University of Virginia Library

II. VOL. II. COMPLETION OF TEXT

XXVII.—MACHOR.

XXVIII.—MARGARET.

Qwa wil þe vertu wyt of stanis,
in þe lapidar ma fynd ane is
of þam þat callyt is “margaret,”
vertuyse, clere, lytil, and quhyt.
& for þere prophetis thre
we se It oft weile bocht be.
vertu It is blud to restrenȝe,
& flux of wame refrenȝe;
& is vertuyse callyt alsa
agayne ane Il, callyt “cardiaca;”
& It awalȝes specyaly
gyfine in met agayn mysalry.
& for it is quhyt, clere schenand,
men bryngis It of ful fare land,
for til enhorne vchis & cronis,
mad fore sere folk þat of renone is.
& it is lytil and rond alsa;
þar-for oft men wil it ta
& set it in bruchis & in ryngis,
þare-in delyt has mychtty knygis.
ȝet of þis margarit þe name
of margaret ma wele be tane,
þat lytil was & mylk quhit clere
& vertuyse, be causis sere.
fyrst lytil thru humylyte,
þat may to god mast thankful be,
for thru humylite but dred
was mary mad oure alleris med.
& clere quhyt thru vergynite,
þat to god next humylyte
Is. sa is margarit quhyt,
& clene of al fleschly delyt.
& alswa scho was vertuse,
fore vertuysly scho cane vincuse
þe flesch, þe warld, þe fend alsa.
& fyrst, thru pennance scho can sla
hyre flesch & floure of ȝouthed,
& kepyt euire hyre madynhed
in body and treutht wnuemmyt ay,
& nocht of rocht of flescly play.
þe wikit warld scho ourcom als,
þat ay is totyre, fekil, & fals.
fore scho rocht nocht of warldis gud,
bot scho had symply hyre fud
& clath, to cleth hyre honestly,
for-out pryd and surcudry.
als þe feynd scho ourcom wel
& his werkis Ilke dele.
for pride in hyre, na auarise
herbryt in hyre mycht be na vise,
na slawnes, na lychery,
na wreth, na gnedschepe, na gluto[ny];
bot hyre sa wisly can scho ware
with almus, fasting, & prayere
þat scho ourcom hyr fais fel,
as in hyre story I herd tel,
word be word, as teophinus,
þat wrat hyre story, tellis vs.
þat sais, þis margret fare & fre
of antioche in þe cite
wes borne, & of kine gret & clere,
al-þo þai paianis ware but were;
for teodosius mychtty & stark,
þat of þat lawis wes patriarch,
wes hyre fadir, & scho his ayre
of rentis gret & landis fayre;
& gefine wes to fostir & fede
wtouth þe towne in hir ȝouthede
til a man, had gud Inuch,
sic as men wynnis of erd & pleuch.
& fra he had þis madyn lacht
in ȝemsel, he gert hyre be tacht
in cristis lacht, & syne scho tuk
þe lacht of baptyme, & forsuk
þe feynd, & to crist gef hir so hale
þat of þe warld scho gef na tale,
& had na thocht of hyre gret kyne,
na of riches, na of warldis wyne.
& scho beand in tendir elde,
hyr modyr, þat was al hir beld,
deit; &, for scho cristine was,
hyre fadyre rocht of hir þe les,
sa þat scho nedit for to kepe
fore faut of helpe ilke day schepe
of hyre nuryse, til scho com nere
to þe elde of fyftene ȝere;
for hyre fadir hir hatit sa,
for cause scho cristine treuth cane ta,
þat mare esful til hyre war
hyr dede an lyf or welfar.
ȝet, þo scho wes in pouir stede
& nocht with hyr fadir cane be fede,
nocht-þane scho wes of sik boute
þat it wes wondir for to se;
for farare thing mycht be nane
in ony degre, in flesch or bane;
& hyr fare hafyng als with þat
in al hyr dede sa wele hyre sat.
bot ȝet wes scho al-out fairare
thru treutht scho had in cristis layre,
to quham scho pleysit in al degre
of consciens thru fyne bewte.
Sa it hapnyt at a tyme percace,
fra þe emperoure send was
his stewart, man of gret mycht
& fel, & olibryus he hycht,
cristine men to sek ay-quhare,
in quhat land sa þai ware,
to sla or torment but delay,
bot þai renyit cristine fay.
& betyd þat he come percase
nere by quhare þis madyn was
kepand hyre fostir modir schepe;
& til hir beute tuk sic kepe
þat he with-ine wes het in hy
with ful wil of lychery,
sa þat he reste be na way mocht,
til þat scho was befor hym brocht.
þane he beheld hyre ink[r]ely,
& of hyr beute had ferly;
& ay þe mare he has hyre sene
with outwart & with inwart ene,
þe hardar wes he wet within
with hyr fleschly for to syne.
þan ware handis wyolent
layd one þat cristis Innocent,
þat as a schepe ymang wlfis brath
beheld quha fyrst suld do hir scath,
lukand a-bout on ilke syd
quha fyrst suld rewis hir þat tyd,
& has na helpe, sted in sic pres,
bot god, in quham hyr hope al was.
for-þi deuotely can scho pray
til hyme, & þire wordis say:
“tyne nocht my sawle with fellon men,
bot erare sic grace þu me lene
þat I ourcume may my fellon fa!”
olibrius þane wes ful thra
to fand hyr & ger consent
til his lykine & his entent,
with wordis quhyle polyst & clere,
& quhile with athis gret & sere,
syne sayand: “I wil nocht scorne
þe, bot, be þu fre borne,
I wil þe wed & haf to wif,
til I ma lest in þis lyf;
& suppos þu bastard be,
ȝet sal I for þi beute
as concubyne þe hald & haf
in mast daynte, abeouf þe lawe.”
& for scho hym nan ansuere mad,
he speryt at hyre but abad
quhat wes hir nam, & of quhat kyn
scho wes of, scho suld tel hyme,
or quhat god did scho honour til,
& at scho wald fulfil his wil
consentand til flescly delyt.
þane ansuert scho but respyt:
“as to þe fyrst, I haf na scham
to tel þat margeret is myn nam.
& syne to ansuer of my kine,
I wes borne þis towne within,
In lauchful bed of folk mychtty,
in þis towne gottine was I.
as to þat þu askis now,
in-to quhat god at I trew,
I honoure Ihesu crist alway,
& euir sal do til I lyf may;
for vthir god is nane bot he,
þat mad of nocht erd & tre.
& quhare þu wald I gaf consent
to syne with þe, þane ware I schent.”
þan, quhen he herd of hyre belewe,
he treuyt wel for til eschewe,
& sad: “madyn, granttis þu,
þou trewis sa in Ihesu,
þat Iouys sleu for his trespas,
þat of na mycht na vertu was
to help hyme-self na ony ellis?”
“It is nocht suth,” scho sad, “þu tellis;
bot, for þai hyme on tre can hynge,
þai tynt þame-self & þare o[f]spryng,
of his wil set ded he tuk,
to wyne ws fra þe feyndis cluk.
for he wes ay but begynnyng,
& euir sal be but endynge,
& has þe gyfine lyf & aynde,
to strif with hyme þe þo þu faynde,
& þu cese sal, quhen he wil,
for ocht þat þu ma do þare til.
& he mad hewine of nocht,
& man to duel þare-in wrocht,
& mad hym maister syne & king
þat in þis warld is of althing.
& quhen þe feynd syne of inwy
had depriwit hyme wikitly
of sic Ioy & of sic welth,
þane oure manhed tuk hym-self,
& deit for vs a-pon þe tre,
in til oure flesch þat tan had he,
& one þe thryd day rase fra ded
thru þe strinth of his godede,
& ransonyt ws with his blud
fra ded til lyf a-pon þe rud.”
ful wa wes þane olybrius,
fra margaret had sad þus,
na he cuth nocht be kindly skil
gaynand ansuere mak hir til.
for-þi, til he avysit ware
to ȝeld til hyre rype ansuere,
he bad his men þai suld hir kepe
In a dongeone myrk & depe,
quhare nan mycht with hyre spek,
na met na drink na cleth [hir] rek.
þane entryt he in-to þe towne,
& on his wyse mad hym boune
to sacrify to godis sere
deuotely on þis manere;
& quha-sa-euir wald nocht do sa,
for-out pyte he thocht to sla.
& on þe morne, quhen day was lycht
& son had spred his bemys brycht,
olybrius of þat cyte
in mydis gert he set vpe sa he
his dempster-stule, þat he mycht here
al causis þat brocht þare were,
& namely for to spere of þai
þat offerand til his godis ma
wald nocht, þat he mycht se.
þane margret ger[t] he furth brocht be
out of presone til his presence,
& or he spak ocht, mad sylence.
syne sad he: “madine, haf pyte
of þi-self & consent til me
& honoure to my godis gyf,
þat þu in welt[h] with me ma lif!
for, treuly, I haf pyte
of þi ȝouthed and beute,
þat me be[h]oufis of ned spil,
my godis honoure gyf þou na wil.”
bot scho nocht dred, þo he hir thret,
in cristis luf sa was scho set,
bot sad: “wit þu, it is my wil
in nathing to consent þe til.
for crist is god & lord of al
þat in þis warld are, gret & smal,
& al þi mawmentis euir ilkane
ar dume & def & ma haf nane
pouare to mak ocht, for þai ar mad,
& gerris in hel þare makaris wad.
bot here to god hale I me gyf,
in his clere court þat I ma lif
with haly madinis; for crist gaf
hyme-self to ded, synful to saf;
for-þi for hyme I haf na dred
to de, þat gyfis hewinly med,
& raisis ded men at his wil.
fore-þi hale I tak me hym til,
& þi fel maumentis dredis nocht.
for-þi do furth as þu has thocht!”
“lorde Ihesu criste, I thank þe
& lowis, for þu lewyt nocht me
in-to na payne na torment,
bot ay þi helpe to me þu sent;
for, hou hard payne sa-euir it was
þat þe seruand of wykitnes
gert do me of iniquite,
þu has it turnyt in Ioy to me.
þare-for, god, for þi gret mycht,
grant me now werray sicht
of my fel fa, þat priuely
werrais me þis felloun[l]y,
þat I may face to face hyme se,
& fycht with hyme, quhat he be;
& syne þat I may hyme vincuse
be mycht of þe in me, Ihesus!”
þane rase scho fra hyr oracion
& lukit by hyre vpe & down,
& saw a dragon nere hyr by,
sa mykil, sa gret, & sa vgly
þat of wit scho wes wel nere,
of þat best for þe fellon bere;
þa scayland schalis set vp rath,
with vryss ful lang & ful herd bath,
& tung & tetht brynnand as fyre,
& schot on hyre in gret Ire,
& tuk hyr in his mouth hale,
to suely hyr in mekil bale.
bot, as scho enterand was to pas
þe throt of þat ful sathanas,
þe takine of þe croice scho mad
on hyre, & þe best but bad
brast in twa, & scho but hurt
eschapit wele or ony sturt.
þane had þe feynd gret inwy
at hyr, & apperit sone in hy,
in sume part lyk a man to be,
bot blakar þane ony sut wes he,
with handis bundine til his kneis,
& helis vpwart til his theis—
sa wgly, þat, quha mycht hym se,
suld gretly abaisyt be.
þane was þe maydine sum part red,
& knelyt & hyre bedis bad,
& saynit hyr, & rase vp hath,
& rakit to þat body rath,
& hynt hyme harskly be þe hare.
& he one hyr can rudly rare,
& sad: “þu godis maydine dere,
spar me a quhil! for þi prayere
& þi teris brynis me so sare
þat in hel leware me ware.
quhat haf I don to þe, for-quhy
þu brynnis me þis felloun[l]y?
cese now, I pray, of press[i]on!”
& to þe ȝerd scho kest hym don,
& on his nek set hyre fut,
& sad: “ful feynd, is þe na but;
for her sal þu ȝeld þe to me,
& of a woman ourcumyne be.”
þane sad he: “haly margaret,
I ma na langare thole þi thret,
& ȝeldis me [al] wtrely
to þe. but mare care haf I
of a women ourcumine to be
þane a man had vincust me;
for fyrst of al, women it wes
þat I ourcom be brukilnes,
quhen it mycht nocht me awale
for stedfastnes man til assale.
for-þi mar It schamis me
of women til ourcumyne be.
& als þi fadir & modir ware
to me teyndir & frendis dere.”
þane at hyme sperit scho quhy he
Come þar; & he ansuert in hye:
“To consel þe til consent
in althing to þe presydent.”
þan demandit scho for-quhy
þat he had sa gret inwy
at cristine men befor þe lawe.
þane sad he: “for I mon nedly haf
Inwy at þame for þare vertuse,
& for feile of þame ar relygiouse;
& þame agane euir kyndly,
for þare vertu fed haf I;
& namely for þat fele of þai
wynnis þe Ioy þat I fel fra,
& for þai bruk þat I haf tynt.
for-þi to faynd þam neuir I stynt,
þat Ioy to gere þame tyne
þat I ame falline fra & myne.”
þane tald he hyr hou salamon
þat wyse[s]t king þat set in trown,
of feyndis þat na nowmir was
in a weschale stekit of gles;
& quhen salamon wes ded,
of cowatice men tuk to red
to brek þe gles, treuand þar
a souerane gud or tresoure ware.
& quhen þai brokine had þat gles,
sa fele [feyndis] out can pas
þat þai fulfillit sa þe are
as motis ar in sown-beme fare.
& of his nek hyr fut a-way [OMITTED]
scho tuk, & let hyme pas his way,
& neuir cristine forthyrmare,
& vanyst he a-way ful suyth,
& scho alane lewit, glad & blyth;
for scho sykyr al wes mad,
þat scho ourcumyne had
þe maister feynd, þare-for þe hand
scho suld ourcume his wikit seruand.
eftsonnis scho fel to pray
one kneis, & [þis] cane say:
“I lowe þi name & gloryfy,
Ihesu crist, suthfast victory,
for quham dyspysit I haf hale
þis warld & of it gyfis na tale,
& in brukil kynd als stad
ourcome my fay & mad mad.
lord Ihesu, grace grant me here
a-gayne fayndingis to persewere!”
& hyre prayere quhen scho had
ser-wyse to god deuotely mad,
a licht of hewine rathly schane,
quhare scho set al hyr alane,
& as a cors wes be sicht
fra hewin to erd schenand brycht,
& one þat cors set a dou,
þat sad: “margaret maydine, þou trew
þat þu art blyssit & ay sal be,
for hewine ȝettis bydis þe.”
& one þe morne, quhen sown was brycht,
þat menskis al þe warld of lycht,
þis waryt Iug, in stul set,
gert margaret son befor hym fet,
& sad [til] hyr rycht cerryosly:
“maydine, I red ȝou sacrify
til oure godis, or þu tyne
þi lif, at ȝet is left, with pyne,
& lef þi wikit fals belewe,
& honoure to oure godis gyf,
& of þi ȝouthed fare & fresss
tyne nocht þe floure in wilfulnes.”
þane ansuert scho but delay,
& sad: “Ihesu I sal honor ay,
makar of hewine & ȝerd & al,
to quham I euir empless sal;
& al þine ydolis I dispyse
þam to do honor or seruice.”
þane wes þe tyrand vondir ten
quhene he hard þis of þe maydine clene,
& bad men suld platis ta
of Irne, lang & brad alsa,
& mak þame hat brynnand, & lay
til hyr sydis, þat sa can say
of his godis dyspytuisly
of hyre passand-gret foly,
sa þat scho, brynt richt sare,
sik wordis suld spek nomare.
þane wes of Irne mony plat
layd til hyr sydis, brynnand hat,
þat hyr flesch brulyt & brynt sa
þat thankful rek to god can ga
in plesand smelling of suetnes
& sacrifice, þat thankful wes.
bot þocht scho was brynt without,
within scho wes withoutyne dout
of hewinly deu thru þe haly gast,
quham in hyre confort wes ay mast;
bot for gret stedfastnes
scho rocht lytil of hyre flesche.
olybrius thru wikit wil
harder payne he put hir til;
& for þat watir eftyr fyre
ful noyful is to sic martyre,
a fat, þat wes [bath] depe & wyd,
of watir gert he fil þat tyd.
&, as he bad, þai hyre band
with cordis smart fut & hand,
& kyst hyre in þat fat, to drown.
& quhen scho wes þis þare-in don,
þane in þe watir as scho lay
to Ihesu crist þis can scho say:
“der god! brak my bandis in hy,
& I sal to þe sacryfy
me in sacrifice of lowing.
& als I pray þe, suthfast king,
to blis þis vatir, at it be
for wel of baptyme to me,
& of my synnis in forgyfnes,
& þat þe folk mare & les
ma kene & se þat þu alane
is suthfast god, & ellis nane,
& has na ending na begynnyng,
of hewine & erde makare & king.”
ande as scho mad [had] þis prayere,
son wes herde a fellon bere
of thonir and of erdine,
þat brak þe fat, scho wes put in,
in pecis al, & al þe bandis,
þat bundine had hyr fet & handis;
& þis merwale alson cane be
as man mycht twinkil with his e.
þane com a dou of hewin fleand,
al þe puple þat seand,
& in þe neb brocht a cron,
& on hyr hewid set It don;
& out of hewine a voce can say:
“confort þe wele, my blissit may!
for of hewine my falowis al
bydis þi cumyne, gret & smal.”
þane stud scho by & lowinge mad
to god þat hyre deliuerit had
of gret parel & panys sere.
þane al þe folk þat þare were,
þ[at] herd þat erdine & þat stewyn,
þat spak with hyre out of þe hewyn,
al with a voyce criyt þane:
“mykil is þe god of cristine men!”
þane of þame þat þare can stand
conuertit fyfe thousand,
for-owtine weman & bernis fele,
þat conuertit to lestand heile;
þat þane til vndo furth ware led,
& for cristis sak þe blud sched,
& baptyst ware in þare blud
for godis sak with blyth mud.
olibrius þane dret rycht þare
gyf margaret langar lifand ware,
þane mony suld conuertit be.
for-þi on hyre sentence gef he,
þat þai suld smyt hyr nek in twa.
&, as he bad, son þai hyre ta
& his byding haf þai don,
& to þat place led margret son.
& þe basare, malchus to name,
a scharpe sword son has tane
to strik hyr hed of but abad.
bot scho request has til hym mad
to gyf hyr respyt and delay,
til scho mycht hyr prayere say;
& he til hyr tyd hyre bowne.
& one kneis fel scho sowne,
& þis wise mad hyr prayere
to god of hewine, þat al mycht here:
“mychty god, makare of al
warldis, þat gayne are or cum sal,
with hart & mouth I ȝeld lowyng
to þe, as to my souerane king,
þat fra þis warldis filth þat me
drawine has þi seruand to be,
& kepit me in-to clenes,
nocht for my sert, bot þi gudnes,
& has me grantyt of þi grace
to cum to Ioy, þat na end has.
sa, dere lord, I pray to þe
þou grant me for þi gret pytte
pardone for al þat me did myse.
& als, der lord, I ask þe þis,
þat, quha in mynd has myn passion,
or wrytis It for deuocione,
or redis, or gerris be red,
or honouris me in ony sted,
or dois in þe name of me
deuocione, quhat-euir It be,
grant þame forgefing of þar myse
& in þi kyrk þe mykil blyse.
& gyf þai be sted in ned,
quhare-euir It be, I ask for med,
þat þai sik helpe for my sak haf,
as þai in ned wil me crawe;
& quhat-euir woman It be
þat in tyme of byrth callis on me,
grant þat woman but [ony] wath
deliueryt be & þe barne bath,
as I trast in þe, hewynis king,
born be for my sak but merryng.”
& quhen scho had hyr prayere mad,
a gret hug thonir [com] but bad,
& a quhyt dow was sene
fra þe hewine com to þat schene,
& twechyt hyre & sad: “margaret,
þat in sic thrang wil nocht forȝet
þame þat of þe makis memore here,
sa blissit þu art to god & dere
þat he þi bown granttis þe
for al þat euire sal honoure þe,
þat ar present or be syne sal;
þat þu askis he granttis al.
cum now þarfor to þe lestand blis,
þat þu has bocht in gret distres,
with þe haly curt of hewine!”
& as þe puple herd þis stewine
& þe thonir þat hydwis was,
þai fel flatlingis on þare face.
with þat scho dressit vpe þe sicht
to þe basare, þat malchus hicht,
& bad þat he suld fulfil
þe byding at fourmyt was hym til.
þane he, þat sene had opynly
godis vertu sa properly
þat he for hyre þane saw don,
til hyre request sad na son,
& sad: “god forbed þat I
with wenemyt handis sla þe in hy.”
quod scho: “but þu do I byd þe,
na part sal þu haf with me.”
þane sad he: “Ihesu, for þi pitte
þu input nocht þis ded to me!
for maugre myn þis ded do I;
I put me hale in þi mercy.”
a scharpe swerd þane he hynt
& hyre vnhedyt at a dynt,
& at hyr fet fel ded don,
& at mad hyme gud pardon.
þane of hyre cors a dow al quhyt
flaw, þat to se was delyt,
& in þe clowdis clame belyf,
on seand bath man & wyf.
a cristine man, callit theophin,
wes by hyre al þis tyme,
bath in preson & without,
& to serwe hyre wes ȝarne about,
& put in wryt word & ded,
þat men eftyrewart mycht red.
& in antioche of his cost a sepultur
he gert mak hyre of gret cure,
& embalmemyt hyre body,
& laid it þare honorably,
quhare god cesis nocht to wyrk
vertus, in strinthing of haly kirk,
& for to gere knawine be
quhou he had hyre in gret daynte,
& hou he quytis þam þare med,
þat seruis hyme in word or ded.
þe quhilk he grant ws grace to do,
þat we ma saufly cume hym to.

XXIX.—PLACIDAS.

