mannes herte non grettere myhte be,
For he was the falsest Creature
That In this world lyvede, I the Ensure.
Thanne thus bethowhte hym this fals kyng
of a fals tresown Anon be Coniectyng,
and thus to him self he gan to say,
“how may I best werken this ilke day?
For so mochel peple I-torned there Is
From my lawe now with-Owten Mys,
that I ne wot how to do,
so manye of hem ben now Ago;
For Of hem ben More than we,
therfore Cristened now wil I be
In semblaunce and In significaciown,
Cristened to ben be fals Assumylaciown.”
beheld his peple with so gret pres,
and that so Manye Convertyd were,
where-Offen ful Sorweful was he there;
þerfore so gret sorwe thanne took he,
that to Mannes herte non grettere myhte be,
For he was the falsest Creature
That In this world lyvede, I the Ensure.
Thanne thus bethowhte hym this fals kyng
of a fals tresown Anon be Coniectyng,
and thus to him self he gan to say,
“how may I best werken this ilke day?
For so mochel peple I-torned there Is
From my lawe now with-Owten Mys,
that I ne wot how to do,
so manye of hem ben now Ago;
For Of hem ben More than we,
therfore Cristened now wil I be
208
Cristened to ben be fals Assumylaciown.”
and whanne þat Iosephes thens was gon,
thanne supposide he sone Anon—
what be preyere and Manasynge—
his peple Aȝen to his lay to brynge,
& what for drede Of deth and veniaunce
to bringen hem to here ferste Creaunce.
thanne supposide he sone Anon—
what be preyere and Manasynge—
his peple Aȝen to his lay to brynge,
& what for drede Of deth and veniaunce
to bringen hem to here ferste Creaunce.
And thus On the Morwe I-crystened he was
Of Iosephes In that Same plas,
In distroction Of his Owne lif
To Endles peyne with-Owten stryf.
thanne ful glad was the peple tho,
For In goodnesse they wenden he hadde it do,
and wenden he had ben trewe Cristen Man;
but Al for falsnesse was It than,
and As A fals Crestene Aperid he there,
The peple to disceyven Everywhere,
For the devel was Closed In his herte
that from hym nolde neuere asterte,
and lette hym from Alle dedis goode,
& torned hym from God þat deyde On Roode;
So that the peple Cowde not Aspye
his Falsnesse nethir his trechorrye;
that ȝit so b'encheson Of the kyng Anon
thorwgh þe lond weren Cristened Everychon.
Of Iosephes In that Same plas,
In distroction Of his Owne lif
To Endles peyne with-Owten stryf.
thanne ful glad was the peple tho,
For In goodnesse they wenden he hadde it do,
and wenden he had ben trewe Cristen Man;
but Al for falsnesse was It than,
and As A fals Crestene Aperid he there,
The peple to disceyven Everywhere,
For the devel was Closed In his herte
that from hym nolde neuere asterte,
and lette hym from Alle dedis goode,
& torned hym from God þat deyde On Roode;
So that the peple Cowde not Aspye
his Falsnesse nethir his trechorrye;
that ȝit so b'encheson Of the kyng Anon
thorwgh þe lond weren Cristened Everychon.
thus Iosephes .viij. dayes Abod there
Til Al that Cite I-Cristened they were,
and Of his Cosynes he lefte there twelve:
So that thens he wente hym selve,
and Charged theke .xij. Alle In fere
the peple Of Cite to Enformen there,
and to techen hem In Swich degre
that In hem the devel non more Entren scholde he,
hem forto torne to here Olde lay:
thus bad he hem prechen Every day.
Til Al that Cite I-Cristened they were,
and Of his Cosynes he lefte there twelve:
So that thens he wente hym selve,
and Charged theke .xij. Alle In fere
the peple Of Cite to Enformen there,
and to techen hem In Swich degre
that In hem the devel non more Entren scholde he,
hem forto torne to here Olde lay:
thus bad he hem prechen Every day.
209
And whanne thens whanne he was gon,
Iosephes & his fadyr & his Meyne Echon
Into the partye of scotland Sekerlye;
thanne this Agrestes, ful of Envye,
vppon a fryday ful Sekerle
Sente Abowtes Al his Contre
For Alle the grettest of his lond,
that faste to hym scholden they fond.
