University of Virginia Library

[OMITTED] & sa betyd a tyme þat he
of Alexandir to þe cite
was cumyne, for neddis þat he had
for to do þare; & suiorne mad;
& tuk purpus, sic was his will,
to sacrifice his godis till.
þane certane terme set he sone,
quhen þat he wald þis war done,
& gert sone awfull lettris wryt,
& seile þaim with his seile all tyt,
& with his messingeris þaim send
of his empire fra end till end,
Wndir gret payne biddand till all
þat þai suld cume, bath gret & small,
at certane tyme richt to þat place,
þat in his lettris callit was,
bath poure & Rik, one þar best wise,
till mak till ydolis seruice;
& cristine þat wald nocht do swa,
but pitte thocht he for to sla.

[T]hane all þai folk bath fere & nere,
þat of sic commawndment mycht here,
till Alexandir but delay
Come apone þat certane day.
& he in þat tyme gert mak place,
quhar all þe folk, þat euir þar was,
he mycht seit opynly and see
euire-ilke mane in his degre,
quha sacrifice mad till hym quem,
& quha did nocht, þat he mycht deme.
þane he armyt was and dicht
in gold, þat schenand was full brycht;
& of hey stat full mony man
had he about hyme stannand þane.
þane was gret wondir for till here
þe noys, þe raryng, & þe bere
of noyt & schepe & menstralsy,
þat mycht bene hard, quha had ben by.
fferlifull was þat offerand þane,
þat in þat place mad mony man,
euire-ilke man in þare degre,
of gret tresoure & gold & fee
& of alkynd of bestiale sere;
& þai þat sympill or pouir ware,
offerit foulis, sume mare, sum les,
eftire þare stat & þare mycht was.

In þat tyme katrine duelling had
In till a p[a]lace, quhar þat scho bad,
of all rich and fare in þat cyte,
In mekill welth and nobilte,
as till a kingis douchtir feryd.
& as scho herd sic noys, scho sperit
quhat at it was, & send alsone
Ane, for to wit quhy it was done.
& quhen scho wist þe enchesonne
quhy sic noys was, scho mad hir bone,
&, with full honest cumpany,
hiddir has tane hire way in hy,
&, to fend hire fra hir fa,
takine of cors cane one hir ma;
& swa come to þat place in hy,
quhar scho saw ser men sacrify.
& ymang wthir scho has sene
sume þat befor cristine had bene,
bot þane, for dout þai had of dede,
mad sacrifice in-to þat sted.
quhen scho saw þat, hire hert was sare;
þane to þe emprioure but mare,
or Radnes, or but abaysing,
scho ȝed and sad til hym: “sir king,
Resone requeris, and dignite
Of þi hye stat alss wald, þat we
hayliste þe fare, with-þi þat þu
knaw þi malyes & with-draw now
sic seruice fra þis goddis fals,
þat þe dissawis, & þame als
þat trewis in-to stok or stane;
for þar ma be na god bot ane,
þat hewine & erth mad & all thing,
& Is but end and begynnyng;
throw quham all kingis rengnis in land,
& bot quham ma na kinrik stand;
In hyme, of hyme & throu hym all
has he giffine bath gret & small.
& as he mad of nocht althing,
sa sall althing at his lykine
sese and faile quhen-euire he will,
For ocht that man ma do þare-till.”

[T]hane ansuert þe emprioure,
till hir spekand with gret cure,
wenand with resone to conclud
hir in hire spekine, þat was gud;
bot he awaile mycht in na thing,
bot was still. & [scho] sad: “sir king,
to spek with þe þis I begane,
wenand þu had bene a wisman;
bot nov of commun thing will I
spek with þe, and askis quhy
this multytud þu gert cum here,
but cause, of mony landis sere,
till ydolis to do honoring,
þat ma þaim helpe in nakyn thing;
& als þu merwalis for to se
of manis werk þe sutelte,
as þu ma se in templis sere,
þat craftly ar wrocht & clere,
schenand thru gold & polist stanys,
þat in processs of tyme sone wanys;
for nedlingis faile mon althing
þat of þis erth has begynnyng.
bot þu suld moyse here & merwall,
of hewine & erth, þat ma nocht faile,
& se, [&] all þat ar in þame,
& sone & mone & planettis plane—
of þe enhourmentis all of hewyn
þou suld merwale, & sternys sewine,
how, fra þis warld war mad, þat þai
has seruit god bath nycht & day,
& [in] þare stat euir ar þai stabill,
dowand þare deit, wncorumpable.
be-hald þis weile, & þu sall se
quheþir is master, god or he
þat makis þe thing þat ma nocht lest,
sene warldly thing ma neuir be fast,
& all ydolis of stok & stane
mone nedling rot, & wast, & wane;
þane suld þu weile persawe & see
þat lyk to god ma na thing be;
& gyf þu ma consawe þis thing,
þu honour hyme as suthfast king!
for he is god of goddis all,
& verray lord of gret & small.”
þane quhen scho had disputit lang
with maxens in þat mykill thrang
of cristis incarnacione,
& syne of his assumpcione,
& all þe warkis þat he dide
for man in-to þis ȝerd, or kyd,
maxens abaisit a quhile sat still,
& syne þis sad þe madine till:
“ffaire woman, thole, quhill we haf don
þis sacrifice, & syne alsone
oure answere we sall ȝeld to þe.”
& in þe mentyme commaund he
till his palais hir for to led,
& treit hir weile in word & deid,
& kepe hir with gret deligence;
for he ferlyit of hir prudence
& of hir wondire gret bounte,
þat was richt ferlyfull to se;
& with þat richt hire fare haffing
ekit hire bounte in gret thing.