As a gret doctore sais til ws,
lat penance is rycht perolouse;
for ilke man, quha tent wil to,
is oblyst lang penance to do.
for of mankynd thru brukilnes,
quhyle saule is presente in þe flesch,
men cesis seldine for to syne. [OMITTED]
to spedful pennance to begyne,
bot drawis It erare in to lynth,
til of his body falȝeis strinth.
for-þi we se ful mony end
quhen þai na mycht has til [a]mend;
for sum with seknes ar ouretane
þat þar amendis ma mak nan;
& sum deis but repentance
on syndry wyse ma fal perchance.
þar-for gud ware to do
penance til men had space þare-to,
& nocht, quhen he mycht syne nomare,
as quhen for elde he has quhyt hare,
or quhen hym falȝeis heryng,
or perauenture als seyng,
& his tetht waxis ȝalou with-al,
& as a barne of his hewid hare fal,
& his and waxis stinkand,
& his handis als tremland,
for þe thryd fut hym worthis þen
haf a potent hym on to len,
& quhen þat he waxis wery,
quheþir he sit, or gang, or ly.
þare-for happyn man is he
þat, befor he þire taknis se,
penance to do here wil begyne,
& in gud lasare mend his syne.
for it [is] sad in þe decre
at seldine quhene has god pyte
of þame þat synnis Ithandly.
for-[þi] to cese is na foly;
for he þat cesis nocht to syne
til þat it lewis hyme,
sal nothyr haf thang no mede
til lef, quhen he ma do na dede.
[i]n haly wryt I herde neuere rede,
sen I fyrst þare-to tuk hede,
þat man for Ioy to Ioy suld fare
for-oute It þat diseseful ware
as to þis fleschly delyt,
na ȝet þat man mycht haf meryt
for-out examinacione
& wardly tribulacione,
as seknes or disese sere
þat men tholis til þai are here. [OMITTED]
for wondir war [þat] man suld wyne
til hewine þat is chargit in syne,
as to þe treutht treuth of haly kyrk;
bot quhat he wil he ma wirk.
þar-by ensampil wil I tel
þat til a knycht quhil befel,
to quham god ferlifully
kythit his mychtis & his mercy,
be reknyng ewine a hundreth ȝere
fra criste wes born of mary dere.
of Rome emperoure wes ane
þane callyt sir Adryane,
to cristine treutht a fellon fa,
& mony cristine gert he sla.
& a knycht callit placydas
prynce of his knychted was,
þat wes man of gret pousté
of warldis gudis and dingnite,
& þare-with wycht and hardy,
wyse, lele, & rycht wordy;
&, as paianys, mad sacrifice
til ydolis in til syndry wyse;
nocht-þan þe dedis of mercy
he oysit to do Ithandly,
& gud wil had to do gud
til al man þat ned bestud;
& had a wyf of þe sammyne ryt,
þat to do mercy had delyt;
& twa barnis with hyre had he,
þat he gert wele fosteryt be.
& for he mercyful was,
he wane to way of suthfastnes.
& syne tyd a day, he went to hont
þe auld bestis, as he wes wont,
with mony knychttis & squyeris,
& mony hundis & hunteris,
& fand a gret herd of dere,
& presit to nycht þame nere.
þai war red & skalyt wyd,
& þame fast presit til hyd.
& as þe herd brokine was,
quha best mycht rane to þe chas,
& to þar lord heid tuk nan.
bot he fulfast be hyme [al]ane
þane chasit a gret hart,
þat fled fast, for he wes smert,
til a crag wonnyn he had
hye & schore, & þare abad.
& placydas with incre wil
presit fast to cum hym til;
bot he mycht nocht—sa strat þe place
wes quhare þe best bydand wes.
bot he saw betwen his tyndis brycht
a verray croice schenand lycht,
& one þat croice þe liknes
of Ihesu crist saw, mare na les.
þane spak þe hart to placydas,
as to balame quhil dyd his as—
bot sum men sais It is to lak
þat þe hart to þe knycht spak,
bot erar þat men suld treu
þat in hyme spak swet Ihesu—
& sad til hyme: “þu placydas,
quhat mowis þe me to chas?
& I for cause of þe apere
in-to þis best þat þu seis here;
þat I am crist I now þe say,
to quham vnwitynly ay
þou has enplesit, & has wele sene
hou þou has cherytabil bene
til al þame [þat] þu saw haf nede,
& helpyt þame in word & ded.
& þi gud dedis causis me,
as þou [me] huntis, to hont þe.
sa sal þu now wonnyn be,
& pas til hewine & wyn with me.”
quhene placydas [had] þis herd say,
he fel of hors but delay
til erde for abasitnes,
þo he wicht & hardy wes,
& lay stil ane oure nerehand
but steryng of fut ore hand;
& roydly rase syne, & can say:
“quhat þu art, tel me, I pray,
& opynly þi wil tel me,
gyf þu wil I treu in þe!”
quod crist: “I will þu treu
þat I ame crist þat spekis now,
þat mad al, bath hel & hewyn,
as me lykyt, in dais sewine,
& licht & merknes I can ma,
& syne departyt þam in twa,
& mad man of erde & clay,
sa þat he suld serwe me ay.
& quhen man for his gylt
brekand my byding hym-self spilt,
to succoure hyme I be-com man,
& fra ay-lestand ded hyme wan,
& for hyme deyt one þe croyce,
& ȝald þe gest þare with he voice.
syne don in a grawe [I] lay,
& rase one þe thryd day,
& passit in hewine & regnis now
with my fadyr—þis þu treu!”
þane sad he: “lord, wel I treu
þat þu þat spekis with me now,
is he þat mad has althing,
& me ma fra erroure brynge.”
þane sad god: “gyf þu treuis sa,
to þe byschope son þu ga,
& sa hyme, for þe luf of me,
þat in my nam he baptis þe.”
sad placydas: “lord, wil þu
þat my wyf howine be & treu,
& my twa sonnys alswa?”
til hyme þane sad he: “ȝa.
& quhen þu has my byding don,
to me þu cum to-morn but hown,
& I sal here apere þe til,
to lat þe wyt mare of my wil.”
& þane, as sir placydas
til his palace cumyne wes,
þat nycht with his wyf as he lay,
þe tale [al] hale he cane hyre say.
& quhen þat scho herde, scho wes fane,
& blythly sad til hyme agayne:
“trou, lord, þat ȝistir-nycht but were
þe sammyne to me can apere,
& sad to me: ‘I wil þu rath
& þi man & þi barnys bath
cum to me,’ & tald þe place,
quhare ȝe sad ȝe war at chas;
& þare-by treu I treuly now
þat he is verra crist Ihesu.”
þane he & scho & þe barnis twa
priwely to þe bischope of rom can ga,
& bad nocht þe dais lycht
bot priuely about mydnycht.
of þar cumyne þe pape wes blyth,
& baptist þame þane rycht swyth,
& hyme to nam gef eustace þene,
& til his wyf theospyten,
& his sonnis theospitum
to name gef & agypytum.
& one þe morne, in þe mornyng,
sir eustas, as he ware a king,
with gret effere & realte,
passit furth rycht þane in hye
to þe huntis ful mychtely,
with nobil men mony hym by.
& [quhen] he come nere þe place,
quhare crist to hyme schauyt his grace,
to do his thing in priwete
dressit hyme & þa[i]m anely to be,
& skalyt his men here & þare,
fenȝeand he wist þare gammyn ware,
til he belewit al hyme ane.
& to þe place is he gane
in gud deuocione and prayer,
til he com þe place nere,
& sa fel hyme wel to do
þat sic ane erand passit to,
as to spek with þat king
þat althing mad of nathing.
þan com he on to þe place but were,
quhare crist til hym first can apere [OMITTED]
in þe self fourme and fygure
in althing & portratoure,
as he [be]for til hyme had don.
þane fel he to þe erde son,
& a quhile abasit lay;
syne rase & þis can say,
makand to god his oryson
in ful gret deuocione,
& on his brest with oft knokyn,
& of his synnis repentyng,
as man of gud entencione,
with taknis of compuncion:
“lord Ihesu, gyf þi willis be,
þu opynly no[v] schau to me,
as þu me hicht, quhat sal I do!”
þane Ihesu mad ansuere hym to,
& sad til hyme on þis manere:
“fathful son to me & dere,
ful happy art þu now, eustace,
þat in þe watir of myn grace
has gert wesch þe, quhare-thru þou
þe fals feynd has ourcumyn nov,
þat slichtfully begylyt þe,
& is dishonoryt now thru þe,
& ourcumyne al vtrely;
blyth ma þu be for-þi!
& now þi treutht sal wel apere;
for þe feynd sal of sere manere
fand til ourcum þe on al wise,
for at þu lewit has his seruice,
with al his falset & his slycht.
for-þi mon þu, as stalawrt knycht,
to resist hym mak þe bown,
þat þu of Ioy ma wyn þe cron,
& wyne to þat herytag
þat to man I hicht & his lynag.
for-þi first mon þu lawit be
fra þe sicht of al wanyte,
& pryd, & wantones of wil,
sic rewarde to wyne til;
& syne sal þu cum to þe hycht
of gastly gud & hewynis lycht,
& bruk þat herytag but were,
þat we spak of a lytil here,
with gret Ioy & angel gle,
quhare euir-lestand glore sal be,
& eschewine of al payne,
þat men ma of think or sayne;
for inpossible is but dred
aduersite to be in þat sted
or ony kynd of displesance,
bot happy of al gud & habundans.
& se þat þu fal nocht,
na of þi first Ioy haf na thocht,
for þat þe behofis fayndit be
as wes Iob in sum degre,
& sa be þe I sal assay
quheþir þu be stedfast or nay.
bot quhen þu art mekit wele,
I sal cum to þe, drede na dele,
& to þi fyrst stat þe restore.
quheþir þu wil, tel me þarfore,
be fandit now & thole sic strife,
or at þe hending of þi lyf?”
quod eustace: “lord, gyf þat mon be,
in-to my ȝouthed fand þu me,
sa þat þu be my defence,
gyfand vertu of pacience!”
sad crist: “ay stedfast þu be,
for my grace sal wele helpe þe
þat þe feynd sal haf na powere
in ony thing þi sawle to dere.”
& quhen þis wes sad ewin,
god resawit hyme-self in hewin,
& eustas til his house can hald,
& þis tale al til his wyf tald.
þane wes þe feynd wondir wa,
þat placydas lewit hym sa
& ȝet on crist; þare-for he thocht
to reweng hyme, gyf he mocht,
& þar-to dide his payne hale
to bring hym to butlas bale.
& forton, þat wont wes quhile
as teyndir frend on hyme [to] smyle,
turnyt hyr bak one hym wrathly,
& hyme dissawit sudandly.
& with þat come hard pestilence,
quham agane wes na defence,
& al his douchty men sleu done,
quhare-euir þai war, in feld or ton,
bath knycht, squiare, page, & swane,
in lytil tyme clenly ware slane,
sa þat of al his worthi men
with hyme wes left nan lyfand þen,
þat mycht hyme ony seruice ma,
outane his wyf & barnis twa.
bot ȝet þane wes he nocht Irk,
þe fend, oure þis hym wa to wirk,
bot al his bestiale sleu in hy,
wyld hors & tayme, oxine & ky,
assis, mulis, schepe & swyne,
& syndry rulalis syne,
& alkine best quhat-euir it ware
þe feynd strak don in þat sithware.
& ȝet of þis he wes nocht content
Inucht, bot distroyt his rent,
& kist don castellis in hast,
& towne & tilth al mad wast,
sa þat of his wes hale na thing,
outane quhare he wes þe begyn[g].
þane þe feynd be his fals slycht
gert wykit men cum be nycht
& it ourtyrwit tyt & tolȝeit,
& of his tresoure hym dispoilyt,
& lewit hyme nocht of warldis gud
þat hym mycht fynd a day[is] fud.
na wondir wes þo he wes mad,
quhen he saw hym-self sa sted
þat wont wes til haf welful fare!
na wondir wes his hart wes sare!
þar-for with wyf & barnis twa
be nycht he of þe town can ga,
for schame þat þai poure war sen
þat in sa gret welth had bene.
for ded & pouerte seldine quhen
has frend, þat we suld kene.
for-þi he thocht he walde be
of egipe in þe cunctre,
& ydir sone hild þe way.
& quhen þe emperoure herd say
þat placydas wes priuely
went of þe town, & he ne wist quhy,
he wes anoyt, & mad wa,
& al þe hale senat alsa,
for sa gud a knycht as he
þai wist nocht quhare mycht fundyn be.
& al rom sa gret regret mad þane,
fra þai myssit þat worthi man,
þat for þame wes ay scheld & spere,
quhene ony mowit to þaim were,
& quhat-euir þai had to do
þe victory he brocht þame to.
bot eustace of þis had na thocht,
na of hyme-self bot lytil rocht,
bot for schame fast can fle
with wyf & barnis to þe se;
& fand a schipe til saile al ȝare,
& he in went but ony mare.
bot ay þe tyme þai war sayland,
ay wes þe schipmaster gowand
a-pon þe laydy brycht of ble,
& thocht scho suld his leman be.
& quhen þai to þe land ware brocht,
sir eustace þe fraucht had nocht
to pay for hym & his menȝe.
& quhen þe mastir þat can se,
he bad þe laydy suld be lacht,
& haldine with hyme for þe fracht.
bot sir eustace, þat wes wa,
wald nocht consent It suld be sa.
þane þe mastir wes angry,
& beknyt til his men in hy
to swak sir eustace in þe se,
þat he mycht brok þe laydy fre.
þan wes þe knycht wondir wa,
quhen hyme worth do ane of þa,
othyr for to tyne þe lyf
or depart þare fra his wyf.
bot I treu deme cuth nane
quhilk of þai suld erare be tane;
bot I treu he had als lef be ded
as lef his wyf but remed.
for-þi cuth nan tel half þe wa.
nocht-þan, war þaim neuir sa wa,
þe master cane þe laydy ta.
& eustace with drery chere
tuk his barnis þat ware hym dere,
& gretand sar sad: “wais me
þat losit has It þat lyf suld be
& al my solace & my blis!
hou suld I luf, & þat lele mys?”
syne wald he til his barnis sa:
“na war ȝour sak, but delay
I suld my-self here sla but mare,
& neuir a fut ga forthyrmare;
bot þane suld ȝe be tynt al quyt,
& for ȝou I suld ber þe wyt.
for-þi wa tyd is ȝou I-wis
þat ȝoure gud modir now mon mys.”
& ay with þis he held his gat,
of his wikyt werd makand regrat,
til he com til a watir-syd,
þat depe was & wele wyd,
sa þat he mocht ber but ane
of his barnis our þat fame,
for dut þai suld peryst be.
þar-for þe tane of þaim lewit he
on þat half on þe bank sittand,
thinkand to cum agane on hand,
& þe toþir on his bak lacht,
& bar hyme on our stracht,
& on þe farrere land hym set,
til he mycht his bruthir fet.
& þan a-gayn son he wod
rycht to þe mydis of þe flud,
til his vthyre son ay gowand
þat he lewit on þe land,
& saw a wold wolf hym ta,
& to þe forest with hyme ga.
& for he wes al wtrely
disparyt til helpe hym, in hy
he turnyt hym, & rath has sene
a lyon, þat wes bald & kene,
tak þe toþir & held his way.
þan wist he nocht quhat to do or say,
bot oft-tyme wes in to wil
hyme-self in-to þe flud to spil,
& dang his handis on his face,
& his flesch don cane rase,
þat he wes born þat sicht to se,
his barnis bath but helpe tynt be.
bot sa lang witlas stil he stud,
til þat nere he dronyt in þat flud,
gyf ne war god of his grace
sawit hyme in-[to] þat place.
& of þe bankis for þe hicht
of þe barnis he tynt þe sicht,
& wist na thing of þame mare,
bot wane to land with gret care.
thane leid þai hyme in-[to] þe ton
with gret Ioy and processione,
& prince of knich[t]ed hyme mad,
& doublit al at euire he had
in riches, rentis & in fee,
in his estat and dignite;
sa þat mare doublit wes his mycht
þane god befor til hyme had hicht.
þai prayt hyme to tak on hand,
as he was wont, to fend þat land;
& þare request he grantit son
for þe honoure þai had hym don.
& with awisment lukit he
quhat strinth of knychttis he mycht se:
& fand nocht sa fele in land
þat mycht þar fais with-stand.
þar-for send he fare & nere
to cyteis & tonys sere,
to ches men þat to manis sicht
lyk war to be manly & wicht.
& ymang vthyre þis mandment
com quhare his twa sonis lent,
þat of þat ton þai suld ches twa.
þan can þai son to consel ga;
& for þai twa ware lykest
for sic not to be þe best,
& fremmyt folk to þaim with-al,
gyf Il forton to þaim suld fal,
þare-for arayt þai þaim wele
in armis stith, mad of stele,
with al þe lawe þat þare-to lay,
& send þaim furth on þe way.
þane com þai in litil space
quhare þe prince of knychted wes,
þat beheld þame & thocht in hy
þat þai war abil & worthy
of theuys & of honeste;
for-þi knychttis he gert þaim be,
& menskit þaim with worthieste,
& perit þaim ay to þe beste.
syne went he to þe were in hy
with fele men, wicht & hardy.
& be assay men ma wele kene
þat gud chiften makis [gud] men;
for his men sic confor[t] had
þat þai durst do quhat þat he bad.
& quhen he com sa nere þat he
mycht his fais grathly se,
he sped hyme fast & with þaim facht,
& mony sleu & mony lacht,
& þe lawe chasit vtrely,
& reparyt with victory,
til he com til a ton, quhare he
with his oste restit dais thre.
þan hapnyt in þe sammyne toure,
quhare his wif mad surioure.
þane tyd of case þire ȝu[n]gmen twa
þar inys in þat house to ta,
quhare þare modir had gestnyng—
bot of hyr þa ne had knawing—
& sat percase & carpit sammyne,
quhilis of hernyst & quhilis of gammyn,
as ȝung men wil do for solance,
& als to mak þar acquintance.
& first þe eldast tald þe case
þat in ȝouthed hym hapnyt wes,
& sad: “I think wele hou-gat
my fadir, þat wes of gret stat,
& to name had sir placydas,
tuk my modir, þat fare was,
& my bruthir & me alsa,
& priuely of ton cane ga,
& wandryt furth with ws thre,
til he come rycht to þe se,
& a schipe redy fand,
& sailit to þe farrere land,
& my modir belewit þare,
bot of hyr hapny[n]g I wat no mare;
bot my fadir held on his way
with my bruthir & me ay,
til he com til a watir brad,
& oure it he my bruthir had,
& lewit me on þe bank, til he
suld com agan & bere oure me;
bot as he towart me cuth wad,
a gredy wolf hynt me but bad,
& to þe wod with me ran;
bot telemen, þat saw þat þane,
folouyt fast & gert hym fle,
& hynt me vpe & hame had me,
& fosterit me wele alway.”
þane can þe todir ȝung man say:
“to me is [tyd] þe sammyne case:
for my fadyr [wes] sir eustace,
þat my bruthyr, my deme, & me,
þat na man wust, brocht to þe se
& saylyt oure; & þar hyme tynt
his wyf; bot his barnis he hynt
& walkit furth with drery mude,
til he com til a mykil flude,
þat he durst nocht wad with vs bath,
bot my bruthir set don rath,
& bar me oure þe flud, til he
mycht pas agayne & bring hym me,
my bruthyre þat he lewit þare.
& a lyone in þat sythware
oure-set in his mouth hynt me,
& to þe wod fast can fle.
bot hyrdis, þat nere ware by,
hyme folouyt in to gret hy,
& wane me fra þe fel lyone,
& had me with þam in þe ton,
quhar þu seis þai telmen duellis.
of my bruthyr I wat nocht ellis;
bot be þe tale þu tellis me,
lyk war my bruthyr þou suld be.
bot ferly haf I hou It befel
þat we in a ton suld duel
þis lang tym & nan ken vthyre,
as witty man suld do his bruthir.”
þane ran it þaim bath in mynd
thru inclinacion of kynd,
þat þai ware brethyre; & for-þi
þai gret bath richt teyndirly,
& in armis vthyre cane brase,
& kissit oft, & sad: “allace!”
for tynsale of þare fadir wicht
& of þare modir, þe lady brycht.
þar modir þan, þat wes nere by,
& herd al þane opynly,
hou þai recordyt þe case
þat to þare fadir hapnit wes,
scho held stil a quhile, & thocht
quheþir þai hyr barnis war or nocht.
& one þe morn scho went in sped
to þe gret maister of þe knychtede,
& sad: “dere lord, I pray þe
for godis sak þu ger me
be had to rome: for þine com hy
& is brocht here I ne wat quhy.”
& as scho spak þis hyme til,
scho hyme beheld with incre wil,
& be syndry taknis cane se
þat hyre awn housband wes he.
for-þi scho don [fel] til his fet,
& out scho brast son of gret,
& sad: “dere lord, I pray þe
for goddis sak þu tel me
quhat man þu was in þi ȝouthed,
& quhat stat þu can led;
for me think þu art placydas,
þat of knychted maistir was,
& syne at fontstane eftir þat
to þi name eustace gat,
& tholyt syne be godis wil
fayndingis, þat war hard & il,
& lewit hale þi possession,
þi honour & þi renown,
& with þi wyf went priuely
out of þe land. & þat am I,
& syne quhen we com to þe se,
agane þi wil wes tan fra þe;
bot god of his habundand grace
but filth of syne me kepit has.
& þu my husband with me gat
twa sonnis, & ane hat
theospitus, & þe tothyre
agapitus, þat wes his bruthyre.”
quehen eustace herd al þat scho
sad, he beheld hyr to,
& wist wel scho wes his wyf,
þat he lufit richt as his lyf.
he gat hyr son a-bout þe [h]als
& kissit, & for Joy gret als.
& scho hyme in þe sammyn wyse
gretand, kissit a hundir cyse,
of[t] lowand god þat sa cuth wirk
for þame, þat sorow had mad Irk,
& eftyr fanding þat cuth say
brink his seruandis out of way.
& I treu wele nan cuth say
þe encre Ioy [þat] þane had þay;
for þai gud liffaris war, I wene,
& lang tyme had nocht vthyr sene,
& syne to-gyddyr vnwittandly
þame tyd to met sudanly.
I treu, þar be na liffand mane
cane tel þe Ioy [þat] þai had þane!
& þis betyd of ȝeris twa
þat þai had bath Ioy & wa.
þane, be hyr hart wes hesit sa
þat scho mycht ony word furth ta,
scho sad til hyme: “der lord, wit þu
of oure sonnis quhat is tyd now?”
“ȝe,” sad he, “be godis macht
I saw qu[h]are wild bestis þaim lacht,
& to þe wod fast with þaim ran,
forout rescourse of ony man”—
& tald hyr al þe manere hou,
as befor I tald ȝou to.
þane sad scho: “I red [þat] we
ȝeld thank to god of maieste;
for rycht as he has lent ws grace
for to se vþir his face,
sa ma he send [til] ws but wene
our barnis, þat we haf nocht sen
lang tyme.” “Deme, I can þe say
þat wild bestis bare þaim away.”
sad scho: “sir, I pray ȝou, blyne!
for ȝistyrday in myn In
as I set, I herd ȝung men twa
be þame ane forout ma
Ilkane til vthyr planly tel
þe wik[it] forton þame befel,
& hou in þare barnede þai
with wyld bestis war had away.
þane þare fadir can gretly men,
& þar modir oft but wene,
with mony vthyr wordis sere.
þar-by I wat but ony were
þat þai our barnis are. for-þi
gerris þame cum & ask in hy
þe suth, & be þame sal ȝe treu,
þat god has send þaim til ws nov.”
& as scho said, he did but bad;
& be þar taknis grath wit had
þat þai war his twa sonnis dere.
a lord! hou blith þan wes his chere
quhen he saw þaim with his ene,
þat he wend bestis met had bene!
& þame in armis he hynt,
& þar modir, or scho stynt,
& kissit of[t], & gret alsa,
bath for gret Ioy & for wa.
& quhen þe gret ost hard record
al þat tyd wes to þare lord,
& for þe wictory he mad
of þar fais, gret Ioy [þai] had.
thare as þai war suyornand,
in gret hast com tyþand
þat traiane emperour wes ded
& adriane in til his sted
wes chosine, þat was mykil ware
to cristine men þan he, be fere.
bot he þat þan, as custome wes,
went to met sir placydas,
with þame of rom, beuth þe ton,
with honorabil processione,
& hyme resawit Ioyfully,
nocht anerly for þe wictory
of þar fele fais at he wan,
bot for he had recoueryt þane
bath wyf & barnis he tynt had,
& þane fundine ware but bad.
& rom in þis wyse
þai enterit, as I herd dewyse.
ay god! quhat Ioy in rom was,
quhen þai had gottyn sir placydas!
for þame thocht þai had no dout
of fais, war þai neuir sa stout.
for-þi þai sat hale þar cure
til worschipe hyme & til honoure.
þane mycht be sad of hyme rycht
as of Iob, þat to mare hicht
of riches & of honour wan,
þane befor hyme fandit sathan.
sa tyd of eustace; for he,
eftyr fandinge, of mar degre
wes & of mycht & of riches
be fer cyse mar þan first he wes;
for god, þat can do quhat he wil,
þat he had hicht hym can fulfil.
sone eftir [þat] sir adriane
thocht sir placydas ȝet had nocht tane
honour Inuch; for-þi gert he
cal hyme with solempnite
til het with hyme in-[to] his hal,
& wyf & barnis with hym al,
& mad þaim richt wele to fare,
& al þe lawe þat with þaim ware,
& gaf hyme mony gyftis gret,
hyme & his menȝe to rehet.
& eftyr [þat] on þe thrid day
he gert cri but mare delay,
al suld be gadryt gret & smal
in-to þe tempil principal,
til ydolis to sacrify
for honoure of victory,
þat placydas ham brocht had
eftyr þe trawal þat he mad.
& quhen al com, & one þat wyse
til ydolis mad sacrifice,
þe emperoure persauit has
þat þare com nocht sir placydas.
for-þi he send for hyme [al]-son,
& bad hyme cum but ony hon,
& sacrify, as vthire did,
for þe gret honoure hym betyd.
þan come eustace, & sad clere,
& sad: “sir, I sacrify but were
to Ihesu crist, my god werray
& anely god is, I þe say,
þat al þis warld mad of nocht,
Hel & hewine, as hym gud thocht.”
þane wes þe emperoure rycht wa
þat he herd eustace sa say,
& commandit his men ful rath
to tak hym, wyf, and barnis bath,
& bynd þame in a place quhare þai
one na maner mycht chape away,
& lyons loss lat to þaim ga,
þat rathly suld þaim ryf in twa.
& quhen þai don had as he bad,
& þe lyons losit hade,
to þaim suyth in a ras þai rane,
& to þar fet fel done þane,
as for til honoure þaim mekly;
syne held þare way deliuerly.
syne gert þe emperoure be mad
vndir þe ox of bras but bad
a mykil fyr of matir sere.
& quhen it brynnand wes al clere,
he gert þir foure in be don,
in hope þai suld be ded son.
bot þai þare-of na redur had,
but enterit in, & gud chere mad,
commendand þaim to god mychtty,
þat þar saulis þan in hy
resawit, & þame reward mad,
as befor he to þame sad.
þan eftyr [þat] þe thryd day
þe emperour com til assay
In hou smal poudir þai ware mad.
& quhen þai þe ox hopynit had,
þai saw þaim on þar kneis stand,
as þai quyk ware, to god lowand,
for-out weme in hyd or har,
bot fresch as euir þai ware,
outakine þat þai ware al ded.
þane tuk men þaim of þat sted.
& cristine men com þat same nycht
& for þai martiris can dicht
Ful reuerently fare sepulture,
& layd þaim in with gret honour;
& eftyre in process of tyme
mad þar a kirk of stane & lyme,
quhare þai sanctis restis ay,
& sal do to domyse-day,
& þane resawe þe cron of lyf,
þat þai wan here in gret strif,
as is befor sad in þis buk,
gyf ȝe tent þar-to tuk.
for-þi to þaim foure I pray,
agane þe feynd strif I may,
out of þis warld þat I wyne
but schame, det, & dedly syne.

XXX.—THEODERA.

Mene suld wele kene þat sathane
ȝet finis nocht, na neuir fane,
al cristine men for to gref
sene þat first he grewit eve.
& þo þar-to he haf mycht
thru godis tholyne & gret slycht,
ȝet mon he falȝe of[t]-tyme til eschew
sum þat he wald rycht gladly grewe.
for cristine men, þat stedfastly
throuys in god & deuotly
sanis hym with þe taknyng
of þe corce, quhare-on god can hyng,
sal wele resist agayne sathan,
þo he do al þe Il he can.
befor þe croice he sa vreis
þat, quhen he It seis, þan he fleis.
he wil oft purches wikit men
to gere hyme sped & with wemen
thru wischraf & sorcery,
& ful oft-tyme thru flatry
of kerlyngis, þat in mony wyse
ȝung men betresis oft-syse;
for sic as þai, quhen þa þare lifis
[h]as lyvit lang, callit wis wifis,
bot þai sa men kangis al
in to gret elde fra þai fal.
ȝet suld gud wemen ware be
to rowne with þaim in priuete,
or ȝet corow for to hald
with sic wifis, fra þai be ald,
þat for les þane a schefe of brede
wil gyf þaim oft schamful rede,
& ger hyre treu quhat scho wil,
fra scho gud heryng gyf hir til.
& for ensampil I wil ta
hou it betyd theodera.
“god be her-in my dochtir dere,
þat kepe þe ay hale & fere,
in althing ekand þi grace,
of welth & wele, in þis place!
her ame I cumyne þe to se
& with þi spek to conforte me;
for I treu, be my gud fay,
þat I sal wele fare al þe day
þat I mycht to þe spek my fil.”
“sit don,” sad scho, “say on þi wil!”
sad scho: “dochtir, god þe forȝelde,
& fra wikyt forton þe schelde,
þus mekly þat dedinȝeis þe
to spek hamely with sic as me!
for I fynd suthfastnes,
þat al men sais, is nocht les,
& oft I here þat in þis ton
Is na weman of sic renon
of al gudnes in al degre
þat in weman ma gestnit be,
as þu, þat is alane but pere,
of al farnes & coloure clere,
& fason fare & gud hawyng,
set þu of ȝeris be bot ȝyng;
na ogart na pryd is þe with-in,
þocht þu be of nobil kyne;
na heis [þu] þe for riches,
to lichtly othyr mare or lese
as þe pouir folk sais of þe,
þat þu art larg of cheryte.
& þus I sa nocht, be þe rude,
der dochtir, to get [of] þi gude,
bot anerly for suthfastnes.
ȝete is a think neuir-þe-les
þat, gyf I durst, I wald say.”
“tel one, deme,” quod scho, “I ȝou pray!”
þane mad þe kerlyng sum dangere,
wittand scho suld þe ȝarnare spere;
for wemen ar besy al
to wyt þe thing quhat-euir fal.
theodera þane cane hyr pray
þat scho wald tel hyr but delay,
quhat-euir it wes scho had in thocht,
& lef vnsad til hyr richt nocht,
for scho suld tak in nane Il
quhat-sa-euir scho sad hyr til.
þe karlyng sad: “on þat cunnande,
sen þe tyme is nov auenande,
I wil tel þe a thing quhare-in
þu wil sla þi saule for syne;
þat is, þat þu wil nocht remede
þe man þat for þe wil thole dede;
& quha-sa-euir man wil sla,
of skil is callit godis fa,
& als his saule tyne, þat god bocht,
gyf he mycht succure & wil nocht.
& ȝone ȝung man, þat luffis þe,
is now in poynt peryst to be,
& þu ma lichtly, gif þu wil,
sauf hyme & do þi-self na Il:
þat is, to grant hyme anerly
þat he ma anis priuely
play with þe in priue stede,
& sa ma þu sauf hym fra dede.
& þat but witting ma be don
in priue stede vndir sone,
& sa ma þu þe sauf fra hel
quhare man-slaare sal ay duel;
for he sal cum sa priuely
þat nan sal wit it bot þu & I.
& þe sonare þis be done,
þe cause sal be þe les to son.”
theodera til hyr can mele:
“deme, al be þu neuir sa lele
& al suth war þu me sais,
ȝet durst I do it [be] na wais.
suppos neuir man suld wit
I had don sic thing as It,
ȝet god suld wit it, I dut nocht,
þat clerly kennis dede & thocht,
& punyse me for my mysdede
thru mychtt[i]nes of his godede.”
þane sad þe trat with flatrand fare:
“wele war hyr sic birth bar,
& happy wes he þat gat þe
þat sa wisly has ansuert me!
bot ȝet, be-cause þu art ȝing,
þu can nocht deme of sic thing,
wenand þat god kennis al
þi dedis done or to fal,
for þu wanttis þe colorum
þat þu suld treu in þat parte sum.
for suth is þat god knawis wele
ded and thocht euir-ilke dele,
þat is to vndirstand, I say,
It at done is on þe day;
bot to þat thing has he na sycht
þat thocht or don is in þe nycht;
for he fleis ay myrknes,
& tais tent bot to clernes.
for-þi, as treuys þe kirk of rom,
men wat at þe day of dome
is to cum quhen god sal haf mycht
to deme al don in opyne sycht;
bot of þe nycht þe doin[g]e þan
is he nocht borne þat ocht tel can.
for [gyf] demeen of þe nycht suld be
as of day, clerkis, parde,
wald als wele of nycht as day
haf mad mencione, perfay.
þar-for, dochtir, haf na drede,
bot as I say do furth þis dede,
&, as oure lord bydis þe,
of þine eue cristine haf pyte!”
þan sais til hyr theodera:
“gyf, as þu sais me, It be sa
& þat þu spekis for na gyle
me wikitly for to be-wile,
or þat man for me dede be,
I sal do as þu thechis me.”
“quhat, wenys þu I wald þe wile,
gud douchtir? na, be þe ewangele,
na be þe corpus domine,
for ony gud men mycht gyf me!
for I think to get of þi gere
for þe gud lare I sal þe lere.
þar[for], forsuth, wal[d] I nocht
þu fand dissat in me ocht.”
þane sad til hyr theodera:
“gud dame, sen þu sais sa,
now son, quhen gane is þe lycht
& cummyne is þe myrk nycht,
bryng [hyme] to þis place but mare,
& sodanly I sal be þare!”
& of hyr gud scho gef þat alde.
& blyth hyre gat scho can halde,
& to þe ȝung man come sone
& tald hyme al hou scho had don.
& he þar-of wes glad & blyth,
& gaf hyr of his gud suyth.
& quhen þat cumyne wes þe nycht,
scho kepyt þe trist wele scho hicht,
& with hyr brocht þe man in hy,
quhare scho tristit priuely.
& þar theod[e]ra & he
war sammyne a quhile in priuete;
& quhen þai had þar wil done,
athyr held þare way sone.
thane scho, þat þare was munk, & thocht,
þo scho þe dede nyt wele mocht,
men suld nocht treu hyr but assay,
quhethyre scho sad suth or nay,
& lath ware hyr þat ony man
suld wit be pruf scho ware weman;
& lath scho was neuir-þe-les
to tyne þe mede of tholmodnes;
& als hyr lykit for to be
punyste, be-cause in sic degre
for scho had mysdone til hyre mak;
þare-for wald scho sic penance tak.
þane sad scho til þe abbot sone:
“sir, suth is I sic dede has done.
for-þi it is resone & skyl
þat I be punyste at ȝoure wil;
bot þe as fadyr nocht-for-þi
[I] prays þe now of mercy.”
þe abbot þan, þat al mycht se,
gert þe barne þare bundyne be
a-pon þe monkis bak but bad,
& gert hyme to þe ȝet be had.
& he in þat place done hyme set,
& tuk þe childe, & sare gret;
for noþir cuth he nuryse be,
na had possibilyte
þar-of to fede þe barne.
bysynes ȝet dide he ȝarne,
&, seand na betir wane,
þe mylk of sowis has he tane,
þat lay by in þe myddyng,
& þar-of fede þe teyndir thing.
& hyr brethyr, as þai durse,
wald bryng til hyre sum crum, sum cruse;
for þe monkis les & mare
of hyre dissese had hartis sare.
þane duelt scho þare sewine ȝere
pacyently in sic manere.
& al þat tyme þe feynd, oure fa,
cesit nocht to wirk hyr way.
þane þe forme can he ta
of þe man of theodera,
& as hyr husband cane apere
til hyr & sad: “myn hart dere,
haf reutht of me & cum þi way
with me, þat murnis nycht and day!
for Ioy na solace bot thru þe,
na lykine in my hert ma be;
for but þe luf may I nocht,
sa art þu set in my thocht.
& þo þu defulyt be
with man, I for-gyf [it] þe.”
scho, wenand þat it ware hir man,
þat [sic] spek mad til hyr þane,
sad: “I wil nocht cume to þe,
for sir Ionys sone la by me;
þar-for I wil nocht cum þe til,
bot my pennance here fulfil.”
& has scho had þusgat sad,
þe takine of þe croice scho lade
one hyr; & he but ony mare
wanyst away as he reke ware,
& scho wist it wes hyr fa,
þat falsly hyr fandit sa.
ȝet for he wald hyre strinth vnkit,
he schupe to fley hyr of hir wit;
for-þi in þe liyknes
of wilde bestis mare & les
he gert feyle feyndis þare apere,
to schot one hyr with fellone bere.
& þat feynd hym-selfe þane
apperyt as it ware a man
& slaytyt þaim full fellonly,
& bad þai suld þat hure wery.
þe takine of þe croice scho mad ay;
& as reke þai wanyst away.
ane vthyr tyme com hyre by
lyk to knychtis a cumpany,
& befor þame gangand þare,
þe prince of al as It ware;
& al þai knychtis apon kne
ennornyt hym, þat scho mycht se,
& askyt [at hir] quhy þat scho
as þai did til hyme, wald nocht do.
quod scho: “I honoure nane
bot god of hewine, my lord ane.”
þane bad þe prince hyr til hym bryng
& torment hyr sare and dynge.
þane at bydyng þai hyre befte,
& in þat place nere ded lefte,
& wanyst as rek a-way;
& scho recouerit but delay.
ane vthyr tyme scho schaw ly
a lumpe of fyne gold hyre by,
& for þe sycht sanyt hir sone,
& saw it nocht, as þat wes done.
ane oþir tyme as scho sat þare,
come a man þat a skepe bare
fyllyt of met of delyt,
& bad hyr ete þare-of tyt,
“for sic met ete þu nocht are,
& oure prince, þat gert bet þe sare,
þe sende It, þat [vn]wittandly
gert ws bet þe sa fellounly.”
þane scho hyre saynit but delay;
& þat fandyng went away.
& as scho had sewine ȝere þare
bene in sic wyse, in scham & care
in opyn sycht, þat al mycht se,
þe abbot had of hyr pyte;
& monkis al of þe abbay
for hyr teyndirly can pray.
& he hyr reconsalyt & brocht In,
& remytit hyre al hyr syne,
& þe barne in with hyr tuke
to lere & set to þe buke.
& ȝet wes nan be ony slycht
þat scho wes woman persawe mycht.
þe childe ȝet held scho þare ay,
& fosterit it nycht & day.
þane eftyr twa ȝere ware gane,
fra scho wes in þe abbay tane,
þe abbot a monk a day
til hym callit, & can say:
“theodorus on nycht alane
oysis spekine as It ware with ane,
& I wald wit of quhat thing
þat tyme he makis his carpyng,
quhethyr be hym-self ore be wthir,
or gyf it war with ony bruthyre.
þar-for ga þis nycht priuely
&, þat he spekis & quham with, espy,
& syne to-morne þu tel me
þe suth, quhat-sa-euir It be!”
þane sad he, with gud wil
his byding he suld fulfil.
bot god, þat helpis in nede
& for gud dissert gyfis mede,
þat nycht of theodera
of his grace disponyt sa,
þat scho persauit wele apere
þe stond of dede til hyre nere.
for-þi þe barne scho tuk hir til,
& kyssit It with gud wil,
& sad: “dere sone, wit þu
þat I mon pas of þis lyf nou;
þar-for to god I commend þe,
þat he þi helpe & fadyre be.
& þu til hyme pray Ithandly
& faste, as þu ma, gudely,
& to þis brethyre of þis abbay
þou serwe treuly, I þe pray!”
& thechand [hym] on þis manere,
til god scho ȝald þe gast rycht þare,
Fourhu[n]dir ȝeris aucht & sewinty
fra god flesche tuk of oure lady.
þat ilke nycht to þe abbote,
þat haly man wes and deuote,
a wisione on þis manere,
nocht fully slepand, can apere.
he thocht in hewine he suld se
a grete brydale grathit be,
quhare gaderit ware in þat hal
of angelis, prophetis, orderis al,
& al halowis þat ware,
& a bede in myd þaim þare
sa mychty fare & preciuse
þat sic wes neuir sene in house;
& a woman ymang þaim al
with Ioy wes brocht in-[to] þat hal,
þat bricht wes be manis sycht
as þe son on dais licht,
& brocht with blythnes to þe bed
& one set, rycht wele spred,
& men [hir] honouryt, as scho had bene
a ful gret & a ryale queyne.
& a woice sad [til] hyme þus:
“þis is þi monk theodorus,
þat sakles wes for lychery
to þe accusit wikitly,
& þu sal wit þe suthfastnes;
for scho a werray woman was.
bot [for] scho fylyt fulely
hyr manis bed in adultery.
scho has bene chastit felly here
of þi bidding sewine ȝere;
for-þi with god scho has sic grace
as þu here sene now has.”
& þe monk, þat wok þat nycht,
com to þe abbot at day-lycht
& talde Ilke worde playnly
þat þe monk sad þe barne hym by.
þe abbot þane with þe cowent
to theodorus cel went,
& cled in til his bed hym fand,
& þe barne by hyme gretand.
& vncled hyr, as custum was,
þe ded body for to wesche:
& fand it wes a woman
þat sa gat had þar habit tane,
& tholyt of hyr pacyence
þaim to do hyr sic offence
but cause, as þai saw in hy.
þane send þai til hyre fadir by,
til hyr fadir þat gert blame
þar monk & say defame,
& bad he suld his douchtir bryng,
to se þat monkis enteryng,
& for hyr son to set sum rede,
sen his fadir þane wes dede.
& as scho com, scho fand onhyd
þe falset þat hyr-selwine dide;
& as scho saw þat, but mare
for wengeance scho ȝed wode þare,
& in wrak of hyr fals plicht
deit sodanely in þare sicht.
þane ware þai sa abaisit al
þat þis saw, gret and smal;
& al þat hard þis, gef lowynge
for his gret mycht til hewynis king;
& dout & trastnes greu þane
to richtwise & to sinful man.
þe angel bad þe abbot þat tyde
þat he til þe cite suld ryde,
& quhat man he met,
bad bryng hym agane but let.
sa met he a man gud-spede,
& askit at hyme quhare he ȝede.
quod he: “my wyfe is dede, I treu,
& I spede me to se hyre now.”
þane þe abbot son hym hynt
on horse be-hynde hym, or he stynt,
& brocht hyme on to þe abbay,
& led hyme sene quhare scho lay.
þane grathit þai hyr sepultur
with besynes & gret honoure,
& hyr enterit þar quhare ay
god for hyr dois miraclis alway;
for ony þat ar sek or sare,
to get hele, oft cummys þare.
þane hyr husband þurchasit hir cel,
& his lyftyme þar can duel,
& sic seruice to god mad þane
þat he wes haldyn haly man.
& hyr barne þat behynd hir wes,
halely folouyt ewine hir trace.
in vertuise & in thowis fare
he mycht wele be callyt hir ayre,
& sa can hyme-selfe leyde
þat eftir þe abbotis dede
al þai of þe cowent
mad hyme abbot of hale assent,
& þe house sa gouernyt ay
þat haly is he cowntit to-day.

XXXI.—EUGENIA.

XXXII.—IUSTIN.

