SCS 6-TES/. (3deriv.nls.uk/dcn23/1077/0253/107702535.23.pdf · 2015. 6. 8. · quha aucht }>e house...

f

f 'i ; f + I.1 *

't' dr. X • V* ' •*v H-'

i* i> «rV. v'k * V v ^ . “.i i . < jj ' < '. ‘i :> ^ /'

■ >; »■;

•v- ‘rV/ki^hii

■**. ^ .,• «k i'/; li-i.fV s K J - ■ *w ”‘v '

jf ’. H

;' * *

• to',^ ■#*, -r *n r/- ♦ii-rV ■'-. V )Vn ’ . * T 2 W *£ i-*

i.V? ». -fv- — T*' >* ,VS *-'•'»

■ -f ;'V Ki; ? /'•-» --l' *4.1 .'.As Ur •&. ' J ■ i 4 . ^ U

I • -r-/ .-.■ y

rv ' ,J* -4 »

tv

r-\ -ht /

.A ^

i

V.

: >. « ... a,. -

y>:>«y'* V- :--'J \*ij ' ~ a % i its-. Hr >;• ■t#Jr * '■■* '*t ■ *-V-\ v - ■ *fe

'-.n.^ - v-.-vr \ yt K:.. ; \^4 , li .v‘i

SCS 6-TES/. (3

i n

£be Scottish tTeyt Society

LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS

(MS. Cambr. Univ. Libr. Gg II. 6.)

FACSIMILE OF MS. Fol. 202*.

v»f <t Cfr*+ (**!•+ ofynp jyf

&£$S«

'~Xto2t

^ «u>*y /£ a£P&>+

fx ^ w«4-'4o**<«ji.tt •i. aAU-jGC* U u

r* 4; ^4 ^d* U >0 7

4* m *Jp£e&Me>

- 1 U*(-&U,

XXXffU ^ U^Gfy-fuiU

^- Xlr aL ccuts JM

gfl p&SSs&r. 'Jf&*6-

C\to itf t+**r(Z*

<7**b *** A bud 4$,

i

^4».

«fau

?£***■&-

,, --*'*<dmnL

C <Hgv*

4f* ft ^

^“rre X—u3

LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS

IN THE

■Scottislj ©ialect of tfje Jfourtecntlj Crnturg

EDITED FROM THE UNIQUE MANUSCRIPT IN THE

UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, CAMBRIDGE

WITH

INTRODUCTION, NOTES, AND GLOSSARIAL INDEX

BY

W. M. METCALFE, D.D.

VOL. II.

COMPLETION OF TEXT

Iprinteti for tfje Soctctg fig

WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS

EDINBURGH AND LONDON

MDCCCXCVI

All Rights reserved

CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME.

PAGE XXVII. MACHOR, ..... I

XXVIII. MARGARET, ..... 47

XXIX. PLACIDAS, ..... 69

XXX. THEODERA, . . . . .99

XXXI. EUGENIA, ... 124

XXXII. IUSTIN, . . . . . .152

XXXIII. GEORGE, . . .176

XXXIV. PELAGIA, . . . . .204

XXXV. THADEE, . . . . . 215

xxxvi. ioh[a]n[e]s baptista, . . .223

XXXVII. VINCENCIUS, . . . . .259

XXXVIII. ADRIAN, . . . . .272

XXXIX. COSME & DAMYANE, . . . . 292

XL. NINIAN, ...... 304

XLI. AGNES, ...... '346

XLII. AGATHA, ..... 358

XLIII. CECILE, ...... 368

XLIV. LUCY, ...... 387 XLV. CRISTINE, ..... 398

XLVI. ANASTACE, . . 407

XLVII. EFFAME, . . . . 417

XLVIII. JULIANA, ..... 424

XLIX. TECLA, . . . . . .432

L. KATERINE, . . ' . . . 442

Facsimile of MS. fol. 202“, at beginning

CORRECTIONS.

VOLUME II.

P. L. 30 17-

129 172. 306 88.

11 92. " 93-

307 101.

The figures refer to page and line.

For J>a the read fat he. Delete comma after ware. For comma after nede substitute full stop. For full stop after teche substitute comma. For the whole line read he vmthocht [hym] he wald luke. Omit [for].

XXVII.—MACHOR.

OR Jmt oyse is gen^rale

In haly kyrk vniu^rsale

In worschipe of god and lowing

of halowis to say & syng

]>e farleis }>at in J>arae were 5

thru god til J?ai ware duelland he[re];

Fol. 191 a. hot befor vthyr I wald fayne,

& I had cu«nyng, set my mayne

sume thing to say of sancte moryse,

]?at in his tym was ware & wis 10

& in ]>e erd of sic renown, & als in hewine sa hye patron,

of Aberden in J>e cite thru haly lif was wont to be.

bot Iheeu crist in ]?e ewa«gele, 15

quhen at he techit, sad suw quhyle,

J>at na profet, quhat-euz> he be,

Is accept in his cunctre.

& suth is bat prephesy

in sanct morys werraly; 20

for quhen are in bis land, at wat

his birth, his lif, & syne hzir stat,

& hou eftyre gret trawal on chance

god mad hym to rest syn in france,

in toron, til honouryt be, 25

set bare a strawgere was he, VOL. 11. A

2 LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

& fetryt is by sancttf martyne,

& haldine ]?ar in gret lowing;

bot in ]ris land we ken hym nook, quhare he wondzV werk/j wror/A, 30

as I sal schortly tel suw thing,

begy^nand fyrst at his gettyng

& of his byrth and hou J?at he

schupe hym to god plesand to be.

a king quhyle was \n Irland, 35

to man & god wel lifand,

& had syaconus to name.

& his wyf of gud fame,

}>e quene, synchene mew callit J^an?,

]?at a sone to }>e king bare, 40

& gert ful miokty me« hym ta

& here & cal hym mocuwma.

& to fostyre \ai tuk hym ]?ane

til ane callit teleman,

]?e quhilk had riches at wil. 45 for-Jd he tuk ]>e child hym til,

& gat a nuryse gud in hy,

]?e quylk hyme fostent tend/rly.

& he thrawe, hat wele fost^rit was;

& as he greu sa godfr grace 50

Eol. 191 b. greu in hyme ay, sa hat he with angelis wald oft visyt be.

hane tyd he king a tyme to ryd

In he cu«ctre nere be-syd

quhare dweland wes his telma?z. 55

bot knawlag had he king na.n

hat his sovn wes fosreryt hare;

bot as he by he house ca« fare,

he saw angelis fare & bryr/zt

one he ruf of hat house lyok,

& oft com ydyr out of hewine,

43. be tuk.

60

XXVII.—MACHOR. 3

& enteryt syngand wit/i a stevvyw.

J>e king }>at saw ]>is, had ferly,

& speryt at )>ame ware hy/« by,

quha aucht }>e house he saw ]w, 65

& quha pare duelt in pat sythwar^.

& sad pai: “ sa haf we blyse ;

youre son fostent Jjare-in is.”

}>e kyng, pat loyful pan wes,

in-to pe house but mare can pas, 70

& til his son beheld in hy,

quhare he can in ]?e credil ly,

& saw J>e angelis to & fra cu;« oft, & hym confort ma,

about his credil ga#gand 75 wit/i melody & angel sang.

J>is quhe« pe king had hmi & sen,

pe loy he had wald na man vren;

bot J?ar na vthyr [wes] bot he

pat tholyt was pat sicht to se. 80

his handis pan he held on hicht,

& lowit god at al his my^t,

pat sik a son had til hym send,

& prayt he suld hyme defend

fra alkine II, & grant pat he 85

in he seruice mycAt growand be.

bot quhat kine wyse he god louz't,

or hou pat he his son blyssit,

It ware ful lang here to say.

noe^t->a«, or he ^ed away, for god had latine hym se pat sycht,

he gaf of heretable ryeM

to godis seruice al pat ton Fol. 192 a. In-to fre possessione,

& wend his way blyt/j & glad,

for It he sa sene had.

& quhen he come ham to ]?e quen,

95


tald al J>at he had hen/ & sene,

]jat xychi blyth was of }>at thing,

& jauld to god gret lowing,

& ekyt pare deuocione

in almon ded, & oracione,

prayand to god Ithandly,

J^at he wald for his gret m^rcy

sa kepe pare child furth pat he

a lele smiand til hym raycht be.

syne eftyn? it tyd of case

pat quhew sychen delink was

of a knaf child pat deit ry^t pan

or men w/t/i hy?n to baptyme wa^,

pane was gret dale mad, & ran?,

ouri? al J?e cu^ctre here & pare;

bot nane sa mykil sorou mad as kyng and quen pat most cause had.

for it is mast sorow of ane,

barne to be fra be gettare sa tane.

nocht-pane be king hyme thoc/it,

bat to mak doul it gaynit nocht,

& bane for pe dynt of ded

agane pe quhilk is na remed.

bar-for he bad to pam hyme by

to tak pe ded barne witA al hy,

sped pa\m with It for to ga

quhare his son is mocuwma,

& vndz> his clathis by hym lay,

& quhat suld word ber-of assay,

& quhe« bai as he bad has don,

be barne bai suld agan bring son,

sa bat he suld na sorow mak,

bot se quhat end it suld tak;

for be be sicht he had sene

trewly he trewit, but ony wen,

98. here & sene. 114. as kyng and quhefi.

IOO

I05

no

lr5

120

I25

130

XXVII.—MACHOR. 5

]?at thru J>e tweching an^Hy

of mocu»2ma J>at barne in hy

suld turne to lyf. & but delay, 135

as he bad, sa did ]?ai,

Fol. 192 b. & tuk ]?e ded barne, }>at wes fare,

& layd it by the king/j ayre

in credil til his nakit flesch

vndir his clathis, ]>o it cald was. 140

bot men gret wondir ]>a.n se mo^t

of hyme }>at ded Jjare was bxocht.

fra he his bruthyre twechit had,

fra ded to lyf he come but bad,

& squelyt gret & raryt 3ame, 145

as kynd gaf to sic a barne. ])e gud me« ]?a« ]>at bro^t hym }>are,

J?at had mad fyrst dule & care,

quheTz ]?ai saw Jjis gret ferly,

loyful }>ai ware, & in hy 150

)>e Jong barne tuk & hame had

to king & quene, ]?at loy mad,

jey, mare ]>a,n ma newmyt be,

quhew ]?ai J?are barne lifand ca« se.

quhat confluens of 3u«g & aid 155 ]?a« was ]>a.ie, ma nocAt be tald;

na of )>e merwa.1 quhat wondering ;

na hou to god was mad lowy«g;

& anerly J>at was no<r/A }>are,

bot thru ]?e kirk wyd-quhare. 160

]>e chyld )>an to }>e kirk ]>ai had,

& gert it hofine be but bad,

& it fostent tendz'rly

as his stat wald delytabli.

sone eftyre a ferly fel, 165

alsa gret as I hard tell, eftyr of tyme ]?e pwceft,

quhare mocuwma fostmt was,


It tyd his noryse for to be

sitand & had hym on hyr kne

be ]?e fyre al hyr<? alane,

for ]?e lawe pare gat ware gane.

& it hapnyt hyre in hy

oute J?e house to here gret cry.

bare-of scho gret ferly had,

& for to wit quhy it was mad,

scho stert vpe & pare wzt/j-al pt barne fra hyre handfe can fal

in pc fyre, ]?at was sa gret

pat nane mye^t nicht it for het.

Fol. 193 a. & scho pat ]?e barne saw sa

in pc fyre, had sa gret wa

& sa abaysit cane stand,

pat scho had nop/r fut na hand

to helpe be bame, bot lud ca« cry.

jet pc barne stil can ly,

ay kepand it sa godze grace

bat in be fyr vnbrynt it was.

bane raryt scho loud, and raf hz> hare,

& beft hyre-self & mad sic care,

bat of hyre wit scho jed nere wod

for sorow of bat frely fud,

eftyre help crz'and Ithanly,

til at be last bare com in hy

ful fele bat /icrd hz> mak sic care,

& fand be barne jet lyand bare,

& hynt It out, & syne It fand

as in be credil it ware lyand.

& sum saw angelis ay repare,

bat It kepit elyk fare

fra wewmyne of be fyr sa brath

obir in body or in clath.

bane gert bai be bellzir ryng,

189, )>ane rayrt.

170

175

180

185

190

195

200

195. gert.

XXVII.—MACHOR. 7

& “te deum laudamus” syng,

& lowit god increly,

Jiat had kyd sic ferly,

& schevvit pare sa mykil mycht

in }>at jurcg barne til al per sy<r/A,

gerrand pat elymewt pat he

had gert obeysand til hyw be.

ane vthyr als befel

]?at J>is nuryse I of tel. foêtil of pt mykil wath,

pat tyd J>e barne for-outy« skath,

ane erand had to do per owt,

bot, for scho of pe. barne had dout

to lewe It in ]?e house alane— for al vthz> a-way ware gane—

& in a fat J>at stud hyrz’ by,

brad & depe, & J>ane dry,

weppit in clathis J?e barn ca« lay

ful tendzrly, & jed hyre way,

wenand it my^t Jâr be stil

Fol. 193 6. but parel, til scho come It til.

& quhentf scho hyre gat ware gan,

of Jê menje in come ane vnwitand pe barne wes pare,

& fillyt pe fat but ony mare

of watzV, richt vpe to pe bra,

& syne of ]?e house can ga.

)>ane eftyr ]?e nuryse come,

lât had hyre hart out of home, for thochtful scho wes of pc barn,

& to pe fat sped hyre jarne,

& fand it fillit to pe bra,

It wes na were, pan scho wes wa.

pan pe man callit scho pe fat can fil,

& speryt quhare put he J?e barn til,

>at in pe grand of pe fat lay.

205

210

215

220

225

230

235


& he schortly til hyr<? ca« say, 240

}>at he wist noc/it of }?at barn,

but hopyt wele It was forfarn

gyf scho lad It ]?ar<?; for he,

vnwittand it }>an? suld be,

fillyt ]?e fat & held is way. 245

quhew scho hard hym so get say,

scho rugyt of hyr<? hed ]?e harfi,

& squelit fa[s]t, & hie can rare,

& wft/z hyre handis skartyt hz> face,

& al }>e lawe }>at nakit wes, 250

& with hyr newis reft hz> brest,

al ]>at scho mycht wyne to nest,

& callit hyr^-self ful pytisly

of wrech ]>at sa reklesly

]>at in hyre fawt sic a barne 255

]?e tothyr tyme ^et sa forfarn e, & for J>at knawine wes hir gylty

to mazz & god almychty.

Jzane ruschit mezz to spen?

J>e cause quhy scho mad sic ben?. 260

& quhezz J?ai ]ze manem wist,

]ze fat ]>ai tyd don but mare fyrst,

& fand ]ze barne hale & fere,

as watzr neuz'z- had nychd It ner?,

bot als dry it was sene, « 265

as in Jze credil it had bene.

bot angelis, as ]zai did before,

Fol. 194 a. It kepit Jzane, myne no mare,

fra wath of watzr quhare It lay,

as in J>e fyre befor did ]zai; 270

for he Ipat quyk sawit moyses

in ]?e watzr quhezz he put was,

has defendit bis barne here,

J>at lyk was to be in gret were,

quhat is ]>are mare to say, but ]>an 275

XXVII.—MACHOR. 9

ful ioiiul wes mony ma«,

& mykil lowyng wes ]>a.n mad

to god of hewine, ]>at sa gret had

mmvale in ]?at barne sa kyd,

quhe« it was in ]>e watir hyd. 280

bane was the nuryse for loy gretand,

quhe« scho hyre fostzV sowne fand.

lord crzst ]?ir werkz'r a.re Jsine, J?at Jsis gerrzir J^i halowis schyne

be m^rwalis & vertuise sare, 285

be quhilkzr )mi wro^t til b^i were

her lifand! & lowyng to be be

a god in personis thre!

of bis barne bis wes begyzznyng

for to grew in hewyzdy thing, 290

for ferlys b^t fare ware & sere,

as je sume part herd has here.

& ay in body as he grew,

he grew in vertu fare Inuch.

& fra he cuth spek grathly, 295

he wes set to ]>e schole in hy, & bare in his begyzmyng leyryt

sic as til }ung men afferyt,

In gud thowis to haf delyt,

& in vertuyse to be parfyt. 300

& quhezz he come to rypare eld,

bat he mycht hyw-self weld,

he sat his hart one heare thing to her, & haf vndzVstawding.

& quhat his hart pr/ntyt within, 305

he held wele, & fled ay syne.

& be he com to sewine jere,

he cuth lazzgage spek sere

& vndzVstanand ]>z.m xycht wele, god had hyme send sa gret cele.

276. woful. 302. jeld.

310


& als of J?at eld was he Fol. 194 b. lik to a formulary to be,

of quhaw mefi suld behold ])e ded,

}?at god honours wald & dred,

& ]?ars-w/t^ hou J?ai suld be 315

to ]?ars nytbours in cheryte.

[i]n }>e land }>at ty;« ]>a.n was

a man }>at schane of halynes,

& led his lyf but ony blame.

for-}u of hyme fers ra« ]?e na;«; 320

sa fars ]?at ]>e forsad kyng-

was wytryt wele of \\is lyfy«g,

& ]?at he come of kingw kyne,

sik as wes Irland withine,

& coluwbe had to his name, 325

a ma/z }>at was but ony blaw.

sic request he hy;« ]>a.n mad,

J^at he come til hy#z but abad.

J?e kyng ]>a.n with hym tretit sa )?at he tuk with hym mocuwba, 330

for til enforme fyrst, & lers

in vsrtuse & in science sers.

& he ]>a.t abil was & 3yng,

1 folouyt his mastzr in al thing,

& wald consawe ful sutelly 335 quhat-euirs he taucht in til hy,

& in his hart wels held It,

ay retentywe he had a wyt,

& had hym in sik degre

}>at his ourme« be sutelte 34°

& les }>a« he in gret meknes,

he wald ourscume, & neuir-J’e-les

he kepyt ay his innocens

of almazz but offens.

& growand ay furth he wes

321. kynk. 337. weld held It.

345

XXVII.—MACHOR. 11

in v<?rtu and in gudnes,

& for he doutyt for to fal,

til abstine«s he gef hy»* al,

& held his flesch vnd?>lout,

for dred it suld worth stout 350

a-gane }>e saul, & ger hywz syne, & let hym hewins blis to wy«,

& gef hyme to prayers & to wak, hyme to god smiand to mak.

& god his hart able ay mad 355

to \ere J>at he wald but bad, Fol. 195 a. sa J>at of thre moneth }?e space

al warld/r w/t be godis grace

& smiice als of haly kyrk

he leryt al, & wes no<r/k Irk. 360

& hereof suld na man ferly,

gyf he consydmt suthfastly

J>at quhare ]?e haly gast wil be

mastzV but dyffyculte,

he ma gem man cozzsawe althing 365

but bysynes or trawalyng,

as of salamozz we red,

}>at wes ]?e wysest man but dred,

wz‘t/z-in Jjc space of a ny<r^t

of al ]>at wit he gat ]>e slyr/zt, 370

thru theching of }>e haly gast,

]?at is best mastz> in til hast; for to god as we ma se

nathing may inpossible be.

thane fra sanct colme had persawing 375 how clerly godis grace can schyne

in mocuwma, be syndry thingzk sem,

]>at in hyme he saw apem,

til his disciplis sad of hyme :

“jone man }>at schenis as a jeme,

I ame nocht diwgne to lem trewly, 380


tore angelis of[t] tyme sen haf I

repare til hyme & kene hyme al

]?at he wald lere gret & smal,

& namely hou }?e haly wryt 385

sal vnd/rstand & expond It.”

quhe« ]mi herd }ns, J>ai had inwy

a-gane mocuwma fello?/ny

& dyspyt, because J>at he

wes lowit in ]?at degre. 390

hot sancte col me, bat bare e«wy

persawit & bare fellowny,

lowit mocu;«ma fere be mare,

& honouryt hym }>an he did are,

& of[t] with hyme held carpyng 395

of lestand lyf & hevy^ly thing,

& wald hyme schaw al pmvete

bat in his thoe^t consawit he.

noe/$t be ]>e ]>oc/it mocuwma

wist his mastfr lufit hym sa 4°°

as he be sere assay can fele;

3et pr/dyt he hyme nockt a dele,

bot j>e sa/«myne humylyte

Fol. 195 6. he had befor ay kepyt he In honest cowuersacione 4°5

& stratnes of relygione.

for-bi be grace of god grew ay in hyme bath nicht & day.

Ipan rane be fame of hyw rye/A wyd,

in al Irland in al syd. 410

ful gret loy sancte colme pan mad,

bat he sic a discipil gottine had.

& mocuwma was ryc/A glad

bat he sic a mastzV had.

& for pare cause pat sa haly ware, 415

mew come to pam of landis fare,

394. he did ]>are. 399. j>i )>ocht. 409. ]>an pane.

XXVII.—MACHOR. 13

til haf pare informacione,

& alsa for pare benyson.

& jet come forg-owt ma

J>ane to sanct coluwbe to sancti? mocuwma, 420

for ferly pai had, }?at he

in sa schort tyme suld haly be,

bryngand hyme gyftw fare & gret, as for his clething & his met;

bot ]?are-of he wald noe/it, 425

for he by warldis gud set noe/it,

& namely for his fad/r sak.

Bot J>ari?-of wald he nocht tak; & for he wald no<r/zt knawyw be

with pe men of his cuzzctre, 430

he det^myt in his thor/zt,

pat dwel pare langan? wald he nocht,

bot passyt in vnchut land but bad,

quhare na man knawlag of hym had.

& sa to do pat he his wil 435

set, sad his maistere til,

]?at of his purpos wes blyt^. fore-]n he sad til hyme alswith :

“der son, in c?7st I lowe god ay

pat he had leryt )>us to say; 440

for It pat }>u has sad me til

of ful parfyt men is pe wil.

& now, dere son, I sal tel pe

al vtrely myn pn'wete;

pat is, pat myn wil has be« ay 445

of myzz kith to pafi my way, with-pi pat I had pe wil

of pi kyne & myn pare til.

bot for pi kyne I lettyt mare

Fol. 196 a. pat, gyf Jzu sa dide, wald haf care; for }>u pare suffrant loy is now.

]?are-for, wil }>u myn consul trew,

45°

LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

J>u wyne pare gud lufe & lewe—

for sa gat ma we best eschewe—

& pat done cum a-gane me til.

J>ane ma we pase quhar<?-eu/r we wil.”

}>e jung xuan sad: “s^r, I haf nane

fadz'r now bot god alane,

fore quha;« fadz> & modir bath

I wil forsak, po pa\m be lath ;

for ]ju nixt god is my iadir,

& haly kyrk is my mo dir.

for-pi I wil lewe be na wyse }h cuwpany na pi sendee,

fore quhare ]?u gays, wil I ga,

til ded tak ane of ws twa.”

his mastzV pan gret ferly had,

& in his hart gret loy he mad,

quhene he pe gret deuocione

of hyme herd & pe perfeccione.

]?ane sad he: “ son, til pu in jjuthad was stad a barnis uam pou had,

bot for pu juthad has warpyst

& is parfyt man in cryst,

]m sal be callyt machore,

& lewe pe name pu had before.”

sanct colme gert pane aparel

a bat sture -with wetale,

& sped hyme to pe se but mare

with al J>at wald w/t/z hym fare,

his ferme hope in hyme setand

}>at has to stere bath se & land. pane machore fyrst in pe bat wan,

& repnzwyt }>e mastiz- man

of his tary & his slawnes,

pat he to saile sa lethand wes. pan, helpand god, pai saylyt a quhyle,

460. to 478. a bast.

XXVII.—MACHOR. 15

til }>ai come ner? J?e He

of iy, & pare saile strak;

}>ane ]>are tho^t land to tak. 490

ane melluma in J>at sythware

come to J>e se & saw J>ame "pare,

& knew sanct colme, & wes blyt/z,

& at hym speryt alswyt/;,

gyf he one land wald be. 495

& he sad: “ 3a.” )>ane in J>e se

Fol. 196 6. })e carle wod to ]>e bat but bad. & to ]>e land quhew he J^ame had,

J>ane sad sancte colme: “ ar we al her^ ? ”

sad melluma: “ja, now ser.” 500

sanct colme gert ]?ame cum hym before,

to se, & myssit sancte machore, Ipat jet in his prayers lay.

sanct^ colme ]>an to }>e carle ca« say:

“ jet wantis ane & Is mare 505

witA god of hewine }>an we al are.”

]?ane passit }>e carle & spent, gyf he

to ]>e land dry borne wald be.

“ja,” sad he; & but mare

dry to ]>e land he hym bare. 510

]>ane colme of his cu;«my/z wes blyt^,

& athyre kyssyt vthyre swyt/q

& reco;«mendyt gretu;«ly

of vertuse lyf & of haly.

thane sad sanct<? colme: “brulper, blissit be 515 ]ns place; & pray to god J>at he

send his angel to blyse It,

sene we to cum here is hapnyt.”

& as he sad quhe« ]>ai had done oure al J>e He, ]?ai passit sone, 520 & fand it ryc/it pwfytable,

& to duel in gud & abile.

& out of Irland in a quhyle

i6 LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

men may wele sayle in[-to] }>at He.

& as jsai so<r^t had ]>e place, 525

J>ai fand quhar^ a fare sted was,

enhournyt with treis sere,

& spryngand vvellis fare & clere.

]?ane sad sancte colme, he wald ]?are

duel, & pas na forthyr mare. 530

a ma«sione }>a« fyrst J?ai mad

to sancte colme & but bad.

& syne a ma«sione sufficiandly

]?ai mad to sancte machore in hy.

& til al ]>e lawe ]?ai wrocht 535

placw til indwel as }>ai rycht thoe^t.

sancte colme duelt }>are-in pane

as abot and haly mane.

syne pai saw ane vthire He,

pat pai moe^t saile to \n a quhile, 540

pat mule hycht; & pare to preche, & cmtine folk als to teche,

sancte colme send his dyscypil here

sancte machore, pat wes hym nere.

Fol. 197 a. pe quhilk, as he com in pat land, 545

sewin myssale vgly he fand,

& askyt of hyme su;« thing

of cheryte & his blyssyng.

in godz'j name he bad pawz pase

to suz/z watz'r pat by was, 550

& wesch pame. & sa dyd pai,

& gat pare hele but delay.

& as pai clene ware, with a stewine,

machore pai lowyt and god of hewine.

& quhezz he pare had ben a quhile 555

& prechyt oure al pe ewangel,

he come to pe He of iy,

til his mastzV, & wes besy

to study into haly wryt,

XXVII.—MACHOR. 17

& oft time put IT: to wryt. 560

& as he a ny^t cane wryt,

a thing quharc-in he had delyt,

before )>q end of It [he] mad,

}>e \ycht hym faljet & [>a« he had

ferme hope in god of hewine. 565

one his fyngyre end blew ewine

}>at as a candil brywnand lycht,

& til done he had gef hym sycht.

& sa hapnyt [in] [>at sythware,

a lytil barne for til be }>are, 570

& saw hou ]>is ier\y fel,

& to J>e common cuth it tel. ]5a« had [>ai fare mare II wil

[>ane befor sancte machore til;

namely for ]?ai mie^t noe^t 575

sic merwalis wyrk as he wroeAt.

syne as II me« tuk to rede

nedly for til haf hyme dede;

bot for }>ai durst nocht opynly

for his mastz> do sic foly, 580

}>ai, to fulfil ]?are entent,

poysone w/tA ane innocent,

say ]?ai suld J^e les It think,

J>ai send hyme myngyt i«to drink.

sancte machore spent at J>e barne, 585

quha }>e drink send hym rycht jarne ;

& he sad hyme }>e suth hale,

bane wyst sancte machore be his tale, [>at in [>at drynk wes fellozm gyle,

jet [>ane he tuk It, & cane smyle, 590

& sad : “ ]>ar is brethyre fals

Fol. 197 b. & fra cheryte ful fare als

J>at me of )>is warld wald bryng,

}>at neuire myse did }>aw in ony thing;

& now war ful gud to me VOL. 11. B

595


to be vysit, & with god sene be,

& as god wil, sa mot It be.”

with ]?at }>e cop in hand tuk he,

& sanyt It dewotly. pare myefit men se a gret ferly, 600

hou pe cop he heldit done,

& al pat was fel poyssone

fel of ]?e cope, & hou pt lafe

)>am-of to pe cop clafe.

syne pat lycure he drank pare 605

but felyng of ony sare.

pe chyld syne tald parh pat Yiym send,

as he saw fra end to end.

]?ane sancte machore y>rayt hartly

god to forgyf pa\m pat foly. 610

& as pai herd sik tything

of hat barne of pat ferly thyng, ]?ai warg inflawmyt of pe tyre

of inwy pan; and in gret yre

to pare maisten? but delay 615

come, & >us-ga/ can say:

“ machore gerris men be sorcery

trowis he dowis m<srakile opynly,

& sympil men into pare sycht

dissawis thru pe dewylis mycht, 620

& is contrary til ws ay;

for-hi, suthly, ser, we say, ]?at we wil hale lef he,

& he langen? -with he be.

for-hi chese quhethyr hu wil 625 gyf ws oure lewe or hald hym stil.”

and pare mastz'r herand how h^i

sa spa«ly ]ns tale can say,

he was in p^rplexyte,

seand hou ane behowit to be,

616. gad. 628. spaly.

630

XXVIL—MACHOR. 19

ojnre to do away in haste

his praityce ]?at he lufyt mast,

ore pai/n pat he had fosteryt ay

fra 3outhed to pat day.

he prayt ]?ame to hald pa\m stil, 635 & he suld syne owtak per wil.

J^ane he kyst in his tho^t

Fol. 198 a. in pat case he best do mocht, makand a syth to J>ame bath,

& for to kepe machon? of skath, 640

thoo^t he wald wi't/i wilis dele for sawete of }>ame & pare hele.

saincte machon? he callyt a day,

& til hyme }ms-gat cane say :

“my dere bruthyr^, in pr/wete 645

I haf for to say to pe.

& fyrst, I pray J^e Jm wil

be na way tak in til II. bruthyre, p\i wat pat quhyle

Ih^ru sad, in pe ewangyle, 650

‘quha lufis his saule mar<? pan me

ma be na way my serwand be,’

& til his p/Yntyse ca« he say:

‘passis thru ]?e warld our<? way

& til almen pt ewangelis teche 655

& to tak baptysme J?ame preche.’

hou ma we J>ane ]?is word fulfil

pat in a nuk here lyis stil,

& bot of our<2-self think/r nor/zt, & of sawle hele na thing wror/zt 660

of fele folk pat wyd-quhan? in fawt of techyng tynt are;

& namely sene we haf mycht

of body & of science slycht ?

ryse we, }?an?-for, & dreft ws til 665

godzk bydyng to fulfil.


& for my eld, as ]?u ma se,

to lyf in quyet accordis me,

& for ]m jongar^ is J>ane I, scharpare of wyt & mare mychtty,

In godis name }?u tak one hand

to pas into fere land,

& preche godis word alquhare

to ]?ame at in wane-treutht are,

& preft Jse bysyly for to wyne pare sawlis pat lyis in syne.”

sancte machore sad: “ mast/r dere,

gud is I do as je me lere

for joure pnzyere & 3onre consele;

for pat to me ma mast awale.”

cyuod he: “ with myn oracione,

mad hartly with deuocione,

I sal helpe pe but fenjeyng,

& helpe pe in al vthyre thyng.

Fol. 198 b. eftyr my possybilyte,

dere sone, I sal helpe pe.”

sewine mene pane he taucht hym til,

to serwe hyme & to do his wyl;

& byschape staf gef hyme alsa,

& belt, & of his clathis twa,

& bukis, pat ware necessare

to hyme to prech godis lare,

& ordenyt hyme a galay,

& wytale pare-in gert he lay.

& pus to mak quyet & pece

of It, he wyst fellozmy wes.

pare-for, as machore was redy

to pas pe se, sancte colme in hy

gert al his prfnteyft cum before

hyme in absence of sancte machore,

& sad to pame: “ so«nis dere,

I haf 3011 fosteryt mony 3ere,

XXVII.—MACHOR. 21

& wat, gyf je wil one meyne,

]?at I al-way has besy bene

til infourme ju in cheryte, 705 & in sawle hele thochty to be.

& for joure hartw ar herd as flynt,

& ek I haf rayn trawale tynt,

for in 301m? hart/r 30 had Ithandly

}>at 3one haly man ay inwy, *710

& 30 ware bowne ay to do II

til hyme )>at neuz> mysdid 311 til.”

quhe;z he had ])is sad & mare,

bane ]>ai repentyt Ipam sare

It >at bai bad don before 715

agane cheryte to sancte machore, & sad: “ fadyr, wele wat we

we haf mysdone in bat degrej

bot now reconsel ws hyme til,

& now ws get his gud wil.” 720 sancte colme bane, bat besy was

betwene bame for to mak pece,

callyt machore and tretyt sa,

bat he betwene )>aym pes can ma.

sancte machore pan his lewe tuk rath 725

at mastzV & bat brethyre bath,

bat w/t/i hyme to be se can pas,

repentand bame of bare trespas;

& of now lewe has tane,

and kyssyt bame euire ilkane. 730

his maister bane & he mad wa

bat bame worthyt part in twa,

& kyssyt oft bat pare partyng

witA regrat & with gretyng,

Fol. 199 a. & Ilkane cane vthyre blyse 735 v/itA wordis of gret teyndzVnes.

[t]hane to pc galay went machore—

* 710. This line is by Horstmann numbered 720.


& sancte colme quhare he was before—

& helpand god, saylyt }>e se

but distrow^ylance in dais thre,

& ewine north in Scotland

arywyt, quhare ])ai fand dwelland

a cnstine man hat farcare hycht,

hat ryches had & mykil my^t,

hat prayt hame for to say,

quheii hai come & quhat ware hai.

& hai sad hyme he suth alswith.

hane wes his farcare ferly blyt/q

quhen he sen had sancte machor;

for he hard spek of hyme befor.

& because of his renowne,

his farcare hed hyw til his towne,

& al hat nedful til hyme was

gert get til hyme mare & les,

thankand god a-beowe he lawe

hat he wes worthy sic gest til haf •

for he in sc[h]ort ty?n gert hyme be,

parfyt in double cheryte;

hat is to say, vfitA god & mane.

& pare-wzU his luf he wane,

hat he sad til hyme: “fadz> dere,

lo! al hi8 landis are myne here

& zs my herytag al.

for-hi hus place tak hu sal, to mak quhare-euire hu wil a place.

& gyf ony of myzz o[f]spryng, percase,

gane-sais It, waryt mot he [be],

til he thole he brukyt fre.” sancre machore hane thankfully

his gyft tuk, & al he place by

socht to & fra, til he fand

a sted til hyme wes gazznand,

740. distrowlylance. 763-

XXVII.—MACHOR. 23

besyd a watyr bank, }>at rane

in-to ]?e se, & lyk was ]?ane

as It a byschopis staf had bene. 775 & fra sancte machore had It sene,

til his disciplis caw [he] say:

“ lo! hen? myw dwelling place for ay,

for my master to me cane tel,

)>at I in sik [a] place suld dwel.” 780

bane gert he bygyne pare be mad

til hym as he mystery had.

& syne til al J?e lawe gert he

Fol. 199. 6 bygyng mak in pare degre.

& eftyr bat he gert wyrk 785

be craftly men a costlyk kyrk,

& bat men callyt 3et,

“of sancte machore pe seg ore set.”

ser warkmen syne on a day,

bat had gret thryst, caw til hywz sa : 790

“ dere fadzr, wit 3c quhen we swink,

bat we haf gret fawt of drynk.

help vs, bare-for, gyf 30 may.”

bane sancte machore but delay

gat gud vatere in fusione; 795

& semis 3et til al pe towne,

& springis 3et as It did bane,

at prayere of bat haly man.

& fele bat of bat watzV drank gat hele, & hartly god caw thank. 800

bat was be fyrst m<?wwal b^t he

wrozr^t, bat quhew pat mew mycht se,

bat now be name has Scotland,

bot pychtzV bane in It ware duelland.

bane come til hywz of placzir sere 805

mony praiteise bat redy were

til vndzwly his dyscypline,

& fore to tak of hyme teching.


}>ane duelt a mane nere by,

relygiouse & rycht haly, 810

]?at to name had dewy#ik,

]?at godw 30k bare on his nek,

& to sancte machore com a day,

& til hyme bis he can say: “ gud ser, be-hald, & bu ma se, 815

hou fele folk in bis cunctre

are 3et habazzdonyt mony wise

to mak till mawme^tzk seruice

And pus [h]ave ner-hand nan to schav

goddis word, or ger mezz knaw 820

be nerrest get till hewyzzis blis.

for-bi, mastez-, my nzzzsall is,

bat bu in bis cunctre duell still,

goddis wazzgel for to pz-eche till

Fol. 200 a. pus pee/ztis, at are lath to trew; 825 And I vvz'tA goddis helpe will now

to bame of catnes but mare gang,

bat cmtine treutht is myskezznand lang, Amang bai^ goddis vord to schaw,

to ger paim god parfitly knaw.” 830

sanct Machor sad: “ pat quhebzV na we,

sal ilkane vthire eftire se.”

& he sad: “3his, 3eit forow cz-z'ste

ve sal eft met in his bewiste,

& bruk vztA hyzzz ay lestand blifi. 835

bot, dere fadir, I pray be bus,

ffor ded nerhand abidis me

to tak, fra I be gane fra be,

bat bu wald, eftyr I be dede,

ger bring my body to bis stede, 840

& ger It grawine be, quhar I

820. ger is corrected from her. 825. pontis.

* Handwriting changes.

XXVII.—MACHOR. 25

had mad my duelling Ithandly.”

And he heicht hyw he suld do swa.

Athens )>ar lewe with }iat can ta,

And dewe«ik can to catnes paft, 845

to folk ]>at \an wntreuthtfull waft,

And sped sa weile \n schort tyw }?are,

}?at \ai\m parfit in godis lare he mad. hot jet \an sanct Machor

ffurth preichit as he did befor 850

the p&r^tis, & swa sped }>at he

gert mast part of \a\m cmtnit be;

& namely he gert master men

trew, ]>at wntreuthfull war to pan, bath thru pc lare he can paxm lere 855

And thru schauyng of me^walis sere;

& J>ar templis distroyt wyd quhare,

And ydolis pat in-to paim ware.

& bus gat lang tym trawalyt he

Of goddis corne wywnare to be. 860

syne tyd one a tym to gang

Apone pc feild his corne ymarge,

And saw a bare mekill & gret

defoull pc corne with feit, & ete,

& do gret skath. & ]?ane sad he: 865

“in goddis name I cowmawnd pc

pat ]?u in J>at sted stand still.”

& onohe sancte Machor com \vym till,

And strak hym with hz'r staif onane, Fol. 200 b. And he sowne tarnyt till a stane, 870

And in pat schape sa stazzdze he

a jard stane, as mew jeit ma se.

syne machor cozw in-to a place

And saw a maw pat mykill vas, & in J>at cuwtre duelling mad, 875

& to his richt name dinon had,

844. cuzw. 845. dewink. 851. poyntA


& was payeme & xicht crafty

in fendis warkw & sorcery.

And he wald oftymys ger mew ven

}>at sewine hedw on hywz had ben. 880

And quhew sanct machor sew hy;w had,

he ferlyt first, & syn but bad

a psalme he sad begywnand \ns

of scwz'ptur : “ Exurgat deus ”;

& or he of }>at psalme mad end, 885

thru goddis myz^t It was wel kend

J?at he na hedis had but ane.

ffor-]’i ]>at tyrand or he fane of sanct machor fell to ]?e fet,

& for his s_ywnis sare caw gret, 890

prayand hywz for goddis sak ]?at he wald cr/stine maw hywz mak.

& he sad hyme, wzt/z-]?i ]mt he

wald lewe hA sorcery, & be

gud cr/stine maw & cr/stine fay 895

ffra ]une furth treuli kep alvay,

anentis god he suld hywz wyne

fforgiffines of his mykill syne.

& he hicht ]>at wz’t/z full gud will

all haill his bydiwg till fulfill. 900

& sanct machor gert hywz nor^t-^aw

Resawe baptywz, and swa hywz wane

and tacht hywz weill in cwzstine fay,

& leit hywz syne pas hyne hzV vay.

ane vthzV tywz sanct machor jed 905

prechand & sawand godis sed,

Mew brozz/zt a maw ]>at was blind borne,

& seit hywz sanct machor beforne,

& prayt hywz ful sare }>at he

thru his prayers wald gen? hywz se. 910

& he j?at reutht ay iw h^wt had,

890. sownis.

XXVIL—MACHOR. 27

tuk wattir & blissit it but bad,

& }>are-wrt^ all e«noyntit rir^t ^a« Fol. 201 a. oure corce }>e eyne of Jmt blind ma«,

& sad till hyme: “luk vpe & se.” 915

& as he bad, richt swa did he,

& saw als clerly all kine thinge,

as he of sicht had neuzV merriwg.

& he ]?at na tyme saw befor,

saw \&n & lowyt sanct machor, 920

quhaw thru ]>e sicht god swa hy;« gefe.

& one J>e same did Ipe laiffe,

]?at saw or herd )>zs gret ferly,

jauld thank to god full increly.

ane vthz> tym as he ca« stand, 925

goddis word to folk prechand, hat stud a-bout hy»z in-virroune,

Mezz brozvfa a dede cors ovt of tovne,

& lad It done befor his feite wz't/z lamezztaczbn and greite.

& synchenzzr to name he had.

sanct machor J>azz speryt but bad

quhen ]>at he was or of quhat kin.

& hai per ordir tald till hyme,

& als )>at he of kine was nere

to gud sanct colme, to god sa dere.

& fra sanct machor pat herd tell

a-pon his kneis sone he fel,

& pzvzyt till god one sic a wyse,

pat at dede mazz lof & cane ryse.

& swa wzt/z pzvoff of my<r/ztfull dede

he strinthit alway godis sede.

& ferleis wror/zt he p^n sa feile,

pat he mad mony payene leile; ffor he to haizzz was sic myrroure,

h«t he gert haizzz leif hare erroure.

919. na styme. 930. lamezztacon. 941. wl poff= wzt/z pwoff.

93°

935

940

945


god grant ws grace ]>at we do swa

out of J>is lyfif or J^at we ga.

off }>/s sanct machor J?e fame rane

thru sere land, til full mony maw

of ferleis ]>a\. thru hym god wroe/rt.

ffor )>at of syndry land/e men hym socht

ffor to purches his benysone,

& haf of hyme instruccwne.

a-ma«g vthire, twa of Irland

]jat herd tell of hym tythand,

& ^ung, sum dele letteryt ware,

till hyme sa besely cun spere, Fol. 201 6. and socht sa long til }>ai hy*« fand,

quhare I sad are into Scotland,

jarnand till haf instrucc/on

of hyme and informacione,

& how }>ai suld haly wryt

vndzVstand and vndo It.

& he resawit Jjaw/me full weile,

& all bare 3am yng ilke dele

he tyd hame, & full sobirly

enformyt puim full p«rfytly

of crfstine treutht, of lyf at sail

ay laste, & of sawle heile wz't/z-all,

& mony vthir spedfull thing,

bot he in hame ruit hz'r techi[n]g;

ffor, fra ])at ]?ai hare leif had tazz,

hai na tyme for to scorne hyzzz fane;

& his lare and amonesting,

hai sad, was richt noe/zt but hethi[n]g,

& har-wz’t/^ callit hyzzz “ypocrz't.”

bot hazzz reuezzgit was full tyt; ffor noe^t fere June in till a sted

suddanly hai ware all deide,

& schot in till gong stinkand,

969. & sail. 977. ypocrz'yt.

95°

955

960

965

970

975

980

XXVII.—MACHOR.

quhar nan of freyndis \a\m fand.

It hapnyt a tym in-to ware, quhill sanct machor was duelled \er,

}>at he for faut of weile tyd land,

gert teile a mekill feild of land;

& }>oc/it It was leyne & dry,

he socht to saw ]?an? here & Ry,

in goddis larges assouerand

]>at it suld grow weile in pat land.

No^t-}>ane his s<?mandis had ferly pat he gert teile aid land & dry,

& nawly for pai west but dred

to saw ]?at land he had no sede. pan he sad to pa'un pat swa thocht:

“ god is mychty to helpe; dred no<r^t;

quhar man na liklines ma se.”

to twa of his pre«teis sad he :

“hald joure gat to my lord temane;

sa hym for sede haf I nane, quhar-w/tA my feilde pat I saw may,

hyw in-to sic distres I pray

At he at pis tym wald help me

of his seide w/tA sic qua«tite.” #

Fol. 202 a. bat a gret bane of it ry^t tyt In-til his throit clewit sa faste

]?at he to de was sare agaste; ffor he mycht swely it for na slir/rt,

na out till put it had na mycht. pan was bat wrache wondz> wa,

ptfrsawand weile he was sted swa;

ffor he tholit in till bat houre

lyk to be dede mony herd schure,

984. duellezzd.

* The next leaf is wanting.

29

985

990

995

1000

1005

1010


& alswa had he schame to tell quhy he ]?at fische to ]?e tend fell 1015

ffor his delit had etene ]?ane,

]?at acht was to J>at haly marc.

3eit with quaquand voice sad he

to ]>3.im Jmt vare is maste pmve:

“to me }>at sted is in }>zs wath, 1020

yhone goddis man 3e bring me rath;

ffor I will grant hym but delay

]je thing quharfor he can me pray.”

his meng^e ]>an foroutine more

passit and bro^t hyz« sanct machor, 1025

ffra quham he askit forgewine,

& he had nytit hyz« his askine ;

& }>ar-for mekly prayt he

J>at he wald of his pitte.

& Jzat erth J^a the askit hade, 1030

he gaf hym Jzare but langur bade,

sanct Machor blissit hym one ane.

out of his hals pan lape pe bane,

& he mad haile als smertly wes,

as man pat neuzV weste of seknes. 1035

sanct machor pan mesuryt pe place,

pat lang & brad & richt plan was,

And in a litill tym gert wirk

of treis fare a cuz/zly kirk. & quha-sa reddis }>us, ma see 1040

how besy pat gudmezz suld be

ffor till obeis in althing

of haly mezz to pe bidding,

& nazzzly and one alkine wise

quhar it twechis godis smiice. 1045

ffor, lo, he >at litill before

Mad Rud answers to sancte Machor

thru pzv'yd & awaris gredy,

And godis man dispituisly

XXVII.—MACHOR. 31

Fol. 202 b. fra his pmens chasit away, 1050 Is now ful fayne hym for to pray,

& spek ful reuerendly hyme till,

& als to grant hym al his will.

]us is litill of It we Rede

of sant Mach or his mykill dede, io55

& of ]?e nwwalis ]>at he \vroc/it

to pectis land, fra ]?at he soc/it;

for I ca« nockt J>e teynd part tell

of gret ferleis J>at thru hym fell.

hot gyf ]?at I say suthfastly, 1060

It was noirAt thru hyme anerly,

hot god was ]?e mychty makare,

& sanct Machor ]?e furth-schewer<?.

sanct machor )>a» set all h/s wit

to cu« parfitly haly writ, 1065

J>ocht }>at he J^ar parht was

thru plentwis gyft of goddis grace.

In till his study sait a day

quhe« ane com, & ca« till hym say :

“syre, sanct ternane, J>e byschepe, nere 1070

Is cuwyne to spek wit A 30U hem,

& of his clerkw gret party.”

sanct machor pan wit A gret hy

left )>e study & \e buk,

& of his clerk/r witA hyme tuk, 1075

And met sanct Ternane Reu^endly,

And halist hyme & his cuwpany,

& he hailsit hyme aganes his. J>ane ca« athir wthim kis.

& sanct machor till his herbry 1080

sanct ternane leid full reu^rendly.

& firste in kirk entmt )?ai bath,

& to }>are vrisone went Rath.

& syne ]?ai blissit athir wthire,

>e bischope first, & sy« ]?e tothim. 1085


syne, eftire all }>e cu;«pany

has kissit entrechangeably,

& he ]>a.n }>ame Resawit had,

A schort smnone full wisly mad

of paciens & cherite, 1090

Recowzme^dand humilite.

syne eftin?, as ]?e custu/w was,

he led hym quhar he suld tak ese,

& mad hyme mery for to fare,

Fol. 203 a. & als ]?ame all }>at wit/i hyme ware. I09S

sanct Machor )>a.n full gret loy made

}>at he sa der<? worthy gaste hade,

& ])e bischope full fane ]?at wane

J>e knawlage of sa haly man.

J>a« held }>ai wele lang s^rmonyng

of haly lyf & hewiwlik thing,

& till ]?at ]?ai sait at J>e burd,

ama^g \a\m wes nan vthire word,

bot fed \a\m self wz't/z gastly fud

& gaynand drink ]jare-to & gud.

J?ane come to \a\m gret company

of deuot mezz, J>at encrely

requiryt \a\m wzt/z awismezzt,

]?at ]?ai w/t/z goddis lugmezzt

J>e pmvete mare opynly

wald expone \a\m & expresly.

Jze bischope J>ane wondmt was

of ]>are wnwit & simpilnes, [&] sad to J?ame: “ my childen? dere,

J>/s demand J?«t je askis ws here, 1115

Is a demawnd w/t/zout profit,

for quhat mazz is he sa pzzrfyt

]>at can tell godis priuite,

\>at be na way ma witine be,

ne mazzis wit ma strek }>artill,

to cozz^awe it thru kindly skill,

1100

1105

mo

1120

XXVII.—MACHOR. 33

)?at he in till his forseyng

Resfmit till his awne witting.

& }>are-for rycht gret foly is

to jou to spare or tret of ]ns.”

sanct machor als ]>at j>aim can smyll,

sayand: “ a wis maw sad wmquhill, sek na heyere thing }?aw yhe

na stallowart be na degre.

for quha is goddis wit ma knaw,

or jet his cowsall hey or law?

for godis pmie deme ma noc/it,

na all his gattfy jet be socht. for-Jji full gret foly it is

to sper ]>at maw/s wit excedis,

or for till haf of It k[n]awine

]>at he ma cum to for na thing.

& )>arfor lewe forthfr to spere

]?e }>ing je ma neuzr nicht nere;

Fol. 203 b. for sperer of his maieste fra his Joy sail donne thruwgine be.”

& all )?a J>at J>is demaund mad,

stud ]?ane stane still & gret schawz had.

sone eftir J>is Jai ras ilkane

& lewid, to J>are awne ar gane,

& -with euire common blissing

\at l?ai mad ]?at haly departing.

nocht lang eftire apow a day

to sanct Machor a maw caw say,

J>at sanct dewywnik In-to catnes

thru gret eilde faljeit & ded was.

& quhew he one his dedstra lay,

to J>aiwz }?at nest war he caw say:

“sene ]>a.\. je se ded sail me tak, I cowiure jou, for godis sak,

bat yhe for na trawall be Irke

1150. of sanct Machor. VOL. II.

II25

lIJO

1135

II40

1145

II50

IX55

c


to ben: my body to sum<? kirk,

quhar-tf/ sanct Machor has keping,

& pray hyme for ]>e hewy«nis king 1160

]>at he meyne one & tho^tfull be

of his hicht J^at he mad to me,

of his gud will at our partyng.”

mth ]ds of spek he mad ending,

& jjaulde be gast but mare abad. 1165

& bad bat \is co;«mawndme;zt had

to tak his body, war oocht Irk, & one a here brocht till a kirk

bat was bot litill fra }iat place, bat befor to lendyng was. 1170

& quhe« bat sanct Machor b^s tale

has herd, as I haf tald 3<?u hale,

he mad Regrat & had disese.

bot, for he durst noc/zt god disples,

bat nir^t but slepe all haile he lay 1175

In his prayere till it wes day,

& in bat kirk fleschely eyne

ful feile bry^t Angelis he has sene

file vpe & doune, makand tyaim play,

quhar at ]>e cors of dewy;mik lay. 1180

ba« was sanct machor blyL£ & glad

for bis fare sicht pat he sene had.

& one pe morne quhe^ it was day,

till his discipulis b*s ca« say;

“lowe we all god, my breb*V dere, 1185

Fol. 204 a. bat has ws send a gud gestenere.

barfor mak we ws redy tyt

hyme, as a spe afferis, to visidte,

& jeld till hyme for-out delay bat office bat ws acht to say 1190

ffor worthi men quhe« bai ded are.”

wit/i bat bai passit furthmare

1159. quhar for. 1170. lentynd. 1185. brojw'r.

XXVII.—MACHOR.

to ]?e kirk, quhar-at sanct Machor

\>e angelis play had sene befor.

bot ]?ai })at ]>e cors bro^t Jnddir^,

with it had gane ]?ar way to-giddir

ner by of creskane to }?e hill,

& ]?ar abad to reste in will,

bot sanct Machor forouty« frcste

folouyt, & fand ]mi»2 ]mr tak reste.

& he & his }iar with ]mme abad,

till }>ai ]>e semice all had mad,

}>at to sic deide men suld parteyne,

or ony wink come in }>ar eyne;

& syne bar^ )>e cors deuotely

till a place callit banchory;

& ]?are solempni with honoure

}’ai grathit for it a sepulture.

& one hym }>are }>ai mad a kirk,

quhar god jeit cesis nocht to wirk

thru his prayere ferleis full fele,

to sek and sar folk gyfand heile.

Me« callis J>at place quhar he lay

banchoiy dewy«nik till J>2S day.

syne eftyr )>is tyme It befell ]?at fra sanct colme quhar he ca« duell

In Scotland come, because ]>at he

as pilgerame thocht at rome to be.

& fra sanct Machor had witting

In-to ]?e land of his cuwyng,

he fane nocht quhill he with hym met. & athirc of }>ame for loy gret;

J>ai war sa fane ]?«t )>ai met wer<?.

sanct Machor \an at hym can spere,

In pilgranag gif he wald pas

to Rome, as till hyme tald was.

& he sad: “ja.” & sanct machor

1199. firste. 1213 and 1216. qr he.

35

IT95

1200

1205

1210

1215

1220

1225


]>3.ne blithar wes \>a.n euir befor,

& sad: “ v/itA jour leif, ladders der^,

je sail no^t pas & lewe me here. 1230

Fol. 204 6. for-]?!, sire, graunt me Jour gud will.”

& he consentit sone hyme till.

]?ane but a-bad J?ai mad pa.im jare,

& all thing ]?at was necessare

for ]?are passing J>ai mad redy, 1235

& held ]?are gat in. cuwpany.

bot It ware langsu;« for to say

the wondir ]?at god in ]?e way

wror/A for ]?ame or J?ai com to Rome;

for }>ai exced all ma«is dowme. 1240

bot at J?e last with swink & swet

hiddir ]?ai come & trawall gret,

& wisit first petir & paule,

quhare pardone is & heile of saule;

& socht syne wthir placis sere, 1245

quhar feile was to god full dere.

of haly kirk ]?e cure had tane

a paipe of Rome, a mastzV man,

gregor pat was of gret Renovne,

& of haly opunyone; 1250

J?e quhilk, quhezz he had herd pat ]>ai war cuwyne ]?ar, but mar delay

he send for pa.\m full Reuerendly,

& gert paim cum till hym in hy,

& J?ame Resawit as his dere 1255

Richt tendz'Hy & with gud chere.

& syne full mykill spent he

pe cause quhy of sa fere cuwtre

]?at pai come par. & pat alsone with schort spek has pe cause vndone, 1260

sayand: “pe cause of J?is tret wall ]?at we haf tane one hand but fale,

1228. blithar \>3.n J)en euir. 1258. quhy &.

XXVII—MACHOR. 37

Is for to wyne lestand Remede

till our sawlis eft ire our dede.

ane wthir cause als haf we eke, 1265 petire & paule here for to seke

& mony wthir in ]?is stede,

for godis sake ]?at tholit dede,

& for til haf joure benysone

& joure gud informacione.” 1270

the pape sanct Machor \z.n can call till hyme, & of }>e pectis all

Mad bischope for his tyme to be.

& }?are-w/t^ his name cha;?git he,

And callit hyme morise, ]>at befor I275

Fol. 205 a. Hang tyme to name had Machor.

& swa as he had namys thre: mocm/ma first in his cunctre,

& syne Machor in-to ]?e land

of pectis quhill he was duelland. 1280

J>e pape sanct gregor ]>ar-\vhk all

a-pone a day till hyme can call,

& informyt hym sowne & weile

In all }?e office ilke deile,

}>at suld parteyne to bischapis stat, 1285

& mekly sad hyme syne ]>is gat:

“lo, bruthir & in criste sone dere,

thru wescheyng of our hand A here,

J>e haly gast hes callit }>e

of bischape to )>e dignite, 1290

}?at is schosine, & to }>e hicht

trawale }>ar-for all thi mycht in goddis wyne-3arde for to vyne

feile folk ]?at bundine ar wft/z syne,

]pe wark of wawgeliste J>u do,

& }>e office ]?at is ]>e to

Cowmittit, fulfill ilke day,

1289. als. 1292. >at for.

1295


& vnrepwfit kepe }>e ay,

& gaynand & vnchangeabli

as J>u se ned is, Jm chasty, 1300

in pacience argw and pray,

& in doctr/ne be besy ay.”

& quhe« J>e pape one }>/s kine wise

had weile informyt sanct Morise, & blissit hyme & sanct colme bath, 1305

]?ai tuk }>air leif, & sped pa.im rath

towart ]?ar cu«ctre for to gang,

& one ]jar way trawalit sa lang

& ythandly or I?ai wald fyne,

till J>ai to quhar sanct martyne 1310

lyis, ware cuwyne apo« chaunce,

to torone, to }>e tovne of france.

& ]jare J?e bischope of J>at stede

\hh his clergy met )>ai;«, & leide

in-to }>e cite ful Reuerendly, 1315

& purwayt for ]?aiwz gud herbry,

& gert fynd }>aiz«, till }>ai war ]?are,

all ]?at to }>aim was necessare;

for god hazf schauyt hyz« ]?zzt ]?ai

var thankfull smiandis till hym ay. 1320 for-})i })e tyme ]>at J^ai duelt J^are,

Fol. 205 b. he did ]?ame honor for }>e mare, & did his myc/it wit/i full gud will

to gere ]?ame bath duell with hym still.

bot sanct colme, ]>at wald na wa be 1325

for na requeste fra his cunctre,

his wayag hamewart tuk in hy.

])ane of ]>e cite )>e clergy

fful increly mad hyme Requeste,

sene }>at he duell noo^t wald, at }>e leste 1330 J?at he wald thole ane of h« ]?are

duell for to preche goddis lare.

1299. vnchangeabili. 1310. fai come. 1319. god has.

XXVII.—MACHOR. 39

thane was sanct colme full gretuwly

abaisit & his company,

& haffand ferly held J?ame still. 1335

bot sanct morise of goddis will

sad till his mastfr: “ fadire dere, quhat-euir<? it be ]?at in J>/'s were,

J>at quhemfull be to jou to do

as god hyme-selfe has sad ws to, 1340

It sail be done, I sa, be me,

how paynefull or how hard It be.”

“ & >u,” o^uod he to sanct Morise,

“ blissit be ay, & now blissit is,

ffor-Ju wzt^ martyne & with me 1345

sail hewyzzlik are & falow be

In hewyzmis bliss quhezz ]>ou art dede.

bot jet sail ]m duell in )>zs stede

thre jere, in godis come to wirk

& strenth and zwzfort haly kirk. I3S°

}?arefor strywe furth ay stalouartly

ffor to confund oure ezznymy,

& wz’t^ prechyng & techyne wyne

ffra hyme pat he hankzV \n syne,

& in gud wark J>i curfe fulfill, 1355

quhill god in hewine ]?e tak hywz till,

& of richtwisnes }u full far crowne

pe giff in hewine to hi werdoune.”

& quhe« he Jjus had sad & mare,

but bad he buskit hym to fare. 1360

bot sanct morise, pat was full wa for to depart his master fra,

to ger hyme duell a wile can lay

his hand one hym, & hus'gat say:

“ my dere fadire, quhat thinkzj pou 1365

as alyene to leff me now Fol. 206 a. ymang vnknawine mezz, & swa

hi way in-to hi cunctre ga?


[f]or, but lewe and }>e benysone

of sanct martyne, [to] pas of towne,

It war noc/it spedfull be naway.”

J?ane ca« his mastfr till hy;« say :

“ dere sone, suppos }>at I hame fare,

forsuth ]>e lewe sail I neuz>mare,

bot god ]>is place has grathit J)e

3et all thire thre jere in to be,

& eftir of }>at curs ]?e stryff

to hafe Reward and lestand lyffe.

bot jet ]>i jarnyng till fulfill

we will ga now J?e bischope till,

& ask of new his benysone,

& leife ]?at I ma pafi of towne.”

Jse bischope rase \&n & hyme met

& tuk hyme, & by hym set,

& fandit, giff he ger hym mocht

leif his purpos & chang his tho^t.

bot he mycht nocht for na kyne thing

ger hym leif purpos na etling.

with }>at }>e ny^t come, & [>at auld,

Jjat for na prayere ]>a.n duell wald,

tuk leif & haile }>e benysone

of [>e bischope, & mad hym bowne

In sanct martynis kirk to wakk,

& fulfill clergy for his sak;

& all J?e nycht in prayer lay

befor Ipe fertir<? to [>e day.

&, as men sais, [>at ny^t but were

to sanct colme wakkand can apere

sanct martyne suthfully, & bad

Hang ty;« and speky« with hym mad.

& [>ar }>e buk of }>e wangele,

bat in be grawe was lad sum quhile

besyd hyme, quhar he grawine was,

he gef hyme frely in bat place,

1370

1375

1380

1385

139°

1395

1400

XXVII—MACHOR. 41

])e quhilk all his lyftyme held he

as a Relik in gret daynte,

& left It, quhe« he ca« dissesft,

in till his kirk as resone was.

than one ]?e morne, quhe« it was day,

he buskit hyme to gang hzr way

but langar howne [in] till his land,

to ma^tyne hyme Reco^me^dand.

Fol. 206 b. bane folouyt hym out of be towne,

a fer way v/itk pr^cessione,

sanct morase wit A gret cumpany

of lawide men and of clergy,

& sa partyt, b°^t Jm war lath, with oft blissing and regrat bath;

for it is a full noyus thing

of dere frendis be departynge.

quhe/2 day was gane, & It was rvycht,

be bischope of be place hym Aycht

to slepe; & sanct martyne but were

till hyme slepand bar can apere,

& sad till hym : “ lof god in hicht,

& blissis hyme vritA all jour myofct,

& he is name of alkine wyse,

& trew his semand sanct morise

has visit jou, and throu his grace

benefice has ekit to be place,

for-bi of twrane be Cite may mak loy als, and blith be

bat sanct Morise yhone patrone

has gottine, & me to helpe jone Hone, for he till god sa thankfull is,

bat in till hewine witA prephettfr

And patnarkis he sail be

Rewardit in-to lyk degre.

for bai till hyme war as samplar

1411. langar but howne.

1405

14IO

1415

1420

1425

1430

1435


to lewe his kyne }>at mychty war, 1440

& Jhs gret pilgmnag to tak,

as did abrahame for goddis sak,

& lewe all warldis welth & keyne,

Reward in lestand lyf to wyne.”

be bischope pan waknyt of slepe, 1445

& to bis visione tuk gud kepe,

& his clergy can till hyme call,

& word for word he tald pa\m all,

as I befor here tald till 30W. t

& pai pat richt weile can hym trev, 14S0

hewyt vpe par handis to b^ hewyw,

& lowit god all wit/i a stewine.

bane all be folk of bat cyte

ewire ilk man in his degree,

witti cowtryt will and ane assent, 1455

to sanct morise but mare ar went,

& hyme as fadire & saule-hyrd

Fol. 207 a. Resauit sone, as bame weile byrde.

& als be bischape of be place,

bat be puple parent was, 1460

of all his bischoprik be cure

be-taucht till hyme of gret honour

of sprituale & of temp^^ale thing,

all to demayne at his lykine,

swa bat to his dowme gret & small 1465

bat suld be downe, partenyt all.

& fra bat he sic charge tuk,

he trawalyt besyly & wok

till his discipulis for to preche,

& als be puple besyly teche; 1470

& be bidding of be postill

full ythandly he tacht bab« till;

& of gud lyf & honeste

gud ensamplar to bab« first was he;

1447. till hyme say call. 1460. puple pnf was.

XXVII.—MACHOR. 43

for he hyme-self in word and deide 1475

but ony [syn ly]ff ay ca« leyde.

]>e clergy pan full gret loy mad pat pax sa worthy faddire had;

& )>e puple, as pa\m weile byrd,

was fayne }>at gottine had sic ane herd. 1480 for in-to pai thre jere & mare

sanct Morise was duelland âre,

pe kirk sa weile ay gouernand,

J>at Jâr fell noe^t into J>e lande

pestilence of beste na ma«. 1485

& Jâr-to weddire had pai bane,

bat pai wane froyt of land & se

thru his prayere in gret pleynte.

& till it hapnyt hym of chaunce

sa lang tyme for to duel in fraunce, 1490

Mony merwale god for hyme wroe/^t,

bat I in-to bis buk wryt noo$t,

ffor bath it war langsu#z to do,

& I can tak na tyme b^r-to,

bot sped me schortly for to tell 1495

of his ending, how it befell.

tharefor quhezz pat he duelt had pare

t^re jere haile & half but mare,

he fell in till a lytill fewire,

bat quhile for cald will ger mezz cheuire, 1500

& pat seknes sa fast hyme socht *

Fol. 207 6. pat hyme full nere till end It bxocht. sex days pan wz’t/z sic herd stryfe

befor bat he passit bis lyfe,

he gert his clerkz'e mak his grawe, 1505

& in till his orator hyme haf,

& his discipulis till hyme call,

he gret, & sad bis till paim all:

1498. twre ;ere.

* This line is repeated at the top of the next page in the MS.


“ My so«nys der, now ame I seit

of alkine flesche to jeld }>e deit, 1510

& sail be mad sowne as yhe see

of fleschlyk presone quyt & fre.

lowit be pat me has gewine

grace; my strife I haf weile str/fine. ffor-thi gud thing It is to me 1515

to be lousit & wiU hyme be.

for it nedis me nocAt, I trev,

In flesche to duell langur for jou,

for je ar parfyt in althing,

of grace haffand na ky« waiting. 1520

par-tor, dere soTmis, beis noc/zt Irk

w/t/z gud werkw to strynth pe kirk,

& wzt/z gud dedis seit jour will

godis byding ay til fulfill.

alkyne wicis je put away, 152 5

& luk je crzstine treutht hald ay.

And ferme in pece & cheryte,

& nethbozzz' lof, luk ay je be.”

quhezz pat he Jus had sad & mam,

J>ai wer dissessit, & gret full sam, I53°

& sad: “ der faddur, quhy will J>u

all dissolat ws leif ws now?”

& he sad to J>ame : “ so/znis dere,

I leif 3011 noc/zt dissolat here.

I sail euzV mar wzt/z jou be, 1535

bath quyk & deide in all degre,

Anent god ay intercessoure

ffbr joum weilfar & jozzr honozzr.”

J^e houft J>a7z gert he deuod all

of pawn pat J>ar war gret & small, 1540

outane J>e bischopis J>zzt come Jiar

to wisit hyme in J>at sithwar,

& sic wthir religiouse

he gert duell still in till J'e house,

XXVII.—MACHOR. 45

& prayt lpa.\m for godis sak I545 Fol. 208 a. ~pQ takine of J>e cors to mak

one ]?ar froynttfx, )>at J?ai raocht se

& here J>e thing J>at ]>a.n saw he.

& as he bad, sa haf )>& downe,

& }>ai bath herd & saw alsone. 155°

& by his heid ]>an saw J^ai stand

Ihesus his postulis xij ymang.

& sanct colme & sanct martyng

besyd his bed }>ai saw stand syne.

bane spak swet Iheru, god of hewine, 1555

to sanct moryse -with full myld stewine :

“ sanct morise cu*« & w/t/i me wone

in-to my fadir Rik but hone.”

& with bat wordis he ras full Rath,

& gat apone his kneis bath, 1560

& sad as hale & fere war he :

“In manus tuas, domine,

My saule I gyf,” & sayand swa

he jauld be gast. & It ca« ta

ffeile angelis, & bar in hewyne 1565 with mekill sang and full swet stewine.

be bischape ba« & his clergy

a costly kirk gert mak in hy,

of siluer weile gilt for be nanys,

& e«nornyt with costlyk stanys, 15 7°

& mad sanct moryse bare to ly,

enbawmyt weile & Richly.

& his sepulter mad bai syne

ewine syd be syd to sanct martyne,

quhar god throw his gud prayer ay 1575

cesis neuz'r jeit nicht na day

fferly werkw for to wirk,

to fereme our treutht & strinth of kirk, In lofyng of hym bat of noc/rt

bis warld & be lawe has wrocht; 1580


for ]?ar is wror/zt euirg ilke day

sa gret wondir, ]?at I ne tell may,

of sanct morise throw ]?e prayere

to folk bundine with seknes sere,

}>at I dar nocht Record all now; 1585

for sume perchaunce suld me mistrew.

for deiff men }>ar gettzk heryng,

& blynd mezz als parfyt seyng,

Fol. 208 6. & halt mezz als ]?ar gettzk bute,

]?at seknes has in schank or fut, I59°

& dume mezz als par gettis speke,

pat mekly will sanct morise sek,

& full feile mezz of parlesy

gettzV par heile par putzfytly.

& sume throu ydropesy sa gret 1595

swolne pat pai ma ete no mete,

are mad swampe bar, throu pe prayer

of sanct morise, haile & fere. & sume ]zat brawne-wod of per wit

war mad and wt^z-ly tynt It, 1600

& helpe has socht at sanct morise

Recoumt wit & war mad wise.

& sume bat payne had of be stane or seknes in-to flesch or bane

or quhatkine vthir Infirmyte 1605

bat mazz or womazz had, gyf he

or scho sanct morise socht increly,

At hyme bar heile bai gat izz hy,

throw mycht of giffar of all grace,

to quhome he ay trew szruand was. 1610

& swa gif god bat I ma be

his smiand in-to sic degre,

out of bis lyf bat I may twyne

but schame, or deit, or dedly syne.

explicit wita sancti macharij. 1615 IS97. & mad swampe.

XXVIII.—MARGARET.

WA wil J?e v<?rtu wyt of stanis,

in }>e lapidar ma fynd ane is

of )>aw2 }>at callyt is “ nuzrgaret,”

vertuyse, clere, lytil, and quhyt.

& for ]?ere prophetis thre 5

we se It oft weile bocht be.

vertu It is bind to restrenje,

& flux of wame refren^e;

& is Vf?rtuyse callyt alsa

agayne ane II, callyt “ cardiaca ; ” 10

& It awaljes specyaly

gyfine in met agayn mysalry.

& for it is quhyt, clere schenand,

men bryngA It of ful far^ land, for til enhome vchis & cronis, 15

mad fore sere folk }>at of renone is.

& it is lytil and rond alsa; Jjar-for oft men wil it ta

& set it in bruchis & in ryngis,

J>are-in delyt has mye^tty knyg/s. 20

jet of J>is margarit }>e name

of margaret ma wele be tane,

J>at lytil was & mylk quhit clere

& vertuyse, be caus/e sere.

fyrst lytil thru humylyte, 25

1. Initial letter wanting. 24. cause.


J>at may to god mast thankful be,

for thru humylite but dred

was mary mad oure allem med.

& clere quhyt thru vfrgynite,

J>at to god next humylyte 30

Is. sa is margarit quhyt,

& clene of al fleschly delyt.

& alswa scho was v^rtuse,

for,? vertuysly scho cane vincuse

J>e flesch, ]?e warld, J>e fend alsa. 35

& fyrst, thru pe^nance scho ca« sla

hyre flesch & flours of southed,

& kepyt euire hyre mady^hed

in body and treutht wnuewmyt ay,

& nor^t of rocht of flescly play. 40

]?e wikit warld scho ourcow als,

J>at ay is totyr^, fekil, & fals.

fore scho ror/zt nocht of warldzk gud,

bot scho had symply hyre fud

& clath, to cleth hyn? honestly, 45

Fol. 209 b. for-out pryd and surcudry. als }>e feynd scho ourcom wel

& his werkis like dele,

for przde in hyre, na auarise

herbryt in hyre mycht be na vise, 50

na slawnes, na lychery,

na wreth, na gnedschepe, na gluto[ny];

bot hyre sa wisly ca« scho ware

■with almus, fasting, & prayere

J>at scho ourcom hyr fais fel, 55

as in hyre story I herd tel,

word be word, as teophinwr,

J>at wrat hyre story, tellzk vs.

J>at sais, Jus margret fare & fre

of antioche in J>e cite

wes borne, & of kine gret & clere,

60

XXVIII.—MARGARET. 49

al-]50 ]>a.i paianis ware but were;

for teodosius my^tty & stark,

]?at of ]?at lawir wes patrfarch,

wes hyre fadfr, & scho his ayre 65

of rentw gret & landis fayre;

& gefine wes to fostrV & fede

wtouth be towne i# h/r jouthede

til a man, had gud Inuch,

sic as men wywnis of erd & pleuch. 70

& fra he had b*s mady« lacht

in jemsel, he gert hyre be tacht

in cn'stis lacht, & syne scho tuk

}>e lacht of baptyme, & forsuk

be feynd, & to crzst gef hz> so hale 75

bat of be warld scho gef na tale,

& had na thozr^t of hyre gret kyne,

na of riches, na of warldw wyne.

& scho beand in tendz> elde,

hyr modyr, bat was al hz> held, 80

dei/; &, for scho mstine was,

hyre fadyre roc/it of hz> be les,

sa bat scho nedit for to kepe

fore faut of helpe ilke day schepe

of hyre nuryse, til scho com nere 85

to be elde of fyftene jere;

for hyre fadz> hir hatit sa,

for cause scho cnstine treuth ca;re ta,

bat mare esful til hyre war

hyr dede an lyf or welfar. 90

jet, bo scho wes in pouz> stede

Fol. 210 a. & nocht -with hyr fadzV cane be fede,

nor/zt-bane scho wes of sik boute bat it wes wondzr for to se;

for farare thing mycht be nane 95

in ony degre, in flesch or bane;

64. lawie. 81. deid. 83. Jiatsa ]>at. 90. and. VOL. II. D


& hyr fare hafyng als with ]?at

in al hyr dede sa wele hyre sat.

hot jet wes scho al-out fairare

thru treutht scho had in crhtis layre,

to quhaw scho pleysit in al degre

of consciens thru fyne bewte.

Sa it hapnyt at a tyme percace,

fra J?e empmxire send was

his stewart, ma« of gret mycht

& fel, & olibryus he hycht,

cystine men to sek ay-quhare,

in quhat land sa Jmi ware,

to sla or torment but delay,

bot ]?ai renyit erfstine fay.

& betyd }>at he come please

nere by quhare }>is mady« was

kepand hyre fost/r modfr schepe; & til hir beute tuk sic kepe

}>at he wzt/^-ine wes het in hy

with ful wil of lychery,

sa ]?at he reste be na way morv&t,

til ]?at scho was befor hym bror^t.

J^ane he beheld hyre ink[r]ely,

& of hyr beute had ferly;

& ay ]?e mare he has hyre sene

with outwart & with inwart ene,

]?e hardar wes he wet within

with hyr fleschly for to syne.

]>an ware handis wyolent

layd one }>at crhtis Innocent,

J>at as a schepe yma«g wife brath

beheld quha fyrst suld do hir scath,

lukand a-bout oh ilke syd

quha fyrst suld rewis hz> )>at tyd,

118. paw.

XXVIII—MARGARET. 51

& has na helpe, sted in sic pres,

hot god, in quhawz hyr hope al was.

for-]?i deuotely caw scho pray

til hyme, & ]nre wordis say :

“tyne no^t my sawle w/tA felloh men, 135

hot erare sic grace ]m me lene

Fol. 210 b. ]?at I ourcume may my fellow fa ! ” olibrius }?ane wes ful thra

to fand hyr & ger consent

til his lykine & his entent, 140

wzt/$ wordis quhyle polyst & clen?,

& quhile wztA athis gret & serf,

syne sayand: “I wil noc^t scorne

}>e, hot, be Jm fre borne,

I wil ]pe wed & haf to wif, 145

til I ma lest in }>is lyf;

& suppos ])ii bastard be,

3et sal I for }>i beute

as cowcubyne J>e hald & haf

in mast daynte, abeouf J>e lawe.” 150

& for scho hywz naw ansuerf mad,

he speryt at hyrf but abad

quhat wes hz> nawz, & of quhat kyw

scho wes of, scho suld tel hyme,

or quhat god did scho honour til, 155

& at scho wald fulfil his wil

consentand til flescly delyt.

f>ane ansuert scho but respyt:

“as to J>e fyrst, I haf na schazw to tel }>at margeret is myw nawz. 160

& syne to ansuer of my kine,

I wes borne }>is towne wz't^in, In lauchful bed of folk myc/ztty,

in J>is towne gottine was I.

as to ]>at askis now, 165

in-to quhat god at I trew,


I honours Ihmi cr/st alway,

& eu/r sal do til / lyf may ;

for vthir god is nane bot he,

}>at mad of nor^t erd & tre. 170

& quham }>u wald I gaf consent

to syne with }>e, )>a«e ware I schent.”

]?a«, quhew he herd of hyre belewe,

he treuyt wel for til eschewe,

& sad: “mady«, granttfr ]>u, 175

Jmu trewis sa in Iheeu,

]?at louys sleu for his trespas,

J>at of na mycht na vertu was

to help hyme-self na ony ell« ? ”

“It is nocht suth,” scho sad, “]m tell/j; 180

bot, for }>ai hyme on tre ca« hynge,

Fol. 211 a. ]?ai tynt ]?ame-self & pare o[f]spryng,

of his wil set ded he tuk,

to wyne ws fra pe feyndis cluk.

for he wes ay but begy^nyng, 185

& euz> sal be but endynge,

& has pe gyfine lyf & aynde,

to str/f with hyme pe po pu faynde,

& }>u cese sal, quhezz he wil,

for ocht pat Jm ma do pare til. 190

& he mad hewine of noe^t,

& man to duel Jmre-in wrocht,

& mad Yrym maister syne & king

pat in ]?is warld is of althing.

& quhe« pe feynd syne of inwy 195

had depmvit hyme wikitly

of sic loy & of sic welth,

bane oure mazzhed tuk hy»z-self,

& deit for vs a-po« pe tre,

in til cure flesch bat tan had he,

& one be thryd day rase fra ded

168. til my lyf. 187. & has he.

200


thru )>e strinth of his godede, & rawsonyt ws with his blud

fra ded til lyf a-pon >e rud.”

ful wa wes >ane olybrius,

fra margaret had sad ]?us,

na he cuth nocht be kindly skil

gaynand ansuen? mak hir til.

for-J>i, til he avysit ware

to jeld til hyre rype ansuere,

he bad his men ]?ai suld hz> kepe

In a dongeone myrk & depe,

quhare nazz mye/zt with hyre spek,

na met na drink na cleth [hir] rek.

])ane entryt he in-to J>e towne,

& on his wyse mad hym boune

to sacrzfy to godis sere deuotely on }>is manere;

& quha-sa-euzV wald noe/zt do sa,

for-out pyte he t\iocht to sla.

& on J>e morne, quhezz day was lye/zt & son had spred his bemys brycht,

olybrius of ]?at cyte

in mydis gert he set vpe sa he

his dempstzr-stule, ]?at he mye^t here

al causz'r J>at broe/zt hare were, & namely for to spere of ]>a.i

]?at offerand til his godzV ma

Fol. 2ii 6. wald noe^t, hat he mycht se.

hane margret ger[t] he furth broe/zt be

out of presone til his presence,

& or he spak ocht, mad sylence.

syne sad he: “ madine, haf pyte

of hi-self & consent til me & honoure to my godis gyf,

hat hu in welt[h] with me ma lif!

224. })e mydis. 226. al cause.

205

210

215

220

225

23O

235


for, treuly, I haf pyte

of Jn southed and beute,

J>at me be[h]oufis of ned spil,

my godis honoun? gyf \ovl na wil.” 240

bot scho nockt dred, )>o he hz> thret,

in cr/stis luf sa was scho set,

bot sad: “ wit }>u, it is my wil

in nathing to consent J?e til.

for crzst is god & lord of al 245

J>at in ]>is warld ar^, gret & smal,

& al ]h mawmentw euir ilkane

ar dume & def & ma haf nane

pouan? to mak ocht, for }?ai ar mad,

& gerris in hel pare makam wad. 250

bot hem to god hale I me gyf,

in his clem court pat I ma lif

with haly madbz/s; for cr/st gaf

hyme-self to ded, synful to saf;

for-}u for hyme I haf na dred 255

to de, pat gyfis hewinly med,

& raisis ded men at his wil. fom-}h hale I tak me hym til,

& pi fel maumentzk dredw no^t.

for-]u do furth as ]m has thocht! ” 260

olibrius pan, quhar he wes set,

thru bit/rnes of gal wes het,

& bad his seruandis in to ten,

pat pai suld tak pat maydiw sche«,

& dispoil hym of hyr clathis— 265

pat til woma« ful lath is—

& strakis fel til hym let warpe,

& rawis flesch with schorgw scharp,

& bad pat pai suld nocht blyne,

hym body til pai suld se with-in, 270


“to tak reuengeance of hz> cors,

of our godis ]?at makzk na force.” \ane wikit men }>at madyzz fare

hangyt he vpe in J>e ayre,

& wz't^ schorgzk fra tope to ta 275

Fol. z\2 a. hyr far flesch raf, til al ]mi )?at by stud mye^t wele thru ]>e skine

]>e guttw se bat war bar-in.

bot scho wes cled in haubersione

of treutht & of deuocione, 280 & enkrely behaldand hewine,

sic prayer mad wzt/z myld stewine:

“lord I hem cnst, I treu in be;

lat me neuzV confundit be,

na at my fais scorne me nocht, 285

for in be set is al my thoc/it! ”

bane of hyre cors in sic fusione

be blud rah in stremis done,

bat mony gret bat cane It se,

of hyr payne hafand sic pyte; 290 for of hyre flesche teynd/r & clere

rywine & rent fel peczk sere.

& quhezz be tyrand saw hz> so fayre,

he sad : “ nrargaret, betz> it ware

consal bi-self, & lewe bi ryt, 295

& turne be til oure godis tyt,

& be noe/zt thra in bine entent,

bot erare to my wil consent, sa bat bu be na hardare beft

& tyne be lyf at jet is left.” 300

bane ansuert scho [til] hym oh ane :

“bu wyrkzr be warkzr of sathane,

bi fadz'r, bat ful feynd of hel; bot treuly to be now I tel

bat bi consal til I lyf, 305

273. pat wikit. 290. & of hyr payne.


