University of Virginia Library

I. VOL. I.

[PROLOGUE.]

Catone sais, þat suthfaste thing is,
þat Idilnes giffis novrysingis
to vicis. þare-for, quha-sa wil be
vertuise suld Idilnes fle,
as sais “þe romance of þe rose,”
but settyng to of ony glose,
þat, thru þe vicis of ydilnes,
gret foly, quhile, & vantones
syndry hartis enteris withine,
& gerris men ofte sic thing begyne,
þat þai ma nocht fra thyne be brocht,
fra þai þare-in beset þare thocht.
þar-for þo lordis suld nocht [sa] wirke,
þat steris landis & haly kirke;
ȝit, quhene þai hafe þare thing done,
þat afferis þare stat, alsone
þai suld dresse þare deuocione,
in prayere & in oracione,
or thingis þat þare hart mycht stere
tyl wyne hewine, tyl þai are here.
& þe next way þare-to, I trew,
Is for to red ore here now
storysse of sere haly men,
þat to plesss god vs ma kene,
þat as merroure ar vs to,
to kene ws how we suld do.
þare-fore, in lytil space here,
I wryt þe lyf of sanctis sere,
how þat men ma ensample ta
for to serwe god, as did þai.
& quha-sa wil nocht, sal haf blam,
quhen he sal cume til his lang ham.
þar-for, sene I ma nocht wirk
as mynistere of haly kirke,
fore gret eld & febilnes,
ȝet, for til eschew ydilnes,
I hafe translatit symply
sume part, as I fand in story,
of mary & hir sone Ihesu,
þat, as I tre[w], is notyt now
in syndry placis in wryt,
to gere deuot men think on It:
hou oure lady consawit ves,
& of hir birth þe blissitnes,
& of dedis of hir barned,
& hou scho can hir-selwyn led,
demaynand hire in althing ewine,
til scho consawit godis sone of hewyne,
thru steryng of þe haly gest,
scho beand altyme vergine chaste;
& hou þat crist ves of hire borne,
to ransone mankynd þat ves lorne,
& hou scho fosteryt hyme & fed,
& hou in egipe syne hyme led,
& hou, quhen ded ves herrod fel,
scho [cum] agane til israel,
& forthir of þis story syne,
til he of watere mad þe wyne.
syne tuk I one hand to tret
forthire & of þe ewangel speke,
makand þare sum mencione
richt to cristis ascencione,
tretand þar-eftire be lele witnes,
hou þat criste rase in to þat flesch,
þat he had tane of oure lady;
& how til hel he vent in hy,
& of þe merwalis he vrocht þare;
& hou he brocht vs fra þe care;
& hou þat longius, þe knycht
þat of his ene had tynt þe sycht,
& mad ȝet þare in cristis syd
a slope, þat ves bath lang & vyd,
vith ane scharpe spere a-pon þe rud,
bot, quhen til his hand ran þe blud,
& vith þat hand [he] twechit his he,
thru grace of god he can se,
& syne of god sic grace he had,
þat for hyme he ves martyre mad.
& of his modire syne sad I
sume thing, þo It be rudly:
hou scho demanyt hir flesche,
til saule & body to-gydir ves.
syne mad I furth sum mencione
of criste & his compassione,
þat scho in-til hire hart had hyd,
quhen scho saw hou þe Iouys ded
vith hyme, þat scho of body bare,
þe quhilk þat scho saw pynit þare.
syne mad I furth mencione
of hir ded & hir assumpcione,
& hou þat crist in hewine but wene
his modir cronyt & mad quene.
syne of ferlyis þat war wrocht
be hir in erd, lefit I nocht,
til I had mad þaim redy
in novmer sex & sexty.
& ȝet vald I, & I mycht,
na var eld & falt of sycht,
of þe twelf appostolis spek now,
þat var rycht dere one-til Ihesu,
& war vith hyme as chosine knychttis,
seruand hyme bath day & nychtis;
for he had þame inflammyt swa,
þat nan of þaim vald part hym fra.
for his luf to de þai ne rocht,
na ȝet of varldly thingis thocht,
til þat he ves vith þaim in lyfe.
& quhen he ded ves, alss swyth. [OMITTED]
In-to þe nycht as candil clere,
and as salt sesonis all,
þe hartiss at one crist will cale.
and als god gaff þame sic mycht,
at þai had haile poware and slycht
To confownde þe fend, our fa,
quhen he conuertit ony of þai;
ffor þai raisit dede men to lyff,
and þai þat tynt had wittis fyffe,
þai restoryt þame allswa
fra schenschepe of oure felone fay;
As to deff men gyfand herynge,
and to blynd men als scharpe seynge,
and spek till oþer at war dum,
Handis and fet till oþire sum,
And of all sekness, and of all bale,
In name of Ihesu þai mad haile,
As he had hecht before þame to,
þat has he did, sa sulde þai do.
and god, at is of mekill mycht,
of þis warld callit þame þe lichte,
and sad þame alswa, quhen at he
suld sit in sege of maieste,
þai twelf suld set with hym-self,
and of israel demande þe k[y]nrikis xij;
and ȝet oure þat, he þame gafe
Playne powar our þe laffe,
to bynd and loiss, as þame thocht,
al syne to þame to schryfte ware brocht.
And disciplis ȝet had he may,
forowtin þir, sewinty and twa,
þat ware with hym in gret distress,
In þis warld till at he wess,
and eftyre scalit ware wyd-quhare,
to wyne þe folk to cristis lare,
and for þare trawel syne can win
þe bliss of hewin þat þai are In.
And þis wess a swet company.
Bot to þe apostulis now will I,
In ordour set, as I find it
Comprehendit in haly wryt;
and heire I will þare namyss schaw:
Sanct petir first and syne Androw,
Iames þe mare and Iohn alswa—
blesit be þai breþir twa!
Philip syne and bertholomow;
next þame, thomas and mathow,
Iames þe less and Tadee with-all,
his broþer, at we Iuda call,
and symon of Cananee,
syne Iudas skarioth—bot he
Deit; and quhen he wes dede,
Mathias wes chosin in his stede.
sum part be eleccion,
Efter cristis ascensione,
apostil syne chesit paule,
To helpe and succour many sawle.
bot thowcht god chesit Androw firste
to be ane apostill, as hym leste,
at Petir firste I wald begyne,
and sa furtht to myn purposs win;
for Petir prince wes of þame all,
at apostulis now we call.

I.—PETRUS.

Peter of “petra” may be tane,
In latine leid þat is a stane;
for men may a stane neuir bow;
Richt swa þis petir fra ihesu
vald neuir bow for aduersite,
na for na porele þat mycht be,
bot as ane stane wes petir ay.
for-þi cane criste apone hym lay
þe fundament of haly kirk,
quhar-throw sa wysly he cane wirk,
and sad til hyme þis wourd but were,
þat ferly now is grete to here:
“þu art petir, at is, oure stane,
to byg myn wark one haff I tane;”
and sad til hym with swet stewin:
“to þe I gyff þe keys of hewyne;
To bind and louss quhowm-euer þou will
Plane poware is gewin þe þare-till.”
alswa crist thaucht hym his schepe
In his ȝemschele for to kepe.
and þis petir, a-beove þe lafe,
a stannand luf to criste can hafe;
for had he wittin, as þe buk sais,
quhat he was suld criste betraise,
vith his tetht he wald haf refyn sone.
for-þi criste has wisly done,
þat opinly wald nocht discouere
Till his discipulis þat tratoure.
with oþeris alse in þe se Rouande,
quhen þai saw criste one þe dry lande,
he bad nocht, bot hym nakyt swith,
and of þe bate he lape belyfe,
and as one dry land ȝed one se;
sic ardent luf till hym had he.
and criste hym luffit sa tenderly,
þat he hym tuk to be hym by
In his transfiguracion,
and in his resurreccione.
and petir broucht to cristis fay
thre thowsand men on witsonday;
and he resuscit thabitane;
and alss he heilyt anyan;
and sindry oþir, at war leile,
throw his schadow gat helpe and heile.
and als of herrod presowne
þe angel brocht hym but ransone.
And fra þat his master wes dede,
his lyf in penance he cane leide;
Bred and water wes his fude,
na clathis he had, at ware gude,
bot kirtil and clok, but mare.
and in his bosum ay he bare
a sudare, to wepe his Ene;
for ay he grate, quhen h[e] cuth mene
of his master swet spekin[g]e,
his teching, and his fosteringe.
And ilkane nycht as day cane daw,
as he mycht heyre þe cok craw,
þane wald he think quhow lethirly
þat he is master cuth deny.
and clement sais, at peteris wyfe,
for cristis sak, losit þe lyff,
and quhen men lede hyre to þe stede,
quhar schow suld be put to dede,
Petir wes fane, and bad hir trew
fermly euir in criste ihesu.
Qwhene þe appostolis scalyt ware
In þe warld oure all wyd-quhare,
Ihesus, þare master worde to preche
to quham þat myster had, and teche,
til antioch sanct petir firste
Com; for þare feile he wiste,
þat had nocht hard of cristis layre,
bot erare in poynte war to forfare.
quharfor, to þame of þat cite
Cristis lare techit he,
And sew sa goddis sede þane,
at he to criste mony wane.
to theophill quhen þis wes talde,
at had þe cite in-to walde,
he askit petir, quhar-for he
Subuertit men of þat cuntre.
he sad, he subuertit nocht,
bot to cristis fay he þame brouchte.
þane gert he rath sanct petire bynde,
and in harde presone hym thrynde,
and but met hild hym in þat halde,
Till ner for hungyre þe gaste he ȝalde.
þane lyftyt he his Ene to hewin,
and one crist callyt with petowiss stewyne,
and sad: “merciful criste Ihesu,
In þis disese helpe now!”
þane criste to hym sad: “hawe no drede!
I sall helpe þe in þis nede;
for sowne sall cum ane to þe heyre,
þat sall þe helpe in þis mystere.”
with þat sanct paule com to þe place,
Ande hard quhow petir presonyt wess.
þane to þe prince sa spak he þane,
þat quhare petire wes, he wane,
And fande in poynte hym to forfare.
he fel one hym, gretande ful sare,
And sad: “petir, my Ioy, my blyss,
þat þe halfe of myn sawle is,
Recouir þi strinth, and speke with me!”
and quhen petir can hym se,
he knew hym weille and gret faste,
bot he na mycht spek; bot at þe laste
paul in his mowth sic fud has done,
þat sum mycht recouerit he sone.
þan kissit þai [ilk] oþer sammyne,
gretand faste with gastly gammyne.
to theophill sanct paule askyt þane,
quhy þat he þat wrechit mane
held swa in presone, Richt as he
had bene a man of Iniquite;
“for men sais he heilys sek men
And quyknyse dede.” theophill þane
sad, sen sik a man is he,
of presone þan suld he mak hym fre.
paule sais: “nay, bot he dois now,
as ere did is mastere Ihesu,
þat of þe croise wald nocht tane be,
bot deid þare of his will fre.
and sa þis petir here, I say,
hym-selfe will nocht helpe be ony way,
bot, as men sais, has no kin dowt
to thole for criste as vnderlowte.”
þan sais theophill: “gyf it sa be
of þe pure man as þu sais me,
ger myn sowne be his prayere
Ryse, at is deit gane fowre ȝere,
and I sall gyf gud leif hym till
to pase frely at his awne will.”
þan paule to þe presone can halde,
and all þis taile to petire tawlde.
quod petir: “gret is þe askin[g]e,
bot to god it is esy thinge.”
þane browcht þai furth þat wrechit man,
and broucht hym to þe grawe Richt þane.
þan petir to god prayere mad,
and he þat ded wese rase but bade.
t[h]eophill and þe pepill, all
þat þis has sene, gret and smale,
And mony oþer of þat towne
þat herde þis resurreccione,
trowit in god; and but a-bade
a gret kirk þare þai made
In þe myddis, and bwt mare late
ane cheare mad, and þar-in sete
sanct petir, for gret dingnite,
quhare men mycht hym here and se.
and þare he dwelt sewine ȝere,
and wan to cryst fell folkis seyre.
bot ȝet, or he þe honowre tuk
In antioche, as sais þe buke,
þe feloune folk of þat sammyn towne
on his hewid schufe hym a crowne,
of Ihesu criste in dispyte,
quhowme he prechyt with delyte.
bot efterwart he ordanyt swa,
at all clerkis sic crownis suld ta,
In taknyn at þai suld be
seruand to god in þare degre.
sa it þat wes done hym for dispyte
Is honour now and gret meryt.
þan went he to rome bot ony lete,
and þare in bischope sege wes set,
and þar wes fullely fyften ȝere,
prechand till all at wald hym here.
and of þis tale quha here will
forthi[r] quhow befel hym till,
of clement in þe story,
he sall find it opynly
In-to þe tende chapitere,
for-owt sekine fere or nere.
þis he held preuilege thre:
Ane, of þe appostolis prince wes he;
And to þis wes annext ane,
at he þe keys of hewine had tane,
and luffit criste mar Increly
þan þe laf did, Richt fastly;
In vertu alss he had mar grace
þan ony at with crist þan wes:
And þat suld men richt wel ken;
for his vmbre heilyt sek men,
as men may preiff furth bringe
be þe Ewangelis in witnesinge.
Apone a tyme it sa befell:
of discipulis, with hym can dwell,
he send twa, at worthy ware,
twenty Iornais fer and mare,
to prech in a certane stede.
bot in þe way þe tane wes dede;
And þe toþer agane alsone
To petir com, and tald but howne
how his falow be þe way
ves dede, and þare vndalline lay.
þan petir his staff has hym taucht,
and bad hym with all his mawcht
lay it on his falow sowne.
þan, as he sad hym, he has downe;
And he þat fourty dais lay dede,
ves sa resuscit in þat stede.
In ierusalem þat tyme dwelte
a man, [þat] with Inchantment delte,
þat symon magus had to name,
and be his crafte did fele men schame,
and hym callit “suthfastnese,”
and hecht to foulis neuer-þe-lese
þat, quha to hym ferme treutht gafe,
he suld euire luf oure þe lafe;
for, quhat he walde, he mycht do
bot let of ony man þar-to.
In clementis buke writtin is,
þat symon magus quhil said þis:
“as god sal all mene honoure me,
and with lyk honour honourit be,
and be of micht to do myn will.
and quhen myn moder sad me till,
þat Rachael hecht, I suld ga
To schere hire corne with oþer ma,
I did as myn moder saide,
In þe corn myn howk doun lade,
and bad it do þat do sulde I;
þan vp it Rass deliuerly,
and be it-self mare corn schare
þan ony did at wess þare.”
Als writtis sanct Ambross,
of hym-self as he mad sic lose:
“I ame,” he sade, “goddis awne wourde,
and I am his preciouss hurde,
I am fare, and almychty,
and haly israel am I;
and I am goddis saule,” he sade.
sic loiss on hym-self he laide.
and serpens als of brass he made
sterand, as þai lyf had hade,
And ymagis alss of brass and stane,
þat semyt to laucht all elane,
And, as semyt, gert hedis singe.
sa cuth he deile with trufinge.
ȝet ȝarnyt he, as lynus sais,
vith petir to disput nedwaise,
And als at he ware god, to schaw.
þan, þat to ger þe pupill knaw,
he ordanyt certane day and place.
þan þar, quhen petir cumyn wase,
he sad on hicht, þat all mycht heyre:
“pece be till ȝow, myn breþer dere,
þat luffis pess in worde and dede!”
þan symon sad: “we hawe no nede
of þi pece, bot-gyf þat pece be
and concorde, to fynd veryte
In-to na thing may be profyte.
for thesis amang þame pece parfyte
vill have; for-þi na pece it call,
bot batell Erare and striff with all;
for, quhene twa fechtis, pece sal be
quhen we þe tane vincust se.”
þan said petir: “quhy dredis þu
for to her me of pece spek now?
for of syn ay batal risise,
And pece is ay quhare na syne is,
And In disputing suthtfastnes,
And to wirk it is richysnese.”
þan sad symon: “lat vs þis be!
And opynly I sall schaw þe
þe micht of myn dewine poware,
and gere men mak to me prayere.
for I am þe firste wertow,
And in þe ayre als ma I now
fle, quhen I will, and treis mak,
And brede of harde stanis bake,
And in þe fyre be but hurting,
And do weile mare at my lyking.”
þan petir sa agayne hym wrocht,
At all sic spech he mad of nocht,
And all his sorcery vndide.
quehen symon saw he sa dide,
Na þat he mycht mak na resistence
Agan petir, no nan defence,
for dowt his craft vnhid suld be,
he kest his bukis in þe se,
And went to Rome, þat he mycht þare
as god be honorit forder-mare.
þar-of quhen petir witering hade,
he folawit on but mar abade,
Agan þat Terane for to stryfe.
and sowne he can at Rome arife,
Of goddis grace haile and fere,
of claudij þe firde ȝere,
and fyveten ȝere þar dwelling made.
and of þam, he with hym hade
To helpe hym—lyne and clet war þai—
of þame mad he biscopis twa;
þe tane of þame in þe Cite,
and þe toþer withowt to be.
and John Beleth in his buk sais,
þat sanct petir in þa daise
full besyly wes prechand þan,
and mony thowsand to criste wane,
and mony, bath seke and sare,
he helyt, to þat he was þare.
and chastite ay oure althinge
he prisit euir in his preching,
Sa þat fra Agrippe,
þat prefet was of þat Cite,
fowre concubynis he drew a-way,
and gerte þame trew in cristis lay,
and refuse þe entremetinge
forthir till have with agrippyn.
þar-for, þe prefet in gret Ire,
Enflammyt agannis hym as fyre,
socht Ithandly occasione
To bring hym to confusione.

II.—PAULUS.

Ande sene sum thinge is sad here
of paule, þat was peteris fere,
of hym mare ȝet will I tell,
before his deid as hym befell.
sone eftir his conuersione
and þe gret persecucione,
as accordis hillarius,
In schorth spech sayand þus:
“In philippis, with wandis sar,
he wes firste doungyne, & syn þare
presonyt and put in stokis,
and eftere þat vndir gret lokkis
stanyt, and in exoma
tholit panis syndry alsa;
In thesalunuca als he
tholit rycht gret perplexite;
In epheso als wes he gewine
till wilde bestis, till hym haf rewine;
and in damase at-oure þe wall
In a creile he wes latin fall;
and in Ierusalem he wes bofte,
spyit, waitit, and bundyn ofte;
and eftere in sesaria
bundyne, and tholit panis ma;
and sailand in Italy
In parelis wes he stad sindry;
and eftir, quhen he come to rome,
wndir fell nero tholit dowme,
and ded wes,” sais yllarius,
þat his story writtis till ws;
sayand of hym, þat firste quhen he
beguth appostill fore to be,
he heilyt hym þat crepil wes,
and restorit Patroclase;
a serpent als, callit wipera,
þat of venim fillit is sa
þat quham it bittis, it mon be ded,
þar agane is no remed;
and þat serpent bate his hand
of vituryne in-to þe land,
and he in þe fyre but schathe
fra hym [it] keste, or ony wath.
opunionis als syndry are
of petir and paule, quha wes mar;
bot paule wes les in his degre,
and in sum oþir mar wes he,
and als in-to sum othir thinge
he wes to petir as ewelinge;
for paule wes lese of dingnite,
bot in-to prechinge mare wes he;
and, gyfe we say suthtfastnes,
In lyk þai ware in halynes.
aymo recordis In his saw,
þat paule ay, fra þe cok craw
to þe fyfte our of þe day,
quhare-euir he wes, þis oysit ay,
with his handis to be wirkand,
and to þe nycht syne ay prechand,
And all þe lawe spendyt but were
In fude, In slepe, and in prayer.
Ierome ws sais in his lessone,
þat paule, fra cristis passione
ewene þe fyfe and twenty ȝere,
and of nero þe toþir, bwte were,
festus hym send bundyn to rome,
and nero hym gert þar be done
In fre presone, quhare twa ȝer ay
he liffit, In prechinge ilkaday
a-gane þe Iowis; and syne nero
In þe weste partis has lattyn hym go,
and prechit þare in landis sere,
till of nero þe thratten ȝere.
þat tyme of his religione,
and of his wisdome, ran sic renown,
sa þat all wonderit war but were
his ferly warkis þat mycht here.
als sic grace þat tym he had,
þat feile to hym war frendis mad,
þat war to nero Rycht prewe,
þat he gert trew and baptiste be;
and ȝete, quhen to nero cesar
of his pystilis sum rede war,
he wald commende þam, þocht þat he
vas fillit of all cruelte.
Þan went he furth son in hy,
with sere men in-to company.
and as he went ewine furth rycht,
fra hewine schane don a mekil lycht,
and vmlappyt hym son all;
and he with þat to ȝerd can fall.
and as he at þe ȝerde lay,
he herd a voice to hym say:
“saule, saule, quhy warrais þou me?
for is it nocht hard to þe
agane þe brod þu for to prese?”
þane askit he, þat lyand was:
“quhat art þu, lord?” sad he in hy.
“Ihesu of nazareth,” he sad, “am I
þat þu warrays, þat is to say,
all þat trowis in myn lay.
bot ryse and gange in þe citte,
and þar it sall be sad to þe
quhat þu sal do.” And þar withal
þe men, þat with hym war, al
stud abaysit in þe way;
for þat voyce þai þar hard say,
and þai saw na liffand man.
bot saule, þat fra þe ȝerd vpwan,
with flesly ewine he na se mocht,
for he had bene lang blynd in thocht.
þane þai, þat war in company,
be þe handis hym tuk in hy,
ande led hym furth in-[to] damasse.
and þare he thre dais fullely was
bot met na drink, na myicht nocht se.
men trowis, [that] at þat tyme he
was tawcht wele be þe hali gast
þe ewangele þat hym likit beste,
as he to þame of galathas
sais, no man his master was,
na of nane had he techinge,
bot of Ihesu throw his schewinge.
In þat towne wes a lele man sted,
þat ananyas to name had,
to quhowme god sad in visione:
“ananias, ryse, mak þe bowne,
and of þis towne pase til a rew,
quhare þat Iuda dwellis now,
and sek ane saule till his name,
þat beris of tharse till his sorname;
for, lo, he prais, I say þe.”
to god agane þis answerit he:
“and I haf herd fele gud men say,
at þat man has done gret il ay
to þame, þat ar to þe lele men
In þe towne of ierusalem,
and for þat cause is cumin hiddyr,
to gaddir sik men all togiddir,
to haf þam to þe forsad towne,
for þi sak to thole passione.”
quod god: “til hym gang, I byd þe,
for he weschele is to me
chosine, for to bere myn name,
forowut dowt of manis blame,
before kingis and folkis fell,
and to þe sonnis of israell;
fore I hafe schawit hym quhat he
mone thole for þe sayk of me.
for I haf mad of felone sawle
a leile prechour, and callit is paule,
and of a felone wolf eke
a lame I haf mad hym mek.”
but mar þan passit anany
to þe howse of Iuda in hy,
and one paule his handis lad,
and, as god bad hym, þus he sad:
“paule, bruthir, god Ihesu send me,
þat in þe get apperit to þe,
þat þu þi sicht ma hafe in haste,
and be fillit of þe haly gaste.”
And with þat word fel fra his ene
mirknes, as þa skalis had bene,
and he þat sicht þane gat, and rase,
and anany hym baptiste has.
and he tuk mete, and confourt had,
and þar with discipulis abad
a quhyle, þat war in-to damase;
and syne to synagogis cane pase
and prechit Ihesu criste alsone,
sayand þat he wes goddis son.
þan all þat harde, wondir hade,
and sik spech of hym þai mad:
“Is nocht þis he, þat all þe men
werrayt in Ierusalem,
þat euir callit one cristis name,
and now to prech it has na scham,
and for þat cause com her to fynd
sic cristine folk, and þame to bynd,
and to ierusalem þame to led
to þe prince of our presthed?”
and ay þe mar þat þai sad þat,
þe fer mare he his strinthis gat,
and schamyt faste þe Iowis fele,
þat in-to damase þan can dwell,
affermand ay þat Criste Ihesu
wes goddis sone in for to trow.
and þan þe name of felone sawle
wes turnyt in to prechore paule,
þat all þe warld be lycht of preching
to þe suthfaste trewcht can bringe.
off petir and paule haf ȝe hard,
and how þat nero with þam ferde,
and how þat þai for criste war slane.
now will I tell [ȝu] of þe payne
þat nero tholit, as was skill,
for tyranny and dedis ill.
and þocht it be ypocrifa,
I will be-gyne at seneca,
þat to nero, þat tyran kene,
In all tyme had master bene,
and techit hym full mekil wit,
þocht þat he na folowt it.
þis nero worthit ay of ned,
throw o custum of his barnehed,
ryse ay quhen his master com nere,
aganis his will þocht it war,
And do hym reuerence; and for-þi
It missat hym grettumly.
and als þis senek forthirward
for his trawell asskit reward;
bot nero, as a wekit man,
has fundin ane enchesone þane,
þat it ganyt nocht þe emprioure
til do till ony mane honoure.
and for hym worth[it] honour do
til seneca, he sad hym to,
þat he suld chese quhat kind of tre
hym lykit one to hangit be;
vthir reward he suld hawe nan.
þan sad seneca, makand mayne,
for myse, or for quhat cause he
sa to dede suld put be.
þane nero, þis wekit fowle,
gert set his mastere on a stule,
and owth his hevid sittand þar
brandiste a brand þat scharply schar.
and quhen he saw hym sa sted,
for þe scharpe sword ay ves he rad,
and with þe hewid wald eschow,
þan sad nero: “quhare for now
bowis þu þi hed for dowt of sword?”
þane seneca sad hym þis word:
“for I ame a man in dowt sted,
and nedly fore dede mon be red.”
quod nero: “I am ay red for þe
as I a barne wes wont to be;
þar-for wit þu þat in radnes
I ma nocht luf in hartly es,
till þat þou luffis.” þan seneca
sad hym: “sene I ded mon ta,
I ask for reward and med,
þat þu will tholl me to bled
In a bath of myn armis twa,
þat I þe ded ma softly ta.”
þane sad nero: “se, þat be downe
swith, for þu sall dee alsone!”
þane seneca in þe bath
leit hym-selfe blud of armis bath,
and bled to ded. Ȝet summan sais
þat he deit all wthir wais,
as of a fellone poyssone,
myngit and mad be tresone;
bot quhedir sa suld be na strife,
for nero gert hym lose þe lyf.
syne eftir þis nero wes brocht
In sa mekill wodnes of thocht,
þat he his awne modir gert sla,
suppos fele þar-of wes wa,
for nedly he wald se þe place,
quhare-in he consawit wes,
and all þe tothir instrumentis
he gert vnhele in his presence.
and ay as men war hyr scherand
þai prewetes, and scho murnand,
he had gret ese of hyr hard pyn,
and blythtly bad bringe hym þe wyn.
and with his modir þus he ferde,
for, passand þe towne throw, he herd
a womane with barne traweland
ful pituysly, and sar granand;
for-þi he thowcht þat he wald se
ye cause of hyr Infirmyte
In his awne modir, and nane ellis,
but pety, as þe story tellis.
and sum, þat war till hym prewe,
seand his gret Iniquite,
sperit at hym, quhy he did sa
fellely his awne modir to sla;
for, gyf he wit quhat wa þat scho
for hym tholyt, he suld nocht þat do:
“for is na payne, we wele þe warne,
In life sa gret as to ber barne;
and law warnis, and lofe forbedis,
þat ony chyld, þe modir fedis,
suld defowle þe modir þat hym fed
of hir wame in þe preue sted.”
þe tyrand þan can to þam say,
þat he wald be hym-selfe assay
how hard panis, ore how sar
his modir tholit, þat hym bare.
mony medicinar[is] for-þi,
and masteris in philosophy
rycht awful þan can [he] warne,
þat þai suld mak hym with barne.
sad þai, Inpossible thinge
was til do his ȝarnynge,
for natur tholyt it nocht to be done.
þane to þame sad he sone,
bot þai did It, þai suld de.
þan þai, þat wyse war and sle,
but persawinge sudandly
a padok gert hym drink in hy,
and syne throw thar suttellite
In his wame gert it fosterit be,
þat his wame bolnyt ner and rafe,
a-ganis kynd for þat he strafe.
bot þai fosterit hym neuir-þe-lese
with sic dietis, as cordand wes
for þe padok, and sad, sic fowd
was for his barne and hym gud.
his breth hym grewit mar & mare,
and he, þat mycht nocht thole sic sare,
sad til his medicinaris, þat he
wald of his barne deliuerit be,
for he mycht nocht leste in lyff
In sik panys and sic striff.
for-þi he sad he suld þame sla,
bot þai hym losyt of syk wa.
þane ordanyt þai a poton,
to ger hym caste owt þat poysson,
þat hym handlit sa faste,
till a fowle padow at þe laste
he keste, þat wes laythe to se.
þan at his mastere askit he,
quhar-for his birth wes sa wile,
sa foule, and sa horribyle.
þan ansuerte þai, be-cause at he
a-gane kind wald deliuerit be.
þan sperit he rycht besyly,
gyf þat he wes sa wgly
quhen he wes borne; and þa sad, “ȝa.”
þat vgly padok þan gert he ta,
and in a towre of stane gert he
It besyli fosterit be,
till at it liffit; and it wox sa,
till þai, þat war wele far it fra,
micht her it ȝele a wel far way.
for-thi þat place callit þai
laterent, quhare ful gret pardone
Is now in rowme, and deuocione.
and in ekine of his mysded,
It hapnyt nero for to red
of troy þe gret distruccione,
at quhylum wes sa far a towne,
and syne wes brynt halely.
of swilk fyr he had ferly,
þat wes sa gret and lang lestand.
for-þi þe tyrand tuk on hand
for to byrne þe gret cite
of rome, sic a fyr to se
as was þe fellone fyr of troy,
In yll þe tyrand had sic Ioy.
þan tyrandis he callit hym till,
and, his wikitnes to fulfill,
bad þame in all þe partis of rome
set fyre at anis but ony howne,
þat he mycht stand his towr In,
and se all to-geidir byrne.
þane þai cuth son; fulfill
of þat tyrand þe wikit will,
and, hym sa till emplece,
þai gert rowme bryn vpe in a bles;
and Ithandly it brint sewin dais
but cessinge, as þe story sais.
and all þat tyme owt of his towre
þe fyr beheld þat fell tratowr,
and sad, It wes þe farrest fyre
þat euir he saw, sene he wes syr.
and of þis tyrand sais þe buk,
with goldine nettis he fesche tuk;
and of þe syngyne als cuth he mar
þane all þe me[n]stralis at þat tym war;
and he as wyff wald wedit be
wmquhill to man, and quhyll walde he
tak hym a man in sted of wyff.
of þis tyrand sic wes þe lyff.
and ȝet, amang ill dedis ma,
his awne brethir he gert sla.
als he slew petir and paule,
till eke þe tynsale of his sawle,
and [did] fell vthire Ill dedis fer,
þat war lange to rekine her.
þe men of rowme ful noyt wes
of his foly and his wodnes,
and thowcht to thole hym no mar,
na till his fellony mar to spar,
bot erar thocht hym to sla.
quhane he persawit it wes swa,
[he] fled allane owt of þe towne,
willand in wastine vpe and done,
and fand a tre, and it schapit
with his tetht, and syne on; It
slewit hym-self rycht to þe hart,
and offerit to þe fend þat mart.
bot it is red in wthir place
þat, in a wod as he wandrand was,
wolfis hym rafe, and drank þe blud,
þat to Ill ay thocht sa gud.
and þai of rowme, quhen þai hym socht
in wildirnes and fand nocht,
come a-gane, and þe padok fand
In a rownd tour still ȝelland,
and gert men haf it owt of towne,
and bryne [it] þar, as wes resone.
þis wes nero for his felony
wele punyst, as [he] wes worthy,
þat mony thowsand gert sla
for cristis sak in dowte and wa.
bot for þe panys þai can fele,
god has þame rewardit wele
with hevinlyk Ioy and lestand bliss,
þat he has grathit for al his;
quhare hele beis ay but seknes,
ȝouthed but eld or wrechitnes,
fulth but hungir or wantinge
of goddis fud, or hard ȝarninge,
ay lestand lykine with fredome
but seruitut or thrildome,
blowmand bewte but wane or smyt
of sawle and body to-giddir knyt,
but ded ay lestand lyf,
and habundance of pece but strif,
sikirnes but dut or dred,
full knawlage of alkind ded;
er ma nocht her, na e se,
na in hart comprisit be
þe gret Ioy, þat god to med
has granttit þam, þat will hym dred.
þe quhilk Ioy petir and paule
browkis now in body and sawle;
and nero wa, þat can nocht blyne,
In hel tholis for his syne.
for-thi war gud to lef þe play,
to lestand payne þat ledis ay,
and her þis fleschely delyt
mon cesse, men wat nocht how tyt;
for-þi quhen þe play best is,
best is to lefe þan I-wyse.
of þis nero quha wald for-þi
behald þe dedis verraly,
þat luffit sa þis schort delyt,
þat he mon euir dwel in syt,
als wele in body as in sawle,
and wald syne luk to paule,
þat conuertit and lewit his syne,
and of Ihesu sic luf can wyne,
þat he is mad til ws merour,
þat na man suld for gret errour
fal in wanhope for to purches
eftir syne of god þe grace,
þe doctor gregor sais þar-by,
þat nothir stekis fra godis mercy
of þe fel syne þe quantite,
na ȝet þe gret ennormyte,
na ȝet þe latnese of þe howre,
ellis þat till our saweour
þe will of þe man k[n]awyn be,
as be sanct paule we ma se,
þat rocht of na wardly thinge,
ellis þat he mycht criste Inbringe.
for-þi in his pystil, he wrat
to þame of rome, [he] sad þusgat,
þat he tholit trawal ful gret,
and als bath gret hungir & het,
and þat he wes oft in presone
for cristis sak, but resone;
and of þe Iowis he can tak
gret dispyt for his master sak;
wondis fyfe tymis fourti, ane lese,
and strakis one his nakit flesche
with a swerd, fel and Ill,
mad for sic cause of litill skil;
and with wandis dongyne sar,
for þat he prechit cristis lare;
and anis als stanit wes he;
and thriis fchipe-brokine in þe se,
and all þe nycht hale and þe day
at sey-grownd, he sad, he lay;
and ofte tym tholit he gret wath
In gattis and in wattir bath;
and a-mang thefis and his kyn
he wes of[te] tym parele In;
and in cites and wildirnes
in gret parele ful oft he wes;
and a-mange þam þat war fals
he wes ofte in parele als;
and trawel with dule and wrak
he tholyt ofte for cristis sak;
and in a creile or þe wall
of damasse he wes lattyn fall;
owtwart thingis neuir-þe-les
owtane, þat wes þe besynes
þat he had of all þe kirk,
þat is, þat al men suld wel wirk.
for quha-sa had Infirmite,
þare-for wes paule sek as he;
and quha for his gilt tholit blame,
paule for hyme brynt for schame.
& thocht þat he was rewyst ewine,
as hyme-self sais, to þe thred hewyne
& syne in paradis, quhare he
herd, as he sais, priwete,
as It afferyt nocht to man
to spek þat thing, þat [he] herd þan;
of þis yet þan na Ioy had he;
bot ay of his infirmyte
he had gret Ioy; for þan, he wist,
Crystis vertu in hyme suld reste.
& als, as sais a gret doctor,
of alkyne folk sanct paule had cure,
& he was wischeall chosine, throw
to bere þe name of swet Ihesu.
& he to Ihesu criste was ayre
of wisdome in þe vertu fare,
& fillyt all þe warld wele nere
with cristis [e]wangel, þat is clere;
& [at the] last Iugment sall bryng
nere hand all men befor þe kyng.
& for sic cause he trawalyt mare
þane all þe postilis, þat euir ware,
for till gere all men leif þare syne,
& þare sawlis to god to wyne.
laith of lysing als taucht he
til Ilke man in his degre,
to princis, lordis, & pure men,
to thrillmen & to women,
& to ȝoung men als gef he lare,
& faddire & modyre, þat þaim bare,
to licheouris & to continent,
till all he prechit his entent;
&, schortly, he was hym allane
a commowne man till euirilkane.
[A]nd quhen þat he brocht was to rome,
befor nero to thole doume,
all þat euire war of Iowis lay
Come to sanct paule, & þis can say:
“Defend oure lacht, we pray þe now,
sene þu art borne man of hebrew!
cause of folk þu suld defend,
& thol It cum till spedfull end.
syne circumcydit of þaim is nane,
& circumcisione þu has tane,
& þow, as ws think, vald put don
þe lacht of circumcisione,
þar-for, quhen [þu] seis petire ma,
sustene our lacht agan hym ay;
for he fayndis bath lat & ar
for to distroy quytly our lare;
for bath our sabbot & fest-day
he forcis for to put away.”
þane said paule: “quhen I petir se,
Ȝe sall apertly prewe be me
þat I ame verray Iow, quhen I
þe circumcisione suthly
& þe sabbottis sall aprowe ay;
for god hym restit on þe VII day,
als our elderis lacht ws leyrit.
quhy suld þane petir sa be steryt,
þat he ymang þe folk suld preche,
or ony new law to þame teche?
þarfor lat hyme cum now to me,
& yhe but Ire or wreth sall se
hym ourcumyne, suppos he ware
fere wisare; bot gif his lare
throu witnes be approwit now
of þe ald bukis of hebrew;
& gif It swa be, we mon all
obey till his lare, gret & small.”
quhen þis was herd, but mare went þai,
quhar petir was, & can hym say:
“paule appostill is cumyne; loo,
we pray þe þat þu cum hyme to;
for he is bundine, & but leife
to cum here, he ma nocht eschewe.”
quhen petir þis herd, he was blyth,
& with þame went to paule alswyth.
& þai bath, fra þai sammyn met,
for pure pytte & Ioy þai gret;
& Ilkane of þame tald til vthire,
as bruthire suld do to his bruthire,
all hale þare trawale les & mare,
& þe gret dout þat þai in ware.
syne one þe morne richt ayrly
to paule come petir full freyndly,
& fand a multytud wele greit
of Iowis, stanand at his yhat;
& was þar a full gret strife þare
betwen þe Iowis & folk, þat ware
Conuertyt to god throw his grace.
for þe Iowis in þat place
sad: “we ar of ryall kyne,
of goddis dere frendis chosine,
Abraham, ysaac & Iacob leile,
& prophettis, quhome with god can meille,
& schaw to þame his priuete,
& his ferlyis he leit þame se;
& yhe are cumyne of folk but drede,
þat god wrocht nathing in þare sede,
bot þai till wrechit ydolis ay
has bene seruandis; þis is na nay.”
& þan þe folk, þat cristine ware,
mad to þe Iowis sic answere:
“fra þat we herd þe suthfastnes,
we left oure errour mare & les,
& ar set now in þe richt way,
& suthfastnes sall folow ay.
bot yhe, þat wat ȝour fadderis lare,
& of prophettis þat wysmen ware;
þat dryfut passit throu þe se,
& saw ȝour fays drownyt be,
& till ȝou one þe day can pere
of full gret licht a gret pillere,
& syne till ȝou apone þe nycht
It apperyt & gef ȝou licht;
for met of hewine gef ȝou manna,
& stane gef yhou wattir alswa;
bot nocht-withstannand syk gud dede,
þat god wrocht for ȝou in to nede,
of þe gret gold, þat yhe þan had,
ane ydoll of a calf ȝe mad,
& honour[t] It, & had na thocht
of þe gret gud, god for ȝou wrocht.
bot we, þat neuir sic thing had sene,
in þat god trewis wele but wene,
þat yhe haf left, & trewis now
in error, þat ma nocht helpe ȝou.”
& till þat þai war þis striwand,
petir and paule war ȝarne prechand
to þame þat lang tym striwine had,
& gud acord betwene þaim mad.
of petir syne throu þe preching
god schawyt þar a ferly thing,
þat of þe folk full mony ware
conuertyt throu þe postilis lare.
& ymang wtheris treutht can ta
þe wyf of Nero, libia,
na to agrippe, þe prefet,
to be cristine vald nocht lat,
þat had to name agrippyna;
& vthir women mony ma
þar husbandis left for heile of saule,
& aneherdit to petir & paule.
& mony knychtis þar erroure,
þat war dere to þe emprioure,
left, & þar knichthed alswa,
& cristis treutht rycht þare can ta,
sa þat þai wald fra þame na was
Cume to þe king, na his palas;
bot trewit trewly to sanct paule,
& throw hym wan þe heile of saule.
[D]ere lord, quhat sall we say
of awfull doume apon þe day,
quhen þat we sall gif strat reknyng
befor þe auchtfull Iug & king
of all þat we haf sad or wrocht;
and als of oure maste priwe thocht,
& wat þat we na gud haf done?
for-þi full sare vs bird to mone
to þis paule, gif we gud tent tak,
at gud ensampill can ws mak,
hou we suld wirk till we are here,
þat we but dred mycht þane apere.
bot, allace! how worthy ar we,
one þat day, to condampnyt be,
quhen we, þat in a man se may
all gud but want, suthly to say,
we set neuir oure cure na hart
of sic gud to gat ony part.
& yheit a flesclyk man was he,
& lyk till ws in sic degre,
and lyf & sawle lyk ws he had,
& in þis warld [his] duelling mad;
ȝeit þane of thewis fare to se,
condicione and honeste,
þe vertu of will þare to mare,
he transcendit all men þat þare,
or yheit þat befor hym had bene,
as þai suld say þat had hym sene.
and all his dedis mare & les
war witnes þat þis suthfas[t] wes.
for-þi till hyme in hewyn is mad
sic Reward as he seruit had,
till he in þis erth duelland was,
in presone of euire brukill fleschias.
þarfor I pray hyme þat I may
of þis warld sa depart ay way,
þat sawle ma fra þe body twyne
bot schame, or deit, or dedly syne.
gregour of twryne alswa sais,
þat Iustine yungre in þai dais,
þar was a man disparit swa
þat he a stalowart gyrne can ma
to hang hym-self with be þe hals,
at þe tysing of þe feynd fals.
nocht-þan he had in custum ay
deuotely to sanct paule to pray,
& quhen þat he did ony thing,
he wald call paule in helpyng;
& tyd hym to do swa þare,
quhen he [þe] rape mad al ȝare,
sayand: “sanct paule, I pray þe
þat þou wald cum now, & helpe me!”
þan come a schadow full hugly,
blak & blay, & stud hyme by,
& sad hyme: “man, do furth þi dede!
quhy houffis þou? quhy has þou dred?”
for-þi þe man was graithand ay
þe girne, & yhet þan can he say:
“sanct paule, helpe me now but bad!”
with þat þe gyrne wes redy mad.
þan a schaudow rycht nerehand,
as of a man, saw by hym stand,
& to þe first schadow can say:
“þu wekit spryt, ga hyne þi way!
for paule, þis manis adwocat,
is cumine till hym now fut-hat.”
with þat þe foule schedow can fle;
& þan þe man thocht weile þat he
had mysdon in his entent;
for-þi he can hym sare repent,
& gretly lof[it] god & paule,
þat wald nocht thole hym tyn his saule,
na of þe feynd confundit be,
as þan to purpos tane had he.
for-þi to god be honour ay,
as we alsinful acht to say;
& helpyne to all warldly men
In hewyry tyme! say we Amen.

