 | The South English Legendary |  |
De sancto Laurencio martire
Seinte Laurence godman was and in strang martirdom
He endede an eorþe is lif and to ioie of heuene com
Decius þe emperor þat luþer was inou
And Vallerian is Iustice þat to al ssrewede drou
Hy wende and soȝte Cristene men & wanne hi eni fonde
Hi defoulede hom wiþ tormens and broȝte hom sone to gronde
Hi come and fonde þe bissop Sixt þat hi slowe wiþ gret wou
Sein Laurence was is ercedekne þat god man was inou
He endede an eorþe is lif and to ioie of heuene com
Decius þe emperor þat luþer was inou
And Vallerian is Iustice þat to al ssrewede drou
Hy wende and soȝte Cristene men & wanne hi eni fonde
Hi defoulede hom wiþ tormens and broȝte hom sone to gronde
Hi come and fonde þe bissop Sixt þat hi slowe wiþ gret wou
Sein Laurence was is ercedekne þat god man was inou
Þo þe bissop ssolde inome be[o] þat þere nas non oþer won
Sein Laurence is ercedekne he let ofclupie anon
Al þe tresor of Holy Churche þat he togadere drou
Sein Laurance in warde he tok þat he weste it wel inou
Sein Laurence is ercedekne he let ofclupie anon
Al þe tresor of Holy Churche þat he togadere drou
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Þe tormentors þat þis iseie hom boþe hi nome faste
Sein Sixt & sein Laurence ek in strong prison hi caste
Sein Sixt hi ladde to hore false godes & hore felawes also
Sein Sixt & sein Laurence ek in strong prison hi caste
Sein Sixt hi ladde to hore false godes & hore felawes also
& ssewede hom þe false ymages and bede hom loute þerto
Ac þo þis men it nolde do ac on oure Louerd cride uaste
Hi smite of hore heueden sone and hore bodies þere caste
Ac þo þis men it nolde do ac on oure Louerd cride uaste
Hi smite of hore heueden sone and hore bodies þere caste
Þe emperor hi sende word al þat hi hadde ido
And hou sein Laurence in prison was & in strong bendes also
And hou he al þe tresour hadde of churche to him idrawe
Þat þe bissop him hadde itake ar he were ibroȝt of dawe
And hou sein Laurence in prison was & in strong bendes also
And hou he al þe tresour hadde of churche to him idrawe
Þat þe bissop him hadde itake ar he were ibroȝt of dawe
Þo þe emperor ihurde þis glad he was and fawe
For he þoȝte al þat tresour habbe þei it were aȝen lawe
Þis holyman he let vecche and biuore him lede
He bihuld him sturneliche and wroþliche to him sede
War is þat tresour of churche þat þe was ibroȝt
Sein Laurence him stod wel stille & ne answerede riȝt noȝt
For he þoȝte al þat tresour habbe þei it were aȝen lawe
Þis holyman he let vecche and biuore him lede
He bihuld him sturneliche and wroþliche to him sede
War is þat tresour of churche þat þe was ibroȝt
Sein Laurence him stod wel stille & ne answerede riȝt noȝt
Þo was þe oþer wroþ inou for he ne ȝef him answere
Anon he wolde him habbe defouled vnneþe he miȝte forbere
He let clupie Vallerian þat was is heie Iustice
Nim he sede þisne þeof vaste in alle wise
And win of him þat tresour & make him do sacrefice
Oþer bring him in such torment þat him þer of agrise
Anon he wolde him habbe defouled vnneþe he miȝte forbere
He let clupie Vallerian þat was is heie Iustice
Nim he sede þisne þeof vaste in alle wise
And win of him þat tresour & make him do sacrefice
Oþer bring him in such torment þat him þer of agrise
Þis Iustice nom þis holyman & let him binde uaste
And bitok him Ipolit a kniȝt in strong prison attelaste
He broȝte him in strong prison inou & bilek him þere also
Wiþ þeues and wiþ luþermen þat þe emperor hadde misdo
An heþeneman þer was inne Lucille was is name
Þat þer inne hadde so muche iwope for sorwe & for ssame
Þat he wep out boþe is eiȝen & purblind was bicome
Sein Laurence hadde reuþe of him þat is siȝt him was binome