I wil nocht do, na honours gyf

to J>i flatryng na godis dume,

}>at ma« has mad al & sume,

bot I honours & gloryfy

cr/st of hewine al-mychty, 310

makare of nocht [of] alkine thing,

& suthfastly hewy«is king,

}>at of hewine ]>e so«nis beme

geris hem a-poii ws leme,

& wit A mony stemis sem 315

payntyt ]>e lyft, as we se hem.

& alsa suthfast god is he,'

& for maTz deigneit for to be

man. of ]?e warld }>e trespas,

thru his blud }>at innocent was, 320 Fol. 212 b. he bocht, & he, rychtwyse,

for our syzmis come sacrifice

til god his fadz> til enples, x\Qcht for hyme-self, bot for oum ese.

& he, richtwise, for vnrichtwise 325

deit, & sene one sic wyse

rase fra ded thru J>e stering

of his godhede, for oum mending,

& sa thru his ded mychtely

of deid oum-come }?e signery, 330 & to Jmrne }>at hy?« semis hem

sal gyf J?e blis of hewy# but wem,

]?at sa mykil is )>at nazz ma

in thocAt it think, na tong say,

for it ezccedis mazzis wit 335

to deme or to spek of it.”

Ande quhezz scho Jus [had] sad, belyf

be tyrand gert hz> flesch ryf wzt/z irne camis bat scharp scham,

bat hym rybbis warn mad bam, 340

335. for it accedis. 314. gere.


& flayne of hyre sa wes ]>e sky«

]?at men mycht se hyr wame wzl/z-in.

eftyr^ sown }?e bind fel

als clere of hyre as of a wel

as dois watzV one wyntfr day. 345

Jâne al J>at by stud caw say: “ margaret, forsuth we haf pyte

one ]?i hard torment pus to se,

& Ju beute J?at J>u has tynt,

for }?u wald no^t of foly stynt 350

til honours hyme pat ha«gft was

one a gebbet for his trespas.

âre-for wre gyf pe consel now

J>at p\i til our<? godis trow,

& als consent til fulfil 355

hale olibrius [his] wil,

to eschape pe drery payne of ded or at pu be slayne.”

]?ane sad scho: “ hald û stil! for joure consal is wikit & wil; 360

for ]us payne J>at done is to me

be saufte of my saule sal be.”

syne cane scho to pat pretec say:

“vnschameful hund, & ell/'r nocht may

bane gredy lyone fillit be, 365

playne poware her.? is gefin pe Fol. 213 a. of bis flesch for to do bi wil,

bot my saule ma nocht bu spil; for cnst sal kepyt, at it wrocht.

bar^-for of be I rek richt noo^t.” 370

be tyrand ba«, to se be flude

bat fra be maydine ran of blude,

had schame; bar'f°r be face he hyd with his mantyl, & syne cane byd

his men ga son & tak hyre done,

351. hangit wes. 375


& thryng byre in a depe do^geone,

til he mycht fynd su;« new torment,

to gare hyr^ til his wil consent.

& til his tormentoun'j bad he

}>at ])e presone sa myrk suld be,

]?at na kyne \ych\. my cht cwm pare,

& bat scho suld be bu#din sare.

bot quheii his felloh wil wes done,

Ih^u cr/st send hyr contort sone

of sic lycht, pat, quhare scho lay,

was mare licht bane of be day.

& quhe;z scho wes bis wyse sted,

scho knelyt & hyre prayers bad

to god of hewine w/t/z blyt/z cher<?,

sayand wordis bat are her^:

“lorde Iheru erzste, I thank pe

& lowis, for bu lewyt nor/zt me

in-to na payne na torment,

bot ay pi helpe to me bu sent; for, hou hard payne sa-euz> it was

bat be smiand of wykitnes

gert do me of izziquite,

bu has it turnyt in loy to me.

bare-for, god, for bi gret my cht,

grant me now werray sicht

of my fel fa, bat pmiely

werrais me ]us fellou;z[l]y,

bat I may face to face hyme se,

& fycht wz't/z hyme, quhat he be;

& syne bat I may hyme vincuse

be my^t of be in me, Ilmnis ! ”

bane rase scho fra hyr oracioh

& lukzt by hyre vpe & down,

& saw a dragon nere hyr by,

397- gert do me of wikitnes izziquite.


Fol. 213 b. sa mykil, sa gret, & sa vgly 410

}>at of wit scho wes wel nere,

of }>at best for }?e fellon here;

]>a scayland schalis set vp rath,

vryft ful lang & ful h<?nl bath,

& tung & tetht brywnand as fyr<?,

& schot on hyr£ in gret Ire,

& tuk hyr in his mouth hale,

to suely hyr in mekil bale,

bot, as scho enterand was to pas

}?e throt of hat ful sathanas,

he takine of he croice scho mad on hyre, & he best but bad

brast in twa, & scho but hurt

eschapit wele or ony sturt.

hane had he feynd gret inwy

at hyr, & apperit sone in hy,

in sume part lyk a man to be,

bot blakar hane ony sut wes he,

witA handis bimdine til his kneis,

& helis vpwart til his theis—

sa wgly, hat, quha myckt hym se,

suld gretly abaisyt be.

hane was he maydine su;« part red,

& knelyt & hyr^ bedis bad,

& saynit hyr, & rase vp hath, 435

& rakit to hat body rath,

& hynt hyme harskly be he ham.

& he one hyr can rudly ram,

& sad: “ hu godis maydine dere,

spar me a quhil! for hi p^yem 440

& hi tern brynis me so sam

hat in hel lewam me warn.

quhat haf I don to he, for-quhy

hu bry;znis me his fellou/z[l]y ?

414. bryf ? 435. hath. First letter uncertain.

415

420

425

430

6o LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

cese now, I pray, of press[i]on ! ” 445

& to ]?e jerd scho kest hym don,

& on his nek set hyre fut,

& sad: “ ful feynd, is ]>e na but;

for her sal J»u jeld }>e to me,

& of a womaTZ ourcuwzyne be.” 450

]?ane sad Ae : “ haly margaret,

I ma na langar^ thole )u thret,

& ^eldis me [al] wtrely

to }>e. but mare care haf I Fol. 214 a. of a women ourcuwzine to be 455

}>ane a man had vincust me;

for fyrst of al, womezz it wes

)>at I ourcom be brukilnes,

quhezz it mycht nocht me awale

for stedfastnes mazz til assale. 460

for-]?i mar It schamis me

of women til ourcuzzzyne be.

& als }>i fadzV & mo&ir -ware

to me teyndzV & frendis den?.”

]zane at hyme sperit scho quhy he 465

Come ]zar; & he ansuert in hye:

“To consel Jze til consent

in althing to J>e presydent.”

]zan demandit scho for-quhy

J>at he had sa gret inwy 470

at cz-zstine men befor lawe.

]zane sad he: “for I mozz nedly haf

Inwy at Jzame for \are v^z-tuse,

& for feile of Jzame ar relygiouse;

& Jzame agane euz'z- kyndly, 475

for J>are vfz-tu fed haf I;

& namely for Ipat fele of ]zai

wyzznis ]ze loy J?at I fel fra,

& for ]>ai bruk ]zat I haf tynt.

451. sad }>e. 454. mar« pare.

XXVIII.—MARGARET.

for-]n to faynd pam neu/r I stynt,

J?at loy to gere Jjame tyne

J>at I ame falline fra & myne.”

J>ane tald he hyr hou salamon

J>at wyse[s]t king Jiat set in trown,

of feyndis Jmt na novvm/r was

in a weschale stekit of gles;

& quhe« salamon wes ded,

of cowatice men tuk to red

to brek }>e gles, treuand }>ar

a sou^rane gud or tresoure war^.

& quhew )>ai brokine had Jwrt gles,

sa fele [feyndis] out can pas

}>at J>ai fulfillit sa J>e ar£

as metis ar in sown-beme fan?.

& of his nek hyr fut a-way

scho tuk, & let hyme pas hzr way, .*

& neuir cmtine forthyrmare, Fol. 214 b. & vanyst he a-way ful suyth,

& scho alane lewit, glad & blyth;

for scho sykyr al wes mad, 500

]?at scho ourcuwyne had

}>e maister feynd, J^ar^-for }>e hand

scho suld ourcume his wikzt smiand.

eftsozznis scho fel to pray

one kneis, & [bis] cane say: 505 “ I lowe }>i name & gloryfy,

Ihmi cr/st, suthfast victory, for quhaw dyspysit I haf hale

bis warld & of it gyfis na tale,

& in brukil kynd als stad 510

ourcome my fay & mad mad.

lord Ihmi, grace grant me here

* No break in MS.

6l

480

485

49°

495


a-gayne fayndingw to p^rsewen?! ”

& hyre prayers quhe« scho had

ser-wyse to god deuotely mad, 515

a licht of he wine rathly schane, quhan? scho set al hyr alane,

& as a cors wes be sicht

fra hewin to erd schenand bry<r^t,

& one J>at cors set a dou, 520

}>at sad : “ margaret maydine, ]wu trew

Ipat Jm art blyssit & ay sal be,

for hewine jett/r bydis J?e.”

& one }>e morne, quhe^ sown was brycht,

]?at menskis al ]>e warld of \ycht,

}hs waryt lug, in stul set,

gert margaret son befor hy//z fet,

& sad [til] hyr rychi c^rryosly:

“ maydine, I red 30U sacr/fy

til ome godis, or J>u tyne

J>i lif, at jet is left, wz’t/z pyne,

& lef [>i wikit fals belewe,

& honours to ome godis gyf,

& of ]>i jouthed fare & fresfe

tyne noc/it }?e floure in wilfulnes.”

J>ane ansuert scho but delay,

& sad: “ I hem I sal honor ay,

makar of hewine & jerd & al,

to quhazzz I euz> emplefe sal j

& al ]hne ydolis I dispyse

]>am to do honor or seruice.”

]?ane wes J>e tyrand vondz'r ten

Fol. 215 a. quhene he hard J>is of J?e maydine clene,

& bad men suld platzk ta

of Irne, lang & brad alsa, 545

& mak J?ame hat bryzznand, St lay

til hyr sydis, Jzat sa cazz say

of his godis dyspytuisly

525

530

535

540

XXVIII—MARGARET.

of hyn? passand-gret foly,

sa J>at scho, brynt richt sare,

sik wordis suld spek nomar^.

]mne wes of Irne mony plat

layd til hyr sydis, brywnand hat,

})at hyr flesch brulyt & brynt sa

]jat thankful rek to god ca« ga

in plesand smelling of suetnes

& sacrifice, ]?at thankful wes.

bot \ochf scho was brynt without,

w/h&in scho wes wftAoutyne dout

of hewinly deu thru }>e haly gast, qaha.ni in hyre comfort wes ay mast

bot for gret stedfastnes

scho rocht lytil of hyre flesche.

olybrius thru wikit wil

harder payne he put h.ir til;

& for hat watz> eftyr fyre

ful noyful is to sic martyrc,

a fat, hat wes [bath] depe & wyd,

of watzr gert he fil hat tyd. &, as he bad, hai hyr<? band

wz’t/z cordis smart fut & hand,

& kyst byre in hat fat, to drown.

& quhezz scho wes his }>are-in don,

hane in he watfr as scho lay

to lh«u crist his can scho say:

“ der god! brak my bandis in hy,

& I sal to he sacryfy

me in sacrifice of lowing. & als I pray he, suthfast king,

to blis his vatzV, at it be for wel of baptyme to me,

& of my syzmis in forgyfnes,

& hat he folk mare & les

ma kene & se hat jm alane


is suthfast god, & ellis nane, 585

Fol. 215 b. & has na ending na begywnyng,

of hewine & erde makar<? & king.”

ande as scho mad [had] ]>is prayers,

son wes herde a fellon ben?

of thon/r and of erdine, 590

J?at brak }>e fat, scho wes put in,

in pecis al, & al ]>e bandis,

]?at bu«dine had hyr fet & handis;

& }>is m^wale alson cane be

as ma« raycht twinkil w/t/z his e. 595

]?ane com a dou of hewin fleand,

al }>e puple ]mt seand,

& in }>e neb brocht a cron,

& on hyr hewid set It don;

& out of hewine a voce ca« say : 600

“ confort ]>q wele, my blissit may !

for of hewine my falowis al

bydis ]?i cuz/zyne, gret & smal.”

]?ane stud scho by & lowing^ mad

to god }>at hyre deliu^nt had 605

of gret parel & panys sen?. ]?ane al J>e folk ]?at ]>a.re 'were,

h[at] herd ]?at erdine & J>at stewy«, ]?at spak wzt/z hyr,? out of ]?e hewyzz,

al wz‘t/z a voyce czVyt jjane : 610

“ mykil is }?e god of crzstine men ! ”

hane of ]?ame ]?at pare can stand

conuertit fyfe thousand,

for-owtine wemazz & bernis fele,

J>at cozzuertit to lestand heile ; 615

pat pane til vndo furth ware led,

& for cz-zstis sak ]ze blud sched,

& baptyst ware in pare blud

XXVIII.—MARGARET.

for godis sak with b\yth mud.

olibrius J>ane dret xycht )>are

gyf margaret langar lifand waxe,

l^ane mony suld co«uertit be.

for-]?i on byre sentence gef he,

}>at ]?ai suld smyt hyr nek in twa.

&, as he bad, son ]?ai byre ta

& his byding haf ])ai don,

& to ]?at place led margret son.

& }>e basar^, malch^ to name,

a scharpe sword son has tane

to stn'k hyr hed of but abad.

bot scho request har til bym mad

Fol. 216 a. to gyf hyr respyt and delay,

til scho mycht hyr prayers say; & he til hyr tyd hyre bowne.

& one kneis fel scho sowne,

& ])is wise mad hyr prayere

to god of hewine, }>at al mycht here:

“mychty god, makare of al

warldis, ]?at gayne are or cum sal,

with hart & mouth I jeld lowyng 640

to J>e, as to my souerane king, bat fra ]us warldis filth pat me

drawine has pi sfruand to be, & kepft me in-to clenes,

nocht for my sert, bot pi gudnes, 645

& has me grantyt of pi grace

to cum to loy, bat na end has. sa, dere lord, I pray to pc

bou grant me for bi gret pytte

pardone for al bat me did myse. 650 & als, der lord, I ask be bis>

bat, quha in mynd has myn passion,

631. had til.

65

620

625

630

635

VOL. II. E


or wrytis It for deuocione,

or redis, or gerris be red,

or honoum me in ony sted, 655

or dois in J^e name of me

deuocione, quhat-euz> It be,

grant J>ame forgefing of ]?ar myse

& in Ju kyrk ]?e mykil blyse.

& gyf Jiai be sted in ned, 660

quhan’-eu/r It be, I ask for med,

}>at ]?ai sik helpe for my sak haf,

as ]jai in ned wil me crawe;

& quhat-euz> woma« It be

J>at in tyme of byrth callz'j on me, 665

grant ]?at woma« but [ony] wath

deliuifryt be & ]?e barne bath,

as I trast in ]?e, hewyzzis king, born be for my sak but mmyng.”

& quheii scho had hyr pray ere mad, 670

a gret hug thon/r [com] but bad,

& a quhyt dow was sene

fra ]?e hewine com to bat schene,

& twechyt hyre & sad : “ margaret,

J>at in sic thrang wil nocht forjet 675

bame ]>a.t of be makz’j mem ore here,

Fol. 216 6. sa blissit bu art to god & dere

bat he bi bown granttz^ be

for al bat euire sal honoure be,

bat ar present or be syne sal; 680

bat bu askis he granttw al. cum now barfor to be lestand blis,

bat bu has bocht in gret distres, with be haly curt of hewine ! ”

& as be puple herd bis stewine 685

& be thonzr bat hydwis was,

bai fel flatlingz'j on bare face.

with bat scho dressit vpe be sicht


to ]?e basan?, )>at malch?^ hicht,

& bad ]?at he suld fulfil 690

]>& byding at fourmyt was hym til. bane he, bat sene had opynly

godis vcrtu sa properly

bat he for hyre bane saw don,

til hyre request sad na son, 695

& sad : “ god forbed bat I with wenemyt handis sla be in hy.”

quod scho : “ but bu do I byd be,

na part sal bu haf with me.”

bane sad he : “ Ih^u, for bi pitte bu input no^t bis d^d to me ! for maugre myn bis ded do I;

I put me hale in bi mercy.” a scharpe swerd bane he hynt

& hyn? vnhedyt at a dynt,

& at hyr fet fel ded don,

& at mad hyme gud pardon,

bane of hyr<? cors a dow al quhyt

flaw, bat to se was delyt,

& in be clowdis clame belyf, on seand bath man & wyf.

a cr/stine mar, callit theophin,

wes by byre al bis tyme,

bath in preson & wz't^out,

& to serwe hyre wes jjarne about,

& put in wryt word & ded,

bat men eftyrewart mycht red.

& in antioche of his cost a sepultrr

he gert mak byre of gret cure,

& embalmemyt hyre body,

& laid it bare honorably, Fol. 217 a. quhare god cesis no^t to wyrk

vertuf, in strinthing of haly kirk,

700

7°5

710

7i5

720

698. byd ]?u do. 701. >is did. 708. >ane of hyre crors.


& for to gere knawine be

quhou he had hyre in gret daynte,

& hou he quytw \z.m pare med,

pat seruis hyme in word or ded.

pe quhilk he grant ws grace to do,

pat we ma saufly ewme hym to.

726. & hou pe quytA.

725

XXIX.—PLACIDAS.

S a gret doctors sais til ws,

lat penance is xycht p^olouse;

for ilke man, quha tent wil to,

is oblyst lang penance to do.

for of ma/zkynd thru brukilnes,

quhyle saule is piesente in }>e flesch,

men cesis seldine for to syne.

to spedful pewnance to begyne,

bot drawis It erar<? in to lynth, til of his body faljeis strinth. for-}5i we se ful mony end

quhe« )>ai na my^t has til [a]mend; for sum vtiih seknes ar ourrtane

hat h^r amendis ma mak nan;

& sum deis but repentance

on syndry wyse ma fal perchance,

har-for gud ware to do

penance til men had space hare-to, & noe/^t, quhen he mye^t syne nomare,

as quheh for elde he has quhyt hare, or quhen hym faljeis heryng,

or perauenture als seyng,

& his tetht waxis jalou wM-al,

& as a barne of his hewid hare fal,

I. Capital wanting.

;o LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

& his and waxis stinkand,

& his handis als tremland,

for J>e thryd fut hyw worthis J>eh

haf a potent hy»z on to len,

& quhe« ]?at he waxis wery,

quhe]?z> he sit, or gang, or ly.

Jwe-for happyzz ma« is he

hat, befor he j>ir£ taknis se,

penance to do here wil begyne,

& in gud lasare mend his syne.

Fol. 217 A for it [is] sad in }>e decre

at seldine quhtne has god pyte

of hame hat sy/znis Ithandly.

for-[hi] to cese is na foly; for he hat cesis nocht to syne

til hat it lewis hyme,

sal nothyr haf thang no mede

til lef, quhe« he ma do na dede.

[i]n haly wryt I herde neuere rede,

sen I fyrst ham-to tuk hede,

hat man for loy to Toy suld fam

for-oute It hat diseseful warn

as to his fleschly delyt,

na 3et hat man myr/zt haf meryt

for-out exaz/zizzacione

& wardly tribulacione,

as seknes or disese sere

hat men tholis til hai are here.

for wondz'z- war [hat] mazz suld wyne

til hewine hat is chargzt in syne,

as to he treutht of haly kyrk;

bot quhat he wil he ma wirk.

har-by ensampil wil I tel

46. diesesful ware.

XXIX.—PLACIDAS. 71

]>a.t til a kny^t quhil befel,

to quhaw god ferlifully

kythit his mychtzif & his m^cy, 60

be reknyng ewine a huzzdreth ^ere

fra cr/ste wes born of mary dere.

of Rome emp^roun? wes ane

]?ane callyt sz> Adryane,

to cn'stine treutht a fellon fa, 65

& mony crzstine gert he sla.

& a knyo^t callit placydas

prynce of his knychted was, }>at wes man of gret poustd

of warldis gudis and di«gnite, 70

& ]>are-\\ith wycht and hardy,

wyse, lele, & rycht wordy; &, as paianys, mad sacrz'fice

til ydolis in til syndry wyse;

nocAt-]>an J>e dedis of mercy 75

he oysit to do Ithandly,

& gud wil had to do gud

til al ma« J>at ned bestud;

Fol. 218 a. & had a wyf of }>e sawmyne ryt, }>at to do mercy had delyt; 80

& twa bamis wftA hyre had he, l?at he gert wele fosteryt be.

& for he mm:yful was,

he wane to way of suthfastnes.

& syne tyd a day, he went to hont 85 ]?e auld bestA, as he wes wont,

wzt/z mony knyr/zttA & squyeris,

& mony hundis & huzztenV,

& fand a gret herd of den?,

& presit to nychx. Jjame ner^. bai war red & skalyt wyd,

71. vii\.h is written over the line and in a different hand.

90


& }?ame fast presit til hyd.

& as ]?e herd brokine was,

quha best myrAt fane to J>e chas,

Sr to ]?ar lord heid tuk nan. 95

bot he fulfast be hyme [al]ane

}>ane chasit a gret hart,

}?at fled fast, for he wes smert,

til a crag wo«nyn he had

hye & schorg, & J>ar^ abad. 100

& placydas wzt^ incre wil

presit fast to cu?« hym til;

bot he myo$t nocht—sa strat }>e place

wes quharf ]>e best bydand wes.

bot he saw betwen his tyndis bry^t 105

a verray croice schenand ly<r/^t,

& one ]?at croice J>e liknes

of Ihwu cf/st saw, mar^ na les.

)>ane spak ]?e hart to placydas,

as to balame quhil dyd his as— no

bot sum men sais It is to lak

}>at }>e hart to J^e knyr^t spak,

bot erar )>at men suld treu

J»at in hyme spak swet Ihem—

& sad til hyme : “]5U placydas, 115

quhat mowis ]>e me to chas ?

& I for cause of J>e apers

in-to ]us best J>at ]?u seis here;

bat I am crist I now )>e say,

to quhaw vnwity^ly ay 120

Fol. 218 b. >011 has enplesit, & has wele sene hou J>ou has cherytabil bene

til al bame [bat] bu saw haf nede,

& helpyt bame in word & ded.

& bi gud dedis causis me,

as bou [me] hu^tw, to hont be-

94. quha best mycht fane. 110. his is corrected from pts.

125


sa sal }>u now wownyn be,

& pas til hewine & wy« with me.”

quhene placydas [had] ]?is herd say,

he fel of hors but delay 130 til erde for abasitnes,

Ipo he wicht & hardy wes,

& lay stil ane cure nerehand but steryng of fut on? hand ;

& roydly rase syne, & can say: 135

“ quhat ]m art, tel me, I pray,

& opynly ]>i wil tel me,

gyf }>u wil I treu in ]?e! ”

quod crist: “ I will J>u treu

]?at I ame cmt }>at spek/s now, T46

J>at mad al, bath hel & hewyu,

as me lykyt, in dais sewine,

& licht & merknes I ca« ma,

& syne departyt pam in twa,

& mad man of erde & clay, 145

sa J>at he suld serwe me ay. & quhe« ma« for his gylt

brekand my byding hyw-self spilt,

to succoun? hyme I be-com man,

& fra ay-lestand ded hyme wan, 150

& for hyme deyt one }>e croyce,

& jald ]?e gest pare with be voice,

syne don in a grawe [I] lay,

& rase one pe thryd day,

& passit in hewine & regnis now 155 with my fadyr—}>is }ju treu ! ”

pane sad he : “ lord, wel I treu pat J>u pat spekis with me now,

is he pat mad has althing,

149. /o is in the margin in a different hand. Originally the line began “ re succours” 152. his voice.


& me ma fra erroure bryng<?.” 160

}>ane sad god : “ gyf J?u treuis sa,

to J?e byschope son }m ga,

& sa hyme, for ]?e luf of me,

J>at in my naw he bapt/r J^e.”

sad placydas : “lord, wil ]m 165

J>at my wyf howine be & treu, Fol. 219 a. & my tvva sonnys alswa ? ”

til hyme ]?ane sad he: “ 3a.

& quhen ]?u has my bydi«g don,

to me }ni cum to-morii but hown, 170

& I sal here apere }>e til,

to lat J>e wyt mare of my wil.”

& bane, as s/r placydas

til his palace cuwyne wes,

bat uycht with his wyf as he lay, 175

be tale [al] hale he cane hyre say.

& quhe« ]>at scho herde, scho wes fane,

& blythly sad til hyme agayne:

“trou, lord, ]>at jist/V-nycht but were

be sawmyne to me can apere, 180

& sad to me: ‘I wil bu rath

& bi ma« & bi barnys bath

cum to me,’ & tald be place,

quhare 3c sad je war at chas ;

& bar£-hy treu I treuly now 185

bat he is wra crz’st Ihevu.”

bane he & scho & be barnis twa

prz'wely to be bischope of rom ca« ga,

& bad nocht be dais lycht

bot pmiely about mydnyr/^t. 190

of bar cuwyne be pape wes blyt/z,

& baptist bame bane ryc/zt swyth,

& hyme to nazzz gef eustace bene,

& til his wyf theospyten,

181. & sad sad to me.


& his so«nis theospiAim 195

to name gef & agypytuw.

& one ])e morne, in ]>e mornywg, st'r eustas, as he ware a king,

wit/i gret effere & realte,

passit furth ryc/it )>ane in hye 200

to l?e \mntis ful mychtely,

with nobil men mony hym by.

& [quhen] he come nere }>e place,

quh^re crist to hyme schauyt hw grace,

to do his thing- in pmvete 205

dressit hyme & ]?a[i]m anely to be,

& skalyt his me« here & ]>are,

fen^eand he wist ]?are gawmy« ware, til he belewit al hyme ane.

& to }>e place is he gane 210 Fol. 219 A in gud deuocione and prayer,

til he com J>e place nere,

& sa fel hyme wel to do

]?at sic ane erand passit to,

as to spek w/tti J>at king 215 l?at althing mad of nathing.

\an com he on to ]>c place but were,

qu^are crht til hym first can apere *

in ]>e self fourme and fygure

in althing & portratoure, 220

as he [be]for til hyme had don.

}>ane fel he to be erde son, & a quhile abasit lay 3

syne rase & bis can say,

makand to god his orysoii 225

in ful gret deuocione,

195. theospicum. 205. think.

* No break in MS.


& on his brest with oft knokyn,

& of his synnis repentyng,

as marc of gud entencione,

with taknis of cowpuncion: 230

“lord Ihmi, gyf ]n wilhV be,

]?u opynly no[v] schau to me,

as )>u me hicht, quhat sal I do ! ”

J>ane Iheru mad ansuere hym to,

& sad til hyme on J>fs manors: 235

“fathful son to me & den?,

ful happy art ]>\x now, eustace,

]>at in w&tir of myn grace

has gert wesch be, quham-thru ]>oa

be fals feynd has ourcuwyw nov, 240

bat slichtfully begylyt be,

& is dishonoryt now thru be,

& ourcu;wyne al vtrely;

blyt/z ma bu be for-bi!

& now bi treutht sal wel apere;' 245

for be feynd sal of sere man ere

fand til ourcuza be on al wise,

for at bu lewit has his sera ice, with al his falset & his slye/zt.

for-bi moii bu, as stalawrt knycht, 250 to resist hyzzz mak be bown,

bat bu of loy ma wyzz be cron,

& wyne to but herytag

]zat to mazz I hicht & his lynag.

for-bi first mozz bu lawit be 255 Fol. 220 a. fra be sicht of al wanyte,

& pryd, & wazztones of wil,

sic rewarde to wyne til;

& syne sal bu cum to be hycht

of gastly gud & hewyzzis lye^t, 260

228. & of his soft repentyng.


& bruk Jjat herytag but were,

]?at we spak of a lytil here,

•with gret loy & angel gle,

quhare euzV-lestand glore sal be,

& eschewine of al payne, 265

]?at mezz ma of think or sayne;

for inpossible is but dred

aduersite to be in ]?at sted

or ony kynd of displesance,

bot happy of al gud & habuzzdazzs. 270

& se )>at ]?u fal noofa,

na of ]>i first loy haf na ihocht,

for ]>a.t ]?e behofis fayndit be

as wes lob in suzzz degre,

& sa be }>e I sal assay 275

quhejw" )?u be stedfast or nay.

bot quhen ]ju art mekit wele, I sal cum to J>e, drede na dele,

& to ]>i fyrst stat }>e restore. quheJjzV ]?u wil, tel me barfore, 280

be fandit now & thole sic strzfe, or at ]?e bending of J>i lyf?”

quod eustace: “ lord, gyf J>at mozz be,

in-to my southed fand J>u me,

sa }>at J>u be my defence, 285

gyfand vz;rtu of pacience ! ” sad crz'st: “ay stedfast J>u be,

for my grace sal wele helpe f>e

J>at ]>c feynd sal haf na powere

in ony thing J>i sawle to dere.” 290

& quhen J>is wes sad ewin,

god resawit hyme-self in hewin, & eustas til his house cazz hald,

& ]ns tale al til his wyf tald.

Jzane wes J>e feynd wondzV wa,

268. in J>ast sted. 295


J>at placydas lewit hyw sa

& 3et on cr/st; ]?ar£-for he tho^t

to reweng hyme, gyf he mo^t, Fol. 220 b. & }>ar-to dide his payne hale

to bring hyw to butlas bale. 300

& fortoh, ]mt wont wes quhile

as teyndir frend oh hyme [to] smyle,

turnyt hyr bak one \xym wrathly,

& hyme dissawit sudandly.

& wzt£ J?at come hard pestilence, 305

quhaw agane wes na defence,

& al his douchty men sleu done,

quhare-euir ]?ai war, in feld or ton,

bath knyr/zt, squiare, page, & swane,

in lytil tyme clenly ware slane, 310

sa ]?at of al his worthi men

wzt/z hyme wes left nazz lyfand }>en,

J>at mye/zt hyme ony seruice ma,

outane his wyf & barnis twa.

bot jet Jzane wes he noe/zt Irk, 315

pe fend, cure ]ns hy;/z wa to wirk,

bot al his bestiale sleu in hy,

wyld hors & tayme, oxine & ky,

assis, mulis, schepe & swyne,

& syndry rulalzlf syne, 320

& alkine best quhat-euz> it ware

be feynd strak doh in \>at sithware.

& jet of f>is he wes nocAt content

Inucht, bot distroyt his rent,

& kist doh castellis in hast, 325

& towne & tilth al mad wast,

sa bat of his wes hale na thing,

outane quhare he wes be begyn[g].

bane be feynd be his fals slyest

gert wykit mezz cuzzz be nye^t 330

& it ourtyrwit tyt & toljeit,


& of his tresoure hym dispoilyt,

& lewit hyme no^t of warldfr gud

}>at hy;« myc/it fynd a day[is] fud.

na wond/r wes ]?o he vves mad,

quhew he saw hyw-self sa sted

)>at wont wes til haf welful fare!

na wondiV wes his hart wes sare! Jjar-for wit/i wyf & barnis twa

be nyeAt he of J>e town ca« ga, for schame hat ]>ai poure war se«

hat in sa gret welth had bene, for ded & pouerte seldine quhen

has frend, hat we suld kene.

Fol. 221 a. for-hi he thor/zt he walde be

of egipe in he cunctre, & ydir sone hild he way.

& quhe« he emperoure herd say

hat placydas wes pr/uely

went of he town, & he ne wist quhy,

he wes anoyt, & mad wa,

& al he hale senat alsa,

for sa gud a knye/d as he

hai wist nocht quhare mycht iundyn be.

& al rom sa gret regret mad hane,

fra hai myssit hat worthi ma«,

hat for hame wes ay scheld & sperq

quhene ony mowit to ''pa.im were, & quhat-euz> hai had to do

he victory he broc/zt hame to. bot eustace of hzs had na \hocht,

na of hyme-self bot lytil roo^t,

bot for schame fast ca« fle with wyf & barnis to he se;

& fand a schipe til saile al jare,

& he in went but ony mare,

bot ay he tyme hai war sayland,

335

34°

345

35o

355

360

365


ay wes }>e schipmast^r gowand

a-pon ]?e laydy bryr^t of ble,

& \hocht scho suld his lema« be. 370

& quhew }>ai to }>e land warf brocht,

sir eustace J>e fraucht had nor/zt

to pay for bym & his menje.

& quhen ]?e mastz> }>at ca« se,

he bad J>e laydy suld be lacht, 375

& haldine w/t/z hyme for J>e fracht.

bot szV eustace, J>at wes wa,

wald r\ockt consent It suld be sa.

]?ane ]?e mastzV wes angry,

& beknyt til his me« in hy 380

to swale sir eustace in ]>e se,

J>at he my<r/zt brok }>e laydy fre.

}>an wes J>e knyr/zt wondz> wa, quhezz hyme worth do ane of ]?a,

othyr for to tyne )>e lyf 385

or depart pare fra his wyf.

bot I treu deme cuth nane

quhilk of pai suld eran? be tane;

bot I treu he had als lef be ded

as lef his wyf but remed. 390

Fol. 221 b. for-]n cuth nan tel half }>e wa. noc/it-pan, war paim neuz> sa wa,

Jze mastiff cane }>e laydy ta.

& eustace wz't/z drery cher^

tuk his bamis J?at war£ hym dere, 395

Sr gretand sar sad : “ wais me

J>at losit has It pat lyf suld be

& al my solace & my blis!

hou suld I luf, & J>at lele mys ? ”

syne wald he til his barnis sa: 400

“ na war jour sak, but delay

I suld my-self here sla but mare,

& neuzr a fut ga forthyrmare;

XXIX.—PLACIDAS. 8l

bot }>ane suld 30 be tynt al quyt, & for 30U I suld ber ]?e wyt.

for-]?i wa tyd is 30U I-wis

>at 30ure gud mod/r now mow mys.”

& ay whk Jus he held his gat,

of his wikyt werd makand regrat,

til he com til a wat/V-syd,

• J>at depe was & wele wyd, sa ]?at he mocht ber but ane

of his bamis our J>at fame,

for dut J>ai suld peryst be.

Jjar-for J>e tane of ]3ai;« lew/t he

oh J>at half oh J^e bank sittand,

thinkand to cum agane oh hand,

& }?e to]>ir oh his bak lacht,

& bar hyme oh our stracht,

& oh J>e farren? land hyw set,

til he myr^t his bruth/w fet.

& pan a-gayh son he wod

ryo$t to )>e mydis of J>e flud, til his vthyrg son ay gowand

J>at he lewit oh Jjc land,

& saw a wold wolf hym ta,

& to ]?e forest wzt/i hyme ga. & for he wes al wtrely

disparyt til helpe hym, in hy he twmyt hym, & rath has sene a lyon, pat wes bald & kene,

tak ]>e topir & held his way.

pan wist he uocht quhat to do or say,

bot oft-tyme wes in to wil Fol. 222 a. hyme-self in-to >e flud to spil,

& dang his handis oh his face,

& his flesch doh cane rase, J>at he wes born J>at sicht to se,

his barnis bath but helpe tynt be.

405

410

4i5

420

425

43°

435

VOL. II. F


bot sa lang witlas stil he stud, 440

til )>at ner<? he dronyt in ]?at flud,

gyf ne war god of his grace

sawit hyme in-[to] }>at place.

& of }>e bankw for ]?e hicht

of ]?e barnis he tynt }>e sicht, 445

& wist na thing of }>ame mare,

bot wane to land wzt<£ gret care.

the wolf pat first tuk pe ta barne,

til wod ran yvit/i It ful jjarne j

bot telemew left pe til/ht in hy 450

& folouyt hym fast & deliu^rly:

sa bat he let be barne fal hym fra;

& be telemew son can it upe ta,

& bar [it] with hym to be town.

& hyrdis chasit be lyon 455

wit/i bond & horn sa wond/w fast

bat he be barne left at be last,

thru godis grace [aljanerly.

& b^e be hyrdis in til hy

tuk & hame mt/i It bai bar— 460

for in a town bai bath duelland ware,

& fostmt bame wele & fed,

& as bar awen barnis babw cled;

bot nane of bame wist ocht

quhebzV bai brethyr ware or nocht. 465 na eustace had na persawing

quhare bai becom in ony thing,

bot treuyt wel forut wene

bat bai cowsumyt quyt had ben,

& walkyt furth makand regret, 470

oft sayand til hym-self busgat:

“ allace ! allace ! wa is me !

450. tilcht.

XXIX.—PLACIDAS. §3

)>at wyf has tynt & barnis fre,

as thing- wes sprongy« of }>e stan,

allace! I am ful wil of wane! 475

alace ! I had mony gud knyr/rt

for to serwe me day & nycht,

& squyanV als ]?at warn thra

besy sluice me to ma,

Fol. 222 b. & now, allace ! alane is sted 480

in wer degre J?ane is a lad !

allace! quhar is my mykil gud ?

allace! quhar is my welthy fud ?

& for huwgyr nou, alace!

in poynt to de is in }us place! 485

allace! quhare ar my frendw sere

hat quhyluw let Jmi war me dere?

now is nane hat eu«> wil

helpe or cowfort send me til!

bot jet, alace ! is my mast wa 490

J>at my gud wyf is tynt me fra,

& my barnis ar reft me als.

allace! fortone, Jm art ful fals,

hat quhylmw smylit apofi me,

& now has left me in his degre ! 495

allace! ded, quhew wil hu tak

me & [al] my sorou slak? bot, lord, I think wele hu me hicht

hat I suld w/th he feynd fele ficht,

& rycht as wes lob fandyt be; 500

suth hat is, & hard are, panic!

for, ho he tynt had al hw thing,

jet wes lewit hym a myding, quhar-in he mycht sit; bot me

Is na thing lewit bot pouerte. 505

& he had thre frendis alsa

hat hym visit in til his wa;

bot frendis, allace! haf I nane,


bot saw my barnis fra me tan

viiih fele bestir but helpe of ma«, 510

]>at with ]?ame to )>e forest ran.

sa quhar he had frendw thre,

I haf fais to disese me.

& his wyf als wes lewz't hym til;

bot my wyf agayne my wil 515

allace ! allace ! fra me is tane,

& I lewit Jnisgat me alane.

3et wes lewit hym a schele

to schrape his scabbis rycht snel.

)?ane amesit su;« thing hw can?, 520

quhe« his seknes smytit hy/« sare.

for-J>i, god, gyf it be ]>i wil,

of my trawel rest send me til,

& to me sic ijemsel gef

]>at my word ]?e no^t gref, 525

Fol. 222* a. )>at I ne be fra ]u face

thru murmur put, na tyh Ipi grace! ”

and Jus he, al gretand,

com til a gud ton at hand,

quhar gud men mad hy»z kepan? 530

of he feildis, for fywtefi }ere, & Jjarfor sic reward hym mad

hat he gat clething & lyflad.

& nere-by, his vnwittand,

his sOTmis twa ware duelland. 535

& for his wyf god sa did

hat ]>e schipma« na il hyr ded,

bot deit, & thru godis grace

of filth of syne scho vnue;«myt wes.

agayne rom in his sithtwan? 540

wes mowit were, as was are,

hat disesit he emp^rour^

hat hat tyme of rom had cun?,

& al he romams mad rad,


seand )>a.i ware in parel sted; 545

for chiftane had J>ai nan, ]?ai wist,

]?at to J>ar fais cuth resist.

])an Xhocht ]?ai on placydas,

hou wicht wereoure he wes,

hou study befor he had 550

for ]>a.im gret trauale mad,

& vpe-held wele pare honour ay,

quhe« pai war set in herd assay, & pan a-way wes sudanly,

na man wittand cause quhy. 555

J?e empmmre, to mend pare stat,

wft^ consent of }?e senat,

ordenyt feile men for to fare

to sek sir placydas alquhare,

hichtand fare reward & gret 560

to quha-sa erast mye/it hym get,

& send ]>ame furth oh pare way

■with gret dispens til assay.

of ]?ai men tyd p^rcas pat twa,

pat }>e trawal can vndz'rta, 565

com to pat ton please,

quhare wonand wes sir placydas;

& J’ai twa, of quhilkw I men,

of his awn duelling had ben.

& as J?ai com to herbry, 570 sir placydas paim kneu in hy,

Fol. 222* b. & quhat pai war wist rycht wele;

bot nane of ]?ame kneu hym a dele.

Jjane rah hyme to mynd hou he

wes falline fra gret diwgnite, 575

& wes anoyt, & cane say:

“>ou mychty god, pat althing may,

as I vnwenandly has sene

>er men pat with my-self has ben,

554 and 555 are transposed in MS. 561. gat.


richt sa J>u wil grant to me

my wyf anis J?at I ma se;

bot of my barnis spek I no^t,

J^at I saw wele to ded broofa.”

J>ane come a woice, & sad on hicht

“tak comfort, eustace, & be wicht,

for ]n first honour J>u sal son

recoup; & quhe« pat is don,

pi worthy wyf pan sal pu wyne,

pat unue»zmyt has ben of syn,

& pi barnis wz't/z hyr alsa.

for-]h be wicht & comfort ta! ”

]zane met he pai kny^ttw in hy,

& halust ent^rchangebly.

J?ane cane pa\ at hy;« hertly sperz”

eftz> a ma«, wes J^ame der^

pat to name had sir placydas,

gyf he wist quhare he was,

& as pylgra;;z of land can ga \\’it/i his wyf & barnis twa.

he sad: “ na.” & jet J>ane

til ane Inis haf paim he can,

& gert mak paim welfare

of al thing pat was necessare.

& Jiane he thocht hou J?at he

vont wes par master to be,

& mocht na langar hald hym stil,

bot passit furth & gret his fil,

& wesche his face, pat beand done,

in agayne he com rycht son

& mad paim seruice warly.

pan ]?ai beheld hym increly.

])ane pz'z’uely pc tan can say

to pc todzV: “behald, I pray,

hou lyk ]us man is in althing

til hym of quhazzz we mak speriz/g ! ”


(\uocl J>e todir: “falou, parde,

Fol. 223 a. richt wondzV lyk til hyme is he.

30 til hyme gud tent tak,

& gyf }>e weme of a gret strak

in til his hewyd ma we se, 620

hot dout sz> placydas is he.”

]?ane beheld ]?ai increly,

& saw Jse weme man? grathly, }?at in sik batale he had tane,

quhare he relewit mony ane. 625

bane, quhezz ]>a.\ kneu hym, in hy

]?ai kissit hyme oft tendzVly,

& franyt [hym] of al his fare,

& quhare his wyf & barnis ware.

]?ane sad he bame agane, 630

bat wyf wes ded & barnis slane.

pan al pe nithbounk, pat had sene

hou tend/Hy bir knye^ttzk kene

to sic a poure ma« mad sic fare,

ful gretly for-wondryt ware. 635

bot pan bai knye^ttzk, bat ware blyth,

til al bat bare ware tald swyth,

bat he wes maw of gret honoure

& derreste to be empewoure;

hou to sek hyme bai ware send 640

fra rom, bar stat til amend;

& als, hou be emperoure

cowzmand to do hyme honoure

& byding gef, gyf bat he

in ony place mycht fuwdyne be, 645

bat he suld tak & pay richt nocht

at his wil, as hyme gud thoe^t,

bat al bat ware in bat town

to serue sir placydas ware bon,

& gat hyme al necessyte,

bat hyme nedyt in ony degre, 650


bath for ]?e pece & for ]>e were,

quhen ]ns do« was in his manere,

sa besyly traualyt ]>a.y

hat to rom he fywten day 655

hai com, quhare he emperoure

resawyt hame in gret honours,

for out of he ton he hyme met,

& pare ful frendfylly hym gret,

& kissit hyme richt tendz'Hy. 660

& tald he hyme rye^t opynly

perordre quhat hym betyd,

& hou hat forton w/tA hym did.

Fol. 223 6. bot hou pat he wes crzstine mane,

jet he co[n]seilyt m'tA hyme hane. 665

thane leid hai hyme in-[to] he ton

wz't/z gret loy and precessione,

& pnnce of knich[t]ed hyme mad,

& doublit al at euire he had

in riches, rentw & in fee, 670

in his estat and dignite;

sa hat mare doublit wes hzr mycht

hane god befor til hyme had hicht.

hai y>rayt hyme to tak oh hand,

as he was wont, to fend Jwt land; 675

& hare request he grazztit son

for he honoure hai had hyw doh.

& wzt/z awismezzt lukit he

quhat strinth of knye/ztt/e he mye/zt se:

& fand noe/zt sa fele in land 680

hat mye/zt har fais wzt^-stand. har-for send he fare & nere

to cyteis & tonys sere, to ches mezz hat to mazzis sicht

lyk war to be mazzly & wicht.

679. he mycht be.

685


& ymang vthyre }>is mawdme^t com quhart his twa so«is lent,

hat of hat ton hai suld ches twa.

ha« ca« hai son to consel ga;

& for hai twa ware lykest 690

for sic not to be he best,

& frewmyt folk to paiw w/’t^-al,

gyf II forton to hai^ suld fal,

hare-for arayt hai paim wele in armis stith, mad of stele, 695

w/t/i al he lawe \at hare-to lay,

& send )>a\m furth on he way.

hane com hai in litil space

quhare he praice of knyr/zted wes,

hat beheld hame & thor/zt in hy 700

h«t hai war abil & worthy

of theuys & of honeste;

for-hi knye^ttzi- he gert ]>aim be, & menskit ]>a\m -with worthieste,

& perit haizzz ay to he beste. 705

syne went he to he were in hy •with fele men, wicht & hardy.

& be assay men ma wele kene

hat gud chiften makz'i [gud] men;

for his mezz sic cozzfor[t] had 710 Fol. 224 a. hat hai durst do quhat h^t he bad.

& quhezz he com sa nere hat he

mycht his fais grathly se,

he sped hyme fast & vfiih \a\?n facht,

& mony sleu & mony lacht, 715

& he lawe chasit vtrely,

& reparyt with victory,

til he com til a ton, quhare he

with his oste restit dais thre.

hazz hapnyt in he sazzzmyne toure,

712. quhezz corrected from coin (?).

720

go LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

quhare his wif mad suriour?.

]?ane tyd of case ]>ire 3u[n]gme« twa

]>a.T inys in J^at house to ta,

quhar^ pare modfr had gestny«g—

hot of hyr pa. ne had knawing— 725

& sat please & carpit sawmyne,

quhilis of hernyst & quhil/j of gaz/zroy;/,

as ju^g men wil do for sol?'me,

& als to mak par acquittance.

& first pe eldast ta’d pe case 730

pat in 3outhed hy;t hapnyt wes,

& sad: “ I think wele hou-gat

my fad/r, pat wes of gret stat,

& to name had sir placydas,

tuk my modzV, pat fare was, 735

& my brtthzV & me alsa,

& pmiely of ton cane ga,

& wandryt furth wit A ws thre,

til he come rye At to pe se,

& a schipe redy fand, 74°

& sailit to pe farrere land,

& my mod/r belewit pare,

bot of hyr hapny[n]g I wat no mare;

bot my fad/r held on his way

wit/i my bruthir & me ay, 745

til he com til a wat/r brad,

& oure it he my bruth/r had,

& lewit me on pe bank, til he

suld com agan & here oure me;

bot as he towart me cuth wad, 75°

a gredy wolf hynt me but bad,

& to pe wod wit A me ran;

bot telemet, pat saw bat bane,

folouyt fast & gert hy;;z fie,

& hynt me vpe & hame had me,

736. brethzr.

755


& fostent me wele alway.”

}>ane ca« J>e todzV ^img ma« say: Fol. 224 b. “ to me is [tyd] J>e sa;«myne case :

for my fadyr [wes] sir eustace,

J>at my bruthyr, my deme, & me, 760

J?at na man wust, broc^t to ]?e se

& saylyt oure; & }>ar hyme tynt

his wyf; bot his barnis he hynt

& walkit furth with drery mude,

til he com til a mykil flude, 765

]?at he durst nocht wad with vs bath,

bot my bruthir set don rath,

& bar me oum be flud, til he

mycht pas agayne & bring \\ym me,

my bruthyre bat he lewit \>a.re. 770

& a lyone in bat sythware

oum-set in his mouth hynt me,

& to be wod fast can fle.

bot hyrdis, bat nere warn by,

hyme folouyt in to gret hy, 775

& wane me fra be fel lyone,

& had me wz't^ bath in be ton,

quhar bu seis bai telme« duellw.

of my bruthyr I wat noc^t ellw;

bot be be tale bu tellis me, 780 lyk war my bruthyr b^u suld be.

bot feHy haf I hou It befel

bat we in a ton suld duel

bis lang tym & na« ken vthyre,

as witty man suld do hfy bruthzr.” 785

bane ran it \di\m bath \n mynd thru inclinac/on of kynd,

bat bai ware brethyre; & for-bi

bai gret bath richt teynd/>ly,

& in armis vthyre cane brase, 790

758. to me J>is pe.


& kissit oft, & sad : “ allace ! ”

for tynsale of pare fad/?- wicht

& of pare mod/r, ]?e lady bry^t. bar mod/?- ban, b^t wes ner^ by,

& herd al bane opynly, 795

hou bai recordyt be case

bat to pare fad/r hapnit wes,

scho held stil a quhile, & tho^/zt

quhebzV- bai hyr barnis war or noe/it.

& one be morn scho we«t in sped 800

to be gret maiste?- of be knyr/ztede,

& sad: “ dere lord, I pray be Fol. 225 a. for godis sak bu ger me

be had to rome: for bme com hy

& is broc/it here I ne wat quhy.” 805

& as scho spak bis hyme til,

scho hyme beheld wz'tA incre wil,

& be syndry taknis cane se

bat hyre awn housband wes he.

for-bi scho don [fel] til his fet, 810 & out scho brast son of gret,

& sad : “ dere lord, I pray be

for godd/e sak bu tel me

quhat ma« bu was in bi southed,

& quhat stat bu can led; 815

for me think bu art placydas,

bat of knychted maistzV was,

& syne at fontstane eftz> bat

to bi name eustace gat,

& tholyt syne be godis wil 820

faynding/j, bat war hard & il,

& lewit hale bi possession,

bi honour & bi renown, & w/t/z bi wyf went pmiely

out of be land. & bat am I, 825

790 and 791 are transposed in MS.


& syne quheTz we co;« to ]?e se,

agane ]?i wil wes tan fra J>ej

bot god of his habuwdand grace

but filth of syne me kepit has.

& ]m my husband with me gat

twa soTmis, & ane hat

theospito, & }>e tothyr<?

agapi/«r, ]mt wes his bruthyn?.”

quehen eustace hfrd al }>at scho

sad, he beheld hyr to,

& wist wel scho wes his wyf, }?at he hifit richt as his lyf.

he gat hyr son a-bout >e [h]als

& kissit, & for Joy gret als.

& scho hyme in ]?e sawmyw wyse

gretand, kissit a hundfr cyse,

of[t] lowand god J>at sa cuth wirk

for }?ame, Jat sorow had mad Irk,

& eftyr fanding J>at cuth say

brink his smiandis out of way.

& I treu wele na;z cuth say

Fol. 225 b. f>e enrre loy [bat] bane had bay > for bai gud liffam war, I wene,

& lang tyme had nocht vthyr sene,

& syne to-gyddyr vnwittandly

bame tyd to met sudanly. I treu, bar be na liffand mane

cane tel ]>e loy [bat] bai had bane !

& bis betyd of ^em twa

bat bai had bath loy & wa.

bane, be hyr hart wes hesit sa

bat scho mycht ony word furth ta,

scho sad til hyme: “ der lord, wit bu

832 and 833. theospic«j, agapic«,t. 837. he lifit.

830

835

840

845

850

855

836. & wist I wel. 847, entre.


of our^ so«nis quhat is tyd now?”

“30,” sad he, “be godis macht 860

I saw qu[h]ar£ wild bestir \&\m lacht,

& to ]>e wod fast wit A ])aim ran,

forout rescourse of ony man ”—

& tald hyr al ]>e maner^ hou,

as befor I tald 3011 to. 865

J^ane sad scho: “I red Qjat] we

3eld thank to god of maieste;

for rycAt as he has lent ws grace

for to se v]nr his face,

sa ma he send [til] ws but wene 870

our barnis, ]?at we haf nocht sen

lang tyme.” “ Deme, I ca« ]?e say *

]?at wild bestM bare \axm away.”

sad scho : “ sir, I pray 30U, blyne !

for jistyrday in my« In 875

as I set, I herd 3u«g men twa

be [>ame ane forout ma

Ilkane til vthyr planly tel

be wik[it] forton ]mme befel,

& hou in bare barnede ]>ax 880

with wyld bestir war had away,

bane bare fadir can gretly men,

& bar modir oft but wene,

with mony vthyr wordis sere.

bar-by I wat but ony were 885

bat bai our barnis are. for-bi

gerrir bame cxtm & ask in hy

be suth, & be bame sal 30 treu,

bat god has send ]>abn til ws nov.”

& as scho said, he did but bad 3

Fol. 226 a. & be bar taknis grath wit had

bat bai war his twa sownis dere.

a lord! hou blith ]>an wes his chere quhen he saw bai-w with his ene,

890


])at he wend besIzV met had bene! 895

& )>ame in armis he hynt,

& bar modz'r, or scho stynt,

& kissit of[t], & gret alsa, bath for gret loy & for wa.

& quhe« be gret ost hard record 900

al b^t tyd wes to bare lord,

& for be wictory he mad

of bar fais, gret loy [bai] had.

thare as bai war suyornand,

in gret hast com tyband 905

bat traiane emp^rour wes ded & adriane in til his sted

wes chosine, b^t was mykil warn

to cr/stine men ba« he, be fere,

bot he bat ban, as custome wes, 910

went to met szV placydas,

wzt£ banae of rom, beuth be ton,

wz't/z honorabil processione,

& hyme resawit Joyfully,

nocht anerly for be wictory 915

of bar fele fais at he wan,

bot for he had recoueryt bane

bath wyf & barnis he tynt had,

& bane fuzzdine ware but bad.

& rom in bis wyse 920

bai enterit, as I herd dewyse. ay god ! quhat loy in rom was,

quhe# bai had gottyzz sir placydas!

for bame thor^t bai had no dout

of fais, war bai neuz> sa stout. 925

for-bi bai sat hale bar cure til worschipe hyme & til honoure.

bane mye^t be sad of hyme rycht

905. tyjand.


as of lob, ]?at to mare hicht

of riches & of honour wan, 930

J^ane befor hyme fandit sathan.

sa tyd of eustace; for he,

eftyr fanding^, of mar degre

wes & of mycht & of riches

Fo). 226 b. be fer cyse mar ]>an first he wes; 935

for god, ]?at can do quhat he wil,

hat he had hicht hym can fulfil,

sone eftir [hat] sir adriane

thor^t sir placydas 3et had nocht tane

honour Inuch; for-hi gert he 940

cal hyme with solempnite

til het with hyme in-[to] his hal,

& wyf & barnis with hy;« al,

& mad ]>a\m richt wele to fan?,

& al he lawe ]>at with ]>aim ware, 945

& gaf hyme mony gyftw gret,

hyme & his menje to rehet.

& eftyr [hat] on he thrid day

he gert cri but mam delay,

al suld be gadryt gret & smal 950

in-to he tempil praicipal,

til ydolis to sacnfy

for honoum of victory,

hat placydas \\am brocht had

eftyr he trawal ]>at he mad. 955

& quhen al com, & one ]>at wyse

til ydolis mad sacnfice,

he emperome p^rsauft has

hat Ipare com no^t sir placydas.

for-hi he send for hyme [al]-son, 960 & bad hyme cu;^ but ony hon,

& sacrify, as vthim did,

for he gret honoun? hy;« betyd.

935. be for. 958. p^rsaiu't was. 961. & bat.

XXIX—PLACIDAS. 97

\z.n come eustace, & sad clere,

& sad: “ s/r, I sacWfy but wer^ 965

to Ih«u crz'st, my god werray

& anely god is, I J>e say,

J>at al ]?/s warld mad of noo$t,

Hel & hewine, as hy;« gud tho^t.”

J>ane wes ]?e emperoure ry^t wa 970

}>at he herd eustace sa say,

& cowzmandzt his me« ful rath

to tak hyw, wyf, and barnis bath,

& bynd }?ame in a place quhar<? J>ai

one na maner my^t chape away, 975

& lyons lofi lat to J>aiw ga,

}>at rathly suld \2sn1 ryf in twa.

& quhe« ]?ai don had as he bad,

& }?e lyons losit hade, to \z\m suyth in a ras )>ai rane, 980

Fol. 227 a. & to ]?ar fet fel done ]jane,

as for til honoun? ])ai/« mekly;

syne held ]?ar« way deliueHy.

syne gert ]?e emperoure be mad

vridir }>e ox of bras but bad 985

a mykil fyr of mat/> sen?.

& quhe« it bry/znand wes al cler^,

he gert Jur four^ in be don, in hope )>ai suld be ded son.

bot }>ai J>ar^-of na redur had, 990

but enterit in, & gud chere mad,

C(7/;zmendand ]?aiz« to god mycklty, I’at l?ar saulis J>a« in hy

resawit, & Jsame reward mad,

as befor he to }>ame sad. 995

}>an eftyr [}>at] ]?e thryd day

}>e emp^rour cow til assay

968. pat of al pzV. 9S0. a ras paw rane. 987. clere is correctedfrom chere.

VOL. II. G


In hou smal poud/r J?ai -ware mad.

& quhe;z ]?ai ]?e ox hopynzt had,

}>ai saw paim oh pax kneis stand,

as pai quyk ware, to god lowand,

for-out weme in hyd or har,

bot fresch as euz> J^ai ware,

outakine ]mt ]>ai ware al ded.

pane tuk mezz pawn of J?at sted.

& crzstine men com ]?at same nye/zt

& for pai martins can dicht

Ful reuez-ently fare sepulture,

& layd paim in wz't/z gret honour;

& eftyre in preceft of tyme

mad J>ar a kirk of stane & lyme,

quhare pai sanctz's resize ay,

& sal do to domyse-day,

& }:>ane resawe be cron of lyf,

bat pai wan here in gret stz-zf, as is befor sad in bis buk,

gyf }e tent bar-to tuk.

for-bi to pawn foure I pray, agane be feynd str/f I may,

out of bis warld bat I wyne

but schame, det, & dedly syne.

xooo

1005

1010

1015

1020

XXX.—THEODERA.

Fol. 227 b.

& J>o ])ar-to he haf mycht

thru godis tholyne & gret sly^t,

3et mon he falje of[t]-tyme til eschew sum }>at he wald ryckt gladly grewe.

for cn'stine men, hat stedfastly

throuys in god & deuotly

sanis hym with he taknyng

of he corce, quham-on god can hyng,

sal wele resist agayne sathan,

ho he do al he II he can. befor he croice he sa wreis

hat, quhe« he It seis, ]>an he fleis.

he wil oft purches wikit men

to gem hyme sped & with wemen

thru wischraf & sorcery,

& ful oft-tyme thru flatry of kerlyngw, ]>at in mony wyse ju«g men betresiS oft-syse;

for sic as hai, quhew ha har£ lifw

[h]as lyvit lang, callit wis wifz'.r,

LNE suld wele kene h^t sathane

3et finis uocht, na neuz> fane,

al cmtine men for to gref sene hat first he prewit eve.

5

10

!5

20

I. First letter wanting. 15. »reis ; the first letter is doubtful. 22. The second letter of “ betresis ’’ has been altered, and looks like an “ a.”

IOO LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

bot }>ai sa men kangzV al

in to gret elde fra J>ai fal.

jet suld gud wemezz ware be

to rowne wzt$ }?aizzz in pn’uete,

or jet corow for to bald

wz‘t/z sic wifis, fra ]?ai be aid,

}>at for les }>ane a schefe of brede

wil gyf ]?ai;zz oft schazzzful rede,

& ger byre treu quhat scho wil,

fra scho gud heryng gyf hz> til.

& for ensampil I wil ta

hou it betyd theodera.

Quhezz jeno wes emperour

& al }>e empyre had in cure,

of alysander in ]>e towne

duelt a man of gud renone,

& had fuson of warldzr thingzr,

as be resone [of] his lykingzr;

& wit/i his nithbourzr jet ]?ane

wes gud haldine for god & man,

for he wes jarneful god to pies

& to mezz alsa to do es,

& had a wyf of nobil kyne

& of ]>e best Jze ton with-in,

Fol. 228 a. & Jzar-to wes of far fassone, ]ze mast enplesand of ]ze towne,

& juzzg, & dred god noe/zt-J^e-les,

& chast, perles of fames, \ocht men seldine ]?ai twa se

in a juzzg pez-sone to be.

]je feynd ]?ane at hz'z- had inwy,

be-cause scho wes sa happy,

& thoeAt J>at he wald put a smyt

in hyr gud nazzz, for to fyle It,

& fandyt hyre in mony wyse.

25

3°

35

40

45

50

55

XXX.—THEODERA. IOI

bot scho, }?at was bath ware & wyse, 60

ay quhe« scho had persawing

)>at he socht hyr with sic thing,

bane wald scho rycht son

bath brest & foret croice but hon.

bane durst he nocht langare byd, 65 bot fle [wald] one fere bat tyd.

& he, saw b^t he ne moe^t

do for be croice as he thoe/A,

he enflawmyt of be self ton

a juwg ma« of fare fassone 70

for til syne with theodera.

& til eschewe he trawalyt sa

bat he ne mye^t rest nye^t na day,

til he cane hyr wil assay.

& bo he wes 3u«g & fare, 75

wele tacht, wise & debonare,

jet schupe he hyme barfor to be

be mare plesand in al degre:

as to karole wel & syng,

& to be costlyk in clething, 80

& to wine gud naw. to b^t ende

he wald gladly his gud dispend.

& quhew he had a quhyle don sa,

he com to bis theod[e]ra

& mad his quy«ta«s apon fare 85 with hyr, thinkand to cum nere.

& quhe« he thoe^t b^t he had

his acquy«tance with hir wele mad,

he leit hyr wyt in su»? party

his wil, bo it was couertly. 90

bane wald scho wmquhyle hir play

& til hym len a def ere ay.

bot he, bat fandit was fast,

thru gret slicht ]>e feynd can cast

93. bot he }>at fandist. 94. he feynd.


Fol. 228 b. folouyt hyr sa increly 95

J>at he hyr leit wit vtrely,

)>at othyr worthyt \\ym to sped

hyr wil to wyne, or but dred

of ]?e ded to thole payne.

pan sad scho hym schortly agay« : 100

“ Man, had I wittine lang tym gane

pat pu sic fule purpos had tane,

J?u suld haf wittine pan as nov

]?at al pi trawale tynt had pow.

for-Jn of pat thing spek nomara! 105

for playt na sal be pi ansuer?.

certis, vnreulyt ware my wil

gyf for pe my-self I suld spil.”

& fra he hard hyr sa say,

he lacht his lef & passit away, no

& one til his awne hame

he wynt, with syt & als with schaw,

for gret sorou & schame had he

pat he suld sa refusit be.

thane duelt pare in pe reu 115

nere his Innys, I spek of nov,

ane aid wyf, mye//t noe^t for elde

hyr awne self gudly weld.

& til his In reparyt scho,

for of sorcery scho cuth do, 120

& as scho myofo did tur/ze & chare.

& quhe/z scho ]?are-of wes ware

hat he lewit to play & syng,

bot drupyt & mad murnyng,

ay til espy hym scho ne fane 125

til scho fand hym al alane.

& pan scho sad [til] hyme in hy:

“ I pray pe, sir, Jm tel me quhy

pu art nov pensiwe & mad,

121. did turme.

XXX.—THEODERA. 103

& wont wes to be blith & glad; 130

for ]ju is ma«, far.? & wyse

& vertuyse at al dewise,

& in ])is ton has rentw fan?,

& til haf mare has pera«s of are.

na I wat na« durst tak on hand 135

in-to ]hs ton to do ]?e wrang. my dere son, )>ane quhat aXis }>e?

)m lat me wit, quhat-euz'r It be;

Fol. 229 a. for I ame of wyt and wil

spedful consel to gyf ]?e til. 140

& thoe/zt I aid be, let ]?u nocht!

for in elde suld wit be socht.

I treu ]m has )n luf set

quhare ]?i jarnyng ]m ma nocht get;

& gyf it sa be, ]?an cuth I 145

helpe J>e wele, J>u treu treuly! ”

“gud deme,” sad he, “}m cazz dot,

wenand I ware sic a ydzbt,

J>at J?u suld wit my pz-z'uete,

gud or II, quethyr it be, 150

J?at helpe me no\>ir cazz ne may,

suppos I wald it to ]?e say sa.”

“ jet,” quod scho, “ be myzz saule-heile !

consele kane I kene ]>t gud & leile,

& helpe ]ze for to sped J>i thing, 155

gyf ]zi cause be of luffyng.”

& fra he herde ]ze karling mak

sa fare hicht, he cazz confort tak,

for eth is a mazz to til

to do it J>at is his wil. 160

}>ane sad he: “ wil ]?u pz7ue be

& hele }>e thing I sal tel J?e ? ”

“3a,” sad scho, “sa god me sped!

]mr-of haf ]m na kine drede

148. ydrot.


J>at ony creature my^t me 165

by to discom7-]n pmiete,

bot atreHy in to ]>e stede

quhare I wit wele J»e to remede.”

“deme, wit ]?u, sen It is sa,

}>at I luf mast theodera, 170

& grant of byre ma I na« pachas

my 3arnynge to fulfil, alace !

& no^t ellfr, bot I spede,

I ame bot ded, it is na drede.”

sad scho: “son, is }ns ]?e maste 175

J>at germ ]?e }n jouthede wast,

& lef ]?i myrth & lolyte ?

I wend thing ellzlr aylyt J?e

]?at ware harde thing to wyne.

lat be, lefe, & of bale blyne, 180

& be als mery as ]?u ma;

for here I hicht to ]?e gud fay

Fol. 229 b. ]?at scho sal richt son do }n wil,

gyf I ma sped to cu»z hir til.”

]?ane of his gud he hz> gef parte, 185

& scho went on to pref hz> arte,

& spyit best tyme ]?at scho theodera mycht cume to;

& p^rcase fand hyr alane,

& sic a praloag has furth tarn?: 190

“god be herein my dochtzr dere,

]?at kepe J>e ay hale & fere,

in althing ekand )u grace,

of welth & wele, in )ns place ! her ame I curzyne }>e to se 195

& with ]n spek to cozzforte me; for I treu, be my gud fay,

]>at I sal wele fare al be day

171. purches. 190. sic a prolong.


)?at I myc/$t to J?e spek my fil.”

“sit don)’, sad scho, “say on )n wil! ” 200

sad scho : “ docht/r, god )>e for^elde, & fra wikyt forton ]>e schelde,

])us mekly ]?at dediwjeis }>e

to spek hamely with sic as me !

for I fynd suthfastnes, 205

J>at al men sais, is nochi les,

& oft I here ]?at in ]?is ton Is na weman of sic renoii

of al gudnes in al degre

]>a.t in wemaw ma gestnit be, 210

as ]?u, }?at is alane but pere,

of al fames & coloure clere,

& fason fare & gud hawyng,

set ]?u of jem be bot jyng;

na ogart na pryd is ]?e with-'m, 215

]>ocht ]5U be of nobil kyne;

na heis []?u] ]>e for riches,

to lichtly othyr mare or lese

as ]?e pouz> folk sais of ]>e,

hat >u art larg of cheryte. 220

& ]nis I sa nochi, be ]>e rude, der dochtzV, to get [of] hi gude,

bot an^Hy for suthfastnes.

ijete is a think neuz>-he-les

hat, gyf I durst, I wald say.” 225

Fol. 230 a. “ tel one, deme,” quod scho, “ I 30U pray ! ”

hane mad ]>e kerlyng suw dangere,

wittand scho suld he Barnare spere;

for wemezz ar besy al

to wyt he thing quhat-euzr fal. 230

theodera hane cane hyr pray

hat scho wald tel hyr but delay, quhat-euz> it wes scho had in ihochi,

& lef vnsad til hyr richt nocht,

io6 LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

for scho suld tak in nane II 235

quhat-sa-eu/r scho sad hyr til.

J>e karlyng sad : “ on ]?at cu«nande,

sen ]?e tyme is nov auenande,

I wil tel }>e a thing quhare-in

J>u wil sla ]d saule for syne; 240

j^at is, }>at ]?u wil nocht remede

J?e ma^ ]>a\. for ]je wil thole dede;

& quha-sa-euz> ma« wil sla,

of skil is callit godis fa,

& als his saule tyne, ]?«t god bozvfct, 245

gyf he mycht succur^ & wil nockt.

& jone 3uzzg ma^, ]?at luffis }>e, is now in poynt peryst to be,

& }>u ma lichtly, gif ]>u wil,

sauf hyme & do }>i-self na II: 250

J>at is, to grant hyme anerly

J>at he ma anis priuely

play wz't/z ]?e in pmie stede,

& sa ma }ui sauf hym fra dede.

& J>at but witting ma be doh 255

in prz'ue stede vnd/r sone,

& sa ma ]m ]>e sauf fra hel

quhare mazz-slaartf sal ay duel;

for he sal cum sa pr/uely

}>at na^ sal wit it bot ]m & I. 260

& ]>e sonars J>is be done,

}>e cause sal be ]5e les to son.”

theodera til hyr can mele:

“deme, al be ]m neuzr sa lele

& al suth war ]m me sais, 265

3et durst I do it [be] na wais.

suppos neuz'r man suld wit

I had doh sic thing as It,

jet god suld wit it, I dut nor/zt,

Fol. 230 />. \>at clerly ke«nis dede & thocht, 270

XXX—THEODERA.

& punyse me for my mysdede

thru my^tt[i]nes of his godede.”

}>ane sad ]?e trat whh flatrand fare:

“wele war hyr sic birth bar,

& happy wes he ]>a.t gat }>e

J>at sa wisly has ansuert me!

bot jet, be-cause ]m art jing,

Jiu can nocht deme of sic thing,

wenand ]?at god ke«nis al

\\ dedis done or to fal,

for ]m wantt/x ]>q colorum

)>a.t ]m suld treu in ]?«t parte sum.

for suth is J>at god knawis wele

ded and thoe/h eu/r-ilke dele, ]?at is to vnd/rstand, I say,

It at done is on }>e day;

bot to ]?at thing has he na sycht

}>at Xhocht or don is in ]?e nycht; for he fleis ay myrknes,

& tais tent bot to clernes.

for-Jn, as treuys ]?e kirk of rom,

me« wat at J>e day of dome

is to cum quhe« god sal haf mycht

to deme al don in opyne syr^t;

bot of }>e nycht doin[g]e

is he uocht borne }>at ocht tel cun.

for [gyf] demeeh of }>e nycht suld be

as of day, clerkis, parde,

wald als wele of nycht as day

haf mad meacione, perfay. jmr-for, dochtzV, haf na drede,

bot as I say do furth }us dede, &, as oure lord bydis ]?e,

of J>ine eue crzstine haf pyte ! ” \un sais til hyr theodera:

295. doine }>at \i3.n.

io8 LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

“gyf, as J>u sais me, It be sa

& ])at ]3U spekw for na gyle

me wikitly for to be-wile,

or ]jat ma« for me dede be,

I sal do as Jm thechis me.” 310

“quhat, wenys ]?u I wald ]?e wile,

gud douchtfr? na, be J?e ewangele,

na be J>e corpus domine,

Fol. 231 a. for ony gud men my^t gyf me !

for I think to get of }>i gere 3x5

for ]?e gud lare I sal }>e lere.

J>ar[for], forsuth, wal[d] I nocht

jju fand dissat in me ocht.”

]?ane sad til hyr theodera:

“gud dame, sen }?u sais sa, 320

now son, quherc gane is }?e \ycht

Sc cuwmyne is }>e myrk nycAt, bryng [hyme] to ]us place but mar£,

Sc sodanly I sal be Ipare! ”

Sc of hyr gud scho gef }>at aide. 325

Sc blyt^ hyre gat scho can halde,

Sc to ^e 3u«g man come sone

Sc tald hyme al hou scho had don.

Sc he }>ar-of wes glad Sc blyt/?,

Sc gaf hyr of his gud suyt/z. 330

Sc quhe« ]?at cuw/yne wes \>c nyckt,

scho kepyt ]?e tnst wele scho hicht,

Sc with hyr brocv^t ]?e man in hy,

quhare scho tristit pr/uely.

Sc l^ar theod[e]ra Sc he 335 war sawmyne a quhile in pmxete;

Sc quhe« ]?ai had ]>ar wil done,

athyr held }>are way sone.

theodera, }?at had II spede,

3ed til hyr husband til bede, 340

XXX.—THEODERA. IO9

}?at hyr lufit atoure althing,

& stil lay til ]>e mornyng;

& J>ane wmtho^t hyr ]iat scho

sa foule a syne consentit to

& fals wes, )>e wyf sad, les & mare. 345

J>ane scho cane murne, gretand sare,

for ]jat scho treuyt god na mycht

wit of II wes done on wyckt,

& for scho hyr treutht brokine had

til hyme ]?at mykil of hyre mad. 350

J>ane dang scho hyr-self in J>e face,

& raf hyr hare & sad : “ alace ! ”

“alace,” scho sad, “for wikitly

my saule here now tynt haf I

& has distroyt thru my plicht 355

of my gret beute ]?e sicht! ”

w/tfi ]>3.t hyr husband com & fand

hyr gretand [sa] & sar murnand,

& sad: “my far theodera,

Fol. 231 6. quhat makfr ]?e to far at sa? 360

quhat-euzV it be, tel to me,

& it sal sone remedit be !

for ]>\i art my welth & wele; pu art my comfort & my heile.

]?arfor, as [>u lufis me, 365

]ra lef sic care & mery be! ”

& ay ]>e mare teyndfrly

he spak til hyr, mare cruely

scho mad sorou, because scho

til hym ]mt lufit suld mysdo. 370

jet stil scho held quhat scho thoc/zt,

& of hyre wil tald richt noofct.

bot quhe« tyme com of day,

scho passit furth til ane abbay,

as it ware til here a mes,

357. & sa fand. 375

IIO

*


& spak pare w/t/i ]?e pr/ores,

& franyt gyf god my^t

wit of it ware don be nyc/it.

sad scho: “ nathing be hyd may

fra god ]?at don is, nyr/zt or day.” 380

qzzzzzf scho: “ laydy, pdji gyf me

]?e text of ]?e ewangile for to se,

J>at J>ar ve[r]yly fynd I may

of me }?at quhat sal fal be assay.”

]?e przores gert bring ]?e buk, 385

& scho It opnyt & can Ink,

& fand ]?ar wrytine in hy

pir wordis: “ quod scrz’psi scz'z'psi.”

Jjane went scho hame with hart sare,

in mekil mzzrnyng & in care, 390

bazznand pe tyme scho wes born

]>at sagat had hyr-self forlorne;

bydanz/ ]?e tyme til hyre husband

for hys nedis ^ed vp on land.

& sone, fra he went of ton, 395

mams clethingz; scho gat bon

& cled hyre ry<r/zt as maw scho ware,

& wzt/z a schere gert cut hz> hare, & of monkziy til ane abbay

auchten myle June held hz> way. 400

& wzt/z ]?e abbot son scho met,

& hyme ful cozznandly scho gret,

& askit hym parcheryte ]iat scho myr/zt hare resawit be,

& tak pe habyt, & as vythre 405

Fol. 232 a. rendryt be to hame as bruthyre.

“ quhat is hi nawz, tel hu ws ! ”

“ sz>,” scho sad, “ theodorus.”

hane sad he: “ welcuzzz mot h^ be for godis sak & cheryte.”

393. bydant. 394. for hyr.

410


)>ane wes he tane & mad nowis

& leryt sa, for he was wyse,

al hat til a monk suld fere

in-to schort tyme wele p^rquere.

& al }?ai >at has hyr sene, 415

wend hat a man scho had bene.

& al hyr dedis ilke dele scho did sa thankful & wele,

hat favore scho gat of ]>at ware

in hat abbay, les or mare; 420

for quhat thing ]mi bad hir do,

but gruching scho ^ede It to.

hane in he threde jere

hai ordenyt hyr hare out-rydere,

har witale to he house to by 425

quhare it ware fu«dine al redy.

hane cart/V with hyre scho ca« ta,

with horse ane or ma,

& bryng hame quhet, oyle or wyne,

& nedful thing to he keching. 430

& al his tyme hyre husbande,

hat nocht cuth get of hyre tythande

but wend suthly scho had hane

passyt a-way with suw othyre mane,

cesit nemV sorou to mak, 435

na hyme to torment for hyre sak;

prayand god for his gret myo^t

hat he my^/it of hyre haf a syc/zt.

hane god, hat hard has his pnzyere,

gert til hyme ane angele pere, 440

hat sad : “ gyf jra theodera

wil se, to-morne ayrly Jm ga

& be-hald grathly to hat jat,

of petyr & paule callit he gat,

416. a weman scho had bene. 432. fat nocht gud get.

415. al fai fat had.

I 12 LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

& quha ]>\i seis first apere, 445

]>i wif is, wit )m but were ! ”

to ]?at worde gud tent he tuk,

& )>at nyc/it mekyl woike,

& gat vpe in )?e dawynge,

Fol. 232 6. to se ]?at ilke lufit thinge, 450

& to ]?at place went but bade,

quhar ]?e angel sad hyme hade,

& saw a monk cum rydand by,

as afferyt, ful roydly

]jat hayliste hyme & kneu hym wele; 455

bot he ]?e monk kneu na dele,

bot, had he wist, I vnd/>ta,

}>at it had ben theodera,

in handis he had hynt hym tyt,

& tyt fra hyr ]?at abyt! 460

bot scho wit/i camelis and cart

held on to }>e m^rkat wart,

& dide []5at] scho to do had ])are,

& vnp^rsawit hame can fanf.

bot he, ]mt bad in-[to] )>e stret, 465

wenand wit A his wif to met,

& for he ne dyde, gret playnt mad

of god ]mt hyme dissawit had.

& son a woice [sad] hyme til:

“]m plenjeis ]>e for-outyne skil, 470

for to-day morne wele ayrly

]?u saw ]u wyf cum rydand by,

& haylist [>e, suppos ]?u

but cause on god plenjeis now.”

the buk sais theodera, 475

to god of hewine plesit sa

}>at he for hyr did ferlis sere,

lifand til scho wes duelland her<?. for in a tyme as scho furth rade,

scho fand a man, a best hade 480


slane & rewine in pecw ser^ j for quhofh to god scho mad prayers;

& at hyr prayere sone )>ane

he resuscit J>at slane mane;

& }?at fel best scho folouyt sa 485

pat scho cane son it oun?-ta,

& waryt it in pat stede;

& it but bad fel done dede.

& mony vthyr nwwale sere

scho wroe^t, pat I to wryt ame suere. 490

pe feynd at hyre pan had inwy pat scho to god wes sa worthy,

for he of[t] for hyre halynes

Fol. 233 a. ful schamefully confundyt wes.

for-]?i til hyre he cane apere 495

in fourme of man as it were,

& sad: “ fule foule, Jm has ne scha;«

of god na of ma«is blame,

pat for pi wikit adultery

has lefit ]?i housband sc[h]awfully, 500

& cu;«is here to mere me.

be al my vertuise I suere pt, }>at ar to dout ful gretly, ]jat werra pe sa sal I

}>at J>u sal reny hy;« ful sone, 505

pat for )>e one J>e croice wes don;

& gyf [I] ne do, sa J>ane at I

dois bot leis apertly.” J>ane scho on hyr face can lay

pe takine of }>e croice verray; 510

& he away, as It ware reke, wanyst son his il to eke.

theodorus pan in pat place

thankit god of his grace.

syne tyd theodomr to fare 515

til a cyte, as he did are,

VOL. 11. H

LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS. 114

to by vitale & vth/r thing

of ]>e abbay for ]>e vphaldi«g,

wit/i men, hors & charyot,

be ordinance of ]>e abbot. 520

& wes as wan? ]>e mydde way

be-twene ]?e ton & Ipe abbay

he restit & tuk bydyng ?

ful oft, quhe« he com wit/i sik thing.

]?ar hapnyt hy»2 to tak herbry 525

in a wycht, ]’are as sad I.

a 3u«g maydine wes in ]5e in,

]?at •with hyme had sic wil to syne

]?at, quhe« mfrkest wes ]?e ny^t,

scho come on til his bed rychx., 530

& sad : “ theodey, I pray }>e

J>u wald lat me ly by j^e ;

for sene ]?u firste hem tuk gestni^g,

I haf }>e lufit atoure althing,

sa }>at I mon but delay 535

get grant of be w/t/2 me to play.”

& fra theodom? wist bat scho

Fol. 233 b. jjarnit sic foly with hyme do,

he sad : “ ga hyne be-lyf ]u way, & lat me rest til it be day ! 540

or mony man sal one ]>c wondyr

}>at wald bring me in sik blondyr.”

& quires scho wist scho mycht no<r/zt

hyr wil get as scho thocht,

in bat gret het bat scho 545

wes in, went ane obim to;

& hapnyt be-twene ]>a.\m so be

bat a knafe childe gat he.

syne eftyre of tyme in prazesse

hapnyt bat scho gretam wes,

540. & last me rest. 55°

XXX.—THEODERA. US

& hyr frendis sperit ^arne,

quha w/t/z hyr gat }?at bame.

]?ane ansuert scho paim }?us:

“ It wes J^e monk theodorus,

pat waityt me [ap]-on a nycht, 555

& me beforsit be his slicht,

& sa gat ]hs barne on me,

maydine or knaf quhej>z> it be.” quhat suld I mam of }>is say,

bot, of hyre tyme quhe/z com ]je day, 560

scho bam a knaf child, ful fam

til haf bene a kingzV ayre.

& hyr frendis but ony mare

pe barne sone til pc abbot bam,

sayand : “}>is barne we bring to pc, 565 pat J>u gem it fostzv-yt be;

for dene theodorus, pat }ui

wenis a haly man be now,

our childe difforsit & it gat;

& we trew he wil noc/it nyt pat.” 570

pc abbot pan wes wondzV wa,

& thocht laith with pe barne to ta,

bot callit pe monk, & sad : “ art ]m

sic a lychum waxine now,

J>at I wende al tyme had bene 575

a ma« of haly lyf & clene,

& for pi fule luste has schent

me, my house, & my cowent ?

& J>is ]m ma nocht nyt, parde, for, lo, ]>e barne is broofa to me. 580

quham-of ]?u art gretly to blam, Fol. 234 a. po I for }u dede hafe schame;

3et pane tel furth one ]u wil

}>e ansuer }m mak/r here til ! ”

578. Ine. 582. ]>i dide.


thane scho, \>a\. )>axe was munk, & tho^t, 585

]>o scho }?e dede nyt wele mocht,

men suld noc^t treu hyr but assay,

quhethyre scho sad suth or nay,

& lath ware hyr ]?at ony man

suld wit be pruf scho ware wema« ; 5 90

& lath scho was neiuV-Jse-les

to tyne ]>e mede of tholmodnes;

& als hyr lykit for to be

punyste, be-cause in sic degre

for scho had mysdone til hyre mak; 595

Jsare-for wald scho sic penance tak.