The takyne of þe verray croice
ws by[r]d to luf in hart & voice,
quhare-on Ihesu criste cane hynge
of fre wil, for oure ransomnynge,
& thru þat croice mad vndirloute
þe feynd, þat almen aw to dout,
sa þat, quhare-[sa]-euire he
þe takyne of þe croice ma see,
he man fle nedway magre his;
for þat takine sa red he is.
nocht anerly be cristine men
þat he is red þare-for, we kene,
bot be þe Iow forout nay,
þat in feld chapel lay
ourtane be merknes of nycht,
& of sa feyle fendis hade sicht,
þat for rednes he wes nere wod;
bot þane, for þe takine of þe rud
he mad on hyme, as he had sene
cristine men, þat rud had bene,
& thocht he vntrewful was,
ȝet wes he sawit nocht-þe-les.
& a[l]s It may be brocht to mynd
of ysachiel in þe nynd
chapiter, quhare-in men may
þe vertu of þe croice werray.
bot, [þo] þat it be gud to here,
It is lang & I ame suere.
& als þare-[of] is mad mencione
in þe lewint distinccion
of þe decre for-out were
in þe sext chapitere.
& als of þat takine ma we
In þe fynding of it-self see,
hou constantyne had ourcumyne
of þat takine be þe schewynge.
þe quhilk to wryt here lef I,
for it is a wele lang story.
& in þe exaltacione
of þe croice is mad mencione
hou eraclius þe emperoure
of þe croice thru þe fygure
þe son of cosdre slew in ficht,
nocht-gandstandine his gret mycht,
& cosdre hyme-selfe syn slew he;
& syne eftir þe croice wane he.
bot þocht to here it ware delyte,
þis story ware lang to wryt.
crystofer & theodera
to þis a verra prowe ma may,
þat þar is na defence sa gude
as is þe takine of þe rude.
as I sal here by a tale tel
of a maydine hou it befel
þat sere feyndis chasit hir fra,
& þe self master-fend alsa,
þat to fande hir did þer mycht,
bot of þat takine be þe sycht.
[c]ypriane lewit nocht þare-with-all,
bot ane vthir feynd can call;
þe quhilk, quhen he com hyme til,
sad: “frend, I kene hale þi wil
& þe vnmycht of my compere,
þat to spede had na powere;
bot I sal al his fawt supple,
& to þi purpos weile bryng þe:
for I sal wond hyr hart rycht sare
throw lust of lichery but mare,
& scho sal cum to þe þis nycht
to do þi wil; þat I þe hicht.”
& þar-with went he on his way
& come to Iustine but delay,
& mad hyr persuacione
of hyre saule [to] þe confusione,
sa fere as scho wes in wil
vnlesum lust [for] to fulfil.
bot thru helpe of þe haly geste
scho vm[be]thocht hyre in [til] haste,
þat It a foule fandyng was
to gere hyre grant to fyle hir flesch;
þar-for on hyre scho can lay
þe takyne of þe croice verray,
commendant [hir] to criste Ihesu,
& þare-with dispytuisly blew
on þe flatrand fend, þat na mycht
had, fra he had sene þat sicht,
bot as a reke away he wat,
& to cypriane come fut hat,
þat sad til hyme: “quhy has þou nocht,
as þu sad, þe maydine brocht?”
sad he: “at hyre haf I bene,
& one hyre sic a takine sene
þat me has mad nere out of wit,
sen I on hyre fyrste saw It;
for my crafte mycht nocht awale,
bot tynt has al hale myn trawele.”
hou of[t] þat þai hir fandyng made,
for scho hyre croysit but abade,
& þan ware þai fullely schent,
& fore rednes fra hyre went,
& come to cypriane alsone,
& tald hyme al how þa had don,
bot nocht, to do as þai had mynt,
bot vtrely þare trawale tynt;
for a takine scho on hyre made,
þat þaim discomfyt but abade;
na til hyre durste þai cum nomare;
for þat takine so red þai ware.
bot scho, of þis þat wiste nocht
bot one god set al hyre thocht,
gef lowyng to hevinis king,
þat kepyt hyre in sic fanding.
bot cypriane ȝet þan but were
in his foly cane perseuere,
& in his thocht trawalit & het;
for he mycht nocht his wil get.
bot thinkand ȝet he wald prowe
þe sufferande helpe for his be[h]owe,
þe principale of dewilis al,
selfe satan, cane he cal,
þat but bad come hyme til,
& sad: “now, quhat is þi wil?”
quod he: “quhare is al ȝoure vertu?
for I ne helpe can fynde in ȝow,
bot granttis al [þat] þai ma nocht
gere my desyre til ende be brocht,
bot are discumfit schamefully
thru a ȝung maydine anerly,
& be a takine þat þai se
apone hir, as þai sa [to] me.
þare-for me think I haf Il set
my tyme on ȝou, þat ma nocht get
sa smal a thing as þis to me,
þat seruis ȝou in al degre
sen I firste cuth spek ore ga.”
þe maister dewil can ansuere ma,
& sad: “frend, disese þe nocht!
for þi ȝarnynge sal be wrocht,
& þai þat failyt, sal haf schame,
til helpe þe, & mekil blame.
þare-for my-self on wil fare
& with feile feuir wond hire sare,
& als gere hir as fire bryne;
sic lustful het sal be hir in,
& eftyr hyr stirke sal I
nere wodnes & frenesy,
& fantyse als ferly sere
til hyre als I sal gere apere,
til scho, for al hir mekil slycht,
sal to þe cum þis ilke nycht.”
þene þe feynd þe forme tuk
of a maydine, as sais þe buke,
& to hyre come but delay,
& sat done, & syne þis can say:
“[g]wde cystire, I ame cumyne here,
of þi gudnes for I here
in sere placis be spokine ay,
& had ȝarnyng til assay,
quhethire it sa be ore nocht;
þar-for to þe here I hafe socht,
in mykill wil to duell with þe,
as þu dois, in chastyte.
fore be gud resone I cane feile
þat maistry is to kep it wele;
for manis kynd it mon excede
here lifand to kepe madynehede,
bot, quha-sa here ma luf chaste
thru steryng of þe haly gaste,
is fare lykare for to be
angelis þane manis kynd, parde.
& gyf percase ony mocht
kepe maydine in ded & thocht,
þan wald I wit quhat rewarde
he suld haf þarfor eftirwarde?”
quod Iustine: “rycht grete is þe mede,
& þe trawale smal but drede
in regarde of þat lestand blis,
þat nane cane tel hou gret [it] is,
þat god sal gyf til his dere,
þat thankful seruice makis hym here.”
quod þe feynd: “þu tel me It.
þat oft is rede in haly wryt,
hou god, quhen adame wes made,
of a bane of his syd but bade
eve he mad, quhen he slepand lay,
to be his mak, & syne can say
‘beis sammyne, & grew, & multyply,
& with þe froyt of ȝoure body
fillis þe erde, & it wyne,
& bruk al thing þat is þare-in!’
be his spek lyk is þane
þat man to fere suld haf woman,
& woman in þe sammyne degre
suld man haf hyre make to be,
for þe sawyng of þare sede,
þat þare o[f]spryng mycht grew in brede.
for gyf sic mellyng suld nocht be
for kepynge of verginite,
al kynd of man but ony were
suld falȝe in a hundre ȝere,
& sa wes tynt godis makyne,
& alsa brokine ware his bydinge.
& ȝet wil men se neuir-þe-les
in þe law god gef moyses,
waryit ar þai callit þare
þat had na barne bot barane ware.
þa[r]for I trew, quha precis maste
til þai life to be chaste,
sal godis byding brak, & sa
be demyt til hel & yddir ga.
þar-for, gud cystir, I drede me,
gyf we kepe virginite,
goddis bydynge sal we brak,
þat one oure saulis sal it wrak.
sa quhare we trew mede to take,
sal [we] vndirly godis wrake.”
þe feynd sic perswacione
to Iustine mad, as [wes] resone,
þat he gert hyr haf thochtis thra
hyr chastite to fal fra.
in lychory sa hyre thocht
enflammyt þat nere wantit nocht
na redy scho wes to ga
with þe feynd, þat hir fandit sa,
& in-to purpose to fulfil
It þat scho wes entysit til.
bot god þane schawit his grace
til hyr, þat sa-gat fandit was;
quhare-throw scho cane persawe wele
þat þe entysare wes þe dewil,
þat spak til hyre sa slichtfully
for to dissawe hyr cowartly.
& þan þe croice on hyre scho made;
& [he], as he reke bene hade,
ful sodenely wanyste away;
& scho of seknes but delay,
þat in hyr before cane apere,
rycht þane wes mad hale & fere.
the feynde, þat saw he mycht nocht þan
eschewe, þe schape of a ȝung man
tuk, & come but [mare] delay
in þe chawmir quhare Iustine lay,
& in hys armys sone hyre hynt,
for to kyse hyr he nocht stynt,
& syne becuth vnschamefully
to diffule hyre thru lychery.
bot scho, þat þersawinge hade
It wes a feynd sic mastry made,
foret, briste, and hyr body
with þe croice scho taknyt in hy;
& he sonnere but delay
meltit þane wax in fyre away.
þane, tholand god, hyre he can saile
with felone feuere & gret trawale,
þat mad hyre sa falow & fade
þat nerhand dede wes scho made.
& til eke hyre perplexite,
he mad sic a mortalyte
in antioche of beste & man,
þat mycht nocht be estymyt þane,
& gert wod men oft rare & cry,
bot þat Iustine in til hy
gef hyr consent to wedit be,
sone peryst sal be þe cyte.
þane þai, þat saw þis pestilence,
& trewit scho mycht mak defence,
Come til hyre fadir house in hy,
& one hyme fast can gret & cry,
prayand hyme for þare saufte
þat Iustine son suld wedit be,
or ellis suld þat fellon clade
confonde þe cyte but abade.
bot scho ne wald consent þertil,
fore fayre na lath, gud na Il.
þarfor gudmen of þe towne,
doutande sa harde confusione,
in yre come til hire fadir in,
in entent it al to bryne,
bot gyf, to bryng þaim out of care,
his douchtir sonnare wedit ware.
þane prayt scho god þare increly;
& he hyr herd sodendely,
& gert cese þat mortalyte
bath in land & in cyte.
þe feynde, seande he ne mocht
oure-cum Iustine, as hym thocht,
thocht to fyle hyre gud name,
& sclandir hyr, & gere thol scham.
& for to dissawe cypriane,
þe fourme of hyre has he tane,
sa þat he in al degre
wes lyke Iustine for to be,
& come rynnande to cypriane
& hyme a-bout þe hals has tane.
& he, wenand it sa ware,
sad: “wel-cum, my hart dere,
fayreste woman & but blame!”
& as þe feynde herde hir name,
he had na langare mycht to byde
bot fled as reke & can hym hyde.
þane cypriane persawit wele
þat he wes scornyt ilke dele,
& in hart [he] had gret care,
& lufit Iustine fere þe mare.
fore-þi he wald sere fourmys ta,
quhare thru he mycht hir nerreste ga;
quhile foule, quhile woman, of þe slicht
of his falshed, & of þe nycht
walk fore hyr sak; bot quhene he
pressit at hyre Inis for to be,
his feyndis fourme wes son [un]hyde,
& he fore cypriane wes kyde.
þe feynd, þat wist þane þat he
wes oure-cumyne in al degre,
with gret schame his way is gane,
& aperit til cypryane,
& sad til hyme son: “hou now?
me think ourecumyne is þu!
wrechis, quhare is ȝoure mycht,
quhare is ȝoure poware & ȝoure slicht,
þat ȝe cane nocht a maydine ȝyng,
as ȝe haf hicht, on me to bryng?
tel me þare-fore, I pray þe þis,
quhare-in hyre mekil uertu is.”
þane sad þe feynde: “sa þat þu
to me wil suere ane ath now,
þat þu sal neuir fra me depart
thru gyle na thru ony arte,
I sal tel þe opynely
þe vertu of al hyre victory.”
þane sad til hyme cypriane:
“hou I sal suere, þu tel one ane!”
“suere be my vertuise, þat gret are,
þat þu sal neuir fra me fare,
& I sal hale discouer to þe
quhare-in scho ourecumis me.”
þane cypriane bad na langere,
bot þat sammyne ath cane til hym suere
þat he askit. & þe feynd þane
wend he traste wes of þe man,
sad hyme: “þat maydine mycht had nan
for til resiste agayne sathane,
outane a takine scho on hir ay
makis þat me fleis away.”
“þe takine now þu tel to me,
for of me þu art traste, parde;
for in sum parte ma assith me
of þe lang seruice I haf mad þe;
protestand ay þu haf na doute
of me þat is þine vndirloute;
for quhat thing sa euir It be,
þat þu sal now discouer to me.”
“it is of þe tre þe taknynge
quhare-one þe Iowis criste can hing
at myn entysing fore inwy,
& but cause can hyme crucyfy.”
sad cypriane: “quhow ma þat be,
þat for þe takine of a tre
ȝe fle sa & dare nocht byde,
bot fast forcis away to hyde?”
“certis,” quod sathane, “gyf þu be
sa lele as þu sais to me,
I sal say forout mare
quhy for þat takine we red are.”
quod cypryane: “I þe pray
þe suth now to me þu say!”
þane sad til hyme sathane:
“quhene I had first dissauit man,
sa þat be myne entysynge
he wes tynt & his o[f]sprynge,
ware nocht god, þat hyme made,
of his pyte reutht of hym hade,
& for his sawete becom man—
bot þare wes I dissawit þan,
for he wes borne of a vergine
a-ganis þe kynd of manis lyne.
of man þe myse fore to remede,
of verra man he tholyt dede—
bot had I wist but ony wene
þat he god & man had bene,
I had nocht tholit sekyrly
þe Iowis sla hym for inwy.
bot, for I wend he had bot man
bene, I gert sla hyme þane.
þane, as is manhed wes dede,
manis myse [for] to remede,
he come til hel [al] anerly,
& at our ȝettis cane cry,
& ymang ws he enteryt þare,
& al þat in oure pressonnis ware,
þat lykit hyme, he tuk away,
sene first he mad adame of clay,
& with his croice ws fleyt sa
þat of ws durst defence nan ma.
sene syne þe takine of þe tre
ful awful is to myne & me,
bath in þe payne þat I thole ay
& in þe tynsale of my pray;
for al mankynd þat lyf can lede,
þat deit before criste wes dede,
ware send me as my propyre thinge,
& in my presone mad duellynge;
& I, of þis warld prince but dout,
thru þat tre is quyt put out,
na ȝet ma I na liffand wyne
bot hyme þat wil nocht lef his syne.
& sa, to mak conclusione,
þat tre wes my confusione.
now haf I sad þe suth to þe
quhy þat takine confundis me.”
quod cypryane: “I se wele now
þe crucyfit is mare þan þu.”
& þe feynd þat granttit til,
þo it war aganis his wil,
& sad: “ȝa, is he fere mare
þane are lifand ore lyf bare,
& we ar til hyme vndirloute
at his byding ay but doute,
& he has put ws in-[to] hel,
[þar] þai þat we dissawe, sal duel;
for quha in oure seruice mais ende,
euirmare with ws sal wende.”
sad cypriane: “þan I þat man
wil serwe þat crucyfit wes þan.”
þe feynd sad: “sa ware þu lorne
gyf þu ware fals & mansuorne;
for þu has suorne of my oste be þe mycht,
þat þu sal nothire fore strinth na slicht
depart fra me til ony mane.”
cypryane sad til hyme þane:
“þe & þi wikit feyndis al,
þat seruis þe, gret & smal,
here I forsak, & takis me
til hyme þat hangit on þe tre,
& his takine one me I lay
be-twene me & þe now for ay.”
& as he þis sone sad hade,
þe feynd þan fled but abade.
& cypriane gret Ioy can ma
þat he þe feynd eschapit sa.
for-þi he socht but ony bade
þe bischope til he fundyn hade.
ande as þe bischope hym has sen,
he wes amovit, & can wene
þat he come nocht as fore honor
bot to bryng cristine in erroure.
þarfor sad he angrely:
“cypriane, gang hyne in hy,
with othire entremet [þu] þe,
& fande na cristine man na me!
for þi strinth sal nocht wyrke
agane þe treutht of haly kirke.”
sad cypriane: “sic is my sele
þat al þat tale I trew veile.
bot sene þu þe kirk is in
as oure-man saulis to wyne,
I cum to þe in godis stede,
my mysdede to remede;
for me forthinkis þaim ful sare,
& is in wil to syne ne mare.”
with þat befor þe bischape rath
he set done one [his] kneis bath,
& mad schryfte of al þat he
had mysdone in ony degre;
& hou his freyndis had hym gefyne
to þe feynd, he als has schrifyne,
& of þe tyme þat he had tynt
he schrafe alsa, ore he stynt.
þe byschope þan Ioyful wes,
& hyme resavit alsone to grace,
& baptyst [hyme] & mad hyme þane
as to cryst a now-borne mane,
& [þe] reule of cristine fay
he tacht hyme wele but delay.
& he had richt abile wite,
& in schort tyme consavit It.
& þe haly gaste al thinge
ma gere man cone but trawalinge;
lyk as [of] salamone we rede,
þat wes [þe] wiseste man but drede,
& in þe space of a nycht
of al wysdome he wan þe sicht
thru teching of þe haly geste,
þat beste maistere is in haste;
for to god, as we ma se,
ma na thing inpossible be.
for-þi sa wele sped cypriane,
fra he þe cristine treutht had tane,
þat in science he wox parfyt
& leid his lyf for-outyne wit;
& he þat first wes in erroure,
be-come þane a gret doctoure,
& sic a prechoure he become
þat to god he wan mony one;
& ay his dedis bettir ware
þane wes oþir his word ore lare.
syne wes he bischope agane his wil,
þo he wes lath to grant þare-til.
þat god send cypriane sic sele,
fra þat Iustine wiste it wele,
scho wes blith, & lowit gode þan
þat he wes sa gud cristine man,
& þat scho eschapit with honoure
his crafte til he wes in erroure.
þe bischope gert þan a nunry make,
& feffit for Iustinis sake
for þame þat suld duel in þat place—
& þat of his patrimoyn wes—
& of madynis a cowent
he gadderit þar, of ane assent
to serwe god in verginite;
& eftir Iustine sene sende he
& blissit hyr as priores,
& gef hir þaim in keping nocht-þe-les;
for he had prowit be assay
scho stedfaste wes & madyn ay.
& scho þe charge tuk hyr til,
to serwe god in gud wil.
þane cuth scho faste, wak, & pray,
& hyr gud dedis ekyt ay,
And be ensampil of hyre lyfe
to god wane mony, man & wyfe.
þane cypriane, as he mycht here
þat ony man in presone were
or in paynis ony-way
for cristis sak ore cristine fay,
lettris wald he to þame sende
to confort þame & to amende;
sayand, al payne [þat] mycht be wrocht
to man here, is lytil ore nocht
In regard of þe mykil bliss,
þat gode has grathit for al his,
& þe mare ay þai thole here
þe mare þare Ioy is but were.
& quhare he wiste ony wes
In seknes ore in distrese,
þat of spendyng had nede,
he cane releif þaim gud spede.
of hym þe gud nam spred sa wyd
þat men mocht nocht it hyde
hou þat [he thocht] bath nycht and day
til eke & fostyre cristine fay.
ane erle þan, þat wes fellon fa
þe cristine fast to gere sla,
send þane, ore he wald fyne,
for cypriane and Iustyne.
& til his presens as cumyne ware þai,
til þame sone cane he say:
“tellis me sone, gyf ȝe wil
mak sacrifice oure godis til,
& bruk ȝoure lyf & richit be
with mony landis & with fe,
or [gyf] ȝe wil as w[i]thyre-wyne
resiste & ȝoure lyfis tyne?”
sad þai: “we wil þat þu
wit we in-to cryst trew,
na It sal we nocht fal fra
for wa[r]ldly thing, na wele na va;
& namely to mak sacrifice
til ydolis we [w]are onwyse;
for þai [þat] ȝe ȝoure godis cal,
in ydolis are but feyndis al,
& dissawis wykitly
al þat in þame wil affy.
& sal fore þare seruice gere duell
with þame in þe pyte of hell.
þane þu ma se be kyndly skil
þat na man suld gyf treutht þaim til
þat in þame ony helpe suld be.
þo þai haf eyne, þai ma nocht see,
& þo þai eris haf, but were,
ȝet are þai defe & ma nocht here,
& þo þai mouth haf, þa ne ma speke,
na handis na fet ma þai reke;
for ferly ware þai mycht do ocht
þat are with manis handis wrocht.
þane is he fule in al degre
þat trewis it his god suld be
or helpe hyme, quhen he myster hade,
þat is of stok ore stane made.
þare-fore resone wald nocht [þat] we
suld sacrify to sic menȝe.
for-þi, gyf þu has set þi wil
for sic cause to do ws Ill,
but bad do furth, & wele þu trew
þat we wil neuir to þe bow.”
& quhen hale he wist þare entent,
he thocht to put þaim to torment;
& a gret pane [gert] brocht be sowne
befor hyme, & þare-in be done
blak pic & gert brynstane bla,
& vndir it a fyre gert ma,
til þat mater wes moltyne thyne,
& gert put þaim bath [þar]-in.
bot It disesit þame na-thinge,
bot as baume [gef] gud refreschynge.
þane þe erle gret ferly hade
hou of payne þai quyt ware made
þat he wend had bene rycht fel;
fore Ire þare-fore cane he ȝel
one his godis, vengeance to ta
but abad of þai wichis twa.
þe prest of þe cyte sad þane
to þe erle as a maister-man:
“gudman, wil þu me commawnde
befor þe caldron [for] to stande,
I sal sone gere distroyt be
al þare vertu, þat þu sal se.”
þe erle sad: “do furth þat dede,
& haf gret thank, gyf þu can spede!”
þane but bad he mad hym bon,
& stud anente þe caldrone,
& for to cry cane faste prese,
sayand: “mykil god hercules
& Iubiter, on ȝow I cal,
þat ar faderis of godis al,
cum now, & þat men ma se
quhat helpe ȝe wil do for me!”
& þere wordis ware sad vnese,
quhen of þe caldrone com a blese
of fellon fyre, þat hyme al
brynt in askis ferly smal.
& þane Iustine & cypriane
of þe caldrone son wes tane
als hale & fere, but schath & schorne,
as þai ware of þare modir borne.
þe fellon erle þane wes wa
þat his prest brynt wes sa,
& gef sentence agayn þaim bath,
þat þai suld tyne þe hedis rath.
fele seruandis ware redy þane
to do þe wil of þat il man,
& þare nekis strak in twa,
& marteris of þame can ma,
& gert þe bodyis be left þare
þe space of sex days ore mare
til hundis fel dispituisly
& vthyr bestis fellonly.
bot wes na best tuth wald set
one þaim, a morcel for til ete,
bot lay vn[s]kathyt sa þare-oute.
þan men com, of god had doute,
& stal þame away be þe nycht,
& with baume þare corsis dicht;
& syne to rome can þame bere,
ful reuerently hafand, til entere.
& of tyme syne in processs,
as Ihesu cristis willis wes,
of placence to þe fare cyte
ware translatyt bath scho & he,
quhare þare poudre sal lest ay
of Iugment to þe last day,
quhen þai in saule & in body
sal ryse to-gyddir suthfastly,
& of þe Iuge tak sic mede
as þai seruit for þare gud dede.
þat is þe blis þat neuir sal ende,
quhare god of his grace ws sende.
with a wil þir twa rycht sobre
þe sext kaland of octobre
for godis sak felly ware slane,
& wan hewine for a lytil payne,
vndir fel dioclisyane,
þat cristine men slew mony ane;
IIC VIIIxx of ȝeris ewyne
eftyr criste þai ware send til hewine.

XXXIII.—GEORGE.

ande sa quhen þe maste party
of þe folk distroyt war vtrely
be sic cuttis and cawelyng,
It twechit sine sa nere þe kinge,
þat had na barne outane ane,
þat wes his douchtir, suld be tane
& on þe morn to þe dragone
suld be gyffine, to sauff þe ton.
þe king þan wes sa wondir wa,
quhen with hyme it feryt sa,
þat he wes nere fra his wit;
sad sorow sa cane hyme hit.
fore scho wes ȝung, auenand, & fare,
& þare-with his aperand ayre.
for-þi þe puple prayt he
þat þai wald haf of hym pyte
& half his realme to þaim tak,
to saf his douchtir fra þat wrak,
& gold and siluir ȝit þare-til,
at mycht assith fullely þare wil,
takand sum vthire, ald ore ȝinge,
sparand til his, as in wislyng,
þat scho de nocht sa fule a dede.
bot al þe puple of þat stede
ansuert þe king mare and les
in gret fellouny and wodnes,
sayand: “sir king, wittis but were
þat oure barnis ar als dere
til ws as þi barne is to þe;
& þu þis ordinance gert be.
þare-for we lat þe wit, we wil
þat þu þi ordinance fulfil
in þi douchtir, als wele as we
has done It ȝet in al degre.
& gyf þu tarowis it to do,
but flechinge we sa þe to,
þat we sal bryne þe & al þine,
or we ma of oure barnis tyne.”
& quhen he It fand na but
forthir þare-of for to mute,
one þe morne [he] but delay
gert his douchtir wele aray
rycht costly in al degre,
þane as scho suld maryt be
with a kynge of gret estate;
& til hyre he sad þusgat,
gret sar makand, sare pyte,
sayand: “wais me, douchtir, for þe,
trewand wele þu suld haf ben
of a gret realme a mychtty quen,
& succedit to me as ayre
of al my landis, þat are fare.”
þe puple, þat saw þis gret syt,
of aucht days gef respyt,
in hope þat god suld send remede
to succoure þame in þat stede.
bot quhene þat schort tym wes gan
& succure þai saw apere nane,
þai bad þe king, gyf he wald lif,
his douchtir to þe dragone gyfe;
for it wes sayd na resone
fore hyre to tyne þam & þe ton.
þe king þane was wil of rede,
seand his douchtir suld be dede;
mare care mad neuir ony man!
ȝet brocht he furth his dochtir þan,
aparalyt in al degre
richt as scho maryte suld be,
with crowne one hed & septre in hande;
as scho sa fare wes & awenande
þat, þo deme nature had set hir cure,
scho cuth nocht amend in hyre fygure.
þe kyng þan hir in armys hynt,
& kissit hyre, ore he stynt,
& gretand sad: “douchtir dere,
I wend sum tyme but ony were
gud sonnis haf had of þe,
to solace & to confort me,
& þat þai eftre my day
suld bruk my kinryk—quhat sal I say?
& now [þu] mon gange fud to be
to ȝone dragone. wa is me!
alace! I wald blith haf bene
at þi brydale & þare haf sene
princis, dukis, & erlis sere
Cume of fare landis with blyth chere,
to Iust & dance at þi byding,
with ane þat had bene mychtty king,
& þat my palace suld haf bene
arayt with gold & siluir schene,
& with goldine clathis & perre,
þe riche[s]t þat mycht fundyne be,
& til haf had menstrely
& in all degre haf mad mery.
& þu now mon gyfine be
til a dragone! ful wa is me!
god, þat I dede had bene,
or I sa soroful sicht had sene!”
be-for his fete þan fel scho done
& askit [hym] his benyson.
þane he hyre kissit & hyre hynt
& blyssit hyre, ore he wald stynt,
sayand: “douchtir, wele ware me,
gyf I mycht here for þe dee!”
þane mycht be na langare bade,
bot furth at þe ȝet scho wes hade;
& a schepe bundine in a bande
þai be-thaucht hyr in hir hande,
& scho tuk it sobrely,
& to þe low bank went in hy,
& þar stud bydand hyre dede
forout hope of remede.
þane dacyane of wit ȝed nere,
quhen he georg sa say can here,
sais: “þu dois nocht anerly
wrang til ws, bot als wykitly
callis oure godis al dewilis now,
þat helpis al þe warld, we trou.
nocht-þane, þo þu oure godis skorne,
þu tellis ws first quhar þou wes born,
& quhat þi name is & þi ryte!”
þane ansuert sancte george tyt:
“in capadoce, treu, wes I borne,
& al myn eldris me beforne,
& cummyne is of þe best kine,
þat capados is duelland in,
& george at fontstane
Is callit, quhen I baptym had tan,
& seruis god of mast mycht;
& þo I haf lang ben knycht,
It lykis now ful wele to me
to lef al wardly dignite,
& til his byding bow alway,
þat is vndedly god verray.”
quod dacyane: “georg, þu erris
for þane befor now ware is.
nocht-þane lef ȝet and sacrify
til our gret god appollony,
þat to þi raklasnes ma spare
& þe consel forthirmare!”
sad george þane: “prowe sal we
quhethire þat it mare richtwis be
til honoure god in word & thocht,
þat al þe warld has mad of nocht,
þane appolline, þat ȝe god cal,
þat autore is of dewilis al.”
þan dacyane wes wondir wa
quhen he herde george say sa,
& gert men in a frame hym stracht
& drew hyme þat al þare macht,
as men doi[s] with parchymene,
& with a scharpe yrne ryf syne
of al his lymmis sa þe skyne
þat men his bowellis mycht se in;
& quhen on hyme wes [left] na hyd
hale his guttis for til hyde,
he gert brandis of fyre bynde,
to brule it wes lewit be-hynde,
and tak he gert salt smal
& stope in til his wondis al,
& syne gert he arsk hare ta
to frot hym with, þo he wes wa.
syne gert he men tak hym don
& led hyme don thru þe ton,
rywen and rent as he wes,
but ony thing þat mycht hym ese.
bot god, fore quham he wes sa dycht,
apperyt to hyme in gret lycht,
& confort hyme sa wondir wele
þat he of payne rocht na dele,
bot ȝarnyt erare þan þat he
to fellare payne suld put be.
syne dacyane one þe morne
gert men bryng george hym beforne,
& sad til hyme irwisly:
“wil þu nocht ȝet lef þi foly,
& honoure til oure godis gyf,
gyf þu treuys þat þou ma lif?”
þane he sad: “godis wat I nane,
til honoure, god of hewine outane,
þat sic confort has geffine me
þat I dred nocht þi payne, na þe.”
þane dacyane wes wondir wa
quhene he saw hyme ourcumyn sa;
for nere cuth he fynd na payne
quhare-to to put hyme agayne.
for-þi he gert sek besyly
a man þat delt with sorcery,
& fand ane þat crafty wes
in þat craft, callit athenas,
& sad hyme: “dere frend, I þe pray,
helpe me, gyf þat þu ma,
hou george ma ourcumyne be,
þat noþir my godis na me
dredis, for na payne he ma thole,
set I wald his hart out hole;
for sic crafte has þere cristine men,
þai dout na payne, now I ken,
þat ony man ma think ore say,
& oure godis skornis alway
& reprowis oure sacrifice,
callis ws foulis & vnwise.”
þane sais þe wich: “gyf I ne ma
ourcum his craft but delay,
I oblise me in-[to] þis stede
but ransoninge to thole dede.”
þane with wyne mengȝeit he poyson,
& mad his invocacione,
as askis þe craft delt he with-al,
his godis namys calland al,
þat þai þat dryng sa fel, suld mak
þat, quha-sa-euir of it suld take,
suld de þane furth but abade.
& quhen he had his crafte made,
þe cope to george he betacht.
& but blissing he it lacht,
& saynit it, & dranke [it] of,
of god of hewine in þe lof,
vngrewand hyme mare þan he
had dronkyne pyment & clarre.
þe wiche þane gret ferly hade
& a fere fellare poysone made
& gef george but ony mare;
& he It saynit, as he did yare,
& drank it of, as It had bene
in godis nam fare wyne & clene.
& quhen þis wikit man athanas
had considerit al þe case,
til georgis fet son he fel,
& askand hyme mercy loud can ȝel,
prayand hyme percheryte
þat he a cristine man mycht be.
& george þane but [mare] abade
hyme baptyst & als cristine made.
& [quhen] þis saw dacyane,
he gert athanas syne be tane,
&, for he wald nocht criste forsak,
gert strike his hed of in-to wrak,
& of hyme, þat wes godis fa,
a thankful man til hyme can ma.
his wikit wil ȝet to suple,
on þe morne gert he grathit be
a stule in place of Iugment,
& gert george til hyme be present,
wenand to mak hyme red for payne,
þat for gud cause to de wes fayne.
þare brocht wes a quhele made
awfule & hye, & in it hade
sharpe swerdis scherand in al syde,
hym þat nere it com behowit abyde,
quhen it turnyt rycht þan suld de.
& þar-for werkmen, þat ware sle,
nere it mad sa fast a place
quhare-in al þat Iugit was
sic ded to de, suld in put be,
sa þai mycht nocht be na way fle.
þane gert he george þare-in do,
þat with blyth wil ȝed þare-to,
prayand god þat he mycht be
martyr til hyme in sic degre.
bot fra george þare wes brocht,
þe quhele stud stil & turnyt nocht
bot brak ful smal; & he stud stil
vnuemmyt bydand godis wil,
lowand hyme þat in opyne sycht
for hyme had kyd sa mykil mycht.
I treu þare be na tong can tel
hou dacyane, þat wes cruel,
wes inflammyt of yre & tene,
quhen he þis farly has sene!
& þat tyrand, godis fa,
thocht nocht to be ourcumyne sa,
bot erare þat george suld be
ourcumyne in al degre;
for-þi gert he set a caldron
in fornace in þe myddis of þe ton
& fillit ful of led but bade,
& a fyre vndir gert be made.
quhen þe leyd brynnand wes hat,
þis george, þat mad na debat,
he gert cast in þe caldrone,
trewande he suld bryn ore drune.
bot he þe croice on hyme made,
quhen he enterit, & na dout hade,
bot wes refreschit þare but wene,
as in a bath he had bene,
be godis mycht, to quham he
schupe trew seruand for to be.
þane dacyane wist nocht hou-gat
to do; he wes sa fully mate
& ourecumyne, for al his mycht;
for-þi with wilis did he & slycht,
& to flesch hyme þat mycht nocht be
in honeste in al degre.
þar-for he sad hyme sobrely:
“dere son I pray þe teyndirly
þat þu wil behald but mare
hou oure goddis mercyful are,
þat [t]he sparyt has sa lang,
þocht þu haf done þaim gret wrang,
& ȝet mercy wil haf of þe
sa þu wil repent þe,
& ȝet to þaim mak sacrifice,
as mychtty men dois þat are wise.
& I sal ger þe honouryt be
& gyf þe landis fare and fre,
& gyf þe mare [of] warldis wine
þane euir had ony of þi kyne.
for-þi, son, lef þi self-wil
& do my consel, þat is skil,
þat I gyf þe for þi prophit
and als of wynnyng for delyt.”
þane george smyland sad: “had þou
sad me befor as þu sais now,
I had erare gyfine myn assent
To þe þane tholit torment;
bot sen þu spekis sa gudly
to me, lo, I ame al redy
in [al] thing for to do þi wil,
quhat-sa-euir þu sais me til.”
in [al] þis warld, I treu, wes nane
sa blicht a man as dacyane
quhen he hard george say þis thing,
þo he sad it bot in hethynge.
for-þi he gert bedalis ga
oure þe cyte to and fra,
byddande vndir þe payne of lyf & lyme
al man apere before hyme,
one þe morne be tyme of day
before hyme cum in gud aray.
& þai, as busume in al thing
til hyme, has done byddynge,
&, as he chargit, on þe morne,
ȝung and ald come hym beforne.
& he þat þare-for gert ma bowne
yn þe myddis of þe towne
a costlyk sette one hycht,
quhare of þame al he mycht haf sicht,
& gert scilence be mad, til he
had sad þat wes in his gule.
þane sad he: “gudmen þat are here,
god kepe ȝou al now haile & fere
& confort ȝou in begynnynge.
I tel ȝou ȝe suld ȝeld lowyng,
as ws aw wele to do be richt,
til oure godis of mykil mycht,
thru quham al men fosterit are
in riche heile & in welefare;
&, þo þat þai be sa mychty,
ws awcht luf þaim for þare mercy,
þat lichtly wil forgyf til al
þat mysdone þaim has, gret & smal,
& wil repent þaim of þare myse.
& lo, cause quhy I tel ȝou þis;
for george þat ȝe se now here,
þat tholit has paynis sere,
repentis hyme of his foly,
& but thret now wil sacrify
til oure goddis for-out howne.
& þat I wil ȝe se be done;
& we haf hicht til [hym] þat he
sal be a man of gret pouste.”
þane wes mad gret Ioy in hy
with syndry kynde of menstraly,
& þe stretis cled al hale
rycht to þe tempil principale
with clathis of syndry hew,
quhar-in a[l] ȝed with grete glew
for to se george sacryfy;
& he with þame ȝed sobrely.
in þe tempil quhen he com, rath
he knelyt on his kneis bath,
& prayt god þat þar tempil
with al þe dewilis in it fel
sa cleynely suld be distroit,
þat na thing suld remayn of It,
na ȝet of þai fals ydolis al,
þat na suld be in pudre [sm]al,
in lowing of his haly name,
& of þe payanis in-to schame,
& in ekine of cristine fay.
þane come a fyre but delay
fra of þe hewine in gud spede,
& brynt þe temple in a glede,
with þe ydolis gret & smal,
& al þe prestis þare with al
þat mad til maumentis sacrifice
eftir þare oyse in ony wyse.
ane vthyre ferly fel þat tyde.
þe selfe ȝerde opnyt wyde,
& be þe self suelyt al
þat þe fyr lewit, gret and smal.
sancte ambrose þe doctoure sais,
spekand here-of, in his preface:
“george wes þe trewest knycht
to crist ymang al þat lyf mycht,
þat vndir knychtly habit kyd
cristis professione had vnhyde,
sa þat he confort mocht
þaim for criste to payne ware brocht;
for he wes anerly þat ane
þat of criste þe treutht had tan,
þat but rednes ore terroure
of goddis son wes confessoure;
& in quham of godis grace
of treutht sik sikirnes in was,
þat þe byddyng dyspysit he
of tyrandis þat had þe pouste,
þat he dred nocht for godis sak
paynis out of nowmir to tak.
O happy & wicht wereoure
of godis name, þat for honoure
na kyne flatryng of warldy thing
mycht bow þe nocht fra hewinis king,
bot oure-come godis fais fel
& þar maumentis put to hel!”
þane, as þis tyrande dacyane
saw þe scath he had tane
of al his godis, gret and smal,
& of þe tempil þat cane fal,
& of þar prestis þat war dede
& sonkine in þat self stede,
quhat to do he wist nocht,
bot george gert til hym be brocht,
& sad: “þu of al men mast fel,
quhat wischcraft is þis, ȝe tel,
quhare-thru þu dois sic ferly thing
of ws & ouris in hurtynge?”
quod george: “sir, trewis þu nocht
þat for to gyle þe is my thocht.
bot ȝet agane cum on with me,
hou I sal sacrify and se!”
quod dacyane: “I persawe wele
þi gilry euir-ilke dele,
þat þu wald lede me yddir quhare
al oure godis be þe tynt ware,
& gere þe erde þare suely me
quik þare, in þe sammyne degre
as ware my prestis but recouere
& godis, þat þai can honoure,
with þe gret temple þu gert fal
& be brynt in powdre smal.”
sad george: “be-hald þane & se
þat þi godis mycht nocht helpe þe.”
þane dacyane nere tynt for tene,
& til his wyf gretly can mene,
þat alysandir to name had,
hou þat he wes mat & mad
& disconfyt vtrely
be george & his sorcery.
sad scho: “al wikit men, be ware!
haf I nocht sad of[t]-tyme ere
þat þu suld na wa fellon be
to cristis men in ony degre;
for þar god of sic mycht is,
& sa wondirly for þame fichtis,
þat þai ma nocht ourcumyne be?
for-þi, trewly, I tel þe
þat I to criste & his lay
sal serue trew[l]y & lef þe ay.”
& for scho sad sa, dacyane
sic sorow in his hart has tane,
& sa abaisit set al stil,
þat he cuth sa na word hyre til.
bot at þe laste with ewile chere
he sad til hyr: “myn hart dere,
allace for wa! quhat aylis þe
þat soroful tale to tel me,
of quham I wend haf mast ese,
& oure al thing suld me plese,
& now is fra me sudendly
þus falline, I ne wat quhy,
bot gyf sume cristine man had þe
ourchangit þis for to lef me.
nocht-þane repent þe sone, & I
sal haf of þe for luf mercy.”
quod scho: “þi mercy byd I nocht,
for I on god has set my thocht,
na gyfis nocht of þe a leke,
na of þi fare heicht, na of þi spek.”
þane gert he men but mare
hang hyre hey vpe be þe hare,
& dinge hir sa but pytte,
þat it wes soroful for to se.
sancte george þan, þat stud nere by,
hyr confort; & scho pytuisly
be-held hyme þat nere þan wes,
& sad: “þu licht of suthfastnes,
quhat trewis þu sal be of me
gyf I de in sic degre
vnbaptyst ȝet?” with gud chere
sancte george sad: “cystir dere,
dred nocht! for scheding of þi blud
sal be to þe baptysme gude,
quhare-thru þe cron resaf sal þou
of martirdome, I tel þe now.”
& as he hyr þis [had] talde,
þe spret vn-to god scho ȝald.
ambrose, to þis mais witnesing,
in his preface with vthir thing
sais: “þare-for of perse þe quene,
þat baptysme ȝet þan mad nocht clen,
thru wikit sentence of a fel man
tholit payne & slane wes þane,
throu mek tholyng of passione
seruit in hewine til haf þe crone
thru þe outȝetyng of hyre blude,
with martiris worthy and gude.”
syne one þe morne þis dacyane
gert george of presone be tane,
& brocht befor hyme, quhare [þat] he
set in myddis of þe cyte,
& one hyme gef sentence fellone,
for til draw hyme throu þe ton,
bundine hand & fete rycht sare,
til he til þe place cumyne ware,
quhare gylty men tholyt þe dede,
& þare þai suld hyme vnhede.
& his byding þai can fulfil.
bot quhen he come þe sad place til,
george askit þame delay,
til he mycht his prayere say.
þane þai his askine grantit rath.
þan gat he on his kneis bath,
& prayt god for his pyte,
þat quha-euir in necessite
askit his helpe, þat he suld hafe
quhat-euir it ware he suld crafe.
þane wes herd of þe hewine
a voice þat sad hyme with hey stewyn,
þat god his askine had hyme tyde
for þaim þat hyme worchy[p] dyde.
sancte george, þat þan fayne wald be
of fleschlyk pressone here mad fre,
prayt þe basar to fulfil
þe thing þat bydding wes hym til.
& [he], thocht his hart wes sare,
Vnhedit hyme but ony mare.
& þis wyse dacyane made
of george offerand to god, þat had
þar-of daynte, & til hyme sone
his mykil welth gaf in to wone,
with al þame quhamfore he wald pray,
to duel with hyme but terme day.
& dacyane, as þis wes don,
towart his palace went sone,
& hyme ourtuk son godis yre.
fore fra þe hewine þare com a fyre,
& brynt hyme in-[to] poudre smal,
& þame þat seruit hyme with al.
& þat tyrand mad sic endynge,
þo he of mychtty perce was kinge;
for he cesit nocht to verray
þe king of hewine & cristis fay.
& þis marwel, þat here tel I,
wes done in-to dyaspoly,
þe nynt kalendir of maij ewinly,
fra crist tuk flesch of oure body
twa hundre ȝeris foure score & sewine,
In lowing of god of hewine
& in ekyne of cristine fay,
þat ay, þe mare, I dare say,
þat slane war ore tholit sic sare
for god, ay grew mare & mare;
for of a martyre þe pynynge
of a thousand wes wynnynge.
as fel of sancte george, þat on a day
fourty thousand wane to þe fay,
outakine wemen & ȝung fry,
þat als-a mony ware suthfastly.
[þ]ane gude men mad with cure
for s: george fare sepulture,
& tresour als, or þai wald irke,
& til hyme mad a ryale kyrke,
& ordenyt prestis þare to be,
to serwe god in þare degre,
in honoure of þat martir lele,
þat to ful mony gyffis heile,
þat ony honoure dois hym til,
ore seruis hyme in dewot wil.
of hyme gregor þe turoyn sais
a merwale fel in his days;
þat men for deuocione,
quhare he lyis, com to þe ton,
& gat away prywely
of his relykis a party,
& passit one fast away,
til þai had þe licht of day.
& þe nycht þai cuth duel
with þat tresoure in a chapele,
& mad þame ayrly on þe morn
of þat place it [til] haf borne;
bot þai stere it ne mocht,
til þai þaim syne wmthocht
þat of his corse wes þe wil
þat a party suld byd stil.
& richt sa haf þai done,
& with þe remanent sone
paissit [þai] þare way al fre,
for george wald þare honourit be.
& sa it wes; for but [a]bade
a costlyk kyrk of hym wes mad.
ane vthyr merwale als fand I
of antyoche in þe story.
quhen cristine men tuk on hande
to recouer þe haly lande,
fra sarasenis it had tane,
[þat] come eftyre waspacyane
& tytus, his son, þat land wane,
& put þe Iowis of it þane;
& cristine men nere-hande
had recouerit þe haly lande,
outane þe ton anerly
of Ierusaleme, þat was mychtty;
þane þai schupe þaim it to ta,
& þarfor gret aparele can ma,
& stalouartly þame set
It to wyne but ony lete.
þane til a preste of lyf clere
þis Ioyful martyr can apere,
far & ȝing, in armys dicht,
in al thing as it ware a knycht,
berand þe scheld of siluir schene
of gwlis with a croice but wene,
& sad þat george wes his name,
þat come to kepe þe oste fra schame,
& als but tynsale of þare men;
“for-þi þu do as I þe kene.
þis is, quhene þai assaut sal ma,
to þe ton gere þaim with þame ta
of my relykis a porcione,
& I sal be before þame bowne
in-to þis sammyne aray, þat now
þou seis me haf, I sekyre ȝou.”
þane þe prest [has] tald þis tale
to þe ledare of þe oste al hale.
&, as he bad, sa haf þai done,
& schupe þame til assalȝe sone,
& set þare ledderis til þe wal.
Bot hardy wes nane of þame al
a ledyr [to] set to þe hicht;
sa stythly Innuch can þai ficht;
til at þe last þai saw apere
a knycht in armys, faire & clere,
with a red croice in þe schelde,
þat beknyt þaim þat hym behelde,
þat þai suld folou hym gud-spede.
& þai þat did, ful gud þat nede,
& wane þe ton with stark hande,
& al þe saraȝynns, þai fande,
but pyte þa strak done,
& thru his helpe sa wan þe ton.
now to þis martir pray I,
to god, þat is [sa] dere worthy
þat he his --- tyd hym for al
þat in ned wil one hym cal,
he til god wil for ws pray
to hewynis blis þat we cume ma.

