RCURSOR09UPU
 (cursor:::) In heuin on heie than sale I scawe,
 And signis dune on  erthe lawe.
 He tald thaim mani takins s<e>re,
 THat es na nede alle rekin here.
 =Mi brethir,= he saide, =ful wel mai I
 Of the p<ro>phete gin telle, daui,
 He wiste that gode til hi<m> hauid suor<n>
 THat ane suld of his sede be borne
 To site in setlis that was his;
 Bot he that sag(h) on ferru<m> this
 Of his uprise he said, =i<n> helle
 Na suld nog(h)t criste be lefte to duel,
 Na neu<ir> of rote his fleis haue sig(h)te,
 Bot raisid es he with st<re>nthe of d<ri>g(h)te.=
 Fra dede to liue nu risin es he,
 And tharof  witnes al ar we,
 Raisid sua with godis mig(h)te,
 And sik<ir>id of his fad<ir>is hig(h)te.
 Of hali gaste the giftis sere
 Giuin us hauis he als gie se here,
 Til heuin he steich, that was wel sen;
 And I saie to giu folc bine,
 THis ih<es>u is mi lau<er>d d<ri>g(h)te,
 Gie dide on rode withouti<n> rig(h)te.=
 THis wordis [herd], thair h<er>tis gan t<ur>ne,
 Alsua for thaire misdedis m<ur>ne,
 To Pet<ir> and tha apostlis #to
 THai saide, =god me<n>, q<ua>t sal we do[=
 =Bot dos penance a<nd> baptize giu
 In the name of ure ih<es>u,
 Giu sal forgiuin be giur sak,
 THe gifte of hali gaste to take;
 For qui to giu ande to giur sede,
 THe barnis that of giu sal b<re>de,
 THe med es of alle and alle,
 And thar that c<ri>ste til hi<m> wil calle,
 Bot for giur bote I giu forbede
 To letin at this wickid lede.=
 Petir painid him ful gierne
 In c<ri>tis lai that folc to lerne;
 Ande thai that toke his worde til h<er>te,
 THair sawlis turnid into querte;
 For thare was that ilke dai in liuis
 iii hund<er>it baptist men a<nd> wiuis,
 THat desseli bathe late ande are
 War tendant to tha apostlis lare,
 And of thair b<re>de ete with thaim thare,
 THai thate hauid nog(h)te ellis quare.
 THai that hauid huse or ani kin ag(h)te
 THai saldin, ande the prise thai lag(h)te
 Bifore thapostlis ilke dai,
 THar of to don q<ua>t taim god thog(h)te.
 Arli tha postlis ilke dai
 Wente to the tempil for to p<ra>ie,
 At thair gain come the mete thai gaue,
 Ilkane als tai sag(h) mist<ir> haue.
 Pet<ir> and Iohane a dai at none
 Wente to kirke to mac thair bone,
 Biside the wai thare sag(h) thai lie,
 A man was c<ri>plid in parlesie,
 And hauid ben mast al his fordais,
 Alse the stori tellis saise;
 Ilke dai man thid<ir> him bare
 For to bid his almus thare.
 Pet<ir> ande Iohan thai bi hi<m> giode,
 Ande he thaim bad hi<m> giue su<m> gode,
 Ande pet<ir> ande iohan ansuerd hi<m> tha<n>
 =Bihalde on us,= thai saide, =thu man,=
 THai saide, =bihalde on us and se
 And und<er>sta<n>de ure pouirte,
 Als qua sai, thu sal se ure wane,
 For gifitis haue we to #the nane.
 He thaim bihelde bot wel wend he
 THai sulde him sum charite.
 Petir saide til him on ane,
 =Golde na silu<ir> haue I nane.=
 For qui it was nog(h)te Pet<ir>i^s ag(h)te
 THat oth<ir> men hauid him bitag(h)te
 For to kepe unto thair nede,
 And for to tha pou<er> men to fede,
 THate for that thinge thair godis salde
 Bifore tha apostlis fet up giald.
 =THat i mai giue, he saide, =I sal
 I wate thu nede hauid to be hale,
 In ih<es>u nazarenis name
 Rise up,= he saide, =and gange, thu lame.=
 His hande he hi<m> rag(h)te a<nd> up he ras,
 And to the tempil he sped his pas,
 THate mog(h)te nog(h)te forwith st<ri>de a step,
 Loua<n>d ur lau<er>d tha<n> he lepe;
 THe p<ro>phecie was filde sua,
 THat saide that halte suld scop als ra.
 THis folc que<n> thai this ma<n> hauid sen,
 THai wo<n>d<er>it on him al bidene,
 THa that forwith hauid knawi<n> him:
 Forwond<er>it sum thai fel i<n> suime.
 Pet<ir> than bigan to mele
 Gie folc he said of ir<ae>l,
 =Q<u>i wond<ir> gie sua with unrig(h)te
 Als thog(h) this war don with ur mig(h)t[
 Bot mig(h)ti god withouti<n> mak,
 Of abraham, of ysaac,
 And of ure eld<er>is that hauis be<n> aa,
 His sone that hauis he bliscid sua;
 Gie suak a<nd> nit bifore pilate,
 And demid als ge selui<n> wate,
 THe oncalle of his hali nam,
 Hauis lente his hele u<n>to this la<m>
 With the trouthe that fel tharto,
 For it mai seluthe mikil do.
 Bot mi b<re>thir, ic und<er>stande
 THat gie it dide giur unwita<n>d,
 Repentis giu, ande be on knawi<n>
 To saue giu<r> sauwil ilka<n> giu<r> awi<n>,
 Ogain  the grete comun assise
 Q<ua>re alle sal come bifore iustise.
 Giur sin awai, that gie mai rise
 With that p<ar>tie that es rig(h)twise,
 For clene forgiuenes of plig(h)te,
 THan bes for sothe quen thurg(h) the nig(h)te
 Of risi<n>g of the laste dai,
 THe lastand dede sal worthe awai;
 Bi hihis fad<er> site he sale,
 Til he restorid haue us alle,
 THat he spac firste of p<ro>phecies
 Ai to the time that al sulde rise.=
 THa apostlis spekande this a<nd> mare,
 THe p<re>tis come in that siquare,
 THe tempil maist<er>is with thaim bune,
 Al thai ware of a comune.
 At thair talking thaim teind sare,
 =Hu estis,= said thai, =that gie dare
 Suilkin loueworde of him to sai,
 THat we dide deme this endir dai[=
 THe saduceis, namlic ||| that lede,
 For thuprisi<n>g walde neli wede,
 For thane walde neu<er> giate forthi<n>ge
 THare sal be ani uprisinge, |||
 THa apostlis dide thai be takin sone
 And sua thai ware in p<ri>sune done,
 THare bad thai man sulde thai<m> gieme,
 For late it was thaim thanne to deme.
 Bot mani turnid thare and truid.
 To baptim take thaim seluin buid.
 THat quat of man a<nd> q<u>at of wiue,
 THare was conuertid thusandis V.
 THe toth<er> dai that folwid neste,
 THai gad<er>it oute bathe p<ri>nce a<nd> p<ri>ste,


 And set thaim in that curte imide,
 And bad taim of dede that thai dide,
 And bad tai<m> telle, withoutin hone,
 In quas name that it was done.
 Bot pet<ir> filde of hali gaste
 An ansuer gaue he thaim in haste;
 Bot first he scawid als with dede,
 THat thair aski<n>g was bot sothede.
 =Es it,= he saide, =resune that we
 Calangid for ure god dede be[
 Vnskilwislic than can gie blame.
 For wite it wele, that in the name
 Of ih<es>u that gie dide on rode,
 THat alwais gie misund<er>stode,
 THat god his fad<ir> raisid to liue,
 (Als mani man bathe wate a<nd> wiue)
 THat es made als a q<ua>rner stane.
 For to make tuin folkis ane,
 An in hi<m> for to be feste, |||
 THat ilke that fra giu<or> werc gie keste,
 In hi<m> es hele of manki<n>de alle;
 For es nan oth<er> name onto calle,
 THat of hele mai giue ma<n> blis,
 Bot if man thrali thinke on his.=










 THe maist<ir>s quen thai und<er>stode
 Sua stedfastlic tha apostlis stode,
 THai bad that tai suld taim withd<ra>we
 Q<ui>l<is> thai sulde samine spec a th<ra>we.
 =Ne se gie nog(h)te,= thai saide, =th<ir> men,
 Q<ua> can us of thaim consail ken[
 THe sine al sag(h) we that thai dide[
 We mai nog(h)te nite, sua es it kid,
 Bot thar|#fore sal we thret thai<m> hard.
 THat thaine sal neu<ir> fortherwarde
 THis name to man or wi<m>man nevi<n>,
 Our dere on thaim man sal it heui<n>.=
 Calde  ware thai than a<nd> bidin thare
 THat tai fra than sulde neu<ir> mare
 Of the nam of ih<es>u spelle,
 Na nankin tithand thar|#of telle.
 And thai thaim ansuer gaue onan,
 Bathe pet<ir>  and sainte iohane
 =And q<ue>th<ir> than awe tha<m> to bue
 God alweldand outh<er> to giu[
 THat bed gie that he maste forbedis,
 And sua gie schaw in giur sothedis.
 THe lau<er>d to bide the man withstande.
 Vnlag(h) it es to tel in lande
 THe thing that we bathe h<er>de a<nd> sawe.
 Hu mai we than bot it scaw[
 If we ne dide we ware to wite.
 For sothefastnes es nog(h)te to nite.=
 THa iuwis that war ai sua curste
 Walde efte haue tan thaim if thai durste,
 For folc durste thai nog(h)te he apon;
 And tai wente hame unto syon.
 Ande thai to thair b<re>thir thare,
 Talde hu that tai war ha<n>dlit tare,
 THai lifte thair he<n>de al with a steui<n>,
 And thankid d<ri>g(h)tine d<er>e of heuin.
 And que<n> thai hauid al saide thair bede,
 THanne biganne to stire that stede,
 And in that erthedine it scoke,
 THe haligaste eft|#sithe thai toke.
 Oute of thair hali hertis orde
 Spedlic thai spellid godis worde.
 Of that folc a man thare was,
 His name was hattin ananias,
 =I wil,= he saide, =mi godis giue
 With thir rig(h)twise men to liue,
 With thaim i mai of mete and d<ri>nc,
 Mi liu<er>e haue with outin suink<e>.=
 =Ic, =he saide his wiue, =ande thu
 Hereto sal we mac a wou.=
 THe vou was made, his lande he salde,
 THe penis hali tan ande talde,
 THe quilc he brog(h)te withouti<n> frest,
 And bifor the postels kest;
 THe haluendel thare of he stale,
 Ande saide that thare the p<ri>se was al.
 His wiue it wiste a<nd> held tare til;
 Was neu<er> the fruite o suilc bot ille,
 For ilke suike it selue bisuikis,
 And licnis maste that thar|#i<n> likis.
 Pet<ir> it sag(h) with hali sig(h)te,
 For filde he was with g<ra>ce of d<ri>g(h)te,


 =Sai me,= he saide, =ananias,
 Q<ui> hauis #the temptid sathanas,
 To ma suilc lesing of thi sale,
 And gialde the haluis up for hale[
 Al that tu thar with wende wel wi<n>.
 Sale turne the bote to sale a<nd> sin.
 Sikir es tu of sinne ande sake,
 THar of thu hauis in ha<n>de thi w<ra>ke.=
 Hauid sainte pet<ir> saide na mare,
 He fel dun step and dede rig(h)t tare;
 THe giu<n>g men hinte the caroinge thare,
 And thethi<n> for do delue it bare.
 Sone eft<ir>ward bot uris thrin,
 His (wif) come hir unwitand inne,
 =Woman,= saide Pet<ir>, salde gie sua
 Guir lande[ =the wo<m>man sadi<n>, =gia.=
 =THu leies,= he saide, =and ag(h)te haue wa<n>d
 With fals the hali gaste to fa<n>d.
 Lo+ q<ua>re bifore the dur thai stand,
 THat rig(h)t nu delue thi dede h<us>ba<n>de.
 Sua sal tai do #the nu onane,=
 With this worde fel sco ded als sta<n>.
 Na wond<e>r nan that ic haue spoki<n>
 THat w<ra>ngis ware sa sone w<ro>ki<n>,
 For c<ri>stin kirc, thog(h) it bigan,
 Giet na was it nog(h)te stabil tha<n>,
 And custu<m> es it ma<n>g al t<re>we,
 Q<ue>n lag(h) es made bituix thai<m> nev
 At bigi<n>i<n>g for to be rede,
 THat drede mai do the lau to sted,
 To do the folc for drede and aw
 THat wild nog(h)t ell<is> halde law;
 THe gode a<nd> lele for luue of med,
 THe wic thai halde ye law for d<re>de.
 Fra than durst na ma<n> with thai<m> m<en>g,
 Bot that walde leli with tha<m> le<n>ge;
 Mani seke unto thai<m> sog(h)te,
 And mani signe on thai<m> thai w<ro>g(h)te;
 Bathe i<n> waies and i<n> strete
 THe seke war born thai<m> to mete,
 THat pet<ir> sculd<er> on thai<m> sulde rine
 THarof hauid mani medecine.


 Prince was pet<ir> of tha tuelue,
 And grett<er> sigine tha<n> c<ri>st hi<m>selue
 He wrog(h)ti<n>, als es saide su<m> q<ua>re,
 Priuilege of signe forthi he bare;
 For c<ri>st hi<m>selue hig(h)t hi<m> that ilk<e>,
 Q<ue>n he for him w<ro>g(h)te si<n>gnis suilk<e>.
 Fra than thair folc wex mare a<nd> mare,
 For faste the folc fel to thair lare,
 Bot giet the iuwin folc felune
 THai did tha apostlis in prisune,
 THurg(h) consail of a naciune
 Walde tru na resurectiune
 Sulde be on ma<n> on domis|#dai,
 Bot gain tha apostlis said ai nai.
 THis folc was hatin saduceus,
 Thai held ai with the phariseus.
 Bot sone that eft<ir> on the nig(h)te,
 Sende thaim was an angel brig(h)te,
 THat brog(h)t thaim thurg(h) tha steclis st<ra>nge,
 And bad thaim to the tempil ga<n>ge


 For to spelle the word of liue,
 THat alle sulde he ba<th>e ma<n> a<nd> wiue.
 THe p<ri>su<n> doris lefte als he fande,
 Nouth<ir> he braste ne barre ne ba<n>de, |||
 THat was to st<re>nthe thaire t<ro>uth i<n> g<ru>nde,
 And for the iuwis to confunde.
 Q<ue>n thai sag(h) this, the iaioleris,
 Sulde bring thaim forwith de<m>st<er>is,
 =Lau<er>dingis it es selcuthe,= cod thai,
 =We finde ure p<ri>suns alle awai,
 THe doris sp<ir>id and wall<is> hale,
 Als god us helpe, sothe estis tale,
 Na na takni<n>g of suik<e> fa<n>d we;
 Vmbthi<n>kis giu hu this mai be.=
 THa maist<ir>s faste thai<m> umbithog(h)te,
 With this tythande a man thai<m> b<ro>g(h)te,
 =THe men that gie dide i<n> p<ri>sune,=
 He saide, =in temple thai sarmu<n>.=
 To the tempil than thai giede,
 THa postlis to thair curte to lede,
 Bot strenthes nane did thai thai<m> til,
 For thai come with thai<m> al with wil.
 THai durst na uiole<n>ce thai<m> do
 For the folc thai<m> heeld it to;
 Midward that curte thar war thai sette,
 THe biscop with forbot thai<m> thrette;
 =We dide,= he saide, =a<nd> giu forbede
 THurg(h) the hig(h)te of bissophede,
 THat gie in name of that ih<es>u,
 Be nog(h)te to preche sa bald f<ra> nu;
 Forloes ier<usa>l<e>m nammare
 Gie haue fulfilde nu with giu<or> lare,
 Q<ue>th<ir> gie wil d<ri>ue on us the blame
 Of ani w<re>king of this name,
 THat we sulde haue hi<m> slai<n> with w<ra>nge,
 THare gie p<re>cha<n>d sa thrali gange.=
 Al als ane thai gaue ansuare,
 THat nan of thaim for oth<er> bare,
 =Mare nede it es if gie wald t<ru>
 To god, than ani man to bue;
 Vr eld<ir> god dide ih<esum> rise,
 THe quilc gie hang with fals asise,
 And hauis him lefte on his rig(h)t ha<nd>;
 THis wate we wel, mai na<n> withstande.
 Ofte to giu hauis it ben talde,
 Witnes tharof ar we balde,
 With haligaste he hauis us se<n>t,
 And al that treuli til him wil tente.
 To giu if gie wil giu repente
 THis gifte of g<ra>ce than hauis he se<n>te.=
 THan bigan thai wrenke and wraiste,
 And for tene thair teththe to gnaiste,
 For than with suaipis thai thai<m> sua<n>g,
 And g<re>mli on thair corsis dange,
 And bad thaim fle als tai wald ded,
 To neuin ih<esu>m na<m> mare thair fede.
 THa wente ioifuler than are,
 Na nog(h)te thai menid of thair sare,
 Bot louid ih<es>u c<ri>stis name,
 THat tai for him war worthi g<ra>me.
 THe stedefaste trouthe loke h<er>e it, lo+
 Q<ua>t|#kin st<re>nthis it mai do+
 THat nouth<er> for worde na giet for di<n>t,
 Fra stabil trouthe mog(h)te do thai<m> sti<n>t
 Thai<m> thog(h)t na thi<n>g sua suete i<n> lif,
 Als for ih<es>u to suffir striue,
 Al the mare man did thaim mis,
 THe sikerer thai ware of blis.
 Cristis blis thai luuid sa wele,
 THat tai mog(h)te of na torfer fele,
 Als he bifore thaim w<ro>g(h)te the wai,
 Alsua than him follwid thai.
 He that thaim sua d<er>e hauid bog(h)te
 Of al this werde na gaue thai nog(h)te.
 THe maist<ir>s that come eft<er> warde
 THai lerid at taim to suffer harde,
 THat ne neu<ir> for na bale ne buid,
 Fra c<ri>stis trouthe that taim truid.
 In this apostlis time it sais
 THe cristin menne wex faste tha dais,
 THat tha postlis hauid to kepe, |||
 THat hirdis ware of c<ri>stin scepe, |||
 Sua wex the c<ri>stin mennis tale,
 THat tai|#ne mog(h)te nawith kepe thai<m> hale,
 Thai set u<n>d<ir> thai<m> forthi seuin,
 THe quilc i sal thaire namis neuin.
 Steuin and philip, nichdnor,
 Thimon, meniam, nichanore,
 And nicholas thir seuin were
 Set bifore tha apostlis s<er>e.
 On thaim thai held thair hali hande,
 Ande a quile thai ware praiande,
 And archidenis thai thaim made,
 Of thaim thareof thai toke the hade,
 THe birthin und<ir> thaim to bere.
 Of that folc quen was mist<ir>,
 Godis worde wex faste a<nd> g<r>ewe,
 And alsua dide the trouthe of t<re>w;
 And of the p<re>stis was tare fele
 THate lefte thair laste and worthid le(le).
 Steuin of st<r>enthe a<nd> godis grace
 Was fillid ful i<n> ilka place,
 Mani miraclis of mig(h)te,
 W<ro>g(h)te he forwith folkis sig(h)te:
 Vp thare ras to st<ri>ue him with
 Men that ware of sund<ri>i hig(h)te,
 THat sinagogue of Iuwis helde,
 Sone thai wente haue steuin felde.
 Bot al thaire st<ri>ue was bot i<n> wan,
 Hauid thai na fuisun him ogai<n>,
 With speke thai gaue hi<m> mani t<ur>n,
 Bot nane gain hi<m> mig(h)te halde a sp<ur>ne;
 THe hali spirite oute of hi<m> spac,
 In worde mog(h)t tai hi<m> neu<ir> ou<ir>tac;
 Alle the me<n> that sag(h) his chere
 THog(h)t it was an angel clere.
 Tua witnes fals than thai p<ur>uaide,
 To tel of god he hauid missaide
 Gain moisen a<nd> gain thair lai,
 He ne finid neu<ir> to missai
 THe bisop of thair lag(h), h<er>de sai[n].
 =Q<ue>thir hes this,= he said, = sothe ou<ir> nan.=
 Steuin stichlid him al bune,
 And than bigan a g<re>te sarmun,
 And thare he p<ro>uid withoutin aw,
 THat fals it was, al thair onsaw.
 For firste to loue god he bigan
 O moyses, that dug(h)ti man,
 And sithin spac he of thair law,
 THat thaim it cuthe nog(h)te selui<n> knaw.
 Bot que<n> he hauid thaim talde the sothe
 THai biga<n> to gnaiste with tothe,
 THair h<er>tis thog(h)t thaim braste for tene,
 Ethe is to kindil that es kene.
 Vp he lifte eien his,
 =I se,= he saide, =ure lau<er>dis blis,
 And mannis sun thare selfe sta<n>da<n>de,
 ih<ese>m, bi god on his rig(h)te hande.=
 In furme of man he sag(h) hi<m> in,
 His fad<ir> a<nd> he sund<ir> in tuinne,
 He sag(h) him stande to help hi<m> bede,
 For helpa<n>de ag(h) to stande in nede,
 He sag(h) him croisid that ilke t<ur>ne
 THat he for staning suld nog(h)t sc<ur>n.
 For to here neuin ih<es>u name
 THai held it bathe sce<n>dscip a<nd> scame,
 And namlike wa was thai<m> thanne
 Q<ue>n man him calde bath god a<nd> ma<n>.
 THan wex tha wreches oute of witte,
 And gan thair erin for to ditte,
 THain harmid nathing mare in h<er>te;
 THar fore on steuin alle thai st<er>te,
 THai draue him oute of tune allan,
 And thare thai demid him to stane.
 THe fals witnes stane him biga<n>,
 And saide thai h<er>de him d<ri>g(h)tin ban,
 THa helde for lawch withoutin sin,
 THat the witnes suld biginne.