]?ane sad scho til }?e abbot sone:

“sz>, suth is I sic dede has done. for-Ju it is resone & skyl

fiat I be punyste at ^oure wil; 600

bot ]>e as fadyr nocht-{or-]>l

[I] prays J?e now of mercy.”

]?e abbot ]>an, ]>at al my^t se,

gert ]je barne ]?are bu^dyne be

a-pon ]>e monkfr bak but bad, 605

& gert hyme to }>e jet be had.

& he in J>at place done hyme set,

& tuk ]>e childe, & sare gret;

for noptr cuth he nuryse be,

na had possibilyte 610

]?ar-of to fede }>e barne.

bysynes jet dide he jarne,

&, seand na betzV wane,

J>e mylk of sowis has he tane,

}>at lay by in }>e myddyng, 615

& ]?ar-of fede ]>e teyndfr thing.

& hyr brethyr, as }>ai durse,

wald bryng til hyre su»z cruw, sum cruse;

for ]?e monkfr les & mare

585. munk is altered by another hand into mvnk.


of hyre dissese had hartw sar^. 620

J>ane duelt scho ]>a.ve sewine yere

pacyently in sic manere.

& al hat tyme he feynd, our^ fa,

cesit noc/it to wirk hyr way.

hane he forme ca« he ta 625

of he ma« of theodera,

Fol. 234 6. & as hyr husband cane apere

til hyr & sad: “ my« hart dere, haf reutht of me & cum ]>i way

with me, hat murnis ny^t and day! 630

for loy na solace hot thru he,

na lykine in my hert ma be;

for but he luf may I nocht,

sa art }m set in my thoc/rt.

& ho hu defulyt be 635 mtA man, I for-gyf [it] he-”

scho, wenand hat it ware hir man,

hat [sic] spek mad til hyr hane,

sad: “ I wil no^t cume to he,

for sir lonys sone la by me; 640 har-for I wil nocht cum he til,

bot my pewnance here fulfil.”

& has scho had husgat sad,

he takine of he croice scho lade

one hyr; & he but ony mare 645 wanyst away as he reke ware,

& scho wist it wes hyr fa,

hat falsly hyr fandit sa.

3et for he wald hyre str/nth vnkit,

he schupe to fley hyr of hir wit; 650

for-hi in he liykner of wilde bestir mare & les

he gert feyle feyndis har^ apere,

to schot one hyr with fellone here.

& hat feynd hyw-selfe hane 6S5


apperyt as it ware a man

& slaytyt \zim full fello;zly,

& bad ]?ai suld Jzat hure wery.

]?e takine of )>e croice scho mad ay;

& as reke }>ai wanyst away. 660

ane vthyr tyme com hyre by

lyk to knye/zt/i' a cumpany,

& befor ]?ame gazzgand Ipare,

]>e prince of al as It ware;

& al ]>ai knye/ztzk apon kne 665

ennornyt hym, };at scho mye/zt se,

& askyt [at hir] quhy Ipat scho

as )>ai did til hyme, wald noe/zt do.

quod scho : “ I honoure nane

bot god of hewine, my lord ane.” 670

]>ane bad }>e prznce hyr til hyzzz bry«g

Fol. 235 a. & tormezzt hyr sare and dynge.

]>ane at bydyng J>ai hyre befte, & in \>at place nere ded lefte,

& wanyst as rek a-way; 675

& scho recoumt but delay,

ane vthyr tyme scho schaw ly

a lumpe of fyne gold hyre by,

& for Jze sye/zt sanyt hz> sone,

& saw it noe^t, as }>at wes done. 680

ane o]ur tyme as scho sat jzare,

come a man ]?at a skepe bare

fyllyt of met of delyt,

& bad hyr ete Jzare-of tyt,

“for sic met ete ]m nocht are, 685

& oure prince, ]mt gert bet ]?e sare,

[>e sende It, }zat [vnjwittandly

gert ws bet ]>e sa fellouzzly.”

]zane scho hyre saynit but delay;

& J?at fandyng went away. 690


& as scho had sewine jere Jmre

bene in sic wyse, in schawz & car£

in opyfi sy^t, J>at al mycht se,

]>e abbot had of hyr pyte;

& monkfx al of ]?e abbay 695

for hyr teynd/rly can pray.

& he hyr reco«salyt & bror/fct In,

& remytit hyre al hyr syne,

& }>e barne in with hyr take

to lere & set to }>e bake. 700

& jet wes na« be ony siycht

J>at scho wes womaw p^rsawe my^t.

]>e childe jet held scho }>ar£ ay, & fosterit it nycht & day.

J?ane eftyr twa jen? war^ gane, 705 fra scho wes in \c abbay tane,

)>e abbot a monk a day

til hym callit, & can say:

“theodorwr on nyc/fct alane

oysis spekine as It wan? wz't# ane, 710

& I wald wit of quhat thing

pat tyme he makzV his carpyng,

quhethyr be hyw-self ore be wthzV, Fol. 235 6. or gyf it war with ony bruthyn?.

]?ar-for ga }>is nyr^t pr/uely 715

&, pat he spekis & qaham with, espy,

& syne to-morne }m tel me

pc suth, quhat-sa-euzr It be! ”

bane sad he, with gud wil

his byding he suld fulfil. 720

bot god, pat helpis in nede

& for gud dissert gyits mede,

]?at nyn^t of theodera

of his grace disponyt sa,

716. & quhew.


J>at scho p^sauit wele aper^ 725

J»e stond of dede til hyre nere.

for-]?i J>e barne scho tuk htr til,

& kyssit It with gud wil,

& sad: “ dere sone, wit Ini

J>at I mon pas of }?is lyf nou; 730 I>ar-for to god I cowmend J>e,

J>at he ]h helpe & fadyre be.

& I>u til hyme pray Ithandly

& faste, as Jiu ma, gudely,

& to I>is brethyre of Jiis abbay 735

Jiou serwe treuly, I ]ie pray ! ”

& thechand [hym] on ]hs maneri?,

til god scho 3aid }>e gast ry^t j'a.re,

Fourhu[n]d/> ^txis aucht & sewinty

fra god flesche tuk of oure lady.

J>at ilke nycht to he abbote,

hat haly man wes and denote,

a wisione on his manem,

nocht fully slepand, can apem.

he thoo^t in hewine he suld se

a grete brydale grathit be, quhare gad^rit wan; in hat hal

of angelis, pwphet/j, orderis al, & al halowis hat warf,

& a bede in myd hab« ]>a.ve

sa mychty fare & preciuse

hat sic wes neuz> sene in house;

& a womaw yma«g paim al

wz't/z loy wes broe/zt in-[to] hat hal,

hat bricht wes be mazzis syevfct 755

as he son on dais licht,

& bxocht •with blythnes to he bed

& one set, rye/zt wele spred, Fol. 236 a. & men [hir] honouryt, as scho had bene

a ful gret & a ryale queyne.

740

745

75°

760

XXX.—THEODERA.

& a woice sad [til] hyme }>us:

“]ns is >i monk theodorus,

}>at sakles wes for lychery

to Jjc accusit wikitly,

& ]^u sal wit \>e suthfastnes; for scho a werray woma« was.

bot [for] scho fylyt fulely

hyr ma«is bed in adultery,

scho has bene chastit felly here

of }>i bidding sewine 3ere;

for-J^i with god scho has sic grace

as }>u here sene now has.”

& he monk, ]>at wok }>at nyc/it,

com to he abbot at day-lye/zt

& talde like worde playnly

hat he monk sad he barne hym by.

he abbot hane with he cowent

to theodorus cel went,

& cled in til his bed hym fand,

& he barne by hyme gretand. 780

& vncled hyr, as custuwz was,

he ded body for to wesche:

& fand it wes a woma#

]>at sa ga.t had har habit tane,

& tholyt of hyr pacyence 785

]>a.im to do hyr sic offence

but cause, as ]>ai saw in hy. hane send hai til hyre fadz’r by, til hyr fadzr hat gert blame

har monk & say defame,

& bad he suld his douchtzr bryng,

to se hat monkzV enteryng,

& for hyr son to set suw rede,

sen his fadzr hane wes dede.

& as scho com, scho fand onhyd

784. fat sa fat.

121

765

770

77S

795

122

Fol. 236 b.

LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS. \

]>e falset }>at hyr-selwine dide;

& as scho saw ];at, but mure

for wengeance scho jed wode ]>a.re,

& in wrak of hyr fals plicht

deit sodanely in ]>are sicht.

]?ane ware J>ai sa abaisit al

}>at Jus saw, gret and smal;

& al J>at hard Jus, gef lowynge

for his gret mychX. til hewy^is king;

& dout & Dvzstnes greu J>ane

to richtwise & to sinful marl.

J>e angel bad Jre abbot Jrat tyde

J>at he til J>e cite suld ryde,

& quhat man he met,

bad bryng hyw agane but let.

sa met he a man gud-spede,

& askit at hyme quhare he jede.

(\uod he: “my wyfe is dede, I treu,

& I spede me to se hyre now.”

Jrane J>e abbot son hy;;r hjmt

on horse be-hynde hyw/, or he stywt,

& broe/^t hyme oh to Jre abbay,

& led hyme sene quhare scho lay.

Jrane grathit J>ai hyr sepult/zr

w/t/z besynes & gret honours,

& hyr enterit J?ar quhare ay /-v

god for hyr dois miraclis alway;

for ony Jrat ar sek or sare,

to get hele, oft cuzzzmys Jrare.

Jrane hyr husband Juzrchasit hz> cel,

& his lyftyme J>ar can duel,

& sic sendee to god mad Jrane

J?at he wes haldyzz haly man.

& hyr barne Jurt behynd hz> wes,

halely folouyt ewine hz> trace.

821. ay is corrected from pay.


in WT'tuise & in thowis fare

he mychf wele be callyt hz> ayr^, & sa can hyme-selfe leyde

]?at eft/r ]>e abbotzV dede

al f>ai of ]?e cowent

mad hyme abbot of hale assent,

& J>e house sa goumiyt ay

]?at haly is he cowntit to-day.

835

XXXI.—EUGENIA.

NDE sene I haf tald 3011 here

of theodera, to god sa dere,

sume thing ]?at suld mowe womera

to lof god & Jjame-selfe kene,

)>at of paim na vertu base 5

hot It cum of godis grace;

Fol. 237 a. & alsua wele ma we se hou Ipe feynde ma ourcuwzyne be,

be contryt harte & verray schryfte,

]>at be sywnare ma vpe lifte, 10

wzt/i satisfaccfon for ]>e 111

bat he dois his nythboure til;

& takine of be croice verray,

as he seis, [he] fleis away;

na in na place ma he nocM be 15

witA myknes & wrgynite,

& of disese lele pacience

agayne hyme oft makw defence.

& ensampil ma b^i ta

of be maydine Eugenia, 20

bat whA maydinehed & meknes

in hard fandyng pacience was,

& our-com hyme for al his slicht,

& of hewine wan to be licht,

bat god gyfis w/tA glad cher

1. Initial capital wanting.

25

XXXI.—EUGENIA. 125

to \2avi Q>at] tholis for hyme here

ded and persecucione

of il folk or of fellone.

[s]er prethus & lacinctus ware

jung lordis & set to lare 30

in rome w/tA ]?is eugenia,

J>at was of nobil kine alsa.

& ]?ir twa ju«g men Ithandly

studyt in philosophy.

& hyr fadzV, of gret mye^t 35

a senator, ]?at philpe hicht,

to quhawz for his wit & honour

])e hale senat gef ]?e cure

of AlysandzV )>e cyte,

J>ar lutenand j^ar-of to be. 40

for-Ju to J^at cite he went, hat was betacht hy;« a lyf-rent,

& his wyf with hyme can ta,

]?at had to xycht na.m claudya,

& his twa so«nis wise & fare, 45

auyte, he eldaste wes & ayr,

& fergusiuwz, he jongare bruthzr,

he tuk with hyme, ane & vthz’r,

& his dochtzV Evgenia

with hyr brethyre he tuk alsa. 50

fore scho had leyryte be maste part

Fol. 237 b. of he sewine sciens al he harte, & part had of al lateratour—

sa to lere had set hyr cure.

bot for prethus, I spak of are, 55

& lacinctus hir fene ware in study of philosophy,

hai wald noe/zt lefe hyre cuwpany. & to hat scho wes richt wyse

46. anice. 51. leyryste. 56. his fern.


in al science at dewyce, 60

}?ar myr/zt na woma« wysan? be,

na farrare of fasone na of beute,

of gud aport & fare hafinge,

sobyr & wele tacht in spekine,

& fra wnleful luste of flesche 65

sa kepyt hyr in al clennes.

& quhezz scho wes of fy[f]tene ^ere

as abil to be ma;ns fere,

fele mychty men wald haf ben glad

to fere hyr til haf hade. 70

ymazzg ]?e lafe a nobil knye/it,

]>at aquilone to name hicht,

& son wes of a senatoure,

lufyt ]hs maydine pzzramoure;

&, }>at to wed hyr wes hzk wil, 75

he mychty men send hyre til.

J>e quliilkz'i-, quhezz ]zai had tane

J>ar charge, went til hz> on ane

& did ]?are charge cozznandly

til hyr, ]>a\. ansuert wysely, 80

& sad: “ gud men, wit suld je

bat husband suld nocht chosine be

be gret riches na be kyne,

bot gvde thewis ware hyme in.”

3et bane wes scho of paian lay, 85

& al be laf bat I of say,

na knew noo^t \an be suthfast king

bat, as bym lest, mad althing,

bot trewit as bare elderis dide;

fore cure treutht to \aitn wes vnkid. 90

& fore scho had gret delyt

to red bukw & to wryt,

sa hapnyt hyre to rede please

Fol. 238 a. in a buk qu[h]are wrytine was

76. be mychty. 84. ware hyre.

XXXI.—EUGENIA. I27

syndry epistolis of sancte paule, 95

J>at tacht me« to kepe }>e saule.

fra J)ine in thewis & in wil

to crz’stis fay hir hart dreu til; for of clergy be sutelte

hyr thor^t [J?at] J^at treutht best suld be. 100

[o]f alisandzV ner^ ]?e cyte,

quhar^-of her,? mewcion mak we,

a lytil tone wes wele fan?,

quhar cystine men had repan?,

of tholyng of ]?e oure-men, 105

}>at Ipe cite goumiyt ]?ene.

& ydfnvard on a day

scho went, as It ware to play,

& crzstine men )>are can scho here

syngand wzt/2 hey voice & clere: no

“al Jsai ]?at ]?e folk on cal

na godis are bot feyndis al,

bot venay god is }>at mad hewine

& al ]?e warld in dais sewine.”

]?ane sad scho to pr^tho & lacinc: 115

“say me on quhat jje think,”

for )>a.i twa had at study ben

wit/i hyr & [had] mekil sene

}>at suld gere paim of kyndly skil

sone gyf paim ]?e resone til. 120

]>ane sad scho to paim : “ me think we haf bot wastit our swink

In al pat tym we besyly

studit in philosophy;

for tynt tyme is to ta tent 125

til am/<?/les argument,

or of plato [>e sampelere,

or socrotais bydding sere;

for, schortly, quhat poetziy seis,


or far,? spekam o«y-waise, 130

or quhat Jmt ony ma« ca« say,

i« . . . resone is done; away;

& }>ar-for se I clerly now

)>ar is bot a god in to trew.

Fol. 238 b. for-J>i, sen vsurpyt pouste 135

has mad me ^oure lady be, & wisdome me 301m? cistzV mad,

be we J>ane brethyr<? but a-bad

& folow cz'/ste but ony man?,

& trew in-[to] his suthfast lare!” 140

of Jus consel J>ai war.? zwztent

& halely can til hyr? rwzsent

for to fulfil quhat J>at scho

dete/anyt for to byd ore do.

& for scho wald planly apere 145

til al as scho J>am bnzthzV wer?,

a ma«is habit cazz scho ta,

& wz’t/z J>ame til ane abbay ga;

quhar? ane abbot was }?at J>ane

J>ar cum thole wald na womazz, 150

& elenus had til his name,

& man wes of gud fame;

for-J>i thole wald he ne way

wemezz to cuzzz in his abbay.

& he, to defend be resone 155

our treutht, fel in disputaczbn

wz’t/z ane erretike, Juzt richt wise

wes in clergy at dewyse,

Jzat sa.wele schoke Jze abbot, til

be resone of kyndly skyl 160

J>at he had noz'/zt to say nere-hand

agayne his resozznis, al wele ssand.

146. breJizV were. 162. al wele stand.

* MS. A correction has been made here, but it is illegible.

XXXI.—EUGENIA.

for ]>e doctor sais, as we rede,

}>at ]?e treutht ]>3xe has litil mede,

quhar ma«is reson ore wit

gifts ful resone to trow It.

for-}n ]?e abbot, }>at nocht had

to schaw, gert a lyre be mad,

& sad, quhilk of ]?ame jed in

bat fyre & my^t no^t bryne,

al his sawis ware suthfastnes,

& his >at brynt ware, al les.

be abbot bane, to scheld be threpe,

in-to be fyre but mare ca« lepe,

& duelt bar but merryng,

Fol. 239 a. in hyd or hare or in clething,

bot of be fyr come hale & sonde,

& bad be erretik in fonde;

bot he wald noc/it tak sic assay,

bot held his gat wit/i schaw away.

[a]nde quhe« }nre thre, as I sad are,

to bis abbot cuwyne ware, eugenia, bat turnyt had

hyr name & bar-of ewyne mad,

requeryt hyme for cheryte

be abit & in be house entre. be abbot sperit: “ quhat art bu ? ”

“a ma«,” sad scho, “as je se now.” q?W he: “ bu ma wele cal be ma«,

for, bo bu be a woma«, ma«lyk ar bi dedis al;

barfor a ma« bu ma be cal; ”

for god had schawit hyw quhat scho

wes; bar-for sa sad he hyre to.

bane ewyne & bir 3ung twa

be monkw abit bai can ta, & scho gert al men trew but wene

VOL. 11.

129

!65

170

I75

180

185

190

!9S


}>at ewyne hyr na?« had bene.

& ]?ane J>ir thre co^u^rsit swa,

fra ]?ai caw J>e habit ta, 200

]jat to J^e abbot )>ai ware dere,

& thankful to J>e laf, but were,

for in \zxm wes humylyte,

& kepyt \z\vi clene in al degre,

na wald haf na pweperte, 205

al-set }>ai ware of hee degre \

& to \2se ourmew but offence

kepyt wele obedyence,

& renowcyt ay }?ar fre wil,

]>q mar thankful to be god til, 210

& abstinence oysyt mare

bane in rewile )>&\m gyfine ware;

sa bat bai ware be mast parfyt

bat in bis house bare habyt.

[h]yr fad/w ba«, bat wes at hame, 215

for his douchtz> mad gret mane,

& soroful nycht. and day

for his dochtzV wes a/»ay;

Fol. 239 b. bot bane bat fyrst he mad care, quhew he saw cum ham hir chare, 220

& quhew hyre chawnw wast saw he,

quhare welthi wes scho wont to be,

wes na maw cuth tel quhat wa

he had, & his wyf alsa.

& fergius als & auyte 225

had for bare cist/r mykil syt,

bat wes a-way, bai ne wist quhe]w>, wit/i prethus & lacinctwr to-gydd/r,

bat michty ware & of best kine,

duelland bat ty;w rome wft^-in.

& hyre fad/r send to spere

218. wes away.

230


tythand of hyr<? in land^V ser<?,

hechtand reward quha mycht bring

of hyr til \\ym cetane tything.

bot quhen ]?at al }>at furth wer send, 235

had so^t a hale ]ere til ende,

]?ai fand hyr,? no^t, bot com agane

& tynt pa.r£ trawale in-to wane.

It nedis nocM to recorde here

J>e dole, ]>e soroful & ewil chere, 240 }?at hyr fadz> can for hz'r ma,

hyr modz> & hz> brethzV twa.

J^ane gert he divynourzV bryzzg,

hat knawlag had in althing,

& pnzyt hai;;z increly 245

hat hai wald trzzwale besyly

of his doucht/r to get wityng,

& hare-of tel hym gud tything.

& hai went furth, &, Ipar craft don,

Come til hyme agayzz rycAt sone, 250

& sad hat goddis had hz> tane

& yma«g he sterr/r wzt/z hir gane.

for-hi hyre faddz> but a-bad ane ymage of hyre gert be mad,

& gert al he had in cure 255

do ilke day hare-to honoure,

& hat suld be bath mare & les

ryc/it as til a godes.

bot ewyne & hyr fern twa

in-to he purpos hai can ta, 260

perseveryt stalouartly,

Fol. 240 a. & semit to god Ithandly;

sa hat, quhezz he abbot wes dede,

ewyne chosine wes in hzr stede;

& sa wele gouernyt he houfi ]>a.n 265

hat thankful wes to god & ma;z.

232. thytand of.


of alysandzV in cyte

]?at tyme a matrone cuth be,

fayr, nobil, & of gret kyne,

habuwdand of warldis wyne, 270

& to name had mela^ceane;

& with fel feOTys wes oure-tane,

]?at trawalit h/r hard & hat,

& of strmthis mad hyr mat.

bot alsone scho herd tel 275

]?at in sic ane abbay can duel

a ma« Jmt ewyne had to naw,

a ma« reput of gud fame,

J>at he mycht helpe hyre of }>at II,

gyf hy»z lykit to cu;« hyre til. 280

& scho, J?o scho payane wes,

trawalit ydd/r noe/zt-]?e-les,

& prayt hyme pzrrcheryte

to remed hyr Infyrmyte,

wenand scho ma« had bene 285

in-to sic abit cled vnclene.

& scho, }>at )>an }>ar can apere in habit as a monk scho were,

gert bryng oyle & It blissit sone,

& in a host it gef hyr sone, 290

& bad hyr ]?are-w/t/z pas hz> way,

& anoynt hyre but delay.

& as scho bad, scho has scho don,

& p«rfyt heile par-of gat son

of }>e fel fevyr scho had tane, 295

]?at callit is ]?e quartane.

)?ane send scho sere presenU's gret

of gold, siluz>, wyne, & quhet, to ]?e abbot of ]?at abbay,

quhaz«-of before ^e herd me say; 300 bot he }>ar-of tuk na thing,

272. fel febrys. 295. fel febyr.


bot bad pe matron jeld lowing

to god, quhow thru scho gat heile,

Fol. 240 A & hauld at hame hyr warldw wele.

[]>]is matron p&n my^t nomar<? 305

wald suw tyme to J>e abbay far^,

& wd/j }>e abbot gladly meile,

& jeld of[t] thank of hyre heile,

womaw pocht scho cane be,

wenand at a ma^ was he; 310 quhare thru sic luf scho kist til

hyme, pat to syn w/t/z \\ym scho had wil

in lustful delyt of flesch;

sa vnreulyt hyr wil wes.

& to fulfil hyr fals desyre, 315

scho brynt as scho had be« in tyre,

& socht ay oportunyte

how it mycht fulfillit be.

J>ane fenjeit scho hz> sek & sarq

& for sic cause mad gret cam, 320

& to pe abbot, J?at wes meke,

send to tel quhou scho wes seke,

& for his awne godis sak

reqmyt hym he wald on hand tak

to vysit hyrd of his gud wil, 325 sen scho mycht nocht trawel \\ym til.

& ewyne, pat dressit hy;/z to be

ay in parfyt cheryte,

grantyt [it], & passit hyr til

for til helpe [hir] in'gud wil; 330

& wes resawit reuerently,

& to [>e matron brorv^t in hy

wzt/z-in curtenjeis til hz> bede,

hat richely wes pan oum-sprad.

hane he matron takine can ma,

hat gert hyr men of chaumzr ga; 335


& fra scho p^rsawyt )>at,

J>e monk in armys son scho gat,

& mad of hyme, m gud wil hyr wrechit jarny^g to fulfil, 340

& let hyme wit but [mare] abade

quhat passand luf til hywz scho had,

& prayt hyw for to ly

)>ane in-to bed hyr by,

ore ellis myr^t scho noe/it be hale 345

Fol. 241 a. of hyr seknes, but end in bale. & fra ]?e abbot vtrely

per saw it hyr wil, in gret hy

gat oii his fete & stert hz'r fra,

& lewit lyand in mekil wa, 350

hafand at hyr gret wlatsuzzmes,

fra he wist at hyr wil was,

& sad: “ J>u, ]?at doutto na schavz,

melazzcia has wele to name;

]?at is to say, of wikitnes 355

fillit of fule myrknes.”

& quhezz scho schaw [J?at] scho wes sa

refusit, scho can sorou ma,

& dred discouerit to be

of hyr wgly Iniquite. 360

Jjar-for scho thor^t wele to wricht

in hyme hir wikitnes alsuyth,

& plenje on hyme, or he had

til ony of hyr rew/plant mad. for-J>i hyr face scho skratit ]jare, 365

& of hyre hewid rugit }>e hare,

& dayng hyr-self mouth & nesse,

til athyre of J?ame bludy wes;

& ]?ar-wzt/z crz'yt increly,

til hyr men3e com in hy,

& franyt [at] hyr quha durst do

351. gret walatsuwnes.

37°


sa outrageouse a scorn hir to.

}>ane sad scho: “behald & se

hou-gat jone monk has graph me, paf for I wend he had bene lele, 375

gert hym cum her,? me for to heile,

as he com? befor ]?is did;

bot he is wolf in la;/zskine hyd,

& ful verray ypocme,

to syne with me haffand delyt 380

had me felly diffulyt now,

as be pruff je ma wele trew,

had I no?/zt pe mar? stalouartly

helpyt my-self & can cry.”

w/t/z pat scho gert cal hir chaum?rer, 385

& bad hyr say []?at] scho wes ner?,

quhen }>e monk assal^eit sa

Fol. 241 b. hyr laydy par for ned to ta, & sa gat scho fals witnes

agayne pe monk, pat wes sakles; 390 for nedly scho wald haf hym schezzt,

for he wald no?/zt til hyr consent.

& wrytine is in pe haly wryt,

& we mone treu pat suth is It,

pat na s?^pent har a hed sa fel, 395

sa venamuse, na sa cruel,

as pe hed of }>e colubre is, na is na wikitnes I-wyse

as is }>e ewil of pe -woman, quhar? scho wald wezzgeazzs be tan, 400

as mezz may in genesys

ensampil se pat [suth] It is,

of loseph, pat cuth no?/zt bewar?

wz’t/z pe wikit wyf of putefer?,

pe quhilk, for he ne wald ly hir by, 405

gert hyme be tane falsely

375. l>er for. 395. na serpent had. 397. as he hed.


& haldine lang in-to preson

thru hyr wikit suggestione;

bot lord god sa did of his pyte,

}>at lord of egype syne wes he. 410

ane vthyr ensampil ma we ta,

to schaw bat weme« ar thra

one hyme ]?a.t wil no^t do per wil,

to vengeance paim agane skil,

be pe wyf of be erwperome 415

Oto, bat wes predecessoure

of be gud emp^oure he^ry,

bat first wes duk of barz'ary.

wit A emperoure oto wes bane

ane erle bat wes a far.? man, 420

quhaw for beute & waloure

be empr/ce luffit pa^amour^,

sa fer^, bat scho prayt hyme

bat he wald flescly with hir syn;

& he, bat lele wes til his lord, 425

be na way wald bar-to [a]cord,

&, quhew it com to poynt, sad: “ na,”

& with hyr magre passit away.

& scho, bat wes refusit sa,

sone gert be lord be Berle ta, 430

Fol. 242 a. & but forsicht ore ony rede at hyr tysing gert hym vnhed,

& he sakles neu/r-be-les,

as eftyr-wart wele kend was.

for, quhe/2 he had wes for to sla, 435

he bad his wyf, bat mad wa,

bat scho suld pwfe, as be law wes,

he to ded wes put saklas.

for-bi, quhew he wes put to dede, his wyf a-way wane with pe hed,

& held it, til cesar gert mak

418. barbary.

440


set day quhe/z he for godis sak

suld ger al wrangfj mendyt be, ]mt twechit o\ir land or see,

}>ane nawly it ]>aX raycht ryne 445 til wydow or til orphanyne.

for-bi be wedou wald no^t be b^e, & be hede w/t/z hyr bror^t,

& to cesare it schawit son,

& askit [hyme] quhat suld be don 450

of hyme bat sleu a saklas maw.

& he, as rychtwyse, dome gef )>a.n

bat he suld de quhat-euz> he ward?.

& sad scho: “ it is jou, cesare,

bat but cause gert my hwsband sla, 455

as I sal pmve It is alsa

be lugmewt of yrne hat.” bazz wes bro<r/zt pare a lang plat

of fyftene fute of lynth & mar*?,

& scho on it wzt/z fet bare 460

but abaysing it ouremet,

vnhurt or hafand ony lat.

& quhew cesar bat sene had,

he wes anoyt, & but bad

hyme-self bar gef be widou til 465

to be punyst at hyr wil.

bane al bat ware in be sted

thoe^t law ware to put hywz to ded. nochi-pan bai ordenyt gret landzV to bet

be schath; be quhilkw are ?et, 470

& hafis nawz b^-of be ton & tone,

of be ded in to mencione.

bazz can be empez'oure ^zzdf-sped

be suthfastnes spere of bat ded,

Fol. 2423. & fand his wyf gert hyme sla. 475 bar-for son gert he hyr ta,

454. & sad sad scho. 455. hasband. 473. cuth sped.


& bryne ]?ar in til a fyre,

for Justice, & nockt for Ire.

& Jus case (yd nyne huwdreth ^er^

eftyr cmt ome flesch tuk here, 480

foure score & four 3ere bar-til.

& ensampil quha-sa wil,

ma tak wele be theodera,

bat for lyk cause tholit wa,

as me« ma se in be next tale 485

here-befor contenyt hale.

bot sample wil I tel no ma,

for dout Werner cal me ]>a.r fa.

bot a thing sa I noe/zt-be-les.

quhezz ony weme« wil hz> dreft 490

to do ocht, be It neuz> sa 11,

scho sal nane ey haf reson til

bot in h/r-selfe bryne as fyre,

til scho eschewe of hyr desyre,

hafand na ey to godis blame 495

na to cozzsel of gud fame,

as til pflrele can apere

til hyr or til hz> frend/e nere,

or jet of lyf ore of ded,

of saule or body but remed, 500

bot at bat al til end be broe/fct,

quhare-oh sadly scho settzV thoe/zt;

& sufranely a-beowe althing,

quhezz wemezz settzk hz> lykyne

of ony mazz, hyme to wyne 5°5 In sic degre wz‘t/z hyr to syne,

gyf he ne wil consent hz> til,

fra scho haf lattyzz hyz/z wzV hir wil,

wes neuz> lenx b^t schuttzV fyre,

mare fulfillit of breth & yre, 510

quhezz hz> qwhelpis ar tazz hz> fra,

479. cud nyne. 487. tel nomare.


to chas J>e takam, }>aiwz to sla,

]?a« scho sal be to purches II

til hyme ]?at denyit hz> wil.

[r]icht sa tyd of melancia, 515

quhe« scho wes refusit sa, & thru hyr my^t durst do na II

Fol. 243 a. bot be law Jus abbot til,

went to }>e lug & playnt mad

of )>e abbot, ]>at na wit had, 520

Jjat in hyr bed he ca;z hyre oure-ta,

& mad hyr sa bludy & bla,

& skratit hz>, & befte als,

& held hyr sa fast in J>e hals

]?at, had no<r/zt helpe cuwyne hz> til, 525

he had hz> wonnyn at his wil,

bot scho sa fast can 3d & cry

]>at hyr smiandis com in hy,

bat gert hyme fle away h/r gat

& lewit hz> )>ar mad & mat; 530

& 3et, had nozr^t helpe bene

of hz> chaum^rare b^t it had sene,

he had eschewit of his wil or ony helpe had cuwzyne hz> til.

for-bi, scho sad, men suld noo^t treu 535 to be wikit mezz bat pradiis now

be lar of Iheru crist, bar lord,

fra quhais theching bai discord,

gyf It be suth bai of hym say

bat rychtwisnes he tacht al-way. 540

& phil[i]p, bat pmvest wes

of alysandzr, fra he bis case

herd, he wes ful wrath,

& men of arrays send ful rath,

& zw/zmand[it] \>aim bai suld ta

520. of t>e )>e abbot. 545


■with his fern eugenia

& bynd ]>axm fast, but audiens,

& bryng J>ame son til hfr presens;

fore he wes fla;//myt as of fyre.

j>ocht he wes fadfr & syre 550

of eugenia, he wend but wene

}>at he )>a.n a monk had bene;

for his douchtfr he treuyt ay

but recoup had bene a-way.

])er armyt men ]>an but delay 555

held par gat to ]?e abbay,

& tuk pe abbot, & hy;« band & al l?e monkw pai with Yvym fand,

& harlyt pa\m dispytuisly

til alysandz> in gret hy, 560

Fol. 243 b. & par in presone can ]?ame thring

of be prefet at be bydyng

to nest day of lugment,

in hope bat bai suld be schent.

& quhew bai come, he gert set 565

be stule of luge in be merket,

& sat bar, law to do,

& gert be monkw bryng hym to,

bat ordenyt had, ore he com pare,

pat pe abbot for-out mam 570

wyld bestw suld be gyfyn til,

til ete & Ryfe of hym bam fil. mela«cia, bat wes nocht swem

to wre be abbot, ca?i apem,

& sad: “sir luge, do me rycht 575

of bis fals monk, b^t of hfr sly^t

bat in my chawm/r gylfully

ewyne to my bed, quham I can ly,

for til differs [me] at his wil.” 5^°

580. his wily.

XXXI—EUGENIA. 141

& gretand fast record[yt] part

hyr playnt, as }e herd me sa are.

)>e luge pan pat wes angry,

sad to he abbot fellonly :

“say, wikyt ma?z & ypocryte, 585

hat coufrtly has pat habyt

tane, pat Qm] mare couertly

may gere leile folk in he affy,

& sa betrese paim thru slicht,

quhat suld pu. do, & hu had myrv&t? 590

say, wikit wrech, of bou«te bar^,

of cmte, 30ur^ god, is hat he lar^

hat he tacht 30U, to be bowne

to fyle 30U of corrupcione ? quham-for, monk, poc/it it lykft he 595

to fyle pi flesch in sic degre,

a cowmowne woma/2 byrd wel gan

to he, pat pu put nocht hi payne

for wa^tones of pi foule cors

gentil weme« til difforse. 600

for-hi me think wod he wen?, hat wald trew in youre cristis lare.

& hu vtitA his dede is wele taynt,

pat makw na ansuerf to pis plant.”

eugenia had suw dele aw, 605

hat hyr fadz> har suld hz> knaw. Fol. 244 a. for-hi done scho held he hed mar^,

& murly mad sic ansuere: “ crz'ste, ourfi lord, hat lowit ay be,

tacht his men to luf chastite, 610 & til his smiandis hat per flesch

for his sak kepis in chastines,

but ende lyf in his lestand blis

sal gyf, hat he has dicht for his,

hat is sa gud hat na man may 615

584. & to J>e abbot. 598. to }>e J>o |m.


think it in hart, na tong say.

& thoofo ]hs woma« wele ma we prtfwe fals & felloe for to be,

better is we thole ]?is lytil bla;«

J>a« ]?at scho de wit/i lestand schaw; 620

for, gyf }>e suth til hir scheu we,

scho wat wele scho ma punyst be

bot ]>e med of ouxe pacience

we wil noir/zt tyne in ]>\ presence.

no^t-^ane, gyf scho has witnesing 625

of byre cowtrowit fals lesyng,

lat hyr ger<? ])ai;« hem apem,

[l?at] \>axe fals witnes we ma hem;

for cfrtis, had scho dred schame,

scho & hym witnes warn at haw.” 630

[mjelancia, as wikyt woma«,

hym chameram had redy

]>at fals witnes caw hem bem,

as scho befor til hir cane lem,

word be word, & lew/t no^t, 635

fom ]?at thank get scho thocht.

& hym famyle mam & les,

as ]?ai warn tacht, bam fals witnes,

sayand ]?ai fand hym in hir bede

wele nem smoryt & for-blede. 640

eugenia a tyme stud stil,

til scho []?e] luge saw in wil

to gyf a-gane hir fel sentence,

bot scho J?e sonam mad defence;

]>zn [sad] : “ as J?e wyse ecclesyastes 645

sais in his buk forout les

rycht in to ]?e thred chapytem,

recordand ]?am of tymys sem,

}>at tyme is to hald mew stil,

618. fals & fals & fellow.


& tyme als to spek w/tA skyl. 650

bot now to be stil tyme is no^t,

Fol. 244 b. sene to spek I ame besocht; ]?are-for ma I no^t be styl,

suppos ]?ar<?-to I haf wil,

bot, for I ne wil ]>zs wyf but schazzz 655

in crzstis semandis set sic blame,

I mon spek now, & nocAt fore przde,

bot for I wil falsede vnhyd;

& J>at falsat nocht loysit be

fore til ourcuw }?e verite, 660

bot at wysdome ourcuw ma

malyce, J>e suth now I wil say, ]>ocht me ware lath it com ])ar-to

gyf I mye^t ony bettzV do,

bot fore to put men out of dout 665

}?at I ame crisiis vndz'Houte,

&, as he tacht me, ay my flesch

has kepit jet in-[to] clezznes,

& fore }>at cause tuk ]>zs habit,

& oocht as dois ane ypocrz'te.” 670

wzt/z ]?at scho kest ]?e cule away

& scapelry but delay,

& raf hyre kyrtil til hzV kne,

}>at al Jzare opynly myckt se

]?at scho werray wes woma^e. 675

&, ]jat doh, helyt hz> lycame,

& to ]?e prefet )>at had sene

of }?is ]>e suthfastnes mith ene, sad: “ fadzV dere, gud tent ]m ta

to J>i douchtzr eugenia, 680 & claudya, ]?at is ]>e by,

}>at bare me of hz> awne body,

& auytus, my bruth/r dere, & fergius, }>at is his fere—

650. & til als.


for joure cystz> kene je nocht me, 685

& \ire twa, }>at wont warn to be,

pratho & lacinctz/j, in study

•wit/i me lerand besyly?

bot je myskene ws now al thre.

}>am-of ferly gret think me.” 690

}>e luge }>ane tuk gude tent

til hyn? ]?at had hyre kirtil re«t,

& increly beheld hyre face,

& knew wele scho his dochtzV wes,

& of J?at sicht wes ry^t blyt/z, 695

& hynt hyre in his armis suyt/z

& kissit hym of[t] and gret

Fol. 245 a. J>at he had witA his douchtzV mete. & scho gret als, fore ]?ai warn

in erroure }>ane as J?ai ware are. 700

& hyr modz> & brethyre twa,

fra ]?ai kneu eugenia,

gat hyr^ in [J^ar] arrays suyth,

& kissit hyr a huzzdreth sith,

&, as hyr fadz'r did, cazz gret 705

for loy Jzai can wz’t/z hz> met;

be-cause na mazz durst jzaizzz kene

be suthfast treutht of cz'zstine mezz.

Jzane hynt Jmi hz> oii hicht alsone,

& cled hyr wele forout howne 710

in clath, dyopret of gold fyne—

for cuzzzyne scho wes of nobil lyne—

furrit wit A ermyzz fare & clene,

as scho douchtzz* ware of a quene.

& pz'zztho & lacincto, bat ware

hyr ferze ay at be lare

& with hyr had be abyt tane,

hyr fadz’z- hynt baizzz, ore he fane,

& be hyme-self set on hicht,

686. & ]>er« twa.

7*5


& honoryt \2\n1 as men of myc/it. 720

J?ane in presence of paim al ]?at pare ware gadryt, gret & smal,

a blese of fyre as brynstane bla

Come of pe hewine one melawcia

& byre mocbV, pat fals witnes 725

bare, & byre famile mare & les

brynt sodenly in poud/r smal,

thru godis vengeance, seand al.

hyr fad/r bane, pat has sene

sic wondz> wroe/A be-for his eyne, 730

& his wyf, & his soraiis twa

eei«uertyt to cHste wzt^ al ]?ai

& al bat of bat cu«ctre ware,

bat saw bis ore of It myc/it here.

bane wes kirkze mad ful fele 735

be paim pat becu»/yne ware lele,

& vntreu ware cu»zand ay

as bai durst to cristis fay;

& prest/e als ware mony made,

to baptyse bame but abade. 740

Fol. 245 b. [a]nd quhene to rome fra alysazzdzV

Come word as for sclandyr

of philpe, bat cuwzyne wes erhtyn man

wz't/z bame he had in ledyng pan,

& bat he tholyt bat cunctre 745

to cr/stine treutht vnd/Hout to be,

bai reputyt \rym as mazz vnwise

til hyzzz til haf ony office.

for-bi ordenyt bo senat to degrad hyme of his stat, 750

sene bat he changzt has h/r ryt;

& bar-apone gert til hyz« wryt

& hyme depz-zwit but abade

of office, & ane vthire made. VOL. 11. K


& he J>are-of ful glad Jmt he 755

fore cmtis sak mycht lawit be.

for he office & signery

germ men mysdo cowmonly;

& als men seis ]?ere master-men

for hey estate ^aiw-self myske«, 760

& hey estate and humylyte

in a persone seldine se we.

]?ar-for he lowit godis mycht,

pat hyme remowit fra sic hicht.

& pan al }>at cowuertyt ware 765

to cr/st, tuk hyme but ony mare,

& ordenyt hyme bischope to be

in godis name of pat cunctre.

pan he be-com ane vthz'r mane

pan he befor wes, fra ]?ane. 770

he gef hyme hale to abstinence

& to thole wrang -with pacience,

& schupe hyme Ithandly to be

in-to chaste lyf & cheryte,

in-to pray ere & wakkyne, 775

& to spend his tyme in pz-echizzg.

& ay he first did in gud wil

It at he prechit vthyre til,

sa ]?at his ded sample suld gefe

to subditfr hou pai suld lyf, 780

& perseueryt Jmre-in ay

of his lyf to ]?e last day;

& sa to god ful mony man

thru ded & lare in his tym waa,

quhare-at Ill-trewand had i«wy 785 Fol. 246 a. pat he lefit sa wertuisly.

& for he wes fra pare ryte gane

& crzstine lacht til hym had tane,

])ai waytit hym with gret lasere,

757. for )>e office & signery.


& fand hyme makand his prayers 790

kneland : & J?are-in ca« hy;« take,

& a martir of hyme cane make,

to god to be sacrifice ful thankful for his smiice.

[q]wene he wes dede, }>a# claudya 795

to rome a-gayne hir way ca« ta,

& cmtine fay \>axe opynly

prechit ful wele & thriftly,

& godis word sa wele schew J>are

to J>ame ]?at vncmtine war<?, 800 & it )>at scho in worde prechit

sa douchtly in dede scho dede,

J>at thru }>e grace of god scho wa«

to cystine treutht mony ma«,

& happely mad syne endynge, 805

as eftz> wrytine je sal fynde.

the fame of gud evgenia

wes sa fare sprede to & fra,

Jsat word come to be emperoure

hou besyly scho set hyre cure 810

to peruert be folk away

fra be treuth Jmi trewit ay,

“bat scho gert mony fal fra, for quheh of paim defence can ma,

& forcze hyre faste to preche 815

a new lare & It to teche

of ane I hem of galyle,

bat lowis hangit on a tre,

bat scho sais god is anerly,

& nane vthyre, in til affy.

for-bi and scho be tholit lang, scho sal do til oure godis wrang,

821. for-J)i pan.

820


sa outrageouse, ]>at na« sal do honours na reu^ence pa.im to,

na jet sal no^t in al ]>e land

of cure godis a tempil stand. ]?an?-for, lorde, we jow rede

]>at je be tyme se for remede,

Fol. 246 b. & bat but bad be lachtful dome

of al be senatoum of rome.”

be empmxire bat bis worth wrath, & callit his consel til hym rath,

& askyt [bame] quhat wes to do

bar-of. & bai ansuert hym to,

bat to sla hyr wes mast spede;

“for, and scho lifit, scho suld lede

in-to mys-treutht sa mony men

bat bare godis bai sal myske«;

& hettir is scho de alane

ba« vengeance be of mony tane.”

be empireure co«sentit sone,

&, as bai co^selit, has done,

bane tormentoum socht hir & fand,

& band hyr bath fut & hand,

& til hyr nek, on? bai fayne,

bai band faste a gret mylsta«,

& in-to tybre syne hir swang,

for scho to bare godis did wra«g.

bot bare men mycht se godis mycht

done opynly in mawis sycht-,

fore, in be riuere quhe^ scho

wes castine, mony gowand to,

hyr band lousit but delay,

& be gret mylsta^ fel away,

& scho cane one be watzV stand wpe-richt, as It ware on dry land,

& bar a quhile jede to & fra.

832. wrath.

XXXI.—EUGENIA. I49

bot men eftsone can hyr ta, & band hyr bath fut & hande,

& put hyr in ane oyne br/nande. 860

bot, as scho ]>er-m wes done,

J?e fellone het wes sta«ch/t son,

& scho vnharmyt, J?at al has sene,

as scho in softe bath had bene;

for It cuth hire wele refresche, 865

suppos it hat-brmand was,

as Jjame tho^t, to ma«is sicht;

sa opynly god kythit his mycht

in hyr ]?at wes hale & fere,

]?at J^ai wend war ded but were. 870

Fol. 247 a. jet tuk hai hyr & band agane,

thinkand to put hyre to new payne,

& kyst hyr in a depe dongeone,

fore til eke hyre cowfusione,

& closit it sa wele w/t^ slicht 875

}>at entre mycht na-kyne \ycht,

but met ore drink, II ore gude,

ore ocht ]?at suld be ma^is fude.

bot god gert pare licht leyme,

wes clerare pan pe so«nis beyme. 880

& quhew pat scho had ben tene days in pat presone, as pc buk sais,

wit/i multitud of sanctfy sere,

god til hyre [Jar] cane apere,

& gef hyre brede bath fare & fres, 885

quhytare pan euir snaw was,

& sad: “ of my hand tak }?is fude,

J>at I gyfe )?e, my douchtfr gude!

for I ame god, pi saweoure,

pat pu to serwe did al pi cure 890

& lufit me oure al warldz’j thing,

quhare-in juzzg men has lyking.

J>ar-for I cum to tel pe


J?at }?u sal cum J>at day to me

)>at I til erde come fra hewyne.” 895 ]?am-for one julday next ewine

J>ai send to se gyf scho lyfande

wan?; & jet ]?ane in lyf h/r fande,

farrar<? }>ane scho fede bene hade

with be beste met euz> ma« made. 900

be basam }>un, bat had na dout

of god, son hynt hyre owt,

& strak hyr nek son in twa, & a martir mad of hyr swa

to [god], bat tuk hyre til his blis, 905

quhare-at he euz> duelland is.

& bat houre forout were,

bat scho wes slane, scho cun apere

til hyr modzV, & sad bat scho

be next sonday suld cum hir to, 910

in-to loy ay lestande [to] duell, Fol. 247 b. bat hou gud is, ca« na mun tele.

& bar-eftyr be next sonday,

quhene claudia in prayer lay,

sodendly be geste scho jalde, 915

bat god resawit in his halde.

thane pr<?thus & Iacinctz« alsa,

bat wald nocht lef eugenia

fore wele na way b^t bai had sene,

for bai hyre falowis had bene, 920

ware tane, fra to dede scho wes don,

& to be tempil bai \\ar\yt ]>a.\m son, bat bai thru bare pnzyere gert fal with bare ydolis in poudz> smal.

ba« bai bat puim broe/$t ware way, 925

quhezz bai bare templis saw fal swa;

noe/zt-bane bai sad: “gyf je wil

902. som.

XXXI—EUGENIA. 15 I

mak sacrifice our/? godis til

& lew joure wikit sorcery

quhare-in sa mekil }e affy, 930

jet sal men thole 3<?u life & gret riches alsa j<9u gyfe,

for-cause je ar^ of nobil kyne,

& je wil of joure errour/? blyne.”

]jane ansuert J>ai in a woyce: 935

“we trew in god J>at deit on croice,

& for his sak are in gud wil

to thole quhat ded }>at 30U wil; for sacn’fy sal we neuzVmare

til ydolis, J>at bot dewilis a.re.” 940

J>ane wikit men paim can tak,

& in sondzV J>are nek/r strak.

& pai be pe reknyne of rome

fulfillit sa par marlirdome

fra god tuk flesch of oun? laydy 945

twa hundir jere sex & fyfty.

^ar<?-for I pray pir sanctzk seri?

pat [pai] to pray now be nocht swere

for ws, pat we of lyf ma twy«


929. & lewit. 95°

XXXII.—lUSTIN.

Fol. 248 a.

E takyne of ]>e verrzy croice

ws by[r]d to luf in hart & voice, quharc-oh Ih«u cn'ste cane hynge

of fre wil, for our^ ra^so^nynge,

& thru ]?at croice mad vnd/rloute

]?e feynd, }>at alme« aw to dout,

sa }>at, quham-[sa]-euir^ he

Ipe takyne of ]>e croice ma see,

he ma« fle nedway magre his; for ]?at takine sa red he is. nocht anerly be cr/stine men

]?at he is red ])am-for, we kene,

bot be ]?e low forout nay,

]?at in feld chapel lay

ourtane be m<?rknes of nycht,

& of sa feyle fendis hade sicht,

}>at for rednes he wes nem wod;

bot ]?ane, for ]?e takine of }>e rud

he mad on hyme, as he had sene

cmtine men, ]>a.t rud had bene,

& thoo^t he vntrewful was,

;et wes he sawit no^t-J?e-les.

& a[l]s It may be brocht to mynd

of ysachiel in ]>e nynd chapiter, quhare-in men may

J^e vertu of J>e croice werray.

1. First letter wanting.

5

10

15

20

25

XXXII.—IUSTIN. 153

bot, []jo] bat it be gud to here,

It is lang & I ame suere.

& als )>are-[of] is mad me;zcione

in lewint distincc/on 30

of ]>e decre for-out were

in be sext chapitere.

& als of bat takine ma we In be fynding of it-self see,

hou ewzstantyne had ouramyne 35

of bat takine be be schewynge.

be quhilk to wryt here lef I,

for it is a wele lang story.

& in be exaltacione

of be croice is mad me/zcione 40

hou eraclius be emperoure

of be croice thru be fygure

be son of cosdre slew in ficht,

noe^t-gandsta«dine his gret mye/zt, Fol. 248 b. & cosdre hyme-selfe syn slew he; 45

& syne eftz> be croice wane he.

bot to here it ware delyte,

bis story ware lang to wryt.

crystofer & theodera

to bis a verra prewe ma may, 50

bat bar is na defence sa gude

as is be takine of be rude,

as I sal here by a tale tel

of a maydine hou it befel

bat sere feyndis chasit hz> fra, 55

& be self master-fend alsa,

bat to fande hir did per myedt,

bot of bat takine be be sye/zt.

[I]N antioche duelland wes a mazz of richt gret riches,

47. bot ]>ocht it here.

6


& of J^ar prestede he had hade,

hot semice til ydolis he made.

& had a docht/r farly faym,

]?at wes his an^Hy aperand are,

of fasone & of colours bricht, 65 & to name lustine hicht.

scho had in-to custume ay

in hir windou sit ilke day,

)>at wes J>e cowzmone stret wel nem.

sa hapnyt hz'r a tyme til here 70

a cm tine dekine, }>at prely hicht,

tel ser tails of godis micht,

]?at warn wrytine in ]>e ewazzgel.

& quhe« scho lesnyt had a quhile,

be helpe of hyme & godis grace 75

conaertit to }>e treutht scho wes.

bot J>at scho held as pmiete,

abydand oportunyte

til scho J>e sacrament my<r/zt tak,

}?at cristi's douchtzr suld hyre mak. 80

bot Jmt wes noc/it sa przuely

na it wes persawit in hy. }>are-for hyre fadz> can hir wit

gretly \>a\. scho lefit his ryt;

for hir modzr tald hym hou scho 85

wes I hem cmte cozzuertit to.

In ]>e next nicht eftzV \ay

Fol. 249 a. slepand in bed sawmyne lay, Iheeu cmte wztA angelis sere

to ]?ame half slepand can apere, 9°

& sad to \a\m: “ cuz«ys to me now, & hewins blis I sal gyf ?ow.”

& ]?ai of J>at avisione

fayne ware, & syne to treu bone.

& quhezz ]?ai rase, but abade

w/t/z a douchtzV ]>at J>ai hade

95

XXXII.—IUSTIN.

J>ai cowu^tit, & baptyme tuke

at fonstane, as sais j>e buke,

& ware in cystine treutht parfyte

& of payanis lewit ryte.

]>ane wes duelland in ]?at tone

a ma« ]?at was of II renowne,

& cypr/ane to name he lacht,

& fra fyfe 3cm he wes tacht

in ]?e lam of nygramancy

& in J>e lam of sorcery;

for his kyne in his 3outhede

to serwe }>e feynd hym offerit hade. }>ar-for be his nygramancy

he wald wirk mony ferly,

as to gem a -woman apem as scho ane wgly gillet wem;

& he wald gem a woman wene

)>at a man woma« had bene.

& shot tyme apem wald he

quhat kynd of foule hy»z lykit to be,

& translat hyme as hyme thorv^t. in craftzr sem sic thing he wxocht

for to dissawe mon slichfully

thru deylis crafte & sorcery. '

& J>is Iusty« \an for hym beute

sa increly lufit he,

J>at he ne mo^t h/r luf for-ga,

as hyme tho^t, for wele na wa, bot brynt in ]?at fel desyr

ner-hand as he warn in fym. for quhat-sa beste lykw hyme

]>at sic wodnes byggw in, Fol. 249 b. hyme thinkis beste quhat-sa it be,

to na resone haffand ey.

a feynd ]>ane til hyme can he cal,

& his 3arnyng tald [hyme] al,

155

100

ioS

110

”5

120

125

130

LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS. IS6

J>at a madyne sa he lofit ]?at he myckt noc/tt be remowit,

]>o scho had tane crzstine fay, 135

}?at he to werray schupe hy#z ay,

& askit hyme gyf he mocht

mak hyr til his wil be brocht.

J>ane sad he: “ is pare no^t ellis

bot J>is pat }>u to me tellis 14°

quham-for pu me trawalw now?

for, war ]m wyse, ]m suld trew

pat I myr^t gem ]?e wele eschewe.

wald pu think hou ada»2 & ewe

I gert be put of pa^dyce, 145

& how I gert Kayine vnwise

sla his bruthim for inwy,

quham-thru he was vnhappy,

& jet be my slichtzif gude

I wes cause of noese flude, 15°

& als pe fan? cu«ctre pat hicht

sodome & gormor, thru [my] slicht

warn distroyt but remede,

quham now is bot pe see rede,

quhan? na thing of lyf ma be, 155

quhy suld ]?u dout of my pouste?

& jet ma pu ensampil ta

quhow pat I gerte lowis sla

pare lord cryste & kyne & blude

dispituisly a-pone pe rude. 160

sa said }?u trew ]?at I mocht

gem June erande til end be bror/^t,

sa pat scho son sal cu^2 pe til,

& pi jarnyng hale fulfil.”

J>ane to gem hyr,? son mvzsent 165

& hym to cum til his entent,

a lytil vngumeut he hym tacht,

& bad hyme ga pare-with stracht

165. hyme.


til hyre chawmzV, quhe« he sau poywt,

& ]>e wallw oututh ennoynt,

“& I sal nocAt be fere away, Fol. 250 a. & syne cum & my vaycht assay,

& bllaw sa gud a coule hire til

J?at scho sal do quhat J>u wil.”

}>ane cypr/ane mad na« abade

bot whh ]?e wngumewt furth glade,

&, as he wes tacht, he has done.

}?ane J?e feynd wes redy sone,

& hyre in-to lychery inflawmyt sa gretuw/ly.

}>ane scho persawing hade

]?at he feynd hat fandbzg made;

for-hi hir forhed & breste bath scho taknyt of ]>c croice rath,

& al hyre body syne bethacht

to god to kepe for his macht.

& h^ne sownare ]>un ma« mycAt say,

he fals fend went away, & fel ferit, fra he had sene

hat takine mad befor his ene.

he flede, &, ore he fayne,

Come & stud befor cypnane,

hat sad til hyme: “ tel me now

quhare is lustyne, as sad hu?”

quod he: “ for one hyre sic a sicht

I saw hat refit has my myc/it

sa vtrely, ]>at I ne durste duel.”

quod he: “ hane sped he on til hell,

& hare hu hi mastre pmve!

for hu dow nooAt for my behufe.”

[c]ypnane lew/t noe/zt hare-w/t^-all, bot ane vthzV feynd caw call;

he quhilk, quhew he com hyme til,

180. sa gretvuwzly.

170

175

180

185

190

195

200


sad: “ frend, I kene hale J?i wil

& ]?e vnmycht of my compere

]?at to spede had na powers;

hot I sal al his fawt supple,

& to Ju purpos weile bryng ]>e:

for I sal wond hyr hart rycht sare

throw lust of lichery but mare,

& scho sal cum to ]?e }>is nycht

to do Y\ wil; ]?at I J>e hicht.”

& j^ar-w/t/i went he on his way

& come to lustine but delay,

Fol. 250 b. & mad hyr p^rsuacione of \\yre saule [to] ])e cowfusione,

sa fern as scho wes in wil

vnlesuw lust [for] to fulfil,

bot thru helpe of J>e haly geste

scho vm[be]tho<f/it hyre in [til] haste,

]>at It a foule fandyng was

to gere hyr^ grant to fyle hir flesch; }>ar-for on hyri? scho can lay

}?e takyne of J?e croice v<?rray,

cemmendant [hir] to criste Ih<?ru,

& \axe-wi\.h dispytuisly blew

on he flatrand fend, }>at na mycht

had, fra he had sene ]>at sicht,

bot as a reke away he wat,

& to cypnane come fut hat,

]>at sad til hyme: “quhy has }>ou no^t,

as hu sad, he maydine broofo?”

sad he: “ at hyr? haf I bene,

& one hyre sic a takine sene

hat me has mad nen? out of wit,

sen I oii hyre fyrste saw It;

for my crafte mycht uocht awale,

bot tynt has al hale myn trawele.”

231. & sad til hyme.

205

210

215

220

225

230

235


hou of[t] J>at }>ai hir fandy«g made,

for scho hyre croysit but abade, 240

& }?a« ware ]?ai fullely schent,

& fore rednes fra byre went,

& come to cypnane alsone,

& tald hyme al how J>a had don,

bot nocht, to do as ]?ai had mynt, 245

bot vtrely pare trawale tynt;

for a takine scho on hyre made,

pat paim discowzfyt but abade;

na til hyre durste pai cum nomare;

for pat takine so red pai ware. 250

bot scho, of ]jis pat wiste nocAt

bot one god set al hyre thoe^t,

gef lowyng to hevinfs king,

J>at kepyt hyre in sic fa«di;zg.

bot cyprzane jet pan but were 255

in his foly cane pez-seuere,

& in his thoe/zt trawalit & het;

for he mye/zt noe/zt his wil get. Fol. 251 a. bot thinkand jet he wald pmve

J>e sufferande helpe for hze be[h]owe, 260

Jze prz'ncipale of dewilis al,

selfe satan, cane he cal,

pat but bad come hyme til,

& sad: “now, quhat is pi wil?”

quod he: “ quhare is al joure veztu? 265 for I ne helpe cazz fynde in jow,

bot granttis al Qzat] pai ma uocht

gere my desyre til ende be broeAt,

bot are discuzzzfit schamefully

thru a juzzg maydine anez-ly, 270

& be a takine pat pai se

apone hir, as pai sa [to] me. [>are-for me think I haf II set

253. gef has been altered from wef.

i6o LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

my tyme on 3011, pat ma nook get

sa smal a thing as ]?is to me,

pa.t semis 30U in al degre

sen I firste cuth spek ore ga.”

pe maister dewil can awsuere ma,

& sad: “frend, disese pe noc/itl

for )>i 3arny«ge sal be wroe/zt,

& pai pat failyt, sal haf schame,

til helpe pc, & mekil blame.

]we-for my-self on wil fare

& with feile feuz'r wond hire sare,

& als gere hir as fire brynej

sic lustful het sal be hz> in,

& eftyr hyr stirke sal I

nere wodnes & frenesy,

& fantyse als ferly sere

til hyre als I sal gere apere,

til scho, for al hir mekil slyest,

sal to pc cam ]us ilke nycht.”

J?ene ]?e feynd pc forme tuk of a maydine, as sais pc buke,

& to hyre come but delay,

& sat done, & syne ]us can say:

“ [g]wde cystire, I ame cuzzzyne here,

of pi gudnes for I here

in sere placis be spokine ay,

& had 3arnyng til assay,

quhethire it sa be ore nocht; Fol. 251 b. J>ar-for to pc here I hafe socht,

in mykill wil to duell with pc,

as pa dois, in chastyte.

fore be gud resone I cane feile

]?at maistry is to kep it wele;

for mazzis kynd it moil excede

287. hyr hyr. 298. of pe.

275

280

285

290

295

300

305

306. is to kepit it.


here lifand to kepe madynehede,

hot, quha-sa here ma luf chaste

thru steryng of ]?e haly gaste, 310

ir fare lykare for to be

angehk ]?ane ma«is kynd, p«rde.

& gyf percase ony mocht

kepe maydine in ded & thocht,

wald I wit quhat rewarde 315

he suld haf ]?arfor eftmvarde ?”

<\uod lustine: “ rye^t grete is ]?e mede,

& ]>e trawale smal but drede

in regarde of hat lestand blis,

J>at nane cane tel hou gret [it] is, 320

hat god sal gyf til his dere,

hat thankful seruice makw hym here.”

quod he feynd: “ }m tel me It.

hat oft is rede in haly wryt,

hou god, quhe# adame wes made, 325

of a bane of his syd but bade

eve he mad, quhe« he slepand lay,

to be his mak, & syne can say

‘ beis sawzmyne, & grew, & multyply,

& -witfi he froyt of pure body 330

fillis he erde, & it wyne,

& bruk al thing pat is hare-in ! ’ be his spek lyk is hane

hat man to fere suld haf woma«,

& woma« in he sawzmyne degre 335

suld man haf hyre make to be,

for he sawyng of hare sede,

hat hare o[f]spryng mycht grew \n brede.

for gyf sic mellyng suld nocht be

for kepynge of verginite, 340

al kynd of man but ony were

suld falje in a huwdre 3ere,

309. bot sa quha. 311. it fare lykare. VOL. II. L


& sa wes tynt godis makyne,

& alsa brokine ware his bydinge.

& ^et wil men se neuz>-}?e-les 345 Fol. 252 a. in ]>e law god gef moyses,

waryit ar }>ai callit pare

pat had na barne bot barane ware.

pa[r]for I trew, quha precis maste

til pai life to be chaste, 350

sal godis byding brak, & sa

be demyt til hel & ydd/r ga.

par-for, gud cyst/r, I drede me,

gyf we kepe virginite,

goddis bydynge sal we brak, 355

pat one oure saulis sal it wrak.

sa quhare we trew mede to take,

sal [we] vnd/rly godis wrake.”

pe feynd sic perswacione

to lustine mad, as [wes] resone, 360

pat he gert hyr haf thochtze thra

hyr chastite to fal fra.

in lychory sa hyre thocht

enflarzmyt pat nere wartit noe/zt

na redy scho wes to ga 365

with pe feynd, pat hz> fandit sa,

& in-to purpose to fulfil

It pat scho wes entysit til.

bot god pane schawit hzr grace

til hyr, pat sa-gat fandit was; 370 quhare-throw scho cane persawe wele

pat pe entysare wes pe dewil,

pat spak til hyre sa slichtfully

for to dissawe hyr cowartly.

& pazz pe croice on hyre scho made; 375

& [he], as he reke bene hade,

ful sodenely wanyste away;

& scho of seknes but delay,


]?at in hyr before cane apere,

rycht )>ane wes mad hale & fere. 380

the feynde, ]?at saw he mycht nocht ]>a.n

eschewe, ]?e schape of a yung man

tuk, & come but [mare] delay

in [>e chawm/r quhare lustine lay,

& in hyr armys sone hyre hynt, 385

for to kyse hyr he noc/it stynt,

& syne becuth vnschamefully

to diffule hyre thru lychery. Fol. 252 6. bot scho, [>at Jwsawinge hade

It wes a feynd sic mastry made, 390

foret, briste, and hyr body

wzt/z ]?e croice scho taknyt in hy;

& he sownere but delay

meltit ]mne wax in fyre away.

}>ane, tholand god, hyre he can saile 395

with felone feuere & gret trawale,

}>at mad hyre sa falow & fade

}>at nerhand dede wes scho made.

& til eke hyre perplexite,

he mad sic a mortalyte 400

in antioche of beste & man,

J>at mycht nocht be estymyt ]?ane,

& gert wod men oft rare & cry,

bot ]>at lustine in til hy

gef hyr consent to wedit be, 405

sone peryst sal be be cyte.

bane Ipai, ]>at saw b^s pestilence,

& trewit scho mycht mak defence,

Come til hyre fadz'r house in hy,

& one hyme fast can gret & cry, 410 prayand hyme for bare saufte

bat lustine son suld wedit be,

385. & in hyr. 403. & gret wod men.


or ellis suld ]?at fellon clade

confonde ]>e cyte but abade.

bot scho ne wald consent pcrtil, 415

fore fayre na lath, gud na II.

parlor gudme;z of J^e towne,

doutande sa harde zwzfusione, in yre come til hir^ fadzV in,

in entent it al to bryne, 420

bot gyf, to bryng \a\m out of care,

his douchtzV sozmar^ wedit ware.

J>ane prayt scho god Ip are increly;

& he hyr herd sodendely,

& gert cese ]pat mortalyte 425

bath in land & in cyte.

]>e feynde, seande he ne mocht

oure-cuOT lustine, as hym thocht,

thocht to fyle hyre gud name,

& sclandzV hyr, & gere thol schaw. 430

& for to dissawe cypr/ane, ];e fourme of hyre has he tane,

sa bat he in al degre

Fol. 253 a. wes lyke lustine for to be,

& come ryzznande to cypn’ane 435

& hyme a-bout )>e hals has tane.

& he, wenand it sa ware,

sad: “wel-cuw, my hart dere,

fayreste womazz & but blame ! ”

■ & as feynde herde hz> name, 440

he had na langare mycht to byde

bot fled as reke & can hy;/z hyde.

bane cyprzane p<?rsawit wele

bat he wes scornyt ilke dele,

& in hart [he] had gret care, & lufit lustine fere be mare.

• fore-bi he wald sere fourmys ta,

421. scho bryng. 445. in hart hed.

445


quhare thru he myckt Yiir nerreste ga;

quhile foule, quhile \voma«, of ]>t slicht

of his falshed, & of ]>e nycAt walk fore hyr sak; hot quhene he

pressit at hyre Inis for to be,

his feyndfr fourme wes son [un]hyde,

& he for^ cypr/ane wes kyde.

]>e feynd, ]?at wist J^ane ]?at he

wes oure-cuwzyne in al degre,

witA gret schame his way is gane,

& aperit til cypryane,

& sad til hyrae son : “ hou now ?

me think ourfcu/z/yne is ]?u!

wrechis, quham is joure my<r//t,

quhare is joure poware & joum slicht,

]?at je cane nocAX. a maydine 3yng,

as 3e haf hicht, on me to bryng?

tel me ^are-fore, I pray ]?e ]?is,

quham-in hyre mekil uertu is.”

]?ane sad ]?e feynde: “ sa ]?at Jju

to me wil suem ane ath now, bat >u sal neu/r fra me depart

thru gyle na thru ony arte,

I sal tel >e opynely

be vertu of al hyre victory.”

bane sad til hyme cypr/ane:

“hou I sal suer<?, ]>\i tel one ane!”

“ suere be my wrtuise, bat gret are,

bat bu sal neuz> fra me fare,

& I sal hale discouer to be quhare-in scho ourecuwis me.”

Fol. 253 b. bane cypr/ane bad na langere,

bot bat sawmyne ath can<? til hyw suere

bat he askit. & be feynd bane

wend he traste wes of -be ma^,

sad hyme: “ bat maydine mycAt had na«

45°

455

460

465

470

475

480


for til resiste agayne sathane,

outane a takine scho on hz> ay 485

makis }>at me fleis away.”

“J>e takine now ]?u tel to me,

for of me )>xi art traste, pzzrde;

for in su?;z parte ma assith me

of )>e lang s^mice I haf mad }>e j 490

pratestand ay }?u haf na doute

of me J>at is ]hne vndzrloute;

for quhat thing sa euz'r It be,

}jat ]m sal now discou^ to me.”

“it is of ]?e tre }>e taknynge 495

quhare-one J>e lowis cr/ste can hing

at myn entysing fom inwy,

& but cause can hyme crucyfy.”

sad cypr/ane : “ quhow ma pat be,

J>at for ]?e takine of a tre 500

3e fle sa & dare noc/it byde,

bot fast forczir away to hyde ? ”

“certfj,” quad sathane, “gyf ]m be

sa lele as J>u sais to me,

I sal say forout man? 505

quhy for })at takine we red are.”

quod cypryane : “I pe pray

pe suth now to me ]m say! ”

J>ane sad til hyme sathane :

“quhene I had first dissau/t man, 510

sa pat be myne entysynge

he wes tynt & his o[f]sprynge,

ware noe/zt god, pat hyme made,

of his pyte reutht of hyz/z hade,

& for his sawete becoin mazz— 515

bot pare wes I dissawit pan,

for he wes borne of a vezgine

a-ganis pe kynd of mazzis lyne.

of mazz pe myse fore to remede,


of verra man he tholyt dede— 520

hot had I wist but ony wene

]>at he god & man had bene,

I had no^t tholit sekyrly

)?e lowis sla hym for inwy. Fol. 254 a. bot, for I wend he had bot man 525

bene, I gert sla hyme Jjane.

]?ane, as is ma«hed wes dede,

mams myse [for] to remede,

he come til hel [al] aneHy,

& at our jettzr cane cry, 530

& ymang ws he enteryt pare,

& al Ipat in oure pressozznis war«f,

])at lykit hyme, he tuk away,

sene first he mad adame of clay,

& wz't/z his croice ws fleyt sa 535

}>at of ws durst defence nazz ma.

sene syne \>e takine of Jze tre ful awful is to myne & me,

bath in ]>e payne ]?at I thole ay

& in )>e tynsale of my pray; 540

for al mazzkynd Jzat lyf cazz lede,

])at deit before cz-zste wes dede,

ware send me as my pzvzpyre thinge,

& in my presone mad duellynge;

& I, of ]?is warld pz-znce but dout, 545 thru bat tre is quyt put out,

na ^et ma I na liffand wyne

bot hyme bat wil noeAt lef his syne.

& sa, to mak conclusione,

bat tre wes my confusione. 550

now haf I sad be suth t° ]>e

quhy bat takine confundis me.”

quod cypryane: “I se wele now

be crucyfit is mare bazz bu-”

& be feynd bat gz-anttit til, 555


po it war aganis his wil,

& sad: “ 3a, is he fere mare

J?ane are lifand ore lyf bare,

& we ar til hyme vndzVloute

at his byding ay but doute,

& he has put ws in-[to] hel,

[Jar] pai pat we dissawe, sal duel;

for quha in oure smiice mais ende,

euzVmare with ws sal wende.”

sad cypr/ane: “ pan I pat man

wil serwe pat crucyfit wes pan."

]?e feynd sad: “ sa ware J>u lorne

gyf )>u ware fals & mansuorne;

for }>u has suorne of my oste be }>e myo^t,

J^at J>u sal nothire fore strinth na slicht

Fol. 254 b. depart fra me til ony mane.”

cypryane sad til hyme pane:

“J>e & pi wikit feyndis al,

pat s^ruis pe, gret & smal,

here I forsak, & takis me

til hyme ]?at hangit on Jm tre,

& his takine one me I lay

be-twene me & pe now for ay.”

& as he Jus sone sad hade,

J>e feynd pan fled but abade.

& cypr/ane gret loy can ma

J>at he J>e feynd eschapit sa.

for-J>i he socht but ony bade

J>e bischope til he fundy« hade.

ande as J>e bischope hym has sezz,

he wes amovit, & can wene

J>at he come no^t as fore honor

bot to bryng cr/stine in erroure.

J>arfor sad he angrely:

562. we resawe.


“cyprzane, gang hyne in hy,

■with othirr ent^met []ju] J>e,

& fande na cn'stine ma« na me!

for ]n strinth sal nook wyrke

agane ]?e treutht of haly kirke.”

sad cyprz’ane: “ sic is my sele

}>at al J>at tale I trew veile.

bot sene ]m ]>q kirk is in

as ouroma/z saulis to wyne,

I cuzzz to J>e in godis stede,

my mysdede to remede;

for me forthinkis \2i\n1 ful sam,

& is in wil to syne ne mam.” with bat befor be bischape rath

he set done one [his] kneis bath,

& mad schryfte of al bat he

had mysdone in ony degre;

& hou his freyndis had hyw gefyne

to be feynd, he als has schrifyne,

& of be tyme bat he had tynt

he schrafe alsa, ore he stynt.

be byschope 'pan loyful wes,

& hyme resavit alsone to grace,

& baptyst [hyme] & mad hyme bane as to cryst a now-borne mane,

& [be] reule of cmtine fay

he tacht hyme wele but delay. Fol. 255 a. & he had richt abile wite,

& in schort tyme cozzsavit It.

& be haly gaste al thinge

ma gem man cone but trawalinge;

lyk as [of] salamone we rede,

bat wes [be] wiseste man but drede,

& in be space of a nycht

of al wysdome he wa/z be sicht

thru teching of be haly geste,

59°

595

600

605

610

6i5

620

625


J>at beste maistere is in haste;

for to god, as we ma se,

ma na thing inpossible be.

for-Jji sa wele sped cypr/ane,

fra he ]>e cnstine treutht had tane, 630

}>at in science he wox parfyt

& leid his lyf for-outyne wit;

& he J?at first wes in erroure,

be-come ]?ane a gret doctoure,

& sic a p^chour^ he become 635

}?at to god he wan mony one;

& ay his dedis bettzV ware

J>ane wes o\ir his word ore \are.

syne wes he bischope agane his wil,

]>o he wes lath to grant bare-til. 640

]?at god send cypr/ane sic sele,

fra pat lustine wiste it wele,

scho wes blith, & lowit gode \an

];at he wes sa gud cr/stine man,

& J>at scho eschapit with honours 645

his crafte til he wes in erroure.

be bischope gert \an a nu/zry make,

& feffit for lustinis sake for bame bat suld duel in bat place—

& b«t of his patrimoyn wes— 650

& of madynis a cowent

he gadd^rit bar, of ane assent

to serwe god in vzrginite;

& eftz'r lustine sene sende he

& blissit hyr as pr/ores, 655

& gef hir )>a\m in keping noc/zt-be-les;

for he had prawit be assay

scho stedfaste wes & madyzz ay.

& scho bo charge tuk hyr til,

to serwe god in gud wil.

bane cuth scho faste, wak, & pray,

660


& hyr gud dedis ekyt ay,

Fol. 255 b. And be ensampil of hyre lyfe

to god wane mony, ma« & wyfe.

bane cypr/ane, as he mycht here 665

J>at ony ma« in presone were or in paynis ony-way

for cmtis sak ore crfstine fay,

l&tlris wald he to bame sende

to confort bame & to amende; 670

sayand, al payne [bat] mycht be wroofa

to ma# here, is lytil ore noe/it

In regard of be mykil blift,

bat gode has grathit for al his,

& be mare ay bai thole here 675

be mare bare loy is but were.

& quhare he wiste ony wes

In seknes ore in distrese,

bat of spendyng had nede,

he cane releif paim gud spede. 680

of hym be gud nam spred sa wyd bat me« mocht noe^t it hyde

hou bat [he thocht] bath nye/rt and day

til eke & fostyre crzstine fay.

ane erle pan, bat wes fellow fa 685 be crz'stine fast to gere sla,

send bane, ore he wald fyne, for cypnane and lustyne.

& til his prerens as cuwzyne ware bai,

til bame sone cane he say: 690

“ tellis me sone, gyf ^e wil

mak sacrifice cure godis til,

& bruk joure lyf & richit be

w/W mony landis & with fe,

or [gyf] 3e wil as w[i]thyre-wyne

682. |>at mew )>at noc/it. 695

1/2 LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

resiste & ^ome lyfis tyne ? ”

sad J>ai: “ we wil }>at pu

wit we in-to cryst trew,

na It sal we nor/A fal fra

for wa[r]ldly thing, na wele na va; 700

& namely to mak sacr/fice

til ydolis we [w]ar^ <?nwyse;

for J>ai []?at] 30 3011^ godis cal,

in ydolis are but feyndis al,

& dissawis wykitly 705

al }?at in }?ame wil affy.

Fol. 256 a. & sal fore ]>are seruice gere duell

with ]?ame in ]>e pyte of hell.

}>ane ]?u ma se be kyndly skil

]?at na ma« suld gyf treutht paim til 710

J>at in }>ame ony helpe suld be.

}?o ]?ai haf eyne, ]?ai ma noc/it see,

& ]>o ]>ai eris haf, but were,

3et ar<? ]?ai defe & ma no^t here,

& ]?o ]>ai mouth haf, J?a ne ma speke, 7r5

na handis na fet ma }>ai reke;

for ferly ware ]?ai mycht do ocht

]?at are with manis handfr wrocht.

]7ane is he fule in al degre

]?at trewis it his god suld be 720

or helpe hyme, quhe« he myster hade,

}?at is of stok ore stane made. J)are-fore resone wald nocht [l?at] we

suld sacrffy to sic men3e.

for-Jji, gyf J>u has set J>i wil 725

for sic cause to do ws 111,

but bad do furth, & wele J>u trew

\>at we wil neuz> to }>e bow.”

& quhe« hale he wist pare entent,

he tho^t to put \a\in to torment; 730

696. resisiste. 702. we are anwyse. 728. ]>e we will ntmr.


& a gret pane [gert] bro<r^t sowne

befor hyme, & ]?are-in be done

blak pic & gert brywstane bla,

& vnd/r it a fyre gert ma,

til }>at mater wes moltyne thyne, 735

& gert put paim bath [J>ar]-in.

bot It disesit J^ame na-thinge,

bot as baume [gef] gud refreschynge.

]?ane }?e erle gret ferly hade

hou of payne J>ai quyt ware made

pat he wend had bene ryo^t fel;

fore Ire pare-fore cane he 3d

one his godis, vengeance to ta

but abad of J>ai wichis twa.

pe prest of pe cyte sad J>ane

to pe erle as a maister-man:

“gudmafi, wil ]?u me <T<?7«mawnde

befor pe caldron [for] to stande,

I sal sone gere distroyt be

al pare vertu, J>at pn sal se.”

Fol. 256 b. pe erle sad : “ do furth pat dede, & haf gret thank, gyf ]?u can spede!”

pane but bad he mad hym bon, & stud anente pe caldrone, '

& for to cry cane faste prese, 755

sayand : “ mykil god hercules

& lubiter, on 30W I cal,

pat ar fadms of godzV al,

cum now, & pat men ma se

quhat helpe 3c wil do for me!” 760

& pere wordis ware sad vnese,

quhezz of pe caldrone com a blese

of fellon fyre, J>at hyme al

brynt in askis ferly smal.

& J>ane lustine & cypmne 765

731. & a gret pane bror^t he.

740

745

750

733- & gret.


of }>e caldrone son wes tane

als hale & fere, but schath & schorne,

as }>ai ware of ]?are mo dir borne.

}>e fellon erle ])ane wes wa

J?at his prest brynt wes sa, 770

& gef sentence agay« ]?ai;« bath,

]?at hai suld tyne }>e hedzV rath,

fele semandis ware redy }?ane

to do }>e wil of ]?at il man,

& ]?are nekw strak in twa, 775

& martens of ]?ame can ma,

& gert J>e bodyis be left }>are

J>e space of sex days ore mare

til hu«dis fel dispituisly

& vthyr bestw fellonly. 780

bot wes na best tuth wald set

one paim, a morcel for til ete,

bot lay vn[s]k«thyt sa Jwe-oute.

pan men com, of god had doute,

& stal ]?ame away be pe mjcht, 785

& wz‘b& baume J^are corsis dicht;

& syne to rome ca;z }>ame here,

ful reuerently hafand, til entere.

& of tyme syne in precesft,

as Ihem cn’sto willis wes, 790

of placence to pe fare cyte

ware translatyt bath scho & he,

quhare pare poudre sal lest ay

of lugment to pe last day,

quhe« par in saule & in body 795

sal ryse to-gydd/r suthfastly,

Fol. 257 a. & of pe luge tak sic mede as pai semit for pare gud dede.

J>at is pe blis pat neuir sal ende,

quhare god of his grace ws sende. 800

783. vnkothyt.


with a wil ]nr twa rycht sobre

J>e sext kaland of octobre

for godis sak felly ware slane,

& waw hewine for a lytil payne,

vndz> fel dioclisyane, J?at cmtine mew slew mony ane;

IIC VIIIXX of 3eris ewyne

eftyr erz'ste ]?ai ware send til hewine.

805

XXXIII.—GEORGE.

ETE of sancte george is my wil,

gyf I c^nandnes had }?are-til,

to translat }>e haly story,

as wry tine in ]?e buk fand I.

for he wes a richt haly man

& fele tynt saulis to god wane,

noo^t an<??'ly thru his techynge

bot eram thru sample geffine,

hou men to god suld stedfast be

& thole for hyme p^rplexite,

of lyfe na ded dout hafand nane,

bot to resyst ay to sathane

& to lordis of mykil mycht.

& men callis hy;;z oum lady knycht.

& men of arrays ofte se I in til his helpe mykil affy,

& namely quhezz }>ai an? in ficht.

for he wes a worthy knycht,

& borne wes of capadoce—

Jjat is a realme of gret lose—

quhar? he wes mad for renozm

of gret worschipe a trybone.

& Jm sal wit, a tz-zbone is he

]?at [of] J^e thred-part of a cyte

or of a cuzzctre kepare is;

i. Initial letter wanting.

XXXIII.—GEORGE. 177

& a tribone is als I-wise }>at trybut gadris to ]?e king

& jeldis hyw Jjar^-of reknyng;

& his tr/bune als, }m kene,

to quhaw ansuem a thousand me«. Fol. 257 b. hot in quhilk place of }>ire thre

he wes, je sal no^t wit fore me;

bot til jou wele tel I cane

]mt he wes a gret maister-man.

ande as ]?is knye/zt trawaland ves,

sa hapnyt hyme [to cume] perchase

in-to ]>e pmvince of lyby, ]?at is a gret land & mychty;

& in }>at land ]?are is alsa

a cyte, callit sylena,

& a locht nere )>at cyte

as lyk a se nere to be;

It is sa mykil, lang & brade.