For so mochel he knew Of hem Anon,
that fals Cristene weren they Everychon.
Iosephes & his fadyr & his Meyne Echon
Into the partye of scotland Sekerlye;
thanne this Agrestes, ful of Envye,
vppon a fryday ful Sekerle
Sente Abowtes Al his Contre
For Alle the grettest of his lond,
that faste to hym scholden they fond.
For so mochel he knew Of hem Anon,
that fals Cristene weren they Everychon.
thanne whanne they weren Comen with-Owten faille,
to hem he discurede his Cownsaille.
thanne was þere On that Landoyne hyhte,
A ful fals man, & Of gret Myhte,
And to hym thus seide this Agrestes
“ȝe mosten me helpen In My deses.”
“Sire, quod this Landoyne thanne,
þe knowen I am ȝoure Owne Manne,
þerfore to me seith what Evere ȝow liste,
For Onlych to me Mown ȝe Triste;
and, be It wisdom, Other be it folye,
I Schal It don, Sire, sekirlye.”
to hem he discurede his Cownsaille.
thanne was þere On that Landoyne hyhte,
A ful fals man, & Of gret Myhte,
And to hym thus seide this Agrestes
“ȝe mosten me helpen In My deses.”
“Sire, quod this Landoyne thanne,
þe knowen I am ȝoure Owne Manne,
þerfore to me seith what Evere ȝow liste,
For Onlych to me Mown ȝe Triste;
and, be It wisdom, Other be it folye,
I Schal It don, Sire, sekirlye.”
Thanne seyde the kyng to hym Ageyn,
“My purpos schal I tellen ȝow pleyn,
and what I thenke forto don
Of myne liges now Everichon,
Only to Maken hem tornen Ageyn
to Owre ferst lawe, Sire, In Certeyn.
for the lawe þat I have Resceyved nowe,
In manye partyes it doth me Rewe,
but I hate it More now Certeinly
thanne Ony Worldly thing trewely;
and for I se wel that it stont so
that my peple I may not Ouergo
with-Owten strenkthe Of myn baronye,
þerfore Aftir ȝow sente I In hye.
thus werken wile I ful previle,
And senden Aftir this Meyne
Into My Chambre be On And On,
thus prevyly Alle scholen they gon;
And there A Cros scholen we Make
Onlyche for the Cristene sake;
and wheche Of hem hit worschepe do,
be-twixen vs we scholen hem slo;
and tho that welen forsaken hyt,
Of here dethes scholen they gon qwyt.”
“My purpos schal I tellen ȝow pleyn,
and what I thenke forto don
Of myne liges now Everichon,
Only to Maken hem tornen Ageyn
to Owre ferst lawe, Sire, In Certeyn.
for the lawe þat I have Resceyved nowe,
In manye partyes it doth me Rewe,
but I hate it More now Certeinly
thanne Ony Worldly thing trewely;
and for I se wel that it stont so
that my peple I may not Ouergo
with-Owten strenkthe Of myn baronye,
þerfore Aftir ȝow sente I In hye.
210
And senden Aftir this Meyne
Into My Chambre be On And On,
thus prevyly Alle scholen they gon;
And there A Cros scholen we Make
Onlyche for the Cristene sake;
and wheche Of hem hit worschepe do,
be-twixen vs we scholen hem slo;
and tho that welen forsaken hyt,
Of here dethes scholen they gon qwyt.”
herto Acordede landoyne Anon,
“Sire, ȝoure wille schal be don,
For I Acorde to ȝowre Cownsaille;
and, sire, I trowe it schal Availle.”
“Sire, ȝoure wille schal be don,
For I Acorde to ȝowre Cownsaille;
and, sire, I trowe it schal Availle.”
Anon they senten ful Certeinle
Aftyr the grete Men Of that Contre,
and thus, be here fals purposing,
tho that to hem not wolden ben Assentyng,
beheveded On Aftyr Anothir,
As wel the soster as the brother,
thus tyl Manye they hadden Ouergon
Of goddis peple ful gret won;
& Manye Oþere that weren but of tendre Age
Tooken Aȝen to here ferste homage,
for drede of deth, to here ferste miscre Aunce;
this was to hem A fowl Meschaunce.