And bitok him Ipolit a kniȝt in strong prison attelaste
He broȝte him in strong prison inou & bilek him þere also
Wiþ þeues and wiþ luþermen þat þe emperor hadde misdo
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Þat þer inne hadde so muche iwope for sorwe & for ssame
Þat he wep out boþe is eiȝen & purblind was bicome
Sein Laurence hadde reuþe of him þat is siȝt him was binome
Biluf he sede on Iesu Crist þat for þe ssadde is blod
And vnderfong Cristendom & þou sselt habbe siȝt god
Ich biluue quaþ þis seliman on him mid al mi þoȝt
And forsake al þis false godes þat ne mowe me helpe noȝt
And vnderfong Cristendom & þou sselt habbe siȝt god
Ich biluue quaþ þis seliman on him mid al mi þoȝt
And forsake al þis false godes þat ne mowe me helpe noȝt
Sein Laurence him baptizede and anon mid þe dede
His siȝte him com wel cler & god þo gan he anon grede
Ihered beo oure Louerd Iesu Crist þat here cudde is miȝte
And þoru is sergant sein Laurence isend me haþ mi siȝte
For as ȝe witeþ euerichone mi siȝt me was binome
And þoru Iesu Crist & sein Laurence aȝen he is icome
His siȝte him com wel cler & god þo gan he anon grede
Ihered beo oure Louerd Iesu Crist þat here cudde is miȝte
And þoru is sergant sein Laurence isend me haþ mi siȝte
For as ȝe witeþ euerichone mi siȝt me was binome
And þoru Iesu Crist & sein Laurence aȝen he is icome
Þis tidinge sprong wel wide sone so þat oþer inowe
Þat blinde were faste aboute þuderward drowe
And biluuede on Iesu Crist and hadde anon hore siȝte
Þo Ipolit þis isei þat oure Louerd hadde such miȝte
Þat blinde were faste aboute þuderward drowe
And biluuede on Iesu Crist and hadde anon hore siȝte
Þo Ipolit þis isei þat oure Louerd hadde such miȝte
Merci he cride sein Laurence and to Iesu Crist him nom
And he and al is meine ek auenge Cristendom
Þer after sone Ualerian as it com inis þoȝte
Sende to Ipolit þe kniȝte þat he sein Laurence broȝte
And he and al is meine ek auenge Cristendom
Þer after sone Ualerian as it com inis þoȝte
Sende to Ipolit þe kniȝte þat he sein Laurence broȝte
Nou Laurence quaþ Ypolit forþ ich mot þe lede
Ȝe go we uorþ quaþ þis oþer us ne ssel noþing drede
For þe ioie of heuene iȝarked is to us boþe an alle wise
Ipolit him ladde uorþ touore þis luþer Iustise
Þis Iustice Valerian [] sein Laurence bihulde uaste
Bel amy he sede hou longe ssel þi folie ilaste
Turn þi þoȝt ich rede sone & ssewe us þe tresor
Of þe churche þat þe was bitake & deliuere it þe emperor
Ȝe go we uorþ quaþ þis oþer us ne ssel noþing drede
For þe ioie of heuene iȝarked is to us boþe an alle wise
Ipolit him ladde uorþ touore þis luþer Iustise
Þis Iustice Valerian [] sein Laurence bihulde uaste
Bel amy he sede hou longe ssel þi folie ilaste
Turn þi þoȝt ich rede sone & ssewe us þe tresor
Of þe churche þat þe was bitake & deliuere it þe emperor
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Sir Iustice quaþ sein Laurence ȝif þou vnderstode reson
Þou wost wel ich habbe longe ileie in prison
So þat inabbe noȝt þe tresour of churche her nou ȝare
Ȝif me þreo dawes uerst þat ich mowe aboute uare
And ich it wole togadere bringe and here biuore þe lede
Glad was þo þis Iustice of wordes þat he sede
For hope of þe grete tresour and for non oþer þinge
Þreo dawes he ȝaf him respit þat tresour forto bringe
He bitok him Ipolit in warde [þat] he him aȝen broȝte
Forþ he wende wide aboute and fair tresour soȝte
Þou wost wel ich habbe longe ileie in prison
So þat inabbe noȝt þe tresour of churche her nou ȝare
Ȝif me þreo dawes uerst þat ich mowe aboute uare
And ich it wole togadere bringe and here biuore þe lede
Glad was þo þis Iustice of wordes þat he sede
For hope of þe grete tresour and for non oþer þinge