& ]>e kyng, [bat] hat kinryk hade,

bat tyme wes duelland in bat ton,

wytht mony mew of renone,

& be quene, bat wes fare,

& bare doucht/w, bat wes bare are. & in ba[t] low lurkit bat tyme

a serpent fel, of gre[t] venyme,

bat of his aynd infect be ayre,

ware it neu/r sa bricht & fare;

& of be low, as hym thoe^t gude,

wald cum fore to get his fude,

& sla but bad quha;«-euz> he fande

in bat swythare bym nere-hande,

maw ore best, outakand nane,

outane be foulis bat lyf had taw.

bat wele fare in bat cunctre

sic fellone slachtzV ay mad he

29. & be his. 31. for in quhilk. 55. VOL. II.

3°

35

40

45

5°

55

60

but bat. M


thru slachtz> and corrupcz'on

of ]?e ayre }>at he wald poysozz,

Jiat wast he mad [al] J>at cunctre,

outane }>at wes in J>e cyte. J^ar-for for fud he yddir socht; 65

& for he entre mycht nocht,

for gret strinth & hicht of wal

& gret ^emesel of jettzV al,

]?ane wald he oure ]?e wallw blau

his fellon aynd, sa in a thrau 70

al ]jat it ourtuk wald sla.

])ar-of be king wes wond/r wa,

& tuk consel J>at ],e stede

hou best }>a.i mycM bis [il] remede. Fol. 258 a. for men of armis mycht no<r/zt awale 75

to ficht wzt/z hyme in-[to] batele.

for-bi, for to ransone be tyme & to sauf bame fra his venyme,

til god of hewine of his gnzce & wil

sum kyne succours send \>a\m til, 80

bame thor/zt spedful and gude

like day to gyf hyme fude,

twa schepe. & bat sa lang did bai

til be schepe wars ners away.

& quhezz bai bame psrsauit ymazzg 85

bai mys/zt nos/zt schepe haf ba>'^to lang

to fynd hyme & bame bath,

for-bi be king he ordenyt rath bat bai suld tak ilke day

a schepe & gyf til his pray 90

& a quyk body als wz't/z-al, quhaz/z one bat be cut wald fal,

ma« na wif outane nane

bat with bat cut mys/zt be ours-tane,

na [na] state na dignite,

rich na purs, quhat-sa ba' be. 95


&, as he ordenyt, sa did ]?ai,

to fede ]>a.t best nycht and day.

ande sa quhe« ]?e maste party

of ]>e folk distroyt war vtrely 100

be sic cuttw and cawelyng,

It twechit sine sa nen? ]?e kinge,

]?at had na bame outane ane,

]?at wes his douchtzV, suld be tane

& oii ]>e morn to J?e dragone 105

suld be gyffine, to sauff J>e ton.

]>e king \z.n wes sa wond/r wa,

quhe« w/t/z hyme it feryt sa,

}>at he wes nere fra his wit;

sad sorow sa cane hyme hit. no

fore scho wes juzzg, auenand, & fare,

& }?are-wz"t/z his aperand ayre.

for-Ju J?e puple prayt he

]?at ]?ai wald haf of hyzzz pyte

& half his realme to J^aizzz tak, 115

to saf his douchtzV fra ]?at wrak,

& gold and siluzV jit ]?are-til,

at mycht assith fullely }>are wil,

Fol. 258 b. takand suz/z vthire, aid ore jinge, sparand til his, as in wislyng, 120

J>at scho de nozv^t sa fule a dede. bot al }>e puple of ]?at stede

ansuert Jze king mare and les

in gret fellozzny and wodnes,

sayand: “szV king, wittzV but were 125

\dX cure barnis ar als dere

til ws as ]>i barne is to ]>&;

& J>u Jus ordinance gert be. J>are-for we lat J>e wit, we wil

Jzat J>u J>i ordinance fulfil 130

121. jiat scho do noe^t. 122. J>at al ])e puple.


in ]>[ douchtzV, als wele as we

has done It jet in al degre.

& gyf J>u tarowis it to do,

but flechinge we sa }>e to,

J>at we sal bryne }>e & al ]une,

or we ma of oure barnis tyne.”

& quhe« he It land na but

forthir )>are-o{ for to mute,

one morne [he] but delay

gert In's douchtzV wele aray

ryc/it costly in al degre,

)?ane as scho suld maryt be

•wit/i a kyngz? of gret estate;

& til byre he sad jmsgat,

gret sar makand, sare pyte,

sayand: “ wais me, douchtzV, for }>e,

trewand wele bu suld baf be;z

of a gret realme a mychtty quen,

& succedit to me as ayre

of al my landis, bat arc farc.”

be puple, bat saw bis gret syt,

of aucht days gef respyt,

in hope bat god suld send remede

to succourc bame in bat stede.

bot quhene bat schort ty?n wes ga«

& succurc bai saw aperc nane,

]?ai bad ]>e king, gyf he wald lif,

his douchtzV to be dragone gyfe;

for it wes sayd na resone

forc hyre to tyne ]>a.m & be ton.

]?e king bane was wil of rede,

seand his douchtzV suld be dede;

marc carc mad neu/r ony man!

jet brocht he furth his dochtz> bazz,

aparalyt in al degre

135. & we sal.


Fol. 259 a. richt as scho maryte suld be, with crowne one bed & septre in hande;

as scho sa fare wes & awenande

}>at, bo deme nature had set hz> cure,

scho cuth no<:/zt amend in hyre fygure. 170

be kyng hir in armys hynt,

& kissit hyre, ore he stynt,

& gretand sad: “ douchtzV dere,

I wend suz« tyme but ony were

gud sownis haf had of be, 175

to solace & to confort me,

& bat bai eftre my day

suld bruk my kinryk—quhat sal I say?

& now [bu] mon gange fud to be

to ^one dragone. wa is me ! 180

alace ! I wa/d blith haf bene

at bi brydale & bare haf sene

grinds, dukis, & erlis sere

Cume of fare landw with b\yth chere,

to lust & dance at bi byding, 185 with ane bat had bene myr^tty king,

& bat my palace suld haf bene

arayt with gold & siluzV schene,

& with goldine clathfy & perre,

be riche[s]t bat mycht fundyne be, 190

& til haf had menstrely

& in all degre haf mad mery.

& bu now moh gyfine be

til a dragone! ful wa is me!

god, bat I dede had bene, 195 or I sa soroful sicht had sene ! ”

be-for his fete ban fel scho done

& askit [hym] his benyson.

bane he hyre kissit & hyre hynt

& blyssit hyre, ore he wald stynt,

181. I wend blith.

200


sayand : “ douchtzV, wele wari? me,

gyf I my^t here for ]>e dee! ”

}?ane mye/zt be na langare bade,

bot furth at ])e jet scho wes hade;

& a schepe buzzdine in a bande 205

]?ai be-thaucht hyr in hz> hande,

& scho tuk it sobrely,

& to J>e low bank went in hy,

Fol. 259 i. ' & ]?ar stud bydand hyre dede

forout hope of remede. 210

ande in ]>e tyme come a knyc/zt

jarne rydande, J>at george hicht—

I treu, of goddis pmwiance—■ quhare J?e maydine abad hz> chance.

& quhezz he come til hyre wele nere, 215

he lichtyt and at hyre cane spere

quhat scho wes, quhat did scho }>ar,

& quhy scho wes of helpe so bare;

“for al J>e folk of jone cyte

I pez-sawe wele behaldis }>e.” 220 qtiod scho: “ gud sz>, but delay

get one joure horse & pafi joure way!

ellis }>u thole sal in Jus stede wztA me here a schameful dede.”

quod he: “dochtzV, drede J>e nocht, 225

bot tel me J»at J>u has in thoe/zt,

& quhy J?u gretze here sa sare,

I pray }>e tel but ony mare! ”

Jzane suetly sad scho hyme til:

“I persawe J)i hardy will, 230

J>at ma noe/zt helpe in Jus nede;

Jzarefore Jzu ta Jzi horse in spede,

& pas in haste fra Jus stede,

fore dout J>u de a schameful dede! ”

Jzane sad he: “ fore wele na way 235


of }?is place sal I no<r/it ga,

til J>u ]>q suth tel o«-[to] me

of It ]?at I haf askit ]>e.”

]?ane tald scho hyme vtrely

]ie cause of hyre cu;«yng, & quhy, 240

& hou to ]?at land hapnyt was

scho tald til hyme al ]?e case.

sad he J^ane: “ doucht/r, drede )>o\i nocht,

na disese haf in thocht !

for I sal rycht wele helpe ]>e now 245

of Ih^ru cmte thru J>e vertu.”

jet sad scho: “ sir, fleys in hy,

& peryse no^t for jourg foly !

for je ma nocht in ony degre

helpe joure-self, na jet me; 250

& les hurt is I de me ane

]?ane []?at] je als de one ahe.”

Fol. 260 a. & as ]?ai ]ns spekande ware,

]?e fel dragon e in ]?at sythwan?

a-beowe ]?e wattyr^ cane apere, 255

& to J>e land fast cane stere.

])ane fast tremeland ca« scho cry:

“gud sir, fleis deliu^rly ! ” & he one horse gat stepande,

& met ]>e dragone at J>e lande. 260

he saynit hyme firste stedfastly, & syne ]?e dragone sudenly

assaljeit in hardy wil,

& brandisand ]>e spere hym til, cowzmendande hyme to godis my<r^t, 265

strak ]>e dragone in randone xycht

in at ]>& throt in to ]?e croice,

til he fel to }?e erde of force,

be maydine bane knelyt rath,

& god thankit & hyme bath,

237. tel of me.

270


]?at succurrit hyr sa worthely,

]?at wes disparit vtrely.

]?ane sad [he]: “ maydine, ga gud-spede,

& ta J>i belt, & hyme lede,

& about his hals knyt it sone.” 275

& quhe« scho swa had done,

he folouyt hyre as it had bene

}>e mekeste quhelpe wes euz> sene,

]us worthy knyc/zt ay nere-hande,

to be hyie helpe & hyr<? warande. 280

]>a.n ]?ai ]?at in ]>e ton war^,

seand J>e dragone cum ]?aiz/z narf,

}>ai ware sted in sic effray

[>at ]?ai becuth to fle away,

& crz'and fast, sad: “wais ws all, 285

for now pmse mone we all.”

& ]?ai ])at schupe Ipaim to duel stil,

strat stekine set ]?e ^ettzlr til.

bot george of fare mad taknyng,

]>at J>ai suld noe/zt drede for ony thizzge; 290

& syne come nere & sad playnely:

“lo, god has send me here for-]u,

[>at I suld succure ]hs towne

fra [>e felny of ]hs dragone.

& I aske 30U nane vthire thinge 295

bot ]mt 3e trew in-to ]?at kynge,

Fol. 260 />. & lewe jour syne & baptyme tak,

&, je al seand, for pure sak

J>is fel dragone I sal sla, })at 30U has done sa mykil wa.” 300

]>c king ]?ane but [mare] abade

& al ]>e puple }>at he hade

come crzstine and baptyzzze tuk.

& george ]?ane, as sais }?e buke,

his swerde drew & slew pat dragon, 305

303. and baptyk.


& bad ]?ame here it out of ton.

]?ane tuk }?ai ten oxine wicht,

& grath be to )?ame dicht,

& dreu hyme out of ]>e cyte,

& brynt hyme clene, }>«t men myc/it se. 310 bare-for J>at day baptyme can ta

wele twenty thousand men & ma, noc/it reknand wema« na barne,

for god had sawit \a\m fra \at harme.

a kirk fare }?e kyng gert mak 315 ]?are for cure laydy & georgis sak,

]?at costlyk wes but all were;

& in ]>e mydis }>e altere

a quyk wel sprang, & sic dri«g gef

J?at al seknes it can sawe. 320

J>e king [)>ane] ane infinite

of gret tresore gert offmt be

to george, }>at tuk it noc/it ]?ane,

bot bad dispend it on poure men,

for to helpe )>ame in ]?are nede; 325

for he wald tak na warldly med[e].

bot to Ipe kyng but [ony] bade

of foure things he s^mone made;

}>ane first, ]?at he suld no<r/zt Irke

til honoure god & haly kyrke, 330

& ay ]?e kirk haf in cure,

til vphald it & honoure;

& til honore prestfir alquhare,

J>at seruit god & tacht his lare;

alsa, til here besyly 335

god[is] s^mice and deuotly;

& ]>at he suld tho^tful be

of pouer ]?at ware in necessite. & quhe« he had sad |)/s thing,

he tuk lefe & kissit ]>e kyng,

340. he tuk lef & tuk (?) the king. 340


& ]?at ]>e 3u«g laydy he lacht

his lef gudly, & hir tacht

Fol. 261 a. J>at scho suld god lofe & lowte

J>at hyr sawit in sa gret doute.

& to al }>e laf gef gud day, 345

& lape one horse & passit hw way.

& for,? J>at he herde reherse

J>at in ]>e kynrik of perce

cr/stine treutht wes throngyne don,

yddyr he rad & in randone. 350

& in a tone callyt dyaspoly

he come & pare tuk herbry.

bat tyme were emperour/r twa.

dyoclyciane ane wes of pa,

& p& thothire maxymyane, 355

bat sic stat had til h.ym tane

fra cr/stis byrth reknand ewyne

thre hu;zdre jem lx & sewine.

& vndz> bame wes dacyane,

a fel tyrande, bat sparit nane 360

bat trewit in-to cristis lay,

bat he ne sone gert pa\m sla.

& in bat kynrike vpe & done

he mad sic persecucione

bat in a moneth gert he sla 365

twenty & twa thousand & ma

with torment/.? sa fel and sere

bat It ware wondzV for til here.

& he a[s] presydent in hy

come bat tyme to dyaspoly, 370

& syndry kynd of torment bare

he gert his wikit mezz [mak] jare,

quhare thru bai suld de fellouzz[l]y,

bat son wald noe/zt sacz-z'fy

til his godis, & cryste forsake,

sic wil had he wezzgeance to tak.

for-bi for dout of dede, ful fele

375

XXXIII.—GEORGE.

reneyt god & pare saule-hele,

& sacrzfit in }iat [ilk] stede

to mawmentzV, for dred of dede.

& quhezz sancti? george can se pat cr/stine mezz in pat degre

reneyt god, he wes [ful] way.

for-Jn he gert his tresour? ta,

& delt [it] ymazzg pure men,

& als his knychtly clethizzg pan

he gef away for godis sak,

Fol. 261 6. & clathis of cz-z'stine men ca;z tak, & takine of pc croice syne made

in til his forhede fare and brad,

& come befor [bis] dacyane,

& sad pcre wordis, ore he fayne:

“al maumentzr, bat pcre folk can cal

godis, are but feyndis al.

& suthfast god bot ane Is, 395

bat mad hewine & Is king of blis.

bot be feynd has sa blyndit be

bat suthfaste god bu ma no<r/zt se.

& bi godis, gyf bu can kene,

ar mad bot of handis of mezz 400

of gold and siluz'z- & of clay,

of stok, of stane ore of lay,

bar makarz'r nobir gifand na hele,

bot erare redure bai baizzz stele, bar-for bai kepe baizzz nyzVzt & day. 405

hou suld bai pan be godzr, say,

bat ar mad & ma mak na thizzg,

bot be vnmad bat be lykyng

of hyme bat gert baizzz be mad,

& cftir be cozzsawit he hade?”

bane dacyane of wit Jed nere,

quhezz he georg sa say can here,

385. & duelt.

IS/

38°

385

39°

410


sais : “ dois nocht anerly wrang til ws, bot als wykitly

callis ouk godis al dewilw now, 415

]?at helpis al ]?e warld, we trou.

no^t-]?ane, \o }>u cure godw skorne,

J>u tellis ws first quhar ]>oa wes born,

& quhat }>i name is & )>i ryte! ”

]?ane ansuert sancte george tyt: 420

“ in capadoce, treu, wes I borne,

& al my« eldris me beforne,

& cuwzmyne is of )>e best kine,

J>at capados is duelland in,

& george at fontstane 425

Is callit, quhezz I baptyzzz had tazz,

& s^z-uis god of mast mycht;

& ]zo I haf lang bezz knyz/zt,

It lykzk now ful wele to me

to lef al wardly dignite, 430

& til his byding bow alway,

]zat is vndedly god v^zray.”

quod dacyane : “ georg, ]m err/r

Fol. 262 a. for Jzane befor now ware is. noe/zt-J^ane lef jet and sacz'zfy 435

til our gret god appollony,

J>at to Jh raklasnes ma spare

& ]?e consel forthirmare ! ”

sad george ]zane: “ pz'zzwe sal we quhethire ]zat it mare richtwis be 440

til honoure god in word & thoe/zt,

}zat al ]ze warld has mad of noe/zt,

]zane appolline, ]?at je god cal,

]mt autore is of dewilis al.” ]zazz dacyane wes wondzz- wa 445

quhezz he herde george say sa,

& gert mezz in a frame hyzzz stracht

& drew hyme ]zat al ]zare macht,


as men doi[s] witA p^rchymene, & witA a scharpe yrne ryf syne 450

of al his lywmis sa ]?e skyne

]?at men his bowellzV myc/it se in;

& quhe« on hyme wes [left] na hyd

hale his gutto for til hyde,

he gert bra^dis of fyre bynde, 455

to brule it wes lewit be-hynde,

and tak he gert salt smal

& stope in til his wondis al,

& syne gert he arsk hare ta

to frot hy;« witA, \o he wes wa. 460

syne gert he men tak \vym don

& led hyme doii thru J>e ton,

rywen and rent as he wes,

but ony thing }>at my At hy;;z ese.

bot god, fore quhazzz he wes sa dyAt, 465

apperyt to hyme in gret \ycht, 81 confort hyme sa wondzV wele

J>at he of payne roc/it na dele,

bot ^arnyt erare pan pat he

to fellare payne suld put be. 470

syne dacyane one ]?e morne

gert men bryng george hym beforne,

& sad til hyme irwisly:

“wil pu nocht jet lef pi foly,

& honoure til cure godis gyf, 475

gyf J>u treuys pat pou ma lif?”

pane he sad : “ godw wat I nane,

til honoure, god of hewine outane,

pat sic confort has geffine me

pat I dred no At pi payne, na pe.” 480

J>ane dacyane wes wondz> wa Fol. 262 b. quhene he saw hyme ourcuz/zyh sa;

for nere cuth he fynd na payne

463. rywent. 469. bot narnyt.


quhare-to to put hyme agayne.

for-)u he gert sek besyly

a man }>at delt wzt/% sorcery,

& fand ane J?at crafty wes

in )>at craft, callit athenas,

& sad hyme: “ dere frend, I Ipe pray,

helpe me, gyf }>a.t J>u ma,

hou george ma ourcuzzzyne be,

J>at no]?ir my godis na me

dredis, for na payne he ma thole,

set I wald his hart out hole;

for sic crafte has ]>ere cn’stine men,

J>ai dout na payne, now I ken,

J>at ony man ma think ore say,

& oum godis skornis alway

& repr<?wis oum sacrifice,

callis ws foulis & vnwise.”

}>ane sais J>e wich : “ gyf I ne ma ourcuz# his craft but delay,

I oblise me in-[to] ]us stede

but razzsonizzge to thole dede.”

J>ane wzt/z wyne mengjezt he poysow,

& mad his invocacione,

as askis \e craft delt he wz't/z-al,

his godis namys calland al,

Jzat ]?ai }jat dryng sa fel, suld mak

\aX., quha-sa-euz> of it suld take,

suld de bane furth but abade.

& quhezz he had his crafte made,

J>e cope to george he betacht. & but blissing he it lacht,

& saynit it, & dranke [it] of,

of god of hewine in }>e lof, vngrewand hyme mare ]>an he

had dronkyne pymezzt & clarre.


]?e wiche }>ane gret ferly hade

& a fere fellare poysone made 520

& gef george but ony mare; & he It saynit, as he did yare,

& drank it of, as It had bene

in godis nam fare wyne & clene.

& quhe« J>is wikit ma?z athanas 525

had ewzsiderit al ]?e case,

til georgw fet son he fel,

& askand hyme mercy loud ca« jel,

Fol. 263 a. prayand hyme percheryte

J>at he a crzstine ma« vaycht be. 530

& george J>ane but [mare] abade

hyme baptyst & als crzstine made.

& [quhen] }?is saw dacyane,

he gert athanas syne be tane,

&, for he wald nocht crzste forsak, 535

gert strzke his hed of in-to wrak,

& of hyme, J>at wes godis fa,

a thankful ma« til hyme can ma.

his wikit wil ?et to suple,

on J>e morne gert he grathit be 540

a stule in place of lugment,

& gert george til hyme be present,

wenand to mak hyme red for payne, bat for gud cause to de wes fayne.

bare broe/zt wes a quhele made 545

awfule & hye, & in it hade

s^arpe swerdis scherand izz al syde,

hym bat nere it com behowit abyde,

quhen it turnyt rycht \an suld de.

& bar-for werkmezz, bat ware sle, 550

nere it mad sa fast a place

quhare-in al bat lugit was

sic ded to de, suld in put be,

547. suarpe swerdis.


sa }>ai mycht nocht be na way fle.

}?ane gert he george ]?are-in do, 555

]?at 'with blyth wil ]9ar^-to,

prayand god }>a.t he my^t be

martyr til hyme in sic degre.

bot fra george }>a.re wes bro^t,

]>e quhele stud stil & turnyt nocht 560

bot brak ful smal; & he stud stil

vnue;«myt bydand godis wil,

lowand hyme }>at in opyne sycht

for hyme had kyd sa mykil my^t.

I treu }>ar<? be na tong ca^ tel 565

hou dacyane, J>at wes cruel,

wes inflawmyt of yre & tene,

quhe« he ]?is farly has sene!

& ]mt tyrand, godis fa,

tho^t noc/zt to be ourcuzzzyne sa, 570

bot eran? bat george suld be

ourcurzyne in al degre;

for-bi gert he set a caldron Fol. 263 b. in fornace in be myddfr of be ton

Sr fillit ful of led but bade, 575

& a fyn? vndz'r gert be made. quheh be leyd bryrnand wes hat,

bis george, bat mad na debat,

he gert cast in be caldrone,

trewande he suld bxyn ore drune. 580

bot he be croice on hyme made,

quhezz he enterit, & na dout hade,

bot wes refreschit bar^ but wene,

as in a bath he had bene, be godis my^t, to quhaz« he 585

schupe trew seruand for to be.

bane dacyane wist nocht hou-gat

to do; he wes sa fully mate

556. Jet ]>arz?-to.


& ourecuwyne, for al his mycht;

for-]?i with wills did he & sly<r^t, 590

& to flesch hyme )>aX. mycht nocht be

in honeste in al degre.

bar-for he sad hyme sobrely:

“ der^ son I pray ]x: teynd/rly

J?at Jû wil behald but mare 595

hou oure goddfr mercyful are,

}>at [t]he sparyt has sa lang,

\ocht ]?u haf done )>?am gret wra«g,

& êt mercy wil haf of }>e

sa }>u wil repent }>e, 600

& jet to ]>aim mak sacr/fice,

as mychtty me« dois jât are wise.

& I sal ger ]>& honouryt be

& gyf J>e landis fare and fre,

& gyf ]>e mare [of] warld/e wine 605 bane eu/r had ony of ]>i kyne.

for-]n, son, lef bi self-wil & do my consel, \at is skil,

bat I gyf be for bi pwphit

and als of wy/znyng for delyt.” 610

bane george smyland sad : “ had )>o\i

sad me befor as bu sais now,

I had erare gyfine my« assent

To be bane tholit torment;

bot sen bu spekze sa gudly 615

to me, lo, I ame al redy

in [al] thing for to do bi wil,

quhat-sa-euzr bu sais me til.”

in [al] bis warld, I treu, wes nane /

Fol. 264 a. sa blicht a man as dacyane 620 quhezz he hard george say bis thing,

bo he sad it bot in hethynge.

598. ger wrawg. 610. bot nocht. VOL. II. N


for-]n he gert bedalis ga

oure }>e cyte to and fra,

byddande vndz> J>e payne of lyf & lyme 625

al ma# apen? before hyme,

one ]?e morne be tyme of day

before hyme cum in gud aray.

& J>ai, as busume in al thing

til hyme, has done byddynge, 630

&, as he chargit, oh J>e morne,

lung and aid come hym beforne.

& he ]?at J>are-for gert ma bovvne

yn ]?e myddw of }>e towne

a costlyk sette one hycht, 635 quharg of }>ame al he ray chi haf sicht,

& gert scilence be mad, til he

had sad J>at wes in his gule.

bane sad he: “ gudme« J>at here,

god kepe 30U al now haile & fere 640

& confort 30U in begy«nynge.

I tel 30U je suld ^eld lowyng,

as ws aw wele to do be richt,

til oure godis of mykil mycht,

thru quhawz al men fosterit are 645

in riche heile & in welefare;

&, b° >at \ai be sa mychty,

ws awcht luf bab» for bare mercy,

bat lichtly wil forgyf til al

bat mysdone paim has, gret & smal, 650

& wil repent ]?aim of bare myse.

& lo, cause quhy I tel 30U bis;

for george bat je se now here,

bat tholit has paynis sere,

repentw hyme of his foly,

& but thret now wil sacr/fy

647. & f>o fat he.

655


til oun? goddis for-out howne.

& )>at I wil se be done;

& we haf hicht til [hym] ]?at he

sal be a ma^ of gret pouste.” 660

}>ane wes mad gret loy in hy

with syndry kynde of menstraly,

& ]?e stretw cled al hale

xycht to ]5e tempil prz'ncipale

with clathis of syndry hew, 665

Fol. 264 b. quhar-in a[l] jed with grete glew

for to se george sacryfy;

& he with ]?ame 3ed sobrely. in be tempil quhezz he com, rath

he knelyt on his kneis bath, 670

& prayt god ]>dX ]>ar tempil

with al be dewilis in it fel

sa cleynely suld be distroit,

bat na thing suld remayw of It,

na jet of b^i fals ydolis al, 675

bat na suld be in pudre [sm]al,

in lowing of his haly name,

& of be payanis in-to schame, & in ekine of cmtine fay.

bane come a fyre but delay 680

fra of be hewine in gud spede,

& brynt be temple in a glede, with be ydolis gret & smal,

& al be prestw )>axe with al

bat mad til maumentzV sacnfice 685

eftz> bare oyse in ony wyse.

ane vthyre ferly fel bat tyde.

be selfe jerde opnyt wyde,

& be be self suelyt al

bat be fyr lewit, gret and smal.

671. J>at ]iat tempil.

690


sancte ambrose ]>e doctoure sais,

spekand hereof, in his preface :

“george wes }>e trewest kny^t

to crist ymang al pat lyf raycht,

}>at vnd/r knyr/Aly habit kyd 695

cr^stis prrfessione had vnhyde,

sa }>at he confort wocht

pdiim for crate to payne ware broc/it;

for he wes anerly pat ane

]>at of crate }>e treutht had tan,

pat but rednes ore terroure

of godd/e son wes cowfessoure;

& in quhaw of godis grace

of treutht sik sik/rnes in was,

pat pe byddyng dyspysit he

of tyrandis pat had pe pouste,

pat he dred noe/21 for godis sak

paynis out of nowm/> to tak.

O happy & wicht wereoure

of godis name, pat for honoure

na kyne flatryng of warldy thi«g

mycht bow pe nocht fra hewinie kiwg,

bot oure-come god/’r fais fel

& par maument/e put to hel! ”

Fol. 265 a. }>ane, as ]?is tyrande dacyane 715

saw J>e scath he had tane

of al his godis, gret and smal,

& of pe tempil J>at cane fal,

& of par prestte pat war dede

& sonkine in pat self stede, 720

quhat to do he wist nocht,

bot george gert til hy#2 be broe/t,

& sad: “ pa of al men mast fel,

quhat wischcraft is ]?is, je tel,

697. confort nocht. 7°S' clyspytit he.

700

7°5

710


quhare-thru ]?u dois sic ferly thing

of ws & oum in hurtynge?” ajiod george: “ sir, trewis }m nocht

J>at for to gyle ]?e is my thoc^t.

bot 3et agane cu;« on with me,

hou I sal sacr/fy and se ! ” quod dacyane : “ I persawe wele

}n gilry euz>-ilke dele,

J>at )>\i wald lede me yddz> quhare

al ounz godis be ]?e tynt wan?,

& gere ]?e erde J>are suely me

quik ]>a.ve, in J>e sawzmyne degre

as ware my prestfr but recouere

& godis, J>at ]^ai can honoure,

with ]>e gret temple }?u gert fal

& be brynt in powdre smal.”

sad george: “ be-hald }>ane & se

]>at }h godis mye/zt nocht helpe Jjc.”

}?ane dacyane nere tynt for tene,

& til his wyf gretly cazz mene,

J>at alysandzV to name had, 745 hou J?at he wes mat & mad

& disconfyt vtrely

be george & his sorcery.

sad scho : “ al wikit mezz, be ware!

haf I nocht sad of[t]-tyme ere 750

])at ]?u suld na wa fellon be

to cz-zstis men in ony degre;

for ]?ar god of sic mye/zt is,

& sa wondzz-ly for J>ame fichtis,

]?at ]zai ma noe/zt ourcuzzzyne be? 755

for-]zi, trewly, I tel ]?e

}>at I to cz-z'ste & his lay

sal sezme trew[l]y & lef ]ze ay.”

& for scho sad sa, dacyane

736. quhilk fare.

725

73°

735

740

751. fat fai suld.


sic sorow in his hart has tane, 760

& sa abaisit set al stil,

]?at he cuth sa na word hyr<? til.

Fol. 265 b. hot at laste with ewile chere

he sad til hyr: “ myn hart dere,

allace for wa! quhat aylis he 765

hat soroful tale to tel me,

of quhaw I wend haf mast ese,

& oure al thing suld me plese,

& now is fra me sudendly

hus falline, I ne wax. quhy, 770

bot gyf sume crfstine ma« had he

ourcha?zgit his for to lef me.

no^t-hane repent he sone, & I

sal haf of he for luf mercy.”

quod scho: “hi raercy byd I nocAt, 775

for I on god has set my thozr/zt,

na gyfis no^t of he a leke,

na of hi fare heicht, na of hi spek.”

hane gert he men but man? hang hyre hey vpe be he hare, 780

& dingg hir sa but pytte,

hat i^ wes soroful for to se.

sanctc george Jmu, hat stud nere by,

hyr confort; & scho pytuisly

be-held hyme hat nere \an wes, 785

& sad: “ hu licht of suthfastnes,

quhat trewis hu sal be of me

gyf I de in sic degre

vnbaptyst jet?” with gud chere

sancte george sad : “ cyst/r dere, 790

dred no^t! for scheding of hi blud

sal be to he baptysme gude,

quhare-thru he cron resaf sal ]>ou

of martir&ome, I tel he now.”

770. I ne quhat quhy. 782. pat is wes.

XXXIIL—GEORGE. 199

& as he hyr }ns [had] talde, 795

]>e spret vn-to god scho jald.

ambrose, to ]ns mais witnesi«g,

in his preface wit/i vthz> thizzg

sais: “ har^-for of perse ]>e quene,

hat baptysme jet ban mad nocht clezz, 800

thru wikit sentence of a fel mazz

tholit payne & slane wes ]mne,

throu mek tholyng of passione

seruit in hewine til haf he crone

thru he outjetyng of hyre blude, 805 wzt/z martins worthy and gude.”

syne one he mome his dacyane

gert george of presone be tane,

& broofo befor hyme, quhare [hat] he

set in myddfr of he cyte, 810

& one hyme gef sentence fellone, Fol. 266 a. for til draw hyme throu he ton,

bundine hand & fete rye At save,

til he til he place cuzzzyne ware,

quhare gylty men tholyt he dede, 815

& hare hai suld hyme vnhede.

& his byding hai cazz fulfil.

bot quhezz he come he sad place til,

george askit hame delay, til he mycht his pray ere say. 820

hane hai his askine gz-antit rath, hazz gat he on his kneis bath,

& prayt god for his pyte,

hat quha-euz> in necessite

askit his helpe, hat he suld hafe 825

quhat-euzV it ware he suld crafe.

hane wes herd of he hewine

a voice hat sad hyme -with hey stewyn,

819. but delay.


]?at god his askine had hyme tyde

for paim ]?at hyme wonrhy[p] dyde. 830

sancte george, hat \an fayne wald be

of fleschlyk pressone here mad fre,

prayt ]>e basar to fulfil

he thing hat bydding wes hym til.

& [he], thor^t his hart wes sare, 835

Vnhedit hyme but ony mare.

& his wyse dacyane made

of george offerand to god, hat had

har-of daynte, & til hyme sone

his mykil welth gaf in to wone, 840

wit/i al hame quhawfore he wald pray,

to duel with hyme but terme day.

& dacyane, as his wes don,

towart his palace went sone,

& hyme ourtuk son godis yre. 845

fore fra ]>e hewine hare com a fyre,

& brynt hyme in-[to] poudre smal,

& hame hat semit hyme with al.

& hat tyrand mad sic endynge,

ho he of mychXXy perce was kinge; 850 for he cesit noe/it to verray

he king of hewine & cristis fay.

& his manvel, ]>at here tel I,

wes done in-to dyaspoly,

he nynt kalendzV of maij ewinly, 835

fra crz'st tuk flesch of oure body

twa hurdre ^eris foure score & sewine,

In lowing of god of hewine

Fol. 266 b. & in ekyne of crzstine fay,

hat ay, he mare, I dare say, 860

hat slane war ore tholit sic sare for god, ay grew mare & mare;

for of a mariyre he pynynge

830. worthy dyde. 840. welth far in to wone.


of a thousand wes wy/mynge.

as fel of sancte george, "pat on a day 865

fourty thousand wane to }>e fay,

outakine wemen & juwg fry, }?at als-a mony ware suthfastly.

[h]ane gude men mad with cure

for s: george fare sepulture, 870

& tresour als, or ]>a.i wald irke,

& til hyme mad a ryale kyrke,

& ordenyt prestre hare to be,

to serwe god in hare degre,

in honoure of hat martir lele, 875

hat to ful mony gyffis heile,

hat ony honoure dois hym til,

ore semis hyme in dewot wil.

of hyme gregor he turoy# sais

a merwale fel in his days; 880

hat me« for deuocione,

quhare he lyis, com to he ton,

& gat away prywely

of his relykzk a party,

& passit one fast away, 885

til hai had he hcht of day.

& he nye^t hai cuth duel

with hat tresoure in a chapele,

& mad hame ayrly on he morn

of hat place it [til] haf borne; 890 bot hai stere it ne mocht,

til hai hai»z syne wmthoe/zt

hat of his corse wes he wil

hat a pony suld byd stil.

& richt sa haf hai done, 895

& with he remanent sone

paissit [hai] hare way al fre,

872. ryole Kyrke. 879. george J>e turoyw.


for george wald pare honount be.

& sa it wes; for but [a]bade

a costlyk kyrk of hym wes mad. 900

ane vthyr merwale als fand I

of antyoche in pe story,

quhe^z cmtine men tuk on hande

Fol. 267 a. to recouer J>e haly lande,

fra sarasenis it had tane, 905

[J>at] come eftym waspacyane

& tytus, his son, pat land wane,

& put J>e lowis of it pane-,

& cr/stine men nere-hande

had recouerit pe haly lande, 910

outane )>e ton anerly

of lerusaleme, pat was mychtty

pane par schupe paim it to ta,

& J>arfor gret aparele caw ma,

& stalouartly ]?ame set 915

It to wyne but ony lete.

pane til a preste of lyf clere

Jus loyful martyr caw apere,

far & jing, in arrays dicht,

in al thing as it ware a knye/A, 920

berand J>e scheld of silufr schene

of gwlis vfit/i a croice but wene,

& sad J>at george wes his name,

J>at come to kepe J>e oste fra schame,

& als but tynsale of J>are men; 925

“for-Ju J>u do as I J’e kene.

J>is is, quhene J>ai assaut sal ma,

to J>e ton gere J>aiwz mt/i }>ame /a

of my relykis a porcione,

& I sal be before ]?ame bowne

in-to J>is sawzmyne aray, J>at now

J>ou seis me haf, I sekyre 30U.”

900. wes med. 928. wiih |)ame ga.

93°

XXXIIL—GEORGE. 203

Jjane }>e prest [has] tald ]?is tale

to ]>e ledar^ of ]>e oste al hale.

&, as he bad, sa haf )>ai done,

& schupe ]?ame til assa^e sone,

& set pare leddens til pe wal.

Bot hardy wes nane of J>ame al

a ledyr [to] set to pe hicht;

sa stythly Innuch can pai ficht;

til at pe last J>ai saw apen?

a kny^t in arrays, fair£ & clere,

•with a red croice in pe schelde,

pat beknyt paim pat \\ym behelde,

pat pai suld folou hym gud-spede.

& pai pat did, ful gud J^at nede,

& wane ]je ton w/t/z stark hande,

& al pe sara^ynns, pai fande,

Fol. 267 t>. but pyte pa strak done,

& thru his helpe sa wan pe ton.

now to ]>is martin pray I,

to god, pat is [sa] dere worthy }?at he his . . . tyd hyw for al

pai in ned wil one hym cal,

he til god wil for ws pray

to hewynis blis pat we came ma.

953. The fourth word is illegible. It looks like “ verre like “voice” and would read “bone.”

954. & in ned.

935

940

945

95°

955

: Horstmann says

XXXIV.—PELAGIA.

T’E tel wil I a tale here,

]7at men suld haf jarni^g to here,

hou ]ye my^tty kyng of hewine,

}>at althing mad in dais sewy/z,

is redy ay til resawe hyme 5

Jiat vtrely wil lef his syne,

of his mysdide hafand hert sare,

in wil to mysdo nomare,

& syne amendis fore to make,*

& mekis hyme for cn'stis sake, 10

as I sal be ensampil tel

hou of a womazz quhile It befel.

JN antyoche, J>e nobil ton,

a woma/z duelt of [gret] renon;

of Riches, kyne, & of bewte 15

wes nane lyk hyre in Jzat cyte.

a luflyare thing myr/zt be nane

be nature mad of flesch na bane,

fore hare schenand as gold scho hade,

wztA teyndzV fassone & forred brade, 20

with browis brent and [ene] brycAt,

& nese mesurit al }zat rycht,

I. First letter wanting, ere tel wil I.

* Lines 9 and 10 are transposed in MSS.

XXXIV.—PELAGIA. 205

wa^tande nathing of bewte,

Jjat in a womaw suld fu«dy« be.

& ay wftA sa costly aray 25

scho had, ]?at I suld Irk to say,

& of schere schape, & syndri wise,

]?at maistrf war^ it to dewise;

sa be ony ma«is sycht

scho lyk wes [til] ane angel brycht, 30

thru clere gold & prauuse stanis,

Jiat sa cler<? schane at anys.

& wftA sic kynd of spicery

scho ewnoyntit wes Ithawdly,

\>at, quhar scho jed or stud in stret, 35

Fol. 268 a. }>e fluyre mad ]?e ayr al swete. & befor hyr ay J>are went

four 3u«g me#, gay and gent,

& mady#nis in ]?e sa#miy# degre

folouyt hyre in gret plente, 40

wele arayt and rychely

in clethinge ]>at wes ry^t costly.

bot scho }>at welth & )>at beute

myspendit in sic degre,

}>at quha-sa-eu/# gef hir maste, 45

suld haf his wil of hir in haste;

for scho had e to nocAt ellis

bot, as me# ]>at chafer? sellis, J^at quha-sa wald mast hir gefe,

of erand suld ereste eschewe. 50 sa of sic cause, fore inwy,

& als fore luste of lychery,

su#* me# ware slane, su;# begare made,

su#* tynt for hyr al ]>at ]?ai hade;

for scho in sic luste ay 55

in lyk redy wes to play,

& hat wy#nyng wes lang hir plucht,

]>o scho had ellis gud Inuch.


[]}]ane hapnyt to cum to ]>aX ton

a haly xaun of gud renone, 60 ]jat verone had to name, alsa

]>e bischope of damyata;

be quhilk, as he com ga^gand by

& bis woma« be-held grathly,

gret richt sam, be-cause [bat] scho 65

far mar besynes cane do

to enplese to Jns warld, ba^ he

did enplesand to god to be.

for-bi he one be cause fel, & gret sure & loude cun jel, 70

& one be erde froittit his face,

& sichtand sam ofte sad: “ alace !

almy<r/ztty god, bu spam to me

bat neuzr a day cuth serwe be,

for be apparale of a day 75

of bis hyr hem now se I ma,

has ouromyne hale be slyc/zt,

bat I in [al] my lyf do myc/it;

na of hyr bis thol no^t be ray cozzfonde me one domysday, 80

quhene I sal present be

Fol. 268 b. befor bine awful maieste. for 3one hyr, for warldly wyzzis,

enhornis hyr with alkine thingw

to be to men ma be plesande; 85

bot, b° I suwz tyme tuk on hande

to serwe god ay inmortale,

I falje of my purpose hale,

& lefit of my reklesnes

to serwe hyme, as I haldyw wes.” 90

bane sad he to be gudmezz, stud by: “ gudmezz, I tell 30U suthfastly,

bat be last day of lugment

hir bis sal god [ger] be present

76. of f)is hye. cf. 1. 83. 88. my reprise. 89. & lefit oft.


a-gayne ws, quhe« he sal deme 95 quyk and ded, as hym think quew;

for scho has set hale hyr wil

hyr lufam here til enples til,

& fore pat cause hyr payntfr, sa

hat farare nane one erde ma ga; 100

& we, pat suld god plese maste,

cure verray spouse, rekfr noe^t a laste

hou foule ore vnfaire we be

in pe sicht of his maieste,

& sollit in pe filth of syne, 105

noe/zt witand quhezz we hyzz twyzz.”

his men pane tuk hym vpe but bade,

& to his Inys sone hyme hade,

& [he] fore slepe jede til his bede

fore werynes, as he was clede, no

& fel one slepe. & hyme thocht, he

a-beoufe hyme suld a hlak dou se ])ar rycht faste flichterande,

& thocht do mes he suld stande,

& byd pam pat vnhowine ware, 115

hat pai suld ga har gat but mare;

& hat, [as] he his word can say,

hat stinkand blak dow wan away;

& quhezz he had his mes al done,

as hyme thoe/zt, it apperit sone, 120

&, thocht he, pe dow he gat

& put it in a wattzV fat,

& it gat out quhyt & faire,

& flaw vpe quyt in he ayre.

& he waknyt, & did his dede, 125

& til his dreme tuk gud hede.

[t]o he maste kirk ane ohz> day, har to preche, he tyk h/s way,

Fol. 269 a. quhare he gretaste of he towne

112, a blad dou se. 114. domes he suld.


assemlyt to se his serraone. 130

& he prechit sa wele ]?aim til,

]?at J>ai til here hym had gud wil;

for£ quhe« J>are crz'styne ware

]>at he ne gert repent ]5ame sare,

haffand rycht gret delyte 135

of }>are sy^nis to be quyte.

& namely [bis] pelagya

of hyr syne hir repentit sa,

J>at of case cu;/zyne wes ]>axe

& herde hyme; jet gret scho sare, 140

& fra be smnone wes done,

scho send lean's til hyme alsone, quhare-[in] sic wordis scho wrat bane :

“to byschope veron, be baly man

& cn'stis leile prentyse alsa, 145

be wikit woma;2 pelagya,

discipile of be feynde verray.

gyf it be suth bat I here say,

bat cr/ste, to sauf sinful man,

of hewyne lichtyt in woma/z, 150 & bu bis suthfast przhtese be,

rycht as he did, bu rew of me,

bat now forthinkis sare myn syne,

in gude wil barof to blyne.”

& he agane til hir fut hate 155

sic a \ettke til hyre wrate :

“wzt/£ hartly wil I pray to be

bu fande noc/zt my humylite,

fore I ame bot a sympil man.

bot gyf bou Bamis ocht be \an 160

be my teching schewit be,

me alane bu sal me se,

bot before sic bat witnes may

quhat I sal do to be ore say.”

137. of pelagya. 139. >at scho of case.


& quhen ]?is le*Vr scho red hade,

til hyme scho come but abade,

& flatly [d]one [fel til] his fete, & \vz't/z Yiyre term cazz ]?aizzz wete,

& sad, gretande ful increly:

“ pelagia callit ame I;

for pelagia vndozzf )>us,

ma wele callit be pelagus,

& ]?at vndone is for to say

J>e sey, }>at is doutowise ay.”

Fol. 269 b. (for-]u scho lyknyt hyr<? Jzar^-til be-cause scho gert mony spil)

“fore I of fule ame ]?e suelth,

]?at has noe^t anerly my-selfe

sonkjme in syne vnhapely,

bot mezz but nozzzbre als haf I

gert synk in-[to] ]?e suelth of syne,

throu my entysing, & fra god twyzz.

fo[r] I haf bene dissaweful nete,

]>aX. }>e feynde sere sawlze has gert gete,

& sa feile has send til hel,

}zat I cane nocht ]>e nozzzbre tel.

Jzat now me wlatzr sa myzz syne

]zat I for-sak it mare & myne, & prais ]ze for godis sake

bat >u me penytezzt wald take

& to Iheeu reconforte me,

]?at fore me deit one be tre.

& for bat cause, I wele kene,

in erde he come, be-cause of mezz.”

be byschope of hyr had pyte,

& sad bane : “ quhat cal bai be ? ”

& scho ansuere til hyzzz cazz ma:

“mezz callis me pelagya,

bot of my clethinge for beute,

171. vndoiwgez.

i65

1 70

175

180

185

190

r9S

VOL. II. 190. petnytent. 194. man.

O


margaret, men callis me, 200

for I fore pompe is sa costlike,

J>at nane vthir^ is me lyke.”

]>e bischope of veroii, as gud ma«,

til mercy hir resawit ]?ane,

&, co^siderande hale hyr^ chance, 205

Iniui'zgit hyr heileful pezznance,

& of wanehope put hire oute,

& tacht hyre hou scho god suld dozzt, & of cure treutht J>e articlis xij

he hyr tacht distinctly hywz-selfe, 210

& syne ]?e sacraments sewine

quhar-throu we s^me god of hewyzz,

& syne ]>e commaundmentis tene,

]>at god mad for to teche men.

& he taucht hyre w/t/z-al 215

It we J>e sewine wrtuise cal;

& J>e dedis of mercy

he [hir] taucht al parfytly;

& quhilk ware ]>e syzmis sewine,

J>at lattis man to cum to hewine 220

he tacht hir, & of tonge }>e syne

Fol. 270 a. he bad hyr forbere mare & myne; & in ]>e name syne in al haste

of fad/r & sone & haly gaste

he baptyste hyre, & mad clene 225

of al hyr firste syzznis bedene. & of hyre, ]>at before was

J>e herbry of sathanas,

he mad able fore to wyne

]?e grace of god & to lefe syne. 230

}>e feynde J>arfor hye can cry,

]>at mony herde, ful vgly:

“ alace! I thole but defence

208. scho god suld dot- 213. cotfzmaundmedw.

XXXIV.—PELAGIA.

of hyme ]ns aid gret wyolence,

]?at is faljit ner^ for^ elde,

& rewis me my blis & belde;

wa be be day quhare-in ]>u.

wes borne bat bus cowtrarw me now ! for^ bu has refte me thru bi tale

hyr<?, quhaw-in my hope wes hale,

fra god & his grace, to twyne

feile saulis thru hyre for bur syne.”

be byschope bad Ytym \a.n bine fle

in be name of be trinite.

bane langare durste he [bar] no^t byde,

bot fled away & hyme cara hyde.

syne tyd a rvychx. pelagya

to slepe to hir bede cane ga;

& as scho halfe slepand lay,

be feynde apperyt befor day,

& waknyt hyre al opynely,

& sad: “ my laydy margrate, quhy

has bu lewit me, my dere, sa sone?

quhare-in haf I be mysdone ?

haf I noch\. ryches gewine be,

& warldis plesance in plente,

& glore Inuch and ennorment,

to ger be cuw to bine entent,

& al delyte & alkyne ese,

bat I trewit mycht be enplese?

& gyf I hafe wrethit be in ony thing, bu tel It me,

& I sal It amende in hy,

bat bi lykine wtrely,

sa jet bu lef nocht me

to gere me eufr schamyt be 'Kith cmtine mew, to mak hethinge

of me as of a bysniwge thing.”

bane sone one hyre be croice scho made


Fol. 270 b. & bleu one hyme ; & he but bade 270

ourcuzwyne wanyste away.

& scho ]?ane one ]>e thryd day

hale hyr gud to-gyddz> brocht,

reseruand til hyr richt nocht,

& delt it al ymang poun? mene, 275

thru grace J>at god cane til bir lene.

& eftyr Jmt away scho stal

be ]?e nycht, vnwittand al,

and to Ipe hil of olywete

went przuely, one hz> bar^ fete, 280

& sa did )>at ]?at scho gat tyte

}>e clething of ane aid Iwemyte,

& gerte mak hyre a litil cel.

)>ar-in anerly scho ca« duel,

doande pezmance in abstinence, 285

& serwit god [ay] but offence,

sa of hyr rane ter }>e fame;

& mezz wend at hz> name

frer pelag[i]us ay had bene,

a mazz of haly lyf & clene. 290

a dekine, ]>at wes vpe-bror/zt with bischope veron, hyzzz bethor^t

in pylgz'zinage ]?at he wald ga

to lerusaleme & placis ma,

sa ]zat pzzz-done he mycht wynz 295

& get forgifnes of his syne,

& to be bischope his entente

tald, before he furth wente.

& [he] sad hyme: “quhezz Jm has bene

in haly placzr & Jzame sene, 300

eftz> pelagius \u sper^,

]?at is a full haly frer<?,

& suthfastly is s^zmand ay

287. sa of hyr J>ane for. 301. to spere.


to god of hewine nyr/zt & day! ”

]?at wit/i gud wil & benysone 305

of his maister he went of ton, & trawalit sa, ore he cuth reste,

}>at to lerusaletne he com firste,

& syndry plac/V ]?are has sene, quhare Ih«u cmte hyw-self had ben, 310

& fra Jnne one his bare fete

to }>e hill callit of olywete.

& as J>are he fand percase

quhare frere pelagius wes.

& as he hyr }>are has sene, 315

& wenand a man scho had ben, Fol. 271 a. he knew hyre noe^t—sa wes scho made

of abstinence falow & fade;

bot scho knew hyme rye/A wele,

& let[it] hyme rvochx. wit a dele, 320 bot speryt at hyme gyf kend he hade

a bischope quhare he duelling made,

sad he : “ 3ey.” & scho sad ]?ane :

“for suth, he is a haly mane.

bruthyre, to hyme )>are-for ye say 325

]?at he til god for me wil pray.”

son went he til )>e ton ewyne;

& ]>e thryd day he come agane

as he befor did, to }?e sel, quhare frere pelagius can duel, 330

& knokit ]>at ]>e dure, but hare

wes nan in it wald ansuere.

for-]n [to] >e wyndow he socht, & gat It vpe as he best mocht,

& saw he f[r]ere dede lyand hare.

& went agane \an but mare,

& tald he byschope hou hat he

he frere dede in his sel can se.

317. & knew hyre.

335


}?e bischope pan with his clergy

Come to J>e sel in grete hy, 340

to mak exequies

for J?at cors, as custuw was;

for ]?ai wist wele but wene

pat he al tyme haly had bene.

bane reuerently of god with doute 345

]pai brak be sel & had hym oute,

& fand pat it wes a woma«,

quhare-of ferly bai had bane,

fore-bi [to] god gret thank bai ^alde,

& bis rnad kide til m«g & aide, 350

hou god vertu in womene

quhile set, ry^t as in mene.

be body syne in erde bai lade,

& deput smiice fore It sade

eftzr be oyse of haly kirke, 355

bat sa to do sal nocht Irke.

& be obyt be-tyd of hyre

be audit day of octobre

twa huwdre ^eris fou[r]score & tene

fra cmte come yma^g men. 360

as medyatrz'ce hyr wil I sende

Fol. 271 b. to god, bat mad sic ende eftyr sa wikit begyzznynge,

bat we ma here mak sic endynge,

& of bis lyfe bat we twyne 365

but det, schame, & dedly syne.

XXXV.—THADEE.

4 F haly faderis in J>e lyfe

ane wthyre tale I fand ryfe,

of thadee, Jmt licht wome« wes

& richt brukil of hyr£ flesche.

fore scho wes of sic bewte

]?at It ma noc/it compr/sit be.

for mony said al ]?at J>ai hade,

& clerly }>ame begarfj made;

sa 3arnyt ]>a.i hyr wil to wyne,

for hyr bewte, wit/t hyre to syne;

& scho wes ay redy to take

quha wald ]>e firste payment mak.

& one hyr J>ai ware sa thra hat oft-tyme ]>a.\ cane vtb.tr sla;

fore-]?i of hyre house entre wald of[t] of blud be-ron«yn be. )>ar-for, mysoysit beute

dois II ofte, me« ma se.

ane vthyre thin^ als is sene, J>at gud accorde seldine has be?z

betwene fames & chastyte,

in quhat persone hat hai be.

[qjuhene pawnicius, he aide

abbot, herd sic talis talde,

of hyr, in hart, he had pyte,

I. Initial letter wanting. 19. think.


& tho<^t he wald pase hyxe to se;

& J?arrfor gert he get hyme J>ane

}?e habyt of a lawyt mane,

& ferfyit hyme semand to be

ful of loy & lolyte, 30

& w/t^ a pound of gold one went,

in egipe quhare scho ]?a« lente,

& speryt richt son til hyre in,

& tretyt m\.h hyre fors to syne,

& let byre wit he gold hade. 35

& scho ]>e. fare mare of Yiym made,

& scho ]je gold sone has tane,

& in a chawmzV with hyme gane.

J?are a bed wes wynely dicht,

couent of clathis ful bricht, 40

& sad hyme : “3ondz> )m sal ly,

Fol. 272 a. & I sal cum to }>e in grete hy,

& thole ]?e wyrk al ]?i wil.”

J>ane he eschamyt sad hz> til: “gyf ]>u wil I dele with Ipe, 45

led me quhare It is maste pn'ue! ” bane til a chawmzV scho hyz/z lede

mare przue, wz‘t/z a costlyk bede.

& he, to syne }’at nocht liste,

sad til hyre as he dide firste. 50

Jjane til a chawmzV mare pz'zwe

scho leide hyme. & ]>a.n sad he,

}>a/ he dout had to be sene,

bot gyf he Innermare had bene.

J>ane til a chawmzV stithly made, 55

}>e maste pz-zue }>at scho hade, yzzare-in al hyre tresoure wes

for przuete & sekyrnes,

scho led hyme & sad: “ here ]?u may

but dout of ony mazz ]?e play, 60

29. & ferme. 53. ]>ane he. 57. pare in.

XXXV.—THADEE. 217

bot gyf ])u dredis god of mycht,

}?at al thing has in til his sycht,

fra quha?« ma na prnvete

thru slicht na mycht co^seilite be.”

}>a« sad he: “douchtzV, & wat ]ju 65

]?is is suth ]m sais me now,

J?at god ma se althinge }?at is

wro^t?” & scho sad: “3a, I-wyse,

I treu ]?at god is, & his ryke

Is stedfaste lestand ay in lyke, 70

& als, J>at sinful in til hel

tholand torment sal ay duel,

& als, Jd god sal gyf gret mede

to bame bat hyme here of has drede.”

bane sad he: “gyf bu ke«nis bus, 75 quhy has bu done sa gret myse

& has sa mony saulis tynte,

& 3et of syne wil nor^t stynte?

fore quhais [saulis] bu mon reknynge

3eld, [as] strate as for b'ne, 80

& be condampnyt als wele

for bame as for ])i awne tynsele.”

& quhe^ scho [had] herd bis tale

he recordyt til hyre al hale,

wit/i sare hart scho breste one grete, 85

& flatlyngw fel done til his fete,

& prayt hyme fore godis sake hyr for hyre syne to pewnance take,

Fol. 272 i. sayande : “ I trew, thru pennance,

gret god sal spare to tak vengeance; 90

for-bi, fadz>, bu pray fore me bat I to pezmance worthy be !

& bare-to, fadz>, I ]>e pray

grant me thre oum of bis day,

& fra biue I sal redy be

to gange quhare-sa bu bydzV me.” 95


& he but man? tyd hyre bowne,

& tald hyrfi quhar^ scho suld aim sow.

& scho xychX foroutyne bade

assemlyt J?at scho wownyne hade 100

w/t/i be pr/ce of hyre lustful flesch,

res^mand na-thing, mare na les,

& in be myddis of be cyte

brocht furth hale, quhare mew mychi se,

quhar£-in scho had sa gret desyn?, 105

& brynt it al in til a fyn?,

bartone behaldand mony maw,

bat bar-of hed ferly bane.

& wffc# hye voice cryit scho:

“je bat has sywnyt wzt/z me, lo, no

behald & se hou I sal bryne

be pr/ce of joure stinkand syne ! ”

be quhilk pr/ce forout wene

Wes foure huwdre pownd of gold clew.

& as al bis wes brynte, 115

scho passit furth but ony stynt

one-to bat place but abade, quhare be abbot bydine hade,

& hyr [he] met ban? but delay,

& gert byre cum till ane abbay, 120

quhan? haly nuwis caw duel,

& closit hyr ban? in til a sel,

sa narow bat wz't/z vnhese

myc/it scho hyrz? turne b^t ony ese,

& closit be dun? sekyrly, 125

& selyt it w/t£ led in hy, & lefit a hole quhare mew mo^t

reke hyn? mete, as bame thoc/it,

rt’wiurand baiwz al of be stede,

bat bai suld gyf hyn? ocht but bred, 130

& set at It lytil warn,

129. & cflraiurand.

XXXV.—THADEE. 219

& lytil vattzV far<? and cler^.

& as )>e abbot held away,

scho callyt [hym] & cane hyw say:

“fadzr, tel me quharz? I sal 135

be esit o}>z> grete ore smal?”

Fol. 273 a. sad he : “ bot quhare ]?u Is,

& in na nothyre place I-wyse;

for ]>u is noc/it worth til hafe

vthyr place, sa god me safe.” 140

jet cane scho til hyme say:

“ fadere, tel me hou I sal pray

god my syne to forgyfe me?”

sic wordis }>ane til hyre sad he:

“}>u art nochi worthy for to newine 145

Ipe name of }>e god of hewyne,

na ^et ]>i lyppis suld nochi be

opnyt to pray ]>e tr/nite,

na \\ handis sal noe^t lyfte

wpwart to god fore }>ine ofthrifte; 150 for Jjame of[t] fylyt has J>u

of It Jm suld schame of now.

& ])i lyppis, gyf ]?u cane se,

are fylyt of iniquite.

bot one J>i kneis sittand ay 155

to ]?e est ]>ir wordis ]m say:

“}>u }>at of nochi has fourmyt me,

of me haf reutht, fore ]?i pyte! ”

[a]nde has scho had bene ]?are

]>e space of thre jerze & mare, 160

pazznicyus ]>e haly man

Compacience had of hyre ]?ane;

& to trawele wes nocht suere

til sazzcte antone, for til spere

gyf god of his mercy J>ane 165

for-gyfine had to >at womazz


]?e trespas that scho had done,

& tald It til hyme al \wi sone.

sancte antone )>ane gert hy/« cal

for ]jat his disciplis al,

& cowmawndit J>ai»z to wak ]>at nyr/A,

& pray to god at al ]?are myc^t,

>e [thing] to }>ame fore til declen?,

]?at pa«nacius had in wer£;

J>at wes : gyf god had forgyffine

to thadee hyr fellone syne.

]mt nycht ]?ai wouke besyly,

& prayt god ful increly,

to lat ]>ai»2 wit quhar<?-for ]?ai

schupe }>ai«! sa besyly to pray,

bane ane, paulus to name,

];>at a ma« wes of ful gud fame,

& als antonyus pnnteise,

be worthyaste & be maste wice,

til hewine dressit hart and sychtj

& saw bare-in a bed be-dicht,

Fol. 273 b. sa costlyk & of sic beute bat he had wondz> it for to se.

& th[r]e madyanis he saw dicht,

kepand bat bede vondzV brycht,

sa ferly fare that al devyse,

bat mams wit mycht neu/r compr/se

bat mikil beute fore to say. & I sal tel [^u] quhat ware bai:

ane wes be drede, bat al & sume

suld hafe, of payne bat is to cum,

bat drew hyre fra hyre mykil II.

be tobzV madyne wes bar-til,

be schame of syne scho had done,

bat purchesit hyr pardone alsom

& be thryd cystir bane wes,

be parfite luf of suthfastnes,

170

i75

180

185

190

I95

200

XXXV.—THADEE.

J>at brocht }ns thadee ful ewy«

one-to ])e mykil blis of hewyw.

]?ane paulyne askit }>ai mady«is bryc//t

gyf bat bede and bat grace wes dycht

for his maist^, antoyne ]>e aid.

& a voice ansuere jald

of god : “ antoyne aw it noc^t,

bot for thadee It is wror/zt.”

one be morne paulyn ]>is tald

til his maister, antoyne be aid,

& to pazznicius he wane

& tald hyme al bis tale baw<

& he but mare glad & blytA

held on hame and rycht suyth,

& sped hyme son to be sel,

quhare bat thadee ba^ caw duel,

& brak be dure, & sad: “ cuzzz oute,

for bu of payne sal haf na dout,

for god hale has forgyfine be

bi syzznis and iniquite.” jet prayt scho bat scho

mycht byd & mare pezznance do;

bot he wald nocftt thole It be sua,

bot wit A blith hart Air out can ta.

bane sad scho befor bame al:

“In to witnes god I cal,

bat, sene I come in ]>is place here,

al my syzznis ful and sere, I band as it a byme had bezz,

& layd it ay before myzz ene,

& gret for bame Ithandly, & thocAt one bame ful increly,

Fol. 274 a. considerande ay hou I had bene lang tyme sinful and vnclene,

& hou mony bat I tynte

207. antyone. 226. It out caw ta.

221

205

210

215

220

225

230

235


thru my ful syne, ore I stynt.”

J?e abbot J>ane til hyre can say:

“douchtzV, trew J>is wele J>u ma, 240

]?at for []?e] pe^nance is It no<r^t

]?at bu wtt/i sa gud wil has wrocht

J>at god has forgyffine ]h syne,

bot for^ be doute [bat] bu was in,

haffand ay drede hou bu raycht 245 apere before his awful sycht.”

bane tuk scho lef, & passit away.

& eftzV bat be fyftene day

to god of hewine scho jald be gaste,

bat it resawit in til haste, 250

& bro^t hyn? to bat bede sa brycht,

b«t, I tald 30W, fore hir wes &ych\,

quhare scho but end sal be

in gret loy and angel gle;

& bare scho helpe ws to wine 255


244. bout fore })e doute Jnis was in.

XXXVI.—IOH[A]N[E]S BAPTISTA.

N lofe of patrzarkis al,

and of J?ame ]?at we prcphetzV cal,

spedful warf to say suz« thinge

of sancte lohne in ]?e lofynge.

quhilk, we rede, had names ma. 5

& ane of ])ame wes pr^pheta,

for,? he wes J^e maste treu pwphete,

]?at of Ihi?ru spak; & jete

of }>e spouse callit ]>e lewmane,

for gret luf god gef hym }?ane. 10

& candel wes he callit ryc^t,

for he bror/zt synful to l?e sicht.

angele als callit wes he, fore kepyng of wrginite.

and voice als callit he wes, 15

of his spek for gret meknes;

& elyas wes callit []mr]-til. til crzste had he sa hartly wil,

als ]?ai callit hyme baptyste,

for crzste of hyme howine be liste. 20

& he wes callit for-cmm

of cz-zste, & als forgazznam.

J>e byrth of sancte John, gabnel,

& name, to jacharie, cane tel.

& it is red of dauid kynge, 25

1, Capital wanting.


Fol. 274 b. jarnande til eke godis lofing

four & twenty presto made,

to S£me god in to sic hade;

& ane of }?ame sine gert he cal

]>e hye prince of }>a prestzr al. 30

& of J>is nowmzV sexten were

of ]>e kyne of elea^are,

& als of ytamaris kyne

war ordenit aucht ]?at order in.

& ane of as cut wald fal, 35

his owk a-bout suld seme al.

til abias ]?e aucht owke commonly fel, as sais the buke,

of quhais kyne ^acharias

& elijabeth, his wyf, was. 40

and bath ware barane for elde,

na had na barne pare thi«g to weld.

jet ware pai gud and rychtwise,

plesand to god in al wyse.

& tyd J>is jachary, as ane 45

of he presto, wes in he tezzzpil gazz,

by hym ane, til incense pe altere.

til hyme cazz gabz-zel apere,

he puple bydande jet h^-oute.

& jachary of hyme had dout; 50

bot he bad hyme haf na dred

of hyme, bot tak gud heide,

for he wes send to tel hyzzz but were

hat god wele herd [had] his prayere,

& sad hyme, a son get suld he, 55

hat to name lohfi callit suld be,

& mony mezz suld mak myrth

& loy he tyme of his byrth;

“ before god gret mazz sal he be,

&, of modz> wame ore cuzzz he,

he haly gaste sal be hyzzz in,

4

60

XXXVI.—BAPTISTA. 225

J>at sal kene hym to distroy syn;

& mony so«nis of Israel

]>at lang tym in god[is] sluice nocht ca« duel,

to god, J>ar lord, turne sal he, 65

& sagat thru hyme sawit be;

wyne & cesare he ne sal drinke,

bot before god he sal wele suynke

in spryt & vertu of hely.”

as suw* glos sais, lo, ]?e cause quhy: 70

“for he sal duel in wild/rnes

as hely did til he here was;

& lytil sal he reke of mete

Fol. 275 a. as did hely, }>ocht he myc/it gete;

& he sal cled be mar roydly, 75

& arskare als }>ane wes hely;

& als hely wes for-ry«nere

of luge }>at awful sal apere,

sa ]?is lohne sal for-ry«nare be

of hyme }>at sal ws sauf on tre; 80 in skaldand word luf god sal hay,

belyk, for Ipare word sal be ay

of suthfaste teching fore desyre

to he folk as a brund of fyre.”

& quhe# jachary al hale 85

had herd he angel tel his tale,

re«sid«^and hat he & his wyfe

barand ware bath fore lynth of lyfe,

mystroit hus, & hare-fore he

askit takine hou his moofct be. 90

quod he : “ fore ]m trewis nocht

to his bodword I he brocht,

hu sal be dume til hat hu se

hi barne. his takine I gyf he.” syne, quhe/z furth come jachary 95

to he puple, hai wiste in hy

a visione he sene hade, VOL. 11. p


be ]?e beknynge he made.

& he duelt du/« til iym wes gane

of his office, & syne went hame. 100

& his wyf consaw/’t \z.n sone,

& wist scho wes \siih barne but hone.

bot scho conseilit neu2>-]?e-les

fywe moneth ]>at scho with barne wes,

haffand schaw }>at mew suld meyne 105

scho sa auld wit A barne suld bene.

no<r/A-]?ane blyt/z scho bad at hame,

fore [scho] as barane suld haf na blame,

sen of spousal }>e reward is

barnis for til haf, I-wis. no

}>e sext moneth next in hy,

to spek wit/i hyxe come our^ lady

of luda, of a ton ]>a.re nem,

to mend hyre & hyre chem.

& mary, ]?at had }>ane hir in 115

rwzsawit of ]>e haly gaste but syne,

haliste hir quesing teynd/Hy.

& be ]>a.T tyd a gret ferly;

for^, quhew mary hire haluste hade,

}>e barne in hyr^ wame but bade 120

Fol. 275 6. agane kind mad loy in haste,

as fillit of >e haly gaste,

po kynd gef hyme no^t to speke,

na hand til his lord to reke,

as jarnande til hailis hyme, 125

pat come til do away al syne,

par-of elijabeth had ferly,

& sad pirn wordis son in hy:

“ ferly thing is pat I se

my lordis modir cum to me; 130

for, sene pi word thrillit myw ere,

pe barne pat in my wame I ben?,

123. pe kynd.

XXXVI.—BAPTISTA.

has mykil myrth, as I fele now,

Cusinge; )>are-for blissit be ]>u

}?at treutht gef to ]>e a«gele tale,

for J^at in J?e sal done be hale.”

“ Magnificat ” ]>3.n mary made

in lowing of god but abad,

& bad thre moneth in }at place,

till hir casing deliu^r was,

& mad hir s^mice mony gate,

as medwyfe in-to sic [a] state,

& wes }>e firste }>at in hand tuke

J>at blissit barne, as sais }>e buke. for-J>i suld men hym gretly price,

& lowe hym in mony wyse ;

for, as crz'ste sais, ]?e maste wes he

bat euz> wyf bar^ of dignite.

bar-for^ to worschipe is nocfit Irke

be day of his byrth haly kirke,

bat euz> jet wes grazztit to ma«,

sen bat haly kirk begane;

fore anerly of cr/ste be byrth

& of sancte lohne of mykil myrth,

al haly kirk has honourit ay,

& sal do til domysday. fore wyf, bat barane wes, John bare,

& a virgine, to couyre oure care,

consawit criste in hyre den flesch, scho vnuewzmyt neu/r-be-les.

for of eewsawing in mary

be oyse wes schewit ferlely;

for It is ferly gret to se

but ma« barne cozzsauit be.

elijabeth, bo scho wes bane

baren, bare lohn thru werk of man;

bot mary consauit but mare,

133. & I fele.


treuand J?e angel, & crhte bare.

elijabeth, of quha;« spek I,

Fol. 276 a. consauit mane al anerly;

bot mary myld bath god & man

consawit, ]?at ws fra wa wane.

3ete }>is lohne ful mykil Is,

in quhais lofing cmt sad }>is:

“ymang birthis }>at wema^ bare

])ane lohne baptiste vas nane mar^;

for he al vthym in )>at pwcedis,

& ewine is to }>ame in gud dedis;

for he oure-gais pwphet/r al

& patr/arkw }>at we cal.”

)>ane sum man ma sa please;

fore lohne of woman best bame -wes,

]>at lohfi ]>an cr/ste is worthian?,

as be }>is wordis can apere.

Nay: sen lohne is anerly

borne of woma« thru get kindly,

bot c^'ste of maydine is J>e birth,

}>at agayne kynd bar^ hym with myrth.

jet mad is comparisone

to cr/stis generacione,

for he of mams kynd tuk flesche,

beand god jete, as he was.

& Jus lohne be-fon? erfste wes sende,

for to mak men ]>are sy^nis mende.

& god gef hyme sic grace but won,

}>at sum men wende he criste had ben,

bot mekand hyme-self he can say:

“we al }>at borne ar^ to Jus day;”

J?at is to say, we euzVilkane,

“ part of his fullines has tane; ”

J;at is to say, propbetis al,

& patr/arkw J>at we cal,

183. ]>at erz'ste.

170

I75

180

t8S

190

X9S

200


& apostulis, & al }>e lafe,

]?at he send mankind to safe, othyre befor ]?at he tuk flesch

or sene }>at he borne wes,

of his gret fullynes has tane;

for of ]?ame-self grace }>ai had nan.

we ar weschele, bot wele is he,

J>at fillis all of his plente. for-}n, dere bruthzV, gyf )>at we

wil kene of hyme }>e pmiete,

treu, lohne wes ma« anfrly,

& cr/st god & ma« wes, suthfastly.

& man wes lawit & mad meke,

]?at crfste to hye hewine suld seke,

as ]jis lohne in his pwphecy

sad of cmte before opynly:

“it worthis hy;« to grew til hicht Fol. 276 A & me to lawnes [to] be dicht.”

& be-cause ]>at criste suld heit be,

]?at tyme of J>e jere borne wes he,

quhene ]?at J>e dais tak/r linthynge;

& lohne, quhe« )>ai tak wanynge.

gret pmiete is at ]?e birth

of sancte lohne we hald in myrth,

as we cristis natiuite

makis in loy & gastly gle; fore lohms birth, quha wil se,

betaknis oure humylite,

& cr/stis, & we sa richt,

be-taknis we sal cum to licht,

& in-to man lessit are we,

to god [}>at] we ma grewande be.

In oure-selfe we suld be meke,

]>at we }>e hicht of god mye^t seke.

& al sic pmiete I-wise

207. & of his.

205

210

2I5

220

225

230

235


in criste & lohn^e fulfillit is.

fore in takine of oure meknes,

sancte lobtfis heid of strzkine wes, 240

& cr/ste hye hangit one tre,

for mankind suld heit be.

als John Je propereste profit was

of al Jat aperit in ma«is flesch,

& of crfstis birth maste clere 245

prechit to men at Jat ty;« were,

& confermyt sawis al,

Jat vthire sad [had] gret & smal;

as schewyng hyme be spek of mouth

& be his fyngire mad hym cuth, 250

as quhew he sad Je puple to:

“godis awne la.ni amis here, lo,

Jat of Jis warld dois awai syn,

quhare-of na smyt is hyme In.”

here-fore wes Iohn«e but wene 255

Je beste profit Jat eufr had bene;

for he had grace criste to se,

command of hym til howine be.

& Jis Iohn«£, we spek of here,

Je first man [wes] but ony were 260

Jis sacrament Jat can begyne

in-to remissione of al syne.

bot his baptysme put nocht away

Je syne J>at men dois Jis day,

bot endusing makw men to 265 pe/mance for Jare syne to do;

for in his preching he can say:

Fol. 277 a. “ dois worthy froite of pe/mance ay,

for I tell 30U but ony were,

Jat hewy^nis kinrike cuwis nere.” 270 & Jat he prechit, he cane do,

Jat men mare treuth gef hym to;

fore ore he taucht baptysme to ma«


in hyme-selfe pewnance he bega/z,

& maTzis cozmersacione 275

he fled, & mad habitacione

in wildzVnes, & strat lyf leide.

for in-to arsk hare he wes clede,

with a belte of reucht skine made,

& wyld hony wes his lyflede, 280

& a thinge callit locusta,

]>at thinge for<? /ud he can ta.

for quhe« criste fra galilee

come to sanct? lohne howine to be

in-to l?e rywer<? of lordane, 285

)>at of twa wellis r\am had tane;

J>e tane “ lore,” J^e tcfyir “ dane ”

men callis ]?ame, as ]>ai did pan; & quhe« sancte lohne saw he com neve,

he sad with hye woice & with clere: 290

“ lo ! godis lame cum here to-day,

pat syne of Jns warld dois away;”

& with fyngir bekwyng mad he,

to gere men kene hyme & se,

& sad to crzste: “here cuwzis Jju 295

for to be baptiste thru me now,

& I of }>e suld be baptyste.”

ful mekly til hyme pan sad cmte :

“ thole me now! for It is my wil

al rychtwyse[nes] ])us til fulfil.” 300

sancte lohne hyme baptist pan but hone,

sene he wald haf it done.

& nere-hand al ]?a-t duelland ware

in-to pat land, baptyste ware pare.

& quhezz cz-zste of wattzV wane, 305

to pray deuotly he begane.

bot sic pnzyere he noe^t made

for hyme-selfe pat syne na« hade,

282. fore gud.


bot suthly it wes fore ]?e sake

of al J>ame J>at baptysme suld take, 310

bat >a mycht resaf clenly

be haly gaste & worth ely.

bar-w/t^ hopnyt be he hewine

abeofe, quhare cr/ste wes ewine,

Fol. 277 b. & sa gret clernes bare wes sene 315

bat nane mycht one It gowe with ene.

& be haly gaste bodely

in fourme of dow come sudenly,

& one his heide quhile sat stil,

& out of hewine spek hyme til 320

his fadens voice, bat al niyc/^t here:

“bis is my luffit sone & dere, In quhame it wele cowplefi me,

here hyme for-bi, for sik is he.”

& trewis bat it wes no^t in waste 325

bat, seand al, be haly gaste

lichtyt on hy;« bare, bot fore we

be bat c^rtyfit suld be,

bat quha hofine is, leste and maste,

resawis ba^ be haly gaste 330

vnsichtfully, to kepe hyw ay

of godis lacht in-to be way.

herod gert Iohn#e in presone caste,

be-cause he arguit hym sa faste

of herodyades, bat swa 335

his hawne b ruth re he had ta« fra,

& til his wyf wedit but skil,

agane law & godis wil.

& lohne, beand in presone,

of cristis warkis herd renone. 340

of his disciplis ]>a.n send twa, to criste, bis demand to ma :

“gyf bu be he bat cuwyne is

313. he ]>e hewine. 342. to crz'stine.

XXXVI.—BAPTIST A. 233

or pare be ony, tel me }>is ! ”

bot sanct£ lohn^e na dout had, 345

suppos he sic demand mad;

for he had sad before of hyme,

“ lo, godis lame pat clewgis syne.”

bot, fore sum disciplis drede

of paim sancte lohne wztA hym lede, 350

as sais pe glose: “ he bad pa\m ga

to cryste & sic demand hym ma,

as quha sa, quheJ?zV ]?u sal me tel

be ]?iself ore o]?ir dispoiel, ore quhe]?z>, as J>ou has send me 355

for-seware of ]n come to be,

quhtpir pat [I] richt sa til hel

before pi cu;«yne sal ga tel.”

& quhe« crist pe messag herde,

to pe messa«genr he ansuert, 360

to gere pame of al dout quyt be,

Fol. 278 a. pat pare wes nane to cu;« bot he,

sayand: “ tel[lis] lohne but were, Aum mtn ma spek & def ma here

& blynd ma se & halt ma ga 365

& missale are clene mad alsa

& men quyknyt pat ware dede”—

sic merwalis gveriste mast in pat stede,

& [kyd] pat he wes cuwzmyne pane in a persone bath god & mane. 370

& quhew pai passit ware pare way, wztA sic taknyng as herd pai,

& clenly ware put out of dout

of pat thing pai cum a-bout,

He recowmendit Iohn«e til al, 375

pat pare gadent ware, gret & smal,

sa pat pai suld noe/it wene pat he

suld hafe inwy p«t is bou^te:

355. as ]>u has Jwu send. 361. dout quyt.


“ymang ]?e so«nis, I 30U say,

of wome« }>at rase to }>is day 380

mare nane ]mne lohn^ ]?e baptiste.”

for of a uergine borne wes cn'ste;

}>ar-fore to trou is behowe lyke,

Jmt sancte lohn^e wes noe/^t [hyme] lyke.

}>ane lohnwe cr/ste cowmend/t gretly 385

of uertuise fare & syndryly,

as mew ma in his story se,

bot namely in-to things thre.

firste, in til his birth, ]>at wes

haly. & Jmre-to gud witnes 390

bem myraclis sewyw quhi ]>at he

before othire suld haly be.

firste, for ]?e angel gabr/el

sone his birth opynly caw tel;

>e todzV, fore )>e angele bande 395

his fadz> tonge mystreuande;

}>e thride, fore }>ai barane

gat hyme & bare, and ware ful fane; be ferde, fore ]>e haly gaste,

}>at noc/it wirkz> into waste, 400

halouyt hywz & fillit beforne

bat he of modzV* wes )>a.n borne;

be fyfte, be-cause bat he

in his modz> wame mad gle,

quhew elijabeth mary mylde 405

hailiste, bat wes w/t/z chylde;

be sext, fore his modzV in hy

of mary bane mad pwephecy,

Fol. 278 6. as in ewangele [we] ma se;

be sewinte enchesone als ma be 410

bat til his fadz>, bat had lorne,

he gat be spek as he wes borne,

be tothyre cause quhy ;uwg & aid

412. he gat J)e pe.


suld hyme cowmend & haly hald;

(ore of ferlyful lyf wes he;

& namely in-to thingw thre.

and first, in gret meknes,

quhene of sic renon he wes,

quhe« men wend cr/ste he had ben,

for his uflrtuise )>at }>ai had sen,

J>at he wes cnste he nyt plawly,

na 3ete na pr^fet, na hely.

& ])is aganis makfs stn'fe,

Jjat awantzV ]5aiw-selfe of ufrtuise lif.

}>e todzV, in abstinence, r\ocht ane

of met & drink }>at he had ta«,

na of clething, bot als of play

& wantones, ]?at he fled ay, & of me«is co^uersacione;

for he mad habitacione

in wyld/mes, & duelt per-in;

for he one na kine wai wald syn.

of tholmidnes als sic wes he

])at [he] w/tA-stud in na degre

agane J>ame }>at in ony thing

til hyme mysded, aid ore jinge;

as quhe« pe pharaseus hym sad

dispituisly & mad vpbrad,

sayand, pe self dewil pat he had in hyme. & he ansuere na« mad

na agayne errode, na fence wald ma,

pat fore a hoppare can hym sla.

J»e thred part of be things thre quhare-in ferlyful wes he,

wes in til his opyne techi^g.

& >at wes in thre-fald thing:

]>e firste wes, in pwphecy,

as he of o-zste sa opynly

4i5

420

425

43°

435

440

445

441. errourtf.


mad schevvand -with his hand,

sayand “ lo jondzV godis lame ”;

J>e tod/r, in preching, fore )>at he

flechit na ma« in ony degre,

as quhe« he arguit opynly

kink herrod of his adultery ;

}>q thred wes, (ore he gef til al

Fol. 279 a. heilful consel, gret & small,

eftyr }?ar<? stat in al degre,

hou to god ]?ai suld euz> be.

& fon? he oysit ]>ire thre hem,

mezz callit hyme ferliful but wem.

& to ]>ire ansuerw wthir thre,

* quham-throu ferlyful wes he,

in loy, quham he f>e thrinfald crone

sal euz> bruk fom his wardone :

Jze firste is of virginite, 465

]?at ay vnuezzzmyt kepzt he;

Jze to]zzV crone ]?at to prechoure

sal gyffine be fom gret honoum;

]>e thryd is crone ]?at sal be giffine

to martens at hem has wele strz'wine; 470

& seldine in-to wryt fynd we

]zem thre til a ma/z giffine be.

Jzam-fom pam [is] na mazz may

lofinge Inuch of sancte lohnzze say,

quhazzz cz'/ste hyme-self lofit had, 475

& to be lofit sa worthy made.

45°

455

460

[N]ow sail we say in ]zzs stede

quham-fom he wes put to dede,

nor^t of resone, bot of wil

a wyfzir 3arnyng til fulfil,

to gem hyme dee pat cuth noz^t blyne,

for he wald scho lefit hir syne.

480


}>at wes fel herodyades,

thru quhawz in presone he put wes.

jet herrod, J>at gert J>at do, 485

wald syndry tymis cum hym to,

& tholmodly gif hyme heryng,

& vmquhile do his byddyng.

])ar-for J?at wikit wif wes wa,

quhe« scho herd he did sa. 490 fore-Ju scho mad colusione

to bryng lohne to confusione,

hafand dout ay }>at he

fra herrode suld gere hyre put be. for-]?i scho glutmt hyme rycht ofte 495

Wft/i wysing fare & wordis softe,

til fraudfully scho gert ]>e kinge,

as for j>e tyme of his beryng,

assemble hale his barne,

}?at landis held of hyme in fee, 500

& mad gret mawgery \a\m to,

as afferit kyng to do.