 A child hig(h)t sawil of thair lede
 Toc tente to quil<is> to thair wede,
 THat ilke that was than hattin saul,
 Sithin he was apostil pawil.
 Q<ui>l<is> tai him with stanis quelde,
 Vp til ward heuin his he<n>de he helde,
 Apon his knes he him sette,
 And d<er> worthli he d<ri>g(h)tin grette.
 =Lau<er>d,= he saide, =to the ih<es>u
 Gield I mi gaste, receiu it nu+
 And lau<er>d, forgiue thu thai<m> thair plig(h)t,
 For of the sothe haue thai na plig(h)te.=
 With this his haligaste he gialde
 To ih<es>u that for him was salde.
 (F)ra that steui<n> was done of daw,
 Faste thai rase withouti<n> aw
 Gaine hali kirke, it for to haste,
 In ier<usa>l<e>m ald<ir> maste.
 For he, that ou<ir> man was slan,
 Was of the seui<n> deknis ane,
 Disciplis foluwid thai<m> sa harde
 THat thaim d<ra>ue oute of thair warde,
 Sauf tha postlis thate thai<m> ledde,
 THai stode, bote al thar oth<ir> fledde:
 Al oth<ir> thaim fledde, bot giet thai stode,
 Sua dos the h<er>tis that ar gode.
 THan sag(h) tha apostlis it was nede
 To turnin til anoth<ir> lede.
 Alphei sune that hig(h)te Iacob,
 Of iurselem thai made bissop,
 THai laide thair handis him apo<n>,
 Petir and iacob and sai<n>t Iohan,
 Forthi of quon<er> than of thre,
 Na mai na bissop sacrid be.
 In that siq<ua>re was saul<us> mast,
 THat cr<is>tin kirk bigan to wast,
 Fra huse to huse seka<n>de he ra<n>,
 And oute he drog(h) bathe wiue a<nd> ma<n>.
 And thog(h) he p<ris>u<n>d thai<m> with wog(h),
 Als god walde nane of thai<m> he slog(h),
 For god him gette, that eu<ir> es gode,
 Vnwe<m>mid his hende in sacles blode.
 THai that ware scailid sua for nede,
 Fra stede to stede walca<n>d thai giede,
 Stedfast<er> thog(h) q<ue>thir than are
 Fo(r)thi thate thai than scailid ware.
 Philipe, that was of deknis an,
 THe neste to tel f<ra> sai<n>t stephan,
 To p<re<che he come until a bie
 THat man clepid samarie.
 THare the folc with ful assente
 Til his wordis gaue thair te<n>te,
 Miraclis dide he for thaim fele,
 For mani sekemen gaue he hele.
 THare a man, simon magus,
 Als ure stori tell<is> us,
 He ledde the folc with mikil suike,
 For signis was his werkis like;
 He wrog(h)te bifor thaim g<re>te f<er>lie,
 And al was with his iugilrie, |||
 Godis <ui>rtu our grete p<ro>phete,
 Our angels ell<is> thai him lete,
 Our godis sune ell<is> thai hi<m> helde,
 For he cuthe make the me<n> biduelde.
 Q<ue>n the folc was in that tune
 Truid philippis sarmune,
 And to the baptizing thaim uouid,
 Simon lete als thog(h) he truwid,
 And baptizid him til hali kirk<e>,
 For signis he sag(h) philippe wirk<e>,
 Oth<ir> gia than he|#ne mog(h)te do.
 Bot for he we<n>de to cu<m> thar|#to,
 THar fore toke he baptim fai<n>te,
 For to be with philip aquainte,
 To be him als his p<ri>ue n<er>e,
 THat he mog(h)te of his craftis l<er>e.
 Q<ue>n tha apostlis h<er>din saie,
 Samaritanis hauid tan thair lai
 Fra ier<usa>l<e>m thai sente on ane
 Bathe sainte pet<ir> a<nd> saint ion,
 THai p<ra>ied for than in haste,
 THai sulde receiue the haligast.
 THat es to saie with takin sene,
 Bot thar na man thog(h) queth<ir> wene,
 THat tai|#ne receuid hauid that time,
 Vnsene q<ue>n that tai hauid baptime.
 Hirbi mai se that ochte es wise,
 THat thog(h) that a man mai baptise,
 Na mai na man that es in lande
 Conf<er>mi<n>g giue, bot bisscop hande.
 THat ilke ful wele this philip wist,
 Forthi of alle that he baptiste,
 He held thaim to tha apostlis
 THat thai sulde on thaim ha<n>dis lai,
 Als we se nu biscops do,
 THat thair pouste es giuin to.
 THe biscopis confermemente,
 Of strenthe it es the sakerm<en>te,
 Stabil for to stande in striue,
 In laste of c<ri>stin ma<n>nis liue.
 Q<u>en simon magus und<ir>stode
 THe haligaste, it was sa gode,
 THate tha men that it underfa<n>ge
 Mog(h)te do suilc u<ir>tug(h) a<nd> sua st<ra>nge,
 He wende it ware bot a q<ua>intise,
 And wend haue bog(h)t it with su<m> p<ri>se.
 Als it es in the stori redde,
 To tha apostlis gifte he bedde,
 =This ilke mig(h)te giuis me,= he said,
 =That on q<ua>t man mi he<n>d be laide
 He haue #<th>e hali gaste in hii,=
 To wi<n>ne with al he wende it bii.
 Pet<ir> ansuerde that caitif q<ue>de,
 =thi catel be the|#selue to dede,
 To be with #the in helle pine,
 Ande halde thi catel that es thine.=
 Here mai man se bi this resu<n>,
 Q<ue>n santis gaue thair malicun,
 THai gaue it na with als fore wil
 THai hauid of wrake or oth<ir> wille,
 Bot for the rig(h)twisnes thai it do,
 To thaim that worthiest thar|#to.
 =Hauis tu na p<ar>te,= quod Pet<ir>, =h<er>e,
 THu hauis with falshed fest the f<er>e,
 Na thurg(h) thi he<n>de hauis tu na mig(h)te
 To gere the hali gaste to lig(h)te;
 Fordo penane nede es inoch,
 For d<ri>g(h)tine hauis tu sog(h)te with woch
 #THe to forgiue, it sua ma fal,
 THe falsede thu hi<m> fande with|#alle.=
 It fel sainte pet<ir> als of rente,
 To cal men til amendme<n>te,
 Sua ach alle p<re>stis, mare a<nd> les,
 In alse mikil als in thaim es.
 Peter ande ione thai wente ogai<n>
 And p<re>chid bathe with mig(h)te a<nd> mai<n>,
 Na lefte thai for na ble<n>c na bla<m>,
 Til thai to iurselem come hame.
 Late we nu the prechurs stand,
 For to spec of an werande;
 Saul<us> sog(h)te ai q<ua>re a<nd> thrette
 Al the c<ri>stin he with mette.
 Of p<ri>nce, of preste, gat he leue,
 And thareon purchaisid he a b<re>ue
 For to bisek bathe up ande dune,
 If he mog(h)te finde in ani stun
 Cristin man, he suld thaim lede
 To iurselem to prisun bede.
 Als he wente th<us> to seke a<nd> aske
 Tilwarde a tune that hig(h)t damaske,
 THe fir of heuin hauis hi<m> stu<n>d,
 And bratheli befte unto the grunde.
 Blindfelde he was als he sua lai,
 He h<er>de a steuin thus til him sai,


 =Saul, Saul, sai me nu
 Q<ua>rfore on me sua weirais tu[=
 =Ande q<ua>t er tu, lau<er>d, sua unsene[=
 =Bot ic hat ih<esu>m nazarene,
 THat tu werrais al that tu mai.
 Bo vnd<ir>stande that I #the sai,
 It es to #the oute ou<ir> mig(h)te
 Ogain thi st<ra>nger for to fig(h)te.=






 Saul him q<uo<ke, sua was he rad,
 Forglopnid in his mode als mad.


 =Sai me, than lauerd, q<ua>t I sal do
 THi #wil wil I do redi, loo+=
 =Rise up, gange, the tun es nere
 Q<ua>t tu sal do thare sal tu lere.=
 THe folc war ferde that with hi<m> ferde,
 Na man thai sag(h) q<ua>t sum thai h<er>de,
 Of Saul h<er>de thai wel the steuin,
 Bot nog(h)te of that that co<m> f<ra> heui<n>,
 Blinde he ras up als he mog(h)te,
 THat forwith than was blind i<n> thog(h)te.
 His eien opin bathe hauid he
 And thog(h) a smitte mog(h)te he nog(h)t se,
 Al blind his men to tune hi<m> ledde,
 And iij daiis liuid he thare unfed,
 Nouth<er> he|#ne ete tha iii dais time,
 Na he|#ne I wis mog(h)t se a stime.
 Within thai iii nig(h)te a<nd> thre daiis
 Mikil he lernid, als su<m> ma<n> sais,
 Of spell<is> that he sithin spac,
 For of preching hauid he na make.
 In tune of Damnaske that tim was
 A cristin hig(h)te ananias,
 To q<ua>m ur lau<er>d saide in sig(h)te,
 =Ga til a strete that suagat hig(h)te,
 In that hus,= he saide, =sal tu finde
 Saul of tars thare liggand bli<n>de,
 Liggande lai his heuid dune
 Ai ithinlic in orisune.=
 Ananias him than ansuerde,
 =Lau<er>d,= he saide, =ofte haue I h<er>de
 Tel of p<ri>suning a<nd> of pine,
 THat he hauis w<ro>g(h)te to sa<n>tis thine,
 And pouste hauis to do thaim scam
 Til al that calis on thi name:=
 =Do wai,= he saide, = it nis nog(h)te sua,
 Bot thare I bid #the gange, thu ga,
 THu gange til him, thu es mi lele,
 And of mi chesing es uessele,
 For to knaw mi name and b<er>e
 Bathe bifore king ande kaiser.
 Baptizing thu sal him bede,
 Bot of thi lare hauis he na nede,
 His maist<ir> of lare I sal selue be,
 And mikil sal he thole for me,
 Him selue to thole parte of that pine,
 THat he did are to santis mine.=
 Ananias sog(h)te sone that inne,
 And forsaide saulu<m> fa<n>d thare|#in,
 And quen he laide on hi<m> his he<n>de,
 =Saul,= he saide, =he me hauis sende,
 Ih<es>u that him kid to #the,
 Bi wai to do #the for to se,
 Within and oute to haue thi sig(h)te,
 And haue the hali gastis mig(h)te.=
 Scalis fel f<ra> his eien awai,
 And hauid his sig(h)te forthe f<ra> this dai,
 Q<ue>n he hauid his baptim tane,
 He ete a<nd> d<ra>nk<e> and cou<er>id onane.


 To c<ri>stin men sone wa he cuthe,
 In sinagoge spel biguthe,
 Al that him h<er>de him wond<er>it on,
 Ilkane saide, =na es nog(h)t gion
 He that we sag(h) this ender dai
 Gain name of ih<es>u sua werrai[
 And thar|#fore come unto this tun
 At fotte the cristin to prisune[=
 Saul cou<er>id in an stunde,
 THe iuwis gan he confunde,
 A<nd> bad thaim alle to lete a<nd> liste,
 THare was no god bot ih<es>u criste.
 Sa faste the iuwis he withstode,
 THat sare he mengit thaim i<n> mode
 Q<ua>refore it was thai toke thair rede
 Derueli do him to the dede.
 THair redis tharfor gan thai ru<n>,
 With the kepers of the tune,
 Nichte ou<ir> dai to waite the time
 Q<u>en thai mog(h)te come to m<ur>th<ir> hi<m>.
 THe mair than dide the tune bege[t],
 Bot Paul it wist that he was thr[ette],
 And in a lepe ma<n> lete hin dune
 Out ou<ir> the wall<is> of the tune,
 Withoutin wonde or ani we<m>me.
 He wentin to ier<usa>l<e>m,
 To the apostl<is> he him bede;
 Bot thai sumdel for hi<m> war d<re>de,
 And wende nog(h)te giet i<n> that siq<ua>re,
 THat sikirlic he cristin ware.
 Bot barnabas thaim titha<n>d talde,
 And mad thaim of his bu<n>te balde,
 Talde hu crist with hi<m> ga<n> mete,
 And til hi<m> spac walcande bi st<re>te,
 And hu ne blenkid with na blame
 Damaske to spel ur lau<er>dis na<m>.
 Apostil was he sithin ane,
 THat mac in spelli<n>g hauid he na<n>,


 Paul hi<m> welc forthe here a<nd> tare,
 And spellid faste withoutin sp<ar>e
 Ande faste disputid with the g<ri>ues,
 Bathe to haithin folc and iues,
 Als he ne fa<n>d we nan so thra,
 For of thai sog(h)te him for to sla.




 To Pet<ir> turne we nu ogain,
 For to mac ur stori plaine.
 Pet<ir> faste the trouthe undide,
 And p<re>chid in a tune hig(h)t lide,
 THare he fande a man unf<er>ee
 In p<ar>lesie gia ag(h)te gier,
 Til him saide petir, =enea,
 Criste giue #the hele that it be sua,
 Rise,= he saide, =thi bed to dig(h)te,=
 To rise that forwith hauid na mig(h)t
 Suithe he rase, with[ou]ti<n> mare,
 Withoutin minne of ani sare;
 THan fel that folc to criste onane.
 In iope was a madane,
 Of sum men was sco calde d<or>cha,
 And of oth<ir> hig(h)te sco thabita,
 Cristin sco was a<nd> eu<ir> fuse
 Abute al werkis of almuse,
 Bot namlikest of othir thi<n>g
 To sewe the pou<ir> thaire clethi<n>g;
 THis maidin deied, quil<is> pet<ir> did
 THis forsaide signe gie h<er>de, at lid
 THat thethin was bote a litil f<ra>;
 THe cristimen sente thid<er> tua,
 And bad to thaim he suld hi<m> hii,
 Bot nog(h)t thai talde hi<m> resu<n> q<ui>.
 Pet<ir> nickid thaim na nai,
 Bot to this liccam co<m> that lai,
 With pou<ir> widus umbisette,
 Ful tend<ir>li thai for her grette,
 With wepi<n>g scawid thai thair wede
 THat dorcas gaue thai<m> gai<n> thair nede,
 THat pet<ir> mog(h)te witte quat sco were
 THair p<ra>ier gladliker to here.
 He bad tha men be al oute|#done,
 THate in that huse lefte bot a chone,
 For thare was mang thai<m> wel mai be
 Sum was nog(h)te worthi signe to se,
 Tilwarde that like he turnid his face,
 And kneland bisog(h)te godis grace;
 =Tabite,= he saide, =rise up, I bidde,=
 With this sco liftid hir eien lid.
 Q<ue>n sco of pet<ir> hauid a sig(h)te,
 Bi hir selue sco satte uprig(h)te,
 To saint pet<ir> sco rag(h)t hir ha<n>de,
 Ande he hir raisid for to stande;
 THai that war oute, in did he calle,
 And gialde hir q<ui>c up for thai<m> alle.
 THan bicom c<ri>stin al that tune,
 THat pet<ir> sog(h)te with his sarmune,
 Of sarmun walde he nawith blin,
 And lang thar lengit at an #in.
 THat he fande sa faitful frende,
 His name was calde sim<un>d the he<n>d.
 THare he dide mani man to tru,
 THat tune that calde es acris nu.
 Bo quil<is> that Pet<ir> lengit thare,
 In a tune that hig(h)te cesare
 THare was a man letande to rig(h)te,
 Corneli<us> to name he hig(h)te,
 A mig(h)ti man of gret hon<ur>,
 Was sette und<ir> th|#emperure
 To suffir thare na w<r>ang be don.
 Apon a dai at tide of none,
 An angel come and stode hi<m> bi
 =Be nog(h)te,= he saide, =corneli,
 THin orisuns and thin alm<us>
 Es knawin up in godis h<us>.
 THu sal p<ur>uai #the sum men


 For to sende until Iopen,
 And do that petir come to #the,
 At simu<n>d hende his hus es he.
 Fot him #the to, he sal te lere
 Al of thi liue, hu thu sal stere.=
 Corneli<us> eft<ir> that sichte
 Calde til him tua me<n> a<nd> a knite,
 Vntil yopen he thaim sende,
 Als the angel hauid him kende,
 THai wentai<n> forth a<nd> dide alsua.
 THe toth<ir> dai thai sag(h) thaim fra,
 THat innis thare saint pet<ir> lai;
 THan was it undorne tide of dai,
 THat es that ilke time to saie
 THat pet<ir> went him for to p<ra>ie,
 Firste to p<ra>ie and sithin at ete,
 For that time hauid he hu<n>g<ir> g<re>t.
 Q<ui>l<is> tai dig(h)tid his liuelate,
 In orisune he lai a<nd> bade,
 Ande fel thar with in a swime
 Als d<ri>g(h)te him seluin did se<n>d on hi<m>.
 Of mannis witte than he wiste,
 Als welle was than of ih<es>u c<ri>ste.
 Him thog(h)te he lokid u<n>to the lifte,
 And sag(h) tharin a mikil clifte,
 A mikil linnen clathe four sq<ua>re
 Latin dune, him thog(h)te was tare,
 At nokis foure, four listis la<n>ge,
 Vnto the air tharwith it hange.
 Q<u>en it on ere was latin dune,
 Alle four fote bestis sag(h) he bune,
 And al man<er> of crepande beste,
 Of that that er nog(h)te talde honest.
 Pet<ir> hungrit than ful sare,
 A uoice him saide in that siq<ua>re,
 =Pet<ir>, rise, a<nd> sla and ete,=
 Als qua sai, =ga<n>ge for thu sal get
 THe haithin lede, for thu sal sla
 THe Iuen folc amang thou ga,
 THair lastis that es nog(h)te to p<ra>ise,
 And haali hali kirk upraise.=
 Q<u>en Pet<ir> that unbestis sawe,
 Of thaim than thog(h)t him mikil aw,
 Forbodin bestis war in lede,
 =Lau<er>d drichte+= he saide, =forbede
 THat I sulde tete for ani nede
 THe mete thai ete in haithi<n> hede.


 Als pet<ir> than bigan to hone,
 THare come anothir steuin sone,
 =Pet<ir>,= he saide, =thu sla and ete,
 THat to do thare the nochte lete,
 +To me at ete war na resune,
 +THat til oth<ir> men es comune.=
 Calle nog(h)te comun, it es unrig(h)te,
 THat clensid hauis him seluin d<ri>g(h)te.
 THat es the haithin, als qua sai,
 Clensid in godis forsichte in fai.
 THare the nog(h)te wande with thai<m> to m<en>ge
 To lere thaim sal tu alwaise lenge.=
 Dune ande up this ilke wise,
 THis ilke clathe was latin thrise,
 And thris this ilke steuin talde
 To mac of that sig(h)te pet<ir> balde.
 And amb<ro>se sais that we sai thre
 Reh<er>cing quen child<er> sal baptizid be.
 =Truis tu in god,= gia, this es ane,
 THe tothir, =forsakis tu sathane,=
 THe thrid es, =wiltu baptizid be.=
 And alsua sm<er>ling es tare iij,
 In breste, in schuld<er>is, a<nd> i<n> fru<n>te,
 And thrise than es he put in funte.
 Ande que<n> this vessel thrise was scaw(in),
 Ogain it was til heuin up d<ra>wi<n>.
 Bot quil<is> sainte petir hi<m> u<m>thog(h)te
 Of this sig(h)te, q<ua>t bitaken mog(h)te,
 THan come tha iii men hi<m> til ha<n>d,
 THat come corneli fra erande:
 Fir come thai to simundis i<n>ne,
 Askande queth<er> petir ware thari<n>.
 Sainte pet<ir> was thar warniste;
 THurg(h) gastli sig(h)te of ih<es>u criste,
 =Pet<ir>,= it saide, =lo+ giond<er> thre
 Men that er sende to seke #the,
 Rise, ga with (thaim,) haue na d<re>de
 I selue #the sende and sal te lede.=
 Petir met tam than in hii,
 =THe man gie seke,= he saide, =es I,
 Q<ua>t es the achesu<n> of giur wai[=
 =Gladli,= cod thai =we sal te sai.
 A center, cornelius,
 To seke the hauis he sendin us;
 He dredis drig(h)tin, na ma<n> mare,
 And of him hauis he haud ansuare
 Til his h<us> the for to bringe
 For to h<er>e thi sarmuninge.=
 THair super did sainte pet<ir> dig(h)te,
 And with him gestnid thai that nig(h)te,
 Apon the morne went tair wai,
 Sone to cisare come thai.
 Lang eft<ir> thaim thog(h)te corneli,
 Ande dide his frendis cal forthi,
 Q<u>en thai of Pet<ir> und<ir>stode,
 His coming, sone gai<n> hi<m> thai giode,
 And q<ua>re thai met him in that st<re>te,
 Cornelius him him fel to fete
 With al his h<e>rte him anurande,
 Bot pet<ir> him raisid bi the ha<n>de,
 And til him saide, =rise up, broth<ir>,
 Ic am a man als tu es anoth<ir>.=
 Corneli thare hauid f<r>endis fele,
 Pet<ir> gan to thaim to mele,
 =Gie wate,= he saide, =ur lag(h) forbedis
 Meng us with ani oth<ir> ledis,
 Bot nu with sig(h)te ic haue it sene
 THat of mankind es na<n> unclene.
 THare with leve ic am giu le<n>te,
 And comin to giu als eft<er> se<n>te.
 Q<ua>t gie with me wil wite I walde.
 Corneli al <th>e sothe him tald,
 Firste of that angelis sig(h)te
 Ande sithin of bodworde f<ra> d<ri>g(h)te,
 =For this meting that I with met
 I dide,= he saide, =#the forto fette.=
 Petir opnid than his muthe,
 =I se,= he saide, =that it es cuthe
 THat god that made for us ra<n>cune,
 Bihaldis nog(h)te man his p<ri>sune,
 Na he|#ne bihaldis queth<ir> it be
 Iuwe or haithin, or thral or fre,
 Bot aske folc ell<is> that hi<m> dredis,
 With luue until his lake he ledis.
 Na hope of nan he wil forhu
 THat wil t<ra>istlic in him tru.=
 Pet<ir> thaim saide a spelli<n>g than
 Of baptizi<ng> that Ion bigan,
 THat was of penance cald baptime,
 And sithin thaim talde of c<ri>stis time.
 Hu he him|selue that ilke wise,
 For ure ensampil dide baptize.
 Sithin of his liue he with thaim led,
 Hu him on rode the iuwis sp<re>de,
 And hu he rase the thridde dai,
 Ande thare of witnes lele ar thai.
 =Ande spac with us in fleies a<nd> felle,
 And bad us wende his worde to spel.
 His fad<er> that al hauis tor to giem,
 Hauis tag(h)te him q<ui>kke a<nd> dede to de<m>.
 Nog(h)te he allane of his afferis,
 Bot ilke p<ro>phete hi<m> witnes beris.
 Alle to be safe of si<n>ne a<nd> scame,
 THate walde tru in his hali name.=
 Q<ui>l<is> thate pet<ir> spac his spelle,
 THe hali gaste dune on thai<m> felle,
 On al that herde that spelle i<n> place,
 THe hali gaste thai<m> come with g<ra>ce.
 THancand drig(h)tin d<er>|#worthi d<er>e,
 Fra than thai spac with spechis s<er>e,
 Pet<ir> spac than, =quan mai forbede
 Wat<ir> at baptize iuwis lede,
 THat hali gaste hauis ta<n> als we
 THat mar es that baptizid to be.=
 He dide thaim baptize tha<n> ilkan,
 Bot in cristis nam ilk ane alan,
 THe furme that hi tag(h)te was are
 Of baptizi<ng>, he held it tare;
 For suilc a skile him thog(h)te nede,
 THat c<ri>stis nam suld tharwith sp<re>de,
 In quilc nam forsm<er>lid tald es he,
 THe fadir alsua of q<ua>m that he (be);
 And the haligaste i wis,
 With quilc that he sm<ir>lid es.
 THare duelit pet<ir> a litil stage
 And it was the first passage,
 THat th|#apostlis in partie
 Made to suilc folc as of pani.
 Fra nu forth<ir>ward I wille
 Of tha postlis hald me stil,
 Of thair stori to spec na<m>mare,
 For thai scailid thaim thann wide q<ua>re,
 Ilk ane i<n>to contre sere
 THe cristin lauwe the folc to lere.
 THair awin lau<er>d ful wel thai<m> ledde,
 In thair speling ful wele thai spedde;
 Thog(h) that tai wel sped, als I saie,
 Ful mani a torfer suff<ir>id thaie,
 Na lefte thai for na g<ra>me of man,
 Bot werande on the w<ra>ng thai wa<n>.
 THai dide thaim seluin alle to p<ro>ue,
 Of dede for thair lau<er>dis bihoue.
 Q<ua>t contre ilk ane toke to p<re>che
 Eft<ir>warde I sal giu teche,
 Q<ua>t ending ilkan hauid, a<nd> q<ua>re,
 Sin I of thaim mai tel na<n> mare.
 Bot firste I tel of hir ending
 THat of al kingis bar the king,
 Hu sco that bar hi<m> that us bog(h)te,
 V<n>to that mikil blis was brog(h)te.
 THog(h) nan be sua unworthi man,
 Hirs am ic with al thate i can,
 With fel a<nd> fleies a<nd> sawil with alle,
 Ic es and eu<ir> sal be hir thralle;
 For ine es neu<ir> mare sua fre
 Als that leuedi to thrallid be.
 Of hir worscip sa wide to win
 To telle wat I nog(h)te quar bigi<n>,
 For thog(h) mi tu<n>ge it were of stel,
 And i cuthe loue na man sa wele,
 And I bigan hir louing speke
 A thusand gier mog(h)te I nog(h)te req<ue>,
 THog(h) that I dide na noth<ir> thinge,
 Tel tende parte of hir louing.
 For ai the mare I sog(h)te to sai,
 THe widder sal I finde the wai.
 THog(h) q<ue>th<ir> sal I neu<ir> fine
 Ai be leuedi in louing thine,
 Sua kinde ful wel I wate er tu,
 THat thu mi wille me al wil lu,
 For ofte thu menskis ma<n> with me(de)
 For wille allane withoutin dede;
 In thi louing thu do me lende,
 Leuedi unto me liuis ende.
 Q<ua>re fore I sale a litil vie
 Rede nu h<er>e of that leuedie,
 Fra that hir son ur lau<er>d c<ri>ste,
 Deied on rode and was t<ra>iste.
 I wit giu sai withoutin were,
 THat al that h<er>tli wil it here,
 Hertli heris it or redis,
 THai sale haue benicu<n> to medis,
 Bathe cristis awin benicune
 And of thair sinnis remissiun;
 Wo<m>man sal perile of na barne,
 Na nan with mistim be forfarne
 Na fal unto na dedli plig(h)te,
 THat tai it here outh<ir> dai or nig(h)te,
 And mare thar of I sai #the giete,
 Q<ua> h<er>tlic heris or redis itte,
 Of ure leuedi and sai<n>t Ioha<n>,
 THair benicun thaim bes nog(h)te wa<n>.
 And saint edmu<n>d of puntenei,
 Daiis of p<ar>dun thaim giuis xxti,
 In a writte this ilke I fande,
 Him selue it w<ro>g(h)te ic u<n>d<er>sta<n>de.
 In oth<ir> inglis was it drawin,
 And t<ur>nid ic haue it til ur awi<n>
 Language of the northin lede,
 THat can na noth<ir> inglis rede.
 (Q)ven ih<es>u crist was do<n> o<n> rode,
 A<nd> tholid dede al for ur gode,
 He calde til him sainte Iohan
 THat was his fles kinseman,
 Ande his awin mod<ir> bo thai<m> tua
 Na calde he men til hi<m> na<n> ma.
 =Woman,= he saide, =lo+ h<er>e sun thine
 For ma<n>nis luue thole I this pine.
 Lo+ hu I hinge apo<n> this tre,
 Forsothe I wate it rewis te.
 Min fete, min he<n>de, of blode ar rede,
 Withoutin rig(h)te I thole this dede;
 Min awin that ag(h)te me to luuen,
 For q<ua>m ic am dun fra abuuen,
 THai me do this mikil scame,
 Na ag(h)te i neu<ir> to ber the blame.=
 His mod<ir> stode a<nd> sare sco g<re>te,
 THe teris fel dune til hir fete,
 Was na ferli thog(h) sco wepe sare,
 For sco ne mog(h)te haue na soru mare.
 For he that nam of hir fleies,
 Als his suete wille wesse,
 Hang a tre thare nailid to.
 =Allas+ allas+ allas+= saide sco,
 =Hu mai I liuin, hu mai I be+
 Hu mig(h)ti this soru se+
 Na cuthe ic are of soru nog(h)te+
 Leue sun, q<ua>t hauis tu thog(h)te
 Hu sal I leuin withoutin #the[
 Leue sune q<ua>t sais tu me=
 THan spac ih<es>u wordis gode,
 Als he hang upon that rode,
 He saide til hir, =mi mod<ir> d<er>e,
 I sal bitechi<n> #the a fere
 THate treulic sal kepin #the,
 Q<ui>l<is> that tu in erthe be=
 He saide sone to sainte iohan,
 =For luue kepe me wel this wi<m>ma<n>,
 Kepe her and serue with al thi mig(h)te,
 THat na man do her u<n>richt.=
 THan nam tha postil sone onane
 Vntil his keping, that maidan,
 He seruid her bathe dai a<nd> nig(h)t,
 And kepid hir with al his mig(h)te;
 To tempil hir with him he name,
 And sua sone als he thare came
 Amang the nunnis of that stede,
 God for to seruin he hir dide;
 THare sco bileui al hir liue,
 Na louid sco nouth<ir> fig(h)te ne st<ri>ue.
 Alle tha leuedis thate thare wern
 Ful wel thai mig(h)tin hir forb<er>ne.
 For quil<is> that sco was with tha<m> thar
 Sco serued in bathe les and mare.
 To fere ande seke ai dide sco bote,
 And seruid thaim til hand a<nd> fote,
 Nakid and hung<er> sco clad a<nd> fed,
 THe seke than b<ro>g(h)te sco to thair bed;
 Ne was tare nouth<er> sek na f<er>e.
 THat tai ne hauid of hir mistere,
 For thaie hir luuid with al thair mig(h)t;
 Sco it of seruid ande tat was rig(h)te,
 Sco woke wel mar tha<n> sco slepe,
 Hir sone to s<er>ue was al hir kep,
 Til him sco calde with reuful steuin,
 And he hir sende an angel of heuin,
 Him selue come quilum that sco bar
 For to conforte his mod<er> care.
 Sainte iohan hir kepid a<nd> hauid d<er>e.
 For he was hir as treu fere,
 Na walde he neu<ir> fra hir gane,
 For bathe thair will<is> was als an;
 Al that sco bad gladlid he dide,
 To quil<is> thai werne in that stede.
 Q<ue>n sco hauid thare wel lange ben,
 THe leuedi that es of heuin quene,
 Hir langit sare hir sone com to,
 And que<n> sco giernid sone was sco.
 An angel sente he hir fra heuin,
 And gret her with a milde steuin,
 THe tempil within he hir met;
 Anurand hir and thar hir g<re>t,
 Ande saide, =leuedi+ sua ful of g<ra>ce
 Wele #the be in ilke place+ ] Na be thu nog(h)te drad for me h<er>e,












































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































 Bathe emp<er>ice and leuedie
 Sette in trone hir sone bie.
 And finis nouth<ir> dai na nig(h)te,
 To p<ra>ie for sinful ma<n>nis plig(h)te.
 Es nan thate sua in foli fall<is>,
 THate stintis ande apon hir call<is>,
 Ithinlic and hopis wele
 THat thai|#ne sal faire hir helpis fele.
 And for sco reuis the with<ir> wine
 Sua mani sinful of his pine,
 I soru that he in es stadde
 Es he for nathing alse radde,
 He|#ne mai nog(h)te loke tilward h<ir> lyg(h)t
 THat m<er>ris him of al his mig(h)te.
 Ogain that fa sco bene ure belde,
 Ande namlic quen we dun sal helde,
 To be than for us sper ande scelde,
 THat we ne cum neu<ir> until his welde.