[S]owne eftire þat þe emprior
till his palace with gret honour
Come, And gert bryng hym katrine,
& hailiste hir and sad hyre syne:
“þi fare spek haff we herd haly,
& of þi prudence has ferly,
bot, for þat we occupyd ware
In sacrifice of goddis sere,
we vndirstud nocht all þi taile;
bot now we will þu tell ws haile,
quhar þu was borne, & of quhat kyn
þat þu come, tell ws mare & myn!”
þane answert scho, & sad: “catone
forbad his sowne in his lessone
To law hyme-self or lof gretly;
for, quha at swa dois, dois foly.
yhet þane I sall tell þe my kyne,
bot nocht for pryd na lowe to wyne,
bot erer for hymylyte
I will tel of my kyne to þe.
for-þi, sir king, wyt þu þat I
Ame dochtir to þe king Costy,
& succedis till hyme as ayre
of renttis gret & landis fare;
& borne I wes in þis cite,
And welthfully fosteryt, parde,
& seit to lare, & leryt weile;
quhar-with I can persawe & feile
þat ydolis ar bot dewillis all,
& mawmenttis als, bath gret & small;
& þat na god bot ane ma be.
Richt sone I can persawe & se,
þat is þe god of mychtis maste,
þe fadire, þe sowne, þe haly gaste,
a suthfast god in personnis thre;
to quham all hale I haf tane me,
& serwe sall hyme atoure althing,
as to my lord & souerane king.
for þi godis, to quham þat þu
dois sic seruice, & honoris now,
ma nothire helpe þaim-self na the,
gyf þu had grace, þu mycht weile se.
þar-for vnhappy ar þai all
þat manis warkis will godis call,
þat ma nothire in word na deide
succure or helpe man in-to nede,
na agane parele mak defence.”
þane till hire answert þis maxens:
“maydine, gyf þis be suth þu sais,
all þis warld erris mony wais;
& suthfastnes sais þu allane.
but suthtwitnes suld nocht be tane
bot in þe mowthis of twa or thre;
quharfor men suld nocht trew to þe,
suppos þat þu ane Angell ware
or hewynly uertu in þe bare;
bot mekill les ȝeit suld men trew
a brokill woman as is þu.”

[T]hane sad scho hym: “I pray ȝou, sir,
þat þu be nocht ourcumyne with Ire;
for Ire distroblis sa the thocht,
þat suthfastly deyme ma it nocht,
þocht he war neuire sa wyse a kyng,
as cattowne sais in his teching;
& þarfor, gyf þu king will be,
in thocht lat resone gowerne þe;
bot, be þe body giff þu will
gowerne þe, þu beis a thrill.”
þane sad þe king, “gyf þou had mycht,
me think þu wald with venemyt slycht,
tak ws in gyrne dissatfully
thru samplis of philosophy.”
þane, for þe king persawit weile
þat he resist mycht neuir a dele
agane hir wyt, for-þi gert he
seyre lettris priwely mad be,
& send þame sone furth here & þar
our all þe greit empyre wyd-quhar
till all þat had Renowne of wyt
& of fare spekine sammyne knet,
& commawndit þaim þai suld þaim sped
till hym, as þai wald haf gret med,
& honour gret, & thank, all thre,
of Alexandir to þe cite.

[H]ys messingeris þan furth ar gan,
& sped sa wele, or euir þai fane,
þat fyfty masteris haf þai brocht
vith þame, sa wyse þat na man mocht
In all þis warld fynd men sa wise,
na of gret sciens haf sic gret prise.
þe emperoure þaim hailist ful swyth,
& of þar cummyng was rycht blyth.
þane sperit þai þar enchesone
quhy he gert þaim cum to þat towne,
& sa mony, of landis sere.
þane sad he to þame: “gret mystere
gert me assemble ȝou & call;
& gyf ȝe bere ȝow weile, ȝe sal
Resawe honour & profyt now,
as in my lettris I wrat ȝou.
here is cumyne till our presence
a madyne of full gret prudence,
þat throw gret wit & sutelte
concludis all my men and me,
na man of ws had tuth na towng
to conclud hir, þocht scho be ȝounge.
for scho proffis with skillis sere
þat all oure goddis ar dewillis here,
& of na mycht for till helpe man.
ffor-þi, gyf yhe othir ma or cane
conclud hir & ourcume with skill,
ffor to Reward ȝou is oure will;
ffor scho is of sic sutelte
þat, bot gyf scho concludyt be,
scho sall þe pupill haill gere ere,
& all oure treutht full mekill ware;
ffor richt mony begynnis now
throw hir in hire god to trew.”
þane ansuert ane of þaim mychtty
with gret dedingne dyspytuisly:
“o þu lord of gret maieste,
quhatkine consall amowit þe
till assemble þis mony wyse
of þine empyre of sere partyse
ffor to conclud a madine small,
sene þat þe lest wis of ws all
micht haf concludit hire lichtly
In science of philosophy,
& swa mycht of oure seruandis ane
a gretare wark haf wndirtane?”
þe king þan sad: “with strinth mycht I
haf gert þe madine sacrify;
bot yhet I haf seit myn entent
to conclud hir with argument.”
þane sad þe ministeris to þe king:
“gere þe madine before ws bring,
& scho for all hir gret science
sall haf na word to mak defence
Aganis ws, þan scho neuir had bene
at scole, na ȝet na lettir sene;
& sa sall all se oppynly
hire ourcumyne with sucquidry,
sa þat scho sall apertly say
scho saw neuir wyse man to þat day.”