III.—DE SANCTO ANDREA.

Off sanct Andrew now folouys next,
þat bar þe mekest hart in breste,
In word, in thocht, or yhet in dede,
of ony man, þat we of Rede,
& to petir full brothire was,
as be kynd of manis flesche,
& in passione ewine fere;
for one þe cors bath ded þai were.
eftire cristis assencione,
& þe postulis dispersione,
sanct Andrew his way can tay
towart þe towne of nischia.
In more Iynd Mathew prechit,
& cristis lare þe pupill techyt.
bot þai refusit his preching,
& hym in presone fast can thring,
& bath his eyne felyly put out,
thinkand to slay hyme syn alowt.
þane come till andrew ane angell
one cristis halff, & can hyme tell,
þat he suld pas to murgundy.
& Andrew sad till hyme in hy,
þat he knew nocht [t]hydir þe way.
& þane þe angel can hym say,
þat he to þe sey-syd suld fare,
& he suld sowne a schype fynd þare,
quhar-in he saile suld one þe se.
& his bydding fulfillyt he.
& he rywit richt happely
At þe cite of murgundy,
& to þe pressone in a rese
went, quhar þat matho prechand was,
& fand hyme festnyt rycht fast þare,
& for his disesse gret ful sare.
þane crist, for till confurd þam bath,
clere sicht to mathow gef full rath;
& fra þat his sicht was hyme lent,
till Antioch rycht sowne he went.
& Andrew þar a quhile duelt still,
cristis teching prechand þame till.
& þai war wrath, for mathow
eschapit was; sone tuk Andrew,
& band hyme Rath bath fut & hand,
& bittirly with schurgis dange,
till his blud out in foysione rane.
bot he for þame yhet prayt þane
sa increly, þat in þat place
halely þe folk conuertyt was.
And he in antioche alsone
passit richtrath, fra þis was done.
quhar a gentill ȝong man but bad
come, & with hyme duelling mad,
Agane þe will of all his kyne;
And þai þan in dispyt of hyme,
In fyre þe house set, quhar þai twa
þare lugyne in þe towne can ma.
quhen þe fyre was all one hycht,
withine & out was brynnand brycht,
þe young man hynt deliuerly
a wattir crowat, stud hyme by,
& kist wpwart agane þe bles,
& swyth þe gret fyre can he mes.
þane þat ȝong manis kyne in hy
sad, he was wechyt, sekyrly!
& ledderis dressit apone hicht
to get in; bot þai tynt þe sycht,
& mycht nomare do, as for þane.
for-þi of his kyne sad a man:
“we do foly, þat wirkis þus;
for god with þame is agains ws.
þarfor sesss all, for dout þat he
confundis [vs] for our cruelte!”
& fele of þame, þat þis has sene,
be-come cristine throu baptysing.
bot all þe kyne of þis ȝong man,
fra fyfty dais war gan fra þan,
deide, & in a grawe war dycht,
for þare trespas, throu goddis mycht.
[A]ne woman was þat tyme nere by,
þat wedyt was wilfully
with ane murthire, & was with barne
with hyme, þat turment hir ȝarne;
& god hire send gret seknes ek,
to punyce, and till mak hir mek.
þan send schow eftyr hyr systir,
and tawld how it stud with hyr,
and bad þat scho suld one one
requir þar goddis, dame dyone,
till helpe hyr þane but abad.
dyane answer to hyr mad:
“quhy prais þou me, þat na thing may
helpe þi sister? bot ga þi way
till andro, cristis appostill,
and byd [hym] ga þi sister till!
for he ma helpe hyr, sekirly,
throw vertu of his god in hy.”
þane sante andro sone scho schocht,
and till hyr cister sone hym brocht,
þat in poynte wes periste to be.
and in þat voice till hyr sad he:
“wikit women, þou tholis þus Ill,
for þu arte maryt a-gane skill,
and has consawit giltfully,
and consalite þe fend wikitfully.
Ȝet þane for-think þi sene, & trow
In þe lar of criste ihesu,
and þat ded thing, þat is in þe,
þu sall caste owt, and wariste be.”
and sone, as he can tell hyr till,
full suthfastly till hyr befell.
thane com a man to hym of case,
þat to name had Nicholase,
and sad hym: “lord, now haf I
of myn elde ȝeris fowrty,
In þe quhilkis I serwit ay
to lichory bath nycht and day;
bot to resiste þe fendis will,
I bar one me þe ewangele,
prayand god of his pytte
to gyf me grace chaste man to be.
bot I am richt nocht ȝet þane,
I þat synnyt as wekit man;
and þocht I lefit for a quhyle,
I turne agane to þat sine wyle.
syne hapynnyt atym þat I,
enflammyt throw full lichory,
for þe ewangele þat I bare
one me, forowtine ony mare
to þe bordale I wente ine hy,
to fulfill myn lichory.
and þar a womane can me say:
‘þu wrechit ald man, ga þi way!
for þi-selfe goddis angel Is,
and to cum her þu doys myse;
þar-[for] fand nocht to nyicht me,
for farly thinge I se on þe.’
þane of hyr word haffand ferly,
I wmbethocht me in-till hy,
þat I þe ewangil on me had;
for-þi I fled away but bad.
and sene þat þou haly man is,
pray þi god to forgyff me þis!”
and quhen Andro herd hym [sa] say,
he [can] gret, and but delay
prait for hym fra morne til nowne;
and, quhene þat he had sa done,
sad, met no drink he nan wald,
till he wyste, þat till þat ald
god had remittit his syne quytly.
þe thred day efter þat in hy,
throw ane angel wes hym tald,
þat god forgevine had þat ald
at his prayer his gret trespas;
bot, as he in penance wes,
sa suld þat ald his penance mak
In prayer, almus, and in wakk.
þane he sex owkis but were
fastit in bred and wattir clere,
and ful of gud wark ȝald þe gaste.
þane till androw sad god in haste,
þat nicholas he gert hym wyne,
þat suld hafe bene tynt for his syne.
ane vthir ȝounge man wes by,
þat til andro sad prewely:
“my modir, þat oft beheld me,
had sic delyte in myn bewte,
þat scho me fandyt besily
to syne with hyr in lichory;
and for I wald nocht do hyr entent,
scho dressit me al for to schent.
for quhen woman wald do sic myse
with man, and refusit Is,
þar is no ber so fell no thra,
quhen hyr quhelpis ar tan hir fra.
Richt sa thocht scho to ger me de
Vith hyr felouny and falsed sle,
and wirk in me hyr wekit will;
þar-for scho ȝed þe Iuge till,
to plenȝe þat I sic vikitnes
wald with hyr do and foulnes.
þarfor to god for me þu pray,
þat I eschape with þe lyf away,
quhen þat I sall accusit be
falsly for sic Iniquite;
for þe day I sall appere
þe Iugis sentence for til here,
I sall for errour hald me stil.
I dar nocht answer ocht þar-till;
for þe self ded sal mar lik me
þan myn modir defamyt be.”
þan hapnyt eftir þat,
to do law þe Iuge set,
and gert þe ȝonge man son apper,
quhat his modir wald say, to her.
sanct andro went with hym als
to þat felone plant and fals,
and quhat euir scho sad hym till,
he answerit nocht, bot held hym still.
sante Andro þan, þat wist hir will,
befor þe Iuge sad hyr till:
“þu cruel and wekit wyff,
þat lyk is þe nan in lyff,
wald þu for þi lechory
ger þi son de here foulely?”
þane sad scho to þe Iuge son:
“myn barne, þat þis has me don,
to þis aldman enerthand is
to foster hym in to sic myse.”
þe Iuge, þat þan wes wrath,
gert bynd þe ȝounge man rath,
and put hym in a sek to mere,
þat was enoynt with pik and ter,
and kest hym fer in þe flud;
syne tuk Andro, quhare he stud,
and dange hym in a dongeone depe
þat he na schapit, bad to kepe,
till he hym thocht be avysment,
how he mycht hym maste turment.
as Andro on þis preson lay,
to god of hewine can he pray;
and thonnere [cam] in þat sitht-war,
þat strak till ȝerd all þat war þar;
and fyr schacht can þat samyn wyf brine,
þe pupile seand, fore hyr syne.
to sante Andro þane mad requeste,
þe puple, for þat tempaste,
and it wes cessit at his prayer sone.
and þe Iuge þan but hone
trewit in criste, and howyn was,
and al his menȝe mar and les.
eftir þis sancte Andrew can ga
to þe cite of Nicea.
and þa of þat cite can hym say,
þat, nere set uas by in þe way,
sewine fendis fers and fell,
and al þat passit by can quell.
þar he to god for þam can pray;
and þai fendis but delay,
In forem of hundis, can apere
mekly befor al þat þar wer.
and he bad þame opynly,
þat þai suld hald þar way in hy
to sic place, þat neuir mare
þai grewit men lat no are.
þar þai wanyste awai sone.
and al þe folk, quhene þat wes don,
becom cristine, and baptism tuk
thru sancte Androw, as sais þe buk.
syne eftir hapnyt of case,
as sante Andro wauerand was,
he com til a-nothir citte.
and as he gat þar entre,
he met men bringand of þe sted
a ȝonge man, þat wes ded.
þan sperit he þe cause quhy
Þe man deit, þat þar can ly.
þai answert, and can say,
þat sewine hundis com quhare he lay,
and verrit hym sodanly.
þane grete sante Andrew Increly,
and sad, þai hundis war þai
þat he chasit fra Nicea.
þane can he till his fadir say:
“quhat sal I haf, gywe but delay
þi sone liffand I gyf to þe?”
þane gretand mekly sad he:
“þar for as for myn derrest thinge,
I sall [hym] gyf ȝou but gruchinge.”
þane sancte Andrew his prayer mad,
and raysit hym but mar abad.
and he, þat wes raisit sa,
with sancte Andrew his dwelling can ma,
and al his synnis þar forsuk,
and of sancte Andrew baptisme tuk.
þe renowne þan mycht nocht be hyd
of ferlis þat sancte Andrew did;
for-þi be land and sey men sowcht
hym for ferlys þat he wroucht.
and amange oþir fowrty war,
þat come be se to here his lare,
þat to þe fend displeisit swa,
þat he a tempeste son cane may,
sa þat þe sey wox sa woud,
þat þai war drownyt in þe flud,
and castine thru þe stormis to land,
quhare þat Andrew wes dwelland;
and men for pitte all þam brocht
til Andrew, þat sa for þame wrocht.
þame resuscit he þan belyf
thru his prayer to þe lyfe.
amange vthir of þe towne
In þat þlace stud a matrone
þat wellfully quhite maryt wes
with a senatour of þe place,
þat maximilla had to name,
and wes richt of nobil fame.
and quhen scho saw þe haly man
one þat mak de, schow com þane
with hyr men in gret quantite,
and lousit hym doun of þe tre,
and with all reuerence and honour
lad hym in þe sammyn sepulture,
þat schow fore hyr-self had mad,
and it enbawmyt but abad
with aloe, myre and cense,
and bawme of rettinge and defens.
þan was egeas wondir wa,
þat saw hym-self confundit sa,
and thocht, þar-fore, he wald send
to þe cesare, it til amend,
a playnt, as fore commowne profyt,
to wre leile men þat had no wyt,
and namely agane þat matrone
to put hyr to confusione,
and al þai þat vele wylly was
to þe apostil mare and les,
In hope þat cesare suld sowne
ger wengeance fore þis be done.
bot here-one as he musand wes,
and towarte his Innys can pass,
rycht in þe myddis of þe strete
þe fend, his master, can he met,
quha enterit in hym rycht þare,
and he þe gast ȝald but mare
In hoppyne sycht. and quhen þat wes
tald his bruthyre stratocles,
he send his men, and bad þat þai
of his bruthire þe cors suld lay
ymange þai men [þat] war ded twyse,
fore he be-cause of cowatice,
pressumyt sik a man to sla
for to wyne gud. and we call þai
twyse ded, þat fra þis flesche
departis, and syne neuir-þe-les
to þat drery ded ar send,
þat is ay now and neuir has end.
þar-for, he sad, nocht wald he
haf of his bruthyre faculte,
for dowt þat hym suld smyt þe gilt
of hym, þat sa gud a mane had spilt.
In achaia þis done wes,
In þe citte of patrase,
quhare god workis fore hym but wer
mony ferlis one maneris sere.
and nocht þare-In anerly,
bot oure al þe war[l]d, sekirly.
quhen ony man is in to dred,
ore ȝet of hele, ore helpe has ned,
and wile one sancte Androw cal
In clene lyf, he helpis all;
and quha-sa in deuocione
has hym, or in affeccione,
he wil helpe þam, quhen þai haf ned.
and als in haly wryt I red,
þat of his grawe, eftir lange
þat he wes ded, swet manna sprange
and oyle þare-with, as it war mele,
with swet saweoure, þat parfite hele
gaf till al þai þat come þare
with ony seknes ore with sare.
and quhen it sprange habundanly,
men hald it as fore prophecy,
þat þe ȝere eftir suld be
In þat land of froyt plente.
bot sic springynge cesis now,
fore syne of men, as I trow;
ane oþir cause ma be, fore-quhy
þat translat[it] is his body
till constantynople, quhare he
sal rest, to day of dome sal be.

IV.—JACOBUS.

his printes com syne in hy
be nycht, and stal away þe body
for dowte of Iowis, and fut-hat
In Ioy þai lad it in a bate,
and wyne þar-In with it but were
for-owt maste, atye, or stere,
commendand þam to goddis will,
to quhat land he wald send þam till,
þat þai mycht mak his sepultore
eftyr þar powar with honour.
and þai aryvyt with þat relik
of spanȝe, in-to þe kynrik,
quhare of þat land þe quen can ma
dwellinge, callit to nam lupa,
þat is als mykil fore to say,
as a wolfe, þat is felone ay.
and þat name gaynyt hyr til,
for scho wes schrewis, feloun & Il.
þe corse of þe bat þai haf tane,
and lad it done one a stane;
and þe stane, quhen he lad was þer,
wex nesch as it wax war,
and gaf sic sted to þat body,
as It a grave had bene, in hy.
for þat, al þat cumys þar,
ma se his fasone les & mar.
þane his sad discipulis passit one
to þe quene, and sad hyr sone:
“lo, Ihesu criste of his fre will
his disciple has send ȝov till;
and til he quek was, þou wald nocht
beleve, sa hard wes þi thocht,
þar-for, god send hym to þe ded,
þat þu ma ȝete þi myss remed;”
and tald hyr, alse, of goddis wil
how he but helpe wes brocht hir till.
þar-for, þai askyt hyr a sted,
to grawe hym þat þai brocht sa dede.
and quhen scho sa hard þis thinge,
scho bad þame gange & sek þe kinge,
and of þar lykine get his will,
and þan agane com sone hir till.
bot þis scho sad in þe entent,
þat þai suld have bene quyt schent,
for þat he lange wes ay fell
to crystis folk and rycht cruel;
for he gert tak þame al þan sone,
and gert in presone þam be done.
bot fra þat he to met wes gane,
ane angel com, þat clerly schane,
and þe pressone opnyt in hy,
and let þame pas away frely.
bot quhen þe kinge herd þat thinge,
he gert fele knychtis in a lynge
pryk efter þame in al þar mayne,
to brynge hym þame tyt agane.
and on a bryge, as þai can ryd
our a wattyr, depe and wyd,
þe bryge brak, and þar dronyt all,
þat mad þe chas, gret & smal.
and quhen þat to þe kyng wes tald,
þocht he was bath fel and bawld,
ȝet hym fore-thocht his mys-dede,
and for þai lele men send gud sped,
and prayt þam to cum hym till,
and he suld grant þam all þar wil.
þane þai agane com to þe kinge,
and till hym mad sik sermonynge,
quhare-thru conuertit son wes he,
and al þe folk of þat cunttre.
qw[h]en quene lupa herd þis tale,
In hart scho had sa mekil bale,
þat to þai discipulis þe kynge
had granttit sa sone þar askine.
nocht-þane scho callyt þam hyr till,
and bad þame gange to syk a hill,
and tak twa of hyr oxyne þare,
and ȝoke þam in a wane but mare,
and lay þar master cors þar-In,
“and folow þai bese, till þai blyne
of þar awne wil, & þar ma ȝe
mak hym a place for euir to be.”
bot þat scho sad in-to dissate,
for scho had bulis wilde and tate,
þat scho nocht trewit mycht ȝakkit be
In carte, na wane, be ony degre;
and, gyf It hapnyt þat þai
var ȝokit, suld ryne away,
and brak þe wane in pecis smale,
and [cast] þe corse to ȝerde with-all
and sla þame þat ȝede þar by;
scho wes sa ful of fellouny.
bot aganis god is wisdum nane.
for-þi þe lele men, ore þa fane,
thinkand na ewil, vent to þe hill,
quhare a fel dragon com þam till,
blawand fel fyre one þam in hy,
and ruschit one þame fellounly;
bot þai þe croice before þam set,
and he bristit but langar lat.
and als to þa fel bugilis eke,
þai schawit þe corse, & þai vorth mek.
and þai discipulis but afray
brocht to þe cors, quhare at It lay,
þe oxine to þe wane mekly,
as þai had bene dantyt ky,
and with þe stane, rycht as It lay,
In þe wane lad [it] but effray.
and þe bulis, or þa fane,
drew þe sammyn cors & stane
In to þe myddis þe p[a]lace,
quhare quene lupe dwelland ves,
at fra þis merwale sene [scho] had,
scho was abaysit, and but abad
scho gafe It lowinge, & baptisym tuk þar.
and hyr palace, hecht & square,
to sancte Iames but abad
scho gaf, and It a kirk mad,
and dowit It with renttis fare,
quhare mony now makis repare.
for lele men of al kirsine led
sekis þat cors, as we red,
for heile of body and of sawle,
rycht as þai do petir and paule.
fore rome and galise, as I trew,
ar neste Ierusalem now
placis of maste deuocione
and of synnis remissione.
þat god vs grant of his gret grace,
and of repentance til haf space,
out of þis warld þat we ma twene
but schame, det, or dedly syne.
of ferlis sere, þat god has wrocht,
and ȝet for to do cesis nocht
for þis appostil, here or alquhare,
for to record sum resone war,
bot I to tel þame al am swer.
þar-for, I spek [nocht] of þam her;
bot þai þat has hym socht, sal tell
of syndry merwaalis, þat to þam fell,
and þat þai haf sere [men] hard say,
quhat þam be-tyd has in his way.
for gyf men wald record al þai,
a mekil buk suld þai þam may;
and sik gret thingis for to wryt,
eld lattis me to haf delyt.
for-þi of þis wark end I mak,
þat I haf done fore Iames sak,
and prays hym parcheryte,
þat he wald myne protector be,
sa þat I be nocht refusyt,
quhen I sal be for syne accusyt;
bot helpe, þat I ma haf þan
part in hewyne with rychtys men,
þat we al to god sic ma be,
þat we ma part haf of þat gle.

V.—JOHANNES.

To spek of þe thred nov me liste,
þat is, of Iohn þe ewangeliste.
for Iohne vndone is goddis grace.
for foure prewilege hym gewyn wes:
ane, fore god luffyt hym mare
þane al þe lafe, þat with hym ware,
and scheu hym mar hamlynes;
and þe to-dyr prewilege wes,
þat criste hym chesit fore to be
but smyt of flesche in chastite;
þe thyrd, þat god gaf hym wittinge
atoure athire of prewe thinge;
and þe ferd prewilege mycht be,
þat quhen criste hangit one þe tre,
his modyr þat he luffit maste,
be-taucht hym, ar he ȝald þe gaste.
thys Iohne, þat had þe happy name,
wes ful brothir to mare sancte Iame.
þare faddir hecht ȝebedee,
and þar modyr wedit he,
mary, cristis aunt, les no mare,
and þe ȝungaste þat anna bare.
and þis Iohne, þat I spak of fyrste,
þat appostil wes & ewangeliste,
quhen al þe appostulys scalit var
In syndry landis wyd-quhare
eftir þe feste of vitsonday,
In asya Iohne held his way,
and prechit faste þar or he fane,
and fowndyt kirkis mony ane.
for-þi domiciane, [þe] fell
emprioure, quhen he hard tel,
how sancte Iohn þar prechit þane,
and mony to cristis lare wane,
he gert bringe hym til hym sone
and in a mekile towne be done
ful of brynand olȝe. but he
come of It hale but hurt, al fre
In till althinge, rycht as he wes,
for-owt ony hurt of flesche,
and prechit furth ay goddis word,
þat he had plentuisly in hurd.
and quhene þis fel domiciane
saw to preche he na fane,
he banyste hym of þe lande
In till ane Ile, wes nere hand,
quhare he þe ypocolipss mad,
and þat Ile patmos to nam had.
bot domiciane, fel and fere,
for his fellouny wes slane þat ȝere,
and þe senaturis a-gane can call
þe sentence, þat he gefine had all.
þan a-gane wes sancte Iohn brocht in honore,
quhen ded wes þe emprioure,
to þe citte of effesy,
quhare all þe puple in-to hy
sad he wes rycht welcum hame,
þat þar of god com in þe name.
Ande as he entrit in þe towne,
he saw a cors to bere mad bone,
þat ser men in gret effere
war bownand furth It to enter,
þe quhilk, till sc[h]o wes lifand,
ȝarnyt his hame-com in þe land,
þat hatine wes deme drusiane,
þat lufit hym wel. and mony ane
of hir kine, wiffis and barnys,
folowit hyr, makand harmys,
and sad: “Iohne, lo, here drusiane,
þat ded has of þis lyf tane,
þat quhylum gretly luffit þe,
vith beyre nov to enterrit be,
and to þi biddinge ay wes bowne,
and fed vs al in-to þis tovne,
and ȝarnyt ay þi hame-cumyn[g]e
gretly a-beoufe althinge,
sayand ay: ‘sal I hym se?’
and, þu nov cumyne, ma nocht se þe!”
þane bad he set done in hy
þe bere and louse þe body,
sayand: “myn lord Ihesu criste rase þe!
and gange hame sone, & grath to me
þe fud, as þu wes wont to do!”
þane at his biddinge swyth rase scho,
and did son syne, as þe appostil bad;
wittand na wa, bot as scho had
vaknyt of slepe, quhare scho lay.
þane apone þe todir day
a phylosyphere of gret renowne,
þat cratone hecht, gert al be bon,
to schau þam in quhat-kine wyse
þire warldis guddis ar to dyspice,
and þat na man suld haf likyne
to haf riches or ony thinge.
for-þi twa breþir, þat ȝunge ware,
þare heritage sald rycht þare,
and with þe price bocht costly stanis,
and rycht þare brak þam al atanis,
as cratone þam þe sermon mad.
and sancte Iohne, þat þan erand had
ner by, and her[d] quhat wes done,
cratone he callit for-þi sone,
and scheu hym be skillis thre,
þat his lar suld condampynt be.
þane firste, thocht man sic lar vald luf,
ȝet god of hewine sic lare vald reprof.
þe todir, for sic lewynge
of vice is nocht clengit þe thinge;
þare-for, vane thinge Is It I-wis,
as þe medicine þat takine is,
quhare-thru þe seknes na remed
ma haf, bot hastis to þe dede.
þe thryd, for nedful dispysinge
Is quhene man his propre thynge
for goddis sak gyffis powre men,
as he to [þe] ȝunge man cane kene
In þe ewangel, sayand, þat he
ȝarnyt parfyt man for to be,
þat he suld sell [al] þat he had,
and gyf It pouere men but a-bad.
nocht-þane of riches þe haffynge
Is nocht Ill, bot þe Ill spendinge.
þan cratone sad: “gyf þi god be
suthfaste mayster, as þou sais me,
þat wald þat men mad sic varinge
as for almus to sel þare thinge,
ger þu ȝone gold and stanis be
refourmyt in þar firste degre,
In lovinge of þi goddis name,
þat I of men did for þe fame!”
sancte Iohne þan but ony mare
of gold and stanis, þat lay þare,
tuk vpe þe pecis small,
and gerte sovnd to-gyddir all,
[and] be his prayere þar fut-hate
reformyt þam to þe fyrste state.
þane cratone & þe ȝounge men twa
þat gold and stanis vpe can ta,
and sald to gyfe to powre men,
and criste and his law can kene.
qw[h]ene Iohne had prechit to & fra
In to þe land of asya,
al þa þat mad sacrifice
til mawmentis, as folk vnwyse,
Ine þe puple [raisit] seduccione
a-gane sancte Iohne, but resone,
[and] to þe tempil of dyane
drew hym rudly, ore þai fane,
for to strenȝe hym to sacrify.
bot he amesit þam in hy,
proponand þam þat distinctiue
to lat þame with hym for to stryfe,
þat oþire þai, to dame dyane
prayand, suld cristis kirk onane
ger don thru hyr cassine be,
and [he] but mare of his wil fre
til ydolis suld sacrify;
or he þe tempil suld in hy
of dame diane gere Ryve done
of criste thru Invocacione,
þane þai in criste [suld] trew & [in] his lare.
þar-to þe maste part þat wes þare,
consentit, and gert remow all
ovt of þe tempil, gret & smal.
þane sancte Iohne mad his vrisone
to god in gud deuocione,
and sodanly to erd can fall
þe tempil & þe Idolis all,
and of deme dyane þe fygure
ware brokine smal but recowere.
[O]f þar ydolis þe bischope,
aristodemus, þat wes ȝape,
raisit a gret sedicione
In þe puple of þat towne,
sa þat þai drew to partyse þare,
Ilkane vthir til sla al ȝare.
þan sad Iohne til aristodeme:
“sa þu wil þis folk mak quem,
sa me quhat þou wil I do,
and I sal sone consent þar-to.”
he sad: “gyf þou wil I trew
In þi god, I wil þat þu
drinke þe venome I sal þe gyfe;
and [gyf] þat þar-eftir [þu] ma lyf
but hourte or schath in þe,
I sal treu þi god suthfaste be.”
sad sancte Iohne: “þat do wil I.”
aristodemus þan in hy
sad: “I wil þu se twa
ded of þe venome þu sal ta,
þat þu þe mare abasit be,
þat þai de þat þou ma se.”
aristodemus went vith þat
to þe proconsul, quhare at he sat,
and twa þat suld hedit be
fore þar trespace, bocht he,
and before al þam of þe towne,
he gert þame drynk dedly poysone,
and þai sone but ony mare
fel ded done in þat place þare.
sancte Iohne ȝet but abaysitnes
þe saymne drink tuk neuir-þe-les,
and croysit It, & drank al oute
but rednes with blith wlte.
þane al þe folk, þat saw þat sycht,
be-gud to lofe god of mycht.
bot aristodeme sad in hy:
“In sum parte ȝet dout haf I;
bot gyf þu ma in-to þis sted
rase þir twa men fra ded,
fore-owte dowt þan sal I trew
In þat god, þou prechis now.”
sancte Iohne tuk of þan his kirtill,
and to þe vntreufull gawe it till.
sad he: “quhat amowis þe
þe kyrtil fore to gyf to me?”
quod he: “to þat entent, þat þu
of þi mystreutht haf scham now.”
þan Aristodemus cane say:
“quhat! venis þu þi kirtil ma
ger me of fors in þi goddis trev?”
þane sad sancte John: “ga furth nov,
and vith myn kirtil but delay
hele ȝone ded men, & þus say:
‘cristis appostil send me now
In his name to resuscit ȝou.’”
and quhen aristodeme had done,
þai rudly sone did Ionys biddinge,
rase; and þe proconsul, þat wes ȝape,
and of þare lawis þe bischope,
trowit in criste, & al þer kyne
Thru baptisme forsuk þar syne,
and In worschipe of sancte Iohn mad
a fare kirke but abad.
for he conuertyt had nerhand
al hale þe puple of þat land.
þan mad he byschoppis ay-quhare,
to strinth and vpehald goddis lare,
and min[i]stris of syndry state,
till enforme þe puple, how-gate
þai suld varly kepe þam fra syn,
and thru gud ded syne hewyn wyne.
AMange al vthir of þat land,
a fare ȝounge man sancte Iohn fand,
þe quhilk, þocht he wes fellone,
he wane to god thru his sermone;
and to a bischope hym betaucht,
to trete hym wele fore all his maucht;
for of depose in to þe name
he lefit hym with hym, to fle blame.
þe bischope tretyt hym for-þi,
as he his son var, tendirly.
bot fra he to rype elde wane
he lefit þe bischope, & vent þan
to sterk thefis, & but abad
þare master man þai sone hym mad.
syne eftir, quhar þe bischope wes,
hapnyt sancte Iohne to cum on case,
and bad hym þe depose furth bryng,
þat he lefit in his kepynge.
þe [bischope] wes abaysit þane,
as veinand þat þe haly man
had askit hym sum money,
as In depose þat with hym lay.
bot sancte Iohne þat k[n]ew his thocht,
sad: “sik depose ask I þe nocht,
bot þe ȝounge man I ask þe,
þat, as depose, þou tuk fra me.”
þe bischope sad: “faddir dere,
as In sawle he is ded but were,
and with theffis in sik a hyll
as prince is dwelland to do Ill.”
and quhene þe appostil herd hym say
þat þe ȝonge man wes sa away,
he rafe his clathis & befte his face,
and to þe bischope sad: “allace!
I wend til haf wel done þane,
quhen I betaucht þe þat mane!”
a horse þan gat he til hym ȝare,
and he lape one forowtyn mare,
and to þat hyll In gret hy
prekit, & onabasytly.
and quhen þat ȝounge man saw þat he
come prekand in sic degre,
he ves schamyt, & ves schone,
and one his horse gat alsone,
and fled. bot sancte Iohne fo[r]ȝetand elde,
prekyt faste eftyr, & hym behelde,
cryand hey: “swet sone dere,
fle nocht, bot byd, þi faddir here
ane ald man, vnermyt now,
þat mon ȝeld resone, wele þou trew,
to criste for þi saule; & ȝet I,
to de for þe, is al redy,
as criste did, al oure myse to mend.
for-þi turne þe, fore god me send
to wyne þe, þat þou be nocht tynte!”
þane he, þat fled fyrste, can stynt,
and þane sa fore-thocht his mysded,
þat he gret sar for his mysded,
and fel done to sancte Iohnnys fete,
and vith his teris can þame vete,
and þam and handis kyssit swa,
In hope þat he suld pardone ta.
sancte Iohne to his reutht tent can tak,
and for hym bath can fast & wak,
and prayt for hym, til he wes
restoryt wele to goddis grace.
As recordis Iohne cassiane,
a ȝounge man quhile a fule had tan,
quhilk we ane partryk cal,
and to sancte Iohne com þare-vith-al,
and gaf It, as in dingnite.
and blithly it resawit he,
and softly vith his handis twa
It handlyt, & þ[a]r-of [play] cane ma.
þe ȝunge man saw þat he plait
vith þat foule, & til vthire sad:
“be-hald ȝone ald, & se how ȝarne
he plais vith ȝone foule, as a barne!”
þat quhen sancte Iohne persavit had,
thru spyryt þat hym þe schauyn mad,
he þat ȝung man askit but mare,
quhat It ves in hand he bare.
“It is myn bow, I tel ȝu to,”
quod he. “quhat sal ȝu vith it do?”
“and þe foulis þare-vith I sla,
and lytil bestis vthir ma.”
sad sancte Johne: “þu lat me se
in quhat maner þat suld be!”
þe ȝunge man þan his bov bent syne,
and vith his hand þare-vith can lyne.
sancte Iohne þan a quhyle ves stil,
þane spake na thinge þe ȝung man til;
and þar-for he [h]is bow vnbent.
þane sad sancte Iohne: “tel þi entent,
quhy þu vnbent þi bow sa sone!”
“bot,” he quod, “I sa had done,
It suld hafe bene son out of pyth
to schot ony takil vith.”
þane sancte Iohne ansuerit þer-til:
“sa do I for þe sammyn skyll;
for manis brokilnes ma nocht
of contemplacion haf thocht
bot sum disport Ithandly,
na It suld be quhile wery,
as of þi bow þou sais me,
gyf þat It bent suld lange tym be;
for þocht þe eyrne fle heyeste,
and þe sone seis clerlyaste,
ȝet mon of fors he cum done
to þe law ȝerd, & þer suiorne,
rycht sa manis deuocione,
þat quhile fra contemplacione
Is drawyne, sal þe scharpar be,
and þe devotare, quhen þat he
eftsonis dresss hym to pray;
for temporale thing lestis nocht ay.”
Þane quhen sancte Iohne ves of elde,
þat he mycht nocht hym-selvyne velde,
and duelland ves in effecy,
and for selfe eld ves sa wery,
þat vnhes vith þe helpe of twa
he mycht quhyle to þe kirke ga,
na he but pause mycht no mare say,
bot þire twa wordis he sad ay:
“my sonis, I pray ȝou hartfully,
þat ȝe luf enterchangeabily.”
and þis sa of[t]-tyme he can say,
þat his discipulis one ane day
prayt hym to tel [þam] quhy
he sad þa vordis ythanly.
he answert: “for god sa tacht.
kepe þam, þare-fore, at all [ȝour] macht,
and It sall suffice wel ȝou to,
In þis gyf ȝe his biddynge do.”
Sanct edmwnde, of Ingland kinge,
lovit sancte Iohn a-beouf althinge,
out-ane our lord and our lady,
and in custum had, for-þi,
þat quha-se-euire vald almus crafe
for luf of sancte Iohne suld hafe.
and sa be-tyd a day of case
þat þe kinge ves in solace,
and a pilgrime to cum by,
þat askit hym rycht pituisly
almus for sancte Iohnnis sak;
and he had nocht quhare-of to tak,
to mak asyth to þat beggar,
for cause þan nan ves hym nere;
bot of his fynger tuk a ringe,
far, and worth mekil thinge,
and to þe pilgram gaf it rath,
þat almus fore sancte Iohnn can craf;
and þe pilgram held [h]is va syth,
þat semyt, þarfore, to be blyth.
In Ingland þat tym ves a knycht,
In ded of armys þat ves vycht,
and had bene in landis syndry
for til haf lose of chevalry.
and tyd a tyme, þar-fore, at he
for sic cause passit þe gret se
In to a cunctre far away.
as he rad a-pon a day,
he met a pilgrime in the gat,
þat haliste hyme, & sad þus-gat:
“sir knycht, sene þu is of Ingland,
þat edmwnd kinge has nov in hand,
I pray þe þat þu tak þis rynge
on my be-halfe, & gyf þe king,
& say hym: ‘quham-to þat þu
gafe it umquhil, þe gyffis it nov,
ȝeldand þe thank of þi gud vil,
þat nocht ellis had to gyf hym til
þane, fore þat þu ves þe alane.’”
& he vith þat þe ringe has tane;
& quhen he had his Iorne don,
and in Ingland com ham sone,
he vent to vesy þe kinge,
& tel hym of his travalinge,
as is þe costome fore to do,
& sad to hyme: “myn lord, lo,
þis ringe, þat [I] yu present now,
me gafe a pilgram to gyf ȝow,
þat I, quhar I ves traveland,
mete vith of case in to fere land,
& sad, fra ȝov þat It tuk he,
as In name of cheryte,
one sik a day, in sik a place,
quhare þat nane by ȝov ves,
and bad I suld gyf it ȝov til,
& thange ȝou of ȝore gud vyl.”
& quhen þe kinge had sene þe rynge,
he knev It, & be þe taknynge
persavit vele, sancte Iohne It ves,
þat It had tane fore distrase,
aperand in-to pylgrime ved,
þis of his helpe hafand ned.
fore-þi, þat kynge euire fra þat day
ekit his devocione ay
to sancte Iohne, & fore his sak
gef almus to þame vald It tak.
fore-þi, sancte Iohne, þat mychtty Is
vith god, þi cusynge, kinge of blis,
pray for vs, þat ve hyne twyne
but det, schame, ore dedly syne!

