University of Virginia Library

For þat oyse is generale
In haly kyrk vniuersale
In worschipe of god and lowing
of halowis to say & syng
þe farleis þat in þame were
thru god til þai ware duelland he[re];
bot befor vthyr I wald fayne,
& I had cunnyng, set my mayne
sume thing to say of sancte moryse,
þat in his tym was ware & wis
& in þe erd of sic renown,
& als in hewine sa hye patron,
of Aberden in þe cite
thru haly lif was wont to be.
bot Ihesu crist in þe ewangele,
quhen at he techit, sad sum quhyle,
þat na profet, quhat-euir he be,
Is accept in his cunctre.
& suth is þat prophesy
in sanct morys werraly;
for quhen are in þis land, at wat
his birth, his lif, & syne his stat,
& hou eftyre gret trawal on chance
god mad hym to rest syn in france,
in toron, til honouryt be,
set þare a strangere was he,
& fetryt is by sancte martyne,
& haldine þar in gret lowing;
bot in þis land we ken hym nocht,
quhare he wondir werkis wrocht,
as I sal schortly tel sum thing,
begynnand fyrst at his gettyng
& of his byrth and hou þat he
schupe hym to god plesand to be.

a king quhyle was in Irland,
to man & god wel lifand,
& had syaconus to name.
& his wyf of gud fame,
þe quene, synchene men callit þare,
þat a sone to þe king bare,
& gert ful michtty men hym ta
& bere & cal hym mocumma.
& to fostyre þai tuk hym þane
til ane callit teleman,
þe quhilk had riches at wil.
for-þi he tuk þe child hym til,
& gat a nuryse gud in hy,
þe quylk hyme fosterit tendirly.
& he thrawe, þat wele fosterit was;
& as he greu sa godis grace
greu in hyme ay, sa þat he
with angelis wald oft visyt be.
þane tyd þe king a tyme to ryd
In þe cunctre nere be-syd
quhare dweland wes þis telman.
bot knawlag had þe king nan
þat his sovn wes fosteryt þare;
bot as he by þe house can fare,
he saw angelis fare & brycht
one þe ruf of þat house lycht,
& oft com ydyr out of hewine,
& enteryt syngand with a stewyn.
þe king þat saw þis, had ferly,
& speryt at þame ware hym by,
quha aucht þe house he saw þer,
& quha þare duelt in þat sythware.
& sad þai: “sa haf we blyse;
ȝoure son fosterit þare-in is.”
þe kyng, þat Ioyful þan wes,
in-to þe house but mare can pas,
& til his son beheld in hy,
quhare he can in þe credil ly,
& saw þe angelis to & fra
cum oft, & hym confort ma,
about his credil gangand
with melody & angel sang.
þis quhen þe king had herd & sen,
þe Ioy he had wald na man wen;
bot þar na vthyr [wes] bot he
þat tholyt was þat sicht to se.
his handis þan he held on hicht,
& lowit god at al his mycht,
þat sik a son had til hym send,
& prayt he suld hyme defend
fra alkine Il, & grant þat he
in he seruice mycht growand be.
bot quhat kine wyse he god louit,
or hou þat he his son blyssit,
It ware ful lang here to say.
nocht-þan, or he ȝed away,
for god had latine hym se þat sycht,
he gaf of heretable rycht
to godis seruice al þat ton
In-to fre possessione,
& wend his way blyth & glad,
for It he sa sene had.
& quhen he come ham to þe quen,
tald al þat he had herd & sene,
þat rycht blyth was of þat thing,
& ȝauld to god gret lowing,
& ekyt þare deuocione
in almon ded, & oracione,
prayand to god Ithandly,
þat he wald for his gret mercy
sa kepe þare child furth þat he
a lele seruand til hym mycht be.

syne eftyre it tyd of case
þat quhen sychen deliuer was
of a knaf child þat deit rycht þan
or men with hym to baptyme wan,
þane was gret dule mad, & rare,
oure al þe cunctre here & þare;
bot nane sa mykil sorou mad
as kyng and quen þat most cause had.
for it is mast sorow of ane,
barne to be fra þe gettare sa tane.
nocht-þane þe king hyme thocht,
þat to mak doul it gaynit nocht,
& þane for þe dynt of ded
agane þe quhilk is na remed.
þar-for he bad to þam hyme by
to tak þe ded barne with al hy,
sped þaim with It for to ga
quhare his son is mocumma,
& vndir his clathis by hym lay,
& quhat suld word þer-of assay,
& quhen þai as he bad has don,
þe barne þai suld agan bring son,
sa þat he suld na sorow mak,
bot se quhat end it suld tak;
for be þe sicht he had sene
trewly he trewit, but ony wen,
þat thru þe tweching anerly
of mocumma þat barne in hy
suld turne to lyf. & but delay,
as he bad, sa did þai,
& tuk þe ded barne, þat wes fare,
& layd it by the kingis ayre
in credil til his nakit flesch
vndir his clathis, þo it cald was.
bot men gret wondir þan se mocht
of hyme þat ded þare was brocht.
fra he his bruthyre twechit had,
fra ded to lyf he come but bad,
& squelyt gret & raryt ȝarne,
as kynd gaf to sic a barne.
þe gud men þan þat brocht hym þare,
þat had mad fyrst dule & care,
quhen þai saw þis gret ferly,
Ioyful þai ware, & in hy
þe ȝong barne tuk & hame had
to king & quene, þat Ioy mad,
ȝey, mare þan ma nemmyt be,
quhen þai þare barne lifand can se.
quhat confluens of ȝung & ald
þan was þare, ma nocht be tald;
na of þe merwal quhat wondering;
na hou to god was mad lowyng;
& anerly þat was nocht þare,
bot thru þe kirk wyd-quhare.
þe chyld þan to þe kirk þai had,
& gert it hofine be but bad,
& it fosterit tendirly
as his stat wald delytabli.

sone eftyre a ferly fel,
alsa gret as I hard tell.
eftyr of tyme þe process,
quhare mocumma fosterit was,
It tyd his noryse for to be
sitand & had hym on hyr kne
be þe fyre al hyre alane,
for þe lawe þare gat ware gane.
& it hapnyt hyre in hy
oute þe house to here gret cry.
þare-of scho gret ferly had,
& for to wit quhy it was mad,
scho stert vpe & þare with-al
þe barne fra hyre handis can fal
in þe fyre, þat was sa gret
þat nane mycht nicht it for het.
& scho þat þe barne saw sa
in þe fyre, had sa gret wa
& sa abaysit cane stand,
þat scho had noþir fut na hand
to helpe þe barne, bot lud can cry.
ȝet þe barne stil can ly,
ay kepand it sa godis grace
þat in þe fyr vnbrynt it was.
þane raryt scho loud, and raf hir hare,
& beft hyre-self & mad sic care,
þat of hyre wit scho ȝed nere wod
for sorow of þat frely fud,
eftyre help criand Ithanly,
til at þe last þare com in hy
ful fele þat herd hir mak sic care,
& fand þe barne ȝet lyand þare,
& hynt It out, & syne It fand
as in þe credil it ware lyand.
& sum saw angelis ay repare,
þat It kepit elyk fare
fra wemmyne of þe fyr sa brath
oþir in body or in clath.
þane gert þai þe bellis ryng,
& “te deum laudamus” syng,
& lowit god increly,
þat had kyd sic ferly,
& schewit þare sa mykil mycht
in þat ȝung barne til al þer sycht,
gerrand þat elyment þat he
had gert obeysand til hym be.