Fol. 279 b. & quhene J>ai best chere cuth ma,

]?e wikit wife gert hir docht/r ga

aparalit in al thing in [h]al, 505

& spring & loupe befor \a\m al.

& )>at did scho [sa] menjolly,

}>at \t to se wes ferly.

& sa gret Toy had ]>e kyng,

}>at scho sic myrth mad & da«si«ge, 510 J>at sleily he sad hir til:

“douchtz'r, aske me quhat ]?u wil,

& my treutht I gyf to ]>e

but bad it sal }>e giffine be,

Ipo it be half of my kinryke.” 515

& scho, ]?at tacht wes thru gret swik,

til herrod mad ansuere sone

508. [>at is to se.


one }>is manere, & sad but hone:

“ gyf me lohn }>e baptist hed in desch! ”

and quhe» h^Tod had herd ]?is, 520

he worth sary for to be, for ])e gret aith J>at mad had he,

& fore be cause of \zxm w/t^-al,

bat set at met in-to be hal.

no^t-bane he gert a basare ga 525

& strik s. loh/zis hed hy»z fra,

& to be maydine gef it son

in til a desch, til fil hz> bone.

& scho it til hire modzV gefe,

bat gretare tresoure bad na« hafe. 530

bane his disciplis com in hy,

& tuk wzt/z bame be ded body,

& enterit [it] in gret wa;

& syne ilkane his get ca« ga.

bis herrod king, ]>at I jou newine, 535

mysdid here in mantis sewine:

first, in adultery, b^t he did

with his bruthir wif, wele kyd;

& syne in ane wt[h]z> thing,

quhe/z he wald thole na chast[y]i«g; 540

be thrid, for be pryd he had

of his birth at sic fest he mad;

be ferd, for he did sa gret II

a lassis jarnyng til fulfil;

be fyft, ful II did he, 545

suerand agane cheryte;

be sext, quhe^ he cowertly

to sauf his aith did felny;

be sewint, wes mast to myn entent,

bat he gert sla bat Innocent. 550

as be cornicle of euseby,

& of be kirk als be story

522. for )>e gret hicht.

Fol. 2S0 a.


sais, ]?at hedit wes sancte Iohn«

in ]>t castel of [m]acherone,

bejond lordane in araby. 555

bot his disciplis his body

besyly gert entmt be

of sebasty in ]?e cyte;

& in lerusaleme his hewide

wes grafine, & lang tym )>er lefid. 560

& sarajenis syne vpe can ta,

quhe« lulyane apostata

regnit, his banis, for inwy

}>at [ferlis] kid were \an opynely,

& done at his grawe to sare & seke, 565

]?at opinly com \\ym to sek,

& scalit }>ame in placfr sere,

for J>ai na relik/V wald \er were.

& eftyr of tyme \e precesse, }?a/ blissit banis noe//t-]je-les, 570

J?ai gadderit for J>e mast part al,

& brynt [}?aim] in-to powdre smal,

& skalit \a\m in-[to] ~\>e wynd,

]?at na ma« part J>ar-of suld fynd.

noe/rt-]?ane in J>at swithware 575

fra leraealem of case come }>are

twa monkis, & stal pr/wely

of ]>ai banis a gret party;

ymang wthire ]?ai haf tane

of )>at fyngire a litil bane, 580

to godis son }>at strekit he,

quhe« he come baptist to be;

]pe quhilk sancte tecle wit/i hir tuke,

& bar away, as sais }>e buke,

& stedit it honorably 585

in }>e kirk of marytany.

561. vpe ca« it ta. 569. & eftyr )>e tyme of processe.

563. his barnis. 570. }>at blissit.


& ]>e self monk/j al J>e lafe

of J>e banis but bad ca« hafe

to philpe, of lerusaleme,

}>at }>e nynd bischope wes }>a«. 590

& he is dekine, )>aX. wes jape,

•with bame send to ]>e bischope

of alysand/r. & he alsone

gert mak a costlyk kirk on one,

& fertrit []?ame] with ful gret cure, 595

of bis [s. lohne] in be honoure.

syne eftzV in deuocione

Fol. 280 b. came twa monkis of be ton

to Jerusalem, for to pray

to syndry sanctzk bat bar£ lay- 600

to quhazra in-to visione

sancte lohne mad reuelacione

of bat sted, quhare his hevid lay.

& bai slely stal it away,

& hxocht it in be reume of france, 605

& eftzVwart syne perchance

bot quhou bat wes, I tel noe/zt here,

bot bai bat likis ma wele spere

in lofing of sancte lohnzz sais bus

be gret doctore crissostozzzzzj: 6x0

“ sancte lohnzze be scole of uertuise wes,

& of clene lif be maistres,

of halynes be fourme clene,

& reule of rye/ztwisnes but wezz, meroure of uerginite, 615

of clenes, & of chastite,

be way of pezznance, & of syzz

kezznand be pzzrdone for to wy/z,

603. hw body lay.


of verray treutht [)>e] discipline,

& of al view }?e rwyne; 620

For lohnwe wes mare ]?a« ma«, \>ut were,

& til angelis he mye^t be pere.

he wes J>e nerreste get to law,

& firste gert me« }>e ewa«gel knau.

of appostolw J>e voice wes he, 625

& of prephetw ]?e pr/uete,

& of ]>is erde he wes \ycht,

& forrywnar of luge of mycht.

medyature als wes he

betwene ws & )>e tr/nite. 630

jet he, J>at of sic ue^tu wes,

wes gefine til a lurdaw las.”

& sais sancte Ambrose,

Iohn?ze for fywe cause had lose:

first, for his syre & his dame 635

ware of gret kine & of gud fame;

& of mony merakilw sere,

\at thru hym ware wroe^t hyne & here;

& als fore theuys fare & gud;

& for gyf[t] als, quha vndzVstud; 640

& last thru predicacione,

quhare-of he had mast renone.

& ]>e lofing of his getteris

in-to fyfe thing wele aperw:

fore lowing in-to kine wel scheuis, 645 Fol. 281 a. ]?at is enhornit wit/i gud thewis,

& gud thewis in equite,

& office in presthed suld be,

& ded in byding al suld be,

& lugme^t in equite, 650

quhare-in his getteris al ware.

& quha wald, mychx. rakine mare

of menvalis gret \>ax\Q mtn ma tel,

649. & ded and. 653. gret syne. VOL. II. Q


& syndry }>at of Iohn;ze befel.

for gabriel mad playne schawinge 655

til his faddzV of his getting,

& tald his name, & [])ar]-to eke

}?e tynsale of his fadz> speke.

of fairer^ thevvis \a.n wes he,

na halyan? myzr^t na mazz be. 660

of his halynes als sais vs

J>e doctors crisostozzzus,

}?at lohzzz’s zvzzzzw.racione

vves suthfastly of sic renone,

Jzat like mazzis lyf but were 665

czz^able it gert apere.

of lohnzze be tane for sere thing

alsa of gyft ma lowyng;

for he in wame wes mad haly,

& had ]ze gyfte of pz'zzphecy; 670

for, ]zo in modzV wame wes he,

3et kneu he god & mad gle,

& gaf sprit of prophecy

til his modzr ferlifully.

& nocht les wes }>e lowing, 675

]zat he s^z-uit for his preching;

quhare-of foure thingzk ])e angele

til his faddz’z- cane pez-tly tele,

sayand, he suld cozzuert fele

of }>e sonis of Israel, 680

& ]zat he suld befor god pas

in ]ze uertu of helyas,

& tald hyme wthzV thingzk eke,

]zat mezz ma in }?e ewazzgel seke.

& ]zai ma not here quha liste, 685

]zat sancte lohnzze J>e ewazzgeliste

deit as ]zat day we mak

661. & sais us. 662. crisostonus. 663. generacione. 666. acceptable. 680. sanctzV of Israel.


sic loy for ]?e baptiste sake;

nor/;t-]?ane kirk halowis hewy«

}>e fest of his birth in til hewine

of cr/stis byrth )>e thyrd day,

for sa J>e feste of baptiste may

as J>is tyme honourit be,

as gabr/el had hycht w/t/i gle.

Fol. 281 A }>at wes nocht, for ]?e ewangeliste

gef sic sted to J^e baptiste

as to ]>e mam. for-]?i befel

a nrnrwale ]?at I hem wil tel.

twa doctoum of theology,

of quhaw ]?e tane ryc/it increly

a-beoufe al vthim lufit J>e baptist,

& ]>e tothim )>e ewawgeliste;

& Jjar-of disputacione

J>ai held lang but co^clusione. for-]?! ]?ai set a cetane day,

to co^clud best til assay

quhilk of J>ai Ioh«is mam suld be

honourit in al degre.

& )>e nycht befor, as ]?ai

slepand in ]?am bedis lay,

of ]?em lohTzis athim aperit

til his ansuem, & syne sperit quhy }>ai strafe quha of }>a.m twa

wem worthiest honour to ta;

“ for in hewine frendfr ar we,

& strfwis rvocht for dignite;

Tpaxe-for we wil je do sa hem,

]?at of our mycht je haf na wem.

for we wil noebt for dignite

str/we, ne quha sal gretam be.

cese, ]?am-for, & hald na str/fe

for ws, ]?at are in quewful lif!”

696. sic sted in t>e ewawgeliste. 700. ryc/it merely.

690

695

700

705

710

715

720

718. l)at of ony myc/it.


J?ai doctoum )>ane on ]>e morne,

}>e puple al beand beforne,

tald }>ar avisione in hy 725

Ilkane til vthir^ opynly,

& nomare for ]?ai sanctzV strafe

quhilk of ]?az« mast honowr suld haf.

[I] fynd wrytine ]?at rochary,

a michty king of lumberdy, 730

wes grawine, quhe« he wes ded,

of sebaste in til a stede

of }>is sancte lohn^e a kirk besyd,

of gret cost & mykil pryde,

quhare eft/rwart for cowa/tise 735

a maTz, vnhappy & wnwyse,

dalf vpe his graf be nichtzVtale,

& bar away ]>a\. gud al hale,

to quhaz/z sancte Iohn« apperz't son,

& sad hyme : “ for }>at ]?u has don 740

til hyme sa gret Iniquite

to jeme Jmt lypnit wes to me,

in my kirk sal ]wu neuz> ezztre haf,

Fol. 282 a. ]>i lif hale, ]>o ^at my[ch]t safe.” & sa fel eftzV in-to ded; 745

for }>at ma«, quhezz he had maste nede,

}>at kirk neuire entre mocht,

&, gyf he fandit, son hyme \hocht

J?at a wicht ma« fast can hym ta

be ]?e throt & gert bakwart ga; 750

& J>o he profit }>is fele cyse,

jet entre he ne myzr^t onywise.

& ]hs sancre Iohn«e rewewgft wes

of hyme J>at done had sic trespas.

Now of a nrerwale tel wil we,

735. cowartise. 755


)>at tyd be3ond >e gret se,

in ]>e pwwince of the sari?,

quhar-to J>e cayne is tributary quhan? men makis drink of spycery—

of betone J>an? is gret copy. 760 & suw cr/stine }>are wo«nyne mais,

J>at )>ar pwpir^ kirkis base,

thre lorne lang is }>at cu/zctre,

quhare-in [is] smarag ]je cyte.

smarag is a fain? ton 765

& chefe of ]>e regione

& haldis of ]>e caynis cusing.

}>a.re wo/mis cr/stine & sarajine.

in J>at cite, als I herd tel,

of sanct£ Iohn«<? a m<?rwal fel. 770

]?e caynis bruthire cygaty,

}>at aucht J>at lordschipe halely,

wit/i cr/stine wes enducyt sa,

J?at he baptysme ca« haly ta.

thru fauour^ of ]>at gud king )>e« 775

a kirk biggit ]?e cn'stine men

in honoure of sancte lohnw ]?e baptist.

& it wes bigit viith sic liste,

]>at in myddis wes a pillars,

hat J>e charge of he kirk suld here, 780

& wes na pillars bot hat ane.

he sara^anis had a stane,

& for he cnstine hai haitit ay;

bot sa gretly he kink dred hai)

hat hai til h^t durst na thing do. 785

his son syne succedit hyme to,

bot noc/it in cr/stine fay. for-]n

hai sarajanis hare chasit in hy

to distrenje he cmtine me« ilkane,

758. caneyne. 785. durst ]>at.


to restore pa.?n agane }>are stane. 790

]?ane profferit ]?ai J^e price & mare

for, gif it a-way tane ware,

J>e pillar of force suld fal,

Fol. 282 A & sa eftir J>e kirk al.

bot nedly wald J?ai hafe ]?e stane. 795

quhene cr/stine saw remed wes na;z,

to sancte lohne baptist ca« Jzai pray

deuotly. & quhe« ]ze day

wes cimyne to resafe J?e stane,

]?e sarajenis semlit ilkane, 800

treuand to se ]>e hale kirk fal,

fra J>e stane remowit ware al.

bot ]>e pillar rase thre hand brad It fra,

thru goddis grace, til awai }>a ta

]?e stane fra ]>e ground away, 805 & hingzj sa [on]-to }>is day.

men ma se wele be }>is ferly

]?at J>e baptist is ful mychty

witk god, J>at sic a wondz> dide

for hyme, wele knawine & kide. 810

& als sancte gregor sais ws,

a maw quhil, callit sanctulwj,

a dekine in exile tuk

fra luwzbardis, as sais ]>e buk,

on cowdicione, gif }>e dekine 815 eschapit ony way fra hyne

thru miskepyng ore subtilite,

]?at gud maw for hywz ded suld be.

jet ]?aw, ]>o [Jzis] sanctuhw

had mad his cowdicion J>us, 820

he gert ]?e dekine fra hywz fle,

]?at his lif sa sawz't my chi be.

& ]:>ere luwzbard/r, J>at wald haf had

]>e dekine & slane but bad,


to sanctulus come in hy, 825 & hyme askit ful angrely

}>e dekine }>at to kepe tuk he,

as coTznand wes, ore ell/j ded be.

& he mekly sad ]?ame til:

“ 3e ma do vihh me quhat 36 wil; 830

for J>e dekine quhazra of 30 say,

fra me quyt is passit away.”

J?ane sad }>ai, he suld fulfil

)>e condic[i]oii he mad hy#z til.

)>e worth! ma« ]?ai band ]>a.n son, 835

& gert a basare cum but hone,

[>at wes stark & likly als

but let to strik in twa hzr als.

& he mekly knelit done,

makand to god his oracione. 840 \a.n be basare hewit oh hicht

his hand, to strik, gif he myr/zt.

Fol. 283 a. & sanctulus, bat wes hery,

to sancte lohnzze baptist cazz cry:

“ [I]hon, hald his hand [bat] wald me sla! ” 845 & fra he had sad sua,

his harme, bat strekit [wes] oh hicht

to stz-zk, he ne mo<r/zt for al his myz7zt bryng done, bot [it] stud strekit ban;

a hyldry steng as it ware. 850

bane had be basare mekil wa,

quhezz he saw hyme-self sted sa,

& to sanctif lohne a wou mad bare,

gif he wald ger hyme of his care,

bat he suld neuz> stryk cz-z'stine mazz. 855

& sanctulus fore hyme ryr/zt bane

to sancte lohnzze prayere mad

for hyme; & he gat heile but bade,

& 3ald to god bare-of lowing

& to sancte lohnzze for his helpyng.

855. styrk cz-zstine.

860


In story as sygilbertus,

ymang al vthin? tellis ws,

of a wedow, }?at had jarnyng

of )>is sancte lohnwe to haf sum thing,

at as a relik scho mycht haf.

& besyly J>is ca« scho crafe with prayers gret & fastinge,

with almus ded & wakyng.

& quhe« scho lang sic lyf had lede,

& }>ari?-in [had] nathing spede,

scho wes anoyt in gret manen?,

}>at god wald nocht hire prayere here.

]>ar-for a won to god scho mad,

in traste hope scho in hyme hade,

]?at ]?are sold nothir met na drink

fra }>ine in-[to] hire body sinke,

til he had gefin hire sum thing

of }>at scho mad hyme askin[g]e.

& as scho lay sa in Ipe kirke

at hire pray ere, for fastine Irke,

a-pon J>e autere scho saw ly

as a thoume-bane prapirly,

]?at quhytare wes }>a.n ony snaw;

& in sprit cane wele knaw,

}>at it of sancte lohne wes a bane. & ])are-of blith scho had it tane,

& of sancte lohnre in-to lowynge

scho gert in haste }>e bellis rynge.

Fol. 283 b. & thre bischopis in f>at sithtware war of chance assemblit bare;

of quhame ilkane a part but bade

bar-of with banie b°^t til haf had.

& as bai mad bame to be partinge,

bare fel bar-of a ferly thing;

for one be clene clath, quhare it lay,

bar sprang of it but delay

865. as at a relik.


thre droppis of blud fare & gret.

& ilke bischope ane ca« gete, & ware loyful & held J?are way,

& ]>e bane lyand stil levit J>ai. 900

& J>at Jje wedou gat suyth, & passit hz> way ]->are-wz't/i ful [b]lith,

as vittand wele it wes a bane

of }>e baptiste scho had tane.

& it is stedit ]?ar-in as lowel 905

in fyne gold and crzstel.

& myraclis mony wrozv^t are J>ar,

thru my chi of hyme ]>at [bat] bane bare;

]?e quhilk vs purchase grace, ]>at we

ma cum til hewine as did he. 910

for bis herrod, of quhaw I spak,

wes noc/it to lofe bot al to lake

for his gret iniquite;

jet ware herodis ma pan he,

bat be get cane til hym succede 915

be II thewis & II dede.

& bai ware of gret fame al thre,

bo it ware uocht thru dignite,

bot erare fore dedis II,

bat bai did aganis skil. 920

be first of bame to r\am can ta of ascolonyca alsua,

& Iheru in his tyme wes borne,

bat sawit ws al pa\. ware forlorne;

& his son herod antipas, 925

quhawz thru be baptist sla« wes;

& be thred herrod had alsua

til his suornome agrippa, pat slew sancte lames for hzr prechi«g,

& petre gert in presone thring.

907. & of myraclis. 909. vs pwrchast grace. 93°


Ascolonica necat pu^/'os, a«tipa lohaw^ew/,

Agrippa Iacobu#z, claude^s \n carcere petruw.

of J>e twa last spek me ne list,

bot I wil say mare of J>e firste.

antipater of ydumy, 935

as wrytine is in }>e story,

Fol. 284 a. J>e kingis casing to wif he tuke

of arabi, as sais J>e buke,

& wit/i hir gat a son, }>at he

in birth gert herrod callit be. 940

& }>at barne to name cane ta

sone eftzV ascolonica.

quhaw fortone helpit sa Jmt he

gat hale ]?e kinrik of lude

of august, ]?at wes e[m]p^oure, 945

to hald of hyme wz't^ honoure.

& fra ]une ware na king/r ma

of lowis kine in-[to] luda.

& }>is herrod sex so«nis gat;

]>e eldast antipater hat, 95°

alysandzr syne wes his bruj>z>,

& aristotolus ane wthir,

archelauce ]?e ferd wes,

& J>e fyft, herot antipas,

& philpe, ]>e juzzgest but were 955

of J>ir brethir we rekine here,

of Jur barnis herrod send twa

to rome, to lere; & ane of }>a

wes alisandzr, & ]?e todyre,

aristotolus, his bruthire. 960

& wzt/z a low he gat ]dr twa,

J»at he to wif befor can ta.

& quhe« }>ir twa a/ rome had bene,

& leryt mykil gud & sene,

940-943 are repeated in MS., but with these differences : 940, h'rrode ; 941, can ; 942, son ; 943, forton. 957. J>is bands. 963. }>at rome.


]?ai come agane in ]?ar cuwctre, 965

]?ar faddzV & pare kine to se.

& ]?is alisancter can so ler<f,

J>at he wes a gud muter^,

& held oft disputacione

of }>e rewme for J>e successione 970

wtU his fadz>, because pat he

sad antipat<?r are suld be.

bot jet thoe^t pai brethir twa, pat J>ai suld bath befor hy/« ga.

for-[]?i] pare fadz> par thocht to sla. 975

& quherc he wist it wes sa,

he banyst pa?n of pc land.

& par ]?at tuk II on hande,

to rome went to }>e emperoure,

Fol. 284 b. to plenje apone pare fadz> Iniure, 980 thinkand to pzwe be resone

pat par suld haf successione. in pe meyne-tyme com kingw th[r]e,

pat magos suw-tyme cal we,

to lerusdtexrr to spere quhare 985

wes he, pat borne [wes] litil ayre

king of lowis, “for his sterne we

has sene in }>e est al thre.”

bot here-of wil I tel nomare,

fore men ma fynd it elkV quhare, 990 in a buk I mad of }>e birth

of Iheeu crzste, pat grant ws gyrth.

& herot thoc/it hyme II begelt,

quhe« ber thre kingz'e fra hym duelt,

& thoe/zt al barnis [for] to sla, 995

sa pat criste rayckt nocht eschape hy»z fra,

of twa jere elde & withine, fellonly, ore he wald blyne.

& [parfor] pat II wikit man

987. sterme


in su;/z part wes punyste ;

for his son, ]?at to fostfr wes

ymang wthir, slane wes p^cace.

& ]?at wes godis richtwisnes

of hyme }>at mad sa fele bernles; for he gert sla in ]>at lande

a huttdzV & fourty thousande

& foure thousand ]?are-til,

J>at haly nowmzV to fulfil,

]?at sched pare blud for cristis sale,

quhat ferly pat he tuk wrak ?

]us sandhis syne & aristotil,

his sozznis, pat ware rycht noble,

at hame ware cuzzzyne, suspec had he

J>at }>ai for his iniquite

suld sla hyme, gyf pai had mycht;

& sa to do ma fal pax hicht.

& his barboure /aid hym til,

gyf he wald haf don per wil,

he had scheme his hals in twa, to schaf J>at quhe« he suld ga, bar-for bath gold & fe

hechtand hyme in-to plente;

&, Jzat sandens, his son, had sad

pat in aid mezz suld noe/zt be lad

hope of helpe na of rewarde,

as in 3uzzg mezz bat are forthirwarde.

& as pare fadir ).ns cazz here,

Fol. 285 a. & ]zar-of had consalis sere,

he gert tak pame fra his presence

& sla bame bath, but audience.

& antipatez- ordenit he

of his kinrik ayre to be.

& next hyme herot antypa

ordenit [he] bat reume suld ta;

1017. his barboure cald.

1000

1005

1010

1015

1020

1025

1030

XXXVI.—BAPTISTA.

& next hy;« herod agrippa«<?

ordenit [he] to succed ]?ane.

J^ane vves antypater wa,

J>at his fadzV sic a talje ca« ma; J>ar-for he thor^t of Iwil rede

his fad/r for to do to dede;

& for }>at cause gert poysone ma,

his fadz> cowartly for to sla.

hot fore J?ar his don nathing,

as )>e ewawgel mak/j witnesiwg,

]?ane It sal be cuth & kyde,

& be curse of tyme vnhyd,

of antipat^ it fel sa,

}>at tho^t his fadfr for to sla;

for it wes tald his fadz> son,

]?at in prison gert hyme be done,

& eftyr gert hyme slane be,

as, )>at redis }>is, sal se.

& eftzr, quhe« cesare herde

hou herrod with his so/mis ferde,

[he] sad : “ I chese me erare now

for to be herodzV row

]?a« for to be his [son], for he

sa demanis paim, as kene we,

]>o he in sic flesch had delyte,

because ]>at he is pwselit; ” ]jat is til vndzVstand, ]?u treu,

of a payane cuwyne a low.

syne, quherc herod had sewinty 3er/r of elde al fullely,

he fel in [-to a] hard seknes,

}>at sume dewil lyk a feuzV wes,

& J>ar-to sic a sea had he,

]?at of his body no^t wes fre,

& jmr-w/t/z had he hard torment, I035- agrippazzz. 1056. herodzV cow.

253

1035

1040

1045

1050

roSS

1060

1065


& of his aynd impediment.

come diuerse medicinam nere, for wy/mi/zge of his stat to spere,

]?at in [a] bath of oyle hyme laid,

for pat wes halesuw, as pai sad.

bot par-of gat he ne remede,

bot vves }>ane son nere-hand dede.

Fol. 285 b. }>ar-for his tormentounj- send he

one al syd in-to lude,

& gert bryng hyme pe juTzgeste

of pat land & ]ze nobileste,

& gert ]?ame in presone be done,

& til his cister sad he sone,

pat had to name sakwze:

“ I wat weile pe. lowis sal be

ful blith; bot Jzane I ma jete

mak mony ane ful sar<? to grete,

& hafe als faire exequies

as ony pat before me wes.

sa treuly pu. hicht me til

my byding pat pu sal fulfil;

}>is is, quhene I jelde pe gaste,

pu sal gere sla al pa\ in haste,

pat in presone I gert be done,

sa sal luda haf sorow sowne.

opire in my lyfe ore in my dede,

pai sal hafe sorou but remede.”

]us tyrand had in custume ay eftire his mete like day,

to payre ane apil & til z’ete;

& in hand a knyfe can gete; bot fel [host] hyme trawalit sa,

]>at he had wil hyme-self to sla,

& lukit a-bout, pat na mane

1070

roTS

1080

1085

1090

1095

1100

1083. salmone. 1099. til kete. 1101. fende instead <7/host or kink, but written above the line.


ware nere by for to lete hy;« ])ane,

& hewit vpe J>ane his knyfe

til hafe refte his awne lyfe.

& J>ane his sistire son in hy,

]?at he wiste no^t wes nere by,

& ]>e knyfe gat & his arme,

& lettit hyme; bot pat wes harme.

]?ane in J>e hal rase sodenely, as he dede had bene, gret cry.

}>ane antipater, quhare he sete,

in presone, sone herd }>at;

&, wenand his fadzV ded ware,

Cryit one ]?e gyalare,

& hicht til hyme go[l]d & fe,

Wald he hyme louse & mak hym fre.

& quhene his fad/r herd had

pat his sone sic loy ]?ane mad,

he gert his tormentoum furth ga,

& but mare he gert hy»z ga sla,

& archelauzw his ayre made;

& dais fyfe atoure pat, bade Fol. 286 a. & tholit J>ane pe double deide

of lif & saule, but remede.

& }?ane his cistire salome

al his pressonem mad fre,

pat he sa fayne wald [slane] haf bene,

to do pe lowis payne & tene.

Remegius jet, [>at] J>is tale

tellis in his originale,

mad of pe ewazzgel of mathy,

sais pat herod vnhappy,

wit A a knyf, hyme-self bare

ane apil eftere met to payre, sleu hyme-self; & salome,

as befor bydine had he,

gert al J>e lowis sla but hone,

1 ros

1110

ms

1120

1125

1130

”35


}>at he in presone gert be done, 1140

for til supple J?e wikitnes,

J?at in hire bruthir alway wes,

to gen? men wit }>at he wes wike

in al degre [bath] dede & quyke;

fore in hyme wes na mending, 1145

bot [he] til hel 3ed but endynge,

quhare he sal de & neuzV be dede,

for-out ransone & remede.

3et of sancte Iohn«e in honoryng

I ma eke to a ferly thing, 1150

}>at fallis wyd-quhare I[l]ke 3ere,

in syndry landis fere & nere,

in fellone vengeance of ]?e deide,

]?at he tholit thru wifis rede;

for he[rod] as ful cane consent T155

for hir to sla }>at innocent.

al ]?ai ]?at come of )>at kine,

in quhat place J»ai ware in,

ay syne one sancte Ihonis day

of ]?at kine brane wod ga )>ai; 1160

& J>ai J>at wil ]?are wit recouere,

J>ai mone, of sancte lohne in honoure,

Cume til his kirk to wariste be,

l^at sa is sted, scho ore he.

for-quhy }>ai }>at are hyme lewine, 1165

bryngw }>ame of sancte Iohn« J^e ewine,

in tyme of ewinsang; & bare }>ai wak

]?at nicht for sancte Ihonis sak,

& al be morne to ]>e saw/myne tyde

stil in bat kirk bai mone byde, 1170

& bundine, gife it be nede,

of bare heile gif bai wil spede. Fol. 286 6. & bis menvale wrocht is ay

1155. & for he as ful.


i[l]ke jerys one sancte Ihonis day,

for to gere men haf in thocht

J>is ferly, god fore hyme wro^t,

& in mynd of }>e wikitnes,

J>at cowartly til hyme done wes,

& ]?at men [suld] wit als J>at he

suld be had in gret daynte.

& in lestand mynde of J>is,

at amyas a gret parte is

of his he wide in bat lyknes

]?at it had, beand in-to flesche.

bare-for to god lofynge ay be,

bat mad hyme of sa hye degre,

bat he is had ay in lowynge

■with al cmtine, aid and 3ynge.

Now sancte lohn^e, ]>a.t sa worthi wes,

til bu duelt in brukil flesche,

pat bu sunlit of cryste lowit to be,

& he alsa lowit of be;

bot [bat] bu mad gret lowynge

of hyme, bat wes na ferly thing.

& sic lowing bat sic neu/r wes

mad of creatoum in mawis flesche,

wes quher cr/ste sad nar wes borne

mar<? bane sancfe Iohn«e of wif beforne,

& said als he suld precede

elyas in al nedful dede,

& with vthire lofingfe ma,

bat of be ewangele mew ma ta.

& lohne of hyme gud witnes bare,

sayand bat he wes mare

“bat cuwzmys in flesche eftir me, for before bat I mad, wes he,

to quha;« I ame nocht worthi loute,

1177. & in J)e mynd. 1191. eftzV cryste. 1197.

II7S

1180

1185

1190

“95

1200

»

1205

& quhen. VOL. II. R


na of his schone }>e laise tak oute.”

. & seildine befor herde was

betwene god & man sic hawlynes. 1210

J?is lohnwe ^ete suld cowmendit be,

I?at to cn'ste of kyne wes he,

as he my^t fynd bat jarnywg had

in ane wthin? buk I made, quhare-in I recordit be genology 1215

of our^ lady sanct mary,

hou sibe to Ih^u bis lohn/z wes

of bis warld as be lyne of flesche;

bot bat: wil I nor^t bryng in here,

for I ame auld & sim dele suere. 1220

for-bi sancte lohne I Requere be, Fol. 287 a. bat excusit bu wil hafe me,

& in thank tak my gud wil,

sene I no mare ma do ban; til.

& sene bu sa mykil may 1225

•with god of hewine, be I Pray

bat bu fore me requeste wil ma

til hyme, bat, quhen I hyne ga,

of bis warld bat I ma twine

but dete, schame, & dedly syne, 1230

& al bat in affeccione

has be, ore in deuocione,

bu purchas at Iheru sic grace,

bat bai ma trastely se his face

one domysday, quhe« he sal deme 1235

gud and II, as hyme think queme.

•>

XXXVII.—VINCENCIUS.

IS name vincensius to say

Is man ]?at ourcimys ay,

as sancte vincent quhilis dide

thru his pacience, as wes kyde

for he oure-come al wice of flesche

thru hale hart & deuotnes;

& he oure-come ]>e fyre alsa

thru passione he can ]>are ta;

& ]jis warld in dispysing

he outcome in al-kine thinge.

thre thingzr he outcome but were,

]>at mycktty are in ]?is warld here,

fals erroure, & lufe vnclene,

& warldis dout als, but wene.

he oure-come firste, for he wis wes;

& next, of gud lyf thru cle«nes;

& syne, for richt stedfaste [wes] he,

he ourcome Jure thingfr thre. sancte vincent come of nobil kyne,

& gret nobles wes hyme In,

& to scole set wes to lere,

or he had of elde sewine }ere;

& god purvat hyme to be

a chosine weschale, quhaw-thru he

wald men ware tacht to lefe syne,

l. Initial letter wanting.


& sa mercy for to wyne.

in duble science tacht wes he;

in cawnone and diuinite,

vndz> a bischope of renone

[of] cesar<?-august of ]?e tone, 30

Valerius J^at to name had;

& he vincent his dekine mad.

& in ]?e tone duelt ]mne Fol. 287 b. a president, ]?at wes a fellane ma«,

J>at til his name had dacyane, 35

& had fra prfncis pouste tane

al cmtine maw fore to sla,

& eraste }>ame cane ordre ta.

}>e bisschope ]?ane Valerius

& his dekine vincencius, 40

fra J>ai hard sic tyranny,

]jai sped J?ame to ]?e ton in hy,

in hope of vincent for to wyne,

quha for sic cause myc/it begyne,

demand hat mast happy wes he 45

for godis sak mycht eraste de.

Jjar-fore Jmi sped ]mm bath, in wil

m<zrt*>dome to cume til.

Jjane come hai before dacyane,

)>at fore hare treutht gert paim be taw, 50

& franyt hame quhethire hai

wald renunce p& cmtine fay.

& for hai wald noe^t sa, “ 3a,”

he mad his tormentoum habw to ta,

& gert led hame one ane 55

to he tone of valenciane,

& gert hame in pressone thryng

but met, drink, ore cowforttyng;

& hat na mawe suld be sa wod,

vndz'r tynsale of lyf & gud,

55. led corrected from hed.

60

XXXVII.—VINCENCIUS. 26l

to gyf }>ame vthir drink or met,

or ocht ellis }>ame to rehete,

wenand wele }>at ]?ai suld sa

]>e so«nare fal J>ar<? purpos fra,

& [als] for wecht of Irne bandis 65

Jsat had bath on fete & handfr.

& quhene bai had in presone bene

al a quhile in tray and tene,

he gert bryng ]>a.m til his presence,

wenand but makin[g]e of defence 70

bat bai but mare suld do his wil.

bot quherc he held paim til,

bai schew bame fere starkare & glad,

bane quhe« to presone he pa\m had.

he sperit quha bame fed sa wele, 75

bat his paynis bai dred na dele.

bot god bane purvoit po pat he

ferlyt quheyne bat cu;«yne mycht be.

& for jet he fand bame thra,

he wald noe^t bai de suld sa, 80

but newing of gret payne, Fol. 288 a. quhare thru he thoe/fct bai suld be slane.

bar-for he turnyt hyme in hy

to bame, & sad anger[l]y:

“valery, quhi dois bis bu 85

agane bydinge of grinds now vndz’r name of religione,

bat sal be bi confusione?

wat bu nocht bu mone de,

bat byding brakz'r of grinds hye? 90

& hyeast warldly pr/ncis wil cure godis je do honoure til,

& bat je sacrffy bame to,

as je se hyeare pr/ncis do.

bar-for, walery, we red now

72. t>ab« stil. 87. of ]>e latrone. 95


Fol. 288 b.

97. sa Jiat lie.

}>at til cure bydding son ]m bow,

sa J»at be. ensample of ]>e,

]?ai J>at ar of les degre,

mak sacrifice, mar.? & myne,

fra }>ai se }>e first begyne.

& als I sa to J>e, vincent,

}?at til cure bydinge ]>ou consent,

sen }ju art juwg & of gud kine,

& has wit gud J?e with-in ;

othir til our godd/r sacr/fy

& haf riches & sigewiery;

& gyf J>u wil noc/it for thra wil,

ful felon turme«t be put }>e til.”

bot ]>o }>e bischope wisma« wes

& haly, 3et no^/A-Jje-les

in his spek gret mz^rnyng he had.

for-]?i vincent sad but bade:

“ haly fad/r, gyf Jju wil,

}>e luge I sal ansuere til.”

]?e bischape sad [til] hyme Jmsgat:

“ sen lang tyme is, as Jm wat,

J?at I [>e cure of goddfr worde

lip^yt ]>e til haf in hwrde,

richt sa fore oure treutht sal ]?u here

for ws bath mak ansuere.”

sancte vincent, }?at halely set hw thocht

on hewin«is blise & ellis noeht,

turnyt hyme ]?ane to dacyane,

& ]5is sad til hyme one ane:

“Jji spek til ws has bene al day for to ger ws deny oure fay;

bot ]?at to cn'stine men ware schame

of I hem cryst to nyt ]>e name.

for-)>i of ]us no mare spek we

now, bot grant ws for to be

109. hot pus. 118. lipmit. 119.

IOO

I05

110

“5

120

125

130

sal J>u pare.

XXXVII.—VINCENCIUS. 263

semandis and witnes ewine

of our lestand god of hewine,

in quhais name blythan? we are

to thole Jse dede, gif my stare ware,

Jâne wilfully to do ocht 135

to Iheeu crist J>at disples mocht.

J>ar-for, quhat payne ]?at J)u

til ws has thoc/it, do furth now! ”

J>ane dacyane, Jât wes fel, for pwpyr Ire in swonynge fel, 140

& til his men Jâne cane [he] say:

“remowe Jus bischope June away; for resone wil, sen auld is he,

bat in exile he send be,

fore of cesare be byddynge 145

he wil nocAt do fore ony thinge.

bot bis vincent, as contumace,

& to be rebele na dout has, til gyf ensampil vthyre til

bat are frawarte & dure of wil; 150

for-bi se wele his hardiment requeris payne & hard torment.

for, quhat payne he here hafe,

he thinkis ]>3.re-{or loy to crafe;

bar-for in a frame stent hyme 155

in lynth & brede, lith & lyme,

& bat wit A smert cordis sa faste til senonfj ore hyd ma leste.

& bis payne wil I bat he ta. ore he til ony torment ga.” 160

his mi«*stem, bat fellon ware,

hynt vincent bane be hou & hare,

&, as he bad Ipaim, son has done,

in scorne he sad til vincent son:

“vincent, quhy nocAt behaldu bu 165

143. send auld. 158. senone.


<\vhou ]?i catife corse is now

nakit strekit in til a frame,

& }>u ]?ar-of hafis na schame?”

J>ane he, }>at confort in god had,

til dacyane sic ansuen? mad:

“]ns is J?at I ^ami/ ay

til haf, & Jjar-for god cane pray; ]mr-for sa frendful ma nane be

to me as J>u, in ony degre.

& trew wele ]>at I haf na schame

to thole Jns fore my goddw name;

na of J>e na of )>i payne

haf I dout, bot is ful fayne;

fore, lo, I ame set on hicht,

& of J>i prinas al J?e mycht,

Fol. 289 a. wikit tyrand, I dispyse,

& }>are-fore wil nocht ony wyse

]?ou to my loy mak lessing,

na to my reward menesinge;

fore I ame redy to thole now,

for }>e lofing of dere Iheru,

al torment, quhat-eufr It be,

}>at Jju cane think to do to pie.

& )m sal me se mare of mycht,

tholit sic torment for J?e richt,

Jpane ]ra )>at gerris torment me

but resone for iniquite.”

}>ane gert he hyme w/t/z schurgfr ding,

his handis bundine hyme behynde,

sa wondzV fellely & sa sare,

til J>ai Jsat dang hyme wery ware,

& }>ar aynd for werynes

]jame fal^eit, & wox ay les.

& dacyane hyme-self nere wod

become, & al but blude,

166. quhy J>i. 171. Jarnis.

170

x75

180

185

190

I95

200

173. fat for.


& kest his handis to & fra, & cra/Wit continence can ma,

& on hye he cane cry,

sayand: “ me think jow al wery,

& lyk ware als ]>at je

had hardare payne }>an had he.

ryfe hyme for-]n -with Ime scharpe,

J>at he na wil haf ]ns to carpe,

& erare gere hyme grane oft cyse,

J>ane he haf mycht ws til dispyse.”

& as Jse tyrand }>is cane say,

sanct vincent smylit quhare he lay,

& sad: “ wrytine men ma fynde

]>a.t men seand sal be blynde,

& men als wele erande

sal haf na hape til vnd/nstande.

sa farm fore suth now of f>e,

}mt cane nochi vndzrstand me;

bot, for I grant my lord is

son of )>e fadz> of blis,

& als with l^ame be haly gaste—

]?ai thre ar ane, quha can taste,—

& here-to her I leile witnes,

& neuz> Jjar-of sal cese,

to grant ]>e suth bu sais I nyte,

& seis nocht in bi-self be wyte.

bot torment al bat bu ma; for I be suth sal alway say;

na neuir sal bu ourcume me,

Fol. 289 6. bot euir ourcunzyne sal bu be.”

bane dacyane of fellone wil vincentis body beheld til,

& saw ]>e blud noe^t anerly

ryne fra his sydis plentnisly,

bot be self bowelis als saw he

205

210

2I5

220

225

230

235

202. crawit. 218. vndzVstandand. 223. & here to for I.


in gret part vncouerit be;

na of his lywmis wes a lith

for torment lefit ane wthim with.

& Jâr-of wes he no<r^t content,

bot ekit 7/zare his torment. 240

<\uod he: “ lo, dacyane, behald & se

hou wele ]m rewengw me

of Jjame Jât payne dois me til,

& of Jî-selfe, a-gane J»i wil;

for }>ai to torment ar^ wery, 245

& to thole ay fresch ame I,

& }>u in hart has mare sorow

of payne, \&n I haf be fere now.”

J>ane dacyane lud cane rare

one his tormentoum pare: 250

“werchis, ê falje alowte,

na docht ê ocht but ony doute,

& }>is vincent pure tormentw al

dispicis gret & smal! ” be tormentour/r, pat schamyt ware, 255

tuk yrne kamys, pat bat sare,

& of vincent pe skine rawe efte

quhare-euzr befor it bare wes lefte,

& mad his ribbis pan sa bare,

pat his guttis wele sene ware. 260

quod dacyane: “ me think it war sped

pu. had reutht of pi puthede,

& lef self-wil & treu to me,

]?at bi lyf nia recouerit be.”

quod vincent: “of wenomose tonge 265

bat tysis me, bo I be pzzg,

fenpand of me til haf mercy

& wald my sawle sla vtrely,

I dred bo noc/zt, na ocht b^t bu

ma gere mare be done me now; 270

240. bot ekit ware. 260. ]>is his.


bot ay [)>e] faryare I ]>e se,

]>e mare blith euir sal I be;

sa sal J>u persawe richt wele

}>u art discomfit like dele.”

]?ane of ]?e frame he bad hywz tak, 275

]?at hale had nothire lith na bak, Fol. 290 a. & sped [hyme] one but abade

til ane gret fyre and mad;

& he sped hyme witA gud wil

be payne of fyre to cume til. 280

bare a roste yrne wes mad bone,

& one bat gret fyre syne laid done,

& he on it wichtly wane,

& bath wes bralit & brynt \2Ji

yrne forkis, & thrussine done, 285

for til eke his passione.

& yrne platw brywnand hat

wes laid on hyme to mak hy»/ mat.

& be tyrand in ful gre[t] Ire

gert cast salt in-[to] be fyre, 290

thinkand he mycht na payne mare . do til hyme to sow hyme sare.

bane son his bowelis al

ruschit owte, gret & smal. 3et blithly stil he lay, 295

his ene til hewine dressit ay,

prayand god ful Ithandly, bat he to thole my chi be worthy,

& bat he in thank wald ta

bat sacr/fice mad hyme swa. 300

& as to dacyane tald wes

of his sa gret stedfastnes,

“ alace ! alace ! ” sad dacyane,

“we are ourcuwyne al Ilkane ! ga put hyme in a depe dongeon,

276. lith na bak. 297. prayand god fore. 305


quhare dais licht ma nocht cum don,

& vndz> hyme [sal] be no^t ellis

to ly apone bot brokine schellis,

& sa strekit je lefe hyme }>a.re,

fete and hand[is] bundyne san?.

& gyf ende be one hyme mad

in ]?at ma.ner, tel me but bad ! ”

])ane ]>e wikit seruandw sone

his bydding hale has done.

bot sone in-[to] J?e myrk dowgeone

a passand licht of hewine com done,

& }?e scharpnes of ]?e schellis

til hym wer as rose wele smellis;

& his fete J>at bundine war<?,

softly lousit for-owtine sar<?;

Fol. 290 6. & angelis mad hyme solace

& gret loy in-to J>at place,

he sang wit A J>ame in melody,

& J>e son wes hard in hy.

]?ane keparis of }>e presone,

}>at thru smal holis lokit done,

war richt rad, as ]?ai had sene

It ]?at ]?ar downe wes done vitA den,

& for ]?e sicht [)?at] ]>a\ saw )>ar^,

conuertit al but ony mar.

]?ane dacyane as wodma« cun fare,

& sad: “ quhat sal we do hym mare?

for me think ws al scuwfite.

til a softe bed beris hym tyte,

& fosterir hyme wele in al wyse,

til he begyne to waryse.

]jane we ma punyse hyme efte,

til ony lyf be in hyme lefte.”

328. wes done vt de. 333. fostent.

334. pai bare hym 336. til he begane

XXXVII.—VINCENCIUS.

as dacyane devvisit, ]?ai dide; & til a softe bed son hyme lede;

& [he] jald J>e gest on til hewine,

fra cristw birth reknand ewine

twa hu«dir auchty & aucht yere.

& empm)unr hat tyme weri?

}>is fellone diocliciane,

& he todir maxi[mi]ane.

hane mad dacyane gret wa

hat he wes discuwzfit sa;

“bot jet sal I but remede

punyse his body hat is dede.”

hane gert he his body here al bare

to bestis & foulis hat fellow ware,

til ete hyme bath stout & rout,

of na maw hane haffand doute.

bot god, for quha;w he wes dede,

vthir wais set remede.

be angelis jemsel, h^t na beste

myc/it tuth lay on hyme, mast ne leste,

a rewand rawine come in hy,

quhare he haly corce cane ly,

& tholit na foule cum it nere,

& a wolfe in he summyn manere.

& as dacyane his herde,

as wod nere he ferde,

& bad he corce suld be tane,

& til It buwdine a mylstane,

& castine fere in-to he se;

for, ho it mocht uocht etyne be

one dry land viith ony beste,

It suld in he se, at he leste,

Fol. 291 a. be eteyne of fel bestis hare-

& hai his byding [cane] ful ^are.

343. aucht JerzV.

269

34°

345

35°

355

360

365

370

350. punyst.


bot, or bai bat-mew J>at had hyme

schot in J?e se, [to] land my^t wyne,

)>ai fand J^e corse one }>e sand, 375

as it wes befor lyande.

bot son in til a vysione

reuelit it wes til a matrone,

bat yddir come, & wthir ma,

& body away cane ta, 380

& mad it a fain? sepulture

of cost gret & of cure

of walence in be cyte,

quhare euz> it lowit sal be.

of bis martiv sancte augustine sais 385

bat sanct vincent ourcozw alvais,

“ for in herd payne ay ourcom he

bat war mochx. nane disesit be,

& in-to wordis dacyane

he ourcome & his mew ilkane, 390

& in be fyr our-come he,

& our-come castine in be se.”

sanct? ambrose sais in [his] preface

bat sanct? vincent tormenti/ ves,

byrsit, beft, [and] brynt, bot he 395

for ony payne mycht nocht ourcuwzine be,

bot his tho?/zt wes vnmowit ay,

sa ferme wes he in cristis fay;

for bo he brynt wes in be fyre,

in hewine hale wes his desyr?, 400

& stratar to god wes he bundine,

bane til oucht in warld wes fuwdine,

& til pies god wes mar sete,

bane ocht bat wes in be markete,

& to de had mar jarnyng 405

to bis varld bane to hevinis king.

393. prophecy. 394- tormentis.


til hyme ]?ar-for, had sic grace

of god ]>a.t he sa stedfast wes,

we pray hyme witk hartly wil,

sic grace he wil get ws til,

of J>is lyf J>at we ma twyne

bath but det & dedly syne.

410

XXXVIII.—ADRIAN.

E tyme J>at maximiane

]?e stat of }>e empyre had tane,

It tyd hyme [to] cmm, as we rede,

to [>e cyte of nichomede,

& har to mak sacrifice 5

til syndry ydolis on his wyse;

& gef byding ]>ar til al Jmi Fol. 291 b. }?at come nocht sacrifice to ma,

but delay suld de Ilkane,

& al J?ar g&dis suld be tane 10

& gefine as eschete to J^ame }>at for sic cause had ony slane.

for-Ju folk mony fundine ware,

[>at for to sla sik wald nocht spare,

& befor vthir J>ai slew al 15

[>at Ih^jru criste ]mr lord durst cal.

& ]ns p^rsecucione

wel lang tyme wes sa fellone,

bat nane durst nere vthire schmi

)>at he wes cmtine, for gret aw. 20

na be fadir durste nocht say

to be son he held crfstis fay.

for in sic doute war )>a.\ bane,

bat nane durst tel his wil to ma«,

1. Initial letter wanting. 10. goddis.

8. nocht to sacrifice to ma. 19. schou.

XXXVIII.—ADRIAN. 273

quhat of gudis for drednes, 25

& quhat of herd paynis ]>e distres.

3et Ipaji war discou^Ht ]>z.re

thretty & thre in J>at swithware,

& bro^t son befor J>e kynge,

J>at one }us wyis mad franyng : 30

“ ^uwge men, 30 byrd wel knaw

of lordis ]?e fellone [l]aw

a-gane cratine mew ]>at ]jai haf mad, bat wil nocht sacrify but bad.”

]?ai sad, ]>a.i [had] herd sic thing, 35

& demyt it bot ful hething

& wikitnes and gret foly,

bat crfstine mew suld cryste deny.

bar-at richt gryme wes ]>e king,

& bad his tormentoum son bring 40

skurgfr of senonis felly mad,

& gert bame dungyne be but bad,

& notyt wel for price ab ad

be ansuere bat ilkane mad.

syne gert he bame wz't^ yrne be buwdyw 45

& in to presone als be thruwgyne.

bot be lyknes of mawis thoz^t

bai paynis grewit ]>a.\m xycht x\ochi.

[a] mychty knicht baw stud by

of hye office & sei3nory, 50

& of be empemre had tane

bat stat, & callit wes adryane, & to be stedfestnes had hede

of bai mew bat na paynis cuth dred,

& sad: “gud men, I corivixe 30W 55

be be name of 3oure lord Ih^ru,

3e tel me quhat rewarde Fol. 292 a. 3e think til hafe eftyrwarde

49. mychty king. VOL. II. S


for sic tormentw as je tak here

for joure god with glad chere.”

J>ane ansuert }>ai al as ane,

& sad one [til] adryane:

“ sa gret reward haf we, []ra] trew,

for }hr paynis we tak now,

Jsat ma«is sicht mycht neuz> it se,

na with ma«is [er] herde be,

na be comprysit in mazzis wit

hou mykil and gret blise is It,

]zat god has grathit plentuisly

for ]>ame }>at luffis hyme parfitly.”

pane Adryane forowte mare

in myddis of al Jzat ware Jzare

lape furth to Jzame, & sad: “ not me wzt/z Jzame )>at crz’stine men wil be;

for my tyme gane by I bane

Jzat I wes nof/zt cm tine mane.

jet wil I, }>o it lat be,

to criste and his treutht tak me, & ydolis here forsakis ay,

for ocht ]zat mazz ma do ore say.”

& quhene }>e empgz-oure J>is herde,

as nere owte of wit he ferde,

for adryane sad sa vtrely

]zat he wald neuire sacryfy;

jet gert he hyme be brozv^t hyzzz til,

& sperit gyf ]zat wes his wil.

& for Adryane sad : “ ja,”

he gert his tormentouro hyme ta,

& in Ime bundine faste,

in hard presone gere hyme caste.

J>ane his wyfe, natalia,

]zat herd hou he buzzdine wes sa,

rafe hyre clathis and drew hyre hare,

fore na womane lufit mazz mare.


bot quhene scho wiste for crisU's fay 95

J>at he sa in presone lay,

cane nane tel }?e loy scho made.

& to presone ]?ane [rane] but bade,

& fore loy faste gretand,

kissit fetris hyme band, 100

& syne J>e fetris of al ]>ai hat for lyk cause ware bu«dine sa;

for scho wes crfstine, bot fore doute

to ]>at tyme scho leit noe//t owte.

J>ane sad scho til hir husband sone: 105 Fol. 292 6. “ blissit be ]m hat his has done !

for I say he, my husband dere,

hat hu has fundine now but were sic riches, hat nane of hi kyne

befor his day war worth to wyne, no

sic riches quhare-of hai hafe ned,

to hewy«nis blis hat wil }>am sped;

for he tyme cuwis quhene nane

sal gyfte, na jet ocre be tane,

& quhene nane sal vthir relefe, 1x5

hou-euire to hame hai be lewe,

as for to les hame of [har] payne,

suppos hai wald neuz> sa fane;

na he fadz> sal nocht be

of mycht to helpe he son, panic; 120

na he modir sal no mare

helpe he douchtir, fra hai hyne fare;

na he lord helpe his mane;

na frend helpe frend for al he cane;

na riches na possessoure 125

sal helpe man in-[to] hat stoure;

for riches, be he neuzV sa sle,

sal lefe hyme al, quhezz he sal de.

har-for is riches na« sa gud

109. pis kyne. 123. na J>e lord helpis his mane.


as trew in god with mayne & mud,

& al fals ydolis til forsak,

& cese to syne & baptysme tak,

& of }>e riches he has here

mak hurde in hewine, quhare na were

Is; & sa brake sal he ]>at ilke blis,

}>at god has grathit for al his,

quhene ilke mane sal resawe but were

rewarde as ]>ai mak cause here.”

& quhene scho had sic smnone mad,

J>at he ]?e warld suld dispit but bad,

& al ]?e loy ]?at is )>are-in,

& frend and falouys & his kyne,

& treuly drese his hart ful ewine

euir to ]?e blis of hewine,

sz> Adryane cane til hir say:

“my gud cystire, ga Ju way,

&, or to ded we led be,

I sal cume & spek with }>e,

& cal ]>e, to se our passione,

to pasft to god quhe« we are bone.” hir husband scho co;«mend/t pan

to pax thretty & thre men,

& J>ame, to confort hyme, can pray,

& tuk hir leif & wend hir way.

Fol. 293 a. sone eftyr a-pone ane, It wes tald to sz> Adryane

pe certane day quhene }>at he

to thole }>e ded suld callit be.

with geilem }>ane cane he trete with faire giftis & riches grete,

& borowis alsua for hyme fande

al ]>ai menje ware in bande,

]?at he, pe space of ounV twa,

mycht haf lefe til his wyf to ga;

for he wes obliste til his wyfe

165. & for he wes.

130

135

140

145

ISO

r55

160

!65


to speke vfith hir in-to his lyfe.

& }ms leife he gat, & he sped hyme

besyly til his awne in.

]?ane cuwand, a knawine man

saw hyme; & hame he ran,

& to natalia tald he,

hir husband wes of pr^ssone fre,

lo, he cuwzmys here now.”

bot til his tale scho ne wald treu,

bot sad: “ quha had ]?at pouste

to mak hyme of presone fre ?

god forbed it sa fal,

hat he lefe his falouys al,

quhare ar bundine in a stede,

& fle fra hame for dout of dede! ”

hane sad hir smiand : “ my lord here

Is cu;/miyne of pressone, for-owt were.”

hane wend scho hat he flede,

mart/rdome for he drede.

scho gret hane fast & mad II chere.

quhene scho saw hyme cuwand nere,

scho rase, & agayne hyme can spare

dure and jet with hart sare,

& sad: “fare be hat man fra me,

hat fra god falline is he;

& god forbed it me betyde to spek wft^ hyme or be besyde,

hat fayntly has his lord nyt,

& tholit neuir of ficht a fyt! ”

til hyme scho turnyt hane,

& sad: “ but god wrechit man,

quhat ned he to begyne he thing

hat hu mycht nocht bring til ending; or quhat gert he departe, hu say,

fra fallouys hat in presone lay? or tel me quhare-for hu flede,

to ficht befor hat hu wes nede,

170

175

180

185

190

I95

200


Fol. 293 b. or quhy ]>u fled, seand na payne,

na naraane fichtand ]?e agane,

or [hou] durst ]?u for schame fle,

seand na arrow schot at )>e?

& I had ferly quhene I wiste

])at Jju, ]mt wes a paiane firste,

but god of kynd of wikit men,

hou ]>u had grace cr/ste for to kene,

or quha of }>e offerand mad

to crfste,—and ]m fra hym ]?is slad !

allace ! allace ! harmys ay,

quhat sal I wrech[it] woman say,

quhat sal I say, quhat sal I do,

]>at sic a man is couplit to ?

god, wald J>u lene me of }>i grace

J>e tyme of ane jere of space,

]>at I ]>e wyfe mycht callit be

of hyme }?at mar tent ware fore ]>& !

bot erar of a transgressoure

of goddis law and trygetour^,

now sal I callit be }>e wyfe. ]jat gerris me Irk of my lyfe.

I wend a cmtine maw ]m had bene,

bot now is wele }>e cowtrar sene;

]5u did noc^t ellis, I se now,

bot to god mad a clasine how.

for-J>i in sclandz> mone we ay

be had hyne to domysday.”

quhene Adryane had herd Jus,

his hart wes ful of bleumand blis, & ferlyt J>at sic stedfastnes

in a womaw fundiwe was,

J>at Junge wes & of bewte,

& of noble blud, al thre,

& but cu/wpany of mane

214. quhat sal I wreche wema/z say.

205

210

2I5

220

225

23O

235

234. fundis was.


had four & twenty oukz> be« ]?ane,

& wes of brukil kyhd }>are-to,

on quhat maner^ suld cum hyr to 240

sic wordis for to spek hyme til.

for-]?i mare ardent wes his wil

hard martirdome til vndzVga,

quhene he til hire spek tent can ta,

lattand hir say quhat scho wil. 245 for-]n he held lang tyme stil;

& quhene he schaw scho sic way

mad and torment hir-selfe say,

he wes anoyt increly,

& sad til hir: “my dere lady 250 Fol. 294 a. & my wif natalya,

ames }>i-self, & faire noc^t sa!

for my wil wes neuz>, dred noc^t,

to do sa as Jm has thocht,

for nwtzVdome I think nocht fle; 255

bot I cume for to cal one ]>c,

as I hicht ]>e befor, )>at Jm

mycht cume to se oun? pra:essione now.”

5et trewit scho norv^t hyme fully,

bot sad til hyme angrely : 260

“I pray jow, herknes here, & se

hou goddw fa wald dissawe me,

as trespassoure agane goddzV law, hat to /e has nane aw

mar ]?ane quhylume had ludas, 265

]?at to betraise cmte hardy was ! ”

quhene he had lang standine pare,

& herd his schame & als mare,

ful mekly til hir cane he say:

“myne awne dere wyf, I pe pray

lat me cume in & speke with he!

fra hine-furth sal hu noc/zt me se.

264, J>at to be.

270


& gyf ]m ne do, quhera I am dede,

]?u sal male dule but remede,

for [ne] wald spek with me now. 275

ane vthir thing als J>u trew,

J>at J>ai }>at ar borowis fore me

for my lang duelling, slane sal be;

& ])0 I J>are-of hafe schame,

anence god ]m sal haf blame, 280

quhene J>e martens for }>i thra wil

mone thole for me aganis skil.”

natalia f>ane in hyme lete,

& athire fel til vtheris fete,

& at ])e erde a tyme la sa, 285

with hart/r sare makand wa.

& eftyr son on fet )>ai wane,

& to J>e presone fast ]?ai rane,

& J>ar-in son wane he

to fre/h his borowis & mak fre. 290

natalia hyme folouyt ewine,

& wes ]>ar with [hyme] dais sewine,

& of J>ai sekmew, }>at quhilis

with a faire clath scho cle«g/t hare bilis,

& softyt hurtw hat ware sare, 295 & listly als ke-wmyt hare hare,

& with hir handis dryit hare fete

with a faire & clene schete,

Fol. 294 b. & did hame al he ese scho mocht,

as he tyme stud, & sparit nocht. , 300

& quhene cuwyne wes he day,

hat hai apere suld but delay,

he emperour gef co;«maundment

hat hai suld be til hym present.

hane war hai of presone bxocht, 305

bot nothir ga na stand hai mocht,

bot men one barowis haiw bare,

273. quhew I in dede. 290. to frech his borowis, 3°3- gif-


ryckt as ]?ai dede bodys warr,

& to ]?e emp^rour war sa present, for ]>a.i mycht nocht ga. 310

]?ane adryane, be-cause ])at he

wes nocht pynyt in sic degre,

ran eftir ]?ab« with gladsuw fair^,

]?o his handis bundine war^

be-hynd his bake. & soone [wes] taw 315

& stentit out one a frame,

& sa dicht bot recouere

wes laid befor ]>e empmmre. natalia hyme folouyt ay,

& sic wordis til hyme caw say: 320

“my gud husband, }>o }>u se

hard torments be dicht for be,

be nocht abasit ony way,

bot Ihmi criste haf in mynd ay!

for torment here sal tyt be done; 325

bane bu sal haf loy eftir sone

of angelis, bat wft^ suet stewine

sal blythly here ])i saule iw hewyw;

baw sal \on sadly lofe god \on mocht

throu a schorte payne ydd/> be bxocht.” 330

be empewoure til adryane

sad: “ has bu 3ete consal tane

qu[h]ethir bu wil sacryfy

til oure goddis bat ar mychtty,

& lif & bruk bi firste pouste 335

& bi worschepe & diwgnite,

ore bu wil jjete in criste trew

& thole bar-for bittyr ded now?”

bane ansuert hyme sir Adriane,

& sad: “ my consel I haf tane,

bat is, bat I sa[l] worchipe ay

hye god in hewine & kepe hfr fay,

312. pyniyt. 313. pan eftir.

340


na sal neu/r fal fra }>at entent

for ony manere of torment.”

]?ane wes he sare with scurgw befte, 345

rywine & rente & dungine efte.

natalia J>ane with gud wil

Fol. 295 a. pir tothir sanctis ]ns tauld til,

hou adryane begownyne hade

to be martyr & wes nocht made. 350

jet adryane with blitht fain?

sad, maument/j noc/d ellis ware

bot kistis, mad craftely,

quhar-in J>e feyndis mo^t herbry,

men to dissawe & to brynge, 355

]?at til ydolis gefe trewyng,

to J>e ay-lestand pyne of hel, quhar }>ai sal to-gyddfr duel.

]>e emp^roure hyme moneste ]>an

]>at he suld noc^t his godis bane, 360

na ])ame sclaund/r na missay.

]?ane adryane, ]?at bundine lay,

sad: “ gyf I be torment sare

for I J^ame wary ]>at noeht axe,

hou suld ]?u but payne pas away, 365

}>at dredis noeht god to missay?”

)>e emp^rour sad: “ jet think me

]?at fals me« has begylit }>e.”

}>ane adryane ansuert hym til,

& said: “certw, }>u seis ful II 370

quhene ]?u ]>a\m callis dissawoum,

of crystis treutht J>at war^ doctounV,

& tacht men quhou ]>at ]?a mycht

hald hy[n]e ]?e way to verray \ycht."

natalia J^ane besy was 375

to tel }?e wordis mare & les

til al J?e haly cumpany,

348. J>is tothir sanctis. 352. mare.


J)at bad ]>ar dom nere \zxe-by.

)>ane furth come campyonzs four^,

& al stud adryane atoure, 380

& dange hyme til }>ai warf wery.

natalya }>ane in gret hy

went to }>e haly folk, bat ware

for goddz'r sake sa punyste sare,

& tald >e payne bat adryane 385

•with tholmodnes for god had tane,

& al be demaundis, bat ware

mad til hyme, & his ansuere.

& adryane in be mene-tyme

wes put to sic torment & pyne, 390 A

bat al be guttzr hyme withine

brak out—sa rewine wes be skine.

jete sa wes he noe/zt lefte,

bot in hard bandis bundine eft,

& with be forsad sanctzr sowne 395

dispytuisly in presone done,

Fol. 295 b. til bai wikit men avysit ware

hou bai wald punyse hyzzz sarare.

bis adryane wes of gret state

& Jung, faire and delycat, 400

& of he kyne bat michty ware,

& of elde thretty & aucht 3ere.

bane his Jung wif natalia,

bat junge was & faire alsa, come to be presone, & hyme fand 405

in bandis wyd opyne lyand,

& nothir hale had lith na lyme,

na ocht ellis in his skine.

bane set scho don nere hyme by,

as hyr noe/zt aylit, sobyrly, 410

& hyr harme vndir his hed lad,

378. don. 379. campyons. 401. }>e kyne. 402. & of elde ane & thretty & aucht 3er«.


& hyme be-haldand }us-gat sad:

“ gud husband, blissit is }ni,

J^at ]?usgat has spruit now

of ]>e fare nowm/r for to be 415

of haly men, & reste in le;

blissit be ]ui, of myne ene licht, in erde }>at me beste comfort mycht;

for ]?u has tholit for hy;« sar^,

hat bocht ws ]>at wnworthy wan?. 420

]?ar-for, my suet, til hym now ga,

of his gret blis part for to ta.”

}>ane, quhene ]>e emp^rour ]^'s herd tel,

Angrey he wes & ful cruel,

}>at fyndry matron[is] had accesft 425

to he presone, hame to refresche

& to conforte hame ware hare;

he bad ]>a\ suld cume no mare

to conforte hame [&] to remede,

& wnd/> payne of deide. 430

& sone, fra natalya

herd hat iz1 wes ordenit sa,

hyr har scho gerte cut of hane,

& tuk hir clething of a mane,

«Sr sa gat lefe, & duelt [har] stil, 435

hai haly men to seme til,

& entysit gud womene sere

for to do he sawzmyne manere.

& wndz> sic colour as his

hai did gret ese to he sanctw. 440

hane prayt scho richt increly

hyr husband, hat in payne ca« ly,

hat, quhene cuwyne he ware in hewyzz

to duel har with angelis stewine,

Fol. 296 a. at god til hyr he wald purchese, 445

til scho lifit til haf sic grace,

425. matron. 432. J>at is.

XXXVIII.—ADRIAN.

]?at scho mycht here wnue/«myt be,

bot for to de in chastyte, & l?at scho mye^t son of his lyfe

cume til his loy, quhare is na str/fe.

]?e emperoure herd eftir sone hou }>e matron[is] had done,

& was ware na woud in hy,

& gert bryng hyme a gret stehi-

sone hai sanctzV furth ware broe/zt,

hat of hame-selfe litil wroe^t,

& to ]>e stedy broe/zt wes hane

of hame eftzV wthire mazz & mazz,

& gert har theis brokine be

sa smal, hat meh mye^t merch se,

hat hai vaycht be pynyt sa

befor hai to ded suld ga.

& syne, mare pyne hame to do,

he bad mezz suld gang [hame] to & strik fra hame lyzzz eftz'z- lyme,

for hai wald noe/zt obey til hyme.

hane wes natalya ful rad,

hat, gyf adryane sene had

hai mzzz'tezis be sa with delte,

hat his hart for dred suld melt,

& for sic dout cz-zste to forsake.

& for sic dout requeste scho cazz make

hat firste fra sz> Adryane

ane of his lyzzzmis suld be tane

fra hyme foroute hartly offence,

giffand hyme hartly pacience,

[hat] til vthyr, gif ony were

paynis had tholit befere,

sa he mye/fct in sume thing

in paynis be to hame ewinlyng.

at hyre requeste but ony mare

452. matron. 465. & bad strik.


his hand wes strikine of pare;

& he to god J>ane laid }>e geste,

pat hyme resawit in til haste.

& al Jie lawe but ony doute 485

}>e lywmys fra }>ame strek/t oute,

& tormentouris }>ame of strak tyte

dispitusly, foroute respyte.

& sa resawit pai J^e dede wit A pacience in pat [ilk] stede, 490

Fol. 296 A & wane sa }?e loyful crone,

}?at in hewine to paim wes bon.

]>e emperourfi J^ane in gret yre par gert mak a gret fyr,

& gerte )>ame al be castine in, 495

in poudre wenand paim to bryne.

bot ]?is natalia jet Jjane stal a hand of hyre awne man,

& in hir bousume gat it sone,

& syne bad til al wes done. 500

bot eftir, quhe« scho tent can ta

pat al J?ai sanctfr brynt wer sa,

scho wald haf ro«nyne in pc fire,

til haf brynt hir bane & lyr,

pat scho myo^t be parthenare 505

wit/i pai pat say co«sumyt warn

bot god, pat disponis wele al,

of pe hewine a rayne gert fal,

sa wyolent & fellonny,

}>at J>e fyr slokit wes in hy, 510

& pe bodyis of al pai pat in pc tyre wes castyw sa,

vnbrynt haile fundine ware,

& wnuewmyt in hyd ore hare.

syne eftir lang pat ]vs wes don 515

& cmtine me« ware a-bon,

Ae cowmowne consel, gud & sad,

517. |>e co/«mowne.


in pwcesse of tyme )>ai ware had

to constantinnople, & pare

pai war enterit with fel faire, 520

quhene pece to haly kirk ves le»t.

& }?ane of tyme by wes went

twa hundre and aucht schore of jere

fra I hem criste cure flesch tuk here,

to quhome al loy joldine be 525

of al cmtine & of me.

[I]n ]?is meyne-ty^z duelt at hame

natalia, to kepe hyr fame,

& in denes held )>e hand

of sir Adryane, hir husbande, 530 & vndir hir heid la</ it to kepe,

quhethir scho cane wak ore slepe.

of hir husband scho had sic thoe^t,

pat for-jet hyme scho nocht moe^t.

a lang tyme pan passit by, 535

a trzbune, pat wes mychty,

beheld to J>is natalia,

& wes anawmerit of hir sa hat til his wyf he wald hir haf,

for scho faire wes abeof pe lafe, 540

Fol. 297 a. & cuwmyne of kine of gret honoure.

for-]n in hy to pe emperoure he went & askit hir to wede, & his wil gat hastly & spede.

& sa [hat] he mycht get he wil 545

of hyr-self pat weding til,

he trybune til natalia,

hane matronis gert sone ga,

to tel hir [hat] he wald hir wede

for teyndir luf, & bring to bed, 550

& he he emperouns wil

& his consent had gottine hare-til;

531. lat it. 545. & sa be mycht gat he wil.


fon?-]n be J?ame he hire requerit,

to gyf hyme ansuere sic as afferit.

& as bis herd natalia, 555

warly sic ansuere ca« scho ma:

“hou suld grow sic grace to me,

bat sa michty lord as he

wald deigne me til tak to wif

ore wit A me to leid his lyf, 560

& bare-to with be emperoure

is mykil lowit & in honours?

quhy suld I no^t grant hyme til

his ^arnyngf gladly til fulfil? barg-for je tel hyme bat I 565

his wil to fulfil is al redy,

bot bat Ae gudly grant to me

be space of twa dais on? thre,

bat I ma purway me to ga

in honeste sic band to ma.” 570

no^t-bane bis ansuen? sutelly

scho gef to bame & courtly,

bat scho my^t purches sum remede

to flit in-[to] sume wthir stede.

& quhene be matmiis a-way wan?, 575

scho prayt bare god, gretand san?,

bat he wald hin? wnuewmyt kepe.

& bar-w/t/j scho fel one slepe;

& of hire sanctzk til hire aperit ane,

&, as I treu, sir adryane, 580

& spak til hire rye/?t teyndz’rly,

& conforte hire debonarly,

& bad hire pas but [mar] delay,

bar quhare al bai sanctz’j lay,

& bat hir bone suld be hir tyd

for be benefice scho bame ded.

bane waknyt scho of bat slepe,

567. bot Jiat 50. 584. )>at quhare.

585

XXXVIII—ADRIAN. 289

& to }>ai wordis tuk gud kepe,

& of cr/stine a cumpany

Fol. 297 b. scho gat, and to }>e sey in hy 590

went, & nocht with hire bare

bot adryanis hand but mare,

& schippit son, & lefit ]?e land,

to god of hewine ]?ai;« cowme«dand.

bot quhene }>e trybune herd say 595

hou sleily scho gat away,

he tuk a gret cumpany

of stout knychtis & mychty,

& of schippis gret pleynte,

& folouyt hyre one see. 600

bot }>ane sone a gret wynd rase,

& to he trybune contrare was,

& scalit his nawine to & fra,

hat [fele] of hame to grond cun ga, & sume fayne to kepe hare life 605

of hat storme eftir he stryf.

& as he storme maste fellone was,

he feynd in-[to] he lyklynes,

as hame thoeAt, of a marynare

one he sey to hame ca« apere 610

in a bat, ho it fantasy

wes, & loud one hame caw cry:

“ ?e hat are with natalia in his storme castine to & fra,

I tel 30U, 3e saile nocht richt 615

in he myrknes of his nyckt.

latt/r me wit quhew come 3c,

& in quhat hawine 36 wald be,

& I sal wis 30U he rye^t way.”

he marynere caw til hyme say : * 620

for he wald in sic place haiw* briwg,

* After 620 some verses are wanting, but there is no break in the MS. VOL. II. T


quhare ])ai mycht peryse but helping.

]>e maister^ gert )>e steris-ma/z

to }?e left hand stere hym ]?ane.

bot in a bat ]?ane ful ner^, 625

sz> adryane til ]iame cazz apere,

& bad J>ame ]zane but lat

to ]?e richt hand ]>e stere set,

& dresse ]?ame to hald pare trad

in-to }>e sey as Jzai first had. 630

pan tald he to ]zame opynly

bat be fals feynd slichtfully

put banre to sic parele,

bat bai suld drone in-[to] schort quhile:

“bot I sal leid 30U, god helpand, 635

quhare 30 wald be, to be rychx. land.”

bane befor baiw, as bai thor/zt,

he rowit, &, as bai saile mo<r/zt,

bai folouyt hyme at al par mycht,

as for be maste part of be nycht. 640 Fol. 298 a. Sz as be day be-cuth to clere,

bat mezz mycht se fere & nere,

natalia knew hire husbande

at bame be next gat led to land.

& fra scho saw sz> adryane, 645

in hart gret loy [bane] has scho tane.

bane to Constantinople come bai

hale & sownd in dawing of day.

natalia bane richt 3are

sperit quhare be marteris ware 650 enterrit; & fra scho wiste,

yddir scho sped but ony riste,

& gert rype quhare be bodys ware.

& adryane sa gat scho pare,

& laid his hand to pe body,

& bai assemblit sone in hy,

in al degre, als faire & queme

655

XXXVIII.—ADRIAN.

in his lyf as he had bene.

]?ane in gud deuocione

scho mad to god hire oracione,

& thankit hyme in hartly wil

of al gud deid don him til,

& namely of ]je ded ]?at he

til hir did }?am, ]?at al mycht se.

& quhen scho had lang increly

mad him prayem, scho wes wery

& fel one slepe; & adryane til hir aperit sone one ane,

& haliste hir hamely,

& bad hir glad be, & mery;

for scho suld bruk with hy/« ]?e pece

in lestand loy, ]?at nocht suld cese.

]>ane vvaknyt scho in haste,

& tald J>is al to leste & maste,

& at J?ai;/2 al him leif [scho] tuk,

& 3ald }>e gaste, as sais J^e buk.

J’ane tuk ]?ai him body,

& hir husbandis laid it by,

]?at in >is lif scho luffit maste

next fadir, son & haly gaste.

als wisly I pray ]?ai twa,

I>at in ]?am lif vthim luffit sa,

owt of ]?is lyf ]?at we ma twene but schame, de/, & deidly syne.

684. ded.

291

660

665

670.

675

680

XXXIX.—COSME & DAMYANE.

F haly messe in )>e secre

syndry sanctz'j set we se,

)>at sere me« wat nocht quhe« & quhare,

na of quhat meryt ]?ai ware,

or quhy ]?ai suld in sic degre 5 Fol. 298 b. in messe befor vthir sete be.

for-^i here wil I spek sume thing

of twa, hat worth ware [gret] lowing,

& ar contenyt in )>q mes

for har gud lyfe & halynes. 10

& cosynas wes ]>e tane,

& syne he thothir damyane.

& twa twy^nis hai ware,

& a gud wyfe hame bare,

& callit wes theodera, 15 in he cyte of egea.

& hare modir, }ml cr/stine was,

\arne fosrerit in al halynes,

& tacht hame in juthede

hare god to luf wele & drede. 20

& for ha had na herytage

to mak dispence gret ore large,

har modir til a crafte fraim set,

quhare-of hai raycht hare liffin[g]e get.

hat wes crafte of medycyne, 25

1. First letter wanting. 18. & fostmt.

XXXIX.—COSME & DAMYANE. 293

quhare-in }?ai ware p«rfyt syne,

]?at, helpand }?e haly gaste,

al seknes ]mi couerit in haste;

& }>at in men noe/rt anerly,

bot [als] in bestis, p^Hytly. 30

bot gyft for }>a.re craft noe^t

wald ]’ai tak, for al mew mor/A,

bot frely ]?ar crafte }\ai gefe

til al ]?ai saw mystere hafe.

in }>a.t cyte wes a matrone, 35

Jmt of gret gudnes had renon,

& had to name palladya;

bot sik a seknes cane hire ta,

]?at scho mycht get na hele

of ony ])at w/t/z )>at crafte wald dele. 40 for-]ji, quhew scho hard }>e fame

of cosynus and damyane, scho come til }>ame, & tald al

hou be-tyd hir, gret & smal.

& ]?ai, haffand of hyre pytte, 45

in ]?e name of }>e trynite

did say til hire but [mar] delay, bat hale & sownde scho wewt away,

bane of hir gud scho bad in hy;

bot it to tak b^i hire deny,

be matrone jet tuk damyane,

fra his bruthire be hyme ane,

& pwayt hyme for goddw sake

of hire a smal gyfte to take.

& he gruchit it for to ta;

bot scho jet hyme eewiurit sa

Fol. 299 a. be goddis name & his mycht, & al his halowis one hicht,

& for be luf of oure laydy, bat he It tuk tarowandly.

& b^t wes nochi fore gredines

5°

55

60


of }?e gyft ]?at gewine wes,

bot to mak sat/rfaccione

to ]?e wyfis deuocione,

for to dispyt he wes rad 65

be mycht, quhare-by scho co^iurit had.

& quhe« cosynus wyste he hir^ gyfte had tane in sic degre,

he gef byddyng, ]xit, quhe^ bat bai

ware ded & suld be laid in clay, * 70

bat of his bruthire ]>e body

in a grawe suld noe/zt wzt/z hyme ly.

bot god aperit to cosynas

bat nye/zt, quhare he slepand was,

& wele excusit damyane 75

of be smal gyfte he had tane,

be quhilk erare of dout of hyme

he tuk, erare bane gud to wyne.

be fame son of bare halynes

was wyd spred, & be gudnes, 80

& hou bat al bat bame soe/zt,

bai gef heile & tuk rye/zt noe/zt,

& bat als wele of beste as mazz.

be prazonsul helesyas bane

sa besyly gert bame be socht, 85

bat bai ware sazzzmyne til \\ym broe/zt.

& firste bare names speryt he,

quhyne bai ware, & of quhat cuzzctre,

& quhat bare fortone wes wzt/z-al—

he sperit at bame, gret & smal. 90

be martens bane sad hyme til:

“ cure namys wit & bu wil,

Cosynus is giffine me name,

& to my bruthire damyane;

& oure cuzzctre is araby;

bot as of fortone, sekirly,

75. wald.

95


gud crz'stine men, sa haf I blis,

cane na-thing wit quhat forton is.

jet haf we vthire brethin? thre,

& ]?ar names we tel ]?e. 100 ane is callit anytime, & ane vthin? bamicius,

& eupynus is J>e thryd.”

]?ane cane }>e fellon lug^ byd,

til ydolis )>ai suld be had, 105

& sacrify but a-bade, he sad.

Fol. 299 b. & gyf }>ai gruchit to do sa,

he bad wicht men suld J>ame ta,

& bynd }?ame handis & fete faste,

& syne dyng til aynd my<r^t leste. no

bot ]’e sanctzif mad hethyng

)>a.t Jmi sa faste can J>ame dinge.

]?ane bad he bynd }>ame faste,

& fer in-to ]?e se ]?ame caste.

& son his bydding haf J>ai done. 115

bot goddis angelis com pan sone,

& lousit }>ame [bath] fut & hande,

& set J?ame sound on dry lande.

& eftyr ware ]?ai agane broc/zt

to pc pwconsul, pat ferly thoe/zt 120

at his mezz ]mme noe^t dronyt had. for-]d he sad hame but abad:

“I suere jow be pe goddzV al,

pat I honours & euire honours sal,

]?at je be weschcrafte oure-cume 125

me & my men al & sume, for of tormentzir jou rekis noe/zt,

&, in ]ze se quhen je ware broe/zt,

je ware no mare drzzzzit pare,

bot lay softe as je slepand ware. 130

ken me ]?are-for joure crafte, & I

129. dressit.


in ]>e name of my goddis myr/rtty,

or in }>e name of adryane,

]?at is ]>e maste god of ilkane,

I sal folow 30U but bade.” 135

& scantly sad ]?is word he had,

quhene twa feyndis apperz't pare,

& dang hyme in pe face rycht sar<?.

]?ane cryit he ry<r/zt putusly:

“gudme/z, I pray jou helpe izz hy; 140

to joure god for me 30 pray,

pat he me helpe but delay! ”

to god Jjane przzyt paa for hyz/z bath,

& pe feynd[is] fled away rath.

& quhene pe consul wist pat pai 145.

fled, }>ane said he but delay: “gudmen, be-haldis now & se

hou my goddzj warn wrath wzt/z me

& wzt/z ]?e nefis one me layd,

])at I wald leife pame, for I said; 150

bar-for wil I thol na way

bat my goddis 3e mare myssay. ”

a gret fyre bane gert he be mad

& caste bame in bath but abad ;

bot, bai vnhurt in hare ore hyd, 155

Fol. 300 a. be fellone lou scalyt wyde,

& of ba folk mony brynt

in al syd ore it stynt.

be proconsul pan, bat wes wrath,

coz/zmaundit mezz to tak bame bath, 160

& in a frame stent bame stratly.

bane his byding wes done in hy.

bot goddis angel wes bane nere,

& kepit bame bath haile & fere,

til tormentoum sa wery ware, 165

bat bai had mye/zt to do na mare.

150. leife l>aiv.


]?e consul 3et gert paim hyme bryng,

]?at of his paynis wiste na-thing

hot ware als haile, blyth, & glad,

as pa\ of payne na wit had, 170

& bad men pat pile brethire thre

in a dongeone suld thrungyne be,

& ]?at cosmus and damyane

fra his presence son suld be tane,

& hangit hye but langare leit 175

disputuisly one a gebeit,

quhare al pe puple of]je stede

myc/it cume & stane }?ame to ded.

]?ane presit faste ful mony ane

J>ai haly martens for to stane ; 180

bot al pQ stanis pa\ can caste,

one bame-self fel at pe laste,

& slew of bame rycht mony pare,

& mony of bame wondit sare;

bot jet twechit noe^t a stane 185

sancte cosrru« na sancte damyane.

be consul bane, bat bis has sene,

wes sa schameful & sa tene—

for na man wes bat cuth hym red

hou he suld put bai men to ded— 190

bat hyme faljeit wit & mye/it,

as man bat to be ded ware Aycht.

bane angrely hire bruthire thre, bat he in pressone gert done be,

he gert bryng to bat place, 195 quhare a hye tre fichit was;

& tormentors syne gert he ta

be tothire haly brethire twa, & hang bame hye one bat tre.

quhare foure \mychttis but pyte

bane schot at bame with [al] bare mye/it.