VI.—THOMAS.

thane eftir þat al þis ves done,
þe apostil & abnes alsone
of Innere Inde com to þe kynge,
þat blith ves grettumly of his cumynge,
& namly for þat manis sak,
þat suld þe palace to hym mak.
þane led he thomas but abad,
quhare þat þe pal[a]ce suld be mad,
þat tuk a lange red in his hand,
as man of craft þat vare cunnand;
þane þare-vith al þe palace can merk,
quhare þat þe kinge vald haf his vark.
& þar a palace one sic vyijs
sa craftly he cane dewyse,
þat þar ves nane sic in-to rome
be Iugment of manis dome.
þe kinge, þat hard his dewice,
& persavit þat he ves vyise,
sad: “richt wele It feris þe
seruand to kingis fore to be.
þar-fore, as þu dewisise now,
mak furth myn wark, & trevly trew,
þat þi trawel sal be þe quet
ful wele, fra þu haf endit It!”
þane gert þe kinge gyf hym in hy
siluere and gold plentuisly,
& a fere cunctre passit to,
quhare he sa gretly had to do,
þat twa ȝeris he dwel[i]t þare.
& þe apostile in þat sychware,
vith þat tresoure he had tane,
pouer men relewit mony ane;
& prechit sa faste, þat he
nere al þe folk of þat cunctre
had conuertit, & but abade
gert kirkis fele & gret be made,
& of baptisme þe sacrament
gert þam tak in gud entent.
bischopis syne ordanyt he,
to serwe god in þare degre
In haly kirke, & clerkis bath,
þat suld þe puple kepe fra wath
of þe fals fend vith þare prechinge,
& eke þe treutht vith þar techinge.
& in sic oys quhen he had all
spendit þe tresoure gret & smal,
þe kinge com hame, & ferly thocht
þat he fand nocht his palace wrocht,
& hard how þe apostil had done
vith his tresoure. for-þi rycht sone
he gerte cal hym & abnen bath,
& in fel presone put þame rath,
& in þare bandis bundyne be,
til he thocht quhat vyse he
micht torment þam maste felloun[l]y.
þane rane hym in mynde in hy
þat he vald firste quyke þam fla,
& bryne þame syne in doile & va.
& one þe thrid day, quhen he
had maste thocht of sic cruelte,
his brothire deit, þat hechte gad,
fore quham þe puple gret dule mad,
& foure dais, vith gret cure,
þai vare makand his sepulture.
bot gad, þe ferde day, rase fra ded
before al þat vare in þat sted,
quha var ab[a]ysit gretumly,
quhen þai saw þat grete ferly.
nocht-þane wele sone þai hym clad,
& to þe kynge, his bruthire, hym led.
to quhome sad he: “bruthire, but hone
I tel þe, þu has mysdone;
fore hyme þat þou thinkis to fla,
or do hym bryne ore ony wa,
Is godis frend, to quham ay
angelis serwys nycht & day,
þat me in paradice has lede,
& schawyt me þe welful stede,
quhare he þe fare palace has mad,
as he before hycht had to þe glad.
na is nocht vndir þe ayre he
palace tendparte so fare to se;
for ma na gold be mar brycht
þane It is to se with sycht;
& set oure all is þat vanis
with brycht & schenand preciuse stanys,
as sardiane, topias fyne, Iaspis,
Iape, crissolit, & onix fyne is,
saphir of assay, & berial clere,
& charbunckile of price ful dere,
& adamant, þat her of gene,
þat mekil helpis to þe ewine.
& quhen I faste musand ves
one þe beute of þat place,
þe angel sad to me, thomas had
to myn bruthir þat palace mad.
& [I] sad: ‘ful fane wald I
þare-of be portare anerly.’
& he sad me þane but abad:
‘þi bruthyre has hym-selwine mad
vnworthi þare-in fore to be;
bot I to god prais fore the,
þat þu mycht ryse & luf vith oþ[i]re,
til þu had boucht It fra þi bruthire,
gyfand hym of þi gud fre
þe coste of It þat mad [h]as he,
þat he vend vele [þat] he had tynte,
& þare-fore to sla men had mynte.’”
& quhen he had sad þis resone,
he rane rycht rath to þe presone,
quhare þe apostil bundyn ves set,
& fel one kneis til his fet,
askand pardonne pytuisly
til his bruthire þat wes gylty,
& lystly lousit sone þe band,
þat thomas had in fwte & hand,
& prait hym þat he vald take
a riche clethinge for his sake.
& sancte thomas til hym can say:
“me þu kennis ȝet be na way,
þat þai þat ȝarnis for to be
In hewyne & þare-In hafe pouste,
ȝarnis til hafe na temporale gud,
ovtane anerly clath & fud.”
thane, quhen sancte thomas of pressone
come, þe kinge ves redy bowne
& faste com rynnand for to bete
his mysded, & fel doune til his fete,
& askit mercy reufully.
þane thomas sad til hym in hy:
“god has ful mekile donne for ȝow,
þat let ȝou se his secret now.
for-[þi] in hym now ȝe trew alway,
& beis baptiste but delay,
gyfe ȝe wil parcenaris be
of his grete blys & lestand gle.”
þane gad sad: “bruthire, I hafe sene
þe wel-full palace fare and schene,
þat thomas mad, & lef gat I
of god, It at þe to by.”
& thomas sad: “in till his will
Is it to sell or till hald still.”
he sad: “þane It sall myn be,
syne I þe coste has mad, parde,
& of his awyne syne lat myn bruthire
gere ȝou, thomas, mak hym ane vthire;
and gyfe he be nocht penny bowne,
lat it til vs bath be commowne.”
& sad þe apostil: “fele palace
has bene, & are in hewine alwais,
sene god fyrste had þis varld wrocht,
þat with nane vthire thing ar bocht
bot with þe price of trewtht rychtvijs
& almus-ded one syndry vyse.
& wardly riches be-fore ȝow
ma pase na way, þat wele ȝe trew!
fore he þat gyffis his almus here,
quhen to hald It he has powere,
Is lyk hym þat in merknes gais
& a lanterne before hym has;
& he þat liffand It deferris,
Is lyk a man þat merknes merryse,
& gerris þe lanterne borne be
be-hynd hym, þe gat to se.
þare-for It is thankful thinge
to gyfe almane of fre lykine
til men liffis, & has fre will
to gyfe, or to hald þame still.”
of a monethe efter þe space,
quhen þat Is sad here, downe vas,
þe apostil did forowte bad
a congregacione sone be mad
of puyre & riche men elyke
for þe maste parte of þe kinryke;
& al þat euire ware sek & sayre,
he gerte disseuire fra þam þare,
& his prayere mad fore þam þan;
& al þe puple sad “amen.”
a fyr-schauchte of þe hewyn rath,
þane thomas & þe puple bath
saw stryk þe ȝerd, & gert ly þare
a space of ane houre & mare;
sa þat all wend but ony dowt,
þat þare þai suld be ded alowte.
þan thomas sad vith gladsum chere:
“ryse vpe now, myn brethir dere!
for god as fyr-schacht nov com here,
to make þire seke men hale & fere.”
þane al þe sek men, þat come þare,
parfyt heyle gat in þat sychare,
& lowit god & sancte thomas
of þat grete habundand grace.
þane sancte thomas vas rycht fovs
till tel þe twelfe greis of vertuse.
þe firste of þame, to rekine now,
Is: in god fermly til trew,
þe quhilk in substance bot ane Is,
& thrinfald in-to personis.
& by þ[r]e ensampile schawit he
felably quhow ma þis be;
for in til a man visdome Is,
& of þat ane þare procedis
vndirstandynge, memore, & wite;
for wyt is þat gerris þe fynd Ite,
þat þu lerit [nocht], & memore syne
Is þat þu laris, þu nocht tyne,
& vndirstandynge is þe aucht,
þat may be schawit or ellis tacht.
þe tothir ensampil tane ma be
sufficiandly be þe wyne-tre—
tre, & leffe, & froite with-all,
bot a wyne-tree we call.
þe threde: þat in þe hewid of man,
ar wittis four, quha rekine can,
as sycht, herynge, gustyne, tastyne,
& ȝet þir foure ar bot a thynge,
& in þe hewid ar herbreit all,
& bot a hewid ȝet ve It call.
þe tothire stage is þat we,
fore to wyne grace, suld baptist be.
þe thryd: þat we ay suld be bone
to fle fornicacione.
þe fyrd is: gyf we be wyse,
ve suld eschew auarice.
þe fyfte stage is: suthly,
to keep men fra gluttony.
þe sexte: gyf man, perchance
fel in syne, suld do pennance.
þat in lele pennance we suld dwel,
as fore þe sewine gre ve ma tell.
& [þe] aucht wel ma be,
for to luf hospitalyte.
þe ninte: for to sek goddis will
In althinge, & till fulfill.
þe tend gre is: till eschew
agane goddis wil we wirk nov.
þe lewine is: þat cheryte
to frend & fa euire haf we.
þe twelfte: þat men be ay reddy
to bere þir stagis sekyrly.
&, or he had his sermone mad,
þare ware baptiste but a-bad
a-lefyne thousand of men,
foroute barnys ore weman,
þat be thomas of goddis grace
to cristine treutht conuertit ves.
and quhen al one þis vyise
ves done as I devyse,
In hest ynde, or he fane,
he went, & þar throw ferlys schan.
& synciane, þat wes vorthy,
& tendir frende to mygdony,
þe vyfe of carise, & cosyne
to þe kinge þar be rycht lyne,
threv his prayer sa wrocht he,
& at, þocht scho blynd ves, [he] gert hir se.
to synciane sad mygdony:
“venys þou þat hym se ma I?”
þane mygdonny of hire consale
but bad hire habit changit hale,
& vith powere folk com to þe place,
quhare þe apostil prechand ves
of þe wrechitnese þat here
men has, til þai be brocht on bere,
& sad: “þis present lyfe
Is ay in vrechitnese & stryfe,
& vndirlout to chansis sere,
sa þat men liffis ay ine vere;
and quhen men venis beste þat þai
sal lyfe in lykine & in play,
þan cumys ded vnwenandly,
& rewis þame al [a]-wa in hy;
& þane þe flesche, þat ve fed here
maste vantonly in daynttis sere,
Is lathaste tu luk one þane,
fra þe lyf be ovt of þame.”
syne for-thirmare he can preche,
& forsit hym þame to teche
four resonis, quhy men here
suld gladly goddis word here,
lyknand þat word in his prechinge
to foure maner of sere thinge:
ane til þe oy[n]ment of þe ee,
þat helpis men clerly to se.
& of þat ee þe vndoynge
Is of oure harte & vndirstandinge,
þat lichtis þe hart & makis It clere,
þat Ignorance be-fore mad swere.
alsa It is lyk to poycion
men takis fore purgacione,
þat clengis oure flesche fra ȝarninge
of fleschly luste & sinful thynge;
& til a plaister lyk ma be,
quhar-thru of syne wondis hel we;
& lyke to met It is vith-all,
quhare-vith oure saule fed ve sall;
for ve suld set our maste delyte
In goddis vord fore sawle profyte.
for, as medycyne þat is parfyte,
dois to þe body na profyte,
bot man resavit it within,
sa the sawle, sek of syne,
ma hafe na helpe of goddis word,
bot It be hyd in-[to] his hurd,
quhen grathly he has hard It,
In his harte bot he It knyt.
of þis vord prechit thomas sa,
þat baptisme tuk mygdona,
þe vyfe of caryse, þat na wa
to his bed ȝed fra þat day.
þat caryse askit at þe kynge
þat he mycht thomas thraly thringe
In-to presone, & did rycht sa.
quhare to hym com mygdona,
& prayt hym of forgyvnes,
þat he for hyr tholit distres.
þane confortand he sad hyre till,
þat payne he tuk vith gud will.
carisius vent to þe kynge
rycht þane, but tary[i]nge,
& for his vif gretly can men,
þat ves ful cister to þe quen,
and prayt hym tendirly,
þat he þe quen vald send in hy,
& fand gyf scho mycht get hir wil,
& gere hyre cum agan hym til.
þane þe quen vent but bad,
& cristyne þat oure ves mad
threu hyre cister, of goddis grace,
þat to pervert hyre purpos ves.
& quhen scho sene had sere ferlyis,
þat thomas dyd mony vyis,
sad: “of god veryte be þai
þat wil nocht trev in cristis la,
seand þe thynnge þat þis man here
dois in þe name of Ihesu dere.”
the apostil þan thru his gud lare
Infowrmyt al þat var þare
schortly of thre, þat is to say,
þat þai suld honoure þe kirk ay,
& to the prestis do honoure
of haly kyrk þat has þe cure,
& be na way þat þai ware swere
goddis vord euir to here.
þe quen þan com agane
þe kynnge, þat hyr þis can f[r]ane:
“quhar has þu bene, dame, al day?”
till hyme sodanly can scho say:
“I wende myn cistere mygdony
had bene a fowle, but nov se I
þat wyser wyfe ma nocht be;
fore to þe apostil scho brocht me,
þat has me kend þe suthfast vay
to cristis blyse, þat lestis ay.”
þe quene vald nocht fra þat day
bede with þe kynge be ony way.
þe kynge, þat wes þan full gretly
grewit, bad þai suld in hy—
þat þai suld þe apostil bynd
fulfaste his handis hym behynd,
& brynge to hym but delay.
& quhen he come, þis can he say:
“þu hyll man & of will thra,
þat gerris oure wiffis fra vs ga,
Induce þam now to cum ws till,
gyf þe ded þu eschew will!”
þe apostil sais: “one na-kyne vyse
may I do þat, quhil þat þu Is
In sic erroure as þu arte now,
as be ensampil þu may trew,
as Is þe ensampile of þe kynge,
& of þe towre, & þe wylsprynge.
for þu, þat kynge & mychtty Is,
deigneis nocht till hafe ful serwice,
but wil þat, quha serwis þe,
mane or wemen, honeste be;
þane sal þu trew in þe sammyn vyse,
þat god ȝarnis honeste serwice
of man or wyf, quhethir it be,
þat seruis hym in þare degre.
þar-for, me think, I serwe no blame
quhen I say: god luffis þe sammynne
In his serwandis, as þu will
þi serwandis trewly serwe þe till.
& I with besynes & cure
has bygyt now a wel he toure,
& þu, me thinke, for fawt of wyt,
byddis me now distroy It;
& I hafe dolvyne in þe erde eke,
a spryngayd in It to seke,
& has fundyne, and þu sais me
þat I suld stope [it] & lat be?”
þan wes þe kynnge Angry and wrath,
& bad his tormentouris wel rath
brynge platis of Irne & stele,
& in þe fyre gert het þam wele,
& ger þe appostil one þam stand,
bundyne faste bath fwt & hand,
bar-fwte. bot þare a ferly fell:
þat vndyr þam sprange vpe a well
& sloknyt sone be goddis grace
þai brynnand platis in þat place.
& þane þe kynge at þe consell
of his macht, þat wes ferly fell,
gert het ane oyne hat brynnand,
& thomas þare-In fute & hand
gert put. bot sone but bade
thru goddis grace It cald wes mad,
& [he] þe tothire day but were
of It come owt hale & fere.
& þane sad caryse to þe kynge:
“gud lord, gere hym mak som offeringe
til oure gret god, þe sene, & sa
his god with hyme he sall wrath ma,
& fra þis tyme furth na mare sal he
one þis wyis helpe hym, ȝe sal se.”
sancte thomas þane þai bad in hy:
“til oure tempil ga sacrify!”
& thomas sad to þame one hycht:
“quhilk opis þu be of mare mycht,
þu or þat thinge þat mad has þu?
& suthfaste god dispicis now,
& honowryse þi awne payntynge,
at na-thinge settand hewynis kynge;
bot, as carisius sais, þe
venys þat my god wrath wil be
with me, gyf þat I sacrify
to þi god. na; bot sikyrly
with þi god wrath wil he be,
& with þi-selfe, bot nocht with me;
for þi god þat ȝe honoure all,
he sal gere brak in powdir small;
bot I þat god sal ho[no]ur ay,
sa mychty dedis ma do sa.
þi god, þare-for, q[u]hen I honoure
& criste, myn god, in-to þat houre
þi god ourtirwis nocht in hy,
til þi god sal I sacrify;
sa þu do þe sammyn to myne,
quhen þu seis þi god vertu tyne.”
þane sad þe kynge: “me think þat þu
as pere & peyre sais to me now.”
sancte thomas þane in hebrow spak
to þe fend, þat ves ful blak:
“þu, þat in þat Idol dwellis
to dissawe men & do nocht ellis,
þat alsone as I knel done
to myn god for deuocione,
I commavnd þe, þat þou brak all
þat ydole in-to powdir small.”
with þat þe apostil knelit done,
& sad þir wordis with hey sone:
“lo, I honoure, bot na mawnment,
bot suthfaste god in gud entent;
lo, I honoure, bot na metall,
þat brokill is & sone ma fall;
bot lo, I honoure god of hewyne
& Ihesu criste, his sone ful ewyne,
In quhais name I þe commawnd,
ful fend, þat þare-In is dwelland,
þat þu þat semulacre brake,
or ony man may hand þe reke.”
þane at þat word but ony mare
It meltit as It vax ware,
& þe fend, þar-In had bene,
flaw a-way, & neuir wes sene.
þan al þe prestis gef a ȝell,
as þai had bene fendis of hell.
& of þe tempil þare bischope,
for doute þe apostol suld eschape,
with a swerd strak hym in hy
In at þe bak throw þe body,
sayand: “I sal revenge sone
þe wrange þat to myn god is done.”
bot carisius & þe kynge
In þat place mad na mare dwellinge,
bot fled richt faste out of þat sted,
fra þai saw þe apostole ded;
for þai weste wele þat þe pup[i]le,
to tak rewengeance, war in will
to sla þam & þe byschope bryne,
þat done had þat horrible syne,
þat þai to þe apostol had don.
þane cristyne men, but ony howne,
hym enterit with gret honoure
In a grawe, mad with gret cure,
quhare god of hewyne dois fore hym ay
myraclis grete to þis day,
&, as I trew, sal do euirmare
til al þai þat are sek or sare,
& sekis hym dewotly
& threw, sal hafe þare helpe in hy.
for, þocht to treu he wes swere,
quhen he can goddis wordis here,
he wes eftyr fwll wel trewand,
quhen he a fyngyr of his hand
had put depe in goddis syd,
yn þat wonde bath depe & wyd.
& sa þe benysone he wane
of Ihesu criste to mony man,
þat blissit al þat saw nocht,
& trewit It in ded & thocht.
for-þi, sancte thomas, we þe pray
þat þu oure helpe be, now & ay,
& get vs grace, we hynne ma twyne
but det, schame & deidly syne.

VII.—JACOBUS (MINOR).

VIII.—PHILEPUS.

IX.—BERTHOLOMEUS.

X.—MATHOU.

XI.—SYMON AND IUDAS.

qwene agabarus weste þat he
mycht nocht Ihesu in his lyfe se,
he send til hyme þane a paynteore,
þat rycht sle wes in portratore,
to paynt his fygur propirly,
& to bring It til hyme in hy,
sa þat þe fygure se he mocht
of quham þe face he se na mocht.
bot quhene þe payntur had hym sene,
he mycht nocht grathly dresss his ene
for to behald hyme in þe face,
sa ferly schenynge in It wes.
for-þi, for ocht þat he do mycht,
to portra It he had na slicht.
bot criste, to quham al thocht is bare,
fra hyme a lynyne clath tuk þare
& lad it one his visage sone;
& his fygur, fra þat wes downe,
In þat clath mycht be sene clerly,
as he has standyne hym-selfe by;
& with þe payntoure to þe kinge
send it, to fulfill his ȝarninge.
bot quhat-kyne schape þat Ihesu had
of visage, or quhow it wes mad,
as tellis Iohnne of damassene:
he had gret & fare gray ene,
his browis brad & mad rycht wel,
& his visage lange but dele,
& þar-with sum-thinge stoupand wes,
þat is takine of gret grace.
eftyr Ihesu vpraisit wes
fra hyne to hewyne, þan sancte thomas
þis Iudas, callit thadee, send
til agabarum, hyme til amend,
as criste be-for hyme hecht to do.
& quhene þat he þe king com to,
& sad he wes þe dyscipill,
þat Ihesu criste had send hym til,
agabarus saw in his face
a godly licht þat ferly was.
& quhene þat sicht he sene had,
abaysit he wes, & ferly had,
& honowrit god & sad: “I trew
þat þu art printece of Ihesu,
þat hecht to me ane of his to send
of myn seknes me til amend.”
þan Iudas [sad]: “sa þat thow
In goddis sowne wil trewly trew,
al thy ȝarninge he sal fulfill.”
þane sad agabarus hym til:
“suthfastly in hyme I trew;
& had I al þe Iowis now,
& gaynand possibilite
& dout of rome lettit nocht me,
þai suld al de owtakand [n]ane.”
þane Iudas has þe epystil tane,
þat criste to agabarus wrat,
quhare-In he heycht to mend his stat,
& with it bot twechit his face,
þat ay to þat tyme leper wes,
& he of al fylth clene wes mad
In saule and body but abad.
firste in mesopotanea
& in ponto Iudas cane ga
to preche, & symon in egipe.
bot syne to-gyddire war þai knyt
& in-to perce þare way can ta,
quhare þai fand þa wechis twa,
arphaxat fals & ȝaroene,
þat had dissawyt mony mene
be-for in ethiopia,
but sancte mathow gert þam hyne ga.
þe kyng of babylone had hycht
one þam of Inde þat tyme to fycht,
& woradach, þat wes his duke,
þat batale to do, vndyrtuke;
þare-for his goddis askyt he
quhat end of þat batale suld be.
& for þai ansuere ȝald hym nane,
to þe next tempil he is gane,
to wit þat þe goddis þare
how in þe batal he suld fare,
& quhy his god answerit nocht
til It þat he had at hyme socht.
þa fendis þane answer can ma:
“be-cause þare come dyscipilis twa
of Ihesu criste, þat al cane stere,
þare-for mad þai na answere.”
þane sad þe duke: “tel, quhat men
þa ar, sa we may kene.”
bot þe feynd þat durste nocht do,
na ȝet ony takine gyf hym to.
þane gert þe duk richt besyly
sek, & fand þame in hy,
& fraynit at þame quhat þai war,
& for quhat cause þai com þare.
“of our kine gyf þou wil frane,
we are hebreis, nocht to layne;
& anent oure condicione,
we grant ws seruandis ay bown
of Ihesu criste, oure lord der;
& þe cause we come here,
Is of ȝoure sawlis þe sawete,
þat þe fend be his sutellite
gert þame [na] be slane vtraly.”
þane sad þe duk: “na towme haf I
of sik thing now for til her;
bot at myn gane-come hale & fer
I sall ȝou here mare of þis thinge.”
quod þai: “It war mare bettire thinge
to knaw hyme & his helpe crafe,
be quham þu mycht þe wictoure hafe,
or ellis ger þi fays be
rycht wondir fayne to tret with þe.”
quod he: “me think ȝou mychty-are
þane oure goddis ar, be fulfar;
þare-fore to me answer ȝe make,
quhat end sal þe batal take?”
þane sad þai: “to þat end, þat þu
kene þi goddis are learis now,
we sal lef þame to gyf þe answer
of ocht þat þu wil at þam spere;
sa quhene þai say þat þai myskene,
þu sal wel wit þai dissawe men.”
& til þe duk his goddis gafe
answere, þat he suld batal hafe,
& fele suld de þare at þe laste.
þane þe apostil[is] lucht rycht faste.
þe duk sad þane: “þat rednes me
assalȝeis; quhare-for sa laucht ȝe?”
þane sad þai: “þe thar nocht dred na-thing;
for pece with ws ay-quhar we bryng;
for to-morne, or it terse be,
fra þame of Ind sal cum to þe,
messyngeris, & put þam in þi will.”
þane sad þe byschapis hyme til:
“þir twa sik talis now tellis þe,
for þat þu suld mar vnwar be
vith þi fais, & þat þai mycht
heithar our-cum þe in feycht.”
to þe duk cane þe apostil[is] sa:
“nocht a moneth, bot a day
bad we þe byd, & þu sal se
to-morne þi fais ourcumyn be.”
þane bad þe duke his men kepe
þe bischapis & þe apostilis eke,
to se quhat end þe thing suld tak,
þat he mycht gaynand revard mak
to þame þat suthfaste fundyn war,
& thame þat fals war punyse sar.
thane one þe morne þat tym of day
It fel as þe apostolis cane say.
& wald þe duke in til his Ire
hafe brynt þe bischapis in a fyr;
bot þe apostolis for-bad hym ay
to bryne þame, & cane say:
“of Ihesu criste we haf byddynge,
oure mastere, ded men to lyf bringe
& nocht to sla, bot erar we
of Ilke man suld haf pitte.”
þane had þe duke gret ferly
of þare meknes, & bad þan in hy
þat þare guddis suld gyfine be
to þe apostolis of his gyfte fre.
bot quhen sik tak wald þai nocht,
bot bad til þe kynge furth þam brocht,
& to þe kynge þe duke sad þane:
“þire are goddis in fowrme of mene,”
& to hyme þe duk tald þe tal
as I befor sad alhale.
bot þai wechis, makand defens,
sad in þe kingis awne presens,
þat þe apostolis for invy
agane hyme wrocht sutelly,
as fals traytouris & Il men.
þe duke, þat west þe suth, þan
sais: “dare ȝe with þam strife opynly!”
þane ansuert þai til hym in hy:
“gyf þu wil se þat in oure sycht
þer men to spek sal haf na mycht,
þe wyse[s]t þat are with þe kyng
& þe beste spekand ger furth bryng,
& þou sal se þat þai sal nocht
spek a word, quhen þai ar brocht.”
þane wes mony adwocat
to þe kyng brocht fwte-hate,
& sorcery sa dum þame mad,
þat nane to spek a word had,
na takyne mak quhat þai cuth mene
with hand, na hed, na with ene.
þai wechis to þe kinge sad þare:
“to profe wele þat we goddis are,
we sal gyf þam leyf to speke,
bot nane a fowt furth to streke,
syne gyf þam leif to ga,
& syne þar sycht sal tak þam fra,
þat, þo þare ene al opyne be,
þai sal na mycht haf for to se.”
& al was in þis wyse done.
þe duk þe adwocatis sone
brocht to þe apostolis, confundyt
& for schame nere owt of wyt.
þe quhilkis þane for þar clethinge
þai had in dyspyt & hethynge.
þane symon sad: “It ma wel fall
þat in a kyste þat wrocht is all
with costlyke wark & sutelte,
þat þar ma [vil] thinge þare-in be,
& in a kyste mad of clay
men ma costlyke thingis lay;
& þar-for suld a man fyrste
se it, þat lad war in þe kyste,
& nocht to dyspice for-owt assay
þe thinge þat þare-in lay.
heycht ws þar-for to lewe quytly
ȝour fare ydolis & costly,
& in a god verray trew,
þat fleschly ene ma nocht se now,
& we sall in ȝour froynttis mak
syk a mark, we vndirtake,
þat sal scoomfyt ȝon twa aloute
& ger þame of ȝow haf gret dowt.”
to þis quhene þai consentit had
[&] þe croice in þare froyntis made,
be-fore þe kynge þa come belyfe,
& sad, þai war redy to stryfe
with þai men þat thru sorcery
befor of þame had victory.
þane þai twa wekyt men com sone,
venand to do as þai had done
vith þa vysmen before þe kynge;
bot þai mycht mere þam in na thinge.
þai wysmen þan scouryt þam faste;
bot thru þare crafte at þe laste
of serpentis a multytude
befor þe kynge brocht, quhare he stud.
þan sone commawndyt þe kynge
þat þai þe appostolis furth suld bryng.
& quhen þai ware cumyne þare,
ayre of þame with stute fare
but rednes schot þai edryse til,
& of þame cane þare mantillis fil,
& keste þam one þa wechis ewyn,
& sad: “in name of god of heywne,
we byd ȝow þat ȝe stere ȝou nocht
til þire edryse þare wil haf wrocht.”
þane þe edryse bate þam sa sare,
til þai as wolfis lowd can rare.
þan þe apostil[is] with þe kynge,
þat stud & beheld þat thynge,
to þe apostolis request can ma
to thole þe edryse þa men sla.
sad þai: “we come in þis sted
erare to rase men þat ware ded,
þane ony liffand man to sla.”
bot þane þare prayer can þa ma,
& bad þe edris suk owt faste
al þe venyme þai can caste
In þai wechis, þat had mare care
of þat swkyne þan þai had yare.
syne to þe eddris can þai sa:
“ve commawnd ȝow to hald ȝour va.”
þe apostil[is] þane sad þam til:
“sik tormentis ȝe sal haf stil
þir thre dais, & þane sal ȝe
of ȝoure sorow waryste be,
þat at þe leste one þat kyn wyse
ȝe ma for-sak ȝoure gret malice.”
bot quhen þai had thre dais bene
but met, drynge, ore slepe, but wene,
tholand paynis Ithandly,
þe apostolis com to þame in hy
& sad þam: “god wald one na wyse
of ony man haf thret seruice;
for-þi þat hale fredome ȝow til
we gyfe to pase quhare-euire ȝe wil.”
bot þai in þare malice bydand
went þine, & nere al þe land
of babylone one stere mad þai,
& þe apostolis to sla assay.
thyr twa wikyt men, quham-of we
spak before, went til a citte
þat bygyt is bathe wele & fare,
& callyt Is suamayr,
quhare-in byschapis ware sewynty,
þat serwit ydolis trewly.
þe quhilk þa twa excit rath
to do þe apostolis skath,
in syke wyse, gyf þai com þare,
to ger þame sacryfy but mare,
or ellis lewand for na dowte
to tak þame ore to sla alowte.
þan quhen þe apostolis had al-quhare
In þat land sawyne goddis lare
& cumyne ware to þat citte,
quhare-of befor here spake we,
þe forsad byschapis of þat stede
al hale þe puple with þam lede,
& þe apostolis tuk rycht þare,
& to þe tempil led but mare,
þat of þe sowne þe name had.
quhare-at wodmen but abad,
In quhame þe feyndis þan can dwel,
one þe apostolis þis can ȝele:
“to-gyddyre quhat haf we to do?
for, sene ȝe come her-In, lo,
before þe houre fare sarare we
ar brynte þane we ware brynt to be.”
goddis angel þan cane appere
& to þe apostolis sad þis here:
“ane of þir ȝe chese til ȝow;
quhethire ȝe wil þis wark fal now
richt sodanly, or ellis ȝe
fore goddis sake wil martyris be.”
quod þai: “we ȝarne al þir men
be conuertyt, & we þane
be martyris for goddis sake,
& na mane þar-for vengeance tak.”
and quhen þe apostolis þis sad had
& in þe puple sylens mad,
þai sad: “men, wittis playnly
þat ȝoure ydolis ar herbry
of þe fals fend, & nocht ellis;
& for þat cause in-to þame dwellis,
we commawnd þam, þat þai apere
& ilkane brak þare ydolis here;
& als þat men clerly se may
quhat þai are dyssawyt þam ay.”
twa ethiopis to þat þane spak
as ony sut fere mare blake,
& brak þare symulacris þane,
& come furth, seand mony man,
& ȝelland lowd held þare way,
& mony man put in effray.
& quhen þe bischapis þis has sene,
þai war sa ful of yre & tene,
for þe tynsale þat þai þar hade,
& of þe ruyne wes þare mad
of þare goddis, quham throw þai
full welful lywe be-for had þai,
þat one þe apostolis þai schot þare,
& slew þame bath but ony mare.
& in þat houre quhen sik clernes
suld be as in-to somyre wes,
þe thonir throw sa wondyrly,
þat It þe tempil done in hy
gert fal, & þai wechis þare
brynt as þai colis ware.
and quhen þe kinge herd þis, fut-hete
he gert þe apostolis translat,
& brynge to þe sammyne citte
quhare-in mast part dwelt he,
& with gret besynes & cure
mad þame a costlyk sepulture,
& gert a ferly fare kirke make
a-beoufe þame for þare sake.
to þer twa hartly I pray,
þat be þare helpe I sa sped ma,
fra þis lyfe I may twyne
but schame, det, & dedly syne.

XII.—MATHIAS.