ane vthyr als befel
þat þis nuryse I of tel.
forȝetil of þe mykil wath,
þat tyd þe barne for-outyn skath,
ane erand had to do þer owt,
bot, for scho of þe barne had dout
to lewe It in þe house alane—
for al vthir a-way ware gane—
& in a fat þat stud hyre by,
brad & depe, & þane dry,
weppit in clathis þe barn can lay
ful tendirly, & ȝed hyre way,
wenand it mycht þar be stil
but parel, til scho come It til.
& quhene scho hyre gat ware gan,
of þe menȝe in come ane
vnwitand þe barne wes þare,
& fillyt þe fat but ony mare
of watir, richt vpe to þe bra,
& syne of þe house can ga.
þane eftyr þe nuryse come,
þat had hyre hart out of home,
for thochtful scho wes of þe barn,
& to þe fat sped hyre ȝarne,
& fand it fillit to þe bra,
It wes na were, þan scho wes wa.
þan þe man callit scho þe fat can fil,
& speryt quhare put he þe barn til,
þat in þe grond of þe fat lay.
& he schortly til hyre can say,
þat he wist nocht of þat barn,
but hopyt wele It was forfarn
gyf scho lad It þare; for he,
vnwittand it þare suld be,
fillyt þe fat & held is way.
quhen scho hard hym so get say,
scho rugyt of hyre hed þe hare,
& squelit fa[s]t, & hie can rare,
& with hyre handis skartyt hir face,
& al þe lawe þat nakit wes,
& with hyr newis reft hir brest,
al þat scho mycht wyne to nest,
& callit hyre-self ful pytisly
of wrech þat sa reklesly
þat in hyre fawt sic a barne
þe tothyr tyme ȝet sa forfarne,
& for þat knawine wes hir gylty
to man & god almychty.
þane ruschit men to spere
þe cause quhy scho mad sic bere.
& quhen þai þe manere wist,
þe fat þai tyd don but mare fyrst,
& fand þe barne hale & fere,
as watir neuir had nychd It nere,
bot als dry it was sene,
as in þe credil it had bene.
bot angelis, as þai did before,
It kepit þane, myne no mare,
fra wath of watir quhare It lay,
as in þe fyre befor did þai;
for he þat quyk sawit moyses
in þe watir quhen he put was,
has defendit þis barne here,
þat lyk was to be in gret were.
quhat is þare mare to say, but þan
ful ioiful wes mony man,
& mykil lowyng wes þan mad
to god of hewine, þat sa gret had
merwale in þat barne sa kyd,
quhen it was in þe watir hyd.
þane was the nuryse for Ioy gretand,
quhen scho hyre fostir sowne fand.
lord crist þir werkis are þine,
þat þis gerris þi halowis schyne
be merwalis & vertuise sare,
þe quhilkis þai wrocht til þai were
her lifand! & lowyng to þe be
a god in personis thre!

of þis barne þis wes begynnyng
for to grew in hewynly thing,
for ferlys þat fare ware & sere,
as ȝe sume part herd has here.
& ay in body as he grew,
he grew in vertu fare Inuch.
& fra he cuth spek grathly,
he wes set to þe schole in hy,
& þare in his begynnyng leyryt
sic as til ȝung men afferyt,
In gud thowis to haf delyt,
& in vertuyse to be parfyt.
& quhen he come to rypare eld,
þat he mycht hym-self weld,
he sat his hart one heare thing
to her, & haf vndirstanding.
& quhat his hart printyt within,
he held wele, & fled ay syne.
& be he com to sewine ȝere,
he cuth langage spek sere
& vndirstanand þam rycht wele,
god had hyme send sa gret cele.
& als of þat eld was he
lik to a formulare to be,
of quham men suld behold þe ded,
þat god honoure wald & dred,
& þare-with hou þai suld be
to þare nytboure in cheryte.
[i]n þe land þat tym þan was
a man þat schane of halynes,
& led his lyf but ony blame.
for-þi of hyme fere ran þe nam;
sa fare þat þe forsad kyng
was wytryt wele of his lyfyng,
& þat he come of kingis kyne,
sik as wes Irland withine,
& columbe had to his name,
a man þat was but ony blam.
sic request he hym þan mad,
þat he come til hym but abad.
þe kyng þan with hym tretit sa
þat he tuk with hym mocumba,
for til enforme fyrst, & lere
in vertuse & in science sere.
& he þat abil was & ȝyng,
folouyt his mastir in al thing,
& wald consawe ful sutelly
quhat-euire he taucht in til hy,
& in his hart wele held It,
ay retentywe he had a wyt,
& had hym in sik degre
þat his ourmen be sutelte
& les þan he in gret meknes,
he wald ourecume, & neuir-þe-les
he kepyt ay his innocens
of alman but offens.
& growand ay furth he wes
in vertu and in gudnes,
& for he doutyt for to fal,
til abstinens he gef hym al,
& held his flesch vndirlout,
for dred it suld worth stout
a-gane þe saul, & ger hym syne,
& let hym hewins blis to wyn,
& gef hyme to prayere & to wak,
hyme to god seruand to mak.
& god his hart able ay mad
to lere þat he wald but bad,
sa þat of thre moneth þe space
al warldis wit be godis grace
& seruice als of haly kyrk
he leryt al, & wes nocht Irk.
& here-of suld na man ferly,
gyf he consyderit suthfastly
þat quhare þe haly gast wil be
mastir but dyffyculte,
he ma gere man consawe althing
but bysynes or trawalyng,
as of salamon we red,
þat wes þe wysest man but dred,
with-in þe space of a nycht
of al þat wit he gat þe slycht,
thru theching of þe haly gast,
þat is best mastir in til hast;
for to god as we ma se
nathing may inpossible be.