 THis leuedi that I mene of maste
 Conceiuid thurg(h) the hali gaste
 THat blisful childe that sco us b<er>e,
 Q<ue>n sco was alde to vii giere;
 And tuenti gier was ih<es>u criste,
 Q<ue>n he dide him to be baptiste,
 He prechid iij and moneg(h) thri<n>ne,
 He deied, and ras than for ma<n>ki<n>,
 Fourti daiis he sithin bade,
 Ar he up til his fad<ir> glade:
 Aft<ir> the upsteich of that d<ri>g(h)tine,
 Sco liuid bot wint<er>is vij. a<nd> .ix.,
 THan it was hir elde al hale,
 THre ande sexti gier in tale.
 +And ten mone a<nd> daiis seuin
 +Q<ua> wel can caste sal finde it euin
 THat ic #the hig(h)te, ic haue it done,
 Leuedi+ set bi thi sone in t<ro>ne,
 Vnto thi sone I bide a bone,
 THu do me him to g<ra>nt it sone+
 Ih<es>u, do me to luue #the sua,
 THat quar I site, or sta<n>de, or ga,
 THat liue, ne dede, ne wel, ne wa,
 Most neu<ir> t<ur>ne min h<er>te the fra






 (s)peke we nu of tha spellers balde,
 Sin we haue of thair leuedi ta(lde).
 THa postl<i>s that wide q<ua>re war sp<re>d,
 THat til ure lag(h) the unleuand led,
 And eft<ir> that we finde in boke
 Q<ua>t ending ilkane of thaim to(ke),
 Of thaim to schaw nog(h)te bot a su(.)
 For this boke hauis na noth<ir> ru(.)
 It nes na nede ur suinke to spe(.)
 On thing we ne mai nog(h)te b<ri>n(.)
 Pet<ir> was andrewis brothir,
 THe tane was bliscid and the toth(ir),
 He was born in bethsaida
 Of galilee, man clepis sua,
 Of hali kirke es he gru<n>d wa
 In crist in him selue that led(.)
 Formast chosin forthi als heu(id),
 Of alle the feris was he leuid,
 Of godis sun first confessur,
 Of alle man kinde hirde of (.)
 Stane of kirke of kinric ca(.)
 Luuer of lau<er>d alsua nitere
 Nitande he felle wepande he ra(.)
 And curund in passiune he (.)
 His name es giuin till him of (.)
 And titil of his mig(h)te of m(.)
 He p<re>chid quil<is> he was onli (.)
 Namlic in thir landis fiue,
 Capadoce and Galathi,
 Bi(th)inia, ande In asi,
 And in a lande hig(h)t ytalie,
 THat nu man clepis lu<m>bardie.
 And of his signis, scort to rede,
 Apon the scaldant se he giede,
 A dede he q<ui>cnid with his schade
 Q<ui>l he him forbi walcand glade.
 To the c<ri>plis he gaue thai<m> fote,
 To parlesie tha<m> gaue he bote;
 Bathe ananian and his wife,
 For suike he dampnid thai<m> of liue,
 THat alle thaim sulde ta saunpil bie
 For to do na man tricherie.
 Simon mag<us>, that iugillure, |||
 THat ledde the folc with g<re>t erure,
 THat in him selue was sua p<ru>de
 He we to fleie oute ou<ir> the clude,
 Bot thurg(h) sai<n>t Pet<ir>is orisune
 Sorfullic than fel he dune, |||




 Q<ue>n he of antioche hauid funde
 (TH)e kirke, ande g<ra>itheli set on g<ru>nde,
 (O)gain this simu<n>d he gide.
 (T)o rome at t<ur>ne misleuand lede,
 (O)f t<ro>uthe spella<n>d withouti<n> spare,
 (.) wint<er> was he bisscop thare;
 (.) x and xxx wint<er> euin
 (Fr)a ih<es>u criste was steich til heui<n>.
 (.) Rome thurg(h) an that hig(h)t neru<n>
 (W)as emperure than of the tune,
 (Fo)r the luue of his sarmune,
 (.) the fete, his heuid dune,
 (Nai)lid on the rode he wes,
 (.) for to bene hi<m> selui<n> ches.
 (Hi)s maist<er> he saide to thaim of rome,
 (.) ene acht nog(h)t haf al a do<m>,
 (F)or hene was nog(h)t worthi thar til;=
 (TH)arfore thai de<m>pt him at his #wil.


 (B)irid his bodi was that tide
 Outwith  the tune on th|#est side.
 (P)aul, that saul hauid f<ir>ste to nam,
 To quil<is> he w<ro>g(h)te the c<ri>stin sca<m>,


 Firste the iuwis aduocate,
 And sithin he com to postlis state,
 Cald of ih<es>u c<ri>st fra heuin,
 THar he forcasti<n> h<er>de his steuin.
 With sig(h)t he felle, and blinde he ras,
 Of chesinge, fetil w<ro>g(h)te he was,
 To thaim he firste was werrayure,
 Eft<ir>ward bicom p<re>chure,
 Schepe of wlue, meke of felle,
 In chesing laste, formast in spelle.
 His kith was tars that he bred in,
 Comin of kinde of beniamin,
 THe toth<ir> gier of the asscenciune,
 Toke he baptim, and ga<n> sarmu<n>.
 Fra he hauid tane tha postl<is> hade,
 Was nan sua mikil tr<a>uail made,
 Godis word to spel and sprede
 Ama<n>gis alle misleua<n>d lede.
 Ful mani folc to trouthe he wan,
 At ier<usa>l<e>m he biganne,
 THurg(h) illirike and lumbardie,
 Rig(h)t til he come til hispanie;
 Of his m<ir>aclis sal we neuin,
 Vprefte he was to thrid heuin.
 A dai and of a nag(h)te the stu<n>de
 He was stad at the seis g<ru>nde;
 A gaste of gile awai he d<ra>ue
 THat in a maidins bodi claue;
 A childe that thurg(h) a fal was slai<n>,
 He gaue him liue and hel ogai<n>;
 A iugellur with blindnes he smat,
 To halte of gangi<n>g gaue he state;
 THe ned<er> of wenem sua st<ra>nge,
 Nog(h)te he schurnid with h<ir> sta<n>ge,
 Bot his hande ar sco was feste,
 He scok<e> ande i<n> the fir h<ir> keste;
 Man that in feu<ir> was unfere
 He helid thaim with his p<ra>iere.
 Ful mani it was that torfere,
 THat he gan d<re>ie for drig(h)ti<n> d<er>e
 Apon his awin fleis ande blode;
 First of iuwis that ai war wode,
 THat on him werraid ai with wa,
 And of the haithin folc alsua.
 Mani wrechidhede I talde,
 T<ra>uaile a<nd> hung<ir> thriste a<nd> calde,
 Schipbreking he suff<er>id thrise,
 And anis was he I|#beft a tuise.
 A thusand wathis at te leste,
 Bathe mangis man a<nd> ri<n>nand beste
 In p<ri>sun ofte he lai in wathe,
 In mirknes and in bandis bathe,
 To quil<is> the iuwis him bande
 And tag(h)t him haithin men i<n> hande.
 He was sua stanid sumkin dai,
 Vnnethe he bar the liue awai,
 In lepe ouir was latin dune,
 Harde in presse and in p<r>isune;
 THurg(h) an erethedine thar was
 THarwith was he latin pas.
 Sithin at rome und<ir> nerune,
 THat emp<er>ure was of the tune,
 For that he p<re>chid godis worde
 Heuedit he was with di<n>t of suord,
 THat ilke dai that ilke giere,
 THate Pet<ir> ma(r)t<ir>id was his fere;
 And on the west halue of that cite
 Birid of cristin men was he.
 THe thrid apostil hig(h)t Andrew,
 A man of meknes a<nd> of thew,
 His name bitaknis for to rede,
 Als fair ou<ir> man of manhede;
 Bathe thurg(h) cithie and achaie
 He welc p<re>chande the cristi<n> lai.
 Vndir a tyrand egeas
 Bundin on a rode he was,
 Bundin hard with rapis st<ra>ng,
 To don his pine to lastin la<n>g
 Withoutin scendin of his blode,
 Formaste he p<re>chid  of the rode.


 (I)ohan and Iacob the mare,
 Zebedie thai sonis ware,
 THis Iacob p<re>chid wide quare, |||
 And sent his lett<er>is (.)
 THe land of spaigne in faithe he (.)
 And mani anoth<ir> of the weste
 Of withoutin ani wite,
 Herode did his heuid smit(e),
 Sithin was his bodi tane
 And laid in kiste of marbir (stane).
 Iohan, maidin, iamis b<ro>thir
 Mare liuid with crist than ani oth(ir),
 THat sua til him he bar him neste
 THat he slepe apon his breste;
 And of that welle of witte he d<ra>nc, |||
 And of resune was nan sua ran(.)
 In spelling he bicom sua wise,
 Als thog(h) a flum of paradise.
 THe g<ra>ce of godis worde he sp<re>dde
 To thaim that he to lag(h) hauis (.)
 And beste in cristis awin sted
 Als he was of him seluin bed,
 His maist<ir>s mod<ir> thare he lag(h)t
 THat was decipil to bitag(h)(t)
 Maidin kepe to maidin (.)
 Als he anoth<ir> sone (.)
 In asie spellid th(.)
 An emp<er>ur don(.)
 Dide him to (.)
 THar he was (.)
 THe boke of (.)
 THat speki(.)
 THat emp(.)
 In a tu(.)
 Fillid (.)
 Bot (.)
 For al (.)
 Als wa(.)
 He did (.)
 Of t<re>en (.)
 (.) g<ra>uel bi the seis side
 (S)tanis p<re>ciuse of p<ri>de,
 (An)d eftirward with c<ri>stis maine
 (THa)im turnid to thair king ogai<n>.
 (He) raisid the widu drusiane,
 (TH)at was dede and a giu mane;
 (V)enim he d<ra>nc withoutin wathe,
 (TH)e pussund men he raisid rathe
 (TH)at war standede for suilc a d<ri>nc;
 And quen he lange hauid liuid in sui<n>c,
 Eft<ir> sexti gere ande seuin
 Sin ure lau<er>d was steich til heui<n>,
 Ful elde quen that he seich
 His ende dai him neig(h)a<n>d neich,
 Firste he dide his g<ra>ue to delue<n>,
 And sithin he laide thari<n> himselui<n>.
 Q<ue>n he hauid saide his orisune,
 In that g<ra>ue he laide him dune,
 Als it es in his stori talde
 His saul to ih<es>u criste he gialde,
 In the cite of hepehesim;
 Man wenis thar forthare of hi<m>
 He|#ne es nog(h)t dede als mani sais,
 (Bot) slepand liis he alwais,
 (.) that erthe thai sai umstu<n>de
 (.)s uprisande f<ra> the g<ru>nde
 (.) lepande andis ofte
 (.) pud<er> oupe on lofte
 (.) are und<ir> quike
 (.) wil nog(h)te nick<e>
 (.) (.)<th>saida
 (.) was alsua
 (.)id he
 (.) mikil se
 1(.)
 (.)re
 (.) lau<er>d allan
 (.) him with sta<n>
 (.) (.)euid there
 (.) drig(h)tin d<er>e
 (.) (.)e
 For lange he dutid in the richte,
 THat he|#ne mog(h)te nog(h)te tru with h<er>e,
 With eie he was made lele truer,
 He p<re>chid thare with fote he gide
 To perse ande par<th> a<nd> folc of mede,
 And to the folc was in hir<th>ane,
 To thaim of ende and bact<ri>ane.
 Faste he sog(h)te thate est<er>n <th>ede,
 And thrillid in til haithin hede,
 And thare he lenthid his sarmu<n>,
 Bituix and til his passiune.
 In a cite hig(h)te calamine,
 Of Inde fleislic thare toke he fine,
 Smitin thurg(h) with a spere,
 And his bodi es birid there.
 Bartholomev born of sulie,
 He p<re>chid in lichaonie,
 And witnes of mathew we finde,
 Gospel he turnid in tunge of inde.
 And sithin in a tune albane
 Of mikil armanie was tane,
 And pinid with ful harde paine,
 Forquike thai haue his bodi flaine.




 Mathe, apostil and w<a>ngeliste,
 Of leui calde and cosin of c<ri>ste,
 Firste he was a publicane
 And sithin of gospell<er>s ane;
 He spellid firste in iudia,
 Sithin in macedonia
 For sarmuning of godis worde,
 Man sais he stikid was with suorde.
 He liis in the mung(h) of Parthe,
 Of heuin it hauis his sawil p<ar>te.
 Iacob, Alphie barneteme,
 Was f<ir>ste biscop of ier<usa>l<e>m,
 Rig(h)twise to cal hi<m> was man wone,
 And was ure leuedi sist<ir> sone,
 Q<ua>refore man cald him leuedis b<ro>th<ir>,
 THai war ontinkil bathe til othir.
 Man of sothefastnes and rig(h)te,
 Sua mikil halines and hig(h)te,
 THat folc (.)
 Q<ua> rinne(.)
 In ier<usa>l<e>m
 THe iuwis (.)
 Vp opon (.)
 Bot for (.)
 Dune o(.)





















































































































 (.) (.)ge
 (.) til heuin ki<n>g
 (.)nbringe
 (.)n endinge
 (.) wangelistis
 (.)uil that es c<ri>stis
















































































































































































































































































































































 To mete her giede mani barune
 With grete and fair p<ro>cessiune
 Within the kirke of Saint Soffie
 THare have thai set it rig(h)te heili
 Was nev<ir> giet na tre in lande
 Sua riche na sua fair schin<an>de.
 Ilke paskis for to se
 THan was man boute that hali t<re>
 Daiis foure thai<m> set for stage;
 THe emp<er>ur with his barnage
 Apon the dai of the mande;
 Bot the quene with hir menie
 Apon the fridai eft<ir> warde,
 Of p<er>dun for to serue hir p<ar>te
 THe clergi on the Set<er>dai
 THat kepers was of C<ri>stin lai
 Withoutin case thir dais thre
 THis croice was tanne ma<n> wo<n>t to se,
 And it was tald of mani a ma<n>,
 THat a licure tharof ranne
 THate with beting was bote of bale,
 For seknes sere to mac thai<m> hale,
 A fetil that it war nog(h)te tinte,
 Set und<ir> that licur for to hinte,
 For to dele unto unfere
 To sende ou<ir> al the contre sere.
 THe g<ra>ce of God es grete a<nd> gode,
 THat giuis us sampil of the rode,
 Mar mig(h)tis hauis ur lau<er>d wrog(h)t,
 THan ani man mai thinc in thog(h)t.
 Bot mani of trouthe es sa u<n>selie,
 THame trou nog(h)te bot thai se with eie;
 And that u<n>nethis wil tai trou,
 Withoutin singne de gra<n>t u<er>tu;
 For me thinc if the sothe be sog(h)te,
 THat sin thate firste the werde was w<ro>g(h)te,
 Miraclis of the croicis michte
 Hauis ben in semblande a<nd> i<n> sig(h)te.
 Ou<ir> and u<n>d<ir> rig(h)te and lefte,
 In this compais God al hauis lefte
 Bot if man of him selue be blind,
 Vmbthinke him he sale it fi<n>de
 THe liknes of this tre sa trewe
 In thalde lach was bifore the newe,
 And in the new lag(h) alsua sere,
 THat sum ar gode of to here.
 I thinc this es tre of blisse
 THat rig(h)wines til bundin isse,
 Hauid Adam fundin it at ha<n>de
 THar with he mog(h)te haue liue lasta<n>d;
 THat plantid es in paradise,
 And dos the dede up for to rise;
 And Adam quen he w<ro>g(h)t hauid wog(h),
 Vnd<ir> this tre he him with drog(h),
 THare dide him d<ri>g(h)tin to resune
 And dide him in hope of p<er>dune.
 THe blode of Abel it criid als
 Q<ue>n him hauid slane his b<ro>th<ir> fals.
 Within that c<ri>e was god thi<n>g hid,
 THat in this ilke croice es kid,
 And dede forsothe hauid ben Noe
 If hi<m> ne sauid hauid the tre.
 Of iiij q<ua>rnere the Arche was made,
 Alhauis the C<ro>ice on la<n>ge a<nd> b<ra>de,
 THe dor of tharche apon the side,
 And thare was Ih<es>u wo<n>dit wide.
 Q<ua> wil umbthink hi<m> in his mode
 Mai finde fele takins of the rode.
 Vr lau<er>d gaue Moyses a wand
 To wirkin Maist<er>is with in ha<n>de,
 Sithi<n> was it worme and aft<ir> gierde,
 Als man enogh for with hauis herde.
 THate wele bitakind that cipres,
 THar of was warnid Moyses,
 Bathe in worde ande eke i<n> dede.
 Q<ue>n Israel of Egipte giede,
 Of that bliscid lambis blode
 A c<ro>ice was made in signe of rode,
 THat the c<ro>ice apon thaim d<ra>win,
 Vr lau<er>d thaim sauid als tair awi<n>,
 Al thar oth<ir> ne ware bot tinte
 Bitag(h)te u<n>to the angel<is> di<n>te.
 Q<ue>n the nedd<er>is that war fele
 The folc stangit of Israele
 Q<ue>n thai welc in the Wildernes
 Vndir the warde of Moises,
 A nedd<ir> was set on a t<re>,
 THate quen the stangit me<n> mog(h)t se,
 THe nedd<ir> on that tre that hange,
 THai ware al warist of thair stang.
 Q<ue>n that tai sach als tai dide ofte
 And Moyses lifte his he<n>de olofte,
 To quilis he helde his he<n>de o c<ro>ice,
 Ai hauid his awin folc the voice.
 Q<ue>n st<ri>ue was bute the p<re>ste hede
 In thai daiis mang the Iuwis lede,
 To twelue me<n> tag(h)t thai wa<n>dis xij,
 Ilkane merkid his himselue,
 And saide quilc wa<n>de that sulde b<er> blome
 Sulde ber the p<ri>stis hade with dom<e>,
 THare flurist an als gie haue h<i>rde

 Elise<us> on oth<ir> wise
 Dide a dedman for to rise,
 THe stane that he apo<n> him dide,
 Of C<ro>ice it bare the takin hide.
 Q<ue>n <David> fachte agai<n> that etin,
 Na hauis he nog(h)te hista<n> forgeti<n>,
 Vnto the batail he it bare,
 Mocht na kingis suorde do mar<e>.
 THe signe of taue i<n> alde laiis
 Bitaknis nu in ure daiis,
 THe men that tarwith takind ware,
 Of it helpid f<ra> misfare.
 Stane and C<ro>ice bathe er als an,
 Bot taue hauis gierd abou<n> na<n>;
 Of croice in the alde testame<n>te
 Was mani bisni<n>g q<ua>r to cuth<e> te<n>te.
 Croice es qua sum wil sua or nai,
 Ban<ir> of hali kirke to dai;
 Man hauis nog(h)t h<er>de thate folc be lorn
 THate hali croice havis with thai<m> borne,
 Bot hauis bidit of mani quare,
 THe lesse folc ou<ir>come the mare.
 THare c<ro>ice was stad at ani fig(h)te,
 If thate the dede be tane with rig(h)te.
 Of C<ro>ice to telle forgete inog(h)te,
 O c<ro>ice the formast man was w<ro>g(h)te,
 O c<ro>ice the formast of all wiuis:
 Of c<ro>ice god bochte thair sawil liui<s>,
 THar on he gaue himselue rancu<n>,
 Ande of himselue mad Gu<n>fanun.
 THe croice of medecine beris bote,
 Bathe in fruite and als in rote,
 In c<ro>ice it was for us the flure,
 THat we have thurg(h) sa g<re>te hon<ur>e.
 A riche liknes hauis itte,
 It es the heuid of hali w<ri>tte,
 Fundem<en>te of ure clergie,
 Reule it es of hali uie.
 Makid it es of foure iij,
 And thog(h) it es calde bot a tri
 Nokis four and t<re>s thrin<n>e,
 Sin the thridde was don tharin
 In treis thrin and iiij partise,
 Ic und<ir>stande the sevin artis,
 Of four and three qua tell<is> eui<n>,
 He sale the numb<ir> mac of seui<n>.
 THu do togid<ir>is ten and tua,
 THe lawis tuin sal tu finde sua,
 In ten than sale tu finde the alde,
 In tale of tua the neu es talde.
 Man hauis o<n> croice his scapi<n>g knawi<n>,
 And he himselue of vi es drawi<n>
 Bathe i<n> bodi a<nd> sawil I saie,
 THe bodi of eleme<n>s tuis tuai,
 THe Sawil it hauis of st<re>nthis thri<n>,
 THate takin of C<ro>ice thai b<ar> within.
 Q<ue>n God that haghis ilkin state,
 Of al in his forthog(h)te he wate,
 Ferli p<ro>ueid he him ane
 Mac croice of tre and nog(h)t of stane,
 Bot that was for to mak the me<n>de
 Of tre thate was defende.
 His croice he hauis sua w<ro>g(h)te with c<ra>fte,
 It beris a scap til alle schafte.
 Wele dide Moyses thate it fande,
 And Daui als thate forte the wa<n>de,
 And Salomon that felle it dide,
 Ande sco thate fande q<ua>r it was hide,|||
 Elin that giern it sochte,
 And til ur note nu hauis it b<ro>g(h)te;
 Sco delte it wislic als sco wilde,
 THate alle this werde it es fulfilde,
 Of the (n)ame and of the smelle,
 Forthi es gode tharof to telle.
 Helin walde nocht forlete
 Bote nail<is> in his hend a<nd> fete
 THat d<ri>uin ware ful giern sco sog(h)t,
 Til sco thaim fande ne finid nog(h)te.
 A werke of thai<m> sco w<ro>g(h)te ful fine
 In b<ri>dil of king Costentine,
 Was na c<ri>stal alse brichte,
 Na sua scene to mannis lig(h)te.
 Q<ui>der su<m> he ferde thate sire,
 THe bridil brig(h)tnes bare of fire,
 Mani thate sach that b<ri>dil brig(h)te,
 It turnide to the trouthe of d<ri>g(h)te.
 Costentin thaim bare iij giere,
 Q<ue>n he droch til his endi<n>g ner<e>,
 Ou(t) of the b<ri>dil he thaim lachte
 And to biscide the croig(h) thaim tag(h)te,
 THate mani u<ir>tu sithin w<ro>hte
 THurg(h) mig(h)te of Criste that hauis us bog(h)t.
 At costinopil a<nd> in F<ra>nce,
 God hauis mani made must<ra>nce.
 Ate Sainte Denise es hir corune,
 With tha nailis redi bune;
 Mani man come seke a<nd> sare
 THate thair hele hauis geti<n> thare.
 Of the croice es b<ro>g(h)te til ende,
 THe croice mig(h)te mot us defe<n>de.
 Q<ua> sum the tale can bett<ir> atte<n>de
 For Cristis l<o>ue thate he it me<n>de.
 THis tale, queth<ir> it be iuil or gode,
 I fande it w<ri>tin of the rode,
 Mani tellis diuerslie,
 For thai mai finde diu<er>is stori
 THate fande the croice he hig(h)t Iudas,
 Made bisop of the tune he was,
 And his name was than t<ur>nid thus
 THate he was calde Quiriacus.
 Q<ue>n funden was this hali croice,
 THe warlach saide on lofte with uoice,
 =Ha, ha. Iudas q<ua>t hauis tu done;
 Gain me Iudas thu hauis misdone.
 Forwith mi wille tinsil he w<ro>g(h)te
 THat tu fa<n>de thog(h) I walde it nog(h)te;
 THurg(h) him war mani Sawl<is> mine,
 THurg(h) the nu that I drede to tine,
 THurg(h) him I rignid fer abute,
 THu mun me kaste of kinrik oute,
 Nog(h)te for thi me wil nog(h)te nite,
 THat giet I ne sale thin dedis q<ui>te.
 Anoth<ir> king gain #the sale rise,
 THat I sal do #the with to g<ri>se,
 To do #the suffir sua mikil scham,
 THat thu sal nite thi I<es>u name.=
 And tis was saide bitirand ane
 THat Quiriac was of sithin slane.
 THate fendis crie thog(h) Iudas h<ir>de,
 Neu<ir> the mare ne was he f<er>de,
 Bot weried he that with<ir>wine,
 And saide C<ri>ste that es lau<er>d mine,
 He deme #the intil helle depe,
 Eu<ir> in wellande wa to wepe.=
 THat hali croice ic of haue redde,
 Qu<a>ron Ih<es>u for us was sp<re>dde,
 THan be ur scheld eke and ure sp<er>e
 Bituixin us and hell<es> here.
 Stedfastlic i<n> h<er>te to bere,
 For ilke dai we wend i<n> were,
 Ilke dai in wer we wende,
 Bot the Ih<es>u haue we na lende
 THurg(h) thi croice mac us thi f<re>nde
 To be ur socure at ure ende.
 Sex eldis haue we brog(h)te in pl(ace)
 THe sexte es calde the time of g<ra>ce,
 THate bigan ate c<ri>stis come,
 And lastis to the dai of dome.
 Q<ue>n for to be, thate wate na ma<n>,
 He sale al ende thate al biga<n>ne,
 For que<n> he firste the werlde w<ro>g(h)t,
 Ai for to stande he ne made it nog(h)t.
 THe t<er>eme he sette at ende it in,
 Mai it neu<ir> out ou<ir> rinne.
 THate mai na man wite i<n> lede
 But his awin lau<er>d hede,
 Bot bi takins fer on d<re>igh,
 Man wate that it es neiga<n>d neig(h);
 Of thir taknis that ic of sai
 Manne mai thaim se nu ilka dai,
 THat ilke thate ih<es>u seluin tell<is>,
 In the boke of the gospell<is>;
 =Taknis,= sais he, =sale man se
 In st<er>ne, and lande, in su<n>, a<nd> see,
 Mikil on erthe sale be the thra<n>ge,
 THat sal be the men omange,
 For the se sale rise and rute,
 Mani man sal dere and dute,
 Folc thai sale gain oth<ir> rise
 To werrai samin mani wise.
 Hung<ir> and qualme, a<nd> nede enog(h)
 In erthe sal rise for ma<n>nis wog(h),
 Mikil wa sal taim bitide,
 THate that time set es for to bide.=
 THi signis se we ilke daw,
 If we cuthe us seluin knaw,
 He sendis us this in warni<n>g,
 For to be war gain his comi<n>g.
 Of ure salu for to be fuse,
 Ogain that come that es sa cruse.
 Bot ai the ma tak<n>is that we se,
 Ai the werre warnisit er we,
 THate we ne wil nog(h)te be warniste,
 THare of hi<m> q<ua>inis ih<es>u c<ri>ste.
 Quarfore that ilke c<re>ature
 Eft<ir> the state of his nature,