201. fiat schot.

200


bot ])e arrowis agane xycht

turnyt, & sleu mony ]?are

of bay []?at] wntreuful ware ]

bot goddis angel ca« bame were Fol. 300 b. bat bai ;«ocht na slepe bame dere.

bane wes ]>e conswle vndzV tene

& schamyt, quhezz he bis had sene,

for-bi he gert bai brethire fywe be tane & vnhedyt belywe;

for wthir-wais cuth he noe/zt

be rewengit, as hyme thocht.

be cr/stine, bat bane ware nere

quhene bir martens bis slane were,

tYiochX. quhou damyane had sad,

bat his bruthire suld noe/zt be lad in til a grawe wzt/z hyzzz; fore-bi

bai war thoe/ztful quhare gere hyzzz ly.

And, lo, [bar] tyd a ferly thing,

as bai here-of had spekyne,

a camel come ryzznand jmizzz til,

& sad bame, it wes goddze wil

bat bai suld ly in a stede

to-gyddz>, quhene bai ware dede.

bane ware bai astonyt gretuz/zly,

herand be camel speke clerly,

& bare-by bai kneu god wald bai

in a grawe sazzzmyne lay.

bar-fore in erde bai laid baizzz sazzzmyzz,

for dout of god & gastly gaz/zmyne.

& vndzV dioclecyane be martens of bis lyf wer tane,

quhene of be dat ware but were twa huzzdre gane sewine & auchty 3ere.

[S]one eftire tyde percase

bat a werkmazz sa wery wes

206. |>ai nocht.

205

210

215

220

225

230

235

207. fans wes.


fore trawale, ]?at he fel one slepe,

& rekles wes hyme-selfe to kepe,

hot lay one []?e] feild, gapand.

& a serpent come crepand, 240

& in his mouth enteryt but bad,

& sa in-[to] his wame done slaid.

& quhe« he waknyt, hame he went,

vnwittand J>ane hou he wes schent. bot eftire sene a-but mydnye^t, 245

as to reste he hyme dicht,

he feld paynis sa sare & fel bat gert hyme roydly rare & 3d;

for bat serpent hyme traualit sa,

bat he ne wiste quhat to do for wa, 250

bot cryit ay in til a rane

apone cosma« and damyane,

prayand bame for goddfe sake

hyme of his sorou for to slake,

& gert hyme frendis but delay 255

here one quhare bai sanctfr lay.

&, bo he hard & II sted was,

he fel one slepe for werynes. f. 331 a (!) & as bo serpent had entre

in at his mouth, as are sad we, 260

one bo sawmyne wise it slad oute,

seand al bat stud a-bowte.

bane bai, seand bis ferly thinge,

lowit god, & bellis cane ryng,

& mad bo merakile sone kyde, 265 hou be bai sancto hyme betyde.

& bai sanct/e he seruit ay

fra bioo one-til enday.

[A] man in bat cunctre wes,

hafand his erand to pas, 270

his wyfe, he luffit atoure althing,


betacht J>e sanctw in kepyne,

& tacht hire takine, quhairby scho

suld wit quhew scho suld cume hym to;

sa in warld }>ar wes no ma 275

wiste }>at takine bot Jmi twa. for^-Jji ]?e feynd, oun? fa fell one,

}>at in contrary ay of resone

& of his kynd has wytinge

of maw is wil & prewe thing, 280

sone be-thoc^t hyme of a wile,

]mt sympil woma« to begyle.

& of a man ]>e fourme can ta,

& syne to be womaw can ga,

& sad, hire husband hy»z had send . 285

hir to conforte & to mend,

& for to tel hyre bat he wes

for a tyme sted in sic a place,

quhare hyme behowit a tym bid stil;

bare-for worth hire cume hyme til, 290

“ & to bat end he sad to me,

)>at I suld cume to feche be.”

bane sad scho : “ freynd, I treu be noc/zt

bot bu had bat takine bror/zt,

bat, I treu, wiste no ma 295

bot we, quheii he went me fra.”

bane sais be warlou: “ suth sais bu 1

bar-for, bat bu sal me treu,

bis is be takine he send to be>

quhareby bu sal treu to me.” 300

jet wes scho dred[and] & sad be« :

“be takine suthly wele I kene, bot, for I Recozzzmendit wes

to damyane & to cosynas,

I wil bu grant til }>are altere

275. fai wes.

3°5


ga suere, & put me out of were,

]?at to my husband }>u me bryng

hale and fere but merryng.

]?ane, ]?at done, I sal anter me

but delay to pas with }>e.” 310 Fol. 331 d.'l ]?ane wente }>ai to ]>t kyrk in hy,

quhare J)ire twa sanct/r cane ly,

& [he can] suer one }>e altere

to bryng hyre bath hale & fere

til hir husband but ony mare. 315

}>ane bounyt ])ai ]>ame & furth fare,

tyl It tyd bame please

to cume in-[to] a prywe place, quhare he \hocht hyre for to sla,

& fra hire horse [hir] cane he ta. 320

& scho, ]>at wes for hy/# hery,

mad sare chere, & cane he cry :

“now god of sancte damyane

& of sancte cosyne, helpe one ane !

for I ware nockt [in] bis sted now, 325

had I nocht trewit in-to jow.”

bane come bai sanct/V bath \n hy, with a ful bricht cumpany,

bat hyre rescuyt fra hire fa,

bat durste nocht byd, fra bai cow sa. 330

bane of bame sad til hire ane :

“we are cosimzcr and damyane,

to quhame pi husband tacht be>

quhene he went of bis cunctre.

bare-for we cume in bi helpyng, 335

& als for ba gef trewyng

to be ath J’at I’i fellone fa <z/-one oure altere he cane ma.”

be pape philep in Rome gert ma

333. to quhame I husband. 338. & one oure altere.


a kirk in honours of }>ire twa, 340

quhare a man paim smiice mad

for his heile, J?at cantre had,

}>at sa consumyt had his the,

hat began? & crepele wes he.

for-]n he prayt to hai twa 345 sanct?k, til helpe hym<? pan, sa

be pame he my^t get his heile,

& to hame he suld be smiand leile.

syne hapnyt hyme a ny^t to ly

fore sorowfulnes al wery, 350

& saw pire sanctw cume hy/« til,

til helpe hyme in gud wil,

& brocht -with hame enojv/mentw fresche

& yrnis scharpe to cut ded flesche.

hane sad ane : “ quhar^ sal we 355

flesche get his want to supple?”

hane his bruthire til bym sad: “ in pe. kirkjard ^estrewe^ wes lad

ane ethiope, & jet his flesche

is caloure Inucht & als fres.” 360

}>e eatery? flesche hai schun? away,

& fillyt har-of but delay,

& it enoyntit syne wzt/z slicht,

& slad one owte of his sicht.

Fol. 332 a. with hat po sek mane waknit swith, 365

& fand hyme hale, & wes rycht blyth,

myslewand jet hat it wes he

wes mad hale in sic degre. hare-for he cryit hely

to sere mezz hat ware [hym] by, 370

& prayt haim luf god but abad,

hat his nrez-akil kyd had.

341. quhene a man. 342. contre had. 347. hot be J>ame. 353. enozzymentzV. 361. cozztryk flesche.


}>ane, to pmve ]?is gret ferly,

to ]?e sad grawe ]?ai send in hy,

& fand it done in suthfastnes,

as here befor recordit wes.

als verraly helpe ]>a.i ws to twyne

fra hyne but det & dedly syne.

375

XL.—NINIAN.

HIS sanct niniane, I of say,

]?at quyk and ded blissit wes ay,

in-to mekil bretane wes borne,

& his gud eldms hyme beforne,

}?at mychty war, & of gret kyne, 5

& mykil had of warldis wyne.

& fra pis cheld borne wes,

pat ay wes ful of godis grace,

he wes howine in fontstane,

& callit wes Niniane. 10

pe cud-clath, pat he pan? laucht,

he kepit clene at [al] his macht,

& before goddis sone present It

of al dedly syne but smyt.

& pe gyfte of pe haly gaste, 15

pat he tuk pare, wes nocht in waste;

for he hyme kepyt sa fra syne,

pat It wo^nyt hyme ay withine. & as he growine wes in eld

rypare, & hyme-selfe mycht weld, 20

sa grew he in-to vertu ay,

forberand wantones & play,

& sobre wes in drynk & met,

po he it welfully myc/it get;

& wele entendand til his lare 25

1. The initial letter is wanting.

XL.—NINIAN. 305

he wes al tyme, late & are.

for he beguth firste to lere

ore he of eld had fyfe 3ere,

hou he suld hyme-selfe led,

& hou god he suld dred,

& fadire & modire, hou ]>at he

suld honoure in al degre.

syne he leyrit to red & syng,

& of vthire vndzrstanding;

Fol. 332 6. for ])e maister he had ]?ane,

wes wer & wise & vertuise mane.

& he, ]?at able wes & 3yng,

folouyt his mastere in althing,

& consauit richt sutely

quhat-euir he taucht in til hy,

& in his hart wele held It—

sic retentywe he had of wit—

hafand hyme in sic degre,

}>at his ourmen be sutelte

& les }>ane hyme be gret meknes

he oure-come; & neuire-]?e-les

he kepyt ay his innocens

of al mane but offence.

& growand sa ay he was

in vertuse lyfe & in gudnes.

& fore he had dout to fal,

til abstinence he gef hym al,

& held his fles vndzVloute,

for dred it suld be thra & stout *

agane J>e sawle, & gere hym syne,

or let hyme hewinly med to wyzz.

al foule delyt he fled for-Ju,

& hyme abozzdonit ythanly

in prayere, fastyng, & in wake,

hyme-selfe smiand to god to mak.

34. vthir« vnst vndirstanding.

3°

35

40

45

50

55

60

VOL. II. U


with wemene wald he no^t co«uerse,

na of na man II reherse,

hot set hyme halely to lere

his dedis thankfully to ster<?.

& gud & able god hyme mad 65

al gud to lere but abad,

sa ]?at he cuth in lytil space

science Inuch thru godis grace.

& science hals of haly kirke

he lerit als, ore he wald Irke. 70

& here-of suld nane ferly,

gyfe he consider it suthfastly,

J?at, quhare ]?e haly gaste wil be maistere, but difficulte

he ma gere man consawe althbzg 75

but besynes ore trawaling ;

lyk as of salamone we red,

}>at wes )>e viseste man but dred,

& in }>e space bot of a nye^t

of al his wysdome gat }>e slyest, 80

be theching of ]>e haly gast,

*Fol.334(!)a.}>at is beste maister in til haste;

for to god, we ma se,

ma na thing inpossible be.

& ]>o he 3ung wes, hyme tYiocht 85

]>at medful wes quha sa mocht,

& cuth als saw goddis sede

in hartfr ]>at }>are-of had nede,

& to wyne godis corne,

]mr-of mykil wes nere lorne 90

for faute of wyrnare, Jmt cuth preche

J>e puple treuly & }>ame teche.

he vm[be]thoe/A [hym] he wald luke

72. considmt.

So MS.

XL.—NINIAN. 307

gyf he in sic corne cuth set huke.

he thor/zt he wald pas forthyrmare

& be partite in-to sic lare,

fore scome it ware gret to se

]?e thechure suld vnkennand be. Jjare-for his kyne & his cunctre

he levit, & passit oure ]>e se,

& dressit hyme rome [for] to seke,

gyf he xnycht ]?are his science eke,

& for to sek sanct/r sere,

[>at plentusly in ]?at place were,

fore til eke his deuocione,

& get ]?e papis benysone.

Jjane has he hyme redy mad.

he tuk leif, & furth he glad,

at his frendis & knawine me«, ]jat ware til hyme tendz’r bene.

&, helpand god, syne come he

but letting sone oure Jje se,

& come to rome in lytil space,

hale & sownd be godis grace,

& ]>e papis presence wane,

hat wyse wes & haly mane,

hat hyme resawit wit/z gud chere,

& teyndz'rly at hyme cane spere

he cause quhy yddir come he,

& quhyne he wes, & of quhat cuzzctre.

& til al askine sone he mad

ansuere wisly but abade.

he pape hane, his deuocione

seand, gef hyme his b^nysone,

&, wele apprawand his gud wil,

syndry maisteris betacht hym til,

to mak hyme parfyte in hat lare

hat causit hyme to cume harz?.

97. forne scorne.

95

IOO

I05

110

II5

120

I25

in. sone come he. 124. buwsone.

308 legends of the saints.

Fol. 334 b. Jmne trawalit he besyli,

til he in knavlege of clergy, 130

J>at nedful wes, [wes] wise Inuch,

in goddis 3ard to set plucht,

to schau his seiyde & wine h/r corne

& helpe weile It ware nocht lome.

& quhene ]>2.r twa ^ere ore thre 135

he sped wele in sic degre,

& wes weile tacht garaiandly,

& haile but smyt of his body,

wyse in thocht, in consel hale,

forseand in }>at suld awale, 140

discret in work & word w/'t^-al,

al }>at kneu hym cuth hym cal.

sa wane he richt gret renone

til he wes duellande in }>at ton. for-]h ]?e pape, bare-of herd say 145

hou he grew in u^rtuse ay,

callit hyme & sad: “ sone dere,

for >i gret uertu bat I here,

& be faire & be gret renone

bou has of al men of bis ton, 150

I wyl bu mad bischope be

& bird, to kepe goddis fe;

for, sene I wat bu ma awale,

I wil bu tak ]?e bat trawele,

sa bat be science lent to be 155

be nockt tynt na smoryt in be-”

& sayand bis, he can hym ma

bischope -with his handis twa,

& al be doctrine ca« hyme lere,

bat til a bischope suld affere, 160

& with relykis cane hym releife;

syne blissit hyme & gef hym lefe.

& he bane went hamwarte, I3S- & quhene fai.

XL.—NINIAN. 309

for to trawale in goddis ^arde.

in ]>e meyne-tyme gret word ran 165

of sancte nurrtyne, ]?e haly man,

Jjat as a starne clerly schane

in gud dedis mony ane.

sancte niniane parfor thoe/A ]>at he

in his gat hame-wart wald hym se, 170

& knaw his co«uersacione,

for to get his benysone.

& has he thocht, sa he dide.

bot bat wes nocht fra martyne hid; for he wiste throw be hali gast 175

bat sancte niniane suld cuw \n hast,

& had jarnyng hyme to se Fol. 335 a. & a-quynte al with hyme be;

for he wyst weil he wes bane

a bischope and a haly mane, 180

& wiste weile mony he suld wyne

fra errure & fra dedly syne.

bar-for, as bai semblit ware,

betwene bame wes rye/21 hamely faire.

twa dais ore thre he duelt bare, 185

& hamewarte syne schupe hym to fare;

& for sanct niniane wald nocAt byd, bai lacht bare lewe oh ilke syd.

bot sancte niniane, ore he ca« ga,

askit at ma^tyne masonis twa, 190 bat he hyme granttit but delay.

bane niniane went oh his way,

&, god sterand, in breta« com bane,

& his frendis fand wele farand,

bat of his come wes rye/t fayne, 195

& hou he had faryne cane frayne.

bane wes gret confluence

of folk, bat come till his pra-ens,

& blissit hyme in-to be name

3io LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

of god, }>at hyme send hame. 200

& he J?ane, as gud tele-ma«,

to wirk in goddis jard begane.

&, pare he saw sawyne il seide,

to distroy it he cane hyme spede,

&, gyf it gaddmt wes il, 205

he skalit it, ore it suld spil,

& besyly cane hyme haste

pat II begyt wes, to waste.

pane eftyn?, quhe;z he mad [had] playne

godis feilde }>us with payne, 2x0

to preche )>ane he can hyme spede,

& eraste quhar<? he schaw maste nede,

& besyly set his cun?

to clenge thochto of erroun?,

& put a-way sa mystrouth al, 215

pat he my^t trastly byg his wal

of rycht treutht, ]>at suld stand faste,

& thole na errour don It caste.

& as he techit but drede,

he did hyme-self in worde & deide, 220

& ay confermyt his prechyng

be wondin? werkis pe schawine;

& sa be clene lyf & gud worde

made feil wordy goddis burde,

Fol. 335 6. & many fra pe feynd cane fang, 225

J>at in his sluice had duelt lang. parlor, gudmen, be-hald & se

hou blissit & haly wes he,

hat of god had sa gret grace,

hat ay folouyt Jms his trace! 230

for-hi ensampil ma be tane of his haly man, sanct niniane,

suerdome & Idilnes forto fle,

& agane al wice wicht to be;

228. hou and blissit.

XL.—NINIAN.

& prese we for to folou hyme,

]iat feile J^is gert leif ]>a.re syne.

& his clething scheu he was meke,

& debonar [wes] in his speke,

denote als in oracione,

& ful ithand in lessone,

In lugment leile and stable,

& in thewis honorabil,

large in almus & dowyng

& stedfaste in his hafyng,

in al office of preste able,

he wes al tyme honorabil.

of sic compacience he wes eke

}>at with bame gretand he wald gret, & with blyth blyth he wes,

gyf pare blythnes wes in gudnes; 250

& in vertuise he wes notable

& in al gudnes ful lowable.

[A]nd quhene he had tnzualit lang,

as I sad before, prechand,

In schenschype of be fend of hel, 255

he chosit a place, pare-in to duel,

be be se-syd in galoway, bat quhithorne to nam had ay.

& he gert mak in lytil tyme a kirk faire of stane & lyme; 260

& before it wes nane

kirk in be He of bretane.

& as be kyrk syne wes mad,

he halouyt it but abad

of sancte martyne in be lowyng, 265 bar-in to bath red & syng,

be be haly gaste, pat pan ded wes

& quyt be deit of alkine flesche,

245. office of to preste.

311

235

240

245


& clcwmiyne wes to ]?e hyr/it of hewyn,

]?ar wit[h] angelis to be ewine. 270

[I]n }>at cunctre duelt ]?are ]mne

a king, J>at wes a fellone man Fol. 336 a. & co/ztran; to s: Niniane preching,

& for his lare wald do na thing,

bot erare contrary wes hyme to, 275

for ocht }>at he cuth sa ore do;

& mare cruel worde he sene,

J>ane befortyme he had bene,

}>at god in his hede sic seknes sende,

Ipat til de richt sone he wend. 280

& with ]>at he tynt })e sicht

of ]je day, ware it neufr sa lycht.

J>ane tyd in his hart [J^e] thoe^t, he

J>are-of na way wariste mychX. be

bot It ware throu hy;/z }iat he ay 285

schupe hyme of pryd to verray.

]?ane askit he hyme fore godis sake,

\>o he til hyme II cause can make,

til rew one hyme & pardone gyfe, fore he disparit wes to life. 290

Jzane he, J>at mercyful wes ay,

as he ]?e messagis ]?/s herd say,

& come one sone mekilly

quhare }>is catife king can ly,

& hely sad: “god be here-in, 295

])at is distrowre of al syne.”

J>ane went he to J>e sek but bad,

& on his hede & his ene mad

]?e takine of ]>c croice werray;

& ]?e seke ]?ane but delay 300

als gud heile [had] of hede & ewene

as he neuire sek had bene;

273. & wes cowtrare. 280. til do. 283. his hast.

XL.—NINIAN. 313

& fore he sa his hele wane,

lofand god become gud mane.

[W]ith a lord of J>e sawzmyw lande 305

a maydine J?are wes duellande,

}>at wanttit nocAt of bewte, }jat suld in ony woma« be;

& wit A be sawmyne lord duelt a ma«,

bat kepari? of his horse wes bane, 310

& welth had and Idilnes,

bat drew hyme in-to wawtones. for-bi ofte wald he assay wit/i bat maydine for to play

sa lang, bat he wa« hire wil 315

al his 3arnyng to fulfil.

& fra bai had bare luste done,

scho wox gret, and alsone

seand scho mye/zt cozzsele nomare,

Fol. 336 k of hir syn bane had scho care. 320

bane franit hire lorde son

quha sic thing had with hir done.

& scho til hire lorde cane say,

be pzznse preste by hire lay.

bane be lorde, bat wes angry, 325

to be bischope bis tald in hy.

bot be bischope wist in haste,

be schewing of be haly gaste,

bat innocent be prest wes;

jet wes he noyt neuire-be-les 330

bat haly kirk suld sclaunderit be

or prestede in sic degre.

bane gert he prest & barne but delay

bryng til hyme be ewine way.

as bar come til his presence, 335

he gert be puple kepe scilence,

319. & seand. 320. & ]>ane.


& to }?e woma« ca« he say:

“}>is is J>e prest ]>a.t by )>e lay

& gat )>is barne ? ” scho sad: “ ja,”

& ]pe ûng barne can ta 340

& kest It to ])e prest rycht J>are,

before al ]?at gadderit ware.

& ]?e bischope, ]>at wiste hale

J>e falset of }>e wifis tale,

sad to }>e barne: “ I byd }>e now 345

in }>e name of oure lord Ih«u,

goddis son, }?at deit on tre,

quha is ]>i faddfr, ]7U tel me ! ”

& lo, gret ferly for to say,

}>e barne, J>at borne wes ]>at day, 350

in maîs voice ansuert ]?ane,

& J>e hand strekit to ]>e man,

sayand : “ jone my fadd/r is,

}?at w/tA my modir did J>/s mys,

& 3one prest sakles is but wen, 355 & is of gud lif & clene.”

& as J>is wes tald ]mme til,

as kind requirit, J>e barne held stil.

& al, }>at Jus ferly had sene

or herd, lowit god be-dene, 360

& thankit hyme as J>are lorde,

J>at J>ame had le«t sa gud a bird.

l?arfor, sanct niniane, I Jê pray

]m succure vs & helpe ws ay,

J>at we bruk in hewy« J?e blise, 365 quhare we vat vele }>u nov is.

Fol. 337 a. [T]he bischope jet cuth noe^t blyne

J>at mare corne schupe god to wine,

in galouay vpe and done

on fete gawgand fra tone to tone, 37°

p^rtand ]>e landis in paroch sere,

XL.—NINIAN.

& kirkzV mad quhare na« wem,

& to senve >ame prestw mad,

& statis al at to sic had pzzrtenyt. & eftir }?at

his sozmis, }>at he in crz'ste gat, conkrmyt in-to godis fay,

syne til his awne kirk held his way.

}>ar he had fundit a gret house

of gud mezz & of relegiouse,

godis smiice pare to say

& sing, til It be doumysday.

sa a tyme cazz befal

Jzat he ymang his brethim al

went to met in pe frature,

as he pat of palm had pQ cum,

to tak sic cozzzmone fude

as pai dide, il or<? gude,

& saw pe burdis thru pe hale

]zat s^zmice wes nane of cale.

Jzane pe monk, pat kepizzg hade

of pe 3ard, he callit but bade, & askit hyme quhy pat >ai

vam nocht s«znit of caile pat day.

]?ane sad he : “ faddzV, but wene

in ]ze jarde is nane erbe grene.”

& pe bischope, pat suth wiste,

bad hyme pas furth but ony first,

& quhat he in pe }ard fand,

bryng til hyme in his hand.

& furth he went at byddyng, po he wiste weile to find na thizzg,

& in pe jard sone has sene

caile & leikis faim & grene, & al pat men of had neide,

}>ane cuzzzmyne of nev sawine seide.

he monk, pat saw ]fis ferly,

3i6 LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

wes ])ane as in extasy,

seand niniane sa ful of grace,

J?at gert J>at greu in sa litil space;

lofand god J?are-of tuke he,

& broc/it befor ])ame al to se. Fol. 337 6. & god ]?ai lowit mony-fald

for J>is merwale, bath û^g & aid.

to god ]>e fadir be lowinge,

]?at for his seraand wro^t sic thinge,

to god ]?e sone ay honours be,

]?at menskyt hyme in sic degre,

til haly gaste als, god of mycAt;

& til ]?ame til-giddir^ richt,

]jat sanct niniane mad sa my^tty

to wirk hem sa gret ferly,

& for his trawal hem w/t/^-al

to lestand joy [sen] ca« hyme cal.

[CJorne Jâne, I vnd/rstande,

wes no^t so plentufe in lande

as It is now, bot one bestiale

J>e co^mo^nis nem lifit hale;

for, quham now jê corne is beste,

}>at tyme wes [bot] wilde foreste.

sa tyd }>at Niniane a tym wente

to se his catel in entente,

& to }>e lug se quhat Jâi

had, & how ]?ai lay,

& to gyf }>ame his blissinge,

to safe J>ame fra al II thinge;

& jed a-boute j>ame in-virone

& gef J>ame goddis benysone.

& wit/i ]?e stafe, in hand he had,

a czVcle a-bout )>a.im he mad,

409. sancte niniane. 432. & to.

410

415

420

425

. 43°

435

440

XL.—NINIAN. 317

& bad his hirdis ]?at his fe

Jmt wycht in ]?e circle suld be.

ba« to ]?e catel bai tuk les kepe.

for-bi, as al men war on slepe, thefis, bat cuth be-hald 445

bat be catele ware noe^t in fald,

in be cmde bane but dout

3ed, for to steile be catel owte.

bot a bule fers & fel,

as kepare of be catel, 450

one be maister thef ruschit

as brane woud, & til erde duschit,

& in be wame racht hym sic a rout,

til al his guttzk schot oute,

& sone one hyme jed wzt^ fete. 455

& bat taknis les to jete,

sene in a stane in bat [ilk] stede, quhare be maister thefe wes dede.

& al bai schrawis euire-ilkane,

bat ware in bat czVcle gane, 460 Fol. 338 a. wex woud, & mocht nocAt gange away,

& bad bare til be morne-day.

bare be bischope fand ]?ai»z in pat stede, & ymazzg p^\m be maister thef dede

vndzV bare fete, quhare bai stude,

& al his feris brawne woude.

bane come feil bare-on to gowe,

of his ferly & gef god lowe. bot be byschape, bat pyte had,

sa prayt for bai»z but a-bade,

bat he bat deit sa wrechitly

wes resuscit in til hy,

& to bame bat woud ware gane,

he pzzrchasit wit, ore he fane,

bane askit bai \cym forgiffnes,

474. lie pz^-chasit gratly wit.

465

470

475


& he ful mekly ca« \z\vi bles.

sic warkis did sancte Niniane her.?,

& mony vthire als and sere.

[0]f ]>e bischope J>e nam ran sa in al ]?e land to and fra, 480

& al ]>at ware honeste men

jarnit he suld ]>are bamis ken;

& he tacht }?ame for to be

godly vyse, & vicis fle.

sa ymang vthire wes ane, 485

]>at he had til his doctr/ne tan,

]>at had mysdone agai« byddiwg,

suppos It wes nocht ful gret thing;

& ]>e bischope wiste it in haste

threu schawing of ]>e haly gaste. 490

for to be befte he had drede.

a-way he stal ful gud spede,

&, trewand in ]?e halynes

]>at he wist \an in his maister wes,

his patent can with hym ta 495

pmiely, ore he wald ga, trewand bare-of but were

to get helpe, gyf he had mystere,

& fleid a-way with It rycht faste—

to be befte he wes sa gaste— 500

ay, til he come to ]>e se,

jarnand cure it )>ane to be.

& as he rane on ]?e sand,

ane aide coble bare he fand, }>at mony hoilis in it had; 505

& put it to be se but bad,

& lap bare-one forout drede,

Fol. 338 b. in his purpos venand to spede.

hot, or it flet fra be laude

sa far a[s] ma« mycht caste with hand, 510

XL.—NINIAN. 319

Ipe coble be-guth to synke,

& ]?e bame hyme can on thinke

of J>e mycht of sanct Niniane. for-J>i his stafe sone has he ta«,

[&] in J>e maste hoile he fand, 515

It thristit ful faste with his hand,

trewand succure for til hafe,

of his meryt J>at acht }>e stafe, & askit pardone, gretand sare,

ryr^t as his maist^r had bene pare, 520

of be myse pat he had wrocht

aganis hyme al for nor^t.

sone wes pe coble haile & bene

as It wes euz>, forouty« wene;

& sa, bat patent gou^mande, 525

haile & sounde he com to landf,

& lape sone out, & wes glad

bat he sic parele eschap/t had.

& be patent wz'th hyme brorAt,

quhare-of he saw sic wondz> wro^t, 530

& in be erde cane It thrink, of bat merwale in remewbryng,

requerand god it suld flours here,

thru be meryt of his maistem.

& wox it bar faste & al grene, 535

& bare floum & froite, pat wes sene.

& syne eftir in pracese

a gret tre & fayr it was.

& bat be rut of it syne

bar sprang a wel fair & fyne 540

of watem, clere as cristel.

bar-of men syndry gett/r heile,

in lowing of god, bat is ay

mare ferlyful pan men ma say

in halowis bat war til hym dere

527. wes gled. 535. wox it t>at. 545


& pleisit hyme til }?ai vare here;

as in his day did Niniane,

]mt now helpis mony ane,

In quhat distresse sa-eu2> )>ai be

sted, in land ore 3et be se. • 550

the bischope passit a tyme percase

in J>e land quharg h^if erand was,

& his bruthir pwsebia,

a haly man, can -with hyme ga.

Fol. 339 a. for J>at tyme wes na prelate 555

J>at men gef til sa mikil state,

3et wald he mekly on fete ga

fra p^roche kirk to and fra,

to visy in quhat wyse

J>e kirkme« did }mr sluice, 560

or hou lawit men can wirke

in ]?e treuth of haly kirke.

sa sayand pare psalmis be pe gate

rist pa cane, for it wes hate,

& fand a fain? place, & set don, 565

to pray in man; deuocione.

& for pat cause athir his buke

opnyt & pare-one can luke.

& as pai goddis wark can wirk,

a cloud vondir blak & myrke 570

stroublit ])e ayre, in sic manere

pat pe lifte, [pat] befor wes clere,

wes myrkare ]mne J>e oycht.

& paxe-with fel pe rane sa thycht

pat, quha pat pare had be« to se, 575

suld wene noyus flud suld be.

bot, quhan? pire twa prayand warg,

he fellone weddin? pare forbar<?,

& as a circle hame about

]?e myrke cloud wes haldine oute, 580

sa na rane mycht entre pare,

XL.—NINIAN. 321

quhare }>ai brethir sittand ware,

]?at mycht dere ])a.\?u quhare )>ai sete,

na claith na buk nojj/V wete.

& quhezz ]?e cloud wes away, 585

J>ai rase & passit one }>are way,

& lofit god hey one hye^t, bat sic solace had dye/zt;

&, quhare bai wald be, com wele,

& did bare devore ilke deile, 590

as semandis gud & leile,

to lofe of god & of saule-heile.

thru sic merakle sancte Niniane,

& fere gretare, clerly schane,

& thru [his] lif & his techinge 595

ensampil gef of gud lowing

til al bat mycht hym se ore here,

or quhare he ca« duel com nere;

for as a lavntem he wes lye^t,

bat in myrknes giffz's men sye/zt, 600

hou bai suld lefe erroure ay Fol. 339 b. And to nertu ches be vay

& in bis mirknes gang sa ewine,

bat [b]ay emples mycht god in hevyzz;

& til men of al estate 605

ledar he wes of be richt gat.

& quhezz be tyme cuzzzyne was

bat he of bis lyf suld pas,

of parht dat & rype elde,

be dete of flesche he can 3eld 610

of septembre be xvi day,

bat quhythorne in-to galouay,

fra cristw birth thre hu«dzV 3ere

& twa & thretty to bat nere;

& in sanct nuzz-tynis kirke 615

wes entent bat he gert virke,

604. myc/ztty god. VOL. II. X


& in a costlyk kiste of stane,

til mony jerzV war ourgane.

)>are god cesis noc/it to virke

for hyme m^akles, to strmth J>e kirk.

ryc/it as he lefand here

ves clere in mony verkz's sere,

sa god wirkis for hyme nov

ma ferlyis, for to ger mezz trew

J>at, ]?o he of ]?e warld dede be,

god hyme has in mare dante,

to ger mezz honoure hyme here

& sek hyme of landis sere.

& he to al is helpe & bate

Jzat hyme sekis, oh hors or fute.

for-Jzi, sancre Niniane, ve pray j^e

Jzou oure aduocat sa vil be,

to hewinly blis we ma wyne

but schame, dete, & de[d]ly syne.

[OJfe ]ze ferlys ]zzs is ane

]>at god wrOif/zt firste for s: Niniazz,

fra ]us lyfe fra he cazz wend,

lestandly wzt/z god to lend. ]zar duelt a mazz in )>a\. cuzzctre,

]zat wes of bot sympil degre,

& one his wyf a knafe child gat,

)zat fadire & modyre gert sare gret;

for thru it haldine wes ]>ar name

in gret lak and in schame,

& to ]ze puple in vozzdryngf—

sa wes it borne a bys[n]yhg—

& in gret horrour but wene

til al ]zat euire It had sene,

for a-gane kynd wes it sa,

]>at bakwart stud heile & ta.

XL.—NINIAN. 323

Fol. 340 a. & ]>e face als to ]?e bake

It had, }>at gretly wes to lake.

& }>e hend part \axe neste

of be hed ves fast to be breste. handis & harmis to be kne • 655

var drawine as al ane suld be.

& vtrely wes it but pr^fyte—

I vat nocAt gyf nature had be wit.

No^t-bane lang tyme bai It fede,

for b^i hyme gat in lachful bede, 660

& tretyt weile bat vnthrifte,

til eld had it bxocht fra schrifte.

& quhen modz> & fadire bath

had sorouyt til be lyf bai lath,

bai held bame stil, bo bai wa ware, 665

nedly for bai mycht nomare.

& at be laste razz bame to \hockt

bat gret vondire sancte Niniazz^ wro^/zt

of goddis grace, to quhom he

had bene szzz-uand in al degre. 670

& in traste of his mykil mycht,

bai tuk vpe bat for-worthine wyr/zt,

& bror/zt [it], quhar sancre Niniane lay,

& It done laid & cane say:

“sanct Niniane, tak bis gyfte, 675

ve be bryng, a thing but thrifte;

be quhethire, bo it lathly be,

inpossible is nozv&t to be

for to recoup it, gyf bu wil;

barfor we bryng [it] her be til, 680

othir be be to hafe remede

of bis mysfigur, or be dede. bar-for pz-zzfe bi mykil mycht

for goddis sak in bis wicht! ”

& as bis done wes, in hart sare 685


}>e bysnyne thing }>ai lefit pare,

& went agane to ]?are place,

gretand and sayand, “ alace ! ”

•[N]ow wil ve her a ferly tel

J>at of s: Ninia*? pan befel.

for, as cumyw ves pe mydny^t,

par apperit to pat ful wye/it

a man schenand brycht & cler,

as dois }>e sone pat ve se here,

& arayt in althing

as bischope pat mes suld syng;

& with his hand twechit \ycht\y

his hed & ^ad [hym] ryse in hy

& lofing til his savor jeld,

& one his vay pan furth helde.

Fol. 340 b. pat bysnyne [thing] to ]ds tuk kepe,

& vaknit as of hewy slepe,

& raxit hyme, & recoumt wele

oyse of lyflzmys ilke deile;

as kynd wald it suld be,

sa wes he mad in al degre.

]?ane passit he furth on hame,

to ])ame pat of hym had sic scha;;z;

& pane had par gret loy & lykin[g]e,

& lofit deuotely hevy«nis king,

& to pe abbay ?-ane but mare,

& it tald til al pai fand pare

hou sanct Niniane had don pat thing. pan gert par pe bellis rynge,

& gert Jus thing knawine be

til al J>at warn in J>e cunctre,

& gert it pare be put in wryt,

J>at men suld lang-tyw think on It.

I treu, pare lifts nane

690. Niniaw ]>at J>an. 691. cuwymyw. 698. & sad ryse. 711

690

695

700

70S

710

715

. )>ane but mare.

XL.—NINIAN. 325

j^at al cane say of sancte Niniaw,

}>at vves sa mek a confessoure

& of vicis persecutors,

lofars of vertu & dyspysars

of J>e warld, of hewine 3arnar.

& for he studit hers to be

pouer, in hewine rike is he.

ay wes he besy for sawle-heile

in gret trawale as ssruand leile.

& for he sa weile [her] wros/^t,

of hyme god forgetful is noc/it,

bot his relykis menskw ay, quhare ]?ai ar fe[r]tsrit in galouay.

he quhilk fertir mew bem ay

of witsone owke he twysday,

vith festiuale prscessione,

til a chepal be-owt ton,

ners he quartars of a myl,

&, as It bars has ben a quhile,

hame to he abbay ]mi it bers

vith gret solempnyte & fere,

bot one It lais na man hand,

bot he maste vorthi of he land,

hat be lyne of successione,

beris it in processione.

& hat tyme for he pardone gret

mony pressis pare it to get.

hat pardone is lestand ay

fra he for-sad twysday

of sanct John^e he baptist to he birth,

bath vith solempnite & mirth.

Fol. 341 a. for-hi hat tyme ilke jere

men cuwis of landis sere,

of france, of Ingland, & of spanje,

of he pardone for be-wanje,

754. for for be wanje.

720

725

73°

735

740

745

75°


& of al landis Jus halfe proyse

men cuwzis J>are, of cowmone oyse,

of valis & Irland eke. J’ar hyddir men wil seke,

in sic nowmz>, I tak one hande,

J>at sic day tene thousande

\z.r men wil [se], for-out man;

oftyme ]>a.t cuwis Jâre.

& J>ar-of suld nane ferly,

for J>e merwalis done Ithandly,

}>at he kithis one sare & seke,

J>at deuotely vil hyme seke,

or fastis vith deuocione

his fasting, J>at nov is cowmione;

];at is, fryday fra J>e novne

til sonday at J>e mes be done.

& how men fastis it, gif ]>on vil speir,

thryse ilke rath of J>e êre;

twise to-giddirc, J>e thrid be skil,

in J>at quartare, quhezz ]ni wil.

for he J>at in honour of Niniane

deuotely J>at faste has tane,

quhew he fastis, gyf J>at he

in state of grace & gud lyfe be,

he sal eschewe of his ârnyng,

bot it be vnleful thing.

for at quhythorn e is wror/zt ilke day

fer ma vondms J>ane I cane say,

of sancte Niniane be J>e prayers

for men ]?at ar in parilis here,

one sey, one land, or in seknes,

or ony maner of distres;

of }>e quhilkis, gyf I tald nov,

J>e teynd part, men suld nocht trev. for def mezz J>ar gettzV herynge,

761. }>at men.

XL.—NINIAN. 327

& blynd [men] als parfit seynge; 790

halt men als ]?ar<; getu's bute,

J^at has seknes in hand ore fute;

& dume [men] als gettw be speke,

}>at mekily vil Niniane seke;

and als of parlesy 795

men gettis bar heile perfidy;

& [sume thru] ydropcy [sa] grete

swolline, ]?at bai ma noc/it ete, ar swampe mad at be p^yere

Fol. 341 6. of sanct Niniane, hale & fere; 800

& vthir bat of bare vit

vod war, gettis It;

& sume bat pane had of be stane,

or seknes in-[to] flesch or bane,

or quhat-kyne Infirmyte 805

man haf, gyf bat he

socht sanct Niniane deuotely,

gat heile, bo it ware myslary,

thru be giffar of al grace,

to quhame s: Niniane seruand vas. 810

& grant god bat we ma be

his seruandis in lyk degre,

of bis lyf [bat] we ma twjne


[Olf sanct Niniane jet I ju tel 815

a ferly bat in my tyme befel, in galoway, til a nobil knye^t,

bat sir fargus magdouel hicht,

& hardy vas of hart & hand, & had be leding of be land, 820

in vorschipe & slachtyr bath

one Inglis-me« to do skath.

& for bai had of hyme ay doute,

813. ma twene.


}>ai var richt besy ay aboute

to fynd suw get hyme to grewe, 825

gyf fortone wald thole ]?aim eschewe.

& quhe« J>ai had sere vais socht,

& fand ]?at ];ai profit nocht,

J?at }>ai mycht nochi do be my chi,

]?ai schupe ]>axm for to do be sly^t; 830

& spyale gat to se quhen he

fra strinth of men mycht fu«dy« be,

bat ]>a.i mycht cwn on hyme ]>a.ne,

& tak hyme but skath of men.

bane be thre cou^teis of carleile 835

to bis var accordit weile,

& borne of galouay gat a spy,

bat to vyne gold ves xycht besy;

for-bi stithly he swar bane,

bo he ves a scottis-mane, 840

bat he suddandly suld fulfil

be command he mad bame til;

& bai one [hand] tuk his payment, in hope to fulfil bare entent,

& socht opartunyte 845

how bat best mycht bane be,

as vmquhyle did [fals] ludas,

bat crfstis awne discipil vas.

for is nane, I vndir-ta,

Fol. 342 a. sa paytener, na sa fellone fa, 850

as is mast hamely, gyf bat he

vil wikit maw or tratour be.

ryr^t sa bis maw, bat vas hamely

with hyme, bane caw hyme espy,

til he viste sere placw, quhar he 855 with fow folkis suld lugit be ;

& bane to carleile vent one ane

& tald bar-of be capytane

of his erand bat he had done.

XL.—NINIAN. 329

& }>ane J>e capytane alsone 860

>e thre couwteis in til hy

gert be gaddmt ful pmvely,

& one in-to galouay rade

}>e nyr/^t ]?at J^e triste ves made.

bot J>e knyc/zt, at viste nocht 865

of J?is tresone aganis hyw wroo$t,-

in til a housband ton ]?at nycht

to slepe & ese hyme ca« dy^r/zt.

& as he halfine-slepand lay

in his bed, befor J>e day, 870

]?ar come a ma?z lyk to be

a bischope in al degre,

& put one hyme fast twise or thrise,

& bad J^at he suld [al]-son ryse;

for a gret oste of Ingland, 875

for to suppr/ce hy/«, var cuwand;

& bad hyme pas & haf na doute to centre pa.im, po pal var stoute;

for he suld in his helping be.

J’ane askit he quhat vas he. 880

qitod he: “Niniane is my name in quhityr[n]^, quhare I duel at haw.”

p& kny^t ])ane as a dochty man

dicht hyme belyf, & oh hors van.

& quhe« he bone ves to ryde, 885

he had na man \ith hym ]?at tyde pat ves gadd<?nt jet hyme til,

bot twenty men, gud & il.

& his menstrale, lak truwpoure,

>at vas gud ma« & gud burdour,?, 890

of his maister vitand no^t,

na of pe gret oste hyw pan socAt,

come rydand thru pe vod percace, quhar al pe fais cuwand vas.

bot myste ves in sic degre 895


}>at na« mo^t a stane caste se.

bot lak, ]>a.t vas be )?e gat syd,

quhare ]?e Inglis com ]?at tyd,

Fol. 342 />. and vend veile it had his lord bene, }>at gadderit had his men bedene, 900

vnwittand hyme, to mak su;« rade,

& trumpit heily but abade,

& wit/i al my chi bettir blew.

)>e Inglis, )>at []mt] blaste vele knew,

vend J>ar spy betraisit had 905

Jjame to J>e kny^t, & but abad

J>ai fled fast & durst no^t byd.

& J>e kny^t, one ]?e tothim syd,

quhe« he hard his truwpat blaw,

come oii hastely but ony haw, 910 quharfi J>ai warn fleand, ]>e self vay.

& J>ar-wft^ wox sa brycht ]>e day,

J>at he saw }^ame fle but areste,

vnknyt scalit in ]?e foreste. & ]>axe-'wiih sone gadderit J>e land, 915

& til hyme com son on hand,

& ]>are fais, sa agaste,

]?ai chasit sa ferly fast,

bat be best part of )>mm ves slane,

& feile to 3eld \>aim vare rye/^t fayne; 920

quheine eschapit, but merdale,

bat for to tak ves na« awaile.

& sa wane be scott/r-me/z gret riches,

quhare-for be land relewit vas.

& be knye/zt reparit hame 925

viih wictory & with gud name,

& went to quhithome but abad,

& to sanct Niniane offerand mad.

bar-of eftire, in schort quhile,

he gert his quere rycht wele tyle,

904. & Inglis.

930

XL.—NINIAN. 331

in mynd of ]>e dede, ]?at he

did for hyme in sic degre.

sa byrd al galouya hy*« honours,

Jjat to ]?ame is sic patronour<?,

quhe« ]?ai ned haf, gyf >at >ai 935

in stat of grace wil hym pray.

for-J>i honours be til hewy^is king, & to sanct Niniane honouryng

in al tyme of lifand men.

}>ar-to say we al “Amen.” 94°

}ns wes done but lessinge, quhe« sir davi bruys ves king.

[I]n Ingland syne betyd,

a wikit ma«, >at gret myse dede, for his purpos to be tane 945

& put in pressone stith of stane. & he, sa in pressone sted,

to de ful dede ves ful rad.

Fol. 343 a. &, >0 he wes in sic effray, jet he vmthoc/zt he herd say, 950

}>at, quha-sa had vnd/'rtane

to fast or sek s: Niniane, ]jat he suld help ]?ai;;z til cum out

of quhat parel }>ai had dout; for-)ri to sanctz? Niniane mad he 955

a wou, gyf he ware mad fre

of ]>aX dout, J>at he suld seke sancte Niniane on his bare fet,

& fast his fast with gud wil, gyf he myckt fredome get ]?are-til, 960

& pare, quhar he wes mad faste,

deuotely be-guth }>e fast.

J>ane weilang in ]?at pyful pyt

in gret dissese he cane sit.

946. suth of stane.


syne come ]?e serefe to J?e ton, 965

&, to hald ]?e law, set done,

& gert ]>e mysdoam bryng

to curt, to here chala^sing

of sere trespas }?at var done.

J>ane ves he broe^t to curt sone, 970

& asyse callit of worthy men,

& he accusit stratify] f>ane

of sere poyntt/r, quhare-in he

had trespassit in J>e cunctre,

& witA asyse culpable mad, 975

& to J>e gebet demyt but bad;

f>ane to ]?e rape wes til thifte.

a prest wes broe/rt to here his schrifte.

]?ane presit mony to conway

hyme to ]>e gebet ewine J>e way, 980

& ]?at he suld noe^t eschape,

about his nek }>ai knyt a rape,

& tit hym vpe, & lefit hyme J^are,

& ilke ma/z away can fayre.

bot, ]?o f>at he ves for his gilt 985

be mazzis sicht sa foul spilt,

jet duelt ane by hyme, lik to be

a bischope in al degre, ]zat kepit hyme sa in ]>at sted,

]>at he myc^t feile na pane of ded, 990

&, quhen nye^t com, tuk hyme done,

& sad: “ga frely to ]?e ton

for-out dout of effray ! ”

Jzane cane pat wrech til hyzzz say :

“gud man, for god I pray pe 995

tel quhat pu art pat helpis me ! ” qzzezf he: “ Niniane is my name

Fol. 343 />. at quhithirne qu[h]are I duel at haz/z, & here is cuzzzmyne to helpe pe

979. to conwoy.

XL.—NINIAN. 333

for ]?i awou J>u mad to me,

J>are-for ga furth & be nocht rad,

]>o J>u be in parele sted,

for I sal ay be nem hand,

gyf ]5u be to me treu smiand.”

with bat he went away,

& }>at catife but mam delay

vent to be tone als ap^rtly

as he had neuim bene gilty.

bane one be mome at dais \yc/it,

as me« one hyw gottine had sycht,

be kepam of be law hym fand;

& smertly [bai] his handis band

be-hynd his bak, & sad bat he

suld mam treuly hangit be.

bane ves he harlit [furth] but let,

& hangit fast one a gebet,

& al bad by hyme in \>at sted

til bame tho^/rt bat he wes ded;

& syne [bai] held bam way bedene. bot be bischope, \>at ves nocht sene,

helpyt hyme. as he did am,

& to be ton ek gert hy;« fam;

& bam duelt trastly bat ny^t

til one be mome [at] dais ly<r//t,

& but dout [bane] vpe & done did his erandis in be ton. bot bat day om it wes none,

a smiand one hyme hand lad son,

& sad, w/t/z wichcraft he delt, & feile me« opynly he felt,

& sad bat he suld no mare

dissawe men as he did am.

& sone assemblit his cowmone

1020. for ]>e bischope. 1021. fame. 1030. he celt.

1000

1005

1010

1015

1020

1025

1030


& harlit [hym] sone of )>e towne,

&, his handis biwdine bath 1035

behynd his bak, [hangit] hyme rath,

& bad jet by in J>at sted,

til J?ame tho^t he ves ded;

& ilk^ ma;z held his way.

bot ]>e bischope helpit hym ay, 1040

as he befor twyse had done.

& to J»e tone jet went he sone

& als partly duelt als stil

as he had neuzV done ony il.

bot or he had bene lang tym Ipare, 1045

Fol. 344 a. he ves hynt be how and hayn?,

& to J>e serefe bro^t fut-hete.

]?at gert hyme swere ]>a.re how-gat

J>e ded he [had] eschapit thryse,

& he condempnyt be leile syse. 1050

ansuere sone til hyme he jald,

& ]?e maner<? al hale hym tald

hou he mad, quhe/z he ves tane,

his awou til sancfc? Niniane

til fast his fasting, & Ipare til eke 1055 on his [bare] fet hyme to sek,

gyf he wald helpe hym til eschape

he schameful ded of sword or rape;

“hare-for, quhezz je hangit me,

venand weile I suld ded be, 1060

sanct Niniane ves ay by me nen?

& me kepit haile & fere,

& wit/i me spak & bad me be

his smrand, & he suld kepe me.

& >at tym [har] wes richt nane 1065

mycht hyme se bot I alane.”

& quhezz he has h*s taile tald,

al had wondin?, jung & aid,

1037. fast sted.

XL.—NINIAN. 335

];at he suld sa-gat eschape,

J?at sa hangit ves vhh }?e rape

thre dais fra none to nycht

be lachtful lugmewt & rycht.

]>a.n ]3ai haf to consel tane

];>at for ]?e sak of sancte Niniane,

^gane quhaw ba' vald hald na str/fe,

bat bai vald gyf be thefe be lif,

bo bat tyme bot lytil fame

ves rysine of bis sanct<? Niniane.

bat maw syne jerly ca.n hym seke

al nakit, bot sark & breke,

like ^ere, I tak one hand,

fra quhare he duelt in Ingland.

til god be loy & lowing ay,

bat sic mtfraklis for his schewit ay!

& bis sa schort tyme gane ves

bat 3et it is in memor fresch.

Ane vthire tyme oure solouay sand

ane Inglis ost com in Scotland

thru nydisdale be ewine way,

bane socht in-to galouay;

& bat sa pmiely v[e]s done

bat of bame vist rycht quhon, til be forroum scalit ware

[our] al be cunctre here & bare,

Fol. 344 b. & prayt nere be cunctre hale,

& broeAt [bar pray] nere to bar stale.

bat bar abad noe/H ful lang,

bot hame blyt^ went of bat fang;

& bar departyt [bai] bar pray,

& Ilkane a sere gat held away,

til bai come til bare wy«ny[n]g-place.

& ymang vthire ane bar wes

1092. xycht quhen.

1070

1075

1080

1085

1090

1095

1100


J)at of retenu wes for )?ame

of ])at land til a mychtty ma«,

J>at in fet wes sa sek

& in handis & armis eke,

J>at he mycht nocht gang of J>e place,

na bryng his handfr til hts face

to fed hyme-self; jet wes he

}>e mast fellone maw pat mycht be,

& cruel and pwytynere.

& at his sad maw caw he spem

hou ]mi had done quhare pa. var,

& quhat wywnyng J>ai gat pare;

“& quhat my thred Jjarof sal be,”

he sad til hyme, “ }m lat me se ! ” quod he: “ lord, sa haf I sele,

in galouay we haf don rycht wele,

& of pe thing pat I ]?are wane,

je sal haf thred as of jure maw,

of nowt, schepe, hors and ky;

& of pat land jet bxocht haf I

a maw to jou as presonem, pax-with for to mend joum chere.”

}>an sad he: “ mot weile }>u fare!

for is xiocht mycht pies me mare

pan a scot [J>at] I xnycht se.

for, po [)?at] I }>is bundine be,

jet suld I sla hyme but abad,

po I assith for pi part mad.”

pan smyland sad pe maw hywz til:

“me think je [of] II rewlit wil

gyf je vald s[l]a, gyf ]?at je xxiocht,

a presoner ];at war jeu bxocht.”

sad he: “ bath I wil & ma

hyme sla, gif pu dois as I say.

nos

mo

III5

1120

1125

1130

ir35

1103. for J)ame. The last stroke of the m is crossed through, nil. partynenr, cf. 850. 1120. mew.

XL.—NINIAN. 337

bundine bryng hyme to me but let,

& in my mouth ]?e heft }>o\i set

& outwart ]?e blad of a knyfe;

& sone sal I ref his lyfe.”

]?e squyar sad: “sir, be }>e buke,

be scottis-ma« bat I tuke,

to saufe his lyf I hicht lely

for it bat he myc/it gif gudly;

bar-for wil I no^t thole bat he

Fol. 345 a. be sa slane, for ocht ma be.”

jet be squyar had hyme bro^t

til his presence, bo he wist no^t,

bat herd hym schew be fellone wil

al scottis-me« bat he had til,

& sad: “ sir, quhat wy;myng had je,

bo je had my^t, to sla me?

bettir war to be stil,

bane desyre a maw to spil;

for to god I cont a fa

bat but chesone a maw wald sla.

bot god forbed bat maw myc^tty

to sla war of sic fellowny

as 3e, gif je jour handis had !

for bettir ware a wou je mad

one godis half to sancte Niniaw,

to sek hyme sone, or je fane;

for of his helpe recouer je may

al jour lywzmys, I dare say.”

baw sad he: “ is ]m be scot

bat my squyere withoutyw dout

hecht bu suld safit be?

for, gif ne bat ware, sa mot I the,

in my mouth suld cuwz na bred

til bat sudandly bu war ded;

bo in my mouth I held be knyfe,

jet suld bu bar-wz't/z lef be life.”

VOL. II.

1140

ii45

115°

II5S

1160

1165

1170

Y


sad he: “ sir, I consel 30W

to sancte îniane 3et 30 awou,

in gud entent & hart meke

30 faste his faste, & hyme seke

in hope J?at he grace sal gif ôu til,

to wauld 3onrfi lywzmys at ôur wil.

for I wat weile, he is of mycht

to ger 3u haf 301m? lywmys ry^t,

be serf ferlyse I wat [Jât] he

has wrof/zt in mony infirmyte.”

his spek cane J>e lord enples

surae-thing & his hart gef ese.

<\uod }>e lord: “ ]?o I ne trew

al }>at ]?u sais me as now,

3et sal I in-[to] galouay fare

but bad, to sand Niniane ]?are,

& fast deuotely his fasting,

of my lywmys for recoufring.

& ]>\x sal byd me here behynde,

in case }>o he wil noc/it me mende,

J>at ]zu ma lose J>e lif with schame for ]?i spekine, quhezz I cume hame.”

Fol. 345 b. bane vrat he for a condyt,

& it was grantit Yiym tyt;

& he rycht rathly mad 3are,

& furth oii sown cazz he fare,

to sek sanctf Niniazz in galouay

& for his heile til hyzzz pray.

& to J>e place as he ves cuzzzyne,

mezz of his hors hyzzz has nuzzzmyzz,

& in-[to] be kirk, or bai fane,

bai brof/zt hyzzz befor s: Niniazz,

& mad hyzzz ]>ar a bed fut-hat,

as efferit til his estate.

be mast pzzrt of bat nyz/zt he lay

ii75

1180

1185

1190

ii95

1200

1205

1188. to sic Niniane.

XL.—NINIAN. 339

vakand, & jarne caw pray

to s: Niniane, hyme to mend

& in his ly/wmys helpe hywz send.

& al ]>e morne duelt he stil,

prayand suwzdele wzt/z Iwil vil, for he gat noo$t heile sa sone

as he demyt he suld haf done.

?et duelt he ]mr ]wrt ny<r/zt stil

& he hale morne ]>ar-til, v/t/z angry wil, for pat he,

as he vald, myr/zt nor^t helpyzz be,

& faucht & flat wz't/z Niniane,

& sad oftyme hyme al-ane :

“ves I nor/zt wele pmvit a sot,

hat trewit sa son to he scot,

hat sa stratly had vndzrtane

his scottzV lord s: Niniane

suld gyf me heile, gif I hywz soc/zt?

bot hat ves fals, for he ne mozvk;

& suppos hat he had myzvk

to helpe me as he scot hicht,

I suld haf wityne, had I bene

vyse & put out of wene,

hat scottzV-mazz of galouay Jwz suld neuire helpe ony Inglzj-mazz

or 3et recoup hyzzz of his sam,

bot eram purchas h^t he sek vam.

harfor, gif I ma cum hame,

he scot sal de viU gret schame,

hat gert me mak his travale,

hichtand It suld me awale! ”

\ith his he left nocht, bot efte cazz bazz

sancte Niniane, he haly mazz;

for mezz hurt cozzzmuzzly

ar mar turne & mam angry,

one quhat wyis sa it fal,

I2IO

1215

1220

1225

1230

1235

1240

34° LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

Fol. 346 a. }>ane he J^at has his lywzmys al;

& eth is for til eke 1245

disese til hyme }?at is seke.

& fywe causff ar ]?ai sere

quhy men ar torme«t[it] here :

othir for vertu in pwwyng,

as tyd of lob in fanding, 1250

for he held ay tholmodnes

in tynsale of gud & seknes;

or of meknes for jemsele,

as to sancte paule quhile befel,

J>at had gret fanding in his flesch 1255

to hald hyme in-to meknes,

ellis [he] suld oure proud haf bene

for ]?e sicht he in hewine had sene.

be thrid cause is but were

for sy^nis to be clengit here, 1260

as tyd of hyme lang ca^ ly

in seknes of perlesy,

to quha*H cr/ste sad: “ ryse al fre,

for >i syne is forgiffine be‘”

J>e ferd is, to mak vnhyd 1265

be loy of god, as quhile betyd

of hym bat borne ves blynd man

& syne thru cmte his sicht wan.

be fyft is, be betaknyng

of al-lestand dampny^ge, 1270

as first here bare be giffine

& syne euz'r in hel to vyne,

as of ludas quhyl betyd

for be tresone he cn’st did.

bot quhilk [of] ]>ir causfy gert be 1275

bis man in tormewt, nov sa je!

bane, quhe^z he had chyd his fil,

his men mekly sad hyme til:

1247. cause. 1275. cause.

XL.—NINIAN. 341

“sz>, 3e ma haf na bewayne

with sanctzV J>is to mak bargane, 1280

for of ]’ame for ony thret

mezz ar r\ocht wont pare erand get,

bot erarz? mozz be [askit] pa\

with meknes pan \with outray. Jzarfor lefts youre crabitnes, 1285

& }ns a rxycht with meknes

to s : Niniane makw prayere

pat he will mak 30W haile & fen?,

& to-morne but [mar] delay,

gyf 36 wil, fare hame 3our<? way!” 1290

& ]?at nycht as he slepand lay,

a lytil befor pe day, Fol. 346 b. ane put one hyme, lyk to be

a bischope in al degre.

bane waknyt he in gret affray, 1295

& sone to bat mazz cane say:

“ I pray pe, bat waknis me,

tel me bi nazzz quhat bu be ! ”

quod he : “ Niniane is myzz name,

bat pe waknis for to blame 1300 for pe foly bat bu ded,

quhezz bu with me sa roydely chid,

& mystrowand bat I mocht

helpe be ocht, bu me socht.

bare bu mysdid, nozvft anerly 1305

to me, bot to god almyr/ztty, •

mystrowand he wald gif me mycht

bi lath lyzzzmys for to xycht; & noeht cozzuertand bare-of bane,

sad bu suld ger sla my mane; 1310

for he for pi gud e^git be

to cuzzz here be way to sek me.

bot bu sal wit now be aycht

1282. ^are erand gat. 1311. for Jie gud ekit he.


)?at god has grantit me sic mycht,

]?at I ma helpe quho;# I wil, 1315 )?at mekly sekis here me til.

]>i lywmys haile & fare sal be,

bot wit/i Jnne ene }>u sal noe/it se,

J>at vthire ma ensample tak

vit/i halouys bargane to mak. 1320

bot ga ]m nov hale ham, & send me,

my man, []?o] J?u stane-blynd be,

or ]m sal wyt I ame of mycht

ver }>ane ]?u wes ]?e to dye^t.”

]?is sanct Niniane vent away, 1325

& ]?at fellone, quhare he lay,

raxit hyme, & fand hale

his lytfzmys al )?at mad hym bale;

& bad his curting vpe suld be

drawine, J?e \ycht for to se. I33°

& quhene it vpe ves tye^t,

}>ane wist he he [had] tynt J?e sycht,

& gretand san? he sad : “ alace !

for myn ogart I haf tynt grace !

[>at is oure-weile kyd one me; 1335

for blynd I ame quhyt & fre.

but lofit be ]m, sancte Niniane;

pocht }>u fra me ]?e syrM has tane,

my lywmys hale }>u has me lent,

quhare-in lang I haf had turme^t, 1340

to gere be [me] myst^ful kene

[>at wele )>u may helpe al mene,

& to be were be me ]?at J^ai Fol. 347 a. nocht bot lowyng of ]?e say;

for be me knawine has ]m made x345

J>at J>u cane helpe & hurt but bade.”

bane went he one-til his lande,

& bis tald til al he fande,

1322. stand blynd.

XL.—NINIAN. 343

& sone his presoner^ hame sende,

& gef hyme gud, hyme til amende. 1350 for-]?i, loyful sanct Niniane,

J>at oft helpis mony ane,

agane al fais }>u helpe me,

sene or vnsene quethir J>ai be,

& gyf me grace sa til lif here, 1355 quhethin? I be haile or ellis fere,

out of }>is varld I ma twyne


[A] lytil tale jet herd I tel, }>at in to my tyme befel, 1360

of a gudma», in murrefe borne in elgyne, & his kine beforne,

& callit vas a faithful man

vz‘t/2 al J?ame }>at hyme knew }>ah;

& bis mare trastely I say, 1365

for I kend hyme weile mony day.

lohne balormy ves his name,

a mazz of ful gud fame.

& in pra:esse of tyme tyd hyme

til haf worme in til his lyme, 1370

& wrocht sa in his schank & kne,

bat bath ware b^i lyk tynt to be;

for bath bai var sa swollyne

of bat worme fellone, & bollyne,

& bat syndry holis ryzznand, I375

bat one bat syd he myc/zt noc/zt stand,

na gang na fut of be sted

to wyne his fude na eschew ded.

& bat held hyme ful thre jere,

ay were & wen? in bat man erf,

bat helpe of gris gat he nane,

na of charme, na of stane.

syne a tyme, as he lay,

1380


hyme come to mynd [}>at] he herd say,

}>at, quha wald sanct Niniane seke 1385

& to fast his fasting awou eke,

J>at he suld gif \z\m J^are askyn[g]e,

hot it ware wnleful thyng.

]?arfor he awouyt, ore he fayne,

to fast & sek sanct Niniane, 1390

in hope sic grace he suld gif hyme,

]?at he mycht weile recouer ]?e lyme.

& fra he sic awou had made,

of J>e mast redy gud he hade,

sone his spending he caw [mak] jare 1395

Fol. 347 b. ]mr-with he suld to quhythorne fare,

& gat men to by hyme be,

to helpe hyme in necessyte.

& quhew ])is wes redy made,

he fure his way but abade, 1400

& held one ]?e nerraste way

quhar met & drink ves fuwdine ay.

& mylys are, quha cane tel,

fra eglyne, quhar he caw duel,

to quhythirne, I dare say, 1405

twa huwdre myle of met way.

jet vthh disese and payne

ydire he wane, & ves fayne.

& quhew he come to J>e kirk,

}>ai tuk hyme of his hors [ful] Irke, T410

& one twa handis & a kne

to }>e hye altere trawalyt he,

& offent }>are; & men hyme dycht

a bed to ly [on] in }>at nycht.

& he, }>at sare wes & wery, 1415

slep/V oure J>at nycht sadly.

& one }?e morne, as It dew day,

til hyme, J>at halfly-slepand lay,

1416. slepand.

XL.—NINIAN. 345

sancte Niniane cane aper<f,

& teynd/rly cane at hyme sperg

gif he in wil wes to fulfil

}>e awou he mad hyme til.

quod he, 3a, for wa or weile

he suld fulfill it ilke deile.

J>ane sad sanct Niniane: “]?o I spem,

]>\ gud wil haf I nocht in were;

hot sen Jm has wit/i gret disese

f>is trawele mad me til enples,

I lat }>e wit }?u sal nocht

J)i erand tyne }>at ]ui has thoe/^t.

for-J^i gang hame, quhe«-euz> Jju wil!

for, }>o ]?u cume one hors me til,

to gang hame )ju sal hable be

one ])i fete in prosperyte,

& haf ]pi lyme hale & lycht,

as euire ]>u had in ]n mast mye^t.”

& as day come, he fand his schank

hale & fere, & jarne can thank

god of his grace, & sanct Niniane,

& mad ]us kyd til mony ane;

for bath his schank & his kne

ware als haile in al degre

as f>ai ony tyme befor wes,

owtane bare wes les of flesche

& smallare sum part but wene

bane todire leg had bene.

& bis mer[w]alle wes mad kyd. *

* The next leaf with the conclusion is wanting.

1420

1425

143°

1435

1440

1445

XLI.—AGNES.

_ *

Fol. 348 a. “ & his fadir^ of wyf wat rvocht

na of sic delyt neuirtf ro^t,

to quhow/ s<?mis ythandly

J>e angelis & has ferly \

as of habiwdance is na lessing 5

na of his riches na mynissing;

& of his odours thru )?e smel ]?a ryse agane J>at deid ca« fel,

& al sekme;2 of his tweching

of verray heile gettfr mending; 10

& his luf is ay chastyte,

& haly mon his tweching be,

his cuplyne is madynhed,

ay schenand in word & deid.”

}>er fywe scho repetyt efte 15

& sad til hym, or scho lefte:

“his kyne is of hye degre,

& mam fam is possibilyte,

& to be-hald he is faram,

& to luf hyme he is swetam, 20

& al grace is excedand;”

& fywe benehcis reknand

J>at hir spouse gef hir & al ]’ai

J?at hir to spouse lykis to ta.

* The beginning is wanting. 15. oft.

XLI.—AGNES. 347

& first, in takine of weding 25

he erlis with his ryng,

of fele wtuse with syndrynes

he clethis Jmme, & neuz>-J>e-les

with }?e fare bind of his passione

taknys }>ar chekis vpe & done, 30

& cuplis palm with hyme til hand

of luf pat tnir is lestand,

& rychtis ]?ame with pe. tresoun?

of hewinly loy, grathit Jmrfore;

“& my luffar in sic wedyng 35

has me erlyt with his ryng my richt hand & als at anys

has ennornyt with schenand stanis,

& with his mantele cled has me

of fyne gold, ful fare to se, 4°

& syne with bruchis ful mony

has me arayt craftly;

& he ]?ar-to of his gret grace

has mad a takine in my face,

pat I sal tak one na manere 45

bot hyme any [vthir] lufem,

& his blud has my chekis mad

ful fare, pat falow ware & fad.

& als his body is to myne

cuplit with loy pat ma noc^t fyne. 50

& he sic tresoure schewit me

Fol. 348 6. pat neuire mar gane sal be,

gif I wil as til hyme dere

in til his luf ay perseuere.

al sic giftis, & wele mare, 55

he has giffine me with loyful fare;

]?arfor suld [I] vnhappy be,

gif I lef sic a luf for pz.”

8z quhen pe Jjung man herd }>is tale,

his hart }?ane cane to-brist for bale;


for sorow hyme sa sadly socht,

}>at of hyrne-self na thing he ro<r/zt;

hot seknes had he nothir-quhare,

hot in his hart he had sic car<f,

]?at til his chawmzV he hy;« sped, 65

& ruschit done one his bed.

}>ane caw }>ai til his fadir tel

hou at his son in seknes fel;

bot quhat seknes, J>ai ne wiste.

for-]n his fadir send but friste 70

medicinanV, his stat to se

& to deme quhat seknes had he.

J>e quhilkw quhew }>ai saw hfr stat,

has sone pfwsawyng be his late

]jat hyme nothin ailyt mar<? ne my;z 75

bot ]?at luf distren^et hyme.

his fadir sperit quhat scho wes

he luffit. & bai sad agnes,

bat hyme behuffit haf til h/j vif,

or ellis for hir tyne ]>e lyf. 80

bane ves he blyth & thozr/zt son

his sownis jarnyng suld be done;

& gert agnes be bro^t hyme til,

venand his etlyng to fulfil,

& sad hir : “ agnes, bu suld kene 85

bat bu art cuwzmyne of sywzple men

in regard of my gret my chi

& of my dignite be hicht;

3et sal I thole my soil wed ]>&,

anerly for bi bewte, 90

& gif be far possessione

of castellis, towris, & of towne,

& gold and siluzV neuz>-be-les,

in sic plente as bu wil ges;

& sa ma bu to mare stat wyne,

63. bot seknes & he.

95

XLI.—AGNES.

J?ane em> wane ony of ]n kyne.

& ful war J>u for to forsak

til haf my son to ]>i mak.

J>at has na cause to tak ]?e

hot anerly for ]?i bewte.”

}>ane agnes sad hym schortly:

“cert/V, gud sir, maryt ame I,

& I ma na wyse brak pat band,

for gold, siluer, na for land;

Fol. 349 a. & my spouse is mychtyere

]?ane pi son, & fere richer^,

& has giffine me in mariage,

]?at neu/r sal falje, his herytage;

for-Ju, sir, spek to me nomare

here-of, for ]?is is J>ine answare.” pane pe prefet begane to spere

at frendis pat hym teyndzV were,

quhat man it wes & quhat he had,

pe mazz pat agnes pe ruse of mad.

& sume of J>ame sad hyme to, 115

}?at crist hir spouse callit scho.

pan pe prefet newit his spek,

& gluthryt hir -with wordis mek

& fandit fa[s]t to bow hir ml;'

bot scho plat nay ay sad hyzzz til. 120

& quhezz faire spek cuth nocht awalje, wzt/z harsknes he cazz hir assalje,

& manesit hire to bet & bynd

& put hir al turment he mye/zt fynd

& pyne hire, til scho granttit do 125

his sozznis jarnyng. bot na sais scho,

bot his thret na his gluthryng

scho set bath in til a lyne,

& at his vordis mad smylyng

101. t>ane agazznis. 117. J>azz t>e prefet f>a« newit. 119. & fandit fat to bow hir til.

349

TOO

I05

I 10


in manere of scornyng. 130

]je prefet }>ane, ])at wes wrath,

sad: “of twa things ches ane rath;

gif Jm wil virgin e be,

mak sacrifice, Jât I ma se,

humyly one til oun? goddes, 135

]?at myo^tty is & euirif êt wes,

or ellis to }>e bordale ga,

to thole al men ]?e frely ta.”

jet for-cause scho wes freborne

& hire eldris hir beforne, 140

of hire kyne he had dred for to suppnce hir as of ded.

Jârfor he fhocht hire to gere sla

for hat cr/stine treutht scho caw ta

agayne he lawis oysit hane, 145 quhare-for war slane wyf & man.

hane sad scho : “ nothire wil I

to hi fals godis sacryfy

na jet sal I fylit be

v/t^ ony mawis flesch, parde; 150

for I haf goddis angele ay,

hat kepis me bath nye//t & day.”

he prefet ha« but ony mare

gert dispole hir al bare,

& gert hire til he bordale lede, 155

Fol. 349 A to fylyt be with ful dede. & quhene hire clathis al of ware,

god send sic sydnes in hyre hare

hat scho wes cled mare ewinely

with hare hane wzt/z hire clathis in hy. 160

noe/zt-hane, as scho in he bordale

wes brocht, agane hir wil haile,

godis angel scho redy fand

hare, in clernes schewnand,

162. wes wroc/it.

XLI.—AGNES.

Jiat cled hir in a garment quhyte,

]?at to be-hald wes delyte.

& sa J>e bordale wes but bad

]?e place of haly prayer mad,

sa fere ]?at, quha ent^ryt }>a.re,

suld cume of it fere clennare,

& gyf he jald dettyt honoure

til god, ]?at al thing has in cure,

ful mony for-]u entryt ]?are,

}>at for sic licht hire forbare,

& come owt frely bat bare wil, for reuerence bat \ycht bai gaf til.

be prefet son merwale had bat nane in be bordale bade vith hir bane for to play,

bot but abad come away,

for-bi in be bordale he went,

to tak hire furth in [til] entent,

& ruschit syne in be gret \ycht.

bot, or bat he hir tweche mye^t,

be feynd threst his throt sa sare,

bat ded done he fel bare.

& quhene be prefet herd tel

be myschefe his son befel,

he rayrit rudly & gret fast;

& to be bordale at be last

he come, quhar his son lay ded, & til agnes in bat sted

he sad : “ quhy has bu myn son slane ? ” & sobrely scho sad agane:

“certzV, I did na scath hyme til,

bot he, of quhaw he did be wil,

in til hyme did his pouste

& weryit hyme, as ^e se,

for he na reuerence gef be lycht,

bat schane here-in be godzr sye/zt,


as did ]>e laf, Jmt come here-in

& lefit for dred of god to syne.”

J>e prefet sad : “ now sal aperi?

gyf ]?u my son, til me ful der<?,

has be ]?i wichcrafte slane, 205

Fol. 350 a. or gyf ]?ii may rase hyme agane

othir be craft or be slicht

of hyme ]m [sais] has sic mycht,

crist, Ipi spous, J?at ]ju sais wil

& may ]>i jarnyng wel fulfil.” 210

vit/i }>at one kneis scho fel done,

& mad to god hin? oraa'one,

deuotely, jiat men myc/it her^,

sayand : “my spous & lord dere,

rase }>is man be-cause of me, 215

]?at al }>ir folk ]?i my^t ma se ! ”

& as scho ]?at word cane say,

J^e corse rase but delay,

& prechit til al apon hicht

of crist, hir spouse, }>e mykil myc/it, 220 & quhou ]?at he had sene in hel

of werchis bare ]?e panis fel,

& ]>e gret loy in hewine bat he

saw, bat vnno&ment mycht be.

ful fele bane, seand bis ferly, 225

become cmtine son in hy.

of be tempil be bischopis al,

seand bis gret ferly fal,

& consid^rand be ty[n]sel grete

of gud, bat bai war wont to gete 230

of bame bat tuk be crfstine fay & fra bar ryt went away,

sedicfon rasit in hy

ymang be puple fellou«[l]y,

& cryit fast: “ ga sla hir sone,

224. vnnormebit.

235

XLI.—AGNES. 353

J>at ]ns wichcrafte has done,

& pmiertxy thocht and wil

of al ]?at treutht giffis hir til;

for, suthly, hot scho slane be,

in schort tyme men sal se 240

]?at men sal hale lef our? lay,

& twme paim to J>e cmtine fay.”

hot as pe prefet hyme bethor/it

of Jmt gret wondzV pat scho wror/zt

til his son, pat witnes bare 245

til his ded & til his lare,

vald scho had bene of pat sted;

bot for he his awne men dred,

he deput in his sted pare,

pe law to hald J?ai;«, a vicare, 250

& sorouful went away; for he

as he wald, mye^t nocht hir fre.

pat vicar pane, or he fane,

]?at aspacius had to name,

as inflawmyt of fellone yre, 255

gert tormentounir mak a fyre

& agnes bundine cast }>are-in,

Fol. 350 b. pat al men mycht se hir bryne.

bot Jmr men mye^t se godis mye^t;

for pat fyre in twa ewine rycht 260

departit, & scalit ful wyd,

& ]>e mystrowand of al syd

It brynt; sa pat []?e] hethine had

gret care, pe cmtine [men war] glad.

aspacius pa?i, J>at wes wa, 265

gert tormentoum agnes ta,

& thru hir als put a sword,

for pat scho prechit godis vord.

& sa, be scheding of hir blud

he mad to god a martir gud, 270

244. he wroc£t. VOL. II. z


& send hir sa one til hir spouse,

to duel viith hyme in til his house,

thre hundre ]ere fra cWst flesch tuk

& nyne []?ar]-to, as sais }>e buk.

hir [frendis] come \vit/i loy J>at day

to tak hir cors & here away,

& eschapit narowly

of Jjc fel paianis for inwy,

[}?at] kist stanis at }?ame ]?ane;

bot of godis mycht a-way }?ai wa«, & dicht for hir a sepulture,

& lad [hir] in •with gret honoure.

J>ar at hire prayer sar & sek

gettzV heile, J>at cane hir sek,

in lofing of god, hewyzmis king,

to quhawz be honoure but ending.

& ]ns wes done, I jou say,

in rome J>e ane & twenty day

of )>e moneth of februere,

& ])e dat for-wrytine here.

}>ar bad stil amarezztia,

[>at nawyse wald fra Yiyr grawe ga,

for [>ai to-giddir ware feid

of a mylk & of a clath cled,

& wzt/z hir als kepit had

in-to cle^nes hire madinhad;

& scho }>e payanis sta[l]wartly

repmvit of }>ar fel foly,

for }mi tynt had gastly syc/zt,

na wald god kene [na] his myc/zt,

sene ]?ai mycht with fleschly ee

his wondire-werkw clerly se,

\a.t he had wro<r/zt to ]?is v^rgine,

]?at }>ai saklasly put to pyne.

^ane }>ai, )>&t to crzst had na lof,

Fol. 351 a.

XLI—AGNES. 355

quhene ]?ai herd hire ]?aiw reprof,

stainyt hyr fellonly,

til stark ded par caw scho ly.

paw god, po he debonare be,

sic tent tuk to par cruelte, 310

pat he gert thownz'r & fire-slacht

stirk done pe payanis par stracht,

& mony of pame fled, sa

fra pine furth pat, quha wald ga

to visit pat suet virgine, 3I5 myo/zt frely cu?« at al lykine.

pane tuk pa emerawciane

& lad hir pare ryo/zt fare in stane

by pe tom of sanct agnes,

pat hir trew falow al tywz was. 320 syne eftir, pe aucht day

sancte agnes kyne, I herd say,

come to wak dewotely

a nycht, quhare agnes caw ly, & schaw cume about mydnyo/zt 325

a cuwzpany of madinis bryc^t,

cled in clathis of gold sqhenand, & sanct agnes pame ymang,

in pe sawzmyne clething cled,

& at hire hand in pat sted 330

a lame quhytare paw ony snaw

pat euz'r pai schaw of pe lif-thraw.

& agnes to pame cane say:

“ se 36 na sorou be naway

for me, po je wene I ded be, 335

bot erare makis loy wzt/z me ! for I wzt/z al pir madywnis here

has gottine lestand seg[e] clere.”

constancia, a virgine, syne,

pat douchtyr wes of constantyne, 340


of foule lepre wes strikine sa,

J>at noc/it wes hale fra tope to ta.

as scho herd ]ns avisione,

son eftir scho mad hir<? bon,

& of agnes }>a.n for }?e sak 345

went til hir fertre for to wak.

& as scho had him oracione

mad in gud devocione,

one slepe scho fel for werynes;

& til him apperit sancte Agnes, 350

& sad til him: “ constancia,

stedfast confort to J?e }>u ta!

for, gif ]m in crist wil trew,

of mysalry ]m sal now

be clene,” & agnes but delay 355

out of ]?at place vaniste away. Fol. 351 A Constancia ]?ane ves vakand,

& hale & fere hire-self fand;

& baptysme tuk but abad,

& gert a costlik kirk be mad. 360

in virginite syne }>are ay

scho lifit furth til him enday,

& mad of madynis a co^went

to serwe god ]>are in gud entent.

& of ]?at kirk a prest had syne 365

])e cum, and callit ves paulyne,

a deuot ma«, & had bene chaste

langtyme. J^arfor ]?e wikit gaste

fandit hyme ful felloun[l]y

vith J>e brodis of lichery, 370

}>at hyme worth, ]x> he wes 3ape,

of weme;z haf ]?e fawlouschepe.

bot, ]?at he mocht do lefully,

he went [one] to }>e pape in hy,

& asskit lef to wed a wife,

368. gest.

375

357 XLI.—AGNES.

for wzt/z his flesch he mochx. nor/tf sm'fe.

]>& pape }>ane be his symplenes,

considmt veile ]’a« how it was,

& >a« gef he hyme a fare ryng,

ane admyrald hafand J^are-in, 3^°

& bad hyme }>at he suld nocht Irke,

bot sped hyme hame til hfr kirk,

& to >e ymag of agnes,

at ]?are richt wele payntit vas,

& ]?at ryng til hire gefe, 3^5

& to wed hire he gef hyw leife.

}?a« vent he to >e ymag in hy,

& mad hire prayere deuotely,

& tald syne hou }>e pape bad

gif hire ]?at ryng he }>are had. 390

& he preferyt hire ]>e ryng.

&, lo, >are fel a ferly thing,

for scho put furth ]>e fyng/r J^are,

& he put one >e ryng but mare,

& drew in hire hand, & sone he 395

of fleschly funding ves al fre. & here-of in vitnesyng

remawis ay }>e forsad ryng

one }>e fyngire of }>at ymag

of vad of weding in-to vag. 400

XLII AGATHA.

GATHA, ]?e madine clew,

ves cutfzyne of gentil kyzz but vew,

& faw vas of hire body,

& cler of thewis but velany,

& in ]>e ton of cathenence 5

smiit god but offence.

& quizzcyane in ]?at quhile

ves consol[ar] of cesile,

& cu?#yne ves of carlis kine,

}?o he til sic a stat can vine. 10

chynsche he ves, lychenw als,

& sfruice mad til ydolis fals.

& for J>e stat l?at Jzaw held he,

he gert agatha til hym bror/zt be,

til haf hiw to wyf for hire gret kyn, 15

sa mezz suld ]ze mare dout hyme.

& for hir beute he had wil

vz't/z hir his foule lust to fulfil.

& to get gud of gredines,

he wald hir haf als for riches. 20

& as he semit ydolis fals,

he wald scho sa did als.

sa til his presence quhezz scho

cuzzzyne wes, he sad hir to :

“quhyne art ]m borne, madyzz fre, 25

1. Initial wanting.

XLII.—AGATHA. 359

& of quhat kyne, f>u tel me,

& to quhat godis has }>u mad

sacrifice fra }n puthad?”

scho sad hyme stedfastly:

"to god of hewine ay senve I, 30

& euire sal do, for ocht ma be;

for mychtyaste of al is he.

na I sal hyme neuire nyt,

for he is my suffrane delyt.”

as qui/zcyane p^rsawing had 35

J?at scho wes of wil sa sad, til a matrone he caw hir ta,

)>at callit ves effrodosya,

}>at wes a cozwmone bordelem,

& douchteris nyne scho had, )>at werz? 40

of J^at crafte richt as scho;

& to J>e teynd he tacht hir to,

}>at )>ai hire thretty dais suld prufe,

quhile be aw & quhile be lufe,

to change hir purpos & wil, 45

& to ger hire consent hyme til.