thane fra sanct colme had persawing
how clerly godis grace can schyne
in mocumma, be syndry thingis sere,
þat in hyme he saw apere,
til his disciplis sad of hyme:
“ȝone man þat schenis as a ȝeme,
I ame nocht dingne to lere trewly,
fore angelis of[t] tyme sen haf I
repare til hyme & kene hyme al
þat he wald lere gret & smal,
& namely hou þe haly wryt
sal vndirstand & expond It.”
quhen þai herd þis, þai had inwy
a-gane mocumma fellouny
& dyspyt, because þat he
wes lowit in þat degre.
bot sancte colme, þat þare enwy
persawit & þare fellouny,
lowit mocumma fere þe mare,
& honouryt hym þan he did are,
& of[t] with hyme held carpyng
of lestand lyf & hevynly thing,
& wald hyme schaw al priwete
þat in his thocht consawit he.
nocht be þe þocht mocumma
wist his mastir lufit hym sa
as he be sere assay can fele;
ȝet pridyt he hyme nocht a dele,
bot þe sammyne humylyte
he had befor ay kepyt he
In honest conuersacione
& stratnes of relygione.
for-þi þe grace of god grew ay
in hyme bath nicht & day.
þan rane þe fame of hym rycht wyd,
in al Irland in al syd.
ful gret Ioy sancte colme þan mad,
þat he sic a discipil gottine had.
& mocumma was rycht glad
þat he sic a mastir had.
& for þare cause þat sa haly ware,
men come to þam of landis fare,
til haf þare informacione,
& alsa for þare benyson.
& ȝet come fore-owt ma
þane to sanct columbe to sancte mocumma,
for ferly þai had, þat he
in sa schort tyme suld haly be,
bryngand hyme gyftis fare & gret,
as for his clething & his met;
bot þare-of he wald nocht,
for he by warldis gud set nocht,
& namely for his fadir sak.
Bot þare-of wald he nocht tak;
& for he wald nocht knawyn be
with þe men of his cunctre,
he determyt in his thocht,
þat dwel þare langare wald he nocht,
bot passyt in vnchut land but bad,
quhare na man knawlag of hym had.
& sa to do þat he his wil
set, sad his maistere til,
þat of his purpos wes blyth.
fore-þi he sad til hyme alswith:
“der son, in crist I lowe god ay
þat he had leryt þus to say;
for It þat þu has sad me til
of ful parfyt men is þe wil.
& now, dere son, I sal tel þe
al vtrely myn priwete;
þat is, þat myn wil has ben ay
of myn kith to pass my way,
with-þi þat I had þe wil
of þi kyne & myn þare til.
bot for þi kyne I lettyt mare
þat, gyf þu sa dide, wald haf care;
for þu þare suffrant Ioy is now.
þare-for, wil þu myn consal trew,
þu wyne þare gud lufe & lewe—
for sa gat ma we best eschewe—
& þat done cum a-gane me til.
þane ma we pase quhare-euir we wil.”
þe ȝung man sad: “ser, I haf nane
fadir now bot god alane,
fore quham fadir & modir bath
I wil forsak, þo þaim be lath;
for þu nixt god is my fadir,
& haly kyrk is my modir.
for-þi I wil lewe be na wyse
þi cumpany na þi seruice.
fore quhare þu gays, wil I ga,
til ded tak ane of ws twa.”

his mastir þan gret ferly had,
& in his hart gret Ioy he mad,
quhene he þe gret deuocione
of hyme herd & þe perfeccione.
þane sad he: “son, til þu in ȝuthad
was stad a barnis nam þou had,
bot for þu ȝuthad has warpyst
& is parfyt man in cryst,
þu sal be callyt machore,
& lewe þe name þu had before.”
sanct colme gert þane aparel
a bat sture with wetale,
& sped hyme to þe se but mare
with al þat wald with hym fare,
his ferme hope in hyme setand
þat has to stere bath se & land.
þane machore fyrst in þe bat wan,
& reprowyt þe mastir man
of his tary & his slawnes,
þat he to saile sa lethand wes.
þan, helpand god, þai saylyt a quhyle,
til þai come nere þe Ile
of iy, & þare saile strak;
þane þare thocht land to tak.
ane melluma in þat sythware
come to þe se & saw þame þare,
& knew sanct colme, & wes blyth,
& at hym speryt alswyth,
gyf he one land wald be.
& he sad: “ȝa.” þane in þe se
þe carle wod to þe bat but bad.
& to þe land quhen he þame had,
þane sad sancte colme: “ar we al here?”
sad melluma: “ȝa, now ser.”
sanct colme gert þame cum hym before,
to se, & myssit sancte machore,
þat ȝet in his prayere lay.
sancte colme þan to þe carle can say:
“ȝet wantis ane & Is mare
with god of hewine þan we al are.”
þane passit þe carle & sperit, gyf he
to þe land dry borne wald be.
“ȝa,” sad he; & but mare
dry to þe land he hym bare.
þane colme of his cummyn wes blyth,
& athyre kyssyt vthyre swyth,
& recommendyt gretumly
of vertuse lyf & of haly.

thane sad sancte colme: “bruþer, blissit be
þis place; & pray to god þat he
send his angel to blyse It,
sene we to cum here is hapnyt.”
& as he sad quhen þai had done
oure al þe Ile, þai passit sone,
& fand it rycht profytable,
& to duel in gud & abile.
& out of Irland in a quhyle
men may wele sayle in[-to] þat Ile.
& as þai socht had þe place,
þai fand quhare a fare sted was,
enhournyt with treis sere,
& spryngand wellis fare & clere.
þane sad sancte colme, he wald þare
duel, & pas na forthyr mare.
a mansione þan fyrst þai mad
to sancte colme & but bad.
& syne a mansione sufficiandly
þai mad to sancte machore in hy.
& til al þe lawe þai wrocht
placis til indwel as þai rycht thocht.
sancte colme duelt þare-in þane
as abot and haly mane.

syne þai saw ane vthire Ile,
þat þai mocht saile to in a quhile,
þat mule hycht; & þare to preche,
& cristine folk als to teche,
sancte colme send his dyscypil here
sancte machore, þat wes hym nere.
þe quhilk, as he com in þat land,
sewin myssale vgly he fand,
& askyt of hyme sum thing
of cheryte & his blyssyng.
in godis name he bad þam pase
to sum watir þat by was,
& wesch þame. & sa dyd þai,
& gat þare hele but delay.
& as þai clene ware, with a stewine,
machore þai lowyt and god of hewine.
& quhen he þare had ben a quhile
& prechyt oure al þe ewangel,
he come to þe Ile of iy,
til his mastir, & wes besy
to study into haly wryt,
& oft time put It to wryt.
& as he a nycht cane wryt,
a thing quhare-in he had delyt,
before þe end of It [he] mad,
þe lycht hym falȝet; & þan he had
ferme hope in god of hewine.
one his fyngyre end blew ewine
þat as a candil brynnand lycht,
& til done he had gef hym sycht.
& sa hapnyt [in] þat sythware,
a lytil barne for til be þare,
& saw hou þis ferly fel,
& to þe common cuth it tel.
þan had þai fare mare Il wil
þane befor sancte machore til;
namely for þai micht nocht
sic merwalis wyrk as he wrocht.
syne as Il men tuk to rede
nedly for til haf hyme dede;
bot for þai durst nocht opynly
for his mastir do sic foly,
þai, to fulfil þare entent,
poysone with ane innocent,
say þai suld þe les It think,
þai send hyme myngyt into drink.
sancte machore sperit at þe barne,
quha þe drink send hym rycht ȝarne;
& he sad hyme þe suth hale.
þane wyst sancte machore be his tale,
þat in þat drynk wes felloun gyle.
ȝet þane he tuk It, & cane smyle,
& sad: “þar is brethyre fals
& fra cheryte ful fare als
þat me of þis warld wald bryng,
þat neuire myse did þam in ony thing;
& now war ful gud to me
to be vysit, & with god sene be,
& as god wil, sa mot It be.”
with þat þe cop in hand tuk he,
& sanyt It dewotly.
þare mycht men se a gret ferly,
hou þe cop he heldit done,
& al þat was fel poyssone
fel of þe cope, & hou þe lafe
þare-of to þe cop clafe.
syne þat lycure he drank þare
but felyng of ony sare.
þe chyld syne tald þam þat hym send,
as he saw fra end to end.
þane sancte machore prayt hartly
god to forgyf þaim þat foly.
& as þai herd sik tything
of þat barne of þat ferly thyng,
þai ware inflammyt of þe fyre
of inwy þan; and in gret yre
to þare maistere but delay
come, & þus-gat can say:
“machore gerris men be sorcery
trowis he dowis merakile opynly,
& sympil men into þare sycht
dissawis thru þe dewylis mycht,
& is contrare til ws ay;
for-þi, suthly, ser, we say,
þat we wil hale lef þe,
& he langere with þe be.
for-þi chese quhethyr þu wil
gyf ws oure lewe or hald hym stil.”