 Bett<ir> his maker knawis than man.
 Allas+ quat mai we saie thanne
 Til him quen he sale be iustis,
 Of ure fainte and ure fals s<er>uise[
 And he gan us, sa meke a<nd> minde,
 Sua mikil luuis nathi<n>g als ur ki<n>de,
 Ande giuin us hauis sa mikil ur wil,
 THate we him werrai ai with ille.
 THe bestis dumbe, linis and beris,
 Alle liuand thing on sere man<er>es
 Dos thair deuer, na scurnis nog(h)te,
 <Th>ankande the maker thate thai<m> w<ro>g(h)te.
 Heuin ande erthe, and sun a<nd> mone,
 And al that in this werde es done,
 THai seruin alle apon thair wise,
 And man withd<ra>wis hi<m> his s<er>uise.
 Sua filde of couaitis es he
 THat he ne of god hauis na pite.
 Mikil leu<er> war him to here
 Hu roland iuste, and oliue(re),
 Or oue a roteroigne rede a rune,
 THan of ure lau<er>de passiune
 THat he suff<ir>id with gret despite,
 Fra pine of helle to mac us q<ui>te+
 Q<ui> er we than sua prude a<nd> balde,
 Alle sal we dei, bathe gi<n>ge and alde,
 Es nan hauis of him seluin walde,
 Criste hauis til him ur daiis salde,
 THe daiis that we ne mai nog(h)te scap,
 Dede sal us rugge until his rape.
 Q<ua>su<m> bifore wil nog(h)te be|war,
 He ne sale finde than nan eft<ir> char,
 Full illir haile es giuin us witte,
 Bot if ure liue be led wit itte.
 With ei and ere the sothe we wate,
 And neu<ir> the bett<ir> it es ure state;
 THurg(h) warnising of oth<ir> wrake,
 Vnnethe wil ani sampil take,
 If ani warniste be umq<ui>le,
 It sal him laste ful litil q<ui>le.
 For if it be at undorne tide,
 It sal nochte to the none abide,
 THurg(h) this w<re>che werde delite,
 THat eu<ir> awaiward se we wite.
 Q<ua>t bote es it sua fast to f<ra>iste
 THat we ne mai neu<ir> of be t<ra>iste[
 If we tharof haue hald u<m>q<ui>le,
 THat es us giuin bot for a gile,
 Q<ue>n thu beste wenis to haue all<e>,
 Fra alle than sal tu titest fall<e>.
 It es falla<n>d, als ic haue telde,
 Alwais to it be fulli felde;
 THarfore for c<ri>ste than p<re>che I giu,
 And namlic for giur awin p<ru>,
 THat gie thate in this lac es le<n>d,
 Hauis eu<ir> thog(h)te apon giur e<n>de,
 THat gie it for giur heui<n> chese,
 Ande sua the rig(h)te heui<n> for to bilese
 For outh<ir> of thaim we moste forga,
 For mai na man haue heuenis tua,
 Haue h<er>e als his fleis mai like,
 THate eft<ir>warde the sawil haue slik<e>,
 Bett<ir> es here withstand ur wille
 THate we mai thare it al fulfille.
 THis liue is nog(h)te an ure of dai
 Ogain that that es lastand ai.
 Al that I sai es a resune,
 THate we alwaise be redi bune,
 Redi ai gain his coming,
 THat ilke dai we se takning.
 His firste come it was ful smethe,
 THe toth<ir> sal be ful ruch and reth<e>;
 His firste come was us al to q<ue>me,
 THe tother sal be us alle to deme;
 In the first hi<m>selue come de<m>pte to be,
 THe toth<ir> demest<e>r selue sale be.
 Of this come sale be taknis sere,
 Bifore comande that gie sale h<e>re
 Withoutin that we se alwaise,
 Ai risand mare of gret unpaise;
 For qui of alle thare sal an rise,
 THat mast sal do cristin#me<n> to grise,
 THat al this werde on lenthe a<nd> brede,
 Sale sende his wickidnes to sprede.
 THat antec<ri>st of dauis sede,
 Sum thing es of forto rede.
 He that sua filde of godis g<ra>me,
 Q<ua>rfore he sal haue suilc a name,
 Forthi es he calde antecriste,
 For he sal be gain ih<es>u criste,
 Ogainis criste thate es to saie,
 For gain his werke he sal werrai.
 Crist come meke al in his tide,
 He sale come rethe raisid i<n> p<ri>de;
 Crist come to do the lach to rise,
 THe sinful for to mac richtwise,
 Bot he sal cu<m> the meke to felle,
 THe sinful raise sua sais the spel.
 Alle god thev with mig(h)te a<nd> main,
 He sale werrai thaim ogaine,
 THe gospel and hali w<ri>tte,
 He sal fordon wa worthe his wit+
 He sal do rise al maumetterie,
 And clepin hi<m>|#selue god almig(h)tie.
 THis antec<ri>st hauis hauid ful fele
 THate til his s<er>uise hauis ben lele,
 Alle antioke domisiane,
 And nu thar es welmani ane;
 For q<ua>tkin man su<m>me eu<er> it es
 Out of the rewil of rig(h)twisnes,
 Of lawid or of religiune,
 Or clerk, or mu<n>c, or canune,
 And werrais thate tha sulde wer,
 Of antec<ri>ste the nam thai bere.
 Nu sale gie here I sale giu rede,
 Hu thate antec<ri>ste sale brede,
 Na thinge na sale I feigne new,
 BOt thate I finde in bokis trev.
 THir clerkis tell<is> that ar wise,
 THate he of iuwis ki<n>de sale rise,
 And of the kinde man clepis dan,
 THat p<ro>phete mas of thus his man.
 =Dane,= he saise, =nedde<r> in strete,
 Waitand hors to sta<n>ge i<n> fete,
 To do the rid<ir> falle bi wai,=
 THate alse mikil es for to sai,
 Bi wai alse nedd<ir> sale he sete,
 THat alle the men that he mai wite
 Ridand in the reule of richte,
 He sal taim smite and do thai<m> lig(h)te;
 He sal taim giue ful att<ir>i dinte,
 Oute of thair t<ro>uthe thai<m> for to sti<n>te.=
 Of fader a<n>d moder he sal be borne,
 Als oth<ir> men was him biforne,
 Bituix a man ande a wo<m>mane,
 Nog(h)te of a maidin allane
 Als it foli talde of summe;
 Bituix a biscop ande and a nu<n>ne,
 Bot of a bisim<er> bereme a<nd> ba<er> bald,
 And getin of a glutu<n> scalde,
 THate thate thare mai be na fuler tuin.
 He sale alle be getin i<n> si<n>ne,
 Getin in sinne a<nd> borne in plig(h)te,
 Ou<ir> alle he sal be maladichte.
 In his geting the fende of helle,
 Sal crepe his mod<er> in to duelle,
 Maist<er> of errure ande of p<ri>de,
 THarin he sale his birthe abide.
 THog(h) he be nu in p<ri>su<n> bundin,
 (As it) i<n> hali (writt es) fu<n>di<n>,
 THat sainte g<re>gore selu<in> w<ro>g(h)te,
 THarfore he sais he|#ne lesis nog(h)te.
 THe kind of st<re>nthe at he hauid are,
 THoch than his mig(h)te be latin mare,
 THat his mig(h)te es nog(h)t nu sa knawi<n>,
 Ur lau<er>d hauis don al for his awi<n>,
 THat if he micht, alle walde he quelle;
 Forthi bundin he hauis thate felle,
 He sale be lesid than of bande,
 And mikil wa sal wirke in lande.
 THis es he, thate sorful dringe,
 We rede in bobe boke of schawi<n>g.
 An angel, saise he, I sach ledande
 With a mikil keigne in hande,
 An bar kaie of the mikil pitte,
 Als sais sai<n>t Iohane i<n> hali w<ri>tte.
 To the d<ra>gune suith he wanne,
 THat man call<is> deuil and satan,
 And in that pitte hi<m> sperid faste,
 To|#q<ui>le a thusande gier to laste,
 For to be laisid at te laste
 Q<ue>n that an thusand gier war paste,
 To walc his waiis forthe f<ra> that q<ui>le,
 Mani man for to bigile.
 THe king of pride this ilke es he,
 And eu<ir> it sale him foluande be;
 And als it in ur leuedi lig(h)te, |||
 THe hali gaste thurg(h) godis mig(h)te, |||
 And umblaide hir with his leme
 To brede thate blisful barneteme,
 THat al that birthe sco thar sulde brede
 Suld hali be of his godhede;
 Rig(h)te sua the deuil sale desce<n>de,
 In antec<ri>tes modir lende,
 To fille thate caitiue sua unclene,
 And umbilai hir al bidene,
 Al in his wille hir to receiue,
 And don hir thurg(h) a manne <con>ceiue,
 THat al that birthe that tare es borne,
 Be wicke and fals and felu<n> lorne.
 Forthi his name es calde with rig(h)te
 Of tinsil sun, thate  maladichte+
 For al thate he mai wirke tharto,
 Alle ma<n>nis ki<n>de he sale fordo.
 Of his geting I talde giu are,
 Of his birthe sale I telle giu q<ua>re,
 For als thate c<ri>ste him selui<n> chese
 Be borne in bethlem for ure ese,
 His manhed for to bringe i<n> place
 THat he toke for us with his g<ra>ce,
 Rig(h)t suale the fe<n>d him thisse
 Chesin stede of birthe I wisse,
 THate beste es stiglid til his stalle,
 Q<ua>re es the rote of iuelis alle,
 THare leste of god ma<n> makis min
 THe tune of babilon withinne.
 THis tune was quilu<m> chef of pers,
 Of mani oth<ir> alsua diuers,
 A tune of selcuthe mikil p<ri>de,
 Heuid of maumetrie that tide;
 Bethsaida and coroziaym,
 THir tua cite sale fost<ri>n him.
 Vr lau<er>d he snaipis thir ij. tunis,
 And th<us> he sais in his sarmunis.
 =Coroazim ai be #the waa+
 And sua be #the ai bethsaida+




 Noriste him sale of enchanteors,
 Of nig<ro>mance and of guglurs,
 Of alle man<er> of craftis ille,
 Of alle falsed thai sale him fille,
 THe wickid gastis his wieris,
 Him folwand in alle his afferis.
 To iurselem sale he sithin fare,
 Alle thate he cristin findis thare
 If thai wil nog(h)te turne til his lare,
 He sal taim sla withoutin spare.
 And in the tempil salamon
 THan sale thate t<ra>ture set his t<ro>ne,
 THat al was felde la<n>ge sithin gane,
 He sale do raisid efte of stane.
 Circumcise thare him he salle,
 And godis su<n> him do to calle.
 THe grete kaisers and the kingis,
 And alle suilc oth<ir> lauerdingis,
 Turne thai sale til him titeste,
 And sithin thar oth<ir> that er leste.
 Ou<ir> alle thate c<ri>ste es wonte to ga,
 He thaim sale ou<ir>gange alsua,
 Bot firste he sale do destriu
 THat halgied was of ure ih<es>u.
 Sithin ou<ir> alle this werde wide,
 He sale send sand with mikil p<ri>de,
 His p<re>ch<ur>s for to spelle his wille,
 Al for the c<ri>stin lach to spille.
 Fra se to se f<ra> north to suthe,
 He sale do mac his sarmu<n> cuthe,
 He sale do mani signe to sene,
 THat man bifor ofte hauis nog(h)t sene;
 Thon<er> of lofte falle salle he gere,
 And tres bratheli blomis bere;
 Bratheli to do the se be rethe,
 And brathli do it to be smethe.
 Of thingis sere thair nat<ur>is
 Turnid be in sere figuris,
 Gain kinde, and withe the deuil<is> c<ra>ft,
 THe burnis for to rinne obafte,
 THe winde to don ruchli to rise,
 THe stormis do man sare to g<ri>se;
 To raise the  dede for ma<n>nis sig(h)te,
 Sua selcuthli to schau his mig(h)te,
 THat if be mog(h)te ur lau<er>d tholinge,
 He sale until errur bringe.
 Bot alle selcuthe signis w<ro>g(h)t with arte,
 Of sothefastnes sale haue na p<ar>te;
 With iugilrie thai sale be wrog(h)te,
 And fantum be ande ell<is> nog(h)te.
 Als simon mag<us> in his quile
 Rig(h)t sua sale the folc bigile,
 Als he dide with sli c<ra>fte til ane,
 He sloch a schipe we<n>d hi<m> haue slan.
 THe god sale se suilc be w<ro>g(h)te,
 THai sale be studiand i<n> thair thog(h)te,
 Q<ue>th<ir> thate he be c<ri>ste ouir nai,
 THate thai h<er>e of the sc<ri>pture sai.
 Na es na land that man can neui<n>,
 Vnd<ir> the rofe of c<ri>stis heuin,
 THate he ne sale do thaim to be sochte,
 To bring the c<ri>stin me<n> to nochte,
 He sale himseluin do to rise
 On gain the lele in thrin wise,
 THat es to sai, with gifte, with awe,
 And with g<re>te signes for to schau.
 THai at in his trouthe wil be hold,
 Sale plente haue of silu<er> a<nd> golde,
 For alle tha hordis that ar hidde,
 Sale halic i<n> his time be kide.
 THate he|#ne mani nog(h)t with giftis d<ra>we
 Til his trouthe, he sale with awe;
 And thaa that he ne mai nog(h)t with d<re>de,
 With signis sal he fa<n>de to spede;
 And q<ua> ne wil nochte bileue him sua,
 He sal taim wirk<e> ful mikil wa,
 Mani sorful pine to dreie,
 And sithin drerilic do deie.
 THan sal tare rise i<n> that siq<ua>re
 A soru suilc was neu<ir> are,
 Sin man was made bituix a<nd> than
 And sine the werde it firste biga<n>.
 THan sal tai fle thate wald be hid,
 And to the fell<is> sal tai bidde,
 =Fell<is> falle apon us dune,
 To hidin us fra this felune.=
 And he that in his hus es stad,
 THat time sale he be sa radde,
 Neu<ir> sal him reke q<ua>r out to wi<n>,
 To bileue al his werdis winne
 To fundin be sa sale he stecke
 Ou<ir> hoghe to lepe his hals to b<re>ke.
 THan sale alle tha, scortli to sai,
 Es fundin lele in godis laie,
 Outh<ir> ih<es>u criste forsake,
 Or und<ir>lie sua waful w<ra>ke,
 With irin, of fire, or att<er>i beste,
 Hu that eu<ir> thai mac hardeste;
 And sua with sere man<er> of pine,
 In criste thai sale haue blisful thri<n>.
 THis dreri time thate gie of here,
 Sale lastand be halue thridde gier;
 For his derlingis, the stori saise,
 Vre lau<er>d sale do to scorte the dais,
 For if the daiis ne scortid were
 Vnethe sulde ani fleis be fere.
 THe time of this antec<ri>stis come,
 And of ur lau<er>dis dai of dome,
 Saint paul thus sais i<n> his sarmuns
 To the folc of tha tessaluns,
 Bot if descenciuns bitide,
 And he be comi<n> the child of p<ri>de
 THate es bot if discorde a<nd> st<ri>ue,
 Ou<ir> alle this werde be ru<n>nin rif,
 THurg(h) sarezinis a<nd> antec<ri>st,
 His come sale bide ur lau<er>d c<ri>ste.
 We wate bathe thurg(h) stori a<nd> vers,
 THate the kinrikis of grece a<nd> pers
 War heuid ki<n>rikis i<n> forme tide,
 With pouste flurist mast a<nd> p<ri>de;
 And sithin was rome atte last,
 Of alle thar oth<ir> ouir maste,
 THate thare suld na lede of la<n>d
 THat rome ne sulde haue und<ir> ha<n>d;
 THat alle folc to rome s<u>ld held,
 And t<ru>wage als til heuid gielde.
 Sainte pauil sais for this resu<n>
 THate first sale be descenciune,
 Are an<te>c<ri>ste sal cum in hande,
 THat es thus gate ate und<ir>stande;
 Bote alle kinrikis at ro<m> was u<n>d<ir>,
 Fra lau<er>dhede of Rome thai<m> su<n>d<ir>,
 THat first ware und<ir> romis aw,
 THantec<ri>st him sal nog(h)t schaw.
 THis tid nog(h)te giete of romanie,
 For thoch it stroid es geret p<ar>tie,
 Ai quil<is> the f<re>nchis kingis isse
 THate ach the emp<er>e of rome to wie(ss)e,
 Of rome thempire the dignite
 Na ma na wai al periste be,
 For in tha kingis sale it sta<n>de
 Ai quil<is> that tai are lastande.
 Vr maist<ri>s tell<is> us of this chande,
 THate thare sale be a ki<n>g o f<ra>nce,
 THate of the romain sal empir
 Hali lau<er>d be and sire;
 He sale ben in the laste daiis,
 THe maste king of alle, it saise,
 Bathe than sale he be the maste,
 And of oth<ir> alle the laste.
 THis king sale be unset with sele,
 Eft<ir> thate he haue regnid wele.
 THat his rigning es brote til ende
 To ier<usa>l<e>m sale he wende,
 THare sale he bathe gield up of ha<n>de,
 His corun and his kingis wande
 Do ih<es>u c<ri>ste ur derc d<ri>g(h)tine;
 Sua sale kinrikrik<e> of c<ri>stin fine,
 And alsua of thempire of rome.
 THan sale sone thantec<ri>ste come
 Eft<ir> sainte paul tha postil sais,
 He sale him scawin in tha daiis,
 THate sinful man withoutin mak<e>+
 THate sorful sune ande ful of w<ra>ke+
 THe warlawis awin childe to wille
 His w<ra>ngis werkis to fulfille.
 He sale be schalde his awin sone,
 Alle wickidnes in him to wone,
 Alle falsed and alle felunie,
 Ande al tresune sale i<n> him lie.
 He sale him raise sua heie on hig(h)te,
 THate man sale wene thate he es drig(h)te;
 Him|#selue sale do to raisin him
 Ou<ir> godis alle of tha alde time
 Ouir Iup<ite>r and ampoline,
 THate godis ware of sarezin,
 Heier than thir he sale him b<er>e,
 For he sale be wel mig(h)tier.
 He sale man don him for to rose
 Ou<ir> alle that man to worscip dose,
 Oute ou<ir> that hali t<ri>nite
 THate achte ou<ir> alle worschippid be.
 In the tempil sale he site,
 And do men falsli for to wite
 THat he es that ilke criste to lete,
 THat hig(h)te thaim was thurg(h) p<ro>phe(te.)
 THare sale he do hi<m> c<ir>cumsise,
 And mu<n>st<ra>nce mak<e> of his maist<ri>s,
 =Ic am that c<ri>ste,= than sale he sai,
 =THat giu was hig(h)te for mani dai,
 Nu am ic comin al for giur hele,=
 THus sale he to the iuwis mele,
 =Cominne ic am to gad<ir> giu
 THat hauis ben scailid ai to nu.=
 THe iuwis sale scortin thair <con>saile,
 And turne thaim til his trouthe al hale;
 THai sale wene c<ri>ste at undirfange,
 And receiue the gerad st<ra>nge.
 Als criste hauis to tha iuwis bald,
 In his gospel forwith talde.
 =I come in mi fad<ir>is name,
 And gie me seke with mikil g<ra>me,
 If anoth<ir> come in his awin,
 Ful sone gie sal til him be d<ra>win.
 Als sibil sais in hir spelling,
 THate in time of this forsaide king,
 Constans man sale him clepi<n> i<n> l(ede),
 He sale haue mikil lau<er>d|#hed
 Of romanie a<nd> alle the empire,
 And o grece he sale be sire.
 A mikil man, of stature heie,
 Fair in facune for to seie,
 Liuid wele withoutin lame,
 Withoutin laste al his liccame.
 Mikil richeis than sale be,
 THe erthe sale giue of fruite pl(ente);
 THe mette of quete als it es t(alde),
 For a peni it sale be salde,
 Wine and oile thate ilke pris.
 THan sale fra northe a folc ris
 THat Alisand<er> sperid in gog,
 And in a land thate hatte m(agog),
 THat fule folc na muthe m(...)
 Of thair nu<m>b<ir> it es sa fele
 THis ilke forsaide un lawis (....)
 Ou<ir> alle landis sal tanne (....)
 And do the men to drede tu (....)
 To fellis fle to hide thaim (....)
 Ma<n>nis fleis sal tai nog(h)te (....)
 Es na mete thai sale giern mare,
 Hors and asse wi<m>men a<nd> barn,
 Sale nane haue mig(h)te thair #wil to warne.
 Bot at te laste the romai<n> ki<n>g
 Sale of hisse oste ma gret gad<ir>ing,
 He sale b<ri>nge thaim alle to g<ru>nde,
 And atte laste thaim alle confu<n>de,
 Gain Sarezins grete werreur,
 Bathe destroi thaim tune a<nd> ture,
 Of maumett<ri>e thair te<m>plis alle;
 And to baptim he sal thai<m> calle,
 To turne to c<ri>ste that sched his blod,
 In templis he sale rais his rode.
 Q<ue>n thate this ilke dug(h)ti dringe
 Sale haue an hund<er>it w<in>t<er> ki<n>g
 Ben and xii, thanne sale he fare
 To iurselem als talde es are,
 And gielde up thare his diademe
 To thate lau<er>d thate alle sale deme,
 THe c<ri>stin kinrike to him gielde
 To i<es>u, thate hauis alle to welde.
 Tua p<ro>phetis sale cum in hii,
 THate es enok and ely,
 THate gain thassaute of an<te>c<ri>ste
 Sale do the lele to be warniste.
 He sale teche thai<m> alle the rig(h)te,
 And st<re>nthin thaim ogain that sig(h)te,
 THe iuwis sale co<n>u<er>te als it sais,
 Alle thate fu<n>din bes tha daiis,
 Q<ue>n thai fulfild haue thair s<er>uise,
 THantec<ri>ste sale gain thai<m> rise,
 THe boke of schauing tell<is> sua,
 THate he sale thaim bathe sla.
 (Q)<ue>n thai haue ben dede ii daiis,
 (T)o liue our lau<er>d sal tai<m> raise.
 (TH)are oth<ir> alle he mai ou<ir>reke
 (...)th swerde he sale apon thai<m> w<re>ke,
 (....) do thaim to c<ri>ste renai
 (....) THai sale bere thair life awai.
 Alle thate he tru in him sale gerne,
 In frunte thai sale the takin berne.
 Bot quen that ilke warlawis b<re>de
 His caitifte haue ii gier kidde,
 Tua gier and an halue tharto,
 With alle the d<ro>uing he mai do
 Ou<ir> alle this werde on le<n>the and b<re>de,
 Namli gain the c<ri>stin lede;
 THat alle thate wel hi<m> sale withsta<n>d
 Sale coru<n>d be to liue lastande;
 THan sale ur lau<er>d apon him se<n>de,
 His dome thate hi<m> sale driue til ende;
 For c<ri>stis come sale be sa brichte
 THate thurg(h) thate mikil lau<er>dis l(icht)
 Him sale ofstande sa mikil awe,
 THate alle the filthis of his mawe
 Sale briste oute ate his hindwin,
 For d<re>de he sale haue of d<ri>g(h)tine.
 Sua sale he p<er>is alle bischitin,
 Bathe with dred and soru bitin.
 And oth<ir> maist<er>s nog(h)t forthi
 THate folwis the worde of gregori,
 Sais sainte michel sale hi<m> quelle,
 In papilon thate ilke felle
 In that stede in his awin stalle;
 THate this be sothe wele mai falle,
 For if sainte mikel come to place,
 To dome bifore ure lau<er>dis face,
 Him sla it sale, nog(h)te his u<er>tu,
 Bot ellis thurg(h) biddi<n>g of i<es>u.
 And stabal awe tru als stane,
 THate alse suithe als he be slane
 Criste sale nog(h)t come his dom to (...)
 Bote we find in daniel,
 Fourti daiis he sal taim giate
 THat fallin arne oute of thair (...)
 THurg(h) foluinge of thate fals p<ro>phete
 THate thai mai thai<m> pena<n>ce bete,
 Q<ue>n that pena<n>ce til ende es (...)
 Ik understa<n>d al i<n> mi thoht,
 THat es na ma<n> sa wis that may
 Tel quen sal be the last day,
 Bot he that al hauis for to yeme,
 Al es i<n> his #wil for to deme.
 THat last day that al sal end,
 He gif vs lau<er>d wit hi<m> to lend.
 Of antec<ri>st wrang and woch
 Me think that ik haf red i noch.
 Bot Ine mai nan gat bot I mene
 THa cruel dayes and tha kene,
 For domesday thai sal be sene,
 Wit sorful signes ya fiftene;
 If ye wil list of thaim a thraw,
 I sal you tel of thai<m> a thraw.
 THat es na man i<n> erthe sa fell,
 THat herken herteli wil this spell
 Of this wriched werdes end,
 THat he ne his lif ach for to me<n>d.
 Gret signes sal our lau<er>d mak,
 For to schaw the wik his wrak,
 Als it es tald of ieremie,
 Zorobabel and ysaye;
 Als ieronime, that wel ma<n> t<ro>wis,
 Telles he fand i<n> the bok of iuwis,
 Quether thai sal hal on raw bitid,
 Ou<ir> ent<er>wall bituix thai bid,
 THat vndos he nauther|quar,
 THoch he was mikel clerk of lar.
 THe jugeme<n>t a litel are
 THat nan sal of the felou<n> spare,
 Sal our lau<er>d mihtes schaw,
 THat nan it sal in erthe knaw.
 Hider now I bid thaym draw,
 Al tha that of him standes aw,
 And herken swa that I sal say,
 THat hene wend noht hafles away.
 Swa sorful siht was neu<ir> aa
 THat tim sal bid sal tel of wa.