[A] cristine man has herd þis tale
And tald It to sanct katrine hale,
Quhatkine purpos þir men has tan
to confund hir, þat helpe had nan.
þane to god hale scho hir betacht,
& prayt hyme for his mykill macht,
to gif hir grace swa for to do
þat It mycht lowing be hyme to,
& at scho mycht sic defence ma,
þat it war senschepe till hir fa.
with [þat] ane angel come hir till,
þat bad hir be of stedfast will,
for god suld gif hir wit & grace,
sa mykill, þat nan in-to þat place
Agane hir suld haf tuth na tong
hir to resist, þocht scho was ȝoung,
bot þat scho suld vincuse þaim all,
& þat throw hir god suld þaim call
of martirdome to tak þe crowne.
þane war full mony knychtis bone
to fesch hir; & scho come al-sone,
quhar-at þe king set in his trone,
with mony mudy man hyme by,
& þir masteris, þat war fyfty.
þane sad scho swetly to þe king:
“It is nocht lyk till ewyne demy[n]g
for to set fyfty masteris wyse,
þat of sic science has þe price,
agane a madine hir alane;
& to þame als has vndirtane
for to Reward þaim richely,
& me þu gerris wilfully,
but hope of mede, aganis þaim all
strif! bot ȝet Ihesu crist sall
be hop & helpe & croune alswa
to me; sene þat I þis strif ta
for hyme, he sall weile reward me
in his kinrik, quhar is lestand gle.”
þane, hir to strenth a-gan hir fa,
þe croce scho can apon hir ma.
þe emperoure þane mad defence,
for nane suld spek bot hald silence.
& quhen sanct katrine þer fyfty men
saw stand stane still, scho sad þaim þan:
“gyf ony of yhow consawit has ocht
aganis me in till his thocht,
or argument, or subtilite,
quhy sais he It nocht furth? lat se!”
þe wysest of þaim þan but pere
sad: “madine, we suld erare here
þe begyne to spek; for we
are cumyne here for þe cause of þe,
to her þi wit, of weile fere landis.”
þane hewid scho wpe bath hir handis,
& sad till þame full apertly:
“Masteris, I will ȝe wit þat I
Ame tacht in sacramentis sewine
of Ihesu crist, þe king of hewine,
Richt weile; & þocht I be sadly
& wele tacht in philosophy,
& als þe sewine artis can all
þat ar in scole red, gret & small,
yhet-þane all hale I þaim forsak,
& her till hyme I me betak,
þat is souerane & leile science,
My Ioy, my hope, & my defence,
Ihesu crist, my lord & kyng,
þat bath is well & begynnyng,
Throw quham god þe faddir wrocht
þe warld & alkyne thing of nocht,
& Is a god, of quham all thing,
Throw quham, & in quham, makis lestinge,
wnsichtfull and sichtfull bedene
bath strenth & lenthing has, but wen;
& throw pitte, þat in hym is,
quhen mankind owt of paradice
was put throw inwy of our fa,
wnsichtfull sichtfull schape can ta
of manheide, & apperyt here,
ded for to thole for oure mystere,
& throw his dede wane ws to lyf
þat euire sall lest but pane or strife;
& swa relewit he oure neide
sichtfull in kine of oure man-hed.
he is my wit & my science,
& als a-gane my fa defence.”
& quhen þis madine had þis tale
tald, as ȝe haf hard al hale,
ane of þai fyfty masteris gret
sayd þus in ire & in gret het:
“Allace! quhy suld þu, lord & sir,
of Rome þat brukis þe gret empyre,
A madine thole fullely þis lang
Manteyng a-gane our godis wra[n]g,
Bot prechis fast of a new law,
& has na suth resone to schaw,
þat cristine folis pressis faste
for to ger grow, & strenth, & last,
& is bot foly, na lesyng!
we wend for to here sum thing
quhar-in þat wit had ben or slycht,
or quhar-to þat be ansuer mycht;
for scho was reput of sic fame
till ws, or þat we com fra hame,
þat we wend nan had ben [sa] wyse,
na of clergy haf sic prise.
& hir begynnyng has scho mad
of ane þat Ihesu to name had,
þat of cristine callis god & kyng.
lo here a selcuth begynnyng!
& he a deidlik man as we!
& syne for his iniquite
was tane & done to ded throu his!
quha mycht mare foly here þan þis?”
sanct Katrine þan but mare abad
to þat master sic ansuere mad:
“þat begynnyng of my resone
I mad of Ihesu, for chesone
þat he begyning is of all
þat euir ȝeit was or euir be sall,
or sichtfull or wnsichtfull thing;
þat-for he is my begynnyng.”
þane sad þe master, þat was sle:
“gyf he was god, quhow mycht he de?”
þane ansuert þat madine brycht:
“he þat of nocht althing mad, & mycht,
schape of man mycht tak, but wene,
& swa wnsichtfull mycht be sene,
& he þat mycht nocht thole, deye mycht.
bot I haff ferly of þi slicht,
þat has of wisdome sic plente,
& doutis þat Ihesu crist suld be,
syne plato, þat ȝe wisest call
in science of ȝour doctorris all,
In his tym mad probacione
of cristis incarnacione;
& Aristotill, his prenteis,
Ane vthire of ȝour doctourris wise,
granttit wele þat þar was ane
þat all thing steryt—ellis nan—
& throw hym had þar steryng,
& þar wphald, and begynnyng;
& yhone sibile saug can say,
þat was sa wis in tyl hir day,
þat god þat hangit one þe tree
hye for mankind, happy is he;
& balaan spak of þe sterne
þat crist betakynt, in-to derne,
þat of Iacob, þe patriarche,
suld spring, & be a king sull stark.
& syne þe wysmen of caldé
wok full lang tyme þat sterne to se;
& eftire lang, þat balan was,
of full lang tyme in process,
thre wysmen wok þat sterne to se,
& war all kingis of caldé,
& It apperit to þar sicht,
& was full mykill, fare, and brycht,
& als in It þe fygure had
of a child; and þai but bad
folouyt It a full fare way,
till þat to bethleeme cumine war þai;
& þar þai fand his modire myld,
in till hir harme haffand þat child,
þe schape of quham befor saw þai
in þe sterne, or þai tuk þar way;
þane offeryt all þai thre in hy
to þat ȝung child full deuotely,
ane gold, ane sence, & myre þe thred;
& throu þis offerand was wele kid
þat he wes werray god & mane,
þat ws fra wa to welth syn wan.
& mony vthir argument
yhe ma weile fynd, wald ȝe ta tent,
þat ȝoure doctouris in prophecy
has spokine of god full opynly.
for-þi me think richt wele þat ȝe
suld kene þat bot a god suld be,
þat mad & mowis alkine thing,
& has nan end, na nan begynny[n]g.
bot wise man call I can hym nan,
with ingnorance þat is oure-tane.
say yhe now furth quhat-euir ȝe will,
for to conclud me with yhou[r]e skill!”
þir masteris þan held þaim stan still,
& ilkane gowit wthir till,
& say abaysit þan war þai
þat þai had na word for to say.