and þare mastir herand how þai
sa spanly þis tale can say,
he was in perplexyte,
seand hou ane behowit to be,
oþire to do away in haste
his printyce þat he lufyt mast,
ore þaim þat he had fosteryt ay
fra ȝouthed to þat day.
he prayt þame to hald þaim stil,
& he suld syne ouretak þer wil.
þane he kyst in his thocht
in þat case he best do mocht,
makand a syth to þame bath,
& for to kepe machore of skath,
thocht he wald with wilis dele
for sawete of þame & þare hele.
saincte machore he callyt a day,
& til hyme þus-gat cane say:
“my dere bruthyre, in priwete
I haf for to say to þe.
& fyrst, I pray þe þu wil
be na way tak in til Il.
bruthyre, þu wat þat quhyle
Ihesu sad, in þe ewangyle,
‘quha lufis his saule mare þan me
ma be na way my serwand be,’
& til his printyse can he say:
‘passis thru þe warld oure way
& til almen þe ewangelis teche
& to tak baptysme þame preche.’
hou ma we þane þis word fulfil
þat in a nuk here lyis stil,
& bot of oure-self thinkis nocht,
& of sawle hele na thing wrocht
of fele folk þat wyd-quhare
in fawt of techyng tynt are;
& namely sene we haf mycht
of body & of science slycht?
ryse we, þare-for, & dress ws til
godis bydyng to fulfil.
& for my eld, as þu ma se,
to lyf in quyet accordis me,
& for þu ȝongare is þane I,
scharpare of wyt & mare mychtty,
In godis name þu tak one hand
to pas into fere land,
& preche godis word alquhare
to þame at in wane-treutht are,
& press þe bysyly for to wyne
þare sawlis þat lyis in syne.”
sancte machore sad: “mastir dere,
gud is I do as ȝe me lere
for ȝoure prayere & ȝoure consele;
for þat to me ma mast awale.”
quod he: “with myn oracione,
mad hartly with deuocione,
I sal helpe þe but fenȝeyng,
& helpe þe in al vthyre thyng.
eftyr my possybilyte,
dere sone, I sal helpe þe.”
sewine mene þane he taucht hym til,
to serwe hyme & to do his wyl;
& byschape staf gef hyme alsa,
& belt, & of his clathis twa,
& bukis, þat ware necessare
to hyme to prech godis lare,
& ordenyt hyme a galay,
& wytale þare-in gert he lay.
& þus to mak quyet & pece
of It, he wyst fellouny wes.
þare-for, as machore was redy
to pas þe se, sancte colme in hy
gert al his printeyss cum before
hyme in absence of sancte machore,
& sad to þame: “sonnis dere,
I haf ȝou fosteryt mony ȝere,
& wat, gyf ȝe wil one meyne,
þat I al-way has besy bene
til infourme ȝu in cheryte,
& in sawle hele thochty to be.
& for ȝoure hartis ar herd as flynt,
& ek I haf myn trawale tynt,
for in ȝoure hartis ȝe had Ithandly
þat ȝone haly man ay inwy,
& ȝe ware bowne ay to do Il
til hyme þat neuir mysdid ȝu til.”
quhen he had þis sad & mare,
þane þai repentyt þam sare
It þat þai had don before
agane cheryte to sancte machore,
& sad: “fadyr, wele wat we
we haf mysdone in þat degre;
bot now reconsel ws hyme til,
& now ws get his gud wil.”
sancte colme þane, þat besy was
betwene þame for to mak pece,
callyt machore and tretyt sa,
þat he betwene þaym pes can ma.
sancte machore þan his lewe tuk rath
at mastir & þat brethyre bath,
þat with hyme to þe se can pas,
repentand þame of þare trespas;
& of now lewe has tane,
and kyssyt þame euire ilkane.
his maister þane & he mad wa
þat þame worthyt part in twa,
& kyssyt oft þat þare partyng
with regrat & with gretyng,
& Ilkane cane vthyre blyse
with wordis of gret teyndirnes.

[t]hane to þe galay went machore—
& sancte colme quhare he was before—
& helpand god, saylyt þe se
but distrowbylance in dais thre,
& ewine north in scotland
arywyt, quhare þai fand dwelland
a cristine man þat farcare hycht,
þat ryches had & mykil mycht,
þat prayt þame for to say,
quhen þai come & quhat ware þai.
& þai sad hyme þe suth alswith.
þane wes þis farcare ferly blyth,
quhen he sen had sancte machor;
for he hard spek of hyme befor.
& because of his renowne,
þis farcare hed hym til his towne,
& al þat nedful til hyme was
gert get til hyme mare & les,
thankand god a-beowe þe lawe
þat he wes worthy sic gest til haf;
for he in sc[h]ort tym gert hyme be,
parfyt in double cheryte;
þat is to say, with god & mane.
& þare-with his luf he wane,
þat he sad til hyme: “fadir dere,
lo! al þis landis are myne here
& is my herytag al.
for-þi þus place tak þu sal,
to mak quhare-euire þu wil a place.
& gyf ony of myn o[f]spryng, percase,
gane-sais It, waryt mot he [be],
til he thole þe brukyt fre.”
sancte machore þane thankfully
his gyft tuk, & al þe place by
socht to & fra, til he fand
a sted til hyme wes gannand,
besyd a watyr bank, þat rane
in-to þe se, & lyk was þane
as It a byschopis staf had bene.
& fra sancte machore had It sene,
til his disciplis can [he] say:
“lo! here myn dwelling place for ay,
for my master to me cane tel,
þat I in sik [a] place suld dwel.”
þane gert he bygyne þare be mad
til hym as he mystere had.
& syne til al þe lawe gert he
bygyng mak in þare degre.
& eftyr þat he gert wyrk
be craftly men a costlyk kyrk,
& þat men callyt ȝet,
“of sancte machore þe seg ore set.”