 THe first day sal ik red,
 Ful mikel it es al for to dred,
 For thar sal fal doun f<ra> the lift
 Of blodi rayn, a dreri drift,
 THe erthe sal be al red of hew,
 Na sach man neu<ir> suilk a dew+
 Childir in mod<er>is wa<m>bis, to lie
 Wit in thair wambes sal thai crie,
 Wit heye note a<nd> lude steuin,
 =Merci lauerd+ king of heuin,
 For to be born hafe we noht mi<n>t,
 THou it lau<er>d do for to stint.
 Quar|to sold we be born to day,
 Que<n> al thing sal com to way[=
 Greta<n>d thai sal cal on i<es>u,
 =Lau<er>d, Lau<er>d, hafe m<er>ci noue.=
 THe tother day to bide I wis,
 It sal be wel wer than thiis.
 THe sternes wit thayr bemis leui<n>
 Faadeli fal fra the heuin,
 Es nan that wel fest es of thai<m>(al)
 THat it na sal dun that day fal,
 And titer sal tai rin on grund
 THan firslauht dos que<n> it es stu<n>d.
 THai sal on erthe rin her a<n>d thair
 Wepand, als thouh thai me<n> war;
 Na word tho quether sal thay sune,
 Til that thai be falin dune,
 Vnto the abime wit|oute<n> siht,
 And thar thay sal haf tint thair liht,
 And worde al blak sum ani col;
 Lau<er>d+ hou mai we this thol,
 THat es sa soluid i<n> our sin
 And thar of wil we neu<ir> blin+
 Eft<ir> the tua foluis the thrid,
 An vncouthe dai than it es kid,
 THat the mon that es sa schen,
 Que<n> in the waxand it es sen,
 Sal bicom red als ani blod,
 THoru dred of hem was don on rod.
 On erthe dou<n> it sal decend,
 Bot thar na sal it na wiht lend,
 Bot to the se than sal it rin,
 And thar sal scho hir hid wit|in,
 For to fle the day of awe,
 Que<n> c<ri>st sal com hi<m> for to schawe.
 THe ferthe signe aft<er> the thre,
 Sal be ful grisli on to se,
 THat the su<n>ne that es sa briht,
 And s<er>uis al this werld of liht,
 It sal bicom than ful vnfair,
 Dime and blak su<m> ani hair,
 Que<n> it es fairest on to lok,
 At middai tim als sais the bok,
 Blaken it sal that ilk time,
 THat nan thar wit sal se a stime.
 A+ lau<er>d+ ful wa sal be that man
 THat he sal haf na m<er>ci than.
 To thaim that that his wret sal kithe,
 Na sal thai neu<ir> fra tha<n> be blithe.
 (V)gli sal be the fift dai,
 Mar than ani tong can sai;
 Al bestes dumb vnder the lift,
 Vp thai sal thair hefdes lift,
 Apon vr lau<er>d for to c<ri>e,
 If thai miht spek at ask m<er>cie.
 Riht to the erthe sal thai rin
 For drednes thar to hid thai<m> in,
 An sal c<ri> than wit stither steui<n>
 THan nou mai do x or elleui<n>,
 Al for dred of his comi<n>g
 THat dome sal dem of al thing.
 THe sext day es red in rune,
 Que<n> this werld bathe dal a<nd> dune.
 Eui<n> elike heye sa worthe alle,
 THe wallis, touris, the felles to falle,
 And al this nou vnder heuin
 Sal  be that day elike al euin
 For drednes of that demst<er>.
 THe pais sal al torn i<n>to wer,
 THe erthe sal q<ua>k neu<ir> ar sa fast,
 Tour a<nd> toun dun al to cast,
 THat es na v<er>k sa st<ra>ng, ou<ir> wal,
 THat it ne doun that dai sal fal;
 Wod a<nd> wal al doun sal d<ra>w
 Of demst<er> that derful aw.
 Sorful sal be the sign seuind,
 Mar than the sex that ic haf neui<n>d.
 THe tres forcastin sal thai<m> payn
 For to riht thai<m> op ogayn,
 Dou<n> the crop, vpward the rote,
 Of mirthes than nan es to mote;
 Vnquemfuli than sal thai q<ua>k,
 THat al the erthe it sal to q<ua>k;
 Noht a leue on thai<m> sal lest
 Que<n> that the gret i<n> tua sal brest.
 Lau<er>d+ quar sal we than rest
 Que<n> nan sal wet q<ua>r tha<m> to nest;
 Al wanis that tim sal vs wan,
 Bot we ne haf the g<ra>ce of an.
 THan bi|#houis al folk to deye,
 THoru sorfulnes that thai sal dreye.
 THe ahtand signe it hauis na mak,
 Na forwit of sa mikel wrak;
 Of hir chanel the se sal rise
 To hid it bot it mai na wise,
 It sal bathe brest dal and doun,
 Al thinges for to droun,
 Bot hen fail vs that hafs it tald,
 THat es moyses that ald.
 Op to the lift ris sal the se,
 THar wit strenket to get entre,
 THe fisses that thar in es stad,
 THat mak vs oft of glad,
 Til erth<er>in wai than sal thai fle,
 THat wen that god thaim may noht se;
 Ogayn the se than sal it draw,
 Doun fra the lift vnto the law,
 Vntil hir channel sal sco t<ur>ne,
 And als til thayres ilk a burne.
 THe neynd it sal be cruel and ken,
 Was nan slik of tha forwit sen,
 Wit speche sal al thing thai<m> men
 Als it wit manes mouthe had ben; |||
 I draw to warand saint austin,
 THat spekes hou this werd sal fin; |||
 THai sal c<ri> on vr lau<er>d driht,
 =Haf m<er>ci of vs for thi miht,
 Lau<er>d god, that lastis ay+
 THou sal vs don to wit away.
 To t<ur>ne ogain als noht ne war;
 Lau<er>d thou lat us noht forfar.=
 THe tend outnem es for to neuin,
 THat es na hagie vnd<ir> the heuin,
 And selue it sal be ferid
 Sain him that wroht the midelerd,
 Als that vs telles sain ierome,
 And gregor that was pape of rome.
 THe selue angeles sal quak unq<ue>m
 For dout of him that al sal dem,
 For than sal q<ua>k saint cherubin;
 And alswa sal do seraphin;
 Na c<re>ature sal lesten plai,
 Saint peter sal be domb that dai,
 THat he ne a word dar noht spek,
 For dout of demst<er>is wrek.
 For heui<n> he sal depart in sonder, |||
 And he sal #her it cri to wonder,
 Bathe cri a<nd> brai for dout a<nd> dred,
 =Haf m<er>ci+ lau<er>d+ for nou es ned.=
 THan sal thai that in hel er glopin,
 Que<n> liht sal schine of heui<n> opin
 THa warlaues sal walken out, |||
 Saint pauel sais it es na dout;
 Herkenes now q<ua>t thai sal say,
 Of dred thai sal haf of that day.
 =Ih<es>u, lau<er>d, that wrouht vs aa
 In heuid, and sithin tok vs fra,
 We haf it tint wit gret folie;
 In this gret ned to #the we crie,
 THi wriche hanwerk in wa
 THat thou of fire vs suffers swa,
 Kaitif that nou soruis mare
 THan eu<ir> in hel it won was are,
 THou yeld vs again vr ostel now,
 THat vs es reft a<nd> we ne wat how,
 We wald it vnd<ir>fang ful fain,
 If we miht haf vr erd ogain.=
 THe signes of the dai elleft,
 It nes na scil that it be left;
 Sar thai sal do for to grise,
 Wind on ik a sid sal rise,
 Sa fast gain other sal tai blaw,
 THat es na thing that it mai schaw.
 THe erthe sal tai do to rift
 And vp out of the sted to lift,
 THe deueles out sal be fordreuin
 Of that erthe that sal be reuin,
 Ber thair bodis in that air;
 THat siht it sal be ful vnfair+
 THan sal the raynbow decend,
 In hew of gall it sal be kend,
 And wit the windes it sal mel,
 Drif thaim doun into the hel,
 And du<n>t the deueles thiderin,
 In thair bal al for to brin,
 And sal tai<m> bidd to hald thai<m> thar,
 Abou erthe to com no mar.
 THe t<er>m es comen, haf ye sal
 THe incom to be in your bal;
 THan sal tai bigin to c<ri> a<nd> calle;
 =Lau<er>d fader, god of all.


 THe tuelft signe of sorful sere, xij
 THoru miht of him that al ka<n> stere,
 THat es na man in erthe wroht
 THat acht to lat it out of thoht,
 And for to me<n>d his lif the mar,
 To i<es>u that our leuedi bar.
 Heuin it sal be lokin ogain,
 Sal nan be than that tai<m> sal q<ua>in
 Hougat her nou mai we be<n>d.
 Que<n> al thing now draus til e<n>d,
 THe angels that i<n> heui<n> sal be,
 Sal kerel don for c<ri>stes knee,
 And sal c<ri> m<er>ci to that king
 THat tai se bow til al thing.
 For that rethenes sal tai be rad,
 THai se ou<ir> al the werd stad;
 Que<n> a<n>gel sa sal dred that pas,
 Of sinful q<ua>t sal worthe, allas+
 THe dai <th>retend sal be to snelle
 Mar than ma<n>nis tong mai tel,
 Of that sorful g<ri>sli dawe,
 THat c<ri>st sal til his schaftis schawe,
 Quen al the stanis that er mad
 Vnder the lift on werd brad,
 Abowen this erthe a(n)d bi nethin
 Riht vnto the abime f<ra> heuin,
 Sal smit togider wit sli maht,
 Als thonir dos wit firin slaht.
 Wit hard dintis mon thai kithe,
 THat nan hauis eui<n> tha<n> be blithe.
 Wit thrawi<n>g sal tai sami<n> thrist,
 THat al to pecis sal tai brist.
 THes sal be lastand al a dai,
 THe signes of this sorful plai,
 THe men that tat dai sal ou<er> bid,
 Vnder a fel thai sal habide.
 THe dai faurtend sal be ful g<ri>lle,
 Til al the werd it sal be ille,
 A stormi dai, a strait of awe,
 Bathe of frost, and hail, a<nd> snawe.
 THan sal tar com bathe thon<er> a<nd> leui<n>,
 A<nd> d<ro>ue al that es vnder heui<n>;
 THe cludes til the heui<n> sal rin
 For to hid thaim thar|#in,
 For to fle that dai sa brem,
 THat vr lau<er>d sal com to dem.
 Quat sal be the fiften dai[
 Als ik haf funden, ik sal sai;
 Men sais a<nd> sothe mai it bifal,
 THat it sal ending be of al
 THis medelerd, ful wailewai+
 Al to noht sal brin awai,
 THe se als that vmlukes the land,
 And al the wat<ir>es that rines i<n> st<ra>nd,
 Al sal torn again til noht,
 Als thai war first ar thai war wroht,
 Heui<n> a<nd> erthe to be mad newe,
 THat eu<ir> sal be lastand newe.
 THan sal be herd the blast of bem,
 THe demster sal com to dem
 THat al thing of standes awe;
 In q<ua>tkin forme i sal yov sc(ha)we.
 We t<ro>w a<nd> al aw for to trow, |||
 Bot it be sarezin or iow, |||
 THat eft<ir> his resurrectiou<n>,
 THe hei dai of th#assensiou<n>,
 Com i<es>u til his frendes swete
 THat set war to thair met at ette,
 And thai that war in dred a<nd> dout,
 THar|#of wit trow he broht thai<m> out,
 And sithen op til heuin he stehe,
 Mani man onstand and sehe.
 His discipils for this siht,
 Mikel he did thair hert to liht,
 A clud again hi<m> sau thai liht
 And bar him vp, was wond<er> briht;
 Verrai man a<nd> god v<er>rai,
 Al for to deme on domesdai.
 THat ilke forme com sal he thar,
 THat he in erthe is c<ro>ice bar,
 Sua sal he com bot witte wel tha<n>,
 THat sin the werd first bigan
 Was neu<ir> sen sa sorful tid,
 Als that dai sal be for to bide.
 Que<n> com first his com to kithe,
 Wit mekenes he ga<n> it kithe,
 THat com bathe dern and hide
 And no bit thone me<n> to kide.
 His othir coming sal he schaw
 Richli til al this verd to knaw,
 Bathe heuin and erthe for hi<m> sal d<re>d,
 Als ye fowit hauis herd me red.
 It es na clerk mai writ wit ink,
 Na mouthe to mel, ne hert to think,
 THe hunderet a<nd> the thousand knihtes
 Sal folu that lau<er>d mikel of mihtes,
 Wit him to com al to this dai,
 Allas q<ua>t sal the sinful sai.
 Vngainand sal be than his gami<n>
 Que<n> he to b<ri>nne sal se al sami<n>,
 Bathe land a<nd> lithe a<nd> al thinges,
 THat ani werdische hald wi<th>i<n>ges.
 Sorful bes than the sinful cher,
 Que<n> al than sal tha t<ro>mpes #her;
 Bifor the face of that kaiser
 Angels sal his baner ber,
 THat es the rod he was on sprid,
 THat wit vs to liue hauis led,
 Ou<ir>comin the fend wald al forfar,
 Es na baner he dredis mar.
 Was neu<er> su<n>ne schina<n>d sa clere
 THe tend part, als tat baner+
 THe b(ri)htnes of that c<ro>ice sa schen,
 Ou<ir> al the werd it sal be sene.
 THus heilik, bot wel heiliker,
 Sal com to dem the demest<er>.
 At dom he ne sal noht sitte allan,
 Bot felawis othe<r> mani an;
 Al tha that thaim|#self sua bowed
 THat werdes worschip al for|#howid,
 Siluer and gold and ais o lif,
 And that thair fleis for hi<m> st<ri>f,
 And t<ra>uaild thaim on al wis
 To paien him in his s<er>uis,
 And foluis lellik al his laues;
 THir me<n> sal be his felawes
 For to dem bathe ded and q<ui>k,
 Quether thai be god outher wik.
 Al that sal be at that asise,
 Al hal thai<m>self sal vprise
 In bodi and sauel, al on new wis,
 Al thoru the strenket of that iustis.
 THat ilk fleis that we haf now,
 We sal ber than sa sal we t<ro>w,
 And other nan we writen find.
 THat other t<ro>wes, of t<ro>wthe er blind.
 Of this t<ro>wthe hard es t<ro>wthe to find.
 For q<ui> it semis al again kind
 THat ma<n>nis molden fleis and banis,
 Fra tim that thai be rotin anis
 Haf pithe a<nd> lif, als thai hauid ar,
 It semis swa that neu<ir> mar.
 Herkin q<ui>, I sal #the red,
 Bot mistrun that es na ned,
 Que<n> god wil swa, that vpberis al,
 THat ma<n>nis fles to mold to fal,
 Nan miht he noht wit his mai<n>,
 THat ilk erthe mak fles ogai<n>[
 He that it wroht fordos the fles,
 He makes it eft que<n> his #wil es;
 He that dos fles worthe i<n>to lame,
 Of lam mai fleis wirk lika<m>;
 A bodi he mai son mak of noht,
 THat al this werd wroht o noht;
 Forthi es schortli noht that he
 Ne mai his wil al do to be.
 Na duht riht na ma<n> i<n> this ded,
 For t<ro>uthe sal do ma<n> best to sped,
 Qua dutis he es bar the mar,
 Of t<ro>uthe allan it es this lar.
 Al mai he do he that al waldes,
 If thou wil wit of thare eldes,
 THat tai sal in that dai vpris,
 Saint Pauel on this vis, |||
 THa litel a<nd> mikel ald a<nd> yong,
 At that mikel vprising
 Sal be of eld, als tai sul #her,
 Haf deyed in eld of xxx yer,
 THat eld that c<ri>st hauid at his dede
 Que<n> he vs broht al f<ra> vr q<ue>de.
 And if that ani #her liuand
 Was we<m>mid outh<ir> on fot or ha<n>d,
 On heuid, on bak, on brest, or side,
 Als we se chancis oft bitide,
 On mouthe or nes or elq<ua>re,
 Or bote apon his bodi bare,
 Cripil, crokil, or t<ur>ned on baft,
 Or limis ma gain kindeli c<ra>ft,
 THoru ma or lesse of lim haf last, |||
 At the norising that sal be last.
 Al that God hauis chosin till his
 For to be broht i<n> til his blis,
 Quat sum thai i<n> this lif haf ben,
 Na sal na wem on thai<m> be sen,
 Na sal nathing bot al fairhed,
 Als we i<n> hali sc<ri>pture red,
 Al sal haf riht limes thar
 THai ah, haf ne les ne mar.
 Bot tak tent q<ua>t I sai to #the,
 Of thair stature q<ua>t it suld be,
 Al of thair eld of thai<m> ik mele,
 THat c<ri>st tas for his awen lele.
 THar oth<er> sal haf faired nan,
 Of al welthe sal taim be wan,
 Of thaim it es to tel na tale
 THat brewed witoute<n> bote es bale.
 THe childer that er abortiuis,
 THat es, that er noht born o<n> liuis,
 Sal rise in xxx wint<er> elde,
 To litel bote to thaim or belde.
 For thai ne war noht baptiste i wis,
 Na sal tai haf na part of blis,
 THir mikel maisters sais that tai
 Mai saved be on na<n>kin wai.


 THe men that thoru thair awen gilt
 Wit heuedind d<ra>ht or ha<n>gi<n>g spilt,
 THoru thair felou<n> and thair sine,
 Wit hondis mast parti etine.
 Mani wenis that er vnwis
 THat tat fles hal suld neu<ir> ris,
 Nou I sal te resun rede,
 And oute of mistrouni<n>g you lede;
 wit ye wel it na es rihtt
 For to mistroun in godes miht;
 Quat (man) mai wet, q<ua>t ma<n> mai ler,
 Quat eye mai se, q<ua>t er mai #her[
 Quat ma<n> i<n> erthe mai think i<n> thoht[
 Hou al this werd our lau<er>d wroht,
 Heui<n> and erthe al i<n> thair haldes+
 THat mihti god that al waldes,
 Qua can say me hou of a sede
 He dos a hu<n>deret for to bred[
 THoru his #wil dos that mihti ki<n>ge
 Out of hard t<re> to spring
 First the lef and than the flowr,
 And sithi<n> the froit wit his sauour,
 Ilk fruit in his sesoun.
 Ach we thar|#of to sek reson
 Hou he dos al thing to nait,
 Certes that war bot surfait;
 THe mar ma<n> swink hi<m> thar abouti<n>
 Fra sped the ferre he sal ben outi<n>;
 A sau<m>pil sal I schaw thar bie
 THat I fand of saint gregorie.
 THar he was in a sted su<m>quar,
 A c<ra>fti clerk and wis of lar
 And askid hi<m> an q<ue>stioun
 Of an of wolf and a liun,
 And of the thrid that was a ma<n>,
 Quar of the tal he thus bigan; |||
 =A ma<n> welk thoru a wod his wai,
 THar ner the strete a wolf hi<m> lay,
 THis wolf it was wnmisur of met,
 Al this ma<n>nis fles he ete.
 Alle swithe he swa hauid don
 A hungir lion mett he son,
 Vp and doun his p<ra>i secand;
 Que<n> he na noth<ir> best ne fand
 THis wolf he felled a<nd> ette hi<m> alle,
 Ne left he nather g<re>t ne smalle.
 THe lion eft<ir> deyed in hii,
 Dede thar gan his caroin lie,
 And thar was rotin al to noht.
 Quar sal now this man be soht[
 For i ne mai t<ro>w on nankin wis
 THat this ma<n> mai to lif upris,
 Sin nan es als i wen that kan,
 Tuine that erthe that com of man
 Fra erthe that es bred of best.=
 Saint g<re>gor gaf answer honest,
 And of that ma<n> that was i<n> were
 THe sothe he schawid hi<m> al cler,
 And prouid him wit q<ui>k resu<n>,
 THat at this resurrecciu<n>,
 Wit al his lims hal a<nd> fere
 Sal com bifor the demest<er>.
 For thou his bodi war al brint,
 And blawen al the pouder tint,
 Yet mai god gad<ir> it al agayn
 And newi<n> it at his wille ogain;
 Al the fleis that was of man
 Sothefast sal be raised than,
 It sal be delt in litil wefe,
 THat was of best al sal bilefe.
 THat bathe the tan a<nd> toth<ir> made,
 Wel bituix thaim than he scahade,
 Sua halli sal tai risin thar,
 THai<m> sal noht wa<n>t an hefdis har,
 Ne noht a nail of fot or hand.
 THohq<ue>thir we sal wnd<er>stand,
 THat nail a<nd> har that hauis be<n> schorn
 Bes noht al q<ua>r thai war biforn;
 Bot als pott<er> wit pottes dos
 Quen his new vessel fordos,


 He castis it al in a bal
 A bett<ir> for to mak wit al,
 Of noht he lokes quilk was q<ui>lk,
 Bot makes anoth<ir> of that ilk
 Wel fairer than the first was wroht;
 Riht sua sal c<ri>st, ne dout thou noht.
 He that es lau<er>d on erthe and heui<n>
 Mai of that ilk selui<n> euin
 THat first was molten into lam,
 Mak a wel fairer likham,
 And if tharof wanted mar or les,
 To mesur als his willes es.
 On paske dai sais saintis sume,
 THat the dai of dom sal come,
 THat dai he wald hi<m>self ris
 He wald vs rais on that wis;
 He sal dem at midward the niht,
 THat ilk tim he send his mihit,
 Vntil Egipte that folk to q<ue>lle,
 THat ilke time he herid helle.
 THat ilke time sal com that king,
 His lele vntil his blis to b<ri>ng.
 THe sted of dom q<ua>r al sal meet,
 Vs telles Ioel the p<ro>phete,
 A(n)d thoru his mouthe vs said d<ri>hti<n>,
 Que<n> I sal haf m<er>ci of min,
 Sal brek thair bandes and thair lace,
 I sal tai<m> comfort a<n>d solase,
 I<n> vale o iosephat I sall
 Do to be gad<ir>ed ledis all,
 THar sal I you mi dom of ded;=
 Bot mani ma<n> thar thai can red,
 War noht this word I forwit q<ua>the,
 Quat takenes vale of iosephat,
 Oma<n>g a hu<n>deret me<n> of wan
 Ne vnd<ir>standes it noht an.
 THai wen that our lau<er>d driht
 Sal com vnto that dal to liht,
 THat iosephat es cald ai q<ua>re,
 Wenis the dom it sal be thare,
 Vnder the mu<n>t of olivete,
 Als it es nevind of p<ro>phete;
 THai tent allan bot to the lett<er>,
 And litel es taim tharfor the bettere.
 Iosephat q<ua> giuis entent,
 Bitakenis godis iugement,
 Ieromie sais of that p<ro>phecie,
 THat iosephat mai signifie
 Vr lau<er>d dome q<ua> rihti spelles,
 THat beris the word a<nd> nathi<n>g ell<is>.
 Bot q<ua> wil wite the sothe a<nd> riht