ande quhene al in þis vyse
wes done as I ȝow devyse,
þe quene consawit of þe kynge;
& quhene tyme wes, furth can bryng
a fare knafe chyld fore to se—
ware richt blyth bath scho & he.
& þane þis chyld ay fosteryt wes
of scaryothe with þis Iudas,
& In a vice to-gyddyr fede
& in ane aray in bak & bede.
& syne quhen þai cuth spek & gange,
þai oysit plays þame amange.
bot ȝet þe sone of þe kynge ay
had þe bettyr parte of þe play.
quhare-of Iudas had oft invy,
& wald hyme stryk felloun[l]y.
& namely quhen na man mycht se,
þane wald he oyse sic cruelte;
& wald nocht lefe for luf na thret,
þus þerfor þe quene gert hym bet.
bo[t], fra scho saw scho na mycht
chasty hyme for aw na flycht,
scho let hym wyt þe vtmast thinge,
þat he wes but a fundlynge.
& quhene he vyst wtrely,
þat it wes swa, he wes sary;
þan þocht he wald be na vay be
knawyne sik in þat cunttre,
bot, as a lurdane, for Inwy,
þe kyngis sone slew priwely.
& for he dred þar-for þat he,
as resone wald, slayne suld be,
with trybvtaris he fled þane
to þe towne of Ierusaleme,
quhare pylat presydent was,
& had in gouernance þe place.
Iudas þane be-come his mane,
& mad his dwelling vith hym þane;
& sa gud seruice hyme mad
þat he of hyme gret dut had.
for þai war bath of fellone wil
& euir redy to do al Ill,
& in proverbe I haf hard say
þat lyk to lyk drawis ay.
þar-for pylat þis Iudas had
In sic daynte þat he hyme mad
hale kepare of al þe thinge,
þat he had in-to gowernynge,
& þat quhat Iudas vald be done,
It worth be but ony howne.
syne It fel apone a day
þat pylat in his palace lay
In a wyndow & to þe towne
be-held radly vpe & downe.
& as he was lukand forthyrwart,
he saw fare appolis in a ȝarde,
& had gret desyr for till ete
of þame gyf he mycht [ony] get.
& þat þe ȝard of rubene wes,
þat was þe faddyre of Iudas.
bot Iudas weste nocht þat rubene
ves his faddyr, na he þat þane
þat Iudas wes his sone, kend nocht,
þo It rane hyme of[t] to thocht
þat his a[wn] barn he in þe flud
gert drowne, for he suld nocht be gud;
na Iudas kennyt nocht þe cunctre,
quhare he wes borne, na quhen þat he
Come. bot pylat tald to Iudas
how his ȝarning hale set was
of þai fare happlis for to het,
&, bot he of þame mycht get,
hyme worthyt de—syk wes his wil.
þane Iudas sad his master til:
“master, þare-for dycesss þe nocht!
for of þat froyt sal sone be brocht
to þe, to fulfil þi ȝarnynge.”
þane went he furth in til a lynge,
& schonge done aplys of þe tre,
þe farreste þat he þare mycht se.
and as he wes beste dowande,
rubene come in þare stepande,
& fand hyme sa takand his froyte.
quhare-for [he] cane hyme faste reboyte;
& he hyme with wordis fell
answerte, fore bath war cruel;
& sowne eftyre sic flytynge
athyre of þame cane vthyr dynge.
bot at þe laste Iudas for wrake
rubene in þe nek sa strake
with stane til he fel deyd.
þane þe beste aplis of þat sted
he gadderyt & to pylat bare,
& tald quhat hapnyt, les & mare.
& sone, quhen ewyne com, tyberea
In til hyre ȝarde of chance can ga,
& fand hyr husband al dedly,
& wend he had deyt sudandly.
& [of] þat sad ded þe ranowne
sowne rane throw al þe towne.
þane pylat gef tyberea
to Iudas, & hyre gud alsa,
aschet. & þo scho wa wes,
ȝet maryte hyr þe sammyn Iudas,
& brukyt hyre & al hyre gud,
& lange tyme sa with hyre stud.
syne hapnyt It one a day,
as þai in þare bed lay,
þat tyberya gret dule had,
bannand þe tyme þat scho wes mad,
menand hyre husbane þat scho had,
for he sa mekil of hyre mad.
& als scho menyt ofte rycht sare
hyr a sowne þat scho til hym bare,
þat scho, til eschewe destyne,
In a cophyne kest in þe se;
regratand alswa hyr husband
þat ded in hyre ȝard scho fand,
& sad þat al hyr mekil car
pylat had ekyte & mad mare,
þat a mane had gewyne hyre til
maugre hyrris & aganis his wil.
& quhene he al þe tale had hard,
how fortowne with þat vyf had ferd,
be hyr tale he weste al playne
þat he is awne faddir had slane,
& alsa þat scho his modir was,
þat he weddyt for fawt of grace;
& alsa rane hyme þane to mynd,
þat he, as a wykyt man & vnkynd,
had slane hyr sone, þat of þe flud
hyme tuke & dyd sa mekile gud.
þane hyme for-thocht he had done Ill,
& al his deydis tald hyre till,
& askyt at hyre hyre consele,
quhow he suld do for his sawle-hele.
þane sad til hyme tyberea:
“myn consale is þat sovne þu ga
to Ihesu criste, þe prophet dere,
þat mony wonderis workis here.”
þane cuth Iudas to Ihesu seke,
þat kethit wele þat he wes mek;
for he for-gafe hyme þe syne
þat he had done, mare & myne;
& for to kyth þe gret grace,
þat in hyme ay habundand wes,
his discipil he mad hyme fyrste;
& syne apostil, as hyme lyste,
he chesit hyme with hyme to be,
for þe mare famuliaryte,
he mad hyme his procuratore,
þo he wyste he suld be traytore;
for quhat thing euir gyffyne was
to criste, vthyre mare or lese,
cryste gefit hyme ay in ȝemsele,
þo he wes thefe & ay wald steyle.
syne before criste tholyt payne,
hym til come þe magdalayne,
& brocht a preciuse vnyment,
til ennownte hyme in entent,
& apone cristis hed it ȝete,
as he wes sittand at þe mete.
quhene Iudas saw it wes swa,
þe vngymente wes vastit swa,
“fare bettir had bene,” he sad þane,
“hafe sald yt, & to pur mene
gyffyne, þat worthe wes thre hundreth
of þare mone.” & þat na wondyre
wes; þare-of þat he wald hafe
þe teynd, as he had of þe lafe,
þat gefyne wes his master til,
his cowatice for to fulfill;
bot of þe powere na compaciens
he had. bot þat he mycht compense
of thre hundir þe teynd leyly,
þat cumys be raknyne to thretty;
þar-for þane in ane lynge
he with Iowis mad syk warmynge,
þat he is master to þame sald,
for thretty pennys to hym talde.
nocht-þane, quhen he saw criste wes
condampnyt to þe dede saklace,
of þat ded he cane repent,
& gafe a-gane þare payment,
grauntand but ony cause mad
rycht-wyse blud betraisit he had;
& went furtht & hyme-self can hynge
with a cord bath styth & strange.
& quhene þat he wes hangit swa,
his balful bayly byrste in twa,
& al his guttis, les & mare,
owt þai ruschit in þat place þare,
& in til his mowthe differryt,
þat sa fullely suld nocht be marryt
for cristis awne mowthe he can kyse,
þat [a-]beoufe al mast worthy is.
& resone wald þat his throt ware
vith a snar cord hangyt ful sare,
fra quham be tresone com þat voice,
þat gerte his mastere hang on þe croice.
& he hyme hangyt in þe ayre,
quhare þe feyndis has mast repare,
as in myd place, men ma kene,
be-twene þe angelis & þe mene;
for he þe angelis wrethit had
& mene als þat in erd bad;
& þare-for walde resone, þat he
befor þame suld punyste be.
& syne be-twene þe ascencione
of criste & þe spryte sendynge-done,
all þe apostolis semblyt vare
In til a howse forovtyn mare.
þane petyre saw þare wantyt ane,
þat for apostil suld be tane
yn-sted of Iudas, þat tynt had
sik dingnite, fore he cause mad.
bot sa to be in nowmyre ode,
It wes nocht til þai dwelte with god;
for-thy he wald þai vare twelfe ewyn,
& nocht to be in nowmyre lewyne,
for twelfe foure tymis partyt in thre
betaknis þe treutht of þe trinyte
þat þa foure thryse to purchas suld fond
In foure partis of þis warld rond.
þane petyr vpe a-maunge þam stud
& sad: “spedful thinge vare & gud,
þat we stablyste ane in þe place,
þe quhyle to supple of Iudas,
þat ma with ws bere lele vitnes
of cristis werkis, mare & les,
& of his vprysinge þat may
be wytnes; for he ws cane say,
‘ȝe sal of me be wytnes-mene
In þe towne of Ierusalem,
and als in Iudea,
and eke in all samaria,
& ȝoure wytnes sal be kend
of þis warld to þe farrest end.’
for men suld nocht wytnes bere
bot of thinge sene & hard with here,
þar-for is to be chosyne ane
of þire men þat has al tyme gane
with ws, & syndry tymis saw all
cristis maraklys gret & small,
& ythandly hard his lare.”
þane tuk þai twa discipulis þare
of discipulis sewynty & twa,
þat with criste in þis ȝerd cane ga—
Iosephe, þat for his halynes
to swrname Iustus callit was,
þat ves þe bruthire of Iacoby
þat sone wes of alphey,
& mathias, þo I na-thynge
spek forthire her of his lowynge:
for It for lof Inuch suld be,
þat in apostil chosyne wes he—
& prayand to god þai can knele
& sad: “lorde, þu knawis wele
menis hartis, & thochtis seis,
s[ch]aw quhilk of þire twa sa[l] ve ches
to supple þe quhyle of Iudas,
quhilk he tynt for his trespas!”
þane kyste þai cuttis til assay;
& one mathi þa fel ay.
sa tuk þai hyme for þe twelf to be,
þe parfyt nowmyre for to suple.
thane mathi til his part can ta
alhale þe land of Iudea,
& prechit þare ful stedfastly,
& wrocht als mony gret ferly;
& þare, as sum story vs says,
In-to gud pece endyt his dais.
& in sum buke it is talde,
þat one þe croice þe gast he ȝalde,
& endyt thru sic martyrdome.
& his banis now are in rome,
quhare þai lat þe puple se
his hewyd sum-tyme in gret daynte.
mathias wes of Iuda kyne,
þe towne of bethleem borne In,
gentil man on al half he
wes, & nobil in al degre;
& in his ȝow[th]ed sa can lere
þat he þe knawlage van vel nere
as he harde of all þe lawis,
& of þe prophetis þe sawys.
fleschly lustis he lefyt ay,
& plesit to god nycht & day.
& as he prechand syne can ga
In-to þe land of Iudea,
crippolis he gert gange vpe-rycht,
& to blynd he gaf þe sycht,
& alkine lepyre heylyt þane,
& put feyndis owte of mene,
& defe men he gaf herynge,
alsa to dum þe spekyne,
& alswa in mony stede,
he raysit þame þat war ded.
þe Iowis, þat tuk tent here til,
for Inwy & gret ill-wyll
for his gud ded, [hyme] felly socht,
& hyme befor þare byschope brocht,
& in mony thingis hyme wreit,
as þai falsly one hyme leyt;
bot ane þat þai callyt trespace,
he tuk with þat he cristine wes.
þe byschope sad: “gyf men delay
wil gyf þe, sal þu leyf þat lay?”
þane sad he: “god forbed þat I
for-sak criste throw apostecy!”
þane, for he criste nyt wald nocht,
In-to þare consale þai hyme brocht:
quhare twa fals witnes had hym tane,
& gert þe layfe to dede hyme stane.
þe quhilk stanis, in-to vitnes
of þar fals sentence, þat fals ves,
he þame prayt to lay þame by
In þe grawe, quhare he suld ly.
syne with ane ax his hewyde
þai strak of, & put to dede
ande [in] sum bukis, quhare men redis
of haly men & of þare dedis,
þai fynde: quhene mathias
In massedone cumyne was,
& cristis treutht prechyt þare,
þe folk wald nocht tak to his lare,
bot erare to sla hyme þa thinke;
for-þi þa gaf hyme sic a drynk
þat quha-euire of It cane taste,
he worde stane-blynde in-to haste.
bot he drank it & na skathe hade,
þo with [it] vthyre blynde [war] made
wel twa hundyre & fyfty,
þat he gert se þare clerly
of his handis thru þe twechinge.
sa þat drink grewit na thinge.
þe fals feynde, þat wattis al-wa
gudmen fra cryste to draw ay,
in lyknes of a litil barne
aperyt þare, & bad þam ȝarne
þat þai suld mathi tak & sla,
or ellis he suld do þam gret wa.
þane socht þai hyme dais thre,
bot in þe myddis of þame ay ves he,
& cuth fynde hyme be naway,
til hyme-self one þe thryd day
askyt þare sekyne. þa sad: “mathi.”
quod he agane: “lo, here ame I.”
þane tuke þai hym & vith sare bandis
be-hynde his bake þai band his handis,
& in ane rape for-owte chesone
þai harlyt hyme one to presone,
& cloisit it quhene þat wes done.
þane þe feynd apperit sone,
&, grynnand one hyme, mad fule bere,
bot he durste nocht til hyme cum nere.
þane oure lorde in to gret lyicht
come, & aperit to his sycht,
& tuke hyme vpe þare quhare he lay,
& al his bandis brak in twa,
& confort hyme, & bad hyme ga
quhare he vald. & he did sa.
& quhene he ves sa þat fre wil,
he prechit faste þe puple til;
bot sum sa hardnyt ware þat þai
vald trew til hyme be na way;
& to þame he sad: “I ȝow tel,
þat þai all quyke sal sink to hel.”
vith þat þe erde hopnyt richt þare,
& þai fel done, as he sad ayre.
& al þat euire had sene þat sycht,
fra merknes þai come to þe licht,
& turnyt to god, & baptisme tuke,
& vare gud men, as sais þe buk.
bot anent þis mathias,
quhat ded he deit or in quhat place
he restis, as ȝe se wele heyre,
for syndry men sais thingis sere;
bot quhilke of þam men sal trow til,
to say here is nocht myn will.
bot I pray hyme for þat gret grace
quhare-throw þat he chosine wes,
þat be his prayer I ma be
chosine to god in sik degre,
ovte of þis lyf þat I ma twyne
but schame, or det & dedly syne.

XIII.—MARCUS.

[PROLOGUE TO THE EVANGELISTS.]

Ȝete suld I here a-towre
spek of þe ewangelistis fowre.
of þe quhilkis befor of twa
schortly sum mencione I [can] ma;
for þai ware of heare degre,
as apostolis chosine to be;
& þat honoure þai had with-al,
þat we þe ewangelyste cal.
ane is sanct Ione þe ewangeliste,
þat of cristis priwete mekil wyste;
syne eftyre sanct mathow,
þat þe ewangel clerly can schow.
sa remanyt vthire twa,
of quhame I wel here menyng ma;
þat is, of sanct marke & lucas,
þat cristis prentice þat ane was.
& gyf men speris how fele var þai,
þai ware ewinely sewinty & twa,
þe discipulis þat we cal now,
þat commonly vent with Ihesu,
& of his werkis vitnes bare,
& of his vord & of his layre.
bot þire twa laste, þat vndirtuke
þe ewangelis to put in buke,
þat þai had nocht hard na sene,
speryt at þame þat ay had bene
with Ihesu, fra þat he be-guth
to preche opynly vith mowth,
& had harde al his prechinge
and al his ferly virkyne,
as vare apostolis þat ay
conuersyt with hyme nycht & day;
bot þai tuke suthfaste witnesinge
þat myld mary of al þis thinge,
for scho vyst beste quhat he did
fra scho hyme bar, & ay held It
In-to hir harte, & vitnes bare
of his werkis al les & mare.
& þe foure ewangelistis mad
var, of þis warld lange & brad,
In þe four partis for to preche
cristis word, & It to teche;
sa þat þe varld þat wald nocht trev
to þame in name of Iesu,
sal haf enȝane, quhen he sal deme
al þe varld as hyme think queme.
& ȝet þe fowre here a-towre
ar payntit with facis fowre,
as to foure partis haffand hed
of al þis warld, lynth & bred,
to ger men kepe weil goddis vord,
þat þai to preche has in hurd.
& it is sad in prophecy
of ysachiel propyrly,
þat of þir ilkane atoure
be hyme-self has facis foure.
ȝet þane of þam has ilkane
a syndry forme be hym allane;
for mathow, & þu vil se,
þe forme of a man has he,
for-cause he trettis opynly
cristis man[h]ede maste propyrly,
as he in his ewangel sais ws,
þare cum natus esset Ihesus,
þat þe begyninge is but dred
of Ihesu cristis dere manhede.
& luk in schape of a calfe
of þe compas in þe rycht halfe,
for in þe ewangel, as ve rede,
he treittis of cristis presthede,
& of þe sacrifice þat he
mad for man one þe rud-tre.
& mark als has þe fasone,
quha vil luk, of a lyone.
& sanct Ionne in portratoure
of ane erne has þe fygure,
for þat þe erne maste hey fleis,
& þe sowne clerlyaste seis,
for-owt merryne of his sicht,
quhene he is flowyne to mast hicht;
sa sancte Iohnne, quhene he spekis,
to godis godhed rycheste rekis,
for he maste clerly cane It se,
restand his hed one cristis kne.
& þocht þire foure in sum part sere
þe ewangelis mad, as I sad here,
ȝet al þare sawis are but ane,
gyf gud tent be to þame tane,
& ay accordand in witnes
to cristis werke mare & les.
& criste, quhame-of þai wryt—
quha þat heris it has delite—
ves verray man quhene he vas borne
of mary, þat vas rose of thorne,
& calfe quhene þat one þe rud
he offerit for ws his der blud,
& a lyone ves he sikerly,
quhene he fra ded rayse mychtly,
& erne in þe ascencione,
quhen he to hewyn passit fra her done.
& gyf ony ȝarnis here atoure
to knav þe fasone of þire foure,
he may fynd in þe eȝechel,
þat ferly thing canne of þam tel,
þat I cane nocht weile declare.
of It þare-for I spek nomare,
to sancte march turnand myn hand,
as I in his legand fand.

[MARCUS.]

XIV.—LUCAS.

Crystis ewangeliste sancte lucas
as of nacion cyrus was.
In his ȝouthede leyrit he
In antyoche leche to be,
& in þat crafte was wele parfyt.
bot fra he come to rype eld, tyt
to þe apostolis he hyme band,
& folowit þame in mony land,
& þare haly dedis be-dene
wrat opynly as he had sene.
sum mene sais ȝet neuir-þe-les
þat he a proselyt mad was
& knew lettris of hebrew;
bot lettris of grek wel he knew.
syne folowit he paul fra tone to tone
to þe tyme of his passione,
þat syne to rome vith hyme had he,
& gerte hyme þar sancte petir se.
bot fra sancte paule he partyt nocht,
for wele na wa þat he thole mocht,
bot in al tribulacione
to pase with hyme ay wes bowne,
& in his pylgrimage ay
he folowit hyme nycht & day.
& his trawale & dedis all
he put in wryt, gret & small;
& als gestis þat he leyryt
of vthris apostolis put in wryt;
& syne of þame al mad a buke
to þame þat lykyt þare-in to luke,
In lofe & memore of þare name,
& how þai liffyt her but blame,
& to þe stablyne of þe kyrke,
& for to kene men wele to wirk.
& quhene sancte mathee his ewangel
had mad, as I say[d] sum quhyle,
In-to þe land of Iudea,
& marke in-[to] ytilia,
& luke mad his ewangel syne,
of thingis hard mar þan of sene,
as he of syndry leryt had,
þat with Ihesu dwellynge mad,
fra he becwthe to wirk merwale
to þe laste end of his trawale;
bot of oure lady al-þire-maste,
þat ful wes of þe haly gaste,
he gat maste part in-fowrmy[n]ge;
for scho þe suth wyste of althinge
best, of his werk & of his layre,
fra þe tyme þat scho hym bare;
for scho had ay in hyre hart hyd
al þat he sad & at he dyd
In flesche til he wandryt here,
& tald it þame þat vald hyre spere.
& þis luke he his ewangelis can ma
In byt[i]ne & in asya,
quhare he techit men to lef syne,
& quhow to god þai suld syn wyn.
& for to serwe god mare sud pay,
warld[l]y t[h]ink he lefyt ay,
for he had nothire vyf na cheld,
bot his flesche kepyt euir vnfylit
& gret care als he mad
þat he mycht nocht martir be mad
for goddis sak, as he had sene
syndry be, quhare he had bene.
bot he in bythanea
þe endynge of his lyf can ma,
quhene he had drywyn wel oure
þe kanttis of sewynty ȝeris & foure.
& dewot mene in honoure
of his cors mad þe sepulture.
syne eftyre þai translat[it] hyme
to constantynopolyne,
quhare he sal be to domysday,
god wirkand merwalis for hym ay,
& þane of hyme reward to ta—
as his ewangel menynge can ma,
þat þe angel his trumpe sal blav,
& ger þame ryse þat lyis law,
& to þe Iugment apere,
quhare al sal tak as þai seruit here,
gud for gud, & il for Ill.
a! wysely luk, I pray þe til
þat I one þat auchtful day,
quhene god our dedis sal assa,
befor hyme trastly ma apere,
& to be saf haffand na vere;
& þare-to helpe, þat I hyne twyn
but schame, det, and deydly syne.

XV.—BARNABAS.

XVI.—MAGDALENA.

Ihesu cryst, lowyt þu be,
þat for þine Inborne pitte
denȝeit of voman to be borne,
to sawfe mankynd þat wes forlorne!
bot þat was nocht for rychtwise mene,
bot for synful, wele we kene.
& as we In þe ewangeliste red,
hale mane has of leche na ned
bot þai þat are bath sek & sare;
& als þi-selfe sais forthirmare:
“I ame nocht cumyne rychtwis to cal
to pennance, bot synfull al,”
& smartly als þu sais ws til:
“þe ded of synful I na wil
bot þat he leife his syn & lif.”
þare-for lowinge we þe gefe.
þocht þu ma be thy richtwisnes
for syne ws sla, ȝet nocht-þe-les
þou bidis & sufferis, til þat we
thru repentance wil turne to þe.
as In samplis we fynd sere
of ful mony þat synful were,
þat þu had eftyre in daynte
& in ful gret specialite:
as thays and palygya,
sancte dawy, mathow alsa,
pawle als, & of egipe mary,
& þe magdalene, þat was vorthy,
þat for hyre mekil halynes
co-apostil syne callit was.
als sais god þat mare Ioy is
with angelis In hewyne blyse
of a synful, pennance dowand,
þane nyne & nynte vnsynnand.
nocht-þane in hope of forgyfnes
suld nane syne do mare na les;
for of syne is callyt maste
to syne in þe haly gaste.
& þis I say to comfort all,
þat in vanehope na man fal;
for mar is mercy þan mysded,
In syndry placis as we red.
bot a sampil I set certane
þat fel in þe magdalane,
þat fyrst hyre gaf til al delyt,
& [syne] was of a gret meryte,
as men fyndis in haly wryt,
quha ȝarnis for to se It,
and is callyt co-apostol;
þare-for þe apostolis we set hyre next til.
now here of hyre we begyne,
þat cumyne was of kingis kyne;
syrus hyre fadir, of gret nobles,
& eucare callit hyre modir was,
þat mychty ware & of gret kyne,
& mykil had of warldis wyne.
scho had a cyster & [a] bruthyre:
laȝare þe tane, martha þe todir.
eftire þare fadyre & modir ded,
þire thre succedyt in þare sted,
& halely þe possessione,
þat fel þame be sucessione,
ewinly þai delte amaung þam al.
to laȝare cane a gre[t] part fal
In Ierusaleme, þe citte;
& syne to martha fel in fe
bethanya; & to mary
of magdalene can þe castel ly,
quhare-of þe suorname scho bar.
& to k[n]ychthed hyre bruþir laȝare
halely hyme gafe, & lytil rocht
of landis or of riches ocht.
þis mary to delyte hyre gafe,
& lytil rocht of al þe lafe.
bot martha, þat was rycht wyse,
wald nocht thole þare landis perice,
bot bathe þar partis wysly steryt,
& gafe til þame al þat afferyt,
& þe remanand dystribut scho
to pure mene & neidful to.
of martha now na of laȝare
here now wil I spek na mare,
bot of mary we wil begyne,
þat bathte wes far & gret of kyn,
& in habundance had riches.
for-þi þe mare wantone scho ves.
for þat hir name his chengit nov
In “synful wemane,” as we trev,
as in þe godspel we ma se,
þat sais: quhen criste in þat cuntre
prechyt, þe folk hard. & þare
It hapnyt, in ane sythware,
a gudman, callit symon leprose,
had callit ihesus til his howse
with þe dyscipilis þat he had;
& to þame a feste he mad
plentuysly, I tak one hand,
eftir þe maner of þe land.
ande quhene mary had tything
of þat feste & of þat gadringe,
god hire harte Illumynyt sa,
þat scho dressit hire þar to ga.
bot, hafande schame of synnis sare,
scho had gret rednes til apere
ymange rychtwyse; nocht for-þi
scho come eftir þame schamfully,
& gat in handis cristis fete,
& with hire teris can þam wet,
& with hire hare syne can þam dry.
bot vaxand syne mar hardy,
a bouste of precius vngument
apone his hed in gud entent
owt scho ȝet, til al þe place
fulfillyt of þat odyre was;
for þat tyme men in custum had,
þe gret heit of þe sone þat bad,
bathis til oyse & vneyment,
to sawe þame, þat þai var nocht schent.
& one kneys done cane scho ly,
& kissit his kneis richt tendirly.
& quhene þis symeon has sene,
In til hyme-selfe he thocht but vene,
had þis bene prophet, as we trew,
he had nocht tholyt ȝone sinful now
tweche hyme. þane Ihesu ful rathe
hyme blamyt, & hir synn forgafe.
with quhat seruice se we now
þis woman to cum to ples ihesu?
þe vnguyment, scho dicht with cure
to gere hire flesche haf swet sawure,
a-pone Ihesus had It ȝet,
forgyffyne of sik syne to get.
þane with þe wattire of hyr ene,
þat oft vnleiful sichtis had sene,
scho wesche his fet, & punyse It
as scho þat synnyt in þat wyt.
& with hire hayre, quhare-in scho had
ful gret delyt, & þare-with mad
ekyne hyre bewte for to lat,
þar-with scho dryit cristis fet.
& with hyre mowth, ful commonly
þat of pryd had spokine & foly,
ful oft scho kysit cristis fet,
In hope þat scho syne mycht bete;
haffand na dispare of hyre syne,
bot in traste hope pardone to wyne.
&, for scho luffyt mekil, þane he
forgafe hyre mekil Iniquite.
& scho wes callit vpe & done
þe synful woman in þat towne.
als he schew hire þe tendirnes
of hartful luf, þat in hym was.
þe feyndis sewine of hire kyst he,
& gert hyr halely brynnand be
In-to his lufe. & forthirmare
he mad hyr his familiare,
& procurur in-to þe way
he wald hyr hafe, suth to say.
& quhene symon hire accusyt,
debonerly he hyre excusyte.
he callit hyre synful & vnclene.
anent hyr cysteris þan, but wene,
þat callit ydil, he cane defende.
sik takine of lufe he til hyr lend,
& gret, quhene he saw hyr gret.
sike lufe til hyre had Ihesu swet.
& fore hyre sak to lyfe fra ded
he raysit laȝare in þat stede;
& for hire sak martha þe gude,
fra quham sewine ȝere rane þe blud,
he heylyt þane; alsa martilla,
þat þane seruand was to martha,
he mad worthy þe word to say,
þe quhilk is delytabil ay:
“þe wame be [b]lissit þat bar þe,
& þe papis þat fosterit þe!”
til hyre agane þan sone sad he:
“ȝa, quhat be þi blissit mot þai be
þat heris godis word, & It
kepis”—þus says haly wryte.
eftyre crystys ascencione
þe fowrtene ȝere, & passione,
quhene Iowys had slane sancte stewen,
& crystis discipilis bedene
owt of þare land dyspytuisly
had chasyt, & ful felloun[l]y,
[þai] sawit þame in placis seyre,
ȝet goddis word þai sawand vere
quhare-euir þai ȝede, & sawlis wan—
In cristis lufe say brynt þai þan.
with þe apostolis was þat tyme
a byschape, callit maximyne,
þat ane wes of sewinty & twa
byschapis þat with criste can ga;
to quham for his halynes
sancte petyre, þat apostil was,
had recommendit þe magdalayne,
þat of hyre ȝemsel wald fulfane.
quhene þe dyscipilis scalit war
In þat tempeste, sum her sum þare.
sancte maxymyne & þis mary,
laȝare & martha witterly,
& hir fut-madyne martilla,
& sancte cedone with þame alsa,
þe quhilk wes borne of ene but lycht,
bot cristyne syne gefe hym þe sycht,
þe iowis þire & mony wt[h]yre
cristyne, þare fellouny for to forthir,
put in a bat apone þe se
bot gouernale, for þai suld be
drownyt. bot quhen [þe] gud fok had
apone þe se mad lang a-bad
of hungyre & storme in-to dystres,
as god wald, ȝet nocht-þe-lese
aryfyt þar marcel hale & fere,
quhare nane but paianys þat tym were,
þai ware sa fel & dyspytuise,
þat nane wald herbry þam in house,
bo[t] tholyt al þat haly rowte
in wynd & wedyre ly þare-owt
of þare tempil, vndir þe wall,
quhare þare ydolis var stedyt al.
here eftyre, quhene scho had sene
how þat þe puple al-bedene
to þare tempil sped þame in hy,
to þare ydolis to sacryfy,
scho rase, with contenance plesand
& wysage clere, ymange þam thrange,
& presyt hyre in mony wyse
þame to refrenȝe fra sik seruice
of ydolis þat þai honowryt had,
þat war na makaris, bot war mad
with mannis crafte & besy cure,
& ware na worth in til assure.
with hardyment þan cane scho teche
þe cristyne treutht, & þame preche
how god þe warld fyrste mad,
& mane syne fowrmyte had,
& how þat man wes tynt for syne,
& how þat he, mane to wyne,
fra lestand lyfe come vs amange,
& how mane-kynd þat he can fange,
& how he tholyt noys sere,
In þis lyfe til he was heyre,
& how þe ded he tholyt syne,
to safe ws fra þe wethirwyne,
& þat mane suld eftyre syne
recouire his blyse & sauchnyn wyne.
& quhene þe puple had hard wele
al þat scho sad ilke deyle,
þai ware for-wonderyt mare & les
of hyre speke, þat sa plesand was.
& scho prechyt þam so þane,
þat fele of þame to criste scho wan.
the prynce eftyre of þat cunctre
come with his wyf to þe citte,
til ydolis sacrifice to ma,
to gyfe þame grace, & furthir sa
þat he mycht get & scho beyre
barnys, þare landis to were
to þame come mary magdelayn,
þat of þare cumynge wes rycht fane,
& prechit þame þe cristine fay,
for-bedand þame sadly ay
til ydolis for to mak sacrifice,
þat þame mycht helpe on na wise.
& eftyre lytil tyme by passit,
to þis laydy slepand faste
In visione, þat was nocht in wane,
aperyt mary magdelayne,
[&] sad til hyre: “þu art to bald,
þat warldly gud has in hald,
& al delyte þat þi will,
& tholis godis servand[is] spyll,
& de fore cauld & hungyre gret,
& þu lyis solland þe in swet!
bot gyfe þame þu cleth & fed,
þu sal dere by, haf þu na dred;
& þi husband eitlise þare-to,
gyf þu wenis wele to do,
to helpe þe puyre of his riches!”
& quhene þe laydy waknyt vas,
þe visione scho durste nocht tell,
þat in hyre slepe [hyre] sa be-fell.
þe todyre nycht mary apperyt
to þis laydy, & at hire sperit,
quhy hire byddynge had scho nocht done,
& tysit hyre lord þare-to alsone;
& alsa let hyre forthire wit,
gyf scho ware mare rakles of It,
þat scho suld rew it farly sare.
bot ȝet þe laydy dyd nomare
þane as scho had þe fyrst tym done.
þe thryd nycht but langare hone
scho aperit til hyr in gret Ire,
& visage as bles of fyre,
richt as scho wald þe house all
bryne in a blese, & ger it fall,
& grynnand sad dyspituisly
til hyre husband, slepand can ly:
“þe membyre of sathane, slepis þou
with þat eddir, þi wyfe, now,
þat twyse has lefit to fulfill
þe thinge þat I commawndit hir til?
of cristis croice þu fellone fay,
þu restis, & þi wame also
wantonly þu farcis with met
maste delytabile þu ma get;
bot reke of powre þu na liste,
þat peryse in hungyre & in threste?
& þu in chuchis & silkine clathis
lyis ful softe, & na thocht hase
of powre, þu seis dyssolate
of howse & herbry, as þou wate,
& nocht gyffis þame of þi gud,
nothire to clathis na to fude?
quhat, wenis þu, wekit, þat þu sal
eschape but payne? þat sal nocht fal;
for þame to helpe þu has delait,
quhene þai ful pytuisly þe prayt.”
her-eftyre quhene þis wife can wak,
scho til hyr dreme sic tent can tak,
þat for rednes scho al queke,
& at hir husband, quhene he wok,
þat fore þe sammyne cause ves rad,
scho franyt quhy he ves sa mad.
quod he: “deme, ferly nocht
þochte I sycht & haf gret thocht;
fore sic a dreme þis nycht saw I,
þat vris me ful gretumly.”
þane tald he hyre al-bedene
þat he in his slepe had sene.
þane wes scho richt blyth & glad,
& tald hyme how scho sene had
þat Ilke dreme, “sir, þat yhe.”
& sad hyme: “bettire, sir, is þat we
bow ȝone women bydynge til
þane thru þe wreth of hir god spil,
quhame-of scho prechis ythandly,
& sais þat he is sa mychty,
þat he ma do quhat he will,
& nane ma lattinge mak þar till.”
& sic awysment haf þai tane,
þat one þe morne, or þai fane,
þe magdelayne & hire company
þai tuk in hovse and herbry,
& þame wele can clethe & fede,
of na thinge tholeand þaim haf ned.
to mary þane þe prince can sa:
“trewis þu, woman, þat þu ma
defend þat treutht þu sa techis
ws and saydly prechis?”
“ȝa,” sad scho, “I ame redy
til defend It suthfastly,
as, thru preching & merwalis ser,
schewit ws be oure master der,
petyre, at rome þat dwellis nov.”
& sad he: “womane, trewis þu,
gyf we obeyse þi biddinge till,
þat he be mychty, or ȝet wil
grant ws grace a barne to hafe,
othire a madyne or a knaf,
& we sal trew in hym trewly
& lef oure ydolis halely?”
þane þe magdelane sad in hy:
“I trew it sal nocht stand þare-by.”
til god þane mary prayt ȝarne,
þat he wald grant to þam a barne,
sa þat þis treutht, at his hyd,
micht be, t[h]row sic merwale, kyd.
þane god, þat luffit hir tendirly,
hyre prayer hard; and þat laydy
consawit barne; & þane þai
ware confermyt in cristyne fay.
þane to þe prince come in þ[e] mynd,
þat he wald to sancte petyr wend,
to spere gyf al wes certane,
þat to þame prechit þe magdalane
of Ihesu cryste & of his layre,
as scho þame prechit here & þare.
þane cane his wyf til hym say:
“sir, wil ȝe pase & I nocht may?
It sal nocht be, for wele na way
þane yddire with ȝow sal I ga,
& as ȝe do, I do with ȝow,
& quhare ȝe reste, I rest with ȝow.”
sad he: “lefe sal þu haf nane
to pase with me, bot dwel at hame;
for þu art wak & gret with barne;
for-þi þi ȝarninge I þe warne,
fore þu mycht sone peryste be
be storme þat hapnis in þe se.”
bo[t] til his essonȝe scho tuk na hed,
na for na parele wald scho dred.
þane one with hyme wald scho fare,
suppose with barne scho hewy ware.
bot hire husband, þat was rycht wyse,
til hyre consent wald na wyse,
bot sad, scho at hame suld dwel,
& kepe þe thinge þat to þam fel
of þare warldly possessione,
& he alsone suld pas of towne.
bot nedly wald scho with hym ga,
quhat-sa com eftyre, wele or wa.
for weman are of brynnand wil
ay þare ȝarninge to fulfil,
& with wordis cane rycht wele
our-cum mene hard as stele.
sa wrocht þis woman with þis mane,
til scho halely his wil wane,
vith teris & with wordis swete
& fallinge done befor his fet.
for dowte þan of oure fellon fa,
one þare schuldris mary can ma
þe takine of þe croice verray,
þat mycht defend þam in þare vay.
þane he & scho but abad
purwayt & a schipe redy mad
of althinge, þat nedfull ware
to serwe & ese þame in þare fare;
& halely þare possessione,
þat þai had in land ore towne,
þai put al in ȝemsell
of þe magdelane, þat hame can dwel,
& to þe sey passit þare way,
& schippit one þe todyr day,
& saylit furth [a] day & nycht,
til þai of land [had] tynt þe sicht.
syne eftyr can gret wind ryse,
& sterit þe se one mony vyse,
þat hol & hey wawis mad.
& þai þat in þe schepe abad,
war in þat storme sted in sik strife
at euir in poynt to tyn þare lif.
for-þi abasit þai var & rad,
quhene þai þame-selfine sav sa sted.
bot þat laydy oure al þe lafe
sa gret dout & dred cane hafe,
& sa gret dout of hyr child il,
þat na remed mycht be þare-til,
þat na scho [in] þe seknes allase
of a knafe child deliuer wase;
& scho þe lyf allane can thorne,
fra þat ilke barne wes borne.
þane cane hyr husband ȝol & ȝel,
& mony a tyme a-pone hir fel;
bot quhene he saw be ded his vyf,
& his sone borne & haf þe lif,
& wist þat [in] a lytil we
for falt of met þe barne suld de,
sa ekit þane wes his gret care,
þat he cane roydly cry & rare,
& waryt þe tyme he wes borne,
& þe fortone lad hyme beforne,
& regratit ofte be-twene,
þat euir he had þe magdelan sene.
nocht-for-þi in gret & smal
he thocht to do hyr bydinge al.
þe child cane snawil þan, & grape
þe modyr pape, for fud to tak.
allace! nov is þe barne sa borne
modyr-slaar, & he, forlorne
& helples, mon he de of nede,
sene þar is na-thing hym to fed.
þan was þe lord ferly wa,
his wyf saw ded, his barne alsa,
þat gret pitte wes to here
his regrat & sorowful chere.
“allace,” he sad hyme-se[l]sine to,
“werch & waful, quhat sal þou do?
quhene I desyrit barnis til hafe,
þane wes I fule or þe lafe,
& bath has tynt for myn desyre;
for-þi I bryne as in a bale fyre.”
þane cane þe schepmen hely cry:
“do caste we owt þis ded body!
for þis tempeste sal lest, for force,
ay till we herbry þis ded cors;
for-þi, to sawfe ws, cast it owt!”
vith þat hyr husband began to schowt,
& sad: “gyf ȝe spare nocht to me,
na to þe modyr, ȝet parde
ȝe suld, gyf pytte in ȝow var,
to þis squeland barne ȝe spare,
& hafe mercy of þame & me;
for It ma happyne wele to be [OMITTED]
ma fal ȝet nocht fullely ded,
þocht sik dystras hyre can led,
& mad hyr lyk sa to be;
for men ma oft wemen se
in swnyge sum-tyme ly,
& syne our-cum. gudmen, for-þi,
sparis a tyme, þat we ma se
suthfastly gyf scho ded be!”
“na,” sad þai, “we wil nocht spare
bot kyste hyr owt.” & þer-for þare
þai hynt hyr. & sad [ane]: “but were,
I se a lytile Ile apere
In-to þe se, nocht fer away.”
þane pytuisly þe prince can pray,
þat [þai] hyr kest nocht in þe se,
met til vnbestis to be,
bot he prait þam for godis sake,
þat þai wald of his mebile tak,
& schute þare bate with gud wil,
& cary þat body til þe hill.
& with gret dyficulte
to do þat þane purchast he.
& for sik med þat þai wald ȝarne,
þai tuke þe modir & þe barne,
& in þe bat but mare delay
þame lait; syne rowit away,
to þai var cumyne to þat hil,
þis princis ȝarnige to fulfill;
& one þe hil þai lad in hy
þe ȝonge barne & þe ded body.
sa wondir [hard] was þat hil,
& þai had na lomys to wil,
for to make a gannand grawe;
þar-for þai socht & fand a cawe,
& of It in þe maste priwe place
þai lad þat body, þat ded was,
In riche atyre & dressit wele,
wappyt in a furrit mantele;
& layde þe chylde til hir breste,
hed & mouthe þe papis neste;
& gretand sar þine passit away,
& to þe magdelane can say:
“allace! quhy can þu marcil sek,
to me þis mekile bale to eke,
quhare-thru is þus ded my wife,
þat was þe substance of my lyfe?
& I vnhappy cuth nocht fyne
bo[t] trowit in þine admonestine,
&, for þu bad, þis way can take,
& þis has tynt myn warldis make;
for I thocht neuire þe to crawe,
þat I suld ony barnys hafe,
be-cause þat my beste luffit wife
suld one þis wyse now tyn þe lyfe.
&, dere mary, throu þi prayere
scho consawit, I trew but were,
throu þi prayere scho consawit,
quhare-thru til hyr ded is graþit,
& hyre birthe als mon de one nede,
sene nane is It to fostir na fede.
no mare to þe sa wil I,
bot wyfe & barne Increly,
& al þe lafe þat euir myn was,
to god & to þi halynes
I recommend, & prays þe
þat þu wil thochtful one me be,
& pray to god, in quham þu now
sa suthfastly has gerte me trew,
þat of myn wyfis saule he rew,
þat to me wes traste & trew,
& hafe pytte of myn ȝonge barne;
for þi request he wil nocht warne.”
mar dule he mad þan I cane say,
syne passit to þe schipe one his way,
& þare bayt in þai hynte.
þane þe storme be-gane to stynt;
& sowne þai arywinge mad
In þe porte, quhare þai etline had,
& war wondir blythe & glade,
þat þai sa eschapyt hade
sa sere parelis & sic stryfe,
& to land wonnynge with þare lyfe.
thane þe prince, ore he fane,
towarte Ierusaleme is gane.
& richt as he wes cumyne þare,
thru godis wil in þat sythware,
sancte petyr hyme met, & has sene
þe takine of þe croice but wene
one his schuldyr. & þane he
sperit at hyme quhene he be,
& for quhat cause, & of quhat land
he wes þare cumyne wanderand.
& he, þat na thinge fra hym wald
consele, þe taile al has hym tald,
quhene he was, & of quhat state,
& with þe magdelane als how-gat
he met, & how scho gert hym trev,
& his wyfe als, in criste Ihesu,
& how, to make hym sekyr, eke
sancte petyr scho bad hym seke,
& syne how his wyfe
& his barne had tynt þe lyfe,
& quhow he lewit þam one a hil
bathe quek & ded—he tald hym til.
þan petyr sad: “pece to þe be,
bruthyr, þu art welcum to me,
for helsum consale sekyrly
þe tuk, quhen to magdelane mary
þu throwit in scho to þe tacht,
& þis far way for hir has lacht.
be nocht anoyt [gyf] þi wyf slepe,
þi sone reste, & wmquhile wepe;
for a god mychty is but make
al temporale thinge to gyf & tak
to quham he wil; for-þi þou na murne,
for he cane dule in Ioy turne.
& al is suthte, nocht is to lane,
þat þou sad of þe magdelane.
for-þi be sikker in þat, I say,
þat scho þe taucht!” þan but delay
he gert hyme al þe placis se,
quhare criste had bene in þat citte,
& quhare he þe treutht can teche,
& quhare in ȝouthed he fyrst [can] prech.
owt of þe towne to bethleem,
quhare criste wes borne, he had hym þan;
syne eftyr to þe flome Iordane,
quhare he baptysme had tane;
& mony placis gert hyme se,
quhare criste had bene in þat cuntre;
& syne to þe towne hym brocht has,
& led hyme þare fra place to place,
quhare criste vthyr-quhare ȝed
or wrocht ony notable ded,
&, his deuocione to bete,
hyme led to þe monte of olyvete,
a richt far place be-owt þe towne,
quhare criste did his deuocione,
& quhare þat he was eftyr tane
with fals Iowis mony ane;
& syne [hyme] led to mony place
of þat towne, as his wil was,
quhare he for ws had skath & scorne,
& eftyr cronyt wes with thorne,
bondyn & befte felloun[l]y,
& led syne to mont caluary,
& tholit þare dyspituise ded,
fra welland wa vs al to led;
to cristis grawe syn he hym led,
& eftyre to þat haly sted,
quhare criste with his discipilis stud,
fra þame in hewine quhen he ȝud.
eftyr all þis ȝet dwelt he þare
with sancte petir twa ȝer & mare,
þat mad hyme in oure treutht parfyt,
& fals mawmentis gert hym nyt,
& lewit hym þane, & bad þat he
þine hame suld pas in his cuntre.
“menis þe nocht of þe ewangel,
þat in þe kirk is red vmquhile
of mary, þat had renowne
of synful woman vpe & downe,
& with hyr teris wysche þe fete
of Ihesu criste, oure lord swet?”
“Ȝa, it is gane wele thretty ȝer
sene I hard fyrste þat godspel der.”
“& I ame scho,” cane scho say,
“þat here þe thretty vintir ay
til al men has vnkennyt bene,
&, as þu ȝystirday has sene,
sa ilke day in houris sewyne
vith angelis, send me fra þe hewyn,
vpraysit with angelis haf I bene,
& hard þare sange & þam-self sene.
& it is schewit nov me til,
þat of swet Ihesu is þe will,
þat fra þis varld I ame to ga,
quhare-in nocht is bot dule & va.
for-þi to sancte maxymyne
þu schaw myn message, or þou fyne,
& say hyme, at þe next pask day,
In sammyne tyme þat [wont] war thay
In matyne offyce for to ryse,
he cum hym-selfe be ony wyse
but ma in-to þe oratoure,
& he sal fynd me hym before
with angelis of god yddir brocht.”
þe preste þis hard, bot he saw nocht.
þane to sancte maxymyn but bad,
he passit, & al þat he had
of þe magdelane hard ore sene,
til hyme he tald al bedene.
mare Ioyful wes neuir maxymyne
In al hys lyf þane þat tyme,
þane he was quhen þis ves tald;
& [to] god gret thank he ȝalde.
&, vit ȝe, þat he forȝet nocht
þis tale, bot one It ay he thocht,
& þe selfe oure & þe day,
þat þe preste cane til hym say,
he enterit in þe oratore,
as til hyme sad was befor.
& fand þe magdelane þer stannand,
he heywit vpe with angel hand
of [h]ouris tva fully þe space,
& as scho [stud] sa, prayand was
In mydis of þe angelis brycht,
& tholyt þe byschape se þat sycht.
& þe bischape for rednes
Durste cum na narrere, nocht-þe-lese
scho turnyt hyr, & sad hym syne:
“gud, swet faddere maxymyne,
cum nere; þi douchtire fle þou nocht!”
bot scho sa fayre was þat he no mocht
behald hyre face, þat ves sa brycht
of angelis thru þe mekil lycht;
for it mycht les grewe, I trew,
to [se] þe sowne in maste vertu,
þane for to se þat Ioyful face,
þat wes sa blyth thru goddis grace.
“ga furth,” scho sad, “& cal þe til
prestis & clerkis of gud wil,
& bryng to me in gud entent,
þat sal me sawe, þe sacrament!”
þane but mare þe byschape ȝud,
& with hyme brocht god flesch & blud,
with prestis & with clerkis fele.
& þe magdelane, for hyr saule hele,
tuk of his hand þe sacrament,
& of hyre ded hyre cane repent
befor þe alter, & lay done
strekyt, & with deuocione
hyr armys in hyre breste cane fald,
& sa to god þe gaste scho ȝald.
& fra þe saule & þe body
war departyte, sone in hy
a swet sawoure fulfyllyt
þat place & al þat vare in hyt
plentuysly, fyve dais & mare,
& heylit al sek þat come þare.
hyre body þane with mekil cure,
sancte maxymyn with gret honour,
with bawme ennowntyt, can entyre
In place, quhare he had ordanyt here,
quhene he suld de, hyme-self to ly,
þare layd he magdelane mary.
now say we, in þe sammyne tyme
þe magdelane & þe maxymyne
to marcil come, & als martha,
with þame laȝare & vthyre ma,
quhare þis laȝare wes byschape mad;
bot his cystyre mad nan abad,
bot passit & al þare company
til egis with maxymyne in hy,
quhare-at he wes byschape mad;
& sa gret grace of god he had,
þat in his lyfe he mervalis wrocht;
& of his lyfe quhene he was brocht,
be-syd þe magdelane had sepulture,
of quhame be-fore he had þe cure,
quhare now, be his prayere lele,
syndry seke mene gettis þare hele,
& are lousit of mekil payne.
& þe mentyme þe magdelaine
criste in his luf sa cane inflame,
þat scho but ma vent to þe baume,
þat is in þe crage sa schore,
quhare-of I tauld ȝou her before:

XVII.—MARTHA.