Aftyr the grete Men Of that Contre,
and thus, be here fals purposing,
tho that to hem not wolden ben Assentyng,
beheveded On Aftyr Anothir,
As wel the soster as the brother,
thus tyl Manye they hadden Ouergon
Of goddis peple ful gret won;
& Manye Oþere that weren but of tendre Age
Tooken Aȝen to here ferste homage,
for drede of deth, to here ferste miscre Aunce;
this was to hem A fowl Meschaunce.
and whanne the kyng thus hadde Ido,
the xij goodemen thanne took he tho
which weren Of Iosephes kynrede,
and towardis þe deth he dyde hem lede,
and seide to hem pleynly Anon,
‘that ded scholden they ben Everychon;
but ȝif here Goddis worschepen they wolde,
distroyen he wolde hem bothe ȝonge and Olde.’
the xij goodemen thanne took he tho
which weren Of Iosephes kynrede,
and towardis þe deth he dyde hem lede,
and seide to hem pleynly Anon,
‘that ded scholden they ben Everychon;
but ȝif here Goddis worschepen they wolde,
distroyen he wolde hem bothe ȝonge and Olde.’
thanne they Answerid him Ageyn,
‘that wolden they neuere don In Certeyn;
for drede Of deth, neþer Of othir thing,
Neuere wolden they forsaken hevene kyng.’
and whanne the kyng herde here talkynge,
Anon with-Owten More taryenge
he dispoilede hem Everichon,
and hors Comanded to bryngen Anon,
and hem drowh thoruh that Cyte
atte hors Ars ful sekerle,
To A Cros that Josephes Ordeyned there
At the Entre of the Cyte In his Manere;
and took On Of hem þere Ryht Anon,
& to that Cros bond him thus son,
and with grete Malles Of Irne tho
Mochel sorwe he dyde hym do;
and so there beten hym vppon þe heved
that On þe Cros Al his Brayn beleved:
And thus I-Martered Alle xij they were
At thyke selve Cros Evene Ryht there.
So that It happede, With Here blood
and with here brayn that there stood,
the Cros Everowned was Abowte,
that it to be-holden it was gret dowte;
So that the Cros be-Cam Al Red
Of þe blood [þat] was sched In that sted.
‘that wolden they neuere don In Certeyn;
211
Neuere wolden they forsaken hevene kyng.’
and whanne the kyng herde here talkynge,
Anon with-Owten More taryenge
he dispoilede hem Everichon,
and hors Comanded to bryngen Anon,
and hem drowh thoruh that Cyte
atte hors Ars ful sekerle,
To A Cros that Josephes Ordeyned there
At the Entre of the Cyte In his Manere;
and took On Of hem þere Ryht Anon,
& to that Cros bond him thus son,
and with grete Malles Of Irne tho
Mochel sorwe he dyde hym do;
and so there beten hym vppon þe heved
that On þe Cros Al his Brayn beleved:
And thus I-Martered Alle xij they were
At thyke selve Cros Evene Ryht there.
So that It happede, With Here blood
and with here brayn that there stood,
the Cros Everowned was Abowte,
that it to be-holden it was gret dowte;
So that the Cros be-Cam Al Red
Of þe blood [þat] was sched In that sted.
thanne the kyng Agreed he was
Of the veniawnce In that plas.
thanne to the Cyte he Entred Agayn,
and Of tre he fond a Cros ful pleyn;
thanne Camanded (sic) he Ryht Anon
that Cros Awey forto be don,
and ben drawen thorwgh þat Cyte
bothe Openliche And Ek preve.
Of the veniawnce In that plas.
thanne to the Cyte he Entred Agayn,
and Of tre he fond a Cros ful pleyn;
thanne Camanded (sic) he Ryht Anon
that Cros Awey forto be don,
and ben drawen thorwgh þat Cyte
bothe Openliche And Ek preve.
and thus sone As this was don,
Owt Of his wyt he wente Anon,
And On his hondis he gan to frete,
and þere A ȝong Child gan he meete,
wheche same Child he strangelede Anon,
and Ek his Owne wyf there-Aftyr son;
Ek his Owne brothir he slowh Also.
thanne forth In the Cyte gan he to go
Cryeng and belwenge As A fend,
For that the Cristene he dide thus schend,
and Evene In Middes Of that Cyte,
In ful gret myschef þere deide he.