XXXIV.—PELAGIA.

XXXV.—THADEE.

[a]nde has scho had bene þare
þe space of thre ȝeris & mare,
pannicyus þe haly man
Compacience had of hyre þane;
& to trawele wes nocht suere
til sancte antone, for til spere
gyf god of his mercy þane
for-gyfine had to þat woman
þe trespas that scho had done,
& tald It til hyme al þan sone.
sancte antone þane gert hym cal
for þat his disciplis al,
& commawndit þaim to wak þat nycht,
& pray to god at al þare mycht,
þe [thing] to þame fore til declere,
þat pannacius had in were;
þat wes: gyf god had forgyffine
to thadee hyr fellone syne.
þat nycht þai wouke besyly,
& prayt god ful increly,
to lat þaim wit quhare-for þai
schupe þaim sa besyly to pray.
þane ane, paulus to name,
þat a man wes of ful gud fame,
& als antonyus printeise,
þe worthyaste & þe maste wice,
til hewine dressit hart and sycht;
& saw þare-in a bed be-dicht,
sa costlyk & of sic beute
þat he had wondir it for to se.
& th[r]e madynnis he saw dicht,
kepand þat bede vondir brycht,
sa ferly fare that al devyse,
þat manis wit mycht neuir comprise
þat mikil beute fore to say.
& I sal tel [ȝu] quhat ware þai:
ane wes þe drede, þat al & sume
suld hafe, of payne þat is to cum,
þat drew hyre fra hyre mykil Il.
þe toþir madyne wes þar-til,
þe schame of syne scho had done,
þat purchesit hyr pardone alson.
& þe thryd cystir þane wes,
þe parfite luf of suthfastnes,
þat brocht þis thadee ful ewyn
one-to þe mykil blis of hewyn.
þane paulyne askit þai madynis brycht
gyf þat bede and þat grace wes dycht
for his maister, antoyne þe ald.
& a voice ansuere ȝald
of god: “antoyne aw it nocht,
bot for thadee It is wrocht.”
one þe morne paulyn þis tald
til his maister, antoyne þe ald,
& to pannicius he wane
& tald hyme al þis tale þan.
& he but mare glad & blyth
held on hame and rycht suyth,
& sped hyme son to þe sel,
quhare þat thadee þan can duel,
& brak þe dure, & sad: “cum oute,
for þu of payne sal haf na dout,
for god hale has forgyfine þe
þi synnis and iniquite.”
ȝet prayt scho þat scho
mycht byd & mare pennance do;
bot he wald nocht thole It be sua,
bot with blith hart hir out can ta.
þane sad scho befor þame al:
“In to witnes god I cal,
þat, sene I come in þis place here,
al my synnis ful and sere,
I band as it a byrne had ben,
& layd it ay before myn ene,
& gret for þame Ithandly,
& thocht one þame ful increly,
considerande ay hou I had bene
lang tyme sinful and vnclene,
& hou mony þat I tynte
thru my ful syne, ore I stynt.”
þe abbot þane til hyre can say:
“douchtir, trew þis wele þu ma,
þat for [þe] pennance is It nocht
þat þu with sa gud wil has wrocht
þat god has forgyffine þi syne,
bot fore þe doute [þat] þu was in,
haffand ay drede hou þu mycht
apere before his awful sycht.”
þane tuk scho lef, & passit away.
& eftir þat þe fyftene day
to god of hewine scho ȝald þe gaste,
þat it resawit in til haste,
& brocht hyre to þat bede sa brycht,
þat, I tald ȝow, fore hir wes dycht,
quhare scho but end sal be
in gret Ioy and angel gle;
& þare scho helpe ws to wine
but det, schame, & dedly syne.

XXXVI.—IOH[A]N[E]S BAPTISTA.

[I] fynd wrytine þat rochary,
a michty king of lumberdy,
wes grawine, quhen he wes ded,
of sebaste in til a stede
of þis sancte Iohnne a kirk besyd,
of gret cost & mykil pryde,
quhare eftirwart for cowaitise
a man, vnhappy & wnwyse,
dalf vpe his graf be nichtirtale,
& bar away þat gud al hale.
to quham sancte Iohnn apperit son,
& sad hyme: “for þat þu has don
til hyme sa gret Iniquite
to ȝeme þat lypnit wes to me,
in my kirk sal þou neuir entre haf,
þi lif hale, þo þat my[ch]t safe.”
& sa fel eftir in-to ded;
for þat man, quhen he had maste nede,
þat kirk neuire entre mocht,
&, gyf he fandit, son hyme thocht
þat a wicht man fast can hym ta
be þe throt & gert bakwart ga;
& þo he profit þis fele cyse,
ȝet entre he ne mycht onywise.
& þis sancte Iohnne rewengit wes
of hyme þat done had sic trespas.
Now of a merwale tel wil we,
þat tyd beȝond þe gret se,
in þe prowince of the sare,
quhar-to þe cayne is tributare,
quhare men makis drink of spycery—
of betone þare is gret copy.
& sum cristine þare wonnyne mais,
þat þar propire kirkis hase.
thre Iorne lang is þat cunctre,
quhare-in [is] smarag þe cyte.
smarag is a faire ton
& chefe of þe regione
& haldis of þe caynis cusing.
þare wonnis cristine & saraȝine.
in þat cite, als I herd tel,
of sancte Iohnne a merwal fel.
þe caynis bruthire cygaty,
þat aucht þat lordschipe halely,
with cristine wes enducyt sa,
þat he baptysme can haly ta.
thru fauoure of þat gud king þen
a kirk biggit þe cristine men
in honoure of sancte Iohnn þe baptist.
& it wes bigit with sic liste,
þat in myddis wes a pillare,
þat þe charge of þe kirk suld bere,
& wes na pillare bot þat ane.
þe saraȝanis had a stane, [OMITTED]
& for þe cristine þai haitit ay;
bot sa gretly þe kink dred þai,
þat þai til þat durst na thing do.
his son syne succedit hyme to,
bot nocht in cristine fay. for-þi
þai saraȝanis þare chasit in hy
to distrenȝe þe cristine men ilkane,
to restore þam agane þare stane.
þane profferit þai þe price & mare
for, gif it a-way tane ware,
þe pillar of force suld fal,
& sa eftir þe kirk al.
bot nedly wald þai hafe þe stane.
quhene cristine saw remed wes nan,
to sancte Iohne baptist can þai pray
deuotly. & quhen þe day
wes cumyne to resafe þe stane,
þe saraȝenis semlit ilkane,
treuand to se þe hale kirk fal,
fra þe stane remowit ware al.
bot þe pillar rase thre hand brad It fra,
thru goddis grace, til awai þa ta
þe stane fra þe ground away,
& hingis sa [on]-to þis day.
men ma se wele be þis ferly
þat þe baptist is ful mychty
with god, þat sic a wondir dide
for hyme, wele knawine & kide.
& als sancte gregor sais ws,
a man quhil, callit sanctulus,
a dekine in exile tuk
fra lumbardis, as sais þe buk,
on condicione, gif þe dekine
eschapit ony way fra hyne
thru miskepyng ore subtilite,
þat gud man for hym ded suld be.
ȝet þan, þo [þis] sanctulus
had mad his condicion þus,
he gert þe dekine fra hym fle,
þat his lif sa sawit mycht be.
& þere lumbardis, þat wald haf had
þe dekine & slane but bad,
to sanctulus come in hy,
& hyme askit ful angrely
þe dekine þat to kepe tuk he,
as connand wes, ore ellis ded be.
& he mekly sad þame til:
“ȝe ma do with me quhat ȝe wil;
for þe dekine quham of ȝe say,
fra me quyt is passit away.”
þane sad þai, he suld fulfil
þe condic[i]on he mad hym til.
þe worthi man þai band þan son,
& gert a basare cum but hone,
þat wes stark & likly als
but let to strik in twa his als.
& he mekly knelit done,
makand to god his oracione.
þan þe basare hewit on hicht
his hand, to strik, gif he mycht.
& sanctulus, þat wes hery,
to sancte Iohnne baptist can cry:
“[I]hon, hald his hand [þat] wald me sla!”
& fra he had sad sua,
his harme, þat strekit [wes] on hicht
to strik, he ne mocht for al his mycht
bryng done, bot [it] stud strekit þare
a hyldry steng as it ware.
þane had þe basare mekil wa,
quhen he saw hyme-self sted sa,
& to sancte Iohne a wou mad þare,
gif he wald ger hyme of his care,
þat he suld neuir stryk cristine man.
& sanctulus fore hyme rycht þane
to sancte Iohnne prayere mad
for hyme; & he gat heile but bade,
& ȝald to god þare-of lowing
& to sancte Iohnne for his helpyng.
In story as sygilbertus,
ymang al vthire tellis ws,
of a wedow, þat had ȝarnyng
of þis sancte Iohnne to haf sum thing,
at as a relik scho mycht haf.
& besyly þis can scho crafe
with prayere gret & fastinge,
with almus ded & wakyng.
& quhen scho lang sic lyf had lede,
& þare-in [had] nathing spede,
scho wes anoyt in gret manere,
þat god wald nocht hire prayere here.
þar-for a wou to god scho mad,
in traste hope scho in hyme hade,
þat þare suld nothir met na drink
fra þine in-[to] hire body sinke,
til he had gefin hire sum thing
of þat scho mad hyme askin[g]e.
& as scho lay sa in þe kirke
at hire prayere, for fastine Irke,
a-pon þe autere scho saw ly
as a thoume-bane propirly,
þat quhytare wes þan ony snaw;
& in sprit cane wele knaw,
þat it of sancte Iohne wes a bane.
& þare-of blith scho had it tane,
& of sancte Iohnne in-to lowynge
scho gert in haste þe bellis rynge.
& thre bischopis in þat sithtware
war of chance assemblit þare;
of quhame ilkane a part but bade
þar-of with þame þocht til haf had.
& as þai mad þame to þe partinge,
þare fel þar-of a ferly thing;
for one þe clene clath, quhare it lay,
þar sprang of it but delay
thre droppis of blud fare & gret.
& ilke bischope ane can gete,
& ware Ioyful & held þare way,
& þe bane lyand stil levit þai.
& þat þe wedou gat suyth,
& passit hir way þare-with ful [b]lith,
as vittand wele it wes a bane
of þe baptiste scho had tane.
& it is stedit þar-in as Iowel
in fyne gold and cristel.
& myraclis mony wrocht are þar,
thru mycht of hyme þat [þat] bane bare;
þe quhilk vs purchase grace, þat we
ma cum til hewine as did he.
for þis herrod, of quham I spak,
wes nocht to lofe bot al to lake
for his gret iniquite;
ȝet ware herodis ma þan he,
þat be get cane til hym succede
be Il thewis & Il dede.
& þai ware of gret fame al thre,
þo it ware nocht thru dignite,
bot erare fore dedis Il,
þat þai did aganis skil.
þe first of þame to nam can ta
of ascolonyca alsua,
& Ihesu in his tyme wes borne,
þat sawit ws al þat ware forlorne;
& his son herod antipas,
quham thru þe baptist slan wes;
& þe thred herrod had alsua
til his suornome agrippa,
þat slew sancte Iames for his preching,
& petre gert in presone thring.
Ascolonica necat pueros, antipa Iohannem,
Agrippa Iacobum, claudens in carcere petrum.
of þe twa last spek me ne list,
bot I wil say mare of þe firste.
antipater of ydumy,
as wrytine is in þe story,
þe kingis cusing to wif he tuke
of arabi, as sais þe buke,
& with hir gat a son, þat he
in birth gert herrod callit be.
& þat barne to name cane ta
sone eftir ascolonica.
quham fortone helpit sa þat he
gat hale þe kinrik of Iude
of august, þat wes e[m]peroure,
to hald of hyme with honoure.
& fra þine ware na kingis ma
of Iowis kine in-[to] Iuda.
& þis herrod sex sonnis gat;
þe eldast antipater hat,
alysander syne wes his bruþir,
& aristotolus ane wthir,
archelauce þe ferd wes,
& þe fyft, herot antipas,
& philpe, þe ȝungest but were
of þir brethir we rekine here.
of þir barnis herrod send twa
to rome, to lere; & ane of þa
wes alisander, & þe todyre,
aristotolus, his bruthire.
& with a Iow he gat þir twa,
þat he to wif befor can ta.
& quhen þir twa at rome had bene,
& leryt mykil gud & sene,
þai come agane in þar cunctre,
þar faddir & þare kine to se.
& þis alisander can so lere,
þat he wes a gud mutere,
& held oft disputacione
of þe rewme for þe successione
with his fadir, because þat he
sad antipater are suld be.
bot ȝet thocht þai brethir twa,
þat þai suld bath befor hym ga.
for-[þi] þare fadir þai thocht to sla.
& quhen he wist it wes sa,
he banyst þam of þe land.
& þai þat tuk Il on hande,
to rome went to þe emperoure,
to plenȝe apone þare fadir Iniure,
thinkand to prowe be resone
þat þai suld haf successione.
in þe meyne-tyme com kingis th[r]e,
þat magos sum-tyme cal we,
to Ierusalem to spere quhare
wes he, þat borne [wes] litil ayre
king of Iowis, “for his sterne we
has sene in þe est al thre.”
bot here-of wil I tel nomare,
fore men ma fynd it ellis quhare,
in a buk I mad of þe birth
of Ihesu criste, þat grant ws gyrth.
& herot thocht hyme Il begelt,
quhen þer thre kingis fra hym duelt,
& thocht al barnis [for] to sla,
sa þat criste mycht nocht eschape hym fra,
of twa ȝere elde & withine,
fellonly, ore he wald blyne.
& [þarfor] þat Il wikit man
in sum part wes punyste þan;
for his son, þat to fostir wes
ymang wthir, slane wes percace.
& þat wes godis richtwisnes
of hyme þat mad sa fele bernles;
for he gert sla in þat lande
a hundir & fourty thousande
& foure thousand þare-til,
þat haly nowmir to fulfil,
þat sched þare blud for cristis sak.
quhat ferly þat he tuk wrak?
þis sanderis syne & aristotil,
his sonnis, þat ware rycht noble,
at hame ware cumyne, suspec had he
þat þai for his iniquite
suld sla hyme, gyf þai had mycht;
& sa to do ma fal þai hicht.
& his barboure tald hym til,
gyf he wald haf don þer wil,
he had schorne his hals in twa,
to schaf þat quhen he suld ga,
þar-for bath gold & fe
hechtand hyme in-to plente;
&, þat sanderis, his son, had sad
þat in ald men suld nocht be lad
hope of helpe na of rewarde,
as in ȝung men þat are forthirwarde.
& as þare fadir þis can here,
& þar-of had consalis sere,
he gert tak þame fra his presence
& sla þame bath, but audience.
& antipater ordenit he
of his kinrik ayre to be.
& next hyme herot antypa
ordenit [he] þat reume suld ta;
& next hym herod agrippane
ordenit [he] to succed þane.
þane wes antypater wa,
þat his fadir sic a talȝe can ma;
þar-for he thocht of Iwil rede
his fadir for to do to dede;
& for þat cause gert poysone ma,
his fadir cowartly for to sla.
bot fore þar his don nathing,
as þe ewangel makis witnesing,
þane It sal be cuth & kyde,
& be curse of tyme vnhyd,
of antipater it fel sa,
þat thocht his fadir for to sla;
for it wes tald his fadir son,
þat in preson gert hyme be done,
& eftyr gert hyme slane be,
as, þat redis þis, sal se.
& eftir, quhen cesare herde
hou herrod with his sonnis ferde,
[he] sad: “I chese me erare now
for to be herodis sow
þan for to be his [son], for he
sa demanis þaim, as kene we,
þo he in sic flesch had delyte,
because þat he is proselit;”
þat is til vndirstand, þu treu,
of a payane cumyne a Iow.
syne, quhen herod had sewinty
ȝeris of elde al fullely,
he fel in [-to a] hard seknes,
þat sume dewil lyk a feuir wes,
& þar-to sic a sca had he,
þat of his body nocht wes fre,
& þar-with had he hard torment,
& of his aynd impediment.
þan come diuerse medicinaris nere,
for wynninge of his stat to spere,
þat in [a] bath of oyle hyme laid,
for þat wes halesum, as þai sad.
bot þar-of gat he ne remede,
bot wes þane son nere-hand dede.
þar-for his tormentouris send he
one al syd in-to Iude,
& gert bryng hyme þe ȝungeste
of þat land & þe nobileste,
& gert þame in presone be done,
& til his cister sad he sone,
þat had to name salome:
“I wat weile þe Iowis sal be
ful blith; bot þane I ma ȝete
mak mony ane ful sare to grete,
& hafe als faire exequies
as ony þat before me wes.
sa treuly þu hicht me til
my byding þat þu sal fulfil;
þis is, quhene I ȝelde þe gaste,
þu sal gere sla al þai in haste,
þat in presone I gert be done.
sa sal Iuda haf sorow sowne.
oþire in my lyfe ore in my dede,
þai sal hafe sorou but remede.”
þis tyrand had in custume ay
eftire his mete Ilke day,
to payre ane apil & til eete;
& in hand a knyfe can gete;
bot fel [host] hyme trawalit sa,
þat he had wil hyme-self to sla,
& lukit a-bout, þat na mane
ware nere by for to lete hym þane,
& hewit vpe þane his knyfe
til hafe refte his awne lyfe.
& þane his sistire son in hy,
þat he wiste nocht wes nere by,
& þe knyfe gat & his arme,
& lettit hyme; bot þat wes harme.
þane in þe hal rase sodenely,
as he dede had bene, gret cry.
þane antipater, quhare he sete,
in presone, sone herd þat;
&, wenand his fadir ded ware,
Cryit one þe gyalare,
& hicht til hyme go[l]d & fe,
Wald he hyme louse & mak hym fre.
& quhene his fadir herd had
þat his sone sic Ioy þane mad,
he gert his tormentouris furth ga,
& but mare he gert hym ga sla,
& archelaum his ayre made;
& dais fyfe atoure þat, bade
& tholit þane þe double deide
of lif & saule, but remede.
& þane his cistire salome
al his pressoneris mad fre,
þat he sa fayne wald [slane] haf bene,
to do þe Iowis payne & tene.
Remegius ȝet, [þat] þis tale
tellis in his originale,
mad of þe ewangel of mathy,
sais þat herod vnhappy,
with a knyf, hyme-self bare
ane apil eftere met to payre,
sleu hyme-self; & salome,
as befor bydine had he,
gert al þe Iowis sla but hone,
þat he in presone gert be done,
for til supple þe wikitnes,
þat in hire bruthir alway wes,
to gere men wit þat he wes wike
in al degre [bath] dede & quyke;
fore in hyme wes na mending,
bot [he] til hel ȝed but endynge,
quhare he sal de & neuir be dede,
for-out ransone & remede.

XXXVII.—VINCENCIUS.

XXXVIII.—ADRIAN.

XXXIX.—COSME & DAMYANE.

XL.—NINIAN.