That tyme cristis hoste, martha,
our al þe warld cane prechand ga,
sawand oure-al goddis sede;
& sa wele þat wark cane spede,
þat scho þe cristyne treutht brocht til
mony, at in poynt ware to spil.
for scho was far of fax and face,
& god til hyre had tent sic grace
of speche & of far schawynge,
þat, quha hyre hard, hauld or ȝinge,
al fals ydolis sowne for-suke,
& rychtwyse treutht & baptysym tuk.
& schawand goddis sede, scho drev
towarte arle & wa yneucht [OMITTED]
of rone endlange one þe flud,
sa thik & sownd was þe wod
be-twene arle and avynone,
a place now of gret renovne.
hapnyt martha in þat vod þare
to teche & kene goddis layre,
& in þat vaste scho fand a tovne,
þat nov is callit terrascone.
of þat come þane bath ȝung & ald,
þare skath regratand, [&] hyr tald
of a dragone fers & fel,
þat in þat wod þan can dwel,
& dyd to þame mekil skathe,
þat mene & vomen ete he bathe—
a fel beste of þe kynd of þai
þat ar generyt in asya;
& quhene-euir hyme thocht gud,
as fysche wald he dwel in þe flud,
& our-tyrwit batis, þat rowyt þare,
& ete þe mene, les and mare;
& vthyre tyme as beste he vald
to þat foreste his gat hald,
& sla and ete al þat had lyfe,
ald, ȝonge, mane & vyfe.
for his hevid was sa awful mad,
þat he twa tethte as swordis had,
bathe lange & scharpe; for-þi mycht nane
eschape, þat euire he has ourtane.
& quha to fle mad hyme faste,
his foylȝe eftir hyme cane he caste,
þe quhilk, quhat thinge It ourtuke,
a[s] fyr gregois brynt at a luke.
& þat swith he wald ger ga
eftyre ony, þat he wald sla,
of ane oxgange hale þe space,
þat twa hundreth fet in lynth has
& twenty, and in bred alsa
sewyne schore of fute & na ma.
þane, quhare martha ves prechand,
þe puple fel to fut & hand,
& til hyre tald hale þe tale,
how þis beste dyd þam sik bale,
& prayt hyr for goddis sake,
quhais treutht scho gert þam take,
to safe þame, þat þai var nocht tynt.
sancte martha þane, or scho stynt,
socht in þe voud or scho fande
þat felone beste a man etande.
a crucifix scho with hyre had,
& haly vatyr, þe preste had mad;
one hyme scho kyste þe vatyr rath
& al[s] þe croyce s[ch]awyt hyme bath:
& as sconfyste [s]til he stud.
& scho furth one til hym ȝud,
& anerly be godis helpe,
about hyre hals scho put hyr belt,
& mekly led hyme as a schepe
tovart þe folk, þat hyme can kepe.
þane Ioyful, glad, & blyth[t]e,
þai slew þe fellone beste alswytht
with spere, & swerde, & caste of stane,
& mony vthire vapynis ane,
& lofyt god, & hyre alsa,
þat þame deliuerit of þat fa.

XVIII.—EGIPCIANE.

It ware spedfule, quha-sa cuthe,
to put in wryt, ore tel be movthe,
It þat mycht men gere lef syne,
& with god sa sauchtnyn wyne,
as be ensampile is of It,
þat mene fyndis in haly wryt,
of þame þat lange sinful has ben,
& to god syne ware ful queme,
as was þe magdelane & davy,
þat eftyrwart var ful worthy,
plesand to god, & ful dere.
for-þi of þame þire samplis sere
I set, þat na man suld for syne
be dysparyt grace to wyne.
þe doctoure gregore sais þare-by,
nothire stekis fra goddis mercy
of þe syne þe quantyte,
na ȝet of It þe Inormyte,
na þe latnes of þe houre,
sa þat to þe saweoure
be knawyne þe changinge of vil;
as set ma be ensampil till
of a tale, I sal here tele,
ferlyful, how it befell.
of palistinis in ane abbay
þar duelte a monke, forsit hym ay
In althinge god to enplese;
for sa ennornyt þat man was
in monklyke vorke, vord, & dede,
fra þe tyme of his ȝouthede,
þat he to god al gevine vas,
& til his name had ȝoȝamas.
his flesche sa dayntyt he had,
þat to þe saule subiet he It mad.
þane sere men for Informacione
þare come of his conuersacione,
þat Ithandly had his thocht
one haly wryt, & ellis nocht.
for he had sic infusione
of godis illustracione,
þat he saw godis priwete.
& we sal trew þat at mycht be;
fore god hyme-selfe in haly vryt
sais, & suthfaste thinge Is It,
þat þai at are of [h]art clene
sal ofte se god forowte vene.
sone eftyre hym come to thocht,
þat parfytar he na be mocht;
for he trewyt na man vare,
quham-of hyme nedyt til have lare.
als he trewyt na man was
In abay, na in vildirnes,
þat mocht do mare þane he had done.
& sa a voice sad hyme sone:
“ȝoȝima, þu has wele strewine,
& stalawrtly þi cource o[u]r-dryvine,
as to þe possibile ma be;
bot sa parfyt is nane, þat na he
suld ay be dowtand for to fal,
sene thinge to cum we myskene al.
bot gyf þou ȝarnis to vyt þus,
how mony ways of hele þare Is,
pase fra þi kithe owte of þe land,
ane abay til þu fynd nere hand
þe flume Iordane.” & he syne sone
passit one, for-owtine hone,
þe sad abay til he fande,
& at it stil cuthe he stande.
thane þe abot come fut-hate,
& fand ȝoȝimas at þe ȝete.
& for he religiouse sa apperyte,
he blyssit hyme fyrste, & syne speryt
quhene he come, & quhat thinge
þe cause was of his cummynge.
þane sad he þat he come þare
for informacione & layre:
“for it is prechyt rycht fare ryfe
gret ferlys of ȝoure haly lyfe.
for-þi til hafe instruccione
I come of ȝoure conuersacione,
sa [þat] myn sawle mycht coplyt be
ȝouris in-to al cheryte.”
þane sad þe abbot: “bruthyr dere,
god, þat seke mays hale & fere,
gyf ws grace sa to do,
þat ay we may emplese hym to,
sene but his grace we ma nocht
ane helpe vthyre in ded na thocht.
þu sal be welcum to þis place,
& god of his habundand grace
grant þe [þat] þu be parfyte
In his seruice, & hafe delyte;
& we sal for þe pray.” & þene
ȝoȝimas kneland sad, “amen.”
þane in þat abbay stil dwelt he,
quhare he saw mene schynand be,
& bot reprofe to god seruand,
of dedis gud & spyryt schaldand.
þare wes na vourd of Idilnes,
of gold, na siluire, na ȝet riches,
na of ony thinge temporale,
bot to þe varld ded vare [þai] hayle,
& straytly þe lyfe cane leyde
anerly in vatyre & brede.
& [quhene] þis saw ȝoȝimas,
ful gretly he steryt vas
mare perfeccione fore to do,
fyndand þat god he[l]pyt þare-to.
þe custume ves of þat abbay
þat þe ȝettis ware stekyt ay;
but ony monke ore herymyte
percase vald cum to þame to wit;
fore It was ȝete sa vnknawyne,
þat few come þare bot þayire awne.
sa wes custome of lange tyme;
fore-þi god yddir send ȝoȝyme.
and [quhene] sum days ourdriwyne ware
eftyre he had conuersyt þare,
þe tyme come of þe lentrine,
quhene gudmen suld to faste begyne,
of syne to clenge þare entent,
& clene resawe þe sacrament.
of þat fastinge þe fyrste sonday
Ilke monk but mare delay,
eftyre þat he had sad his mese
& fed hyme, syne, as oyse was,
þai entryt in þare oratore,
þare abbotis sete mekly before,
& kneland, maad þare oracione;
syne askyt his benysone,
þat þai mycht, thru his helpe, fulfil
þe trawele þat þai set þame til
of god in-to þe honoure,
& for þare sawlys þe succoure.
&, quhene It was þis wyse done,
þe ȝettis hopnyt þai alsone,
& passyt, singand, with reherse
of þe todyr nocturne þe fyrst verse
with al þat syne folowys efte.
& in þare house na man þai lefte
bot quhylis twa, & quhylis ane,
sa þat þe abbay it alane
suld nocht be lewyt, bot þat ne was
fore ȝemsale of þare riches,
bot forowte mes it suld nocht be
of fastynge in þe solempnite.
& ilkane tuk with hyme sic fude
as þai beste leste, quhen þai ȝude;
sume tuk daittis, sum fygis dry,
sume vattir potage al-anerly;
sume tuke a clathe to hele his corce,
& sume of lyfinge mad na forse.
þis passyt þai, til þai ilkane
vare cumyne to þe flume Iordane;
& fra þai passit þat vatyr had,
ilkane of þame but abad
passit furth in vildirnes
be hyme ane, to pyne his flesche;
& for þe maste part fosteryt var
vith Ioys, gres, & vatere clere;
na ane of þame [of] vthir viste,
bot ilkane lufyt as hym lyste,
but sperynge ane of ony vthyre,
al-sat he vare his awne bruþir.
& gyf It hapnyt, in þat tyme,
ane saw vthire, he vald declyne,
& fle a-vay, as he hyme dred.
sic was þe lyfe þai þare led,
to god in gud vark lyfand,
bot as to flesche ay deand.
þis haly fastinge þus our-drafe þai,
til it come to þe palme sonday,
& þat day befor þe nowne
al come þai hame but ony hone,
hafand his consciens vytnes
how he in þat tyme liffand vas,
for vthyre witnes nedit nane
bot god & hyme-selfe al-ane,
na of his trawale, na of his ded,
na of þe lyfe þat he cane led.
for quha for manis thank dois ocht
& nocht for god dred hyme nocht,
he purchacis hyme-self skathe
as to þe saule, & mekil vathe.
bot lat [we] nov þire gud men be,
& of ȝoȝimas spek will we.
[o]f lentryne syne þe fyrst sonday,
quhene vthire passit, he tuk his vay
vith þame al to þe flume Iordane.
& þare-oure quhen at he vane,
In-to þat vyld & hole foreste,
he passyt ay furth [but] areste,
richt as a man sum think þat socht,
þe quhilk to fynd he rycht nocht rocht;
for he trewyt, þat vyldirnes
but haly men be na vay was,
of quham ensampil he acht hafe
of halynes a-beoufe þe lafe,
for al halely vas his delyte
In goddis lare to be parfyte.
for-þi fra dawynge of þe day
he passit furthe ay one his way,
bot þat he sewine syse mad arest,
to pray to god in-to þe este;
& one þe ȝerd, bare & cauld,
euire-ilke nycht reste he wald.
& quhene [he] þus but delay
had travalyt, one þe twenty day
at þe sexte oure he mad areste.
makand prayere to þe este,
as he was vont to do, kneland,
he schaw a schedaw one his rycht hand,
In forme of mane semand to be.
for-þi in extasy fel he,
venand It a spyrit had bene,
þat he sa soudanly had sene;
for-þi he sanyt hyme ful faste,
as man at gretly var agaste.
bot eftyre his abasitnes
one his left hand, in suthfastnes,
as a woman he saw þare,
þat na clathis had, bot ves al bare;
brynt with þe sone, blak scho vas;
bot one hyre hed nocht-þe-les
hayre scho had, quhyt & streke,
rekand na forthire na hir neke.
& quhene ȝoȝimas had hyr sene,
he vas Ioyful þane but vene,
& sped hyme vith al his mycht,
to þe place quhare he saw þat sycht.
for creatoure saw he nane
þe ane & twenty dais he had gane,
nothyre fule, man, na beste,
fra he come in þat foreste;
for-þi þe mare ȝarnyt he
þat body grathly for to se.
bot fra scho ȝoȝimam had sene,
scho fled richtfaste forout vene
In vildirnes. bot ȝoȝimas,
þocht he auld & very vas,
ȝarnand for to se þ[at] sycht,
he folouyt fast vith al his mycht.
[h]e folowyt, & [scho] fled ful faste;
bot he cane ryne, til at þe laste
he ves cumyne hyre sa nere,
þat scho mycht his vord wele here.
þane gret ȝoȝimas, he criyand:
“me abyd, þu godis servande!
suppos at I mane synful be,
a-byde a lytil & spek with me,
I coniure þe in godis name,
for quham þis penans þou has tane,
& fore þe hope of þe reward,
þat þu is to haf e[f]tirwarte;
&, sene þat refusis nane,
abyd & blyse me, ore þu gane!”
þus þo ȝoȝimas cryit ay,
scho withdrev hyr our a vale,
& one þe todyr syd scho bad.
bot to ga forthir, mycht he na had.
þane sychit he sar gretand,
& teris to teris dow[b]land.
þat laydy þan sic speche can mak:
“ȝoȝoma, spar for godis sak,
for I ma nocht me turne to þe,
for schame þat þou me voman se.
bot, sene þu fayne vald vith me spek,
sum of þi clathis þou me rek!”
þane red ves dene ȝoȝamas,
& gret dowt in his hart he tais,
& ful gret ferly als had tane,
quhene he [hyr] hard nemmyne his name;
rycht þane, as vyse & sle,
he bethoucht hyme a lytil we,
þat scho mycht neuir his nam kene,
sene scho saw hyme neuir to þan
bot of grace of þe haly gaste,
þat schenys quhare hym lest, bot vast.
þar-for sone, as scho hyme bad,
of þe twa haikis þat he had,
he tuk þe tane & bakvart kest;
& scho tuk it or scho reste,
& hyr coueryt. syne to ȝoȝima
scho sad: “fadyr, quhat has sa
to þis wildirnes brocht þe,
a synful woman for to se?”
þane to þe erde he fel sone done,
& askyt hyr hyr benysone.
& scho to erd fel als þat tyd,
&, lyand say one athyr syd,
Ilkane askyt vthyr benysonis
ful mekly, & þar oracionis;
sa ves nocht ellis hard
bot “blyse me, blyse me”—sa þai ferd.
[e]ftyr lange þai þus lay,
to ȝoȝomas cane scho say:
“for þu arte preste & has bene lange
at godis altar als servand,
& his seyre priueteis socht,
& sacryt [þat] al mad of nocht,
fadyr, fyrst It afferis þe
to blyse & for to pray for me.”
& quhene ȝoȝimas herd þis thinge,
for rednes tuk hyme sic abaysinge,
þat þe swet til his fete rane.
nocht-for-þi he sad hyr þane:
“spirituale modyr, quhat-sa þu be,
for godis sak schau þe to me!
for sa parfyt to god Is þu,
at to þis varld þu art ded now;
for me, þat þu neuir has sene,
þu callis myn name; &, as I wene,
grace is nocht knawynge thru dignite,
a sympil preste þo I now be,
bot it is dingnite verray,
þat has set þe to sik assay;
for-þi blyse me for godis sake,
& als for me [þu] prayer make,
& grant syne to myn Indigens
þi proteccione & defens!”
scho hafand þane of hyme pitte,
sad: “lowyt mot our lorde be
þat purchesis þus saule-hele!”
“amen,” ȝoȝimas can þane mele.
fra þe erde þane rayse þai bath,
& to þat auld þane sad scho rathe:
“man, quhare-to com þu to me
a synful womane for to se?
neuir-þe-lese, sene to þis vaste
þe has broucht þe haly gaste,
sa þat þu mycht do sume service
to me wreche in sum wyse,
sa me fyrste, how þat crist[i]ndome
is led, & how þe pape of rome,
& þe emprioure al-sa.”
þane ȝoȝomas can answer ma:
“dere modyre, thru god prayere
þai far al wele ȝe eftyre sper.
neuir-þe-les for godis sake
for al þe varld ȝe prayere mak
& for me synful sene, namely
þat þis trawel þat her mad I,
be nocht to me in vane, na tynt!”
þan sad scho: “of sic prayere stynt!
for to þe, fadir ȝoȝima,
afferis sic prayere to ma;
for þu has honoure of presthed;
for-þi to god for me þu bede!
It þu bydis als, vith gud wil,
þocht it affer nocht, I sal fulfil.”
& say[a]nd þis, scho turnyt ewyn,
haldand hyr ene vpe to þe hevyn,
but lippis stering mad prayere,
or word, þat ony man mycht here.
þane stud þe monk ful dredand,
but word, to þe erde lukand.
eftyr to witnes god drew he,
þat, as he blenkyt vpe with ee,
he saw hyr raysit a cowte & mare
fra erde in ayre, & dwelt syn þare.
& quhen he saw how þis befel
for rednes to þe erde he fel.
In abaysitnes þane sad he
ofte, “miserere domine;”
& lyand one þe erde, he thocht
gyf euir it a spyrit be mocht,
þat sa yt fenȝet for to pray.
þane scho, turnand til hym, can sa:
“fadir, quhat thinge assaileis þe
þat þou in t[h]ocht sa sclanderis me,
þat I spyrit mycht be, wenand,
to pray in þi sicht me fenȝeand?
It is nocht sa, bot ma þu trew,
þocht I be synful, I ame now
cristine womane, but fantasy;
na trew nane vthyr spryt ame I.”
þir wordis quhene scho had sad,
þe takine of þe croice scho lad
one hyr body ouralquhare,
& syne sad to ȝoȝomas þare:
“fadir, god of our wethyrwyne
grant til ws þe our-cummyne,
& of his fals purches alsa,
for he cane fele buschment ma.”
þe alde þis hard, & in grete
fel done til erde at hyr fete,
& sad: “dere modyr, I þe pray,
for cristis sak, god verray,
& for quham þis þou nakit gais,
& þi flesche þis vastit has,
þat þu hele na thinge fra me,
þi serwand, þat I sal ask þe:
quhat, quhyne, & of quhat state,
& for quhat cause—þu me late—
þu has bene sa lange tym here,
with al þir circumstance sere,
quhare-of I sal mak þe franynge,
þu lat me wyt but ony fenȝeynge,
& tel me þe suthfastnes
of al þi lyfe, mare & les.
for god has send me, as I trew,
with quham þat þu conuersis now,
In-to þis foreste wild & depe,
þi lyfe, þi stat, al hal to vet.
for-þi na thing þu lef fra me!
for to god, gyf it de-plesand be
þat I suld wit all hale þe lyf,
quhou þu in payne has dreyt þis lyf,
he na had tholyt þe of me be sene,
na of na vthyr—þat is but wene—
na had comfort me perfay,
to lef myn cel & tak þis way,
for I ame auld & febil bathe.”
scho raysit hyme þan, & sad rath:
“fadir, me schamys suthfastly
to tel þe al; bot nocht-for-þi
I sal sa quhow myn saule vithine
is fylyt vith a vlatsum syne.
na for halynes is it nocht
þat I consele fra þe suld ocht,
bot I for myn syne, allace!
sa lange has herbrite sathanas.
for-þi, gyf I now begyne
to tel þe forthyr of myn syne,
þu sal fle sone avay, allace!
as quha dois befor þe face
of ane edir þat wald hym stang,
na þine eris to her it sa lange
ma nocht thole, bot þa mone Irk
to here þe syne þat I cane vyrk.
bot nocht-þane with mekil syte
I sal [þe] tel myn ful delyte,
prayand þe for goddis sake,
þat þu for me wil prayer mak,
þat I ma til his mercy wyne,
& get forgyfnes of myn syne.”
þan þat ald gret for pytte,
as quha þat dunynge suld be.
þane beguth scho for to tel
of al hyr lyf how it befel.
“Fader, in egipe vas I borne,
& myn elderis me beforne.
In þe twel ȝer of my ȝuthed
fra kyne & cunctre bath I ȝed
til alysandir, or euir I stynt.
myn madynned quhow I fyrst tynt
þar, & how þane to lychory,
vith al þe luste, folouandly
I vndirlad me, þat I haf schame
In-to myn hart to think alane;
& it var lange to tel how I
had brynnand luste of lychory,
þat me na thocht at I mycht fillit be;
þat vylte þane sa lykyt me.
bot for gyftis I neuir sawld
to man, othyr ȝung na auld,
bot gaf It frely til al þai
þat with me wald sik mastri ma,
& ofte entysit ser þare-till,
to syne with me. sic was my wil;
& fuly led myn lyfe þare
wele sewinten ȝer owt & mare;
myn met of[te] thygand, [sa] þat I
frely mycht serwe to lychery,
& seldyne spane for my fud;
to fil myn flesche sa ȝed I wod;
ay valouand me in þat syne,
as sow a medynge dois vithine.
for þat wes maste þan myn mynd,
quhare-in I mysded maste to kynd.
In sic ful sowne [I was] lyffand ay,
til I percase a-pone a day
saw men of luby & egipe
hast þame to sey, for to schype.
þane sad me ane of þa mene,
þat þai var bone to Ierusalem,
‘to se þe solempnyte
of cristis croice, þat sal sone be.’
‘&, bruthyr, hopis þu þai wil me
vith þame tak to pase þe se?’
sad he: ‘ȝa, gyf þou has macht
to pay þame þi schip fraucht.’
‘frawcht haf I nane, bruthyr der;
bot I wil to þe schipe but ver;
& for I haf nane vthyr gud
to pay for fraucht or for fud,
myn body I wil gyfe þame til,
til demayne þat þar wil.’—
fader, spare me! na cause had I
for to mak sik trawel, trewly,
bot þat I mycht ful mony wyne
ay lustfully with me to syne.
fadir, þar-for for godis are
lewe no[v] & sper at me nomare!
for schame & dout lattis me
to tel mare of myn syne to þe.
for of myn syne It is vnfayre
quhene I spek; it fylis þe ayre.”
ȝoȝomas þane gretand faste,
answeryt, & sad at þe laste:
“tel furth þi tayle, modyr dere,
& al þe suth þu lat me here,
& fra me þu heile na thinge,
for his luf, of hewyne is kinge!”
qvhene scho was coniuryt sa,
sik spek furth cane scho ma:
“ȝone ȝonge man, þe tale me tald
þat þai to þe se pass wald,
at myn fule speke smylit in hy.
bot þe rok þat in hand had I,
I kyste away, & faste sped me
with þame at passit to þe se.
quhene I com þare, sone I fand
of ȝongmen tenne in a place stanand,
þat semyt wele to do þat syne,
þat myn luste was sa brynnand In,
& mony vthyre, at bowne ware
to þe se & to schipfare.
& I ful besyly with-al
thrange in amange þam all,
sayand: ‘brethyr, takis me vith ȝou,
& I ful besyly sal serfe ȝou;’
recordand myn vnhoneste,
I gert al laucht, þat me cuth se.
& for myn vilte alsone þai
tuk me in hand, saylit þar vay.
quhat tunge mycht tel or eris ere
þe vlatsum warkis, þat þar vere
be me wrocht in þat schipe þare?
& gyf þat sum war in þat fare,
þat with me wald nocht gladly syn,
til entyse hyme I cuth nocht blyn;
for of syk syne al kindis clere,
þat þai mysknew, I cuth þam lere.
þar-for, fadyr, be content now
of þis foule story þat herd [h]as þu!
for þe mowth, it spekis, It filis nocht
anerly, bot als þe thocht.
þar-for me wonderis hou þe se
bar vpe þe schipe at herbrite me,
or þat þe erd gapand wyd,
me swelyt nocht vthyre tyd;
for I wes gyrne but ony mak
þat sawlis put to lestand vrak.
bot now I trew þat Ihesu cryste,
þat na man wald haf peryst,
bot at mysdoaris lefe þe syne,
& throw repentans cum to hyme,
þus lang in me has pennans socht,
or ellis schawit I had bene nocht.
and to þe land, quhen we cummyn had
to Ierusalem, but mar a-bad
we passit, & bad in þe citte,
til þe feste of þe croice suld be
schawit til al þat to mycht wyne.
bot I lefit nocht þane myn syne,
bot me demaynyt as I dyd are,
& in þat case nane wald spare.
& ȝet all anerly nocht þai
of þe schipe cane me to ga,
bot al vthyr als, þat I
mycht enduce to þat foly,
sa þat al þat mentyme
I fylyt sawlis als fer as myne.
bot syne, in þe solempnite,
quhene þat þe relyk suld schauyt be,
I presit, al before rynnand,
þe ȝunge men to syne tysand.
& quhene þe day beguth to daw,
to þe tempil men cane draw;
& of It til in þe ȝarde
I wes cummyne, I ne spard.
& quhene tyme of day was cumyne,
þat þe relyk owt suld be wonnynge,
I thrange ful ȝarne amange al þa,
þat in þe tempil fyrste can ga,
rycht to þe dure with trawal gret
til I come, & In gret swet.
& quhen we come to þe thryswald,
al had entre þat euir wald,
bot I, vnhappy, thrustyne sare,
a fut mycht nocht get forthyr-mare.
& þat godis willis was,
þat me for my wikytnes
wald nocht his tempil I com In,
þat sa sowit was in syne.
& quhene I was sa put bakwart,
I ȝed alane in þe kyrk-ȝard,
& þar considerit I nocht me,
þat for myn synnis It mycht be.
amange mony ȝet fast I thrange
vith mekil payne, & furth can gange
to þe treswald; & þar but falȝe,
as I dyd fyrste, tynt myn trawel;
for in þe tempil enterit ilkane
but ony late bot I alane.
& in þe ȝard a-gane I ȝud,
& þar ythandly I stud,
regratand myn vnhapynes,
þat I alane vnworthi was
of al þat come til haf entre.
nocht-þane ȝet pressit I me
twyse eftyr, þat I wald sa fane
entre haf; bot al in vayne.
& at þe laste for werynes,
of ned me worth[it] be in pes.
I wes sa thrungyne & mad sare,
þat, þo I wald, I mycht nomare;
bot of þe ȝard in til a nuke
I restyt me, & myn aynd tuke.
vith sar sobyne, doule, & syt
myn hard fortone can I wyt,
bannand þe tyme þat I was borne,
as I ded ofte þat day beforne;
for let wes mad to nan but me,
þat Ioyful relyk for to se.
bot quhy þis was, quhen at I thocht,
athyre enchesone fand I nocht,
bot for þe vilte of myn syne
þat god wald nocht I come In
his tempil, [for] to se þat tre,
for oure sawete one quhi[l]k vas he
put, & his blud schede,
& for ws put nane vthir wed.
of þis woman, quhen I haf thocht
þat þis fra bale to blyse Is brocht,
þocht scho was lange sowit in syne,
& syne at god cane mercy vyne
throw our lady, mary þe fre,
suld nane for syne dysparit be,
þat for helpe wil pray hyr til;
for scho his prayer wil fulfil,
& pece hyr sowne vith sinful man,
quhene na wthyr ma, na kane.
for laydy of þe warld we hir cal,
& als emprice of hele with-all.
of al laydis þu art lady,
of wemen worschipe anerly.
þu art bewte of angelis al,
& Ioy of halouys we þe cal,
& modir als of haly kyrk,
to safe synful þat wil nocht Irk,
modyr of pite & indulgens,
to mysterful, souerane defens,
godis house & hewine-ȝate,
be quham synful entre sal get,
confowrt of wrech, waster of syn;
þe haly gast herbreis þe In.
þu art fayrer þan sone or mone;
þu sittis with god in til his trowne,
þat na requeste wil þe warne.
lowit be thu þat bar þat barne!
& set þu his modir be,
þat mad þis warld, ȝeit, parde,
art þu douchtyr til adame
& ewe, þat ws brocht in blame;
& we alswa of þi kyne,
set þu was neuir fylit with syne,
bot euir was virgine kepit clene.
ȝet godis sone of þe, but wene
virgine, was borne, for oure savete,
& nocht for þi vyrgynyte.
þar-for, lady, we pray þe,
to þe sonnis of ewe frend þu be,
& purches ws þe grace ve crafe,
for þe gladschepe þu can haf,
quhen gabriel to þe send vas,
sayand: “hale mary, ful of grace;”
& sayd he, “god is vith þe,
a-beoufe al wemen blist þou be.”
for þa Ioys we þe pray,
sene þu cane best, & best may
do, sa oure erand be sped
at hyme þu one þi brest fed
til he was ȝonge be kind of flesch;
& als for þe sorowfulnes,
þat þu had set in þi mynd,
quhene þu saw hyme for mankynd
thole ded to ransone þame of wa,
he grant ws grace heyr to lif sa,
þat we wyne ma til his blyse.
&, der laydy, I pray þe þis,
þat I til hyme thankful lif led,
& sawit be fra dowble ded
& de but dett & deydly syne.
quhene þe lyf & sawle sal twyne,
fra sathanas þu kepe me,
þat fra hyme I pase al fre
one þat day quhen al beis done,
with god in blyse & Ioy to wyne.
now of þis woman [furth] spek we,
þat, as ȝe hard, tuk pennys thre,
& sad: “quhen I tuk þis payment,
furth in þe towne ful sone I went,
& bocht þre lawis to my fud,
to haf with me quhare I ȝud.
& at hyme þat þe bred me sald,
I speryt gyf he cuth or wald
kene me þe gat, þat mycht me led
to þe flume Iordane in mast sped.
‘ȝa,’ sayd he; & sone þane
þe vay to þe ȝet can me kene,
quhare þai þar passage mad,
þat to þat vatir erand had.
þe bred I tuk, & held me way,
rycht as þe man to me can say.
& of day þe thred our þane
ves cumyne, quhen I þe ȝat wane
þe preciuse croice one to se,
as befor ȝe hard tel me.
þe remaynynge þane of þat day
I sped me faste one myn way,
gretand sar for myn trespace.
& quhene þe sone nere done was,
wele ner þe flum I fand a kyrk.
þar ȝed I in, for I wes Irke,
& halowit þar was þat bywiste
In honour of sancte Iohnne þe baptist.
kneland my prayer þar I mad
to god, þat ydyr send me had.
& quhene I had knelyt a stond,
& mad myn prayer, I cane fond
to þat flume þat haly was,
& wesche In yt bath handis & face;
syne come agane, & with schryfte
& contryt hart mad me tyfte.
þe sacrament of al-queknand
I tuk þar of prestis hand,
of Ihesu cristis flesche & blud,
In-to þat kyrk or I furth ȝud.
þane of þe laf a-pon þe bank
I ȝet, & of þe vatire drank,
& al þat nycht restyt me þare,
one þe ȝerd lyand al bare.
& quhene þe day be-guth to daw,
I passit þe watyr in a thraw,
& prayt myn borcht þat scho wald me
conwoy, & led in sawete
quhare at to enples hyr It mycht maste.
with helpe of þe haly gaste,
In þis wastrone fra þine haf I
dwelt euir cotynualy,
sene I come of þe sad cite.”
þane sad ȝoȝimas to þat fre:
“gud modyr, quhat met can þou fynd,
sa lange to sustene þi kynd?”
“twa lafis & ane half but mare,
þe quhilk þat I with me bare,
þe flume Iordane quhen I past,
þat wyderit war eftyr sa faste,
þane þay war lykare to be
stanys þan bred, trew to me!
& sum quhile of þame perfay
myn lyfe I lede, as þu heris say,
& passit sa sa lange tyme.”
quod he: “but othyr dule or pyne?”
þane sad scho: “for þu askis me
a thinge of gret diffyculte,
þe quhilk to sa I haf gret dred;
fore gyf I now to memor lede
of syndry thoctis þe parele,
þat has dystrublit me vmquhile,
I dout, eftsonnis þat þai sal
In-to distrow[b]lyng ger me fal.”
sayd he þane: “modir, þu lef nocht
vnsad to me þu has in thocht!
for þare-to god let me þe se,
þat þu suld hele na thinge fra me.”
“fadir,” sad scho, “trew but were
þat our passit war sewinten ȝere,
haf I had ofte ful gret batale
of ȝarnige, þat ofte cuth me assale,
vnleleful & oneresonabile,
fillit of filthe & vnstabil.
for quhile quhen me tuk apetyt
til ete, þan wald me cum delyt
til hafe flesche & to ete It
& fesche, as I dyd in egipe.
delyt alsa & ȝarnynge
I had quhile to drinke gud wine
In-to þe warld til I was;
bot þar-of haffand dystras,
In-to þis wildirnes vasty,
for sic defawt oft wantonly
I brynt as fyre in myn entent,
& In myn hart had gret torment.
[OMITTED]
þat brocht quhilis in my thinkine
sangis ȝa of lychery
vile & als dewylry,
þat I was wount in warld to synge,
has me stroublyt in mekil thinge.
bot quhene sic synful thocht was gane,
þane wald I gret & mak myn mayne,
& dyngand one myn breste with-all,
oft ‘synful wreche’ I wald me call.
bot þane nane vthyr hope I had
bot one hyr think þat I bourcht mad.
þane wald I ryne—quhethir, I ne rocht—
& prynte þat ymage in my thocht;
befor hyr rycht as I suld stand,
with mony teris hyr prayand
þa thochtis for to put me fra,
my soroful corce þat stroblyt sa.
þan, quhen I had lange tyme gret,
& al myn face with teris wete,
& myn brest with nefis dovnynge bath,
til þe lyf me was lathe,
commonly þane vald I se
a gret lycht al enwyrone me,
& leste gud quhyle vald þat clernes,
to comfourt me þat soroful was.
& thocht, vmquhyle þat strenȝe me vald
to lychery, ma nocht be tald—
spar me, fader, sic thocht of syne!
Myn wrechit corse brynt oft with-In.
& quhene sick thocht can me schald,
falland to erd sal gret I wald,
thinkand suthly scho stud by me,
þat was myn borch of myn sawete,
makand me maunance þan, me thocht,
fellyly for I kepyt nocht
þe borowgane I drew hyr In,
quhene I hecht hyr to lef myn syn;
þan thocht I þat scho wald be
sa noyus & sa wrath with me,
as scho suld bryne me in a fyr,
or stryk with hyr swerd of yre
for myn trespas. bot nocht-for-þi,
vpe fra þe erde, quhare þan la I,
I wald nocht ryse, til hyr pite
of hyr gret grace illumynyt me,
befor as ȝe [haf] hard me sa,
& sic ful thocht chasyt awa.
for one hyr þat myn borch had bene,
I dresyt ay my hartly ene,
& In þat wastyrn, prayand hir to
þat I mycht heilful pennance do.
with fawndinge þus I haf oft striwyn
þis sewinten ȝere & þaim ourdryvyn.
& fra þine furth ay Ithandly
of oure swet laydy helpe had I,
godis modyr & maydene clene,
þat dressis al myn ded bedene.”
thane ȝoȝimas at hyr can spere:
“ete þu na met, sene þou come here?
& quhat manere of clethinge
had þou for to cleth þe sene syne?”
þan answert scho, & sad: “but were
[It is], þat in þe fyrst aucht ȝere
þe twa lafis & half ete I;
& syne furth gres anerly,
sik as I fand, has bene myn fud
In þus waste quhare I ȝud.
bot vthyr clathis had I nane
þane I brocht oure flume Iordane;
bot in few ȝeris clene war þai.
for gret elde wastit a-way.
gret cald þare-for of ser snaw
I haf tholyt, ȝou byrd wel knaw,
sa þat I vmquhyle wald be
hard frosyne as ony tre;
vthyr tyme þe sone brynt me,
til I worth blak as ȝe ma se;
& quhyl for het, & syne for cauld
one þe ȝerd done fal I wald,
but spret or steringe hand þare,
a ded body as I þane ware.
þis haf I drywyn þe sewynten ȝere
In ned & mony fandinge sere.
& fra þat tyme one to þis day
þe grace of god me kepyt ay
in sawle, & hayle in body,
helpand myn borcht. þis lyf led I
with met þat ma nocht wastyt be,
In habundance & gret pleynte.
þis wes I cled, & fed alsa
thru godis word, þat al can ma;
for wrytine is ‘nocht al anerly
man liffis of bred, bot sykyrly
In al gud word þat procedis
of godis mowth,’ as men redis;
&: ‘þai þat þame dyspolȝeis of syne
& consciens clene has þame In,
suppos þat þai haf clething nane,
he cane ger þame be cled with stane.’”
& fra ȝoȝimas persawit It,
þat scho alleygit haly wryt, [OMITTED]
& psalmis, ore lettres wthyre.
þane smyland sad scho: “gud bruthyre,
na, for to þis day saw I nane,
sene I come oure þe flume Iordane,
of vylde, na tame, na kind beste,
sene at I come in þis foreste;
na letyre neuir saw perfay,
na psalme hard [one]-to þis day,
na ȝet herd man red haly wryt
be-fore. þou wele wat It,
þat godis word is ay mychty
to doctrine manis wit in hy.
þus is þe hend of al but were,
þat þu ȝarnis of me to spere.
be cristis byrth I Requere þe,
þu wald pray to god for me.”
qwhene þis was sad, ȝoȝimas ran
to kes hyre fete but abad þane,
& sad to hyre with gretand stewyn:
“blissit ay be oure lord of hewyn,
þat ferlys wyrkis hyme ane,
quhare-of nowmer ma be nane!
& alsa, lord, blissit þu be,
þat has deygnit to schaw me
quhat reward, & quhat-kine med
þu gyfis to þame þat vil þe dred;
for, quha-sa-euir sekis þe,
but helpe þu wil nocht lat þam be.”
to ȝoȝimas þane can scho fond,
& let hyme nocht knele to þe grond,
& sad: “fadir, I coniure þe,
þat it, þat þu has hard of me,
be god oure fadir, cryst Ihesu,
verray god, in quham we trew,
þat þu tel nothyre to man na vyf,
til god haf tane me of þis lyf.
be now in pece & fare þi gat;
fore I haf sad þe þat I wat.
bot eftsonys to þe but were
þis samyn tyme of þe next ȝere
I sal apere & se þi face,
of haly gaste me helpand grace.
fore-þi þe trawale one þe tak,
þat I þe byd, for godis sake;
& quhene þis ȝere is al oure-paste,
& tyme cummyne of þe haly faste,
þu covme to Iordane þan alsone.
bot pas It nocht, as men war wone,
þat dwelt at hame in ȝoure abbay,
þat he wend nan knew bot þai.”
as mane abasit þane cryit he:
“lowynge to god euirmare be,
þat gyfis mare to his luferis
þane þai cane ask.” þan scho answeris,
sayand: “fadyr, in þine abbay
hald þe, til þe forsad day;
fore, and þu wald þe contrare profe,
þu sal na mycht haf to remofe,
til þat day þat Ihesu had
with his printese his super mad.
þan godis blud & his body
put in to weschale, þare-to worthy,
& þat ilke tyme of day,
þat ȝe ar wont of þat abbay
to cum to þe flume Iordane,
with þat relyk come þe alane,
þat I þare-with ma commond be,
& als þat preciuse thing to se.
fayre fadyr! my bowne grant me,
& bryng þat I haf askyt þe,
rycht to sancte Iohnis oratoure.
þare I was commond last before
with þat same, þat Ihesu had
with his sad printese his super mad,
þat I be mad syne partenere
with þame of þat haly supare.
& quhen þu cummys hame, þu may
to ȝour abbot, dene Iohne, say:
‘to þe & to þi folk tak hede,
for of mendynge ȝe haf gret ned!’
bot now þis say þu nocht hyme til,
bot quhat tyme god byd þe It wil.”
þane eftyre scho prayt þat ald,
þat he fore hyre mak prayere wald,
scho sped hyre syne in-to na haste
one to þe gret hol of þat waste.
þane ȝoȝomas with soroful mude
kyssyt þe erde quhare scho stud,
of kneis thankand god oft-syse,
þat s[ch]awit hyme þat sicht in þat vise;
& faste hame syne ȝed
til his abbay richt gud-spede,
ewyne throu þe wastrine þat ilke day,
þat he come fra þat abbay,
& come but let þe sammyn þare,
þar þai ware wont þat dwel[i]t þare;
& al þe ȝere þare stil can dwel,
bot þis tale wald he na man tel;
& in his hart ay prayere mad,
þat þe swet sicht, þat he sene had,
god suld hyme grant a-gane to se;
fore-þi þat ȝere to lange thocht he.
eftyre, þe next lentryn, quhen be-gonnyn
was þe fastine, þe ȝere our-[r]unnyne,
& cummyne was þe fyrst sonday,
þat þai ware wont of þare abbay
to pas, as þai [in] custum had,
with þare abbottis leif, but bad,
þan ȝoȝomas mad hyme ȝare,
as vthyre dyd, furth to fare.
þe feuire hyme tuk, & he dwelt stil,
þocht It ware agane his will.
bot quhen þat he hym vmthocht,
hou scho [had] sad þat he suld nocht
pas of his abbay, tholmoudly
he leite þat haly tyme ga by,
til þat feris thur[s]day come nere;
þane wox he sone hale & fere.
quhen his bruthire hame cumyn ware
fra wildirnes, as þai dyd ere,
þane þat day, in gret honoure,
þe sacrament of oure saweoure,
In clene weschel he tuk in hy,
as hym scho bad, reuerently.
fygis & daytis with hyme he had,
& potage als in watir mad,
& to þe kirk he come but let,
quhare scho to hyme triste set;
syne ȝed to þe vatir-syde,
& sat done, hyre come to byd.
bot, sekirly, he slepyt nocht;
for he had ay mekil thocht
one hyre, to se hyr cumyne ay.
bot quhen [he] saw scho mad delay,
cane nane þe teynd tel of disces
In til his hart þat þane was,
sayand: “allace! I wyrk in wane,
scho has bene here & gane agane.”
gowand to hewine fast, prayt he
to god, to thole hyme þar to be
nocht but sycht of þat haly face,
þat he to se before had grace.
“allace!” he sad, “sal I gange hame,
berand myn synnis fore þis blame?”
& fel eftir-wart in his thocht,
“suppos scho come, scho mycht nocht,
for fawt of bat, [pas] oure þe flume
na to me wrechit synful cume.
allace! now quhat sal word of me,
now alienit, gyf I sall be,
of þat swet sicht. it ware me wa!”
& thinkand [þis], he lukit hym fra,
& saw þat haly woman nere-hand,
ewine to þe watir gangand.
& quhene one þe ferrare bank
he saw hyre stand, god can he thank;
thinkand, þane, in his thocht
quhethyre scho mycht oure-pas ore nocht.
& sone eftyre he lukit hym fra,
& saw hyre one þe vatir ma
þe takine of þe croice verray.
þane nycht was cumyne & gane day;
bot þe mone sa clerly kyde,
þat he al þat euir scho dyd,
saw. & fra þe croice was mad
a-pone þe flume, þat was sa brad,
one þe watyre scho ȝed, but wene,
but dred, as It [one] erd had bene.
þane ȝoȝomas, þat saw þat wele,
as man abaisit beguth to knele;
bot scho wald nocht thole hyme sa do;
fore, ore scho come þe land to,
scho cryit one hyme & sad: “þu wat,
þat þu of presthed has þe state,
& beris godis priuete.”
þane to þat word obeysit he.
& fra scho come a-pone þe dry,
to ȝoȝomas scho cane cry:
“blyse me, fadir! fore god, blyse me!”
In gret hast þan answert he:
“blyse me!” fore gret abaysinge hym tuk,
one þat ferly quhen he cane luk,
þat scho suld one þe vatir ga;
& til hyme-selfe he sad alsa:
“for suth, god leyt nocht þat he
hycht, þat þai suld lyk hym be,
þat þame-self ofe syne wil scoure.
fore-þi to cryste be honoure,
þat be þis woman has me schavit,
In als mykil as I ame lawit
with gud consideracione,
with mesoure of perfeccione.”
now mary swet of egipt,
of quham here I haf translat
þe story, þocht it be nocht cunnandly
In all—for royde man am I—
In ynglis townge, þat lawit men
In þare langage ma It kene,
to gere þame haf hyre in lowinge,
& to knaw quhou hewynnis kinge
Is redy ay to succure all,
þat one his modir dere wil cal,
& implese hyre with hartly wil,
& lef þare syne & serwe hyre til,
quhow late sa-euir it (be) begonnynge.
þare-fore wyne hyre, & hald hir wonnyn.
for-þi, dere lady, I þe pray,
þat wyk & sinful has bene ay,
þocht at I lat turne me to þe,
dere laydy, ȝet þu succure me,
& sauchtine me & þi sowne,
þat I ma cum with hym, to wyne
& bruk his blys with þis mary,
of quham þis tale tal[d] haf I.
& at It sa ma be,
say we Amen, parcheryte.