[T]he emprioure þan changit his mud,
& of his vit ȝed nere-hand vod,
& one his masteris rarit rath,
& þame reprowit & blamy[t] bath,
& sad till þame dispitouysly:
“o yhe werches & wnworthi,
þat had sic nam & sic renone
of science, or ȝe com of towne,
þat men wend wisest ȝe had ben
þat to þis tyme war hard or sen,
& has na resone nov, na skill
A word to spek þis madine till,
bot standis still, & ar abaysyt,
& has me sodandly betrasit,
& tholis ȝow ourcumyne be
of katrine, in disses of me!”
of þai masteris ane, þat was mast,
þus to þe king þan sad in hast:
“sir king, we wald weile þat þu wit,
bo[t] thu throw resone or thru wit
ger ws mare clerly kene & se
þat na richt, na na lacht ma be
sa gud as þis, we will richt now
lewe þat lacht þat we ay can trew,
& trew þe law þat katrine schawis;
for It fare betir þan our law is.
ffor þar was na[n] sa wis þat mycht,
þat madine ȝong haffand sic slycht,
hir wyl defend hir lacht, þat ne he
suld with gud resone vincust be.
for we ar wonderit for till here
how þat in-to þis m[a]dine clere
þe sprit of god sa spekis ay,
þat we can nocht agane hir say,
syne þat we first had herd hir tale,
bot turnis ws to crist all hale,
& fals mawmentis forsakis ay,
þat in-to ned helpe na man may.”
þane was þe emperoure full way,
quhen he hyme saw ourcumine swa,
& swa enflawmyt thru gret Ire,
þat he richt sone gert mak a fyre
In þe myddis of þe cite,
quhar all þe folk mycht one It se,
& all þe masteris bad tak sone,
& bundine in þe fyre be done.
þane can þir masteris sammyn say:
“A, swet katrine, for ws þu pray
till Ihesu criste, þat hang one tre,
in quhame we trewly trew [thru] þe,
And of þis fyre þe felone deide
of baptyme standis ws in sted,
our ignorance forgiffand now,
for trewly all in hyme we trew.”
þane scho enformyt þaim sa wele
in cristine treutht euir[i]lke deile,
þat to þe fyre glad can þai gay,
for crist þe martirdome to ta.
þane crosit þai þame her & þare,
& passit furth foroutine mare.
þane in þat fyre men can þaim cast,
& gert It bryne about þaim fast.
& quhene þai war deide bedene,
a gret ferly þare mycht be sene,
þat þai in nathing wemmyt war
of bodiis, na of heid na hare,
& of þe clething in na thred—
sic wondire wrocht þare in deide,
quhar-thru euire trew[th] ekit & grew,
& mistreutht for sorow slew.
þane leile cristine gert grawe þaim sone,
& deit of dede to þame be done.