This sanct niniane, I of say,
þat quyk and ded blissit wes ay,
in-to mekil bretane wes borne,
& his gud elderis hyme beforne,
þat mychty war, & of gret kyne,
& mykil had of warldis wyne.
& fra þis cheld borne wes,
þat ay wes ful of godis grace,
he wes howine in fontstane,
& callit wes Niniane.
þe cud-clath, þat he þare laucht,
he kepit clene at [al] his macht,
& before goddis sone present It
of al dedly syne but smyt.
& þe gyfte of þe haly gaste,
þat he tuk þare, wes nocht in waste;
for he hyme kepyt sa fra syne,
þat It wonnyt hyme ay withine.
& as he growine wes in eld
rypare, & hyme-selfe mycht weld,
sa grew he in-to vertu ay,
forberand wantones & play,
& sobre wes in drynk & met,
þo he it welfully mycht get;
& wele entendand til his lare
he wes al tyme, late & are.
for he beguth firste to lere
ore he of eld had fyfe ȝere,
hou he suld hyme-selfe led,
& hou god he suld dred,
& fadire & modire, hou þat he
suld honoure in al degre.
syne he leyrit to red & syng,
& of vthire vndirstanding;
for þe maister he had þane,
wes wer & wise & vertuise mane.
& he, þat able wes & ȝyng,
folouyt his mastere in althing,
& consauit richt sutely
quhat-euir he taucht in til hy,
& in his hart wele held It—
sic retentywe he had of wit—
hafand hyme in sic degre,
þat his ourmen be sutelte
& les þane hyme be gret meknes
he oure-come; & neuire-þe-les
he kepyt ay his innocens
of al mane but offence.
& growand sa ay he was
in vertuse lyfe & in gudnes.
& fore he had dout to fal,
til abstinence he gef hym al,
& held his fles vndirloute,
for dred it suld be thra & stout
agane þe sawle, & gere hym syne,
or let hyme hewinly med to wyn.
al foule delyt he fled for-þi,
& hyme abondonit ythanly
in prayere, fastyng, & in wake,
hyme-selfe seruand to god to mak.
with wemene wald he nocht conuerse,
na of na man Il reherse,
bot set hyme halely to lere
his dedis thankfully to stere.
& gud & able god hyme mad
al gud to lere but abad,
sa þat he cuth in lytil space
science Inuch thru godis grace.
& science hals of haly kirke
he lerit als, ore he wald Irke.
& here-of suld nane ferly,
gyfe he consider it suthfastly,
þat, quhare þe haly gaste wil be
maistere, but difficulte
he ma gere man consawe althing
but besynes ore trawaling;
lyk as of salamone we red,
þat wes þe viseste man but dred,
& in þe space bot of a nycht
of al his wysdome gat þe slycht,
be theching of þe haly gast,
þat is beste maister in til haste;
for to god, we ma se,
ma na thing inpossible be.
& þo he ȝung wes, hyme thocht
þat medful wes quha sa mocht,
& cuth als saw goddis sede
in hartis þat þare-of had nede.
& to wyne godis corne,
þar-of mykil wes nere lorne
for faute of wynnare, þat cuth preche
þe puple treuly & þame teche,
he vmthocht [hym] he wald luke
gyf he in sic corne cuth set huke.
he thocht he wald pas forthyrmare
& be parfite in-to sic lare,
fore scorne it ware gret to se
þe thechure suld vnkennand be.
þare-for his kyne & his cunctre
he levit, & passit oure þe se,
& dressit hyme rome to seke,
gyf he mycht þare his science eke,
& for to sek sanctis sere,
þat plentusly in þat place were,
fore til eke his deuocione,
& get þe papis benysone.
þane has he hyme redy mad.
he tuk leif, & furth he glad,
at his frendis & knawine men,
þat ware til hyme tendir þene.
&, helpand god, syne come he
but letting sone oure þe se,
& come to rome in lytil space,
hale & sownd be godis grace,
& þe papis presence wane,
þat wyse wes & haly mane,
þat hyme resawit with gud chere,
& teyndirly at hyme cane spere
þe cause quhy yddir come he,
& quhyne he wes, & of quhat cunctre.
& til al askine sone he mad
ansuere wisly but abade.
þe pape þane, his deuocione
seand, gef hyme his benysone,
&, wele approwand his gud wil,
syndry maisteris betacht hym til,
to mak hyme parfyte in þat lare
þat causit hyme to cume þare.
þane trawalit he besyli,
til he in knavlege of clergy,
þat nedful wes, [wes] wise Inuch,
in goddis ȝard to set plucht,
to schau his seiyde & wine his corne
& helpe weile It ware nocht lorne.
& quhene þar twa ȝere ore thre
he sped wele in sic degre,
& wes weile tacht gannandly,
& haile but smyt of his body,
wyse in thocht, in consel hale,
forseand in þat suld awale,
discret in work & word with-al,
al þat kneu hym cuth hym cal.
sa wane he richt gret renone
til he wes duellande in þat ton.
for-þi þe pape, þare-of herd say
hou he grew in uertuse ay,
callit hyme & sad: “sone dere,
for þi gret uertu þat I here,
& þe faire & þe gret renone
þou has of al men of þis ton,
I wyl þu mad bischope be
& hird, to kepe goddis fe;
for, sene I wat þu ma awale,
I wil þu tak þe þat trawele,
sa þat þe science lent to þe
be nocht tynt na smoryt in þe.”
& sayand þis, he can hym ma
bischope with his handis twa,
& al þe doctrine can hyme lere,
þat til a bischope suld affere,
& with relykis cane hym releife;
syne blissit hyme & gef hym lefe.
& he þane went hamwarte,
for to trawale in goddis ȝarde.
in þe meyne-tyme gret word ran
of sancte martyne, þe haly man,
þat as a starne clerly schane
in gud dedis mony ane.
sancte niniane þarfor thocht þat he
in his gat hame-wart wald hym se,
& knaw his conuersacione,
for to get his benysone.
& has he thocht, sa he dide.
bot þat wes nocht fra martyne hid;
for he wiste throw þe hali gast
þat sancte niniane suld cum in hast,
& had ȝarnyng hyme to se
& a-quynte al with hyme be;
for he wyst weil he wes þane
a bischope and a haly mane,
& wiste weile mony he suld wyne
fra errure & fra dedly syne.
þar-for, as þai semblit ware,
betwene þame wes rycht hamely faire.
twa dais ore thre he duelt þare,
& hamewarte syne schupe hym to fare;
& for sanct niniane wald nocht byd,
þai lacht þare lewe on ilke syd.
bot sancte niniane, ore he can ga,
askit at martyne masonis twa,
þat he hyme granttit but delay.
þane niniane went on his way,
&, god sterand, in bretan com þane,
& his frendis fand wele farand,
þat of his come wes rycht fayne,
& hou he had faryne cane frayne.
þane wes gret confluence
of folk, þat come till his presens,
& blissit hyme in-to þe name
of god, þat hyme send hame.
& he þane, as gud tele-man,
to wirk in goddis ȝard begane.
&, þare he saw sawyne il seide,
to distroy it he cane hyme spede,
&, gyf it gadderit wes il,
he skalit it, ore it suld spil,
& besyly cane hyme haste
þat Il begyt wes, to waste.
þane eftyre, quhen he mad [had] playne
godis feilde þus with payne,
to preche þane he can hyme spede,
& eraste quhare he schaw maste nede,
& besyly set his cure
to clenge thochtis of erroure,
& put a-way sa mystrouth al,
þat he mycht trastly byg his wal
of rycht treutht, þat suld stand faste,
& thole na errour don It caste.
& as he techit but drede,
he did hyme-self in worde & deide,
& ay confermyt his prechyng
be wondire werkis þe schawine;
& sa be clene lyf & gud worde
made feil wordy goddis burde,
& many fra þe feynd cane fang,
þat in his seruice had duelt lang.
þarfor, gudmen, be-hald & se
hou blissit & haly wes he,
þat of god had sa gret grace,
þat ay folouyt þus his trace!
for-þi ensampil ma be tane
of þis haly man, sanct niniane,
suerdome & Idilnes forto fle,
& agane al wice wicht to be;
& prese we for to folou hyme,
þat feile þis gert leif þare syne.
& his clething scheu he was meke,
& debonar [wes] in his speke,
deuote als in oracione,
& ful ithand in lessone,
In Iugment leile and stable,
& in thewis honorabil,
large in almus & dowyng
& stedfaste in his hafyng,
in al office of preste able.
he wes al tyme honorabil.
of sic compacience he wes eke
þat with þame gretand he wald gret,
& with blyth blyth he wes,
gyf þare blythnes wes in gudnes;
& in vertuise he wes notable
& in al gudnes ful lowable.
[A]nd quhene he had traualit lang,
as I sad before, prechand,
In schenschype of þe fend of hel,
he chosit a place, þare-in to duel,
be þe se-syd in galoway,
þat quhithorne to nam had ay.
& he gert mak in lytil tyme
a kirk faire of stane & lyme;
& before it wes nane
kirk in þe Ile of bretane.
& as þe kyrk syne wes mad,
he halouyt it but abad
of sancte martyne in þe lowyng,
þar-in to bath red & syng,
be þe haly gaste, þat þan ded wes
& quyt þe deit of alkine flesche,
& clommyne wes to þe hycht of hewyn,
þar wit[h] angelis to be ewine.
[I]n þat cunctre duelt þare þane
a king, þat wes a fellone man
& contrare to s: Niniane preching,
& for his lare wald do na thing,
bot erare contrare wes hyme to,
for ocht þat he cuth sa ore do;
& mare cruel worde he sene,
þane befortyme he had bene,
þat god in his hede sic seknes sende,
þat til de richt sone he wend.
& with þat he tynt þe sicht
of þe day, ware it neuir sa lycht.
þane tyd in his hart [þe] thocht, he
þare-of na way wariste mycht be
bot It ware throu hym þat he ay
schupe hyme of pryd to verray.
þane askit he hyme fore godis sake,
þo he til hyme Il cause can make,
til rew one hyme & pardone gyfe,
fore he disparit wes to life.
þane he, þat mercyful wes ay,
as he þe messagis þis herd say,
& come one sone mekilly
quhare þis catife king can ly,
& hely sad: “god be here-in,
þat is distrowre of al syne.”
þane went he to þe sek but bad,
& on his hede & his ene mad
þe takine of þe croice werray;
& þe seke þane but delay
als gud heile [had] of hede & ewene
as he neuire sek had bene;
& fore he sa his hele wane,
lofand god become gud mane.
[W]ith a lord of þe sammyn lande
a maydine þare wes duellande,
þat wanttit nocht of bewte,
þat suld in ony woman be;
& with þe sammyne lord duelt a man,
þat kepare of his horse wes þane,
& welth had and Idilnes,
þat drew hyme in-to wantones.
for-þi ofte wald he assay
with þat maydine for to play
sa lang, þat he wan hire wil
al his ȝarnyng to fulfil.
& fra þai had þare luste done,
scho wox gret, and alsone
seand scho mycht consele nomare,
of hir syn þane had scho care.
þane franit hire lorde son
quha sic thing had with hir done.
& scho til hire lorde cane say,
þe parise preste by hire lay.
þane þe lorde, þat wes angry,
to þe bischope þis tald in hy.
bot þe bischope wist in haste,
be schewing of þe haly gaste,
þat innocent þe prest wes;
ȝet wes he noyt neuire-þe-les
þat haly kirk suld sclaunderit be
or prestede in sic degre.
þane gert he prest & barne but delay
bryng til hyme þe ewine way.
as þai come til his presence,
he gert þe puple kepe scilence,
& to þe woman can he say:
“þis is þe prest þat by þe lay
& gat þis barne?” scho sad: “ȝa,”
& þe ȝung barne can ta
& kest It to þe prest rycht þare,
before al þat gadderit ware.
& þe bischope, þat wiste hale
þe falset of þe wifis tale,
sad to þe barne: “I byd þe now
in þe name of oure lord Ihesu,
goddis son, þat deit on tre,
quha is þi faddir, þu tel me!”
& lo, gret ferly for to say,
þe barne, þat borne wes þat day,
in manis voice ansuert þane,
& þe hand strekit to þe man,
sayand: “ȝone my faddir is,
þat with my modir did þis mys,
& ȝone prest sakles is but wen,
& is of gud lif & clene.”
& as þis wes tald þame til,
as kind requirit, þe barne held stil.
& al, þat þis ferly had sene
or herd, lowit god be-dene,
& thankit hyme as þare lorde,
þat þame had lent sa gud a hird.
þarfor, sanct niniane, I þe pray
þu succure vs & helpe ws ay,
þat we bruk in hewyn þe blise,
quhare we vat vele þu nov is.
[C]orne þane, I vndirstande,
wes nocht so plentuss in lande
as It is now, bot one bestiale
þe commonnis nere lifit hale;
for, quhare now þe corne is beste,
þat tyme wes [bot] wilde foreste.
sa tyd þat Niniane a tym wente
to se his catel in entente,
& to þe lug se quhat þai
had, & how þai lay,
& to gyf þame his blissinge,
to safe þame fra al Il thinge;
& ȝed a-boute þame in-virone
& gef þame goddis benysone.
& with þe stafe, in hand he had,
a circle a-bout þaim he mad,
& bad his hirdis þat his fe
þat nycht in þe circle suld be.
þan to þe catel þai tuk les kepe.
for-þi, as al men war on slepe,
thefis, þat cuth be-hald
þat þe catele ware nocht in fald,
in þe circle þane but dout
ȝed, for to steile þe catel owte.
bot a bule fers & fel,
as kepare of þe catel,
one þe maister thef ruschit
as brane woud, & til erde duschit,
& in þe wame racht hym sic a rout,
til al his guttis schot oute,
& sone one hyme ȝed with fete.
& þat taknis lestis ȝete,
sene in a stane in þat [ilk] stede,
quhare þe maister thefe wes dede.
& al þai schrawis euire-ilkane,
þat ware in þat circle gane,
wex woud, & mocht nocht gange away,
& bad þare til þe morne-day.
þare þe bischope fand þaim in þat stede,
& ymang þaim þe maister thef dede
vndir þare fete, quhare þai stude,
& al his feris brawne woude.
þane come feil þare-on to gowe,
of his ferly & gef god lowe.
bot þe byschape, þat pyte had,
sa prayt for þaim but a-bade,
þat he þat deit sa wrechitly
wes resuscit in til hy,
& to þame þat woud ware gane,
he purchasit wit, ore he fane.
þane askit þai hym forgiffnes,
& he ful mekly can þaim bles.
sic warkis did sancte Niniane here,
& mony vthire als and sere.
[O]fe þe ferlys þis is ane
þat god wrocht firste for s: Ninian,
fra þis lyfe fra he can wend,
lestandly with god to lend.
þar duelt a man in þat cunctre,
þat wes of bot sympil degre,
& one his wyf a knafe child gat,
þat fadire & modyre gert sare gret;
for thru it haldine wes þar name
in gret lak and in schame,
& to þe puple in vondrynge—
sa wes it borne a bys[n]yng—
& in gret horrour but wene
til al þat euire It had sene.
for a-gane kynd wes it sa,
þat bakwart stud heile & ta.
& þe face als to þe bake
It had, þat gretly wes to lake.
& þe hend part þare neste
of þe hed ves fast to þe breste.
handis & harmis to þe kne
var drawine as al ane suld be.
& vtrely wes it but profyte—
I vat nocht gyf nature had þe wit.
Nocht-þane lang tyme þai It fede,
for þai hyme gat in lachful bede,
& tretyt weile þat vnthrifte,
til eld had it brocht fra schrifte.
& quhen modir & fadire bath
had sorouyt til þe lyf þai lath,
þai held þame stil, þo þai wa ware,
nedly for þai mycht nomare.
& at þe laste ran þame to thocht
þat gret vondire sancte Niniane wrocht
of goddis grace, to quhom he
had bene seruand in al degre.
& in traste of his mykil mycht,
þai tuk vpe þat for-worthine wycht,
& brocht [it], quhar sancte Niniane lay,
& It done laid & cane say:
“sanct Niniane, tak þis gyfte,
ve þe bryng, a thing but thrifte;
þe quhethire, þo it lathly be,
inpossible is nocht to þe
for to recouer it, gyf þu wil;
þarfor we bryng [it] her þe til,
othir be þe to hafe remede
of þis mysfigur, or be dede.
þar-for profe þi mykil mycht
for goddis sak in þis wicht!”
& as þis done wes, in hart sare
þe bysnyne thing þai lefit þare,
& went agane to þare place,
gretand and sayand, “alace!”
[N]ow wil ve her a ferly tel
þat of s: Ninian þan befel.
for, as cumyn ves þe mydnycht,
þar apperit to þat ful wycht
a man schenand brycht & cler,
as dois þe sone þat ve se here,
& arayt in althing
as bischope þat mes suld syng;
& with his hand twechit lychtly
his hed & bad [hym] ryse in hy
& lofing til his savor ȝeld,
& one his vay þan furth helde.
þat bysnyne [thing] to þis tuk kepe,
& vaknit as of hewy slepe,
& raxit hyme, & recouerit wele
oyse of lymmys ilke deile;
as kynd wald it suld be,
sa wes he mad in al degre.
þane passit he furth on hame,
to þame þat of hym had sic scham;
& þane had þai gret Ioy & lykin[g]e,
& lofit deuotely hevynnis king,
& to þe abbay rane but mare,
& it tald til al þai fand þare
hou sanct Niniane had don þat thing.
þan gert þai þe bellis rynge,
& gert þis thing knawine be
til al þat ware in þe cunctre,
& gert it þare be put in wryt,
þat men suld lang-tym think on It.
I treu, þare lifis nane
þat al cane say of sancte Ninian,
þat wes sa mek a confessoure
& of vicis persecutore,
lofare of vertu & dyspysare
of þe warld, of hewine ȝarnar.
& for he studit here to be
pouer, in hewine rike is he.
ay wes he besy for sawle-heile
in gret trawale as seruand leile.
& for he sa weile [her] wrocht,
of hyme god forȝetful is nocht,
bot his relykis menskis ay,
quhare þai ar fe[r]terit in galouay.
þe quhilk fertir men beris ay
of witsone owke þe twysday,
vith festiuale processione,
til a chepal be-owt þe ton,
nere þe quartare of a myl,
&, as It þare has ben a quhile,
hame to þe abbay þai it bere
vith gret solempnyte & fere.
bot one It lais na man hand,
bot þe maste vorthi of þe land,
þat be lyne of successione,
beris it in processione.
& þat tyme for þe pardone gret
mony pressis þare it to get.
þat pardone is lestand ay
fra þe for-sad twysday
of sanct Johnne þe baptist to þe birth,
bath vith solempnite & mirth.
for-þi þat tyme ilke ȝere
men cumis of landis sere,
of france, of Ingland, & of spanȝe,
of þe pardone for be-wanȝe,
& of al landis þis halfe proyse
men cumis þare, of commone oyse,
of valis & Irland eke.
þar hyddir men wil seke,
in sic nowmir, I tak one hande,
þat sic day tene thousande
þar men wil [se], for-out mare
oftyme þat cumis þare.
& þar-of suld nane ferly,
for þe merwalis done Ithandly,
þat he kithis one sare & seke,
þat deuotely vil hyme seke,
or fastis vith deuocione
his fasting, þat nov is commone;
þat is, fryday fra þe novne
til sonday at þe mes be done.
& how men fastis it, gif þou vil spere,
thryse ilke rath of þe ȝere;
twise to-giddire, þe thrid be skil,
in þat quartare, quhen þu wil.
for he þat in honour of Niniane
deuotely þat faste has tane,
quhen he fastis, gyf þat he
in state of grace & gud lyfe be,
he sal eschewe of his ȝarnyng,
bot it be vnleful thing.
for at quhythorne is wrocht ilke day
fer ma vonderis þane I cane say,
of sancte Niniane be þe prayere
for men þat ar in parilis here,
one sey, one land, or in seknes,
or ony maner of distres;
of þe quhilkis, gyf I tald nov,
þe teynd part, men suld nocht trev.
for def men þar gettis herynge,
& blynd [men] als parfit seynge;
halt men als þare gettis bute,
þat has seknes in hand ore fute;
& dume [men] als gettis þe speke,
þat mekily vil Niniane seke;
and als of parlesy
men gettis þar heile parfitly;
& [sume thru] ydropcy [sa] grete
swolline, þat þai ma nocht ete,
ar swampe mad at þe prayere
of sanct Niniane, hale & fere;
& vthir þat of þare vit
vod war, gettis It;
& sume þat pane had of þe stane,
or seknes in-[to] flesch or bane,
or quhat-kyne Infirmyte
man haf, gyf þat he
socht sanct Niniane deuotely,
gat heile, þo it ware myslary,
thru þe giffar of al grace,
to quhame s: Niniane seruand vas.
& grant god þat we ma be
his seruandis in lyk degre,
of þis lyf [þat] we ma twyne
but det, schame, & dedly syne.
[O]f sanct Niniane ȝet I ȝu tel
a ferly þat in my tyme befel,
in galoway, til a nobil knycht,
þat sir fargus magdouel hicht,
& hardy vas of hart & hand,
& had þe leding of þe land,
in vorschipe & slachtyr bath
one Inglis-men to do skath.
& for þai had of hyme ay doute,
þai var richt besy ay aboute
to fynd sum get hyme to grewe,
gyf fortone wald thole þaim eschewe.
& quhen þai had sere vais socht,
& fand þat þai profit nocht,
þat þai mycht nocht do be mycht,
þai schupe þaim for to do be slycht;
& spyale gat to se quhen he
fra strinth of men mycht fundyn be,
þat þai mycht cum on hyme þane,
& tak hyme but skath of men.
þane þe thre counteis of carleile
to þis var accordit weile,
& borne of galouay gat a spy,
þat to vyne gold ves rycht besy;
for-þi stithly he swar þane,
þo he ves a scottis-mane,
þat he suddandly suld fulfil
þe connand he mad þame til;
& þai one [hand] tuk his payment,
in hope to fulfil þare entent,
& socht opartunyte
how þat best mycht þane be,
as vmquhyle did [fals] Iudas,
þat cristis awne discipil vas.
for is nane, I vndir-ta,
sa paytener, na sa fellone fa,
as is mast hamely, gyf þat he
vil wikit man or tratour be.
rycht sa þis man, þat vas hamely
with hyme, þane can hyme espy,
til he viste sere placis, quhar he
with fow folkis suld lugit be;
& þane to carleile vent one ane
& tald þar-of þe capytane
of his erand þat he had done.
& þane þe capytane alsone
þe thre counteis in til hy
gert be gadderit ful priwely,
& one in-to galouay rade
þe nycht þat þe triste ves made.
bot þe knycht, at viste nocht
of þis tresone aganis hym wrocht,
in til a housband ton þat nycht
to slepe & ese hyme can dycht.
& as he halfine-slepand lay
in his bed, befor þe day,
þar come a man lyk to be
a bischope in al degre,
& put one hyme fast twise or thrise,
& bad þat he suld [al]-son ryse;
for a gret oste of Ingland,
for to supprice hym, var cumand;
& bad hyme pas & haf na doute
to contre þaim, þo þai var stoute;
for he suld in his helping be.
þane askit he quhat vas he.
quod he: “Niniane is my name
in quhityr[n]e, quhare I duel at ham.”
þe knycht þane as a dochty man
dicht hyme belyf, & on hors van.
& quhen he bone ves to ryde,
he had na man vith hym þat tyde
þat ves gadderit ȝet hyme til,
bot twenty men, gud & il.
& his menstrale, Iak trumpoure,
þat vas gud man & gud burdoure,
of his maister vitand nocht,
na of þe gret oste hym þan socht,
come rydand thru þe vod percace,
quhar al þe fais cumand vas.
bot myste ves in sic degre
þat nan mocht a stane caste se.
bot Iak, þat vas be þe gat syd,
quhare þe Inglis com þat tyd,
and vend veile it had his lord bene,
þat gadderit had his men bedene,
vnwittand hyme, to mak sum rade,
& trumpit heily but abade,
& with al mycht bettir blew.
þe Inglis, þat [þat] blaste vele knew,
vend þar spy betraisit had
þame to þe knycht, & but abad
þai fled fast & durst nocht byd.
& þe knycht, one þe tothire syd,
quhen he hard his trumpat blaw,
come on hastely but ony haw,
quhare þai ware fleand, þe self vay.
& þar-with wox sa brycht þe day,
þat he saw þame fle but areste,
vnknyt scalit in þe foreste.
& þare-with sone gadderit þe land,
& til hyme com son on hand,
& þare fais, sa agaste,
þai chasit sa ferly fast,
þat þe best part of þaim ves slane,
& feile to ȝeld þaim vare rycht fayne;
quheine eschapit, but merdale,
þat for to tak ves nan awaile.
& sa wane þe scottis-men gret riches.
quhare-for þe land relewit vas.
& þe knycht reparit hame
vith wictory & with gud name,
& went to quhithorne but abad,
& to sanct Niniane offerand mad.
þar-of eftire, in schort quhile,
he gert his quere rycht wele tyle,
in mynd of þe dede, þat he
did for hyme in sic degre.
sa byrd al galouya hym honoure,
þat to þame is sic patronoure,
quhen þai ned haf, gyf þat þai
in stat of grace wil hym pray.
for-þi honoure be til hewynis king,
& to sanct Niniane honouryng
in al tyme of lifand men.
þar-to say we al “Amen.”
þis wes done but lessinge,
quhen sir davi bruys ves king.
[I]n Ingland syne betyd,
a wikit man, þat gret myse dede,
for his purpos to be tane
& put in pressone stith of stane.
& he, sa in pressone sted,
to de ful dede ves ful rad.
&, þo he wes in sic effray,
ȝet he vmthocht he herd say,
þat, quha-sa had vndirtane
to fast or sek s: Niniane,
þat he suld help þaim til cum out
of quhat parel þai had dout;
for-þi to sancte Niniane mad he
a wou, gyf he ware mad fre
of þat dout, þat he suld seke
sancte Niniane on his bare fet,
& fast his fast with gud wil,
gyf he mycht fredome get þare-til,
& þare, quhar he wes mad faste,
deuotely be-guth þe fast.
þane weilang in þat pyful pyt
in gret dissese he cane sit.
syne come þe serefe to þe ton,
&, to hald þe law, set done,
& gert þe mysdoaris bryng
to curt, to here chalansing
of sere trespas þat var done.
þane ves he brocht to curt sone,
& asyse callit of worthy men,
& he accusit stratl[y] þane
of sere poynttis, quhare-in he
had trespassit in þe cunctre,
& with asyse culpable mad,
& to þe gebet demyt but bad;
þane to þe rape wes til thifte.
a prest wes brocht to here his schrifte.
þane presit mony to conway
hyme to þe gebet ewine þe way,
& þat he suld nocht eschape,
about his nek þai knyt a rape,
& tit hym vpe, & lefit hyme þare,
& ilke man away can fayre.
bot, þo þat he ves for his gilt
be manis sicht sa foul spilt,
ȝet duelt ane by hyme, lik to be
a bischope in al degre,
þat kepit hyme sa in þat sted,
þat he mycht feile na pane of ded,
&, quhen nycht com, tuk hyme done,
& sad: “ga frely to þe ton
for-out dout of effray!”
þane cane þat wrech til hym say:
“gud man, for god I pray þe
tel quhat þu art þat helpis me!”
quod he: “Niniane is my name
at quhithirne qu[h]are I duel at ham,
& here is cummyne to helpe þe
for þi awou þu mad to me,
þare-for ga furth & be nocht rad,
þo þu be in parele sted,
for I sal ay be þe nere hand,
gyf þu be to me treu seruand.”
with þat he went away,
& þat catife but mare delay
vent to þe tone als apertly
as he had neuire bene gilty.
þane one þe morne at dais lycht,
as men one hym gottine had sycht,
þe keparis of þe law hym fand;
& smertly [þai] his handis band
be-hynd his bak, & sad þat he
suld mare treuly hangit be.
þane ves he harlit [furth] but let,
& hangit fast one a gebet,
& al bad by hyme in þat sted
til þame thocht þat he wes ded;
& syne [þai] held þare way bedene.
bot þe bischope, þat ves nocht sene,
helpyt hyme as he did are,
& to þe ton ek gert hym fare;
& þare duelt trastly þat nycht
til one þe morne [at] dais lycht,
& but dout [þane] vpe & done
did his erandis in þe ton.
bot þat day ore it wes none,
a seruand one hyme hand lad son,
& sad, with wichcraft he delt,
& feile men opynly he telt,
& sad þat he suld no mare
dissawe men as he did are.
& sone assemblit his commone
& harlit [hym] sone of þe towne,
&, his handis bundine bath
behynd his bak, [hangit] hyme rath,
& bad ȝet by in þat sted,
til þame thocht he ves ded;
& ilke man held his way.
bot þe bischope helpit hym ay,
as he befor twyse had done.
& to þe tone ȝet went he sone
& als pertly duelt als stil
as he had neuir done ony il.
bot or he had bene lang tym þare,
he ves hynt be how and hayre,
& to þe serefe brocht fut-hete.
þat gert hyme swere þare how-gat
þe ded he [had] eschapit thryse,
& he condempnyt be leile syse.
ansuere sone til hyme he ȝald,
& þe manere al hale hym tald
hou he mad, quhen he ves tane,
his awou til sancte Niniane
til fast his fasting, & þare til eke
on his [bare] fet hyme to sek,
gyf he wald helpe hym til eschape
þe schameful ded of sword or rape;
“þare-for, quhen ȝe hangit me,
venand weile I suld ded be,
sanct Niniane ves ay by me nere
& me kepit haile & fere,
& with me spak & bad me be
his seruand, & he suld kepe me.
& þat tym [þar] wes richt nane
mycht hyme se bot I alane.”
& quhen he has þis taile tald,
al had wondire, ȝung & ald,
þat he suld sa-gat eschape,
þat sa hangit ves vith þe rape
thre dais fra none to nycht
be lachtful Iugment & rycht.
þan þai haf to consel tane
þat for þe sak of sancte Niniane,
agane quham þai vald hald na strife,
þat þai vald gyf þe thefe þe lif,
þo þat tyme bot lytil fame
ves rysine of þis sancte Niniane.
þat man syne ȝerly can hym seke
al nakit, bot sark & breke,
Ilke ȝere, I tak one hand,
fra quhare he duelt in Ingland.
til god be Ioy & lowing ay,
þat sic meraklis for his schewit ay!
& þis sa schort tyme gane ves
þat ȝet it is in memor fresch.
Ane vthire tyme oure solouay sand
ane Inglis ost com in scotland
thru nydisdale þe ewine way,
þane socht in-to galouay;
& þat sa priuely v[e]s done
þat of þame vist rycht quhon,
til þe forrouris scalit ware
[our] al þe cunctre here & þare,
& prayt nere þe cunctre hale,
& brocht [þar pray] nere to þar stale.
þat þar abad nocht ful lang,
bot hame blyth went of þat fang;
& þar departyt [þai] þar pray,
& Ilkane a sere gat held away,
til þai come til þare wynny[n]g-place.
& ymang vthire ane þar wes
þat of retenu wes for þame
of þat land til a mychtty man,
þat in fet wes sa sek
& in handis & armis eke,
þat he mycht nocht gang of þe place,
na bryng his handis til his face
to fed hyme-self; ȝet wes he
þe mast fellone man þat mycht be,
& cruel and paytynere.
& at his sad man can he spere
hou þai had done quhare þa var,
& quhat wynnyng þai gat þare;
“& quhat my thred þarof sal be,”
he sad til hyme, “þu lat me se!”
quod he: “lord, sa haf I sele,
in galouay we haf don rycht wele,
& of þe thing þat I þare wane,
ȝe sal haf thred as of ȝure man,
of nowt, schepe, hors and ky;
& of þat land ȝet brocht haf I
a man to ȝou as presonere,
þar-with for to mend ȝoure chere.”
þan sad he: “mot weile þu fare!
for is nocht mycht ples me mare
þan a scot [þat] I mycht se.
for, þo [þat] I þis bundine be,
ȝet suld I sla hyme but abad,
þo I assith for þi part mad.”
þan smyland sad þe man hym til:
“me think ȝe [of] Il rewlit wil
gyf ȝe vald s[l]a, gyf þat ȝe mocht,
a presoner þat war ȝou brocht.”
sad he: “bath I wil & ma
hyme sla, gif þu dois as I say.
bundine bryng hyme to me but let,
& in my mouth þe heft þou set
& outwart þe blad of a knyfe;
& sone sal I ref his lyfe.”
þe squyar sad: “sir, be þe buke,
þe scottis-man þat I tuke,
to saufe his lyf I hicht lely
for it þat he mycht gif gudly;
þar-for wil I nocht thole þat he
be sa slane, for ocht ma be.”
ȝet þe squyar had hyme brocht
til his presence, þo he wist nocht,
þat herd hym schew þe fellone wil
al scottis-men þat he had til,
& sad: “sir, quhat wynnyng had ȝe,
þo ȝe had mycht, to sla me?
bettir war to be stil,
þane desyre a man to spil;
for to god I cont a fa
þat but chesone a man wald sla.
bot god forbed þat man mychtty
to sla war of sic fellonny
as ȝe, gif ȝe ȝour handis had!
for bettir ware a wou ȝe mad
one godis half to sancte Ninian,
to sek hyme sone, or ȝe fane;
for of his helpe recouer ȝe may
al ȝour lymmys, I dare say.”
þan sad he: “is þu þe scot
þat my squyere withoutyn dout
hecht þu suld safit be?
for, gif ne þat ware, sa mot I the,
in my mouth suld cum na bred
til þat sudandly þu war ded;
þo in my mouth I held þe knyfe,
ȝet suld þu þar-with lef þe life.”
þan sad he: “sir, I consel ȝow
to sancte Niniane ȝet ȝe awou,
in gud entent & hart meke
ȝe faste his faste, & hyme seke
in hope þat he grace sal gif ȝou til,
to wauld ȝoure lymmys at ȝour wil.
for I wat weile, he is of mycht
to ger ȝu haf ȝoure lymmys rycht,
be sere ferlyse I wat [þat] he
has wrocht in mony infirmyte.”
his spek cane þe lord enples
sume-thing & his hart gef ese.
quod þe lord: “þo I ne trew
al þat þu sais me as now,
ȝet sal I in-[to] galouay fare
but bad, to sanct Niniane þare,
& fast deuotely his fasting,
of my lymmys for recouering.
& þu sal byd me here behynde,
in case þo he wil nocht me mende,
þat þu ma lose þe lif with schame
for þi spekine, quhen I cume hame.”
þane vrat he for a condyt,
& it was grantit hym tyt;
& he rycht rathly mad ȝare,
& furth on sown can he fare,
to sek sancte Ninian in galouay
& for his heile til hym pray.
& to þe place as he ves cumyne,
men of his hors hym has nummyn,
& in-[to] þe kirk, or þai fane,
þai brocht hym befor s: Ninian,
& mad hym þar a bed fut-hat,
as efferit til his estate.
þe mast part of þat nycht he lay
vakand, & ȝarne can pray
to s: Niniane, hyme to mend
& in his lymmys helpe hym send.
& al þe morne duelt he stil,
prayand sumdele with Iwil vil,
for he gat nocht heile sa sone
as he demyt he suld haf done.
ȝet duelt he þar þat nycht stil
& þe hale morne þar-til,
vith angry wil, for þat he,
as he vald, mycht nocht helpyn be,
& faucht & flat with Niniane,
& sad oftyme hyme al-ane:
“ves I nocht wele prowit a sot,
þat trewit sa son to þe scot,
þat sa stratly had vndirtane
his scottis lord s: Niniane
suld gyf me heile, gif I hym socht?
bot þat ves fals, for he ne mocht;
& suppos þat he had mycht
to helpe me as þe scot hicht,
I suld haf wityne, had I bene
vyse & put out of wene,
þat scottis-man of galouay þan
suld neuire helpe ony Inglis-man
or ȝet recouer hym of his sare,
bot erare purchas þat he sek vare.
þarfor, gif I ma cum hame,
þe scot sal de vith gret schame,
þat gert me mak þis travale,
hichtand It suld me awale!”
vith þis he left nocht, bot efte can ban
sancte Niniane, þe haly man;
for men hurt communly
ar mar turne & mare angry,
one quhat wyis sa it fal,
þane he þat has his lymmys al;
& eth is for til eke
disese til hyme þat is seke.
& fywe causis ar þai sere
quhy men ar torment[it] here:
othir for vertu in prowyng,
as tyd of Iob in fanding,
for he held ay tholmodnes
in tynsale of gud & seknes;
or of meknes for ȝemsele,
as to sancte paule quhile befel,
þat had gret fanding in his flesch
to hald hyme in-to meknes,
ellis [he] suld oure proud haf bene
for þe sicht he in hewine had sene.
þe thrid cause is but were
for synnis to be clengit here,
as tyd of hyme lang can ly
in seknes of perlesy,
to quham criste sad: “ryse al fre,
for þi syne is forgiffine þe.”
þe ferd is, to mak vnhyd
þe Ioy of god, as quhile betyd
of hym þat borne ves blynd man
& syne thru criste his sicht wan.
þe fyft is, þe betaknyng
of al-lestand dampnynge,
as first here þare be giffine
& syne euir in hel to vyne,
as of Iudas quhyl betyd
for þe tresone he crist did.
bot quhilk [of] þir causis gert be
þis man in torment, nov sa ȝe!
þane, quhen he had chyd his fil,
his men mekly sad hyme til:
“sir, ȝe ma haf na bewayne
vith sanctis þis to mak bargane,
for of þame for ony thret
men ar nocht wont þare erand get,
bot erare mon be [askit] þai
vith meknes þan with outray.
þarfor lefis ȝoure crabitnes,
& þis a nycht with meknes
to s: Niniane makis prayere
þat he will mak ȝow haile & fere,
& to-morne but [mar] delay,
gyf ȝe wil, fare hame ȝoure way!”
& þat nycht as he slepand lay,
a lytil befor þe day,
ane put one hyme, lyk to be
a bischope in al degre.
þane waknyt he in gret affray,
& sone to þat man cane say:
“I pray þe, þat waknis me,
tel me þi nam quhat þu be!”
quod he: “Niniane is myn name,
þat þe waknis for to blame
for þe foly þat þu ded,
quhen þu with me sa roydely chid,
& mystrowand þat I mocht
helpe þe ocht, þu me socht.
þare þu mysdid, nocht anerly
to me, bot to god almychtty,
mystrowand he wald gif me mycht
þi lath lymmys for to rycht;
& nocht conuertand þare-of þane,
sad þu suld ger sla my mane;
for he for þi gud eggit þe
to cum here þe way to sek me.
bot þu sal wit now be sycht
þat god has grantit me sic mycht,
þat I ma helpe quhom I wil,
þat mekly sekis here me til.
þi lymmys haile & fare sal be,
bot with þine ene þu sal nocht se,
þat vthire ma ensample tak
vith halouys bargane to mak.
bot ga þu nov hale ham, & send me,
my man, [þo] þu stane-blynd be,
or þu sal wyt I ame of mycht
ver þane þu wes þe to dycht.”
þis sanct Niniane vent away,
& þat fellone, quhare he lay,
raxit hyme, & fand hale
his lymmys al þat mad hym bale;
& bad his curting vpe suld be
drawine, þe lycht for to se.
& quhene it vpe ves tycht,
þane wist he he [had] tynt þe sycht,
& gretand sare he sad: “alace!
for myn ogart I haf tynt grace!
þat is oure-weile kyd one me;
for blynd I ame quhyt & fre.
but lofit be þu, sancte Niniane;
þocht þu fra me þe sycht has tane,
my lymmys hale þu has me lent,
quhare-in lang I haf had turment,
to gere be [me] mysterful kene
þat wele þu may helpe al mene,
& to be were be me þat þai
nocht bot lowyng of þe say;
for be me knawine has þu made
þat þu cane helpe & hurt but bade.”
þane went he one-til his lande,
& þis tald til al he fande,
& sone his presonere hame sende,
& gef hyme gud, hyme til amende.
for-þi, Ioyful sanct Niniane,
þat oft helpis mony ane,
agane al fais þu helpe me,
sene or vnsene quethir þai be,
& gyf me grace sa til lif here,
quhethire I be haile or ellis fere,
out of þis varld I ma twyne
but schame, det, & dedly syne.
[A] lytil tale ȝet herd I tel,
þat in to my tyme befel,
of a gudman, in murrefe borne
in elgyne, & his kine beforne,
& callit vas a faithful man
vith al þame þat hyme knew þan;
& þis mare trastely I say,
for I kend hyme weile mony day.
Iohne balormy ves his name,
a man of ful gud fame.
& in processe of tyme tyd hyme
til haf þe worme in til his lyme,
& wrocht sa in his schank & kne,
þat bath ware þai lyk tynt to be;
for bath þai var sa swollyne
of þat worme fellone, & bollyne,
& þat syndry holis rynnand,
þat one þat syd he mycht nocht stand,
na gang na fut of þe sted
to wyne his fude na eschew ded.
& þat held hyme ful thre ȝere,
ay were & were in þat manere,
þat helpe of gris gat he nane,
na of charme, na of stane.
syne a tyme, as he lay,
hyme come to mynd [þat] he herd say,
þat, quha wald sanct Niniane seke
& to fast his fasting awou eke,
þat he suld gif þaim þare askyn[g]e,
bot it ware wnleful thyng.
þarfor he awouyt, ore he fayne,
to fast & sek sanct Niniane,
in hope sic grace he suld gif hyme,
þat he mycht weile recouer þe lyme.
& fra he sic awou had made,
of þe mast redy gud he hade,
sone his spending he can [mak] ȝare
þar-with he suld to quhythorne fare,
& gat men to by hyme be,
to helpe hyme in necessyte.
& quhen þis wes redy made,
he fure his way but abade,
& held one þe nerraste way
quhar met & drink ves fundine ay.
& mylys are, quha cane tel,
fra eglyne, quhar he can duel,
to quhythirne, I dare say,
twa hundre myle of met way.
ȝet with disese and payne
ydire he wane, & ves fayne.
& quhen he come to þe kirk,
þai tuk hyme of his hors [ful] Irke,
& one twa handis & a kne
to þe hye altere trawalyt he,
& offerit þare; & men hyme dycht
a bed to ly [on] in þat nycht.
& he, þat sare wes & wery,
slepit oure þat nycht sadly.
& one þe morne, as It dew day,
til hyme, þat halfly-slepand lay,
sancte Niniane cane apere,
& teyndirly cane at hyme spere
gif he in wil wes to fulfil
þe awou he mad hyme til.
quod he, ȝa, for wa or weile
he suld fulfill it ilke deile.
þane sad sanct Niniane: “þo I spere,
þi gud wil haf I nocht in were;
bot sen þu has with gret disese
þis trawele mad me til enples,
I lat þe wit þu sal nocht
þi erand tyne þat þu has thocht.
for-þi gang hame, quhen-euir þu wil!
for, þo þu cume one hors me til,
to gang hame þu sal hable be
one þi fete in prosperyte,
& haf þi lyme hale & lycht,
as euire þu had in þi mast mycht.”
& as day come, he fand his schank
hale & fere, & ȝarne can thank
god of his grace, & sanct Niniane,
& mad þis kyd til mony ane;
for bath his schank & his kne
ware als haile in al degre
as þai ony tyme befor wes,
owtane þare wes les of flesche
& smallare sum part but wene
þane þe todire leg had bene.
& þis mer[w]alle wes mad kyd. [OMITTED]

XLI.—AGNES.