XIX.—CRISTOFORE.

Fel folk in affeccione
has christofor, & deuocione;
& trewis wele, þat þai[m] ne may
ony mysawentoure fal þat day,
þat þai one his ymage cane se,
suppos few wat quhen he be,
ore quhat he tholit for goddis sak,
sa gret reward here to tak;
fore men sais, sudand ded þat day
he deis nocht his ymage se may.
fore-þi I set me fore to sek—
sa gret deuocione fore to eke—
of his lyf al þe begynnynge,
& þe mydis, & als þe endynge;
& I sal tel ȝow, ore I blyne,
þe legeand as I fand with-In.
þe quhilk, ore he had baptyme tan,
reprobus had to name;
bot christofore, as sais þe buk,
fra þe tyme he baptyme tuk
he was callit; fore he had
cryst borne on his schuldris brad.
thane fra þat habitacione
of licie, syne to þe towne,
christofore passit but abade.
bot, fore he na knawlage had
of þare langage, he prayt lange,
þat he mycht it vndyrstand.
þane þe Iugis, þat hyme saw þare
prayand sa sa late & ayre,
fore a wodman demyt hym al
In þat towne, gret & smal,
& lewit hyme al, & passit þar way.
& It, quhare-fore þat he can pray
to god, he gat: vndirstandynge,
& of þare langage clere spekine.
þe cristine þan had pennance strange,
þai fel paianys, þat dwelt amange,
& othyre word þaim as vnwise,
to maumentis mak sacrifice,
& reny criste & his fay,
ore thole hard ded but delay;
& sum of þame þar wald forsak
cryst ore syk [a] deid to tak.
christofore, to confort þane þai,
couerit his face, & furth can ga,
be-cause þat he mycht cowertly
mare helpe þame þane opynly,
& passit to þame, þat ware sa sted,
& fore dowt of ded ware rad,
& prayt þame, þai suld nocht tyne
fore sa schort & lytil pyne
þe blyse of hewine, þat ay sa dere
had bocht, & als was sa nere.
of þat a Iuge persawinge had,
þat he sic sermonynge þan mad,
& strak hyme fellely in þat place.
christofore þane vnhelyt þe face,
& sad: “cristine gyf I ne ware,
þu suld by þat strak [ful] sare.”
& þare was in þat tyme
of hethine fele & cristine hyne.
christofore þane hym wmthocht,
& his staf, þat he þare brocht,
In-to þe erd he strak done,
& mad to god þis oracione:
“dere lord cryst, as þu safit me,
quhare in poynt tynt I was to be,
& eftyre al lordis fand þe maste,
eftyre myn trawel mad in waste,
to me synful þu schawit þe,
& syne þi meracle þu let me se,
in-to þis staf, þat now is dry,
bath floure & froyt ferlyfully;
sa, lord, gyf þi willis be,
do now, þat þire folk ma se,
& gere It grene be, & froyt bere,
to strinth þi treutht, as It ded ere;
sa þat þai, þat here ar stad
In dowt of ded, & are sa rad,
be nocht abaisit [for] to tak
hard torment[is] fore þi sak!”
quhen þat christofore þis prayere
had mad, as ȝe hard [haf] heyre,
his staf, þat was sture & stark,
was cled with lewis, & with bark,
& daitis fare, & flouris fele.
& of þat pepule þan vnlele,
[þat] had sene þat ferly sycht,
lewyt þe myrknes & com to lycht,
& conuertyt was þat day
aucht thousand men to cristis lay.
þe kinge, þat þis tale had herd,
wel nere of wit as wod he ferd.
fore-þi, christofore [for] to ta,
he [send] twa hundreth knychtis & ma.
þai fand hyme his prayere makand;
bot nan of þaim durst tak on hand
In ony wise to spek hyme to,
bot did furth as þai saw hym do,
& fenȝeit þame prayere to mak,
fore dred he suld of þame tak wrak.
& fore [þir] knychtis dwellinge mad,
als fele he send ȝet but [a]-bad,
christofore to brynge hyme sowne;
bot as þe fyrst did, þai haf don.
CRistofore þan of sobyre wil
rase, & sad þame sone till:
“frendis, tell me quhat ȝe seke!”
& þai fore rednes ware sa meke,
þat [þai] with sobirnes sad hyme til:
“gud sir, takis nocht in hil,
þe kinge has send ws al to þe,
brocht til hyme bundyne for to be.”
christofore þane to þame can say:
“Is nane of ȝow durst hand lay
one me, forsuth, agane myn wil!”
þane sad þai al christofore til:
“quhare-sa ȝe wil, gange ȝoure wa,
& we to the kinge sal say,
þat we fand ȝou in na place.”
“þane ware ȝe fals men, allace!”
sad christofore. “it sal nocht be,
þat ȝe sal tyne ȝoure sawlis fore me.”
þane to þame he prechit sa,
þat cristine trewtht he gert þam ta,
& trew in criste, & be his men;
& mekly sad he [to] þame þane:
“be-hynd my bak my handis bynd,
& send me sa one to þe kinge!”
þane did þai as he þaim bad,
fore þai ware fore hyme al rad.
þane ȝed he with þame of his wil,
quhil he come to þe kinge til,
as of force It had bene.
& fra þe kinge hyme had sene,
he fel fore redoure doune in hy;
& þane his men, þat stud [hym] by,
hynt hyme vpe, & in cheyre set.
& as he cane his spritis get,
he askyt quhat was his name,
& of quhat cunctre þat he come.
christofore sad hyme in hy:
“before þat cristis treutht tuke I,
ay reprobus was myn name,
quhare-of now I haf gret schame;
& gyf þu vit wil myn cunctre,
I was borne in chanane,
& sene I þe feynd forswke,
christofore to name I tuk.”
þe kinge, þat sat þane in his stule,
answert, & sad: “þu arte a foule,
þat tuk to þe þat manis name,
þat hangyt [was], & tholyt schame,
& ma nocht helpe hyme-self, na þe.
fore-þi, þu wycht of canane,
sacrifice mak oure god, & lif,
& þi wechcraft þu a leife!”
þane sad christofore til hyme sone:
“& þai for suth ful wel has done,
þat to þe name gaf dagarus.
þat suthly is now vndone þus:
ded in þis warld, of fend falow;
& þi fals godis, wel we knaw,
of men are mad, þat þaim ma sel,
bot þare makare þai drav til hel.”
þe kinge hyme answert þan in tene,
& sad: “fule foule, it is now sene,
þat þu in ȝouthede fosterit was
ymange bestis in wildirnes;
fore-þi þu spekis bestly thinge
to me, & wat þat I ame kinge.
ȝet þane, gyf þu wil sacrify
to myn godis now in hy,
gretly sal I honoure þe;
& gyfe þu wil nocht trew [to] me,
þu sal thole hard paynis sere,
& eftyre tyne þi lyf but were.”
christofore þane, þat wald nocht bow
to þe kink, na his godis trew,
he gert in presone þane be don;
& al þai knychtis, but ony howne,
þat to þe treutht he had brocht,
ore he fane, he gert be socht,
& hed þaim al fore crystis sak.
sik fellouny can þe kinge þan mak.
& sene he mycht nocht be mycht
oure-cum christofore þane, be slycht
he thocht þane þat he wald
til his wil gere hyme fald.
and, fore na thinge sa wele ma mane
oure-cume be slycht as ma womane,
twa demycelis, þat ȝonge ware,
& of bewte had na pare,
he gat—and ane vycena
callyt þai, & þe tothyre aquila—
& hecht to þame, gyf þai mycht wyne
christofore, & gere hyme syne,
þat he suld gyf þame Ineucht of gude,
quhare-of to by þame clathe & fude.
& þai hycht to do þat tyt,
fore þai ware bordalouris parfyt.
In presone þane stekit ware þai
with christofore, quhare he lay;
& þai fayndyt hyme with al slicht
to syne with þame; bot þai ne mycht.
christofore fore þame þane was rade,
quhene he saw hyme sa hard stede,
& vthyre helpe had he nane,
bot al to god has hyme tane.
dewotly þane fel he done,
& knelyt, & mad his oracione
al a quhyle, & sene rase,
& þat [þa] wemane speryt has
with stut vysage & auchtful spek:
“quhat mak ȝe heyre, quhat Is ȝe sek,
ore quhare-to are ȝe hydyre brocht?”
his vysage þan sa lycht þame thocht,
þat þai ware rad, & sad in hy:
“þu godis seruand, hafe mercy
of ws, & kene ws how to trew
In a god, in quham þu treuys now;
sa throw þi techinge we ma wyne
fra hyme fore-gewine of oure syne.”
christofore þane þame prechyt sa,
ore þai of þat place cane ga,
þat þai ware redy fore to take
bath payne of ded fore cristis sake,
& opynly it tald but bad,
þat þai ware cristis weman mad.
& quhene þe kinge þe suthfastnes
wyste, quhou þay cristine was,
gret ennoy he had in thocht,
& gert þame sowne til hym be brocht,
& sad: “is It suthte þat ȝe
þusgat has dissawit me,
& has tane cristis lay,
& lewit ȝoure godis & ȝoure lay?
but delay ȝe tel It me!
fore I dowt wechit þat ȝe be
be cristofore in sorcery,
þat has ȝou led in sic foly.
bot be myn godis I swere ȝou til,
my bydynge bot gyf ȝe son fulfil,
& sacrify oure godis to,
rycht as ȝe ware wont to do,
ded in hard payne ȝe sal haf,
to gyf ensampil til þe lafe.”
þane to þe kinge sad þai in hy:
“gyf þu wil we sacryfy,
gere þe streitis wele clengit be,
& to þe tempil al cum & se,
quhow þi biddinge sal be done!”
& as þai bad, done was sone.
In-to þe tempil þai com in hy,
& lousit þare beltis spedly,
& put þame sone a-bowt þe hals
of þai maumentis þat vare fals,
& gert þame tak sik a fal,
þat þai brak in pecis smale.
þane to þame al stannand þer-by,
þis cane þai sa sorofully:
“gais & gettis ȝou lechis fele,
ȝoure brokine godis fore to hele!”
& quhene þai tald to þe king
hale þe suth of þis tythinge,
out of wit nere he ȝud,
& bad þame þat by hym stud,
a gebet sone to gere ma,
& hynge þare-one aquila,
“& til hyre fete bynd in hy
a gret stane þat be hewy,
þat þir tyrandis ma drau in tvyn.”
þane his tyranis furth can ryn,
& did as he þaim bad in haste;
& scho to god sa ȝald þe gaste.
& syne hir cystyr vnena
his tormentoris he has gert ta,
& in a fyre, was wele gret,
þat nane mycht nere cum fore hete,
bath fete & handis bundyne faste
In þe mydis þa kest hyr in haste.
bot þe fyre na-thing hyre deryt—
þe grace of god hyre sa wel weryt.
þane wend þe king It had bene
sorcery, þat he had sene;
fore-þi hyre hed he gert in hy
be strykine of dilyuerly.
In gret hy syne gert þe kinge
christofore of presone til hyme brynge.
with yrne schorgis þan gert he
In [his] presens hyme downgyne be,
til hyd & flesche ware ryvine at anys,
& of hyme lewyt bot þe bare banis.
þane gert þe kinge ane helme tak,
& in þe fyre It red al mak,
& one his hewid [it] sone gert do;
bot It na hurtinge mad hym to;
& eftyre gert þat felloune fule
of Irne mak a mekil stule,
& christofore þare-one a-bone
be bundine, & þare-one done
a mekil fyre, & to gere It
bryne, be kest in tar & pyk.
and ȝet þat stule, be godis grace,
vndir hyme as vax moltine was,
þat to se was selkuth thinge,
þat hym nocht deryt at brynnynge,
bot hale & fere passit his way,
as It had bene bot a play.
& þane þe fellone tyrand king,
þat was sorofull of þis thinge,
be-hynd his bak his handis bath
til a gret stok gert bynd [hym] rath,
& gert four hundreth knychtis wicht,
with bow & arowis sone þame dycht,
to schot al hyme fore to sla.
bot quhene þai schot þare arrois sa,
In-to þe ayre sa hangit all,
þat nane hyme twechit, gret na smal,
& nane grewit in ony thinge,
ovtane anerly þe kynge,
þat wend christofore had bene deide
thru schot of arrowis in þat stede.
vith þat scornynge gret mad he;
& sowne ane erow in þe ee
hyme hit, & strak [it] owt quytly,
& made hyme blynd one þat party.
christofore louse þan of al band,
Come, & before þe king can stand,
& sad: “tyrande, godis fa,
to-morne, I sa þe, sall I slan ma
ful endinge of myn temporale lyf,
þat I haf led in-to mykil stryf.
for-þi, quhene myn nek is in twa,
sowne eftyre myn blud þu ta,
& þare-with tweche þine ee in hy,
& þu sal se sone clerly.”
christofore furth þan haf þai lede,
furth one to þe heding stade.
þare he knelyt in gud will,
þe ende of his lyf to fulfill,
& mad his prayere dewotely;
syne to þe basare sade in hy:
“stryk of myn hede, bruthyre dere,
gyf þu wil be partenere
with me of þe lyf þat I ga to.”
þe basare, as he bade, can do,
& strak his hewyde of in hast;
& sa to god he ȝalde þe gaste.
þe kinge tuk þan a lytil we
of þe fresche blude, & vet his ee,
sayande: “in name of Ihesu
& sancte christofore I tweche þe nov.”
þane of þire wordis be þe mycht
bath fare & clene he gat þe sycht.
& alsa þane of godis grace
of Inwart licht Illumynt he vas,
as of christofore thru þe mycht
he had gottyne ovtwart sycht.
þe kinge crystis treutht has tane,
& al his kinryk, ore he fane,
he gert trow in god werray,
& al þe Idolis put away,
& of þare templis kirkis made,
fore god & fore christoforis sak sade,
& commawndment gef strat þar-to,
þat quha mysded, he ore scho,
god ore christofore, þai sulde sone
be tane & to þe dede be done.
þe king sa godly wrocht þane,
þat he be-come a haly mane,
& now in Ioy he is parfyt
with sancte christofore, & delyt.
& god gyf grace ws sa to be,
amen, Amen, par cheryte.
of þis martyre in-to þe glose
In his preface sais Ambrose:
“god to christofore gafe sic grace
of vertuyse lare, þat in hym was,
þat thru his lare be wertu
of paianis he had gert trew
aucht & sexty thousand but ma,
& gert al cristyne treutht ta,
& mony vthyre gud dedis dede
thru syndry myraclis, þat he kyde;
fore owt of bordale he brocht twa,
vycena and als aquila,
þat ware fede in þat fendis In,
& lange tyme lay sollit in syne;
bot he to god mad þame bowne
of martyrdome to tak þe crowne,
& send þame forow hym to hewine,
with gret Ioy and angel stewine.
& he ourcome tormentis sere
ful hard, þat fore hyme graþ[i]t were,
as to þe Irne hat wellande
& þe fyre vndir brynnande,
na þe hat helme of stele
one his hede set, hurt hym na dele;
na ȝet foure hundir knychtis thra,
al þat day schot hyme fore to sla;
& ane arow done cane lycht
& rewyt þe king of ane ee-sycht,
þat of þe blud was heilit in hy
of christofore, martyre mychty;
of þai fele archeris als a knycht,
þat of ane ee had tynt þe sycht,
be a drope of þat haly blud
of þat martyre gat sycht ful gud,
& þat drope gaf hym grace to se
rychtwyse treutht with hartly ee.
& þis martyre in þat stede,
quhare he resawit temporale ded,
dewotely mad his vrysone,
þat, quha-sa with deuocione,
seand his ymage, prayit hym til,
þat he þat day suld haf na Il,
& specialy fore sudand deide,
& als fore al seknes remede,
til al [þaim], þat in deide ore thocht
hyme worschipis ore honouris ocht.
vitht þat al þai þat by stud nere,
a voyce owt of hewine can here,
þat sad: ‘christofore, mak þe bowne
to cum to hewine & tak þe croune,
quhare-of þu sal cronyt be.
& god als has granttit to þe
þi bowne, & forthyre grant he mais
til al þat þe in honoure has.’”
sancte ambross makis lowyng
þis of þis martyr. bot I ne can fynd
of hyme þe dat in-to þe buk,
hou lang It was fra crist flesch tuk;
bot I fynd þat he end can ma
In þe cite of lucya
of Iule þe xxv day.
& of hyme mare can I nocht say,
bot prays hym hartly fore to be
gud frend til al in necessite.

XX.—BLASIUS.

XXI.—CLEMENT.

To translate is myne entent
þe haly story of clement,
þat at name had worthily;
fore he was al ful of mercy;
& in his ded he was rycht wyse,
& in his word þat al dewice,
& rype in conuersacione,
& mek in contencione.
& of sere I haf herd tald,
þat wedyr & wynd he has in wald—
fore-þi dewot til hym suld be
þai þat saylis to þe se—
& was cumyne of nobile kine
of rome, þat Ilke towne with-In.
& his fadir faustidyane,
& his modir mantydyane
ware callit, & his brethire twa,
faustinus & faustus alsa,
þane borne bath one a nycht,
fully & fayre to manis sycht.
þus weman was of sic bewte
þat it was wondir fore to se.
fore-þi hir husbandis bruthyre
hyre lufit mare þan ony vthyre.
bot his ȝarninge scho ne wald fulfil,
na ȝet hyre husbande tel It til,
fore dowt of fede betwen þam twa.
þare-fore scho hyre awysit swa,
þat fore a quhile scho wal[d] gang
& dwel vthyre folk amang,
til þat hyre mach had forȝet
Is foly þat he one was set.
fore be withdrawine of access
Is slokit oft sic wantones.
fore wantones makis ȝouthed wod
thru plesand & wanton fud.
fore-þi scho thocht þat hyre Absence
aganis foly suld mak defence.
þane, hyre purpos to fulfill
& gere hyre man content þare-til,
scho sad, þat scho had sene a sycht
þat hyre disesit al þat nycht,
& owt of mesure mad hyre rade,
bot owt it to tel dowt scho had.
hyre husband sone but delay
bad til hyme scho suld it say.
“sir,” scho sad, “me thocht, to me
aperyt a man awful to se,
þat bad I suld my barnis twa
tak, & of þis cunctre ga,
& be þare, til þat he
to cum agane lewit me;
bot I dyd þat, þai & I
suld peryst be soroufully.”
þane scho gret one hym so sare,
& he, þat luffit na thing mare
þane hyre, to content hyre sone,
he sad: “deme, It mon be done.
I wil þat þu þe redy make,
& a gret menȝe with þe take,
& þi twa twynnis als with þe,
sene þat It mone nedly be.
& oure þe se til Athenas,
gyf fortowne wil, I red þe pas,
& gere þe barnis gang to layre;
fore science habundis þare.”
þane was scho fayne & hyre mad
redy sone but mare a-bad.
& he held with hyme at hame
his ȝongest sowne, clement be name,
þat þat tyme was fyftene ȝere,
to confort hyme in sic mystere.
þane to se matydyane
with hyre barnis he wais has tane,
& schipyt, & raysit sale one hycht,
& saylit furth, til one a nycht
þai brak one a grak, þat lay
hyd in þe se, nere þe day.
sa hapnyt þat matydyane
was castine to þe land alane;
& hyre barnis, hyre vnwitand,
til It was day, ware fletand
one a burd, & sawit ware,
as I sal tel ȝow forthyrmare.
& þe modir, quhene It was day,
bath hyre barnis þat myssit away,
hyre-self had castine in þe se
na-ware scho trewit þai suld be
castine to land, þat scho mycht haf
þare ded boydis fore to grawe.
& quhen scho sykyrly has sene
þat þai away [war] quhyt & clene,
scho goulyt, & grat, & rawe hir hare,
& dang hyre body & face bare,
& with hyre tethte hyre handis bat,
þat rewth was to se hyre stat.
na confort wald scho nan tak,
þocht sere weman come fore hyre sak
hyre mykil sorow til a-mese,
þat tauld how þame hapnyt wes
of frawart fortone als mykil & mare;
bot þai cuth nocht keyle hyre care.
til at þe laste, to mend hyre chere,
a vedow has sad, stannand nere,
quhow þat scho tynt had hir husband,
þat ȝunge man was & awenand,
schort tyme before a-pone þe se,
fore maryne[r] rycht gud was he,
& fore hyme sic doule had tane,
þat housband wald scho neuir nane.
with þat sum confort can scho ta,
& vith þis wedou til house ga,
& dwelt with hyre & wane hir met,
syk as scho mycht with handis gat.
sone eftyre hyre handis twa,
þat scho had bittine, wordit sa
vnhelful, þat scho mycht nocht swynk,
na wyne with þame met ore drink;
& þe weman, scho can vith dwel,
In þe parlesy sa sadly fel,
þat matydiane worthit ga
to gat lyfing to þame twa;
fore nothyre of þame had vthire gud
bot þat þai thigyt to þare fud.
& fra a ȝere was fully gane
fra þe tyme scho come fra hame,
hyre husbandis messyngeris wend
til athenis hyre eftyre hend,
as he þat wend scho had ben þare
with hyre twa sonnoys at þe layre.
bot quhen þai come, þai nocht fand,
na of hyre hard ony tythand,
& come a-gane, & tald how þai
had tynt þare trawale. but assay
he wald gyf men mycht fere ore nere
of hyre ony tything heyre.
new messyngeris send he sowne;
bot, as þe fyrst did, þai haf don.
þane was hyre husband ferly wa,
& thocht þat hyme-self wald ga;
& in gud ȝemsel lewit clement,
& his self to schipe is went.
þane eftyre clement twenty ȝere
dwelt at hame, & cuth nocht here
of fadir na modir [ony] tythand,
quhare þai be-come in ony land.
& in þe meyntyme he hym gaf
to get sciens oure þe lawe,
& þare-In sat sa hale his thocht,
þat he þare-of wane þe locht.
to wyt þane, ful besy was he,
gyf þe sawle vndedly mycht be,
& ȝed ful of[t] þane fore-þi
to þe scule of phylosophy. [OMITTED]
scornand hyme, callit hym wod.
sa amang þame þis clement stud,
& hyme sic questione can mowe
In scornyng, his wit to prowe:
“quhy is þat a lytil fla
has sex fete & wengis twa,
& quhy þe gretaste camele
has bot foure, as we se wele?”
til hyme sad sancte barnaba:
“þu ful, ethe ware answere to ma
to þi questione, gyf suthfastnes
had þe mowit; & neuir-þe-les
It ware bot tynt wark ȝou to schaw
þe cause þare-of, fore ȝe mysknaw
of creatouris þe makere;
fore-þi na wondir þocht ȝe ere.”
þane clement to þis word tuk kep,
& hyd It in his hart sa depe,
þat eftyre [he] throw barnaba
þe cristine treutht in hyme can ta;
þe quhilk hym tacht sa þat he can ga
to sek sancte petyre in Iuda;
þe quhilk hyme taucht sa þat he
of sawle trewit inmortalyte.
symone magus þan was
ful of fellouny & wikitnes,
& had with hyme dyscypilis twa,
viseta callit & aquila;
þe quhilkis eftyre a quhile sene
lewit hyme, & to petyre sene,
seand his falset, one þai paste
& til petyre anerdit fast.
At clement þan petir cane spere
quhat kine he had, & quhat þai ware.
& he hyme tald, & nocht hyd,
how til his fadir it betyd,
& til his modyre & brethire fyrst,
he tald hale, fore he best wyst,
& sad þat gret hope had he,
þat his modir in þe se
was drownyt & hyre barnys twa,
& his fadir fore doule & wa
he trewyt in þe se mysferde.
& fra sancte petyre þis had hard,
mycht nocht conteyne þane, but he
be-howyt gret fore [pure] pitte.
þane fra þe land of amarabis,
þat fra þine sex myle Is,
ane Ile, come petyre, & tuk land
with his dyscypilis, & þare fand
matydiane. & alswa þare
of glas twa mykil pelaris ware,
fare & of sa gret hycht
þat wondir was to se þe sycht.
& as he stud one þam gowande,
matydyane he saw thyggand,
& sad: “weman, þu dois syne,
þat thyggis & þi met ma wyne,
& helpe þe be þi handis twa.”
“sir,” sad scho, “It is nocht sa,
fore of my knawine ded are mad.
allace! gyf me drownyt I had,
ore deyd in vthyre wyse!”
þan sad petyre: “þu art nocht wise;
wat þu nocht þare sawlis all
þat þame-self slais, peryse sall?”
“wyst I,” sad scho, “fore certanete
þat sawlis ay suld lyfand be,
ful fayne I wald myn self sla,
þat I mycht se myn childir twa.”
þane þe cause cane petir spere,
þat hyre cawit to ma sic bere.
þane tald scho til hym al þe tale,
as before ȝe harde me al hale.
þane sad he: “with me is lent
a ȝu[n]g man, callit to nam clement,
þat tellis nere how þe same
til his brethyre tyd & his dame.”
& quhene scho hard þe tything tel,
In swoninge sone þare scho fel;
bot quhen scho hyre spritis gat,
gretand sare sic wordis scho spak:
“I ame þe modyre of þat mane,”
& til his fet scho fel done þane,
& prayt hyme til haf pite
of hyr, & late hyr hire sone se.
“gyf I,” he sad, “þe til hyme schaw,
þu mone dysimle þe to knaw
hyme in þis Ile til we are,
& mad ws bowne in schipe to fare.”
& sad scho hyme, scho suld do sa.
& petyre hyre be þe hand cane ta,
& hyre with hyme to schipe had,
quhare-at clement hyme abad.
& fra scho was to clement brocht,
contene hyre langare scho ne mocht,
bot in hyre armys hym gat swith,
& kyssyt hyme ful mony syth.
& quhene he wend scho wod had bene,
he schot hyre to þe erde in tene.
þane sad petyre: “myn sowne clement,
quhy has þu sa þi modir schent?”
þat quhene he hard his mastir tel,
gretand done one hyre he fel,
& knew hyre sowne. þan bath can gret,
& in armis vthyre can get.
þane petyre fore hyre prayt sa,
þat scho recouerit hyre handis twa,
& gert hyre þat lay in parlasy,
þane til hyme be brocht in hy,
& mad hyre sowne hale & fere.
clementis modir þan cane spere
of his fadir. þane sad he:
“dame he passit to sek þe,
gane mare now þane twenty ȝere;
bot neuir of hyme can I word here.”
quhene scho hard þat, scho sychyt sare,
& sorow þare-of scho had & care;
nocht-[þane] ȝet confort scho hade
of hyre sowne þat [scho] sa fundyn had.
& in þe mentyme vyceta
& his brothyre aquila,
fore ferly abaysit ware þa,
& lyk sic wordis þai can sa:
“ a god, þat al has fore to stere,
quhethyre It be suth þat we se here?”
quod petyre þane to þame sone:
“ȝa, suthfastly al þus Is done.”
þai fretyt þar facis þane
fore ferly, & þis spek be-gane:
“& we faustinus & faustus
are, þat oure modyre wenis þus
ware peryste.” & rycht þane þai twa
þare modyr cane in armis ta
& kissit oft. & [þane] sad scho:
“quhat may þus be so, petyre, lo!”
sad [he]: “þire are þi sonnis twa,
faustinus & faustus alsa;
þe quhilk þu wend lang tym sene
bath drownyt in þe se had bene.”
& quhene þe modyre þis has hard,
as wod of wyt nere scho ferd,
& fel in swonyng in þe place,
& sad, quhene scho recoueryt was:
“myn dere sonnis, I pray ȝow
tellis me quhow ȝe chapyt now!”
sad þai: “quhen þe schipe wes brokyn,
one a burd þane are we lopyne,
þat one þe ways ws bath bare,
til þare come in þe sithtware
Reueris sayland & ws fand,
& tuk ws In, & brocht to land;
& til a wedo, callit Iustine,
þat honest was, þai sald vs syne;
& scho changit oure namys in hy,
& fosterit ws rycht teyndirly,
& als hyre sonnis sat to layre,
wel tacht in artis til we ware.
þane al oure besynes in hy
we set in-to phylosophy,
& drew syne to symon magus,
þat fosterit was & fed with ws;
bot his fals-hed, quhen we had
persawit, we lewit hym but bad.
& syne, as god wald, thru ȝache
printese to petyre mad ware we.”
quhene scho þis hard, scho vas glad
þat hyre barnis scho fundyn had.
thane one þe morne petir can ta
clement, vyceta, & aquila,
& passit til a priwe place,
quhare he wend na man was,
quhare he & þai mare dewotly
mycht mak þare prayere Ithandly.
& quhene þai had in prayere bene
a quhyle, ane ald man haf þai sene,
honest but powre wes he,
& semyt gudman fore to be,
þat sad: “I haf pite of ȝow
þat semys wele þat erris now,
wenand þat ȝe wel do perchance;
fore nothyre god na purwiance,
na ocht quhare-In men suld affy,
bot chance ore fortone anerly
& þe course of manis gettynge
wyrkis al, & ellis na thing,
as be my-self wele prowit haf I,
as man wele tacht in metaphesy.
erris nocht þare-fore, I ȝow say!
suppos þat Ithandly ȝe pray,
sic fortone sal ȝe haf nedlinge,
as was ȝow talȝet in ȝoure getting.”
thane clement til hyme dressit his ene,
& thocht before he had hyme sene.
& gret disputacione cane ma
bath clement & his brethyre twa,
as sancte petyre, þare master, bad,
agane þat ald, with resone sad
& argument mad rycht playne,
þat pwruiance was al certane.
& quhene of eld fore reuerence
þai callit hyme fadir, in defence
of argument þat he cane ma,
til his brethyre sad aquila:
“quhat nedis ws fadir hym to cal,
sene in mawndement we haf al
one þis erde fadir to cal nane.”
ȝet þane hyme-self sad, ore he fane:
“fadir, tak it nocht dysesfully,
þat my brethyre blamyt haf I,
fore þat þai fadir callit þe;
fore in contrare bydyng haf we
In erd ony fadir to call.”
þat stud a-bowt, þane lucht al,
& sa dyd petyre & þat auld,
þat aquila nedly wit wald
quhy þai lucht. & clement in hy
sad: “þare-of þu has na ferly;
fore nemand fadir þu did It
quhare-of wthyre þu has wyt.”
þane answert til hyme aquila:
“forsuth, I ne wat gyf I did swa.”
quhene þai dysput had lang quhil
of powruiance, þat ald can smyle
& sad: “pourwiance I cuth trew,
gyf ne ware myn inwit now
lettis me to grant þare-til.
& quhy? ȝe here [sal], gyf ȝe wil;
fore of my-self & [of] my wyf,
þat I haf lowyt as my lyfe,
þe gettyne kene I wondir wele,
& it þat gottine [is], ilke-dele
as talȝet is mon be but were:
as ȝe þe suthfastnes may here.
fore thru þe playnyt þat regnyt þan
hyre worthit be ane Il wemane.
fore-þi excusyt haf I
hyre of þat wordyt be nedly.
fore quhene hyre fadyre can hir get,
In sic wyse war þe planetis set—
mars with wenus in þe myd,
& þe mone, as þane be-tyd,
In heldyne was of martis house,
& in þe bowndis of saturnus;
& of þe planetis sic mellynge
In þe tyme of engendryng
gerris weman do adultery,
& by þare serwandis fore to ly,
& in pylgrimag to pass þe se,
& quyle in watyre drownyt be.
& of my wyf þis case þane fel,
þat cane hyre with hyre serwandis mel,
& schame with parel eftyre dred.
þare-fore of þe land scho fled,
& peryst syne in to þe se.
fore, as my bruthyre tald to me,
scho wald haf hym gert with hir play,
bot þat fore he sad hyre nay,
hyre awne serwand scho tuk in hy,
fore to slak hyre gret foly.
& schow was nocht to blame sere, þo
genesis þat gert hyre do.”
& ȝet of hyre, þat he sa lowyt,
he tald a dreme, quhou scho controvit
& gat fra hyme leyf to pase
with hyr barnis til Athenas,
& peryst syne in-to þe se,
& how þat eftyre folowit he.
ande quhene his sonnis herd þis tale,
þai wald haf ruschit one hym hale,
na ware þat petyre latting mad,
til þe tyme þaim lewyt he had.
þane sad petyre: “gyf I bryng þe
þi wyf quhyk, þat þu ma se,
þat neuir dyd with hyre body myse,
wil þu renunce to geness?”
quod he: “as It ma nocht be,
þe thing þat thu has sad to me,
rycht sa inpossible thing is,
þat ocht be done but genesis.”
þane sad petyre: “lo now here
þi sonnis thre, hale & fere,
clement, faustinus & faustyne!”
þe fadyr þane strynth cane tyne.
In swonyng þane he fel flat brad,
fore þe gret Ioy þat he had;
& his sonnis one hyme cane fal,
& kyssit hyme, & dred with-all
þat he þe lyf suld halely
tyne. bot he recouerit in hy,
& gat one fet, & speryt all
hou þame betyd [had] gret & smal.
þane sat þai spel one hend, & tald
hale þat awenture to þat alde.
sone come his wyf, & speryt þane:
“quhare is my dere lord & my mane?”
þane as scho þus criyt & gret,
hyre sudanly has he met,
fore Ioy, & hyre in armys racht,
& hyre enbrasit with al his macht,
as lyffaris þat had bene in-twyne,
til ese þare hartis cuth nocht blyne.
& as þai þus to-gydyre ware,
wenand þai coueryt had þare care,
ane come & tauld, apyenene
was cumyne als & aunbione,
þat dere ware to faustyniane,
& in þe towne had Inis tane
with symone magus. & þane he
sone passit þame to se,
& lewyt þe laf with petyre stil,
til he suld cum agane hyme til,
& passit til his freyndis twa,
þat eftyre his come gret Ioy can ma.
na he had nocht with þame ane houre
bene, quhene fra þe emperoure
til antyoche was send men sere,
fore [al] wechis til Inquere,
& þat enchanmentis cuth ma,
& sic folk to tak & sla.
þane symone magus, þat sare dred
to be fundyne in þat sted,
of his vysag þe lyknes
In faustyniane he gert empresss,
In lyknes of hyme, [sa] þat he
fore syk a man suld takine be
& slane, fore þat his sonnis twa
to sancte petyre sene cane ga.
& sone eftyre þis was done,
he fled of þe land alsone.
& fawstyniane neuir-þe-les
persawit nocht þe lyknes,
þat at fals man, quham-of I mene,
bot come a-gane, as nocht had bene.
& þare was nane þat hyme saw,
þat fore faustyniane can hym knaw,
ovtane petyre, þat na tryget
mycht dyssawe, na ȝet falset.
faustyniane, wenand þat he
with his resawit suld wel be,
gud semland mad hyme hamly;
& þai agane dyspytuisly
warnand hyme witerly but wen
þat symon maguse he had ben.
þane sayd he: “quhat aylis ȝou
me to refuse & wary now,
& I ȝowre fadyre & ȝe fle me?”
þane sad þai al It mycht nocht be:
“fore symon magus we þe kene,
þat dissawis mony men.”
þane faustyniane but mare
his wikit fortone regratit sare:
“allace me wreche!” can he say,
“me wyf & barnis knew þis day,
& þis sammyne day refusis me!
sa þat in hart I mycht nocht be
glad na blith in sa mekil tyme,
na esit vith þame suld be myne.”
quhene þis his wyf herd, scho can rare
sorowfully, & rawe hyre hare,
& hyr barnis gret sa Increly,
þat quha-sa þane had bene by,
þare mekil sorow fore til se,
of þame suld haf had pyte.
off þis matere now no mare I tel,
bot to þe story twrne I sel
of sancte clement, quhame-[of] here
to tret [I] tuk myn matere.
fra þine to petyre þis clement,
til in his lyf he was present,
empleysit wele in godis serwice
In althing, at al dewise.
þat, fra he had to rome regresse,
& wyst þe tyme cumyne was,
þat he suld thole fore cristis sak,
clement his successoure can mak,
fore to gowerne haly kyrk,
& in to godis corne to wyrk.
þane eftyre sancte peteris ded,
clement wysly tuk rede,
þat he wald nocht next petir be,
na be ony way consent wald he,
þat Ihesu cristis patronag
succed suld be harytage,
na ony pape suld of his wil
mak ony man succed hyme til.
þare-fore to lyne fyrst sted gaf he,
& to clet syne, pape to be.
bot opunyonys ware sere,
quhethyr þire twa papis were,
or þe papis sted-haldande;
bot I dare nane of þame warand.
bot ȝet ware þai worth bath nocht-þan
to be wrytine with haly mene.
bot eftyr þir twa war dede,
clement succedit in peteris sted;
fore Iow, sariaȝine, & cristine man
In þare degre lufit hyme þane.
& of þe regionis ilkane
þe powre men gert he wryt be nam;
fore he tholit nane subiet be mad
to beg, þat baptysme takine had,
sayand, vnsemly ware to se
cristine man begare to be.
the prefet mamertyne clement before
gert bryng, & with gret schoyre
fandyt to gere hyme sacryfy
to fals godis. bot he in hy
sad: “leware [war] to me þat þu
wald þe & to resone bow;
for, þocht þat hundis one ws bark
& of þare tetht lef in ws mark,
þai ma nocht lat ws for to be
ȝet resonabile men parde.”
mamertyne þane lettris wrat
to trajane emperoure; & fut-het
he wrat agane, & bad þat he
suld sacrify, or ellis fouryd be
oure þe se in til exile
next tresone in a mykil Ile.
& quhene þe lettris cumyne ware
to þe prefet, he had sic care
þat he fast gret with pure pyte.
þane to sancte clement þus sad he:
“þi god, to quham þu treutht has,
helpe þe in exile quhare þu gais.”
þe prefet þane gert ordand hyme
a schype, & al gert lay þare-In
at nedyt hyme; & mony þene
with hyme went of relygiouse men,
& of secularis alswa
In exile with hyme fel cane ga.
to þat Ile as þai cummyne ware,
þai fand twenty thousand men & mare
cristyne, þat in pyne lang quhile
had leyd þare lyf In þat exile,
& til heu maubre deputyt ware,
&, quhene þai saw clement, gret sare.
& þane to solace þame sad he:
“It is nocht fore þe cert of me
þat god has [send] me til ȝow here
of ȝoure crone to be parthenere.”
bot ymang vthyre paynis sere
þat þai haf tholyt þat are here,
þe maste grewand of ony ane
Is þat þai had vatir nane
bot þat þai brocht þine sex myle,
fra þai come in þat exile.
to þame þan sad he swetly:
“pray we to god dewotly
þat til his confessoure he send
vatyr, oure mystere til amend;
as he be moyses gert be tane
far vatyr one þe hard stane,
rycht sa til ws his mycht he kyth,
þat of his frendschipe we be blyth.”
to god his prayere cane he ȝeld,
& one Ilke syd hyme behelde,
In hope of sik nede til haf bute,
& saw a lame hald vpe þe fute,
& kend the byschape til þe place,
quhare þe watyre sowne wonnyn vas.
bot þat lame, þat he þare can se,
was criste, þat nane mycht se bot he.
þane to þat place went he in hy,
& bad þame þat stud hyme by:
“In þis sted ȝe delfe in haste
In name of the haly gaste!”
bot one þat place mycht nane of þame
hyt, wald þai neuir sa fayne.
þane hyme-self tuk a lome, and smat,
& fand quhare þe erde was wat
In þe place quhare þe lame stud.
þane delfyt þai one with blyth mud,
& mad a wele, þat to þis day
of rycht gud watyre rynnis ay.
þane of þis byscape sic name ran,
þat til hyme gaderyt mony mane,
sa þat one a day be hyme ware
baptyst thre hundir mene & mare;
& templis of þare ydolis all
þai dystroyt, gret & small,
thru al [þe] cunctre, fere and nere,
& sa he wrocht þat in a ȝere,
of kyrkis sexty and fyftene
ware mad, of fare work & clene.
traiane, þe emperoure, þat herd
how clement with the puple ferd,
& þar-of sik tale cane heyre,
þat he ane erle send fore to spere.
þe quhilk, quhen he come in þat ile,
& dwelt þare a lytil quhyle,
& be examinacione
fand þat al ware redy bowne
martirdome erare to tak
þane cristine treutht to forsak,
þe erle þane had sic pyte
of sa gret a comunyte,
þat he to multytud gaf stede,
& demyt sancte clement to dede.
þane ane ankyre rycht hewy
he gert bynd til his hals in hy,
& gert [hyme] roy in þe exile
furth one vatyr sex myle,
& drownyt hyme fore na vthyre sak
bot þat cristine men suld nocht mak
cors-sancte of hyme, na honoure do,
na ȝet sepulture gyf hyme to.
þane al þe multytud cane stand,
behaldand þis, apone the land,
bot craft phebus & cornely,
þat prayt þe puple Increly
þat þai wald but ony delay
til Ihesu crist al hartly pray,
for his grace to lat þame se
quhare clement lay in the se.
& quhene þai has þis prayere mad,
þe sey obeyt but abad
thre myle of space & wele mare.
þane folowyt þai furth one þare,
& fand a kyrk in-to þe sand
of marmore mad be angel hand,
& in a tow[m]e fand his body,
& þe ankyre lyand hyme by.
þane lowit þai god of his mycht,
þat fore his martyre sa had dycht.
schowit was þane til his printese,
þe Ilke ȝere þe sammyn wyse.
þe se It-self suld It with-draw,
& þat relyk til al men schaw
In þe tyme of his passione
til al of gud deuocione,
& gyf þame dry gat da[i]s sewine,
In honoure of god of hewine;
to quhame wyrschipe & honoure be,
sais al Amen, parcheryte.
men suld lof god, þat þis vald wirk,
to strinth þe treutht of haly kyrk,
& als [with] god lowe hyme trewly,
þat to serwe god was sa worthy,
& mad sic cause to god that he
bath quhyk & dede suld honouryt be.
& ȝet, thocht he was worthy,
til he was quyk, & sa haly,
þat god fore hyme wrocht merwalis sere,
þat ware lang to rekine here.
fore-þi of þame no mare I tel,
bot a ferly þat befel
of hyme in-to þat ilke sted,
quhare traiane gert do hym to ded.