Owt Of his wyt he wente Anon,
And On his hondis he gan to frete,
and þere A ȝong Child gan he meete,
212
and Ek his Owne wyf there-Aftyr son;
Ek his Owne brothir he slowh Also.
thanne forth In the Cyte gan he to go
Cryeng and belwenge As A fend,
For that the Cristene he dide thus schend,
and Evene In Middes Of that Cyte,
In ful gret myschef þere deide he.
Of this Manere Of deyenge
hadde þe peple gret Merveillynge,
and senten after Iosephes In gret haste,
‘that to hem he scholde hyen hym faste,
For Nede they hadden Of Cownsaille,
what thing þat myhte hem best Availle.’
hadde þe peple gret Merveillynge,
and senten after Iosephes In gret haste,
‘that to hem he scholde hyen hym faste,
For Nede they hadden Of Cownsaille,
what thing þat myhte hem best Availle.’
whanne Josephes here-Offen herde telle,
Faste þedirward hyede he hym snelle
with wepyng Of teres, And sorwe of herte,
with strong Angwisch, and sorwes smerte,
Alle xij Martires be berrede there
with hevy herte and hevy Chere,
To-forn the same Cros Al in fere
there As his Cosines I-Martired were.
and that same Cros Abod stille Red
Many wyntres Aftyr In that sted;
for there Crist so gret Miracles wrowhte
for theke Martires þat hevene so bowhte,
thike Cros chonged nevere the Colowr,
but Algates Red In Everich Owr,
In remembraunce Of the martires twelve
that suffrede deth for god hym selve;
and that was the Cause, I sey ȝow pleyn,
that þe Rede Cros was it Called In Certeyn;
and thus it dured Evere Mo
Tyl kyng Arthowr gan forth to go,
and that the Ende Of Sank Ryal
fulliche be Ended with gret and smal.
Faste þedirward hyede he hym snelle
with wepyng Of teres, And sorwe of herte,
with strong Angwisch, and sorwes smerte,
Alle xij Martires be berrede there
with hevy herte and hevy Chere,
To-forn the same Cros Al in fere
there As his Cosines I-Martired were.
and that same Cros Abod stille Red
Many wyntres Aftyr In that sted;
for there Crist so gret Miracles wrowhte
for theke Martires þat hevene so bowhte,
thike Cros chonged nevere the Colowr,
but Algates Red In Everich Owr,
In remembraunce Of the martires twelve
that suffrede deth for god hym selve;
and that was the Cause, I sey ȝow pleyn,
that þe Rede Cros was it Called In Certeyn;
and thus it dured Evere Mo
Tyl kyng Arthowr gan forth to go,
and that the Ende Of Sank Ryal
fulliche be Ended with gret and smal.
213
Whanne Iosephes had thus I-do,
and I-beryed the Martyres tho,
Anon he Ordeynede In Alle haste,
and Comaunded the Cristen Al so faste,
Alle the temples to breken Adown
that In þat Cyte weren In-virown,
and the ymages to breken Everichon
that þere weren Mad Of tre other ston;
and al that Evere belonged to paynem lawe,
Anon riht he dide hem down drawe;
And In Middis Of that Cyte there
A chirche Of seint stevene he dide Arere.
and I-beryed the Martyres tho,
Anon he Ordeynede In Alle haste,
and Comaunded the Cristen Al so faste,
Alle the temples to breken Adown
that In þat Cyte weren In-virown,
and the ymages to breken Everichon
that þere weren Mad Of tre other ston;
and al that Evere belonged to paynem lawe,
Anon riht he dide hem down drawe;
And In Middis Of that Cyte there
A chirche Of seint stevene he dide Arere.
and whanne the Chirche I-Rerid was,
and the peple I-stablisched In that plas,
and to Cristene lawe I-browht Agayn,
thanne wente he thens In Certayn.
and the peple I-stablisched In that plas,
and to Cristene lawe I-browht Agayn,
thanne wente he thens In Certayn.
| CHAPTER XLVII. OF JOSEPHES IN CAMELOT, AND OF KING AGRESTES'S TREACHERY AND DEATH. The Legend of the Holy Grail | |