[T]hane seit maxens in stule of king,
& gert katrine befor hym bring,
& with fare wordis can hyme gluthire,
quhile one ane, quhile on ane wthire,
& þat þe last sad hir: “katrine,
of þi foly, I red, þu fyne
& consaile to þi ȝouthede sa,
þat is oure teyndir to thole wa,
þat þu ma luf, & saif þi-selfe,
& bruk with me bath Ioy & welth!
& for þu art bath wise & faire,
& douchtir of a king & aire,
In my palace þe secund quene
I sall þe mak foroutine wene,
&, as þu will, þe nedis all
of myn empire be treit[it] sall;
& in þe myddis of þis cite
ane ymag sall I mak of þe
with septre, as It ware a quene,
& all at euire sall it haf sene,
sall honour It, & worschipe bath;
& als I sall gere mak full rath
a tempill gret of marbre clene,
quhar-in, ymang my godis schene
& goddes als, in till a stage,
of þi faire fygure ane ymag
sall be set, & honoryt ay,
foroutine end euirilke day.
quharfor me think þat þu suld be
awisit sowne, & grant to me.”
þane sad þe madine to þe king:
“sir, mak me nan sic entysing,
þat is nocht wodnes anerly
to say, bot to think is foly;
for to criste I haf bundine me
throu band þat ma nocht lousit be.
he is my Ioy & luf parfyt,
my paramouris, & my delyt,
& s[u]werane of myn hart with-all.
na fra his luf I neuirmare sall
be departyt for weile na wa,
þocht I þarfor þe deide suld ta,
na for na payne, na for na thret,
na for gluthring of giftis gret.
for-þi, wirk furth þi wekyt will!
for I will na way bow þe till,
bot takis me till hewynnis king,
þat till his gret blisss sall me bring.”
þane was maxens all hat for teyne,
as he metall in fyre had bene,
& in gret breth, & in dyspyt
bad his tyrandis nakyn hir tyt,
& bynd, and beit with schorgis sare,
quhill ony haile hyd one hire ware;
& eftire þat scho suld be sone
In till a myrk donieone be done,
quhar scho mycht na thing here, na se,
þat mycht hire eise or confort be,
bot for to be in myrknes ay,
quhill þat scho suld renay hir fay.
& in pane of deid bad he
þat na man suld sa hardy be
to gif hir met na drink na way
fra þat tyme till one þe xii day;
for he thocht weile in þat men-tyme
to put hir to sa hard engyne,
þat scho suld leif hir frawart will,
& till his entent turne hir till.
& in þe mentyme hapnit swa
þat þis maxens worthit to ga
of his empire in-to sere place—
sic bodword till hym cumine was.
þane quhen þe king had mad hym bvn,
& passit furth out of þe towne,
ffull gret desyre þan had þe quen
þat yhet-þan had nocht katrine sene,
to spek with hir, & tell hir till
þe gret fellonny & þe Ill,
þat maxens þan consawit had
a-gayne hir or þat he furth rad,
& quhatkine payne & qu[h]at torment
to put hir to was his entent.
þane callit scho till hir a knycht,
a nobill man & purphir hicht,
& was to Maxens mast priwe—
& twa hundreth knychtis had he,
þat seruit hyme bath nycht & day,—
& þusgat can scho till hym say:
“sir purphir, sene þu art rycht leile,
my consele I will þu consele,
& helpe me bath in deid and will
how þat I katrine ma cum till,
to speke with hir, & hire to se,
I pray þe hartly þu helpe me.
& syne þu art a master mane,
I wat weile bath þu may & can
eschewe richt weile, gyf þat þu will,
þer geyalouris now spek sa till,
þat þai for prayere or for med
of myn entent wald lat me sped!”

[T]hane purphir sad till hir alsone:
“dred nocht, mademe! It sall be done.”
þane till þe geyelouris he paste,
& wrocht sa wele, till at þe laste
he gat lewe þat bath scho & he
suld cume in nycht in priwete,
& bath entre þe presone in,
for hope þai had for it to wyne.
quhen nycht was cumine, & day was gan,
sir purphir & þe quene allane
Come, & gat richt sone entre
of þe gyel; & þar cane se
sa mykill licht, þat nawise It
mycht be comprisit in mannis wit;
till erth þai fell þane for redness,
& lay still for abasidnes.
with þat þai feld a sweet sawor,
þat excedit alkine odoure
of ony spice þat euir tre bare;
& with þat katrine sone but mare
callit one þaim bath, & confurd þam
sa wele, þat þai apon feite wan,
& sad þaim: “crist callis yhow bath
for to tak croune her-eftire rath,
& for to bruk þat mykill blis,
þat he has grathit till all his.”
þan blenkit þai wpe bath, & [has] sene
katrine sic angelis betwene,
þat all hir vondis all our-quhare,
þat was apon hir body bare,
enonte with sawuis soft & swet,
& all þat brekine was, can bet,
& mad hire hyd sa hale & schene,
þat it was farly to be seyne.
full Ioyfull þane þire twasum war
of þe swet sicht þat þai saw þar.
sanct katrine þane, þe madyne clene,
with swet wordis confurd þat quene,
& bad hir be of stawlouart will:
“for Ihesu crist þu sall cume till
þis day thrid day, haf þou na dred,
& for schort pane haf lestand mede.
dout þar-for na payne temporale,
to cume to blis þat ma nocht fale,
na for to leif þe copullyng
of warldis man for hewynnis king,
na for to part fra de[d]lik mane
for hyme nan end has na begane,
Ihesu crist, þat is king parfyt,
þat for þis schort temporale delyt
gyffis þat Ioy þat neuir sall blyne
to þai þat tholis pane for hyme.”
& þus to þame scho prechit þare,
till it was mydnycht & wele mare.
þane purphire fell befor hire feit,
& askit hir with wordis swet,
quhatkine reward þat crist suld mak
till knychtis þat here for his sak
left warldis welth & temporale thing.
þane till hyme sad þat madyn ȝing;
“in þat kinrik þat is so clere,
quhar for delyt men lewis here,
þai sall haf euir-lestand lyff
but payne or verray duel or striffe.
& gif þu franis quhat thing is þare;
þar is ese & sic welfare
þat ma nocht wthir-ways be
expondit na wndone to þe;
bot all þat gud is, It is þare,
& illthing ma þar cum neuir mare.
& gif þu speris quhat gud þat is;
It is sic gud, I tell þe þis,
þat neuir ere herd, na yhet saw hye,
na mycht in hart comprisit be
þat god has grathit for all þai
þat seruis hyme here, quhen þa hyne ga.”
sir purphire þan & alss þe quene,
throw sermond of þat madene schene,
war mad full blith & held þar way
of þe donieone befor þe day.
þane purphir his knychtis all,
þat seruit hyme, bath gret & small,
callit, & þame sic tale has tald
þat þar halely to god þai ȝald,
& war all redy for to tak
þe martirdome for cristis sak.

[A]nd for þe king bad at þat fre
dais xii but mete suld be,
In þat tyme crist with hewynnis fud
ffed be a dow þat madine gud.
& quhen þai xii dais war gane,
to katrine, quhar scho seit allane,
oure lord, of hewine god, can apere,
with multytud of Angelis clere,
& of verginis sa mony,
þat for to se þame war ferly,
& bad hir suthtly knaulag tak
of hir makare, for quhais sak
þat scho enteryt in-to sic strife,
quhar scho wyne suld lestand lyfe,
& sad till hir: “þu stedfast be!
For in na tyme sal I lewe þe.”
& sayand þis, he sticht in hewyn
with mekill Ioy & angelis stewyne.