XXII.—LAURENTIUS.

Lawrent vele þe name has tane
of a fare tre callit lawrane,
þat wyntyre & somir ay is grene,
& gud flowr has & clene;
quhare-of mene wont war to mak
I[n] ald tyme cronis for þe sak
of victory þat gudmen wane,
& for to crowne þame þar-with þane.
& alsa mychtty wertuise thre
ar contenyt in þis tre.
In þe fyrst, it brakis þe stane,
þat man in bledyr ore nere has tane;
& in it als is gud helpying
to þame þat hurt are in heryng;
alsa it has vertu & maucht
fore to resyst a-gane fyre-slacht.
for-þi ser[u]yt it wel to be
sancte laurence cronyt with þis tre,
fore he oure-come wel decyum
& his tormentis, al & sume;
& of mystroward mony ane
he brak þe hartis hard as stane;
& he gaf spiritual heryng
to gere men cnaw hewynly thing;
& he covryt & mad defence
a-gane wykit men & þare sentence.
& þare-fore me think wel his name [OMITTED] [OMITTED]
quhare þe emperoure cane ly,
& weryt hyme quhare he lay,
& syne slepandly stal away,
& on þe morne sic sorow mad
as na wyt þare-of he had had.
þane al þe emperouris mene
be foce & prayere wane he þane,
& come to rome but abad,
& emperoure þare-of was mad.
& quhene þis ȝong philipe herde
quhow decius with his fadyre ferd,
In gret besynes & cure,
he tuk his fadir gret tresoure,
& to sancte syxt þane tacht [he] It,
& to sancte laurens, fore þare wyt,
to gyf to pure & haly kyrk,
fore he wyst þai wald lely wyrk,
& fled a-way, fore dowt þat he,
as was his fadyre, slane suld be.
þis decius [be]-thocht hyme þane
þat he had as a wykyt mane
Mwrth[r]yst his lord, [for]-þi fand he
enchesone quhy þat suld be,
In case þat he persawyt ware.
fore-þi al cristine mene wyd-quhare
Felloun[l]y he put to payne,
fore mene suld wene he had nocht slane
his lord in tresone, but fore-thi
þat he delt mare with ydolatry.
fore-þi mare felly be fare
he punyst cristine & þe ware.
& thru his persecucione
mony thowsand cristine fel done,
& martirdome fore criste has tane;
ymang þe quhilkis þis philp [w]as ane.
syne gert he spere with gret cure
eftyre his lordis fyrst tresoure.
befor hyme sat cyr[i]ak,
& coniuryt hyme for cristis sak
his hand one hyre hed to lay,
fore scho had seknes in It ay.
þane his hand one hyre he layd,
& in ferme treutht þir wordis sad:
“In þe name of god þu be
waryst of þine infyrmyte.”
& fra þine passyt he be nycht
til a stret, canarius hycht;
þare, in þe house of marcessy,
he fand cristine gaderit mony.
þane fore pite cane he gret;
syne sat done & wysch þare fet,
& gaf þame part of þe tresoure,
as he til vthyre ded before.
& þare fand he a man þat hicht
trecentene, þat had tynt sycht;
þe quhilk gretand can hyme pray
þat one hyme his hand he suld lay;
for he hopyt be godis mycht
& his prayere to gat his sicht.
þane laurence handis one hym lad
with tygland terys, & þis sade:
“Ihesu criste, of wyrgyne borne,
þat sicht gaf to þe blynd borne,
grant þe þi sicht.” & sone þane he
gat þe sicht, & wele cane se.
fra þine he come in-[to] a place,
quhare thre & sexty gaderit was.
ymang þame enteryt he be nycht,
& fand a prest þat Iustine hicht,
quham sixt, his master, ordinyt had.
for-þi he kyst his fet but bad,
& he one hyme fel ore he stynt;
þane athyre vthyre in armys hint.
syne Iustine let hyme alane,
& laurens has a bassyne tane
of vatir, & wesche þe fet of all
he fand þare, gret & small;
& syne he wesche Iustinis fet,
& with his teris cane þam wet,
& requerit hyme for to pray
for hyme, & ȝed one his way.
& quhene þat thre dais ware gane,
In þe palace salustiane
he come, & desium sittand,
& valerius with hyme, fand.
thane decius cane til hyme say:
”laurens, þu gattis na-wise delay,
bot tel now quhare þe hurdis are,
þat þu has heicht [vs] to declare!”
sanct laurence þane but abad
al þe poure men þat hyd he had,
before in ypolitis In,
In-to þat place he gart cum til hyme,
& sad with hey voice and clere:
“lo sir, to þe I half brocht here
lestand tresoure þat ma nocht falȝe.”
bot þat spek cuth nocht awalȝe,
for walaryane hyme bad in hy
to [his] fals godis sacryfy,
& his wechcraf[t] haly fore-ȝet,
quhare-in his treutht he halely set.
þane laurens cane nyt opinly
til fals godis to sacryfy.
decius, nere woud, bad þat he
dispolȝeit of his clathis suld be,
& syne one his body bare
with scharpe schurgis dungyn sare;
& syne bad lyft hyme vpe, þat he
of al paynis þe kynd mycht se;
with chenȝeis he gert bynd hym sone.
& as he bad, quhene al was done,
In þe tempil of Iouis sittand,
he gert bryng hym, bundyne fut & hand,
& with stafis gert hyme be beft,
til na-thinge hale one hyme was left;
& Irne platis of fyre brynnand
til his sydis syne þai band;
& eftyre syne with lompis of lede
he gert men dyng hyme nere to ded;
& þar-eftyre gert hyme straucht
In til framis with al þare macht,
& syne with schorgis dungyne be,
þat gret sorow was to se. [OMITTED]
“nou ma þu, catefe, wel se
þat I þe victor haf of the
na of þe tresoure þat þu socht,
na of þi paynis gyf I nocht.”
þane decius til his men can say:
“hat Irne til his sydis lay,
& als with stawis bet hyme wele,
þat tormentis now ma he fele!”
þane sayd sancte laurens dewotly:
“lord Ihesu criste, haf of me mercy!
fore, accusyt, I nyt þe nocht
bot granttyt þe in word & thocht.”
In þat oure a worthy knycht
to laurens sad, þat romane hycht:
“a fare ȝung man be-fore þe stand
I se, with a schet in hand,
clengeand þi hortis þat are sare.
þare-fore I pray fore godis ayre
þat me þu nocht leif, bot baptyse me,
fore throw þe I treu saf to be.”
with þat he brocht a vatir-cane,
& laurens hyme baptist þane.
& fra decius þat wyst,
he gert hed hyme for-out fryst.
þat ypolyt cane gret richt sare,
& before al had granttyt þare,
þat he had bene a cristine mane,
na ware laurens þat richt þane
bad he suld crist in hyme hyd,
til he hyme bad, quhat-euir betyd.
thane decius, fore Ire nere wod,
þame commawndit a-bout hym stud,
with lompes of led to dyng hym fast.
bot vnourcumyne he can ay last,
& sad: “lord Ihesu, þat dengnit þe
fore oure sawfte to mane be,
fore til deliuer ws of thryldome,
resawe me to þi kyn[g]dome!”
In þat houre, herand decius,
a voyce of hewine þan sad þus:
“ȝet paynis are aucht þe mony.”
þane decius loud cane cry:
“gud mene of rome, wil ȝe here
quhat solace þe feyndis here
to þis sacrylege makis now,
þat noþir wil in godis trew
na dredis ws na oure torment?
wald nocht resone he ware schent?”
In-to [a] frame þane bad he
of now he suld extendit be,
& als with schorgis beft be sare.
& sancte laurence in þat sythtware
blythly smylyt, quhare he was lad,
& to god sic wordis sad:
“blyssit be god, fadir of Ihesu,
þat sic confort has gyfine ws now,
þat we na desert makis to hafe!
& for þi pyte I þe crafe
þat þu þis grace lene to þire mene
þat about standis here, ma kene
þat to þame þe wil emplese
þu gyfis grace, solace & ese.”
[quhene] decius saw, þe victory
þat he mycht nocht haf anerly
of laurens, bot dyspysit be;
þare-fore ȝet [mare] wrek hyme thocht he,
& gert louse hyme fra þe frame
& with ypolyt be send hame,
til he mycht get til his entent
sume manere of new torment.
& one þe morne is he gane,
& tuk with him valaryane,
to chawmyre of olympyas,
þat house of bathine callit was;
& þare before, as he thocht,
gert sancte laurens til hym be brocht,
syttand in stule of Iugment;
& þare al manere of torment
he gert bryng & done be layd.
& to sancte laurens þane he sad:
“þi sorcery do now away,
& of þi kine to me þu say!”
þane laurens answert hyme:
“ame of spanȝe, as of kyne,
& in þis towne [wes] fosterit, & tacht
In godis lay & baptysme lacht.”
sayd decius: “It is nocht sa;
for godis law þu wald nocht ta,
fore thu na wil oure godis treu,
na ȝet na tormentis dredis þu.”
sad he: “sik hope haf I tane
of god, þat torment dred I nane.”
þane decius hyme bad in hy
til his godis to sacryfy,
“þat we spend nocht þis nycht in þe
with paynis hard.” þane answert he:
“þe nycht forsuth has na merknes,
bot ay schenis in clernes.”
decius þane gaf new byddyng,
his mouth with stanis for to ding,
bot he lofyt god as mare blith.
þane decius commawndyt alsyth
a mykil rost-Irene to be mad,
& laurence bryne þare-one brad
al nakyt, to he sacryfy
til his fals godis þare in hy.
þane sad lawrence: “of gud stewine
I me offyr to god of hewine
In sacrifice of swetnes;
Fore contryt spryt euir ȝet was
to my god thankful sacrifice.
bot to þine be na wyse
wil I bow; fore quhethyre suld he
þat makis, or is mad, honourit be?
& als þu wreche, vnhappy,
suld wit þat mare delyt haf I
In paynis, þat mare lykis me,
þane met ore drink emplesþ þe.”
ȝet decius til hyme cane say:
“Gyf þu has socht sic swet fud ay,
schaw ws ma þat trewis as þu,
þat þai fest ma mak with þe now!”
þane sad laurens: “tyrand, parde,
þu ar nocht worthy þame to se.”
þane decius al fore wrak
a gryt fyre sone gert mak
vndir þe rost-Irne, þat brint fast,
& salt & oyle þare-one gert cast;
& lourdanis mad þame al bowne
with scharpe forkis, & hald hym done.
þane sad laurens: “now þu ma se
þat þi fel fyre refreschis me,
and to þe ay-lestand payne
It sal mynistere, nocht to layne;
fore god wat I nyt hyme nocht,
accusit in word na in thocht,
& now one þe rost-yrne layd
I ȝeld hyme thank.” & als he sad:
“o ȝe warchis vnhappy!
se ȝe nocht al opynly
þat ȝoure colis refreschis me?”
& þane [þai] þat þat sicht can se,
ferly ware forwondryt þane,
þat he gert sa rost a quyk man.
þane sad laurens with gud chere:
“lord Ihesu, I lowe þe here!”
& with þat wpe þe ene he brad
and to decius he sayd:
“þe rostit syd turne vpe & ete,
& It at raw is turne & het!”
& þis sayand thankis he ȝald
to god, erand ȝong & auld:
“lord Ihesu, ay lowyt mot þu be,
fore I ame worthy to haf entre
within þe ȝatis of þi blyse,”
& ȝauld þe spryt, sayand þus.
qwene þis was done, þe way has tane
decius & valeryane,
þat red ware fore þare dedis,
& lewit þe cors apone þe gledis.
& in þe dawing of þe day
ypolyt tuk þe cors away,
& wand It in clathis fyne,
& syne send word to prest Iustine,
how laurens was rostit & ded,
& quhow þat decius þe sted
lewyt fore schame, & valeryane.
þane Iustine come, ore he fane,
& with [þe] helpe of ypolyt
þai tuk þe cors in dule & syt;
& to þe stret, callyt tyburcyne,
þai tway It bare, ore þai wald fyne,
quhare þe wedow dwelt cyryak,
þat gret sorow þare-of cane mak,
& hyd It þare til þe nycht;
in a grawe, fore it al dycht,
þai hyd þe cors before þe day,
& syne gretand vent þar way.
& al þe crystine þat þare ware,
fastyt þat day with hart sare,
lowand god of al his lane,
& syne ilkane his vay is gane.
als þe sammyne gregor tellis ws
at a prest, callit sanctillus,
sancte laurence lowyt & honouryt mare
þane ony sanctis þat in hewine ware,
& to byg set al his cure
a kyrk, mad in honoure
of þis martyr, bot lumbardis had
brynt it in were, & wast mad.
þane gat he men of craft to wyrk
& to reforme þis haly kyrk.
sa wantyt he bred in þat fare,
quhare-of he had his hart rycht sare.
þis martyre þane with incre wil
he prayt helpe to send hyme til.
& as he stud one þis musand,
he saw percase one his a hand,
in his awne hoyne, þat wes nocht het,
a laf quhyt as snaw be set;
þe quhilk, þo It ferly fare was,
It mycht nocht suffice nocht-þe-les
at a met bred to be,
as hyme thocht, to warmen thre.
þane þe martyris mycht sik was,
þat wald nocht þe wark suld cese,
þat he gert þe laf dais tene
serwe plentuysly til al þai mene.
for-þi to god be lowyng,
þat for hyme did sa ferly thing.
als in þe kyrk of sancte laurens
of melon hapnyt þis chance,
as vincent in his c[r]oniclis sais,
þar was a chelise in his days
of cristole fyne & sic bewte
þat farare mycht na man se;
þe quhilk one a hye day,
quhene þe prest þe mes suld say, [OMITTED]
bot rek[l]asly he let It fall,
and brak quhyt in pecis smal.
þe dekine, þat was richt wa,
þe smal pecis vpe cane ta,
& one sancte laurence altere
he lad þame with drery chere,
& prayt sancte laurence of his grace
to send hyme helpe in-to þat case.
þane men mycht se gret ferly,
hou þe pecis þat þare cane ly,
lape to-gydyr, & was farere
chalyce þane before be fare.
for-þi þis martyre we suld lofe,
þat sa mychty warkis can prowe.
I fand a myrakle, as I red
of þe swet laydy þat criste fede,
of a felone Iuge of dome,
þat stewine was callyt & dwelt in rom,
& gladly wald gyftis tak,
& fals Iugment oft mak,
& nocht anerly in war[l]dly thing,
bot kyrkis als, & spirituale thing.
of sic warkis ymang þe laf
falsly cane he wyne & haf
thre housis, þat gewine ware
to vphauld sancte laurens altere,
& a ȝard fra sancte agnet
with falset [had] he wonnyne ȝet,
& hadine þame with violence
fra haly kyrk, in fawt of fence.
& eftyre þat a lytil we
sa hapnyt þis wrech to de,
& to be brocht in Iugment,
quhare he na tyme had to repent,
& was accusyt stratly þare.
& sancte laurens in þat sythware
come, & beheld hyme with dedyngne,
& be þe areme can hyme strenȝe
[þriis] rycht sayre and Increly.
with þat angnes come nere by,
& with hyr virginis in quantyte,
bot scho wald nocht one hyme se.
þe Iuge þane sic sentence gaf,
þat man, þat wald tak, & haf
vtheris menis gud with Iniquite,
with Iudas traditore suld he be.
sancte preiect þan come but bad,
þat þis stewine in his lyf ay had
honouryt in gret specialite,
quhene he did mast iniquite;
& he sancte laurence & agnet
fore stewine prayt with wordis swet,
& with þe helpe of oure laydy,
þat þai come to þe Iug in hy,
& askyt grace fore his pyte,
þat stewine suld nocht sa tynt be.
þe Iuge þane at þe prayere
of þire fowre, I spak of here,
granttit þat his saule in hy
suld agayne til his body
fore thretty days, til þat he
of his synnis mycht clengyt be.
& quhene þai þis grace gottine had,
to stewine þane oure lady bad,
þat, for til helpe haf in þat ned,
he suld ilke day say þe bed.
& quhene þe saule was suthly
cummyne agane to þe body,
he fand his harme sa sare & wa
þat nere of wyt It gert hym ga;
fore it was lyk, quha had [it] sene,
brulyt in a fyre to haf bene.
þane restoryt he Ilkane,
þat with wrang he had tane,
& penance þane did werray,
& deyt one þe threty day,
& passit to god, þat bocht hyme dere.
bot ay his arme was sare but were.
þare-fore me think, laurence to wrath,
al gud men suld be rycht layth,
bot serwe hyme bath nycht & day,
to quhame be Ioy & honoure ay.
of þe emperoure als sancte henry
ane vthyre tale red haf I.
thane with radagunde his wyf
he had lange tyme led his lyf
In virginite, bath scho and he.
þe feynd, þat ay wil besy be
to tempt, þat þame twa had Inwy,
& gert hyme fal In Ialusy,
venand his wyf had mysdone
vith a ȝunge knycht. þane but hone
sic commawnment hyre he cane ma,
þat for quetance scho suld ga
one ane heyt yrne brynnande,
as þane þe law was in þe land,
þe quhilk of lynth fyftene fut had.
& quhene scho had hyre redy mad
to pas þare-one with gud chere,
hely scho sad, þat al mycht heyre:
“lord Ihesu, as þu wat me
of henry ȝet vnwemmyt to be,
& of al vthyre, sa I þe pray
þat I ma safly pas þis way.”
þe emperoure, þat schamyt was,
gaf hyre a strak a-pone þe face.
þane sad a voyce til hyre ful chere,
þat al þat stud by micht here:
“madyne, þu dred þe na dele,
fore mary þe sal helpe ful wele.”
with þat þe yrne but rednes
scho one ȝed, þat sa het was,
but ony skathe, as one cald lede.
& quhene þe emperoure was ded,
be-syd quhare ane herymyt lay
mony feyndis hyld þare vay.
his vyndow opnyt he in hy,
& þat þe last þat come þare-by,
he speryt quhat þai menȝe ware?
& he “a legione” sad “we are
of feyndis, þat passis in hy
to þe ded of cesare henry,
fore to se gyf he had ocht
mysdone to god in word ore thocht.”
þe hermyt þane hyme coniuryt sone
þat, als-a tyt as þai had done,
he til hyme but mare delay
suld cume, & tel quhat þare did þai.
& he reparyt but lang taryng,
sayand, þai did þare na thing;
“for, quhene we wald in skale put don
his ewil consawit suspicione,
þat he had of his wyf but skil,
& al vthyre ewil dedis til,
& in-[to] þe tothyre skale
his gud dedis ware al hale,
& we wend wele til haf þe mane
rostyt laurence come furth þane,
& a gret pot with erys twa
of massy gold furth he cane ta,
& in þat balance has he [it] done;
þane ourys veyt vpe tycht sone,
& of þat massy pot ful tyt
I brak ane ere fore þare dyspyt.”
þat pot, he sad, wes a chalyce
mykil & fayre at [al] dewice,
þat þe emperoure gert ma,
þat fore þe wecht had erys twa,
& in a kyrk offeryt It,
þat of sancte laurens was halowyt.
þis hermyt send þane to spere,
& fand al suth but ony were,
þat ded was þe emperoure
þat [sammyne] day & in þat houre,
rycht as þe feynd sad hyme hare,
& of þe chalyce fand þe ere
brokine þare & layd by.
þane gert þai þis notyfy
til almene fere & nere,
til excyt þame & til stere
to þis martyre dewot to be,
þat wele cane helpe quhare-euir wil he.

XXIII.—VII SLEPERIS.

XXIV.—ALEXIS.

Owhene-euir ilke cristine man
of cristis treutht gyf he ocht cane,
trewis þat thre statis are sere,
In quhilkis almen sal apere,
þat euire tuk lyf & cristine-dome,
be-fore god one þe day of dome:
of matrimone othyre in þe stat,
or contenens, as clerkis wat,
or ellis of virginite,
þe quhilkis mast dygne is of þe thre.
þo matrimone mad god of hewine,
& commawndyt to be kepyt ewine,
betwix oure fore-fadir & his mak
matrimone cane he mak,
befor þat man had don syne,
& als þe place of welth with-In,
In paradyse, þe place but pere,
þare is blys & Ioy but were.
& quhene god for ws com man,
borne he was of wedyt woman;
& wedyng honouryt he þat tyme
þat he turnyt vatyre in-to wyne.
& þat weding plesyt hyme,
fore ensampil I may bring In
þat he in weding borne was
of mary, þe quene of grace.
& contynens als wele he lufyt,
as [be] syndry ma be prowit:
fyrst, be þat noble wyf anna,
þat callit was prophetissa,
& treuly to god seruit ay
in þe tempil, nycht & day,
foure schore of ȝere, forout sak,
& prophecy of god cane mak,
sayand “forsuth, þis is he,
thru quham þe warld sawit sal be.”
of cristis byrth þe fourty day
of criste þis word scho cane say,
quhene his mody[r] mad hire offerand
for hyme eftyr þe law of þe land.
& symeone, þat in wedoue-hed,
þat lang tyme þat his lyf can led,
þocht he blynd was of gret elde,
with hartly eene ȝet he beheld
In tempil as þai brocht Ihesum,
& in armis sone hyme nom,
& sad: “now, lord, lat pas in pece
me, þat al tyme þi serwand was,
fore myne ene now has sene þe hele,
þat þu [has] hicht to Israel.”
of contynens mony vthyre ma
ensample mene ma ta:
as of margret, of scottis quene,
In widoued hyre lyf led clene,
& of þe noble wyf alsa
of rome, þat callyt was paula,
eliȝabet of vnguery,
& als þe magdelayne sancte mary,
sancte petyre als, & sancte germane,
& of vthyre sic mony ane;
sume eftyre weding, sum eftir syne
þai wex chast, & hewine can wine.
bot to god þai emples mast
þat fra þe byrth lifit þam chast,
as margret did, & agatha,
cecile, katerine, & lucya;
bot in oure laydy is best prowit
quhou wele virginite he lufyt.
for þe honoure of madyne-hed
sancte Iohne þe ewangelyst, we red,
slepand a-pone crystis kne
was dygne his privete to se;
In pathmos als þe angel brycht
schawyt hyme ful sely sycht.
fore in þame þat lifis chaste,
makis resting þe haly gaste;
for I trew þat god be
with maydined & with humelyte.
& I ȝou a tale wil tel,
In rome quhylum quhou befel
of a mane, þer wertuise twa
parfytly had & vthyre ma.
In Rome a nobile mane was,
eufamyan callyt, & his wyf aglas;
& with þe emperoure mast dere
he wes haldine, & but pere;
& he thre thousand men had ay,
serwand hyme bath nycht & day,
In clathis of silk cledine were,
& beltis of gold, costlyk & dere.
merciful was eufamyane
til al þat he saw ned begane.
Ilke day in his house had he
of pure folk fusyt burdis thre,
& Ilke day þat oure of nowne
to pere hyme-self wald serue but hone.
& his wyf was of þe sammyne wil
sic godlyk werkis to fulfil.
þai had na barnys þame betwene,
& þat gretly cane þai mene;
fore-þi to god þai prayt sa ȝarne,
þat þat laydy consawit with barne;
syne dyliuere was þat myld,
thru godis helpe, of a knaf chyld,
fare & quhyt, as vatir fame,
and had alixes to his name.
& fra þine in-to castyte
þai lufyt furth, scho & he.
& þat þare barne suld be na fowl,
þai set hyme ayrly to þe schule,
artis liberalis for-thy
þat he suld cone, & philosophy.
& fra he come to fourtene ȝere,
a maydine, þat mycht be his pere,
þai socht, & fand of hys kyne
þe emperoure house withine.
þai maryt þame of gret nobillay,
fore cummyne of mychty men ware þai,
& gret fest at þe weding mad,
as þai þat warldly welthis had.
bot as cummyne was þe nycht,
& he & scho to bed was dycht,
of fleschly lust he had na thocht,
bot beyisit hyme how he mocht
gere hyre consent to chastyte.
& lang sermone þare-of mad he
til hyre, quhow scho suld god dred,
& þare-of rasawe gret med
In hewine eftyre þis brukil lyf,
“fore al mone de, man & wyf,
& sic as we are fundyne here
before þe Iuge we sal apere,
& gyf reknyne þat Iuge til
of al dedis, gud & Il,
& fore oure dedis, nocht to layne,
resawe oþire Ioy or payne.”
& quhene he mad had lang preching,
he betacht hyre his gold ryng,
& syne his belt he schare in-twa
& betaucht hyre þe hed alsa,
sayand til hyre: “my leif swet,
þire twa I gyf þe to kepe;
fore-þi, my der, as þu lufis me,
kepe þame, to god wil I þe se!
& here to hyme I þe betak,
as my lufyt warldis mak.”
and quhene alixes sewinten ȝere
had dwelt in þat kirk-ȝard þer,
seruand god ful dewotly,
ane ymag þane of oure laydy,
þat in þe kyrke was honouryt ay,
þis to þe sacristane cane say:
“bryng in ȝoure powre man þar-owt,
for he is worthy for to bruk
þe kynryk of al welth mast;
for in hyme restis þe haly gast
& his prayere ful mony mendis,
þat be-for god alsone ascendis.”
bot ȝet quhene þe sacristane
be þat had persawing nane,
to þat ymage prayt he,
þat he þare-of mare wyse mycht be.
til hyme grath takine gaf scho þane,
quhare-by he suld þat mane ken,
before þe dure þat sat þare-owt.
& for hyre þe sacristane cane lout,
& lowyt hyre as he wele aucht,
& sped hyme furth, as scho hyme taucht,
& brocht alixes in til hy,
& tald til al quhou oure laydy
of þat mane mad sa gret lowyng.
for-þi sone auld and ȝyng
honouryt hyme gretly,
fra þai hard þis farly.
bot he of mane lowe wald nane;
for-þi he fled hyne, or he fane,
be þe nycht, sa priwely,
þat nane mycht wit, þat was by.
bot, certis, now are fundine quhon
þat in þat manere wald haf done,
bot erare haf tane þe lowing
for lytil cause, of auld & ȝyng.
sa did he nocht, for þat he
parfyt was in humylyte,
& fled wane glore for-þi but hone.
& to leodyce he sped hyme sone,
& þare a schipe he fand redy
to sayle, & in gat in-to hy,
of tars of cecile þat was bowne.
& as þai saylyt, a wynd fel done,
þe hawine of rome agane þare wil,
disponand god, had þame til.
& [quhen] alixes þat cane se
þat of his purpos faylit he,
in hyme-self þane has he thocht
þat he vnkennyt dwel mocht
with his awne fadyre in til house,
& til nane oythire be noyus,
na charg nane vthyre with his fud,
his fadire had sa mykil gud.
one þus purpos, quhene he was sat,
his fadyre sudanely he met,
fra þe p[a]lace hame gangand,
with fele folk hyme folowand,
þat serwyt hyme Ithandly.
alixes one hyme [þan] cane cry,
& sad: “þu godis seruand der,
me poure pylgriame, I pray þe, here,
& biddis þat I resawyt be
In-to þi house parcheryte,
& with þe crummys gere me fed
of þi bred, sa þi sawle haf med,
& as þu wald god had pyte
of þi a sone, quhare-euire he be!”
ȝet his fadire knew hym na dele,
bot his fadyre he knew rycht wele.
his fadyre þane commawndit þat he
til his houise sowne led suld be,
& til a serwand gert hyme betak
to kepe hyme, for his sonnys sak,
& bad he suld haf met & clath,
& þat na man did hyme lath.

XXV.—JULIAN.