ser warkmen syne on a day,
þat had gret thryst, can til hym sa:
“dere fadir, wit ȝe quhen we swink,
þat we haf gret fawt of drynk.
help vs, þare-for, gyf ȝe may.”
þane sancte machore but delay
gat gud vatere in fusione;
& seruis ȝet til al þe towne,
& springis ȝet as It did þane,
at prayere of þat haly man.
& fele þat of þat watir drank
gat hele, & hartly god can thank.
þat was þe fyrst merwal þat he
wrocht, þat quhen þat men mycht se,
þat now þe name has scotland,
bot pychtis þane in It ware duelland.
þane come til hym of placis sere
mony printeise þat redy were
til vndirly his dyscypline,
& fore to tak of hyme teching.
þane duelt a mane nere by,
relygiouse & rycht haly,
þat to name had dewynik,
þat godis ȝok bare on his nek,
& to sancte machore com a day,
& til hyme þis he can say:
“gud ser, be-hald, & þu ma se,
hou fele folk in þis cunctre
are ȝet habandonyt mony wise
to mak till mawmentis seruice
And þus [h]ave ner-hand nan to schav
goddis word, or ger men knaw
þe nerrest get till hewynis blis.
for-þi, master, my consall is,
þat þu in þis cunctre duell still,
goddis wangel for to preche till
þus pechtis, at are lath to trew;
And I with goddis helpe will now
to þame of catnes but mare gang,
þat cristine treutht is myskennand lang,
Amang þaim goddis vord to schaw,
to ger þaim god parfitly knaw.”
sanct Machor sad: “þat quheþir na we,
sal ilkane vthire eftire se.”
& he sad: “ȝhis, ȝeit forow criste
ve sal eft met in his bewiste,
& bruk vith hym ay lestand bliss.
bot, dere fadir, I pray þe þus,
ffor ded nerhand abidis me
to tak, fra I be gane fra þe,
þat þu wald, eftyr I be dede,
ger bring my body to þis stede,
& ger It grawine be, quhar I
had mad my duelling Ithandly.”
And he heicht hym he suld do swa.
Atheris þar lewe with þat can ta,
And dewenik can to catnes pass,
to folk þat þan wntreuthtfull wass,
And sped sa weile in schort tym þare,
þat þaim parfit in godis lare
he mad. bot ȝet þan sanct Machor
ffurth preichit as he did befor
the pechtis, & swa sped þat he
gert mast part of þaim cristnit be;
& namely he gert master men
trew, þat wntreuthfull war to þan,
bath thru þe lare he can þaim lere
And thru schauyng of merwalis sere;
& þar templis distroyt wyd quhare,
And ydolis þat in-to þaim ware.
& þus gat lang tym trawalyt he
Of goddis corne wynnare to be.

syne tyd one a tym to gang
Apone þe feild his corne ymange,
And saw a bare mekill & gret
defoull þe corne with feit, & ete,
& do gret skath. & þane sad he:
“in goddis name I commawnd þe
þat þu in þat sted stand still.”
& onone sancte Machor com hym till,
And strak hym with his staif onane,
And he sowne turnyt till a stane,
And in þat schape sa standis he
a ȝard stane, as men ȝeit ma se.
syne machor com in-to a place
And saw a man þat mykill vas,
& in þat cuntre duelling mad,
& to his richt name dinon had,
& was payeme & richt crafty
in fendis warkis & sorcery.
And he wald oftymys ger men ven
þat sewine hedis on hym had ben.
And quhen sanct machor sen hym had,
he ferlyt first, & syn but bad
a psalme he sad begynnand þus
of scriptur: “Exurgat deus”;
& or he of þat psalme mad end,
thru goddis mycht It was wel kend
þat he na hedis had but ane.
ffor-þi þat tyrand or he fane
of sanct machor fell to þe fet,
& for his synnis sare can gret,
prayand hym for goddis sak
þat he wald cristine man hym mak.
& he sad hyme, with-þi þat he
wald lewe his sorcery, & be
gud cristine man & cristine fay
ffra þine furth treuli kep alvay,
anentis god he suld hym wyne
fforgiffines of his mykill syne.
& he hicht þat with full gud will
all haill his byding till fulfill.
& sanct machor gert hym nocht-þan
Resawe baptym, and swa hym wane
and tacht hym weill in cristine fay,
& leit hym syne pas hyne his vay.

ane vthir tym sanct machor ȝed
prechand & sawand godis sed,
Men brocht a man þat was blind borne,
& seit hym sanct machor beforne,
& prayt hym ful sare þat he
thru his prayere wald gere hym se.
& he þat reutht ay in hert had,
tuk wattir & blissit it but bad,
& þare-with all ennoyntit richt þan
oure corce þe eyne of þat blind man,
& sad till hyme: “luk vpe & se.”
& as he bad, richt swa did he,
& saw als clerly all kine thinge,
as he of sicht had neuir merring.
& he þat na tyme saw befor,
saw þan & lowyt sanct machor,
quham thru þe sicht god swa hym gefe.
& one þe same did þe laiffe,
þat saw or herd þis gret ferly,
ȝauld thank to god full increly.

ane vthir tym as he can stand,
goddis word to folk prechand,
þat stud a-bout hym in-virroune,
Men brocht a dede cors ovt of tovne,
& lad It done befor his feite
with lamentacion and greite.
& synchenus to name he had.
sanct machor þan speryt but bad
quhen þat he was or of quhat kin.
& þai per ordir tald till hyme,
& als þat he of kine was nere
to gud sanct colme, to god sa dere.
& fra sanct machor þat herd tell
a-pon his kneis sone he fel,
& prayt till god one sic a wyse,
þat at dede man lof & cane ryse.
& swa with prooff of mychtfull dede
he strinthit alway godis sede.
& ferleis wrocht he þan sa feile,
þat he mad mony payene leile;
ffor he to þaim was sic myrroure,
þat he gert þaim leif þare erroure.
god grant ws grace þat we do swa
out of þis lyff or þat we ga.

off þis sanct machor þe fame rane
thru sere land, til full mony man
of ferleis þat thru hym god wrocht.
ffor þat of syndry landis men hym socht
ffor to purches his benysone,
& haf of hyme instruccione.
a-mang vthire, twa of Irland
þat herd tell of hym tythand,
& ȝung, sum dele letteryt ware,
till hyme sa besely can spere,
and socht sa long til þai hym fand,
quhare I sad are into scotland,
ȝarnand till haf instruccion
of hyme and informacione,
& how þai suld haly wryt
vndirstand and vndo It.
& he resawit þamme full weile,
& all þare ȝarnyng ilke dele
he tyd þame, & full sobirly
enformyt þaim full parfytly
of cristine treutht, of lyf at sall
ay laste, & of sawle heile with-all,
& mony vthir spedfull thing.
bot he in þame ruit his techi[n]g;
ffor, fra þat þai þare leif had tan,
þai na tyme for to scorne hym fane;
& his lare and amonesting,
þai sad, was richt nocht but hethi[n]g,
& þar-with callit hym “ypocrit.”
bot þam reuengit was full tyt;
ffor nocht fere þine in till a sted
suddanly þai ware all deide,
& schot in till gong stinkand,
quhar nan of freyndis þaim fand.
It hapnyt a tym in-to ware,
quhill sanct machor was duelland þer,
þat he for faut of weile tyd land,
gert teile a mekill feild of land;
& þocht It was leyne & dry,
he socht to saw þare bere & Ry,
in goddis larges assouerand
þat it suld grow weile in þat land.
Nocht-þane his seruandis had ferly
þat he gert teile ald land & dry,
& namly for þai west but dred
to saw þat land he had no sede.
þan he sad to þaim þat swa thocht:
“god is mychty to helpe; dred nocht;
quhar man na liklines ma se.”
to twa of his prenteis sad he:
“hald ȝoure gat to my lord ternane;
sa hym for sede haf I nane,
quhar-with my feilde þat I saw may,
hym in-to sic distres I pray
At he at þis tym wald help me
of his seide with sic quantite.” [OMITTED]
þat a gret bane of it rycht tyt
In-til his throit clewit sa faste
þat he to de was sare agaste;
ffor he mycht swely it for na slicht,
na out till put it had na mycht.
þan was þat wrache wondir wa,
persawand weile he was sted swa;
ffor he tholit in till þat houre
lyk to þe dede mony herd schure,
& alswa had he schame to tell
quhy he þat fische to þe tend fell
ffor his delit had etene þane,
þat acht was to þat haly man.
ȝeit þan with quaquand voice sad he
to þaim þat vare is maste priwe:
“to me þat sted is in þis wath,
yhone goddis man ȝe bring me rath;
ffor I will grant hym but delay
þe thing quharfor he can me pray.”
his mengȝe þan foroutine more
passit and brocht hym sanct machor,
ffra quham he askit forgewine,
& he had nytit hym his askine;
& þar-for mekly prayt he
þat he wald of his pitte.
& þat erth þat he askit hade,
he gaf hym þare but langer bade.
sanct Machor blissit hym one ane.
out of his hals þan lape þe bane,
& he mad haile als smertly wes,
as man þat neuir weste of seknes.
sanct machor þan mesuryt þe place,
þat lang & brad & richt plan was,
And in a litill tym gert wirk
of treis fare a cumly kirk.
& quha-sa reddis þus, ma see
how besy þat gudmen suld be
ffor till obeis in althing
of haly men to þe bidding,
& namly and one alkine wise
quhar it twechis godis seruice.
ffor, lo, he þat litill before
Mad Rud answere to sancte Machor
thru priyd & awaris gredy,
And godis man dispituisly
fra his presens chasit away,
Is now ful fayne hym for to pray,
& spek ful reuerendly hyme till,
& als to grant hym al his will.
þis is litill of It we Rede
of sant Machor his mykill dede,
& of þe merwalis þat he wrocht
to pectis land, fra þat he socht;
for I can nocht þe teynd part tell
of gret ferleis þat thru hym fell.
bot gyf þat I say suthfastly,
It was nocht thru hyme anerly,
bot god was þe mychty makare,
& sanct Machor þe furth-schewere.