]?ai ten tuk J>at innocent & to }>are Innys wzt/z hir went,

& fandyt hire in syndry wyse,

to ger hir mak sic sacr/fice, 50

& syne to ger hir til consent, Fol. 352 b. & to quiwcyane get hire entent.

to do sa, ]?ai vald quhyle

hir flesch far hir to begil,

& ferly far hichtis hir make, 55

bot in thank scho ne vald tak.

syne vthir tyme J>ai wald hir schore vz't/z visage bald,

& gere hire sa thole sic payne,

}>at [scho] suld J>e ded jame fayne,

54. fat.

60


& syne manauce hin?, )>at scho

]>e foule bordale suld be led to.

bot scho stedfaste ves in tho^t,

J>at of al ])is na-thing roc/it,

bot tuk bath ewine in a lyne, 65

}mr harsknes & J^are fleching.

& as fandyt }>ai had hire sa,

)mi thretty dais als & ma,

& mochi be naway get hyre wil

J>are godis to sacryfy til, 70

na to consent to qui^cyane,

bot sad nay ay in ane,

sayand, scho had fondit hir thoe^t

one a grond }mt fallis noc/it,

“}>at is, in my god criste I hem, 75

J>at nojjire ma brak na bow. )?are-for joure wordis ar bot wynd,

& I joure hicht/j bot hething find,

& al J>e manauce of joure payne

I dred fere les f>ane I do rayne; 80 for J?e grownd-wal of my thoe/A

ma noc/it falje, J>at dred I noe/zt.”

& sayand }>is, ilke day

scho gret, & ythandly cane pray,

Jsat worthy scho my chi be to take 85

iruzrtzVdome for cristis sake;

for scho thristyt oure althing

for til cume til hewywnis kyng.

& fra affrodysya

saw J>at scho pe^ ewer it sa, 90

& wald nockt fal fra hir entent,

to qui«cyane scho son went,

& sad, it wes les maystry

hard stanis to grynd, suthly,

& yme to mak als nesft 95

95. pyne.

XLIL—AGATHA. 361

as leide, }>at neu/r :jet done ves,

“J?ane for to wryt/z agathis wil

fra cryst, to consent 3011 til;

for nane way ma scho chazzgz't be Fol. 353 a. fra hir entent, J>at sal je se.” 100

]?ane qui/zcyane wes rycht wrath,

& gert bryng hyme ]>e madyzz rath,

& sad: “of quhat condicione

art >u?” & scho redy bowne

sad: “gentil-womane ame I, 105

my kine }?at vitnesis opynly.”

quod he : “ quhy mais J?u ]>e pan thril ? ”

& sone scho answert pare til:

“for I ame cmtis maydine ay,

}>are-for I ame smiand, I say; no

for it Is swferane mast gentrise

to Ilviii crist to mak serwice.”

J>ane quizzcyane, as ]>is ves done,

sad : “ of twa thingis ches ane sone;

til oure godis opire sacryfy, 115

or thole hard turment in til hy.”

quod scho: “}n vyf mot be

lyk as pi god is to pe,

lubiterq thru quhawz pat )>u

has na grace in god to trew.” 120 bane in wryth quyncyane

[bad] gef hire buffetzir mony ane,

sayand til hire: “ quhy chazznms bu

my gret god agane now?”

sad scho: “I haf ferly 125

bat pu art hrocht to sic foly,

bat bu sal paatn bi godis cal,

or mak bame Si?zaiice gret ore smal,

& vald nor/zt bat pi wedyt wyf

suld no<:/zt bame resemble in bis lyf, 130


& sais sene I do foly,

])at wil nocht to }>ame sacryfy,

& sais gret wrang I do ]>e to—

]?at I for-think, sa haf I ro !

bot, gif >i goddis gud be,

)>at J>u J>ai*ra folovv, gud semes me;

& gif lathis J>ar^ cuwpany,

to me }>u consent[is] playnly.”

qtiod quy^cyane }>ane agane:

“of nocht semis ))ir<? wordis vayne.

sacrifice til cure godis mak,

or til hard torment/.? }>e tak! ”

sad agatha til hyme : “ parde, vith wyld best/r }>o )>u ryf me,

fra Jsai here my godis name,

but dout ]?ai sal be stil Ilkane ;

& gyf be fyre J>u thrett/j me,

Fol. 353 b. godis angele, men ma se, with dew of hewine ma softine sa,

J>at Yi fyre sal me do na wa;

& gyf J>u me wond, I gyf na tale,

}>e haly ga[s]t sal mak me hale.

Jmre-for do one as ]?u has thoe/zt,

for of }>i panys rak I noe^t.”

}?ane bad he hir til presone drav,

for }>at scho stud of hyme nazz aw.

& scho went furth to thole sic pane,

& ves }>ar-of mare blyt/z & fayne,

Jzane }>o scho callyt had bene

to }>e best fest, euire wes sene,

& to god betaucht al ]ze str/we

}>at scho suld thole in-[to] J>is lyf.

bane quy/zcyane one be morne

gez-t bryng bis maydine hyz/z beforne,

& bad bat scho cryst suld nyt

141. to mak. 148. evangele.

135

140

145

IS°

155

160

165

164. gret.

XLII.—AGATHA. 363

Fol. 353*

& sacryfy is godis to tyt.

& for scho vald nockt nyt j^at name,

he gert strek hire in a frame,

& torment hir in syndry vyse, for scho wald mak na sacrifice.

3et sad scho : “ mare delyt haf I

in Jjere panys, sekyrly,

Jjane ony marc fane suld be

to se ]?e thing [he] fanest vald se,

or gyf a marc sudendly

a hurd had fundine wn[u]enandly.”

Jsane quyrcciane gert hir hyng

one hicht, & syne hyre dyng,

& in hir pap wirk hir way,

& syne ryfe it quhyt in twa.

bane scho sad: “ tyrand fel

& prentyse of ]>e feynd of hel!

to fra me ryfe has ]m na schame

sic as swkyt of In dame?

bot }et haf I my papis hale

in my sawle, & euire sal.”

bane gert he put hire in presone,

& mad strat Inhibicione,

bat na marc accesft suld hafe

to leche hire na hir lyf safe,

na for til gyf hire til hir fud

bred or wattir, to do hir gud.

& as scho set about mydnye^t

in bat pressone forowt lycht,

ane eezrcmone aid marc entercyt bare,

& a barne befor hyme bare

of bryrcnand sergis sic fusione

bat licht as day ves be presone ;

& brocht al medycinam nere,

bat for hyr tyse garcnand were,

& sad hir: “[bo] be consulare

170

175

180

185

190

195

200

3^4 LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

in ser wais torment sar,

jet has ]m done hyw wel mare il

in ansuer J>u has mad hyme til;

& }?o he ]>i fare pape haf ryfine, 205

to ]?e hel sal sone be gyfine.”

J>ane sad scho: “ medycyne fleschly

jet gef I neuz> to my body,

& schame war gyf I now tynt it

& sa lang now had It kepyt.” 210

]?ane sad }>e aid : “ my douchtyr dere,

schame nocht with me in na manere,

for I ame cr/stine man, ]?u trew.”

quod scho: “ schame may nocht helpe nov,

bot I lowe }>e fadir of blis, 215

}>at ]?us of me thochtful is,

as for to do sic besynes

to confort me in to distres.”

“ quhe« wil J>u thole, quod ]>t man,

}>at I j?e helpe, sene I crafte cane?” 220

quod scho : “ for I haf god nere,

}>at be word ma mak me fere,

&, gyf it lykand til hyme be,

at his wil he ma hele me.”

quod he: “I ame his appostil, Jwu trew, 225

& to heile ]>e, he send me now,

&, lo, art ]m nov hale & sownd

of al weme & als of wond! ”

sanct petir J^ane vanyst away;

& scho one kneys fel but delay, 230

& lowit god ]?at scho hir fand

hale & fere, fut and hand.

J>e geylerek tuk }>e flicht,

Jjai war sa red of ]>e gret ly^t;

jet ane of }>ame }>ane hire bad, 235

202. ar sar. 212. in ony. 219. quhe instead of quhy ne.

XLIL—AGATHA. 365

}>at away scho vald pas sa stad.

<\uod scho: “ god scheld J>at I

tyne my crone, nov is redy! ”

(\uod quywcyane: “ gif }>u wil lyf,

honours til oure godis gife ! ” 240

quad scho: “]m trew trewly

}>at al }>i wordis are foly.

suld I honours stok or stane

Fol. 353* A or ony thing hot god alane,

]?at helyt veile has my body, 245

J?at ]?u gert ryf sa cruely?”

sad quywciane : “ quhat is he ? ” quod agatha : “ of hewine god he,

]>e quhilk till ]>at I

ma lif, sal luf Ithandly.” 250

quod qui«cyane : “ now we sal se

gyf ]>i criste ma helpe }>e.”

}>ane bad he schellis & brywnand cole

straw in ]?e flouri?, herd to thole,

& nakyt J?are-one hire rol, 255

til scho of ded had quyt ]>e tol.

& as \Y\ay his byding had

fulfillit, but mare abad

J?e erde steryt sa fellou«[l]y,

\at al J>e cyte in til hy 260

schuke & to-giddir<? strake, & of mystrowand tuk sic wrake,

]?at of ]?e ton gret \iart can fal,

& twa gret consul/.? w/tA-al

of quiwcyane war^ smorit son. 265 ]>an blamyt )?e puple hym rycht son,

& sad til hyme in gret hy:

“ al ]ms we thole for ]n foly.”

Jsane dred he J?e sedicione,

& gert haf hire jet in pressone. 270


}>ar scho mad him oracione;

& as to god scho had tald

him oracione, he gast scho jald,

thre hu#dre 1. jem & thre

fra god ma« lykit hem to be. 275

hane hewinely men, of marmoar (yn,

a tabil mad, & lad it syne

by he cors, & away son

hai vanist but ony hone,

of har sicht wanest away 280

& neuim warn sene to his day.

& wrytine ves in hat tabil

rycht fam lettim & legeable:

“ haly tho^t, wilful & clene,

& honoum gef scho god but wen; 285

& deliutfrance of him cuntre

scho gat at god, & mad It fre.”

& fra his tale, I tel 30W nov,

ves kid, als wele payane & low

& crystine men come, in-to wil 290

devot prayem [to] mak him til.

& qui«cyane, eftim ded scho ves,

Fol. 354 a. socht hir riches in syndry place.

sa come twa hors hat sythtwam,

& fast faucht vith dyntw sam, 295

& of he hors rycht fast he tane

\ith his fete dang quiwcyane,

& he todir bate hyme faste

& in ]>e rywem cane \iym caste.

bot in quhat place his caryon lay, 300

west nane to his day.

& eftir, be a jem wes ovtgane

hat agatha he ded had tane,

a gret hyl, ves nem he ton,

brak owt in fym & brynt don, 305

277. sepulture. 289. als wele to payane.

XLII.—AGATHA.

weltrand, as [it] a borne had bene,

meltand stanis & erde brynt clene,

& sa ner come [to] ]?e tone

be lyklynes to here It done.

J>ane of payanis a multytud,

seand }>is, one wallis stud, for red dure war abaisit sa,

}>at ]?ai ne wist quhar to ga.

}>an come ]?ame to mynd percace

}>e uertu of sanct Agas;

& til hir fertre went ]?ai,

& tuk a clath [)mt] ]jar-one lay,

& sped ]5ame vit/i It to [>e wal,

& wit A a cord let it oure fal

agane ]?e fyre; & It stud stil

ne come nerrare }>e ton til. J>ar-for, sanct Agatha, I }>e pray

)>u helpe ws sa, at we may

owt of ]ns wrechit warld twyne

but sudende ded, schame, & syne.

309. as to here.

XLIIL—CECILE.

O say sume thing is myne entent

of sanct cecile, }>e fare & gent,

}?at cuwyne wes of )>e best kine

J>at rome J>ane nere wes withine;

& scho folouyt wele }>are trace, 5

for bath wyse & irertuse scho wes,

fare of fasone for to se,

enhornyt of al bewte;

& fosterit ves in crzstis fay,

& cristo ewazzgele scho had ay 10

hyd in hire brest, & ]?are-on tho<r/zt,

na nyr^t na day cesit nozr/zt.

mekly to god, J>at kepe vald he

clenly hir virginite.

Fol. 354 /'• & scho eftir )>e custume J>ane 15

ves handfast vzt/z a juzzgmane,

}>at in maryag vald hire haf ta/z.

& callit ves valaryane,

)je day ves cuzzzyne J>at ]>ai twa

}>at band of mariag suld ma. 20

next hire flesch, }>at wes fare,

scho had al tyme >e harsk hare, & ves owtzVwart to J?e sicht

cled in gold schenand brycht. 1. Initial letter wanting. 17 and 18 are transposed in MS. 23. & vz't/z.

XLIIL—CECILE. 369

& quhene al mast mery 25

mad yihh mouth & me«stra[l]sy,

J?ane vvald scho in hart god pray

be hir ane, & til hyme say:

“god, grant }>at my hart ma I

vnuewmyt kepe & my body, 30

sa ]?at I thole na varldis schaw,

bot ay be thankful to ]u name ; ”

& for )>at fasting & prayere

scho mad to god tymis sere.

bot quhene ]?a suld to bed ga, 35

& nane wes ]?ar bot ]?ai twa,

scho tuk hyme by ]>e hand in hy,

& til hyme sad deuotely :

“my maste swet & /owit thing,

I wald tel J>e a prz'we thing, 40

sa bat I mye/zt sekire be

>u suld neuire discouer me,

for gud na il na for mede.”

“ tel one b^rfor & haf na dred ! ”

scho sad : “ goddis angel haf I, 45

bat kepis me ay Ithandly,

& lufis me sa wele, bat he

wil thole na warldly mezz haf me;

be quhilk gif he persawe bi wil

bat bu wz't/z lust nicht me til, 50

he sal be sla, ore euire he fyne,

& bu ]u fare juthed sal tyne;

bot [gyf] he be bi wil cazz pz-zzwe

pat bu me lufit of clene lufe,

in gret daynte he sal haf be, 55

& luf be als wele as me,

& al his loy saw be til.”

valaryane bazz, thru godis wil

27. in hirt god. 33. & for }>ast. 39. cowit thing. 53. bot he fat be. 54. gyf fm.

VOL. II. 2 A


chastyit, sad: “ gif Jju wil I

trow ]?i wordis parfytly, 60

schaw me ]?e angel, }>at I may

se ]?at ]?i wordis are verray,

& I sal do al ]n bydyng; Fol. 355 a. bot gif I ma haf persawynge

]>a.t ]?u lufifis ony warldis ma», 65

I sal sla J>e & hyme rye/d }>ane.”

quod scho }>ane : “ gyf }>at J>u

wil pwwe it suth I sa now,

]m sal trew in god, hicht me,

& in his name baptiste be; 70

& Jm sal se ]>e suth ryc/it }>ane,

J?at he is angel & na mane.

}>arfor ga fra Jê cyte ewine

thre myle in name of god of hewine,

& in a rew, callit ‘via apia,’ 75

syndry poure men ]ni sal ourta,

& to âme sal ]iu sa but gyle,

}>at ‘ me til 30U has send cecile,

to sanct zorbane to kene me

to tel hyme hire pmvete.’ 80

& quhe« ]?u fyndis hym, ]>u ma

tel hyme Jure wordis J>at I say.

& quhew he has hofine Jê,

}>ane godis angel J>u sal se.”

valaryane J>a« but abad 85

passit furth J>e gat scho hym bad,

& be J>e taknys he had tane,

fand J>e bischope sanct vrbane

lurkand ymang pure me« mekly,

quhare mony martens can ly. 90

& quhene J>at he ]>a;« tald had

his erand as cecile hym bad,

]?e aid his handis but mare

79. barbane.

XLIII.—CECILE. 371

vphewit to J>e hewine rycht J>are,

& gretand sad: “lord Ih«u, 95

]?at chast consal wele chewis nov,

of J>at sede froit nov J>u tak

J>at in cecil ]?u ca« mak!

for cecil as besy be

ententifly spruit has }>e; 100 for hyme, }>at scho als fellone

til spouse [tuk] as a woud lyone,

mek as a lame scho has }>e send,

]>i treutht til ek & til amend.”

& as }?e bischope }>is & mare 105

had sad, )>ane apperit J>are

a Jung ma», ]?at na« cuth knaw,

cled in quhytare thing ]>a.n snaw,

& in his hand bare a buke,

}je quhilk ryc/it fare ves on to luke, no

vitk goldine le//rfs wrytine brad.

Fol. 355 b. quhame quhene valeryan sene had, he fel for rednes in )>a.t sted

as a ma« J>at had bene ded.

bot rath J>e 3ung man raisit hyme, 1T5

& bad hyme rede ]?e buk wft//-ine.

& he red; & fand ]?are:

“ ]mr is a god, forout mare,

& bot a treutht, & a baptyme,

]?ai sal al leilemew saf fra pyne, 120

a fadir, a makare of al,

a-beoufe athing & euz> be sal.”

& as he had red ]?is wryt,

]?e bischope sais: “ trewis }>u It,

or art ]>u jet of dout 125

of It ]m come here about?”

valaryane )>ane loud can cry,

& sad : “ na thing sa weile trev I

113. in fast sted.

3/2 LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

vndir hewine as I trew It

Jmt I saw wrytine \n ône wryt.” 130

J>e 3U«g ma« })a« wanyst away;

& valeryane but delay

of sanct vrbane tuk baptyme,

& hame to cecile went syne,

& fand hire one hire bed sta«and, 135

& ane angel, J>at in his hand

had twa cronis mad wy«nly

of spanyst rose & quhyt lely.

of ]>ame to cecile he gef ane,

& ane to valaryane, 140

& sad: “ ]ur cronys I broofa now

of paradyse, to gif til 30W;

]?e quhilk/r gif je kepe cle/dy

wit/t hart wnue;«myt & body,

}>ai sal neui'r falow, na tyne 145

]>q odour }>at 3e think sa fyne,

na êt na vthire sal )?ame se

bot gif he kepe chastyte.

&, valeryane, sene ]\at Jm

has trewit heilesu;« consel now, 150

ask at me quhat-euz> ]ni wil,

& I }?i jarnyng sal fulfil.”

sad he: “ gif sa }>at it sal be,

]?ar is na thing sa suet, think me,

as my nan brothire; âre-for I 135 ask ]?at he knaw in hy

J>e suthfastnes ]?at nov I kene.”

]?e angel sad til hyme ]?ane :

Fol. 356 a. “ for Jîne askyne is rychtwyse & to god plesand mony vise, 160

J>u & J>i bruthire, bath

cronit to god, sal cume rath,

of martfrdome J>e fare crone

to bruk in hewine a^ joure wardone.”

164. at iome.

XLIIL—CECILE. 373

tyburcyane syne entmt pare

quhare cecile & his brut hire ware,

& feld pe odoure in til hy

of J>e rose & pe lely,

& sad: “bruthir, hou hapnis here

]ns swet sawoure Jus tym of sere,

of Noueraber in pe moneth, quhene flouris haldine ar vndmieth ?

for betyre odire I cane neuzV fele.

J>are-for til 30U twa I grant wele

J>at I ame c/^engit sudendly.”

valaryane sad : “ na ferly;

for fare cronis & fresch haf we,

pat June ene jet ma nocht se,

of rose and lyle wynly mad,

pat neuz>-mare sal falou na fad.

bot as }?u nov be my prayere

has feld wele Jus odere here,

sa sal }>u, gif J>u trewis me,

it pat J>ou felis clerly se.”

tyburciuj cane hyme ansuere:

“ gif J?is in slepe be at I here

or it be in-to suthfastnes

J?ou me tellis mar & les.”

Jzane sad til hyw valaryane:

“ve haf slepzt al our tym gane, bot in suthfastnes now we duel.”

tyburcius sad: “Jui me tel

hou Jus ma be ? ” pan one ane

til hyme sad valaryane:

“godis angele it tacht to me;

pe quhilkzV gif }?u sarnis to se, tak baptyme & renunce til al

fals ydolis J?at se godis cal! ”

J?ane cecile prechit hym in hy, & schewit it hyme al opynly,

175. clengit.

i65

170

175

180

185

190

I95

200

185. tyburciuOT.

374 LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS. ^

J?at ydolis ma fele na thing,

hot ar dume & defe, but smelliwg,

na nocfit ma grape na jet se,

“bot are mad ne ma helpe J>e,

& ]m ma heke ]>aim as ]?u wil.

quhy suld }>u pax gif suth palm til?”

Fol. 356 />. & as scho had hire smnone done,

tyburcius sad til hire sone:

“quha trewis no^t ]ns, mast and leste,

in fawte of wit is bot a beste.”

cecile }>ane hyme in arrays hynt,

& kissit his briste, or scho stynt,

& sad til hkw : “I grant }?is day

hat bu art my mach verray;

for, richt as luf of god has mad

hi bruthire my husband, but bad, richt sa sal godis luf mak he

my mache, gif pu. wil treu me,

gif bu al ydol[is] wil forsake,

& treu in god, & baptyme tak;

& sa sal god grace gif to he,

his angel in-to face to se.

for-bi se bu na lettyng ma, bot with hi bruthire son pow ga! ”

til his bruthire tyburcyane

sad: “ tel me, valaryane,

to quhat is it Jra sal me led

to mak ful endyng of Jv's ded?”

sad he: “to bischope vrbane.”

bane sad tyburcius one ane:

“Is hat vrbane hat to he dede has bene cowdampnyt in b*s sted,

[&] in til hydlis ay syne duellis?

for, be he fundine, as men tellis,

he wil be brynt for-out man?,

207. & scho as scho. 213. til hir.

205

210

2I5

220

225

230

235


& we with hym mon fal Jsare,

& sa, til we are sekand

diui«/te in hewine schenand,

ve sal be wappyt in til yre,

percace in erde in bry«nand fyre.” - 240 quod cecile til hyme: “ gif war na«

life bot in ]ns warld alane,

ferly var na men wald dout

to tyne it, war }>ai neuz> sa stout;

bot }>ar is a fere bettyre lyf, 245

]?at ma [nocht] tynt be for J>is strife,

]>a.t godis sone [h]as til ws tald, Jjat mad al think, as hzr fadzV wald;

]?is godis sone, command fra hewyzz, tacht ws with his stewyne, 250

bat lyf is, bat lestzV ay

Fol. 357 a. in hewine, but obir tene or tray,

bat he has grathit til al his,

til bruk in euire-lestand blis.”

tyburcyane sad: “tel me b*s; 255

sene bu sais bot a god is,

quhy is bat bu tellis me

bat bai are nov godis thre?” & cecile sad, bat ves war:

“as in a maw thre thingfr ar, 260

wit frist, memor be todire thing,

& be thred, vndz'rstanding;

richt swa in be mycht of godhed

thre personis are but ony dred;

be fadire, be son, be haly gast, 265 & nocht ane of Y\re are in waste.”

bane tald scho hyme mare & les, quhy god in warld come & in fles,

& how hyme lykit for to tak

passione of ded for mawnis sak, 270

249. cowzmaund. 250. til lar tacht ws. 255. tel me J>us.


& tald hyme syne ccmgruiyte

quhy his passione suld nedful be.

“& first he tholit hyme-self ta,

at as man suld be lattine ga,

]?at had bene haldine la«g in syne; 275

& to be myssad lykit hyme,

sa man, ]?at ves in malysone,

myc^t ]>ar chese lestand benysone;

& he tholit scornyt to be,

to mak men of fendis scorne fre; 280

& he tholit a crone of thorne

one his heid be put for scorne,

for ]?at [t]he heid sensses suld be

fra mankind tane J?at first gef he;

& gal he tastit, for to bet 285

It }>at man tynt tastand ]?e svvet;

& nakit one J>e croice he wes,

til hele adamys nakitnes;

& hangit one }>e croice ves he,

of first trespas to mak ws fre.” 290

tyburcyus J>ane but delay

til his bruthire }>is [c]an say : “ gud bruthire, haf in J>e mercy,

I pray >e, & me led in hy

to godis ma«, }>at I ma be 295

clene mad, )>e angel to se! ”

his bruthin? J>ane hy;« has tan

Fol. 357 b. be J>e hand & led til vrbane, )>at, baptiste bane, he

}>e a/zgel clerly mycht se, 300

bat vald gif hyme his askin[g]e debonarly but gruching.

tyburcius bane, or he fane,

& his bruthire valaryane

283. for J>at he had sensses. 304. valoryane.

275. langsuw syne. 292. ])an bis.


}>are faculte, til It xaycht /este, ~ 305

til pour<? folk disponyt faste,

& of ]?e marteris }>e bodyis

sa slane for godis sendee

]?ai entmt ful prywely.

almacius }>ane in hy 310

gert ]?ai brethire til hym bri«g,

& sad to ^ame, as in hething:

“ quharfor haf 30 sa mykil cur^

& besynes and labours

to grawe J>ame J>at for trespas, 315

as resone mad, «>«dampnzt ves?”

tyburcius }mne but delay

to )>e. prefet sadly cane say:

“vald god we war semand/r al

to ]?ame 30 dampnyt cal, 320

J?at has dispysit wft^ clere tho^t It }>at apem & is nocht.”

J>e prefet sad: “ J^u tel me

quhat manen? J>at may be?”

(\uod he: “J>at semys & is no^t 325

is al J>at in J>is warld is wro^t,

& ledis maw to vanyte,

& til it )>at noc^t sal be; bot it bat semys no^t to be

& is, gif >u ma clerly se, 330

Is of richtwise mew be

& of II mew )>e payne but str/fe.”

be prefet sad : “ I trew x\ocht bis bu sais) of bi-self al is,”

& bad bane bat valaryane 335

befor hyme suld be broc/it on ane,

& sad hyme: “bo bi bruthire be

nocbt of pwrfyt wit, as think me,

I consal be for-out mare

305. beste. 322. pat aperit. 329. for it J>at.


)>at }ni to me mak gud ansuare; 340 for it war lyk }>ai ware wod

]?at refusis bath loy & gud,

but folely }>at maste ^arnis

J>at is maste fay to loy & blis.

for-J>i is gud je wyse 3U weile, 345 Fol. 358 a. or je tyne al varldis sele.”

valaryane sad til hyme J?ane,

in froist )>at he saw Idil men

playand J’ame, makand gud chere,

& scorne jjame ]?at wirkand were, 350

bot in tyme of het, quhe« }>ai

froyt of }>are travale bar away,

& gret loy & mery mad,

]?ane J>ai }?at Idil bene had,

mad anoy & ewil chere; 355

“ richt sa til ws has hapnyt but were;

for we thole nov cald & het,

quhile t[h]riste, quhyle hungire gret,

bot sal resawe til oure med

ay-lestand loy, ]?at is na dred. 360

bot je, }>at warldis glore has now,

in tyme to cume ful sare sal grew,

& for a schort tyme lestand blis

in 3our foly are lyk to mys.”

]?ane ]?e prefet ansuert hym but mare, 365

& sad: “ be }>e pryncfr, are

vndisconfit of ]us varld hale,

sal thole, as 36 say, lestand bale,

& 3c, }>at are rewtent! wrechis here,

sic lestand blis sal bruk but were?” 370

valaryane sad til hyme J>ane:

“3e ar na princys, bot smal men,

borne in our tyme, & de sal sone,

& 3eld resone hou 3c haf done.”

]>e prefet sad, ]?at wes fel: 375

XLIII.—CECILE.

“ in sic spek ganys no^t to duel,

mak sacryfice for-out delay,

&, quhar ]m lykis, pas ]u way ! ”

J>ai brethire J>ane vnerely

sad to ]?e prefet opynly :

“lele sacrifice to god we gife, & sal do, til we ma lif.”

<\uod }>e prefet to J>ame one ane:

“ of ^oure god tel me )>z name! ”

valaryane til hyme )>a.n can say: “ certi's, his name fynd ]m na ma,

J>o ]ju had wengis for to fie.”

J>e prefet sad: “ jet thinkfr me Jmt lubiter is nocM ]>e name

of god ]?at suld be I[n] mast fame?”

valaryane sad : “ lubitem

ves ]>e name of a murtherere

& of a kyd houlloum,

)>at racht no]?ire of mensk na honours.” Fol. 358 6. }>ane ansuert hyme almachius,

& sad: “gif suth be ]m sais ws,

al Jus warld erris bot ]m ane

& J?i bruthire, J>at has jozw tane

to trew in a god verraly.”

valaryane ]?ane sad in hy: “ It is x\ocht anerly we twa

J>at a god al-ane cane ta,

bot J>ai ar sa feile ma J>ane we, ]?at }>ai ma nocht nomeryt be,

J>at resawit J>is halynes,

& ay sal eke & be na les.”

J>ane gert }>e prefet tak ]>a\m bath

& put ]>ame in til pressone rath,

in jemsale of maxymy,

J>at sad til )>ame ful fellou«[l]y:

398. has Jone tane.


“ 30, Jsat ar ûng & fals alsa,

& bruthire-lufe betwene yu twa,

me think je haste to ded nov

as til a feste men callit 30W ! ”

valaryane sad: “ gif bat

wil hicht til ws bat ]ni sal treu,

be loy bu sal se in bis sted

of ourd sawlis, as we are ded.”

bane maxymyne sad: “ fyr? me bry«,

gyf I bat god bane trou no^t in

bat ê treu, gyf bat I se

be thing suth ê sa to me.”

bare maximyne but ony mare,

& al bat euire with hyme ware,

& ]>e fel tormentoun’r alsua,

of pape vrbane can baptyme ta,

bat in hydlis come bame til,

& bare request [did] with gud wil,

& in be dawing of ]>e day

in hye voice cane to bame say:

“ 30, ]?at are cr/stis knyc^ttw mad,

putt/r fra 30U nov but abad

vorkis of myrknes, & clethis 3<ni

in armys of licht in hast nov! ”

almachius Ipe prefet herd

how bat ber crfstine knychttis ferd.

bane gert he tak ]>a\m xycht sone,

& syne eftire for-out hone

he gert leid bame of be ton

four myle, one bat condicione,

gyf bai to lubitere rycht bare

vald sacryfy but ony mare,

bai suld ga fre at bare wil,

Fol. 359 a. & al bar gudis tacht bame til; & gif bai gruchit to do sa,

bare nekis suld bai strik in twa.

415 #

420

425

43°

435

440

445

XLIII.—CECILE.

]?ane ware ]?e brethir^ one led,

til }>ai come til }>e lywmytstede;

& for ]?ai wald nor^t sacryfy

}>ai war vnhedit bath in hy.

J>ane maximyne, bat bare was,

quhene bat ves done in be place,

sad, he saw angelis cume done

in be tyme of bare passione,

& bare sawlis vpe in hewine bare vith bame in-to wynly fayre.

sone eftire as bis ves done,

to be prefet ves tald sone

bat maximy/z crzstine ves mad.

be quhilk bane but abad

gert men wzt^ lumpis of led

dyng hyme til he ves ded.

bane cecile tuk be bodys thre,

& in a grawe gert \z!\m lad be,

\ith sic honoure as scho cuth do,

& as be tyme askyt to.

almacius bane wes besy

to get be gudis gredely

of be forsad valaryane,

bat til his spouse cecile had tane,

& of tyburcius his bruthire,

& lewit noe/zt ane for vthire.

& sowne wes fundyzz bat cecile bar gud[is] had to kepe a quhyle.

for-bi hir gert he bryng hyme til, to grype be gudis in-to wil.

& as scho bror/zt ves hyme befor,

he sad til hire wzt/z sturt & schore

“til ydolis bu mak sacryfice,

& bame honoure in al wyse,”

ore ellis for to thole gret payne

& fynaly bare-for be slane.


]?a« turmentom, ]50 }>ai vald fenje,

word of ned hire til distrenje,

gret rychi sare, for sa fare a thing, 485

sa vyse, sa far, & sa jyng

vald ta ])e ded sa wilfully.

}>ane sad scho til }>ame in hy:

“It is nochi, ^ungmen, as je thoe^t;

for my southed here tyne I noe^t, 490

hot gifts filth & takis gold fyne,

& giffis a lacht place of duelling,

Fol. 359 b. & takis a place of bewte, sic as ma nocht comprisit be,

& giffis bot a lytil wra, 495

a vyd merkat J>are-for I ta.

richt as ma« suld gif 30W

tene shillings for a penny now,

I trew ]?at je suld haste 30U }>ene

to gife a pe/zny & take tene; 500

sa to god gif we gife ocht

of warldly thing \ai he has wroe/^t,

he sal gif ws Jzarefor in med

ane hundre tyme sa fele, but dred.”

sad scho }>ane : “ trew 30 J>is ? ” 505

“3a,” sad }>ai, “sa hafe we blis,

ve trew }>at criste is god verray,

])at sic a seruand has ]us day.”

]?ay of a wil euzVilkane

gert bryng ]?e bischope aid vrbazz, 510

of quhazzz richt ])ane baptyzzz cazz ta

four huzzdre personis & ma.

almachius gert hire til hyzzz brizzg,

& sad hire, as with smylyng

he sad: “of quhat eezzdiczbn is Jzu?” 515

scho sad: “gentil womazz, I trew."

almacius sad syne tyte :

498. tene 1>.


“ I sperf, womane, of \i ryte.”

cecile sad hyme: “ îne askin[g]e

of foly takis begywnynge, 520

venand I suld ans«er[is] twa

vndir a demand }>e to ma.”

almacius sad til hire bon:

“quhene has }ju sic presumpczon

of redy ansuere til a man ? ” 525

& cecile sad til hyme }>ane:

“of conscience gud & clere,

&• fath vnfeêt, but were.”

almacius sad hire one hicht:

“me think }>u knawis noe/zt my mye^t.” 530

scho sad: “3is, I cane wele fynd

}?i poweste lik a bose of wynd

]zat fillit ware, & wit/i a prene

mocht out be latine for-out wene,

& seage, and to-giddire fal, 535

& tyne J>e ôwsty blawing al.”

almacius cane til hire say:

“ viih inwy ]5u begyzznis ay,

& in It syne perseueris;

quhat is he }>at J>e J>is leris?” 540

Pol. 360 a. <\uod scho : “ iniure is it nocht bot fraud in word be thoe/zt;

]?ar-for, gif I do wrang, me teche,

or with fals wordis I }>e fleche,

or blame ]?i-selfe J>at me blamys, 545

or of fraud me defamys.

bot we, ]je haly name ]?at wat

of god, ma nyt it na-gat,

& bettire is de happely

na for to de here wrechitly.” 550

518. of J>at ryte. 521. ansgere. 528. a fath. 535. seage ? The word is illegible, owing apparently to erasure. 536. bousty. 545. & blame. 550. to dehire.


almacius sad in ]?at tyde:

“ quhy spekis ]m with sic pryde ? ”

“na,” (\uod scho, “pryd is It nor/zt,

bot It is stedfastnes of thoz'/zt.”

almacius ]>a.n til bin? ca« say: 555

“}>u wreche, wat ]?u noc/it I may,

gif me lykis, now sla ]>e,

or, gif me lykis, lat }>e be?

for sic poweste is tacht me til

bat I ma do quhat-say I wil.” 560

bane sad scho: “I ma prave wele

bat bu has leyt ilke deile

agane opyne suthfastnes;

for, bo bu poware wes

be lyf to ?ak of ony man, 565

of powers wes bu neuz> jet pan

to quhykine man bat ded had bene.

for-bi is bu S(?ruand but wene of doulful ded & nor/zt of lyfe,

& noc/it of quyet, bot of stryfe.” 570

almacius cane til hire say:

“bat wedand wodnes do away,

& sacryfy oure godis til, gyf to luf langere be bi wil! ”

sad cecile bane, or scho stynt: 575

“It semys bu has bine eyne tynt;

for, bat ]m godis cane cal,

ar bot stanis & stokis al,

as bu ma with bi handis taste,

bo bu ma noe^t se a laste.” 580

bane ves almacius rycht wa

bat scho sic ansuere cane til hyzzz ma,

& gert mezz til hire ine hire led,

for he wald scho war dede.

& al a day & al bo nycht 585

557. giffis. 565. lyf to mak.


he gert leid meelte in me«is syr/zt,

& band hir^ faste fut & hand,

Fol. 360 b. & kest hir in ]?e led bry;mande.

bot of het scho feld noman?

hane scho in a bath set J>ane van?, 590

na changit co«tenance na cher^,

for ocht ]?at scho cane se or here,

bot ves blyth, as scho had bene

in maste myckt )>at euz> wes sene.

and as almacius J?at herde, 595

as out of wit nere he ferde;

in-to )>at leid, }?at bryzznyt swa,

he bad strik hire nek in twa.

& )>o J^e basar strak hire thrise,

he moc/it vnhied hire na-wyse; 600

&, for ]ie law bad, J?at, quha

suld haf J^e hed strz'kine hy;« fra,

]?e ferd strak suld haf na-way,

for-])/ he basare 3ed his way,

& lefyt hire lyand in hat sted 605

thre days fullely, as nere ded.

& in he meyne-tyme, noc^t-for-thy,

scho delt hire gudis vysly

ymange powre folk \>at had ned,

& til vntrowand godis sede 610

sew, & to god wysly wane

thru hire preching mony mazz,

& hame ]>a.t scho cozzuertit swa,

fra wrbane scho gert baptyzzz ta,

& sad hym, pat scho had mad pz/rchas 615

to god hat scho my<r/zt luf he space

hat scho mycht haizzz til hyzzz cozzzmend, hat to be baptist scho hyzzz send,

& of hire house of lyme and stane

gert mak a kirk, of sanct? vrbane 620

591 and 592 are transposed. 596. wet. 599. & po he. VOL. II. 2 B


halouyt, & eftire lad hire ]?are

quhare nov fele bischopis grawyn are.

& ]ns, }>at I tel here, done wes

eftire }>at criste had tane flesch

twa hu«dre thre & thretty jere;

& }>ane wes emperoure but were

marcyus, }>at arelyane

had }?ane til his surname.

now, sancte cecile, }>at had sic grace,

i^at, quhat ]?u wald, )m mye^t parches

fra Iheju, ]?at ]?u lufit swa,

purches ws, ore we hyne ga,

of ]us varld ]>a.t we ma twyne

but schame, det, or dedly syne.

XLIV.—LUCY.

HETE wil I wryt of J>e story

here next of sancte lucy,

]>a.t borne wes of syrycusane, & mychty kyne had mony ane.

scho wes fare, wyse, & chaste, 5

& set hire hart one god maste,

& to serwe hyme wes noc/it swere. sa hapnyt hire a tyme til here

)>e gret lose of sanct agatha; & mad hire hydire for til ga, 10

& at [hir] fe[r]tre for to wak,

& Jsare to god hir prayere mak.

for of agatha ]>e renovne

gert hire haf deuocione.

& hir modyr eutycia

scho tretyt witA hire for to ga, for four 3ere scho had ]?e II,

J?at oftymys fallis weme« til;

na scho myc/iX. get na medycine,

J?at cuth hire stanche of J?at pyne. 20 & for scho trewi/ sancre agas

of hele suld get hire mod//- grace,

samyne J>ai went of dewote wil

of agatha be fe[r]tre til,

& wok bar, & prayt a nycht. 25

1. Initial letter wanting. 11. & [>at fetre for. 21. trewis.


Fol.361 b

%

& one [ê] morne at dais \ycht,

quhene }?ai herd ]?e bellis ryng,

& prestfr sch^pe ]>3am mes to syng,

})ane went }>ai til alter/r scrq

deuotely messis for til hen?. 30

& yraang vthir^ wes a mes,

quhar J?e ewangel repetyt ves

of a woma« ]>at of tweching

of cristis heme but vthir thing,

of sic seknes gat hele quyt 35

of hir^ sad treutht thru meryt.

]?ane sad lucy : “ modir dere, gyf ]?u trewis wrytine is hen?,

trow agas has hyme ay present,

for quha;« scho sufferit herd torment; 40

&, ])arfore, wil ]m twech now

hir fe[r]tre & ferme trew,

I trew ]?u sal puirfytly be

hale of June infirmyte.”

& as J?e messis war al done, 45

}>e folk went hame at }>e novne,

bot }>ai twa at J>e fertre lay

in gret deuocione for to pray.

& tyd lucy for to slepe;

&, as hire thor/A, takand kepe, 50

saw agatha at hire richt hand

vit/i ful feile angelis stand,

schrud in schenand wed

brichtare J>ane siluzV, but dred,

& sad hire: “cystire lucy dere, 55

to god deuote, in ihocht ful clere,

quhy askis ]m me Jât Jû

to ]u modire ma gif now? for ]u treutht has mad hire hale,

& bete wele of all hire bale.” 60

26. ]>at dais ly<r//t. 28. schape.

XLIV.—LUCY. 389

J?ane waknyt sanct<? lucy,

& til hire modire sad in hy:

“lo, modire, 1m art mad hale,

for ]?u trewyt to my tale.

]5ar-for be hire I coniure }>e 65

}?at thru sic travale helyt ])e,

]?at to spouse me J?u ne;«myne nor//t,

bot, quhat-eufr it wes ]m thocht

in weding fore to gif to me,

to gyfe to poure men I leife }>e.” 70

hire modire sad: “cou^r my« ene,

&, quhat to }>e spedful be sene

to do of my gied, do alsone! ”

}>ane lucy til hire sad but hone:

“ It }>at ]ju gifts at J>i ded-day, 75 ]?u gifts, for ]m ma nocht away

ber it; for-]?i \i gud ]?u giffis,

gif ]?u wil thank haf, til }>u liffz’r;

to gif J>i gud, thank has ]>0u na«,

quhene J>u of ]?is lyf is tane. 80

for-]u, til ]>u has powste,

gif, & }>u sal rewardit be.”

]5are-for, quhe« l?ire twa com hame,

sanct(? luca & hire forsad dame,

]?ai gef ]>a.re gudis plentuisly 85

to l^ame ]jai saw mast nedy.

& quhen }>ar meble ilke day

ves nere delt clenely away,

J>ane sawyt }>ai, as }>at ves done,

}>are gudis w[n]mowable sone. 90

& as ]?is come to ]?e knawyng

of hyme ]?at suld haf in wedi«g Fol. 362 a. lucy, speris at hire nowrise,

quhar-for hire gudis in sic vise

73- g°d- 77. t>e gud.

76. ma haf noMt. 93. speris Jiat athire.

3Q0 LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

var said for mast part away, 95

& delt to poure mew like day.

& scho, }>at ves var & wyse,

sad, ]?at lucy in merchandrise

had fundine a thing for to by,

quhar<?-in mare pwfyt cane ly 100

bane in ocht bat said has bai

be lyklynes alway,

& bat in til his naw scho bo^t,

for scho to mak [hym] riche thocht.

& he, bat sete had his lykyng 105

alhale in temp^rale thing,

to sel be gad ves man; besy

be-for bane ves sanct lucy,

venand bat he suld at hw weding

bare-thru ha/e doublyt al h/k thing. no

& syne, quhe« he p^sawit veile

bat al wes said ilke dele,

& ymang pour<? me« delt away,

bane to be prefet but delay,

bat to name had pascasius, 115

he went & plenjet of his spouse,

bat scho had tane be cristine fay

agane bare lawis osyt like day,

in contrary of be empmran;,

of cowmone thing bat has be cure. 120 paschajyus bane in al hy

befor hyme gert bryng lucy,

& bad bat scho suld criste forsak,

& sacrifice til ydolis mak.

sad scho: “thankful sacryfice 125

& plesand to god mony wyse

is to helpe pure me« & fede,

& visit mystf’/'ful in ned.

bot now, for noc/it is lefyt me,

101. suld. no. haste. 121. paschanyus. 122. gret bryng.

XLIV.—LUCY. 391

quhar-of I ma gif cheryte, 130

of my-selfe wil I offerand mak

to god, }?at in thank sal It tak;

for I haf dressit my ful wil

hou I ma sonest cume hym til.”

til hire ]?ane sad Pascasyus: 135

“ sic wordis suld ]?u nocht say ws,

hot erare lyk ]?e til a foie,

as J?u art cled in cristfj stole;

Fol. 362 b. for to me mak ]>\i nocht Jât spek,

)>at has J>e lawis for to kepe 140

of hyme \aX is nov empmmre,

& al }>e varld has in cure.”

}>ane lucy sad: “ richt as ]?u

]ie law of J>i prynce kepis nov,

rycht sa ]?e lawis sal I kepe 145

of my god in ded & speke;

& for ]>i princ/r ]m art rad,

& cristine treutht serwe god me bad;

}>i pnnce wil nocht }>u wreth nov,

& I to wreth god sal eschew; 150 ]?u til ]>i prince wil enples,

& to serwe god is myne ese. })are-for do }>u }>at ]>e spedful is,

for rye^t sa wil I do I-wys

it \dX is my maste prefyt.” 155 paschasius sad hir tyt:

“Jn patr/mone, wele persawe I,

]?u has dispendft, as se I,

one ]?ai;;/ Jât has corr[u]mp/'t }?e; ]?ar-for as hure ]?u ansuem me.” 160

âne til hyme sad lucy:

“sz>, my patrfmone haf I

stablit in sa sekire place,

quhare foule corrupc/on neuzV ves;

137. & foie. 158. |m hastely dispendft.


bot sic corrupturis as ]?u 165

to me at lykyne spekw nov, I wiste neu/r II in body na tho^t,

na jet wit sal, dred }>e no^t! ”

paschasyus sad }>a» hir^ til:

“}>at Jju me tald, it war my wil, 170

quha ar fylem of ]>e body

& of ]?e thoc/it.” ]>a.n sad lucy:

“ of ]?e thocht fylem are je

J>at wald entyse ws \a\. we

suld cese to serwe our creator 175

fore it ]>at semis nocAt ane houre;

& corruptoum of cors ar J^ai

J>at varldly lyking settw ay

befor lykyne ]?at ma nocht

cese, bot }>are-of has na thocht." 180

}>e prefet sais: “ al sic spekyng

sal sese, fra we begyne to ding.”

quod lucy: “ trew Jm but les

hat godis vord ma neuz'r cese.”

quod he prefet: “I trev hat hu I^5

trewis. hu art god rycht nov ! ”

Fol. 363 a. sad lucy: “I wat hat I

ame godis seruand encrely,

til his appostolis hat ca« say

‘se, je dout be na way 190 befor king/j quhezz je sal stand

or befor precydentzk of he land,

quhat je sal say in hat houre,

na of joure ansuere haf na cure;

for wysdome sal I gif ju til 195

& mowth til ansuere hai/// w/t/z skil,

for in jow sal he haly gast

til al mak ansuere mast & leste.’”

he presydent sad : “ wenis hu

173. bodyis.

XLIV.—LUCY. 393

J^e haly gast is in ]?e nov?” 200

lucy ansuert hyme in hy:

“quha her^ weile lufis & chastely,

of ]>e haly gast tempil ar ]?ai.”

pascasius f>ane can til hire say:

“to }>e bordale }>u sal be led, 205

& be sa fylit in ]?at sted,

]>at tyt J>e haly gast fra he,

for fylth of hi flesche, sal fle.”

quod scho : “ he body ma no^t

be fylit bot of consent of thor^t. 210

for, ho hu ger mon fyle me

agane my wil, my chastyte sal doublit be me to he crone,

hat I sal wyne for my wardone;

for of my wil neuz> sal I 215

resent to fyle my body, for ony payne or ony wa,

hat hu to me }ia.re-{or ma ma.

for my body ay is bone

to haf al pyne & passione 220

for godis sak, quhaw in I trew.

do forth ham-for! quhat bydis hu ? for hu sal fynd me redy ay

to tak mare payne ]>a.n thu think ma.”

he presydezzt gert [til] hyme bryng sere houloum, & gef bydding

hir to he bordale to led,

& quhezz scho var in hat sted,

ha suld ger be criyt tyt,

quha-sa-eu/r had appetit

til haf a maydine but med,

hai suld hame to he bordale sped, for har fynd suld hai a madine

to mak assith til haiw Ilkane; 203- gastzV. 204. pascasaius. 234. paim al Ilkane.

225

230


Fo], 363 b. & ])at nane suld hire body spare 235

til ony lyfe in hire ware.

]?ane J>ai went furth but abad,

to do J?at }>ai in byding had.

hir to J>e bordale wald ]?ai haf broe//t

for sic cause; bot }^ai moe/it noe/d; 240

for ]?e haly gae/ had sa

stithit hire, ]>at nane of }mi

mye/d of ]?at place a fute hire stere.

J?e presyde«t, ]?at wes by nere,

ves amowit ful gretuwly, 245

& gert a thousand men in hy

cume to draw hyre furth of thret.

bot J?ai mycht hire na forthir get,

J70 bath hire fet & hire handis

var bundine faste with Irne bandis. 250

to helpe ]?ame come, a thousand men,

fyfty 30k of oxine }>ene,

to flyt hire furth one J>e way ]

bot in waste [wes] al did }>ai,

for vnsterit scho stud stil 255

as a crag, to byd god/e wil. enchau?dum hane he gert cum sere,

hir with ench<?«ment/r to stere;

bot scho mye/d uocht steryt be

mare }>ane ware a rutfast tre. 260

)>ane [>e presydent caw spere: “ quhat wichecraft dois )>ou here,

}>at [>u, )>at is maydine al 3iwg

& lyk is til a teynd/r thing,

ma uocht be had a fute of lynth, 265

of men na oxine for )?e strinth ? ”

quod lucy : “ neuir jet delt I

with wichecraft, bot sikirly

It is of criste [>e benyfice,

241. haly gad. 256. to bydn. 263. is is maydine.

XLIV.—LUCY. 395

}>at stithis me on ]ns wyse; 270

for, gyf ]ui wald jet ek to

ten thousand, []?ai] suld nomare do.”

J^ane ves it tald ]?e presydewt

\at wischcrafte & Inchau«me«t

with nectyng mocht be lousit sone. 275

bane gert he caste on hire but hon

of necting a gret qua«tyte,

J>at foule ves to fele or se,

bar-w/t/^ for to flit hyre thocht.

bot al ves in wast b^i wroe^t. 280

& quhene he mye/zt do nomare,

a ful gret fyre he gert mak bare

about hyr one ilke syd, Fol. 364'a. bat scalyt fare be low, & wyd,

& kiste bare-in pyk & brynsta/z, 285

to bryne hyre bath lyre & bane.

bot bat grewit hyre nomare,

na It a tempryt bath ware.

bane lucy one hicht ca/z say:

“ of god I haf gottine delay 290 of my martzVdome, for bat I

out of dout suld put sikirly

al cnstine mezz to thole passione,

& say to wyne ay lestand crone,

& til eke schame als be mare 295

til hethine bat vntreuful are.”

pascasius ves bane ful wa,

quhen he saw hyme scornyt sa.

for-bi his frendis, bat ware nere, til confort hyme & mend hzk chere, 300

a sword in hire hals cazz thryng.

bot bat hire refit nocht be speking,

for scho sad: “ trewly, I tel jow

bat to kirk pece is giffine now, for bis day ded has tane 305


of ]?is warld maxymyane,

& dyoclyciane but dout

of his kynrik [is] put owt.

& as agatha, my cystire fre,

is prtftectryse of J>is cyte 310

of cathanen, xychl swa sal I

mak prayers to god Ithandly

of Cyricusane for ]?e towne,

]?at to helpe [it] god be boh.”

& ry^t as scho ]hs tale tald, 315

fra rome come me«, \a1 ves bald.

]?a« band ])ai pascasyus ry^t ];ar<?

& led hyme sa to cesare;

for cesar had herd syndry tel,

}>at ]?is pascasius ves fel, 320

& refit gudis for gredynes

In ]je cunctre quhare he ves.

& quheh he ves brorAt to rome,

of ]?e senat thru }>e dome,

his nek }>ai gert strik in twa, 325

&, quhan? he s<?^uit, [he] cane ga.

& sanct lucy out of ]?at sted,

quhare scho for god tholyt ded,

ves noc/$t steryt, bot duelt stil,

as lyk wes to be godis wil; 330

bot quheh prest/r in gud ente^t

had mi«/stiryt hire ])e sacrament,

& scho had ^oldine god ])e geste,

Fol. 364 b. \ai mad a fare grawe in [til] haste,

& hyre entyryt vorthely, 335

as oyse of kirke vves, deuotely.

[>ane come hire myc/itty fre«d/r but hoh,

& mad a crafty kirke ful sone,

qu[h]are restis, & sal do ay,

hire poudyre til of dome }>e day;

306. of his warld. 334. scho mad.

340

XLIV.—LUCY.

& feffyt it mychtyly

of gret rentzV & mychty,

to sustene paim }>are suld lyfe,

]?are s^mice to god ay to gyfe,

In lowing of god firste, & syne

in honours of ]ds haly virgine.

twa emperoum vare J^at tyme:

]?e tane ves callyt co«stantine,

& todir^ maximyne.

eftir criste oure flesch had tane

thre hu«dre tene 3ere & ane,

}>is ded ves done, je red here,

J>e xiij day of discembre, but ver.

nov lucy, for quhaw god of hewine ]?is wror/zt for J^e, ore J>u went hyne, |)u purchas ws sic grace, ]wt we

cure lyf led [her] in sic degre,

ovt of ]ds warld pat ve ma twy«


XLV.—CRISTINE.

HE gentil virgine s: cr/stine,

]?at god spruit vith hart fyne,

come of kyne of mykil my<r^t,

J>at sgmit god[is] day & ny^t;

& in tyro of ytaly

hir fadire duelt as mast myr/ztty.

& for scho ves his perand an?,

fetyse, fasonyt wele, & fairs,

he mad a tours of lyme & stane,

a starkare xaocht be fundine na«.

}>ar-in put he his dochtyrs ders,

& twelf madynis, ]>ai fostsrit vers

vith hire to serwe, he gert ga

in J?e tours hire ssmice to ma.

& godis gert he mak syndry

of gold & siluire mychtyly,

& put ]>ame vzt/z hyrs in }>e tours, for scho suld do to Jmb/z honour,

& incense laid in a wy«do by, quhar-wzt/z scho suld sacryfy.'

Fol. 365 a. J>ane for J>e cause of hirs bevvte

ful mony 3arnyt hire to se,

til hafe hire in weding;

bot hire kyne wald for na thing

]?at scho til ma« suld gyffine be,

bot serwe furth in virginite,

XLV.—CRISTINE. 399

til ]?ar godis til enplese,

for as }>ame thoc/zt ]wt ves mast ese.

bot scho ves tacht wele in haste

be steryng of }>e haly gaste, 30

& al ]?ai ydolis mare & les

scho had in-to wlatso;/znes,

& }>e incense, ]>ar-with scho

vikit sacrifice suld mak ]?aim to,

in a wyndo scho lad It by, 35

& it hyd ]?are ful craftfully.

hire fadire come a day p<?rcace

in-to J>e toure, quhar his dochtzr ves,

& hir twelfe madyzzfs tald hyz« sone

hale how his dochtire had done, 40 ])at sacrifice vald mak na day

til hire godis be ony way, “ for scho sais, cn'stine is scho.

seis Jmrfor quhat 30 wil do! ”

]?ane hir fadire kissit hir ofte, 45

& gluthryt hir wzt/z vordis softe,

& hir entysyt mony wyse

to godis to mak sacryfice,

& sad [til] hir: “ my dochtire dere,

do furth my byding in gud chere!” 50 quod scho: “ ]n docht/V cal nor/zt me,

bot I his dochtyre ay sal be,

& sacryfice [one]-til hyme mak,

jzat sal in thank ryr/zt wele It tak;

Jzat is, to god in trinite, 55

to quhame for euire I offer me,

& no<r/$t to godis, [>at neuz> had

lyfe, bot are vzt^ handis mad,

& ma nocht spek, se, na ga—

quhatkine godis suld be ]?a ? ” 60

]zane sad ]?e fadir: “gif ]?at ]?u

31. al l>at. 33. ])at with.

/

39. madytts.


vil noc/it to syndry godis now mak sacrifice, at lest til ane

sa J>at J>e lafe no^t crabyt be 65

na gretly grevyt at ]?e ! ”

}>ane sad scho: “ ]5U has sad wele

Fol. 365 />. vnwittandly, sa haf I seele ! for I mak my/z offerand but were

euir-ilke day to godis sere, 70

& are bot a god nocht a laste,

J>e fadire, ]?e sone, }>e haly gaste.”

Jmne sad ]?e fadire: “ sene ]>at ]?u

J>ai sere godis honourzV now,

quhy wil ]?u noe/zt honoure wzt/z-al 75

al vthire ]zat goddis ve cal?” c\uod scho: “]>o I nezzzmyne thre

personis, ma bot a god be;

fadire, sone, & haly gaste;

& ]ure thre, quha vele cuth taste, 80

Is bot ane in diuinyte, *

j?o I nezzzmyne pez-sozmys thre.”

hire fadir vent [in] wrath away.

& crystyane but [mar] delay

gadryt saz/zmyne ]zai godis al 85

of gold & siluere, & brak smal,

in smal peczk but delay,

& gefe to poure mezz away,

hire fadire, venand vele to do, a-nothire tyme come hire to, 90

to ]zai godis to do honoure,

]zat he befor lewit in ]ze toure;

& he fand nane he honozzz' moe/zt.

Jzare-of gret ferly hyme thoe/zt,

& at cz-zstine he speryt sone, 95 quhat scho vit/i his gedis had don.

63. at lest til ane he. 74. serzj. 96. gudis.


})ane hire maydinw ca« hy;« say,

}>at scho [had] delt Jmme al away,

& brokine J>ame in peczk smal. hat hyme tho^t verste of al. 100

& quhene he wist h^s ves done,

he gert hir^ clathis tak of son,

& gert me« ding hire ful faste

xhh handis fel, til my^t leste.

& >at he gert do ythandly, 105

til twelfe men war wery.

cr/stine sad [til] hire fadire hane:

“ but honouri? & schame \xy\e ma«

& wlatsume to god sykyrly,

se hou al here are very, no

hat dyngis me, & get but vere

in godis smiice I p^rsewen?;

Fol. 366 a. harefor suld hu be prayem seke

tyl hi g0(iis, hare strinthis til eke,

& sa, to nev hare vertu, fand; 115

for hai haf nere tynt hare aynd.”

hane gert he bynd hire faste

vit/i yrne chengeis, & hire caste in til a presone depe & myrk.

& quhe/z hire mod/r herd ]>is verk, 120

scho rafe hire clathis & hire hare,

& cryit loud, & he cun rare,

& to he presone vent ful sone, & til hire douchtzV fete fel one ane,

& sad; “cmtyane, my dochtyre brye/zt, 125

hat of myne ene is souerane lye/zt,

xitk hartly vil to he I pray

hat hu wil rew of me his day! ” c^uod scho: “ quhy callis h^u me

hi douchtire? for I haf one me 130 he name of god almye/ztty.

97. maydine. 108. Ivyld. VOL. II. 2 C


for-]?i ga J?i vay in hy! ”

& quhe« })e modire saw ]?at scho

mocht no mar^ with hire douchtyre do,

til hire husband scho com sone,

& tald hyme al hou scho had done,

& bat scho mye/zt be na skyl

of hire douchtyre turne ]>c wil.

hire fadire b^ne of fellon thoe^t

gert hyre befor hyme sone be broe/zt,

& bad hire scho suld sacryfy

til bare godis in al hy,

ore ellis thole torment sa fel,

bat it suld ferly be to tel,

“ & bu sal neuz> callit be

my douchtzV; trewly, I tel ]>e.”

bane sad scho [til] hyme but hone: “ a ful gret grace bu has me done,

bat sic hicht makzr to me,

bat bi douchtzV I sal noe/zt callit be;

for of sathanes trewly art bu,

3a, fadire, fermely bis bu trew! ”

bane cozzzmandyt he to perse hir flesch with scharpe nalys, bat teyndzV was,

& hire ly/zzmys to draw in twyne,

til ony lyf warzz hire in.

Fol. 366 5. bane cristyane of hire flesch cazz pul,

bat rywine wes, a handful,

& kyste [it] in hire fadire face,

& sad tyl hyme, bat angry wes:

“bu tyrand, bat }>i fles'ch cazz get of bi body, now It ete ! ”

hir fadire bane but ony hone

gert hir on a quhele be done,

& fyre vz't/z oyle \ar-on gert he

be mad izz gret quazztyte.

147. buth hone.

I3S

140

145

I5°

160

165


}>ane J>e gret lo[w] scalit on heid,

& slew fywe hundire \n ]>at sted;

bot til hire it did na lath,

in body, na ^et in clath.

3et vend hire fadire sekirly

al bat had bene sorcery;

for-^i one nev he gert hire bynd, & in a myrk pressone hire flyng.

& as cu;«yne ves be nye/*t,

he bad his menje bai suld dye^t

a hewy stane til hire bynd faste,

& in be se syne hire caste.

& quhe^ bai had his byddbzg don,

godis angel apperit sone,

& hire in handis hynt in hy,

& held hire one lofte baw dry,

bane cryste hywz-self, bat al moe/zt se,

[come] of hewine, bat in be se

baptyste hire, & cane say:

“ I baptyse be here bis day in god, my fadire, & in me

& in be haly gaste, al thre; ”

& to sancte mychel hire betacht,

bat blythly hire in hawdzis lacht,

& set hire one land al dry.

& quheh hire fadire bfs ferly

herd, strak hywz-self in be front,

jet sayand, as he wes wont:

“quhat wichcrafte oysis bu>

bat be se na ma now

drowne be> for ocht mew ma do?”

bis answere scho mad hywz to :

“bu fellone fule & vnhappy, of god sic grace gewine haf I.”

hire fadire [bane] cozwmawnd/t sone

bat scho in presofi suld be don,

170

jys

180

185

190

x95

200

/


& one ]>e morne hire to ta, Fol. 367 a. & hire heid strik of hire fra.

hot vrbane, hire fadire, J?at nyr/zt 205

ves fundine ded be godzr myzr/^t.

to quha/;z a lug cazz succed

callyt denyse, ewil of ded,

}>at gert a kirtil be mad meet

for hire, syd done to }>e fete, 210

of yrne, as ane habresone;

& as ]?is ves redy mad bon,

in-to ]?e fyre he gert it caste,

& drew it syne on hire faste,

& walland oyle & pyk alson 215

he gert cast ]?are abeone;

& gert foure wicht men to ga, Jzat suld rol hire to & fra,

J>at scho ]?e sozznere suld be slane

eftyre J>at ilke fellone payne. 220

bot scho vnhurt lofit god ^arne \at scho, nov borne as a barne,

ves rokit sa, felend na sare,

as barne }>at in pe kardil vare.

}>at luge, as he ]us had sene, 225

nowly gert tak hyre in teyne,

& schawe hire heid to pe suerd,

& gert mezz tak hire eftzVwerd

of hire clathis, & gert hire be

led nakit thru ]ze cyte, 230

tyl apolyne til scho ves bror/zt.

& ]’ane to pray scho cesyt no<z/zt,

til Jze fals ydol don cazz fal,

& in poudre lousyt al smal.

& as pe lug )>is herd say, 235

he wes sa red but delay

he fel done pare stan<? ded.

& pare succedit in his sted

222. & scho. 237. stand ded.


a fellone lug of mony ane,

]?at callyt wes lulyane. 240

& he ane oyne gert be mad

red het, & put hire in but bad, & closit it, as ]?at ves done.

^ot godis angel come sone,

& duelt with hire dais fywe, 245

vith hire sang lowand god of lywe.

J>ane come ]?are fele ]?e sext day,

to se how hire body lay,

J>at ]?ai wend bene brynt had;

& fand hire bath b\yth & glad, 250

lowand god at al hyre raycht Fol. 367 b. Jjat of his angelis gef hyre sy^t.

3et lulyane went witt/Hy,

& al vthire, it had bene sorcery.

bane twa scrpentw he gert bryzzg on ane, 255

bat haspidis has to name,

& als fellone vthyre twa,

bat to naz/z has vypera,

& twa colubris rycht fellone

befor hire he gert lay done. 260

be SfZ'pentre hire fete cazz lyke,

& hurt hire no<r/zt, bo ]>a.i var wyk.

aspidis til hir papis socht,

& sukyt bame, & noyt nocht. j

Colubres a-bout hyr nek lay 265

vnhurtand, lykyt suet away.

bane lulyane, bat bis has sene,

vend it sorcery had bene.

til his enchantoure bazz sad he:

“me think bu begilis me, 270

bat gerris noo^t hire bestzr byt,

& sla jone maydine but respyt.”

bane he pzTzfit his craft to do ;

& al bai bestzr socht hyme to

244. got godis.


in mykil brath in-to ]?at sted, 275

& gert hyme fal done stane ded.

}>ane cristine, ]>a\. wes no^t rad

for J>ai bestw, but bad paim bad

}>at J>ai suld pase til wildzVnes,

quhar of me^ wes na« accese, 280

& neuirif cum to grewe man. /

& furth went bai richt ]?ane.

& dynyse, ]?at Bet lay ded,

be secund lug of bat sted,

at hire pray ere scho rasit pan285

& he become cristine ma«.

jet lulyane, bat wes sa thra,

bath hire papis gert ryf h/r fra;

& men mycht se bare gret ferly,

bat mylk for blud come out \n hy. 290

& seand bat, he wes [ful] wa,

& sone gert carwe hire tong \n twa;

bot scho be spek tynt na deile,

bot, as befor, spak als wele;

& scho strak lulyane in be e

nhh it, & lettyt hyme bane to se.

bane lulyane, bat wes wa,

in his hand a bow can ta,

& w/t/z ane arrow in hire syd

he mad a slope, depe & wyd,

& of ane vthire arrow bare

Fol. 368 a. he strak hir thru be hart, sa sare bat to god scho jald be gaste,

bat it resawit in til haste.

& bis in tyre done ves,

eftir criste resaw/t oure flesch

twa huwdre Ixxxvij 3ere;

& bane ves emp^woure but were

be fellone Dioclysiane,

bat cristine men slew mony ane.

295

300

3°5

310

XLVL—ANASTACE.

E nobil womane anastace

in rome of gret kine borne wes

& douchtir ves of a mychty

man, callit pretaxaty,

& payane he wes neuz>-]?e-les;

bot him modim crzstine wes,

a womane of gud fame,

& fausta scho had to name.

& scho him douchtir gef to lem

to grisogone, ]>a\. with gud chem

in cristine treutht mad hire parfyt;

& scho to lem It had delyt.

syne til a mazz of gret kyne

nem by rome with mykil wyne,

scho ves giffine, J>at [had] to name publy, a mazz of gret fame,

& vedit him, & brocAt til house,

as afferyt til his spouse,

bot scho, ]?at thor/ztful wes ay

of Ihmi criste & of his fay,

thor/zt scho suld nor/zt marit be

vz't/z a payane sic as wes he.

ane vthire cause wes ane,

Jzat chaste scho suld luf alane.

for [t]hire causis fra his bed,

I. The first word is wanting.

5

10

i5

20

25 2. ]>at. 16. pauline.


fenjeand hire sek, away is fled.

& quhar scho wiste ony ware

liffand in-to crist/j lare

put in pressone, scho vald .ga,

& pure clething one hire ta, 30

in mykil dout ythandly,

& confort \2\1n. ful besyly

v/t/2 almus dedis, les & mare,

vesch ]:>are fet, & keme ]>ar hare.

)>ane publy strat kepy« til hz> mad, 35

sa hat narroly fud scho had,

& [in] ane house gert stek/t be,

]mt narroly mycht scho furth se,

bot a wyndo til haf disport,

Fol. 368 b. but mare disport or conforte. 40

his tyme dyoclyciane

gert grisogonus be tane,

& put in presone ymang vthire;

he quhilk scho fed as hire bruthzV

als lang as scho had accese; 45

bot fra tyme scho closit ves,

sic remed jet purchaste scho,

hat a kerlyne come hir to,

a medyatrice, to cume & ga

betwene anastace & al hai 5°

godis confessoum hat ware

in presone or in bandis sare,

bot betwene [hir] maste teyndirly

& grisogone, hat was haly.

be his kerlyng ha« wald scho 55 hir almus dedis to hame do.

\ettiis of cohfort hane alswa

betwene hame bare scho to & fra.

& quhene lang it had bene his>

hire fellone husband publyus 60

29. >ai. 35. paulyne. 36. }>at sa.

XLVI.—ANASTACE. 409

maugre his to pers ves send,

certane nedis for£ til end;

& to kepe his spouse, ordenyt he

a wykit man of his menje,

& ordenyt hire vatir & Iwil bred; 65

for he vald rychi fayne haf hir ded.

& sa bad he ]?at it suld be

ore he agane come, for causis thre.

)>e first [J>at] steryt his entent

ves, for scho vald noe^t consent 70

in weding to fulfil his wil

in luste of flesch, as hym thoe^t skil;

be todire, be-cause bat scho

be cristine treutht had tane h/> to;

be thred cause [bat] cane hyme stere, 75

for scho had landis fare & sere,

and meble in gret quawtyte,

&, gif scho ded war, hal had he.

& as he wes passit his way,

bis fellone semand but delay 80

sa fellonly hire sone ca« trete

in strat jemesel & in fewte,

bat hir lyfar had bene ded

bane sic lyfe ony tyme to led.

thre moneth eftire bis ewy«ly, 85

be caryone of fellone publy

to rome ves broe^t be be se; Fol. 369 a. & al bai men^e bane cane fie,

til anastace bat kepam ware,

in syndry placfr here and bare. 90

& scho, mad quyt of presone,

brukit al hire possessione ;

& bane sudendly scho said al hire gud, by quha vald,

& quha of gud ned had maste, 95

77- in noble & in. 93. scho sold.

4io LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

scho relewit ]5ame in til haste,

& eraste quhar scho wist ony ves

in presone or in seknes;

& skonryt with nane

how foule sekness sa }mi had tane, 100

hot mekly vald scho wesch ])ar fet,

& with softe sawis ]->are sank bet,

& dicht }>ame, & keme }>are hare,

as }>e modir suld do ]?aiw2 bare.

& firste to grisogone tald scho 105

al hale ]?at hapnyt had hir to,

& of }>e ded of hire husband,

& hou scho brokine ves of band;

pat lowit god bath he & scho

ful ofte, as pame byrd wel to do. no

pane pai of rome be wryt gert tel

to dyoclesyane pe fel,

pat faste ves slayand cr/stine me«,

in aquiely, quhar he wes pane,

how pe cristine grew ay, 115

& how fele folk lewit pare lay.

pare-of, paz sad, wes mast to blame

grisogonus be his ryzr/zt name.

& [he] wrat agane, & bad sla

al cn'stine pat pai mycJit ta, 120

& grisogonus pai suld hyz/z send,

pat he of hyme mycht mak suzzz end.

& pai his bzding did ryr^t sone,

& send hyme gresogone but hone.

pane folouyt anastacya 125

grisogone, in wele & wa.

quhene he to dyoclysyane

come, he hyme sad one ane:

“ of pe prefet tak pe dignite

& of consul, as kynd is pe, 130

117. J)at sad. 123. beding.

XLVI.—ANASTACE.

& lat na foly }>e our-ta,

bot sacrifice to godis ma ! ” grisogonus til hyme ca« say:

“ in thoc/zt I honours a god ay,

Fol. 369 3. & virschepe hyme in hart I sal,

& honours in my dedis al,

& honoure sal I neuire man?

]?ame ]?at symulacrz's are,

& dewilis )>at \a\m duellzV in;

& wil ]?u thole me, ore ]>o\i blyne,

I sal ]?ame brak in powdzr smal,

for I }>ame wary, & euire sal.

& }>e pouer^ }>u hichtis me,

& )>e gret state & dignite

I refuse & forsakis ay,

as vndire my fet I do clay. ” ]?ane fellone dyocliciane

gert grisogonus be tane,

& gert sone cute his nek in twa,

for sacrifice he ne wald ma.

jet anastace had madynis thre,

]?at vald for na necessyte

lefe hire; & [ane] wes agyne,

thyonia J>e todir ]?ene,

}?e thryd of J>ame yrenen hicht;

Jiai smiit god at al bare mycht.

& }>e prefet, for \a\ var ji«ge,

gert bame thre al hyme bri;zg,

& cowmawnd bame to sacrify.

bot playne “nay,” bai sad in hy,

for bai for hyme & vthire nane

vald leif be treutht [bat] bai had tan.

bane in dyspyt gert he

bame put in presone al thre.

& anastace bad bame by,

143. & ]?u.


& J>ame to serwe ves ful besy.

& }>e presone, quhar^-in ]pai

var, ner£ }>e kechine lay,

& in it for to kepe vmquhile

of kechine ves vtensel. 170

& ]>o J>at place ves lacht & myrk,

jet god cane his mychtzr wirk,

& of his my^t mad it schenand,

& confort J’ame vitA angel sang.

& for J^ire thre ver farly fayr^, 175

]^e prefet yddire had repan;;

bot as he to J>ame cu/«yne wes,

his tho^t changit in sic wodnes,

}>at, quhene he thocht til ewbrase

or til kyse, as his wil wes, 180

pottw or pa^nis vald he hynt

in arrays & kise, or he stynt.

& as he wend he had done Fol. 370 a. til his wenyng Inuch, al-sone

fra ]?at place }>a« vald he ga, 185

raggit & rent & blak alswa;

sa ]>at ]}ai ]>at bad hyme ]?en

beout ]>e dur^, cuth hytn noc/it kene,

bot erar vend he had bene

a vod ma«, fra ]?ai [had] hym sene; 190

for-]n dispytuisly vald )>ai

dyng hyme, & put hym a-way.

J>ane to ]>e emperoure to ga

he dressit hyme, his playnt to ma

J>at me# had done hyme sic Inimv?. 195

bot, or he to ]?e empmmn?

mycht cume, me# jet sare hyme dang,

sume \ith scurgis, & sum with wand,

& sume in-[to] his face vald spyt,

& vthir su#* [kest] richt ful dryt, 200

& su;# mony sar buffet


Fol. 370 b.

218, ]>arft

one his face ful sadly set;

for al ]>ai ]?at hym had sene,

vend brane wod he had bene.

& vi't/i al }ns sa blynd ves he,

Jjat he myc/it r\ocht hyw-selfe se,

bot as [to] his awne syok

he ves rycht cumXy, fare, & brycht.

& }>e fend quhaw he had

lang smht, sic reward hym mad.

nor/^t-^ane gret sorow can he ma

}>at herd hym syne defoulit sa.

as [it] ves tald hym eftir sone

)>at }>ai thre madywnis it had don

be wichcraft & sorcery, hare-for he spoylit paim in hy,

pat he mycht nakit se pare flesch

quhar-in his sufferane delit ves.

&, as he vend mak pa\m hare

of par clething, ferly fel pare;

for pai wald nomam a-way twyne

J>ane suld haf done pare awne sky«, sa mocht pai be naway

fra pare bodys be tane away,

sa }>e prefet for abasing,

fast routand fel oh slepyng,

& sadly slepand lay stil,

for ocht me« mycht do hyme til;

& his frendis pat of hym rocht,

sa slepand til his Inys hy;« hrocht.

quhe« dyoclisiane ]?ene herd

hou with dulycius it beferd,

ane erle, callit sir cycy«y[u]we, til his presens he gert cume,

&Xbad he suld but pyte ger sla pai wrginis al thre.

229. hym wxocht. 232. hou it with.

205

210

215

220

225

230

235

233. cycymyne.


cycinius J?ane in til yre

of dry maters gert mak a fire,

& J>er thre mady^nis he gert cast in,

venand in haste J^ai suld bryne.

bot ]mi ]w-in bad but merryng

of clathis, of corse, or of vthz> thing,

bot jald ]>e saulis to god of hewyzz,

J>at }>ame reschauyt vz't/z angel stewyzz

]?e empez'oure, ]?at fellon wes,

til a prefet gef anastace,

til haf hire til his vvyf frely,

gyf he mycht gere hire sacryfy.

J>e prefet bar-of ves rycht blyt/z,

& had hire til his chawmzr suyt/z,

& becuth hir til enbrase;

bot he ]?e sycht tynt in J>at place,

til his fals godis J>azz went he,

to consal J>aizzz gyf he mye/zt be

recouerit of his maledy.

& ]?ai jald hyme ansuere in hy:

“for bu grewit anastace nov,

til vs but bad gewine is ]m>

to duel wz‘t/z ws but end in hel,

& euire thole tormezzt cruel.”

his smiand[is] led hyzzz hame baw>

& in his house as he wane,

he jald be gast but abad,

as his mawmentzk hyzzz tal[d] had.

& til ane vthir prefet, as he wes

ded, gefine ves anastace,

bat gert hire in presone do.

&, quhene It wes tald hyme to

]zat scho wes riche habuzzdandly,

he sad hir til al prewely:

“ cz'z’stine womazz gif wil be,

244. reschouyt.


}m mon do as god byddis ]?e, }>at sais : ‘ he }>at renu«cis no^t

til al }>at he has, he ma nocht

my discipil ony way be.’ 275

]?are-for gif al }n gud to me.

bot }>u renunce til al ]n gud,

l^u sfruis hyme no<r/rt ]>at deit on rud,

for god in his ewa«gel sais treuly

Fol. 371 a. ‘na man ma twa lordis smie;’ for-]?i 280

]ju ma oocht here serue to riches

& als to ]u god wft^ besynes. for-]n renunce al \ix.h gud wil,

& ]>[ god sa ]>u ma serue til.”

sad scho: “sutht is, god bad 285

sel al )>e gudis }>at I had,

& gif pure me«, & noe^t ryk;

& }>at ]?u poure be, is nor^t lyk;

J>ar-for, gif ocht I gyf }>e to,

aganis godze byding I suld do.” 290

J>e prefet ]>an gert bynd hir faste,

& in a depe presone caste,

]>at scho suld duel but drink or mete,

or ellis oc/it mye/zt hir refete,

bot god send til hire theodase,

]>at twa moneth befor slane ves,

& fed [hir] ]>ar of hewinely fud,

}>at naman wist hou it ves gud.

syne ves scho put in exile

of palmaryas in ane He,

witA twa huzzdre verginis clene;

& fand fele pare ]>at had bene

in exile lang for cristzV sak,

in fasting, prayere, & in wak.

eftire )>at be prefect al

of be pz'essone til hyme gert cal,

284. pi gud.

295

300

3°S


& befor [hyme] a gret fire mak,

& anastace band til a stak,

& brynt hire in-[to] poudz> smal;

& syndry of ]>e lawe w/t^-al 310

be sen? paynis he put to ded.

bot ane \axe ves in-[to] ]?at sted,

}>at tynt had gud[is] in plente

for cristis sak, bot ay sad he:

“ cn'ste sal na ma« fra me ta, 315

for payne, passione, na for wa.”

jet }>ane sone apolyna

]?e cors of anastace can ta,

& in hir jard gert it enter*?,

of gastly loy vith gret alfere. 320

& eftir []mt] son scho gert wirk

one hir grawe a costlyk kirk,

quhar-in suld merc hir vorschepe ay

in lowe of god til domysday.

)?is vndir dyoclicyane 325

ves done, quhe« of god war gane

twa hundre auchty & sevvine Jem

Fol. 371 b. eftir pat cryst our*? flesch tuk her*?,

pane pray ve to sanct anastace,

pat to serwe god pis besy ves, 330

pat scho mak ws hyne to twyne

but de/, schame, or dedly syne.

311. to sere. 332. ded.

XLVII.—EFFAME.

FFAME, }>at ves fare of face,

a senatoure dochtir ves

of rome xvft/i )>e best of ane.

in tyme of dioclesyane,

quhen scho saw hou cnstine men

one syndry wys var torment ]?ene,

to }>e lug ]?ane of }>e ton

scho sped hire, J>o he ves fellone,

& one hye voice sad hyme to,

]?at cristis s^ruand hal ves scho,

& syne to crist sic vitnes bare,

]?at hartw of fele, J>at }>an var

red for of payne J>e bittzVnes,

scho stren^Ait of hire stedfastnes.

& as \a\. lug had put of lyf

mony cristine successiue,

he prayt J?ame ]>at lifand war,

thru paynis ]>ai saw me« thol }>ar.

bot eufame, ]>at sic payne sene had,

abasit ves nathing, na red,

bot ay ]>e mare stedfast ves scho

J>e hardare payne ]>ai jed to, & cryit one []?e] lug lang,

]>at he did hire mykil wrang.

10

IS

20

i. First letter wanting. 14. strenjeit.

5. quhen schaw hou. 18. he saw.

VOL. II. 2 D

4i8 LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.

J>ane sperit he at hire son 25

quhat wrang he had hir don,

& blyth ves, wenand in hy

}>at scho come for to sacrify.

J^ane sad scho : “ me^ wele vat

of my kine J>e noble estate, 30

& I ame knawine in pis ton

vz'tA pe best vpe & done;

pane [quhy] pe iolk of symple kine

& vnknawine p/s ton withine

befor me sendis pu to tak crone 35

of crist for med of his passion,

& me deferm for to wyne

pe loy pat my delyt is in ? ”

pe lug sad: “ I wend pu

to sacryfy ver cuwzyne nov 40

& til haf reutht of pi jouthed,

Fol. 372 a. sa to turment pu noe/zt ^ede.”

<\uod scho: “par-for I come noe/zt,

bot erar to thole is my thoe^t.”

&, for scho cane sic ansuere ma, 45

pe lug son gert hir ta,

& in a myrk pressone hz> lay.

& one pe morne quhezz it ves day,

vnbundine gert hir cuzzz pare

ymang pame pat bundyzz var sar. 50

& as scho come til his presence,

scho cozzzpleynit of pe gret offence

pat he did hir agane pe law,

of pe empez-oun? hafand nazz aw,

for he let hir vnbuzzdine gang 55

& nane vthir. pat callit scho wrang.

pane gert he buffit hir ryzvk sar<?,

& led to presone but ony mare,

& folouyt hir, beand in wil

31. I come. 33. fow of.

XLVII.—EFFAME. 419

his lykine viih hir til fulfil. 60

& starkly scho v/ta-stud ay,

for ocht J>at he cuth do or say;

for god his handw \&n sa dyrAt,

hat to force hir he had na myo$t.

]?ane trewit he wele but wene 65

hat enchantit he had bene;

for-hi he send his Stewart rath to gif hir gud & hicht hir bath,

for alkine slyest to wyne hir wil,

his hasty lykine til fulfil. 70

& as he come to he pressone,

xycht hare he fel done,

&, ho he had he keys bxoc/it

\ith hyme, duris opyn he [ne] mocht,

na \\Tith hamem na ax brek, 75

for al he moofa do or spek,

ho he pressit neuz'r sa faste.

& hyme assaylit at he last

a feynd, hat gert hym rare & cry,

& ryfe hyme-self dispituisly; 80

sa hat scantly vit/i he lyfe

he eschapit hat fele strife,

hane wes scho of preson tane,

& one a rond quhele set on ane,

foul of colis red bryrcnand ; 85

& he hat mad it, ves staraiand

vith-m it, & be a takine tacht

Fol. 372 b. as hai suld torment vz'th al macht;

hat ves, as he suld book withine,

to draw fast suld hai begyne, 90

for hane he gret fir suld brek oute,

61. strakly. 70. After this verse 61 and 62 are repeated—

& starkly scho wz't/z-stud ay for ocht Jjat he cuth do or say.