[T]hane, quhen þe emperoure had done
his neidis, come agane alsone,
& in þe myddis of þe cite
wpe-one þe morne he gert set be
his kingis stull, & seit hym done,
with ceptre in hand, & one hed crowne,
& gert katrine before hyme be
brocht, quhar all þe folk mycht se,
& schaw hir poliste fare & schene,
þat forhungerit [he] wenede had bene,
& wend sum man had brocht hir fud
In-to þe presone. þarefor nere wod
he was, & sad: “þe keparis all
þat kepyt þe þus, dere by sall.”
þane sad scho: “sir, met I had nan
throu warldis man bot criste allan,
þat throu his Angelis gert me fed,
& als nocht; haf þu na dreid!”
þane can he softly till hir spek,
Richt as he wald all Ill breth brak,
& sad: “now, madine fare & clere,
I pray þe þat þu tell me here
quhat-euir þu has in-to þi thocht;
& þarof heile þu fra me nocht,
na with na wordis þat ar dowble
Answere nocht, me for to distrouble!
for I yharne nocht for to dissawe þe
with quhyt wordis na sutelte.
& trewe weile, I yharne nocht þe
a seruand to me for to be,
bot as my wyf & quene mychtty
þe for to hald; & swa think I
for þi gret beute, & þi wit,
& þi gret gentrice sammyn knyt;
& als my empire hale to þe
þat þi lykine sall bowand be.”

[T]hane sad scho: “& now I þe pray
þat suthfastly þu wald me say
with leile wncouerit Iugement,
quheþir þat I suld do þine entent
erare þane to lord or king,
þat at his will ma do althing,
or for to tak a dedly mane,
þat of corrupcion begane,
& throu corrupcione man be
sic mater last as first was he,
& thole seknes, quhill he is here,
with trawell and dissesis sere?”
þe king wald þan na mare hym feynge
bot sad till hir with gre[t] dedingne
“madine, ches þe ane of twa;
sacrifice quheþir þu will ma
to my goddis, & liff in blis,
or, gyf þat þu refoysis þis,
to thole torment & perise sone?
of þire twa ches þe ane but hone,
& lat me wit but fengeit fare,
for þu sall drich me no mare.”
þane answert scho, & sad: “sir, I
thocht neuir to deile with trechery,
bot sais planely þat I will
in-to na thing concent þe till.
quharfor, quhat torment þou has thocht
to do to me, differe þu nocht!
for I dyssyre my flesch & blud
to gyf for hyme þat in þe Rud
mad offerand of hyme-self for me,
þat is my blis, my luff, my gle,
My ankire, my Ioy, my welth, my wele,
& of myn sawle þe lestand heile,
& giffis lyf, þat ma nocht fale,
to his luffers for þare trawalle.”
quhen þe tyrand herd hir sa swa,
out of his wit nere can he ga.
&, his anoy for till ames,
Come stertand furth sir cursates,
þat was prefeit of þe cite,
& sad: “sir king, herkine to me,
& wrath þe nocht sa Increly!
for I sall ordand in till hy
a maner of sa herd torment
þat sall hir gere turne hir entent,
& fley hir swa, þat scho in hy
sall be fulfane to sacryfy.
& gif scho [ne] dois, with wnhard pane
sa felloun[l]y scho sall be slaane
þat all cristine, þat ma It see,
sall concent to þi law & the.
quharfor with-ine dais thre
foure quhelis gret þu gere mad be,
of þe quhilkis þe felyis all
with scharpe houkis fichit be sall,
& all þe spakis one þat manere
sall be fichit with hukis sere,
þat sall be scharpe & rycht wele grondine,
of fynest steile þat may be fundine;
& þir quhelis seit sall be swa
þat of þame twa aganis twa
sall alwais twrne in contrare cours,
as thingis beand at rebou[r]se,
swa þat þe twa sall rywe wpward
allthing þat is betwene þaime seit,
ffra þat þai turne foroutyn lat.”
þane was þe emprioure full blyth,
& gert þe quhelis mak alswyth,
& in þe mydis of þe cite,
In opine place, gert þame seit be,
þat all þe folk bath fere & nere
Micht se one þaim, quhen þai suld stere.
þane was þat madyn brocht in hy
of þe pressone, quhar scho can ly,
& seit ymang þe quhelis swa,
þat, gif scho sacrifice wald ma,
scho suld haf lyf & all þat thing
þat till hire ere had hicht þe king;
&, gyf þat scho wald nocht do swa,
þe quhelis suld turne, & hir swa sla.
& quhen þat scho was sa hard sted,
Richt full ferme treutht in god scho had,
& prayt hym, as lord & kyng,
þat of his treutht for þe ekine,
& for þe lowing of his name,
& eke of cristindome þe fame,
& for þe pepill sake with-all,
þat þar war gadderit, gret & small,
þat he wald brek þai quhelis swa,
þat þai na merryng suld hir ma.
& þane but mare at hir prayere
ane angell brycht sone can apere,
& þai quhelis in pecis small
brak, & scaillit was oure-all
þat þan foure thousand slew or mare
of folkis mistreuthtfull þat war þare,
& twechit neuir a man of þai
þat cristine treutht befor can ta.
þane was þar Ioy & gret lofing
of cristine folk, þat saw þis thing,
& full gret schame & sorow als
to þame þat trewit in goddis fals.
ffull mony þan, þat þis has sene,
war baptist, & of syne mad clene.
þane was þe quene in-to þe hicht
of hir palais, & saw þis sicht,
& thocht þat scho wald heile nomare
ffra naman þat scho cristine ware,
bot all vane glore full haile forsuk,
& haile to Ihesu criste hir tuk,
& saynyt hir, & but baysing
come done, & stud befor þe king,
& sad: “o þu, my wrechid housband,
how lang sall þu in erroure stand,
& seis here sa opynly
god tak vengeance for þi foly,
& will nocht-yhet sesss to mowf were
agane hyme þat is þi makere?
wnhappy man! wald þu yhet trow
in-to oure suet lord, dere Ihesu,
god, at is king of cristine men,
& lewe þine errour, & hym kene,
& ask forgiffnes of þi syne,
yheit mycht þu sauchtyng with hym wine.
for her ma þu full clerly se
þat vthire god is nan bot he,
þat, quhen he will, ma quykine & sla;
bot þi goddis ma nocht do swa.
bot he is god of deide & life,
þocht þu full herd agane hym strife.”