 Dou<n> to the cloudes that er on hiht,
 In the air of loft he sal hi<m> schaw,
 To don his mihtes for to knaw,
 THar sal we met wit hi<m> to lend,
 For eu<er>|#mar wit|#oute<n> end.
 THe wikid that dred noht his aw,
 Her doun thai sal be demed law,
 THai sal haf na miht vp to win,
 Sa heui carkeded of thair sin;
 Vp in the schi the dom sal be,
 Sua t<ro>wes hali kyrk and we.
 Bot es na ma<n> sa wis can telle
 Hou la<n>g at dom that c<ri>st sal duelle,
 Bot thuprising witouten hon,
 Ful swithe Iwis it sal be don,
 Bathe sal rise in a litel weie,
 Al that war ded a<nd> that sal deie,
 Saint austin says inent that dai
 Es nan can godis consail sai.
 Of dom me<n> clepis it the dai,
 Queth<ir> thar be ma than an or nai,
 Vnder name of dai man sal,
 Und<ir>stand the tim that al
 Sal be demd at that dom sa st<ra>ng,
 Queth<ir>|sum it last schort q<ui>l or lang.
 THai that sal dey b<ra>theli that tide,
 To bete sal tai na space abide,
 Bot thai that hauis bot sinnes liht
 Sal clengid be al for the siht.
 THe fend sal to that dom be led,
 For thai for hi<m> sal be sa red,
 He sal haf dom swa lathe to be,
 THat santis thar on hi<m> sal se,
 Bathe thai dredi<n> sal a<n>d grow,
 Na this na thar na ma<n> mistrw,
 THat than in s(i)<n>nis liht war tan,
 A<nd> pen<ance> tharof don hafs nan.
 For pen<ance> sal haf nan other pine,
 Bot that dred of that witherwi<n>,


 THat drednes sal be sa vnmete,
 THat it mai al suilk plihtes bete,
 THat fundi<n> er in dedeli sine,
 THai wend to pine witoute<n> blin.
 At this dom that es fowit melt,
 Sal al led i<n> iiij be delt,
 THe god in tui<n> on his riht hand,
 THe wik in tuin on his lef ha<n>d;
 THe formast raw sal stand him ner,
 Als that es his dowhti der,
 THat al this werdis werkes forsok,
 And arlik to god thaim tok.
 THat sinne a<nd> sak for hi<m> forhuid,
 And bodi a<nd> saul til him bued;
 Went vnto religiou<n>,
 And did thair bodis i<n> p<ri>son,
 And swinkid bathe dai and niht,
 For to s<er>ue vr lau<er>d driht.
 Gret lau<er>dschip sal thir be lent,
 For q<ui> thai sal of na<n> be dempt,
 Al the hali me<n> sal com
 Wit our lau<er>d vnto that dom,
 Noht to be dempt, thou sal wit,
 Bot i<n> thar setis for to site,
 Felauschip vr lau<er>d to ber,
 Bathe als iustis and demst<er>.
 I<es>u c<ri>st es lau(er)d i wis,
 Sin he this couena<n>d hiht til his.
 THe toth<ir> raw biside sal ben,
 Sal be ful loueli on to sen,
 THat sal ben of god c<ri>sti<n> led,
 THat did i<n> this lif mani god ded.
 THat thouh riches hauid enoh,
 THarfor thai til na riches droh,
 Bot swilk als tai hauid i<n> catel
 THai did to pou<er> for to del,
 And gaf thair hert for luf of med
 THe nedi for to clathe and fede;
 And willi war to don, and glad,
 THat me<n> of hali kirk thaim bad;
 And did wel #her thair mis to me<n>d,
 Treuli trowand at thair end.
 Swilk ma<n> that taim sa bar her,
 Of dom bot god thai<m> sal noht her,
 Ful liht sal be thair lot that dai,
 To thaim ful swetli sal he sai,
 =Ye bliced folk, bathe me<n> a<nd> wiuis,
 THat me war serua<n>d i<n> yor liuis,
 In mi g<re>uance ye did me god,
 I was hu<n>gri, ye gaf me fod;
 Me thirsted sar, d<ri>nk ye me b<ro>ht;
 Prisond I was, and ye me soht;
 Que<n> I in sekenes was sar,
 Ye com to comfort mi kar;
 Of nakidhed que<n> I drow harme,
 Ye gaf me clething that was warme;
 Que<n> I was #wil a<nd> out of rest,
 Godli tok ye me to rest.
 For ye haf s<er>ued me sa wel,
 To med ye sal haf lastand sel,
 THe sel that ye sal haf to winne,
 For eu<ir> sal ye leng tharinne.=
 THan sal thir felauschipes twa
 Led lastand lif for eu<ir> and #a.
 THat i<es>u c<ri>st mot bring vs to+
 For i<n> this werd nis bot vnro,
 Ful wel es hi<m> that won mai thar,
 THat kithe was neu<ir> cuthe to kar.
 THar sal stand on his left side,
 Wrichis stad in waful wide,
 And of thai<m> sal me<n> se alswa
 THair p<ar>ti to be delt in twa.
 Lathe and st(i)nkand sal tai be,
 Sari sorful on to se,
 THe first range the mast sti<n>ka<n>d,
 Sal be of wriches mist<ro>uand;
 THat renaid als t<ra>itur and fals,
 Murtherers a<nd> ma<n>sworn als,
 THat thoru corsing or other pliht,
 Of kirk as tint the help wit riht.
 Fra comu<n> out c<ri>stin men
 THa carful sal ethe be to ken,
 THat i<n> this lif war won to lie
 In hordom a<nd> in licherie,
 Foluand al thair fleis #wil,
 And mast thaim liked dedis ille
 Witoute<n> reuthe or #wil to mend;
 Unsc<ri>uin war thai at thair end,
 Bot deied in sin of dedeli dede,
 THir to dem sal be na nede,
 For thai war ar thai com thar,
 THair dom apon thaimself bar.
 THe tothir range bes il Inoh,
 Of c<ri>sti<n> fals and ful o woh,
 THat mas taim c<ri>sti<n> me<n> wit na<m>,
 And vnd<er> s<er>uis godis gram.
 Falslik es he c<ri>stin cald,
 THat c<ri>stis lawis wil noht hald,
 Fals it es that lufe to knaw,
 THat nauth<ir> that wil for luf ne au
 Do that suld be him to quem,
 Quar|#wit man miht hi<m>selui<n> ye<m>.
 Bot in pride and t<ri>cheri,
 In nithe and enest a<nd> licheri,
 And in vntelland sinnis felle,
 THe hunderet parte es noht to mel,
 THat ma<n> riht now his lif in ledis,
 Sa dugid i<n> thair wik dedis.
 On ilka sid than gad<ir> thai,
 Bot litel beres the pouer awai,
 THai es sa gned that tai ne mai spar,
 For to gif thaim les ne mar.
 THe couaitis, for sothe to telle,
 Hauis mani sauil browht til helle,
 Bisweld it hauis this werd at weld,
 Vnnethis sal man find an i<n> eld
 THat wel wil scrif him of this sak
 Ne for na <con>sail mendis tak.
 Wit ye forsothe al that are schilke
 THai sal be demd al wit the wike,
 To mikel soru a<nd> site to thai<m>,
 THat al this werd thaim mai noht rai<m>.
 Wit mikel wret a<nd> awful cher,
 Vr lau<er>d sal sai that thai mai #her,
 =Do fles hethin, ye malediht+
 Vnto mi rik haf ye na riht,
 Oft I was wit malis met,
 Bot for yow ne was neu<ir> the bet;
 In hu<n>g<ir> oft saw ye me,
 THar of ne hauid ye na pite.
 Gas to the deuil, thar sal ye ga,
 For to wel wit i<n> hi<m> wa,
 Eu<ir> wit|#ine his wa to welle,
 Wit hi<m> and his that ar i<n> helle.=






 A+ lau<er>d, wat he war wis that moht
 Stedfast hald this dai i<n> thoht+
 To forgied that tai neu<ir> mar
 To|#q<ui>lis that he liuand war.
 For than mu<n>d he mak #her his wai,
 Fra wak to wer hi<m> of that dai;
 Fra that dai forthe thu ahe to mine,
 Sal neu<ir> fra bodi sauil tuin,
 For god and ille togid<ir>s ar,
 THai wrohtin ar thai twi<n>ned war.
 Togiders sal tai tak alswa,
 THair worthi med i<n> wel or wa,
 Auth<ir> heuin or hel pin,
 Wit satanas that with<ir>win,
 THe f<ra> the iugement be mad
 Sal casti<n> be, witouti<n> bad,
 I<n> a sti<n>kand stank of fire;
 THar sal be yoldi<n> hi<m> his hire,
 Als sais the boke of p<ri>uete
 THat to sai<n>t Ion was scawid to se.
 And q<ui> that stinka<n>d stank es cald,
 THar es resu<n>, qua|#su<m> wil hald;
 Stank es als me<n> sais vmstu<n>t
 Sa dep that thar|#on es na gru<n>d,
 Al swa the pitte of helle pin
 It es sa dep, wit|#out<en> fin,
 That end ne bes thar neu<ir> apon,
 A stank it cald es of sain Ion.
 He that es duked anis dun,
 Comis neu<ir> out of that p<ri>son;
 THe fir that thar es for to brinne,
 Neu<ir> mar ne mai it blin.
 ix paines p<ri>ncipal es tar,
 Crist lat vs neu<ir> thidir far+
 THe first it es the fire sa hate,
 THat al the mikel se sa hate,
 THoh that it war casti<n> thar|#ine,
 Ne suld it neu<ir> the les brine;
 Sa that vr fir ne mai no mar
 Ogain that fir that b<ri>nnes tar,
 THan paintid fire gain ouris moht,
 THat apo<n> a wah war w<ro>ht;
 Euir it b<ri>nnes dai and niht,
 Bot neu<ir> mar it cast<is> liht.
 THe tothir pin es cald sa ken,
 THat ma<n>nis muthe ne mai noht me<n>,
 THat thoh a fir i<n> fel war mad,
 And thoru a chance thar i<n> to slad,
 Quil thou moht t<ur>n thin ha<n>d about,
 It sud worise wit|#outen dout.
 THe thrid pin es hard to drey,
 Of wormis that sal neu<ir> dey,
 Gret tadis a<nd> d<ra>gouns bathe
 THat er apo<n> to lok ful lathe,
 Ful wlacsu<m> on to #her and se,
 Ful wa es taim that tar sal be;
 Als we se fische i<n> wat<er> swime,
 Sa live thai i<n> that low sa dime.
 THe ferthe pin it es of stink,
 THat mai na ma<n> sa mikel think.
 THe v. es vndemenes of dint,
 THat tha wriches thar sal hint,
 Als it war dintes of a stithi
 THat smithis smitis i<n> thair smithi;
 THa di<n>tis er ful fers and fel,
 Hardir thain erthe of yri<n> mel.
 THe sext pin es noht to schap,
 Es swilk mirkenes that ma<n> mai g<ra>p;
 Sa wond<ir> thik thar sal it be,
 THe ma<n> ne mai on other se.
 THe vij se<n>chip al for thair sin,
 And scham lasta<n>d that neu<ir> sal bli<n>,
 For thar til sal ilkan haf siht
 To se se<n>chip on otheris pliht.
 THe ahtand pin it es sa g<ri>se,
 To se tha warlauis i<n> thair wise,
 Strang pin es on thaim to lok,
 And nameli lathe vnto thair c<ro>ke;
 THat dreri din, that balful berre,
 THat ta witouti<n> stint sal here,
 Of tha wepand i<n> that wa,
 THat sal tai<m> last for eu<ir> and aa.
 Firin bandis es the niinde,
 Als we i<n> hali write finde,
 THat al thair lim es bondin wit,
 Wit|#outi<n> lethe of ani lithe.
 Bot a point es thaim pinis mar,
 THan ellis al thair oth<ir> car,
 THai wate thair pin sal haf na<n> end,
 For thai mai haf na miht to me<n>d.
 And q<ui> thar es thir pinis ix,
 #Her now the skil of ilka pin;
 Nein ordird angels thai forsok
 Quen thai thai<m> to the warlau tok,
 THar|#for sal tai pinid be,
 Wit tha pinis, sex and thre.
 And for that tha thai war won to b<ri>n
 Catel with couaitis to win
 To|#q<ui>lis thai i<n> this werd war,
 Ai sal tai brin thar for thar.
 And tha men that sa stark war #her,
 Stitheli thair wikidhed to ster
 And b<ri>nt thar|#i<n> sa war thai bald,
 THai sal haf eu<ir> that wat<er> cald.
 THat thai war fild of enist a<nd> hete,
 THat Ithinlik thair hertis hite,
 THar wormis sal tai<m> vnd<ir> wrot
 Of bale witouti<n> help or bot.
 And for thai #her war won to lie
 In thair sti<n>ka<n>d licheri,
 Ne wald noht do bot thair delices,
 THat drow thaim i<n>til othir vicis,
 THai sal haf ithin stink Iwis
 THat tai sal neu<ir> mar ne mis.
 And for thai<m> waldna dicipline
 THole for luf of vr drihtiin,
 THai sal be beft wit|#outi<n> houe,
 Na m<er>ci na<n> to thair bihoue.
 And for thaim wil noht neh liht,
 THat gifes of sothfastnes the siht,
 THat es godself at vnd<ir>stand,
 THai sal haf mirkenes ai lasta<n>d;
 And for thai wal(d) noht sc<ri>fe thair sak,
 Ne for thair ending me<n>dis mak,
 Ilk|#an sal se wit siht of scham,
 Quat blenk on oth<ir> es for to blam.
 A<nd> thai that wald na spelli<n>g #her
 Of god na of his lauis ler,
 Forthi than sal tai #her the sounes
 Of ned<er>s bathe a<nd> of d<ra>gouns,
 THat reuful ber that reuful c<ri>,
 THat wa es taim es stad thar|#bi.
 And forthi that thai gilderd wer,
 Wit|#in this lif withe lastis ser,
 THai sal suffer soru thar,
 Apon thar me<m>bers eu<ir>|#ai|#q<ua>re.
 Ai wend thai #her to lif i<n> sin,
 THar sal tai dei wit|#outi<n> bli<n>,
 Deiand ai and neu<ir> ded,
 For ded sal fle thai<m> als thair fed.
 THai sal be set i<n> thar p<ri>sun,
 Vpward the fet, the heuid dun,
 THair bakes tilward oth<ir> bet,
 Wit pin on ilka sid vmset.
 THe rihtwis me<n> sal se tha pinis
 Apo<n> vr lau<er>d witherwinis,
 THat thair bles mai be the mar,
 THat thai er chapid of that car.
 THe wik alswa the god sal se,
 THat thai the sorfuler mai be
 Witin thair gamin stad a<nd> gle,
 THat losin folili hauis that lee;
 To domesdai swa sal tai fare,
 Bot eft<ir> domesdai na mare;
 For to thai<m> se sa malediht,
 Bot seli sal of thai<m> haf siht.
 Bot thoh that se thai<m>, wit thou wel,
 Of thai<m> thai sal noht rew a del,
 If fad<er> saw his son thar,
 Or son his fader in that car,
 THe wif hir ma<n>, or ma<n> his wif,
 Or frend he lufd had al his lif;
 For thair misfar miht thai noht m<ur>ne,
 Ne anis for thair schathis scurne,
 Bot suld thaf a gret delite,
 To se thaim settil i<n> thair site
 Als we haf #her a suni dai
 To se fische in a wat<er> plai;
 For|#q<ui> rihwis blithe sal be
 Que<n> he sal wrak on sinful se.
 If thai suld for thai sinful p<ra>i,
 It war agai<n> god a g<re>t derai,
 For til hi<m> salbe sa quem,
 Al sal tai<m> lik that he sal dem.
 To dem vs mot that d<ri>hti<n> swa
 THat we ne com neu<ir> vnto that wa+
 Que<n> that demst<er> hauis don,
 I<es>u c<ri>st wit|#outi<n> hon,
 Wit his felawsip sa fre
 Sal wend vntil his fad<ir>is cite.
 THe nam of that cite to neuin,
 It es the kingerik of heui<n>,
 Vnto that blis to leng hi<m> wit,
 THat eu<ir> es ful of g<ra>ce and g<ri>t.
 Of gladnes al than es thar glew,
 And that es eu<ir> elik new,
 THair blis it sal be sa p<er>fite,
 THat thain sal wit nathi<n>g of site,
 Of al site be q<ui>t and care,
 Ful wel es him mai won thar.
 Nan eye mai se, ne er mai #her,
 Ne hert mai think tha ioies ser,
 THat i<es>u c<ri>st haf diht til his,
 THa wiirdid er vnto that blis.
 THa seli that sal leng in heuin,
 In bodi sal haf giftis seui<n>,
 And vij in sawel, al for thair medis,
 THat sal be faurten blicedhedis.
 In bodi, swecnes and fairhed,
 Fredom a<nd> strenket ai life to led,
 Liking ai wit lastand hel;
 THe sawel als hauis als fel,
 Sal haf wisdom a<nd> strensip,
 Co<n>cord, poste, and worsip,
 Sikernes, and ioiful ro;
 Hu thir mai be I sal vndo.
 In swetnes thou sal be sa swift,
 THat als swithe su<m> thou mai lift
 THin eye vp the lift to se,
 Als swithe thar sal|#tou be;
 And swithe als swn mai fest
 F<ra> the est hi<m> bem vnto the est,
 Als swithe mai thou co<m> thid<er>,
 Al at thi #wil or eles q<ui>der,
 Nu at the erthe, mai thou lift,
 Or hou|#su<m>|#euir wil te scift.
 THat ilk mai the angels do
 THat tou sal eueni<n>g be than to.
 Of thi fairhed I sai #the man,
 It sal briht be als son es can,
 THat sal be b<ri>ht<er> for to trow
 Seue<n> sithis mar than now.
 THan mai ma<n> wit it es ful b<ri>ht,
 Swa hauis vr lau<er>d fowit hiht,
 THat he sal new vr bodis slik,
 THai sal be til his auen lik,
 And thar na ma<n> dred that he
 Sal briht<er> than the son be;
 Als he that  wroht al thing (in lede)
 And scrowd thai<m> i<n> thair fai(r)hed,
 And godis tempil sant es said
 THat he to won i<n> hauis p<ur>uaid,
 THan most I ned be fair I wis,
 THat i<n> sal won the son of blis.
 THe fredom sal be vnd<ir>sta<n>d,
 THi bodi bue sal nanki<n> band,
 Al that the witstandand es
 THurg sal <th>irthe wit sweftnes,
 THat es na c<re>ature that mai,
 Lete #the for to far thi wai.
 Als the graf ne moht noht hald
 Vr lau<er>dis bodi q<ue>n he wald
 Risin that he ne ne ferli ras,
 And com thar his decipils was,
 And did thaim out of thair dout,
 And al thair hald was lokin about; |||
 THan sal ti bodi be lik til his;
 A ful gret fredom it is.
 THou sal haf strenthe, forsothe i tel,
 Wit thi fot to ou<ir>cast a fel,
 Ou<er> al this erthe if the god thoht,
 Als lihti ou<ir> turne moht,
 Als thou mai nu lok wit thi siht,
 Sa mikel than sal be thi miht.
 Liking thou sal haf sa to lik,
 Mai liking nan be thar|#to lik,
 Of welthenes mar mai ma<n> tel,
 THan haf the wil of welthe the well;
 THat es vr lau<er>d self to sai
 THat tou sal se on eu<ir> and ai.
 THoh that tou eu<ir> apon hi<m> se,
 Of hi<m> said sal tu neu<er> be.
 If thou war schote vnto thi heuid,
 And glouand iri<n> thar be leuid,
 And it moht pas, if sa moht be,
 Glouand thoru thi limis alle,
 THou suld haf soru, es tar na dout,
 Bathe i<n> thi bodi and witout,
 Ya forsothe, thoru na man mar;
 Riht swa que<n> that thou ert thar,
 THat welthe that neu<ir> te sal blin
 THou sal witouti<n> haf a<nd> witin,
 To lik the als dep in hert
 Als te suld mislik slik vnq<ue>rt.
 In this lif hauis ma<n> gret liki<n>g
 To se of mani me<n> sanking,
 On wo<m>men fair to bihald,
 In clathing cled o riche fald;
 To biggi<n>gis and fair tounes,
 Of serkin glew to #her the sownis,
 And #her god talki<n>g for to tel,
 Swet speceri to <th>ef a<nd> smel,
 To ha<n>dil that es smethe a<nd> soft,
 Fair iowes that ma<n> gernig oft;
 And al oth<ir> kin blis that mai be, |||
 Al thir|#i<n> the sal be plente,
 Als wel than sal tou seie,
 Wit loki<n> als wit opi<n> eie,
 THin wittis v. led al in welthe,
 And thar wit sal haf lasta<n>d helthe.
 Hel witoue<n> seke and sar,
 THar sal be lasta<n>d euir mar;
 THai that of caris al er q<ui>te,
 Ne mai na yrin on thai<m> bite,
 Na<n> mar mai a dint thai<m> der,
 THan man the son bem to scher.
 Of lastand lif that es the land,
 THat dreri ded es ai fleand,
 Of that hel mai be t<er>m nan,
 THar lif sal eu<ir> last in an.
 THir ar thir ilk blicid|#hedis,
 THat giui<n> er to the bodi nedis.
 THe bodi hauis vij, the sawel vij,
 Of thaim nu nest es for to neui<n>.
 THe santis stad vnto that sel,
 THai sal na wanti<n>g haf of wel;
 Of the wel of wit thai<m> draw,
 Wisdom that dos tai<m> al to k(n)aw,
 THas was and es a<nd> oht sal be,
 THai se it in that t<ri>nite.
 Of alkin me<n> in heui<n> or hel,
 Bathe nam a<nd> ded thai sal cun tel,
 And al the didis that thai did,
 THai sal be to the santis kid;
 Ne sal na thing f<ra> thai<m> be hid,
 THat siht of god hauis eu<ir> emid.
 THai sal knaw bathe thi ded a<nd> thoht,
 Bot tharfor vnd<er>sta<n>d thou noht
 It sal #the turn til ani scham,
 Ne na man<er> of blenk or blam.
 Haf neu<er> thi sin sa lathe ben,
 THat thou was herof sc<ri>ue<n> cle<n>,
 And dryen penanz #her of kar,
 For thaim na sal te scham ne mar,
 THan thoh a ma<n> the tald to dai
 Quat thou did a<nd> i<n> c<ra>dil lai;
 Ne na<n> mar scham sal te think thar,
 THan if thou comin of batail war,
 Wit wo<n>dis that tu thar had tan,
 And tu war helid of thai<m> ilkan.
 Ne noth<ir> thing es ma<n> si<n> forgife,
 THan for to bete it q<ui>l we lif,
 Forgiuin er thai and neu<i>r the les.
 God, that al wat that es,
 Es or was, or sal be eu<er>,
 Out of his witering be thai neu<er>,
 Ne suld thow nauth<ir> scha<m> ne sarwi<n>,
 Bot haf gret joi at tu es borue<n>.
 Frendscip thar es wit|#oute<n> fad,
 God hauis his auen childir mad,
 THa won wit hi<m> wit thai<m> he wonis,
 And louis thai<m> als his auen sonis.
 Mar than thai<m>|#selwin lof thair d<ri>ht,
 THangels taim als tai<m> selui<n> riht.
 Mikel it es thar thair <con>cord,
 For al es eu<ir> at an acord,
 THai er sa selcuthe than i<n>ttale,
 Als an wil al thai wil al hal
 THat q<ui>derward that an wil loke,
 Al lokes thidir, als sais the bok,
 THat a<n> wil, al wil alse son,
 And god and angel wil be don,
 =Ful god<er>|#hail,= cod thu, =mai falle,
 If thai wald als I sa wald alle.=
 THu sais q<ue>n thou vmthi<n>kes te,
 THat tu wald lik saint pet<ir> be,
 Yf thou wald that thou sal be tite,
 Ne sal thar be thar|#to na lite;
 Like to pet<ir> self I sai,
 Bot to be Pet<ir> tha<n> sai I nai,
 For if thu gernid be pet<ir> self,
 THan gernid thu be noht the self;
 For if thou thi bei<n>g wald noht be,
 Noht wald thu war mad of #the.
 Bot thar es nan that gernis mar
 THan thai, i<n> seruis worthi war,
 Bot in that mekil stabelnes,
 Sal na gern be bot that he es.
 If thai gernid be swilk i|#wis,
 THan war thai noht i<n> fulli blis,
 Bot thar blis that thar wona<n>d is
 Es m<ir>this nan it mai of mis.
 Ilk ma<n> sal haf til his,
 Al that he wil eft<ir> wis.
 Mikel sal it be thair miht,
 THat i<n> that welthe sal be sa wiht,
 Sa mihtilik thair miht to fille,
 THat if it sette thaim to wille
 To mak anoth<er> erthe a<nd> heui<n>,
 THai moht it mak als tou mai neui<n>.
 For thai airis al wit c<ri>st,
 THai that ar stad i<n> his biwist,
 Als good es er thai goddis airis,
 Heui<n> a<nd> erthe al es thairis.
 =Quin mak thai tha<n>, if sa thai mw,
 Anoth<ir> heui<n> and erthe[= cod thow.
 Bletheli sir, sai #the I salle,
 Forthi that god hauis w<ro>hti<n> al,
 Of his werkes es noht vnhale,
 Bot al i<n> mette a<nd> weiht a<nd> tale;
  For if thai anoth<ir> heui<n> wroht,
 Vnnait it war and al for noht.
 Mani thingis mai we do,
 THat for to do war litel fro,
 Als for to stop and for to rin,
 Que<n> it war bett<ir> for to blin;
 Q<ua>rto suld we forther st<ri>fe,
 THan for to lif in saintis lif[
 Of rihtwis al the sach es sliik,
 THat tai sal be til angels lik,
 And noht forthi thoh thai be al
 In an anlepi fad<er>is halle,
 THai sal in wo<n>i<n>g stedi sere,
 Ilkan haf his lai plen<er>.
 Of thair worsip quat mai we me<n>,
 THat c<ri>st hi<m> kithis to tha clen+
 Angels sal taim me<n>sken der,
 And saintis als thoh thai godis wer,
 Worsip that god thai<m> had fordiht,
 THai g<ra>ithid thaim wit med a<nd> miht.
 Heui<n> and erthe al c<re>ature
 Sal ber thai<m> worsip a<nd> honure,
 For sun and mon, a<nd> wat<er> a<nd> st<er>n,
 THat rinnes now wit ras sa yerin,
 Into bett<ir> statte to stand,
 Fra than na la<n>gir bethe stirand.
 THar|#for sal tai tham worsip ber,
 THat als mikel als in thai<m> wer,
 Wit thair worsip al tai moht best,
 For to bri<n>g thai<m> i<n>to rest.
 Of thair sikernes to sai,
 Certes es tar na noth<ir> wai,
 For of the welthe that thai er in
 Es nathing that mai thai<m> tuin,
 Ne na mistid mai thai<m> bitid,
 For thai er t<ra>ist on ilka side;
 THat god hauis giui<n> thai<m> to mede,
 To time thai wate it es na dred.
 THair ioy, thair gladschip, q<ua> kan tel[
 Na ma<n> forsothe in fleis a<nd> fel;
 For to bihald that t<ri>nite,
 Hu he is afald god i<n> thre,
 Face wit face that god to se,
 THat eu<ir> was a<nd> ai sal be,
 THai sal haf joi witin a<nd> oute,
 And on eu<ir> ilka side aboute,
 Ou<ir> and vnd<ir> and ai|#quar;
 Vr lau<er>d vs gif vr woni<n>g thar+
 THir er the blis and mani elles,
 God gifes to thai<m> that wit hi<m> dwelles.
 Bot als thir godis frendis sal
 Sli worscip haf ama<n>g thai<m> hal,
 Swa sal the wriches for thair sak
 Be stad i<n> pin witoute<n> slak.
 THir sal fairer a<nd> duhti bathe,
 THai sal be bathe g<ri>sli a<nd> lathe;
 THir sal be liht als fouel to flei,
 THai sal be deille wit wa to drei;
 THir sal be selcuthe st<ra>ng a<nd> wiht,
 THai sal be waik witouten miht.
 THir sal liue i<n> fredom fre,
 THai sal  life i<n> caitifte;
 THir sal life eu<ir> in delite,
 THai sal eu<ir> life i<n> soru a<nd> site;
 THai sal i<n> hele life eu<ir>mare,
 THai sal eu<ir> be sek and sare.
 THir sal be eu<ir> i<n> lasta<n>d life,
 THai and dede sal eu<ir> strife;
 THir sal haf wit thair wil to wis,
 THai sal be feld al of folis,
 For if thai oht mai witi<n> thar,
 It nis of noht bot site a<nd> car.
 THir sal of swet fre<n>dschip be t<ra>ist,
 THai sal of al the f(r)edom fraist;
 Wit ilkin thing sal tir acorde,
 Wit alkin thing thai sal descorde;
 THir sal haf weldnes of wale,
 THa sal vmweldli be wit bale.
 THir sal worsip al c<re>ature,
 Of al thai sal haf mishon<ur>e;
 THir ar for t<ra>istnes blithe a<nd> glad,
 THai q<ua>k for car, swa er thai rad;
 THir lahis i<n> ioi thar thai er lend,
 THai wep in soru witouti<n> end.
 Fra that soru a<nd> fra that site,
 I<es>u c<ri>st he mak vs q<ui>te,
 And gif vs g<ra>ce sa #her to do,
 THat we wit his mai rest i<n> ro.
 Of blis and bal nou haf ye herd,
 Nu sal I tel you of this werd,
 THat swa fordo<n> was a<nd> ford<ri>ui<n>
 Eft<ir> that the dom be giui<n>.
 It sal be brint sa dep on dreh
 Als noes flod rais q<ui>lu<m> heih,
 And than sal haf a schap al new,
 Eu<ir> mar to standin trew;
 Al the eleme<n>tes that we se,
 THan thai sal klengid be,
 THat nou er stira<n>d al sal stand,
 Sal tar be than na pin i<n> land,
 Als we nu er ilke dai in,
 THat god hauis selid vs for vr si<n>.
 Als hate a<nd> cald, rain a<nd> wind,
 Sal be than na storm to find,
 Ne mist ne mirk, ne na man<ere>
 Of werd to this werld to dere;
 Als vr bodis that we #her bar,
 Bes fairer than<n> than eu<ir> was ar,
 Alsua this werd sal we haf schrud,
 THat hauid it neu<ir> na<n> sa prude,
 An hu<n>dret sithe of fairer hew,
 Bathe heui<n> a<nd> erthe sal be mad new.
 Sun a<nd> mon, a<nd> st<er>n on lift,
 THat ai wit stiring er nuskift,
 And wat<er>s rinna<n>d alwais wate,
 Gerna<n>d to t<ur>n in bett<ir> state,
 Fra that tim stil sal tai stand,
 Wit freli blis to be lasta<n>d.
 THe sun sal haf, the sc<ri>ptur sais,
 THe lihtis than of sewis dais,
 Wat<er> that weti<n> c<ri>stis fleis,
 And bapti<m> his saintis weisse,
 Fra that tim forthe ou<ir> pas it sal
 THe schene schini<n>g of c<ri>stal.
 THe erthe that c<ri>stis cors i<n>|#bred
 Of paradis sal ben a sted,
 And for it was mad q<ui>lu<m> red,
 Wit blod of saintis tharon sched,
 It sal be fild wit mani flures,
 Smelland swet wit swet colures;
 THat neu<ir> mar sal du<n>ne ne dwine,
 Bot als in p<ar>adis sal schine.
 THat erthe, that first was malediht
 To thornis for wr eld<er>n pliht,
 THan sal it bliscid be and q<ui>te
 Of labur, and of soru, a<nd> site;
 Ne neu<ir> forthe fra that dai
 Ne bes thari<n> wa harmis ai,
 And thus|#gat sal he skift his ha<n>d,
 THat lau<er>d that es ai lastand.
 Ye crestin me<n>, you vmbilok,
 Al that eu<ir> hafs herd this bok,
 Of your lif that ye #her led
 Ye ne turne it noht i<n>to wansped+
 Quasu<m> g<ra>itheli wil vmthink,
 THis werd es fals a<nd> ful of swi<n>k,
 Fals it es, als we se hu,
 And algat wil we thar on t<ro>w;
 THis litil lif we haue in hand
 And wenis ai to be lastand,
 THe ded ai wen we for to drille,
 Bot that dos al vr spe<n>ding spille.
 THan blindis vs a litil wel,
 THat we ne can noht vs selui<n> fel,