sanct machor þan set all his wit
to cun parfitly haly writ,
þocht þat he þar parfit was
thru plentwis gyft of goddis grace.
In till his study sait a day
quhen ane com, & can till hym say:
“syre, sanct ternane, þe byschepe, nere
Is cumyne to spek with ȝou here,
& of his clerkis gret party.”
sanct machor þan with gret hy
left þe study & þe buk,
& of his clerkis with hyme tuk,
And met sanct Ternane Reuerendly,
And halist hyme & his cumpany,
& he hailsit hyme aganes his.
þane can athir wthire kis.
& sanct machor till his herbry
sanct ternane leid full reuerendly.
& firste in kirk enterit þai bath,
& to þare vrisone went Rath.
& syne þai blissit athir wthire,
þe bischope first, & syn þe tothire.
syne, eftire all þe cumpany
has kissit entrechangeably,
& he þan þame Resawit had,
A schort sermone full wisly mad
of paciens & cherite,
Recommendand humilite.
syne eftire, as þe custum was,
he led hym quhar he suld tak ese,
& mad hyme mery for to fare,
& als þame all þat with hyme ware.
sanct Machor þan full gret Ioy made
þat he sa dere worthy gaste hade,
& þe bischope full fane þat wane
þe knawlage of sa haly man.
þan held þai wele lang sermonyng
of haly lyf & hewinlik thing,
& till þat þai sait at þe burd,
amang þaim wes nan vthire word,
bot fed þaim self with gastly fud
& gaynand drink þare-to & gud.
þane come to þaim gret company
of deuot men, þat encrely
requiryt þaim with awisment,
þat þai with goddis Iugment
þe priwete mare opynly
wald expone þaim & expresly.
þe bischope þane wonderit was
of þare wnwit & simpilnes,
[&] sad to þame: “my childere dere,
þis demand þat ȝe askis ws here,
Is a demawnd without profit,
for quhat man is he sa parfyt
þat can tell godis priuite,
þat be na way ma witine be,
ne manis wit ma strek þartill,
to consawe it thru kindly skill,
þat he in till his forseyng
Reseruit till his awne witting.
& þare-for rycht gret foly is
to ȝou to spere or tret of þis.”
sanct machor als þat þaim can smyll,
sayand: “a wis man sad wmquhill,
sek na heyere thing þan yhe
na stallowart be na degre.
for quha is goddis wit ma knaw,
or ȝet his consall hey or law?
for godis priue deme ma nocht,
na all his gattis ȝet be socht.
for-þi full gret foly it is
to sper þat manis wit excedis,
or for till haf of It k[n]awine
þat he ma cum to for na thing.
& þarfor lewe forthir to spere
þe þing þat ȝe ma neuir nicht nere;
for sperer of his maieste
fra his Joy sall donne thrungine be.”
& all þa þat þis demaund mad,
stud þane stane still & gret scham had.
sone eftir þis þai ras ilkane
& lewid, to þare awne ar gane,
& with euire common blissing
þat þai mad þat haly departing.

nocht lang eftire apon a day
to sanct Machor a man can say,
þat sanct dewynnik In-to catnes
thru gret eilde falȝeit & ded was.
& quhen he one his dedstra lay,
to þaim þat nest war he can say:
“sene þat ȝe se ded sall me tak,
I coniure ȝou, for godis sak,
þat yhe for na trawall be Irke
to bere my body to sume kirk,
quhar-of sanct Machor has keping,
& pray hyme for þe hewynnis king
þat he meyne one & thochtfull be
of his hicht þat he mad to me,
of his gud will at our partyng.”
with þis of spek he mad ending,
& ȝaulde þe gast but mare abad.
& þai þat þis commawndment had
to tak his body, war nocht Irk,
& one a bere brocht till a kirk
þat was bot litill fra þat place,
þat befor to þaim lendyng was.
& quhen þat sanct Machor þis tale
has herd, as I haf tald ȝou hale,
he mad Regrat & had disese.
bot, for he durst nocht god disples,
þat nicht but slepe all haile he lay
In his prayere till it wes day,
& in þat kirk with fleschely eyne
ful feile brycht Angelis he has sene
ffle vpe & doune, makand þaim play,
quhar at þe cors of dewynnik lay.
þan was sanct machor blyth & glad
for þis fare sicht þat he sene had.
& one þe morne quhen it was day,
till his discipulis þis can say;
“lowe we all god, my breþir dere,
þat has ws send a gud gestenere.
þarfor mak we ws redy tyt
hyme, as a spe afferis, to visidte,
& ȝeld till hyme for-out delay
þat office þat ws acht to say
ffor worthi men quhen þai ded are.”
with þat þai passit furthmare
to þe kirk, quhar-at sanct Machor
þe angelis play had sene befor.
bot þai þat þe cors brocht þiddire,
with it had gane þar way to-giddir
ner by of creskane to þe hill,
& þar abad to reste in will.
bot sanct Machor foroutyn freste
folouyt, & fand þaim þar tak reste.
& he & his þar with þame abad,
till þai þe seruice all had mad,
þat to sic deide men suld parteyne,
or ony wink come in þar eyne;
& syne bare þe cors deuotely
till a place callit banchory;
& þare solempni with honoure
þai grathit for it a sepulture.
& one hym þare þai mad a kirk,
quhar god ȝeit cesis nocht to wirk
thru his prayere ferleis full fele,
to sek and sar folk gyfand heile.
Men callis þat place quhar he lay
banchory dewynnik till þis day.