[T]he king þan was sa wondir wa,
that nere his hart can brist in twa,
& sad: “a, wyf, quhat spekis þu?
I dout þat sum cristine has now
fra oure goddis priwit þe,
quhome one þu suld mast honour se.
bot I swere be goddis all
þat I haf honoryt ay & sall,
bot gif þu honour do in hy
till our goddis & sacrify,
þat þe pappis first fra þi breste
sall be Rywine, & syne þar neste
I sall gere turment þe fulfaste,
& strik þi hed of at þe laste,
& þi body eftire þi life
I sall gere doggis laithly rife,
& mak a bysine wyf of the,
to let wthire to cristine be.”
þane sad scho: “do quhat-euir þou will,
for I sall neuir concent þe till.”
& fra þat scho had sad hym swa,
he bad his turmentoris hir ta,
& harle roydly to þat stede,
quhare all misdoaris tholit deide.
þane lukit scho to sanct katrine
full pytuisly, & sad hir syne:
“haly virgine, for me þu pray
to god, for quhais nam þis day
I ame heire enteryt in-to strife,
& for hyme tyne þis temporale life,
þat he me graunt sic will þis day
þat I ma trastly but effray,
Thole ded for hyme, & at þat ma be
In stede of baptysing to me.”
þane ansuert þat madine schene,
& sad: “tak confurd to þe, quene!
full dere to god & luffit art þu;
bot wirk sa wysly þat þu now
one Ihesu seit þi hart ay stabile,
þat for þis kinrik corumpabile
þis day sall gif þe þi kinrik,
þat but falyng lestis elyk;
for þu dois nocht bot makis werringe
of failand & of dedly thing,
for þat king þat all thing mad,
& neuir begynny[n]g na end had,
& for þe pane þat sone is done
wyne lestand Ioy euir in-to wone.”
þane lurdannis hir lichtly lacht,
& harlyt hir furth, as þai war tacht,
& of hir clething mad hire bare;
bot scho was couerit with hir hare.
þane hir papis þai raf hir fra,
& syne þai strak hir nek in twa.
of martirdome eftire sic end
scho past with Ihesu criste to lend.
syre purphire for hir gret dull mad,
& come þat ilke nycht but bad,
& tuk hir cors, & wandit wele,
& It enointit euirilke deile
with bawme; & syne rycht wele gert he
in honest place It grawine be.
apone þe morne, quhen þis was done,
as I haf tald ȝou here alsone,
ffull bysy spering men can ma
quha durst þe quenis body ta
to grawe, or do It honourrynge;
& als for þat cause gert þe king
to questione put mony sere,
& punys þame one gret manere,
þat letit nocht, þocht he had wrang,
bot in sic wikidnes stud lang.
þane sir purphire but Abaising
has present hyme befor þe king,
quhare he sat in-to Iugment,
& sad one þis wyse his entent:
“sir king, now opinly we se
at a wod [s]preit trawalis þe,
þat sparis nothir quyk na dede
þat cristine are, in-to na stede;
na þu can nocht hald þe content
of na payne, na of na turment,
þat þu ma do to sic quyk men,
bot, quhen þai deide ar, þou will þan
forbid þame grawine for to be;
þat wikit sperit sa trawalis þe.
& gyf þu demys þaim gilty
þi wyf þat erthit, þat did I,
& yarnys þarefor me allane
to thole all þane þat may be tane,
ffor cristis martire I cane grawe
in hope of med þat for till haf;
for I ame cristis confessoure,
þat to þe quene dide sic honour.”

[Þ]ane þat tyrand can rodly rare,
as man þat had bene wondit sare,
na he sicht nocht priwely,
as men dois quhile þat are sary,
bot rathly ruschit to and fra,
as quha for sorow wod wald ga,
& sturly stampit als, & steryt,
& oft as branewod man he beryt,
& at þe last he can hye cry,
& sad: “allace! a wrech am I,
& mare wrechit na ony man!
for-[þi] my wekit werd I bane;
for I haf tynt þis day, allace!
all hale my helpe, & my solace,
& þe streynth of my empyre hale.
quhat wondire is I brist for bale?
for now is left me sir purphire,
þat wphald was of myn empyre,
& alswa anerly was he
þe kepare of my saule & me,
& in all trawell anerly
he was þat helpe þat ay had I,
swa but hyme luf cuth I nocht.
bot, lo, of me na-thing he wrocht,
bot fra my goddis, allace! & me
is gane þis cristine fore to be,
& to þe god of cristine lyne
has tane hyme haile fra me & myn!”
þane, hyme to confurd, gert he call
þai knychttis þat he mast lowit of all,
& mad his lamentacione
of purphire his conuersione,
& speryt gif ony was þare till
Consentand or þat wist his will.
þan ansuerd þai twa hundreth knychttis,
þat seruit purphire with all þare mychtis,
& sad: “sir, ȝa, we wat all weile
of all his dedis ilke deile,
how he conuertit was, & quhare,
for we all þan with hyme vare,
& all fals goddis forsuk þane,
& ar be-cumyne cristine men;
& with purphire for cristis sak
we dout richt nocht þe deide to tak.”
& quhen þe king herd þaim sa swa,
þane doublit hyme his mykill way,
& sad: “lo, here now is me mad
full Ill couering eftire lang bad!
for I wend ȝe suld confurd me
in quhat disses þat I mycht be.”
þane commawndit he in full gret Ire
to tak þai knichttis & purphire,
& with þame owt of towne to ga,
& all þar nekis stirk in twa,
& þare bare bodyis to lef þare
als nakit as þai borne ware,
till foulis & hundis to be fud.
þane ȝeid þai al furth with blith mud
to place þat þame was deput till,
& tuk þare dede with full gud will.
þe four & xxti day but drede
of nouember was done þat dede.
þis tyrand þane apon þe morne
eftire þe knychtis wer þis lorne,
In stule of Iugment hyme seit,
& gert þis katrine till hyme feite,
& sad hir: “þu wikide wiche,
quhat wenis þu ws lang to preche?
na; bot chese þe ane in hy;
othire till oure godis sacrify
or ellis þi heide to tyne þis day
dispytuisly but mare delay.”