 Of that dom cast we mai wit chance
 Of this werld to gete cou<er>ance,
 And com to werdis welthe again,
 A q<ui>l to hald wit mikel pai<n>;
 Bot thar we find anoth<ir> strif,
 THat waites nathing bot vr lif.
 Dede hauis vs wtset vr stret,
 Nil we, wil we, he sal me(t),
 Al sal we ri<n>i<n> in his rap,
 We wate that thar mai li na schap.
 eu<ir> he waites vs, that fede,
 Es nathi<n>g c<er>tainer than dede,
 Ne vnc<er>tainer than es the tide,
 Forthi we ach ai bon habide;
 To pass the pase that es sa harde,
 Ne we ne wat noht q<ui>d<er>warde.
 We sal sithin hethin wend,
 Bot if we #her haf mad vs frend,
 Wit c<ri>ste that we wit lite to lend,
 We mai be dreri for the fend.
 For|#thi this lif he hauis ws lent,
 To serf him wit al vr tent,


 To t<ra>uail orda<n>it es this lif,
 Ogain vr fedis thrin we st<ri>fe,
 Vr fleys, this werd, and the warlaw,
 We er bundin und<ir> thair aw.
 THe fleis es ai to flihtis fus,
 THe werd estful and couaitus,
 THe warlaw, swernes, wrethe, a<nd> p<ri>d,
 THir werras vs on ilka side.
 THir iij mai than we wel for|#d<ri>fe,
 If we leli wil led vr life,
 For mai felle than ma<n> and wife,
 THat stalworthli gain thaim wil st<ri>fe.
 If we stitheli wil vs ster,
 Cristis help sal be vs ner,
 His helpis a<nd> vr wihtis eke,
 If we wil bletheli hi<m> bisek.
 Forsothe if we wil do vr pai<n>,
 THai<m> haf na miht vs stand ogai<n>,
 If we wil not on thai<m> vr miht,
 Certis thai er feld i<n> fiht;
 Eie es for to winne wit heere,
 THe t<ur>ne that na<n> es bute to were,
 Hardilik es he cuard,
 THat na<n>ki<n> part mai thol of hard
 THat yeldis him thar he be soht,
 And tinis sa hi<m>|#selfe for noht.


 Al swa es fel of vs i<n> dred,
 THat bedis thai<m> bifor the nede
 Vnto thair with<er>win wit pliht,
 Wit|#outin ani fand to fiht;
 Bot ai to fal es redi bun,
 Q<ua> herd a caitiur crathun,
 THat wil noht bed to gif a sp<ur>n[
 Bot fals dun bifor the t<ur>n
 THat vr fleis vs ledis tille,
 Of al vr wal that es vr wille,
 And thoh we wat that it es ille,
 We fin noht it to ful|#fille.
 Allas+ that for a litil lust,
 A drewri that es bot a dust,
 We thrall vs til vr ful fa
 In p<ri>su<n> for to life in wa+
 Of swilk er mani now a<nd> ma,
 Allas+ allas+ q<ui> do we swa[
 Qui sel we vs vnto that soru,
 THat na<n>kin boruh vs f<ra> mai borw[
 And wrechis wit vr wil forsakis,
 THat selines that neu<ir> slakis.
 Bathe of that soru a<nd> of that sel
 I wen ik haf yow said su<m>|#del.
 Quat thair to fand, to tel the sothe,
 Bathe me wa<n>tis tu<n>g a<nd> tothe;
 THe broidin blis to c<ri>stis dere,
 THe bale that hi<m> forsakis here,
 We haf us forwit waies twa,
 THe tan to wel the tother to wa.
 Queth<ir> we wil, freli mai ga,
 Als til vr frend or til vr fa.
 Bot if we than forsak vr frend,
 And ches us til vr fa to wend,
 THan dar I sai, a<nd> leies noht,
 A sorful tim than war we wroht;
 Bot god forbed that we it p<ro>ue,
 THat sorful tim til vr bihoue.
 Que<n> we it p<ro>ue than es #to late,
 Es tar na me<n>ding than of state,
 Es tar na wai bifor vs rid,
 Cu<n> tak vs bett<ir> than we did.
 For q<ua> ne dos q<ue>n he mai,
 Que<n> he wald me<n> sal nik hi<m> nai,
 #Her es the tim al for to grete,
 #Her es the tim ur si<n>nes bete,
 Outher #her or nauther ellis,
 THat witnes vs al hali spelles.
 Ilke dai we se sumu<n>
 For to g<ra>ithe and mak vs bun,
 THat ilke dai we se a<nd> here,
 We ah it noht to hald i<n> were.
 THe spellers finis noht to spelle,
 THe sothe thai<m> spar vs noht to tel,
 For to vs do be war wit hel; |||
 THam sped noht worthe a not|#scel.
 Seldin cu<m> we sarmu<n> ner,
 Lathe vs think it for to #her,
 THe er thar to seldi<n> we lai,
 Bot fer it es vr hert awai;
 For said it es gan mani rathe,
 Lathe es to #her that ma<n> es lathe,
 Quarfor of thaim lat we sa ille,
 Bot for thai spek ogain vr wille.
 He that me sais al that me likes,
 God it witte mast he me swikes,
 For if we self vs und<ir>stod,
 Vr #wil vs dos wel litel god,
 Bot of vr skil vs mas blind,
 Que<n> we can fand that sal we find.
 Find we sal, lest que<n> we wen,
 Al sal we to the ded biden.
 Wi q<ui> than mak we vs sa ken,
 Of this es al that I me men,
 Mikel wald I men and mote,
 Wist I that it me war bote,
 Ai to spel and noht to sped,
 Waast it es of godis sed.
 Il worthe it es to til the fild,
 THat noht ogain the sed mai yeld;
 Quat botes ai of rihte to rede,
 THat neu<ir> fu<n>din es i<n> dede.
 Mikel #her a<nd> litel hald,
 Bot war a ribaudi vs tald,
 Of a fantu<m> or a fabil,
 THat suld we hald i<n> hert stabil,
 In #her to hald it als an hord,
 Quen noht es mad of c<ri>stis hord.
 Hu mai he be hi<m>selui<n> hold
 THat chesis hi<m> the led for go(l)d.
 Al that writi<n> es in writ
 Wroht it es to lerin vs witte,
 Hu we hach to led vr lif,
 C<ri>sti<n> folk, bathe ma<n> and wif,
 In eld<er>n men vr mirur se
 Quat for to folu, q<ua>t for to fle,
 THe thingis that we self ne can
 For to frain at other man,
 He that can mar tha<n> another,
 Debonerlik to teche his brother;
 Al er we b<ri>ther, yong and ald,
 For vs was bathe c<ri>st boht a<nd> sald,
 He hauis ous i<n> his nu<m>ber tald,
 Al his schepe of his awen fald,
 THuru hirds that the lau<er>d has set,
 THat he wil that his folk be get.
 He hauis vs chosin for vr med,
 His hali folk al for to fed;
 Omang that hirdis am ik an,
 THar to hauis c<ri>stis g<ra>ce me tan,
 Sua wreche vnworthi wat I nan,
 Loued be he lau<er>d of al his lan.
 A besand he me taht to sette
 THat ik hi<m> ald to yeld wit dette,
 THarfor ah I me for to pain
 To yed hi<m> wit biate ogain,
 Al bihouis vs yeld ilkan,
 Acunte eft<er> that we haf tan;
 Su<m> for mar and su<m> for les,
 Eft<ir> that vr giftes es,
 THat tat besand root noht in hord,
 THat ach be spend i<n> werk a<nd> word.
 Her ik haf a litil spend,
 In word eft<ir> that ik entend,
 Miht I mare, god wat mi mod,
 Ik ach it for to spend in god,
 In his worschip, that miht meke,
 A<nd> mari mild his mod<ir> eke.
 Hir loui<n>g acht I neu<ir> bli<n>,
 To q<ui>lis mi lif me lastis in,
 Lif and sawel I yeld hir til,
 (THar of leuedi sco don hir #wil.)
 Of hir worschip that I mai mare,
 I sal tel of su<m> other quare,
 Quen I mai cu<m> to bett<ir> space,
 Aft<er> sco sendis me hir grace.
 Leuedi+ lok to this caitif clerk,
 Forsak thu noht this stubil werk,
 For thoh it royd and stubil be,
 It in worsip wroht to #the.
 I p<ra>i the leuedi thu wald #the sem,
 To tak this litil werk to quem,
 Swilk als it es, forsak it noht,
 To thin bihoue than was it wroht;
 To thi s<er>uis and to my pru,
 THat s<er>uis te wel yeldis tu,
 THat ik kan noht s<er>ue in ded,
 Mi wil ic hop thou wil me med.
 For med ik ask a litil bon
 THat ik biseke wit wordis quon,
 Gif me grace hir q<ui>l ik hon
 Mi sin to bet tha ik haf don.
 If ik eft fal on ani wis,
 Ratheli do me for to ris,
 THi sunis dede to moni<n> ai;
 And on mi<n> awen last dai,
 THat nu es mi hop be tha<n> mi hald,
 Ogain that brem that es sa bald+
 THi lem vs leuedi+ liht emel,
 THat he moht hafe|#les ga til hel,
 And led me wit #the for thi son
 For eu<er> mar wit him to won.
 THis ilk p<ra>ier leuedi thu #her,
 For tha that er me lefe a<nd> der,
 And for al c<ri>stin folk alswa,
 Bathe q<ui>k and ded, frend a<nd> fa,
 THou do thaim haf thi sonis g<ra>ce
 To leui<n> bifor his leueli face.


 Al that this bok or heris or redis,
 Leuedi+ thai<m> help in al thair nedis. Ame<n>.
 (S)pel yet I wald spek if I cuthe
 War ani mirthis i<n> mi muthe
 For mikel haf to mot
 Bot that i<n> hertis we hordes rest
 Nedwais ut bihouis it brest
 Of bal to brew su<m> bot
 Sco that es bet of al bale
 Of hir trewlik es al mi tale
 Hir m<ur>ning for to minne
 For that soru tha sco seye
 Hir swet son on rod dreye
 Als thoru his auen kinne
 Hir pini<n>g was hir sonis pin
 And thair pinis ach bathe be min
 If that I luf thaim trew
 I se him hang, I se hir wring
 THe car al of that cu<m>li king
 Al c<ri>stin aw to rew
 In hert to rew in mouthe to q<ua>in
 Hu that thai haf that sakles slain
 THe plaint it es thair pliht
 Que<n> he bitaht hi<m> til his awen
 THai haf bathe ford<ri>ui<n> a<nd> d<ra>uen
 Als schawid vs to vr siht
 He hingis hei wit oute<n> boru
 His moder finis noht to soru
 Quat selcuthe sertis nan
 To se hir fles a<nd> blod
 Sa to be pinid on rod
 THat hauid na child bot ane
 Hir dole ne mai I noht fordil
 Bot wit hir wep I wil
 Wit C<ri>st to suffir sar
 For al his bale was me to bete
 He d<ra>nk the soure a<nd> I the swete
 Mi baret al he bar
 Wede of welthe i<n>^ wil na<n> mare
 Clething wil I tak of care
 THar til me standis ned
 And murnin wit hir that him bar
 Mad neu<ir> sli m<ur>ning mod<er> ar
 THat reuthe is of to red
 Sai me mod<er> wit oute<n> we<m>
 Was tu than at Ierusalem
 Quen that thi son was laht
 Bundi<n> and sua latheli lede
 And bett til his bodi gan blede
 To pilat swa bitaht
 I sai cod thu that ic was thar
 Bot carkid sua I was of kar
 Unethe I thid<er> wan
 But que<n> I sau that iues snel
 Ris igain mi son sa fel
 Ful wanles wex I than
 Of wittis al me wantis miht
 Gang a<nd> steui<n> and tung and siht
 Al failed me that tide
 Cri mi word and wa mi witte
 Mi t<er>es al mi siht thai ditte
 Ful pal wex al mi hide
 Al mi blod it was me blende
 Mi spirit for to wen I wend
 THair swaiping was sa smert
 Wo<m>me<n> sau I wep and q<ua>in
 Bot nan als mari Maudelain
 THat mast I tok til hert
 Wit outi<n> me was wo<m>ma<n> na<n>
 THat swa murnand mad his man
 Sua sorful als was sco
 Ful pituus it was that plaint
 Ne kid sco noht hir luf was faint
 Sa redles out of roo
 Que<n> the bedel ga<n> his cri
 Up the folk al ras i<n> hi
 Mi son al for to schend
 To d<re>ri dom mi son es d<ra>uen
 Al fled hi<m> fra that was his auen
 Bileft vs noht a frend
 Vp reufulli thai gan hi<m> raip
 Ful snubnerlik hi<m> for to swaip
 THat folk that was sa fad
 Of clai thai cest at hi<m> thi<n> clot
 And laiked wit hi<m> setisot
 I sah a<nd> stil abad
 THai draw hi<m> forthe wi<th> staf a<nd> steng
 Ik a<nd> that wrech woma<n> yeng
 We folud him thai<m> to fote
 I staker swa miht I noht sta<n>d
 Bot als thai me vp help wit ha<n>d
 Vnbu<n> was ik of bote
 Vn to the mont o caluari
 Swa sorful wo<m>ma<n> an als I
 THus wid mi son I went
 THat soru that I saw o<n> hi<m> are
 Al it was me dubid thar
 THat eu<ir> mai me be me<n>t
 To domisdai lif if I moht
 Forget that dai neu<ir> mar I moht
 Que<n> I thar suld think
 THat briesl beting cru<n>e and scorne
 THat al his fleis it was bistorne
 THai gaf hi<m> gal to d<ri>nk
 THar for I sai leuedi sa fre
 THat a ful seli ma<n> war he
 THat wit the moht haf sene
 THat pinis of thi suet son
 I wat that eu<ir> it mad hi<m> mon
 THat car that was sa ken
 Moder t<ra>istnes of vr trewthe
 Don vs to rewen wit thi rewthe
 And thinki<n> on that stur
 THat thi son thar droch i<n> place
 Noht gain his #wil bot wit his g<ra>ce
 Vs al to don suc<our>
 #I moder m<ur>nand wep cod thu
 THis soru seand apon Ih<es>u
 Min soru I ne can noht sai
 Nailid apo<n> that rod tre
 Ful sorfullik biheld he me
 I think it eu<ir> and ai
 Mar he m<ur>nid for mi car
 THan for al his awen sar
 For als a lamb he stod
 For wit thai<m> that swa hi<m> soht
 A word to spek me<n> herd hi<m> noht
 Til he was spred on rod
 Sa dep that sithe me sat i<n> site
 THat wel I wist wit oute<n> wite
 THai wroht hi<m> al this wrang
 THat es na tung mai spek wit word
 Ne writer write wit pe<n>nis orde
 Hu that ur stur was st<ra>ng
 Fair he wes a<nd> fre mi child
 Soft i<n> speche i<n> man<er> mild
 Quil he stod i<n> his state
 His face that fowit was sa schen
 It es now g<ri>sli on to sen
 His bodi al blodi wate
 A crou<n> of thorn his hefd on stod
 THat ilka prik broht vt the blod
 THai sput on hi<m> thair spit
 Vnnethis ik his kenni<n>g knew
 THat me sach na<n> of hi<m> wald rew
 THat w<ro>ht me out of wite
 THis harm mi hert it held sa hard
 To wand<ri>n wist I q<ui>d<er>ward
 Sa was me waies wan
 Quen sli sette did hi<m> me forlete
 Mi sun that was sa selcuthe swete
 And hauid bot hi<m> allan
 Allan he was mi hope a<nd> hald
 Of alle blis he made me bald
 Mi lif al in hi<m> hang
 Mi blod in me es nu sa blend
 THat of mi soru mai be na<n> end
 It stikis me sa strang
 Mi steru<n> that I wa won to ster
 Vnnethis moht I selui<n> her
 Que<n> I wend word to wis
 Ar I moht a word werp til end
 THe sorful si<th>e ai thairwit blend
 Mi word it brasti<n> thris
 THe word that ik in #wil had w<ro>ht
 Mi soru that I sa wit was soht
 Biweft that word awai
 Luf wald I spak miht me witstod
 Mi rewthe was al apon the rod
 Na sache ne moht I sai
 Alhas alhas it was mi voice
 Mi son that ha<n>g apo<n> that c<ro>ice
 Rewlik on me biheld
 And bletheli wald mi soru slak
 And that I suld su<m> confort tak
 To haf su<m> bot of beld
 Bot for na bod that he me mad
 Ne moht he nim vngle ma glad
 Quilis ik apo<n> hi<m> sey
 Lef su<n> ful wa es me
 THat I this soru sal se on #the
 Do me wit #the to dey
 Mi lef su<n> qui dos thu swa
 THi sorful mod<er> sa ful of wa
 Qui latis tu thus life
 Mi leue son na|#thing sa swet
 Wil tu thi mod<er> hir forlete
 Wit #the to dey me gife
 THu did vnmek wit|#oute<n> mak
 THat carful wont es for to tak
 THu frethe me noht al fre<n>d
 Yf thou me frithes thou ert mi fed
 Bot spar me noht to dey thu ded
 Mi son wit for to wind
 Nis noht that me mai bot tu
 Wit su<n> thu tak the mod<er> nu
 And latte vs deien sami<n>
 Mi suet son mi luf mi lif
 Hard it es to drei this st<ri>f
 THar na gat es to gami<n>
 Na g<ra>ither gat of gam<in> es here
 Bot tun thi sorful mod<er> here
 THat sco wit #the moht dey
 Ta me to #the apo<n> thi rod
 THan er we bathe a fleis a<nd> blod
 Lat taim bathe sami<n> end
 Ye iuwes that kindill al this car
 I bid you me noht for to spar
 Ye waful and ye wod
 Sin ye mi son wirkis this wa
 Dos me that ilk than er we twa
 Be nailed on the rod
 Or wit rod or othir pain
 THis wriche mod<er> to be slain
 Quat wise na force I wisse
 Vnrewfullik ye wirk unriht
 THe werd ye reu the sun of liht
 And blindis me mi blisse
 Ye sla the lif and hop of halle
 On q<ua>m sal I nu c<ri> and calle
 I rednes out of ro
 Hu sal I lefe wit|#out<in> life
 THus stekid in wit stur a<nd> st<ri>fe
 Q<ua>t es me for to do
 Bot to the ded mak I man
 For haf I nou nan other wan
 Of bot war thou me best
 Wald thu be ken thi miht to kithe
 THu slas mi child sla me th<an> swithe
 War nan sa redi rest
 Bot ded allas q<ui> dos tu sua
 THat yernis #the thu fles ai f<ra>
 Que<n> suet it war to swelt
 THu folus thai<m> that #the wald fle
 And lufes al that lehtes te
 THis part vneu<in> es delt
 Mi suete son on #the I c<ri>
 THi sorful mod<er> thou do m<er>ci
 THat won was be sa mild
 Be noht sa hard that tu ne it #her
 THe murning of thi mod<er> der
 Sa hend was neu<ir> cild
 THu do thi mod<er> wit #the dey
 And lat us bathe togider drey
 Bathe vr wa and wel
 Moht ik the anis the weld i<n> arm
 Hal me think of al mi harm
 THat i war ilka del
 Moht I #the weld i<n> armis min
 And suffir su<m> part of thi pin
 Ful wel me war that sithe
 Mi fad<ir> mi spus mi cild er tu
 Mi God that al ach for to bu
 Qua mai this m<ur>ning mithe
 Ik am nu widuit of mi spus
 Mi son me reuis car sa crus
 And fad<er>les am I
 Al min hop awai es hal
 For al es brewed me to bal
 I nwat q<ua>rfor ne q<ui>
 Losin ik haf al help and hald
 Kar clingis i<n> mi hert sa kald
 Noht of meself me wate
 Ful wa es me me es ful wa
 Was neu<er> sa waful moder aa
 Stad vt of al state
 Mi son sa suet to me thu sai
 Hu that I sal wend mi wai
 Quar for to latt me lend
 Q<ua>t hop q<ua>t g<ra>ce q<ua>t help q<ua>t rest
 THu hihtis me for thu mai best
 If I ne wit #the sal wend
 Sin silk it war thin karis kid
 THou dreied dol leuedi thu did
 For god it was thin eui<n>
 Que<n> he #the sah this murning mak
 Su<m>|#thing I|#wis to #the he spak
 If hi<m> stod ani steuin
 THoh his vntelland was #the pin
 Til hert I wat that he to thin
 THat egging was til this
 And al the baret that he bar
 It seteld i<n> thin hert ful sar
 Wit|#outi<n> ani mis
 He that sa rewfulli was diht
 If he #the said oht for to liht
 THi mod that was in m<ur>ne
 Ya did he q<ua>t said nu dere
 Mod<er> thu sal me<n>d thi cher
 To fad<er> min I turne
 THu cark #the noht sa fast wit car
 Sin I sal to thi fad<er> far
 I sal te leue and fer
 For in mi sted thu sal haf an
 THat sal ti cosin be Iohand
 THin auen lef a<nd> dere
 THou sal be mod<er> he sal be son
 To serui<n> als I was wan
 Quilis tu sal lengi<n> #her
 For he is bathe war and wis
 Ik haf hi<m> taht to thi s<er>uis
 Nou most thu med thi cher
 Mi suet mod<er> tend<e>r of hert
 Confort #the thu sal haf q<ue>rt
 And werp awai thi wep
 It es thi kind for me to kar
 Bot sua ine wil thu  do na mar
 Bot ta to Iohan kep
 Mi moder der thu wat that I
 Na<m> fleis of #the a<nd> resu<n> q<ui>
 Hit hang apo<n> this tre
 But for to dei for ma<n>is kind
 Als man in p<ro>pheciis mai find
 THat er forsaid of me
 Bot thoh I deien on this wis
 I sal the thred morn<in> rise
 THat tu sal se wit ey
 To mi discipilis and to #the
 Schaue<n> sothefastnes sal I me
 For thi nu most I dey
 Nu sal I die ris ris sal I son
 And stey vp to mi f<a>der tron
 THarfor mai thu be blithe
 Mi speche ar fundi<n> to the fald
 To quilis the wolf held i<n> his hald
 THat tint war and<er> sithe
 For thi sal an be ded and slain
 THat al this werd sal quiken agai<n>
 THat a man forwit sloh
 A ma<n> tint al q<u>en it bigan
 Al sal be saufed thoru that man
 THat born es on this buh
 THe thing that es mi fad<er> #wil
 Mod<er> thune ne ma noht th<in>k it ille
 For sothe it most be don
 THis ilke pin es for me diht
 And lang es of mi fader hiht
 Ouer|#pas I sal it son
 Ne dred thu noht mod<er> swet
 THat I wil te thus forlete
 THoh I nu fra #the far
 For wit thou wel ik am wit #the
 Wit outen twin and ai sal be
 Fra nu for eu<ir>mar
 I mosti<n> vnd<ir>lie the ded
 Sin it es suilk mi fad<er>is red
 THe ded al for to q<ue>l
 Quethin that I com thu wat al pla<in>
 THidir sal I nu stei again
 Quen ik haf herid helle
 I far bifor it es thi pru
 Bot cu<m> wit me mai thu noht nu
 Bot tu sal folu<n> efte
 I far for me bihouis to wend
 To|#q<ui>l sal Ion that es thi frend
 Insted of me be left
 Ioon he said this mai thu #her
 Ta kep nu to mod<er> der
 And s<er>ue hir wit solace
 THou tak mi mod<er> nu for thin
 For thoht that sal pas this pin
 Wit you sal be mi g<ra>ce
 Quil Ih<es>u spac thir wordis quon
 To techen thaim q<u>at tai sul do(n)
 THai ne finid noht to gret
 For soruing al du<m>b war thai
 Swa that a word miht thai noht sai
 Na sta<n>d apon thair fete
 THir martiris tuim that ik of me<n>
 Kosins bathe a<nd> maide<n> clen
 Que<n> thai herd C<ri>stis woice
 Sa waik that vnnethe moht thai #her
 Com neu<ir> kar thair hert sa ner
 For hi<m> thai sah on c<ro>ice
 Wit hard trhauis #the he throw
 THai sau that he to ded hi<m> drew
 THat soht thair hertis sare
 Als ded thai war wit outen spek
 Was neu<ir> soru for tua sa sek
 Sin ani werdis ware
 Vr spirit was als fled vs fr<a>
 For wen wist of nathing bot wa
 THoch we herd q<ua>t he said
 Spek we wald miht hafd we wan
 For|#thi we stemid stil als stan
 THhoh lif was us forlaid
 Als suithe thar co<m> an orde
 Fra the croice of c<ri>stis suord
 And thirlid bathe ur hert
 Ful ken it was and com ful ken
 Ful sothe it was apo<n> us sen
 THat smitim war sa smert
 THoh we war wondit bathe I wis
 Mi wond it was hardir tha<n> his
 Bot bathe was hard inoht
 He was mi son a<nd> cosin his
 To me his mod<er> did thai that mis
 THai w<ro>ht on hi<m> this woh
 Vr sorwin bathe it was for an
 THat sat vs bathe in fleis a<nd> ban
 Swilk baret hauid na bote
 To ten al tiht vs was that ti<m>
 Que<n> we na hel moht se on hi<m>
 Fra heuid vnto the fote
 Hauid he noht fre on al his felle
 In suim al faldin du<n> I fel
 And thar als ded I lai
 THat suim was of mi sorui<n>g swage
 I wist noht walewai
 Wit|#oute<n> croice the c<ro>ice I bar
 THat croicid wes was al mi car
 Que<n> ik on hi<m> biheld
 THe sper thai stokid hi<m> wit wra<n>g
 THat ilk mi hert it thoru sta<n>g
 And hid me to held
 THe nail that hi<m> fest on rod

































































































































