Þreo dawes he ȝaf him respit þat tresour forto bringe
He bitok him Ipolit in warde [þat] he him aȝen broȝte
Forþ he wende wide aboute and fair tresour soȝte
Alle selimen þat he miȝte finde þat pouere & feble were
In siknesse oþer miseise togadere hi broȝte þere
He hudde hom in Ipolites house & wende to the emperor
Þe emperor him esste anon ware were þat tresour
In siknesse oþer miseise togadere hi broȝte þere
He hudde hom in Ipolites house & wende to the emperor
Þe emperor him esste anon ware were þat tresour
Sire sede sein Laurence al ȝare it is anon
He wende out after þis selimen & bad hom wiþ him gon
In þe paleis he ladde hom forþ biuore þe emperor
Lo sire he sede ich habbe ibroȝt Holi Chirches tresour
Þat tresour þat holi is and euere ssel ilaste
Þat neuere ne ssal wanie ac an eorþe wexe faste
Þat in eche londe iredi is wuder so mon wende
Þer wiþ me may þe ioie of heuene bugge wiþoute ende
He wende out after þis selimen & bad hom wiþ him gon
In þe paleis he ladde hom forþ biuore þe emperor
Lo sire he sede ich habbe ibroȝt Holi Chirches tresour
Þat tresour þat holi is and euere ssel ilaste
Þat neuere ne ssal wanie ac an eorþe wexe faste
Þat in eche londe iredi is wuder so mon wende
Þer wiþ me may þe ioie of heuene bugge wiþoute ende
Peter me þincþ he sede soþ pouere me mai ȝute finde
And ofte mo þanne me wolde and ȝute stondeþ some bihinde
And ofte mo þanne me wolde and ȝute stondeþ some bihinde
A traitor quaþ þe emperor is it icome her to
Hastou us þus to hoker idriue namore ne sseltou so
Naked he let him strupe anon & wiþ scorges him bete
Þe blod orn bi stremes anon bi is limes longe & grete
Þo sede þis holyman Louerd ich þonke þe
Þat among þin holy companie þi wille is to bringe me
And þou wrecche luþer þing in gret torment þou worst iwis
In wraþþe and in sorwe of herte & noþewors me nis
Hastou us þus to hoker idriue namore ne sseltou so
Naked he let him strupe anon & wiþ scorges him bete
Þe blod orn bi stremes anon bi is limes longe & grete
Þo sede þis holyman Louerd ich þonke þe
Þat among þin holy companie þi wille is to bringe me
And þou wrecche luþer þing in gret torment þou worst iwis
In wraþþe and in sorwe of herte & noþewors me nis
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A traitor quaþ þis luþerman nelte non oþer synge
Alle maner tormens touore him sone me let bringe
Hokes of ire and weoles ek wiþ rasours al aboute
Beddes of ire wiþ kene pikes al berninge wiþoute
Scorges of led & raketeies and oþere manion
Þat we ne conne of no name for þer nis nou such non
Lo sede þis emperor bihold nou al aboute
Oure godes honure ich rede anon oþer þou sselt herto route
Alle þeos tormens þat þou sucst & ȝute mo þerto
Bote þou turne þi þoȝt anon in þi bodi ssolle be[o] do
Alle maner tormens touore him sone me let bringe
Hokes of ire and weoles ek wiþ rasours al aboute
Beddes of ire wiþ kene pikes al berninge wiþoute
Scorges of led & raketeies and oþere manion
Þat we ne conne of no name for þer nis nou such non
Lo sede þis emperor bihold nou al aboute
Oure godes honure ich rede anon oþer þou sselt herto route
Alle þeos tormens þat þou sucst & ȝute mo þerto
Bote þou turne þi þoȝt anon in þi bodi ssolle be[o] do
Þou wrecche quaþ þis holymon mi wille haþ euere ibe[o]
To come to such murie feste as ich her ise[o]
For wel more torment þanne here be[o] to þe is mad al ȝare
In þe pine of helle wanne i ssal to the ioie of heuene vare
To come to such murie feste as ich her ise[o]
For wel more torment þanne here be[o] to þe is mad al ȝare
In þe pine of helle wanne i ssal to the ioie of heuene vare
Decius þo þe emperor ferde as he were wod
Þe companie of tormentors wel prest biuore him stod