[OMITTED] “& his fadire of wyf wat nocht
na of sic delyt neuire rocht,
to quhom seruis ythandly
þe angelis & has ferly;
as of habundance is na lessing
na of his riches na mynissing;
& of his odoure thru þe smel
þa ryse agane þat deid can fel,
& al sekmen of his tweching
of verray heile gettis mending;
& his luf is ay chastyte,
& haly mon his tweching be,
his cuplyne is madynhed,
ay schenand in word & deid.”
þer fywe scho repetyt efte
& sad til hym, or scho lefte:
“his kyne is of hye degre,
& mare fare is possibilyte,
& to be-hald he is farare,
& to luf hyme he is swetare,
& al grace is excedand;”
& fywe beneficis reknand
þat hir spouse gef hir & al þai
þat hir to spouse lykis to ta.
& first, in takine of weding
he erlis þaim with his ryng,
of fele vertuse with syndrynes
he clethis þame, & neuir-þe-les
with þe fare blud of his passione
taknys þar chekis vpe & done,
& cuplis þaim with hyme til hand
of luf þat euir is lestand,
& rychtis þame with þe tresoure
of hewinly Ioy, grathit þarfore;
“& my luffar in sic wedyng
has me erlyt with his ryng
my richt hand & als at anys
has ennornyt with schenand stanis,
& with his mantele cled has me
of fyne gold, ful fare to se,
& syne with bruchis ful mony
has me arayt craftly;
& he þar-to of his gret grace
has mad a takine in my face,
þat I sal tak one na manere
bot hyme any [vthir] lufere,
& his blud has my chekis mad
ful fare, þat falow ware & fad.
& als his body is to myne
cuplit with Ioy þat ma nocht fyne.
& he sic tresoure schewit me
þat neuire mar gane sal be,
gif I wil as til hyme dere
in til his luf ay perseuere.
al sic giftis, & wele mare,
he has giffine me with Ioyful fare;
þarfor suld [I] vnhappy be,
gif I lef sic a luf for þe.”
& quhen þe ȝung man herd þis tale,
his hart þane cane to-brist for bale;
for sorow hyme sa sadly socht,
þat of hyme-self na thing he rocht;
bot seknes had he nothir-quhare,
bot in his hart he had sic care,
þat til his chawmir he hym sped,
& ruschit done one his bed.
þane can þai til his fadir tel
hou at his son in seknes fel;
bot quhat seknes, þai ne wiste.
for-þi his fadir send but friste
medicinaris, his stat to se
& to deme quhat seknes had he.
þe quhilkis quhen þai saw his stat,
has sone persawyng be his late
þat hyme nothire ailyt mare ne myn
bot þat luf distrenȝet hyme.
his fadir sperit quhat scho wes
he luffit. & þai sad agnes,
þat hyme behuffit haf til his vif,
or ellis for hir tyne þe lyf.
þane ves he blyth & thocht son
his sonnis ȝarnyng suld be done;
& gert agnes be brocht hyme til,
venand his etlyng to fulfil,
& sad hir: “agnes, þu suld kene
þat þu art cummyne of symple men
in regard of my gret mycht
& of my dignite þe hicht;
ȝet sal I thole my son wed þe,
anerly for þi bewte,
& gif þe far possessione
of castellis, towris, & of towne,
& gold and siluir neuir-þe-les,
in sic plente as þu wil ges;
& sa ma þu to mare stat wyne,
þane euir wane ony of þi kyne.
& ful war þu for to forsak
til haf my son to þi mak.
þat has na cause to tak þe
bot anerly for þi bewte.”
þane agnes sad hym schortly:
“certis, gud sir, maryt ame I,
& I ma na wyse brak þat band,
for gold, siluer, na for land;
& my spouse is mychtyere
þane þi son, & fere richere,
& has giffine me in mariage,
þat neuir sal falȝe, his herytage;
for-þi, sir, spek to me nomare
here-of, for þis is þine answare.”
þane þe prefet begane to spere
at frendis þat hym teyndir were,
quhat man it wes & quhat he had,
þe man þat agnes þe ruse of mad.
& sume of þame sad hyme to,
þat crist hir spouse callit scho.
þan þe prefet newit his spek,
& gluthryt hir with wordis mek
& fandit fa[s]t to bow hir vil;
bot scho plat nay ay sad hym til.
& quhen faire spek cuth nocht awalȝe,
with harsknes he can hir assalȝe,
& manesit hire to bet & bynd
& put hir al turment he mycht fynd
& pyne hire, til scho granttit do
his sonnis ȝarnyng. bot na sais scho,
bot his thret na his gluthryng
scho set bath in til a lyne,
& at his vordis mad smylyng
in manere of scornyng.
þe prefet þane, þat wes wrath,
sad: “of twa thingis ches ane rath;
gif þu wil virgine be,
mak sacrifice, þat I ma se,
humyly one til oure goddes,
þat mychtty is & euire ȝet wes,
or ellis to þe bordale ga,
to thole al men þe frely ta.”
ȝet for-cause scho wes freborne
& hire eldris hir beforne,
of hire kyne he had dred
for to supprice hir as of ded.
þarfor he thocht hire to gere sla
for þat cristine treutht scho can ta
agayne þe lawis oysit þane,
quhare-for war slane wyf & man.
þane sad scho: “nothire wil I
to þi fals godis sacryfy
na ȝet sal I fylit be
vith ony manis flesch, parde;
for I haf goddis angele ay,
þat kepis me bath nycht & day.”
þe prefet þan but ony mare
gert dispole hir al bare,
& gert hire til þe bordale lede,
to fylyt be with ful dede.
& quhene hire clathis al of ware,
god send sic sydnes in hyre hare
þat scho wes cled mare ewinely
with hare þane with hire clathis in hy.
nocht-þane, as scho in þe bordale
wes brocht, agane hir wil haile,
godis angel scho redy fand
þare, in clernes schennand,
þat cled hir in a garment quhyte,
þat to be-hald wes delyte.
& sa þe bordale wes but bad
þe place of haly prayer mad,
sa fere þat, quha enteryt þare,
suld cume of it fere clennare,
& gyf he ȝald dettyt honoure
til god, þat al thing has in cure.
ful mony for-þi entryt þare,
þat for sic licht hire forbare,
& come owt frely þat þare wil,
for reuerence þat lycht þai gaf til.
þe prefet son merwale had
þat nane in þe bordale bade
vith hir þane for to play,
bot but abad come away.
for-þi in þe bordale he went,
to tak hire furth in [til] entent,
& ruschit syne in þe gret lycht.
bot, or þat he hir tweche mycht,
þe feynd threst his throt sa sare,
þat ded done he fel þare.
& quhene þe prefet herd tel
þe myschefe his son befel,
he rayrit rudly & gret fast;
& to þe bordale at þe last
he come, quhar his son lay ded,
& til agnes in þat sted
he sad: “quhy has þu myn son slane?”
& sobrely scho sad agane:
“certis, I did na scath hyme til,
bot he, of quham he did þe wil,
in til hyme did his pouste
& weryit hyme, as ȝe se,
for he na reuerence gef þe lycht,
þat schane here-in be godis sycht,
as did þe laf, þat come here-in
& lefit for dred of god to syne.”
þe prefet sad: “now sal apere
gyf þu my son, til me ful dere,
has be þi wichcrafte slane,
or gyf þu may rase hyme agane
othir be craft or be slicht
of hyme þu [sais] has sic mycht,
crist, þi spous, þat þu sais wil
& may þi ȝarnyng wel fulfil.”
vith þat one kneis scho fel done,
& mad to god hire oracione,
deuotely, þat men mycht here,
sayand: “my spous & lord dere,
rase þis man be-cause of me,
þat al þir folk þi mycht ma se!”
& as scho þat word cane say,
þe corse rase but delay,
& prechit til al apon hicht
of crist, hir spouse, þe mykil mycht,
& quhou þat he had sene in hel
of werchis þare þe panis fel,
& þe gret Ioy in hewine þat he
saw, þat vnnovmerit mycht be.
ful fele þane, seand þis ferly,
become cristine son in hy.
of þe tempil þe bischopis al,
seand þis gret ferly fal,
& considerand þe ty[n]sel grete
of gud, þat þai war wont to gete
of þame þat tuk þe cristine fay
& fra þar ryt went away,
sedicion rasit in hy
ymang þe puple felloun[l]y,
& cryit fast: “ga sla hir sone,
þat þis wichcrafte has done,
& peruertis thocht and wil
of al þat treutht giffis hir til;
for, suthly, bot scho slane be,
in schort tyme men sal se
þat men sal hale lef oure lay,
& twrne þaim to þe cristine fay.”
bot as þe prefet hyme bethocht
of þat gret wondir þat scho wrocht
til his son, þat witnes bare
til his ded & til his lare,
vald scho had bene of þat sted;
bot for he his awne men dred,
he deput in his sted þare,
þe law to hald þaim, a vicare,
& sorouful went away; for he
as he wald, mycht nocht hir fre.
þat vicar þane, or he fane,
þat aspacius had to name,
as inflammyt of fellone yre,
gert tormentouris mak a fyre
& agnes bundine cast þare-in,
þat al men mycht se hir bryne.
bot þar men mycht se godis mycht;
for þat fyre in twa ewine rycht
departit, & scalit ful wyd,
& þe mystrowand of al syd
It brynt; sa þat [þe] hethine had
gret care, þe cristine [men war] glad.
aspacius þan, þat wes wa,
gert tormentouris agnes ta,
& thru hir als put a sword,
for þat scho prechit godis vord.
& sa, be scheding of hir blud
he mad to god a martir gud,
& send hir sa one til hir spouse,
to duel with hyme in til his house,
thre hundre ȝere fra crist flesch tuk
& nyne [þar]-to, as sais þe buk.
hir [frendis] come with Ioy þat day
to tak hir cors & bere away,
& eschapit narowly
of þe fel paianis for inwy,
[þat] kist stanis at þame þane;
bot of godis mycht a-way þai wan,
& dicht for hir a sepulture,
& lad [hir] in with gret honoure.
þar at hire prayer sar & sek
gettis heile, þat cane hir sek,
in lofing of god, hewynnis king,
to quham be honoure but ending.
& þis wes done, I ȝou say,
in rome þe ane & twenty day
of þe moneth of februere,
& þe dat for-wrytine here.

XLII.—AGATHA.

Agatha, þe madine clere,
ves cumyne of gentil kyn but vere,
& fare vas of hire body,
& cler of thewis but velany,
& in þe ton of cathenence
seruit god but offence.
& quincyane in þat quhile
ves consol[ar] of cesile,
& cumyne ves of carlis kine,
þo he til sic a stat can vine.
chynsche he ves, lycherus als,
& seruice mad til ydolis fals.
& for þe stat þat þan held he,
he gert agatha til hym brocht be,
til haf hire to wyf for hire gret kyn,
sa men suld þe mare dout hyme.
& for hir beute he had wil
vith hir his foule lust to fulfil.
& to get gud of gredines,
he wald hir haf als for riches.
& as he seruit ydolis fals,
he wald scho sa did als.
sa til his presence quhen scho
cumyne wes, he sad hir to:
“quhyne art þu borne, madyn fre,
& of quhat kyne, þu tel me,
& to quhat godis has þu mad
sacrifice fra þi ȝouthad?”
scho sad hyme stedfastly:
“to god of hewine ay serwe I,
& euire sal do, for ocht ma be;
for mychtyaste of al is he.
na I sal hyme neuire nyt,
for he is my suffrane delyt.”
as quincyane persawing had
þat scho wes of wil sa sad,
til a matrone he can hir ta,
þat callit ves effrodosya,
þat wes a commone bordelere,
& douchteris nyne scho had, þat were
of þat crafte richt as scho;
& to þe teynd he tacht hir to,
þat þai hire thretty dais suld prufe,
quhile be aw & quhile be lufe,
to change hir purpos & wil,
& to ger hire consent hyme til.
þai ten tuk þat innocent
& to þare Innys with hir went,
& fandyt hire in syndry wyse,
to ger hir mak sic sacrifice,
& syne to ger hir til consent,
& to quincyane get hire entent.
to do sa, þai vald quhyle
hir flesch far hir to begil,
& ferly far hichtis hir make,
bot in thank scho ne vald tak.
syne vthir tyme þai wald
hir schore vith visage bald,
& gere hire sa thole sic payne,
þat [scho] suld þe ded ȝarne fayne,
& syne manauce hire, þat scho
þe foule bordale suld be led to.
bot scho stedfaste ves in thocht,
þat of al þis na-thing rocht,
bot tuk bath ewine in a lyne,
þar harsknes & þare fleching.
& as fandyt þai had hire sa,
þai thretty dais als & ma,
& mocht be naway get hyre wil
þare godis to sacryfy til,
na to consent to quincyane,
bot sad nay ay in ane,
sayand, scho had fondit hir thocht
one a grond þat fallis nocht,
“þat is, in my god criste Ihesu,
þat noþire ma brak na bow.
þare-for ȝoure wordis ar bot wynd,
& I ȝoure hichtis bot hething find,
& al þe manauce of ȝoure payne
I dred fere les þane I do rayne;
for þe grownd-wal of my thocht
ma nocht falȝe, þat dred I nocht.”
& sayand þis, ilke day
scho gret, & ythandly cane pray,
þat worthy scho mycht be to take
martirdome for cristis sake;
for scho thristyt oure althing
for til cume til hewynnis kyng.
& fra affrodysya
saw þat scho persewerit sa,
& wald nocht fal fra hir entent,
to quincyane scho son went,
& sad, it wes les maystry
hard stanis to grynd, suthly,
& yrne to mak als nesss
as leide, þat neuir ȝet done ves,
“þane for to wryth agathis wil
fra cryst, to consent ȝou til;
for nane way ma scho changit be
fra hir entent, þat sal ȝe se.”
þane quincyane wes rycht wrath,
& gert bryng hyme þe madyn rath,
& sad: “of quhat condicione
art þu?” & scho redy bowne
sad: “gentil-womane ame I,
my kine þat vitnesis opynly.”
quod he: “quhy mais þu þe þan thril?”
& sone scho answert þare til:
“for I ame cristis maydine ay,
þare-for I ame seruand, I say;
for it Is swferane mast gentrise
to Ihesu crist to mak serwice.”
þane quincyane, as þis ves done,
sad: “of twa thingis ches ane sone;
til oure godis oþire sacryfy,
or thole hard turment in til hy.”
quod scho: “þi vyf mot be
lyk as þi god is to þe,
Iubitere, thru quham þat þu
has na grace in god to trew.”
þane in wryth quyncyane
[bad] gef hire buffetis mony ane,
sayand til hire: “quhy channeris þu
my gret god agane now?”
sad scho: “I haf ferly
þat þu art brocht to sic foly,
þat þu sal þaim þi godis cal,
or mak þame seruice gret ore smal,
& vald nocht þat þi wedyt wyf
suld nocht þame resemble in þis lyf,
& sais sene I do foly,
þat wil nocht to þame sacryfy,
& sais gret wrang I do þe to—
þat I for-think, sa haf I ro!
bot, gif þi goddis gud be,
þat þu þaim folow, gud semes me;
& gif þu lathis þare cumpany,
to me þu consent[is] playnly.”
quod quyncyane þane agane:
“of nocht seruis þire wordis vayne.
sacrifice til oure godis mak,
or til hard tormentis þe tak!”
sad agatha til hyme: “parde,
vith wyld bestis þo þu ryf me,
fra þai here my godis name,
but dout þai sal be stil Ilkane;
& gyf be fyre þu threttis me,
godis angele, men ma se,
vith dew of hewine ma softine sa,
þat þi fyre sal me do na wa;
& gyf þu me wond, I gyf na tale,
þe haly ga[s]t sal mak me hale.
þare-for do one as þu has thocht,
for of þi panys rak I nocht.”
þane bad he hir til presone drav,
for þat scho stud of hyme nan aw.
& scho went furth to thole sic pane,
& ves þar-of mare blyth & fayne,
þane þo scho callyt had bene
to þe best fest, euire wes sene,
& to god betaucht al þe striwe
þat scho suld thole in-[to] þis lyf.
þane quyncyane one þe morne
gert bryng þis maydine hym beforne,
& bad þat scho cryst suld nyt
& sacryfy is godis to tyt.
& for scho vald nocht nyt þat name,
he gert strek hire in a frame,
& torment hir in syndry vyse,
for scho wald mak na sacrifice.
ȝet sad scho: “mare delyt haf I
in þere panys, sekyrly,
þane ony man fane suld be
to se þe thing [he] fanest vald se,
or gyf a man sudendly
a hurd had fundine wn[u]enandly.”
þane quynciane gert hir hyng
one hicht, & syne hyre dyng,
& in hir pap wirk hir way,
& syne ryfe it quhyt in twa.
þane scho sad: “tyrand fel
& prentyse of þe feynd of hel!
to fra me ryfe has þu na schame
sic as þu swkyt of þi dame?
bot ȝet haf I my papis hale
in my sawle, & euire sal.”
þane gert he put hire in presone,
& mad strat Inhibicione,
þat na man accesss suld hafe
to leche hire na hir lyf safe,
na for til gyf hire til hir fud
bred or wattir, to do hir gud.
& as scho set about mydnycht
in þat pressone forowt lycht,
ane commone ald man enteryt þare,
& a barne befor hyme bare
of brynnand sergis sic fusione
þat licht as day ves þe presone;
& brocht al medycinaris nere,
þat for hyr tyse gannand were,
& sad hir: “[þo] þe consulare
in ser wais torment þe sar,
ȝet has þu done hym wel mare il
in ansuer þu has mad hyme til;
& þo he þi fare pape haf ryfine,
to þe hel sal sone be gyfine.”
þane sad scho: “medycyne fleschly
ȝet gef I neuir to my body,
& schame war gyf I now tynt it
& sa lang now had It kepyt.”
þane sad þe ald: “my douchtyr dere,
schame nocht with me in na manere,
for I ame cristine man, þu trew.”
quod scho: “schame may nocht helpe nov,
bot I lowe þe fadir of blis,
þat þus of me thochtful is,
as for to do sic besynes
to confort me in to distres.”
“quhen wil þu thole, quod þe man,
þat I þe helpe, sene I crafte cane?”
quod scho: “for I haf god nere,
þat be word ma mak me fere,
&, gyf it lykand til hyme be,
at his wil he ma hele me.”
quod he: “I ame his appostil, þou trew,
& to heile þe, he send me now,
&, lo, art þu nov hale & sownd
of al weme & als of wond!”
sanct petir þane vanyst away;
& scho one kneys fel but delay,
& lowit god þat scho hir fand
hale & fere, fut and hand.
þe geyleris tuk þe flicht,
þai war sa red of þe gret lycht;
ȝet ane of þame þane hire bad,
þat away scho vald pas sa stad.
quod scho: “god scheld þat I
tyne my crone, nov is redy!”
quod quyncyane: “gif þu wil lyf,
honoure til oure godis þou gife!”
quod scho: “þu trew trewly
þat al þi wordis are foly.
suld I honoure stok or stane
or ony thing bot god alane,
þat helyt veile has my body,
þat þu gert ryf sa cruely?”
sad quynciane: “quhat is he?”
quod agatha: “of hewine god he,
þe quhilk till þat I
ma lif, sal luf Ithandly.”
quod quincyane: “now we sal se
gyf þi criste ma helpe þe.”
þane bad he schellis & brynnand cole
straw in þe floure, herd to thole,
& nakyt þare-one hire rol,
til scho of ded had quyt þe tol.
& as [þ]ay his byding had
fulfillit, but mare abad
þe erde steryt sa felloun[l]y,
þat al þe cyte in til hy
schuke & to-giddire strake,
& of mystrowand tuk sic wrake,
þat of þe ton gret part can fal,
& twa gret consulis with-al
of quincyane ware smorit son.
þan blamyt þe puple hym rycht son,
& sad til hyme in gret hy:
“al þus we thole for þi foly.”
þane dred he þe sedicione,
& gert haf hire ȝet in pressone.
þar scho mad hire oracione;
& as to god scho had tald
hire oracione, þe gast scho ȝald,
thre hundre l. ȝeris & thre
fra god man lykit here to be.
þane hewinely men, of marmour fyn,
a tabil mad, & lad it syne
by þe cors, & away son
þai vanist but ony hone,
of þar sicht wanest away
& neuire ware sene to þis day.
& wrytine ves in þat tabil
rycht fare lettire & legeable:
“haly thocht, wilful & clene,
& honoure gef scho god but wen;
& deliuerance of hire cuntre
scho gat at god, & mad It fre.”
& fra þis tale, I tel ȝow nov,
ves kid, als wele payane & Iow
& crystine men come, in-to wil
devot prayere [to] mak hire til.
& quincyane, eftire ded scho ves,
socht hir riches in syndry place.
sa come twa hors þat sythtware,
& fast faucht vith dyntis sare,
& of þe hors rycht fast þe tane
vith his fete dang quincyane,
& þe todir bate hyme faste
& in þe rywere cane hym caste.
bot in quhat place his caryon lay,
west nane to þis day.
& eftir, be a ȝere wes ovtgane
þat agatha þe ded had tane,
a gret hyl, ves nere þe ton,
brak owt in fyre & brynt don,
weltrand, as [it] a borne had bene,
meltand stanis & erde brynt clene,
& sa ner come [to] þe tone
be lyklynes to bere It done.
þane of payanis a multytud,
seand þis, one wallis stud,
for reddure war abaisit sa,
þat þai ne wist quhar to ga.
þan come þame to mynd percace
þe uertu of sanct Agas;
& til hir fertre went þai,
& tuk a clath [þat] þar-one lay,
& sped þame vith It to þe wal,
& with a cord let it oure fal
agane þe fyre; & It stud stil
ne come nerrare þe ton til.
þar-for, sanct Agatha, I þe pray
þu helpe ws sa, at we may
owt of þis wrechit warld twyne
but sudende ded, schame, & syne.

XLIII.—CECILE.