syne eftyr þis tyme It befell
þat fra sanct colme quhar he can duell
In scotland come, because þat he
as pilgerame thocht at rome to be.
& fra sanct Machor had witting
In-to þe land of his cumyng,
he fane nocht quhill he with hym met.
& athire of þame for Ioy gret;
þai war sa fane þat þai met were.
sanct Machor þan at hym can spere,
In pilgrimag gif he wald pas
to Rome, as till hyme tald was.
& he sad: “ȝa.” & sanct machor
þane blithar wes þan euir befor,
& sad: “with ȝour leif, faddere dere,
ȝe sall nocht pas & lewe me here.
for-þi, sire, graunt me ȝour gud will.”
& he consentit sone hyme till.
þane but a-bad þai mad þaim ȝare,
& all thing þat was necessare
for þare passing þai mad redy,
& held þare gat in cumpany.
bot It ware langsum for to say
the wondir þat god in þe way
wrocht for þame or þai com to Rome;
for þai exced all manis dowme.
bot at þe last with swink & swet
hiddir þai come & trawall gret,
& wisit first petir & paule,
quhare pardone is & heile of saule;
& socht syne wthir placis sere,
quhar feile was to god full dere.
of haly kirk þe cure had tane
a paipe of Rome, a mastir man,
gregor þat was of gret Renovne,
& of haly opunyone;
þe quhilk, quhen he had herd þat þai
war cumyne þar, but mar delay
he send for þaim full Reuerendly,
& gert þaim cum till hym in hy,
& þame Resawit as his dere
Richt tendirly & with gud chere.
& syne full mykill sperit he
þe cause quhy of sa fere cuntre
þat þai come þar. & þai alsone
with schort spek has þe cause vndone,
sayand: “þe cause of þis trawall
þat we haf tane one hand but fale,
Is for to wyne lestand Remede
till our sawlis eftire our dede.
ane wthir cause als haf we eke,
petire & paule here for to seke
& mony wthir in þis stede,
for godis sake þat tholit dede,
& for til haf ȝoure benysone
& ȝoure gud informacione.”

the pape sanct Machor þan can call
till hyme, & of þe pectis all
Mad bischope for his tyme to be.
& þare-with his name changit he,
And callit hyme morise, þat befor
llang tyme to name had Machor.
& swa as he had namys thre:
mocumna first in his cunctre,
& syne Machor in-to þe land
of pectis quhill he was duelland.
þe pape sanct gregor þar-with all
a-pone a day till hyme can call,
& informyt hym sowne & weile
In all þe office ilke deile,
þat suld parteyne to bischapis stat,
& mekly sad hyme syne þis gat:
“lo, bruthir & in criste sone dere,
thru wescheyng of our handis here,
þe haly gast hes callit þe
of bischape to þe dignite,
þat is schosine, & to þe hicht
trawale þar-for all thi mycht
in goddis wyne-ȝarde for to vyne
feile folk þat bundine ar with syne,
þe wark of wangeliste þu do,
& þe office þat is þe to
Committit, fulfill ilke day,
& vnreprofit kepe þe ay,
& gaynand & vnchangeabli
as þu se ned is, þu chasty,
in pacience argw and pray,
& in doctrine be besy ay.”
& quhen þe pape one þis kine wise
had weile informyt sanct Morise,
& blissit hyme & sanct colme bath,
þai tuk þair leif, & sped þaim rath
towart þar cunctre for to gang,
& one þar way trawalit sa lang
& ythandly or þai wald fyne,
till þai to quhar sanct martyne
lyis, ware cumyne apon chaunce,
to torone, to þe tovne of france.
& þare þe bischope of þat stede
vith his clergy met þaim, & leide
in-to þe cite ful Reuerendly,
& purwayt for þaim gud herbry,
& gert fynd þaim, till þai war þare,
all þat to þaim was necessare;
for god had schauyt hym þat þai
var thankfull seruandis till hym ay.
for-þi þe tyme þat þai duelt þare,
he did þame honor for þe mare,
& did his mycht with full gud will
to gere þame bath duell with hym still.
bot sanct colme, þat wald na wa be
for na requeste fra his cunctre,
his wayag hamewart tuk in hy.
þane of þe cite þe clergy
fful increly mad hyme Requeste,
sene þat he duell nocht wald, at þe leste
þat he wald thole ane of his þare
duell for to preche goddis lare.

thane was sanct colme full gretumly
abaisit & his cumpany,
& haffand ferly held þame still.
bot sanct morise of goddis will
sad till his mastir: “fadire dere,
quhat-euire it be þat in þis were,
þat quhemfull be to ȝou to do
as god hyme-selfe has sad ws to,
It sall be done, I sa, be me,
how paynefull or how hard It be.”
“& þu,” quod he to sanct Morise,
“blissit be ay, & now blissit is,
ffor-þi with martyne & with me
sall hewynlik are & falow be
In hewynnis bliss quhen þou art dede.
bot ȝet sall þu duell in þis stede
thre ȝere, in godis corne to wirk
& strenth and confort haly kirk.
þarefor strywe furth ay stalouartly
ffor to confund oure ennymy,
& with prechyng & techyne wyne
ffra hyme þat he hankis in syne,
& in gud wark þi curss fulfill,
quhill god in hewine þe tak hym till,
& of richtwisnes þi full far crowne
þe giff in hewine to þi werdoune.”
& quhen he þus had sad & mare,
but bad he buskit hym to fare.
bot sanct morise, þat was full wa
for to depart his master fra,
to ger hyme duell a wile can lay
his hand one hym, & þus-gat say:
“my dere fadire, quhat thinkis þou
as alyene to leff me now
ymang vnknawine men, & swa
þi way in-to þi cunctre ga?
[f]or, but lewe and þe benysone
of sanct martyne, [to] pas of towne,
It war nocht spedfull be naway.”
þane can his mastir till hym say:
“dere sone, suppos þat I hame fare,
forsuth þe lewe sall I neuirmare,
bot god þis place has grathit þe
ȝet all thire thre ȝere in to be,
& eftir of þat curs þe stryff
to hafe Reward and lestand lyffe.
bot ȝet þi ȝarnyng till fulfill
we will ga now þe bischope till,
& ask of new his benysone,
& leife þat I ma pass of towne.”
þe bischope rase þan & hyme met
& tuk hyme, & by hym set,
& fandit, giff he ger hym mocht
leif his purpos & chang his thocht.
bot he mycht nocht for na kyne thing
ger hym leif purpos na etling.
with þat þe nycht come, & þat auld,
þat for na prayere þan duell wald,
tuk leif & haile þe benysone
of þe bischope, & mad hym bowne
In sanct martynis kirk to wakk,
& fulfill clergy for his sak;
& all þe nycht in prayer lay
befor þe fertire to þe day.
&, as men sais, þat nycht but were
to sanct colme wakkand can apere
sanct martyne suthfully, & bad
llang tym and spekyn with hym mad.
& þar þe buk of þe wangele,
þat in þe grawe was lad sum quhile
besyd hyme, quhar he grawine was,
he gef hyme frely in þat place,
þe quhilk all his lyftyme held he
as a Relik in gret daynte,
& left It, quhen he can dissesss,
in till his kirk as resone was.