He het hom wiþ grete staues legge him on to gronde
Þe tormentors him leide on and made him mony a wonde
As hi bete þis holi bodi sein Lauerence sede
Þou wrecche nou þou miȝt iseo þat inabbe of þe no drede
Þe companie of tormentors wel prest biuore him stod
He het hom wiþ grete staues legge him on to gronde
Þe tormentors him leide on and made him mony a wonde
As hi bete þis holi bodi sein Lauerence sede
Þou wrecche nou þou miȝt iseo þat inabbe of þe no drede
Nymeþ [him] anon quaþ þe emperor & makeþ is torment more
Preste were þe ssrewen alle to don is luþer lore
Platen of ire al bernynge inis wonden hi pulte sore
Swete Louerd quaþ þis holyman ich bidde þe milce and ore
For þo þat ich was acused i ne uorsok þe noȝt
Ac þo me asked ich was iknewe of þe wiþ word & þoȝt
Preste were þe ssrewen alle to don is luþer lore
Platen of ire al bernynge inis wonden hi pulte sore
Swete Louerd quaþ þis holyman ich bidde þe milce and ore
For þo þat ich was acused i ne uorsok þe noȝt
Ac þo me asked ich was iknewe of þe wiþ word & þoȝt
Þo Decius hurde þis for wraþþe he gan grede
He let nime grete scorgen wiþ battes of lede
And let bete þis holyman þat is bones borste some
And he was upe þe point of deþ & is strengþe was al bynome
He let nime grete scorgen wiþ battes of lede
And let bete þis holyman þat is bones borste some
And he was upe þe point of deþ & is strengþe was al bynome
Louerd he sede Iesu Crist þat þoledest deþ for me
Vnderuong wanne ich hanne wende mi soule ich bidde þe
Þo com þer a swete uois adoun fram heuene anon
And þeos wordes to him sede as hi hurde echon
Ȝute þe beoþ for Godes loue tormens to come wel mo
Þo Decius hurde þis for wraþþe he gradde and wo
Lo he sede my barons þat min conseilers beoþ
To conseile me of mi court of þing þat ȝe yseoþ
Ȝe hureþ wel hou þe deuelen wiþ him spekeþ here
For of þing þat we hureþ alle .nemay he him noȝt skere
Hi comeþ here & conforteþ him as ȝe hureþ echon
Þat strong wicche is þat ne douteþ of oure godes noȝt on
Ne he ne douteþ noþemo of oure tormens non
Bi þe fei þat ich owe Mahon anoþer it schel gon
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Þo com þer a swete uois adoun fram heuene anon
And þeos wordes to him sede as hi hurde echon
Ȝute þe beoþ for Godes loue tormens to come wel mo
Þo Decius hurde þis for wraþþe he gradde and wo
Lo he sede my barons þat min conseilers beoþ
To conseile me of mi court of þing þat ȝe yseoþ
Ȝe hureþ wel hou þe deuelen wiþ him spekeþ here
For of þing þat we hureþ alle .nemay he him noȝt skere
Hi comeþ here & conforteþ him as ȝe hureþ echon
Þat strong wicche is þat ne douteþ of oure godes noȝt on
Ne he ne douteþ noþemo of oure tormens non
Bi þe fei þat ich owe Mahon anoþer it schel gon
Oules he let nyme of ire þat harde were inou
And is fleiss þat er was bileued þer wiþ me todrou
Þo is fleiss was so todrawe þat reuþe it was to se[o]
Þeof he sede ȝute þe sselt in more torment be[o]
And is fleiss þat er was bileued þer wiþ me todrou
Þo is fleiss was so todrawe þat reuþe it was to se[o]
Þeof he sede ȝute þe sselt in more torment be[o]
His cheken & is mouþ aboute hi lete bete wiþ stones
And dasste out is teþ of is heued & debrusede þe oþer bones
He was an vuel dobbe dent þer uore i ne rede ȝou noȝt
Hure him to deore to hele ȝoure teþ i not ware ȝe habbe iþoȝt
He radde him euere turne is þoȝt ar he þolede deþ
Sire emperor quaþ þis oþer þer aboute þou spillest breþ
And dasste out is teþ of is heued & debrusede þe oþer bones
He was an vuel dobbe dent þer uore i ne rede ȝou noȝt
Hure him to deore to hele ȝoure teþ i not ware ȝe habbe iþoȝt
He radde him euere turne is þoȝt ar he þolede deþ
Sire emperor quaþ þis oþer þer aboute þou spillest breþ