[T]hane answerd hym þat madine fre:
“Langar delay I ask nocht þe,
bot to do me quhat-euir þu will;
for I will neuir consent þe till,
bot thole mekly for cristis sak
quhat-euir turment þu will I tak.
for I desyre to deye for hyme,
fra lestand deide þat can me wyne.”
þus quhen scho sad, foroutyn bad
þe tyrand gert hir furth be had
outhouth þe ȝeittis of þe cite,
quhare þat scho suld wnhedit be.
& maydynnis feile hir folouyt þare
& lele wman in þat swithware,
þat fast regratit hir bewte
þat one sic wyse suld wastit be.
scho turnyt to þame, & sad: “o yhe
Madynnis & matronis fare & fre!
I pray yhou eke nocht my passione
with sic sare lamentacione,
bot erare suld yhe Ioy with me,
þe suthtfast now gyf yhe mycht se;
for now my dere lord Ihesu criste
callis me now till his bewist,
þat is my luf and paramor,
to wyne with hym in till his boure,
& bruk with hyme but end his blis.”
þane to þe place scho come with þis,
quhar hir hals suld strikine be in twa,
& knelyt deuotly, & can ma
hir prayeris; & be-hald full ewine
with handis wpward to þe hewine,
& one kneis lang sittand swa
to god scho can þis prayere ma:
“o hope & helpe to trewfull man,
bewte & Ioy of all women,
god Ihesu, thankis I gyf the
þat deigneis for to nombre me
of þi madynnis in þe conuent;
& prays þe with gud entent
sic mercy þat þu kith me till,
þat quhasum-euir with dewot will
in lof of god mak mensione
of me & of my passione,
graunt þame þar askine for my sak
for quhat-euir thing or quhen þai mak,
in quhat parele þat þai be
stad one land or ȝeit one se;
& namely in þe tyme of dede,
gyf þai for my sak ask remed,
graunt þaim þar bowne, I thig at þe,
as þu art lord of maieste!
for, swet lord, lo, here for þi sak
of þe basere I byd þe strak.
bot, lo, my sawle þat [na] ways he
Ma tak, here I commend to þe.”
& or scho mad had þis prayere,
a woice of hewine was herd full clere,
& sad: “my dere lowit, cume to me,
for all my yheit is opnyt þe,
quhar-throw þu sall enter in blis,
þat neuir sall fane & but end is,
& all my halowis in till hewine
sall met þe with richt ioyfull stewine,
& with þe crowne of victury
þu sall be crownyt in till hy,
& euire-mare wone in welth with me.
for-þi namare þu besy be!
for [þat] at þu has askit here,
I haf þe tyd all haile but were,
& yhet welle mare I grant all þai
þat will memor of þe may,
& for þi sak askis helpe at me;
in quhatkine parele quhat-euir þai be,
my helpe I sall of hewine þaim send,
quhar þu sall duell with-outine end.”
& quhene þat woyce wes went away,
þat haly virgine but effray
hire faire hals strekit furth mylk-quhyt,
þat in twa strak þe basare tyt.
þane of hire cors, in sted of blud,
of mylk þare ruschit out a flud,
þat wet þe erth rycht plentwisly.
& angelis fell com þane in hy,
& in þe ayre hire body bare
to mont synay, & lait It þare,
& with þare handis one þat hill
entyryd It throw godis will,
þat ix Iurnays gret ma be
of Alexandir fra þe cite,
quhar feile merakilis ar for hire wrocht,
as leile men sais þat has hir socht,
& ay sall be in lowing
of hire & of criste hewynnis kyng,
þat for ekine of cristine fay
god did sic worschipe to þat may.
& of hire banis but leising
oyle full clere men sais yhet spring,
þat hope & heile is till all sare,
as þai record þat has bene þare.
& scho tholit þis passione
ffra cristis incarnacione
thre hundreth & tene yhere,
as wrytine is in bukis sere.

to god þe fadire be lowynge,
to god þe sowne be honourryng,
to god þe haly gast als be
ay lowyng, in a trinite,
& in a god thre personnis sere;
þat grauntt ws grac, quhill we ar here,
to leyd oure lyff sa quemfully
till hyme, þat we ma cum in hy
to þat Ioy quhare now is katrine,
In hewine blis forowtine fyne.
& I wnworthy, ane of þai
for quham þat scho can prayere may,
Requeris hire þat I ma twyne
owt of þis lyf but dedly syne.