To say sume thing is myne entent
of sanct cecile, þe fare & gent,
þat cumyne wes of þe best kine
þat rome þane nere wes withine;
& scho folouyt wele þare trace,
for bath wyse & uertuse scho wes,
fare of fasone for to se,
enhornyt of al bewte;
& fosterit ves in cristis fay,
& cristis ewangele scho had ay
hyd in hire brest, & þare-on thocht,
na nycht na day cesit nocht.
mekly to god, þat kepe vald he
clenly hir virginite.
& scho eftir þe custume þane
ves handfast vith a ȝungmane,
þat in maryag vald hire haf tan.
& callit ves valaryane,
þe day ves cumyne þat þai twa
þat band of mariag suld ma.
next hire flesch, þat wes fare,
scho had al tyme þe harsk hare,
& ves owtirwart to þe sicht
cled in gold schenand brycht.
& quhene al mast mery
mad with mouth & menstra[l]sy,
þane wald scho in hart god pray
be hir ane, & til hyme say:
“god, grant þat my hart ma I
vnuemmyt kepe & my body,
sa þat I thole na varldis scham,
bot ay be thankful to þi name;”
& for þat fasting & prayere
scho mad to god tymis sere.
bot quhene þa suld to bed ga,
& nane wes þar bot þai twa,
scho tuk hyme by þe hand in hy,
& til hyme sad deuotely:
“my maste swet & lowit thing,
I wald tel þe a priwe thing,
sa þat I mycht sekire be
þu suld neuire discouer me,
for gud na il na for mede.”
“tel one þarfor & haf na dred!”
scho sad: “goddis angel haf I,
þat kepis me ay Ithandly,
& lufis me sa wele, þat he
wil thole na warldly men haf me;
þe quhilk gif he persawe þi wil
þat þu with lust nicht me til,
he sal þe sla, ore euire he fyne,
& þu þi fare ȝuthed sal tyne;
bot [gyf] he be þi wil can prowe
þat þu me lufit of clene lufe,
in gret daynte he sal haf þe,
& luf þe als wele as me,
& al his Ioy saw þe til.”
valaryane þan, thru godis wil
chastyit, sad: “gif þu wil I
trow þi wordis parfytly,
schaw me þe angel, þat I may
se þat þi wordis are verray,
& I sal do al þi bydyng;
bot gif I ma haf persawynge
þat þu luffis ony warldis man,
I sal sla þe & hyme rycht þane.”
quod scho þane: “gyf þat þu
wil prowe it suth I sa now,
þu sal trew in god, hicht me,
& in his name baptiste be;
& þu sal se þe suth rycht þane,
þat he is angel & na mane.
þarfor ga fra þe cyte ewine
thre myle in name of god of hewine,
& in a rew, callit ‘via apia,’
syndry poure men þu sal ourta,
& to þame sal þu sa but gyle,
þat ‘me til ȝou has send cecile,
to sanct wrbane to kene me
to tel hyme hire priwete.’
& quhen þu fyndis hym, þu ma
tel hyme þire wordis þat I say.
& quhen he has hofine þe,
þane godis angel þu sal se.”
valaryane þan but abad
passit furth þe gat scho hym bad,
& be þe taknys he had tane,
fand þe bischope sanct vrbane
lurkand ymang pure men mekly,
quhare mony marteris can ly.
& quhene þat he þam tald had
his erand as cecile hym bad,
þe ald his handis but mare
vphewit to þe hewine rycht þare,
& gretand sad: “lord Ihesu,
þat chast consal wele chewis nov,
of þat sede froit nov þu tak
þat in cecil þu can mak!
for cecil as besy be
ententifly seruit has þe;
for hyme, þat scho als fellone
til spouse [tuk] as a woud lyone,
mek as a lame scho has þe send,
þi treutht til ek & til amend.”
& as þe bischope þis & mare
had sad, þane apperit þare
a ȝung man, þat nan cuth knaw,
cled in quhytare thing þan snaw,
& in his hand bare a buke,
þe quhilk rycht fare ves on to luke,
vith goldine lettris wrytine brad.
quhame quhene valeryan sene had,
he fel for rednes in þat sted
as a man þat had bene ded.
bot rath þe ȝung man raisit hyme,
& bad hyme rede þe buk with-ine.
& he red; & fand þare:
“þar is a god, forout mare,
& bot a treutht, & a baptyme,
þai sal al leilemen saf fra pyne,
a fadir, a makare of al,
a-beoufe athing & euir be sal.”
& as he had red þis wryt,
þe bischope sais: “trewis þu It,
or art þu ȝet of dout
of It þu come here about?”
valaryane þane loud can cry,
& sad: “na thing sa weile trev I
vndir hewine as I trew It
þat I saw wrytine in ȝone wryt.”
þe ȝung man þan wanyst away;
& valeryane but delay
of sanct vrbane tuk baptyme,
& hame to cecile went syne,
& fand hire one hire bed stanand,
& ane angel, þat in his hand
had twa cronis mad wynnly
of spanyst rose & quhyt lely.
of þame to cecile he gef ane,
& ane to valaryane,
& sad: “þir cronys I brocht now
of paradyse, to gif til ȝow;
þe quhilkis gif ȝe kepe clenly
with hart wnuemmyt & body,
þai sal neuir falow, na tyne
þe odour þat ȝe think sa fyne,
na ȝet na vthire sal þame se
bot gif he kepe chastyte.
&, valeryane, sene þat þu
has trewit heilesum consel now,
ask at me quhat-euir þu wil,
& I þi ȝarnyng sal fulfil.”
sad he: “gif sa þat it sal be,
þar is na thing sa suet, think me,
as my nan brothire; þare-for I
ask þat he knaw in hy
þe suthfastnes þat nov I kene.”
þe angel sad til hyme þane:
“for þine askyne is rychtwyse
& to god plesand mony vise,
þu & þi bruthire, bath
cronit to god, sal cume rath,
of martirdome þe fare crone
to bruk in hewine as ȝoure wardone.”
tyburcyane syne enterit þare
quhare cecile & his bruthire ware,
& feld þe odoure in til hy
of þe rose & þe lely,
& sad: “bruthir, hou hapnis here
þis swet sawoure þis tym of ȝere,
of Nouember in þe moneth,
quhene flouris haldine ar vndirneth?
for betyre odire I cane neuir fele.
þare-for til ȝou twa I grant wele
þat I ame chengit sudendly.”
valaryane sad: “na ferly;
for fare cronis & fresch haf we,
þat þine ene ȝet ma nocht se,
of rose and lyle wynly mad,
þat neuir-mare sal falou na fad.
bot as þu nov be my prayere
has feld wele þis odere here,
sa sal þu, gif þu trewis me,
it þat þou felis clerly se.”
tyburcius cane hyme ansuere:
“gif þis in slepe be at I here
or it be in-to suthfastnes
þou me tellis mar & les.”
þane sad til hym valaryane:
“ve haf slepit al our tym gane,
bot in suthfastnes now we duel.”
tyburcius sad: “þu me tel
hou þis ma be?” þan one ane
til hyme sad valaryane:
“godis angele it tacht to me;
þe quhilkis gif þu ȝarnis to se,
tak baptyme & renunce til al
fals ydolis þat ȝe godis cal!”
þane cecile prechit hym in hy,
& schewit it hyme al opynly,
þat ydolis ma fele na thing,
bot ar dume & defe, but smelling,
na nocht ma grape na ȝet se,
“bot are mad ne ma helpe þe,
& þu ma heke þaim as þu wil.
quhy suld þu þan gif suth þaim til?”
& as scho had hire sermone done,
tyburcius sad til hire sone:
“quha trewis nocht þis, mast and leste,
in fawte of wit is bot a beste.”
cecile þane hyme in armys hynt,
& kissit his briste, or scho stynt,
& sad til him: “I grant þis day
þat þu art my mach verray;
for, richt as luf of god has mad
þi bruthire my husband, but bad,
richt sa sal godis luf mak þe
my mache, gif þu wil treu me,
gif þu al ydol[is] wil forsake,
& treu in god, & baptyme tak;
& sa sal god grace gif to þe,
his angel in-to face to se.
for-þi se þu na lettyng ma,
bot with þi bruthire son þou ga!”
til his bruthire tyburcyane
sad: “tel me, valaryane,
to quhat is it þu sal me led
to mak ful endyng of þis ded?”
sad he: “to bischope vrbane.”
þane sad tyburcius one ane:
“Is þat vrbane þat to þe dede
has bene condampnyt in þis sted,
[&] in til hydlis ay syne duellis?
for, be he fundine, as men tellis,
he wil be brynt for-out mare,
& we with hym mon fal þare,
& sa, til we are sekand
diuinite in hewine schenand,
ve sal be wappyt in til yre,
percace in erde in brynnand fyre.”
quod cecile til hyme: “gif war nan
life bot in þis warld alane,
ferly var na men wald dout
to tyne it, war þai neuir sa stout;
bot þar is a fere bettyre lyf,
þat ma [nocht] tynt be for þis strife,
þat godis sone [h]as til ws tald,
þat mad al think, as his fadir wald;
þis godis sone, command fra hewyn,
tacht ws with his stewyne,
þat lyf is, þat lestis ay
in hewine, but oþir tene or tray,
þat he has grathit til al his,
til bruk in euire-lestand blis.”
tyburcyane sad: “tel me þis;
sene þu sais bot a god is,
quhy is þat þu tellis me
þat þai are nov godis thre?”
& cecile sad, þat ves war:
“as in a man thre thingis ar,
wit frist, memor þe todire thing,
& þe thred, vndirstanding;
richt swa in þe mycht of godhed
thre personis are but ony dred;
þe fadire, þe son, þe haly gast,
& nocht ane of þire are in waste.”
þane tald scho hyme mare & les,
quhy god in warld come & in fles,
& how hyme lykit for to tak
passione of ded for mannis sak,
& tald hyme syne congruiyte
quhy his passione suld nedful be.
“& first he tholit hyme-self ta,
at as man suld be lattine ga,
þat had bene haldine lang in syne;
& to be myssad lykit hyme,
sa man, þat ves in malysone,
mycht þar chese lestand benysone;
& he tholit scornyt to be,
to mak men of fendis scorne fre;
& he tholit a crone of thorne
one his heid be put for scorne,
for þat [t]he heid sensses suld be
fra mankind tane þat first gef he;
& gal he tastit, for to bet
It þat man tynt tastand þe swet;
& nakit one þe croice he wes,
til hele adamys nakitnes;
& hangit one þe croice ves he,
of first trespas to mak ws fre.”
tyburcyus þane but delay
til his bruthire þis [c]an say:
“gud bruthire, haf in þe mercy,
I pray þe, & me led in hy
to godis man, þat I ma be
clene mad, þe angel to se!”
his bruthire þane hym has tan
be þe hand & led til vrbane,
þat, baptiste þane, he
þe angel clerly mycht se,
þat vald gif hyme his askin[g]e
debonarly but gruching.
tyburcius þane, or he fane,
& his bruthire valaryane
þare faculte, til It mycht leste,
til poure folk disponyt faste,
& of þe marteris þe bodyis
sa slane for godis seruice
þai enterit ful prywely.
almacius þane in hy
gert þai brethire til hym bring,
& sad to þame, as in hething:
“quharfor haf ȝe sa mykil cure
& besynes and laboure
to grawe þame þat for trespas,
as resone mad, condampnit ves?”
tyburcius þane but delay
to þe prefet sadly cane say:
“vald god we war seruandis al
to þame ȝe dampnyt cal,
þat has dispysit with clere thocht
It þat aperis & is nocht.”
þe prefet sad: “þu tel me
quhat manere þat may be?”
quod he: “þat semys & is nocht
is al þat in þis warld is wrocht,
& ledis man to vanyte,
& til it þat nocht sal be;
bot it þat semys nocht to be
& is, gif þu ma clerly se,
Is of richtwise men þe lyfe,
& of Il men þe payne but strife.”
þe prefet sad: “I trew nocht þis
þu sais; of þi-self al is,”
& bad þane þat valaryane
befor hyme suld be brocht on ane,
& sad hyme: “þo þi bruthire be
nocht of parfyt wit, as think me,
I consal þe for-out mare
þat þu to me mak gud ansuare;
for it war lyk þai ware wod
þat refusis bath Ioy & gud,
but folely þat maste ȝarnis
þat is maste fay to Ioy & blis.
for-þi is gud ȝe wyse ȝu weile,
or ȝe tyne al varldis sele.”
valaryane sad til hyme þane,
in froist þat he saw Idil men
playand þame, makand gud chere,
& scorne þame þat wirkand were,
bot in tyme of het, quhen þai
froyt of þare travale bar away,
& gret Ioy & mery mad,
þane þai þat Idil bene had,
mad anoy & ewil chere;
“richt sa til ws has hapnyt but were;
for we thole nov cald & het,
quhile t[h]riste, quhyle hungire gret,
bot sal resawe til oure med
ay-lestand Ioy, þat is na dred.
bot ȝe, þat warldis glore has now,
in tyme to cume ful sare sal grew,
& for a schort tyme lestand blis
in ȝour foly are lyk to mys.”
þane þe prefet ansuert hym but mare,
& sad: “be þe pryncis, are
vndisconfit of þis varld hale,
sal thole, as ȝe say, lestand bale,
& ȝe, þat are content! wrechis here,
sic lestand blis sal bruk but were?”
valaryane sad til hyme þane:
“ȝe ar na princys, bot smal men,
borne in our tyme, & de sal sone,
& ȝeld resone hou ȝe haf done.”
þe prefet sad, þat wes fel:
“in sic spek ganys nocht to duel.
mak sacryfice for-out delay,
&, quhar þu lykis, pas þi way!”
þai brethire þane vnerely
sad to þe prefet opynly:
“lele sacrifice to god we gife,
& sal do, til we ma lif.”
quod þe prefet to þame one ane:
“of ȝoure god tel me þe name!”
valaryane til hyme þan can say:
“certis, his name fynd þu na ma,
þo þu had wengis for to fle.”
þe prefet sad: “ȝet thinkis me
þat Iubiter is nocht þe name
of god þat suld be I[n] mast fame?”
valaryane sad: “Iubitere
ves þe name of a murtherere
& of a kyd houlloure,
þat racht noþire of mensk na honoure.”
þane ansuert hyme almachius,
& sad: “gif suth be þu sais ws,
al þis warld erris bot þu ane
& þi bruthire, þat has ȝow tane
to trew in a god verraly.”
valaryane þane sad in hy:
“It is nocht anerly we twa
þat a god al-ane cane ta,
bot þai ar sa feile ma þane we,
þat þai ma nocht nomeryt be,
þat resawit þis halynes,
& ay sal eke & be na les.”
þane gert þe prefet tak þaim bath
& put þame in til pressone rath,
in ȝemsale of maxymy,
þat sad til þame ful felloun[l]y:
“ȝe, þat ar ȝung & fals alsa,
& bruthire-lufe betwene ȝou twa,
me think ȝe haste ȝou to ded nov
as til a feste men callit ȝow!”
valaryane sad: “gif þat þu
wil hicht til ws þat þu sal treu,
þe Ioy þu sal se in þis sted
of oure sawlis, as we are ded.”
þane maxymyne sad: “fyre me bryn,
gyf I þat god þane trou nocht in
þat ȝe treu, gyf þat I se
þe thing suth ȝe sa to me.”
þare maximyne but ony mare,
& al þat euire with hyme ware,
& þe fel tormentouris alsua,
of pape vrbane can baptyme ta,
þat in hydlis come þame til,
& þare request [did] with gud wil,
& in þe dawing of þe day
in hye voice cane to þame say:
“ȝe, þat are cristis knychttis mad,
puttis fra ȝou nov but abad
vorkis of myrknes, & clethis ȝou
in armys of licht in hast nov!”
almachius þe prefet herd
how þat þer cristine knychttis ferd.
þane gert he tak þaim rycht sone,
& syne eftire for-out hone
he gert leid þame of þe ton
four myle, one þat condicione,
gyf þai to Iubitere rycht þare
vald sacryfy but ony mare,
þai suld ga fre at þare wil,
& al þar gudis tacht þame til;
& gif þai gruchit to do sa,
þare nekis suld þai strik in twa.
þane ware þe brethire one led,
til þai come til þe lymmytstede;
& for þai wald nocht sacryfy
þai war vnhedit bath in hy.
þane maximyne, þat þare was,
quhene þat ves done in þe place,
sad, he saw angelis cume done
in þe tyme of þare passione,
& þare sawlis vpe in hewine bare
vith þame in-to wynly fayre.
sone eftire as þis ves done,
to þe prefet ves tald sone
þat maximyn cristine ves mad.
þe quhilk þane but abad
gert men with lumpis of led
dyng hyme til he ves ded.
þane cecile tuk þe bodys thre,
& in a grawe gert þaim lad be,
vith sic honoure as scho cuth do,
& as þe tyme askyt to.
almacius þane wes besy
to get þe gudis gredely
of þe forsad valaryane,
þat til his spouse cecile had tane,
& of tyburcius his bruthire,
& lewit nocht ane for vthire.
& sowne wes fundyn þat cecile
þar gud[is] had to kepe a quhyle.
for-þi hir gert he bryng hyme til,
to grype þe gudis in-to wil.
& as scho brocht ves hyme befor,
he sad til hire with sturt & schore:
“til ydolis þu mak sacryfice,
& þame honoure in al wyse,”
ore ellis for to thole gret payne
& fynaly þare-for be slane.
þan turmentoris, þo þai vald fenȝe,
word of ned hire til distrenȝe,
gret rycht sare, for sa fare a thing,
sa vyse, sa far, & sa ȝyng
vald ta þe ded sa wilfully.
þane sad scho til þame in hy:
“It is nocht, ȝungmen, as ȝe thocht;
for my ȝouthed here tyne I nocht,
bot gifis filth & takis gold fyne,
& giffis a lacht place of duelling,
& takis a place of bewte,
sic as ma nocht comprisit be,
& giffis bot a lytil wra,
a vyd merkat þare-for I ta.
richt as man suld gif ȝow
tene shillings for a penny now,
I trew þat ȝe suld haste ȝou þene
to gife a penny & take tene;
sa to god gif we gife ocht
of warldly thing þat he has wrocht,
he sal gif ws þarefor in med
ane hundre tyme sa fele, but dred.”
sad scho þane: “trew ȝe þis?”
“ȝa,” sad þai, “sa hafe we blis,
ve trew þat criste is god verray,
þat sic a seruand has þis day.”
þay of a wil euirilkane
gert bryng þe bischope ald vrban,
of quham richt þane baptym can ta
four hundre personis & ma.
almachius gert hire til hym bring,
& sad hire, as with smylyng
he sad: “of quhat condicion is þu?”
scho sad: “gentil woman, I trew.”
almacius sad syne tyte:
“I spere, womane, of þi ryte.”
cecile sad hyme: “þine askin[g]e
of foly takis begynnynge,
venand I suld ansuer[is] twa
vndir a demand þe to ma.”
almacius sad til hire bon:
“quhene has þu sic presumpcion
of redy ansuere til a man?”
& cecile sad til hyme þane:
“of conscience gud & clere,
& fath vnfenȝet, but were.”
almacius sad hire one hicht:
“me think þu knawis nocht my mycht.”
scho sad: “ȝis, I cane wele fynd
þi poweste lik a bose of wynd
þat fillit ware, & with a prene
mocht out be latine for-out wene,
& seage, and to-giddire fal,
& tyne þe vowsty blawing al.”
almacius cane til hire say:
“vith inwy þu begynnis ay,
& in It syne perseueris;
quhat is he þat þe þis leris?”
quod scho: “iniure is it nocht
bot fraud in word be thocht;
þar-for, gif I do wrang, me teche,
or with fals wordis I þe fleche,
or blame þi-selfe þat me blamys,
or of fraud me defamys.
bot we, þe haly name þat wat
of god, ma nyt it na-gat,
& bettire is de happely
na for to de here wrechitly.”
almacius sad in þat tyde:
“quhy spekis þu with sic pryde?”
“na,” quod scho, “pryd is It nocht,
bot It is stedfastnes of thocht.”
almacius þan til hire can say:
“þu wreche, wat þu nocht I may,
gif me lykis, now sla þe,
or, gif me lykis, lat þe be?
for sic poweste is tacht me til
þat I ma do quhat-say I wil.”
þane sad scho: “I ma prewe wele
þat þu has leyt ilke deile
agane opyne suthfastnes;
for, þo þu of poware wes
þe lyf to tak of ony man,
of powere wes þu neuir ȝet þan
to quhykine man þat ded had bene.
for-þi is þu seruand but wene
of doulful ded & nocht of lyfe,
& nocht of quyet, bot of stryfe.”
almacius cane til hire say:
“þat wedand wodnes do away,
& sacryfy oure godis til,
gyf to luf langere be þi wil!”
sad cecile þane, or scho stynt:
“It semys þu has þine eyne tynt;
for, þat þu godis cane cal,
ar bot stanis & stokis al,
as þu ma with þi handis taste,
þo þu ma nocht se a laste.”
þane ves almacius rycht wa
þat scho sic ansuere cane til hym ma,
& gert men til hire ine hire led,
for he wald scho war dede.
& al a day & al þe nycht
he gert leid meelte in menis sycht,
& band hire faste fut & hand,
& kest hir in þe led brynnande.
bot of het scho feld nomare
þane scho in a bath set þane vare,
na changit contenance na chere,
for ocht þat scho cane se or here,
bot ves blyth, as scho had bene
in maste mycht þat euir wes sene.
and as almacius þat herde,
as out of wit nere he ferde;
in-to þat leid, þat brynnyt swa,
he bad strik hire nek in twa.
& þo þe basar strak hire thrise,
he mocht vnhied hire na-wyse;
&, for þe law bad, þat, quha
suld haf þe hed strikine hym fra,
þe ferd strak suld haf na-way,
for-þi þe basare ȝed his way,
& lefyt hire lyand in þat sted
thre days fullely, as nere ded.
& in þe meyne-tyme, nocht-for-thy,
scho delt hire gudis vysly
ymange powre folk þat had ned,
& til vntrowand godis sede
sew, & to god wysly wane
thru hire preching mony man,
& þame þat scho conuertit swa,
fra wrbane scho gert baptym ta,
& sad hym, þat scho had mad purchas
to god þat scho mycht luf þe space
þat scho mycht þaim til hym commend,
þat to be baptist scho hym send,
& of hire house of lyme and stane
gert mak a kirk, of sancte vrbane
halouyt, & eftire lad hire þare
quhare nov fele bischopis grawyn are.
& þis, þat I tel here, done wes
eftire þat criste had tane flesch
twa hundre thre & thretty ȝere;
& þane wes emperoure but were
marcyus, þat arelyane
had þane til his surname.
now, sancte cecile, þat had sic grace,
þat, quhat þu wald, þu mycht purches
fra Ihesu, þat þu lufit swa,
purches ws, ore we hyne ga,
of þis varld þat we ma twyne
but schame, det, or dedly syne.

XLIV.—LUCY.

Ȝhete wil I wryt of þe story
here next of sancte lucy,
þat borne wes of syrycusane,
& mychty kyne had mony ane.
scho wes fare, wyse, & chaste,
& set hire hart one god maste,
& to serwe hyme wes nocht swere.
sa hapnyt hire a tyme til here
þe gret lose of sanct agatha;
& mad hire hydire for til ga,
& at [hir] fe[r]tre for to wak,
& þare to god hir prayere mak.
for of agatha þe renovne
gert hire haf deuocione.
& hir modyr eutycia
scho tretyt with hire for to ga,
for four ȝere scho had þe Il,
þat oftymys fallis wemen til;
na scho mycht get na medycine,
þat cuth hire stanche of þat pyne.
& for scho trewit sancte agas
of hele suld get hire modir grace,
samyne þai went of dewote wil
of agatha þe fe[r]tre til,
& wok þar, & prayt a nycht.
& one [þe] morne at dais lycht,
quhene þai herd þe bellis ryng,
& prestis schupe þaim mes to syng,
þane went þai til alteris sere,
deuotely messis for til here.
& ymang vthire wes a mes,
quhar þe ewangel repetyt ves
of a woman þat of tweching
of cristis heme but vthir thing,
of sic seknes gat hele quyt
of hire sad treutht thru meryt.
þane sad lucy: “modir dere,
gyf þu trewis wrytine is here,
trow agas has hyme ay present,
for quham scho sufferit herd torment;
&, þarfore, wil þu twech now
hir fe[r]tre & ferme trew,
I trew þu sal parfytly be
hale of þine infirmyte.”
& as þe messis war al done,
þe folk went hame at þe novne,
bot þai twa at þe fertre lay
in gret deuocione for to pray.
& tyd lucy for to slepe;
&, as hire thocht, takand kepe,
saw agatha at hire richt hand
vith ful feile angelis stand,
schrud in schenand wed
brichtare þane siluir, but dred,
& sad hire: “cystire lucy dere,
to god deuote, in thocht ful clere,
quhy askis þu me þat þu
to þi modire ma gif now?
for þi treutht has mad hire hale,
& bete wele of all hire bale.”
þane waknyt sancte lucy,
& til hire modire sad in hy:
“lo, modire, þu art mad hale,
for þu trewyt to my tale.
þar-for be hire I coniure þe
þat thru sic travale helyt þe,
þat to spouse me þu nemmyne nocht,
bot, quhat-euir it wes þu thocht
in weding fore to gif to me,
to gyfe to poure men I leife þe.”
hire modire sad: “couer myn ene,
&, quhat to þe spedful be sene
to do of my gud, do alsone!”
þane lucy til hire sad but hone:
“It þat þu gifis at þi ded-day,
þu gifis, for þu ma nocht away
ber it; for-þi þi gud þu giffis,
gif þu wil thank haf, til þu liffis;
to gif þi gud, thank has þou nan,
quhene þu of þis lyf is tane.
for-þi, til þu has powste,
gif, & þu sal rewardit be.”
þare-for, quhen þire twa com hame,
sancte luca & hire forsad dame,
þai gef þare gudis plentuisly
to þame þai saw mast nedy.
& quhen þar meble ilke day
ves nere delt clenely away,
þane sawyt þai, as þat ves done
þare gudis w[n]mowable sone.
& as þis come to þe knawyng
of hyme þat suld haf in weding
lucy, speris at hire nowrise,
quhar-for hire gudis in sic vise
var sald for mast part away,
& delt to poure men ilke day.
& scho, þat ves var & wyse,
sad, þat lucy in merchandrise
had fundine a thing for to by,
quhare-in mare profyt cane ly
þane in ocht þat sald has þai
be lyklynes alway,
& þat in til his nam scho bocht,
for scho to mak [hym] riche thocht.
& he, þat sete had his lykyng
alhale in temporale thing,
to sel þe gud ves mare besy
be-for þane ves sanct lucy,
venand þat he suld at his weding
þare-thru hafe doublyt al his thing.
& syne, quhen he persawit veile
þat al wes sald ilke dele,
& ymang poure men delt away,
þane to þe prefet but delay,
þat to name had pascasius,
he went & plenȝet of his spouse,
þat scho had tane þe cristine fay
agane þare lawis osyt Ilke day,
in contrare of þe emperoure,
of commone thing þat has þe cure.
paschasyus þane in al hy
befor hyme gert bryng lucy,
& bad þat scho suld criste forsak,
& sacrifice til ydolis mak.
sad scho: “thankful sacryfice
& plesand to god mony wyse
is to helpe pure men & fede,
& visit mysterful in ned.
bot now, for nocht is lefyt me,
quhar-of I ma gif cheryte,
of my-selfe wil I offerand mak
to god, þat in thank sal It tak;
for I haf dressit my ful wil
hou I ma sonest cume hym til.”
til hire þane sad Pascasyus:
“sic wordis suld þu nocht say ws,
bot erare lyk þe til a fole,
as þu art cled in cristis stole;
for to me mak þu nocht þat spek,
þat has þe lawis for to kepe
of hyme þat is nov emperoure,
& al þe varld has in cure.”
þane lucy sad: “richt as þu
þe law of þi prynce kepis nov,
rycht sa þe lawis sal I kepe
of my god in ded & speke;
& for þi princis þu art rad,
& cristine treutht serwe god me bad;
þi prince wil nocht þu wreth nov,
& I to wreth god sal eschew;
þu til þi prince wil enples,
& to serwe god is myne ese.
þare-for do þu þat þe spedful is,
for rycht sa wil I do I-wys
it þat is my maste profyt.”
paschasius sad hir tyt:
“þi patrimone, wele persawe I,
þu has dispendit, as se I,
one þaim þat has corr[u]mpit þe;
þar-for as hure þu ansueris me.”
þane til hyme sad lucy:
“sir, my patrimone haf I
stablit in sa sekire place,
quhare foule corrupcion neuir ves;
bot sic corrupturis as þu
to me at lykyne spekis nov,
I wiste neuir Il in body na thocht,
na ȝet wit sal, dred þe nocht!”
paschasyus sad þan hire til:
“þat þu me tald, it war my wil,
quha ar fyleris of þe body
& of þe thocht.” þan sad lucy:
“of þe thocht fyleris are ȝe
þat wald entyse ws þat we
suld cese to serwe our creator
fore it þat seruis nocht ane houre;
& corruptouris of cors ar þai
þat varldly lyking settis ay
befor lykyne þat ma nocht
cese, bot þare-of has na thocht.”
þe prefet sais: “al sic spekyng
sal sese, fra we begyne to ding.”
quod lucy: “trew þu but les
þat godis vord ma neuir cese.”
quod þe prefet: “I trev þat þu
trewis þu art god rycht nov!”
sad lucy: “I wat þat I
ame godis seruand encrely,
til his appostolis þat can say
‘se, ȝe dout be na way
befor kingis quhen ȝe sal stand
or befor precydentis of þe land,
quhat ȝe sal say in þat houre,
na of ȝoure ansuere haf na cure;
for wysdome sal I gif ȝu til
& mowth til ansuere þaim with skil,
for in ȝow sal þe haly gast
til al mak ansuere mast & leste.’”
þe presydent sad: “wenis þu
þe haly gast is in þe nov?”
lucy ansuert hyme in hy:
“quha here weile lufis & chastely,
of þe haly gast tempil ar þai.”
pascasius þane can til hire say:
“to þe bordale þu sal be led,
& be sa fylit in þat sted,
þat tyt þe haly gast fra þe,
for fylth of þi flesche, sal fle.”
quod scho: “þe body ma nocht
be fylit bot of consent of thocht.
for, þo þu ger men fyle me
agane my wil, my chastyte
sal doublit be me to þe crone,
þat I sal wyne for my wardone;
for of my wil neuir sal I
consent to fyle my body,
for ony payne or ony wa,
þat þu to me þare-for ma ma.
for my body ay is bone
to haf al pyne & passione
for godis sak, quham in I trew.
do furth þare-for! quhat bydis þu?
for þu sal fynd me redy ay
to tak mare payne þan thu think ma.”
þe presydent gert [til] hyme bryng
sere houlouris, & gef bydding
hir to þe bordale to led,
& quhen scho var in þat sted,
þa suld ger be criyt tyt,
quha-sa-euir had appetit
til haf a maydine but med,
þai suld þame to þe bordale sped,
for þar fynd suld þai a madine
to mak assith til þaim Ilkane;
& þat nane suld hire body spare
til ony lyfe in hire ware.
þane þai went furth but abad,
to do þat þai in byding had.
hir to þe bordale wald þai haf brocht
for sic cause; bot þai mocht nocht;
for þe haly gast had sa
stithit hire, þat nane of þai
mycht of þat place a fute hire stere.
þe presydent, þat wes by nere,
ves amowit ful gretumly,
& gert a thousand men in hy
cume to draw hyre furth of thret.
bot þai mycht hire na forthir get,
þo bath hire fet & hire handis
var bundine faste with Irne bandis.
to helpe þame come, a thousand men,
fyfty ȝok of oxine þene,
to flyt hire furth one þe way;
bot in waste [wes] al did þai,
for vnsterit scho stud stil
as a crag, to byd godis wil.
enchaunturis þane he gert cum sere,
hir with enchanmentis to stere;
bot scho mycht nocht steryt be
mare þane ware a rutfast tre.
þane þe presydent can spere:
“quhat wichecraft dois þou here,
þat þu, þat is maydine al ȝing
& lyk is til a teyndir thing,
ma nocht be had a fute of lynth,
of men na oxine for þe strinth?”
quod lucy: “neuir ȝet delt I
with wichecraft, bot sikirly
It is of criste þe benyfice,
þat stithis me on þis wyse;
for, gyf þu wald ȝet ek to
ten thousand, [þai] suld nomare do.”
þane ves it tald þe presydent
þat wischcrafte & Inchaunment
vith nectyng mocht be lousit sone.
þane gert he caste on hire but hon
of necting a gret quantyte,
þat foule ves to fele or se,
þar-with for to flit hyre thocht.
bot al ves in wast þai wrocht.
& quhene he mycht do nomare,
a ful gret fyre he gert mak þare
about hyr one ilke syd,
þat scalyt fare þe low, & wyd,
& kiste þare-in pyk & brynstan,
to bryne hyre bath lyre & bane.
bot þat grewit hyre nomare,
na It a tempryt bath ware.
þane lucy one hicht can say:
“of god I haf gottine delay
of my martirdome, for þat I
out of dout suld put sikirly
al cristine men to thole passione,
& say to wyne ay lestand crone,
& til eke schame als þe mare
til hethine þat vntreuful are.”
pascasius ves þane ful wa,
quhen he saw hyme scornyt sa.
for-þi his frendis, þat ware nere,
til confort hyme & mend his chere,
a sword in hire hals can thryng.
bot þat hire refit nocht þe speking,
for scho sad: “trewly, I tel ȝow
þat to kirk pece is giffine now,
for þis day ded has tane
of þis warld maxymyane,
& dyoclyciane but dout
of his kynrik [is] put owt.
& as agatha, my cystire fre,
is protectryse of þis cyte
of cathanen, rycht swa sal I
mak prayere to god Ithandly
of Cyricusane for þe towne,
þat to helpe [it] god be bon.”
& rycht as scho þis tale tald,
fra rome come men, þat ves bald.
þan band þai pascasyus rycht þare
& led hyme sa to cesare;
for cesar had herd syndry tel,
þat þis pascasius ves fel,
& refit gudis for gredynes
In þe cunctre quhare he ves.
& quhen he ves brocht to rome,
of þe senat thru þe dome,
his nek þai gert strik in twa,
&, quhare he seruit, [he] cane ga.
& sanct lucy out of þat sted,
quhare scho for god tholyt ded,
ves nocht steryt, bot duelt stil,
as lyk wes to be godis wil;
bot quhen prestis in gud entent
had ministiryt hire þe sacrament,
& scho had ȝoldine god þe geste,
þai mad a fare grawe in [til] haste,
& hyre entyryt vorthely,
as oyse of kirke wes, deuotely.
þane come hire mychtty frendis but hon,
& mad a crafty kirke ful sone,
qu[h]are restis, & sal do ay,
hire poudyre til of dome þe day;
& feffyt it mychtyly
of gret rentis & mychty,
to sustene þaim þare suld lyfe,
þare seruice to god ay to gyfe,
In lowing of god firste, & syne
in honoure of þis haly virgine.
twa emperouris vare þat tyme:
þe tane ves callyt constantine,
& þe todire maximyne.
eftir criste oure flesch had tane
thre hundre tene ȝere & ane,
þis ded ves done, ȝe red here,
þe xiij day of discembre, but ver.
nov lucy, for quham god of hewine
þis wrocht for þe, ore þu went hyne,
þu purchas ws sic grace, þat we
oure lyf led [her] in sic degre,
ovt of þis warld þat ve ma twyn
but schame, det, & dedly syne.

XLV.—CRISTINE.