XXVI.—NYCHOLAS.

sa hapnyt þane percase,
his nytboure, þat mychtty was
& duelt nere quhare duelt he,
to fal in-[to] sic pouerte,
þat skantly had he þe lyf-lad;
ȝet þane thre douchteris he had,
& mary þame wald nan þane,
fra in pouerte fel þis man,
þo men before of he parage
þame askyt in-to maryage.
þis poure man wmbe-thocht hyme
hou he his lyfing suld wyne
throu his douchteris; þare-for thocht he
to þe brodale send þaim al thre,
& of þe gud þai mycht wyne
led his lyf, þocht It ware syne;
fore ȝung þai ware & fare of face.
bot fra þis west sancte nicholas,
he had gret dule of þat myschefe,
& thocht he wald þame relefe,
& of gold a gret quantyte
has tane & in a clath band he,
& to þat manis house is gane
In þe nycht hyme alane,
& in a wyndow, quhare þis man lay,
he kest þe clath, & held his way.
þan þe mornyng, quhen he rase,
& in þe wyndow fundyne has
þis gold, he thankit god felsyth;
his heldast douchtyre þan alswyth
he wedyt wele & worthely.
bot ȝet sancte nicholas in hy
a noþir nycht did as before
with syk a sowme of gold ore more;
& þane þis man but a-bad
gret lowyng to god mad,
& his oþir douchtyre sone þane
he maryt with a mychtty mane.
he t[h]ocht to wak & besy be
for til get knawlag, & to se
quha It wes helpyt hyme sa.
& ȝet sancte nicholas cane ta
doubile sa mykil gold as are,
& lad It [þar] as dide he ayre,
& his way syne cane fare,
& left þe gold lyand þare.
þane of þe noys of his fet
he waknyt þane nocht fast cane slepe,
& sone gat vpe & folouyt fast,
& nicholas knev at þe last,
& prayt hyme for godis sak,
to spek with hyme, abad to mak.
his fet with þat in hand he hynt
to kis; bot sone he hyme stynt,
& bad hyme ryse & do nocht swa,
& his gatis hame cane ga,
& bad hym nocht tel he dyd hym gud.
þane athyre one hame ȝed.
þane he his ȝongast douchtir wedit wel,
& hyme-self wele led Ilke dele
with al þe laf, & sa wele wrocht,
þat al his tyme he wantyt nocht.
sone eftyr hapnyt for to de
þe worthy byschope of mirre.
þane [bischapis] sere come to þat towne,
be-cause of þe eleccione
of a new byschape to ma.
& ymang othyr ane of þa
wes of sa gret autoryte,
þat þai wald do þat at bad he.
þis byschape þane of sic mycht
gret þe clergy wakk þat nycht
in abstinence, god to pray
þat þai mycht a gud man purway.
to þat bischope a voice can say
þat nycht befor þe day,
& bad hyme to þe kyrk dure gan in hy,
& þare behald besyly
til hym þat fyrst com, quhat he ware.
& ȝet þe voice sad forthyrmare
þat nicholas suld be his name,
& bad swne he suld be tane,
& byschape mad of þat cite,
for þar-to worthiest wes he.
þe bischape [one] þe morne but hone,
as þe voice bad, has done.
þane nicholas come [hym] alane
to þe kirk dure; & hyme has tan
þe byschap, & his nam sperit has.
& he sad til hyme: “sir, nicholas.”
þe byschape Ioyful þan brocht hym in hy
to þe place of þe clergy,
& sad: “lo, gud mene, þis is he
þat god wil here byschape be.”
þane al consentyt þare-til,
& mad hyme byschape of a wil,
suppos he consentyt nocht,
bot gane-sad al þat he mocht.
& eftyr held þe sammyn meknes
þat he had ore he byschap wes,
In thewis saddare þane wes he ere,
wakyr & in Ithand prayere,
his body waikly he fed,
& wyfyne company ay fled,
blyth in til admonestyng,
& awful in to chast[is]yng.
It is sad, þus nicholas
In þe consil of vicen wes.
& þat tyme men hapnyt be
In gret parele sted in þe se.
þai criyit þane: “nicholas, to god dere,
gyf al be suth we of þe here,
send ws helpe þat þus ar sted!”
& vnese þis sad þai had,
quhene ane in his lyknes
aperit to þam þat sa red was,
ganand dry fwt one þe se,
& sad to þame: “ȝe callit one me;”
þane, þame to helpe, or he fane,
þe schipe be þe sterne has tane.
þane cesit þe storme sa bald,
& þai to land come, as þai wald;
& til his kyrk ȝed but abad,
to thank hyme at þam helpit had.
& alsone as þai hyme se,
but kennyng fand: “ȝone is he,”
& sad: “sir, ȝe sawit ws now,
þare-for lowing we gyf god & ȝou.”
& sad he: “sonnis, thank[is] me nocht,
bot thankis god þat al has wrocht,
& ȝoure ferme treutht & his mercy;
for na lowing þare-of ask I.”
Eftyr sowne hapnyt to be
a gret hungir in þat cunttre,
þat wes sa fel & sa angry,
þat vnese mycht men get to by.
þe byschape þan god can pray
þis to remed. & he herd say
þat in þe hawine schipis gret
ware arywit, chargit with quhet,
be tempest þat þam ydyr brocht.
& he to þame sone has socht,
to þere folk þat sa cane fale.
þane askit he þame to sel vitale,
a hundre medreiis at þe lest
of ilke schipe at his request.
sad þai: “fadir, we dare nocht
þis quhet sel we here brocht,
for of constantyne in þe cite
to þe emperoure garner mon we,
& gyf cunt redy be tale
of mesuris of þis quhet hale.”
þane swetly to þam can he pray:
“dere sonnis, do as I ȝu say!
for I hicht ȝou in suthfastnes,
of god ȝe sal haf na les
of quhet a corne þan nov haf ȝe.
cum quhare ȝe sal dischargit be.”
þane his request can þai fulfil,
for þai mycht nocht sa na hyme til.
& þis done, þai sailyt but bad
quhare-to þare tryst wes mad,
& þare þe quhet deliueryt hale
in quantyte, mesur & tale,
þat þai at alysandir had tane.
þare-of þai vonderyt Ilkane,
& þis merwale tald in hy
til al þat þare ware opynly,
þat god he his seruand had done.
& þe byschepe þe quhet alsone
wysely has departyt þane,
eftyr as nedyt ilke mane,
þat þai twa ȝere had of þat quhet
ynuch til sed & til ete.
& nan suld ferly one þis,
for til ws be crist hycht is:
“quha-sa trewis in-to me,
sik wark as I do, do sal he.”
[I]n þe land quhare sancte nicholas
wes byschape, ald custum wes
of ful folk [þat] þare dwelland ware,
for til honoure mawmentis ser,
& namly þe ymag of dyane,
In quhais worschipe carlis had tan
a mekil tre with branchis brad,
& syndry ritis vndir mad
as of þayaȝn[i]s custummance
til et, drink, syng, & dance.
bot þe byschope ger[t] lat be
þat fals custum, & als þe tre
maugre þaris gert strik in twa.
& þare-of wes þe fend ful wa,
& thocht to rewengit be
of þe byschope. for-þi mad he
ane oynment, þat diaton hicht,
þat watir & stane to bryn had mycht,
& hyme transfourmyt, ore he fane,
In lyknes of a ȝung womane
semand relygiouse fore to be;
& in a skaf a-pone þe se
sayland, has met men, þat bone wes
for to sek to sancte nicholas.
“I pray ȝu,” sad scho, “in mynd haf ȝe,
gyf it nocht noyus to ȝu be,
my lytil gyft of þis oynment
ȝe tak with ȝow, & myne entent
þar-with fulfil, as cumyne ar ȝe
to þe cite of myrre;
þat is, þat ȝe oyne gere be al
þe wallis of þe byschapis hal.”
“ȝa,” sad þai sone þare-til,
myskennand hyre or hyr wil.
a lytil schepe sone haf þai sene
chargit of men honest & clene.
amang þam þane þar ane wes
in althing lyk to nicholas,
þat one þame callyt, & askit quhat scho
[þat] with þame spak, had brocht þam to.
quod þai: “scho has brocht
a boyst of oyle, & ellis nocht,”
& at scho to þame sad, tald þai.
& to þame swetly can he say:
“It is þe felone fand dyane,
fra quham ȝe haf þat oyle tane;
& to prowe þat it sa be,
cast it owt in þe se!”
& has he bad, sa haf þai done;
& It a fyre mad alsone,
þat broynt þe watir, & lo rasyt.
þane ware þe schipmen rycht abaysit,
sic wondir quhen þai se,
as fyre a-gane kynd bryne þe se.
with þat þe schipe, þai saw þare,
wanyst a-way, þa ne wist quhare.
bot sa þai sailyt furth, & land has sene,
& hawynit, quhare þai wald haf bene,
& na duelling mad in ony place,
til þai come to sancte nicholas,
as before a-wouyt had þai.
þane sammyne til hyme can þai say:
“sir, of oure lyf we thank þe hale,”
& tald hyme þane al þe tale,
one þe sey quhow þame tyd,
& quhat merakil he þam kyd,
& sawyt þame quhen þai nere schent
ware be þe fende & his buschment;
“þare-of lowyng we ȝeld þe here,
for þu art godis seruand dere.”
quhene þe byschope herd þis talde,
thang to al-mychtty god he ȝaulde,
þane bad he þir men rychtyse be,
& send þame blyth to þare cunctre.
[S]one cane sume folk assay
of rome þe emperoure to verray;
& sic were to gere stanchit be,
þe emperoure send princis thre,
vrsum, apolynen, and ane
of þay men callit negociane.
worthy princis, al thre
has mad þam bon to pas þe se.
& as þir folk ware sayland best,
þar fel one þame a gret tempest,
þat draf þam to adryak,
fore ony defence þai cuth mak.
& quhene þus It hapnyt wes,
& It had hard sancte nicholas,
he ȝed to þame, & to rehet
he callit þam blythly to þe met,
In hope þat þai suld gere men lewe
In-to þe land to stele ore refe.
& as he best chere had mad
to þer men he with hyme had,
þe consul of þe land þat tyme,
fore gyft corrumpyt & wynnyne,
thre sakles knychttis had gert ta,
& bad men suld sone þam sla.
& quhen sancte nicholas þis herd,
with þire thre princis furth he ferd,
& one he come to þe sted,
quhare þe knychttis suld thol ded,
& fand þame bundyn al thre,
to be hedyt set one kne,
& þe basare with scharpe brand.
bot he hyme sowne gat be þe hand,
& smertly has It fra hym tane,
& þam losyt, or he fane,
& ȝed with þame to þe pretore.
& þocht þe ȝet wes before
sparyt, with strinth he enterit In.
& þe consul a-gane hyme
rase, & hailist hym honorabli.
he sad a-gane dyspytuisly:
“brekare of law, þu godis fa,
þat wranguisly wald men sla,
hou durst þu, wrech, sa mak þe
In oure vysag fore to se?”
he held hyme þan stil ay,
& tholyt it [þat] he wald say.
& quhene he had flytyn his fil,
& saw þe consul hald hyme stil,
soberyit hym, & at þe request
of þe princis, þat ware honest,
he for-gef his matalent
til hyme, þat wes sa penitent.
þai princis þan had his blyssine
tane mekly, ore þai wald fyne,
& to þe emperoure come agane,
þare nedis sped, & na man slane,
þat þame resawit t[h]ankfully.
& sum mene þare-at had inwy,
þat to þe emperoure þame wreyt
felloun[l]y, & one þame leyt,
sayand: “þai part had al thre
of crime of ourt maieste.”
þane quhen þe emperoure þis herd,
as wod of wit nere he ferd,
& but knawlag of cause or profe
quhet[h]yr it wes [les] ore it wes suth,
he gert sone thryng þam in presone,
& bad þat at nycht but ransone
þai suld be slane but mare delay.
þis quhen þe gyelere herd say,
he come to þam, þat in merknes
lay, & in stokis bundyne wes,
& sad: “allace quhat haf ȝe done
þat but dome mon de sa sone?”
þan to þame he cane discouer
þat to him sad þe emperoure.
fra þis þai hard, þai mad care,
& wrang handis, & gret rycht sare,
as men of helpe þat hope had nan.
þane hyme vmthocht negociane
one quhat wis sancte nicholas
þai thre men, þat to ded demyt was,
deliueryt, & brocht fre away.
fore-þi his falouys he gert pray
to sancte nicholas, þat he
intercessoure for þame wald be,
þat god wald saufe þam in þat ned
fra du[l]ful ded, þat þai can dred,
& mad þare increly prayere.
& sancte nicholas cane apere
to þe emperoure constantyne
þat nycht in slepe, & sad hyme syne:
“quhy gert þu ȝone princis ta
wranguisly, & wald þame sla,
wykit man! ryse, & byd þat þai
be fre deliuerit, to pas þare way.
& gyf þu ne dois, I sal requere
god a-gane þe to gere stere
fellone batal, & sal sone fal,
& met be to bestis al.”
þe emperoure sad: “quhat art þu,
sa hardy þat durst here cum now
in my p[a]lace to manauce me
þis tyme of nycht?” þane sad he:
“for-suth, nicholas is myn name,
& byschape alsa is at hame
of myrre, þe gud cite,
þat here [þ]is warnyng makis þe.”
eftyr þat he aperyt in hy
to þe prefet, quhare he can ly,
& sad: “wykyt man! ware na woud,
quhy has þu for þis warldis gud,
to felone ded of innocent
conspyrit, & gyfine þi consent?
ryse sone, & se þai losyt be!
& gyf þu ne dois, I warne þe,
wormys of þi body sal spryng,
& to schameful ded þe bryng,
þat al þi menȝe hal sal se,
& syne al þai distroyt be.”
þane sad he: “quhat art þu þus
Is cumyne here to mannauce ws
þis tyme of nycht in oure palace?”
þane answert hyme sancte nicholas:
“wyt þu me byschope for to be
of þe gud cite of myrre;
& bot þu do as I þe say,
I sal pas now but delay,
& to þe emperoure sal tel
hou þu, as tratoure fers & fel,
fore gredyines in þi cunctre,
slais lele, & lattis thefis be,
& peruertis lele Iugment
a-gane þe emperouris entent.”
þane sad þe emperoure [&] epertus:
“haly fadir, rew of ws,
& ȝone men fre we sal þe gyfe,
& fra þis day neuir man grewe,
þat þi helpe askis nycht ore day.”
with þat he wanyst son away,
& abaysyt lewyt þe emperoure.
& one þe morne, quhene it wes day,
athyr of þame cane vthyr say,
quhat vysione þai had sene.
þane ordanyt þai þam betwene
þa innocentis to lat pas fre,
& sone send eftyre þame thre,
& speryt be quhat sorcery,
þai þame trawalyt ferlyfully
þat nicht in slepe. & þai sad, nay,
þat sorcery nane cuth þai,
na cause mad nocht for to de,
þocht men one þame lykyt to le.
þe emperoure þam franyt þane,
gyf euir þai had sene sik mane
þat men callit sancte nicholas,
& als wes byschape of þe place
of myrre. & þane al þai thre,
quhen þai hard þis name nemmyt be,
hevyt þar handis to þe hewyne,
& lowyt god with blyth stewyne,
& prayt god, for his gret grace
& þe meryt of sancte nicholas,
to sawe þame sa hard stad.
þane, quhen þe emperoure speryt had
of þat byschape hale þe lyf
& his meraklis, þat ware ryf,
& þai haf tald hyme, he can say:
“passis one quytly away,
& lovis god & sancte nicholas,
þat has ȝou helpyne of his grace!
of oure Iowelys als tak ȝe,
& berys hyme, & sais þat he
set me nomare in sic effray,
bot for me & myne empyre pray!”
þane sowne þai princis thre
socht to þe cite of myrre,
& with þe byschape sone can met,
& mekly knelyt til his fet,
& sad: “suthly, sir, we kene now
þat haly seruand to god art þu,
& honouris hyme, & lufis bath;”
with þat þai tald hyme al þe wath,
hou þai war put in-[to] presone,
& slane suld haf bene but ransone,
& hou þat to þe emperoure
he aperyt and þe eperture,
“& þame in slepe sa fleyt he,
þat deliueryt be hyme are we;
& bad vs pray ȝou fore his sak
ȝe wald of þire Iowelis tak,
& for hyme pray & for his landis.”
þe byscepe þane hewit his handis,
& thankit god of his gud dede,
þat wil his seruandis gyf sic med.
& syne þere men infourmyt he
in laute, treutht and cheryte,
& bad þame thank god, & hym nocht,
þat he sic meraklis for hym wrocht,
& gef þam sene his benysone.
& þai to pas has mad þame bone.
god ferlyful is in his sanctis,
þat blyssis þam & in þam blissit is,
& suthly blissit in sanct nicholas,
to quham he gef sa gret grace,
& sa gret vertu in hyme wrocht,
þat it ware wondir to be thocht,
þat, þo he in his byschepryk
dwelland wes quyk & body-lyk,
quhare ony ware herd sted on land or se,
trastand thru hym to helpyn be,
& wald dewotly til hym pray
to helpe þame in sic effray,
In sic forme god wald apere,
& succure þame in þat mystere.
for-þi to god be Ioy lestand,
þat sa rewardis his serwand;
& blyssit be he þat sa wel dyd,
þat god sic werkis for hym kyd.
syne hapnyt It eftirward,
quhen god hyme ȝeld wald mare reward,
þat he in siknes sa can fal,
þat his strinthis falȝet al.
& quhene he had persawyng
þat it sa nere was his endyng,
ful increly þane cane he pray
to god & psalmis al-sa sa.
& quhene he for his sone had bene
In prayere lang, þan has he sene
angelis come; & he but bad
bowit þe hewid, & syne he mad
þe takyne of þe croice verray,
& syne þe thretyd psalme can say
til [to] þe vers cummyne was he
“In manus tuas Domine,”
& with þat tuk þe sacrament
of godis body in gud entent,
& blissit his brethyre & ȝald þe gest.
þe angelis þan his sawle in hast,
þat þare aperyt, in handis has tane,
& had til hewyne, or þai fane,
eftyre godis byrth, as trew we,
thre hundir ȝere fourty & thre.
þare wes hard a ferly thyng,
þat angelis hey in hewine can syng.
þe clergy þan mad dule & care,
as men þat dissolat lewit ware.
ȝet lewyt þai nocht for-þi,
bot hyme enteryt worthely,
quhare at his hewid oyl rycht clere
sprang, & for seknes sere
gaf hop & but; & at his fet
sprank a wel of watir swet;
& of his body oyle cane spryng,
þat helful wes til al sare thing.
& til his kyrk succedyt þane
in word & wark a worthy man,
quham syne wikyt men for inwy
fra his seg put falsely;
& þane þe oyle cesit to spring,
til þai þe byschop [hame] can bryng.
þane þare It sprang as it did ere.
& lang tyme eftyre with gret were,
þe turkis thru iniquite
distroyt þe towne of myrre.
þane eftyre þis þare come in hy
knychtis of barre wele fourty,
& fand ȝet in þe gret cite
foure ald monkis, þat let þam se
þe towme quhare-in sancte nicholas
wes lad þe tyme he ded was.
þe knychtis opnyt þe towme, & fand
þe banys vare in oyle fletand.
þane gert þai [þame] with þame be
borne to þe towne of barre
In gret worschipe, quhare þai are,
& hele & helpe gyfis til al sare.
& mad wes þe translacion
of cristis incarnacione
a thousand auchty ȝere & sewine.
fore-þi be Ioy to god of hewyne.
ande eftyre þat sancte nicholas
to þis warld ded wes,
hou god had hyme in dante,
be merwalis sere, þan schawit he.
of quhilkis ane here will I tel,
hou til a prioure þat It befel
of sancte crucis kyrk but dout,
þat þan as now wes vndirlout
to þe abbay of cheryte,
in worschipe of oure lady fre.
quhen wyse clerkis & dewot
had mad þe story & þe note
of þis crys þat was mychtty,
It wes ful fare spred son in hy,
& songyne & sad in mony place
in honoure of god & nicholas.
þe dewot brethyre þane in hy
of sancte crocis priory
þat story fane wald haf oysit,
sene nane wes [þat] It refusyt;
bot ȝet durst þai nocht do It,
fore dout þat þare prioure suld wit.
þare-for mekly þai can hym pray
þat he wald lewe þam to say
þe story of sancte nicholas,
þat oure-alquhare oysyt was.
bot sc[h]ort answere to þam mad he,
& sad, it suld nocht oysit be,
fore he wald nocht in his kyrk
þat þai sic nowelry suld wirk,
bot bad þame do as þai did are.
& as for þane þai gat nomare.
þane þai ourdraf & held þam stil,
In hope ȝet to wyne his wil.
sone eftyre a-nothyr day
þai come & cane hyme mekly pray
þat he wald lewe þame to syng
In honoure & in lowyng
of sancte nicholas þat story.
& he answert angrely,
with wordis of reprowe, þa[t] þai
suld neuir lewe haf It to say,
& blamyt þame for þai war thray,
& bad þame one þare gettis ga,
sayand, he wald be na way
ony new story thole þam say,
þat þan befar lykare ware to be
warldly sang and vanyte
þane thing þat suld deuocione
Inbryng or ȝet contricione.
& þarfor let he þam wele wit
þat in his kirk suld neuir It
be oysit, for ocht [þat] mycht be.
& quhene his brethyre þis can se,
anoyt [þai] ware, & held þame stil,
for þai mycht do nomare þare-til.
sone eftyr hapnyt to be
of sancte nicholas þe solempnite,
quhen al þe cunctre dewotly
sad or sang his new story.
& þire brethir dises cane haf,
þat þai no durst do as did þe lafe,
bot þe story til al commown
þai sang with deuocione,
of ewinsang, & eftyr syne,
in houre of mydnycht & matyne.
& quhen þai matynis had don,
agane þai went to slepe alsone,
as to þare estat afferyt,
& to þare reule alsa aperyt.
& þare prioure ymange þe lafe,
þat wend gud rest for til haf,
apone his bed mad hyme to ly.
& sone aperyt rycht mychtfully
& in gret wreth sancte nicholas,
& speryt quhy he sa hardy was
to let his brethyre to þat day
his story for to syng or say;
&, as in gret wrecht, but mare
he hynt þe prioure be þe hare,
& rukyt hyme of his bed in hy,
& traylyt hyme ful angrely
our al þe floure here & þare,
gyfand hyme mony dintis sare,
syngand þis anteme distinctly
ay noyt to noyt til hyme sadly
al out “o pastor eterne.”
& with þat ay dingnand was he
þe sad prioure with handis sare,
þat mycht nocht do bot reufully rare,
criand ay mercy ful fast.
til al his brethyre at þe last
of slepe waknyt, quhare þai lay.
þai ware set in sic effray
quhen þare prioure sa roydly
þai hard rare & sa pytusly.
þan past þai fast, quha best mycht sped,
til hyme, þat sted wes in þat ned,
& fand þai hyme ded nere-hand,
& noþir mycht stere fut na hand.
þane had þai ferly of sic fare,
& askyt hym quha brocht hym þare.
bot he wes set in sic effray,
þat he had na word to say,
bot lay stil, as he ware ded.
þane tuk þai hym vpe of þe sted,
& one his bed lad hym softly.
þare a lange tyme he can ly
In langoure, & of hele in were;
bot at þe last, be [þe] prayere
of sancte nicholas, þat was þan
wele rewengit of þat man,
god rewyt of hyme & gef hym hele.
þane cane he til his breþir mele:
“lo, breþir, be-hald and se
hou sancte nicholas has me
fore my dure hart nere-hand slan,
& put me in þis mekil payne,
be-cause I wald thole ȝou na way
his new story syng na say.
bot now I pray ȝou increly,
þat ȝe wil oysit dewotly
fra hyne furth, & ensampil ta
of me in hart to be nocht thra
worschipe and honoure to do
to god & al his halowis to.”
& had I tovme here-one to dwel,
mony ferly cuth I tel,
þat god wrocht for sancte nicholas
for mony man in syndry place;
bot I haf ado ellis quhare,
for-þi I byd here no langare,
bot, had I lasare & space,
I wald tel hou sancte nicholas
merwalis wrocht eftyr his disces,
þat wondirful & mony wes.
bot, þocht I lasare now haf nane,
I sal ȝet byd, til tel ane
of þe gret merwalis þat he dyd,
þat now is in þe warld wele kyd.
It befel, as we red,
a cristine man to haf sic ned
of warldis gud, þat nere he
In poynt wes disparyt to be.
for at cristine men he socht
to get helpe, bot he gat nocht.
for-þi til a Iow is he gane,
& at hym consel has he tane,
& sa fere his complaynt mad,
þat þe Iow of hym pyte had,
& sad: “frend, mycht I þe lewe,
myn wil ware gud þe to relewe
with creance, quhare-with þu
mycht help þe, gyf I mycht trew
þat þu as lele man wald quyt me
þe gud þat I suld creance þe.”
þane cane he to þe Iow say:
“sir, purte me in sic assay
has set þat na man wil for me
borcht, na detoure noþir be.
bot wald þu in þis place
for me tak borch sancte nicholas?
for to þe one his autere
þe gret ath sal I swere,
þat I sal leyly pay to þe
þe gud þat þu sal lene to me.”
til hyme can þe Iow þan say:
“of nicholas I haf hard ay
gret [&] ferlyful bounte;
for-þi til hyme & to þe
I wil assur in þis ded,
sene þat I se þe haf sic nede,
& hyme to borcht tak for myn gud.”
with þis þai one sammyne ȝud
to sancte nicholas oratore,
til þai his autere come before,
quhare þat cristine man tuk in hy
þe ymag þare tresonably,
& þare-one swere but mare delay,
þat he suld treuly til hym pay
þe gud he lent hym in þat place,
& in borch drew sancte nicholas.
þe Iow þare-of held hym content,
& a gret sowme þe cristine lent,
one certane cunnand hym to pay
his gud a-gane at certane day.
þe fals man þe gud has tane
In þis wyse, & one is gane.
& þar-with warnyst [he] hym sa
þat of a penny he mad twa,
& ekyt þus þis warldis gud,
& þat lykine it with hym stud.
& quhen þe certane tyme wes cumyn
to quyt þat he of lang had wonnyn,
þe Iow askit, as wald lawte,
þe gud agane to payt be.
bot þane þe cristine man vnwise,
blyndyt threu gret cowatise,
nyt his det al wtrely.
þare-of þe Iow had gret ferly;
& gert cal hyme in Iugment,
to prowe his lane þat he lent.
þe fals man þan hyme vmthocht
þe Iow hou he begil mocht,
& mad a staf, þocht it wes syne,
lang & gret, & a hole within,
& eke It put of quantyte,
þat fra þe Iow borouyt had he.
& quhen þe day cumyne wes nere,
þat he in Iugment suld apere,
he tuk þat staf & with hym brocht,
as he of gold þat na-thing thocht,
& enteryt sa in Iugment,
as wilful mane, in Il entent.
& quhene þe Iou had tald his tale,
þe wykit man it nyt al hale,
þat he euir ony gud hyme lent.
bo[t] for þe Iow þane his entent
nocht mycht prowe, þe Iug þane
þe athe gaf to þe cristine mane,
til a-quyt hyme þat he nocht tuke,
be his ath apon a buke.
& quhene he þe ath suld swere,
þe staf þat he in hand cuth bere,
he be-tacht to þe Iow to kepe,
& suore hyme, mane is il to eke,
þat he mare gold til hym tacht
þane before til hyme acht.
þe Iow þane persawyt nocht
þe falset þat þis man wrocht.
þe quhilk, fra he mansuorn hym had,
tuk his staf & mad na bad,
& fane wes þat he had swa
begylyt þe Iow, þat wes wa,
& sad: “quhy has þu, sancte nicholas,
begylyt me in þus wyis,
quhen for my gud I borch tuk þe?
þare-for, bot þu reweng me
of hyme þat me begylyt now,
fra þis day sal I neuir trew
þe meraklis þat men sais of þe,
na with þi god þu mychtty be.”
þane as þis fals man ham can ga,
sic wil of slepe hyme can ta
þat in þe mydis of þe way
nedlyngis to slepe he don lay.
& oure hyme, þat sa can ly,
a cart, chargyt rycht hewy,
maugre þe men oure hym drawe,
þat slew hyme self & brak his staf,
& of It schot þe gold sone.
þane ydyr rane mony but ony hone,
þat of þis case wonderit fast;
& ȝet þe Iow wes nocht þe last
& saw his gold hale vnhyd.
þane sone þe Iuge can hyme byd
tak his gold. bot he wald nocht;
sa mykil pyte þane hyme thocht
of þat catyfe þat lay dede
of lyf & saule in þat stede.
þane sad þe Iow: “sancte nicholas,
þat her þi poware wele kithit has,
& as lele borcht freit has þe,
& þe suth mad knawine be,
pray to god þis man now
be resuscit; & I sal trew
In suthfast god & haly kirk,
þat for þe wil sic werkis wyrk.”
& quhen he þis request [had] mad,
he þat was ded rase but bad,
& lowit god of his gret grace,
& syne eftyr sancte nicholas,
at quhais prayere god hym lent
lynt & space hyme to repent,
& his falset confessit al,
hou he had done, to gret & smal.
& þus þe Iow gud cristine mane
be-come, & al his gudis þane
for cristis sak delt away,
& led gud lyf til his enday.
ane vthyre tale ȝet wil I tel
of a Iou hou it befel,
þat of sanct nicholas has sene
sa mony wondris wrocht but wen
for þame þat oþire ware sek or sare,
In watir or land, othyre-quhare.
ane ymag of hyme gert he mak,
& in his In syne for his sak
gert set in-to [a] priwe place.
& quhen hyme hapnit per-case,
þat he fra hame othyre ere ȝud,
he wald til hyme be-tak his gud,
& þane, quhen he ȝed his way,
lyk sic wordis wald he say:
“lo, nicholas, I þe betak
here al my gud to ward & wak,
for I wat þu kepe It may
fra al Il bath nycht & day.
for-þi I wil þu wit, gyf I
myse ocht of It, þu sal It by
one þi body dere Inuch
with wandis, þat are scharp & tucht.”
& lang tyme þis þe Iou ded,
til one a tyme it betyde
hyme pas with his chafare
fra hame; & thefis þare
come, & al his gud has tane,
outane þe ymag hym alane.
& quhen þe Iou ham wes cumyne,
& fand his gudis a-way nummyne,
to þe ymag cane he say:
“quhy is my gud þus away,
þat in ȝemsel I þe lefte,
& let þe wit þu suld be befte,
& þu it tholit a-way be tane?”
þar-for þe ymag, or he fane,
with wandis dang felloun[l]y.
& in þe sammyn tym tyd ferly
to þa thefis þe gud stal,
departand it ymang þame al.
sancte nicholas to þame aperyt
bla & bludy, & at þam speryt
quhy suld he sa be dycht
for þare mysded & þar plicht,
& hyme vnhelyt & sad þam to:
“hou mykil is wrocht me, lo!
& þus demaynyt, as se ȝe now,
for gud þat ȝe tuk fra þe Iou,
& þus as ȝe se me has beft,
& na hale hyd one me left!
for-þi, treuly, bot ȝe but hone
amend þe skath [þat] ȝe haf done
to þe Iou, & hyme restore
þe gud ȝe tuk fra hyme befor,
I sal pray god þat ȝe sal be
sone hangyt one [a] galou tre.”
þane speryt þai quhat he wes.
sad he: “I ame nicholas,
byschape quhylum, seruand of crist,
& at his bares is my bewyst.”
quhene þai þis had herd & sene,
abaysit þai ware al-bedene,
& hyme requeryt for þame to pray,
& hecht þat þai suld but delay
amend þe myse [þat] þai had done.
þane wanyst he away sone,
& þai þe gud a-gane ȝald
to þe Iou, & hyme taulde
hou þai his gudis sa stal,
& ymang þame delt it al,
& hou sancte nicholas de bare
to þame come in þat sythware,
& hou he bludy wes & bla,
& quhat he sad til þame alsa.
þe Iou for mercy þan þai crawe,
& he þan gladly þame for-gawe;
& þai forhicht mare to steile,
[&] become gud men and lele.
þane þe Iow ryf has mad
þis merakle, & but bad
wes baptist, & fra þane
led thankful lyf to god & man.
a gud man quhylum [had] a scolere
[to] son, þat þan cane lettir lere;
& þis man for his sownis sak
euir-ilke ȝere a fest wald mak
In honoure of sanct nicholas
til al scoleris þat nere hym was.
sa one a tyme he gert purway
a-pone sancte nicholas day
a mangery with glad chere,
& til It callit he frendis sere.
& as þai set ware to þe met,
þe fend, oure fay, come to þe ȝet
In lyknes of a palmere,
& callit fast one þe portere,
& prayt hym to þe lord to ga,
& ask hyme met. & he did sa.
þane his sone, þat befor hym stud,
he send til hyme with plesand fud.
bot, or he to þe ȝet wes cumyne,
a-way þe feynd his gat has numyn.
& þe chyld hyme folouyt fast;
sa he abad hyme at þe last
at a get sadlis, & he hym hynt,
& weryt hyme or he stynt.
þane þis auenture, þat befel,
a man til his fadir can tel;
& he with gret dowle & wa
to þe ded cors sone can ga,
& brocht it hame but abad,
& in his chawmer it lad,
& for dole lud can rare,
& of his hed rugyt þe hare,
& gret, þat pyte wes to se,
& “was” oft sad, “wa is me,
dere sowne, for þis soroful cace!
bot quhou has þu, sancte nicholas,
quyt me þe honoure at I dyd
for hyme, þat þis case it tyd,
& sic reward has mad to me
for þe gret worschipe I did þe!”
& quhen he chyd a quhil had fast
with sancte nicholas, at þe last
þe child his hevid becuth to stere,
& sone rase vpe hale & fere,
& lang tyme lifyt, & gudman was,
& ay seruit sancte nicholas;
& sa did als his fadir ay
for þis merwal til his ded day.
It was anys a mychtty man
þat mykil warldis gudis wane,
& had na barne with his wyf,
to bruk his land eftir his lyf;
for-þi he prayt sancte nicholas
ful increly to purchas
sic grace of god at he mycht haf
oþir a madyne-barne or a knaf,
to bruk his land & be his are;
for barne to get he had dispare.
& to sancte nicholas he mad
a wow, gyf he a knaf-chyld had,
þat he a colpe of gold fulfyne
he suld gere mak, & brynge hym syne
sancte nicholas to þine altere,
fra þat his son mycht ocht hym stere.
þane sa wrocht sancte nicholas
þat til hyme son borne þar was
a knaf-chyld at dewyse,
þat wox & worth rycht wyse.
& quhen he come til eld parfyt,
his fadir thocht he wes quyt
of þe wou he mad sanct nicholas,
thru quham [god] had lend hym þat grace,
& a fare cowpe gert mak.
þe quhilk til hyme empleysit sa,
þat he wald na-wyse it forga,
bot til his oyse apply[i]t It—
sa was he blyndit in his wit—
& bad ane vthyr mad suld be
to haf with hym oure þe se.
quhen þat wes done, he mad hym ȝare
to sancte nicholas to fare,
& his sowne with hyme can ta,
& þire cowpis bath alsa.
&, as þai ware in þe se sayland,
his sone he has gert tak on hand,
þe fyrst mad of þe cowpis twa,
&, for to bring hyme watir, ga.
þane as he oure þe burd can lout,
þe coupe & he bath fel out.
þe ways sowne hym wesch avay.
þan wes hard, I treu, to say
quhat sorou & quhat care
þe fadir mad, þo na but ware.
nocht-þane þe wou þat he
had mad, [he thocht] suld haldin be.
& quhen þat he come percase
to þe kirk of sancte nicholas,
he tuk þe secund coupe in hand,
& one þe altare fore offerand
It set; bot It was son away
castine furth but delay.
bot sone agan þe coupe he fet,
& one þe altere he it set;
bot It wes farrere castyn þan.
þare-of wondryt mony man.
ȝet þe thryd tym he mad
offerand; bot þe coupe but bad
[wes] farrer castine mykil space.
þan þe puple, þat þare was,
for-wondryt ware les & mare.
þan þe chyld in þe sy[t]hware
Come, with þe fyrst coupe in hand,
& þare-of mad offerand,
hale & fere as he na wath
had feld, & þe coupe bath,
& tald þame quhou, quhen þat he
wes castine out in-to þe se,
sancte nicholas com son þare,
& sawit hyme fra al sare,
& brocht hym þare; bot he ne wist hou.
þane þe puple can kneis bou,
thankand god þat wes nocht Irk
sa for his confessoure to wirk.
þane his fadir, þat blyth wes, rath
mad offerand of þe coupis bath
to sancte nicholas, þat swa
had brocht hyme out of mykil wa,
& passit hame, his sone & he,
to þare awne at-oure þe se.
als of ane vthir man I red,
þat worthy wes in word & ded,
& bocht fele landis & nan sauld;
bot he had nan ayre þam to wald,
til It betyd hym of case,
be meryt of sancte nicholas,
a knaf barne with his wyf to haf,
quhare-eftyre he can mykil [c]raf;
“a deo datus” [he] gef to name
þis barne, þat wes of godis lane.
& þan þis cheld wox, & wel thraf,
& vertouyse was a-beofe þe laf.
þan for sancte nicholas sak
his fadir in his place gert mak
a fare chapel & honest,
& ilke ȝere gert mak gret fest
one sancte nicholas day.
bot þis fare place oure nere-hand la
to þe landis of agazenis,
þat ware ful cruel sarrezenis;
þe quhilk þis barne tuk & band,
& with þame led in-[to] þare land,
& to þare king þai mad presand
of hyme, þat wes sa awenand.
þe quhilk resawit hym thankfully,
& betaucht hym his coupe in hy,
to serue hyme of his drynk.
& þare he dwelt, þo hym sare think,
til a ȝere wes cumyne nere-hand.
bot til his fadir, þat ham duelland
wes soroful for his sonnis sak,
at he wes wont, ȝet gert he mak
a gret fest for sancte nicholas.
& one his day hapnyt of case
þe chyld to stand befor þe king,
& of þat fest to haf mennyng,
& hou he was with fais tane.
þane in his hart he mad mayne
& sichit sare. for þat þe king
of þat thing had persawing,
& speryt at hym quhat hym amowit
to mak sic doule; for he hym lufit.
bot þe barne was lath to tel.
ȝet þane þe king, þat was fel,
hale þe suth gert hym say
quhat Ioy at hame wes þat day.
þe king was wrath & swore on hicht:
“þo nicholas do al his mycht,
ȝet sal þu here with me byd.”
a ferly gret hapnyt þat tyd.
a fellon wynd com don son,
& al þe palace has vndone,
quhare þe king set at þe met,
& sodanly þe chyld has set
befor þe chapel dure at ham
with coupe in hand al alane,
his fadir & frendis al
sytand at met in-to þe hal,
one sancte nicholas day.
& quhen his fadir þat herd say,
he wes sa Ioyful, þat na man
þe teynd of It tel cane.
lord of þam al, sancte nicholas
was lowit, þat ware in þat place,
þat to þis merakle can tak tent,
hou þat barne in a moment
was liftyt fra sa fare a place
be vertu of sancte nicholas.
to quham be honoure & lowing
of mare, of les, of auld & ȝing,
oure al þis warld, be land & se,
& euire al tyme, so mot It be.