 Sa fersli to fal (....)
 Me es ful waful wa es me
 To gret es turnid al mi gle
 Na blis mai mak me blithe
 If thu wil su<n> mi m<ur>ning me<n>d
 I wald in me that thu wald se<n>d
 THin hali gast eft|#sith
 THat mikel ioi I was vmset
 Quen I was wit that angel g<re>t
 In mi likham thu lyht
 THat mikil ioi than was I in
 Vnnethe nu mai I tharof mi<n>
 Sua mat ik am of miht
 I kissid him bathe fru<n>t a<nd> chek
 Muthe and nes and ein and chek
 Ai quilis I moht drei
 Bot quen I sau that face bispit
 And thoh apo<n> tha iuwis flite
 THe tere fel of min ey
 I m<ur>na<n>d moder thus for mad
 Vnsterin staking was I stad
 Sa wa mi stondes stor
 Mi lif was ded ded was mi lif
 THus was I stikid al wit st<ri>fe
 To tel it war ful tor
 Nu I lig a<nd> nu I stand
 Bu<n>di<n> thus in balful band
 Bot hop of bute I bar
 Of bale a<nd> bot sulk was mi soru
 He hiht to ris the thred moru
 THat hop forkest mi kar
 THan nicodem that duhti kniht
 Wit Iosep nam that cors to diht
 To birin als was best
 For lufe I bad thai<m> for to bide
 Or for to lai me bi his side
 Togider for to rest
 I blicid oft mi blisful child
 Hauid neu<ir> mod<er> nan sa mild
 THat eu<ir> me muthis to min
 THai wald haf birid hi<m> ful fai<n>
 Bot ik hi<m> held wit al mi mai<n>
 Sa lathe vs was to twin
 Fre<n>dis I said that es sa fre
 For drihti<n> luf ye rew of me
 Mi p<ra>ier for to #her
 A q<ui>l lat ye hi<m> #her li stil
 Ye mai do sithi<n> q<ua>t ye wil
 Wit mi d<er>ling sa der
 On him bihaldis al mi blis
 And al mi bal quen ik hi<m> mis
 Ye reu of me for thi
 Sin I hi<m> mai noht haf in lif
 Gifs me hi<m> ded witoute<n> st<ri>f
 Fre for your curtaisi
 Leu<ir> me war to ded be d<ri>ui<n>
 THan eft<ir> his lif for to liui<n>
 I ne roht quat ded I war
 THat bliced bodi to wi<n>d thai wald
 And I biguthe it withald
 Suilk strif bitwix vs was tar
 A leuedi qua herd eu<ir> i<n> led
 Of ani run sa reuful red
 Talking for to telle
 This semid st<ri>f bot it was nan
 For bathe your blis it was an
 Sen was als sithin fel
 THi son to worsip wald thai son
 An sua tha wald that it war do<n>
 If lufe then led to lite
 THoh thu wald thai birid thi barn
 His lif was te ful lathe to tharn
 THat slak was of thi siht
 Suilk it was yor suet discord
 Discord of muthe of hert acord
 Als frendis bathe and fed
 Quat did ye than sai lefdi mar
 Bot nicodem a<nd> iosep bar
 To delue that bodi ded
 Que<n> his likha<m> i<n> sta<n> was laid
 Alls allas ful oft was said
 Noht al for hi<m> allan
 Bot alsua for my sorful scuris
 THat thai sah led wit sli la<n>guris
 Al menid thai<m> of mi man
 Of mi man mar quat mai I men
 For tuglid thus wit trai and ten
 Als taht me was that tide
 Quen othir men war went awai
 Apo<n> mi sonis tumb I lai
 THar bed I for to bide
 At the last left ik alla<n>
 Kissand eu<ir> elik that stan
 THat mi lef lai vnder
 THan com mi cosin saint Ioha<n>
 THat than of welthe was al mi wan
 Mi soru fra me to sunder
 To me reuful he raht his ha<n>d
 On fot vnnethis moht I sta<n>d
 Sa lam in lim als lithe
 Vnto the ton than he me led
 And oth<er> wimme<n> m<ur>na<n>d med
 THai went vs thid<e>r wit
 Mani of that wit me met
 For mi greting ful sar thai g<re>t
 And sihet war wit alle
 Fra me wald thai nawit twi<n>
 Til I com mi cosinis Inne
 THar stabeld thai mi stalle
 THar lai I in mi lof|#la<n>gi<n>g
 Ai to mi sonis vprisi<n>g
 THat faithe I was ifest
 Ion luued me if he miht mar
 THan his moder that hi<m> bar
 He yeld hi<m> that mai best
 Sa sek I was and sar forsorui<n>
 Que<n> mi son ras the iij morni<n>
 Al til his thruh thai thra<n>g
 Moht I noht thiderward afot
 Ne for bed was me na bot
 THat let thoht me ful lang
 Ful lang leuedi thoht me that let
 And thoh tha<n> was thi bal al bet
 For grew al thi gle
 Wit othir wime<n> that hi<m>  soht
 Send bodwor(d) to thi leue thu moht
 In lagins al for #the
 Of al this langur was thu lift
 Bird of bliss na sune sa b<ri>ht
 And al thin balis bet
 THi suet sun sa halle of hiht
 Son he #the co<n>fort wit his siht
 Que<n> ye war sami<n> met
 THu hauid hi<m> sithin til al thi wille
 For al thi ioi wald he fulfil
 Ogain sa stra<n>g a stur
 THar thu hi<m> nu hauis al i<n> blis
 Leuedi thid<er>ward vs wis
 Wat fand of thi socur
 Iohan ful leli was tu sen
 THat swilk a mod<er> als ik of men
 Was to thi kepi<n>g taht
 To kep thu tok that maidi<n> clen
 And sua was tu witouti<n> wen
 THat sua that leueli laht
 THar was te raht a riche relik
 Mai tresur na<n> be thar to lik
 Of metal na of stan
 Bot c<ri>tis awin dreuri dere
 THat of p<ri>s mai haf na per
 Nan nai c<er>tis nai
 To faintis was ti faithe ne fere
 For thi thu was his t<re>sorer
 On t<ra>ister nan to tru
 Ful g<ra>itheli was tat g<ra>ce te g<ra>nt
 For qui his mod<er> was tin ant
 Sa worthi nan als tu
 THar til the worthest he mad
 Wit mekne and wit maidi<n>had
 For thi es tai<m> ful wel
 Man or wimma<n> q<ue>ther it be
 THat liuis i<n> v<ir>ginite
 Qua fanding that tai fele
 He that in maidenhed es lele
 He ledis life lik til angele
 For v<ir>ginis al er thai
 Bot this liuelad that like quon
 Fra that anis be fordon
 It es for eu<ir> a<nd> ai
 Wel acht man to kep the thing
 THat anis tint hauis na cou<er>i<n>g
 Sua do thai that er wis
 THoh thu hauis oth<e>r v<ir>tu slain
 In #the thu mai thai<m> cou<ir> again
 Redi in #the to ris
 THe man that left hauis buxu<m>nes
 Mai t<ur>n a<nd> be slik als he wes
 Al at his awen wille
 If thu was large a<nd> es noht nu
 THu gif gladlik a<n>d than er tu
 Sli faintis mai man felle
 If ani man in vice be cast
 He mai hi<m> draw fra that last
 And be that he was are
 Bot thai that maidenhed hauis tint
 Al for noht es if thai mint
 To cou<er> it eu<ir>|#mare
 THis wist tu Iohan ful wel
 And held thi stat stabil als stel
 THat worsip did #the win
 THi faithe he sah was noht to fail
 Crist mad the cuthe of his consail
 And priuest of al his kin
 Chamb<er>lai<n> of g<re>t hon<ur>e
 He mad #the of him mod<er>is bure
 Sli blis #the thar bitid
 THu s<er>uid hir wit mai<n> a<nd> miht
 Was neu<er> seruid dai ne niht
 I bur sa blisful brid
 To that blisful brid Iohan
 THat leuedi mod<er> a<nd> maidan
 THat tu sa cuthe was tille
 I #the bisek vr era<n>d be
 And sco be til hir sun that we
 Miht wirkin ai thair wille
 In cristis worsip for to suink
 And eu<ir> apon his thraues think
 THat sua did you to m<ur>ne
 Prai that lefdi ben vr lend
 THat we mai find hir son frend
 To tore quen we sal turne. Amen.


 (L)istnis mi god me<n> wit your lef
 Wel lathe me war you for to g<re>f
 THat you mi talking thoht to toh
 For me thi<n>k ne mar enoh
 THat I mai of his loui<n>g red
 THat bet vs al vt of vr ned
 Al mi lif vnto min end
 THoh I moht i<n> hir louing spe<n>d
 Al that I cuthe or think or sai
 It war noht half an our of dai
 And this tar na ma<n>  nik wit nai
 Sa brad of hir b(l)is es the wai
 THoh ma<n>is wit be neu<ir> sa st<ra>ite
 Sco mai wel b<ri>ng it i<n>to nait
 For thoh mi wit war neu<ir> sa wild
 Que<n> I ma mi<n>ing of that mild
 Q<ua>t blis sco bred ogain vr bale
 THat In sal find wissing of wale
 THat gifes me lust of hir to rede
 For he es alsped that sco wil spede
 Tald es in this bok biforn
 Hu that scho was geti<n> and born
 Bot mi lau<er>dinges if ye bid
 Q<ua>t tim a<n>d t<er>m that it bitid
 THat sco was geti<n> that bird of blis
 I sal mon wit outi<n> mis
 THe fest of hir concepcioun
 THar of ye sal #her the resu<n>
 Qui that hali kirke a<nd> hu
 Bi yer tharof dos s<er>uis nu
 THat it did noht in ald dais
 Herkens hu the stori rais
 A king was hiht Will<a>m bastard
 THat werraid ingela<n>d ful hard
 Sa stalword ma<n> he was of ha<n>d
 THat wit his force he wa<n> the la<n>d
 Secuthe kenli cuthe he fiht
 He sloh the king that Harald hiht
 THat born was of the da<n>is blod
 For q<ui> the land he hi<m> wit stod
 THan bar Willa<m> the Sengn<u>rie
 Of i<n>geland and normu<n>die
 THe king of Da<n>emarche o<n>an
 Herd that Harald ki<n>g was slan
 Of witte almast vt wald he we<n>d
 For luf hi<m> that was his frend
 Schippis did he diht hi<m> yar
 Intil ingela<n>d to far
 Apo<n> the Norma<n>g(h) for to fiht
 THat wan the land witouti<n> riht
 For he suar bi the ki<n>g of heuin
 THat Harald slahtir suld he heui<n>
 To Ki<n>g Will<a>m bodword was broht
 Of this tithing that hi<m> forthoht
 He schruid sar tha wer suld ris
 And warnist hi<m> on ma(n)i wis
 He gad<er>it sauders #her a<nd> tar
 To strenthe his castels he a<nd> tar
 Als he that <con>q<ue>rur was god
 And for to werrai vnd<ir>stod
 His consail bad hi<m> for to fand
 THe ki<n>g of Da<n>mark wit sand
 For to spek about sum pais
 Bituixi<n> hi<m> a<nd> tha Danais
 THis ilke ti<m> that ike of sai
 Was an abbot i<n> ramisay
 THe nam of him me<n> cald elis
 Selcutheli hend he was a<nd> wis
 And wel a g<re>t resun schaw he cuthe
 Wit outi<n> ani mer in muthe
 THis abbot of this era<n>d ber
 Was cosin to the messag<er>
 vnto danmark to fare
 Als man was led wit mikel lar
 Wit t<re>sori his schip was diht
 Of p<re>sand mani riche gift
 Of silu<ir> and gold to giftes bede
 Mar tha<n> es mister for to rede
 THe singe of pes alsua to b<ri>ng
 Tuix willam and that oth<er> king
 And of tha scippis for to spir
 Que<n> that tai ahtil for to stir
 Helis to scippi<n>g he hi<m> did
 THe bir it blew als he wald bid
 He past that se that was wel b<ra>d
 His p<re>sand to the king he mad
 His p<re>sand was welcu<m> a<nd> he
 Als bringa<n>d wo<n>t es for to be
 Til erlis a<nd> baru<n>s of that rik
 THan gaf he serki<n> giftis rik
 THa that he hauid na giftes til
 Wit speche he hauid al thair #wil
 Sa wel i<n> speche than cuthe he spel
 THat al that ost he did to duel
 Que<n> his nedis war al done
 THai diht hi<m> his schippi<n>g sone
 THair sail thai set vp of thair schippe
 Sir Helis and his felauschippe
 His giftes gaf he noht i<n> vaine
 Bot fair pr<e>sandis sent ogaine
 Forthe thai flotin on that flod
 For al to wil thair bir thaim stod
 THat at the last moht thai noht se
 Bot heui<n> abute thai<m> and the se
 THe wed<ir> als in som<er> smethe
 Son bigan be rug a<nd> rethe
 THat ilke waw til othir it weft
 And bremli to tha bargis beft
 THe lift it blakind al to niht
 On ilka sid than slakid thair siht
 THe se for rethnes wex al red
 To rewthe was t<ur>nid al thair red
 THe wind ras gainis tai<m> vnride
 THe se thai<m> sailid on ilka side
 THai<m> blew on mani bremli blast
 Que<n> mast it raf a<nd> cordis b<ra>st
 St<ra>ngli st<ra>ite than war thai stad
 THe marin<er>es war selcuthe rad
 Sua rad ne war thai neu<ir> ar
 For thain war neu<ir> i<n> p<er>lir ar
 Ful wantsu<m> war thai than of red
 Bot drerili thai dred thair ded
 Que<n> thai hauid st<ri>ui<n> ai q<ui>l thai moht
 Again that storm al was for noht
 THai let it wand<er> vp and du<n>
 THair schip ai redi for to drun
 THai wand<er> waful on that flod
 Cried a<nd> wep als tai war wod
 THai sari lokid ai sua forswo<n>ki<n>
 Que<n> schip suld q<ui>lu<m> be or su<n>ki<n>
 On ih<es>u c<ri>st thai c<ri> and cal
 And on mari that helpis al
 Leuedi thai sai that es sa mild
 Prai for vs to thi suet child
 Al mo<n> we druen sa wailewai
 Leuedi nu help for wel thu mai
 THai wra<n>g thair he<n>d a<nd> wep ful sar
 Als me<n> war carkid al wit car
 Apo<n> thair brestes fast thai beft
 And al i<n> God thai<m> self bileft


 Bot sco that eu<er> es bot of bal
 Til al that hop i<n> hir hauis hal
 Hir socur son to thai<m> sco sent
 THat in silk m<ur>ning on her me<n>t
 Dun bi that schip an angel liht
 In selcuthe clething schen of siht
 THis angel to tha q<ua>ka<n>d kid
 And thus to thai<m> his era<n>d did
 Helis he said lift vp thi cher
 Cu<m> spec ner wit this messag<er>
 Al tha that i<n> that farcost ferd
 Ware med q<ue>n thai hi<m> sau a<nd> herd
 THe angel thus he tald his talle
 Helis he said if (thou) wil halle
 Cu<m> of this schip to la<n>d a<nd> fer
 THu sal nu hiht a<nd> vow me #her
 THat tu sal don als I #the sai
 Til alle the kirkes that tu mai
 Qu<en> thu co<m>is i<n>til ingeland
 For to do thai<m> at vnd<ir>stand
 For to haluin this ilke dai
 Wit al the worsip that thai mai
 In hali kirk ringand bi yer
 Als getin was vr leuedi der
 For getin bituix ma<n> a<nd> wo<m>ma<n>
 Was sco that wem hauid neu<ir> na<n>
 Getin was sco to be born
 For to lethe al thar war forlorn
 THis es the dai that sco was geti<n>
 Lok neuir mar it be forgetin
 Q<ua> halus it wil oute<n> fail
 Bathe lif a<nd> sawel it sal tai<m> wail
 Do vou elis a<nd> hald thi vow
 It sal te t<ur>n til mikel pru
 To that angel than spak Hellie
 Sai me signe he said q<ua>rbie
 Ik a<nd> al mi monkes mai
 And al c<ri>stin me<n> halu that dai
 To knau he said it war ful ethe
 THe ahtand dai of a monethe
 THat mai clepis i<n> the yer
 December i<n> the calender
 THat es the dai that ik of men
 Que<n> geti<n> was that leuedi schen
 Sai me said Helis q<ua>t kin wis
 Of hir that we sal mak s<er>uis
 Sin thar es proper na<n> I knaw
 Gladli sir I sal you schaw
 THe s<er>uis of hir birthe thu tak
 THar of thu sal thi s<er>uis mak
 Of a word that thar i<n> es red
 To sette another word i<n> sted
 Ai q<ua>r he sai natiuite
 THis word co<n>ceptiou<n> sai ye
 For change thar es na<n> mar
 Of al the s<er>uis that es tar




 Of this borword blithe was Helli
 And thankid c<ri>st and vr leuedi
 Gladlik he hiht and wit God wille
 THat comandme<n>t al for to fille
 Quen the abbot hauid his vow mad
 Out of thair siht the angel glad
 Als suithe na lang<er> duell
 THe lem gan liht the storm it fel
 Ful fair it com that se to siht
 And thai bigan thair takil diht
 THair wil to wind fair thai fand
 Til thai com intil ingeland
 Wit al thair farnet a<nd> thair fer
 THai com to land bathe hale a<nd> fer
 Helis began this comandme<n>t
 Son for to schaw til his coue<n>t
 Al this chance that hi<m> bitid
 Al comu<n>lik he it vndid
 To worsip hir conception
 THat of vr pliht vs gat pardon
 THis fest f<ra> than the folk forthe held
 THar of ilk an til oth<er> teld
 THis ilk abbot at ramsai
 A setnes set i<n> his abbai
 THar i<n> this s<er>uis for to stand
 Ai q<ui>lis that abbai be lastand
 And sua ma<n> dos i<n> stedis fel
 Sa ah al do that es hir lel
 THis stori thar wit for to sai
 Eu<ir> que<n> wil hald this dai
 Mai na man s<er>uin hi<m> i<n> lede
 THat sco ne tha<n> yeldis thai<m> thair med
 Sco don vs #her to s<er>ue hir sua
 THat we be wit hir eu<ir> a<n>d #a. Amen.
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