The gentil virgine s: cristine,
þat god seruit vith hart fyne,
come of kyne of mykil mycht,
þat seruit god[is] day & nycht;
& in tyro of ytaly
hir fadire duelt as mast mychtty.
& for scho ves his perand are,
fetyse, fasonyt wele, & faire,
he mad a toure of lyme & stane,
a starkare mocht be fundine nan.
þar-in put he his dochtyre dere,
& twelf madynis, þat fosterit vere
vith hire to serwe, he gert ga
in þe toure hire seruice to ma.
& godis gert he mak syndry
of gold & siluire mychtyly,
& put þame vith hyre in þe toure,
for scho suld do to þaim honour,
& incense laid in a wyndo by,
quhar-with scho suld sacryfy.
þane for þe cause of hire bewte
ful mony ȝarnyt hire to se,
til hafe hire in weding;
bot hire kyne wald for na thing
þat scho til man suld gyffine be,
bot serwe furth in virginite,
til þar godis til enplese,
for as þame thocht þat ves mast ese.
bot scho ves tacht wele in haste
be steryng of þe haly gaste,
& al þai ydolis mare & les
scho had in-to wlatsomnes,
& þe incense, þar-with scho
vikit sacrifice suld mak þaim to,
in a wyndo scho lad It by,
& it hyd þare ful craftfully.
hire fadire come a day percace
in-to þe toure, quhar his dochtir ves,
& hir twelfe madynis tald hym sone
hale how his dochtire had done,
þat sacrifice vald mak na day
til hire godis be ony way,
“for scho sais, cristine is scho.
seis þarfor quhat ȝe wil do!”
þane hir fadire kissit hir ofte,
& gluthryt hir with vordis softe,
& hir entysyt mony wyse
to godis to mak sacryfice,
& sad [til] hir: “my dochtire dere,
do furth my byding in gud chere!”
quod scho: “þi dochtir cal nocht me,
bot I his dochtyre ay sal be,
& sacryfice [one]-til hyme mak,
þat sal in thank rycht wele It tak;
þat is, to god in trinite,
to quhame for euire I offer me,
& nocht to godis, þat neuir had
lyfe, bot are vith handis mad,
& ma nocht spek, se, na ga—
quhatkine godis suld be þa?”
þane sad þe fadir: “gif þat þu
vil nocht to syndry godis now
mak sacrifice, at lest til ane
sa þat þe lafe nocht crabyt be
na gretly grevyt at þe!”
þane sad scho: “þu has sad wele
vnwittandly, sa haf I seele!
for I mak myn offerand but were
euir-ilke day to godis sere,
& are bot a god nocht a laste,
þe fadire, þe sone, þe haly gaste.”
þane sad þe fadire: “sene þat þu
þai sere godis honouris now,
quhy wil þu nocht honoure with-al
al vthire þat goddis ve cal?”
quod scho: “þo I nemmyne thre
personis, ma bot a god be;
fadire, sone, & haly gaste;
& þire thre, quha vele cuth taste,
Is bot ane in diuinyte,
þo I nemmyne personnys thre.”
hire fadir vent [in] wrath away.
& crystyane but [mar] delay
gadryt sammyne þai godis al
of gold & siluere, & brak smal,
in smal pecis but delay,
& gefe to poure men away.
hire fadire, venand vele to do,
a-nothire tyme come hire to,
to þai godis to do honoure,
þat he befor lewit in þe toure;
& he fand nane he honour mocht.
þare-of gret ferly hyme thocht,
& at cristine he speryt sone,
quhat scho vith his godis had don.
þane hire maydinis can hym say,
þat scho [had] delt þame al away,
& brokine þame in pecis smal.
þat hyme thocht verste of al.
& quhene he wist þis ves done,
he gert hire clathis tak of son,
& gert men ding hire ful faste
vith handis fel, til þai mycht leste.
& þat he gert do ythandly,
til twelfe men war wery.
cristine sad [til] hire fadire þane:
“but honoure & schame Ivyle man
& wlatsume to god sykyrly,
se hou al þere are very,
þat dyngis me, & ȝet but vere
in godis seruice I persewere;
þarefor suld þu be prayere seke
tyl þi godis, þare strinthis til eke,
& sa, to nev þare vertu, fand;
for þai haf nere tynt þare aynd.”
þane gert he bynd hire faste
vith yrne chenȝeis, & hire caste
in til a presone depe & myrk.
& quhen hire modir herd þis verk,
scho rafe hire clathis & hire hare,
& cryit loud, & he can rare,
& to þe presone vent ful sone,
& til hire douchtir fete fel one ane,
& sad: “cristyane, my dochtyre brycht,
þat of myne ene is souerane lycht,
vith hartly vil to þe I pray
þat þu wil rew of me þis day!”
quod scho: “quhy callis þou me
þi douchtire? for I haf one me
þe name of god almychtty.
for-þi ga þi vay in hy!”
& quhen þe modire saw þat scho
mocht no mare with hire douchtyre do,
til hire husband scho com sone,
& tald hyme al hou scho had done,
& þat scho mycht be na skyl
of hire douchtyre turne þe wil.
hire fadire þane of fellon thocht
gert hyre befor hyme sone be brocht,
& bad hire scho suld sacryfy
til þare godis in al hy,
ore ellis thole torment sa fel,
þat it suld ferly be to tel,
“& þu sal neuir callit be
my douchtir; trewly, I tel þe.”
þane sad scho [til] hyme but hone:
“a ful gret grace þu has me done,
þat sic hicht makis to me,
þat þi douchtir I sal nocht callit be;
for of sathanes trewly art þu,
ȝa, fadire, fermely þis þu trew!”
þane commandyt he to perse hir flesch
with scharpe nalys, þat teyndir was,
& hire lymmys to draw in twyne,
til ony lyf ware hire in.
þane cristyane of hire flesch can pul,
þat rywine wes, a handful,
& kyste [it] in hire fadire face,
& sad tyl hyme, þat angry wes:
“þu tyrand, þat þi flesch can get
of þi body, now It ete!”
hir fadire þane but ony hone
gert hir on a quhele be done,
& fyre vith oyle þar-on gert he
be mad in gret quantyte.
þane þe gret lo[w] scalit on heid,
& slew fywe hundire in þat sted;
bot til hire it did na lath,
in body, na ȝet in clath.
ȝet vend hire fadire sekirly
al þat had bene sorcery;
for-þi one nev he gert hire bynd,
& in a myrk pressone hire flyng.
& as cumyne ves þe nycht,
he bad his menȝe þai suld dycht
a hewy stane til hire bynd faste,
& in þe se syne hire caste.
& quhen þai had his bydding don,
godis angel apperit sone,
& hire in handis hynt in hy,
& held hire one lofte ban-dry.
þane cryste hym-self, þat al mocht se,
[come] of hewine, þat in þe se
baptyste hire, & cane say:
“I baptyse þe here þis day
in god, my fadire, & in me
& in þe haly gaste, al thre;”
& to sancte mychel hire betacht,
þat blythly hire in handis lacht,
& set hire one land al dry.
& quhen hire fadire þis ferly
herd, strak hym-self in þe front,
ȝet sayand, as he wes wont:
“quhat wichcrafte oysis þu,
þat þe se na ma now
drowne þe, for ocht men ma do?”
þis answere scho mad hym to:
“þu fellone fule & vnhappy,
of god sic grace gewine haf I.”
hire fadire [þane] commawndit sone
þat scho in preson suld be don,
& one þe morne hire to ta,
& hire heid strik of hire fra.
bot vrbane, hire fadire, þat nycht
ves fundine ded be godis mycht.
to quham a Iug can succed
callyt denyse, ewil of ded,
þat gert a kirtil be mad meet
for hire, syd done to þe fete,
of yrne, as ane habresone;
& as þis ves redy mad bon,
in-to þe fyre he gert it caste,
& drew it syne on hire faste,
& walland oyle & pyk alson
he gert cast þare abeone;
& gert foure wicht men to ga,
þat suld rol hire to & fra,
þat scho þe sonnere suld be slane
eftyre þat ilke fellone payne.
bot scho vnhurt lofit god ȝarne
þat scho, nov borne as a barne,
ves rokit sa, felend na sare,
as barne þat in þe kardil vare.
þat Iuge, as he þis had sene,
nowly gert tak hyre in teyne,
& schawe hire heid to þe suerd,
& gert men tak hire eftirwerd
of hire clathis, & gert hire be
led nakit thru þe cyte,
tyl apolyne til scho ves brocht.
& þane to pray scho cesyt nocht,
til þe fals ydol don can fal,
& in poudre lousyt al smal.
& as þe Iug þis herd say,
he wes sa red but delay
he fel done þare stane ded.
& þare succedit in his sted
a fellone Iug of mony ane,
þat callyt wes Iulyane.
& he ane oyne gert be mad
red het, & put hire in but bad,
& closit it, as þat ves done.
bot godis angel come sone,
& duelt with hire dais fywe,
vith hire sang lowand god of lywe.
þane come þare fele þe sext day,
to se how hire body lay,
þat þai wend bene brynt had;
& fand hire bath blyth & glad,
lowand god at al hyre mycht
þat of his angelis gef hyre sycht.
ȝet Iulyane went wittirly,
& al vthire, it had bene sorcery.
þane twa serpentis he gert bryng on ane,
þat haspidis has to name,
& als fellone vthyre twa,
þat to nam has vypera,
& twa colubris rycht fellone
befor hire he gert lay done.
þe serpentis hire fete can lyke,
& hurt hire nocht, þo þai var wyk.
aspidis til hir papis socht,
& sukyt þame, & noyt nocht.
Colubres a-bout hyr nek lay
vnhurtand, lykyt suet away.
þane Iulyane, þat þis has sene,
vend it sorcery had bene.
til his enchantoure þan sad he:
“me think þu begilis me,
þat gerris nocht þire bestis byt,
& sla ȝone maydine but respyt.”
þane he profit his craft to do;
& al þai bestis socht hyme to
in mykil brath in-to þat sted,
& gert hyme fal done stane ded.
þane cristine, þat wes nocht rad
for þai bestis, but bad þaim bad
þat þai suld pase til wildirnes,
quhar of men wes nan accese,
& neuire cum to grewe man.
& furth went þai richt þane.
& dynyse, þat ȝet lay ded,
þe secund Iug of þat sted,
at hire prayere scho rasit þan;
& he become cristine man.
ȝet Iulyane, þat wes sa thra,
bath hire papis gert ryf hir fra;
& men mycht se þare gret ferly,
þat mylk for blud come out in hy.
& seand þat, he wes [ful] wa,
& sone gert carwe hire tong in twa;
bot scho þe spek tynt na deile,
bot, as befor, spak als wele;
& scho strak Iulyane in þe e
vith it, & lettyt hyme þane to se.
þane Iulyane, þat wes wa,
in his hand a bow can ta,
& with ane arrow in hire syd
he mad a slope, depe & wyd,
& of ane vthire arrow þare
he strak hir thru þe hart, sa sare
þat to god scho ȝald þe gaste,
þat it resawit in til haste.
& þis in tyre done ves,
eftir criste resawit oure flesch
twa hundre lxxxvij ȝere;
& þane ves emperoure but were
þe fellone Dioclysiane,
þat cristine men slew mony ane.

XLVI.—ANASTACE.

Þe nobil womane anastace
in rome of gret kine borne wes
& douchtir ves of a mychty
man, callit pretaxaty,
& payane he wes neuir-þe-les;
bot hire modire cristine wes,
a womane of gud fame,
& fausta scho had to name.
& scho hire douchtir gef to lere
to grisogone, þat with gud chere
in cristine treutht mad hire parfyt;
& scho to lere It had delyt.
syne til a man of gret kyne
nere by rome with mykil wyne,
scho ves giffine, þat [had] to name
publy, a man of gret fame,
& vedit hire, & brocht til house,
as afferyt til his spouse.
bot scho, þat thochtful wes ay
of Ihesu criste & of his fay,
thocht scho suld nocht marit be
vith a payane sic as wes he.
ane vthire cause wes ane,
þat chaste scho suld luf alane.
for [t]hire causis fra his bed,
fenȝeand hire sek, away is fled.
& quhar scho wiste ony ware
liffand in-to cristis lare
put in pressone, scho vald ga,
& pure clething one hire ta,
in mykil dout ythandly,
& confort þaim ful besyly
vith almus dedis, les & mare,
vesch þare fet, & keme þar hare.
þane publy strat kepyn til hir mad,
sa þat narroly fud scho had,
& [in] ane house gert stekit be,
þat narroly mycht scho furth se,
bot a wyndo til haf disport,
but mare disport or conforte.
þis tyme dyoclyciane
gert grisogonus be tane,
& put in presone ymang vthire;
þe quhilk scho fed as hire bruthir
als lang as scho had accese;
bot fra tyme scho closit ves,
sic remed ȝet purchaste scho,
þat a kerlyne come hir to,
a medyatrice, to cume & ga
betwene anastace & al þai
godis confessouris þat ware
in presone or in bandis sare,
bot betwene [hir] maste teyndirly
& grisogone, þat was haly.
be þis kerlyng þan wald scho
hir almus dedis to þame do.
lettris of confort þane alswa
betwene þame bare scho to & fra.
& quhene lang it had bene þis,
hire fellone husband publyus
maugre his to pers ves send,
certane nedis fore til end;
& to kepe his spouse, ordenyt he
a wykit man of his menȝe,
& ordenyt hire vatir & Iwil bred;
for he vald rycht fayne haf hir ded.
& sa bad he þat it suld be
ore he agane come, for causis thre.
þe first [þat] steryt his entent
ves, for scho vald nocht consent
in weding to fulfil his wil
in luste of flesch, as hym thocht skil;
þe todire, be-cause þat scho
þe cristine treutht had tane hir to;
þe thred cause [þat] cane hyme stere,
for scho had landis fare & sere,
and meble in gret quantyte,
&, gif scho ded war, hal had he.
& as he wes passit his way,
þis fellone seruand but delay
sa fellonly hire sone can trete
in strat ȝemesel & in fewte,
þat hir lyfar had bene ded
þane sic lyfe ony tyme to led.
thre moneth eftire þis ewynly,
þe caryone of fellone publy
to rome ves brocht be þe se;
& al þai menȝe þane cane fle,
til anastace þat keparis ware,
in syndry placis here and þare.
& scho, mad quyt of presone,
brukit al hire possessione;
& þane sudendly scho sald
al hire gud, by quha vald,
& quha of gud ned had maste,
scho relewit þame in til haste,
& eraste quhar scho wist ony ves
in presone or in seknes;
& skonryt with nane
how foule sekness sa þai had tane,
bot mekly vald scho wesch þar fet,
& with softe sawis þare saris bet,
& dicht þame, & keme þare hare,
as þe modir suld do þaim bare.
& firste to grisogone tald scho
al hale þat hapnyt had hir to,
& of þe ded of hire husband,
& hou scho brokine ves of band;
þat lowit god bath he & scho
ful ofte, as þame byrd wel to do.
þane þai of rome be wryt gert tel
to dyoclesyane þe fel,
þat faste ves slayand cristine men,
in aquiely, quhar he wes þane,
how þe cristine grew ay,
& how fele folk lewit þare lay.
þare-of, þai sad, wes mast to blame
grisogonus be his rycht name.
& [he] wrat agane, & bad sla
al cristine þat þai mycht ta,
& grisogonus þai suld hym send,
þat he of hyme mycht mak sum end.
& þai his biding did rycht sone,
& send hyme gresogone but hone.
þane folouyt anastacya
grisogone, in wele & wa.
quhene he to dyoclysyane
come, he hyme sad one ane:
“of þe prefet tak þe dignite
& of consul, as kynd is þe,
& lat na foly þe our-ta,
bot sacrifice to godis ma!”
grisogonus til hyme can say:
“in thocht I honoure a god ay,
& virschepe hyme in hart I sal,
& honoure in my dedis al,
& honoure sal I neuire mare
þame þat symulacris are,
& dewilis þat þaim duellis in;
& wil þu thole me, ore þou blyne,
I sal þame brak in powdir smal,
for I þame wary, & euire sal.
& þe pouere þu hichtis me,
& þe gret state & dignite
I refuse & forsakis ay,
as vndire my fet I do clay.”
þane fellone dyocliciane
gert grisogonus be tane,
& gert sone cute his nek in twa,
for sacrifice he ne wald ma.
ȝet anastace had madynis thre,
þat vald for na necessyte
lefe hire; & [ane] wes agyne,
thyonia þe todir þene,
þe thryd of þame yrenen hicht;
þai seruit god at al þare mycht.
& þe prefet, for þai var ȝinge,
gert þame thre al hyme bring,
& commawnd þame to sacrify.
bot playne “nay,” þai sad in hy,
for þai for hyme & vthire nane
vald leif þe treutht [þat] þai had tan.
þane in dyspyt gert he
þame put in presone al thre.
& anastace bad þame by,
& þame to serwe ves ful besy.
& þe presone, quhare-in þai
var, nere þe kechine lay,
& in it for to kepe vmquhile
of þe kechine ves vtensel.
& þo þat place ves lacht & myrk,
ȝet god cane his mychtis wirk,
& of his mycht mad it schenand,
& confort þame vith angel sang.
& for þire thre ver farly fayre,
þe prefet yddire had repare;
bot as he to þame cumyne wes,
his thocht changit in sic wodnes,
þat, quhene he thocht þaim til embrase
or til kyse, as his wil wes,
pottis or pannis vald he hynt
in armys & kise, or he stynt.
& as he wend he had done
til his wenyng Inuch, al-sone
fra þat place þan vald he ga,
raggit & rent & blak alswa;
sa þat þai þat bad hyme þen
beout þe dure, cuth hym nocht kene,
bot erar vend he had bene
a vod man, fra þai [had] hym sene;
for-þi dispytuisly vald þai
dyng hyme, & put hym a-way.
þane to þe emperoure to ga
he dressit hyme, his playnt to ma
þat men had done hyme sic Iniure.
bot, or he to þe emperoure
mycht cume, men ȝet sare hyme dang,
sume vith scurgis, & sum vith wand,
& sume in-[to] his face vald spyt,
& vthir sum [kest] richt ful dryt,
& sum mony sar buffet
one his face ful sadly set;
for al þai þat hym had sene,
vend brane wod he had bene.
& vith al þis sa blynd ves he,
þat he mycht nocht hym-selfe se,
bot as [to] his awne sycht
he ves rycht cumly, fare, & brycht.
& þe fend quham he had
lang seruit, sic reward hym mad.
nocht-þane gret sorow can he ma
þat herd hym syne defoulit sa.
as [it] ves tald hym eftir sone
þat þai thre madynnis it had don
be wichcraft & sorcery.
þare-for he spoylit þaim in hy,
þat he mycht nakit se þare flesch
quhar-in his sufferane delit ves.
&, as he vend mak þaim bare
of þar clething, ferly fel þare;
for þai wald nomare a-way twyne
þane suld haf done þare awne skyn,
sa mocht þai be naway
fra þare bodys be tane away.
sa þe prefet for abasing,
fast routand fel on slepyng,
& sadly slepand lay stil,
for ocht men mycht do hyme til;
& his frendis þat of hym rocht,
sa slepand til his Inys hym brocht.
quhen dyoclisiane þene herd
hou with dulycius it beferd,
ane erle, callit sir cycyny[u]me,
til his presens he gert cume,
& bad he suld but pyte
ger sla þai verginis al thre.
cycinius þane in til yre
of dry matere gert mak a fire,
& þer thre madynnis he gert cast in,
venand in haste þai suld bryne.
bot þai þar-in bad but merryng
of clathis, of corse, or of vthir thing,
bot ȝald þe saulis to god of hewyn,
þat þame reschauyt vith angel stewyn.
þe emperoure, þat fellon wes,
til a prefet gef anastace,
til haf hire til his wyf frely,
gyf he mycht gere hire sacryfy.
þe prefet þar-of ves rycht blyth,
& had hire til his chawmir suyth,
& becuth hir til enbrase;
bot he þe sycht tynt in þat place.
til his fals godis þan went he,
to consal þaim gyf he mycht be
recouerit of his maledy.
& þai ȝald hyme ansuere in hy:
“for þu grewit anastace nov,
til vs but bad gewine is þu,
to duel with ws but end in hel,
& euire thole torment cruel.”
his seruand[is] led hym hame þan,
& in his house as he wane,
he ȝald þe gast but abad,
as his mawmentis hym tal[d] had.
& til ane vthir prefet, as he wes
ded, gefine ves anastace,
þat gert hire in presone do.
&, quhene It wes tald hyme to
þat scho wes riche habundandly,
he sad hir til al prewely:
“cristine woman gif þu wil be,
þu mon do as god byddis þe,
þat sais: ‘he þat renuncis nocht
til al þat he has, he ma nocht
my discipil ony way be.’
þare-for gif al þi gud to me.
bot þu renunce til al þi gud,
þu seruis hyme nocht þat deit on rud,
for god in his ewangel sais treuly
‘na man ma twa lordis serue;’ for-þi
þu ma nocht here serue to riches
& als to þi god with besynes.
for-þi renunce al vith gud wil,
& þi god sa þu ma serue til.”
sad scho: “sutht is, god bad
sel al þe gudis þat I had,
& gif pure men, & nocht ryk;
& þat þu poure be, is nocht lyk;
þar-for, gif ocht I gyf þe to,
aganis godis byding I suld do.”
þe prefet þan gert bynd hir faste,
& in a depe presone caste,
þat scho suld duel but drink or mete,
or ellis ocht mycht hir refete.
bot god send til hire theodase,
þat twa moneth befor slane ves,
& fed [hir] þar of hewinely fud,
þat naman wist hou it ves gud.
syne ves scho put in exile
of palmaryas in ane Ile,
with twa hundre verginis clene;
& fand fele þare þat had bene
in exile lang for cristis sak,
in fasting, prayere, & in wak.
eftire þat þe prefect al
of þe pressone til hyme gert cal,
& befor [hyme] a gret fire mak,
& anastace band til a stak,
& brynt hire in-[to] poudir smal;
& syndry of þe lawe with-al
be sere paynis he put to ded.
bot ane þare ves in-[to] þat sted,
þat tynt had gud[is] in plente
for cristis sak, bot ay sad he:
“criste sal na man fra me ta,
for payne, passione, na for wa.”
ȝet þane sone apolyna
þe cors of anastace can ta,
& in hir ȝard gert it entere,
of gastly Ioy vith gret affere.
& eftir [þat] son scho gert wirk
one hir grawe a costlyk kirk,
quhar-in suld men hir vorschepe ay
in lowe of god til domysday.
þis vndir dyoclicyane
ves done, quhen of god war gane
twa hundre auchty & sewine ȝere
eftir þat cryst oure flesch tuk here.
þane pray ve to sanct anastace,
þat to serwe god þis besy ves,
þat scho mak ws hyne to twyne
but det, schame, or dedly syne.

XLVII.—EFFAME.

Effame, þat ves fare of face,
a senatoure dochtir ves
of rome with þe best of ane.
in tyme of dioclesyane,
quhen scho saw hou cristine men
one syndry wys var torment þene,
to þe Iug þane of þe ton
scho sped hire, þo he ves fellone,
& one hye voice sad hyme to,
þat cristis seruand hal ves scho,
& syne to crist sic vitnes bare,
þat hartis of fele, þat þan var
red for of payne þe bittirnes,
scho strenthit of hire stedfastnes.
& as þat Iug had put of lyf
mony cristine successiue,
he prayt þame þat lifand war,
thru paynis þai saw men thol þar.
bot eufame, þat sic payne sene had,
abasit ves nathing, na red,
bot ay þe mare stedfast ves scho
þe hardare payne þai ȝed to,
& cryit one [þe] Iug lang,
þat he did hire mykil wrang.
þane sperit he at hire son
quhat wrang he had hir don,
& blyth ves, wenand in hy
þat scho come for to sacrify.
þane sad scho: “men wele vat
of my kine þe noble estate,
& I ame knawine in þis ton
vith þe best vpe & done;
þane [quhy] þe folk of symple kine
& vnknawine þis ton withine
befor me sendis þu to tak crone
of crist for med of his passion,
& me deferris for to wyne
þe Ioy þat my delyt is in?”
þe Iug sad: “I wend þu
to sacryfy ver cumyne nov
& til haf reutht of þi ȝouthed,
sa to turment þu nocht ȝede.”
quod scho: “þar-for I come nocht,
bot erar to thole is my thocht.”
&, for scho cane sic ansuere ma,
þe Iug son gert hir ta,
& in a myrk pressone hir lay.
& one þe morne quhen it ves day,
vnbundine gert hir cum þare
ymang þame þat bundyn var sar.
& as scho come til his presence,
scho compleynit of þe gret offence
þat he did hir agane þe law,
of þe emperoure hafand nan aw,
for he let hir vnbundine gang
& nane vthir. þat callit scho wrang.
þane gert he buffit hir rycht sare,
& led to presone but ony mare,
& folouyt hir, beand in wil
his lykine vith hir til fulfil.
& starkly scho vith-stud ay,
for ocht þat he cuth do or say;
for god his handis þan sa dycht,
þat to force hir he had na mycht.
þane trewit he wele but wene
þat enchantit he had bene;
for-þi he send his stewart rath
to gif hir gud & hicht hir bath,
for alkine slycht to wyne hir wil,
his hasty lykine til fulfil.
& as he come to þe pressone,
rycht þare he fel done,
&, þo he had þe keys brocht
vith hyme, duris opyn he [ne] mocht,
na with hameris na ax brek,
for al he mocht do or spek,
þo he pressit neuir sa faste.
& hyme assaylit at þe last
a feynd, þat gert hym rare & cry,
& ryfe hyme-self dispituisly;
sa þat scantly vith þe lyfe
he eschapit þat fele strife.
þane wes scho of preson tane,
& one a rond quhele set on ane,
foul of colis red brynnand;
& he þat mad it, ves stannand
vith-in it, & be a takine tacht
as þai suld torment vith al macht;
þat ves, as he suld knok withine,
to draw fast suld þai begyne,
for þane þe gret fir suld brek oute,
& bryne þe madyne bane & route.
& he þat in þe quhele bad
as he had al redy mad,
þe Irne of his haund can fal,
quhar-with he suld turne with-al;
& þai þat vtrely var but wene,
vend þe takin it had bene,
& drew fast at al þare macht
þe quhele a-bout, as he þaim tacht.
& hyme þat closyt ves þar-in
in askis smal it can son bryne;
bot eufame, þat stud on þe quhele,
god haile kepit ilke deile,
na þe fyre deryt hir na-thing.
þar-of scho ȝald til god lofing.
þe kyne þane of þat crafty man,
þat in þe quhele brynt ves þane,
a gret fir mad a-bout þe quhele,
hir to bryne venand wele.
bot as þe quhele ves brynt avay,
ane angel come but delay,
& set hir one a hil one hicht,
& held hir hale thru godis mycht.
in þat place wes þane ane,
þat callit ves appelliane,
þat to þe Iug son cane say
þat “þai þat are of cristine lay
bot be yrne ma nocht be
ourcumyne; þarefor I consel þe
þat þu hire nek gere strik in twa.”
fele of þame þane can lederis ta,
to bring hire sone fra þat hicht,
quhar scho lofit godis mycht;
& as þai had þe lederis set
fra of þe hicht hire to get,
he þat wes mast in gud wil,
his handis for to strek hir til,
ves sa tane of parlesy,
þat as half ded stil can he ly.
& ymang vthire ane þare ves,
þat to name had sostynes,
þat til clyme til hir presit fast,
& ves conuertyt at þe last,
& askit hir pardone mekly,
syne hynt a swerd in hand in hy,
& to þe Iug sad, þat he
had lewar with þat suerd slane be
þane he wald hand one hir lay,
þat godis angel kepyt ay.
ȝet þe Iug, fel & fere,
gef byding til a chancelere,
þat he suld haf hir hyne away;
& syne gif byding but delay,
þat ȝung men, þat lust til fulfil,
þat madyne þai suld gang til,
& trauale hir þar sa lang,
til scho failyt þame ymang.
& quha erast come hir to,
sic wantones for to do,
saw mony madynis stand hir by
prayand to god increly;
& al þat þat sicht had sene,
be-come cristine son bedene.
þe presydent þan ves ful wa,
seand hyme ourcumine sa;
for-þi he gert þe maydyn þar
be tane, & hangit be þe hare.
& for scho þar-of rocht na-thing,
he gert hir in pressone thring
sex dais but ony fude
of met or drink to do hir gud.
& eftire sone þe sewynd day,
betweine four stanis gert hir lay,
& pressit hir, to do hir pyne,
as men dois grappis of þe wyne.
bot þe angel hir kepyt swa,
þat in na torment ves hir fra,
þat þai stanys turnyt al
thru hir prayer in povdir smal.
þane ves þe presydent rycht wa
a[t] a maydine oure-come hym sa,
& had schame þat he ne docht
for ony paynis chang hir thocht.
þane he put hir in a place,
at a-bout hir vele closit wes,
& let in til hir bestis thre,
þat var of sa gret cruelte,
þat þai wald ryf & swely sone
mane or best but ony hone.
bot god þai bestis mad sa mek,
þat þai fel al thre til hir fet,
& faynand hir þare talis knet,
& as a cheare þar-on hir gert set,
& schamit sa þe presydent
ful gretumly in his entent.
þane come a turmentoure sone,
for to tak wrake for-owtyne hone
of hir þat gert þe presydent
for schame be nere-hand schent;
& thrang a sword in til hir syd,
& mad a slope, depe, & wyd,
& sa to god mad a martyre.
to quham þe Iug, as for his hyre,
of costly gud gef a kirtil
& of fyne gold a wrethe þar-til.
& fra þat gif[t] he had tane,
vnese ves he of þe place gane,
quhene a fel lyone son hym met,
& veryt hyme but langare let,
& rawe þat vnese mocht
of his body be fundine ocht.
& þis fel Iug, þat priscius hicht,
ȝet his awne flesch day & nycht,
til he hyme-self had brocht to ded,
of mannis helpe but remed.
& eftir þis ves sanct eufame,
þe haly virgine of gud fame,
in calsidone to sepulture
ful richely [brocht] in gret honoure.
& scho tholit sic passione
fra cristis incarnacione
twa hundre & aucht score of ȝere,
as I trew wele but were.
I pray hir helpe vs sa hartly,
ve leid oure lyfe sa gud-ly,
out of þis varld we may twyn
but schame, det, & dedly syne.

XLVIII.—JULIANA.

Sanct Iulyane, ȝet ve rede,
to þe prefect of Nichomede,
eulegius þat to name had,
ves handfast; & þo he hir bad
consent til hyme, as he callit skil,
þe band of maryag to fulfil,
be na vay vald scho do sa,
bot he cristine treutht vald ta.
& as hir fadire herd þat scho
vald nocht consent his wil to do,
he gert dispoile hir but bad
of al þe clathis scho one had,
& with wandis doungyne rycht il
til hir spouse bad gif hir til.
þat sad til hir: “my leman dere,
quhy scornis þu me, lat me here,
refusand me, & I ne wat quhy?”
scho ansuert hyme deliuerly:
“sa þat þu in god wil trew,
to do þi wil I consent now;
& mar gettis þu nocht of me,
bot þu trew, & baptyst be.”
þane sad he: “my lemman dere,
þat ma I do be na manere,
for & I did, but ony doute
our emperoure, þat is sa stout,
suld send one me to ta,
& son gere strik my neke in twa.”
þane sad scho til hym: “gyf þat þu
þi varldis lord sa dredis nov,
þat dedly is & mone away,
þane byrd me wele my lord dred ay,
þat is vndedly, & sal deme al
eftir oure dedis, gret & smal.
do furth þare-for þat lykis þe,
for þu sal neuir dissawe me.”
þar men þane dang hir sare,
syne hangit hir be þe hare
half a day, & moltyne led
he gert ȝet a-pone hir hed.
& as he saw þat hurt hir nocht,
chennys of yrne son var wrocht;
þar-vith stratly scho ves bundine,
& syne in a pressone thrungine.
& as scho ves þar alane,
for to fand hir þe feynd has tane
þe schape of angel, of his mycht,
& come til hir, schenand ly[ch]t,
& sad til hir: “Iulyane,
of god ane angel I ame ane,
& send me for to monest þe
þat, or þu forthire torment be,
þat þu til god[is] sacryfy.”
&, helpand god, scho vest in hy
þat it wes sathane, hir fel fa,
þat hir þane entysyt sa;
& gretand to god, scho can pray
deuotely, & þusgat say:
“lord of hewine, I pray to þe
þu thole me nocht tynt be,
bot schew me quhat he is,
þat in þis wyse me entysis.”
a voice þane come til hir [al]-sone,
& bad hir tak þat wik sprit sone,
& hyme vndir hir fet lay,
quhat þat he ves to gere hym say.
þe wykit spryt þane son scho lacht,
as godis voice hir tacht,
& quhat he ves at hym can frane.
& he sone sad hir a-gane:
“I ame a feynd; to dissawe þe,
sathane, my fadire, here send me
in þis forme, dissawand þe.”
ȝet sad Iulyane but delay:
“quha is þi fadire, þu me say!”
quod he: “belzebus, I-wis,
of feyndis al þe fadire is,
þat send[is] vs to do Ile;
& quhene we do nocht all his wil,
he gerris dynge ws schreuytly,
& oure al maste fellonly
quhene we thole vs in ony gre
of cristine man ourcumine be.
þare-for wat I wittirly,
þat for my sorow here come I,
sene I mycht nocht ourecume þe,
bot tholis me ourcumine be.”
sad scho: “quhat fleis þou mast
of þe cristine, þu tel in hast,
& in quhat tyme lest gref ȝe may
to cristine men” scho bad hym say.
sad he: “ferrest fle we þane,
& lest greuis cristine man
in tyme of mes of haly kirk,
to lowe god quha beis nocht Irk,
& quhene prayere or preching
Is sad of god in-to lowing,
or vthir quhar þat increly
men seruis god deuotely;
bot oure al tyme þan ar ve schent,
quhar tretyt is þe sacrament
of godis body at altare burd,
þat prestis þar makis be his vord;
for we mon obey þar-til,
& it honoure agane oure wil.”
þane Iulyane hym hynt in hy,
& vith þat chenȝe hyme band stratly,
þar-with þa hir bundyn had,
& fast dang one hym but bad
þat al hir mycht ful increly,
til þat þat feynd fast can cry
one hir but cesyng ay on ane:
“haf of me mercy, Iulyane!”
þane eftir into lytil space,
þe prefect, þat fellon wes,
of Iulyane þat had gret thocht,
of pressone bad scho suld be brocht.
þane brocht scho furth in hir hand
þe fel feynd bundine in a band,
þat cryit one hir euire in ane:
“haf mercy of me, Iulyane,
& ger me no mare scornyt be,
þo þu sic mastry haf of me!
for I haf tynt al my powere
ony cristine for til dere.
& cristine, I here wele say,
ar commonly mercyful ay,
& þu of me has pyte nane!
mercy! mercy! Iulyane!”
nocht-þane, scho drev hym to þe ton,
& in a depe gausk kist hym done,
þat ves a ful foule pyt,
rycht vgly & ful ves It.
þane cane he rycht rudly rare,
& sad; he had schame fer mare
þat woman, þat be kynd wes
brukil bath of mynd & flesch,
had schamefully hyme ourcumyn þan,
þane it had bene ony mane;
for quhen he ne mocht eschewe
to wyne man, he beguth at ewe;
for-þi he wend sa he mocht
Iulyane [haf] in fanding brocht.
þe prefect þan gert Iulyane
til his presence bring one ane,
& speryt quhat craft scho oysyt,
þat hyme & his sagat dyspisit.
scho sad, na craft it wes,
bot god gef hir tholmodnes,
þat of his paynis scho ne rocht—
in god sa scho set hir thocht.
quod he: “ȝet prowe sal we
gif þu ma ourcumine be.”
a quhele þan he gert sone dycht,
rycht awful to manis sycht,
& one hit gert hir be done,
& stent hir þar-one but hone
vith cordis stark one Ilke syd,
til bath þe flesch raf & þe hyd,
& syne hir banys sa to-quassyt,
þat þe self merch out passyt.
bot god his angel til hir sende,
til comfort hir & til amend,
þat brak þe quhele in pecis smal,
& mad hir [hale] & sond at al.
þane þai þat saw þis [þar] aboute,
of godis aw had sic doute,
þat fele of þame þe feynd forsuk,
& to god & his treutht þaim tuk.
& þat tyme war hedyt þene
in þat place fywe hundre men,
& eke twa hundre & thretty
of wemane þat var stannand by.
& to þai al god gef þe crone
of martirdome for þar wardone.
ȝet mycht þis nocht suffice til
þat presydent, þat wes sa Il,
bot gert set in til his yre
a mykil pot a-pone þe fyre,
& gert melt it ful of leyd,
& kaste hir in atoure þe hed.
bot þe fel payne [hir] grewit nocht,
bot as a bath as hir thocht.
þe prefect þane his godis smal
varyt, & bannyt euir þame al,
þat mocht nocht [ger] for al þar mycht
a ȝyng madine to ded be dycht,
na ȝet to ger punys hir sa,
þat scho hir purpos suld fal fra,
& wytand wele syne how scho
sa mykil wrang had don þaim to.
ȝet thocht he nocht, neuire-þe-les,
to fulfil þare wikitnes,
& bad his tormentoris hir led
a-way, & strik of hire hed.
& as þai var with hir gan[g]and,
þe selfe feynd, scho furth dang,
in þe fygure come in hy
of a ȝung man, & fast can cry,
& sad: “se, ȝe spare hir nocht
þat gret wrang til ȝour godis wrocht;
& me þis nycht scho has fel dongine,
& in a foule pyt me thrungyne!
for-þi gyf hir hir warȝeld nov,
or mykil mare scho sal hourt ȝou.”
þane Iulyane kyste vpe þe e,
quhat he þat vas, for to se,
þat to þe puple sa-gat spak,
& set one hir sa mekil lak.
þane þe feynd fled in hy,
& rarand roydly he can cry:
“alace! alace! me wrech maste!
I dout scho sal tak me in haste,
& bynd me, & bete me ful sare.”
sa fled he but ony mare.
þane band þai hir in þat sted,
& in hast strak of hir heide.
& hir kyne, þat var mychtty,
gert mak hir sepulture in hy,
quhar eftire in-to lytil space
a costlyk kirk til hir mad ves.
þar god wirkis for hir nov
ferlys fele to gere men trew,
of al seknes giffand remed
to þame þat sekis in þat sted
til worschipe god in entent,
& kene to quham sic grace he lent.
& als sone as Iulyane
out of þis present lyf ves tane,
þe prefect passit to þe se,
to pas oure; bot son wes he
drownyt, & foure & thretty men,
þat his seruandis var as for þene.
& al war castine thru þe storme,
bath he & his, one þe morne
in a forest be þe se-syd.
þare wild bestis þat tyd
come, & ȝet þaim al sa clene,
þat mare of þaim ves nocht sene.
sanct Iulyane, þat ourcom here
fele paynis in tholmod chere,
& ves neuir-þe-les seruand
leile to god, I tak one hand,
for þe desert þat þu can ma
to god, þat þe a-wansit sa,
to god of hewine þu pray for me,
þat I ma sa worthy be,
ovt of þis lyf þat I ma twyne
but schame, deit, & dedly syne.

XLIX.—TECLA.

L.—KATERINE.

AmeN. AmeN. AmeN.
Explicit vita beate KatRine virginis, etc.