Inelle honuri non oþer god þanne Iesus in none wise
For soule itormented her is Godes sacrefise
Þo Decius him hadde ido al þat he couþe biþenche
Certes he sede he ssel be[o] ded ne ssel he noȝt so blenche
Strong fur he let make & gret & a gridil þer uppe sette
Þis holyman sein Laurence þerto sone me vette
And along upe þe gridil ouer þe fur him caste
Þe tormentors stode al aboute & blewe þat fur faste
Wiþ irene pikes hi helde him ek and ssoue him uaste aboue
Louerd muche was þe pine þat he þolede for þi loue
Þat fur bineþe þat rostede him al quik wiþ fleiss & blode
Þe pikes of ire þat inis fleiss so deope aboue wode
For soule itormented her is Godes sacrefise
Þo Decius him hadde ido al þat he couþe biþenche
Certes he sede he ssel be[o] ded ne ssel he noȝt so blenche
Strong fur he let make & gret & a gridil þer uppe sette
Þis holyman sein Laurence þerto sone me vette
And along upe þe gridil ouer þe fur him caste
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Wiþ irene pikes hi helde him ek and ssoue him uaste aboue
Louerd muche was þe pine þat he þolede for þi loue
Þat fur bineþe þat rostede him al quik wiþ fleiss & blode
Þe pikes of ire þat inis fleiss so deope aboue wode
Þo gan þis holyman to speke to þe emperor he sede
Þou luþer wrecche nim nou ȝeme þat þou dest a luþer dede
Nim ȝeme þat þi furi coles wel muche akeleþ me
And ssolleþ into þe stronge fure [] of helle bringe þe
Louerd Iesus þou it wost þat inabbe þe noȝt forsake
Al clanlich ich habbe al mi þoȝt & al mi bodi þe itake
Þou luþer wrecche nim nou ȝeme þat þou dest a luþer dede
Nim ȝeme þat þi furi coles wel muche akeleþ me
And ssolleþ into þe stronge fure [] of helle bringe þe
Louerd Iesus þou it wost þat inabbe þe noȝt forsake
Al clanlich ich habbe al mi þoȝt & al mi bodi þe itake
Þo bihuld he þe emperor wiþ fair semlant & lou
Þou wrecche he sede þou hast irosted þulke side inou
Turn is upward & et is nou for ȝare he[o] is þerto
Wend þe oþer side & roste is ek forte he[o] be[o] inou also
Me specþ of mony stable heorte ac me þincþ þer was on
Þat lou þo him stod afure boþe fleiss and bon
Þou wrecche he sede þou hast irosted þulke side inou
Turn is upward & et is nou for ȝare he[o] is þerto
Wend þe oþer side & roste is ek forte he[o] be[o] inou also
Me specþ of mony stable heorte ac me þincþ þer was on
Þat lou þo him stod afure boþe fleiss and bon
Þo [b]ihuld he up an hei and to heuene is eien caste
Louerd he sede Iesu Crist ich þonke þe wel uaste
Þat ich it habbe ofserued in at þine ȝetes to wende
Bi þulke word he gan to deie & broȝte is lif to ende
He deide to hondred ȝer and nine and fifti riȝt
After þat oure swete Louerd [] inis moder was aliȝt
Louerd he sede Iesu Crist ich þonke þe wel uaste
Þat ich it habbe ofserued in at þine ȝetes to wende
Bi þulke word he gan to deie & broȝte is lif to ende
He deide to hondred ȝer and nine and fifti riȝt
After þat oure swete Louerd [] inis moder was aliȝt
Ipolit þe gode kniȝt þare he turnde to Cristendom
Þat him weste her in prison swuþe sori bicom
Biniȝte he wende stilleliche and þis holy bodi nom
And burede it wel priueliche after al is harde dom
Louerd muche was þe pine þat he þolede for þe here
Wel is it riȝt þat he beo apostles is yuere
Nou Iesus for þe grete pine þat Lauerance for þe hadde
Bring us to þulke ioie þat þin angles him to ladde
Þat him weste her in prison swuþe sori bicom
Biniȝte he wende stilleliche and þis holy bodi nom
And burede it wel priueliche after al is harde dom
Louerd muche was þe pine þat he þolede for þe here
Wel is it riȝt þat he beo apostles is yuere
Nou Iesus for þe grete pine þat Lauerance for þe hadde
Bring us to þulke ioie þat þin angles him to ladde
| The South English Legendary | |