74. duris opynit he nocht. 75. na ax brak. 89. knot.


& bryne }?e madyne bane & route.

& he })at in J>e quhele bad

as he had al redy mad,

J»e Irne of his haund ca« fal,

quhar-w/bfc he suld turne wz't/z-al;

& ]?ai ]?at vtrely var but vvene,

vend }?e taki« it had bene,

& drew fast at al Jwe macht

J>e quhele a-bout, as he paim tacht.

& hyme }>at closyt ves J>ar-in

in askis smal it can son bryne;

bot eufame, J>at stud on ])e quhele,

god haile kepit ilke deile,

na }>e fyre deryt hir na-thing.

}>ar-of scho jald til god lofing.

be kyne bane of bat crafty man,

bat in be quhele brynt ves bane,

a gret fir mad a-bout be quhele,

hir to bryne venand wele.

bot as be quhele ves brynt avay,

ane angel come but delay,

& set hir one a hil one hicht,

& held hir hale thru godzk myr/zt.

in ]?at place wes bane ane,

bat callit ves appelliane,

bat to be lug son cane say

bat “ bai bat are of cr/stine lay

bot be yrne ma nocAt be

ourcuz/zyne; barefor I cozzsel be

bat bu hire nek gere strik izz twa.”

fele of bame bane cazz ledfris ta,

to bring hire sone fra bat hicht,

quhar scho lofit godis myz^t;

&: as bai had be ledms set

fra of be hicht hire to get,

XLVII.—EFFAME.

he }>at wes mast in gud wil, his handis for to strek hir til,

ves sa tane of parlesy,

]?at as half ded stil ca« he ly. & ymang vthire ane ]?are ves,

)>at to name had sostynes,

}>at til clyme til hir presit fast,

& ves conuertyt at last,

& askit hir pardon e mekly,

syne hynt a swerd in hand in hy, & to he lug sad, hat he

Fol. 373 a. had levvar w/t/2 hat suerd slane be

hane he wald hand one hir lay,

hat godis angel kepyt ay. 3et he lug, fel & fere,

gef byding til a chancelere,

hat he suld haf hir hyne away;

& syne gif byding but delay,

hat Jung men, ]mr lust til fulfil,

hat madyne hai suld gang til, & trauale hir har sa lang,

til scho failyt hame ymang.

& quha erast come hir to,

sic wawtones for to do,

saw mony madynis stand hir by

prayand to god increly;

& al hat hat sicht had sene,

be-come cristine son bedene.

he presydent pan ves ful wa,

seand hyme ourcuwnne sa;

for-hi he gert he maydy« har be tane, & hangit be he hare.

& for scho har-of rocht na-thing,

he gert hir in pressone thring

sex dais but ony fude

138. vit/i lewar with.

421

130

135

140

MS

rSS

160


of met or drink to do hir gud.

& eftm? sone ]?e sewynd day,

betweine four stanis gert hir lay,

& pressit hir, to do hir pyne,

as men dois grappis of ]?e wyne.

hot ]?e angel hir kepyt swa,

]?at in na torment ves hir fra,

j>a.t }>ai stanys turnyt al

thru hir prayer in povdir smal.

J>ane ves ]?e presydent ryc/it wa

a[t] a maydine oure-come hyw sa,

& had schame ]?at he ne docht for ony paynzk chang hir \hocht

}>ane he put hir in a place,

at a-bout hir vele closit wes,

& let in til hir bestw thre,

}>at var of sa gret cruelte,

]?at ]?ai wald ryf & swely sone

mane or best but ony hone,

bot god ]>ai best/r mad sa mek,

]?at ]?ai fel al thre til hir fet,

& faynand hir bare tabs knet,

& as a chean? bar-on hir gert set,

& scham/t sa be presydent

ful gretumly in his entent.

bane come a turmentoure sone,

Fol. 373 b. for to tak wrake for-owtyne hone

of hir bat gert be presydent

for schame be nere-hand schent;

& thrang a sword in til hir syd,

& mad a slope, depe, & wyd,

& sa to god mad a martyre.

to quha;« be lug, as for his hyre,

of costly gud gef a kirtil & of fyne gold a wrethe bar-til.

185. & 174. payne.

XLVII.—EFFAME.

& fra ]>a.t gif[t] he had tane,

vnese ves he of J?e place gane,

quhene a fel lyone son hyw met,

& veryt hyme but langan? let,

& rawe }>at vnese mocht

of his body be fundine ocht.

& J>is fel lug, ]?at prfscius hicht,

3et his awne flesch day & nycht,

til he hyme-self had bror/zt to ded,

of ma^nis helpe but remed.

& eftir ]?is ves sanct eufame,

}>e haly virgine of gud fame, in calsidone to sepulture

ful richely [brocht] in gret honoure.

& scho tholit sic passione

fra cristfr incarnacione

twa hundre & aucht score of jere,

as I trew wele but were.

I pray hir helpe vs sa hartly,

ve leid cure lyfe sa gud-ly,

out of }>is varld we may twy«


*

423

200

205

210

215

XLVIII.—JULIANA.

ANCT lulyane, 3et ve rede,

to ]?e prefect of Nichomede,

eulegius }>at to name had,

ves handfast; & )>o he hir bad

consent til hyme, as he callit skil, 5

be band of maryag to fulfil,

be na vay vald scho do sa,

bot he cristine treutht vald ta.

& as hir fadire herd J>at scho

vald no^t consent his wil to do, 10

he gert dispoile hir but bad

of al ]>e clathis scho one had, & w/t/2 wandis dou«gyne xycht il

til hir spouse bad gif hir til.

}>at sad til hir: “my lema« dem, 15

quhy scornis bu me, lat me here,

refusand me, & I ne wat quhy?”

Fol. 374 a. scho ansuert hyme deliuerly :

“ sa bat bu m g°d wil trew,

to do \i wil I consent now; 20

& mar gettA bu ixockt of me,

bot bu trew, & baptyst be.”

bane sad he : “ my lewmaw dem, „

bat ma I do be na manem,

1. Initial letter wanting. 8. bot J>e. 20. to do Jar.

XLVIII—JULIANA. 425

for & I did, but ony doute 25

our emperome, ]jat is sa stout,

suld send one me to ta,

& son gere strik my neke in twa.”

J^ane sad scho til hym: “ gyf }>at }>u

]n varldis lord sa dredis nov, 30

J>at dedly is & mone away,

]?ane byrd me wele my lord dred ay, ]>at is vndedly, & sal deme al

eftir oure dedis, gret & smal.

do furth ]?are-for J>at lykis }>e, 35

for ]?u sal neu/r dissawe me.”

J>ar men bane dang bir sam,

syne hangit hir be be har^ half a day, & moltyne led

he gert jet a-pone hir hed. 40

& as he saw bat hurt hir no^t,

che/mys of yrne son var wroc/zt;

bar-v/t/z stratly scho ves bundine,

& syne in a pressone thrungine.

& as scho ves bar alane, 45 for to fand hir pe feynd has tane

be schape of angel, of his myofo,

& come til hir, schenand ly[ch]t,

& sad til hir: “ lulyane,

of god ane angel I ame ane, 50

& send me for to monest be

bat, or bu forthire tormezzt be,

bat bu til god[is] sacryfy.”

&, helpand god, scho vest in hy -

bat it wes sathane, hir fe/ fa, 53

bat hir bane entysyt sa;

& gretand to god, scho cazz pray

deuotely, & busgat say:

“lord of hewine, I pray to be

33. & sal dred al. 48. lyt. 53. hir fet.


J>u thole me no^t tynt be, 60

bot schew me quhat he is,

J>at in }>is wyse me entysis.”

a voice ]?ane come til hir [al]-sone,

& bad hir tak ]?at wik sprit sone,

& hyme vndir hir fet lay, 65

quhat pat he ves to gere hy;« say. Fol. 374 i. he wykit spryt bane son scho lacht,

as godis voice hir tacht,

& quhat he ves at hym can frane.

& he sone sad hir a-gane: 70

“ I ame a feynd; to dissawe b^

sathane, my fadire, here send me

in bis forme, dissawand pe.”

3et sad lulyane but delay:

“quha is bi fadire, bu me say!” 75

quod he: “belzebus, I-vvis,

of feyndis al pc fadire is,

bat send[is] vs to do He;

& quhene we do noc/it all hzr wil,

he germ dynge ws schreuytly, 80

& cure al maste fellonly

quhene we thole vs in ony gre

of crzstine man ourcuz/zine be.

bare-for wat I wittzVly,

bat for my sorow here come I, 85

sene I mycht nocht ourecume be,

bot tholis me ourcuzwine be.”

sad scho: “ quhat fleis Jw mast

of be cristine, pu tel in hast,

& in quhat tyme lest gref je may 90

to cristine mezz” scho bad hyzzz say.

sad he: “ ferrest fle we bane,

& lest greuis cristine man

in tyme of mes of haly kirk,

69. pat hyzzz. So. dyngis.

XLVIII.—JULIANA. 427

to lowe god quha beis noc/it Irk,

& quhene prayers or preching

Is sad of god in-to lowing,

or vthir quhar J>at increly

men s^mis god deuotely;

bot ome al tyme }ja« ar ve schent,

quhar tretyt is ]?e sacrament

of godis body at altam burd,

J?at prest/r Jsar mak/r be h/r vord ;

for we mon obey bar-til,

& it honours agane oum wil.”

bane lulyane hy;« hynt in hy,

& xit/i bat chenje hyme band stratly,

bar-with ba hir bundy« had,

& fast dang one hyvz but bad

bat al hir rayclit ful increly,

til bat bat feynd fast can cry

one hir but cesyng ay on ane:

“ haf of me mercy, lulyane ! ”

bane eftir into lytil space, Fol. 375 a. be prefect, bat fellon wes,

of lulyane ]>a\. had gret thocht,

of pressone bad scho suld be hrocht.

bane brocht scho furth in hir hand

be fel feynd bundine in a band,

bat cryit one hir euim in ane:

“haf mercy of me, lulyane,

& ger me no mam scornyt be,

bo bu sic mastry haf of me !

for I haf tynt al my powers

ony cristine for til dem.

& cristine, I hem wele say,

ar commonly nwcyful ay,

& ba of me has pyte nane !

mercy ! mercy ! lulyane ! ”

no^t-bane, scho drev hym to be ton,

95

100

i°5

no

II5

120

125

130


& in a depe gausk kist hy;« done,

]?at ves a ful foule pyt,

ryo&t vgly & ful ves It.

}>ane cane he xychX. rudly rare,

& sad; he had schame fer mare 135

Jmt woma«, ]?at be kynd wes

brukij bath of mynd & flesch,

had schamefully hyme ourcu»/y« \an,

J>ane it had bene ony mane;

for quhe« he ne moe/zt eschewe 140

to wyne man, he beguth at ewe;

for-]u he wend sa he moe/zt

lulyane [haf] in funding brocht.

}>e prefect ]>an gert lulyane

til his presence bring one ane, 145

& speryt quhat craft scho oysyt,

]mt hyme & his sagat dyspisit.

scho sad, na craft it wes,

bot god gef hir tholmodnes,

}>at of his paynis scho ne rocht— 150

in god sa scho set hir thoc/it.

quod he: “ jet pn>we sal we

gif J5u ma ourcu;«ine be.”

a quhele pan he gert sone dycht,

rycht awful to mams sy^t, 155

& one hit gert hir be done,

& stent hir }>ar-one but hone

v/t/z cordis stark one like syd,

til bath ]>e flesch raf & pe hyd,

& syne hir banys sa to-quassyt, 160

J>at ]:>e self merch out passyt. -

Fol. 37S b. bot god his angel til hir sende,

til comfort hir & til amend,

]?at brak ]?e quhele in peczir smal,

& mad hir [hale] & sond at al. 165

141. pat ewe.

XLVIIL—JULIANA. 429

]mne J?ai J>at saw ]ns [}>ar] aboute,

of godis aw had sic doute,

]mt fele of ]mme ]>e feynd forsuk,

& to god & his treutht J>ai;« tuk.

& ])at tyme war hedyt bene

in place fywe hu«dre me«,

& eke twa hundre & thretty

of wemane bat var sta/mand by.

& to bai al god gef be crone

of martirdome for bar wardone.

jet mycht bis no^t suffice til

bat presydent, bat wes sa 11,

bot gert set in til his yre

a mykil pot a-pone be fyre,

& gert melt it ful of leyd,

& kaste hir in atoure be hed.

bot be fel payne [hir] grew/t noofct,

bot as a bath as hir thoofa.

be prefect bane his godw smal

varyt, & ba«nyt tnir bame al,

bat moc/it r\ocht [ger] for al bar myc/it a lyng madine to ded be dy<r//t,

na jet to ger punys hir sa,

bat scho hir purpos suld fal fra,

& wytand wele syne how scho

sa mykil wrang had don )>a.\m to.

jet thoc/it he r\ocht, neuim-be-les,

to fulfil bam wikitnes,

& bad his tormentom hir led

a-way, & strik of hire hed.

& as bai var w/t/i hir ga«[g]and, be selfe feynd, scho furth dang, -

in be fygure come in hy

of a jung ma«, & fast ca« cry,

& sad: “ se, je spam hir no^t

176. sufficice. 187. Jynd.

170

r7S

180

185

190

x95

200


]?at gret wrang til ^our godzir wror/zt;

& me )ns nyc^t scho has fel dozzgine,

& in a foule pyt me thru«gyne !

foi'-}4 gyf hir hir warjeld nov, or mykil mare scho sal hourt 3011.”

}>ane lulyane kyste vpe )>e e,

quhat he ]?at vas, for to se,

)>at to J>e puple sa-gat spak,

& set one hir sa mekil lak.

J»ane ]?e feynd fled in hy,

& rarand roydly he can cry:

Fol. 376 a. “ alace ! alace ! me wrech maste !

I dout scho sal tak me in haste,

& bynd me, & bete me ful sare.”

sa fled he but ony mare.

]?ane band ]?ai hir in ]mt sted,

& in hast strak of hir heide.

& hir kyne, bat var myc/ztty,

gert mak hir sepulture in hy,

quhar eftire in-to lytil space '•

a costlyk kirk til hir mad ves. ]?ar god vvirkis for hir nov

ferlys fele to gere men trew,

of al seknes giffand remed

to bame bat sekzif in bat sted

til worschipe god in entent,

& kene to quhaz/z sic grace he lent.

& als sone as lulyane

out of bis present lyf ves tane,

be prefect passit to be se,

to pas oure; bot son wes he drownyt, & foure & thretty mezz,

bat his smiandzir var as for bene.

& al war caspne thru be storme,

bath he & his, one be morne

in a forest be be se-syd.

205

210

215

220

225

230

23S

XLVIII.—JULIANA.

pare wild bestw }>at tyd

come, & jet paiw al sa clene,

]?at mare of pabn ves nochx. sene,

sanct lulyane, }»at ourcow her^

fele paynis in tholmod chere,

& ves neufr-Jje-les s<ruand

leile to god, I talc one hand,

for )>e desert J>at J?u can ma

to god, pat J^e a-wansit sa,

to god of hewine ]?u pray for me,

J>at I ma sa worthy be,

ovt of ]?is lyf pat I ma twyne

but schame, deit, & dedly syne.

XLIX.—TECLA.

JWENE paule prechit godis vord,

]jat befor al it had in hurde,

It hapnyt hyme p<rcase to cume

to }>e tone of yconyum.

Jjane onesiphorus herd say, 5

]?at to pat ton paule [come] pe vay;

vkh wyf & barnys he hyme met,

& til his Inys son hyme _/eit,

& hyme resawit in blythnes,

Fol. 376 (5. & mad feste to mar & les. 10

& sone eftire paule mad s^rmone

til al pat til here hyme var bone;

& of pis tale pe pwprete

ves mast pat tyme of chast[it]e.

& as he here-of prechand ves, 15

be pe wyndou hapnyt sit pfrcace

a damycele, pat to name

tecle [had], of ful gud fame,

& dochtyr ves to theody,

& handfast to thawmary. 20

& fra scho herd paule preche

godis word & pe folk teche,

at pat wyndou scho set stil

til he prechit pe puple til, & for nocht vald part away, 25

1. Initial letter wanting. 8. seit.

XLIX—TECLA. 433

bot set stil bath nycht & day.

}?ane angrely come thamar«x, hir spouse, til hir, & sad }>us :

“tecla, quhat thing amowis }>e,

J?at haj na schaw to byd fra me? 30

for-}>i to me ]?u tvvrne in hy

& lewe al sic verray foly! ”

bot quheTz he saw he sped nathing

for hir enculje or entysing,

to J>e praxmsul he 3ed sone, 35

& tald hyme al he had done.

J?ane }>e proconsul gert but man?

sanct paule be brocht bym rycht ]?ar^

& tecla als he gert be bror^t,

]?at come vith a loyful tbockt. 40

& as paule come of presone,

]>e puple cryit wft^ hye sone :

“quhy lettw ]?u wemen to be

maryt wit/i men in ]us cyte ? ”

J>ane tecla spak na word ]>a.n, 45

bot beheld paule, }>e haly ma«.

hir modire ]?ane, theodya,

J>at saw hir douchtzV stil stand sa,

Cryit loud, ]?at al mycht here:

“ tak my douchtz’r & bryne hir here, 50

J>at al wemazz ensampil ma ta ]?us Jzare spouse to pzzz-t fra! ”

jet ves J>e pwconsul Jzazz wa,

J>at J>ane sa cz-zyit theodya;

& gert paule of }>e cyte dizzg, 55 Fol. 377 a. & tecla eftir furth gert bryng,

)>at scho suld brynt be but bad,

as hir modire }?at dome giffine had;

& to )>e place vent, or he stynt,

quhar tecla J>ane suld be brynt. 60

30. >at had. 34. for hir. 58. & hir modire. VOL. II. 2 E


& w/t6 hyme vent mony, to se

hou tecla suld brynt be.

& befor al hir spouse ca« ga,

)?at to name had thamyra,

to se J>e fyre, to here J>e wod; 65

for to se hir bryne sa, tho<rAt he gud.

& quhene scho dispoilit wes

of al hir clathis mare & les,

til entre in ]pe fir but let,

]?e pramnsul for pyte gret 70

& of hir stedfastnes had wondire. nor/zt-^ane, of wod dry as tozmdire

Jm mad a caf, & put J>OT-in

bath pyk & tere, to ger it bryntf,

& [bad] hir clyme a-pone J>at cast. 75

& scho ]?are byding did in haste,

& bath hir armys strekyt J?ane

in fourme of croice, & syne vpe wan.

vit/i bellyse J>ai blew be fyre,

to gere it bryne in-to gret yre. 80

of hir god had sic mercy,

}>at al bat hard tremlyt in hyj

vndire & a-beofe fel done

slete & snaw in sic fofsone,

bat slokit bat fir alsone 85

as men a candel suld haf done,

be low bare-of scalyt wyd,

& syndry brynt one ilke syd;

bot tecla vist of nomare sare

bane scho wyst or scho come bare. 90

bis meyne-tyme sanct paule ves

duelland in a pr/we place,

& anesyophire al wit/i hyme

vitA wyf & barne, in-to daphyme.

72. teyndire. 73. hir in. 74. bryng. 80. to gert. 84. fasone.

XLIX.—TECLA.

& as paule }>are fastand lay

& prayand til one }>e thrid day,

]>e chyld of anesophyrus,

Jmt fastit lang, to paule sad }>us:

“ve hungire sa.re & bred has nane.

for-}>i paule has his kirtyl tane,

& gef it til ]?e barne in hy, Fol. 377 b. & bad hyme J>are-vft^ bred by,

& cume agane til hyme gud sped,

)mt he myf^t al J>e men^e feyd.

& }>are J>e bame 3ed to by bred,

he saw tecle in )>at sted, & til hir sad : “ hou now ?

sa, tecle, quhar gais ]>u ? ”

<\uod scho: “I haf of godis mycht

eschapit }>e fire ^at ves dyr/zt

to bryne me to brule & smeke, & now sanct paule I gang to seke.”

]?ane sad he: “cume vft^ me, & I

sal bryng )>e til hyme nere her by,

}?at for cause of J>e nov gretfr, 115

& vz't/2 teris his chekw wetzV,

& fastis als deuotely,

)>at god suld haf of }?e mercy.” & quhew ]?e barne had tecle brocht

to paule, he had Toy in thozr/zt, 120

&, as he saw hir face, can say:

“god, king of hewine, blissit be ay,

}>e fadire of our? lord Iheru

cryst, I lof J>e hartly nov!

for it ]?at I askit at J>e, 125

of }n grace [J?u] has grantit me,

of ]us maydine )>a.t wzt/z ]?e lyf

eschapyt has be mykil stnfe.” ]?ane sad tecle to paule rycht ]>a.re:

101. a barne. 108. sad tecle. 125. pat J)e.

435

95

100

110


“raaist^, I wil cut of my» hare, 130

&, quhar }>u passis, folou ]>e.”

}>ane sad he : “ ]?at ma no^t be,

for ]>e vedir is fel & II,

}>o ]?u to travvale be in wil;

& ]?u art als of gret bewte, 135

for-]ji ]>e far mare dred I me

J>at vthir ocupacione,

or, ma fal, temptacione

our-tak )u tho<r/;t & ger ]?e fal

fra ]?ine entent in part ore al.” 140

quod scho: “ gif me al anerly

in god a takine, quhar-in I

a-gane temptacione ma stand ! ”

J>ane he hir blissit w/W his hand.

]?ane paule send onosophoruw 145

& [his] als to yoomum,

& vith tecle held his way

til antioche but delay,

as )>ai in J?e cyte \a.n come,

a man, }>at sandr/k had to naw, 150

& of pat ton ves pe ourmaw,

fra he had sene tecle pane,

Fol. 378 a. he luffit hir ryr^t increly;

& pane in til gret hy

in his armys hynt hir sone. 155

& scho, pat thor/d it II done,

cryit hye: “ supprice me noc/it,

na haf noc/it foly in-to ihocht!

for godis s^ruand nov ame I,

of pe best kine of ycomy, 160

& for I wald with na ma« wed,

I ame fled out of pat sted.”

& for he vald nocht lewe pane,

his mane in hir hand scho wa«,

145. sad. 146. sesomium.

XLIX.—TECLA. 437

& rawe of it a gret part done, 165 & of his heid kist it done son.

]?is ma« )>a», suppos ]?at he

hir luffit in-to sic degre,

he wes eschamet no^t-for-Jn;

& to }>e pwconsul went in hy, 170

& hir as sacnlege be-tacht

to ]?e pwconsul, }>at son hir lacht,

& fraynit gif scho sic trespas

had done, & gif scho crzstine ves.

& for scho grantit al )>is sone, 175

J>e consul bad J?ane but hone,

}>at fele bestfj suld losit be

til wery hir, }>at al my^t se;

& J>ar-to set a certane day.

]?ane tecle cane hym mekly say, 180

J>at he vald thole [hir] for to be

kepit in virginite,

na thole na man do hir vnryr^t,

quhil scho suld wit A J>ai bestzV fy^t.

a michty wyf }>a«, triphena, 185

cane tecla ]?ane in ^emsel ta; & hire douchtfr apperit hir til

in slepe, J>at callit ves falcinil,

& sad : “ modire, in name of me,

tak tecla, & hir modire be, 190

sa scho be oure aduocat

anence god, til amend oure stat! ”

tryphena pan }us madine lacht,

& did rycAt as hir docht/r tacht.

}>ane eftire in }>e mornyng 195

stratoclem can tecla furth byrng;

& trypha vald nocAt part hire fra,

bot be pc hand can hir ta,

& sad: “ as my dochtzV dere

171. & he as. 182. hir kepit in.


Fol. 378 b.

212. cane by.

led to }>e grawe, sa but were 200

I sal gang \kh ]>e, for to se

hou J>e bestz'e dois with J>e.”

son ves tecla fra tryphe had,

& spoylit of hir clathis but bad,

& set in to J^e deput place, 205

}>at for sic gilt ordenyt ves;

& lattine var til hire belyfe

barys & lyownys, hir til ryfe.

& ymang ]?ai bestfe ves

richt stark & fel a lyo«nes, 210

J?at come to teclis fet in hy,

& to kepe [hir] }>ar cane /y.

}?ane come a fel bar in }>e sted,

tecla to ryfe, & sla stane ded;

bot sone ]?e lyones hir met, 215

& slaw bar but langare let.

syne come a lyone fel & fere

& to sla tecle nichit nere;

bot sone ]>e lyones hyme met,

& hynt in arrays for-out let, 220

& bare to-gidir facht bai bath,

til stane ded var bai rath.

quhene he saw bis mycht nor/zt awa^e,

na be bestz's vald hir nor/zt assafje,

to be consul he sad in hy: 225

“ bulys, bat ar fel, haf I;

to bame barfor tecle je bynd,

haffand hir handw fast behynd! ”

be consul sad bane witA soroful wil

to sandrz'j: “ do quhat \>n wil! ” 230

bane band bai hir fut & hand,

hand & fut pa.im ymang;

& for bazzz to gere wod ga,

3et brywnand Irne bai ca« ta,

214. stand ded. 233. to gere her wod ga.

XLIX.—TECLA. 439

& kist ymang J>e bulis son on one, 235

to gere \>a.un sla hir^ ]?ar richt sone.

& quhe# ]>e bulis be-couth to ga,

]?e fir ]>a.re bandis brynt in twa,

Jjat ]?ai ry^t mekly passit away,

& did [hir] nothire tene na tray. 240

& triphena, J>at }>is beheld,

Is slongyne far in-to ]?e feld.

)>ane al hir menje in )>at sted,

cryand loud sad, scho ves ded.

J>e consul J>ane abaisit vas, 245

& al ]?e cyte mare & les;

& sandm ves in sic effray,

'fat he fel done, & syne ca« pray

to }>e consul, J>at he suld hafe

mercy of hyme & of J>e lave, 250

& gere tecle be mad fre,

for dout l^at tynt var ]>e cyte;

“for gifcesare percace ma here

Fol. 379 a. hou tryphena, his cusing dere, in )>is manere be falline done, 255

he sal bryne vs & ]ns tone.”

J^e consul \&n gert bring hyw nere tecle, & at hir cane spere:

“quhat Jm art, tel me nov,

& \iih quhat crafte }>u delis nov, 260

]?at )>e na fel best twech ma ? ” bane til hyme mekly ca« scho say:

“ of lifand god semand ame I:

bar-for na best ma me wery.”

265 & comavnd hir to bring hir sone

hir clathis, & one \z\m ves done.

251. & gert. 253. cecasare. 264. pat for.

No break in MS.


]?ane gud confort tuk trzphena,

& blyth agane tecle cane ga,

& in armys hynt hir in hy, 270

& sad : “ nov trew I sekirly

)>at }>ai at ded ar, ryse sal. cum ]dne & bruk my gudzlr vzt/z-al! ”

}>ane Jed scho hame vztti hir ewine,

& vzt^ hir duelt dais sewine. 275

hir menje sa tacht scho jmne,

J>at fele of }>ame to god scho va».

syne to Marraw ca« scho pas, quhar sanct paule }>a« put vas,

& al J>er dedis cane til hym tel 280

per ordre ewine as J>ai fel.

& Jjar-of paule had gret ferly,

& lowit god ful increly;

& fele, J>at herd it, var ry<f/zt pare

cozzfermyt in-to cristw lam. 285

to paule pan sad scho : “ nov wil I

vzt/z pi leif pas til ycony.”

sad he: “ ga pi gat, & saw

godis vord for-out aw ! ”

pane cmtine til tecla send 290

gold & clathis, hir til mend,

til god tecla prayem can may,

& sanct paule als, for trifena. & tecle lewit a gret part ]?ene

of gold to paule, to gif poum men, 295 & held hir get til ycony,

til onosophirus herbry.

& to ]je erd fel in pat place,

quhar scho thru paule van godis grace,

& gretand, sad: “god, I loi pe, 300

>at in >is place pi licht send me ! ”

]?ane fand scho thamyruw nev ded,

288. gef )>i gat.

XLIX.—TECLA. 441

hir fadire, ]?at duelt in J>at sted;

Fol. 379 b. & hir modire thyodyane

lifand scho fand jet Jjane, 305

& hire conuertit but delay

thru hire preching to cristis fay,

& mad hin? trew ]>at pare is nane

bot mychty god of hewine alane.

& fra ]?ine to scilewcyane 310

scho went, & vztA hir mony ane,

J>at to god scho van thru semione,

& in pece endyt in pat tone,

god of hewine hir helpand,

forout end ay regnand; 315

to quhame honours & loy be

in ewire-mare tyme, p^rcheryte.

[N]ow, tecle, J>at Jus for god strafe,

& ay J>e victory cane hafe,

in hou euiK herd payne pou ]?ane 320

in fyr<?, or best tholit or mane,

& }?e \ert\a of tholmodnes,

ay kepyt in-to stedfastnes,

& with sic uertu & w/t/j ma

oure-come wele ]?i felloii fa 325 & al his wilis Ilke-dele;

als wysly as I trew J>is vele,

& pat pu. has vith god sic grace,

J>at quhat pu wil )>u ma p^ches,

vit/i hart als trewly pray I J>e, 330

J>at ]?u myn advocat vald be

to god, fra hyne pat I ma twyw


Amen, Amen, Amen, &c.

L.—KATERINE.

*•

Fol. 380 a. & sa betyd a tyme )>at he "

of Alexandir to ]?e cite

was cuwyne, for neddis J^at he had

for to do J>are; & suiorne mad;

& tuk p^rpus, sic was his will, 5

to sacr/fice his godis till.

}>ane c^rtane terme set he sone,

quhe« ]jat he wald }ns war done,

& gert sone awfull l<f//ris wryt,

& seile pawn wzt/i his seile all tyt, 10

& w/tA his messingem pawn send

of his empire fra end till end,

Wndir gret payne biddand till all

pat pai suld cume, bath gret & small,

at certane tyme richt to pat place, 15

pat in his \ettns callit was,

bath poun? & Rik, one par best wise,

till mak till ydolis sluice;

& cr/stine pat wald nocht do swa,

but pitte tho^t he for to sla. 20

[TJhane all J’ai folk bath feri? & nere,

pat of sic cowmawndme^t mycht here,

till Alexandir but delay

* The beginning is wanting.

L.—KATERINE. 443

Come apone }>at cetane day.

& he in }>at tyme gert mak place, 25

quhar all J?e folk, }>at eu/> Jâr was,

he mycht seit opynly and see

euire-ilke mane in his degre,

quha sacrifice mad till hym quem,

& quha did no^t, ]?at he my^t deme. 30

Jâne he armyt was and dicht

in gold, ]?at schenand was full bry^t;

& of hey stat full mony ma«

had he about hyme sta«nand }?ane.

}>ane was gret wondir for till here 35

J>e noys, }>e raryng, & ]?e here

of noyt & schepe & menstralsy,

Jât myc/it bene hard, quha had ben by.

-fferlifull was jât offerand ]?ane,

}>at in Jât place mad mony ma«, 40

euire-ilke man in ]?are degre, of gret tresoure & gold & fee

& of alkynd of bestiale sere;

Fol. 380 b. & }>ai }?at sympill or pouz> ware,

offerit foulis, sume mare, su;« les, 45

eftire J>are stat & }>are mycht was.

In \>at tyme katrine duelling had

In till a p[a]lace, quhar pat scho bad,

of all rich and fare in ]?at cyte,

In mekill welth and nobilte, 50

as till a kingis douchtzV feryd.

& as scho herd sic noys, scho spent

quhat at it was, & send alsone

Ane, for to wit quhy it was done.

& quhe« scho wist ]>e enchesonne 55

quhy sic noys was, scho mad hir bone,

&, with full honest cumpany,

hiddir has tane hire way in hy,


&, to fend hire fra hir fa,

takine of cors cane one hz> ma; 60

& swa come to )>at place in hy,

quhar scho saw ser me« sacrify.

& ymang wthir scho has sene

sume }>at befor crz'stine had bene,

bot ]?ane, for dout )>ai had of dede, 65

mad sacrifice in-to ]?at sted.

quhezz scho saw ]?at, hir^ h<?rt was sarf;

]?ane to }>e empnbure but mare,

or Radnes, or but abaysing,

scho jed and sad til hyw : “szV king, 70

Resone requeris, and dignite

Of }>i hye stat alft wald, ]>at. we

hayliste J>e fare, -with-Yx ]?at Jm

knaw J>i malyes & wzt/z-draw now

sic s<?ruice fra Jjz’s goddis fals, 75

]?at ]?e dissawis, & ]?ame als

J>at trewis in-to stok or stane;

for ]?ar ma be na god bot ane,

J>at hewine & erth mad & all thing,

& Is but end and begyzznyng; So

throw quhaz/z all kingis rewgnis \n land,

& bot quhazzz ma na kinrik stand;

In hyme, of hyme & thnm \\ym all

has he giffine bath gret & small.

& as he mad of noo&t althing, 85

sa sail althing at his lykine

Fol. 381 a. sese and faile quhe«-euir£ he will, For ocht that mazz ma do J’are-till.”

[T]hane ansuert ])e emprz'oure,

till hir spekand with gret cur^, 9° wenand wzt/z resone to conclud

hir in hire spekine, J^at was gud;

81. thing. 84. has be giffine.

L.—KATERINE. 445

bot he awaile myckt in na thing,

hot was still. & [scho] sad : “ sir king,

to spek wit/i he his I begane, 95

wenand hu had bene a wisma»;

bot nov of co/«mu« thing will I

spek wit/i he, and askzV quhy

this multytud hu gert cum here,

but cause, of mony landis sere, 100 •r till ydolis to do honoring,

hat ma \2i\m helpe in naky« thing;

& als ]m nwwalis for to se

of ma/ns werk he sutelte,

as hu ma se in templis sere, 105

hat craftly ar wro^t & clere,

schenand thru gold & polist stanys,

hat in pra:esft of tyme sone wanys;

. for nedlingfr faile mo# althing

hat of his erth has begy#ny#g. no

bot hu suld moyse here & mmvall,

of hewine & erth, h#t ma no^t faile,

& se, [&] all hat ar in hame,

& sone & mone & planettw plane—

of he enhourme#t/r all of hewy# 115 \ou suld nrerwale, & sternys sewine,

how, fra \h warld war mad, ]>at hai

has smut god bath r\ycht & day,

& [in] hare stat cuir ar hai stabill,

dowand hare deit, wncoruwpable. 120

be-hald his weile, & hu sail se

quheh*V" is master, god or he hat makis he thing h^t ma nocAt lest,

sene warldly thing ma neuir be fast,

& all ydolis of stok & stane 125

mone nedling rot, & wast, & wane;

hane suld hu weile persawe & see

101 and 102 are transposed in the MS. 116. |>at.

446

Fol. 381 b.


}>at lyk to god ma na thing be;

& gyf ]>\i ma consawe ]>/s thing,

]?u honour hyme as suthfast king! 130

for he is god of goddis all,

& verray lord of gret & small.”

bane quhe« scho had disputit lang

•with maxens in bat mykill thrawg

of crfstis incarnacione, 135

& syne of his assumpcione,

& all be wark/j bat he dide

for ma« in-to bis ^erd, or kyd,

maxens abaisit a quhile sat still,

& syne b*8 sad be madine till: 140

“ ffaire woma«, thole, quhill we haf do«

b/s sacr/fice, & syne alsone

oure answere we sal/ jeld to be.” & in be me^tyme cowmaund ho

till his palais hir for to led, 145

& treit hir weile in word & deid,

& kepe hir -with gret deligence;

for he ferlyit of hir prudence

& of hir wondire gret bounte,

bat was richt ferlyfull to se; 150

& with bat richt hire fare haffi«g

ekit hire bounte in gret thing.

[S]owne eftin? bat be empr/or

till his palace with gret honour

Come, And gert bryng hy;« katnne, 155

& hailiste hir and sad byre syne:

“bi fan? spek half we herd haly, & of bi prudence has ferly,

bot, for bat we occupyd ware

In sacrifice of goddis sere, 160

we vnd/rstud nocht all bi taile;

143. said. 144. J>e.

L.—KATERINE. 447

bot now we will }>u tell ws haile,

quhar ]?u was borne, & of quhat kyn

]>at J>u come, tell ws mare & myn ! ”

)>ane answert scho, & sad: “catone 165

forbad his sowne in his lessone

To law hyme-self or lof gretly;

for, quha at swa dois, dois foly.

yhet }>ane I sail tell ]>e my kyne,

bot noofct for pryd na lowe to wyne, 170

Fol. 382 a. bot erer for hymylyte

I will tel of my kyne to }>e.

for-}?i, sir king, wyt }m J>at I

Ame docht/r to be king Costy,

& succedis till hyme as ayre 175

of renttA gret & landis fare;

& borne I wes in }>is cite,

And welthfully fosteryt, parde,

& seit to lare, & leryt weile;

quhar-wft^ I can persawe & feile 180

]?at ydolis ar bot dewillis all,

& mawmentt/V als, bath gret & small;

& J^at na god bot ane ma be.

Richt sone I can p^rsawe & se,

]>at is }>e god of mychtA maste, 185

be fadire, ]>e sowne, ]>e haly gaste,

a suthfast god in p^rso^nis thre;

to quhaw all hale I haf tane me,

& serwe sail hyme atoure althing,

as to my lord & soutane king. 190

for bi godis, to quhaw bat I*11

dois sic si?niice, & honoris now,

ma nothire helpe bai^-self na the,

gyf bn had grace, bu my^t weile se.

bar-for vnhappy ar bai all 195

bat mams warkA will godis call,

190. lord & sir & soutane.


J?at ma nothin in word na deide succure or helpe man in-to nede,

na agane parele mak defence.”

J>ane till hire answert )>/s maxens : 200

“maydine, gyf J>/s be suth }>u sais,

all J>is warld erris mony wais;

& suthfastnes sais }?u allane.

but suthtwitnes suld no^t be tane

bot in J>e mowthis of twa or thre; 205

quharfor men suld no<r/zt trew to ]>e,

suppos )>at ]m ane Angell ware

or hewynly uertu in ]?e bare;

bot mekill les jeit suld me;z trew

a brokill woma« as is ]m.” 210

Fol. 382 A [TJhane sad scho hy//z: “I pray 30U, sz>,

]?at Jju be noe/zt ourcuzzzyne wzt/z Ire;

for Ire distroblis sa the thoe^t,

J>at suthfastly deyme ma it noe/zt, Jjoe/zt he war neuire sa wyse a kyng, 215

as cattowne sais in his teching;

& }>arfor, gyf Jm king will be,

in thoe/zt lat resone gowerne J>e;

bot, be ]?e body giff ]nx will

gowerne J>e, }>u beis a thrill.” 220

J>ane sad ]?e king, “ gyf jpeu had mye/zt,

me thin^ ]m wald wz't/z venemyt slyest,

tak ws in gyrne dissatfully

thru samplis of philosophy.”

]?ane, for ]?e king persawit weile 225

]?at he resist mye/zt neuzV a dele

agane hir wyt, for-]u gert he

seyre lez'/ris pmvely mad be,

& send ]?ame sone furth here & Jzar

our all ]ze greit empyre wyd-qzz/zzzr

213. thi thoc/zt. 222. thing.

230

L.—KATERINE. 449

till all J>at had Renowne of wyt

& of fare spekine sawmyne knet, -

& cowmawndit \&\m ]?ai suld \&\m sped

till hyw, as }>ai wald haf gret med,

& honour gret, & thank, all thre, 235

of Alexandir to }>e cite.

Lrijys messingeris )~>a.n furth ar ga«,

& sped sa wele, or toir J>ai fane,

}>at fyfty masteris haf )?ai hxocht

vhh J>ame, sa wyse ]>at na maw mocht

In all ]?is warld fynd mew sa wise,

na of gret sciens haf sic gret pwz'se.

J>e emperoure }>aiwr hailist ful swyt^,

& of Ipar cuw/mywg was rye^t blyth.

J>ane spewit ]?ai bar enchesone

quhy he gert \a\tn com to ]>at towne,

& sa mony, of landis sere,

bane sad he to b^me : “ gret mystere

gert me assemble 3011 & call;

& gyf 36 here 30W weile, 3e sal

Resawe honour & pweifyt now,

as in my le#ris I wrat 30U. Fol. 383 a. here is cuwryne till our presence

a madyne of full gret prudence,

bat throw gret wit & sutelte

concludis all my mew and me,

na maw of ws had tuth na towng

to cowclud hir, ]>och\. scho be 3ounge.

for scho praffis wkh skillis sere

bat all cure goddis ar dewillis here,

& of na vnycht for till helpe maw.

ffor-bi, gyf yhe othir ma or cane cowclud hir & ourcume wft/r skill,

ffor to Reward 30U is oure will;

ffor scho is of sic sutelte VOL. 11.

240

245

250

2S5

260

265

2 F


]?at, bot gyf scho co/zcludyt be,

scho sail ]?e pupill haill gere ere,

& all oure treutht full mekill war^;

Ifor richt mony begy«nis now

throw hir in hire god to trew.” 270

}>ane ansuert ane of paim my<r^tty w/t/z gret dedizzgne dyspytuisly:

“o J>u lord of gret maieste,

quhatkine cozzsall amowit J^e

till assemble }?is mony wyse 275

of June empyrg of ser^ p«rtyse

ffor to cozzclud a madine small,

sene J>at J>e lest wis of ws all

micht haf cozzcludit hire lichtly

In science of philosophy, 280

& swa my<r^t of oure smiandis ane

a gretare wark haf wndz'rtane?” ]>e king J>an sad : “ wz’t/z strinth my<r/zt /

haf gert J>e madine sacrz'fy;

bot yhet I haf seit myzz entent 285

to cozzclud hir wzt/z argumezzt.”

J>ane sad )>e mizzzstms to J>e king:

“gere J>e madine before ws bring,

& scho for all hir gret science

sail haf na word to mak defence 290

Aganis ws, J>azz scho neuzr had bene

at scole, na jet na \ettir sene;

& sa sail all se oppynly

Fol. 383 b. hire ourcuzzzyne with sucquidry,

sa Jzat scho sail apertly say 295

scho saw neuz> wyse mazz to ]>at day.”

[A] cristine mazz has herd Jzis tale

And tald It to sanct katz-zne hale,

Quhatkine purpos J>ir mezz has tazz

266. bot scho gyf. 283. mycbtty. 299. |>hir mezz.

L.—KATERINE.

to confund hir, J>at helpe had na«.

]?ane to god hale scho hir betacht, & prayt hyme for his mykill macht,

to gif hir grace swa for to do

}>at It my^t lowing be hyme to,

& at scho mycht sic defence ma,

J>at it war senschepe till hir fa. with [bat] ane angel come hir till,

bat bad hir be of stedfast will,

for god suld gif hir wit & grace,

sa mykill, bat na# in-to bat place

Agane hir suld haf tuth na tong hir to resist, bo^t scho was Boung,

bot bat scho suld vincus^ bah« all,

& bat throw hir god suld baiwz call

of martfrdome to tak be crowne.

bane war full mony \tnychtis bone

to fesch hir; & scho come al-sone,

quhar-at be king set in his trone, with mony mudy ma« hyme by,

& ]>ir mastms, bat war fyfty.

bane sad scho swetly to be king:

“ It is noc/^t lyk till ewyne demy[n]g

for to set fyfty mastms wyse,

b«t of sic science has be price,

agane a madine hir alane;

& to bame als has vndfrtane

for to Reward paim richely,

& me bu gerris wilfully,

but hope of mede, aganis paim all strif! bot jet Ihmi crist sail

be hop & helpe & croune alswa

to me; sene bat I bis st«’f ta

for hyme, he sail weile reward me in his kinrik, quhar is lestand gle.”

313. vincust.


J>ane, hir to strenth a-ga« hz> fa, 335

J>e croce scho ca« apozz hir ma. Fol. 384 a. Ipe emp^our^ ]>ane mad defence,

for nane suld spek hot hald silence.

& quhezz sanct katrine )>er fyfty men

saw stand stane still, scho sad paim pan: 340

“gyf ony of yhow cozzsawit has ocht

aganis me in till his thor^t,

or argument, or subtilite,

quhy sais he It nor^t furth ? lat se! ”

pe wysest of paim pan but pen? 345

sad: “madine, we suld erarz? here

pe begyne to spek; for we

are cumyne here for pe cause of pe,

to her pi wit, of weile fere landis.”

}>ane hewid scho wpe bath hir handw, 350

& sad till }>ame full apertly:

“ Mastens, I will je wit pat I

Ame tacht in sacrament A sewine

of Iheju crz'st, pe king of hewine,

Richt weile; & pocAt I be sadly 355

& wele tacht in philosophy,

& als )>e sewine artA cazz all

]?at ar in scole red, gret & small,

yhet-J>ane all hale I paxm forsak,

& her till hyme I me betak, 360

]zat is souerane & leile science,

My loy, my hope, & my defence,

Iheju crzst, my lord & kyng,

^ pat bath is well & begyzzny/zg,

Throw quha/zz god pe faddzV wroe/zt 365

pe warld & alkyne thing of noe/zt,

& Is a god, of quhazzz all thing,

• Throw quha/zz, & in quhazzz, makA lestizzge,

wnsichtfull and sichtfull bedene

349. fie wit. 355. I be sudly.

L.—KATERINE. 453

bath strenth & lenthing has, but ; 370

& throw pitte, J?at in hy;« is,

quhe« mankind owt of paradice

was put throw inwy of our fa,

wnsichtfull sichtfull schape ca« ta

of ma^heide, & apperyt here, 375

ded for to thole for oure mystery

Fol. 384 b. & throw his dede wane ws to lyf

}>at euire sail lest but pane or strffe;

& swa relewit he oure neide

sichtfull in kine of oure ma«-hed. 380

he is my wit & my science,

& als a-gane my fa defence.”

& quhe« ]us madine had )>is tale

tald, as je haf hard al hale,

ane of ]?ai fyfty mastms gret 385

sayd ]?us in ire & in gret het:

“ Allace ! quhy suld J>u, lord & sir,

of Rome bat bruk/r be gret ewpyre,

A madine thole fullely b*s lang

Manteyng a-gane our godis wra[n]g, 390

Bot prechis fast of a new law,

& has na suth resone to schaw,

bat cmtine folis pr<?ssis faste

for to ger grow, & strenth, & last,

& is bot foly, na lesyng ! 395

we wend for to here suwz thing

quhar-in b^t wit had ben or slyofct,

or quhar-to bat be ansuer my^t;

for scho was reput of sic fame

till ws, or ]>at we com fra hame, 400

bat we wend na« had ben [sa] wyse,

na of clergy haf sic pr/se. & hir begyzmyng has scho mad

of ane bat Ihmi to name had,

385. & of. 386. sayand }>us. 397. quhar l>ar in J>at.


]>at of crz'stine callis god & kyng. 405

lo here a selcuth begyzznyng !

& he a deidlik man as we !

& syne for his iniquite

was tane & done to ded thn?u his !

quha mycht mare foly here \an }ns ? ” 410

sanct Katrine \an but mare abad

to J>at master sic ansuere mad:

“]?at begyzznyng of my resone

I mad of Iheru, for chesone

]?at he begyzzing is of all 415

J>at euz’r jeit was or euzr be sail,

or sichtfull or wnsichtfull th/rg;

Fol. 385 a. J»at-for he is my begyz/nyng.”

}?ane sad }>e master, 'pat was sle:

“ gyf he was god, quhow mye^t he de ? ” 420

bane ansuert bat madine brye/zt:

“he bat of noe^t althing mad, & mye^t,

schape of ma/z mye^t tak, but wene,

& swa wnsichtfull mye/zt be sene,

& he pat mye/zt noe/zt thole, deye mye/zt. 425

bot I hafif ferly of bi slicht,

bat has of wisdome sic plente,

& doutzir pat Iheru crzst suld be,

syne plato, b^t je wisest call

in science of 3ozzr doctorrzV all, 430

In his tyrz mad prebacione

of crz'stis incarnacione;

& Aristotill, his pre^teis,

Ane vthire of jozzr doctourrzr wise,

granttit wele b^t bar was ane 435

bat all thing steryt—ellis nazz— "

& throw hyz/z had bar steryng,

■& bar wphald, and begyzznyng;

& yhone sibile saug can say,

bat was sa wis in tyl hz'r day, 440

L.—KATERINE. 455

]>at god )>at hang/t one }>e tree

hye for mankind, happy is he;

& balaan spak of }>e sterne

}>at crist betakynt, in-to derne,

}>at of Jacob, J>e patr/arche, 445

suld spring, & be a king full stark.

& syne }>e wysme« of cald£

wok full lang tyme \>a\. sterne to se;

& eftire lang, J?at balan was,

of full lang tyme in praxsf, 450

thre wysmew wok ]?at sterne to se,

& war all king/x of calde, 'Ltuiia.

& It apperit to ]?ar sicht,

& was full mykill, far^, and bry^t,

& als in It ]>q fygure had 455

Fol. 385 b. of a child; and ]?ai but bad folouyt It a full fare way,

till }>at to bethleeme cuzrcine war J>ai;

& ]?ar )>ai fand his modire myld,

in till hir harme haffand ]>at child, 460

J>e schape of quhaw befor saw }>ai

in })e sterne, or J>ai tuk }>ar way;

}>ane offeryt all ]?ai thre in hy

to )>at Jung child full deuotely,

ane gold, ane sence, & myre ]>e thred; 465 & throu ]4s offerand was wele kid

]?at he wes werray god & mane,

)>at ws fra wa to welth sy« wa«.

& mony vthir argument

yhe ma weile fynd, wald 30 ta tent, 470

}>at 3oure doctoum in pwphecy

has spokine of god full opywly.

for-J>i me thin^ richt wele ]>at 3c

suld kene J’at bot a god suld be,

\at mad & mowis alkine thi/zg, 475

461. sad J>ai. 466. his offerand. 473. me thing.


& has na« end, na na« begy«ny[n]g.

hot wise ma« call I ca« hym na«,

-with i/zgnorance J>at is oure-tane.

say yhe now furth quhat-eu/r 30 will,

for to cowclud me with yhou[r]e skill! ” 480

}>ir masteris pan held paim stan still,

& il^ane gowit wthir till,

& say abaysit pan war pai

pat pai had na word for to say.

[T]he empn'ourg pan chawgz't his mud, 485

& of his vit 3ed ner^-hand vod,

& one his masteris rarit rath,

& }>ame reprawit & blamy[t] bath,

& sad till ]?ame dispitouysly:

“o yhe werches & wnworthi, 490

J>at hazf sic naz/z & sic renone

of science, or 30 com of towne,

pat men wend wisest 3c had bezz

Jzat to ]zis tyme war hard or sen,

Fol. 386 a. & has na resone nov, na skill 495

A word to spek ]zis madine till,

bot standis still, & ar abaysyt,

& has me sodandly betrasit,

& tholis 30W ourcuzzzyne be

of katz-zne, in disses of me ! ” 500

of pai mastms ane, pat was mast,

]zus to ]ze king ]?azz sad in hast:

“ sz> king, we walzf weile J?at }>u wit,

bo[t] thu throw resone or thru wit

ger ws man? clerly kene & se 505

pat na richt, na na lacht ma be

sa gud as ]ns, we will richt now

lewe pat lacht pat we ay can trew,

& trew J’e law pat katz-z’ne schawis;

482. illane gowit. 491. >at has. 503. we war.

L.—KATERINE. 457

for It fare betir }>a« our law is. 510

ffor )jar was na[n] sa wis Jmt my chi,

]>at madine Jong halfand sic slyr/zt,

hir wyl defend hir lacht, ]>at ne he

suld with gud resone vincust be. for we ar wondent for till here 515

how ]?at in-to ]us m[a]dine clere

}>e sprit of god sa spelm ay,

J>at we can nocht agane hir say,

syne J>at we first had herd hir tale,

bot turnis ws to crzst all hale, 520

& fals mawmentzr forsakis ay,

]>at in-to ned helpe na man may.”

]?ane was J?e emy>ero\ire full way,

quhezz he hyme saw ourcuwzine swa,

& swa enflawmyt thru gret Ire, 525

]?at he richt sone gert mak a fyre

In )?e myddis of ]>e cite,

quhar all ])e folk myc/zt one It se,

& all ]>e mastz’ris bad tak sone,

& bundine in ]>e fyre be donp. 530

)>ane ca;z ]fir mastms sa^iny« say:

“A, swet katrine, for ws }>u pray Fol. 386^. till Ih«u criste, ]?at hang one tre,

in quhame we trewly trew [thru] ]>e,

And of }>is fyre ]>e felone deide 535

of baptyme standis ws in sted,

our ignorance forgiifand now,

for trewly all in hyme we trew.”

Ipane scho enformyt \awi sa wele in cmtine treutht euir[i]lke deile, 540

]>at to ]>e fyre glad can J^ai gay, for crist }>e martzVdome to ta.

]?ane crosit ]?ai ]?ame her & J>are,

& passit furth foroutine mare.

511. J)ar was na schawls J>at. 513. fat nehe.


]?ane in )?at fyre men can \a\m cast, 545

& gert It bryne about \a\m fast.

& quhene ]?ai war deide bedene,

a gret ferly \axe mycht be sene,

J>at ]>ai in nathing wewmyt war

of bodiis, na of heid na hare, 550

& of J?e clething in na thred—

sic wondire wroc^t }>are in deide,

quhar-thru euire trew[th] ekit & grew,

& mistreutht for sorow ^lew.

J^ane leile cr/stine gert grawe }>ai;« sone, 555

& deit of dede to }>ame be done.

[Tjhane seit maxens in stale of king,

& gert katmie befor hym bring,

& wit/i fare wordis ca« hyme giuthire,

quhile one ane, quhile on ane wthire, 560

& }>at ]>e last sad hir: “ katr/ne,

of }>i foly, I red, )>u fyne

& cowsaile to J>i jouthede sa,

]>at is oure teyndir to thole wa,

J>at ]?u ma luf, & saif }>i-selfe, 565

& bruk wd// me bath loy & welth!

& for ]?u art bath wise & faire,

& douchtfr of a king & aire,

In my palace ]>e secund quene

I sail ]>e mak foroutine wene, 570

&, as ]?u will, ]>e nedis all

of myn empire be treit[it] sail;

Fol. 387 a. & in J?e myddis of }us cite

ane ymag sail I mak of J>e

w/t/z septre, as It ware a quene, 575

& all at euire sail it haf sene,

sail honour It, & worschipe bath;

& als I sail gere mak full rath

559. can hyme glore. 572. betreit sail.

L.—KATERINE.

a tempill gret of marbre clene,

quhar-in, yma«g my godis schene

& goddes als, in till a stage,

of ]?i fain? fygun? ane ymag

sail be set, & honoryt ay,

foroutine end eu/Hlke day.

quharfor me think ]>at }>u suld be

awisit sowne, & grant to me.”

}?ane sad J>e madine to )>e king: “ sir, mak me na/z sic entysing,

\at is no^t wodnes anerly

to say, bot to think is foly;

for to cmte I haf bundine me

throu band }>at ma nocht lousit be.

he is my loy & luf parfyt, my pzrramouris, & my delyt,

& s[u]werane of rayn hart wzt^-all.

na fra his luf I neuzVmarf sail

be departyt for weile na wa,

)>o^/zt I ]?arfor ]>e deide suld ta,

na for na payne, na for na thret,

na for gluthring of giftzlr gret.

for-Jzi, wirk furth ]u wekyt will!

for I will na way bow J^e till,

bot takzr me till hewyzznis king,

J?at till his gret blisft sail me bring.”

]?ane was maxens all hat for teyne,

as he metall in fyr<? had bene,

& in gret breth, g m dyspyt ^ jU bad his tyrandis nhlcyzz hz> tyt,

& bynd, and belt w/t/z schorgz'r sari?,

Fol. 387 6. quhill ony haile hyd one hire ware;

& eftin? ]?at scho suld be sone

In till a myrk donieone be done,

quhar scho myofa na thing here, na se,

}>at myr^t hire eise or cozzfort be,


bot for to be in myrknes ay, 615

quhill J?at scho suld rehay hz> fay.

& in pane of deid bad he

}>at na ma« suld sa hardy be

to gif hir met na drink na way

fra ]jat tyme till one )?e xii day; 620

for he tho^/zt weile in }>at mezz-tyme

to put hir to sa hard engyne,

]?at scho suld leif hir frawart will,

& till his entent turne hir till.

& in J>e mezztyme hapnit swa 625

J>at ]>is maxens worthit to ga

of his empire in-to sere place—

sic bodword till hym cuzz/ine was.

]zane quhezz ]?e king had mad hyzzz bvn,

& passit furth out of }ze towne,

ffull gret desyre }>azz had }>e quezz

]>at yhet-]zazz had noe/zt katz-zhe sene,

to spek wztA hir, & tell hz> till

Jze gret fellozzny & ]ze 111,

]zat maxens ]zazz cozzsawit had

a-gayne hir or \>at he furth rad,

& quhatkine payne & qzz[h]zzt tormezzt

to put hir to was his entent.

Jzane callit scho till hz> a knye^t,

a nobill mazz & purphir hicht,

& was to Maxens mast prz'we—

& twa huzzdreth knye/ztze had he,

Jzat sez-uit hyme bath wycht & day,— & Jzusgat cazz scho till hyzzz say :

“sz> purphir, sene Jzu art rycht leile,

my cozzsele I will ]m cozzsele,

& helpe me bath in deid and will

how ]>at I katrzne ma cuzzz till,

to speke wzt/z hir, & hire to se,

636. a gayne hir & ])at.

630

63S

640

645

626. \>er maxens.

L.—KATERINE. 461

Fol. 388 a. I pray }:>e hartly }ni helpe me. 650

& syne ]m art a master mane,

I wat weile bath J>u may & ca«

eschewe richt weile, gyf \aK ]5u will, \er geyaloum now spek sa till,

J’at }>ai for prayerif or for med 655

of myTz entent wald lat me sped ! ”

[TJhane pwrphir sad till hir alsone:

“ dred nocAt, mademe ! It sail be done.”

)>ane till ]?e geyelourz'j he paste,

& wror^t sa wele, till at ]?e laste 660

he gat lewe )>at bath scho & he

suld cume in nyr/zt in pz'z'wete,

& bath entre >e presone in, for hope ]?ai had for it to wyne.

quhezz nyr^t was cuzzzine, & day was gazz, 665

sz> pzzrphir & J>e quene allane

Come, & gat richt sone entre

of J>e gyel; & }?ar cane se

sa mykill licht, Jzat nawise It

myc^t be cozzzprisit in ma^nis wit; 670

till erth J>ai fell ]?ane for redness,

& lay still for abasidnes. \v/tA )>at )>ai feld a sweet sawor,

J>at excedit alkine odoure

of ony spice ]?at euz> tre bar^; 675

& wzt/z bat katrzne sone but mare

callit one baizzz bath, & cozzfurd j>a.m

sa wele, b^t ]>3.\ apo« feite wa«,

& sad bai^: “ crz'st callis yhow bath for to tak croune her-eftire rath, 680

& for to bruk bat mykill blis,

bat he has grathit till all his.”

bazz blenkit bai wpe bath, & [has] sene

680. hir eftire.


katrme sic angelis betwene,

])at all hir zwndis all o?zr-quhar^,

Jjat was apo« hir body bare,

enonte w/t/z sawuis soft & swet,

& all J>at brekine was, ca« bet,

Fol. 388 b. & mad hire hyd sa hale & schene,

)>at it was farly to be seyne.

full loyfull }>ane ]?ire twasuwz war

of ]>q swet sicht ]?at ]?ai saw }>ar.

sanct katrme ]?ane, J>e madyne clene,

wft£ swet wordis cozzfurd pat queue,

& bad hir be of stawlouart will:

“forlhem crist pu sail cume till

J>is day thrid day, haf pou na dred,

& for schort pane haf lestand mede.

dout }>ar for na payne temperale,

to cume to blis ]?at ma noe/d fale,

na for to leif }>e copullyng

of warldis man for hewywnis king,

na for to part fra de[d]lik mfane

for hyme na« end has na begane,

I hem crist, bat is king parfyt,

]?at for bis schort tempez-ale delyt

gyffis bat loy bat neuir sail blyne

to bai bat tholis pane for hyme.”

& pus to bame scho prechit bare,

till it was mydnye/^t & wele mare,

bane pwrphire fell befor hire feit,

& askit hir wit/i wordis swet,

quhatkine reward pat cmt suld mak

till knye^Ue pat here for his sak left warldis welth & temporals thb/g.

bane till hyme sad pat mady« jing ;

“ in bat kinrik ]?at is so clere,

quhar for delyt men lewis here,

685. bandis.

685

690

695

700

7°5

710

715

L.—KATERINE. 463

Jjai sail haf emr-lestand lyff

but payne or verray duel or striffe. 720

& gif }>u franis qu/iat thing is J>are;

bar is ese & sic welfare

bat ma noc/it wthir-ways be

expondit na wndone to ]>e;

bot all bat gud is, It is bare> 725

& illthing ma bar cum neu/V mar^.

& gif bu speris quhat gud b^t is;

Fol. 389 a. It is sic gud, I tell be )>is>

bat neu/> ere herd, na yhet saw hye,

na myr^t in hart comprzsit be 730

bat god has gnzthlf Tor all bai

bat s<?ruis hyme here, quhe« ba hyne ga.”

s/r pwrphire ]>a.n & alft be quene,

throw srnnond of bat madene schene,

war mad full blith & held bar way 735

of be domeone befor be day.

bane pzzrphir his Vx\ychtis all, bat semit hyme, bath gret & small,

callit, & bame sic tale has tald bat bar halely to god bai 3ald, 740

& war all redy for to tak

be martzVdome for cristzV sak.

[A]nd for be king bad at )>aX. fre

dais xii but mete suld be,

In bat tyme crzst with hewywnis fud 745

ffed be a dow b^t madine gud.

& quhe/z bai xii dais war gane,

to katz-zne, quhar scho seit allane,

oure lord, of hewine god, ca« apere,

with multytud of Angelis clere, 750

& of verginis sa mony,

b«t for to se bame war ferly,

720. on strz'ffe. 724. expendit


& bad hir suthtly knaulag tak

of hir makare, for quhais sak

)>at scho enteryt in-to sic strife, 755

quhar scho wyne suld lestand lyfe,

& sad till hir: “ }>u stedfast be!

For in na tyme sal I lewe ]>e.”

& sayand ]>is, he sticht in hewyn

•with mekill loy & angelis stewyne. 760

[T]hane, quhe« Ipe empmrare had done

his neidis, come agane alsone,

& in ]?e myddis of ]>e cite

wpe-one }>e morne he gert set be

his king/j- stull, & seit hym done, 765

with ceptre in hand, & one hed crowne,

Fol. 389 t>. & gert katr/ne before hyme be

brocht, quhar all Ipe folk mycht se,

& schaw hir poliste fan? & schene,

)>at forhuTzgent [he] wenede had bene, 770

& wend su;/z mazz had bxocht hir fud

In-to Jze presone. baref°r ner^ w°d

he was, & sad: “be keparis all

bat kepyt be b^) den? by sail.”

bane sad scho: “ sz>, met I had nazz 775

throu warldis mazz bot cz-z'ste allazz,

bat throu his Angelis gert me fed,

& als noo^t; haf ]>u na dreid ! ”

bane cazz he softly till hir spek,

Richt as he wald all 111 breth brak, 780

& sad: “ now, madine fan? & clere,

I pray be bat W ted me here quhat-euzV bu has in-to bi thocht;

& barof heile bu fra me ^ocht,

na with na wordis \at ar dowble 785 Answers nozr/zt, me for to distrouble !

for I yharne nozv$t for to dissawe be

L.—KATERINE.

with quhyt wordis na sutelte.

& trewe weile, I yharne nocht J>e

a s<?ruand to me for to be,

bot as my wyf & quene my^tty

J>e for to bald; & swa think I for ]d gret beute, & ]n wit,

& }b gret gentr/ce s&mmyn knyt;

& als my empire hale to )>e

)>at hi lykine sail bowand be.” _

[TJhane sad scho: “ & now I he VraY \at suthfastly hu wald me say

with leile wncoumt Iugeme«t,

quheh^V hat I suld do hine extent 800 erare hane to lord or king,

hat a/ his will ma do althiwg,

or for to tak a dedly mane,

hat of corrupcfon begane,

& throu corrupcione ma« be 805

sic mater last as first was he, Fol. 390 a. & thole seknes, quhill he is here,

with trawell and dissesis sere?”

he king wald haw na mare hyw fey#ge

bot sad till hir with gre[t] dediwgne 810

“madine, ches he ane of twa; sacrifice quhehzV hu will ma

to my goddis, & liif in blis, or, gyf hat hu refoysis his,

to thole torment & perise sone? 815

* of hire twa ches he ane but hone,

& lat me wit but fengeit fare,

for hu sail drich me no mare.”

hane answer! scho, & sad: “ s/V, I

thoe/rt neuzr to deile with trechery, 820

bot sais planely }>at I will

798. t>e suthfastly. 801. fharne. 802. ]>at as.

465

790

795

VOL. II. 2 G


in-to na thing concent }>e till.

quharfor, quhat torment ]>o\x has thoc/A

to do to me, differe )>\i nocht!

for I dyssyre my flesch & blud 825

to gyf for hyme ]>a\. in }>e Rud

mad olferand of hyme-self for me,

J>at is my blis, my luff, my gle,

My an^im, my loy, my welth, my wele,

& of my« sawle J?e lestand heile, 830

& giffis lyf, }>at ma no^t fale,

to his luffers for ]>axe trawalle.”

quhe« }>e tyrand herd hir sa swa,

out of his wit nen? ca« he ga.

&, his anoy for till ames, 835

Come stertand furth sir cursates,

}>at was pr^feit of }>e cite,

& sad: “ sir king, herkine to me,

& wrath J>e no<fht sa Increly!

for I sail ordand in till hy 840

a maner of sa herd torment

}>at sail hir gen? turne hir entent,

& fley hir swa, )>at scho in hy

sail be fulfane to sacryfy.

Fol. 390 b. & gif scho [ne] dois, with wnhard pane 845

sa fellou«[l]y scho sail be slaane

]jat all cr/stine, J>at ma It see,

sail concent to }>i law & the.

quharfor w/t^-ine dais thre

fouri? quhelis gret ]?u gem mad be, 850

of }>e quhilkfr ]>e felyis all

with scharpe houk/r fichit be sail,

& all ]?e spakfr one }>at manem

sail be fichit with huk/r sem,

]?at sail be scharpe & rycht wele gro«dine, 855

829. My angin?.

L.—KATERINE. 467

of fynest steile J?at may be fundine;

& }>ir quhelis seit sail be swa

J>at of ]?ame twa aganis twa

sail alwais twrne in coTztran? cours,

as thin gw beand at rebou[r]se, 860

swa ]?at ]?e twa sail rywre wpward

allthing ]?at is betwewc seit,

ffra }>at ]?ai turne forouty^ lat.”

}>ane was J>e emprfoure full blyt^,

& gert J>e quhelis mak alswyt^, 865

& in ]?e mydis of ]>e cite,

In opine place, gert }>ame seit be,

J>at all ]?e folk bath fere & nere

Micht se one }>ai;«, quhe« ]?ai suld stere.

)>ane was J>at mady« broe^t in hy 870

of }>e pressone, qu/iar scho caw ly,

& seit ymang J?e quhelis swa,

}>at, gif scho sacr/'fice wald ma,

scho suld haf lyf & all ]>at thing

}>at till hire ere had hicht }>e king; 875

&, gyf J>at scho wald nocht do swa,

J>e quhelis suld turne, & hz> swa sla.

& quhew ]>a.t scho was sa hard sted,

Richt full ferme treutht in god scho had,

& prayt hywz, as lord & kyng, 880

J>wt of his treutht for )>e ekine,

& for ]?e lowing of his name,

& eke of cmtindome ]>e fame, Fol. 391 a. & for }>e pepill sake with-all,

]?at J>ar war gadderit, gret & small, 885

)>at he wald brek ]?ai quhelis swa,

]?at ]?ai na merryng suld h/r ma.

& ]?ane but mare at hir prayere

ane angel! brye/zt sone caw apere,

884. pepill suld.


& J>ai quhelis in pec/j small 890

brak, & scaillit was oum-all

]>a.t }>a« foure thousand slew or mam

of folk/j mistreuthtfull ]>at war ]?am,

& twechit nem> a ma« of ]?ai

J>at cr/stine treutht befor ca« ta. 895

J>ane was }>ar loy & gret lofing

of crfstine folk, ]mt saw ]>h thinf,

& full gret schame & sorow als

to ]?ame pat trewit in goddis fals.

ffull mony ]>at ]>is has sene, 900

war baptist, & of syne mad clene.

J>ane was ]>e quene in-to be hicht

of hir palais, & saw bis sicht,

& thor/A bat scho wald heile nomare

ffra nama« pat scho cr/stine ware, 905

bot all vane glore full haile forsuk,

& haile to Ihera cr/ste hir tuk, L f Cl • rr -r . ^

& saynyt hir, & but baysing

come done, & stud befor be king,

& sad: “o bu) my wrechid housband, 910

how lang sail bu in erroure stand,

& seis here sa opynly

god tak vengeance for bi foly,

& will noe^t-yhet sesfi to mowf were

agane hyme bat is bi makere? 915

wnhappy ma« ! wald bu yhet trow

in-to oure suet lord, dere Iheeu,

god, at is king of cmtine men,

& lewe biue errour, & hym kene,

& ask forgiffnes of bi syne, 920

yheit mycht bu sauchtyng wntk hym wine,

for her ma bu full clerly se

bat vthire god is na« bot he,

bat, quhe« he will, ma quykine & sla;

897. )>A think.

Fol. 391 b.

L.—KATERINE.

bot }n goddis ma nocht do swa.

bot he is god of deide & life, 'fyocht ]>u full herd agane hy;« strffe.”

[T]he king )>a.n was sa wond/r wa,

that ner£ his hart ca/z brist in twa,

& sad: “ a, wyf, quhat spekzV ]ju ?

I dout J>zzt su;;z crzstine has now

fra our<? goddis pmvit ]>e,

quhome one ]?u suld mast honozzr se.

bot I swere be goddis all

]?at I haf honoryt ay & sail,

bot gif ]?u honozzr do in hy

till our goddis & sacrz'fy,

J?at }>e pappis first fra Ju breste sail be Rywine, & syne )>ar neste

I sail ger<? tzzz-mezzt J>e fulfaste,

& strik ]>\ hed of at }>e laste,

& ]>i body eftir£ }n life

I sail gere doggzif laithly rife,

& mak a bysine wyf of the,

to let wthire to cmtine be.”

}>ane sad scho: “ do qu/iat-euir ]>ovl will,

for I sail neuzr cozzcent J?e till.”

& fra ]jat scho had sad hyzzz swa,

he bad his tzzrmentorz'j hir ta,

& harle roydly to J>at stede,

quhare all misdoam tholit deide.

]?ane lukit scho to sanct katrzne

full pytuisly, & sad hir syne:

“ haly virgine, for me ]m pray

to god, for quhais nazzz ]?is day

I ame heire enteryt in-to strife,

& for hyme tyne }>zs temp<9rale life,

J>at he me graunt sic will }>zs day

J>at I ma trastly but effray,

469

925

930

935

940

945

95°

955


Thole ded for hyme, & at ]>at ma be 960

In stede of baptysing to me.” Fol. 392 a. J>ane ansuert \a\. madine schene,

& sad : “ tak confurd to ]>e, quene!

full dere to god & luffit art J>u;

bot wirk sa wysly ]>at }>u now 965

one Ilifru seit ]>i hart ay stabile,

J>at for ]?is kinrik cdruwpabile

J>is day sail gif ]?e }>i kinrik,

Jjat but falyng lestis elyk;

for }>u dois noc/it bot makzk werri^ge 970

of failand & of dedly thing,

for ]?at king )>a\. all thing mad,

& nem> begy«ny[n]g na end had,

& for ]?e pane \>at sone is done

wyne lestand loy euz> in-to wone.” 975

}>ane lurdanwis hir lichtly lacht,

& harlyt hir furth, as }>ai war tacht,

& of hir clething mad hire bare;

bot scho was coumt with hir hare.

]?ane hir papis ]?ai raf hir fra, 980

& syne }>ai strak hir nek in twa.

of martzVdome eftire sic end

scho past with Ihmi cr/ste to lend.

syre pzzrphire for hir gret dull mad,

& come pat ilke nycht but bad, 985

& tuk hir cors, & wandit wele,

& It ZTiointit eu/rilke deile

with bawme; & syne rycht wele gert he

in honest place It gmwine be.

apone ]?e morne, quhezz pis was done, 990

as I haf tald 30U here alsone,

thill bysy sparing mezz ca/z ma

quha durst pe quenis body ta

to grawe, or do It honoz/rrynge;

987. enteryt.

L.—KATERINE. 471

& als for ]?at cause gert ]?e king

to questione put mony sen”,

& punys J>ame one gret manere,

}>at letit noc/it, \och{. he had wrang,

hot in sic wikidnes stud lang.

]?ane %ir parphire but Abaising Fol. 392 b. has present hyme befor ]?e king,

quhare he sat in-to lugment,

& sad one }>is wyse his entent:

“s/r king, now opinly we se

at a wod [sjpreit trawalis ]>e,

J>at spcris nothir quyk na dede

}>at crfstine are, in-to na stede;

na ]7u ca« no^t hald )>e content

of na payne, na of na torment,

Jsat J>u ma do to sic quyk men,

bot, quhew }>ai deide ar, ]wu will \&n

forbid ]?ame grawine for to be;

wikit spirit sa trawalis ]?e.

& gyf ]?u demys \>a.un gilty

]?i wyf ]?atf erthit, \cit did I,

& yarnys J>arefor me allane

to thole all ]?ane ]>at may be tane,

ffor cristis martire I cane grawe

in hope of med ]>at for till haf;

for I ame crzstw cozzfessourq

}>at to ]?e quene dide sic honour.”

[P]ane ]?at tyrand ca« rodly ram,

as man ]>at had bene wondit sam,

na he sicht no<r/zt pr/wely,

as me« dois quhile }>at are sary,

bot rathly ruschit to and fra,

as quha for sorow wod wald ga,

& study stampit als, & steryt,

& oft as branewod man he beryt,

995

1000

1005

1010

1015

1020

1025


& at ]>t last he ca« hye cry,

& sad: “ allace! a wrech am I,

& mare wrechit na ony man !

for-[]?i] my wekit werd I bane;

for I haf tynt ]?/s day, allace!

all hale my helpe, & my solace,

& ])e streynth of my empyre hale,

quhat wondire is I brist for bale?

for now is left me sir purphire,

J>at wphald was of myn empyre,

& alswa anerly was he

J?e kepare of my saule & me, Fol. 393 a. & in all trawell anerly

he was bat helpe ]>at ay had I,

swa but hyme luf cuth I nocht.

bot, lo, of me na-thing he wrorAt,

bot fra my goddis, allace ! & me

is gane bis cr/stine fore to be,

& to be god of cn'stine lyne

has tane hyme haile fra me & myn ! ”

bane, hyme to co«furd, gert he call

bai Vnyc/ittis bat he mast lowit of all,

& mad his lame^tac/one

of pz^-phire his conuersione,

& spfryt gif ony was bare till

Consentand or bat wist his will.

ba« ansuerd bai twa huwdreth kwychttis,

b«t s^uit pwrphire with all bare mycht/V,

& sad: “ sir, 3a, we wat all weile

of all his dedis ilke deile,

how he co/mertit was, & quhare,

for we all pan with hyme fare,

& all fals goddis forsuk bane,

& ar be-cuwyne cnstine me^^;

1030

i°35

1040

1045

1050

io55

xo6o

1033. for I my. 1061. hyme ]>are.

1044. luf gud I. 1063. & ay.

L.—KATERINE. 473

& w/tA parphire for crisUs sak

we dout richt no^t ]?e deide to tak.” 1065

& quhe« }?e king herd J>aiw sa swa,

Jjane doublit hyme his mykill way,

& sad: “ lo, here now is me mad

full 111 couenng eftire lang bad!

for I wend je suld co«furd me 1070

in quhat disses }>at I mye^t be.”

}>ane cowmawndit he in full gret Ire

to tak )>ai knichttw & p«rphire,

& vtil/i ]?ame owt of towne to ga,

& all J>ar nekis stirk in twa, io75

& )>are bare bodyis to lef ]?are

als nakit as J?ai borne ware,

till foulis & hundis to be fud.

]mne ^eid ]?ai al furth wit/i blith mud

to place ]?at )>ame was deput till, 1080 Fol. 393 />. & tuk })are dede wit/i full gud will.

}>e four & xx1' day but drede

of nouember was done ]?at dede.

J>is tyrand J>ane apo« )>e morne

eftire )?e knycht/e wer J>is lorne, 1085

In stule of lugment hyme seit,

& gert )ns kat^me till hyme feite,

& sad hir: “ }m wikide wiche,

quhat wenis }m ws lang to preche ?

na; bot chese ]>e ane in hy; 1090

othire till oure godis sacrify or ellis ]u heide to tyne )>/s day

dispytuisly but mare delay.”

[T]hane answerd hym }>at madine fre: “Langar delay I ask nocht ]>e, 1095

bot to do me quhat-euzV" ]m will;

for I will neuz> consent ]>e till,

bot thole mekly for crist/e sak


Fol. 394 a.

quhat-euzV tz/rment ]?u will I tak.

for I desyre to deye for hyme,

fra lestand deide ]?at ca;z me wyne.”

J»us quhezz scho sad, foroutyzz bad

}>e tyrand gert hir furth be had outhouth }>e jeittzr of }>e cite,

quhare ]>at scho suld wnhedz't be.

& maydywnis feile hir folouyt ]>a.re ^^ 4

& lele wma« in }?at swithwan?,

]?at fast regratit hir bewte

Jzat one sic wyse suld wastit be.

scho Utrnyt to h^me, & sad: “ o yhe

Madywnis & matronis fan? & fre!

I pray yhou eke nocht my passione

•with sic sare lamentacione,

bot ejare suld yhe loy wzt/z me,

]>e suthtfast now gyf yhe vnychi se;

for now my dere lord Ihmi crzste

callis me now till his bewist,

hat is my luf and pzzramor,

to wyne with hym in till his boure,

& bruk with hyme but end his blis.”

hane to he place scho come with hz’s,

quhar hir hals suld strikine be in twa,

& knelyt deuotly, & cazz ma

hir przzyerzr; & be-hald full ewine

with handis wpward to he hewine,

& one kneis lang sittand swa

to god scho cazz his pz-zzyere ma:

“o hope & helpe to trewfull mazz,

bewte & loy of all womezz,

god Ihz’ru, thankzk I gyf the

hat deigneis for to nombre me

of hi madyzznis in he cozzuent;

& prays he wz't/z gud entent

1115. & suthfast.

1100

1105

mo

ms

1x20

1125

1130

L.—KATERINE. 475

sic mercy ]?at ]?u kith me till,

)>at quhasuw-eu/r \<ix.h dewot will 1135

in lof of god mak mewsione

of me & of my passione,

graunt }?ame par askine for my sak

for quhat-euz> thing or quhezz ]?ai mak,

in quhat parele }>at ]?ai be 1140

staz/ one land or jeit one se;

& namely in J>e tyme of dede,

gyf for my sak ask remed,y_

graunt ]>a\m J>ar bowne, I thig at }>e,

as ]m art lord of maieste! 1145

for, swet lord, lo, here for J>i sak

of be basere I byd strak.

bot, lo, my sawle bat [na] ways hz

Ma tak, here I cowmend to ]>e.”

& or scho mad had b*s p^yere, 1150

a woice of hewine was herd full clem,

& sad: “ my dem lowz't, cume to me, for all my yheit is opnyt ]>e,

quhar-throw sail enter in blis,

)>at neu/r sail fane & but end is, 1155

& all my halowis in till hewine

sail met be wzt/z richt ioyfull stewine,

& with be crowne of victury

Fol. 394 b. bu sa-ll be crownyt in till hy,

& euim-mam wone in we/th with me. 1160

for-J>i namar<? Ipu besy be !

for [bat] at bu has askit here,

I haf be tyd all haile but were,

& yhet welle mam I grant all bai

bat will memor of be may, 1165

& for bi sak askw helpe at me;

in quhatkine parele quhat-emr bai be,

1137. & me &. 1148. sawle }>at ways be.

1141. stat. 1160. in wehth.


my helpe I sail of hewine \&\m send,

quhar Jm sail duell w/t^-outine end.”

& quhene ]?at woyce wes went away,

J>at haly virgine but effray

hire faire hals strekit furth mylk-quhyt,

]?at in twa strak Ipe basar^ tyt.

]>a.ne of hire cors, in sted of blud,

of mylk }>are ruschit out a flud,

J>at wet }:>e erth rycht plentwisly.

& angelis fell com }>ane in hy,

& in }>e ayn? hire body bare

to mont synay, & lait It Ipare,

& wit/i J^are handis one }>at hill

entyryd It throw godis will,

}>at ix lurnays gret ma be

of Alexand/r fra J>e cite,

quhar feile merakilis ar for hire wroo^t,

as leile men sais ]?at has h/r socht,

& ay sail be in lowing

of hire & of cn'ste hewy«nis kyng,

]?at for ekipe of cr/stine fay

god did sic worschipe to }>at may.

& of hire banis but leising

oyle full clem men sais yhet spring,

J?at hope & heile is till all sare,

as )>ai record J>at has bene J>am.

& scho tholit J>is passione

ffra crist/j incarnacione

thre hundreth & tene yhere,

as wrytine is in bukw sere.

Fol. 395 a. to god ]>e fadire be lowynge,

to god }’e sowne be hono^rryng,

to .god }>e haly gast als be

ay lowyng, in a tr/nite,

& in a god thre p<?rso«nis sere;

1170

1175

1180

1185

1190

ii95

1200

L.—KATERINE. 477

}>at grauntt ws grac, quhill we ar here,

to leyd cure lyff sa quemfully

till hyme, ]>at we ma cu;« in hy

to ]?at loy quhare now is katrzhe,

In hewine blis forowtine fyne.

& I wnworthy, ane of }>ai

for quham ]pat scho can prayers may,

Requeris hire ]>at I ma twyne

owt of ]?is lyf but dedly syne.

AmeN. AmeN. AmeN.

Explicit vita beate KatRine virginis, etc.

1203. J;at graunttit.

END OF VOLUME II.

TEXT.

1205

I2IO

PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS.

SCS 6-TES/. (3deriv.nls.uk/dcn23/1077/0253/107702535.23.pdf · 2015. 6. 8. · quha aucht }>e house...

Documents

Transcript of SCS 6-TES/. (3deriv.nls.uk/dcn23/1077/0253/107702535.23.pdf · 2015. 6. 8. · quha aucht }>e house...