than one þe morne, quhen it was day,
he buskit hyme to gang his way
but langar howne [in] till his land,
to martyne hyme Recommendand.
þane folouyt hym out of þe towne,
a fer way with processione,
sanct morase with gret cumpany
of lawide men and of clergy,
& sa partyt, þocht þai war lath,
with oft blissing and regrat bath;
for it is a full noyus thing
of dere frendis þe departynge.
quhen day was gane, & It was nycht,
þe bischope of þe place hym dycht
to slepe; & sanct martyne but were
till hyme slepand þar can apere,
& sad till hym: “lof god in hicht,
& blissis hyme with all ȝour mycht,
& he is name of alkine wyse,
& trew his seruand sanct morise
has visit ȝou, and throu his grace
benefice has ekit to þe place.
for-þi of twrane þe Cite
may mak Ioy als, and blith be
þat sanct Morise yhone patrone
has gottine, & me to helpe ȝone llone.
for he till god sa thankfull is,
þat in till hewine with prophettis
And patriarkis he sall be
Rewardit in-to lyk degre.
for þai till hyme war as samplar
to lewe his kyne þat mychty war,
& þis gret pilgrimag to tak,
as did abrahame for goddis sak,
& lewe all warldis welth & keyne,
Reward in lestand lyf to wyne.”
þe bischope þan waknyt of slepe,
& to þis visione tuk gud kepe,
& his clergy can till hyme call,
& word for word he tald þaim all,
as I befor here tald till ȝow.
& þai þat richt weile can hym trev,
hewyt vpe þar handis to þe hewyn,
& lowit god all with a stewine.
þane all þe folk of þat cyte
ewire ilk man in his degree,
with contryt will and ane assent,
to sanct morise but mare ar went,
& hyme as fadire & saule-hyrd
Resauit sone, as þame weile byrde.
& als þe bischape of þe place,
þat with þe puple present was,
of all his bischoprik þe cure
be-taucht till hyme of gret honour
of sprituale & of temporale thing,
all to demayne at his lykine,
swa þat to his dowme gret & small
þat suld be downe, partenyt all.
& fra þat he sic charge tuk,
he trawalyt besyly & wok
till his discipulis for to preche,
& als þe puple besyly teche;
& þe bidding of þe postill
full ythandly he tacht þaim till;
& of gud lyf & honeste
gud ensamplar to þaim first was he;
for he hyme-self in word and deide
but ony [syn ly]ff ay can leyde.
þe clergy þan full gret Ioy mad
þat þai sa worthy faddire had;
& þe puple, as þaim weile byrd,
was fayne þat gottine had sic ane herd.
for in-to þai thre ȝere & mare
sanct Morise was duelland þare,
þe kirk sa weile ay gouernand,
þat þar fell nocht into þe lande
pestilence of beste na man.
& þar-to weddire had þai þane,
þat þai wane froyt of land & se
thru his prayere in gret pleynte.
& till it hapnyt hym of chaunce
sa lang tyme for to duel in fraunce,
Mony merwale god for hyme wrocht,
þat I in-to þis buk wryt nocht,
ffor bath it war langsum to do,
& I can tak na tyme þar-to,
bot sped me schortly for to tell
of his ending, how it befell.

tharefor quhen þat he duelt had þare
thre ȝere haile & half but mare,
he fell in till a lytill fewire,
þat quhile for cald will ger men cheuire,
& þat seknes sa fast hyme socht
þat hyme full nere till end It brocht.
sex days þan with sic herd stryfe
befor þat he passit þis lyfe,
he gert his clerkis mak his grawe,
& in till his orator hyme haf,
& his discipulis till hyme call.
he gret, & sad þis till þaim all:
“My sonnys der, now ame I seit
of alkine flesche to ȝeld þe deit,
& sall be mad sowne as yhe see
of fleschlyk presone quyt & fre.
lowit be þat me has gewine
grace; my strife I haf weile strifine.
ffor-thi gud thing It is to me
to be lousit & with hyme be.
for it nedis me nocht, I trev,
In flesche to duell langer for ȝou,
for ȝe ar parfyt in althing,
of grace haffand na kyn wanting.
þar-for, dere sonnis, beis nocht Irk
with gud werkis to strynth þe kirk,
& with gud dedis seit ȝour will
godis byding ay til fulfill.
alkyne wicis ȝe put away,
& luk ȝe cristine treutht hald ay.
And ferme in pece & cheryte,
& nethbour lof, luk ay ȝe be.”
quhen þat he þis had sad & mare,
þai wer dissessit, & gret full sare,
& sad: “der faddur, quhy will þu
all dissolat ws leif ws now?”
& he sad to þame: “sonnis dere,
I leif ȝou nocht dissolat here.
I sall euir mar with ȝou be,
bath quyk & deide in all degre,
Anent god ay intercessoure
ffor ȝoure weilfar & ȝour honour.”
þe houss þan gert he deuod all
of þaim þat þar war gret & small,
outane þe bischopis þat come þar
to wisit hyme in þat sithwar,
& sic wthir religiouse
he gert duell still in till þe house,
& prayt þaim for godis sak
þe takine of þe cors to mak
one þar froynttis, þat þai mocht se
& here þe thing þat þan saw he.
& as he bad, sa haf þa downe,
& þai bath herd & saw alsone.
& by his heid þan saw þai stand
Ihesus his postulis xij ymang.
& sanct colme & sanct martyng
besyd his bed þai saw stand syne.
þane spak swet Ihesu, god of hewine,
to sanct moryse with full myld stewine:
“sanct morise cum & with me wone
in-to my fadir Rik but hone.”
& with þat wordis he ras full Rath,
& gat apone his kneis bath,
& sad as hale & fere war he:
“In manus tuas, domine,
My saule I gyf,” & sayand swa
he ȝauld þe gast. & It can ta
ffeile angelis, & bar in hewyne
with mekill sang and full swet stewine.
þe bischape þan & his clergy
a costly kirk gert mak in hy,
of siluer weile gilt for þe nanys,
& ennornyt with costlyk stanys,
& mad sanct moryse þare to ly,
enbawmyt weile & Richly.
& his sepultur mad þai syne
ewine syd be syd to sanct martyne,
quhar god throw his gud prayer ay
cesis neuir ȝeit nicht na day
fferly werkis for to wirk,
to fereme our treutht & strinth of kirk,
In lofyng of hym þat of nocht
þis warld & þe lawe has wrocht;
for þar is wrocht euire ilke day
sa gret wondir, þat I ne tell may,
of sanct morise throw þe prayere
to folk bundine with seknes sere,
þat I dar nocht Record all now;
for sume perchaunce suld me mistrew.
for deiff men þar gettis heryng,
& blynd men als parfyt seyng,
& halt men als þar gettis bute,
þat seknes has in schank or fut,
& dume men als þar gettis speke,
þat mekly will sanct morise sek,
& full feile men of parlesy
gettis þar heile þar parfytly.
& sume throu ydropesy sa gret
swolne þat þai ma ete no mete,
are mad swampe þar, throu þe prayer
of sanct morise, haile & fere.
& sume þat brawne-wod of þer wit
war mad and wterly tynt It,
& helpe has socht at sanct morise
Recouerit wit & war mad wise.
& sume þat payne had of þe stane
or seknes in-to flesch or bane
or quhatkine vthir Infirmyte
þat man or woman had, gyf he
or scho sanct morise socht increly,
At hyme þar heile þai gat in hy,
throw mycht of giffar of all grace,
to quhome he ay trew seruand was.
& swa gif god þat I ma be
his seruand in-to sic degre,
out of þis lyf þat I may twyne
but schame, or deit, or dedly syne.
explicit wita sancti macharij.